SEM Today june 2017

Today Summer 2017

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The Unsinkable Margaret Brown '72 SEM's Speaker Series' College Counseling Student Achievement My Two Steps for Your One Red Letter Days for the Red-Tailed Hawks Living @SEM Sweet 66 - The Class of 2017 Class Notes In Memoriam BSAA News

Annual magazine for the alumnae, friends, parents, and students of Buffalo Seminary

June 2017

Head of School Helen Ladds Marlette Director of Communications/ SEM Today Editor Erin St. John Kelly Director of Advancement Monique E. Brannon Advancement Associate Melanie Jaskolka Advancement & Communications Associate Betsy Bloom ‘08 Annual Fund Director Susan Beich

A Letter from the Editor

Gifts & Records Manager Nancy Miller

This was Mrs. Marlette’s first year as head, and my aim with this issue is to capture the essence of it in 50 pages; it’s a challenge! Our busy, engaged, academic, and community-minded culture would easily make this magazine three times the size... if time and cost were no object.

This year SEM graduates a class of 66 students which has only happened once before. This class has overflowed the senior lounge and overflowed the school with leadership, achievement, talent, prowess, spirit, and culture.

We all look forward to seeing what the rising seniors can do!

SEM Today is an annual magazine and this year our goal is to get it into our readers’ hands before the end of the school year June 30. Commencement and reunion weekend pictures are not included because this issue is going to the printer before those events occur. Those pictures can be found (and are downloadable) at BuffaloSeminary.org/commencement, BuffaloSeminary.org/reunion, at Facebook.com/BuffaloSeminaryAlumnae and Facebook.com/ BuffaloSeminary. Current parents and students can also find the pictures on Vidigami.

Particularly of interest to alumnae, there is a robust and happy Class Notes section, but we also mark the sad loss of members of the SEM community. Please send more to BuffaloSeminary.org/classnotes or to development@buffaloseminary.org.

Finally, this magazine wouldn’t be possible without every single person in the advancement office and Nurse Nancy, with her eagle eyes, who did proofreading duty, and the faculty and students who wrote, captioned, and contributed pictures.

Best regards,

Erin St. John Kelly

In Memoriam & Class Notes Editor, SEM Historian Gary R. Sutton Contributors Eva Cunningham Molly O’Connor Greene ‘98 LucyMarie Gaulin ‘17 Carey Miller Kacie Mills Laura Munson '79 Theresa Pszonak ‘17 Jiaan “Angela” Shi ‘17 Jesse Sloier ‘17 Nancy Vargo, RN Sarah Wooten Photography Betsy Bloom '08 Caitlin Cass Amy Doyle Susan Drozd LucyMarie Gaulin ‘17 Michele Goldfarb Erin Kelly Kacie Mills Theresa Pszonak ‘17 Jiaan “Angela” Shi ‘17 SEM Today ONLINE Director of Technology Beth Adamczyk Designer Cassandra Ott Cover: Juniors Jane Wyckoff, Madison Rich, Clare Sharkey, and Elisa Yi in the Magavern-Sutton Courtyard after the 2017 Junior Ring Ceremony.

Letter from Head of School Helen L. Marlette Sitting at gate A-1 in BWI airport waiting for a flight to my daughter Liza’s (SEM Class of 2013) graduation from college, I find myself thinking about the moments in life where direction shifts. Some shifts are subtle and others quite dramatic. Some shifts we know are happening, when they happen, others are only apparent in hindsight. When I look back on my year as head of school, I realize that I have experienced both.

Early in the year, I emphasized the people, the place, and the program at SEM. Now as the year is winding down, there has been a shift in my thinking, and this shift is the result of a series of moments punctuated by a dramatic day on May 17. That morning, the entire SEM community gathered in the chapel to examine community justice with a focus on the immigrant and refugee experience in Buffalo. Our facilitator, May Shogan, the director of international exchanges and education at the International Institute of Buffalo, challenged us to take the time to get to know people, to ask questions, to listen to one another, and to educate ourselves about the people we meet. To understand that what seems obvious is not. She promoted education as the key to building strong communities.

Immediately following May’s workshop, I had the pleasure of attending the 2017 Prince Lecture, where biologist and author Vanessa Woods talked about her scientific research of primates, evolution, and her vision of the future. She concluded that education is not the solution to creating successful communities.

Rather, that authentic connections, through contact with others form the relationships necessary to strengthen community.

It was on this day that I realized, at SEM, we have a wonderful opportunity to build, through education and authentic experience, a community with promise for the future. This day connected the many moments of the year; Hornet/Jacket Day, a ping-pong tourney at Larkinville, the championship soccer and basketball games, the November election, the many incredible senior presentations, Our Town, the planting of tulips, musical moments throughout the year, the entire school trip to see the movie Hidden Figures, and so many more. Subtly, my focus had shifted from identifying the people, place, and program as separate entities to examining the connections between the people, the place, and the program at SEM. These connections create the culture that is uniquely ours.

The alumnae I meet remind me that it is the culture at SEM that they remember and cherish. A community culture that values individuality, is built upon respect, and requires trust, has been at the heart of a SEM education since 1851. A culture that encourages students not only to be independent but to commit to something larger than their individual pursuits.

In 2017, learning how to be a productive member of your community looks different than it did even four years ago, when Liza graduated from SEM. Undoubtedly, it will look different when the SEM Class of 2017 graduates from college. Yet, I am confident that through education and authentic, connected experience, we will give the best of ourselves to prepare girls for meaningful futures as productive and engaged citizens, creating a world in which we would all want to live.

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The Unsinkable Margaret Brown '72 There are board members, and there are board chairs, and then there is Margaret Brown '72. Be you a student, a faculty member, an alumna, or a trustee, her name will mean something to you. That is unusual for a board member of a board of anything, anywhere.

Margaret is Present with a capital P. When Margaret completes her remarkable tenure as Chair of the Board of Trustees on June 30, 2017, she will leave SEM forever changed. Her distinct combination of loyalty, tenacity, generosity, wisdom, experience, and humor is rare and irreplaceable.

Before she passes the torch to Michael J. Maxwell, Esq., we take this opportunity to celebrate her myriad accomplishments and contributions, both within, and outside the SEM community.

The seeds of Margaret’s connection to SEM were sown early: Margaret’s grandfather, Dr. Albert G. Butzer, served as pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church and volunteered his time teaching religion at SEM in the 1950’s and 60’s.

Albert’s daughter (Margaret’s mother), Betty Butzer Brown, graduated from SEM in 1944, and returned just four years later to teach history and economics.

All four of Betty’s daughters attended SEM: E. Otis Brown Finkhorn ’79, Carolyn Brown Wick ’76, Susan Coe Brown ’74, and of course, Margaret.

During her time as a student at SEM, Margaret served on the Athletic Board, participated in Ski Club, and was actively involved in a student organization of her own creation: B&H (Brown & Hunt) Productions, which she co-led with classmate Susan Hunt. After graduating, she went on to receive her BA from Hobart/William Smith, and her MBA from Harvard Business

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School. Margaret then worked as Marketing Manager at American Express and as VP, Product Development for Adbank, Adweek, and Broadcast Data Systems, before becoming President of MJI Broadcasting, a leading supplier of music programming for radio stations. During her time at MJI, Margaret founded their interactive division and took the company from startup to corporate leader. She left MJI in 2008, after fourteen remarkable years, and is now a consultant and entrepreneur with specific focus on non-profits.

Margaret has served the school as an active and engaged class agent, encouraging alumnae participation at all levels. In 2001, she was honored by SEM’s Sesquicentennial Committee as one of thirty-seven “distinguished” alums.

Additionally, Margaret and her family have generously established endowed funds to support faculty enrichment and student scholarships.

Despite living in the New York City area, Margaret joined SEM’s Board of Trustees in 2007 and has served as Chair since 2014. With her leadership, SEM was able to introduce our 1:1 laptop program in 2008. As Chair of the Board and Chair of SEM’s recent capital campaign - Remarkable Opportunities - Campaign for SEM (2014-16) she was instrumental in maintaining its vitality and in the campaign’s record breaking success.

Margaret’s generosity and commitment to SEM have been an integral and invaluable part of our continued success. Her personal and philanthropic achievements serve as a testament to the power of all-female education as well as an example for future SEM girls - though admittedly, she will be a hard act to follow.

-Betsy Bloom ‘08

Margaret Brown '72, Abigail Hopkins '16, and Yuha Tomita '16 at Party on the Parkway, a celebration of the successful Remarkable Opportunties - Campaign for SEM in June 2016.

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Board Hellos & Goodbyes Since July 1, 2016, Elizabeth Montesano Roach, Jennifer Cornacchio (parent of Anabel Cornacchio ‘16), James Kramer (parent of Leah Kramer ‘17), and Claire Schen (parent of Madeleine Cherr ‘18) have joined the Buffalo Seminary board of trustees. Robert (Bob) Carr (parent of Jule Carr ‘09) re-joined the board after a two-year hiatus. In the spring of 2017, alumna Katharine “Kate” Bowen Smith '92 and parent Mark Burlow (Samantha ‘17) joined the board.

Michael Maxwell, Esq. will become the chair of the board of trustees on July 1, 2017, for a three-year term.

Mike is the parent of Megan Maxwell '16, and has been vice chair of the board since March, 2015. During his tenure as vice chair, Mike has served on the Executive, Governance, Buildings & Grounds, Strategic Planning, Investment, and Finance Committees.

"I am extremely honored to be taking over for [previous board chair] Margaret Brown," said Mike. "SEM made such a difference in my daughter's life that I am willing to do just about anything for the school. Every alumna I've ever met feels the same way; SEM is a life-changing experience for them."

Mike is a partner at Hodgson Russ LLP, where he practices in the areas of business litigation and personal injury.

Thank you to these trustees who served SEM so well and offered a depth of support. Their boundless time, talent, insight, wisdom, and experience were invaluable to the school. SEM has been able to move confidently into the future, indeed a little further down its remarkable path, with their guidance and vision.

Monica Angle (2011 - 2017) Margaret Brown '72 (2007 - 2013, 2014 - 2017) Jane Hopkins Carey '75 (2006 - 2017) Linda Cornelius '71 (2010 - 2017) Alice Jacobs (2009 - 2017) Cheryl Klass (2011 - 2017) Michael F. Perley, Esq. (2010 - 2017)

Find longer biographies at buffaloseminary/org.

June 2016 Board Meeting

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WHY SEM? You can put a girl in a SEM classroom who

otherwise would not be able to attend.

Your gift to SEM will have an immediate impact on a young girl’s life, and the woman she is meant to be.

BuffaloSeminary.org/give

“SEM instilled the importance of honesty in me... Building trust is one of the most important aspects of establishing relationships, and trust is based on honesty. In my current role as a Peace Corps Supervisory Medical Officer, I work with physicians all over the world. They see me as their advocate, and a person who will not make false promises, but who will answer their questions with honesty and integrity.”

“When I graduated from Buffalo Seminary, I felt there was nothing I could not do! SEM nurtured and provided me with the confidence to go out into the real world and succeed!

Gladys Herndon-Hill ‘77 Commissioner Department of Human Resources City of Buffalo

Susan Henderson ‘87 Chief of Epidemiology and Surveillance Peace Corps Washington, DC

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Summer 2017

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SEM Launches a Speaker Series

Discover the Power of All-Girls Schools To launch a SEM speaker series on issues of relevance to the parents and teachers of girls, Olivia Haas, director of strategic communications and research at the National Coalition of Girls' Schools (NCGS) presented on the evening of April 27, 2017 in the chapel. The event was open to the public. Alumnae, faculty, parents, Summer at SEM parents, and prospective students' families were invited.

Thank You, Ansie In the more than a decade that I've worked with Ansie Baird '55, I've come to perceive her with so many different lenses. At first, I rather feared her experience and no-nonsense manner, but after Robin Magavern '52 passed away, we grieved together. Ansie shared with me tales of their 50-year friendship, and I provided Ansie stories of the Robin I knew, my mentor and classroom-mate. Our mutual love for this woman brought us closer.

Through years of partnering on the Sophomore Poetry Workshop, we perfected the experience, and I marveled at the students' love of this celebration of poetry. No matter how well you know Ansie, you know that she commands respect. Her precision, insight, and humor, together make for exceptional poetry - whether her own or through feedback on others'.

Every year, I marveled at the pattern: students feared her at first, and they learned to love her fiercely; they claimed they were horrible at writing poetry, yet with her guidance they completed incredible lines; and they thought she "didn't get them," yet she happily surprised them every year.

When Ansie smiles, you know you've earned her respect, and we hope, despite her retirement as our Poet-in-Residence, she'll continue to smile at us for many years.

-Carey Miller English Faculty

Ansie and Sherry Robins

We are pleased to announce that poet and author Janet McNally will be the

Wilkinson poet-in-residence for 2018.

Senior Feiya "Catherine" Wang warmed up the waiting crowd (top left). Tracy Clark ‘17, Sarah Hamdan ‘18, and Emily Marie Jimenez ‘17 (top right) performed monologues as Iago, Hamlet and Caesar. Seniors Clare von Simson and Olivia Miller (bottom) presented and held a Q&A with Ms. Haas. The Red Key kept it all looking sharp, feeling cordial, and sounding sophisticated.

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She is twice a New York Foundation for the Arts fellow and has published stories and poems in numerous literary magazines. Some Girls, her collection of poetry won the White Pine Poetry Prize; her first book, Girls in the Moon was published in 2016. Ms. McNally is a graduate of Canisius College, where she is an assistant professor. She also holds an MFA from the University of Notre Dame.

Prince Lecture

May 17, biologist and author Vanessa Woods gave the annual , which was established in 2004 by Mr. and Mrs. Warren Prince, Jr. and their daughters Alison Prince ‘75 and Jennifer Prince Bronstein ‘78. This was the second year it has been jointly produced with the Nichols School at the Saturn Club. Ms. Woods, one of the world’s foremost bonobo researchers, related what she has learned about the natural and remarkable impulses toward kindness exhibited by these great apes, and any implications for humankind.

Above: SEM Head of School Helen L. Marlette, Jennifer Prince Bronstein '78, Kilby Bronstein '10, author Vanessa Woods, and Nichols Head of School Bill Clough.

Top right: Mrs. Henrich is interviewed by Jiaxuan "Jocelyn" Yang '16 for The SEM Weekly.

Bottom right: Multimedia journalists Hannah Buehler '08 and Elizabeth Lewin ' 05

Endowed Speakers Enlighten & Entertain

The month of April brought with it a series of fascinating guest speakers to SEM! We began on April 7 by welcoming Pamela Mitchell Henrich '62 as the 50th Colby-Oishei Artist.

In 1982, as head of the Fine Arts Department at SEM, Mrs. Henrich designed a program which Patricia Oishei Colby '32 endowed. Pam was the program's first artist and we were honored to have her as its 50th. Mrs. Henrich's present work is oil paintings in the trompe l'oeil genre; some are family portraits, and others honor illustrators or important persons of the past.

During her visit to SEM, she spoke to the art classes before giving a presentation in the chapel, focusing on her artistic journey and presenting examples of the trompe l’oeil. That evening, Mrs. Henrich was honored at a reception of over 100 attendees, that included a show of her recent paintings, Remembering... In Oils, as well as works from the past. In addition, to mark the anniversary of the program, works by former ColbyOishei artists (many of whom are alumnae or former teachers) such as Isabella Bannerman '78, Kate Simonds, and Tammy Wetzel, were exhibited.

On April 19, we were thrilled to welcome back SEM alumnae Hannah Buehler '08 and Elizabeth Lewin '05 to serve as our 2017 Adsit Lecturers. The Adsit lecture Series was established in 1999 by Harriet McNulty Adsit, class of 1926, along with her husband Willcox Adsit, with the aim of bringing visiting lecturers to SEM in order to share their expertise with students and faculty. Harriet McNulty had two sisters: Marion

McNulty Dillon '22, a generous contributor to SEM’s theater program, and Elizabeth McNulty Wilkinson '25, in whose honor the Wilkinson Poetry Chair was established.

Liz and Hannah are both multi-media journalists at WKBW Channel 7 News, out in the field covering everything from the 2015 New York prison escape to the 2016 election, as well as behind the news desk keeping the Buffalo community informed. They were a huge hit with the current SEM students!

Just two days later, on April 21, students and faculty reconvened to welcome local poet Sherry Robbins as the 2017 Elizabeth McNulty Wilkinson '25 Poet. The Wilkinson Poet fund was established in 1986 under the will of Elizabeth M. Wilkinson to bring practicing poets to SEM's campus and classrooms to enrich teaching and learning of poetry, in support of SEM's English Department. Each winter, the sophomore class has a series of poetry workshops with our poetin-residence, alumna Ansie Silverman Baird '55. The workshops culminate in poems written and contributed to a printed anthology that Ms. Baird and English faculty Carey Miller produce.

Ms. Robbins spent the day in front of the fire in the library listening to students read their poems from the class anthology and discussing the art of poetry, which concluded with a reading of her work from her chapbook Or, the Whale, in the SEM chapel.

-Betsy Bloom ‘08 Summer 2017

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What Do

Red-Tailed Hawks Become?

By Molly O’Connor Greene ‘98, Director of College Counseling On June 13, the Class of 2017 will say their goodbyes to SEM (for now!) but they will be saying hello to colleges and universities far and wide.

These talented, intelligent, and independent young women spent hundreds of hours engaged in thoughtful reflection, discussion, and ultimate decision making.

Collectively, with some overlap, they applied to 260 colleges and universities. On average, they each applied to 9 schools but one applied to 29. They wrote over 100 essays, and described more that 400 activities on their Common Applications. They prepared portfolios, went on interviews, and made hard decisions. And though some will still be deciding right down to Labor Day Weekend, here’s where the 66 girls in the Class of 2017 have chosen by way of mascots.

We have many Bulls, two species of Wildcat, a Bulldog, an Oiler, a Bee, a Gryphon, a Catamount, a Golden Flash, a Panther, a Spartan, a Cardinal, a Maverick, and a Bomber. One of our own Hornets is reluctantly becoming a Yellowjacket. We have two Badgers, two Bengals, a Buckeye, a Hoosier, a Triton, a Yeowoman, 3 Golden Griffs, a Duke, a Beaver, a Gopher, a Golden Flyer, a Husky, two Purple Eagles, a Greyhound, a Colonial, a Bear, an Aggie, three Terriers, a Stag, a Knight, a Banana Slug, a Dragon, an Urban Knight, a Highlander, two 10

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Varsity Blues, a Nittany Lion, and two OrangeWOMEN. You will find members of the Class of 2017 right here in Buffalo next fall, several others in our home state, and still others in California, Connecticut, DC, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Canada.

There is no perfect way to navigate the college process. If there is one thing these young women have learned at SEM, it’s that we are all unique – in our approach to classes, sports, homework, and relationships – and as such, take different paths to the same place. This is a class of already professed future artists, designers, engineers, accountants, doctors, and lawyers.

Thank you, Class of 2017, for your leadership, your empathy, your strength, your perseverance, and your sense of humor. Each of these young women has personally had an effect on someone here and made our school a better place. Whether you are near or far next year, remember that SEM will always be your home, and you will always have a place here. Congratulations.

Class of 2017 Matriculation

Mrs. Greene on April 28, 2017 - the last official day of school for seniors.

Assumption College Boston University (3) Brown University California Institute of Technology Canisius College (3) Davidson College DePaul University Drexel University Duquesne University D'Youville College Fairfield University Goucher College Houghton College Indiana University at Bloomington Ithaca College Kent State University Medaille College Nazareth College (2) Niagara University (2) Northeastern University Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences Sarah Lawrence College

Savannah College of Art and Design St. John Fisher College Suffolk University Syracuse University (2) The George Washington University The Ohio State University The University of the Arts The University of Findlay University of California, Davis University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Cruz University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of New Hampshire at Durham University of Pittsburgh at Bradford University of Rochester SUNY at Buffalo (8) SUNY Buffalo State College (2) SUNY College at Geneseo University of Toronto, Canada (2) University of Vermont University of Wisconsin, Madison (2) Yale University

*As of 5/28/2017. The full list of acceptances is available online at BuffaloSeminary.org/CollegeStats Summer 2017

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Student Achievement Student Recognition Day Honors June 1, student achievement in academics, athletics, and community service was honored.

Math faculty Andrea Mastracci presided as the National Honor Society inducted 20 juniors: Chelsea Anderson, Anna Ange, Casey Ball, Priya Bommaraju, Madeleine Cherr, Zhiting “Elf” Dong, Bridget Ewing, Zoe Galarneau, Katie Gibbons, Sarah Hamdan, Grace Heidinger, Shelby Kmidowski, Yixuan “Rebecca” Li, Shangqi “Sary” Lyu, Margaret McHale, Brooke Pohlman, Tess Rine, Clare Sharkey, Talia Stoffman, and Elisa Yi.

Feiya “Catherine” Wang '17 (AMC 12) and Madeline Love '19 (AMC 10) were awarded for being SEM’s highest scorers in the American Mathematics Competition.

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Senior Lauren Pollina, president of the Donate Life club was given the Buffalo Business First “Community All-Star Award.”

Among other volunteer activities in the WNY region, Lauren raised awareness about organ, tissue, and eye donation and organized SEM blood drives for Unyts.

Buffalo Seminary

Class Day Honors June 12, academic and leadership prizes were awarded, the Rose Ceremony was held, and Seminaria was dedicated.

Class Day is the last time the girls in the senior class attend SEM. Emily Broxup addressed the school for the last time as SGA president and the ceremony ended with the traditional senior slide show, this year created by Jesse Sloier. The Rose Ceremony marks the transfer of leadership of the School Government Association (SGA), including its clubs, from outgoing seniors to rising seniors.

Dean of Students Dr. Sara Sieczkarski and Humanities faculty Carey Miller presided over the Cum Laude Society induction. Emma Brentjens, Madison Broadwater, Dabin Han, Isabelle Schlehr, Mariam Shafik, Yao “Lisa” Xiao, and Miao Yu joined fall inductees Morgan Baker, Madelynn Leary, Catherine McClenahan, Tara Porter, Jesse Sloier, and Xinyang “Amber” Ye, in the Buffalo Seminary chapter of the national organization. Cum Laude membership is based solely on academic achievement and schools are only permitted to induct up to 20% of the senior class.

Seminaria editors seniors Jesse Sloier and Leah Kramer formally dedicated the yearbook to humanities faculty Jessica Silverstein. “Your thoughtfulness and joy in helping others is inspiring, and we as the Class of 2017 hope that we have justly shown you how grateful we are for everything you do for us. From planning an amazing senior class trip to sending us e-mails with tips for driving in the snow, none of it will be forgotten. Perhaps most importantly, you have always listened to us, all our thoughts and concerns, and gone the extra mile to make everyone happy.”

Before these girls graduated from SEM, they graduated from Buffalo Prep. May 3 was the culmination of years of dedication to their academic potential.

Congratulations SEM Sisters Lysette Vazquez, Emily Marie Jimenez, Olivia Miller, Bleu-Ruby Daniels-Taylor, and Jade Johnson.

More Opportunities... for Buffalo Prep Students STEAM Congratulations SEM Sisters Lysette Vazquez,Awards Emily Marie Jimenez, Olivia Miller, May 26, 2017, the 3rd Freshman STEAM Bleu Ruby Daniels-Taylor, and JadeChallenge Johnson.Awards were held in morning meeting. Ms. Adamczyk, Dr. Goetz, and Ms. Cass awarded these students: Photos taken during the productions of Blue Stockings and (Coding); Maggie McCullogh (Make Independent Alex(2016) Galbraith It); the day & boarding Our Town (2017). We love theatre and we play all the parts! school for college-bound girls team of Julia Beck, Ariana Nieves, Mags Ingalls (engineering) and Honorable Mention to Claire Vlachos and Emma Hammel.

Our guest speaker was Julia D’Rozario, who received a BS and BA in both Physics and Cinema and Screen Studies and minor in Astronomy in 2016 from SUNY at Oswego. She is the illustrator of the concise physics textbook Electromagnetism: Problems and Solutions, and is currently working on the illustrations for the second volume Electrodynamics: Problems and Solutions.

In the fall she will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology to obtain her Above: Caitlin Cass, Beth Adamczyk, Ariana PhD in Microsystems Engineering. Julia Nieves, Mags Ingalls, Julia Beck, Alex Galbraith talked to the students frankly about Bottom: Julia D'Rozario, Maggie McCulloch, Emma being the only woman in her program at Hammel, Claire Vlachos, Jenn Goetz-Bixby Oswego and the necessity to find a mentor.

Beth Adamczyk presents freshman Julia Beck with the overall STEAM award on Student Recognition Day.

In January, senior Emily Marie Jimenez received a youth award from the National Federation for Just Communities of WNY, as proud faculty cheered.

2017 Erie-Niagara Scholastic Achievement Dinner on May 18 honored seniors with the highest GPA from each school in the two counties. At SEM they are Tara Porter, Xinyang "Amber" Ye, and Jesse Sloier.

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My Two Steps For Your One By Theresa Pszonak ‘17 On February 7, I stood up in front of the whole SEM community and presented what it is like to be this 18-year-old girl. It's something I never express publicly and have almost finished four years of high school without having a conversation about it. But, a lot of people do not know why I am small, and so here I go.

As I enter Target, filled with worn-out parents and their lively children, I hear “Look, Mom, look at that girl!”

When I turn my head I see two toddlers pointing at me with their sticky fingers, giggling and whispering to each other. What are they saying? Why are they laughing? I think I know why.

"Achondroplasia” is the correct medical term I use to tell people why I am small. Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder that disturbs normal growth of cartilage, resulting in a form of dwarfism. Even though Achondroplasia has a definition, it does not define who I am. I am simply a human who has a difference. And although this medical term doesn’t bother me, another common term does.

Midget. This word has negative connotations. I realize many people are unaware of this and so it is used quite frequently. I am not a thing, I am a person. I am a little person.

The following are some things I go through on a daily basis that you may not experience. As with everything, there are positives and negatives to being unique.

First, I'm a little like a celebrity. Whenever I am out in public people stare at me. Complete strangers come up and talk to me. Some may want to know my age, others have told me I am beautiful, and just recently someone 14

Buffalo Seminary

mistook me for a celebrity on a reality TV show.

However, I don’t always like being in the limelight. The majority of the time I just want go about my business. I don’t enjoy seeing people whisper and laugh when I walk by. I’ve learned to ignore them, but I notice.

People, especially children, stare at me with wide eyes, and while I truly understand their curiosity, it makes me uncomfortable. Instead of staring, perhaps parents should use this opportunity to teach their children to respect all people.

Secondly, because I have short arms, it’s hard for me to reach some things, so I have to be assertive and ask strangers for help. If I want Nutella off a grocery store shelf, I either have to ask a stranger for help or think creatively. I’ve used one cereal box to knock another one off a higher shelf. In the bathroom near the admission office, I have learned that it is easier to go to the bathroom in the dark rather than do a tuck jump to reach a higher than usual light switch or use my water bottle or the soap dispenser to try to reach. And you don’t know how much I’d like to make my own salad or sandwich by myself in the cafeteria. These simple scenarios most people take for granted, yet they have taught me to be creative and assertive.

Hanging out with friends can be difficult as a little person. For example, when I am walking next to my friends, they have a hard time hearing me because I am so much shorter, and so I feel left out of many conversations. I have to speak loudly to get noticed.

Hugging is also hard to do as a little person. I am a big supporter of SEM’s sports teams. This year, after soccer

FAQ

from Little People of America • Short stature is generally caused by one of the more than 200 medical conditions known as dwarfism.

• The word "midget" was never the staple of identifying people with dwarfism but instead referred to anyone who had a short stature.

These people were used at fairs for public display for curiosity and entertainment.

• "The word "midget" in use today has a negative, degrading, and mean-spirited feel and identity.

won a championship in their division, everybody was hugging and congratulating each other. This simple action is difficult for me because of my height. I cannot simply hug a person; they have to come to my level and hug me.

People might be surprised to know that Disney World is not as easy for little people as you’d think. It is impossible to see over the crowd when there is a show or a parade. People are often unaware of others who are shorter than them. They are too focused on themselves.

Concerts and football games are a pain in the same way especially when people stand up. I can’t simply enjoy a concert. I have to think of ways in which I can see better.

I can’t get my own drinks at Panera. I either have to ask somebody to help me or not order a drink. If a restaurant or store has high counters, sometimes the workers cannot see me. At Chipotle recently, the cashier skipped over me because she couldn’t see me. I had to raise my voice to get her attention. The list goes on and on.

I cannot be as independent as I would like to be. For example, I really want to drive a car. I was able to get my permit but I have yet to touch the wheel of a car. In order for me to drive, I need to purchase pedal extensions.

They are difficult to remove, so I need to get my own car. This is costly so it has not happened yet. In public bathrooms, I sometimes have to ask my mother or a person I am with to get me soap, paper towels, and turn on and off the sink depending on how tall the counter is.

My clothes also cost extra because often I need to get them tailored. There is not a wide selection in shoes since I am a kid size. I do not like the pink, obnoxiously sparkly shoes offered in the children’s section of stores.

I usually buy my shoes online because there is more of a selection.

I am grateful, however, to have been born during this time period in the United States. There is a greater acceptance of differences than in the past. Also, the internet has provided many more options in terms of information and shopping.

Although being short does have some advantages. It sometimes brings out the good in people. I have been given opportunities that I would not have received if I weren’t my height. One instance of kindness was when a worker at the Today show gave me front row seats so I could see better. Many people have offered their help before I had to ask them. Not making a big deal out of a situation but being kind to one another can make someone’s day.

My life will always be a little different from most, yet I will continue to seek the positive through my perspective on the world. My hope is that people will remember to embrace differences with kindness. As a matter of fact, when someone asked President Lincoln how tall a person should be, he responded, “Tall enough for their feet to reach the pavement.” Luckily, my feet are always firmly planted on the pavement.

But there is one more thing. It takes me two steps for every one step you take. That makes life a little harder.

But believe me, nothing, nothing will ever stop me from keeping up.

Summer 2017

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Associate Director of Admission Kim Trow with Director of Admission Laura Munson '79

Ms. Munson Goes to China As SEM admission director, Laura Munson traveled extensively throughout this school year to both national (Kentucky, Colorado, Florida) and international (Bermuda and China) school fairs.

During the 2017 spring break I was fortunate to represent SEM on a 13-day-trip to China in the large cities of Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. The purpose of my trip was to increase SEM’s brand awareness in China, recruit high quality students for SEM’s residential program, and meet with current SEM parents. The trip was led by one of SEM’s educational agents in China, and shared by admission directors from three other boarding schools (none of them all-girl).

I flew to Beijing but after a second but shorter flight, I started in Hangzhou. The weather was spring-like; cool and damp with a lot of hazy cloud cover which I soon learned was pollution.

I was impressed by how developed, clean, and modern these enormous cities were. Skyscrapers lit decoratively with LED lights were everywhere. Not one pothole or crack in a sidewalk did I spy, and most buildings were no older than 15 years. In all the educational agencies, restaurants, and hotels we were greeted warmly and respectfully. The average Chinese person does not speak English so I was very grateful to our agent and family hosts who translated for us everywhere we went. Most of the restaurant menus were only in Chinese, and most cab drivers, including Uber, know only a few words of English.

Eating was a memorable adventure. We mostly ate in local Chinese restaurants and while I may not have always known exactly what I was eating, it was almost always

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delicious. My colleagues became addicted to bubble tea, we ate the most extraordinary roast duck, and I know we provided a great deal of amusement to our Chinese waiters every time we tried to eat with chopsticks. As a matter of fact, in most of the restaurants we dined in, the waiters wouldn’t stop bringing forks to the table.

A true highlight of the trip was meeting parents of current SEM students who were were gracious and generous hosts. They were eager to learn of new SEM initiatives and to hear the latest news of their daughters’ activities and achievements. Several of these meetings took place at restaurants (of course!) where our hosts ordered local delicacies. In Shanghai I ate a small bowl of what I thought might be mushrooms in brown sauce, but turned out to be baby eels. After I learned through the help of Siri what they were, my intake slowed somewhat, but my host had them warmed for me so they would go down more easily.

Each day of the trip was divided into visiting educational agencies and introducing them to our schools, interviewing students, or touring Chinese schools. It was a success in many ways, and it was

especially satisfying to hear agents and students ask intelligent questions about girls’ education in general, and about SEM specifically, and to sense their enthusiasm. The highlights of

the trip were meeting great students, understanding international recruitment more fully, spending time with SEM parents, and the food! As a direct result of this trip SEM will add two new wonderful students to Grade 9 and one to grade 10 for the 2017-2018 year!

-Laura F. Munson '79

Meet the Class of 2021

Photographed at Lasertron in May 2017 after the placement exam

Or most of them... This is an eclectic

collection of athletes, artists, and academics. Interests and activities include: acting, art, celebrities, cello, cooking, dancing, figure skating, golf, graphic design, gymnastics, horseback riding, ice hockey, oboe, piano, rowing, saxophone, singing, skiing, swimming, Tae Kwon

Legacy Residential Scholarship

Do you know a girl who would be a great SEM girl? A great Hornet or Jacket?

She doesn’t have to be from Buffalo anymore… Because whether she’s from around the block or around the world – Buffalo Seminary has a place for her in our 5- or 7-day boarding in the beautiful historic homes next door to the school.

Scholarships are now available for residential girls referred by a graduate, trustee of the school, or SEM family for the 2017-18 school year. The purpose of this scholarship is to build our SEM community with talented young women who have a connection to the school.

To nominate a candidate, contact Director of Admission Laura Munson ‘79 at 716.885.6780 or email admission@buffaloseminary.org.

Do, travelling, and viola. These girls are double jointed, bilingual, dual citizens, have travelled all over the world and have met Olympic champions and pop stars!

They come from 21 different sending schools in Erie County and will be joined in the fall by five international residential students from China.

DISCOVER THE POWER OF ALL-GIRLS AT SEM 2017 Open Houses:

Open Houses: October 2017 1, 9 AM - 1 PM AM6-8 - 1 PM October 1, 926, October PM& October 26, 6-8 PM Entrance Exam: December 2 Entrance Exam: December 2, 2017 Summer 2017

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Teachers as SEM Freshmen I feared I might ask a question and be met with utter silence.

Last fall, SEM added a variety of new teachers to the faculty. While some of those teachers are new to the profession, but well-versed in SEM culture, others are new to SEM, but experienced as teachers. Still others are new to both SEM and the teaching profession. Full time new teachers: Patrick Walter (English) and Sam Basile (Physics).

Sarah Wooten (History and Math and part-time residential house director) is SEM’s first teaching fellow. Administrators teaching for the first time: Melanie Jaskolka and Betsy Bloom. Erin Kelly and Kris Kemmis are administrators who have advisories but taught an academic class for the first time.

Dr. Patrick Walter (1) is the new sophomore English teacher who also taught English electives on postmodernism and the author Octavia Butler. Patrick came to Buffalo Seminary from the University of Buffalo, where he taught and was awarded his PhD. Patrick’s best moment: Connecting with students.“The moment that’s made me feel the best was when students started coming here [to my room] over lunch, and not just students who were doing well, but students who were struggling in my class. Not to talk about their work, they’re just coming in to chat and write on my board. Even though a student might be struggling in my class with the content, there’s something I’m doing in terms of challenging them that is positive, that is not making them feel bad. I’m challenging them but they still see me as approachable.”

A challenge Patrick overcame: "Creating spaces for student autonomy. Giving the students control.

Letting them have a certain degree of control over where class goes. A lot of that comes from midway through the year. I really let Harkness happen more than I did in the beginning. I think that it really helped them and it helped me. Giving more reign to the students and less reign for me.

Melanie Jaskolka (2) is an advancement associate at SEM. She works on fundraising events like SEM?Quest, grant writing, and a variety of other activities that support advancement and fundraising. This year, Melanie, who has an MPP from Georgetown University, taught two senior humanities electives: Community Engagement and Colonialism.

Melanie’s best moment: "It’s not one individual

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moment, but the times I saw my students making connections between the material we were learning and discussion in my course with other courses or in real life. Connecting ideas and materials from the classroom to other classes was exciting and it was exciting to see their excitement too."

Melanie’s hope for her next year at SEM: "Although I am disappointed that I won’t be teaching next year, one of the things that I enjoyed most was the connections with the students and the faculty. I hope I can still maintain those connections and still have relationships with students and with faculty even though I will not be in the classroom."

Betsy Bloom (3) is a graduate of the Class of 2008. She works in the advancement and communications department facilitating alumnae relations. She is about to spend her second summer working on her masters in English from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury. Betsy taught the elective Short Stories and served as a sophomore advisor.

Betsy’s best moment: "The first time that I held a class discussion. The students had incredibly intelligent and thoughtful contributions to make.

I knew that they would, but as a new teacher, I feared I might ask a question and be met with utter silence. However, my students were extremely engaged, constantly surprising me and steering the conversation in new and exciting directions. They showed me what SEM students are capable of and helped me to understand the level of engagement that I can expect from a SEM girl."

Betsy’s hope for her next year at SEM: "I hope that I continue to learn and grow from my experiences in the classroom and that I continue to be the best teacher that I can be. I understand that learning in the classroom goes both ways and, as much as I am attempting to teach my students, they are in turn teaching me how to achieve my full potential as an instructor."

Samantha Basile (4), the new physics teacher, comes to SEM with two degrees from Canisius College. While this is her first year teaching, she has years of experience working with youth.

Sam’s goal for her next year at SEM: "For next year I would like to try more of a flipped classroom, so where I have the girls do more of reading the

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textbook at home and writing down the important definitions and any equations that pop-up that they might not understand fully. And, have the time in class to work on word problems and critical thinking skills.

The most important lesson for me is that you can’t do everything you want to do. As much I love inquiry-based learning, it just takes so much time. I’m familiar with the Regents curriculum, but SEM’s is a little bit different. Just be prepared for things to not always work the way you want them to and be OK with it. Start every day new."

Kris Kemmis (5), an architect, who is director of special projects, taught urban studies and architecture electives. She said that as a new teacher, she felt like she had to fill every moment with talking about something, teaching something all the time. Her guiding principle? "Give a student a fresh start every time she comes in."

- Sarah Wooten, Teaching Fellow Newlywed Sarah Wooten (6) arrived at SEM last August with a freshly minted Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia to

be the school’s first teaching fellow. Her portfolio was to teach or co-teach classes, coach and be a part-time residential house director. Teaching, she said, is the one thing she felt most comfortable and the most prepared for.

Sarah’s own large high school in suburban Woodbridge, Virginia was comprised mostly of low income students of color. “I assumed most of the students would be very well off and I assumed I wouldn’t be able to relate to them because it’s not my background,” she said referring to the residential students. “But, I made connections to students who, on paper, don’t have a lot in common with me.”

She described going slowly to forge connections with girls. “I didn’t want to be pushy but I started spending more time with them, asking them questions. And realized that I wasn’t invading their space, and that in fact, they’re really great kids.”

In the 2017-18 academic year she will teach two history electives she designed: Multiculturalism and Social Justice and Marginalized Identities in US History. There have been plenty of good moments for Sarah, but she said “it’s too soon to say the best.”

- Erin Kelly

Summer 2017

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Buffalo Seminary

Red Letter Days o The Red-Tailed Hawks Four Teams Go to Championships SEM had a strong year sending three teams to The Monsignor Martin High School Athletic Association (MMHSAA) All-Catholic Championships and one team to Nationals.

While not every team won, they each had successes and added new chapters to the SEM sports history book.

SOCCER The first team of the school year to make championships was Varsity Soccer. This was the first time since 2000 that SEM has gone to and won an AllCatholic Championship. They made history when they played Cardinal O’Hara in the MMHSAA B Division All-Catholic Finals.

SEM scored the first goal, revving up the crowd, but then Cardinal O’Hara scored a goal and the game was tied. Tensions were high when they went into overtime.

And then, German exchange student Malena Weber ’19 made the goal that gave SEM the victory. On top of the victory, Sophie Mielnicki ’17, Erin Griffis ’19, Sophia Vaquero ’19, and Nicole Nobrega ’19 were awarded with 1st Team, Division C, honors.

SQUASH The Squash team made history with a three-peat, bringing home the US Squash Nationals, Division V silver bowl for the third year in a row! At the tournament in Hartford, Connecticut the girls crushed Lancaster Country Day School with a 6-1 win and another 6-1 win versus the School of the Holy Child.

BASKETBALL The winter season continued to break SEM history. After 35 years, Varsity Basketball made it to the MMHSAA Championships. Before the game, Nardin’s coach Kendra Brim told The Buffalo News, “Buffalo Seminary is making a statement in the league so hopefully we can rise to the occasion.”

Though the team played hard, they were unable to beat Nardin. The team surprised almost everyone in the league with their postseason wins, especially during the quarterfinal, when SEM upset Mount Mercy with a 36-31 victory to go to the semifinals.

- LucyMarie Gaulin ‘17

TENNIS Zeyun "Zoey" Liu won the AllCatholic Championship for the 2nd year in a row.

Summer 2017

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¿ #GoSEM Team Captain listed in RED

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Go Red­-Tailed Hawks!

Soccer is the 2016 Division C league champion and the Division B playoff champion!

Varsity Soccer

Front: Leah Kramer, Clare von Simson, Grace Cloherty, Sophie Mielnicki, Jade Johnson | Back: Erin Griffis, Alicia Land, Sophia Vaquero, Natalia Vaquero, Nicole Nobrega, Rory Hannon, Coach Jill Beccue, Sara Alraziqi, Samantha Kane, Anna Schultz, Eloise Fisher, Alessandra Celotto, Malena Weber, Emma Donovan, Coach Elisabeth Beccue

soccer seniors Clare von Simson, Leah Kramer, Grace Cloherty, Sophie Mielnicki, Jade Johnson

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Nicole Nobrega, MVP - Sophie Mielnicki, Erin Griffis, and Sophia Vaquero are Monsignor Martin High School Athletic Association Division C AllCatholic First Team honorees.

Varsity SWim

Front: Alison Gareis, Alexandra Kane, Emily Broxup, Olivia Miller, Ariana Nieves, Katherine Gareis | Back: Mags Ingalls, Brigid Navagh, Katherine Nebbia, Sophie Fogel, Elisaveta Nedkova, Jessica Napier, Erin "Mick" Tesluk, Emily Felong Coached by Amanda Gareis ‘13

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MVP - Erin "Mick" Tesluk '21 finished in 1st place in the 200 Yard IM at the All-Catholics.

swim seniors

SWIM seniors Alison Gareis, Alexandra Kane, Emily Broxup, Olivia Miller, Elisaveta Nedkova

varsity cross country

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Front: Maggie McCulloch, Julianna Scaccia, Samantha Burlow, Alyssa Anderson, Amanda Lee | Back: Georgia Bontempo, Iliana Lukasik, Zoë Knauss, Tessa Covello, Mary Leslie, Coach Steve Mikos

Zoë Knauss (1st Team) and Samantha Burlow (2nd Team) are Monsignor Martin High School Athletic League All-Catholic honorees.

Sophmore Zoë Knauss competed in the Federation Race in Wappinger Falls, NY, for the second year in a row.

cross country seniors Amanda Lee, Samantha Burlow, Iliana Lukasik

Varsity golf

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Front: Mengcheng “Cathy” Yu, Shangqi “Sary” Lyu, Shelby Kmidowski, Casey Ball, Chelsea Anderson Back: Coach Edi Dref, Deanna Abdellatif, Ayesha Khan, Alexandra Galbraith, Clare Sharkey, Madison Rich, Coach Jim Dref, Ella Tolomeo, Gianna Pezzino MVP - Shelby Kmidowski Shelby Kmidowski is 1st Team All-Catholic Summer 2017

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Varsity field hockey

Front: Lara Sherris, Lauren Pollina, Sara Caywood, Grace Gallagher, Hannah Garis, Caroline Dunbar, Dabin Han, Emily Bulan | Middle: Kai Ellis, Nia Ellis, Charlotte Long, Cara DeRose, Tess Rine, Moriah Daniels, Emily Gates, Zoe Galarneau, Marion Rose McDonnell | Back: Coach Leigh Prezpiora, Lysette Vasquez, Emily Marie Jimenez, Coach Andrea Perry MVP - Emily Marie Jimenez

varsity field hockey seniors

Front: Lysette Vasquez, Emily Marie Jimenez Back: Emily Bulan, Lauren Pollina, Dabin Han, Sara Caywood, Grace Gallagher, Hannah Garis, Caroline Dunbar, Lara Sherris

JV field hockey

Front: Kathleen Greenman, Alyssa Burruano, Lilian Hamlett, Ciara Lambert, Sara Barone, Athena Mathews | Middle: Mary Curtin, Kailyn Lane, Lydia Abbott, Rachel Boeck, Kendra Johnson, Sophie Schurmann, Olivya Hogan, Thea Overdorf | Back: Coach Jill Tokarczyk, Lara Fittinghoff, Teresa Schmitz, Emma Denninghoff, Bridget Conboy, Jenna Dhafir

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Fall Sailing

Roster: Sydney Adams, Julia Beck, Grace Cannon, Molly Doyle, Kyra Fogg, Madeline Love, Katie McClenahan, Jacqueline Shanzlin, and Caroline Smith (not all pictured) Parent Liaison Kim Cannon MVP - Grace Cannon

Varsity Fall Crew

Front: Anya Roy, Fatima Siddiqui | Middle: Fiona Regan, Brooke Gannon, Carolina Hannon, Isabel Finkbeiner, Brook Sillart | Back: Emma Hammell, Catherine Asiedu, Rae Griffin-Lewitzky, Melanie Tunkey, Krissy Borowiak, Jillian Nassivera, Anya Casey, Katherine Kraft, Sydni Winters | Coach Peggy McKendry & Team Manager Brian Casey 24

Buffalo Seminary

Varsity Basketball

Front: Hannah Garis, Anastacia Earle, Alison Gareis, Grace Gallagher, Samantha Burlow, Fatima Siddiqui | Back: Katherine Gareis, Emma Donovan, Alessandra Celotto, Jiani Lu, Lily Johnsen, Jenna Smolarek, Bridget Conboy, Kailyn Lane Not Pictured: Justine Rodriguez Coached by Eva Cunningham & Kacie Mills Sara Smolarek & Gabriella Augello MVP - Grace Gallagher

basketball seniors

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Grace Gallagher, Anastacia Earle, Hannah Garis, Fatima Siddiqui, Alison Gareis, Justine Rodriguez, Samantha Burlow

Seniors Grace Gallagher (1st Team) and Samantha Burlow (2nd Team) are Monsignor Martin High School Athletic League AllCatholic honorees.

JV Bowling

Yiyan “Jessie” Huang, Alexandra Galbraith, Mengcheng “Cathy” Yu, Danyun “Chris” Wu, Clare Sharkey, Madison Rich, Janie Wyckoff

varsity Bowling

Madelynn Leary, Grace Heidinger, Jenna Al-Naji, Shangqi “Sary” Lyu, LucyMarie Gaulin MVP - Grace Heidinger JV and Varsity Coached by Jim and Edi Dref 2017 Summer 2016

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Varsity Squash

Front: Lara Sherris, Isabelle Schlehr, Clare von Simson | Middle: Erin Griffis, Marion Rose McDonnell, Cara DeRose, Brooke Pohlman Back: Mary Curtin, Julia Beck, Petra DeRose, Coach Phil Barth, Jenna Pantano, Maia Dreishpoon MVP - Cara DeRose

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Squash won the US Squash Division V championship for the third time in a row!

Squash seniors Lara Sherris Coach Phil Barth Clare von Simson Isabelle Schlehr

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First Alumnae Squash Match Challenge December 21, 2016 organized by SEM squash captain Isabelle Schlehr ‘17.

Front Row: Isabelle Schlehr ‘17, Clare von Simson ‘17, Katharine Dunbar ‘14, Lara Sherris ‘17 Center Row: Kaitlin Hughes ‘16, Paige Gannon ‘14, Madison Frank ‘15, Alexa Rosen ‘15, Sarah Obletz ‘14, Kelsey Waack ‘14, Anabel Cornacchio ‘16, Kendyl Kratzer ‘16 Back Row: Betsy Bloom ‘08, Julia Beck ‘20, Cara DeRose ‘18, Maia Dreishpoon ‘19, Mary Curtin ‘19, Erin Griffis ‘19, Brooke Pohlman ‘18, Petra DeRose ‘20, Jenna Pantano ‘20, Rose McDonnell ‘18

» Hockey

Gabrielle Cleary ‘18 Assistant Captain Monsignor Martin team MVP - WNY Girls' Varsity Ice Hockey Federation

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varsity Lacrosse

Front: Grace Gallagher, Sophie Mielnicki, Alexandra Galbraith, Samantha Burlow, Sara Caywood, Alison Gareis, Anastacia Earle, Hannah Garis Back: Kai Ellis, Casey Ball, Shelby Kmidowski, Natalia Vaquero, Lilian Hamlett, Rachel Boeck, Brooke Pohlman, Nia Ellis Coached by Kevin Phengthavone and Meghan Allen MVP - Samantha Burlow

JV LAcrosse

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Front: Ariana Nieves, Sophie Fogel, Jenna Smolarek, Kendra Johnson, Kailyn Lane, Alessandra Celotto, Eloise Fisher, Sara Alraziqi Coach Doug Hopkins, Emma Donovan, Anna Schultz, Claire Vlachos, Katherine Gareis, Ania Wright, Maggie Ingalls, Olivia Dixon, Ayesha Khan, Samantha Kane, Sara Barone, Alyssa Burruano, Alexandra Galbraith, Coach Sam Stone Samantha Burlow, Monsignor Martin Offensive MVP, finished her four years with 122 career goals. Grace Gallagher and Sophie Mielnicki received All Catholic Honors.

P Varsity FENCING

Front: Xinyang “Amber” Ye, Dabin Han | Middle: Cai “Christina” Jin, Yasmeen Collins, Kexin “Veronica” Zhang, Miao Yu, Madeline Love, Zhiting “Elf” Dong | Back: Coach Wesley Roberts, Melanie Tunkey, Olivia Miller, Zeyun “Zoey” Liu, Rae Griffin-Lewitzky MVP - Olivia Miller

fencing seniors

Miao Yu, Xinyang “Amber” Ye, Olivia Miller, Dabin Han Summer 2017

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¼ Varsity TENNIS

Front: Coach Andrea Abels, Sarah Hamdan, Miriam Ings, Hannah Stern, Zeyun “Zoey” Liu, Kathleen Greenman, Amanda Lee, Emma Brentjens, Isabelle Schlehr, Erin Griffis, Athena Mathews, Maia Drieshpoon, Coach Gerry Neff MVP - Zeyun "Zoey" Liu

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Spring Crew

Front: Katherine Nebbia, Marion Rose McDonnell, Rae Griffin-Lewitzky, Krissy Borowiak | Middle: Isabel Finkbeiner, Brook Sillart, Anya Roy, Brooke Gannon, Fiona Regan, Jessica Napier, Maggie Rose Bontempo | Back: Katherine Krafts, Anya Casey, Fatima Siddiqui, Catherine Asiedu, Jillian Nassivera Coach Peggy McKendry Team Manager Brian Casey MVP - Fatima Siddiqui

crew seniors

Brook Gannon Anya Roy Brooke Sillart Fatima Siddiqui

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Spring Sailing

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Roster: Sydney Adams, Julia Beck, Grace Cannon, Molly Doyle, Caroline Dunbar, Madeline Love, Catherine McClenahan, and Jocelyn Yang (not all pictured) Parent Liaison Kim Cannon MVP - Grace Cannon 28

Buffalo Seminary

Living @SEM

By Jiaan “Angela” Shi ‘17 Adapted senior presentation.

I am the only child in my family. My closest cousin once lived with my family for three days and she peed on my bed. So I have never had a wish to have sisters.

However, when I came to SEM in the fall of 2014, I got a chance to meet new friends and to discover and enjoy life within a sisterhood.

The first student I met at SEM was my roommate, Lisa.

I stared at her and said hello. In return, she smiled back at me like she saw an egg talking in front of her. I thought maybe she was shy, but now I know that she probably thought that I was strange and didn’t really want to talk to me, because she turned out to be my best friend at SEM. And I now know that she isn’t shy at all.

Rebecca, whom I consider one of my little sisters at SEM, thought I was from Korea since I was speaking in “Korean-ish” language, until her father told her that I was from Shanghai, and that I was speaking Shanghainese.

You know when people ask you about your friends and you picture them laughing and being crazy in a room?

This was how I’d picture my friends, with myself included.

I remember me lying on my bed, Lisa hunkered in her chair, and Rebecca sat in the bean bag (on our washed clothes) as they watched “Walking Dead.”

The third girl I met was a tall fashionable girl, who looks good no matter what she’s wearing. I consider Monica my little sister not only because she is also from Shanghai, but also because we share our stories and secrets. We talked about our lives in China and how we got through our middle school years and basically all girl stuff like boy issues and school. We could keep those conversations going on for 30 minutes, and they were all in the bathroom on the third floor. We knew each other’s dark, interesting secrets, but most importantly we gave each other advice in both study and life.

I live with international students, but American day students from school are also caring and thoughtful.

The first several months were frustrating because of the homesickness and because it was hard for me to understand all of the material in literature and history classes. My grades weren’t satisfying, neither for me nor for my parents, and I had a down period and I couldn’t focus at school.

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In time I noticed that it wasn’t bad to live in a different school in a different country and to have this many sisters around. And during my second and third year, I was able to participate more in classes, outdoor activities, and advisories where we can share anything about our school and life.

When I first came here, I was afraid of making friends with people other than Chinese students. However, I found day students heartwarming, thoughtful, and caring. They give you a hug when you feel upset; they cheer you up when you are nervous; they help you with your assignments when you have trouble understanding.

During the three years, I found that words can be powerful - even a sentence that you said could cheer someone up or give them courage to express themselves. At SEM, it is not necessary to worry about being different because we are just ourselves.

Residential life is full of variety. We have house pets, community service opportunities, weekend adventures, and wonderful restaurants nearby. There might be places that we have not discovered - it’s all here waiting for next year’s residential students to find. More importantly, it is necessary to make friends with day students not only because they can help you with your English skills, but also because this is a cultural exchange, and they will make your life more colorful.

Summer 2017

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Lisa, Rebecca, and me in Korea House. This restaurant is our favorite place to eat Korean food.

Although it is a little far from the school, it’s worth the taxi ride.

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Saturdays, residential and day students often ice skate at Canalside in downtown Buffalo.

1. Zoey Liu in the Oishei House. 2. Hornet/Jacket Day is a traditional school-wide festival which is more than 100 years old. On this day, we dress in yellow if we are Jackets or green if we are Hornets. We rehearse our dancing the night before and we compete. This is a photo of Jackets but… GO, HORNETS!!!! 3. Monica, Jiani, Zoey, Sary, and Christina coming back from a Starbucks walk on a snow day! Buffalo is a snowy city. During my first winter here, it started to snow in November and it snowed even in May! This must have been a special gift for me since I have never seen snow in Shanghai. We can go out on snow days if we want because we don’t have school!

Milkshake the Cat

Milkshake is the Lipke House cat. He belongs to our lovely house director Ms. Wright. He behaves like a dog because he loves going out and he sometimes goes on adventures around our neighborhood. Also, he runs like a horse.

Sometimes it is really hard to comfort him, but most of the time he is really cute and he loves to hide in our laundry basket (or any kind of box) that’s placed in our rooms. However, never leave the door open while you’re sleeping at night. He will come and step on your face, and I’m sure that’s what cats do since I have two cats at home. When we have house meetings, he will come and inspect us. Ms. Wright once said, “He loves people.

He thinks that he’s a person sometimes.” -Jiaan “Angela” Shi ‘17

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Buffalo Seminary

Kanika Durland has been Named Director of Equity and Expansion at SEM

Below: Kanika at the podium for Social Justice Day on May 24, 2017. The day was organized around the immigrant and refugee experience. May Shogan, director of international exchanges and education programs at the International Institute of Buffalo, was the guest speaker.

Kanika Durland has been named director of equity and expansion at SEM. In her new position, Kanika will be tackling a number of responsibilities. She will “serve as an advocate for students who feel marginalized and are grappling with establishing their identity, and work to further understand how these students’ realities affect their experiences at SEM.” She will also work to promote inclusivity within the student body, as well as spearhead and support efforts to bring in more diverse faculty and board members. When devising the position, she felt it was crucial that it be included in senior level administration, explaining that, “much like other societal ills on which people attempt to take action, it must happen at the institutional level, and the work must be institutionally integrated.”

Since joining the SEM community in 2013, Kanika has taught American Literature, worked alongside Molly O'Connor Greene '98 as assistant college counselor, acted as faculty advisor for RISE (formerly Justice League), and served as co-diversity director with Carey Miller. Kanika obtained her BA in English from Hartwick College, and her MA in English with a concentration in American Literature from the University of Notre Dame. While at Notre Dame, she served as an instructor in the Diversity Practicum, facilitating student discussions about equity and social justice.

In many ways, assuming this position has been a long time coming for Kanika: “My experiences have pulled me into this field.

As a multicultural person, I am in the unique position of navigating two worlds. As a member of the SEM community, I have spent the past few years observing and learning about the institution, gaining a sense of what our diverse group of girls experience on a daily basis here at school... their struggles, their joys, their support. I think that we are a diverse school and have done a great job of expanding our diversity, but at a certain point it must go beyond the numbers. Everyone in this community must feel included, have a seat at the table, and be heard.” In reflecting on her time and experience at SEM, Kanika came to the realization that this role and work were what she needed to be doing here.

Kanika believes that a clear and rooted mission is crucial to the “beautiful, creative, moral work” that is done here at SEM: “It’s one thing to understand that we should have a diverse and inclusive institution, but another to understand why. If we value complexity and intellectual rigor, that means we cannot simply practice one viewpoint, but must reflect the history we have experienced and the world in which we live.”

- Betsy Bloom ‘08

Why SEM Needs Blue Stockings On the morning of Thursday, September 29, Ms. Drozd cleverly emerged from behind the chapel curtain to announce the fall show, Blue Stockings

by Jessica Swale. While waiting for their auditions, potential cast and crew members excitedly chattered about their hopes for the show.

“It reminds me of Radium Girls,” said Becca Thomas ’17, “and that show was really fun to work on. Producing shows about women is always fascinating.” Radium Girls was produced by Buffalo Seminary theatre in the fall of 2015.

Similar to themes of Blue Stockings, it featured female factory workers as protagonists and predominantly male antagonists in the form of lawyers and morally corrupt businessmen. The room agreed with Becca and expressed their excitement for a show about women fighting for their right to higher education. At SEM, a college preparatory school for girls, this theme seems especially relevant.

For those of us deep in the college process, a play like Blue Stockings couldn’t have come at a better time. In the midst of pouring over our applications and groaning at the thought of writing supplements, this play just might remind us of the opportunities we have.

SEM was founded 45 years before the setting of the play. Not all graduates of the Buffalo Female Academy attended college - and if they did it was at a college exclusively for women. Legendary headmistress Miss L. Gertrude Angell herself attended Wellesley College from 1890 to 1894.

Miss Angell graduated, but the women of Girton College in Blue Stockings must fight for their right to a diploma. English and American education for women was different then. Between then and now, education for women has once again changed.

When the class of 2017 becomes the class of 2021, we will have the opportunity to receive diplomas.

In this we are different from the Girton girls, but their pursuit of knowledge and the fight for the right to be educated equally should inspire us.

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Even our long lists of colleges are representative of progress in the education of women. Every senior applies to college and is accepted. And while we sit comfortably in Western New York with the educational rights that the women before us fought for, other girls across the world are not so lucky. This must also be remembered.

Blue Stockings reminds us of the fights of the past and encourages us to continue the fight for the women everywhere. Undoubtedly, 130 years ago, we would have been fighting alongside the women of Girton, but instead we have the opportunity to use the education we have received and to help others.

A bluestocking is an educated and intellectual woman. She is a woman who reads literature or studies science and who pursues a higher education for herself.

In the 19th century, SEM girls were the bluestockings in Buffalo. We carry this legacy each time we walk through our wooden doors. We apply to college without fear that being women will hinder our acceptance or ability to graduate.

At beloved, longtime theatre teacher Toni Smith's memorial at SEM, a woman mentioned to Ms. Drozd that our particular area of Elmwood was once called the "bluestocking district." Although we are awaiting confirmation on this we can still consider the irony. As our billboards say, Buffalo Seminary has been educating girls since 1851. This play is a glimpse into what the girls just like our earliest graduates had to face.

Love or knowledge, which would you choose?

Is this still a choice we have to make?

In the 19th century, SEM girls were the bluestockings in Buffalo.

-Jesse Sloier ‘17 (From The SEM Weekly, Oct. 10, 2016)

Assembled under an arresting and ingenious apple tree prop are some of the cast and crew of the 2016 fall production of Blue Stockings.

Front: Katie Gibbons '18, Jennifer Webber '17, Maddie Cherr '18, Zoe Galarneau '18 and Jade Johnson '17 Back: Seniors Caroline Dunbar, Rebecca Thomas, Emily Marie Jimenez, Lysette Vazquez, and juniors Sydney Adams and Bridget Ewing

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Arts @SEM SEM’s talented artists creatively extend themselves from freshman through senior year.

All SEM students have an arts requirement, and as upperclassmen, they can focus their form of expression. This year, girls made music in ensemble and theatre, sang, acted, drew, photographed, painted, 3-D printed, and cartooned. This spring, in an advanced theatre class, they successfully went “Searching for Shakespeare” in Stratford, Ontario; they wrote their own treatment of Shakespeare’s 38 plays and performed for WNY elementary schools. In addition to regular a cappella gigs, The Semachords performed with Amherst High School and UB's Buffalo Chips to raise money for St. Luke’s Mission; students performed Thornton Wilder’s Our Town in March; and the final art show exhibited art, graphic novels, paintings, and fashion design.

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Our Oldest Tradition is Forward Thinking But there are others!

Some traditions at SEM are generations old, some have been carved just in the last few years, all are intrinsic to the experience and education of a SEM girl. Some open the world to our students, some bring it closer, some are comforting, others are challenging. From community service weeks (1) to the junior ring ceremony (2), to Lunar New Year (3), trips to Quebec City (4) and Mexico (5), to showing German exchange students all about the Hanging of the Greens (6), Hawk Walk, October 20, 2017 (7), Hornet/Jacket Day, September 30, 2016 (8)

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Juniors Fit Capstone Into Place

By Sarah Wooten, Academic Fellow After many years at the planning stage, when the Class of 2018 graduates next June, it will be the first to have fulfilled SEM’s capstone initiative, an enhancement to the curriculum first conceived about five years ago.

Although SEM has many courses that appeal to a wide variety of students, capstone creates a space for depth in each student’s area of interest. Capstone at SEM has two main features: a course students take during a trimester of their junior year and a project students develop through their senior year.

Capstone improves upon the current model of senior internships. “The new capstone model opens up far more and better opportunities because students can now plan any type of internship that they choose, which can be part of their academic day, if they choose and it can happen at any time of the year that makes sense for their placements,” said capstone coordinator and academic dean Sharon Ammerman.

While a main feature of the capstone initiative is increased independence for students, it is shaped by guidelines that all students must meet.

Every capstone project has to include community involvement: the goal of the involvement is to help prepare each SEM girl for life after SEM. Capstone requires students to conduct academic research, produce academic writing, and develop artifacts and presentations related to the capstone project. Students have control over both their research question and how their project will be assessed. Many of the students will choose to present their project through a scheduled SEMposium, which will be held throughout the school year.

“It’s a really great way to do an individualized project before college” said Tessa Covello ‘18. Her capstone project focuses on children’s education and how the

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Buffalo Seminary

social interactions of special needs and English Language Learners (ELLs) impact their environment.

Although independence is one of the main features of capstone, students have the opportunity to create research-based projects with the support of the capstone teaching team, SEM faculty, and the community. Currently, capstone is coordinated

by Sharon Ammerman, with the support of the capstone team; Kris Kemmis, community liaison, Beth Lewitzky, research librarian, Carey Miller and Ben Joplin, humanities mentors, Gaby Lyons, languages and culture mentor, Jenn Goetz-Bixby, math and science mentor, Caitlin Cass, arts mentor, Beth Adamczyk and Kyle Hopkins, two adjunct members, and Sara Sieczkarski, dean of students. The capstone mentors provide individualized support for students in a variety of disciplines to ensure that student projects represent the full range of learning and interests of SEM students.

Some students were initially uneasy with the amount of freedom that the capstone initiative offers. Through working with the capstone team, however, most students understand that the openness is designed to support independent learning. “In the end there’s a reason why the directions are so vague; it’s just so individualized that you can’t really have one set of directions. I kind of like how open it is because I am an independent learner,” said Katie Gibbons ‘18.

Initially developed by 2014-2015 committees led by then assistant head of school Helen Marlette, and former academic dean Ben Priest, capstone has become a school-wide initiative, with students starting their e-folios freshman year. The e-folios, completed each year, are designed to give students a space to reflect on their passions and talents.

As students complete their coursework, they also have the opportunity to complete a major research project in a different discipline each trimester. The e-folios and research projects, which provide students with foundational support for their capstones, were part of an initiative to

honor SEM’s commitment to college preparation, student independence, and academic rigor.

Said Katie, “I think it's amazing that SEM gives us opportunities like this where we can essentially design our own class and design our own learning, because I feel like that’s what encourages learning, you know? Being passionate about the subject.”

Every capstone project has to include community involvement.

Sarah Hamdan ‘18 is creating a video game based project for her capstone, “I love that I design this class and although there’s a certain formula that I have to follow there’s literally no part of my capstone that I am not looking forward to. I literally love every part of it!”

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Celebrating the Class of 2017

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Buffalo Seminary

Sweet 66 June 1, 2017

Summer 2017

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Grandparent Morning ÂŻ SEM The morning of the last day of school, before Thanksgiving break, is dedicated to grandparents. November 22, grands were shown the best of SEM.

Vivian Browne and Maya Simmons '18

Rachel '20 and grandfather Frank Boeck

Sydney Adams '18 and grandfather George Blair

Jacqueline Stephenson '20 with grandmother Ellen on FaceTime

Sydni Winters '20 and grandmother Nancy

Joanne Conboy, Bridget Conboy '19 and Michael Conboy

Fatima Siddiqui '17 and grandmother Nasim Ara

Molly Enstice '19 (center) with grandmothers Pam Jacobs-Vogt (left) and Paula Enstice (right)

How to Donate to SEM at No Cost!

SEM is a registered nonprofit with AmazonSmile. Customers have access to the same products, features, services, and low prices as on Amazon.com.

The shopping experience is identical to Amazon.com with the added benefit that the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from eligible AmazonSmile purchases to charitable organizations selected by customers. Please choose SEM! You can change your nonprofit selection at any time. Thank you for considering the school as a recipient.

40 Buffalo Seminary

Celebrate Fall 2017

¯ SEM The Annual All-School Picnic

Fall Play

Open House

Grandparent Morning

September 8 from 5 - 7pm Don’t miss the annual picnic on Bidwell Parkway presented by the Parent Association. Welcome new families and spend time with old friends! Enjoy great food, pick up SEM gear - kick off the school year in style!

October 1 from 9am - noon October 26 from 6 - 8pm Join us as we show prospective families what we all love about SEM. Please contact Laura Munson '79 if you are available to volunteer - lmunson@buffaloseminary.org

SEM?Quest

November 3 from 7 - 10pm Join fellow parents, faculty, trustees and alumnae for a casual fun-filled evening of games, music, dancing, and silent auction. Your support helps us bridge the tuition gap - the additional cost of educating young women at SEM beyond what tuition covers. Your commitment ensures talented faculty, classroom updates and technology enhancement. Out-of-classroom education experiences - like class trips to Washington - are also supported by additional funds raised. Join us for an evening of great fun!

Contact Melanie Jaskolka if you would like to volunteer - mjaskolka@buffaloseminary.org 41

Buffalo Seminary

November 16 - 18 “We love theatre and we play all the parts!” is the SEM theatre department credo. Fall and spring, friends, family, faculty, alumnae, and the public are invited to an all-girl production chosen and directed by theater instructor Susan Drozd.

November 21 Don’t let grandparents miss the fun at SEM as granddaughters show their grandparents why they love their school. With performances, cookies, and coffee, a granddaughter/grandparent family picture, and the opportunity to be interviewed by granddaughters as part of StoryCorps’ national oral history project "The Great Thanksgiving Listen."

RSVP to Development development@buffaloseminary.org

Deborah Sternberg Glazer: Best regards

Class notes

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Space constraints in the printed issue of SEM Today may require the editing of submissions. Please add full Class Notes online to buffaloseminary.org/classnotes, where space is infinite or contact development@buffaloseminary.org.

Lillian Osberg Fromm: Sadly, I lost my

Class agents and contact info listed in blue.

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Rosemary Smith Marlette

Elizabeth Underwood Mosley: Even at 93, life goes on as busily as ever with my work at our Quaker world here, some writing of memoirs, and a large scattered family that is always returning home.

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Martha Carr Stisser: Sorry I couldn't

make our 70th. Our family is growing - I now have eight grandchildren plus spouses and nine great-grandchildren. All are in Connecticut except one family in Virginia and a granddaughter in New Zealand. I'm in Connecticut in the summer and Florida (my legal residence) in the winter. Lucky me! And I have many happy memories of my days at SEM.

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Joan Kahle Smith, wj_smith66@yahoo.com

Miriam Sapowitch Schiff: Mimi’s daughter

(Janet Schiff-DiFiore) writes: “Unfortunately Mimi will not be traveling home this year.

She is doing well in Vegas.” Mimi’s daughter arranged for one of her mother’s art works to be in SEM’s most recent Colby-Oishei Art Show. Her piece is titled Dynamic Falls on Wood.

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Marjorie K. Chisholm

Susan J. Campbell: Sorry I have lost touch with classmates. I still get around but poorly but enjoying my own home in California. Enjoy each day!

for all the classmates.

oldest son Kurt to brain cancer on April 2, 2017. I am fortunate to have my Buffaloarea SEM classmates to help me through this difficult time. On a joyful note, my only granddaughter Alexandra was married on May 13, 2017, in Ann Arbor, and grandson Andy Fromm graduated from University of Delaware on May 20, 2017.

Ethel Roblin Melzer: Hello to Class of 1950!

Still working and enjoying it! Dick turned 90 in June, and we had a perfect family reunion in the Berkshires. We will become greatgrandparents in the spring - looking forward to that new role in our lives. See you all in 2020! Love to all. SO PROUD OF SEM!!

Dianne Ward Forbush: So happy my daughter Victoria '77 and her husband David moved back to Buffalo. Now just waiting for my two grandchildren to make the move back to Buffalo.

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Judith Hansen Wolin Benson, jwbenson544@yahoo.com

Jill Borland Flynn: I'm delighted to support Buffalo Seminary, which has given me so many fond memories. To anyone who has kids, please visit my web site: www.glimmersinc. com and check out our brand new 2" Styr-OLites. Free shipping on any order, big or small.

Judy Becker-Cavallon: I entertained three SEM alums last year in Tucson! Jill Borland Flynn has been in town again in 2017 with John as they helped Jay Borland move here from New York City, three years ago.

Mary Ross Rice, riceonice@aol.com

Mary Ross Rice: After having graduated 65 years ago, I am so proud to have seen our school campus become one of the finest in the country. Traditions still prevail: Miss Angell's portrait hangs over the ever burning fireplace in the library. I hear her words, "In quietness and confidence shall be my strength."

53 Barbara Jerauld Coffin: Loss of my husband, Jarvis, in July of last year; Birth of our 2nd great-grandchild in March.

Adele Petrillo Smart: Burt and I still divide our time between our homes in Lafayette, LA, and Destin, FL. Our daughter Kay, husband Kevin, granddaughters Shannon (junior at Notre Dame) and Ellen (senior in high school) live in Attleboro, MA. Our son Mike, wife Ellen, grandsons Nick (sophomore at Michigan), Andrew (junior in high school), Jack (8th grade), and Luke (6th grade) live in San Diego. We cover all coasts.

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Mary Hanrahan Berlow, mhberlow@mac.com Luella (Ellie) Harder Johnson, lhj39@msn.com Iris Farrow Skoog, ifskoog@gmail.com

Ellen Buck Browning: Three adult children, three grandchildren, and a terrific husband.

Life in midcoast Maine has been good to us.

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Gail Alford Gundlah: I have two granddaughters graduating from high school in June, and one of them is on reunion weekend.

Also, have a grandson graduating from college in May.

Judy (center) with David Eisenhower, the noted historian, author, and lecturer and his wife Julie Nixon after a tour of the Normandy Beaches. The Eisenhowers were on the same cruise as Judy along the coast of France and up the Thames.

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Constance Greene James, conniejames3@gmail.com

Pamela Mitchell Henrich: Pam, who

was SEM’s first Colby Artist in the fall of 1983, mounted a show in April to celebrate becoming the program’s 50th artist. Pam was the person who envisioned what the Colby Art Program would mean to the Art Department and to the school and has guided it throughout its 35-year history. The program was started with the establishment of a fund from Patricia Oishei Colby '32 and was renamed the Colby-Oishei Art Program in 2010. (More on the 50th Colby-Oishei Artist celebration on page 9.)

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Anne Lipp Frank, anfrank212@gmail.com

Roberta Rich:

A Trial in Venice, the conclusion of her trilogy that includes The Harem Midwife and The Midwife of Venice, was published in March.

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Jane Pelson Miller,

jane.p.miller@verizon.net

Martha "Marchy" Zietlow Bowden: Hi to everyone in our interesting and wonderful class.

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Jane C. Morris, janecmorris@gmail.com

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Constance M. Schweitzer, cmsch1949@gmail.com

Caryl Fleischman Brent: Having retired

three years ago from full-time work, I am now seeing clients in my home as a part-time psychotherapist. Busier than I ever was, but it is much nicer.

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Randy Cole

Laurie Dann: A spring birding expedition in the Buffalo area was organized by The Nature Conservancy on May 12, and Laurie Dann was a special guest leader of the expedition to Amherst State Park.

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Ellen S. Goldstein, egpr@aol.com

Mary Jewett Harty, mjnewhall@aol.com

Cynthia Eaton: In Food for Thought, the winter 2017 Meals on Wheels Foundation newsletter, Cynthia was featured in the article: Reconnecting with her Community in Retirement. "I wanted to retire from my job, but not from my life," said Cynthia. She has discovered that volunteering with Meals on Wheels can offer a flexible opportunity to do something meaningful and even provide new

Tara VanDerveer: On February 3, Stanford University coach Tara VanDerveer reached her 1000th victory as a collegiate women's basketball coach. March 30, The New York Times interviewed Tara for their article “Number of Women Coaching in College Has Plummeted in Title IX Era.” In true SEM fashion, Tara addressed the issue head-on, stating, “I want to think sexism is too simple an answer, but what is it, if it’s not that . . .

Anytime someone hires a male coach and says, ‘Coaching is coaching,’ well, why aren’t more women in men’s basketball?”

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Mary Ellen Yerkovich Burke, mey529@yahoo.com Devon Parker Marlette, devonpmarlette@gmail.com

Lauren Belfer: Buffalo News: Banners

Susie Barrett Green: I enjoyed seeing so many classmates at our 50th in June 2016.

and renewed connections to her community.

Not only does Cynthia have a connection (through her church) with Meals on Wheels and the site she volunteers from, she also has an incredible tie to the route and people she delivers meals to every Wednesday. "It is the neighborhood where I grew up!" proclaimed Cynthia, stating that many of the people on the route are parents of her childhood friends, and that she has enjoyed connecting with them over the last few years. According to Cynthia, going in to see the people she delivers to each week is the best part of volunteering. "People think we volunteers bring sunshine to the clients' lives, but they bring sunshine into ours as well." Tara A. Ellis '88 is president and CEO of Meals on Wheels for WNY.

Honor Renowned Writers with Strong Buffalo Connections "Buffalo has been the stomping ground for many writers. Mark Twain, Lauren Belfer, Ishmael Reed, Lucille Clifton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Susan Howe and Joyce Carol Oates, to name just a few.

Now the city is celebrating its literary heritage with double-sided banners displaying the names and likenesses of the writers on six blocks of Washington Street in downtown Buffalo. ‘'I'm thrilled and a bit stunned to be included with such extraordinary, Buffaloconnected literary luminaries,’ said Belfer whose current book And After the Fire received the 2016 National Jewish Book Award. ‘As I was growing up, walking to Public School 64 and then to Buffalo Seminary, the city's history and landscape sparked my imagination.

I hope the LIT CITY banners will encourage and inspire Buffalo's young people today.’”

Amy Jones [Chapman]: 20th Century Fox TV announced that it was ordering a pilot episode of Amy Jones's medical drama The Resident.

Associated Press, March 30, 2017

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Cynthia J. Pope, cj_bikerpup@yahoo.com

Isabella Bannerman: We're enjoying life in

Hastings. One son graduated from college this year and another almost half way through.

I enjoy keeping in touch with classmates

Jennifer Prince Bronstein, Leslie [Pooley Heffernan], Jane [Solomon] Hunt, Cindy Pope, Anne Kryder [Almy-Webber], and Meg Dutton [Baglioni] - on Facebook of

course.

A cartoon from Isabella’s Six Chix series was included in the Colby-Oishei art show this spring. (More on Colby on page 9.)

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Nyla Scott Carlisle, nscott01@gmail.com

Madonna Dunbar: Still "living the good life" at Lake Tahoe. Working for the environment, 10 years now! Semies, come visit - we've got room.

Two of Madonna’s photographs taken when she and her husband spent eight months traveling "backpacker style" through different regions in India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Bali were included in the art show celebration of the 50th Artist of the Colby-Oishei art show this spring. (More on Colby on page 9.)

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Amy Kelly, yerofeev@roadrunner.com

Liz Marcus: (Colby-Oishei artist 2011)

is included in DOMESTIC SEEN, a multimedium exhibition curated by Bruce Hartman at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City. The show ran from October 20, 2016 through March 26, 2017. Additionally, MTV RE:DEFINE recently produced a short video about Liz as part of their GONE IN 60 SECONDS project.

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Lia Fiato Hallett, hallett13@gmail.com

Susan Henderson: Susan Henderson '87, Chief of Epidemiology and Surveillance for the Peace Corps came back to SEM on May 12 to speak to sophomore biology students about her professional journey.

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Buffalo Seminary

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Emily Lombardo Longo, elongo@carolina.rr.com

Julianne Kenny: Julie resides in Florida with her husband Donald Saunders. She owns three performing arts schools outside of Tampa where she educates over 600 students in dance, theatre, and music.

Jennifer Roberts: How is it that so much time has flown by?! ...But I am still that silly SEM girl at heart! I live in the DC area with my husband, Andre. We settled here nearly six years ago after floating from the West Coast and Midwest. I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland in the Department of Kinesiology and absolutely love my position. I often visit Buffalo and would love to see other classmates as well as all the fabulous changes that have occurred at SEM. I am looking forward to our next reunion... What, 25 years! WHEW!

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Carrie Lyons Auwarter, carrielyons78@yahoo.com

Jennifer Becht: Recently participated in a set of Builders Trials for the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford. Jen graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2000 as a Surface Warfare Officer. She served as Assistant Navigator on the USS Saipan and Auxiliaries Officer on the USS McInerney. Leaving active service in 2005, she was employed at Northrop Grumman as an engineer with responsibility for nuclear and propulsion fluid systems on Nimitz Class aircraft carriers. In 2008, Jen moved from engineering to project management to work for the Department of Defense. In January 2013, Jen was promoted as a New Construction Production Controller to coordinate the USS Gerald R. Ford's Sea Trials and Delivery.

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Erin Klass, erin.klass@gmail.com

Lauren McHugh Herr: Graduated with a doctoral degree in Education Administration and Policy from The George Washington University. Her dissertation is titled, Principals' Interpretation of ELL Policy. She is currently teaching in Alexandria, VA.

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M. Julianna Glauser,

glauserja@gmail.com Moira Giammaresi Lewis, mgiammaresia@gmail.com Caitlin Overdorf McCarthy, caitlin.overdorf@emc.com

Moira Giammaresi Lewis is now the director of development at ElmwoodFranklin School.

Elizabeth Lewin is a multi-media journalist on air at Buffalo’s WKBW TV. She and Hannah Buehler ‘08 (also a journalist at WKBW TV) gave an engaging Adsit Lecture at SEM this spring. (More about Adsit on page 9.)

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Laura E. DelDotto, ldeldotto@gmail.com

Brielle d’Estries: I am living in Rochester, NY, with my boyfriend, John and our two kitties, Doug and Cozy. We moved here last spring when I got a new job with Nestle Purina. I am a territory manager and I cover Buffalo-Syracuse. I am able to go home often and I am still a member of the BSAA! John and I are loving our life in Rochester and we can't wait to explore more of the area come summertime.

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Marisa Faitelson,

marisafaitelson@gmail.com Aria D. Walfrand, awalfrand@gmail.com Tara Harper, tara.marie.harper@gmail.com

Eliza Friedman: Eliza, an associate

attorney at Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP is an honoree on the 2017 Buffalo Business First "30 Under 30" list.

Rebecca Ott: After graduating in 2007, I went on to earn my bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University (IN) and a master's degree in higher education administration from the University at Buffalo. I currently work at UB as an admissions counselor and had the honor of visiting SEM this year to recruit SEM students.

Aria Walfrand: I am doing great! After bouncing around the East Coast for a bit, I've finally landed and made my home in the place I've always wanted to be... New York City! I've been here almost three years, and I'm working in the marketing department of an asset management firm in Manhattan.

I started graduate school at NYU's Stern School of Business. None of this would have been possible without the support and confidence I got at SEM, which allowed me to push forward where I otherwise may have shied away. Hope everyone is doing just as well! GO, HORNETS!

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Betsy Bloom, elizabeth.g.bloom@gmail.com

Hannah Buehler is a multi-media journalist on air at Buffalo’s WKBW TV. She and Liz Lewin ‘05 (also a journalist at WKBW TV) gave an engaging Adsit Lecture at SEM this spring. (More about Adsit on page 9.)

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Victoria L. Dann, dann.tory@gmail.com

Chelsea O’Donnell: Spoke at morning meeting

at SEM in March and visited classes. She is the host, producer, and creator of the live radio show "Localized" which airs Sundays from 8-9 pm on Alternative Buffalo 107.7 FM. She's also a musician herself - be sure to check out Stress Dolls.

SUMMER @SEM

June 26 - August 4, 2017 Day Camp for Girls Entering Grades 5-8 New for 2017: Sailing!

Coding and Fashion Lab are back!

Register Online: BuffaloSeminary.org/SAS facebook.com/SummeratSEM (716) 885-6780

Independent day and boarding school for college-bound girls

Keep In Touch

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Kathryn Melber graduated from Daemen College

with a dual degree of a Bachelor of Science/Master of Science: Physician Assistant Studies. She will be moving to Pittsburgh to work in a surgical residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

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Margaret Brannon, maggiekbrannon@gmail.com Anabel Cornacchio, agcornacchio@gmail.com Andrea DeMarco, andreademarco147@gmail.com Anna Fretz, annafretz@gmail.com Kendyl Kratzer, kkratzer@fandm.edu Bessie Shiroki, bessieshiroki@gmail.com Kerui Xu, kxu113@syr.edu

What have you been up to?

Your success is SEM’s best tool for success! Share recent events and milestones on our online Class Notes at buffaloseminary.org/classnotes.

Do we have your current phone number and email address?

Contact: Development@buffaloseminary.org Like us on Facebook/ BuffaloSeminaryAlumnae and you can play Harry Schooley’s quizzes!

Anabel Cornacchio: On a gap year before starting

at Cornell in the fall of 2017, Anabel wrote and directed the SEM Snow Day videos which were surprises to the students, faculty, and alumnae in March when we finally had a snow day! They were huge social media hits with 16,729 views on Facebook and 1,797 views on Twitter at press time.

SEM pendants are here!

In collaboration with Erik Jewelers, the BSAA has created an heirloom quality Buffalo Seminary pendant - our venerable seal in silver ($125), 14K yellow or white gold ($650). For more information or to purchase, please call BSAA president Lucy Butterbaugh Coburn ‘73 at 716-783-4257.

Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.

Summer 2017

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In Memoriam Marylou Abbott

grandmother of Wynne F. Barron '02

Joan Kostick Andrews ‘48

Ann H. Cohn

wife of Peter C. Andrews, sister of Rita Ann Kostick Gold ‘45

former Trustee, mother of Martha Cohn Claussen '72 and Erica Cohn '75

June Stafford Ashton '42

Charles "Chuck" S. Conklin

Anne Duryea Astmann ’40

mother of Katharine Scherer Hacker ’67, aunt of Peggy Wattles Dryden ’70, Elizabeth Duryea Maloney ’74, Katharine Duryea Pike ’84, and Katharine Dryden ’07, sister-in-law of Marita Duryea

Danielle Symenow Avery '80 Vincent B. Barrett

husband of Alexandra Prentice Barrett '70, brother-in-law of Margaret “Cricket” Prentice Gordon '65, and Holly Prentice Stabler '73

Kathryn Moden Battaglia

sister of former Director of Development Heather Moden Jones, aunt of Nancy Moden-Lambert '81, Martha "Molly" Cole Cavender '81, Linda Moden Andrews '82, and former Assistant Director of Admission Karen Moden '83

Mary Teale Battin '46 Dr. Robert A. Baumler

husband of Jane Hatch Baumler '46, father of Ann Baumler Harrington '79

former SEM Math Teacher, Driver Ed. Instructor, and Business Manager

Dr. Robert S. Cotsen

uncle of Lauren Schulman '89

E. Webster Dann

brother-in-law of Elizabeth "Delight" Reed Dann '52, uncle of former Dean of Students Elizabeth "Liz" Dann

Kurt A. Fromm

son of Lillian Osberg Fromm '50

Robert Game

father of former SEM English Teacher and Residential Director of Lipke House, Lisa Game Pritchard '99

Melinda Burgwardt Gibson '74, DVM

Grace Rammacher de la Plante '41

sister of Susan Roberts Bean '43, aunt of Emelie Bean Ventling '76 and Kristen Bean Blackman '04

mother of Michelle "Chelle" de la Plante O'Connell '65, grandmother of Jennifer O'Connell '84, Kirsten O'Connell Conklin '86, and Gillian O'Connell Bobrowski '99

Donald R. DeRose, DDS

husband of Frances "Franny" K. DeRose, father of Gabrielle P. DeRose '74, grandfather of Cara DeRose '18 and Petra DeRose '20, uncle of Caitlin DeRose '02

Joseph J. DiCamillo

Paul F. Boeckel

Anne Ellsworth Dickinson '48

husband of Bette Treiber Boeckel '41, father of Holly Boeckel Allen '73

Dorothy Van Aernam Driscoll '43

Irving D. Brott, Jr.

Carolyn Hershey Ducey '55

Lucy Gould Butterbaugh ’44

father of Rachel Erenstoft '90

Buffalo Seminary

Anne E. Forrester '63

Julian E. deCastro III

son of Melissa Sullivan deCastro '58, brother of Alicia deCastro Kwietniewski '84, and nephew of Honorary Trustee Alice Sullivan Dillon '51

husband of Barbara Ferguson DiCamillo '45

mother of BSAA President Lucy Butterbaugh Coburn ’73, sister of Maryellen Gould Hadjisky ’42

John A. Esty

uncle of Natalie Symons '88, Victoria Sanderson Sieglaff '89, Robin Symons Alibozek '91, brother-in-law of former Trustee James Sanderson

wife of Glenn Lovell Gibson, daughter of former SEM Music Teacher Clarice Burgwardt, sister of Sally Burgwardt Lauck '73, and aunt of Amy Lauck Barrett Reinhorn '95

Bryna Shirley Zeller Ben-Asher '52

father of Meryl Brott '87

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H. Stanton Cheyney

father of Deborah Cheyney Abels '72

Alan Erenstoft

Alice Roberts Gow '45

Paul S. Guinn, Jr.

husband of Reverend Patricia Liesinger Guinn '61

Benjamin Hirsh,

grandfather of Darcy L. Hirsh '98

Robert J.A. Irwin III

brother of Suzanne Irwin McWilliams '51 and Virginia Irwin Jenks '61

Caroline Regan Lassoe '49

sister of Allison Regan Hopkins '53, sisterin-law of Pinky Leahy Regan '53

Kathleen Lauerman

mother of Rosemary Lauerman Parece '83 and grandmother of Catherine "Kate" Yeksigian '09

Louis Lazar, MD

father of Robin Lazar Miller ’68, MD, and Alyse Lazar, uncle of Joan Skerker ‘73

Helen Dent Lenahan ‘45

mother of Susan Lenahan Kimberly '68

Marjorie Boasberg Levy '37 Joel Lippman

husband of Francie DeCarlo Lippman, stepfather of Alicia Hoffman Michielli '90 and Mara Hoffman '95

Douglas Littlewood

father of Laurie Littlewood Kullman '73, grandfather of Alissa Vogelsang '02

Dr. Margaret MacGillivray mother of Janet MacGillivray '81

Claire E. Martoche '91

daughter of Honorable Salvatore R. and Mary Dee Martoche, sister of Honorable Amy C. Martoche '88, sister-in-law of Timothy W. Hoover, Esq., aunt of Juliana C. Hoover and the late Sofia Grace Hoover

Marjorie Mathews

grandmother of Athena Mathews '19

Dr. Enrico Mihich

father of Sylvia Mihich '75

Patrick J. Miller

husband of Development Department Database Manager, Nancy A. Miller, father of Co-Chair of the Humanities Department, Carey Miller, grandfather of Eva Maines '21 and Auguste Maines '21, uncle of Erica Luciano '15

Betty Johnson Ott '40 Margot "Mickey" Cordes Owen '40 aunt of Susan Cordes '75

Sheila Walsh Parizeau '48

Scott Pastor

grandmother of O. Abbott "Abby" Schoellkopf '87, great-grandmother of Krissy Borowiak '19 and Athena Mathews '19, mother-in-law of Anne Alford Surdam '66 and former Trustee Edwin M. Johnston, Jr.

sister of Geraldine "Jerry" Walsh Clauss '47 and former Trustee Edward F. Walsh, Sr., sister-in-law of Grace "Holly" Salt Walsh '47, aunt of Sally "Demi" Walsh Ayers '65 and Grace Walsh Munschauer '74 uncle of Madeline Friedman '10

Susan Persico '67, DVM

aunt of Jennifer Persico '87, Esq.

George F. “Nick” Phillips, Jr.

husband of Carin Wyckoff Phillips ’51, brother-in-law of Sara Wyckoff Hurley ‘56

Dr. Paul H. Potter

brother of Molly Potter Scheu '44

Calvin G. Rand

father of Melissa Rand Robb '73, uncle of Isabel Hunt Hallick '68, Victoria Rand Kearns '71, Alexandra Rand Ashton '72, Frederica Rand Zuerner '74, Jayne Rand '79, Francesca Rand '84, and Kathryn Gondree Rand '90

Anne P. Sarles

grandmother of Rebecca Sarles Walker '02

Cynthia "Cynnie" Hunt Smith '72

Paula Morgan '67 Robert C. Oshei, Jr.

Esther Spaulding '53

Richard E. Moot, Esq.

father of Estelle Oshei Mahoney '86, brother of Mary "Memo" E.B. Oshei '74

Manson F. Surdam

husband of Anne Alford Surdam '66, brother-in-law of former Trustee Edwin M. Johnston, Jr., uncle of O. Abbott "Abby" Schoellkopf '87, great-uncle of Athena Mathews '19, and Krissy Borowiak '19

sister of Isabel Hunt Hallick '68, cousin of Victoria Rand Kearns '71, Alexandra Rand Ashton '72, Melissa Rand Robb '73, Frederica Rand Zuerner '74, Jayne Rand '79, Francesca Rand '84, and Kathryn Gondree Rand '90

brother of Mary Moot Buerger '45

Sarah Buckley Summerson '52

Barbara Martin Stout '47 Sylvia Bassett Street '48

Susan F. Surdam

David Tiftickjian

father of Elizabeth Tiftickjian Rott '81, brother of Kathleen Tiftickjian Johnston '42

Ruth Wickwire Urban '38 James H. VanArsdale III

husband of Suzanne Jameson VanArsdale '41, father of Ruth VanArsdale '65, Mary Jane VanArsdale Miller '67, and Katrina VanArsdale Drouhard '72

Barbara L. Wagner

former Director of the Glee Club

Constance S. Walsh

wife of John N. Walsh III, niece of Geraldine "Jerry" Walsh Clauss '47, Grace "Holly" Salt Walsh '47, former Trustee Edward F. Walsh, Sr., and Sheila Walsh Parizeau '48, sister-in-law of Sally "Demi" Walsh Ayres '65, cousin of Grace Walsh Munschauer '74

Donald E. Westphal

father of Wende Westphal '79

Dorothy Bauckus Whittingham '42 Charlotte H. Yerkovich

mother of S. Louise Yerkovich Baudoin '67 and Mary Ellen Yerkovich Burke '71

Summer 2017

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In Memoriam Betty Johnson Ott ’40 Betty Johnson Ott ’40 died on July 21, 2016. She was a devoted alumna who for years, acted as class agent with her classmate Rosemary Woodworth Whiting.

Betty was 94. Her two daughters, Virginia Ott ’65 and Barbara Ott Stevens ’66, sadly both predeceased her.

She was truly a devoted graduate of Buffalo Seminary, always attending functions with upbeat and positive things to say about her alma mater.

Betty was made an honorary SEM trustee in 2007.

She did indeed have an interesting life. In her obituary The Buffalo News mentioned that she was a society reporter and feature writer for the Buffalo Courier-Express. She was a direct descendant of Davy Crockett. She was a clown with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, packing into the tiny clown car and riding an elephant in the center ring. After she rode a killer whale at Marineland, she was tapped to become a contestant on the TV show “To Tell the Truth.” After those experiences she took a more sedate route as a sales clerk at Pitt Petri and ran Betty’s Bed & Breakfast in her home on Jersey Street in Buffalo.

For more than 50 years, she celebrated the Christmas season by dressing in a Santa Claus suit and bringing gifts from a sack over her shoulder to homes, schools, and businesses on the city’s West Side, and was honored for her many volunteer activities through the years.

With the death of Betty Johnson Ott, Buffalo Seminary lost a most dedicated, interesting and remarkable alumna.

-Gary Sutton

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Buffalo Seminary

Helen Dent Lenahan ‘45 We are saddened at the loss of Mrs. Lenahan, mother of Susan Lenahan Kimberly '68 on May 19, 2017. Her legacy at SEM is secure and her name lives on through a student scholarship she established in the recent capital campaign, Remarkable Opportunities - Campaign For SEM. We are grateful for her generosity.

A new fountain was given by the friends and family of Rachel M. Sacha to the Magavern-Sutton Courtyard this spring. Rachel, who passed away in 2005, was the younger sister of Lauren Sacha '06.

Joan Kostick Andrews '48 Buffalo Seminary is saddened to report that Joan Kostick Andrews died at her home in Washington, DC, on May 15, 2017. With her passing, we have lost one of our most loyal and generous alumnae.

Joan and her husband Peter really were extraordinary and enthusiastic supporters of our crew team when it began in 1994. Not only did they financially contribute in those early days of the crew program, but they took an active interest in the crew’s activities. In 2006, they arranged for the team to have its very own shell, the Joan Kostick Andrews ’48.

We are reminded also of her dedication to Buffalo Seminary each spring as we celebrate with the Joan Kostick Andrews annual glee club and ensemble concert which was established in 2001.

SEM rower (now Hilbert College English assistant professor) Megan Burke Wetzleben '96 remembers Joan hosting the athletes and incoming freshmen at her lake home at Bay Beach, Ontario. “There, SEM girls tested out boats while they enjoyed the beach and picnic.

Joan’s patronage extended beyond events at her

Claire E. Martoche ‘91 The Buffalo Seminary community was deeply saddened at the news that Claire lost her long struggle with drug abuse and mental illness in January 2017. The Buffalo News did a moving feature story about Claire shortly thereafter. “She would look at this as an opportunity to help other people,” said her father, Judge Salvatore R. Martoche, in an interview for that story. “She would approve.”

According to The Buffalo News, Claire had struggled with drug and mental health challenges since puberty. Despite their sorrow, the Martoche family sees Claire’s life and death as a powerful tool in a number of ways. First, to raise awareness about the nation’s drug epidemic, second to help drug addiction be seen and treate as a disease, not a weakness, and finally, to highlight the scarcity of

home to include purchase of several shells for the team. When she could not attend regattas, she stayed informed of the team’s victories through updates from Coach Bob Becht. SEM’s rowers knew they could rely on Joan’s warmth and dedication to the program she helped create."

Joan was made an honorary trustee at SEM in 2005. We, at SEM, are not the only beneficiaries of the Andrews’ generosity; the Burchfield Penney Art Center received one of its earliest paintings - the iconic Charles Burchfield painting, December Storm - given by Peter and Joan when the Burchfield opened fifty years ago, and patrons of the Irish Classical Theatre are reminded of their largesse as they attend performances at the Andrews Theatre in Buffalo.

-Gary Sutton

Mr. and Mrs. Andrews and Coach Bob Becht at the 2006 dedication of the Andrew's crew shell.

resources to treat addiction and mental illness.

“The intersection of mental illness and addiction has been in the shadows for too long,” said her sister Amy ‘88. “Claire’s death can take it out of the shadows and into the light, make it a conversation.”

Amy sees her sister’s death as a teaching opportunity to benefit current SEM students in our health and leadership curriculum and to rouse alumnae around the issue. “I implore everyone at SEM to get involved. No one is immune,” she said with urgency.

Amy and her husband Timothy W. Hoover have renamed an existing SEM scholarship that honors their daughter to also honor Claire.

The Sofia Grace Hoover Memorial Scholarship is now the Sofia Grace Hoover and Claire E. Martoche ‘91 Memorial Scholarship.

“She always treasured her SEM friendships and experience,” Amy said of Claire. “Graduating from SEM was one of her proudest accomplishments.”

-Erin Kelly

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Buffalo Seminary Alumnae Association News Calling All WNY Alumnae!

Fall Hornet/Jacket Alumnae Kickoff

The BSAA wants you! We’re looking for local alumnae who wish to volunteer their time to help out at SEM events or even to serve on the board of directors. The BSAA Board facilitates many of the events you have probably attended such as the reunion dinner and the Holiday Bazaar. But we do much more and would love to have you join us! For more information, contact Betsy Bloom ‘08 at bbloom@ buffaloseminary.org!

September 28, 2016 local alumnae gathered to enjoy a Fall Luncheon in the Magavern-Sutton Courtyard and to kick-off the SEM school year, Hornet/Jacket style! They were joined

by SEM’s director of Athletics, Eva Cunningham, as well as the Hornet/Jacket reps from each grade. The group shared their favorite Hornet/Jacket traditions from over the years.

Dianne Forbush '50 even wore her tunic & bloomers with her Jacket letters from her time at SEM!

Half & Half Shopping & Networking Event

Don’t Miss Holiday Bazaar - Dec. 9, 2017 This festive and fun SEM tradition just keeps growing!

Come pick-up your wreath and poinsettia, enjoy some tasty treats, and finish your holiday shopping by supporting local businesses and SEM clubs! Saturday from 10 AM - 2 PM.

October 5, 2016, alumnae enjoyed sips, snacks, and shopping at Half & Half boutique on Elmwood Avenue. The event was hosted by proprietors Jennifer ‘78 and Kilby Bronstein ‘10, and was a smashing success!

Local Alum Social & Networking Event March 1, 2016 the BSAA held an event for local alums at 716 Food & Sport in bustling Canalside. Despite the cold weather, alumnae gathered to catch up and reconnect.

Thanks to all who came!

Check-out our new Buffalo Seminary page on LinkedIn. Let’s build this into a valuable asset for SEM alumnae networking and school news highlights.

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Buffalo Seminary

Thank you for providing

More Opportunities for All Girls at SEM and for your continued support!

Board of Trustees 2016 ­- 2017 Officers

Chair: Margaret Brown ‘72 Vice Chair: Michael Maxwell, Esq. Treasurer: Richard S. Gold Secretary: Josephine Siddiqui

Members

Monica Angle Suzanne Bradley '73, MD Mark Burlow Jane Hopkins Carey '75 Robert Carr Jennifer Cornacchio Linda Cornelius '71 Gabrielle DeRose '74 Virgina Schaefer Horvath '75, PhD David Hughes, MD Alice Jacobs, Esq. Cheryl Klass James Kramer Patrick J. Long, Esq. Linda Robertson Magavern '73 Helen Marlette (Ex-officio) Brian Melber, Esq. Michael F. Perley, Esq. Elizabeth Montesano Roach Claire Schen, PhD Josephine Siddiqui Katharine Bowen Smith '92 Christopher Tolomeo

Parent Association

President: Wendy Sievenpiper Beck Treasurer: Cynthia Dutton Communications: Athena Pollina

BSAA Officers

Thank you!

President: Lucy Butterbaugh Coburn ’73 Vice President: Kilby Morgan Bronstein '10 Treasurer: Brielle M. d’Estries ’06 Recording Secretary:

Nadine Matala-Kowalski ’82 Corresponding Secretary:

Linda Robertson Magavern ‘73 Ex-officio/Liaison:

Betsy Bloom ’08

BSAA Members

Amy Hayes Atkinson '84 Gabrielle P. DeRose '74 Tara A. Ellis '88 Phyllis Gabbey '58 Mary Jewett Harty '70 Georgia Pooley Helliwell '76 Allison Joseph '10 Joy L. Kaminski '94 Erin Klass '01 Heather Kimmins '08 Lauren Stegemann '06 Joan Ginther Wadsworth '74

BSAA Honorary Members Dianne Ward Forbush '50 Mary E.B. Oshei ’74 Mary Ross Rice ’52

Life Trustees

Marjorie E. Barney Frederick B. Cohen, Esq. Shelley Cole Drake '66 Joan Willard Gruen '51 Amy J. Habib Mark E. Hamister Barbara Cowan Hyde '43 Luella "Ellie" Harder Johnson '57, PhD Susan Lenahan Kimberly '68 David Knauss Charles F. Kreiner, Jr. Madeline Ambrus Lillie '68, MD, PhD Rosemary Smith Marlette '41 Amy Martoche, Esq. '88 Philip R. Niswander, MD Melanie Franco Nussdorf '67, Esq. Kevin O'Leary William H. Pearce, Jr. Charles R. Rice Mary Ross Rice '52 Amy Habib Rittling '86, Esq. Thomas Stewart David G. Strachan Deceased: Joan Kostick Andrews '48 Francis S. Faust, Esq. L. Nelson Hopkins, Jr. Murray S. Howland, MD Elaine F. James '42 Paul Koessler Robin Simon Magavern '52 Joseph H. Morey, Jr., Esq. M. Ruth Fowler Niswander ‘43 Betty Lehman Oppenheimer ‘37 Jean Reese Oshei ‘32 William H. Pearce, Sr. Madeleine Breinig Reid ‘33 Susan Rubenstein Schapiro ‘48, PhD Annette Stevens Wilton ‘52

Honorary Trustees

Ansie Silverman Baird '55 Alice Sullivan Dillon '51 Marritje VanArsdale Greene '69 James L. Magavern, Esq. Suzan Marlette Sears '73 Gary R. Sutton Tara VanDerveer '71 Linda Kittinger Wadsworth '56 Rosemary Woodworth Whiting '40 Deceased: Katherine Crandell Bassett '50 Mary Henrich Botsford '33, MD Betty Butzer Brown '44 Melissa Reed Chudy '78 Virginia Deuel '33 Robert E. Dillon, Jr. Betty Duthie Kittinger '30 Jean Wende McCarthy ‘31 Marion Osborn ‘40 Betty Johnson Ott '40 Dorothy Doane Scott ‘26 Patricia Runk Sweeney ‘56 June Seifert Walker ‘39 Margaret L. Wendt 1903

Summer 2017

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For daily SEM news and pictures, find us on social media

Save the date for Reunion 2018!

Class of 1968

June 1 & 2, 2018 Classes ending in 3’s and 8’s - it’s especially for you!

Class of 1968, it's your 50th!

Go to buffaloseminary.org/reunion for activities, accommodations, and to get inspired; see pictures of the 2017 reunion there.

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Buffalo Seminary

Follow & Post to #SEMREUNION2018