THE
SPILLWAY 2017-18
Kate’s Notes: Looking Back, Looking Forward Hello CVA Family and Friends, It is hard to believe another year has come and gone! We have accomplished much throughout the course of the past 12 months, all the while maintaining our focus on what will be a very exciting 2018. I’d like to take a moment to look back and celebrate some of the many projects completed, deadlines met, and activities executed by our incredibly dedicated and passionate faculty, staff, coaches, student-athletes, families and community. In early 2017, we were just a few months into the use of the state-of-the-art Bill & Joan Alfond Competition Center. A year on, the Center has shown itself to truly be a cutting-edge facility, something that sets the heritage and future of snowsport competition at Sugarloaf apart from similar locales around the country. An experienced and long-time coach recently noted, “I’ve been to hundreds of racing centers across the country and around the world – this competition center really is a one-of-a-kind feature, unique to this mountain.” When the nation’s top alpine racers descended on Sugarloaf in late March for the U.S. Alpine Nationals, the Competition Center served as the backdrop for their experience. CVA had a strong contingent of skiers qualify, and perform well at the competition. Notably, Sam Morse, CVA ’13 – hot off his win at the Junior World’s (DH Champion) finished first in his age-class and fourth overall for the Super G run at Nationals. Several of our young academy athletes competed at this high-level for the first time in their early careers, giving them a taste of many prodigious competitions to come. Pictured Top: Kate Webber Punderson, CVA ’89 Head of School Middle: Bill & Joan Alfond Competition Center Bottom: Sam Morse, CVA ’13 signs helmets at the base of his Nationals run at Sugarloaf 2
Simultaneously, student-athletes across all of our disciplines were setting goals, hitting them, and reaching even higher. For the second year running, Carrabassett Valley Academy student-athlete Acy Craig of Stowe,VT, went to the annual USASA championship events held at Copper Mountain, CO, with high hopes of a solid performance. In 2016, the (then 7th grader), took home the top spot in her age class for Giant Slalom, and netted top 10 finishes in Boarder Cross, Slopestyle and Slalom to boot. This year, at the ripe age of 14, she became a National Champion once again, this time in the coveted Boarder Cross event. Fellow snowboard athlete, Eli McDermott, CVA ’20, and Freestyle athlete Toby Skarsten, ’19, were both named to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Rev Tour 2018, big things in store for them in the year ahead. Keegan Kilbride, CVA ’15, has had a huge year on the Freeski circuit. With notable appearances in edits by industry veterans at the top of their game, Keegan recently won a Powder Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, and was named a 2018 X-Games Real Ski Athlete! The Backcountry team continues to pursue their passion, gathering knowledge and experience on how to safely explore the untouched corners of the wilderness. This year, Jake Williams, ’20 and David Rowse, PG, join their fellow teammates by earning their Wilderness First Aid certificate (all other BC athletes earned the certification last year). In one month, the entire team will earn their Avalanche 1 certificate when they travel to Jackson, WY.
Pictured Top: Acy Craig, CVA ’22, Boardercross National Champion, with Snowboard Weekend Program Head Coach, Meghan Price Bottom: Eli McDermott, CVA ’20 hiking the rail setup at3 Sugarloaf
2017 was a highly successful academic year for our student body and our academic programming. The strength of our curriculum, and unmatched support of CVA families continues to ensure our student-athletes are well-positioned to pursue their academic goals for college and beyond. The 2017 graduating class had a 100% acceptance rate to post-secondary institutions, a covetable statistic for any learning institution.
While noting that the school has weathered more than its share of challenges in the last few years, the Commission commends Carrabassett Valley for its continued upward and energetic path. Being named USS Club of the Year and Snowboarding Club of the Year in 2016, completing the Alfond Competition Center in cooperation with Sugarloaf and initiating the highly successful Responsible Living Curriculum, all indicate the strengths of the Academy and the dedication of its leadership, its Board of Trustees, alumni and friends.
In November, CVA received approval of its five-year interim report, and maintains its accreditation with the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. The response from the Commission was hugely supportive, as illustrated in the following excerpt from their acceptance letter*. *view full NEASC letter here.
Since its founding, CVA has created an outstanding school and a focused program during this half c entury of planning, growth and increasing strength.
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And finally, another celebratory moment of 2017 came with our official designation as a U.S. Ski & Snowboard High Performance Center. Sugarloaf was concurrently designated a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Site. Both designations set our community up for continued excellence in skiing and snowboarding for our athletes. As a High Performance Center, CVA will collaborate with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Park Citybased Center of Excellence and other high performance centers to share best practices in strength and conditioning, sport science and sports medicine and serve as a site to host training and education sessions for clubs in the region. As a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Development Site, Sugarloaf will provide on-hill training days for regional and national development projects, as well as access for U.S. Ski Team athletes.
Of course there are countless achievements, events, successes and quiet moments that have comprised our 2017, too many to mention here. But we celebrate each of them, and hope you will join us as we turn our gaze ahead. With an Olympic year on the horizon, it is with eager anticipation that we celebrate the season. In gratitude,
Kate Punderson CVA Head of School
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Board of Trustees Update: Supporting the CVA Mission, Yesterday, Today & tomorrow Carrabassett Valley Academy is pleased to announce that Kevin Burns has been elected as the new Chair of the CVA Board of Trustees. Kevin has most recently served as the Chair of the Development Committee, and is coming to his new role with great energy as he has recently entered retirement from his business, Quality Containers. We cannot thank our former Chair, Earle Morse, enough, for his tireless work on behalf of the Academy and our community. Earle will continue on the Board of Trustees, providing his deep understanding of the unique organizational needs and structure of the Academy. Alongside Kevin and Earle, is a group of dedicated and passionate individuals with a strong relationship and long history with Carrabassett Valley Academy.
“My four and a half years as Board Chair have been ones of tremendous success and exciting change for the Academy.We are proud of being named U.S. Ski and Snowboard Club of the Year in 2016, the completion of the Peter and Martha Webber Academic Center and the Bill and Joan Alfond Competition Center, as well as the reduction of much of the school’s capital debt. My three-year term as Chair quickly became four and a half, so it is time to pass the torch to the next member of our team. Kevin has shown us stellar leadership in every role he has served at CVA, and it is with much anticipation that we head into 2018 with Kevin’s energy and capabilities at the helm of the Board. I look forward to continuing on the Board and working closely with Kevin and our dedicated group of Board Members.” - Earle Morse, CVA Board Chair 2013 - 2017 6
2018 Board of Trustees
Mr. Zachary Brandwein, ’05 Portland, ME Mr. Kevin Burns, P ’04 Falmouth, ME Mr. Lloyd Cuttler Carrabassett Valley, ME
Rev. Earle Morse, P ’09, ’13 Carrabassett Valley, ME Mr. James Pelletier, ’03 Boston, MA
Mr. Sean Dundon Portland, ME
Mrs. Bonnie Potter, P ’98 Chamberlain, ME
Mr. Paul Fremont-Smith Jr., P ’91 Mrs. Carol Fremont-Smith, P ’91 Boston, MA
Mr. Jamie Potter, ’98 Portland, ME
Mr. Paul Fritzson Carrabassett Valley, ME
Mrs. Kate Webber Punderson, ’89 Carrabassett Valley, ME
Mrs. Amanda Newton Gray, ’96 South Portland, ME
Mrs. Vici Robinson, P ’92 Hancock, NH
Ms. Lindy Mackinnon Gruen, ’92 East Walpole, MA
Mr. Josh Silver, ’94 Cumberland, ME
Mrs. Gilly Hitchcock, P ’06, P ’10 Kingfield, ME
Mr. Peter C. Smith, ’08 Boston, MA
Mrs. Emily Dickinson Leete, P ’12 Falmouth, ME
Mr. Karl Strand Carrabassett Valley, ME
Mr. Christopher Lorenz, ’89 South Freeport, ME
Mr. Carter Witherspoon, ’02 Boston, MA
Mr. Bruce Miles Carrabassett Valley, ME 7
The Littlest Big Dogs: Middle School at CVA CVA has long been recognized for not only the athletic training regimen that has placed multiple athletes on the world’s top competitive stages, but also for the strength of our academic curriculum, preparing students for success long after their time at CVA. Middle school is a challenging and dynamic time in a young student-athlete’s career. It is a time of many firsts, firsts that will help establish them on a path of learning, growth and awareness. When a student-athlete enrolls at CVA in these early, highly formative years, they are supported and indeed, set-up to have an advantage in later years as independent academy athletes, fully prepared to take on the rigor of the academic programming and the discipline of athletic training. CVA offers well-established, specific modules for these younger age groups. And just like all private and public school systems, CVA supports and meets every academic need for these young students.
7th Grade courses:
8th Grade courses:
Life Science Humanities (English and Social Studies) Math (7th grade levels up through pre-algebra) French (with prior experience) Spanish (with prior experience) Art
Physical Science Humanities (English/Social Studies) Pre-Algebra/Algebra I French (Introductory) Spanish (Introductory) Art
In conjunction with this robust required offering, CVA prides itself on identifying and accommodating individual needs. Faculty members work to ensure there is little or no duplication from a students’ previous school curriculum, often tailoring and individualizing full courses for specific needs. 8
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2017-18 Enrollment Profile Year of Study Year of Study
Post-Graduate
5.4% 5.4%
72.9% 72.9%
High School (9-12)
Middle School (7-8)
21.6% 21.6%
HighHigh School (9-12) SchoolPost-GraduatePost-Grad Middle School Middle School (7-8) Athletic Discipline
Big ou Dog r p s i ac n k “Everyone at CVA is unique in their own way, as a result, we all bring life and excitement to the community. Whether you are from the coast of Maine or the mountains of Colorado we all have the same passion, which brings us together and leads us to success in the classroom and on the slopes.”
Alpine Snowboard Ski Cross Freestyle Backcountry
-Cam Niven, ’18, Backcountry
Boarding Status
Hometown Region
44% 33
35
60
51
30
50 25 19 25.3%
19 25.3%
20 15
40
30
10
5.3%4
5 0
24
20
10
Maine Maine
N.E. N.E.
International Intl.
U.S. U.S. 9
Maine
N.E.
Intl.
U.S.
0
Full Boarding
Day Day
5 7
The CVA Annual Fund
to
s n o e s v a i Re G
When a Big Dog puts their mind to something, nothing can stop them. But they need your support in order to achieve their full potential. Please consider making a gift to the CVA Annual Fund and be a REASON they succeed.
75 committed athletes...
75 focused students...
75 chances to Make a difference... Donate now: CVA ANNUAL FUND find us on Venmo @CarrabassettValleyAcademy, or send a check to The CVA Annual Fund, 3197 Carrabassett Drive, Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947. 10
School stats Financial Aid & Endowment 58% of CVA students receive financial aid support Average aid awarded: $18,787 Endowment and designated funds: $1.92 MM
Budgeted Revenue
Budgeted Expenses
77% Tuition & Program Fees 12% Auxiliary Programs 8% Fundraising 2% Misc. Income 1% Endowment
31% Instructional/Programming 21% Administrative/Business Op 19% Scholarship/Assistance 21% Plant/Vehicle/Food 8% Auxiliary Programs
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No off days: the Olympics are coming An Olympic year is exciting for everyone. And once every four years periphery sports and their athletes get a chance to shine. But for our athletes, the road is long, it demands daily commitment, it demands early wake-ups and training on the mountain rain or shine, and it demands their unwavering passion – even when the rest of society turns its gaze elsewhere. So, to our athletes who demonstrate these things tirelessly, we salute you -- this year and always!
CVA Olympic Facts:
At CVA, an Olympic Year means excitement, celebration and lots (and lots) of Cheering!
• 10 CVA alumni have gone on to compete in the Olympic Games • CVA has had respresentation at every games since Albertville, FR, 1992 • Medal count: 3 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze • Disciplines represented: Alpine, Freestyle, Snowboard
There’s nothing like the energy of an Olympic season to ignite the spark of interest in young skiers and riders who want to follow in the footsteps of their heroes. CVA is no stranger to the call of the Olympics. With hopefuls on the brink of a berth to the ultimate competitive stage, and a storied history of contenders, we’re looking forward to the upcoming games with baited breath.
CVA supports the next generation of Olympic dreamers! CVA knows the best cure for Olympic fever is to get out and live that passion, and we have multiple opportunities throughout the season ahead to do just that, Visit us at www.goCVA.com to learn about opportunities for your young Olympian-at-heart. 12
Locals at the Top of their game Nessa Dziemian (pictured right): From East Hampstead, NH, CVA class of 2012, Nessa was the North American champion in moguls in 2015. A knee injury ended her 2017 season in February, but she has recovered strong, and she’s ready for a big comeback for the 2018 Olympic season. Annalisa Drew: from Lawrence, MA, CVA Post-Graduate 2012. Annalisa was a member of the inaugural Olympic halfpipe skiing team in 2014, finishing 9th at the Sochi Games. She has been consistently climbing the ranks of freeskiing competition since 2010, with a multitude of major wins under her belt. She was the first woman to land a 1260 in the halfpipe, doing so at Buttermilk Mountain in Sam Morse (pictured left): from 2013 and placing third at the 2016 X Games. Carrabassett Valley, ME, CVA Class of 2013. 2017 has been a big year for our own “moose on the loose.” Early in the year, Sam moved up from the D Team to the C Team for U.S. Ski. Shortly after, he was crowned World Junior Downhill Champion with an uber fast showing at the World Junior Championships in Are, Sweden. The young gun has been impressing coaches, teammates and his supporters for years, with his determination, incredible work ethic, and neversay-die attitude. At only 21 years old, we know we’ll be cheering on this alum for years to come. Troy Tully: from Pleasentville, NY, CVA Class of 2010. Troy had a break out year on the NorAm Mogul circuit in 2015-16. After securing two podiums at U.S. Selections in December, he posted seven NorAm podium finishes, including three wins, to take home the 2016 Grand Prix title and land his spot on the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. Tully went on to defend his title in 2017 and post some of his best World Cup finishes. Seth Wescott: Our very own hometown hero from Sugarloaf, ME, and CVA Class of 1994. Seth won gold in boardercross at the 2006 and 2010 Games, but missed 2014 because of an injury. A seasoned athlete with a successful competitive career, we know never to count out Mr. Wescott, especially in an Olympic year! 13
CVA Hopefuls from away Connor Wilson: From Dunkeld, South Africa, CVA Post-Graduate 2017. Connor has locally been dubbed “The Giant of Slalom” having won the SA National Championships two years running. He recently won his second title at the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) series of slalom competitions at the Tiffindell Ski Resort in the Eastern Cape in late July. After reaching the pinnacle of ski racing in South Africa, twice, Wilson hopes to be selected for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Jamie Prebble: From New Zealand, CVA Class of 2010. Jamie originally trained as an alpine racer, but once he got a taste of the excitement, speed and thrill of racing against three other people at 80km/hr and just millimeters apart, he made the switch to ski cross in 2012. He began competing on the World Cup tour and a string of promising results saw him win the Snow Sports NZ Breakthrough Season Award for 2015. Jamie went on to claim a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships in Sierra Nevada. Jamie has been named to the NZ team to compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang.
CVA alums
- Building Champions
Emily Cook: from Belmont, MA, CVA Class of 1997, an incredible competitor her own right, landing 9 World Cup podiums and competing at seven FIS World Championships. Cook also competed in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games, posting her best finish of eighth place in 2014 in Sochi, Russia. Emily has now joined the ranks of U.S. Ski team coaching staff, grooming the new generation of champions. With her strong knowledge of the sport of aerials through competition and coaching experience, we know we’ll be thanking Emily for up-and-coming athletes for years to come. Mike Day: from Stowe,VT, CVA Class of 1989. Ever heard of a little-known skier named Mikaela? As Powder Magazine so eloquently put it, “Mike Day is an unassuming, yet powerful, figure in ski racing, coaching the best American ski racers toward the podium, and the coach behind Mikaela Shiffrin’s success.” Mike is the U.S. Ski Team Women’s Head coach and will play a critical role in the team’s top competitors progression through the upcoming season. Lance Field: from Westminster, MA, CVA class of 2000. Lance returns this year to the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team as a veteran moguls coach. No stranger to coaching on the world’s biggest stages, Lance will bring his years of experience to the young squad heading to Pyeongchang. 14
The Endless Winter: Trips, Travel & Training Freestyle June
Alpine
2017: Water Ramps, Lake Placid NY Whistler (Moguls), BC Boreal, CA (Freeski)
May 2017: Mammoth, CA August 2017: Mt. Hood, OR Hintertux, AUT
July 2017: CVA, Tramp & Skate Camp, ME Water Ramps, Lake Placid, NY
October 2017: Stubai, AUT
September 2017: Water Ramps, Lake Placid, NY
November 2017: Summit County, CO
October 2017: Quebec, Airbag Training November 2017: Stubai (Freeski) France (Moguls)* British Columbia (Moguls)*
December 2017: Winter Park, CO
December 2017 Summit County, CO
June 2017: Project Gold, Park City, UT
Backcountry October 2017: White Mountain Ntl Forest, NH
July 2017: Mammoth, CA
January 2018: Jackson Hole, WY
October 2017: Quebec, Airbag Training
March 2018: Alaska
Snowboard
November 2017: Stubai, AUT December 2017: Copper Mt., CO
2018 trips will be competition based, dictated by qualification and need. Be sure to check in on our social media pages for real-time updates across all disciplines! *Individual training trip with contracted coaches
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Big Dog Tales
1989
Michael Day ’89 was presented the International Coach of the Year by U.S. Ski & Snowboard in Park City, UT, in May of 2017. Mike returns to the U.S. Ski Team this year as Mikaela Shiffrin’s coach. Marie P. Leary ’89 was appointed Head of School at Sage School in Foxboro, MA.
1994
Sam Anderson ’94 Sam and his family are enjoying living in Vail, CO. His youngest child, Hailey, is featured this season on the cover of the World Cup Supply catalog. His oldest two, Dylan and Ashley, are also following in their father’s footsteps on the race hill.
Josh Pike ’94 and his wife, Sarah, bought an 83 acre farm on the banks of the Medomak River in Waldoboro, ME and opened Tops’l Farm in July of 2017. Tops’l Farm is a camp and farm destination catering to individuals, groups and corporate teams looking to layer in pristine pasture and hearty woodland as part of their unique retreat or weekend away. Seth Wescott ’94 and his wife Kitt welcomed their daughter Yéva Raine Wescott on August 24, 2017.
1991
Chuck Simpson ’91 and his wife Bianca welcomed their daughter, Esther Marguerite Simpson, on October 6, 2016.
Forest Carey ’94 and his wife Kristen welcomed their daughter Trudi Anne Carey on August 7th 2017. She is named after Forest’s grandmother who shares her birthday too!
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1998
Michah Lasher ’98 and his wife Erin welcomed their son Quinn Mascolino Lashar on January 22, 2017.
Caroline Mutter ’98 will serve as the Head Alpine Race Director this season at Windham Mountain. Pablo Paster ’98 joined Envizi, an Australian Energy and Sustainability Management Software company, as VP of Solutions and Services at the end of January. He writes, “My employment began with 2 1/2 weeks in Sydney and Melbourne for my induction. I work out of our small Berkeley, CA based office and from home. I recently went on a road trip with my daughter (5) to see the Great American Eclipse at Smith Rock State Park in Oregon. It was an awe-inspiring experience that words cannot sufficiently express.” Jamie Potter ’98 and his wife Meneah Haworth welcomed their daughter Zabella Thayne Potter in October 2016.
2000
Jake Colognesi ’00 and his wife Ashley welcomed their son, Griffin Sparks Colognesi, on January 24, 2017.
Carter Witherspoon ’02 and his wife Brooke welcomed their daughter Hadley Rose Witherspoon on February 7, 2017.
2003
2001
Bryn Carey ’01 and his wife Jackie welcomed their son, Nash Francis Carey, on August 23, 2017.
James Pelletier ’03 and his wife Sarah welcomed daughter Grace Sheridan Pelletier on November 19, 2016.
Amy Witherspoon ’03 married Matthew Drake on September 30, 2017 at her childhood home in Kingfield, ME.
2002 1999
Rebekah Levine ’99 welcomed twins on January 12, 2017. A boy and a girl.
Amy George Taisey ’02 and her husband Phil launched their dream with Amalgam Skis in 2012, have now hit the 5 year mark for their start-up, “Our inspiration for creating Amalgam was to unite our passions with our experience and skill sets to build a business in an industry that we love.”
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2004
Jake Hardy ’04 and his wife Perry welcomed their daughter Harriet on March 18, 2017.
Matt Philippi ’04 and his wife Emma welcomed their daughter Clementine in October 2016.
2006
Dan Hitchcock ’06 recently married his wife Sarai on September 16, 2017. They live in Sedgwick, Maine with their golden retriever Jarvis. Dan is the CFO for a custom boat builder, Wesmac, and has his captain’s license. Alex Albrecht Molloy ’06and her husband Joe welcomed their daughter Kayleigh Katherine Malloy on October 16, 2016.
2009
Benjamin Bisson ’09 married Marianna Sumrall on September 30, 2017 in Woolwich, ME. Cailey Stweart Gibson ’09 and her husband Peter welcomed their son Lukas Richard Kevin Gibson on January 3, 2017.
2005
Rachel Goodermote ’05 married Shawn Rath in Vermont. She just finished working for a year with Action Against Hunger in South Sudan and has started a job with IOM (UN office for migration) in Geneva, Switzerland.
2010 2008 Keegan Kilroy ’08 and his sister Elisabeth Kilroy visited Sen. Susan Collins in her DC office on research regarding muscular dystrophy.
Ben Hitchcok ’10 is a 3rd year student at UMA in Architecture. He studied Mechanical Engineering at UC Boulder and was the 2013 USCSA Freestyle Champion at Sun Valley and represented the US in Italy later that year then came back to Maine for another major. He has a house in Kingfield and works at Valley Gas in his spare time. Sam Ricker ’10 married Tomi Chipman in July 2017.
Sam Witherspoon ’05 and his wife Margaret welcomed daughter, Charlotte Ann on July 9, 2017
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2014
2015
Jesse Lowell ’14 is an Environmental Studies major at St. Lawrence. He worked with the SLU Divestment club, some library coordinates, and the renewable energy environmental professor to apply for a $100,000 grant to install solar panels on the library. He is also doing a research project in Alaska with a climate change professor to study climate impacts and adaptation of indigenous communities. This fall he is traveling abroad to Copenhagen, Denmark to study environmental economics, climate change planning, and renewable energy from one of the only 100% renewable nations in the world.
Noah Fournier ’15 has been extremely busy during his sophomore year at the University of Maine studying Mechanical Engineering. He was awarded 1 of 2 paying internships from Re-Energy in Stratton, Maine. He is the first recipient of this prestigious internship outside Maine Maritime students. Noah has also taken an interest in flying and will attempt to complete his Pilot’s license at the Carrabassett Airport with flying friend Sawyer Fahy ’02.
We hope you can join us for this year’s Alumni Holiday Party, click image below to RSVP
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Photo: Max Eisenhauer, CVA ’18