Polytechnic OakTree Times Spring-Summer 2015 by Polytechnic School

SPRING | SUMMER 2015

OakTree Times Inside: Q

Building an inclusive community Alumni working at Poly International trips expand to seven countries

Roots & Branches ALUMNI WORKING AT POLY

OakTree Times SPRING | SUMMER 2015

Feat ures : 10 Building an equitable and inclusive community

A cohort of faculty and staff has been working with expert Dr. Enid Lee to explore diversity and how it is addressed within the Poly community.

14 Roots and Branches

Read about what brings Poly alumni back to their alma mater to take on teaching and staff roles.

A P U B L I C A T I O N F O R T H E P O LY T E C H N I C S C H O O L C O M M U N I T Y

OAK TREE TIMES EDITORIAL STAFF: Leslie Carmell, Director of Communications

Departments: The Patio p.05 International travel…Singapore Math in the Lower School…Eighth grade speech contest…channeling da Vinci

Michelle Feynman, Communications Officer/ Photographer Jennifer Godwin Minto, Photographer

CONTRIBUTORS: John W. Bracker, Amanda Edwards ’92, Greg Feldmeth, Katherine Goar, Erica Goodwin ’15, Charity Hume, Milan Mossé ’15, Ann Olson, Isabelle Phinney ’16, Thomas Sale, Stephanie Suzuki, Julia Wohl ’15 ON THE COVER (lef t to right):

In the Classroom Sixth-graders bring Ancient Rome to life.

Panthers in the Zone Winter recap…Spring recap…seniors honored for 10 of 12 seasons

Poly Connections

ed ct ne

n Co ay St

Alexandra “Zanny” Regas-Riewerts ’09, human development teacher Julita Penido ’08, assistant to the summer and after school programs Amanda Edwards ’92, director of donor relations Ryan Katsuyama ’90, information services coordinator, coach Suzie Korostoff Arther ’89, second grade teacher John Yen ’89, director of technology Jonathan Fay ’81, director of summer and extended day programs, Upper School math teacher Raleigh Renick Young ’80, first grade assistant teacher Amy Callery Davidson ’77, first grade assistant teacher Michael Babcock ’76, Upper School arts teacher, coach John Bakaly ’76, Upper School consulting school psychologist Brad Hall ’73, physical education teacher, coach

Annual Fund supports independent study…Poly events…

facebook.com/poly

Class Notes…In Memoriam

twitter.com/polytechnic twitter.com/polyalumni

P.S. Grace Hamilton has worn many hats at Poly. Learn more about this dynamic educator.

Correction to OakTree Times fall/winter 2014-15 The class year for Poly alumnus Blake Wallens was incorrectly attributed to his brother, Jordan Wallens, on page 5. Jordan Wallens graduated in 1990, while his brother, the late Blake Wallens, graduated in 1988. We sincerely regret the error.

Head of

School

I am fascinated by how people arrive at school. I am not a car person, so the various

purely territorial but because they seek

models don’t move me, although I am

familiarity and a place to settle. The patios

heartened by the silence of the electric

on the South Campus and the tables and

cars. Instead I look forward to seeing the

nooks and crannies on the North Campus

routines that characterize each vehicle. If

become destinations or touchstones for

there is no glare or tinted glass, I can see

our students who want to belong.

some students bending into the front seat

In this year’s spring musical, “In the

to kiss their parents goodbye. Others are

Heights,” a beautiful duet called “When

still finishing their breakfast — I’ve seen

You are Home” is sung early in the

many remnants of chocolate croissants

first act. After having to take a leave of

displayed on the faces of students as they

absence from college, Nina, the “one

pass by me. And still others are reading or

who made it,” wonders whether she

shaking the sleep out of their heads. On

has let down her family and her entire

the Upper School campus, headphones,

neighborhood. Trying to console her,

coffee, and sleep deprivation are more

her friend Benny sings,

prevalent. Fewer goodbye kisses or I love

Everything is easier when you’re home

you’s are shared. I’ve also witnessed the

The street’s a little kinder

carefully choreographed seat switch as

When you’re home

new drivers step from behind the wheel,

Can’t you see

and the “old” ones (now sometimes feeling

That the day seems clearer

much older!) return to the controls.

Now that you are here

The most important thing I see,

It is my hope that when students,

whether in the sleepy eyes of a teenager

young and old, step onto our campus,

or the eager stare of a kindergarten

they feel they are home — embraced

student, is a sense of belonging. School,

by a community that sees who they are

lest we forget, is a profoundly social

and what they might become. Last week

experience and an adventure for

during drop-off, a young boy waited until

our students. When they feel part of

he caught his father’s eye to give him an

something, they will thrive. Even the

“I got this” fist bump. In that simple

messiness of adolescence cleans up

gesture, he said so much.

when it is buttressed by friendships that hold still. The climate of “friending” and “unfriending” makes these predictable and sustainable connections all the more important. Classes and groups of people claim certain areas not because they are 04

HEAD OF SCHOOL MESSAGE

John W. Bracker

The

Patio

Global travelers journey to seven countries In our rapidly changing and globally connected world, Poly seeks to instill within students the tools and experiences necessary to become considerate, contributing, and connected global citizens. Poly’s Global Initiatives Program (GIP) offers students the opportunity to study various cultures, interact with people in other parts of the world, undertake a service project, and experience cultural events from around the world. The GIP’s international trip program is a highlight for many Upper School students. These trips focus on cultural immersion, face-to-face interaction, and service learning. In addition, some faculty members sponsor non-GIP trips. This year’s spring break and summer offerings include

Nicaragua, Beijing, Italy, France, Peru, Dominica, and Iceland. Almost 100 Upper School students are taking advantage of these opportunities. Learn more at www.polytechnic.org/gip. Q

To see photos from this year’s trips, visit www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

T H E PAT I O

The

Patio

Lower School successfully implements Singapore Math After previewing five potential math series for the Lower School in 2008, Poly adopted Primary Mathematics, the Singapore Math series that was adopted by the State of California that year. Poly was looking for a program based on problem solving — one that focused on the “why,” the reasoning, before the “how,” the procedures. Teachers were looking for a math series that introduced concepts in more depth and used them in solving challenging word problems. Critical thinking, logic skills, and number sense are stressed in Primary Mathematics. In third grade, bar models are used to help visualize and understand word problems. To help facilitate the transition to

Singapore Math, third grade parents receive instruction each fall on the concept of bar modeling. Supporting this type of curriculum change is paramount. Since adopting the program, Poly’s Lower School math specialist meets with each new teacher before school begins and then with each grade-level team few weeks. She also teaches weekly in each first through fifth grade classrooms. Students are now better equipped to solve increasingly challenging word problems, and standardized math scores have continued to improve. As Poly moves forward, discovering innovative ways to help our students learn is always at the forefront. Q

Eighth-graders go to the mat over hot topics

As part of the annual Eighth Grade Speech Contest hosted by Middle School history teacher Robert Farrar, 69 eighth-graders selected topics and then researched, wrote, and memorized persuasive speeches. They first delivered their talks to audiences of their peers and three teachers; semifinalists then presented to a panel of faculty and staff judges. The final six spoke eloquently and passionately in front of a panel of judges (including, as in years past, the previous winner) and the entire Middle School. Topics included: changing the perception of girls, freedom is more important than equality, the sexualization of the female body, corporate nonprofits, the United States’ use of military in the Middle East, and homework policies. After the speeches, Middle School students met with advisory groups to discuss the presented ideas while the judges deliberated. Q

T H E PAT I O

The

Patio

Engineering contest introduces younger students to hands-on fun Dropping an egg from a platform five feet high without it breaking was the challenge for more than 180 students who participated in this year’s Lower School Engineering Contest. For the past six years, Poly has used the contest to introduce engineering principles to its youngest students. Challenges have included everything from constructing towers to building catapults. Working in teams, Lower School girls and boys used their creativity and ingenuity to create different solutions to the same problem through trial and error, all while having fun. “I love to see the students using their critical thinking skills to work through possible solutions to the problem each year,” shares Poly parent Julie Mayo, a scientific writer at the University of Southern California, who has been coordinating the event for six years. “In many cases, I’ve watched their development as engineers become increasingly sophisticated over the years.” Q

Da Vinci project inspires creativity in the Upper School This fall, Poly’s Upper School students were given the opportunity to take part in a project based on the journals of Leonardo da Vinci. Called the da Vinci Project, Poly’s Visual Arts Department encouraged students to use sketchbook journals to draw, write, calculate, plan, sketch, invent, imagine, and dream. The goal was to provide an outlet for expressing their ideas, feelings, and thoughts. The project is inspired by da Vinci, one of history’s most diversely talented artists, who wrote in his notebooks for daily inspiration, resulting in thousands of pages of notes and drawings. When the project was launched, Upper School students, even those not taking art courses, were encouraged to take a free sketchbook and to write or draw whatever interested them. Classroom credit is not given; students simply use

the journals in their free time. More than half the student body, along with several faculty members, has been participating in the da Vinci Project. Senior Olivia W. ’15 explains what drew her to this project: “Initially the idea of compiling a bunch of random doodles and drawings was really appealing. Ultimately, I have been using the sketchbook for a lot of personal ideas and views about the world. Working in the notebook is really relaxing for me and a way to document all of my art.” Arnor Bieltvedt, chair of the Visual Arts Department, shares: “Leonardo da Vinci was the ultimate Renaissance Man, defined as a man of unquenchable curiosity, with a freshly inventive imagination. We see those same qualities in Poly students, so we thought the notebooks would be ideal for inspiration and expression. Students are encouraged to create poetry, solve math and science questions, or sketch whatever they want. The integration of different ideas should lead the students to new insights and to the understanding of who they are and what they are interested in.” Q

T H E PAT I O

The

Patio

Spring musical encourages students to step outside comfort zone

Featuring a cast of 45, an 11-person pit orchestra, and a tech crew of nine, the Upper School spring musical, “In the Heights,” featured Latin and hip-hop music, a bit of a departure from traditional theater on Poly’s stage. In preparation for the production, students were encouraged to listen to Latin music to allow their bodies to start responding to the beat, explains Cynthia Crass, one of the show’s choreographers. Rather than a closely choreographed production where student actors are told exactly how and where to move, this show pushed them to find their own authentic movement. They even participated in salsa and hip-hop workshops.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” won the 2008 Tony Awards for Best New Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations. In a serendipitous chain of events, Poly alumnus Ted Griffin ’89 and his wife, Sutton Foster of Broadway fame, visited campus shortly before the musical opened. Foster impulsively pulled out her cell phone and recorded a group of students singing the opening number and sent it to Miranda, who happens to be a personal friend of hers. Needless to say, the students were absolutely thrilled!

Upper School challenged to Live Below the Line For the fourth consecutive year, Upper School students and faculty members participated in the Live Below the Line challenge during the last week in April. This year, 38 students and faculty and staff members joined volunteers in the United States, Great Britain, and Australia who pledged to spend no more than $1.50 a day (the amount established by the World Bank to determine extreme poverty) for food and drink during the week. Live Below the Line is a project organized by the Global Poverty Project. The goal of Poly’s team is to build awareness in the Poly community about world hunger. Q

T H E PAT I O

In the

Classroom

Sixth grade historians bring Ancient Rome to life

Each spring, visiting Katie Ward’s sixth grade history class is like venturing to Ancient Rome, as students create a detailed model of Rome, with buildings resembling those that existed in 300 A.D., the height of Roman architecture. The project begins with each student’s choosing a Roman monument to study in detail, including stadiums, aqueducts, temples, and basilicas. The students are responsible for creating blueprints of their buildings, using their math skills to compute ratios to guarantee each monument is a scaled version of the original. Monuments range from six inches to six feet long and are constructed using foam core board, Styrofoam, and cardboard; columns are made out of lollipop sticks.

The students assemble their completed model of Ancient Rome and then place their monuments at appropriate sites. The project also requires students to write about a person associated with their buildings. For example, Emperor Vespasian built the Coliseum, and Emperor Hadrian redesigned the Pantheon and added the dome. “The students use so many skills, including research, writing, math, art, and most importantly, creativity,” Ward explains. “What they come up with is remarkable. They really get a hands-on opportunity to experience Ancient Rome in all its glamour.” “I learn more visually, so this was a good project for me,” reflects sixthgrader Lena O., who along with her

partner, Audrey K., was responsible for building Tiber Island, its two bridges, and eight buildings. “Working this way helped me better remember what we were learning,” she says. Both agreed that working with friends made it more fun to learn. Alex F., who was responsible for the Temple of Venus and Roma, shares, “It looks kind of cool comparing the miniature model with a city that was built so long ago.” When the city is completed, the students dress in togas and offer tours to parents, guests, and many Lower School students. The projects then remains on display in the Lower and Middle School Library until the Poly Pet and Hobby Show, during which the Poly community has an opportunity to view it on display in the gym. Ward has been incorporating the Rome Project into her class for nine years. “What’s really fun is when the kids come back from a vacation in Rome and are truly excited about the monuments they saw and the knowledge they had to share with their families,” she says. Q

Building an equitable and inclusive community Voices from the Polytechnic cohort on diversity and inclusion By Charity Hume, Upper School English teacher and 11th grade dean

hen our community at Poly developed a mission statement, we sought to embrace the intellect, talents, and character of each of our students. We

continue to dedicate ourselves to those practices that celebrate the uniqueness and dignity of each and every individual in our community. For the past two years, a group of Poly adults has taken a closer look at what that commitment can look like as we think about issues of diversity. During this time, the cohort on diversity and inclusion was formed by a number of volunteers from Poly’s faculty and staff from across the school. Our conversations were guided by Dr. Enid Lee, a celebrated leader in multicultural education. We met together in monthly meetings to share projects, discuss challenges, and think about issues of equality in our community. In addition to race, we considered gender identity, learning profile, age, professional roles, social class, and educational access. Inclusion of all our students and adults, in all the ways that they may feel marginalized, became central to our thinking. With the support we experienced in the cohort, and with Lee’s guidance, many of us felt encouraged and empowered to broaden the ways in which we seek to live up to the ideals of our school’s mission. In these conversations, Lee grounded our work in the following equation: Practice plus evidence equals change. Our work in the cohort began with questions of identity. Robert Farrar, History Department co-chair and Middle School teacher, expressed the need for more focus on historical and contemporary issues related to African-American males in particular. “Specific issues related to Poly included curriculum, instruction, admissions, athletics, and mass media coverage, the latter of which needs to be explored in order to provide all of this community with objective information to create an environment that is welcoming and accepting for our African-American young men,” Farrar explains. Lee observed that these concerns were shared by other members of the cohort, as they thought about the experience of Poly’s African-American students, “whether in the area of examining expectations

F E AT U R E

Left: Upper School teacher Ann Diederich discusses her cohort work with consultant Enid Lee during a campus visit. Right: This year’s cohort members included (front, left to right) Aquita Winslow, Laura Gershenhorn, Enid Lee, Ann Diederich; (middle, left to right) John Yen, Julia Davis, Charity Hume, Jenn Tolbert, Barbara Bohr, Robert Farrar; (back, left to right) Dave Yamaoka, Garret Tyau, Tess Damasco, and Alex Velasco.

regarding academic performance, differentiation in pedagogy, or facing the challenge of reading texts where questions of race and racism were evident.” In the realm of pedagogy and instruction, a commitment to inclusion frequently resulted in curricular enrichment for all students. Having taught “To Kill A Mockingbird” to eighth-graders, Middle School English teacher Laura Gershenhorn shares: “A student questioned Atticus Finch — something along the lines of his character being ‘too perfect,’ inhuman in his efforts of fairness. Inspired by this student’s observations and supported by my work on Poly’s Diversity Committee, I offered this class an alternate perspective on the novel in the form of a New Yorker article by Malcolm Gladwell, ‘The Courthouse Ring.’ The article gives a critique of Atticus while drawing parallels between his fictional character and a real historical figure … I see the need to push our study in order to maximize the number of perspectives and experiences shared within each text. My work with the committee has made me braver.”

In my own sophomore English II classes covering “Heart of Darkness,” the desire to include African perspective led to a study of the genocide in the Belgian Congo that Joseph Conrad describes in his novel. Although Conrad sought to expose the horror behind the European “civilizing” in the Congo, Nigerian novelist and critic Chinua Achebe

“I SEE THE NEED TO PUSH OUR STUDY IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES SHARED WITHIN EACH TEXT.”

identifies Conrad’s own racism in “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness.’” After reading Achebe’s article, Kelly G. ’17 commented, “Conrad’s notion of Africans’ not being equipped with the aptitude for language is something I had never noticed before, but now that I have, I see it everywhere.” The cohort’s conversations also explored ways in which LGBT students and adults might gain a greater inclusion, visibility, and voice at Poly. Speaking of her English III

class, Upper School English Teacher Julia Davis writes: “I invited Dr. Adam Ackley, a professor, pastor, and LGBT advocate, to come talk with my class. Ackley is intersex and effectively told his story, mixing the history of science, psychology, and religion with his own personal history, openly and eloquently detailing for our students his attempt to conform to his assigned gender, the physical and psychological dangers of this repression, the discrimination he faced when he started transitioning, and the triumph of finally living true to himself at 46.” There are plans for Ackley to speak to students in an assembly next year; Davis hopes for interdisciplinary support of his visit in English, Biology, and Psychology so our community can gain a deeper understanding of the complex and multi-dimensional aspects of transgender identity. Students with diverse learning styles make up a growing percentage of our population, and several members of the cohort sought ideas of how to better support them. The cohort identified subtle, invisible moments when students with learning differences are labeled and marginalized. Lower School Literacy F E AT U R E

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Coach Alex Velasco says, “My goal this year has been to can potentially help all our students gain confidence in work with the Lower School teachers to make sure that we core skills of communication. constantly have differentiation on our minds as we design As members of the cohort collaborated and exchanged our curriculum and instruction.” She emphasized the ideas about assessment, a shift in thinking occurred. need to have systems in the Lower School that support all Many became more deliberate in finding multiple ways to students, regardless of their learning style, so their needs encourage students to gain access to the unique talent that are met. To this end, cohort participants examined how lies within them. assessments can include or exclude some of our students Cohort gatherings and individual meetings provided a depending on learning profile. space for sharing what it feels like to work at Poly in various To address those more visual and auditory learners, organizational contexts. For some, it was an awakening I changed one of the essay assignments in my English II about those who felt outside of the community.” This class and asked students to create a video to express their aspect of exclusion in the adult community was one of ideas about Shakespeare. The use of media transformed many insights shared by Director of Technology our discussions, John Yen ’89: “As someone as students paired who has had the opportunity “DR. ENID LEE HAS PROVIDED ONGOING SUPPORT, BUT Shakespeare’s poetry with EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE HAS HELPED US FIND THE to work with both teachers diverse, contemporary and staff, I have learned SUPPORT, RESOURCE, AND WISDOM IN ONE ANOTHER.” images and footage. and observed marked They drew parallels to cultural differences between the Egyptian revolution, the conflict in Palestine, the these groups of adults. There are divisive perspectives assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, and many other of personal value and contribution to the school and its historical events as they expressed Shakespeare’s relevance culture and mission. Some feel valued, while others do to our own era. Visual and auditory learners could better not. What drives this? What causes this? It was like a social understand Shakespeare when they set his words to music and cultural construct that seemed to be created from a and used art and news photographs to convey their ideas. philosophy that teaching and learning can only come from This type of assessment consolidates a variety of skills that those within the ranks of faculty. It spoke to an invisible As part of his work on the cohort, Facilities Engineer Dave Yamoaka, along with members of the Operations Department, collaborated with Lower School science teacher Nishat Alikhan to offer a lesson in sustainability to students.

F E AT U R E

Upper School Librarian Aquita Winslow meets with Enid to discuss her cohort work, which focused on student speech and how it reflects the values of the school community.

culture of employees that people “knew of,” but didn’t actually ‘know.’” Efforts to find ways to dissolve institutional boundaries led to unexpected opportunities. Facilities Engineer Dave Yamaoka shares, “Much of the work on the school’s plant seems removed from the academic work of the school.” To counteract this, he reached out to Lower School Science teacher Nishat Alikhan and co-developed a sustainability lesson where students measured the efficiency of different types of light bulbs, researching their impact on both local and global environments. In another example of inclusion, Operations Coordinator Barbara Bohr acknowledged that the cohort had helped form a bridge between the Operations staff and the academic community at Poly: “I felt like being a behind-the-scenes staff person on the cohort last year would be less meaningful than the voice of a teacher. After all, the business at hand is education. As I started to talk about my topic, teachers jumped right on board with this conversation.” Bohr’s participation in the cohort contributed crucial perspective and influenced academic curriculum. Upper School teacher Ann Diederich commented on how Bohr’s ideas found a place in her classes: “The organic nature and flexibility of the cohort has enabled me to seamlessly integrate a variety of diversity and inclusion topics in my classroom. For instance, our cohort discussion of the trash issue on campus prompted me to bring this up in my AP Spanish Language class in our unit on urban challenges. Our students were able to see how our behaviors on

campus reflect and impact those in Los Angeles and around the globe. Before my work in the cohort, I sensed that my students did not understand how institutionalized injustice pertained to them. Now they are seeing more connections between Poly and the global communities we study.” The cohort’s formation at Poly is one example of how an institution can create structures that generate positive momentum. Upper School Librarian Aquita Winslow explained, “I am more conscious of how I let my personal beliefs and fears stop me from doing or saying something about issues that I have the ability to influence or be a force of positive change. As a person of color, I find that my history and perspectives are different, and sometimes it’s that difference that is needed to help move the conversation along.” Tolbert emphasized the need to ensure that the cohort’s conversations continue: “We all believe in equity and social justice, but it takes vigilance and effort to make sure that we are putting our mission and vision into action. I believe the cohort is a good model for creating change in schools. Whether it is focusing on social justice or implementing another new curricular initiative ... there is something powerful about coming together regularly as a group to share practice and exchange ideas … Dr. Enid Lee has provided ongoing support, but even more importantly, she has helped us find the support, resource, and wisdom in one another.” Q

Cohort members come together to discuss their work during a Skype session with Enid Lee.

F E AT U R E

Roots & Branches ALUMNI WORKING AT POLY

While Poly deliberately seeks to prepare its students to pursue a wide variety of potential pathways in the wider world, a growing number of our graduates are deciding to return to their roots and work as teachers and staff members. Overall, there are now a dozen Poly alumni working in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools — including several teachers, the director of technology, the Upper School psychologist, and the director of donor relations, to name a few. Each of these individuals, of course, has his or her own story about how the circle of life has brought him or her back to Poly. Some return by virtue of watchful planning; others, by pure chance. Since graduating from Poly in 1989, Suzie Arther had been a teacher at four different schools. However, she found herself still frequently visiting Poly to see performances and to watch sporting events while her younger sister was still a student. When the opportunity arose to teach here, she jumped to apply and began teaching at Poly in 2000. When asked why she chose to return to her alma mater as a full-time teacher, Arther responded, “Having had tremendous breadth of exposure to different schools, it was not hard to see that Poly provides an extraordinary learning environment. Visiting campus and seeing many of my former teachers was

F E AT U R E

By Julia Wohl ‘15

a strong afﬁrmation, as well, that Poly was a place of employment that very few people wanted to leave. I put both of those pieces together, and as soon as there was a job opening in the Lower School, I applied right away.” Arther also gave a lot of credit to her experience as a student at Poly: “I thrived on the structured autonomy we were given in the high school, making our own choices with regard to our learning but guided by expert faculty who knew us well enough to provide meaningful direction and advice. I honestly can’t say if going to another school would have yielded the same person I am now, but I do feel that Poly helped me to be the best person I am today.” For Jon Fay ’81, returning to Poly was not in his plan. While Fay was in the process of earning his teaching credential during his second year at Garﬁeld High School in East Los Angeles, a professor from Cal State LA happened to sit in on one of Fay’s classes. This professor turned out to have been Fay’s senior year history teacher at Poly, and after seeing him teach in person, she promptly contacted Mike Babcock, Poly’s then head of school, to suggest he reach out to Fay. Fay was offered a job at Poly and happily accepted; he taught math in the Upper School for many years before more recently becoming the school’s director of summer and extended day programs.

Since Fay’s early days as a student and later as a faculty member, he has seen the campus evolve. But he assures, “The soul of the school hasn’t changed all that dramatically. The academics are strong, the expectations are high, and the mindset of the students hasn’t changed all that much.” Brad Hall ’73, who returned to Poly in 1980 to work in Athletics as a basketball coach and is now also a P.E. instructor in all divisions, shares his perspective: “When Mike Babcock ’48 was headmaster, I remember someone asking him what it was like to work at the school he attended so many years ago. I recall him saying the Poly he worked for was totally different than the Poly he attended, not the same place at all. I feel the same way. Every ﬁve to 10 years, the school changes in dramatic ways: different colleagues, different students, and different programs.” Hall did, however, cite one constant: “I have always felt the essence of Poly was set by former administrators such as Mike Babcock, Carmie Rodriguez, Chuck Ellis, and continues to this day with people like Greg Feldmeth, Sharon Thompson, and John Bracker, who always having the best interests of the students as their top priority.” Poly’s Director of Technology John Yen ’89 came to Poly in the ﬁrst grade and was a classmate of Suzie Arther. In his own words, he “literally grew up here. Poly is where I met my lifelong best friends, and it was the place where I discovered and tapped into the core of who I am today. I came back to Poly to give back to the school and to make it a better place than when I left.” Upper School psychologist John Bakaly ’76 wanted to return to Poly for a number of reasons, the most central ones being “the opportunity to work with a progressive faculty who care deeply for their work with students and who have a strong desire to support adolescents and families as they develop, change, and

work to maintain their relationships and connections through adolescence.” Amanda Edwards ‘92, director of donor relations, volunteered to work with former Lower School Director Jolly Urner in 2005 co-writing the school’s history, which was published as the Poly 100 centennial book. Later, Edwards started working for Poly full-time when Poly’s Development Ofﬁce needed a communications specialist and donor relations director. Edwards says, “Working closely on The Next 100 Years campaign to renovate the campus, I got to learn all of the reasoning behind the physical transformations here. I have appreciated how well the spirit of change matched the outlook that has always made Poly strong: a ﬁrm commitment to meaningful student and community experience.”

“ Having had tremendous breadth of exposure to different schools, it was not hard to see that Poly provides an extraordinary learning environment.” SUZIE ARTHER ’89

Each of these outstanding individuals had many choices in terms of career paths and opportunities — that is one of the most important gifts that a Poly education bestows upon its students. We are all very fortunate that these gifted teachers and administrators decided to return to their roots at our school and thereby add to the many branches that make the Poly experience so rich and multifaceted. Q

To see alumni employees then and now, visit www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

F E AT U R E

PANTHERS

IN THE ZONE WINTER RECAP The winter Varsity teams brought home two Prep League championships and one CIF-SS title. Poly produced 23 All-Prep League selections and three Prep League Most Valuable Players. Additionally, Poly had 10 athletes selected All CIF-SS, highlighted by senior Lindsey Kelleher being named the CIF-SS Division 6 Player of the Year.

Boys basketball Boys basketball relied on senior leadership to guide them during the season. The Panthers battled through a competitive schedule, defeating Flintridge Prep twice in league play and Hesperia Christian in the 13th annual Small School Showcase. Three boys were selected to All-Prep League teams. Q

Girls basketball The Varsity girls had to reload this season after making it to the CIF-SS Division 5AA Finals and the second round of the CIF-State playoffs the year before. The Panthers relied on 2014 CIF-SS Division 5AA Player of the Year Kiki Yang, along with a stable of young talent. The girls ﬁnished second in the Prep League and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Two girls were selected to All-Prep League teams,

with senior Kiki Yang being named Prep League Most Valuable Player and All CIF-SS First Team. Q

Boys soccer The boys soccer team returned a solid core of experienced upperclassmen that helped lead them to the ﬁrst round of the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs. The Panthers won the Ontario Christian Christmas Classic before battling through a tougher Prep League schedule. Five boys were selected to All-Prep League teams, and two were selected to All CIF-SS teams. Q

Girls soccer The girls soccer team won its third consecutive Prep League title after ﬁnishing league play with a perfect 10-0 record. The Panthers extended their Prep League undefeated streak to 33 matches before losing a tightly

contested playoff match in penalty kicks. Eight girls were selected to All-Prep League teams with junior Carolyn Shanks being named Prep League MVP. Q

Girls water polo Girls water polo turned in the best season in program history. The Panthers won their fourth consecutive Prep League championship and increased their Prep League winning streak to 48 matches. Their postseason run mirrored much of the regular season, with a stout defense leading them to the CIF-SS Division 6 Championship. Five girls were named to All-Prep League teams, and seven girls were selected to All CIF-SS teams, with Lindsey Kelleher being named both Prep League MVP and CIF-SS Division 6 Player of the Year. Q

SPRING RECAP Varsity teams brought home six Prep League championships this spring, making Poly the overall leader for the year with a total of 11 league championships.

Badminton Badminton (8-8) had an impressive third year in the Montview League, finishing .500 and improving the team’s overall win total by one match. The Panthers competed in the league prelims and finals, with Elisabeth Newkirk finishing fourth and Shirali Shah finishing second. Q

Baseball The baseball team (14-7) won 10 league games en route to their 20th consecutive Prep League championship. Under new head coach Robert Cook, the

PANTHERS IN THE ZONE

Panthers increased their Prep League winning streak to 25 games during the season and ﬁnished fourth in CIF-SS Division 6 rankings. Seven players were selected to All-Prep League teams, with Grifﬁn Carter being named Prep League Most Valuable Player. Q

Boys golf The boys golf team (8-4) clinched the ﬁrst Prep League title of the spring. The Panthers won the “Mystic Niblick” for the ﬁfth straight year by defeating Flintridge Prep on two occasions. The boys advanced to the CIF Regional

Tournament with their ﬁrst place ﬁnish in the Prep League, in addition to being represented by two golfers in the CIF individual championships. Five golfers were named All-Prep League. Q

Softball The softball team (19-5) had an incredible season, ﬁnishing undefeated in the Prep League and bringing home its second straight league championship. The girls’ non-league schedule was just as impressive, with an early win over La Salle and a third place ﬁnish at the Desert Diamond Classic. The

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SPRING RECAP continued Panthers won their ﬁrst two playoff games over Holy Family and Yucca Valley, earning them a berth in the quarterﬁnals of the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs. Five players were selected to All-Prep League teams, with Alex Clark being named Prep League Most Valuable Player. Q

Boys tennis Boys tennis (18-3) clinched its third straight Prep League championship by going undefeated in Prep League play. The Panthers competed in the Pete Brown “First Serve” Tournament at the beginning of the season and carried that momentum to nine straight victories, while increasing their Prep League win streak to 16 matches. The team advanced to the second round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs after defeating Bonita in the opening round. Eight players were selected to All-Prep League teams, with Tim Matthiessen and Andrew Trojan being named Prep League Most Valuable Players – Doubles. Q

Swimming and diving

Track and ﬁeld

The swimming teams turned in impressive seasons. The boys finished second in the Prep League for the second year in a row. Freshman Tom Amsbry won the League’s springboard diving championship and followed up by winning Poly’s first ever CIF-SS Division 3 Diving championship on the boys side. The girls dominated the season by winning every meet and capturing their second straight Prep League championship. The girls won 11 out of 12 events at the Prep League finals, and junior Heather Grotzinger repeated as Prep League Most Valuable Swimmer. Freshman Daria Lenz became the fourth member of the Lenz family and seventh girl diver overall to win a CIF-SS diving championship for Poly. The Panthers’ season culminated with the girls team winning the CIF-SS Division 3 championship, Poly’s first team title in school history. Q

The track and field teams produced strong seasons, with the girls’ side finishing third at the Prep League finals and the boys winning their second consecutive League championship. Junior Ryan Casey won the 100-meter dash for the third consecutive year. Senior Diana Matthiessen won the girls shot put. Senior Richard Hathaway broke his own school record in the 3,200-meter with a time of 9:43:11 and set a new school record in the mile with a time of 4:26.50. Senior Vince Porter also broke the school record in the high jump by clearing 6’9” at the Russell Cup. Q

Boys volleyball Boys volleyball (5-10) worked through a tough Prep League schedule, highlighted by two victories over league newcomer Firebaugh. The Panthers also notched victories against crosstown school Maranatha and former Prep League foe Webb. Two players were named to All-Prep League teams. Q

The Class of 2015 had 21 studentathletes who participated in 10 out of 12 seasons of sport, ﬁve of whom competed in all 12 seasons of sport. Bing Banta – Football (3), Soccer (4), Baseball (4) Max Beller – Football (4), Soccer (2), Baseball (4) Grifﬁn Carter – Football (4), Basketball (4), Baseball (4) Alex Clark – Volleyball (4), Water Polo (3), Softball (4) Robert DeMarco – Football (4), Basketball (2), Tennis (1), Track and Field (3) Becca Hanel – Volleyball (4), Soccer (4), Softball (4)

(Front row, left to right) Becca Hanel, Sam Shafia, DeeDee Logan, Brooke Olson, Kayla Valencia, Alex Clark, Natasha Piñon, Nick Terrile, Manny Medrano, John Rodgers. (Back row, left to right) Jon Yen, Will Hubsch, Bing Banta, Robert DeMarco, Max Beller, Parker Mathews, Dylan Hanel, Griffin Carter, Vince Porter, Matthew Soulanille.

Dylan Hanel – Cross Country (1), Football (3), Soccer (4), Baseball (4), Track and Field (1) Will Hubsch – Cross Country (4), Soccer (4), Track and Field (3) DeeDee Logan – Volleyball (4), Water Polo (2), Softball (4) Parker Mathews – Football (4), Basketball (2), Track and Field (4) Nick McConnell – Football (4), Basketball (3), Soccer (1), Track and Field (4) Manny Medrano – Cross Country (4), Soccer (2), Golf (4)

John Rodgers – Fencing (7), Badminton (3) Sam Shaﬁa – Volleyball (4), Soccer (1), Water Polo (3), Softball (2), Swimming (2) Matthew Soulanille – Fencing (8), Badminton (4) Nicky Terrile – Cross Country (1), Soccer (1), Fencing (5), Badminton (3) Kayla Valencia – Volleyball (3), Soccer (4), Track and Field (3) Jon Yen – Cross Country (4), Basketball (3), Track and Field (4)

Brooke Olson – Tennis (4), Soccer (1), Water Polo (3), Swimming (3) Natasha Piñon – Volleyball (3), Tennis (1), Soccer (1), Water Polo (3), Track and Field (4) Vince Porter – Football (4), Soccer (4), Track and Field (3), Volleyball (1)

Brooke Olsen is the ﬁrst student-athlete to win three CIF championships in one year. To read more about Brooke, visit www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

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New Head of School John Bracker meets Poly alumni across the United States In his first year as head of school, John Bracker traveled near and far to meet more than 250 Poly alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, and friends at receptions throughout the nation. At each stop, John shared his excitement about what’s happening on campus while listening to alumni and friends describe what Poly means to them. The Pacific Northwest was his first stop in the fall. Alumni and friends gathered in Portland and Seattle to greet the new head, hear about the opening of school activities, and meet fellow alumni in the area. Back in Southern California, late September gave way to Poly’s largest alumni reception on record, with more than 80 alumni and friends eager to meet John at the Downtown L.A. reception. In October, the Windy City welcomed John and Assistant Head of School Greg Feldmeth for a pizza lunch with alumni in college at The University of Chicago and the first ever alumni reception in the Chicago area. More than 20 alumni,

Boston reception

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D.C. reception

parents, and grandparents came together for the occasion. Ushering in the holidays Californiastyle, John and Poly Trustee John Babcock ’87 headed to the coast in December for a seaside Orange County reception with alumni spanning six decades. In January, John kicked off the New Year with a visit to San Francisco, where alumni from the Classes of 1963 to 2010 gathered to hear the new head reflect on the first half of his inaugural year at Poly. East Coast-bound in early spring, John’s trips to Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston in March brought together alumni, parents of alumni, and friends whose lives may have taken them 3,000 miles from Pasadena, but whose Poly pride is still strong. Hopping on a train to make his way up to Boston from New York, John stopped in New Haven for lunch with Poly alumni at Yale and stopped in Providence for dinner with Poly alumni at Brown. Concluding his travels for the year,

Palo Alto reception

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Photos left to right: Boston reception Back row, left to right: Scott Stikeleather and Mollie Cunningham Stikeleather ’86, George Hakimeh ’09, Jeremy Poindexter ’07, Aubrey Rho ’08, Matt Akers Front row, left to right: John Bracker, Allesandra Bianchi Herman ’82, SooIn Yoon ’10, Sarah Schorr ’08 D.C. reception Left to right: John Bracker, Samantha Vargas Poppe ’98, Michael Rosenthal ’98, Tom Harriman ’63

John made trips to Palo Alto and Santa Barbara for receptions with more than 30 alumni and friends in the area. The culmination of John’s first year of introduction to the alumni community occurred during reunion weekend, when he hosted alumni, parents of alumni, and friends at his home for the Head’s Welcome. Guests heard about an exciting collaborative course in biology and literature from Upper School faculty Susie Kim and Nathan Stogdill. Students Alex V. ’15 and Lauren W. ’16 shared what it’s

like to be a Poly student today, along with the challenges and unparalleled opportunities of which they are a part. As with many of the events this year, John Bracker closed the Head’s Welcome by sharing his hopes for Poly in the near future and encouraged the alumni community to stay connected and return to campus often. Thank you to all our alumni and friends who joined us at the many events and regional receptions this year. If we missed you, we hope to see you next time!

Palo Alto reception Julia Alison ’14, Michelle Gumport ’07, Jimmy Zhou ’14, Marc Mares ’01, Jason Nagata ’04, James Stout ’05, John Bracker, Katherine Goar Seattle reception Lucy Jean Sannes ’71, Sara Burgess ’70, Lucianne Phillips ’71, Laurene Kelly ’74, Linus Kamb ’83, Debby Taylor Smith ’64, John Bracker Chicago reception Gillian Feldmeth ’09, Greg Feldmeth, Billy Wardlaw ’08

DTLA reception Christine Tse Kuecherer ’92, Sam Kim, Daisy Ha ’92, John Bracker

To view more photos from these events, visit www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

Seattle reception

Chicago reception

DTLA reception

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Events Alumni and current families unite to lend a hand in the community On March 7, nearly 50 alumni, parents of alumni, current students and parents gathered for Poly’s annual Alumni Community Service Day. This year Poly partnered with The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy, Hillsides, and Pasadena Facilities and Parks. Volunteers spent the morning removing invasive plant species at Rubio Canyon, cleaning up the Hillsides Library, and planting new gardens at Victory and Hamilton Park. Special thanks to Pasadena parks volunteer Rhonda Stone (mother of Adam ’96, David ’00, and Evan Stone ’03); Talib Khalfani of the City of Pasadena; Barbara Goto and Tim Martinez of The Arroyo & Foothills Conservancy; and Sherri Ginsberg of Hillsides for their partnership in making this event such a success. Q

Maggie Heflin Sabbag ’87, Amanda Edwards ’92, and Shannon Thyne ’87

Alumni return to campus for Reunion Weekend

Members of the Class of ’65 gather with their former high school teacher, Mary Connor. From left to right, Mac Miller ’65, Joan Glass Hilgers ’65, Mary Weatherley, Mary Connor, Nancy Flournoy ’65, Ken Hammond ’65, Gina Pohlman Seitz ’65, John Wingler ’65, Gini Noyes Armstrong ’63, Marilyn Huntsberger Mansfield ’65.

In May, nearly 400 alumni and guests returned to campus to celebrate milestone reunions. On Friday the Class of 1965 was inducted into the 50-Year Club, whose members include alumni who graduated from Poly 50 or more years ago. Guests were serenaded during dinner by cast members from the Upper School musical, “In the Heights,” and they listened to Alumni Association and school updates from Alumni Association President Larry Perkins ’95 and Head of School John Bracker. On Saturday morning, alumni were greeted by John Bracker at his home for the Head’s Welcome, where Upper School faculty Dr. Susie Kim and Dr. Nathan Stogdill described their new collaborative course Literature and Science of Disease. Upper School students Alex V. ’15 and Lauren W. ’16 shared their perspectives on being a Poly student today, explaining how the new interdisciplinary courses have challenged them academically and invigorated their learning process. That afternoon, families enjoyed the Alumni Family Picnic on campus, featuring arts and crafts, barbecue, ice cream, and campus tours. During the picnic, guests were invited to watch Poly Varsity baseball’s senior game against Rio Hondo Prep, which was followed by a celebration of Coach Wayne Ellis and his successful career leading Poly baseball. Festivities continued in the evening, as reunion classes gathered on Arden Lawn for a reception and class photos before dinner. The Class of ’90 received the Willis Stork Award for the highest giving participation in the Annual Fund with a record-breaking 60 percent, and the Class of ’85 received the Gosney Cup for the greatest total raised for the Annual Fund. Q

To see a slideshow from Reunion Weekend, visit visit www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

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Philanthropy Upper School independent study: Annual Fund support at work Even in Poly’s rigorous Upper School, some students feel motivated to stretch beyond the standard curriculum through independent study of a subject that holds personal interest for them. The independent study program testifies both to students’ ambitious curiosity and to the flexibility a robust Annual Fund promotes at Poly. Most often juniors or seniors (in a few cases, sophomores), these individualists first must demonstrate their plans to pursue a single-semester academic investigation that is not already supported within the course catalog and arrange for a faculty advisor to oversee their progress. A committee of teachers reviews each proposal and provides feedback for any concepts that need further development. “We really want to see that the student is independently driven in the subject,” Dean of Studies Cotter Donnell explains. “Often the strongest applications are from those who have had a specific idea sparked by another course — and they want to find out more, challenge themselves further.” The choice to pursue independent study certainly embraces challenge, as a student must keep up at least a regular five-course schedule at the same time and make a fitting public presentation of findings as a culmination. Recent graduate John Rodgers ’15 spent both semesters of his senior year delving into sophisticated study

born out of a more common interest: “I started learning the Ancient Greek language on my own after I read one of the books in the Percy Jackson series in seventh grade,” Rodgers says. “I quickly grew to appreciate the intricate grammar, as well as the culture and history that surrounded it.” His final presentation enlightened fellow students on Ancient Greek medicine and the culture’s approaches to physical and mental health. The Poly community’s substantial support for the school’s operating budget through annual giving helps create an environment for exceptional student-faculty interaction. Latin teacher Katie Schuhl has tutored and advised several students in Ancient Greek through independent studies, including Rodgers and Erynn Kim ’13, who is now a classics major at Princeton. This year, Jennifer Godwin Minto, Upper School photography teacher, had the chance to work one-onone with Aaron “Mitch” B. ’15, who has been inspired to study street photography independently. Mitch’s unique ambition expanded through a course with expert Los Angeles street photographer John Free and countless hours shooting, scanning negatives,

Senior Mitch B. explored street photography through independent study.

and organizing his shots into photo essay booklets called “’zines.” Mitch found his independent study pushed him to work exceptionally hard through his very last weeks at Poly. He explains, “The title of my final ’zine is ‘Senioritis’ because I felt that my work this semester ironically juxtaposed the usual stereotype of the laziness of the second semester of senior year.” Indeed, as Poly supporters well know, laziness is rarely an apt word in the life of the school. Q

To view more of Mitch’s work, visit www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

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Class Notes

Class of 2015 On Thursday, June 4, Babcock Field was overflowing with family, friends, faculty, and staff as 98 seniors gathered to be honored with diplomas and to officially conclude their time as Poly students. After Head of School John Bracker’s welcome and address to the seniors, this year’s commencement speech was delivered by the seniors themselves. New this year, students opted to forego an invited speaker. Instead, 10 students were randomly selected to deliver two-minute speeches sharing the story of their Poly experience and their hopes for the future. With confidence and poise, the seniors reflected on how much they have grown individually and academically and how their lives have been enriched and confidence fueled. They spoke of Poly as their home, their classmates and teachers as family, and a shared pride knowing that Poly has prepared and nurtured them to be, unapologetically, who they are. We wish the Class of 2015 great success in college and beyond! Q

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Class Notes Class Notes editorial policy: The editorial staff gives preference to those class notes that come from primary sources. We reserve the right to edit class notes (primarily because of space considerations; occasionally for clarity). We do not have the resources to fact-check class note entries; therefore, we cannot be liable for inaccurate or false information that may inadvertently ﬁnd its way into a class note. We thank you for your understanding. To submit a class note, send an email to classnotes@polytechnic.org.

1939-1959 Sue Felt Kerr ’39 Sue is still doing pen and ink drawings of cities for notepaper and calendars. She has completed four cities and is working on Washington, D.C., at age 90. Q Emily Angle Wallis ’41 John Watkins ’40 has been a Poly caller for many years, and it is always good to hear from him. Polytechnic is an amazing school. I greatly enjoyed my years at Poly and my scholastic achievements. Q William Taverner ’43 I lunched with Betsy Luce Phillips ’43 at the Red Barn in Santa Ynez. Out came the class photo. Betsy stays in touch with Diane Stanton Martin ’43, who has a good handle on what’s going on with our class. Following lunch, we visited Betsy’s house on the ranch and walked down to the winery, which is managed by her very capable daughter. Betsy is in good hands, being taken care of by three generations of family, including a 16-year-old greatgrandson. Had a most wonderful day before returning to Montecito. Q Janet Swafford Lenihan ’47 Hello to all my good old friends from Class of ’47. I am happy, healthy, and well. I have returned to Berkeley, where two of my grandkids, Kian (13) and Isley (4), live. I get M O R E A L U M N I N E W S AT W W W . P O LY T E C H N I C . O R G

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Leondra Kruger ’93 By Isabelle Phinney ’16

Early this year, the California Supreme Court gained a Poly alumna as its newest associate justice. Leondra Kruger ’93 was sworn in to replace Justice Joyce Kennard, who retired last year. A 1993 winner of the presidential scholarship for writing, Kruger stands out as the second African-American woman and, at 38, the youngest justice to serve on the court. Her former Poly English teacher Grace Hamilton’s description of Kruger as a “quiet but bright and perceptive student” echoes former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement’s praise of her “understated and easygoing manner, keen legal mind, and unquestioned integrity.” After Kruger’s childhood in South Pasadena and 13 years at Poly, she attended Harvard University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1997. She went on to intern at the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California and received her J.D. from Yale University in 2001. Kruger worked in the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor General, from 2007 to 2013. During that time, she argued 12 cases in front of the Supreme Court. Neal Katyal, Paul Saunders Professor at Georgetown University, reflected, “Watching her at the U.S. Supreme Court was like watching a master who had done it hundreds of times.” Even so, Governor Brown’s appointment of Kruger surprised some because of her comparative youth and lack of experience — Kruger has been a member of the California bar for only 12 years and has not lived in the state for several years. However, all who have worked with Kruger or heard her speak praise her brilliant, dedicated, and modest character. Georgetown professor Katyal said, “This is really a victory for those quiet toilers who aren’t always trying to plan their next career move.” Kruger is married to a fellow lawyer and has a toddler son. She attributes her determination and passion for public service to her mother and late father. Kruger said, “I was raised with the belief that anything is possible if you set your mind to it, but that with great opportunities comes great responsibility to contribute and to be of service.” Q

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Benjamin Weissman ’08 By Erica Goodwin ’15

Looking back on his high school years, Benjamin Weissman ’08 remembers, “Poly faculty challenged us to have real opinions and to pursue our interests, whatever they might be.” From co-founding a charity for seriously ill children to studying medicine in England, India, and the West Indies, Weissman has been doing both. At Poly, Weissman’s interests ranged from AP Biology and Chemistry, to Tech Theatre and the engaging discussions in English class or Human Sexuality and Relations seminar. He always appreciated the respect Poly faculty had for their students, whether by entrusting them with a theater production or challenging their ideas in class. Weissman went on to study biology and anthropology, crediting the latter for his love of travel and desire to live abroad. As part of the Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars Program, he studied for a year at Northumbria University in England and participated in an eye-opening program in India working with patients and assisting with procedures. Now as Weissman finishes pathophysiology and pharmacology studies in Grenada, West Indies, he remembers to enjoy the slower lifestyle of the Caribbean by exploring the island, from scuba diving to motorcycle rides and local cuisine. Next Weissman will do two years of clinical work at U.S. hospitals and is looking forward to furthering the medical charity he co-founded his senior year of college, the Inspirational Medicine Foundation. The organization aims to alleviate the psychological pain of seriously ill children through technology. In the near future, Weissman hopes to blend his passions for medical work and international connection by expanding Inspirational Medicine to the Grenada General Hospital and to pediatric patients around the world. Q

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to care for Isley one or two days per week, when my Waldorf kindergarten training comes in very handy. Prior to moving back to Berkeley about seven years ago, I had been living in Monterey and teaching at a Waldorf charter school. I often think of our years together, and I love and miss you all. Best to all of you still aboard this big ship we call Earth. I would love to hear from you. Q Meggie Milne Weston Smith ’47 Following the release of my biography of my father, “Beating the Odds: the Life and Times of E. A. Milne” (Imperial College Press) and unveiling a plaque to him at his old school, University of Hull is creating the E. A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics. Most exciting. I have nine grandchildren: three in Cambridge, England; four in Paris; and two in London. They are all ﬂourishing, as are my three children and their spouses. My best wishes to Stanley Cochran ’47, Cynthia Cronkhite Jones ’47, Linda Pauling Kamb ’47, and Norman “Tad” Williamson ’47. If you come to London, do get in touch. Q Charles Thorne ’49 Pat and I are in good health and just survived our 57th anniversary, shared by our seven daughters. After 15 years in the mountains of Colorado, we are now retired and living in Kenosha, Wis. Never thought 80 would come so quickly! Q Dr. Joseph Holt Rose ’49 is practicing radiation medicine in Pasadena. Q Karin Brandreth O’Keefe ’52 continues to volunteer (14 years) for City of Hope. Q Julie Patton Barker ’53 We downsized out of our big house and now we get away more. We were in Niagara Falls for our 55th anniversary — very romantic! Q Laurie Washburn Boone Hogen ’55 I split my time between Sonoma area and Cambridge, U.K. I continue to work with Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and secular U.K. and U.S. schools. Q

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Class Notes Barbara Breasted Whitesides ’56 Our older California grandchild has not yet reached kindergarten, but oh! How clearly I remember Miss Hawkins’ kindergarten classroom and the crossing guard who got us Breasted children safely across California Boulevard! Q Christopher Wilmans ’58 I am delighted to see Poly’s continued excellence in education, and our granddaughter Natalie Wilmans ’20 enjoys success in seventh grade, an example for her 1-year-old niece, Edith! On a recent visit to pick up my “Talie” from her class, the campus looked beautiful. It was a treat to see such well behaved, smiling students! Q

1960-1969 John Hutchinson ’62 John retired from IBM after 46 years and is enjoying traveling and cycling on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal as a volunteer patrol. Q Sandra Kulli ’64 The 50th reunion was hilariously fun. Debby Taylor Smith ’64 was tops! Q Debra Taylor Smith ’64 New grandson from Amanda and Ted Smith ’93! Edward Brinton Smith VI was born Dec. 8, 2014, at 9 lb. 3 oz. and 22.5 inches long. All are thrilled! I am still in Seattle and loving being with Taylor and Joann Smith ’90 ’90 and their three great kids. Loved our 50th reunion last year. Q Nancy Flournoy ’65 With our home in Croatia ﬁnished, my husband and I are looking for new challenges. I just retired from the University of Missouri. We plan to move west — the question is where? Q Elizabeth “Lizzie” Jones ’65 Fifty years ago, who would think I would still be practicing law (still need to get it right) and have three sons and four granddaughters — life is good! Q

M O R E A L U M N I N E W S AT W W W . P O LY T E C H N I C . O R G

H. Stanton Jones ’65 Stan retired from the Automobile Club in 2014 and is back working with his wife, Ann, at their travel agency. They are spending lots of time with their two grandsons, traveling, and enjoying life. Q Gale McLain Lewis ’66 Life is good! My husband and I are both retired, my mother celebrated her 90th birthday, and I am ﬁnally a grandmother. Q John Paul Leonard ’66 We moved to San Diego in 2013. Our two children, Albi and Amber, are now in high school and middle school. Q Roger Riffenburgh ’67 I continue to live in Sunnyvale in Silicon Valley and edit the Bay Area GOP Newsletter. Q William Fleeman III ’68 Alive and well in Davis, Calif. Married, still working, kids in college. Still stirring the pot: www.informedmajority.com. Q

Norman Frank, is tooling around France for a few weeks with Bob Frank ’78 and Ken Frank ’74. Norman is making 90 look easy; he just keeps getting better with age. My mom has “flown West” as we say in my line of work. She was very special to all us Franks. Norman set a very high standard in caring for our mom as she battled Alzheimer’s, and he remained Margaret’s champion to the very end. All the best to my fellow middling vintage Panthers. Q Jon Nalick ’85 After 20 years at USC, I recently joined Caltech’s Marketing and Communications Office. Perks include a short commute and not pretending to care about football. I enjoy writing about scientific fields, which greatly appeals to my geeky nature. I also get to mingle on campus with Poly alums, including Sue Pitts McHugh ’85 and Katrina Kuehn Onderdonk ’93. Since I’m just across the street, I figure I owe Alan Geier and Tina Cocumelli lunch for putting up with my nonsense for so many years. Q

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Debbie King Donahue ’73 I welcomed my fourth grandchild in 2014! What a blessing they are! My youngest daughter continues her studies at Texas A&M University, while I work to pay her bills — ha! I was honored this year to be named one of the Top 500 RE/MAX agents in Texas. Loving life in Houston! Q

Felicia Williams ’90 After seven years working at Southern California Edison in finance, I am starting a new job in energy efficiency at a startup called Clean Fund. I will be covering the Los Angeles and Orange County markets, structuring financing for energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy, and electric vehicle charging projects on large commercial buildings. Other fun activities include continued work as a commissioner in Pasadena as treasurer of the Convention Center board, treasurer of the Planned Parenthood Pasadena board, and advisor on environmental issues for both Senator Carol Liu and Assembly Majority Leader Chris Holden. Q

Ralph Stearns ’73 and Keiko Shimada Stearns ’73 Look us up if you are in the Boston area! Q

1980-1989 David Frank ’82 I just competed A320 captain training in April and am teaching initial Airbus training in ﬂight simulators. Skiing as many days as possible. I smile a little every time I blast off in a jet — they actually pay me to do this. My dad, former Poly teacher

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Tara Newman ’92 My husband, Abdul, and I welcomed a son last year. His name is Vann, and he is a curious and wonderful delight. Q Eleanor Johnson Jones ’93 Hi everyone! Living on Kauai, married, have two beautiful children, Audrey and Riggs. I was one of the initial inductees into UCSD’s sports Hall of Fame for soccer last year. Look me up if you are ever on our beautiful island! Q

Jonathan Kidder ’93 John (far left), the newly appointed head of school at Park Day School in Oakland, is pictured with (left to right) former Poly Spanish teacher and current California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Director of Professional Development Cathy Shelburne; former Poly English teacher and current head of school at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School in San Mateo, Mark McKee; and CAIS Executive Director Jim McManus. Mark and Cathy are parents of Antonia Shelburne McKee ’10. Q Lauren Nicholas Steele ’93 Life is great in San Clemente. Jeremy and I adopted a 14-year-old girl, Nadia, from Ukraine two years ago. She’s doing well, as are our boys, Evan, 11, and Nicholas, 8. Nadia will be 16 in December. Q

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Minnie Ingersoll ’94 Leondra Kruger ’93 moved back to join the California Supreme Court, so we had a little get-together in Lauren Arnault ’94’s backyard with Blanca Fromm Young ’94, me, and our toddlers. (Pictured, left to right: Leondra Kruger, Lauren Arnault, Blanca Young, Minnie Ingersoll) Q

Janet Holt ’02 Janet and Lucas Arribas Layton welcomed Isabel Helen Arribas-Holt on March 6, in Washington, D.C. Baby Isabel is the granddaughter of Melinda Cook (Poly Lower School Spanish teacher) and grandniece of Laura Pendorf (Poly Upper School Spanish teacher). Q

Leigh Winter Martin ’95 I hosted a Bay Area pre-reunion reunion at my house, and it was great to see and catch up with Catherine Blue Holmes ’95, Edith Wu ’95, Winston Su ’95, Bianca Ling ’95, Jennifer Smith Carstensen ’95, Pam Tsai ’95, and their families before our 20th reunion! (Pictured from left to right, back row: Jennifer Smith Carstensen, Bianca Ling, Pam Tsai, Edith Wu, Winston Su. Front row: Catherine Blue Holmes, Leigh Winter Martin) Q

Nadia Chan ’03 Nadia and Daniel Tang were married May 17, 2014, at San Marino Community Church. The reception was held at the home of Nadia’s parents. Sharon Cu ’03, Laura Allen ’03, and Alexis Korostoff Rieber ’01 were in attendance. Nadia is a chief resident in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at USC, and Daniel is a dentist in private practice. Q

2000-2014 Amit Sura ’00 Amit is a pediatric radiologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He made his second trip to Haiti for a medical mission in December. Q Phelps Williams ’03 Phelps married Meghan Lee O’Grady on April 12, 2014, in San Marino. Phelps’s

Poly

Class Notes sister, Louisa Williams ’08, is pictured with the happy couple. Q Iggy Rodriguez ’05 Iggy joined Kapow Events as their national partnerships director in 2014. Previously, he was the director of advertising for the Detroit Pistons and worked in the marketing department for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Iggy spearheaded the formation of the Chicago Leadership Alliance, a non-proﬁt comprised of young leaders in the community. The group dedicates itself to improving the city of Chicago through philanthropic, civic, business, and social pursuits. Q Julia Brown ’10 Julia is working in Santa Monica for Skywell LLC. Q Madison Scheckel ’10 Madison co-wrote a song, “What Might’ve Been,” for an episode of Disney’s animated hit series, “Phineas and Ferb,” which aired in February. Q

Michelle Miller ’12 Michelle made history with the Princeton women’s basketball team this season. She scored 20 points and made seven rebounds to propel the Tigers to victory in the team’s ﬁrst-ever NCAA Tournament game. Over Poly’s spring break, Sarah Johnson ’18 ﬂew to D.C. to watch Michelle play in the tournament. Kiki Yang ’15 created the sign. Q

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Stephen Phillips ’85 by Milan Mossé ’15

Dr. Stephen Phillips ’85, says he enjoys his work as an architect because it is complex and ever changing. “One day I will be on the job site working with contractors on building details and the next day on a plane to give a lecture and participate in thoughtprovoking academic discussions.” Phillips also finds opportunities to write and publish new ideas, which are well fed by his work in his private practice designing for both residential and commercial clients in areas like Sonoma, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He finds his work to be extremely exciting and fulfilling, and he credits his lifelong dedication to service and personal growth to his time at Poly: “Poly really trusted and respected us, and I think that makes a big difference to what one believes is possible for themselves and others. It definitely was a nurturing environment.” Phillips majored in architecture as a Yale undergraduate, earned a master’s degree in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Design, and graduated from Princeton with a master’s degree and Ph.D. Among many distinctions, he received a Creative Achievement Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture in Washington, D.C, earlier this year. In addition to his private architecture practice, Phillips is currently on the faculty at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. While he dedicates much of his time to teaching, research, and his private practice, Phillips knows the importance of a well-rounded life. Phillips spends much of his free time in the company of his loving friends and family. Q

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P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

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Connections

In Memoriam We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those listed below and hope this section assists those who wish to honor their Poly classmates and friends. Poly publishes obituaries as space allows when we receive notice that an alumnus/a or former faculty or staff member has died. If we have neglected to list someone, please send us biographical information, which we will print in a subsequent issue. Please note: Listings include those received through April 2015.

Nancy Bayly Watts ’30 December 19, 2013, Santa Barbara, California

survived by eight grandchildren (including Matt Robbins ’02 and Kiley Robbins ’05) and three great-grandchildren.

Nancy was born on July 12, 1915. After Poly, she attended Westridge and UCLA. Nancy had a 30-year career in the ﬁeld of children’s art. She is survived by siblings, Maybelle Wolfe ’38 and Roy D. Bayly ’41; her children; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Her husband, Leslie Watts, and brother Russell Bayly ’34 preceded her in death.

Vernon Richardson Jr. ’36 January 3, 2015, Flintridge, California

Geraldine McMurtry ’32 May 19, 2012, Hillsboro, Oregon Geraldine was born on June 20, 1916, in Canton, Mass. After attending Poly, she settled in the Scholls area of Oregon. Geraldine volunteered for several years for Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland. During World War II, she had volunteered for the American Red Cross in California. Flora Everding Maclise ’35 November 21, 2014, Sonoma, California Flora was born in Pasadena in 1920. She earned a degree from UC Berkeley, where she met her husband, Gay Maclise. In 1956, they moved to Ross, Calif. She helped establish the Bouvery Preserve in Sonoma and helped the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. She is survived by her four children; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Jack K. Robbins ’36 November 29, 2014, Rancho Santa Fe, California Jack was born in Michigan on May 28, 1921. After Poly, Jack pursued veterinary medicine. In his ﬁeld, he was universally recognized as a pioneer of racetrack veterinary medicine. He married Margaret “Maggie” Miller in 1944, and they had four sons, including David Robbins ’70 and Tom Robbins ’71. Besides his sons, Robbins is

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Vernon served 16 years at sea as chief engineer for American President Lines. In 1959, he founded Merchant Vessel Machinery Replacement Inc. to provide equipment and parts to the United States Merchant Marine Fleet and the Navy. He is survived by his loving family. F. Daniel Frost ’36 February 25, 2015, Tucson, Arizona Daniel was a World War II Army veteran and well-known Southern California lawyer. He was active in creating the Hispanic Academic Achievement Program in Eastern Washington, and he personally funded college educations for more than 20 young Hispanic students. In addition to his wife, Daniel is survived by his children, including Polly Frost ’70; and grandchildren Melissa Frost ’99, Jakob Enga, and Elisa Daus. He was preceded in death by a son, Daniel Blackburn Frost ’66; brother, Thomas Rickey Frost ’42; and sisters, Barbara Harkness ’34 and Alice Kennedy ’37.

Barbara Blankenhorn Kerst ’42 December 12, 2014, Tacoma, Washington Barbara was born in Pasadena. She enjoyed summers on American Lake with her sister, Mary Blankenhorn Keyser ’37, and her stepsiblings. After Poly, Barbara went to Vassar College and worked in New York City. Barbara is survived by her children and their families. Walker Smith Jr. ’42 December 21, 2014, Newport Beach, California Walker was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Pasadena. After Poly, he attended Stanford University. During World War II, he served in the United States Coast Guard. Walker married Molly Mutzel Smith in Oregon in 1954, and moved back to California, where he enjoyed a career in real estate. He is survived by his children. Watson Alberts ’44 September 19, 2014, Escondido, California Watson earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and a Ph.D. in biophysics from UC Berkeley. He went on to work in the ﬁeld of human neurophysiology at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco. From 1972 until 1994, Watson worked at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Upon retirement, he and his wife, Marilyn, settled in El Cerrito. Watson is survived by his wife and their two children. Nancy Grandin Hutchinson ’44 February 5, 2015, Pebble Beach, California

Polly Carruthers Ehrgood ’39 June 26, 2014, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Nancy was born on Sept. 25, 1929, in Pasadena. Upon graduation from Poly, she majored in French at Stanford University. She is survived by her sister, Susan Grandin Taylor ’50; her three children; and her six grandchildren.

Anne McBride Simons ’41 January 15, 2015, Seattle, Washington

Ann Willrich Funk ’45 February 2, 2015, Santa Barbara, California

Anne was born in Pasadena in 1926. After Poly, she attended the Dobbs Ferry School, Bennett Junior College, and Occidental College. Anne married Langdon Simons in 1951. She served on the boards of the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Governor’s Mansion Foundation, Pike Place Market Foundation, and Medina Foundation. She is survived by her husband, three daughters, and six grandchildren.

Ann was born in Pasadena in 1931. After Poly she earned her bachelor’s degree in history at Stanford University. She and her husband had four children and settled in 1963 in Santa Monica, where she was founding chairwoman of the Santa Monica Historical Society. In 1980, Ann earned her master’s degree in ﬁction writing from Antioch College and published a work of historical ﬁction called “Lifeblood” in 2012. She is survived by her husband; four children; brother, Mason Willrich ’47; and seven grandchildren.

Poly Collis H. Holladay Jr. ’48 February 4, 2015, Newport Beach, California

William L. “Bill” Davis ‘54 March 1, 2015, Santa Barbara, California

C.H. “Hunt” Holladay Jr. was born July 12, 1933, in Pasadena. After Poly, he attended Caltech, earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Shortly after graduation, Hunt married Janet Chandler and began a career in the oil industry. He was active on the boards of the Society for the Prevention of Blindness and The Associates at Caltech. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, three children, and three grandchildren.

Bill was born in Los Angeles in 1939. After Poly, he attended Harvard School and Stanford University. He sat on many boards, including Harvard-Westlake, Los Angeles Music Center Foundation, Hoover Institute, UCLA Anderson School, and the Aspen Institute. Bill is survived by his wife and four children.

Janet Johnson ’50 March 30, 2015, Altadena, California Janet attended Poly from 1941 to 1950, then went to Westridge and The Branson School for high school. She graduated from Smith College in 1957. Marilynn Krick Lunde ’51 May 31, 2014, Los Angeles, California Marilynn was born in Pasadena. She attended Stanford University, where she earned a degree in European history. Marilynn and her husband spent 35 years living and working in the Stanford community. She was a co-author of “The Next Generation” parenting book. She is survived by her ﬁve sons and 13 grandchildren. Lindsay T. MacDonnell ’52 June 1, 2013, Monroe, Washington Lindsay attended Poly through ninth grade and graduated from South Pasadena High. After high school, he joined the Marines and spent time in Southeast Asia. After the war, he lived in Costa Rica and Mexico. He has three children and seven grandchildren. Ann Bruce Kitcher ’53 May 1, 2014, Ladera Ranch, California David F. Pilmer ’53 January 17, 2015, Middleton, Wisconsin David was born in Pasadena on April 22, 1938. He attended Stanford University, graduating in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, and served eight years in the United States Navy. As a lieutenant, he served in the nuclear submarine ﬂeet and as an engineering instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. David later received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech and spent the remainder of his career as a nuclear engineer for Southern California Edison. He is survived by his wife; children; four grandchildren; and siblings, Robert G. Pilmer ’46 and Shirley Crawford.

Janis Young ’54 November 30, 2014, Reno, Nevada Janis was born June 7, 1939, in Los Angeles, the daughter of David Robert and Poly drama department founder Vivian Merrill Young. After graduating from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in biology, she obtained a certiﬁcate of orthoptics from the UC Medical School in San Francisco. Janis moved to Reno, where she helped children through the practice of orthoptics and ﬁtting contact lenses. She is survived by her brother, David Young ’52; his wife; and nieces and nephews. Caitlin Mullin ’54 November 26, 2014, Worcester, Massachusetts Caitlin was born in Pasadena. She graduated from Occidental College and received a master’s degree in ethnomusicology from Columbia University. After a successful career teaching and writing music for public television in Los Angeles, Caitlin pursued additional coursework at UCLA to become a psychotherapist. She earned her Ph.D. at The Institute of the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. She is survived by her six siblings, including Jackie Hurschler ’52. Peter Valentine ’55 December 12, 2014, Greenbrae, California Peter was born in Pasadena in 1940. He attended UC Berkeley before starting a career at age 19 as a trader at the Los Angeles Stock Exchange. He was drafted and served in the Navy before resuming his career as a principal with Schwabacher and Co. Peter later developed and led Comsul Ltd., a technology consulting company, until his retirement. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William “Val” Valentine Jr. ’46; and sisters, Sally Valentine Shaw ’48, Susan Valentine Wilson ’53, and Mary Lavinia. Peter is survived by his wife; children; and seven grandchildren.

Connections

Reid E. Olson ’58 December 8, 2014, South Lake Tahoe, California Reid was born in Pasadena on Jan. 21, 1944. After Poly, he attended Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. During the Vietnam War era, he served in the United States Army and attained the rank of Specialist 5. Reid is survived by his older sister, Janet Olson Heimann ’52; and three nieces, including Karen Anna Clark ’85. Mark H. Wallace ’62 September 5, 2014, Pasadena, California Allyn Goss Wallace ’74 November 3, 2014, Los Osos, California Allyn moved to the Central Coast in 1974, to help her family establish Chamisal, the first commercial vineyard and winery in the Edna Valley. She served the community as the owner and operator of a reputable family child care center. She is survived by her husband; her brother, Thomas Goss ’77; her children; and three granddaughters. She is preceded in death by her father, Norman Goss ’30, and her mother. Briant D. Howes ’79 January 26, 2015, La Jolla, California Briant was born Nov. 16, 1961. He attended Menlo College and resided in San Diego for the last 25 years, working in the real estate industry. He is survived by his mother; five older siblings, including B.D. Howes IV ’75 and Devin Starratt ’76; and 18 nieces and nephews. Damien Sisley ’98 October 12, 2014, Palmdale, California Damien was born in Los Angeles and graduated with honors from Los Angeles Trade Tech College with a degree in automotive technology. He enjoyed a successful career as a mechanic and smog technician. He is survived by his mother; sister, Octavia Sisley ’02; brother; stepfather; and father, Richard Sisley, a former Poly math teacher. Benjamin W. Imhoff ’01 January 10, 2015, Cincinnati, Ohio Ben was born in San Francisco and spent his childhood in Pasadena, before moving to Ohio. He attended Poly for high school. Ben earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Xavier University, before working in financial services. He is survived by his mother; father; sisters; and grandmother. P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

P.S. Grace Hamilton Since joining the Poly faculty in 1987, Grace Hamilton has worn a variety of hats. She is the director of the Writers’ Center, advisor to Poly’s Slam Team, and English and Creative Writing teacher. Grace previously served as the Upper School director from 1999 to 2006, was the first advisor to Poly’s gay straight alliance, and has been a faculty member for Partnership for Success! (formerly Skills Enrichment Program) for the past 12 summers. Q: You’ve had several roles while working at Poly over the past 28 years. What is your favorite and why? My favorite role by far is the one I have now. I am energized daily by helping students with their writing, as well as running a poetry club and teaching. To help a student ﬁnd his or her voice is tremendously rewarding. Having students attend summer writing workshops, gain recognition in national competitions, and speak their stories in open mics is one of the major highlights of my work. Poly students are extraordinary writers and thinkers, and being a part of their work is absolutely wonderful.

Q: You walked the Camino de Santiago across Spain last summer. What inspired you to take on this trek? I have always loved to backpack and hike, especially in moments of transitions in my life. As I approached a new decade, with my two children happily ensconced in their own lives, I felt that I needed something to claim as my own, to prepare for this next stage of my life. And because I had begun studying Spanish and loved the language (after having taken students to Peru to hike the Inca Trail), I asked myself: What can I do that is invigorating? What can help me in my pursuit of the Spanish language and culture? And what do I need in this new transition of my life? Combining study in Salamanca, Spain for three weeks and then walking the 550-mile trek across Spain was the perfect combination for me. I developed a course on Literature of the Pilgrimage after having completed my own, and both the experience — and the course — were a thrill of a lifetime.

Q: What is a little known fact about you? To celebrate my 60th birthday, I walked-jogged the LA Marathon with three good friends and then got a tattoo on my ankle of a woman backpacking in the mountains. She will go with me, of course, when I backpack the Paciﬁc Crest Trail.

Q: What is on your bucket list? My boyfriend and I hope to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2016, and during our ﬁrst year of retirement, we will hike the Paciﬁc Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. After that, a year on the road to visit National Parks, and then backpacking around the world. I don’t want to ever stop walking.

P. S .

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P.S. with Grace Hamilton