Academy World Fall 2023 by Wilbraham & Monson Academy

perspectives

Sharing a meal always a special WMA experience just not as likely without breaking bread. Boarding schools like WMA have a unique advantage in this regard, for both day and boarding students, because we share so many meals together as a community. Boarding students eat a vast majority of their meals together in the dining hall, for nine months a year. Many day students regularly come to campus early and leave late, and often eat breakfast and dinner surrounded by their friends and teachers. The frequency and depth of this communal act of sharing a meal results in its centrality to the experience at WMA.

These dinners and the conversations they facilitate are always engaging and insightful.”

by brian p. easler Head of School

Every week on Tuesday evenings during the school year, my wife and I have dinner with a group of 10 to 14 students, usually up at our house. During the fall and winter trimester, these dinners are with all new students in grade-specific groups, starting with the oldest students. In the spring trimester, the groups consist of all of the members of the graduating class. As such, every student who matriculates and graduates at WMA has dinner with me at least twice during their time at WMA. There is no formal agenda for the

dinners—the only purpose is to spend some time getting to know each other and talking about whatever the conversation yields. These dinners and the conversations they facilitate are always engaging and insightful. Of course, it takes a little longer for the new ninth graders to get comfortable with me than it does the members of the graduating class, but they all get there by the end of the meal. The common denominator in these dinners, what makes them so effective, is the act of sharing a meal together. Eating food with someone lowers our defenses and provides a more intimate opportunity for discussion and listening and for actively engaging with one another—without the distractions of TVs and phones or other people. We could have these meetings anywhere and at any time, but the act of sharing a meal elicits a warmth and familial feeling that is

Read the Head of School’s page at www.wma.us/hos

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that so many of our alumni find themselves drawn to the food and beverage industry, the topic of this Academy World edition. Because of their experience at WMA, perhaps, they are particularly well prepared to understand the power of food in people’s lives and the intentional effort it takes to do it well. This is one of the many reasons why the dining experience at WMA is always at the forefront of our innovative efforts and will continue to be central in creating for our students a feeling that they are At Home. In The World. Respectfully,

Editor

PHOTOGRAPHY

Teddy Ryan

Paul Bloomfield Linda Campos Copperhound Photography Russ Held Tom Kates Kyle O’Brien Jimmy Pineapple Dave Roback Jordan Tavenner Bill Wells Various contributing photographers

Associate Editors

Russ Held Bill Wells ART DIRECTOR

Chris Tinnesz Advisory Board

Mark Aimone Brian P. Easler Don Kelly Janet Moran Kyle O’Brien Sean Valentine CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ryan Cooley ’26 Brian P. Easler Sally Geoghegan ’24 Russ Held Erik Kindblom Emma Landry ’25 Sommer Mahoney ’11 Lizzy Mitchell ’04 Kellie Molander Janet Moran Kyle O’Brien Ben Presz ’25 Todd Regnier Dakotah Thomas ’26 Khloe Thomas ’28 Bill Wells

Board of Trustees

Scott B. Jacobs ’75, Chair James E. LaCrosse ’50W, Vice Chair Mark R. Shenkman ’61M, Vice Chair David A. Reeves, Treasurer Caitlin S. Flynn ’06, Secretary Raymond J. Anton ’61M Christopher C. Antonacci ’06 John J. Baker Melissa M. Besse Bonnie Faulkner Ryan ’82 Linda B. Griffin William R. Guerin ’89 Robert F. Little Barry M. Maloney ’85 Andrew P. Mele Stephanie T. Robbins ’10 Craig A. Rubin ’63W Paul J. Sullivan ’91 Trustees Emeriti

Vaishnavi “Vivi” Venkat ’25

Eric W. Anderson Michael J. Flynn Richard S. Fuld ’64W Donald J. Stuart ’73

Design

Life Trustee

Stoltze Design

William E. James ’64W

ILLUSTRATION

Printing

41 60 ALUMNI IN ACTION

Student Travel

Food & Beverage

44 46 48 50 52 54

A t Your Service: Jonathan Winegar-Mendez ’02, Chotipong Leenutaphong ’00 and Tatiana Ravelli ’18 Demetri Tsolakis ’01 Kristin Chaconas ’99 Tim Cebula ’86 Nick Unaphum ’99 Irene Nakabonge-Lugude ’94 Dana Gahres ’74

Supporting WMA

Puritan Capital

2 Alumni, we’d like to hear from you! Send your current contact information and news to alumni@wma.us. “Academy World” is published in the spring and fall for alumni, parents and friends of the Academy. Please direct comments and letters to: Wilbraham & Monson Academy Marketing & Communications Office 423 Main Street Wilbraham, MA 01095-1715 marketing@wma.us Our Mission

Wilbraham & Monson Academy is a transformational experience where students become challenge-seeking citizens and leaders of an evolving world. Wilbraham & Monson Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, gender identity, and any other categories protected by federal, state or local law. Get Social with us! @wilbrahammonsonacademy @WMAalumni @wilbrahammonson Wilbraham & Monson Academy

Will Daly ’06

WMA Spotlight 26 60 70

End-of-Year Celebrations Faces of WMA: Dr. Marxan Pescetta New Trustee: Melissa Marie Lichwan Besse

WMA Alumni 32 34 56 58

Europe

Faculty Travel 66 68 69

Thailand: Todd Regnier Spain & France: The Kindbloms Italy: Sommer Mahoney ’11

Departments 4 10 14 16 18 62 74

News from the Hill Titans Victorious Spring Athletics Highlights Fine & Performing Arts Student Perspectives Faculty: Outside the Classroom Class Notes

In Memoriam 72

We Remember

Archives 80 Food & Beverage

Alumni Games Spring Receptions Reflection: Lizzy Mitchell ’04 J. J. Wilson ’19

on the cover Demetri Tsolakis ’01 has made his name in the restaurant business. His story and those of other alumni are featured throughout our Food & Beverage issue. Photo credit: Jimmy Pineapple.

@wilbraham_monson WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

SUPPORTING WMA: Will Daly ’06 Recognizing the pivotal role the Academy played in shaping his personal and professional growth, Mr. Daly chose to honor his cherished memories by leaving a bequest to support the school’s ongoing initiatives. When Mr. Daly reflects on his time at WMA, he recalls the impact the people here had on him. “I don’t have one singular memory, but more a collection of memories,” he said. “Of course all of the friends I made from all over the world, but also the teachers. The late Jane Kelly and late Steve Gray, Mr. Easler, Mr. Kelly, Mrs. Finley, Mrs. Powers, Ms. Hutcheson (rather Mrs. Lenihan), Mr. Fritz, Ms. Whipple . . . all of my teachers left a footprint in my life and helped cultivate me into the person I am today. “Without them, of course, I would be a completely different person. They truly cared about their students. Not many teachers check in on their students outside of school hours or sports. These teachers did just that.”

supporting wma

Will Daly ’06 Bequest of young alumnus shows the power of planning By Kellie Molander Former Alumni Advancement Officer

William Daly ’06 is stepping up with his inclusion of Wilbraham & Monson Academy in his estate plan. As the youngest member of the Academy’s Heritage Society, Mr. Daly’s bequest will make a lasting impact on the school’s mission to inspire and prepare students for a lifetime of learning, leadership and service. It might be surprising to hear that an alumnus who just celebrated his 35th birthday is thinking about what his impact will be upon his passing. Mr. Daly is a planner and, with the recent passing of his grandmother, he felt it was important to have his affairs in order. • Senior Stone laying, 2006

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Mr. Daly credits his philanthropic philosophy to his family. At an early age, he learned the value of giving back and staying connected to your alma mater, a tradition that continued with his parents’ respective institutions. “WMA gave all of us so many memories, experiences, knowledge, growth and education,” he said. “I hope that by naming WMA as a beneficiary to my estate, it will someday help students attain the same education and experiences I received.” Bequests like this enable WMA to continue its mission of nurturing young minds, fostering personal growth and providing an exceptional academic experience. The impact of Mr. Daly’s generosity will be felt throughout the Academy, benefiting students, faculty and the entire WMA community. “We are deeply honored and grateful for Will Daly’s impressive and forward thinking bequest,” Head of School Brian P. Easler said.

• Senior Stone

“His commitment to our school and his belief in the power of education will create a lasting legacy that ensures future generations of students have access to an innovative and inclusive educational program that prepares students to thrive in a complex and interconnected world.” Mr. Daly says his WMA journey was one of great value, that he still feels a close connection to the school and has kept in touch with some of his best friends.

WMA gave all of us so many memories, experiences, knowledge, growth and education. I hope that by naming WMA as a beneficiary to my estate, it will someday help students attain the same education and experiences I received.” will daly ’06

At Commencement, he was awarded the Gift of the Class of 1965, an honor presented to that member of the senior class who—through their period of attendance at the Academy—has shown through word and deed consistent evidence of a high degree of individuality with a concomitant unwillingness to follow the crowd. When asked about the impact he wishes his bequest to have on the Academy he shares: “I

In 2020, he moved to Cape Cod for what was would hope that my support goes toward students meant to be a two-month vacation from the who otherwise may not be fortunate enough city, which ultimately became permanent. He to afford a private education through financial worked a season at Ocean Edge Resort in aid. Public schools are overall great, don’t get Brewster, Massachusetts, and then the following me wrong, but some students flourish better in a season ran three restaurants for a small restaurant private setting—I know I did. It’s my hope that group in Provincetown, Massachusetts. my support would go toward those students. He later found a home on Nantucket with “Wilbraham & Monson Academy holds a Faraway Nantucket as special place in my heart. And I am immensely the Food & Beverage grateful for the exceptional education and General Manager values it instilled in me. It is my hope that this of Sistership. contribution will help shape the experiences With the support and futures of future generations of students, of dedicated alumni like just as WMA shaped mine.” Mr. Daly, Wilbraham & Monson Academy will Since his WMA graduation, Mr. Daly has continue to cultivate a vibrant community that been exposed to other circles of philanthropy fosters intellectual curiosity, promotes inclusivity that he believes helped him to appreciate what and prepares students for success. The impact he can contribute. of his bequest cannot be overstated, his foresight “. . . I moved to NYC in 2008 originally to and dedication to philanthropy will empower attend culinary school to become a chef (which future generations of students to realize their has always been a passion of mine),” he said. “While I was in school, I started cooking privately dreams. Mr. Daly’s belief in the transformative power of a private education aligns perfectly with for Mitzi Perdue, the widow of Frank Perdue the Academy’s mission, and bequests highlight who founded the Perdue Chicken company we the profound impact that young alumni can make all love so much, and through her was asked in shaping the future of WMA. to cook for a fundraising event in her apartment The Academy encourages all alumni to on the Upper East Side for HRH Prince Edward consider leaving a lasting legacy through planned and a few other prominent people from across giving. If you are interested in learning more the world.” about how you can join Mr. Daly in his effort to It was here that Mr. Daly was again exposed support the Academy or want to learn more to the value of supporting fundraising initiatives. about planned giving, please contact the Office of “Whether it is small or large support, everything Advancement at 413.596.9182 or alumni@wma.us. matters and adds up,” he said. “We all have lasting memories and impressions from our time at WMA, and quite frankly, we owe it to the friends we made and the teachers who guided us to be the people that we are today, to support The Heritage Society WMA in any way we can. Every contribution includes those alumni, matters to help the current students flourish.” parents, faculty and Much like his commitment to WMA and his staff who have provided fervor for supporting, Mr. Daly’s career choice for the future of is one of passion as well. He chose the field of Wilbraham & Monson Academy by making culinary arts because of how much he loved the financial support of the Academy part of time he spent with his mom in their kitchen their estate plans. growing up. Recognition in the Heritage Society is “I felt a sense of purpose and enjoyed how much open to anyone who has made provisions care went into everything we made in our kitchen,” for the Academy in their will or estate he said. “It is definitely where my love for this plan regardless of size. Those who have industry was born.” informed us of their plans will be added After graduating from the Art Institute in to the society and honored accordingly. New York City in 2009, he worked for the Recognition is accorded posthumously to restaurant group that founded Smith & those who do not make us aware of their Wollensky Steakhouse, now Quality Branded. plans prior to their passing. He started as an intern and after 11 years rose to general manager.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

departments: NEWS FROM THE HILL

BY BILL WELLS Director of Student Promotion

News from the Hill

from left: Madaket “Maddie” Stoltz ’23, Kylie Bignell ’23, Iva Radevic ’23 and Julia Besse ’23.

All-female quartet shines at state Personal Finance Challenge

history,” Mr. Jim Irzyk, Chair of WMA’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Economics & Finance. “They are smart, determined, well‑rounded business students and represented WMA Wilbraham & Monson Academy has some future extremely well in the competition.” CEO’s in the Class of 2023. The statewide competition, sponsored by The Titan team of Madaket “Maddie” Stoltz ’23, Kylie Bignell ’23, Julie Besse ’23 and Iva Radevic ’23 the Massachusetts Council for Economic and Personal Finance Education, asked questions in placed second in the high school division at the the field of Income and Money Management, 2023 Massachusetts Personal Finance Challenge. Spending and Credit, and Saving and Investing. “This all-female team comprises some of The students had 35 minutes to answer 30 the best female Center for Entrepreneurship, multiple-choice questions. Economics & Finance students in recent WMA

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“None of us were expecting to do well on the test that we took,” Kylie said. “We were all standing outside the classroom saying, ‘Why would we waste a Community Time on this?’ This just goes to show how well our CEEF Department prepares us for opportunities like this.” Maddie added, “I wanted to participate in the PFC because I am really passionate about business and finding new ways to challenge myself. Not to mention, I was also looking forward to applying all of the skills and knowledge that I had learned from the CEEF courses here at WMA.”

Javier Herrera ’25 earns prestigious Eagle Scout status There are few lessons in life more important than learning the value of seeing something through to the end and finishing strong. Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Javier Herrera ’25 experienced both during his time as a Boy Scout, completing his final project to earn the prestigious Eagle Scout status. Javier, who joined Scouts when he was 6 years old, belongs to Troop 275 in East Longmeadow. At the request of the Masonic Temple in East Longmeadow, he built a stage, which will be used for musical, educational and recreational events. “I believe that this project specifically made me realize that I must take responsibility and accountability for everything that occurs in my life, whether good or bad,” Javier shared. “It wasn’t necessarily difficult in any regard. However, I did learn a valuable lesson in taking charge, leading in a real-life setting, and understanding the authority and responsibility I contain.” Despite being involved in a number of areas inside and outside of WMA, Javier has remained involved in the Boy Scouts for more than 10 years. “I’ve had countless friends who have dropped out of Boy Scouts because of (various) reasons,” he said. “But with passion, effort, determination and especially discipline, anything is possible. With discipline, you are able to do the things nobody is willing to do. “During my journey toward Eagle Scout, I had to take on duties that no one else wanted to do. But I did them, because I am a disciplined individual. Never give up on anything in this life. Nothing good comes easy.”

Titans bring home honorable mention Model Congress recognition Four Wilbraham & Monson Academy students earned awards following their performance at Harvard Model Congress in February in Boston. Ryan Cooley ’26, Autumn Falcone ’24, Sally Geoghegan ’24 and Ha Anh Nguyen ’25 were recognized with honors among the 1,500 participants. Dr. Anthony Kandel and Danielle Bellefeuille ’16 served as faculty leaders. “Model Congress is an adventure,” Dr. Kandel said. “A team-oriented activity, students learn how to participate in a realistic simulation of our national legislative process. Public speaking, debate, persuasion and attention to detail are all key skills developed on this team. We also enjoy ourselves, indulging our common appetite for delving into current issues and ideas. Finally, the conference is an exciting social as well as intellectual event, as students convene for long hours, meet many new people and learn much about themselves.” Ryan won an honorable mention award for the Senate Foreign Relations committee, serving as Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon. Ryan also took second place in the Free the Facts Essay Contest. Portraying Italian Foreign

from left: Ha Anh Nguyen ’25, Autumn Falcone ’24, Ryan Cooley ’26 and Sally Geoghegan ’24.

Minister Antonino Paternó Castello in 1914 in an attempt to prevent the Great War, Sally and Autumn teamed to win honorable mention in the Historical Committee. Ha Anh also won an honorable mention award. “Going to the Model Congress conference and getting to meet people from other schools with very different experiences, beliefs and viewpoints was an amazing experience,” Ryan

explained. “I think that these conferences are special because they are a place where diverse groups of young people are able to brainstorm, debate and negotiate solutions to real-world pressing global issues.” The four-day event drew students from more than 100 high schools and is labeled as the “largest congressional simulation conference in the world” by Harvard University.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

departments: NEWS FROM THE HILL

WMA earns 2 ExploraVision honors Only two teams from Massachusetts earned honorable mention awards at this year’s national ExploraVision competition, and those two state teams consisted of students exclusively from Wilbraham & Monson Academy. A pair of groups from WMA’s STEM 9 classes were among the 57 teams to receive honorable mention status. The contest asked students to research a topic while looking 10 years into the future. The team of Qingxuan “Jack” Wang ’26, Ruihang “Ricky” Xiao ’26 and Yijie “Miles” Hu ’26 from Dr. Jake Shechter’s class tackled Virtual Reality. Meanwhile, the combination of Brock Beamish ’26, Jayden Lee-Choi ’26, Lilly Ricci ’26 and Mack Gallagher ’26 from Shir Shoham’s class addressed hydrogen-ion batteries. “We compete in ExploraVision because it allows students to work together as a team, conduct meaningful research into a topic they would not learn in the classroom, write a scientific essay with very specific guidelines and present in front of their whole grade,” Ms. Shoham said. The group from Dr. Shechter’s class worked on an advancement for VR technology. “They envisioned using a computer chip implanted into the brain that could communicate with the technology,” Dr. Shechter explained. “With a direct connection to the brain, all senses could be simulated as opposed to the current technology, which is basically just a screen very close to your face and headphones. One of the applications of this technology that they came up with was to use it as a training system for surgeons so they can practice a surgery in the virtual world before doing it on a person.” Brock said WMA’s success in the ExploraVision competition “reflects the excellent opportunities that the school offers and the students who take advantage of the opportunities. The group worked extremely hard, and it really showed in our results.” • from left: Mack Gallagher ’26, Lilly Ricci ’26, Jayden Lee-Choi ’26 and Brock Beamish ’26 with Science Department Chair Dr. John Strauss.

• from left: Qingxuan “Jack” Wang ’26, Ruihang “Ricky” Xiao ’26 and Yijie “Miles” Hu ’26 with Science Department Chair Dr. John Strauss.

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Yuzuki Yamaoka ’23 receives Excellence in French Award Regardless whether it was the French language, culture or history, it didn’t matter—Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Yuzuki Yamaoka ’23 wanted to keep learning more. That interest and thirst for all things French resulted in an impressive reward as Yuzuki was named a recipient of a 2023 Excellence in French Award from the American Association of Teachers of French. “Yuzuki started French with me in Middle School and is now in post-AP French, learning about French history, culture and literature,” said Fabienne Dubois, Chair of the World Languages Department. “All these years at WMA she participated in French Club activities and became vice president of the club. Yuzuki was inducted in the French Honor Society three years ago. Yuzuki has advanced skills in French, and is an amazing student and person. I was fortunate to be her teacher all these years.” In order to be eligible, students must study French for at least three years, hold an “A” average in the language, earn an overall “B” average in all subjects and participate in extracurricular French activities. Yuzuki was all that, and then some. “I was extremely honored when receiving the award and it also made me reflect on the past six years at WMA of taking French with Madame (Dubois) and Mr. (Jon) Brook,” Yuzuki said. “WMA has helped me stay connected to the French language. Outside of the classroom, Madame would organize French cafes, French Honor Society meetings, we would have cheese tasting and watch French movies, and it came natural for me to pursue it.”

WMA French students earn 8 national honors on Le Grand Concours

WMA Award Winners

Once again, Wilbraham & Monson Academy was “magnifique” on this year’s Le Grand Concours, the National French Contest. Students in WMA French courses earned four gold medals, six silvers, seven bronze and 10 honorable mention certificates. “Roughly 75 percent of the world doesn’t speak English so learning languages is very worthwhile and useful,” said Fabienne Dubois, Chair of the World Languages Department. “The more languages you know, the more you can communicate with people. “French is the second-most learned language in the world after English. It is exciting to see students like Cecilia and many others who take it far and become fluent before they leave WMA. Colleges like to see that a student has taken three or four years of a language in high school so we encourage all language learners to persevere and study the language of their choice until they graduate. Like Nelson Mandela said, ‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.’” Eight Titans ranked nationally, including Cecilia Geijo Rumeu de Armas ’25, who finished ninth on the highest-level exam (Level 5). Cecilia, from Madrid, Spain, is a student of Madame Fabienne Dubois in AP French. “This is a great accomplishment that doesn’t come as a surprise considering Cecilia’s solid foundation and great work in AP French class,” Madame Dubois beamed. “It has been a pleasure having Cecilia in my class this year and we will all miss her next year.”

level 5

level 3

Gold: Cecilia Geijo Rumeu de Armas ’25 (#9 national rank, #1 in chapter)

Silver: Jose Emilio Hurtado ’24 (#9 national rank, #7 in chapter)

Silver: Marie-Louise Corboz ’24 (#12 national rank, #3 in chapter) Bronze: Brady Gouin ’23 Honorable Mention: Yuzuki Yamaoka ’23

level 4 Gold: Alicia Gil Martinez ’24 (tied #14 national rank, tied #1 in chapter), Dario Manbachi Moreno ’24 (tied #14 national rank, tied #1 in chapter) Silver: Emma Landry ’25 (#18 national rank, #3 in chapter) Bronze: Mariana Mujica ’25, Breslin Grozio ’25

Bronze: Rebecca Kakule ’25, Javier Herrera ’25 Honorable Mention: Daniel Gao ’24, Noah Stich ’25, Kayla Makkiya ’25, Katie Hutcheson ’26

level 2 Gold: Guillem Riba Fernandez ’24 (#7 national rank, #3 in chapter) Silver: Cooper Dwyer ’25 (#8 national rank, #4 in chapter) Bronze: Vaishnavi Venkat ’25 Honorable Mention: Mark Tobias ’25, Imani Porter ’26, Tomas Uribe ’26

level 1 Honorable Mention: Yuan “Linda” Xiao ’25, Qingxuan “Jack” Wang ’26

departments: NEWS FROM THE HILL

Latin students earn 5 golds, 18 total awards on National Exam

National Latin Exam 2023

Is there anyone more qualified to connect culture, religious beliefs and ethics from two thousand years ago to that of today more than Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Don Kelly? Once again, this year’s Latin students proved Mr. Kelly’s expertise as 18 (of 28) earned awards on this year’s National Latin Exam, including five scoring at the Gold Medal level. “In studying Latin at WMA students have the opportunity to travel back in time to the first century CE and examine how different peoples, united under one government, lived together,” explained Mr. Kelly, who has taught Latin at the Academy for more than 45 years. “The student can see that many of the problems and issues of the Roman experience are still with us today. Latin is intrinsically interesting to anyone who likes people, ideas, words, the past or the study of how society works. “Through Latin, students gain insights into the basic elements of western European civilization and of some other societies by examining language, literature, law, attitudes toward religion, philosophy, ethics, art, architecture, civil engineering and technology, and political science.” Of the 18 award winners, five landed gold medals on this year’s National Latin Exam: Guglielmo Catalano ’23, Ryan Cooley ’26, Federico Felli ’23, Margherita Negri ’23 and David Prickett ’23. “I was really glad to win the gold medal because I’ve worked hard in Latin for four years, and this year is my first medal,” David said. “I think it’s a nice way to end my high school Latin career. I originally wanted to take Latin because I thought it was an interesting language and that it would help with my English skills in writing and tests. I like learning the history of important figures and poets, and how Roman history affected their writing.”

gold medals and summa cum laude certificates

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Guglielmo Catalano ’23 Ryan Cooley ’26 Federico Felli ’23 Margherita Negri ’23 David Prickett ’23

silver medals and maxima cum laude certificates Ha Anh Nguyen ’25 Avery Kay ’26

magna cum laude certificates Jack Austin ’25 Drew Habermeier ’23 Philip Tikhonov ’24 Guo Yin ’23

cum laude certificates Julia Choi ’26 Korbin Dixon ’24 Jessica Ethier ’23 Margaret Gately ’23 Bomin “Grace” Kim ’25 Connor Oelerking ’24 Yougun Yang ’25

Arielle Chechile ’24 leads 34 WMA students to earn National Spanish Exam awards Studies show the earlier a person can learn a second language the better. Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Arielle Chechile ’24 started studying Spanish in preschool. This month she scored one of the highest scores possible on the National Spanish Examinations. Coincidence? Arielle, a student in Mr. Kevin Kane’s AP Spanish class, earned a rare Silver Medal in the Level 5 category on the NSE. “I just think it’s a very fluid and gentle language; overall very melodic and pleasant to both hear and speak,” Arielle said. “It’s a beautiful language and I love learning it. I was excited to hear that I received an award. It was incredibly gratifying. It was a cool way to complete my time learning Spanish in a classroom setting.” In total, 34 WMA students received awards based on their performance on this year’s national exam. “Our students traditionally do well on this NSE,” said Mr. Kevin Kane, who teaches multiple Spanish classes at the Academy. “It is a good indicator of the depth of the program and this year was another good set of results.”

WMA Award Winners

level 5 Silver: Arielle Chechile ’24 Honorable Mention: Harold Gay ’23, Ella Chandler ’24

level 4 Honorable Mention: David Kakule ’23

level 3 Silver: Ryan Cooley ’26 Bronze: Avery Kay ’26, Caterina Ravosa ’26, Isabelle Rivera ’25, Gabriel Hall ’26 Honorable Mention: Adrianna Chechile ’26, Carl Plichta ’23, Roman Barrett ’25, Dakotah Thomas ’26

level 2 Silver: Lily Meier ’26

Bronze: Madison Goodwin ’25, David Wibiralske ’24, Hui “Jerry” Huang ’23, Shuoxi Qi ’23 Honorable Mention: Abigail Dorunda ’24, Malena Donovan ’25, Benjamin Jasmin ’24, Kishi Deji-Roberts ’24, Jan-Paul Ramesh ’26

level 1 Silver: Tasia Timokhina ’25, Pattaranunt “Elle” Poonsornsiri ’25 Bronze: Bohong Zhou ’26, Esosa Iyahen ’24, Ryan Clark ’25, Marie Zechner ’25 Honorable Mention: Ainsley Trueman ’26, Lauren Lubarsky ’26, Patrick Dorunda ’26, Xiaoyan “Rain” Liu ’24, Evan Bertera ’26

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

DEPARTMENTS: TITANS VICTORIOUS

BY BILL WELLS Director of Student Promotion

boys lacrosse

Boys Lacrosse claims 2nd straight championship It took 33 years for the Wilbraham & Monson Academy Boys Lacrosse team to hoist a championship banner in Greenhalgh Gymnasium. It took 365 days to raise another. A year after winning the Western New England Secondary School Lacrosse Association Division II title for the first time since 1989, Coach Mike MacDonald and the Titans repeated as champions. “It feels great to win the championship,” said Evan Spillane ’23. “That was the major goal for the season. It feels great to come out on top as a senior.” The seniors lost just one league game in three seasons. The Class of 2023 has players who will attend University of Massachusetts Amherst (Luke Robinson), Sacred Heart University (J. J. Fox), University of Massachusetts

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Lowell (Carter O’Brien), Pace University (Cole Stevens), St. Anselm College (Jake Klepacki and Evan) and Roger Williams University (Cole Hambley). “Our team’s biggest strength was the leadership of the senior group,” Coach MacDonald said. “They all lead by example. The close-knit dynamic of this team kept everyone accountable and their desire to work hard in practice was like no other team I’ve been a part of.” “We were a tight team,” echoed Jake. “The brotherhood we built for 8–10 weeks started in Syracuse (with a team trip). When we were there, when we had time off, we all were in each other’s hotel rooms and that carried out with the pasta dinners on Friday nights before Saturday games; and really any free time opportunity we had we took advantage of that togetherness because we love being around each other.”

boys lacrosse

All-American Luke Robinson ’23 highlights Boys Lacrosse honors To the victors go the spoils. A few days after claiming the Western New England Secondary School Lacrosse Association Division II for the second year in a row, 11 Titans earned postseason awards. Most impressively, Luke Robinson ’23 received All-American status while J.J. Fox ’23 won an All-NEPSAC Award. “I’ve had a great five years here with Coach Mac (Mike MacDonald) and all my teammates to help prepare me for my future (at the University of Massachusetts),” Luke praised. “I had a great experience at WMA for the last five years playing on the varsity team,” added J. J. “The program prepared me for the next level (Sacred Heart University).” Also, seven players were selected to the league first team: Cole Stevens ’23, Evan Spillane ’23, Jake Klepacki ’23, Ben McDonnell ’24, Jacob Miller ’25, Logan Dudley ’24 and Carter O’Brien ’23. Ty Cosenzi ’23 and Robbie McAllister ’25 earned honorable mentions. “Right now, the WMA Lacrosse program is sitting at the top of the hill,” Coach MacDonald explained. “We are producing quality student-athletes, giving them a healthy, fun and competitive lacrosse experience. The dedication and work ethic of our players and families have helped propel WMA as the top program in the WNESSLA D2 League.”

J. J. Fox ’23

girls lacrosse

Academic All-American Julia Besse ’23 leads Girls Lacrosse accolades There was much to celebrate at the conclusion of the 2023 Wilbraham & Monson Academy Girls Lacrosse season as three players landed major awards. Julia Besse ’23 was named an Academic All-American by US Lacrosse. Julia, a captain and four-year member of the WMA Girls Lacrosse program, will attend Boston College. Julia was one of just four players from a public or private school in Western Massachusetts to receive an Academic All-American honor. “It’s such an honor to be named Academic-All American,” Julia said. “I am so grateful for all of the experiences and memories the WMA Girls Lacrosse team has given me, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for the program.” “As a player, her incredible effort and determination ensure that she gives her best every day—and in doing so she makes her teammates better as well,” Coach Annie Kandel applauded. “A fierce defender, she constantly shuts down the opposing team’s top scorers, and her ability to consistently win ground balls is a credit to her vision and intensity. It is a bit cliché but in this case very true: if we had 12 of her, not only would we win every game, but we would have a lot of fun doing so. Meanwhile, Abigail Brunelle ’25 and Ally Orquiola ’25 were selected to the All-New England Prep School Athletic Council team. Abby and Ally both excelled offensively for the Titans despite some physical setbacks.

• All-American Luke Robinson ’23, left, and All-NEPSAC honoree J. J. Fox ’23.

Luke Robinson ’23

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

DEPARTMENTS: TITANS VICTORIOUS girls track & field

Memorable season for Girls Track & Field team Track can be a talent thing, and it can also be a bit of a number’s thing. In 2023, the Wilbraham & Monson Academy Girls Track team had both as the Titans went undefeated during the regular season before placing second at the New England Prep School Track Association Division III Championships in May. “In the beginning of the season, our numbers were our strength as we were going against the smaller schools,” explained Coach Danielle Vartabedian, whose team went 14–0 in the regular season. “But as the season went on our talent was our strength as we were going against larger teams like Williston Northampton School, Suffield Academy and Berkshire School. Beating these schools was a battle, and the wins were by small margins.” WMA was crowned the runner-up among the 34 teams that competed at the Division III meet in a driving rain at Marianapolis Prep School in Thompson, Connecticut.

Arielle Chechile ’24 crossed first in the 200 and 400 and also placed second in the triple jump. Abigail Dorunda ’24 finished fourth in the 200 and 400, and Maddie Stoltz ’23 took third in the discus. The relay team of Arielle, Adrianna Chechile ’26, Maddie and Abigail also won the 4 × 100 relay in a school record-setting performance. Including the 4 × 100, the Titans set nine school records in 2023: Arielle (tied 200, 400, 300 hurdles, triple jump, high jump), Abigail (tied 200), Ava Aguiar ’23 (1,500, 3,000) and Maddie (discus). On the boys side, Michael Dorunda ’24 placed fifth and set a school record in the 1,500 at the Division III championship meet. AWARDS All-NEPSAC: Arielle Chechile ’24, Adrianna Chechile ’26, Abigail Dorunda ’24, Michael Dorunda ’24, Simon Percy ’23, Madaket Stoltz ’23 NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Adetona Adjedobi ’23, Ava Aguiar ’23, Gabriel Cruz ’24

• from left: Head Coach Danielle Vartabedian, Kayla Makkiya ’25, Abigail Dorunda ’24, Ava Aguiar ’23, Madaket Stoltz ’23, Arielle Chechile ’24, Adrianna Chechile ’26 and assistant coaches Kate Labosky, Reese Laviolette and Greg Walsh at the NEPSTA Division III Championships.

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girls track & field

Arielle Chechile ’24 sets 6 Academy Track records Rest? Sit? Relax? Nope, that’s not how Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Arielle Chechile ’24 is programmed. After training on her own at WMA for weeks, Arielle qualified for the USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships at famed Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon in July. She decided not to attend. Arielle earned an invitation to the national championships based on her performance in the triple jump at two qualifying meets. “I’m so excited at that whole idea that I could make it to the championships for Junior Olympics, which is a renowned event,” Arielle said. “It’s crazy to me.” After setting six schools records in an undefeated regular season for the WMA Girls Track team, Arielle continued to practice so she could “stay active.” Arielle placed first in the triple jump and fifth in the 200-meter run at a USATF-sanctioned meet at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts in late June to qualify for the next round. Following a rain delay, she sailed more than 35 feet for the first time in the triple jump with a 35-9.5. “When I came out, I did not have high hopes because I didn’t get as warm as I wanted to be,” Arielle explained. “And then it felt rushed. But overall, it was insane. I increased the distance four out of six times, with almost a full foot (personal record).” At the USATF Region I meet in July in Craryville, New York, Arielle placed second in the triple jump with an effort of 35-.5, earning her a berth among the best of the best in Oregon. “I was very rushed going into it,” Arielle said. “There was a rolling schedule so rather than having multiple hours I had 10 minutes to warm up. I went in feeling rocky. I was hoping for a PR, but my goal was 35 so I could say I was consistent with 35 feet. My first jumps just weren’t going like I wanted, but by the fourth they were jumps I was proud of and I was happy with second place.” Along with the triple jump, Arielle also set WMA records in the high jump, 300-meter hurdles, 200, 400 and 4 × 100 relay.

hockey

Jordan Blais ’23 heads to professional hockey ranks With the help of a postgraduate year at Wilbraham & Monson Academy, the hockey dream continues for Jordan Blais ’23. A few weeks after helping the Titans navigate a successful first year on the varsity level, Jordan signed a contract with the Vermont Lumberjacks of the Eastern Hockey League. “It is an amazing feeling. It was a tough choice,” Jordan admitted. “I was fortunate to have several great opportunities to choose from, but when I visited Burlington I fell in love with the area. It is beautiful up there, right on the coast of Lake Champlain. “If you had asked me four years ago where I saw myself today, I probably would never have guessed I was still playing hockey. I’m very thankful for how supportive my family is. They have enabled me to do what I love. I owe a lot to my mom and dad. Their efforts have made this possible for me.” Jordan, who served as captain for the 2022–2023 WMA season, reported to the Lumberjacks late in the summer. The EHL, a professional minor league entity, prepares high school and college‑aged players for the college or professional level.

riflery

Riflery on target with 8 All‑State selections

• from left: Assistant Coach Brian Lautenschleger, Guo Yin ’23, Arzum Li ’24, Askar Bakirdinov ’24, Sungjae Yeo ’24, Matthew Clark ’24, Kai Yi Lin ’25, Vaishnavi Venkat ’25, Marisa Cyboron ’24 and Head Coach Bill Passy.

Wilbraham & Monson Academy once again led the way on the 2022–23 All‑State team as eight Titans earned recognition. The recipients were honored at a banquet hosted by the Connecticut State Rifle & Revolver Association in April at Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange, Connecticut. Askar Bakirdinov ’24, Matthew Clark ’24, Marisa Cyboron ’24 and Arzum Li ’24 were named to the First Team, while Guo Yin ’23, Kai Yi Lin ’25, Sungjae Yeo ’24 and Vaishnavi Venkat ’25 made the Second Team. This was the second consecutive year that WMA had eight members receive All‑State honors. Since Coach Bill Passy took over the helm seven years ago, 35 Titans have made the All‑State team, including 26 on First Team. “The Connecticut State Awards Banquet was a great opportunity for our kids to get the recognition they deserve for another incredible season,” Coach Passy said. “It is especially special since it comes in front of their peers—those with knowledge of how difficult a sport it is. The kids take much pride in what they accomplished.”

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

BY Russ Held

DEPARTMENTS: SPRING 2023 ATHLETICs HIGHLIGHTS

Director of Communications

SPRING SPORTS

Caitlin Stratton ’26

golf

Varsity season record: 2–7 Captain: Shea Walsh ’23 Highlights: Played very

girls track & field

Varsity season record: 14–0 Captains: Ava Aguiar ’23, Arielle

competitive schedule, with home matches at Country Club of Wilbraham and GreatHorse; Guglielmo Catalano ’23 was Team MVP and formed a strong core with Walsh, Chris Calvanese ’25 and Chris Paquette ’25; Coaches Award went to James Greene ’23.

Chechile ’24, Abigail Dorunda ’24, Madaket Stoltz ’23 Highlights: Titans finished second out of 34 teams at Division 3 NEPSTA Championships; Chechile, the team MVP, set school records in the 200 meters, triple jump, 300 hurdles and 400; Aguiar (1,500 and 3,000) and Stoltz (discus) set school records, and Dorunda tied the 200 mark; Chechile, Adrianna Chechile ’26, Stoltz and Dorunda established a 4 × 100 school record.

Guglielmo Catalano ’23

baseball

Varsity season record: 4–10 Captains: Brady Gouin ’23,

Michael Dorunda ’24

boys track & field

Varsity season record: 12–2 Captains: Kayden Chhoun ’25, Michael Dorunda ’24,

Tianze Xiong ’23 Highlights: Dorunda, Chhoun, Valdemar Enghave ’23 and Simon Percy ’23 had top-six finishes at the NEPSTA Championships; Team MVP Dorunda broke the school record in the 1,500 meters; Coaches Award went to Rouri Takahashi ’23.

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Liam Shea-Gallagher ’24 Highlights: Hyonde Keum ’23 was named Team MVP and earned All-NEPSAC Second Team honors; Roman Barrett ’25 won the Coaches Award; team traveled to the Jackie Robinson Training Facility at the historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida, for its spring training.

Roman Barrett ’25

boys rugby

Varsity season record: 7–1 Captains: Jack Healy ’23, Keigo

Koyasu ’23

Jack Healy ’23, left, readies for a lineout.

Highlights: Two early season, come-from-behind victories set the tone of the season; Titans battled opponents from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and were able to use an athletic backline as well as a quick and hard tackling group of forwards to meet success; Healy was Team MVP, and Koyasu won the Coaches Award.

girls rugby

Varsity season record: 9–8–2 Captain: Jessica Ethier ’23 Highlights: Early season, 46–10 win over NYC set the

tone for the season; Ethier won Team MVP honors, and Camila Uribe ’24 was the Coaches Award choice.

girls lacrosse

Varsity season record: 5–6 Captains: Julia Besse ’23, Kylie

Maddie Hong ’23

Yumin Rho ’23, left, Jessica Ethier ’23, center, and Camila Uribe ’24.

Bignell ’23, Madeleine Hong ’23 Highlights: Key moments included an overtime win over Worcester and last-second heroics to beat Suffield; Besse was named an Academic All-American; Ally Orquiola ’25 and Abigail Brunelle ’25 were All-NEPSAC choices; Besse was Team MVP, and Bignell shared the Coaches Award with Katie Hutcheson ’26.

boys lacrosse

Varsity season record: 11–4 Captains: J. J. Fox ’23, Jake Klepacki ’23, Luke Robinson ’23, Evan Spillane ’23 Highlights: Western New England Secondary School Lacrosse Association

boys tennis

Varsity season record: 12–2 Captain: Tate Laczkowski ’23 Highlights: Titans won last

seven matches and enjoyed big wins over Suffield, Williston (twice) and Northfield Mount Hermon; Team co-MVP and No. 1 singles player Jaime De Los Casares ’24 was an AllNEPSAC honoree; Helios Berenguer Puche ’23, a Team co-MVP, and Surya Kapa ’27 went undefeated in singles play; Jiwoong Hong ’26 won the team’s Coaches Award.

Helios Berenguer Puche ’23

girls tennis

Division II champions for second straight year; Team MVP’s Luke Robinson (All-America) and Fox (All-NEPSAC) were major award winners; All-league honors went to Cole Stevens ’23, Ben McDonnell ’24, Jacob Miller ’25, Logan Dudley ’24, Carter O’Brien ’23, Spillane and Klepacki. Team Coaches Award winner Ty Cosenzi ’23 and Robbie McAllister ’25 were all-league honorable mention selections; three losses came by one goal, including two in overtime.

Varsity season record: 4–7 Captains: Romy Allen-

Schubert ’27, Margaret Gately ’23, Emma Landry ’25 Highlights: Best win was 4–3 victory over Williston; No. 2 singles player Landry won Team MVP honors, while No. 1 singles Allen-Schubert and Meagan Schuermann ’23 shared the Coaches Award; Margherita Negri ’23 was surprise addition who worked her way to No. 3 singles. Romy Allen-Schubert ’27

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

departments: fine & performing arts

BY BILL WELLS Director of Student Promotion

Fine & Performing Arts

• The “Urban Gear” design that earned Kyooeun “Ethan” Kang ’23 a gold medal.

Ethan Kang ’23 well suited for national award

Yearbook, 2023

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Look out, New York City. Here comes Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Kyooeun “Ethan” Kang ’23, and he’s ready. Ethan was named a National Medalist for the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards when his “Urban Gear” design received a Gold Medal in May. The accomplishment came two months after Ethan won a Gold Key honor at the state level. The accomplishment placed Ethan in the top 1%, with only 2,000 of the 260,000 entrants earning national recognition. The contest was open nationally to students in Grades 7–12. “While in our classes and school community we encourage and praise good effort from our students, external validation adds a new dimension to the work that is already done,” Fine & Performing Arts Chair Paul Bloomfield said. “The Scholastic Awards provides a context for what we do as teachers of the Fine & Performing Arts Department, and what our students may aspire to. “For Ethan, a determined and creative student, this helps situate him among the top high schoolers and gives him confidence as he enters the competitive world of fashion and design. Getting to this point is often a collective effort, and though I was his advisor and principal art teacher since his arrival, I would also like to recognize (his) art teachers, Mr. Steven Davis and Mrs. Marvina Lowry-Brook, for their important contributions to Ethan’s experience, growth and success at WMA.” Ethan, who was inspired by Post Archive Faction, is a student at Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.

Spring Performances & Events Our Fine & Performing Arts students displayed their talents as dancers in a “Life on Stage” performance, in the musical “Xanadu,” at a Spring Concert in Alumni Memorial Chapel and through an AP 2D Design exhibit.

• Avery Kay ’26, foreground, with Madelaina Ford ’23.

Xuanyi “Yolanda” Chen ’24

Lily Mathison ’24, left, and some of the cast on stage.

• The work of Yi “Rachel” Lyu ’23.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

departments: STUDENTS

Student Perspectives No two student experiences have been alike during the 220 years of the Academy, but each has likely included “that favorite place” on campus. We caught up with six current students who shared their special spot, and why, at WMA.

the hill

‘It reminds us of how we grow . . . together as a community’ When a student matriculates into Wilbraham & Monson Academy, one of the foremost things they learn about is the Academy’s appreciation and prioritization of maintaining a strong sense of community throughout campus. This sense of community can be felt around WMA but I think the place that it is exemplified the most is on “The Hill.” Students walk up and down The Hill sometimes more than four times a day and each time you are greeted with a sea of faces. There are teachers and students who are walking up to class or running down to lunch with their backpacks open, rushing to be the first to the dining hall. The walk up The Hill is something each student has to do, no matter the grade level, where they come from, or where they are headed. The Hill unites us all, but not just the current students. As you walk up the paved pathway,

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the Senior Stones get more dated, all the way back to the 1960s, an intricate part of WMA’s history on display. I would even say that The Hill may be the central most part of campus, as you look behind you to see Rich Hall, the Admissions Office and Main Street. In front of you are the academic buildings and Heritage Courtyard. The Senior Bridge can be seen arching over the bubbling Rubicon where many senior classes moved on to the next chapter in their lives. In the distance, students can be seen gathering for a study session in the Athenaeum. I think The Hill serves as a reminder, from the first time a student walks up, nervous to enter their first class at the Academy to the last time they walk down it, holding their own Senior Stones on their graduation day. It reminds us of how we grow, not just independently but together as a community.

— Dakotah Thomas ’26

pets on campus

Animals bring ‘enjoyment and a smile to your face’ There are many things you can find at Wilbraham & Monson Academy that you don’t find at many other schools. The one that stands out to me the most is the pets on campus. I love being in the Science Room of the Middle School and hearing the sounds of Joey, the bearded dragon, scratching at his tank or seeing him lay in his hammock under his heat lamp. Or looking over to the other side of the science classroom and seeing the fish from the Rubicon swimming around in their algae-filled tank. It can be very entertaining when you are sitting at a soccer game and see Betty the Basset Hound splashing in the Rubicon with her belly low to the ground getting wet but having so much fun, her ears flopping around when she runs. You could

be walking to the Athenaeum to study and look straight ahead at the big field to see a Frisbee being thrown and no sooner do you see Maya sprinting to catch it. If you are feeling sick and need to go to Health Services you can usually find Tilly walking around checking on everyone, that is if she is not doing her rounds in the passenger seat of a golf cart looking back at you as you walk up the hill. These animals are here to bring you enjoyment and a smile to your face and that is exactly what they do. Whether it is entertainment on the side of a soccer field or a reason to be distracted during science class, these animals are a part of why I love being a student at WMA.

— Khloe Thomas ’28

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

departments: STUDENTS

senior stones

‘Each stone tells the story of one former WMA student’ One of my favorite traditions at Wilbraham & Monson Academy is the Senior Stones. Walking through campus, whether to class up The Hill, on Main Street to Rich Hall or along Faculty Street to the Athletic Center, walking past the walls of Senior Stones truly feels like I am walking through history. One of my favorite things about the stones is the stories that they tell. The stones are a physical narrative of almost 100 years of WMA students and just by looking at them, you can learn a lot about each person, from their names and backgrounds, to their sports, hobbies and interests. I often wonder about the groups of stones placed together and of the good times and lifelong memories that those friends made. For the more artistically-designed stones, I think of how that student must have excelled in their

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art classes and the hours that they must have spent meticulously designing that very stone. Because each senior designs their own unique stone and the walls are expanded every year, I can find some of my recently-graduated friends’ stones and remember the laughs and fun times we spent together. Each stone tells the story of one former WMA student, and I wonder what my own stone will look like someday. I also think that the way that brick wall, on which the Senior Stones sit, winds its way throughout WMA’s campus is very special. As we walk alongside the walls, they remind us that we walk with the students who have changed, challenged and grown our school community into what it is today. Alongside us on every pathway, we are reminded that the community is what makes WMA so special.

— Ryan Cooley ’26

the hill

‘Moments of unspoken meaning occur . . . e ach day’ From the moment I arrived at Wilbraham & Monson Academy, a simple place on campus that has resonated with me is The Hill. Despite the chapel’s reputation as the center of campus because of the striking sight of a massive wave of students and teachers wearing Academy blazers moving toward it each Monday morning for school meeting, I still perceive The Hill as the most unifying location at WMA. The Hill has its ceremonial purposes, such as the gates opening to admit students entering the Academy during Matriculation and graduating seniors exiting with their engraved stones. However, I feel that moments of unspoken meaning occur on The Hill each day. I think there is something sacred about the walk to class on an autumn morning with leaves crunching

underfoot. I think there is something unparalleled about crossing the street on a glacial winter day with a friend from Vietnam and trying to explain sledding to her, because she has never seen snow until the recent dusting. Each encounter, from casual conversations with teachers to waving members of the Maintenance Department, seems mundane because of the caring environment that has been established at the Academy, where warm greetings are commonplace and unfamiliarity with others is a rarity. The Hill is a representation of the daily interactions that comprise our community, a sentiment that holds true with students and faculty, past and present.

— Emma Landry ’25

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

rich hall portico

‘Where I feel . . . a part of the Academy’ Rich Hall’s portico is an escape from work and stress during the school day. It’s a place to hang out with friends and watch the cars drive by while relaxing and getting some fresh air. This is one of my favorite places on campus. Situated underneath the watchful eye of Atlas, students have sat on that same portico for decades, sharing stories and forming new friendships. Throughout my two-plus years in the Upper School at Wilbraham & Monson Academy, I have sat with my friends on that portico countless times, listening to music and telling jokes. It has been a place where I can connect with people. It is also a place where I feel away from the hustle and bustle of the school day, but still part of the Academy.

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It is especially enjoyable to sit there with friends during the fall and spring months, watching the trees turn orange and maroon in autumn as they fall and gather in piles, and then watching the cycle begin with buds on the branches and birds chirping in the spring. Regardless of the time of year, sitting there allows me to witness the workings of the school, students walking by, crossing the street, or running up the hill to get to their class on time. I am fortunate to have a place to go to on campus where I can decompress and enjoy my time at the Academy with my friends outside of the classroom. The Rich Hall portico gives students at WMA a place to truly be a part of the Titan community.

— Ben Presz ’25

study room, mattern hall

A ‘strange mix of serenity and activity’ One of my favorite things about Wilbraham & Monson Academy is the study room on the second floor of Mattern Hall. It took me two years in the Upper School to actually notice the room. It is small, unassuming, with only a round white table, a wide window, and a small wooden desk old enough to have an inkwell. I often come to school a bit earlier than I need to, and actually use the study room for its intended purpose, watching colored leaves or snow pass by the window while I make biology flashcards or write a paper on “The Great Gatsby.” By Office Hours, the room is bustling, often with more activity than can fit inside it. Several people wander in and out of that room, swapping seats

around the table. Some of us store backpacks on the desk, but rarely sit on it, for fear that it will collapse underneath us. Many a frantic cram session in the period before a test have been completed there, though more often than not, any “studying” during this time is often more akin to talking, laughing, eating or napping with an open laptop nearby. There are a few regulars in the study room, but I can never fully anticipate what mix of people will be in there on any given day. The only constants are the table, the desk, the window and the strange mix of serenity and activity that occupy the study room, and I suppose that is what high school is all about.

— Sally Geoghegan ’24

Sketch by Vaishnavi “Vivi” Venkat ’25.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

ON CAMPUS: SPRING SEMESTER 2023

Spring Semester 1

There was plenty happening on campus during our Spring Semester in 2023. 1 Prom Night at GreatHorse, from left: Jiseong Choi ’23, Margherita Negri ’23, Meagan Schuermann ’23 and Adil Kamara ’24. 2 Kylie Bignell ’23, left, Callie Dunbar ’24, center, and Ashley Birkenshaw ’25 enjoy a smiling moment on campus on Prom Night. 3 Ben Wilson ’69W 4 David Prickett ’23, foreground, with (from left) Marisa Cyboron ’24, Madaket Stoltz ’23 and sisters Arielle Chechile ’24 and Adrianna Chechile ’26 at Global Scholars Night. 5 Ben Wilson ’69W, a guest speaker at School Meeting, stayed on campus to talk with student groups. 6 Members of the Class of 2023 proudly wear T-shirts displaying their college plans. 7 Max Krause ’24, foreground, and Michael Dorunda ’24 enjoy the annual Slip ’n’ Slide down Mattern Hill. 8 A group of students enjoy the storied tradition of the Color Run on Winchester Field. 9 Dakotah Thomas ’26, middle, and Science faculty member Kelsea Lewis, second from right, participate in a Women in STEM event in the iLab. 10 WMA hosted an Arkai music event. Arkai music fuses classical tradition with contemporary technology, through a violin and cello. 11 A beautiful sunset from the Athletic Center porch, as captured by former faculty member Danielle Bellefeuille ’16.

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WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

CLASS OF 2023: Senior Moments

Senior Moments 1

The Class of 2023 celebrated its Commencement Exercises on Corbin Field outside the Athletic Center in May. Here is a look at some of the highlights of our 219th celebration. 1 Rilee Harris ’23, left, Hannah Jamal ’23, center, and David Prickett ’23 pose for a selfie moment. 2 Margherita Negri ’23, in white, walks through the Faculty Gauntlet after the conclusion of the Commencement Ceremony. 3 Student Commencement Speaker Jiseong Choi ’23. 4 The Class of 2023 processes down “The Hill” along Broad Walk. 5 Madaket Stoltz ’23 addresses the crowd as a student Commencement Speaker. 6 Megan Mark ’23, center, smiles during the Commencement Ceremony. 7 The Class of 2023 waits in front of Rich Hall before the ceremonial laying of their Senior Stones. 8 The Class of 2023 photo in front of Rich Hall. 9 Smiles and selfies while awaiting the senior class photo on the steps of Rich Hall. 10 Official program cover. 11 David Prickett ’23 is all smiles after Commencement. 12 Seniors walk onto Corbin Field to approach the Commencement Tent. 13 from left: Jon Medley ’23, Jeremiah Dorsey ’23, Athletic Coordinator Doreen Majka, Desmond Perezcastaneda ’23 and Charlie Fantom ’23.

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WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

departments: PRIZE DAY & COMMENCEMENT

Prize Winners The Academy’s storied tradition of Prize Day and Commencement has honored students who have excelled in all parts of campus life. The presentations of awards were made on Prize Day, May 26, and Commencement, May 27. Special Prizes Head of School Award Iva Radevic ’23 Harriet Jones Nelson Trust David Prickett ’23 Gift of the Class of 1965 Ayana Gonzalez ’23 Billy Lak Prize Jessica Ethier ’23 Stephen D. Luckraft Memorial Award Madaket Stoltz ’23 Berube Prize Jackson Healy ’23 Pieria Prize Rilee Harris ’23 Kyle E. Webb Award David Kakule ’23 Dr. George E. Rogers Scholar Athlete Award Ava Aguiar ’23 Markell and Monson Class of 1898 Award/Owen David Dow Memorial Award Brady Gouin ’23

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Dr. Joseph P. Cebula Memorial Award Yuzuki Yamaoka ’23 Phil Shaw Award (Female) Madeleine Hong ’23 Phil Shaw Award (Male) Keigo Koyasu ’23 Trustees Cup Girls Varsity Basketball Class of 1977 Award Emma Landry ’25 Davison Prize Stephnie Essien ’24 John L. Nepomuceno Prize Sally Geoghegan ’24 Alumni Award Arielle Chechile ’24 Trustee Award Hanser Yoon ’24

Yuzuki Yamaoka ’23, left, with Hanser Yoon ’24 receiving cum laude pins from Faculty member Charlie D’Avanzo.

Eveline Barber Departmental Awards

Fine & Performing Arts Department

Center for Entrepreneurship, Economics & Finance

Visual Art – 2D Design Yi “Rachel” Lyu ’23

Finance Jameson Smith ’23 AP Economics Iva Radevic ’23 Entrepreneurship Madaket Stoltz ’23

Visual Art – 3D Design Yuzuki Yamaoka ’23 Music Vocals Lilyth “Lily” Mathison ’24 Music Jazz Ensemble Yunchang “Daniel” Hur ’25

English Department

History & Social Studies Department

ESL Language & Literature JeJun Koo ’26

World History Ryan Cooley ’26

Grade 9 English Dakotah Thomas ’26

AP Human Geography Malena Donovan ’25

Grade 10 English Emma Landry ’25

AP US History Autumn Falcone ’24

George H. Hefflon Memorial Award Sally Geoghegan ’24

AP World History Margaret Gately ’23

AP Senior English 12 Ayana Gonzalez ’23 AP Capstone Rilee Harris ’23

Mathematics Department

Algebra Jayden Lee-Choi ’26 Geometry Lily Meier ’26

major prize winners The Frank Chapin Cushman Memorial and Cora Pease Chandler awards are considered to be the two most prestigious prizes awarded each year at Commencement.

Jiseong Choi ’23

Julia Besse ’23

Frank Chapin Cushman Memorial Award

Cora Pease Chandler Award

Presented each year to that student who has shown the best Wilbraham & Monson Academy spirit during the school year, excelling in character, courtesy, scholarship and athletics.

Presented each year to that student of Wilbraham & Monson Academy who best lives up to the Academy’s motto of: “Live Clean. Speak True. Work Hard. Play Fair.”

Precalculus Breslin Grozio ’25

AP Chemistry Stephnie Essien ’24

Advanced Spanish Arielle Chechile ’24

AP Statistics David Prickett ’23

Physics Nolan Stratton ’23

AP Calculus AB Yi “Rachel” Lyu ’23

Engineering Nick Gutin ’24

Intermediate French Mary Kathleen “Katie” Hutcheson ’26

AP Calculus BC Hanser Yoon ’24

Edward F. Morris Prize Shuoxi “Chi” Qi ’23

Rensselaer Mathematics and Science Award Arielle Chechile ’24

AP Environmental Science Marie-Louise Corboz ’24

Science & Technology Department

Computer Science & Technology Madaket Stoltz ’23

Bausch & Lomb Science Award Hanser Yoon ’24 Rochester Institute of Technology Mathematics and Science Award Nick Gutin ’24

Advanced French Emma Landry ’25

Induction of Cum Laude Don Kelly, President of WMA Chapter of the Cum Laude Society Class of 2023

Julia Besse Jiseong Choi Ayana Gonzalez

STEM 9 Yuxiao “David” Zhou ’26

World Languages Department

Brady Gouin*

Biology Han Do ’24

Intermediate Latin Ryan Cooley ’26

Yi “Rachel” Lyu

AP Biology Zihan “Emily” Wu ’23

Advanced Latin Jacob Mason ’24

Chemistry Vaishnavi “Vivi” Venkat ’25

Intermediate Spanish David Kakule ’23

Madeleine Hong

David Prickett Madaket Stoltz* Zihan “Emily” Wu

Class of 2024

Arielle Chechile Sally Geoghegan Hanser Yoon *Elected as Juniors

Most Valuable Member Awards Atlas (Newspaper) Emma Landry ’25 The Hill (Yearbook) Ayana Gonzalez ’23

Additional Awards Howe S. Newell Senior English Award Jameson Smith ’23 Catherine Ingraham Award for Excellence in French Brady Gouin ’23 Marilyn Erickson Memorial Prize Yi “Rachel” Lyu ’23

Yuzuki Yamaoka

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

DEPARTMENTS: MIDDLE SCHOOL

Closing Ceremony 1

WMA’s Middle School held its Closing Ceremony on May 25 and with it honored many of its finest and brightest students. Director of the Middle School Stuart Whitcomb was the emcee for the event held on Corbin Field. 1 from left: Eoin Cavanaugh ’27, Chace Silva ’27, Brendan Ricca ’27, Jonathan Kakule ’28, Wyatt Cavanaugh ’27, Ben Boudreau ’28 and Surya Kapa ’27. 2 Members of the Class of 2027. 3 from left: Aimee Klepacki, John Klepacki and Payton Klepacki ’22 with Callie Klepacki ’27, foreground. 4 Twins Abigail Wiatrowski ’27, left, Director of the Middle School Stuart Whitcomb, center, and Lindsey Wiatrowski ’27. 5 The Presz and Masnicki families celebrate with Nathan Presz ’27, third from left.

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Awards 2022–2023 1

The following students were presented with major awards during our annual Middle School Closing Ceremony on May 25. 1 PAUL BEACH GODARD PRIZE Yejun Lee ’27

4 C LASS OF 2020 PRIZE Sylvia Tobias ’27

2 DIR ECTOR’S AWARD Romy Allen-Schubert ’27

5 J AMES LAGOMARSINO

3 DIR ECTOR’S AWARD Eoin Cavanaugh ’27

LEADERSHIP AWARD Joseph Prickett ’27

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

DEPARTMENTS: CAMPUS EVENTS

Alumni Games More than 100 alumni came back to campus on June 3, 2023, for a day filled with reconnection and sharing of memories. Guests were able to tour campus, visit their Senior Stones and either watch or participate in alumni lacrosse, rugby and basketball games. The day concluded with a delicious BBQ and live music in the tent. We look forward to hosting our alumni family once again in 2024.

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1 from left: Curt Thiem ’71W, Maureen Harrigan, David McDowell ’73 and Ted Sarrant ’73 socialize after a campus tour. 2 from left: Suzanne Trusz ’08, Drew Shea ’08 and Ashley Tavarez ’08.

3 Women’s Alumni Basketball team 2023, from left: Kayla Mokwuah ’18, Coach Durelle Brown, Najla Cecunjanin ’21, Director of Athletics Don Nicholson ’79, An’Janae Washington ’19, Adela Cecunjanin ’24, Rhaymi Porter ’21, Meera Ratté ’17, Hallie O’Toole ’22 and Alex Garrison ’18. 4 Lauren Buckley ’08 grabs lunch in the tent with daughter Evie.

5 2023 Alumni Rugby Team, from left, back row: Katherine Healy ’25, Jack Whitcomb ’21, Andrew Goncalves ’15, Evan Roy ’15, Patrick Healy ’24, Owen Swanson ’24, Rohan Heron ’19, Will Crocker ’20, Coach Wally Swanson and Jessica Ethier ’23. front row: Alex Ravelli ’18, Austin Fabbo ’15, Ryan Clark ’25, Drew Mele ’15 and Ryan McLarney ’12. 6 Austin Fabbo ’15 competes in the Alumni Rugby Game. 7

Mitch Pastore ’14 in action.

8 2023 Men’s Alumni Lacrosse Team, from left, top row: Andrew Mordasky ’13, Jack Robinson ’19, Nicholas Thorn-Guillaro ’20, Alexander Strange ’17, Carter O’Brien ’23, Brendan Butcher ’13, Coach Mike MacDonald, Andrew Shea ’08, Charles “Mikey” Callahan ’14, Nick Vanti ’21, Cam Smith ’19, Brendan Herbert ’22, Griffin LaRochelle ’21, Cam Cosenzi ’22, Hudson Perham ’22, Jeff Vartabedian, Zachary Mann ’17, John Kendall ’19, Mitch Pastore ’14 and Wyatt Cavanaugh ’27. bottom row: Patrick O’Connor ’19, Massimo Dibari ’25, Cam Corneau ’27, Matt Munsell ’26. 9 Matthew Filipowski ’22 takes a foul shot while alumni and current players look on during men’s basketball competition. 10 Brendan Herbert ’22 and Deven Austin ’22 catch up after the games. 11 from left: Coach Durelle Brown, Hallie O’Toole ’22 and Alex Garrison ’18 share some laughs.

12 2023 Men’s Alumni Basketball Team, from left, back row: Liam Murphy ’20, Ryan Kranz ’25, Christian Martin ’26, Deven Austin ’22, John Adams ’20, Khalil Kamara ’21, Matthew Filipowski ’22, Steven Marcus ’10, Ben Marcus ’12, Sean Seymour ’22 and Coach Mike Mannix. front row: Charlie D’Avanzo, Mikey Mannix, Guy Pistone ’07. 13 An’Janae Washington ’19, center, moves the ball up the court during the Women’s Alumni Basketball game.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

DEPARTMENTS: ALUMNI EVENTS

Spring Receptions 2023 More than 150 alumni, parents and friends joined us at Community Receptions in Boston, Washington, D.C., GreatHorse (Hampden, Mass.) and New York City. It was wonderful to have the ability to gather in person with Academy connections from across the Northeast! We hope to see you all at our 2023–2024 events. Keep an eye out for the schedule—coming soon!

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7 1

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Mitchell ’04 and partner Kyle Brimmer joined fellow alumni, parents and friends at our local community reception at GreatHorse on April 10.

Members of the Trustee Advisory Board joined our alumni during their Reunion for lunch after the morning’s meeting.

More than 30 faculty, staff, alumni and friends gathered at Committee in Boston, owned by Demetri Tsolakis ’01.

Head of School Brian P. Easler addresses friends, alumni and parents at our NYC Community Reception held at Shenkman Capital in May.

Members of the Class of 2015 reconnect at the Boston Community Reception. from left: Matthew Naumec ’15, Sara Burke ’15 and Austin Fabbo ’15.

Head of School Brian P. Easler and Director of Advancement Mark Aimone pose with Mark Shenkman ’61M, who was the recipient of the CASE Seymour Preston Award and graciously hosted the NYC Community Reception in his new office building in Times Square.

from left: William Bourgeois ’10, Elizabeth DeMaio ’08, Alexander Williamson ’07 and his wife, Janice Williamson.

The first annual meeting of the newly formed Trustee Advisory Board was held on campus on June 3. Former Trustees gathered to hear from members of WMA’s Office of Advancement about developments taking place throughout the Academy. from left, back row: Craig Meadows ’64W, William Faulkner ’57W, Judith Knapp P’86, ’87, ’90, Todd Masnicki ’89, Jon Haywood ’60M, Stoughton Smead, Bruce Buxton. front row: Peter Plumb ’61W, Don Stuart ’73, Krista Hanson P’10, Ronald Masnicki ’57M and Linda Griffin.

from left: Dean of Academics Melissa Earls poses with Evan Gallivan ’96 and his husband, Wade Lucas, and sister Whitney Gallivan ’00.

10 Joshua Binney ’07 and his wife, Sarah Palmer, joined the WMA Community Reception in Boston.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

ON CAMPUS: OPENING OF SCHOOL

Opening of School 7

Fall 2023

WILBRAHAM & MONSON ACADEMY Registration - Orientation - Matriculation - Convocation

It was another great start to another great academic year . . . the 220th in the Academy’s history. Our enrollment, at 412 students, represented 32 nations and was our highest number in recent years. 8 1

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The ceremonial walk for new students through the Academic Gate during our Matriculation ceremony.

Adrianna Thiesing ’30 signs the Matriculation book.

Daniel Gao ’24 receives his Senior Pin from Dean of Students Elizabeth Fontaine Squindo, left, and Head of School Brian P. Easler, right.

Frank Antonacci ’30, left, prepares to sign the Matriculation book as a new student, while Head of School Brian P. Easler, right, instructs.

Tanner Cavanaugh ’30 during Matriculation activities in Alumni Memorial Chapel.

Camila Uribe ’24 receives her Senior Pin from Head of School Brian P. Easler.

Faculty Marshal Don Kelly, foreground right, leads the faculty into Convocation.

Rebecca Kakule ’25, foreground left, and Mariana Mujica ’25, foreground center, ready for a new school year.

Student Convocation speaker Stephnie Essien ’24 awaits her moment at the podium.

10 Gabrielle Pierce ’24 and Audrey Harris ’24 enjoy their first moments as official seniors. 11 Head of School Brian P. Easler displays the Matriculation Book, which has been signed by new students during the last two decades.

WMA students come from 32 nations this Fall.

12 Members of the Class of 2024 enjoy a light moment after formal photos on the steps of Rich Hall. 13 Upper School students face faculty members on stage during Convocation in Alumni Memorial Chapel.

Angola Czech Republic Kazakhstan Serbia

Austria England Republic of Korea Spain

Bangladesh Germany Kyrgyzstan Taiwan

Bosnia and Herzegovina Hong Kong Lithuania Thailand

Brazil India Mexico Turkey

Canada Italy Nigeria Ukraine

We Are.

China Jamaica Onondaga United States

Colombia Japan Russia Vietnam

14 Smiling WMA students en route to Convocation in Alumni Memorial Chapel. 15 Students enjoy New Student Orientation activities with Rich Hall as a backdrop. 16 Faculty member Emily Dromgold ’17 awaits to address new students during Matriculation ceremonies in Alumni Memorial Chapel.

At Home. In the World.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

Traveling titans: europe

Europe A sampling of photos that capture Medieval-preserved Rothenburg, Bavarian München, seaside Venezia and classical (and modern) Roma. 38

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Quotable Traveling Titans Traveling abroad was an amazing experience which I’ll never forget. I loved seeing all of the ancient Roman architecture. I have studied Latin and Roman culture so it was so exhilarating to see all that I had read about. Something that especially stood out to me was seeing how modern Rome blended in with its ancient history and imagining waking up in the morning and seeing the Colosseum as a part of your skyline. I’m so grateful I had this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” arielle chechile ’24

Arielle Chechile ’24 and Madaket Stoltz ’23, right, in Rome.

Something that stuck with me from the Europe Trip was one of the nights in Rome. We realized that the hotel we were staying at had rooftop access. A group of us brought up a couple of card games and sodas from the downstairs restaurant. Despite the rapidly setting sun, we played until the roof ’s closing time for the night, listened to music on our phones and enjoyed the view across Rome with Vatican City barely visible between the buildings. It’s small, but it’s just one of those little moments that really sticks with you.” madaket stoltz ’23 . . . It truly was the experience of a lifetime. This was my first trip to Europe, and Munich and Venice were two places I will remember forever. Munich was completely different from any city I had ever visited in the U.S. I was very impressed with how well designed the city was. I especially enjoyed jumping into freezing cold water and riding the current down the river in the Englischer Garten. Our train ride through the Alps was incredible, and I couldn’t believe we were still on Earth; it felt like we were on Pandora from Avatar. After settling into our hotel in Venice, we explored Lido where I had the best pizza ever. After our amazing dinner, we walked out to the Adriatic Sea where we swam and played ‘jackpot’ until dark.” jack healy ’23 One thing that stuck with me from the trip was the time our group spent in Lido, Venice. Being able to go out and explore both the town and the beach while immersing myself in the local cuisine was something that has left a lasting impression on me. However, the only downside to my experience in Lido is that I will never find better-tasting pizza now that I am back home!” brady gouin ’23

Brady Gouin ’23, left, and Jack Healy ’23, in Munich.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

The Food & Beverage Issue ACADEMY ACADEMY

WORLD WORLD

ALUMNI IN ACTION: FOOD & BEVERAGE

At Your Service WMA Alumni give back to community through hospitality BY Kyle O’Brien Director of Alumni Relations

When one hears the phrase “a career in service,” certain images come to mind. Teachers, police officers, firefighters, hospital employees: they all fall into the category of providing assistance to others. However, people frequently miss the one that they come in contact with most often. In fact, it even has service in the name—the service industry, also referred to as food service or hospitality.

Jonathan Winegar-Mendez ’02 Jonathan Winegar-Mendez ’02, Partner and Chief Operating Officer of A Street restaurant group in Boston, explains what the term means to him: “Serving people not as their servant, but as an opportunity to connect and build a rapport of kindness and respect.” After graduating from University of Massachusetts Boston, with a degree in History, Mr. Winegar-Mendez went to graduate school and earned a

certificate in alternative dispute resolution. He used these credentials to work as a mediator within Massachusetts small claims court and the Massachusetts legal system. During this time, a friend approached him about a small restaurant group he was a part of. Mr. Winegar-Mendez was open to the opportunity and jumped in feet first—doing a little bit of everything, including social media, scheduling, permitting and being a delivery driver. His official title was the Director of Business Operations.

in the hospitality business, but “I fell in love with the business of Mr. Winegar-Mendez also credits restaurants,” Mr. Winegar-Mendez his time at WMA for making said. “I really fell in love with him into the person and professional the community that restaurants he is today. create. I fell in love with this idea “I truly think WMA laid the of hospitality, of bringing people foundation for me, whether it be in, bringing people together, and from academic or personal discipline, giving them love and respect.” personal integrity, character or In 2011, Mr. Winegar-Mendez simple time management skills and became a restaurant and beverage manager at Trade, when his business accountability,” he said. Mr. Winegar-Mendez recalls partner opened up the eatery in receiving an F on his first paper Boston. After traveling to Greece in Intro to U.S. History, after with his colleagues and tasting the food, Mr. Winegar-Mendez became which History faculty member Gary Cook reviewed and critiqued inspired and continued asking the each of his papers prior to the question “Why can’t we get this deadline—often giving Jonathan a food in the U.S.?” second or third chance to improve By 2016, the answer to that them before submission. question was born—Saloniki. The “That experience taught me how restaurant was so successful that a second location opened eight months to write,” Mr. Winegar-Mendez said. “I think that the ability to write and later; and there are currently five locations throughout the Boston area, reason and to structure an argument or a position is something that is so, with plans to continue expansion so, so valuable. That may be one of locally and in other markets. A Street restaurant group now consists the single most important tools that I’ve ever had to deploy in my life.” of all five Saloniki locations, as well Even today, as he manages as Trade, Porto, The Venetian, and a staff of more than 300 people, its newest addition, La Padrona. La Mr. Winegar-Mendez often uses the Padrona is located in the new Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences. same techniques Mr. Cook taught His success certainly comes from him all those years ago to help his staff articulate their thoughts. his hard work ethic and ingenuity

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

ALUMNI IN ACTION: FOOD & BEVERAGE

Chotipong “Choti” Leenutaphong ’00 Chotipong “Choti” Leenutaphong ’00, like Mr. Winegar-Mendez, also took an untraditional path to arrive at his current career. After graduating from WMA and Brandeis University, he returned to his home country of Thailand to work for his family’s automobile business. He later became a Thai diplomat and received an MBA from London Business School. Today, Mr. Leenutaphong and his wife, Debby Tang, are the co-founders of Foodie Collection, an award-winning restaurant group located in Bangkok, Thailand. The three restaurants that comprise the group are: Vesper Cocktail Bar (Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2016–2023); La Dotta Pasta Bar and Store (on the

Michelin List 2019–2023); and 80/20, a Michelin star contemporary Thai restaurant. Just by browsing the menus of Mr. Leenutaphong’s restaurants, one can see that they all have an international flair to them. He credits this worldly perspective to his time at the Academy. “WMA was different because you had to experience diversity 24/7,” Mr. Leenutaphong said. “It was fascinating to meet and befriend all types of nationalities, learning about their cultures—appreciating similarities and differences . . . Looking back, WMA shaped me into who I am today as a person, especially in terms of having an international mindset.” And the influence didn’t stop there, as Mr. Leenutaphong explains that the lessons learned in Mr. Nicholson’s history classes have influenced him over the years. “Even today, whenever I make decisions on personal and professional matters, it comes automatically to rely on history lessons and learn from the achievements and failures of people in the past,” he said.

WMA was different because you had to experience diversity 24/7. It was fascinating to meet and befriend all types of nationalities, learning about their cultures — appreciating similarities and differences . . . Looking back, WMA shaped me into who I am today as a person, especially in terms of having an international mindset.” chotipong “choti” leenutaphong ’00

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Tatiana Ravelli ’18

world,” she said. “Having sustainable options in the bakeries I work for— like composting, recycling, using the whole ingredient and being mindful of our plastic consumption—is very important to me.” During her time at WMA, Ms. Ravelli was able to take many different electives, and she chose art every time. “I think it really helped me in my career because I got a different education,” she said. “I have a lot of background knowledge on different art forms and different mediums now.” Although some people argue baking is a science, one can certainly see the artistic influence in all of Ms. Ravelli’s baked goods.

While Mr. Leenutaphong and Mr. Winegar-Mendez found their true calling through exploration, Tatiana Ravelli ’18 knew this is what she wanted from an early age. Ms. Ravelli ’18 chose Johnson & Wales University, where she studied the science of baking for four years. After completing an internship with The Walt Disney Company as a Baking and Pastry — Cast member, she graduated from Mr. Leenutaphong, Mr. WinegarJohnson & Wales in 2022 and is now Mendez and Ms. Ravelli all the Bakery Supervisor at Wildflour Vegan Bakery and Cafe in Pawtucket, recognize that the service industry is full of challenges. Rhode Island. “You are also only as good as their Ms. Ravelli explains that sadly (the guests) last experience in your there are a lot of unethical practices place,” Mr. Leenutaphong said. within the cultivation of food, “So you have to make sure that all including animals being treated aspects are flawless and consistent, badly for our sake. whether this be food, drinks, “One of the reasons I wanted ambience or service.” to work at a vegan bakery is Mr. Winegar-Mendez notes to minimize the impact I have that guest expectations can be a negatively on other animals and the

enjoy our food, drinks and service challenge. As can more logistical because the restaurant ultimately aspects like inflation, staffing becomes a means to our guests’ shortages, supply chain issues and memorable experiences.” rent control. For Ms. Ravelli, it is the simple For Ms. Ravelli, the challenge is act of “seeing someone buying more personal. She notes that being a baker or creative, it can be difficult something that you put a lot of time in, whether it be a sourdough loaf to separate yourself from what you or a croissant that takes three days to are making on a day to day basis. make. Putting that time and effort “It was difficult for me, and other into something and cultivating it students, to separate ourselves from and then getting it received well is, the idea that just because you do I think, that is the best part.” something incorrectly, it doesn’t As most WMA alumni know, mean you are a bad baker,” she said. Frank Chapin Cushman lived by However, Ms. Ravelli has since the ideals and motto of “Live Clean, learned that the thought pattern is Speak True, Work Hard, Play Fair.” incorrect and even jokes, “We eat our mistakes so there is no evidence.” This motto has since been adapted by all at the Academy. But all three alumni agree that When thinking about the word the rewards make those challenges “service,” it is clear this motto worthwhile. exemplifies all that service can be. Mr. Winegar-Mendez explains Mr. Leenutaphong, Mr. Winegarthat there is great satisfaction in Mendez and Ms. Ravelli live these “creating a culture where people feel values everyday through their work honored, valued and taken care of.” and by doing so, they continue to Mr. Leenutaphong elaborates on bring WMA to the world. this idea as well. “Restaurants are social places. People come for all sorts of reasons: they want to enjoy a night out with their loved ones; they want to wind down after a stressful day; or they come to make business deals with their colleagues. A restaurant serves as a facilitator for their conversations and for their great moods. “For me, this aspect is even more important than the fact that they

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

ALUMNI IN ACTION: FOOD & BEVERAGE

Photo by Linda Campos

Demetri Tsolakis ’01 Turning strangers into friends through taste of Greece By Kyle O’Brien Director of Alumni Relations

doubled the amount of locations of Greco, with one in Burlington, Massachusetts, and three more in Washington, D.C. — a new territory for the restaurant. In addition, Mr. Tsolakis has opened up two more concepts — Hecate and Bar Vlaha — since early 2020. Hecate is a speakeasy style cocktail bar just around the corner from Krasi with a hidden entrance, and it opened in May 2022. Mr. Tsolakis describes Hecate as “a European-style, intimate cocktail bar focusing on boutique unique brands and the craftsmanship of mixologists.” With only 24 seats in the restaurant “it takes you to a whole different realm.” In March 2023 and after being inspired by the Vlachs, an ethnic group of nomadic shepherds found in northern and central Greece, Mr. Tsolakis opened Bar Vlaha. As he explains, this concept “focuses on central Greece and the Vlach people. This is where the roots of Greek cooking and culture started. It’s really interesting to see their culture and their foods and their way of life and where all our culture stems from.” Greece is a country made up of 80% mountainous regions and is much more than the beaches, oceans and clear skies. “A lot of the hospitality, culture and food, started from lakes, streams and mountains.” Mr. Tsolakis said. “Hospitality in Greek culture was built on strangers. The mission of our company, turning strangers into friends, all started from Vlach people; the shepherds, where they were traveling from village to village, needing a place to stay and sleep, were brought in by the

When Demetri Tsolakis ’01, co-owner of Xenia Greek Hospitality, was last featured in Academy World, he had opened Krasi. The meze and wine bar in Boston’s Back Bay joined Committee and Greco, his company’s other restaurants. However, despite a pandemic in the years since that initial interview, Mr. Tsolakis has been busy. His fast casual restaurant Greco has grown from two locations to four, including one in TD Garden and one in downtown Boston on Milk Street. Both locations were slated to open in 2020, but were delayed until 2021 and 2022. However, the growth doesn’t stop there. By the end of 2024, Mr. Tsolakis hopes to have

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Yearbook, 2001

locals, as strangers, and given food, drinks and a place to stay.” Just like Xenia’s other concepts, Bar Vlaha has been greeted with much praise. Along with the upcoming expansion of Greco, Mr. Tsolakis is anticipating the opening of another concept in Boston. Almost in contrast to the mountainous cuisine of Bar Vlaha, Xenia Hospitality will be adding a Greek seafood restaurant to their menagerie by Spring 2024. When asked what type of impact Mr. Tsolakis was hoping his many concepts have on the patron and community, his answer matched the company’s motto. “Being able to give memorable experiences makes our hospitality and our mission apparent . . . We really want people coming in as strangers and leaving as friends.”

This is where the roots of Greek cooking and culture started. It’s really interesting to see their culture and their foods and their way of life and where all our culture stems from.” demetri tsolakis ’01

Demetri Tsolakis ’01, left, enjoys a light moment at Bar Vlaha. Photo by Jimmy Pineapple

WMA: Cultural experience served as path to hospitality field Excerpt from Spring 2020 edition of Academy World Written by Molly McGill As Mr. Tsolakis, who was known as James at WMA, describes it, he was first inspired to learn more about his own Greek heritage by the diversity he encountered as a student at the Academy. “WMA opened me up to a much broader sense of the world, and I met so many people from all over the world who really influenced what I wanted to do in life,” Mr. Tsolakis said. He participated on the Track & Field and Tennis teams, and was editor of the yearbook during his senior year. But when he wasn’t busy at school, he could often be found studying in the first booth of family-owned Mykonos restaurant in Springfield, Massachusetts. Growing up in the restaurant business made him fall in love with the industry and with the community feeling around the enjoyment of food and drink. He also recalls spending a lot of time with international students on campus and learning from their diversity and stories. “Being around so many different cultures made me feel that much more excited to share my own culture and to celebrate it,” Mr. Tsolakis said. His AP European History teacher Don Nicholson ’79 played a major role in his desire to learn more about his own culture. “Something about his approach to history and his knowledge of a variety of cultures really inspired me to focus on my own culture. For some reason, his serious approach clicked with me,” Mr. Tsolakis said. This influence ultimately led Mr. Tsolakis to study international business at Suffolk University in Boston. He took advantage of travel opportunities during college, and even had the chance to be involved with an EU program in Prague when the Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004. After graduation, Mr. Tsolakis worked for two years as an investment banker, before ultimately deciding to follow his passion. “I could not be stuck behind a desk,” Mr. Tsolakis said. “I needed to use my brain creatively, meeting new people and bringing to life my ideas. I was out the door as soon as I put my resume together for the hospitality field.”

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ALUMNI IN ACTION: FOOD & BEVERAGE

Yearbook, 1999

Kristin Chaconas ’99 ‘Every day I wake up I get to do something I love’ By Bill Wells Director of Student Promotion

Kristin Chaconas ’99 woke up one Christmas morning and saw a plastic, play kitchen next to the tree. She loved to pretend to bake and cook, and have everything set up just so. It was fun. Now as an adult, in a sense, the Wilbraham & Monson Academy alumna is still playing kitchen, and she even gets paid to do it. Most importantly, though, it’s still fun. “I truly love what I do,” Ms. Chaconas said. “When I entered into this industry, close to 25 years ago, I was told by a lot of people I needed to find a ‘real job.’ It’s only recently that hospitality is being considered a real job. From family to friends, they thought I was wasting my life and not doing anything with it. I saw a ladder, and I decided to climb it.

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“My career wasn’t a straight-line trajectory. There were some loops, step backs, pauses and launches forward. There were some fun stops along the way, and I’ve met so many wonderful people. I’m at a point in my career where I get to be a mentor, and that’s just wild to me. I’m literally living my dream.” Ms. Chaconas’ launch into the restaurant industry came easily as she joined the work force at age 17, washing dishes at a family-owned deli in Ludlow, Massachusetts. She learned a lot, mainly that she wanted to pursue a career in hospitality and live in a different part of the country. Enter the state of Georgia, where she enrolled at the Atlanta College of Art in the fall of 1999. “I wanted to get out of the small-town life and explore the world,” said Ms. Chaconas, who enjoyed her WMA classes with Charlie D’Avanzo, Phil Cardone and Dick Levy. “I always knew there was more to life than what I had grown up with and around, and I needed to explore.” Twenty-four years later, she’s still exploring Atlanta, working for some of the most respected restaurants in the city of nearly a half-million people. “The hospitality industry offers you the freedom to be yourself, to be creative, and to constantly learn new things and meet new people,” Ms. Chaconas explained. “It’s a fast-paced environment, where every day is some new adventure. It’s new people to interact

with, it’s new dishes from the chef or beverages from the bar. It’s ever changing and growing. There’s always something new to learn, and when you think you learned it all, there’s more. “Hospitality is a career that not everyone is suited for. I never planned on staying in this industry, but I fell in love with it. Food and beverage is what brings all walks of life together.” Ms. Chaconas joined Buckhead Life Restaurant Group as a maître’d in 2005. At the time, she didn’t recognize the impact it had on her career and how it prepared her for the future. She described it as “restaurant bootcamp,” providing nothing but A+ service from the moment the customers enter the doors until they depart. “A slow night for • Senior Stone us was 1,800 covers,” she recalled. “The last Valentine’s Day I worked there, they estimated that I talked to over 8,000 people over the course of three days.” Next came Staplehouse in 2016. Two months after joining the team as a server, Bon Appétit magazine named the establishment the best new restaurant in the country. Business exploded. “Working there was a rollercoaster ride,” she admitted. “We went from struggling to fill the small space to having a line of people wrapping around the block just to get in, put their name

ask me for help on making their newest cocktails. (Recently), I helped someone ferment blueberries to make a shrub, just because they wanted to learn. “I get to be one of the people they come to when they need help, inside or outside of work. I offer them more than just advice on how to make their cocktail better. Sometimes it’s advice on how to deal with a problem outside of work. I get to help shape the next generation of industry people.” Her climb in the hospitality field has included its share of challenges, but her experience at the Academy helped her persevere. “Something I learned at WMA was if there wasn’t a clear-cut path, make your own,” she relayed. “Working in the restaurant industry, you encounter so many different types of people, and that’s something that you’re surrounded with at WMA. “WMA taught me so many valuable lessons. I can correlate being taught to be mindful and respectful of others and their cultures easily translates to the restaurant industry. WMA taught me to not be afraid of what I didn’t understand, but to embrace it.” Ms. Chaconas also learned that dreams do come true. Just as she did as a little kid growing up in Ludlow, she gets to play kitchen whenever she wants. “Every day I wake up I get to do something I love, and I get to have a blast doing it.” on a list and hope to get a seat. I learned so much not only about food, wine and spirits, but I learned how to elevate my level of service.” During her first year at Staplehouse, it was nominated for two James Beard Awards and won the Humanitarian Award in 2018, one of the most prestigious honors in the restaurant business. “We were constantly pushing the boundaries of food and wine pairings,” she added. Then came her current job, working since 2022 as the Director of Operations for two cocktail bars: Dad’s and Little Spirit. Not surprisingly, the position includes hiring staff, training managers, staying on top of the latest codes, a number of behind-the-scenes responsibilities and supervising a staff of 45. The position, at this time in her life, has also offered Ms. Chaconas some rewards she didn’t see on the horizon. “My staff, they’re all about 10–20 years younger than me,” she said. “I never wanted children, and now I have about 20 adopted children. Every day I go to work, they come sit in my office and

this spread: Photos from Dad’s cocktail bar.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

ALUMNI IN ACTION: FOOD & BEVERAGE

Tim Cebula ’86 Food writing: ‘It’s about as fun as it sounds’ By Russ Held Director of Communications

Eat. Write. Repeat. And so it goes for Tim Cebula ’86, who has scripted a pretty good gig eating (and writing about) food. “It’s about as fun as it sounds,” Mr. Cebula said. “I’m a professional eater. I have a fast metabolism, so I think people are surprised that I am not a whole lot fatter.”

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Cebula shares his passion for food and writing as Food & Dining Writer for the Portland (Maine) Press Herald, a full-time responsibility that followed a worldwide experience as Senior Editor of Cooking Light magazine. “You have to taste test every recipe that is (featured) in the magazine,” he said. “Every day at lunch, that’s what you’re doing. Some days it’s eating two lunches. You’re sampling 15–20 recipes at a time . . .” Cooking Light brought Mr. Cebula to Alabama for the better part of 15 years, and it was from there that his food career took him all over the globe. “Working on the (magazine’s) Trailblazing Chef Awards, I went all over the world doing this,” Mr. Cebula said. “Places like Norway, Morocco, Ecuador . . . visiting all these countries to assess food.” Mr. Cebula, 54, has won multiple awards for his writing, and he adds those to career highlights that include being a James Beard Foundation Award judge. The highly esteemed awards are among the most revered in American food culture. “That is an honor and a privilege to be asked to do that,” Mr. Cebula said. “That’s a hell of a lot of fun. Definitely one of the highlights of my career.”

His James Beard Award responsibilities included the Restaurant & Chef awards, as well as the Journalism category. Having sampled more cuisines than the average person knows exist, Mr. Cebula says it would be a tough decision to choose his last meal. “It would probably have to be butter-poached lobster and dry-aged wagyu ribeye. There’d be a whole lot of comfort food, for sure. I am just so fortunate that I have tried so many (cuisines), and there is still so much more out there.” Mr. Cebula has covered a lot of ground already, as career responsibilities have included “staying on top of the national restaurant scene.” “I’ve had the opportunity to work with chefs like Jose Andres, Anthony Bourdain, Grant Achatz and Alain Ducasse,” Mr. Cebula said. “Ducasse has more Michelin Stars (21) than you can count. I once got a thank you note from him, all in French. I have no idea what it said, but it meant a lot to me.” Mr. Cebula said he always had an interest, and fittingly a strength, in writing—a connection that dates back to his days on the WMA campus. “I wrote for the school newspaper,” Mr. Cebula said of Atlas. “Mr. Crist was in charge. And I developed a lifelong love for writing headlines.

I never planned a cooking or restaurant career . . . it was hard at 30 (years old), it can be very punishing, physically grueling. I decided to get back into writing. I started freelancing for the Boston Globe food section, then went to Cooking Light. It really helped that I had an understanding of what it was like to be in the kitchen.” tim cebula ’86

“Once we wrote a story on the cleanliness, or lack thereof, of the bathrooms in Rich Hall. The headline was: ‘Urine Trouble.’ And we wrote about student apathy, with the headline ‘Student Apathy: Who Cares?’ We had some fun with it.” Mr. Cebula said that was his first real taste of journalism, and he still had no idea he’d end up on that career path. “It only was a great outlet for creativity at the time,” Mr. Cebula said. “I knew I had a love for reading and writing, and I developed that in an English class taught by Joan Mento.” After WMA, he majored in literary writing at Trinity College in West Hartford, Connecticut, and earned his master’s in magazine journalism at Boston University. “I worked in restaurants on Block Island for a couple of summers and really got hooked on cooking and restaurants,” Mr. Cebula said. “I had taken a job writing for the Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts) just after grad school, but the grind of covering town meetings and things like that started to get to me. “I took a gap year that stretched into a couple of years . . . and I started working at the The Old Inn On The Green in New Marlborough (Massachusetts). There I learned so much.” At the historic Berkshire inn, Mr. Cebula moved all the way up to sous chef, receiving full training in French Classical cuisine. • Yearbook, 1986

“I never planned a cooking or restaurant career . . . i t was hard at 30 (years old), it can be very punishing, physically grueling,” he said of restaurant work. “I decided to get back into I have nothing but writing. I started freelancing for the Boston good memories. I think Globe food section, then went to Cooking Light. It really helped that I had an understanding of very fondly of it. I am what it was like to be in the kitchen.” very fortunate to still His food writing career includes contributions to Time, Health, Food & Wine and CNN.com. be in contact with some Living now on coastal Maine, Mr. Cebula of my friends, like is a long way from his roots of his native Ware, Massachusetts. Mike Pangan, Keith Fuller “I commuted every day,” Mr. Cebula said of and Russell Schmidt.” his four years as a WMA student. “My mother, Eileen, was a Special Ed teacher at WMA, so tim cebula ’86 I was familiar. And the Pangan family (from Ware) was going there, and I was friendly with all of them. It just made sense that I would go “I had suffered from some serious senioritis . . . there, too.” and on the day of the processional to place the At WMA, Mr. Cebula played baseball, Senior Stones, I was probably off campus for sure,” basketball and soccer . . . and he “joined a number Mr. Cebula said. “I know I never had it (Senior of clubs. Most for the sake of filling out my Stone) placed. It’s not a great Senior Stone story, college resume.” but it’s an explanation as to why I don’t have His life and WMA experience nearly took a a stone there. The last I saw of it, it was in my hard detour when his father, Joseph, passed away mother’s garage.” when he was 15. If he didn’t leave behind his own physical “I was a sophomore and that really put me into a tailspin for a little while,” Mr. Cebula said. “I was mark on campus, WMA left quite an impression on him. suffering academically. It was only through the “I have nothing but good memories,” he said. patience and compassion of people like Mr. Giles, “I think very fondly of it. I am very fortunate my Spanish teacher for four years, to still be in contact with some of my friends, like that I was able to rebound.” The Cebula name may be familiar Mike Pangan, Keith Fuller and Russell Schmidt. I don’t get back to campus often, the last time to many in the WMA community, was when my mother died (2013). But it really but maybe not so much because of Mr. Cebula or his mother. The Joseph looked fantastic.” Undoubtedly as fantastic as butter-poached P. Cebula Memorial Award is an lobster and a dry-aged ribeye. annual award given on Prize Day or at Commencement, and one that pays tribute to Dr. Cebula’s admiration of individual achievements made by an international student at the Academy. “He was a lifelong educator,” Mr. Cebula said of the Academic Dean at American International College in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts. “He was such a kind, loving and very, very smart person. He had a lot of compassion for international students.” Mr. Cebula rebounded and continued to the finish line at WMA, even if it was less than a ceremonious ending.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

ALUMNI IN ACTION: FOOD & BEVERAGE Mr. Unaphum, who attended the Academy for three years. “We do so by implementing policies, strategies and methodology testing of the food product.” But there’s more ... s o much more. At his current job as Head of Food Manufacturing at Mission Barns in San Francisco, California, Mr. Unaphum manages the entire food manufacturing facility, ensures the facility is maintained and food is manufactured in a clean and sanitary environment, assures all incoming ingredients meet company specification, and manages supply and demand of ingredients and finished products. Oh, and one more thing: He follows Mission Barns’ vision of building a more sustainable food system by making cultivated meat. In

detail, the company grows the fat cells in a lab, then combines the lab-grown fat with plant protein during food manufacturing to create meatballs and bacon. “As our world population grows, there is a sense to create a food system that delivers food and nutrition security for all in such a way that is economical, socially responsible and without harming the environment,” he explained. “Animal agriculture generates more greenhouse gas emissions than all transportation combined and is a major driver of deforestation and waterway pollution. Mission Barns cultivated meat is much kinder to nature, using less resources to preserve our planet. Just one animal living freely has the potential of feeding millions.”

Nick Unaphum ’99 ‘WMA ... taught me (skills) to achieve company goals’ BY BILL WELLS Director of Student Promotion

Simply out of curiosity, Nick Unaphum ’99 took an introductory course on the topic of food science in college. That one class set the Wilbraham & Monson Academy graduate from Hong Kong on a career path that allows him to make the world—at least for some—a better place. Since graduating from the University of California at Davis in 2003, Nick has worked as a food expert, specifically in quality assurance. “As a person in quality and food safety, we ensure the food that is manufactured is safe for the consumers, that the food product is manufactured in a clean and sanitary environment,” said

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Nick Unaphum, background center, with wife, Jessica, left, and children Keira, center, and Zachary.

Mr. Unaphum’s position comes with immeasurable rewards, knowing he’s part of a new path in the industry while giving consumers an alternative meat option. “The meat industry has been around for hundreds of years,” he illustrated. “We are challenging this industry and creating a product that is more environmentally friendly without harming an animal, hoping these small changes will create a better world for future generations to live in.” Creating a product on a mass scale, though, is a high mountain to climb for the biotech company. “We can create the product on our bench top KitchenAid mixer, but in order to make enough product to sell to the consumers we need to scale our production,” he said. “From sourcing big commercial mixers to evolving the production process, (we want) the products made in a bigger scale to still taste the same as when we make it on bench top.”

Yearbook, 1999

Mr. Unaphum, who loved his Chemistry class with Mrs. Jane Kelly, looks back on his time at WMA and sees how it helped prepare him for the business world, but not in an on-paper sense or dollars and cents form. “As a boarding student, WMA helped me to be more self-sufficient and independent in managing my own time,” he recalled. “Working with minimal supervision and being self-driven taught me how to achieve company goals.” That introductory class at UC-Davis set him on an unexpected path, but it made sense. After all, there’s no arguing that people need food.

“I wanted to learn more about where our food came from and how it’s made,” he said. “Everyone has to eat, so why not make it a career. I started my career as a (quality assurance) technician in a bakery factory, just trying to

learn every part of the manufacturing process. The scale at which food is manufactured just fascinates me.” Mr. Unaphum took his first job at Otis Spunkmeyer when he was 23. He was then employed for 10 years at Del Monte Foods. After stints at INVO Coconut Water and SpoonfulONE, he was hired this year at Mission Barns, which opened in 2018. “(It was important for me to find) a company with the right values as me,” Mr. Unaphum said. “When you find a group of people that you work well with together and a company that is driven to make the world a better place, even if it’s just a little bit, it makes work more enjoyable.” Nick lives in California with his wife and two children.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

ALUMNI IN ACTION: FOOD & BEVERAGE

Irene Nakabonge-Lugude ’94 Fighting the world’s largest food deficiency with juice, one sip at a time

By Kyle O’Brien Director of Alumni Relations

When Irene NakabongeLugude ’94 was in her final year of college, she had an experience that changed her life. “All of a sudden I noticed I was having these weird symptoms,” the native Ugandan said. “My hair was falling out in large clumps, I couldn’t focus . . . I was chronically fatigued. I was taking naps twice a day, and then I was waking up in a pool of sweat.” After continuously advocating for herself at a local clinic, Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude was diagnosed with iron deficiency minutes after walking out of her last exam. During the spring semester of her senior year at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, she took a Design Thinking course—an innovative process to problem solving. It was through this course that Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude found a solution to

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her own problem of iron deficiency—one that would one day evolve into Manyi Juices. Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude is the founder of Manyi Juices, a plant-based juice start-up in Dorchester, Massachusetts, that specializes in juices that are a good source of iron. The debut product is called Zesty Beet, and it’s composed of beets, lemons, carrots and raspberries. They are designed to help increase one’s daily iron intake. The juice is easier to consume than a typical iron supplement and contains vitamin C to help with absorption. There are also no side effects, as there can be with supplements. As it clearly says on their bottles, they are “iron empowered.” Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude isn’t alone in her diagnosis. Roughly 10 million people in the United States suffer from iron deficiency. For perspective, this is the same number of Americans who recently watched the coronation of King Charles III or who reside in Los Angeles County. In fact, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. The World Health Organization has identified

six causes for iron deficiency and anemia; and they include blood loss, and chronic illnesses like cancer and malaria. The remaining four causes— micronutrient deficiency, stress, not eating foods rich in iron and lack of absorption—can be cured through diet and nutritional education. Combining her medical education experience, Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude has taken on the challenge of not only educating the masses about iron deficiency, but also reducing the rates nationally, and hopefully one day worldwide. As one can imagine, Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude’s journey has been laced with challenges. “There is no real blueprint on how to launch a juice business,” she said. In addition, when you combine that with all of the regulatory requirements, permitting and difficulty accessing both events and institutional organizations, her journey has not been an easy one. However, the rewards have been plentiful as she reflects on the relationships she’s built with fellow entrepreneurs and mentors, especially those from WMA. Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude’s efforts are 25 years removed from her days at Wilbraham & Monson Academy in the early 1990s. After touring several elite New England prep schools and feeling intimidated by almost all of them, she finally visited WMA. And as she says, she “saved the best for last.”

Ms. NakabongeLugude loved her tour and interview experience, given by Todd Wilson and Kneale Culbreath, both Admissions staff at the time. Yearbook, 1994 She explains that the campus wasn’t sprawling, yet it wasn’t small either. After her visit, Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude distinctly remembers getting in the car and telling her mom, “This is the school for me. This is it! No more interviews and skipping school.” Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude flourished at WMA. She was co-captain of the Girls Basketball and Water Polo teams, class president and prefect. After graduating, she went to Clark University in Worcester. However, she left after her sophomore year due to complications with her immigration status.

Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude refocused her energy and efforts on taking care of her family and entering the workforce. She worked under a chief financial officer as a research and administrative assistant. In fact, she worked on four start-ups at the height of the dot-com era, one being an investment bank that’s still in business. Later, after taking her dad’s advice, she entered into a career in the medical field. Though she was successful working as a program coordinator in medical educational programs, she decided at age 36, to finish her education. She went back to Clark and enrolled as a junior. Enter Manyi Juices, an idea that originated during her time at Clark, but hadn’t taken off until the last 18 months. In fact, Mr. Wilson is now her mentor and advisor to the company. “Reconnecting with folks, like Todd, who know me as my authentic self, but also meeting new people along the way who have been extremely supportive, has been a true reward,” she said.

When speaking with Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude, she radiates a sense of strength, passion, dedication and joy. Her hope is that Manyi Juices will help people, especially other women, achieve that as well. Through her product, Irene dreams that women all over the world will feel empowered to take control of their health and regain their sense of self. It’s evident she is doing this, one sip at a time.

Ms. Nakabonge-Lugude, right, engaging with customers at an open-air market in the Boston area.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

ALUMNI IN ACTION: FOOD & BEVERAGE

Behind the bar at Main Street Tavern in Monson

Dana Gahres ’74 ‘Restaurants have always been in my blood’

BY RUSS HELD Director of Communications

It’s been a long, (and sometimes) strange trip through the food and beverage world for Dana Gahres ’74, and one that literally started on campus. “My first job was being a waiter, a student waiter, in the dining hall

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for lunch. I worked for Billy Lak,” Mr. Gahres said of the Academy’s longtime head cook and namesake of the current dining hall. “He was all about work ethic. A good guy, kind of gruff sometimes, but he really cared about the kids. I learned a lot from him. I later transitioned into the kitchen, where I was a dishwasher . . .” The transitioning never stopped for the Springfield, Massachusetts, native, who made a name for himself at the Academy (and beyond) as a standout athlete in basketball and baseball. Mr. Gahres currently enjoys ownership of two local restaurants—Main Street Tavern in Monson and West Side Bar & Grill in West Springfield—on top of holding stakes in a myriad of

La Cucina/Hampden House. other local restaurants during the “But then I was 50 and my last four decades. first daughter was on the way,” What hasn’t changed is what Mr. Gahres, 67, said. “I wanted drives him every morning, as a limited role somewhere. That Mr. Gahres embraces the “every became Hampden Country Club, day is different” mentality of the and I was just going to do banquets restaurant business. “I just love the challenge of doing there; but I ended up running the whole place for six years.” something right,” the Wilbraham Always with half-an-eye open, resident said. “And most everything Mr. Gahres had his sights set on a I’ve done, I’ve opened places particular Boston Road restaurant from scratch. I’ve designed the location for the better part of 25 whole thing.” years. Timing struck right and his His start as a student waiter next venture opened as Dana’s Grill was primed by the inspiration on Boston Road in Wilbraham. of the restaurant career of his Seven years later, a prospective mother, Anita. brewery owner walked through the “She worked at a local banquet front door and Mr. Gahres was soon hall, and I was 10, 12 years old off to his latest spaces—in Monson rolling meatballs and cutting and West Springfield. potatoes where she worked,” “Main Street Tavern is the Mr. Gahres said. “Restaurants have best thing I have done so far, it’s always been in my blood.” been that way since Day One,” When ownership at the banquet said Mr. Gahres, who also runs hall later fell into hard financial a food truck from the Monson times, it prompted Mr. Gahres establishment. “And I’ve had a head to ask the question in his late 20s: chef, Mike Vincelette, with me for “Do you want me to take over 27 years. He’s a great worker and the bills? a great relationship guy. That’s so “So I basically started leasing important to me.” the place . . . and I’ve never left Along the way, Mr. Gahres also the business.” dabbled in ownership at The Federal His route included opening in Agawam and Morey’s Pub near The Stadium, a sports bar now the Western New England University site of Dunkin Donuts on Allen among others. Street in Hampden, in 1989. While “Some have worked out OK, calling it “still my favorite” among some much better,” Mr. Gahres said. his many ventures, he scooped up “To me, it’s all about treating people an opportunity five years later at a right. I let people do their job, and closed bank across the parking lot and began a dozen-year stint running I want people to be treated with

I just love the challenge of doing something right, and most everything I’ve done, I’ve opened places from scratch. I’ve designed the whole thing.” dana gahres ’74

NEW ENGLAND PREP SCHOOL

CHAMPIONS BOYS BASKETBALL

Yearbook, 1974

1973

Main Street Tavern in Monson

In action during the 1972–73 season

West Side Bar & Grill in West Springfield

• above: The 1972–73 New England Championship team: from left, front row: Dana Gahres, Tim Baily, Jim Kelliher, Harry Wilson and Richard King. top row: Coach Greeley, Sterling Hall, David McDowell, Bruce Albert, Ben O’Connor, Timothy Gallagher, Peter Fiorentino and manager Charles Feinstein. Missing: Bob Martin.

offer to play basketball in Israel. wanted to be in the restaurant “I had been traveling so much, business,” he said. “I was always and those were tough times there looking.” (Israel) in 1978,” Mr. Gahres said. Today, his wife, Kim, handles “I was about done with any travel.” much of the duties at West Side Bar respect. There’s really no turnover not really big . . . but we had Bobby So Mr. Gahres took his sociology & Grill, which is a 45-minute drive here. People want to be here, to Martin” Coachmen team to a New major and teaching minor to the from his Monson spot. work here.” England Championship as a junior. classroom, where he taught and “We live in the middle, in “Here” nearly took a different “We have fun times, and we had coached for four years in the greater Wilbraham,” Mr. Gahres said of his career path for Mr. Gahres, whose a group of guys like Ben O’Connor, Springfield area. Soon after, the wife and two daughters. “Sophia other strengths and interests during Peter Ferrentino, Timmy Gallagher, just graduated (high school) and will his four years at the Academy Barry Christman, Sterling Hall ... w e aforementioned failed banquet hall ownership scenario crossed his path be at Hartwick College this fall. centered on athletics. were everyday friends,” Mr. Gahres My youngest daughter, Isabella, or His basketball accolades include said of the season’s 50th anniversary. and the rest is history. “The whole time, I knew I still Bella, will be a senior.” being a four-year starting point “We see the banner now in the gym, guard and (devoid of documented and we know it’s there and that records) many in alumni circles no one can ever take it away from regard Mr. Gahres as the Academy’s us. But we never really talk about Gahres Notes: unofficial all-time leading scorer. it. When we get together, it’s more Mr. Gahres entered as a Grade 9 student at what was then Wilbraham “I played two jayvee games as a about our friendships.” Academy. “We had the merger, and I think we had eight girls the first year, freshman, had 26 in one game and Mr. Gahres moved on to maybe 12 the second and 18 my last.” ... Mr. Gahres, a shortstop in baseball, probably 30 before halftime of my Hartwick College in Oneonta, New cashed in on a dining hall promotion that offered a baseball player (and a second,” said Mr. Gahres, a talented York, where he became a two-time guest) a steak dinner for anyone who hit a home run. “I had to make good ballhandler at 6 feet 2. “(Varsity Division III All-America selection on that one. I think I hit five that year.” . . . M r. Gahres went through the coach Mike) Shepherd pulled me off in basketball. Holy Name (Springfield) school system through grammar school, “and the the court and pulled me up to varsity Athletic opportunity there next option for most everyone was Cathedral (High School).” Mr. Gahres right then. He said, ‘You have to opened doors to professional tryout was spotted at a basketball tournament, and all of the sudden a school make me play you.’ It worked out.” invites with the New York Nets “that I had never heard of” from Wilbraham was interested. Two years later, Mr. Gahres was (basketball) and Toronto Blue Jays a co-captain and leading a “fast, but (baseball), as well as a contract

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

WMA ALUMNI: REFLECTION

Lizzy Mitchell ’04 ‘The Academy has my heart, and it always has’

BY LIZZY MITCHELL ’04

“Lizzy is a writer.” It is Fall 2002, and English Teacher Todd Felton has just spoken this simple sentence to my parents during a parent/ teacher conference in an Old Academy classroom. This simple sentence would change my life. I was just about to turn 16, and though I had kept a journal since I was able to scribble words onto paper, and though my parents had encouraged me at every turn by telling me I had a way with the written word, this was the first time anyone other than my parents had so clearly seen and so succinctly spoken something that I secretly wished wholeheartedly to be true about myself, my future and my identity. I wanted to be a writer. Mr. Felton had not said, “Lizzy is good at writing,” or “Lizzy’s papers have been well-written.” He affirmed to my parents (and thereby to me) that writing wasn’t just something I liked to do, something I was good at or something I had a fanciful adolescent dream of doing professionally. • Lizzy Mitchell ’04 with partner Kyle Brimmer at the wedding of current WMA faculty member Kristen Casey in June.

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Writing was in my nature. It was in my soul. I was a writer. Already. Inherently. It was part of my identity, without my having to earn it or prove it. And that made me yearn even more to learn to be better at it. I would go on to take every elective Mr. Felton taught and take in his feedback, encouragement and constructive criticism with a new level of focus and determination. When Yearbook, 2004 it came time to enroll in classes for my senior year, he sat me down and suggested I take AP otherwise chaotic time in my life. And later, as an Literature, which he taught. I laughed. “AP Lit?” adult, it turned out that those same people had I then rattled off the names of the other students never stopped believing in me, and it was through who I knew would be taking that course and their advice, support and always-welcoming said, “That class will be filled with all the smart natures that I came to begin the two careers for kids. I don’t know that I’d be comfortable, that which I know my heart was truly made: teaching I belong in that class.” and writing. Mr. Felton looked puzzled and amused at the On a rainy day in 2010, I sat down at a cafe same time. “You are one of the ‘smart kids,’” with Mr. Felton and asked, “How do I become he said to me simply. “You belong in this class. a freelance writer?” The advice and leads he And I really hope to see you there.” so generously gave me led to my first freelance That little blossom of confidence that can be assignments, and later the full time writing so delicate inside of a 16-year-old bloomed just career that I now have. One of those projects a little bit fuller in that moment. And I enrolled even included Mr. Felton allowing me to that afternoon in AP Lit. edit the second edition of his own book, It is worth noting here that at the time, AP “Walking Boston.” Literature ran concurrently during the same In 2011, I ended up in a brief Facebook chat period as the honors theater program ARC, and with my 10th grade English teacher so students were not able to take both during their senior year. I had been passionately involved Mr. Whitcomb, who at the time was teaching ninth grade. “You should come on by and visit,” in theater at WMA during my entire tenure, and he told me. “There’s always room in my leaving ARC was a difficult decision for me. But classroom for the good ones.” I continued to perform in the plays directed by I took him up on his invitation and ended up the ARC teacher John Sbordone, and on my very volunteering to help his class with a poetry last day of my senior year Mr. Sbordone gave me project they were working on. This was my first a graduation gift. time on the other side of the desk in a classroom, “You will write your book, someday,” he told and something clicked. I was where I belonged. me. And he handed me a copy of Elizabeth I began working at the WMA library and Barrett Browning’s “Sonnets from the tutoring students in writing in Fall 2011: and a Portuguese,” which still sits in my bookshelf. few short years later I was working full time in And when I found a first edition of one of her the English Department, teaching several works at an antique store just last month, I sent different courses including Writing Seminar, the a message to Mr. Sbordone, with whom I am very class I had been taking when Mr. Felton told still in touch. The network of people at WMA who believed my parents I was a writer, and Creative Writing, which I had the honor of building myself. in young me acted as a buoyancy device in an

As an educator, and specifically as a writing teacher, it was my highest goal to instill the belief in each of my students that their voices, their words, their ideas make an impact. My best teachers worked to instill the same belief in me, and though by their nature they had always made me feel significant and important, it wasn’t until I became a teacher that I truly took the lesson; it has been my students who have succeeded in helping me reach the conclusion that my teachers always pushed me toward—each of us matters more profoundly than we can ever fully grasp. Being a part of that student/teacher continuum has been one of the greatest honors

Being a part of that student/teacher continuum has been one of the greatest honors of my life; the teachers who inspired me are still actively inspiring and supporting me today.” lizzy mitchell ’04

of my life; the teachers who inspired me are still actively inspiring and supporting me today; the friends I made in the black box theater of Fisk, in the basement of Old Academy, in the Spa, sitting by The Rubicon, have become some of the most steadfast companions I’ve ever had the privilege to love and to call friends. The students I taught, while they were in my classroom, became my own children, and now, years later, many of them have become my friends. I have been honored to be invited to former students’ weddings and baby showers, to be consulted at moments of deep difficulty and at moments of highest achievements. I’ve been asked to confirm marriages of former students to one another, to give my own signature for a tattoo of a former student’s most inspirational women in their life, and yesterday I woke up to an Instagram message from a former student with whom I have not directly spoken since he was in my classroom in 2017. The message simply said, “You were and still are the greatest teacher I’ve ever had.” And perhaps most extraordinary of all, one of my highly gifted writing students is now a member of the WMA English Department herself, in my place. The continuum lives on. The Academy has my heart, and it always has. Its faculty, coaches, students and alumni, in their ever-expanding network, are my family. And anywhere I have gone or will go in the world, I am never far from that family. That is still the case, though I now live in Connecticut and am working as a writer, rather than a teacher. Because in my current life, the inspiration I receive from my WMA family is ongoing. I knew that if Mr. Felton could move on from teaching and be a writer, maybe I could too. I am currently working as a full-time freelance writer, and I am enrolled in the MFA in Creative Nonfiction program at Bay Path University. I am in the later phases of the program and beginning work on my thesis, which is to be a collection of essays. I am “writing my book,” just like Mr. Sbordone promised me that I would.

• Class of 2017 students and Lizzy Mitchell ’04 send a message about their “Letters to Future Selves.”

There is something very real and very powerful about that type of promise that an educator who sees you makes to you. Even as adults, we never forget those promises, and we strive always to fulfill them. When I was in 10th grade, I was the only girl on the Outdoor Adventure team. One day, it was my first time rock climbing on a real cliff face, and I was visibly nervous. Brian Easler, who at the time was Dean of Students and who had agreed to coach the rock climbing portion of OA, noticed my apprehension. “You know,” he said to me, “Girls and women have a better center of gravity for climbing than boys and men do. I bet you’ll climb higher than any of these boys.” And I did. Because he told me I could. In our ARC binders every year, the first page featured a poem selected by Mr. Sbordone. The poem was the same every year, one by Guillaume Apollinaire, and it read: “Come to the edge,” he said. “We can’t, we’re afraid!” they responded. “Come to the edge,” he said. “We can’t, We will fall!” they responded. “Come to the edge,” he said. And so they came. And he pushed them. And they flew. Nothing could be more true of WMA.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

WMA ALUMNI: J. J. Wilson ’19

J. J. Wilson ’19 at his college graduation from the University of Massachusetts.

wma alumni

J. J. Wilson ’19 Billy Lak Award winner continues to make a difference BY BILL WELLS Director of Student Promotion

Before Jack “J. J.” Wilson ’19 even finished nursing school, he had already made an impact within the medical field. After his senior year at the Academy, Mr. Wilson joined the National Bone Marrow Registry, which collects data from donors and patients for potential transplants. Two months later, he learned he was a match for

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a 57-year-old male. Mr. Wilson already had a chance to make a difference. “I got all of my physicals and was scheduled to fly to Florida where their donation center is,” Mr. Wilson explained. “Unfortunately, a few days before I was supposed to leave, I found out that my recipient had passed away.” That particular opportunity to make someone’s world better was over. However, the setback only fueled Mr. Wilson to make a bigger difference, and he did so his senior year at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. “I wanted to have an impact with the Gift of Life organization in some way so I decided to host a drive at UMass-Amherst, where participants swab the inside of their cheek,” he said. “The swabs get sent to a lab and they find out if they match with someone with a rare blood cancer and if they do, the donation process is similar to giving blood.” With Mr. Wilson leading the charge, he and his team of volunteers swabbed more than 3,000 people in the Fall of 2022. That event went so well, he helped a peer complete a drive in the Spring of 2023.

“The events were a huge success,” Mr. Wilson beamed. “The first one I coordinated we swabbed over 3,200 UMass students into the National Bone Marrow Registry, breaking the previous record for the largest weeklong drive on a college campus of 1,300. “The following semester I teamed up with a freshman nursing student who demonstrated interest in trying to continue doing these drives year after year. I helped to mentor her based on what I had learned from my previous semester, and we ended up swabbing 1,700 UMass students with the second drive.” Rewarding news followed, with 47 preliminary matches recorded. “A preliminary match means that there is a strong likelihood that the donation process will be successful if you donate,” he said. “It’s a thing called your Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA). There are six that need to match up for a perfect match.” Seven months after cataloging 20 percent of the student population at UMass, Mr. Wilson received even bigger news. “I am also super excited to say that we have had two successful life-saving transplants because of our drives so far,” he said. “On April 3, we learned about our first successful transplant, and we found out on July 6 about the second successful transplant. Two lives have been forever changed because of the selflessness of the UMass stem cell donors.” Mr. Wilson—saving lives as a college student. Remarkable. He initially considered joining the medical field during his senior year at WMA. Following

I wanted to become an expert in care for children to provide the best care. I really enjoy the patient teaching, which helps to keep kids out of the emergency room and in good health.” j. j. wilson ’19

an opportunity presented through the Academy, the career path for the former swim team captain was confirmed. “I had the unique opportunity, through independent study, to shadow at the Wilbraham Fire Department, where I first had my interaction with emergency room nurses,” recalled Mr. Wilson, who won the Billy Lak Prize for selflessness and perfection in devotion to duty to the Academy at the 2019 Commencement Ceremonies. “That experience allowed me to solidify my interest in the field

of nursing and field of emergency medicine. “I wanted to become an expert in care for children to provide the best care,” he continued. “I really enjoy the patient teaching, which helps to keep kids out of the emergency room and in good health.” Mr. Wilson accepted a position for the nurse residency program at the Pediatric Emergency Department at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts, in July, where he will undoubtedly continue to make a difference.

J. J. Wilson ’19 making a difference as a college student.

Senior Stone

J. J. Wilson ’19, with Gracie Gouin ’20 in Mr. D’Avanzo’s chemistry class.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

I enjoy working with the students and teachers to learn how to use technology and how to use it effectively in and out of the classroom. I have learned so much from my community. I am proud to be a member of the WMA family.” dr. marxan pescetta

faces of wma

Dr. Marxan Pescetta ‘I am proud to be a member of the WMA family’

BY BILL WELLS Director of Student Promotion

Betty wobbles her way through Rich Hall just about every day, popping into various offices to say hi . . . maybe get a belly rub. A 7-year-old Basset Hound, she’s a wanderer and has been known to “run” after a rabbit from time to time. She loves to play behind Smith Hall and in the Rubicon with her four-legged friends Tilli and Maya. Betty is a great dog and, like all great dogs, Betty has a great mommy: Dr. Marxan Pescetta. Along with being Betty’s “mom,” Dr. Pescetta has her hands on all things technology at Wilbraham & Monson Academy. Her current title is Dean of Educational Technology, which is

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a fancy term meaning she helps students and faculty with their IT needs, mainly up The Hill in the academic buildings. “I enjoy working with the students and teachers to learn how to use technology and how to use it effectively in and out of the classroom,” Dr. Pescetta said. “I have learned so much from my community. I am proud to be a member of the WMA family.” The owner of an adventurous soul and an exceptional singer, Dr. Pescetta arrived at WMA before any of our current students were alive. Since August 1997, she has been at the Academy serving as Chair of Computer Science, Chair of Academic Computing and Director of Information Technology until her present role. “When I first came to WMA, I was greeted by the Dean of Faculty at the time, Sam Robinson, and one of the first things he said to me was,

‘WMA is more of a lifestyle than a job.’ At the time, I thought what an excellent way of saying we are one large family,” said Dr. Pescetta, who earned her doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. “I soon realized he was correct. It was one great big family and, like most families, there were good and bad times, but the support was always there.” Regardless of her position, Dr. Pescetta has professionally and skillfully supported people’s computer and IT needs at WMA for more than 25 years. “Marxan has been a tremendous support to our teaching faculty,” Dean of Faculty Wally Swanson said. “Quick to offer guidance or schedule time for in-depth help, Marxan’s primary goal has been to ensure that the students and faculty have what they need to be successful. Whether she is working on behind-the-scenes tech issues or helping Mr. (Tim) Harrington find the ‘on’ button, she does all of this in a friendly manner, often with her dog, Betty, by her side.” Back to Betty. Her presence alone often makes people smile. Long and plump, Betty and her big paws carry rock-star status on campus. “She is such a hound dog—slow moving, but extremely lovable,” said Dr. Pescetta, who likes to take Betty on rides in their yellow convertible. “She is a little timid, but invariably rolls over for a tummy rub. Betty and I enjoy our walks with Tilli and (Athletic Trainer) Erika (Whipple), which has helped us get through some tough times.” “Marxan has a passion for dogs like no one else I have encountered,” said Director of

Dr. Marxan Pescetta, right, processing at Commencement.

Information Technology Josh Bain, who has worked with Dr. Pescetta for 13 years, mostly in the IT Department. “She loves to vacation in Maine and has a great relationship with her sisters. She is dedicated to the mission of the school.” And dedicated to the mission of being Betty’s mom while living on campus with like-minded, community-based neighbors. “Living on the grounds has been like living at a park,” Dr. Pescetta applauded. “Our Maintenance Department has done an excellent job keeping our flora green and our roads clear. Over the past 26 years, I have met various individuals, some I got to know better than others, but they all have brought similar positive energy to the school. WMA is a great place to work and live.”

At the bottom of Broad Walk.

education Associate degree in Graphic Arts Technology, Springfield Technical Community College, 1989 Bachelor’s degree in University Without Walls, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1994 Master’s degree in Education, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1997 Education Specialist, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, 2007

Betty the Basset Hound in The Rubicon.

Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University, Florida 2011

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

DEPARTMENTS: FACULTY

titan faculty

Outside the Classroom WMA faculty and staff members have many more talents and interests than those shared inside the classroom or office space. Here is a sampling of what some enjoyed during the summer of 2023. Lawrence Biondo Faculty, English Fabienne Dubois Chair, World Languages

Dressed in WMA attire, Lawrence Biondo visited Stonehenge while traveling in England.

Fabienne Dubois, pictured in front of the Acropolis in Athens, traveled to Greece and its islands to learn about Greek culture, mythology and archeology.

Melissa Earls Dean of Academics Melissa Earls visited Quebec, Canada, with her family, enjoying a number of historical and cultural tours, including a chef’s choice multicourse food and wine dinner, curated by a Michelin star chef and sommelier.

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Gino Gasparrini Building Maintenance Grounds Technician Charlie D’Avanzo Faculty, Science Charlie D’Avanzo searched for “Carcharodon Carcharias” during Shark Week, coming to the conclusion that he was “gonna need a bigger boat.”

Gino Gasparrini visited with his nephew Jake and great-nephew Leo in July. Since Gino and Jake share the same Zodiac sign of Leo, Gino suggested that’s what Jake should name his son.

Erik Kindblom Faculty, CEEF Erik Kindblom volunteered with the Mud Puppies of the Black River Action Team to help residents and businesses in the Ludlow, Vermont, area recover from the flooding in that region during the summer.

Dr. Anthony Kandel Chair, History & Social Sciences In St. Petersburg, Florida, Dr. Anthony Kandel attended the American Political Tradition Institute, a weeklong seminar on American political thought and constitutionalism. Along the way he visited the highest points in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi and Ohio.

Kate Labosky Faculty, English Kate Labosky spent the majority of her summer working at the Wolfeboro Camp School in New Hampshire as an Assistant Head of Campus.

Sommer Mahoney ’11 Faculty, History & Social Sciences

Russ Held Director of Communications Russ Held was inducted into the Western Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame, a few years after completing a 30-year career as a sports radio talk show host and golf writer for various newspapers and magazines.

After touring Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice and Cinque Terre) through a Hubbard Grant, Sommer Mahoney ’11 graduated from Dartmouth College’s Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies with her master’s in Liberal Arts, with a concentration in Cultural Studies.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

DEPARTMENTS: FACULTY

Dr. John Strauss Chair, Science Dr. John Strauss spent five weeks teaching Physics classes at Phillips Academy Andover, which hosted more than 800 students from around the world in five academic programs with different focuses.

Mike Mannix Dean of Residential Life Mike Mannix served as head coach of The Commonwealth TBT (The Basketball Tournament) team, a group of former players who previously played for the University of Massachusetts. The team competed in the TBT, a single-elimination tournament that included 64 teams from throughout the country.

Erika Whipple Head Athletic Trainer Erika Whipple completed a course in Critical Incidents Stress and is now certified to work with any athletic trainers who need help under the ATCare group.

Titan Official WMA Mascot

Mark Fischer Chair, Mathematics

Titan spent time hiking this summer in Northern California.

The Fischer Family camped throughout the Black Hills (South Dakota), which included a stop at Mount Rushmore.

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Madison Kowal Administrative Assistant, Admission Madison Kowal sewed a collection of dresses, shirts, dog bandanas and painting jean jackets, and also knitted a number of baby blankets.

Dr. Marxan Pescetta Dean of Educational Technology Dr. Marxan Pescetta, center, attended a CODE Conference, where she learned WMA’s course curriculum for the upcoming academic year.

David Weeks Supervisor of Equipment & Facilities David Weeks visited Yosemite, Bryce, Canyonlands National Park and the Grand Canyon in August while traveling with his son Peter ’99.

Bill Wells Director of Student Promotion Bill Wells signed a shopping agreement with a marketing company in California for his screenplay “Grave Duty,” a story inspired by true events regarding the soldiers who served in the Graves Registration Service.

John Lombard Faculty, Mathematics John Lombard learned a new craft, attending a wood carving class with The Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

HUBBARD GRANT: FACULTY TRAVEL

Leverett Marsden Hubbard Sr. Family Teaching Faculty Sabbatical Travel Fund Established in 2001, this fund provides travel grants to faculty members who have completed five years of classroom teaching at WMA. These grants recognize and reward our exceptional faculty for their devotion to the Academy and its students, and help them become more aware of the interdependent world in which we live and from which our students hail.

Expanding horizons through culture, food and travel By TODD REGNIER Faculty, Mathematics

As a lifelong learner, it’s somewhat embarrassing how little of the world I’ve seen beyond the eastern coast of the United States. Growing up in a small New England town, my knowledge of other cultures came mostly from books. For my Hubbard journey, I chose to experience a culture vastly different from my own by traveling to Thailand. I spent the first day in Bangkok—a massive, sprawling city and the primary urban center for the nation. It is home to dozens of majestic, historic Buddhist temples. The first I visited was Wat Arun, and it consists of a series of ornately carved towers and shrines depicting scenes from Buddhist tradition. Next was the Wat Pho, which houses a statue of the reclining Buddha. Meant to depict Buddha as he enters Nirvana, the gold-plated statue stands

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(or rather, lays) an astounding 15 meters high and 46 meters long. Finally, I visited the Grand Palace, home of Thailand’s Royal Family. I was first drawn to a large mural painted on a long wall. It depicted what appeared to be epic kingdoms, battles, demon-like creatures, monkey soldiers and simple ordinary people living their lives. I traced the path of the mural and found it formed a large circle on the inner-wall of the palace. At the heart is the Wat Phra Kaew, a temple which houses the Emerald Buddha. Every square inch of the temple’s interior, where cameras are not permitted, is carved or decorated in some way. The Emerald Buddha itself is possibly the oldest relic in Thailand. Its exact origins are shrouded in folklore. No one is allowed to touch the statue except the King of Thailand, who is tasked with cleaning it three times a year. The current King of Thailand, titled Rama X, took the throne in 2016. Fun fact, his father, Rama IX, was born in Massachusetts, like me! From my view as an outsider, most people in Thailand have great respect for the royal family.

King Mongkut, titled Rama IV, is credited with saving the country from colonization. Knowing that he could not defeat the British or the French in a military conflict, he instead used diplomacy. He modernized the Kingdom of Siam, as it was called at the time, by carefully mapping its borders and upgrading its military. He also sent his children to school in Oxford and gave interviews to the British press. Typically, when the British Empire invaded another country they would justify the occupation as necessary to bring civilization to unenlightened peoples. At minimum, it would have been embarrassing to invade Siam after they had been heralded in the British press as an example of modern, enlightened monarchy. Today, Thais remember Rama IV’s reign as proof that a peaceful solution can stop an unwinnable war. It is worth noting that even if the people I met in Thailand hated the king, they couldn’t have told me. It is illegal for Thais to publicly criticize the royal family, a law which many consider outdated. Thailand has had a constitutional democracy since 1939. If I can give one piece of advice to westerners considering a trip to Thailand: don’t just stay in Bangkok, but please explore the countryside. In Isaan, I ate some of the best food in my

• A temple in Isaan, Thailand. • Wat Arun, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok.

Growing up in a small New England town, my knowledge of other cultures came mostly from books. For my Hubbard journey, I chose to experience a culture vastly different from my own by traveling to Thailand.”

to digest. As a result, it is often paired with the mangosteen, or the queen of fruit, which can aid in its digestion. This smaller fruit has properties that help control blood sugar levels and keeps the body cool in the summer heat, in addition to being delicious! While durian fruit is regarded as a delicacy and is more expensive, mangosteen is shockingly cheap. I bought a giant bag of them and ate them by a waterfall. Please don’t overlook Isaan; it’s a hidden paradise.

todd regnier

life. Vegetable soups, freshly caught baked fish, seasoned shrimp, and grilled pumpkin served with coconut cream to name a few dishes. Most popular among the Thais is the durian fruit, also known as the king of fruit. It is densely packed with nutrients but also considered difficult

Wat Pho, The Reclining Buddha in Bangkok.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

HUBBARD GRANT: FACULTY TRAVEL

The Kindbloms: France, Spain and old friends By ERIK KINDBLOM Faculty, CEEF

Over the course of two weeks in June, my wife, Anne, and I visited Barcelona, Madrid and the French cities of Montpellier, Avignon and Nice. We enjoyed beautiful weather every day and took advantage of seeing some of the major sites, immersing ourselves in the different cultures and enjoying as much of the local cuisine as our tummies could fit! We even took a cooking class that taught us how to make authentic Spanish paella and sangria.

Our second day trip was to Avignon to visit with Harold Gay ’23. Coming from different parts of France, we met at the Avignon train station. Mr. Gay had not been to Avignon since he was a young child, so he was as excited as we were. He too treated us to a very nice lunch before we toured the Papal Palace and Pont d’Avignon. Mr. Gay was the best tour guide! He served as our translator when needed, but also imparted knowledge about the different languages in France, the mix of nationalities, cultures and cuisine in the south of France, and the local environmental issues. Mrs. Kindblom and I will cherish the experiences and memories of this trip forever.

Some of the many places we went to included: • Barcelona: Montjuïc Castle, La Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), Picasso Museum and La Boqueria Market. • Montpellier: Place de la Comédie and Arc de Triomphe. • Nice: Saleya Market, Colline du Chateau (Castle Hill), Place Rossetti, Place Massena (with the famous statue of Apollo), the Promenade des Anglais and the fascinating Cimiez Roman Ruins. We also enjoyed two very special days with two WMA alumni. We made a day trip to Madrid to visit with Fernando Zavala ’07, a former AP Macroeconomics student of mine. He treated us to a very nice lunch and took us on a walking tour of Madrid, including the Royal Palace of Madrid and Plaza Mayor Square. Mr. Zavala’s wealth of knowledge was invaluable, but mostly it was wonderful to catch up on the last 16 years from where he studied to his management consulting career and his beautiful young family. He speaks very fondly of his time at WMA and the positive impact it has had on his life.

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Erik Kindblom, left, with Fernando Zavala ’07

from left: Anne Kindblom, Harold Gay ’23 and Erik Kindblom

A view of the Florence skyline

Overlooking Vatican City

Cinque Terre in Northern Italy

Traveling solo stands alone for experienced traveler BY SOMMER MAHONEY ’11

I so enjoyed the opportunities for learning and reflecting that it provided. As a history teacher, I knew that I would enjoy the classic sites and museums (the Uffizi was a standout favorite) and they did not fail I was thrilled to use the Hubbard Grant to take myself to impress! But the highlights of the trip were the small, on a solo trip to Italy. daily adventures of chatting with the locals, I spent 10 days wandering the streets of Rome, Florence and Cinque Terre . . . comparing notes with other foreigners from around the world, and just people watching fully embracing the sights, smells, sounds and between reading my book and sipping espresso. tastes that make Italy such a special country. There’s nothing quite like chatting with I had never traveled alone before; usually I strangers in a Roman piazza; and I enjoyed every have friends, family or students in tow. This trip second of it. was, then, a completely unique experience, and Faculty, History & Social Sciences

The tradition of tossing a coin into Rome’s Trevi Fountain.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

BY BILL WELLS Director of Student Promotion

WMA SPOTLIGHT: BOARD OF TRUSTEES

school, under (the direction of Head of School) Brian Easler, rose to the challenge and the resiliency by the faculty in preserving a quality student experience.” As a Board of Trustee member, what is your goal?

“My goal is to bring more diverse thinking to the board as it continues to provide an exemplary student experience for many more generations to come.” What do you like to do when you are not working?

“I love to travel with my family and play tennis.” If you could visit one city in the world, where would you go?

“I want to visit Dubai. As an engineer, I am fascinated by all the

new member profile

Melissa Marie Lichwan Besse The Board of Trustees welcomed its newest member—a familiar face as a parent of three WMA alumni—in July.

What would you tell someone who knew nothing about WMA?

“If you are interested in a prep school education where your son or daughter will feel part of a caring community, where they can choose many different paths and opportunities, this is the school for

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you. It is hard to brand ‘nice and supportive,’ but this is the feeling you get from everyone you meet.” Why were you interested in joining the Board of Trustees?

“Throughout the COVID-19 crisis I was very impressed with how the

man-made structures built, like an indoor skiing facility in a desert.” What’s the most interesting city/ place you’ve visited? And why?

“I visited Sydney, Australia, and was impressed by how the city was laid out around the port and within only hours you can be down under in the Outback in the Blue Mountains or in the water seeing the Great Barrier Reef.” What’s the most interesting thing about you most people don’t know?

“Most people know of my love for tech gadgets (I have an automatic gravy stirrer), but when I first was applying to colleges, I wanted to be an artist and go to Rhode Island School of Design. My engineering brain won out over my creative artist brain.”

nickname Melissa

current hometown Longmeadow, Massachusetts

family Spouse, Jonathan; Children, Jared ’18, Josh ’20, Julia ’23

place of employment Accenture Technology

job title Managing Director

college education and degrees Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Bachelor of Science, Class of 1991

of note Has traveled to all seven continents Promoted to Managing Director at Accenture Featured speaker on multiple Women in Technology panels Awarded the Young Boyton award from WPI Coached all of her children in youth sports

• Melissa Besse, center, with daughter Julia Besse ’23 and Head of School Brian P. Easler, left, at Commencement in 2023. • Melissa Besse, left, with son Josh ’20, daughter Julia ’23 and husband, Jonathan, in front of the Academic Gate during a Commencement ceremony in 2020. • The Besse family in Antarctica.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

departments: we remember

We Remember Wilbraham & Monson Academy

Mr. Richard L. Sangermano ’61M

Mr. Henry S. Bernstein ’53W

Alumni/Alumni Guardian

Alumni

Mr. William A. Klebart Jr. ’62M

Mr. Robert L. Horton Jr. ’53W

Mr. Claude K. Williams Jr. ’64W

Mr. John E. Leary ’73

Mr. Stephen L. Berrett ’63M

Mr. John W. Knauss ’53W

Mr. Jay D. Lesniewski ’73

Dr. Frederick L. Hart ’64M

Mr. Thavorn Lapthisophon ’53W

Alumni Parent

Mr. Wilfred Stebbins III ’78

Mr. Richard W. Rice ’65M

Mr. William G. Marot ’53W

Mr. Arthur C. Alois

Mr. Christopher J. Scavone ’90

Mr. Paul J. Hanna II ’66M

Dr. Ajay Y. Nehru ’53W

Mrs. Chi-Lin Chang

Mr. Richard F. Satriano ’66M

Mr. Giulio C. Andognini Jr. ’54W

Mrs. LuWanda Cheney Mr. Donald J. Kozaczka

Monson Academy

Mr. Edwin A. Whitman ’66M

Mr. Richard M. Chapman ’54W

Alumni

Mr. Robert W. Curtis Jr. ’67M

Mr. Robert J. Chmura ’54W

Dr. Bernard Hoyt ’42M

Mr. Gary W. Belcher ’68M

Mr. Earl E. Eccleston ’54W

Alumni Grandparent

Mr. Sherman A. Goodell ’48M

Mr. Paul E. Coderre ’68M

Mr. Edmund L. Morahan Jr. ’54W

Mrs. Mary Ann Antonacci

Mr. David R. Dougan ’50M

Mr. Luke V. Coderre ’69M

Mr. Rodolfo E. Quiros Guardia ’54W

Mr. Gerald E. Dansereau

Mr. Edwin R. Orwat ’50M

Mr. William E. Rowe ’69M

Mr. Erroll L. Reed ’54W

Mr. Henry A. Paszko ’50M

Mr. Robert T. Wentworth ’71M

Mr. John A. Plusch Jr. ’55W

Alumni Spouse

Mr. Roberto V. Gerlein ’56W

Mrs. Shirley Tychsen

Mr. Raymond A. Pauze ’50M Mr. Miles D. Sebold ’50M

Wilbraham Academy

Mr. Norbert F. Lough ’56W

Mr. Robert E. Simons ’50M

Alumni

Mr. Robert P. North ’56W

Former Faculty

Mr. Edward K. Stuebi ’50M

Mr. William H. Doe ’46W

Mr. Henry T. Walat ’56W

Mr. Brinley M. Hall Jr.

Mr. David J. Bigda ’51M

Mr. Edwin H. Pinney ’48W

Mr. Peter G. Crone ’58W

Mr. Richard W. Kyrouz Sr. ’51M

Mr. Dean B. Bibens ’50W

Mr. Robert P. Sessions ’58W

Mr. John E. Sweeney Jr. ’51M

Mr. Raymond W. Czyz ’50W

Mr. Stephen A. Spaulding ’58W

Mr. Richard E. Dukeshire ’52M

Dr. Robert G. Dolan ’50W

Mr. Edward C. Stebbins ’58W

Mr. William Littlefield ’52M

Mr. David A. Fairclough ’50W

Mr. Charles W. Stevens ’58W

Mr. Harold J. Regan Jr. ’52M

Mr. Richard B. Salinger ’50W

Mr. Pieter W. Carvalho ’59W

Mr. Donald T. Wescott ’53M

Mr. Paul D. Bemis Jr. ’51W

Mr. Robert M. Duchacek ’60W

Mr. James B. Ryan ’54M

Mr. Robert A. Hoyt ’51W

Mr. Derek M. Remsen ’60W

Mr. Dimitri D. Afonsky ’55M

Mr. Robert T. Marchant ’51W

Dr. Michael F. Smallwood ’61W

Mr. John L. Tisdale ’55M

Mr. Russell McInnes Jr. ’51W

Mr. Thomas T. Swan ’61W

Mr. Francis J. Cammisa Jr. ’56M

Mr. Robert J. McTigue ’51W

Mr. Dana G. Ingalls ’62W

Mr. Robert P. Cunningham ’56M

Mr. Richard L. Smithwa ’51W

Mr. Michael A. Rumbold ’62W

Mr. Walter R. Driggs ’56M

Mr. Foster L. Spencer ’51W

Mr. Kenneth W. Mitchell ’64W

Mr. Muray A. Friedman ’56M

Mr. Richard A. Steeves ’51W

Mr. Keith V. Thorne ’64W

Mr. Franco Krzynowek ’57M

Mr. Nathaniel Bond ’52W

Mr. David H. Cooper ’65W

Mr. Peter E. Schneider ’58M

Mr. Howard C. Handy Jr. ’52W

Mr. Gerald T. Coubro ’65W

Mr. Robert K. Smith ’58M

Mr. David B. Hintze ’52W

Mr. George M. Martin Jr. ’66W

Mr. James V. Bertrand ’59M

Mr. David J. Uguccioni ’66W

Mr. Edward S. Johnson ’59M

Mr. Patrick J. Sullivan ’67W Mr. Richard S. Bunce ’68W

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WILBRAHAM & MONSON ACADEMY

How do I give to the Atlas Fund? ONLINE: www.wma.us/give QR CODE:

MAIL: Wilbraham & Monson Academy Attn: Office of Advancement 423 Main Street Wilbraham, MA 01095 (Checks payable to Wilbraham & Monson Academy) MATCHING GIFTS: Many employers will match charitable contributions made by their employers. Visit www.wma.us/matchinggift to find out if your company will match your gift. QUESTIONS: Contact Sarah Wakelin, Director of Annual Giving Email: swakelin@wma.us Phone: 413.596.9133 Wilbraham & Monson Academy prepares our students for the challenges of higher education and for success as a well-rounded citizen of the world.

departments: class notes

Class Notes 1951 Wilbraham FROM THE DIRECTOR

Hi, all! I’m Kyle O’Brien, and I have begun my second year here as Director of Alumni Relations. I’ve spent my first year meeting so many of you and enjoyed all of our interactions. I hope to meet many more of you in the year(s) to come! We have a great alumni base, and I would like to encourage you all to share what’s happening in your life with fellow alumni. Our Class Notes section in Academy World is a great place to do so. For many, it is the first place readers turn to. Feel free to email me directly at kobrien@wma.us or you can submit a class note using this link: www.wma.us/classnotes. Don’t hesitate to reach out and hope to see you either on campus or at an event soon!

SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE

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David Tyson writes: “Not a great deal new going on. Hit the big 90 recently and feel very fortunate that Henrietta and I are comfortable in a very supportive community in Chambersburg, PA. Fond memories of Wilbraham and the great Class of ’51.”

1955 Wilbraham Oli Kokkonen writes: “February 9, 2023, was my 86th birthday. We celebrated the occasion by a brief holiday at the tropical Phuket island in Thailand. Lots of sunshine, white sand, blue skies—perfect for a winter holiday! Greetings to all classmates!”

1957 Wilbraham 1 Joe Merritt, Rich Coan and Phil Shaw Jr. got together with their wives in Coral Gables, Florida, for lunch. A good time was had by all, reliving memories of times past and challenges going forward.

1958 Monson Roger Adams writes: “I am finishing up my 48th year at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School. In that time, I filled many positions including Physical Education Teacher, Eighth Grade Advisor, Basketball, Football, Soccer, Cross Country and Track Coach. In 2002, our track team competed in the Hampton/Phillips Invitational. Millard Hampton and Andre Phillips are two Olympic Champions. During that meet, they awarded the high school coach of the year, the official of the year and the middle school coach of the year, of which I was the recipient. I am also presently involved in alumni relations, development, high school coordinator as well as

an advisor, mentor and counselor. I am so thankful for the education I received at Monson Academy as well as being a member of the Academy’s Soccer and Basketball teams. I will forever be so thankful for the staff at Monson Academy—teachers and coaches like Mr. Roan, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Harrell, Mr. Benton, Mr. Morrow, Mr. LaFlamme, Mr. Martellucci and especially Mr. George R Rogers.”

1961 Wilbraham Paul Aarnio says: “It hardly seems possible that the great 80 is here, and I’m still alive to appreciate and enjoy it! I have had a great and interesting life as a combat pilot and special operator in the USAF for 28 years (so much for my Architecture degree with honors from Cornell University). At age of 60, that was not the time to become an entry level architect, but too soon to surrender to the rocking chair in front of the TV! I had become the director of a ballet school and the president of a 501C Ballet Company by marriage. So the next logical choice was to make some professional contacts in the Russian Classical Ballet field; and, lo and behold in 1994, I emerged as an international impresario of professional Russian

Ballet, and spent the next 20 years producing and presenting classical ballet in the Russian mode in the U.S. in every state but North Dakota and Hawaii, as well as in four provinces of Canada and in Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands. European touring included Malta, France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the USSR. In 2014, my wife was diagnosed with cancer and my touring activities ceased so I could help care for her. She passed away in 2016 and so I retired a second time. A Category 5 hurricane, Michael, hit the Florida Panhandle (my home) in 2018, and after seeing the devastation, a friend and I formed Kinjo Contractors LLC to try to help our fellow Floridians. Kinjo is still rocking and rolling, but at 80, I really do want to retire for a third and final time! All the good things that have happened to me in my life are Wilbraham’s fault! A fact that I am very grateful for.”

Carter-Edmands. We just celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary. We have enjoyed our journey from coast to coast practicing our vocations and now settled in the heartland. Suggested springtime good reading: ‘Defending Alice,’ a recent novel of love and race in the roaring ’20s written by my classmate Richard Stratton. In the late ’90s, Lynn and I served as chaplains, teachers, coaches and dorm parents at Trinity-Pawling School, New York, complete with 265 teenaged boys—a blessed and fulfilling experience. So, I deeply appreciate and understand the dedicated work that your staff, teachers and coaches are offering to the Academy (24/7).”

1965 Wilbraham

1987

2 The Rev. Frank A. Edmands II writes: “It has been over a half century since my graduation from Wilbraham Academy! I am well, now a retired Episcopal priest living in Columbus, Ohio, with my dream woman from Northern California, the Rev. Lynn

3 On July 1, 2023, shareholder Jeffrey Fialky succeeded shareholder Kenneth Albano as Managing Partner of Bacon Wilson, P.C. A former Hampden County Assistant District Attorney, Jeffrey joined the firm in August 2006, after nearly a decade in Eastern Massachusetts where he held senior attorney positions in prominent Fortune 100 telecommunications and cable television companies. He has extensive experience in business, banking, commercial, real estate, estate planning, municipal and telecommunications law. Jeffrey is currently chair of the firm’s corporate and commercial departments and a member of the municipal department. Stated in an interview with BusinessWest: “Fialky acknowledged that he takes the helm at an intriguing and challenging time for law firms, which are coping with everything from

1970 Wilbraham Doug Harwood shares that his radio show “Anti-Headache Machine” of WLUR-FM recently celebrated its 51st anniversary. It is one of the longestrunning radio shows in the country. He also noted that he was recently featured in a Bloomberg News video.

a difficult hiring market to transitioning to new ways of doing work in the wake of the pandemic, to new technology that tempts consumers to find their legal answers online instead of from a trained attorney.” Attorneys Albano and Fialky will co-manage the firm until June 30, 2023, when the reins will be turned over to Jeffrey. Kenneth commented to BusinessWest: “I felt the time

was right for some new leadership, some younger leadership. Jeffrey is respected by everyone in the firm, and he’s the one that will take the firm to the next level.” The firm is welcoming this change with open arms and looks forward to what Attorney Fialky has planned for ongoing success. “The firm is in a phenomenal place,” he said. “We’ve been here for 135 years, and we have a solid foundation for the firm to succeed well into the future—for another 135 years.”

2000 4 Matt Hill has been working for GM Financial, the Automotive Finance Company of General Motors, for the last 16 years, living and working in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. He is has been on assignment with his family in Shanghai, China, in GM’s Joint Venture SAIC-GMAC since August 2022.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

departments: class notes

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2001

5 On Sept. 30, 2022, Charles “Chuck” Bridge, and his wife, Erica, welcomed Harrison Maxwell Bridge to their family, making them a family of four. Their 2-year-old daughter Tori is pictured with Harrison.

2004 6 Colin Cook married Brianna Panarese on May 6, 2023, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. More than 20 Academy graduates and faculty connections were present.

2007 7 Jared Falconer and his wife, Becky, married in May 2022 and recently welcomed a baby named Julian.

2008 8 Brigida (Palatino) Froling and husband, Kevin Froling, welcomed baby girl Chase Emerson Froling to the family on Feb. 4, 2023.

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

departments: class notes

9 Adam Reed and his wife, Stefanie, welcomed their sweet daughter Sofia on Aug. 9, 2022. They purchased a home in North Haven, Connecticut, last summer. The Reeds are enjoying parenthood and family life.

2010 10 Brian Fracasso welcomed his son Gregory Charles Fracasso into the world on June 8, 2023. They were expecting him July 7, but he was an eager beaver and showed up one month early. He’s healthy and has a great set of lungs. Mom is also doing well.

2013

2015

Ally (Stoll) Barlock and husband, Dan, welcomed their son Blake Austin Barlock into the world on June 10, 2023.

2017 12 Cameron Curland married Paula Fuentes ’18, now known as Paula Curland, on April 20, 2023.

2020 13 Gracie Gouin, pictured on right, worked in Washington, D.C., on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a NASA observatory which will collect data regarding dark energy and infrared astrophysics.

11 CJ Woloshchuk Cruz married Bryan Cruz at Quonquont Farm in Massachusetts on July 1, 2023 and is currently residing in San Diego, California.

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WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

BY JANET MORAN

FROM THE ARCHIVES: FOOD & BEVERAGE

Director of Archives

Home-grown history a recipe for success at the Academy

Longtime chef Billy Lak, left, and his wife, Bertha (second from left), with a group of student waiters.

During his opening address from the steps of Old Academy in the fall of 1825, Dr. Wilbur Fisk set forth a plan before the Trustees: “To secure habits of bodily activity, let every scholar, while obtaining an education, spend part of his time either in agriculture or in some mechanical business,” the first principal of Wesleyan Academy said. “Let him learn these theoretically and practically by devoting a certain portion of each day thereto, at the same time he is improving his mind in general science.” The theory was accepted, more or less, fully by the Board, but the test of it was the trial. Founding Trustee Colonel Amos Binney insisted on an experiment in agriculture; and the wish of Col. Binney, who had done so much for the Academy, was accepted as law by the Board.

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Accordingly, a large field in back of the boarding house (known as Warriner Tavern on Main Street) was put in order. The students selected plots of ground to cultivate, trenches were drawn between them and seeds were sown. Buds soon appeared, affording promise of an early and abundant harvest. At first glance, the growing fields were met with great enthusiasm. Later, the enthusiasm had very much abated as it was evident that the chief part of the crop was to be weeds. Dr. Fisk was invited to inspect the manual labor enterprise. He surveyed the field, smiled and returned to his office. Needless to say, that was the end of the trial. Nearly 100 years later, Wesleyan Academy was now Wilbraham Academy (established 1912). World War I brought the inception of war gardens. The country was feverishly planting on any plot of land they could to grow food as their patriotic duty. The Academy had finally

made a successful effort at farming under the direction of the Academy Farmer Albert Hicks. While the Academy consumed most of what it grew, it harvested an impressive amount of food and was able to contribute to the war garden cause. Mr. Hicks proudly announced the state of the school’s bounty that first season: “Practically 92 acres are under cultivation, 65 of which are now producing hay, the rest being used for grain, fruit and vegetables. We planted 16 acres of corn, 250 bushels of ears were picked and stocks filled the grain silo which hold 80 tons and is filled to the roof. Seven-thousand eight hundred and 52 pounds of tomatoes, 20 bushels of cucumbers, 11 of string beans, 10 of shell beans, 12 bushels of onion, 2,000 bunches of celery, in addition to carrots, beets, two tons of squash and pumpkins.” The Academy also maintained a small orchard where the year’s apple crop was plentiful. The farm maintained livestock as well: a herd of Holstein bovines from Vermont, 65 pigs in the piggery, a

Rich Hall Dining Room, now the Deans Hallway and offices

flock of 400 hens and pullets (baby hens) and four work horses. The largesse of the fields led to great culinary success at the Academy. The canning of fruit and vegetables got the Academy through the winter, to start the crop all over again in the spring. The food made its way to the campus dining hall, which began as a smaller space in what is now the Deans Hallway in Rich Hall. The kitchen in the basement was not ideal, as the student body was quickly expanding and the need for change became clear. Eventually, the kitchen was moved upstairs and the dining room was cut in two to accommodate the move, with 16 feet added to its west side to provide more space.

Wesleyan farm

Water truck

Essential to the community, cows graze on a nearby campus hill.

But before long, this space was also outgrown. By the 1950s, the student body was quite large and expanding. It was critical to keep up with demand and quality of living at a boarding school. With good financial conditions in play, funds were raised and plans were drawn for a new large dining hall that expanded west down Faculty Street. Space used for horse stables, dairy house and chicken coops was cleared for the new addition and construction went as planned. During this time, the kitchen

Two student waiters in 1972

had the consistent presence of Billy Lak, who started at the Academy in 1931 at age 16. He began in the kitchen washing dishes and performing necessary labor, and in the summer he worked for the grounds crew. Eventually, he ran the entire kitchen. In 1956, Mr. Lak married his wife, Bertha. Together beloved by all, they ran the kitchen as a team for decades. Mrs. Lak took care of ordering and kept the food supply on a tight budget. Mr. Lak often cooked with the international

Canned fruit

students in the school’s kitchen, frequently creating food from their home countries. Richard C. Malley said during his time as Head from 1989 to 2002: “These students not only ate well but learned about kindness and caring. The Laks invited these students into their lives and in the best sense they were powerful teachers.” Because of people like the Laks, the dining culture and traditions have grown and evolved. From student farmers to waiters and dishwashers, each generation has done their part to assist in delivering meals to many hungry young students. Alumni to this day tell stories of antics in the dining room, setting tables and water fights in the kitchen doing dishes.

Mr. Lak passed away suddenly in 1975, and the dining hall was dedicated in his honor as Lak Dining Hall in 1976. In his memory, the “Billy Lak Prize” was created for the student “whose selflessness in devotion to the Academy and perfection in devotion to duty deserves this award.” Mrs. Lak continued to work at the Academy until 1996, when she retired. As Mr. Lak personified, there is so much more to being a chef than feeding hungry students. His “recipes” were much more than putting ingredients together to make a meal. They involved bringing an entire school community together. That tradition continues on at WMA today. Bon Appetit!

WILB R AHAM & MONSON AC ADEMY

Wilbraham & Monson Academy 423 Main Street Wilbraham, MA 01095-1715 www.wma.us tel: 413.596.6811 address service requested

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