By KRISTY KERIN
In the spring, we celebrated the Class of 2025—young people who, we hope, leave with a deeper sense of self and a stronger belief in their ability to shape the world. For me, this class holds special significance. Though I’d been part of Brewster for a decade before their arrival, we began a new chapter together in the fall of 2021—the students as new 9th graders, me as a new Head of School. We stepped onto campus sharing many of the same emotions: excitement, uncertainty, anticipation. Four years flew by, and now we have sent them off with pride and admiration.
Class of 2015 alumnus Chris Carlson delivered our Commencement keynote address in May and embodied courage, our theme for the 2024-25 school year (for this school year’s theme, turn to Page 9 in the Campus Notes section). Encouraged by his grandfather—Trustee Emeritus David Carlson ’54—to attend Brewster, Chris arrived unsure of his place. He had played football (a sport we don’t offer) and was, by his own admission, a middling lacrosse goalie. Then he met our crew coach. He tried rowing and never looked back.
Chris rowed in college, made six national teams, and last year—more than a decade after that first oar stroke in Wolfeboro Bay— helped bring home a bronze medal in the men’s eight at the Paris Olympics. “I don’t think a 15-year-old me could have imagined something like this,” he said.
That line stuck with me. Because often, as I tell students, our lives aren’t shaped by
one grand plan—but by a thousand small choices. We build our paths one step at a time, usually with no idea what’s coming next. Chris took a chance. He tried something new. Then he stuck with it. He took risks, trained hard, trusted his teammates, and stayed in it long enough for something extraordinary to take shape. (Read more about Chris and our other Paris Olympian, Melvin Ejim ’10, in the feature on Page 30.)
But this is also a story of his grandfather, David Carlson—an alum who once sat at Commencement in the newly opened Rogers Gymnasium. Over decades, David served Brewster with passion and purpose: as a trustee, a champion, and a voice of steady wisdom. He once voted to add crew to Brewster’s athletic offerings, never imagining that his grandson would one day row here— or become one of the country’s top oarsmen. Courage doesn’t always come in loud, heroic moments. Sometimes, it’s quieter: showing up, investing in others, believing in something for the long haul. David’s story reminds us that the impact we make today may ripple for generations.
As our graduates head into their new lives this fall, and another eager group of students has begun their next year at Brewster, I hope they remember: Courage is not fearlessness. It’s purposeful action rooted in values. It’s listening, trying, failing, learning, and trying again. And when they look back, may they be surprised and proud of how far they’ve come. Because courage travels. From grandfather to grandson. From one daring choice to the next. From class to class. And now, as we begin a new school year and the Class of 2026 takes their place as our seniors, let’s see where it leads.
KRISTY KERIN HEAD OF SCHOOL kkerin@brewsteracademy.org
Stay up-to-date with us on your favorite social media channels @brewsteracademy and tag us or use the hashtag #BrewsterAcademy when you post your Brewster news! For more in-depth info, visit the website at brewsteracademy.org for the latest on all things Brewster.
ON THE COVER:
Reika Ueno ’26 of Tokyo agreed to be a model for our cover about sustainability at Brewster. With photographer Pat O’Connor capturing the perfect shot, Reika tucked into a burger made by Director of Dining Services Dan Corey featuring some of the locally made products he prefers to serve at Brewster.
Students
18
Shawn Wallace ’23 is chasing storms and his dreams at Cornell. Let’s catch up!
22
You will be impressed by how much care goes into what is dished out in Brewster’s Dining Hall. We sure were.
30
Two alumni. Two sports. One incredible experience at the Paris Olympics. Oo la la!
38
A coterie of Brewster travelers headed to Arles, France for a cultural immersion—all guided by a fellow Bobcat whose French dreams began in Wolfeboro. Oo la la part deux!
1 Head Lines
Head of School Kristy Kerin reflects on the concept of courage traveling across generations.
4 Editor’s Note
Editor Suzanne Morrissey confesses to a care package addiction—and offers some tips. Plus: a report on the recently inducted Athletic Hall of Famers and a special moment at Reunion.
6 Leadership
We remember Sheila Smith, an icon of the Academy, and hear why Microsoft executive Kirk Koenigsbauer is proud to be on Brewster’s Board of Trustees.
8 Campus Notes
See what’s been happening at Brewster, from arts and athletics to awards and charming everyday moments. Plus: The Ultimate Brewster Care Package (and it could be yours!).
54 Alumni News
Check out Reunion snapshots, classmates checking in from near and far, the touching story of a teacher being honored years after his last class, and a “Star of Life” award for a Class of
1983
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR SCHOOL. HERE ARE A FEW OPTIONS: WAYS TO KEEP UP WITH BREWSTER
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Alumni Office, Brewster Academy 80 Academy Drive, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
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LATE SUMMER/FALL 2025
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Kristy Kerin
EDITOR and EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Suzanne Morrissey
DEAN OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING
Dr. Bryan Gross
DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED MEDIA AND MARKETING
Mary Roetger
DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT & DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
Kara McDuffee
SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAM MANAGER
Caitlin Ward
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS
Jody Garlock, Beth Hayes ’81, Neil Pond
PHOTOGRAPHY
Brewster Academy Archives, Gunner Found ’16, GradImages, Kara McDuffee, Pat O’Connor, Robert Ortiz, Kathryn Stansfield
DESIGN
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Brewster, The Magazine of Brewster Academy, is published once a year and mailed to alumni, parents, and friends of Brewster Academy.
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© 2025 Brewster Academy. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
I ADMIT I MAY HAVE AN ADDICTION TO MAKING CARE PACKAGES…AND IS THAT SO WRONG?
Hello, readers, and welcome to your magazine. It’s been carefully curated for you, Brewster alumni, parents, and friends. And with all the incredible stories we are able to share in these 64 pages (Bobcats who became Olympians. Our first foray into France. A young alum living his storm-chasing dreams!), there’s one story that makes me smile the widest: The Ultimate Brewster Care Package. My own obsession with care packages started when I was a child, and my family would drive from whatever state the Air Force had placed us to visit our relatives in North Carolina for Christmas. The sting of saying goodbye was softened by my Aunt Doris, who would fill a department store shirt box with baggies of her homemade treats—pastel-tinted buttermints, fudge, fried peanuts—most of which was consumed before our tires hit I-40. Her example influenced me years later, when putting together creative care packages for friends
ON PAGE 62 OF THE LAST ISSUE, there was an error in the In Memoriam notice for Mr. J. David Dunham ’50. Mr. Dunham died at age 91 on July 26, 2023, not June 26, 2023 as reported. We apologize for the error, and are using this as an opportunity to remind the Brewster family of Mr. Dunham’s life passions. He met his wife Mimi when he was five and she was four, and the two made their lives in Wolfeboro. A transplant from Canada, he became a U.S. citizen and enjoyed a long career at Wolfeboro’s Kingswood Press. He enjoyed raising Irish Setters and was an extraordinary ice skater, known for skating from his home on Wolfeboro Bay to Alton and back with ease. Rest in peace, Mr. Dunham.
stationed in the Middle East became a joyful patriotic challenge. (Some pro tips: Smarties candy make great packaging material, flip the Hershey’s Kiss upside down on those Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies for easier packing, tuck in a flour tortilla to keep baked goods soft, and no one has ever said no to a new Sharpie marker.) These days, my care package addiction is being fed by young cousins and friends’ children who are heading to college (I should buy stock in those 3M Command strips and hooks!). Which leads me to our story called “The Ultimate Brewster Care Package.”
We polled students as to what items they would most like to receive in a care package from home, and the result is a jam-packed basket of useful, healthy, sweet, caring, quirky, and just plain fun items that any student would be thrilled to receive. And the best part? Parents will have a chance to win this Ultimate Care Package for their child during Fall Family Weekend, October 10-11.
As always, I hope you enjoy this issue, and please reach out with any comments or suggestions. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you!
SUZANNE MORRISSEY EDITOR smorrissey@brewsteracademy.org
ON PAGE 13 OF THE LAST ISSUE, in our reporting on the 2024 Future Alumni Dinner, we misidentified John Linko ’24 as Jack O’Neill. The real Jack O’Neill graduated in 2025 and is attending N.C. State University this fall. John Linko has been studying political science at Providence College and participated in the College’s annual PC in DC Program, connecting with alumni who have built diverse and inspiring careers in Washington, D.C. We regret the error and wish both alumni good luck in their studies this year.
The 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction took place in August, just as this magazine was heading to the printer. We’re so glad to be able to capture late-summer happenings, especially one as significant as honoring a new class of Hall of Famers.
In August, the Brewster community gathered for the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring six individual inductees and one remarkable team whose achievements and character have left a lasting imprint on the school. Head of School Kristy Kerin welcomed alumni, families, and special guests, reflecting on the meaning of the day: “There’s something really special about pausing to honor the people who have left an undeniable mark on a place we all care so deeply about…They worked hard, they lifted others, and they engaged fully in our community.”
The afternoon began with a tribute to Harry Baxter ’50 and Martha White Baxter ’52, whose shared love of skiing carried them from Brewster’s slopes to international acclaim. Together they transformed Sugarloaf in Maine, pioneered adaptive ski programs, and later helped make Jackson Hole a world-class destination. Married for 72 years, their lives were defined by dedication to sport, community, and each other. Board Chair Roy Ballentine accepted the honor on their behalf.
Postgraduate basketball player Dodie Dunson II ’06 went on to star at Bradley University and now serves as head coach of women’s basketball at Lewis University. He credited Coach Jason Smith with taking a chance on him and teaching lessons he now passes to his players.
Wolfeboro native Ryder Garnsey ’14 became Brewster’s all-time lacrosse scoring leader before a standout career at Notre Dame and in the Premier Lacrosse League. He thanked his family, teachers, and teammates in a video message filled with humor and gratitude.
Devonte’ Graham, a 2013 postgraduate, led Brewster
to championships before starring at Kansas and joining the NBA. Now heading to Serbia’s Euroleague, he said his Brewster year prepared him for the future.
Joining Brewster in 2013, Donovan Mitchell ’15 became a two-time NEPSAC and National Prep champion, team MVP, and Senior Prefect—a role he calls his proudest achievement. After two standout seasons at Louisville, he entered the NBA in 2017 and is now a six-time All-Star with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Returning to Brewster for the first time in a decade, Mitchell shared nostalgic memories and thanked his coaches, teachers, and parents. He closed his speech by acknowledging his fiancee of one month. “This is the first time I’m giving a speech where I can call you my fiancee, so that’s very special,” he said.
The 2015 Prep Basketball Team capped the celebration, recognized for winning NEPSAC and National Prep Championships, with five players advancing to the NBA. Representing the team, Mitchell praised their relentless work ethic and Coach Lee’s message: “Whether up by 40 or down by 40, play with the same mindset.”
In closing, Director of Athletics Connor Wells reminded inductees that they have influenced not just their peers, but generations of Brewster students who will read their names in the Turner Hall of Fame Room.
Editor’s Note: Read more about the Hall of Fame induction speeches and ceremony—and see the criteria for making a future nomination on the new Athletics website: athletics.brewsteracademy.org
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR can be sent to smorrissey@brewsteracademy.org or mailed to Suzanne Morrissey, 80 Academy Dr. Wolfeboro, N.H. 03894. All letters will be reviewed for length and appropriate content.
Readers, it’s very easy to let us know if you’ve moved: VISIT brewsteracademy.org/update CALL (603) 569-7198
Alumni, you can email us at alumni@ brewsteracademy.org and parents, you can go to the Parent Portal.
Bob Tarbell ’68 had a very special moment when he returned to campus for Reunion in May and spotted himself with his hockey team in the photo collage on the Brewster Timeline!
In August, Head of School Kristy Kerin shared the sad news of the passing of Sheila Hanley Smith, a beloved and revered member of the Brewster community. Sheila was the devoted spouse of longtime Brewster Headmaster David Smith, mother of Tim ’91, Dan ’93, and James ’95, and for decades, Brewster’s Associate Director of Admission.
Sheila’s presence at Brewster was a gift, as many alumni readers of this magazine know first hand. With her warmth, grace, and quiet determination, she welcomed generations of students and families, supporting them from their very first visit to campus through their years at the Academy and beyond. She was a steady and trusted guide and a relentless advocate for students when they needed it most. Sheila and David rarely missed a moment of school life, attending 54 straight
Commencements side by side, a testament to their unwavering devotion to Brewster’s students and community. The Smith family’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of this school. Sheila’s influence can be felt in the lives of those she touched personally and is also reflected in the naming of the David M. and Sheila H. Smith Center for Athletics and Wellness—a lasting reminder of their decades of dedication. Additionally, the Smith Faculty and Staff Scholarship was established in 2002 by the friends, family, and admirers of David and Sheila Smith to honor their 35 years at Brewster. It helps offset the expenses for faculty and staff children to attend Brewster Academy.
Yet Sheila’s true legacy lives in the people who were lucky to be in her circle. Alumni remember her advocacy, colleagues her strength and vision, and families her ability to make them feel instantly at home. Her absence will be felt deeply.
We hold David, the Smith and Hanley families, and Sheila’s many friends close in our hearts. We invite you, our readers and members of the Brewster community, to share photos and memories of Sheila Smith (send to smorrissey@brewsteracademy. org), ensuring that her remarkable life and enduring love for Brewster remain forever present in our story.
On the occasion of Sheila and David Smith’s retirement in 2003, close friend Lynne Palmer, now Brewster’s James C. Curvey Endowed Program Director, shared loving insights into Sheila’s caring force. Her words from that time remind us of the tremendous partnership that was a guiding light for the Brewster community:
“Sheila is a private person who was placed in a very public role. Those of us who are fortunate to be considered a friend know sides of Sheila that many don’t see. Her wit, her intuitiveness, and her wisdom are a few. Her family is her center. Her boys will tell you that she is resolved to keep their lives as private as possible while constantly reminding them of their responsibility as the Headmaster’s sons. She attempts to do the same for David— and occasionally it actually works. Sheila has helped me adjust to this chosen lifestyle, taught me the importance of balancing the demands of a boarding school while prioritizing the needs of my family. She may have purposefully chosen the shadow, but the source of light that she has fed has provided a strength that she will never confess. Brewster Academy has survived, evolved, and astounded because of David. David Smith has endured, thrived, and amazed because of Sheila!”
At Brewster Academy, we are deeply appreciative of the dedicated service and forward-thinking leadership provided by our Board of Trustees. More than stewards of tradition, our Trustees actively shape Brewster’s future. Representing a wide range of industries and perspectives, they reflect the diversity of thought we aim to cultivate in our students.
One of the newest members is Kirk Koenigsbauer, who joined the Board in May 2024. He and his wife, Neen, live in Seattle, Washington, where he serves as Corporate Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft Corporation and oversees product development, business strategy, and operations for Microsoft 365, while also leading customer success and running the company’s internal IT organization. His career also includes leadership roles at Amazon.com and Andersen Consulting, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors at Thomson Reuters.
For Mr. Koenigsbauer, joining Brewster’s Board was rooted in both history and community. “Independent boarding schools have always been a part of my life—I literally grew up on a boarding school campus, where my parents taught for more than three decades,” he said. “These experiences showed me how tight-knit communities, round-the-clock mentorship, and breadth of programming can transform young people and create opportunity.” That connection deepened when his family built a vacation home on Lake Winnipesaukee in 2020. “It was impossible to miss Brewster’s presence in the community,” he recalled. Conversations with alumni, faculty, and trustees sparked his curiosity and enthusiasm for the school, leading him to join the Board.
What sets Brewster apart, in his view, are three things: “The Brewster Model, with small academic teams and real-time data that ensure every student is known. A techforward mindset, with programs like robotics and computer science. And a sense of place that comes from living and learning on the lake—whether in marine science labs, crew practice at dawn, or simply walking to class with the lake as a backdrop.”
Though his career led him to business and technology, Mr. Koenigsbauer hasn’t ruled out teaching someday. “History would be my first pick, or perhaps a course on how technology reshapes markets and culture.” His belief in lifelong learning echoes Brewster’s mission. Looking ahead, he emphasizes balancing Brewster’s strengths with innovation: “Strong academics, robust arts, and commitment to athletics— while deepening experiential technology programs and expanding global learning opportunities.”
Outside of work, he treasures time with family in Wolfeboro, whether on the lake, on a tennis court, in a trout stream, or strumming his guitar.
BREWSTER ACADEMY 2024-25 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Roy C. Ballentine P’94,’97 (Chair of the Board)
Brian Ballentine ’97 (Second Vice Chair of the Board)
Richard W. Blackburn GP’19 (Estate Trustee)
Ronn Bronzetti ’92
C. Richard Carlson (Estate Trustee)
B. Martha Cassidy P’17
Arthur W. Coviello, Jr. (Vice Chair of the Board)
J. Scott Curvey
Dr. George J. III Dohrmann P’05, ’12
Karen W. “Karey” Fix P’11,’13
Gabrielle Joy “Bri” Gatta ’05
Peter Grayson P’14
Joan Hill P’20
Kirk Koenigsbauer
Robert J. Mueller GP’17 (Treasurer of the Board)
Carlos Noble ’70 (Secretary of the Board)
Jean C. Regnier
Andrew N. Reyes ’06
Reverend Nancy Spencer Smith (Estate Trustee)
Steven R. Webster P’08, ’11
Richard “Rich” Wood III P’21, ’23
TRUSTEE EMERITI EX-OFFICIO
David L. Carlson ’54 GP ’15
James C. Curvey
P. Fred Gridley ’53 P’81
Michael Keys P’04
Daniel T. Mudge P’98, ’02
Kristy Kerin (Head of School)
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW ISSUE! In these first few pages we aim to capture some of the highlights of Brewster life since the last magazine was in your hands. That’s almost a year of learning, laughing, and making lifelong memories on the lake. First in the lineup? The news in July that History and Social Sciences Department Chair Jonathan Browher was named New Hampshire History Teacher of the Year! The annual recognition program, presented by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (the nation’s leading nonprofit for K-12 American history education), celebrates one outstanding teacher from each state for their dedication, creativity, and effective use of primary sources. In his classroom, Browher moves lessons beyond memorization to hands-on historical inquiry. “I try to make history generative,” he says. “Students should walk away not just knowing what happened, but able to make sense of it for themselves.” Bravo, Mr. Browher!
Brewster’s website is sporting a fresh new look that debuted mid-summer. Check out brewsteracademy.org, where you’ll see engaging videos, quick links to the Campus Store, the revamped Athletics section with game schedules, a side tab to the latest news and events, and a whole lot more. The new site is a user-friendly hub designed to showcase Brewster’s people, place, and programs with faster access to information.
On July 31, Brewster hosted a unique open house for the Wolfeboro community. At “Passport to Brewster,” we invited the public to join us in the Grayson Student Center for a free expo-style event and reception, giving local folks an exclusive insider look at our newest award-winning facility, programs, arts, athletics, sustainbility practices, and more. We shared our history and how Brewster is vital to Wolfeboro’s success—and vice versa. As about 150 guests roamed all three levels of the Rogers Building to visit 12 stations covering various aspects of Brewster life, they had the chance to ask questions of faculty, staff, alumni, and students who graciously agreed to serve as “docents.” At each stop, they got a stamp in their Brewster passport booklet, which garnered them a Brewster goodie bag to take home. During remarks by Head of School Kristy Kerin, our Dining Team received a spontaneous standing ovation for the impressive appetizer and dessert buffet they prepared.
Head of School Kristy Kerin recently revealed Brewster’s 2025-26 word of the year: COMMITMENT
“Commitment means showing up, especially when things are hard; caring deeply and acting on that care through shared values; and sustaining our efforts toward meaningful goals,” she said. We’re all in!
Before heading to Bald Peak Colony Club for the Prom in May, students posed for photos in the Grayson Student Center. Everyone donned high fashion, including Heidi Broussard ’25 of Wolfeboro and Ryan Kristjansen ’25 of Melbourne, Florida.
Lauren Christy ’25 earned the 2024-25 Gatorade New Hampshire Girls Soccer Player of the Year! For 40 years, Gatorade’s Player of the Year has been the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Each honoree receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. The Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations. “I’m donating my grant to Women’s Sports Foundation to help girls and women reach their full potential through their sports and in their everyday life like they preach,” Lauren shared. “Sports has been so important in my life, so I want to help create more opportunities and continue to advocate for women’s rights in sports.”
Outcroppings, Brewster’s award-winning arts and literary magazine, once again showcased the creative talents of our community in its 46th edition. Advisor Jen Dumont, Editor in Chief Logan Cliche ’25, and Art Editor Hannah Ruegg ’26 said they wished they had as many pages as they had submissions from the cadre of artists and writers on campus. We’re sharing a few images here, along with a poem by L.A.-born Brewster Madrid student Aly Eastland ’25. Aly spent some time in Wolfeboro as an exchange student and then transferred to finish her high school career here. She brings her unique take on having two homes in “Solo Americana.” You can read the entire issue at brewsteracademy.org/outcroppings or by scanning the QR code below.
By
Aly Eastland ’25
Nací en la tierra de sueños,
Where my house is rooted in Los Angeles, Pero aquí, bajos cielos español, Spain fills my soul, Hablo dos idiomas, I breathe two airs, Un pie en America, And the other in Spain. La sangre del oeste corre en mis venas, But Spain has changed my life, Entre dos culturas que me llenan I am a mix of day and night. Soy de los dos mundos que me abrazan. Where both hold my heart.
EQUITY CONFERENCE FOSTERS DIALOGUE AND SHARED UNDERSTANDING.
Brewster hosted its annual Connect 2 Change conference on May 4, bringing together students and educators from Holderness and Kingswood High School for a day of dialogue around identity and inclusion. Unlike traditional conferences, students led the agenda, designing workshops that reflected their diverse lived experiences and sparked meaningful conversations, encouraging listening, perspective-taking, and authentic connection across communities.
Students aren’t the only people learning at Brewster. Science faculty member Justin Connell attended the Independent Schools Experiential Education Network (ISEEN) Summer Teaching Institute in Colorado this summer, building on nearly 25 years of teaching and leadership. “I was very grateful to attend this conference, as I was able to collaborate with colleagues from around the country in both sciencefocused groups and with educators from other disciplines,” Connell said.
Immersed in the history and geography of Colorado’s front range, participants explored place-based learning. The program emphasized curriculum design, assessment, and reflective teaching, while modeling experiential learning itself.
“Although I was most excited to bring what I learned back to my physics classroom, experiential education has applications all over campus, from classrooms to dorm life and beyond… I can’t wait to share it with colleagues,” Connell added.
This fall, Brewster welcomed students into Bradley House, our newest dorm. Formerly Topsides Bed & Breakfast, the stately home on South Main Street has been thoughtfully transformed into a residence hall, complete with a cozy common room, laundry machines, private bathrooms for each of the five dual-occupancy bedrooms, and a Community Life Parent apartment. Head of School Kristy Kerin announced the dorm will honor Bradley Grayson ’14, noting, “The names of our alumni are associated with so many good works and deeds, and now, another alumnus’s name will forever be part of our campus map.” Bradley’s father, longtime Trustee Peter Grayson, shared: “Our family is connected to Brewster for so many reasons, not the least of which is Bradley’s positive experience here on campus. I’m so pleased we could help Brewster acquire this premier property.”
In July, Brewster welcomed Dr. Bryan Gross as its Dean of Enrollment Management and Marketing, an important new dual role that combines the responsibilities of leading the Admissions and Marketing & Communications teams. With deep experience in higher ed, a passion for student growth, and family ties to Wolfeboro, Gross says he was inspired by Brewster’s approach to education from his first interview on campus: “I really felt that the curriculum is lined up to help students lead a life of purpose,” he shared. And how have the first few weeks been going for the innovative leader, dad, and sports fan? “Everyone has been so warm and welcoming, and the work is exciting. I am so glad to be here.”
CHRIS CARLSON ’15 ALUMNUS AND OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST
Olympic rower Chris Carlson ’15 returned to Brewster to deliver a heartfelt, inspiring address to the Class of 2025. Carlson reflected on his unlikely journey—once a lanky lacrosse goalie and “average rower” on Lake Winnipesaukee—who nearly quit the sport in college before discovering the resilience that would carry him to the Olympic podium. He reminded graduates that the challenge of knowing when to push through and when to let go is a lifelong lesson, and that failures often become the very turning points that lead to success. Carlson shared how setbacks, including missing the 2021 Tokyo Games, ultimately fueled the perseverance and openness that led him to the Paris Olympics, where he earned a bronze medal. His message to the graduates was simple but powerful: do not fear failure, but embrace it as a teacher, and let courage grow through challenge.
“It’s a joy to celebrate this milestone with the Class of 2025,” Head of School Kristy Kerin began at the May 24 Commencement ceremony. “Your class will always hold a special place for me. Though I had been with Brewster for 10 years before you arrived, we started fresh together in September 2021—you as Lifers, me as a new Head of School. I imagine we walked onto campus that Fall with a similar swirl of emotions… hearts racing, minds full of questions, asking things like, ‘What did I just sign up for?’ It’s hard to believe how quickly four years went. Today, we’re here to celebrate all you’ve accomplished and all that lies ahead.”
WEATHER REPORT: Unusually chilly and blustery
CHANGE OF VENUE:
A rare spring Nor’easter forced a last-minute decision to move the ceremony into the warmth of the Smith Center. But as if on cue, the clouds and drizzle departed as the ceremony ended, resulting in joyful outdoor photos with friends and family…beloved Lake Winnipesaukee in the background.
A WARM WELCOME: In her heartfelt Commencement address, Head of School Kristy Kerin celebrated the Class of 2025 by reflecting on their shared journey—growing through four years defined by themes of curiosity, uplift, unity, and courage. Kerin wove in the inspiring story of keynote speaker Chris Carlson ’15, reminding graduates that life is not linear but built through countless small choices, steady steps, and the willingness to take risks. She highlighted the example of Carlson’s grandfather, David Carlson ’54, whose quiet acts of loyalty and guidance shaped both his family’s and Brewster’s legacy—proof that courage often looks like investing in others and committing to community. Calling courage “the golden mean” between fear and recklessness, Kerin urged graduates to act with wisdom, bravery, and reflection. She closed with deep affection, reminding them that the Brewster family will always be cheering them on, wherever their paths lead.
VALEDICTORIAN: In his valedictory address, Curvey Scholar Logan Cliche ’25 of Alton, N.H. reflected on the unique passage of time at Brewster, where days could feel like years and years like days. He recalled how the Class of 2025 grew, embracing new members and diverse perspectives. For Logan, Brewster was a place of continual reinvention, where countless moments— discussions, music, friendships, and struggles—blurred into a shared memory. He urged classmates to pause, reflect, and consider how they want to be remembered
as they step into the next stage of life. Warning against monotony and over reliance on artificial intelligence, he encouraged them to think independently, act with reason, and lead with passion and authenticity. Above all, Logan reminded his peers to honor those who believed in them and to boldly shape their own futures.
SALUTATORIAN:
Randall E. Preston II ’25 of Alton, New Hampshire
TOP POSTGRADUATE:
Korravit “Neo” Nusom ’25 of Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi, Thailand
CLASS MARSHALS:
Cole Butcher ’25 of Wolfeboro, N.H. and Luce Colcord ’25 of Peabody, Massachusetts
AS IS TRADITION…The Winnipesaukean dedicatee read the graduates’ names. This year, the honor went to Dean of College Counseling Tim Cushing.
EXTRA SPECIAL MOMENT:
The Class of 2026 was invited to attend the Commencement ceremony to cheer their friends and enjoy a glimpse of what they’ll experience in about eight months!
students, there’s nothing like the feeling of getting a surprise care package from home.
A quick poll helped us create the ultimate care package that any Brewster Bobcat would love. Parents, you can use this for inspiration for your next trip to the post office, or better yet, come to Fall Family Weekend October 10-11 for a chance to win everything we’ve shown here for your student!
Even with snacks aplenty in Estabrook, dorm dwellers know a quick microwaveable cup of soup, pasta, or oatmeal is a comforting go-to on a busy day. We’ve even spotted students slurping sans spoon!
Everyday items are a welcome surprise, especially when they help our busy students take care of themselves. A fresh shower pouf, extra socks, and herbal teas are all perfect care package add-ins. Lotions and lip balms make walks across campus on windy, wintry days less harsh.
Students told us Nerds and anything from the gummy family were their top picks. Be extra smart and buy resealable bags.
Certain items make sharing a room easier. Disinfecting wipes for the occasional pass over the desk and doorknobs are a must during cold and flu season. An extra charger, a few office supplies, and removable hangers and hooks that don’t damage walls are perennially handy. And don’t forget a little scent to stave off aromas that may waft from dirty cleats and laundry.
LATE BREAKING NEWS: THE CAMPUS STORE JUST ADDED A NEW LONG-SLEEVE HOODIE TEE TO SHELVES!ITS
We were so pleased when students polled for their favorite care package items said, “You’ve GOT to include some Brewster stuff!” It’s easy to pick up Brewster gear when you’re on campus or online at store.brewsteracademy.org
Quick snacks for the backpacks were top vote getters in our care package poll. An assortment of candy and high-protein options, sweet and salty, all got thumbs up from hungry students.
What is a care package without some unexpected fun and silliness? Doo-dads like stickers from hometowns or favorite family vacations, colored pencils and a coloring book, and mini games for mindless fun are all good picks. Several students requested “real photos of my dog and my family I can pin up.” Aw!
PARENTS, SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FALL FAMILY WEEKEND, OCTOBER 10-11, WHEN YOU’LL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THIS CARE PACKAGE FOR YOUR STUDENT.
Brewster’s EYBL Scholastic Boys’ National Basketball team delivered an impressive 2024-25 campaign, finishing the EYBL regular season as conference co-champions and ending with an overall record of 9-2. Along the way, they notched a signature win over No. 1-ranked IMG Academy, earning a 55-51 victory at the Spalding Hoophall Classic. Despite a narrow opening loss to Arizona Compass Prep (58-54), Brewster bounced back with a dominant showing against Montverde Academy, winning 59-47.
Brewster then capped off their standout season by earning a spot in the prestigious Chipotle High School National Tournament—its first-ever appearance at the event. The Bobcats powered past CIA Bella Vista in the quarterfinals with a 70-60 win, led by Sebastian Wilkins ’26 and his 22 points and 14 rebounds, and strong support from Ebuka Okorie ’25 and Preston Fowler ’25. In the semifinals, Brewster battled top seed Columbus (Florida) to the wire, tying the game late before falling 47-45 on a buzzer-beater. Junior guard Darien Moore was a key performer in the semifinal, contributing 11 points in the nationally televised matchup. The Bobcats (28-5) finished the year ranked #3 nationally by ESPN. The team’s resilience and poise radiated as they traveled coast-to-coast—spanning Hawaii, Florida, and Las Vegas—amassing memorable wins and national exposure. The new season starts soon, and you are welcome at a game! Just check the Athletics website for the schedule.
In May, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell ’15 was named to the All-NBA First Team for the 2024–25 season—his second career All-NBA honor. A six-time All-Star, Mitchell averaged 24 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last year while finishing fifth in league MVP voting. He also became just the third Cavalier in history with multiple All-NBA selections, joining LeBron James and Mark Price, further cementing his place among the NBA’s elite. Congrats to Donovan, who we still remember as a terrific senior prefect!
Kadary Richmond ’20 has signed a two-way contract with the NBA’s Washington Wizards, launching his professional career and marking a proud moment for the Brewster community. Following Brewster, Richmond starred at Syracuse, Seton Hall, and most recently St. John’s, where he emerged as one of the Big East’s most dynamic players, averaging double figures in scoring while contributing across the stat sheet. His Seton Hall coach, Shaheen Holloway, praised his all-around game, noting his vision, pace, and ability to get to the basket. At Brewster, Richmond helped lead the Bobcats to a 34–3 record and a National Prep Championship in 2020, earning 1st Team All-NEPSAC honors. He now joins fellow Brewster alumni Donovan Mitchell ’15, TJ Warren ’12, Devonte’ Graham ’14, and Will Barton ’10 in the NBA, carrying forward the Brewster’s tradition of basketball excellence.
EMOTIONAL, DEEP CONVERSATIONS WERE PART OF THE WEEK’S LESSONS
Brewster’s Equity Week began on MLK Day with inspiring guests Wanda Battle (above) and Rubye Braye, singers and storytellers from Montgomery, Alabama, who shared moving stories of civil rights and social justice. The duo spent time with the African American Studies class and Student Leaders. Throughout the week, students led evening workshops on topics from Malcolm X to Juneteenth to code switching, culminating in a Civil Discourse Round Table.
The highly anticipated Winter Musical did not disappoint back in February. With great comedic timing, hilarious zingers, a welldesigned set, and peppy musical numbers, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was a hit in the Grayson Performing Arts Center in Anderson Hall. The heartwarming musical comedy follows a quirky group of students competing for the ultimate spelling champion title. Want to smile? Check out the video on our YouTube channel here: brewsteracademy.org/ musical or by scanning the QR code.
The Palmer Cafe Kitchen continues to be resource for curious students and talented faculty cooks. Groups used the space to learn how to make homemade pasta from scratch and bake up batches of cookies. (Mixed results on the latter didn’t seem to matter… even mistakes are scrumptious.) From international students sharing their culture’s dishes with their friends to teachers explaining the science behind baking, the kitchen is a place where the community gathers and shares laughter (just like at home!).
How one young alum is chasing his dreams, and storms, at Cornell BY
SUZANNE MORRISSEY
Wallace and a classmate taking wind measurements during a severe thunderstorm with 60 to 70 mph wind gusts on Cornell’s Libe Slope in March 2025 (and yes, that’s his Brewster jacket protecting him from the gales!) The storm caused significant tree damage across campus.
hen Shawn Wallace ’23 arrived at Brewster for his postgrad year, he brought more than just academic goals and athletic ambition—he brought a deep fascination with the weather. “I started storm spotting this past spring when I knew I wanted to pursue Atmospheric Science in college,” he shared in a campus profile when he was a senior. “I’ve always had an interest in the weather.”
Now a thriving college student, Shawn’s passion for meteorology hasn’t just stuck with him—it’s skyrocketed.
Shawn had a successful first year studying meteorology at SUNY Brockport, where he became the first freshman Meteorology major to serve as lead student meteorologist on the campus radio station (89.1 The Point). In addition, he became the Assistant Director of the Meteorology Department at the station, and led the planning process and broadcast of “Point to the Sky: 89.1 The Point’s Coverage of the Total Eclipse of Brockport.” He recorded more than 175 weather forecasts, including nearly 100 live broadcasts, and led a storm spotter training session for peers. He then transferred to Cornell University to continue
his studies at one of the nation’s top programs for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. “It was a great year at Brockport,” Shawn says, “and it helped set the tone for everything I’m doing now.” At Cornell, he continues to forecast regularly for the University’s chapter of the American Meteorological Society and The Cornell Daily Sun He is currently the Vice President for the Cornell Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and is on the planning board for the inaugural Cornell Weather Conference, overseeing public relations and communications. In addition, he has written several articles for the club’s magazine, Ithacacation. Outside the forecast studio, he’s active in club sports, playing baseball and serving as the vice president of Cornell’s Club Hockey team.
But Shawn’s story isn’t just one of college achievements—it’s rooted in the solid foundation he built at Brewster.
In Wolfeboro, Shawn earned certification as a Skywarn Storm Spotter through multiple National Weather Service offices, logging more than 30 hours of real-time weather observation and reporting. He even organized an NWS training session at Brewster in Spring 2023, introducing 13 fellow students
and several faculty members to the basics of storm spotting.
“Shawn made sure everyone understood why and how a storm develops,” recalled Dr. Jeffrey Link, who attended the session. “His excitement made the whole process a lot of fun.”
In the classroom, Shawn pursued science and math courses closely tied to his future field, including AP Chemistry, Astronomy, and AP Calculus. “Everyone helped and supported me every step of the way at Brewster,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough.” That academic prep—and the perseverance to
“Brewster helped me find the confidence and foundation to pursue what I really love....I’m excited to keep chasing storms— literally and academically.”
—Shawn
Wallace ’23
challenge himself—gave him a solid foundation for his college career. “The academics are really tough at Cornell, but it is going to be so worth it,” he said, adding that he hopes to spend more time researching thunderstorms within his department or working with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.. “I’ve taken a liking to ornithology after meeting my RA at Brockport, Robert Buckert. He got me into it and in
many ways it’s like storm chasing, looking around for something cool to see while exploring the outdoors. Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology is truly a powerhouse for research and conservation, and even predicts bird movement based on the weather. I have been in talks with members of the Birdcast team within the Lab to assist them in making improvements in their migration forecasts, which I think would be a really interesting perspective and experience that I could carry beyond my college years. Close friends I met at Cornell, Ryan Zucker and David Benvent, have been instrumental to me continuing to explore my interest in the subject.”
And the storm chasing? That’s still on his radar. “It was truly an amazing year for severe weather in Ithaca. Between multiple extreme snow squalls, lightning storms, and destructive storms, the chances I see anything more locally (given
my crazy luck on campus), is probably pretty slim. I don’t think I’ll end up traveling out of the Northeast for any major events, but if there is forecast to be one in the New England area I’ll be out chasing. I am really looking forward to working with the new Cornell Storm Chasing Club this upcoming year!”
While a Brewster senior, Shawn shared these thoughts when asked what advice he’d give to fellow students, “My advice to anybody is just to be you, don’t conform to what other people want you to be, don't be afraid to do something unpopular. Strive to achieve what you want to, not what others want you to do.” After two years in college, does he stand by that advice?
“I still feel like
that advice holds true in all aspects, especially in the competitive climate at Cornell. Sometimes you can get bogged down worrying about what other people think or may be achieving, but having that mindset of staying focused while learning and exploring new paths will make you so much more well rounded than if you are worrying about other people,” he says. “If I had three things I could preach to no end, it’s learning how to master time management, good study habits, and finding a balance between work and life. If you can do those three things you’re bound to find success.” Shawn says current Bobcats should apply to their “reach” schools. For him, that was the Ivy League.
“Cornell wasn’t even on my radar and I was planning to play D3 baseball, but once I got the opportunity I couldn’t turn it down. While I had good grades, schools like Cornell want to accept people with a wide range of experiences, not always for the grades!” he advises.
Over the next two years, Shawn plans to deepen his involvement with the program, especially having just started a weather conference and a storm chasing club. “I also plan to start some kind of research and an internship next summer, specifically with an airline, perhaps, or with NOAA,” he says, adding that a masters degree is also on his mind to help open doors for his eventual career. No matter where the forecast takes him, Shawn brings with him the values he strengthened at Brewster: curiosity, dedication, and a drive to make an impact… with his eyes still on the skies.
BY SUZANNE MORRISSEY
AtBrewster Academy, mealtime is more than a routine—it’s a philosophy. Under the leadership of Dining Services Director Dan Corey, Brewster’s kitchen has become a hub for locally sourced, thoughtfully prepared meals designed not just to feed, but to nourish.
Since arriving at Brewster in 2021 after 17 years as Executive Chef at New Hampton School, Corey has shifted the dining program toward a model that blends sustainability, nutrition, and flavor. His approach is simple but impactful: buy fresh, buy close to home, and know exactly what’s going into every dish.
Corey’s journey to the kitchen wasn’t conventional. A Coast Guard veteran, he discovered his passion for food while serving aboard a cutter, where a chance assignment to “mess cooking” turned into an invitation to culinary school in Petaluma, California. There, he learned the fundamentals—from classic French sauces to the art of scratch cooking. Later, restaurant management studies at the Lakes Region Community College deepened his understanding of operations and efficiency.
Those early experiences laid the foundation for Corey’s philosophy: that food should be as close to its natural state as possible, and that sourcing matters. “It’s not just about ‘organic’ anymore,” Corey says. “I care about non-GMO ingredients, small farms, and the distance our food travels. I want it to be as healthy and nutritious as possible without compromising quality.”
During a campus visit, the folks from Branch Hill Farm in Milton Mills, N.H. brought samples like this one along with their message of conservation. Part of the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust, the farm aims to “forever create an oasis of forests, fields, wildlife, recreation, clean water and air,” in the words of its founder.
That philosophy has transformed Brewster’s ingredient list. Milk, eggs, and beef come from Contoocook Creamery in New Hampshire; grass-fed beef is sourced from Robie Farm in Piermont, N.H. and a co-op of family farms in Maine and Vermont; flours are milled in-state or just across the border in Vermont. Coffee comes from Lucas Roasters a few miles away in Wolfeboro. Even the chocolate chips in Estabrook’s baked goods are carefully selected to be free from unnecessary additives like soy lecithin.
The environmental impact is as important as the nutritional value. By choosing local suppliers over large distributors, Corey reduces the carbon footprint of Brewster’s meals.
“If you can lessen the distance food travels, you’re already winning part of the battle,” he says.
This focus on sustainability is possible because Brewster operates its own in-house dining program—a rarity as many schools turn to contract food service companies. That independence allows the kitchen team to build relationships directly with farmers, experiment with menus, and maintain flexibility in sourcing. It also saves on the bottom line. “It is something special and important to have your own dining team and your own chefs, not a food service, because you can do things like what we’re doing,” Corey explains.
“When you work for a food service company, you’re pretty limited. Who you buy from is dictated. You have a can and cannot buy list, because they get kickbacks from the company. Or, you buy 20 cases of chicken nuggets from an international conglomerate.”
“If students aren’t reading labels on their food, then I’m going to be the one doing it for them.”
Making that last statement with a bit of a wince, he admits that it is impossible when you’re feeding hundreds of students and employees to avoid those companies altogether. “My local small farmers can’t produce that much food,” Corey adds, his choice of words (“my farmers”) hinting at the close relationships he has built with the people who grow the food he prefers for Brewster’s plates. “And unfortunately, that’s where we are in big food service right now. But on the positive side, I feel like small farmers are growing instead of declining like they were 10 years ago. And we’ve saved money buying locally.” Corey also works to minimize food waste, using meticulous production records to track portions and repurpose leftovers creatively as a home cook would. Transforming extra milk into cheese sauce, for example. The result: a dining program that rarely throws food away. Another effort to curb environmental impact came straight from a student club recommendation: Meatless Mondays. Last school year, lunch on Mondays was all vegan or vegetarian, drawing attention to the impact of meat production.
—DAN COREY, DIRECTOR OF DINING SERVICES BREWSTER ACADEMY
LEFT: Corey knows not only where the grains and flours his bakers use come from (like Maine Grains in Skowhegan, Maine), he knows where they are milled. When a vendor in Vermont began milling their flours in the Midwest, he switched to avoid the environmental impact of buying grains that had to travel across the country to be packaged. When not baked in-house, some breads come from The Bread Shed in Keene, N.H., When Pigs Fly in York, Maine, or Fantini Bakery in Haverhill, Mass.
Here is a sampling of trusted producers providing Brewster fresh, close-to-home ingredients
CONTOOCOOK CREAMERY
Contoocook, N.H.
Milk, chocolate milk, eggs, and beef from a family-run dairy farm committed to pure ingredients.
TERRA COTTA PASTA AND JOSEPHS PASTA
Dover, N.H. & Haverhill, Mass.
Ravioli and fresh pasta
IPSWICH SHELLFISH
Ipswich, Mass.
Fresh seafood
BLACK RIVER PRODUCE Vermont
A boutique distributor specializing in artisanal cheeses from family farms in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
MCKENZIE FARMS
Milton, N.H.
Seasonal local apples
LOCAL PRODUCE FARMS
New Hampshire & Vermont
Seasonal microgreens, spinach, and vegetables picked at peak flavor.
SPECIALTY VENDORS
Northeastern U.S.
Small-batch products like certified organic cold brew coffee from independent makers.
Free samples are always a hit when Corey invites his suppliers to campus. But along with delicious bites, students receive a quick lesson in sustainable farming practices, and why they are important to our school, our health, and our planet.
The changes haven’t been without adjustment. Students sometimes notice the difference between grass-fed and conventional beef or the taste of a farm-fresh cucumber compared to the grocery store counterpart they may be more accustomed to. But for Corey, that shift in his diners’ palates is part of the education. “If students aren’t reading labels on their food, then I’m going to be the one doing it for them,” he says. “If I can impact even one student to make better choices because of what they see here, then my work and the work of my team are worth it.”
“If you can lessen the distance food travels, you’re already winning part of the battle.”
—DAN COREY, DIRECTOR OF DINING SERVICES
And the philosophy extends beyond sustainability…it’s about care. Corey sees Brewster’s dining hall as an extension of home. He’s expanded access to snacks between meals, ensuring student-athletes and busy teens can refuel throughout the day. “Remember, our students are teenagers, and many are athletes burning thousands of calories a day— they are all growing kids. If you’re going to practice in the morning and then going to practice after school, and you’re playing a game, and in between you’re working out to stay in shape for the season, you’re burning those calories.” Brewster Dining used to have a “no grazing” philosophy, shutting down the servery between scheduled mealtimes, but Corey has changed that culture. Now, cereals, bagels, toast, juices, milk, teas, waters, and fruit are all available so the kids can eat all through the day.
Looking ahead, Corey plans to bring more farmers into the dining hall to meet students, host more cooking demonstrations, and make the servery feel more like a welcoming, comfortable gathering space. He also seeks out new small-scale vendors at food shows, searching past the big distributors for hidden gems, like the cold brew coffee from a family-run company in New York that made the cut for Brewster’s menu this year.
For Corey, a self-described environmentalist, avid fisherman, and “big dog guy” (he and his wife Crystal share their now-empty nest with four quite large dogs), this mission is personal. Whether he’s meeting a farmer at the loading dock or watching a cook taste fresh spinach with delight, he knows the work matters.
“Food has a tremendous environmental impact,” Corey reflects. “Where I have control—over the food I buy and serve—it’s important to make a difference.”
TWO ALUMNI. TWO SPORTS. ONE UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER IN PARIS.
When the Olympic torch lit up the City of Light in 2024, two Brewster graduates were there to represent their countries and their school on the world’s biggest stage. Rower Chris Carlson ’15 powered the U.S. Men’s Eight to a bronze medal, while basketball standout Melvin Ejim ’10 suited up for Team Canada in his first Olympic appearance. Their journeys— from Brewster’s campus to the podium and beyond—are stories of perseverance, grit, and the unshakable belief that anything is possible with the right team behind you.
BY SUZANNE MORRISSEY
A decade ago, Chris Carlson ’15 was an average high school rower pulling oars across Lake Winnipesaukee. In the summer of 2024, he stood atop the Olympic podium with a bronze medal around his neck.
Carlson’s journey from Brewster to the Olympics wasn’t linear. It was, as he told Brewster’s Class of 2025 in the keynote Commencement address, “a story of failing, trying again, and learning to trust that growth isn’t always obvious in the moment.”
Carlson began rowing at Brewster as a lanky 5’10” lacrosse goalie looking to try something new. The rowing program gave him the foundation, but it wasn’t until college that things truly took shape—though not without setbacks. “When I got to Marist, I felt like I was drifting,” he told students. The death of his father the previous year left Carlson grappling with unresolved grief. “I almost quit rowing entirely.”
Encouragement from his stepfather helped him push through that moment. He began training harder, earned an invitation to the U23 national team camp, and eventually transferred to the University of Washington—a program known for its Olympic pedigree. The leap of faith paid off: Carlson won a world championship with the U23 eight and set a world record in the process.
Even so, Olympic dreams don’t come easily. In 2021, Carlson narrowly missed selection for the Tokyo Games. It was a devastating blow, but one he came to view as a blessing. “Learning to row the single [scull] gave me a completely new skill set—and perspective,” he said.
He returned stronger. In 2023, he made the U.S. senior national team, but the eight failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics at the World Championships. That failure forced the team to evolve. “We became more coachable, more trusting, more committed,” Carlson said. “If we’d qualified in 2023, I don’t know that we’d have had the medal potential we did in 2024.”
Two months before the Games, the eight delivered a clutch win at the final Olympic qualifier in Lucerne, Switzerland. Surrounded by Alpine peaks and cow-dotted pastures, Carlson became an Olympian.
“We became more coachable, more trusting, committed.more If we’d qualified in 2023, I don’t know that we’d have had the medal potential we did in 2024.” —Chris Carlson ’15
OLYMPIC ATMOSPHERE
The Olympic experience itself, he said, was unforgettable. Carlson lived in a dorm-style apartment with Team USA athletes, trading pins and watching events together. “It felt like the UN,” he said, “except everyone’s in sweats and way more jacked.”
Within the Olympic Village, energy buzzed. “Every day there’s a medal tally up in the athlete lounge,” he recalled. “People would crowd around TVs to watch different events. It was a very fun, lighthearted, and supportive atmosphere.”
Family, including his mom Kate Patterson, aunts Amy and Jenny, a close college friend, and fellow Washington alumni, cheered him on from the stands. Girlfriend Emily Kallfelz—also an Olympic rower—competed in Paris as well. “It was so special to be able to share that experience with her,” he said. “We trained together, and to go through the Olympic process side-by-side was something
“The chance to play and grow at Brewster gave me the base I needed. Brewster is a place that’s always stuck with me.” —Chris Carlson ’15
I’ll never forget.”
Carlson even took part in Olympic pin trading, a fun tradition among athletes. “I got an Icelandic pin, which was the rarest one I’d been hoping for,” he said. “There’s kind of a quiet competition to collect the coolest ones.”
But the Games weren’t without logistical headaches. A bus breakdown before a key practice left the crew stranded on the side of a French highway for over an hour—just two days before racing. “That was a little stressful,” he admitted. “But you learn to expect things won’t always go perfectly when you’re coordinating thousands of athletes and venues.”
Post-Olympics, Carlson moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Though the adrenaline of the Games has faded, training hasn’t. He’s back in the gym and on the water, preparing for the 2025 World Championships—and already thinking about the 2028 Olympics in L.A.
His life now blends high-performance training with job hunting. “I’m open for work,” he joked, referencing the green LinkedIn status badge. Carlson previously worked in sales for a software startup but was laid off after the Games. He’s now searching for something flexible enough to accommodate training but engaging enough to build a sustainable future. “Something I can do longer than three or four months,” he said. Carlson is open to new industries, though he’s still weighing what direction to pursue. “I want to find a role that lets me stay committed to rowing while still growing in other parts of life,” he said.
Carlson hasn’t forgotten where it all began. He returned to Brewster in May 2025 to deliver the Commencement address, telling graduates about his winding journey and the power of persistence. “There’s a difference between quitting because it’s not right and quitting because it’s hard,” he said. “Minimize regret. Have the courage to fail, and the courage to keep going.”
He reminded students that success isn’t always fast—or flashy. “Sometimes, you’re in the third boat. Sometimes you miss the team. But if you keep showing up and learning, it adds up.”
As a student at Brewster, Carlson rowed and played JV Lacrosse. He appreciated being encouraged to try different activities, noting how important that breadth became later in life. “If I’d specialized too early, I might have burned out,” he said. “The chance to play and grow at Brewster gave me the base I needed.”
He still stays in touch with some of his Brewster teammates and coaches, including rowing coach Nick Docter ’97 and co-captain Scott Bouzane ’15, whom he saw recently in New York. “Those connections still matter to me,” Carlson said. “Brewster is a place that’s always stuck with me.”
Looking ahead, Carlson knows there’s more to come. “The bronze medal was amazing,” he said, “but getting to the Olympics in the first place meant everything.”
He paused, then added: “There’s more speed in me. And more stories to write.”
Speaking at Brewster’s Commencement in May, Carlson described the call he made to his stepdad after a hard loss in a college race. “Scott, I’m not in it anymore. I want to quit the sport.” His stepdad replied, “When I was around your age, I ended up quitting the baseball team. And somehow it’s one of my biggest regrets today. I’ll support you either way, but I want you to really think about how you’ll feel about it later.” After a pause at the Brewster podium, Carlson continued, “To the parents of the Class of 2025 here today: Thank you for answering those kinds of phone calls. You’ve been a lifeline for your students here at Brewster more times than you know.”
BY JODY GARLOCK
Like most kids who grew up shooting hoops on playgrounds, driveways, or anywhere there was an open basketball court, Melvin Ejim ’10 dreamed big. Unlike most of those kids, though, the dreams that took root on courts around the Toronto area became reality for Ejim. Win a championship. Play professionally. Make it to the Olympics. Check, check, and check.
In the Summer of 2024, when Melvin Ejim ’10 stood on a basketball court in Lille, France, while the Canadian national anthem played before his first Olympic game, it was a full-circle moment that capped years of commitment, sacrifice, and sweat. For the past 11 years, Ejim has played professionally overseas, currently in Spain. In the off seasons, he’s been instrumental in helping his home country of Canada—known more for hockey than hoops—build its program. He was among the players who committed to Canada’s National Team in 2022 in the hope of qualifying for its first Olympics in the sport in more than 20 years. In 2023, he was part of the team that won the bronze medal at the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup, securing Canada’s spot in the Paris Olympics.
“You always feel pride putting on the uniform, but at the Olympics it’s a bit different,” Ejim says. “You could really feel the support and pride from Canadians and people messaging and supporting us. It was exhilarating.”
Part of Ejim’s success—be it as a teenager at Brewster or a 34-year-old in the Olympics—is that he has always understood his role. “I can think big picture and think about the whole and having success as a team,” says Ejim, a 6’6” forward who’s known for his athleticism and energy level. “Sometimes that means taking a step back, and sometimes that means taking a step forward.” With Canada’s 12-person Olympic roster stacked with younger NBA players, he knew his role was about vocal leadership more than playing time. Similarly, at Brewster, where he was co-captain of the school’s first National Prep Championship team, he accepted whatever was asked, even when that meant coming off the bench as sixth man. “He never once complained or pouted,” says Coach Jason Smith, who has led the Bobcats program for 25 years. “It was about TEAM and winning. He was one of the best leaders our program has ever had.”
BREWSTER AND BEYOND
When Ejim arrived at Brewster during his junior year, he was thrust into 6 a.m. conditioning and workouts at the Smith Center and practices later in the day, with classes in between—a structure he says helped prepare him for college. Going up against elite players only pushed the ultra-competitive Ejim to further develop his skills.
He was equally devoted to—and impressed by—Brewster’s academics. “Up until that point, I never had a computer, let alone one
“From moving out there on my own and living in the dorm, Brewster challenged me to become more self-sufficient. It was also the first place where I was around people from all over the world. It exposed me to different environments and helped me learn to be adaptable.”” —Melvin Ejim ’10
in every classroom,” he recalls. His mom had stressed the importance of education to the point that he and his siblings could only participate in sports if they first took care of their schoolwork. “Being the oldest, I had to lead by example,” Ejim says. “That meant taking my schooling seriously.” (He did, evidenced by his 3.83 grade point average.)
The combination of smarts and leadership, both on and off the court, earns high praise from his former coach. “Melvin Ejim embodies everything you want in a student-
athlete,” Coach Smith says.
Ejim says his time at Brewster, including winning the championship, changed his trajectory. “We had a team with so many different guys working for a common goal to do something that has never been done before,” Ejim says. “Those experiences stick with you. People started to see me as a winner and see me helping lead a group to success.”
Success followed him to the Midwest and Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where another Brewster standout—Craig
Brackins ’07—was wrapping up his four years. Brackins took him under his wing during his campus visit, which Ejim says helped ease the transition to a Power 5 college program. At Iowa State, Ejim became a fan favorite and a star on a team that won the Big 12 Tournament and made it to the NCAA’s Sweet Sixteen his senior year. He set a Big 12 record by scoring 48 points in a game and was named Big 12 Player of the Year, among his many accolades. He also was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society and earned a bachelor’s degree in history.
Looking back, Ejim sees how Brewster also helped prepare him for living and connecting in a global world. “From moving out there on my own and living in the dorm, Brewster challenged me to become more self-sufficient,” he says. “It was also the first place where I was around people from all over the world. It exposed me to different environments and helped me learn to be adaptable.” Adaptability has been key as far back as his first international experience during college when he spent a summer playing for the Nigerian national team (his mother is Nigerian). During his professional career, he has lived in Spain, Italy, and Russia. “You kind of learn how to build your systems to enable you to function,” Ejim says. “I feel like my family and I would now be able to live anywhere in the world.”
of other relatives, traveled to France to cheer on Team Canada. His sister, Yvonne, was on the Canadian women’s basketball team. At the satellite location in Lille, he saw her daily, and they’d spend their free time playing Crazy Eights and other card games. “Being 11 years older than her, I didn’t think that something like us both being in the Olympics together would happen,” Ejim says. “That was a beautiful, amazing experience to be there with someone I knew and loved.”
After the Canadian men swept their first three games, the team moved to Paris for the quarterfinals.
The 2024 Olympics became a family reunion of sorts for Ejim. His wife, four kids (ages 2 to 9), mom, and a handful
Walking around the Olympic Village in his Lululemon Canadian gear seeing so many world-class athletes in one place remains a special memory. The game, however, was less memorable: France upset Canada, dashing any chance of an Olympic medal. “That one stung,” Ejim says. Still, he and his family made the most of their time in Paris, exploring the city and region (and, Ejim recalls, enjoying an especially tasty crookie, a croissant and cookie mashup).
Ejim likens the overall experience to the Pan Am or the World University games he has played in—but on a grander scale. “The Olympics are like those but on steroids,” he says. “The venues are bigger, the amount of people is bigger, there’s more security. The whole environment is maxed out.”
In 2022, Ejim was inducted into Brewster’s Athletic Hall of Fame for his “exceptional contributions to Brewster Prep Basketball, as a studentathlete, for his leadership, and for his continued noteworthy excellence.” ABOVE: Enjoying Paris during the Olympics!
A year removed from the Olympics, Ejim continues to focus on basketball as he travels between Spain, the U.S., and Canada. He hopes he has a few more years as a player before starting his next chapter. “Part of me wants to learn and be challenged in a new and different way, but I’m still deciding what that
avenue will be,” he says.
Could there be a Coach Ejim in the future? “A lot of people have made that suggestion to me,” Ejim says. “I see great value in being a coach, not just from a basketball standpoint but also being a mentor and guiding people. There’s definitely an allure.”
Whatever his next stint is or wherever it takes him—to another country or to the backyard of his family’s Georgia home shooting baskets with his kids—he credits Brewster for his success. “Brewster will always have an important and dear spot in my heart and in my life,” Ejim says. “I was able to grow there and develop as a person and a player. I’m forever thankful to the coaches, teachers, and staff for believing in me and guiding me.”
Jody Garlock has written and edited profile pieces for numerous alumni and university publications, as well as features for national and regional magazines. She earned a journalism degree from Iowa State University in Ames. She recalls the thunderous “Mel-vin Ej-im” chants when he scored a record-setting 48 points in a game at ISU’s Hilton Coliseum.
BY BETH HAYES
’81
With Arles à la carte, founded by Katie Thornton ’01, Bobcats explored Provence not as tourists— but as locals in training.
and history.
Associate Director of Advancement Beth Hayes (third from left), accompained a group of students on their Interim Studies trip to Arles, France and shared her travel diary for this feature. Beth has something in common with the French city known for its ancient Roman ruins: Arles became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981, the same year Beth graduated from Brewster!
a group of 11 Brewster students and three adults (including me!) traveled from Wolfeboro to southern France for a 12-day immersion experience. Part of the annual Interim Studies period, our adventure took us to the city of Arles, nestled along the Rhône River in Provence, where we had an incredible guide: fellow Bobcat Katie Thornton ’01 and her team at Arles à la carte, language learning company she founded in 2010.
I was lucky enough to join the trip as a chaperone, alongside Mathematics faculty member Adam Moore and our trip’s leader, World Languages Department Chair and Immersive Programs Coordinator Steven Davis. For me, it was something of a homecoming. A member of the Brewster Class of 1981, I’ve worn many Brewster hats over the years—as a student, a parent of alumni (Joe ’16, John ’17, and Tommy ’17), and now as Associate Director of Advancement. My Brewster roots run deep, and this journey offered the chance to see today’s students step into the same global outlook the school once sparked in me. As we walked the cobblestone streets in Arles and enjoyed the golden light that captivated Van Gogh in a program that was part discovery, part intense learning, I served as our travel blogger.
We arrived in Arles on Sunday, March 2, just in time for Carnaval d’Arles. From our restaurant patio at the first “language lunch”—French only!—we watched musicians, dancers, and children in costumes parade through the streets. It was a colorful, joyful welcome to the city that is going to be our classroom. Already feeling grateful for the expertise of Katie’s team and the prep we did back in Wolfeboro.
It’s Monday—the jet lag is wearing off and students are beginning to feel at home. They toured the Arles Antiquity Museum and tried their hand at a citywide scavenger hunt. Students are bonding with their host families. Staying in French homes with parents, siblings, and pets is giving them a taste of ordinary family life and extraordinary language learning. “My host family is the perfect fit, we have similar interests and they are so fun!” Hannah Ruegg ’26 of New Harbor, Maine told me.
POST-TRIP POSTSCRIPT: Others echoed Hannah’s experience when we returned and debriefed on everything we’d experienced. Grace Watson ’26 of Amherst, N.H. described her hosts as “so incredibly welcoming. We had deep discussions about the culture of France and some of the social issues here, which was really enlightening.”
Even small, everyday moments stood out. Bedoor Al Kalbani ’26 recalled, “We had lots of conversations in the kitchen after dinner. They taught me the names of some utensils! I also tried many kinds of cheese, tea, and yogurt.” It’s clear how being immersed in family life with their hosts allowed the students to practice the global competencies Brewster values—curiosity, adaptability, collaboration, and empathy.
Bonjour, it’s Tuesday! The kids are in high spirits and again, how could you not be? The students who needed a little push yesterday are getting over jet lag and coming out of their shells. Classes at Arles à
la carte began today. Students were divided into proficiency groups, focusing on conversational skills and vocabulary they could use immediately. After our third group language lunch, we toured the Théâtre Antique, a 1st-century Roman theatre built during the reign of Caesar Augustus, and the Arles Amphitheatre, a Roman structure. As we rested on the ancient stairs there, we were entertained by the stray cats who call that space home.
It’s Wednesday, and I can see that confidence is building. Our days have been packed full of adventures … amazing sites, sounds, and smells! We’re tasting plenty of fresh croissants, baguettes, seafood, and French cheese. Before our fourth group language lunch, we walked to the marchés (a local outdoor market) to have students practice faire la course with real money. They were divided into teams and assigned a list of foods: vegetables, meats, spices, and fruits that they had to find among the many vendors, ask for a specific amount and price of the items, and pay with the Euro they were given. It was a lot of fun watching and listening to them unpack their goods. After the market, we visited the Fondation Vincent van Gogh, a local non-profit foundation and contemporary art museum. The featured artist was German painter Sigmar Polke. In the afternoon the students returned to Arles à la carte and were met by a group of students from a local Arlesian high school that Katie arranged for ice breaker and languagebased games. All we could hear was a lot of laughter when we left the school.
We had another wonderful day Thursday when we visited Lycée Pasquet, a local high school. French students practiced their English while Brewster students tried their French. Our tour guides were particularly proud of their English skills and a few of our students delivered short presentations en français to applause.
“At Brewster, I always felt supported to take risks. Teachers and coaches knew us so well. That individual attention gave me confidence, which I now try to instill in my students. ”
—Katie Thornton ’01, Founder of Arles à la carte
Today was “lunch on your own,” which thrilled the kids! Arles is loaded with cafes, bistros, and boulangeries. Those lunches built connections among the group. Paytyn said she had a great lunch one day because they all put away their phones and played games while waiting for their food! Following the meal and French classes, we visited LUMA, a local contemporary art museum.
TOP: No visit to France is complete without sampling croissants, macaron, and other famous pastries. Just ask Grace Watson ’26 and Paytyn Burke ’27. LEFT: The Brewster group ended their trip in Paris, enjoying a performance of The Lion King at Théâtre Mogador
The seeds for Katie’s abundant life in France were planted in Wolfeboro.
Brewster alumna Katie Thornton ’01 has built a life and career in Arles, France, where she runs Arles à la carte, a program that blends language learning with real-world cultural immersion. A Brewster lifer and class valedictorian, Katie went on to Cornell University, earned a master’s degree at the University of Paris 8, and became a French citizen. In 2010, she founded Arles à la carte, inspired by her mentor and former IES Abroad director, Marie-Anne Devaux. Beyond her work as an educator and program director, Katie is also a singer, olive oil maker (from trees in her own backyard!), and
parent to a ten-year-old son with her partner, Nasser.
Q: What inspired you to create Arles à la carte?
A: After working with IES Abroad in both Paris and Arles, I noticed a growing need for more individualized language training. In France, education is excellent but highly standardized—everyone follows the same program. Arles à la carte was my way of offering something more personalized, much like my experience at Brewster, where every student could find a way to succeed.
Q: What’s a special moment you’ve had with students in your program?
A: There have been so many. One example: The Brewster students here in March briefly met Frédéric Imbert, one of the Deputy Mayors of Arles and Head of Schools, as he was coming to an English development session at Arles à la carte. The next day the students ran into him outside the Town Hall, and he spontaneously invited them inside for a tour. That’s very typical of Arles—students are constantly meeting people, practicing their French, and having organic cultural experiences.
Q: How do you see Brewster’s influence in your work today?
A: At Brewster, I always felt supported to take risks. Teachers and coaches knew us so well. That individual attention gave me confidence, which I now try to instill in my students. France’s education system doesn’t always allow for that same personalization, so Arles à la carte creates space for it.
Q: Who at Brewster influenced you the most?
A: My French teacher, Peter Mann, had a huge impact. He deepened my love of French and inspired me to keep going with it. The trips we took to Montreal and Quebec were incredibly formative. He set the tone for everything that came later.
Q: What were some of your favorite Brewster experiences?
A: Sports played a big role—I was a field hockey player, alpine skier, and rower. Rowing especially stands out. I almost quit senior year, but Dean Marilyn Shea encouraged me to stick with it. That lesson about perseverance has stayed with me. I also loved the Thailand trip with Mr. Adam Man—so much independence, new foods, and adventure. And of course, singing in the HOWL chorus— music has always been a constant in my life.
Q: What do you enjoy most about running your program?
A: The variety. We work with everyone—from children to adults, locals to internationals, sometimes jet-lagged! We adapt our approach to each person’s goals. It’s never dull, and I love helping students gain confidence. We also take on interns, which I find really rewarding.
LEARN MORE: Feeling like your French needs a brush up? How about practicing both in and outside of the classroom, in restaurants, markets and monuments, accompanied by a French teacher? Discover Katie’s program at arlesalacarte.com.
The Bobcat contingent enjoyed LUMA Arles, an arts center that encompasses several renovated former railroad factories and features the LUMA Tower, a 16,000 square foot tower building designed by architect
Today, we had an early morning walk down the Rhône River to board a train to Avignon, where we visited the Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace). Located in the city center, the palace is surrounded by medieval stone ramparts. Logan Cliche (a senior from Alton, N.H.) and I loved the history: From 1309 to 1377, Avignon was the seat of the Catholic popes and a seat of Western Christianity during the 14th century. Our group enjoyed a picnic lunch of baguette sandwiches and butter cookies in the courtyard of this spectacular medieval structure. A few students even danced on the cobblestones to the melodies of a local musician! Later, we visited a trade school to sample pastries from apprentice bakers and bond with local French students.
The students are going to be with their host families for the upcoming weekend. We will rendezvous with them on Monday morning. They’re very excited for their weekend adventures and also looking forward to getting some rest!
While the kids were with their host families this weekend, the adults visited the large Saturday market with hundreds of vendors.
“My French definitely improved, but more than that, I came home with new perspectives that will stay with me.”—Grace Watson ’26
In the evening we walked across the Rhône and paused to enjoy the famous Arles light that attracted van Gogh. We were invited to the home of one of our host families for light refreshments and wonderful conversation.
On Sunday morning, Katie and her husband Nasser, along with their son, picked us up for an excursion to the Camargue. This is a coastal region between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhône River delta. The Camargue is famous for its wild terrain, pink flamingos, bulls, and white horses. We had a delicious threecourse seafood lunch at a restaurant where the catch of the day is the only menu item.
It’s Monday, March 10, and a bus carried us to the medieval hilltop town of Les Bauxde-Provence. At the Carrieres de Lumieres, a former quarry turned multimedia art show, Monet’s works were projected onto towering stone walls. It was breathtaking. Students left buzzing with selfies. We enjoyed group language lunch in the picturesque village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, known as the birthplace of Nostradamus. Along the way we heard about the kids’ weekends. Jack O’Neill ’25 of Sanbornville, N.H. shared, “We talked a lot, played card games, and went to the beach. Going to the market and walking on the beach with my family was a blast.”
After a farewell gathering in Arles, filled with treats and teary goodbyes, we again boarded the bus waiting to take us to the Avignon TGV (high speed train) station for a three-and-ahalf hour ride through the
heart of France to Paris. After navigating multiple metro lines and dropping our bags at the hotel, we set out for the Eiffel Tower followed by an outside visit to the jewel of Paris, the Cathedrale de Notre Dame. After dinner at a creperie we all returned exhausted and happy to the hotel.
Today was our most ambitious day, and it was a whirlwind: Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, and an evening performance of Le Roi Lion (The Lion King). Everyone seemed pleasantly surprised by how much we were able to see in such a short time. But the kids also wished for just a bit more free time— mostly for shopping.
We made the trek back home, and I’ve had time to reflect on everything this trip meant to me and the group. Across the board, every student noted that their French improved, but their biggest takeaways went beyond language. They gained independence, adaptability, and confidence—competencies that come only from stepping into a new world and finding their place in it.
For me, watching these students grow in real time was the most rewarding part of the trip. As a Brewster alumna and parent, I know how deeply this community shapes lives. Seeing it extend into Provence, into Paris, into the daily lives of our host families—it reminded me that Brewster is not just a place on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. It’s a mindset, one that equips students to step into the world with curiosity, courage, and care.
In the end, that is the heart of Brewster’s immersive programs: not just seeing the world, but learning how to live in it.
BREWSTER STUDENTS EXPLORE THE BIRTHPLACE—AND THE BIRTH— OF AMERICA’S CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
BY NEIL POND
Every February at the end of the winter trimester, Brewster students are excited to break out of their classrooms. The Academy’s popular Interim Studies program provides options, both on campus and away, for them to put aside their textbooks and explore a wide variety of nearly 40 enhanced learning experiences, from ice climbing in Montana to sailing in the Florida Keys, crafting pottery or making movies, learning how to master Mandarin and Mahjong, woodworking or writing songs.
Since 2019, small groups of about a dozen students have been choosing an Interim Studies trip that plunges them deep into a turbulent chapter of American history. “Brewster Goes to Birmingham 1963: A Civil Rights Journey” is a timetraveling excursion to the pivotal moment—and the places— when the walls of indoctrinated racism began to crumble some 60 years ago.
The students already know something about the Civil Rights upheavals of the 1960s, but the Birmingham trip really opens their eyes. “I knew about the Civil Rights struggle,” says Miller Lowry ’27 from Charlotte, N.C. “I mean, being from the South, they talk about Civil Rights. I knew a lot about it, but I’d never actually seen it. I wanted to take what I knew and actually go see it, and learn it.”
By the 1960s, the city in north central Alabama was widely known for its extreme segregation, a place where Jim Crow laws enforced the separation of Blacks from whites in almost every way—in stores, schools, polling places, churches, swimming pools and restaurants, on buses and elevators. But the city had also become the locus of a zealous counter movement for equal rights, with nonviolent protests and acts of passive resistance including sit-ins, marches, and boycotts. And that peaceful opposition was met with ferocious backlash from the police and the Ku Klux Klan.
“... being from the South, they talk about Civil Rights. I knew a lot about it, but I'd never actually seen it. I wanted to take what I knew and actually go see it, and learn it.”
—MILLER LOWRY ’27
OPPOSITE and 1 : Eleven Brewster students embarked on a weeklong journey through Alabama to learn about American’s Civil Rights Movement—and meet with the people who lived it and are still pursuing equality today. One important stop was the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, which stands as both a sacred place of worship and a living monument to the Civil Rights Movement. Built in 1911, the red-brick structure became a central meeting place for activists, students, and leaders—including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—who organized marches and rallies that helped shift the course of American history. Today, visitors are welcomed into this National Historic Landmark to explore exhibits and guided tours that illuminate the church’s role as a hub of courage and community resilience. Inside, our travelers admired the beautifully restored sanctuary, the historic stained-glass
windows and galleries that honor the lives of young people whose bravery inspired a nation. Multimedia displays and personal stories highlight how the church served not only as a spiritual center but also as a strategic command post in the fight for equality.
2: A plaque at the church marked the exact moment when, on September 15, 1963, the 16th Street Baptist Church was the target of a racially motivated bombing carried out by members of the Ku Klux Klan. The attack killed four young girls—Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley—as they prepared for Sunday service, and injured many others. The tragedy shocked the nation, drawing international attention to the violent resistance facing the Civil Rights Movement.
“In 1963 in Birmingham, the volatility rang out across the world,” says Alicia Wingard, the Brewster faculty member who created the first “Brewster to Birmingham” tour in 2019 and has led them ever since. “We learn the stories behind the stories of the Civil Rights activists, and about the people behind the scenes who made it all happen.”
Birmingham’s struggles drew national attention in 1963 through television news coverage of the escalating violence, leading to federal intervention and 1964’s landmark Civil Rights Act to officially outlaw segregation based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Brewster students also learn on their trips that, although the nation was forever altered by what happened in
Alabama, the raw racism at its core continues to show its hateful roots today.
As part of their week in the South, students walk in the footsteps of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, the Atlanta-born firebrand who became the very emblem of Civil Rights. They visit the Edmund Pettus Bridge in nearby Selma, the starting point as Dr. King led a group of some 600 protesters into Birmingham in 1963; the trek was later known as “Bloody Sunday” because policemen, state troopers, and national guardsmen used clubs, whips, and tear gas to subdue demonstrators. They go to the 16th Street Baptist Church, which was bombed with dynamite that same year by the Klan, killing four young girls.
“It’s not like we’re just studying history. We’re talking with people who lived it.” —WILL BROCHU ’26
They talk to people who lived as children and teens through the intense tensions and turbulence. They see the streets where policemen attacked Black citizens with guard dogs and fire hoses. They learn about the South’s long propagation of slavery, racial subjugation, and the disenfranchisement of Blacks, visit museums and other sites chronicling the city’s tempestuous past, and meet with people who’ve dedicated their lives
to preserving the history, the Civil Rights victories—and the lessons—of Birmingham 1963.
“It’s not like we’re just studying history,” says Will Brochu ’25 from Concord, N.H., who participated on the trip in 2024. “We’re talking with people who lived it.”
And they always discover other, more tangential connections as well. Like when Aya Brown, a senior from the United Kingdom also on the 2024 tour, chatted with a young man in a restaurant who mentioned his grandmother had participated in the 1960s marches. “You meet people who are living and breathing their story,” she says. “They carry it with them, as brutal and traumatic as it was.”
1, 3, and 4: One of the most solemn stops during the Brewster Goes to Birmingham 1963: A Civil Rights Journey trip is The Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. Built on the site of a former cotton warehouse where enslaved people once labored, the museum offers an unforgettable journey through America’s history of racial injustice. Through exhibits, art, and first-person accounts, it reveals how a false narrative of racial difference was created to justify slavery. That myth outlived slavery’s abolition, fueling terror lynchings and legally codified segregation. The museum includes the first comprehensive memorial dedicated to the more than 4,400 Black people killed in terror lynchings between 1877 and 1950. Their names are engraved on more than 800 corten steel monuments—one for each county where a lynching took place. Our students left moved, challenged, and inspired to reflect on this part of American history.
2: Students including Miller Lowry ’27, shown here speaking to his peers, spent time researching presentations to share while on the trip. Topics included the Henrietta Lacks story, Rosa Parks, the Children’s March, and the Tuskegee Airmen.
5: Longtime Brewster teacher Alicia Wingard surrounded by fellow travelers and learners (clockwise from left), Moasiah Bility ’25 of Monrovia, Liberia; Dean of Equity and Belonging and Team Leader Chris Brown; Aya Brown ’25 (no relation) of London; Will Brochu ’26 of Concord, N.H.; and Miller Lowry ’27 of Charlotte, N.C. Wingard received this framed Birmingham postcard art from friends Robin and Steve Webster P’08, ’11 (Brewster Trustee) and it serves as a solid reminder of the growth students have experienced on this trip through the years. Wingard created the itinerary several years ago based partly on her own childhood in Birmingham, but is quick to share that working with Dr. Martha Bouyer, the Executive Director of the Historic Bethel Baptist Church Community Restoration Fund in Birmingham and principal at Out of the Box Tour and Travel Services, was critical in making the personal connections that the students found life-changing. “Martha is a gifted teacher and guide who often works with other educators,” Wingard explained, “and I cannot say enough about the care and depth of knowledge she brings to this trip for us every year.” Editor’s Note: If you’d like to have a travel and tour experience like our group, visit Dr. Bouyer’s website outoftheboxtravelservices.com.
“Going there and seeing the places and speaking to the people who saw those things and went through them—it blows your mind.”
— MOASIAH BILITY ’25
The brutality and the trauma are impossible to miss, especially in exhibitions meant to remind visitors of exactly that.
Chris Brown, Brewster’s Dean of Equity and Belonging, went this year as a chaperone and recalls the group’s visit to the Legacy Museum in nearby Montgomery, Alabama, which depicts the shameful scourge of slavery.
“I had just had a daughter, who had turned one,” he says. “And there was this section showing a Black man getting his daughter ripped away from him. Just the thought of that—of someone trying to take my child— I’m getting emotional talking about it even now. It was the closest thing to feeling what those people went through, without going through it.”
Students saw the Tuskegee Airmen Historic Site, a national park in Birmingham dedicated to the lauded all-Black WWII regimen of fighter pilots. They met with Joanne Bland, who marched with Dr. King on Bloody Sunday when she was 11 and went on to establish the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama. Barbara Shores, whose father was a fiercely committed Civil Rights attorney, told them about how her family’s home was bombed by the Klan. They heard from Rev. Dr. Carolyn McKinstry, who witnessed the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing as a girl and now spreads messages of racial reconciliation through her 16th Street Foundation.
And there were uplifting times, too, as when the group spent time with Wanda Battle, a Montgomery native with childhood memories of her parents participating in boycotts and hosting Civil Rights activists in their home—and singing on their front porch. Now a tour guide, local historian, and preservationist, she led them in a rousing exploration of Black spirituals. “She told us about the power of song, how it helped people through their struggles,” says Miller. “We were all singing and dancing to ‘This Little Light of Mine’ and ‘We Shall Overcome’.”
“Going there and seeing the places and speaking to the people who saw those things
The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, is the site of the beatings of Civil Rights marchers during the first march for voting rights. The televised attacks were seen across the nation and the world, prompting public support for the activists in Selma and their voting rights campaign. The day became known as “Bloody Sunday,” and in 2015 President Barack Obama marched across the bridge to remember the day’s 50th anniversary.
“They are awakened to injustice and inspired to do something about it, even if it’s in a small way.”
—ALICIA WINGARD
and went through them—it blows your mind,” says Moasiah Bility ’25 from Liberia in West Africa on the 2025 trip. Using personal histories to transport the group back to the ’60s movement “was breathtaking,” echoes Callie Pilkington ’26 from Lynnfield, Mass., who also went this year. “It definitely made me think.”
Thinking is something the Birmingham experience is designed to jump-start, encouraging the students to ponder and process what they’ve seen and heard, who they’ve met, what they’ve done—and what they might do differently when the Interim Studies period is over. “Think about what your gifts are. What is your story? How will you contribute?” asks Wingard, a Birmingham native herself whose Methodist minister father was active in the Movement. “They are awakened to injustice and inspired
to do something, even if it’s in a small way.”
Many of the returning students feel empowered and energized after the trip, she says, coming back home with new resolve to push for what is right and affect change, unity, and coexistence. Moasiah says the experience “helped me grow in my empathy and how I look at the world by knowing what is wrong and taking action.” (Moasiah subsequently earned Brewster’s Melissa Roja Lawlor Social Justice Award, presented annually to the student who does the most for the school in terms of building acceptance, awareness, and inclusion, at the spring Ivy Address.)
Callie now heads Brewster’s Neurodiversity Club. Will and Aya, who didn’t know each other before their 2024 experience together, co-launched a campus civics group to address social inequities in the school, in their communities and beyond. “I wanted to do
something,” Brown says. “There’s not slavery like we saw in the museums, but there’s still injustice in America.”
Wingard adds that after the 2024 trip, Will was accepted into the prestigious United States Senate Youth Program in Washington D.C. “That’s a big deal!” she says. In D.C., the recently elected Senior Prefect for 2025-26 talked up his Interim experience whenever he met anyone, including dinner with senators, cabinet secretaries—and even ate lunch with the vice president.
1: Students bonded over the intense, often violent and sad, information they were learning along their Civil Rights trek. But of course there were light-hearted moments when they enjoyed posing for photos and having meals together.
2: One of those moments was an afternoon with Wanda Battle, a Montgomery native, tour guide, local historian, and preservationist. She led the Bobcats in a rousing exploration of Black spirituals. “She told us about the power of song, how it helped people through their struggles,” said Miller Lowry. “We were all singing and dancing to ‘This Little Light of Mine’ and ‘We Shall Overcome’.”
Will says he loved spreading the word about his Birmingham trip, and how it was in perfect alignment with the core principles of Brewster. “As a Brewster student, there’s no better representation of what we’re all about,” he says. “It fits with the theme, to widen our horizons and open our minds up to so much more. It’s powerful. It’s something that stays with you. You carry it with you in life.”
And Wingard wants all her students to carry the knowledge that history can be a living, breathing thing, one connecting then to now, Birmingham to Brewster. “They can say, ‘I met somebody who marched across the bridge in Selma.’ Now those aren’t just words in a history book,” she says. “We
bring back to Brewster what we’ve learned from the past and apply it to the present.”
Scan the QR code to learn more about Brewster’s unique Interim Studies program, including the Birmingham trip.
Brewster students on the Civil Rights Interim Studies experience bring back lifelong memories about what they’ve seen and heard, and about the activists who continue to keep Birmingham and Montgomery’s vibrant history alive.
But they often bring back other things, too.
Miller Lowry ’27 (above) came home with a pebble after hearing Joanne Bland—who became active in the Civil Rights movement as a preteen—tell the group about how she’d pick up stones from a playground, clench them in her little fists and scream to the heavens about the injustices all around her. “She’d shout like there’s no tomorrow,” says Will, whose pebble, he says, reminds him of the “persistence and grit” it took to overcome those hardships.
Fight like Malcolm, Think like Garvey, Write like Maya, Build like Madam C.J., Speak like Frederick, Educate like W.E.B., Believe like Thurgood, and Challenge like Rosa’,” she says. “It shows all of the incredible people during the Civil Rights era and even slavery who bought their own techniques and styles to making a better life for African Americans, yet they all shared the same goal of justice and basic human rights.”
Award-winning entertainment journalist and movie critic Neil Pond was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the first large Southern cities to desegregate public facilities, and home to the National Museum of African American Music. When not writing reviews as “The Media Tourist” at neilsentertainmentpicks.com, he plays drums in a 1980s tribute band.
From the 2024 trip, Aya Brown ’25 returned with a T-shirt and an inspiring message from the South’s past. “It says, ‘Dream like Martin, Lead like Harriet,
And Callie Pilkington ’26 wanted something that would easily fit in her luggage, but also let her give something back to the cause of keeping Civil Rights history alive. “In each place, each museum, at least when they had a gift shop, I would try to get a magnet,” she says, “because I felt like it was contributing.” And she uses the mini magnets as memory jogs in telling her family and friends about all she witnessed and experienced in Birmingham.
SHARING MILESTONE UPDATES, IMPORTANT NEWS, AND FAMILIAR SMILES (AND A WHOLE LOT MORE!)
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE BEING ON CAMPUS TO RELIVE MEMORIES, CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS, AND SEE WHAT’S NEW. (SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR: MAY 29-31, 2026.)
There was something special in the air when more than 100 Bobcats came home to Brewster for Reunion 2025 the last weekend in May. Perhaps it was the verve of being together again, sharing stories, and enjoying activities (pickleball in the Smith or a cruise around the lake on The
Winnipesaukee Spirit, anyone?). Thank you to the alums who made the trip to Wolfeboro, bringing family and friends to share the experience—including two Bobcats celebrating their 70th Reunion, Kathy (Gregory) Barnard ’55 and Priscilla (Pollini) Buzzell ’55 (below, left)!
Alumni and other members of the Brewster family receive an exclusive discount when renting campus facilities for their special events. So if you’re planning a wedding, family celebration, work retreat, club breakfast, or other gathering, contact the Summer Programs Office at summer@ brewsteracademy.org to inquire about renting space on campus. The Pinckney Boathouse, Palazzo Field, and spaces throughout the Grayson Student Center at the Rogers are available during the summer months and school breaks.
PARAMEDIC SUPERVISOR HAS LOGGED MORE THAN FOUR DECADES SAVING LIVES
In November, the American Ambulance Association recognized extraordinary EMS professionals during its annual Stars of Life celebration. Jon Hibbard ’83 was among the 143 individuals from across the United States honored for his exceptional contributions to the EMS field and his unwavering dedication to his community. The Stars of Life program pays tribute to the dedication of hometown heroes while shining light on the critical role EMS plays in the healthcare safety net. The chosen Stars, accompanied by their families and executive hosts, gathered in Washington, D.C. to receive their medallions and awards, enjoy the city, and meet with members of Congress and aides to discuss policy issues critical to emergency medical services. “I had the honor to meet Senator Maggie Hassan and staff members for Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Chris Pappas to discuss the issues facing EMS in New Hampshire and throughout the nation,” Hibbard shared.
“I owe much of my success to Brewster and the values that it has taught me. Thank you Brewster for all you have done for me.” —Jon Hibbard ’83
Hibbard is a Paramedic Supervisor for Action Ambulance Service, Inc. in Wilmington, Massachusetts, and has an impressive 45 years of experience in the EMS industry. During his time with Action Ambulance, he has taken on pivotal roles including Field Operations Supervisor, Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator, Clinical Manager, PIF Coordinator, and Critical Care Paramedic. His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in improving both patient care and operational efficiency. In addition to his work at Action Ambulance, Hibbard has served as the EMS Officer for the Bradley International Airport Fire Department, the Warehouse Point Fire Department, and has worked nearly 30 years as a Paramedic for the PGA Travelers Championship Golf Tournament, further highlighting his dedication to emergency services. When Hibbard isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his wife Ashley and their family.
“What an honor and privilege to be nationally recognized by the American Ambulance Association in receiving the Stars of Life award,” Hibbard said, adding “I owe much of my success to Brewster Academy and the values that it has taught me. Thank you Brewster for all you have done for me.”
Are you an alum planning to be in the Lakes Region this fall or winter? Make a stop on campus to see what’s new, take some photos, and visit your favorite spots. We’re happy to arrange a tour of campus for you and your family, too! Just contact Danielle Krause, Alumni Relations Officer, at dkrause@ brewsteracademy.org if you’d like to visit your old stomping grounds—you’re welcome anytime.
As the new fiscal year began in July, Brewster’s Advancement Team shared incredible news: For the tenth year in a row, the generosity of alumni, families, employees, and friends meant Brewster reached its FY25 Fund for Brewster goal of $1.1M! Total giving to Brewster by all donors equaled $5.6M, one of the highest totals in school history. “Not only did the Brewster community support our annual fund,” Director of Advancement John Northrop said, “but they also supported current use and endowed scholarships, our new Academic Courtyard capital project, faculty residence repairs and upgrades, and our Brown Field turf replacement project.” Thank you to every donor for your help in delivering Brewster’s mission to prepare diverse thinkers for lives of purpose.
SUZANNE MORRISSEY
“Istill get teary eyed about it.”
So said Mike Murgo ’62 when we spoke about his receiving a United States Congressional Patriot Award last summer. A physical education teacher for the Pittsfield (Massachusetts) Public School System for more than 35 years—17 of those also coaching football—the Bristol, Rhode Island native helped guide countless students in his career. But only one is now a U.S. Representative: Pat Fallon, who represents Texas in the House, reached out to his former coach with some big news.
“I was watching some sports program on TV,” Murgo recalls, “and I answer the phone and hear ‘Coach Murgo?’ I look at my wife, and mouthed the words ‘Holy mackerel, who can this be?’ Then he said, ‘This is Patrick and I’ve got something special for you.’ And he said he nominated me for the Congressional Patriot Award!”
Humbled and surprised, the veteran teacher and coach was at a loss for words.
“This man who I haven’t seen since he was 18 in high school all of a sudden calls me up,” Murgo said. “And when I realized what was happening, I thought, I just hope I have a new jacket and a shirt and tie!”
Congressional Patriot Awards recognize Americans who give of their time and talent to make their communities a better place for all through their excellence, leadership, volunteerism, and selflessness. Honorees are selected by a sitting member of Congress, and less than 1/100th of 1% of all Americans have been honored with this prestigious award.
In August 2024, the Congressman flew Murgo and his wife Bonnie to D.C. for the ceremony on Capitol Hill, followed by a relaxed dinner with other honorees. Granddaughter Bella accompanied them as volunteer tech support. “Thank God, she knows everything about the telephone and getting around and checking in on this and that,” Murgo noted. “It was a wonderful experience,” he says, still glowing from the
surprise honor. Emotions overtook the longtime educator when he said “how awfully proud” his mother, the first woman to get her masters from Bryant University, and his father, a wire factory worker, would have been. “As well as my two brothers who were both teachers.”
At Brewster for one year to “help get my college boards up,” Murgo was part of the 1961 football team. “Out of that group we had one helluva team,” he recounted. “Five college captains, three of whom played pro: for the Cleveland Browns, the Patriots, and the Vikings.” He said the other boys who were there as prep students were scrappy, tough kids who struggled a bit socially, but really enjoyed Brewster’s dining services. “We ate great, no question about that!” Murgo was inducted into Brewster’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
He’s returned several times to campus, most recently enjoying a long chat on a lake cruise with then-new Head of School Kristy Kerin. “Mike Murgo is a gem,” Kerin said. “He loves Brewster and he is such a kind, openhearted man.”
That is apparently what Fallon remembers of his one-time coach and mentor, too. “I tried to share a message of hope with my students,” Murgo, who played football at the University of Rhode Island before his teaching career, said. “And be steadfast—don’t give up when things look against you. Be truthful and honest with yourself and your teammates. All those words are just words unless you practice them, and apparently Pat Fallon thought I did. It’s just incredible.”
With time to reflect on last year’s award whirlwind, Murgo he says his experience as a Patriot Award honoree sends an important message: “You never know when a teacher or any person who works with children will have
Each spring, Brewster’s Advancement Team hosts a Future Alumni Dinner to welcome the graduating class to the Alumni Family. This year, 104 Class of 2025 graduates became the newest members of that family. After a few words from Director of Advancement John Northrop reminding the soon-to-be alums of the impressive group they are joining, the students donned lobster bibs over
their formal finery and feasted on seafood provided by Alexis Pappas ’81, owner of Ipswich Shellfish company, alongside dishes created by the Dining Services Team. The event has become a beloved tradition that reminds the class that staying connected to the special place and caring people of their formative high school years is very rewarding.
Thanks to those who sent in a newsy note, happy message, or fun photo for this issue’s Class Notes. You can see the section is a bit light in this issue. How can we encourage more Class Notes for next time? How about a Brewster t-shirt of your choosing for the first FIVE Class Notes we receive for the next issue? If you’ve changed jobs, taken a grand trip, met up with friends from your Brewster days, added a wee one (furry or human) to your clan, stepped into a well-deserved retirement, or just have a nice memory to share, we’d love to hear about it! Send those notes to alumni@brewsteracademy.org and be sure to include a high-resolution photo if you can. Thanks!
Pancracio Palting sent in a great photo and message: “Here I am with my daughter Catalina Claussen, enjoying a fresh morning in Tucson, Arizona. I am retired from my career as a teacher and a professor of theoretical chemistry.” Panny, as many will remember him, says he would love to connect with other classmates, adding, “You can contact me through my daughter at catalinaclaussen@gmail.com.”
Peter Lally was inducted into the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Peter coached in high school for 46 years and is the winningest girls’ soccer coach in the history of girls’ soccer in the state of New Hampshire with a record of 453 wins. Huge congrats to Peter!
Elizabeth (Palmer) Traverso sent in this message: “Greetings. My catering business is going great. My food blog is taking off with lots of recipes, cooking
tips, and food/wine education. I surprised my daughter and we went to Vancouver to see the final Eras Tour, which was out of this world. My son will be a senior in high school next year and has his sights set on Syracuse University. I see Dan McCoy ’93 in the summers when we are at our ranch in Wyoming. Hoping to see a few Brewster friends who are coming to stay with us. If you find yourself in Northern California or Moose, Wyoming, do stop in for a glass of wine. Looking forward to the next reunion. Best to all!” Editor’s Note: Elizabeth’s wish for visitors came true, as she recently shared this update: “My classmate Erik Jones came to visit and we had so much fun!” The two hiked the BridgerTeton National Forest and enjoyed some rafting.
family
Alicia Childers announced lots of happy news: “Matt Butcher and I got married this past summer and continued to grow our family—our eldest, Lamar, works for Apple in Portland, Maine. Our middle, Cole, graduated from Brewster in May, and our youngest, Luca, is two years old.” Matt is the Dean of Academics and Summer Programs at Brewster. Alicia has worked at Brewster in the art department, and mentioned she hopes all BA artists “come back to see our new studio space and share what they have been working on! Love to all!”
Hannah (Tameling) Taylor married Paul Taylor in March 2023, and the couple now lives in Red Wing, Minnesota with their “fur babies,” Copper, Havarti, and Iris. Hannah is currently employed as a Direct to Consumer Specialist by Red Wing Shoes, which are handmade boots made in their new hometown. Hannah also paints by commission on the side, and has become an avid baker. She and Paul enjoy making homemade meals every night and going to Minnesota Wild hockey games, skiing together, and hiking in the beautiful bluffs of Red Wing. Congrats to the happy couple!
Proud bridesmaid Emily Connors shared this happy news: “Abby Allen married her husband, Kyle Riddick, this past August at Wychmere Beach Club on Cape Cod with fellow Class of ’14 alumni, me, as a bridesmaid. Congratulations Abby and Kyle, and go Bobcats!” Congratulations to the newlyweds.
Nora O’Keefe reports: “A Brewster Academy reunion was held in September 2024 on the island of Bermuda with alumni including Richie O’Keefe ’83, Ray Lambert ’84, myself, and Maeve O’Keefe ’22. My family visited Bermuda for a vacation but more importantly my dad, Richie, got to see his long time good friend Ray. Richie and Ray had not seen each other in 27 years, since the last time Richie visited Ray in Bermuda! Richie was a PG on the basketball team and Ray attended Brewster for two years and was on the soccer and sailing teams. Even though so much time had passed since they saw each other, their friendship was still just as strong, like they were back at Brewster. It shows the great relationships that we create from attending Brewster! The four of us compared how different the Brewster experience was for me and my sister to my dad and Ray’s experience in the ’80s. We spent our trip sharing Brewster stories with lots of laughs!” Editor’s Note: Ray lives in Bermuda captains The
Contact Ray through his website: mlcruisesbermuda.com and follow on Insta @mlcruisesbermuda if you’re craving a vaca!
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Our Class Notes section email is alumni@brewsteracademy.org.
Parents, if you would like your Brewster student’s grandparents to receive Brewster Magazine, please let us know. We’d be happy to add them to the mailing list (and of course, there is no charge…the magazine is our gift to you!). Just head to the Parent Portal, click on “My Household” and change the grandparent contact information. (Look for the “Grandparent Households” link at the bottom of the page.)
WITH SADNESS WE SHARE THE NAMES OF THOSE IN OUR GREATER BREWSTER COMMUNITY WHO HAVE PASSED SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE. WE REMEMBER THEM WITH GRATITUDE THAT BREWSTER WAS A PART OF THEIR LIVES.
Frederick Howard Stephens, Jr. passed away at age 93 on May 3, 2025. Born in Waban, Massachusetts, Mr. Stephens was a devoted 1953 alumnus of Dartmouth College, and graduated from Harvard Business School in 1955. He then proudly served his country from 1955 to 1958 in the United States Army Finance Corp. and had a long career at The Gillette Company, ultimately serving as an executive and then officer. He enjoyed a loving family, including his wife of 55 years, Thelma, and their children and grandchildren (who called him “Bumpa”). He loved to travel and volunteer, and was often described as one-of-a-kind, selfless, legendary, and caring. The Brewster community is grateful that he cared for the Academy, serving as a Trustee from 1997 to 2000.
FORMER TRUSTEE
Frederick H. Stephens
May 3, 2025
Wolfeboro, NH
FORMER FACULTY
Susan M. Dean-Olson
February 21, 2025 Wolfeboro, NH
STAFF/FORMER STAFF
Former Staff
John W. Barthelmess
March 20, 2025 Wolfeboro, NH
Timothy C. Huckins
September 30, 2025 Meredith, NH
Sheila Smith
August 2025 Tuftonboro, NH
ALUMNI
1942
Mildred “Millie” A. Beach
April 6, 2025 Wolfeboro, NH
JOHN BARTHELMESS
John Barthelmess, Brewster’s Director of Facilities from 2018 to 2020, passed away on March 20, 2025 at age 59. Very proud of his hometown of Weston, Conn., he is remembered by family and friends for his humor, faith, love of architecture, and devotion to family. A dog lover, music aficionado, and loyal University of Tennessee alumnus, Mr. Barthelmess also adored Lake Winnipesaukee after a summer visit in 1992, and eventually made his dream home in Wolfeboro with his wife Rahna and their children.
Janet (Swift) Moody
March 13, 2025 Wolfeboro, NH
1950
Harry W. Baxter
January 28, 2025 Victor, ID
1951
Beatrice “Bea” I. (Philbrick) Smith
September 7, 2024 Sanbornville, NH
Dorothy (Abbott) Milligan
April 13, 2025 Ossipee, NH
1953
Bernard “Bernie” H. Richards
February 12, 2025 Putnam Valley, NY
Patricia “Pat” J. (Herlihy) White
November 20, 2024 South Salem, NY
1956
Richard “Dick” L. Topham
April 8, 2025 Park City, UT
SUSAN DEAN-OLSON, P'91, GP '20, '24
Susan Dean-Olson passed away on February 21, 2025 at age 76. Born in Liverpool, England, she graduated from Smith College and obtained her master’s degree from Tufts University. She worked in education most of her life, serving on the faculty of Brooks School, Kingswood High School, and Brewster for many years, where she taught English. Her husband, David Olson, also taught at Brewster in the Arts Department for many years beginning in 1989. Family and friends recall Mrs. Olson’s many hobbies, spending time at the lake and curling up with a good book being two of her favorites.
TIMOTHY HUCKINS
1957
Cecily S. (Ballou) Quimby
July 15, 2024 Laconia, NH
1958
Charles “Charlie” E. Brown
February 13, 2025 Yorktown, VA
1959
Wallace “Wally” E. Keniston
December 18, 2024 Wolfeboro, NH
1960
Earl F. Peterson
January 1, 2025 East Hampton, CT
Jon C. Lambert
February 18, 2025 Wells, ME
Ronald “Ron” M. Grelle
November 4, 2025 Windham, NH
1961
Joseph “Joe” A. Hassett
July 24, 2024 Mashpee, MA
Timothy “Tim” Huckins passed away on September 30, 2024 at age 54. A native of the Lakes Region, he was a graduate of New Hampshire Community College and worked in the print and restaurant industries. He enjoyed photography, cooking, chess, reading, and sharing his Scottish heritage. After working on Brewster’s Dining Services team as a cook, Mr. Huckins took his skills to the Golden View Health Care Center in Meredith, N.H. where he enjoyed serving “all of his dementia friends,” whom he grew very fond of.
Ronald “Ron” A. Girolimon
April 20, 2025 Manchester, NH
Larry W. Benedini
October 1, 2024
Barre, VT
1964
Claudia (Christie) Roberts
July 5, 2024
Buxton, ME
1966
Thomas “Tom” P. Toscano
August 20, 2024
South Yarmouth, MA
1967
Robert “Bob” N. Black
March 11, 2025
Columbus, OH
1969
Kirk H. Titus
May 13, 2025 Wolfeboro, NH
1974
James “Jim” P. Laskin
May 17, 2025 Glenwood City, WI
1990
Wilton C. Mann
September 9, 2024 Union, SC
1994
Mark J. Rodrigues
July 22, 2024 Hyannis, MA
Brown Field, AKA “The Turf,” is one of the busiest spots on campus, and it was due for a repair and refresh to ensure safe and smooth games for years to come. Thanks to generous donors and hard work from the Operations team and their vendors, the project was completed in just two weeks immediately after Commencement. Why the tight schedule? The field had to be ready for the sports camps that rent Brewster’s fields throughout the summer. Notice anything different? A fierce Bobcat has replaced the “BA” at center field. Go Bobcats!
Join us for a day of sticks, pucks, and fun when alumni, family, and friends gather for a great time on the ice at the Winni Classic Alumni Hockey Game. Reconnect with classmates and faculty (some will get in on the puck-slapping action!). Whether you lace up to play or come to cheer on the players, be sure to stay for the postgame reception.
Registration opens soon! Visit brewsteracademy.org/events/winni-classic-2026 for details.
