CANNON THE MAGAZINE OF CANNON SCHOOL
SUMMER/FALL 2021
Letter from the Head of School Dear Cannon, There is a perennial debate (I mean, dialogue!) in my home about respective degrees of creativity. It mainly centers around the hives one of the people in my home displays anytime a need for so-called creativity arises. They surface during arts and crafts, school projects, the packing of a suitcase, the loading of our van for road trips, organizing a closet, determining the week’s menu...well, you get the picture! What is fascinating about this inner family discussion where creativity gets rightly assigned such a premium is that it is always isolated to the space of tasks. As we all experience, creativity as a habit manifests itself just as much, if not more, in our relationships with one another. For the record, this anonymous person in my home is one of the most creative caretakers of others that I know. I hope this broader view of creativity resonates with you as you spend a few minutes perusing this edition of Cannon Magazine. Certainly, our mission to nurture relationships drips from these pages as you imagine the collaborative creation our revitalized arts spaces will nurture from and between our learners. Such passion and creativity are not limited to artistic endeavors as you’ll read about innovative traditions continued and cutting edge programs begun. And finally, you will see the commitment to realizing their potential evidenced by our state championship teams and individuals. Achievement through adversity, whether the daily variety or the centennial, demands a level of creativity. The milestones captured here are a testament to the creative and committed contributions of educators, students, and our entire community this past year. They foreshadow an almost unimaginable future ahead for Cannon School! Warmly,
G. Christopher Jones Head of School
EDITOR
ADMINISTRATION
Amy Reiss Associate Director of Marketing and Communications
HEAD OF SCHOOL G. Christopher Jones
EDITORIAL STAFF
CANNON MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2021 Cannon Magazine is published semiannually by the Office of Advancement. Send address changes to rriemersma@cannonschool.org.
Beth Levanti Director of Marketing and Communications CONTRIBUTORS Sydney Ross
HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL Dr. Regina Nixon HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Carla M. Moyer HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL Debra Otey DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION William Diskin DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Todd W. Hartung Jr.
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Katie LaRue DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE Whit G. Brown DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING Dr. Beth Wilner DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL TECHNOLOGY Bill Donovan DIRECTOR OF STUDIES Fabio A. Hurtado
Contents
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State of the Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Imagination At Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 One for the Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Big Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Game On!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Commencement 2021. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
14
Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Cover: The Class of ’27 created submarines in the ThinkTank as part of a larger, multi-disciplinary, cross-curricular project. Students then took their subs to the pool to test and complete challenges by avoiding obstacles and retrieving rings. It was truly an example of adaptive expertise at work! Photo by Leigh Northrup.
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Additional photography by Amy Reiss, Marybeth Westgarth-Taylor, and Rob Walley, Sr.
Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 3
State of the Art(s)
The Renovation of Cannon’s Arts Spaces
Let's paint a picture... An Upper School artist works on a large-scale sculpture and longs to have a bit more space to stretch out and create. A trumpet player practices in the band room and wishes her instrument sounded as spectacular as it does when she’s giving a concert in the CPAC. A Middle School student creating in the ThinkTank thinks about how great it would be to have a mentor who could help him with his current project. Although none of these issues are dire, they did call for a re-evaluation of our current arts spaces, including the band and strings rooms and Upper School art studio. Thanks to a foundation grant and an anonymous donation, Cannon School underwent a renovation to update these spaces for optimal performance. Construction was completed over the summer and will be ready to greet students when doors reopen this August. “We really needed to do something to showcase our programs and better meet our needs,” said Mr. Nate Rogers, director of visual art and Upper School academic dean. “So, we looked at what each department needs. Band and strings need better air control and sound attenuation. We’d done some in-house sound paneling to the current cinder block walls, but they needed something conducive to better sound. Also, their exterior wall shared the outside patio workspace with the ThinkTank, so they needed something quieter.” “As far as the art space, we have bigger and more varied programs in which we have multiple students doing a wide
Strings Room
variety of different things all at the same time. We just needed more space,” Rogers continued. The best way to accomplish these goals was to flip-flop the art studio with the band room, allowing band to move further away from the noise of saws and drills in the ThinkTank. As part of the project, the patio workspace between the ThinkTank and the current band room was enclosed with a roof and garage doors, to serve as a collaborative area for both Middle and Upper School students. This makes it a three-season space with weather protection. “We’ve been trying really hard to get our Upper School visual art students to work with our Middle School tech students. So, something we’re really excited about is the building of this cross-divisional space in which they can work together,” said Rogers. Right now, talk is of the students teaming up to design and build furniture for the space. “I think this is good news for a school of our size because we’re really interested in relationships and being connected,” said Rogers. “It's important that our kids are interacting outside of their divisional or programmatic bubble. What’s great for the older students is the opportunity to be a mentor. You see how that creates a lot of energy, and it's awesome to see when they sort of light up and realize that the younger kids are learning from them.” “It’s so exciting for our programs, because it really shows how the school is committed to learn and create in spaces that better fit their needs,” Rogers finished.
New Band Room New US Art Studio
Snyder Building Front Entrance T hinkTank
Exterior Patio Workspace Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 5
Imagination at Work The Eighth-Grade Creative Explorations Class Delves into Different Art Genres Walk into your Middle Schooler’s bedroom any given evening and there is a pretty good chance you’ll be greeted by the top of their head, bent over a device. So, in a world crowded with iPhones and iPads, how do you get them to “see” more than just a screen? Such was the dilemma that Mrs. Catherine Jones wanted to tackle. The Middle School Dean of Studies and English teacher built her eighth-grade Creative Explorations class around the idea of the value of “seeing” and “noticing.” “I was worried about a world in which cell phones are in kids’ hands at about the age 10 or 11, and I wanted to emphasize to them the importance of noticing the world around them instead of just looking at a screen,” she said. Mrs. Jones started the year talking about the importance of artists in every sense—writers, musicians, filmmakers, visual artists, poets, and more—and opened a conversation about how each is just giving us a new way of looking at the world. She took the idea of subjective and objective learning, something she learned about while working at the New York
City Museum School in Manhattan, and asked students to use that framework when looking at everything—art, writing, artifacts. From there, they learned about different genres of art, including writing (poetry, short story, narrative, non-fiction), paint (watercolor), and maker projects. Students created based on the techniques that they learned in each genre. “Sometimes I gave them examples of great artists who work in each genre, sometimes I gave them a prompt, but I always asked them to create from what they care about—to focus on showing or creating something that they know and want to share with others,” Jones said. “I love watching students discover the power of creativity.” Jones finished. “How a poem can move you to tears, how the arrangement of line and color can open your eyes to something new, how a story or a film can bring you joy or comfort or even startle you. For Middle School students, it is such a gift to find confidence and a voice through the art that they create.”
A unit on pen and ink sketching focused on architecture, both local and iconic. Danny Krug ’25 was inspired by an article shared by Mrs. Jones of the 50 most iconic buildings from around the world and loved the angles and design of the Lotus Temple. He first created it in pen and ink, then brought the piece to life in the ThinkTank, using the CNC machine. 6 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
David Griffing ’25 found himself writing poetry about his favorite pursuits—sports!
Sunsets Sun sets down into the night Colors fill and blend throughout the sky Making art until it’s dark Reflection Reflected beauty of the sky On the surface of the calm water Mirroring the sky’s perfect picture Both poems based on this painting. All three by Olivia Long ’25. Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 7
One for the Books
How the Lower School Library Has Become a Hub for Joy and Creativity
If you walked by the wooded area near the Lower School last spring, you may have noticed children clustered there, piling sticks atop each other to make huts and houses. You probably thought to yourself, “That looks like a fun recess.” Except, it isn’t recess. It’s Lower School library. And these fourth graders are actually learning about Native American dwellings in conjunction with their social studies curriculum. Lower School librarian Mrs. Nisa Kalambaheti spent the day prior helping students create plans for surviving in the wild…and now it’s time to brings those ideas to fruition. Gone are the days when young children went to the school library to just listen to a story. There are still stories being read, of course, but Cannon’s Lower School library is creativity, defined. 8 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
“The library is not just a repository of books anymore. It's the place that sparks your interest in creativity,” Mrs. Kalambaheti said. “It may start with a book—maybe a book about science experiments, or duct tape projects, or a work of fiction that really captured your imagination. The books are seeds, and the library is a place where you go to nurture and water those seeds and grow in curiosity.” Nurturing those seeds comes naturally to Kalambaheti, although her path to this point didn’t necessarily follow a straight line. “Growing up, I was not a bookworm,” she said. “I didn’t read well, and I always needed help. I’d think to myself, ‘I enjoy books and reading, but I’m not on level.’ And there was such an emphasis on testing when I was growing up that it really took the joy out of reading.”
“I became a librarian, not because I was an avid reader. Everybody assumes that but really, I wanted to work hard to make experiences for kids of all interests and all levels. You don't have to be one of the top ten readers in order to enjoy the library.” Kalambaheti actually started her career as a first-grade teacher but noticed something at the Wisconsin elementary school where she taught. “The library was literally the center of the school. And the librarian there was doing amazing things. I just realized that was what I wanted to do—create different experiences and let the kids take them and grow.” Kalambaheti went to graduate school in library studies and became involved with a program one doesn’t hear about every day. “I was a volunteer jail librarian,” she said. “A few other graduate students and I were in charge of collecting books, getting them organized, and going to the cells and switching them out.”
will have them act out stories, complete with costume changes and props. (Not only is this exciting, it also helps children learn a valuable skill—story retelling). The next day will be a JrK and K yoga story time. On International Dot Day, there are lots of cooperative art projects tied to the book, “The Dot.” It’s also common to find Kalambaheti dressed up like Cruella De Ville, Harry Potter…or even a pirate. Each September, in fact, she creates lessons for classes that revolve around “Talk like a Pirate Day,” (which she turns into a whole week), where students learn songs or participate in STEM challenges to create maps of buried treasure. There are also plenty of maker challenges, author studies, and creative projects like dioramas and parade floats throughout the year. No matter what she’s doing, Mrs. Kalambaheti does it with a smile on her face. “I absolutely love what I do,” she said. “When I took the position, I was told to create a library program I’ve always dreamed about. And at Cannon, I can be the librarian I’d always dreamed about being.”
“The other thing we did with that program was get a grant to buy a bunch of picture books and Walkmans” (at this point Kalambaheti paused to laugh at how old she was before continuing), “and the people in jail who were parents could record their kids a bedtime story. We’d mail their children the book, recording, and Walkman, so the kids could hear their parents reading to them. It was so powerful, and I just kept thinking, ‘just because they're in jail doesn't mean they don't want to be good parents. They still love their kids.’” The program wound up winning the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award, which honors individuals who demonstrate the transformative power of service, and who are driving significant and sustained impact through their everyday actions and words. Kalambaheti traveled to Washington D.C. to receive the award. Next stop was Oceanside, California, near the Camp Pendleton military base. “There were a lot of young military families there who may not have been able to afford the museums in San Francisco or San Diego or L.A., so we created free Sunday morning programs like Kitchen Sink Science, or a deep dive into faraway countries. We wanted to show them that with books, you’re never limited by where you are.” After her family’s move to North Carolina, Kalambaheti worked as a Middle School librarian, but really felt a pull towards Lower School students. “The Cannon School position is my dream job,” she said. And our students often feel like they’re in a dream themselves when they walk into the library. One day, Mrs. Kalambaheti Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 9
The Big Picture Last May, Upper School Media Productions students had the opportunity of a lifetime when they headed to Georgia to shoot and edit photography and video at the Formula Drift Road Atlanta Race. Students had the incredibly unique opportunity to take the skills and experience they learned in class and translate that into a real-life experience, evidenced by the amazing photographs captured here!
Caeden Otey ’22
Ashwin Patel ’23
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Deven Dighe ’22, Mr. Logan Arthur, Caeden Otey ’22, driver Frederic AsabØ, Jackson Scurlock ’23, Ashwin Patel ’23, Chase Hensley ’23, and Mr. Greg Newberry pose for photographer and media productions teacher Mr. Tram Tran.
Caeden Otey ’22
Deven Dighe ’22
Chase Hensley ’23
Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 11
Rebecca Jones ’21 broadcasts the action from the spring LAN party
Game On!
The Future of Esports at Cannon
As the clock on the scoreboard ticks down, Patrick Mahomes scans downfield, searching for a receiver. His eyes catch Tyreek Hill, who has slipped past San Fransico’s Charlie Woerner, and appears wide open. Mahomes’ throw is clean, connecting with Hill, who takes it into the endzone for a touchdown. Thousands of Chiefs fans shake the stadium with cheers and screams, thrilled their team has captured the lead. It’s a typical NFL football game in every way but one. The action isn’t taking place at Arrowhead Stadium. Instead, it’s in the CPAC, during this spring’s LAN (Local Area Network) Party, in which forty Cannon students participated in an activity that’s rapidly gaining popularity—esports. So, what exactly is esports? The high-level definition is competitive, organized video gaming. Esports’s story began in South Korea in the early 2000’s, when the government there focused on developing their internet and telecommunications infrastructure. Quickly, a wildly popular type of social space emerged, which became esports. Over the last twenty years, organized, multiplayer competitions in which players engaged in games like League of Legends, Overwatch, and Fortnite 12 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
gained wild popularity—along with the industry’s earnings. 2020 revenue from esports topped out at 947.1 million dollars, and it’s predicted to grow to 1.62 billion in 2024. If you still aren’t convinced esports is here to stay, consider this: the last League of Legends World Championship (in 2019) drew more viewers than that year’s Super Bowl. Even elite institutions of higher education are getting in on esports— the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill just finished the Carolina Gaming Arena, a six-figure project that features thirty-six PC stations, three game console zones, and a sixteen-foot gaming wall comprised of screens. With such a spike in popularity, it came as no surprise to discover that many Cannon students were already competing from home. Mr. Bill Donovan, director of institutional technology, approached members of his IT team and suggested they visit High Point University, whose club team competes against other colleges. High Point had just renovated a space to become an esports facility. Mr. Tram Tran, manager of information technology, and Mr. Andrew Legra, technology support technician, took the trip up I-85, as well as a visit to Harrisburg University in Pennsylvania, which fields one of the country’s top esports teams.
What they witnessed was a far cry from kids simply messing around with video games. “It allowed kids to do more than just play—it was a whole STEAM program. There was video editing, capture, marketing the program. And as far as the competition piece, it was kids competing as teammates in which each is required to complete a special task. It plays to each person’s different talents. We were like, this is it.” When Tran and Legra returned to Cannon, they started talking to administration about the possibility of a space in which students could play esports—and then COVID hit. “We couldn’t go anywhere, so a lot more people started playing from home. Our group got to be really close and tight knit over the summer, and they started telling their other (Cannon) friends about it. So, by the time we came back to school in the fall, we had about 100 people involved, including alumni, teachers and students.” Cannon School gaming, or CSG, was born. In the fall, CSG organized a COVID-safe LAN party outside, in which forty Cannon students showed up to work together in teams and compete in the games of Fortnite, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Overwatch. Another LAN party followed in the spring, with even more students in attendance. The spring LAN party received a lot of attention, and shortly after an anonymous donor stepped in to ask how they could help. This summer, the media production studio in The Mill will be outfitted with thirty new computers, and one
Tyler Smith ’22 shares a laugh from the broadcasting booth
“It allowed kids to do more than just play—it was a whole STEAM program. There was video editing, capture, marketing the program.” dedicated machine for broadcasting (which includes internet and HVAC upgrades to support the addition). The new space will serve as a communal place to practice and compete. Tran has high hopes for the program, which he will help coach (along with other staff and faculty members). He recognizes that more and more colleges are actually offering esports scholarships to students who can not only play well, but also capture and edit video, photograph, and market themselves. “Since colleges are investing millions of dollars in esports facilities, they want to make sure they have players,” Tran continued. And professional gamers are not the only end goal—in coming years, it's predicted that there will be tens of thousands more jobs in the esports sector. “Colleges know there are companies that need to hire people who are savvy about both esports and business. The future is a person who has both.”
Ryan Ramirez ’23 finished first in the Fortnite competition this past spring
Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 13
Grace Ankrom accepts her diploma from Head of School Mr. Christopher Jones
Commencement 2021 14 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
All smiles from the graduates!
Anna Galloway and Riley Glasgow manage a laugh as they process to the Green.
Now presenting— the CLASS OF 2021!
Valedictorian Jonah Presser addresses the crowd. Even though the wind briefly blew away his speech, he recovered quite nicely!
On May 28, 2021, the 114 members of the graduating CLASS OF 2021 walked across the stage on Bryant Central Green to accept their diplomas and head on to the next chapter in their lives. After a most unusual year-and-a-half, it was a great relief to return to a more customary (yet slightly modified) GRADUATION CEREMONY— which this year, included hugs!
Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 15
EVERYBODY IN!
Robert Burlington III catches his family’s eye during the ceremony.
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Elijah Ormiston, Marques Walker, and Deuce Rolle show off grins—and BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP rings from their back-to-back wins!
A lotta love! Alivia Calabrase and Ashley Harrison share a hug. Frances Bragg gets a hug from Board Chair Benton— who happens to be her dad! Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 17
The Class of 2021
The Class of 2021 went out in a BIG way—at 114 students, they were the largest graduating class in Cannon School history! Along the way, they learned a lot about themselves, both as learners and people. On the next two pages, hear what they had to say about some important lessons they learned at Cannon School.
Mrs. Jenny Weakland models a homemade t-shirt she designed with the names of every college her advisees are attending.
“The most valuable lesson I learned at Cannon is the meaning of family. Whether on the baseball field, in the swimming pool, or in the classroom, it is really important to have a close relationship with your teammates and classmates. Having people who have your back will help create success in all aspects of life.” – Hayes Leatherman 18 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
“It got really difficult at times to balance and manage all of my commitments and a few times I felt so overwhelmed with what I had to do. I was hesitant to speak up about my stress until finally I reached my breaking point and decided it was time to ask for help, and I'm so glad I did! My teachers were super understanding of my busy schedule, and they offered many ways for me to better manage my time and prioritize.”
– Sydney Wood
“The most valuable lesson I learned was how to communicate with my teachers and be responsible.”
– Reilly Kungl
“Seize every opportunity
that Cannon gives you. Throughout my years here, there have been so many things that I have learned and experienced that simply would not have happened if I didn't go to Cannon. So, say
yes to things and get outside your comfort zone as often as you can! Time goes by so fast at Cannon!”
– Molly Morrison
Izzie Gosling and Molly Morrison
“Time management! Learning how to balance work and fun in school is key to making high school as enjoyable as possible.” – Anna Dumond
“The relationships you form with teachers at Cannon is unlike any other school.
The staff continue to surprise me with their love and support for their students, and it enables the environment in the classroom to be focused and lighthearted at the same time.”
– Lauren Skolaris Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 19
“Mr. Tim Aldridge supported each of us to get us to this point and look ahead to our next journey with a level of preparedness only he could have offered. He held us to a high standard, and we rose to the occasion. We are forever grateful for your unwavering support.” – Jack McDermott
“Advisory time
was priceless.
Ms. (Natalie) Legra, I can speak on behalf of the whole loco Legra advisory—we love you. Thank you for being our second mom.”
Ms. Natalie Legra shares a hug with some of her advisees.
To Our Advisors, With Gratitude Cannon’s Upper School Student Life program pairs students with one advisory—and therefore one advisor—for all four years. Over this time, advisors become trusted confidants, helping with everything from class selection to life advice. “We’re a relational school, so the advisor-advisee relationship is hugely important. Having the student and the family have one person who is their umbilical cord to Cannon is essential,” said Mr. Tom Booker, Dean of Students. So it came as no surprise that, when asked who had been a major influence during their time at Cannon, many seniors noted their advisor. We’ve featured words from them here.
– Alivia Calabrase
“The person I'd like to thank the most is my advisor Mrs. Jenny Weakland. She has been so
supportive of me for all four years
that she has known me. She has helped me gain so much of the confidence that I have today, and she
helped me see my potential for things I didn't think I was capable of.”
– Heidi Coppa
“There’s not much more our advisory could ask for than a mentor like Mr. Brandon Herder himself. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time with him and although he may not want to admit yet, we’re sure he has too! He has helped us grow from young, timid freshmen in high school to graduates, about to be college students.” – Kunal Handa 20 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
“Although there are plenty of teachers who have made a profound impact on my experience at Cannon, I cannot thank my advisor, Mrs. Erin Ross, enough for being my biggest cheerleader through the past four years. It's rare to find a teacher who can go from teaching you about cellular respiration to giving advice about whatever you're worried about in a matter of minutes, yet Mrs. Ross does this with ease, and has throughout my whole high school experience. She is the epitome of everything I strive to be, and I feel lucky to have had her as both a biology teacher and advisor.” – Emerson Evans
“Mama (Becca) Eury is always there to support us, and she has truly changed the course of our senior year for the better.
No one else could have stepped in and showed us unwavering love and support like she has. She is a light in
each of our lives and this advisory wouldn’t be complete without her.” – Anna Dumond
“Mr. Richard Smith is an incredible man who transformed and bettered the lives of fourteen young men. He pushed me into leadership roles I was too nervous to apply for, and he helped us achieve goals we thought were out of our reach. I will truly miss him and thank him for being a great advisor and even better friend.” – Evan Essex “I would like to thank Ms. Sherry Harley for always
believing in me; taking in a
random freshman and instilling
in him the confidence to be himself and
show who he really is.” – Deuce Rolle
Ms. Sherry Harley poses with her advisory at the Senior Breakfast.
Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 21
Thanks, JoeTro! Dean Joe Trojan, affectionately known as “JoeTro,” acted as the Class of 2021’s dean and guided them through the four years of Upper School. Along the way, he helped each student grow as a person and a leader—evidenced below.
“JoeTro is the kind of educator who values each and every one of his individual relationships with students which is one of the many reasons why he’s such an amazing dean. From the start of freshman year he welcomed me into the Upper School with open arms and our relationship grew stronger throughout our four years together. Anytime I received news or just felt like chatting
I knew I could go to him and leave his office with the best advice. He’s truly
one of kind and has played and will continue to play such a huge role in my life.”
– Kendyl Lauher
“I would like to thank JoeTro for being the most
supportive, relatable, and personable teacher and dean that I have ever had.”
– Ali Dulin
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Dean Joe Trojan gives Abby Hill a hug at Commencement.
Teachers— We Couldn’t Do It Without Them! The Class of 2021 also called out dozens of other faculty and staff members for helping pave their way to graduation!
“I would like to thank all of my teachers for their support and their genuine care for my success. One thing that I think is different about Cannon is that all of the teachers are very student focused and success focused and want to help you and see you do well and
I am so thankful for that support and positive, driven mindset.” – Olivia Harper
“I would like to thank all my teachers from the past twelve years for supporting me and pushing me to do my best. My experiences in the classroom have sparked my love for learning and interest in all subjects.”
– Kat Calcagno
Class of 2021 MATRICULATIONS
The CLASS OF 2021 will attend the following colleges and universities this fall.
Appalachian State University
McGill University
University of Michigan
Arizona State University
Middlebury College
University of Mississippi
Auburn University
New York University
Bates College
North Carolina State University
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Baylor University Clemson University College of Charleston Colorado College
Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Colorado School of Mines
Rochester Institute of Technology
Concordia College at St. Paul's
Sewanee: The University of the South
Davidson College
Skidmore College
Denison University Duke University
Southern Methodist University
East Carolina University
Spelman College
Elon University
Stanford University
Furman University
Suffolk University
Gardner-Webb University
Syracuse University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
George Washington University
The University of Alabama
Wake Forest University
The University of Tampa
Georgetown University
The University of Tennessee
Washington and Lee University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Tulane University of Louisiana
High Point University
University of Georgia
Western New England University
Howard University
University of Maryland
William and Mary
Istituto Marangoni Miami
University of Miami
Wofford College
University of North Carolina Wilmington University of Notre Dame University of Southern California University of Virginia Vanderbilt University
Wellesley College
Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 23
News HONORING DR. NIXON
When the University of Pennsylvania canceled their graduation ceremony not once but twice, we knew that our Head of Lower School, Dr. Regina Nixon, was deeply disappointed. She had worked hard to earn a doctorate in Educational Philosophy from the esteemed institution, and yet she wasn't going to have the opportunity to walk in a Commencement ceremony. Well...Cannon was NOT going to let that happen. Instead, we arranged for a very special SURPRISE graduation for Dr. Nixon, right on Bryant Central Green. Her family was there to cheer her on, along with every Lower School student and teacher and members of the Leadership team. Mr. Jones read a letter from Dr. Murray Grossman at UPenn and had some special words for Dr. Nixon as well. Based on the happy tears she shed, we think Dr. Nixon was pretty touched! It was a day that truly defined community. Dr. Nixon we love you! Congratulations! #YouBelongHere
BRAINY YAKS PREVAIL AT STATE, INTERNATIONAL LEVEL The Brainy Yaks, our Middle School robotics team, had an amazing year and received many kudos for their project, #gameon. The interactive website platform was designed for Special Olympic athletes who otherwise could not compete because of COVID. (The platform was used by Cabarrus County Special Olympics, with over 900 athletes participating!) The Yaks garnered a first-place presentation award at the FLL World Championship and the second place Champions Award at the State Tournament!
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News OLYMPIC DAY
The parade of nations. The torch lighting. An epic battle of athletic prowess. It can only mean one thing...the return of Lower School Olympic Day! From the long jump to the shoe kick, our Lower Schoolers were ALL IN! It was an amazing day filled with excitement and joy — and we definitely believe we have some future Olympians in our midst!
Cannon Launches New Website
What did we do this summer? We launched a new website! Whether you are a student, parent, alum, grandparent, or new friend just getting to know Cannon—our website was designed with you in mind. We encourage you to visit the new cannonschool.org, which shines a light on our incredible students, faculty, and programs with enhanced design, navigation, content, and features. We extend special thanks to Lynda Abel, Website Marketing Manager and alumni parent, for crafting hundreds of pages that tell Cannon’s story so beautifully. We thank Bill Donovan, Director of Institutional Technology, and the Technology, Advancement, and Admission teams, who played key supporting roles. And we are grateful for the countless administrators, faculty, and staff who provided input over the past year.
CANNON FUND This year, we exceeded our Cannon Fund goal of $600,000 by raising a record-setting $639,209!!! Thank you to the parents, grandparents, alumni and alumni parents, faculty and staff, and so many more who generously gave back this year.
We will continue fine-tuning the website in the coming months. If you have input to share, please reach out to Lynda Abel at label@cannonschool.org. We look forward to seeing you online! Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 25
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HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
Cannon relay team is among nation’s best By C. JEMAL HORTON, July 7, 2021 CONCORD – Cannon School’s girls 4x200 relay team had already proven it was one of the best in North Carolina, based on its performance at the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association track & field meet in May. Last month, the quartet of Monique Moore, Sofia Rooney, Ellery Biehler and Teri Pridgen traveled across the country to prove it was one of the best in the United States. Competing at the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field, site of the recent U.S. Olympic Trials, Cannon’s vaunted 4x200 relay team finished ninth in the nation at the U.S. High School Outdoor Nationals. The Cougars clocked a time of 1 minute, 47.13. The team features a good mixture of runners in different grades.
Rooney is a highly regarded senior who has signed to compete in track at the University of Notre Dame and finished second in the NCISAA in the 400 meters. She also excels in the hurdles events and heptathlon. Rooney is regarded as one of the best track athletes in school history, as she holds several school records. Pridgen is a ballyhooed freshman who won the NCISAA’s 200-meter dash championship while finishing second in the 100. She was also sixth in the long jump. Pridgen has already received interest from several major college programs, and she had some of the fastest times in the individual sprints in North Carolina this season, be it public school or private school. Moore, a junior, was fifth in the 200 at the NCISAA meet and also competes in several events. Biehler, another talented freshman for the Cougars, excels in the jumping events while also being a competitive runner with a bright future.
Cannon School’s girls 4x200 relay team of, from left, Monique Moore, Sofia Rooney, Ellery Biehler and Teri Pridgen pose for a photo at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. Photo by Darren Biehler.
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GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cannon makes history by winning program’s first state championship
The state championship was an especially sweet way to cap senior Reigan Richardson’s season – and high school career. The six-foot guard averaged 27 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 4.2 steals this season. She was also named a McDonald’s All-American, and the Charlotte Observer’s Player of the Year. Reigan will play basketball at the University of Georgia this fall.
By JOE HABINA, Independent Tribune, February 27, 2021 CONCORD – Maybe you’d expect the sigh-of-relief moment of a double-digit victory to come much earlier than in the last 65 seconds, but this was no ordinary game for the Cannon School girls basketball team. Playing in the N.C. Independent School Athletic Association 4A state championship game on the Cougars’ home floor Saturday, an inspired North Raleigh Christian Academy squad would not grant Cannon any level of comfort, relief, or satisfaction until the game’s final minute. Not until the Cougars’ Sydney Wood drilled a fist pumpinducing 3-pointer with 1 minute, 5 seconds remaining and added another for good measure 26 seconds later did Cannon School’s 53-39 triumph feel safe. What it also secured was the program’s first state championship. 28 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
“(I’m) excited as all get-out,” said winning coach Kelvin Drakeford minutes after draping around his neck the championship net he helped cut down. “We expected it, but it’s a great feeling I have. Especially starting out my first year (2017-18) being 4-15 and three years later winning a state championship.” “(Wood) put a dagger (in NRCA),” Drakeford added. “For her to catch her stride and feel good in this game was huge. She had some games where she was off. But this game, the first one she shot and the second one she shot (both in the first quarter) went in, and I’m like ‘They’re in for a long night.’” Wood, a senior guard who finished with four 3-pointers for 12 total points, scored six of Cannon School’s first nine points, then scored its final six. In between was a hard fought, nip-and-tuck contest which had the Cougars vulnerable at certain points.
Led by 6-foot-3 junior Imani Lester and sophomore point guard Madison Mims, who is more than a foot shorter than her towering teammate, NRCA’s defensive effort frustrated Cannon School in the first half, including the Cougars’ McDonald’s All-American guard, Reigan Richardson. Lester scored half of NRCA’s 22 first-half points and helped the Knights outrebound Cannon School over the first two quarters by an 11-5 margin. NRCA – coached by Avie Lester, a former N.C. State standout and Imani Lester’s father – interchanged man-to-man and zone defenses against the Cougars with Mims and fellow guard Maddy Powell trapping Cannon School ball-handlers near midcourt. The Cougars committed 14 turnovers in the first half, including five on steals by Mims. Cannon School also missed all five of its free throw attempts before halftime. “We know (Richardson’s) a good player,” said Avie Lester. “So what we want to do is just have bodies in front of her. We were able to really do that in the first half. But our two starting guards got in foul trouble (in the second half ), and we couldn’t do the same type of pressure.” Said starting point guard Zoe Edwards, one of eight Cannon School seniors: “It was tough because I was just getting frustrated. I kept getting (the ball) stolen and wasn’t getting calls. (Cannon assistant) coach (Ashley Rivens) told me to keep leaning into (Mims) and eventually we’d figure it out. I could get off the ball and get my teammates involved.” Another problem for Cannon School was Richardson’s foul trouble. She picked up her third foul at the second quarter’s 4:25 mark and missed most of the rest of the first half. The Cougars managed only two points without her – an Anna Galloway jumper from the free throw line – and fell behind 22-19 at halftime. Some of the first half ’s trends, including Cannon School’s defensive tactics, reversed themselves after halftime. Led by freshman forward Seini Hicks, the Cougars forced Imani Lester out of her comfort zone in the lane and out toward the 3-point arc. In the second half, Lester took more shots from outside the paint than inside and scored just five more points to finish with a team-high 16. Hicks, who finished with seven points and six rebounds, offered this explanation of her team’s second-half defensive strategy against Lester: “Just keep on pressuring her. Just get in her head; she’s a very mental player. As long as we get in her head, we’re good. When we’re at the post, just keep pressuring her, keep a body on her, not spacing her out,” Hicks said.
Led by Hicks, Richardson, and Jamyrah Cherry, Cannon School also outrebounded NRCA in the second half, 19-7. But what was most important for the Cougars after halftime was that Richardson got hot offensively. Aided by ball screens from the likes of Hicks and Galloway, Richardson was able to maneuver much more freely in the halfcourt game. Being freed up for 3-pointers and drives to the basket, Richardson scored 12 of her game-high 24 points in the third quarter. When the Knights shifted their double-teams to focus just on Richardson, the University of Georgia signee regularly found the open teammate. All four of her assists came in the second half. Although Cannon School carried a 39-31 edge into the fourth quarter, the outcome was far from decided. A Mims’ layup, two free throws from Lester, and a floater by Emma Finster closed the Knights’ gap to 39-37 with 4:32 left in the game. “My mind went to being solid on defense,” said Drakeford. “It’s a game of runs and we’ve been preaching all year that if we can’t score we’ve got to be good on defense. Our offense is going to come, but we have to be good defensively.” But Cannon School scored in bunches over the final four minutes. Edwards drilled a 3 from the right corner, Richardson completed a traditional three-point play, Hicks was wide open for a layup, and Woods connected on her two 3-pointers to complete a 14-2 run to close the game. Afterward, Richardson, who scored her 2,000th career point earlier in the week, reflected on her three years at Cannon School. “I’ve been here since sophomore year, and it’s been a great experience,” she said. “I’m going to miss everyone here: my seniors, my teammates, the teachers, the coaching staff, everybody. Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 29
BOYS BASKETBALL
Against the odds, Cannon boys truly earn a second straight state title By C. Jemal Horton, March 3, 2021 30 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
Twice as nice! The boys’ varsity basketball team celebrates backto-back state championships.
MATTHEWS – If you’ve ever seen any of Che Roth’s social media posts about his beloved Cannon School boys basketball team, then you know the hashtag he uses to close each one.
They all did. This might sound like an exaggeration, but every Cougar who stepped on the court rose to the occasion. It was masterful.
#EarnIt
In his final game, senior forward Elijah Ormiston was huge. He’s 6 foot 8, but he seemed to get taller whenever Carmel players ventured inside for what they thought would be simple layups, only for Ormiston to appear and alter their shots.
It’s a mantra he uses to motivate his players to work hard, even beyond the hardwood, and never before was there a greater example of the Cougars embodying that hashtag than this postseason. On Saturday evening, the Cougars completed a rigorous playoff run that required them to win games on the home floors of three of their four opponents, defeating Matthews Carmel Christian, 94-85, on the last leg to claim their second consecutive state championship. This was a Cannon team that started the season a tad underrated, partly because it lost one of the nation’s best point guards in Jaden Bradley, who transferred to a basketball factory in Florida, and partly because repeating in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association, especially at the 4A level, is one of the hardest things to do in high school sports. But these Cougars pulled it off. They earned it. They did it with grit, talent and teamwork. Standing at center court, with the Carmel Christian still rocking and a championship medal draped around his neck, Cougars star guard Jarvis Moss was happy to be No. 1 again, but he seemed more pleased with the WAY his team got back to the top: in a hostile environment and against many odds. “I actually don’t know how to feel, but it’s just an amazing feeling,” said Moss, who has committed to play for Stanford University. “We won back-to-back. We worked hard for it. A lot of people doubted us, but we just proved a lot of people wrong." “Of course, we lost Jaden, but it’s a next-man-up mentality with this team. Everybody had a bigger role, but nobody complained. We just put our heads down and got to work.” “Our team is resilient,” Moss yelled in the still-noisy gym (after defeating Carmel Christian). “It doesn’t matter if (an opponent) is going on a 10-0 run or a 20-0 run, we find a way to come together and make it work. “This was definitely a different season. We had to wear masks in games, but we didn’t complain. We put our heads down and went to work and proved everybody wrong. We deserved this. Everybody worked hard, everybody put in extra hours in the gym. We just did it.”
Ormiston was a threat offensively, too, finishing with 18 points, going to the hoop with authority. Defensively, when Ormiston wasn’t making Carmel players redirect their shots, Reeves was. The junior center had 12 points, and his ridiculous wingspan seemed to grow as the game became more intense. “I’m really excited,” Reeves said. “Last year, I was coming off injury and I was out of shape, and I didn’t contribute as much, so this one means a little bit more to me. It’s just a great feeling.” The loud Carmel fans didn’t bother him, either. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been too lucky with where we had to play, because we had to play (Charlotte) Latin at Latin, Greensboro (Day) at Greensboro and Carmel at Carmel. But it just feels great to get it here.” There were so many other Cougars who starred in their roles. Speaking of which, senior guard Deuce Rolle scored 12 points, but more impressive might’ve been his tough defense and timely assists in the late going. He was also perfect from the line (4-for-4). Both Rolle and junior Karon Boyd – a pair of unsung heroes on this team, along with Ormiston – left it all on this Matthews court, using all five of their fouls while going against Carmel’s talented and aggressive players. It was all of them, down to the freshman Swartz, who stepped to the line when Carmel players fouled him intentionally and showed the moxie of a veteran, calmly knocking down his free throws. Moss (14 points) and Nix, the team’s two leading scorers this season, were their usual big-game selves. You could see that each of them wanted the ball as the game got tighter, not to be individual heroes but to help their team. They were that confident, that in control. Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 31
When Moss went to the free throw line with 2:07 remaining, the Carmel students did what all wisecracking fans do to distract a star player from another team: They started chanting, “Overrated! Overrated!” at the future Pac-12 player. It didn’t bother Moss at all. Swish and swish. His two free throws pushed the Cannon lead to 10 points, then it was back to the other end to play defense. Enough said. And Nix? Please. The kid was so confident while he was shooting free throws, at one point in the final minutes, as soon as he released the second of two foul shots, he was basically headed back down the court. He knew it was going in. It made the repeat that much sweeter. “Oh, my goodness!” Nix said afterward. “This only happens once for most people, but for me, it’s happened twice now. I can only say it’s like eating your favorite food over and over again. It’s so good, and I’m just happy to be here again. Words can’t even describe it.” You just did a pretty good job, DJ. But what impressed me the most about Nix all night weren’t his team-high 20 points or perfect free throw shooting. It was something he did after the game was over. As a veteran sports writer, it’s still hard for me to see young players hurting when they lose big games. And the Carmel players had a really tough task after they’d lost and received their runner-up medals: In order to get to their locker room, they had to walk right past the Cannon players, who were celebrating with their own student section that made the trip from Concord. In the midst of it all, Nix looked to the side and saw all the opponents walking past, heads hung low. Nix stepped away from his own celebration and took the time to shake the hands and pat the backs of every Carmel player and coach he could. THAT’S a champion. 32 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
Cannon finished its season with a 27-5 record. It won a second consecutive Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association title. And, of course, it got its second state title in a row. Cannon’s coach was a proud man. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Roth. “I just feel so much joy and happiness for our players. They’ve been so resilient all year. They’ve stuck together, weathered storms. This whole year, to even get to this point, is a blessing. But to come away and win a championship, back-to-back, it’s just a testament to our kids and how tough they are and how resilient they are and how together they are. “We’ve been battle-tested,” he added. “We’ve played a big schedule the last several years, and (our players have) been in these moments. And big-time players make bigtime plays in big-time moments, and we had a lot of kids step up tonight and make big-time contributions. It’s 100 percent a team championship. This team is just special.” The scary part, I believe, is that Cannon is just starting to take off. I truly see a dynasty emerging, which is hard to establish in the NCISAA. But that’s what I believe we are witnessing.
Yes, players like Moss and Ormiston will be going on to college ball, but we see what the team did this season, even after Bradley took his talents to IMG Academy. (And for the record, Bradley is a great kid who deserves everything good he gets.) And with guys like Nix, Reeves and Boyd coming back for their senior years, and Swartz and Jaylen Claggett only going into their sophomore seasons… my goodness. And I hear there’s some other young talent coming through the Cannon ranks. There always is, as most of the players from this year’s team played middle school ball together at Cannon. But for now, all that matters is what these Cougars did this year, putting together a truly magical season. Asked Saturday evening how he would sum up what his team did this season, Roth channeled his inner DJ Khaled. “We’re the best,” he said with a broad smile. “Our kids didn’t bat an eye. Every challenge, they stepped up. It was guys playing big, guys playing small. They didn’t care; it was next man up. They competed their tails off. “We’re the best, and we had to earn the right to say that.” Of course, they did.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOYS GOLF – STATE CHAMPS!
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Educators in Service Hey alumni! As we begin the 2021 - 2022 school year, we wanted to take a moment to look back and honor our amazing educators for their dedication to Cannon School! Our faculty, staff, coaches, bus drivers, and administrators have always made Cannon an incredible community. If you are interested in honoring one, simply scan the QR code to leave a message of thanks and make a gift in their name. And to make it fun, why not donate an amount that matches their number of years of service listed below? For example, if you loved what Dr. Rebecca Eury taught you, donate $16, representative of the number of years she has served the school. You’ll be able to leave her a message of thanks!
FACULTY Name, Years of Service Tim Aldridge, 14 Sabrina Amann, 4 Jady Arriaga-Arango, 4 Logan Arthur, 8 Wendy Benz, 16 Jamie Bolton, 2 Tom Booker, 16 Paul Borowicz, 8 Courtney Brayboy, 1 Jennifer Brooks, 6 Kaitlin Bumgarner, 2 Rob Burlington, 10 Claire Cabellos, 2 Emily Carney, 2 Ashley F Cherry, 5 Stuart Coale, 14 Christiana Colacion, 2 Amanda Connell, 13 John Cooke, 26 Melanie Coughlin, 5 Kay Craven, 9 Joe Dally, 6 34 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
Brad Davis, 16 Cathy Diehl, 10 Deanna Dobbins, 11 Lori Dorfman, 20 Lauren Downs, 3 Kelvin Drakeford, 10 Sara Dreiman, 4 Mark Dunn, 21 Becca Eury, 16 Olivia Pettigrew-Fanzo, 3 Julia Finneyfrock, 7 Solomon Fleckman, 2 Kevin Fox, 8 Melissa Fox, 15 Claire Gardin, 4 Molly Kennedy Garvey, 3 Melissa Gates, 5 Lidia Calles-Gholdston, 4 Amy Hall, 10 Megan Hartley, 4 Donnie Hayes, 14 Brandon Herder, 11 Angela Hernandez, 4
Anne Hoffman, 14 Mike Hoffman, 24 Jennifer Holston, 2 Christiana Holyer, 6 Laura Huffman, 16 Megan Hughes, 6 Mush Hughes, 5 Teresita Hurtado, 14 Kelly Hutchinson, 3 Paula Hylton, 14 Krista Johns, 15 Catherine Jones, 12 Lu Jones, 10 Nisa Kalambaheti, 4 Megan Kelly, 4 Judy Killam, 13 Mark Kmidowski, 17 Jessica Kulp, 8 Bev Kungl, 9 Natalie Legra, 7 Beth Lineberger, 15 Ellen Loflin, 8 Lori Macdonald, 6
Andrew Macdonald, 10 Russell Marks, 15 Kenan Mattsson, 8 Jeremy Mattsson, 14 Yarissa Maxey, 10 Kristin McClanahan, 11 Debbie Mckinsey, 12 Jeanette Milam, 10 Sarah Miller, 9 Marlin Mogusu, 4 Marie Morgann, 16 Sylvia Newman, 23 Elizabeth Northrup, 18 Leigh Northrup, 21 Chase O'Brien, 4 Heather Oswald, 6 Aimee Pfitzner, 24 Rendi Powers, 10 Brandon Powers, 20 Sue Ramsey, 7
Julie Reulbach, 8 Jennifer Ridenhour, 9 Kathy Riley, 23 Danielle Robinson, 9 Nathaniel Rogers, 10 Erin Ross, 5 Jennifer Ross, 9 Eric Ruddy, 9 Anne Marie Samuel, 12 Danielle Sandlof, 8 Teresa Schmitt, 11 Danny Scurlock, 19 Michelle Shanahan, 4 William Sinden, 3 Richard Smith, 6 Hilary Smith (US/MS), 6 Hilary Smith (LS), 7 Connie Stavrakas, 10 Kristen Stephens, 21 Xiaozhao Sun, 11
Annalee Taylor, 6 Chris Taylor, 15 Emily Thompson, 9 Megan Thompson, 14 Joe Trojan, 15 Sally Trufant, 13 Kyle Tsuchiyama, 2 Claudia Velandia, 14 Tracy Wade, 20 Heidi Waibel, 1 Kelli Waller, 6 Lirong Wang, 13 Kim Watt, 7 Jennifer Weakland, 5 Keith West, 20 Stephen Wildfeuer, 7 Christopher Williams, 3 Josh Zebracki, 3 Michelle Zelaya, 10
Suzanne Howard, 19 Karen Hulin, 4 Fabio Hurtado, 13 David P. Ibsen, 5 Kyle Jacksic, 2 Christoper Jones, 3 Lee Jones, 3 Stephen Kahn, 3 Katie LaRue, 2 Andrew Legra, 4 Beth Levanti, 9 Teresa Magaha, 12 Dan Maples, 3 Gordon Maxfield, 4 Jennifer Mcqueen, 10 Ken Mcqueen, 20 Laura Morgan, 2 Carla Moyer, 21 Regina Nixon, 2 Kathy Olson, 4 Debra Otey, 11 Darryl Overcash, 9 Shawn Powell, 8 Rod Rachal, 19 John Reeves, 2
Amy Reiss, 7 Robin Riemersma, 11 Sydney Ross, 3 Lindsey Ross, 3 Mikayla Ross, 3 Che Roth, 9 Lisa Scurlock, 8 Jenna Smith, 2 Jason Storr, 7 Patrice Thompson, 14 Tram Tran, 4 Andrea Trembath, 9 Noah Wells, 3 Luke Wells, 8 Beth Wilner, 5 Danny Wyke, 11 Alice Yow, 5
STAFF Name, Years of Service Marygrace Blubaugh, 6 Damon Bostick, 10 Kelly Brattain, 4 Whit Brown, 14 Dennis Buchanan, 15 Pamela Bullard, 5 Laurie Burlington, 5 Gail Camp, 11 Boyce Chapman, 4 Christina Coffield, 2 Mandy Craft, 9 Emily Davis, 11 Daniel Diorio, 8 Katherine Diorio, 20 Bill Diskin, 15 Bill Donovan, 6 Bernadette Eaton, 2 Shelly Edwards, 14 Mark Ferguson, 7 Tanya Galla, 2 Jerrylyn Hyman-Green, 10 Todd Hartung, 11 Hannah Holliway, 3 Stacie Hopes, 6
Our faculty and staff have always made Cannon School an incredible community. If you are an alum and interested in honoring one of the educators listed above, simply scan the QR code to leave a message and make a gift in their name. Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 35
Creativity in Action Through academics, athletics, arts, and more, Cannon School allows students to create and develop a strong foundation for their future. This journey includes learning to step outside of our comfort zones and thinking critically, but also creatively. As we venture into the world as alumni, we steadily build upon this foundation. As we hone our passions and talents, we also continue to think beyond their boundaries.
Hillary Gruce
This creativity in action is showcased in this issue of the magazine. In the alumni section, you will read about two alumnae who have taken their artistic abilities and branched out in creative new ways. You will also read about those alumni who have earned the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Awards for their commitment and creativity in their fields. The Class Notes section highlights the accomplishments and milestones of our alumni over the past few months. As alumni, we are continuously growing and building upon the foundation established at Cannon in unique and creative ways. We look forward to sharing the continued accomplishments of all our Cannon alumni!
Sincerely, Hillary Gruce ‘08 Alumni Board President Cannon School Alumni Association
“This journey includes learning to step outside of our comfort zones and thinking critically, but also creatively.”
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Alumni Alumni SPOTLIGHTS Cannon has always treasured our love for the arts and celebrated our students’ artistic accomplishments, encouraging them to step outside of the box. To celebrate Cannon’s creativity and our alumni achieving their goals in their artistic fields, we are highlighting two alumnae who have taken their creativity and grown their dreams beyond expectations, from incorporating fine art skills into a unique area of design and creatively using materials for unexpected beauty.
Hanna Klein ’09
Bringing Art into Packaging Hanna’s artistic roots are based in the fine arts, and she credits a lot of her skills to the investment by Cannon’s faculty. When reflecting on her time at Cannon, Hanna shared, “It was so nice to have Ms. Armstrong as a consistent art teacher who watched me develop my creative eye and assisted in my progress. She got to know me so well and that is what I love about Cannon. With Ms. Armstrong, she was the consistent person I felt comfortable with. She would push but also inspire and help us figure out our artistic route. This was great in helping me build my confidence in my creative ability.” During her time in the Upper School, Hanna’s graphic design class allowed her to narrow her focus while still harnessing all of her fine art skills. “Graphics was something that pushed me and used my creative mindset while also incorporating my leadership and management skills,” she recalled.
Hanna Klein and Belinda Armstrong, former arts director at Cannon
Hanna went on to graduate from The Ohio State University with a degree in visual communications. It was there she discovered her love of packaging. “I was so fascinated by packaging and color theory—the concept that different colors can make you feel a certain way. This exposure made me realize I had always gravitated towards packaging but never really knew it. When I was younger, I collected unique packages that stood out, but it just seemed like a strange hobby. So, in essence, I was always working towards this area of design.” Flash forward to today and Hanna is working as the Design Director of Packaging for Keys Soulcare in New York City. The Keys brand is owned by e.l.f. Cosmetics and was co-created with singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. “I find it cool that I’m actually doing what I want to do, using my degree and the things I’ve learned. Everything I’ve experienced has led up to working in packaging and I love that what I’ve created is actually being picked up and experienced throughout the world. Knowing people may be choosing the products based on the designs I’m creating? I love that part of it.”
The Keys Soulcare product line. All packaging design was created by Hanna in collaboration with Alicia Keys. Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 37
Hannah Stewart Yanetsko ’16
Conventional Materials in Unconventional Ways For Hannah, art has always been her passion, starting from an early age when she used whatever she could get her hands on. “I started painting when I was 11 and I used whatever I could find in my garage. We had this plastic toolbox, and it was full of random little things. I would use the nuts and bolts and paint them and put them on things. I have to say that roofing tar is probably one of the oddest things that I found in that garage toolbox, and I still use it today. I also have to give credit to my mother for the coffee grounds.”
Painting from Hannah’s new body of work, Return To My First Love
Hannah’s process to bring her pieces to life is to melt beeswax down and then paint a layer over top. She then creates a mixture of coffee grounds and tar to exfoliate the piece to bring out the different textures within the wax. It’s a process she still uses today but enjoys reminiscing about how she took her creative materials from the garage into the classroom at Cannon. “Mr. Rogers can attest to all this, but I would come in with a Tupperware full of my mom’s coffee grounds, tar, and wax. I remember bringing this double boiler I found at Goodwill that I would use to melt the wax and use it at school. It would smoke up the whole art room and it has this really distinct smell, so I vividly remember that, and yes, I still do that today.” It was during the pandemic that Hannah found her love for painting again. “While I was home all day, every day, with my newborn daughter, I just started having that creative itch again and wanted to start painting. So, I went back to my mom's house and found some old panels and just started painting. I posted a painting that I did on Instagram, just kind of doing it for me, and someone reached out and asked if a painting that I had sitting in my laundry room was still available. I decided to basically sell it for nothing, and it just took off from there.” “This has been a ten-year pursuit, but I’ve really kind of been rediscovering and redefining. I think all these years that I've painted off and on, especially at Cannon, was so exploratory. I really had my style, from what I've always done, but I feel like now I really found my voice and that was a huge step. I think the part of finding your voice as an artist is so amazing. I love the work I'm creating now because it's so authentic. So, crossing into that is really great and when it comes to my daughter, I don’t know that I would have returned to my first love without her!” 38 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
Hannah’s first art sale, reigniting her love for painting
Hannah and her daughter, Adeline, delivering her new body of work to Art & Light Gallery in Greenville, SC.
Distinguished ALUMNI AWARDS The Distinguished Alumni Awards were established in 2020 to honor Cannon School alumni and faculty who have distinguished themselves through outstanding achievements in their profession, leadership to others, philanthropy and service to others, and the arts while exemplifying the core values of Cannon School. The nomination process for this inaugural year was highly competitive, with many Cannon alumni and faculty members submitted for consideration. We are grateful to the members of our Cannon community who shared compelling nominations and to the members of our Selection Committee whose thoughtful deliberations selected this distinctive and deserving group.
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INAUGURAL AWARD RECIPIENTS Jess Ekstrom ’09
Distinguished Alumni Award After graduating from Cannon School, Jess went on to North Carolina State University to earn a degree in communications and media studies. While at NC State, Jess interned at a wish-granting organization for kids with life-threatening illnesses where she discovered that kids loved wearing headbands after treatments causing hair loss. This sparked her imagination and lead to the creation of her business Headbands of Hope, which she launched during her junior year. Since its inception, Headbands of Hope has donated one headband for every one purchased, allowing her to donate to every children’s hospital in America and fifteen other countries. Jess is also the author of two books, The Freshman Fabulous: The Girl’s Guide to College, published in 2015, and Chasing the Bright Side in 2019. She is an acclaimed public speaker focused on themes of leadership, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, millennial engagement, and work empowerment. She has used her public speaking experience to focus on elevating and promoting more female speakers through her Mic Drop Workshop, helping them find their mission and perfect their skills.
Patrick Murphy ’11
Young Alumni Award For Patrick, food is his life and passion, and after graduating from Cannon, he earned his degree in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University in 2013. Patrick started his career in the roles of sous chef and executive chef with several well-known restaurants, including P.F. Chang’s, Red Rocks, and Famous Toastery. He also started his own catering business, Chef Patrick Presents, with which he provides catered culinary experiences or private chef services in the Charlotte area. Patrick has had the privilege of working at The Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, for several years. In 2019, he and his family acquired the locally renowned, farm-to-fork restaurant, Heirloom, where he now carries on the restaurant’s legacy by conceiving culinary creations with locally sourced foods from sixty area farms. Patrick has since moved the restaurant to its new location in Belmont, North Carolina, with plans to add a bakery, butcher shop, and breakfast joint.
Jacquelin Harris ’10
Distinguished Alumni in the Arts Jacquelin began her dance career at Dance Productions Studios when she was two years old and has since found her way to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company stage in New York City. She has studied at Joffrey Ballet School and The School at Jacob’s Pillow, and graduated with honors from The Ailey School/Fordham University BFA Program in 2014. While earning her degree, Jacquelin joined Ailey II and moved up to the main company in 2014. She was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2016 as a breakout star. In 2017, she received a dance fellowship from the Princess Grace Foundation-USA. Most recently, she was one of seventy-five dancers across the world to perform in Merce Cunningham's “Night of 100 Solos: A Centennial Event,” which won a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award.
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INAUGURAL AWARD RECIPIENTS Meredith Frazier ’09 Alumni Service Award
Meredith has a strong passion and desire to make a difference in the world as she strives to make scientific discoveries that can bring positive change to our lives in ways that may go unnoticed by most. After Cannon, Meredith graduated summa cum laude from Elon University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and minors in neuroscience, psychology, and Spanish. She went on to earn her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in 2018 in biological sciences. Meredith, currently employed with the National Institute of Health (NIH), has had her research published in scientific journals on nine occasions, including five times as the primary (top-contributing) author or co-primary author. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last spring, Meredith played a vital role. She was one of very few selected to present, alongside Dr. Anthony Fauci, at a recent COVID-19 symposium that drew over 1,000 scientists from the NIH and the Federal Drug Administration. She was also selected to lead the COVID-19 research her group launched and continues to move forward. Outside of the pandemic, Meredith is also passionate about advocating for science in the lives of young students through teaching and mentorship.
John Riley
Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award John was a beloved member of the Cannon community and family for seventeen years. He impacted many lives during his tenure and is remembered for the genuine relationships he developed with his students throughout the years. Not only did John serve as our Middle School science teacher from 2002 to 2019, but he also shared his joy for exploring, traveling, and service with countless Cannon students through numerous international trips, a token of his character that was honored with The John Riley Endowed Fund for Science, Service, and Travel. This fund makes travel for trips or projects that incorporate science or service more accessible to Cannon students and/or faculty so they may learn from the intriguing people they meet, see the beauty in our world, and marvel at the surprises that await them on their journeys. Whether he was in the classroom, leading students abroad, announcing another sporting event, or launching students’ homemade hot air balloons, the community always understood John was someone special they could learn from, admire, and trust. John’s wife, Kathie, will accept this award in his memory.
SELECTION COMMITTEE Non-Voting Members:
Voting Members:
Todd Hartung Director of Advancement
Rob Burlington Director of Music Arts
Sydney Ross Manager of Alumni and Alumni Parent Relations
Hailey Foreman ’13 Alumni Board Member Hillary Gruce ’08 Alumni Board President
Laura Huffman Department Chair, Upper School Social Studies Christopher Jones Head of School
Deb Otey Head of Upper School Alex Segura Former Associate Director of College Counseling
Matthew Leonard ’21 Senior Class Member Summer/Fall 2021 | CANNON | 41
Alumni Events
Homecoming Friday, October 1, 2021 at Cannon School
Alumni Jazz Jam Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at Cabarrus Brewing
Class Reunions Saturday, June 11, 2022 To accommodate the reunions missed during the pandemic, we are excited to welcome the following classes to celebrate their reunions together.
Twenty Years Class of 2002 Fifteen Years Class of 2005, 2006, 2007 Ten Years Class of 2010, 2011, 2012 Five Years Class of 2015, 2016, 2017
To learn more about each event and to register, visit alumni.cannonschool.org
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Class Notes 2008
2012
In April, Heather Ekstrom launched her own outdoor education and backpacking guide company, Burning Daylight Expeditions. Heather spent numerous years participating in and instructing backpacking trips and outdoor education programming and Heather Ekstrom structured her model after all the elements and experiences she looks for in a trip. She’s basing her adventures on the following expectations: small groups, away from crowds, educationbased, eco-conscious, and thoughtful and welcoming. She is leading the first expedition in the Sierras this summer and you can learn more at bdexpeditions.com.
2009 Sam Jaszewski and Erin Gibbons got engaged on Friday, July 2, in Sag Harbor, NY, surrounded by their friends and family.
2011 Winston Felker got engaged to Meghan Brantley over Easter weekend at Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Winston and Meghan met in 2015 on their first day of work with SunTrust Bank in Atlanta, GA, and started dating in October 2017. They look forward to their wedding in the spring of 2022 in Charlotte, NC.
Jane Campbell got engaged to Harris Coley on May 13, 2021. Jane and Harris met through a mutual friend in Charlotte in 2016 and moved to Raleigh in June, where Harris will be attending medical school. Caroline Johnson Cook celebrated marriage to her husband, Jonathan Cook, in Cary, North Carolina, this past May at the Umstead Hotel and Spa. Madison Miller Edwards got married in April 2021. Several Cannon alumni were a part of her big day, as both guests and in her bridal party. Madison is grateful for her time at Cannon, sharing, “I made such strong and lifelong friends during my years at Cannon that I will cherish forever!”
Caroline Johnson Cook
Madison Miller Edwards
2015 Sam Jaszewski
Winston Felker
In May of 2021, Derek Gordon received his Pharm D. (doctorate of pharmacy) from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He is starting employment with Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., located in Waltham, MA, as an associate manager in the clinical supply chain department. Danté Lowe graduated with his Master of Business Administration from Lenoir-Rhyne University, with a concentration in analytics & IT.
Derek Gordon
Danté Lowe
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Class Notes 2016 Michael Dacus will be attending Stanford University this fall to pursue a master’s degree in aerospace engineering. As part of his graduate studies, he will be involved as a research assistant in Stanford's Global Positioning System (GPS) Laboratory, which focuses on systems involved in aircraft positioning and navigation. He graduated from Clemson University in the fall of 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
2017
Class of 2017
Congratulations to all members of the Class of 2017 graduating this year and earning their undergraduate degrees. We’re so excited to celebrate you and all of your accomplishments completed and yet to come. Remember you ALWAYS belong here! Kendall Applegate graduated from Muhlenberg College on May 24, 2021. She will be starting a full-time job with Lumberlend Co. in Westford, MA as a social media engagement specialist and content strategist. Following graduation from the University of Richmond this spring, Michael Baker joined Lazard in their middlemarket investment banking division as an investment banking analyst in Charlotte, NC. He’s looking forward to exploring the Queen City! Annie Earnshaw celebrated graduating from Elon University on May 21, 2021, with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Ahead of graduation, she defended her undergraduate thesis to a faculty defense committee and 44 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2021
passed without revisions. After graduation, Annie plans to start her own freelance company and work with small businesses as a freelance writer and social media consultant. Kalissa Kufner will be interning in the role of an assistant buyer with Burlington stores for the summer of 2021. Clay Maguire celebrated his graduation from the University of South Carolina this past May. Alexandria Marion Mills graduated cum laude from the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State in May. While at Penn State, Clay McGuire she was president of Volé Penn State Dance Company, Penn State’s largest dance organization, serving upwards of 200 members. Alexandria was inducted into many honor societies, including The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key International Honor Society, The National Society of Alexandria Leadership and Success, Alpha Marion Mills Lambda Delta National Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. During her time at Penn State, she was able to intern abroad in Australia as well as for United States Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-5) and the United States House Committee on Education and Labor. She will be attending Wake Forest University School of Law in August. Hannah Nelson graduated from Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business with a degree in business technology. Hannah will be moving to Chicago and starting her career as a technology risk consultant with Ernst & Young this summer. Hannah Nelson
Class Notes Summer Shinn graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a concentration in advertising and graphic design. She is now working with Lowe’s corporate office in Mooresville as an online visual designer.
2019
Summer Shin
Zac Venos recently graduated cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College where he received his degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. Zac was a captain of the Zac Venos lacrosse team, where he was named to the Southern Athletic Association All-Sportsmanship Team. Zac has joined Porter White & Company in Birmingham, AL as a financial analyst primarily supporting the firm’s investment banking division. Taylor Watson graduated from Florida State University this past spring with a Bachelor of Science in hospitality management. She is currently working as a front desk agent for a Hilton property in Tallahassee, FL with plans to continue and grow within the field of hospitality.
Amelia Andretti and Caroline Livingston
Alex Reulbach was selected as a 2021-2023 recipient of the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The award provides the students with a total of $19,000 toward tuition in their final two years of undergraduate study plus a paid summer internship at a NOAA laboratory during the summer between their junior and senior years. The intent is to increase interest in oceanic and atmospheric science, increase support for environmental stewardship, and recruit students to public service careers. Daphne Reynolds was one of nine interns chosen for the Pixar Undergraduate Program at Pixar Animation Studios for the summer of 2021. Pixar is located in Emeryville, CA, however; the internship will be conducted virtually. For this internship, Daphne will be taught and mentored by Pixar professionals in the art of technical direction for animation.
Taylor Watson
2020
2018 Jackson Welsh recently graduated from the University of South Carolina, earning his degree in political science in three years. He will be attending the University of Tennessee College of Law this fall, focusing on either transactional or public interest law.
Amelia Andretti and Caroline Livingston both competed in the Vertical Mile Challenge at Rocky Face State Park this June. This difficult trail run is a 16+ mile race consisting of eight two-mile loops. Each loop contains a half-mile incline, creating a vertical mile for each lap.
Declan Hurley is spending his summer as an intern with Grant’s Interest Rate Observer in New York City.
Declan Hurley Jackson Welsh
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We would not have made it through the past year without the support of our amazing faculty and staff! A huge thank you to these incredible educators. They worked tirelessly to ensure that every single Cougar truly believed that they do indeed belong here!