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alumnae accomplishments Amanda Mortimer Burden’62, has served as the Director of the New York City Planning Department for over a decade, responsible for the changing face of America’s largest city.

Since she was appointed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2002, an article in The New York Times noted, “the Brooklyn waterfront has been transformed from a landscape of derelict industrial structures to one of glossy condominiums and parkland, the abandoned elevated railroad track running through Chelsea has been converted into the popular High Line Park, and the once desolate Hudson Yards neighborhood is poised for a rebirth as a commercial and residential hub.”

In the article, the president of the Municipal Art Society of New York was quoted saying, “There is no question that under Amanda’s leadership, New York has experienced a renaissance, with more development of parkland, waterfront, and infrastructure over the last 10 years than in the 100 years

before it.” For Amanda’s accomplishments in reshaping the face of New York City, she was presented with the 2007 Westover Award.

Eleanor “Eldie” Acheson ’65, vice president and general counsel for Amtrak, received the American Bar Association’s (ABA) prestigious Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, which annually recognizes five women who have achieved professional excellence in the legal field and influenced other women to pursue law careers; past recipients include U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Eldie served under the Clinton Administration as the assistant attorney general for the Office of Policy Development in the U.S. Department of Justice, leading the agency’s policy work, from human trafficking to Native American law enforcement, and is credited with helping to boost the number of women in the federal judiciary, from 91 women judges to 167.

Emily Noonan ’05 has become a larger-than-life presence for fans of the University of Connecticut’s sports teams as the lead sports reporter for UConn Athletics. Emily can be seen at games conducting live, on-camera interviews with coaches and players on the sports facilities’ Jumbotrons.

Those interviews, however, are just one part of Emily’s duties with UConn Athletics. Emily can be found at football and basketball games interviewing fans during timeouts and helping to run promotional contests. Emily also produces features for UConn Athletics’ website.

After volunteering for UConn Athletics for a year after her graduation, Emily said, “they created a position for me. I got what was essentially my dream job.”

For additional alumnae accomplishments, visit westoverschool.org/alumnae

the margaret love stevens chair f o r m o r a l & e t h i c a l e d u c at i o n Westover’s moral education requires commitment and leadership from the entire adult community. To recognize this essential role for faculty, Alumna Margaret Love Stevens ’49 established an endowed Faculty Chair, The Margaret Love Stevens Chair for Moral and Ethical Education. The Chair is awarded every year based on nominations by the senior class. The faculty then votes for the teacher or staff member who best exemplifies moral and ethical education at Westover through his or her educational disciplines, personal interests, and life experiences. The 2013 recipient was Sarkis Boyadjian, the chair of and an instructor in the Mathematics Department.

Westover School

1237 Whittemore Road · P.O. Box 847 Middlebury, CT 06762-0847 203.758.2423 · westoverschool.org

cogitare, agere, esse— to think, to do, to be

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char acter development & leadership at

westover school

from the westover motto series: to think. to do. to be.

Westover develops both the minds and hearts of our students, providing a moral and ethical education in addition to an academic one. Our girls gain a sense of self as part of a community, learning responsibility to self, others, and the world beyond our school. Character education is woven into every part of the day, supported by our nondenominational Chapel Program and a variety of community service offerings and requirements. In Westover’s singlesex learning environment, girls gain self-knowledge and self-confidence, enabling them to step up and take advantage of our numerous leadership opportunities. Equipped with the skills and understanding needed to effect change, our girls leave Westover a powerful cohort of bold young leaders, able to identify the problems in this world — and solve them.

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“since 1909, westover has remained true to its motto: cogitare, agere, esse. ‘to think, to do, to be’ is more than a catchphrase. westover develops young women who will be prepared to think their way through problems, to take action, and to make a difference with their lives.”

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ann pollina, head of school & national coalition of girls’ schools president, 2009 –2012

Zulma Dunn ’16 (left) and WISE Director Kate Seyboth at the Maranyundo School in Rwanda

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the importance of leadership & communit y service opportunities

A study performed by UCLA has shown that women graduates of single-sex high schools are more engaged academically, socially, and politically.

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community service opportunities Westover Service Team: In place of an athletics team, juniors and seniors may join the Westover Service Team, participating in community service activities for a minimum of seven hours per week.

Community Service Council: The Council plans and initiates community service opportunities for each class and for the School, actively encouraging student involvement.

United Council Committee: UCC is a group of student leaders, representing all Westover clubs, with a focus on diversity, equity, and social justice. Meeting monthly, the UCC strives to educate faculty and students on issues of diversity.

Dorcas Society: The junior class participates in the Dorcas Society, gaining hands-on philanthropic education. Every year, juniors plan and host a themed, school-wide Dorcas Fair to raise money for charities.

Last year’s juniors raised $10,000 and helped 25 charities of their choice.

Academic Curriculum: Teachers incorporate a service component into their courses, e.g., students sponsored a Genocide Awareness Day in their history elective and tested the water quality of nearby rivers in their biology course.

Extracurriculars: Many clubs offer a service focus, including the Environmental Action Club, Amnesty International, and the Westover Women’s World Initiative Club.

Service Trips: Recent service trips have included: Jackson County, Kentucky, to work with students in a summer enrichment program, and Biloxi, Mississippi, to prepare new houses for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

leadership opportunities Westover offers diverse leadership opportunities for girls in all grades, including: • Admission Head Tour Guides & Hostesses • Athletic Association Heads • Dorcas Heads • Glee Club Heads • Heads of School • Proctors • Senate Representatives • Sports Team Captains • Student Academic Committee Representatives

For more information about community service opportunities, visit westoverschool.org/community First Head of School Hannah Hudson ’14 at the School’s 2013 All Saints Chapel Service

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Nearly 60 percent of women graduates of independent single-sex schools rate themselves “above average” or in the “highest 10 percent” with regard to intellectual self-confidence, according to a 2009 report conducted by UCLA and the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools.