Beyond Borders: Educating for Fluency in More Than Words
Language, Culture, and the Power of Immersion
Yaz Aubrey; Eva Muldoon, Dillon Fondren, and Declan Lane.
Not pictured: Seomae Aronson, Ava Churchill, David Gallagher, Apex Heywood, Peter Jeffrey, and Maria Soares.
CLASS OF 2025 MATRICULATION LIST
Babson College
Boston University (2)
Brandeis University
Bridgewater State University (2)
Bucknell University
Colby College
Connecticut College
Emmanuel College
Fairfield University
Kenyon College
Middlebury College
Northeastern University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Saint Michael’s College
Smith College
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2)
University of Vermont
Williams College
On their final day in Madrid, FA travelers placed their toes on kilómetro cero, the plaque at Puerta del Sol marking the center of Spain. From this point, six national roads radiate outward—to the Basque Country, Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, Extremadura, and Galicia—connecting diverse regional identities through a network of ancient routes. A fitting image to open the Spring 2025 edition of The GAM, dedicated to language, culture, and the power of immersion.
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
David Perry, Head of School
Petra Ehrenbrink, Academic Dean
Michael Deasy, Dean of Students
Katharine Enos, Director of Development
Sarah Knowles, Director of Admission and Enrollment Management
Carmen DiSanto, Director of Finance and Operations
Editorial Staff
Amy Galvam, Director of Communications
Barbara Campbell, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations
David Gallagher, Development Associate, Annual Giving and Operations
Photos: Martha Borden, Sia Canelos ’26 Jason Cullinane P’30, Leah Fasten P’22 P’25, Amy Galvam, Heather Haas P’26, Sophie Holmes ’27, Willow Lajoie ’26, Chris McGuire P’24, ’26, Susan Moffat, Ben Parsons, Britta Santamauro, George Scharr, Brenda Sharp, 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.
Back row (L-R): Susanna Lowell, Thomas Goux, Megan Dooley, Lila Journalist, Ethan Plotkin, Charlie Rickard, Theo Harding, Henry Richins, Julietta Marzot, Carly Coggins, and Gracie Coggins. Front row (L-R): Robby Lender, Maaya de Menocal, Devon Lansen-Alleyne; Anne Jeffrey;
Dear Friends,
Every spring at Falmouth Academy, something shifts. The days grow longer, the pace quickens, and our students begin to look outward: toward final projects, performances, and the wider world that awaits them. That outward gaze brings with it a deeper kind of learning—one rooted not just in content, but in fluency.
At Falmouth Academy, we think of fluency as more than mastering a language. It means learning to navigate cultural contexts, scientific questions, and the beautiful, sometimes messy complexity of human expression. A language assignment becomes a study in the textures of culture. In the Farm & Garden elective, students explore sustainability through science and practice, harvesting ingredients for homemade pizza topped with foraged herbs and ethically raised rabbit.
This spring, creativity and conviction showed up in many forms: the comedic timing of the middle school play, the harmonies of our new a cappella group, a Mozart recital performed with clarity and heart, and an Extended Inquiry project that helped inspire a town-wide balloon ban.
Fluency also means listening. In these pages, you’ll hear from a Ukrainian student whose quiet story of resilience invites reflection on how we hold space for one another across language and experience. You’ll read about “Sing Sistah Sing!,” a powerful visiting performance that challenged students to engage with Black history through music and storytelling. And you’ll hear from alumni—scientists, artists, journalists—who are building lives across borders and disciplines with purpose and integrity.
This spring, our students quite literally crossed borders, traveling to France, Germany, and, new this year, Spain for immersive exchanges with our partner schools. These shared experiences, full of linguistic stumbles and cultural discoveries, reminded us that connection, not perfection, is what makes learning meaningful.
That spirit continues this fall with the launch of our five-day boarding program. By welcoming students from farther afield into our daily life, we are expanding our community—not for the sake of growth alone, but to deepen the kind of learning that happens when different voices, backgrounds, and ideas come together.
This spring also marks the close of my first year at Falmouth Academy—a year of listening, learning, and watching this remarkable community in motion. I’ve seen firsthand how fluency here is more than a skill; it’s a mindset. To be fluent is to cross boundaries with curiosity, humility, and a readiness to grow. You’ll find that spirit throughout these pages—and throughout the halls of Falmouth Academy.
Warmly,
David Perry Head of School
The Big Finish
In February, Falmouth Academy’s middle schoolers staged Sideways Stories from Wayside School, a play that opens with a disappearing student and only gets stranger from there. Adapted from Louis Sachar’s offbeat novel, the production leaned into its humor and unpredictable energy.
The show marked the debuts of Spanish teacher Jennifer Park as director and Alaina Plueddemann ’15 as technical director. The crew did a masterful job creating a wacky classroom setting, letting the cast loose to bring this zany production to life.
As a special treat, the entire school gathered for an all-school matinee on Thursday, February 13, with a public performance the following night. Dean of Students Mike Deasy ’10, Middle School Coordinator Dr. Ben Parsons, and English teacher Monica Hough made surprise appearances, with Hough nearly stealing the scene with her theatrical flair.
For many students, Wayside was a story they grew up with. For others, it was a fast-paced dive into the joyful absurdity of middle school—a place where nonsense occasionally makes the most sense.
Above: Program cover art by Dalia Najarian ’29. Below (L-R): Josephine Gautier ’30, Mabel O’Connor ’30, Monica Hough, and Ashyln McGettrick ’30.
Bossi Pants
When Margaret “Maggie” Bossi started an all-male a cappella group last year, little did she know it would come to be known as Bossi Pants. With a wink to their fearless leader, known for her assertiveness and professionalism, the group aptly chose this tongue-in-cheek moniker.
Since their debut at the 2024 winter concert with a soulful rendition of “Change the World,” the ensemble has grown in confidence and talent. At the spring concert, they brought down the house with “Runaround Sue,” featuring Thomas Goux ’25 on lead. Most recently, at the 2025 winter concert, the group delivered doo-wop charm with “Good Night, Sweetheart, Goodnight” and Beatles nostalgia with “When I’m 64.”
The nickname is fitting—Bossi is as fierce and exacting as she is compassionate and fun. “She expects the best from us,” says Fletcher Parsons ’26, “because that’s exactly what she gives.”
While the a cappella group adds flair to the school’s vocal offerings, the foundation of the program remains the mixed chorus. Several students earned placements in this year’s Cape Cod Music Educators All-Cape Festival: Elise Casso ’26
(soprano), Genie Chang ’26 (tenor), Fletcher Parsons ’26 (bass), and Thomas Goux ’25 (bass) were selected for the Mixed Chorus, and Sophie Gaughan ’26 (soprano) was named to the prestigious Treble Chorus.
Now in her 53rd year of teaching music, Bossi’s illustrious career includes 25 years as the music director of the Chatham Chorale, where she left a lasting legacy. She currently serves as the full-time director of music at Dennis Union Church and is in her fifth year at Falmouth Academy.
Whether leading a festival piece or cueing a punchline from the conductor’s stand, Bossi brings a deep sense of craft and just enough mischief to remind her students that making music is serious(ly fun) work.
Back row (L-R): Ethan Plotkin ’25, Matthew Kellogg ’26, James Riddiford ’26, Genie Chang ’26, Beckham Peterson ’30. Front row (L-R): Robert Ronan ’26 and Maverick Pil ’26.
A Sweet Night, A Lasting Tribute
Each winter, Falmouth Academy students trade textbooks for tickets, transforming the campus into something unforgettable. The annual gala, organized by the Student Council, is more than a night of music, games, and the much-loved swing dance competition— it’s a longstanding tradition of student-led philanthropy.
This year’s gala was especially sweet, not just for its Night in Candyland theme, but because it honored former classmate Waylon Sauer ’25, who died in a tragic automobile accident on Martha’s Vineyard on November 14, 2023.
“This would have been Waylon’s senior year,” said fellow Vineyarder and lead planner Dillon Fondren ’25, “and this is one small way we could include him one more time before we graduate.”
Under the leadership of Student Council President Fondren, along with Vice President Susanna Lowell ’25, Secretary Declan Lane ’25, and Treasurer Genie Chang ’26, the event raised over $1,100 for the scholarship fund (gofundme.com/f/waylonmadison-sauer-scholarship-fund) created in Waylon’s name.
Proceeds support the Waylon Madison Sauer Memorial Scholarship Fund
5-DAY
BOARDING FALMOUTH ACADEMY
WEEKDAYS AT FA, WEEKENDS AT HOME
FA Launches 5-Day Boarding Program
For families who live over the bridge, off the coast, or down Cape, the logistics of attending Falmouth Academy have always required a certain amount of choreography and commitment. Beginning this fall, FA is launching a new program—The Five-Day Stay—to make that dance a little easier.
In April 2025, the Board of Trustees approved the new program, which was conceived by Head of School David Perry and designed for students who live beyond a daily commute, including those from Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. At a time when many schools are scaling back boarding, FA is leaning in, offering a modern, responsive, and accessible hybrid residential model that blends the best of home and school.
“Five-day boarding allows students to be present for the whole week—not just academically, but socially and culturally as well,” said Perry. “They can join clubs, play sports, attend events, and not have to rush to catch a ferry or a bus.”
For a school known for close relationships and thoughtful teaching, this new program is a natural extension—another way to cultivate connection, just a little further from home, offering our students the best of both worlds.
Rabbit Pizza
In honor of National Pie Day, students in Josh Leveque’s Farm & Garden elective got a flavorful lesson in sustainability. Guided by Leveque, middle schoolers crafted pizza pies using ingredients grown or foraged entirely in Falmouth, including homemade pesto, goat cheese, and rabbit sausage from Leveque’s own farm.
The project invited students to think critically about the environmental and ethical impact of food systems. From understanding where their ingredients came from to preparing them by hand, the activity highlighted the value of local sourcing and seasonal eating.
Leveque is well known in the local farming community and has been interviewed about everything from raising pygmy goats and saving seeds to the health benefits of goat milk. His work encourages students to see food not just as fuel, but as part of a larger ecosystem—one that calls for care, intention, and stewardship.
Even though Leveque is leaving his role as Director of Buildings and Grounds for greener pastures, he will return to continue teaching Farm & Garden.
L-R: Alana Rosbeck ’29, Josh Leveque, Evie Moffatt ’29, Alden Bank ’29, and Alex Abbo ’30.
Saltwater and Self-Discovery
Before sunrise, while their classmates back in Falmouth were just waking up, Amelia Russell-Schaeffer ’26, Wyatt Thornton ’26, and Cian Davis ’26 were diving into open ocean swims or lacing up for 80-minute runs. They weren’t on vacation—they were deep into a semester at The Island School, a remote, hands-on academic program in Eleuthera, Bahamas, where every day demands curiosity, stamina, and trust.
The 100-day program combines academic rigor with physical challenge and environmental immersion. Students earn SCUBA certification, conduct field research with scientists, and kayak or camp for days at a time. They spend 48 hours alone on a beach with only a journal, and end the semester with a four-mile openwater swim or half-marathon run.
“The Island School is a place where stepping outside your comfort zone is encouraged and making every second count is imperative,” said Russell-Schaeffer. “You grow up while also learning how to be a kid again.”
Though these students pursued the program independently— Russell-Schaeffer in the fall and Davis and Thornton in the spring—each worked closely with FA to ensure the time away aligned with their academic plans and graduation requirements. That collaboration reflects FA’s belief in learning that extends well beyond the classroom.
Top to bottom: Amelia Russell-Schaeffer ’26, Cian Davis ’26, and Wyatt Thornton ’26.
Poem of the Week
Poem of the Week is a relatively new FA tradition. It began with Lucia Gomez-Ibanez ’25, who pitched the idea in middle school as a creative outlet and content source for Resonance, FA’s award-winning student literary magazine.
Each week, Gomez-Ibanez would announce a writing prompt at All School Meeting and invite students to submit poems based on the theme. Contributing poets received a Dum Dum lollipop for their efforts.
When Gomez-Ibanez left FA, Ethan Plotkin ’25 stepped up in the fall of ninth grade to keep it going. Each week since, he has offered a prompt—sometimes seasonal, sometimes whimsical— and it’s up to the poet to interpret. Results have included haikus, odes, limericks, free verse, and the occasional inside joke.
Even the Dum Dum distribution bears Plotkin’s signature flair, with an underhanded toss that might just ricochet off your head if you’re not paying attention.
Whether it’s an ode to algebra, a reflection on the first snowfall, or a cheeky Shakespearean tribute to a friend, each poem offers a creative glimpse into the minds of the students and faculty who write them. Under Plotkin’s leadership, Poem of the Week has become a regular—and anticipated—weekly moment of levity, as students wait for his next prompt (or, hopefully, a wellaimed candy toss).
Titania
Hollis Oliver ’28 prompt: quotation
“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows.” Where shadows cast upon clay cliffs unfold, The ocean abounds, the water draws near. The salt-bitten rocks are secrets to hear. Winds of eternity cry on the eve And howl on further ’cross the blind sea.
Fish
fish
Silent swimmers in the blue, Whispers old and true.
A dance of shadows, a ballet of light, In the coral gardens, a dazzling sight. Majestic tails in a watery waltz, Through seaweed forests, the fish exalt. With colors vibrant, like a painter’s dream, They weave through currents, a living stream.
Alexandro deChiara ’28 prompt:
Frostbitten Slumber
Henry Redfield ’23 prompt: first snowfall
Eye
Gently wavering
Against the current of the bleak overpass.
I am not one to be prone to the Movements and Fleeting rustles of a Falling sky.
The chilling stroke of which Flows from ear to ear with A warmness and brevity
Unknown but for its posture. It musters the cold and gone And forthwith draws a hallowing breath To exhale one of the few, Soon to be many.
None but I see this.
A mist of vision it does impair, The willowed thoughts, But not that of which it sees.
Gently now, Frostbitten slumber. Your tone has gone and last. Seek now the somber end Of the night’s newborn grasp.
Oh Ethan
Dillon Fondren ’25 prompt: Shakespeare
Willow Lajoie ’26 prompt: lacking the letter "i"
“Eye” hope to spread my arms and fly To touch the sky
Maybe touch my toes to the sun, My face to the clouds, Hold the stars in my hand.
“Eye” hope to breathe beneath the surface, Blow bubbles for the crabs, Create harmony among the whales, Float with the sea otters.
“Eye” pray for these dreams
One day to be true.
Pray—maybe one day—
“Eye” shall see you.
Oh Ethan, thou art the sun’s bright ray, Lighting each morn with thy smile so gay.
For thou art a friend, truer than truth be told, Your insight into chemistry outweighs purest gold (196.9665 g/mol).
Russell Lavery Van
’28 prompt: XYZ
In the realm of X, where secrets lie, Y dances under a velvet sky.
Z whispers truths that once were lore, In this algebraic world, we explore.
Parijs
Musings & Murmurs on Middle School
Middle school is often dismissed as a transitional time, a waiting room on the way to something more serious. But to read Dr. Ben Parsons’ blog, Musings and Murmurs on Middle School, is to be reminded that these years are a world unto themselves— complex, joyful, confusing, formative—and worth paying attention to.
Launched this year, the blog is part reflection, part provocation, and part love letter to young adolescence. With humor, humility, and deep respect for the age group he serves, Parsons—FA’s Middle School Coordinator—writes to demystify the middle school years and celebrate the people who live and work within them.
In What Summer Camp Can Teach Us, Parsons draws a connection between the structure of a good camp and the kind of school environment that supports meaningful growth. He outlines four “camp virtues”—try new things, honor tradition, live in community, and play hard—and explains how these same values help students take positive risks to become more fully themselves
Game Time reflects on basketball season—not in terms of wins and losses, but in the growth that happens as much on the bench as on the court, as part of a group. He highlights moments when students surprised even themselves by stepping up, showing grace, and learning how to support one another in real time.
In Cover to Cover, Parsons makes a case for reading whole books—especially in an age of shortened attention spans and excerpted texts. “You can’t skim your way to deep understanding,” he writes. He describes how FA’s curriculum and classroom culture encourage a genuine love of reading—one that’s social, personal, and sustaining.
In Voltaire and Middle School, he reflects on the quote, “Il faut cultiver notre jardin” (we must cultivate our garden) as a fitting guide for adolescence. Whether it’s learning to apologize, giving feedback, or navigating the day with integrity, Parsons encourages students to tend to what is theirs: “the things within our control, the parts of the world we can touch.”
The blog doesn’t try to solve middle school or explain it away. It offers something better: an invitation to notice more, to assume less, and to take young people seriously—even, or especially, when they are still figuring themselves out.
As Parsons prepares to leave FA at the end of the academic year, Musings and Murmurs stands as one of his parting gifts—a thoughtful, clear-eyed reminder of what it means to grow—and to witness growth—in the middle.
L-R: Ben Parsons, Katie Connelly ’30, Alana Rosbeck ’29, and Evie Moffatt ’29.
Mozart, by Heart
Just moments after leaving the tennis courts in Mashpee, Zuanyu “Genie” Chang ’26 stepped onto the stage of Falmouth Academy’s Simon Center for the Arts and sat down at the piano. There was no sheet music. No warm-up. Just Mozart—and a packed house of more than 200 people waiting in silence.
The April 10 concert opened with a cheerful performance by Mullen-Hall Elementary School’s “Mako Madrigals,” whose third- and fourth-grade chorus set a warm tone. But when Chang began to play, the atmosphere shifted. His recital, delivered entirely from memory, unfolded with precision, elegance, and emotional depth.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said tennis coach Dana Miskell, who had just watched him compete on the courts hours earlier.
Chang has played piano since he was four, though his relationship with Mozart wasn’t always this reverent. “I used to think his music was like water—no texture, no flavor,” he said. “But I’ve come back to it. I’ve realized it’s a turbulent sea, the waves splashing my heart.”
Those waves were felt throughout the room. On the drive home, Development Director Katharine Enos asked her daughters if they’d noticed anything unusual about the performance. Her youngest, six-year-old Lucy, piped up: “No paper!” The family then marveled at what they’d witnessed: an entire concert, committed to memory and played with extraordinary poise.
Chang, an international student from China, is no stranger to hard work or high achievement. He serves as Student Council Treasurer, sings with the a cappella group Bossi Pants, and is one of four advanced musicians in the school’s International Ensemble. This spring, he also received an Honorable Mention at the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair.
His musical accomplishments are equally distinguished. Last year, he won first place in the Chatham Music Club Scholarship Competition and made history as the first pianist ever invited to perform in the Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s Southeast District Senior Festival. He returned to the festival this year as a vocalist.
At the close of the evening, Chang turned to the audience and said, “When I’m in my 70s, I’ll look back on this and remember each of you, because you were at my very first solo concert.”
Top: Genie Chang ’26 performs.
Bottom: The Mako Madrigals directed by FA parent Teresa Jazo P’26, P’28.
“Sing Sistah Sing!”
When students filed into the Simon Center on the morning of February 6, few could have anticipated the journey they were about to take—a stirring voyage across centuries and oceans, stitched together with opera, washboard, and the untold stories of resilience.
Tales of Transatlantic Freedom, an award-winning performance created by internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Andrea Baker and composer Howard Moody, did more than mark the start of Black History Month—it cracked open the canon. With haunting vocals, piano, and the raw, percussive pulse of a washboard played by the incomparable Newman Taylor Baker, the hour-long performance offered an evocative meditation on labor, survival, and cultural legacy across the African Diaspora.
Baker’s vocal prowess was on full display, but it was her emotional intelligence that captivated the room. She navigated sorrow and strength with equal fluency, channeling the pain of enslaved laborers and the hope of freedom seekers with every note. Interwoven throughout were narrative vignettes—some well-known, others long overlooked—that offered a global context for Black contributions to culture, science, and civil society.
The performance was presented in partnership with the Woods Hole Diversity Initiative (WHDI) and its Black History Month Committee, a collaboration that has deep roots at FA. This year’s event, however, marked the end of an era.
“Unfortunately, this is the last Black History Month partnership between FA and the Woods Hole Diversity Initiative,” remarked Amy Galvam, FA’s representative on the committee. “Together we’ve brought wonderful speakers and events to the wider community, and FA has been honored to host the kickoff for the last several years.” The WHDI formally disbanded at the end of February 2025.
Galvam herself has played a pivotal role in curating relevant and resonant programming for the school and broader community, bringing speakers to FA including Dr. Kathryn Hall, Deputy Commissioner for Population Health and Health Equity at the Boston Public Health Commission; author Ousmane Power-Greene; artist Robin Joyce Miller; jazz legend Terri Lyne Carrington; and Michael J. Bobbitt, executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
“When our choir director, Maggie Bossi, introduced us to this piece—created by Baker, her former student—it was clear that it had the power to move people,” Galvam said. “It connected to this year’s theme of labor in an immediate and unforgettable way.”
L-R: Howard Moody (piano), Andrea Baker (vocals), and her uncle, Newman Taylor Baker (washboard).
Up, Up, and No Way
When Faye McGuire ’26 walks the beaches of her hometown, she’s not just scanning for sea glass, she’s pulling out Mylar and other refuse tangled in seaweed or washed ashore, glinting like bait for unsuspecting seabirds.
“I became interested in this initiative because I grew up on the waters and on the beaches of Falmouth,” McGuire told the Select Board earlier this year. “I’m always picking up balloons and plastic trash.”
What began as an Extended Inquiry project at FA quickly expanded into a town-wide campaign to ban the sale and intentional release of helium balloons. The proposed bylaw— Article 19—targets balloons filled with lighter-than-air gases like helium, which drift for miles before falling into oceans and forests, where they get entangled with or ingested by marine life.
“The balloons were lighter-than-air when they were released,” McGuire told The Falmouth Enterprise in November, “but the problem is that they come down—and land in the environment: in oceans, forests, and even telephone poles—and, in the worst case, they light on fire.”
McGuire’s campaign included meetings with the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, outreach to towns like Nantucket and Chatham with similar bans, and organizing local forums. Her advocacy culminated on April 7, 2025, when she appeared before the Falmouth Select Board to request a formal amendment to the town’s bylaws. The board voted unanimously to approve her proposal, adding a new section to Chapter 191 of the Code of
Falmouth: “Prohibition of the sale and release of balloons inflated with lighter-than-air gas.”
The bylaw, which will be phased in before January 1, 2026, establishes fines of $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second, and $200 for each thereafter.
“Everyone here, I’m sure, has seen a kid handed a balloon and then they let go and it flies up and the kid’s crying,” McGuire said. “So, I’m not trying to penalize the toddler. I’m just trying to prevent that scenario from ever happening in the first place.”
“Plastic balloons land in the environment, and animals are drawn to them as food because of their pretty colors and ribbons,” she had told the Select Board in February. “They can get tangled up in their intestines, or they can starve because, obviously, there’s no nutritional value in plastic… they just starve to death.”
A junior at FA, McGuire is also a lacrosse player, aspiring Division III athlete, and future pre-med student. She recently shadowed a physician assistant at Cape Cod Hospital and brings the same curiosity and determination to both her scientific and civic pursuits.
“Towns on Cape Cod are doing a really good job of spreading this initiative,” she said. “Falmouth is sort of in a sweet spot, whereas we don’t have to be the first, but we have a chance to be part of progress in the right direction.” Thanks to McGuire’s persistence and leadership, Falmouth now joins the growing list of coastal towns protecting wildlife and the environment.
Shaped by Circumstance and Strengthened by Connection
In the hallways, Oleksandr “Sasha” Kaplenko ’26 laughs easily. He has the kind of presence that draws people in—warm, sharp, and a little mischievous. On the soccer field and basketball court, he’s the first to run up to a teammate and throw his arms around him, whether in consolation or celebration.
When Kaplenko stood in front of judges at the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair this spring, presenting his CRISPR-Cas9 project on GJB2 gene knockouts in Xenopus laevis—a project that earned him second place against some of the brightest science students in the state—it was hard to imagine that just three years earlier, he’d spoken very little English. His research, conducted with mentorship from scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory, was sophisticated and meticulous. But just as remarkable was the path that led him there.
In 2022, when Russian forces invaded Ukraine, Kaplenko and his mother sheltered for ten days in a basement outside Kharkiv with 28 people and four dogs. Shelling was constant, and casualties close. His mother, a physician, made the wrenching decision to flee both family and country to seek safety for her son. After crossing into Poland on foot, they began to search for a way forward.
“Sasha Kaplenko is an integral part of FA. His academic growth is noteworthy, and he brings a ferocity to athletics that his opponents can only aspire to.
He has a knack for languages, an aptitude for science, and in history, he asks nuanced questions about his adopted country.
As his advisor, I could not be prouder of Sasha’s growth as an individual. He is a remarkable student, and future teachers will be lucky to have him.”
—Matt Barnes
Meanwhile, on Cape Cod, FA parent Julia Zagachin (P’21, P’26) approached the school with a bold idea to host a displaced Ukrainian student. The school said yes, offering a scholarship, academic support, and help obtaining a visa.
“It felt like an opportunity for FA to be a part of the solution in a modest way,” said former Head of School Matt Green, “but also an opportunity to enroll a great kid who might enrich the educational experience for all of our students.”
Kaplenko arrived in Falmouth in June 2022, celebrated his 14th birthday with the Zagachins, and started school that fall. Today, he lives with Julia, her husband Ivan Djikaev, and their son Marc ’26, now his close friend and teammate.
In early April, Kaplenko and classmate David Aubrey ’26 were invited to give a short presentation about science fair to FA’s Board of Trustees. In his remarks, Kaplenko shared that it was Marc’s hearing loss that inspired his research—and that he undertook the project as a way to give back and express his deep appreciation for the family who had welcomed him. His work used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to disable the GJB2 gene in Xenopus laevis, a species of frog commonly used in biomedical research. Mutations in GJB2 are a major cause of congenital hearing loss in humans.
It seems Green was prescient. Kaplenko is now an essential part of the community and, in many ways, quintessentially FA—a scholar-athlete known for his quick wit and good humor. He’s well-beloved and a natural in the lab and on the court—named this year’s MVP of the Cape & Islands League Lighthouse Division for basketball and an All-Star last year.
There’s a quiet intensity to Kaplenko that belies his good nature—a blend of curiosity and courage, shaped by circumstance and strengthened by connection. His advisor, Matt Barnes, regards him as “a remarkable student” whose academic strength is matched by his athletic agility. Whatever comes next—college, research, home—he carries with him the school’s hopes and his homeland’s dignity.
The glory and freedom of Ukraine have not yet perished.
Luck will still smile on us, fellow Ukrainians.
We, too, will live happily in our land...
—Ukrainian National Anthem
Falmouth Academy’s modern language curriculum spans six years and includes French, German, and Spanish, with students engaging in meaningful communication from their very first class. Courses are led by experienced faculty, many of whom are native speakers or have lived and studied abroad, who bring global experience into the classroom. By the upper levels, students are well prepared for the AP Language and Culture exams and are eligible to earn the Global Seal of Biliteracy. Each language program also sponsors a cultural immersion trip for upper-level students: the German exchange began in 1988, the French in 2003, and this year marked the launch of the Spanish exchange.
ometimes the best learning begins when the plan goes off course.
The trip began not with the anticipated touchdown in Madrid but with an earlymorning text saying the flight was canceled. What followed was a day full of misdirection, unanswered questions, and hours of waiting at Logan Airport. Fifteen eager students and their two chaperones—Director of Technology Martha Borden and Director of Communications Amy Galvam—were headed for Tudela, Spain, for the second part of FA’s first Spanish language exchange, which began at FA in the fall.
Prométour, the school’s tour company, advised the group to head to Logan as early as possible to speak with Lufthansa directly about other flights. Upon arrival, the group found that the airline counters and most everything in the international terminal were closed until late afternoon. When a Lufthansa agent finally arrived, they explained that only the tour company could rebook the group and that, at that late hour, most other flights were full. “It was a circular circus,” Borden said. “And we were stuck in the middle!” Borden took it upon herself to navigate the rebooking, while Galvam worked with Prométour on lodging for the night, kept an eye on the students, and updated anxious parents.
Amid the logistical mess, something lovely emerged. “The students made the best of it,” recalled Galvam, “navigating both the uncertainty of the situation and their disappointment.” She noted that they kept themselves busy playing cards, reading, crafting, listening to music, walking laps around the terminal, and even managing to make meals from the only available options, Hudson News and Dunkin’ Donuts.
She recalled a particularly poignant moment when seniors Carly and Gracie Coggins ’25 went out of their way to assist a fellow stranded passenger, a woman traveling alone to Morocco whose flight had also been canceled. “She spoke very little English, had no cellphone, and knew no one in Boston,” Carly explained. The two sisters stayed with her, helping to navigate her options until another traveler who spoke Arabic stepped in.
Left: Playa de la Concha (La Concha Beach), San Sebastián.
Top: Group photo in front of Roger de Llúria Monument part of a series commemorating Catalan heroes.
Above: Waiting at Logan Airport.
“It was a brief but beautiful exchange,” recalled Galvam, “that captured the spirit of the whole trip.”
Many things did not go as planned—from missing the first day in Tudela to navigating rainy weather in Madrid—but the students, said Galvam, met each moment and every challenge with grace and good humor.
“There were a few rough moments, like not getting the flight to Spain right away, but even that we managed to turn into a fun hotel experience,” said Nickolas Leach ’27
It may not have been the trip they expected, but in a very real way, it was the kind of learning FA’s language immersion programs are designed to provide.
Cultural exchanges have been part of FA’s curriculum for three decades, and they don’t just expand language facility; they cultivate adaptability, empathy, humility, and confidence, remarked Spanish Teacher Jennifer Park, who took the lead in planning this first Spanish adventure. “We considered just taking a trip but felt strongly about having the in-home exchange experience,” said Park.
When the charter bus pulled into the school parking lot in Tudela late afternoon on a rainy Tuesday, March 11, the weary travelers were greeted by their Spanish hosts balancing umbrellas over their heads while waving flags and holding up homemade welcome signs.
FA students were paired with host families and spent the week attending school, exploring the sights, and immersing themselves in daily life. Hosts took the students to various tourist destinations, including Pamplona, known for the running of the bulls; Zaragoza, a university town with UNESCO heritage sites; the Roman ruins of Olite; and the striking unique landscape of the Bardenas Reales
Everyone tasted the regional cuisine, which featured ham, chorizo, potatoes, seafood, eggs, olives, and olive oil, often served as small sharing dishes known locally as pinchos (tapas).
“School was enjoyable, but I think the best part of the trip was the time we spent with our exchange students, their families, and their friends,” said Willow Lajoie ’26
Thomas Hirth ’26 noticed the difference it made having an insider perspective when sightseeing. “By being with people who live there, we got to experience the town in a way I haven’t done before.”
However, one of the students’ favorite activities was, perhaps, the most ordinary—each evening, they would meet in the town square and wander the streets of Tudela together.
Clockwise from left: Evening in Tudela; Sia Canelos ’26 with host family; Gracie Coggins ’25 with host at Bardenas Reales; Gabe Coughlin ’27 with host family; Sophia Holmes ’27 with host family; view of Tudela from the Cerro de Santa Bárbara (Hill of Santa Barbara); chotis dance lesson; tortilla cooking class.
“I enjoyed just being with my host girl and exploring her city,” reminisced Gracie Coggins ’25. “After school, we would go to different restaurants and try new foods, and later, we would walk around with the whole exchange. I thought that this was super immersive because it was something that the Spanish students did regularly.”
Students also took part in unique cultural lessons at school, including learning to dance the chotis, a regional group polka often danced at festivals, and a cooking competition for the best tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelet), won by the Coggins sisters, Sia Canelos ’26, and Nina McKim Kight ’26.
The full exchange enjoyed a day of sunshine as they visited Donostia/San Sebastián, located in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. Together they walked through the narrow streets lined with shops and restaurants, taking in the architecture, history, local sites, and beautiful beaches. Most students singled out this day as one of their favorites, but Matt Brown ’26 said it “was the most memorable.” Brown and a few others took advantage of the opportunity to swim in the picturesque but chilly Bay of Biscay.
On Monday morning, March 17, after an adventure-packed weekend of sightseeing with their hosts, the group said farewell to Tudela and boarded a charter bus for a brief taste of Madrid before flying home pre-dawn on Wednesday, March 19. Driving over the pass with snow hitting the windshield, the students readied themselves for unseasonably cold, wet weather. However, their dampened spirits were lifted by a surprise visit from Spanish teacher Jennifer Crowley and her son Mason ’28, who took a four-hour bus ride from Sevilla to accompany the group for less than 24 hours. Crowley taught all the students on the exchange and helped prepare them for the trip. The Crowleys met everyone in the hotel lobby and greeted them with a traditional treat of churros y chocolate!
While in Madrid, the group visited the Royal Palace, took in a flamenco show, sampled tapas, and had a guided tour of the Prado Museum, with plenty of free time to walk and explore the city with friends.
This newest exchange with the Instituto de Educación Secundaria Benjamín de Tudela joins the longstanding partnerships with the Hölderlin Gymnasium in Heidelberg, Germany, and the Lycée d’Estienne d’Orves in Nice, France. All three took place simultaneously over March break—an ambitious first for the school—with German Teacher Gundi Eder and Librarian Britta Santamauro leading the German trip and Middle School Coordinator Ben Parsons and French Teacher Hayley Yeamans chaperoning the French exchange.
As with any pilot program, there will be refinements and adjustments, but for a first run, the Spanish exchange was a clear success—a thoughtfully constructed opportunity for students to practice a new language and learn a new culture, along with the messy, generous, deeply human lessons that come with both.
Gracie Coggins ’25 summed it up best: “This trip provided the perfect amount of fun and challenge to get me outside my comfort zone. Although going to a country that speaks a different language is scary, the people I was with made everything seem doable. It made me realize that with learning and improvement come many mistakes, but that’s inevitable and beneficial.”
GRADE 10
Gabe Coughlin (Paula Díez Pola)
Sophie Holmes (Nerea Martínez Sánchez)
Nick Leach (Enneco Orta Jarauta)
*Sophie McSherry (Andrea Ramírez Lamana)
Tildy Moehnke (Claudia Ballabriga Farras)
Weston Mogul (Lucas Tirapu Aguado)
Elyse Sharpe (Irene Gaztañaga Lozano)
GRADE 11
Matt Brown and *Marc Djikaev (Ion Serrano Erdozáin)
Sia Canelos (Mencía Teribia Conde)
Hannah Flanders (Sandra Burgaleta Arroyo)
Thomas Hirth (Aimar Pérez Jiménez)
Willow Lajoie (Candela Tabuenca Burgos)
Nina McKim Kight (Beatriz Lizar Clemente)
Robert Ronan (Sara Lanciego Marqués)
GRADE 12
Carly Coggins (Naia Corral Agudo)
Gracie Coggins (Lucía Plaza Sanz)
CHAPERONES
Amy Galvam (Gabriel Garde Herce)
Martha Borden (Sara Crespo)
*hosted in Falmouth, but did not travel to Spain
Above: A light-filled nook inside the Royal Palace.
Above: 2024–25 German exchange group.
Below: 2024–25 French exchange group.
A History of Foreign Exchanges
Julie Taylor, FA’s former college guidance director, once noted that Falmouth Academy’s foreign language program is one of the most demanding in the country. One of the ways FA enhances foreign language learning for its students is by offering them the opportunity for exchanges with “sister” schools abroad.
One of the school’s first international students, Sonke Storch ’88, returned to Heidelberg, Germany raving about FA after having spent time here. In the 1988–89 school year, our first exchange took place with Sonke’s school, the Hölderlin Gymnasium, with 13 students coming to FA. Twelve students, led by Bruce and Patrice Buxton and Sarah Forney, visited Hölderlin for three weeks in return.
The FA-Hölderlin language exchange has continued ever since! In addition, during 2001–02, Deborah Bradley and Hölderlin’s music director Marika Osterholt initiated an orchestra exchange. The Hölderlin Orchestra performed at FA with the FA Chamber Orchestra in the fall of 2001. In the spring, FA Chamber Orchestra musicians traveled to Heidelberg to perform with Hölderlin musicians. The exchange was repeated in 2003, with a gala performance in the elegant Spiegelsaal des Prinz Carl.
Inspired by former teacher Claudine Marquet, FA’s French exchange program began with a diverse range of experiences. Early exchanges, led by Marquet, Gisèle Tillier, and Bradley, included a visit to Collège Marie de France in Montréal and trips to the French cities of Lyon, Pau in the Pyrénées, and Chantilly. In 2004, our founding faculty members wanted to honor FA’s first headmaster, Worthington Campbell, who had spent much of his career in Nice, France. Campbell had a friend there who taught English at the Lycée d’Estienne d’Orves and was interested in creating an exchange with FA. FA teachers Deborah Bradley and Ben Parsons have played key roles in keeping the exchange running for the last 20 years.
FA has hosted other types of student trips. In 2006–07, five students traveled with Richard Sperduto and Ginny Edgcomb for three weeks in Norway studying environmental practices.
Susan Moffat led a trip to Cuba in 2011–12, while Doug Jones took students to Rome in 2016–17. Carol DiFalco led three servicelearning trips to Costa Rica from 2018 to 2022. Susan Moffat and Ben Parsons teamed up with Pusit Atthaoraek and his wife Oy, for a guided trip with 15 students to his home country of Thailand.
Whether language based or more broadly cultural, these opportunities for students to “go beyond the bridge”—far beyond—have broadened their horizons through personal connections and intercultural immersion. This is but one way in which FA strives to teach its students open-mindedness and appreciation for “the other” in our globally connected world.
Top to bottom:
In 1989, FA students visited Montréal, shown here with Collège Marie de France. A group led by FA’s German teachers Dr. Petra Ehrenbrink and Frau Gundi Eder traveled to Heidelberg and included many members of the Class of 2010. A visit to Thailand in 2019 included a traditional welcome ceremony featuring Buddhist incantations, live music, dancing, and assorted dishes.
Students visited Costa Rica in 2019, where they participated in service projects, such as rehabilitating a soccer field and painting new gym equipment.
SOCCER
Fall 2024
GIRLS VARSITY
Coaches: Ben Parson and Hayley Yeamans
Team Captains: Susanna Lowell ’25 and Anne Jeffrey ’25
CAPE AND ISLANDS LEAGUE LIGHTHOUSE DIVISION AWARDS
ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
Anne Jeffrey ’25
Susanna Lowell ’25
Faye McGuire ’26
HONORABLE MENTION
Maria Soares ’25
BOYS VARSITY
Coaches: Mike Deasy ’10 and Matt Barnes
Team Captains: Ezra Ackerman ’26 and Fletcher Parsons ’26
CAPE AND ISLANDS LEAGUE LIGHTHOUSE DIVISION AWARDS
ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
Marc Djikaev ’26
Ezra Ackerman ’26
Luke Okoshi-Michel ’26
HONORABLE MENTION
Fletcher Parsons ’26
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
Coaches: Ross Irwin and Hayley Yeamans (Girls) and Jesse Brown (Boys)
SUPER SIX LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Girls MS finished their regular season undefeated for the second year in a row with a 7-0 record after a 6-0 win over St. Pius X.
Boys MS ended their season with two spectacular wins against SJP II (1-0) and St. Pius (6-4).
Clockwise from above: Marc Djikaev ’26; Ezra Ackerman ’26; Luke Okoshi-Michel ’26; Anne Jeffrey ’25; Maria Soares ’25; Fletcher Parsons ’26.
Clockwise from left: Girls Middle School players celebrate winning the championship; Susanna Lowell ’25; Boys Middle School team hams it up for a team photo; Faye McGuire ’26.
CROSS COUNTRY
Fall 2024
Coaches: Jason Cullinane, Jon Olson, and Anne Curi Preisig
Team Captains: Seomae Aronson ’25, Ethan Plotkin ’25, and Henry Richins ’25
GIRLS VARSITY
MVP
Elise Casso ’26
BOYS VARSITY
ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
Hollis Oliver ’28
Henry Richins ’25
HONORABLE MENTION
Cian Davis ’26
INDIVIDUAL SPORTSMANSHIP
Harrison Webb ’26
JJ Marzot ’25 Signs to Play Soccer with Boston University
In November, Julietta “JJ” Marzot ’25 celebrated her commitment to the Boston University Terriers women’s soccer program with a signing ceremony in Morse Hall surrounded by family and friends. The event featured a special tribute by her former teammates, Gracie and Carly Coggins ’25, highlighting Marzot’s dedication and impact as a player and a person.
A standout defender, Marzot earned League All-Star honors as a sophomore, showcasing her skill and leadership. While her time playing for the school’s team was limited, she honed her abilities with the South Shore Select club team, earning regional recognition through the New England Premiership (NEP) NPL id2 Program.
“JJ is a phenomenal soccer player, but what sets her apart is her drive and dedication in all areas of her life,” said Dr. Ben Parsons, Girls Varsity Soccer Coach. “She’s an impressive student and an exceptional peer who elevates those around her. We are thrilled to see her continue her soccer career at Boston University and know she will achieve great things both on and off the field.”
Clockwise from above: Elise Casso ’26; Henry Richins ’25, Cian Davis ’26, and Harrison Webb ’26; Hollis Oliver ’28.
Alumni Networking Day 2024
The Entrepreneurial Spirit of Falmouth Academy Creates Thoughtful Changemakers
In the early years of FA, supporters liked to say that we were entrepreneurs: not just the teachers and trustees, but also the students. We were pioneers who saw potential and were willing to take risks to achieve a shared vision.
This entrepreneurial spirit became part of the fabric of FA and laid the foundation for a lasting commitment among its alumni to make a positive impact in whatever ventures they pursue. It has always been about more than just academic achievement; it’s about inspiring students to become thoughtful leaders and changemakers in their communities and beyond.
At Alumni Networking Day in December, four alumni panelists shared invaluable insights into their professional journeys, highlighting the diverse paths they have taken and the lessons learned along the way.
They were (left to right above) Yuki Honjo ’90, CEO of McLane Research Laboratories; Amy (Ballentine) Stevens ’96, Principal of Ballentine’s Boat Shop and Doughdish; Thomas Evangelista ’16, Chief Technical Officer of Scrapp; and Nick Lowell ’88, Founder and President of Lowell Instruments LLC.
“When you think about starting your own business, the stars need to align,” said Lowell. A customer at his former company asked for an improved version of an existing product. “My boss thought that was a terrible idea. I thought it was a great idea, so I left the job to start my own business. That was 13 years ago, and now I have five employees and make low-cost oceanographic equipment that’s used in Woods Hole and around the world. Sometimes you have to pry the door open a bit. For me, there was a door ajar, and I went through it.”
All the panelists agreed that the most rewarding part of owning a business is creating a product that solves a real-world problem. Evangelista said the best days are when you realize, “I’ve built something that nobody else has ever done before.”
For Honjo, the joy lies in discovery. “Waking up each day and knowing I have a really cool science project to solve. It’s like a dream job.”
The panelists also acknowledged the challenges of entrepreneurship. “People issues are the hardest,” said Lowell. Stevens added, “It’s tough sometimes knowing that I am responsible for the livelihoods of other families.”
Honjo emphasized the importance of fostering career growth, especially within the unique context of Cape Cod’s seasonal job
market. “People often have jobs either at the very bottom or the very top. It’s important to me for people to grow in their jobs and have careers. I want them to have a safe, energetic, and creative environment. I work very hard to make sure that can happen.”
Bureaucracy and red tape were the biggest frustrations for Evangelista. Navigating such complexities can be daunting, particularly for small businesses. “You don’t get any slack for being a small business,” he said, recalling a 100-page compliance document he once received from Germany. “You still have to comply.”
Understanding how to assess the health of your business is crucial. “Know when to seek advice,” said Honjo. “I spend about a quarter of my time trying to stay on top of export laws, documentation, and intellectual property.” All the panelists agreed that serious entrepreneurs need legal representation so they can focus on their mission. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, they advised.
While two of the panelists attended business school and two did not, all agreed on the importance of taking at least some accounting courses. You need a vocabulary to read a balance sheet and manage inventory. Stevens encouraged students to keep an open mind when planning their futures.
“Promise yourself that it’s okay to change your mind. That was really important to me. I had a broad education from FA and college, and I permitted myself to keep my options open.”
Honjo ended the panel, saying, “But learn accounting… just in case.”
6 KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR ASPIRING ENTREPRENUERS
▪ Look for opportunities
▪ Get a broad education
▪ Be dedicated to your mission
▪ Learn work/life balance
▪ Hire people who are good at things you’re not— especially in legal and HR
▪ Learn accounting
Three Perspectives on Landing an Engineering Job
“If it weren’t for engineers, we’d still be rubbing sticks together to try to make a fire.”
—Nick Lowell ’88 Founder and President, Lowell Instruments LLC
Engineers are the ants of the maker world—industrious, collaborative, and essential. Nearly everything around us was designed by an engineer: the beams in the gym, the thickness of the tables, the unseen components inside the devices we use every day. Some engineers work on massive systems; others create small but critical pieces that are rarely noticed.
On Alumni Networking Day, three mechanical engineers shared their career paths and advice with students (left to right above): Kyle Benton ’12, Senior Innovation Consultant at EPAM Continuum; Nick Lowell ’88, Founder and President of Lowell Instruments LLC; and Mason Jones ’17, Design Engineer at GE Aerospace.
Two of the speakers were Northeastern University graduates and credited the co-op program with helping them explore career options. The program, they said, allows students to “test drive” jobs in various industries to find the right fit.
Jones, for example, interned at CNK Components, a company that designs switches. It may not sound thrilling, but switches are everywhere, he pointed out. At CNK, he worked on the drafting team and learned AutoCAD. His second co-op was at GE Aerospace—where he now works full time as a manufacturing engineer. He also spent two months in New Zealand with 20 other students as part of the Dialogue of Civilizations program, studying fluid mechanics in hostel lounges across the North and South Islands. He participated in clubs like Engineers Without Borders and interned at WHOI.
All three alumni encouraged students to take on side projects and join engineering organizations. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Jones stayed busy by building remote-controlled airplanes out of old Science Fair boards. “I used the foam core as
the fuselage and tested the planes on a local soccer field,” he said “I talked about it in interviews, and they thought it was cool—it showed a passion for aerospace.”
Not every project leads to a product that makes it to market. But that doesn’t mean the effort is wasted. “Sometimes you’re going to make a really cool thing that no one is ever going to see,” said Benton. “But engineering is about understanding how things work and using that knowledge to make them better.”
A broad technical foundation—especially one that spans disciplines—can open doors. “One of the things I like about the projects I’m working on now,” said Lowell, “is that they combine mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.”
There’s more overlap between fields than many students realize, he added. Lowell advised students to explore a variety of introductory courses. “They can help you figure out what direction you want to take. If you enjoy an intro to software engineering class, that might be your path. If a bridge-building project excites you, mechanical engineering could be a good fit.”
As one student said, “I want to know more about engineering because I really love solving problems.”
Real engineering, Benton emphasized, is the ability to apply your knowledge to real-world situations. Problem-solving is the “protein” of engineering, he said. The more versatile your background, the more valuable you become to a design team.
TIPS ON GETTING INTO ENGINEERING AS A CAREER
▪ Join engineering clubs in college
▪ Be creative when choosing introductory classes
▪ Don’t be afraid to discuss non-academic activities or personal projects in interviews
▪ Look for internships in various engineering fields to discover what you do, and don’t, want to pursue
How a Consultant Journeyed from Harvard to MIT
A Discussion with FA Juniors and Seniors on Alumni Networking Day 2024
Carlo Bocconcelli graduated from FA in 2014 and from Harvard University in 2018. At FA, Bocconcelli won the Science Fair three times, claimed three first-place prizes at the regional fair, and earned four top awards at the state fair. He was named a semifinalist in the Intel Science Talent Search and was invited to participate in the International Science & Engineering Fair. Additionally, Bocconcelli interned at the Marine Biological Laboratory and was one of three National Merit finalists on Cape Cod in 2014 (his FA classmate, Luke Johns, was another).
“I studied physics at Harvard and explored various internships in science and biotech, but I wasn’t sure if that was the right fit for me,” Bocconcelli reflected. “If you don’t yet know what type of business or industry you’re interested in, consulting can be an excellent choice after college. It offers a variety of opportunities, allowing you to learn and position yourself to select what fits you best.”
Bocconcelli’s path into consulting was somewhat serendipitous. “I started at a management consulting firm and spent three years there before transitioning to private equity and growth investing in small businesses. Now, I work at MIT’s endowment, where we oversee a broad range of investments, both directly and in partnership with other investment funds.”
The MIT endowment, which supports the university, manages billions of dollars. However, they only use a small percentage each year to ensure the endowment continues to grow. Bocconcelli explained, “Our team of 12 looks for good investment opportunities worldwide. We’re all generalists across asset classes, and the organizational structure is flat, with the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) overseeing us. MIT’s endowment encourages independent thought and contrarian ideas. If you identify an interesting opportunity, you must convince a number of colleagues to collaborate on the research and present your case to the CIO.”
Bocconcelli had initially planned to pursue a Ph.D. or a career in biotech. “But halfway through, I realized that I didn’t enjoy being in the lab every day,” he said. “My advice is to try a variety
of things and not lock yourself into one path too early. Most people I know working in finance didn’t study finance in college. A liberal arts degree can open many doors.”
He further noted, “The summer after your sophomore year is when you need to get serious about your future. I worked at a biotech company and quickly realized it wasn’t for me. A mentor at the company suggested I try consulting, and that really changed the trajectory of my career. It’s hard to know what you’ll enjoy without first experiencing it, especially when you’ve never had a full-time job.”
While in college, Bocconcelli found consulting to be an ideal way to explore different industries. “Consulting is a great way to figure out what kind of work you like. Most people either transition to industry roles or go to business school after consulting. As a consultant, you work on teams and have senior colleagues teaching you the ropes. It’s a bit like an apprenticeship, with exposure to a wide range of industries and projects.”
However, he cautioned, “It’s a lot of hard work. You can be assigned to high-priority, time-sensitive projects. You need to be comfortable with math, intellectually curious, and willing to learn on the job. It sharpens your ability to think strategically, research effectively, and quickly form mental concepts. Communication skills are key to presenting your ideas.”
Bocconcelli also spent a significant amount of time in the private equity sector, focusing on due diligence for potential investments. “We’d assess a company’s competitive advantage by asking key questions—Is it selling good products? Is it defensible? Who are their competitors? Is the market growing, and why? What are customers saying? We’d analyze financials and speak with experts. It’s a crash course in understanding an industry in a short period. The access to information and the opportunity to converse with interesting people were some of the most rewarding parts of that job.”
This experience eventually led Bocconcelli to the MIT endowment. “It was pure serendipity,” he said. “I was actively looking for jobs in Boston when I was fortunate enough to connect with the MIT endowment. I was extremely lucky to be hired.”
Four Weeks in the Life of a Robotics Engineer Alumni Networking Day Breakout Groups
Allisa Dalpe ’12 always knew she wanted to be an engineer; she just wasn’t sure what discipline to choose until her junior year at Connecticut College. It was then, during a study abroad program—SEA Semester, based in Woods Hole—that she realized her passion for using her physics degree to work with the ocean. This led her to complete a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering at the University of New Hampshire. Today, Dalpe is a Research Engineer in the Deep Submergence Laboratory at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
Invited to speak to FA’s Women in Science & Engineering (FA WiSE) Club, Dalpe gave a brief overview of her four-week research mission to explore, map, and obtain samples from the glacial termini in the southwest corner of Greenland.
The mission’s home base was an Irish ship, the RV Celtic Explorer, out of Galway. Dalpe and her teammates used remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to map the glacial face and the seafloor underneath the iceberg. During one dive, just after deployment, a massive iceberg “broke off.” It was about 16 acres in size!
“There’s a high risk to this work, but the high reward was taking some of these maps that no one had collected before because conventional vehicles can’t get up close to the active glacier. We were actually able to map the glacier itself,” Dalpe explained.
She also shared with the students that currents play a major role in creating caves below glaciers. “There are a whole bunch of different dynamics happening to affect the current flows. We’ve seen plumes of sediment come rushing out,” she said.
Navigating in such an environment is no easy feat. Dalpe noted that one of the biggest challenges is simply knowing where you are. “It can be a really difficult problem,” she explained. This is especially true in the Arctic, where thick ice cover makes it hard to identify open pools of water to deploy and retrieve vehicles.
While some vehicles provide real-time feedback, others require engineers to rely on acoustics. “We essentially get a text message from the vehicle giving minute-to-minute updates, so we have a decent idea of where it is,” she said.
Thinking outside the box is a highly valued trait in engineering. Dalpe emphasized, “Because we want to reduce the risk, we might go with what has previously worked. But if we’re okay with more risk, we might go outside the box and experiment.”
In her bio on NautilusLive.org, Dalpe reflects on her time at FA, saying, “FA was highly influential to me. I was fortunate to have several amazing teachers who provided a supportive environment for students to build confidence, question the world around them, and articulate those ideas effectively. These have been invaluable tools I use every day in my career.”
College Tips
Evan Hutker ’07, Industrial Designer and Business Development Manager at PA Consulting, Harly Hutker ’11, Senior Designer, Hutker Architects Inc.
Boston Alumni Group Gets Together
What do a couple of aspiring urban planners, a human factors engineering student, an investment advisor, and a newly minted family nurse practitioner have in common? These jobs belong to some of the 40 alumni who got together in Boston with David Perry, Head of School; Katharine Enos, Director of Development; and Barbara Campbell, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations.
Jeff Moon ’92, Integrated Product Team Lead, Raytheon, and Christine Pina ’86, Chief Advancement Officer for Miss Porter’s School.
Jenna Benton, Kyle Benton ’12, EPAM Continuum Senior Innovation Consultant, and Scout Burchill ’11, Research Analyst IN2.
Pai-Lin Hunnibell ’15, Program Manager at Boston Children’s Hospital, Tessa Mastroianni ’15, Family Nurse Practitioner, Mass General Hospital, and Tori Avis ’15, Master in City Planning Candidate ’26 | MIT DUSP.
Eric Schmitt ’07, Data Scientist and Deep Learning and AI group at Shell, Justin Campbell ’07, Vice President of Business Development at New England Medical Group, and Courtney Carpenter.
Alyssa Gantz Thompson ’03, Project Coordinator for Adams + Beasley Associates, Bishakha Oli ’19, Investment Associate at Harvard Management Company.
Nichole (Fleury) Burns ’10, Cargill Regional Production Excellence Leader, Isaac Goldman ’11, Freelance Graphic Designer, and Janaye Rooney ’10, Product Designer at Fidelity Investments.
Dan Sakakini ’13, Head of Business Development at Nine North, Inc., and Ingrid Hammond ’99, Bain Capital Operating Partner in private equity.
1980s
Mark Russell ’80 and his wife Jan Frost stopped by FA with friends and attended All School Meeting, where they encountered Dana Miskell P’06, ’07, who began teaching at FA midway through its first year. Dana and his wife Eileen went on to operate Wood Lumber, and when they retired a few years ago, Dana returned to his teaching roots at FA, where he now tutors students in math.
Congratulations to Jen (Schneider) Ziskin ’89 and her spouse, Chef Joshua Ziskin, whose restaurant La Morra was once again named one of Boston’s most romantic restaurants by Boston Magazine. Both La Morra and the couple's other restaurant, Punch Bowl, are located in Brookline.
1990s
Congrats to FA trustee Greg Clancy ’97 and Clancy Construction for being named one of New England’s fastest-growing companies by The Boston Globe
2000s
Blake (Pearlstein) Shalem ’04, Senior Director of Customer Experience at Abacus Group, was recognized on CRN’s 2024 Next-Gen Solution Provider Leaders list. This honor highlights rising stars in the IT channel who are driving innovation and delivering exceptional value to clients. Shalem co-founded Gotham Security in 2013, a firm specializing in cybersecurity services, which was acquired by Abacus Group.
Congratulations to Greg Joyce ’06 and his partner Emilia Tartaro. They are the new owners of Quick’s Hole in Woods Hole, formerly owned by past FA board chair Beth Colt P’16, ’19. A social media post shared that Joyce and Tartaro met while working at the restaurant. We wish them the best of luck with their new endeavor!
Isabel Stearns ’09 and Cassie Weare ’16 both hosted craft booths at the winter holiday market at SoWa Power Station in Boston. Weare was selling her pottery and Stearns marketed her felted creatures.
Among the 40 members of the Massachusetts State Senate who were sworn in on January 1 was newly elected State Senator Dylan A. Fernandes ’08 (D), top left, who represents Bourne, Falmouth, Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Sandwich. Fernandes was a state representative from 2017 until 2024. He serves as Chair of the Committee on Agriculture & Fisheries, Vice Chair on the Committee on Environment & Natural Resources, and Committee on Cannabis Policy, and is a member of the Committees on Climate, Utilities and Energy, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Transportation, and Intergovernmental Relations. FA’s 9th grade visited the MA State House, where they met Fernandes, and explored how civic leadership addresses today’s interconnected global challenges. The visit was part of Changing Earth, FA’s signature year-long program that invites students to examine global change through the interconnected perspectives of science, history, and English.
2010s
Jules Buccino ’10 received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Glendale, AZ, in 2023. During her time in dental school, she also received the American Association of Women Dentists Award. In June 2023, she married Matthew Starkey in a beachside ceremony on Martha’s Vineyard, and they welcomed daughter Evelyn in May 2024. Buccino practices as a family dentist at Kids Dental Care in Fall River and Middleboro.
Harly Hutker ’11 has returned to Falmouth to join Hutker Architects as a Senior Designer. She received a Master of Architecture from the University of Texas, Austin, and did her undergrad at Northeastern. She worked as an urban designer in Boston and New York, and also worked in Texas at a firm developing designs for both residential and commercial projects.
Sean McGurl ’11 is the Manager of Education Sustainability Initiatives at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He supports campus gardens and connects the gardens and kitchens, while expanding and contributing to the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative. McGurl has a master’s degree in Sustainable Food Systems and a career in sustainable agriculture, research, and development.
Tyler Barron ’12, a board member of Farming Falmouth, wrote and presented the 2024 Falmouth Food System Assessment, which he considers to be “a love letter to my hometown.”
Class of '07 Leads FA Giving Day
Congratulations to the Class of 2007 for winning the all-alumni challenge on the first annual FA Giving Day! They had the most donors in our 24-hour campaign on April 8. Honorable mentions also went to the Classes of 1986, 1998, and 2015 for a strong showing as well. Way to represent across the decades, alumni!
Congratulations to Chloe Brake ’13, senior director of marketing strategy at Mercury Records, who was among the 88 women honored in the Labels and Distributors category of the Billboard Women in Music awards. Brake was recognized with colleague Sarayu Caulfield, senior director of creative at Mercury. Together, they are known as an effective team who works with artists such as Dylan Gossett, Tucker Wetmore, and Bryant Barnes.
Jane Earley ’18 is a content manager at Tenacity Project, a female-led movement using lacrosse to provide all-girls access to opportunities to learn, play, and live with tenacity. A non-profit organization that helps girls navigate life’s challenges by providing a supportive environment where they can develop the necessary tools to become successful on and off the field. The translatable skills their players acquire through sports will help them meet challenges with confidence and community. Earley attended Middlebury and received her Master of Science Degree from the University of Denver in Organizational Leadership with a Concentration in Strategic Innovation and Change. She is also an All-American lacrosse player (among other honors).
2020s
Kudos to Ruby Gaetani ’21, a biology and sociology student at UMASS Amherst, who received the WEB DuBois Outstanding Sociological Achievement Award. This honor recognizes sociology students who make remarkable contributions to the major, campus, and community.
This crew of FA alumni now attending Tufts University has stuck together and returned to FA events to spread the word about life after graduation. Silas Clark ’21, Alyssa MacDonald ’21, and Tasha Sudofsky ’22 not only served as roundtable moderators at FA’s Alumni Networking Day, but they also attended our Boston alumni event in March.
Join the alumni-only network and connect with FA alumni for job and internship information, living in different cities, studying abroad, and other opportunities. falmouthacademy.alumnifire.com
Mia Galvam ’22, junior at UMASS Commonwealth Honors College, double majoring in History and Social Thought and Political Economy, was awarded four scholarly awards this spring, including the Louis Greenbaum History Honors Research Award, the Simon and Satenig Emoniam Scholars Award, the SBS Summer Internship Award, and the History Department Summer Internship Award. Monies from these awards underwrite her summer internships and honor’s thesis project, an oral history of Cape Verde.
Top Scouting Awards
Alumni Director Barbara Campbell came across a post on LinkedIn about Ben Giametti ’23, who served as Student Council president at FA. The post was by Karl Kern, CMA, Professor of Accountancy at Providence College, where Giametti is a rising junior. It was full of praise for our alumnus, saying, “Ben’s foundation for leadership excellence is very strong, and it will get stronger because of his personality… Ben’s personality will be the foundation for further success at Providence College and beyond, success he will achieve by engaging in excellence.”
The Fall ’24 issue of The GAM included a story congratulating Lillie Virginia Adams ’27 for earning her Girl Scouts Gold Award. As part of the article, there was an incomplete list of alumni who achieved top scouting awards. If you’ve ever been a student at FA (graduate or not) and achieved either Gold or Eagle Scout, please email Barbara Campbell (bcampbell@falmouthacademy.org). Below is FA’s most current list. Congratulations!
GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD
Virginia Adams ’27
Lynn Jazo ’26
EAGLE SCOUTS
Robert Porteous ’85
Jeffrey Moon ’92
Gregory Moon ’94
Gregory Kinchla ’96
Moffet Stephen ’98
Thomas Evangelista ’16
Alex Kania ’16
Andy Pritchard ’16
Liam Waite ’16
Noah Lovell ’17
Lillie and Lynn were interviewed by Channel 7 news about their Gold Award projects May of this year.
Charlie Fenske ’18
Nick Kania ’18
James Melvin ’18
Devin Waite ’19 (Life Scout)
Dalton Watring ’22
Sam Thrasher ’22
Dominic Bowen ’22
Logan Moniz ’22
Ned Heywood ’23
Wylie Wakefield ’24
Twenty-three alumni volunteered their time and talent to talk to juniors and seniors on Alumni Networking Day in December. A panel discussion kicked off the event with Amy Ballentine Stevens ’96, principal at Doughdish and Ballentine’s Boat Shop, Thomas Evangelista ’16, CTO at Scrapp, Yuki Honjo ’90, CEO at McLane Research Laboratories, and Nick Lowell ’88, Founder and President of Lowell Instruments LLC discussing the paths of entrepreneurship that led them to owning their own businesses. Three sessions of roundtable discussions followed for Aerospace, Civil Engineering, Education, Engineering, International and Hometown Journalism, Finance, Science, Climate and the Environment, and The College Table. Special thanks to Mason Jones ’17, Design Engineer at GE Aerospace, Tori Avis ’15, Master of City Planning Candidate at MIT, Alyssa MacDonald ’21, civil engineering and architecture major at
Full Circle Moments
One of the best quotes of Alumni Networking Day was from a senior who recalled listening to student council members instruct the new 7th-graders about the honor code at FA as part of orientation. “I was having a fullcircle moment, because when I was in 7th grade, this same person who served as the student council president is now giving me advice about college!”
Tufts, Liza Fox ’96, FA science teacher, Kyle Benton ’12, Senior Innovation Consultant at EPAM Continuum, Kurt Achin ’87, multimedia journalist, Jeremy Gantz ’00, freelance writer and editor, Maisie Saganic ’21, writing major at Northeastern, Emma Keeler ’19, Ph.D. candidate at Yale School of Medicine, Saniya Rajagopal ’21, Master’s degree candidate in data analytics at UMASS, Ryan Waite ’21, psychology and physics major at Brown, Carlo Bocconcelli ’14, investor at MIT, Chris Buccino ’02, owner Landschop, Justin Reynolds ’99, Co-founder and Director of Gull Island Institute, Chloe Starr ’04, Operations Manager at ARC Hatchery & Chapin Sea Farms, Silas Clark ’21, human factors engineering major at Tufts, Logan Moniz ’22, UMASS Isenberg School of Management, Sarah Plotkin ’22, Mt. Holyoke, and Tasha Sudofsky ’22, mechanical engineering major at Tufts.
Who are FA Alumni?
EMPLOYEES
10% of our faculty are alumni
PARENTS
5% of our parents are alumni
SCIENCE FAIR JUDGES
11% of Science Fair Judges are alumni
TRUSTEES
30% of our trustees are alumni
DONORS
10.5% of our alumni are donors
On a sad note, former teacher Joseph Ipolito has passed away. Ipolito was photo teacher when Falmouth Academy was located at the Campbell School on the Otis Air National Guard Base. Ipolito was a former U.S. Army Captain and served two tours in Vietnam.
Honoring Those Who’ve Helped Shape Us
From planting seeds—literal and figurative—to teaching how the world works, from simple machines to international travel, or how to communicate, whether through modeled behavior or carefully chosen texts, this year’s departing faculty have left a lasting imprint. Between them, they’ve taught nearly every grade, coached on every field, built things that will outlast them, and helped generations of students grow into themselves. We celebrate them here with gratitude, admiration, and a little disbelief that they’re really leaving.
Ask Jill Reves what her varsity sport is, and she’ll say without hesitation: the Science and Engineering Fair. Since 2002, she has helped students wrangle hypotheses, decipher data, and stretch what they believed themselves capable of. But her impact reaches far beyond the fair. Over more than two decades, she has taught everything from Algebra 1 and Physical Science to Physics B and electives like “Fun Things to Build in Science” and “Healthy Bites from Around the World”—all designed to make science hands-on, joyful, and real
A former design engineer for the International Space Station and a one-time director of an adventure travel company, Reves brought both technical expertise and fearless enthusiasm to her teaching. She was often affectionately referred to as Momma Reves by her youngest students.
She spearheaded the fundraising and construction of both the vernal pool and greenhouse, helping to lay the foundation for what has become FA’s outdoor classroom, which also included a large garden, an apiary, and a koi pond. She launched the summer FASETS program for middle schoolers across the Cape and Islands, served as an internship coordinator and department chair, chaperoned countless trips, and is the proud parent of Cassidy ’14 and Sintra ’16. Whether cheering on science fair presentations or sharing a laugh in a French accent on the Riviera, Reves made learning feel like discovery.
Over his 18 years at FA, Ben Parsons has been a steady hand and a thoughtful voice—someone equally at home dissecting a sonnet, refereeing a soccer scrimmage, or guiding a middle schooler through the maze of adolescence. He has taught English 7, 10, and 11, and French 1A through IV, often seeing the same students grow across subjects and years. His legacy includes not just what he taught, but how.
In addition to serving as Dean of Students, Parsons has long held the role of Middle School Coordinator, where his calm presence, sense of play, and deep respect for the developmental arc of early adolescence have helped define the culture of the division. His blog, Musings and Murmurs on Middle School, featured in this issue’s “Classroom and Beyond” section, offers a glimpse into the care and complexity he brings to that role.
Whether coaching tennis from a club sport to a varsity team, chaperoning international trips, or playing Mr. Pickle in the middle school play, Parsons does it all with aplomb.
Parson’s nieces, nephew, and two children—Jesica ’09, Shaelyn ’11, Justin ’12, Fletcher ’26, and Sylvie ’28—are part of FA’s story, too. He leaves behind a vision of middle school as a place of transformation, challenge, and delight—where relationships are the foundation for learning.
Since joining Falmouth Academy in 2012, Josh Leveque has been both a steward and a teacher. He taught Farm and Garden, Beekeeping, and Woodworking, inviting students to work with their hands and connect with the natural world. As Director of Buildings and Grounds, a role he assumed in 2020, he cared for the school’s physical environment with quiet excellence and long-term vision.
Leveque was instrumental in launching FA’s solar array in 2023, a project that will generate nearly all of the school’s electricity and is projected to save more than a million dollars over 25 years. He also served as chair of the aesthetics committee, where he drew on his art background to help shape and execute the school's visual identity, both inside and out.
A proud FA parent of Sadie ’23, Josie ’25, and Noah ’27, Leveque leaves behind a legacy of craftsmanship, sustainability, and thoughtful design, visible across the campus and embedded in everyday student experience.
Since joining FA in 2021, Seth Rainville has brought both skill and soul to the ceramics studio, teaching students in both middle and upper school to approach clay not just as a material, but as a canvas for expression. A professional artist with deep roots in the New England arts community, Rainville brought a painter’s eye, a sculptor’s hand, and a teacher’s heart to every class he led—whether during the school year, in the summer program, or in evening classes for adult learners. His creativity, calm, and craftsmanship will continue to be felt throughout the community.
Returning to FA this year as the photography teacher, alumna Hope Allison ’15 brought both technical skill and a deep sense of continuity to the darkroom and digital lab. A professional wedding and architectural photographer, Allison taught students to see with both precision and curiosity, whether behind the lens or developing prints by hand. As advisor to the After-School Photo Club, she also fostered creativity beyond the classroom. Her vision and joy for photography enriched the experience for the next generation of FA photographers. Thank you, and farewell.
As Director of Communications since 2017, Amy Galvam wrote, photographed, edited, posted, and proofed with clarity, compassion, and humor. Behind the scenes, she was also a force for institutional reflection and change. She was a key contributor to FA’s DEI initiatives and a member of the Woods Hole Diversity Advisory Committee. This year, she chaperoned the school’s first Spanish Exchange (more about that in the Centerpiece section).
But what she may be remembered for most is how she helped shape the stories FA tells about itself, not just externally, but internally, through programming, planning, and presence. She leaves a legacy of connection.
Like many of her colleagues, including all of the ones honored here, Galvam experienced FA not only as a professional, but as a parent. Her daughters, Mia ’22 and Charlotte ’27, were both part of the FA community. Among many fond memories, two stand out: Charlotte standing up in Morse Hall to recite a speech on gender inequality by UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson for Declamation Day, and Mia dedicating her senior solo of Taylor Swift’s “The Best Day” to her at the spring concert.
As any parent will tell you, children grow up fast. To have the opportunity to work where your children go to school—to share that space—is a rare and lasting gift.
