Summer Magazine 2023

QuakerMatters

Wilmington Friends School

Summer 2023

Thank you to Bree Wellons and Noreen Haubert who are rotating off the Board of Trustees. Your time, dedication, wisdom, and creativity have made an incredible impact on the WFS community, and you will be missed.

Welcome to new Trustees Darryl J. Ford and Vinay Maheshwari

Darryl is the former Head of School at William Penn Charter School. Under his leadership, the school has expanded programs, opening a pre-kindergarten, the Kurtz Center for the Performing Arts, and the Center for Public Purpose; added Mandarin Chinese and IdeaLabs; and built new and improved athletic facilities. The Graham Athletics & Wellness Center, a $47 million facility, opened for the 2021-2022 school year and boasts of 80,000 square feet of recreation, athletic, and academic space. In addition, Ford has shown a commitment to building a more inclusive school through faculty and staff hiring, admissions, and substantial financial aid. Currently, Ford and his colleagues are completing the How Far? capital campaign, which has raised more than $125 million and surpassed all capital campaign goals.

Vinay is the Hugh R. Sharp, Jr., Chair for the Department of Medicine at Christiana Care. In this role, his key responsibility is to foster a vision and environment supportive of the educational and ongoing growth of all clinicians in the largest department within the system. Additionally, he serves as the Physician Executive for the Medical Group of Christiana Care which allows him to influence at a Senior Leadership level how care is delivered at Christiana Care and across the State of Delaware. He serves as the Vice President of the Board for Delaware Guidance Services, the largest provider in Delaware of non-residential behavioral health services for children and families, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Christiana Care Health Services, Inc. Vinay is married to Sarah Schenck Maheshwari ’91 and they have four sons at WFS. As a family, they are frequent volunteers for the Cradles to Crayons program.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

David Tennent, Clerk

Jennifer Brady, Vice Clerk

Robert W. Friz ‘86, Treasurer

Dorothy E. Rademaker, Secretary

Karen-Lee Brofee

Christopher F. Buccini ‘90

William Chapman

Erin Brownlee Dell ’89

Darryl J. Ford

Lathie Gannon

Scott W. Gates ‘80

Richard D. Grier-Reynolds

Susan Janes-Johnson

Susan Kelley

Christopher Lee ‘82

Vinay Maheshwari

Jacqueline Greenidge Nix

Debbie Pittenger

Dwayne Redd

Laura Reilly

Home and School Association

Board Liaison:

Amanda Singleton Hay ’95

Alumni Association Board Liaison:

Martha Poorman Tschantz ‘85

ALUMNI BOARD

Jonathan Layton ‘86, Clerk

Andy McEnroe ‘04, Vice Clerk

Erin Bushnell ‘96

Stanita Clarke ‘06

Michael Dalton ‘05

Emily David Hershman ‘09

Raven Harris Diacou ‘06

Matt Lang ‘08

Christopher Lee ‘82

Adrienne Monley ‘02

Katharine Lester Mowery ‘02

Raymond Osbun ‘71

Margeaux Pantano ‘16

Richie Rockwell ‘02

Thomas Scott ‘70

James Simon ‘60

Martha Poorman Tschantz ‘85

ADMINISTRATION

Head of School: Kenneth Aldridge

Assistant to the Head of School: Megan Walters

Interim Director of Finance and Operations: Lesley Dennis Tryon ’71

Assistant Head for Academics: Eddie Gallagher

Interim Head of Lower School: Chris Loeffler ’00

Head of Middle School: Jonathan Huxtable

Head of Upper School: Rebecca Zug

Director of Admissions and Financial Aid: Melissa Brown

Director of Communications and Strategic Marketing: Susan Morovati Finizio ’87

Director of Development: Chad O’Kane

Director of Equity, Justice, Community, and Engagement: Erica Childs

Photography: Thanks to Elisa Morris, Angie Gray, Julia Forester ’00, Mary Woodward, Helen Liu ’23, Grae Mooney-Doyle ’24, Jocelyn Nathan ’23, and WFS Faculty & Staff for photo contributions. Staff photographers are Susan Morovati Finizio ‘87, Laura Kirk Kurz ’97, and Jake Myers. Cover photo by Elisa Morris.

Outgoing Trustee Bree Wellons with her daughters Kemble ’27 and Josephine ’23.

Ken with Director of Technology Gregg Miller and Computer Support Technician Todd Tyler in front of the 275th photo backdrop. Be sure to get your photo at Homecoming!

years where I looked up and couldn’t believe it was already Homecoming and we were welcoming hundreds of alumni back to campus; already The Thing In The Gym where finally, after several years break, our community could gather as one prior to the holidays; already Panda Day, a day full of joy, at the lower school; already time for senior explorations from traveling abroad to coaching locally; and already time for commencement.

Watching the Class of 2023 graduate, we were reminded as a community how much their world changed their freshmen year, and how as a class, they showed what they were capable of-adapting, growing, changing; showing flexibility, understanding, and kindness.

This summer, WFS students were able to take part in various international trips, including a European history tour, Puerto Rico and Japan language trips, and the QUEST Dominican Republic service trip. All had their share of both wonder and challenge, and these enriching and educational experiences help raise cultural awareness, create global perspectives, improve language skills, and encourage independence and personal growth.

We have so much to look forward to this year, including celebrating the school’s 275th anniversary, marking a remarkable journey for a school that has shaped countless lives and touched the community in profound ways. It’s an honor to lead an institution that is older than the country in which it resides. This issue of Quaker Matters includes a brief snapshot of the School’s history, as well as a timeline of some notable events. But let’s be honest, to truly cover a bicenterquasquigenary (a new word for me too!) would take volumes. So throughout this school year, we will share highlights, stories, and reflections through emails, events, podcast episodes, social media, and more. And, we also want to hear your stories. We have included our schedule of events for the anniversary on the back cover––there’s a lot to look forward to!

May our 275th year reaffirm our commitment to providing a nurturing, challenging, and inclusive learning environment where each student is valued, supported, and empowered. May we remain inspired by the values that guide us. I look forward to seeing you and your families on campus this fall and throughout the coming year.

In friendship,

Ken

The 2022-2023 school year was one of those

Jon Layton ’86

Alumni News

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Wilmington Friends School Alumni Association, I want to extend congratulations to the Class of 2023. We are so happy to welcome you to the alumni community, and we look forward to celebrating future milestones with you. Best of luck as you begin the next chapter after you depart the hallowed halls of WFS. Please do make a point of staying in touch!

It was another wonderful year at WFS. I am once again honored to be part of such a special community. We celebrated successful athletic seasons, academic achievements, and service commitments. Thanks to your continued support, our Annual Fund raised over $1 million. As a result of your generosity, Friends will continue to offer strong programs in support of our Quaker values. Please check out the Annual Report, included in this edition, to read about all that we accomplished together.

Looking forward to the year ahead, I hope you will join me in celebrating the School’s 275th Anniversary! There are fun events planned throughout the year. Homecoming on October 20-21st will feature a couple new events: on Friday evening after the True Blue and All Alumni Reunion, we’ll host a special WFS Heads of School panel discussion; and on Saturday evening, we’ve planned a 275th Anniversary Kickoff party with live music! Instead of honoring individual alumni during Homecoming with our traditional alumni awards, we’ve opted to honor our entire community during this special year. I hope you make plans to join me on campus! More details can be found on our website wilmingtonfriends.org/alumni/homecoming.

In addition to the special events happening during Homecoming, the School is planning other activities to celebrate and honor WFS’ history and community. Flip to the back cover for more information!

In Friendship,

Jon Layton ’86 Alumni Board Clerk

Friday, October 20, 2023

11:30am | 50th+ Reunion luncheon

3:00pm | Guided tour of campus for luncheon guests

5:00pm | Alumni Field Hockey & Soccer Games

6:30pm | True Blue and All Alumni Reunion

8:00pm | Celebrating our History: 275th video and WFS Heads of School Panel

Saturday, October 21, 2023

8:00am | Homecoming Service Collection begins

8:30am | Smith McMillan 5K Run/Walk

11:00am | Meeting for Worship honoring faculty and staff with 15+ years at WFS

11:30am-2:00pm | Lunch in the Homecoming Tent

12:00-2:00pm | Self-guided Tours

12:00-2:00pm | Kids’ Corner

2:30pm | Football & Half-time show by LS and MS band

6:00pm | 275th Anniversary Kickoff Party

Regional Reunions

Boston

Alumni were treated to an Italian dinner at the home of Darlene DeVita and Ron Pownall ‘65. The Pownalls live in a two-story loft in a 100-year-old converted shoe factory in Chelsea, Mass.

Phoenix

Alumni gathered at the beautiful home of Casey and Barbara Harrington Murphy '71 in Glendale, Arizona. Friends classes between 1962 and 1988 attended what could be the first regional event in the state. Monty Harris from Alumni and Development presented a School update complete with images of the Friends community and voices of the Chamber Singers.

Washington D.C.

WFS alumni gathered in Washington, D.C. for a private tour of The Textile Museum’s “Prayer and Transcendence” exhibition as well as for a luncheon at the lovely home of Terry and Bruce Baganz ‘69. Both Bruce and Head of School Ken Aldridge presented to the alumni and their guests. It was great to see our alumni connecting over shared interests and a fondness for their alma mater!

BOSTON: Bruce Doran, Anne Cooch Doran ‘69, Phyllis Pownall ‘69, Rob Dewees ‘67, Dita Dewees Henderson ‘69, Monty Harris, Tim Snyder ‘67, and Ron Pownall ‘65. (Photo credit: Darlene DeVita)

PHOENIX: Jeff Baer ‘71, Mitzi Hess Olivere ‘68, Patty Sauter Ruemmler ‘62, Barb Harrington Murphy ‘71 (event host), and Louis Hoffman ‘77. Back, Tom Lundgaard ‘74, Michael Hardy ‘89, and Amy Johnston Colbourn ‘88.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Left photo, Alan Young ‘54, Sharon Bob, Sumru Krody (senior curator), and Leslie Porter ‘76. Right photo, Bruce Baganz ‘69, John Salzberg ‘54, Chip Oat ‘70, Leslie Porter ‘76, Betty Smallwood, Stephen Coons ‘85, Nancy Layton Caffey ‘70, and Andy Caffey.

Alumni Spotlight

track and field. The spring sports have been the hardest because they would not be covered in the Whittiers and yearbooks since the games were still being played after the last issues for the year were published. Also, some sports were not covered in the News Journal as thoroughly as others.

What are the means by which you obtain and then verify this sports team information? There are a few main sources that I have used so far. I have been able to get a lot of the scores from newspapers.com with the majority coming from the News Journal and some from the Philadelphia papers. In the school archives, the Whittiers and yearbooks have been very helpful with some years having complete game logs for all sports. I have also contacted some of the coaches to see if they have old scorebooks (thanks for all of the wrestling scorebooks, Gregg Miller!) and will be contacting more current and former coaches soon.

Charlie Donaghy ’95

If I understand correctly, the Donaghy family interest in the history of Wilmington Friends School began with your father. Could you tell us about his record keeping? My dad had a great interest in history, especially Friends School history since he graduated from WFS in 1945 and my mom’s family has a long history with the school. He has some scrapbooks from when he was at school, and he would do research and hand write things like the Friends-Tower Hill football history.

Were you helping him on these matters before he passed away eight years ago? Yes, I helped him with the FriendsTower Hill football and basketball series since he did not use a computer. I put them into spreadsheets. We would update them every year and send them to Coach T (Tattersall).

Share with us how you have expanded both what he had done and what I, as WFS archivist, have done. I always thought it would be great to expand the sports research to all teams and games, but thought it would be too big a project until you showed me the files you began with most of the yearly records for all of the sports teams. As I started looking through the records and trying to complete them, I realized that creating game logs would be the best way to get the most accurate records. Then, as I was going through all of the games, I started pulling some statistics that were available like touchdowns, wins and losses, goals, etc. from the newspaper reports and logging them into a database.

Have you completed the won-lost records for any of the WFS teams, such as field hockey, football, girls' basketball? I have most of the teams’ records completed and now have over 10,000 individual games logged with opponent, date, and score. There are between three and four thousand games left to log, though I doubt I will be able to get every single one of them, but I hope to get pretty close.

Which sports team records are yet to be completed?

There are a couple of years of girls’ lacrosse that I am having trouble finding, some years for boys’ and girls’ tennis as well as

How much contradiction have you encountered in the various different sources? How, if at all, are you able to reconcile these? There are some contradictions amongst the sources, mostly having to do with the team records. This is because not all games were reported to the newspaper so sometimes the records in the paper changed from one game to the next or were different across the multiple sources. This is what started me down the path of logging each individual game to get the most accurate record. Some sports, like football and basketball, were much easier to find because the coverage was better. I had the most trouble with spring sports (not in the yearbooks and only sometimes in the Whittiers) and the early decades of girls’ sports, but I have been able to piece together most of the games.

Every historian and archivist has some favorite moments of discovery. Share with us a few of those discoveries which gave you great satisfaction? I found a short item in the paper in 1889 that said that Friends was going to form an Athletic Association and had leased an athletic field and organized a football team. This was the beginning of team sports at WFS. This was shortly followed by the announcement of the first appearance of the football team on Oct 18, 1889 against Haverford College Grammar School. Other interesting finds have been that we had a girls’ baseball team from 1927-30; the boys’ baseball team played two games against HOF pitcher Herb Pennock before he became a pitcher; Frances Hullihen’s 63-point game is still a single-game record for Delaware; and football player Bob Hukill was a 5thround pick of the Cowboys in the 1979 NFL draft, though he did not play in the NFL.

Has your research yielded new perspectives on who might be considered great sport heroes of WFS? It confirmed a lot of the ones we already knew about like Frances Hullihen ’28 and Coach Tattersall. Other names that have come up a lot in my research are: Gretchen Vosters ’65 and Brint Morrow ’92 who both won four straight state tennis titles, Lindsay Aleman ’13, the girls’ soccer all-time leading scorer, and Braden Neff ’00 the all-time leading boys’ basketball scorer. There are so many more to choose from in the 130+ year history of WFS sports that it would take a book to cover them all.

What will the next year or two hold for you in completing and sharing these records? Any thoughts of what you'd like to do after you are done with Friends sports history?

I would love to put together some sort of book for each sport with all of the games, all-time records, records versus every team, and anything else I have discovered. After that, there are so many great things sitting in the archives from the last 275 years to be worked on that it will be hard to choose.

Charlie (pictured with Kaylea ’35) is a member of the WFS History Committee; following is a Q&A with WFS Archivist Terry Maguire.

A SNAPSHOT OF WILMINGTON FRIENDS SCHOOL’S HISTORY

How It All Began

The story of Wilmington Friends School begins with the vision of Elizabeth and William Shipley who, after visiting with a Quaker meeting in Maryland (then a colony), purchased property in Willington (now Wilmington) where they built a small, one-story brick house and held the first Quaker Meeting for Worship in Delaware. As Willington began to grow and prosper, so did the size of this group of Friends, now known as Wilmington Monthly Meeting. By 1738, they built their first meeting house atop “Quaker Hill” in what was soon to be known as Wilmington. As the Meeting grew, a larger meeting house was built, and in 1748 the older building became the schoolhouse, Wilmington Friends School. An illustration of the schoolhouse is above, the likeness of which is reflected in the current WFS logo. On page 7 is an illustration of the meetinghouse which was taken down in 1817.

In the 1700s, there were no public schools––in fact, Wilmington Friends is the oldest school in Delaware and the 11th oldest school in the country. At the time, children of wealthier families were educated by private tutors, those in middle class families relied on homeschooling, and those in lower income households usually went without any schooling at all. Rooted in the beliefs of Quakers in England, Wilmington Monthly Meeting’s mission was to provide community schooling for all. While the children of Meeting members were educated in the actual schoolhouse, the Meeting provided financial support for the education of other local children who otherwise didn’t have access. Vouchers were given to the parents of the children, who in turn presented them to the teacher at one of several locations supported by the Meeting. The teacher was then paid by the School Committee.

Records show that Wilmington Monthly Meeting, on almost 2,200 occasions, underwrote the cost for some type of schooling for children from families with financial need, regardless of race, from the late 18th century to 1842. The duration of the schooling varied greatly, some attending only months while others attended as much as seven years.

Abolitionist Thomas Garrett

Foremost Stationmaster for the “Eastern Line” of the Underground Railroad, & School Committee Member for Wilmington Friends

After moving to Delaware and joining the Wilmington Monthly Meeting of Friends, Thomas Garrett spent 40 years helping enslaved people escape to freedom, more than 2,700 people in all. He provided food, shelter, and clothing at his home; conveyed people who escaped enslavement to their next stop and planned the future stages of their journey; and supplied legal support for those who were captured. Garrett worked closely with Harriett Tubman, eight times providing money and equipment for her expeditions into the Deep South. Garrett was tried and found guilty in 1848 for helping an enslaved family escape. He was fined $5,400, a major portion of his wealth, and said when asked if he regretted his actions, “Friends, I haven’t a dollar in the world, but if thee knows a fugitive who needs breakfast, send him to me.”

Garrett served for many years on the Wilmington Friends School Committee; his signature certified hundreds of payment vouchers for the education of lower income children of all backgrounds (some are pictured above).

In its early years, Friends School was not so much a single building; even the Fourth and West schoolhouse generally contained three schools: a primary for boys and girls; a school for “larger girls,” or girls’ high school; and another for older boys. In a sense, Friends School encompassed the various locations, leadership, and faculty supported by the School Committee, with not only their monthly inspections but also their financial means. Pictured left is a bequest from a Meeting member.

Translation:

Extract from Benjamin Ferriss’s Will Item, I will & Bequeath unto the Monthly Meeting of Friends in Wilmington, the Sum of twenty five Pounds, to be paid by my Executrix herein after named, within twelve months after my decease___and the Interest arising therefrom, to be applied yearly by said Meeting, for Schooling poor Children, either White or Black, who are not under the immediate care of any Society at the School that is under the inspection of Friends.

For which sum David Ferriss gave his Bond dated the 3rd day of the 12th mo. 1778.

Growth and Change

In the years following the Civil War, the school began to grow, both in plant size and student population. In 1913, the last substantial piece was added to the mushrooming physical plant of West Street. A new primary building stretched three stories high with eight classrooms, cloakrooms in the basement, and a substantial third floor assembly room for 275 people.

The 1913 enrollment reached an all-time high: 323. Faculty, staff, and costs increased by a factor of ten. The curriculum intensified in breadth and challenge, with multiple tracks leading toward fine colleges. Extracurricular activities blossomed.

WFS Circular Covers Late 1800s

After much cautious deliberation, the School entered the telephone age in 1904. The School also installed clocks and bells. More controversial than phones and bells, however, was the issue of dancing, with a request not from students but from the Alumni Association in 1908. (The request was declined, but soon granted afterward to the students!) School transportation began in 1903, with a driver and carriage at first, then moving to a bus in the automobile age in 1916.

Pictured opposite page, clockwise from top left: the School in 1913; the cast of the Whittier Society play in 1892 ;1916 school bus; 1903 school carriage. Pictured this page, clockwise from top: covers of various catalogs and circulars; 1894 football team; little kids’ school yard in the 1930s; school yard in 1888.

Our Alapocas Campus: An Incredible Gift

William Poole Bancroft (pictured below) created the Woodlawn Trustees to purchase land in and north of the city to provide homes for working class citizens, “set among trees, shrubbery, parks and playgrounds.” He led efforts in this region to establish and preserve parkland, and through Woodlawn donated property that became most of Brandywine Park, Rockford Park, Brandywine Creek State Park, and other preserved open space. Bancroft was also instrumental in establishing the free library system in Wilmington.

Upon his death, his widow, Emma, and the Woodlawn Trustees fulfilled his wishes to donate the land for the Alapocas campus of Wilmington Friends School. A life-long member of Wilmington Monthly Meeting, Bancroft served as a Trustee of Wilmington Friends School for more than 30 years, and he and Emma were the parents of two Friends graduates. His greatgrandmother was Elizabeth Shipley, a founder of Wilmington and of Friends School.

Above is an aerial view of the campus from the 1940s.

Quote from Jeannette Eckman (Friends ’01), A Century of Fine Cloth: 1831-1931, unpublished manuscript in the Hagley Museum Library.

A New Home

As the School used all available space to accommodate the expanding program and community, eventually, both program and community outgrew the old building and site. To many, it was clear that it was time to find a site with more room.

In some regards, leaving seemed unthinkable. By the time of the formation of “the New Building Committee” in November 1929, the School had been operating continuously for 181 years. The school community was very conscious and proud of the fact that Friends was the oldest school in Delaware. Although student attendance at Meeting for Worship at Fourth and West seems not to have been a regular occurrence, the building was an ever-present reminder of the School’s historical and spiritual lineage. But despite the Depression, Friends School enrollment was booming in 1931––two years after

the stock market crash––and peaking in 1933. So, in 1937, the School officially moved to our Alapocas site. Pictured below-left are kindergartners helping to break ground for the new site. Pictured on the opposite page is an aerial view of the school in the 1940s.

Since the initial move in the 1930s, the Wilmington Friends campus expanded in many ways including the auditorium and second gymnasium completed in 1962; the library in 1970; the Snyder Athletic Center in 1998; the new Theater, Atrium, and Mellor Field in 2014; and the Global Learning Center and the Ira T. Ellis, Jr. ’52 Design Lab in 2015. Perhaps the biggest development in the campus was the purchase of 30-acres in 1965 for the “south campus,” which is now the lower school. Lower school moved to its new location in 1972 (pictured below) and classes were conducted in an “open classroom” format that continued until 1991, when fifth grade was incorporated into the program.

More to Our Story

This article is just a snapshot of Wilmington Friends School’s history. We are very fortunate to have on staff our WFS Archivist, Terry Maguire, who has kept incredible records and continues to add to the collection. Thank you to Terry and to the WFS History Committee for their great work. In addition, for our 250th anniversary, Wilmington Friends published a book called A Gift in Trust which provides much more detail.

Notable Events at WFS

Monthly Meeting House becomes Friends School

Friends' first fundraising drive

Funds established to fund William Thomas, a local teacher of color, to teach students of color

Boys’ and Girls’ schools united

Ada L. Flinn and Elizabeth R. Taylor receive the first Friends School diplomas

Kindergarten opens

1893

Enrollment of 291 makes Friends the largest school in state history at the time

Student transportation begins to be provided in the form of horse & carriage

Girls begin to participate in interscholastic, competitive athletics

Home and School Association formed

Opening of new Friends School on Alapocas grounds

Friends hosts the first AFS students in the program ’ s history School's first African American student, Jane Bond, enrolled

First Senior Study program and Advanced Placement courses introduced

Peace, Justice and Social Change course designed and offered Student government formed, based on Quaker Meeting for Business

Old 4th & West school buildings torn down New Lower School building dedicated Community Service requirement for graduation implemented

250th anniversary of the school;, Snyder Athletic Center built

International Baccalaureate program accredited; first in Delaware School Year Abroad program implemented

Quaker Center for Understanding, Engagement, & Stewardship (QUEST) established

1:1 Laptop Program launched for grades 5-12

Joined Malone Family Foundation Scholar Program and Online Consortium

Renovated Friends Theater and Neff Gymnasium, Atrium and Java Nook added Global Learning Center (net zero structure) built

Completion of Ira T Ellis, Jr ’52 Design Lab, and Mellor Field/Track

Lower School Natural Classroom created

Laptop/device program expanded to all K-12 students

School’s 275th anniversary!

On Location

Teacher Megan Hegenbarth prepares to be interviewed for the official 275th video that will celebrate Wilmington Friends School through the years. Be sure to join us on Friday, October 20 in the Friends Theater for the premiere!

Voices of Friends 275th Podcast Series

Throughout the year, we will be releasing new episodes of our Quaker Matters podcast as part of a special 275th series featuring voices from the Wilmington Friends community. Be sure to follow us to be notified when each new episode drops.

Listen now to conversations with these WFS alums!

Louisa Terrell ’87, Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs | Louisa Terrell ’87 discusses the impact of being a WFS “lifer,” working for President Joe Biden for the past 20 years, and navigating our divided political landscape.

Dr. Omar Khan ’90, Enterprise Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research Administration and Scientific Affairs for ChristianaCare | Dr. Omar Khan ’90 shares with us his passion for research and why filling in the missing gaps in medicine is critical, his decision to enter the world of family medicine, and letting his life speak through his actions.

Adam Ellick ’95, Director and Executive Producer of Op-Docs and Opinion Video at The New York Times | Adam Ellick ’95 talks about the impact of the Whittier Miscellany and how it ignited his passion for journalism, the constant changes in journalism over the course of his 20-year career, and what it’s like to win an Emmy.

CLASS OF 2023

Second Row | Jake Bryson, Kai Heister, Audrey Bilek, Sarah Zaritsky, Thomas Ellis, Julia Kenyon, Emma Slease, Erin Wilhelm-McKinley, Jackson Redd, Ava Vebeliunas, Ziggy Jones, Reagan Brady, Brooke Harrison, Ava Steinberger, Isabelle “Izzy” Miller, Ziza Saunders, Jocelyn Nathan, Paul Beardell.

Third Row | Zhenyu “David “ Wu, Beck Hartwick, Josephine Wellons, Emmett Jackson, Jackson Strauss, Kira Agne, Rohan Mandayam, Jace Boland, Carter Ross, Peri Mulveny, Sidney Belleroche, Sophie Brennan, Philip “Phil” Crock, Sameer Vidwans.

Fourth Row | Philip “Chaz” Manolakos, Peter Connelly, Maxwell “Max” Rosenthal, Alessio Cristanetti-Walker, Colin Harron, Jackson Baynes, Jack Rolls, Robert “Robby” Tattersall, Ishmael “Ish” Dobson, Hudson “Huddy” Zawadzkas, John “Jack” Hebert, Alexander “Alex” Brennan, Jaden Willie, Matthew Malone, Blake Gemmill, Dennis Iancic, Finnian “Finn” Butler.

Front Row | Greer Marvel, Ellie Criscimagna, Lily Rashkind, Eloise Kokkoris, Yuhan “Helen” Liu, Madeline Rowland, Aubrey Nisbet, Yael Baaith-Ducharme, Laila Broussard, Katherine “Katie” Lee, Adelaide Nourie.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023!

Members of the class are listed below with college choice, service project/agency, and senior exploration topics.

Reagan Brady

Wake Forest University

Faithful Friends Animal Shelter

Disney Conservation

Alexander Brennan

Elon University

St. Rosa of Lima

Finance

Sophia Brennan

University of Michigan

St. Rosa of Lima

Planning a trip to Britain

Laila Broussard

University of Delaware

Eyeball It!®

Public Relations

Jake Bryson

Washington College

The Evans Scholar Foundation

Shadowing a Teacher

Finnian Butler

Kira Agne

Georgetown University

Ronald McDonald House Marketing and Management Consultation

Yael Baaith-Ducharme

University of Delaware

Eyeball It!® Painting Portraits

Jackson Baynes

Delaware State University

Community Education Building

Scuba diving certification

Paul Beardell

Springfield College

Urban Promise AT Training

Sidney Belleroche

Ursinus College

Ronald McDonald House

Audrey Bilek

University of Delaware

Girls on the Run

Learning to play the guitar

Jace Boland

Swarthmore College

Global Works Spain

Learning to sail

Catholic University of America

Kingswood Community Center

Learning the Piano

Peter Connelly

Boston College

Food Bank of DE

Indigenous Cultures in North America

Ellie Criscimagna

University of Miami

Smithsonian Digital Art Project

Italian Language and Culture

Alessio Cristanetti-Walker

University of Rochester

Sporting Delaware

Coaching Soccer

Philip Crock

Alvernia University

Youth Works

Learning to Teach

Ishmael Dobson

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Food Bank of DE

Second Grade Teacher Support

Thomas Ellis

University of Pittsburgh

Delaware Nature Society

Oral History of Grandparents

Blake Gemmill

Coastal Carolina University

Mighty Writers

Learning 8 songs on the Guitar

Brooke Harrison

University of Pittsburgh

Joseph’s Food Pantry

Business Marketing

Colin Harron

Penn State University

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Hiking the El Camino in Spain

Beck Hartwick Goucher College

Middletown Historical Society

Writing

Jack Hebert

Carnegie Mellon University

Ashland Nature Center

Career in Law

Katherine Heister University of Virginia

Quest Acadia Trip Hiking on the East Coast

Dennis Iancic Neumann University Communication Test Design Inc.

Teaching Assistant

Emmett Jackson

Delaware Technical Community College

Educational Enrichment Center Reading/Writing Math

Ziggy Jones

Guilford College Food Bank of DE Medical Research

Julia Kenyon

Coastal Carolina University

Crossfit Kennett Square

Creating a Cookbook

Eloise Kokkoris College of Charleston

YMCA Real Estate

Katherine Lee

Boston University

WYRA

Graphic Designer

Yuhan Helen Liu

Villanova University

Everest Nursing Home Tufting Rugs

Matthew Malone

Elon University

Emmanuel Dining Room Scuba Certification

Rohan Mandayam Swarthmore College

Quest Acadia Trip 2021

Learning Survival Skills on the Appalacahian Trail

Philip Manolakos

University of Arizona Down to Box Hiking the El Camino in Spain

Greer Marvel Lafayette College Global Works Compiling a Home Cookbook

Isabelle Miller Middlebury College Ashland Nature Center Shadowing a Public Defense Attorney

Peri Mulveny Bryn Mawr College Visionary Peace Youth Art Exhibition

Watercolor Series

Jocelyn Nathan Penn State University Special Olympics of DE Sports Photography

Aubrey Nisbet Wake Forest University Rodney Street Tennis Overcoming Fears

Adelaide Nourie Ithaca College

Delaware Children’s Theatre Social Media

Lily Rashkind Tulane University of Louisiana Pacem in Terris Writing Poetry

Jackson Redd Tufts University YMCA Baskettball Gardening

Jack Rolls Miami University (Oxford) Recycle for Lighthouse PADI Cert./Marine Biology

University of Delaware

First State Montessori Academy

Climate Change/National Parks

Carter Ross

Northwestern University

The Werkshop & Summer Wave

Exploring Medicine

Boys & Girls Club

Tennis

Ziza Saunders

University of Delaware

WFS Camp

Limited use of Techonology

Maxwell Rosenthal

Madeline Rowland Williams College

Emma Slease

University of Notre Dame

Montessori Learning Center Cooking Greek Food

Ava Steinberger Bates College

Boys & Girls Club Acrylic and Watercolor Painting

Jackson Strauss Wake Forest University

Friends of Wilmington Parks Learning Paddle Ball

Robert Tattersall Yale University

DFRC Blue - Gold Making a Documentary

Ava Vebeliunas

University of Delaware Camp Neringa Crocheting

Sameer Vidwans

University of Pittsburgh

Delaware Valley Marathi Mitra Mandal Gardening

Josephine Wellons The College of William and Mary First Tee of Delaware Yoga

Erin Wilhelm-McKinley Flagler College Sunday Breakfast Mission Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Jaden Willie Louisiana State University Brandwine Valley Church Finance

Zhenyu David Wu University of Michigan Stepping Stones Computer Science/Digital Art

Sarah Zaritsky Bryn Mawr College Ashland Nature Center Delaware Biodiversity

Hudson Zawadzkas Franklin & Marshall College The Learning Experience Business

SENATOR CHRIS COONS | Commencement Speaker

“As you move onto this next chapter and you take this chance to, in some ways, redefine yourself, to explore through the remarkable freedom that is college, don’t forget about Wilmington Friends School...When you show up with some jacket or bookbag or something that says ‘Wilmington Friends School’ you will almost certainly in the first five minutes be asked, ‘What? Wilmington who?’ You will have a chance to explain the beauty, and the quirkiness, of Quakerism to folks who never heard of it. And you’ll have the chance to demonstrate the legacy of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.”

“You will find the farther you get from here, the more you wish you were here. You just experienced your very last moment of silent worship at Friends School. You may have been someone who found it incredibly refreshing––a deep, recharging moment in the middle of the school day. You may have found it slightly embarrassing, you may have grumbled about it, you may have even fidgeted and wished it didn’t take so long. But from talking with alums across a wide range of generations, in some ways it’s the thing you miss most––having a moment in your day to simply be. To pray, to meditate, to reflect, or to just calm yourself down. Don’t lose that practice of making time for reflection. A moment to put your phones down and to actually listen to what the spirit is calling you to do and to be. It is in those

moments of stillness that you are more likely to discover who you are becoming, to recognize moments of opportunity for kindness or generosity, and to find the spirit of this place still speaking to you no matter where it is you go. There is, as we all know, the Quaker belief, and I think George Fox articulated it, that there is that of God in everyone. It helps you to see the good in all people.”

“I have to say a few things you will discover about how your education here has shaped you that you may not know. I employ about 50 people in my offices in Dover and Wilmington and Washington. Over my 13 years in the Senate, it’s now several hundred who have worked for me. I consistently see something from Friends school graduates. Every young person I’ve met who has graduated from a Quaker school anywhere can speak for themselves and express their opinions better than any other background. You have opinions, you know what they are, you can stand up for them, and yet listen to the opinions of others. As you go to college, you will do something most of your classmates will not. You will get to know your professors. You will ask great questions in class. You will lead discussions. I’ll tell you now, your new classmates will be amazed, and your parents and teachers will be thrilled if you’ll call them up and say ‘thanks.’”

The Class of 2023 was thrilled that Senator Chris Coons accepted their invitation to speak at commencement. Senator Coons was elected to the United States Senate in 2010 following terms as New Castle County Council President and New Castle County Executive. In the Senate, he sits on the Appropriations, Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Ethics Committees. Below are excerpts from his remarks.

FINAL ASSEMBLY

Academic & Community Awards

The Charles W. Bush, Class of 1900, Award | Honors juniors who “most clearly demonstrate the School’s ideals of character, scholarship, and service” | Elliott Stanko ’24 and Oliver Stanko ’24

Howard W. Starkweather, Jr., Class of 1944, Award | Recognizing students who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to community service | Jocelyn Nathan ’23

John Marshall Mendinhall II, Class of 1939, Memorial Award | Recognizing the graduating senior considered to have done the most for Friends School | Sophie Brennan ’23

Amanda Spackman Gehret, Class of 1951, Memorial Mathematics Award | Carter Ross ’23

Eden Wales Freedman ’99 English Award | Jace Boland ‘23 and Lily Rashkind ‘23

Jordan Wales ’97 History Award | Alessio Cristanetti-Walker ‘23 and Maxwell Rosenthal ‘23

Robert P. Hukill, Class of 1949, Science Award | Devin Wallace ‘24 and Abigail Saliman ‘24

Upper School World Language Award | Jemima Smith ‘24 and Collier Zug ‘24

Wyeth Brothers Performing Arts Award | Laila Broussard ‘23 and Carter Ross ‘23

Wyeth Brothers Visual Arts Award | Peri Mulveny ‘23

At Final Assembly, we gathered to honor the Class of 2023. We recognized this year’s Malone Scholars, Jace Boland ’23 and Emmett Jackson ’23; Carter Ross ’23 and Robby Tattersall ’23 addressed the class; Academic and Community Awards as well as Distinctive Service recognitions were given; Colin Harron ’23 and Helen Liu ’23 announced the 2023 yearbook dedication to Julie Rodowsky, outgoing Head of Lower School; we learned that Audrey Bilek ’23 and Laila Broussard ’23 are our newest alumni class agents, and they announced the class gift of a donation to the Annual Fund; and the Chamber Singers performed.

Front Row | Oliver Stanko ’24, Jocelyn Nathan ’23, Laila Broussard ’23, Sophie Brennan ’23, Lily Rashkind ’23, Abigail Saliman ‘24, Elliott Stanko ’24. Back Row | Audrey Bilek ’23, Jemima Smith ’24, Devin Wallace ‘24, Alessio CristanettiWalker ’23, Peri Mulveny ‘23, Robby Tattersall ‘23 Max Rosenthal ’23, Jace Boland ’23, Collier Zug ’24, Carter Ross ’23, Emmett Jackson ’23

WFS Alumni Families

Bob Tattersall, Rob Tattersall, Jr. ’91, Dianne Tattersall, Shannon Tattersall, Ryan Tattersall ’25, Robby Tattersall ’23, Susie Tattersall Davis ’84, Ellie McGinnis ’14, Julie Tattersall ’82.

Tracey Mulveny, Rose Mulveny ’26, Leila Mulveny ’21, Peri Mulveny ’23, Dan Mulveny ’87.

Daniel Jackson, Emmett Jackson ’23, Ivy Jackson ’29, Julie Bierlein ’87.

Robyn Malone, Meghan Malone ’21, Madeline Malone ’18, Matthew Malone ’23, Stephen Malone ’84.

Jenny Rowland, Sawyer Rowland ’25, Madeline Rowland ’23, Chris Rowland ’95, Harrison Rowland ’29.

Faculty & Staff News

Changes at Lower School

Head of Lower School Julie Rodowsky moved on to a new adventure at the end of the school year as Lower School Director at the Bryn Mawr School in her hometown, Baltimore, Maryland. Julie’s commitment to children, to learning, and to Quaker values has helped shape our lower school’s magical learning environment, and she is beloved by WFS families and alumni alike.

We are pleased to announce that Assistant Head of Lower School Chris Loeffler ’00 will serve as Interim Head of Lower School for the next two years. Chris came to Wilmington Friends as an associate, becoming lead teacher in 2006 after just one year. In 2017, he was named Assistant Head of Lower School. Chris is a creative, curious, and proactive educator with a deep commitment to finding new ways to help children thrive in the classroom.

Distinguished Chinese Program

WFS was recently named a Distinguished K-12 Chinese Program in the United States by the Chinese Language Teachers Association! Thank you to teachers Jianglin Shi and Xuedan Yang for their tireless efforts to make this possible.

At WFS, the ultimate goal of the World Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department is the communication of meaning as fluently and accurately as possible. Students are taught the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The focus is on using the language in the classroom; teachers speak to students only in the target language.

Kathleen Martin Receives Apperson Award

Congratulations to WFS Director of College Guidance, Kathleen Martin, who received the Apperson Award from the Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admissions Counseling (PCACAC).

The award is given annually to a member whose career embodies the ideals of the association–providing extraordinary service to students, to PCACAC, and to the college counseling profession. The award was presented to Kathleen by Lou Hirsh, retired Director of Admissions at the University of Delaware.

"Our Apperson recipient is also notable for having an encyclopedic knowledge of American colleges and universities. Ask for the names of colleges that offer some of higher education’s most arcane majors or an activity or sport that is rarely represented on campus or ask for the names of colleges that will serve a student with a particular special need, and our colleague will know what to recommend," Hirsh said. "As many of us in this room will know, our Apperson recipient’s generosity of spirit extends not only to students, but also to our college admissions colleagues, especially the rookies among us."

U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Distinguished Teacher

Congratulations to upper school math teacher John Roskovensky who was named a 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Distinguished Teacher. Carter Ross ’23, who applied for and won recognition as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, nominated John as part of his application.

Retirements

Thankyou!

Bill Baczkowski Associate Head for Finance and Operations | 35 years

In October 1988, Bill Baczkowski responded to an ad in the Sunday News Journal when WFS was looking for an Accounting Manager. He started his tenure mid-year during the ’88-’89 school year, and since then, Bill’s role has grown, ultimately becoming our Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations. In addition, Bill shepherded our school community when he served as the Interim Head of School for six months in the 2014-2015 school year. As Head of School Ken Aldridge said, “Bill has been an exceptional leader, a steady presence, a good colleague, and a friend. Detail-oriented with a keen vision for the future, Bill has had tremendous input and care for our community, including an expanding campus, renovations, and a sustainable physical plant. Bill’s deep appreciation for this school community is unparalleled.” Thank you Bill!

Kim

Knight

Director of the After School Program | 32 years

Kim joined us in 1991 with a background in Economics, Business, and Urban Affairs. Head of Lower School Julie Rodowsky said of Kim, “I can see how this foundation, combined with her joy in working with children and their families, partnering with colleagues and mentoring counselors, helped to shape our After School Program. Under her loving direction, the program has served thousands of children and created countless opportunities for counselors, young and not so young, to learn and grow from her. Kim’s boundless positive energy, her empathy for children and their families, and her never-wavering enthusiasm for collaboration will be sorely missed.” Thank you Kim!

Matt Cauchy Upper School Science Teacher | 11 years

Matt arrived at Friends 11 years ago to take over the physics program in upper school, and since then, has adopted new methodologies around problem-solving for the ninth graders and successfully prepared juniors and seniors at the IB physics level. Head of Upper School Rebecca Zug said, “Matt is someone who cares deeply about teaching and learning. He asks big questions about schooling and focuses on solutions. Matt is one of the founding advisors to our robotics program and he maintains the upper school design lab. He never missed a chance to gather with colleagues to enjoy fellowship and build community.” Thank you Matt!

Sue Kampert Upper School Teacher | 6 years

Sue retired from teaching upper school health classes after 6 years. Sue has made a significant impact on our program since coming on board, investing in the minds, spirit, and health of our students. She will continue to coach the WFS golf team. Thank you Sue!

Joe Thomson Assistant Athletic Director | 6 years

Joe, who has worked in education and athletics for 43 years, is recognized throughout the State of Delaware as a leader. As he leaves his formal role as the Assistant Director of Athletics, Joe will continue to oversee the professional development and training of athletic directors in Delaware. Thank you Joe!

Bridging Connections

What interested you about the role of Director of Equity, Justice, Community, and Engagement at Wilmington Friends? Since coming to Friends in 2016 as a math teacher in the upper school, I’ve always been invested in how we are growing in order to become a more inclusive and equitable community. As time went on, I realized that although I love math and will always love teaching, I really wanted to focus my energies on this important work in a full-time capacity.

As you look back on your first year in the role, what have you learned? I have felt nothing but overwhelming support since stepping into this role, and I am so grateful for that. I think our community understands the importance and the need for someone doing this work full-time while also understanding that one person can’t do this work alone. I’ve spent the majority of this year doing a lot of watching and listening and working to understand our needs in order to get an idea of where to go from here. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that everything is always more challenging than you think it will be, but there’s always a great group of people to help make everything happen.

Describe an initiative or initiatives that you feel really good about that happened this year. Having the opportunity to have Heather McGhee (author of The Sum of Us) speak to our 7-12th grade students was certainly a highlight of the year for me. Adding to that, I really enjoy anytime there is an opportunity to bridge connections between students in different divisions. We’ve done that several times this year. During Black History Month and AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month, upper and middle school students visited lower school classrooms to read books featuring Black or Asian lead characters. During workshops on gender identity and creating affirming and safer space for LGBTQ+ students, upper school students served as student facilitators leading small group discussions. I love providing leadership opportunities for students. I remember how I felt as a child or teenager anytime I had a chance to lead something–it’s so empowering for them!

What has been your experience in this role working with students? Is it different from your interactions as a teacher?

While I miss math some days, now when I’m talking to students, I’m not helping them understand a math concept (although I do still occasionally have those conversations!). Instead I get to spend more time talking with students about life or about everyday things!

That’s very rewarding. I also enjoy being able to chat with students in all three divisions. They’re all fascinating in different ways.

What do you and WFS hope to accomplish over the next several years?

We have some new programming and other news in the works for next year for students, faculty/staff, and even parents/caregivers. Stay tuned!

Checking in with Erica Childs, Director of Equity, Justice, Community, and Engagement after her first year in this new role at WFS

Author Heather McGhee with WFS Director of Equity, Justice, Community, and Engagement Erica Childs; Head of School Ken Aldridge; Devin Wallace ‘24; and Tauson Biggs ’24.

SCHOOL NEWS

School News

1 | Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.

The WFS community spent time in January reflecting and recognizing the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Lower school students sat in silent reflection as they watched our annual kindergarten peace march. Some of the kindergarteners’ inspirational messages included, “Help Ech Uther (Help Each Other),” “Kar For Ech Uvor (Care for Each Other),” and “Giv a Complumient (Give a Compliment),” and “Upolougiz (Apologize).” The lower school community then gathered for Meeting for Worship.

“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” Middle school students used this MLK quote as the basis of their discussion after watching a video about change makers in their midst––from peers to faculty members––who have made a positive difference in the lives of others.

Upper school students listened to the inspirational words of Dr. Aaron Bass, CEO of Eastside Charter School in Wilmington. They then engaged in small group discussions focused on various social justice topics, including anti-semitism, gun violence, and racial justice. Students gathered information about their social justice topic and then took action, brainstorming ways that we can work toward

change as a school community.

2 | Lunar New Year

WFS middle and upper school Chinese students celebrated the Lunar New Year by creating an amazing Chinese character dragon to display at the WFS art gallery. In addition, Chinese teachers Jianglin Shi and Xuedan Yang visited the lower school Learning Lab to read the children a book about the Chinese New Year!

WFS upper school students attended the Youth Environmental Summit at the University of Delaware. Organized by students (including Pablo Charriez ’24) and adults from local schools and non-profits, the event focused on environmental issues and advocacy. The more than 500 students in attendance listened to speakers including U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester and Chief Dennis Coker of the Lenape Tribe. They also attended workshops throughout the day that covered global, national, and local issues run by organizations including Plastic Free Delaware, Sierra Club, DNREC, and many others.

tion focused on young people’s constitutional rights.

5 | Delaware Youth Congressional Conference

In April, upper school students Maddie Miller ’24, Tess Wolf ’24, Jalen Stewart ’24, Pablo Charriez ’24, and Collier Zug ’24 attended the Delaware Youth Congressional Conference at Delaware State University. Sponsored by U.S. Senator Chris Coons, the goal of the conference was to provide an opportunity for student leaders to join together to discuss important issues and learn how to make a difference in the local community. Students met and attended workshops with Senator Coons as well as Senator Tom Carper and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, and also engaged in a community service activity to benefit the Food Bank of Delaware.

As part of their unit on the constitution, eighth grade students met with WFS parent Eliza Hirst, an Assistant Public Defender in Delaware’s Office of Defense Services. Eliza and her colleague Paige Chapman delivered an engaging presenta-

3 | Youth Environmental Summit

4 | Young People’s Constitutional Rights

Congratulations!

1 | Lego League Qualifier

Two WFS middle school teams competed at the Lego League Qualifier Tournament. The sixth grade team, the Quaker G.O.A.T.S, won first place for Core Values. The seventh/eighth grade team, the Quaker Quackers, won the first place trophy for Innovative Project. Congratulations to both teams which qualified for the Delaware State Championship!

2 | Mock Trial Team Takes Second

Congratulations to the WFS Mock Trial team for coming in second in the state competition! Gavel winners for best lawyer include Jack Hebert ’23 (two awards including the final round), Rohan Mandayam ’23, and Izzy Miller ’23. Gavels for best witness include Lucy Cericola ’25, Greer Marvel ’23 (final round), and Noah Twilley ’26. We are grateful for the excellent coaching and support from members of the WFS community including Ipek Kurul, Esq.; The Honorable Katharine Mayer; 16-year veteran coach Jody Barillare, Esq.; The Honorable Andrea Rocanelli; and Mock Trial advisor Rebecca Zug.

3 | Delaware Driver Safety Winners!

Noah Gibbons ’25, Steven Kozikowski ’25, and Avery Martinenza ’25 traveled to Dover Speedway to compete in the 35th Annual Delaware Driver Safety Competition. The competition consists of more than 120 individuals representing almost every single high school in Delaware.

For the first time in school history, the WFS team brought home first place for top team in the small school category! Additionally, Kozikowski placed seventh overall out of 120 students. Congratulations to these great drivers.

4 | Carter Ross ’23 Named Presidential Scholar

Congratulations to Carter Ross ’23 who was selected as a 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of 161 students selected from across the country! The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 and the students chosen, “represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people.”

5 | Scholastic Art and Writing Award Achievement

Congratulations to Jemima Smith ’23 and Beck Hartwick ’23 who received Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Jemima received a Gold Key and an Honorable Mention for a collection of poetry, “Reflections of a Mayfly.” Beck received a Silver Key and Honorable Mention for the poems, “Emerald Isle” and “A Death in the Family.” The Scholastic awards, which were founded in 1923, are, “The nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens.”

Accomplishments in Music

Congratulations to Ethan Halaby '27, Adelaide Nourie '23, Piper Roskovensky '26, and Jemima Smith '24 who were accepted into the 2023 Delaware All-State Choirs! Ethan was in the Junior Chorus, singing under the direction of Dr. Lauren Conrad. Adelaide, Piper, and Jemima participated in the Senior Choirs with Adelaide and Piper singing in the Treble Choir under the direction of Dr. Cera Babb, and Jemima singing in the Mixed Choir under the direction of Dr. Michael Semancik. In addition, WFS teacher Sara Gaines continued her leadership of the Junior All-State Choir committee.

WFS hosted the Four-School Choral Festival, an event which brought together the WFS Chamber Singers and choirs from Sanford School, The Tatnall School, and Tower Hill School with guest conductor Dr. Derrick L. Thompson, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Albright College. Students from the four schools participated in workshops throughout the day and then held a public performance in the evening.

This year’s IB Music recital featured six IB HL and SL Music students. Sara Gaines accompanied several of the students in the class, which is taught by Margaret Anne Butterfield. The receptive audience was treated to an evening that showcased piano, tenor saxophone and voice performances in a diverse program that ranged from Mozart to Rihanna (and lots of things in between), shared in partial fulfillment of the “Presenting Music as a Performer” portfolio.

Congratulations to Lorne McDonnell '25, who represented WFS as one of five percussionists in the Delaware All-State Senior Band, performing under the direction of Dr. Patricia

Cornett. Lorne and his fellow 10th-12th grade musicians from across the state spent three days planning their performance.

The WFS fifth grade choir won first place in the Delaware Music Educator Association's Youth Composers Contest for the piece they composed, "Live Your Life." Facilitated by teachers Katie Martinenza and Emily Fareed, this was a class project where all aspects were determined by students working with the teachers.

As described by our music teachers, "This year our school is celebrating the Quaker Testimony of Simplicity and that message was the focus for the piece. The ensemble brainstormed ideas for the song. In response to the discussion, Teacher Katie and Teacher Emily shared the Mary Oliver poem, ‘Mornings at Blackwater’ to anchor the theme. The excerpt, ‘come to the pond…’ was selected for the chorus. After coming to a sense of the group regarding the form, students were given an opportunity to share individual lyric ideas for each verse. The final lyrics were decided on through a democratic process. Different harmonic progressions were then explored and the ensemble selected the chords, d minor, F major, C major, and B flat major. Students then improvised melodies over the recorded harmonic structure. The teachers combined student lyric ideas and melodic ideas together and presented the product to the whole ensemble. Changes were made based on students’ suggestions for altering the key, mood, tempo, and expression."

Finally, congratulations to our 7th and 8th grade band and choir members who traveled to Hershey Park for the Music in the Parks Festival, where they received a first place, superior rating for band and a first place, excellent rating for choir!

Teachers Chris Verry and Laura Hanagan holding the trophies won by our 7th/8th grade band and choir at Music in the Parks.

Exploring Art

From preschool through senior year, visual arts education is an integral part of our program at all levels. Pictured left, preschool Kangas are exploring the Delaware Art Museum, spending time in the children’s area and going on a special color scavenger hunt throughout the galleries. Pictured right, International Baccalaureate art majors and higher level visual arts students traveled to Washington, D.C. to view artwork at the Hirshhorn Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of African Art, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Museum of Asian Art.

IB Art Exhibition

Visitors enjoyed learning about the work of our second-year IB Visual Arts students at the opening of their exhibits displaying work created through a twoyear in-depth study.

Sharing Knowledge and Wisdom

Our students regularly meet with thought leaders and experts to expand their knowledge, and we are especially fortunate when those are family members and WFS alumni. We wanted to share a few examples of visitors who came to campus in the spring. We are grateful for the time these community members spent with our students!

WFS parent Matthew Heckles, who is the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) MidAtlantic Regional Administrator, spoke to students about homelessness in America and Delaware and what they can do to help. Leslie Porter '76 (1), presented on our dependence on healthy ecosystems and shared several nonprofits that focus on the health of the planet, wildlife, and animal well-being.

The World Affairs Club welcomed New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer '90 (2), who spoke to students about the role of the state/county legislature, with a focus on the HOPE Center in Wilmington, whose mission is to house and support individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and the GreeNCC initiative, a county-wide program aimed at improving the environment and enhancing the quality of life in New Castle County.

Beth McClelland Lutostansky '88 (3) presented to upper schoolers––including those in the Environmental Science class and the STEMinist Club––on her career in the energy industry. Beth works as an engineer for Air Products in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She spoke of her firm's efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and how increased use of renewable energy will impact emissions globally.

Several WFS community members presented a speaker series for seniors to help prepare them for life after WFS. Topics included fiscal responsibility and understanding credit,

presented by parent of alumnae Todd Veale (4), Executive Director at the Laffey-McHugh Foundation and financial expert; consent, the “reality” of campus life, and campus relationships, presented by parent Meredith Jones ‘00, MS/US Consulting Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at Rowan University; and legal adulthood and making good choices, presented by parent and parent of alumnus Ipek Kurul, Deputy Attorney General.

Second graders joined an online event with Dan Joseph '02 to hear him speak about his experience as a Disney Imagineer. Students enjoyed making the connection between what they learned in their inventions unit about inventing and the creative process and what Dan does every day for work.

Darlene Amobi, vice president of the Hockessin Historical Society, parent of alumnus and grandmother of Taj ‘32 and Tavin ‘34 (5), presented to the third grade about Henry “Box” Brown, a man who escaped slavery by having himself shipped in a crate to abolitionists in Philadelphia, and his connection to the Underground Railroad in Hockessin. She focused on the travel and life of a slave as they made their way to freedom and the significance of a quilt left outside of a home (slaves are safe to stop and stay). Students explored artifacts, looked at pictures of historical landmarks in Hockessin, and reviewed vocabulary from the short movie about Henry “Box” Brown.

As part of Black History Month celebrations, middle school students met with Delaware’s Twin Poets Laureate, WFS parent of alumnus Representative Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha (6) and City Councilman Albert Mills. Students had previously engaged in an advisory-based introduction to spoken-word poetry about Black history and oral tradition to prepare for the Twin Poets visit.

Club & Committee Highlights

Energy Solutions for WFS

Members of the upper school Eco Team met with representatives from Practical Energy Solutions, who had recently completed an energy audit and assessment at WFS, to review their recommendations on how as a school we can improve lighting and internal loads, plumbing and hot water use, our HVAC systems, and increase our solar energy potential. The Eco Team will use these findings to help implement energy solutions across the school.

Female Advocacy Sports Club Welcomes UD Athletic Director

Chrissi Rawak, University of Delaware’s Athletic Director, visited campus and spoke to our Female Advocacy Sports Club. She discussed gender equity, Title IX, and her own experiences as a collegiate swimmer at the University of Michigan. Rawak, who has served as the Athletic Director at Delaware since 2016, is the first female to hold the position on a permanent basis for the Blue Hens.

BSU Students Visit Lower School

Members of the Black Student Union

visited lower school classes to read stories to students that highlighted Black history or protagonists. Lower schoolers listened intently and followed the readings with thoughtful discussion. Our young students love having visitors from the middle and upper school campus!

Mental Health Awareness Month

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Quaker Cares committee sought to raise awareness and promote education about mental health.

From May 1 through May 12, the committee sent messages to students, faculty, and staff related to mental health including those about positivity, appreciating nature, being kind to yourself and others, and paying attention to yourself. On May 12, the culminating activity was a Wellness Day for middle and upper school students, where they participated in a variety of activities from yoga to art, all boosting their spirits.

Pride Month at WFS

WFS is committed to providing a safe and inclusive space for all WFS students,

including students who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

For PRIDE month, the GSA club organized activities within the upper school including a photo booth, quotes, a book display, and an opportunity for members of the community to share “why PRIDE matters to them.” GSA is a safe space for any and all students with a goal to promote understanding and to help others learn and better understand their peers and the people around them.

Community Service Award

Congratulations to Jillian Farley ’25 and Ellie Driscoll ’25 who were awarded the Chapter President Community Service Award from Best Buddies Delaware!

Asian Affinity Club Visits Lower School

The middle school Asian Affinity Group traveled to the lower school to read stories to students that highlighted Asian history or protagonists. Lower school students loved meeting the middle school students, listening to the stories, and learning more about Asian heritage.

The middle school Asian Affinity Group traveled to the lower school to read stories to students that highlighted Asian history or protagonists.

Student Trips EUROPE

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

HOBART,

AU

PUERTO RICO

JAPAN QUEBEC, CA

This year, summer trips for upper schoolers included visits to Europe and Japan, as well as the QUEST Service Learning Trip to the Dominican Republic. The Europe trip included a visit to Wilmington’s sister city, Kalmar, Sweden, as well as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. In the spring, seven students from Kalmar stayed with WFS families and shadowed students for several days. The Japan trip included stops in Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka. Middle schoolers traveled to Quebec in February and Puerto Rico this summer for language trips. Guillermo Romero Feito ’26 traveled to Hobart, AU in a three-week exchange program with Friends School Hobart. His family reports that he had a wonderful time, and they can’t wait for his student host, Lenny, to visit in November!

Sports Recaps

Winter 2022-23

Boys’ Basketball: The boys’ basketball team finished the 2022-23 season with an outstanding record of 14-6, their most victories since 2012-13. Earning the #13 seed in the DIAA State Tournament, the boys defeated Delcastle 51-41 in the first round to earn their first tournament win in a decade. Robby Tattersall ’23 earned Honorable Mention All-State honors and 1st Team All-DISC honors. The following members of the team also earned All-DISC honors: Andrew McKenzie ’24 (2nd Team), Ish Dobson ’23 (Honorable Mention), and Ryan Tattersall ’25 (Honorable Mention).

Girls’ Basketball: Competing in one of the most challenging conferences in the State of Delaware, the girls’ basketball team finished with a record of 9-10 this season. The girls finished strong, winning three out of their last four contests by a combined score of 177-141. The following members of the team earned All-DISC honors: Ryan Weigand ’26 (2nd team), Reagan Brady ’23 (Honorable Mention), and Gia Cottone ’26 (Honorable Mention).

Swimming: It was another banner year for the WFS swim program as both Kira Agne ’23 and Tyler Wilmore ’24 won State Championships. Agne won her second straight State Championship in the 200 IM, and Tyler Wilmore ’24 won his second straight State Championship in the 500 free and also took home gold in the 200 free. Jalen Stewart ’24 placed 4th overall in the 100 and 200 free while Conner Verbanas ’25 placed 4th in the 500 free. Agne (1st Team), Wilmore (1st Team), Stewart (2nd Team), Verbanas (Honorable Mention) all earned All-State and 1st Team All-DISC honors. The following members of the team also earned All-Disc Honors: Ashman (1st Team), Devin Wallace ’24 (2nd Team), Pamela Moore ’27 (2nd Team), and Theo Lawrence ’26 (Honorable Mention).

Track & Field: Numerous personal bests and school records were set and broken during the 2022-23 indoor track & field season. At the DIAA State Championship Meet, the girls 4x200 (Brina Abere ’25, Cereniti Johnson ’26, Sawyer Rowland ’25, and Madeline Rowland ’23) and 4x400 (Ellie Criscimagna ’23, S. Rowland, Payton Williams ’24, and Daniela CristanettiWalker ’26) broke school records with their strong performances. Individually, Zae Turman ’24 finished 5th overall in the triple jump while M. Rowland advanced to the finals in the 55 meter dash and finished 12th.

Wrestling: Phil Crock ’23 and Sloan Makoujy ’26 proudly represented WFS at the 2023 DIAA Individual State Tournament. Makoujy placed 7th overall in the 126-pound weight class while Crock was forced to retire after a first-round victory. A four-time qualifier for the DIAA Individual State Tournament, Crock won 31 matches and four tournaments in the 2022-23 season. The following members of the team earned All-DISC honors: Kaeden Fleming ’24 (1st), Liam Sullivan ’24 (1st), Matthew Morrison ’25 (2nd), Michael Bohner ’26 (2nd), Makoujy (2nd), Kyler Fleming ’27 (2nd), John Ursomarso ’24 (Honorable Mention), Lincoln Illingworth ’26 (Honorable Mention), Gavin Jefferson ’26 (Honorable Mention), and Vincent Ramuno ’26 (Honorable Mention).

Spring 2023

Baseball: The baseball team battled through one of the toughest schedules in the State, finishing the year with an overall record of 4-14. Jason Hughes ’24 earned Honorable Mention All-State and 1st Team All-DISC honors for his excellent play at the hot corner. The following players also earned All-DISC honors: Andrew Huff ’24 (2nd Team), Ryan Tattersall ’25 (2nd Team), Jaden Willie ’23 (Honorable Mention), Jack Heckles ’25 (Honorable Mention), and Braeden Pantano ’25 (Honorable Mention).

Golf: The WFS golf team performed well this season, improv-

ing their win total by three matches as numerous players set personal bests. Josephine Wellons ’23, Helen Liu ’23, Zac Antao ’24, and Kemble Wellons ’27 all qualified for the DIAA State Tournament. Antao was the top WFS finisher in the twoday State Tournament, placing 4th overall in the Boys’ Individual Championship after shooting a two-day total of 153. J. Wellons placed 7th for the second consecutive year in the Girls’ Individual Championship with a two-day total of 168. Antao, J. Wellons, and K. Wellons all earned 2nd Team All-State honors for their outstanding play throughout the season.

Boys’ Lacrosse: The boys’ lacrosse team had an incredible season this spring, advancing to the State Semifinals for the first time since 2018. The Quakers, who finished the season with an impressive 15-3 record, won the DISC Championship as they outscored their conference foes 122-36. Jackson Redd ’23 (1st Team), Kevin Dolan ’24 (1st Team), Quinn Green ’24 (1st Team), and Tyler Maheshwari ’24 (2nd Team) all earned AllState and 1st Team All-DISC honors. The following members of the team also earned All-DISC honors: Andrew McKenzie ’24 (1st Team), Nick Winchell ’24 (1st Team), Braden Shipp ’24 (2nd Team), and Ethan Lukach ’26 (2nd Team).

Girls’ Lacrosse: The girls’ lacrosse team battled through one of the toughest schedules in the State of Delaware, finishing their season with an overall record of 7-9 and qualifying for the DIAA State Tournament for the third consecutive season. Madeline Rowland ’23 earned Honorable Mention All-State and 1st Team All-DISC Honors for her outstanding play. The following players also earned All-DISC honors: Molly Dolan ’26 (1st Team), Grace Terrell ’24 (2nd Team), Reese Bryson ’25 (2nd Team), Evie Rademaker ’25 (2nd Team), and Ella Morton ’25 (Honorable Mention).

Soccer: For the first time since 2015, the girls’ soccer team advanced all the way to the DIAA State Semifinals. The Quakers, who finished the season with an impressive record of 14-2-1 and won the DISC Championship, outscored their opponents 56-5 in conference play and posted 11 shutouts. Giuliana DiPrinzio ’25 (1st Team, Top IX), Reagan Brady ’23 (1st Team), and Ryan Weigand ’26 (2nd Team) all earned All-State and 1st Team All-DISC honors. The following members of the team also earned All-DISC honors: Emma Slease ’23 (1st Team), Sofia Dattani ’27 (1st Team), Peri Mulveny ’23 (2nd Team), Simran Dattani ’24 (2nd Team), Gia Cottone ’26 (2nd Team), and Ellie Criscimagna ’23 (Honorable Mention). Head Coach Scott Clothier was named DISC Coach of the Year.

SPRING SIGNING DAY

Girls’ Athletics 100th Anniversary 2022-2023 At-A-Glance

35 All-Conference athletes

11 All-State athletes

9 State Tournament Appearances

2 State Semifinal Appearances

2 State Champions

Boys’ Tennis: Battling against some of the best teams in the State of Delaware, the boys’ tennis team went 6-6 this season. In fact, the boys had three players seeded in the DIAA State Tournament for the first time in a decade. Silas Montana ’25 (1st Singles) and Rashid Bashir ’24 (2nd Singles) each made the Quarterfinals in their respective brackets while Collier Zug ’24 (3rd Singles) advanced to the Semifinals.

Girls’ Tennis: The defending State Champions had another outstanding season in 2023 as they finished the regular season with an overall record of 9-5. Aubrey Nisbet ’23 finished her career off with another State Championship at 1st Singles, her third State Championship in three high school seasons. The 2nd Doubles team of Tess Wolf ’24 and Anya Agarwal ’25, seeded 5th overall, upset numerous opponents en route to a 2nd place finish. Ava Steinberger ’23 (2nd Doubles) advanced to the Semifinals, finishing her senior campaign with an overall record of 14-2. Sarah Levenson ’24 and Greta Vebeliunas ’25, competing at 1st Doubles, advanced to the Quarterfinals.

Track & Field: WFS was well-represented at the 2023 DIAA State Championship meet as three members of the team competed in individual events while four relays took part as well. Zae Turman ’24 continued his impressive junior campaign, placing 8th in the triple jump. Cereniti Johnson ’26 ended her outstanding first-year campaign on a high note as well, placing 8th in the 400 and 9th in the 200. Brina Abere ’25 turned in another solid performance in the high jump, placing 12th overall. The girls’ 4x400 relay (Johnson, Abere, Payton Williams ’24, and LT Alleyne ’26) improved their seed time by 11 seconds in the final race of the season.

Congratulations to the following student athletes who are competing at the collegiate level in their respective sports next year!

TOP PHOTO | Front row: Madeline Rowland, Field Hockey at Williams College; Jake Bryson, Lacrosse at Washington College. Back row: Jack Hebert, Football at Carnegie Mellon University; Hudson Zawadzkas, Football at Franklin & Marshall College; Robby Tattersall, Football at Yale University.

BOTTOM PHOTO | Ish Dobson, Football at Kutztown University; Phil Crock, Football at Alvernia University; Alessio Cristanetti-Walker, Soccer at University of Rochester; Jackson Redd, Lacrosse at Tufts University; Peri Mulveny, Field Hockey at Bryn Mawr College; Ava Steinberger, Tennis at Bates College.

Coding Early Sets the Stage for Academic Success

As organizations around the world continue to rely on everchanging technology for their day-to-day operations, it should come as no surprise that computer science has become increasingly more popular in high school and college curricula. But computer science can also be taught to even the youngest students, beginning with simple coding, the process of writing instructions for a computer to follow a series of commands. And the earlier they begin, the sooner students build the following fundamental skills that will carry into their future academic success and even into their professional lives:

Planning before executing.

Unlike many things in today’s society, coding is not instantaneous and requires planning. Picture a group of kindergartners working together to program Bee-Bot, a cute robot toy that travels around a play city based on a sequence of moves. Before the coding can begin, the students must first decide on the movements it will make, the order of the movements, and where Bee-Bot will stop. Next, they must map out the sequence. Being able to plan will help them as they learn more advanced coding in the future, as well as with any type of future project they encounter.

Taking healthy risks and persevering.

Coding in the classroom allows students to be comfortable being uncomfortable. As students learn how to write code, it is common for them to miss elements in a specific sequence. But the stakes are low, and the motivation for success is high, inspiring them to try different things until they get it right. If Bee-Bot takes a left turn instead of right, it’s simply a matter of looking at the code and trying something different. And the younger a student can experience the sense of satisfaction that comes from taking healthy risks and persevering until achieving desired outcomes, the sooner they start to develop a can-do attitude.

Loving math.

Computer science helps students continue to build upon their math skills learned in the classroom. When writing code, students look for patterns, work and get comfortable with using non-standard measurements, practice their multiplication and division, and begin to understand theoretical and experimental probability. In fact, because computer science incorporates math in such an organic way, students begin to find math both meaningful and fun.

Working well with others. Partner programming, where students work with each other to write and decipher codes, is a great opportunity for students to learn how to work with others. When coming up with a sequence of moves for Bee-Bot as a group, there is room for each child to contribute to the process, to practice their listening skills, and to learn how to be a good teammate. Students are also able to work on their presentation skills as they are asked to explain their thinking to other group members.

The sooner, the better!

It is empowering for a student to write a program that solves a problem—or sets a Bee-Bot on an adventure––because of their calculations and planning. Schools that can introduce these concepts to their youngest classrooms set students up for a life of learning with confidence and joy.

Thanks to WFS Mathematics and Computer Science Specialist Carol Amaryl-Ly for her contributions to this article. Carol, pictured above with her students, has been teaching at Friends since 2000. To learn more about computer science and coding at Wilmington Friends, listen to Carol's podcast episode by scanning the QR Code or visiting www.wilmingtonfriends.org/community/ quaker-matters-podcast.

NEWS

The vibrant Home & School (H&S) Association of parent volunteers has once again proven to be integral to our thriving WFS community. These dedicated parents and caregivers have not only fostered a deeper sense of unity among us, but also serve those in the wider Wilmington community.

In 2022-23, Home & School was able to bestow a generous end-of-year gift to the WFS Annual Fund. This was made possible due to the hard-earned funds raised throughout the year. The donation included $4,500 in unrestricted Annual Fund gifts and a gift of $17,050 for capital improvements benefiting every division of our school.

The H&S Used Book Sale in February was a rousing success under the direction of parent co-clerks Megan Ede and Katie Van Druff ‘96. With the help of tireless volunteers, the Used Book Sale not only raised over $3,300, but also donated more than 2,500 children’s books to local schools and community organizations. Our community came together in the Middle/ Upper School Meeting Room, sifting through a treasure trove of books, movies, and games. We extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated and made this event a success. February was a month of celebrations, as our H&S Parents for Multiculturalism (PFM) Committee held a delightful in-person multicultural potluck. PFM clerk Kendra Okolo collaborated with Erica Childs, WFS Director of Equity, Justice, Community, and Engagement, to make this event a memorable one.

Fast forward to May, the Lower School Spring Scholastic Book Fair brought joy and smiles to our little ones. On Grandparents and Special Friends Day, the students explored a world of stories at our carnival-themed event, raising record funds this year. A big shout out to clerk Kameron McConnell and our parent volunteers for their tireless efforts (pictured right).

As we neared the end of the semester, H&S expressed its appreciation for our WFS faculty and staff

with surprise treats during Teacher Appreciation Week and special luncheons (pictured bottom left, teachers and staff at the lower school luncheon). We're immensely grateful to Susanne Handling and Kristin Jenney for organizing the lower school events. We also extend our thanks to Laura Rossi, Dara Shipp, Tracy Burleigh, and Leah Heckles, who took care of the luncheon for middle and upper school faculty and staff. Our heartfelt gratitude to Fola Adebi and Kellen Amobi for setting up the special breakfast treats during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Throughout spring, our dedicated H&S Emmanuel Dining Room (EDR) Project parent volunteers were busy preparing meals for those in need in downtown Wilmington. Under the leadership of co-clerks David and Kristine Tuttleman, they served up to 200 people each month and continued their service through the summer.

Home and School also warmly embraced the new families joining our WFS community. Parent Ambassadors Meghan Baczkowski Pixley ‘03 and Heather Jackman extended a warm welcome to the newly admitted families at Admissions Office events in June, and pledged their continued support over the summer and into the fall.

Our cherished Quaker Closet consignment store was in full swing throughout the academic year. We were thrilled to see new faces among our volunteers and shoppers and were equally delighted to see many familiar ones return. The "QC" was the highest-grossing H&S fundraiser this year, all thanks to our generous donors, shoppers, and a dedicated group of volunteers. A special mention to co-clerks Kendra Okolo and Lisa Pisano for their continuous efforts.

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who volunteered with H&S and supported this year’s events. We are indebted to outgoing clerks Jodi Bettler and Fola Adebi (pictured above left) for their tireless contribution to the WFS community, and to this year’s H&S Executive Committee: Kellen Amobi, Amanda Singleton Hay ’95, Heather Jackman, Meghan Baczkowski Pixley ‘03, Adrienne Lenz, Kendra Okolo, Aurora Phillips, and Erin Lockard for their undying dedication and leadership. Here's to another year of community, service, and joy!

Class Notes

Class of 1958

Andy Hess came to WFS his freshman year, played football all four years of upper school, and served as president of his senior class. Following graduation, Andy attended Williams College where he graduated with the highest honors in chemistry. He then went on to obtain his PhD in chemistry from Yale University and held a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oregon. Andy’s doctoral and postdoctoral research resulted in eight papers in peerreviewed journals. One of these papers published by the American Chemical Society has over 600 citations to date. After Oregon, Andy accepted a position at Vanderbilt University where he was promoted to associate professor with tenure at the end of his fourth year; to full professor in 1980; and named chair of the department of chemistry in 1982. Andy retired as professor emeritus in 2020 with a total of 200 peer-reviewed papers, but remains active as a research professor.

Class of 1965

David Ellis ’64 and Fred Rapkin recently joined up at David and his wife Martha’s house in Manchester, ME. Fred said, “We reminisced about so many of life’s experiences. A terrific visit with my old friend from WFS.”

Class of 1973

John DeCherney, see page 42.

Class of 1976

Leslie Porter, reflecting on her time at WFS, noted, “The Quaker creed that the light of God is in every body, including animals, took root and blossomed within me following WFS graduation.” This led to a life devoted to animal protection as Leslie served as the President of Delaware Action for Animals and received her Paralegal Certificate with high honors from Widener University’s Legal Education Institute. She also worked as a Legal Assistant for the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s litigation office from 1996 to 2001. From 2003 until 2016, Leslie worked for the

Although Andy Hess ’58 recently retired as professor emeritus from Vanderbilt University, he still remains active through his work as a research professor.

David Ellis ‘64 (left) and Fred Rapkin ‘65 caught up at David’s house in Manchester, Maine.

Leslie Porter ’76, pictured with Rosita, whom Leslie found and rescued while surfing in Mexico.

Wyatt Mellor, son of Deane Mellor ’07, is already following in the footsteps of his father who was an All-State lacrosse player during his time at WFS.

Class of 1977

Mae Culpa! We mistakenly left out the reunion photo for the class of 1977 in our last issue. We apologize for the error!

Back row: Scott Sanders and John Harper.

Middle row: Laura Isken Doyle, Russ Perry, Meg Dempsey Frey, Kathy Takacs Taylor, Marianne Cordrey Cotsell, Jake Gehret, Gary Peiffer, Alex Poorman

Front

Humane Society of the United States in a variety of positions–including in the Executive Office–on behalf of all animals, domestically and worldwide. Most recently, Leslie visited WFS upper school students for a lunch and learn this spring.

Class of 1979

Last October, with two of his three children in Greensboro and wanting to have a more consistent long-term relationship with his grandchildren, Steve Johnson and his wife gave up their “dream home” in Jacksonville. They now live in an older neighborhood near downtown Greensboro. He is babysitting his grandson Bjorn three days a week and loving it (although they had forgotten how much time and effort babies require). Oh, the house in Jacksonville? It went on the market December 28 and two days and four offers later, they had a contract.

Class of 2007

Wyatt Mellor, the son of Deane Mellor, is already following in the footsteps of his father who was an All-State lacrosse player during his time at WFS.

Class of 2009

Mackenzie Snead recently graduated from Howard University College of Medicine. In June, Mackenzie will move to Sacramento and begin residency in Emergency Medicine at UC Davis.

Class of 2011

Parthena Moisiadis recently completed her Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from Penn State Great Valley.

Class of 2012

Lauren Kelley McDermott and her husband, Bryan, welcomed their first child into the world, Fleur Josephine McDermott, on April 5, 2023.

Taylor Warrington-Purcell began working as an Administrative Assistant at Wilmington University’s School of Law this past January. She notes, “Whether it be through teaching, advising, volunteering, or creating, WFS helped to ignite my passions and use my confidence to educate diverse individuals and empower people through connection. This led me to my current position in higher education with the Wilmington University School of Law. Providing broad access to affordable legal education within a student-centered culture, the University’s new School of Law will serve qualified students from all walks of life, including traditionaland non-traditional-age students, as well as professionals transitioning from other careers.”

Class of 2013

Jeff Davis married Megan Hickey in Baltimore, Maryland on August 13, 2022. They were surrounded by over 35 people from the WFS community. (Photo on page 40.)

Ergon, Jeff Linton, and Pete Hollingsworth.

row: Jan DeRiemer Cauffman, Ann Moodey Ashe, Lisa Townsend Raber, and Sylvia Whiteside Reid.

Mackenzie Snead ’09 matched with UC Davis and will begin her residency in Emergency Medicine at UC Davis in June.

Fleur Josephine McDermott was born on April 5, 2023 to parents Lauren Kelley McDermott ’12 and Bryan McDermott.

Taylor Warrington-Purcell ’12 recently began working for Wilmington University’s School of Law.

Megan Hickey in Baltimore, Maryland last year. Front row: Jeff Davis ’13 (groom), Michael Orth ’13, Chessie Aleman ’12, Steve Cohen ’83, Bob Davis ’83, Susie Tattersall Davis ’84, Bob Tattersall, Jack Hall ’13, Mark Conner ’83, Matt Davis ’11, Lindsay Aleman ’13, and Tracey Porter Aleman ’87. Middle row: Luke Magness ’13, Megan Davis (Bride), Sharon Mulrooney Flanagan ’84, Christina Aleman ’17, Scott Davis ’15, Annie Prococini ’13, Sam Carney ’13, Erin Skibicki ’13, Drew Conner ’15, Ellie McGinnis ’14, Julie Tattersall ’82, Artie Kempner, and John Aleman ‘84. Back row: Jason Magness ’12, Will MaGuire ’13, Brett Tracy ’13, Chris Palmer ’13, Ben Hanson ’13, Michael Galardi ’13, Dwyer Tschantz ’13, Sean Kirkpatrick ’13, Rob Tattersall ’91, Robby Tattersall ’23, and Ryan Tattersall ’25.

Class of 2014

Joey Woodward got engaged to Kylie Kenney.

Laura Gates was recently accepted into the University of Vermont where she will pursue her Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education. In addition to obtaining an advanced degree, Laure will continue her work as an Elementary teacher and Librarian at East Meadow School, a traumainformed day treatment school whose therapeutic model is developed from components of multiple, evidence-based frameworks. Laura notes, “I just really like working with young people. My students genuinely make me laugh every day. Although there are plenty of times that I get frustrated with them and things don’t go as planned, I still get excited to come to school every day. And it’s nice to think that just by showing up and providing a safe environment, I am doing enough.”

Class of 2015

Julia Blumberg currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the School of Journalism and in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Department at the University of Arizona. During the summers, she also works with local Arizona high school students through the School of Journalism as Co-Director of the Donald W. Sharkey Journalism Diversity Workshop, helping local students learn about journalism and the University of Arizona. Reflecting on what she loves most about her current work, Julia states, “I love working with the students and helping them learn about bilingual journalism and Spanish. I teach for the students, and I love to see them progress academically, but also help them with important skills like time management, practicing selfcare, and research.”

Martha O’Brien, a second-year law student at Fordham University School of

Law, recently joined the ACLU of Delaware and works part-time as a Legal Extern. As for what she loves most about the law, Martha states, “I love learning about how the law touches every aspect of our lives. I love being in a profession that is constantly evolving and challenging. It is so rewarding to be in a career where you can use your degree to make large scale policy changes or to make someone’s day to day life a little better.”

Class of 2016

Emilio Ergueta, after working for a couple of years as a senior manager in the International Academic Competitions organization, is now at the University of Potsdam and will be working towards completing his management degree. He and his partner Sophia keep in close touch with a Ukrainian family they helped to bring to Germany, and they too delight in the culinary and cultural diversity of Berlin.

Many WFS alumni were in attendance when Jeff Davis ’13 married

Class of 2017

Jordan Carter graduated from the University of Delaware with a Master’s of Science in Health Promotion. During his time as a student, Jordan also worked as an Exercise and Conditioning Instructor where he designed and coached six weekly fitness classes that improved the fitness levels of over 70 University of Delaware students each semester.

Jordan Perkins graduated from Wilmington University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. While at Wilmington, Jordan also played on the men’s basketball team.

Class of 2018

Cecilia Ergueta is expected to graduate from Stanford in 2024. She is currently the Artistic Director of the Stanford Shakespeare Company, the university’s only repertory theater company. She’ll be studying in England at Oxford University during the upcoming winter term.

Class of 2019

Carlin Beskrone presented his research at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Conference in Washington, DC. His poster, titled “Psychiatric Comorbidities and Efficacy of IV Ketamine for Depression in an Academic Ketamine Clinic,” explored the relationship between the number of axis I concomitant psychiatric diagnoses and the efficacy of IV ketamine treatment. He conducted this analysis while on Co-op at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Depression Clinical and Research Program (DCRP).

Carson Davis-Tinnell, after graduating from Elon University this spring with her degree in International and Global Studies, began working as Associate Communications Strategist at POV Agency.

Connor Miller spent his senior spring at American University serving as a Legislative Intern on Capitol Hill with

Joey Woodward ’14 and his fiancee, Kylie Kenney.

Laura Gates ’14 will begin to pursue her Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education from the University of Vermont this fall.

Julia Blumberg ’15 serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the School of Journalism and in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Department at the University of Arizona.

Jordan Perkins ’17 graduated with his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Wilmington University.

Carlin Beskrone ’19 presented his research at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America Conference in Washington, DC.

Connor Miller ’19 (left) spent this past spring serving as a Legislative Intern on Capitol Hill with Senator Chris Coons.

John DeCherney ’73

John DeCherney ’73 was a “lifer” at WFS along with his brother Steve ’70, an “almost” lifer. At Friends, John played soccer and baseball, participated in band and chorus, and appeared in several musicals. Upon graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, John worked as a City Planner for a couple of years before attending the Culinary Institute of America where he honed his skills in the kitchen. After a brief stint working for the Helmsley Palace hotel, writing a cookbook with his wife Nancy, and serving folks for over decade as a chef in Alaska, John made a slight pivot and began working for Speciality Imports, a family-owned wholesale wine, beer and spirit distributor. He has now worked for Speciality Imports for over 30 years.

Tell us about the cookbook you and your wife wrote. My wife and I, okay primarily my wife, wrote the Fiddlehead Cookbook with two other co-authors. The book contained recipes that were served at the Fiddlehead Restaurant in Juneau. The book is still in print and available on Amazon and most garage sales in Juneau. By far the most popular recipe in the book is the North Douglas Chocolate Cake which has probably raised thousands of dollars at dessert auctions in Juneau over the thirty years since the publication of the book.

How did you realize you were suited for a career in Sales?

I never realized I was suited for a career in sales but I did realize that after we had children I did not want to spend nights and weekends away from my family. Specialty Imports is owned by two of the most honest and conscientious individuals on the planet and they let me develop the market of Southeast Alaska as I saw fit.

How has WFS impacted you since graduation?

I don’t suppose that a day goes by that I haven’t benefited from the rigors of a WFS education. I have to write countless proposals and descriptions for my job so I need to be able to describe a Chardonnay without an indefinite reference or ending the description using a preposition. And figuring out how much Rye versus how much Bourbon you can order from a particular distillery is not a whole lot different from the age-old question about two trains leaving Cleveland at two different speeds.

What are your favorite WFS memories?

All of my favorite memories of WFS are of people. Teachers some, but mostly classmates. The folks that saw me in the best and worst moments of my formative years and can still stand to talk to me I will never forget. Thanks; you know who you are and the next round is on me.

Senator Chris Coons. Following his graduation from American University this spring, Connor will pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at American University as well.

Following his graduation from the University of Notre Dame, Michael McKenzie will begin his professional career at Eli Lilly & Company. Michael will serve as an Engineer on their Global Packaging and Robotics team, working on the design and startup of new, highly automated packaging lines.

Class of 2020

Connor Satterfield went to see classmate Ajala Elmore play softball during Ajala’s spring break trip to Florida. Ajala, a second team All-Conference selection at shortstop, helped lead the Moravian Greyhounds to the Division III College World Series this spring!

Craig Lyttleton, a junior at Susquehanna University, was featured on the TV show, “The College Tour.” During his time at Susquehanna, Craig has been quite busy as he created the club CryptoHawks and helped lead the Susquehanna football team to a Centennial Conference Championship this fall. For his work with CryptoHawks, Craig was honored at Susquehanna’s Annual Leadership Awards as they won Organization of the Year, Junior of the Year, and the Leadership in Athletics Award. This summer, he will serve as an Operations Intern at BNY Mellon Bank.

Evan Arai spent the summer working for Nemours as a Digital Marketing Intern.

Jadyn Elliott will attend Break Through AI Academy, a program offered by Cornell Tech’s Break Through Tech Initiative. Break Through AI provides women and other college students who identify with underrepresented groups with the opportunity to dive deeper into the world of artificial intelligence and machine learning, learn from experts in

John DeCherney ’73 and his wife, Nancy.

Jones House Intern

Grace Terranova ’21 interned in the Alumni/Development office this summer helping with a myriad of tasks including constituent address updates, Foundation research, donor stewardship, and social media photos, just to name a few. This fall, Grace returns to the University of Pittsburgh where she is a junior majoring in media and professional communications. Grace’s focus is on corporate and community relations. Outside of the classroom, she serves as the Vice President of Recruitment for the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. She also worked at Kendra Scott last year. When she’s not busy working, Grace spends her free time finding new places to eat in Pittsburgh. We are grateful for all Grace did for the School this summer!

the field, and collaborate with fellow students to tackle real-world problems. Jadyn recently found out that she was also accepted into the Penn 4+1 Master’s Program in Data Science at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Class of 2021

As part of Northeastern University’s co-op program, Carter Gramiak began working with Boston Consulting Group this past January as a Talent Acquisition Specialist.

Class of 2022

Hannah Carter won the Clifford Brown Young and Swinging Award at this year’s International Jazz Day Awards Concert. As a first-year student at Columbia University, Hannah performed in Columbia’s all BIPOC production of, “In The Heights,” selling out the largest theater on Campus. Additionally, she is a member of The Varsity Show, Columbia’s oldest Performing Arts tradition, which serves as a satire of the University and keeps the plots for their performances secret from everyone outside of the cast and crew until they perform.

Pier-Paolo Ergueta traveled to Germany shortly after his graduation for a gap year, and within a couple of months, was hired as a full-time waiter at one of Berlin’s best-known sushi restaurants, in the center of old West Berlin. In fact, after he turned 18 in October, he was promoted to one of the bartender positions.

Craig

’20 (far

enjoyed a nice dinner with WFS Associate Director of College Counseling Rose Gnade (far left) and Patrick McCabe, Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Susquehanna University during a dinner at the

Connor Satterfield ’20 (left) cheered on his classmate Ajala Elmore ’20 during one of her softball games in Florida this spring.

Lyttleton

right)

president’s house.

Jadyn Elliott ’20 was recently accepted in the Penn 4+1 Master’s Program in Data Science at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Carter Gramiak ’21 began working with Boston Consulting Group in January as a Talent Acquisition Specialist.

Hannah Carter ’22 (third from left, blue dress) is seen here performing in Columbia’s all BIPOC production of, “In The Heights.” Photo courtesy of Olivia Kuan-Romano.

In Memory

Any time a member of the Wilmington Friends School community passes away, we feel great sadness by the loss. But reflecting on their lives and contributions to the greater good helps us cope and remember the many good things about them. Please visit our website at www. wilmingtonfriends.org/alumni/in-memory or use the QR code provided to read about these wonderful members of the WFS community. If you would like to inform us about the passing of a friend or family member in our community, please email Lynne Nathan at lnathan@wilmingtonfriends.org.

Former Staff: Cynthia Henderson Kuespert

Former Staff: Walter “Wally” Williams

Class of 1942: Campbell Cary

Class of 1943: Marion Betts “Bettsy” [Shaw] Smith

Class of 1945: Fr. John R. Metzler Vandegrift

Class of 1947: Dorothy [Manss] Stedfast

Class of 1948: Leighton “Cole” Coleman Dorsey

Class of 1948: Lee [Jones] Hargadon

Class of 1950: Sara “Sally” Corbit [Reese] Pryor

Class of 1951: Elizabeth “Biddy” [Miller] Jenkins

Class of 1951: Mary Beth [Rickards] Baisden

Class of 1952: John Albert Nice

Class of 1952: Rodman Ward, Jr.

Class of 1953: Joseph “Joe” John Hill

Class of 1953: Susan [McGovern] Herndon

Class of 1954: Frank Marshall Hoopes Jr.

Class of 1954: Barbara “Babs” H. [Phillips] Kurtz

Class of 1956: Madge Macadam Ellis

Class of 1958: Earl H. Cone III

Class of 1958: Mary [Gilruth] Butler

Class of 1959: Jay Paul James

Class of 1962: Deborah “Debbe” [Hitt] Lane

Class of 1964: Mary Ruffner [Bloomsburg] Wemlinger

Class of 1964: Christopher John Whitney

Class of 1967: Roger Conant Cook

Class of 1970: Carol A. McCrery

Class of 1976: Thomas E. George

Class of 1979: Christopher T. Anderson

Class of 1989: Fae Elise Rosenthal

In Closing Performing Arts!

Many productions showcased the talents of our student performers last winter and spring!

1 | Fifth Grade Musical––Giants in the Sky

2 | 8th Grade Musical––Newsies

3 | Upper School Play––She Kills Monsters

4 | Student Run Production––Original Sin

This original horror story was written by Jack Hebert '23 and directed and led by Jace Boland '23 and Maddie Schaen '25.

101 School Road

Wilmington, DE 19803

www.wilmingtonfriends.org

Join Us.

Don’t Miss These 275th Events!

It’s Wilmington Friends School’s 275th Anniversary, and we invite you to celebrate all year long!

September 23, 2023 | Home & School Picnic Celebration

October 20-21, 2023 | Homecoming, Video Premiere, WFS Heads Panel, Kickoff Party

November 30, 2023 | Special 275th Speaker, Nathan M. Clark Speaker Series, 76ers Fieldhouse

May 18, 2024 | Community Birthday Celebration!

May 23, 2024 | 275th Anniversary Concert, The Playhouse on Rodney Square

Year-Round |

• Service projects to help fight food insecurity • 275th school merchandise for sale

• WFS History displays • Social media quizzes and contests

• Special podcasts and webinar series