VA Life - Summer 2011 by Vermont Academy

V E R MO N T AC A D E M Y

LIFE Summer 2011

VA ACROSS THE GLOBE

Vermont Academy BOARD OF TRUSTEES Steven E. Karol ’72, Chairman Michael A. Choukas ’73, P ’94, Vice-Chairman Col. (Ret.) Richard I. Stark, Jr. ’74, Secretary Chris Cota ’66, P ’90, ’92, Treasurer Corina Luther Belle-Isle ’80 Carolyn Blitz, P ’12 Mark Candon Stuart Eisenkraft ’74 Linda Fink, P ’12 Penny Gendron, P ’10, ’12, ’15 Anne Herbert, P ’99 David Holton ’68 Mary Helen Holzschuh, P ’12 Penny Horowitz, P ’98 Reverend Peter Howe, P ’07, ’10 Timothy Lord ’69, P ’05, ’10 Donald G. McInnes ’59 George P. Moser, Jr. ’48, P ’79 Marvin S. Neuman, P ’03 David E. Robinson ’77 Kevin J. Seifert ’80 S. Tylor Tregellas Andrew Ward ’93

EMERITUS TRUSTEES Robert M. Campbell ’37, P ’65,’68,’70 (2),’80, ’82 W. Gene Hays Jr. ’55 Wentworth Hubbard, P ’80 Hugh Pearson ’54

VERMONT ACADEMY GOES TO SPAIN Thirteen students took part in the inaugural Vermont Academy in Spain program, leaving Vermont in March and returning a week before graduation.

03 GOING GREEN AND GLOBAL IN BELIZE Next March ten VA students will travel to Belize where they will learn about tropical biodiversity, Mayan archeology, and will take part in community service projects.

HEADMASTER EMERITUS | Mr. Michael Choukas Jr. ’46, P ’73 HEAD OF SCHOOL | Sean P. Brennan EDITOR | Maryann McArdle CONTRIBUTORS | Sean Brennan, Castine Echanis ’08, Tim Lacroix ’99, Jack Aitken ’11, Anna Brown ’12

CLASS NOTES EDITOR | Ella Bullock McIntosh ’86 DESIGN | Square Spot Design PHOTOS | Christine Armiger, Castine Echanis ’08, Tim Lacroix ’99, Conor McArdle ’06, Maryann McArdle, Pam Nelligan, Thomas Savoca ’12, and Larry Maglott ON THE COVER | The eastern view of the Santiago de Compostela clock tower (Galicia, Spain) in the glow of the nighttime lights. See page 3 for related article. Vermont Academy Life is published two times a year by Vermont Academy, Saxtons River, VT. Vermont Academy Life reserves the right to edit all material that it accepts for publication. Please email submissions, letters, and comments to valife@vermontacademy.org. Fax (802) 869-6268, or mail to Managing Editor, Vermont Academy Life, P.O. Box 500, Saxtons River, VT 05154-0500. By providing a supportive community and close personal attention to its students, Vermont Academy develops confident, active learners and respectful citizens.

8 0 2 . 8 6 9. 6 2 0 0 | W W W.V E R M O N TA CA D E M Y.O RG

“LIVE AND TEACH IN JAPAN” Tim LaCroix ’99 reflects on how a job listing in the Boston Globe changed the course of his life.

09 A SEMESTER AND A HOME IN OMAN Castine Echanis ’08 spent a semester in the Sultanate of Oman, as part of a study abroad program.

12 CONTENTS

02 head of school’s letter 15 va news 18 student profile: “panda” 20 faculty profile: alexei sotskov 23 alumni event highlights 24 class notes 33 in memoriam

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head of school’s letter

Greetings from Vermont Academy! I cannot tell you how many people took the time to send along their positive reactions to the last issue of VA Life. We focused on our STEM Program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) with articles about alums who have found passions in those fields and the teachers who influenced them in so many ways. In this issue, we are moving on to a different theme: Vermont Academy in the greater world (see below). You will read about our new program in Santiago de Compostela, Spain; an upcoming opportunity in Belize for our students; accounts from alums about living abroad; and a piece about a recent graduate who came to Saxtons River from China and spent three years at VA. The world is growing smaller every day. When I speak with alums from the 50s and 60s, they cannot believe that we have students at VA from 16 different countries. This

diversity contributes greatly to the accepting community that VA has been for well over 100 years. It is not enough to read about other places in the world in a history or science class. Travel, especially travel tied to learning, is one of the greatest ways to immerse oneself in another culture. One of our core beliefs, proposed by a student, states that “Every member of the Vermont Academy community considers the impact of their actions on both the immediate and world community for the benefit of present and future generations.” In this issue, you will see how we are walking the talk. I hope you enjoy this issue of VA Life. We have had another great year at Vermont Academy. Please be sure to visit our website, www.vermontacademy.org, to keep up with what is going on, and be sure to visit our Facebook page and become a fan! Also, be sure to send along information about what is going on in your world to alumni director Ella Bullock McIntosh ’86 at emcintosh@vermontacademy.org. va

Santiago de Compostela, Spain (page 3) St. Petersburg, Russia (page 20)

Gotemba, Shizuoka, Japan (page 9)

Vermont Academy

Fut Shenzhen, China (page 18)

Belize (page 8)

Oman (page 12)

VA ACROSS THE GLOBE

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Written by Sean Brennan

Vermont Academy

GOES TO SPAIN! One week before graduation this past May, 13 Vermont Academy students returned from ten weeks in Santiago de Compostela in the northwest corner of Spain. These students participated in the inaugural Vermont Academy in Spain program. Many independent schools send students abroad to study in a wide range of programs; the Vermont Academy in Spain program is unique because the students continue to follow the VA curriculum in a variety of disciplines while they are immersed in a new culture and a new language. In March 2011, these 13 studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one sophomore, seven juniors, and five seniorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;left behind the melting snows and emerging mud of Vermont to fly to sunny, spectacular Spain! I had the opportunity to visit them in April, about a month into their experience, and I was awed by the positive changes in these young men and women. Confident and independent, the students wanted to prolong their stay in Spain. What follows is an overview of the inception of the VA in Spain program, the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; academic program, their cultural immersion, and some thoughts about the program going forward. >

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Vermont Academy in Spain: A Concept Is Born Not long after I began my tenure as head of school in July 2009, I met with Mr. Ricardo Carreno, a VA Spanish teacher, to discuss our March break program in Cadiz, a city in southwestern Spain. Through this program, Vermont Academy students have spent part of their March break in Cadiz under the tutelage of Ricardo, VA art teacher Lisa McNealus, and VA Spanish teacher Monica Catramado. The program has included language and culture immersion and appreciation of the rich art history in Spain. Many students have enjoyed their experiences in Cadiz, and the program has been strong.

VA students explore an ancient Roman village.

In that context, Ricardo and I discussed the possibility of a longer program—a full term in Spain. With the help of academic dean Jim Frey and the rest of the curriculum committee (the heads of all of the departments), we asked ourselves how we could make such a program fit into our academic schedule: How could students continue to follow a curriculum from Vermont Academy while living in Santiago de Compostela? After a thoughtful discussion with the faculty, we decided to embrace this exciting challenge. The Vermont Academy faculty deserves great credit for being openminded enough to launch this pilot program, knowing that while it could be great, it could also mean more work and possible frustration along the way. I am so grateful that they committed to the Vermont Academy in Spain program. While we were working hard in Saxtons River to imagine the possibilities of such a program in Spain, Ricardo was hard at work making contacts with friends and family in Spain. Because he had spent a great deal of time in Galicia, he focused on the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. He met with government officials and church leaders to find the right place for our exciting new program, and we are very fortunate to have secured Santiago de Compostela as its venue. Then, all we needed were great students and ambassadors from Vermont Academy. After reviewing the applications, we had our group.

Spring 2011: Daily Life and School in Santiago de Compestela Each student was assigned to a “home stay” with a Spanish family who lived close to Santiago de Compestela. In some cases, two Vermont Academy students lived with one home stay family; in others, a VA student lived on his or her own with a family. In either case, the students reported that they had a fantastic experience with their Spanish hosts. The relationships that developed between our students and their host families were some of the most positive parts of the program. For example, Korean student Jin Tak Lee ’11 came back to Vermont Academy for his graduation and then returned to Santiago de Compostela to live with his host family for the summer before going to college in the United States. Ricardo attributes some of the success of this program to the fact that all students were assigned tasks that contributed to the program. For example, Magda Blakeson ’12 (a three-sport varsity athlete at VA) was assigned the task of organizing the daily athletic period, and she took her responsibilities very seriously! Each day, Magda gathered her fellow classmates for basketball, soccer, running, and/or other fitness activities. Thomas Savoca ’12 took on another significant task: he was the technology liaison for the VA in Spain program. In addition to his daily 4

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duties of dealing with classmates’ laptop issues and updating the trip’s blog, Thomas helped to orchestrate a few all-school Skype sessions between our VA weekly community meeting in Horowitz and the VA in Spain students. The connection was great!

The interior of the Monastery of San Martín Pinario.

The VA in Spain students spent their academic time in a classroom at the 15thcentury Monasterio de San Martin Pinario, adjacent to the famous cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. Ricardo had arranged for tutors in math, science, and history. With their own VA teachers, available via the Internet, the students successfully completed courses in trigonometry, U.S. history, chemistry, and other subjects. For their English class, all of the students were on the same page. Before they left for Spain, all 13 students had begun a literature of Spain course with longtime VA English teacher, Ms. Cynthia Murphy. After studying texts of various Spanish authors from January to March, the students continued their study through weekly Skype sessions with Cynthia. Upon their return to campus in May, their final portfolio presentations were impressive. For a break from their academic commitments each day, the Vermont Academy students walked to a nearby school, La Salle, to have lunch in its dining hall. By all accounts, that arrangement went well, and we are discussing ways to partner with La Salle in the future—perhaps having some of their students come to VA for a period of time. After lunch, VA classes continued at the monastery until the students returned to their home stays for the evening.

Weekend Trips: Education and Entertainment A spring term in Spain would not be complete without travel. Weekend trips were a highlight of the experience for the students who took part in Vermont Academy in Spain. The local trips in and around Galacia were complemented by the “bigger” trips to Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona. I was able to join the students on their trip to Madrid. Spending a few hours with the students in the Prado Museum in Madrid, my favorite art museum in the world, was one of the great treats of my teaching career. va

VA I N S PA I N C O N T I N U E D O N P. 6 :

‘REFLECTIONS’ ver mont academy

REFLECTIONS The Head of School: I had the luxury of seeing Santiago de Compostela, for the first time, up close and personal, in the summer of 2010. I was in the backseat of a four-seater airplane (accompanied by Ricardo), and I had never even set foot on the ground in Spain. From above, one can see that the central part of the city remains intact, timeless—gray stone walls and red tiled roofs radiating out from the cathedral. We circled the city a few times, the pilot banking turns, while we took pictures. I had a great look at the Monasterio de San Martin Pinario, the 15-century monastery which would be home to our academic program for Vermont Academy in Spain. The entire Galician region of Spain is a place to behold. Unlike the arid central part of Spain, Galicia is green and mountainous. I was surprised at how much it looked like Ireland in parts. The coastline is a mixture of busy cities, long stretches of rugged, rocky terrain, and the occasional pristine beach. After landing the small plane back in Vigo, our point of departure, we drove to Santiago. On our way there, I began to notice small fires in the backyards of homes. At first it seemed a coincidence, but then the number increased to a point that mere happenstance was ruled out. Mr. Carreno then realized that it was the Festival de San Juan, celebrated on the shortest night of the year with bonfires and gatherings of friends and family. The closer we got to Santiago, the more fires we saw until the sky filled with a low haze. The festival is celebrated each year as part of a rite of purification for new beginnings— how serendipitous! From the ground, the city was even more beautiful. The architecture was

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View of Santiago de Comp os

tela.

stunning, and the narrow streets twisted and turned, opening up into courtyards and squares named for great Spanish heroes. The cathedral has been the terminal point of the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, for over 1,000 years. Thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world, travel the Way each year. The traditional starting point is St. Jean Pied de Port in France, but people start at many places along northern Spain. I was amazed at the diversity of languages spoken around the city. The University of Santiago de Compostela has been in existence for over 500 years and has 45,000 students. While the city oozed history at its core, the surrounding areas were far more modern and alive with the energy of a university town. As is the case in most parts of Spain, the food in Galicia is amazing. The Galician region is known for its seafood, but everything I ate was delicious. If you have the opportunity to visit, I highly recommend Santiago de Compostela and the entire Galician region. If you come in the spring, you can visit with next year’s group of VA students!

Anna Brown ’12: This spring I was lucky enough to be a part of Vermont Academy’s new program in Spain. During March break, 12 of my fellow students and I set off

Blake O’B rien ’11, J ordan Arz Reed ’12 i ’12 exploring an ancient and Jared hill fort .

for our two months in Spain. We landed in Santiago de Compostela, a city in the northwestern region of Spain, and our host families met us in the airport. The first few days were exciting and stressful, getting used to communicating in a different language and getting lost in the streets of a new city. But within a few weeks, Santiago really did feel like home. Santiago de Compostela is a beautiful old city centered around the Cathedral of Santiago, the supposed burial place of Saint James the Greater. The cathedral is the destination of The Way of Saint James, a pilgrimage route that brings thousands of pilgrims to the city each year. We had our classes in an old monastery building, San Martin Pinario, next door to the cathedral. This location, in the middle of old town, allowed us immediate access to the streets of old town and all the beautiful sights they hold. We spent our free time walking around the city, or playing soccer and Frisbee in Santiago’s beautiful parks. Living with host families and making local friends, we were immersed in the culture and the language. Every weekend, we took a trip to a different destination. We traveled all over Galicia, the region of Spain we

V E R M O N T AC A D E M Y I N S PA I N

Magda Bla keson

’12 and A nna Brow n ’12.

were in, and also went to Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona. We saw lighthouses, incredible architecture both old and new, cathedrals, castles, beaches, museums, and countless other beautiful and impressive sights. Being a part of the first year of the Vermont Academy Spain Campus was a powerful, positive experience. I saw more of the world than I had ever seen before. My Spanish speaking and comprehension vastly improved. I now feel more confident and comfortable traveling and experiencing new things. I know that the things I learned in Spain will help me at Vermont Academy and beyond. I loved every moment at the Vermont Academy Spain Campus, and I only wish I could have stayed longer.

Jack Aitken ’11: When Mr. Carreno first handed me the sheet outlining the 10-week trip to Spain, I jumped on it. I was nervous and apprehensive at the thought of being gone from my family and friends for 10 weeks, but I imagined what an amazing learning experience it could be. I believe that an understanding of the world, and not just the country you are living in, is an extremely important

Interior

courtyard

of the m onaste

ry.

asset these days. Thanks to this trip, I now can truly say that I have a more global perspective and I am more ready to take on life after high school. But the first day I arrived in Spain I was taken aback. It was so much different than the U.S. in so many ways. The way people dressed, the look of the buildings, the cars, the stores, the food, etc.—I noticed all of this on the first day, and I was stunned to see how different European life is compared to American life. As time went on, I began to notice more about the Spanish people— things that you can’t see at first glance: how they acted around each other, how important family is to them, their different mannerisms. It was all so amazing; and I could not believe that as time went on, I kept learning new things. I learned about linguistics just by watching people speak with each other. I began to understand how incredible it is to be able to really communicate with one another through the use of languages. Two words in Spanish may sound like gibberish to me, but it makes a world of sense to them, and vice versa. All of this came with the learning experience.

Jack Ait ken ’11 sp ars with Spidey in Paris.

However, my adventures and my new discoveries did not stop there. I learned Spanish stories and the history behind the rivalries between the different autonomous communities or states. I found out that my host father’s father was the leader of propaganda for the Socialist Party in the Spanish Civil War. I even traveled to Paris and experienced a taste of the French culture. And on and on. All of this contributed to the most amazing trip I could ever dream about. I only wish it could have been longer. I wish that instead of a 10-week trip, we could have had a semester-long trip. I am sure that students would not meet this extension of the trip with boredom or staleness after the initial 10 weeks. I am positive this trip could be a constant learning experience for six months, and any student who chose to be a part of it would be a more globalized person, more ready to join in the world community. va

Read more about the VA in Spain experience at www.vermontacademy.org/spainblog

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Written by Christine Armiger

Going Green and Global

IN BELIZE Ancient Mayan ruins look out over vast expanses of tropical rain forests. The magnificent beaks of toucans and vibrant plumage of scarlet macaws flash brightly against the myriad greens of strangling figs and cohune palm trees. Howler monkeys call and swing playfully in the branches overhead. Along the coastline, waves crash against sparkling beaches. Sea cows float through mangroves, and, further out into the ocean, a whale shark glides past the corals of the barrier reef, filtering plankton from a glimmering expanse of blue. This is Belize. A tiny country tucked between Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west, and to the east, the warm waters of the Caribbean. Little bigger than the state of Massachusetts, Belize is home to a wealth of biodiversity, and roughly a quarter of the area within its borders is under some kind of environmental protection. Diversity in this country doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop with its forests. The people who share the land come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, including Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, East Indian, and Chinese. But the first to inhabit Belize were the Maya, who began cultivating a rich and complex civilization thousands of years ago. Relics of that first civilization abound in places such as Tikal, Copan, and Caracol, and the Maya people are alive and well today, still practicing subsistence agriculture throughout the mountains of central and southern Belize. During March Break 2012, Vermont Academy students will have the opportunity to explore the incredible natural and

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cultural history of this Caribbean gem during a two-week trip that will focus on tropical biodiversity, Mayan archeology, and community service. Our focus on biodiversity will take us on an exploration of Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve, snorkeling and scuba diving around Laughing Bird Key, and kayaking through the mangrove ecosystems off the coast of Placencia. We will visit Mayan archeological sites from the town of San Ignacio in the heart of the Maya Mountains. For our community service work, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be partnering with the NGO Sustainable Harvest International, an organization dedicated to helping subsistence farming families in Belize by giving them the tools to practice organic farming and agroforestry as alternatives to slash and burn agriculture. Through this trip, our students will experience the beauty of tropical ecosystems and the value of protecting these critical natural resources. They will explore an ancient culture whose mark was powerful throughout all of Central America. They will have an opportunity to learn from people who share an essential connection with the land on which they depend for food. Finally, our students will have an opportunity to experience the wonderful satisfaction that comes from giving of their time and energy to those who have less than ourselves. va For students and parents interested in participating in the March Break trip to Belize, more information will be provided at fall registration. The trip will be limited to ten students, so early registration is best. As trip leader, I can be contacted with questions at carmiger@vermontacademy.org.

“Live and teach

IN JAPAN

”

There are moments in life when you have to take a minute to consciously put into memory an image of an

How a job listing in the Boston Globe changed my life. By Tim LaCroix ’99 テイムラクロイ

experience. At these moments, you realize just how lucky and happy you are with your current situation. I remember taking time to savor the present more than a few times while attending VA. One such time was on a bus ride home from Stratton Mountain. I had had a great day riding, didn’t end up with an injury or wet socks, and was absolutely content and comfortable in my seat listening to a mix tape of Eminem before the release of his first LP, thanks to a fellow VA student. Another one of these memories is of a lacrosse practice on a warm and sunny spring afternoon. Our team was having fun, we were playing well, and my only obligation later was to get ready for formal dinner. After I took off my equipment and was heading back to Jones, I took a moment to consider the panoramic view from the field and realize just how beautiful the land around me was. These types of memories have allowed me to hold Vermont Academy close to my heart even now as I now create new memories in my adopted home of Japan. After leaving Vermont Academy, I attended Ohio Wesleyan University, graduating with a major in politics and with minors in both sociology and black world studies. I returned home to Boston with plans for one last summer on Martha’s Vineyard with my closest friends. I had a couple of weeks before moving into my summer house, and one day found myself looking through the Boston Globe’s jobs section. A small advertisement caught my eye. It said simply, “Live and teach in Japan.” Recruiters from a company named Aeon were coming to Boston the following week.

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On a whim, I called them up, got my name on the info/interviewee list, and before I knew it, I was giving a mock English lesson to a group of people applying for the same job. I guess I did pretty well, because I was asked to come back the next day for a second and private interview. That, too, went well, and the next thing I knew, I was booking a flight to Osaka, Japan. In September of 2004, I landed in Japan for the first time. I had a job in Nippon as a teacher at an eikaiwa, which is an English conversation school. In general, I fell in love with the country, the people, and the culture. I lived in an amazing castle town named Himeji, and spent a good deal of time traveling in and out of the country. I was able to do and see many things that I never expected I would, such as studying iaido, a traditional way of handling a samurai sword, at a local dojo; and later studying kendo, a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional samurai swordsmanship. I embedded myself so fully in the culture of Japan that I didn’t return home in the first three and half years I lived there.

I was waiting for the last hour to pass before I could start my 36-day spring vacation. Then, it happened: a tremor. At first I just felt dizzy, like I was light-headed. The vice principal started to yell “Jishin! Jishin!” Translation: “Earthquake!”

2:45PM ON MARCH 11, 2011: DISASTER STRIKES JAPAN

Sendai: closest major city to the epicenter of the earthquake.

Gotemba, Shizuoka

When I decided it was time to make my way back to Boston, I took a circuitous route: a boat to China, a train to Vietnam, a bus to Cambodia and Thailand, and finally a flight back home to the U.S. at the end of 2008. It was great being home and seeing my family and friends, but after a year I began to miss my life in Japan. I made the decision to return and find work in the Japanese public school system. In March of 2010, I returned to my beloved fourth home (Boston, VA, and the Vineyard being the first three). I currently live in Gotemba, Shizuoka, which is a very small countryside town, known in Japan for having one of the four routes to the top of Mt. Fuji. I have a car this time around and work in the next town over, named Oyama. I work at three junior high schools, one of them actually right on the slope of the great volcano. I usually teach classes of about 30 students, eat lunch, and play sports with my students after school. My everyday life in Japan changed dramatically this spring on March 11, which was the last day of school for the year. It was 2:45 pm and I was in the teachers’ room of a school named Subashiri. The school is situated at the bottom slope of Mt. Fuji and has incredible views. I was waiting for the last hour to pass before I could start my 36-day spring vacation. Then, it happened: a tremor. At first I just felt dizzy, like I was light-headed. The vice principal started to yell “Jishin! Jishin!” Translation: “Earthquake!” The Tohoku earthquake was about 300 miles northeast of us, but the school shook dramatically, clocks fell off the wall, and the alarms sounded in town. This moment

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is also etched into my memory. I will never forget looking out the window and watching gigantic pine trees swaying back and forth and shaking off all their snow cover. It was as if they were alive, dancing in a Disney movie. As soon as the tremors stopped, the teachers went to check on the students and walk them home safely, which is school policy. I remained in the teachers’ room with the principal and others, and we watched the tsunami hit the coastline live on Japanese television. Even today, I can’t put into words how shocked and surprised I was that such a huge natural disaster was occurring. I left school about two hours later and returned home to no electricity. Without a TV or Internet access, it was impossible to find out what was going on. I ended up using my cell phone to talk to friends further west in Japan, and they relayed the news to me from there.

Tim and his students.

Waking up the next day, now on vacation, was pretty surreal. The power was restored in my area that afternoon. I soon realized that Japan was hit hard and that the disaster was not over. The news about the Fukushima nuclear plant began to come to light. Within hours, I had countless phone calls from family and friends, and my email and Facebook accounts became almost too much to handle. I had to constantly assure the people in my life that I was OK and that if I needed to flee my area, I would. Over the next few weeks, the media really had me confused. First, I heard that nuclear disaster was averted. Then I heard that it was going to be Chernobyl all over again, and back and forth it went. I have had so much mixed information given to me that I really don’t know what to believe these days. I do know that many people lost their lives as a result of the tsunami, and that the Fukushima plant is still not under control. I also know that many foreigners living in western Japan and Tokyo have fled the country and returned to their homes. My family has called me crazy for staying here, and it has not been the easiest choice to remain; every day there are still aftershocks, some bigger than others. However, I love Japan and my life here, and unless and until I am sure that I am in serious danger, I will stay put. The new school year here is underway, and things are running just as normal. I still check the latest news every morning and read a lot of information about what is going on in the Tohoku area. Just this week, the nuclear power plant closest to me, which provides our electricity, agreed to shut down at a Japanese government request. This will most likely mean plenty of power outages this summer. Obviously, Japan has a long way to go to recover from this tragic disaster, but the Japanese people know how to persevere. I know the country will recuperate soon. And as for me, I hope to be climbing Mt. Fuji for a third time this summer and going to the beach as much as possible, in general taking every advantage of this special place and the opportunities it presents. My life’s path has brought me far away from Vermont Academy. But as I now create new memories as a teacher instead of a student, I am grateful for all of the twists and turns in the road. va

Obviously, Japan has a long way to go to recover from this tragic disaster, but the Japanese people know how to persevere. I know the country will recuperate soon.

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A Semester and a Home

IN OMAN By Castine Echanis â&#x20AC;&#x2122;08 Castine spent a semester in the Sultanate of Oman, as apart of a study abroad program.

In the fall semester of 2010, I took a break from the College of Wooster, where I am an international relations major with a focus in economics, and traveled, along with 14 other students from around the country, to Oman through a program with SIT/World Learning. I went to Oman for two reasons. The first was to be able to cut through all of the negative media coverage and stigma and to determine for myself what Arabs/Arab Muslims think of Westerners/Americans, even if my experience only covered a small group of people. The second was to study economic development in the Gulf, specifically, how Oman was going to consider transitioning from an oil-based economy to an economy based less on oil.

The three months I spent in this small Middle Eastern country were nothing short of extraordinary. I spent the entire time feeling a combination of awe, confusion, humility, inspiration, and aggravation. But what I learned there about humanity, Islam, faith, pride, and myself was truly remarkable. My classmates and I arrived in the capital city of Muscat in late August 2010, at around 11 pm. Even at that hour, the heat was extreme and the humidity oppressive. Our first day was a whirlwind, beginning with a trip to the Sultan

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Qaboos University library, where I was lucky enough to engage in my first international economics discussion with the public affairs director. We discussed everything from poor policy making, to the recession, to what I could do to improve the economic situation in Vermont (if I was older and had more resources at my disposal). After a tour of the library—one of the most beautiful I have ever seen—our day continued as the group returned to the World Learning Center. At the Center I was introduced to some of my professors, and had a lecture on the modern Omani health care system and what I should do if I was sick or injured. Having arrived during Ramadan, we found that it is customary to fast from dawn to dusk, eating no food and drinking no water. Consequently, the most exciting part of the day was the iftar, the breaking of the fast at the evening meal, which I ate in the company of a group of women and children. To break the fast, I consumed fresh dates (pitting them using only my right hand was a challenge at first but got easier) and a salty liquid drink, which tasted much like Greek yogurt. This was followed by an astounding meal (eaten entirely with my right hand) of rice and chicken, a spicy chickpea dish (my favorite), fruit, and a delicious fried dough dipped in honey.

Castine, left, with friends Ragia and Jenny, at a fort in Nizwa, Oman.

After the first few days spent together as a group, it was time for me and my classmates to go to the homes of our Omani host families. In preparation, all of the girls dressed as respectfully as we knew how in the oppressive heat, donning long-sleeved tunics with loose pants or ankle-length skirts, or dresses. When the moment came, I was called downstairs, as two of my host brothers had arrived to pick me up. The older of the two wore a skin-tight t-shirt and cargo pants, accented by a bejeweled trucker’s hat. The younger, who was about two at the time, clung to his brother, not sure what to do with me. My home for the next three months was a one-story building surrounded by a 12-foot wall that created a courtyard encompassing a small swing set, an outdoor sink, and sitting space. The house had four bedrooms (each with an attached bathroom), a kitchen, two living rooms, and one table. That table was a desk purchased for my use. My Omani family consisted of my mother (mama), my father (baba Said), my two uncles (ami), four brothers (Salem, Qais, Muhammad, and Yezen), a sister-in-law (Amani; she is married to Salem), and the maid (Mumtaz). They were warm and inviting, and in many ways they were just like my family back home—loud, proud, and always eating.

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Hennaed hands.

For example, the holiday of Eid is a joyous time marking the end of Ramadan, celebrated with a copious amount of henna, sweets, visitors, and animal slaughter. My Eid began in the morning with a two-year-old running through the house screaming “bahhh bahhh bahhh” and, sure enough, in the courtyard there was a goat. Over the next three days, I consumed goat prepared in a stew-like fashion, goat kebabs, and goat that had been roasted underground for an entire day (which was the most amazing thing I have ever eaten). The weeklong holiday consisted of food, family, food, food, family, and yes, more food. During my time in Oman, I worked on an independent student project studying the aflaj system for freshwater irrigation in Oman. This system is an elaborate network of irrigation channels that rivals the Roman aqueducts. The aflaj were dug, sometimes for miles, into mountains by human hands. The channels that bring water to villages and farms run underground from the mountains. Airshafts aerate the water and allow the people to maintain these underground channels. Eventually, the water is collected in a pool that feeds the above-ground aflaj system. These systems extend throughout entire villages and the surrounding farms, and often continue on to the next village. The study took me to various

For those three months, I lived in a country that balances the modern and the traditional, a country that by other Arab standards is the epitome of how Arabs and Muslims should be, a country that for a brief moment in time became my home. To sum it up, I will simply say, inshallah, or “God willing,” I will carry this experience with me forever. regions of the country, including Salalah, a spectacularly beautiful city in the south of Oman, and the Empty Quarter, one of the bleakest deserts in the world. As time passed, my classmates and I slowly let go of western style, music, and food preferences and, by the end of our time there, embraced what it was like to be Omani—cheering for the Omani national team in the Gulf Cup, celebrating Sultan Qaboos’s 40th national day, and happily eating on the floor with our right hand as our only utensil.

Check it out online! To read more about Castine’s semester in Oman, visit http://omanandme.blogspot.com

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The things I saw, experienced, and learned from my family, my peers, and Oman itself will forever remain imprinted in my mind. For those three months, I lived in a country that balances the modern and the traditional, a country that by other Arab standards is the epitome of how Arabs and Muslims should be, a country that for a brief moment in time became my home. To sum it up, I will simply say, inshallah, or “God willing,” I will carry this experience with me forever. va

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va news Governor Peter Shumlin Visits VA for the Annual Tapping of the First Sugar Maple Vermont Academy was pleased to host Vermont governor Peter Shumlin for the ceremonial tapping of the first sugar maple on Thursday, March 10. Area sugar makers and residents came to campus for a celebratory luncheon, after which Shumlin spoke to the crowd. Kurn Hattin’s choral group entertained the visitors. Vermont’s governor taps a tree each year in one of the state’s 14 counties, and this year it was Windham County’s turn. The Vermont Sugar Maker’s Association chose Vermont Academy as this year’s location. Governor Shumlin is from Putney, which is also in Windham County. Vermont Academy produces approximately 200 gallons of maple syrup a year.

Leavitt House Award

The Rockingham Historical Commission recently honored Vermont Academy’s Leavitt House in its 13th Old House Awards. Leavitt House was chosen for the 2010 Special Stewardship Award in recognition of VA’s stewardship of the many historic buildings on its campus.

Learning Center Dedication The VA community, along with trustees and guests, gathered to honor past and current learning skills teachers at the dedication ceremonies for the new Vermont Academy Learning Center on May 6, 2011. Former LSK teachers Gail Davis, Susie Peters, and Cindy Hibler were present as the new Center was dedicated to the Academy’s Ford Improvement Prize winners. Former prize winners Topher Harris ’06 and Dani Leonardo ’10 returned to campus to speak of their experience in learning skills. Meredith Anderson ’11 was awarded this year’s prize.

Leavitt House was named for Laurence G. Leavitt, who took over as headmaster in 1934. He had been recommended by Dartmouth College president Ernest Martin Hopkins at a time when Vermont Academy was in financial straits and required someone who could turn the school around. Current head of school Sean Brennan appreciates Leavitt House’s heritage and its place as a symbol of hospitality. Immediately upon hearing of the Old House Awards ceremony, Sean offered Leavitt House as a venue for the event.

Former and current Learning Skills teachers Gail Davis, Amy Lanterman, Cindy Hibler and Susie Peters

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New Roles for Familiar Faces

LAURA JOHNSON FREY: CHAIR OF LANGUAGE DEPT. After 22 years as college counselor, Laura Johnson Frey is making a change to become chair of VA’s language department. When asked about the change, Laura remarked that leaving college counseling would be bittersweet. “When Ricardo Carreno approached me last November and asked me to consider leading the language department, the request both flattered and humbled me. After Sean Brennan agreed that this would be a good move for Vermont Academy, I became excited about the opportunities, challenges, and new initiatives this would bring. After many years of working one-on-one with students and very closely with families in the college process, I am returning to the classroom staring straight into the eyes of not one, but 10 or 12 students who deserve only the very best teaching I can offer. I am also looking forward to supporting the global initiatives already in place with our new program in Spain.” Laura is a past president of NEACAC, the New England Association for College Admission Counseling, and was named Vermont Counselor of the Year in 2003. Replacing her as college counselor will be Ann Atkins, currently associate dean of students at Northfield Mt. Hermon School. Ann is married to VA athletic director Mike Atkins. Their son George will be entering VA’s class of 2015 in the fall.

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DAVID HODGSON ’89: DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS David Hodgson ’89 was recently named the next director of admissions at Vermont Academy. Dave, who graduated from VA in 1989, brings a great deal of experience in both admissions work, and most recently as our dean of student life, to his new position. After beginning his career at VA in 1996 as a Spanish teacher and then as assistant director of admissions, Dave went on to become director of admissions at the Blue Ridge School in Virginia. He returned to his beloved alma mater as dean of residential life in 2007, and last year took over as dean of student life. Dave notes “I’m extremely excited to take on this role. Vermont Academy has always been a very special place for me and I can’t wait to share all that it has to offer with prospective families.” Dave also acknowledges that VA alumni are a great resource in determining future students. “I encourage all alumni to give me a call if they are aware of a student who might be a good fit at VA.” Dave replaces outgoing director Jill Hutchins, who is leaving the Academy to pursue a position at the Dublin School.

2011 COMMENCEMENT AWARD WINNERS The Barrett Medal: Adam Hennick, Dollard-Des Ormeaux, QC

Congratulations Graduates!

The Shanaman Cup: Kelly Johnson, Eastham, MA The Ford Improvement Award: Meredith Anderson, Jacksonville, FL The Robert L Long Leadership & Service Award: Brian Schilling, Saxtons River, VT The Robinson Award: Sejung Kim, Daejon, South Korea Sam Yoon, Yong-In City, South Korea The Larry Smith Award: Jake Keohan, Sagamore Beach, MA The Bernice B. and Olin D. Gay Award: Dian Pan, Fut Shenzhen, China The Charles Jackson Award: Julia Bianconi, Rockingham VT The Grant. V. Frazer Award: Rachel Lundsted, Marlboro, VT The H. Edmund Tripp Award: Jessica Bae, Seoul, South Korea The Harry J. Fischer Drama Award: Ella Noyes, Bellows Falls, VT The Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Music Award: Katlyn Billings, Baltimore, VT The Frederick Stanley Art Award: Peyton Wilson, Bellows Falls, VT The Samuel B. Pettengill Scholarship: Ella Noyes, Bellows Falls, VT UVM Green & Gold Award: Rachel Lundsted, Marlboro, VT The Brown Family Award: Amber White, Bellows Falls, VT Valedictorian: Jessica Bae, Seoul, South Korea Head of School Special Awards: Jessica Bae, Seoul, South Korea Mary Beth Bashaw, Bellows Falls, VT Hunter Coffey, Manasquan, NJ Margo Feingold, Larchmont, NY ver mont academy

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student profile: dian pan or “panda” In chaos theory, the butterfly effect can be defined as “the phenomenon whereby a small change at one place in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere.” At Vermont Academy, the butterfly effect is currently best exemplified by a member of the class of 2011. In this case, one poor test grade from a Chinese middle school started a chain of events that eventually resulted in a major impact on VA’s environmental awareness and sustainability practices. Because of this test, Dian Pan, or “Panda” as he has come to be universally known on campus, became a cherished member of our community.

According to Panda, he didn’t do as well as he might have in middle school. “One test decides where you will go to high school after you finish. I did not do well and would not have been able to go to the best school.” After his parents agreed to let him attend school in the U.S., Panda applied to several highly ranked boarding schools. “I looked at St. Paul’s, Deerfield. I did not get in. I was accepted at Vermont Academy. We had never heard of the state of Vermont.”

Panda ready for an outdoor adventure.

Entering VA as a sophomore, Panda made a conscious decision to interact as much as possible with non-Chinese students. “I knew that it was easy for Chinese students to form their own group but I decided not to do that. My purpose in coming here was to study English and talk to people.” His first day in the dining hall, he nervously approached a table full of students chatting in English and introduced himself. “You have to be motivated to get into a group of American students. You have to take the first step.” Panda took that step and then some. To his great surprise, he says, “People thought I was funny. I became popular.” As the semester progressed, Panda happily adjusted to the differences between the two educational systems. “VA is totally different than school in China. There is more of a connection between students and faculty, more communication. In China, teachers write everything you have to remember on the board and you copy it down in your notebook. Here, your grades don’t depend on a few tests.

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They depend on how you do in the class—your participation, homework, projects. You can do extra work to improve your grade. In China, you could do better on the test. But there is no other way to prove yourself.” VA’s more relaxed daily schedule was a welcome change as well, and Panda quickly found enjoyment in the camaraderie of team sports and outdoor activities. “In China, classes go from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and then again from 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm. There is no time for sports. Only PE class. It’s not good for health. There is no time to release stress.” When given the chance, Panda immersed himself in the satisfaction of outdoor education, rock climbing and Nordic skiing.

PANDA:

“I didn’t make the impact. I bring other people with me to make the impact. We gather together to make the impact.”

As a student in Christine Armiger’s environmental studies class, Panda began to focus more closely on the subject matter. As Christine recalls, “One day near the end of the second semester, he came to me and said, ‘I just think that we have so many environmental problems and why in this class are we not doing anything about it?’ Panda’s question kept me awake at night. In his gentle, probing way, he helped me to realize that if I wanted to be a truly effective teacher, I needed to do more than overwhelm my students with all of the mistakes we have made as a society. I needed to engage and empower them in creating solutions—things that could start right away on our campus.” Under Christine’s guidance, Panda went on to help initiate two environmental awareness projects. The first was an effort to eliminate bottled water on campus, and the second was a project to compost all food waste from the dining hall. He often found himself on stage at morning meeting, explaining how the community could get involved with these efforts. In his senior year, Panda became one of the Academy’s first official Environmental Proctors, a group of students who stand as champions of sustainability on campus. Being thrust into the limelight as an environmental spokesperson had an effect on Panda. “I was shy in China. It was a huge challenge for me to speak on stage, but it changed me, changed my personality. I felt more confident.”

Panda received The Bernice B. and Olin D. Gay Award from Christine Armiger—Presented to recognize a student who personifies the qualities of friendliness, cooperation, kindness, and concern for his/her fellow individuals that should not be allowed to pass unnoticed.

Panda is characteristically humble when asked if he has made an impact at the Academy. “It’s hard to see how I’ve impacted. All students impact the school— not just one student or project. One person’s power can’t influence the whole school. You need power from the community. I didn’t make the impact. I bring other people with me to make the impact. We gather together to make the impact.” Panda will continue to make an impact at Penn State University this fall.

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faculty profile: alexei sotskov Alexei Sotskov returns to Vermont Academy as director of sports on snow. A bright, warm afternoon sun shines down on a snowy campus; perfectly groomed cross-country ski trails carve into the landscape. Hundreds of skiers in brightly colored Lycra stand poised at the starting line of the 2011 Lakes Region Championships. One man, wearing a black cap with flaming red fake fur on top, addresses them over a megaphone. That accent…memorable, unmistakably Russian. Who is it? Is this déjà vu? Could we have we entered a time warp? Nope. Alexei Sotskov, returned to Vermont Academy as director of sports on snow, is back in the saddle. In his two-year absence from the Academy trails, Alexei has strengthened his reputation as a world-class coach and returned to develop, once again, a top-notch Vermont Academy Nordic team.

Alexei Sotskov.

Alexei’s passion for Nordic skiing began at an early age in St. Petersburg, Russia. As he remembers, “I suppose I skied recreationally practically from the time I was born. Both my parents were skiers. My father was a big enthusiast. He competed a bit and was always interested in coaching. He gave up his job as an engineer to coach full time.” Alexei’s older sister also skied, eventually becoming a Russian national champion. In the third grade, Alexei decided he was particularly attracted to ski jumping. He began to compete in Nordic combined events at the junior level, and he continued competition into young adulthood. “At that time, there was a very good system for athletics in the Soviet Union. We were basically paid to do sports from high school onward.” He went on to compete for the Russian junior national and then national teams, where he competed on and off for eight years. He finally called it quits when he was 30, at which point he began his coaching career. In 1991, Alexei was training his skiers to compete in a World Cup event at Lake Placid. While there, he was invited by other coaches to “see some other parts of the States,” eventually finding his way to Gilford, New Hampshire, home of the Gunstock Nordic Association. The GNA asked him to help out with their junior team, which he did willingly. Upon returning to Russia, Alexei soon realized the old system was in flux. “Nineteen ninety-one was a hard time in the Soviet Union. The government was collapsing and money for coaching was running out.” When the GNA offered him a job for the next season, Alexei, now married to Victoria Vinidiktova and father of six-yearold Pavel, decided at that point to try his hand at coaching full time in the U.S. Alexei and Victoria made a home in Gilford and worked closely with the GNA, although they always felt that they would be returning to Russia. “It took us a long

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time to decide to stay in the U.S. For the first six or seven years, we planned to go back. We were comfortable in Russia. We weren’t escaping from anything. I enjoyed working at Gunstock, but Victoria couldn’t get permits to work. That was difficult.” But time passed; Alexei’s sister married and moved to Pittsburgh in 1988, and they realized that since Pavel had only been educated in the American school system, it was best to stay. Their decision to remain in the U.S. was finalized. A few years later, Alexei heard that Vermont Academy was looking for a Nordic coach. He was aware of the Academy’s new jumping complex and took a drive over to check it out on a free afternoon. “I was clearly impressed when I saw the complex. I thought, ‘I could build a program with that.’” He was soon hired as VA’s director of sports on snow, and Victoria was hired to work in the school’s library. Victoria also began teaching Russian as an elective in the language department. Pavel entered VA’s class of 2005. Although it was tough to leave the GNA, along with their home and friends in Gilford, Alexei, Victoria, and Pavel made the move to VA in 2002. Alexei built a strong program over the next six years, winning the NEPSAC title for the boys’ team four times and the Lakes Region Championships five times. His girls also had strong individual performances, although there wasn’t the critical mass necessary to make a team impact. When VA downsized its staff in the winter of 2008, Alexei left for a short stint at Kimball Union Academy, where he was also named director of sports on snow and assistant athletic director. “It was a tough time for VA. It was hard for the school to support people like me. I look at that time as a sabbatical. It gave me a better appreciation for VA and a chance to see how another school operates. I began to think about how you can do things differently.” Soon after, Alexei was hired by the University of Maine, Presque Isle, to coach its Division 1 collegiate team, which included Gordie Scannell, his former skier from the VA class of 2006. Then, in spring 2008, Alexei received an e-mail from NENSA (New England Nordic Ski Association) regarding the New Zealand junior national team. They were looking for a coach. He took a chance, went to New Zealand in his off-season, and fell in love with the country. “It was beautiful. The people were incredible. But it’s complex; they’re in a separate world. Their season is upside down. They compete with Australia. It’s too small of a country to train a team to compete on the European circuit. There is a master’s group that loves Nordic skiing and some good juniors, but there is no collegiate support.”

Coach Sotskov and student volunteers at the 2011 Lakes Region Nordic Championships.

But surprisingly, this small country’s team offered Alexei the chance to fulfill a most-cherished lifelong dream. He had returned to UMPI for the season when he received an offer to coach the New Zealand national team at the 2010 Vancouver games. He went to his college president to ask if he could miss his team’s last remaining competition to attend the games. The president said no. “I was crushed. My sister said, ‘Just give up the job!’ but I said no, I couldn’t do that. Then a funny thing happened. My team wrote a letter to the president. ver mont academy

Alexei readies the skiers at the 2011 Lakes Region Nordic Championships on the VA campus.

They said if I couldn’t go to the Olympics, they wouldn’t ski at their last event. I received an e-mail from the president the next day. It was two letters—O.K.” Coaching at the Olympics was an amazing experience for Alexei. “I had a great time. I learned how close we are in the global sense. The Olympics are all about people, about seeing what we can do as citizens of earth together. It’s all volunteerism; it’s a celebration of the unity of nations.” This one-world sentiment stood in stark contrast to Alexei’s experience the following year with his team at the FIS World Championships in Oslo, Norway. “The skiers were the same—same people, same level, same speed. But the World Championships were all about money, all about business—the business of Nordic skiing.”

This winter some of them turned up and asked to borrow equipment; they wanted to get out on the course. Alexei may be happiest when he sees kids coming back to campus just to ski. “When this happens, I say ‘mission accomplished.’

Alexei plans to continue his coaching relationship with New Zealand while at VA. This long-distance approach to coaching is becoming something of a trend throughout the sport, with coaches working with athletes over Skype. “People at that level don’t need everyday policing. They need ideas, encouragement. This can be done from a distance.” Two of his junior skiers actually joined the VA community this past winter season. Freshman Olivia Thomson of New Zealand and sophomore Tori Adams of Australia took classes, lived in dorms, and competed with the VA Nordic team. Alexei hopes to see VA’s Nordic team regain the level of competitiveness it achieved during his first stint at the Academy. “I’d like to see us traveling to U.S. Nationals as a team. I’d like to work with kids who want to perform well and do their best, kids who want to ski in college.” He acknowledges that bringing life back to ski jumping is a challenge in this day and age, because of the aerial nature of the most popular on-snow sports. “There is tremendous competition from freeski and snowboarding. When Billy Demong, a skier with whom I had worked as a junior, became the first American ever to win a gold medal in Nordic combined at the 2010 Olympics, I was surprised it didn’t generate more interest. We’ll see what we can do.” When asked about the differences between coaching world-class athletes and novice skiers, Alexei concedes there are many. “With novice skiers, it’s an introduction of the basic elements. With a modest improvement in technique, the results are huge. You have to figure out how to accomplish all of the training in the time you have. With World Cup–level skiers, it’s the opposite. The technique is there. You have to teach how not to overdo, how not to overtrain. It’s the reverse effort: to slow down the top athletes in the world. With VA students, the challenge is how to push them to train.”

To read about Alexei’s experience at the FIS world championships, visit www.vermontacademy.org/fisblog

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Many of Alexei’s former skiers have gone on to ski at the collegiate level, including Pavel, who skied for Dartmouth College. This winter some of them turned up and asked to borrow equipment; they wanted to get out on the course. Alexei may be happiest when he sees kids coming back to campus just to ski. “When this happens, I say ‘mission accomplished.’ It used to be, for me, Olympic dream or nothing.” Fortunately for Alexei, that’s one dream he can put to rest. va

2011 ALUMNI EVENT HIGHLIGHTS >

Portland, ME

Alumni and Parents gathered at the Woodland Club in Falmouth, Maine. The gathering was hosted by Keith Canning ’83.

Los Angeles, CA

Braving torrential rain (nearly 6 inches), Alumni enjoyed reminiscing at the Cat & Fiddle in West Hollywood. The gathering was hosted by Adam Tschorn ’83 and Hayley Blain Weinstein ’86.

San Jose, CA

Alumni, Parents, and Students gather at the “Shark Tank” for a San Jose Sharks hockey game. The gathering was hosted by Gordie Russell ’51, one of the owners of the Sharks.

Denver, CO

The Rialto Café in Denver was the spot for Alumni and Parents to gather in the Centennial State. The gathering was hosted by Billi McCullough ’87.

Boston, MA

Bob ’70 and Karin Karol hosted our Boston area Alumni and Parents at their newly remodeled property, The Hotel Tria in Cambridge.

To view pictures of past events, go to: www.vermontacademy.org/alumni/events

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Mr. Howland F. Atwood: The town of Hartland celebrated “Howland Atwood Day” on June 18, 1–3 pm, at the Hartland Historical Society building. A plaque and a bench were dedicated to honor Howland and his wife, Priscilla, who played such an important role in his life. Both grew up in Hartland Four Corners and had strong attachments to Hartland. Several members of their immediate family were present, including Howland’s sister, Priscilla (Atwood) Knox, and some of the Atwood children, nieces, and cousins. The Historical Society and Howland’s family celebrated his life and his impact on the body of historical work that he so carefully documented and preserved.

CLASS OF 1936 Our 75th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.

Mark your calendars now! Bob Beardsley wrote: “I am still living in Springfield, VT. I have been a widower for 14 1⁄2 years after 50 years of marriage. I turned 90 on January 20. I gave up skiing, but I still play golf in the summer. I have two daughters and three granddaughters. I go in to work most every day, which I still enjoy. We sell mostly petroleum-handling equipment—gas pumps, tanks, etc.”

Class Volunteer: J. Whitney Brown, 53 Conanicus Avenue, Apt 2G, Jamestown, RI 02835

Class Volunteers Needed

CLASS OF 1941 Our 70th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.

Class Volunteer: Alexander M. Taft, 12 Governors Square, Peterborough, NH 03458, ztetpet@aol.com

Class Volunteer: Franklin P. Jackson, 120 Indian Trail, Scituate, MA 02066, fpjackson@comcast.net

CLASS OF 1946 Our 65th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.

Mark your calendars now!

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Class Volunteer: Richard A. Leary, PO Box 518, New London, NH 03257; Edward W. Pearson, 257 Old South Road, Litchfield, CT 06759, edwardpearson@aol.com; R. Duke Powell Jr., 217 Rivermead Road, Peterborough, NH 03458, dpowell@comcast.net

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Class Volunteer: William A. Reoch, PO Box 1184, Kennebunkport, ME 04046, reochwg@earthlink.net Class Volunteer: Robert Taft, 105 Kaufmann Drive, Peterborough, NH 03458

George Sperry wrote: “I am 81 now and still percolating. I retired in 2000 after an interesting career as a pediatrician. I have a mild distinction: I received the first medical license issued by the state of Alaska, in May 1959. The figures that I remember best at VA are “The Boss,” “Mr. Barr,” “Beano Trip,” Warren Chivers, and Mr. Brodine.”

Class Volunteer: Robert Scholl, 470 Park Road Extension, Middlebury, CT 067621603, scholllaw@sbcglobal.net

Class Volunteer: Robert P. Scholl, 470 Park Road Extension, Middlebury, CT 06762, scholllaw@sbcglobal.net

Mark your calendars now! Class Volunteer: George W. Bentley, 180 Main St., B106, Walpole, MA 02081, BBent88154@aol.com

Class Volunteers Needed

Tony Mahar wrote: “A lot of great travel—down-sizing— enjoying our children and grandchildren. I enjoyed our 60th last May—great times with Dick Leary, Bob Price, and Joe Johnson and their wives. The campus and program were great! Class Volunteer: Robert B. Anderson, 345 Westbrook Road, Dataw Island, SC 29920, rbanders@islc.net; Webster U. Walker Jr., 210 Southport Woods Drive, Southport, CT 06890

CLASS OF 1951 Our 60th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.

Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteer: Richard L. van Riper, 67 Transylvania Road, Roxbury, CT 06783, vanriper@charter.net

Michael King wrote: “Retirement is great. I’m serving on several arts-related boards: The Park Theatre Restoration (Jaffrey, NH) and The Sharon Arts Center (Peterborough, NH).”

Class Volunteer: Don Megathlin, 925 Main Street, PO Box 125, Cotuit, MA 02635, capemegathlins@verizon.net

Class Volunteers: W. Eugene Hays Jr., 104 Cortland Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789; Donald B. Scholl, 895 Copes Lane, West Chester, PA 19380

Richard Parker wrote: “This November will be my 50th anniversary of owning The Little Silver Shop, Avon, CT. Working every day, although the high price of silver has slowed business a bit. Please see my jewelry on my website, Littlesilvershop.com.” Class Volunteers: Peter Hickey Jr., 37153 South Desert Sun Drive, Tucson, AZ 85739, phickey37@juno.com; Frederic H. Nichols, 1189 Harker Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, fnichols56@gmail.com

CLASS OF 1956 Our 55th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.

Mark your calendars now! Bill Fenn wrote: “I am an Incorporator at Kurn Hattin Homes. Life treats me well. I am retired four years, but always on the move. Since retirement I’ve done Meals on Wheels in the Brownsville, VT, area, walk 2–3 hours daily in the hills and woods, and am parttime unofficial caregiver to my 94-years-young mother.”

Class Representative: Leslie B. Lewis, 45 Laurel Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, badosanaa@aol.com; Robert D. H. Luke, 77 Hillside Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932

Don McInnes, 75 Waterside Avenue, Falmouth, MA 02540; Mark Palmer, 4437 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC, 20007-2041; Dave Bunting, 60 Fenno Street, Cambridge, MA 02138; Peter Myers, 53 Thibault Parkway, Burlington, VT 05401

Class Volunteers: Ronald T. Stewart, 919 Maumee Avenue, Mansfield, OH 44906, marqprint@aol.com; Daniel L. Brown, 13 Foxborough Drive, Gilford, NH 03249, dbrownh@ hotmail.com; R. Penn Lardner, 20705 Meadow Drive, Sonoma CA 95476, richardlardner@sbcglobal.net; George Yeomans, PO Box 33, Westport Point, MA 02791, gyeomans106@yahoo.com

Class Volunteer: John H. Anderson, 304 Murphee Street, Troy, AL 36081-2115, athtrain@troy.edu CLASS OF 1961 Our 50th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.

Mark your calendars now! Class Volunteers: Peter Flatow, 3 Thomas Road, Westport, CT 06880, flatowp@ coknowledge.com; Richard F. Weeks, 4242 N 119th Street, Lafayette, CO 80026, dick_weeks@hotmail.com

Class Volunteers Needed

Class Volunteers: Townsend Hoopes III, 96698 Arrigo Boulevard, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034-2633, toho3@aol.com; David Young, 13006 Avenue, DuBois SW, Lakewood, WA 98498, dmy32544@aol.com

Toby Hoopes wrote: “I’m now fully retired, still doing occasional copywriting and photography project work, but otherwise thoroughly enjoying the peace and serenity of Amelia Island.” Class Volunteers: Craig H. Baab, 637 Cloverdale Road, Montgomery, AL 36106, baablaw@aol.com; Gus Clement, 4815 Rushford Place, Colorado Springs, CO 80923

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PHOTOS

(top left): Ed English ’67 with Mary. (top right): William Hutchinson ’67 with his daughter at her wedding in New Orleans. (bottom): Rick Moulton ’67 on the slopes.

Ed English has been in early retirement since 2006. Enjoying life with Mary (who was at our 40th VA reunion in September 2007). Ed spends his time 60/40 on Bass River, Cape Cod, and Mary’s house in Beacon, NY. Fun side trips to Bellagio, Italy; Jupiter, FL; Zion National Park, UT; and St. Moritz, Switzerland. His son Eric is living in Florida and making triple figures employing a Google marketing model promoting online matchmaking. Daughter Emily is head of the Washington Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. So the planet is a whole lot safer. Kids are gainfully employed and all is well. Looking forward to a football game at the Academy in 2011. Ward Davol emailed: “Things are cranking along here in Greenwich. I wish that the real estate business was doing a bit better, but I’m sure it will come back sooner or later. My boys are doing great: Miller, almost 9, is playing baseball, flag football, and lacrosse this spring. He couldn’t quite make up his mind, but wanted to try everything. It looks like flag football won out in the end, as he now wants to play tackle in the fall. Rector, my almost-12-year-old, played travel lacrosse this spring... Diane and I did a lot of driving! Nic, my 22-year-old, is floating around California with thoughts of studying nutrition. Diane & I are well, but overworked and underpaid.”

Class Volunteer: Richard Janis, 1739 Maybank, Highway B8, #337, Charleston, SC 29412, rick.janis@gmail.com CLASS OF 1966 Our 45th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.

Mark your calendars now! Barry Lubotta wrote: “I am turning 63 this year. I made a goal of playing 63 hockey games this winter. As of March 7, I was at 53. The most remarkable thing is that so far I’ve not had to take a single painkiller!” Class Volunteers: Whitney A. Gay, 5 N. Gateway, Winchester, MA 01890, whitclaud@aol.com; Richard W. Moulton Jr., PO Box 97, Huntington, VT 05462

summer 2011

Steve Weston writes: “I’ve been out of the corporate world for a couple of years but still working with companies on business development in the plasma and whole blood industries. I do keep in touch with Tom Gingras, who is out in Texas. Will be moving to Melbourne from the Ft. Lauderdale area within the next few months. It’s still Florida, but a little more laid back than south Florida. Missed our 40th, but will try to make the 45th. Hope all is well with you. Best Regards, Steve Weston” William Hutchinson emailed: “Snow was pervasive this season and (thankfully) only took one digger worth mentioning—off the back of Mark Gabriel’s binding (after his hockey stopped). He’s now known as “Ace” because he has a little knapsack, so he must be good. Hope I get to be grandpa soon—my daughter JP just got married in New Orleans, Memorial weekend! Picture enclosed of giving the bride away.”

Donn Hutchins emailed: “I’m well and living in Des Moines, IA. I run a small specialty insurance company. Family is all well; three kids who currently are all gainfully employed and have positive cash flow. Life has been good and I do make it back to Vermont from time to time. A reunion at the end of September is tough for me, as this is the busiest time of the year for my work. Lots of preplanned meetings and travel. But we will have to see.” Brad Miller started Creative Matters, his third promotional products company, in January 2011 with his wife, Pam. He says business is doing well in South Florida, but not much need for wood to burn in the fire. Brad is still playing tennis and golf (9 handicap), and rides his bike, roller blades, and is in the ocean a lot. He has a small island scooter and has managed to stay out of the hospital so far. Chris Sinclair ’67 is a part-time Palm Beacher also, and they manage to see each other from time to time. The good news in Florida is that you are still considered young when you are in your 60s and 70s. Brad also has a real estate company, so if any of you are planning on spending your last years in Paradise, give him a call. There is something for everyone in Florida. Check out all Florida real estate at his website, www.palmbeach33480.com. Rick Moulton wrote: “Top of my news are the four grandchildren that live nearby. Both of my kids— Mariah, now 32, and Eli, 39—have two, ages 6 to 2. I hear from Nick Nash up in Maine that his son Zach, who lives near L.A., is getting married this summer, and Nick’s daughter lives out there as well. Daulton Mann ’67 and I get together seasonally. He just taught me another lesson in how to play golf. He hits ’em real well vs. my spraying the adjacent fairways. I do get him down to Mad River Glen, and turnabout on the slopes is fair play. Speaking of the slopes, I helped Ted Chivers see his father’s photos and Olympic ski attire safely enshrined in the New England Ski Museum. My wife, Melinda, and I went out to Sun Valley this spring, where my 1983 movie, ‘Legends,’ was given an award by the US Ski Hall of Fame as one of the best ski films ever made. I speak often with Crandy Grant ’67 but have not yet lured him back on the slopes. In an email with Tom Hanna ’67, who lives in North Carolina, I find all he wants to talk about is warm weather and boats. His kids are in St. Thomas, I think. Brad Miller ’67 wrote from Palm Beach asking, ‘Hey,

Moulton, how many logs of wood are there in a cord?’ My roommate Mike Domecq ’67 is still stuck in the Allenwood Country Club for another three to four years. He is teaching yoga and developing a spiritual side to cope with his IRS incarceration. He sends his best to all of us and hopes to be on hand for the 50th. I have tried to send an email to all of our class that I or the school has an email address for…If you did not hear from me, please send your email address to me at rick@rickmoulton.com. Hope to see all of us come back for our 45th reunion in 2012. Next year. Your Class Agent? I am not sure how this happened. I still cannot spell, and my dyslexia transposes most of my writing. Moulton Rick”

Class Volunteer: Richard Sacknoff, 24 Buckman Drive, Lexington, MA 02421, rsacknoff@yahoo.com

Class Volunteers: Mark D. Russell, 8 Sweet Fern Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, mark.russell@rbcdain.com; John W. Hoder, 95 Riverscape Lane, Tiverton, RI 02878, rfhoder@aol.com

Class Volunteers: Bernard Hoyes, 985 Westchester Place, Los Angeles, CA 90019-2005, bernardhoyes@hotmail.com; Richard H. Patterson, 5 Nibang Avenue, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Class Volunteers: Thomas Hinman, 50 Baston Road, North Yarmouth, ME 04097-6412, thinman14@gmail.com; Stanley A. Wilkinson Jr., 227 Whetstone Road, Harwinton, CT 06791, budw@broadwaysbiggesthits.com

CLASS OF 1971 Our 40th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.

Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteers Needed

Class Volunteers: John M. Brucato, 12 Whip O Will Lane, Milford, MA 01757-1558; Charles P. Gunn, 9 Emery Road, Henniker, NH 03242, Gunn@conknet.com

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PHOTO

Henry Kimball ’79, founder and corporate chair of the Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation, at the 7th Annual JDRF hockey tournament.

organization has assembled a number of events locally. Our biggest event is our WALK, hosted by Elmira College, and YTD we have raised over $800,000! My old bones can’t possibly keep up with the young skaters, but the growth of the event provides enough adrenaline to lace the skates for an afternoon and suffer the aches and pains for an entire week. My thanks to Bob Harrington, Jim Frey, and many others for making VA an important stitch in the fabric of my life.” Class Volunteers: Richard I. Stark Jr., 2007 N. Upton Street, Arlington, VA 22207, ristarkjr@aol.com; Bill Reid, 560 Rt. 198, Woodstock Valley, CT 06282

Class Volunteers Needed

Class Volunteers: James O. Bamman, 2 Reeves Avenue, Guilford, CT 06437, jmbam@ comcast.net; Daniel J. Quartin, 108 Carriage Hill Drive, Newington, CT 06111, d_quartin@cox.net

CLASS OF 1976 Our 35th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

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Class Volunteer: Sean Bersell, 1213 No. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, CA 91207, va77@mindspring.com Class Volunteers Needed

Class Volunteers: Peter L. Hamilton, 31177 U.S. Highway 19 N, Apt. 301, Palm Harbor, FL 34684; Jane Ogden, PO Box 2079, Basalt, CO 81621, janevermont@gmail.com; Diane L. Wilder, 807 Aubrey Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003, wilderfrancone@yahoo.com

Henry Kimball wrote: “I am pleased to say our 7th Annual JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) hockey tournament was a grand success. Our event had 80 skaters in the morning kid’s clinics and 100 skaters pictured for the afternoon event. My daughter Allison is type 1 diabetic (juvenile diabetes), and I am founder and corporate chair of JDRF of the Southern Tier. Our 28

summer 2011

Class Volunteers: Ewing Buta, 141 Oak Tree Drive, Canfield, OH 44406; Lawrence H. Echanis, RR 4, 33533 Wilgus Cemetery Road, Frankford, DE 19945, echanis@mchsi.com; Karen E. Galloway, PO Box 453, Walpole, NH 03608, kegalloway@myfairpoint.net

Class Volunteers: Kathryn Maass Carver, 75 Nice Way, Colchester, VT 05446; Foster R. McKeon, 10 Old Orchard Road, Easton, CT 06612, foster374@aol.com

CLASS OF 1981 Our 30th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteers: Andrew V. Griswold, 8 Whitman Road, Medford, MA 02155; Thomas C. Oxholm, PO Box 266, Saxtons River, VT 05154, toxholm@vermontacademy.org

Class Volunteers: Keith M. Canning, 126 Hersey Street, Portland, ME 04103, pinestate@aol.com; Daniel P. Dougherty, 22 Shattuck Street, Natick, MA 01760

Jim Gardner wrote: “What a year it was! I am still working on the ‘Plastic Fantastic’ 787 Flight Test Program. I am having fun with the kids learning to ski and snowboard this year! I also headed to Iceland for crosswind testing in March.” Class Volunteers: Mark J. Culkin, 823 Tequesta Drive, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, mjculkin@ verizon.net; Mike Gerity, 39 Chapman Terrace, Middletown, NJ 07748, geritym@msn.com

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Class Volunteers: C. Charles Schafer, 41 Larchwood Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764; Chris Stevens, 92 Bullard Street,

Holden, MA 01520; Andy Bigelow, 1002 W. Altgeld Street, Chicago, IL 60614, ajbigelow@hotmail.com

Class Volunteer: Christopher G. Wall, 1 278 W. Early Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660, cgwall@sbcglobal.net CLASS OF 1986: Our 25th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now and look for a group page on Facebook!

Class Volunteers: Billi R. McCullough, 5460 S. Jasmine Street, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, bmccullough@denvercnsx.com; Michelle Wells, 232 West 74th Street #3B, New York, NY 10023-2137, michelle@hoxton7.com

Class Volunteers: Diana Barton Gleeson, 16 Adele Avenue, Rumford, RI 02916, diana_gleeson@yahoo.com; Bay H. Mackall, 31 Gibson Avenue, Narragansett, RI 02882, baymackall@msn.com; Charmion L. Handy, PO Box 439, Saxtons River, VT 05154

Class Volunteer: John T. Kemper, 143 Beattie Road, South Londonderry, VT 05155, jakemper@myfairpoint.net

Jonathon Bald wrote: “I am living in Park City, UT, during the school year and in Traverse City, MI, in the summer. Facebook me if you are visiting...” Class Volunteers: Mary Kennelly Dean, 509 Cherry Brook Road, Canton, CT 06019, hotmary@mail.com; Jamison R. Gagnier, 15 Olde Capeway Lane, Duxbury, MA 02332; Ann Afragola Jones, 21 Maple Street, Woodstock, VT 05091, dvjones@gmail.com; Class Volunteer: Lee Ryder, 1873 South Bellaire Street, Suite 1210, Denver, CO 80222, lryder@univhousing.com

Class Volunteers: Samantha M. Foerster, The Union League Club, 38 E. 37th Street, Box 111, New York, NY 10016; Amy Howard, 317 29th St., Apt 206, San Francisco, CA 94131, amyh294@gmail.com

CLASS OF 1991 Our 20th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteers: Elizabeth D. Adams, 24 Central Avenue, Rutland, VT 05701; Mark C. Engelke, 181 Hillside Avenue, Chatham, NJ 07928, markcengelke@aol.com

On Saturday, February 19, 2011, professional snowmobiler Chris Brown ’92 suffered multiple serious injuries while attempting a double drop on his snowmobile near Whistler, British Columbia. After successfully landing a drop of over 100 feet earlier that morning, Chris went on to attempt a difficult line that included two drops, back-to-back, with fellow rider Geoff Kyle as well as other local riders looking on. Chris landed the first drop and started toward the second drop immediately, but unfortunately was pushed off his line as a result of the off-axis snowpack. With goggles full of snow and his snowmobile speeding up, Chris was forced off the second drop in the wrong direction from his intended line and toward a group of trees. At the last moment, he parted from his snowmobile and put his leg out in front of him to brace the imminent impact. He hit a large, extremely solid tree with his right foot first, then dropped to the snow on his back approximately 55 feet below. Fellow riders immediately went to his aid and, seeing that his injuries were severe, phoned 911. Search and rescue were in the area and arrived on scene shortly thereafter, followed by an evacuation helicopter. Chris was rushed to the Whistler hospital for initial exams and X-rays, then was air lifted to Vancouver General Hospital for surgery and further examinations. Chris’s injuries include fractured vertebrae, shattered heel, fractured tibia and fibula, shattered pelvis, torn abdominal muscle, fractured coccyx bone, lacerated bladder, and internal bleeding. Doctors anticipate he will be in a wheelchair for at least three months. Class Representatives: Adam K. Garner, 900 S. Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704, adam_k_garner@yahoo.com; Noel Tomaino Chipman, 62 Collins Land Road, Unit 61, Weare, NH 03281

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PHOTOS

(left): Molly Hannah Ward, daughter of Andrew Ward ’93, was born on March 7, 2011. (right): Landon Wiseley, son of Sarah S. Smith-Duffin ’95, was born on March 6, 2011.

2010 with the Army at a combat support hospital. I made it back home in time to welcome our daughter, Beatrice Grace, into the world on August 8, 2010. We paid a visit to Saxtons River this spring and enjoyed all the snow. The campus looks great!” Sarah Duffin emailed: “My husband, Richie, and I welcomed our son, Landon Wiseley, born on March 6!”

Class Volunteer: Kirk Vaughan, 328 Pine Nut Lane, Apex, NC 27502, kirk.vaughan@gmail.com

CLASS OF 1996 Our 15th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

Andrew Ward announced the birth of his daughter, Molly Hannah Ward! She was born on March 7 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, weighing in at 7 lbs. and measuring 19 inches. Carolyn and baby are both healthy and happy. Additionally, Andrew recently had the pleasure of meeting up with Saul Mag ’92 to watch the Harvard vs. Cornell wrestling match. “I hadn’t seen Saul since 1994/95. Saul is living in Springfield, MA, and works in finance. I’ve also reconnected with Seth Bostock ’93.” Seth lives in NH and has a law firm, Bostock Law, with offices in Exeter and Manchester, NH, and Springfield, MA.

Class Volunteer: Meghan A. Giroux, 45 Buchanan Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801, Meghan.giroux@gmail.com

Class Volunteers: Erika Gustafson, 34 Wedgemere Road, Medford, MA 02155, gutentuf@hotmail.com; Alison Harmon Johnson, 2415 W. Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625, harmon2476@gmail.com; Sarah Smith Duffin, 300 West 300 North, Kamas, UT 84036, sas8118@aol.com

Jeremiah Long emailed: “It has been a busy time here in DC lately. I was deployed to Baghdad for the first half of

summer 2011

Class Volunteers: Chidozie O. Alozie, 20 Ritchfield Court, Rockville, MD 20850, chido.alozie@gmail.com; Erin M. Kennelly, 100 DiNardo Hall, Bridgewater, MA 02325, ekennelly@ gmail.com; Aaron Walsh, PO Box 305, Marlboro, VT 05344, walshfam3@aol.com; Sarah A. Weilbrenner, 223 Smith Street, #3R, Brooklyn, NY 11201, sweilbrenner@gmail.com

Class Volunteers: Kathryn Abernethy Turner, 20385 Belmont Park Terrace, Ashburn, VA 20147, Alexander H. Law, 2721 Black Oaks Lane N., Plymouth, MN 55447, alexlane@yahoo.com

Class Volunteers: Katherine Farkas Dawes, 100 Mill Creek Road, Apt. 203, Ardmore, PA 19003, katherinefarkas@hotmail.com; Sarah Ramian Murrow, 1166 Naticoke Street, Baltimore, MD 21230, sarah.ramian@roanoke.edu; Andrew W. Tyson, GEMS American Academy-Abu Dhabi, PO Box 110273, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, atyson433@yahoo.com

Andrew Tyson wrote: “After teaching abroad for six years, I’m finally back! I’m in Brooklyn now, serving coffee while waiting to start my next teaching gig in the fall. I play a two-hour jazz set once a week at The Duplex (a piano bar) in the West Village. I also just released an EP entitled ‘Just Under the Surface’ with some of my original piano music. Check out the Andrew Tyson Music fan

PHOTO

Andrew Tyson ’99 playing at The Duplex in Brooklyn.

page on Facebook or look me up on iTunes! If you’re in the city at all this summer, let me know!” Vermont Academy was recently informed that Andrew Davis ’99 has accepted an endowed professorship at Cornell University. With his PhD in business, he’ll soon be teaching MBAs and has been conducting some important research over the last few years. Class Volunteers: Grayson J. Holden, 1722 Virginia Street, Berkeley, CA 94703, grayson.holden@gmail.com; Matthew J. Howarth, 286 Barlows Landing Road, Pocasset, MA 02559, matthewjhowarth@yahoo.com; Patience A. Baldwin, N-136, PO Box 25343, Miami, FL 33102; Jeannlis Sanchez, 1222 Boston Road, Apt. 2A, Bronx, NY 10456, jeannlis@aol.com

Libbey Hunnewell and husband Steve would like to announce the exciting news of the birth of their son, Hunter Bodhi Hunnewell, born on January 18, 2011.

J. Andrew Guard emailed: “Alex Walsh ’01 and I are now engaged to be married. We became engaged on April 25 and are planning to have our wedding in Vermont in August 2012!”

Jeannlis Sanchez wrote: “In two more months I will be taking USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills exams, and in LESS THAN A YEAR, I will officially graduate from Drexel Med and become Jeannlis Vanessa Sanchez, MD! But we all know I’ve been ‘Dr. J’ since I stepped on VA grounds back in 1996! Currently, I’m finishing my surgical rotation at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ, and will return to the City of Brotherly Love and finish my fourth and FINAL year.”

Class Volunteers: Robert G. Bergman, 95 Settlers Drive, Hancock, ME 04640; Cathryn Esser, 299 Hildred Drive, Burlington, VT 05401, cate.esser@gmail.com; Amber Smith DiPasquale, 12102 Green Ledge Court, Apt. 202, Fairfax, VA, asmitr@gmail.com; John F. Penney III, 504 E. 79th Street, New York, NY 10075, jpenney3@gmail.com

Class Volunteers: Kristen Dubak, 561

California Road, Bronxville, NY 10708, kmdubak@gmail.com; Corey E. Esau, PO Box 1035, Quechee, VT 05059, corster271011@ hotmail.com; Devin E. Finigan, PO Box 193, Sedgwick, ME 04676, devineyre@hotmail.com; J. Andrew Guard, 29 Edgemont Street, Roslindale, MA 02131, aguard@obeverages.com; Alexandra R. Walsh, PO Box 207, Westbrook, CT 06498 CLASS OF 2001 Our 10th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

Seth B. Golding married Lisa D. Erhartic on October 23, 2010, in Shelburne, VT. According to his parents, Dan Weinger graduated Boston College Law School in May 2011, and will become an associate at the law firm of Pepper Hamilton in their Boston office. Class Volunteers: Christina R. Flood, 67 Main Street, Apt. 11, Brattleboro, VT 05301, hopugope@sover.net; Britton F. Inglehart, 47329 Westminster Park Road, Wellesley Island, NY 13640, binglehart@gmail.com; Andrew W. Robinson, 21 W. Hughes Street, Baltimore, MD 21230,

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PHOTO

Amy Velte ’03 married Chris Olsen on May 29, 2011.

album, ‘Supersonic Heart Songs’ is now available on iTunes. The record release party was on March 3 at R-Bar in NYC. Also pictured in the photo are Zac Lessin and Erik Frost ’05. Not pictured but present was Justin Ellis ’04. This was the first time all of us had gotten back together at the same time, and it was quite a fun experience to see each other and talk about the past.” Class Volunteers: Laura Gage, 3809 Woodbine Street, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, Lag394@nyu.edu; Corbin S. Vreeland, 324 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills MD 21117, cvreeland@gmail.com; Robert Harlow, 23 Northwood Avenue, West Springfield, MA 01089

andrewrobinson01@gmail.com; Amy H. Velte, PO Box 2048, Jackson, WY 83001, amyvelte@gmail.com Aaron Aldrich is engaged to Kristina Rae Files of Brattleboro, VT. A November 11, 2011, wedding is planned. Sarah Murphy is co-owner of a new business in Antigua, Guatemala. She has opened !Ay Robot!, a comics bookstore serving up coffee, kitch, vintage toys, and a lot of fun for locals and tourists alike. See them on Facebook! Amy Velte married Chris Olsen at Moose Creek Ranch in Victor, Idaho on May 29, 2011. They were surrounded by friends and family including Molly Velte Graham ’99, Will Graham ’99, Paul Velte ’01, Tyler Wright ’02, Ryan Plunkett ’02, Chris LeCornu ’02, Matt Furney ’02, Carter Mosch ’02 and Tyler Harlow ’03. Class Volunteers: Edward P. Duess, 1416 Amherst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025, eduess@gmail.com; Jean-Daniel Lussier, PO Box 132, Lennoxville, Quebec J1M 1Z4,Canada, jl24@calvin.edu; Hillary A. Talbot, 3913 Westminster West Road, Putney VT 05346

Zac Lessin emailed: “This photo was taken during the record release party for Javaid Ahmed ’04. His debut

summer 2011

David Krisch wrote: “I am about to start the MA Economics program in financial economic policy at American University, and currently reside in Washington, DC.” Class Volunteers: Austin DeLonge, austin.delonge@gmail.com; Jourdan Goldstein, 7718 Boedeker Drive, Dallas, TX 75225, jourdan911@aol.com; Zachary Jandl, 3 Spruce St, Apt #2, Burlington, VT 05401, zjandl@hotmail.com; Calvin Stowell, 1 Charlestown Road, Claremont, NH 03743

CLASS OF 2006 Our 5th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteers: Cassandra Howe, PO Box 164, Alstead, NH 03602; Alexandra Moran, 10184 Granite Square Station, Durham, NH 03824; Kelli Morin, 14 Parker Lane, Haverhill, MA 01832; Kaitlyn Schiro, 63 Londonderry Drive, Greenwich, CT 06830; Chelsea Szidik, 108 Mountain View Drive, Weathersfield, VT 05156

Meghan Annis wrote: “I graduated Champlain College in May 2011 with a BS in computer & digital forensics. A few weeks after graduating I started my new job at Vermont Information Processing in Colchester, VT.”

PHOTO

Class Volunteers: Paulina Borrego, 122 W 8th St, Antioch, CA 94509, pborrego@bowdoin.edu

Class Volunteers: Ashley Greenwood, 13 Gaskill St, Mendon, MA 01756-1136 agreenwood@assumption.edu

Javaid Ahmed ’04, Zac Lessin ’04, and Erik Frost ’05 at the record release party for Javaid Ahmed’s debut album, ‘Supersonic Heart Songs’.

Shannon Scott is attending Indian River State College in Ft. Pierce, FL. Class Volunteers: Greg Jacobs, 8 Lincoln Street, Bellows Falls, VT 05101, gjacobs202@yahoo.com; Kerrin (Ana) Lundberg, 407 Gladstone Street, Jacksonville, IL 62650; Brooke Wilcox, 152 A. Monument Hill Road, Springfield, VT 05156, bawilcox@vwc.edu; Sophie Yingling, P.O. Box 247, Truro, MA 02666, syingling@student.umass.edu

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Marika Gerhart is a first-year student at Hampshire College. Class Volunteers: Kelly Johnson, 60 Orchard Drive, Eastham, MA 02642; Jake Keohan, 24 Brady Road, PO Box 1534, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562; Adam Hennick, 109 Marie Curie, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec2 H9A3C5

in memoriam

Ms. Eleanor G. Blanchard | 1929 We received word that Eleanor Blanchard recently passed away. Eleanor had been living in Underhill, VT. She was the wife of the late Byron Blanchard ’30.

Mr. Richard W. Baldwin | 1938 Richard “Dick” Baldwin, 91, passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2011, at his home, and was laid to rest on May 24 with full military honors in a private ceremony. He served as a lieutenant on the USS Dashiell during WWII and was awarded the Bronze Star, as well as four other medals and 10 stars. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946. Dick lived in Cranford, NJ, for 62 years and worked at Morgan Stanley in New York City, retiring in 1993 at age 74. Dick was a very active and consistent class agent for his Vermont Academy class as he reached out often to his classmates through letters and phone calls; he kept the class engaged and connected to VA and will be missed dearly. Dick also served as a member of

the Vermont Academy Board of Trustees for several years, and was the first chairman of the Alumni Fund. Dick was very involved in the Presbyterian Church and over the years served as deacon, elder, trustee, and most recently as the chairman of the Church Investment Committee at the Cranford First Presbyterian Church. He also had just completed a chapter on his experience in WWII for a soon-to-be published book, Dartmouth at War. Dick is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy; a sister, Shirley; four children, Bill, Sue, Linda, and Barbara; and eight grandchildren.

Mr. Willis L. Curtis | 1938 Willis Lansing Curtis, 94, died at his home on April 18, 2011. Will married Jane Pitkin of Scituate, MA, in 1940. Although he was the fourth generation of a shoe manufacturing family, he loved the outdoors, and with wife Jane moved to Vermont to raise Jersey cattle and run a dairy farm.

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Will and Jane Curtis.

In the 1960s, realizing that small-scale farming was not viable, the couple bought the Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock. Advertising for the Yankee Bookshop on radio station WNHV led Will to another career as a radio commentator. His program on Vermont Public Radio, “The Nature of Things,” was one of the first to address environmental concerns. It was heard from coast to coast, and even in Barrow, Alaska. His commentaries were compiled in two books, The Nature of Things and The Second Nature of Things. Collaborating with Frank Lieberman, Will and Jane published the art history book Monhegan, the Artists’ Island. In all, they published six books, ranging in subject from Calvin Coolidge’s Vermont years to the history of the Green Mountain Club. With Jane, Will participated frequently in Tony Adams’s popular WCAX television show, “Across the Fence.” For many years, Will took voice lessons; he performed in numerous plays at Woodstock’s Little Theatre and sang in the St. James Church choir. In his 70s, he discovered the delights of watercolor painting. He loved anything to do with the outdoors: spring skiing in Tuckerman’s Ravine, fly fishing on the White River, backpacking on the Long Trail. Best of all, he loved sitting around the dining room table surrounded by his family and dear friends. Will was president of the Woodstock Historical Society and was on the board of directors of the Vermont Institute of Natural History. He represented Hartland in the Vermont General Assembly in 1963, serving on the Conservation and Development Committee. With Jane, he traveled from the Arctic to Patagonia, even tracking Siberian tigers in the Russian Far East. Will received the Dr. Florence R. Sabin Distinguished Alumni Award from Vermont Academy in 1989. He is survived by his wife, Jane; his daughter, Katherine; his sister, Louise; three grandsons, Thomas, Samuel, and James; and a great-granddaughter, Alex.

Mr. Ralph R. Graves | 1938 Ralph “Dick” Graves Sr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 13, 2011, at Pinebrook Rehabilitation Center in Venice, FL. Ralph is survived by his wife, Irene, his daughter, Judith, and his sons Ralph Jr. and David. His son Philip died in the spring of 1978 and Marcia H. Graves, his wife of 50 years, passed away in 1991. Ralph also leaves several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many other friends and family. While at Vermont Academy, Dick excelled in baseball and was scouted by major league teams, including the Boston Red Sox. After two years at Norwich, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and achieved the rank of master sergeant. His duties

summer 2011

in the army included manning an artillery bunker from the shores of Nahant while keeping a watchful eye for the presence of German U-boats. After serving his country, he married nurse Marcia Hobbs and resided in Williamsburg, MA. He became owner of FN Graves & Son, Graves Chevrolet, and Graves Equipment with his brother, the late Norman F. Graves. Ralph served on the board of selectmen in Williamsburg, the board of directors for Northampton Savings Bank, and the Spofford Lake Golf Club in Spofford, NH. Ralph and his brother, Norman, assured the family history would endure by donating the contents of the 1870 Graves Brothers’ Wagon Shop to the Long Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages in Stony Brook, NY, a part of the Smithsonian Institution. The Graves family received a letter from President William Jefferson Clinton praising the display and the history it represents.

Mr. William C. Huntington | 1939 William “Bill” Huntington died on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. Bill attended VA for two years, where he participated in baseball, basketball, football, and the rifle club. During WWII, he served as a liaison pilot and field artillery officer. Bill served as president of the Windsor Club, chairman of the Windsor Zone Board of Appeals, on the board of directors of the Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum and the Shade Tobacco Association. He was a charter member of the Lions Club. Bill was a partner in Huntington Brothers, growing tobacco for 40 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Joan B. Huntington; and a brother, Edward Huntington ’47. He leaves behind his two daughters and two grandchildren.

Mr. A. Bruce Durkee | 1942 Bruce Durkee, 87, of Naples, FL, died on February 23, 2011, after a long and valiant battle with cancer. Family, friends, and care providers will always remember Bruce’s big smile as he responded, “I’m fine,” when anyone asked how he was feeling. He is survived by his devoted wife, Jean; his beloved daughters, Karen, Joan, and Sarah Durkee; his fabulous grandchildren, Dana, Andrew, Caitlin, Ruby, and Charlie; and his wonderful brothers, Donald Durkee ’43 and Larry Durkee. Bruce attended Dartmouth College but withdrew to earn his wings. He served as a WWII U.S. Navy carrier pilot, flying torpedo bomber missions in the South Pacific after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Prior to his retirement to Naples, FL, Bruce was president and CEO of Durkee-Mower, Inc., in Lynn, MA. He loved the game of golf and was an excellent player, competing in the U.S. Amateur twice. He was two-time club champion at Hole-in-theWall Golf Club of Naples and three-time club champion at

Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead, MA, where he resided before retiring to Naples.

Mr. John E. Craver | 1943 John Craver of Dudley, MA, passed away on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. He attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, and was a Navy veteran of World War II. John was a leather buyer for Bates Shoe Company and was the owner of Campbell Shoe Store in Portsmouth, NH. John was active in his church and community. He was a member of the Church of the Reconciliation in Webster, where he served as a member of the vestry and as senior warden. He also served as a selectman in Dudley, a board member of United Way, Inc., a corporator of the Webster Five Cents Savings Bank, a trustee of Nichols Academy, and a longtime member of the Webster-Dudley Rotary Club. He was also a charter member of the Black Tavern Historical Society. He leaves his wife of 62 years, Eleanor (Trull) Craver; four sons; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He also leaves three brothers, Perry Craver ’40, Nelson Craver ’41, and Edgar Craver ’47.

Mr. F. Perry Davis Jr. | 1944 F. Perry Davis Jr., “Rocket,” died Monday, December 13, 2010, at Hallworth House, in Providence, RI. During his four years at Vermont Academy, Perry participated in the Outing Club and the football and baseball teams. The Outing Club spent their afternoons working on trails, repairing cabins, building the Jones Hall ski trail, sugaring, helping neighboring farms to harvest, and in Perry’s senior year took their first hike up Ascutney Mountain. Perry’s senior year on the football team turned out to be a historical one, as this was the team that “broke the jinx” and finally defeated Kimball Union Academy after loosing to them for six years straight. He proved to be a valuable asset on the varsity baseball team as well, as he led the team from the pitching mound and was one of the their best “sluggers.” Perry spent his working years as president of Davis DriveYourself, a licensee of Hertz Corporation, and a vice president of United Guarantee Mortgage Insurance Co., a subsidiary of AIG. He was a lifelong member and past president of Wannamoisett Country Club, Rumford; a member of Harbour Ridge Yacht & Golf Club, Palm City, FL; and a former member of Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY. He was a 50-year member of the Sons of the American Revolution. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Besides his wife, Ruth, he is survived by his four daughters. including Judy Davis ’84; one brother; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. John H. Wheeler | 1945 John “Hub” Wheeler, age 84, passed away on January 15, with his family at his side. He is survived by sons John, William, and Tim and stepson Peter; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, David Wheeler ’58, and nephew Keith Wheeler ’82. At Vermont Academy, Hub was known for his sense of humor, as he stated his biggest pet peeve to be Sunday morning study hall, and, although a slim athlete, he willed “his obesity to ‘Skeleton’ John Andrus.” In his senior yearbook notes that “with unassuming ways, he would tread the halls of learning.” He was a triple-threat athlete, participating in football, skiing, and baseball while also finding time to involve himself in the Rifle and Outing clubs as well as act as an editor for the Life Exchange. Hub was a veteran of the World War II military police in Korea. He was an investment banker with Carreau, Smith, Inc., and Advest for 31 years prior to his retirement in 1985, and was an allied member of the New York Stock Exchange, a member of the American Bankers Association and a director of the Montclair National Bank. He was also a member of the Palm Beach Pundits and a member of the U.S. Power Squadron for more than 50 years. In addition to his family, Hub had a tremendous love of skiing and boating. He was a certified professional ski teacher and a member of the Professional Ski Instructors Association for more than 50 years. He was also a member of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance. A Connecticut alpine ski champion in 1958, he was also a former president, chairman of the board, and life member of the Sterling Ski Club. He also held board positions with the Connecticut Ski Council, was an official and coach at the Winter Special Olympics in 1980 and 1982, and served as an official at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. He also served as the head examiner for the United States Eastern Amateur Ski Association (USEASA).

Mr. Richard W. Partridge Jr. | 1947 Richard (Kye) Partridge Jr. passed away quietly March 30, 2011, in Princeton, NJ, where he had resided for the past few years. Affectionately known as “Kye” by his family and friends, Richard was an accomplished sailor, having twice won the U.S. National 210 championship and placed in the top three positions on several other occasions over a 60-odd-year sailing career. He was a lifelong member of the Hingham Yacht Club. He was a skilled craftsman and loved repairing and rebuilding small boats for his children and later for his grandchildren. Kye was also an avid skier, whose

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passion for skiing began at Vermont Academy when he skied under coaches Warren Chivers and Nat Niles. He attended Middlebury College and later graduated from Nichols College. He then entered the U.S. Air Force, serving four years as a staff sergeant during the Korean conflict in the 1950s. As a certified professional real estate appraiser, Kye later worked for over 20 years as a member of the Hingham Board of Assessors, while simultaneously running his own successful appraisal business with his son, until his retirement in 1995. Richard is survived by his wife, Alice, his children, Linda and Richard, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Mr. C. David Galacar | 1961 David Galacar died unexpectedly on Thursday, August 13, 2009, of heart failure while eating supper with some members of his family. He was 66 years old. He leaves behind his wife and best friend, Leslie Galacar; and his two sons, Joshua and Christian. David was a health aide professional who specialized in helping elderly patients. In his youth he departed Boston University to sail before the mast on the barkentine Cutty Sark as well as other vessels in the Caribbean Sea and in Hawaii. His adventures would fill a book. While he lives now only in the memory of those who loved him, we know that, as was his wont, he is heading into the wind on a fullrigged ship, and that he does not stand alone anymore at the wheel.

Mr. Harry L. Wilkinson | 1965 Harry L. Wilkinson, 64, passed away at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, MA, on Saturday, April 23, 2011. He lived most of his life in North Andover, graduating in 1964 from North Andover High, where he was the class president for four years. Harry joined Vermont Academy for a post-graduate year. He was an accomplished three-sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Tufts University and worked in the Woburn, MA, school system for 35 years.

Mr. Rodney E. Griffin | 1968 Rodney Everett Griffin passed away unexpectedly on May 24, 2011, at his brother and sister-in-law’s home in Silver Spring, MD. He grew up in Saxtons River, VT, where he played grade school basketball, Little League, Babe Ruth and Legion baseball, and became a Life Scout. While at Vermont Academy, Rodney ran track and was captain of the cross-country team. He graduated from University of Vermont in 1972 and also earned a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources and Regional Planning from UVM. He worked for the Northeastern Vermont Development Association in St. Johnsbury for many years and spearheaded such projects as the Waterfront at Island Pond, the Barton Graded School Gymnasium, the Central St. Revitalization in Newport, the Willoughby Lake Beach, and many 36

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other projects. Rodney later worked for Dufresne-Henry in Springfield, the State of Vermont, and TD BankNorth in Barre, VT. Rodney is survived by his three daughters, his parents, and 4 siblings, including Ronald Griffin ’69 and Robert Griffin ’71.

Mrs. Ellen Patterson Mrs. Ellen Patterson, longtime friend of Vermont Academy and mother of John Patterson ’63, David Patterson ’67, and Richard Patterson ’70, died after a brief illness on April 28, 2011, in her home in Durham, CT. She was the wife of the late Herbert M. Patterson for 63 wonderful years. A true matriarch, Ellen always provided an enthusiastic and joyous welcome to the young and the old in her historic home in Durham and at the family’s summer cottage in Fenwick. She adored life, her extended family, her friends, barns, and Durham. Ellen’s exuberance, style, grace, and kindness were legendary and appreciated by everyone who was fortunate to have known her. In addition to her children, Ellen leaves her 11 grandchildren, along with her great-granddaughter, and numerous nieces and nephews, including Jim Lyman ’79 and Evan Lyman ’12.

Dr. Allison W. Saville Dr. Allison W. Saville, “Doc,” passed away on March 10, 2011, surrounded by his loving family in his home. He was the devoted husband of Grace, his wife for 51 years, and the caring father of Deborah, David Saville ’80, Mark Saville ’84, and Joyce. At Vermont Academy, Doc chaired the history department and advised the archeology project for 10 years during the 1980s. He was a well-respected teacher, dorm parent, and coach and was honored with the dedication of the 1989 yearbook. He was affectionately described in the dedication as someone who “walked the halls muttering to himself about warm weather and what he was doing forty years ago today; but when he stepped into the classroom, he meant business.” Doc taught the importance and relevance of history, culture, and civilization to literally thousands of students at academic institutions such as the Lakeside School (WA), the U.S. Naval Academy, Texas A&M, the University of Hawaii, and Vermont Academy. He was known to infuse his teaching with humor, wit, and personal experience, and concluded his career at the age of 80 as a professor at Daytona Beach Community College. Doc’s journey as a historian provided him with numerous opportunities to pursue related interests outside the classroom, and he did so with great enthusiasm. Most notably, he served as a curator at the Smithsonian Institution, restored and sailed on the Gazela Primera during OpSail76, was curator of the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, and worked with the Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum.

VA A LU M N I : W E N E E D YO U !

Mentor Pilot Project Kick off meeting on Alumni Weekend, September 23-25, 2011

R. Penn Lardner and Dan Brown, Class of 1960: When we returned to VA last year for our 50th reunion, many members of our class, in collaboration with Andrew Ward ’93, co-president of the Alumni Association, approached the school about starting a mentoring project. We felt this would be a way to support Vermont Academy in addition to our financial contributions.

ABOUT THE The mentoring project is designed to connect VA alumni with current juniors and seniors and MENTORING to network with recent college graduates. We hope to inspire and educate the students and PROJECT young alumni by sharing information about the educational and career paths that we took to >

get ourselves established in the careers we hold today—although a number of us had a variety of business experiences that preceded our present positions. Eventually, we would like the program to build to where we can mentor a student throughout his/her senior year, college years, and even beyond, through internships and networking.

BECOMING Initially, the project will kick off on Alumni Weekend, September 23–25, 2011. We will meet A MENTOR with students in the senior class to discuss the mentoring program and have a school presenta>

tion on Saturday. We are looking for alumni from other classes to help as mentors—and that is where we need you.

VOLUNTEER Commitment to the mentoring project involves as little or as much time as you are able to give. YOUR TIME! You can offer to simply be a part of the initial Alumni Weekend panel, agree to assist young >

alumni in making career connections, or work directly with a current senior enrolled in the senior seminar program at VA. You can make connections using email, telephone, other electronic means, or even occasional trips to personally meet with a mentee. We, as alumni, are in agreement that VA impacted our lives in numerous and positive ways. This project will allow us, as classes, to stay connected with each other, the students, and the school. It promises to be a great project, and we hope you will consider joining us.

Please contact either Tom Oxholm (toxholm@vermontacademy.org) or Ella McIntosh (emcintosh@vermontacademy.org) at VA in order to volunteer for this project.

W W W. V E R M O N TA C A D E M Y . O RG

NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID 10 Long Walk, Saxtons River, VT 05154

WHT RIV JCT VT PERMIT 86

Save the date! V ERMONT A CADEMY

REUNION WEEKEND

Sept. 23-25, 2011 Mark your calendars now for this year’s

VERMONT ACADEMY

REUNION WEEKEND Join in the fun, reconnect with classmates and savor the beauty of autumn on the VA campus.