Buzzer Summer 2010

BUZZER THE BROWNING SCHOOL

SUMMER 2010

MISSION STATEMENT Founded in 1888 as a college preparatory school for boys, The Browning School continues its commitment to the goals of John A. Browning: the pursuit of academic excellence and a lifelong love of learning, the belief in the dignity of the individual, and the development of personal integrity and responsibility to the broader community.

The Browning boy develops amid these values.

The Browning alumnus is a good citizen, sensitive to the needs of others, and respectful of divergent yet informed opinions.

He is, in the best sense of the word, a gentleman.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT The Browning School strives to create a diverse community in which all members are safe, respected, and valued.

We believe that in actively promoting a diverse learning environment, we are fostering intellectual, social, and emotional growth for all.

Recognizing and pursuing diversity, however, are not enough; we seek to transcend mere tolerance of differences and aspire to a celebration of the varied appearances, abilities, perspectives, and values that characterize our community.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2010–2011 James S. Chanos, President Samuel J. Weinhoff, Vice President Lois L. Hutzler, Secretary R. Thomas Herman ’64, Assistant Secretary Thomas S. Hexner, Treasurer Richard L. N. Weaver ’75, Assistant Treasurer Juan D. Reyes, III ’86, President, Alumni Association Susan A. Grimbilas, President, Parents Association Alka K. Singh, First Vice President, Parents Association

Contents

SUMMER 2010

Stephen M. Clement, III, Headmaster Mildred J. Berendsen, Honorary Trustee Keith F. Barket Stuart J. Ellman Allan L. Gropper Celeste A. Guth William L. Jacob III Susan R. Kessler William S. Kingson Patricia S. Langton Wendy F. Levey Jeffrey S. Olson Michael H. Perskin, M.D. Othon A. Prounis ’79 Michael L. Rankowitz Rodney M. Schiffer Sanjay Swani W. Tucker York, Jr.

BUZZER STAFF Stephen M. Clement, III, Headmaster Martin T. Haase, Director of Development Mary A. Horenkamp, Director of Publications Lois L. Hutzler, Copy Editor Laura E. Neller, Director of Alumni Affairs Contributing photographers: Hollis Amley, Christine Bramble, Martin Haase, Mary Horenkamp, Jeremy Katz, Irena Knoff, Courtney Lawsing, Olya Makhova, Laura Neller, Daniel Sheinfeld, and Marty Hyman Photography.

Cover photo by Lee Heekin.

Sixth Graders (clockwise from top): Jacob Spiegel, Liam Kerwin, Dylan Springer, Andrew Blum, Harry Calinese, Anthony Carrasco, Michael Zuppone, Jack Connor, Harrison Bishop, Michael O’Connor, Matthew Reader, Raphael Russo, Will Jacob, Nikita Tsimmer, and Robert Heilberg.

10

22

40

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

6

2 3

Laura P. Muhlfeld Retirement

8 10 12 18 20

2010 Spring Benefit

22 26

Lower School Closing

Form VI Dinner Senior Projects Faculty Articles Christian Boltanski and No Man’s Land

Prize Day 2010 27 32 34 36

Sun illustration by Tak Ishikawa ’19.

39

Academic Awards Citizenship Awards Leadership Awards Individual Awards

2010 Graduation Address

The BUZZER is published three times a year by the Browning School Development Office.

The School may be reached at 212 838 6280.

The Web site is www.browning.edu.

The Browning School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, religion, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school directed programs, or employment practices.

6

the buzzer is printed on paper containing 10% total recycled fiber

40 44 54 61

Contributors Letter from the Headmaster Athletics Alumni Events Class Notes Alumni in the News

Contributors Hollis M. Amley Middle and Upper School History;

Christopher C. Dunham Head of Middle School

Laurie A. Gruhn Assistant Head of School and Head of Lower School

James E. Reynolds Head of Upper School

Douglas J. Salomon Chair, Mathematics Department; Middle and Upper School Mathematics

Michele Gama Sosa ’10

Justin Leder ’10

James Preiss ’10

Daniel Sheinfeld ’10

James Weinhoff ’10

Nicholas Stieg ’11

Laura E. Neller Director of Alumni Affairs

Andrew H. West ’92 Director of Athletics

Adrian Muoio ’10

From the Headmaster LOWER SCHOOL CLOSING TALK, JUNE 6, 2010

I

want to tell you three short stories. They are all about Browning boys but I won’t give you any names. The reason I think they are important is that these boys did good and kind things on their own, without anybody looking, with no grownups telling them what to do. I hope this will give you ideas for the summer. Do good

and kind things on your own, when nobody is looking, with no grownups telling you what to do.

At a music recital this spring, one boy who is learning to play the violin was brave and played without his music. It was soon clear he wasn’t ready to play on his own, and after a couple of starts, he needed to stop. The audience was kind, and I think every boy and grownup up could imagine what he felt like. Then I noticed out of the corner of my eye that his older brother, without anybody asking him, slipped quietly out of the room and ran to get his brother’s music. He quickly returned, and handed the young boy his music. He was soon asked up again and played the piece perfectly. And nobody had asked the older brother to help.

Here is another brother story. On a special day when all the boys were in dress code, two brothers came to school together and shook my hand at the door. Both looked very spiffy, and I noticed on the feet of the younger boy what looked like brand new shoes for the occasion. Sadly the younger boy tripped going up the stairs. The older brother took him right to Ms. Linehan’s office at the top of the stairs, sat patiently while he was examined and the parents were called, and continued to wait until his younger brother was picked up. I didn’t see the rest but I bet he gave him a hug. And nobody asked the older brother to help.

And a final story about a group of boys. Between my office and the Wilson Room is a water cooler. Always popular, it is especially sought after by the Third and Fourth Graders after P.E. As I happened by on one occasion, I noticed a group of about six boys lined up quietly, each waiting for his turn to drink. No pushing, no “Stop drinking,” no “You cut me.” Quiet … and no adults in sight. No adult asked these boys to be polite and organized.

They did it on their own.

Three little stories about one big idea. Be kind, considerate, thoughtful . . . even when the adults aren’t looking.

Stephen M. Clement, III Headmaster

The Local Buzz BROWNING CHESS HIGHLIGHTS

K–1 • 3rd place team trophy

T

his has been one of the best years for Browning Chess! Our teams and individuals had many successes in the team

• 12th place individual: Alex Raftopoulos • 15th place individual: William Knoff

tournaments that Browning participated in during this school

• 17th place individual: Evan Segalman

year. Browning fielded teams for the four major tournaments,

• Top unrated player: Hercules Sotos

including: NYC Championships, New York State

K–6 (under 800)

Championships, High School Nationals (Columbus, OH), and

• 3rd place team trophy

Elementary (K–6) Nationals (Atlanta, GA). At these events,

• 4th place individual: Philip Raftopoulos

Browning competes head-to-head with top NYC independent

• 14th place individual: Robert Michaelson

schools, including Dalton, Columbia Grammar, Horace Mann,

• 20th place individual: Austin Stapleton

and Trinity, and top public schools, including Hunter. In addition, at the national level, several states, including Washington, Texas, and Florida send very strong teams.

Here are the highlights of the team successes:

Elementary (K–6) National Championships K–5 Varsity • 6th place individual: Tak Ishikawa (a fantastic achievement!)

K–3 Varsity

New York City Championships High School Team (K–12 under 1600)

• 3rd place team trophy (One point behind 2 teams tied for 1st place)

• Tied for 1st place team trophy

• 21st place individual: Thomas Knoff

• 2nd place individual: Ben Altman-DeSole

• 25th place individual: Max Beem

K–3 Varsity

K–3 (under 800)

• 6th place team trophy

• Tied for 35th place individual: Robert Michaelson

• 3rd place individual: Thomas Knoff

Of special note is the K–3 Varsity team. Though small in

• 10th place individual: Max Beem K–1 • 6th place team trophy • 9th place individual: William Knoff • 2nd place Kindergartner: William Knoff

New York State Championships K–3Varsity

participants, the team had a spectacular year, and finished in the top three in two of the major tournaments. At the Elementary Nationals, the team came in third place behind two teams (Hunter and a California school) that were tied for first place. In other words, the Browning team was the top independent school team in the country!

Browning continues to be the only boys’ school in New York

• 2nd place team trophy

City that supports chess broadly through the curriculum

• 2nd place individual: Thomas Knoff

(PP–Second Grade), afterschool programs, and local, state, and

• 17th place individual: Alfonso Laffont

national team tournaments. We are grateful for the loyal support

BROWNING RECOGNIZED BY COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT AND SUPPORT OF EDUCATION

T

he Browning School has been recognized with a 2010 CASE-WealthEngine Award for Educational Fundraising in

the category of Overall Performance. This award honors superior fundraising programs across the country, highlighting exemplary advancement programs and activities, as well as the highest levels of professionalism and best practice in fundraising efforts.

In selecting Overall Performance winners, judges analyzed Back Row: Michael Jozoff, Adam Brown, Alexander Liptak, Philippe Laffont, Thomas Knoff, Alfonso Laffont, and Philip Raftopoulos.

three years of fundraising data that Browning submitted to the

Middle Row: William Knoff, Ross Kaplan, Alex Raftopoulos, Hercules Sotos, Kyle Liptak, and Nico Laffont.

Council for Aid to Education’s annual Voluntary Support of

Front Row: Oliver Obeid, Hugh Chapin, Max Beem, Robert Michaelson, and Tak Ishikawa.

Education (VSE) survey. Winners were selected based on a multitude

Missing: Robert Adams

of factors: the pattern of growth in total support; evaluation of what contributed to the total support figure; overall breadth in program

of our administration, including Steve Clement, Laurie Gruhn,

areas; pattern of growth in each program area; pattern of donor

and Christine Bramble. Special thanks to the Parents Association

growth among alumni/ae donors and other individual donors;

for their strong commitment to the chess program.

impact of the 12 largest gifts on total support; total support in relation

We look forward to continuing to build on our successes.

to the alumni/ae base. Institutions are grouped and judged in

The chess team is open to all Browning boys (PP–Form VI).

categories based on boarding/day status and number of alumni. In

Chess is a sport of the mind. I

selecting Overall Fundraising Performance winners, judges used the —Irena Knoff, P ’19, P ’22

above factors to recognize institutions that showed solid program growth, breadth in the base of support, and other indications of a

2010 CHAPIN MATH BOWL

O

n April 26, the Browning math team competed in the

annual Chapin math bowl. There were eight teams who

faced off in three rounds of Jeopardy style competition. Opponents were chosen randomly. The team comported themselves well and had better success than Browning math teams of the last few years.

All of the members did very well, winning a third round victory. I

mature, well-maintained program. Judging is blind and data-driven.

189 independent schools were eligible for consideration based on their participation record with the VSE. An independent data analyst narrowed the field to 40 schools and out of these 40, 12 institutions won awards: six in Overall Performance and six in Overall Improvement. The 11 additional schools that received awards are: the Collegiate School (NY), the Taft School (CT), Greenwich Country Day School (CT), St. George’s School (RI),

Seated: Luca Rebelli ’11, James Brisotti ’12, and Ben Jacob ’13.

Standing: Justin Leder ’10, Daniel Leder ’10, and Jason Bader ’11.

St. Paul’s School (NH), the Lovett School (GA), Marist School (GA), the Cate School (CA), the Purnell School (NJ), Oakwood Friends School (NY), and St. Mark’s School of Texas.

This is the second time Browning has been recognized by CASE. In 2003, Browning received a CASE-Wealth ID Award for Educational Fundraising. The full list of 2010 award recipients can be found online at www.case.org/circle. I

Laura P. Muhlfeld Retirement t is so hard to grasp

I

professionals. The high level of commitment to meeting the

that I’m really

needs of each student was awe-inspiring.

leaving. I have spent

But beyond that, there was a special, indescribable feeling at

more than half my

this school. Well, after all these years, I’ve finally been able to

life teaching at Browning,

name it. It is LOVE. It is the love Browning teachers have for

and while I think it is time

their subject area and the love of learning that they instill in their

for me to explore new vistas,

students. It is their love of teaching or more specifically, their love

part of me finds it so hard to

of teaching at Browning. And, it is the ability to convey that to

say good-bye.

their students that make Browning boys and their parents so

I’ve been here for thirty-five years. When I started teaching, there were three major social issues facing our society: a mandatory draft, women not receiving equal pay for equal work, and, over 100 years after the Civil War, a whole segment of our population still being denied their full civil rights. These causes have been near and dear to my heart since college, and the ability to work proactively to address these issues through my teaching is partially why I became a teacher. Over the years, progress has been made in many areas. The mandatory draft was repealed in 1973, and women now hold many key positions in industry.

However, I think it was last November, when Barack Obama became president, that I knew I had come full circle. I had done my part.

And now, there are new problems to address. Sustainability, finding our place in the new global economy, and a host of other issues now face our children. It will be up to you, the new generation of teachers, to prepare our boys to meet these challenges.

I could not imagine a more wonderful place to have spent my professional career. When I started at Browning, I felt privileged to be part of such an elite faculty of dedicated

committed to our school.

It has been a great privilege and pleasure to work with each and every one of you. And if I was in awe of the faculty when I joined Browning 35 years ago, I am equally, if not more, in awe of you all today. You are truly the finest, most talented group of teachers it has ever been my honor to work with.

I love you all and will miss seeing you every day. I will miss talking with you at breakfast and lunch. I will miss the high level of intellectual discourse and repartee that takes place in the faculty room. I will miss seeing the boys and walking through the halls and hearing the cacophony of their welcoming greetings, “Hello, Mrs. Muhlfeld.” I will miss the camaraderie of working with intelligent, caring parents as we guide their sons together. I will miss the aha moments in the classroom. I will miss the hard work of teaching.

I would like to thank Steve Clement and Christine Bramble for arranging this special evening for me. I’d like to thank Jim Chanos and Mike Ingrisani for their kind words; Marty Haase and Lucy Warner for their touching song; and the Parents Association and all the former Browning PA Presidents for their good wishes. I will treasure my memories of this evening forever.

I’d like to thank my mother, Anne, my greatest teacher, for sharing this evening with me; along with my sister Sonia and my brother in-law Alex; and my dear non-Browning friends, Ann, Chris, Julia, Joe, and Audrey for coming tonight. I’d like to thank former colleagues, trustees, and parents for being here. I’d also like to thank all of you, my esteemed colleagues and dear friends,

Board of Trustees President James Chanos with Laura Muhlfeld.

for coming here tonight and for your friendship all these years.

Being a part of Browning has been one of the greatest joys of my life, and I thank all of you for making it such a wonderful and memorable experience. I am so going to miss you all. Thank you for 35 great years. I

I was at a meeting this morning with parents and your retirement came up. One of the mothers at this meeting spontaneously said that her son said, “He loovvesssss

Director of Technology Aaron Grill, Dean of Faculty Michael Ingrisani, Laura Muhlfeld, and Director of Athletics Andrew West ’92.

Ms. Muhlfeld, ”and this feeling that was conveyed by this boy is shared by all the Browning parents and students. You will surely be missed and all the parents can’t thank you enough for enriching our boys and making them productive and creative gentlemen.

— Christine Lambiris, 2010 Parents Association president

Laura Muhlfeld (center) surrounded by past Parents Association presidents: Chris Lambiris, Karla Williams, Christine Bramble, Tricia Langton, Sharon Jacob, Toni Marie Fleischer, and Lois Hutzler.

One last word from the Headmaster.

2010 Spring Benefit Opening remarks by Christine Lambiris, 2010 Parents Association president

W

hope to show our dedication and persistence to reach our goals as Odysseus did his, and to have a little kefi (that’s “fun” in

elcome, everyone, and thank you for

Greek) besides. The proceeds from tonight’s benefit will support

embarking on tonight’s Greek Odyssey.

our boys’ sound minds and bodies through the continued study

Classical Greek culture has had a

of the classics and the physical education department.

profound influence on our world and is

something we return to for sustenance and guidance. At Browning, our boys’ exploration of this rich heritage begins as early as Mr. C’s class in Fourth Grade, and is expanded in the Middle and Upper Schools. The boys learn about the whimsical, powerful gods who loved playing pranks on mortals, reflecting our own human imperfections. They discover how the powerful Athenian military phalanx destroyed the much larger Persian army; proving brain over brawn. They retrace the birth of democracy. They recognize the pride in physical fitness that resulted in the ancient Olympic games. And, of course, they explore Homer’s great epics. With our own Odyssey tonight we

As you can imagine, it required the dedication and hard work of many individuals to make this evening possible. Most importantly, I want to thank the talented and industrious women of the benefit committee: Julia Clarke, Paige Hardy, Melissa Lis, Pamela Ludwick, Marigrace Morris, Teresa Segalman, Jane Sussman, Marie-Regina Sotos and Billie Spiegel.

Also, let’s thank Stacey Stapleton and Jackie Coenzo, our amazing journal co-chairs, and the dynamic raffle committee: Betsy Bousquette, Michelle Goldberg, Caroline Magnus and Barbara McAllister.

I also want to thank the three indispensable PA board members, Chanda Chapin, Bella Curran, and Susan Grimbilas, who worked on every aspect of the Benefit.

Thank you to Mary Horenkamp who made every benefit document look spectacular, and Christine Bramble for her boundless help and advice.

Finally, thank you to Drew Levinson, much loved parent, for being the auctioneer for our live auction.

Thank you to all for supporting tonight’s benefit and most importantly for supporting our boys’ education. Enjoy the rest of the night, and now our wonderful Headmaster Steve Clement will welcome you as well. I

Headmaster Clement with PA president Chris Lambiris after her remarks.

Overview at 583 Park Avenue.

Key Society members Joshua Burgess ’10, Stephen Fleischer ’10 Robert Denton ’10, and Adrian Muoio ’10 with Pam Ludwig P ’22.

Incoming PA president Susan Grimbilis with Stacey Stapleton, Paul Stapleton, and Chrisline Nsouli.

Special Events Coordinator Christine Bramble (center) with Randy Ezratty, Naresh Advani, Sheila Rankowitz, and Steven Bader.

Traditional Greek dancing provided by Akrites Hellenic Folk Dance Theatre of New York.

Form VI Dinner Remarks by James E. Reynolds, Head of Upper School, at the New York Athletic Club, May 26, 2010

I

whom a subject proved quite challenging. You asked a lot of these young men, because you gave a lot to these young men.

t barely seems possible that I am standing before

Whether it was staying late after school to reexamine a topic,

this class, you parents and faculty members making

or coming in early for some tutorial work, you demonstrated

remarks about this particular group of young men. A

to these boys the value of perseverance and fortitude. While

short four years ago we (the boys and I) all came into

we all experience days of frustration and aggravation, you

the Upper School eager, ambitious and a perhaps little too full

gave to these boys that which only you could give: you gave

of ourselves. The fall class cocktail party, always graciously

yourselves. You laughed with them, you counseled them, you

hosted by Sam and Katherine Weinhoff, was an exercise in

advocated for them, you scolded when necessary. But not for

trying to appear cool and collected while learning the names

a minute did you cease to believe in their potential and in

and faces of you parents. For the faculty gathered, you had a

their capacity to realize that potential sooner rather than later.

new division head on your hands, who was admittedly

Look around the room at those gathered and know that you

learning on the fly. If anything, the past four years have been

are greatly appreciated and that all are grateful for your hard

about community, growth, and accomplishment. All of those

work and commitment. I would be remiss if I did not thank

components were intrinsically involved in getting this fine

headmaster Steve Clement, who daily demonstrates the

collection of young men to this event at which we will all

mission of the school and sets the tone for all who believe in

celebrate their successes. For these four years, there has been a

and work at Browning.

partnership—parents and teachers—that has had the shared

Next I want to address the parents gathered this evening.

focus of helping boys become young men. At times, the lifting

Thank you for being such wonderful partners with Browning.

may have felt a bit heavy, but at no time did anyone doubt the

Whether you have been with the school for that incredible

great potential of this class.

long haul—thirteen years!—or whether you came to the

I would like to speak for a moment about each facet of that partnership.

First, to the faculty. Know that without your commitment,

school for high school, your belief in our program and objectives has been invigorating. You have allowed us to help raise these young men so that we are all proud of them. As I

without your intelligence, without your diligence, without

mentioned earlier, one needed to attend only one of your class

your unwavering belief in these young men, we would not

cocktail parties to know that yours was a cohesive group.

have so much to celebrate tonight. You are, unquestionably,

There is barely an event that takes place at Browning at which

the intellectual foundation from which these young men will

I did not see not one, but several parents from your class

build their lives. Your enthusiasm to share your knowledge

supporting the school by being on site and welcoming others

with your students is inspiring. While setting the academic

to those events. As a division head, I thank you for supporting

bar high, you never failed to offer a helping hand to those for

my approach to leading the upper school. You took a leap of

faith four years ago, and I hope you consider that daring

power of your class collectively has never been in doubt. We

worthwhile. I was moved this past fall when we gathered for

all expected that this spring would be cause for celebration

the last time at the Weinhoffs’ for the final time while your

and we were not wrong. You have assumed leadership roles

sons are at Browning. In four years I feel we have become

in every corner of the Browning school. You led by example.

friends as well as partners. Thank you for your warm

You committed to sports teams, to extracurricular activities

welcome four years ago, and congratulations for the success

and competitions, and you learned to value your teachers.

you have had raising these young men. They are a tribute to

Shortly, each of you will head out of the doors of Christ

your patience, perseverance and, most importantly, love. You

Church, a Browning alumnus, but forever a Browning boy. As

have much about which to be proud.

much as you’ve changed in the past four years, believe that

Finally, you 31 young men. Here you are, two weeks out

more growth lies ahead. Browning is just one early step in the

of school, contributing to the not for profit world, and already

development that will be your life. I am confident that you

you look different. You seem to be standing a bit taller, with a

will make your teachers proud, and that you will make your

greater sense of who you are. It’s great to see. I remember the

parents proud. But I implore you to believe in your capacity to

first night at Pine Forest camp and sneakers were flying over

reach heights you may not even imagine at this moment. You

the partition walls in the cabin in which we spent the night.

are capable of that. Reach high. You have already shown you

Several of you were making machine guns out of the PVC

can achieve with great success. I am honored to have had the

tubing designed for making go carts. I’ll be honest, I wanted

opportunity to work with you and to hopefully guide you in

to wring your necks a few times during those two days, but I

the right direction when you needed it. But most importantly,

also saw that you were a class that loved to be together. Even

I look forward to our years of friendship that lie ahead.

at that point you believed in each other. The raw intellectual

Mr. Reynolds with Toni Marie Fleischer, outgoing division representative for the Upper School.

Congratulations, gentlemen. Thank you. I

Members of the Class of 2010 greet Mr. Reynolds as he prepares to give his speech.

Senior Projects Form VI boys engage in special projects for the last three weeks of school, when AP exams are completed. In lieu of classes, each boy performs a community service project involving a minimum of 30 to 35 hours per week participation. A project proposal is presented to and receives approval from the Senior Projects coordinator, Douglas Salomon. Upon completion, the boys make presentations to the faculty, their classmates, and Form V boys.

his staff for the set-up of the Lower Gym, Ms. Clarke and her staff for snacks and the senior lunch, and Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Clement for their help and support.

Booker T. Washington said, “ If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”

To Form V, the rising Form VI: Please listen carefully to these presentations and think about what type of project you may want to do next year. You do not have to exactly follow the footsteps of

REMARKS FROM THE SENIOR PROJECTS COORDINATOR

G

ood afternoon, and welcome to Browning’s 2010 Senior Project presentations.

I am pleased to welcome the Class of 2010 back to Browning.

I also want to welcome members of the faculty, staff, and

the Class of 2010, but it is our hope that today’s presentations will start you on the path to finding a meaningful and rewarding Senior Project.

The Browning community commends the Class of 2010 for their fine community service work during the past three weeks.

We look forward to hearing your stories. I —Douglas J. Salomon, Chair, Mathematics Department; Middle and Upper School Mathematics

administration, as well as the Class of 2011. Over the next hour or so, you will hear about the experiences of Browning’s Form VI as they set out to educate, assist, aid, augment, and support organizations in our community that help people.

Albert Pike said: “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

The reports that came into Browning about the projects the Class of 2010 performed were impressive. The on-site supervisors were full of praise about the attitudes and performances of

SENIOR PROJECTS: AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO NEW YORK CITY

D

uring the last three weeks of the school year, while the Upper School concludes courses and prepares for

exams, Form VI students exit the red doors of Browning, leaving

Browning’s Class of 2010 and they were very grateful for the

behind their peers, classes, and school schedules to embark on a

assistance you gave these worthwhile causes. Your thoughtfulness

tradition called the Senior Projects. During this time, each

and energy in performing your projects was noted and greatly

graduating senior selects a not-for-profit organization where he

appreciated.

will volunteer thirty-five hours a week. This internship grants the

I would like to thank all the advisors who helped seniors pick

students an opportunity to give back to the community and,

out appropriate projects and helped coordinate with on-site

briefly, to taste what it is like to hold a full-time job in a field that

supervisors, Mr. Walker for the A.V. set-up today, Mr. Santiago and

interests them.

2010 SENIOR PROJECTS Thomas Phifer

ASPCA

Michele Gama Sosa

Manhattan Kids Club

Anik Akhund

Bailey House

Charles Meyers

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jesse Graff

Columbia University

Stephen Straub

Michael J. Fox Foundation

Josh Burgess

Midori and friends

Charlie Reiss

NY Historical Society

Patrick Collins

George Jackson Academy

Gregory Davis

Oblong Trial Association

Peter Shapiro

GLSEN

Erik van Os

Oblong Trial Association

Rohan Wijegoonaratna

Grace Church School

Justin Leder

P.S. 1

Adrian Muoio

P.S. 1

James Weinhoff

Grazin’ Angus Acres

James Preiss

P.S. 1

Morgan Monahan

Housing Works

Daniel Sheinfeld

P.S. 1

Nikhil Teckchandani

Housing Works

Peter Crisp

Rock ‘N’ Renew

Steven Rachmuth

Hospital for Special Surgery

Michael Sandino

Rock ‘N’ Renew

Rawle Sterling

Rock ‘N’ Renew

Foundation

Harrison Asen

Yorkville Common Pantry

Juvenile Diabetes Research

David Baird

Yorkville Common Pantry

Foundation

Ian Shaw

Yorkville Common Pantry

Brandon Romero

Yorkville Common Pantry

Robert Denton Stephen Fleischer

Juvenile Diabetes Research

As with previous years, the selection of activities of the

While the lessons learned and the duties of each student were

Class of 2010 were diverse. Projects included: assisting teachers

unique, they all share a common theme: each one recognized that

in neighboring schools, performing clerical duties for Juvenile

while the time and service he gave were valuable, the internship

Diabetes Association, shelving and packing food at Yorkville

experience and the people he met gave back to him even more

Common Pantry, and digging and planting gardens with Jonny

abundantly.

Dubowsky for Rock ‘n Renew.

—Hollis M. Amley, Middle and Upper School History; Senior Projects Advsior

reading and spelling. She is a math wiz, but she needed her educational foundation strengthened by additional support in these areas. I would then go around the room listening to the students reading their assigned books, and assisting them when they came across a difficult word. Once the reading period had ended, the students would resume work on their written presentations. Each student was assigned a different animal. They made drawings and wrote about their animal. During this time, I would go around the room to see that the students were making adequate progress. I also assisted those in need of grammatical advice and told them more about a wide variety of animals.

Then Ms. Shen and I took the students to the lunchroom.

We prepared future homework packets, as well as whatever was needed for the upcoming classes. I then ate my lunch, which was followed by math class. I would check to see if the students had correctly solved the problem set. I also suggested alternate methods of thinking about the problems to those children who had gotten an Daniel Sheinfeld ’10 with students from P.S. 1.

Previous page: the P.S. 1 teacher and students.

incorrect answer. Lastly, after math class, the students would gather on the floor, and we listened to Ms. Shen read several chapters of

REPORTS FROM THE FORM VI BOYS

A

fter volunteering for three weeks at p.s. 1, located in Chinatown at the intersection of Henry Street and

a book during story time. Once the digital clock struck 2:35 pm, Ms. Shen and I would walk with the students down the stairs, where they would be picked up. I —Daniel Sheinfeld ’10

Catherine Street, I had the opportunity to both witness and experience firsthand the impact one individual can have. A student I had the privilege of working with was a first grader named Xue Yin. She began the first grade not being able to speak any English and only writing in Chinese characters. Surprisingly, within six months, under the guidance and instruction of her teacher, Ms. Shen, Xue Yin is now not only fluent in English, but she has writing skills above the expected level for her age. Knowing what Xue Yin has accomplished in such a short time, and watching her abilities improve even more with my help, I have gained an understanding of how effective an individual can be.

My days at P.S. 1 usually began at 8:30 am when Ms. Shen would bring the students into the classroom. Once they were all seated, Ms. Shen and I went over the homework with the class.

Afterwards, I worked with a girl named Yangye to improve her

T

his spring, for my senior project, I decided to work at my old preschool, Manhattan Kid’s Club, located on 13th

Street, right below Union Square. It was strange as I walked through the doors again after thirteen years and looked at my handprint, but it felt good. My main jobs were watching after the oldest group of children, the Butterflies, as they are called, which was the same class I was in when I attended, and even under one of my old teachers, something which was a very pleasant surprise. I helped the teachers prepare lessons, read to, and played with the children, helped them with their work, and if necessary, disciplined them. At one point, I even tried to teach them to read, and some of them seemed to progress along nicely.

Other times, the usual arguments would break out, and those

would then need to be broken up. At naptime, it was mainly

chickens, as well as ensuring the quality of the final product.

working in the office and filing various papers.

And, of course, the proof is in the tasting—I have been told

Although the children could sometimes be a handful and

repeatedly by customers (and I fully agree), that Grazing Angus’

rowdy at times, going back to Manhattan Kid’s Club was a

products whether the beef, chicken, or eggs, are noticeably better

fabulous experience. In working there, I felt more like a student

tasting than store-bought items.

again, especially when I got to play with the kids. I truly felt like

During the week I would stay on the farm with the

I was giving back to the place that set me on the successful road

proprietor, Dan Gibson, and his family. My days would usually

that would eventually end on June 9, 2010, and could not have

start out heading to the eggmobiles where I would let the chickens

picked a better place to do my senior project. I

out, collect recently laid eggs, and tend to the chickens.

—Michele Gama Sosa ’10

Immediately after that, I would head out to the pasture lots where the cattle were roaming, and provide them with clean water or more minerals. Once the cattle were cared for, I would then start

or my senior project, I went up north to Ghent, NY,

F

repairing or building permanent and temporary fencing. The

where I worked on a registered Black Angus farm called

permanent fences were composed of wooden posts with metal

Grazin’ Angus Acres. This is a unique farm because it is run as

wire, along with an electric charge running through the wire. I

naturally and ecologically friendly as possible. The livestock

built temporary fences using fiberglass stakes with clips attached

never come into contact with any antibiotics, hormones,

so they would hold the electrical wire that would hook up to one

chemicals , or grain containing corn. The cows are on an all-grass

of the permanent fences. The temporary fences allowed the

diet, and the grass is grown using the sun’s nutrients and the

farmers to create interim pastures where the cattle could feed. Each

manure of both the cattle and chickens that inhabit the farm.

group of cattle was given about a day to feed off their current

Often, the chickens follow behind the cows, since it is a mobile

pasture and then, depending how much grass was left, the farmers

chicken coop, and are free to roam around and find larvae in the

(including me) would move the cows to the next pasture

cow droppings, which further helps to spread the manure across

sometime during the afternoon when the grass absorbs the most

the grass. This is the most natural way to raise cattle and

nutrients from the sun. Occasionally cows would break out of one of the temporary fences and roam the farm. The farm hands and I would immediately jump onto ATVs and herd the cows back into the pasture. I often rode behind the herd, jostling them back into the pasture by revving the engine, making loud yelps, or shouting phrases such as “C’mon boys” and “let’s go let’s go.” (A 2010 version of a cowboy, I suppose). My day would usually conclude with checking up on both the cattle and the chickens, and then locking up the eggmobiles to protect the chickens from predators.

Also, each weekend I would come back into New York City and help out at different farmers’ markets. On Fridays and Saturdays, I would work at the Farmer’s Market in Union Square;

James Weinhoff ’10 and some of his coworkers at the Farmer’s Market in Union Square. He was not only a purveyor of healthy, natural beef, chicken, and eggs, but was also responsible for teaching newcomers to the market what it is that the Gibson family does at Grazin’ Angus Acres.

on Sundays, I would work at the markets at either the Natural History Museum in New York City or Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn. Those days would be spent selling and chatting with the

regular customers while teaching newcomers about the purpose of a farm like Grazin’ Angus Acres and its health and ecological benefits. Many people wished to learn more about eating naturally, so we would refer them to other resources, such as Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma and the Erick Schlosser’s movie Fast Food Nation. I learned quite a bit about marketing a product.

For example, customers responded positively to visuals. When a customer was unsure about which kind of steak they wanted to buy, we not only listed all the steaks that were available or fit the criteria they were looking for, but we would pull out each type of steak so the customer could see the various options. Dan Gibson would even crack an egg open into a bowl and leave it on the table to show the customers just how orange the yolks were. It was amazing how many people were surprised to see how bright orange an egg yolk is, when it is farmed in an all-natural method.

Working on the farm showed me the reality behind the

Justin Leder ’10 with a student from P.S. 1.

saying “a hard day’s work.” Performing strenuous, physical labor, virtually nonstop, from 8:00 am until after 6:00 pm was exhausting.

By the time 9:00 pm rolled around, I would be trying to stay awake as I walked to my bed. This was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and I would recommend this to any senior who wants to be active and not trapped indoors all day. You will not regret taking advantage of this unique opportunity. I —James Weinhoff ’10

already been decided that they were going to be held back for the following year. Despite this achievement gap and the difficulties many of them faced at home, the students were as cheery and playful as can be. Before I left, the students (led by Ms. Carpenter, their ever-kind and patient teacher) sang to me “Lean on Me.” The song was so full of gusto, it seems they may have forgotten the tune had any pitch. But it was this kind of spirit that made me appreciate the time I spent at P.S. 1 and the opportunity I was given to experience such an amazing community. I

M

y senior project at P.S. 1 was amazingly enriching.

—Justin Leder ’10

P.S. 1 is located in Chinatown, so the student body is

predominately Chinese; it also draws many of its students from the nearby Alfred E. Smith houses, a large low-income housing complex. Consequently, many of the students I worked with were ELLs (English Language Learners), meaning they spoke little to no English in their homes and were learning English in school for the first time. I worked with a First Grade class as a teacher’s assistant, which primarily entailed reading with the students in the class who were struggling. The kids in my class showed a tremendous range in ability level: some were well above grade level, while others were so far behind that it had

M

y time at P.S. 1 was a real eye-opener. As Adrian, Justin, Daniel, and I walked across Worth Street to enter

the neighborhood of Chinatown, I was excited to enter an almost entirely new world and work with young kids in order to strengthen their education. From our conversations to and from the school each day, it was evident that my fellow senior volunteers felt the same.

I was assigned to a Second Grade class, which consisted of twenty bright, young students, many who were Asian. As the

James Preiss ’10 with thank-you cards, presented by a student at P.S. 1.

Adrian Muoio ’10 is presented with a thank-you gift from a student at P.S. 1.

three weeks flew by, I was surprised to find how attached I had

class that I was working, every child spoke English; however,

become to many of the students. One boy, in particular, was

I was shocked to learn from the teacher that four of the children

named Travis. Because of multiple family moves along the east

did not speak a word of English in the beginning of the year. In

coast, his schooling had suffered. He had arrived at P.S. 1 only a

the mornings, I mainly assisted with reading groups, which

few weeks before I began volunteering in May. Unable to read,

included reading books of various levels and teaching them

write, or to compute basic addition and subtraction problems,

about word contractions and basic grammar. It was quite funny

Travis became my sole responsibility. Every day, I worked one-

to hear all the excitement of the children in the group when they

on-one with him so that the teacher, Mrs. Willis, could tend to the

saw that they had advanced from level 10 to level 11 in their

rest of the class. It was exciting to see that with this specialized

books. One student, Angelis, turned to me and exclaimed, “Yes!

attention, he was able to progress in the three weeks through

We finally beat level 10!”

the First Grade–level math. While he will still need more

Where I really got to know the kids, though, was in the

individualized attention next year, I was honored to have to the

afternoon, when they would have recess, lunch, and “choice

opportunity to work with him, to experience his curiosity, and to

time.” I even got to relive my childhood by helping some of the

teach him new academic skills. I

students create Lego structures and solve puzzles. Over the t —James Preiss ’10

hree weeks, I developed a very strong connection with all the students. They were the ones that made me excited for every day of the Senior Project, and the farewell party that they threw for

W

alking into Ms. Wong’s kindergarten classroom

me on the last day and the song they sang for me were a bit

on the first day, I had no idea what to expect. P.S. 1 is

heartrending—the ending had come too soon.

located in the heart of Chinatown and serves many recently immigrated students who know either little or no English. In the

—Adrian Muoio ’10

Faculty Articles Each year the Parents Association awards stipends of $2,500 to faculty members who apply for specific projects, such as summer travel, research, or study. For the 2009–2010 school year fourteen stipends were given. Each recipient writes an article for the Buzzer about his or her project.

The program consists of two six-week intensive summer sessions, along with site-based research projects and a one-year practicum at the school of employment during the intervening year. Additionally, a capstone paper is completed after the

By Hollis M. Amley, Middle and Upper School History

second summer, allowing for further experiential learning. My

A

class (or “cohort,” in Klingenstein-speak) includes forty-seven

t the beginning of June, the scene at Browning is nearly the same. Students sift through their locker-accumulation, secure yearbook signatures, and anticipate aloud their

summer adventures, including potential alarm clock-less mornings. Meanwhile, the faculty ready their classrooms for the refurbishing process of patching, painting, and polishing, scavenge for stray textbooks, and can be overheard discussing their own exotic travels. This end-of-the-year current flows steadily, carrying us out the door for a nearly three-month vacation from academic schedules and assignments. Yet for the last two years, the response that I have given to students’ queries about my own summer plans has briefly interrupted this stream, even inducing expressions of befuddlement and anguish. Simply,

teachers and administrators from around the United States. Each day, the cohort spent seven hours together in classes, which were facilitated by prominent faculty from throughout the university including Columbia University School of Law and the School of International and Public Affairs, as well as Teachers College. The ten academic classes taken over the two summers provided a balance of educational philosophy and practical application.

During the first summer, two central and confluent themes were at play: the Deweyian model of education and the privatization of schools in the United States. Regarding the former, Professor David Hanson challenged us on the first day of class to consider John Dewey’s description of education in Democracy and Education (1916):

enrolled in the Klingenstein graduate program for Independent

By various agencies, unintentional and designed, a society transforms uninitiated and seemingly alien beings into robust trustees of its own resources and ideals. Education is thus a fostering, a nurturing, a cultivating process. All of these words mean that it implies attention to the conditions of growth.

School Leadership. Likely, as a teenager, I would also have

Throughout this course, the readings and discussions

my reply has been: “I’ll be spending my summer as a student.”

Beginning in June 2009 and ending in May 2011, I have been (and will be) a student at Teachers College, Columbia University,

grimaced at the prospect of enduring two more months of

emphasized the social cause of schools to be conduits for the

school; yet, as an adult and a teacher, the opportunity to sit as a

transmission of cosmopolitan knowledge and humanitarian

pupil, be surrounded by a cohort of intellectuals, and have the

values. Yet, concurrently, the cohort sought to reconcile the

time to explore pedagogical ideas, administrative philosophies,

inherent tension between deliberately creating conditions in a

and issues of social justice in schools is a luxury and, indeed, a

school to carry out intended social and political aims, while also

“vacation” of sorts.

fostering an environment of academic freedom and inquiry, where invisible habitudes and standards have been removed so

as not to obstruct from a genuine level of intellectual reflection.

and development of himself/herself as a leader in a school.

In other words, it was an opportunity to consider the process of

Courses dealt with legal issues and educational law (especially

education within a democratic context (to recall Dewey’s title).

pertaining to the new and nebulous sphere of cyberspace), the

A second theme of the summer progressed along a historical

process of marketing and creating a brand for an institution,

line of thought, as Dr. Pearl Rock Kane, the professor of School

the development of both a mission and a vision statement, and

Choice and Privatization and the director of the Klingenstein

understanding one’s own emotional intelligence within the

Center, traced the evolution of schooling in America. A

frame of authority. Interestingly, there is little written about

fundamental purpose of this exploration was to question each

educational leadership; thus, many of the classes relied on texts

participant’s reason for teaching and seeking leadership in a

and successful models from the business world, such Jim

private school, as opposed to a public or charter school. To better

Collins’s Good to Great and the cohort’s tour of Google (an

understand and compare the cultures and structures of other

example of a dynamic balance of autonomy and collaboration

school types, the class was supplemented with visits to KIPP

within a corporation).

Academy, The Promise Academy in Harlem, and Rice High

Though my last two summers have lacked beaches (and

School. (It should be noted that two students in my cohort are

“beach reading,” for that matter), they have offered me the

considering starting charter schools in their respective states.)

intellectual refreshment and invigoration of being a student

This past June, as the second session of classes began, the

again. This professional pursuit has introduced me to ideas,

academic timbre of the coursework had noticeably changed.

practices, and people that have significantly informed, sharpened

While the approach of the first summer was more macro in

and, even, altered my social views of education and my own

design, causing us to consider and evaluate the role of education

role in effecting change in a school. This academic “retreat” would

and the impact of private schools on society, this past summer

not have been possible without the generous stipend of the

maintained a more micro-perspective, as each student was

Browning Parents Association, for which I am deeply grateful. I

consistently confronted with the challenges, responsibilities,

THREE CHEERS FOR BROWNING FACULTY! HERE’S TO A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!

Christian Boltanski and No Man’s Land

By Nicholas Stieg ’11

At the center of the grid is a massive pile (five stories, to be exact)

C

of 30 tons of used clothing, accompanied by a giant crane which

hristian Boltanski, the artist behind the exhibit at the Park Avenue Armory entitled No Man’s Land, has created profound installation pieces over the past forty years. Boltanski, who

is half Jewish, was born in Paris shortly after the liberation of France, at the close of World War II. Consequently, many of his works, including the current Amory exhibit, hearken back to themes of human endurance, inhumanity, and the random nature of death. During the war, Boltanski’s family remained in Vichy Paris, though his father, who was Jewish, was forced to hide under the floorboards of his house for the duration of the Nazi occupation. While deliberate historical references are easily recognizable in his early paintings, he shifted both his subject matter focus and medium type in his later works. Continuously, Boltanski sought to reconstruct elements of his past and the respective emotions that had accompanied these events, as he experimented with the use of photography, film, and performance art. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Boltanski began using various media in installation pieces to provide his work with spatial depth. He hoped that this would bring the viewer closer to his work and the emotions he wanted to convey.

When one first walks into the exhibit at the Armory, the sound, space and visuals of this installation certainly evoke a powerful response. Initially, a wall of rusted cookie boxes both

greet the visitor and act as a barrier to the installation itself.

Simultaneously, the sound of thumping heartbeats on the other side of the wall resonates. To enter the exhibit, one can choose to go either left or right at the cookie tin wall. Upon accessing the main hall of the exhibit, the visitor must negotiate square grids of strewn clothes, illuminated simply by hanging neon spotlights.

randomly selects and hoists articles of clothes from the pile and then drops them. Furthermore, the sound of 40,000 heartbeats roaring throughout the auditorium gives this installation an overwhelming, yet eerily personal feeling.

At first during my visit, I felt confused. The perfectly geometric blocks of clothing, however, helped me to order my confusion into an organized train of thought. Knowing Boltanski’s family legacy, I began to see the art in the context of his personal emotional strife. The defined squares and harsh lighting represented the internment camps of the Holocaust, while the crane, selecting clothing from the top of the enormous pile, could be interpreted as the paradox of genocide—the unsystematic killing of individuals of a specific ethnic group.

Moreover, I believe another possible and more general reading of the crane is the representation of life’s fleeting and ephemeral qualities. The crane, which randomly clutches and releases clothing, much like the whimsical claw of an arcade game attempting to pick up a teddy bear, has the force of life and death in its controlled grasp.

After exiting the exhibit, I was confronted by both the personal nature of this work and the larger, more universal implications of it. On one hand, the piece is organized and laid out in front of the visitor to walk around, interact with, and, essentially, to be a part of the artwork. Furthermore, the singularity with which the crane selects its clothing “victims” and the individual heartbeats, though sobering, is comprehensible and accessible. Yet on the other hand, the great pain and suffering that the artist tries to convey though the comprehensive elements of the exhibit is overwhelming.

Afterward, I realized that, as I walked around the installation, I was walking amidst representations of death, turmoil, and fear beyond imagination, inciting a sea of emotions within me as I sought to find an appropriate response. In the end, I have concluded that it is impossible to pinpoint an emotional response to this installation because it is impossible to have a singular response to the despair, survival, and murder of genocide. What I appreciate about this exhibit was Boltansky’s ability to transport me out of my comfortable existence in New York City, even if only for a moment, and to cause me to interact individually with such emotions and truly connect with history through this work. I

Teddy Altman ’11, Zack Zarillo ’11, and Nick Steig ’11, students in the Modern and Contemporary Art History class, stand before Boltanski's five-story mound of clothing and the automatic crane at the Park Avenue Armory exhibit entitled No Man’s Land.

A member of the Park Avenue Armory staff noted some of the insightful comments that the Middle School boys made during the tour. One boy commented that the pile of clothes in the Drill Hall was like life in that you can't be at the top forever. Another boy saw the pile of clothes as the heart and the separate squares symbolizing all the organs.

Lower School Closing

By Laurie A. Gruhn, Lower School Head; Assistant Head of School

There is a Chinese legend that I am quite fond of. It speaks of a red thread of destiny. When a child is born, that thread connects

LET IT SHINE!

E

arlier this year, after hearing Mrs. Warner conduct a song at a Lower School assembly, I turned to her, as I do at some point every year and said, “That’s it! That is our theme for Lower School closing!

When she and I first discussed this title and, of course, songs that made sense, I began thinking, “What will I say about the toile, Let it

Shine?” As I have reflected on it, I have found myself thinking more and on teachers—and good teaching. So today, I want to say a few words about the roles your teachers play in your lives.

the child to all people, past, present, and future, who are destined to play a role in that child’s life. This thread holds firm, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. It may tangle or stretch but it never breaks. I have also come to believe that this refers to a child’s teachers. Your teacher’s role in your life is, in many ways, unending. Even if you are saying goodbye to him or her today, you will find that the influence of this teacher, along with other teachers, will continue to touch you, when you least expect it, throughout your life. I would venture that many of the adults in this room today can recall, almost immediately some of the teachers who made a lasting impression on them. I discovered last

Often, when Mr. Clement or I interview potential teachers, we will ask them what they remember about school. They invariably mention a teacher they had. It is so clear how invaluable a role a great teacher can play in a child’s life.

Raise your hand if: • you tried something new this year; • you learned to do something new this year that you did not know how to do before;

night, with very little effort, I can name every major teacher I had from kindergarten through 12th grade, and I can still see them clearly in my mind, what they wore, how they stood, and what made them smile or sometimes, in my case, glare.

A few weeks ago, I attended a high school reunion. Again.

I went this particular year, because one of my former English teachers was being honored. She impressed me significantly, and

• you discovered something was easy this year that used to be hard;

I wanted to be there for her. She said something at that reunion

• you found something still hard this year, but you kept trying.

at work, if only they knew how great they look!” Perhaps it

All of these scenarios took place and were possible, because you had teachers, teachers who cared. A great deal. About two weeks ago, we had several visitors here; women who run many of the early childhood programs that you attended before Browning. I told them one of the many things that makes this school unique is that you are blessed with teachers who care passionately about your success. And who are capable of helping you achieve it. I believe that with all my heart.

that rang very true to me. She said, “I love the sight of students

resonated with me because I immediately thought of all of you, and how you look when you are clearly engrossed in a book, in a math problem, in a social studies question, on a team. preparing a science project, singing a song, creating a piece of art, studying a chess move. You look amazing because you care. And you care, because your teachers care, so much.

Shortly after that reunion, I was looking through some papers, and I found something I had written that I said to parents my very

first year at Browning. It was Lower School Parent Night, and I

we need it, they pull us along. It is with all of your teachers in

said: “I want to say a few words about the faculty. I am discovering

mind, that I share with you something I shared at Lower School

that they are an amazing group of individuals. They listen to your

Closing many years ago:

boys’ aspirations, for they do have aspirations, and they listen to

“Go the edge,” the teacher said,

their problems, for they do face problems, both academic and

“I can’t,” he replied,” it’s too high.”

interpersonal. These teachers will not let us down.” That is still true

“Go the edge,” the teacher said,

today. And I want to take a moment to recognize some of the Lower School teachers who will be leaving Browning after today, all for wonderful and exciting personal reasons, and you will see, in years to come, how they continue to move you along.

Sabrina Youri Janine Tuohey Allison Gilpin Patty Kim Julie Fallon Dan Taveras And Laura Muhlfeld, who will truly remain in our hearts as we take part every year in the Laura P. Muhlfeld Spelling Bee. It has been said, and it is true, that great teachers sometimes give us a little push when we need it, and at other times when

“I can’t,” he replied, “I’ll fall.”

“Go the edge,” the teacher said.

“I can’t,” he replied, “I’ll get hurt.”

“Go the edge,” the teacher said, “I’ll be with you.”

And he went, And the teacher pushed him.

And he flew.

Gentlemen, with thanks to all of your teachers, past and present, who have taught you to fly this year and always—and with a nod to the theme of this year’s program—they have given you a light. Now . . . let it shine! I

The Lower School “Strings of Spring” Orchestra performs the Beatles' hit, Here Comes the Sun (George Harrison), with violins, cello, and guitars.

Members of the “Strings of Spring” Orchestra (L to R): Kai Cowin, Daniel Goldberg, and Tak Ishikawa, who also provided the art work on page 19.

First Grade rocks out with the new Browning School song based on Chuck Berry's hit, Johnny B. Goode (new lyrics by Ms. Warner).

With mics in hand, Third Graders wow the audience with the Victoria Justice pop hit, Make it Shine (Dr. Luke, M. Corcoran).

The Second Grade boys, complete with top hats and choreography, present a New York medley, including New York, New York (F. Ebb, J. Kander) and Empire State of Mind (Jay-Z, A. Hunt, J. Sewell).

Welcome to Fourth Grade, set to the music of the Monty Python favorite, Always Look at the Bright Side of Life (E. Idle/new lyrics by Ms. Warner), is performed by the Lower School graduates as they welcome the incoming Fourth Graders.

LOWER SCHOOL AWARDS LYMAN B. TOBIN PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST 3F: Thomas Knoff + Max Simeone ++

4B: Rohan Singh + Grant Thompson ++

2K: William Hatfield Logan Flynn Rein Landsberg Alexander Liptak Robert Michaelson

4C: Luke Hexner + Michael Riley ++ ++ 2nd place

LAURA P. MUHLFELD SPELLING BEE WINNERS 3F: Jonathan Shah 4B: Marwan Nsouli 4B: Christopher Batista

MARGERY MORSE AWARD Given to the Grade Four student who most embodies the ideals of character, integrity, and kindness to others in the Browning community.

George Grimbilas

Given by the Headmaster and the faculty to those boys who show promptness, neatness, respect, scholarship, sportsmanship, integrity, and cooperation.

2G: Ryan Aotoni Max Beem Sharif Nsouli Alexander Rich Maxwell Schiffer

3R: Alfonso Laffont + William Eun ++

+ 1st place

CITIZENSHIP AWARDS

3F: Liam Endres Justin James Jacob Kibel Nicholas Lionti Patrick McAllister Charles Olson Sebastien Rodriguez 3R: Lucas Coffey David Goldberg Blaise Lowen Thomas Reader George Savin 4B: Sebastian Baguero Andrew Ceanzo Jake Lefkowitz Kyle Levinson Marwan Nsouli 4C: Luke Hexner Jaime Gomez Tak Ishikawa Jackson Richter

The Pre-Primary class shows their singing and xylophone-playing skills with the opening song, Make Your Dreams Come True, based on the Harry Belafonte hit, Turn the World Around (H. Belafonte, R. Freedman/new lyrics by Ms. Warner).

Prize Day 2010 Remarks by Adrian W. Muoio ’10, Outgoing President, Upper School Student Council

W

ell, we did it. Our years as Browning students are over. From now on, we can only be alumni, and in five

our bonds. We are a family, and while we may be starting a new life in college, never will we forget about our brothers.

During our freshman orientation trip the day before our Browning high school career would officially begin, we all went

or ten years, we will probably be those alumni that come back

out to Black Forest to “bond.” I suppose the day was really for the

and talk about how different Browning was when we were

new incoming students. Personally, I had been “bonding” for six

students.

years already. Now, everything did not go smoothly that day. Our

What will eternally last, however, are the bonds we’ve made,

bus accidentally side-swiped a parked car on the way out,

the friendships. These will persevere. Now that high school is

causing all the ninth grade boys to burst out in laughter and

coming to a close, I have begun to reflect more on my time at

excitement, but the day was a success. We were split into groups,

Browning, and I came to realize that what makes it so special, so

and each group was given a map and a compass and we were

great, is its size. I realized that having 31 boys (gentlemen, I

told to navigate through the woods, collecting information at

should say) in our class really has facilitated the strengthening of

checkpoints and eventually finding our way back to where we started. At first, we were all concerned with finishing first, as if it were a race, but at some point during our trek, I don’t remember exactly when it was, we forgot all about finishing first, and instead focused more on finding sticks suitable for light-saber battles. I don’t quite recall when our group finished. It wasn’t first, but the point is that it didn’t matter. The thing I remember most vividly about that day is not the time the group spent navigating, but the fun we had along the hike, delaying the finish.

As we progressed through high school, our class followed a similar model. I mean, the Star Wars obsession dwindled, but what I remember most about the past four years are not the tests or quizzes (the checkpoints if you will), but the time that we all spent delaying the end of our own journey through the ranks of Browning, enjoying the moment and having fun. Our senior prank seems a good testament to this. Yes . . . it delayed the morning commute on the fifth floor, where a cautious shuffle step was necessary when moving through the sea of balloons, but it

Adrian W. Muoio ’10, Outgoing President, Upper School Student Council, delivering his farewell address to the Class of 2010.

was also a perfect excuse to have one more memorable experience as a grade, as a family, during our last few days at Browning.

Although we will no longer be students at Browning, the lessons that we have learned from all of our teachers and faculty members will transcend the realm of high school. I think I can speak for our entire senior class when I say that the all of the faculty have taught us more than just English, history, science, and so on, they have been mentors on subjects outside of the classroom. . . . They have been friends. In the Browning family they have always been more like those cool older siblings that we have looked up to and confide in to console us when we need it.

They have shaped us throughout high school and I’m sure that the lessons they have taught us will remain with us, helping to guide our lives throughout college as well. Words cannot describe the thanks and appreciation that the senior class has for all of you. Of course parents play a large role, but you are the reason we’ve made it here, to graduation.

I especially would like to extend my appreciation to two faculty members who will be leaving the Browning community next year, Ms. Muhlfeld and Coach T. Both have been devoted to bettering our lives, whether it be intellectually or athletically, throughout our careers at the Browning School, whether that be four or thirteen years. Just know that we will always remember you and your lessons. You changed our lives. Thank you.

Although we are entering college and ending our career as Browning students, the ideals that Browning has instilled in us— the ideals of the Browning gentleman, of a lifelong love of learning, and of inclusiveness and friendship—will always be with us. I said before that we will never again be Browning students, but we will always be Browning boys.

It is my great honor and privilege to announce our Class of 2010 gift to the school that has given us so much over the years.

For our gift, the Class of 2010 decided to contribute a little more than $1600 toward exploring architectural design for installing a wall of glass to replace the metal gate in the walkway above the Lower Gym. It is our hope that this gift will help to further enhance the aesthetic quality of our school. I

ACADEMIC AWARDS Introduction by Christopher C. Dunham, Head of Middle School

G

ood morning. It is a pleasure to stand before you today to introduce the Academic Awards here at Prize Day 2010.

The academic life here at Browning has never been on firmer ground. Because of the nature of my position at Browning I witness the ever-evolving curriculum and the energy, intellect, and excitement that all of the teachers put into designing this dynamic academic program.

I also get to see how all of the boys tackle the challenges of the program. It is just so impressive to witness the curiosity and desire to learn that all of you possess. And, Sixth Formers: I first got to know you in Form I. And from the beginning it was clear how motivated you all are. And your drive to always do your best academically has made a lasting impression on the community. Great job and thank you.

Today, the boys from Form VI down to Form I, who will be honored for an academic award, certainly know a few things.

They know that organization, attitude, and communication with teachers are the ingredients for success.

And these are things that can be practiced, they can become engrained, they can become habits that last a lifetime. Yes, some people are born with these gifts but all students can practice these behaviors and improve.

So, gentlemen being honored today, I applaud your commitment to learn. To those of you who will not have the chance to come to the front today, don’t be discouraged. Think ahead to next year and remember that to make it to the next level academically, start from day one with a good attitude, the goal to stay organized, and the willingness to reach out to your teachers.

That is what they’re there for. Thank you. I

HONOR ROLL Given to those boys whose grade point average for the year is at least 3.50 up to 3.74.

MIDDLE SCHOOL Grade 5 Quintin Blumka Kevin Cox Jake Germano Conor Harkins Michael Jozoff Ethan Parisier Luke Spellman Grade 6 Harry Calianese John Connor P. Michael O’Connor, IV Del Schunk Dylan Springer Form I Matthew Guadagnino Aadir Khan Alec Morea Armaan Rawat Slater Stark David Valentin Form II Griffin Bassman Benjamin Kleinschmidt Andrew Ruvkun Maximilian Stacey John Waller Alexander Wisowaty

UPPER SCHOOL Form III William Kessler Form IV Benjamin Altman-DeSole Brennan Bassman Aisara Chansakul Ibrahima Diallo Kyle Johnson Nathaniel Monteverde Aleksandr Schiavetta John Scowcroft Form V Pranay Advani Leonardo Alavian Theodore Altman Alec Ezratty Alejandro Morales Nicholas Stieg

Form VI Harrison Asen Patrick Collins Peter Crisp Robert Denton Adrian Muoio Michael Sandino Ian Shaw Daniel Sheinfeld Nikhil Teckchandani James Weinhoff Rohan Wijegoonaratna

Form II Caspar Boele Henri Fernandez Christopher Haack Philip van Scheltinga Juan Yanes

HEADMASTER’S LIST

Form IV Andrew Amarosa James Brisotti Remy Fortin Christopher Pelz Jonathan Pelz

Given to those boys whose grade point average for the year is at least 3.75.

MIDDLE SCHOOL Grade 5 George Allen Luke Barba Caleb Cohen William Graham Hunter Gurley Kenneth Mazzaro Ryan Olson Alec Siden Max Spirer Logan Stark William Trammell Daniel Westra Grade 6 Andrew Bendo Andrew Blum Adam Brown William Jacob Aris Kalogerakis Liam Kerwin Ryan Parcells Raphael Russo Alec Segalman Jacob Spiegel Michael Zuppone, Jr. Form I Arthur Elghouayel Alexander Gottdiener Julian Kalogerakis Christopher Keyko Diego Lopez-Liranzo Lorenzo Mezzatesta Grant Olcott Thomas Perskin Brendan Walsh

UPPER SCHOOL Form III Alexander Bendo Michael Gabrellian Benjamin Jacobs

Form V Jason Bader Andrew Chanos Matthew Geline Michael Harley Maximillian Saint-Preux Form VI David Baird Gregory Davis Michele Gama Sosa Daniel Leder Justin Leder Thomas Phifer James Preiss

SCHOLAR AWARDS Awarded to the student with the highest GPA in Form VI and Form II. Form VI Scholar Award Justin Leder Form II Scholar Award Christopher Haack Philip van Scheltinga

Form II Spanish Prize Christopher Haack Form II French Prize Henri Fernandez

Juan Yanes

Form VI Latin Justin Leder Form VI French Patrick Collins

Headmaster Clement with Society of Colonial Wars Award winner Grant Olcott and presenter Stephen D. Perkins.

AWARDS BY ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE ENGLISH The Davis Prize for Excellence in English is presented to a Form VI student in memory of the three Davis brothers, John ’17, Basil ’21, and Neville ’23.

David Baird Form II English Prize Philip van Scheltinga

HISTORY The Society of Colonial Wars Award, presented by Stephen D. Perkins, is given to the Middle School boy who has demonstrated outstanding knowledge of and interest in the pre-1775 colonial period.

Grant Olcott The Mayflower Compact Award is presented to a Form V student for proficiency in the study of History of United States.

Alejandro Morales The Lawrence Lee Scott Award is presented to the student of United history who submits the best thesis judged by its originality and extensive research.

Nicholas Stieg The William R. Root, Jr. Memorial Award is named for a former faculty member and history scholar and is presented for outstanding achievement in American History in Form II. Caspar Boele

FOREIGN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES The Harry E. Ward ’44 Language Prizes established for classical and modern languages.

Form II Latin Prize Christopher Haack

Philip van Scheltinga

Form VI Spanish Thomas Phifer

Daniel Sheinfeld

Spanish Literature David Baird

Justin Leder

THE NATIONAL LATIN EXAM CERTIFICATES OF MERIT Form I Certificate of Achievement Findlay Edwards Aadir Khan Arthur Elghouayel Alec Morea Sumner Erbe David Valentin Alexander Gottdiener Certificate of Outstanding Achievement William Abelt Grant Olcott Matthew Guadagnino Thomas Perskin Julian Kalogerakis Armaan Rawat Diego Lopez-Liranzo Brendan Walsh Lorenzo Mezzatesta Juan Yanes Form II Cum Laude Ryan Colella Michael Florentino Magna Cum Laude Aaron Parisier Silver Maxima Cum Laude Andrew Amarosa Griffin Bassman Gold Summa Cum Laude Christopher Haack Form III Cum Laude Gregory Belgorod Jeremy Chen Frederick Edwards Nicolas Greco Silver Maxima Cum Laude Alexander Bendo Gold Summa Cum Laude Benjamin Jacobs

Henry Gans Thomas York, III

Andrew Ruvkun

Henri Fernandez

Philip van Scheltinga

Myles Mills Ian Rankowitz John Scowcroft

Michael Harley

Form IV Cum Laude James Brisotti Ibrahima Diallo

Remy Fortin Christopher Pelz

Form V Gold Summa Cum Laude Matthew Geline

Maximillian Saint-Preux

Form VI Silver Maxima Cum Laude Justin Leder

Thomas Phifer

Gold Summa Cum Laude Patrick Collins

Michele Gama Sosa

This year, a very special award is being given to a student who has won four consecutive gold medals on the National Latin Exam.

The Maureen O’Donnell Memorial Award is awarded to: Michele Gama Sosa

The Grade 5 Art Prize, given to the Fifth Grade boy who displays passion, creativity, and responsibility in the artroom all year long, was awarded to Hunter Gurley ’17.

THE NATIONAL FRENCH EXAM The following students scored in the top 20 percent of the New York Metropolitan Chapter: William Abelt Janak Advani Pranay Advani Gregory Belgorod Ibrahima Diallo Arthur Elghouayel Henry Gans Matthew Geline Jesse Graff Jordan Greco Nicolas Greco Luca Libani Diego Lopez-Liranzo Harrison Messer

Morgan Monahan Nathaniel Monteverde Alejandro Morales Alec Morea Christopher Pelz Jonathan Pelz Armaan Rawat Jonathan Rodriguez Brandon Romero Maximillian Saint-Preux Philip van Scheltinga Oliver Shawn John Waller

Robert Heilberg ’16 received the Robert E. Herman Award for sports journalism in the Grytte newpaper.

The following students scored in the top 10 percent of the New York Metropolitan Chapter: Kevin Barbosa Isaac Barrezueta Patrick Collins Henri Fernandez

Benjamin Jacobs Grant Olcott Thomas Perskin Juan Yanes

A special mention goes to Browning’s highest scorers: Kevin Barbosa Isaac Barrezueta Patrick Collins

Henri Fernandez Juan Yanes

who, in addition to being recognized today, were honored for their excellence on the Grand Concours on June 5 at the Lycée Français of New York.

A very special mention goes to Patrick Collins who earned a first place ranking in the New York Metropolitan Chapter.

Daniel Westra ’17 placed first in the Laura P. Muhlfeld Spelling Bee.

THE NATIONAL SPANISH EXAM

American Mathematics Competition 8

Premio Leonardo Alavian Griffin Bassman Andrew Chanos Alec Ezratty Remy Fortin Julian Kalogerakis

First Place Christopher Haack

Bronce Michele Gama Sosa Christopher Haack Lorenzo Mezzatesta Aaron Parisier Plata James Brisotti

Aadir Khan Ben Kleinschmidt Roberto Levin Matthew Lippa Efrain Morales David Valentin

Daniel Sheinfeld Brendan Walsh Alexander Wisowaty

Second Place Griffin Bassman

Armaan Rawat

Third Place Caspar Boele Participation Adam Brown Ryan Collela Conor Dietzgen Arthur Elghouayel Liam Kerwin

Aadir Khan Lorenzo Mezzatesta Grant Olcott Spencer Reuben Brendan Walsh

Justin Leder

SCIENCE

Oro Matthew Guadagnino (received almost perfect score)

Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award Leonardo Alavian

MATHEMATICS The Form VI Mathematics Award is presented to the student who has best demonstrated sustained excellence over four years of Upper School mathematics study.

Justin Leder

Philip van Scheltinga

The Form II Science Prize Philip van Scheltinga

ART The Joyce R. Miller Art Award is awarded to a Form VI member of the Studio Art Club who displays technical ability and outstanding creativity.

Greg Davis

American Mathematics Competitions 12 (Form V and VI) is awarded to students who participate and excel in the American Mathematics Competition.

School Winner Jason Bader

The Class of 1970 Visual Arts Award is endowed by a graduation gift from the Class of 1970 and is presented each year to a Form VI member of the Studio Art Club. The student must have distinguished himself by either exhibiting outstanding artisitc ability, or displaying tremendous growth in his artistic ability over his years at Browning.

Robert Denton

Second Place Justin Leder

The Ceramics Award is presented to a Studio Art II student exhibiting outstanding ability in both areas of ceramic technique: wheel and handwork.

Third Place Daniel Leder Participation Patrick Collins Jesse Graff Luca Rivelli

Justin Leder

Andrew Ruvkun

The Form II Mathematics Prize is awarded to a Form II student who has best demonstrated sustained excellence in mathematics during his time in the Middle School.

Christopher Haack Griffin Bassman

The Class of 1960 Science Award for Form VI

Jason Bader Maximillian Saint-Preux Nikhil Teckchandani Robert Denton

The Form II Art Prize is awarded each year to the Form II student who has consistently excelled in creative ability, effort, and conduct in art classes at Browning.

Wick Waller

Henry Gans

American Mathematics Competitions 10 (Form IV and V) School Winner James Brisotti

The Grade 5 Art Prize goes to the Fifth Grade boy who displays passion, creativity, and responsibility in the artroom all year long.

Hunter Gurley

Second Place Benjamin Jacobs

MUSIC The Frank E. Cirillo Memorial Music Award was created by former Browning teacher Francesca Smith in honor of her father, director of a music school in Brooklyn. It is awarded to the Chorus student who is punctual, hardworking and dedicated to his craft.

Joshua Burgess The Upper School Award for Excellence in Music is presented to an Upper School student who has unselfishly shared his love for music with the Browning community.

Peter Crisp

CITIZENSHIP AWARDS . . . promptness, neatness, respect, scholarship, sportsmanship, integrity, and cooperation.

Introduction by James E. Reynolds, Head of Upper School

T

he Browning School experience is composed of many elements: Academics and the arts, areas in which we have

just recognized the outstanding achievements of some of our fine students. In athletics, we all know how well our sportsmen faired

The Middle School Award for Excellence in Music is presented to a Middle School student who has shared unselfishly his love for music with the Browning community.

Caspar Boele

Aaron Parisier

on the playing fields this year. We won or vied for championships in almost all sports and, as was made clear at the Athletic Awards dinner a few weeks ago, our students are dedicated to giving their all on the various fields of play, and they are committed to displaying good sportsmanship. The final foundational element on which the school community stands is citizenship.

Citizenship, as defined in Merriam-Websters Dictionary— gentlemen, you know the book with all of the alphabetized words that you reach for when you don’t know the meaning of a word—is “the quality of an individual’s response to membership in a community.” The salient words here are “the quality of an individual’s response.” That certainly allows for a broad range of responses on each person’s part, but the word “quality” speaks to something bigger. It speaks to an individual’s sense

(L to R): Peter Crisp, Justin Leder, and James Weinhoff received special recognition at the 2010 Ivy League Model UN.

of responsibility to the community in which he or she exists.

All communities are made up of people who have the choice to either coast along as a member of that group or to take upon themselves the personal responsibility of actively contributing to that community.

In what ways does this sense of commitment to the community manifest itself? Here are a few examples: • A student makes it his job to take care of the community, whether it be mentoring a younger student, or helping a peer in a subject he finds very challenging.

Art award winners (L to R): Greg Davis, Robert Denton, Jason Bader, Henry Gans, and Wick Waller.

• A student is diligent about his schoolwork not merely for personal gain, but because he understands the partnership that constitutes the teacher/student relationship. He is appreciative of the commitment made for his benefit by the adults with whom he interacts on a daily basis.

• And, perhaps most important, he understands that the Browning School’s real strength is derived from the bonds of each member to the community.

A phrase that resonates about Browning it the saying: “It’s

The young men to whom we extend our Citizenship

not the place, it’s the people.” No phrase more aptly defines the

Awards have shown this year that their individual response to

Browning School community. We are who we are because more

membership in the Browning community is of a very high

than 450 people, students, faculty, administration, and support

quality. They have demonstrated that their personal interests are

staff, have committed themselves to this community and to

intrinsically connected to the well being of the entire community.

contributing to the experiences of the school’s 380-plus students.

For their generosity of spirit, for their commitment to excellence and for their strong sense of community, we say, thank you. I

Grade 5 George Allen Luke Barba Quintin Blumka August Chapin Kevin Cox William Graham Kenneth Mazzaro Ryan Olson Ethan Parisier Sebastian Segat-MacMillan Alex Siden Logan Stark Luke Spellman William Trammell Andrew Westrich Grade 6 Awen Abaatu Andrew Bendo Harrison Bishop Andrew Blum Adam Brown Harry Calianese Jay Hutzler Will Jacob Aris Kalogerakis Liam Kerwin Craig Levinson Ryan Parcells Harris Russell Del Schunk Jacob Spiegel Dylan Springer Griffin Tobia Nick Warner Michael Zuppone

Form I Athur Elghouayel Sumner Erbe Alex Gottdiener Christopher Keyko Aadir Khan Diego Lopez-Liranzo Alexander Makkos Lorenzo Mezzatesta Alec Morea Grant Olcott Thomas Perskin Armaan Rawat Dylan Rose David Valentin Form II Conor Dietzgen Henri Fernandez Jonathan Flinchum Michael Florentino Harrison Grauso Christopher Haack Peter Maguire Spencer Reuben Andrew Ruvkun Anthony Scotto Philip van Scheltinga Wick Waller Juan Yanes Ty York Form III Michael Gabrellian Ben Jacobs Wilfred Wallis Form IV James Adeleye Andrew Amarosa Brennan Bassman James Brisotti

JR Chansakul Ibrahima Diallo Remy Fortin Nick Hexner Max Liu Nathaniel Monteverde Christopher Pelz Jonathan Pelz John Scowcroft Form V Leonardo Alavian Theodore Altman Jason Bader Andrew Chanos Nick Corliss Harrison Fields Michael Harley Luca Libani Alejandro Morales Ian Rankowitz Dylan Smith Maximillian Saint Preux Form VI David Baird Josh Burgess Greg Davis Robert Denton Michele Gama Sosa Daniel Leder Justin Leder Adrian Muoio Thomas Phifer Peter Shapiro Ian Shaw Rawle Sterling Stephen Straub Nikhil Teckchandani James Weinhoff

LEADERSHIP AWARDS KEY SOCIETY The Browning Key Society members are selected by the administration to represent Browning in welcoming and touring admission visitors and in hosting school events. Membership recognizes punctuality, neatness, cooperation, and integrity.

The following Key Society members are recognized for their contributions during this school year: Form VI Anik Akhund Josh Burgess Robert Denton Stephen Fleischer Jesse Graff Form V: Theodore Altman Jason Bader Harrison Fields Steven Kassapidis Luca Libani Myles Mills

Adrian Muoio Ian Shaw Rawle Sterling Stephen Straub James Weinhoff

Alejandro Morales Ian Rankowitz Dylan Smith Nick Stieg Zack Zarrillo

Steven Rachmuth Peter Shapiro Stephen Straub James Weinhoff Rohan Wijegoonaratna

The following boys have been selected as Peer Leaders for 2010–2010: Alejandro Morales Terrel Phelps Dylan Smith Nick Stieg Zack Zarillo

THE LYMAN B. TOBIN PUBLIC SPEAKING AWARDS Honoring Browning’s third headmaster Upper School Oral Interpretation First Place: Kyle Johnson Runner-up: David Baird

THE FORM II DRAMA PRIZE Christopher Haack

THE LAURA P. MUHLFELD SPELLING BEE First Place: Daniel Westra Runner-up: Janak Advani Finalists William Abelt Janak Advani Griffin Bassman Matthew Guadagnino Christopher Haack Julian Kalogerakis

Aadir Khan Grant Olcott Jack Reiss Andrew Ruvkun David Valentin Juan Yanes

Given to students in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Schools in memory of Betty Jean Johnson, a longtime teacher in Lower School.

Upper School: Morgan Monahan Middle School: Matthew Guadagnino Lower School: Sebastian Baquero

MOCK TRIAL AWARDS

Peer Leader Awards are given in recognition of outstanding service to Browning as a Peer Leader (2009–2010):

Theodore Altman Jason Bader Alec Ezratty Michael Harley Luca Libani

For excellence in drama

THE BETTY JEAN JOHNSON POETRY AWARDS Nick Hexner Harrison Messer Nathaniel Monteverde Christopher Pelz Jonathan Pelz Aleksandr Schiavetta

PEER LEADERS

Anik Akhund Greg Davis Robert Denton Morgan Monahan James Preiss

THE SHAKESPEARE AWARD Ian Shaw

The following students have been selected as new members of the Key Society. Each boy will receive his Key Society lapel pin to recognize his induction into the society: Form IV James Adeleye Andrew Amarosa Brennan Bassman Ibrahima Diallo Ryan Flynn Remy Fortin

Middle School First Place: Liam Kerwin Form II: Philip van Scheltinga Form I: David Valentin Grade 6: Raphael Russo Grade 5: George Allen

Original Oratory First Place: Myles Mills Runner-up: Joshua Burgess

The Mock Trial Awards are given in recognition of commitment to the program, as demonstrated by thorough preparation for the trial enactments and commendable execution of assigned roles.

Form VI Joshua Burgess Patrick Collins Stephen Fleischer

Justin Leder Daniel Sheinfeld

Form V Leonardo Alavian Owen Lewis

Theodore Altman

Form IV Brady Dale

Henry Newberry

Form III Colin Carter

MODEL U.N. AWARDS Model U.N. Awards are given “in recognition of outstanding contribution to the development of the Model U.N. program at the Browning School, and for consistent levels of diplomatic expertise and excellence in debate at successive Model U.N. Congresses.”

The following students received special recognition at the 2010 Ivy League Model United Nations Conference at the University of Pennsylvania.

Outstanding Delegate Award for his work on the North Korean Cabinet Peter Crisp Honorable Mention for his role as Charles de Gaulle, WWII Allies Committee Justin Leder Verbal Commendation for his work on the Somali Cabinet James Weinhoff

THE YEARBOOK AWARD Robert Denton The Betty Jean Johnson Poetry Award winners: Morgan Monahan ’10, Matthew Guadagnino ’15, and Sebastian Baquero ’18.

EN AVANT AWARD Given in the Upper School in recognition of contributions to the School’s French publication.

Michele Gama Sosa

Jonathan Pelz

LA PANTERA AWARD Given in the Upper School in recognition of contributions to the School’s Spanish publication.

Form VI: Justin Leder Form VI: Thomas Phifer

THE LIT AWARD Given to the Upper School students who have either made outstanding contributions of poetry, fiction, or essays published in the school literary magazine, or for outstanding contributions on the staff of the publication.

The Athletic Achievement Prize, given to the Form II student who participates in two out of three athletic seasons, was awarded to both Juan Yanes ’14 and Spencer Reuben ’14.

Joshua Burgess Patrick Collins Justin Leder

Morgan Monhahan Stephen Straub

ROBERT E. HERMAN AWARDS The Robert E. Herman Awards for Journalism, established by Trustee R. Thomas Herman ’64 to honor his father, recognize excellence in the Grytte.

For general journalism: David Baird, Daniel Leder For sports journalism: Robert Heilberg

THE GRYTTE JOURNALISM AWARD The Grytte Journalism Award is given to a Middle or Upper School boy who has made the greatest contribution during his first year of writing for the Grytte.

James Brisotti

Christopher Haack ’14 received the Form II Headmaster’s Award for his commitment and contributions to the Browning School community.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS THE WILLIAM N. MOSELEY AWARD Given to the Form I boy whose kindness, sportsmanship, and hard work best reflect the mission of the School.

Sumner Erbe

Dylan Rose

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CITIZENSHIP AWARD Given to a Form II student who, in the judgement of the faculty, has maintained an outstanding citizenship record during his Middle School years.

Michael Florentino

The Saleh M. Al-Madhahekah Memorial Award, presented each year by the Headmaster, was given to Peter Shapiro.

THE ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT PRIZE Given to the Form II student who participates in two out of three athletic seasons, showing sportsmanship, skill improvement, passion for the game, as well as courage and character.

Spencer Reuben

Juan Yanes

THE FORM II HEADMASTER’S AWARD Given to a Middle School boy for his commitment and contributions to the Browning School community Christopher Haack

THE ARI LEE LEVINSON PRIZE Given to a Form IV boy who exemplifies Ari’s legacy of good sportsmanship, leadership, and graceful use of natural athletic talent.

Andrew Amarosa Daighn Dunn

Steven Rachmuth ’10 received the Edward G. Cornet ’72 Memorial Award.

Ryan Flynn

FORM VI AWARDS AT PRIZE DAY THE EDWARD G. CORNET ’72 MEMORIAL AWARD Given to a student whose cooperation and perseverance have led to overcoming significant obstacles in the successful completion of course work at Browning.

Steven Rachmuth

THE SALEH M. AL-MADHAHEKAH MEMORIAL AWARD Given by the Headmaster to a Form VI boy who displays dedication and good citizenship.

Peter Shapiro

THE ELEANOR AND HAROLD P. KURZMAN MEMORIAL AWARD FOR IMPROVEMENT Ian Shaw, winner of the Shakespeare Award for excellence in drama, and Christopher Haack, winner of the Form II Drama Prize.

Presented to the boy who has demonstrated the greatest improvement over four years in the Upper School.

Gregory Davis

Ian Shaw

FORM VI AWARDS AT GRADUATION THE D. ALAN DILLENBERG SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD Presented to the student who maintains a high level of scholarship and also regularly participates in the Browning sports program with proficiency and interest.

Robert Denton

Michele Gama Sosa

THE KENNETH KOMITO AWARD FOR CITIZENSHIP

The D. Alan Dillenberg Scholar Athlete Award, was awarded to Robert Denton ’10 and Michele Gama Sosa ’10.

Presented to a Form VI boy who, in the opinion of the faculty, epitomizes the good citizen. He is one who demonstrates character and has contributed unstintingly to his school and associates throughout his Upper School years.

Justin Leder

THE HEADMASTER CHARLES W. COOK ’38 AWARD Given to an Upper School boy for his commitment and contributions to the Browning School community.

Adrian Muoio

FACULTY AWARDS AT GRADUATION THE LIT DEDICATION Presented by Justin Leder ’10

Justin Leder ’10 was awarded the Kenneth Komito Award for Citizenship, which is presented to a Form VI boy who, in the opinion of the faculty, epitomizes the good citizen.

She is a bright light in a well-lit space. She is an energetic educator, a sensitive listener, and a passionate advocate for the power of the written and spoken word. She embraces the traditional and the avant garde, the venerable hardcover book, and the latest Macintosh model.

With gratitude and pleasure, we dedicate the 2010 edition of the Lit to our librarian and advocate, Sarah A. Murphy

THE SABET AWARD Given each year by the faculty to an admired colleague. The 2010 award was presented by Sanford M. Pelz ’71 to: Lucy A. Warner

THE GRYTTE FACULTY DEDICATION (Yearbook) Presented by Harrison Asen ’10

Adrian Muoio ’10 was awarded the Headmaster Charles W. Cook ’38 Award for his commitment and contributions to the Browning School community.

Every year, the Senior Class honors a member of the Browning community who they feel embodies its greatest attributes. Since 2001, Mr. Angel Morello has been an invaluable member of the Browning School. No matter what day of the week, Mr. Morello is constantly helping other on every floor of the school. Whether he is high-fiving a Pre-Primary student or taking the time to speak with a group of Form VI students, Mr. Morello's dedication to the Browning community is unwavering. We cannot thank him enough for everything that he does for all of us at Browning, and his positive attitude and bright smile continue to inspire us. The Class of 2010 proudly dedicates the yearbook to: Angel Morello

FACULTY AWARDS AT GRADUATION (continued)

SPECIAL GRYTTE FACULTY DEDICATION (Newspaper) Presented by Daniel Leder ’10 to: Laura P. Muhlfeld

CLASS OF 1979 CLAIR J. SMITH FACULTY AWARD Presented in honor of Clair J. Smith by David Baird ’10 to: Kevin L. Dearinger Justin Leder ’10 presents the Lit dedication to Sarah Murphy.

Mr. Morello, recipient of the Grytte yearbook dedication, with Robert Denton ’10, Peter Shapiro ’10, and Harrison Asen ’10.

Lucy A. Warner accepts the Sabet Award from Sanford M. Pelz ’71 and Headmaster Clement.

Laura Muhlfeld accepting a special Grytte newspaper faculty dedication from Daniel Leder ’10 and David Baird ’10.

Kevin L. Dearinger receives the Class of 1979 Clair J. Smith Faculty Award from David Baird ’10.

2010 GRADUATION ADDRESS Ambassador Terje Rød-Larsen, P ’20 Under-Secretary-General, United Nations President, International Peace Institute

G

raduates, students of the Browning School, Headmaster, teachers, ladies and gentlemen: Good morning, everybody.

We live in turbulent times. Financial crises, natural disasters,

terrorism and conflict threaten our fragile planet. At the same time, technology has compressed time and space, speeding up the flow of information, money, even people. As a result, instability in one part of the world affects us all. A financial crisis in Greece drags down the entire Eurozone. An epidemic—like bird flu or SARS—can cause global panic. A volcano in Iceland

Ambassador Rød-Larsen, father of third grader Edward Rød-Larsen, addressing the Class of 2010.

strands air travellers around the world. Terrorists, trained in faraway places, strike at the heart of major capitals.

My particular concern is the Middle East, where I have been trying to broker peace for the past 20 years. This is a very local

understanding. This is the basis for peaceful coexistence, cooperation, security and prosperity.

How do you achieve this? By building trust and confidence,

issue, affecting the lives of people who are not free to move, and

showing empathy, being honest, and respecting dignity and

who live in fear. It is also a regional issue—affecting relations

diversity. It starts with a handshake, like the one you had with

between neighbouring states, some of whom even refuse to talk

your headmaster or one of your teachers every morning during

to, or recognize, each other.

many years at Browning. Despite rapid increases in technology

And if war erupts in the Middle East, there will be a global

and greater access to information, at the end of the day, decisions

crisis—military, political, and financial. It will be much bigger

involve people. Just look at what happened at the Copenhagen

than any volcanic eruption. Such an eruption will cause global

Summit on climate change.

stock markets to tumble farther and faster than any bank or

After months of preparation, 25 world leaders jammed

currency scandal. How should states respond? Obviously, the

into a small room, trying to thrash out consensus on the most

priority is to protect the national interest. This is sometimes

important challenge of our time. It came down to the ability of

referred to as realpolitik.

leaders to speak to each other, and to try work together. In this

Another approach is to provide development assistance and humanitarian aid—to reduce the vulnerability of countries

case they failed. There was a fundamental lack of trust.

I leave you with this thought: You entered this great school

to instability. In the past, these two approaches were regarded

as boys; you leave it as gentlemen. When you walk out of that

as separate. Foreign ministries would look after the national

red door of the Browning School for the last time, you may leave

interest. Development agencies would try to do good.

behind your teachers, books, and friends. But the rules stay the

Yet these two approaches are now starting to merge as people realize that its actually in our own self-interest to help others.

same. Only the stakes are higher.

As future leaders, remember that in the modern world,

Because the world has become interdependent, what goes on over

it is still the old-fashioned core values that you learned at the

there, is eventually going to have an impact on us over here. We

Browning School that count—in business, politics, diplomacy,

can try to build walls around your society, like gated communities

and among friends. A simple, but powerful credo for life that

that protect the rich which are surrounded by slums inhabited by

your headmaster so compactly formulated in his speech to the

the poor. But we will forever live in fear. No amount of technology

graduates of the lower school a few days ago: be kind, be

or security can make us completely safe.

considerate, and be thoughtful. These are the values that will

Alternatively, you can go out and try to understand why the people outside our walls are different than you, reach out to them, and lower the barriers to trade, movement, and mutual

equip you to be, in the best sense of the word, a gentleman, I might say: a Browning gentleman.

Gentlemen, God bless you all—and good luck to you!

Thank you for your kind attention. I

Athletics SPRING WRAP

second for the 800, and fourth in the mile and the two miles. And

By Andrew West ’92, Director of Athletics

Daighn Dunn was impressive in the long jump, placing second

T

overall. Speaking of long jump. I would like to say thank you to

had the makings of a special team. Not only could we pitch and

7th/8th Grade Baseball

his spring was a very successful one. It all started with an amazing trip to Port St. Lucie, where the varsity baseball team was able to practice and play under the beautiful Florida sun. From the first

Marsha Wallace for her help and unconditional support during the track season, and to team manager Michael Sandino, who did a great job helping me and the team.

—Coach Bernard

practice at Florida Coast Baseball Camp, Coach T and I knew we

hit, but we were playing some stellar defense as well. The spring

The 7th/8th Grade baseball team enjoyed a fun spring

teams all did very well, mostly finishing either first or second in

season. Although it was a challenging season and proved to be a

the ISAL. Varsity tennis and varsity golf both had incredible

rebuilding year with strong competition, the team was led by a

seasons finishing with just one loss each to Columbia Prep.

great group of eighth grade players. Captains Spencer Reuben,

Varsity baseball finished in first place in the regular season and

Ryan Colella, and Anthony Scotto turned out to be quite a

won the postseason championship as well. Varsity track had

power-hitting trio, driving in a lot of runs for the Panthers. The

continuing success with many boys qualifying for the

team enjoyed breaking in the new fields at Randall’s Island and

championships and NYSAIS track meet. Speaking of NYSAIS,

looks forward to returning next spring. We wish the departing

Browning will be represented in golf, track, and baseball this year

players much luck!

in the state tournament! All in all, it has been a very special year

—Coach Zeuner

and one that I, as athletic director, am very proud to have been a part of. Here’s to the Class of 2010 and the 89 percent of Upper School boys who participated in Browning athletics in 2009–2010.

Go Panthers!

Varsity Baseball This season our varsity baseball team worked hard to improve by going down to West Palm Beach, FL, for spring training. At camp we were able to work and improve our physical

Varsity Track The varsity track team clinched the season on May 11 at

conditioning, defense, hitting, and pitching. Competitive baseball games were played against teams from across the country. We

Riverbanks Stadium with the final track championships. While

were very successful winning four out of six scheduled games.

the competition in our league is more and more challenging, and

The experience from camp transferred to our regular season

the qualifications times more difficult, we did very well in the

losing only two games. We continued to play well winning the

4x400, 4x100 with Greg Davis, Terrell Phelps, Nathaniel

ISAL division and playoff championship. Our team was eligible

Monteverde, and Daighn Dunn. Michele Gama Sosa placed

for the first time to attend the NYSAIS tournament.

The experience of being in the tournament was tremendous for

finished second in the one-day tournament that concluded the

our players and the athletic program at Browning. I would like to

season. Of the eight players on the squad, seven played in one

thank everybody for their support. Go Panthers!

match or more, where four compete in a match. All matches —Coach Taveras

were played at Mosholu Golf Course, a tight but short 9-hole course in the Bronx. Special mention must be made of

Varsity Tennis Bolstered by the strong play of two Form III students new to the Browning community this year, Paul Pricop and Evan

Robert Denton who represented Browning in the NYSAIS state tournament in Westchester.

—Coach Watson

Blumenthal, the team earned their best record in the last three years. We finished as ISAL League runner-up with six wins (against Trevor Day, Garden, Lycée Français NY, Churchill, Birch

Spring Training Browning’s annual Florida Coast spring training trip was

Wathen Lenox, and LREI) and one loss, (against Columbia Prep),

highly successful. This trip gives Browning’s players the

and also finished runner-up in the ISAL Tournament.

opportunity to play under conditions that anyone in the

Though there are only seven starters for matches, due

northeast would envy. The talent present at the camp is

to absences and field trips, all five alternate players had an

astounding. Many of our players cannot even throw until March

opportunity to play a match throughout the season.

because of the cold wintry weather, so to have such success

Highlights this season include: beating Lycée Français NY

against teams that are able to play year-round is incredible.

for the first time in three years, Paul Pricop finishing the season

Browning fought hard and worked hard every day, focusing on

undefeated as the #2 singles player, Jason Bader winning the #3

its defense. Coach T worked the infield hard day in and day out

singles bracket at the ISAL tournament, and playing in the

until they were “vacuum cleaners.” Pitching this year was

Stadium Court at the Westside Tennis Club in Forest Hills,

questionable but during the camp Max Liu, Erik van Os, Alex

Queens, during practice. That court was where the U.S. Open

Bendo, and Ryan Flynn established themselves on the mound,

finals were played before being moved to Flushing, Queens.

guided by the skill and experience of Adrian Muoio behind the

Paul Pricop earned the Most Valuable Player Award,

plate. They all threw strikes consistently and came in for relief

Jason Bader, Harrison Messer, and Peter Maguire earned

only to have a 1.03 era. Robert Denton managed to shut down

Most Improved Player awards, and the entire team earned the

the Minutemen for the last game with a dominant fastball and an

Sportsmanship Award for handling themselves like Browning

overwhelming 12–6 curveball, while Browning bats were hot.

gentlemen, both at practices and at matches held at the Billie Jean

Ryan Flynn had an incredible 1.000 average at camp, while

King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens.

Lucas Schwartz followed closely with a 0.789 average and

Our two seniors, team captain Justin Leder and Thomas Phifer, will be sorely missed, yet this also means that we will have a strong team returning next year. Go Panthers!

Adrian Muoio with a 0.777 average.

Browning established a dynasty last year and continued it this year at the Golden Corral. This is where Browning’s record

—Coach Klein

Varsity Golf The varsity golf team had their most successful season to date in Browning’s short golf history. Their overall record was 6–1 with the only defeat being at the hands of Columbia Prep when our best player, Robert Denton, was unavailable. The boys also

attendance of 23 players played a vital role. Additionally, because of this record number of players, Coach Zeuner flew down with the team along with Coach T and Coach West. Coach T was an inspiration to the players and provided them with the motivation to win. Furthermore, Coach West always provided the laughter. putting players at ease. Browning knew during all of their games that “tonight’s going to be a good night.” I

Varsity Golf (L to R): Adam Nebenzahl, Stephen Fleischer, Brady Dale, and Juan Yanes.

Not pictured: Philip Connor, Robert Denton, Rex Masheroni, Ian Rankowitz, and Coach Watson.

Varsity Tennis (L to R): Paul Pricop, Philip van Scheltinga, Peter Maguire, Spencer Wolfe, Justin Leder, Thomas Phifer, Andrew Chanos, Brian Tudor, Harrison Messer, Evan Blumenthal, Jason Bader, and Coach Klein.

Varsity Track Front row (L to R): Coach Bernard, Ibrahima Diallo, Michael gabrellian, Nathaniel Monteverde, Jon Pelz, J.R. Chansakul, Jonathan Flinchum, and Brandt Berrie.

Back row (L to R): Jeremy Chan, Michele Gama Sosa, James Brisotti, John Phenge, Wilfred Wallis, Daighn Dunn, Anik Akhund, Peter Shapiro, David Baird, and Michael Sandino.

Not pictured: Terrel Phelps and Greg Davis.

Varsity Baseball Front row (L to R): Max Liu, Brandon Valentin, Jesse Rost, Alex Bendo, Roberto Levin, and Myles Mills.

Back row (L to R): Coach Taveras, Robert Denton, Erik van Os, Adrien Muoio, Jesse Graff, James Adelye, Ryan Flynn, Andrew Amarosa, Lucas Schwartz, Nick Corliss, Alejandro Morales, Kyle Johnson, Ben Jacobs, Nic Greco, and Efrain Morales.

7/8 Baseball Front row (L to R): Jack Reiss, Zachary Frisch, William Abelt, Max Stacey, Spencer Reuben, and Alec Morea.

Back row (L to R): Coach Sheridan, Alexander Gottdiener, Ryan Colella, Diego Lopez-Liranzo, Sumner Erbe, Anthony Scotto, and Coach Zeuner.

Not pictured: Ty York, Andrew Ruvken, and Aaron Parisier.

Spring Training 2010 Port St. Lucie, Florida

ALUMNI

Alumni Events

By Laura E. Neller, Director of Alumni Affairs

Association and what it means to be a Browning alumnus. The speakers included Alumni Association President Juan Reyes ’86,

FORM VI BREAKFAST

T

he annual Form VI Breakfast was held at the New York Athletic Club on April 2. As is tradition, the Form VI

gentlemen heard several alumni speak about the Alumni

Secretary Joe Metzger ’02, Treasurer Sharif Tanamli ’87, as well as Mr. Pelz ’71, Mr. Haase, and Headmaster Clement. The seniors were presented with engraved key chains on behalf of the Alumni Association. Congratulations to the Class of 2010, and welcome to the Alumni Association! I

Above (L to R): James Preiss ’10, Rawle Sterling ’10, Daniel Sheinfeld ’10, Greg Davis ’10, James Weinhoff ’10, Josh Burgess ’10, Rohan Wijegoonaratna ’10, Charlie Reiss ’10, Steven Rachmuth ’10, Ian Shaw ’10, and Thomas Phifer ’10 at the Form VI Breakfast.

Below: Seniors, faculty, and alumni enjoyed a spectacular view of Central Park from one of the terraces at the New York Athletic Club during the Form VI Breakfast.

ALUMNI

BROWNING-HEWITT REUNION

T

he annual Browning-Hewitt Reunion was held at Dorrian’s on April 29. Alumni from the Classes of 1980–2006

were invited, and more than 50 alums and their guests from both schools attended to make this annual event another success.

Browning and Hewitt covered the first round of drinks and all appetizers, and a good time was had by all.

We hope to see even more of you next year! I Brooke Smith DiCapua ’86, Jennifer Witmer ’87, Rich Dovere ’04, and Christian Hayden ’05.

Paige and Marc Cali '89 (center) with Hewitt friends Kristina Fisher '91 (left) and Diantha Wilson Redd '91 (right).

L to R: Jennifer Witmer '87, John Hutzler '86, Dena Warren '87, Marissa Sorger Tracey '83, Peter Stavropoulos '82, and William Judson '81 at Dorrian's.

L to R: Emmy Spahr '00, Andy Madden '96, John Hutzler '86, and Joe Metzger '02.

L to R: Hillary Nammack, Andrew Ponzo '98, Michael Afshar '98, and Sasha Forostenko '98.

ALUMNI ALUMNI REUNION

B

rowning’s annual Alumni Reunion on May 13 was a big success! More than 100 alumni from the Classes

of 1950–2009 returned to school for a full day of events.

Alumni Career Panel In the morning, an Alumni Career Panel featuring Zachary Goldfarb ’01, Christopher Jennings ’99, and Nader Mobargha ’91 presented to the Upper School student body. Please see page 46 for more information about these three gentlemen.

True Grytte Society Luncheon

L to R: Mr. Dearinger, Nick Versandi '01, and Zachary Goldfarb '01 at this year's Alumni Career Panel in the Wilson Room.

At noon, alumni from the Classes of 1960 and earlier attended the True Grytte Society Luncheon at the Knickerbocker Club.

Toward the end of lunch, the Upper School Student A Capella Group performed songs by the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel.

Special thanks to a cappella singers Josh Burgess ’10, Patrick Collins ’10, Peter Crisp ’10, Jesse Graff ’10, James Preiss ’10, and Adrian Muoio ’10. You will all be missed next year!

Kayoun Award Announcement and Class of 1938 Alumnus Achievement Award Ceremony In the evening, alumni and guests convened next door in the ballroom at the Loews Regency Hotel for a cocktail reception and the Alumnus Achievement Award ceremony honoring R. Sargent Shriver ’34.

L to R: Chris Jennings '99 and Nader Mobargha '91 share a laugh with Mr. Reynolds.

L to R: Mr. Pelz ’71, Nick Versandi '01, Zachary Goldfarb '01, Mr. Ingrisani, Dr. Protheroe, Mr. Dearinger, Chris Jennings '99, Ms. Muhlfeld, and Nader Mobargha '91 after the Alumni Career Panel.

L to R: Zachary Goldfarb '01, Chris Jennings '99, and Nader Mobargha '91 with Headmaster Clement following their Alumni Career Panel presentations to the Upper School.

ALUMNI

L to R: Trustee Tom Herman '64, Director of Development Martin Haase, Christina Vaughan, and Homer Vaughan '60.

The Upper School Student A Cappella Group (L to R): Patrick Collins '10, Jesse Graff '10, James Preiss '10, Peter Crisp '10, Adrian Muoio '10, and Josh Burgess '10.

Prior to the beginning of the Alumnus Achievement Award ceremony, Nicolas Perkin ’89 and Michael Beys ’89 spoke to guests about the newly established Alex M. Kayoun Memorial Language Award. Alex Kayoun (1922–2009) was an extraordinary teacher, mentor, and role model for generations of young men at the Browning School. A member of Browning’s faculty from 1968 to 1989, along with his wife, Gisele, Monsieur Kayoun’s legacy will be perpetuated and expanded by the Kayoun Award, an appropriate honor for an outstanding teacher.

The Kayoun Award was established in January 2010 by Nicolas Above: Headmaster Clement speaking to guests at the True Grytte Society Luncheon at the Knickerbocker Club.

Below: Sargent Shriver ’34, the 2010 recipient of the Class of 1938 Alumnus Achievement Award.

Perkin ’89 and the Perkin Fund to provide an opportunity for a deserving Browning student to study abroad. Students of the French language will be given first consideration, but the award will not be restricted to French scholars. Special thanks to Nicolas Perkin ’89 and Michael Beys ’89 for taking a few moments to discuss the award and the impact Monsieur and Madame Kayoun had as French teachers at the Browning School. It was also an honor to have Madame Kayoun in attendance for this special inauguration of the Kayoun Award.

Honoring R. Sargent Shriver ’34 Following the Kayoun Award announcement, Sargent Shriver ’34 was honored as the 2010 recipient of the Class of 1938 Alumnus Achievement Award. He attended the Browning School from 1929 to 1930, leaving as a result of the Great Depression’s impact on his family’s finances. He left for a full scholarship to the Canterbury School, followed by admissions to

ALUMNI

The above gentlemen each spoke on behalf of Sargent Shriver '34 at this year's Alumnus Achievement Award ceremony (L to R): Headmaster Clement, Juan Reyes '86, Tom Oliphant '63, Ted Sorensen, Tom Herman '64, and Mark Shriver.

Mark Shriver accepting the Alumnus Achievement Award on behalf of his father, Sargent Shriver ’34.

Sasha Forostenko ’98, Andy Sandberg ’01, Nick Versandi ’01, and Andy Madden ’96 at the cocktail reception at the Regency.

Current and former faculty gathered around Madame Gisele Kayoun at the announcement of the Kayoun Award (L to R): Mr. Grill, Mr. Sheridan '04, Dr. Protheroe, Mr. Keany, Ms. Amley, Mr. Dearinger, Ms. Muhlfeld, Madame Kayoun, Mr. Ingrisani, Mr. Pelz '71, Mr. Ordway ’67, Mr. Reynolds, and Mr. Hutzler '86.

ALUMNI Yale University and Yale Law School. Mr. Shriver served five years of active duty in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1953, Mr. Shriver married Eunice Kennedy, sister of John F. Kennedy. Mr. Shriver’s commitment to public service made him one of the most effective leaders of John F. Kennedy’s New Frontier and Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society in the 1960s. He inspired, directed, and founded numerous social programs and organizations, including Head Start, VISTA, Job Corps, Community Action, Upward Bound, Foster Grandparents, Special Olympics, the National Center on Poverty Law, Legal Services, and the Peace Corps, serving as the program’s first director under President Kennedy in 1961. Mr. Shriver also ran

Headmaster Clement accepting a check from the Class of 2010 on behalf of their 10th Browning Reunion.

the War on Poverty during Johnson’s tenure as president. From 1968 to 1970, Mr. Shriver was the U.S. ambassador to France.

In 1972, Mr. Shriver was nominated by the Democratic Party as a candidate for vice president with presidential candidate Senator George McGovern. In 1978, Mr. Shriver began the Kennedy Institute of Ethics “Trialogue” between leaders of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions, the first such forum for discussion since medieval Spain.

Mr. Shriver went on to become president and chairman of the board of the Special Olympics in 1984 and 1990, respectively.

Under his leadership, the Special Olympics greatly expanded its international sports programs for young people around the world.

In 1994, Mr. Shriver received the Presidential Medal of

The Class of 2000 (with honorary class member Dr. Protheroe) holding the class check which will be used to establish the Class of 2000 Distinguished Speaker Series.

Freedom from President Clinton, the highest civilian honor, in recognition for his lifetime of public service. Mr. Shriver currently lives in Potomac, MD. He is the father of five children (Robert Sargent Shriver III, Maria Shriver, Timothy Shriver, Mark Shriver, and Anthony Shriver) and nineteen grandchildren.

The Alumnus Achievement Award ceremony speakers included Headmaster Clement, Alumni Association president Juan D. Reyes III ’86, 1999 Alumnus Achievement Award Recipient Thomas N. Oliphant ’63, President Kennedy’s Former Special Counsel and Adviser Theodore Sorensen, Trustee and 2002 Alumnus Achievement Award Recipient R. Thomas Herman ’64, and Sargent Shriver’s son, Mark K. Shriver.

L to R: Joe Metzger '02, Andy Sandberg '01, Jeff Landes '83, Allanby Singleton-Green '83, and Bryan Boisi '00 on stage in the Lower Gym during the Perry Award ceremony.

ALUMNI Reunion Dinner

2010 ALUMNI CAREER PANEL

Following the cocktail reception, alumni returned to Browning for a filet mignon dinner in the Lower Gym, compliments of Chef Cecilie Clark. During dinner, the Stephen S. Perry ’76 Memorial Class Representative Award recipients were announced: Most Outstanding Class Representative Andrew B. Sandberg ’01 Most Outstanding Class Fundraisers Mark A. Hulak ’83 Jeffrey M. Landes ’83 Allanby Singleton-Green ’83

Zachary Goldfarb ’01 Zachary Goldfarb is a staff writer at the Washington Post in Washington, D.C. He covers corporate crime and government investigations into financial wrongdoing. He has worked for the Post for nearly five years, covering politics and financial policy at different times. Mr. Goldfarb has appeared on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, NPR, Fox Business News, C-SPAN, and PBS. He briefly worked for the Wall Street Journal after attending the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at

Most Outstanding Class Correspondent Bryan P. Boisi ’00

Princeton University, graduating in 2005.

Also at dinner, the Class Representatives of 2000 presented

Christopher R. Jennings ’99

Headmaster Clement with their 10th Reunion gift, an endowed 10-year fund created in 2000 upon their Browning graduation, now amounting to more than $75,000. This gift will be allocated toward establishing the Class of 2000 Distinguished Speaker Series. The ’00 Class Reps also inducted faculty member Dr. Gerry Protheroe as an honorary member of the class.

Please see page 47 for a list of this year’s Alumni Reunion guests. We hope to see even more of you next year! I

Chris Jennings lives in New York and currently works for Bernstein Global Wealth Management, focusing on high net worth individuals and families. A graduate of Middlebury College, Mr. Jennings was an economics major and English minor. He graduated from Browning in 1999 after spending thirteen years at the School. Mr. Jennings joined Bernstein in May 2008 in the New York office, and prior to joining the firm, he worked for Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs. He is a CFA charter holder and CFP ® practitioner.

Nader Mobargha ’91 Standing (L to R): Ross Thompson '04, Joe Metzger '02, Jeremy Katz '04, and Alex Sheridan '04. Seated (L to R): Albie Bramble '04, Scott Uffner '04, and Gene Prentice '03.

Nader Mobargha lives in New York where he works as an experienced commercial litigator, focusing his practice on complex business and securities litigation. He spent five years as a commercial litigator in the business and securities litigation department at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, an international law firm. After Weil, he spent two years at Golenbock, Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe LLP. He has published various legal articles, and in 2005, he was awarded the Pro Bono Publico Award for Outstanding Service, the highest award given by the Legal Aid Society. Recently Mr. Mobargha and Browning alumnus Michael Beys ’89 started their own law firm, Beys, Stein & Mobargha LLP, specializing in corporate law and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Mobargha received a B.A. from McGill University in English literature and a J.D. from New York Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude.

He is an active member of Browning’s Alumni Council.

ALUMNI 2010 ALUMNI REUNION ATTENDEES 1950s Michael Linburn ’50 Neil Chassman ’55 Robert Gimbel ’57 Richard Rudick ’57 Chauncey Johnstone ’59 1960s Homer Vaughan ’60 Tom Oliphant ’63 Tom Herman ’64 Jack Larson ’65 Eric Ordway ’67 1970s Sandy Pelz ’71 Steve Schott ’72 Shawn Cherry ’75 Peter Provet ’76 Othon Prounis ’79 1980s Greg Camp ’80 George Grimbilas ’80 Mace Perlman ’80 Jim Schaefer ’80 Eric Lustgarten ’81 Richard Helgason ’82 Enrique Bonfils-Roberts ’83 Anil Jethmal ’83 Jeff Landes ’83 Daniel Rencricca ’83 Allanby Singleton-Green ’83 Bill Reed ’85 John Hutzler ’86 Juan Reyes ’86

Stephan Rothe ’87 Sharif Tanamli ’87 Mike Beys ’89 Nicolas Perkin ’89 1990s Nader Mobargha ’91 Andy Madden ’96 John Moran ’97 Michael Afshar ’98 Sasha Forostenko ’98 Justin Kingson ’98 Chris Jennings ’99 2000s Nikola Barisic ’00 Bryan Boisi ’00 Charles Davi ’00 Jon Estreich ’00 Phil Grant ’00 John Hemminger ’00 Evan Levey ’00 Jed Levinson ’00 Jason Lopez ’00 Ben Melting ’00 Stuart Orenstein ’00 Graham Smith ’00 Jon Cohn ’01 Zachary Goldfarb ’01 Neeraj Rawat ’01 Andy Sandberg ’01 Nicholas Versandi ’01 Jay Fidlow ’02 Ed Kent ’02 Joe Metzger ’02 Gene Prentice ’03

Reunion dinner guests in the Lower Gym.

caption

Albie Bramble ’04 Jeremy Katz ’04 Alex Sheridan ’04 Ross Thompson ’04 Scott Uffner ’04 Alexander Bank ’05 Andrew Fanelli ’05 Paris Ionescu ’05 David Kimball-Stanley ’05 Christopher Latos ’05 Sam Morril ’05 Abraham Schneider ’05 Sam Slovin ’05 Asif Uddin ’05 Faculty, Staff, and Former Faculty Hollis Amley, Faculty Christine Bramble, Director of MS and US Admission Stephen Clement, Headmaster Kevin Dearinger, Faculty Aaron Grill, Director of Tecnology Martin Haase, Director of Development John Hutzler ’86, Former Faculty Mike Ingrisani, Faculty Jeremy Katz ’04, Digital Communications Designer Gisele Kayoun, Former Faculty Sam Keany, Faculty Courtney Lawsing, Director of Annual Giving Olya Makhova, Director of Database Management Laura Muhlfeld, Faculty Laura Neller, Director of Alumni Affairs Eric Ordway ’67, Former Faculty Gerry Protheroe, Faculty Jim Reynolds, Head of Upper School Alex Sheridan ’04, Faculty Carrie Smith, Assistant Director of Admissions

ALUMNI ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

O

n May 17, the Annual Meeting of Browning’s Alumni Association was held outside on the lower batting cage

deck. More than 20 alumni attended for this final meeting of the school year. Juan Reyes ’86 was elected president for one more year, and Sharif Tanamli ’87 was elected treasurer for his third two-year term. Special thanks to Chef Clark for preparing appetizers and drinks for the entire group. I

This year's Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association was held on the lower batting cage deck.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

O

n May 20, the late Okogbue C. Okezie ’90 was inducted into Browning’s Athletic Hall of Fame at the

annual Athletic Awards Banquet in the Lower Gym. Many of Okogbue’s classmates, family, former faculty, and coaches attended in honor of his athletic accomplishments. Special thanks to Michael Beys ’89 for speaking, and to Andrew Chapman ’90, Steve Costalas ’91, and Peter Orphanos ’89 for attending. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a Browning alumnus must have played at least two varsity sports in both Form V and Form VI, while simultaneously participating in the community and serving as a positive role model to his peers. I L to R: Nick Versandi '01, Stuart Orenstein '00, and Jon Cohn '01 at the Annual Meeting.

3RD ANNUAL YOUNG ALUMNI MAY MIXER

O

n May 27, the 3rd Annual Young Alumni May Mixer was held at M1-5 in TriBeCa. This year’s 11 participating

school’s included Allen-Stevenson, Brearley, Browning, Chapin, Collegiate, Hewitt, Marymount, Nightingale, Sacred Heart, Saint David’s, and St. Bernard’s. More than 300 alumni from all the schools attended and enjoyed a complimentary round of drinks and appetizers. We hope to see even more of you next year! I

L to R: Ed Kent '02, Sean Russell '02, and John Dearie '99 at the Annual Meeting.

ALUMNI

Director of Athletics Andrew West '92 presents Okogbue Okezie '90's Hall of Fame plaque to one of his family members.

The Okezie family with Director of Athletics Andrew West '92 at the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction.

Peter Allen '03 and Ed Kent '02 at this year's May Mixer at M1-5.

L to R: Nelson Chan '96, Andy Madden '96, Juan Reyes '86, and John Moran '97 at the May Mixer.

L to R: Sam Morril '05, Chris Latos '05, and Brett Wade '01 at M1-5.

Jon Cohn '01 (center) with friends at the 3rd Annual May Mixer.

ALUMNI

Class Notes To share news with Browning and your classmates, please contact Laura Neller, Director of Alumni Affairs, at 212 838 6280, x192, or lneller@browning.edu.

1950s Andrew Dillon ’54 continues to live at Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, FL, where he still enjoys some

1930s

teaching. This fall he will be presenting Macbeth, and in spring

R. Sargent Shriver ’34 is the 2010 recipient of the Class of 1938

2011, Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities. He sends his best to all at Browning.

Alumnus Achievement Award (see page 47).

Thomas E. Lovejoy, III ’59 recently wrote an Op-ed piece for the International Herald Tribune relating to the International Year of

1940s

Biodiversity. In September, Dr. Lovejoy is presenting the Third

The Reverend John F. Woolverton ’47 recently wrote to us in

Assembly.

Global Biodiversity Outlook to the United Nations General

response to this year’s True Grytte Society luncheon invitation: Alas, this country bumpkin seldom ventures further south than Boston. I remain, however, grateful to the Browning School which took in this World War II veteran and after one semester (!), gave me my high school diploma, and sent me on to Harvard College. Could the fact that A.J. Jones taught my father and one of my older brothers—both William H. Woolverton--have had anything to do with such an educational and academic miracle? Whatever the case I continue to honor both Headmaster Jones and the fine institution he led.

L to R: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Linburn '50 with Headmaster Clement at the True Grytte Society luncheon at the Knickerbocker Club in May.

1960s Robert J. Dalva ’60 recently sent us the following news: I am in Montreal working as editor of a film called Immortals. Montreal is a great city. Some of Dr. Robert’s French comes back to me at odd times. Reading is easier than speaking so I must have learned something.

Chauncey Johnstone ’59, Robert Gimbel ’57, and Richard Helgason ’82 at the True Grytte Society luncheon at the Knickerbocker Club in May.

Alumni from the Class of 1972 recently reunited (L to R): Jeremy Galton ’72, Jaime Carey ’72, and Howard Rasmussen ’72.

ALUMNI Society in April at the Knickerbocker Club, on the occasion of his

1970s

class’s 50th reunion. Following the lunch, he sent us the

In September, New York Times Chairman and Publisher Arthur O.

following note:

Sulzberger, Jr. ’70 will speak about paid content and the

Homer K. Vaughan ’60 was inducted to Browning’s True Grytte

What a great honor for me after all those years. I would like to thank everyone. I always brag about Browning to my wife, Christina, telling her my education at Browning was far more than just books, but developed my entire philosophy towards life. I have always stood tall with the feeling my teachers were there with me. Fifty years later I still have that feeling. I have never been alone, never.

When we left after lunch my wife had tears in her eyes.

She said, “The last of the fine gentlemen.” I said, “No, not the last, as long as there is a Browning, there will always be fine gentlemen.”

Charles J. Plohn, Jr. ’62 and his son spent a week as volunteers for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. They

importance of leveraging audience and reader engagement at the 9th International Newsroom Summit in London.

Ralph D. Gardner, Jr. ’71 recently mentioned the Browning School in his Wall Street Journal column. For the full article, please see page 60.

Howard L. Rasmussen ’72 was recently named headmaster of Cambridge Academy in South Carolina.

In March, JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon ’74 was named to Barron’s list of the 30 Best CEOs.

spent time with Grant Judd ’64, who lives on the Cape and is

Christopher F. Cannon ’79 was featured in an April New York

active with the team and the league.

Post article about his family life in New Jersey and running

John H. Ballard, Jr. ’63 recently sent us the following news: Got a great e-mail from an old classmate, football midfielder Panos Dracos ’63, now living through Greece’s turbulent times. Would love to hear more from classmates.

Where is Neal Dearling ’63? Peter Muller ’62, et al?

Jackie Ryan is performing at major jazz fests this summer; we're celebrating 20 years together. Swimming a serious mile a day and contributing to Oxfam and Southern Poverty Law. Glad to see Browning teachers and students getting out into the world. Best to all.

restaurants in Manhattan. Please see page 57 for the full article.

1980s Douglas S. Brophy ’81 served as a judge in Browning’s 2010 Lyman B. Tobin Public Speaking competition. Mr. Brophy is currently the academic dean at the Spence School.

Peter C. Lippman ’81 wrote a book titled Evidence-Based Design of Elementary and Secondary Schools, due to be published in September 2010. Mr. Lippman is a senior architectural staff

L to R: Allanby Singleton-Green '83, Mark Shriver, Director of Development Martin Haase, and Nicolas Perkin '89 at the Alumnus Achievement Award ceremony at the Regency Hotel in May.

Director of Development Martin Haase and Alumni Association President Juan Reyes ’86 at the Form VI Breakfast at the New York Athletic Club in April.

Current parents Peter Stavropolous '82 (left) and John Hutzler '86 (right) at the Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association in May.

ALUMNI member of the Education Practice Group at JCJ Architecture in

V. Marc Cali ’89 attended D. Campbell McCrary ’89’s

New York City. He has worked on a range of educational projects

wedding on May 15 in Charleston, SC. He sends his best

including elementary and secondary schools as well as higher

wishes to Campbell and his wife, Kathryn.

education facilities. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Lippman served as chair for the AIANY Chapter Committee on Architecture for Education, where he developed and presented programs that examined and extended ideas about the design of school environments.

Peter Orphanos ’89, his wife, Nicole, and daughter, Katherine, are proud to announce the recent birth of their baby boy, Peter Rocco Orphanos. On the business front, Peter’s company Orphmedia was recently signed to produce all online properties and websites for world-famous chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Enrique Bonfils-Roberts ’83 handles marketing and corporate

and his company Culinary Concepts. Orphmedia’s clients

communications for the asset management firm Neuberger

include Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck, Michael Mina, Kent

Berman. He lives with his three children in Brooklyn.

Rathbun, and Today Show chef Ed Brown.

John Erthein ’86 recently sent us the following update:

In June, Nicolas R. Perkin ’89 was appointed to Bideo.com’s

I have been married since 2004, and my wife, Lela, and I are blessed with two small children, Matthew, aged 4, and Lillian, nearly aged 2. We are expecting our third child at the end of October. Since 2002, I have been working as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), currently serving a congregation in Erie, PA. If anyone wants to be in touch, e-mail me at presbyman@yahoo.com.

board of directors. Bideo.com is the world’s first online auction house for real-time trading of exclusive news video and photos.

Also in June, Bloomberg interviewed Mr. Perkin about his company, The Receivables Exchange (TRE). In July, Institutional Investor named TRE one of the 2010 Tech 40: The Financial Technology Sector’s Top 40 Stars. TRE joins a list of the 40 most

William E. Hult ’87 is president of Tradeweb, a leading global

innovative financial technology companies in the world.

provider of online marketplaces for fixed income and derivative professionals. He lives in New York City with his wife, Allison,

1990s

and two daughters, Olivia and Ava. At the Athletic Awards Banquet in May, Michael P. Beys ’89 spoke in recognition of the late Okogbue C. Okezie ’90, who was inducted into Browning’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Andrew Chapman ’90, Peter Orphanos ’89, and Steve Costalas ’91 were also in attendance to honor Okogbue.

Mike Beys ’89 spoke at this year's Hall of Fame induction in memory of Okogbue Okezie ’90.

Adeo Ressi ’90, entrepreneur and founder of the Funded, gave the following advice to entrepreneurs at the Founder Institute Community Lunch in Boulder, CO, in April: People think the idea is important, but your idea will change 10 times before you get to where you want to go.

Nicolas Perkin ’89 with Madame Kayoun at the Alumni Reunion cocktail reception at the Regency Hotel in May.

Artist Dave Eppley ’94 in his studio.

ALUMNI What matters is who you are—what you are passionate about. Your passion will keep you going, not the idea.

Brian S. Kraus ’91 is a customer contact professional for Lincoln Financial Group. He was recently added to a project to help

floor atrium, while physically reflecting the colors and clean lines of nearby design elements. The work exists as both an exciting interference that visually interrupts the flow of people, and as an integrated element of the environment that is walked on, over, and around.

design and implement a new customer service system for

Mr. Eppley received his MFA in painting from the Massachusetts

viewing policies when clients call in. Additionally, for the last

College of Art in 2003. He has created work for Harvard University,

year he has served on the Concord National Little League Board

the Browning School, the Tang Museum, and the DeCordova

as the Pony League Coordinator.

Museum, among others. He was nominated for the Joan Mitchell

Gregory C. Hewett ’93, his wife, Katie, and one-year-old daughter,

Award, and awarded a Workspace Residency at Lower Manhattan

Maya, continue living in Chennai, India. Greg and Katie teach at

Cultural Council. His work has been reviewed in the Boston Globe,

the International School in Chennai. Maya has not interfered with

the Harvard Crimson, and New American Paintings.

their many travels, with all visiting China, Macau, Hong Kong,

Philip Blake ’95 and Jason S. Friedman ’06 started a Browning

Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Melaba, Penang, Sri Lanka, and New

alumni summer basketball team at the New York Urban

Delhi. They returned home for seven weeks over the summer and

Professional League. The name of the team is Coach T’s Scrubs

enjoyed a special family gathering at Greg’s sister’s home in

and includes Sean W. Brownridge ’07, Robert L. Dalva ’07,

Richmond, VA, for a christening. Greg also was able to get together

Nathaniel X. Garcia ’06, John J. Ray ’95, Alexander A. Sheridan ’04,

with Patrick Ernst ’93 and his wife, Susan, and baby boy, Tom, as

Andrew H. West ’92, and Luc M. Vareilles ’04.

well as Andrew O’Connor ’93 and his family in New Jersey.

John J. Ray ’95 is an associate editor for Forbes. In April, he wrote David W. Eppley ’94 was a featured artist in Bloomberg’s

a Forbes Special Report titled “America’s Fastest-Growing Tech

In Context exhibition, which ran from May 13 to November 12 at

Companies.”

Bloomberg’s New York headquarters. According to Bloomberg’s Lawrence W. Bahr ’96 was married in May.

exhibition catalogue: Before sketching out his site-specific vinyl installation, Dave Eppley visited the Bloomberg headquarters numerous times, not simply to plan the practical elements, but also to begin to understand the space, its history, and present activities. The resulting vibrant blue and white stripes tumbling down the staircase and shooting off across the floor mirror the teeming energy of the sixth-

Andy Madden ’96 and Emmy Spahr (Hewitt ’00) were engaged in May.

T. Andrew Madden ’96 recently sent us the following news: On Cinco de Mayo 2010, I stepped up to the plate and got engaged to Emmy Spahr, Hewitt class of ’00. We have not set a definitive date but will keep all posted. We are very happy and live near the river in Midtown East with our angel, Fawn, a red-nosed pit bull. Enjoy the summer; you know we will.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence W. Bahr ’96 were married in May.

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander M. Bacher ’97 were married last September.

ALUMNI Alexander M. Bacher ’97 recently sent us the following update: In May 2009, I graduated with my doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Then on September 6, 2009, I got married to Pernilla Nathan, also a doctoral student in the psychology program at Pepperdine. We were married at the View Point Inn in Portland, Oregon, where her family is from.

Finally, we just recently got back from our Honeymoon in the Maldives, with a brief stay in London both going and coming. I am presently living in Los Angeles and completing post-doctoral work at the Betty Ford Center and Metropolitan State Hospital. Would love to connect with any Browning alumni in the greater Los Angeles area; feel free to email me at bacher87@hotmail.com.

here, which hopefully will be off the ground soon. Hong Kong is a great place to start a business, so while I love New York, I intend to stay here in China for some time, and take advantage of it. Hong Kong is a fantastic city— not easy—but a great place to get started if you have the energy. If any Browning alumni have questions then always feel free to put them in touch.

Graig J. Springer ’98 lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota, where he works as a legal intern for CarVal Investors LLC. In June, Sebastian E. Habr ’99 was quoted in a Forbes.com article titled “Exotic Car Clubs Thriving in Touchy Times.” Mr. Habr is the accounting manager for Gotham Dream Cars, a six-year-old

After working in the beer industry for a number of years,

New Jersey–based car club. For more information, please visit

J. Patrick Murtaugh ’97 is currently studying brewing science in

www.gothamdreamcars.com.

Munich, where he is in the process of raising capital to launch a craft brewery upon his return to the states.

Christopher M. Coffey ’98 went back to work for City Hall in

2000s

January, after a year of working on the Bloomberg for Mayor

Philip J. Grant ’00 is a trader for CF Global Trading LLC, based

campaign. He is now at the Mayor’s Office of Media and

in New York. He writes daily market recaps detailing global and

Entertainment where he works as director of external affairs. He

U.S. stock activity.

helps oversee the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre, and

Graham M. Smith ’00 currently works in commercial real estate

Broadcasting, as well as NYC TV and the city’s online and social

at Samuels & Associates in Boston, MA, where he has worked for

networking efforts. This is Mr. Coffey’s ninth year working for

over two years.

Mayor Bloomberg. He tells us he still sees Paul Boisi ’97 and Bryan Boisi ’00 all the time.

Goldfarb ’01 about the Goldman Sachs fraud charge. Mr.

Kerry R. Deal ’98 recently wrote to us:

Goldfarb is a reporter for the Washington Post, covering corporate

I still live here in Hong Kong, and have recently moved into a new flat. I am employed in a great job, but working with several friends to create our own business

Christopher Payne ’01 and Alexandra Doos were married in June.

In April, Jim Lehrer of PBS NewsHour interviewed Zachary

crime and government investigations into financial wrongdoing.

At this year’s Alumni Reunion, Mr. Goldfarb participated in the

L to R: Joe Metzger '02, Sean Russell '02, Lindsey Kayne, Kieran Pickering '02, Christian Hayden '05, and Rich Dovere '04 at the annual Browning-Hewitt Reunion at Dorrian's in April.

ALUMNI Alumni Career Panel. For more information on his career, please

Jesse H. Steel ’05 just finished his rookie year as a professional

see page 47.

golfer. Last summer he qualified for the Metropolitan PGA Open

Christopher A. Payne ’01 recently sent us the following news: I am getting married on June 28, 2010. My bride-to-be is Alexandra Doos. We are getting married on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. We live in South Carolina and met while at Furman University. Ralph Labossiere ’01, Martin Arnabal ’01, Mitch Polikoff ’01, and Alexander Zaro ’01 are groomsmen.

Alexander Zaro ’01 is a member of the Safeguard Society, a sub-committee of the Shield Institute, dedicated to engaging the next generation of guardians who will continue to promote and assist children and adults with development challenges. The Safeguard Society hosted their first fundraising event on June 29, to raise money for the Joe Shostak Memorial Playground for disabled children in Flushing, NY. Nicholas S. Versandi ’01 is also a member of the Safeguard Society.

Michael B. Elliot ’04 is currently living on a ranch near San Miguel, Mexico. He sends his best to everyone at Browning.

Paris A. Ionescu ’05 works for Artforum magazine and is pursuing his M.A. in media philosophy at the European Graduate School. Prior to working at Artforum, he interned with PaceWildenstein Gallery.

David C. Kimball-Stanley ’05 recently sent the following update:

and more recently, he played on the Gateway Tour in Arizona.

He is currently focusing on raising money for his 2011 tour. For more information, he can be reached at 917-699-6823.

Benjamin P. D’Innocenzo ’06 recently sent the following update: This May, I graduated from Hobart College with a double major in Art History and Studio Art and a double concentration in Economics and Business, Race & Culture. I could not be happier! To celebrate graduating I have been living on Utila, a small island off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, working towards my diving certifications to hopefully be able to assist and teach diving courses in the future. I have recently been accepted to an M.B.A. program through St Mary’s University in London, which I plan to start at the end of August. The program involves a 12-month course-based internship in London and a 6-month course-intensive in Bangkok, Thailand, at Naresuan University. I am more than thrilled and am very excited to make my move to London for the next year! I hope everything is going well at Browning!

Haakon Gresdal-Lenzi ’06 graduated from Alfred University in May with a bachelor of fine arts degree. For information about Mr. Gresdal-Lenzi’s ceramics work, please visit his blog: haakonlenzi-ceramics.blogspot.com.

Leland C. Stillman ’06 graduated summa cum laude from Connecticut College with majors in biology and environmental

After graduating from Trinity College in 2009, I interned for Chuck Schumer on Capitol Hill for six months. After that, I got a job as an aide to New York City Council Member Dan Garodnick, which is where I am working now (I’m pretty sure Browning is in our district in fact!).

health, and a minor in chemistry. He will be attending the University of Virginia School of Medicine in the fall of 2010.

L to R: Evan Sachs '02, Asif Uddin '05, Mr. Dearinger, and Chris Latos '05 at the Alumni Reunion cocktail reception at the Regency.

L to R: Director of Development Martin Haase, Benjamin Gurrentz ’08, and Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Neller at Browning in June.

ALUMNI Michael A. Wilner ’07 is interning with CNN this summer, working for Anderson Cooper in the Time Warner Center office.

In April, Mr. Wilner interviewed former presidential candidate

UPCOMING EVENTS: FALL/WINTER 2010 Alumni Council Meeting

Monday, September 13 6:00 pm

Mitt Romney. For an excerpt of the interview transcript, please

Wilson Room

visit page 58.

Alumni Soccer Game

4:00 pm

Philip Devereux-Demetriad ’08 recently sent the following news: My hard work and hours spent in the library paid off, and I made it onto the Dean’s List at Sewanee: University of the South. As a sophomore I was also inducted into the prestigious Order of the Gownsmen due to my academic performance. I will be in New York this summer interning as a business development intern with Walrus Advertising on Union Square.

Randall’s Island 3rd Annual Alumni Tennis Event Saturday, October 2 2:00 pm West Side Tennis Club Browning, Chapin, Saint David’s, Wednesday, October 20 and St. Bernard’s Reunion

Alumni Council Meeting

I am currently at Brown and am loving it. I am a member of the scatter band, the club lacrosse team, and the student FSAE (Formula Society of Automotive Engineers) team (we build a race car for competition).

Joshua M. Burgess ’10 is a jazz musician and will be attending

Wilson Room Book Fair Opening Night

Friday, November 12

Cocktail Party

6:00 pm Lower Gym

Fall/Winter Buzzer Class Notes Deadline: November 15 Young Alumni Reunion

Wednesday, November 24 10:00 am

Johns Hopkins University next year. For more of his music,

Christ Church &

you can visit www.myspace.com/joshuaburgess101 or www.myspace.com/thejoshuaburgessquartet.

Monday, November 8 6:00 pm

back in New York this summer taking a class at NYU. Steven I. Klurfeld ’09 recently sent in the following news:

6:30 pm Butterfield 8

Benjamin Gurrentz ’08 visited Browning in June. He left Browning after Form II and currently attends Florida State University. He is

Friday, September 17

Upper Cafeteria Holiday Party

Friday, December 10

The Class Representatives for the Class of 2010 are Robert L.

5:30 pm

Denton ’10, James R. Preiss ’10, and Steven L. Rachmuth ’10. I

Lower Gym &

Some of Browning’s newest alumni await their graduation ceremony in the Christ Church balcony (L to R): Robert Denton ’10, Erik van Os ’10, Greg Davis ’10, James Weinhoff ’10, and Stephen Straub ’10.

Multi-Purpose Room

L to R: Juan Reyes '86, Bill Reed '85, Sandy Pelz '71, Joe Metzger '02, Sharif Tanamli '87, Andrew West '92, and Alex Sheridan '04 at the Form VI Breakfast in April.

ALUMNI

Alumni in the News INTERVIEWING MITT ROMNEY

private-sector job, and I could go serve. And really, running the

By Michael Wilner ’07, editor-in-chief of the Forum, Claremont McKenna College’s student-run newspaper April 16, 2010

Olympics, and then running for governor, and becoming elected— those things were about service, rather than about furthering a career interest of mine or something of that nature.

During his visit to Claremont on April 15, Governor Mitt Romney sat down with the Forum for an exclusive interview. Romney was a guest of the Res Publica Society, speaking in Orange County to the college community over lunch before coming to campus in preparation for his speech at the Athenaeum. Below is the edited transcript of the interview with the former presidential candidate.

Wilner: The last week of March, President Obama called you the “now presidential candidate” for 2012. Having traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire quite recently, do you see why he, and others, would suspect that you’re running?

Romney: I’ve traveled to 19 states as part of my book tour, and it is not surprising that would include states where I am

ichael Wilner: As you may know,

relatively well known, like Iowa and New Hampshire. The other

Claremont McKenna has some of the

17 states were not mentioned by those who follow politics, for

strongest government and economics

obvious reasons. But I’m keeping the option open, as a number

departments in the country. These two

of people are doing. There are probably ten folks who might be

M

fields have come to shape the college, and your career alike.

When you were CEO of Bain, you were creating jobs across the nation and around the world. Many students here aspire to such a position of power and influence. How did you come to the conclusion that being governor of Massachusetts would do you more good?

Mitt Romney: Actually, I participated in my career in the business world because I enjoyed it, but also because it made a living for me and for my family, and it turned out to be far more financially rewarding than I would’ve ever imagined. And when I had been successful in that endeavor, I was approached by the governor of Utah asking if I would come help organize the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake… they were in deep difficulty.

The experience I had learned in the private sector to turn around troubled industries—or companies, rather—had given me some skills to be helpful there. And my view was I’ve reached a point where I could afford to leave my business, and the earnings of a

considered as potential candidates for the Republican nomination. My guess is that some of the ten will run, and some of us won’t. And that’s a decision you make at the moment you need to, which is probably after the November elections, and not before. But whether or not I’ll get in is a decision which my family and I haven’t made yet, but we’re keeping the door open.

Wilner: But yes or no—do you want to be president?

I guess that’s a different question than whether you’ll run.

Romney: Well—you know, John McCain I think said it in an interesting way when he was being interviewed on the Imus show. He said, “I’d like to be president . . . I’m not sure I want to run for president.” (Laughs) I don’t feel the same way he does. I feel differently than that.

But I thought his was an amusing response. I think people who really want to be president, and want the trappings and benefits of president will perhaps best be disqualified, and that, instead, people who believe they have a contribution that would be

Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney (left) being interviewed by Michael Wilner ’07.

critical at an essential time in American history would be the

And that means making sure that you focus your remarks on

ones that you’d hope would actually run. I think that probably

those issues you care most about. In my case, it’s about

tends to be the case. And in my case, I’m not someone who’s

strengthening the foundation of America’s economy so that we

pining after being president. The decision I made last time to run

can not only be prosperous, but we can protect our freedom.

was based upon my belief that my backgrounds and skills in the private sector were very much in need in government. But that was then, and who knows what it’s going to feel like two or three years from now.

Wilner: Do you believe the GOP should try to completely embrace the Tea Party movement, or try to keep its distance?

Romney: I think the Tea Party movement is a citizen’s

Wilner: I’m going to ask—who is your favorite Democrat alive today?

Romney: Who is my favorite Democrat? Let’s see—I just signed a book the other day to someone to whom I said, ‘you’re my favorite Democrat.’ You know, I have a number of Democrats who were supportive of me in my campaign, so I’m going to be hardpressed to pick out a favorite Democrat. I’ve got a lot of Democrats

movement, focused on eliminating excessive taxation and

who support me. I had during my administration as governor a

reducing the interest of this government. That’s very similar to

number of Democrats who served—Doug Foy, who was my

the message of my party—when it’s abiding by its principles. So

secretary of economic matters; Bob Pozen, who was another cabinet

it is different than the Republican Party, but it is consistent with

secretary of mine, he’s a Democrat. I have a number of Democratic

our philosophy. And I think it augurs well for our prospects. So I

friends who I consider good friends. But I’m not going to pick a

embrace the fact that the silent majority is silent no more, and the

current elected official, because—at this stage—I’m not going to

tea partiers are expressing their views on issues that America

endorse someone. It’s like the kiss of death.

cares very deeply about. I think it is a positive development and good for the country, and may well be good for our party.

Wilner: More than anything else, what did you learn from your run in 2008?

Wilner: Fair enough. And how do you think Hillary Clinton is doing at the State Department?

Romney: I don’t know how much she is responsible for in terms of our new foreign policy, but I think our new foreign

Romney: That it’s more fun to win than to lose? (Laughs)

policy is badly misguided, and that the administration is making

But also that it’s important to define your message rather

mistakes everywhere from Latin America to the Middle East.

than letting the media, and your opposition, define who you are.

And I believe that the consequences of these mistakes are very

ALUMNI severe. I don’t know if that’s Secretary Clinton’s responsibility or whether it’s been the president’s direction. My guess is, when the books are written and history unfolds, we’ll know where she stood and where he stood on these matters.

Wilner: Would you say it’s presumptive of her to be talking about it?

Romney: I—I welcome, with some delight, her generous comments about me, and I feel the same way about her.

Wilner: Sarah Palin—I know you’ve addressed this a lot.

She said she’d be happy to sit on the ticket with you, if you were to run. Would you be comfortable with such a ticket?

Romney: She’s a terrific powerhouse in the Republican Party. It would be presumptive of me to start talking about even

Wilner: Well, governor, thank you so much for coming to Claremont.

Romney: It’s great to be here, Michael. I For more information on this interview and Governor Romney’s visit, e-mail forum@ascmc.org.

my running, but I think the world of her and have respect for what she’s been able to do to help to generate enthusiasm and passion in our party.

Special thanks to all alumni who participated in the 2009–2010 Annual Giving Fund. We look forward to updating you with our final numbers at the Alumni Council Meeting on September 13.

David Valentin ’15 at the close of Prize Day.

End Paper The cast of the Upper School play, The 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee. Front (L to R): Eloise Schultz (Spence), Gwen Stegall (Brearley), Alexandra Warrick (Hewitt), Owen Lewis ’11, Jesse Rost ’11, and Matthew Marani ’12.

Back (L to R): Dylan Smith ’11, David Baird ’10, Peter Crisp ’10, Colin Carter ’13, Matthew Geline ’11, Laura Slade (Brearley), Ian Shaw ’10, and Myles Mills ’11.

Aubrey and Jeremy Sambuca were married in Albany, NY. Several Browning faculty were in attendance, and three were groomsmen.

Front (L to R): Andrew West, Alex Sheridan, and Aaron Grill.

Back (L to R): Bill Cantwell, Tricia Zeuner, Jeremy Sambuca, Cynthia Jackson, Meredith Carney, Hollis Amley, Julie Goldman Fallon, and Janet Lien.

Middle School Art Project

Sixth Graders (L to R): Jack Barket, Griffin Tobia, Harris Russell, Craig Levinson, Aris Kalagorakis, Nicholas Warner, Brandon Keno, Jay Hutzler, and Adam Brown.

Recently, the Middle School students expanded on their sculptural vocabulary while working collaboratively on a large installation made from recycled bottles.

Boys were introduced to the work of contemporary American sculptor Tara Donovan as she has transformed huge volumes of everyday items into stunning works of phenomenal impact.

Form I student Arthur Elghouayel.

The Middle School art students made a fantastic installation inspired by her work on the outside play deck on Browning’s fourth floor. It is wonderful to be able to connect our art projects to an environmental message: “Reuse and Recycle: we care about the environment.”

Form I boys, back (L to R): Slater Stark, Alexander Gottdiener, Christopher Keyko, Matthew Guadagnino, Armaan Rawat, Sam Sevy, and Lorenzo Mezzatesta.

Middle (L to R): Sumner Erbe, Brendan Walsh, and Aadir Khan.

Front (L to R): Arthur Elghouayel, David Valentin, Jordan Greco, Thomas Perskin, and Grant Olcott.

Congratulations, Class of 2010!