T HE
SPILLWAY 2014 - 2015
MY CVA OUR CVA
Stronger Together
MY CVA OUR CVA Kate Webber Punderson '89 Head of School
There is great good in returning to a landscape that has had extraordinary meaning in one’s life. It happens that we return to such places in our minds irresistibly. There are certain villages and towns, mountains and plains that, having seen them, walked in them, lived in them, even for a day, we keep forever in the mind’s eye. They become indispensable to our well-being; they define us, and we say: I am who I am because I have been there. -N. Scott Momaday
We Are Stronger Together The CVA story has been written by many people. Whether you are a student, weekend program athlete/parent, employee, alumni, donor, grandparent, friend, alumni parent, current parent, Ski Club member, or Sugarloafer, you have contributed a vital thread to the fabric of our school. Your CVA has built Our CVA, and Our CVA is a place of which we are all proud! The culture and success of CVA is determined by how individual community members approach their time here and their connection with the school. As an institution, we will explore and celebrate this idea throughout the year. My CVA - Our CVA is a path to memories and reflection, celebration and school spirit. It is an opportunity to see how far we have come as individuals and as a school, as well as a chance to look forward and see what the future may bring. Throughout the Spillway, a small collection of our constituents share their own CVA stories. I hope you enjoy their perspectives and take time to reflect on your own. My CVA – Our CVA is a theme that ties us all together in our quest for a successful future as individuals and as a school. Thank you to everyone that makes Our CVA possible – we are stronger together.
“My CVA - Our CVA is a path to memories and reflection, celebration and school spirit. It is an opportunity to see how far we have come as individuals and as a school, as well as a chance to look forward and see what the future may bring.” Weekend Program Parents
Donors
Prospective Families
Grandparents
Student-Athletes
Weekend Program Athletes
Alumni
Parents
Employees Sugarloafers
Friends
Ski Club Members
Alumni Parents
My CVA
Our CVA
“We’ve had a lot of roundtable discussions this fall about what ‘My CVA…Our CVA’ means to us, and the words that come up the most are cooperation and respect. For me, that means helping out any of the injured students who are rehabbing, whether that means taking their dishes if they are on crutches or supporting them as they make gains in their healing. CVA is a family, which means we don’t just support each other in our moments of great academic or athletic achievement; we give someone respect and support in their lowest moment too.” - James St.Ville '18
“Our son’s strong will to be his personal best athletically has spilled over into his understanding and desire to work hard academically as well. We have seen a very strong commitment from the teaching and coaching staff at CVA with a genuine concern for all of the students’ well-being. It really is simply just a great family at CVA and we are so glad that our son is a part of this fantastic experience. CVA’s strengths in community, friendships, family and commitment help to mold our children into compassionate and strong individuals. We see this all happening at CVA! We see this quality in our son and we love it!” - Rhonda and Keith Blakely, parents of Chase '16
My CVA
CVA’s National Honor Society Adviser Jade Clukey with inaugural member Liz Mutina '15.
National Honor Society Carrabassett Valley Academy is pleased to announce its own chapter of The National Honor Society. The purpose of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in the students of Carrabassett Valley Academy. Eligible students are evaluated by the CVA National Honor Society Council on the basis of leadership, service, character, and scholarship. The first induction of accepted students will be this fall, with another induction ceremony in the Spring for eligible students. For more information please contact Jade Clukey, CVA’s National Honor Society Adviser at jadeclukey@gocva.com.
Academics By the Numbers
All students are welcomed into CVA’s college-bound culture, which respects and rewards academic achievement. They are encouraged to take the most rigorous courses of which they are capable. Those who thrive in CVA’s curriculum graduate with all the tools necessary for further success at even the most selective colleges and universities. We counsel each student individually. Juniors and seniors can also practice taking standardized tests and prepare their college applications in our College Bound class. CVA students outperform national averages on the SAT: Critical Reading: CVA = 517; National = 497 Math: CVA = 529; National = 514 Writing: CVA = 497; National = 489 20% of CVA juniors and seniors are eligible for National Honor Society membership. This year, four juniors and seniors were inducted into the National Medical Science Honor Society. 2014 College acceptance rates: 96% (more than 80% accepted into their first-choice school)
My CVA “I remember my second day at CVA. I was so happy, but sort of homesick, caught in transitioning between missing home and loving it here. And I guess being upset must have been obvious, because every single person, staff and student, asked me if I was okay or if I needed to talk or if they could help. Everyone was willing to listen and cheer me up. And that’s when I knew CVA was someplace special, where everyone genuinely cares about and takes an interest in you. To me, that sums up CVA: helpful, kind people dedicated to you.” - Bianca Marcello '16
Environmental Sciences Heads-on and Hands-on The curriculum of the Environmental Science class at CVA is designed to improve students’ quantitative and critical thinking skills by working with data. Taught by Lori Safford, students are interactively engaged in learning how to interpret experimental data. They are then encouraged to debate their findings and conclusions and to confidently explore the creativity and open-ended nature of research.
Working with data provides students an excellent interactive environment with heads-on and hands-on opportunities to address real-world complex problems. Students develop the ability to use scientific methods, including consideration of the values and ethics of working with data, and they learn how to critically evaluate the integrity and robustness of information.
Athletic Highlights
My CVA
Alpine
Sam Morse ‘13 3rd place - DH - U18 Junior World Championships Named to U.S. Development Team Rylee McCormack ‘18 2nd place overall - U16 U.S. National Championships Nominated for the U.S. National Training Group Bode Miller ‘96 Bronze medal - Super G - 2014 Winter Olympics Elise Luce* 1st place - GS - Eastern High School Championships
Freestyle Alex Tuttle ‘09
2013/2014 ALPS Team
Keegan Kilbride ‘14 1st place - Slopestyle - U.S. Junior Nationals Qualified for Junior World Championships Noah Fournier ‘15 1st place - Eastern Dual Moguls Championships Nessa Dziemian ‘12 Qualified for Junior World Championships - Moguls Emily Cook ‘97 1st place - Aerials - U.S. National Championships Competed in her 3rd Olympic Winter Games
Emily Cook ‘97
Bianca Marcello ‘16 (Left) Abi Zagnoli ‘16 (Right)
Annalisa Drew ‘12 (PG) Competed in her 1st Olympic Winter Games - Halfpipe
Snowboard Alex Tuttle ‘09 Silver medal - BX - X Games Named to the U.S. Snowboard Team Rollie Zagnoli ‘14 | Devron Valley ‘14 (PG) Qualified for Junior World Championships - BX Madeline Chamberlin ‘15 2nd place - Rail Jam - USASA National Championships
Skier X Noah Fournier ‘15
Sam Morse ‘13
Abi Zagnoli ‘16 | Bianca Marcello ‘16 2nd | 3rd place - USASA National Championships Mike Hayes '17 Qualified for Junior World Championships
ALPS Successful expeditions to Utah, British Columbia, Mt. Washington and Baxter State Park Jeremy Jones ‘93 Released the 3rd film in his Deeper, Further, Higher series in the fall of 2014
Madeline Chamberlin ‘15
Annalisa Drew ‘12 PG
* CVA Weekend Program athlete
Athletics 25
th
Anniversary CVA Snowboarding
Our CVA Early 90s: Jeremy Jones ‘93 carves around a gate during a USSA event In 1989, Carrabassett Valley Academy opened its doors to snowboarders, offering the first program of its kind among ski academies. Some of CVA’s first snowboarders included pioneers/legends Jeremy Jones ‘93 (pictured above), Mark Fawcett ‘90, Jeff Greenwood ‘94, and Adam Hostetter ‘93. As the sport has evolved over the years, so has CVA’s
program, which now offers training across all competitive snowboard disciplines. To date, you’ll find CVA alumni on the U.S. Snowboard Team (Alex Tuttle ‘09, Seth Wescott ‘94) and many other alumni and current students competing at the highest levels. Armed with a rich history and proven success, CVA will continue to pave the way for snowboarders for the next 25 years.
Boarding school 800 km from home was not in our vernacular. Our son Liam’s desire to chase his racing dreams soon caused us to begin the difficult process of reviewing alternatives. CVA quickly became the only choice for a variety of reasons. One day, after meeting with Liam’s teachers, we were left with some of the deepest and most revealing insights into our son’s ability to grasp concepts, learn, and formulate his own thoughts. We saw mutual respect, caring and partnerships between student and teacher. It took us four years of college to find this. We simultaneously punctuated the moment with a high-five, because we knew that all was well and we had made one of the best decisions in our son’s life. Three years later, we still high-five. - Gar & Susan Moffatt, parents of Liam '15
Human Performance Program The 2013-14 ski and snowboard season was a time of exceptional achievement for CVA athletes. Much of their success can be traced back to the commitment put forth in our new Human Performance (HP) system. Based on science, Human Performance combines aspects of nutrition, physiological development, rest and recovery, performance psychology, and sport-specific goal setting. These aspects, combined with top level coaching and a modern tracking platform, result in improved athleticism and higher performance.
Being engaged in a multitude of sport disciplines has proven to increase agility, balance, and coordination above that of single sport practice alone. For CVA this means that soccer and mountain biking, along with cross country running and other multi-lateral training events, are now components of the HP program and are not single sport teams. We are confident that these program changes and enhancements will yield better results for our athletes’ winter sport performance.
My CVA
CVA Goes to France In the spring of 2014, students from CVA’s French program spent their April break in France. During the 10-day trip, they completely immersed themselves in French culture and language. The first two days of the trip were spent in Paris, where they visited the Latin Quarter, Notre Dame cathedral, Montmartre, Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the Champs Elysées, Eiffel Tower and the Louvre with brief stops for irresistible delicacies along the way. The remainder of their trip was spent visiting CVA’s sister school Lycée Michelet in Lannemezan, France, which is nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains. While there, the students attended classes, learned about French culture, and toured the countryside visiting many landmarks. This trip is part of an annual exchange with our French sister school. Every year CVA and Lycée Michelet take turns hosting the trip. CVA students stayed with host families from the school and were made to feel completely welcome. “This is such an important experience for our kids,” said CVA French teacher Ragan Beauregard P '11 '13. “The trip was a huge success, and I am already looking forward to hosting the French students in the Valley this upcoming school year.”
My CVA “CVA has been my home for over six years, first as a faculty kid, then as a student. In that time I feel like we have grown up together. CVA went from being entirely housed in the Capricorn to expanding onto our beautiful new campus, and I went from being a young faculty kid running around to a young adult who looks forward to helping the new kids get settled in. In a way, we’ve both really matured together. The best part of CVA is that it’s not just an institution; it really is a community unto itself that shapes the lives of those involved in it.The staff and faculty here are just as much a part of my life as my friends are. It’s really taught me how to interact with people, and I know that is a skill I can take with me forever.” - Madeline Chamberlin '15
Community Music
The CVA Band has become an important part of our community. The Band can be seen performing at several CVA functions throughout the year. With the addition of a specifically engineered soundproof music room as part of last year’s academic center upgrade, the students now have the perfect environment in which to practice their instruments. “We are loving the new music room, and having a place for kids to jam is amazing,” said music teacher Michael Mallon. “I let them dictate what they want to play and we learn the songs together. This year we have a solid four-piece band with varying degrees of experience. Our first performance at the Halloween dinner went great and we are already practicing and looking forward to our next gig in the spring.”
Music teacher Michael Mallon (center) with this year’s CVA Band. From left to right: Noah Fournier '15 (lead vocals/guitar), Liam Moffatt '15 (percussion), Frances Gerard '16 (guitar), Grant Erickson '15 (bass). Not pictured: Sarah Hohmeyer '15 (vocals)
Community Service By: Pamela Morse P '09 '13 Co-Pastor, Sugarloaf Area Christian Ministry When talking about community service, I often recall situations I have encountered while working with CVA. One year during our annual food drive, I had just sent all the available students and staff of CVA out to canvass our community for donations. A couple of hours later, groups began to arrive back at the Capricorn Dining Hall with boxes and bags of food which were counted, sorted and stacked by the students. One of the last groups to arrive returned full of enthusiasm and pride in a job well done. Evidently, as they were headed out to their assigned route they came upon a vehicle which had slid off the road and into a snow bank. Rather than just driving by, they demonstrated significant ingenuity and backbone, liberating the vehicle from the ditch. They surely rescued the driver from a long cold night. I was very proud of that group of kids that night. Their selflessness and willingness to go the extra mile for someone in need, personified what it means to be a BIG DOG. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” - Proverbs 3:27
Big Dog Tales Congr atul ations to the Class of 2014 Top to bottom, left to right: Rollie Zagnoli, Liam Bechtel, Joris Grintalis, John Priest, Tomasso Levi, Keegan Kilbride, Alex Conrad, Declan O’Brien, Michael Lundy, Jeb Murphy-Dulac, Jesse Lowell, Derek Banat, Miguel Ordoqui Troyas, Tristan Forget, Briggs Williams, Adam Hohmeyer, Khadijah Mirzan, Maria Leech, Bridget Jordan, Kristen Venuto, Leika Scott, Czari Cochrane, Lee Foden
2014 CVA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT NOAH FOURNIER ’15 This Alumni Association Scholarship Award was established in 1993 and is a $500 tuition scholarship presented yearly to a returning senior who epitomizes the “spirit and pride” of CVA. In May 2014, James Pelletier ‘03 came back to campus to present the $500 award to Noah Fournier, a freestyle athlete from Carrabassett Valley, Maine. Noah was selected because of his focus, positive attitude, hard work, and reliability. He has always been a superb member of the CVA community athletically, academically, and socially. Congratulations, Noah.
1986
1988
Eric Chamberlin’s daughter Maddie ’15 had her last first day of school here at CVA as she started her senior year and will be graduating in May 2015!
Jim Fitlow writes, “The family is constantly on the go. Not including business, some or all members of the family have been to Mexico, Belize, NYC, Sandpoint, ID, Missoula, Yellowstone, California, Lake Powell, Alaska, Michigan, Colorado, and there are still four months to go until our upcoming trip to Argentina. School, kids’ activities, multiple businesses, and playing as a family to enjoy the mountains and desert, leaves us exhausted at the end of each week, but looking forward to more. I was recently voted in as president of the Summit Ski Team Club (which all three girls are a part of), located at Canyons Resort
Makoto Kobayashi’s Toyama Hino Motors dealership won an excellent dealer prize in Japan last year. His company’s baseball team won the championship for all Hino motors dealers in Sapporo and a second place in Her Imperial Highness Prince Cup at Hiroshima stadium in 2013. Makoto started ski racing in a masters racing section and even won sixth place in the championship Super G race.
in Park City, Utah. Also, just got back from a fishing trip in Alaska and stopped by to see my old CVA coach Scott Young and went to dinner. He has not changed much for those who knew him.”
a key role in further developing the firm’s capital raising and strategic capabilities.
1995 Alexis McGinness writes, “Hi from the Middle East! My first year abroad in USAID as a foreign service officer has been exciting and rewarding. Living in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has been quite an adventure. Experiencing a different culture and exploring amazing places like Petra while being part of a unique time of history in this unstable region. My job is interesting and has enabled me to spend five weeks in Bangkok and nearly two months in Cairo - such a great way to see the world! And, got to catch up with CVA alum Jeff Greenwood here in Amman! Aloha, Alexis”
1996 Mark Radcliffe writes, “I’m still a writer and singer/songwriter in NYC. I recently wrote the ad campaign for the launch of NYC’s Citi Bike program (“Unlock a bike. Unlock New York”) and am also a contributing writer for Huffington Post. When I get out on the slopes I run into Lizzie Hinckley and Clarke Colon up in Stowe fairly often. Hope to get back to CVA soon to play another concert for the kids, just as soon as I release my next album!”
1992 Nora Stowell writes, “Over the summer I attended Bryn Carey’s wedding. It was a Sugarloafer and CVA-star-studded affair including Rebecca Carey, Forest Carey, Thomas Holden, Josh Pike, Steve Anderson, Sean Clark, Tyler Rowe, and Stevie Hildreth to name a few. It was a gorgeous (but cold) ceremony at a ranch in Kamas, UT. Good times were had, and no one left the dance floor until the music stopped playing. I enjoyed connecting with my old friends from Maine and I am very happy for the bride and groom!”
1994 Medley LLC, a leading asset manager, has appointed Sam Anderson as Senior Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets & Strategy. Sam, who will be based in New York, will play
1997 Stephan Von Schilcher writes, “I spent 15 years in Germany, two of those years in London studying business management. I started working against counterfeiting after college, and 5 years ago I came back home to Annapolis to set up the American branch of our company, Joel LLC. (www.joelglobal. com). Three years ago I got married in Portovenere Italy and just had our first child this May, a boy named Johann. Two years ago, I became the CEO of Joel LLC. We implement security agents, that are normally found in currency, into products for authenticity verification.” Emily Cook writes, “Still living in Park City, Utah; retired from competitive skiing this spring after the Sochi Olympics and am now working as Manager of Sport and Human Performance at Skullcandy. I also work with the non-profit Classroom Champions (www. classroomchampions.org) as a program coordinator for their Caribbean programs. Life is good!”
1998 Dr. Damon Bayles was back at CVA in May to speak at CVA Graduation and delivered a fantastic address that had all the students and their families completely captivated. After graduation from CVA, Damon attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island where he was the first - and only openly gay male athlete to compete on any sports team. Damon returned to his hometown of New York City after graduation from Brown and after several years of working in sports marketing, he returned to school and pursued his doctorate in clinical psychology at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University. He is currently living in New York and works privately with individuals, couples and groups, and specializes in work with gay men, HIV, addiction and trauma. In 2009, when it became legal to do so, he married his husband, Clinton Kelly, at their home in Connecticut; they currently live in New York City and Connecticut with their dog, Mary.
Micah Lashar is the Head U18/21 Women’s Alpine coach at Stratton Mountain School. This past season his athlete, Alice Merryweather, was awarded the prestigious Golden Ski Award. Pablo Pastor writes, “My Company (Hara Software) was acquired by Verisae last year and I am now the Senior Director of Account Management for Verisae. My daughter Stella just turned two and I’m looking forward to getting her on skis in Tahoe this winter. We still live in Novato, CA.”
1999 On May 15th, Jolie Ritzo and Chad Coleman had a little girl named Natalie, making Cannon a big brother.
2000 Jake Colognesi married Ashley Pickard on September 27, 2014.
Big Dog Tales Matt Hoisington writes, “I am still at the UN, working in the Office of Legal Affairs, Office of the Legal Counsel. I focus on peacekeeping and international criminal justice issues. The world has been blowing up the past few months, so we’ve been plenty busy!”
2001 Bryn Carey married Jacki McCrary in June in Park City, UT. Also, Bryn’s company, Ski Butlers (an award-winning ski and snowboard rental delivery service) announced the launch of the Ski Butlers Scholarship Fund, an essay contest with a $2000 annual scholarship for students in the United States who are following their passions—particularly for winter sports.
2002 Andrew Willihan is heading in to his 12th year working for CVA. Andrew and his wife Hannah enjoyed a great summer camping, and enjoying time together. Andrew is working as the Head U14 Alpine Coach, while his wife is working towards her graduate degree in physical therapy. Chris Burgess married Erin Miner in Maine in August 2014.
2003
Rachel Goodermote writes, “I am currently living near Washington DC, and just finished my Masters in International Health from Johns Hopkins. Recently I returned from Indonesia where I worked on disaster preparedness, and am now working on climate change & health in DC. This summer I got engaged to Shawn Rath, who I met skiing several years ago in Colorado. We miss the snow and mountains here in DC, but are excited about a Maine vacation this fall!”
2006
Erik Kankainen writes, “My wife Jackie and I were married June 28th at the Newagen Seaside Inn in Southport, Maine. We celebrated with a big group of family and friends, amazing food and music, and lucked out with the best Maine weather we ever could have asked for!”
James Pelletier received his MBA from Boston College. In June, he married Sarah Drosdik at Saddleback, ME and started working at Credit Suisse soon after. He is looking forward to the ski season and getting back to Sugarloaf! James was recently appointed to the CVA Board of Trustees where he will serve as the Investment Committee Chairman. In July 2014, Sam Sweetser married Erin McDermott.
2005 Zack Brandwein writes, “I’m still in Oklahoma, trying to survive my second year of law school. I miss Maine, and can’t wait to come back and work in Portland next summer. It was great getting together with fellow 2005 classmates Julia Coffin, Liz Thompson, and Jim Whitledge to celebrate the wedding of John-Michael and Deanna Doughty in the Valley this past June.” In July, Abi Manter and Sam Trafton (class of 1999) welcomed a baby boy into their family. Bryson William Trafton was born on July 17th.
In June 2014, John Michael Doughty married Deanna Kaiser.
Scott Houser is coaching U16 girls with Ski Club Vail.
2007
Banks Gilberti was recently featured in an issue of Powder magazine in an article entitled Transitions in Youth.
2008 Katie Houser is living and working in the market research field in Denver, CO. She spends her free time up in the mountains skiing whenever she can.
2009 Benjamin Bisson writes, “After graduating from CVA in 2009 I spent the following 4 years studying Studio Art at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. When I wasn’t in class or in the studio you could be sure to find
me in the water, as surfing was the real reason I found myself in California. Since graduating from Westmont in 2013, I have spent the last year helping my family to grow Bisson Real Estate, not only as a licensed agent, but also developing our branding, social media presence, and marketing material. I am very excited to return to CVA as a coach and refocus my passion for the outdoors, snowboarding, and youth development.” After graduating from Colby College, Makayla Brown moved to Vail. This season she will be coaching U14s on the Ski and Snowboard Club Vail Alpine team.
Ben Morse writes, “After dating for 4 years at Dartmouth, I proposed to Molly Pugh in the Boston Public Gardens in September and she said yes! Fellow Big Dogs should approve, she has solid skiing skills and an awesome spirit for adventure!”
2010 Juliette Bisson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Gordon College. Wilson Friend is living in Carrabassett Valley and helping his dad, Dana Friend, with the production of neckties and running the social media for his company DH Friend Neckwear. Jasmine Lee graduated from Champlain College this spring. Anne Rockwell graduated from Bates College and spent the summer as a raft guide with Northeast Whitewater, based out of Greenville, ME.
Hilary Thompson writes, “I’m currently living in Boston finishing up my degree in Industrial Design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I’m also working full time for a company called Boston Bag, as their lead designer, creating a new line of bags that we’ll be launching in November. When I graduate in the spring, my boyfriend and I are looking forward to relocating out west to finally get out of the city and back on the mountains!”
2011 Alex Slemp will be the senior captain of the Clarkson Ski Team during the 2014-15 season.
2012 This past winter, Alex Tuttle won his first X Games medal, and was named to the U.S. Snowboard Team. He also married Noelle Lake in September right here at Sugarloaf.
2013
Julia Savage is currently studying abroad at the University of Otago in Dunedin, NZ, where she is studying geology. She recently went on a ski trip with fellow Big Dog Emily Wright. She is from New Zealand and attends the same university as Julia.
Alex Jenson writes, “I made the move out to Park City, Utah to train with Park City Freestyle last winter. I had a great season despite coming back from ACL surgery (April 2013). In the post season events I placed 3rd in duals at Junior Nationals in Park City and 7th in both singles and duals at US Nationals in Deer Valley. I also re-qualified for the US Development Group for the upcoming season. I plan to attend the University of Utah for the summer term of 2015.” Jamie Marshall will be starting at ColbySawyer College this fall after taking a year off to race out of Stowe, VT. This summer he got his pilot’s license along and worked at Sugarloaf Golf Course. Come winter, he will be a part of the Colby-Sawyer ski team and continues to be a class rep for his fellow big dogs.
Sam Morse writes, “This past winter I was in the post graduate program at CVA which went unbelievably well. Doug and Chip ran an epic program which got me to the races I needed to be at in order to achieve my goals. Sure enough, I qualified for World Juniors in Slovakia where I placed 3rd for U18s in Downhill; it was an amazing experience I’ll never forget. My season finished off strong and I was named to the US Ski Team, which is every little kid’s dream! I guess somebody’s got to do it. I was also accepted to Dartmouth College last fall, but am deferring enrollment currently to chase my dream. I hope to be making the Big Dogs proud. Cheers!”
New Campus Campaign Commitment to the Leading Edge Your Support Keeps Us There
For the past three decades, Carrabassett Valley Academy has thrived, thanks to the incredible generosity of current and past parents, alumni, and friends. Your support and belief in our mission has enabled CVA to make the bold moves necessary to seize opportunities and remain on the leading edge, both athletically and academically.
The Fremont-Smith Matching Gift Challenge In May 2014, CVA alumni parents and Trustees Paul and Carol Fremont-Smith P '91 made a tremendous gift to CVA to help us complete the financing of our academic center – a $500,000 matching gift challenge. This gift will help us close the $1 million gap we have in funds raised and the $4 million we need to complete the academic center and this phase of our New Campus Campaign. The Fremont-Smiths created this challenge specifically to encourage other donors to join with us as we aggressively address the organization’s most urgent need, which is debt reduction of the academic center construction loan. Successfully completing this match will allow CVA to commence formal strategic planning and discussion on the third phase of the campaign, which will include a multi-use building on the King Cummings Campus.
The Challenge: Two Milestones •
•
Phase 1: May 2014 – June 30, 2015. CVA has just more than a year to raise the $300,000 needed to trigger the first installment of this matching gift. Phase 2: July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2018. CVA has an additional three years to raise the $200,000 available in matching funds.
All new campaign gifts and signed pledges received by CVA between May 2014 and June 2018 will count toward this match, essentially doubling the impact of your gift. So please, don’t wait -- make your gift commitment now and help us meet our match. Every dollar helps us close the gap!
The Value of Endowment Giving
The endowment is the basis of CVA’s long-term financial strength and competitiveness. It allows CVA to attract and support top student athletes regardless of their financial circumstances, to hire and retain the best coaches and faculty, and to continue to offer a world-class program. The CVA endowment is currently $1.2 million. Our goal is to raise an additional $300,000 by 2016.
The King Cummings Society Named after one of CVA’s most influential and visionary founders, The King Cummings Society recognizes the loyal and committed alumni, parents, grandparents, benefactors, friends, and associates of Carrabassett Valley Academy who have made an important commitment to its future through generous gift planning by bequest, charitable gift annuity or a trust.
Why Your Future Gift is So Important Now Although gifts made by bequests will not help us with our current building projects, they will most certainly provide a critically important funding stream for future projects to ensure that CVA remains the vibrant and wonderful place that it is today. What better way to leave a sustainable legacy and to bolster the next generation of exceptional student-athletes? For more information about supporting CVA, please contact Kate O’Halloran, Director of Development and Alumni Connections: 207.237.4498 or kohalloran@goCVA.com
Our CVA
We have been committed to the CVA mission since our son arrived as a student athlete in late December 2001. We are forever grateful for the exceptional experience Ben (class of ’04) had while attending CVA. His time at CVA paved the way for a successful college career and professional business career. We continue to support the “CVA Way” because of Ben’s experience. We are committed to advancing the vision that has made it the world class institution it has become today. Please join us with your philanthropic support of the CVA mission.Thank you! - Kevin & Mary Burns P '04
Alumni Profiles Carter Witherspoon ‘02 Hometown: Kingfield, ME Current City: Boston, MA
After graduating from CVA, Carter joined the Corps of Cadets at Norwich University for two years before transferring to Rollins College in Florida. In the spirit of keeping his college career going, he transferred a second time to the University of Southern Maine and graduated in 2008. He currently works in the Mortgage Division at Bank of America where he is responsible for selling consumer mortgages with a focus on the affluent client space. Prior to joining Bank of America, Carter worked at Wells Fargo Private Mortgage Bank and BNY Mellon Wealth Management. He currently lives in Boston with his wife Brooke and dog Maple. Brooke and Carter enjoy spending winter weekends skiing at Sugarloaf and summer weekends on the coast of Maine. Carter has remained actively involved with CVA as Chairman of the Alumni Committee and a member of the Board of Trustees.
“My CVA,
like many experiences, was one that I did not fully appreciate until it was no longer my reality. I recall sitting in one of my college classes at military school on a January morning reflecting on the fact that a year earlier I would have been training GS on Narrow Gauge. That was the moment I realized how good I once had it.”
Benjamin Bisson ‘09
Hometown: Woolwich, ME Current City: Carrabassett Valley, ME
Benjamin is joining the CVA coaching staff this year as head development coach. During his time at CVA he competed in the US Snowboarding Revolution Tour, Sprint Grand Prix, USASA Nationals, and Billabong World Junior Pro. He was a CVA Elite Team member and on the USASA All American Snowboard Team. After graduating from CVA he attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in studio art. He has worked as waterfront director for Chop Point Camp for many summers, where he certified and oversaw all lifeguards, staff and campers. He has also worked as a certified Wilderness First Aid Trip Leader tasked with leading hiking and canoeing trips. Most recently, he has been using his knowledge of marketing as a real estate sales agent and marketing/web manager at Bisson Real Estate.
“My CVA
is a place where I truly developed a deep appreciation for snowboarding and the outdoors. I am looking forward to passing this knowledge to current CVA athletes in my role as a coach this year.”
Rachel Goodermote ‘05 Hometown: Stowe, VT Current City: Takoma Park, MD
Rachel recently finished a Masters of Science in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, where she focused on international health and emergency preparedness. The capstone project for her Masters was spent in Indonesia with the non-profit organization Mercy Corps, where she worked on disaster risk reduction in mostly urban or peri-urban communities. Rachel’s interest in natural hazards stemmed from her undergraduate experience at Bates College in Maine, where she combined her studies in anthropology with her love for the outdoors. Currently Rachel is working on projects related to climate change and public health in the Baltimore/ D.C. area.
“My CVA is a school that taught me
how to be a successful self-starter. My experience on the freestyle team and learning from the incredible teachers at CVA encouraged me to continue exploring the world.”
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