2026
the GAM a conversation among mariners
Falmouth Academy 2025-2026 DONOR IMPACT REPORT
Seen, Known, Celebrated
ON THE COVER
Willow Wakefield ’26 reads an excerpt from her peer reference essay at graduation. THIS PAGE
Students participate in Capture the Flag, a long-standing tradition at the school. Clockwise from top right: Faculty member Doug Jones hands out the flags to senior captains at the start of the competition; Ari Aretxabaleta ’29 attempts to tag Matthew Forcier ’31; Elyse Sharpe ’27 runs with a flag; Elliot Klein ’31 takes a turn on the slip-and-slide after the game; students gather for dinner from Taco Blanco post-competition; Luke Seston ’28 and Tildy Moehnke ’27 discuss strategy during the game.
CONTENTS Falmouth Academy engaging the challenges of our times GAM: “A social meeting of whale ships ... with all the sympathies of sailors [and] all the peculiar congenialities arising from a common pursuit.” Falmouth Academy 7 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, MA 02540 508-457-9696 falmouthacademy.org Administration Steve Lisk, Interim Head of School Michael Polebaum, Academic Dean Michael Deasy ’10, Dean of Students Kara Ashley, Director of Enrollment Management and Strategic Initiatives Katharine Enos, Director of Development Liz Lerner, Director of Marketing and Communication Carmen DiSanto, Director of Finance and Operations Editorial Staff Katharine Enos, Director of Development Liz Lerner, Director of Marketing and Communications Barbara Campbell, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations
16
10
Contributor: Patrick Flanary Photos: Leah Fasten, Amy Homa, Paul Joyce, Liz Lerner, Chris McGuire, Scottie Mobley, Susan Moffat, Britta Santamauro, Brenda Sharp, Michael Zagachin, and FA Archives Design: Julianne Waite Mission Harnessing the power of inspired learning in a world-renowned scientific and vibrant artistic community, Falmouth Academy emboldens each student to take creative and intellectual risks to confidently engage the challenges of our times. Guiding Values We value the beauty of knowledge and the joy of conversation. We value collaboration and generosity of spirit. We value the power of a culture of kindness. We value relationships built on trust, respect, and direct communication. We value the wonder of imagination. We value each student’s pursuit of diverse challenges and opportunities. We value teachers as models of confident, rich adulthood. We value the richness of an educational experience that includes people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and identities.
3
20
26
2
The First Word
3
Up Front
10
Classroom & Beyond
16
Centerpiece
Seen, Known, Celebrated
20
Mariner Stars
22
People of FA
25
From the Archives
26
Alumni News
29
2025–2026 Donor Impact Report
the GAM 2026
1
THE FIRST WORD
Dear Friends of Falmouth Academy, The new academic year has me thinking about my own FA experience in the 1990s (or, as the kids call them these days, the “late 1900s”). Not because the fashion trends have reemerged, allowing me to confidently assert to my daughter that, in fact, my generation was the height of cool. And not because the music of my youth is having another moment in the sun (did it ever not? Looking at you, Oasis). What has me thinking about those years is not what has come back, but what never left—the ways this school challenged me, stretched me, and helped me grow. I recently read Sarah Isgur’s hopeful study of the U.S. Supreme Court’s institutional resilience, Last Branch Standing. In it, she references Biosphere 2, the Arizona experiment that recreated Earth’s ecosystems inside a sealed glass dome. Many trees initially grew quickly and symmetrically, only to collapse under their own weight before reaching maturity. Researchers arrived at a possible explanation: trees need bad weather. Wind, rain, heat, and cold trigger the growth of “stress wood”—dense tissue that gives trees the strength to survive. Without it, a tree may grow beautifully, but remain structurally weak. At Falmouth Academy, creating “stress wood” in our students is fundamental to our mission. We want them to encounter real difficulty: peeling away deeper layers of Hamlet or Macbeth; coping with a Science and Engineering Fair project that falls apart at the last minute; repairing a friendship tested by adolescence. And, in a timely example, we want students to wrestle with ideas and arguments in their own words, working through painstaking drafts rather than outsourcing the intellectual lift to generative AI. Our teachers and staff know each of our students well. They understand when to push and when to support. Honest feedback on student work is not a failure of the student or the teaching; disagreement among peers is not a failure of character or compatibility. These moments help students develop resilience, self-awareness, and judgment they will need as adults. We want our graduates to go out into the world with stress wood. What we ask of our students, we should also ask of our school: to grow stronger through challenge. Falmouth Academy is fortunate to sit at the heart of world-renowned scientific research and a thriving arts community, with a culture of kindness that permeates daily life. Yet we also face challenging conditions. A declining school-aged population, difficult macroeconomic conditions, and an uncertain geopolitical outlook are all stressors that sharpen our thinking, test our decisions, and force us to become more resilient in a changing world. The Board of Trustees remains committed to Falmouth Academy’s sustainability. We are excited about our upcoming 50th anniversary, the launch of our 5-day boarding program, the strong compliment of faculty and staff, and the numerous successes of our students and alumni. We have also been thrilled in our short time with Steve Lisk as interim Head of School. The Falmouth Academy community can be confident in our long-term outlook. We are optimistic about the future because Falmouth Academy, as our mission declares, is ready to confidently engage the challenges of our times. With my very best,
Andy Kingman ’00 Chair, Board of Trustees
2
the GAM 2026
UP FRONT
Highlights at FA Award-winning research. Music, theater, and dance. Beloved traditions and unexpected moments. A glimpse into the remarkable range of student life at Falmouth Academy.
First-Place Finish at State Science Fair Seniors Take the Lead For one day each spring, FA seniors trade their seats for a spot at the front of the classroom during Senior Teaching Day. On April 8, 2026, members of the Class of 2026 stepped into the role of teacher, sharing their interests and leading classes of their fellow students through lessons they had planned in advance. The tradition gives seniors a chance to experience teaching from the other side of the desk, and to practice the preparation and leadership that come with it. According to Dean of Students Mike Deasy ’10, “The seniors love this day as do our younger students who so admire them. They also routinely finish this day with a deeper sense of the care and creativity that our work as teachers requires.”
Hollis Oliver ’28 earned first place at the 2026 Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair for his project, Enzymatic Degradation of Colored PET by Ideonella sakaiensis, which explored biological methods for breaking down plastic waste. Hollis was one of five FA students to qualify for the statewide fair, joining Ari Aretxabaleta ’29, Alden Bank ’29, Bradley Forcier ’27, and Mahnaz Ronan ’28. Hollis shared, “This year’s fair left me with an extraordinary amount of hope, and it was one of the most incredible feelings to be honored among other young people who are enthusiastic about creating a better future.” Congratulations to Hollis and all of FA’s state qualifiers! Above, left to right: Ari Aretxabaleta ’29, Alden Bank ’29, Mahnaz Ronan ’28, Hollis Oliver ’28, Bradley Forcier ’27. Below left: Abby Brown ’26 speaks to an English class during Senior Teaching Day. Below right: David Aubrey ’26 teaches about t-cells to members of the class of 2028.
the GAM 2026
3
UP FRONT
Greek Drama Comes to Life Seventh graders brought ancient Greece to life in May for Falmouth Academy’s annual Greek Drama Festival, performing original plays they wrote and directed themselves. Inspired by their study of ancient Greece, the festival brings history, literature, and theater together as students turn what they’ve learned in the classroom into stories of their own.
Taking the Stage Twelve Falmouth Academy students took the stage with Turning Pointe Dance Studio this year, performing in The Sea Captain’s Nutcracker and participating in competitions and performances throughout the season. FA has enjoyed a close connection with Turning Pointe, and we’re proud to see so many of our students pursuing their love of dance while balancing the many demands of school life. Bravo to these talented dancers! Top: Tate Nelson ’28, Zara Taylor-Keefer ’28, Hannah Park ’28, Lila Mele ’26, Jamie Allen ’31; Middle: Beckham Peterson ’30, Sara Cook ’26, Esme Bush ’30; Bottom: Sia Canelos ’26, Cordelia Sciortino ’31, Taleena Gonneea ’26, Olive Nelson ’31.
4
the GAM 2026
Left: Olive Nelson ’31, Luca Mason ’31, Emerson Takach ’31, Nathan Forcier ’31, Cameron Zuluaga ’31, and Elin Mogul ’31 stand together at the end of their Greek Drama. Below: Thomas Louderback ’31, Grace O’Hanlon ’31, and Weetamo Pocknett ’31 used props in their performance.
Curtain Call Above: Siana Solarazza ’27, Chase Renzi ’27, David Aubrey ’26, and Hogan Teles ’27 in The Government Inspector. Below left: Dalia Najarian ’29 and Max Donovan ’26 in The Heart of Robin Hood. Below right: Josephine Gautier ’30 and Thomas Louderback ’31 in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
Falmouth Academy’s theater program brought three productions to the stage during the 2025–26 school year, giving actors across grade levels the chance to perform. The season included The Heart of Robin Hood and The Government Inspector, while FA’s youngest Mariners took the spotlight in a one-act adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. From comedy and adventure to a much-loved story of loss, love, and transformation, each production gave students the opportunity to collaborate, take risks, and bring a story to life before an audience.
the GAM 2026
5
UP FRONT
A Year of Music Music filled the school year, with students taking the stage for two major concerts and performing regularly at All-School Meetings and events throughout the community. The concerts featured a wide range of student groups, including the mixed ensemble, international ensemble, middle school strings, upper school chorus, a cappella, and more. This year, students also took their music on the road, visiting local landmarks and businesses to film a music video. One memorable scene was filmed atop Nobska Lighthouse, where Alden Bank ’29 used a drone to capture the performance from above. The finished video, shared online, brought together student musicians and some familiar sights around Falmouth.
6
the GAM 2026
Watch our music video!
Clockwise from top left: Wyatt Thornton ’26 sings in the rock band during the spring concert; Anna Gulmann ’31, Jackson Murchison ’30, Jay Zhang ’31 perform in the mixed ensemble; Caroline Buccino, Taleena Gonneea ’26, Hannah Park ’28 chat between shots while recording their music video.
Showing Our FA Spirit For one week each year, Falmouth Academy’s hallways look a little different. Locker areas are transformed with elaborate decorations, students arrive in costumes inspired by daily themes, and skits bring plenty of laughter to All-School Meeting. From the much-loved Dec-a-Senior tradition to the egg toss and fiercely competitive tug-of-war, Spirit Week gives students a chance to show off their creativity and enjoy some friendly rivalry. While many of the traditions return year after year, students always find new ways to make them their own. It’s a welcome break from the usual routine and a chance for the whole school to have some fun together. Clockwise from top: Veronica Foureman ’28, Sofia Canelos ’28, Tate Nelson ’28, and Ace Cugini ’28 sit in a boat during All-School Meeting; William Dubreuil ’26, Harrison Webb ’26, Max Donovan ’26, Dhara Sananikone-Evans ’26, Abby Brown ’26, Robert Ronan ’26, Matt Brown ’26, Cian Davis ’26, and Amelia Russell Schaeffer ’26 cheer on teams during tug of war; Oliver Dube ’30 catches an egg as part of a challenge; Nolan Van Keuren ’28 hops as part of a relay race; Cora McNeany ’31 performs a skit as part of Spirit Week.
the GAM 2026
7
UP FRONT
Mariner House Opens New Possibilities In January 2026, Falmouth Academy purchased the former Captain’s Manor Inn on West Main Street, just a short walk from campus. Now fittingly named the Mariner House, the property allows FA to establish a five-day boarding program for up to 15 students, extending an FA education to students for whom a daily commute is not possible. Students will live at Mariner House during the school week and return home on weekends, enjoying the full experience of campus life without the demands of a long daily commute. The program opens new possibilities for families on the Outer Cape, the Islands, and beyond. The acquisition also brings a remarkable piece of Falmouth history into the FA community. Built in 1849 as the town’s first summer residence, the Italianate home was originally known as “Mostly Hall,” a nod to its unusually long hallways and wide verandas. More than 175 years later, the house begins a new chapter, this time as a home for future Mariners. Top right: The Mariner House is a short walk to campus and steps away from the shops, restaurants, and culture of Falmouth Village. Right: Nait Gartner ’26, Sia Canelos ’26, and Sara Cook ’26 sit in the expansive kitchen of the Mariner House.
First Day of School 2026
Anna Giguere ’32 Haoa Vanderhoop ’29 Elyse Sharpe ’27 8
the GAM 2026
Marconi Beach Day With summer-like temperatures and bright sunshine, it was a perfect day for a trip to the beach. But at FA, a day at Marconi Beach comes with a challenge: turning weeks of planning into something remarkable made with only sand, water, and whatever treasures the beach has to offer. Working in mixed-grade teams, students arrived with ambitious designs and quickly discovered what would (and wouldn’t) hold up in the sand. Plans were adjusted, ideas reconsidered, and everyone pitched in as sand sculptures took shape. By day’s end, the beach was dotted with remarkable pieces of art, each reflecting the imagination and collective effort of the FA students who built it. Congratulations to this year’s winning team for creating a sand sculpture inspired by Smaug from The Hobbit.
Left: faculty and students work together in groups to create their sculptures; the 11 teams spaced themselves apart along the beach. Above: The entire school poses for a group photo at the end of a beautiful beach day with many spectators.
Olive Nelson ’31
Sofia Vizen ’32 Avery Todd-Weinstein ’29 Thomas Louderback ’31 the GAM 2026
9
CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
A Conversation with Steve Lisk Steve Lisk joins Falmouth Academy with more than three decades of experience in independent school education, including 14 years as Head of Lancaster Country Day School in Pennsylvania. Most recently, he served as Interim Head at The O’Neal School in North Carolina and, before that, The Shipley School in Pennsylvania. He holds an M.A. in History from North Carolina State University and a B.A. in Political Science from UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar. He will lead Falmouth Academy as Interim Head of School for the next two years.
10
the GAM 2026
What drew you to Falmouth Academy and made you want to spend the next two years here?
My career has taken me to a wonderful variety of schools, and this spring I was looking for a school with particular qualities: one that knows itself, celebrates its past, and looks with energy toward the future. At first glance, Falmouth Academy fit that description. Once I began talking with trustees, faculty, and staff, the depth and quality of the school became apparent. My entire career has also been on the East Coast, and my wife and I have always enjoyed being near the coast when we could manage it, so Cape Cod certainly had its appeal. I also believe more can be accomplished in two years than in one. I was delighted when the Board asked whether I would consider making that commitment.
You’ve had a little time to get to know Falmouth Academy. What has stood out to you?
The people and the place. Students, faculty, staff, parents, trustees, alumni, and members of the wider community have all extended genuine welcomes. I have been particularly struck by the depth of the people I encounter here. This is an engaged and caring community, but also an understated and impressively capable one. That is a powerful combination. And, of course, the setting on Cape Cod is an attraction all its own. This includes a culture here that values education. In this setting, Falmouth Academy initially established and now maintains its dedication to developing the life of the mind and a caring orientation to community. This aligns clearly with my own philosophy of education and makes FA a winning school.
You’ve spent more than three decades in independent schools. What have those experiences taught you about what makes a school community thrive?
Good schools consistently attract talented people who believe deeply in the school’s mission. As Falmouth Academy approaches its 50th year, it has the interesting advantage of being a relatively young school that already possesses a rich tradition of deep learning and inspiring teaching. Those traditions, together with the structures already in place, provide a strong foundation. The work now is to build on them, coordinate our efforts, and create momentum toward the future we want for Falmouth Academy.
Relationships between students and teachers are central to the FA experience. What role do those relationships play in a great education? They are central to everything we do. Teachers create a world of learning in their classrooms, but the relationships they build with students are what allow that learning to deepen. When students know that their teachers know them, challenge them, and care about their growth, they are more willing to take intellectual risks, ask difficult questions, and stretch themselves. At a school of Falmouth Academy’s size, those relationships extend beyond a single classroom or school year. That continuity is an important part of what makes the educational experience here so distinctive and powerful.
You’re arriving at an important moment in FA’s history, with its 50th anniversary approaching and work underway on five-day boarding. What excites you about where the school is right now? Even at a glance, this is an exciting moment for Falmouth Academy. A 50th anniversary is a significant milestone, and plans are already underway for a year of celebration that will bring generations of students, families, faculty, alumni, and friends back together. At the same time, the Board is preparing to begin work on a new strategic plan following the completion of our NEASC
Learning in Action From the landscapes of Thailand to the art of poetry, the wonders of birding, and the celebration of Wampanoag heritage, explore the stories and perspectives that enrich life at Falmouth Academy.
accreditation process this fall. The opportunity to think carefully about the school’s near future while keeping a longer-term vision in mind is exciting. Five-day boarding is part of that thinking. With fewer schoolage children in our immediate market, the program creates an opportunity to introduce Falmouth Academy to students who live beyond a daily commuting distance. Our task now is to build the program thoughtfully and in a way that adds depth to the student body and strengthens the school. Done well, it can give FA tremendous momentum as it enters its next 50 years.
As you think about the next two years, what are your priorities for Falmouth Academy?
My first priority is to understand the school: what it does particularly well, what its community values most, and where there are opportunities to become stronger. From there, the work is to support and enhance those core strengths as we simultaneously ensure alignment with our market. The student experience is naturally at the center of this work. But a strong student experience depends upon the people who make up the school: faculty and staff, trustees, parents and families, alumni, former faculty and families, and the many friends of Falmouth Academy. So community involvement must be our habit. From there, we can look carefully at our programs and our campus and consider how each can best support the school we want to be. All of those pieces have to work together if we are to guide Falmouth Academy forward in ways that are meaningful, positive, and lasting. Left: Steve Lisk greets students Elijah Coughlin ’29, Finley Muric ’28, and Gabriel Coughlin ’27 on the first day of school. Above: Steve stands with Bradley Forcier ’27 during a recent All-School Meeting, where Bradley learned he scored among the top 1% of PSAT test takers in Massachusetts.
the GAM 2026
11
CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
Bridging Two Worlds
Reflections on our Thailand Journey For Pusit Atthaoraek, this year’s senior trip to Thailand was a meaningful homecoming. A beloved member of Falmouth Academy’s Buildings and Grounds team, Pusit lived in Thailand until he was 32—and has now spent an equal number of years in the United States. Over March break, he returned alongside his wife, Oy, two FA colleagues, and 15 members of the senior class, offering students something especially rare: the opportunity to experience a country through the eyes of someone in their own school community who knows it as home. We spoke with Pusit about the journey, sharing his culture with FA students, and what it meant to return to Thailand with them.
What was your goal for students going into the trip?
While my colleagues Britta and Jesse may have had their own objectives, my personal goal was to help students build global confidence. I wanted them to move beyond being mere tourists. By navigating a country so rich in history, Buddhism, and the arts, I hoped they would gain a deeper perspective on the world. A major part of this was the exchange with local Thai high school students—bridging the gap between cultures through shared conversation.
What surprised students most once you were there?
They all arrived knowing pad thai and mango sticky rice, but they were quickly surprised by the authenticity and variety of real Thai cuisine. The colors, textures, and spices of street food are a world away from what they see in restaurants back home. That said, even with all that culinary wonder, I think they were most surprised by their own cravings—if given the choice, many of them would still run straight to a Burger King the moment they saw one!
Did you have a favorite moment?
My absolute favorite moment took place at a temple in Ayutthaya. I watched four of our female students approach the Viharn entirely on their own. Without a word of instruction, they quietly removed their shoes and entered with such grace. Seeing them kneel before the Great Buddha, palms pressed together in prayer, was the most beautiful thing I witnessed all trip. At that moment, they weren’t just “cool high schoolers” anymore; they were showing true reverence. It was equally wonderful to see those same students shed their shells and become like children again while feeding and bathing the elephants.
What will stay with them long after the trip?
The elephants, without a doubt. To be in the presence of such massive, intelligent, and gentle creatures is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The memory of playing with them and bathing them in the water will be a story they tell for the rest of their lives.
What did you learn about our students through this experience? I learned that our students possess a beautiful cultural humility. They were incredibly eager to learn and try new things. 12
the GAM 2026
I was impressed by their open-mindedness and the genuine respect they showed for a lifestyle, language, and culture so different from their own.
What did it mean to you, on a personal level, to share Thailand with them? As a Thai person, it was a moment of immense pride. Seeing our students show such deep respect at the temple in Ayutthaya moved me to tears. It felt as though the bridge I tried to build between my heritage and their world was finally complete. Sharing the vibrant “Walking Street” life and our spiritual traditions allowed me to see my own home through their appreciative eyes, making me love my country even more. Top: Pusit sits at the bow of a boat in Thailand after an excursion on an island. Bottom: The entire group poses in front of a temple in Chiang Mai.
Finding the Writer Within Linda Maria Steele’s residency invites students to explore poetry across disciplines At the end of March, Falmouth Academy welcomed Linda Maria Steele as this year’s poet-in-residence, building on the creative momentum of last year’s program with photographer Paul Rifkin. Over five days, Steele worked with students across English, history, studio art, and electives, bringing poetry into conversation with the broader academic experience. A published poet, adjunct professor at Bridgewater State University, and contributor to Edible Cape Cod and Falmouth Magazine, Steele arrived with a clear intention: to help students see poetry not as something distant or intimidating, but as something immediate, human, and within reach. Steele’s residency moved across disciplines and classrooms. She joined discussions, led writing exercises, accompanied classes on field trips, and encouraged students to experiment with language and form. For Steele, the experience was also an opportunity to grow as an educator. “I’ve taught at the college level for years, but I had very little experience with this age group,” she said. “It felt like a good opportunity to try something new and different.” She found a community ready to meet that challenge. “I often feel shy in new environments, but I found Falmouth Academy to be incredibly welcoming,” Steele said. “It’s a closeknit, connected, and engaged community.” In the classroom, Steele emphasized that poetry does not require a particular kind of person or personality. Rather than focusing on performance or perfection, she offered students lowpressure ways to begin. “There’s this myth that only certain people are ‘writers,’” she said. “But as human beings, we’re all telling stories all the time.” Her approach was deliberately inclusive. Students could begin with something as simple as a list of words, follow an unexpected idea, or choose not to share their work aloud. The goal was to create space for curiosity and experimentation. “There is no need to perform,” Steele told students. “The goal is just to begin—and then follow where it leads.”
By the end of the week, students were sharing original work in classes and at All-School Meeting, with some reading aloud for the first time. “It was incredible to witness the poems students created,” Steele said. “They were thoughtful, creative, and often unexpected in their use of language and detail.” The exchange also energized Steele’s own creative and teaching practice. Returning to her classes at Bridgewater State, she said she felt “a renewed passion for collaboration and creativity.” For Falmouth Academy, the artist-in-residence program is ultimately about more than exposure to the arts. Working artists offer students a tangible example of what a creative life can look like and how creativity can complement rigorous academic work. “Working artists offer a glimpse of what is possible,” Steele said. “They show that creativity isn’t reserved for someone else— that it’s something we can all develop through practice, courage, and a willingness to try.” The residency also extends beyond the week itself. Students are invited to submit their work to the Katharine Lee Bates Poetry Contest, where one student, Josephine Gautier ’30, received a first-place award for her work. For Steele, the lasting impression was both personal and collective: “I’ll take away the welcoming feeling of the community,” she said, “along with my own courage to have tried something new.” And perhaps the simplest takeaway is the one she hopes students carry forward: “That writing and reading poetry is accessible to them. That it can be meaningful—and even fun.” Above left: Linda accompanies photography students on a field trip to the Shining Sea Bikeway. Above right: Linda stands with Prem Connor ’30 as he reads a poem he wrote aloud at All-School Meeting.
the GAM 2026
13
CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
For the Birds A fascination with birds began in fifth grade for Brearley Ward ’30, when he downloaded the Merlin Bird ID app and discovered just how much was happening in the trees and skies around him. “I was in awe of how diverse just my local birds were,” he said. Soon, he was identifying species by their calls and researching birds from other parts of the world. Over time, his interest has evolved from simply adding species to a checklist to observing how birds behave. “Even the most common birds always interest me,” he said. Among his favorites are nuthatches and eider ducks. At Falmouth Academy, that enthusiasm has found an audience through Brearley’s Birding Mondays (aka Some-Days!), his recurring appearances at All-School Meeting. The feature began when teacher Mike Deasy ’10 and school counselor Jennifer Chamberlain approached him about presenting a bird-focused successor to a previous ASM feature. For Brearley, the best part has been watching his own interest become something shared. “I love being able to share my passion with people that might not know as much or haven’t really been appreciating birds yet,” he said. Classmates now regularly seek him out to report sightings or talk about something bird-related. “I think it is spectacular that people are actually engaging with the thing I love!” This summer, Brearley took that passion beyond Cape Cod after receiving a full-tuition scholarship from the Cape Cod Bird Club to attend Mountains to Sea Birding for Teens at Hog Island in Maine. Spending a week among other young birders was a rarity for Brearley, who said he had never really been around birders his own age. A highlight came offshore, when he spotted his first pelagic birds: a Manx Shearwater and Wilson’s Storm-Petrel. But the experience also reinforced something larger that years of birding have taught him: birds are remarkably adaptable and can be found nearly everywhere. His advice for would-be birders is simple: start close to home. Learn the common birds. Put up a feeder. Watch what happens. After all, as Brearley puts it, “Birds are everywhere!”
14
the GAM 2026
Carrying Wampanoag Traditions Forward When Weetamo Pocknett ’31 heard her name announced as Little Miss Wampanoag this summer, her first reaction was disbelief. “I was in total shock,” she recalled. “I couldn’t believe it. A wave of emotion hit me and I could feel the tears right away.” The title is awarded each year following a competitive selection process in which contestants answer questions and are interviewed by a panel. The Tribe, along with the current princess, helps select the next Little Miss Wampanoag, who represents the community through volunteer work, public events and conversations with community members. For Weetamo, the role is also an opportunity to share a culture that has been central to her life since childhood. She has grown up attending Powwows and participating in Wampanoag traditions. Her family founded the Red Hawk Singers and drum group, and Weetamo has been dancing at Powwows since she could walk. Her mother made her first regalia. Today, she is a fancy dancer, a tradition she describes as both deeply personal and rich in meaning. “The dance resembles a butterfly emerging from its cocoon and symbolizes transformation, growth, strength and beauty,” she said. “When I dance, I feel proud to express myself while honoring my culture and traditions.” Those traditions are woven into some of Weetamo’s earliest memories. She has spent years traveling the Powwow trail, surrounded by songs, dances, family and community. Rather than pointing to a single formative moment, she sees those experiences collectively as part of what shaped her. “I love learning about my culture from others, especially our elders, and learning the ways and traditions of our people,” she said. “I also love expressing my culture through dance.” The annual Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow holds particular meaning for Weetamo. It is a time, she said, for people to come together to celebrate Wampanoag culture while honoring ancestors and ensuring that traditions, songs and dances are carried forward to future generations. That connection between past and present is also something she hopes to communicate during her time as Little Miss Wampanoag. “I would like people outside of our Tribe to know about our history and that our Wampanoag culture and traditions remain strong, meaningful and an important part of who we are today,” she said. Weetamo was drawn to the title in part because of the opportunity it gives her to travel, share those traditions and bring greater awareness to Native American history and culture. She also understands that representing her community comes with responsibility: volunteering, participating in events and serving as a positive role model.
Weetamo Pocknett ’31 received the title of Little Miss Wampanoag at the 105th annual Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow.
But some of what the role represents is harder to put into words. For Weetamo, entering the Powwow circle connects her not only to the community around her, but to generations before her. “Being in the Powwow circle is a form of healing medicine for me,” she said. “I can feel the support and presence of the spirits around me. It’s indescribable.” the GAM 2026
15
CENTERPIECE
n w o n K The Writing Tradition That Defines a Falmouth Academy Graduation By Patrick Flanary
16
the GAM 2026
Graduation is no typical ceremony at Falmouth Academy. For starters, every senior speaks before they get their diploma. For more than 30 years, families have listened as graduates offer heartfelt remarks about their classmates. While seniors study for countless tests, they also spend that final, crucial year studying each other. At commencement, those careful observations are shared aloud, giving each graduate the rare opportunity to hear themselves described through a peer’s eyes. The formula has always been simple yet powerful: Everyone speaks, and everyone is celebrated. This senior English tradition—known as the Peer References— assigns students to do something adults rarely ask of teenagers: Take time to discover and get to the heart of a classmate’s character. One by one, this year’s 44 graduates stood as their references were read aloud. Lynn Jazo ’26 listened as Ivy Homa ’26 honored their friendship with these words: “Lynn’s explorative soul has continued to shine its rays as I have gotten to know them better,” Homa told the graduates and their families from the stage. “They are the energy I need on mornings when I drag my feet through the ground, the familiar face that is steadfast and reliable.”
k Pil ’26 Left: Maveric
ie Chang smiling Gen eaks about a
’26. Above:
Lynn Jazo
er reference ’26 reads a pe
6.
ise Casso ’2
in honor of El
sp
s r e e P r i e h T by While such public praise brought “some embarrassment,” Jazo admits “it also made me really happy to hear what Ivy had to say.” The writing process begins in the spring of junior year, with every student jotting down a few sentences about every classmate. When they return as seniors, those early observations become the foundation for the peer references they will spend the fall drafting, revising, and revising again. While the assignment emphasizes empathy through thoughtful observation, it also strengthens the writing and public speaking craft that defines FA’s English curriculum. “There’s something really valuable about asking a teenager to pay close attention to another person; not to evaluate them, but to simply understand them,” said senior English teacher Eleanor Clark. “They have to notice the small things: how someone contributes in class, how they treat other people, how they’ve changed. I think they learn that knowing someone well requires attention, and that being able to articulate what you value in another person is a skill in itself.” “It’s not about thinking in terms of hyperbole or generalities, but about getting really specific,” Clark said. “These blurbs serve the purpose of reminding students of how much they have changed and how far they have come.”
Clark matches up the seniors based on everyone’s comfort level, and tries to avoid pairing best friends. She then offers prompts meant to provoke and jump-start deeper conversations: What has your classmate contributed to our community? What qualities will they carry into the world? This largest class in FA history met as incoming seventh graders in 2020, during the early, volatile days of the Covid pandemic. Their first classrooms were outdoors, marking a turbulent moment that shaped their early growth at FA in unexpected ways, as Jazo describes in a reference for Elise Casso. If I were to explain Elise in one word, I would have to choose ‘compassionate,’ because she is big-hearted and makes me want to be a better person. ... I remember when we first came to FA during Covid. ... And perhaps because of the fact we spent a lot of time together, or maybe it was because we were wearing masks, people used to switch us up. It got to the point where I used to respond to someone calling Elise’s name. Even so, despite that weird moment in our lives, she always was able to bring a smile to my face, even if no one could see it.
the GAM 2026
17
CENTERPIECE
Members of the Class of 2026 gather at a classmate’s house during Peer Reference Day.
Learning to see one another Every October—before the first college admissions deadline— the seniors gather at a classmate’s home for donuts and muffins. The potluck brunch marks Peer Reference Day. By then, the references are complete. Seniors read their finished pieces aloud to one another, hearing for the first time the words their classmates have written about them. Months later, at graduation, they return to those references, reading a portion of each one for all to hear. It may seem easy to write about someone you’ve known for most of your life. But Jazo, who met Casso in third grade, struggled with the blank page at first. “It was actually really hilarious,” Jazo said. “I was like, ‘I’ve got this; I’ve known her for years.’ And then I didn’t know what to write about.” For Jazo and many of their classmates, the assignment gradually unfolds to reveal a truth: Describing another person’s essential traits in a way that lets others really see them is hard. So how do teenagers learn to articulate the best in one another? By looking past the obvious traits, as Matthew Brown achieves in his reference for Cian Davis. When I first met Cian in seventh grade, I was unsure how to pronounce his name and frankly too scared to approach him due to fear of butchering it. … Over time, as our many [outdoor] adventures brought me closer to Cian, I came to see Cian for who he really is: a deeply thoughtful person and a generous friend.
‘It’s about the culture of the school’ The FA tradition of peer references dates to 1989, when class advisor Julia Taylor learned of Wesleyan University’s unusual 18
the GAM 2026
application requirement at that time. By the mid-1990s, English teachers Janet Kearsley and Lalise Melillo fully instituted the concept, which has become a treasured FA touchstone ever since. “The timing of the project has taken on another significance,” Clark said. “I also think that the peer reference project invites seniors, in particular, to take a little break from thinking about themselves,” she said. “They are, by necessity, deep in the college application process, which is full of self-examination. It can be refreshing to look carefully at someone else, and ultimately that act of generosity can remind them to be generous with themselves.” Peer references are sent along with college applications, offering admissions teams an unusually personal glimpse of students through the eyes of a classmate. But although these insights may give admissions readers a fuller picture of a candidate, “they’re not really about the college process; they’re about the culture of the school,” said Ruth Slocum, Director of College Counseling. “There are not a lot of schools where it would work as well as it works here, because we’re a community that truly knows each other.” By graduation, every member of the class has done both things: looked closely enough at another person to put their character into words, and stood before their community while someone did the same for them. It is a writing assignment, but after more than three decades at Falmouth Academy, Peer References have become something larger: a final expression of what it means to spend your school years in a place where people know you well. “This project helped bond us all closer together,” said Jazo, who is studying art at Maine College of Art & Design this fall. “I feel connected to everyone.”
Looking back: 2016 and 2015 In writing a peer review • hook the reader • use framing devices • embrace metaphor • offer us pictures to see • balance showing with telling • feel free to be a little chatty, especially with transitions • vary sentence structure and length • sometimes throw in bits of quotes • show restraint, alluding to something painful, for instance, without wallowing in it • convey warmth
Class of 2026 College Matriculation Amherst College Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Brown University (2) Bryant University Butler University Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Carnegie Mellon University
Clemson University Colby College (2) College of the Holy Cross Connecticut College Duke University Emory University Florida Atlantic University Fordham University Maine College of Art & Design
New York University Penn State University Pomona College Roger Williams University Sacred Heart University Saint Michael’s College Tufts University (2) UMass Amherst (2) UMass Lowell
University of Colorado Boulder University of Richmond University of San Diego University of Stirling University of Tampa (2) University of Toronto (2) University of Vermont (2) Wentworth Institute of Technology Wesleyan University the GAM 2026
19
MARINER STARS
A Championship Year for the Mariners
From an undefeated fall on the soccer field to a division tennis title in the spring, the 2025–26 school year was marked by success across Falmouth Academy athletics. The Middle School Boys Soccer team started the run in the fall, completing an undefeated season with a Super Six Championship victory over Lighthouse Charter School. Several members of that squad carried their winning ways directly into winter, when the Middle School Boys Basketball team also went undefeated and captured the Super Six Championship. For Coach Andy Hamilton, who worked with many of the same athletes across both seasons, the records were only part of what made the year memorable. “Winning the basketball championship and going undefeated this season felt like an added bonus to having had the opportunity to coach this group of young student-athletes,” Hamilton said. “We had a great mix of younger and older players who learned to support each other both in practice and during games.” Hamilton particularly remembers older players coming off the bench to celebrate a younger teammate’s basket or defensive play. That camaraderie, he said, helped create “a cohesive work ethic that carried into both seasons.” 20
the GAM 2026
The winning continued at the varsity level. Girls Varsity Basketball finished 14–5 overall and captured the Cape & Islands
League Lighthouse Division title with a perfect 10–0 league record. Coach Jesse Brown said the team entered the season with a clear goal: “To win the league and beat Nantucket, who we lost twice to in the previous season.” They checked off one of those goals in their season opener with a win over Nantucket, then kept building. “Throughout the year the team never gave up, worked hard each day, and stuck together to keep growing as a team,” Brown said. Cross Country brought its own standout season. Elise Casso ’26 capped her FA running career with another trip to the state championships, the fifth of her high school career, after placing third at the MIAA Division 2C sectional meet. A Boston Herald All-Scholastic, Casso set personal records of 18:22 in the crosscountry 5K and 4:59 in the mile, the latter coming in a victory at the 2025 Tommy Cochary High School Mile. Casso is now continuing her running career at Bowdoin College, where she has already become part of the Polar Bears’ varsity lineup. In Bowdoin’s 2026 season opener, she finished seventh overall and was the team’s fifth scorer as the women won the nine-team Regional Preview; most recently, she was among
Celebrating Athletic Excellence at Falmouth Academy
Clockwise from left: The Girls Varsity Basketball team celebrates a win over Monomoy; Elise Casso ’26 checks the distance to the following competitor; Middle school soccer (left to right, top): Coach Andy Hamilton, Ty Wallingford ’31, Luca Mason ’31, Declan Welch ’31, Jackson Murchison ’30, Tyler Holmes ’30, James Vincent ’30, Jack Lerner ’30, David Soule ’30, Jackson Keith ’30, Coach Tim Seston, (bottom) Harry Field ’31, Jay Zhang ’31, CJ Greene Jr ’31, Kai Yung ’31, Oliver Dube ’30, Wesley Greendeer ’30, Cruz Cancellare ’31, Lochlan Tyrell-Evans ’30, Elliot Klein ’31; Middle school basketball (left to right, top): Coach Andy Hamilton, Jack Lerner ’30, Jackson Murchison ’30, Dean Kalkanis ’30, Oliver Dube ’30, Cruz Cancellare ’31, James Vincent ’30, Luca Mason ’31, Coach Bill Andrade, (bottom) Brogan Leary ’31, Harry Field ’31, Wesley Greendeer ’30, Jackson Keith ’30, Matthew Forcier ’31, Jay Zhang ’31, Declan Welch ’31; Varsity Girls Basketball (left to right, top): Coach Mike Deasy ’10, Elyse Sharpe ’27, Amelia Russell-Schaeffer ’26, Sylvie Parsons ’28, Nina McKim-Kight ’26, Sophie McSherry ’27, Coach Jesse Brown, (bottom) Sophie Holmes ’27, Mira Davis ’27, Faye McGuire ’26, Willow Lajoie ’26, Liv Tanionos ’28; Varsity tennis (left to right, top): Nait Gartner ’26, Jay Zhang ’31, Coach Dana Miskell, Ezra Ackerman ’26, Genie Chang ’26, (bottom) Jackson Keith ’30, Matthew Kellogg ’26, Luke Okoshi-Michel ’26, Erik Gulmann ’26, James Riddiford ’26, Fletcher Parsons ’26.
Bowdoin’s top seven at the Maine State Championship. In the spring, Boys Varsity Tennis added another title, finishing the 2026 season as co-champions of the Cape & Islands League Lighthouse Division with a 9–1 league record and 12–2 overall finish. Coach Dana Miskell credited the team’s depth, with its top eight players closely matched in ability. That balance helped first and second doubles go undefeated, while third singles recorded just one loss. A season highlight came in a 3–2 victory over Cape Cod Academy, avenging an earlier loss by the same score. “Genie Chang ’26 at third singles and Matt Kellogg ’26 and Nait Gartner ’26 in first doubles had the deciding victories,” Miskell said, “cheered on by an enthusiastic home crowd.” The championships made for an exceptional year, but the seasons also offered a glimpse of what may be ahead. Hamilton pointed in particular to the young athletes who contributed to the middle school teams and will continue moving through FA’s athletic program. “They’ve certainly learned how to win,” he said. “I’m especially excited about the strong group of seventh graders returning next year. FA should have some very competitive high school athletes in the years ahead.” the GAM 2026
21
PEOPLEOF OFFA FA PEOPLE
Falmouth Academy welcomes several new faculty and staff members this year, along with returning colleagues taking on new roles. Their backgrounds span independent schools, higher education, counseling, scientific research, athletics, music, and the arts, bringing new experience and perspectives to classrooms and programs across campus. Steve Lisk | Interim Head of School Steve Lisk joins Falmouth Academy with more than three decades of experience in independent school education, including 14 years as Head of Lancaster Country Day School in Pennsylvania. Most recently, he served as Interim Head at The O’Neal School in North Carolina and, prior to that, The Shipley School in Pennsylvania. Steve earned his M.A. in History from North Carolina State University and his B.A. in Political Science from UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar. He also holds certificates from the National Association of Independent Schools and Duke University. Kara Ashley | Director of Enrollment Management and Strategic Initiatives Kara Ashley joins FA from Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, Connecticut, where she served as Director of Enrollment. In her new role at Falmouth Academy, Kara will lead enrollment management while also helping advance strategic initiatives across the school. Kara is nearing completion of a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership at Northeastern University, and holds a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a master’s degree in education from Lesley University. 22
the GAM 2026
Above (left to right): Nicky Miller, Kara Ashley, Steve Lisk, Tom Whitehill, Liz Vollinger, Leslie Roselli, Helen Malinowski ’99, Katrina Malakhoff, Michael Polebaum (not pictured: Tim Seston)
Helen Malinowski ’99 | Director of Counseling and Student Well-Being For Helen Malinowski, joining the FA community is also a homecoming: she is a Falmouth Academy alumna. Helen brings extensive experience as a clinical director, program director, and founder of a community-focused group practice. A Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, she earned her Master of Social Work from Boston University. As Director of Counseling and Student Well-Being, Helen will support the social and emotional well-being of FA students while working closely with families, faculty, and staff. Katrina Malakhoff | Science Faculty A familiar face is joining the science department full time this year. Katrina Malakhoff served as a long-term substitute at FA last year and now joins the faculty permanently. Before coming to Falmouth Academy, Katrina worked as a Graduate Student Researcher with the Santa Barbara Coastal Long-Term Ecological Research Project. She holds a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Nicky Miller | Strings Instructor Nicky Miller joins FA as our new Strings Instructor. She comes to us from Washashore Music on the Lower Cape, where she teaches private lessons to musicians ranging from age 5 through adulthood. Before returning to music education, Nicky worked at the Seaside School in St. Augustine, Florida. She earned her B.S. in Communication Disorders from the University of New Hampshire.
Michael Polebaum | Academic Dean Michael Polebaum joins FA after more than a decade at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham. Most recently Director of Assembly Programming, Michael’s roles at Nobles also included History Core Leader, history teacher, EXCEL trip leader, advisor, and mentor. Michael earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and his B.A. in Political Science from Middlebury College. Leslie Roselli | Music Faculty Leslie Roselli brings more than 40 years of experience as a music educator, choral director, and organist. She spent 30 years teaching vocal music to students from Pre-K through 12th grade and holds a B.S. in Music Education from the Crane School of Music and an M.A. in Music Education from The College of Saint Rose. Since moving to Cape Cod in 2020, Leslie has been active with the Chatham Chorale as a singer, substitute accompanist and director, board member, and chair of its Scholarship Committee. She also serves as a substitute organist for the Congregational Churches of Chatham and South Dennis and is a member of the Chatham Music Club. Tim Seston | Athletic Director and Summer Camp Director Tim Seston joined Falmouth Academy last year as a member of the science faculty and takes on two new leadership roles this year as Athletic Director and FA Summer Camp Director.
While he is stepping away from the science department, students will still see Tim in the classroom, where he will teach two electives. Liz Vollinger | Associate Director of Admission Liz Vollinger joins FA after seven years at Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield, where she most recently served as Senior Associate Director of Enrollment. During her time there, she held several roles across enrollment and admissions, served as a member of the residential faculty, and directed theater productions. That combination of enrollment experience and direct involvement in student life gives Liz a particularly valuable perspective as she introduces prospective students and families to the Falmouth Academy experience. Tom Whitehill | Ceramics Instructor Tom Whitehill teaches ceramics and manages Falmouth Academy’s pottery studio. His varied professional and teaching background includes outdoor education and computer science engineering, and he holds degrees in English and Computer Engineering from the University of Connecticut. Tom is drawn to ceramics for its combination of technical challenge and creative expression, and he enjoys helping students discover their own approach to the craft. Outside of school, he skippers a cruising sailboat, mountain bikes, and enjoys adventures on land and sea with his wife and four children.
FA Loses Two Giants We are very sad to announce the passing of Virginia (Ginny) Gregg and Elizabeth (Betsy) Heald, two stalwart Trustees Emeritae. Ginny began as a trustee in 1982 and her relationship with the school spanned more than four decades. She helped guide and support FA through its formative years and remained a valued member of the community throughout her life. Two of her three sons, Tim ’85 and Ben ’90, attended Falmouth Academy. Throughout her relationship with the school, Ginny devoted herself to creating its character and facilitating its pioneer flavor, including making curtains for the new campus in Falmouth and creating beautiful flower arrangements for the lobby for both special occasions and “just because” days.
Betsy became a trustee in 1995 after co-chairing FA’s Kitchen and Garden Tour fundraiser with fellow trustee Susan Morse. Her devotion to the school showed itself in many ways including serving as the Chair of the Development Committee. She also served as the first female President of the Winsor School Board of Trustees and co-founded the Gordon T. Heald ALS Fund, which grew into Compassionate Care ALS, an organization that today serves thousands of patients and caregiver around the world. Betsy also funded the Gordon T. Heald Music Room at Falmouth Academy based on her husband’s shared love of music. We will miss these women who were two giants on whose shoulders we stand.
the GAM 2026
23
PEOPLE OF FA
A Fond Farewell At Recognition Day, Falmouth Academy said goodbye to three longtime members of the faculty and staff whose combined decades of service have helped shape the school in countless ways. Petra Ehrenbrink, Rob Wells, and Gundi Eder each leave behind a legacy built not only through the roles they held, but through the students they taught, colleagues they supported, and traditions they helped carry forward. Members of the Student Council paid tribute to each of these beloved faculty members, reflecting on their lasting contributions to the FA community.
Dr. Ehrenbrink
Mr. Wells
Frau Eder
For more than two decades, Dr. Ehrenbrink has been an integral part of the Falmouth Academy community. She began her FA career teaching German, helping establish the school as a German Center of Excellence, before stepping into the role of Academic Dean eight years ago. Since then, she has been a steady force behind the scenes, keeping the many moving pieces of academic life organized and on track. Known for her extraordinary work ethic, attention to detail, and determination—some might even say she is a force to be reckoned with—Dr. Ehrenbrink has contributed to FA in ways both highly visible and largely unseen. Her dedication to the school and its students has been deeply valued, and she leaves very big shoes to fill.
Over the course of 40 years at Falmouth Academy, Mr. Wells has worn almost every hat imaginable: Dean of Students, Athletic Director, basketball coach, teacher, advisor, and Interim Head of School, among them. Across those roles, his influence has extended far beyond any single title. He has taught, coached, advised, encouraged, and inspired generations of students while helping shape the character and culture of Falmouth Academy itself. After four decades of service to the school, his impact can be found in countless students, colleagues, teams, classrooms, and traditions. His presence will be greatly missed as he begins a well-earned retirement.
Since joining Falmouth Academy in 2007, Frau Eder has spent 19 years building, strengthening, and elevating the school’s German program while inspiring generations of students with her warmth, generosity, and passion for teaching. Her influence can be seen not only in the classroom but in the traditions and experiences she has created for her students—from welcoming new German students with beloved Schultüten to leading the Heidelberg exchange since 2008. Through those experiences, she has helped students discover a language, a culture, and a world beyond their own. Her empathy, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to her students have left a lasting mark on the FA community, and her legacy will continue long after her retirement.
Sophie Gaughan ’26 with Petra Ehrenbrink and Gundi Eder, and Genie Chang ’26 with Rob Wells.
24
the GAM 2026
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Celebrating Grandparents & Friends Day On October 21, 1989 Falmouth Academy held its first Grandparents Day in Falmouth to introduce extended family members to our new campus. Forty attended from as far away as Pennsylvania and California. Most arrived carrying their own folding chair. One visitor wrote in a thank you note to Headmaster Bruce Buxton, “We have been aware of our grandson’s enthusiasm and allegiance to Falmouth Academy and can fully understand having been exposed to the environment!” In the 37 years since, this beloved event has grown to include, at its highest, 150 guests in our building. Students accompany their guests to All-School Meeting, where they introduce them to the whole school community. They attend classes and enjoy lunch together. Guests have grown to include not just grandparents but other relatives, adult friends, and even siblings, and it is now called Grandparents & Friends Day. These photos from our archives encapsulate the delight of our guests being introduced to the Falmouth Academy experience.
Clockwise from top: At Grandparents Day in 1989, students Libby Tyndale ’92 (second from left), Jeff Moon ’92 (second from right), and Greg Moon ’94 (right end) with their guests; The Ledwell clan assembled for Grandparents Day, including Lois, Gia ’17 and FA English teacher and Theater Director Liz; Charlie Kleindinst ’19 (far right) and his guests debate a theory with Del Thieler ’19 (third from left) and their guest; even our guests ask classroom questions; in science class, Cassidy Reves-Sohn ’14 works with her grandmother Diana Reves, who traveled from California; Betsy (Wadman) Colvin ’13 and her grandmother Mary “Mimi” Donnelly work on project research.
the GAM 2026
25
ALUMNI NEWS
1980s Love travelling but hate the hassle of planning? Check out TripSquee™, an app created by Raymond Bartlett ’88, a long-time travel writer and author of several books. The app combines everything Ray has learned about trip planning during his hundreds of journeys through some of the world’s most incredible countries, the adventures and misadventures. Check it out next time you plan your journey. Ray’s first solo journey was jumping a freight train, hobo style, from Denver, CO, to Lincoln, NE. Even then, every detail was accounted for, from the train timetables to the temperatures to the tricks only hobos and railyard guys know. It was a journey Ray will never forget. “My parents were horrified, but I couldn’t have felt prouder.”
1990s
impact to her own firm, Renew Communications in Denver, CO. She helps organizations align business strategy with meaningful community engagement and partners with nonprofits to strengthen fundraising, partnerships, and missiondriven growth. Jodi specializes in connecting corporations and nonprofits to create collaborative initiatives that drive measurable social impact and stronger communities. Check out her website at www.renewcomms.com.
2000s Veterinarian and former U.S. Marine Darryn Remillard ’00 (D) is running for State Representative in Rockingham District 17, New Hampshire. After advancing in the primary in September, Darryn will run in the state election. We wish Darryn the best of luck. He and his wife Meegan have three children.
After years of working with non-profit organizations, Jodi Kopke ’92 has brought her skills in social
Nat Trask ’03, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Math (MEAM)
at UPENN, and his colleague Douglas Jerolmack, Professor in MEAM, will receive $300,000 over two years for research integrating geophysics and machine learning to better understand planetary surface features. They will collaborate on research that integrates geophysics and machine learning to better understand fracture networks—features found on the surfaces of Earth and other planets. Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Jana Pickart ’05 for being selected to participate in the Institute on Trans Linguistic Research and Publishing at Penn State in May. Her work on “Adult Emergent Multilingual Language Learners’ Racial and Ethnic IdentityMaking in Educational Research” was featured at this five-day institute. Kudos to Paul Heslinga ’07 on being named to the top ten list of Forbes Best-in-State NextGen Wealth Advisors for the state of Massachusetts for the third year in a row.
Out and About Falmouth
Charlotte Van Voorhis ’16 and her friend Tiara stopped by FA to take a look around and visit with teachers. Along the way they saw Doug Jones, Liz Ledwell, Martha Borden, and Eleanor Clark, pictured here. Charlotte discussed plans with Alumni Director Barbara Campbell about the 10th reunion of her class, which will take place Sunday, November 29 at The Mariner House. Congratulations to Charlotte who completed her Master Degree in English from the Bread Loaf School of English this year. She is a Community Engagement Manager for Envision Resilience, advancing innovative planning and design in the face of climate change through student and community partnerships. 26
the GAM 2026
Thank you so much to organizers Dana (Burns) Brandt and Katie Gundersen for putting together a celebration of the Class of 2006 20th anniversary at Aquatic Brewery in Falmouth. Several of their former teachers arrived as did a sibling and friends from the Class of 2000. Left to right back row: Julie Taylor, MaryAnn (Kowalski) Reynolds, Jamie Reynolds, Katie Gundersen, Ruth Slocum, Mia Mitchell, Rob Courson, Peter MacDonald. Front row: Deborah Bradley, Dana (Burns) Brandt, Lalise Melillo, Barbara Campbell, Jenna Cronin, Liz (Munro) Ledwell, Kate (O’Regan) Slater and Talya ten Brink.
We are sad to share that Katie (Lirosi) Jenkins ’08, a nanny and early childhood educator, passed away unexpectedly in December. She is survived by her husband, Stephen; her children, Marlowe and Marshall; her parents, Raymond and Kerrie Lirosi; her brother, RJ Lirosi ’14, and her dog George. A full obituary can be found at www.blanchardfc.com/obituaries/ katherine-jenkins. Three cheers to Mark Sethares ’08 who ran his second Falmouth Road Race just 18 months after having brain surgery to remove a tumor. There was a beautiful article written by Casey McGowan in the Falmouth Enterprise in late August describing his recovery and rehab. In it, Mark had several inspirational quotes. He said, “We don’t get to control the outcomes of our lives; all we can control is our actions and how we show up.” He further concluded, “Even as things go bad, there is always right now; there is always this moment. And we
should be thankful for that opportunity to do our best, show up every day and try to focus on the good.” Bob Schneider ’09, Chief of Staff for Ted Leonsis, owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, is serving as Chair of the sports exhibition at DC Public Library, the largest exhibit in the library’s history. Recently a featured guest on Good Morning Washington, he spoke about the exhibit, entitled Hail to the Fans: The Spirit of DC Sports, which celebrates the stories behind the defining moments and teams in the city’s sports history.
2010s
Congratulations to Thomas Evangelista ’16 on being named to the Wentworth Under 30 list. Thomas and Wentworth classmate John Scarfo co-founded Scrapp after graduating with degrees in Computer Science and a Master’s in Project Management. The app is a platform
dedicated to solving the complex logistical and environmental problems of recycling contamination. Read more about how these alumni are innovating the waste disposal industry and building a more sustainable future at https://bit.ly/3P3swDj. Adam Gaudet ’18 passed the New York State Board of Law Examiners and qualified to practice law with his UBE (Uniform Bar Examination) score. He is an associate at The Carbajal Law Firm, P.C. He also participated in his first marathon, the Marine Marathon in Washington, D.C. Said his mother Lynda, “FA helped lay the foundation for Adam. We appreciate your help along the way.” Best wishes to Charlie ColtSimonds ’16 and his bride Madi Dipman on their September wedding. Some of the attendees pictured here are Falmouth Academy classmates Charlotte Van Voorhis, Kunaal Rajagopal, Greg Pickart and Andrew Pritchard.
San Francisco
Washington D.C.
Bob Schneider ’09 gathered Falmouth Academy alumni in Washington DC for an off-hour tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Pictured here left to right are Hanlon Smith-Dorsey ’99, his son and sister, Jill Pierce ’99, Dana (Burns) Brandt ’06, James Reber ’09, Lizzie (Cookson) Reber ’08, Sam Amazeen ’07, Lily Patterson ’14, Bob Schneider ’09, Abigail Schneider ’13, Norah Schneider ’03, and Teresa Wessling ’93.
Sara Ridgeway ’99 and Alex Lloyd-Evans ’07 joined former Head of School David Perry in San Francisco for a little reunion. Sara is excited to be a student again. She is working towards a Masters in Psychology/Art Therapy. Alex is Director, Revenue Innovation at Sunrun. Sasha Dmochowski Gorrell ’94 missed the picture but was there as well. Sasha is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, with a specific focus in eating disorders. Let’s stay in touch! We are in the process of updating alumni addresses. Please fill out this form to let us know how to best contact you. https://bit.ly/FAAlumniAddressUpdate
the GAM 2026
27
ALUMNI NEWS
From Cape Cod to the Paralympic Ice
Sean O’Neill ’04 (middle) with Candace Teixeira, a teammate from Sean’s home curling club, and FA teacher Doug Jones.
When Sean O’Neill ’04 stepped onto the ice in Cortina, Italy, for his first game as a Paralympian, the significance of the moment arrived all at once. “Nearly indescribable,” O’Neill says. “The moment before our first game when we came out onto the ice, having it fully settle in that this was real, was incredibly moving.” It was an improbable destination for a sport he discovered almost by accident, and remarkably close to where he had gone to school. Sean first tried curling at an open house at the Cape Cod Curling Club, Falmouth Academy’s neighbor on Highfield Drive. He had watched curling in the Olympics and Paralympics but had no idea there was a club on Cape Cod. One visit was enough. “I tried it at the open house and was hooked.” That introduction eventually led to a demanding training schedule. In the months before the Paralympic Games, Sean practiced and competed at the Cape Cod Curling Club while regularly traveling to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada to train with his teammates. He balanced it all with his career as an attorney, two pursuits he sees as more closely related than they might initially appear. “The strategic, analytical part of curling and my day job as an attorney complement each other well,” he says. Curling also brought him back into the orbit of a familiar figure from his FA years: longtime math teacher and coach Doug Jones. The two remained friends after Sean graduated, and Jones was among those who encouraged him to try curling when he returned to Cape Cod. Today, they curl together. “It’s still hard not to call him Mr. Jones,” Sean admits. “I love curling and have gotten a lot out of the sport, but being able to spend time with Doug and share the sport with him has been one 28
the GAM 2026
of, if not the, best parts of curling for me.” His FA connections followed him all the way to Italy. One of his favorite memories from the Games came not during competition, but afterward. Following a win over Korea, he met family and friends, including FA alumnus Matt Waterbury ’04, for lunch in Cortina. It was his only real Italian meal of the trip. As they walked through town, strangers stopped them to congratulate him on the game. The road from Falmouth to Cortina was hardly a conventional one, but Sean sees connections between it and the education he received at FA. He points to years spent playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, on teams that both won and lost, as formative experiences in competition and teamwork. He credits English teachers Monica Hough, Liz Ledwell, Sandy See, Janet Kearsley, and Ruth Slocum with developing the critical-thinking skills he continues to draw upon. More broadly, he remembers FA as a place where ambitious, sometimes unexpected pursuits seemed possible. “I think FA teaches its students that anything is possible, either by teaching that or in how your fellow classmates embody that idea,” he says. His advice to today’s students follows naturally: “Resist the urge to limit what you think is possible and, as long as you are enjoying what you are doing, follow your passions as far as they will take you.” For Sean, they have already taken him from a curling club next door to his former school to the Paralympic ice in Italy. And he isn’t finished. After a summer back on Cape Cod and a return to his law practice, he will begin another four-year cycle, with the goal of earning a place at the 2030 Paralympic Winter Games in France.
Falmouth Academy
Donor Impact Report
2025 – 2026
2026–2027 Board of Trustees CHAIR
Andrew Kingman ’00 VICE CHAIR
Maura Bullock McSherry TREASURER
Mary Harrington SECRETARY
Joan Ogilvy Holden
Kenneth Armstead Benjamin Baum ’99 Emily Birdwhistell ’98 Andy Bowen Megan English Braga Greg Clancy ’97 Ried Heywood Peter Jeffrey Luke McCabe Robert Munier Adam Sholley Mindy Todd Trustees Emeriti
Ben Allen Charles Bardelis Jodee P. Bishop Mardi Bowles Beth Colt Cynthia Feldmann Ronald Garcia Lindsay Hopewood Mark A. Hutker Michael Jones Russ Lemcke Eileen Miskell Susan G. Morse Charles Olson Robert Reynolds Joe W. Russell Jr. Brett Sanidas Laura Ryan Shachoy Richard Sylvia Joseph Valle Keith von der Heydt Interim Head of School
Steve Lisk
Dear Falmouth Academy Alumni, Families, and Friends, Last year, our community once again demonstrated the power of collective generosity, raising $636,792 for the Fund for Falmouth Academy and surpassing $600,000 for the second consecutive year. This remarkable achievement reflects enduring confidence in the school and a shared commitment to the students, faculty, and programs that make an FA education exceptional. The Fund for Falmouth Academy remains the cornerstone of our philanthropic efforts, providing flexible, unrestricted support for day-to-day operations. This year, the annual fund supports roughly 9% of the school’s operating budget, which translates to nearly $4,000 of every student’s learning experience. Your generosity impacts every student, every day, ensuring they are known, challenged, and supported as they discover their interests, develop their talents, and become thoughtful, capable, and engaged citizens. Additionally, the Forward to Fifty campaign is entering an important new phase, with nearly $6 million in gifts and pledges raised toward our $8 million goal. These investments advance three essential priorities: supporting faculty excellence, expanding tuition assistance, and enhancing our facilities. As we approach Falmouth Academy’s 50th anniversary in 2027–2028, we look forward to sharing more about the campaign’s progress and opportunities for our broader community to participate in shaping FA’s future. The following FY26 Donor Impact Report celebrates the collective generosity that makes so much possible at Falmouth Academy. As we launch the 2026–2027 Fund for Falmouth Academy and prepare to celebrate a half-century of teaching and learning, we extend our deepest gratitude for your continued trust, generosity, and partnership. Together, we are honoring FA’s legacy while investing in the generations of Mariners still to come. With sincere appreciation,
Director of Development
Katharine Enos
Every effort was made in this report to accurately recognize each donor’s generosity through June 30, 2026. We appreciate you bringing any errors or omissions to our attention, and apologize in advance for any oversight.
Adam Sholley Development Chair, Board of Trustees
Katharine W. Enos Director of Development
DONOR IMPACT REPORT
2025-2026
IT ALL ADDS UP Summer Benefit Concert
On August 22, 2025 the Ryan Montbleau Band brought an energetic mix of folk, rock, funk, soul, hip-hop, and reggae to Falmouth Academy’s Simon Center for the Arts. With the Hermann Theater sold out and additional floor seating added to meet day-of demand, the annual Summer Benefit Concert netted $15,419 for the Fund for Falmouth Academy—a record for this signature event.
GivingTuesday
The FA community came together on December 2, 2025 to surpass our $30,000 GivingTuesday goal, raising $32,001 from 91 supporters. An anonymous alum added to the momentum with a matching challenge for first-time alumni donors, helping encourage record growth in alumni giving for the year.
falmouthacademy.org/givingtuesday falmouthacademy.org/givingtuesday
FA Giving Day
Our second annual FA Giving Day brought the Mariner community together once again on May 19, 2026 for another record-setting day of generosity. 184 supporters exceeded our goal of 175 and contributed $48,481 to the Fund for Falmouth Academy. A dollar-for-dollar challenge from the Board of Trustees doubled the impact of those gifts, bringing the day’s total impact to nearly $97,000.
PARTY WITH A PURPOSE Annual Benefit Auction
On April 25, 2026 the Simon Center for the Arts was transformed for Havana Nights, Falmouth Academy’s Annual Benefit Auction. Guests gathered for an evening of food, music, student performances, and spirited bidding, while the two-week online auction extended the fun to supporters near and far. Together, our sponsors, donors, bidders, volunteers, and guests contributed nearly $115,000 through the auction, generating $83,680 for the Fund for Falmouth Academy after event expenses. Of note, more than half of that net revenue—$44,470—came through Fund-a-Need, supporting the Arts Across the Curriculum and ensuring that the arts remain an integral part of the FA experience.
the GAM 2026
31
DONOR IMPACT REPORT
Thank You
Every gift reflects a commitment to the people, programs, and possibilities that define Falmouth Academy. Together, our community makes an extraordinary education possible.
32
the GAM 2026
REPORT ON PHILANTHROPY
2025-2026
Gifts made between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026
This list reflects cumulative 2025–2026 giving, including annual gifts to the Fund for Falmouth Academy, pledge payments to the “Forward to Fifty” campaign, gifts to endowed funds, and other restricted gifts. An asterisk (*) marks members of the Navigator Society, honoring 10+ years of consecutive giving, and appears only with the first listing of a donor’s name.
Principal Donors Polaris Society ($100,000+)
The Polaris Society honors visionary donors whose transformative gifts illuminate Falmouth Academy’s future and secure its legacy. Anonymous Hermann Foundation Inc.
Major Donors Navigator Society ($50,000 - $99,999)
The Navigator Society recognizes benefactors whose extraordinary generosity guides Falmouth Academy’s journey and charts a bold course forward. Anonymous Nancy Foss Heath and Richard B. Heath Educational, Cultural, and Environmental Foundation Peter and Jeannine Jeffrey Shirley H. Nichols Mary Revelle Paci
Compass Club ($25,000 - $49,999)
The Compass Club celebrates distinguished partners whose leadership gifts keep Falmouth Academy on course to achieve its mission. R. K. Mellon Family Foundation* Bonnie Ward Simon*
Leadership Donors Sextant Club ($10,000 - $24,999)
The Sextant Club honors major donors whose support sharpens Falmouth Academy’s focus and directs its path with confidence. Rick and Christine Berk Timothy Bowen Mardi and Frank Bowles* Beth Colt and P. K. Simonds* Victoria Lowell* Pia and Benjamin Mezzacappa Dan and Mareana (Ricci ’99) Nightingale* June and David Rickard* Miyoko Sato ’86* Megan Starr ’06*
Rudder Club ($5,000 - $9,999)
The Rudder Club recognizes steadfast supporters whose generosity allows Falmouth Academy to operate with agility and change course to pursue emerging opportunities. Anonymous Robert and Alison Ament Endowed Fund for Science Andy Bowen and Linda Beetlestone* Ivor Cornman and Margaret E. Cornman Fund* John K. & Thirza F. Davenport Foundation Cynthia Feldmann and Tom DeMello* Sheila and Mike Giancola* Thomas J. Hallahan* Pamela Clapp Hinkle and Greg Hinkle* Joan Ogilvy Holden and John Holden* Amy and Andrew Kingman ’00* Theresa Kopp ’86 Maura Bullock McSherry and John McSherry Katarina Scamborova ’98 and Michael Zeltkevic* Adam Sholley and Joan Moynagh
Binnacle Club ($1,000 - $4,999) The Binnacle Club celebrates visionary donors whose gifts help steer Falmouth Academy toward a bright and bold future.
Anonymous (2) Ben and Julie Allen* David and Marilyn Coughlin Sam Amazeen ’07 and Megan Chin* Alison Ament and Robert Ament* David and Oksana Aubrey Ben Baum ’99 and Dave Brown* Eryn (Ament ’91) and Michael Bingle* Emily Birdwhistell ’98* Jodee P. Bishop and James C. Reber** Nancy Bisienere Brabson Family Foundation Albert and Deborah Bradley* Megan English Braga and Robert Kubitschek Peter and Melissa Brown* Scott Brown ’89 and Melissa Hofer* Bruce and Patrice Buxton* David and Kathy Bryson Cape Cod Five Cataumet Boats, Inc. Cazeault Roofing & Siding Victoria and Scott Centurino* Jun Chang and Guiying Zhao Chick-fil-A Plymouth Clancy Construction, Inc. Jack and Janet Clancy
Tucker M. Clark* Amy (Harris ’92) and Seth Cummings* Carmen and Jim DiSanto Anna dos Santos and Robert Pritchard* Heidi and Jason Dubreuil Paul Evans and Megan Tyrrell Flax Pond Capital, LLC Ron and Donna Garcia* Virginia and Thomas F. Gregg* Mimi Griffenberg Henrik and Lara Gulmann* Meaghan and Michael Haney ’04 Mary S. Harrington Richard A. Heald II The Heslinga Family Tracy and Steve Heslinga ’04 Ried and Laura Heywood* Greg Hirth and Ann Mulligan Lindsay and Peter Hopewood* Howland Capital Mark and Carla Hutker* Colleen and Chip Johns* Luke Johns ’14 Evan Jones ’88 Karey and Josh Kitfield ’91* Christopher Kluckhuhn and Sarah Montgomery Scott and Wendy Lajoie Liz and Allen Lerner Jim Lloyd*
471
FUND FOR FA DONORS Amy and Nick Lowell ’88 Mariner Strategies Martha’s Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation* Luke and Jennifer McCabe Brant and Colleen McGettrick McLane Research Laboratories, Inc. Ellen Mecray and Stephen Remsen Lalise and Jerry Melillo* Tiffany and Jeffrey Moon ’92* Michael and Hannah Moore* Susan G. Morse* Rob and Jan Munier* Murray & MacDonald Insurance Services, Inc.* Notus Clean Energy LLC David and Clare Perry Pieter Pil and Karen Casper Olivia and Dave Riddiford* Robert and Nazanin Ronan Valerie and John W. Rowe Jan and Mark Russell ’80 Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuaries*
Petra Scamborova ’93 and Leo Otake* Rick Sharpe and Sally Nichols-Sharpe The Sholley Foundation Matthew and Bridget Snell Adam and Melissa Soule The Steamship Authority Amy (Ballentine ’96) and Matt Stevens* Teledyne Marine Christian and Greer Thornton Scott and Nancy Thrasher Nancy and David C. Twichell* Joe and Joan Valle* Clyde Tyndale and Deb Winograd* Bill and Julie Waite* Scott Wayne Dan and Mary Webb Nina H. Webber* Bene Webster ’09 Tom and Hedy Whitney Woodwell Climate Research Center Elizabeth (Sheinkopf ’91) and Alarick Yung
Cornerstone Donors Hull Circle ($500 - $999)
The Hull Circle honors contributors whose support strengthens the foundation of our school. Anonymous (4) Andrea and Matt Anderson Andrea (Gordon ’97) and Alex Benson Jeffrey Bilezikian ’84 Dana (Burns ’06) and Sierra Brandt Caroline and Christopher Buccino ’02* Lee Calabrese Russell and Brenda Cazeault Ana and Christos Canelos Capeside Oral & Facial Surgery, Inc. Dalpe Excavation, Inc. Ivan Djikaev and Julia Zagachin Janine and Paul Donovan Christina Egloff and Brent Runyon* Falmouth Road Race, Inc.* Falmouth Water Stewards Kathy and Jim Feeney Horace and Emily Field Donald and Shannon Giumetti Annie Griffenberg Henry R. Hague III ’90* Heslinga Private Wealth Group of Wells Fargo Advisors John and Mary Jo Heyl Jeanne and David Hobbie ’86 Marianne and Kevin Holmes ’92* Hutker Architects, Inc. Mike and Jane Jackson Heath A. Kight and Melissa McKim Adrienne and Greg Kinchla ’96 the GAM 2026
33
DONOR IMPACT REPORT Landschop Landscape Architects, Inc. Josh and Lauren Leveque* Lowell Instruments LLC Bill and Kate Marvel* Dawn and Fred Meltzer ’83* MIT Club of Cape Cod Asta and Christopher Muldoon Kris and Wendy Kingman Nelson* Maurice and Beth O’Connor Roger and Rebecca Parsons Daryl and Farley Pedler Rob and Kris Reynolds* James Rouse Greg and Jen Russell* Jennifer (Malaquias ’97) Ryan & Family* George and Suzan Scharr* Hayley and Bob Schneider ’09* Heather Stewart* Denise Volpe Sullivan Linda (Baron ’80) and Nick Suttora* Mary Swope* Jack and Jill Tompkins Summer Tompkins ’13 Keith von der Heydt and Terry McKee* Timothy and Ellen Wakefield Leslie and Raymond Walters John B. Waterbury and Vicky Cullen* David and Trina Welch
Keel Circle ($250 - $499)
The Keel Circle recognizes donors whose core gifts keep Falmouth Academy steady and on course. Anonymous (4) The 300 Committee Land Trust Seth and Kate Ackerman Erin and David Aronson ’96 Associates of Cape Cod Pusit Atthaoraek The Aviles Family* Mark and Kim Baumhofer* Kacey Bisienere ’07 Jean and Brian Bowen Susan Brinckerhoff* Jennifer and David Bradley ’92* Nawrie Meigs-Brown and David Brown Ann R. Burchill Cassady (Byers ’97) and Ian Cadillac* Jing Chen and Gordon Zhang Eleanor and Andrew Clark* Mary Connelly and Julie Silver Elizabeth Coughlin Alexander Desnoyers ’10 Daniel Eder ’12 Jason and Jessie Eldredge* Katharine and Devin Enos Steven and Jessi Foureman Duncan Fraser ’19 Donald and Nancy Gantz* Jeffrey and Nancy Gaughan Margot Goodwin Patricia Harris Susanne Holmes John and Amy Homa Monica and Bill Hough* Ana and Evan Hutker ’07* 34
the GAM 2026
Janet Kearsley* Evelyn Land Elizabeth Leary and Conan Leary Yan Li Katharina (Plumb ’01) and Greg LiVigne* Ed Lott and Amy Fish* Sophie Markovich, DMD Family Orthodontics* Sarah (Lafaver ’96) and Michael McCarron* Chris McGuire and Virginia Land McGuire John Mendelsohn and Lisa Taylor
1,179
FUND FOR FA GIFTS Bridget Miskell ’07 Mary Lou Montgomery Kristin (Jochems ’05) and Ed Montville* Katherine Parsons Laura (Lorusso ’87) and David Peterson Steven A. Pikor Britton ’84 PFLAG of Cape Cod Christine Pina ’86 and Alex D. Smith* Lizzy (Cookson ’08) and James Reber ’09* Robert and Karen Ritucci Margaret Hough Russell and Joe W. Russell Jr.* Gaius and Ellie Shaver* Rich and Libby Signell* Charles Colt-Simonds ’16 Sports Center Physical Therapy Norm and Diane Stillman* Allison and Matthew Strickland Patrice Sweeney Gisela and Pierre Tillier* Sarah Twichell ’99 and David Crandall* John and Maribeth Wadman* Courtney and Timothy Wadman ’09* Steve and Carol Wagner* Gary and Linda Walker*
Ballast Circle ($1 - $249)
The Ballast Circle celebrates the broad base of supporters whose collective generosity keeps our school strong and stable. Anonymous (21) Andy and Lisa Abbo Mark and Janet Ackerman John and Gabrielle Allen Tina Allen Cady Cummings-Audette ’98 and Jason Audette Cody J. Baker ’14 Alexandra Baker ’04 David Bank and Amy Vince Clea Baumhofer ’10 Clare Beams and Finn Calabro* Diane Bellavance
Katelyn Bennett Linda and Mark Boardman* Carlo Bocconcelli ’14* Martha and Bob Borden* Margaret Bossi Alexander Boyle Rich and Gwen Brown* Robert Brown and Paula Barbosa Jesse Brown Susan Burchill Sammi Burns Glenn Bush and Katie Fawcett Barbara Campbell* Ceci Canelos Christopher Carroll and Kendra Buresch Sarah Carver Katie and Darren Clark ’94 Silas Clark ’21 Patricia Colhoun Josh and Betsy (Wadman ’13) Colvin Mary Anne Conboy Jennifer Oliver Connors Daniel and Joan Costello Marcia and Arthur E. Crago Sean Cummings ’00 Allisa Dalpe ’12* Mark and Sally Dalpe Holly Davison and Joel Holder Mike Deasey ’10 Sharon Delaney and Ralph Sobieski Sebastián Delmont Liz (Dean ’98) and Scott DeMelo Kathy Denham* Heather (Mastromatteo ’90) and Jonathan DiPaolo* Zoe Cardon and Andrew Dolan Brian Donelan Abigail (Hollander ’12) and Chris Donovan John Dooley Shelley (Kandola ’09) Doherty John Driscoll Charles and Patricia Duane* Joey and Debra Duarte Ben Dunham and Wendy Rolfe-Dunham* Samuel Dunham ’10 Gundi and Michael Eder Petra Ehrenbrink and Bernhard Peucker-Ehrenbrink* Frank and Jean Emerling* Joe and Kathryn Famely Peter and Maria Ferri Harry Field ’31 Karen Field Michael and JoAnn Fishbein Allen Fleck Kim (Lewis) Flynn ’81 Vasska and Tarni Fondren Chris Foster ’93 and April Mattix Foster* Bradley Fourcier ’27 Liza Fox ’96 and Alfredo Aretxabaleta Bettina Freelund David and Claudia Gallagher Patricia and John E. Gallagher Ivy and Ryan Gantz ’95 Caitlin and Jeremy Gantz ’00
Doug and Elizabeth Garland Shelby Garland Tasha Garland ’16* Adam Gaudet ’18 Jennifer Giabbai and Jeff Gerger* George and Eileen Gillmore* Carol Goranson ’97* William R. Goranson* Bruce and Shirley Gordon* Tom and Susan Goux Lee and Debbie Gove* Matt Green and Jennifer Rossiter Cameron and Nitana Greendeer Mary Greer Tracy and Tim Gregg ’85* Douglas and Margaret Gren Kristin Gribble Alex Gundersen ’09 Katie Gundersen ’06* Molly Hale Caroline Hall Andrew Hamilton Mary G. Heard* Mark and Katie Hollander* Stephen Holmes Yuki A. Honjo ’90 and Jason Cullinane* Charles and Marianita Hopkinson* Peter G. Huntington Ross and Amanda Irwin James and Teresa Jazo Chris and Kait Jeffcote Di Jin and Zhen Wu*
$540
AVERAGE GIFT SIZE Jim and Kathy Johnson* Margaret Johnson Doug Jones and Annie Dean* Meri Linnea (Olson ’81) and Robby Jones Bailey Jordan ’20 Jack Jordan ’17 Suzanne Jordan Paul Joyce Robert Just Robert and Angelique Kania Russell and Wendy Keeler* Carolyn and Stephen Kellogg Nichole (Tennant ’00) and Brandon Kettell Jane Kittredge Sarah Knowles and Greg Horning* Jodi Kopke ’92* MaryAnn Kowalski ’06 and James Reynolds ’06 Kenneth Kozens Sheryl and Brian Lajoie Fred and Celina Leach Ivory Littlefield and Lisa Epstein Philip Logan and Nan Garrett Logan Paul Louderback and Jessica Molleur Philip MacDonald ’09 Thomas Manor Nancy H. Massey*
Kate Masterson Linda McCarty Mary Lou McGuire Scott and Jennifer McGuire Brian McNeany and Heidi McNeil Steven and Nicole Mele Edward D. Melillo ’92* Chris and Kyra Mercer Fred and Nancy Messeck Anna Michel Microsoft Rewards/Give with Bing Claire and Brian Miskell ’06* Louise Mitchell* Susan Moffat and Tom Kleindinst* John Mogul and Dianne Lockwood Ruthanne and Stephen Molyneaux The Moore Family Lisa Nagel Karyn and Brian Najarian Lucy Beecher Nelson and Brad Nelson* Tom and Jennifer O’Hanlon Kate (Ellsworth ’89) and Adam Oler Kevin and Elizabeth Oliver Anke O’Neil The O’Neill Family Althea O’Neill Jennifer Park Lily Patterson ’14 Sarah Pierce ’05 Laurence and Ann Pizer* Alaina Plueddemann ’15 Michael Polebaum Mark Quinlan Evan (Sipe ’04) Rahman* Brian and Kelee Renzi Justin Reynolds ’99 and Ana Keilson Charlotte Riggs Michael Romano ’01 Carol Roupenian Julie Russell Jessica Hough Russell ’01* Wendy (Wolk ’93) and Tom Ryan Sasha Salerno ’93 Britta and David Santamauro Nancy Copley and Ray Schmitt* Meg Schwarzman ’90 and Mike Wilson*
Caitlin Schwarzman ’88 and V. Jason Rucker* Timothy Seston and Sally Zimmerli Robert Seston Brendan and Megan Sharpe Roderick and Karen Sipe Ruth Slocum and Mark Patterson* Brittany and Joey Smith ’04 Hanlon Smith-Dorsey ’99* Stephen and Emily Solarazza Chloe Starr ’04* Hayden Steele Susan Stegeman Isabelle Stewart ’18 Marin and Dana Street Owen Sullivan ’15* Melanie and Michael Tanionos Gail Tavares Paula Tavares David Thompson and Kim Heath* Zephy Thompson ’20 Mindy Todd and Bob Fenstermaker
29%
ALUMNI PARTICIPATION Knanh and Selena Tran Libby Tyndale ’92 Alison and Edward Van Keuren Charlie and Rachel Van Voorhis* Anna-Liza Villard-Howe ’97 and Timothy Michaud* Beth and Max von der Heydt ’02* Sean Waite and Katherine May-Waite* Elaine and Ray Wakefield Mary Wallingford Deborah Warner Matthew W. Waterbury ’04* Patricia Webster Charlotte (Dorris ’07) and Richard Wells J. Robinson Wells* Allison B. White* Delia White Joan Wickersham*
Robert and Ann Williams Isabelle Williams* Colleen (Bulman ’93) and James Wooding Charles “Mike” Wrighter John Yankee* Hayley Yeamans Carlos Zuluaga and Adriana Quijano
Giving by Constituency Trustees
Ben Baum ’99 Emily Birdwhistell ’98 Andy Bowen Greg Clancy ’97 Megan English Braga Mary S. Harrington Ried Heywood Joan Ogilvy Holden Peter Jeffrey Andrew Kingman ’00 Luke McCabe Maura Bullock McSherry Rob Munier Adam Sholley Mindy Todd
Former Trustees
Ben Allen Victor Aviles Jodee P. Bishop Linda Mark Boardman Mardi Bowles Peter Brown Scott Brown ’89 Cynthia Feldmann Ron Garcia Sheila Giancola Virginia Gregg Henrik Gulmann John Heyl Lindsay Hopewood Mark Hutker Colleen Johns
2025-2026
Nick Lowell ’88 Mary Lou Montgomery Hannah Moore Rob Reynolds Joe W. Russell Jr. Mark Russell ’80 Laura Ryan Shachoy Miyoko Sato ’86 Megan Starr ’06 Joe Valle Keith von der Heydt
Parents Class of 2026
Anonymous Seth and Kate Ackerman David and Oksana Aubrey Robert Brown and Paula Barbosa Scott Brown ’89 and Melissa Hofer Glenn Bush and Katie Fawcett Ana and Christos Canelos Russell and Brenda Cazeault Jun Chang and Guiying Zhao Ivan Djikaev and Julia Zagachin Janine and Paul Donovan Heidi and Jason Dubreuil Meagan Eagle Robert Evans and Khamla Sananikone Kenneth Gartner and Joanne Brianna Gartner Jeffrey and Nancy Gaughan Kristin Gribble Annie Griffenberg Henrik and Lara Gulmann Greg Hirth and Ann Mulligan John and Amy Homa James and Teresa Jazo Heath A. Kight and Melissa McKim Scott and Wendy Lajoie Chris McGuire and Virginia Land McGuire Scott and Jennifer McGuire Steven and Nicole Mele Anna Michel Katherine Parsons Pieter Pil and Karen Casper Olivia and Dave Riddiford Robert and Karen Ritucci Julie Russell
The Josiah K. Lilly III Society In 1987, philanthropist Josiah K. Lilly III donated 34 acres of Beebe Woods for Falmouth Academy to build a permanent campus. The Josiah K. Lilly III Society recognizes that visionary gift and honors other like-minded donors who have chosen to make a planned or deferred gift to Falmouth Academy. These legacy gifts are extraordinarily important to our school, helping ensure that generations of future students can benefit from a Falmouth Academy education. (Italics indicate bequests realized.) Anonymous (2) Mardi and Frank Bowles H. Walcott Brown Jr. Peter and Melissa Brown Bruce and Patrice Buxton Worthington Campbell Jr. Tucker M. Clark Joanne Davis ’83 Mary Elizabeth Denneny
Jacob S. and Mary K. Fassett Lauren Fox Donald and Nancy Gantz Henry R. Hague III ’90 Thomas J. Hallahan Elizabeth P. Heald Pamela Clapp Hinkle and Greg Hinkle Lindsay and Peter Hopewood Mary Jean Howard
Samuel Labate Lalise and Jerry Melillo Lubos Mikuska ’99 Bud and Betty Miskell Charlotte Olmsted Amy Peterschmidt Mary Louise Potter Neil Powell Anne and Nelson Price
Jenny (Olson ’83) and Rick Putnam Margaret Hough Russell and Joe W. Russell Jr. Jan and Mark Russell ’80 John and Susan Schofield Richard Sperduto and Ginny Edgcomb Richard and Gayle Sylvia Nancy and David C. Twichell
the GAM 2026
35
DONOR IMPACT REPORT Susan Stegeman Christian and Greer Thornton Scott and Nancy Thrasher Timothy and Ellen Wakefield Dan and Mary Webb
Parents Class of 2027
Anonymous (3) Elizabeth Coughlin Amy (Harris ’92) and Seth Cummings Jennifer Giabbai and Jeff Gerger Barry and Taylor Joyce Fred and Celina Leach Josh and Lauren Leveque Maura Bullock McSherry and John McSherry Jonathan and Kate Mogul Asta and Christopher Muldoon Brian and Kelee Renzi Timothy Seston and Sally Zimmerli Brendan and Megan Sharpe Stephen and Emily Solarazza Adam and Melissa Soule Marin and Dana Street Paula Tavares
Parents Class of 2028
Anonymous (2) Ana and Christos Canelos Christopher Carroll and Kendra Buresch Jennifer Crowley Joey and Debra Duarte Joe and Kathryn Famely Steven and Jessi Foureman James and Teresa Jazo Fred and Celina Leach Yan Li Scott and Jennifer McGuire The Moore Family Lucy Beecher Nelson and Brad Nelson Mareana (Ricci ’99) and Dan Nightingale Kevin and Elizabeth Oliver Jennifer Park Katherine Parsons Robert and Nazanin Ronan Timothy Seston and Sally Zimmerli John and Mary Shannon Matthew and Bridget Snell Melanie and Michael Tanionos Alison and Edward Van Keuren
Parents Class of 2029
Anonymous David Bank and Amy Vince Elizabeth Coughlin Holly Davison and Joel Holder Jason and Jessie Eldredge Liza Fox ’96 and Alfredo Aretxabaleta Neil Greco and Brittanie Weatherbie-Greco Chris and Kait Jeffcote Karyn and Brian Najarian Carlos Zuluaga and Adriana Quijano
Parents Class of 2030 Anonymous Andy and Lisa Abbo 36
the GAM 2026
Amy (Ballentine ’96) and Matt Stevens Glenn Bush and Katie Fawcett Mary Connelly and Julie Silver Paul Evans and Megan Tyrrell Liza Fox ’96 and Alfredo Aretxabaleta Cameron and Nitana Greendeer Marianne and Kevin Holmes ’92 Yuki A. Honjo ’90 and Jason Cullinane Liz and Allen Lerner Brant and Colleen McGettrick Maurice and Beth O’Connor Adam and Melissa Soule
Parents Class of 2031
Anonymous (5) Tina Allen Horace and Emily Field Yuki A. Honjo ’90 and Jason Cullinane Christopher Kluckhuhn and Sarah Montgomery Paul Louderback and Jessica Molleur Brant and Colleen McGettrick Brian McNeany and Heidi McNeil Jonathan and Kate Mogul Karyn and Brian Najarian Lucy Beecher Nelson and Brad Nelson Tom and Jennifer O’Hanlon Daryl and Farley Pedler Daniel and Laura Sciortino Knanh and Selena Tran Jeremy Wagner and Jiyoung Park Mary Wallingford David and Trina Welch Elizabeth (Sheinkopf ’91) and Alarick Yung Jing Chen and Gordon Zhang Carlos Zuluaga and Adriana Quijano
Parents of Alumni
Anonymous (3) Ben and Julie Allen Alison and Robert Ament Pusit Atthaoraek The Aviles Family Mark and Kim Baumhofer Jodee P. Bishop and James C. Reber Nancy Bisienere
370
DONORS INCREASED GIVING FROM FY25 Linda and Mark Boardman Andy Bowen and Linda Beetlestone Albert and Deborah Bradley Susan Brinckerhoff Rich and Gwen Brown Peter and Melissa Brown Susan Burchill Barbara Campbell Christopher Carroll and Kendra Buresch Russell and Brenda Cazeault Eleanor and Andrew Clark Jennifer Oliver Connors
The Anchor Society | Sustaining Donors
Members of Falmouth Academy’s recurring gift program, the Anchor Society, maximize their contributions to the school by giving in smaller monthly increments. These sustaining donors make a continuous impact on our community in a simple, budget-friendly way. Anonymous Erin and David Aronson ’96 Clea Baumhofer ’10 Martha and Bob Borden Scott Brown ’89 and Melissa Hofer Amy (Harris ’92) and Seth Cummings Carmen and Jim DiSanto John Dooley Heidi and Jason Dubreuil Christina Egloff and Brent Runyon Megan English Braga and Robert Kubitschek Katharine and Devin Enos Kim Flynn ’81 Andrew Hamilton Evan Jones ’88 Doug Jones and Annie Dean
Daniel and Joan Costello Mark and Sally Dalpe Kathy Denham Ivan Djikaev and Julia Zagachin John Dooley Anna dos Santos and Robert Pritchard Charles and Patricia Duane Ben Dunham and Wendy Rolfe-Dunham Meagan Eagle Gundi and Michael Eder Christina Egloff and Brent Runyon Jason and Jessie Eldredge Megan English Braga and Robert Kubitschek Cynthia Feldmann and Tom DeMello JoAnn and Michael Fishbein Vasska and Tarni Fondren David and Claudia Gallagher Donald and Nancy Gantz Ron and Donna Garcia Doug and Elizabeth Garland Sheila and Mike Giancola George and Eileen Gillmore Donald and Shannon Giumetti William R. Goranson Bruce and Shirley Gordon Tom and Susan Goux Lee and Debbie Gove Matt Green and Jennifer Rossiter Virginia and Thomas F. Gregg Annie Griffenberg Henrik and Lara Gulmann Patricia Harris The Heslinga Family Ried and Laura Heywood
Kenneth Kozens Kate Masterson and Gonzalo Mendez Sarah (Lafaver ’96) and Michael McCarron Maura Bullock McSherry and John McSherry Dawn and Fred Meltzer ’83 Chris and Kyra Mercer Kristin (Jochems ’05) and Ed Montville Lily Patterson ’14 David and Clare Perry Olivia and Dave Riddiford George and Suzan Scharr Hayley and Bob Schneider ’09 Brendan and Megan Sharpe Patrice Sweeney Leslie and Raymond Walters
Pamela Clapp Hinkle and Greg Hinkle Mark and Katie Hollander Lindsay and Peter Hopewood Charles and Marianita Hopkinson Monica and Bill Hough Peter G. Huntington Mark and Carla Hutker Peter and Jeannine Jeffrey Di Jin and Zhen Wu Colleen and Chip Johns Doug Jones and Annie Dean Suzanne Jordan Robert and Angelique Kania Russell and Wendy Keeler Jane Kittredge Josh and Lauren Leveque Ivory Littlefield and Lisa Epstein Philip Logan and Nan Garrett Logan Ed Lott and Amy Fish Amy and Nick Lowell ’88 Victoria Lowell Douglas and Maria MacDonald Bill and Kate Marvel Kate Masterson and Gonzalo Mendez Luke and Jennifer McCabe Chris McGuire and Virginia Land McGuire Ellen Mecray and Stephen Remsen Steven and Nicole Mele Lalise and Jerry Melillo John Mendelsohn and Lisa Taylor Chris and Kyra Mercer Louise Mitchell Susan Moffat and Tom Kleindinst Mary Lou Montgomery Michael and Hannah Moore
Asta and Christopher Muldoon Kris and Wendy Kingman Nelson Anke O’Neil The O’Neill Family Katherine Parsons Pieter Pil and Karen Casper Laurence and Ann Pizer Rob and Kris Reynolds Carol Roupenian James Rouse Margaret Hough Russell and Joe W. Russell Jr. Greg and Jen Russell
$47,350 RAISED ON FA GIVING DAY
Laura Ryan Shachoy and Jamey Shachoy Britta and David Santamauro George and Suzan Scharr Nancy Copley and Ray Schmitt Daniel and Laura Sciortino Gaius and Ellie Shaver Rich and Libby Signell Roderick and Karen Sipe Ruth Slocum and Mark Patterson Heather Stewart Norm and Diane Stillman Allison and Matthew Strickland Patrice Sweeney David Thompson and Kim Heath Christian and Greer Thornton Scott and Nancy Thrasher Jack and Jill Tompkins Nancy and David C. Twichell Clyde Tyndale and Deb Winograd Joe and Joan Valle Alison and Edward Van Keuren Charlie and Rachel Van Voorhis Denise Volpe Sullivan Keith von der Heydt and Terry McKee John and Maribeth Wadman Steve and Carol Wagner Sean Waite and Katherine May-Waite Bill and Julie Waite Timothy and Ellen Wakefield Gary and Linda Walker John B. Waterbury and Vicky Cullen Dan and Mary Webb J. Robinson Wells Allison B. White Jing Chen and Gordon Zhang Carlos Zuluaga and Adriana Quijano
Grandparents of Students and Alumni
Anonymous (2) Mark and Janet Ackerman Jean and Brian Bowen Alexander Boyle Peter and Melissa Brown Ann R. Burchill Lee Calabrese
Jack and Janet Clancy Tucker M. Clark David and Marilyn Coughlin Marcia and Arthur E. Crago Sharon Delaney and Ralph Sobieski Kathy and Jim Feeney Peter and Maria Ferri Karen Field Patricia and John E. Gallagher George and Eileen Gillmore Margot Goodwin Tom and Susan Goux Douglas and Margaret Gren Mimi Griffenberg Molly Hale Patricia Harris Mary G. Heard Robert Just Carolyn and Stephen Kellogg Sheryl and Brian Lajoie Evelyn Land Victoria Lowell Mary Lou McGuire Fred and Nancy Messeck John Mogul and Dianne Lockwood Ruthane Stephen Molyneaux Shirley H. Nichols Roger and Rebecca Parsons June and David Rickard Robert Seston Rick Sharpe and Sally Nichols-Sharpe Elaine and Ray Wakefield Patricia Webster Joan Wickersham
Faculty and Staff
Anonymous Pusit Atthaoraek Martha Borden Maggie Bossi Jesse Brown Caroline Buccino Barbara Campbell Eleanor Clark Jennifer Crowley Amy (Harris ’92) Cummings Mike Deasy ’10 Carmen DiSanto John Dooley John Driscoll Gundi Eder Petra Ehrenbrink Katharine Enos Liza Fox ’96 Bettina Freelund David Gallagher Andrew Hamilton Monica Hough Ross Irwin Doug Jones Suzanne Jordan Paul Joyce Sarah Knowles Kenneth Kozens Liz Lerner Josh Leveque Lucy Beecher Nelson Dan Nightingale
Jonathan Olson Jennifer Park David Perry Clare Perry Alaina Plueddemann ’15 Olivia Riddiford Britta Santamauro George Scharr Timothy Seston Ruth Slocum Leslie Walters J. Robinson Wells Delia White Hayley Yeamans Sally Zimmerli
Former Faculty and Staff
Alison Ament Clare Beams Deborah Bradley Susan Brinckerhoff Bruce Buxton Patrice Buxton Victoria Centurino Tucker M. Clark Amy Fish Donna Garcia Matt Green Pamela Clapp Hinkle Jason Cullinane Colleen Johns Jim Johnson Janet Kearsley Nichole (Tennant ’00) Kettell
37
MATCHING GIFTS Ed Lott Sarah (Lafaver ’96) McCaron Lalise Melillo Susan Moffat Gisela Tillier Nancy Twichell Clyde Tyndale Charles “Mike” Wrighter John Yankee
Friends of Falmouth Academy Anonymous (3) John and Gabrielle Allen Andrea and Matt Anderson Helen S. Anttila Rick and Chris Berk Timothy Bowen Nawrie Meigs-Brown and David Brown David and Kathy Bryson Sammi Burns Patricia Colhoun Mary Anne Conboy Sebastián Delmont Zoe Cardon and Andrew Dolan Frank and Jean Emerling Allan Fleck, Jr. Shelby Garland
2025-2026
Mary Greer Richard A. Heald II Mike and Jane Jackson Margaret Johnson Jim Lloyd Thomas Manor Nancy H. Massey Mary Lou McGuire Michael Polebaum Charlotte Riggs Valerie and John W. Rowe Mary Swope Gail Tavares Deborah Warner Scott Wayne Nina H. Webber Robert and Ann Williams
Businesses, Organizations and Foundations
The 300 Committee Land Trust Associates of Cape Cod Brabson Family Foundation Cape Cod Five Cape Cod Foundation Capeside Oral & Facial Surgery, Inc. Cataumet Boats Cazeault Roofing & Siding Charities Aid Foundation of America Chick-fil-A Plymouth Clancy Construction, Inc. Dalpe Excavation, Inc. John K. and Thirza F. Davenport Foundation Falmouth Road Race, Inc. Falmouth Water Stewards Flax Pond Capital LLC Bruce and Shirley Gordon Giving Fund Nancy Foss Heath and Richard B. Heath Educational, Cultural, and Environmental Foundation Hermann Foundation, Inc. Heslinga Private Wealth Group of Wells Fargo Advisors Howland Capital Hutker Architects, Inc. Landschop Landscape Architecture Lowell Instruments LLC Sophie Markovich, DMD Family Orthodontics Mariner Strategies Martha’s Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation McLane Research Laboratories, Inc. Microsoft Rewards / Give with Bing MIT Club of Cape Cod Murray & MacDonald Insurance Services, Inc. Notus Clean Energy, LLC PFLAG of Cape Cod R.K. Mellon Family Foundation Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. Sports Center Physical Therapy Steamship Authority The Sholley Foundation Teledyne Marine Woodwell Climate Research Center the GAM 2026
37
DONOR IMPACT REPORT
Matching Gifts Matching gift programs help donors double or even triple the impact of their gifts to Falmouth Academy. We are grateful to all of the participating institutions below who matched gifts to the Fund for Falmouth Academy. Arbella Insurance Foundation, Inc. Murray & MacDonald Battelle Always Giving Carol Goranson ’97 Benevity/Apple Brent Runyon and Christina Egloff Benevity/Gartner Samuel Amazeen ’07 Cape Cod Five Kevin Holmes ’92 Charities Aid Foundation of America Dana (Burns) Brandt ’06 Fidelity Charitable Duncan Fraser ’18 Gates Foundation Summer C. Tompkins ’13 Moody’s Corporation Owen P. Sullivan ’15 Palo Alto Networks Andrea (Gordon) Benson ’97 Raytheon Company Jeffrey Moon ’92 Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Petra Scamborova ’93
Alumni Giving 1980s
Anonymous Jeffrey Bilezikian ’84 Scott Brown ’89 and Melissa Hofer Kim (Lewis) Flynn ’81 Tracy and Tim Gregg ’85 Jeanne and David Hobbie ’86 Evan Jones ’88 Meri Linnea (Olson ’81) and Robby Jones Theresa Kopp ’86 Amy and Nick Lowell ’88 Dawn and Fred Meltzer ’83 Kate (Ellsworth ’89) and Adam Oler Laura (Lorusso ’87) and David Peterson Steven A. Pikor Britton ’84 Christine Pina ’86 and Alex D. Smith Jan and Mark Russell ’80 Miyoko Sato ’86 Caitlin Schwarzman ’88 and V. Jason Rucker Linda (Baron ’80) and Nick Suttora
1990s
Anonymous Erin and David Aronson ’96 Ben Baum ’99 and Dave Brown Andrea (Gordon ’97) and Alex Benson Eryn (Ament ’91) and Michael Bingle 38
the GAM 2026
Emily Birdwhistell ’98 Jennifer and David Bradley ’92 Cassady (Byers ’97) and Ian Cadillac Greg Clancy ’97 Katie and Darren Clark ’94 Amy (Harris ’92) and Seth Cummings Cady Cummings-Audette ’98 and Jason Audette Liz (Dean ’98) and Scott DeMelo Heather (Mastromatteo ’90) and Jonathan DiPaolo Chris Foster ’93 and April Mattix Foster Liza Fox ’96 and Alfredo Aretxabaleta Ivy and Ryan Gantz ’95 Carol Goranson ’97
$5,160 GIVEN IN MATCHING GIFTS
Henry R. Hague III ’90 Marianne and Kevin Holmes ’92 Yuki A. Honjo ’90 and J ason Cullinane Adrienne and Greg Kinchla ’96 Karey and Josh Kitfield ’91 Jodi Kopke ’92 Sarah (Lafaver ’96) and Michael McCarron Edward D. Melillo ’92 Tiffany and Jeffrey Moon ’92 Mareana (Ricci ’99) and Dan Nightingale Justin Reynolds ’99 and Ana Keilson Jennifer (Malaquias) Ryan ’97 & Family Wendy (Wolk ’93) and Tom Ryan Sasha Salerno ’93 Katarina Scamborova ’98 and Michael Zeltkevic Petra Scamborova ’93 and Leo Otake Meg Schwarzman ’90 and Mike Wilson Hanlon Smith-Dorsey ’99 Amy (Ballentine ’96) and Matt Stevens Sarah Twichell ’99 and David Crandall Libby Tyndale ’92 Anna-Liza Villard-Howe ’97 and Timothy Michaud Teresa Wessling ’93 Colleen (Bulman ’93) and James Wooding Elizabeth (Sheinkopf ’91) and Alarick Yung
2000s
Sam Amazeen ’07 and Megan Chin Alexandra Baker ’04 Kacey Bisienere ’07 Dana (Burns ’06) and Sierra Brandt Caroline and Christopher Buccino ’02 Sean Cummings ’00 Caitlin and Jeremy Gantz ’00
Alex Gundersen ’09 Katie Gundersen ’06 Meaghan and Michael Haney ’04 Tracy and Steve Heslinga ’04 Ana and Evan Hutker ’07 Shelley Kandola ’09 Nichole (Tennant ’00) and Brandon Kettell Amy and Andrew Kingman ’00 MaryAnn Kowalski ’06 and James Reynolds ’06 Katharina (Plumb ’01) and Greg LiVigne Philip MacDonald ’09 Bridget Miskell ’07 Claire and Brian Miskell ’06 Kristin (Jochems ’05) and Ed Montville Sarah Pierce ’05 Evan (Sipe ’04) Rahman Lizzie (Cookson ’08) and James Reber ’09 Michael Romano ’01 Jessica Hough Russell ’01 Hayley and Bob Schneider ’09 Brittany and Joey Smith ’04 Chloe Starr ’04 Nathan Twichell ’02 and Eliza Tobin Beth and Max von der Heydt ’02 Courtney and Timothy Wadman ’09 Matthew W. Waterbury ’04 Bene Webster ’09 Charlotte (Dorris ’07) and Richard Wells
2010s
Cody J. Baker ’14 Clea Baumhofer ’10 Carlo Bocconcelli ’14 Charles Colt-Simonds ’16 Betsy (Wadman ’13) and Josh Colvin Mike Deasey ’10 Allisa Dalpe ’12 Alexander Desnoyers ’10 Abigail (Hollander ’12) and Chris Donovan Samuel Dunham ’10 Daniel Eder ’12 Thomas R. Evangelista ’16 Duncan Fraser ’19 Tasha Garland ’16 Adam Gaudet ’18 Luke Johns ’14 Bailey Jordan ’20 Jack Jordan ’17 Lily Patterson ’14 Alaina Plueddemann ’15 Isabelle Stewart ’18 Owen Sullivan ’15 Summer Tompkins ’13
2020s
Silas Clark ’21 Bradley Forcier ’27 Zephy Thompson ’20
2030s
Anonymous Harry Field ’31
Gifts in Honor of Members of the FA Community Ezra Ackerman ’26 Mark and Janet Ackerman Ali Baker ’04 Evan (Sipe’04) Rahman Martha Borden Leslie and Raymond Walters Margaret Bossi Pieter Pil and Karen Casper Deborah Bradley Jennifer and David Bradley ’92 Barbara Campbell Christine Pina ’86 and Alex D. Smith Elise Casso ’26 Howland Capital Michael J. Deasy ’10 Lalise and Jerry Melillo Joan Donovan Janine and Paul Donovan Gundhild Eder Glenn Bush and Kathryn Fawcett Daniel Eder ’12 Falmouth Academy Class of 2001 Lalise and Jerry Melillo Falmouth Academy Faculty and Staff Anke O’Neil Joan Ogilvy Holden Charlotte Riggs Douglas H. Jones Pieter Pil and Karen Casper Bene Webster ’09 Andrew Kingman ’00 Kris and Wendy Kingman Nelson Josh Kitfield ’91 James Rouse Liz Lerner JoAnn and Michael Fishbein Alex Lott ’22, Ed Lott and Sarah Lott ’18 Anonymous Faye McGuire ’26 Evelyn Land Lalise Melillo Jeanne and David Hobbie ’86 Fletcher Parsons ’26 Katherine Parsons Sylvie Parsons ’28 Katherine Parsons David Perry Lalise and Jerry Melillo Lydia Remsen ’29 Ellen Mecray and Stephen Remsen Jessica Hough Russell ’01 Margaret Hough Russell and Joe W. Russell Jr. Whit K. Russell ’04 Margaret Hough Russell and Joe W. Russell Jr. George J. Scharr Pieter Pil and Karen Casper Derick Anthony Sterling ’22 Megan English Braga and Robert Kubitschek
Mira Street ’27 Margot Goodwin Wyatt Thornton ’26 Christian and Greer Thornton Leslie Walters Lalise and Jerry Melillo J. Robinson Wells Nancy and David C. Twichell
Gifts in Memory of Members of the FA Community Louise E. Conboy Mary Anne Conboy Johanna Huchingson Desmarais Heidi and Jason Dubreuil Alberta V. Harding Anonymous Olivann Hobbie Jeanne and David Hobbie ’86 George and Suzan Scharr Ruth Slocum and Mark Patterson Mary Swope Allison B. White S. Russell Kingman Kris and Wendy Kingman Nelson David Kopp Theresa Kopp ’86 Katherine Lirosi ’08 Barbara Campbell Susan Rouse Karey and Josh Kitfield ’91 Sirkka Wakefield Jim and Kathy Johnson Elaine and Ray Wakefield
Event Sponsors 2025 Ryan Montbleau Band Benefit Concert Presenting Sponsor Bonnie Ward Simon
Benefactor
Clancy Construction, Inc.
Leader
Anonymous
Friends
Cape Cod Five Steamship Authority
2026 Science and Engineering Fair Legacy Sponsors
Marine Biological Laboratory Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. Sea Education Association Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woodwell Climate Research Center
Newton Signature Sponsor Scott Wayne
Edison Signature Sponsor
Cazeault Roofing & Solar Martha’s Vineyard Bank McLane Research Laboratories, Inc. Notus Clean Energy, LLC Teledyne Marine
Curie Sponsors
Ament Endowed Fund for Science Dalpe Excavation Falmouth Water Stewards Landschop Landscape Architecture Lowell Instruments, LLC MIT Club of Cape Cod
Marconi Sponsors
The 300 Committee Land Trust Associates of Cape Cod Scott Brown ’89 and Melissa Hofer Sophie Markovich, DMD Family Orthodontics Sports Center Physical Therapy The Stillman Family
Archimedes Sponsors
Bruce and Shirley Gordon Giving Fund Hutker Architects, Inc.
Martha and Bob Borden Boston Duck Boat Tours Brazilian Grill Ellen Brodsky Caroline and Christopher Buccino ’02 Glenn Bush and Kathryn Fawcett Camp Waziyatah Barbara Campbell Bill and Tina Canterbury Cape Cod Marathon Cape Cod Theatre Project Cape Cod Winery Russell and Brenda Cazeault Genie Chang ’26 Chick-fil-A Plymouth Clancy Construction, Inc. Conolly Garden & Landscape Design Crabapples Jennifer Crowley Amy (Harris ’92) and Seth Cummings Steven Dean Kim DeSisto Ivan Djikaev and Julia Zagachin John Dooley
2025-2026
Mr. and Mrs. Michael M. Dutton Eck MacNeely Architects Gundi and Michael Eder Petra Ehrenbrink and Bernhard Peucker-Ehrenbrink Elite Islands Resorts Caribbean Falmouth Academy Falmouth Commodores Falmouth Road Race, Inc. Falmouth Theatre Guild, Inc. Fritz Glass Jeffrey and Nancy Gaughan Ghelfi’s Candies of Cape Cod Jay and Melissa Goldbach Green Pond Marina Associates Mary S. Harrington Headlines Salon and Day Spa Hello Gorgeous Hair Salon LLC Heritage Museum & Gardens Highfield Hall & Gardens Pamela Clapp Hinkle and Greg Hinkle Marianne and Kevin Holmes ’92 Amy Homa Hooked Bar & Grill
In-Kind Vendors
Coffee Obsession Devour Eatery PrintSynergy True North Event Rentals
2026 Annual Benefit Auction Groundbreaking Sponsor
Cape Cod Five Peter and Jeannine Jeffrey Mariner Strategies Pink Door Catering & Market
Supporting Sponsors
Cataumet Boats, Inc. Cazeault Roofing & Siding Chick-fil-A Plymouth Flax Pond Capital, LLC Ried and Laura Heywood The Sholley Foundation Scott and Nancy Thrasher
Enduring Sponsor
The Field Family Heslinga Private Wealth Group of Wells Fargo Advisors Hutker Architects, Inc. The O’Connor Family
Gifts in Kind Anonymous (2) Anejo Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar Aquatic Brewing B/SPOKE Susan Bank Bay Spirit Tours Diane Bellavance Block Island Ferry Bobby Byrne Management Corp. BOHO Vibe Designs
Guide to Giving Thank you for supporting Falmouth Academy! Gifts of any size make a difference to our school and our students. Give Online | Make a gift at falmouthacademy.org/give.
By Mail | Send checks made out to Falmouth Academy to: Development Office, Falmouth Academy, 7 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, MA 02540. Recurring Gifts | Provide reliable support to the school and go easy on your budget by giving in monthly increments. Join our Anchor Society of recurring donors at falmouthacademy.org/give. Stock, Donor Advised Funds & Foundations | As a 501(c) (3), FA is eligible to accept gifts of appreciated stock and contributions from DAFs and foundations. Learn more at falmouthacademy.org/ways-to-give. Corporate Matching Gifts | Many employers offer a benefit that will match your charitable giving. Find out if yours is one of them at falmouthacademy.org/matching-gifts. Planned Gifts | Our planned giving program provides opportunities for individuals to make a long-term impact through bequests, beneficiary designation gifts, Qualified Charitable Distribution, and other investment vehicles. Learn more at falmouthacademy.org/planned-giving. To learn more about giving to Falmouth Academy, please contact the Development Office at 508-457-9696 ext. 240.
the GAM 2026
39
DONOR IMPACT REPORT Hyline Cruises/Hyannis Harbor Tours Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston Iris Hotel Cape Cod Island Queen Ferry JBK Photography Chris and Kait Jeffcote Peter and Jeannine Jeffrey John’s Liquor Store Katama General Store Jonathan and Kristen Keith Timothy and Jen Klein Sharon and Gary Kreamer La Cucina Sul Mare Josh and Lauren Leveque Lucozzi Portraits Mahoney’s Garden Center Mallory Portraits Marine Biological Laboratory Paul and Laura Matthias Joseph and Patty McGurl Mezza Luna Restaurant Mind On Photography Asta and Christopher Muldoon Murray & MacDonald Insurance Services, Inc. Museums on the Green – Falmouth Historical Society MVYRADIO Newport Hotel Group – Inn on the Square Maurice and Beth O’Connor Kevin Pease School of Tennis Persey’s Place Pink Door Catering & Market Pinnacle Plimoth Pawtuxet Museum Quintessence Photography Rob and Kris Reynolds Rhino Linings of Cape Cod Olivia and Dave Riddiford Charles Robertson Roche Bros. Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. Sandwich Glass Museum George and Suzan Scharr Adam and Tara Schrader Sea Education Association Shiny Nails & Spa Shipwrecked Simply Divine Pizza Co. So French Chloe Starr ’04 Steamship Authority Stomping Grounds Grille Marin and Dana Street Tap City Grille The Blu Pearl Spa The Gilded Oyster The Yoga Collaborative Christian and Greer Thornton Tree House Brewing Company Steve Treistman Turning Pointe Dance Studio Unique Boutique Verde Floral Design Jeremy Wagner and Jiyoung Park Steve and Carol Wagner Bill and Julie Waite Timothy and Ellen Wakefield 40
the GAM 2026
Teresa Wessling ’93 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Elizabeth (Sheinkopf ’91) and Alarick Yung Michael Zagachin
Volunteers Falmouth Academy runs on generosity in every sense of the word. We are grateful to our many volunteers for their gifts of time. Andy Abbo Kate Ackerman Tina Allen Alfredo Aretxabaleta Paula Barbosa Colleen Barrows Caroline Blauer Dana (Burns) Brandt ’06 Maura Bullock McSherry Kendra Buresch Shandrekia Cancellare Ana Canelos Brenda Cazeault Jun Chang Yan Li Jing Chen Mary Connelly Elizabeth Coughlin Jennifer Crowley Amy (Harris ’92) Cummings Sarah Davis Holly Davison Jessica Desisto Kim Desisto Debora DeSouza Janine Donovan Debra Duarte Christy Mach Dubé Heidi Dubreuil Meagan Eagle Jessie Eldredge Thomas Evangelista ’16 Christin Evangelista-Adams Kathryn Famely Katie Fawcett Suzanne Provost Flanders Catherine Forcier Katie Forend Jessica Foureman Joanne Briana-Gartner Jeffrey Gaughan Jennifer Gautier Jennifer Giabbai Nitana Greendeer Christopher S. Greene Kristin Gribble Lara Gulmann Heather Haas Melissa Hofer Kevin Holmes ’92 Amy Homa Ingrid Hyder Teresa Jazo
Kait Jeffcote Margot Kalkanis Jim Kalkanis Kristen Keith Annie Griffenberg Roxanne King Jen Klein Wendy Lajoie Celina Leach Elizabeth Leary Liz Lerner Josh Leveque Dianne Lockwood Adriana Lopez Jessica Mason Colleen McGettrick Jennifer McGuire Virginia Land McGuire Melissa McKim Heidi McNeil Pia Mezzacappa Isabeau Miller Dana and Eileen Miskell Jessica Molleur Sarah Montgomery Kristin (Jochems) Montville ’05 Katie Moore Asta Muldoon Ann Mulligan Taylor Heyl Muric Lucy Nelson Mareana (Ricci) Nightingale ’99 Jennifer O’Hanlon Beth O’Connor Anna Michel Elizabeth Oliver Anke O’Neil Jennifer Park Jiyoung Park Katie Parsons Lily Patterson ’14 Farley Pedler Pieter Pil Adriana Quijano Anju Rajani Kelee Renzi Stephanie Riccardi Dave Riddiford Olivia Riddiford Zaafirah Robb Nazanin Ronan Julie Russell
2025-2026
Natalie Sakanian Khamla Sananikone Bob Schneider ’09 Adam Schrader Laura Sciortino Mary Shannon Megan Sharpe Bridget Snell Emily Solarazza Melissa Soule Susan Stegeman Amy (Ballentine ’96) Stevens Dana Street Matt Strickland Carey Takach Melanie Tanionos Paula Tavares Greer Thornton Nancy Thrasher Sarah Todd Rachel Turner Megan Tyrrell Alison Van Keuren Amy Vince Leah Vincent Tim Wadman ’09 Tim Wakefield Mary Wallingford Jonathan Ward Brittanie Weatherbie-Greco Mary Webb Bene Webster ’09 Trina Welch Teresa Wessling ’93 Elizabeth (Sheinkopf) Yung ’91 Julia Zagachin Michael Zagachin Sally Zimmerli
Host Families We are grateful to the families who opened their homes and hearts so that students from other countries could experience Falmouth Academy. Jing Chen and Gordon Zhang Yulin “Lucas” Chen ’28 Kitty Muse Xuanyu “Genie” Chang ’26
Your Name Here There’s one name we’d love to see on this list next year: yours! Join the hundreds of families, alumni, faculty, and friends whose generosity makes the Falmouth Academy experience possible. Be part of what comes next.
The 2026-2027 Fund for Falmouth Academy Every Mariner. Every Day. Every year, the Fund for Falmouth Academy helps sustain the small classes, personal attention, strong programs, and broad opportunities that distinguish the FA experience. Gifts from our community make more possible for every student, every day.
Explore all of the ways you can support FA by visiting falmouthacademy.org/ ways-to-give.
There are many ways to support the annual fund, from recurring gifts and employer matches to donor-advised funds and appreciated securities. Whatever method works best for you, your gift will support the people, programs, and opportunities that make an FA education distinctive.
Celebrate our past, present, and future Save the Date
Mariner Homecoming Day, September 18, 2027 Celebrate Falmouth Academy’s 50th Anniversary with events throughout 2027–2028 FA Launch Day, Anniversary Gala, Road Show, Reunions, Speaker Series & more
Honoring the Past. Inspiring the Future. For ongoing information visit www.falmouthacademy.org/anniversary
Falmouth Academy
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Marshfield, MA Permit # 51
engaging the challenges of our times
7 Highfield Drive Falmouth, MA 02540 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Printed on recycled paper, containing 10% post-consumer waste, that was harvested from responsibly managed forests. Printed with soy based inks.
Falmouth Academy
SCHOLARSHIP EXAM S AV E T H E D AT E Saturday, January 23, 2027 • 9:30 AM Learn more at falmouthacademy.org/admissions