Cardigan
Chronicle THE MAGAZINE OF CARDIGAN MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
FALL/WINTER 2015-2016
Celebrating Leadership
Cardigan ardigan Mountain Mountain
School School
Head of School David J. McCusker, Jr. ’80, P’09,’10 Asst. Head of School & Dean of Faculty Matthew S. Rinkin
From the Editor’s Desk One wall of Dave McCusker’s office in Hopkins Hall is decorated with framed covers of the Cardigan Chronicle—from the time he was hired to lead the School in 2007 until the most recent issue from last fall—and over the years I’ve found the display quite helpful, particularly when it comes time to select a cover photo for the next issue. Before the McCuskers made the announcement that they would be seeking new adventures after the end of the 2015-2016 year, I hadn’t paid much attention to the arrangement of the frames on that wall, but now it confronts me each time I enter the room that there is space for just one more cover before Dave packs up his things and leaves the wall to someone else’s design. I stood there recently, consulting the wall for advice, on a day when the office was quiet and empty. The McCuskers were away visiting a Cardigan family, Lynne was working away quietly in the adjoining office, and I couldn’t help pondering the symbolism and emotion that those frames evoke for me. Of course Dave’s wall is there primarily to remind Dave where he’s been for the past eight-plus years, to highlight a few stops along the “Cardigan Way” since he and Steff (and their two little boys) took up residence in Frieze House, and perhaps to entertain some pride in how far the School has come. When I look at the images on those covers I notice, too, that they offer a sampling of the “full and rich” lives Dave and Steff have led on The Point—events, transitions, travel—as well as the “relevant, engaging, and hands-on” experiences—science experiments, sports, nature, inventing, service learning—that hundreds of boys from around the globe have had during the McCuskers’ nearly nine years at the helm. I wonder how often Dave might notice, as I do, that a few of the frames seem to be perpetually (though charmingly) askew, and how similar they are in that respect to most of the boys in Dave’s care here since since 2007. . . and how it only takes a loving touch to move them back into alignment. I know that Steff can look at the covers and tell you something endearing about each and every boy whose face looks out from one of them, and how many of their confident smiles were earned overcoming homesickness and the challenges of becoming young men. She was undoubtedly there to comfort them all. As it happens, Dave’s office wall is also a nice “chronicle” of my own tenure at Cardigan since 2009, having served as editor for 10 of the 13 (soon 11 of 14) issues exhibited there. And that empty space on the wall, ready as it is to receive the cover of this volume, might also speak volumes about how I feel as I watch two great leaders (and friends) prepare to complete their “set.” Part of me wants to say “Wait, there’s still room for more!” and another part is curious and excited for what is to come—for the wall, for Cardigan, and for the McCuskers—but all of me wishes Dave and Steff a lifetime of happiness. Please join me in helping to make the McCuskers’ send-off in May (see page 53) extra special, by sharing a gift of words at www.cardigan.org/mccuskercelebration or by mail to my attention at 62 Alumni Drive, Canaan, NH 03741. Joy Michelson Clancy P’17 Director of Advancement Communications
Asst. Head of School for External Relations David G. Perfield Director of Business Operations James C. Fenn Director of Admissions Chip Audett P’16 Director of Advancement Communications Joy Michelson Clancy P’17 Director of Athletics Ryan E. Frost Director of Residential Life & Student Activities Ethan B. Harris Director of Student Life David H. Irwin Director of Studies Timothy J. Newbold Director of Summer Programs Devin M. Clifford ’99 Photography Jessica Bayruether P’09,’15,’17 Fernando Ilbarra Coello Dave Mengle Flying Squirrel Graphics Peapod Design/James Healey Lifetouch Photography Communications Office Staff Erin Drury, Communications Associate Martin Grant, Digital Media Specialist Steff McCusker P’09,’10, Free Safety Design Cardigan Communications Office Printing R.C. Brayshaw & Company Warner, New Hampshire The Cardigan Chronicle is published twice annually by the Communications Office for alumni, parents, and friends of the School. Please address any communications to the editor: Communications Office 62 Alumni Drive Canaan, NH 03741 603.523.4321 Cardigan Mountain School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, handicap, sexual orientation, or national origin in the administration of its educational policies or any other program governed by the School.
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Celebrating Leadership
CONTENTS
4
The CARDIGAN WAY 2
Celebrating Leadership
MILESTONES 4 6 7 8 10 11
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by David J. McCusker, Jr. ’80, P’09,’10
Clark-Morgan Hall Renovation Campus Master Plan Update New Dormitory Groundbreaking Cougar Statue Installation The Strategic Plan for Cardigan 2020 McCusker Hall Dedication
FEATURES 14
Cardigan’s History of Strong Leadership
19
Reflections on Leadership
22
Leadership: A Student Perspective
23
Leadership: An Alumni Perspective
26
Leadership: A Trustee Perspective
30
Leadership Behind the Scenes
34
Trustee Leadership
35
Leading (on) the Field
38
Leading the Way
39
Leading by Example
by Richard Clancy ’67, P’17
by Hank J. Holland P’12,’15 by Jack Audett ’16
by Charlie ’12 and Henry ’13 Day by F. Corning Kenly III ’68
by Elizabeth Perryman P’13,’15 Introducing Our New Trustees by Steff McCusker P’09,’10
Cardigan’s First Patent Recipient!
ALUMNI NEWS 43
Cardigan Alumni Association Board Alumni Leadership: Why I Serve
45
Cardigan Alumni Career Network
46
Alumni Sightings
42
by Roberto Henriquez ’00 by Adam Philie ’10
ADVANCING CARDIGAN 50 51 52
The Campaign for Cardigan 2020 The McCusker Legacy Fund Celebrating the McCuskers
In the COMMUNITY 54 56 58 59 60 61 62 65 66 68
The 3rd Annual Alumni Lacrosse Game Roots of Gratitude Reception Mexico Visits Asia Visits Here and There Faculty Appreciation Day Boston Holiday Reception Cardigan in New York City Cardigan at Dartmouth The 27th Annual Cardigan Auction
by Joy Michelson Clancy P’17
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Celebrating
LEADERSHIP
F
or as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of, and have had an appreciation for, what it means to be a strong and productive leader. Studying and understanding what makes certain individuals effective as leaders, observing strengths and weaknesses, and examining what motivates individuals who are looked to for leadership have been facets of my own informal survey for many years. Of course, this interest has been somewhat self-serving, in
By David J. McCusker, Jr. ’80, P’09,’10, Head of School that I’ve been eager to adopt whatever leadership skills and traits I believe deserve emulation. Perhaps not surprisingly, many of the people whom I have come to know as particularly effective leaders have a connection to Cardigan Mountain School. Our community seems to have a refined appreciation for leadership coming from those who are clearly more interested in serving others than in advancing their own agendas. As with most of what is good around here, the alignment between Cardigan’s mission and core values and a person’s personal set of values and purpose seems to be foundational for strong leadership in our community. Middle school boys are incredibly adept at discerning those among us who are authentically motivated from those who perhaps talk a good game but do not
act accordingly. For those of us who live in this community, that understanding among our boys provides a daily litmus test, which is, on balance, a very good thing for all parties concerned. Starting with our school’s founders, and cultivated through many years and by many different members of the community, there is a Cardigan ethos that appreciates leaders who speak clearly and knowledgably about whatever topic is at hand, who work hard to achieve stated goals, and who, at all times and in all manners, demonstrate respect in ways that include even such things as showing up on time for meetings and other commitments (being on time at Cardigan means being there five minutes early)! We want our leaders to not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. Therefore, it’s important that our leaders have the depth and breadth of experience that leads to empathy and appreciation for the kind of commitment it takes to contribute in meaningful ways to the education we offer here. As Cardigan prepares to welcome Chris Day as our next head of school, we do so with palpable enthusiasm for who Chris is and with an appreciation for the entire Day family. In Chris Day, we have Left (top): Asst. School Leader Jack Audett ’16 and School Leader Austin Philie ’16 at Chapel. Left: Cardigan trustees Dr. Robert Kenerson H’04, Burt McGillivray P’07,’09,’09, Ed Krayer ’82, Rick DellaRusso ’82, and Michael Garrison ’67, P’94,’96 at a recent meeting.
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Cardigan Mountain School offers a close-knit community that prepares middle school boys— in mind, body, and spirit—for responsible and meaningful lives The Day Family: (Standing) Cynthia and Chris P’12,’13, (Seated) Henry ’13, Phoebe, Charlie ’12, and “Eddie.”
found a lifelong educator who is devoted to working with young people and who is personally motivated to facilitate their growth and education. Throughout his career, Chris has been looked to and has assumed a variety of leadership roles, which fully round out his experience in all dimensions of independent school life. Clearly, Chris Day has the requisite skills and experience to be an outstanding head of school. With that said, we interviewed many candidates for this opportunity who were qualified, at least as far as experience and skills are concerned. Most important, though, is that we found just the right person (and just the right family) who appreciates Cardigan’s mission and core values, its educational philosophy, and the healthy culture we have created in
in a global society.
which to educate the young men in our care. As Steff and I have experienced, leading Cardigan is a family commitment. In Chris and his wife, Cynthia, who is also a career educator and topnotch school administrator, we have found a formidable team; each possesses tremendous personal and professional skills, and they are united in their care for and commitment to the health and well-being of their students and their colleagues.
far between. As Cardigan parents, Chris and Cynthia were the consummate partners, always demonstrating a high degree of understanding, always reasonable with respect to expectations, both for their own children, but also for our school, and always providing abiding support and confidence in our program and faculty. Beyond all of that, the Day family is also a lot of fun, with plenty of laughter, smiles, and good cheer for all who come within their orbit.
What a tremendous personal gift it has been for our family to know the Day family as friends. When Henry and Charlie were students at Cardigan, we rejoiced and celebrated in their various successes, which were numerable, and we supported them during their challenges, although they were few and
As the McCusker family contemplates its own transition, our single greatest interest is that this community supports Chris and Cynthia Day and their family, just as you have always warmly supported us. The Days are just the right family to live in Frieze House, and I truly believe that with Chris’s leadership; with the formidable team that Chris and Cynthia represent; and through the strength of our board of trustees, current and past families, current students and alumni, and the great heroes in this adventure— our faculty and staff, Cardigan will move from strength to strength as we approach the 75th anniversary of the founding of our “favored school.”
In Chris Day, we have found a lifelong educator who is devoted to working with young people and who is personally motivated to facilitate their growth and education. Cardigan Chronicle
THE CARDIGAN WAY
Our Mission
The Cardigan Way
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Clark-Morgan Hall Renovation A grateful faculty and staff community gathered on the spacious new porch of Clark-Morgan Hall in early September to raise a glass and celebrate the completion of the top-to-bottom renovation of Cardigan Mountain School’s oldest campus facility. The building, and 500 acres of land that included
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The Point, had been the summer home of the R.F. Haffenreffer family since the early twentieth century, was given by the family to Dartmouth College, and then purchased by Cardigan’s founders in 1945. It was first occupied by the School in 1955, and has undergone (now) three renovations.
renovation of the neighboring Hayward Hall—which, since 1952, had housed the School’s dining hall and several classroom spaces, and had been connected to Clark-Morgan Hall by the School’s kitchen facility. The 2013 completion of the Cardigan Commons allowed a refit of Hayward as solely a residence hall.
The $3.5 million construction effort involved an extensive overhaul of student and faculty residences, updates to and expansion of the Admissions Office, and creation of a new basement-level office suite for Secondary School Placement and Summer Programs. A generous lead gift to The Campaign for Cardigan 2020 was instrumental in allowing the project to begin soon after the completion of a similarly comprehensive
The renovated Clark-Morgan Hall features seven dormitory rooms, a spacious common room for students, two faculty apartments, and separate entrances for students, visitors, and faculty residents. The expanded Admissions Office features a refurbished Haffenreffer Room reception area and restroom, three private offices, an interview/writing room, a meeting room, and ample hospitality and storage space.
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Fall/Winter 2015-2016
MILESTONES
Right: The Haffenreffer Room, architecturally unchanged from the time when it served as a gathering space for the Haffenreffer family, functions as the School’s Admissions Office reception area.
Above right: Caleb Gilbert ’17, a resident of Clark-Morgan Hall, enjoying some down time in the third-floor common room.
Left: The Canaan community was invited to campus in early September to learn about the School’s Campus Master Plan from Head of School David McCusker ’80, P’09,’10, and to tour Clark-Morgan Hall.
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UPDATE
Campus Master Plan
The Cardigan Mountain School Campus Master Plan, updated in 2015, provides a comprehensive, Mission-guided program for capital improvements and maintenance.
Now nearly seven full years in to the most ambitious capital campaign in the School’s history, The Campaign for Cardigan 2020, the campus has seen tremendous improvements to its residences, service facilities, infrastructure, athletic facilities, and grounds. All of these efforts have been intentionally guided by a comprehensive Campus Master Plan, first drafted in 2009 and now updated in October 2015. Led by OMR Architects of Acton, Mass., and with technical input and support from engineering and landscape-design firms, the inclusive planning process has considered all aspects of the campus and its facilities, establishing a plan and vision for the next 10-plus years. The Campus Master Plan is meant to facilitate the enhancement and maintenance of a more connected and cohesive school, and encompasses all the elements of the construction program in a manner that supports the School’s Mission. Each capital improvement that has been undertaken on The Point since 2010 has been grounded by this planning process and guided by its vision.
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O
MILESTONES
New Dormitory
GROUNDBREAKING
n September 21, 2015, with funds secured for both construction and endowment, the Cardigan Board of Trustees approved the building of a new dormitory at the south end of Marrion Field. With contractors at the ready, heavy equipment rolled in just days later to prepare the site, and work began in earnest in early October. Cardigan’s newest residence hall was designed by Banwell Architects of Lebanon, N.H., the same firm that handled the architectural planning for both the Hayward and Clark-Morgan Hall renovation projects (and currently engaged in plans for the renovation of French Hall). The new dormitory will house four faculty families and 26 students and is projected to be completded in August 2016. Though site and foundation work had already begun, the community gathered on October 23, 2015, for a groundbreaking celebration led by Board Chair Hank Holland P’12,’15 and Head of School David McCusker ’80, P’09,’10. The ceremonial shovels were turned by (from left): Campaign Committee Chair Karl Hutter ’92, Real Estate Committee Chair Diane Wallach P’06, Assistant Head of School for External Relations David Perfield, Assistant School Leader Jack Audett ’16, School Leader Austin Philie ’16, Assistant Head of School and Dean of Faculty Matt Rinkin, Board Chair Hank Holland P’12,’15, and Head of School David McCusker, Jr. ’80, P’09,’10. North Branch Construction, Inc., Concord, N.H., General Contractor.
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There’s a NEW CAT in Town
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MILESTONES
Below: The Cardigan Board of Trustees gathered outside Bronfman Hall in late October to pose for a photo with the new statue.
Cardigan’s Mascot Immortalized in Bronze
Founders’ Day 2015 brought a very special visitor to our campus, and he’s planning on staying for a long time! He weighs 875 pounds, is made of bronze, and was born in Colorado. Meet the newest—larger than life—member of our community: a bronze cougar statue! The cougar—or puma concolor (its scientific name)—is also known by other names, including puma, catamount, and mountain lion. Our school’s mascot goes beyond representing our sports teams, and Colorado sculptor Rik Sargent took the “whole cougar” into consideration as he worked for months to make the statue, which is a gift from a generous donor, a reality.
“It was really an honor to be able to create such a wonderful creature for this campus,” said Sargent as the sculpture was being assembled on the south side of Bronfman Hall on a sunny October day. “A cougar is a critter who takes real good care of its family. It’s a brilliant provider, it’s smart, it’s observant—it has qualities that are worth studying.” Describing the intentional symbolism he had worked
into his “impressionistic” representation of the powerful animal, Sargent added, “I want [the cougar] to reflect you young men as you grow up—and how I want you to feel about yourselves as you come out of this school. This is your cat.”
Watch a video of the installation on our YouTube channel:
youtube.com/Cardigan2ThePoint
Above: Former trustee John Hays helped supervise the installation. Colorado sculptor Rik Sargent guides the statue’s placement.
Cardigan Chronicle
Above: Rik Sargent with Dave McCusker ’80, P’09,’10.
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UPDATE
The Strategic Plan for Cardigan 2020
Members of the Cardigan Mountain School Board of Trustees gave their approval in late October 2015 to the second phase of the School’s strategic plan, an update that highlights 15 strategic priorities, in five action areas, for the three-year period between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2018. The Strategic Plan for Cardigan 2020 came to life through a comprehensive review and planning process that began in 2010, and involved capturing the School’s vision for its distinctive educational program, as well as establishing profiles for its admissions candidates, educators, and graduates. Determined implementation of an ambitious set of 31 Phase I (2012– 2015) priorities, along with continued planning, has made the School’s strategic plan a living document that guides every aspect of its work.
The Strategic Plan for Cardigan 2020 sets the course to realizing the School’s vision of excellence in the education of middle school boys.
Director of Student Life David Irwin coordinated an important part of the Phase II planning work, which was to review and propose updates to the School’s Mission and Core Values. This thorough, multiphase effort yielded only one change to the supporting language of the Mission Statement but did refine the School’s Core Values,* with the intent to identify and define these guiding values using language specifically aimed at student understanding. Added to The Strategic Plan for Cardigan 2020 document at this time were the Cardigan Habits of Learning, concepts that guide not only teaching practices, but also the boys’ own understanding of the tools needed for school success.
The Strategic Plan for Cardigan 2020 can be viewed online at: www.cardigan.org/strategicplan
Strategic Action Areas 2015–2018 • Program Refinement and Support • Leadership and Support • Physical Plant Improvement • Financial Sustainability Commitment • Telling the Cardigan Story *The new Cardigan Core Values (Compassion, Respect, Integrity, and Courage) take effect on July 1, 2016.
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MILESTONES
INTRODUCING . . .
McCUSKER HALL
New Dormitory “Topping Ceremony” Disguises Naming Announcement in Head of School’s Honor A special Parents’ Weekend “Topping Ceremony,” ostensibly to celebrate the progress made on construction of the School’s new dormitory, held a special surprise for Head of School Dave McCusker and his family on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Students, parents, members of the faculty and staff, and trustees gathered outside the construction gates just after breakfast on the chilly Parents’ Weekend morning and enjoyed a sunny view of the new dormitory, adorned as it was with a freshly cut spruce tree at the highest peak. After introductions, Real Estate Committee Chair Diane Wallach P’06 made note of the “topping tree,” provided an overview of the tradition and its deep roots (pun intended) in Norse mythology, and then extended the tree metaphor to life here at Cardigan. “Think about it,” she implored. “We are taking the boys, and we are giving them
deep roots that they’ll take with them for life. They’re growing up strong, and turning into wonderful young men, thanks to the support from faculty, staff, parents, everybody involved.” The (surprise) secondary purpose for the morning’s gathering then began to reveal itself when Mrs. Wallach invited Dave and Steff McCusker to the front—and then called up Mr. McCusker’s parents (Penny and Dave, who had arrived secretly for the event) as well! “There’s something missing today, in case you haven’t figured it out,” Wallach explained. “I don’t think ‘New Dorm’ is very catchy, do you? I
think we need a name. So in honor of the nine years you [Dave McCusker, Jr.] have been here as head of school . . . in memory and honor of what you have contributed here—the foundation you have built—we would like to rename this building ‘McCusker Hall.’” Roaring applause, a special blessing by Director of Spiritual Life Dr. Elizabeth Perryman P’13,’15, and a round of hugs confirmed the designation, and the School’s newest student and faculty residence will hereafter bear a true Cardigan family name. McCusker Hall is scheduled to be completed in August 2016.
Watch the ceremony on our YouTube channel (youtube.com/Cardigan2ThePoint), and join with us in congratulating and celebrating Dave ’80 and Steff McCusker P’09,’10 by leaving them a message on our special webpage: www.cardigan.org/mccuskercelebration. Cardigan Chronicle
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INTRODUCING . . . McCUSKER HALL
Blessing (and Naming) of McCusker Hall
Above: Dr. Elizabeth Perryman offers a blessing for the new dormitory, joined in front of the gathered community by Diane Wallach P’06; David McCusker, Jr. ’80, P’09,’10;
February 6, 2016 by Dr. Elizabeth Perryman P’13,’15 Director of Spiritual Life
Penny McCusker P’80, GP’09,’10,’13; Steff McCusker P’09,’10; and David McCusker, Sr. P’80, GP’09,’10,’13.
As we stand beneath this new building, we thank you, God, for safeguarding those who have labored to build it and ask for your continued protection as they bring it to completion. We know that this building will be more than a dorm; soon it will be home to the students, faculty, and families who will live, learn, and grow here. So we ask that you bless McCusker Hall with your presence, so that it may be a haven of safety and peace here on The Point. May its open doors always remind us of the open hearts of Mr. and Mrs. McCusker. May its walls be filled with the laughter, love, welcome, and warmth of its namesakes. And just as your love shines brightly through the lives of these two “good and faithful servants,” may the McCuskers’ legacy always shine here at Cardigan in this beautiful new building and in the lives of all whom they have touched. Amen.
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MILESTONES
Above: Assistant Head of School for External Relations David Perfield opened the ceremony. Right: Head of School David J. McCusker, Jr. ’80, P’09,’10 and Free Safety Steff McCusker P’09,’10. Below: A group hug with students. Below right: Architect Cris Solomon (third from left) explains the layout of the building to Trustee Dr. Robert Kenerson H’04, Ellen Humphrey P’13,’14,’16, and woodworking teacher John Burritt.
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Cardigan’s
HISTORY
of Strong Leadership
by Richard Clancy ’67, P’17
I
’m very proud of the fact that I have been a part of the Cardigan community for my entire life, and I enjoy sharing bits and pieces of Cardigan’s history with our community members from time to time—as I did in October for a gathering of the School’s Board of Trustees, a presentation upon which I have drawn for this article in the Cardigan Chronicle. It’s always fun to look back on where we’ve come from, to think about the ideals and principles that Cardigan’s founders set forth for our school, and to appreciate the incredible effort it took to start a pre-preparatory school for boys in Canaan, New Hampshire. In light of the fact that this will be a transition year for Cardigan, with Dave and Steff moving on to new chapters in their lives, and with Chris and Cynthia stepping up to take the helm, I thought it might be appropriate to share a few thoughts and photos that focus on the history of our school’s leadership. And by
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leadership I mean both in the head of school position and on the governing board. Beginning in 1945, and continuing right up to this moment, the thoughts and ideas and contributions of our board members and heads of school have been the cornerstones of Cardigan’s success.
In my conclusion, I will tell you about a single impassioned speech given by one former Cardigan board member—one whose name most community members have never even heard mentioned— that I believe may represent the single most important moment in Cardigan’s history. Please, read on! Fall/Winter 2015-2016
“Hap” Hinman (1897–1964)
professional life to the granite business in Barre, Vermont. He was owner and president of the E. A. Bugbee Company, as well as a longtime officer of the Barre Granite Manufacturers’ Association. Harold and his wife, Marion, were loving parents to two children: a daughter and a son. After polio abruptly took their son’s life at age 16, the Hinmans relocated to Marion’s hometown of Canaan, in a
historic home near their son’s grave in the Canaan Street Cemetery. As Robert C. Hopkins wrote in the 1960 edition of History: Cardigan Mountain School, “Mr. Hinman had great dreams for his growing boy’s future. When the boy died in 1931, the tragedy left a void . . . which could not be filled. He became more interested than ever in observing the development of boys to responsible manhood and the methods which different organizations used to this end.”
Hap and Chief
The First Governing Board
I’ll start, as I often do, by introducing Harold “Hap” Hinman and Bill “Chief ” Brewster. Their collaboration to start Cardigan Mountain School grew out of an offhand comment that Chief made back in 1944 while visiting friends on Canaan Street. “What a wonderful place for a boys’ school,” he remarked, without a clue that his musing would be passed along to a mutual friend, Hap Hinman, and would thereby ignite a fire of inspiration that has yet to be extinguished!
Very few people could say “no” to Hap Hinman, and within a year he had managed to pull together Cardigan’s first governing board, made up of prominent men from throughout New England. Among those first trustees and incorporators were chairmen and officers of Dartmouth College, International Paper Company, H. P. Hood & Sons, Ginn and Company, New England Conservatory of Music, Goodwill Shoe Company, and National Life Insurance Company of Vermont, among others.
Together Hinman and Brewster negotiated the purchase of “The Point” from Dartmouth College—a 500-acre parcel on Canaan Street Lake that featured the former summer estate of the R. F. Haffenreffer family. When the deal closed on April 1, 1945, Hap and Chief had no faculty, no students, no curriculum, and no board of trustees . . . but they had a dream, and a place where it could be realized.
Since that first dedicated group successfully launched Cardigan Mountain School for its inaugural academic year in 1946-1947, there have been well over 200 people who have served Cardigan on its governing board. Many have served selflessly for lengthy terms. Among our current trustees, for example, is an alumnus (Dr. Richard Morrison ’50, P’76,’82) who has served since 1969; the son of a Cardigan founder (Dr. Robert Kenerson H’04), who has served since 1970; and a past parent (David Bradley H’13, P’78) who has served since 1973. These dedicated “elder statesmen” serve alongside younger alumni from the classes of 1995 and 1992, parents of current students and recent graduates, and a range of other dedicated Cardigan volunteers in between. I am proud of the way the board has grown and changed over the decades. Most significantly, there are now women on the board, serving actively and moving the School forward in critical ways. Cardigan is truly fortunate to have enjoyed very strong leadership throughout its 70-year history.
“Chief ” Brewster (1893–1973) Cardigan Chronicle
William R. Brewster served
Mr. Hinman first met at a Lebanon, N.H., Rotary
as the 13th headmaster of Kimball Union
meeting in the late 1930s, and Hap considered
Academy in Meriden, N.H., from 1935 to
Chief the authority on matters of education and
1952, as well as founder and head of Birch
the successful operation of a school. Mr. Brewster
Rock Summer Camp in Maine from 1925
would be called on to lead Cardigan Mountain
until his death in 1973. Mr. Brewster and
School as its very first headmaster in 1946-1947.
Features
LEADERSHIP
Harold P. Hinman devoted his
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Cardigan’s Corporation and Trustee Members (1946) Seated from left: Edward K. Robinson, Arthur A. Williams, Philip Ray Allen, Ernest M. Hopkins, John H. Hinman, Harvey P. Hood, Harold W. Stoke. Standing from left: Robert L. McMillan (Business Manager), Richard Sawyer (Asst. Headmaster), John B. Kenerson, William R. Brewster, Harold P. Hinman, Sidney C. Hayward, Robert C. Hopkins, William Everts (Asst. Headmaster).
J. Walker Wiggin, Esq. I mentioned in my introduction that I would focus on a former board member who served for many years, and who played a pivotal role at one of the most important moments in Cardigan’s history. His name was Walker Wiggin, and his Cardigan story begins in a building on the former campus of the Clark School in Hanover, N.H. The Clark School was a boys’ preparatory (secondary) school located in a neighborhood of Hanover that saw Dartmouth College as its neighbor to one side and the old Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital to the other. In early 1952, the situation at the Clark School was one of decline. Enrollment was down, its longtime headmaster (Dr. Frank M. Morgan) had retired, and its founder (Dr. Clifford P. Clark) was quite elderly. Clark School’s board of trustees began simultaneous discussions with representatives of Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and Cardigan Mountain School on ways to protect the assets of the school—through sale or merger. When the Clark School board met in October of 1952, two separate reports were given as to the status of negotiations with each party. Both proposals were discussed, and the majority of those present were in favor of transferring the assets of Clark School to the hospital.
Enter this man: Concord, N.H., attorney J. Walker Wiggin, who was then a Clark School trustee. Mr. Wiggin opposed the majority who favored the hospital plan and proceeded to point out that Dr. Clark had founded Clark School for the purpose of educating boys. He argued that the assets of Clark School should be used to continue that purpose, and his comments turned the tide. Clark was merged with Cardigan, Clark’s buildings were sold to Dartmouth, and the proceeds of that sale allowed our school to begin construction of the beautiful campus that we now enjoy. After the merger, both Walker Wiggin and former Clark School Headmaster Frank Morgan went on to serve on Cardigan’s board for several years. I include this story to reaffirm how important and influential the work of each of our trustees is to the future of our school. The discussions in which they engage, and the relationships they build (and leverage, as Hap Hinman himself might suggest) just may result in the next big opportunity for Cardigan’s future. I know I speak for all Cardigan community members when I say to our trustees, both past and present, “Thank you for your service to Cardigan!”
Left: Dr. Clifford P. Clark, founder of the Clark School. Right: The Clark School in Hanover, N.H., before the property became part of Dartmouth College.
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Fall/Winter 2015-2016
Headmasters of Cardigan Mountain School
Although we now refer to Cardigan’s lead administrator as the “head of school,” for more than six decades the position bore the title “headmaster”—a term that originated in England in an earlier era, when teachers were “masters” and the senior teacher assumed the school’s leadership role (as head master). As the responsibilities of independent school leadership have evolved, many schools have, like Cardigan, adjusted the official title to “head of school,” or simply “head.” Since the School’s first year of operation, nine men have served in this role—for periods as short as a year (as an interim headmaster) and as long as 26 years.
1946–1947
William R. Brewster (See page 15.)
1947–1950
Robert M. Kimball
1950–1955
Wilfred W. Clark
1955–1963
Roland W. Burbank
1963–1989
Norman C. Wakely H’91, P’70,’73,’75
1989–2004
Cameron K. Dewar H’02, P’93
2004–2005
James H. Funnell H’09, P’07,’09
2005–2007
Thomas W. Needham
The 10th head of Cardigan Mountain School, Christopher D. Day P’12,’13, begins his term on July 1, 2016.
2007–2016
David J. McCusker, Jr. ’80, P’09,’10
2016–
Christopher D. Day P’12,’13
LEADERSHIP
Headmasters
Robert M. Kimball: This image of the Cardigan faculty during the 1947– 1950 period is currently the only photograph in our archive showing Bob Kimball (second from left in the back row), Cardigan’s second headmaster. Mr. Kimball was a 1930 graduate of Dartmouth College, and served for three years through June of 1950. Also shown in this photo (right front) is faculty member Hon. Dan “Judge” Fleetham, who still lives on Canaan Street and recently celebrated his 104th birthday! Wilfred W. Clark, better known to all as “Dutch” Clark,* was headmaster number three, serving for four academic years. He was a 1925 graduate of Dartmouth College and came to Cardigan from a position at St. George’s School in Newport, R.I. *This “Mr. Clark” is not to be confused with Dr. Clifford Clark, one of the namesakes of Clark-Morgan Hall (but never a Cardigan headmaster), who founded the Clark School in Hanover, N.H., which would merge with Cardigan in 1953 (see page 16).
Roland W. Burbank took over as headmaster number four in November of 1955. Mr. Burbank came to Cardigan having previously served as assistant headmaster at Proctor Academy.
Cardigan Chronicle
Norman C. Wakely first served Cardigan as a young faculty member in 1951. After departing for graduate school, and to wed lovely Beverly Bradford, he and the Wakely family made Cardigan their home from 1956 until 1989. Norman began as headmaster in 1963 and retired, after 26 years at the helm, in 1989. Article continues . . .
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Dr. Cameron K. Dewar: Cameron “Chip” Dewar served as Cardigan’s headmaster for 15 years, beginning in 1989. The Dewar legacy at Cardigan includes a Commencement award (the Dewar Prize), a namesake student and faculty residence (Dewar House), and the Dewar Scholarship Fund.
James H. Funnell: Ever the team player, then Assistant Headmaster Jamie Funnell filled in as interim headmaster for a full academic year (2004-05) while a new head search was underway to replace the retiring Chip Dewar. Jamie then returned to the role of Cardigan’s assistant headmaster, and he continued to serve Cardigan until 2011 (the same year the former North Dorm was renamed Funnell House in his honor).
Thomas W. Needham served as headmaster number eight. He came to Cardigan from a position at Linden Hall School in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, Tom was only able to serve for two academic years.
David J. McCusker, Jr. ’80 . . . And of course, you all know Dave, along with his right-hand “free safety,” Steff, and the masterful job Dave has done shepherding Cardigan through the past eight academic years (this being Dave’s ninth in the role)—a time of unprecedented growth for the School in so many ways. Dave’s leadership has set a very high standard for his successors, and we look forward to celebrating Dave and Steff on May 6, 2016. We hope you’ll join us!
Cardigan will soon welcome Chris and Cynthia Day P’12,’13, who take the helm in July 2016. We all look forward to their arrival on campus later this year, and to a long and fruitful term of leadership.
Introducing the Days Watch the video on Cardigan’s Official YouTube Channel:
youtube.com/cardigan2thepoint
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Fall/Winter 2015-2016
Leadership
On Leadership . . . and Leading Cardigan I’ve been very fortunate to have had mentors in my life who have taught me to be observant, to listen, and to be intellectually curious. My engagement with Cardigan, in particular my time on campus, inspires me in many ways. I care deeply for Cardigan, and I’m constantly learning about the pedagogy, about the flow of our boys’ daily lives on The Point, and about the remarkable commitment of our educators and administrators. I bring certain life experiences and good judgment to my role as board chair, but I have much to learn from those who live “the boarding school life,” and specifically from those who have dedicated their lives to educating middle school boys. I love being on campus, love poking my head in classrooms, and love taking in those “Cardigan moments.” Those of us who are parents, particularly
Hank talks with former History Department Chair Mike Fitzgrald.
Cardigan Chronicle
by Hank J. Holland P’12,’15 Board of Trustees Chair
“I’m pushing to do big new things, and I want to support a culture that is aspirational, at all levels.” to middle schoolers, know that kids have their struggles—their growing pains—as they transition from totally dependent children to independent young men and women. It’s healthy for kids to pull away, to test boundaries, to feel lost at times, and to fail. Yet as parents, it’s a precarious and painful time . . . and invariably we wonder and worry. The Cardigan community is a safe and nurturing place for our boys to experience this confusing “time of passage.” Cardigan Mountain School creates a safe place for our boys to grow up, to learn about themselves, to learn about their place in the community and in the world, and to develop a quiet self-confidence. My best leadership mentors all had one thing in common: they saw something in me, and they took the time and devoted the energy— intentionally—to encourage and teach me. These were busy people, and by any measure I was a young, inexperienced, unsuccessful person. They took a chance based on what they saw I could do, and they opened opportunities for me that made an incredible difference in my life.
LEADERSHIP
Reflections on
I think about the first time I saw Hayden’s math teacher here at Cardigan in action. It was only this teacher’s second year, and teaching math wasn’t even where he thought he would be, but he was the best teacher I’d ever seen. Within just a couple of years he became chair of the Math Department—because someone at the School saw his potential and gave him the right opportunities. They were paying attention, and that’s what I intend to do . . . pay attention. I view my role of chair of the Board of Trustees as a three-fold charge. First, it is to support and enable our dedicated educators and administrators to do what they do best—to facilitate the cognitive, physical, emotional, and spiritual growth of our young men. Second, it is to maintain a constant focus on responsible governance, including strategic planning and prudent fiscal stewardship. And finally, it is to initiate and facilitate discussion around aspirational “big ideas.” Article continues . . . Features
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Building on a Strong Foundation of Cardigan Leadership As Cardigan’s newest board chair, and in my life in general, I really strive to be a quiet, gentle, and effective leader—and very aspirational, and I have learned important lessons from Cardigan leaders whom I admire [Former board chairs Kim Kenly ’68 and Diane Wallach P’06]. Kim has this incredible gentle energy about him that is disarming, and his enormous capacity to care comes across clearly. He possesses a quality of strong leadership that I learned early in my life, and that is the capacity to be present—to make someone feel that they’re the most important person in the world, at that moment. It’s the best quality of a parent, I think, and it’s hard to achieve with all the things we do nowadays. Kim’s gentleness is a quality we naturally admire in the people we work with, and have respect for, and it goes hand in hand with the notion of being observant.
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Above: Kim Kenly ’68, Dave McCusker ’80, P’09,’10, and Diane Wallach P’06. Top right: Fellow trustees Jeremy Crigler ’79, Kim Kenly ’68, and Hank Holland P’12,’15. Right: Dave McCusker ’80 and Hank Holland P’12,’15.
Diane brought an organizational aptitude to board leadership that was different from Kim’s style, and it was fitting. Change is good. For example, Diane implemented a board committee meeting structure that requires a significant commitment of time—and this discipline has been beneficial in many ways, and has nurtured a culture of deeper engagement. She brought a kind of management sophistication to the School, and it has allowed for real focus—and in key areas that will serve us well into the future.
Aspirational Leadership Cardigan is in a good place right now—but I’m pushing to do big new things, and I want to support a culture that is aspirational, at all levels. I live and work in the (San Francisco) Bay Area, and people wonder why they can’t replicate the success of
Silicon Valley. It’s because failure isn’t encouraged! When you try new things, you’re not always going to be very good, but you can’t be afraid of that. Silicon Valley saw plenty of failure—a huge amount, actually— and yet some of those failures led to enormous successes. If we’re not failing at some of our aspirations, we’re not reaching far enough. I’m committed to a new kind of board meeting that encourages aspirational thinking. We’ll spend a lot less time on reports, and much more on engaging and strategic discussions of big ideas and some “not fully baked” ideas. I want to encourage the board to hear these ideas, and to offer relevant input, leadership, and guidance. Cardigan’s single greatest asset is its people, and it’s important to me to create an environment that is meaningful and productive—and that acknowledges the value of outof-the-box thinking. Fall/Winter 2015-2016
LEADERSHIP
Reflections on
Leadership
Moving Forward The School is foremost a small community, and it is by nature a personal place, based on relationships. The most important work in front of us during this exciting year will be to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments Dave and Steff [McCusker] have led the School to achieve and to help Chris and Cynthia [Day] build their own relationships with all the various members of the Cardigan community, on campus and around the world. I’m confident Chris will spend his first
year gathering information— listening, observ-ing, and being mindful of the culture, rather than putting his mark on things. Like Dave before him, he has a deep appreciation for what is special about Cardigan Mountain School, and I know that he will be a strong leader as the School progresses toward an exciting future. Trustee Kim Kenly ’68 talks with incoming Head of School Chris Day P’12,’13 in McCusker Hall.
CARDIGAN MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES (2015-2016) Mr. David H. Bradley H’13, P’78
Mr. David J. McCusker, Jr. ’80, P’09,’10*
Mr. Robert V. Chartener ’73
Mr. Burton E. McGillvray P’07,’09,’09
Mr. Jeremy T. Crigler ’79
Mrs. Carole T. Mennen P’17
Mr. Richard J. DellaRusso ’82
Mr. Malcolm C. Moran ’64, P’00
Mr. Stewart S. Dixon, Jr. ’80
Dr. Richard D. Morrison ’50, P’76,’82
Mr. Barbara A. Flanagan
Mrs. Barbara S. O’Connell P’03
Mr. Michael B. Garrison ’67, P’94,’96
Mr. John H. Pearson, Jr. ’65, P’98
Mr. Christopher R. F. Hale ’95
Mr. Schuyler V. Peck ’63
Mr. Hank J. Holland P’12,’15
Mr. D. Bryan Ruez P’06
Mr. Karl G. Hutter ’92
Mr. Anthony Scaramucci P’14
Mr. Clayton D. Johnson ’79, P’08
Mr. Christopher M. Taliercio ’95
Mr. Craig M. Johnson ’78, P’01,’03
Mr. Jonathan N Wakely ’75
Dr. Robert Kenerson H’04
Mr. Stephen A. Wallace
Mr. F. Corning Kenly III ’68
Mrs. Diane G. Wallach P’06
Mr. Kari O. Kontu ’80
Mrs. Leslie Williamson
Mr. P. Edward Krayer ’82
*ex officio
Ms. Candyce M. Martin P’14
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Reflections on
Leadership
The Student
PERSPECTIVE by Jack Audett ’16 Assistant School Leader
WHAT IS LEADERSHIP? Merriam-Webster.org defines leadership as “the power or ability to lead other people,” and while this sounds relatively easy to do, the enactment of leadership is much easier said than done. Given power or a title, almost anyone can boss around a group of people. But, being able to “boss around” and being able to lead are two very different things.
known to wash the feet of ordinary people, simply out of kindness. In a poll taken in March 2014, 25 percent of Catholics claimed to have increased their donations to charity, and 77 percent of that group said they did so because the Pope inspired them. On top of that, Vatican City has seen a 300 percent increase in tourism since Francis
In the weeks following my election as assistant school leader, I realized that I was not chosen for the position purely for my leadership skills, but also for my potential to grow as a leader. Every day I try to be a better person, and in looking back at who I was last May, I can confidently say that I have grown enormously as a leader. With the help of peers and faculty members alike, I have learned to be less selfish and instinctively think about the “other fella.” But I know that I still have much more to learn about leadership. And so does Pope Francis. Well, he may need to learn a little less . . . but my point is that no leader is perfect, and no leader will ever be.
Given power or a title, almost anyone can boss around a group of people. But, being able to “boss around” and being able to lead are two very different things. Author E. M. Kelly once said, “A boss says, ‘Go!’ and a leader says, ‘Let’s go!’” This quote perfectly outlines the difference between leadership and just being a boss. Leadership is far more personal—it requires the leader to be devoid of all arrogance and selfishness, setting him or her on a level equal to those he or she is leading. Take Pope Francis for instance . . . Traditionally, popes reside in the Papal Apartments of the Vatican’s beautiful Apostolic Palace. However, when Francis became pope, he chose to live in a small, one-bedroom apartment in the Vatican guesthouse. Talk about humility! Additionally, Francis has been
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became the Pope. This goes to show how effective modesty and selflessness can be in a leadership position, and it’s no wonder. Who wants to follow a bossy, condescending jerk when there’s another guy like Pope Francis around? People are inherently drawn to kindness; it’s human nature. And when a person sees kindness in action, they want to emulate it. By being selfless and humble, therefore, others will want to follow in your footsteps, and you are showing leadership. Of course, you can’t just wake up one day and become an ideal leader. It requires an immense amount of devotion, and even then your work is not done.
Without leaders, societies would not be able to function, and there would be no role models. So, with that said, it’s important for us all to consider and understand what being a leader means. The next time you see Pope Francis on the street, ask him to wash your feet. Trust me, he’ll do it. He’s a leader.
Fall/Winter 2015-2016
PERSPECTIVE from Charlie ’12 and Henry ’13 Day by Joy M. Clancy P’17 Director of Advancement Communications
Henry Day ’13 and Charlie Day ’12
LEADERSHIP
Alumni
On a rainy day in late December, I had the pleasure of sliding into a booth at Plymouth’s Main Street Station diner to share lunch and a chat with two Cardigan alumni brothers: Charlie Day ’12, a freshman at UNH, and Henry Day ’13, a junior at Holderness School. Just the previous day I had invited the pair to provide the Alumni Perspective for the fall/winter Chronicle, and they jumped at the chance to offer their thoughts about Cardigan’s leadership. From their unique perspectives as both recent alumni (during the McCusker administration) and as the clear experts on its next administration (their dad, Chris, will be taking the lead as head of school on July 1, 2016, supported by their mom, Cynthia), Charlie and Henry shared warmth, gratitude, and genuine confidence in the future of the School.
About Charlie ’12 Charlie came to Cardigan as a sixth grader in 2008 because, as he tells it, “At school I wasn’t doing well at anything . . . I wasn’t really happy . . . and my parents knew that Cardigan would be a better situation for me.” By the time sixth grade was approaching, Charlie was about “50 percent convinced” he should go, but when he found out that some of his friends from New Hampton School (where he had spent the first five years of his life) had enrolled, “. . . then I really wanted to go!”
that time—were permitted to fill their plates in the dining hall before the rest of the student body, who had to wait until after the grace to be excused to visit the buffet bars, and “that was a game changer!”). Feeling ready for Holderness School after the eighth grade, Charlie made the transition there in 2011 without actually graduating from Cardigan. “From day one I really wanted to be at Holderness,” he explained earnestly. “It definitely wasn’t because I wanted to leave [CMS].”
Building on what he knew was a solid foundation, Charlie continued to thrive as a student, athlete, and Charlie attended Cardigan leader at Holderness. He ultimately became a threeas a day student for sixth, sport captain for the Holderness Bulls (football, seventh, and eighth hockey, baseball), and in his senior year he held one grades—commuting from of the top four leadership roles at the school—a Holderness School, where Charlie ’12 (right) at CMS in 2010. Weld Hall Supervisor—which distinguished him as his parents had been part of the faculty and administration since 2001, and enjoying a young man demonstrating respect, initiative, dependability, the fellowship of “the carpool,” which over the course of and strong character. “Cardigan is so good at helping you his CMS career included Ryder Arsenault ’10, Hayden find your strengths—and also learn about leadership. You Berry ’12, Auden Menke ’12, Clark Macomber ’12, and start to find your way there, and then you can pursue it and Charlie’s younger brother, Henry ’13. tune those skills at your next school.” (For example, having During his three years at Cardigan, Charlie improved grown to feel comfortable giving tours at Cardigan, Charlie tremendously in all aspects of student life. He became a joined the Holderness Blue Key Society and continued in Green Key tour guide for the Admissions Office, enjoyed that leadership role until he graduated in June 2015.) Now playing football, hockey, and baseball, and even achieved halfway through his first year at UNH, Charlie is focused on honor roll status (although he confesses that his “biggest transitioning from communications studies toward achieving motivation” for doing so was that honor roll students—at a degree in business administration. Cardigan Chronicle
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As students they both understood and respected Cardigan’s high standards for student behavior (something Mr. McCusker often took the opportunity to underscore for the boys) . . . Charlie shared that he could see that “it hurt [him] when someone got into trouble . . . He didn’t fake disappointment when something bad happened. You could tell it really affected him.”
About Henry ’13 When asked why he attended Cardigan, Henry points to older brother Charlie and says, “I went because he did.” And according to that same brother (who smiles and shakes his head at the thought) it’s a wonder he got in. Even before he was a candidate for admission, Charlie explains, Henry had established a reputation as something of a “carefree” young man. “We were at this day-student cookout in the McCuskers’ back yard,” Charlie remembers, “probably about a week before I was starting sixth grade [in 2008].” The boys were all playing together in the field while the adults were chatting— and while the buffet table was being set up. Charlie continues: “Henry just grabbed a plate and started eating…” (apparently having done so before any kind of invitation to start lining up had been granted). “Then Mr. McCusker called everyone’s attention and gave kind of a welcome speech, and when he finished he said, ‘and now, please help yourself to the Henry Day buffet.’ . . . I’ll never forget that!” While Henry may have started his Cardigan experience “in his own world” (there is another cute Henry ’13 as a sixth grader. story about Henry’s CMS admissions interview that supports this notion, as well as the family slogan “Where’s Henry?”), he was soon fully integrated and making the most of his four years as a Cougar. Henry remembers his time at Cardigan fondly, particularly as a boarding student during his eighthand ninth-grade years. Along with playing football, hockey, and baseball, Henry was a regular presence in the Glee Club and in the School’s theater productions, while consistently earning A’s and B’s in his academic classes. Henry’s smile and infectious pleasantness are the qualities that he’s best remembered by at CMS, and so it’s no surprise that he identifies the highlight of his Cardigan experience as his role as a “birthday singer,” along with classmate Max Gilbert. “Every morning, Mrs. McCusker would come and find us and
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tell us whose birthday it was,” he remembers, and then he and Max would belt out “Happy happy birthday, we’re so glad you’re here; happy happy birthday, let’s give a Cardigan cheer!” into the dining hall microphone together at breakfast—a privilege that is coveted within the student body even today. Henry transitioned to Holderness School after his Cardigan graduation in 2013, and he is midway through his junior year. He has carried on (and excelled in) both his athletic and artistic pursuits there, as a three-sport varsity athlete (and a football team captain this fall) and as a presence in the theater (he had the lead role in the fall production of Woody Allen’s Don’t Drink the Water).
Reflections on Leadership: “We Will Know Your Sons and Love Your Sons” Looking back on their time at Cardigan, both Charlie and Henry have fond memories of Mr. and Mrs. McCusker and their leadership of the School. Henry summed it up well, identifying their “ability to connect with kids” as their greatest strength. “Mr. McCusker has great speaking skills, and they [both] are great at letting everyone know what’s going on,” he added, as Charlie chimed in, “They’re both very personable. They really want to get to know everyone.” Neither Henry nor Charlie was the type of boy who got into trouble at school, but they Mrs. McCusker P’09,’10. know that strong leadership requires the ability to tackle tough situations. As students they both understood and respected Cardigan’s high standards for student behavior (something Mr. McCusker often took the opportunity to underscore for the boys) and while they noted that it was primarily the former dean of students who handled disciplinary situations, Charlie shared that he could Fall/Winter 2015-2016
Below: The Day family paused for a photo as they dropped Charlie off at UNH last fall. From left is Henry ’13, Cynthia P’12,’13, Charlie ’12, Chris P’12,’13, and Phoebe.
see that “it hurt Mr. McCusker when someone got into trouble . . . He didn’t fake disappointment when something bad happened. You could tell it really affected him.” And that meant a lot to the boys about how much he genuinely cared about them. Both Charlie and Henry had what they characterize as “great relationships” with both Mr. and Mrs. McCusker, and Charlie’s respect for Mr. McCusker was cemented at the end of his eighth-grade year. “It was after I had made my decision to start at Holderness for ninth grade,” he explained. “Mr. McCusker asked me to come by his office, and I didn’t know what to expect.” (Would he try to talk Charlie into staying another year and graduating?) “But he wasn’t mad that I was leaving . . . I don’t think he said anything about it, actually, and I remember that he thanked me for coming [to Cardigan] in the first place. We just talked for about half an hour.”
LEADERSHIP
Henry ’13 and classmates Chris Alberigi ’13 and Danny Philbrick ’13, with Mr. McCusker ’80, P’09,’10 at the Sandwich Fair in 2012.
As for their mom, Cynthia, it’s her interminable smile that the boys say is her best quality. “She never stops smiling,” Henry explains. “She could lose her phone [which may be a somewhat common occurrence, according to her sons] or she could even be in serious pain,” he adds, “but she still manages to keep a smile on her face—it’s amazing!” Charlie describes it as a “unique goofiness” that sets his mom apart, and makes her “the nicest person in the world” (even if she does—accidentally—“adopt” the buzzers from Panera from time to time). But seriously . . . both boys offer a most glowing recommendation of their parents as future leaders of Cardigan Mountain School. “They saw our experience at Cardigan, and were really happy with the outcome,” Charlie explained. “They want to invest in Cardigan, and keep it strong. . . . They’re ready for this new challenge.”
Greater enthusiasm and deeper affection from two young men would be difficult to find than what Henry and Charlie offered when prompted to talk about their parents, Cynthia and Chris Day. When asked what they thought the Holderness School community will miss most about their parents after they’ve moved on to Cardigan, the answer was clear: “Their energy,” said one. “Oh yeah!” agreed the other.
Whether connecting with and hiring new teachers, teaching history, coaching baseball or hockey, or dorm parenting, Charlie explains, “[Our dad] is one of the best people to work in a school with multiple roles,” and Henry adds, “And outside of school he’s always talking with kids.” Their mom has also served in a number of independent school roles, most recently stepping in to lead the Admission Office at Holderness after the departure of its director early in 2015. Both parents, the boys say, are “really invested in whatever they do.” (Charlie offers that this was even true of his dad when Chris had a summer job as captain of the mail boat on Lake Winnipesaukee!)
“Our dad loves to joke with kids,” Henry began. “He might come off as intimidating, but he’s one of the funniest people you’ll ever know.” One President’s Day, for example, Mr. Day (now dean of faculty, but formerly the chair of the History Department) decided to get into the spirit of the holiday by dressing up. “It was exam day, and he came into the room dressed like Abe Lincoln. . . . It was quite embarrassing,” remembers Charlie.
Neither of the Day boys appears worried about the family transition from Holderness to Cardigan. After a summer of moving and settling in on The Point, Charlie anticipates that he will carry on at UNH, while Henry and their sister, Phoebe (now a sophomore at Holderness), are looking forward to boarding. It seems that Chris and Cynthia have a strong and supportive team behind them as they shift their energy toward new leadership roles at Cardigan.
Thoughts about Their Parents: Embarrassing, Goofy, and Really Invested in Whatever They Do
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Reflections on
Trustee
Leadership
PERSPECTIVE A Look at Dave McCusker’s Bold Leadership 2007–2016 by F. Corning “Kim” Kenly III ’68
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I have had the privilege of a lifetime . . . first to experience Cardigan Mountain School as a student, and then as a member of the Cardigan Board of Trustees since 1986— serving as chair for 10 of those years—and finally in working with David McCusker for six of his years as head of school. My days and years of working directly with Dave were most fulfilling, and I quickly developed an extraordinary sense of gratitude for the transformational work he was doing. Unless you have been in the shoes of a head of school, you can’t really know the responsibility, intensity, and joy that come with the job. I saw it firsthand, and have been left with nothing but gratitude and appreciation for Dave’s skill, and for his intense dedication to our school. Cardigan, it seems, is in his blood.
The October 2007 Installation Ceremony in the Cardigan chapel.
Dave entered the job of head of school with some teaching and dorm parenting experience, some development experience, and a learning foundation from Cardigan, St. Paul’s, and Dartmouth. What his resumé lacked in a long list of school leadership roles such as dean of faculty or assistant headmaster, he more than made up for with his abundance of character and integrity, and his strong moral compass. Dave arrived in the role as the fourth headmaster in a five-year period, and the School was ready for transformation. On the surface, things looked fine—enrollment was steady—but there were several areas that presented opportunities for scrutiny and a new approach.
To simply fast-forward eight-plus years and recite all of the accomplishments since Dave’s arrival would do him a disservice. People need to know that these initiatives took time to orchestrate and implement, and that they happened because Dave was willing to be extraordinarily bold, always steadfast, and because he was not afraid to confront some tough obstacles. The board was ready for new energy, fundraising needed to become a higher priority, and it was time to review the program with an eye toward “21st-century skills” . . . there were opportunities galore, and Dave McCusker tackled them all without fanfare or upset.
Cardigan Chronicle
Fall/Winter 2015-2016
LEADERSHIP
An Incredible Nine-Year Adventure We knew from the outset that Dave understood the role of philanthropy, and that he had had great training in development in the years leading up to his time at the Cardigan helm, but one couldn’t help wondering at the time: Could he navigate a staff of 50 professionals, hire great people who could lead and inspire, manage a $10 million budget, and bring in new 21st-century programming that was developmentally appropriate for adolescent boys? Dave went right to work. He attracted new board members— past and current parents, alumni, and even several unaffiliated individuals—who all brought great energy, wisdom, work, and resources to the role. With significant board leadership and faculty and staff involvement, Dave orchestrated a comprehensive 10-year strategic plan, and followed with a well-designed campus master plan that highlighted the need for improved dormitory residences and faculty housing, improved athletic facilities, and a new dining facility, among other things. Far left (previous page): With Scott Powers ’75 and Kim Kenly ’68. Center: Leading Commencement exercises. Right: With Steff at the groundbreaking for the Cardigan Commons.
Cardigan Chronicle
“The boys are at the center of all we do.” —Dave McCusker ’80, P’09,’10 The board at this point comprised several long-tenured members (like me!) and others who represented “new blood” and were not biased by history or doubtful of achieving lofty goals. We needed a plan to bring us all together around raising tens of millions of dollars when our most significant past capital campaign hadn’t even reached one of those tens. Led by Dave, and with the help of a handful of board members all experienced in developing capital campaigns, the group produced a detailed plan to raise $50 million. This was presented to the board, and, to say the least, there was not overwhelming confidence that this was realistic or achievable. Dave and his development team went to work, talking to everyone affiliated with the School—both past and present—to gauge their interest and inclination to help the School meet capital needs, remain relevant, and gain even greater prominence among junior boarding boys’ schools. I recall feeling at the time that the need did not match the inclination, but that did not stop Dave. “If not now, then when?” and “How do we know if we don’t try?” and “Aren’t we all here to make a difference?” were just some of the rallying cries heard around the room. With Dave’s persistence, and the feeling that time was of the essence, the board voted unanimously to launch The Campaign for Cardigan 2020—the campaign that would define the future. Features
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Reflections on
Leadership
Left: At the 2011 dedication of the Charles C. Gates I.D.E.A. Shop. Above: With (from left) Dr. Richard Morrison ’50, P’76,’82, Diane Wallach P’06, Cedric Elkouh ’15, and Dr. Elizabeth Perryman P’13,’15 at the groundbreaking for the Clark-Morgan Hall renovation project in 2015.
While momentum was building and commitments of support were coming in, we needed to show tangible evidence of progress. Through the hard work and generosity of a pivotal individual, a critical new program initiative for Cardigan was launched that demonstrated the enhancement of Cardigan’s educational relevance: the Charles C. Gates Invention & Innovation Competition. A new laboratory/workshop was built, and slowly but surely the program captured the imagination of the entire school (and has since become an area of significant program distinction). Progress was afoot, momentum was building, and the circle of support was widening. All of Dave’s travels, enthusiasm, and attention to detail were paying off. Now, he decided, the time was right to tackle the biggest project that would ever be undertaken at Cardigan— one that would cost nearly $10 million—the replacement of the original school dining facility with a stateof-the-art campus center and dining commons that would become the focal point of the campus. Understanding that it would take time and patience to raise the kind of money needed for the Commons project, Dave At the dedication of Pearson House in 2012.
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and a few very astute board members recommended we borrow up to $11 million to jumpstart the project, ahead of pledges that would take a number of years to be paid. It’s important to know that the Cardigan board had, through the years and by some difficult experiences, become quite conservative about taking on debt. The veteran board members largely resisted the idea of borrowing for construction, but Dave remained determined. It would take several meetings to reach consensus among the trustees, but it happened. We would borrow only against well-documented pledges, and we would not build a new building without fully endowing its future maintenance. It was Dave who found this common ground, and we were off and running, soon raising all the needed money for the Cardigan Commons. This momentum carried us on, soon after—and due to the generosity of a single, committed family—to a significant set of improvements to the athletic center in honor of the Wakely family and in memory of Jim Marrion. While the plant was methodically being transformed, the program at Cardigan was continuing to improve as well. In addition to the exciting Gates program, the PEAKS® Department was also coming into its own, helping students to understand their learning styles and to achieve greater success. Dave’s administrative leadership introduced team teaching methodologies, added critical technology to the classrooms, and above all established a culture of core values: compassion, honesty, respect, integrity, scholarship, and fairness. He led the way, and made sure everyone at Cardigan strove to live by these core values.
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As the final year of Dave’s administration began, he still had his foot on the gas pedal. Although we had made significant progress in student and faculty housing, he made the convincing case that we needed a new dormitory, not only to better house our students and faculty but to enable existing dormitories to be renovated in future years. Not surprisingly, the money was soon raised and construction had begun. And he’s still not finished tackling ambitious plans! With mere months left in his tenure, Dave is now actively establishing capital priorities for the School’s academic facilities, including a new learning commons and library, spaces that bring the arts and innovation technology together, and team teaching– appropriate classrooms. Despite all that he has achieved, he doesn’t consider his work to yet be done . . . Admirable!
Dave’s nine-year administration will be remembered as the period of greatest accomplishment in the School’s history, and he led this remarkable “era” by always being genuine, well prepared, collaborative, bold, engaging, and respectful. Every conversation I ever had with Dave about School matters, whether or not we saw eye to eye, was open and honest—and always ended with respect and admiration. He has worked tirelessly, thoughtfully, and enthusiastically on behalf of Cardigan Mountain School, and I will be sad to see him go. But I know that he will always be close by, because no one bleeds Cardigan green more truly than David McCusker.
Left: Leading the Cardigan hymn atop Mount Cardigan during the annual sunset climb for graduating ninth graders.
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Leading from
BEHIND THE
SCENES
Cardigan’s FREE SAFETY: Steff McCusker
Lynne Lenihan, Dr. Elizabeth Perryman P’13,’15, and Steff McCusker P’09,’10.
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ike many Cardigan moms, I first connected with Steff when I was a nervous new parent. When my eldest son started at Cardigan—and I was at home hundreds of miles away—I was hungry for news from the School. I read every article in the To the Point e-newsletter, and only much later learned that Steff was the anonymous author (and often photographer) for most of the articles I relied upon for glimpses into my son’s life at school. Her warmth, friendliness, and enthusiasm shone through her writing. When I read her articles (like the “Mom Phenomenon” about how our sons often save their dramas for their mamas), I felt as if I was sitting across the kitchen table, sharing a cup of coffee with a good friend. Years later, now that I live and work at Cardigan, Steff and I enjoy coffee and conversation in person. The voice I hear across the actual kitchen table is the same voice I “heard” hundreds of miles away—authentic, honest, and real. Whenever I need to hold up to the boys a person who exemplifies our core value of integrity—someone whose words match his or her actions—I point to Mrs. McCusker. Enough said, in one sense, but truly . . . there is so much more to say.
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by Dr. Elizabeth Perryman P’13,’15 Director of Spiritual Life Football fans will recognize Steff McCusker’s job title as the name of a defensive position that can be played effectively only by a multi-talented, versatile team player. The “free safety” has speed and smarts enough to play many positions well, and this makes it the perfect description of Steff and her role at Cardigan. Every day she can be seen on campus capably filling in wherever needed (many times on a moment’s notice), as well as shouldering her own
Football fans will recognize Steff McCusker’s job title as the name of a defensive position that can be played effectively only by a multi-talented, versatile team player. considerable workload of regular responsibilities. She does all these things well because of her intelligence, experience, versatility, and cheerful personality. She is also often the one who can most effectively comfort a homesick boy, calm an anxious parent, or reassure an exhausted faculty member. She does these kinds of things so well because of her heart.
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Leadership
Steff and Cardigan Mountain School go way back. In fact, she and Dave met through Cardigan connections. Although they were classmates at Dartmouth College, the future McCuskers did not know one another until their sophomore year when they were introduced by two Cardigan teachers, Dana Solms (Steff’s brother) and Bobby Jangro ’78 (Coach Marrion’s future son-in-law)—at a hockey game, of course! Not long after, when Dave was teaching at Cardigan, Steff brought him a birthday cake, but the smoke from the candles triggered the school’s fire alarm. (This may explain Mrs. McCusker’s uncommon patience with hapless boys who accidentally set off the alarm by overcooking their microwave popcorn.) Through her early years at Cardigan, Steff served as a reading and study skills teacher and editor of the Chronicle, the very publication you are now reading. She is also a “Cardigan Mom,” and Steff enjoys especially close bonds with our students’ parents. Both of the McCuskers’ sons, Colin (“Brodie”) ’09 and Cam ’10, are Cardigan graduates, and Steff attributes her special gift for “parent relations” to being the mother of Cardigan boys herself, and getting to see “why and how the place works so well for adolescent boys: they are given independence and room to grow, but always in the presence of caring adults waiting in the wings to pick them up when they fall.” Mrs. McCusker, of course, is chief among those caring adults. She seems to have a limitless supply of love for her “Cardigan sons,” every one of whom she knows by name.
Newlywed McCuskers, during their first Cardigan “stint” in the early 1990s. Dave ’80, Steff P’09,’10, Brodie ’09, Cam ’10 , and “Buzz Lightyear” early in their (family) time at Cardigan.
LEADERSHIP
Reflections on
She is the first person to be at a boy’s side in the case of a family emergency, she checks in on those who are sick or injured, and she is ever ready with a hug for the homesick or to reassure the remorseful. Mrs. McCusker cheers our students at games, and challenges them to beat her in the annual Lake Run around Canaan Street Lake. (This year she achieved her personal best time of 38:18, but faithfully upheld her promise to award candy bars to boys with faster times. There were only 55.) Cardigan’s “Free Safety” is at the center of the boys’ lives, and always on hand to help the adults as well, regularly substituting for teachers and for Lynne Lenihan, Dave’s executive assistant (“Hardest job there is,” says Steff!). She has spoken several times in Chapel, appeared in stage productions, helped run the annual spelling bee, and has even played keyboard with the faculty band “Grades and Comments.” As an accomplished writer (and a former Dartmouth English major), Steff is a stickler for grammar, though in a characteristically helpful, lovely way. She proofreads and copy edits letters, articles, and handbooks, and helps everyone learn to use the Cardigan Style Guide.
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Right: The “cupcake queen” Above: Getting ready for the start of the annual Lake Run. Far left: Taking notes during a Chapel service for a To the Point e-newsletter article Left: Backing up the faculty band, Grades and Comments, on the keyboard.
This year she developed a weekly game for the faculty called “Wednesday Wordplay,” to keep us on our grammatical toes. Gifted educator that she is, Steff somehow has succeeded in making even misplaced modifiers feel engaging and fun (and several of us are vying to win her coveted, golden “Grammar Nerd” crown in May).
nevertheless opened her heart and her home to all. “We have not had a lot of privacy,” she admits. “People have lived with us or stayed with us for weeks and months—students, parents, alumni, people applying for jobs at Cardigan, trustees, and friends. And I am grateful to them all. They have helped me grow to learn that truly ‘the more is the merrier!’”
In one of her few publicly well-known roles, Steff delivers cupcakes and handwritten cards to every Cardigan boy on his birthday, including those whose special days fall in the summer months or during vacations from school. But she is the first to tell you that she does not bake the birthday cupcakes herself. Though she is a woman of many talents, cooking is not one of them. “When Dave was offered the job,” she said, “I worried about fulfilling the traditional role of head of school’s wife . . . but everyone encouraged me to be myself. Thank goodness for Dining Services; Bob Spano [director of Dining Services] is my best friend after Dave!”
Although the faculty and staff operate under the motto, “It’s all about the boys,” Steff wisely knows that the boys in our care can only be as happy and healthy as the adults who care for them. She circulates among members of faculty and staff, offering practical help, moral support, timely encouragement, genuine praise, and refreshing reassurance. In an environment where everyone is focused on taking good care of the boys we serve, Steff makes sure to care for the caregivers as well.
Her challenges in the kitchen notwithstanding, Steff’s hospitality and warmth are legendary. The door to Frieze House is always open for receptions, parties, and even slumber parties. Boys have their music lessons on the piano in the McCuskers’ living room, and enjoy watching Patriots games on the television in the basement. A natural introvert, Steff has
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People often remark upon the family atmosphere that prevails at Cardigan. Steff is at the heart of the Cardigan family and ensures that the circle is wide. She tends to little details that make a big difference, like hosting baby showers for members of faculty and staff, welcoming the many pets on campus, and personally selecting individual books to suit the interest and ages of each of our young children for Santa to distribute at Christmas (a whopping 44 this year!).
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Left: Visiting a CMS family in Korea. Below: One of countless gatherings that have taken place in the McCusker living room in Frieze House.
LEADERSHIP
Far left: A friend to all Cardigan moms.
Steff’s encircling arms extend to the families beyond The Point as well. She initiated the Connecting Families program, linking new families with experienced ones to help ease the transition from home to school. She has traveled domestically and internationally to meet with Cardigan parents and alumni, widening the family circle even more and helping us all feel that we are united in purpose, no matter how far apart we may live. She is grateful for the hospitality of those she has visited: “I now have more open sensibilities, because I have been able to interact with students and families from around the world—to understand that human beings are fundamentally the same. We all want the same things for our children.” One morning recently, Steff and I had been reminiscing about her accomplishments and laughing over funny memories. But as we reached the bottom of our coffee cups, things got quiet and Steff gazed out the window. “I feel like I owe Cardigan more thanks than it owes me, because to buy into this lifestyle means to uphold our core
values every day whether anyone is looking or not. Cardigan has ‘forced’ me to grow into a person that I might not otherwise have been had I spent these years in another job. I am grateful.” The self-awareness, gratitude, and humility in Steff’s brief statement speak volumes about her character. Steff’s influence at Cardigan won’t stop with her departure. Her heart will always be here.
Left: Multi-tasking; Above: Photographing a pieeating contest on Headmaster’s Day; Right: With Cam ’10, Dave ’80, P’09,’10, and Brodie ’09.
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Trustee
LEADERSHIP Introducing the Newest Members of Cardigan’s Board of Trustees Francis Humann ’80 A member of the Class of 1980, Francis also has strong family ties to Cardigan. His younger brother, Christian, is a 1983 graduate of Cardigan, and both of his parents, Edgar and Faith Humann, served on the School’s governing boards in the 1980s and 1990s. Their generous support made the Humann Theatre in the Stoddard Center possible, a space that continues to enhance the Cardigan experience for boys. Francis holds an MBA from Columbia University and currently serves as president and CEO of OncoViRx, a pharmaceutical innovator associated with the University of Pennsylvania that is seeking to treat hematological cancers with cost-effective, low–side effect, and highly efficient therapies. He has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 17 years, with professional experience at Pfizer, Wyeth, and Abbott Laboratories. Francis and his wife, Kerstin, live in Haverford, Pennsylvania. They have three children; son Phillip and daughter Emma attend Episcopal Academy, and eldest son, Christian, attends nearby Dartmouth College.
Francis ’80, his wife (Kerstin), and son Christian, at Dartmouth’s fall Parents’ Weekend in 2015.
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Nabil Elkouh P’15,’17,’19 Dr. Nabil Elkouh (shown above with his wife, Sheila) is an engineer by training and the holder of numerous high-tech patents. He is a founder and the CEO of Erigo Technologies, an entrepreneurial firm that takes innovative technology to the marketplace. Nabil, his wife, Sheila Cragg-Elkouh, hail from Enfield, N.H., and make a daily commute to The Point with two of their four sons, Emrys ’17 and Macsen ’19—and the family may well be on its way to setting a Cardigan record. Beginning with their eldest son, Cedric ’15 (last year’s Cardigan school leader, now enrolled at Phillips Academy—Andover), there has been an Elkouh boy at Cardigan since 2011. With the two middle boys currently enrolled and the youngest son, Estyn, eager to join us as soon as possible, Nabil and Sheila may well be “current parents” at Cardigan for 11 consecutive years. Even with a dynamic and demanding career, Nabil still finds time with Sheila to support their sons and our school in many ways, volunteering wherever necessary. Thoughtful, humble, hardworking, and incredibly talented, Nabil will bring great strength and commitment to Cardigan’s Board of Trustees.
Nabil P’15,’17,’19 presenting to Cardigan sixth graders who visited his company, Erigo Technologies, in the fall.
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LEADING (on)
THE FIELD National Award Recognizes Program Excellence
LEADERSHIP
Cardigan Athletics
by Steff McCusker P’09,’10 Free Safety “Coach” would be proud. An indisputable leader in athletic administration himself, as well as a man whose fine character permeated the overall Cardigan culture, the late (“Coach”) Jim Marrion certainly left big shoes to fill. Current athletic director Ryan Frost had the privilege of overlapping with Coach for a few years—learning from and collaborating with him—and then carrying the program forward in a direction that certainly aligns with all of the values, both spoken and implied, that were espoused and modeled by Coach and that have been manifest in the athletic program for such
a long time. As well as adding several innovative facets to the program, Ryan has been able to identify, clarify, formalize, and put in writing the values—and best practices and policies—that have essentially made Cardigan’s athletic program top notch for so many years. And this December, Cardigan’s athletic program was recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) with the Quality Program Award at the Exemplary Level, an honor bestowed upon just three schools in the nation this year. (The other two recipients were a school in Iowa and another in Pennsylvania.) Article continues . . . Coach Marrion continues to have a strong presence in the Cardigan Athletic Department.
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The Cardigan Athletic Department Staff Standing, from left: Ben Adams, Athletic Equipment Manager; Ryan Frost, Director of Athletics; Kevin Drury, Assistant Athletic Equipment and Facilities Manager; and Allan Dunham, Athletic Facilities Manager. Seated from left: Kristen Tobin Gordon, Assistant Director of Athletics, Director of the Johnson–Wakely Fitness Center, and Strength & Conditioning Coach; Len Angelli, Athletic Trainer; and Nancy Moye, Athletic Department Administrative Assistant.
To have one’s program even be considered for such an honor, an athletic director must “apply” for consideration and fulfill certain requirements, including putting his or her program through an extensive assessment procedure, with guidelines provided by the NIAAA. (Ryan certainly has a number of thick notebooks to show for his department’s work in this regard!) In the assessment, 10 broad categories are put under a microscope: Philosophy, Educational Compatibility, Mentoring Staffs and Student Leaders, Program Safety and Risk Management, Program Access and Equity, Budget and
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Supplementary Fundraising, Personnel and Program Assessment, Technology, Sports Medicine, and Innovation and Creative Leadership Strategies. (To provide a better idea of the extensive nature of this audit, consider the fact that within each of these categories there were numerous sub-categories; “Educational Compatibility” alone, for example, had upwards of 40 subcategories.) A participating athletic department must first do a thorough self-assessment of its program and submit verifying documentation, which is closely examined by the NIAAA, and point values are awarded and compared with those that the school has, as objectively as possible,
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LEADERSHIP
On top of it all, Cardigan’s innovative Captains’ Council curriculum was highlighted during the December NIAAA gathering in Florida (where Ryan accepted the Quality Program Award), and he was asked to share a presentation there about this novel facet of our athletic program. (For context, the Captains’ Council program began in 2012 under both Ryan and his then– Cardigan is only the second non-public assistant athletic school and the first school in New England director, Austen to be recognized [with the Quality Program Hannis, and has served as a Award Commendation]. way to mentor our teams’ which there is room for improvement captains each season, providing the and strategic advancement. boys with a focus and a chance to share Since the bestowing of this award began, experiences and talk about what kinds only 24 schools in the country have of things are expected of them in these successfully completed the program leadership roles. Their weekly meetings and been awarded the Quality Program offer a mechanism for the boys to receive Award Commendation. Of these 24 feedback; to self-reflect and partake in schools, Cardigan is only the second personal and team goal setting; to work non-public school and the first school in with one another toward improvement of leadership tactics; and to share New England to be recognized. experiences and offer moral support to Opposite, standing: A key member of the Cardigan Athletics team for many years, former one another.) Incidentally, Austen was Assistant Director of Athletics Austen Hannis was able to join Ryan in Florida for both instrumental in preparing the necessary selfawarded itself. The NIAAA essentially determines whether a school is indeed providing the athletic program it claims it is (in relation to the established guidelines). The audit itself can also be viewed as a useful tool that, in addition to assessing the current program, can provide an athletic department with an understanding of program areas in
the Captains’ Council seminar and the awards presentation. When we consider the benefits of a Cardigan education, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the adults who are committed to carrying forth the School’s mission and to modeling its Core Values in the classroom are the very same grown-ups who are making this a top priority in the dormitories, the dining hall, the Chapel, the arts and invention spaces, and, quite noticeably, on the playing fields. Our “teacher/coaches” are responsible for implementing the program—boots on the ground, if you will—and certainly deserving of recognition for their significant hand in this Quality Program Award as well! Kudos to Ryan and his Athletic Department for leading the way—for identifying and formalizing longtime program policies, practices, and features that embody our Core Values, and for innovating in ways that continue to put a spotlight on the things we care about in our Cardigan culture. Character education—an essential facet of teaching and nurturing the “whole boy”—is not a novel concept, but when it’s effective, it is worthy of highlighting.
assessment documentation for the award.
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INVENTOR
LEADING THE WAY
Cardigan’s First PATENTRecipient!
A ninth grader at Cardigan Mountain School is the proud owner of a United States patent for an invention he created for the School’s Charles C. Gates Invention & Innovation Program. As a seventh grader in 2014, Jacob Slaughter designed the Nordic Ski Boot Personal Jacob Slaughter ’16 Custodian, or N.S.B.P.C., a Charles C. Gates Invention device for cleaning snow out of & Innovation Program the portion of a Nordic ski boot participant, and recipient of that clips into the binding. a United States Patent. “From the beginning of the year I already knew the problem that I needed to solve,” said Slaughter. “The problem with Nordic ski boots is that they have a cavity right underneath the boot toe. When you walk in the snow with those boots, snow gets jammed up in that cavity, making it hard to clip the boot into the binding.” Jacob has been involved in Nordic skiing throughout his four-year career at Cardigan Mountain School, and he participated in the Gates program for two years (grades six and seven). He hopes someday to have a career in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field.
The Gates Competition was named in honor of Charles C. Gates, an engineer and Colorado native who believed that all kids are natural inventors, unafraid to explore new ideas and take old ideas apart. Cardigan Mountain School was given the opportunity to offer the Gates Invention & Innovation Competition thanks to the generosity of the Gates Frontiers Fund. One of only two schools in the U.S. equipped to offer the program, Cardigan provides students in grades six through nine the opportunity to participate in a creative process that identifies real problems or new business opportunities and attempts to develop practical solutions. It is designed to encourage creative thinking, risk taking, and entrepreneurial spirit, and to develop an appreciation for hard work and accomplishment. Slaughter placed second in the 2014 Gates competition and has been pursuing his patent since that time. There have been a number of patent nods (projects deemed worthy of professional patent research) in recent years at the School’s spring competition, but this is the first year that a student from Cardigan Mountain School has actually earned a patent as a result of the Gates program.
PLEASE JOIN US! The Ninth Annual Charles C. Gates Invention & Innovation Competition will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 6–7, 2016. Above: (May 2014) Jacob demonstrates his invention to former Headmaster Norman Wakely H’91, P’70,’73,’75 at the Gates Competition Expo.
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“Create, try, dream, refine . . . and come back for more.” —Charles C. Gates
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LEADERSHIP
Leading by
EXAMPLE
Wesley Stocken of Hanover, N.H., Cardigan Sixth Grader Places Third in National Service Award
What follows was taken from a December 22, 2015, media release from The Heart of America Foundation®
The Heart of America Foundation® announces there was no ice cream in the freezers—a treat that he took Wesley Stocken from Hanover as third-place winner for granted was not readily available for those in need. On a weekly basis over the summer and on school holidays, of the 2015 Gee Whiz Kids® Service Award. Stocken makes ice cream, loads it into a cooler box, and The Gee Whiz Kids Service Award is designed to honor delivers it to the food shelf. Over 100 pints of the treats exemplary children, age 12 and under, who represent the help feed some 200 people at The Haven each summer. best of their schools and communities, the true heart of In addition, Stocken has volunteered hundreds of hours to America. Wesley was nominated for the award by Lori participate in or lead service activities ranging from picking Loundsbury, Food Shelf Coordinator at the Upper Valley up trash to teaching child safety to kindergarteners. He Haven in White River Junction, Vermont. Stocken has been has been involved in numerous fundraisers (including volunteering alongside his family since age three when they selling lemonade to raise $2,000 for the American Wildlife began making peppermint ice cream to help soothe cancer Foundation) as well as environmental and community patients’ stomachs. At age 10, Stocken took the lead on the outreach projects. However, his favorite activity is making project and transitioned to making ice cream for Upper Valley homemade ice cream, because he knows that he is providing Haven after a visit. During that initial visit he noticed that a little joy and comfort to children and adults. ®
*www.heartofamerica.org
CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP
Entire Stocken Family Leads by Example of Service
The Stocken Family (from left): Phillip P’19, Mary Beth P’19, Christopher, Wesley ’19, and Davey.
Cardigan Chronicle
After we discovered in late December that sixth-grade student Wesley Stocken had received a national award for community service (see above), and after a few followup conversations with his mom, Mary Beth, it became abundantly clear that the core value of compassion had come with Wesley to Cardigan, and that there was more to discover about his inspiration to make ice cream for the local shelter’s food shelf. Indeed, we soon learned, dedication to serving others runs deep in the Stocken family (Mary Beth and Phillip P’19, and sons Davey, Christopher, and Wesley ’19), and theirs is a Cardigan family story worth sharing. READ ON . . . Features
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Leading by
Celebrating
EXAMPLE
FAMILY Leadership
Stockens Nurture a Family Culture of Service by Joy M. Clancy P’17, Director of Advancement Communications
T
he first things you’ll notice when you strike up a conversation with Mary Beth and Phillip Stocken are their accents; each is distinctive, but both are—as Mary Beth says with a chuckle—from “the deep south,” hers from Alabama, and his from South Africa. After growing up in Birmingham and Johannesburg, respectively, the two found each other at Penn State, where each was pursuing graduate studies in accounting. They married, earned their doctorates, and began academic careers teaching at the Wharton School as their family began to grow. With two young boys to nurture, Mary Beth explains that she “retired early” from academia, and then in 2003—just weeks before Wesley was due to be born—the family moved to Hanover, N.H., to support Phillip in his new position at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Above: Mary Beth and Phillip Stocken P’19. Right: Christopher, Mary Beth P’19, Wesley ’19, and Davey, early in their ice cream–making endeavors.
In the dozen years that the Stocken family has called Hanover (and the Upper Valley) their home, the five of them have led and participated in what can easily be described as countless community service projects, many of them through Boy Scouts of America® local Troop 45. Elder sons Christopher (currently studying mechanical engineering at Clarkson) and Davey (a senior at Hanover High School) have each earned the rank of Eagle Scout—an accomplishment that fewer than 10 percent of Scouts achieve annually—and the brothers have led and participated in nearly 50 service projects that have benefited the local community, often with help and guidance from their assistant-troop-leader dad and their merit-badge-counselor mom. Their service endeavors have included invasive species mitigation (or “weeding in the woods,” says Phillip), trail building, dugout construction, helping to winterize Wesley ’19 and Mary Beth P’19 showing off some of their hooded bath towels.
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homes and build wheelchair ramps, and much more. Wesley is not far behind as an active Scout who is already beginning to consider his Eagle Scout project. Troop 45 Committee Chair Byron Young has known the Stockens for at least a decade, by his account, and describes the family as “stalwarts that you can count on to get involved.” Scouting, he explains, is a program designed to teach life skills and outdoor skills, to encourage good health and physical fitness (“There aren’t a lot of couch potatoes in scouting,” he notes), and to teach boys to give of themselves to the community—ideals that parallel many of Cardigan’s own. He notes that, as an adult leader, Phillip, who holds Boy Scouts of America’s highest level of training as a Wood Badge recipient (and who also holds Scouts South Africa’s equivalent to Eagle Scout rank), does Fall/Winter 2015-2016
And speaking of guidance . . . In a recent college-application essay, we’re told, middle son Davey shared an “important life lesson” that revealed much about Phillip’s lifelong commitment to serving others. Davey shared his father’s advice to “always bring a copy of the daily news [paper] and a cigarette lighter to a protest,” explaining that the newspaper could be used to cover your face (and hide your identity) “before the whips come out,” or could be lit on fire when the tear gas comes out (to dissipate the irritating gas). This Phillip learned while marching to protest apartheid in his home country, and, says Mary Beth, “It was his having done this that really motivated our family to be involved in helping other people who can’t stand up for themselves . . . he has a lot of friends in South Africa who have scars.”
Growing up in the American Deep South also exposed Mary Beth to social injustice that has moved her toward a life of serving others. She recalled an evening when she was a young girl, when her father took the family for a drive to see his childhood home in the southern suburbs of Birmingham. Just three houses from where he had grown up, there was a cross smoldering in the yard. “I asked [my father] why, and he explained that the KKK was this group of men who had no tolerance for blacks, Jews, or Catholics. His family was Catholic, and they weren’t allowed to tell anyone, and they didn’t go to church . . . because the ‘grand dragon’ owned the convenience store at the end of the street. I asked my father, ‘Are they going to do that in our yard?’ and he said, ‘I hope not.’ As long as I live I’ll never forget that.” Mary Beth is indeed a community service powerhouse in her own right, and she leads the efforts from within the Stocken home. She was inspired for one of her most enduring efforts during college—and after learning that her friend’s grandmother was suffering from cancer. Mary Beth began making
LEADERSHIP
an exceptionally good job working with the younger boys—communicating with them in a firm and gentle manner. “What we’re trying to do is make these boys grow up to be young men of quality and good values, and who can lead with respect . . . both Mary Beth and Phil feel strongly that boys should have this guidance in their lives.”
ice cream for the woman while she was undergoing treatment, knowing that she had a sweet tooth. The soothing treat— as it turned out—also helped with taking medicine, and the peppermint flavor seemed to lessen her nausea. When the Stocken boys were old enough, Mary Beth taught her brood how to make the peppermint ice cream, which they began sharing with cancer patients in the area in 2006. Wesley has adopted the ice cream “business” as his own now, and he recently added the Upper Valley Haven food shelf to the distribution, where he hopes families in need will benefit from a sweet indulgence.
Always ready for a new service opportunity, and handy with a sewing machine, Mary Beth is working on a prototype for handmade duffel bags for foster kids (with Wesley providing input on the design) so that they’ll have something personal in which to move their things from home to home. The most recent family project carries on as well: the creation of colorful and comfortable hooded bath towels for children in two local shelters, each bearing a label that reads: “Made with Tender Loving Care by the Stocken Family.”
Speaking of Service . . . Thank you to our many parent volunteers, sponsors, and patrons, who together helped make the 2016 Cardigan Auction a success!
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ALUMNI Leadership The Cardigan Alumni Association Board Since becoming the director of alumni programs earlier this year, one of my goals has been to strengthen the Alumni Board—to induct new members, to meet more often, and to create new (and support existing) relationships between Cardigan and its alumni. Alumni Board members are committed volunteers, all of whom dedicate many hours of service to “our favored school”; they all support the school financially, and in the words of Board President Patrick Gilligan ’80, they all “shake
members, inducted in October 2015, and I appreciate the work they have already done. I share this with the hope that those who do not know about the Alumni Board will gain a better understanding of its purpose. I also hope this will serve as an invitation to anyone considering serving on the board. I encourage any alumnus who would like to help strengthen the Cardigan community to join us at a board meeting. For more information about the
Simply put, the Alumni Board exists to support Cardigan’s mission and make sure that one’s Cardigan experience does not end after Commencement. JEREMIAH SHIPMAN ’00 three hands for Cardigan.” Simply put, board or to talk about anything related to Director of Alumni Programs
the Alumni Board exists to support Cardigan’s mission and make sure that one’s Cardigan experience does not end after Commencement.
Cardigan alumni programming, please get in touch with me through email (jshipman@cardigan.org) or via my office phone (603.523.3601).
What follows is just a glimpse of the good work that is happening and that which is to come. I am pleased to welcome the four new Alumni Board
Best from the Alumni Office,
Cardigan Alumni Association Board Members
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Cardigan Chronicle
Roger Rice ’60 Bruce Marshard ’64 Steven August ’69 Kenneth Klaus ’73 Michael McLean ’77 John Emery ’78 Kirk Franklin ’78 Ned Gibbons, Jr. ’78 Patrick Gilligan ’80
Jeremiah Shipman ’00 Director of Alumni Programs Ryan Mitchell ’92* Brandon Wagner ’92 John Pearson III ’98 Brian Tierney ’99 Roberto Henriquez ’00* Ruben Marcos ’05* Nate Gilbert ’08 Adam Philie ’10* *New Members 2015-2016
Fall/Winter 2015-2016
BY ROBERTO HENRIQUEZ ’00 It has been 15 years since I graduated from Cardigan, and every time I hear the name of my school I can’t help but smile as my mind is flooded with innumerable memories of past experiences that turned me from a boy into a man. I still remember how Mr. Exton took me under his wing and taught me the values of discipline when I arrived as a scared seventh grader; how Mr. Kreuzburg— with his never-ending energy—made me appreciate science and the value of hard work; how, thanks to Mr. Hart, I have
have a vision for Cardigan to become more than a location in Canaan, New Hampshire, and to become more than a one- to four-year experience. I want to build a network of alumni that is active and engaging, and in all parts of the world. I want Cardigan to be a worldrenowned community of excellent individuals who are willing to help one another in any endeavor that may arise. I want the Cardigan experience to live on after those white blazers come off on Commencement day.
Second, we are planning to hold different conferences for Cardigan alumni in Mexico. We are planning on inviting interesting business and political figures for an event at which they can share their life experiences. Within the alumni body there are many highly successful and influential individuals who can continue teaching us outside of a classroom. We will take advantage of these conferences to strengthen the alumni network and reinvigorate the memory of Cardigan.
ALUMNI NEWS
Why I serve on the Alumni Board
Cardigan gave me an incredible education and instilled in me values that built my character and empowered me to become the man that I am today. It has given me so much, and it is time that I give back. a profound love for poetry and I know the importance of the written word. I still remember Mr. Marrion as the best math teacher that I have ever had, but most important, as one of the best human beings that I have ever known. Cardigan gave me an incredible education and instilled in me values that built my character and empowered me to become the man that I am today. It has given me so much, and it is time that I give back.
First, we must help the alumni remember what Cardigan is. They must remember and feel pride whenever they speak of their past experiences. In Mexico, it is nearly impossible to see anything that will remind us of our school, let alone attend any alumni event. So we are bringing Cardigan to Mexico. We are looking into an option to produce and distribute Cardigan apparel in Mexico. In this simple This year I became a member of the way, we are hoping that the alumni Alumni Board, and as such, I pledge reconnect with Cardigan and show to improve the alumni network. I proudly a significant part of their past.
Cardigan Chronicle
It is not without a personal motive that I have offered to be more involved in Cardigan. I have a 10-month-old son who will in the future become a Cardigan student and later a Cardigan alumnus. It is for him and all future alumni that I strive to enrich the experience of attending the greatest school that I have ever known, so that when Commencement ends and life begins, they can count on having Cardigan by their side in every step of their future lives.
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ALUMNI Leadership
The Cardigan Alumni Association Welcomes New Board Members
Ryan Mitchell ’92 Ryan grew up in Kinnelon, New Jersey, and enrolled at Cardigan Mountain School in 1989 after a year abroad with this family in Portugal. He was instrumental in starting the competitive snowboard racing program, earning all-state honors by his graduation in 1992. After graduating from Kinnelon High School in 1995, Ryan went on to Pace University, where he studied accounting. While there, he played on the men’s lacrosse team, and afterward pursued his love of lacrosse as a coach. In late 2000, Ryan started his accounting career, living and working in New York City for five years. He now
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lives in Hoboken, N.J., and in addition to being a founding member of three New Jersey firms (Batch Pay, Hoboken Tax, and Gold Coast Accounting), he is a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, as well as a member of the State Society of Enrolled Agents, for which he serves on the membership committee. Along with his service to the CMS Alumni Board, Ryan serves on the boards of Party With Purpose, The Rotary Club of Ridgewood A.M., and the Hoboken Harriers. Ryan is a dedicated endurance athlete and has run 10 marathons (and still counting!).
Roberto Henriquez ’00 Roberto (pictured on page 43) was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, but was raised in Mexico City, Mexico. Roberto was a “three-year boy” at Cardigan, arriving as a seventh grader and staying through his graduation in the spring of 2000. As well as attending school abroad in America, Roberto studied in France at L’école des Roches. He earned a BA in business from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and an MBA (magna cum laude) from Babson College. Following school, he worked in investment banking and private equity investing, and he is currently involved in establishing an Italian bank in Mexico. He and his wife, Itziar, have a 10-month-old son named Iñigo.
Ruben Marcos ’05 Ruben graduated from Cardigan Mountain School in 2005 after being the very first Mexican student to be elected school leader. After finishing high school back home in Mexico, Ruben attended Northwestern University, where he completed both undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering and graduate studies in project management. He is an avid fan of technology, and he went on to work at TED Conferences before deciding to launch a mobile payments company in Mexico. He currently works as entrepreneur in residence at Banregio, a regional bank in Mexico based in his hometown of Monterrey, where he designs digital banking products. He loves to travel and play video games, and he would love to have more opportunities to go skiing in the winter.
Fall/Winter 2015-2016
By Adam Philie ’10
Adam Philie ’10 Coming to Cardigan as an eighth grader in 2008, Adam played soccer, hockey, and lacrosse, and served as school leader in 2009-2010. Following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Drew ’06, he continued on to Deerfield Academy and is currently a third-year student at Dartmouth College, where he is studying history and environmental studies and has been part of the men’s lacrosse team. Adam stays connected to the Cardigan community while in Hanover by visiting campus frequently—both for alumni events and for his younger brothers’ (Austin ’16 and Aidan ’17) athletic events.
The vision for the Cardigan career network is one where Cardigan’s presence continues to be an active and guiding force in the lives of alumni. In the same way that Cardigan pays heed to one of its mottos, “to start on one’s way,”* Cardigan can continue to help guide our journeys beyond graduation from Cardigan, secondary school, and college. One of Cardigan’s unique strengths is its ability to bring together people from all walks of life in the pursuit of a strong community. Though we all eventually leave Canaan, our shared experiences keep us together and that feeling of connectedness remains for life. The Cardigan career network will create an environment where that community is instantly accessible and available to provide insight and support. Plainly, the goal of the career network is to connect young alumni—who are in the process of transitioning from school to the professional world—to alumni with the experience, wisdom, and desire to help their fellow Cardigan brothers find success. The platform will be a place for information sharing, where established professionals can give advice, and where young alumni can
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leverage their Cardigan experience to help them during the often tumultuous transition from student to professional.
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Board Plans for a CMS Career Network
As a junior at Dartmouth College, I know firsthand the difficulties in preparing for the next few years. I only wish the Cardigan career network were already in place. Sometime in the near future, though, I look forward to an opportunity to give back to Cardigan by offering my advice to a young alumnus thinking about his own future. For this network to be effective, it requires “buy-in” from students and professionals alike. I know that there will be no shortage of students seeking information, and I hope there will be an equally enthusiastic group of older alumni willing to give time and share their knowledge. Alumni Director Jer Shipman ’00 and I, along with the rest of the Alumni Board, are currently in the process of building this platform, and soon we will ask our fellow Cardigan alumni brothers to participate. *The open book in the Cardigan seal logo is a classic symbol of academia, and the Latin text within it (se in viam dare) means “to start on one’s way.”
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1. Roope Hirvonen ’15 and Dave McCusker ’80, P’09,’10 2. Danny Philbrick ’14 and Jack Bliss ’14 3. Rick Exton P’11 and George Ouyang ’13 4. Caleb Gilbert ’17 and Amos Gilbert ’14 5. John D’Entremont ’94 and Adam Philie ’10 6. Devin Clifford ’99 and Hayden Lynch ’08 7. Marten Wennik P’15,’16, Ward Betts ’12, and Jake Wennik ’16 8. Dave Grilk ’06, Tommy Thompson ’07, Chris Grilk ’06, and Gavin Bayreuther ’09 9. Travis Nevins, Joo Sang “James” Lee ’13, Alex Gray H’12, and Avery Scoville
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ALUMNI NEWS
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1. Bennett Psyhogeos ’15 and Brian Wang ’15 2. Corbin Holland ’15 and Hank Holland P’12,’15 3. Morgan Himmer ’13 4. Billy ’12 and Karen Philpot P’12 5. Nick Parker ’14 6. Emilio Antor ’16, Diego Zesati ’15, and Luis Pietrini ’16 7. Auden Menke ’12 8. Jen and Bob ’78 Jangro P’03,’05, Nick Spaulding ’14, and Mike Jangro ’05 9. Beckham Bayreuther ’15 and Reilly Walsh ’14 10. Drew Philie ’06, Chriss Morse ’16, Alex Gray H’12, and Chad Morse ’12 11. Chris Farnsworth, Matt McCue ’09, and Eric Lane 12. Tucker Williams ’15, and Dave McCusker ’80, P’09,’10
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1. Jeremiah Shipman ’00, Beckham Bayreuther ’15, Ben Chapin ’13, and Ryan Houx ’14 2. Nick Spaulding ’14 and Charlie Baker ’14 3. Jake Dulac ’15, Rick Exton P’11, and Auden Menke ’12 4. Sam Bolen ’08 and Pablo Rocha 5. Jay Woods ’72 6. Josh Dickman ’09 7. Jeremiah Shipman ’00, Justin Simon ’00, and Charlie Smith ’99 8. Tucker Williams ’15, Jon Schafer ’15, Roope Hirvonen ’15, and Hugo Turcotte ’15 9. Will Appleton ’13, Walker Huff ’14, Billy Philpot ’12, and Austin Franklin ’13 10. Pablo Rocha, Marten Wennik P’15,’16, Tucker Powell ’14, and Jeff Good
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Fall/Winter 2015-2016
2014-2015
Annual Report of Gifts Available online at:
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Thank you! www.cardigan.org/a n n u a l r e p o r t
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Ca mpaign Update Launched in 2009, the Campaign’s progress toward a $50,000,000 goal stands at $42,595,728 (85.2%)*
*As of February 26, 2016.
W
e believe that educating a boy through focusing on his strengths is key to his development as a young man of compassion, respect, integrity, and courage—and that it’s fundamental to his development as a successful student. Cardigan knows how middle school boys learn, what makes them healthy and productive, and who the right people are to nurture them on the journey to discover their best self. We’ve been committed to educating boys since 1945, and we’re only getting better. The success of The Campaign for Cardigan 2020 has enabled the School to preserve and enhance what our founders and leaders have established on The Point over the past seven decades, to support the people who devote their lives to this unique and transformative education, and to prepare the campus for future decades of use and enjoyment by Cardigan students, faculty, and members of the larger community. The roadmap to Cardigan’s future as the preeminent school for middle school boys, The Strategic Plan for Cardigan 2020, continues to guide the capital campaign to ensure that Cardigan Mountain School has the program, facilities, and professional excellence to deliver on its mission and vision, and it also charts an intentional and strategic course toward a future that is financially sustainable. Boys need Cardigan, and with your help it will always be here for them—stronger than ever.
Thank you for your support! 50
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w w w. c a r d i ga n . o r g / c a m p a i g n
Fall/Winter 2015-2016
. . . to make a difference. Dave McCusker has often stated that “if it hadn’t been for financial aid, I never would have had the opportunity to be at a place like Cardigan and further my education and experiences in the way that I did. I will be eternally grateful.”
Dave McCusker in 1980.
The education of middle school-age boys is near and dear to Dave and Steff’s hearts, and The McCusker Legacy Fund will allow future generations of middle school boys the opportunity to benefit from the experience.
ENDOWMENT SUPPORT FOR
Students...
Financial Aid keeps the Cardigan experience within reach for families of boys, like Dave McCusker, who will benefit for a lifetime from what Cardigan offers.
ADVANCING CARDIGAN
Special Opportunity
... and Teachers
Honor the McCusker Legacy with a gift of any size. • Early gifts provided support for the McCusker Hall project.
Providing Professional Development resources and opportunities for faculty members helps them hone their skills and brings best practices to bear on our worldclass education for middle school boys.
• Additional gifts provide endowment support for financial aid and professional development.
For more information, please contact
• Fundraising will continue through June 30, 2016.
Campaign Director Sandra Hollingsworth
www.cardigan.org/mygift
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Email: shollingsworth@cardigan.org Telephone: 603.523.3745
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“We will know your boys, and we will love your boys.” Dave ’80 and Steff McCusker P’09,’10 have made this their guiding commitment since 2007. w w w. c a r d i g a n . o r g / m c c u s k e r c e l e b r a t i o n
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Fall/Winter 2015-2016
Join us! Friday, May 6, 2016, on The Point
for a send-off bash to remember, as we prepare to bid a fond farewell to Dave and Steff. The party begins with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at 5:30 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner, music and dancing, and then dessert and presentations in honor of Dave and Steff.
Please make lodging arrangements as soon as possible! Hotel recommendations and event details are available on our RSVP webpage: www.cardigan.org/mccuskercelebration.
Can’t make it to Canaan for the May 6 celebration?
Even if you’re unable to join us for the party in May, you can help make the McCuskers’ transition from Cardigan extra special. Share a memory or some kind words at www.cardigan.org/mccuskercelebration, and even share a photo if you’d like, and we’ll add it to a special gift for Dave and Steff. Cardigan Chronicle
Advancing Cardigan
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Third Annual ALUMNI LACROSSE Game August 15, 2015
For the third time in three years, lacrosseplaying alumni donned green and white jerseys and took to Marrion Field for a highly competitive August alumni game. Team White came out on top for the first time this year, in a low-scoring contest that resulted in a 7-4 win. Kirk Franklin ’78 played brilliantly and earned his second Alumni Game MVP Award, but it wasn’t enough for his Green team. Honorary alumnus Al Gray H’12, P’14,’16 ran a wellorchestrated offense, keeping the ball in
Mark your calendar for this year’s game!
August 20, 2016, at 11:30 a.m., on Marrion Field White’s attacking zone most of the match and tiring the Green defense. Early in the third quarter, Amos Gilbert ’14 tallied the gamewinning goal, securing the victory for White and team MVP honors for himself. Following the third quarter, it was unanimously decided, due to extreme heat, that the competition come to an end and that a dip in Canaan Street Lake would be a fine substitution for the last quarter.
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Fall/Winter 2015-2016
In the COMMUNITY
Alumni LACROSSE MVP Kirk Franklin ’78 with Jer Shipman ’00.
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In the Community
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Roots of GRATITUDE Community Reception Honoring Our Canaan Neighbors October 22, 2015 In the Historic Canaan Street Meetinghouse
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1. Event Coordinator Mary Ledoux greets guests at the Canaan Street Meetinghouse. 2. Steve and Terri Purcell P’84; Dr. Richard Morrison ’50, P’74,’76; and Jane Cross 3. Dudley Clark H’05 and Gary Cookson P’12,’16 4. Ruth Conwell and Richard Clancy ’67, P’17. 5. Jeff and Carol Majewski 6. Dave McCusker ’80, P’09,’10 addresses the gathering in the historic Canaan Street Meetinghouse 7. David Perfield, Schuyler Peck ’63, and Jonathan Wakely ’75 8. Hae Suk and Bryan Robbins 9. Elizabeth Perryman P’13,’15, with Joyce Ann Burman GP’19
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Fall/Winter 2015-2016
In the COMMUNITY
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1. Pam Crigler and Penny Peck 2. Ken MacInnis P’19 and Maureen White P’19 3. Sharon Duffy and Ryan Porter 4. Bill Bellion with Sam and Jen Frank 5. Marc and Virginia Sarazin P’16, with Tim Newbold 6. Sandy Hollingsworth and Alissa Striano P’18 7. John Pfeifle P’86,’89, GP’16 and Richard Clancy ’67, P’17 8. Dan Houston, Carole Mennen P’17,
and Kellie Houston
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In the Community
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MEXICO Visits
Dave ’80 and Steff McCusker P’09,’10 and Hank Holland P’12,’15 during their visits to Cardigan’s Mexican families in Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Mexico City.
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1. Guadalajara alumni group with the McCuskers 2. The large gathering at the Monterrey reception 3. The McCuskers with the Ramonfaur family (Diego ’10, Paul P’10,’16, and Monica P’10,’16) in Monterrey 4. Marisol Cedillos de Zambrano P’03,’06,’11 Rodolfo Zambrano P’03,’06,’11 Hank Holland P’12,’15 Gustavo Escamilla P’10,’18 and Martha Gomez de Escamilla P’10,’18 5. Hank Holland P’12,’15, Jose Harb P’14, and Adrian Rodriguez P’14, Rick Exton P’11, Jose Harb ’14, and Steff McCusker P’09,’10 6. Ruben Marcos ’05, Rick Exton P’11, Jorge Garcia ’03, Dave ’80 and Steff McCusker P’09,’10, and Hank Holland P’12,’15 with the lovely gift presented to the McCuskers in Monterrey 7. Oliver Zambrano ’06, Ruben Marcos ’05, and Diego Zambrano ’06 8. Evaristo Garcia ’05 Claudia Morales de Garcia 11 P’03,’05,’16, and Dani and Jorge Garcia ’03 9. Dave ’80 and Steff McCusker P’09,’10 with the gifts they received in Guadalajara 10. Mauricio and Lorena Guzman P’14,’18, and Mauricio ’14 11. Eugenio Marcos ’11 Dave ’80 and Steff McCusker P’09,’10; and Gonzalo ’09 and Christian Backhoff ’05
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Fall/Winter 2015-2016
Rick Exton P’11, David Perfield, and Hank Holland P’12,’15 during their visits to Cardigan’s Asian families in Seoul, Beijing, and Shanghai.
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1. Yongji Sun P’16,’17, Hank Holland P’12,’15, Xiaojie Sun P’16,’16, Zane Skrastina, Rick 6 Exton P’11, and David Perfield in Beijing 2. Beijing community gathering 3. David Perfield, Jiachen “Vivian” Gu P’15, Hongwei Ma P’15, Hank Holland P’12,’15, Zane Skrastina, Huaxin Huang P’15, and Rick Exton P’11 4. Seoul community gathering 5. Koichiro Hirata P’17 (with Yukiko Hirata P’17) shows off his Cardigan tie 6. Yongji Sun P’16,’17 and Hank Holland P’12,’15 7. Shanghai moms 8. Shanghai dads
Cardigan Chronicle
In the COMMUNITY
ASIA Visits
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HERE and THERE . . . In the Community Chicago David Perfield; Dave McCusker ’80, P’09,’10; Stew Dixon ’80; Steff McCusker P’09,’10; and Karen Schmid.
Rick and Connie Van Arnam P’10 (left side) with Dave ’80 and Steff McCusker P’09,’10
Belmont Hill Blake Collins ’16 and Sawyer Moody ’16, members of the winning Cardigan Cougars at the 2015 Belmont Hill Holiday Hockey Tournament.
generously hosted a Cardigan Admissions reception at their home in Winchester, Mass. In attendance were current and prospective CMS families, members of the Admissions Office staff, plus Dave ’80 and Steff McCusker P’09,’10, and (incoming head of school) Chris and Cynthia Day P’12,’13.
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Winchester
Ed ’82 and Susie Krayer
Corey Sarazin ’16 covering the net for the Cougars.
Fall/Winter 2015-2016
In the COMMUNITY
Faculty APPRECIATION Day December 16, 2015
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1. Kellie Houston, Dana D’Orio P’17,’18, and Dr. Elizabeth Perryman P’13,’15 2. Dave Auerbach P’11 enjoys the display of notes and cards from parents expressing their gratitude 3. Matt Rinkin partakes of the chocolate fountain 4. Rob Edson and Dave Irwin enjoy refreshments by the “fireplace” 5. Mark Holt, Faculty Appreciation Day raffle winner of a giant tray of delicious goodies 6. Kyla Johnson, raffle winner of the Lindt Chocolate gift basket 7. Faculty members enjoy a break and some refreshments in the Powers Room, courtesy of the Parents Association 8. Dr. Elizabeth Perryman P’13,’15 reads one of the many cards sent in by parents to show appreciation
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BOSTON Holiday Reception At the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum December 4, 2015
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1. Scott Powers ’75 and Phyllis Powers P’75,’82,’87, GP’06,’10,’16,’17 2. Schuyler ’63 and Penny Peck 3. Lorna and Kim ’68 Kenly 4. Meg Moulton and Kate Chartener 5. Ned Philie P’06,’10,’16,’17, Ken Gill P’16, Phyllis Powers P’06,’10,’16,’17, and Elaine Gill P’16 6. Steve and Dawn Jones P’00 7. Julie Anderson and David Coletti ’94 8. Daniel and Kelly Dwyer P’17 9. Jeremiah Shipman ’00, Devin Clifford ’99, and Al Stevenson ’00 10. Nick ’14 and Will ’13 Humphrey
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1. David and Ann LeBreton P’09 2. Sharon and Scott Haire 3. Chris P’06,’08, Ben ’06, Cindy P’06,’08, and Sam ’08 Wyskiel 4. Raul and Monica Ramonfaur P’16 5. Roger Woodberry ’83, Richard Clancy ’67, and Steve August ’69 10 11 6. Sara Bronzetti, Ronn Bronzetti ’89, and Linda Haskins P’89,’91 7. Dana and Chris D’Orio P’17,’18, and Elaine and Ken Gill P’16 8. Kenneth Martin GP’16 and Lorraine Gibbons P’78, GP’13,’15, with Lorraine’s granddaughters 9. Sharon and Scott Haire, Brian and Shannon Beale, and Margaret and Jamie H’09 Funnell P’07,’09 10. Joy and Richard ’67 Clancy P’17 and Steve August ’69 11. Peter ’77 and Kathy Secor
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1. Barbara and Jock ’65 Pearson P’98 2. Devin Clifford ’99 and Caitlyn Wolff 3. Paul and Wendy Tweedale P’16 4. Malcolm ’64 and Elissa Moran P’00 5. Schuyler Peck ’63, Dave McCusker ’80, P’09,’10, and Richard Clancy ’67, P’17 6. Barbara O’Connell P’03 and Dr. Robert Kenerson H’04 7. Aris Garrison ’96 (right) and friend Jessica 8. Susan Rives, Steff McCusker P’09,’10, and Ned Gibbons Sr. P’78, GP’13,’15 9. Samantha, Jodi, and Jonathan ’75 Wakely 10. Nicole and Jeremiah ’00 Shipman 11. Mike and Gayle Schafer P’15 12. Mark Dantos ’87 and Livinia Weizel 14. Gary and Michelle Saklad P’16,’18 15. Steven and Susan Mann P’03
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YORK CITY
Cardigan Alumni Association New York Chapter January 14, 2016
Mike Doyle, Jr. ’08 Jer Shipman ’00 Luis Rivera ’92 Ian-Duncan Ball ’83 Joseph Rivera ’93 Ryan Mitchell ’92 Brandon Wagner ’92 Peter Mahler ’84 Henry Baker ’92 Zach Zimmerman ’03 Neil Brier H’11 Griffin Mayer ’93 Andy Bay ’92 Tyler Wilmot ’09
Annual Future Stars Basketball Tournament Hosted by The Boys’ Club of New York—January 16, 2016
In the COMMUNITY
Cardigan in NEW
BCNY
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1. Cardigan Cougars Varsity Basketball players on the court at the Boys’ Club in Harlem 2. “1,2,3, Cougars!” 3. The team gathered with members of our NYC-area Cardigan family after the tournament 4. Tony Shen ’16 takes the tip off 5. Max Gregory ’18 6. Christian ’18 and CJ ’11 Moore 7. Jalin Sinclair ’16
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Cardigan at DARTMOUTH January 16, 2016 Annual Community Reception in the Smoyer Lounge at Thompson Arena Dartmouth Men’s Hockey vs. St. Lawrence University
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1. Carl and Cari Lovejoy P’99,’04,’07, Chip Audett P’16, and Jessica Bayreuther P’09,’15,’17 2. Tommy Thompson ’07 3. Gavin Bayreuther ’09 4. Terry Lovejoy GP’09,’15,’17, Alex Gray P’14,’16, and Ed Lovejoy GP’09,’15,’17 5. John and Sarah Thompson P’07 6. Warren and Joanne Mitchell GP’09,’15,’17, Bill Bayreuther, and John Bayreuther P’09,’15,’17 7. CMS kids enjoying the reception 8. Dave McCusker ’80, P’09,’10 addresses the gathering 9. Pablo Rocha and Sol Gahagan-Rocha 10. Morris Levy ’02 (right) and friend Jennifer.
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1. Sheila Cragg-Elkouh P’15,’17,’19, and Mary Beth Stocken P’19 2. Jaewon Moon ’17 and Brendan D’Orio ’18 3. Joe Cardigan and friends on the ice between periods, after tossing tee-shirts to the crowd 4. Dana and Chris D’Orio P’17,’18, with Jessica and John Bayreuther P’09,’15,’17 5. Liz and Alex Gray P’14,’16, with Marge and Harvey Gray GP’14,’16 6. Emma Brondel with Annabelle and Greg Stott 7. Sarah and Ryan Sinclair with Terri and Steve Purcell P’94 8. Kaelynn and Suzette Densmore 9. Devin Clifford ’99 and Richard Clancy ’67, P’17 10. Kevin and Erin Drury 11. Chuck Metz ’74 and friend Roger 12. Maureen White P’19, Ken MacInnis P’19, and Ryan MacInnis ’19 14. Dale and Diane Hines P’17
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The 27th Annual Cardigan February 5, 2016
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AUCTION
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The Cardigan Auction is an annual evening of fun and entertainment that fosters community spirit, with proceeds supporting our students and faculty through . . .
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1. Heather Roberts P’18 draws for the wine pull 2. Sandy Hollingsworth and Phyllis Powers P’06,’10,’16,’17 3. Jonathan Wakely ’75 places a proxy bid (and inspires other bidders) during the Fund-A-Need auction item 4. Participants in the Heads or Tails game showdown 5. 8 Alice and Wilson Lee P’17 during Live Auction bidding 6. Mike ’67 and Melanie Garrison P’94,’96, with Kim Kenly ’68 7. Auction Director Kathryn Holland and emcee Jarrod Caprow 8. Live Auction bidding action!
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AUCTION
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1. Parent auction volunteer Mary Beth Stocken P’19 2. Ellen P’13,’14,’16 and Davis ’16 Humphrey 3. Andy and Maureen Gilbert P’08,’10,’13 4. Beth Wilkinson P’18, Max Gregory ’18, and David Gregory P’18 5. Lucie, Patrick P’15, and Isabelle P’15 Turcotte 6. Jeremy Crigler ’79 raises a bid at the Live Auction 7. Robert P’07, Owen, and Maria P’07 Carpino 8. Nick Page ’16 (center standing) with his parents, Chris and Amy Page P’16, and Nick’s younger brothers
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This year’s auction raised over $190,000 for The Annual Fund for Cardigan!
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1. Carole P’17 and George ’17 Mennen 2. Josh ’16 and Adam P’16 Rizika 3. John P’17, Jack ’17, and Jane P’17 Roberts 4. Diane P’06, Marshall, and Kat Wallach 5. Cal and Nancy Bussey P’18 with Steff McCusker P’09,’10 6. Nick Jessop ’16 (second from left), his sister, and parents Richard and Kelly Jessop P’16 7. Jennifer P’17, Owen ’17, and Eric P’17 Himmer, with Kimmy Wennik P’15,’16 8. Owen Carpino, and Patrick Turcotte P’15, with Janet and Gary Cookson P’12,’16
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1. Maria Caripidis and Giorgo Caripidis ’16 2. Troy P’18 and Quincy ’18 McBride 3. Henri Pfeifle ’16 and Trask Pfeifle ’86, P’16 4. Heather Roberts P’18, Barbara Parker P’16, and Anna Dulac P’15 5. Thomas ’16, Timothy P’16, and Eileen P’16 Madigan, and Thomas’s younger sister 6. Kyla Joslin and Mark Holt show their Treasure Island spirit 7. Hank Holland P’12,’15 and Jarrod Caprow 8. Raymond P’17, Tripp ’17, and Taylor Hindle P’17 9. Xavier P’16,’16,’16, Rafael ’16, and Andres ’16 Mangino 10. Jock Pearson ’65, P’98 and Peter Michelson ’17 11. Vincent Hou ’17, Zhi Yuan Zhang P’17, and Jin Zhao Hou P’17
Cardigan Chronicle
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WANT TO SEE MORE? Check out our photo galleries at cardigan.smugmug.com
In the Community
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What’s On Your Mind?
Here are some kind words from Cardigan friends and family around the Web. We welcome you to join the conversation! My core values, work ethic, and the determination to be the best man that I can be were developed during my time attending Cardigan Mountain School. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all!
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Garrett Plekenpol ’14
Learning by doing! What great fun it is to be a kid at Cardigan.
Glad three of my grandsons had the Cardigan experience! Joanne Tierney, Grandmother of Nolan ’11, Tim ’13, and Peter ’15 Callahan.
Fantastic! Wim is a gifted educator in and out of the classroom.
S. Hargrove (Scott) Haire, after reading an article written by English teacher Wim Hart.
Anthony Ragno III ’95 on seeing the “Tower of Power” video on Facebook.
Well deserved token of gratitude for the dedication, sacrifice and leadership you and Steff have given that great institution. Your legacy will live beyond brick and mortar, in the blood and sweat of the generations of leaders you have molded. Once you graduate from Cardigan, you Brad Pitassi ’94 on the naming of bleed green for life. our new dorm as McCusker Hall.
I’m not sure how this Cardigan player managed to catch this pass with a Holderness defender’s hand in his face. But if anyone can do it, it’s a Cardigan boy. Cougars don’t cut corners . . . or apparently drop passes. Dave Mengle (SS Parent) after seeing a photo of a Cardigan football player making a spectacular catch.
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Cardigan Chronicle
Fall/Winter 2015-2016
The Annual Fund for Cardigan helps boys and their teachers go
above and beyond
in the classroom, on the field, and in the community. Your gift
today ensures excellence.
The Annual Fund for Cardigan supports the people, programs, and facilities that make Cardigan Mountain School special—giving boys the tools they need to go above and beyond their own expectations.
Make your gift online at www.cardigan.org/mygift or contact Director of Annual Giving Kellie Houston at 603.523.3516.
Cardigan Mountain School 62 Alumni Drive Canaan, New Hampshire 03741-7210
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To help cut down on environmental impact we have chosen to send only one magazine per address. You can update your subscription to the Chronicle online at www.cardigan.org/mailinglist.
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