Academy World Spring 2024

WMA ‘has been

my home, in a way that my actual home was never able to be’

by brian p. easler Head of School

TThis was my 10th year as Head of School and my 26th at WMA. Some of you may be mildly surprised by this; I was.

Honestly, the COVID-19 time warp effect had me thinking it was only eight years since I became Head. Had it not been for Teddy Ryan, our amazing Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications and Editor of this magazine, reminding me—I would have been blissfully unaware of passing the milestone.

As I reflect on my time at WMA, where I have spent the best years of my life, it feels like I am reflecting on my family—my adopted family. Let me explain why that is relevant.

We started this current academic year as the second year of our four-year theme rotation, focusing each year on one of the four precepts of the Cushman Award values: Live Clean; Speak

True; Work Hard; Play Fair. To begin this year and the theme of Speak True, and to initiate a yearlong focus on the power of storytelling, I shared my story with the entire school—telling our stories is an important part of speaking true and the foundation of civil discourse, another topic we spend a lot of time on.

The following is part of what I shared with the school community at Convocation this year, and I am sharing it with you now, at this anniversary, for similar reasons. I am also sharing it so that you may have more insight into who I am and why I have been—and will continue to be—so committed to WMA.

I was raised in a foster home in rural Maine. My natural mother, my birth mother, was a ward in that foster home when she was pregnant with me, and because she had developed a close relationship with the foster parents, they agreed to adopt me once I was born. My adoptive parents were kind and generous people, and they did their best to provide for me a safe home and a loving family. They also continued to be foster parents for the state through my entire childhood, and my mother also ran a daycare center out of our home. These two combined circumstances created for me a childhood that was characterized by a lack of social consistency or stability. Foster children came in and out of our home on a weekly and monthly basis, and daycare children were rolling in and out on a daily basis.

From one day or week to the next, I had no idea who I would be living with or who would be in my family. Because the foster children came from varied and often troubled backgrounds, they were often difficult and sometimes abusive.

Because of that rapidly changing environment, there was very little sense of shared values . and, therefore, very little stability in my childhood. I was always cared for, but I never really felt that I had a unified home or family experience with a shared set of beliefs or expectations . . . until I joined the military. In the Army, I found the stability, the common purpose and the shared commitment to values, the sense of belonging, that I had been missing. It was the first time I truly felt like I had a family—a group

of people I felt I belonged to and that benefited from the clarity of a shared set of values. Then, several years after leaving the Army, I found an even more profound sense of belonging when I arrived here at WMA in 1998, which is a big part of the reason I have stayed here for so long and have committed myself to serve the Academy and its community to the best of my ability. This school has been my home, in a way that my actual home was never able to be.

The stages of my life in the WMA family are marked by opportunities that were granted to me on several occasions when people took chances on me. (Former Head of School) Dick Malley took a chance on me when he originally hired me as Alumni Director and then Dean of Students when I had absolutely no experience in prep schools or academic administration. (Former Head of School) Rodney LaBrecque took a chance on me when he promoted me to Associate Head of School and recommended me to Columbia Teachers College for the Private School Leadership Program. Then, most recently, the Board of Trustees took a chance on me when they appointed me Head of School despite my relative inexperience.

This last transition to Head of School was the most challenging, but perhaps not for the reasons you might think. As the Dean of Students and a member of the teaching faculty for 14 years at that time, I had been central in the daily lives of the students at WMA. I loved getting to know them, helping them to know themselves and playing a significant role (for some more than others) in their development. It was a role I found extremely fulfilling. Almost immediately upon assuming my new role as Head, I was pulled out of the lives of the students and into the world of policy, strategy, planning, fundraising, finance and school leadership. I was excited and enthusiastic about my new position and the new challenges it brought, and the new ways I could, in the words of Dick Malley, “serve WMA in a role other than teaching,” but I really missed the

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e di tor

Teddy Ryan

Associ At e e di tors

Russ Held

Bill Wells

A r t director

Chris Tinnesz

Advisory Bo A rd

Mark Aimone

Brian P. Easler

Don Kelly

Janet Moran

Sean Valentine

co N tri BU t i NG W r iters

Laurie Blair Ernst ’73

James Downey ’73

Melissa Earls

Brian P. Easler

Russ Held

Annie Kandel

Janet Moran

Teddy Ryan

James Sabatino ’16

Vaishnavi “Vivi” Venkat ’25

Sean Valentine

Bill Wells

d e si GN

Stoltze Design

p r i N ti NG

Puritan Capital

p H o to G r A p H y

Paul Bloomfield

Copperhound Photography

Russ Held

Dave Roback

Tom Kates

Teddy Ryan

Jordan Tavenner

Bill Wells

Various contributing photographers

Bo A r d of t r U s tees

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

t r U st ees e meriti

Eric W. Anderson

Michael J. Flynn

Richard S. Fuld ’64W

Donald J. Stuart ’73

Benjamin F. Wilson ’69W

Life t r U s tee

William E. James ’64W

& Architecture

Kevin McCormack ’02

Matthew D’Amaddio ’06

Drew Mele ’15

Michael Caine ’14

Hammad Graham ’97

sU pporti N G W m A

6 N ews from the Hill

Titans Victorious

Athletics Highlights

Fine & Performing Arts

Family Weekend

Fall Semester Highlights

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Reflection: James Sabatino ’16

Senior Stones: Billings Cooke ’71W

50th Reunion

Class of 1973 honors Fred Watts

Night at the Thunderbirds

Young Alumni Event

Drew Mele ’15, Director of Safety at Chandler Architectural Products, as captured on

ALU m N i i N A c tio N

kids. When I found new ways to intersect myself with the lives of the students, like the weekly student dinners (my wife) Stephanie and I host at our home, it was a big boost to my morale in my new role.

Internal candidates make up only about 10% of sitting school heads, and internal transitions come with a unique set of circumstances. One challenge is the need to reposition oneself within the community; friendships, work relationships and boundaries need to be reset, which was difficult not only for me but also for Steph. Boarding school communities are tightly knit, and change can be hard. The advantages of an internal transition, however, include a preexisting deep knowledge of the school and its people, which is a powerful asset in rapidly transitioning to a leadership role and continuing forward institutional progress. I believe this advantage has paid significant dividends for WMA in allowing us to move very quickly, building as rapidly as possible on the foundation that was created by the hard work and perseverance of all those at the Academy who had come before.

Within the first five years of my headship, we commissioned a deferred maintenance audit, trimmed the budget, ratified a Strategic Plan and a Campus Facilities Master Plan, engaged in a campaign feasibility study, created an Innovation

Space, put a new roof and a new portico on Rich Hall, began a complete rebranding of the Academy and raised the cash to complete the new $6 million Athenaeum as our new library space. This rapid succession of progress brought with it tremendous institutional momentum, and you all responded by pushing the Atlas Fund over $1 million for the first time. It was remarkable. And then COVID-19 hit.

We’ve talked enough about the pandemic, in general, but let me just say how proud I am

Be who you are, be genuine, not who you think people think you should be. To do otherwise will be perceived as disingenuous and untrustworthy.”

brian p. easler Head of School

of how WMA weathered that storm. As you know, the mantra for the Academy during that time was “Whatever It Takes.” All of the members of the WMA community, the students and their families, the staff and faculty, the Board of Trustees and all of our loyal alumni and supporters, did whatever it took and carried WMA through the crisis with strength and conviction. With the help of a handful of committed donors, we even completed the renovation and construction of the lower level of the Mattern Science Building into the new 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art iLab. By all accounts, WMA fared far better than many peer institutions that have far more resources. Once it was clear that the school would manage the crisis well, we switched the mantra to the words of Board Chair Scott Jacobs and began leveraging our COVID-19 success to “come out swinging,” and that’s exactly what we have done.

Now, with fundraising for Phase II of the Master Plan well underway, we are poised for a seismic shift in the trajectory of the Academy. Phase II includes the construction of a beautiful new kitchen and servery adjacent to Alumni Memorial Chapel and the Athenaeum, and the renovation of the Chapel into an absolutely stunning dining hall. Following that, Phase III will be a transformation of the current dining hall into an auditorium and theater, complete with a full back-of-the-house and stadium seating. These combined projects will radically improve the student experience on the WMA campus, and they will favorably shift our position in the admission marketplace.

Additionally, the current Legacy of Excellence Bequest Campaign, which seeks to reach $50 million in planned giving commitments, will help stabilize the future of the Academy by providing control over available resources and enrollment. A substantial endowment is the key to long-term sustainability, and the resulting impact on a school’s finances results in distinguishing good schools from great schools. Since endowments are most often contributed to through estate gifts, and because we have so many people already pledging their confidence in the school and their intentions through their estate plans, Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s future will be on solid footing.

Through this journey I have always tried to continually become the best Dean or Head of School I can be. We are a learning community, after all, and each of us can always be better and

do better. I was recently asked to provide some words of advice for new heads of school, and the following excerpt encapsulates briefly a few of the lessons I have learned along the way:

• Enrollment is the absolute No. 1 priority. Nothing else works the way it should if enrollment is not favorable for the school. The students are central to everything.

• Be who you are, be genuine, not who you think people think you should be. To do otherwise will be perceived as disingenuous and untrustworthy.

• Surround yourself with smart people who are better than you at their jobs and who do not always agree with you. They will constantly push you to be better.

• Give away any credit to others, and accept any responsibility yourself.

• If you don’t take care of yourself, you will be no good to anyone else.

• There will never be enough time for everything you should do, so:

– Avoid the tyranny of the urgent. If you manage the important things, the urgent things will usually get resolved. The opposite is never true.

– There are many things other people can do and some things only the Head of School can do—focus on those.

• The Mission, whether it’s the one you publicize or not, is defined by the budget.

• When there are not enough resources to go around (and there never are), someone will always be unhappy with your decisions.

• Donors won’t invest in your school just because they love it. It is certainly helpful, but donors invest in a school because they have confidence in its future.

• Actions and symbols are powerful. Everything we do sends a message. Be careful and intentional about your actions, the symbols you create and the messages you send.

• Your staff and students will “listen” to what you do more than to what you say

• Despite your particular skill set and your integrity, the biggest reason your Board and your school rely on you is for sound judgment. Most often there will be no definitive “right” or “wrong” answer, just a set of trade-offs that need to result in what is best for the school. Your judgment, above anything else, is most important.

Through all of these years at WMA, I have been blessed with the support and guidance of a dedicated and hard-working Board of Trustees and Administrative Team. Their unfaltering commitment and loyalty to the Academy and their generosity of time, resources and effort are responsible for everything we have accomplished together. I consider myself particularly fortunate to have worked with the most remarkable board chair I could have ever hoped for. Scott Jacobs’ experience, wisdom, thoughtful approach, availability, dedication and willingness to give

so freely of his time have truly made all the difference. My development as a first-time Head of School is due, in very large part, to his example, mentoring, guidance and support. It has been an honor and a privilege to lead this remarkable school for the last 10 years, and I look forward to continuing to become the best Head of School I can be, and to serving all of you, the members of my WMA family.

Respectfully,

Dear WMA Alumni, Parents and Friends:

The Board of Trustees has approved the launch of a campaign to increase the Academy’s endowment through bequests and other planned gifts:

The Legacy of Excellence Campaign.

A first of its kind in WMA’s long history, it builds upon the momentum of a recent $15M bequest. Accordingly, a bold target has been set:

$50M in newly declared estate gifts.

Such endowment growth will cement WMA’s status as a preeminent educational institution. It will open up a new world of opportunities for our students and give us the financial foundation to provide a transformational education for generations to come.

If you have made WMA part of your estate plan and did not see your name listed under the Heritage Society in the most recent issue of The Giving Report, please contact us at advancement@wma.us so you can be counted in the campaign and honored for your generosity.

If you have not made WMA part of your estate, I invite you to join us on this journey of legacy and impact. Now is the time, and every gift matters.

Sincerely,

Brian P. Easler Head of School

A $50 Million Bequest Campaign

Wilbraham & Monson Academy has been a beacon of educational excellence for 220 years, shaping the lives of students and preparing them for a future of leadership, innovation and impact.

As of June 30, 2023, WMA’s endowment had a balance of approximately $11.7M. While up from the prior year, the independent school average across Massachusetts is $103M. WMA’s endowment provides only a small portion of what is needed to keep WMA running each year: academic programs, athletics, arts and everything else that makes WMA so special.

Growing WMA’s endowment is critical to the Academy’s success.

The chart below shows how operating support will increase as the endowment grows. Imagine the impact that $2.5M would have every year!

News from the Hill

Robotics team reaches state championship level

The Wilbraham & Monson Academy Middle School Robotics program is popular for a reason.

Two groups, which included 21 students, competed at the local First Lego League event at Shrewsbury (Massachusetts) Middle School in early December, where 30 teams participated.

One of the WMA teams advanced to the state match, which took place at Newton North High School. Forty- eight teams took part. Faculty members Luke Pelletier and Karen Dufresne served as faculty advisors.

“This season both Middle School teams learned how to use their new Spike programing system and the associated hardware of the Hub and sensors,” said Mr. Pelletier, Director of the iLab in Mattern Science Building. “The teams both performed well and really pulled things together at the end of the season. This allowed them to enjoy the experience at competition.”

The Blue team included: Khloe Thomas ’28, Sophia Drollett ’28, Arielle Ali ’28, Sze Lun Chan ’28, Miles Desrosiers ’29, Stirling Marosits ’30, Cooper Haluch ’30, Grace Jasmin ’30, Caroline Harvey ’30 and Olivia Collins ’30.

The Red team consisted of: Nikos Kratimenos ’28, Andrew Chang ’28, Mengyu Pan ’28, Owen Dolley ’28, Daniel Pierce ’29, Braden Lora ’29, Matteo Perniciaro ’30, Anneka Schlecht ’30, Brooklyn Cherry ’30, Sophia Gormally ’30 and Molly Mahan ’30.

“During the competition the students enjoyed the day and interacted with their coaches, judges and each other extremely well,” Mr. Pelletier said. They performed well and the coaches (Mr. Pelletier and Mrs. Dufresne) were pleased with their performance.

Grade 7 students excel at regional Future City competition

A group of Grade 7 students from Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Middle School thinks this year’s Future City event was “wunderbar!”

Presenting a model of Berlin, Germany, in the year 2124, WMA’s Team Olympus Electrified placed third overall at the 25th Annual New England Regional Future City Competition at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts, in January.

“I was relieved when I heard their team called,” Middle School Science teacher Jamie Gouin said. “I knew how hard they worked. To just be placed in the top three shows how good they were. I was excited for them and a little nervous at the start of the final round.

Rose, Gabby and Braden had to speak in front of more than 200 people. We only practiced our presentations once that week. I was amazed at how well they came together at the end.”

Representing the Class of 2029, WMA sent two Grade 7 teams to the Future City Competition, a national event where students in Grades 6 –8 design and engineer a city 100 years from today. Approximately 30 teams participated in Boston.

“It was a great experience,” Gouin said. “Wentworth was an excellent host. I was so proud of our students and how mature they were in front of engineers, college professors and the other competitors.”

Team Olympus Electrified included Felix Bain-Purdy, Olivia Caban, Audrey Vipond, Chloe Corneau, Owen Dolley, Braden Lora, Gabby Lovelace, Rosalie Machowski, Esiyena Ojior and Hailey Tabb.

“Our team placing third was pretty exciting, and I was very happy with our team’s work and overall was proud of not only myself but my teammates,” Braden said. “When my team and myself found out we were going to be at least in the top three we were so happy, but were very nervous and the anticipation was making us even more nervous.”

The group also won an award for Best Model.

“I enjoyed seeing all the other future cities, they were all so cool,” Gabby said. “I also enjoyed hanging out with my friends and presenting in front of the judges.”

WMA’s Titan Turbines, which designed Monaco, won the Prestigious Education System Award. That group consisted of Jackson Lyons, Sam Healy, Ben Boudreau, Seth Pio, Jaxon Dwyer, Julia Chang, Isabelle Graham, Madison Stephenson, Ava Sarkis, Sabina Zwyrbla and McKayla O’Donnell.

“I think it is important to always put our students into the role of being scientists and engineers by being scientists and engineers,” Gouin said. “Students had to research, build, problem solve and work together to succeed. In addition, I think it is great for people outside of our WMA community to witness how great our students are. This is a great project to be a part of during the dog days of winter.”

• M iddle School Future City Team Olympus Electrified, from Left (froNt roW): Audrey Vipond ’29, Olivia Caban ’29, Chloe Corneau ’29, Owen Dolley ’29 and Faculty Advisor Jamie Gouin; (BAck roW): Felix Bain-Purdy ’29, Rosalie Machowski ’29, Hailey Tabb ’29, Gabrielle Lovelace ’29 and Esiyena Ojior ’29. Not pictured: Braden Lora ’29.

• M embers of the Middle School’s Robotics Red team in action.

Ben Patterson ’28, Rosalie Machowski ’29 spell out success

Wilbraham & Monson Academy Middle School students Ben Patterson ’28 and Rosalie Machowski ’29 had never participated in a geography bee.

Once the event began, though, they performed like they worked for Google Maps.

Calling upon knowledge from their Geography/Model United Nations afternoon activity in the Middle School, Ben and Rosalie placed at the Regional Geography Bee in Chicopee, Massachusetts, in January. They qualified for the national competition in Orlando, Florida, in May.

Ben earned a silver medal in the Grade 8 category, placing second. Both students also qualified for the international championship, to be held in Vienna, Austria, during the summer.

“It is very cool to be able to advance to nationals and internationals,” Ben said. “The geography bee was fun because it was interesting

to see other people compete in a geography competition. It was cool to try to buzz in the fastest to try to win the point.”

“Advancing to the national competition was a big surprise,” Rosalie said. “I was excited when I found out that I qualified for the next level of competition and am looking forward to the challenge. Going to the Regional Geography Bee, I learned what the level of competition is like for future events, like the national competition. With this, I hope to get more used to using the buzzer and not being afraid to guess.”

In order to participate at the regional competition, students had to earn a certain score on a previous online geography test.

“I believe that learning about geography is very important, but that it is often overlooked in a typical curriculum,” Faculty advisor Fabienne Dubois said. “I am glad we have the opportunity at WMA to encourage students to study

As a Girl Scout, Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Kiki Brook ’26 is familiar with selling cookies.

Late last summer, Kiki and her troop members shifted a bit and found a way to turn lemons into lemonade.

After the outside of the convenience store located near the Academy was defaced with spray paint, Kiki and two members of Troop #64587 painted the wall a bright blue sky filled with colorful umbrellas.

“I was excited (for the project),” said Kiki, in her eighth year of Scouts. “I had painted a mural before and it was fun. I was glad we were able to do that wall specifically because it was kind of ugly. It was splotchy and peeling. And since it’s central in Wilbraham, it gave us a chance to beautify the town center.”

It was no easy task, especially for just three people. Kiki and her teammates: power-washed the graffiti; scraped the already-existing peeling

geography during this afternoon activity. The other goal we have in the activity is preparing students for Model UN. This year, students chose to give priority to geography.”

paint; applied a base coat, touched up some spots; projected the sketch of the mural onto the wall; bought all of the paint and supplies; painted the entire area; carefully designed the outlines; and finalized a few rough patches. They completed this in a six-day span.

“While working on our project there was some anxiety because it’s a big wall and people pass by from my school,” Kiki said. “I hoped it would turn out good.”

The mural didn’t turn out good. It turned out GREAT, with yellow, blue, red, white, maroon, green and pink umbrellas appearing to be floating in the air.

“Once finished, I was happy with how it turned out,” she smiled. “Hard work paid off. The day we signed our name, two people stopped. Someone asked to take a picture with the mural.”

The final project has taken on a bit of a life of its own, with the Facebook page “Umbrellas! The interactive mural in Wilbraham” created for people to share their photos taken in front of the art work.

“(Projects) allow me to give back to my community, and I’ve been able to learn important skills,” Kiki said. “There have been a lot of opportunities I wouldn’t have had if it I didn’t join Girl Scouts.”

Kiki Brook ’26 shines with umbrella mural

• from Left: Ben Patterson ’28 and Rosalie Machowski ’29

Quartet leads long list of high-achieving students on College Boards

Taking an AP Exam is hard. Earning an award from the College Board is even more difficult.

Students from Wilbraham & Monson Academy, however, made it look easy as the Academy won 48 awards based on the school’s performance on the 2023 AP Exams, administered by the College Board.

Topping the group were the 18 students who received AP Scholars with Distinction honors. Those students, who were recognized at School Meeting Sept. 25, scored a 3 or higher on five or more of the exams while maintaining a 3.5 average. The group included three members of the Class of 2024: Arielle Chechile, Han Do and Sally Geoghegan.

“Receiving a College Board award was super exciting because it truly made me realize that all of my effort and hard work paid off,” Arielle said.

“I am especially thankful for the (guidance) of my WMA teachers, at both the Honors and AP level,” Han said. “Aside from transferring knowledge, my teachers also equipped me with the powerful tools of critical thinking and academic resilience. Faculty (members) at WMA have special ways of keeping me engaged in the lesson, which had major contributions to my success in studying for the exams.”

“WMA has helped me academically through connecting me to a network of supportive adults,” Sally said. “My AP teachers were immensely helpful in preparing for my exams, and all my teachers have helped me find and utilize opportunities to further my education and career goals.”

Also, Marisa Cyboron ’24 won an award from the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program.

“I think the variety of classes that WMA offers is really enriching and offers a great opportunity to learn and grow in a variety of fields,” Marisa said. “The teachers are also always available to help students and genuinely care about us beyond the classroom.”

ap S c holar with di S t inction

(granted to students who received a score of 3 or higher on at least five AP exams, with an average exam score of at least 3.5):

Julia Besse ’23

Arielle Chechile ’24

Han Do ’24

Margaret Gately ’23

Sally Geoghegan ’24

Ayana Gonzalez ’23

Brady Gouin ’23

Rilee Harris ’23

Jackson Healy ’23

Hannah Jamal ’23

Tate Laczkowski ’23

Yi Lyu ’23

Carl Plichta ’23

David Prickett ’23

Shuoxi Qi ’23

Maddie Stoltz ’23

Zihan Wu ’23

Yuzuki Yamaoka ’23

ap S c holar with honor S (granted to students who received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams):

Ava Aguiar ’23

Stephnie Essien ’24

Hui Huang ’23

Aja Mercer ’23

Tianze Xiong ’23

Hanser Yoon ’24

ap S ch olar (granted to students who received scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams):

Xuanyi Chen ’24

Jiseong Choi ’23

Marisa Cyboron ’24

Callie Dunbar ’24

Harold Gay ’23

Madeleine Hong ’23

Arya Kouzehkanani ’24

Seungmin Lee ’24

Giorgi Mumladze ’23

Rohan Puri ’23

Iva Radevic ’23

Nolan Stratton ’23

Zhongwang Wang ’24

Jie Lei Xue ’24

Guo Yin ’23

ap cap S t one diploma (granted to students who earned scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing):

Arielle Chechile ’24

Brady Gouin ’23

Rilee Harris ’23

Jackson Healy ’23

ap S e minar & re S e arch certificate (granted to students who earned scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research):

Xuanyi Chen ’24

Marisa Cyboron ’24

Michael Dorunda ’24

Callie Dunbar ’24

Giorgi Mumladze ’23

Nolan Stratton ’23

Arielle Chechile ’24 Marisa Cyboron ’24

Sally Geoghegan ’24 Han Do ’24

Ryan Cooley ’26 leads foursome earning Model Congress honors

Mock bills, debates, committees, press conferences—a model congress scenario may sound fun to people interested in history, politics and government, but it’s work . a lot of work. Grueling. Like a sport, in order to be successful a person needs to be prepared and on their game.

Four Wilbraham & Monson Academy students were on their game at the 38th annual Harvard Model Congress, returning to campus with awards. The event, held in Boston in late February, drew 1,600 students from more than 20 states.

“The WMA Model Congress team had an outstanding effort at the Harvard Model Congress conference,” said Dr. Anthony Kandel, who serves as WMA’s faculty advisor. “Team members worked hard to prepare, involved themselves in the proceedings with gusto, learned a tremendous amount, made many new friends and had a lot of fun.”

Ryan Cooley ’26 showed his political prowess, winning a rare Best Delegate Award. Sally Geoghegan ’24, Ha Anh Nguyen ’25 and Rose Marie Sadlak ’25 earned honorable mentions.

“I was not surprised at all that Ryan won such a prestigious award, despite his being just a sophomore,” Dr. Kandel praised. “Ryan has a tremendous work ethic, great public speaking skills, a razor-sharp mind, a penchant for politics and is a true consensus builder. I am proud of what

he has accomplished, and am very pleased that he will be a co-President of Model Congress next year.

“Model Congress is a great winter activity for anyone interested in politics and government, which should be everybody! It combines the development of key skills, a chance to learn about how our legislative process works and the opportunity to meet other interesting people.”

Committee: Historical Committee (with a focus on Winston Churchill’s World War II war cabinet)

Representative: Walter Elliot, the Minister of Health in the Cabinet.

Comment: “My committee worked together to pass resolutions, respond to ‘news updates’ of the war and reshape historical events, all while portraying different characters. My character, Walter Elliot, was the Minister of Health, and I worked on increasing the wartime budget, funding hospitals, improving the healthcare system and protecting national security. It was an honor to win the award, and the entire conference was an amazing experience.”

Committee: Historical Committee

Representative: Ernest Bevin

Comment: “I could not have asked for a better final year of Model Congress. I have been involved in the program for all four years at WMA, and I have seen so much growth and enthusiasm from everyone this year. As always, everyone at the conference was so kind and intelligent. I am sad to leave Model Congress, but I know the program is in good hands and I am excited to hear about the years to come.”

Committee: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Representative: Agent Nguyen

Comment: “For this year’s Model Congress, I joined the special committee FBI, which changed my whole view on the FBI and how it functions. The thrill of being in this committee is that I will always have to be on my feet and constantly thinking of new theories, connecting dots to solve a crime case. It’s really exciting when I find my theories on the right track, which helps everyone to get one step closer to solving the case. Overall, this year’s special committee allowed me to connect with others to solve the case while still having independent theories, which is how WMA prepares me to work in the community.”

Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

Representative: Senator Jacky Rosen

Comment: “I was honored to win the award, and I was glad that the work the others and I did paid off. I enjoyed meeting so many unique people from many different places at this event. Even though we did our conferences and the work, the people there made this event about having fun and learning along the way, too. It was an experience that made it more than just the conference.”

Sally GeoGheGan ’24

ha anh nGuyen ’25

roSe marie Sadl ak ’25

ryan cooley ’26

from Left: Sally Geoghegan ’24, Ryan Cooley ’26, Rose Marie Sadlak ’25 and Ha Anh Nguyen ’25.

riflery

Riflery extends regular-season and Gallery Match winning streaks

One week after extending one winning streak, the Wilbraham & Monson Academy Riflery program extended another.

The Titans won their eighth-consecutive Prep School Gallery Match with a 759 – 726 victory against Suffield Academy in February. The milestone came a week after winning their 50th regular season match in a row.

“It was a very motivating win to get the rotating trophy back for the eighth time this year against Suffield,” said Vaishnavi “Vivi” Venkat ’25, who led WMA with a score of 195 (out of 200).

“It was another great year winning the Prep Gallery,” added Marisa Cyboron ’24, who finished with a 191. “We had stellar performances in the senior portion of the match, as well as a strong team effort in the junior match. We are very happy to have taken home our eighth consecutive win in this tournament.”

Arzum Li ’24 (189) and Julia Choi ’26 (184) rounded out the four-person scoring for the Titans.

Vivi literally found the mark late in the season, leading the Titans as they closed out another historic season.

“Vivi has definitely improved a lot since last year, and that has shown in the past few matches we have had,” Marisa said. “She’s on a good track at the moment to do even better next year.”

Meanwhile, Marisa was a guiding light all season, providing remarkable leadership and shooting from the onset.

“Marisa’s leadership is crucial to the unity of the team,” Vivi explained. “With four seasons and two concentrations, Marisa’s experience is invaluable in helping the new shooters learn the sport and shooting high scores each match to help us win.

From guiding the team to preparing for matches, Marisa’s leadership means a lot to the team’s success.”

riflery

Riflery rallies to finish off undefeated season

Great programs find a way to win. Wilbraham & Monson Academy Riflery is a great program.

Trailing by eight points headed into the final group of shooters, Wilbraham & Monson Academy rallied to win the Connecticut High School Shoot-Off at Blue Trail Range in Connecticut on Feb. 28.

Led by Vaishnavi “Vivi” Venkat ’25, the Titans posted a winning score of 943 points (of 1,000), beating Suffield Academy (934), Xavier High School (926), Grasso Technical High School (909) and North Haven High School (885).

It was the fifth consecutive state title—and seventh in eight seasons—for Coach Bill Passy and the Titans.

“Winning this year was special as it is my last year as coach,” said Coach Passy. “This team overcame a lot of obstacles. Veteran leadership was outstanding, and the new kids were eager to learn and talented. It was a great mix and I will miss these kids.”

The format included five relays, with two shooters/team in each. The top five shooters scored for each team. After the fourth relay, WMA was down eight points to Suffield.

“I wasn’t really surprised as I had noticed that our opponents had ‘front loaded’ their lineup,” Coach Passy explained. “We tend to put more of our better shooters late. You want shooters at the end who can handle the situation, and I knew the two we had in the last relay could handle that spot. I felt our strategy was solid.”

Vivi came through like the great shooter that she is, posting a match-high score of 193 points (of 200). Sungjae Yeo ’24 was also in the final relay and scored a solid 188, pushing WMA past its archrival.

“That’s why she is in that final relay,” Coach Passy said of his top shooter. “She has worked hard on not letting outside influences affect her. She insists on not knowing the result of each shot so she

doesn’t get nervous. She just trusts her ability and her coaches.”

“Being in the fifth and the last relay of the match in itself was stressful, not to look at the scores as my teammates shot,” Vivi admitted. “But on coach’s advice, most of us did not look at the scores until we won so as to not add pressure on performance. This definitely helped with my shooting. In addition to not knowing any scores, I shot without hearing my scores as I shot as well, and at the end of the day it all worked out.”

Marisa Cyboron ’24 opened the scoring for WMA with a 191, which was the second-best result of the match. Yejun Lee ’27 (career-best 187) and Arzum Li ’24 (184) also scored for the Titans.

“It was great winning again,” said Marisa, who never lost a match in her four years on WMA Riflery. “We worked really hard this season and it showed in our performance. A lot of people had season-high scores yesterday and the energy was great.”

This year’s championship was particularly sweet because the Titans had to work extra hard for it, entering the season after losing a number of their top shooters.

“We lose key shooters every year, but we lost our best shooter a week before matches started,” Coach Passy explained. “That was a bit unsettling for everyone. I reminded them that we can’t dwell on kids who are not here, and that we still have enough talent on the team to win.”

And they did.

Co-captains Vivi Venkat ’25, left, and Marisa Cyboron ’24

trap shooting

Roman Barrett ’25 claims national title at World Trapshooting Championships

The world imploded in the spring of 2020, shutting down nearly every activity for months. With his sports of baseball and hockey sidelined due to COVID-19, this seemed like the perfect time for Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Roman Barrett ’25 to get involved in a program he was introduced to in the Fall of 2019.

“I went to an open house for a youth shooting team in my home town and loved the sport immediately,” Roman said.

Roman was referencing the sport of trap shooting. You know, trap shooting—clay pigeon, shotgun, “pull!”

When most people were still walking on egg shells because of the coronavirus, Roman was turning clay targets into pieces of shells. He joined a league and entered a few small tournaments before expanding his reach, including the world stage.

Competing at the highest level for his age group, Roman won the Junior Category (ages 15–18) at the 10-day Grand American World Trapshooting Championships in Illinois in August. And, even more remarkably, the way the event was formatted, Roman placed fourth overall, regardless of age group.

“It was kind of incredible,” he said. “It was surreal. To win that title I had to go in the event not only a perfect 100, but after to resolve the ties, I went another 140 straight before I missed a target.”

The victory was sweet redemption as Roman didn’t perform as well as he had liked the previous year.

“I didn’t do my best (in 2022),” he recalled. “Up until that point I had been doing well. To go to biggest stage and not do what I knew I was capable of doing was discouraging.”

All of that discouragement disappeared this year. Roman was named to the All-American First Team after making the Second Team the previous two years.

“(Trap shooting) calls to me,” he explained. “I don’t know what it is about it. Maybe the way it blends mental and physical attributes. I also love the competition.”

Roman was featured on a podcast hosted by Trapshooters United in October.

boys cross country

Kayden Chhoun ’25 leads Titans to unbeaten season

At the biggest race of the season, against the toughest competition, Kayden Chhoun ’25 and his Wilbraham & Monson Academy Boys Cross Country teammates got the job done.

In a field of 158 runners and 26 teams, Kayden took 14th overall to lead the Titans to a fourth-place finish at the New England Division III Championships at Highland Park in Attleboro, Massachusetts, in November.

“I was very excited about my performance at New Englands and was prepared to give it everything,” Kayden said. “I did not want to burden myself with strategy and pace, wanting to go all out, so I raced without a watch and went with my gut. It was a tough race and a mental battle, but it was all worth it in the end and I managed a new PR, breaking 18 minutes for the first time and getting a 17:53.”

“These guys amazed me again,” Coach Danielle Vartabedian said of New Englands. “Kayden Chhoun was 14th with a PR, Yuxiao

mountain biking

John Crocker ’25 competes

at Mountain Bike National Championships

If Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s John Crocker ’25 wanted to race at the most competitive mountain bike event in the country, he was going to have to earn it. He earned it.

After competing in a qualifying meet in July 2023, John raced the next day against the best of the best at the USA Cycling Cross Country Mountain Bike National Championships in Macungie, Pennsylvania.

The event was a Category 1 race, the highest level possible and John’s first attempt in that division.

‘David’ Zhou ’26 was 22nd with a PR just missing a medal, Eoin Cavanaugh ’27 was 41st, Yijie ‘Miles’ Hu ’26 was 51st with a PR and John Crocker ’25, who battled with an injury, gutted it out and ran an awesome time as our fifth runner for 67th place.”

The Titans won all three in-season invitationals and finished the season with a 9 – 0 record.

“I’m incredibly proud of everybody on the team,” Kayden said. “I’m thankful to have gotten the opportunity to run with this group of athletes, and knowing that our top five will be back for next season is exciting. Overall, it was a fantastic season and I’m thrilled to work with the same group next fall.”

“I wanted to compete at a higher, more competitive level,” John said. “And this, being a national championship race, provided the opportunity to do that. There was competition from all over the country, which meant better racing overall.”

Since he wasn’t nationally ranked, he had to place in the top 60 in order to advance to the championship. Despite an early crash, he took 56th and earned the right to bike against the most talented racers in the nation.

“I crashed seconds off the start of the qualifier, immediately knowing that I might’ve ruined my weekend,” John said. “The amount of racers in this competition is multiple times more than what I was used to so the start was much more chaotic. Getting back on the bike I was second to last at 79th and needed to gain at least 19 positions.”

He placed 98th in the final.

“The experience was eye-opening, not knowing what it would be like to compete at my first Cat 1 national race,” John said. “After having local success at Cat 3 and then Cat 2, it was rewarding to be able to qualify for a Cat 1 national championship. While an exciting yet humbling experience, it left me with a desire to push myself. I hope to compete more at this higher level.”

Girls Soccer earns multiple awards

G irl S S o ccer

Abby Dorunda ’24 leads 6 Titans to earn postseason awards

After scoring a number of wins on the field in 2023, the Wilbraham & Monson Academy Girls Soccer team scored a number of honors following the season.

Six players were honored with seven postseason awards, including two at the state level.

“The Titans had a great season, improving on both sides of the ball and working together as a unit,” Coach Sommer Mahoney ’11 said. “We lived up to our team values of respect, accountability, teamwork, commitment and compassion, and earned some amazing wins by putting each other and the team first.”

Quotes from Coach Mahoney

• Gabby Cooper ’27

Western New England Prep School Soccer Association All-Star

“Gabby experienced a tremendous amount of growth this season. Her technical prowess set the tone and pacing in our midfield; and with her strong instincts and finesse on the ball, she was an essential playmaker this season.”

• Abby Brunelle ’25

New England Prep School Athletic Council Junior All-Star

“Abby stepped up in a huge way this season to play goal for us. This required a great deal of courage, discipline, hard work and mental toughness—all of which she did for the good of the team. Accordingly, Abby won (team) MVP this year and she absolutely deserves recognition as one of our NEPSAC Junior All Stars.”

• Abby Dorunda ’24 NEPSAC All-State

“For the second year in a row, Abby was selected as our nominee for All-NEPSAC and All-State. Abby’s tenacity, athleticism and soccer IQ have been essential to our team’s successes these past four years, and we will miss her dearly when she goes off to college.”

• Katie Hutcheson ’26

NEPSAC Honorable Mention, Boston Globe All-Scholastic

“Katie demonstrates tremendous work ethic in both her athletics and academics, and that degree of effort paired with her obvious talent made her an easy choice for both the Boston Globe All-Scholastic team and NEPSAC Honorable Mention. Katie holds herself to high standards, and her efforts set the bar high for the entire team.”

• Ally Orquiola ’25

NEPSAC Junior All-Star

“Ally had another great season this year for the Titans as our top goal-scorer. It was great to have the opportunity to nominate her as our NEPSAC Junior All Star to acknowledge her hard work and team-first attitude.”

• Zoe Pinnock ’26 WNEPSSA All-Star

“Zoe was the anchor of our defensive line this year, employing her soccer IQ, technical finesse and tactical instincts to lead the team to success. Zoe’s strength and precision on the ball and her instinctive use of space off of it made her a clear choice for WNEPSSA All Star.”

Korbin Dixon ’24 sets Water Polo scoring record

The most remarkable aspect of Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Korbin Dixon ’24 setting the Water Polo record for goals in a career is that he did it in three years.

Despite losing his freshman season due to COVID-19, Korbin set the school record for goals in a career with 263.

“It’s a really cool accomplishment that almost came out of nowhere,” Korbin said. “It wasn’t something I was really aware of until the start of this year. I’m really excited that people may work to chase my record now.”

Korbin established the mark in a game at Williston Northampton School on Nov. 1. He finished with 115 goals as a senior after recording 81 as a junior and 67 his sophomore year.

Korbin didn’t even think about the school record until late in the summer as he prepared to return to school. As the season started, he resisted the buildup and stayed focused on the team and doing his job. Granted, his job was to score as many goals as possible for the Titans, and he did his job.

“It actually didn’t feel any different leading up to the record-setting goal, but once I broke

it, I felt great,” he said. “It was nice being able to insert myself into WMA’s history.”

A basketball-first athlete, Korbin enjoyed playing a second sport that was new to him.

“Playing four years of Water Polo wasn’t really something I thought I’d end up doing, especially after my first year,” he admitted. “But realizing that I’m growing just like everyone else on the team, each year it was a great feeling. It also hasn’t been a main sport for many people on the team so it’s good to learn and grow with new players that are learning like me.”

“I never thought the lanky ninth grader who could barely swim a length (of the pool) without getting winded would become the captain and skilled player and scoring machine that he has become,” Coach Jon Brook said.

“But (Korbin) is smart, and smart kids know that learning is a process that takes time and effort and a lot of figuring out on one’s own how to get better.”

Korbin Dixon ’24, center, in action

Korbin Dixon ’24

G ir l S b a S k etball

Caterina Ravosa ’26 reaches 1,000 career points during sophomore year

When broken down, the numbers are staggering: 1,000 points in just 58 high school basketball games. Most noteworthy, the vast majority of those points came in grades 7, 8 and 9. What kind of points were to come during her sophomore, junior and senior years?

In the first game of her sophomore season, Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Caterina Ravosa ’26 hit the 1,000-point milestone in a win against Academy of New Church at The Hill School Tournament in Pennsylvania in December.

Entering the game with 987 points, Caterina reached the magic number with two minutes to go in the second quarter off a pass from Ella Chandler ’24.

I’m super excited to achieve the milestone of 1,000 points because it represents how far I have come on my journey at WMA.”

c at erina r avosa ’26

“I’m super excited to achieve the milestone of 1,000 points because it represents how far I have come on my journey at WMA,” Caterina said. “I have worked hard to get to where I am today, and there is still so much more to achieve.”

Caterina became the sixth player to reach 1,000 points since Coach Durelle Brown took over the WMA Girls Basketball program in 2014–2015, and the seventh overall. The 6-foot-2 post player has already received multiple offers from Division I programs.

“Caterina scoring a thousand points is an amazing accomplishment,” Coach Brown said. “So many fine players never eclipse this milestone. So, when it happens, it is a big-time achievement. What gets lost in the achievement is the team dynamic of the individual milestone. A player cannot score those points without their teammates. Caterina has put in a lot of work over these four years to improve herself and her game year by year, but I was proud of what she said first.

“She wanted to thank all of her teammates, past and present, for helping her achieve this milestone. Milestones feel better with wins, and I bet Caterina will say that she wants to do a lot more winning over these next three years to prove that her talent also contributed to winning basketball.”

Caterina Ravosa ’26 in action while leading the Titans to the New England Class C Championship against Brewster Academy in March.

2024 NEPSAC CLASS C GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL

Champi s

G

ir l S b a S k etball

Titans rewrite history, win 1st

New England Championship

The Wilbraham & Monson Academy Girls Basketball team lost in the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class C championship in 2023.

In 2024, the Titans were not going to let that happen again.

Wearing pink uniforms and supported by a large WMA fan presence, Coach Durelle Brown and his Titans pulled away from Brewster Academy of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, in the second half to win the NEPSAC Class C title with a convincing 55–39 victory.

It was the first New England Girls Basketball championship in school history.

“We have chased this goal for nine long years, and here we are, we are champions,” Coach Brown beamed. “And that moment when I got to hoist ‘Chip’—that is what we call our championship trophy—it was better than I ever imagined through all of these years.

“This group of nine players, two managers and three coaches, is a family. We spent a ton of time together to build what we had this year. And now we are bonded for life with this team accomplishment. We have an amazing group of

girls: selfless, smart, funny, hard-working and tough. And I could not be prouder to be the lucky guy who coaches WMA girls hoops at this fine institution that I call home.”

As if winning a first title in school history wasn’t emotional enough, this was even more so. Coach Brown’s biggest supporter—his mom, Anita— unexpectedly passed away in March of 2023.

“It is extremely hard to win this first title for our program and our school, and my biggest fan is not here to celebrate it with me,” explained Coach Brown, whose team fell to Hamden Hall Country Day School of Hamden, Connecticut, in the 2023 final. “But I remember when we won our fifth game in a row, and I looked at our schedule and counted the wins if we ran the table, and the number was 15 straight wins.

“I lost my mom on March 15, 2023. Then we kept winning. I knew at that point my mom was with us, guiding us and so proud to watch us. #TeamGrandma. So for me, this championship is powerful.”

One hiccup aside, the entire season was powerful for the Academy. The team opened 7 –1, including a win at the Kingswood Invitational Tournament in December. The bump came when the team returned from break, going 2–3. WMA, however, was starting to click. The Titans closed out the regular season on a 12-game winning

streak, capped by a double-digit win against one of the Academy’s biggest rivals.

“The Suffield win at Suffield . we won the biggest game of the season up to that point, a rivalry game, on the road in a hostile environment, against a NEPSAC Class B tournament team playing for seeding, and we won going away, 64–52,” Coach Brown said.

“It was a dominant performance by several individuals, and our whole team collectively. It gave them a pseudo feeling of invincibility, but not arrogance. It proved to them that if they believe in themselves, if they believe in each other, if they believe in their coaches, and they believe in and play well in the game plan, there is not a team that can beat them. And that is a powerful feeling with the firepower that we have.”

As the top seed in the playoffs, WMA brought the firepower. The Titans rolled to an 85–24 win against No. 8 Montrose School of Medfield, Massachusetts, in a quarterfinal before topping fifth-seeded Holderness School of New Hampshire in a semifinal. Both games were at Greenhalgh Gymnasium with a loud WMA fan base.

Girls Basketball Coach Durelle Brown, far right with trophy, celebrates the team’s New England Championship title with members of his girls basketball team and coaching staff.

The final was played at a neutral site: Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts. Despite not playing well, the pink-uniformed Titans led No. 2 Brewster 21–20 halftime. A change in defense sparked WMA’s offensive attack in the final 16 minutes.

“We went with our ‘55,’ our full-court player-to-player defense, and that changed the momentum of the game,” Coach Brown stated. “We finally sped them up the way we wanted to, and that energy converted into our energy offensively. Now all of a sudden we were clicking on both ends of the floor, and when our team is clicking, it feels like an avalanche. Hence the 15– 0 run we made over the course of three minutes of the third and fourth quarters.

“My line all year with this group is, ‘When we play, it is like watching a movie.’ We have eight amazing players, and in our games we are not geared around one or two people, but the whole. So in games, all eight players have their signature moments when they have a starring portion or impact in the game. It is just so beautiful to watch.”

And it was beautiful to watch Coach Brown and the Titans hoist the first New England title in program history. The team finished 24–4 and on a 15-game winning streak.

The team included: Adela Cecunjanin ’24, Ella Chandler ’24, Abby Dorunda ’24, Hannah Grudzien ’25, Caterina Ravosa ’26, Selah Prignano ’26, Iyanna Hodge ’27 and Jala Witherspoon ’27. Kendall Washington ’26 was injured for the entire season. Caterina was named MVP of the Class C final. Coach Brown was assisted by Rita Sullivan and his longtime friend Jack Casey.

The Girls Basketball team holds a “championship pose” with their fan section after winning the New England title.

Ella Chandler ’24 holds high the New England Championship trophy moments after leading the Titans to their first New England title.

Durelle Brown

‘He truly makes WMA an amazing place to go to school’

by bill W e lls Director of Student Promotion

DDurelle Brown has a number of titles at Wilbraham & Monson Academy: Assistant Director of Admission, head coach for Girls Varsity Basketball, dorm parent, co-advisor for the Academy’s Black Student Union, etc.

However, much more than any title, it is Mr. Brown’s presence that has made an impact on the lives of countless students and adults since he and his daughter, Adelina ’28, arrived at WMA in the Fall of 2014.

Mr. Brown, 45, is a people-first person. He tells stories; he listens to stories; and he listens to people. He’s honest and sets standards. Always an example setter, any talk he delivers can be backed up with a walk of honor and integrity (unless a referee makes a bad call against the Titans . haha).

A former prep school kid and professional basketball player, Mr. Brown is a magnet for many, whether that’s in the Admission Office, Lak Dining Hall, Greenhalgh Gymnasium, Rich Hall or anywhere else on campus.

His sneaker collection has no rival, and his status as a three-time hall of fame inductee comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen him work out in the athletic center, often before the first class of the day begins.

Following are quotes from people who have worked closely with Mr. Brown during his 10 years at the Academy:

girls basketball

bro W n

2014–15 8–11

2015–16 14–6

class c quarterfinalist

2016–17 17–5

class c semifinalist (trustees cup winners)

2017–18 17–4

class c quarterfinalist

2018–19 15–7

class c semifinalist

2019–20 11–12

2020–21 3–3 (limited schedule, covid-19 season)

2021–22 11–12

class c quarterfinalist

2022–23 22–6

class c finalist (trustees cup winners)

2023–24 24–4

class c champions

class c coach of the year

coach bro W n’s bio

Shane Appiah ’21

Member of the Black Student Union and Student Government

“Mr. Brown has been my mentor and close friend since we first met roughly seven years ago. His motivation to win in all areas of life has encouraged me toward the same. As I grow in young adulthood, he continues to teach me, providing insight in life matters only afforded to those with a unique combination of wisdom and acumen. I aspire to be as influential a mentor in other’s lives as he’s been to me.”

Adelina Brown ’28

Mr. Brown’s daughter

“When you have someone like my dad, who pushes himself and others around you to be their best, it can be extremely overwhelming; but for him, that’s just a first instinct. When I’m at my lowest or when I feel unmotivated to achieve something myself, he automatically strives to do whatever he can to get me there, and that’s something that I deeply appreciate. At times when I am nervous or anxious to do something, like the first volleyball game of a season, he gives a long speech that everyone who knows him will understand; and even though you will get impatient, he knows and so do you—it’s going to benefit you somehow. Despite the long novels that he shares, it assures you and lets you get a grasp of anything that needs to be put into check or understood further. In spite of his firm ways, he will always find a way to crack a joke or give an attitude that everyone will look back at later and be able to laugh at. That’s my dad, Durelle Brown.”

Ella Chandler ’24 Girls Basketball player

“Everyone who has met Coach Brown, myself included, knows that his words and who he is have a

lasting impact. Being coached by him for the past three years has been such a blessing. He makes an effort to help not only his players, but the entire WMA student population become better people. He truly makes WMA an amazing place to go to school, and I would not have gotten nearly close to what I have today if it were not for him. He is a great coach to all of us, a great mentor, a fantastic supporter and also an amazing father to his daughter. He cares, and that is another reason why WMA is amazing.”

Michael Dziura

Faculty and Black Student Union co-advisor

“It is impossible in such a short space to fully communicate my love, admiration and respect for Durelle. He is someone who walks the walk every single day, always modeling hard work and integrity for our students. In the BSU, he has been a strong advocate for personal responsibility and community engagement, but more than that, he has instilled our students with a deep understanding of how they can become leaders. I am proud and humbled to be able to call Durelle my friend.”

• In -game instructions with Assistant Coach Jack Casey, left.

Brian Easler Head of School

“In my role as Head of School, it is absolutely necessary for me to surround myself with people I can trust to tell me what I need to hear—not always what I want to hear, but what I need to hear. You can imagine that this kind of feedback can be challenging to accept, occasionally. Durelle Brown not only serves this trusted role for me, but he does so in such a remarkably respectful and gracious way, and with a generosity of spirit and genuine concern for all involved. The result is that when Durelle Brown speaks, I listen. I know I am not the only person at WMA Mr. Brown impacts in this way, and I think it would be difficult to overstate the deeply positive and powerful impact he has on this community.”

and I have learned so much from him. His desire to make WMA the top boarding school in New England has been infectious within the Admissions team. The mentorship he provides for the Girls Basketball team is truly amazing. The girls are lucky to have him as their coach. Durelle is a man of true character. He has been an amazing addition to the WMA community and an even better friend.”

Mike

Mannix Dean of Residential Life

“Durelle has been the Head Dorm Parent of Rich 2 (male dorm) for several years. He provides the boys with a good balance in their living environment. Durelle is able to wear the hats of ‘dorm dad,’ study hall monitor and respected authority figure all in the same evening.”

Cara Murphy ’22

Girls Basketball Alumna

Kate

Gaw

Director of Admission & Financial Aid

“Durelle joined the Admission team 10 years ago and instantly made an impact on our prospective families, current parents and students with his engaging personality. In his role overseeing our Gold Key tour guides, he is loved and respected by the students. Most of all, he is adored by the Admission team, bringing us a wealth of knowledge about our current boarding students, stories about his basketball career and the best shoe collection in our department.”

Mike MacDonald Assistant Director of Admission

“Working with Durelle in the Admissions Office and Athletic Department has been a blessing. Durelle has been an amazing mentor,

we spoke often about the rewards and challenges of coaching a girls’ team. Having coached our Girls Varsity Soccer team for many years at WMA, I had great conversations with him regarding my experiences and the things that I learned over the years as I developed my program, a process that he was then engaged in during his early years at WMA. During those first years he was here, some of my soccer players also played basketball. This crossover brought us into many conversations as we connected as the coaches of girls’ teams. I have really enjoyed watching Durelle develop as one of our coaches, and I have certainly enjoyed watching the success he has brought to our Girls Varsity Basketball program. I am very proud of his accomplishments.”

Maureen Schuermann

WMA Alumna Parent

“Coach Brown served as more than just a mentor on the court. His dedication and guidance have impacted me with a major sense of discipline and perseverance that continues to shape my character today. Through his encouragement and belief in our potential, Coach Brown taught us the importance of pushing beyond limits while containing a mindset of resilience which has driven us in athletics and life’s challenges. Beyond the wins and the losses, Coach Brown’s emphasis on sisterhood, pride and self-improvement left an incredible mark on my journey outside of the Academy.”

Don

Nicholson ’79

Director of Athletics & Afternoon Programs

“From the very first time I met Durelle, we have experienced a very good working relationship as head coach and Athletic Director. Early in his tenure coaching here,

“Coach Brown brings so much respect and intention to every relationship, and we are so fortunate that he was our daughter’s coach and advisor at WMA. There has never been a moment that he hasn’t had our daughter’s best intentions at the heart of his decisions. Coach Brown doesn’t take the easy route, he takes the right route. He encouraged our daughter to see herself as far more than an athlete, and he prepared her to be a successful student-athlete at the next level. Coach Brown leads by example with his work ethic, compassion, intention and reflection, and he makes our family so proud to be a part of the WMA FAMILY.”

Liz Squindo Dean of Students

“I have truly enjoyed working with Durelle. His ability to connect with people and make them feel seen, appreciated and valued has made our community a more connected and grounded place.”

• Durelle Brown holds the New England Class C trophy while Ella Chandler ’24, left, celebrates.

FALL SPORTS

FOOTBALL

VOLLEYBALL

BOYS SOCCER

GIRLS SOCCER

FIELD HOCKEY

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

WINTER SPORTS

GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL

BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL

BOYS SWIMMING

RIFLERY

GIRLS WINTER TRACK

BOYS WINTER TRACK

BOYS HOCKEY

Fine & Performing Arts

Fall 2023 Performances and Events

Our Fine & Performing Arts students displayed their talents in the Holiday Show “A Story of Peace,” as Academy Players in the performance of “Clue,” and as Academy Dancers in a performance of “Speak Your Truth; Dance Your Dreams.”

• P auling Lim ’27, foreground, plays the cello during the “A Story of Peace” Holiday Show in Alumni Memorial Chapel.

• T he bright lights of Founders Theatre during the Academy Players performance of “Clue.”

• from Left: Avery Kay ’26, Ximena Perez Garcia ’26, Nava Berezin ’28 and Maya Bates ’26 during the Academy Dancers’ performance of “Speak Your Truth; Dance Your Dreams.”

• B ottom Left: Lena Plouffe ’28 as Mr. Boddy in “Clue.”

• B ot tom riGHt: Osezuwa “Zuzu” Abulu ’25 as Professor Plum during the performance of “Clue.”

Academy Dancers, Fall 2023

Rebecca Kakule ’25, foreground, during the Holiday Show “A Story of Peace.”

WILBRAHAM & MONSON ACADEMY

Family Weekend

Family Weekend was celebrated in mid-October. It was a great opportunity for parents, students and family members to enjoy a number of activities on our 400-acre campus.

1 from Left: Ella Chandler ’24, left, and her parents, Jeannine and Craig Chandler, at a Water Polo match. 2 Coach Jon Brook talks strategy with his Water Polo team. 3 H ead of School Brian P. Easler talks to families at the iLab dedication in memory of Dr. Kathleen Gorski. 4 Kent Neureiter ’24 with the footwork for the Boys Varsity Soccer Team. 5 B oys Varsity Soccer fans cheered on the Titans. 6 Jackson FrenchRobitaille ’14 interacts with Head of School Brian P. Easler in the iLab. 7 The Girls Cross Country team rounds the corner at Smith Hall. 8 Padraig Dunbar ’26 demonstrates an iLab project to friend of WMA Fred Levesque during Family Weekend. 9 Yuka Okuma ’25 in action during a Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball match. 10 Korbin Dixon ’24, the school’s all-time leading goal scorer, displays his Water Polo form. 11 Parents Bonnie, center, and Jermaine Dixon, second from right, cheer on the Water Polo team. 12 Katie Hutcheson ’26 during game action on Corbin Field. 13 Family members of Sarah Laporte ’28 cheer on volleyball action in Greenhalgh Gymnasium. 14 from Left: Parents Jacklyn and Johnbull Okpara share a moment with Idrees L. Ajakaiye while cheering on the Titans in Water Polo competition.

Fall Semester 2023

The 220th year of the Academy opened with enthusiasm abound when 412 students representing 32 nations arrived on campus.

1 T hree students—race winner Mike Dorunda ’24, Lucas Stogner ’24 and Max Krause ’24—were among students who finished the Bunion Derby before Head of School Brian Easler.

2 from Left: Sadie Krause ’26, Riley Maher ’28, Abby Brunelle ’25, Chloe Roumeliotis ’26, Ally Orquiola ’25 and Ella Chandler ’24 are all smiles before the running of the Bunion Derby. 3 Natalie Kakule ’24, left, and Head of School Brian Easler pose in new WMA Titan jackets. 4 from Left: Kanyinsola “Kanyin” Ajayi ’25, Alycia Gaspar-Martins ’25 and Osezuwa “Zuzu” Abulu ’25 celebrate their heritage. 5 P ristine Rithy ’26, left, with three-time Olympic medalist Kacey Bellamy, who shared about her U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey experience as a guest speaker during an on-campus presentation. 6 Freddy Shubrick ’27 makes the most of an inflatable water slide opportunity during a Fall Fest celebration in September. 7 N athan Gunn ’27 hurdles Seandre Suban ’27 during a Media Day photo session with the football team. 8 from Left: Lucas Stogner ’24, Max Krause ’24, Callie Dunbar ’24, Hanser Yoon ’24, Arielle Chechile ’24 and Mike Dorunda ’24 enjoy light conversation on the steps of Rich Hall. 9 David Silva ’27 helps create a Senior Day poster for teammate Patrick Healy ’24. 10 Logan Dudley ’24 displays his ice hockey talents during a Media Day photo session with school photographer Paul Bloomfield. 11 M ariana Mujica ’25, far left, enjoys the classroom experience in the Mark R. Shenkman Trading Center. 12 S am Fleming ’26 gathers colored balls during a pep rally game in September. 13 T he Girls Varsity Soccer team celebrates a winning moment. 14 M ariana Mujica ’25, left, and Natalie Kakule ’24 enjoy the moment during Fall Fest activities in September. 15 M iddle School students prepare for a T-shirt giveaway during a pep rally. 16 T he Academy Dancers perform for the student body during a pep rally in the Athletic Center.

Kevin McCormack ’02

‘The level of education there helped a lot . . . academics were at a different level at WMA’

b y russ held

Director of Communications

KKevin McCormack ’02 was a Lego kid.

“I remember building these big Lego projects, without reading the directions,” he said. “I’d try to build them just by looking at the pictures. That was my challenge.”

Child’s play became a man’s career. But that informal approach wouldn’t fly any more for architecturally minded McCormack, not with $200 million projects he helps manage throughout Las Vegas, Nevada.

There’s a whole lot more on the line now for the senior project manager at CORE Construction, where he has worked for the last eight years. Mr. McCormack’s work is part of more than $1.3 billion in annual revenue for the Texas-based corporation.

“You need to be organized, have those social skills and a Type A personality,” Mr. McCormack said. “You have to lead projects and large groups, you’re sitting at the head of the table for a lot of it. So you need to pay attention to details.”

The career that Mr. McCormack has built and how he ended up in Vegas is a story in itself. The final chapter before his jump to architecture was more akin to Tom Cruise bartending in the 1998 movie “Cocktail” than it was to construction.

After stops at three colleges, “I started bartending, and you know all those crazy tricks the bartenders can do behind the bar? Yeah, that was me. I was doing that,” he said. “I actually got pretty good at it and ended up heading out to Las Vegas and Caesars Palace. I worked doing that for six years, before I got tired of it.”

The career pivot came less than three miles away—at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas— where he studied architecture and graduated at the top of his class in 2016, at age 32.

Kevin McCormack ’02

“I look at buildings now the way a coach watches a game as a coach,” McCormack said. “I see things (differently), I see a building and I look at the constructability of it. How is it built, the certain details of that. The waterproofing, if it’s all glass, which direction the windows are facing.”

Mr. McCormack, now 40, has worked at CORE Construction ever since and said a recent promotion has continued his career trajectory. He and his company are less than a year from completing a $200 million Civic Center & Plaza project for the city of Las Vegas, and the six education and higher education projects on his resume include project management on a $150 million high school.

“Once you’re done with a project after working on it for so long, you feel like you don’t ever want to look at it again,” Mr. McCormack said. “But probably my favorite (project) I’ve worked on was the Great Basin College Health, Science & Technology Building in Winnemucca, Nevada, a $9 million project. It has all kinds of different types of architecture, including reclaimed California wood . .”

His post-WMA journey started at Clarkson University, where he was recruited to play Division III lacrosse.

“The education level was so high,” Mr. McCormack said of the upstate New York college. “I was pretty much in the upper half to mid-level of my class (at WMA), but at

Clarkson I was surrounded with valedictorians. I had one year in mechanical engineering, but found it wasn’t for me. The school was also very expensive and I had a partial scholarship, but it still wasn’t enough.”

From there he came home to Springfield Technical Community College, where he studied architecture and business for two years.

“I always had an interest in architecture, but I was never sure how much I liked it,” he said.

A move to Springfield College to study coaching and teaching lasted one semester and ultimately led to the bartending.

“I wouldn’t change a thing, honestly, the way it all happened for me,” Mr. McCormack said. “I could have saved myself a bunch of money, if I had (gone straight into architecture). But along the way I developed social skills that really helped in my career.”

Looking back, Mr. McCormack said his days in the classrooms of WMA and its higher academic standards helped pave the way to his successes today.

“The level of education there helped a lot,” Mr. McCormack said. “I found out within the first two weeks. At a public school where I was, I never had to study and I still got A’s and B’s. At WMA, I finished my first English paper . . . a nd I was shocked that I got an F on it. It was a pretty big awakening. Academics were at a different level at WMA.”

Mr. McCormack’s connections to WMA began, and continue today, with his passion for lacrosse.

“I was looking for better coaching, and I wanted to play lacrosse in college,” the native of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, said. “I spent one year in public (high) school, but I knew a lot about WMA because my godfather was a teacher and coach there. I was on campus all the time watching lacrosse games, football games.”

That godfather and respected coach was the late Phil Cardone, a legend on campus and WMA Athletics Hall of Famer.

“He was close friends with my grandparents, so we got to know him that way,” Mr. McCormack said. “He was special. He just had a way with people, with any kind of kid. He could handle the good kids, and then the guys like the football PG’s . ”

Mr. McCormack played on “not very good” lacrosse teams, but that, together with experiences playing football and on one of “the last” hockey teams, made for memorable days.

“Hockey was kind of a train wreck at the end, so I’m really happy to see it going again now,” Mr. McCormack said. “My dad was the general manager at the rink in Enfield (Twin Rinks, WMA’s current home ice), I spent a lot of time there.”

Two sisters, a half-sibling and his parents now all live in New Hampshire, but he will swing by campus from time to time.

“When I’m home, I like to see the changes that have happened on campus,” he said. “I’d come back and I loved seeing my godfather there in the gardens, he’d always be working in the gardens.”

In Vegas, he spends free time with his girlfriend and as a lacrosse coach “at a middle school that is similar to that at WMA.”

A finished view Great Basin College Health, Science & Technology Building in Winnemucca, Nevada, which is one of Kevin McCormack’s favorite projects.

Senior photo, 2002

Senior Stone

An aerial view of Northeast Career and Technical Academy located in North Las Vegas, a $142 million project.

alumni

in action

Matthew D’Amaddio ’06

WMA ‘instilled the value of education and a spirit of continuous learning’

b y sean valentine

Director of Stewardship & Planned Giving

CCreating modern complex structures can pose vastly different challenges for owners, developers, architects and engineers. However, once the design process is complete, the job of constructing these complex modern structures falls to construction project managers.

Matthew D’Amaddio ’06 knows this better than anyone.

For the last 15 years, Mr. D’Amaddio has overseen a wide array of project types from high- end hotels in New York City to adaptive reuse projects transforming dilapidated structures

into modern office spaces throughout New England, to new and renovated educational facilities in Florida, and everything in between.

“While a major component of our role is to manage the construction process, the part people see, our primary role is to create value for our clients and design partners by ensuring the process is seamless,” Mr. D’Amaddio said. “We usually engage at the earliest phase of the project—usually conceptual design—and we collaborate with owners, design teams and project stakeholders to ensure the project is buildable for the most competitive cost and planned well in advance of mobilizing.

“Collaboration, communication, fostering a team-centric environment and relationship building are the most essential elements to successfully designing and constructing large

capital projects. In the post COVID-19 market, challenges like supply chain disruptions and cost volatility are still prevalent, but our team’s role is to create solutions and work in conjunction with the team to keep projects on schedule and within budget.

“While the industry certainly presents its challenges, the opportunity to innovate and overcome while collaborating with teams of highly talented professionals makes it highly rewarding. Not to mention, these projects become permanent landmarks and to be a part of that process gives everyone a sense of pride.”

Challenging but rewarding is also a good way to describe Mr. D’Amaddio’s WMA experience.

Growing up in nearby East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, guided by his uncle (Glenn Anschutz ’79) and driven by his family’s support, Mr. D’Amaddio made his way to WMA. Looking back, several things stick out from his WMA experience.

“The rigorous academic requirements were a large differentiator of WMA,” Mr. D’Amaddio said. “However, while challenging in the moment, it inherently instilled the value of education and a spirit of continuous learning that I lean on in business to this day.”

Mr. D’Amaddio credits Ms. Meg Lenihan Hutcheson for that personal wakeup call during freshman English class, after numerous failed assignments.

Involvement in athletics was also an invaluable part of Mr. D’Amaddio’s experience at WMA.

“Athletics prepare you to be a part of a team in the professional world, and you learn things about yourself and others that you just can’t get in a classroom setting,” he said. “You also create bonds with teammates which can grow into lifelong friendships. To this day several of my WMA teammates and I have remained close, and in some cases, we’ve even collaborated in the business world.”

But more than academics and athletics, WMA’s environment of cultural diversity

Matt D’Amaddio ’06, with son Mason and wife, Krista.

naturally instills global perspective and a heightened sense of accountability. And while Mr. D’Amaddio may have found himself in the Dean of Students’ office on occasion, it was these moments of growth that shaped his character and instilled a deep respect for accountability and mentorship, which he uses as a foundation in his personal and business life today.

From a young age, Mr. D’Amaddio’s life was intertwined with the world of construction and old-fashioned hard work. Whether it was working alongside his grandfather and father, both engineers by trade, or gaining hands-on experience working summers at Palmer Paving, Mr. D’Amaddio developed a deep respect for the built environment and the people who made it happen.

After graduating with his business degree in 2010 from Hofstra University during a tough global economic environment, Mr. D’Amaddio found himself welcomed into the fold at Palmer Paving, thanks to the support of David Callahan ’76 and the entire Callahan Family. From there, his journey took him to R.H. White Construction, where he honed his skills as a project manager before joining Shawmut Design & Construction in Boston.

At Shawmut, Mr. D’Amaddio’s career accelerated when he worked as a project manager on complex landmark projects like Converse World Headquarters at Boston’s Lovejoy Wharf, the Smyth Tribeca Hotel in lower Manhattan and the Diplomat Beach Resort Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. However, amidst the hustle and bustle of the fast-paced environment, Mr. D’Amaddio’s vision was clear: to make a lasting impact on his

local community and build meaningful projects and relationships.

This led him to A.D. Morgan, one of Tampa’s few boutique construction management and design-build firms. With a rich history of success and a commitment to growth, A.D. Morgan provided the perfect platform for him to realize his goal of building meaningful projects that impact the community.

Today, as Vice President of A.D. Morgan, Mr. D’Amaddio leads the firm’s construction management division and has played a key role in driving the firm’s growth from $25M in 2017 to more than $120M today.

Mr. D’Amaddio credits the firm’s growth to the development of key strategic partnerships. These include several milestone projects such as: the renovation of the 110-year-old historic El Reloj Factory for the J.C. Newman Cigar Company in Tampa’s historic Cigar district in

Ybor City, the $55M Health Sciences Training Facility for Polk State College’s new Haines City campus, and the major campus replacement of Tyrone Middle School in St. Petersburg.

Today, Mr. D’Amaddio continues to lead with passion and purpose with a focus toward community and education as he serves on the Board of Directors for A Brighter Community, Tampa’s oldest not-for-profit preschool that serves at-risk inner city families and children. These are the fundamentals and passion for which he credits all to his time at WMA.

In an environment where architecture, engineering and construction are often undervalued or overlooked, Mr. D’Amaddio highlighted some of the challenges that lay ahead, like an aging-out workforce, continued supply chain disruptions and stabilizing cost volatility.

But with challenge also comes opportunity. Mr. D’Amaddio emphasized the industry is riddled with opportunity for aspiring young professionals as well as ample space for tech innovations to support trends toward automation, improved worker health and safety and alternate project delivery methods.

“Construction is the oldest business in the world, but it has also been the slowest adopter of technology,” he said.

By doubling down on innovation and fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, he believes that construction will be a space with tremendous opportunity for a next generation of talent.

As Mr. D’Amaddio looks back—from the sprawling campus at 423 Main Street in Wilbraham to the cranes over Tampa—he is grateful for the opportunities WMA provided him. Today, he and his wife, Krista, raise their 2-year-old son Mason in Tampa, Florida, and are expecting their second child, a baby girl, in August 2024.

Senior Stone

Yearbook, 2006

A finished project, Converse World Headquarters in Boston.

took on the master’s program at Wentworth Institute of Technology. The family-owned company, which opened in 1954, specializes in “furnishing and installing glass and aluminum as well as most exterior envelope products,” such as siding, panels and windows, Mr. Mele described.

As Chandler’s Senior Project Manager, Mr. Mele is involved as early in the process as estimating, then to preconstruction and managing the building phase through completion. Although it’s a long and tedious haul, there’s never a dull moment.

alumni in action

Drew Mele ’15

‘The most important tool I learned was communication’

b y bill W e lls

Director of Student Promotion

CCommunication skills are crucial in just about every job on the planet.

For Drew Mele ’15, the stakes are a bit higher than most. As a senior project manager, if Mr. Mele doesn’t communicate well, millions of dollars can be easily lost and months of effort wasted, creating nightmares for multiple companies all at once. As a safety director, that’s entirely different, as people’s wellbeing hinges on Mr. Mele’s ability to effective relay all things having to do with onsite safety.

Mr. Mele developed his communication skills at Wilbraham & Monson Academy, specifically, during a unique slice of boarding school life—Office Hours.

“Office Hours proved to be my lifeline at times,” Mr. Mele said. “The open line of communication during our free time was exactly what I needed to be successful. Each teacher had their own style, giving the students a lot of practice communicating our difficulties. It was great practice for me before college and my career.”

Mr. Mele’s career at Chandler Architectural Products started during the summer headed into his senior year at Ithaca College. He was hired full-time the following year, upon earning his undergraduate degree, just as he

Construction is the definition of delayed gratification. It may be two or three years before a project is finished. (However), once our products are installed and the building is open it is an amazing feeling knowing we built that.”

d r e W m e le ’15

“Construction is the definition of delayed gratification,” Mr. Mele admitted. “It may be two or three years before a project is finished. (However), once our products are installed and the building is open, it is an amazing feeling knowing we built that.”

His lead as Director of Safety carries a different lens, implementing the company’s “safety program and operating procedures” to ensure all employees are safe at all times.

Chandler is involved in the current construction at Bradley International Airport, which serves many WMA students and families. Not only is a new building being constructed to house modern baggage screening technology as well as new gates for the aircraft, but the terminals are also being enlarged to help with

Drew Mele ’15 on a job site at Amherst College.

pedestrian traffic inside the facility.

“On both projects, Chandler is providing and installing all the exterior and interior glazing and metal siding/panels,” Mr. Mele stated. “It is a large scope of work that will happen well into 2025.”

Chandler played a major role in the construction of the Athenaeum, WMA’s newest building.

“It is a rewarding experience contributing to the school’s future,” Mr. Mele said. “It is also nostalgic coming back on campus and seeing all of the changes made. I hope to continue making the facilities better each year.”

A team-first type of player, Mr. Mele competed in football and rugby at the Academy, serving as a captain for football and assistant captain in rugby during his senior year. He’s returned to campus many times with his classmates to watch the Titans play, even hitting the road to catch a rugby match.

“WMA was an important part of my life,” Mr. Mele beamed. “The school deserves my support and gratitude. Plus, I love watching the rugby team still doing well on the pitch and enjoy catching up with coaches (Wally) Swanson and (Tim) Harrington ’73W.”

“Drew was my student, advisee and rugby player throughout his time at the Academy,” added Mr. Swanson. “He was physically tough and exceedingly friendly, open to feedback, welcoming to all and committed to improving himself and others.

“He was a leader by example, finding that great balance between being a trusted teammate and a leader the younger players looked up to. Drew, like the larger Mele clan, has always been approachable, willing to listen and a great friend to many at the Academy.”

And that friendship with the Academy, in Mr. Mele’s case, came in large part through the learned skill of communication.

“WMA provided a lot of great skills, including time management and organization, but I think the most important tool I learned was communication,” Mr. Mele reflected. “The intimate classes and encouraging instructors

gave me the foundation I needed to effectively communicate, whether good or bad. In construction, communication is vital. Without it, we risk setting off a chain of events that may put a project months behind schedule.”

Mr. Mele, 27, lives in Manchester, Connecticut. He attended WMA for six years, partaking in school trips to England and the Amazon. He won the Coaches Award for football his senior year. His sisters Alessandra ’09 and Brooke ’11 also attended the Academy. Drew’s dad, Andy, serves on the Board of Trustees, and his mom, Kim, was active in WMA’s Parents Association.

• D rew Mele ’15, fifth from left, on Senior Day with the Rugby team in May 2015.

• D rew Mele ’15, center, with his family on Commencement Day. From left: mother Kim, sisters Alessandra ’09 and Brooke ’11, and father Andy.

• S enior Stone

WMA: What led you to attend Wilbraham & Monson Academy?

Mr. Caine: It was a bit roundabout. I grew up in Springfield (Massachusetts), right in Sixteen Acres, and attended Catholic school throughout, including Cathedral for my freshman year of high school. I started to consider transferring to WMA after my cousins (Kayla Caine Richards ’09 and Hannah Caine McDonald ’12) graduated. The swim team at Cathedral was disbanding and I thought that was something I wanted to do, so I spoke with them about their experience. Also, 2011 was the year of the tornado that did damage to Cathedral as it tore through the area, which made transferring feel even easier. I came in for my sophomore year.

WMA: What is your fondest memory of your time at the Academy?

Mr. Caine: I have so many, but even then I knew I wanted to make a career in design and construction. So I talked with (Head of School) Mr. (Rodney) LaBrecque and for my Eagle Scout project built some garden boxes alongside the greenhouse, which I don’t think had even opened yet. I was thinking we might grow vegetables and have them served in the dining hall. I think the boxes are still there. I’m pretty proud of that. I recall AP Environmental Science was a blast. All my friends were in the class and we went outside a lot and got to see areas of the campus few others did. That was interesting and fun. The most crazy memory I have was when Extreme Makeover Home Edition was filming on campus, and they did a Cody Simpson concert at the gym.

alumni in action

Michael Caine ’14

‘WMA taught me to always allow myself to be open to different things and never say no to an opportunity to grow’

b y s e an va lentine

Director of Stewardship & Planned Giving

WWe caught up with Michael Caine ’14 to discuss how his time at Wilbraham & Monson Academy led to, and has influenced his thinking around, his career as an architect. Mr. Caine is an Architect with Bernardon Architecture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before joining Bernardon, he was an Architectural Designer with VSBA Architects and Planners, and Creative Director at Beaux Arts.

WMA: Wait, really?

Mr. Caine: Oh yeah. It was so random and strange, but hilarious and fun at the same time. I think there is a YouTube video of it out there somewhere.

WMA: What faculty member(s) had the biggest impact on you?

Mr. Caine: Dr. Gorski was one of my favorite people. Her and Steve Gray ’70W. They were some of the first people I met on campus and made it feel so homey. Mr. Gray became my advisor, and Doc (Gorski) would razz me for sitting outside my locker all the time and not “really studying.” They had such a big impact on me. I was hoping to get back for Doc’s celebration event last October but couldn’t make it.

WMA: You were on student government too, right?

Mr. Caine: I was, yes. That was a great learning opportunity, and I took my experience with me into college. I also remember being on the student disciplinary board, which looking back on it now seems odd. I probably shouldn’t have been on that.

WMA: Speaking of college, where did you go after WMA?

Mr. Caine: So, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do right away, so I ended up going to Springfield Community Technical College to figure that out. It was a great decision. I learned a lot and got involved in student government right away. By the end of my first semester, I was student body vice president which was a little nuts. But I figured out I wanted to study

architecture, and STCC was pretty much the only school in Massachusetts at that level that had an architecture program so I lucked out there. After two years, I got to transfer to UMass Amherst tuition-free and continue studying architecture. I got heavily involved with the American Institute of Architecture student government program, which gave me a ton of opportunities including a paid trip to Dubai. I graduated from UMass and started my grad program two weeks later at the University of Pennsylvania. I fell in love with Philadelphia, and I’m still here.

WMA: What is your work in architecture like now?

Mr. Caine: The firm I work for does a little bit of everything but I focus on multifamily projects, specifically the conceptual work. I’m like the thought engine behind the initial design process, which can be tough because each project is a challenge and you don’t often know where to start. But it is really rewarding to see the early stages of figuring out how to give the client what

they need and developing a vision for the project. A lot of my work is developer driven, but I’ve also done a lot with municipalities looking to revitalize their downtowns. Not a lot of people see all the work that goes on in the background before something like that is publicly unveiled, so that is neat. It can sometimes be hard to digest all the public comments, but generally they are positive. I try to see everything as a learning experience.

WMA: Does that come from your time at the Academy?

Mr. Caine: Yes, for sure. WMA taught me to always allow myself to be open to different things and never say no to an opportunity to grow. You may not know what to do, but you have the tools to figure it out. I learned to ask tough questions and to be comfortable with being uncomfortable because you’re being pushed and that’s good. I think I’ll always be learning.

Senior Stone

Yearbook

Final rendering of Hamilton Moxy Hotel, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Mr. Graham’s journey to his role today as a successful developer began decades ago in Springfield, Massachusetts.

In 1996, he was one of the top tennis players in New England and ranked No. 1 in Western Massachusetts. He was recruited by colleges, but wanted to improve his grades and test scores, and thus the connection to WMA was introduced by Carrie Beecher, the Tennis Coach at the Academy. After visiting WMA, Hammad was excited to enroll and did so for his last two years of high school.

Mr. Graham remembers his time at WMA very happily, saying, “I had a great time at WMA.”

Growing up in a largely urban community where other sports were more accessible and popular, Mr. Graham’s father brought him into tennis, where he was around very affluent and educated people.

alumni in action

Hammad Graham ’97

‘I probably couldn’t have gotten to where I am now without my WMA experience’

b y annie kandel Director of Parent Programs

RRecent years have witnessed an upsurge in housing prices across the United States, leading to a crisis in affordable housing that has gripped the nation. Millions of working class Americans are priced out of the market, but there is hope: affordable housing options do exist.

One leader at the forefront of this critical housing

Mr. Graham is a leader in the development of affordable housing in the Northeast U.S. and, as such, is dedicated to serving the needs of a wide array of those struggling to find a place to live.

He is driven but has a simple formula, one which he eloquently outlines: “Over time I have learned that it is what you do for people that matters more than what you get out. I have personal goals and aspirations, but for every unit I develop I know I am also giving back.”

Given the singular nature of tennis and the mindset needed to excel at the sport, forming friendships with his competitors was challenging; but at WMA there were no such barriers, as his classmates and teammates quickly became lifelong friends. He felt he had a good foundation coming to WMA.

“My time at WMA allowed me to make meaningful and lasting friendships that I wanted to develop outside of my neighborhood and the tennis court,” he said. “It gave me a great balance.”

The academic preparation at WMA was also impactful on Mr. Graham, and he noted one teacher in particular—Julian Hardacker, his Spanish teacher at WMA.

“I had taken a liking to learning Spanish, and this guy was young and cool and it was clear he learned Spanish by immersing himself in the culture,” Mr. Graham said. “I thought it was possible I could learn the language and I eventually did. He played a really strong role in me wanting to learn Spanish.”

After graduating from WMA, Mr. Graham went on to play a year of Division 1 tennis at West Virginia University. Then he came back to New

endeavor is Hammad Graham ’97.

Hammad Graham ’97 with his daughter Sydney, now 8.

England and graduated, first from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and later earned an MBA in Global Management and Finance from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

While in business school in 2008, Mr. Graham began his career in affordable housing development, with his WMA connections assisting him along the way.

“I got my start in affordable housing with Madison Park Development Corporation, a Boston-based Community Development Corporation, and the executive director had a niece that went to WMA,” Mr. Graham said. “I was lucky there to have a touch point with this person who was a decision-maker and gave me my start.”

In 2009, taking a short stint away from his career, Mr. Graham’s passion for Spanish led him to Panama. Inspired by his teacher at WMA, he immersed himself for a year in the Spanish language, adding to his experience by engaging in volunteer work in micro-lending.

His career has flourished during the last 16 years, and Mr. Graham is currently a principal of the development firm Brisa Development LLC, specializing in affordable housing development. Mr. Graham credits his success in part to his time at WMA.

“It gave me a great balance and my balance is seen in what I do for a living,” he said. “I am an affordable housing developer. I develop in urban communities, which I am from, and it requires balancing the needs of the communities against the complexities of an industry that is

highly sophisticated, profit motivated, and where your educational background and ability to do financial modeling are always being put to the test. I would not have been able to balance these worlds without WMA.”

Mr. Graham believes deeply in serving the community in order to help people meet the most basic need.

“In the hierarchy of needs, housing is one of, if not, the most important facet of someone’s life,” Mr. Graham said. “The benefits derived go to children, adults and seniors, and you are able to be impactful to a lot of different people.”

Mr. Graham’s current project has brought him closer to home. He has approximately

1,800 units—spread throughout New York, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island— in some form of development. His New England roots have led him back to the area, and he lives with his 8-year-old daughter Sydney in Brooklyn, New York. He aspires to develop affordable/workforce units in this part of the country, and he is currently working on projects in Belchertown and Chicopee in Western Massachusetts.

Looking ahead, Mr. Graham is passionate about “smart growth,” an approach that has led him to pursue development in partnership with municipalities and public housing authorities— people who he believes are mostly very well-intentioned to solving the housing crisis.

“The only thing affordable about affordable housing is the rent,” Mr. Graham said. “And everything else is built at market price.”

There is bureaucracy to deal with, of course, but Mr. Graham’s drive to succeed and his understanding of diverse ideas has equipped him well to work hard for that in which he believes.

“Coming from a diverse place like WMA, I learned to see things from different viewpoints and perspectives,” Mr. Graham said.

Mr. Graham is truly a success story. He uses his admirable talents in pursuit of the common good, and has accomplished much due to preparation, drive and talent. Importantly, however, he ties his personal story to his current success. He believes strongly that his foundation at WMA has proven to have served him well.

“Looking back and looking where I am now, I probably couldn’t have gotten to where I am now without my WMA experience,” he said.

Grace’s Place in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York City.

Rendering of Carriage Grove in Belchertown, Massachusetts.

Dedication

‘Seeing her passion . . . come to life is a deeply touching tribute’

by s e an va lentine Director of Stewardship & Donor Relations

Wilbraham & Monson Academy formally dedicated the iLab in memory of the late Dr. Kathleen “Doc” M. Gorski on Oct. 14, 2023. Members of Dr. Gorski’s family were in attendance, along with dozens of WMA alumni, parents, and current and former faculty.

Hands-on demonstrations of iLab equipment and programs were available for guests thanks to iLab Director Luke Pelletier and a group of student volunteers. Dr. John Strauss, Chair of the Science Department, and Head of School Brian P. Easler shared memories of Doc Gorski’s time at the Academy and the incredible impact she had on students and faculty alike.

David Gorski, Gorski’s nephew and a STEM educator in his own right, spoke on behalf of her family, saying: “Seeing her passion for education and her vision for the future of STEM at WMA come to life is a deeply touching tribute to my aunt.

“She inspired me, as I know she inspired many students and faculty here, to always stay curious, always ask questions and never be afraid to fail. Aunt Kathleen considered you all family. You had a deep and lasting impact on her, more than you may have ever realized. When she came to WMA she found her home.”

If you would like to honor Doc Gorski, or support related education at WMA, consider a gift to the Kathleen M. Gorski iLab Fund. The fund supports the iLab by purchasing materials, maintaining and upgrading equipment, and enabling professional development opportunities for faculty.

Head of School Brian P. Easler and Science Department Chair Dr. John Strauss unveil Gorski dedication signage in the iLab.

Kathy Gorski’s sister Sarah Germain and her nephew David Gorski.

Kathy Gorski’s sister Sarah Germain and her husband, Robert Germain.

Science Department Chair Dr. John Strauss speaks during iLab dedication.

james sabatino ’16

‘You are given the opportunity to follow what you are passionate about’

I was a sophomore when I first met Dr. Kathleen Gorski at Wilbraham & Monson Academy and a junior when she introduced me to 3D printing. That year, I made what I thought was the most difficult decision of my life: to take a season off from lacrosse, a sport I loved growing up, to embark on a new journey as the first WMA Design Fellow with Dr. Gorski.

IFast forward 10 years and that decision created the foundation for the successful career in precision manufacturing that I have today. It is a cliché to say that WMA changed my life in ways I never thought possible, but if I could go back in time and tell the 16-year-old me of all the things I have accomplished in 10 years of manufacturing, then the 16-year-old me would have said “that is impossible.”

Near the end of my junior year, Dr. Gorski arranged a meeting for me with Head of School Brian Easler because she realized my affinity for manufacturing; and I had expressed to her that I wanted to take it a step further. I wanted to intern at a machine shop so I could learn the finer details of machining. That is when Mr. Easler introduced me to the owner of a local defense contracting company, and it was at that West Springfield machine shop that my manufacturing career took off.

I learned about metallurgy tools,

CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining equipment and the finer details of how to design a component for wide scale manufacturing. I spent the summer leading up to my senior year working at this shop, learning an incredible amount of information and beginning to use manual machining equipment. It was a few years later, when I was hired full time, that I was able to start learning CNC programming and began using my new skills to manufacture components at volume. This is also where I started to learn about tolerancing and what it takes to maintain tight tolerances in production. For reference, a

common machining tolerance is +/- .005 inches (0.127 mm). This meant every part I machined and produced could not vary in any dimension by just over the thickness of a sheet of paper. Later in my career, I started working on components which had dimensional tolerances of .0002 inches (0.005 mm), 25 times more precise.

Through the opportunities given to me at WMA, I have progressed to work as a Sales & Applications Engineer at a leading Japanese CNC machine builder, where I support precision manufacturing for the state of Connecticut. I represent two lines of high-end CNC machines, and I both sell and

support these pieces of equipment to manufacturers in CT as well as the rest of New England. I have the pleasure of working on components for many fields such as aerospace, defense, medical, oil and gas, and automotive. I have processed aeronautical parts for NASA, medical implants such as bone screws and hip sockets, as well as many defense applications like bail arm assemblies for nuclear submarines.

It is thanks to WMA, Dr. Gorski and Brian Easler accelerating my career from an early age that I am in the position that I am today. It is due to the skills I learned at WMA as a multifaceted, multicultural school that I am able to successfully navigate such a complex field at a relatively younger age.

Dr. Gorski introduced me to the 3D modeling software called SolidWorks. SolidWorks is a complex computer assisted design (CAD) software that professionals across all fields of manufacturing use, a software I still commonly use today. Dr. Gorski and I learned this software together after school hours in Mattern, with our goal being to design 3D models to print on the

James Sabatino ’16 holds an aluminum model of Rich Hall that he produced on a milling machine in the iLab during Family Weekend 2023.

Academy’s first 3D printer. I still have one of the first projects I 3D printed with Dr. Gorski, a keychain with three moving gears on it. Written on those gears is “WMA Design Fellows,” and when you spin one gear, all of them spin. As a junior in high school, I thought this was the coolest thing ever. I designed a product, 3D printed a first draft and then had to alter my design based on initial print failures or tolerancing issues. With my professional work in manufacturing today, I see this as my first experience in learning Geometrical Dimensioning & Tolerancing. I learned about common errors in the manufacturing process and how to alter the design of a part to better suit the manufacturing process at hand. These are all skills I use today, and I am fortunate to have started learning them at such a young age. Manufacturing has embedded itself in my heart, and when the

opportunity arose to give back to WMA in the creation of the new iLab, I had to jump on it. I would not be where I am today without the opportunities given to me by Dr. Gorski and Brian Easler. I knew that I was an outlier of a student at the time, since there was not anyone else who had this opportunity. The iLab at WMA changes that.

With the implementation of the iLab, any WMA student can embark on the journey I was fortunate enough to begin. The iLab is riddled with robotics equipment, 3D printers, computers for CAD design and industry standard CNC machines. It is a blank canvas for any student who wishes to pursue STEM. I know that Dr. Gorski would be proud of what WMA has created today, and to have the lab named in her honor means all future students will be impacted by her legacy.

Currently, I spend my Monday nights working with Luke Pelletier, the iLab Director, training together on how to properly use their advanced manufacturing equipment. Our first project together was machining a model of Rich Hall out of aluminum square stock. I

designed the 3D model of Rich Hall on SolidWorks, processed its CNC machining toolpaths, and Mr. Pelletier and I set up WMA’s vertical milling machine to make this part. Students who progress through this course, once fully developed, will have the opportunity to manufacture their own parts from metal and learn all the engineering principles that are essential in the precision manufacturing industry.

One of the most striking aspects for me to reflect upon my time at WMA was that the Design Fellows and manufacturing were not the first extracurricular activity I embarked on.

In the year-and-a-half leading up to this experience, I explored the abundance of opportunities WMA had to offer. I interned with the Hampden County District Attorney (Anthony Gulluni ’99, another WMA alumni). I volunteered at local food pantries and clothing donation centers, wrote for WMA’s Atlas newspaper, and even wrote articles for WMA’s website about events on campus and the accomplishments of other students. In each one of those experiences, I worked alongside a faculty member

who was equally passionate about their work and career path as Dr. Gorski was for STEM. I had the opportunity to go down so many different career avenues, but I naturally migrated towards STEM.

I feel as though that recollection beautifully defines what it is like to be a student at WMA and how you are given the opportunity to follow what you are passionate about most in life. Even though I did not end up down any other career paths, the experiences I gained from WMA make me a better sales and applications engineer today.

My experience writing for the Academy helps me better negotiate and converse with manufacturing professionals, my volunteer work helps me better sympathize with customers and relate to their needs, and my work with the district attorney bolstered my sense of right and wrong and allows me to advocate both for my customers and company—a difficult line to navigate in sales. My work in manufacturing would not be nearly as successful as it is without all the opportunities, experiences and memories that WMA instilled in me.

Senior Stone

Yearbook, 2016

James Sabatino ’16 sitting in front of a Citizen brand CNC multitasking machine that he sells and supports in his career as a sales & applications engineer.

Every Stone has a Story: Billings Cooke ’71W

b y sean valentine Director of Stewardship & Planned Giving

In 1947, the Wilbraham Academy administration was looking for a way to define campus, perhaps through the addition of stone walls. Rodman Cart ’47W had the unique idea of adding students’ names to the top of the wall and, as they say, the rest is history. The collaborative ideas of these two men resulted in the creation of the Alumni Wall, which is now a series of walls in various parts of the campus on which graduating classes leave their Senior Stones.

From “The Hill” to the front of Rich Hall, along Main Street, down Faculty Street and now past the Athletic Center, Academy alumni have designed and left their own, unique 10-inch-by-7.5-inch mark on our campus. All told, approximately 6,600 Senior Stones are permanent fixtures of both individual and Academy history.

Sometimes you walk by a stone in the senior wall and its design or meaning is pretty clear. But other times one has to be told what it is to see it. Such was my experience with the stone of Billings “Bill” Cooke ’71W.

Is it a bird?

What is it holding?

“It’s a water skier,” Mr. Cooke said. Of course, it is. How did I not see it? The graceful figure, one hand outstretched behind, the other grasping the triangular tow handle. Wait . a water skier?

“I was a competitive slalom water skier during high school,” Mr. Cooke said. “My classmate and friend Blake Carroll was into it as a youngster and introduced me. He was gifted at it, I was fair. We’d spend every summer going to competitions and practicing on the lake by their place in West Brookfield (Massachusetts). It kept us out of trouble.”

Raised in nearby North Brookfield, Mr. Cooke entered the Academy for his freshman year at the behest of his parents, who didn’t

feel the North Brookfield public school system was up to snuff.

“It was a bit of a shock,” Mr. Cooke said. “Being told I was leaving, going to Wilbraham to be a boarding student. That first year it was their idea. But every year after, I couldn’t wait to go back to school. I enjoyed it so much.”

Mr. Cooke lived in Rich Hall, and then—as was custom at the time—in Chapin House with Faculty member Arthur Kelly. He was vice president of the Drama Club, a member of the Glee Club, ran varsity track and cross country, and played football.

He remembers his time fondly but admits his last year was different.

“There was a lot of turmoil in society during my senior year,” Mr. Cooke said. “I recall we didn’t really have classes in the spring term, more like seminars. The Academy had altered from when I started. We’d merged with Monson. Girls showed up. It was a tumultuous time.”

Sadly, the turmoil continued right up to commencement.

Senior Stone

Billings “Bill” Cooke ’71W

senior stones

“A lot of us were very insistent that our class be recognized as the last class to graduate from Wilbraham Academy,” Mr. Cooke said. “We hadn’t attended ‘WMA’ in our minds. Eventually, word got out that half the seniors were planning to boycott graduation unless we were recognized as such. That must have done it because we were.”

The Senior Stone tradition kept on, however. Mr. Cooke got his blank stone in the spring and set to work carving his water skier, saying,

“I’ve never been very artistic, but I did OK. It has stood up well through the years.”

Perhaps I had trouble seeing the water skier image on Bill’s stone because in my head I expected something else. Something automotive or mechanical. That’s because after graduation, Mr. Cooke went on to have a remarkable career in vintage car restoration.

“My father (Frank Cooke) was into cars,” he said. “When I was a kid, he did his first major restoration

on a Rolls Royce Picadilly Roadster and won some trophies with it. People started asking him to work on their cars. He opened a restoration shop, The Vintage Garage, in 1965 in North Brookfield and focused on Rolls, Bentleys and other ‘brass era’ high-end European makes. Cars started coming in from all over the country.”

Mr. Cooke worked in the garage each summer during high school, between water skiing competitions, of course. Although he started at New England College after graduation, he took two years off to work in the garage full time. After going back and getting his degree in business administration and theater arts, Mr. Cooke returned to the shop.

During the next 40 years, he and his father completed work on some of the rarest cars around, earning a reputation for quality that made them renowned through the vintage car community.

Because Rolls-Royce had a factory in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts, early in the 20th century, the shop serviced many locally owned examples. S. Prestley Blake, co-founder of Friendly’s Ice Cream and longtime WMA supporter, had his collection serviced there, as did his brother Curtis Blake.

One can visit the Automobile Gallery in the Museum of Springfield History to view another of the shop’s restorations: a single-owner 1928 Phantom 1.

The elder Mr. Cooke passed away in 2005, and Mr. Cooke relocated the business to Stowe, Vermont, where he continued restoring cars until his retirement in 2016. The garage still exists under different ownership.

“It just sort of happened,” Mr. Cooke said. “I can honestly say I’ve never had another job. Ever. I started in the shop, took it over

when my father passed and retired from it.”

Today, Mr. Cooke continues to work with former clients keeping their vintage rides in working order. “Mechanic on wheels,” he said. He has turned his considerable skills towards resurrecting steam-powered cars. He and his wife, Sarah, won the 2021 Vermont Auto Enthusiasts President’s Restoration Award for their 1903 Grout steam car, nicknamed Tilly and one of only 12 known to still exist.

“There is a romance to it, steam,” Mr. Cooke said. “It doesn’t sound or feel like anything else. Of course, they aren’t terribly reliable, but that’s charming too.”

A water skier on his stone in 1971, and riding the power of vaporized water to acclaim a half century later.

every S t one ha S a S t ory, and we want to hear your S ! Email us at alumni@wma.us to share your Senior Stone story and maybe you’ll see it in future issues of the magazine.

This Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 was restored by Mr. Cooke’s company and is now on display in the Springfield (Massachusetts) Museums.

Senior photo, 1971

Garage in Vermont

Friday, October 27

On a beautiful late October day, the campus welcomed back members of the 50th reunion class and above for the third straight year. This budding tradition allows these distinguished alumni the opportunity to interact with students and see a WMA that is bustling with activity. The day featured classroom visits, tours of campus, unique experiences in the iLab and concluded with an evening dinner.

We look forward to hosting the classes of 1974 and above this fall on Friday, Oct. 25! Please visit www.wma.us/reunion for details.

1 D onald Collins ’60M in the Griffin Athenaeum prior to the Reunion Dinner.

2 R ichard Coan ’57W, left, gets a tutorial on laser engraving in the iLab from Padraig Dunbar ’26.

3 Glenn Wolczak Sr. ’66W, center, and his wife, Linda, learn about the iLab from Director of the iLab Luke Pelletier, right.

4 50th+ Reunion dinner in Gill Memorial Hall.

5 D irector of Stewardship & Planned Giving Sean Valentine leads a campus tour of alumni and guests.

6 Reunion attendees gathered in Alumni Memorial Chapel for a “WMA Today” panel with faculty members.

7 50th+ Reunion dinner in Gill Memorial Hall.

8 Reunion attendees learn about the Middle School’s Lego Robotics program.

9 Class of 1971 members, from Left: Ralph Carman ’71, John Hine ’71, Robert N. Tower ’71, Robert Handel ’71 and William Gage ’71.

10 from Left: Dave Tanguay ’73, Barry Christman ’73, Dan Kunhardt ’72 and Jeff Ubersax ’73 inspect a 3D printer in the iLab.

11 David E. Hoxeng ’68W celebrates his 55th Reunion.

12 M embers of the Class of 1973 inspect their Senior Stones along Broad Walk.

13 Reunion attendees sample a current WMA class in Mattern Science Building with faculty member Michael Dziura.

W ma alumni

Class of 1973 celebrates 50th Reunion, honors Fred Watts

b y james do W n ey  ’73 and laurie blair ernst  ’73 Alumni Contributors

IIn late October 2023, members of WMA’s Class of 1973 gathered on the magnificent campus to celebrate our 50th Reunion.

It was both a heartwarming and bittersweet experience for those of us lucky enough to be there. We rekindled important friendships, shared memories, attended classes and witnessed the progress that was evident everywhere as we roamed the Academy grounds.

The strong turnout for this milestone occasion also underscored the absence of 14 of our beloved classmates who are no longer with us. Before dinner on Friday evening,

we held a small ceremony to honor their memory and to acknowledge how our experience at WMA was enriched by their presence.

Thomas Allen

Richard Gartska

John S. Hathaway Jr.

Robert Kneeland

Jon Leary

Jay Lesniewski

Paul Lucas

David Luebke

Richard Meyers

Mark Shadbegian

Thomas Tabb

Stephen Vardin

Harrison Wilson III

Steven Solomon

Graduating from the Academy in the 20th century and celebrating our 50th Reunion in the 21st century tends to enhance one’s perspective and deepen one’s appreciation for the priceless gift of an education. We attended a forward-thinking independent school during an era of tremendous social unrest and cultural upheaval; and we benefited greatly from the teaching and mentoring of a rare group of scholars, as well as the companionship of a diverse and newly coeducational community of peers. We know now that our educational experience, characterized by small classes, outstanding faculty, lively intellectual engagement and a reverence for knowledge, was indeed exceptional by any measure.

Fifty-one years ago, our class had the good sense to ask one of those remarkable teachers, Frederick David Watts, to be our Class Advisor. Mr. Watts, our very own “Mr. Chips,” was both a New England Yankee and a Southern gentleman, having grown up outside of Boston before earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia.

During his four decades of service to the Academy, Mr. Watts became known not only for his lively intellect, quick wit and infectious

• M embers of the Class of 1973, from Left (froNt roW): Richard J. O’Keefe, Francis J. Rosso, Steve Petrolati and Theodore G. Sarant; (secoNd roW): Chris Rauch, Suzanne M. Watson, Diane M. Jensen-Olszewski, Chris Cary, Dave Tanguay, Laurie E. Blair Ernst and Jonathan H. Davis; (tHird roW): Ralph Sinsheimer, Donald J. Stuart, Grant Peacor, Tim Clarke and Barry Christman; (BAck roW): Stan Sawicki, James S. Downey, Tim Gallagher, Jeff Ubersax, Thomas J. Langer, Joseph W. Mazeika III and Steve McCormick.

enthusiasm, but more importantly for his kindness and empathy toward all. Most of us can recount a time when we were impacted by his generous spirit and gestures of care that made the Academy a second home and eased our passage from adolescence to young adulthood.

For all of these reasons and more, we have decided to honor Mr. Watts’ legacy by creating the Class of 1973 Frederick Watts Memorial Scholarship as a gift for our 50th Reunion. We intend to provide necessary funding to at least one deserving student each year, with the hope that Mr. Watts’ indelible influence on all of us will never be forgotten.

We were fortunate to be able to use a bequest from his estate to establish this fund and have received a few additional gifts from our classmates which totaled more than $75,000 through the end of January. We are hopeful that there are many others in our class and among the broader Academy community who will choose to honor Mr. Watts in this way, giving new generations of students the chance to follow in our footsteps.

Those wishing to support this effort may direct their gift to the Fred Watts Scholarship. For more information please contact the Office of Advancement at 413.596.9182 or advancement@wma.us.

Community rallies to support WMA during Atlas Days

Thank you to more than 100 donors who raised over $23,000 to support Wilbraham & Monson Academy during Atlas Days through the Atlas Fund.

Together, gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends around the globe make a huge impact on the people and programs that make WMA so special!

1 R iley Maher ’28, left, and Sarah Laporte ’28.

2 Kendall Schechterle ’27, left, and Lindsey Wiatrowski ’27.

3 Jaxon Dwyer ’29, left, and Braden Lora ’29.

4 Caroline Harvey ’30, left, and Olivia Collins ’30.

5 Madison Stephenson ’29, left, Ava Sarkis ’29, center, and McKayla O’Donnell ’29.

February 13-16, 2024

WILBRAHAM & MONSON ACADEMY

WMA Night at the Thunderbirds

1 T he WMA crowd on the ice following the game. 2 From left: Erek Machowski, Rosalie Machowski ’29, Shelby Machowski ’28 and Kimberly Machowski. 3 Tre Goldsmith ’30 and the Thunderbird mascot. 4 Alexander Williamson ’07, left, and Janice Williamson.

5 from Left: Lily Meier ’26, Will Meier, Colleen Farrell-Meier and Bill Meier.

6 Eddie Shore ’47W, left, and Associate Head of School/Dean of Academics Melissa Earls.

7 Current MS students enjoyed WMA Night at the Thunderbirds. 8 from Left: Tre Goldsmith ’30, JR Goldsmith ’94, Allison Goldsmith and Kim Bernier Goldsmith ’95.

Young Alumni Event

FRIDAY, JAN. 5, 6-8 PM

TAP BOWLING One MGM Way, Springfield, MA

Wilbraham & Monson Academy invites the classes of 2013 - 2023 to join us for a night of refreshments and bowling!

• D r. John Strauss, Science Department Chair, with J.J. Wilson ’19, right.

• Jack Whitcomb ’21, foreground right, with (from left) WMA Director of Security Bill Passy, Sam Jasmin ’22 and Steven Holik ’22.

• from Left: Steven Holik ’22, Sam Jasmin ’22, Jack Whitcomb ’21, J.J. Wilson ’19 and Shane Appiah ’21.

If These Walls Could Talk

Earls faculty spotlight

Melissa

Associate Head of School / Dean of Academics

I feel privileged to be able to call Rich Hall my “second home.” This building is steeped in history, and each office and hallway celebrates its place at WMA with unique character and purpose. I am grateful to be able to spend much of my day in a room that welcomes abundant natural light and a lovely view of our corner of this world. I’ve chosen to bring my own history into my office and celebrate my own background with those who visit me.

1 Tea Time just off my left shoulder as I sit at my desk, I’ve set up a mini-tea station. Sometimes I drink tea to warm myself up, but sometimes I brew a cup when I need to reflect and make a difficult decision. Near my tea selection and electric kettle, I keep a photo of my husband, Joe, and our daughter Emma. Joe and Emma always bring me joy and keep me grounded.

2 M emories: Family, Friends and Furbabies Above and to the left and right of my tea station are more reminders of my family and friends. The primitive world map was drawn by hand by Emma when she was 4 and has traveled with me from one

professional space to another since the day she brought it home. If you look closely in the corner, you will see a season poster from a local theater company, which reminds me of the many evenings and afternoons, now in my past, spent in rehearsals and in performance. And barely visible, but always there, is a photo of my college roommates and friends, taken during one of our annual Women’s Weekends. Way off to the right, in one of the beautiful built-in bookshelves found in Rich, there are more personal and professional mementos, including a vase of paper flowers created from the pages of “Pride and Prejudice” and given to me by a former assistant; curricular

materials (sandwiched between my much-loved octopus bookends) to support the course I currently teach; and a cannister of biscuits to share with our campus furbabies.

3 Art = Inspiration Although not especially artistic myself, I appreciate the beautiful artwork found in the museums and in nature throughout our region. I love being able to look up from my computer to see the works of Monet, Rembrandt, Sargent, Renoir and others. Whenever I visit the Museum of Fine Arts or the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, I pick up new postcards or prints to hang in my office. There with the Masters you can also see an artist’s

rendering of one of my favorite summer hangouts: the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

4 Be Curious: Travel To the right of the art prints, there are reminders to stay curious and to visit new places. In the corner, there is a Chinese fan presented to me by an advisee, along with hanging feltwork from Vietnam, given to me by a former student. On the wall there are photos taken during a family trip to Italy, including pictures of the Rialto Bridge in Venice, the Amalfi Coast and the Vatican in Rome.

5 Be a Lifelong Learner I truly enjoyed my experiences as a student, and now relish my role as an alumna

of three incredible institutions. My first love is the University of Notre Dame. You will see reminders of my days as an undergraduate in the forms of a “Play Like a Champion” sign; a Knute Rockne print/piece of the original Notre Dame Stadium; and an ND calendar gifted to me by a student. Right beside the Notre Dame calendar, there is a reminder of my days as a grad student in the form of yet another holiday gift: a Boston College calendar given to me by Faculty Marshal Don Kelly. And on the opposite side of the office, seen in the other photo, is a certificate acknowledging my completion of the Klingenstein Heads of School Program at Columbia

University. I am grateful for the opportunity to have attended each of these wonderful schools.

I hope you enjoyed this visual tour through my office, and I hope you’ll come by to visit in person when you’re on campus. I always have a Boston Red Sox container full of chocolate waiting for my guests!

Greece & Sicily

Just how old is old?

by teddy ryan D irector of Marketing & Strategic Communications

Six years ago, Dean of Studies Kevin Kane and I planned a WMA trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Due to unforeseen circumstances (me finding out I was pregnant with my son Jack), another chaperone stepped in to journey with Mr. Kane and our Titans. Since then, I’ve been yearning to be among those lucky enough to travel with the Academy

and this year, my number was called to join Dean of Academics and Associate Head of School Melissa Earls and Mr. Kane on a WMA-led trip to Greece and Sicily.

Athens, like many major cities, is a fascinating mixture of old (really, really old) and new architecture. We drove by the Parliament building, Hadrian’s Library, the Academy of Athens where statues of Athena and Apollo watch over the city from high above its people, and saw lemon, olive, palm and cypress trees. It was then that I decided I must get a lemon tree.

Our guide for the duration of the trip, Luigi, was kind and flexible, allowing us time to regroup and

•

A T itan group shot with the iconic Parthenon as the backdrop.

Learning about Greek mythology is one thing, but learning about it at the actual sites where such events unfolded is a new level of education.”

get on Greece time before taking a walking tour by the Agora toward the Plaka area for some free time before our first meal—a traditional Greek dinner. I may have been overzealous in purchasing copious amounts of traditional Greek souvenirs—olive oil, olives, spices, olive oil soap—on the first day of our trip.

The next day, we made our way toward the Acropolis and Parthenon, but only after stopping

at the Panathenaic Stadium, the original stadium of the modern Olympics dating back to the 4th century B.C. (major reconstruction of this site finally ended in 1896). As Titans, we couldn’t pass up a photo at the 50,000-seat stadium. Learning about Greek mythology is one thing, but learning about it at the actual sites where such events unfolded is a new level of education. I finally understood what so many other Titan travelers have experienced

Traveling Titans at Panathenaic Stadium.

as members of the WMA learning community.

After the Dionysus Theater, Acropolis and adjacent museum, we traveled to the mountainous Arachova region to visit the archaeological site of Delphi (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and museum to learn about Apollo’s sanctuary and his oracle’s shrine. Thousands of years ago, this was where one went to ask the oracles about the future. Watching our Titans immerse themselves in this region, and taking it in myself, was priceless. Some of us made a point to get up early to walk through the town of Arachova. There are no words to describe the tranquility and charm we experienced and felt under the summit of Mount Parnassus.

After Delphi, we ventured to the Monastery of Hosios Loukas, which highlights Middle Byzantine art and architecture with its stunning mosaics and stonework dating back to the 10th century. We all agreed there is truly something to living in peace and solitude, a much simpler life than we typically live now.

As we packed our bags on our last day in Greece and practiced basic Italian, the excitement for Sicily was palpable. We could just taste the traditional cuisine—pizza, pasta and gelato.

We enjoyed our first night in Palermo with dinner around the table, reflecting on Greece and pondering Italy and then woke up to a view of the port of Palermo! We took in the beautiful mix of Arab, Norman and Gothic architecture at the Palazzo Di Normanni and Chapel of St. Paul, and marveled at the ornate mosaics and stunning painted ceilings of the Cattedrale Di Palermo.

Luigi guided us through a traditional open-air mercato where we purchased freshly squeezed juice, fruit, marzipan and pistachio cream. The sights, smells and exchanges between vendors and shoppers truly gave us a sense of Italian culture.

Next, it was on to Cefalu— andiamo! Driving across the Italian countryside showcased a mixture of green rolling hills, rows of olive trees, flowering almond trees, lemon trees and mountains. We were in awe of the beautiful Mediterranean and charming seaside town. A walk along the promenade and then up to the Duomo di Cefalu made us hungry for gelato and brioche. Some students enjoyed the beach and sea (Spiaggia di Cefalu) for the afternoon, while others shopped for Sicilian souvenirs. Everyone agreed the food in Sicily was next level.

After a beautiful drive along the coast, we arrived in Taormina, the town where the HBO show “The White Lotus” was filmed. Our hotel overlooked the stunning Mediterranean and city below. In good weather, you can take a cable

car from above down to the sea.

We toured the Teatro Antico di Taormina high up on the cliffs. Part of the Archaeological Park of Naxos and Taormina and built in the third century B.C., the Greco-Roman theatre is comprised of three areas— the stage, the orchestra and the cavea (semicircular seating space). We also walked through Villa Comunale di Taormina (the public gardens) for panoramic scenery of the dramatic coastline. Some students decided to try the (unheated) saltwater pool at our hotel before retiring for the night and their shrieks of excitement echoed off the side of the mountain.

On the southeastern coastline in Syracuse, we were able to visit Castilla Maniace (constructed between 1232 and 1240), which sits on the end of Ortigia Island. The structure was used as a prison and later as a fortress.

Luigi guided us through the Piazza del Duomo and treated us to gelato! We toured the catacombs, the Teatro Greco (which staged the works of Sophocles, Euripides and the last tragedies of Aeschylus), and the Latomie del Paradiso and Parco Archeologico Neapolis. We also saw the more modern architecture of the Basilica Santuario Madonna Delle Lacrimal.

One final dinner of pizza in Palermo and then we said arrivederci to Luigi and Sicily. What struck me most was the support that our students exhibited toward each other—helping with luggage, taking photos for each other and using their basic knowledge of Greek and Italian words to assimilate to each culture. I truly appreciated their curiosity, kindness and excitement for seeing the world in a whole new way. This was a fantastic trip that created eye-opening experiences for our Titans (myself included) and memories that will be talked about for years to come.

Tour guide Luigi illustrates the group’s route around Sicily while in Syracuse.

Kalimera (good morning) from the mountainous village of Arachova, Greece.

The archaeological site of Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Peru

Peru can only be described as a whirlwind adventure that took me to the heights of exhilaration and the depths of literal depths. Now, I’m no stranger to the skies; I spend almost a fifth of my life in airports and another fifth airborne. One moment, I close my eyes to catch a quick nap before taking off. The next thing I know, we are landing. But every single ride in this teleporter, I have yearned to catch a glimpse of the miniature world outside, the part of the trip that makes everything worth it, the reflection that comes with seeing the world you live in from above. Everything seems too tiny; no fears, too big.

Well, I have had my fair share of airport troubles in its tedium, but never have I ever had to walk for such a view; not until we had to hike, more like climb for four hours to marvel at stone walls, intricate as intricate gets, in all its glory, hoping and praying, a giant cloud wouldn’t blind us off an opportunity of the dizzying embrace of Machu Picchu. And the view was worth every bottle of water I chugged to make it up there.

Flashback to Cusco: The altitude hit me like a ton of ancient Inca bricks. Every step felt like a marathon; but amidst my wheezing, I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded by the color rush of the plaza with its fountains, cathedrals and the locals—both human and canine, with the latter seemingly outnumbering the former.

Next minute, perched precariously on the edge of a rock at the Sun Gate, 3,000 feet above sea level, watching a lush brown river flow like

gravy below after four hours of hiking. And that was just the warmup. The next day’s hike made me appreciate elevators (and roofs, because it wasn’t like I did not cherish the slip and slide of a walk back down; only would I have preferred to partake in it, not soaking wet).

Then came the llamas and the vicuñas and the pumas and yes, of course, condors; and finally came the smell, well the sea lions followed after, but first came the aroma of something reddish brown in the water and the rocks where they resided. The yacht ride to the middle of the ocean was an experience that truly made me feel like Blackbeard, conquering the seas, with the salty wind in my sails (metaphorical sails, since apparently yachts don’t come with sails). Our eyes were wide open as we saw rocks and birds shaped in ways never known before and further beyond the horizon.

Well . . a ll the adventure was before the wobble of the yacht. It left us all questioning life choices and contemplating the color of our breakfast. This is also the only trip where I went from 3,000 feet to 10 feet below sea level in one day. I jumped off the boat to be greeted by saline water 10 feet deep. And yes, I did gulp the seawater, not realizing it was a reddish-brown smoothie— courtesy of the source of the smell earlier. Hindsight is 20/20, and I should not have dived. The things we do for adventure!

Just as I changed hotels with the frequency of a restless nomad—seriously, I must’ve unpacked and repacked more times than I can count in those 12 days—so did I change.

You see, amidst the dizzying heights of Huayna Picchu and the depths of sea level (and below), we confronted not just physical challenges, but also internal ones. I would never, in my wildest dreams, have pictured making it up 20,000

by vaishnavi “ v ivi ” venkat  ’25

The Inca Trail to the Llamas

Traveling Titans in Lima, Peru.

steps—until I actually did it. I learned to embrace every new opportunity, every jump head first into the unfamiliar.

But it wasn’t just about conquering fears or ticking items off a list. No, it was the vast expanse of the Peruvian landscape stretching out. In those fleeting moments atop mountains and amidst sea spray, full of stories. And the people who shared these timeless tales, from fellow hikers to

I would never, in my wildest dreams, have pictured making it up 20,000 steps — until I actually did it. I learned to embrace every new opportunity, every jump head first into the unfamiliar.”

vaishnavi “ v ivi ” venkat  ’25

locals whose hospitality knew no bounds. Each interaction, although brief, welcomed us into a culture deeper than my dive.

Peru would forever alter my perception of food. From burning instant noodles on a stove to cooking over an open flame (or at least helping in the process) in a remote village nestled in the Andean culture, I found myself elbow-deep in potatoes and llama fur, surrounded by locals whose culinary and handicrafts knew no bounds. That afternoon, amidst prancing llamas and rumbling guinea pigs, we devoured Peruvian dishes, each one a rich tapestry of flavors that define the country’s cuisine.

But I must say, coming from Indian culture that values spice in every meal, I considered myself quite the daredevil to peppers—that was until Peruvian cuisine introduced its true colors. I was humbled (P.S.: I might not have made it out alive after swallowing a particular pepper if not for the tall jar of lemonade nearby). What can I say? After all, variety is the spice of life.

So yes, while I may have changed hotels like a wanderer on a quest for the perfect pillow,

• M acchu Pichu

• Vaishnavi

• L lamas at Macchu Pichu

collecting souvenirs, the memories (and, of course, the picturesque sights) truly resonated. And so, as I bid adieu to the heights and depths of Peru, I am left with a model llama and memories that I will look back on fondly (some more than others) from wheezing atop ancient ruins to gulping down questionable concoctions. I emerged from those 12 days not just a traveler, but having witnessed new horizons. I carry memories and a newfound sense of purpose—a purpose to say that I survived the Inca Trail.

“Vivi” Venkat ’25 with Gabby Pierce ’24, left, in Chinchero Village, Peru.

Years of Service Awards

Each year, WMA honors faculty and staff who reach milestones for their years of service to the Academy. The following 21 people are recognized through the end of the 2023 calendar year.

Jeremy Mathison Faculty, Fine & Performing Arts

Tracey Healy Campus Store Manager

Meaghan Cavanaugh Associate Dean of Studies

Dana Housey Faculty, Mathematics

Trevor Portlock Faculty, Science

Jonathan Brook Faculty, World Languages

Tanya Presz Learning Center Teacher

Melissa Wenz Director of the Learning Center

Jim Irzyk Chair, Center for Entrepreneurship, Economics & Finance

Kevin Kane Dean of Studies

Scott Facey Facilities

Drew Shea ’08 Faculty, Middle School

Elyse Dunbar Associate Director of Admission

WILBRAHAM & MONSON ACADEMY

John Lombard

Faculty, Mathematics

Barbara Conlon Registrar and Database Manager, Deans

Office

“Barbara has been the ‘go-to’ for many people on campus. She happily supports others when they have a project or request, even though it may not be a direct part of her job, which speaks to her dedication to the Academy. Her attention to detail is something to be admired, and her knowledge of data across various departments is unmatched.”

j o sh b a in Director of Information Technology

“John Lombard has been a key part of the math program for 15 years. He is one of the most patient people. He is great at helping those who are not quite sure if math is their favorite subject (yet). He will explain and explain again, and look for other ways to help get his ideas across. He is also one of the nicest people—willing to work with anyone. He is always looking for ways to bring people together and make our community work better. Similarly, he also does his part to make the world a better place by doing the little things he can.”

m a rk f ischer, Faculty and former Chair, Mathematics

Staci Kelley Administrative Assistant, Middle School

“Staci Kelley, forever our Skelley, is quite simply the glue that holds the Middle School together. From the newest student to the longest serving member of the faculty, Skelley ensures we’re ready to learn and ready to teach. A parent of four of her own, Skelley knows when a kind word or a pat on the back is needed, and when an appeal to backbone is the proper course. In the end, however, it’s the students who return to her desk for a visit, even years after leaving Middle School, that prove her positive impact on the Middle School. In short, she is a wonderful Middle School touchstone and the heart of our program.”

s t uart Whitcomb, Director of the Middle School

Tina Girhiny Database Manager, Office of Advancement

“Tina is an indispensable member of the Advancement program at WMA. While not always the public face of the office, Tina is the glue that holds all the back of the house together. She is adept at managing all aspects of the database and is able to manipulate the information in exactly the right way to provide whatever kind of list you need. Her instincts and ability to research and provide in depth on constituents is an invaluable tool in our work. Over the past year, she has been instrumental in our conversion to a new database. It is not an exaggeration to say that our database would not be close to operational if it were not for Tina’s efforts.”

m ar k a im one, Director of Advancement

Brian Lautenschleger Faculty, World Languages

“Brian made WMA his home! He takes his responsibilities to heart and goes the extra mile to help his students in and out of the classroom. He makes himself available to meet with students who need more support, and he always pushes everyone to provide their best work. Brian puts a lot of energy into his classes and office hours. He is approachable, dedicated, organized and always ready for class. Brian is a great colleague who is quick to offer his help to other teachers in the department. We are all grateful to have Brian on our World Language team!”

f a bienne d u bois, Chair, World Languages

Doreen Majka Athletics Coordinator

“Over the years, Doreen has become synonymous with our athletic efforts and the efforts of our activity groups within the Afternoon Program. I know we continue to value all of her contributions to our school. Personally, I also tremendously value her outstanding loyalty and commitment to the Athletic Department and to me as the Director of Athletics. Doreen is a true Titan!”

d o n n i cholson ’79, Director of Athletics & Afternoon Programs

Sandi Scott Associate College Counselor, Office Manager

“For some, the enjoyment or sense of fulfillment in working at a boarding school wanes over time, perhaps lulled by routine, the familiar or even the sometimes cloistered nature of campus life. This is not at all the case with Sandi Scott, who, for the past 25 years, has been the unwavering source of inspiration, friendship, compassion and acceptance for hundreds of WMA students and scores of colleagues. Given her humble and stalwart approach in all aspects of her college counseling work, it’s unlikely that Sandi even realizes the profound effect she has on others, including me. As we pause now to look back and honor her many years of exemplary work and invaluable contributions to the WMA community, it’s clear that Sandi found her calling at WMA. Calmly shepherding students, parents and faculty through the challenging, often worrisome college planning process, she has played an integral role in guiding students to their lives beyond WMA. Along the way and without exception, she’s also listened, comforted, laughed and reaffirmed, counseled and championed. In short, Sandi has realized her purpose here—and on behalf of the countless students and colleagues she’s affected over the years, we’re so very glad she did.”

j oh n b o ozang, Director of College Counseling

Don Nicholson ’79 Director of Athletics & Afternoon Programs

“Don Nicholson is the personification of honor and integrity. His moral compass is so strong that it not only guides his own actions, it also has a positive pull on those who work with him. His sense of right and wrong is matched by his equally-impressive sense of loyalty to the people in his life . a nd his life has been Wilbraham & Monson Academy. I feel fortunate to have worked with Mr. Nicholson for 25 of his 40 years, and I look forward to learning much more from him in the years ahead.”

b r ian p e a sler Head of School

We Remember

W ilbraham & monson academy

ALUMNI

Mr. Thomas W. Allen ’73

Mr. Ronald M. Baron ’77

Mr. Issa M. Best ’13

Dr. Thomas M. Julian ’03

Mr. Michael L. LaBelle ’80

monson a cademy

ALUMNI/FORMER TRUSTEE

Mr. Ralph N. Carew ’43

Dr. Algernon A. Phillips OD, MD ’58

ALUMNI

Mr. Martin L. Anderson ’47

Mr. Jonathan M. Cross ’61

Mr. Robert L. Cushman ’45

Mr. Birge L. Dayton ’49

Mr. Charles W. Dragon ’51

Mr. Richard D. Latta ’76

Dr. Eugene Markowski Jr. ’72

Dr. Mark J. Robbins, Ph.D. ’05

Mr. Steven C. Solomon ’73

Mr. Robert W. Ferguson ’48

Mr. Joseph D. Goldys ’67

Mr. Ronald W. Parody ’53

Mr. Anthony L. Pikul ’67

Mr. Maurice Raizin ’59

Mr. John E. Rotchford ’59

Mr. Morris Shapiro ’47

Mr. Robert P. Vivian Jr. ’67

Mr. Raymond A. Waite Jr. ’38

ilbraham academy

ALUMNI

Mr. Harold C. Burdon Jr. ’51

Mr. Alfred A. Cardi ’58

Mr. Rodman D. Cart ’47

Mr. James V. Decker ’47

Mr. Bruce T. Faulkner ’42

Mr. Donald N. Femia ’54

Mr. Arthur W. Gregory III ’59

Mr. Lloyd H. Hill ’47

Mr. Walter G. Hodsdon ’46

Mr. Robert C. Jacobson ’57

ma community

ALUMNI PARENT

Mr. Enrique M. Arias

Mr. Frank Leichthammer

Mrs. Mary A. Prior

Ms. Elizabeth A. Sokol

Mr. Robert F. Willis

ALUMNI GRANDPARENT

Mr. Donald Zebrowski

Mr. George S. Kenney ’48

Mr. Fredrik A. Marsh ’57

Mr. Norman G. Michaud ’55

Mr. George E. Morse ’58

Mr. Gordon E. Noble ’46

Dr. James P. Noyes ’53

Dr. William C. Priest ’61

Mr. Laurence R. Ricci ’54

Mr. Stephen B. Sofro ’59

ALUMNI SPOUSE

Mrs. Catherine E. Gustafson

Mrs. Joan B. Merritt

FRIEND/FORMER TRUSTEE

Mrs. Joan M. Ackerman

FORMER FACULTY

Mr. Terry D. Decker

Does your company match contributions?

To maximize the impact of your donation visit wma.us/matchinggift to find out if your company will match your contribution to the WMA Atlas Fund.

Ways to Give

ONLINE: www.wma.us/give

MAIL:

Wilbraham & Monson Academy Attn: Office of Advancement 423 Main Street Wilbraham, MA 01095 (Checks payable to Wilbraham & Monson Academy)

QUESTIONS: Contact Sarah Wakelin, Director of Annual Giving Email: swakelin@wma.us Phone: 413.596.9133

All gifts to Wilbraham & Monson Academy are an opportunity to shape a brighter future. Your support fuels the transformative experiences that define a WMA education. Gifts to the Atlas Fund go straight to work, directly supporting the passionate educators and vibrant programs that empower our students.

Class Notes

1958W

1 John Donovan writes: “Sorry I couldn’t make the (65th) reunion; my wife and I were permanently moving to Boca Raton, Florida, where we’ve owned a condo since 1982. Our last excursion abroad was to Iceland and Greenland, where we helicoptered to the small village of Tasillaq for several days.”

1962W

Richard Taylor shares: “Just back from a Rhine River Cruise (so many castles!) and Adriatic Sea Cruise, stopping at many places along the East shore/ Balkan Peninsula. Visited Paris as well. The Louvre was incredible! Off to Antarctica in January.”

1964W

2 Morrison “Tim” Huston and his wife, Liz, came for Family Weekend to see their grandson Max ’26 and his parents who came in from Maui, Hawaii.

1966M

3 Michael Szklarz and his wife, Fatima, recently completed a hiking journey of the Camino Primitivo in Northern Spain from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela (319 km). Michael notes, “It was an arduous and spiritual adventure, and we did it our way.”

1980

John Banas III writes: “Kayaking in Alaska’s fjords was stunningly majestic this summer with my wife, Margaret, daughter Katie (currently getting her master’s in Positive Psychology at ASU) and son Jack (currently a second-year medical student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.).

Gearing up for a celebration next year of our software company’s 20th anniversary—myCM.com. (I) couldn’t be prouder of all our amazing employees, many of whom have been with me since the founding of the company. Shout out to the Class of 1959 on behalf of my dad, John Banas Jr., M.D., who is currently retired and living in Monaco and Warsaw, Poland. He sends best wishes to all his classmates!”

1982

4 Josef Martin writes: “Celebrating my 60th birthday in our new house in Sanbornville, N.H.! Love it up here!”

1984

Robert “Scott” Atherley is the head coach of the University of Maine Women’s Soccer team. He and his colleagues won Coaching Staff of the Year for the American East. In addition, for the first time in school history, the Black Bears competed in the NCAA tournament.

2002

Andrew Cook writes: “I live in Nashville (Tennessee) where I’m the drummer and band leader for Dan + Shay, a 3× Grammy winning country duo. This January will be my 10-year anniversary with them. I’m co-owner of The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club (recently named the No. 1 bar in America by Food & Wine), as well as Elegy Coffee (we have three shops in Nashville and counting). During my days, I’m a full-time graphic designer for bands and artists, including but not limited to Coldplay, Elton John, All Time Low, Morgan Wallen, Kelsea Ballerini and many more. That’s about it!”

2004

Christopher Beck welcomed daughter Evie to the family in July 2023.

2006

5 Peter Jurgens and wife, Colleen, recently welcomed the newest member of their family, Rita Jurgens. Rita joins her siblings Vinny, Mary and Grace.

2007

6 Sean McGrath published a book of poetry (his third) last spring, which reached the top 10 in poetry releases on Amazon on its opening weekend. “Untitled Baby Project” is a collection about pregnancy and parenting, dedicated to Sean’s wife, Bianca, and first child, Eden. (Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.)

2009

7 Caitlin Mitchell and her wife, Sam Mitchell, welcomed their son Caden Jacob Mitchell on Nov. 18, 2023. Sam and Caitlin both work for the U.S. Army and are stationed at Fort Liberty in North Carolina. Sam is an active duty sergeant, and Caitlin is a civilian attorney working for the Department of Defense.

8 Margaret “Greta” Skinner welcomed her daughter Evie Claire Immermann into the world in July 2023.

2010

9 Steven Marcus writes: “After a coaching career that included two seasons with the Boston Celtics, one season at NC State and three seasons with the St. John’s Edge of the NBL Canada, I have launched the Prep Connection! My time at WMA was incredibly influential to my future, both academically and athletically. I want to now help others at the intersection of sports and academics, as they navigate finding the proper prep school fit. The ever-changing landscape of prep school athletics can be daunting. The Prep Connection acts as a full-service consulting agency, helping student athletes of all ages find the prep school that is right for them. Please visit our website www.prep-connection.com to learn more about our services. Go Titans!”

2018

10 Haley Godin officially launched her nonprofit foundation The Little Smiles Foundation, whose mission is to brighten the lives of children who are battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, in September 2023. This past December, the foundation hosted its annual holiday toy drive. With the proceeds, Haley was able to deliver toys for the children and gift cards for the parents who spent the holidays at the Massachusetts General Hospital Pediatric Cancer Center.

2019

11 Camden Smith was drafted 96th overall in the National Lacrosse League’s 2023 draft by the Halifax Thunderbirds.

2020

Isabella Gomes interned with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in the Firearm Analysis Division of Tampa Bay. She worked alongside firearm crime analysts in firearm comparisons for the State of Florida.

from the archives

Digging into the past: Monson Academy alumnus was a true pioneer

The Academy has had its share of alumni who have enjoyed successful careers in the construction and engineering fields. One of them Alfred Ely Beach, Monson Academy Class of 1842 was born nearly 200 years ago. Part of his story, his vision and his connections with world-famous inventors is shared here.

AAlfred Ely Beach, Monson Academy Class of 1842, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1826, into a prominent publishing family. His father, Moses Yale Beach, was owner of the New York Sun, one of the most popular weekly publications of the day. Mr. Beach worked for his

father at “the Sun” and later forged his own path as a publisher, inventor and patent lawyer.

In 1846, Mr. Beach and good friend Orson Desaix Munn, an 1841 Monson graduate, bought the publication “Scientific American,” which had been founded a year earlier. Mr. Beach became editor and publisher of what is now the oldest continually published

• P hoto of a pneumatic subway car from inside a tunnel, as it was in 1870.

inventor of the telephone, and Thomas Edison. Mr. Edison was an avid reader of Scientific American as a boy, and Mr. Beach later helped Mr. Edison with the invention of the phonograph. At one point, Munn & Company was responsible for nearly one-third of all patents applied for in the U.S.

Not to be outdone by his fellow inventors Mr. Bell and Mr. Edison, Mr. Beach was an innovative creator in his own right. He began with the development and patenting of a typewriter designed for the blind, which would become the prototype for all future typewriters.

But Mr. Beach was probably best known for his invention of New York City’s first subway, the Beach Pneumatic Transit.

In the late 1860s, the traffic in New York City was quite problematic, especially on Broadway near New York’s City Hall. A combination consisting largely of horse drawn carriages and foot traffic snarled the area. Mr. Beach came up with the idea of an underground railway to move passengers along underneath Broadway.

While the concept of an underground railway had been conceived in London, Beach’s design was unique as he relied on pneumatics, not steam engines, to power the train car.

• Alfred Ely Beach M1842, circa 1867

magazine in the United States. The purchase of Scientific American facilitated Mr. Beach’s pursuit of his true passion as an inventor. Later that year, Mr. Beach and Mr. Munn established Munn & Company, an affiliated patent agency through which scientists published in the magazine could patent their inventions. Among them were Alexander Graham Bell,

In 1867 at the American Institute Fair held at the 14th Armory in New York City, Mr. Beach unveiled his research in the form of a wooden tube demonstrating his invention in hopes of creating excitement within the public.

Mr. Beach and his crew built the transit in 58 nights, rushing to avoid getting hustled for payment and out of the eye of politicians until it was presented properly to the public. He then held a gala in February 1870 to introduce his invention to the public and to potential financiers.

In 1870, Mr. Beach opened the first “subway” in the U.S., with a lavishly furnished station and rail car, which operated underneath Broadway. Less than a year later, his transit was used by more than 400,000 people at 25 cents a ride in less than a year.

Perhaps even more impressive than designing the first subway in the U.S., Mr. Beach developed and patented the tunneling method— known as the “tunneling shield”— which revolutionized the way in which excavation was performed. For the first time, a boring technique utilizing a cylindrical

Perhaps even more impressive than designing the first subway in the U.S., Mr. Beach developed and patented the tunneling method which revolutionized the way in which excavation was performed, known as the ‘tunneling shield.’”

protective shield was used to create the tunnel through which the underground railway would operate. Mr. Beach’s pneumatic process is utilized by banks and mailrooms to this day to transport documents.

Also, at this time, Mr. Beach had hoped to receive state funding to extend his transit to Central Park. Sadly, the bill in the New York State Senate did not pass at this first attempt.

It did pass ultimately in 1873, only to face waning interest from the public and a stock market crash that led to the panic of 1875.

The tunnel was later used as a shooting range until a terrible fire in a building above closed the tunnel for good.

An article from “What might have been” recounts that the tunnel

was so much forgotten that a construction crew was shocked when they discovered the closed off project while building what is now today’s subway in 1912.

Mr. Beach sent all of his proceeds from his invention to the United Home for the Orphans of Soldiers and Sailors, and he continued to invent and run his several businesses.

Mr. Beach, a renaissance man, died in January 1896.

• I llustration of the inside of a pneumatic subway car, circa 1870.

• I llustration depicting the pneumatic subway in operation under Broadway in New York City.

Design overview of the pneumatic subway.

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