Today at Breck - Fall 2011

TODAY AT BRECK

FALL 2011

i

WOrds of WISDOM PG. 20

Career Advice From Alumni BIOETHICS, PRESCHOOL LANGUAGE Enriching the Curriculum ALUMNI NEWS CELEBRATING SPRING SPORTS

breck:

annual fund:

a stellar not exactly education. rocket science.

As a college preparatory school, Breck stands at the forefront. Our mission is to help every student achieve his or her potential by providing a rigorous academic program and appropriate tools and support.

The need for the Annual Fund is real, but it’s not especially complicated. It’s money that’s needed every year to pay for both essentials and enrichment opportunities not covered by tuition alone—things that set Breck apart from other schools.

give it up for breck.

Make your contribution today, and help put Breck in orbit?

For more information about the Annual Fund, what it supports and why it’s fundamental to Breck, call Director of Annual Giving Gay Gonnerman at 763.381.8296.

You have many options for making your gift. For details, see the enclosed envelope, or visit breckschool.org/support-breck/annual-fund.

Thank you. Your support will help Breck students reach for the stars.

contents

fall 2011 TODAY AT BRECK 1

FEATURES 14 | C hanging Course: New Classes Enrich Breck’s Curriculum How Preschool Modern Language, Bioethics, and Advanced Mathematics Research are invigorating academic life.

16 | A Day in the Life Extended Day at Breck offers benefits to students and working parents alike.

20 | Words of Wisdom cover story We asked alumni in a wide range of fields to offer career advice

12

to Breck students as they look ahead to life after Breck, and they were more than happy to answer.

ALUMNI FEATURES

28 | Drawing on Experience Kevin Cannon ’98 reflects on getting his start as a professional artist with Homecoming t-shirt designs at Breck.

30 | We Are Family

30

The Alumni Association and Parents Association discover there’s much to be gained by working together.

Cover photo: Dr. Stan Leonard ’48 enjoys a light moment with aspiring pediatrician Rachel Gunderson ’20. Photo by Sara Rubinstein.

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38

fall 2011

TODAY AT BRECK Today at Breck is a publication of

Breck School, 123 Ottawa Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55422 email: communications@ breckschool.org

Head of School Edward Kim

Editor Jill Field

Design

4

4 | 20 Questions

32 | C lass Notes

We asked, and they answered:

Alumni share recent news.

­David Williams ’83

36 | Alumni News

Joshua Luger ’12, Marcy Wegner,

7 | 123

A brief report on Homecoming/

Activities, accomplishments, awards,

alumni to participate in MLK Day and

announcements: here are some items from Fall 2011 at Breck.

Linda Henneman Claire Moyle

7 | Who Knew?

Corey Sevett

Fun facts, both current and historical

Gay Gonnerman, Deb Mallin,

(no, there won’t be a quiz!)

­Michelle Geo Olmstead, Erin Strong

12 | Ten Things You Didn’t Know About…

Photographers

Every day, Breck buses traverse the

Karyl Rice, Sara Rubinstein,

Twin Cities to deliver students safely

Chelen Johnson

you may not know.

­Lauren Kiesel, Nick Kleidon ‘12,

9

Departments

ThinkDesign Group:

Writers

37

to and from school. But there’s a lot

Reunion Weekend, invitations for The Bugle and more

38 | Sports News Breck athletes had a terrific spring season, and we’ve got a complete report.

40 | In Their Own Words Upper School English teacher Dallas Crow offers a poetic tribute to his

colleague Michael Moos, who retired in June.

Printing Bolger Vision Beyond Print

MISSION Breck is an Episcopal, coeducational, college-preparatory day school enrolling students of diverse backgrounds in grades preschool through twelve.

Breck’s Mission is to:

Prepare each student for a college whose culture is compatible with the individual’s needs, interests and abilities.

Help develop each student’s unique talents and potential to excel by nurturing independence and self-worth.

Instill in each student a deep sense of social responsibility.

Breck School is committed to environmental stewardship. This publication is printed paper manufactured with electricity in the form of renewable energy (wind, hydro, biogas) and a minimum of 30% postconsumer recovered fiber.

3

Trust Your Hands When I spoke at Convocation, our first All-School Chapel of the 2011-12 school year, I welcomed

students who are new to our community by telling them how much we value the gifts each of them brings to us and promised that, together, we will turn those gifts to the benefit of our common good and our collective future.

I asked everyone assembled, students, faculty and staff, for trust: Trust in one another, belief in

one another, belief in the school and her mission and trust that faithfulness will lead to self-

actualization for us as individuals and will move this school community forward as it bonds us with the generations of students of the past and those yet to come.

Recently I read an article in a sports magazine about vision and what athletes see in the

performance of their craft. Specifically, the article talked about baseball players and their ability

to hit a 100 mph fastball or a 90 mph slider. The author claimed that these top athletes needed to make their decision about whether to swing or not and hopefully make some contact in .250 of a second; that is the time when the ball is 25-30 feet from home plate.

Once committed, the batter merely swings and trusts that the ball will be there; because in fact the human eye is not physiologically able to literally see the ball and send a message to the hands to swing. Note that their eye-to-hand time is not superhuman, typically the same as it is for the average human being, or the same as it is for all of us. The secret comes in the practice, the

repetition, effort and hard work, to the point where our action becomes habit, where muscle memory takes over.

Like those baseball players, we must all learn to trust our hands; not just see, but to believe, and to develop those habits of love and care as we live our mission.

In this issue of Today at Breck, you’ll find many examples of the trust within our community. From students getting career advice from alumni, to parents and alumni working together in common purpose, to faculty supporting and celebrating one another, you’ll find a community moving forward together.

Here’s to a wonderful school year.

EdWARD Kim Head of school

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

questions 4

Joshua luger ‘12 1

What’s on your iPod?

Country music, every musical I have been in, Bruce Springsteen, The

Beatles, and some classic Rock n Roll 2

What’s one of the last books you

read?

Brave New World for school and it

definitely made me think as most of

the summer reading books in the last few years have.

3

What’s your favorite time of year?

Without a shadow of a doubt, summer. It is when I spend the most time outdoors and have a little bit more time to relax.

4

What’s the most thrilling/

adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I would have to say the most adven-

turous thing I’ve done was climbing

Masada in Israel with my dad to watch the sunrise.

5

What’s your favorite Breck lunch?

Either Brunch for Lunch or Baked Potato Bar 6

Who is your personal hero (and

why)?

My parents are my personal heroes

because they have both found a way to work very hard doing things they

love while still being very present in my sister’s and my lives.

7

Dream job?

President of the United States 8

Best decision?

Getting involved in the Breck theater

14

Favorite line from a movie?

“Luke, I am your Father”… It is just a classic, and I love Star Wars.

15

Favorite website?

department. Theater has made me who

Facebook. It is a great way to connect

lessons over the years. Plus public

is up to.

I am today and has taught me many

speaking is second nature to me now.

9

What advice would you give to

yourself 10 years ago?

Keep having fun and have fun with everything you do!

10

What do you remember from

kindergarten?

I remember the 100th day parade,

starting my postcard collection, and

getting to be the ringleader in the circus!

11

What’s your favorite place on the

and an easy way to see what everyone 16

Best trophy/award you ever won?

11th Grade Citizenship award at Breck

17

If you could read anyone’s mind, whose would it be?

My parents and teachers. It would make life a whole lot easier!

Breck campus?

The Senior Hallway. It is a great place to work and hang out with other

seniors. I also love it because students

of all ages and faculty from all depart-

ments pass through all the time so you get to really see all of Breck.

12

Favorite comfort food?

18

If you could travel anywhere,

where would you go

Right now, I don’t want to go anywhere too exotic, just the middle of nowhere.

Spend some quality time away from

technology and the world to get some perspective on my life.

Tater tots

19

13

The future

If you had a theme song, what

would it be?

“Letter to Me,” by Brad Paisley

20

What keeps you up at night?

Unfulfilled wish?

Landing a starring role in a movie

questions 5

MARCY WEGNER: LOWER SCHOOL TEACHER 1

What’s on your iPod?

Oops—I’m the only member of my

family WITHOUT an iPod. But if I had

one, it would be filled with selections by

my favorite pianist George Winston, and my all-time favorite album, “The

Impressionists: A Windom Hill Sampler.”

2

What’s one of the last books you

read?

I just finished The Girl Who… trilogy by Stieg Larsson. Complete brain candy— the perfect summertime read 3

What’s your favorite time of year?

I love autumn! Mainly for all of the

excitement that the new school year

brings, but also, of course, for the gorgeous Minnesota fall weather and colors 4

What’s the most thrilling/

adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I went to Japan all by myself on a spring break trip as a young adult. I surprised myself and had a marvelous time.

5

What’s your favorite Breck lunch?

All of my past students can probably answer this one! Without a doubt—

turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes!!!

6

Who is your personal hero (and

why)?

Judy Stenwick. She was a fabulous, gen-

erous mentor who continues to inspire me with her passion for teaching.

7

Dream job?

This is it!!!

Best decision?

To leave my public school position and return to Breck 12 years ago. I’ve never looked back!

What advice would you give to

yourself 10 years ago?

Don’t sweat the small stuff (as a teacher AND a mom) 10

What do you remember from

kindergarten?

I had to stand in the corner for talking too much.

11

What is the most important room

in your home?

Our dining and family rooms. I love

our family dinners and movie nights.

12

What’s your favorite place on the

Breck campus?

The meditation garden 13

Favorite line from a movie?

Honestly—I was at the perfect age to

swoon as Patrick Swayze said, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” (Dirty Dancing)

8

9

14

Favorite comfort food?

Cookies!!!!!

Either that, or Arnold Schwarzenegger groaning, “It’s not a tumor” from Kindergarten Cop 15

Three people, living or dead,

you’d have over to dinner?

Queen Elizabeth I, Jane Austen and

Melanie Moore, this year’s winner of the TV show So You Think You Can Dance 16

Best trophy/award you ever won?

My summer grant to attend Columbia Teacher’s College Summer Reading Institute 17

If you could read anyone’s mind,

whose would it be?

My own two children’s!

18

Pet peeve?

Phoniness 19

Unfulfilled wish?

I hope to travel to England and Scotland sometime in the future. I am fascinated by the Elizabethan era, and I’d love to

study all things Queen Elizabeth in her native country.

20

What keeps you up at night?

Worrying about my children

questions 6

david williams ‘83: distinguished AlumnUS 1

What’s on your iPod?

High Energy ’80s and ’90s: Biggie and Tupac, Eminem, Linkin Park 2

What’s one of the last books you

read?

The Travelers Gift and 7 Decisions by Andy Andrews, and Talent Is Never Enough by John Maxwell 3

What’s your favorite time of year?

Spring/Summer. It is full of the new

beginnings—not only the kind nature

provides but for the human spirit as well.

4

What’s the most thrilling/

adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

My whole life has been an adventure!

5

What’s your favorite Breck lunch?

1992, because I went on to achieve my athletic goals, set up my subsequent education, find my next career and

to happen will happen. It will be a

Three people, living or dead, you’d have over to dinner?

Muhammad Ali, President Obama and Napoleon

10

17

meet my wife.

9

What advice would you give to

yourself 10 years ago?

“Enjoy the ride, kid. What is supposed rush, so embrace it.”

What is the most important room

in your home?

as a family but also with many people

winning the national championship

Our family room, where we spend time

lete award at the Tourni de Paris and

who have a special place in our hearts

in front of my students, family and

11

What’s your favorite place on the

Breck campus?

It was the wrestling room.

12

6

Trader Joe’s World’s Puffiest white

Who is your personal hero (and

My father. Like him, I do Judo, teach

at the university level, and volunteer

as a teacher and coach. He persevered through so many hardships for his

kids. My mother is my biggest fan, but my father is definitely my hero.

7

Dream job?

I am living it now.

8

Best decision?

Not retiring after the Olympic trials of

Best trophy/award you ever won?

There are two: the Outstanding Ath-

I have no idea. Did we have lunch? why)?

16

Favorite comfort food?

cheddar puffs 13

If you had a theme song, what

would it be?

“Leave Out All The Rest” – Linkin Park 14

Favorite line from a movie?

“Don’t ever let somebody tell you...you can’t do something.” (Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness) 15

Favorite website?

www.bayareaadvocare.com —

­because I built it with my ten fingers.

coaches in San Jose.

18

If you could read anyone’s mind,

whose would it be?

Stephen Hawking. That much brilliance should be shared.

19

Pet peeve?

People that have everything to say about everything, and yet are as unread and

ignorant as a toddler drive me the battiest.

20

What keeps you up at night?

Wondering if I am doing what needs to be done to help my kids and students

be better than everyone else out there in the world in every aspect of life

7

Head of School Edward Kim accepts the Challenge Cup.

TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North

Make Plans to Join Peef and His Friends

Challenge Cup Goes to Breck for a Second Consecutive Year In early September, we

were notified that Breck

On Sunday, December 11,

had won the Class AA

Stages Theatre in Hopkins will

Challenge Cup, the

be the site for a reception and

Minnesota State High

book signing with Breck

School League’s recogni-

Drama Director Tom Hegg and Adam Hegg ’97 followed by a

2:00 performance of the World Premiere of “A Silent Night for Peef,” written by Tom and adapted for the stage by Adam.

You can make reservations by calling 952-979-1111 and

mentioning “Breck School.” Tickets are $20 per person, with $5 of each ticket purchased for the December 11 show being donated to Breck.

The show, which runs from November 18-December 26,

tion for the school that

had scored the most points for athletics and certain extracurricular events.

Breck is the first school in our class to repeat.

The Mustangs ended 2010-11 with 340 points, edging

second-place winner St. Cloud Cathedral, which scored 336.

Third-place winner Blake School finished with 290.

Eden Prairie was the Class AAA champion and Minneota High School the Class A champ.

tells the story of Peef the Christmas Bear, who was created

Representatives from the High School League and Wells

mances take place at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.

halftime of the Homecoming football game.

from scraps of material provided by Santa’s elves. Perfor-

Who Knew?

82.4%

Fargo, the cup sponsor, presented this year’s trophy during

Percentage of Class of 2011 who scored 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during their high school years

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North

Welcome to New Faculty and Staff Kathleen (Kat) Corrigan, Visual Arts during Tobie Dicker’s sabbatical Mia Santos Hermann, Lower School instructor

Peter Saunders, Drama Instructor during Tom Hegg’s sabbatical Jeremy Hanson, Chapel Musician

Jonathan (Jonny) Nicholson, Director of College Counseling Staci Prior, Upper School Counselor

Sarah Muszynski, Upper School English

Alex Law, Middle School English during Amy Wright’s maternity leave (not pictured)

8

Shawna Goldschmidt, Upper School Administrative Assistant (not pictured)

Bob McClure, Bus Driver (not pictured)

Ryan Wilson, Technology Support Specialist (not pictured)

Board of Trustees elects Barbara Burwell Barbara Burwell was elected to

Breck Welcomes Ten ­International Students for 2011-12

the Breck Board of Trustees at its June 30 meeting.

A Breck parent since 1999,

Burwell has been an Annual Fund volunteer, grade-level

coordinator and supporter of

athletic and arts programs at

Breck. She is a passionate volunteer and philanthropist who has served on numerous boards including the

Children’s Theatre Company, public television KTCA/

KTCI, United Way of Minneapolis, YMCA, Minneapolis Heart Institute, St. Olaf College and the Minnesota Orchestra.

Says Burwell, “I’m honored and thrilled to be asked to participate in the education of generations to come.

Most important, I’m a proud parent and delighted to

have this opportunity to give something back to Breck.”

She and her husband Rod have three children: Peter ’07, Blake (Blake School ’10) and Michael ’12.

One of the largest groups in recent years, and the first to include a Middle School student, Breck’s international student population is ten this year. Program Director

Margaret Wong says the school is very grateful to the host families who play such an important role in helping the students feel at home at Breck.

Joining us this year are three students from South Korea:

Sung Wan Huh (7), Sung Rim Huh (9) and Younghyun You

(12); one from France: Johanna Huss (11), one from the Czech

Republic: Jakub Podgorny (11); and five from China: Annie

Jiao (12), Ruskin Li (10), Charlie Li (12), Melody Wang (12) and Amy Yin (11).

Who Knew?

On Target Recognize the background of some of the photos

in Target’s Back-to-School catalog? Models—including a puppy— were on campus for a photo shoot last April.

Off Campus But he’s anxious to get back to the slopes. “It’s such a great feeling,” he says of the sport. “And it’s also a great commu-

nity of people. I mean, it’s an individual sport but you need others for friendship and support.”

Alex is a member of Team Nybora, which trains at Hyland

Hills in Bloomington, and credits his coach, Zack Mertz, for

being a great influence. But it’s his family that gets credit for giving him his start.

Senior Alex Brown spends a lot of his time pursuing balance: both in his daily life of juggling school and outside interests and on the slopes as a freestyle skier.

“My grandparents bought me my first freestyle skis for

Christmas,” he recalls. “My parents must have told them I was interested in trying.”

It’s a relatively new sport, about 15 or 20 years old, that

combines downhill skiing with jumps and rails. And while it’s been a fixture of the Winter X Games and Junior Olympics, it will make its debut as an Olympic sport in 2014.

Alex is currently ranked 11th in the nation and hopes to compete at the Junior Olympics again this year.

He spends his summers at Mt. Hood, Oregon, where there’s snow year-round, and while he waits for snow in Minnesota, Alex is training hard in the gym, on his bicycle and on a trampoline.

For a glimpse of Alex airborne, check out the video at http://vimeo.com/27134878.

The Breck community notes with sorrow the recent passing of two former members of the board of trustees.

Bishop Robert Anderson, who served as chair of the board

John B. Davis, who served on the board from 1986 to 1990,

from 1978-1993 and was VII Bishop of Minnesota, died on May

died on July 5. Superintendent of the Minneapolis Public

Chapel of the Holy Spirit, ordained Chaplain John Bellaimey

Macalester College, interim president of the Children’s

3 after a long illness. He was 77. Bishop Anderson dedicated the

and founded the Episcopal House of Prayer before leaving

Minnesota to become Bishop Assistant to the Diocese of Los

Angeles. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary, and four children (Martha Anderson, Elizabeth Kempe ’81, Catherine Gregg ’82 and Thomas Anderson ’89) and their families.

164

College and universities that sent representatives to meet with Breck students during the 2010-11 school year

Schools from 1967-1975, Davis also served as president of Theatre Company and School, and in interim leadership positions at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design,

Mankato State University (now Minnesota State University,

Mankato) and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He is survived by six daughters and their families.

Number of years Breck sixth graders have taken a class trip to Washington, DC:

46

9

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North

Caleb Kumar ’13 Selected as a Davidson Fellow Junior Caleb Kumar, who created a computer program that helps to

diagnose bladder cancer, has been

named a Davidson Fellow Scholarship winner. The program recog-

nizes extraordinary young people,

18 and under, who have completed a significant piece of work.

10

Caleb is the first Breck student ever to have been named a

Davidson Fellow, an honor that went to just 18 high school students nationwide.

Chelen Johnson Named Finalist for Presidential Award for Teaching Upper School science teacher Chelen Johnson has been selected as one of three Minnesota finalists for the Presidential Award for Teaching.

The award is the nation’s highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science. Since 1983, the program has recognized teachers from every state in the U.S.

Current faculty members Lois Fruen, Brad Kohl and Karen Pape are previous recipients.

Winners, who will be announced later this year, receive an

all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., and are honored at a reception at the White House.

Five Recent Alumni Honored for Their Academic Work The National Society of High School Scholars has honored 25 U.S. students, and five of them are from Breck.

Congratulations to Emily Alper, Eleanor Haeg, Jillian Husband, Addison Weiler and Margit Westerman, all members of Breck’s Class of 2011.

Celebrating Our Community Third grader Dora Dolphin won three national dance

Upper School English instructor Carolyn Light Bell’s

news report called, “So You Think Your Kid Can Dance?” She

Community Center in Minneapolis.

championships in recent months and was featured in a Fox 9 won top honors in the StarQuest National Dance Competi-

tion, the Hall of Fame National Dance Competition and the

Masquerade National Dance Competition. Dora, who is eight, began studying dance when she was two.

Eden Motto ’13 is the recipient of a one-year scholarship for

classes and programs at Minneapolis’ Alliance Francaise. The group is a non-profit organization that promotes French language and culture.

Keegan Iverson ’15 was chosen for the Select 15s national

photography was featured in an exhibit at the Sabes Jewish Congratulations are due for a number of faculty babies born since the last issue of Today at Breck: Jory Baer of our

transportation department (daughter Emma Grace born

August 2), Brian Wright of the Upper School faculty and Amy Booher Wright of the Middle School faculty (son Jackson Richard born August 9), Middle School Dean

Tod Dungan (son Brooks Cameron born September 8), and A.J. Colianni, director of computer education (daughter Elena Lucia born September 7).

hockey team, which competed in Rochester, NY, in July, and Kate Schipper ’13 was selected for the USA National U18

team, which competed in Canada in June.

Who Knew?

Breck Food Services makes all its soups from scratch (except for Campbell’s tomato).

A Breck Connection From Breck parent Michael Goh, father of Joshua ’22 and

The story continues…

Samuel ‘24�

The next morning, we

The Goh family decided it would be fun to do a driving

were hiking on the Wind

vacation this summer to the International Peace Park and

Canyon trail in the park

World Heritage Sites of Waterton Lakes National Park in

when we stopped to

Alberta, Canada and the adjoining Glacier National Park in

admire a vista. I remarked

Montana, USA. On our way back to Minnesota, we

to a stranger/fellow hiker

changed our plans to stop by Medora, North Dakota to

next to us about the spectacular view and he replied

explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We arrived late

“quite different from Minneapolis isn’t it?” We were rather

in the evening, and one of the few restaurants open was

taken aback by how he knew we were from Minnesota.

Theodore’s at the historic Rough Riders Hotel. Five

That day, Joshua was wearing his Breck Blue and Gold

minutes after we were seated, a gentleman from the next

T-shirt. Don’t tell us we’ve stumbled upon another Breck

table walked over to ask if we were from Minnesota. We

alum? Pointing to Joshua and Samuel, he said “I’ve heard

began to worry that that we were in for a Rough Ride!

about you two boys.”

The 80-year old gentleman said that he noticed Joshua’s

He went on to explain: “I was having breakfast at this

2010 Breck Homecoming T-shirt and wanted us to know

restaurant this morning, and this friendly old man kept

that he is a Breck graduate from the Class of 1950. He

going on and on and on telling everybody who wanted to

went on to congratulate us on “the best decision you ever

listen about how pleased he was the night before to meet

made was to send your children to Breck.” We told him we

two young boys from the school he graduated from 61

agreed wholeheartedly. He remembers his Breck years

years ago. He was thrilled and proud. When I saw your

fondly as “some of the best years of my life.” He recalled

Breck T-shirt, I figured you must be the boys.”

his Breck campus as being on Como Avenue in St. Paul

We will remember this wonderful chance encounter for the

and Rev. Henderson as one of several Heads of School during his time at Breck.

Students Prove “Natives Got Talent” Reuben Stately ’18 and former Breck student Jaeden

Huenemann ’18 entered the “Natives Got Talent” contest at

the Twin Cities Art Festival in June and won first place. A

rest of our lives.

Are you LinkedIn?

Nearly 400 Breck alumni and parents are LinkedIn. Are you?

large color photo of the boys was printed in the Star Tribune.

Calling themselves the “Unknown Renegades,” they entertained the audience with a rap whose lyrics touched on topics including Native American history, racism and spiritual statements about love and community.

Says Reuben’s mom, Ramona Stately, “They began by

acknowledging all the parents in the audience, saying, ‘Without you all, we wouldn’t be alive.’ The event was awesome, and I am a very proud mom!”

6 tons

Visit breckschool.org to connect.

Recyclable school supplies Breck families have contributed to A Better Chance in two years through the locker clean-out program

11

10 TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About…

12

1

You can’t beat the bus for convenience.

Family logistics can get tricky, and the Breck

Breck transportation 6

Training makes a difference. Breck bus

drivers receive 40 hours of training each year—five

Transportation office can help. Says Transportation Director

times the eight hours mandated by the state of Minnesota.

household family schedules, dropoff at lessons, religious

they also complete training on how to address social issues

Mark Ryks, “We can easily make arrangements for dual education, jobs, your workplace, off-campus daycare, a

schoolmate’s birthday party or whatever makes a parent’s life easier.”

2

Breck has the largest service footprint of any school in the metro area. We cover

an area from Maple Grove and Brooklyn Park to the north,

Long Lake to the west, Lauderdale to the east, and Mendota

and Eden Prairie to the south—and everything in between.

3

Our drivers have the most tenure of those at any local school. The average tenure

is seven years at Breck, with an average bus-driving experience of eight and a half years.

4

Drivers are full-time Breck employees.

“Parents tell us one thing they really appreciate

about our service is that the drivers really get to know their children,” says Ryks. “They have the same driver year after year, which really makes a difference.”

5

Buses are the safest way to school— and back. School buses are approximately seven

They not only receive the top standard of road safety, but on the bus.

7

Breck drivers view their service as an extension of the school day. As caring

adults, our drivers take their responsibilities seriously and

appreciate their association with an educational institution like Breck. “Drivers know what behaviors are expected of

Breck students,” Ryks explains, “and they are committing to assuring those are behaviors on the trip to and from school as well.”

8

Express stops can make the trip much shorter. Our service includes several express stops

throughout the Twin Cities. And the average time between school and an express stop is just 15-20 minutes.

9

Our drivers are an amazing group. Of

Breck’s 32 drivers, 12 hold bachelor’s degrees and

three have masters degrees. There are five former executives, five former business owners, two sales managers, a profes-

sional artist, a former Realtor, four computer programmers, a musician—and many avid golfers.

New discounts make the bus surprisingly affordable. Breck wants more kids on the

times safer than passenger cars or light trucks. Studies by the

10

of Sciences show personal vehicles can’t protect children the

bus and fewer cars in carline, so we’ve lowered the rates and

National Transportation Safety Board and National Academy way a school bus can.

added deep sibling discounts for the 2011-12 school year.

Want to know more? Please contact Mark Ryks in the

­Transportation office (763-381-8218 or mark.ryks@breckschool. org) to get all the details.

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TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

14

Changing Course:

New Classes Enrich Breck’s Curriculum Like Breck itself, our curriculum is an invigorating mix of tradition and innovation. Some things never change: a core curriculum that includes English, math, history, science, modern language and arts.

But new courses are added to the mix every year.

For Lois Fruen, Breck’s curriculum director, it’s one of her

favorite parts of the job. “I love it!” she says. “When teachers and department heads propose new courses or suggest

major changes to existing courses the results are visionary

and exciting. Changes keep our curriculum vital and current, and the students benefit greatly.”

In 2011-12, new courses include modern language beginning in preschool, an Advanced Mathematics Research program,

and two new electives in the Religion department: Bioethics and Religious Imagery in Film.

To be approved, new courses must support the mission of

the school. Carefully outlined proposals must be reviewed by

the appropriate division or department head. The curriculum director presents proposals to the head of school. With his approval, the Academic Advisory committee reviews the

course and recommends action.

“The process almost always starts at a grassroots level,”

Fruen explains. “It’s exciting for teachers to design a course around current trends or topics, provide serious academic underpinnings and see it come to life.”

Preschool Modern Language

While Chinese or Spanish beginning in kindergarten has

been part of the Breck curriculum since 1992, it’s a big step to start with preschoolers. Says Lora Opsahl, head of the

Modern Language department, “Age makes a real difference in students’ ability to learn languages.”

The preschool program, Spanish this year and Chinese next, is focused on communication appropriate for our youngest students. “We know young children learn through move-

ment and action in storytelling, games, songs, arts and

crafts,” Opsahl observes, “as they tell about what they feel, what they need, what they like and what they dream.”

Advanced Mathematics Research

At the opposite end of the student spectrum, Advanced

Mathematics Research attracts juniors and seniors. It’s a

program with an unexpected twist that combines quantitative research with service. “We wanted to design a program that would be different from the one in Advanced Science Research,” says Mathematics Department Head Brad

Peterson. “It was program advisor Brad Kohl who came up

with the idea of fitting it into Breck’s commitment to service.”

15

Program participants are paired with a local nonprofit or

agency and volunteer their time and efforts in order to solve important problems. In the program’s inaugural year, one

student is working with the Golden Valley City Engineering department to

The process almost

determine new

ways of evaluat-

always starts at a

ing how

grassroots level.

benefit from city

It’s exciting for teachers to design a course around

property owners improvements and using this

information to create more accurate

current trends

property

or topics, provide

second student

assessments. A

serious academic

is working with

underpinnings and

for the Children

see it come to life.

the Foundation of Iran to

analyze different ways of using

social networking to effectively reach a younger generation of Iranian-American citizens.

“They’re doing good work, and they’re doing good at the

same time,” says Kohl. “It’s a wonderful way to encourage true service learning.”

Johnson says his class views portions of film daily (with

lots of pausing for discussion), and the results have been

exhilarating. “They’re doing very well decoding films, seeing their purpose and still enjoying them,” he observes. “Our conversations have been great!”

Bioethics

The new bioethics class, originally proposed for the Science department but fitting more logically into the Religion

department at Breck, was modeled off a course that instructor (and Breck Admissions Director) Scott Wade taught at

Spence School in New York. “Advances in genetics, stem cell

research and medical technology have led to a whole host of

new ethical issues in medicine and research,” he says. “Given that many of our students will face personal decisions

impacted by these issues, I thought it was important to offer a course that aims to discuss them.”

So far, says Wade, the discussions have been spirited, and

students’ response has been enthusiastic. Beginning with a

historical perspective on bioethics and moving on to current

laws, the class also covers science concepts needed to adequately

Religious Imagery in Film

understand recent advances in medicine and research.

Johnson ’90. “Before I came back to teach at Breck, I was

students time to reflect on their opinion, the opinions of

religious themes such as forgiveness, grace, and how filmmak-

experience.”

“This class was many years in the making,” says instructor Rob

“Most important,” adds Wade, “the course aims to give

involved in media literacy workshops where we looked at

others, and how those opinions are affected by culture and

ers represent God in a such a visual art form. The students at

It’s new, exciting, and thoroughly Breck. JF

Breck are doing a wonderful job of doing just that.”

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

o

A DAY IN THE LIFE:

EXTENDED DAY is a “lif

On a typical afternoon in Breck’s Extended Day program, 67

The program is staffed by eleven teachers, eight of whom

in the Lower School Dining Room and are heading off to a

older children. “Our fourth graders are so eager to engage as

Lower School students have returned from enjoying a snack variety of activities. Some are working on homework in the Library, some are working in the computer lab, some are enjoying a cooking activity, and some are playing board

games in the Extended Day room. And every one of them seems to have a smile on his or her face.

16

“We really strive to make our program a continuation of

the school day,” explains Extended Day Director Melissa

Whitson. “Of course, there’s some play time, but there’s also lots of opportunity for study and structure.”

also teach at Breck. They’re assisted, says Whitson, by the mentors with the younger kids,” she observes. “It’s a nice opportunity for them, and we all benefit.”

Another benefit, particularly for older children, is that

staying after school can give students a chance to see their

classroom teachers in a relatively relaxed situation.Gunder-

son says both her daughters have had opportunities to work with teachers after school—and that she has enjoyed some

wonderful conversations with teachers when she arrives for pickup as well.

It’s a lifesaver for working parents. “At first, I really worried

Still, Gunderson observes, “They run a pretty tight ship. It’s

at Breck after the end of the school day,” says parent Beth

Whitson believes that Extended Day has social benefits, too.

about whether my kids were going to resent having to stay Gunderson. “But it’s just the opposite. Some days, they’ll ask me if I could wait to pick them up till 6:00 because they

don’t want to miss some special activity.”

certainly not all fun and games!”

With Breck families living throughout the metropolitan area and working parents stressed to arrange transportation for

after-school activities, the program gives students more time

fesaver for working parents” with their friends. “It’s like a play date that the family doesn’t

organizational challenges. “We really concentrate on getting

To meet the needs of working families as well as students

know I’m helping kids stay on track.”

have to arrange,” she says.

who need help with homework and study skills, Breck also

homework done,” he explains, “and it’s a great feeling to

Lending a hand in the process are Upper School students who

“ Some days, they’ll ask me if I could wait to pick them up till 6:00 because they don’t want to miss some special activity.” has an organized after-school program for Middle School

make themselves available for homework help. “It’s a great

Now in its fifth year, the Middle School program combines

our older students really enjoy helping the younger ones.”�

limited free time and an organized activity. Students partici-

the Lower and Middle School programs, and that her

­students as well.

system—good for both me and the kids,” says Mendes. “And

supervised homework time, individual attention, some

Gunderson remarks that she is constantly impressed by both

pate on a drop-in, as-needed basis, or when teachers have

daughters are enthusiastic participants. “Middle School can

recommended that they take advantage of the extra help.

be a hard age because the kids really think they can take care

Middle School After-School Study Coordinator Matt Mendes,

of themselves. But my daughters both enjoy being part of

wonderful when he can help students with study skills and

raise them.” JF

who also teaches sixth-grade English/History, says it’s

Extended Day. And for me, it’s truly the village that helps

17

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

New Website Debuts

At press time, Breck’s newly redesigned website was about to launch. It features a lively home page that showcases various aspects of the school for prospective families, job-seekers and people wanting to learn more.

18

“We asked our designers, the Minneapolis firm Popular Front Interactive, to help us tell our stories,” explains Director of Communications Jill Field, who spearheaded the project. “What they’ve come up with is an exciting mix that will let people choose something interesting and navigate from there.”

One much-anticipated aspect of the site is that it will look the same regardless of the platform someone uses to access it. “Our old site had a Flash element that didn’t work on many handheld devices,” says Field.

But that Flash element also included the three students who greeted visitors with a hearty, “Welcome to Breck!” So we thought it only appropriate to catch up with them—six years later.

Check out the all-new www.breckschool.org, coming soon to a computer near you!

Welcome to Breck!

Jamie Erdahl ’07 Right when the site came out, the tech guys still hadn’t quite figured out how to only let those sayings play once after someone opened the web page, so there was

19

this horrifying first week of school where I would walk into the computer lab, and anyone who opened up the internet— you would hear it! I know my class-

Tilyn Hollis ’13

Somer Drummond ’10 The photo shoot

I remember the

mates weren’t too brutal with that

was a lot of fun.

photo shoot

teasing, it became an ongoing joke

I had done some

being a lot of fun,

whenever someone needed me to

modeling, but I

although by the

follow them, I would always hear

hadn’t met either

end of the day I

“Come with me!”

Jamie or Somer

didn’t want to

The photo shoot was a blast. I kind of

before, so that

hear the words

knew Somer since she was closer in

was new. I

“Welcome to

remember a lot

age to me, but it was so fun getting to

Breck” ever

know Tilyn ... He was just a little Lower

of laughing and joking—we had a

again! I definitely did hear them again

School punk who loved basketball, so

good time.

though; as soon as my classmates

we completely bonded! My favorite

I don’t think my classmates really knew

found out about the new website, I was

thing is going back to Breck whenever

about it right at first, but once they

I am home and seeing him in the

found out it really spread like wildfire,

Breck” or asked to repeat the phrase.

hallways and talking about hoops

and it got worse as I got older. Hon-

The most exciting thing that came from

still—he is in Upper School, which is

estly, I think I can live without people

being on the website was a conversa-

totally crazy.

shouting “Welcome to Breck” to me

tion I had with Ronald Cung, a Breck

I am in my last semester at American

anymore.

student from Burma, who told me that

University (Washington, DC). I just spent

I’m now a junior at Breck, and my favorite

when he was back home considering

the summer in Bristol, CT interning for

class this semester is U.S. History with

Sports Center and Baseball Tonight at

Mr. Grossman. I’m playing football and

ESPN! After I graduate in December, I

basketball and want to go to a college

am hoping to go back to ESPN and get

where I can keep playing basketball.

was excited to meet me in person, and

I’d like to study kinesthesiology.

recognized me!

a job. It’s such an amazing company to work for and I love the idea of being

often greeted with “Welcome to

coming to America for school, he saw the website and Jamie, Tilyn and I were the first impression he had of Breck. He I was excited that someone from Burma

immersed in sports for a full time job. I

Currently I’m a sophomore at Pitzer

think anyone that knew me at Breck

College in Southern California. I’m a

wouldn’t be surprised that I ended up

biology major with hopes of attending

working in sports television—I always

veterinary school to study surgery.

loved keeping up with every team while I was there!

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

20

“ Don’t Give Up” and Other Words of Wisdom Career Advice From Alumni for Students

by Deb Mallin and Jill Field

When Breck students graduate, they join a robust community of more than 4,000 alumni who are pursuing careers in every field and discipline. We asked a few of them for advice about life after Breck.

Pediatrician on cover Fourth-grader Rachel Gunderson already knows she wants to be a pediatrician. She was so excited about having a

chance to talk to Dr. Stan Leonard ’48 that she composed a

21

list of questions. They ranged from how he prepared for his career to how he deals with crying or stubborn kids, to

“What do pediatricians do (and where do they go) when

during an appointment, they say, ‘I need to check something and I’ll be right with you.’?”

Leonard answered Rachel’s questions about his premed and medical-school background, telling her about the pediatrics practice he founded in St. Paul in 1960. He says helping

children and adolescents with their problems is what made him want to be a doctor, and that he has especially enjoyed the advancements technology has made possible (“as

important as putting a man on the moon,” he remarks).

Rachel Gunderson ‘20

As for the mysterious places pediatricians sometimes

being interested in what you are learning. Follow your

be an emergency call or some other more urgent matter, but,

ing.” He also mentions the impact of teachers Tim Rosenfield,

Another alumnus in a medical career is Dr. Hart Garner ’93,

retrospect, long term, close relationships with Breck teachers

Hospitals in the Twin Cities. He credits several Breck teachers

environment.”

“[Upper School science teacher] Dr. [Jake] Miller was instru-

place where you feel you will make the greatest impact in

disappear for during an office visit, Leonard smiles. “It might

interests and do what you find to be intellectually stimulat-

fortunately, it doesn’t happen very often.”

Carol Raths and his soccer and tennis coaches. “Overall, in

a neurosurgeon at Abbott, North Memorial and Mercy

and coaches and families too created a stable and supportive

with helping him set his own career direction.

To future MDs, he suggests, “Follow your interests. Find the

mental in guiding me. He taught me the importance of

patient care and helping people.”

<< Inventor Joshua Goh ’22 wants to be an inventor. The second

of Fame, he’s now a professor

says he’d love to invent a flying car or work on jet packs

Parkinson, an alumnus of the

grader, who loves anything to do with aviation and flying, that would help people fly by themselves.

“My dad got me a National Geographic with a story called,

‘Can We Fly?’ and it was great,” he says with a big smile.

Joshua thinks the Wright Brothers were inspiring

inventors, and he’d like to follow in their footsteps.

He could also follow in the footsteps of Brad Parkinson ’52,

the inventor of the GPS. An inductee into the Inventor’s Hall

emeritus at Stanford. Dr.

U.S. Naval Academy, MIT and Stanford, has been widely

quoted as saying that his career began with his early love of

math and science while he was a student at Breck.

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

AdvocaTE Maddie Thomson ’05

other than your mother tongue, and you will have more

Justice Center, an innova-

nonprofit advocacy world is small. Always be talking to

works at the Tahirih

tive and strategic nonprofit organization

dedicated to empowering immigrant women and

girls by helping them flee

gender-based violence and

22

access justice. She explains, “Our holistic model

ensures both short-term

and long-term safety and protection for our clients

through direct legal and social services, as well as by

raising their voices in the public policy arena, informing the public of the unique challenges immigrant survivors of violence face, and, ultimately, creating lasting legal and social change.”

Says Thomson, “Ever since [Upper School Spanish

teacher] Senora Raths introduced me to the ‘Mercado Central’ in Minneapolis, I have

been interested in Latin America. I

became intrigued by its culture, its language, and its history, and dedicated several of my high

school and college summers to

opportunities being fluent in that language. Third, the people about your interests, learn about their experi-

ences, and expand your network. You never know what opportunities could arise from a single conversation.”

Megan Lebow ’02 is an advocate for change in our

educational system. After finishing her undergraduate work at Harvard, she went on to earn master’s degrees

in both public policy and education, served with Teach for America in the South Bronx, and worked as a

summer camp director. Today, she does policy work for

the Department of Education in Washington, DC, doing research that affects local and state districts as well as

schools nationwide. “My experience at Breck may have

certainly planted the seed to work in education policy,” says Lebow.

Her advice to anyone who wants to be an advocate for change is to “get involved with a million things.” She

understands that high school students don’t often have a strong career direction yet but sees being part of the

Although nonprofit work doesn’t always pay the big bucks, the joy and satisfaction I get from working in this type of environment with this type of work makes it all worth it.

traveling to different parts on

community service trips. While traveling abroad, I became exposed to the myriad of injustices that

immigrants and refugees face worldwide. I studied the issues while in college, but my impact constantly felt limited to the sound of my voice. So I decided to take action and dedicate my career in the field of human rights and international development.”

Her advice for pursuing a career in nonprofit advocacy work is, “First make sure that you follow your passions

and find what is meaningful to you. Although nonprofit work doesn’t always pay the big bucks, the joy and

satisfaction I get from working in this type of environ-

ment with this type of work makes it all worth it. Second, if you are interested in international work, make sure you keep up your language skills. So many jobs and

school programs today require you to speak a language

Breck community as a great advantage. “Day one you

don’t have to know what you want to do,” she explains.

“When you go to the same school for 14 years, you grow up in the same small cohort and everyone is interested in learning and everyone is motivated. It’s a perfect opportunity to try something new. Go beyond the

academics. It’s the multitude of experiences you can have at Breck and beyond. Broaden yourself!”

Career in Fashion Abbey Chapman ’12 writes

fashion articles for the Breck Bugle and is a style resource

“ Get involved. Never get discouraged. Stay organized and be proactive in creating opportunities.”

to her friends. She wants to

study business as an undergraduate

As a student, her strongest influences included teacher Jil

fashion merchandising. She’s been

Project Adventure, which taught her about being a team player.

and go on for a master’s degree in

interested in fashion for about as long as she can remember, sketching dresses and outfits with increasing skill since she was in second or third grade.

She says fashion is important because it’s a way people

present themselves on the outside to represent who they are on the inside. “No one’s first impression is your personality,” she observes. “How you’re dressed is truly the first thing anyone notices.”

Franke, whom she considers a mentor, and Middle School

Mitchell says the most important thing someone can do is to “Get involved. Never get discouraged. Stay organized and be

proactive in creating opportunities.” Recalling her time in the

relatively small world of Breck,

Mitchell draws parallels to her life after graduation.

For career inspiration, Abbey can turn to Christen Mitchell ’05.

“The fashion industry is relatively

shopping advice to private clients and serves as a stylist on

smaller community, knowing to mind your Ps and Qs and still

A fashion stylist based in Boston, Mitchell provides style and

fashion shoots for magazines and ads, for events and performers.

small, and learning to be a part of a

having great fun is very much like life at Breck,” she says.

Professional ATHLETE

Junior Tilyn Hollis looks ahead to college with an eye toward participation in basketball, the sport he loves. And while a professional career is a lofty ambition, Tilyn can look to

alumnus Marcus Hill ’07, who recently signed a contract with

the NBA’s development league, or to Blake Wheeler ’05, an

NHL player with the Winnipeg Jets. Other recent alumni,

including Dominique Byrd ’02, John Curry ’02 and Brandon

Robinson ’03 have all had opportunities in professional sports.

So has 2011 Distinguished Alumnus David Williams ’83, who

has been involved in professional Judo. As a member of Team USA, Williams traveled to both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics

as a competitor and won numerous medals and championships in worldwide competition.

Today, he teaches at San Jose State University, mentors

young people in a program called the San Jose After-School

The spirit of Breck never leaves you.

All-Stars, hosts a tv show called “California Judo Today,” and serves as commentator for NBC’s Olympic Judo coverage.

His advice to an aspiring athlete? “Remember that you never get anywhere alone. Your burning desire and hard work will take you far, but there are always people who help you get there.”

Williams especially cherishes the connections he made at

Breck. “The spirit of Breck never leaves you,” he observes. “You work and play together as Breck students, and that forms a bond that stays with you long past graduation.”

Speaking to the Upper School during his award presentation at Homecoming, Williams charged the students to “take the

spirit from this room out with you into the world. It can help you accomplish great things.”

23

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

Scientific Researcher >> Samarth Damania ’12 says Stephen Trusheim ’09’s success

scope of my project. He’s had a lot of success, and I’d like to

sional Halo 3 gaming at the University of Minnesota’s

What advice would Trusheim give to an aspiring researcher?

has been an inspiration. As a junior, he researched profesComputer Science department. This year, he’s diving into

health records from the Allina system, data mining information about its patients’ top 25 prescription drugs. The new project, he says, is more like Stephen’s.

“I looked at his poster [still hanging in the hallway at Breck],

appreciated the top quality of his work, and realized I wanted 24

to do something that combined computer science and health, too,” Samarth says.

The young alum has also been a good teacher for Samarth,

who hopes to have a career in research and computer science someday. “When Stephen comes back to meet with the

Research team, he has really helped me learn about presenting my work and really think about how to talk about the

follow in his footsteps.”

First and foremost, he says, it’s “Don’t give up!”

“That has a lot of implications,” Trusheim explains. “It means you have to keep pursuing the work, even when it’s hard.

Hard means worthwhile, and the results can truly be great. It also means paying attention to your work, not what people

say about you. I didn’t win anything the first time I went to a national competition, but it was the best experience of my life. And my lowest ACT score was science!”

Now a junior at Stanford University, he’s studying computer science and symbolic systems (a combination of neurosci-

ence and computer science). Meaningful research, he says, is more than just a project: “It’s the people you meet along the way who really affect the experiences you have in the end.”

Marine Biologist

Public Relations Exec

Sarah Fangman ’86’s career as a marine biologist has taken

Megan Fallon ’04 is an

her far under the ocean and up the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

As a field advisor for NOAA (the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association), she helps shape government

policy that protects our oceans. She traces it all back to Breck and the encouragement she received from former teacher and soccer coach Dan Phillips. “The environment of Breck

encourages involvement, a sense of courage to try something new with confidence,” she says.

at the Minneapolis office of Padilla Spear Beardsley, a leading public relations

agency, where she manages

accounts and advises clients on crisis and critical issues

Breck pushes you, asking more of you and encouraging you on to think of things in another way.

communications. (In her spare time, she coaches Edina girls

At Middlebury College, Fangman fell in love with marine

It’s fun, exciting and adventurous work.

assistant account executive

biology during a semester abroad in the British

Virgin Islands. A long assignment in Santa

Barbara’s Channel Islands earned her a spot on the Library of Congress’ 2004 “Women Who Dare” calendar, recognizing her time in an underwater laboratory.

She counsels young people interested in marine biology to “Take every opportunity. Get experience doing any field research, even work in Minnesota. It’s fun, exciting and adventurous work.

You’ll need to pay your dues with a great variety of field

experience and education but you can build on everything and everyone you meet in the field. Say yes to the possibilities.”

hockey and gives tips to younger siblings and fellow Breck hockey players Duffy ’13 and Tressa ’16.)

Fallon credits her coaches Rob Little and Dan Phillips as her

“number-one influences at Breck. The support I experienced

there is unmatched. I didn’t realize just how special Breck was

until I visited other high schools. I was so much more than just a number. Breck pushes you, asking more of you and encouraging you on to think of things in another way.”

Fallon also believes her ability to think creatively and strategi-

cally, which are essential in her career, were nurtured at Breck.

And it was a Breck connection that brought her into contact with alumni parent and Padilla Speer CEO Lynn Casey.

She’d tell anyone interested in public relations to “work on

making sure you’re a sound technical writer in addition to a creative writer. It’s a tough field to break into. And every person you meet is a connection and resource.”

25

First and foremost, he says, it’s “Don’t give up!”

Stephen Trusheim ‘09, visits this year’s Advanced Science Research class and Samarth Damania ‘12.

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

Broadcast Journalist Toya Washington ’90 says

Giselle Ugarte ’07 is the host

began at Breck. “I can directly

web series she created based

her career as a broadcaster

of “Sprinting in Stilettos,” a

attribute my career to Breck,”

on her own beliefs about the

she states, giving credit to

importance of finding your

her May Program internship

voice. “Your own brand is a

opportunity at WCCO-TV.

26

gift,” she explains. Ugarte

Currently anchoring the 5

says her own gift was

more time with her husband

she was encouraged to be

Washington has been at

accepted. Teachers at Breck

P.M. news (so she can spend

nurtured at Breck, where

and two young daughters),

“curious, open-minded and

Milwaukee’s WISN 12, an ABC

affiliate, since 2002. Before that, she worked as a reporter and anchor at a station in Madison.

The best part of her job, she says, is that she’s “met such

incredible people and been able to tell such amazing stories.

I even got to emcee an event for Oprah. That’s just crazy!”

were always interested in all

aspects of my life. And even though my extracurricular

activities—pageantry and dance teams—weren’t common, they genuinely cared.”

She fondly recalls close relationships with Upper School

faculty members including Michael Moos, Senora Harrison, Melissa Soderberg and Father Bellaimey,

Explore, explore, explore. Intern, intern, intern. And learn everything you can about journalism and the way people consume their news today.

and says they helped her develop balance in her life.

Ugarte says students interested in enter-

tainment journalism should concentrate on finding their own voices without influence

To anyone who wants a career in television news, Washington

or pressure from others. “Speak with conviction and find

learn everything you can about journalism and the way

counsels. “Take every single experience regardless of pay.

making such a big difference. Understanding as much as you

along the way.”

advises, “Explore, explore, explore. Intern, intern, intern. And

something that separates you from everyone else,” she

people consume their news today. Modern technology is

Reach out and take a risk and learn from everyone you meet

can will definitely help you advance your career.”

Child Psychologist Jocelyn Lebow ’00 left Breck for Stanford University expecting to prepare for a career in international relations. Under Margaret Wong and the late Marki Talle, she studied Chinese and French and was

excited by the possibilities. She also considers her support network at Breck to have included Jake Miller, Dulcenee Walsh, Alice Wright and Joyce McCann. Says Lebow, “In the classroom or in the halls, walking everywhere from my preschool halls through my years in Upper School…I felt like there was a support network for me. Teachers were always so passionate about what they were teaching.“

Midway through college, she changed courses and found her passion in the field of psychology. Today, she is on staff at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, working with young patients battling eating disorders.

As someone who kept her own mind open to the possibilities of change, she advises students to do the same. Lebow explains, “On a practical level, Breck taught me to write; organizing my thoughts

As someone who kept her own mind open to the possibilities of change, she advises students to do the same.

and communicating in a manner heard and understood. On a less tangible level, looking back,

intellectual vitality and support are crucial to finding things to be passionate about. Think outside the box as Breck teachers encourage you. Be brave in your studies. I took risks but they didn’t feel like risks because of the support I had at Breck.”

TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North | A Supplement of today at breck

How Breck Helps Director of College Counseling Jonathan Nicholson says helping students research and apply to college is only part of the job. “Breck encourages students to think broadly about their futures,” he observes. “There are three college counselors, and it’s our responsibility to help kids develop a sense of who they are and what they want to be in college and beyond.”

Don’t Miss The Latest News From Breck!

We’re sending out our 123 E-Newsletter in September, November and

The formal process begins in sophomore year, when students begin meeting with a counselor to discuss the courses they want to have taken by the end of their Upper School years and what steps they need to take to make it happen.

April... but if we

In the junior year, students start doing college research in earnest, guided by their counselors to get out of their comfort zone and look around at the widest possible range of options. “We spend a lot of time talking to students and listening to them—or drawing things out of them if necessary,” Nicholson states. “But it’s definitely a two-way conversation. That’s why we call it college counseling, not advising.”

it to you. Send

By senior year, students become more realistic and more focused, and all three counselors say they see a lot of growth between junior and senior year.

“We encourage students to think about what they truly enjoy,” Nicholson adds. “If they’re asking the right questions along the way, that means they’re going to be making better decisions in the end.”

Still, few students have a career direction already mapped out. “Most of them have an inkling, but not many of them know for sure,” he says. “How it plays out is a great unknown—but it’s such a wonderful unknown!”

don’t have your email address, we’re not sending us your email at communications@ breckschool.org and we’ll get you added to the list.

Email us at communications@breckschool.org to get on the Breck eNews mailing list.

27

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

28

Drawing on Kevin Cannon ’98 achieved

student celebrity by designing some of the school’s most

recalls. “But I discovered that it’s a great way to tell stories, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

popular Homecoming t-shirt designs, which provided a real

He’s the author of a cartoon adventure comic called Far Arden,

the t-shirts long after Homecoming was over,” says Cannon.

with a sequel due out this spring. His early start at a profes-

thrill to a young artist. “It was fantastic to see kids wearing

a book set in the Arctic and published by Top Shelf Comics

But it was an important lesson in communication as well.

sional career included taking almost any job that was offered

“I ran cross-country but wasn’t really that into Homecom-

ing,” he explains. So when classmate Bryce Gillespie asked

to him (logos and menus for a restaurant and birthday room themes for a theme park in Eau Claire, for example).

him to do a design for the t-shirt his sophomore year,

But for the past few years, he’s been busy with his own

for concept approval and he’d have a chance to finish the

educational nonfiction graphic novels and textbooks on

to me and said my drawing had been approved. I kept

And, at the same time, he’s stayed connected to Breck. After

Cannon dashed off a rough sketch, thinking it would be used

cartooning and illustrations for several publishers of

final design later on. “I was really surprised when Bryce came

subjects ranging from evolution to genetics to paleontology.

thinking, ‘What do you mean? I haven’t even done it yet.’”

Since then, Cannon has learned a great deal about being a professional artist—and keeping his options open.

He headed off to Grinnell College expecting to prepare for a career as an illustrator. But when he went to work for the

Scarlet and Black, the college newspaper, he found out that what they really needed was a cartoonist.

“I didn’t know much about cartooning at the time,” he

collaborating on a number of projects with drama director Tom Hegg, Cannon is delighted that one of their books is

being published before the end of the year. It’s called Little Dickens, the story of a boy who sets off for Revolutionary

France and encounters many characters from the novels of Charles Dickens.

How was working with Hegg? “There’s nothing like working with a former teacher to make you feel like an adult,” he laughs.

29

Experience Another former teacher, Visual Arts Department Head Michal Sagar, says she knew

Kevin had the talent to be a professional

artist from the first class he took from her.

“He was technically one of the most adept

students I’ve ever had,” she recalls. “But more important, he thought like an artist.”

Sagar remembers thinking, “Oh, I’m going to have to work differently with him. He’s already at a college level!”

For being so advanced, though, Cannon says he’s a little old fashioned in the way he

approaches his work. “I don’t do much of my original work on the computer although, of course I use technology for

scanning, editing and touchups. But I really like the feel of pen on paper.”

And while drawing is a solitary art, Cannon has found ways to stay connected at work. He shares his studio, Big Time

Attic, with a partner who, coincidentally enough, also went to Grinnell and is also named Cannon. When he began

working on the college newspaper, people heard his name and said, “Oh, you must be Zander’s brother!” He didn’t

actually meet Zander, who had graduated before he got there, until a few years later.

Says Sagar, “Kevin has such an incisive, profoundly engaged mind but is so humble about his

success. I love the fact that he is capable of such

extreme sophistication but has chosen to live his

passion for illustration and cartooning. Anything he can think of, he can draw. And you cannot teach that.”

For his part, Cannon says he gets his inspiration from television, movies and listening to Twins

games on the radio while he works. And he draws

his energy from local cartoonists—Minneapolis has a thriving community.

It’s a long way from quickly sketched Homecoming t-shirts, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

30

Admissions Director Scott Wade and son Jack at the Pancake BreckFest last March.

Breck families help a 92-year old homeowner with fall leaf raking.

A busy schedule of Poly Hockey at Breck’s Special Olympics event.

Student volunteers, like Archana Murali ‘17, helped rake 20 yards in 2010.

Opening Ceremonies for the Special Olympics.

We Are Family

Alumni Association and Parents Association Work Together

When the Breck Alumni Association went through its recent strategic planning exercise, one of the goals that emerged was to increase the opportunities for Breck alumni to come together in service activities.

And when the Breck Parents Association wanted to evaluate

Their collaboration is bringing alumni and parents closer

conclusion that it could use some more volunteers.

opportunity to meet Breck alumni,” says parent and Parents

its Family Community Outreach activities, it reached the It was the most natural of alliances.

“We’re all here working together for a common goal,” says Parents Association President Adrienne Oesterle. “We’re supporting the mission, and bringing the community together. None of us can do it alone!”

Adds Alumni Council Treasurer and Service Committee

Co-Chair Jimmy Beltz ’94, “When we started thinking about what it would take to create our own service events, we

realized pretty quickly that it made a lot of sense to use the infrastructure the Parents Association had already set up.”

The idea took hold last school year, when alumni served as greeters at the annual Special Olympics Poly Hockey tournament at Breck.

This year, however, the groups plan to work together even

more. For the first time, the Alumni Association has repre-

together in many ways. “I’m not sure I would have had the

Association committee chair Farida Korallus. “But it’s such a

natural fit and an evolution from student to alum to parent.”

“We’re all trying to teach our kids about service and make sure that they get the mentality that the world’s not all

about them,” adds Beltz. “It’s so important that they learn about making an effort and giving their time.”

It’s an education for the parents as well. For example, says Korallus, she had no idea that it was the alumni who

planned and volunteered for Homecoming. And Beltz says he didn’t realize how extensive the Parents Association opportunities for involvement were.

The Parents Association’s Oesterle says it was all part of her

master plan. “My big word for the year is collaboration,” she states with characteristic enthusiasm. “And the more active the collaboration, the better.”

sentatives on the Family Community Outreach committee, and it is already planning for some significant alumni

presence during the first service opportunity of the year, the Fall Leaf Raking event on November 5.

Teams of alumni and their families will join teams of current parents and students as they work to rake leaves and

perform other simple maintenance activities for local area senior citizens.

“Maybe we’ll distribute special t-shirts for alumni and parent

groups,” Beltz proposes only partially in jest. “Or we’ll get some kind of competition going to see who can fill the most bags!”

Later in the year, alumni will take more active roles in the Special Olympics event at the end of January, the second

annual Pancake BreckFest in March, and the Art 4 Shelter art sale that benefits Simpson Housing Services in May.

Chocolate chip pancakes are part of the BreckFest celebration.

31

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

Arizona. It will be his first full Ironman.

He still splits his time between

Southern Calif. and Scottsdale, Ariz.,

with summers in Stockholm, Sweden.

He owns his own merchant processing

32

class notes reunion year

served as section chair of the Division

1968

Department of Otorhinolaryngology

Steve Wirth and wife Kathy thoroughly enjoyed relaxing with with Bill and Carolyn Whitney at their home in

Naples, Fla., this past March. They had so much fun that the Whitneys, the following weekend, joined them at their condominium in Venice, Fla.

1976 Cecily Majerus is still in California

teaching Medieval history and working with environmental organizations.

1978 Hans Tester had a featured role on

of Otology since 2006, chair of the Clinical Practice Committee since

2003, and medical director of Cochlear Implantation since 2000.

Spencer Reece will be ordained and

living in Madrid as of September 27.

of Otolaryngology with fellowship training and subspecialty board

certification in neurotology, and holds a joint appointment in the Depart-

ment of Neurologic Surgery. He has

Congratulations to Kevin Feely and

wife Yao Zhang, who had a new baby

boy, Nathan Patrick Feely! He was born October 5, 2010, in Los Angeles.

1993 Emily Faville and husband John

Gambino happily welcomed their

second child, Maxwell Ignazio Gambino, on March 23, 2011. Max joins big sister

She loves being a 40+ year-old mom to

and is still enduring a career in

medical marketing and sales. She adds, “Tennis anyone?”

Angus Worthing hosted a BBQ last April for the Breck alums in the Washington, D.C. area.

August with the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

board certified by the American Board

1990

her beautiful and feisty four-year old

Colin Driscoll, M.D., is the new chair

academic rank of professor. Colin is

so and start a family.

away in the East and Southeast U.S.

Mike Mattison performed at the

Clinic staff since 1999 and holds the

time sometime within the next year or

back in Minnesota after several years

1981

He has been a member of the Mayo

ers. He hopes to move to Europe full

Jillian McAdams is doing well and

1987

gology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

works primarily with Internet advertis-

Daniela who is two and a half.

1985

“The Mentalist” on CBS last spring.

of the Department of Otorhinolaryn-

business, Viking Merchant Services, and

1995

Minnesota Zoo for two nights in

Steve McKeon received his

PhD in finance

1988

from Purdue Stephen Sanderson

has been training for Ironman Triathlons the past year and

hopes to qualify for

Kona Ironman World Championship this

November at Ironman

The McKeon brothers: Dan ’05, Steve and Mike ’98

University. He, wife Michelle and their two

daughters have moved to Eugene, Oregon, where he has joined the

faculty at the University of Oregon.

1997

Nick Vanderboom is currently

2005

On October 12, 2010, Jennifer Newsom

ment for The Howard Hughes

See 1995 notes for a photo of Dan

Corporation, a publicly traded real

McKeon at brother Steve’s graduation.

estate company that was formed in

November 2010. In March, Nick joined

2006

the company’s officers and board of

Brendan Lynch-Salamon is a contes-

Carruthers welcomed James Ogden

Elliott Carruthers into the world. Little Ogden is taking after mom and

proving quite the athlete, crawling and rolling and getting his curious

hands into everything! Mom, baby,

and husband Tom are all doing well in Brooklyn, New York.

Dana Weiser had an exhibit at the

working as a vice president of develop-

directors to ring the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange. Nick lives in Los Angeles with his wife

Whitney, who is a development officer at the University of Southern Califor-

Burnet Art Gallery at the LeMeridien

nia Keck School of Medicine.

Exhibit, “Dana Weiser, Who are you?”

2003

Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis. The

ran from September 16-October 16, 2011.

tant on NBC’s third season of “The Sing Off” as part of his college a cappella

group, The Dartmouth Aires. “The Sing Off” premiered September 2011 on

NBC. Brendan is also a member of the Los Angeles band “Warm Weather,”

whose EP “Dances” was profiled this summer in the Los Angeles Times

Javier Perez-Cabera and his family

music section.

edition of the newsletter of the Ronald

1998

were the cover story in the most recent

2007

Kevin Cannon will be illustrating a

McDonald House Charities of the

Katia Dragotis is working in market-

Hegg called Little Dickens for local

the family’s move from Cuba to

Christmas. Tom and Kevin have worked

for Javier’s brother Jorge, who died in

since 2002 but this is the first one that

currently enrolled in a fellowship at the

more on Kevin, see page 28.

pursuing his M.D./Ph.D. as a medical

book by Breck faculty member Tom

Upper Midwest. The story focused on

publisher Nodin Press. It is due out by

Minnesota to seek medical treatment

together on several projects together

2000 at the age of ten. Javier is

has been picked up by a publisher. For

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities,

See 1995 notes for a photo of Mike

McKeon at brother Steve’s graduation.

2001 Last summer MELLY in The Galleria hosted a trunk show for Monique

Moore’s UPF sun protection line, Mott 50.

2002

science training program fellow.

2004 Jomi Kramer is a second-year

mechan­ical engineering student at

the Technion. In 2006 she moved to Israel to live on Kibbutz Sasa in the

northern Galilee. Jomi became a heavy weapons instructor for combat

soldiers, before moving on to training soilders in state-of-the-art 3-D

technology, and even helping to train American Marines visiting Israel.

This summer Andrew Dayton’s highly

anticipated hot spot, the Marvel Bar and The Bachelor Farmer Restaurant,

opened. This venture brought Andrew

into business with his older brother, Eric.

ing/PR at a small sports agency in

Minnesota. One of the clients at the agency is classmate Marcus Hill.

Marcus had a very successful basketball career at Minnesota State

University – Mankato (formerly

Mankato State) and got into the NBA Development league. He signed his Development League contract in September at Breck.

Addie Gorlin completed research and wrote a play entitled “88 Voices...Now we can have a Conversation” about Native Americans based on 88

interviews with Minnesotans. Her project won a fellowship from

Dartmouth College and has received a lot of positive feedback from students and professors. Addie sent this link to an article from The Dartmouth

newspaper: http://thedartmouth.

In October 2011, Bill Mitchell is

com/2011/05/25/arts/88voices

presenting at the Geological Society of

America annual meeting, held this year

2008

at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Marge Riazi is still playing plenty of

The title of his talk is “U-Pb and Ar/Ar Dating of the Cretaceous-Paleogene

Boundary Interval in Eastern Montana.”

soccer, music, and doing the Vagina

Monologues. Marge is chief of staff for her Student Body President’s office,

which has been an interesting change

33

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

from the student government she had

always known. She says school is great

was a school’s custodians by the name

and she still taking Environmental

First-grade teacher

Education minor, but the most

dropping off her son at

forward to is heading to Ghana for

University and spotted

Studies courses, with a newly added

Marie Murphy was

exciting thing is that she looking

Northwestern

the semester abroad.

a very happy Elliott Lazar during the

2009

“March to the Arch.”

Robby Barbieri made his SEC football 34

2011

See 2009 notes for a mention of

of Jim Stevenson. If you needed

something made out of wood Jim was your man. A teacher might need a

book shelf and Jim would visit the

class room to measure the space, learn what size books the shelf would hold and if any special color or finish was required. Then he would go to work with his skills as a craftsman. Some

teachers complained that the project

Addison Weiler.

took too long but when the book shelf

Elon in their opening day game in

FORMER FACULTY

One day I dropped in to visit Jim in his

last year as a redshirt player and this

Former Dean of Studies and History

put so much time and effort into

on special teams.

been named head of school at Gould

Stephen Trusheim and Addison

9-12 in Bethel, Maine.

debut with the Vanderbilt Commo-

dores in September when they played Nashville, Tenn. Robby joined the team year will play outside linebacker and

Weiler ‘11, both currently at Stanford,

Department Head Matt Ruby has

Academy, a boarding school for grades

talk about their current research projects for two days last fall.

2010

Catching Up With…Ernie Campbell We received the following letter from Ernie Campbell a few months ago.

My first day on the

Daniel

Mokhtari

was selected by the

chemistry

department

faculty at MIT to receive the CRC

Freshman Chemistry Award. He was the only freshman to receive the

award this year. Daniel also received one of the seven institute Freshman Awards, given out to freshmen for

achievement in one of seven catego-

ries. His award was in the category of

job as chaplain of Breck School I

reported to the headmaster’s

office. I ask The Rev. Doug

Henderson what he wanted me to do.

His response was simple and direct, “I

want you to teach the students, faculty

and staff of Breck School that God loves them.” I said, with all the naivety a

brand new twenty six year old priest

could muster, Sir, what text shall I use?

And he said, “God, I don’t know!”

academics/research.

I believe that conversation was the

Charles Morris is studying physiology

see it better now than I did then. The

and neuroscience at the University of California San Diego. He is really enjoying school and is currently

involved in neuroscience research on short-term and long-term memory.

shop and I asked him why he would making a bookshelf? Well, he said, I

would hope that whoever looks at that bookshelf will know that someone here cares.

I don’t know the long list of recipients

visited Mrs. Fruen’s Advanced Science Research class to listen to students

arrived it was perfect.

origin of the Ernest Campbell Award. I only text that will teach God’s love for students, faculty and staff is the way

you relate to the students faculty and staff with your own day to day life.

One of the first recipients of the award

of the award with my name on it but I am sure I would be humbled by their spirit of loving kindness, positive attitude and willing service.

I have served as a priest of the Episcopal Church for 58 years. Six of those fifty

eight years I was the Chaplain at Breck School.

I went on to be the Associate Rector of St. Georges, St. Louis Park, the Dean of The Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior,

Faribault, Minnesota and the Rector of St. Paul’s in Walla Walla, Washington

where my wife Margaret and I are still

living. I began my retirement by doing three interim pastorates.

Along the way I have enjoyed a special

interest in both resident and wilderness camping. I was the Program Director at the Teton Valley Ranch, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, The Director of Cass Lake

Episcopal Camp, Diocese of Minnesota and the Chairman of camp board for

Camp Cross, Diocese of Spokane. The

camping journey all started when I was nine years old with a half thirty-five dollar scholarship offered to me as a

member of the men and boys choir in Christ Church, Winnetka, Ill.

I am still on staff at St. Paul’s and I still sing in the choir. I also officiate one

Sunday a month at two small Episcopal Churches in nearby towns.

I rejoice in the numerous opportunities that I have been given to fulfill the

headmaster’s assignment; to teach the wonderful people you meet along the way that God loves them.

Ernie Campbell May 13, 2011

in memoriam Rev. Dr. Richard Keene Smith, former

Bob White ’46 died on August 16. He

July 30. Preceded in death by his wife

unions, reading week, and the Golden

Breck chaplain, died at the age of 88 on Marcia Roos Smith, he is survived by his daughters Sylvia Duggan ’78 and

Emily Wiegand ’80 and their families.

was an active alum attending re-

Mustangs Luncheon each year. Bob

was a decorated veteran and former editorial page editor of the Star

In addition to his work at Breck in the

Tribune. Bob is survived by his wife

as an Episcopal priest for more than 50

and Sarah and three grandsons. After

’60s and ’70s, Dick served the Diocese

years, was active in prison ministries,

and was a chaplain for the Minneapo-

lis Police department for more than 30 years. Dick will be remembered for his generous spirit, his sense of humor and his abiding faith. His funeral

service was held in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit on August 2.

Breck’s Online Photo Gallery A lot goes on at Breck every day, and we try to capture as much as possible with our cameras. Visit our online Zenfolio Gallery to see what we’ve been up to so far this year. Browse, download, print, enjoy! breckschool.zenfolio.com

Adrienne, daughters Claire, Pamela Breck, Bob graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served on a

destroyer in the Korean War. His

obituary notice, most of which he

wrote himself, included the line, “He

loved family, friends, good writing and short sentences.”

35

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

36

Homecoming & Reunion 2011 Breck kicked off Homecoming week by recognizing its alums who are faculty members with balloons for their

classroom. Special deliveries were

made to the classrooms of Elizabeth Powers ’82, Sarah Flotten ’85, Evan

Jones ’86, Rob Johnson ’90, Ty Thayer ’90, Deb Pogue Mixon ’87, Emily

Gibson Jones ’94, and Ashley Kokal

McCarthy ’02.

Coaches Neal Busdicker ’02, Jack

Cavanaugh ’91, Sarah Flotten ’85, Rob

Johnson ’90, Evan Jones ’86, Glen Lang ’86, Michael Proman ’99, Bernie

Reisberg ’91, Charlie Schaitberger ’88,

Brad Searl ’95, Nancy Johnson ’82, and

Holiday Eller Samabaly ’04 received candy grams.

On Thursday, September 22, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit hosted the annual presentation of the Distinguished

Alumni Award. This year the award

was given to David Williams ’83. Dave was honored for being an Olympian

and commentator for the sport of Judo and his work teaching judo to

under-privileged youth in San Jose.

Distinguished Alumni Committee.

The Golden Mustangs Luncheon

honors alums who graduated 50 years ago and before. Over 40 alums and

Saturday, September 24. This year’s

theme of Carnival provided many fun family activities including a football toss, ring toss, horseshoes, face

painting, and clowns. Over 900

alumni, parents, students, and faculty members took part in the Saturday

festivities and cheered the Mustangs on against Minnehaha Academy.

This year’s events and festivities

were planned and implemented

by the Homecoming Committee of the Alumni Council led by

siblings Molly Varecka ’98 and

in the Heritage Room of Breck School

TJ Varecka ’94. Homecoming 2011

23. Alums were welcomed by Head of

many alumni and student

Anderson Arena on Friday, September School Edward Kim and Luncheon

Co-Chairs Fletcher Driscoll ’51 and Todd Driscoll ’52. The Homecoming tent

hosted the 2011 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reception

that evening. Nancy Johnson ’82 and

www.breckalumni.org

the annual Homecoming Barbeque on

Drew Gaillard ’88 chaired this year’s

their guests attended this year’s lunch

SEPT. 22-24, 2011

The Breck Alumni Association hosted

Keith Ylinen ’86 served as chairs of this year’s event, which honored Paul

Nelson ’86, Sarah Fangman ’86, Greg Pfleider ’90, and Robin Comero ’95.

was a huge success thanks to the volunteers.

The classes of 1941, 1946, 1961,

and 1981 celebrated its reunions Homecoming weekend. Thanks to volunteers, Al Cederberg ’41, Wally Neal ’46, Bud Mixon ’61

and Maya Tester ’81 for making

their reunion weekend one to remember.

Summer Reunions 2011

1976

1986

1991 37

1996

2001

Upcoming Events

Alumni Participation Wanted for MLK Day 2012: Living the Dream

The Bugle Returns

hoping that Breck alumni will be a

which include reinstating the title

Social Media and Networking Event Tuesday, November 1

Cooper Irish Pub, West End 5:30 PM

Holiday Party 2011

Monday, December 26 TBD

7:00 PM San Francisco Regional Reception February 2012

Seattle Reception February 2012

Chicago Reception

This year’s MLK Day committee is significant presence as speakers, presenters and panelists.

Alums who are involved in professions that seek to make a practical differ-

ence in the world and who would be available to be at Breck on Tuesday,

January 17, 2012, should get in touch with the alumni office, Father John Bellaimey, or history teacher Lori Merrill for details.

at 763-381-8230.

newspaper have some exciting plans, The Bugle.

A team of five senior editors (Hayley

Rosenfield, Sarah Mevissen, Noah Rubin, Eva Wang and Gabrielle Mashaal) hopes to make the paper a vital organ of the wider Breck community.

They’re soliciting content from Upper School faculty and staff and are espe-

cially interested in articles from alumni.

Alums who wrote for The Bugle and

advisor: alex.darrow@breckschool.org

the New York, San Francisco, Seattle,

please call the alumni relations office

editors of Breck’s Upper School student

can contact the current staff via their

If you plan to be or currently live in

helping to plan our regional events,

Under new advisor Alex Darrow, the

have reminiscences or ideas to share

March 2012

and Chicago and are interested in

2006

Volunteer with Breck the Breck Alumni Association!

Interested in making the Breck Alumni Association all that it can be? Join your classmates in planning social events and reunions, making annual fund calls/

emails, mentoring young alums, reading to current students, etc. We currently have a variety of different opportunities available. Join the team! Call the

alumni relations office at 763-381-8230 or email alumni@breckschool.org if you would like to learn more.

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

Spring was a Championship Season Boys tennis, Myles Tang, Anna Laorr, Malayshia George and Girls Relay Teams were victorious at State.

Baseball

Softball

returns a number of players for a bright outlook in 2012.

group of new players to join the returning team members in

The season included some exciting wins, and the team

Boys Golf

Mustang golfers had an outstanding year and greatly raised

their level of play, winning the conference. Eric Laorr went to

Our softball team is growing, and we look forward to a good the spring.

Boys Tennis

winning Class A state

Girls Golf

as a team. Myles Tang

Anna Laorr won the state tournament to become the Class

won state singles, and

AA champion, and her teammate Kayla Mork also went to

Felix Mettke and

state and finished in a tie for 19th. While the team was the

Trotter Oberrender

most successful it has been in years, there’s a great deal of

were consolation

young talent coming along to continue the tradition into the future as well.

Boys and Girls Lacrosse

Both lacrosse teams made strides, and players worked hard to improve as the season went on. Lacrosse continues to

grow in popularity, raising the level of play throughout the season, and both Breck teams participated in section tournaments.

The Mustangs had a great postseason,

the state tournament and finished in a tie for 15th place.

champs at doubles.

Boys Track

The Breck team was a small group in 2011, competing with energy and enthusiasm.

<< Girls Track

It was a wonderful year for the Mustang girls track and field team, which finished third in the state at the Class A

tournament. Malayshia George won the 400 meter dash, and the relay teams of Kristina Howard, Malayha George,

Malayshia George and Halle Gustafson won both the 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 relays. Niara Hill, Nailah Hill and Angel Thomas also competed well at

state. Niara took seventh in the triple jump and tenth

in the long jump, while her sister Nailah tied for tenth in discus.

Featured Athlete:

Halle Gustafson ’12 As a three-sport athlete (soccer, hockey and track), senior Halle Gustafson has been part of Breck’s

winning tradition. Her track coach, Chris Ohm, says she’s a winner off the field as well. “Halle is the

epitome of a Breck student/athlete,” he says. “She

balances it all, serves as senior class president, and does it all with ease. She’s a role model for her

fellow students and for me personally as well. If my daughter grows up to be like Halle, I’ll have done a good job as a parent.”

VISIT THE BRECK ONLINE GYMSTORE Apparel · SPIRIT GEAR www.breckschool.org (choose “Breck Store” at the bottom)

Check out our new reusable shopping totes!

39

“

TODAY AT BRECK fall 2011

In Their Own Words dallas crow

”

40

Upper School English instructor Dallas Crow wrote the following for his retiring colleague Michael Moos.

Retirement Poem “The process of living and the process of making art are the same.” Michael Moos My colleague, mentor, friend, and twelve-year neighbor, Michael Moos is retiring. The post-Catholic master of laissez-faire Buddhism who makes of grading a walking meditation, whose student acolytes at times make of him a minor god, and over time have made of his ceiling a beautiful version of hell: a Michelangelic tribute to a poem, a man, a method of instruction where the master refuses all titles and power resides in every student . . . none abandoned hope who entered there.

Our auburn-bearded bard will roam these halls no more, but nest with raven and sparrow in St. Paul, Ortonville, the Black Hills, pen, paper, and fly rod close at hand, each new day in that unsung paradise called the Midwest a quiet adventure. He will sing a song of trout and teach the air its many names. He may even become fluent in Bison before long. He will seek out the soul of the plains, and sketch his map in verse. And on our behalf, he’ll scratch down dreams we didn’t know we had.

For more tributes to Mr. Moos, check out the Michael Moos Fan Club page on Facebook, accessible from the link on Breck’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/breckschool.

Pat and Julie Spangler are in their

know teachers and administrators as

sixteenth year of Breck parenthood

well as other parents,” she observes.

— with seven more to go. But their

Their support of Breck’s mission and

enthusiasm remains undimmed. After

values made the decision to include

researching school options for their

the school in their estate plan an easy

oldest, son Travis ’09, the Spanglers say

one. “It’s a reflection of our family’s

they were initially attracted to Breck

experiences here,” says Pat. “But it’s also

because of its supportive environment,

the realization that the school needs

challenging academics and support for diversity

philanthropic support to do what it does. This is our

of all kinds. But Travis had an important role in

way of helping Breck have the resources it needs to

the decision as well. “He really felt at home here,”

remain strong for generations of future students.”

this is our way of helping breck have the resources it needs to remain strong for generations of future students.

Julie recalls. “And he really liked the cookies at the kindergarten play group. I think that helped!”

With their own children off to a great start (Travis is a junior at Brown University in their eight-year BA/MD program, Tyler is a sophomore studying international business

at Eckerd College, and Kylie is an active fifth grader), both Pat and Julie say they appreciate the

As parents of Travis ’09, Tyler ’10 and Kylie ’19, the

foundation Breck provides. “Breck kids have so many

Spanglers have had many opportunities to get

opportunities in athletics, academics, the arts,” says

involved and make friends of their own at Breck.

Julie. “I would love to be a student, too!” To find out

Julie’s involvement in Parents Association, Mentoring

more about membership in the James Lloyd Breck

program, Annual Fund and Grandparents Day have

Society and leaving a legacy to Breck as part of

helped them both appreciate the school. “You

an estate plan, contact Barbara Brown at barbara.

get a whole different sense of Breck by getting to

brown@breckschool.org or 763-381-8208.

recognizing members of the community who have included breck school in their wills or named the school as a beneficiary of a charitable trust. to learn more about leaving a legacy to breck, please contact barbara brown at 763-381-8208 or barbara.brown@ breckschool.org

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Parents of Alumni: Please forward this publication. If your daughter or son no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify us (763-381-8230 or alumni@breckschool.org) of the new mailing address.

Happy Fall!

JV soccer player Alyssa Quast ‘14 at the end of an October game on the McKnight Field turf.