Today at Breck - Summer 2013

SUMMER 2013

TODAY AT BRECK

all in the family

The Andersons’ FourGeneration Legacy at Breck PG. 26 the importance of financial aid Class of 2013 plans winter Sports

You were here!

Breck School 2012 /13 Annual Fund

Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, students, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, staff and friends who supported the 2012-13 Annual Fund, helping to make life at Breck possible. Your generosity keeps us strong.

Look for us in 2013-14. We’ll be here!

breckschool.org/support/give

contents

SUMMER 2013 TODAY AT BRECK 1

FEATURES 18 | Hurrah! It’s May! We look in on some May Program service and learning opportunities.

22 | All About Accessibility Breck’s deep commitment to financial aid helps the school maintain socioeconomic diversity and a strong middle class.

26 | L eading the Way cover story We sat down with Lifetime Trustee Lee R. Anderson, Sr., ’57

18

to learn about Breck through the eyes of our most generous donor and anchor of a four-generation legacy.

30 | Alumni in Athletics Today at Breck catches up with some graduates involved with sports careers.| Lois

Fruen: Enhancing Scholarship and Scientific Study

30

On the cover: Lee R. Anderson, Sr., ’57 with grandchildren Griffin ’16, Penny ’19 and Gabriella ’22 Groethe

Photo by Sher Stoneman

22

34

SUMMER 2013

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

44

4 | 20 Questions

34 | Alumni News

We asked, and they answered: Peter

Are you ready for Homecoming 2013?

Kiesel ’15, Carey Sirianni, and Alex

36 | C lass Notes

Clark ’02

Director of Advancement

7 | 123

Editor and Chief Writer Jill Field

Design

ThinkDesign Group: Linda Henneman, Brittney Schneider, Corey Sevett

Writers Michelle Geo Olmstead

Photographers A.J. Colianni, Peggy Fifield, Lauren Kiesel, Matthias Orfield, Byron Rice, Karyl Rice, Sara Rubinstein, Sher Stoneman

Printing

42

Departments

Edward Kim

Meredith Cook VanDuyne

7

Activities, accomplishments, awards,

announcements: here are some items from springtime at Breck.

7 | Who Knew?

Fun facts, both current and historical (no, there won’t be a quiz!)

16 | Ten Things You Didn’t Know About…

Alumni share recent news.

42 | Sports News We’ve got all the highlights of a great winter season for the Mustangs.

44 | In Their Own Words Marion Jones Kennon reflects on her 46-year career at Breck.

College counseling staff keep up with the trends as they support upper school students.

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 on paper manufactured with electricity in the form of renewable energy (wind, hydro, biogas) and a minimum of 30% postconsumer recovered fiber.

3 At the annual conference of the National Association of Independent Schools this spring, the keynote address was by James Collins, whose book, Good to Great, had a significant impact on management practices worldwide.

Mr. Collins encouraged us to adapt the Good to Great concept in our schools and specifically to: • Set audacious goals • Identify, advance and organize talent • Create an entrepreneurial culture, characterized by openness and self-discipline • Rely on enterprise-focused leaders • Use technology to accelerate transformation I’ve long been a reader of business and management books, and Mr. Collins’ presentation confirmed my belief that leaders of schools must pay serious attention to the principles of good finance as well as good curriculum.

The economic downturn of 2008 was a wake-up call for schools, although in retrospect it is clear that the signs were there easily a decade earlier. At Breck, the steadily growing pressure on enrollment, especially increased need for financial aid, has created a new reality.

Part of that reality is the necessity of a complex understanding of many issues, including investments, legal concerns, and the effects of inflation. And to sustain our mission over time, we must take inspiration from profound thinkers in both the business and non-profit worlds.

It’s appropriate, then, that this issue of Today at Breck has a cover story on one of our school’s greatest champions. Lee Anderson, Sr. ’57 has had a very successful career in business and an equally impressive lifetime of service and philanthropy to non-profit institutions. He’s been a tireless advocate for diversity in both schools and corporations, and he has been a generous supporter of the financial aid that helps maintain socioeconomic diversity at Breck.

I think you’ll enjoy reading about his observations—as well as the “In Their Own Words” column from Marion Jones Kennon, our assistant admissions director who is retiring after 46 years.

The opportunity to view Breck through the eyes of two people who have seen the school grow and change over time—while remaining steadfast in our devotion to our mission—is a rare one indeed.

I hope you are enjoying the summer.

EdWARD Kim Head of school

TODAY AT BRECK Summer 2013

questions 4

Peter kiesel ‘15: BRECK RISING JUNIOR 1

What’s on your iPod?

7

Favorite comfort food?

14

Three people, living or dead,

A lot of country music

Chocolate covered acai berries. My

you’d have over to dinner?

2

mom buys them at Costco, and they’re

My great grandpa Mauerhan, Steve

so amazing!

Jobs, and Albert Einstein

Bringing Down the House, a really in-

8

15

teresting book about card counting

yourself 10 years ago?

Third place in an event at the alpine

3

To chill out and not take everything so

skiing Junior Olympics in Vail last year

seriously

16

What’s one of the last books

you read?

What’s your favorite time of year?

Definitely the summer. It’s warm, and

What advice would you give to

Best trophy/award you ever won?

If you could read anyone’s mind,

there’s no homework. What’s not to

9

love about that?

kindergarten?

My dog’s. It’d be very interesting to see

4

Tripping and breaking my wrist while

what she thinks on a daily basis.

running to a friend on the playground

17

What’s your favorite Breck lunch?

Either pizza or brunch for lunch 5

Who is your personal hero

(and why)?

My grandma. She is always so happy and teaches her grandchildren to always look on the positive side.

6

Dream job?

Something that lets me travel to different places around the world to do things that not many people get to do

10

What do you remember from

What’s your favorite place on the

whose would it be?

If you could travel anywhere,

where would you go?

Breck campus?

The Caribbean or Hawaii. Somewhere

This year it was definitely the Fieldhouse

with really blue water

commons; next year, who knows?

18

11

If you had a theme song, what

Pet peeve?

When people eat peanuts at baseball

would it be?

games. I don’t get why it’s okay to

“Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and

throw the shells on the ground.

Ryan Lewis

19

12

Favorite line from a movie?

“Loosen your corset,” from Haymitch in The Hunger Games 13

Favorite website?

Most visited would be the Powerschool portal; favorite is probably YouTube.

Unfulfilled wish?

To go ziplining over a rainforest 20

What keeps you up at night?

Chinese dialog

questions 5

SCHOOL academic carey sirianni: upper resource instructor 1

What’s on your iPod?

7

Dream job?

14

Favorite line from a movie?

Angelique Kidjo, Paul Simon, Nusrat

I have it!!! I wouldn’t trade my job for

Mozart: “Forgive me, Majesty. I am

Fateh, Ali Khan, Tito Puente, The

anything.

a vulgar man! But I assure you, my

Beatles, Macy Gray

8

music is not.” ~Amadeus

2

What’s one of the last books

you read?

The Warmth of Other Suns…loved it and learned a lot!

3

What’s your favorite time of year?

Best decision?

Starting Bato Bato!

9

What do you remember from

It was a calm place. I have 11 siblings, and life at home was pretty chaotic.

Also lots of sweet, yummy glue

lilacs start

10

What’s the most thrilling/

What is the most important

room in your home?

adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

My back yard. I spend my whole

Biking through Thailand and Malaysia,

summer out there.

hitchhiking up the east coast of Kenya,

11

and swimming in the Zambezi River (and not seeing the “No Swimming — Crocodile Infested Waters” sign until I got out).

5

What’s your favorite Breck lunch?

Caesar salad. Bob Miles is incredible, and his Caesar dressing is fabulous.

6

Who is your personal hero

What’s your favorite place on the

Breck campus?

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

Peter Clark, Ephat Mujuru, Gandhi 17

Best trophy/award you ever won?

lars who are studying and chatting

Swim Championship

and fooling around and getting their

18

stuff done 12

Favorite comfort food?

Peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches with onions….with a glass of

My husband Al, who is steady as a rock,

13

because he’s never what you’d expect

16

2nd place: East Africa Open Ocean

cold milk!

for her magical energy, and Brad Kohl

Border Collie Rescue

My own room surrounded by my regu-

(and why)? kind and generous; Anjali Madhok

Favorite website?

kindergarten?

Spring, right when the first shoots and 4

15

If you had a theme song, what

would it be?

“I Can’t Run, But” (Paul Simon, Rhythm of the Saints)

If you could read anyone’s mind,

whose would it be?

Brad Kohl 19

If you could travel anywhere,

where would you go?

Turkey, Brazil, the Amalfi Coast and Lamu 20

Pet peeve?

Leash laws

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

questions 6

alex clark ’02: alumni speaker, 2013 commencement 1

What’s on your iPod?

7

Dream job?

13

Favorite line from a movie?

LCD Soundsystem, Jay Z, Junip, Gor-

I already hold my dream job! I collabo-

“The world is an imperfect place.

rilaz, The Talking Heads, Trampled by

rate with health-care organizations

Screws fall out all the time.” John

Turtles, Alabama Shakes

to improve health-care quality and

Bender, The Breakfast Club

2

reduce costs. The need is enormous.

14

What’s one of the last books

Three people, living or dead,

you read?

8

Cutting for Stone by Abraham ­Verghese

Taking a year off from college in be-

My dad, my mom and The Dude from

3

tween freshman and sophomore year.

The Big Lebowski

I probably grew and developed more

15

What’s your favorite time of year?

Autumn 4

What’s the most thrilling/

adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Impulsively starting an ice cream business in college with a friend. It failed miserably.

5

What’s your favorite Breck lunch?

Any reasonable, well-adjusted individual knows it’s chicken patty on a bun, hands down.

6

Who is your personal hero (and why)?

A toss-up between my mom and my dad. They both structured their lives around serving others—that’s really hard not to look up to and admire.

Best decision?

that year than any.

9

What advice would you give to

yourself 10 years ago?

Continue to invest in relationships and experiences. And every now and then, question your own assumptions.

10

What do you remember from

kindergarten?

Being part of a rowdy, disruptive group with people who are still some

you’d have over to dinner?

Best trophy/award you ever won?

Hilldale Research Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, Madison 16

If you could read anyone’s mind,

whose would it be?

Thomas Friedman. That guy is crazy smart.

17

If you could travel anywhere,

where would you go?

The Phi Phi Islands in Thailand

of my best friends: Andrew Dayton,

18

Mike Tankenoff, Whitney Clark, David

The middle seat on an airplane

Brooks, Will Dolan

19

11

Favorite comfort food?

Pet peeve?

Unfulfilled wish?

Opening a breakfast joint in South

Walleye sandwich

Minneapolis

12

20

If you had a theme song, what

What keeps you up at night?

would it be?

If I’m up at night, it’s because my right

“Sister Christian” by Night Ranger,

brain just isn’t ready to shut down.

my go-to karaoke song

That’s when my thoughts are about as creative as they come.

7

Thornton Powell III delivers his eighth-grade speech at Middle School closing.

TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North

Third Graders Excel at WordMasters Challenge Breck third graders were eighth in the nation in the most recent WordMasters, a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 150,000 students annually.

Cum Laude Society Inducts 17 New Members

Competing in the difficult Blue division, Will Walkley won individual highest honors for his score of 58, and high honors went to Ella Williamson, Anders Dean, Fiona Reilly, Sara

Breck’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society

Morneau, Joshua Goh and Joe Stutsman.

inducted the following new members

WordMasters is an exercise in critical thinking that encour-

at its annual dinner in April: Seniors

ages students to become familiar with interesting new words

David Alper, Kylee Grant, Caleb Kumar,

and then challenges them to use those words to complete

­Katherine Schipper, Mikala Skelton,

analogies, expressing various kinds of logical relationships.

Joshua Stillman and Amy Yin; and j­ uniors Eileen Bayer, Claire Drysdale, Adria Duncan, ­Madison Ernst, Leslie son and Patricia Zhao.

Quiz Bowl Travels to Nationals

They joined the members of the Class of 2013 who had been

The Breck Quiz Bowl team competed in the national tour-

inducted as juniors: Daniel Bergerson, Greer Bingham,

nament over Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta. Seniors

Paige Dempsey, Sarah Koop, Joseph Kuhns, Eden Motto,

Nicholas Thyr, Caleb Kumar and Patrick Curoe and fresh-

Emma Quirk-Durben, Jessica Ryvlin and Nicholas Thyr.

man Daratu Gamada played well and had a great time.

Hayes, Julia Joern, Trevor Larsen, Jack Sheehy, Claire Simp-

Speaking at the dinner was Megan Cross Rogers ’01.

While the team missed out on the playoffs, Nicholas was the 24th-ranked individual player and the top ranked Minnesota player out of 1,270 participants.

Who Knew?

400+

attendance at this year’s Pancake BreckFest, a celebration of service learning at Breck

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North

Breck Students Recognized for Success in ­ Modern Language

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Senior Nicholas Thyr won a scholarship from the Minnesota

And in the National French Exam, two seventh graders,

chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and

Maya Czeneszew and Zoe Vogel, placed first in their catego-

Portuguese for his high score on the National Spanish Exam.

ries. More results are listed on the website.

A number of other Breck students also achieved high scores

In addition, 22 were inducted into the Chinese National

on the National Spanish Exam, including 11 Middle School

Honor Society. They are seniors William Naylor and Josh

and two Upper School students who placed at the Gold level

Stillman, juniors Christopher Anderson, Blaze Beecher,

nationally. A complete list of award winners is on the Breck

Madison Diehl, Madison Ernst, Trevor Larsen, Luke

website.

­LeBlanc, Anjali Madhok, Lucas McCormick, Peter Metzger,

Of special note is that Emma Cowan, Melanie Blazar, Alexa Helm, Sarah Gunderson, Catherine Schmoker, Emma Senner, and Nicolas Thyr were all invited to attend the luncheon of the Minnesota chapter of the American Association of Teachers of

Hannah Price, Carter Roland, Nath Samaratunga, Jack Sheehy, Sunny Tang, Lucas Wille, Maddi Youngdale and ­Patricia Zhao, and sophomores Sofie Kim, Grace ­Kirkpatrick and Julian Maddox.

Spanish and Portuguese on May 18.

Artists Win Awards in State High School League Show Several Upper School artists took part in the Minnesota State High School League art show, and 11 won awards, including best in show for Emily Colwell and Maddi Youngdale. Claire Drysdale, Maddie Diehl, Evie Mackenzie and Alyssa Quast won superior awards, Emily Colwell, Kristina Genau and Maddi Youngdale won excellent awards, and Adria Duncan and Niara Hill won achievement awards.

Recognition for Advanced Science, Math ­Research Students Work by students in Breck’s Advanced Science Research

• Darius Bieganski won a 4th grand award in engineering

program won national recognition this spring, including the

and the Forward Thinker Award at the International Sci-

following:

ence and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

• Caleb Kumar has been selected as one of ten U.S. high

• Advanced Math Research program participant Patrick

school students to receive an AXA Achievement national

Curoe, along with program advisor Brad Kohl, led a

scholarship. His bio is among those featured in U.S. News

workshop at the Minnesota PFLAG (Parents and Friends of

and the AXA website. Caleb’s scholarship is for $25,000.

Lesbians and Gays) conference, presenting new information

• Paige Dempsey won a grand award bronze in environmen-

about the issue of GLBT bullying. Patrick was one of only 16

tal science and Elliott Weiler won a grand award bronze

people chosen to lead workshops at the event—and the first

in engineering at the International Sustainable World

math research student to give a workshop at a conference.

(Engineering, Energy & Environment) Project Olympiad

• Patrick, along with fellow math researchers Amy Yin,

(ISWEEEP). Students from over 70 countries participated in

Eden Motto and Emma Quirk-Durben, presented research

ISWEEEP.

projects in the Service Learning Showcase at the National Service Learning Conference in Denver.

Who Knew?

3

Number of technology department employees named Ryan (left to right: Ryan Wilson, Ryan Mann, Ryan Flanders)

Faculty, Staff Honored at Year-End Chapels Congratulations to all the faculty members who received special recognition this spring.

Master Teachers

Faculty Chairs

All Master Teachers were invited to attend April’s Trustee

Two teachers received three-year appointments (along with

Day Chapel, where they were the first to receive the newly

funds for them to pursue a special project). Middle School

commissioned Breck Medal and were there to see a new

math teacher Rick Miller received the Breck Middle School

member, Lower School teacher Lisa Hunninghake, inducted

Faculty Chair, and Upper School computer education depart-

into their ranks.

ment head A. J. Colianni received the Cloverfields Family

Wigley Award for Excellence

Foundation Breck Faculty Chair.

This year’s winner of the

The 2013 Mustang yearbook

Yearbook Dedication

Wigley Award for Excellence

was dedicated to Middle School

in Teaching was Lower School

Director Sky Fauver.

Counselor Lisa Lokke.

Ernest Campbell Award

Service Awards On Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, a number of employ-

The award, voted on by faculty

ees were recognized for their service to Breck. Thirty-year

and staff and given to someone

honors went to John Iserman and Byron Rice; twenty-year

who has shown “self-giving love

honors to Jan Arvidson, Norbert Herby, Barbara Jacobs-

to Breck,” was awarded to retiring

Smith, Elizabeth Powers-Dempsey, Karyl Rice, Melissa

Assistant Director of Admissions

Soderberg and Amy Wang. And ten-year honors went to

Marion Jones Kennon.

Akeem Akindele, Melita Anderson, Jan Langlois, Megan Lee, Leah Malec, Stan Michaelis and Bruce Rosengren.

Three Faculty Members Receive Grants Three faculty members have been awarded grants for summer study and travel: Rob Johnson ’90 will take a pilgrimage to Auschwitz, Poland,

students. She will also travel to the National Museum of

with a Holocaust survivor named Eva Kor. He will document

Mathematics in New York City to establish connections there.

her experience and journey of forgiveness to create a video resource for his classroom and, he hopes, to impact the way the Episcopal Church engages in Holocaust education.

Peggy Fifield will pursue her love and knowledge of yoga by attending the Yoga Calm retreat in Santa Cruz, Guatemala.

She will bring back what she learns to integrate yoga prac-

Jackie Keepers will travel to Rome, Pisa and Florence, to walk

tices into Lower School physical education classes and also to

in the footsteps of great mathematicians and scientists of

offer a Yoga Calm session for Lower School teachers.

the Renaissance. She will create various resources for her

$36,000 donated to sustainability Breck Recycling was spotlighted by

efforts from used uniform sales

Hennepin Country for our exemplary program

9

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North

End-of-Year Roundup Lower School students enjoyed their annual Field Day, kindergarten Water Day, Fourth-Grade Graduation and Lower School Closing activities, among others.

10

Middle School Closing, eighth-grade speeches were presented by Seyade Tadele, Thornton Powell III and Halcyon Brown. Award winners were as follows: Breck Award for Effort: Renelle Mensah and Thornton Powell III Breck Award for Sportsmanship: Halcyon Brown and Avi Eller Breck Award for Leadership: Seyade Tadele Breck Award for Academic Excellence: Raunak Vijayakar and Boniat Ephrem Breck “Be a Mustang” Award: Abigail Roh, Andrew Sorum, Rebekah Florey, Ben Turner, Archana Murali

World Savvy: Eighth Graders Address Real-World Problems Congratulations to a number of eighth graders whose World

Maryam Ali, Marisol Childs, Liam Delaney and Layla

Savvy projects went on to regional competition. This year’s

Tattersfield; Madelena Caron, Jon Ekberg, Sarah Gunder-

theme was Sustainable Communities.

son, Adeline Hardten, Kip Holmes and Samantha Nelson;

Emma Cowen, Olivia Chutich, Eva Heinen and Isabel Wellik in the Documentary category

and Nathan Jackson, Helene Kim, Abigail Riskevich, Maggie Schmoker, Seyade Tadele, Grace Taylor, Maura Torelli and Grace Zumwinkle in the Exhibit category

Elena Berman, Brittany Blazar, John Dempsey, Boniat Ephrem, Alan Horstman, Samuel Rex, and Raunak ­Vijayakar in the Website category

Who Knew?

Halcyon Brown, Annie Johnston and Amira Kazeminy; and Melanie Blazar, Brandon Leitz and Hannah Shin in the Performance category

Visited by College Counseling Director Jonny Nicholson Abu Dhabi

on a tour of the newest campus of NYU

Upper School Academic Awards included the following highlights. (For a full list of Upper School awards, please visit the Breck website, under Students.)

English Departmental Distinction

Science Departmental Distinction

Service Awards: Allison Cole, Leslie

Awards: Maria Bell, Tait Helgaas, Sarah

Awards: Darius Bieganski, Paige

Hayes, Madison Lommen, Nicolaas van

Koop, Anjali Madhok

Dempsey, Sarah Koop, Eden Motto

Oppen, Amanda Zeidner

History Departmental Distinction

Charles Krenz Creative Arts Award:

James and Kathleen Lockhart Memorial

Awards: Madison Ernst, Joshua Still-

Kylee Grant, Andrew Chien

Scholarship: Hutton Phillips

Visual Arts Departmental Distinction

Robbie Monick Memorial Scholarship:

Awards: Madisen Diehl, Adria Duncan,

Kira Li Hinz

man, Andrew Stuempfig, Seamus Walsh Mathematics Departmental Distinction Awards: Daniel Bergerson, Sung-Rim Huh, Eden Motto, Patricia Zhao Modern Language Departmental Distinction Awards: Sofie Kim, Grace Kirkpatrick, Madison Lommen, Patricia Zhao

Kira Li Hinz, Jessica Ryvlin Allen Dunn Trophy: Claire Drysdale, Kwaku Bodom

Distinction Awards: Stephanie Carlson, Andrew Chien, Paige Dempsey,

cock Scholarship: Mitchell Foster Citizenship Awards: Tait Helgaas,

Grade 9 Scholarship Award: Claire

Kwaku Bodom, Claire Drysdale,

Cousineau, Daratu Gamada, Sina

Benjamin Gleekel

Hakim-Hashemi, Tait Helgaas, Ingrid Thyr, Lewis White

Performing Arts Departmental

Timothy Randall and Todd Allan Hitch-

Christin M. Mead ’90 Memorial Award: Eden Motto

Grade 10 Scholarship Award: Edward Kuhns, Andrew Stuempfig

Nicholas Malak, Eden Motto, Mitchell

Grade 11 Scholarship Award: Claire

Nimmer, Stephanie van Oppen

Drysdale, Claire Simpson

Mrs. Reuben L. Anderson Sacred Studies

Grade 12 Scholarship Award: Eden

Award: Jessica Freeman

Motto, Nicholas Thyr

Breck Alumni Award: Leslie Hayes Robert J. Aarthun Award: Emma QuirkDurben, Achinth Murali McCall Academic Award: Eden Motto, Nicholas Thyr Haupt Cup: Daniel Bergerson

Also Noted Craig Dodson, associate director of College Counseling, has

ensure that Breck School and our students are in the forefront

been tapped as president-elect of MACAC (the Minnesota

of the minds of college decision makers both in Minnesota as

Association for College Admission Counseling), a group with

well as nationally.”

over 600 members including college admission and financial aid professionals and high school counselors across the state.

He says, “I’m thankful to Breck for the support I receive in taking on this role and I know this will be a tremendous learning opportunity for me, as well as an opportunity to

Middle School Chaplain Alexis Kent’s essay, “Synchronization as a Classroom Dynamic: A Practitioner’s Perspective,” was published in the Harvard Journal of Mind, Brain and Education.

Math teacher Mary Gentry’s totally electric car

No Gasoline

11

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North

Last year’s Mustang yearbook received honorable mention in

Visual Arts Department Head Michal Sagar’s work was

an annual, nationwide competition of high school yearbooks.

featured in an exhibition called “Shadow Sisters,” along with

The editors were Nina Killingstad, Nick Kleidon and

artist Hend al-Mansour, at the Phipps Center for the Arts in

­Michele Pikovsky, all from the Class of 2012.

Hudson, Wisconsin.

Hutton Phillips ’13 was featured as Channel Twelve’s

International Studies Director

“Standout Student” on May 9.

Margaret Wong was honored as the Golden Valley Rotary Club’s Citizen

Becca Albrecht ’14 finished third in the women’s foil event

of the Year in June.

at the state high school fencing championship.

12

Breck students, as part of a neighborhood FIRST Lego League robotics team, took first place in a late February competition.

The team, called Radical Robots, included fifth graders James Clinton, Colin Dlugosch, Dominic Frerichs, Byron Jia and

And congratulations to a number of new parents among Breck’s faculty and staff: Chantal Thornberry (son Declan), Frederique Schmidt (son Pascal), Mia Herrmann (daughter Annabel), and Bobak Razavi (daughter Mona).

Julian Moyer, third grader Yvonne Jia and three neighbor-

Art instructor Kat Corrigan’s paintings are on display at

hood friends, was first among 26 teams in robot design.

Rye Deli in Minneapolis in a show called “Return to Ireland,” inspired by her spring break trip to Ireland with her parents and sisters.

From the Faculty Bookshelf

JFK — A New World Order, DVD, Tim

To Elinor, a novel by Jane Beaton

Rosenfield, consultant. Available at

Bartow (former faculty). Available at

Amazon

Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Running Mustangs Get in Gear For the sixth consecutive year, Lower School students

To get ready, the students participated in three training

participated in the annual Get in Gear Fun Run. This year’s

runs after school led by parent volunteer Robert Wheaton

2K race was held on April 27 at Minnehaha Falls, and 166

and physical education teachers Merrill Harris, Rob Little

students and parents took part.

and Peggy Fifield.

Setting the pace for the Running Mustangs was third

Says Harris, “All the students did a great job, and we are so

grader Jimmy Koch, who won the race with a time of 8:15,

proud of their efforts!”

and fourth grader Will Benson, who finished second.

Who Knew?

Commencement Flag donated in honor of Marion Jones Kennon by her mother

Class of 2013 future plans David Alper

Middlebury College

Joseph Kuhns

Ashlee Avery

Hampton University

Caleb Kumar Stanford University

University of Notre Dame

Daniel Bergerson Columbia University

Kiko Laureano

Indiana University

Darius Bieganski Claremont McKenna College

Thomas Lindstrom

UMN, Twin Cities

Madison Bigos

University of Southern California

Margaret MacLennan Trinity College

Greer Bingham

Bowdoin College

Nicholas Malak Syracuse University

Michael Bodell

University of Denver

Benjamin Mallin

UNC, Wilmington

Sophie Burton

University of Michigan

Marissa Mark

University of Denver

Marielos Cabrera

UW, Madison

Michael Marzec

Boston College

Stephanie Carlson Vanderbilt University

Jane Mesna Colby College

Andrew Chien

Illinois Wesleyan University

Taveon Miller

Michelle Christy

Whitman College

Eden Motto Carleton College

Undecided

Melissa Clark Colby College

Achinth Murali

New York University

Matthew Colford St. Olaf College

William Naylor

Amherst College

Hannah Corwin Texas Christian University

Mitchell Nimmer

Normandale Community College

Dimitri Culpepper St. Olaf College

Alayna O’Bryan Vassar College

Patrick Curoe

Lawrence University

Jack O’Connor

Union College

Vicary Delianedis

Union College

Hutton Phillips

Davidson College

Paige Dempsey

Whitman College

Jay Phillips

University of Kansas

Jameson Dolliff

Hobart & William Smith Colleges

Lincoln Prior

University of San Diego

Phillip Engh Colorado College

Emma Quirk-Durben

Washington University

Abby Erdmann

University of Chicago

Tiffany Ravelomanantsoa Gettysburg College

Duffy Fallon

Boston College

Mikaela Robinson

Joia Felton

Kenyon College

Jessica Ryvlin Cornell University

UW, River Falls

Ohiyesa Firesteel Southwest MN State University

Henry Sanborn

Mitchell Foster

Harvard College

Aryka Sanders-Dawkins Ohio Wesleyan University

Jessica Freeman

Loyola University Chicago

Katherine Schipper

Joseph Gamer

Babson College

Tucker Sjoblad Tufts University

Benjamin Gleekel

Middlebury College

Mikala Skelton

Grinnell College

Kylee Grant

Northwestern University

Joshua Stillman

University of Michigan

John Greely, Jr.

Denison University

Myles Tang

Amherst College

Nailah Hill

University of Pennsylvania

Ronald Thao

US Marine Corps

Kira Hinz

Loyola University Chicago

Anna Thom

University of St. Thomas

Tilyn Hollis

UW, Superior

Samantha Thomas

Wellesley College

Jake Holmes

University of Colorado

Nicholas Thyr

Dartmouth College

Halle Huff Santa Clara University

Mallory Turner

Bates College

Bennet Johnson

Isabella Valentini

Boston College

Boston College

Deonna Johnson Spelman College

Whitman College UMN, Twin Cities

Andrew Keiser

Miami University, Oxford

Stephanie van Oppen Rutgers, State University of New Jersey

Georgia Keller

University of St. Thomas

Brenham Wong

Montana State University

Katherine Kiesel

Hamilton College – NY

Yu Yin

University of Chicago

Sarah Koop

University of Notre Dame

13

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

TODAY AT 123 OTTaWA ave. North

Applause Raises Funds—and Friends—in April A festive Applause event raised more than $200,000 for academic technology across the school. Co-chairs Trissa Garvis and Rhonda O’Neill and their team of volunteers helped entertain more than 350 for an evening at Aria in Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood.

14

David and Christine Hardten, Elizabeth Davis, Bill Bigley

Kathy Anderson Groethe ‘88 and Killian Rieder

Nate Garvis, Shannon and Mark ‘87 Evenstad

A scene from the Live Auction

Head of School Edward Kim with Chairs Trissa Garvis (l) and Rhonda O’Neill (r)

Live Auction hosts Charlie Grossman and Nate Garvis

Large balloons were part of the decor at Aria in Downtown Minneapolis.

Board of Trustees Announces Three Retirements, Four New Members At its year-end meeting in June, Breck’s Board of Trustees

Says Clark, “It’s always bittersweet to say goodbye to

paid special recognition to three members whose terms

talented and generous volunteers, and I’m very grateful to

have ended and welcomed four additions.

Nader, Ellen and Ann. They’ve left an indelible mark on

Head of School Edward Kim, Board Chair the Rt. Rev. Brian Prior, and Board President Timothy Clark thanked Nader

the board and the school with their commitment and dedication.”

Kazeminy, Ellen Goldberg Luger and Ann MacDonald for

“Looking ahead,” he says, “I’m delighted to begin working

their service.

with Becky, Rory, Brad and Maya. All four bring wonderful

The board also welcomed four new members: Becky O’Grady, Rory O’Neill, Brad Radichel and Maya Tester ’81.

strengths and perspective to their board service, and I know they will have a positive impact on the school both now and in the future.”

Holden Felton is a modern major general in the Middle School production of Pirates of Penzance Jr.

15

10 TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About…

college counseling at breck

16

1

Formal college counseling at Breck begins in sophomore year, when each student is assigned to

8

New and popular programs this year included an informal “Coffee with the Counselors”

one of the three counselors, who will work with them both

event for parents of seniors each fall and juniors each

individually and as a team through senior year.

spring and a financial aid program featuring a Q & A with

2

Director Jonny Nicholson says that students are encouraged to challenge themselves by

Macalester College’s director of financial aid in January.

which will help them expand their perspectives and discover

For the second year, the office is organizing a group tour for rising seniors over the summer, taking them to the University of Minnesota and

new passions. “That’s the best way for them to know what

the University of St. Thomas. It’s a way to introduce them to

questions to ask and find an environment that suits them,”

Division I and II, big and small, public and private colleges

he advises.

and a great way for students to know what they should be

taking a variety of courses in sophomore and junior year,

3

The office coordinated nearly 150 visits to Breck from college admissions officers in

2012-13.

4

The Class of 2013 favored medium-sized schools in urban areas, such as Boston, Denver,

Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Nashville.

Nicholson says that one new trend he’s seeing is that of colleges trying to engage students increasingly early in support of early action and decision programs. That’s why Breck’s

5

programming extends into ninth grade, all in an effort to get families involved from the beginning of Upper School.

6

Another growing trend: admitting freshmen for second-semester starts. The University of

Chicago, Harvard, University of Southern California, Middlebury, Boston University and Rice are among schools with significant spring start groups.

7

Breck counselors traveled to more than 25 colleges, ranging from the U.S. Military Academy to

NYU Abu Dhabi.

9

looking for and what questions to ask.

10

Breck will host the 2013 Minnesota Independent Schools College Fair in late September,

to which more than 160 colleges and universities will send representatives.

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

18

May Program Roundup Scenes and News From a Beloved Annual Tradition One of Breck’s most enduring traditions, Upper School May Program, continues to give students a chance to end the school year with special experiences. And while student trips now take place over spring break or just after school finishes in June, the other components of May Program are largely unchanged.

Freshmen and sophomores remain on campus and take a mixture of required and elective courses, many of them intriguing interdisciplinary explorations. Juniors and seniors leave campus for service or business internships.

Says Upper School Dean of Students Kim Peeples, “May Program is something that we cherish because it gives both students and teachers an element of choice in the way they finish out the school year. The academics are still rigorous, but they might be more enjoyable. And it also gives students the opportunity to witness their teachers’ passions and get to know them a little better at the same time.”

Trail Conservation Group Defends Campus Against Invasive Species Under the guidance of science faculty members Jacob Miller

feeling hopeful that the project would become an annual

and Marcia Richter, a hardy group of juniors devoted their

one. “If we don’t keep coming back, it will just get worse,”

May Program to pulling buckthorn and garlic mustard plants

observed Treva.

from the pond just east of the Senior Lot.

Said Mrs. Richter, “The students have been very committed

It was intense labor, requiring a combination of hand-

to this project, and I am truly impressed with their dedi-

pulling, shovels, saws and pruners, but the students seemed

cation.” And, for those concerned about the effects of the

more than satisfied with their efforts. We caught up with

cleanup on some prime campus bird-watching territory,

them during a cafeteria lunch that included Mrs. Richter’s

resident expert Dr. Miller explained that it’s still “one of the

homemade garlic mustard pesto.

best places on campus to find birds. There wasn’t much bio-

Students Alex Crawford, Dylon Eggert, Treva Kleber, Anjali Madhok, Ingrid Miller, Carter Roland, Mark Sharp and Hadley Slocum all agreed that the unseasonably cool and rainy weather actually made their outdoor work a little easier.

“Weeds are a lot easier to pull in the rain, so it was a mixed blessing,” said Hadley.

The juniors were all looking forward to a better-looking landscape from their Senior Lot parking spaces in the fall and

diversity in the trees or weeds.” (left to right) Anjali Madhok, Ingrid Miller, Marcia Richter, Carter Roland, Dylon Eggert and Alex ­Crawford

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

Habitat for Humanity Build Athletic Director Brett Bergene supervised a hard-working team of students at a Habitat build.

20

World Religions This year, Rev. John Bellaimey, Rob Johnson ’90 and Tom Hegg

Said Bellaimey, “We wanted to present authentic voices to

invited local religious leaders to take part in the curriculum,

our ninth graders in a combination of storytelling, explain-

which focused mainly on the three Abrahamic religions of

ing, listening and encouraging, and we were very pleased

Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

with the results. Our guest clergy were wonderful ambas-

Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman from Temple Israel, Imam Makram El-Amin from Masjid an-Noor and Father Michael O’Connell from Ascension Catholic Church—all in Min-

sadors who rose to the occasion of maintaining the interest of 110 teenagers for two hours at a time of day when they might well prefer sleeping.”

neapolis—helped provide context and answered student

Freshman Amanda Gillen was an especially enthusiastic

questions, as did Bishop Brian Prior of the Episcopal Diocese

participant. “It’s so eye-opening to learn more and see the

of Minnesota and the visiting Bishop Griselda Delgado of the

connections among the religions. And it’s so clear that we’re

Episcopal Church of Cuba.

all fighting for the same things.”

Rob Johnson ‘90, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, Rev. John Bellaimey and Father Michael O’Connell

Rabbi Zimmerman answers a student’s question.

MbIRa Makers Ninth and tenth graders worked with Carey Sirianni, the Bato Bato! advisor, and Brian Wright, who teaches physics, to make their own mbiras, handheld percussion instruments from Zimbabwe, and their own music.

Says Sirianni, “Mr. Wright assisted the students in sawing, pounding and tuning, enlightening them on the physics behind the instrument’s harmonics. And I helped teach them quite a few songs, which they performed for the Lower School at their end-ofyear cookout. Students had a blast and learned a lot!”

21

Ms. Sirianni helps Cecily Nordstrom tune her mbira.

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

Financial Aid:

The Budget

Is Large,

22

But the

Need Is

Always

Growing When Breck was founded in Wilder, Minnesota, in 1886, there were 34 students. Most of them were children of immigrant farmers, and tuition and board at the school was $110 for the entire year.

A lot has changed over the last 127 years. We no longer organize our school year around the harvesting schedule, we’ve moved to Golden Valley, and tuition is slightly higher.

What hasn’t changed is Breck’s commitment to ensuring that the school is accessible to families of all economic backgrounds.

Financial Aid Recipients: 2012-13

Our robust budget for financial aid, the largest among Minnesota independent schools by a

Lower School

#

Middle School

#

Upper School

#

2012-13, Breck awarded $5.1 million in need-

Preschool

12

Grade 5

16

Grade 9

29

based financial assistance, supporting 23% of the

Kindergarten

15

Grade 6

10

Grade 10

36

Grade 1

13

Grade 7

25

Grade 11

22

Grade 2

13

Grade 8

19

Grade 12

17

Grade 3

21

Grade 4

17 Amount of Total Grants

Average Award

significant margin, makes it all possible. In

student body across all three divisions with some degree of aid.

It makes a big difference to families, says Director of Admissions Scott Wade, and it also makes a big difference to Breck. “Having a healthy financial aid budget allows us to enroll

Gross Income

highly motivated and talented students who could not otherwise afford a Breck education,”

# of Recipients

% FA Recipients

23

Up to $50,000

66

25

$1,454,435

$22,040

$50,000–$100,000

89

34

1,772,130

19,910

important at Breck, which strives to maintain

$100,000–$150,000

71

27

1,287,030

18,130

racial, religious and geographical diversity as

$150,000–$200,000

19

7

287,460

15,130

well. Wade notes that his office works hard to

$200,000–$250,000

11

4

79,520

7,230

Over $250,000

9

3

33,200

3,690

he observes. “It’s just that simple.”

Maintaining socioeconomic diversity is

make sure that both prospective and current families understand that resources are

As you can see from the table above, need-based grants went to families with a wide range of annual income last year. The Breck Financial Aid committee considers total income as a starting point, along with many other factors, such as family size, number of children in tuition-bearing schools, age of the primary working parent, assets, liabilities and unusual allowable expenses. Please consider this as a general guideline.

available. “We make sure that basic information about financial aid is prominently displayed on our website,” he explains. “We want people looking at Breck to go through the admissions process and not disqualify themselves due to ‘sticker shock.’ ” Over the years, as the budget has grown, so has

In fact, the range of family income among those receiving

the range of families applying for and receiving aid. “We’ve

financial aid currently is from $30,000– $250,000. Both Wade

got to be realistic,” says Assistant Director of Admissions and

and Kennon are quick to point out that decisions are based on

Financial Aid Director Marion Jones Kennon. “Tuition comes

a number of factors, including number of children in other

from after-tax discretionary income, and depending on any

tuition-bearing institutions, and circumstances involving

number of circumstances, we’re finding that families with

employment and illness. “There are degrees of need,” Kennon

what used to be considered high income need help.”

observes, “and we try hard to do what we can.”

Percentage of students receiving financial aid

10

5

’08-09

’07-08

’06-07

’05-06

’04-05

’03-04

’02-03

’01-02

’00-01

’99-00

’98-99

’97-98

15

’96-97

’12-13

’11-12

20

’09-10

’10-11

25 percent

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

The Human Side of Financial Assistance: Remembering Del Carter ’50 This article is filled with the facts,

financial support of members of the Breck community, Del

figures and philosophy of financial

was able to attend—and keep attending—Breck. “Breck

aid at Breck. What it doesn’t

became his home, and its community became his second

describe is the personal side of

family,” observes Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

the equation. No one was a more

Michelle Geo Olmstead.

powerful advocate or had a more

“Del was a tireless volunteer for raising funds for financial

genuine and profound apprecia-

aid with such a strong personal story to tell about the way

tion for the power of assistance

24

attending Breck changed his life,”says Head of School

than the late Del Carter ’50.

Edward Kim. “And he never failed to do as much as he

After his mother passed away when he was ten years old,

could to pass along the favor to future generations of

Del and his father moved from Ohio to Minnesota. With the

students as well.”

The school has also worked hard to provide more transpar-

need it in 2012-13. “Our resources are plentiful, but the

ency to the process. “It’s so important to make families feel

number of applications keeps increasing. And, unfortunately,

comfortable,” explains Kennon, “and now they can go online

we can’t help all the wonderful students we’d like.”

to SSS (the financial aid clearinghouse sponsored by the

Wade says it’s important to keep in mind that philanthropy

National Association of Independent Schools), plug in their

plays a critical role in providing the funding for financial

information and find out what kind of aid they qualify for,

aid. “Over the years, Breck has been so fortunate to be the

which helps give them real information right from the start.”

recipient of a great many endowed scholarships. They

Another key dimension of Breck’s approach to financial aid is

really help assure that the financial aid budget is not totally

a commitment to maintaining financial aid for students

tuition-driven. In fact, the last four years have seen our

throughout the course of their whole Breck career. Families

lowest annual tuition increases in the past 20 years. We know that affordability is one of our families’ greatest concerns, and people should know that it’s always at the forefront of our consideration.”

must apply for assistance each year and supply current financial information to the school. “Our aim is to keep our base and add to it,” explains Kennon, who noted that three families who had previously received financial aid didn’t

Financial aid budget over the past 25 years (in millions)

’06-07

’05-06

’03-04

’02-03

’01-02

’00-01

’98-99

’97-98

’96-97

’95-96

’94-95

’93-94

’92-93

’91-92

’90-91

’89-90

’87-88

’86-87

$1

’88-89

$2

’99-00

$3

’04-05

’12-13

’10-11

’09-10

’08-09

$4

’07-08

$5

’11-12

$6 million

Kim adds, “We at Breck are proud of the way our preschool

Breck’s leading donor, Lee R. Anderson, Sr., ’57 couldn’t

through twelfth grade campus spans the generations—and

agree more. He says, “Diversity has been important at

in a way that is so typically human we sometimes feel that

Breck throughout its history. It was never a school just for

we of the present generation own the concept. But through

the affluent but always attracted students of all back-

my conversations with Del and his stories of life on the

grounds. And financial aid is the single most important way

Como campus, I quickly came to realize how very much

to maintain that distinction.”

that experience was true for him as well. When he would talk about tucking first graders into bed, wiping their noses and tying their shoes, I understood how much Breck meant to him. The teachers, the coaches, his classmates, and the housemothers all helped shape him into the man he

Many of Del’s classmates called him “Mr. Breck.” Reflects Kim, “Whether they meant it as admiration, teasing or a little of both, we couldn’t be more proud to think of him that way.”

became.”

Named AND ENDOWED Scholarships at Breck Breck School gratefully acknowledges the donors who have provided funds for named scholarships, whose recipients are selected by the school’s financial aid committee. For more information about named scholarship opportunities, please contact Director of Advancement Meredith Cook VanDuyne at 763-381-8343 or meredith.vanduyne@breckschool.org

Alliss Scholarship Lee R. Anderson ’57 Scholarship Lowell and Nadine Andreas Scholarship Anonymous Scholarship (2) Bemis Scholarship Virginia McKnight Binger Scholarship William Clark ’48 Scholarship Shirley Dayton Memorial Scholarship E.E. Ford Foundation Scholarship General Mills Scholarship GEORGE FAMILY FOUNDATION NEXT GENERATION FUND SCHOLARSHIP Haupt Scholarship Hektner Family Scholarship Fund for Breck Faculty Children DOUG JONES FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP Bishop Hamilton H. Kellogg Scholarship Hamilton and Mildred Kellogg Charitable Trust ­Scholarship Martin Foundation Scholarship Minnesota Twins Scholarship Pohlad Family Foundation Scholarship Eric A. Ryan Scholarship St. Paul Companies Scholarship Bishop Whipple Scholarship

25

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

Profound Devotion:

The Extraordinary Presence of 26

Lee R. Anderson Sr. ‘57

by Jill Field, photos by Sher Stoneman

Lee R. Anderson Sr. ’57 holds several distinctions at Breck. He’s our only current Lifetime Trustee. Anchor of the school’s only four-generation legacy family. Largest philanthropic supporter. And someone with a unique historical perspective on Breck past, present and future.

Says Head of School Edward Kim, “We are so thankful for

“My father, Breck and West Point all helped shape me into the

the Anderson family’s continuous presence at Breck and

person I am today,” he recalls. “Colonel Porter Wiggins, along

especially for Lee’s ability to keep us mindful of how far

with my dad, encouraged me to go on to West Point after

we’ve come. If Breck, or any institution, can’t remember who

Breck, for which I am eternally grateful. Philippe Verbrugghen

we were or where we came from we can’t meaningfully

both taught with and commanded so much respect—but I

continue to grow.”

have to admit that for a long time I thought his real first

Anderson concurs. “If you were to write a movie about a school, we have the perfect script,” he has said. “Nobody else can claim the rich traditions and history that this school has.

It’s a wonderful success story, from humble beginning to

name was ‘Sir.’ And Doc Milburn took such a profound and genuine interest in every student who played football for him. I realize now that when I left Breck at 18 I was not by myself. I carried so much of their influence with me.”

where we are today.”

A Four-Generation Legacy

Asked what he’d most like today’s students to understand

Anderson’s father Reuben’s involvement with Breck began

about Breck, Anderson doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the character of

almost accidentally. A plumbing contractor whose education

the school,” he explains. “Breck has always had a caring,

had not gone beyond grade school, he noticed that the

supportive faculty and administration. Students will come to

partially constructed buildings on Como Avenue in St. Paul

realize, if they don’t now, how Breck is a life-changer for

never seemed to be any nearer to completion. The year was

them. In a very real way, their future wouldn’t have been

1938. One day, he simply stopped in to ask whether there

possible without it.”

was a problem.

As he reflects on his own life, Anderson thinks often about

Upon learning that the school had run out of building funds,

his experience as a student. In fact, a few months ago, he sat

he offered to pitch in and ask some of his friends to do the

down and made a list of the ten people who were most

same. He ended up earning an honorary diploma from Breck,

influential to him. First on the list was his father, but three of

serving with distinction on the board of trustees, earning the

the other people were teachers from Breck.

sobriquet of “Mr. Breck,” and sending his only son, Lee, to the school as a student.

27

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

Today a fourth generation of the family is on its own Breck journey, with their mother Kathy serving on the board of trustees. Kathy and her husband Joel are parents of three Breck lifers, Griffin ’16, Penny ’19 and Gabriella ’22. (Andy, who also served as a Breck trustee, has three children who attended Breck for several years.)

“I’m sure they could both write a book about ‘growing up Anderson,’ ” their father smiles, noting that an ongoing relationship with Breck was clearly part of the routine.

An Unparalleled Level of Support Anderson’s success in business—as owner and chairman of 28

the Minnesota-based APi Group, Inc., a holding company with 37 affiliates and some 9,000 employees—has made it possible for him to be generous to causes that move him.

“As we get older, we get smarter,” he reflects. “And we learn to make the most of our opportunities to influence the things we care about the most.”

Varsity hockey players meet the namesake of their home ice.

He and Penny are particularly passionate about supporting education, children’s health, conservation education, and

Says Anderson, “Dad was the smartest man I ever met

veterans’ service organizations. In addition to being the

without a formal education.”

largest donors to Breck, they have also earned distinction for

Lee Anderson entered Breck in the fall of 1945. He spent eleven and a half years on the Como campus and his last semester on the then newly built school on the River Road.

He remembers many of his teachers fondly and often reflects on the way he and his fellow students were treated with

their support of the University of St. Thomas and West Point.

Anderson is currently funding the first three years of Hiring Our Heroes, a program launched by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to stage job fairs across the country to help returning veterans find work.

respect. (He also remembers the primary school on the hill,

But Breck continues to hold a special and enduring place in

the tiny gym, and a flowering red oak tree that distracted

his heart, and he is especially committed to providing gifts

him all through the spring of his second-grade year.)

that assist the school with issues of affordability. Maintain-

Anderson says it was important to have his father involved in the school, and so it was even more meaningful to have the

ing inclusivity, and a strong middle class, is crucial to preserving one of the school’s greatest distinctions, he says.

opportunity to repeat the pattern when his and his wife

“Diversity has been important to Breck throughout its

Penny’s children, Andy ’86 and Kathy ’88, enrolled as students.

history,” Anderson observes. “It was never a school just for

Marion Jones Kennon, longtime associate director of admissions and director of financial aid—and Kathy Anderson Groethe’s second-grade teacher—remembers well her own

the affluent but always attracted students from all backgrounds. And financial aid is the single most important way to maintain that distinction.”

introduction to the family: “I met Lee Anderson’s parents and

Says Kennon, “It is obvious that, at his father’s knee, Lee

children before becoming acquainted with him and his wife

learned well the meaning of caring, sharing and using

Penny. It was the River Road campus’ annual Sunday Open

personal resources for the benefit of others. Over my many

House for prospective families. Reuben and his wife accompa-

years at Breck, I have witnessed Lee’s commitment to paving

nied their grandchildren. Within five minutes of introductions,

the way for literally hundreds of academically qualified but

we were having light-hearted conversation about Breck,

economically disadvantaged students. And because of his

education and other varied topics while standing amongst the

selfless nature and amazing generosity they have been

desks. I remember Mr. and Mrs. Anderson as being very

afforded access to options for an enhanced life.”

unassuming and so easy to know. Reuben especially had a wonderful sense of humor and an infectious laugh. Of Andy and Kathy he said, ‘Try them, you’ll like them.’ ”

A Steadfast Vision for Breck Anderson says that this “very caring place” with its emphasis

A Cause He Believes in:

Making the Case for Endowment Support Lee Anderson is particularly passionate about supporting Breck and other nonprofit institutions through gifts to endowment.

In addition to Breck, Anderson has been a generous supAnderson with Board President Tim Clark (left) and Chair, the Rt. Rev. Brian Prior (right)

porter of higher education, children’s health and developing skills and employment for veterans. He often gives support to charitable institutions’ endowment, which can sometimes be

on academics, diversity, opportunity and spirituality is unlike

a tough sell for donors.

any other school he’s seen, and he’s been pleased to see

“I decided years ago that the best reason to support

commitments to those ideals continue to flourish and grow.

endowment is because others don’t,” he says. “But if you’re

Life lessons learned as he saw inclusivity in action at Breck,

going to provide scholarships, you have to have a strong

he notes, are valuable well beyond the boundaries of the

endowment. And maintaining a strong core of middle income

campus. “In our business, we talk often about what we need

families is absolutely critical to an institution like Breck.”

to do to encourage the professional development of women

his heart. “Breck does so much to develop students with the

The school’s endowment, which can be thought of as our savings account, provides security that helps us carry out our mission.

highest ethics,” he says, “which couldn’t be more important

Our endowment principal represents funds that can be used

to each generation of future leaders. Life gives us many

for significant projects or to secure borrowing in the form of

opportunities to make the right decisions. I’d like to think

bonds or loans—all of which help the school take advantage

that students leave Breck with a firm understanding of and

of new opportunities as they arise. More important, perhaps,

commitment to doing what’s right.”

is that earnings on the investment of the endowment provide

and people of color. Having more diversity among presidents and directors in the business world is better for everyone.”

The school’s attention to matters of character is also close to

For his part, Kim says Anderson’s long-range perspective is invaluable. He observes, “I always appreciate the opportu-

income to fund the school’s operations, which can relieve the pressure on tuition alone to balance the budget.

nity to speak with Lee. We don’t always agree on everything,

According to the National Association of Independent

but I am always appreciative of his profound devotion and

Schools, most schools of Breck’s caliber consider an appropri-

understanding of the issues we face. His wisdom goes so far

ate endowment goal to be two and one-half times the size of

beyond historical memory. It’s both a broad-based historical

the operating budget.

perspective and a wonderful vision for the future.”

At the end of June 2013, the Breck Endowment stood at

Anderson is quick to point out the need to pay attention to

roughly $49 million, and our annual operating budget stood

the practical side of that vision as well—a lesson he learned

at $31 million. That works out to an endowment valued at

from the very beginning of his family’s involvement with

1.58 times annual operating expenses.

Breck. “There were times when the school held on by its

Says Head of School Edward Kim, “That’s a good number, but

fingernails,” he reflects, “and financial stability has always

not a great number. To do all the things that Breck does at the

been a concern. But leaders like Canon Henderson and Sam

level at which Breck does them requires a significantly

Salas helped the school articulate its vision and grow so much

stronger endowment. Noting that efforts to raise additional

bigger. And I believe that Ed is a very worthy successor.”

funds for endowment are currently underway, Kim adds, “We

Perhaps the school might do well to follow what Anderson says is the best advice he ever got from his father: “You have good intuition. Just follow it.”

are deeply grateful to the Anderson family, and so many other generous donors, for helping us make progress toward this critically important goal.”

29

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

Good 30

Sports Checking in With Alumni in Athletic-Related Pursuits

d

s

Jamie Erdahl ’07

Anchor/Reporter, New England Sports Network

On air five days a week throughout New England reporting

connection with sports earlier than I ever did. We used to sit

on the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and doing human

and talk football and basketball, and all the while he was

interest stories, Erdahl also anchors a half-hour show called

teaching me things about those sports but also that it was

NESN Sports Today on the weekends and fills in as the

okay for me to be a female passionate about athletics. Still to

sideline reporter for Red Sox broadcasts.

this day when I come back to Breck, I see Coach B and we talk

Talking sports professionally is a natural outgrowth of her

sports. He gets it, and now I have a job that proves that I get it!”

own experience as a three-sport athlete at Breck and two-sport athlete in college. “I absolutely love it,” she says.

“And it fulfills my never-ending thirst for more sports knowledge.”

31

Erdahl would advise someone interested in a broadcasting career to have an interest in what they’re reporting and to realize how important it is to be an extrovert: “It’s so much more than reading off a teleprompter—you have to be able to connect with people!”

Her own involvement started with her KFAN Sports Radio internship during junior year May Program at Breck. During college, she interned in the sports department at both Fox 9 and KARE-11. And Athletic Director (and former Dean of Students) Brett Bergene remains one of her favorite people to talk sports with. Says Erdahl, “I believe he recognized my

A.J. Sinker ’08

Editor/Associate Producer, mlb.com

In his role with Major League Baseball, Sinker works in

as possible. “It’s good to have a focus or a specialty, but it’s

original content, which means he edits and helps produce a

just as important to be comfortable with a number of

game show called Bucks on the Pond as well as a talk show

aspects of production,” he advises.

and various other content. He says his favorite part of the job is the variety. “Production encompasses so many different tasks that I’m never bored,” he says. “Getting to watch baseball at work is pretty cool, too.”

Sinker says he’d advise someone interested in a career like his to get experience in as many different aspects of production

Looking back at his time at Breck, Sinker says he’s especially grateful to Mr. Kohl and Mr. Bell. “Both gave me a lot of opportunities to do video projects,” he recalls, “which helped me realize that I wanted to study and pursue a career in production.”

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

Katia Dragotis ’07

Account Manager, 1500 ESPN Radio

As an account manger for the sports station, Dragotis creates integrated marketing campaigns for businesses centered on local sports, catering to the upscale Twin Cities male who is a dedicated sports enthusiast. “My job is hectic and everchanging,” she says, “but I get to meet a lot of people and help them grow their business through sports.”

Previously, she was a publicist for clients including classmate Marcus Hill, who had a contract with the NBA D-League.

Her advice to job-seekers? “Do the research on what area or 32

specific job in the industry you think you’d fit best in. It’s a tight-knit community, and ‘dream jobs’ are hard to come by.

It’s a lot of hustle, a lot about who you know and a lot of luck to be successful.”

Brian Costello ’92

Dragotis (second from left) with classmate Marcus Hill and others at his NBA D-league signing.

irector of Digital Media and Editor-in-Chief for the D Portland Timbers of Major League ­Soccer and Portland Thorns FC of the National ­Women’s Soccer League

In his work, Costello uses a variety of digital tools to tell the

days and getting to write about a game he’s always loved.

story of the teams, including stories, videos, social media

“Growing up, I played loads of sports including soccer and

projects and websites—and occasionally getting to play

baseball at Breck,” he says, “but I never thought I’d end up

soccer after work on the JELD-WEN Field pitch. His favorite

working in sports. My path here included time working in

part of the job is getting to work alongside some “pretty

advertising and producing documentaries, among other

incredible athletes,” experiencing the excitement of match

things. Through it all, I remained a sports fan and a lover of narrative. This job lets me combine them both.”

Costello’s advice to someone interested in a career like his is, “Write. Write. Write. And if you have some extra time, write. I cannot stress this enough. The power of a good writer will help you immensely in communicating what you want to say, how you want to say it, and have the flexibility to say it in a number of different ways.”

He recalls the influence of Tom Hegg, Tim Rosenfield and Margaret Wong. “All three teachers instilled a great sense of confidence that I could go out in the world and succeed in whatever it was I wanted to do—even if at 18, I had no idea what that was nor even realized that the job I have now didn’t even exist back then!’

Costello (r) interviews Portland Timbers GM Gavin Wilkinson.

(Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer)

Milica McMillen ’12

S tudent-athlete, University of Minnesota Member, U.S. National Team

As a member of the national champion Gopher women’s

me to be a better captain last year by teaching me certain

hockey team, McMillen has a very full schedule that includes

important skills,” she explains. “And he also made the college

classes and homework, 3-5 days a week of off-ice training,

process easier for choosing the right school athletically by

and on-ice practice every day. “We have games every

going over some of the decisions with me.”

weekend from the end of September through March,” she says, “and it can be tough doing both academics and athletics. But Breck prepared me for a lot of what college would be like, especially with time management.”

The advice she’d give someone who wants to be a student-

33

athlete is to “make sure you take advantage of as many of the opportunities you are offered that you can so you can gain good study habits and skills that you will need in college. They don’t teach how to study or learn in college, and they just expect that you are able to do it, so start learning now. It’s never a bad thing to ask for help. Also, make sure you have priorities and that the important ones come first.”

At Breck, McMillen says she was especially influenced by Ms. Sirianni, who helped her stay organized academically, and Mr. Bergene, who worked hard to make the opportunities possible for her and the team to compete. “He also helped

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Check out our new reusable shopping totes!

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

34

Homecoming/Reunion Weekend 2013: MAKE PLANS TO CELEBRATE! Schedule of Events Monday, September 16 Celebration of alums who teach and work at Breck Wednesday, September 18 4:00pm Girls Varsity Tennis vs. Edina

Tennis Courts

Thursday, September 19 11:00am Distinguished Alumni Award Presentation

Chapel

5:30pm

Girls Swimming and Diving vs. Blake

Breck Pool

6:00pm

Volleyball vs. Blake

Anderson Gym

Friday, September 20 11:30am Golden Mustangs Luncheon

Heritage Room, Breck School Anderson Ice Arena

6:00pm Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony and Reception

Upper School – Third Floor Balcony

7:30pm

McKnight Stadium

Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Blake

Saturday, September 21 9:30am Upper School Building Dedication 10:00-12:00pm

Campus Tours

10:00am

Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Rockford

McKnight Stadium

10:30am- 1:00pm

Homecoming Barbecue and Carnival

Alumni Homecoming Tent

11:00-12:30pm

Performance by BATO BATO!

Carnival area

1:00pm

Varsity Football vs. SPA/MPA

McKnight Stadium

Reunions for the classes of 1948, 1973, 1988, 1993, and 2008 will be held over that weekend. More details to come this summer.

Alumni News If you are in the class of 1958, 1963, 1968, 1978 or 1983 and would like to help plan your reunion, please email alumni@breckschool.org or call Michelle Geo Olmstead at 763-381-8278.

2013 Annual Meeting Celebrates Alumni Involvement At the annual meeting in June, the Breck Alumni Association

trust officer at Sawmill. He and his wife Minna are the proud

presented the Alum of the Year award to Brad Searl ’95 for

parents of Corrine and newborn Brendan.

his leadership and dedication to Breck and the Breck Alumni

Margot Murray Olness ’89. Margot graduated from Boston

Association.

College and is a current Breck parent. She and her husband

Also honored was Fletcher Driscoll ’51, whose term on the

Otto are parents of Linden ’18, Griffin ’21 and Fletcher ’25.

board ended June 30. And there was a special tribute by

Mike Nelson ’07. An alumnus of St. Olaf, Mike owns Camp-

Tony Jewett ’94 and Tom Thiss ’47 to honor former Alumni

fire Desserts, a mobile S’mores Bar, is in sales for Circa Vista,

Council leaders who passed away, Bob Ylvisaker ’48 and Del

is a teaching assistant for the History Research Program at

Carter ’50.

Breck, and is an assistant Breck football coach. He was also

Four new members have been welcomed to the Alumni ­Association board: Colin Brooks ’97. A graduate of Amherst with an MBA from Yale, Colin currently serves as assistant vice president and

Rusty Nelson ’64, Chip Chapin ’65 and Tom Thiss ’47

the senior buddy of Margot’s son Linden Olness.

Garin Strobl ’00. A graduate of Boston College who received her law degree from the University of St. Thomas, Garin is an attorney with the firm of Quinlivan and Hughes.

Brad Searl ’95, Wally Chapman and Ken Searl

Ashley Kokal McCarthy ’02, Christy ­Piotrowski ’04, Leah Lussier Sixkiller ’03 and Kirstin Erickson Wilson ’88

Reading Week Alum readers Katie Lund McKenna ’87, Margot Murray Olness ’89, Alycya Hjelm Cardwell ’88, David Best ’96, Jimmy Beltz ’94, Charlie Hicks ’77, Tracey Thayer Breazeale ’84, Christy Piotrowski ’04 read in the Lower School Library and the famous Loon Lodge.

Breck Business Club Seeks Alumni Speakers for 2013-14 This spring, Eileen Bayer ’14 and a group of interested Upper

parents of alums to serve as speakers for the 2013-14 school

School students started the Breck business club. This new

year. If you are interested in sharing your experience, please

club was created to help students learn about the business

contact Michelle Geo Olmstead at alumni@breckschool.org

world and showcase career opportunities. We are currently

or 763-381-8278.

looking for Breck alums, current parents, grandparents, and

35

TODAY AT BRECK summer 2013

class notes reunion year

1946 Amos Rosenbloom won the silver medal in the 80+ Doubles Category at the National Masters Racquetball ­Association Tournament held in Tucson this winter. Amos was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2010.

1983 Jeffrey Rainey has been working at Greater MSP, an economic development private-public partnership formed within the last couple of years. Jeffrey says, “Our organization has a fun, enterprising, start-up feel. Our mission is straightforward:

1951

attract companies, jobs and capital

Fletcher Driscoll was honored at the

Minneapolis-St. Paul region.”

2013 Annual Meeting for his service on the Breck Alumni Council. Fletcher served from 2007-2013.

investment to our 13-county greater

1988 Alycya Hjelm Cardwell and Kathy

1963

Anderson Groethe are planning the

Rod Keith, Bill Harley and Charlie

be held over Homecoming Weekend

Hess are organizing the class’ 50-year

on September 20-21.

reunion over Homecoming weekend.

class’ 25-year reunion. Festivities will

1989 Margot Murray Olness is a new Alumni Council member.

1992 Brian Costello works for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer and the Portland Thorns PC of the National Women’s Soccer League. Read more about him on page 32.

1993 Alison Hitzemann Hardy and Taylor Harwood are planning the class’ 20-year reunion during Homecoming Weekend on September 21. (Please note this is a correction to the reunion news in the Spring 2013 Today at Breck.) Alison is a former employee of the Emily Program.

Ryan Johnson is one of three partners to establish the Tonka Beer Company, a craft beer company that donates 100 percent of its profits to Save-OurLakes, a nonprofit focused on fighting aquatic invasive species in Minnesota lakes and rivers. A story featuring the company can be accessed at lakemin-

Woody Rash started his own financial

netonkamag.com/article/chad-mayes/

1981

advisory firm, Brightline Group, in

tonka-beer-company-donates-profits-

February 2012 and has enjoyed a suc-

save-minnesota-lakes. Ryan is vice

Maya Tester has been elected to Breck’s

cessful first year. This past winter, he

president of new business develop-

Board of Trustees. In addition, she was

coached the Orono Squirt A Team and

ment for the emerging markets

in attendance and very proud to watch

loved being back on the bench.

segment of Cigna HealthCare. He was

as three former Mustang Mock Trial team members competed in the national collegiate mock trial championships in Washington, DC. The three Breck alumni were Maya’s daughter Kristina ’10, a Harvard junior, Max Berman ’11 from Columbia and Christopher Erickson ’12 from Northwestern.

recently recognized as the segment’s Alumni Council member Kirstin Erickson Wilson is serving as chair of the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Committee. Each year the committee honors an alum who has distinguished him or herself in career and community. At Homecoming this year, we will honor director Rob Melrose.

salesperson of the year.

1995

Eduardo

Kevin Cannon and his creative part-

Breck Alumni Association President

currently

ner Zander Cannon (no relation) were

reside in

featured in a June 19 Star Tribune

northeast

article. The two digital cartoonists co-

Minne-

own the Minneapolis-based studio Big

apolis.

Time Attic.

Brad Searl is the recipient of the 2013 Breck Alum of the Year Award. The annual honor recognizes outstanding leadership to the Breck Alumni Association and Breck School. Brad has been active with the Breck Alumni Association since 2007 and is currently serving his second year as president. Brad presented the 2013 Allen Dunn

Rachel will begin a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research at the Minneapolis VA upon completion of her PhD in Health

Mike McKeon and Molly Varecka are planning the 15-year reunion for Thanksgiving 2013.

Services Research, Policy and Adminis-

1999

tration at the University of Minnesota

Gaurav Shroff and his wife Bhakti

School of Public Health in August

were in attendance when Heather

2013. Eduardo is a first year medical

Comero ’98 married James Graver in

resident in the University of Minne-

March on the beach in Naples, Florida.

sota North Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program.

2000

School

Alumni Council member Michael

Garin Strobl is serving her first term

Awards

Proman is serving as the 2013 Athletic

on the Alumni Council.

ceremony.

Hall of Fame chair and the Alumni Co-

Trophy at the Upper

1997 Penumbra Theater’s Education Director Sarah Bellamy was interviewed

Chair of the 2013-2014 Annual Fund

While on the annual art history tour

with Matt Bartel ‘02. Michael pre-

of New York, Chris Ohm and Dul-

sented the Breck Alumni Award at the

cenée Walsh had dinner with Airina

Upper School Awards ceremony.

Rodrigues, Melissa Clark ’98, Aliceyn Heasley ’98, Nicole Lund ’98, Lauren

on KARE-11 on the re-opening of the

Annie Scott Riley is producing “I Make

Tanick Epshetyn ’03, Kati Stadum ’06,

theater. After a six-month hiatus and

No Promises, But Someone’s Probably

Tracy Fuad ’07, Siddharth Damania

with the help of many generous do-

Going to Die,” a play that she wrote at

’08, A.J. Sinker ’08 and Cyprien Sarteau

nors, “Spunk“ opened on March 14.

summer 2012’s Minnesota Fringe Fes-

’08. (See photo in 1998.)

Colin Brooks is a new member on the

tival. She calls it an absurdist comedy.

Alumni Council. He, Christy Piotrowski

While on the annual art history tour

2001

’04 and Ashley Kokal McCarthy ’02

of New York, Chris Ohm and Dulcenée

Elena Roe Sparling and husband

are co-chairing the 2013 Homecoming

Walsh had dinner with Melissa Clark,

Ken Sparling are happy to announce

festivities.

Aliceyn Heasley, Nicole Lund, Airina

the birth of their son, Everett Blake

Rodrigues ‘00, Lauren Tanick Epshteyn

Sparling, on April 17. His early arrival

1998 Heather Comero married James Graver on March 30, 2013 on the beach in Naples, Florida. In attendance was Gaurav Shroff ‘99 and his wife Bhakti.

‘03, Kati Stadum ‘06, Tracy Fuad ‘07,

made Elena’s final

Siddharth Damania ‘08, A.J. Sinker ‘08

semester of work

and Cyprien Sarteau ‘08.

on her MBA at the Kellogg School of Management a bit more exciting.

Rachel Hardeman and her husband

She will graduate in late June and the

Eduardo Medina welcomed their

couple plans to move back to Los Ange-

daughter Leila Marie Medina into the

les where she will join Bain & Com-

world on April 27. We’re told that Leila

pany as a management consultant.

is constantly spoiled by proud aunt Simone Hardeman-Jones. Rachel and

37

TODAY AT BRECK Summer 2013

2002

fall 2012, Quinn has performed at the

Chris Marshall presented the Fred B.

Matt Bartel is serving as Alumni Co-

Guthrie Theater and the Gilbert and

Anderson Award during the Upper

Sullivan Very Light Opera Company.

School Awards ceremony on May 31.

In July, she will perform in a concert

Chris is currently working for Target as

version of The Mikado with the Min-

a merchandise planner.

Chair of the Annual Fund for 20132014, and Ashley Kokal McCarthy is co-chairing Homecoming 2013 along with Colin Brooks ’97 and Christy Piotrowski ’04.

teaches early-childhood music locally for MacPhail Center for Music and WeeBop Music and Movement.

2003 38

neapolis Pops Orchestra. Quinn also

2006

of New York, Chris Ohm and Dulcenée

Michael Blazar, a Breck lifer, graduated

Epshteyn along with Melissa Clark ’98, Aliceyn Heasley ’98, Nicole Lund ’98, Airina Rodrigues ’00, Kati Stadum ‘06, Tracy Fuad ‘07, Siddharth Damania ‘08, A.J. Sinker ‘08 and Cyprien Sarteau ‘08. (See photo in 1998.)

medical school, and will be starting

Homecoming 2013 along with Colin Brooks ’97 and Ashley Kokal McCarthy ‘02.

2005 Andrew Kitzenberg was a common sight on national television in April,

While on the annual art history tour of New York, Chris Ohm and Dulcenée

hematology-oncology-bone marrow

Walsh had dinner with along with

transplantation at the University of

Tracy Fuad along with Melissa Clark

Minnesota.

‘98, Aliceyn Heasley ’98, Nicole Lund ‘98,

Walsh had dinner with Kati Stadum along with Melissa Clark ‘98, Aliceyn Heasley ’98, Nicole Lund ‘98, Airina

Sam Black, Gabe Brown and Matt John sent history teacher Donald Bell

Sarteau ‘08. (See photo in 1998.)

a picture of themselves playing “Ship

sity and her bachelor of

of the Line,” a game they learned dur-

2007

ing his military history May Program Katia Dragotis is working as an account manager for 1500 ESPN radio in the Twin Cities. Read more about her on page 32.

Quinn Shadko appeared in the role of

Univer-

Sarteau ‘08. (See photo in 1998.)

nia ‘08, A.J. Sinker ‘08 and Cyprien

his apartment in Watertown, MA.

New York

Damania ‘08, A.J. Sinker ‘08 and Cyprien

‘03, Tracy Fuad ‘07, Siddharth Dama-

which took place directly in front of

­vocal performance-music theatre from

shteyn ‘03, Kati Stadum ’06, Siddharth

2008

the alleged Boston Marathon bombers,

She received her master of music in

Airina Rodriguez ‘00, Lauren Tanick Ep-

Rodriguez ‘00, Lauren Tanick Epshteyn

ing the shoot-out between police and

of The Fantasticks in St. Paul in June.

public affairs programming

gram for residency and fellowship in

telling the harrowing story of witness-

Luisa in the Skylark Opera production

sion production company focusing on

a physician/scientist training pro-

of New York, Chris Ohm and Dulcenée

Christy Piotrowski is co-chairing

Natalie Sandy has been promoted to Corporation, an award-winning televi-

While on the annual art history tour

2004

on the Alumni Council.

Senior Producer at Caucus Educational

While on the annual art history tour Walsh had dinner with Lauren Tanick

Mike Nelson is serving his first term

Shannon Engelman presented the Modern Language Book Award at the Upper School Awards ceremony on May 31. Shannon is currently pursuing her graduate degree from the School

class along with a note that said, “Just thought you’d like to know we’re still playing the game you taught us sophomore year.”

A.J. Sinker is working for mlb.com, the Major League Baseball website, in New York. Read more about him on page 31.

of Public Health at the University of

While on the annual art history tour

Minnesota.

of New York, Chris Ohm and Dulcenée

arts in voice

Jamie Erdahl works as an anchor/

and linguis-

reporter for the New England Sports

tics from Rice University. Since return-

Network. Read more about her on

ing to Minneapolis from New York in

page 31.

Walsh had dinner with along with Siddarth Damania, A.J. Sinker and Cyprien Sarteau along with Melissa Clark ‘98, Aliceyn Heasley ’98, Nicole Lund ‘98, Airina Rodriguez ‘00, Lauren

Tanick Epshteyn ‘03, Kati Stadum ’06

NCAA DIII Women’s Rowing Cham-

Christopher Erickson ’12. The Harvard

and Tracy Fuad ‘07. (See photo in 1998.)

pionships and her Ithaca Crew team

team placed fifth, and Kristina also won

earned a 4th place NCAA trophy in

an All-American Witness award. Her

2010 and 2011.

mother, Maya ’81, was in attendance.

And in Boston, Jonny Nicholson, director of college counseling, had dinner with Jeffrey Portu, Mary Goetz ’09

And in Boston, Jonny Nicholson,

and Josh Luger ‘12. Jeffrey and Sarah

director of college counseling, had din-

Johnson are planning their 5-year

ner with Mary Goetz, Jeffrey Portu ’08

reunion over Homecoming weekend.

and Josh Luger ’12. (See photo in 2008.)

Briana MacDonald graduated cum laude from Santa Clara University in June 2013 with a major in Communication and a minor in Studio Art. At Santa Clara she was very involved with Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor

2009

Society, Delta Gamma Sorority, and

Dean of Students Chris Ohm met

served as a Campus Liaison for Target

up with Lanre Adekola and Madia

on campus, and will continue her ca-

Ampey in Baltimore in April. Madia

reer with Target as an Executive Team

and Lanre just graduated from Johns

Leader in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Hopkins University.

the university’s yearbook. Briana also

2010 Katherine Paulsen returned to Breck to present the Mathematics Book Award during the Upper School Awards ceremony on May 31.

The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association has selected Rachel Mevissen for the 2013 Division III All-America First Team and named her a National Scholar Athlete. Rachel’s Ithaca College Varsity 8 boat placed 7th at the 2013

Kristina Tester, a Harvard junior, qualified with her team to compete at the national collegiate mock trial championship in Washington, DC — reuniting with former Breck mock trial teammates Max Berman ’11 and

2011 Max Berman, a Columbia sophomore, qualified with his team to compete at the national collegiate mock trial championship in Washington, DC — reuniting with former Breck mock trial teammates Kristina Tester ’10 and Christopher Erickson ’12. The Columbia team placed seventh. (See photo in 2010.)

University of Minnesota golfer Anna Laorr was featured on a KARE-11 segment in March on golfing in Minnesota in the snowy weather.

2012 Christopher Erickson, a Northwestern freshman, qualified with his team to compete at the national collegiate mock trial championship in Washington, DC — reuniting with former Breck mock

IN MEMORIAM 1986

Eric Ringdahl, a devoted husband, father and beloved son, died in a cycling accident in Carlsbad, CA on April 21, 2013. Eric received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and MBA from the University of Denver. Eric was an avid sportsman and shared his passion for the outdoors with his family on trips to Joshua Tree National Park, local beaches and skiing throughout the west. As Director for North and Central America at Cytori Therapeutics, he led the development of ground-breaking cell-based therapies that will change the way medicine is practiced. He is survived by wife Amy, children: Cole (age 9), Tyra Soleil (8), Cayman (5), parents Robert and Polly Ringdahl (Scottsdale, AZ), and sister Kristin Ringdahl ’84 (Phoenix, AZ).

trial teammates Kristina Tester ’10 and Max Berman ’11. The Northwestern team placed eighth. (See photo in 2010.)

Milica McMillen scored the gamewinning goal in the Gophers’ second consecutive national championship game in late March. She was also named to the all-tournament team.

Minnesota defeated Boston University 6-3, capping off an undefeated season.

Milica was one of 41 hockey players invited to the U.S. women’s national team selection camp in Lake Placid,

39

TODAY AT BRECK Summer 2013

NY, from June 16-23, which was used to pick the 21-player national team for

Are you LinkedIn?

the 2014 Winter Olympics. Read more about her on page 33.

At this year’s Upper School Awards

Over 600 Breck alumni and parents are LinkedIn. Are you?

ceremony, Michele Pikovsky presented the David Hancock Yearbook Award.

Michele, along with Nina Kill40

ingstad and Nick

Visit breckschool.org to connect.

Kleidon served as the Yearbook editors during the 2011-2012 school year and were recipients of the award.

While in Boston, Jonny Nicholson, director of college counseling, had dinner with Josh Luger, Jeffrey Portu ’08 and Mary Goetz ’09. (See photo in 2008.)

Breck’s Online Photo Gallery

Global Gaming Initiative, founded by Alejandro Fenn and his mother Elizabeth Sarquis, will release its first game, Sidekick Cycle, on the IOS platform in early August. It’s a model for social giving through mobile games, and it was well received at the Games for Change conference in New York earlier this

Visit our online Zenfolio Gallery to see what we’ve been up to so far this year. Browse, download, print, enjoy! breckschool.zenfolio.com

summer.

in their own words cont. from page 44 through my work, touching in significant ways the lives of

all racial, religious, cultural, geographic, and economic

thousands of students in the classroom setting and informal

backgrounds cross Breck’s threshold to absorb the rich,

spaces of the School. It has been most stimulating to consort

fully-founded educational experience that is a true touch-

over the years with so many intelligent, passionate, innova-

stone to the larger, more relevant, and realistic world

tive, exemplary faculty and administrative colleagues. These

awaiting them. I will always cherish Breck

my part to ensure that the School is what it purports to be,

and the incomparable experience it has afforded me for these many, many years, and have every confidence that the roles I assumed, and that which I strived to positively affect, will retain a presence in these hallowed halls.

that it will continue to be thus, and that this will be so to the

Most sincerely,

fullest possible extent. It is very gratifying to see students of

Marion Jones Kennon

memories will be treasured forever. I will retire from my post with a full measure of confidence that the Breck of today reflects, in meaningful measure, my work as Director of Financial Aid and Assistant Director of Admissions.

Every day, I enter the Breck workplace with a goal of doing

41

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

Winter Sports: Boys Hockey, Boys Swim and Dive Take Third at State

Alpine Ski

Girls Basketball

The boys team finished third in the conference, and the girls

The girls finished

team finished fifth. Young teams making big progress

7-19 overall and 6-9

throughout the season look forward to a bright future for our

in the conference.

downhill skiers. For the boys, Peter Kiesel was all-conference

The sport has been

and all-state, and both Jack Dickinson and Erik Horstman

growing in popular-

were named all-conference honorable mention. For the girls,

ity, with so many

both Mary Beringause and Ella Hogan were all-conference

young players that

honorable mention.

Breck fielded varsity, junior varsity and C

Boys Basketball

squads for the first

The Mustangs had a 19-11 overall record, went 7-6 in the

time in years. Raven

conference, and lost to Minnehaha Academy, the eventual

Dubois was named

state champions, in the section championship game. They

all-conference, and

were fourth in the conference, and all three teams ahead of

both Nailah Hill and

them were state champions (in Classes 2A, 3A and 4A).

Sophie O’Bryan

Along the way, Tilyn Hollis scored his 1,000th career point,

received honorable

and Mo Lawal shot his way into the state record books by

mention. Nichole

hitting 16/16 free throws in the team’s game against Concordia—something no one in Minnesota had done since 2006. Tilyn, Mo and Will Culliton were named to the all-conference team, with Michael Marzec and Kwaku Bodom honorable mention. Michael Marzec was the MIP, Will Culliton the MVP, and Kwaku Bodom the Mustanger.

Showalter was the MIP, Nailah Hill the MVP, and Maggie MacLennan the Mustanger.

Gymnastics

Nordic Ski

It was a tough season for our girls gymnasts, who were

Huge numbers of participants in this very popular grades

squeezed out of practice space and not able to host any

7-12 program enjoyed some of the best snow in years by the

home meets due to the Upper School construction project

end of the season. The boys finished third in the conference,

this year. Still, with a great group of 20 athletes, the future

and the girls finished fourth. Ingrid Thyr was named to the

looks bright for the team with a return to the Fieldhouse in

all-conference team, with Greer Bingham and Lewis White

2013-14. Grace Hamilton was the MIP, Katie Schmoker the

receiving honorable mention. The MIPs were Jake Levy and

MVP, and Sophie Burton the Mustanger.

Helene Kim; MVPs were Lewis White and Ingrid Thyr; and

Boys Hockey

Mustangers were Joe Kuhns and Katie Kiesel.

Earning a return trip to the state tournament, the section

Boys Swim and Dive

champion Mustangs took third in the state and finished with

In his final year of an illustrious Breck career, Mitchell Foster

a record of 26-4-1 and an undefeated 9-0 in the Tri-Metro

broke three pool records in the 100 backstroke, won the 200 IM

conference. Matt Colford was named to the all-state team.

in a Breck School record and All-American consideration time

All-conference honors went to Matt, Thomas Lindstrom,

for the second straight year, and finishing runner-up in the 100

Henry Johnson, Jack O’Connor, Mark Sharp and Michael

backstroke in an automatic All-American time. Overall, the

Orke, and all-conference honorable mentions went to

team finished third in the state, with a dual meet record of 1-5

Andrew Keiser, Ben Gleekel, Chase Ellingson and Derek

with losses to the state champions of Class A and four of the

Wiitala. Parker Montgomery was the MIP, Matt Colford the

top ten teams in Class AA. The medley relay team won state

MVP, and Andrew Keiser the Mustanger. Other significant

for the fifth straight year, and were all-state in the 200 and 400

awards went to Ben Gleekel, who received the Polly Cavana-

free relays. Evan Stafford and Chris Walker received all-state

ugh award, and Jack O’Connor, the school’s Hobey Baker

honorable mention. Henri Schmidt was the MIP, Mitchell

Award winner.

Foster the MVP, and Nic van Oppen the Mustanger.

Girls Hockey The girls played a very difficult schedule, upping the ante by playing a number of Class AA teams in addition to the traditional Class A conference foes before falling 5-6 in an overtime thriller section final game with Blake, the eventual state champions. Breck’s strong tradition continued as the program will send graduating senior Kate Schipper to play Division I hockey for the Golden Gophers. Kate was named to the all-conference team, with honorable mentions for Jenna Brenneman, Claire Mancheski, Leah Schwartzman, Megan Sweet, Anna Zumwinkle and Grace Zumwinkle. Nicole Oppenheimer was the MIP, Kate Schipper the MVP, and Megan Sweet the Mustanger.

43

“

TODAY AT BRECK SUMMER 2013

In Their Own Words

Marion Jones Kennon Assistant Director of Admissions and Director of Financial Aid

”

44 Letter to Head of School Edward Kim about her decision to retire from Breck after 46 years

Dear Ed, This letter is to officially inform you that after 46 years of employment at Breck, which began in the fall of 1967 when hired as a member of the Lower School faculty by (then) Headmaster Canon F. Douglas Henderson, I will

were of paramount importance to all. Teaching was truly a

retire at the end of the 2012-2013 academic year. My last day

“labor of love.” And the years passed quickly.

of work will be on Friday, June 28.

In 1981, a door of opportunity opened when I was ap-

Being associated with Breck has been a wonderful journey

proached by the (then) Headmaster John C. Littleford with

and a broadening, enriching, memorable experience. I have

an invitation to become Assistant Director of Admissions.

had the good fortune to know the School from three major

Feeling confident and enthusiastic about entering the

perspectives. As a parent, my daughter, Shawn, enrolled as a

administrative arena, I accepted the offer on July 1 of that

second-grade student and graduated with the Class of 1977,

year. In 1984, I received a second appointment as Director of

while my son, Rozmond Jr., a “lifer’’ from kindergarten, was a

Financial Aid and so began serving in dual capacity. It was a

member of the Class of 1980. Each brought much to the

privilege to extend my reach beyond Breck’s setting through

School’s table and, in turn, garnered an impressive, well-

participation at NAIS conferences: serving on the 1987 NAIS

rounded education as preparation for their college and

conference panel for financial aid to address the topic of

professional school experiences.

“Keeping Our Schools Affordable.” Over these many years, my attendance at conferences, institutes and workshops around the country and in Canada has been varied and rewarding. As well, it was gratifying to be

As a member of the Lower School faculty with the good fortune to have instructed at the kindergarten, first, and second-grade levels, I was truly able to practice my craft and fully engage with the students and curriculum, while employing a personal approach and style. Very much relished was the fact that, at Breck, students are of the greatest importance. My hopes and dreams for each precious child were constantly in focus. It has always been my belief that every school year of a student’s life is crucial, impressionable, and with lasting impact; therefore, it was imperative that my classroom be physically and emotionally safe, warranting of trust, nurturing, exciting, and academically challenging. Every student was made to feel special because

appointed in 1985 to a four-year term on the NAIS Financial Aid Services Committee. Additionally, I represented Breck at the first NAIS People of Color Conference in Reston, VA. It was there that acquaintance was first made with Samuel A. Salas, then Head of School at Cranbrook in Michigan and, as well, keynote speaker for the conference. Now, Ed, having had the privilege of serving under your outstanding and visionary leadership, at the end of this academic year I will close my (formal) professional circle.

they brought to my classroom a uniqueness bearing no

After serving in the administrations of four heads of school,

possibility of duplication. Their presence and contributions

I am proud to have been part of the shaping of Breck and, continued on page 40

discover the benefits of giving wisely with a planned gift.

Become a member of the James Lloyd Breck Society.

Joining the James Lloyd Breck Society is something anyone can do through a simple designation in your Will or Trust, or with a gift that generates income for life.

Want to get started?

Visit the Breck website and use our interactive and straightforward “Plan a Gift” tools and sample

legacy.vg/breckschool

bequest language, and find out what type of planned gift is right for you.

to join those in our community who have made a commitment to breck now and in the future, who have named breck in their will, or as a beneficiary of their retirement plan or trust, please contact us at advancement@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 (763-381-8278 or alumni@breckschool.org) of the new mailing address.

ending the year with a splash Kindergarten Water Day is a happy annual tradition.