Coming Home to Park: Dana Welshman-Studley '85, Amy Saltonstall '87, and Merrill Hawkins '96

COMING HOME TO PARK

Park students learn what it means to show up with your best for Park under the guidance of coaches who, as Park alumni themselves, benefited from these same lessons growing up. Park taught them how to work hard, play fair, honor their teammates, and to be gracious in victory and in defeat. Now, they pass these essential values along to the next generations.

Dana Welshman-Studley ’85 discovered her passion for athletics at Park, and went on to play Field Hockey and Lacrosse at Thayer Academy, and Lacrosse at Roanoke College. She had a great mentor—her mother, Pat Zifcak, taught Physical Education and coached at Park for 32 years. Dana joined the Park P.E. department in 1996, and currently serves as Associate Athletics Director.

Amy Saltonstall ’87 was a three-sport athlete at Park, and went on to play field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse at Milton, and field hockey and lacrosse at Williams. Returning to Park to teach in 2013, Amy was glad for the opportunity to coach field hockey and lacrosse, and to remain deeply connected with the learning that comes through participation on a team.

Merrill Hawkins ’96 returned to Park as a Grade 6 Humanities teacher, and like Amy, is also dedicated to working with students outside the classroom as a coach. Merrill played soccer, ice hockey, and lacrosse at Park, played soccer, ice hockey, and softball at Deerfield, and ice hockey at Colby.