SPRING 2018
I Remember: The Traditions
Global Business & Entrepreneurs
Greetings
In This Issue
Wayland Academy
Greetings Wayland Academy Greetings, March 2018 The Oldest Alumni Publication in America wayland.org
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I Remember: The Traditions
Greetings is published for the alumni, parents, students, friends, and staff of Wayland Academy. We welcome letters concerning the content of this magazine and/or issues relating to the Academy. Letters must be signed and we ask that you include your address and daytime number for verification purposes. The editorial staff retains the right to edit at their discretion. Send correspondence to: Greetings Editor, Wayland Academy 101 North University Avenue Beaver Dam, WI 53916
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Developing Empathy and Leadership
Or email the Editor at: esorvik@wayland.org
Joseph A. Lennertz H`86 Head of School jlennertz@wayland.org co n t r i b u to rs
Emily Schroeder Orvik Editor, Director of Communications esorvik@wayland.org
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Kendall A. Vingua `02 News & Notes Editor, Director of Alumni Relations kvingua@wayland.org
Creating Global Connections
Linda Fischer H`92 Copy Editor Faculty Emerita Judy L. Hill H`08 Director of Advancement jhill@wayland.org Stephanie Levey Advancement Associate slevey@wayland.org
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Kelly A. Neuert H`17 Director of Donor Relations kneuert@wayland.org
News & Notes
Tyler Ratajczak Leadership Gift Officer tratajczak@wayland.org d e s i g n & i l l u s t r at i o n s
Ariel Esser arielesser@gmail.com
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Greetings
In this 1991 photo, James Ritman `84 paused among the technology needed to make the measurements for his Ph.D. research in nuclear physics. Photo credit: A. Zschau, GSI Darmstadt. on the cover:
MAKING GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
On a mid-winter weekend, campus (and the community of Beaver Dam) springs to life during the annual Global Fair. With timing coincident to the Winter Olympics, the event yields ample opportunities to make thoughtful connections to different cultures and nations. Students carefully prepared some of their favorite foods and thoughtfully presented aspects of their native cultures to the broader community visiting the Wayland campus. Through conversations and food, it was a celebratory learning experience. Learning continues outside of the classroom in other ways as well. Participation in sports provides students with numerous lasting life lessons including those of leadership and empathy. Jing Jin `20 of Beijing, China and Mohammad Nafisi Bahabadi `18 of Bushehr, Iran, share how
their involvement in sports has impacted their perceptions of the world around them. You’ve undoubtedly heard about how individuals learn differently. Wayland faculty continue to employ a variety of teaching techniques to enable students to be successful in the classroom and beyond. We’re highlighting some of those teachers and their work in this edition of Greetings. Wayland alumni share insights about their journeys since their days on campus as they continue to make an impact around the world. We’ve caught up with a selection of individuals involved in business and research that demonstrate a global reach. Soon we’ll bid farewell to the Class of 2018. We can rest in the knowledge that they will go out into the world in this next phase of life establishing a new generation of global connections while demonstrating the knowledge and character for which Wayland alumni are known.
We hope you enjoy this edition of Greetings.
Nordhen Lama `20, Jannis Unser `20, and Reece Walker `20 welcomed visitors to the Wayland campus during Global Fair.
Spring 2018
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CAMPUS NEWS
ARTS AT WAYLAND
WAYLAND VOCALISTS WORKSHOP WITH UW – WHITEWATER MUSICIANS Music students were treated to a special concert in Kimberly Chapel on January 10 when the UW-Whitewater Chamber Singers and Vocal Jazz Ensemble visited campus. Following performances from Wayland’s Concert Choir and the acapella group, Almost Famous, the morning concluded with vocal workshops led by Robert Gehrenbeck, conductor of the UW-Whitewater Chamber Singers and Sharri VanAlstine, director of the UW-Whitewater Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
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Alumnus Visits Campus Art songs and arias emanated from Kimberly Chapel on Valentine’s Day morning as Chicago native, tenor Matthew Hernandez `10 performed a recital for students. Following the performance, he addressed student questions about the music business and the effort it takes to major in music. Choral music students also participated in a workshop to enhance their vocal production and gain valuable performing skills. Later that evening, Hernandez joined Ryan Klug (founder of the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater Spotlights group known for their cabaret performances) for a community workshop at the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater. The two coached students from both Wayland and Beaver Dam High School to refine their performance skills.
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Greetings
Hernandez earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music performance. He has appeared with Chelsea Opera in NYC, and completed the Professional Program at SongFest in L.A., singing in master classes with Martin Katz, Thomas Hampson, Roger Vignoles, and Sanford Sylvan. Previous credits include Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) with Toronto Opera Workshop, Enrico Carouser (Too Many Sopranos), Luis (The Gondoliers) at Syracuse University, and both Pacôme (Le Roi L’a Dit) and Pedrillo (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) at Manhattan School of Music where he completed his master’s degree. A recent highlight was collaborating with composer, Jake Heggie for the Guggenheim Museum’s Works and Process series based on Heggie’s new opera, It’s a Wonderful Life.
IMAGE 01
Matthew Hernandez `10 encouraged Wayland vocalists during a workshop following his concert on campus.
ART CLUB HOSTS EMPTY BOWLS EVENT The Wayland Art Club, in collaboration with Artist in Residence Justin Behm, created one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls for an Empty Bowls benefit in late February. The event, based on events held by Empty Bowls, a national effort to combat hunger, featured a soup buffet in hand-thrown bowls. Attendees purchased tickets in advance, enjoyed their soup dinner, and selected a handcrafted bowl to take home. The project gave the campus community an opportunity to exercise their creative muscles. Behm threw 50 different bowls on the potter’s wheel. After the initial firing, Art Club students and others on campus spent time in the evenings glazing the bowls before a final firing. (Watch a video of Mr. Behm at the potter’s wheel on the Wayland Academy Facebook page.)
SPRING PLAY CAST SELECTED Rehearsals have begun for Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit being presented on Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20 at Lindsay Auditorium. The play first appeared on Broadway in the early 1940s and was later adapted for film as well as TV and radio. The play centers around Charles Condomine, a successful novelist researching the occult for a project. He arranges for an eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to hold a séance at his house. Madame Arcati inadvertently summons Charles’s first wife, Elvira, who has been dead for seven years. Only Charles can see or hear Elvira, and his second wife, Ruth, does not believe that Elvira exists. The ghostly Elvira launches efforts to disrupt Charles’s current marriage. Ticket information will be available through Wayland’s social media channels or at the door.
WAYLAND CELEBRATED THE FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS The Wayland community gathered on a mild early December evening to celebrate the Christmas season with The 53rd Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. Preludes played by student musicians began each of the two services in Kimberly Chapel. As is the tradition, the service included a series of Bible passages or lessons read both in English and in the native language of a member of the Wayland student body. Between each lesson, a vocal or instrumental carol is played. The service concluded with the entire community singing Silent Night.
Proceeds from the event support hunger prevention efforts at PAVE (People Against A Violent Environment). Wayland students are familiar with the efforts of PAVE through Day of Caring activities.
See more photos of The Festival of Lessons and Carols at waylandacademy. smugmug.com/ Festival-of-Lessonsand-Carols Spring 2018
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CAMPUS NEWS
GLOBAL FAIR SERVES UP FOOD AND FUN Global Fair returned to Wayland for a third year on Sunday, February 11, 2018, with a delicious array of food from around the world, cultural booths, and entertainment! The day before the event, students used the professional kitchen at Madison Area Technical College, as well as the kitchen at Wayland, to prepare massive quantities of their favorite foods to serve to Global Fair guests. Specialties from spring rolls to stuffed grape leaves were enjoyed by all. Community members connected with students, inquiring about their cultures and homelands. Other community cultural groups were also available to share information. The event is a partnership between the Beaver Dam Community Library, Moraine Park Technical College, Madison Area Technical College, and Wayland Academy.
Gabbie Perry `19, Cha Cha Onwochei `18, and Tia Thomas `20 celebrate their friendships during Global Fair.
View more photos online at waylandacademy.smugmug. com/Global-Fair-2018/ 5
Greetings
CAMPUS NEWS
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General Assembly despite having cheered
WAYLAND WINS EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE JUNIOR CLASSICAL LEAGUE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
herself hoarse earlier in the day. During Assembly at Wayland the following Monday morning, JCL participants were recognized by the campus community with a standing ovation. Dr. Lake noted, “Many of these kids had no idea what they were
Wayland’s Junior Classical League
getting into by signing up for Latin when
(JCL) team recorded another amazing
they came to Wayland. Instead of shying
year. At the Wisconsin Junior Classical
from the challenge, they put in MORE work
League State Convention at the end of
to memorize passages, create costumes,
January, the team secured an eighth
and study for 12 academic tests in order to
consecutive first place trophy as small
attend State Convention. Let this be the
school champions. Comparing the average
lesson: the next time you are presented
number of points earned per delegate,
with a choice–don’t be afraid to choose the
the Wayland delegates secured twice as
hard option. It is the way of a champion.
many as the nearest other small school.
Now let’s get ready for next year!”
Comparing total points–measuring school against school no matter the size–Wayland ranked third in the state, surpassing two other schools that had more than 60 delegates in the competition. Zoe Kane `18 was at the top of her game
WAYLAND STUDENTS SERVE IN THE COMMUNITY
Dr. Lake acknowledged Mrs. Tyranski as an incredibly helpful and enthusiastic chaperone again this year, and Minh Nguyen `19 for ensuring the items needed to compete at the State Convention were prepared and in place.
finishing in second place for the entire state, large schools and small. Her hard work during last summer helped her performance. According to JCL advisor
Wayland students regularly volunteer to assist at the Second Harvest Food Bank Mobile Pantry Program. On the second Saturday of each month, students work with other community volunteers to set up tables in a building at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. Then the volunteers organize pallets of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable foods in preparation to personally hand food items to area families in need. Within about 90 minutes, more than 600 individuals representing 300 families obtain food. According to Second Harvest, households typically obtain between 50-75 pounds of a wide variety of food from a mobile pantry stop. The Mobile Pantry Programs also provide Second Harvest Foodbank with a way to increase food distribution so nutritious, non-perishable foods as well as perishable foods, such as milk, juice, bread, and fresh produce, do not go to waste.
Dr. Keely Lake H`12, “It is an amazing accomplishment to overcome nearly 500 other eager Classicists competing at all levels.” Grace Rowley `18 served as one of the “consuls” of the team, ensuring that
IMAGE 01
creative arts events and spirit costumes
Grace Rowley`18, Ali Hess `18 and Zoe Kane `18 celebrate at the Victory Bell.
were completed, which was an important
IMAGE 02
part of the victory. She delivered a most eloquent and gracious speech at the third
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Students and faculty sorting fresh vegetables at Second Harvest Food Bank.
Spring 2018
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A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE The day we attended the fall Open House last year changed our son’s outlook on his academic life forever! Fast forward a year... he is now a freshman attending Wayland Academy and absolutely loves all aspects of it! The staff and students are incredible! It feels amazing to see your child fitting in with such diversity and knowledge! I encourage anybody who is looking for a new school to attend the open house and see what Wayland can offer you. Hopefully your student will leave that Open House feeling enthusiastic that they found their “squad” like our son did! – Steve Wierenga, father of Max `21
Discover why Wayland is more than the traditional high school experience. Attend the Spring Open House Saturday, April 7, 2018 8:30 am to 1 pm
OPEN HOUSE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Personal campus tours A preview of Wayland’s challenging and supportive atmosphere Discussion session with students, faculty, and current Wayland parents Class visits Lunch in Pickard Dining Hall
REGISTER NOW: WAYLAND.ORG/OPENHOUSE 7
Greetings
Admission interviews
COMMENCEMENT HONORS ANNOUNCED
CAMPUS NEWS
These honors are awarded by the faculty to the seniors who best exemplify Wayland’s 01
motto of “Knowledge and Character.”
Soon enough the winter cold and snow will yield to the freshness of spring and the days remaining on campus for the Class of 2018 will pass quickly. In preparation for Commencement on Sunday, May 20, 2018, the following honors have been announced.
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IMAGE 01
Valedictorian Esther Zigira, left and Salutatorian Ellie Tyranski, right. IMAGE 02
Commencement speaker Kris Boucher H`90, Associate Dean of Admission.
The Valedictorian for the Class of 2018 is Esther Zigira of Kigali, Rwanda. Elizabeth (Ellie) Tyranski of Beaver Dam, WI, will be Salutatorian. These honors are awarded by the faculty to the seniors who best exemplify Wayland’s motto of “Knowledge and Character.” In addition to their high academic achievements, these students also demonstrate a strong commitment to Wayland’s ideals. Four members of the Class of 2019 have been selected as Junior Marshals. They are Hannah Davis of Beaver Dam, WI; Lily Fedler of Sauk City, WI; Simar Garcha of Beaver Dam, WI; and Ray Wu of Beijing, China. These individuals were selected by the same criteria
used to evaluate the senior class. The Junior Marshalls lead Wayland’s faculty and graduating seniors to Commencement. Associate Dean of Admission Kris Boucher H`90 is this year’s commencement speaker. Mr. Boucher began his Wayland career as the Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education. He also taught physical science and health education at various points early in his employment here. In 1993, he transitioned to the Wayland Admission office where he has held a variety of leadership positions. He has also served as coach or assistant coach for many sports teams including JV football, JV softball, ice hockey, wrestling, and baseball. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Norwich University in Vermont and a Master’s in Sports Administration from Ohio University. Mr. Boucher recently announced that he plans to retire on June 1, 2018. Spring 2018
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Traditions connect us to the past while we look hopefully forward to the future. Alumni wrote us, especially on social media, to share their memories of on-campus traditions. We also heard from alumni favorably impacted by their experiences on campus.
The vi ct or y bel l was built and installed during my freshman year. I loved ringing it for athletic victories and then each of us rang it for our graduation. Glad it’s still used. Can’t believe it’s 50 plus years. – Barbara Lindeke `66 I t hi nk f or us it was probably the ringing of the Victory Bell. As I recall the Victory Bell, then located at the entrance to Lindsay Gym, was a graduation gift of the Class of `63. My class was the first to be able to ring it and it was very meaningful to be able to do so that October after the varsity football team’s 7-6 upset win over previously undefeated Milwaukee Country Day – our arch rival. – Mick Maier `64
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Greetings
It wa s a Sa t u rday ev en in g in the late spring of 1967 and the freshman guys in the Class of 1970, relegated to the top floor of Wayland Hall, had some time on their hands. The “school activity” that night was the second and final performance of the spring play, Malcolm the Dragonslayer, but the guys had taken it in the night before, having been “cordially” invited to attend. The top floor’s faculty resident, a math teacher named Judson Smith, was off campus for the weekend. The faculty resident
“
The enhanced hydro-engineering project involved generating enough water flow to flood not only the bathroom but also the entire upper floor hallway, creating an olympic waterslide nirvana.
The only tr ad ition that I especially recall is the Festival of Lessons and Carols. But I would be shocked if that hasn’t already been mentioned. It was always the highlight of being in the Choir. A beautiful Christmas tradition, it was an honor to participate in it. – Betsy Wallman `71
on the floor below, English teacher Billy Clark, was directing the play, which he had written. A third faculty resident, the Assistant Librarian, Eli Seighman H`71, was also over at Lindsay enjoying his second helping of the play. The one “gang bathroom” that serviced the entire top floor of Wayland Hall was located in the middle of the hallway. It was not an infrequent practice for the top floor denizens to plug the shower drains with towels, thereby turning the bathroom into a butt slide arena. But tonight, the gentlemen were ready to take their hydro-engineering aptitude to a higher level. Several sources imply that the architect of this impending bit of chaos was future Board of Trustees Chair Will Luedke `70. But other reliable evidence points to now deceased classmate Bob Schmidt `70, who did not want to be at Wayland in the first place but was forced to matriculate by his then board member father. Schmidt ultimately got his wish and did not return to Wayland after his sophomore year. The enhanced hydro-engineering project involved generating enough water flow to flood not only the bathroom but
also the entire upper floor hallway, creating an Olympic waterslide nirvana. Sprinting from the Park Avenue end of the hallway, the lads hit the water with either a traditional butt slide or a head-first baseball slide. After several test runs, it became apparent that the gentlemen’s underwear were an impediment to maximum sliding distance, and the event quickly turned “bucky.” Among the class members either verified or rumored to have been part of this quasi-religious experience, in addition to the aforementioned Messrs. Luedke and Schmidt, were the following crew of die-hards who would make it to the finish line and graduate in May of 1970: John Unland, Bob Conner, Bill “Edmundo” Aylward, Dr. Greg Ludlow, “Sam” McCreedy, Tom Schiek, and Steve Smith. The Wayland Hall frolicking went on “way past our bedtime,” as one collaborator put it, but like all good things, it inevitably came to an end. After a notably spectacular display of unsynchronized water ballet featuring a three “Navy Seal” ensemble, the guys looked up to find Mr. Clark and Mr. Seighman, both just back from the play, standing at the head of the middle stairs. Both men were visibly moved by the sight beholding them, but in different ways. Seighman, then, as always, a gentle soul, was simply slack-jawed at the extent of the damage created. (By this time, the flowing water had created a mini Niagara Falls running down the stairways.) Mr. Clark was angered. His arms akimbo and his mouth frozen into a snarling scowl, his optic expression was what in modern parlance would be referred to as the “stink eye.” No one can remember what punishment was meted out to the aquatic miscreants. This was clearly not a “dismissal” event like harboring blue tinted vodka in your mouthwash bottle, smoking cigarettes, or exhibiting a “negative attitude.” The lads were most likely confined to the dorm the following Friday and Saturday nights, with a sentry posted outside the bathroom. – Anonymous `70 Spring 2018 10
What w as the wo rd that we had to yell before each theatre production... “mitsui?” I remember crossing hands down below the stage in the room that we all got to write on the walls and yelling at the top of our lungs. If anyone said anything before the first word on stage, it was bad luck. Does anyone remember? Was that the right word? 26 years later and I don’t remember for sure.
Dedicat ed t o George Cobb H`80, David Fierke, David Proctor H`07, Diane Alpaugh H`83, Bill Baxter H`83, Bev Dohmann H`64, Elias Khreish H`78, Eli Seighman H`71, Bob Shantz H`85, Dave Kasper H`81, et al.
– Heidi Spilman Weber `91
Perhaps I am biased, yet as I look back, it seems that, at least in my journey, I’ve noticed that while some people from each subgroup magnify their spark, interestingly Wayland alums seem to outpace any other group. Somehow Wayland is an environment which both attracts and nourishes people who have chosen to bring that internal spark of divine toward the top of their persona.
That w as it. Just went backstage during alumni weekend. It’s the same... – Paul Bostian `92
A m om e nt of gr a t e ful re fl e c t i o n on our Junior year (1959-1960) English teacher, and the eponymous benefactor of your library, Miss Swan `25. (I’m not sure if I ever knew her first name.)
Lately I have been thinking quite a bit about the concept of Namaste. Recognizing and honoring the spark of divine within each of us. As we move through this life, most of us have spent significant time with multiple subgroups, e.g. family, friends of our pre-teen years, Wayland friends, college, international peoples we’ve interacted with, people we’ve spent time with through employment, etc. (Clearly Venn diagrams apply here.)
I can’t point to any one thing (and certainly we were not a group of angels) yet through decades the Wayland milieu consistently seems to have fanned those sparks. While some have been noted by worldly measures, many of us have gone on to live quiet, yet extraordinary lives. One example from the “Wayland milieu” that comes to mind, is the summer reading lists. The reading was 100 percent voluntary, there were no assignments and no follow up of any sort. But I chose to read many of those books each summer and am a better person for it.
She is the closest thing to Emily Dickinson I ever met. She presided over our class with an almost Victorian grace; indeed, she seemed almost out of place in 20th century America. The protagonists of Macbeth and even (shudder) Vanity Fair were alive to her, and she made them alive for us.
Today the topic of psychotropic drugs was brought forward by an alum. This conversation took me back to Aldous Huxley. The summer reading list gave me Brave New World. (Obviously they didn’t put his Doors of Perception on the list.) Kudos to small town librarians who managed to keep books like Sons and Lovers, The Lottery, Catch-22, Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle, and Madame Bovary in their stacks. Kudos to Wayland’s library, also well stocked with “banned” books.
God bless you, Miss Swan. You helped awaken countless minds, including mine.
Thank you to all those who mentored us and to my fellow alums, thanks for being (and becoming) you!
– Bob Johnstone `61
– Melissa Wissell Overson `77
11 Greetings
Mr. Proctor H`07 (English teacher) gave everyone in his classes a nickname. I remember he always called me Jiminy Cricket and my brother Mike Yanikowski `73 was given the nickname Michelangelo. I don’t remember any of the others; however, I suspect every one of his students will remember their nicknames. – James Janik `74
Wh e n I a t t e n d e d Way l and we received ratings between 1 (low) to 5 (high) on virtually anything and everything. Your weekly rating determined your privileges. As I recall you were always hoping for at least a 4. Well, at least I was. One of the ratings involved cleaning your room. One Saturday, my next-door neighbors (David Larson `71 and Thomas Platt `71) pulled out all their furniture and proceeded to clean their room to the point you could eat off the floor. They attained an unheard of, and impossible, 6 rating. I let them know they were making me look bad and please don’t do that again. Still one of my favorite memories from freshman year. – John Caselli `71
In t h e 40s , we were required to attend Chapel every morning. Because it was non-denominational, it became what I believe were lessons on how to live a good life. This helped me when I was 15 and home in Chicago on Christmas break. It was dark as I walked down Milwaukee Avenue, when a man grabbed my right arm and said, “Do what I say or I will kill you.” When I saw no help around, the following words came to me. “My only hope is to see God and the good in him.” As he pulled me, I pulled back and searched his eyes for his good. I said, “Leave me alone.” He kept pulling me so I pulled back again and looking deeply in his eyes I said again, “LEAVE me ALONE.” He then gave me a push and said “Okay, go on then.” I feel what I learned at Wayland helped give me the courage and the beautiful thought I could use to heal the situation.
Ho m ec o m ing f lo at s c o me t o m ind . . . We built ours in Dave H`81 and Nancy Kasper’s garage on Franklin Street. Mibby Clay `73 was our artistic ringer and the rest of the class stuffed a mean chicken wire. The ones that I remember best... A Morton Salt container with a Wayland Cheerleader… “When it Reigns It Pours”. A Heinz 57 Mustard Jar… “We’ve Mustered Up the Spirit for a Victory”. Class of `73 was big on condiments! Look at the Pillars...there is proof! – Shelley Greenwood `73
– Marge Thornton `48
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I feel what I learned at Wayland helped give me the courage
‘I REMEMBER...’ CORRECTION
and the beautiful
A sharp-eyed reader notified us that we misidentified Miss Schwarzmeier in the photo on page 12 of the last edition of Greetings. The photo was of Mary Ellyn Carolan, a science teacher from the mid1970s. This image of Miss Schwarzmeier is from the 1973 yearbook.
thought I could use to heal the situation.”
Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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CAMPUS NEWS
DAY STUDENT LOUNGE RECEIVES A MODERN MAKEOVER Through the generosity of two day student alumnae, the Day Student Lounge (DSL) underwent a significant makeover earlier this year. The space, adjacent to the Wayland Store and the mailroom, not only receives a great deal of pass through traffic but can be a hub of activity for students between class periods. During Winter Break the walls received several coats of a neutral paint color, which established the perfect background for new wood and metal study tables, gray and blue chairs, and a gray-blue modular seating unit. New artwork featuring neutral tones with splashes of red and gray tie the space together as a refreshed and comfortable space to study or quietly socialize with friends. Proceeds from this year’s special initiative at the 2018 Spring Gala & Auction will fund enhancements in other community gathering spaces that encourage connection among students and the wider Wayland family. 13 Greetings
BEFORE
A N EV ENING AT WAYL A ND 42nd Annual Spring Gala & Auction
easily update and track the status of your favorite items. Can’t attend the Gala? You can still
The annual Gala & Auction is one of
participate in the auction. Online bidding allows
Wayland’s most important fundraising
you to place bids using your computer or mobile
events. The evening features fabulous
phone from anywhere.
entertainment, exceptional food and
Proceeds support the Academy Fund, which helps
beverages, and the excitement of both a
Wayland attract and enroll outstanding students
live and silent auction.
whose families can’t completely afford the cost of Wayland’s superb education, as well as programs like athletics, fine arts, and improvements on our campus. Proceeds from this year’s special initiative
Browse and bid on a diverse selection of
will fund enhancements in community gathering
merchandise and experiences donated by alumni,
spaces on campus that encourage connections
parents, and friends of the Academy. Mobile
among students and the wider Wayland family.
INFO
bidding for silent auction items enables you to
TIME
DAT E
Visit bidpal.
5:30 pm
Saturday, April 21, 2018
net/wayland to purchase tickets for the Gala, register
X
FOOD & DRI N K
X
E NTE RTAI N M E NT
X
AUCTION
to bid online, and support Wayland.
Spring 2018 14
CAMPUS NEWS
ATHLETICS
CURTIS DELL NAMED BEAVER DAM DAILY CITIZEN “PLAYER OF THE WEEK” Basketball player Curtis Dell `18 was featured in the February 15 edition of the Beaver Dam Daily Citizen as their Player of the Week. Dell told the paper that he appreciated the “amount of effort we put into team chemistry. Most teams in Wisconsin played with each other for years, but Wayland is a boarding school and we don’t have the same connection most players have. We have been putting in extreme effort to create our own chemistry and we have been improving over time.” Dell also is a member of both the football, and track and field teams; plays in the Jazz Band and Concert Band; serves as a Global Fair host speaker; and tutors middle school students.
Swim Team Members Post Personal Best Times
yard butterfly, and placed second in the 100-yard backstroke, while Meier was a runner up in the 100 free with a time of 52.29.
Following their record-breaking ways from last season, Wayland swimmers competing on the Wayland/Beaver Dam cooperative team continue to post personal best times and achieve exceptional results.
In the 200-yard individual medley event, Miguel Serrano `19 finished third while shaving seven seconds off his previous best time. Simar Garcha `19 also swam a season best time the 100yard breaststroke in 1:30.19.
While no swimmers advanced from the sectional meet on February 10, the team broke the Wayland 200-yard medley relay record of 1:48.20 set in 1963 by Dick Yeager `66, Steve Sloan `63, Lloyd Rodenbaugh `63, and Jim Freeman `66. Earlier in the season, Easton Meier `18 and Chris Neil `19 contributed to the winning efforts of both the 200-yard medley relay, which broke a Beaver Dam High School record, and the 400-yard free relay. Neil also posted a season best time of 1:05.35 in the 100-
15 Greetings
LESSONS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Students Develop Empathy and Leadership Through Athletics by
P.J. OSVALD H`11
I
t is Wayland Academy’s mission to prepare each student for college and beyond. While most people understand easily enough what is demanded of college students, what one needs to be prepared for “the world beyond” is ephemeral. What Wayland students learn in the classroom is readily translated to the demands of higher learning. It can be more difficult to discern the ways in which living and studying here prepares young people for the world outside–a world which seems increasingly plagued with a deficit of leadership and a lack of empathy. Retired General Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently wrote, “Effective leaders have a sense of empathy. They listen. In listening, they learn. In learning, they become empathetic. Empathy is the voice of compassion in our ear. Effective collaborations require a high degree of understanding and empathy.” The important challenges of the world beyond the halls of academia require the qualities Dempsey praised: empathy and leadership. Contrary to common misunderstanding, a leader is not the person shouting at you for doing something wrong, but rather the person
who pulls you along with him or her, saying, “I’m going to do this tough thing–come with me.” Empathy is a form of selflessness. To feel someone else’s experience, you have to give up your own. At Wayland, one great way to develop these traits in young people is through the challenges of team sports. Every day, in every drill during practice, and in every competition, our students experience opportunities to practice leadership. A central challenge of team sports is conditioning individuals to give up themselves for the achievement of the group. Being part of a team forces the individual to become part of something bigger than themselves. One of the great traditions at Wayland is our Day of Caring, when students give time and talent performing tasks–often unpleasant ones–because these things need to be done. The obvious outcome is that litter on the side of a highway is picked up, or donated items are cleaned and sorted at a community service agency. When the physical effort has passed, we know that Day of Caring reinforces empathy. Students’ experiences outside the classroom, especially in our athletics program reinforces these lessons every day, as a calling to our students to become part of something greater and more important than themselves. The following stories told by two Wayland students demonstrate examples of this, of empathy and leadership learned through hours of practice and competition with students of different backgrounds, and of thoughtful leadership, contributing to community through sharing a love of sport.
Mohammad Nafisi Bahabadi `18 shook hands with an opponent before a wrestling match. A number of Wayland students wrestled as members of the Beaver Dam – Wayland Academy cooperative team. Photo credit: Justin Behm
Spring 2018 16
established the soccer club, naming it King Club. I shared my idea and what I had accomplished so far with representatives at the Beijing Sport University. I inquired if they had sports equipment to donate to Changshaoying Primary School. They were very happy to donate a variety of sports equipment to the school. With all of these details arranged, when the Changshaoying Primary School starts summer break, a student from Beijing Sport University and I will start the summer soccer training camp.
L
ast summer, I began a big project relating to soccer. The summer break can seem very long, and I worried how I might spend my vacation in a way that would be fun. Upon learning about my situation, my mom’s friend Annie suggested that I teach some kids how to play soccer. It seemed like a good idea because I’ve played soccer. When I was in sixth grade, I was playing soccer with my friend. A soccer coach saw how well I played and asked me to join his team. While I attended middle school, I set up the girl’s soccer team and became the team captain. I worried that as one person it would be hard to teach a lot of children to play soccer and realized if I organized a team of my friends, we could help more children. Five of my friends joined me. With each of them in charge of a different area, I began to organize a soccer club. My mom contacted the Beijing Municipal Education Commission to help me to find some suitable schools. This led to a meeting with the Sports 17 Greetings
SOCCER CAMP SERVES PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS by
JING JIN `20
Director of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission. After sharing my idea about the soccer club, they were very happy with my project and willing to help me find suitable schools. They suggested three different schools to visit. I surveyed the details of the schools and imagined how my idea of the soccer club would come to life. I chose the Changshaoying Primary School because it seemed this school needed my help more than the other two schools. Chagnhshaoying Primary School is in the mountains, very far from downtown Beijing in an area that experiences poverty. With a school selected and details coming into place, I officially
With a good start during my 2017 summer break, in 2018 I plan to find more schools and help them. Also, I want to make a league for all those schools so that they can play soccer matches against each other. Through all those activities, I learned a lot of things. Perhaps most importantly I saw that in the world, there are many people that need help. The students from the mountainous area near Changshaoying Primary School were isolated and never had the opportunity to come to central Beijing. I hope the soccer club will not only teach the children the sport but will help them thrive.
ABOVE
Jing Jin `20 led a classroom session of the King Club soccer camp near Beijing, China. BELOW
Eager King Club soccer camp participants from Changshaoying Primary School lined up for a group photo.
WRESTLING RESULTS IN PHILOSOPHIC REVERSAL by
MOHAMMAD NAFISI BAHABADI `18
C
hoosing to join the Beaver DamWayland cooperative wrestling team in the middle of my senior year was a surreal, self-centered experiment. I wanted to prove I could naturally be better at something than most people no matter how inexperienced I might be. The extent of my wrestling experience was watching my native Iran acquire most of its total medals in wrestling competitions of the 2012 Olympics and being secretly in love with the sport for its rich heritage. The first day of practice was shocking. For those unfamiliar, wrestling is a very intense and high contact sport. As former U.S. Olympic wrestler Dan Gable puts it: “Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.” I unconsciously started chewing my nails from anxiety and discomfort of the intense drills and warm ups. During practice, I was grateful to have run on the cross country team in fall, so the sensations of physical exertion and being out of breath were not strange. On the way back to Wayland, I pondered the entire experience and felt pleasantly humbled from the joy that came with exerting my strength while trying to get physical control over someone else. As I came to terms with the fierce environment, I realized that it was about self-reflection, a means to examine the limits of my body and how my mind would respond when I was physically exhausted. I promised myself to learn something about myself each time I stepped on a mat. The first scrimmage of the season came quickly. I felt anxious but refused to let
it show. “Wrestling is about convincing your opponent,” our coach always said, “to let you win.” Looking around the place, I began to truly understand how so much of the matches are purely mental. It was my time to put my mind in the laboratory of a wrestling mat, the place where rapidly changing physical situations would push the boundaries of my cognition.
and smell the dripping sweat, and I knew the best technique would win the match. He lowered his center of gravity and surprised me with a marvelous ankle pick, pinning me again moments later. By the end of the match I realized my perceptions had changed. I could not help but embrace him. Complimenting him on the ankle pick, I asked him to do it again, so I could see it in more detail.
I stepped on the mat, looking directly into my opponent’s emotionless face. The referee blew the whistle to start the match and within four seconds, my nose started bleeding. Nosebleeds are common for new wrestlers. By rules, the referee stopped the match. I had a weird willingness to just continue. Something inside me wanted to grab my opponent and beg him to challenge me again, this time to push even harder.
While I might have walked off the wrestling mat without learning something new about myself, in retrospect my observations with my now “best wrestling buddy” have profoundly affected me. My attitude towards him changed so dramatically in a matter of minutes that day. I think our shared experience at the practice made us compassionate helpers of each other. When we were both breathing heavily, trying to get into a superior position, we knew how much we shared and how much better we could be if the other person was better. Through careful observation of each other we created a secret language between us where a reversal and a takedown became virtuous, which may sound nonsensical to someone unfamiliar with wrestling.
Later that evening, on the way back to Beaver Dam, I was contemplating why I liked the physical adversity of wrestling when a teammate began an argument about the immigration policies of the Trump administration. Listening carefully to him was all I could do that night; my lips were locked together to hold my great anger. Next day at practice, I was still trying to understand why wrestling is so addictive. We were told to find a partner. As I looked around to find someone, the coach pointed me in the direction of the fellow who had been preaching on the bus the night before. I popped my knuckles, preparing to satisfy every reason I pursued wrestling. I wanted to prove how he had no right to share the same mat I wrestled on. We shook hands. I watched his leg waiting for a mistake or a stepping pattern to hint at his strategy. Grabbing my hand, he reached to my leg and pinned me by tripping me right on my back. I tapped on the mat to show my discontent and returned to my stance. I tried to hold his neck, making him move awkwardly. I could hear our heartbeats
Wrestling is a language, part of a shared culture. In 1998 the United States wrestling team was the first athletic team to visit Iran after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The competition serves as a reminder that speaking with the same words as someone else is not a guarantee of mutually comprehended communication. In fact, it is not even a prerequisite. What brings us together is a willingness to know more, to be curious about the differences, and grasp a sensation through a shared experience.
Spring 2018 18
A World of Difference
Alumni Share Their International Experiences
19 Greetings
NEAR LEFT
In this 1991 photo, James Ritman `84 paused among the detectors needed to make the measurements for his Ph.D. research. Photo credit: A. Zschau, GSI, Darmstadt FAR LEFT
Becoming a mother propelled Yoko Shimada `95 to change careers and start Mitera, a maternity fashion company.
him to specialize in nuclear physics. “Unsurprisingly, life is more than just classwork,” Dr. Ritman reflected. “My girlfriend at the time, who I later married, was an exchange student from Germany.” They decided that he would come to Germany to perform the research phase of his graduate studies. Favorable coincidences combined with personal drive resulted in an opportunity for Dr. Ritman to conduct thesis research in Germany. “At this point I had not made a conscious decision to emigrate, but rather kept all options open to be able to return to the US after completing my Ph.D. thesis,” he noted. “This was a big step for me, but the decision to leave the public school in Rochester, Minnesota to go to Wayland was also a big step. Knowing that I mastered the challenge of going to Wayland gave me confidence for my newest challenge.” While many German scientists come to the US to study and work, there are very few scientists from the US working in Europe. This novelty was useful as his career progressed. “In Germany, one can only move up the ladder if one can show that she or he has been
visitors to campus often gasp in awe at the row of national flags displayed from the second-floor railing of the Swan Library. The nearly 30 flags, carefully positioned by students as representatives of their countries of origin during the opening week of the school year, serve as a tangible reminder of the global reach and impact that a Wayland education provides. The knowledge and character formed during days on campus has influenced and guided generations of students as they’ve moved on to post-secondary education, into challenging careers and across the world. Alumni reflect how their experiences academically and socially at Wayland have helped them to overcome challenges and achieve success on the global stage.
abroad and proved themselves outside of their comfort zone,” Dr. Ritman explained. “Being an ex-pat, this was taken for granted, and I am convinced that without my early experiences at Wayland, I would not have been able to adjust into this new environment so quickly.” Dr. Ritman credits his mentor Monsieur Victor Sampon H`60, who “through his example helped me understand the value of our differences and that they can be turned into a great asset. This realization was crucial for me to find my path to success as an ex-pat living in a foreign environment.” He also noted that social guidance provided by George Cobb H`80 proved invaluable when living in the student housing at the university and in Germany. After 20 years of building his reputation in the scientific community as an independent researcher as well as teaching in lectures and laboratories, Dr. Ritman was selected to become both a full
James Ritman `84 knew before coming to Wayland that he wanted to study at a university and that his course of study would be in a technical field. In an Advanced Placement (AP) physics class taught by Mitch Disch H`93, Dr. Ritman noted the individual attention he received in the small class, combined with Mr. Disch’s excellent instruction, motivated him to pursue physics. “In a very vibrant way he brought across the wonder of how we can predict what will happen in nature by observation and modelling what we see with mathematical models,” Dr. Ritman recalled.
professor at the University of Bochum in Germany and lead a
Upon completing a Bachelor of Science in physics at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Ritman continued to graduate school at SUNY, Stony Brook, on Long Island, NY, where an instructor encouraged
Dr. Ritman carefully balances management tasks with his work
research institute at a national laboratory in Juelich. With more than 6000 employees, the research center is among the largest publicly-funded centers in Europe. Founded more than 60 years ago to develop nuclear power for civilian purposes, the institution’s focus has shifted to other socially relevant topics, namely research concentrating on renewable sources of energy production as well as the high-performance computing challenge. While a majority of his time is spent at the national laboratory, as a researcher, educator, and advisor. He holds a weekly twohour lecture for graduate students and serves as thesis advisor for
Spring 2018 20
cont.
masters and Ph.D. students who are doing research work with him at the lab. He feels some of his most rewarding work is speaking with the Ph.D. students about what they have done, and what their plans are. “The greatest pleasure I have with my work is when these young scientists complete their degree, win a competition or achieve some other distinction,” he reflected. At the lab, Dr. Ritman leads an international group of 30 individuals of different education levels in building detectors for high energy particles and addressing high-performance computing challenges. The work leads to conferences and labs around the world to present results and confer with other researchers working on similar topics. Since only very few people have the background needed to effectively do the type of research being pursued in his group, he is always on the lookout for promising candidates in this field. “The very diverse student body at Wayland opened my mind 01
Many global adventurers have a collection of tales about trial and error and misunderstanding when immersed in a new and unfamiliar culture. Dr. Ritman shared a personal story about his early days in Germany. He noted
to the creative potential that can be tapped by looking at things differently,” Dr. Ritman explained. “The technical capabilities demanded of the students changes with time, but curiosity and analytic ability remain core competencies. Since the details of the work are outdated very quickly, we must always be on top of the newest developments.” Dr. Ritman said, “my interest and efforts remain true to achieving a better understanding of basic scientific questions, such as which phenomena emerge from the fundamental forces of nature, in particular the strong (nuclear) force.” He reflected that his time and experiences at Wayland provided the means to help him find his own quest.
that he learned many years later that an acquaintance, upon arrival in Germany, had experienced the same situation. Arriving in Germany from the United States, suddenly everything was different. At work the first thing I realized was how little I knew, and how terribly much I had to learn. My private life was not much different. In some sense this was like showing up for the first time at Wayland to stay in the dormitories. I bought some oranges with a strange name (Blutorange) that I did not understand. The first one had had all sorts of red spots inside, so I threw it away because it obviously had gone bad. The second one also landed in the trash as it had also gone bad. When it appeared that the third one had also gone bad, I had to question my convictions, and tried a piece. As you might guess, they were of course the most beautiful oranges that I had ever tasted. Growing up in a small Midwestern town did not expose me to this type of thing, but it did instill curiosity. While I might be two oranges poorer, because they landed in the trash, my life is richer because of this experience and the delicious taste of the Blutorange.
21 Greetings
02
yoko shimada `95 arrived at wayland as a foreign student from Japan. “It was such a formative experience,” she recalled. “Above all, I gained resilience and resourcefulness from trying to navigate my new life in America without my family and living in a boarding school with a bunch of fellow teenagers who were also all away from their families!” Wayland had a significant international population and the insights and exposure Ms. Shimada gained during her time on campus served as a foundation for her international career. During her undergraduate studies, she had planned to become a human rights lawyer, but her father’s unexpected and untimely death from a Hepatitis C infected blood transfusion at a time when screening for viruses was not in place, inspired her to pursue a career in global public health. “The insights I gained through interacting and being friends with students from all over the world furthered my interest in venturing out of my comfort zone and definitely served as the foundation of my international career,” Ms. Shimada said. “It taught me to be open-minded about things. I studied and worked abroad in both college and graduate school and ended up living in so many different countries around the world. I 03
don’t know if I would have said yes to the opportunity of living in Dubai had I not had the exposure at Wayland.” Ms. Shimada secured a role as a specialist in the Global HIV/AIDS program at the World Bank in the early 2000s. Then, as Deputy Director of Diagnostic Services at the Clinton Foundation Health Access Initiatives, Ms. Shimada helped increase access to high quality diagnostic and laboratory technology to help prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in developing nations. In the late 2000s, Ms. Shimada returned to the World Bank as a health specialist for Africa. Gathering and analyzing data, she worked with government partners in countries like Liberia,
01
Celebrating the success of two of Dr. Ritman’s students who had just completed their PhD exams. They are wearing the “Doctor-hats” on either side of Dr. Ritman in the center of the group. 02
Dr. Ritman confers with scientists and presents research at conferences across the world. He is with a colleague from Paris at a conference near Moscow. 03
Ms. Shimada works at a dress form while her son looks on.
Rwanda, and Lesotho to develop and implement policies to improve the health of people in villages and cities. One of the priorities of the many programs she worked to deliver was saving the lives of mothers and their children. Her son’s birth in 2010 propelled Ms. Shimada towards a career change. After the birth of her daughter in 2013, Ms. Shimada launched Mitera, described on the company’s website as a line of fashionable, functional and practical day to night clothes for pregnant and nursing mothers. Ms. Shimada mused, “though both career paths are really challenging in their own ways, I feel fortunate that I get to do what I am passionate about.”
Spring 2018 22
“if you see an opportunity to impact the world by addressing a critical need... don’t be afraid to try it.”
cont.
While the clothing line features beautiful, well-constructed clothing to suit mothers, Ms. Shimada’s personal beliefs and values are also reflected in two significant and very naturally fitting marketing components: promoting efforts at waste reduction and improving access to quality health care for mothers and babies around the world. Typically, maternity clothing is worn only for a few months and the volumes of fabric added to the garment can be difficult to adjust for wear after pregnancy. By designing and producing versatile clothing items with a stylish use beyond pregnancy, the wasteful piles of otherwise discarded maternity clothing can be reduced. Mitera’s Mother to Mother™ program designates a portion of the company’s revenue to innovative organizations that
US-based Mitera is predominately a direct-to-consumer brand with customers in nearly 30 countries around the world. The company has a retail presence at LevelKids, a specialty department store in Dubai and will also be available soon at maternity specialty stores in Tokyo. She anticipates the brand will add new products in April and continue to expand the product line. When asked about the challenges and opportunities presented in the international marketplace, Ms. Shimada explained, “Many businesses operate across different
are helping to improve maternal and newborn health around the world. Reflecting on the brand promise, Ms. Shimada noted, “I want Mitera to be an honest expression of what I believe in and reflect who I am as a person. I also always remind myself why I took one of the biggest leaps of faiths in my life – to help women’s journeys through motherhood and also empower them to have a meaningful life beyond motherhood.”
time zones and we try to keep our staff virtual and fluid to keep our overhead low as we try to grow as a business.” While there are challenges, she felt living in Dubai also provided advantages as she works to expand the brand in the Middle East and Japan. Sharing the wisdom gained through her journey, Ms. Shimada encouraged others setting out on an entrepreneurial journey, “You only live once. Charter your own path. Don’t be afraid to fail. View failures as stepping stones to where you want to go. If you see an opportunity to impact the world by addressing a critical need or have a burning desire to change the status quo, don’t be afraid to try it. You never know where that leads you. If you ‘fail’ (and you can create your own definition of a failure), at least you learn something out of the experience. It is okay to change course in your life. It is never too late to start something new. It is your life and nobody else’s!”
PHOTOS
of Yoko Shimada `95 courtesy Sassy Mama Dubai (Photography by Nektar) and Refinery29 (Photography by Mark Lim).
23 Greetings
AS SEEN ON CAMPUS
BALD EAGLE SIGHTING On a crisp clear February Friday, a surprise visitor swooped in and surveyed campus from the winterbare treetops. Once endangered, the population of bald eagles continues to rebound. There have been other reported sightings around Dodge County, but to have an eagle keep watch over Wayland for an afternoon felt like a rare privilege.
For other spring time fun on campus, visit vimeo.com/ waylandacademy/ thinice for a studentMAPLE TAPPING Daylight is lengthening, the snow is melting, and the sap in the maple trees
produced video that is sure to bring back memories of the
on campus is running, which means spring is coming to Wayland. Students in
transitional time
Craig Hill’s H`06 science class tapped a tree near the Dye residence halls to
between winter and
make maple syrup.
spring. Spring 2018 24
01
Immersive Experiences Build Foreign Language Skills First-year German students filed into Catherine Mangones’ classroom after lunch one afternoon dressed in a variety of unusual outfits to celebrate theme day with their mentor groups. As the class settled in, a mix of voices speaking both English and German filled the air. Using German, Ms. Mangones’ asked a student about his yellow shirt. The student began to explain in German that he was the yellow in his mentor group’s rainbow. He paused at the word rainbow and switched to English. Ms. Mangones’ face lit up as she explained to the class how the German word for rainbow originates from the words “rain” and “arch.” With that informal, but memorable, conversation the vocabulary of each student grew even before the lesson began. Today’s lesson? Students read aloud a version of The Little Red Hen. A portion of the exercise required students to sketch key details of the story on a worksheet (much like a comic book) to use when they retell the story as part of a later assignment. Students made quick sketches of the little red hen and her companions as well as the key actions while talking through the story again. Later in the period, two different versions of the story are compared. In one, the hen lives in a small house, while in another she lives
in a large one. Students engaged in a lively discussion, sometimes punctuated with bits of English and hand gestures as they put pieces of the German language together into conversations. Ms. Mangones coached and encouraged every step of the way switching easily from German to English to facilitate student comprehension. The instruction is based on Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS). The premise is that students acquire language more easily the same way they learned their native language as a child. “Storytelling and song is an easier way for students to learn,” Ms. Mangones explained. “Students can more quickly assimilate bigger bites of the language and can be much more productive.” In another nearby classroom, students in Amanda Damon’s Spanish class agree that the TPRS approach has helped them learn more quickly and meaningfully. As they settle into oversized chairs, they agree that the intimidation of conjugating nouns and verbs have disappeared and fear of using the correct tense has been eliminated. “It’s like immersion,” one student observed of her time in the classroom, “the more I hear, read, and use the language, the easier it becomes.” Another student chimed in that she feels more confident because her knowledge is more conversational, “I can travel to Mexico and have conversations.” Ms. Damon shared that students are often apprehensive about verb tenses and other hurdles to learning a new language. The TPRS method, combined
Editor’s Note: Visit news.wayland.org/spanish-at-wayland-real-learning-through-stories to read a past Greetings article about how Mike Schneider H`86 uses TPRS in his Spanish classroom.
25 Greetings
“Students can more quickly assimilate bigger bites of the language and can be much more productive.”
02
with the cozy atmosphere of the classroom, “make it comfortable to learn.” Students have been reading the book, Bianca Nieves y Los 7 Toritos by Carrie Toth, a dramatic story of bullfighting filled with heroes and villains and deception. Ms. Toth, a Spanish teacher from Illinois, has written a number of books designed to support the TPRS teaching model.
03
Using Spanish, Ms. Damon led the class like a book club. Students enthusiastically spoke about their dislike of the villain and expressed their hope that the dramatic scene unfolding in the book would be resolved happily. Periodic tentative pauses in the conversation happened as students searched for just the right word. Ms. Damon cheerfully and attentively encouraged the discussion, helping students as needed to complete their thoughts. The class then transitioned from discussion to an activity as students formed groups to present a mini-drama of the bull fighting scene they had just discussed. Language was reinforced with repetition (and peppered with some goodnatured laughter) as students rehearsed, gathering props from around the classroom to add to the impact of their presentation. As class concluded, Ms. Damon reminded students to prepare two questions in Spanish and one in English for their upcoming assignment, an online interview later in the week with author Carrie Toth.
04
IMAGE 02
Ms. Damon asked about the story plot. IMAGE 03
IMAGE 01
Two students, blindfolded with hats, took turns attempting to identify the secret German vocabulary word on the screen behind them. Ms. Mangones encouraged the remainder of the class to provide helpful hints.
Using a variety of classroom supplies as props, students learned (and laughed) as they acted out a scene from Bianca Nieves y Los 7 Toritos. IMAGE 04
Students reread a portion of text to prepare for their roles in the re-enactment.
Spring 2018 26
01
A Formula for Critical Thinking A quote by Claude Levi-Strauss displayed on the wall of Tyler
In the quiet classroom after students moved to their next class,
Hill’s `09 physics class proclaims, “A scientist isn’t someone who
Mr. Hill noted that learning what information to collect and
has the right answers, but someone who asks the right questions.”
asking questions about the validity of the data are critically
That philosophy permeates the culture established within the physics lab where the formula for success lies well beyond mundane memorization. By studying occurrences as physics challenges, students develop skills about asking questions, collecting data, making decisions, and determining the appropriate formulas to use to reach a solution. These situations bring learning to life in a way that is both engaging and memorable for students. In a recent session, Mr. Hill presented the class with an inclined plane, an action figure, and a get-away vehicle. The challenge:
important skills that he believes students will take from the classroom and apply throughout their educational pursuits. “For example, how should students resolve two slightly different data points?” he mused. “Do they use an average? How does that decision impact the final solution?” The knowledge gained through exposure to these types of experiences is a universal formula for success. IMAGE 01
Josh Greco `19 and Lance Li `19 review data collected and discuss next steps to solve the challenge.
determine how to manage the descent of the action figure with pulley and rope to successfully position it in the vehicle passing by. After introducing the challenge, built on knowledge acquired in previous classes, Mr. Hill observed as the students set about collecting data. Some worked at making measurements of the inclined plane while others measured the speed of the vehicle. Some students moved between groups collecting data and posting it on the chalkboard at the front of the room. Others worked
These situations bring
together discussing what data was relevant and which formulas
learning to life in a way that is
were appropriate to determine the solution. Mr. Hill moved easily through the class as students tested ideas with him and solicited
both engaging and memorable
feedback.
for students.
27 Greetings
ALUMNI SHOW THEIR LOVE DURING WAYLANDTINES
Happy Waylandtines An opportunity to share your love, show class pride, and support Wayland!
When chalky candy conversation hearts make an appearance, you know Waylandtines can’t be far away! The annual event, helps raise funds for the Academy Fund while reminding the current student body of the significance of philanthropy.
OSCAR CUMPIANO `08 visited with physics classes taught by Tyler Hill `09 in mid-February. Cumpiano, a graduate of the University of Miami, is a Supplier Quality Engineer with medical device company Medtronic in Minneapolis. Students asked about Cumpiano’s college career and how he found college life different than his time at Wayland. He encouraged them to connect with their professors, especially in large lecture-style classes, because being known by an instructor can be valuable both for classwork as well as for networking and job recommendations.
One afternoon in early February, students fanned out across campus as part of a Thank All Givers (TAG) scavenger hunt to better understand the importance of alumni contributions to campus. Students snapped selfies at designated tags placed on items that had been made possible through alumni gifts. Those who submitted enough tags won a coveted jeans and Wayland wear day on Valentine’s Day. Students also took to the phones, contacting alumni from across the country to share Wayland experiences and ask for their financial support. An online fundraising effort from February 12 to 14 pitted classes against one another to see which class could give the largest number of gifts to the Academy Fund. The C L A S S O F 1 9 5 6 rallied their mates and won the class challenge with 25 gifts. Other strong showings: 2008 and 2010 with nine gifts each, and 1959 and 2013 with six gifts each. Two anonymous donors generously supported the effort by providing matching funds. In all, 53 classes, plus parents and friends, were represented through their giving. Spring 2018 28
NEWS & NOTES
1950s JAN E SOUTAR FOX `51 retired after 27 years as a Doncaster representative, and is still an active golfer and “captain of my team.” She has been a board member of Cancer League of Colorado for over 15 years.
P ETER K EADY `52 writes “I’m still running my business but have downsized to live only in Menlo Park, CA and Tahoe City, CA. We sold our home in Indian Wells, CA.”
L EW IS R. ELIN `56 shared news of the publication of his first e-book, The High5 Eternal Truths of Successful Direct Response Marketing. It guides readers through the basics that underlie the foundations of success in direct response marketing and advertising. Learn more at 5marketingtruths.com.”
1960s JUDITH SCHWART Z B AUM `61, a Senior Vice President of Wealth Management and Financial Advisor in Morgan Stanley’s Sarasota Wealth Management office, has been named to Forbes Magazine’s inaugural list of America’s Best-in-State Wealth Advisors. The list comprises a select group of individuals based on qualitative and quantitative data, and rates thousands of wealth advisors on factors like revenue trends, compliance records, industry experience and best practices.
1970s CHRISTINE FOTH -R EGNER `70 released a novel exploring the beauty and wisdom of old age, set in a 29 Greetings
fictional five-star nursing home west of Milwaukee. The Song of Sadie Sparrow (FaithHappenings Publishers) introduces readers to a group of wonderful and wise old people, and the staffers and volunteers who love them. The Song of Sadie Sparrow is available in paperback and ebook formats at online retailers. See more at EverlastingPlace.com.
HUG H D I NS MO RE ` 7 3 is pictured above with his son, Eric, and new grandson, Dean. He is looking forward to seeing many Class of `73 members on campus for Homecoming – Family and Alumni Weekend in October.
DR. MATTHEW N. SONGER `76 shared, “We had our second grandchild, Lily, born to my first son Jason and Liri Songer on April 5. Bram, age 2-1/2, now has a sister to pick on!”
ANTONIA FREDERICK HOUSTON `77 wrote, “So sorry I couldn’t make our 40th reunion. Looks like I missed fun with everyone. I am still the Local History Librarian at Blodgett Memorial
Library. I have been there since 1982, and am now the longest serving member on staff. Our church, Fishkill Reformed, where I am the Historian, celebrated its 300th anniversary last year, with many activities, and a new history which I co-wrote. I am the historian for our local DAR chapter as well, which owns the oldest house in the county, built in 1709. I’m involved with two historical societies as well. Not bad for someone who hated American History in college. (I majored in European History.) My Fishkill genealogy has almost 9,000 people in it and my personal family genealogy has over 6,800. Contact me if you have ancestors from Dutchess County, NY, that you need help finding at fishkillhistory@aol.com”
2000s A LA NA HANS O N ` 0 2 and her husband Peter Debelak welcomed daughter Helen May on January 2, 2018. Her older brother Lucas is now three years old and happy to welcome his little sister.
IN THE NEWS
Peter Sensenbrenner `71 Named Ripon Commonwealth News Person of the Year
JIN SUNTIVICH `02 WINS PRESTIGIOUS SLOAN RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP J I N S UNTI V I C H ` 0 2 was recently awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship for Chemistry. He is among 126 early-career scholars receiving the award presented to the most promising scientific researchers working today. According to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation website, “Their (the fellowship recipients) achievements and potential place them among the next generation of scientific leaders in the U.S. and Canada.” Dr. Suntivich serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University. His work focuses on electrochemical energy storage devices, such as fuel cells and batteries with an interest in investigating and developing physics and chemistry to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of such devices. He received his B.A. in Integrated Science and B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University. Afterward, Suntivich obtained his Sc.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT. He conducted his postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard University Center for the Environment.
The new year kicked off with a bit of a surprise in the Sensenbrenner household. It seems everyone successfully kept the secret that P E T E R S E N S E N BR E N N E R ` 7 1 had been named the 2017 Person of the Year in the January 4 edition of the Ripon Commonwealth News. He explained during a visit at the Wayland Alumni Gathering in Chicago at the end of January that his wife, Emily, and sons were aware of the award and had supplied the newspaper with images and anecdotes to include in the article. “They kept it a secret through family events during the holidays,” he noted. The article shares highlights of Sensenbrenner’s career including positions in hospital administration, business, and non-profit enterprises. A notable incident mentioned is the role he played in the announcement of Elvis Presley’s death. He currently teaches business classes at both Ripon College in Ripon, WI, and Marian University in Fond du Lac, WI. Sensenbrenner’s tireless volunteer service is also recognized. Not only does he serve as the treasurer for the
Wayland Academy Board of Trustees and chair of the Finance Committee, he is also president of the Ripon Education Foundation and founded the Ripon Rotary’s STRIVE program to help at-risk juniors and seniors prepare for their post high school plans. His volunteer work isn’t limited to education. Sensenbrenner is also a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader; a volunteer, mission participant, and fund-raiser for Father Wally Kasuboski’s Panama Mission and has hosted six foreign exchange students.
KEEP YOUR CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS UP-TO-DATE WITH YOUR NEWS Write to us at: Greetings Wayland Academy 101. N. University Ave. Beaver Dam, WI 53916 Or email us at alumni@wayland.org We’re delighted to receive photos to accompany your news. Please enclose or attach images you wish to share.
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HOMECOMING 2018
Family & Alumni Weekend We’re combining two autumn traditions and welcoming everyone to campus for Homecoming – Family & Alumni Weekend.
October 12 -14, 2018
Save the date and make plans to join us on campus. Alumni, it’s a special reunion if your class year ends in a “3” or an “8”, especially if you’re the class of 1968 (50th reunion), the class of 1993 (25th reunion), or the class of 2008 (10th reunion). Contact Director of Alumni Relations Kendall Vingua `02 for more information or to help plan the weekend festivities. Email: alumni@ wayland.org Phone: (920)-356-2120 x. 224 Family Weekend gives parents and family members the opportunity to visit campus, go to class with their Wayland student, attend parent/teacher/mentor conferences, eat meals in Pickard Dining Hall, and cheer at Wayland athletic events as well as visit with alumni and listen to our alumni speaker panel.
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NEWS & NOTES
ALUMNI GATHERINGS IMAGE 01
Head of School Joe Lennertz H`86, host Judy Schwartzbaum `61, and Chair of the Board of Trustees David Larson ’71 greeted guests in Sarasota. IMAGE 02
Nancy and Bob Schantz H`85 greeted friends. Bob is commemorating his 40th year teaching, so Nancy had collected memories from students via social media. View them on the Wayland Academy Alumni Facebook page. IMAGE 03
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SARASOTA WARMLY GREETS WAYLAND ALUMNI AND FRIENDS The TPC Prestancia in Sarasota, FL, was the site of the Wayland Gathering on Saturday, February 10. Head of School Joe Lennertz H`86, Director of Advancement Judy Hill H`08, and Judith Schwartzbaum `61 greeted more than 20 guests for a luncheon at the golf club.
WAYLAND ALUMNI AND FRIENDS MEET IN THE WINDY CITY Laughter and good cheer reverberated from The Red Room at the Tortoise Supper Club in downtown Chicago on Friday, January 26. More than 70 Wayland alumni, trustees, and special guests gathered to socialize and network.
Sharon Cobb, Jenny Cobb `81, Veda Vasquez `82, George Cobb H `80, caught up on the latest news with Director of Advancement Judy Hill H`08.
See other Gatherings photos on the Wayland Academy Alumni Facebook page.
Upcoming Alumni Gatherings are in Madison in March and in San Francisco in May. A trip is being planned in late June to host Gatherings in Germany with possible stops at Elze, Hanover, Berlin, and Brandenberg Gate, including a visit at CJD school in Elze. Watch your eJournal and the Alumni Events page of wayland.org for details.
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IN MEMORIAM
1940s
1960s
H OWA R D F. B ASZ Y N S K I `4 8 of Wauwatosa, WI, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2017, at the age of 92. He was the beloved husband of Barbara, dear father of Beth (Frank) Wisinski, Mary, Peggy, and Andy (Mary Drost), and grandfather of Alex. He was preceded in death by his son, Mike, and brother, Donald.
R ICH A R D “DICK” NAT H A N BOYA , JR . H` 67 of Appleton, WI, passed away Feb. 10, 2018, at the age of 90. He was a veteran of the US Navy and served as a radio specialist during WWII. After leaving the service, Dick returned home to Wisconsin where he attended Lawrence University.
Howard was a proud WWII 9th Infantry Army veteran and awarded the Purple Heart with the Oak Leaf Cluster. After his retirement from Blueprints, Inc., Howard became a Master Gardener and spent many hours volunteering and teaching others about his passion for gardening. He also served on the Wauwatosa Park Commission, the Beautification Committee, and Friends of Hart Park. His biggest joy was working in his yard tending his flowers and vegetables.
From 1952 to 1968, he was a member of the faculty and coaching staff at Wayland Academy. He then worked as a capital fund raiser for Lawrence University, University of Minnesota, and University of Wisconsin. Sports played a big role in his life: he played football at Lawrence, was an avid golfer and competed in the North Carolina Senior Games. Surviving are three sons, John D. Boya, Thomas R. (Albert) Quill, Brian (Ruby) Boya, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
1950s L AU R E N C E “L AR RY ” E . B R AK E R J R . `5 0 of Beaver Dam, WI, passed away on Dec. 29, 2017. He was a 1946 graduate of Beaver Dam High School. Larry served in the United States Army stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA. Following his service, he attended Wayland Junior College and Oshkosh State Teachers College. Larry was a salesman for Ripon Good Cookies and coowned Beaver Cigar and Candy. In 1976, Larry became the co-owner of Beaver Vending and Mountain Fresh Beverage. An avid golfer, he belonged to both the Fox Lake Golf Club and Old Hickory Golf Course. Larry also served on the planning committee for the Town of Beaver Dam. Larry is survived by his wife Lorraine (a nurse at Wayland from 1967 to 1971); his four sons Daniel (Mary) Braker, Tom (Stephanie) Braker, David (Diane) Braker, and Jim (Sally) Braker; his 12 grandchildren; and his six greatgrandchildren. 33 Greetings
2000s A LEXA NDR IA E. STAT Z `09 , 27, of Beaver Dam,WI, passed away on Dec. 31, 2017. Alexandria was born Aug. 28, 1990, the daughter of John and Lisa Statz. She attended Wayland Academy, graduated from Beaver Dam High School, and worked as a server at Statz Ale House & Grill. Alexandria liked reading and watching movies and game shows on TV, but her greatest joy was being a mother. Alexandria is survived by her parents; her son, Mateo Trujillo; her boyfriend, Andres Trujillo; brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.
FRIENDS OF WAYLAND
L O IS RU T H E L M G R E N B AU M A N N passed away on Jan. 29, 2018, at Carolina Village Medical Center. She is survived by her daughter CHRISTINE ANN LILLESAND `77 and Brent, son JEFFREY WALTER BAUMANN `79 and Jean, and grandson, Caulden Walter Baumann.
AMY KN O PF of Bloomington, MN, died Oct. 19, 2017. Daughter of the late GLEN M. DYE 1907 and ELLA MERRIAM DYE 1907 was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth M. Knopf, sister, Marjorie Getsch, and brother, Harry Dye. She is survived by sons, Jim of Boulder, CO, and Richard of Pepin, WI, and grandson Levon of Denver,CO. She divided time for many years between Ten Mile Lake, MN, and Ocean Reef, FL.
producer, and national sewing authority. Nancy founded Nancy’s Notions in Beaver Dam, hosted the popular PBS show “Sewing With Nancy” for 35 years, and served as a national spokesperson for Baby Lock sewing machines. The Wisconsin Women Entrepreneurs Association named her the 1988 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year. Nancy received the National 4-H Alumni Award in 1991 and was inducted with honors to the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame in 2014. She was elected as the first member of the Sewing Hall of Fame in 2001. Nancy is survived by her husband, Rich; her two sons, TED ZIEMAN `01 (Alison) and Tom Zieman (Katelyn); and three granddaughters.
She was a graduate of Carleton College, a long-time member of Colonial Church of Edina, and strong supporter of Wayland Academy.
N ANC Y L . ZI E M A N , 64, Beaver Dam, WI, passed away Nov. 14, 2017. Nancy found joy through her life as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother, as well as successful author, designer, businesswoman, TV Spring 2018 34
Wayland Academy
Greetings
Eric Gefvert `73 discovered the Big Red Express at Whistler Resort in the Canadian Rockies earlier this year. He hopes many Class of `73 will get aboard the Big Red Express to attend to celebrate Homecoming – Family & Alumni Weekend in October 12-14, 2018. See more details on page 31.
101 North University Avenue Beaver Dam, WI 53916 35 Greetings
Toll free: 800.860.7725 Phone: 920.356.2120 wayland.org