Supporting Westminster

Five new trustees and one new ex officio trustee were named to the Westminster Board of Trustees at its September meeting.

Jeffrey H. Artis ’72 is president and

CEO of Genesys Works, a national workforce development program that connects high school students from underserved communities to paid internships with major companies. He earned a B.A. in English literature and psychology from Williams College, and is a former board member of the Indianapolis Urban League. He resides in Alpharetta, Ga., with his wife, Tracy, and they are the parents of Jacqueline, Corinne and Devon. Jeff has served as a Westminster class agent and gave the keynote address at Westminster’s 2021 commencement ceremony.

is an architect at Arnold Design Group and DeMovick Design & Development, which specializes in coastal residential design. He is a graduate of Gettysburg College where he earned a B.A. in political science with a minor in studio art, and of The Catholic University of America, where he earned a master’s degree in architecture and urban planning. Harvey joined the Westminster Alumni Executive Committee in 2019 and has been a class agent. At Pine Point School in Stonington, Conn., he is a member of the Board of Trustees and previously served as a trustee from 2004 to 2006. He lives in Westerly, R.I., with his wife, Susan, and their children, Harvey ’24, Reagan and Daphne. Gary L. Simpson P’24 co-founded

Transit Wireless, where he serves as director, and Windmill Capital, where he serves as chief operating officer. He earned a B.S. in biology from The University of Vermont and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He serves on the Finance Committee of the UVM Foundation, the Board of Advisors at the UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Board of Directors of the North Park Hockey Association. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors of the Council on the Environment of New York City, the Center Against Domestic Violence and the Metro New York Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization. Gary and his wife, Sandi, live in Water Mill, N.Y., with their son, Max ’24.

Westminster alumni gathered with their children who are Westminster students during Parents and Family Weekend in October.

Helen Sun Lin P’24 is the managing

partner of Octave Capital and a director of Sparc Capital Management Ltd. She earned a B.S. in finance and music from Boston College and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She serves as co-president of the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of Hong Kong, and is a member of the Development Committee of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, a member of the PR and Audience Building/Artistic Committee of Opera Hong Kong and a member of the CTY East Asia Advisory Council. A graduate of Milton Academy, she previously served on the Milton Academy Board of Trustees, and was a founder and president of Milton Academy Alumni Association of Hong Kong. Helen and her husband, Leland Sun, live in Hong Kong with their children, Nolan and Logan ’24. Sara L. Whiteley ’91 is vice president

and owner of W. Vernon Whiteley Inc. and earned a B.S. in civil engineering at Tufts University. She returns to the Westminster Board of Trustees, having previously served as a trustee from 2010-2019, including as chair and member of the Faculty and Students Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Trustees, and the Advancement and Marketing Committee. In 2019, she was presented the Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award. She has also served as a reunion committee member and on Westminster’s 125th Anniversary Committee. She lives in West Chatham, Mass., with her daughter, Chloe. Sara is a former member of the Board of Directors and a corporator of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod.

As president of the Young Alumni Council, Katherine B. Kelter ’14 is an ex officio

member. She lives in San Francisco, where she is an associate on the Strategic Partnerships team at a global nonprofit called Kiva. She is a graduate of Trinity College, where she earned a B.A. in economics and urban studies. Katherine has served as a Westminster class agent and as vice president of the Young Alumni Council. Her philanthropic engagements include being an advisor of Battery Powered at The Battery in San Francisco, a volunteer at Rift Valley Children’s Village in Tanzania, Africa, and a mentor at Hartford Youth Scholars in Hartford. Her sisters, Elizabeth ’12 and Caroline ’19, are Westminster alumnae, and her father, Jeffrey Kelter P’12, ’14, ’19, served on the Westminster Board of Trustees from 2011-2020.

The Graduway network brings the community together by providing a running feed of campus updates, interesting content, photos and information about events both on and off Williams Hill.

Sign up today, and encourage fellow Martlets to join over 550 members of the Westminster community at www.westminstercommunity.org.

The goal of the financial aid program at Westminster is to remove any financial barriers for students and provide them with a high-level experience regardless of their family’s financial situation. “The program aims to ensure that all students have an equitable experience during their time on Williams Hill, and it also allows Westminster to draw top talent from around the world,” said Kelly Babbidge, Westminster’s director of financial aid.

For the 2021-2022 school year, Westminster awarded $6 million in financial aid, increasing from $5.2 million in 2020-2021. “It is the largest budget we have had to work with, and our hope is that it continues to grow,” said Kelly.

This year, the program provided awards to 54 students, all based on need. Westminster does not give academic, athletic or merit scholarships. “Our philosophy is to spend our financial aid dollars on families who have demonstrated financial need,” said Kelly.

Families of new students find out about their award with their admission decision March 10. Returning families receive their award along with their reenrollment contracts in early March.

The financial aid program and other financial aid gifts help ensure that each student has what they need to fully participate in all aspects of student life at Westminster. “We have students who take part in Model U.N. and are invited to competitions,” said Kelly. “We can help them cover the cost of the competition and the lodging required to attend. When a student wants to try a new sport, we can provide the necessary equipment. We’ve been able to pay for summer academic and enrichment programs as well as athletic team trips. Sometimes students just need $20 to order dinner out with their friends.”

Gifts to the recently completed Soar Together Campaign and the newly established Jenny and Bill Philip Student Support Fund help continue and even increase the level of support provided for students who need it the most. “The additional funding gives us the flexibility to support students in more ways than before,” explained Kelly. “For example, we can include things like mental health support and counseling, in addition to academic support services. Students who qualify will start to receive a weekly allowance, which also comes with a budgeting lesson.”

“Gifts to financial aid have a direct impact on students currently enrolled at Westminster,” added Kelly. “From an admissions perspective, the additional aid allows us to offer more competitive financial aid awards. We compete with schools who have unlimited financial resources, so it is important for us to offer the same level of support. As an example, we can now include items such as a weekly allowance, a laptop, books and

Kelly Babbidge summer program funding in our admission decision. This additional money helps us attract and enroll the most talented students.” Kelly finds it very rewarding working with students and their families regarding financial aid. “When I went to boarding school, I was a full-financial aid student and have always been appreciative,” she said. “I realized what financial aid had done for me and my family and always wanted to give back in some capacity. I worked in finance for a number of years, and when the opportunity to work at a boarding school was presented, I jumped on it. I wanted to be able to offer this experience to as many students as possible because it was life changing for me. In addition, I get to work with the students throughout their time at Westminster. The financial aid process can be cumbersome, so I enjoy walking them through it.” “The program aims to ensure that all students have an equitable experience during their time on Williams Hill, and it also allows Westminster to draw top talent from around the world.”

Head of School Elaine White hosted a reception for parents of day students Aug. 31 at Pratt House.

Elaine White welcomes day student parents. Gina Eddy P’19, ’21, ’25, and Anna and Manny de la Fe P’25

Ryan Bloom P’23, ’23, Matt and Meredith Crowther P’25, and Marybeth Bloom P’23, ’23 Torrey Hall P’25, Tim and Jane Goundrey P’24, Devonna Hall P’25 and Katarina McKinney P’23, ’25

Alison Pappas P’22 and Allegra Kelly P’22 hosted a lunch for Westminster mothers at the Colony Club in New York City Sept. 14.

Liz Hausman P’25, Ellen Ball P’22, Steph Lynch Douglass ’88, P’21, ’22, Amy Stroh P’23 and Jennifer Muhlrad P’25 Melissa Merrill P’25, Susan DeMovick P’24, Angela Clofine P’22, ’23, Lydia Heenan Marshall ’95, P’25, Elaine White and Kristin Ursano P’23

Liz Massie P’23, Lisa Wolf P’19, ’23 and Jennifer Oken P’22 Lara Trafelet P’23 and Allegra Kelly P’22 Annie Nugent P’22, Jennifer Oken P’22 and Alison Pappas P’22

Amy Orenstein P’23, Kelly Wosleger, Sandra Davella P’25, Lisi Vincent P’25, Jennifer Muhlrad P’25 and Teresa Fenner P’22, ’22 Keisha Hamblin P’25, Devonna Hall P’25, Chelsea Staniar P’23 and Sanny Warner P’22, ’25

Catherine and Håkan Swahn P’22 hosted the Edge Society Dinner Oct. 19 at Aquavit in New York City.

Beth Baker P’09, ’12, ’15, and Mary and Ted Dardani P’14, ’18 Sanny Warner P’22, ’25, Jennifer Oken P’22, Matt Warner ’91, P’22, ’25, Erik Oken P’22 and Todd Baker P’09, ’12, ’15

Martin Kelly P’22, Bill Brewer P’17, ’21, Brad Raymond ’85, P’19, ’20, ’24, ’24 and Bryan Martin ’86 Alison Pappas P’22, Tony and Kristin Ursano P’23, and Håkan Swahn P’22

Tom Bradley P’19, Chris Nugent P’22, Elaine White, Gary Simpson P’24, Annie Nugent P’22 and Sandi Simpson P’24 Chris Beck P’08, ’13, Powell Holly ’82 and Evan Stewart ’70, P’11

A get-together for young alumni that was hosted by Jay Wainwright P’22 was held June 23 at The Hull in Brooklyn.

Sarah Migliori ’16, Emma Merlin ’16, Annie Mayer ’15 and Bryson Tomcik ’15 Ellie Baker ’12 and Foster Baker ’09 Brecky Huth ’16, Julia Carter ’16, Alexandra Aiello ’17 and Sam Monte ’17

Young alumni got together at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston Sept. 30.

Eliza Mell ’16, Katie Simeon ’16, Emma Filler ’15, Mary French ’15, Margot Frank ’15 and Katherine Berry ’16 Ted Sirbaugh ’16, Devin Selvala ’16, JP Schuhlen ’16 and Ben Sudduth ’16

Members of the Class of 1966 at their 50th reunion.

The Class of 1966 has created a legacy that involves some of Westminster’s top distinctions. The group established the Keyes Bowl, which is presented at commencement to a member of the Sixth Form that recognizes the qualities of loyalty, courage, leadership and humility; the Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award, which is awarded annually to a former student who exemplifies in thought, word and deed Westminster’s mission and core values; and a campus plaque recently dedicated to the wives and mothers of Westminster.

This year, Dick Stewart ’66 challenged his classmates to increase their legacy by becoming the class with the most members in the Thring Society. He started by admitting that his perception of the Thring Society had been wrong. “I assumed that the Thring Society was a special recognition for the very large donors to the school,” he said. “I was mistaken.” The Thring Society honors anyone who includes Westminster in their estate plans at any gift level.

He shared his plans: “In my particular case, I am leaving a percentage of my individual retirement account (IRA) to the school.” Finally, he appealed to their personal legacy. “When each classmate makes a bequest, his name goes onto a handsome plaque that hangs in the entry of Cushing Hall.”

Dick’s efforts were successful. The Class of 1966 has the most members in the Thring Society. Several of his classmates also used their respective IRAs as an easy and effective way to support Westminster. The Thring Society plaque in Cushing Hall has been updated and stands as a new reminder of the legacy of the Class of 1966.

Make supporting Westminster part of your legacy. Here are some simple ways to include the school in your estate plans:

Dick Stewart ’66

• Beneficiary of your IRA or 401(k) • Beneficiary of a life insurance plan • Start a charitable gift annuity • Beneficiary of a mutual fund • Beneficiary of a donor advised fund • Add a codicil to your will

If you would like to learn more about the Thring Society, contact Jennifer Keyo at (860) 408-3039 or jkeyo@westminster-school.org.