Cannon Summer/Fall Magazine 2020

CANNON THE MAGAZINE OF CANNON SCHOOL

SUMMER/FALL 2020

Letter from the Head of School Complexity, Control, & Courage

Thank you for spending a portion of your day with our Summer/Fall Cannon Magazine. In this volume, you will see examples of our school community’s courageous response to the challenge of the past several months. I hope you will join me in the pride I feel in our students, teachers, staff, and families—our entire community—for how we have endured and thrived through this challenging time.

As we all experience each day, this period of resilience and courage in the Cannon community continues. After suspending on-campus learning on March 16, 2020, we are actively planning our reopening of campus for teaching and learning on August 20, 2020. Our Athletics Department and Camp Cannon began on-campus sessions in late June and early July, respectively, with a host of new activities and protocols in place. These protocols, and those that will be in place this fall, are supported as much by the available science and expertise of a broad community of medical knowledge as they are by the mission and values that drive Cannon forward. Our commitment to living by these new protocols and expecting one another to do the same will serve all of our interests to be safe, healthy, and learning together.

While we can’t reliably predict what will happen in the future, I am confident Cannon is ready to process and adapt to the community health conditions we will encounter this coming year. What better place to be than one that proclaims an educational philosophy of Adaptive Expertise at this moment!

As recent library data and book sales show us, we’re reading more across the globe. Such literary engagement is a good thing, and certainly something I’ve personally enjoyed since entering this pandemic period. One text that resonated with me and this idea of managing complexity and the absence of control was Gary Klein’s Streetlights and Shadows: Search for the Keys to Adaptive Decision Making. While academic in nature, he makes the concepts approachable by sharing a myriad of examples and anecdotes throughout the book.

One closing hope from Dr. Klein struck me as profoundly aligned with Cannon School. I hope you will find it applicable not just to this moment and all of its complexity, but to our individual and collective approach to lives of learning and journeys of growth: We are often encouraged to control conditions as much as possible. This control-oriented mindset is best suited for well-ordered situations. In ambiguous situations, in the world of shadows, we aren’t going to be able to control everything that matters. We’re going to adapt. We should expect to adapt.

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 2020 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 Michelle Zelaya

HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL 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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A Year Unlike Any Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Big Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Class of 2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Commencement 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Q&A with Regina Nixon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Q&A with Katie LaRue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Alumni Healthcare Heroes. . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Cover: Valedictorian Sarah Kuo ’20 strides across campus at the twenty-second annual Cannon School Commencement on May 21. Despite unusual circumstances, we were able to celebrate each member of the Class of 2020.

Photo by Emby Taylor Photography.

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Additional photography: Emby Taylor Photography, Leigh Northrup, Caeden Otey ’22, Amy Reiss, Jason Storr, Tram Tran, and Rob Walley Sr.

Summer/Fall 2020 | CANNON | 3

Stella ’30, Max ’32, and Gran t Delaney ’28 ge t ready for a sack race du ring a virtual Olympic Day. No classroom, no problem! Auggie Eaton ’28 grew a Venus flytrap as part of his science lab co-curricular.

Despite not being able to play together, PE classes continued to roll! Here, Ragan Goodwine ’28 takes a break from basketball.

Caroline DuMond ’25 dissects mouse bones from an owl pellet. Seventhgrade science teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Northrup ensured everyone received a pellet by mailing them to every home!

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Morgan Brown ’23 used her free time to plant a backyard garden.

A Year Unlike Any Other – Living Through History Typically, the day before Cannon School’s spring break is one that buzzes with an electric energy. Students can barely contain their excitement as they file down the halls, giggling, chatting, dreaming of days ahead in which they will travel or sleep blissfully late. Teachers watch the minutes on the clock tick by, eagerly anticipating a week of rest and relaxation before coming back to school, refreshed, for the final end-of-year push.

But Friday, March 13, 2020, was different. Gone was the easy banter between friends about the places their families planned to visit. Smiles and laughter were replaced by jangled nerves and worried looks. After all, the global pandemic COVID-19 had arrived in the United States. The world was changing around all of us at a frighteningly quick clip, and no one had any idea as to what was expected to happen tomorrow—let alone in ten days, when we were slated to return to campus.

Teachers gently reminded students to gather all their belongings and pack up, as there was a real possibility that we may not be able to return to campus for some time. Students questioned if they’d see their friends or teachers again at any point in the near future.

Seniors wondered if they were inexplicably, unimaginably living out their very last day on Cannon’s School campus. Even a week prior, it would have been a scenario that sounded utterly impossible. But in the waning hours of March 13, one thing became clear – whether we liked it or not, history was being made.

And we were living it.

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A Tense Break Over the course of the following week, news about the pandemic grew grimmer by the day. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 cases surged. In response to federal and state guidelines, Cannon made the decision to begin emergency remote learning on Thursday, March 26, with the hope that we would be able to return to campus April 6. That meant that post-spring break, faculty had three days to prepare to take their classrooms online.

Members of our IT Department went into overdrive during spring break. “Everyone wanted to know how we would handle the technology needs for remote learning,” said Mr. Bill Donovan, director of institutional technology. “We had to work closely with the division heads and deans to find out what tools they would need for their remote learning plans and get training material ready for them. We were also trying to help our staff with solutions to help them work remotely from home. The days were long, the volume of communication was intense, but everyone jumped in and helped. By the time we got to Monday, March 23, we were ready to help teachers and staff with their remote learning and work needs.”

That morning, teachers and administrators nervously logged on Webex—our adopted schoolwide platform where one can host online meetings with HD video, audio and screen sharing. Unsurprisingly, there were plenty of questions and concerns. “Everyone on our team focused on supporting faculty and staff,” said Donovan. “And Cannon faculty were amazing! They took the challenge and quickly learned from our video training material and live online sessions to serve the needs of our students.”

Early Days A new “first day of school” arrived Thursday, March 26, with students and teachers feeling equal parts excitement and apprehension. Middle and Upper School began their days with advisory meetings via Webex, allowing everyone to see others’ faces in the Brady Bunch-style grid that would become a distinguishing trademark of the times. Lower Schoolers, more unfamiliar with technology due to their ages, eased into the process more slowly. “We needed to take time so the kids could just learn how to turn on their computers and navigate between tabs,” said Mrs. Melissa Fox, Lower School dean of studies. “For us, it was a learning experience, one in which we never stopped hearing feedback, adjusting, and adapting.”

Stay-At-Home Orders and Extending Emergency Remote Learning Just days after beginning the emergency remote learning process, Governor Roy Cooper issued a stay-at-home order, and Cannon School extended the exclusive use of remote learning through May 4. As the days continued, students hit a rhythm—albeit one that was often changing.

Upper School Advanced Strings students learned their individual parts to “Tango d’Amour,” then came together via Webex to play the entire piece as a group.

Mrs. Catherine Jones’s eighth-grade English Creative Explorations class chose two meaningful pieces from the writing and art genres they had studied—pastel, watercolor, ink, poetry, short story, memoir, or laser cut. Since they couldn’t be displayed in the hallways, Mrs. Jones created a virtual museum to show off their work!

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Surveys were sent to parents, feedback was considered, and the Heads of School in all three divisions worked with teachers to adjust courses based on the experiences our families were having. For parents with young children, or those trying to work from home, there was also an adjustment to a new normal no one had anticipated.

Holly Grouse, parent of Jadon ’28 and Katie ’30, experienced the difficulties of balancing a career with remote learning.

Holly and her husband, Chris, own a small business, and rotated their schedules so one could be in the office while the other was home with the kids. Holly says that fourth-grader Jadon had relatively few issues with remote learning, but the process was far more difficult for her second-grader Katie.

A social, group work-oriented child, Katie struggled with feelings of loneliness, as well as navigating the computer

and staying on task while at home. (All typical for a child in secondgrade.) The frightening state of the world also caused fears and anxiety for the entire family.

Many of our faculty members with small children were experiencing similar difficulties. Mrs. Kenan Mattsson, Upper School science teacher, is married to Middle School science teacher Jeremy and mom to Dalton ’28 and Charlie ’31. “For me, it was mostly trying to juggle where to work and how to help both my students and my own children,” she said.

“We all needed our own workspace because we often were on live calls at the same time. But both my boys needed assistance with their work.

So, finding that balance was difficult.”

Lower School art students were asked to recreate a famous painting using – themselves!

Here, Orietta Grady ’29 poses as Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”

What were some of the challenges you faced during remote learning?

“As a busy person, I find motivation in knowing that I have to get my work done by a certain time, or else I won’t be able to get it done at all due to my busy schedule. During remote learning, I had more time to procrastinate, which was my biggest challenge.

Eventually, I adapted and began utilizing my class periods to do as much work as I could, and then finishing the rest during my break periods.” – Morgan Brown ’23 “The biggest challenge I faced early on in remote learning was determining what the best content was to provide our PE students.

We wanted them to be engaged and enjoy the lessons and physical activities. Finding a balance between fun and providing an adequate workout was challenging at first. This was resolved by providing many different types of lessons throughout the week— cardio, yoga, games, and dance. In addition, I felt like the biggest issue students were facing was feeling isolated and missing their peers/teachers. I tried to combat this issue by holding the virtual classes where the kids got to see each other and engage together like we would in the gym during PE class.” – Mrs. Kelli Waller, Lower School PE teacher “It was difficult to focus on schoolwork with people home and my dog. It is easier to focus at school. Mrs. Milam helps me focus, and I missed Mrs. Milam when I was doing schoolwork at home.” – Evelyn Finkl ’32 “Well, the morning of the first day of remote learning, even after several successful tests in the days prior, my computer crashed when joining the first meeting. It was a problem that I wasn’t expecting, but I was able to fix it quickly. A different problem soon emerged in the fact that I could not just go into a teacher’s classroom when I had a question to ask. I had always liked writing e-mails and communicating remotely, but not being able to see teachers at all to ask questions was difficult.” – Carter Huffman ’24 “I think the most challenging thing about the remote learning process was adjusting my schedule. I really like having a daily schedule that stays consistent, so switching that up (going from six classes to two, getting to wake up three hours later, longer class periods, etcetera) was probably the hardest thing to get used to.” – Isabella Friedli ’22 “I had a ‘question of the day’ each day and I asked each of my students to respond. For me, this is what I needed the most—to hear from my students. How are they doing? What are they doing? What is positive in their life?”

– Mrs. Kenan Mattsson, Upper School science teacher “At times it was hard for me to be motivated and focused on assignments because I wasn’t in a ‘school’ setting. However, I quickly learned how to adapt, and as a result this experience has taught me to prioritize tasks, manage my own time, and understand how to maintain a school-life balance. Thankfully, I had the support and guidance of my family, friends, and teachers to help me along the way!” – Ashmi Trivedi ’24

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In five, ten, or fifteen years, what do you think you will look back on and remember about this time?

“I will always remember that it is possible to adapt and change environments and still produce the same quality of work. As long as you become comfortable in that environment, you can work well. During this time we have all endured challenges and setbacks. We have all attempted to do our part in social distancing. Some of us have been sapped of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like the seniors.

But no matter what we went through, we went through it together, as a community.”

– Cole Frei ’25 “Looking back on this experience down the road, I could choose to look at it in two different ways: first, I was forced to stay away from my friends and finish out the school year online instead of the fun way it was supposed to end; or second, I was given some time to focus on myself, build habits, spend more time with my family, and learn new skills. I can either focus on the negative parts of this or try to look at the great things that came out of it. I would much rather choose to look back at this experience and see the positive things.”

– Morgan Brown ’23 “Through this pandemic I have learned what matters most—the close relationships with my family, friends, and teachers. Some people don’t believe in the idea that ‘money can’t buy happiness.’ However, because of devastating results due to COVID-19, we are being reminded that health, not money, is our true wealth, and that we would give anything for the well-being of our family and loved ones.”

– Ashmi Trivedi ’24 “At Cannon, we truly are a team, and this time taught me that when each of us brings our unique thoughts, talents, and ideas to the table, we are able to produce and create some pretty amazing work.” – Mrs. Jennifer Brooks, third-grade teacher

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“Mondays were hard,” Mattsson continued. “By the end of each week, we found a groove, but then Monday would roll around again. For me, finding time to plan and grade was the most challenging.”

Perseverance Through Unity On April 23, Head of School Christopher Jones announced that, due to continuous spread of COVID-19 and in an attempt to “flatten the curve,” we would not return to campus for the remainder of the year. He shared the framework for the remaining weeks—remote learning would continue through May 21, and that date would mark the end of the academic year.

Commencement for the Class of 2020 was to stay slated for Friday, May 22.

Teachers, students, and families were deeply disappointed that we would not be able convene together again on campus for the remainder of the year. Yet, in spite of the situation, our community spirit was more abundant than ever, evidenced by a truly spectacular Commencement send-off for the seniors. (See pages 18-21 for more on that!)

When asked to reflect on the eight weeks (and 2 days!) of remote learning, Mr. Bill Donovan made clear that although putting an emergency remote learning program in place under such dire circumstances was difficult, he believes our community did an excellent job making lemons out of lemonade. “We did a great job of communicating, collaborating, but mostly caring for each other. The level of caring for every individual was truly moving. In my humble opinion, the Cannon community came together like never before to support students, families, faculty, and staff.

What did we do best? We never forgot to stay true to our mission.”

“As educators, one of the most important practices we can do is continuously reflect and improve,” said Mrs. Jennifer Brooks, who taught third grade last year and will take on the role of Lower School learning specialist for 2020-2021.

When Cannon’s prom was canceled, Anna Ruth ’20 and Molly Morrison ’21 didn’t let it stop them from having a ball.

They dressed up younger brother Hugh ’28 and took him as their date to a prom at home! Parents Anne and Holt and cousin Mary joined in the fun, with a fancy dinner and dancing in the living room.

school year, we will hold on to this practice and in true Cannon fashion, make it part of our journey of growth.”

Mr. Andy MacDonald managed to keep his Upper School theater students entertained with weekly videos. Here, he sings the praises of remote learning with an original song and 80’s hair band-style video.

“Nowhere was this more pertinent than during remote learning. In a very short period of time, we had to think of new and different ways to connect with one another and deliver meaningful instruction to students. Throughout remote learning, reflection became an hourly, daily, and weekly habit for us. I believe that as we embark upon a new

As of press time, Cannon will adopt a hybrid learning model for the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, with a mix of in-person classes, at-home learning, and the utilization of new technology that will allow remote students to participate in class. In a message to families, Head of School Mr. Christopher Jones looked ahead to the coming year.

“Cannon School’s culture is one of our greatest strengths.

In the coming months, we will continue to encounter complexity and uncertainty as we return to campus and form new habits together. This will require that we listen to and work with one another in a spirit of trust and flexibility. Trust in the belief that each member of this community is working with the best of intent to return safely and successfully to campus. Flexible in that we will have to adapt together to circumstances that will change, both in ways we can anticipate and in others we may not. The active choice to rely upon colleagues, leaders, experts, and friends who contribute so much to Cannon will help see us through to the other side of this historic moment.”

What were the highlights of remote learning?

“I loved seeing so many of my students find ways to thrive and flourish in this setting. Our third graders had multiple opportunities to showcase their learning through projects and enrichment activities. We were truly amazed at how thoughtful and creative so many students were. For example, in social studies the students learned about the Hoover Dam. After learning about it, one student went to the creek behind his family’s house and created his own dam! All the third graders also created a new mode of transportation and presented it to teachers ‘Shark Tank’ style via Seesaw. Their prototypes and presentations were incredibly detailed and impressive. In some ways it seemed that having time and space to think and experiment with new ideas by themselves sparked or enhanced our students’ creativity in ways that being in a classroom did not.” – Mrs. Jennifer Brooks, third-grade teacher “The process of remote learning definitely made me appreciate Cannon more than I ever have before. I learned to appreciate going to school, seeing my friends, and having class discussions more than ever. I was so grateful to my teachers throughout the remote learning process, because they had to work even harder to keep us engaged, and it was very clear to me that they were spending a lot of time preparing lessons and activities for us. Remote learning gave me the opportunity to create my own schedule, and I loved that I had more time to do things I enjoy! I’ve loved spending more time outdoors, and it was nice for me to be able to go on runs before school and take walks when I needed a break from my work. Also, while there have been many challenges with having my family of six quarantined together, I have grown much closer to my siblings.” – Frances Bragg ’21 “I liked remote learning because I was able to create my own structure and didn’t have any classmates to distract me.” – Hugh Morrison ’28 “I’m so proud of our students and faculty for doing all they could to make the spring what it could be. We were truly tasked with being adaptive, and we succeeded in that task. I think we all grew in ways that are obvious and in ways that may not yet be seen.” – Mrs. Deb Otey, Head of Upper School Summer/Fall 2020 | CANNON | 9

Here’s a Story...

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Back in March, only a handful of people in our community knew about Webex meetings and their “Brady Bunch� style grid setup. By May, every student was accustomed to logging on and joining their class this way. Screen shots like these epitomize this period of time, and Summer/Fall all the realities 2020that | accompanied CANNON | 11 it.

The Class of 2020

The Class of 2020 may have ended their Upper School years during an unprecedented global pandemic, but that didn’t take away the fact that each one created special memories while at Cannon. Every senior had the opportunity to reflect on his or her Upper School years and share thoughts, memories, or some advice. Here’s what they had to say.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANNON MEMORY? My favorite memory would have to be the State Championship for golf my freshman year. After the first day, we were winning by only one shot, so to pull through and win my first year of high school was an amazing feeling. The girls on the team made it even more special. – Sophie Holland Performing The Drowsy Chaperone and the last song we did. I was greeted by all my best friends and mentors. It was the perfect ending to the wildest ride of my life. – Griffin Jones

My senior volleyball season and every season I have had at Cannon.

I enjoyed every minute of working hard and competing with my best friends and the best coaches.

– Katherine Remmey

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Working together as a whole grade during the senior trip service project.

So many people came together to do hard work helping a great cause, and we had a lot of fun doing it. – Chrissy Stamey My best Cannon memory was the 2017 talent show, when I listed the U.S. Presidents in order of service. The students’ enthusiasm for all of the acts was contagious, and the event really encapsulated what is

great about Cannon—a diverse set of students pursuing diverse goals while enjoying everyone else’s support.

– Declan Hurley

Going on the Outward Bound trip, during sophomore year.

During this trip I became really close with my peers as we adapted to challenges together. – Stephanie Grissom

My favorite memory at Cannon was going on our class trip to Washington D.C. It was a great way to bond with the class before going into Upper School. – Renée LeClair

Mr. Gossage’s going-away party where the jazz band got to play Billy Joel. – Carter Otey

The home semifinal playoff soccer game during my sophomore year is definitely my best memory! The game ended in a penalty shoot-out. – Ian Casey Winning House Games and conducting at orchestra concerts! – Anna Ruth Morrison

My favorite memory was our last lacrosse game. We didn’t know until we got there that it would be our last game. As we warmed up, I noticed lots of our peers gathered in the stands to watch. It was awesome to be able to play our last game with so many of our friends cheering us on!

– George Fisher

Winning House Games this year!

– Morgan Stilphen

WHAT ARE YOU MOST GRATEFUL FOR HAVING EXPERIENCED AT CANNON? I am most grateful for the amazing relationships I have built with my teachers. They have taught me so much, and I know I will stay in touch with them after graduation. – Lily Klett I am so incredibly grateful to Cannon for giving me so many people I love. I am so lucky to have found the friendships and relationships I have formed here. I cannot believe I only got four short years with these people. – Sydney Vance I’m most grateful for the relationships I’ve been able to build with classmates throughout my thirteen years at Cannon.

Some of my earliest memories are with friends in Lower School that I’m still friends with today, and many of these friendships will last years beyond graduation. – Luke Thomas

I’m so grateful I have been able to attend Cannon School my whole life. – Ava Cooksey I am grateful for the most amazing teachers I could have ever hoped for, and all the wonderful connections I made during my time here. – Noelle Nieske I am most grateful for the environment Cannon has built.

It has provided me a space to learn and grow while feeling comfortable, safe, and happy. Compared to other schools I attended, Cannon has shown above all others that it cares about its students and their chances at success.

– Renee Boisvert

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WHAT’S THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON YOU LEARNED DURING YOUR TIME AT CANNON? Doing the right thing when it’s not necessarily what you want to do can be far more rewarding in the long run. – Adam Parks The lesson of accountability is one that Cannon taught me. I have learned that the best way to go about any difficult situation is by holding myself accountable for my actions. – Taylor Bennett Cannon has taught me to work hard, ask the right questions in order to be efficient, and how to develop my leadership skills.

– Emily Cleveland I developed a mindset here that taught me to balance multiple activities in my life along with getting everything done in the classroom as well. – Mitch Jeter

I learned to build relationships and make connections with everyone, because you never know where they might lead.

– Laine Kozlowski Cannon has taught me to fully commit myself to my work and to truly go beyond. In every way, my classes at Cannon have taught me to seek mastery and a full, robust understanding of the material, and I think that it’s this that has taught me to challenge myself and devote myself to conquering any obstacle. – Sarah Kuo I learned the importance of building relationships with teachers and peers in my community. There is much to be learned and experienced by connecting with people. – Davis Norton The importance of hard work. – Connor Peterson I have learned that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can find community wherever you go. – Jack Selden

Cannon has taught me to be kind and inclusive to everyone I meet. I will always carry that with me. – Reah Syed

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The importance of helping others. Whenever I need anything, there are so many people willing to go out of their way for me.

– Kate Fisk

IN WHICH AREA HAVE YOU GROWN THE MOST DURING UPPER SCHOOL? I was very shy as a new student at Cannon my freshman year.

Since then, I’ve become significantly more outgoing and social. I now enjoy branching out and stepping out of my comfort zone. – Brooke Wesselmann I have become an analytical and critical thinker. I have learned to be skeptical of biased information and to seek out multiple sources and opinions before drawing a conclusion.

– Madeleine Calcagno

I came to Cannon as a shy kid from a super small school. I don’t feel like that kid anymore. – Sophie Collins My greatest area of growth would be going from someone who dreaded PE to a person who couldn’t wait for track practice each day. – Lauren Mendenhall

Accountability is where I have experienced the most growth as a Cannon student. Traveling nonstop for dance and managing my schoolwork was quite a challenge. I had a great support system here who knew I was trying my best and pushed me to be my best by teaching me to be independent and holding me accountable so I could rise above.

– Jenna Petty I’ve learned so much about who I am as a student and a person. All the self-awareness quizzes and activities in advisory helped me discover that! – Cali Proper Realizing what is important to me and the goals I have for my life is where I have grown the most. – Victoria Schneider I have grown a lot as a leader, but also as a listener through my roles in the House System. – Rob Trufant I think I have become more outspoken during high school.

I’m much more likely to speak up in a class than I ever thought I would be. I think different classes and leadership roles have affected that trait. – McKenna Koch

I started high school as a “follower.” I have grown alongside great people and mentors who helped me have confidence in myself.

I have become a leader and someone who wants to help others find their inner leader.

– Grace Kramer

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I am super proud of the “Bright Star” production that we put on in CTC this year. Behind the scenes, the cast was truly a family and we got to bring such a beautiful story to the stage. – Holly Springate

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT? I am most proud of my skills in digital painting that I have developed since freshman year. – Sam Lucas Completing my Eagle Scout project! – Grey Mills Our girls winning Powderpuff two years in a row! On a more serious note, probably that my class has trusted me to represent them on the Honor Council for three years. – Sarah Kate Edwards Earning the position of Co-Editor-In-Chief of the Cannon School yearbook. – Lia Carnes I am most proud of being a Junior Marshal. That was such a huge accomplishment for me and I was, and still am, proud of myself for it. – Katie Grissom I am really proud of the work I’ve done for my Capstone project.

Attending Cannon has helped me realize how important it is to push for causes I believe so much in, like education equality.

– Haley Gullett Getting on the leader board in the weight room. – Leah Nitzan I am most proud of my performance in the jazz band and writing a wellreceived original composition.

– Lucas Kabasakalian

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I am most proud of receiving two Model UN awards even though I didn’t join until my junior year. – Kate Nelson I am most proud of writing and beginning to direct a play as my senior Capstone project. – Megan Hnilica

WHAT IS THE ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO UNDERCLASSMEN? Being yourself might not seem easy in the beginning, but it pays off in the end. – Jackson Lods Don’t take these four years for granted because they will fly by.

You only go through high school once, so make the most of it.

– Bailey Jones The best advice I could give is to never be afraid to ask for help! Every single person at Cannon wants what’s best for you. – Maddie Johnson Don’t wish anything anyway. Be in the moment and be present. Don’t skip House Games or “The Day That Has No Name.” Enjoy all the little things and try to take it all in because it will be over much sooner than you think. – Gabby Holloway Surround yourself with people who make you a better person.

– Caroline Carr Be open to new experiences and take risks! If you’re considering joining a club, doing theater, or playing a sport, do it! You will make some amazing friends and so many great memories. – Vibha Maheswaran Document your time in high school with videos, photos, or writing.

– Haven Hall Don’t be afraid to talk to older students. I have made many wonderful friendships with students who have graduated before me.

– Rachel Cooke

Really get to know your classmates more than just surface level. Our community is so special. We have the incredible opportunity to make so many connections and appreciate all the relationships we’ve made over the years.

– Megan McKinsey

Don’t prioritize schoolwork over physical and mental health. Your schoolwork should not dominate your life outside of school. That’s supposed to be your time.

– Carlton Bragg Summer/Fall 2020 | CANNON | 17

Commencement 2020 A ceremony like no other in a year like no other On Saturday, May 23 (rain delayed because of thunderstorms the night before), the Cannon Class of 2020 partook in a sociallydistanced graduation ceremony. Each senior and his or her family caravanned up Education Way with plenty of honks, shouts, and music. In addition, the class was greeted by—surprise!—our faculty and staff, in full regalia and masks to cheer them on.

Families then parked in the drop-off circle and tuned to a pre-set radio station so they could hear the speeches and calling of graduate names. One by one, the masked seniors walked up the steps of the Matthew and Linda Gossage Building to accept a diploma, then posed (mask-free) for a couple of shots from our photographers. The day wasn’t complete until each member of the Class of 2020, from the safety of their vehicles, turned their tassels and tossed their caps.

It was befitting that this class, born in the throes of 9/11, managed to exit their Cannon years with a tremendous amount of grit, grace, and resiliency. The strength and love of our community was also on full display, creating an environment that practically hummed with an indescribable positive energy. We find the words of parent Carolyn Kozlowski especially fitting: “The only thing missing were the hugs.”

Faculty and staff line Education Way with pom-poms and noise makers.

Middle School teacher Mr. Marlin Mogusu adjusts his mask before lining up to greet the graduates.

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Many families decorated their vehicles to celebrate their graduates.

Lia Carnes gives a grin from the safety of the back seat.

Head of School Christopher Jones speaks to graduates.

This was his first Cannon Commencement— one we know he’ll always remember!

The only thing missing were the hugs. ­— Parent Carolyn Kozlowski

An aerial shot of campus, complete with the cars parked around Bryant Central Green.

Summer/Fall 2020 | CANNON | 19

Graduates crossed Bryant Central Green, careful to leave at least six feet between them and their classmates.

Do not let one global pandemic, altering the end of your senior year, deny the fourteen years of hard work, studying, friendship, collaboration, loving, and learning that brought you to your beloved campus this morning. ­ Mrs. Laura Huffman — Upper School Social Studies Teacher and Department Chair

Sights like this one of the Peterson family were a common occurrence, with parents documenting the day with their cell phones!

Vibha Maheswaran accepts a diploma with a smile.

Cap, mask, diploma – even Sam Hilbish had trouble with all the “accessories.”

Carter Otey was the only graduate allowed to give a hug during the ceremony—to his mom, Head of Upper School Deb Otey!

Nehmiah Broadie proudly poses with diploma – and mask!

The look on Caroline Carr’s face sums up what every graduate was feeling!

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Class of 2020 Matriculations ALABAMA Auburn University CALIFORNIA Chapman University Gabby Holloway and Megan Hnilica get ready to toss their caps, signifying the end of the ceremony.

COLORADO Colorado State University University of Denver FLORIDA University of Miami GEORGIA Savannah College of Art and Design University of Georgia ILLINOIS University of Chicago

Upper School history teacher Mrs. Laura Huffman’s charge to the Class of 2020.

INDIANA Butler University University of Notre Dame KENTUCKY University of Louisville LOUISIANA Louisiana State University Tulane University MASSACHUSETTS Brandeis University

It looked different this year, but seniors still experienced the joy of closing one chapter and beginning another with a traditional cap toss.

University of North Carolina School of the Arts University of North Carolina Wilmington Wake Forest University NEW JERSEY Princeton University NEW YORK Marist College Skidmore College University of Rochester OHIO Miami University The Ohio State University PENNSYLVANIA Lehigh University University of Pennsylvania SOUTH CAROLINA Clemson University College of Charleston University of South Carolina Columbia Wofford College TEXAS Baylor University Saint Edward’s University Texas A&M University

MICHIGAN University of Michigan MISSISSIPPI University of Mississippi NORTH CAROLINA Appalachian State University Central Piedmont Community College Duke University East Carolina University Elon University High Point University

Traffic was directed so that each senior could wave goodbye to faculty and staff at the end of the ceremony.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina State University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

VIRGINIA James Madison University Liberty University Randolph-Macon College University of Lynchburg University of Virginia Washington and Lee University WASHINGTON University of Puget Sound University of Washington WASHINGTON, DC Georgetown University Howard University

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News THE CANNON FUND: WE DID IT! THANK YOU! We met and exceeded our goal of $525,000!

Thank you to all who supported us when we needed it most!

CANNON SCHOOL CELEBRATES OUR K, 4, AND 8 STUDENTS A global pandemic couldn’t stop us from honoring our amazing kindergarten, fourth, and eighth-grade students with celebration ceremonies! Instead of our traditional graduations, families participated in caravans, complete with cheering teachers, end-of-year treats, and a socially distanced photo booth. (And due to some Photoshop magic, teachers were actually added into pics with their students!)

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News BRIGHT STAR DRAWS A STANDING OVATION Cannon Theater Company’s winter production of Bright Star drew a packed audience and standing ovation every night of its run! A musical inspired by a true story and featuring the Tony-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star was an uplifting tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of North Carolina in the 1920s and ’40s. Congratulations to the entire amazing cast and crew!

Cannon School Students Spread (Project) JOY In this time of uncertainty and isolation, Drake Griffith ’21 was certain of a few constants—one being that the senior citizen population, already isolated before the COVID-19 crisis, would struggle more than ever before to connect with others. That was how Drake felt about his own grandmother before she died this past March. “My Nana didn’t have a whole lot of company even before this situation,” he said. “And I knew a lot of other older adults were experiencing the same thing. Which is sad, because they can offer kids so much insight and knowledge from their own lives.”

Drake Griffith ’21

Reilly Kungl ’21

In his grandmother’s memory, Drake decided to try and do something to remedy that situation. With the help of Reilly Kungl ’21, he created “Project JOY,” which stands for “Joining Older Adults and Youth.” The concept is simple—pair a high school student with an older adult for phone conversation and connection.

Each “senior” (older adult) and “junior” (high school student) decide together how often the junior would call, so the two could have a set aside time to talk.

“Project Spread Joy not only serves a positive purpose during the current COVID-19 crisis, but it also serves to create lasting relationships long into the future,” said Drake. “Being able to build and maintain a relationship with a senior is something that every young person should have an opportunity to do. The amount of wisdom and advice that can be given from older generations is limitless.”

If you are interested in learning more, visit spreadjoy.info.

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Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your path before coming to Cannon.

A: I think one of the things that I feel is always important for people to know is that I’m an educator first, and that’s how I always identify, no matter what title I’ve held these last few years. I started my career down here in North Carolina, teaching in Pitt County Schools, so now it feels like I’m coming back home. Someone once said to me when I was teaching second grade, ‘You should step outside of the classroom and consider administration.’ And I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? I can’t leave the students.’ They said something that sticks with me to this day, and that was, ‘Think about how many more students you could impact if you step into a position of leadership or administration.’

Q: Can you share a bit of your philosophy in regard to Lower School education?

Get to Know Our New Head of Lower School

A: I think that we can never underestimate the impact that we have on our youngest students, and also the impact they have on us, and that fuels me every day. When kids ask me what I do, I would say that the Lower School is in charge of me. That’s something that’s so great—that the educator and leader in me gets to learn so much in this position.

Dr. Regina Nixon officially began her tenure as the new Head of Lower School on July 1, 2020. Dr. Nixon is an experienced teacher and independent school administrator, with thirteen years of experience working in a broad range of positions. Since 2018, she has served as the Assistant Head of Middle School at Nashoba Brooks School in Concord, Massachusetts.

Q: Our junior kindergarten and kindergarten programs at Cannon are really special. What do you love in particular about those grade levels?

Dr. Nixon has also worked at Nashoba Brooks as the Director of Admission for three years, Director of Educational Technology and Innovation for two years, and Instructional Technologist for one year. Nixon began her career as a secondgrade teacher in Farmville, North Carolina.

She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania this spring.

Q: What are you most looking forward to in regard to being part of the Cannon community?

Regina Nixon

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A: Oh, my goodness! Their curiosity, their honesty, their authenticity. Those younger grades are pivotal years, and it’s also where they learn and establish kindness, and all the core values we talk about at Cannon. You can see it in the most authentic form in those grades.

A: So, I was just talking to a parent about how much she loves the tagline ‘You Belong Here,’ and I said, ‘That is one of the things that has stood out to me about Cannon from the beginning of this whole process.’

I’ve already felt it, and I look forward to sharing it and expressing it. I am just so proud to be able to say I’m a part of this school, and I’m really looking forward to what I can learn from Cannon and what I can give it as well.

New Director of Athletics Ms. Katie LaRue has more than thirteen years of experience in independent schools. Most recently, Ms. LaRue served as the athletics director at the Madeira School in McLean, Virginia, where she’s been since 2016.

Meet Our New Athletics Director

Katie LaRue

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and your path before coming to Cannon.

A: Well, back in school, I never thought I’d end up in education, and now here I am and I can’t imagine anything else. I love working with kids, I love their a-ha moments, and I love the team culture, so for me, independent school athletics is a perfect fit.

Q: What kind of role do you think athletics plays in an independent school education, and why are sports important?

A: Athletics is a unique venue that enhances and complements the academic experience, for a couple reasons. For many kids, it gives them an opportunity to develop and build confidence in a place other than the classroom. I also think it serves as a place to teach skills that are different than what you can learn in a classroom, such as allowing kids to find their leadership style. And it enhances teamwork. Even if you’re participating in an individualized sport, like tennis or swimming, you’re part of a team. There’s an element of learning from others.

Q: What do you look for in a coach?

A: I’ve learned so much in thirteen years as a coach regarding what’s important, and if kids love a coach, they’ll get so much more out of it. I’m looking for coaches who can create an environment where athletes

Prior to Madeira School, Ms. LaRue spent five years as the associate director of athletics, girls’ basketball coach, and volleyball coach at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania.

Before that, she spent four years as the assistant athletics director and girls’ basketball coach at Asheville School.

Ms. LaRue is a graduate of Charleston Southern University, where she played basketball and volleyball. She earned her MBA from Winthrop University.

feel loved, respected, and important, regardless of their skill level. I look for people who really care, and not just about winning or losing, but care about the student experience and how kids grow and evolve as both athletes and people. They’re excited about the kids who are already there, encourage them, and create an environment in which kids want to return.

Q: How would you define athletic success?

A: I think a team that has success reaches their potential or above, which I believe is a direct product of a good coach. We want teams who can compete—who can win, and also say, “We are competitors.’ I want our parents and other schools to look at our kids and know that they work hard. Sure, I’d like our teams to win championships…but not every team can do that. But if our kids are reaching their potential, getting better, and want to come back and play next year—then we’ve done our job.

Q: What are you most looking forward to in regard to being part of our community?

A: What did it for me (in saying yes to this job) was the way it felt when I was on campus. Just sitting around talking to the kids—they were really articulate, so clearly Cannon is doing all the right things. The community was welcoming, and they want athletics to succeed. The opportunity to partner with them is really exciting.

Summer/Fall 2020 | CANNON | 25

Cannon School shuts the door on Charlotte Latin’s title hopes, wins NCISAA rings

BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR. CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, FEBRUARY 22, 2020

Cannon School coach Che’ Roth said he would rather not have played Charlotte Latin at Charlotte Latin Saturday to win a state championship.

“That wasn’t exactly our choice,” Roth said after watching his team beat the Hawks 71-69 in the N.C. 4A Independent Schools final.

“I would’ve liked to have played them on a neutral site, just because Latin’s so good here, and we’ve just been here a month ago, but beggars can’t be choosers. We’re just glad to have been here and have come away with a really hard-fought win.”

Cannon (27-6) finished the year on a nine-game win streak and won its first state championship in 14 years. The Cougars denied Charlotte Latin (22-8) its first title in 16 years.

Roth’s team led, pretty much, from start to finish, after winning the first quarter 19-7. But led by 6-foot senior guard RJ Johnson, who finished with 36 points, Latin made a big push in the fourth quarter.

Johnson, signed to Holy Cross, scored the Hawks’ first 10 points in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 55 on a 3-pointer. But Cannon sophomore Jaden Bradley (27 points) answered with backto-back 3s that pushed the lead back to six.

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But four times in the final 3 minutes, 35 seconds, Latin trimmed the lead to 1, including after Johnson hit two free throws with 17.3 seconds left.

When Johnson left the shot go, the Latin crowd stood. It was just slightly short.

There was a collective sigh from the Latin side.

After Cannon’s Jarvis Moss hit a free throw, still with 17.3 seconds left, Latin had a final possession to win or tie.

Johnson got a screen and moved to his left. Then he took a step-back jumper, a three-pointer that likely would’ve delivered a championship, on a sold-out, standing room only kind of Saturday afternoon crowd that included former Hawks’ great Anthony Morrow.

Cannon stormed the court in celebration. History was done.

Congrats Cougars! State Champs!

CISAA All-Conference First Team: Jaden Bradley, (unanimous player of the year); DJ Nix Second Team: Jarvis Moss

Winter Student-Athlete Spotlights Swimmer Cam Abaqueta ’22 was named to the Charlotte Observer Boys’ First Team in the 50 freestyle. At the NCISAA championships, Cam finished first in the 25 freestyle, setting a new meet record, and first in the backstroke, setting a new state record.

Cam Abaqueta ’22

Basketball player Reigan Richardson ’21 led the Cougars to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 4A semifinals this winter, averaging 22.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.4 assists per game—all team highs. She was chosen Cam Abaqueta ’22 as the player of the year in the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association, made the NCISAA’s all-state team for the second year in a row, and was named a second-team selection on MaxPreps.com’s North Carolina All-State Girls Basketball Team.

Boys’ varsity wrestling finished third overall at the NCISAA championships where Caleb Campos ’22 placed first in his weight class and was named NCISAA wrestler of the year. Coach Michael Helfant was named NCISAA Coach of the Year, and Charlie Carr ’23 finished first in his weight class.

Boy’s Varsity Wrestling

Due to COVID-19, spring athletics experienced an abbreviated season. This was difficult for all our studentathletes and was perhaps most acutely felt by our seniors.

“It was extremely disappointing to see our softball season cut short,” said Katie Grissom ’20. “The part that saddened me most was having to accept that my time with all my wonderful teammates had come to an end. All of the girls on the Cannon softball team are caring, competitive, and hardworking. I will miss the never-ending laughs and smiles!”

Here’s a look at how the spring teams were faring until play stopped on March 13, 2020.

Boys varsity baseball: 7-1 • Boys Middle School baseball: 2-0-1 • Boys varsity golf: 0-0 • Co-ed Middle School golf: 1-0 • Boys varsity lacrosse – 4-1 • Boys Middle School lacrosse: 3-0 • Girls varsity soccer: 7-0 • Girls Middle School soccer: 0-3-1 • Girls varsity softball: 3-0 • Girls Middle School softball: 1-1 • Boys varsity tennis: 3-3 • Boys junior varsity tennis: 0-0 • Boys Middle School tennis: 2-2 • Co-ed varsity track & field: 0-0 • Co-ed Middle School track & field: 0-0

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Athletics Hall of Fame The Cannon School Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2019 in partnership with the Office of Alumni Relations and Athletics Department to honor athletes, coaches, teams, and contributors who have made a positive impact on Cannon Athletics, either through excellent athletic achievements or excellent contributions to athletic programs, while exemplifying the core values of Cannon School.

The nomination process for this inaugural class was highly competitive, with many Cannon alumni, coaches, teams, and contributors 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.

INAUGURAL 2020 CLASS Mary Dudley Bertram Tramazzo ’05

Krista Gross ’09

A highly competitive runner both in cross country and track, Mary Dudley established many of the earliest running records at Cannon School and served as the teams’ captain from 1999-2005. She went on to run competitively at the University of Richmond, finishing her career as a four-time varsity letter recipient. Mary Dudley still runs competitively in her local running community.

Krista received NCISAA All-State Girls’ Basketball honors each year she was at Cannon, 2005-2009, and still holds the current Cannon School records for high jump and long jump.

She was the leading scorer on the girls’ basketball team with over 4,000 points and was selected as the Cougar Club Senior Athlete award winner. Krista went on to play basketball at UNC Chapel Hill and then professionally on the European circuit with teams in Italy, Finland, and Sweden.

Dominick Reid ’07 Dominick led Cannon School to its first state championship for basketball in 2006, and he currently serves as the Assistant Coach for Cannon’s 2020 State Championship Boys’ Basketball Team. Dominick finished his career at Cannon with 1,079 total points and was recognized with NCISAA All-State Team and All-Conference honors in 2006 and 2007. After graduation, Dominick went on to play at Catawba College, where he earned and holds eighteen awards and records.

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Jarell Eddie ’10 Jarell is the top leading scorer in Cannon’s basketball history with accolades including 2006 State Champion and NCISAA AllState honors in 2009 and 2010.

He went on to be a starting player at Virginia Tech with ACC AllConference honors his junior and senior years. After graduation from Virginia Tech, he signed with the NBA, playing contracts for the Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, and others. He now plays professionally with UCAM Murcia in Spain.

Vicky Bruce ’12

Bill Drake, Coach

Vicky was a member of Cannon’s varsity girls’ soccer team, 20082012, serving as the team’s captain her senior year. She received All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State honors her sophomore, junior, and senior years. During her high school career, she received many recognitions in her club league, such as placement on the USA Women’s National Team. After graduation, Vicky played two years at UNC Chapel Hill and two years at Davidson College prior to playing professionally in Europe. She is currently signed with Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark. Read an exciting update about Vicky in Class Notes!

Bill was instrumental in starting Cannon School’s cross country and track teams, serving as their coach in both the Middle and Upper School for the boys’ and girls’ teams. He organized Cannon’s Cross Country Invitational that has been an integral part of each season for the past twenty years. He coached the 2001 boys’ cross country team to a state title—the first in Cannon’s history—as well as the 4x400 boys’ relay team and several other state titles. Bill has coached many incredible athletes during his tenure at Cannon while also teaching Spanish.

Will Gordon ’15 Will was a member of Cannon’s 2015 NCISAA Boys’ State Golf Championship Team and was a three-time NCISAA All-State Athlete. He also set the golf records for both 18 and 9 holes at Cannon School. Will went on to play at Vanderbilt University, where he was selected to compete for the USA in the Arnold Palmer Cup, and received All-SEC, All-American Vanderbilt, and All-Academic honors. After graduation, Will joined the Korn Ferry Tour and Mackenzie Tour, pursuing golf professionally. Read an exciting update about Will in Class Notes!

Anna Redding ’15 Anna is a four-time NCISAA All-State Golfer as well as an individual State Medalist and a State Champion with her 2014 Cannon girls’ golf team. She was also named a Charlotte Observer Player of the Year. After Cannon, Anna signed to play at the University of Virginia. Her junior year, she was named to the All-ACC Team and during her senior year, Anna was selected to compete at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur, being the first woman ever to tee off in competition at Augusta National. She’s currently playing professionally as part of the Symetra Tour.

Beth Jaszewski, Contributor Beth was the first Cannon parent to take over the concession stand as part of the Cougar Club and built it from the ground up. She worked to establish the indoor concession stand and game day concessions, which increased revenue for Cougar Athletics incredibly.

She managed every aspect of the concession stand, including purchasing and inventory to make the concessions run smoothly. Beth even has an award named in her honor that is given each year to a volunteer who exemplifies the same dedication and passion. Beth’s two sons are graduates of Cannon, Sam ’09 and Kevin ’10.

SELECTION COMMITTEE Non-Voting Members Todd Hartung Director of Advancement

Sydney Ross Manager of Alumni and Alumni Parent Relations

Voting Members Russ Campbell 2019-2020 Interim Director of Athletics for Strategy and General Oversight Cathy Diehl 7th Grade English Teacher (Faculty Representative) Christopher Jones Head of School Carla Moyer Head of Middle School (Member at Large)

Deb Otey Head of Upper School Rod Rachal 2019-2020 Interim Director of Athletics for Operations Steve Schattner Head Coach, Boys’ Lacrosse (Coaching Representative) Joe Trojan Associate Dean of Students, Upper School (Coaching Representative)

Summer/Fall 2020 | CANNON | 29

Archiving Our Present We’re living through history.

Over the last few months, we’ve consistently heard the words, “We’re living through history.”

We’ve personally experienced this in many different ways, with a Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2020 unlike anything before, happy hours and reunions via Zoom calls, and a new way of life we couldn’t have possibly imagined. But I believe that these moments, which seem so crazy today, will become treasured memories from this unique time in our lives.

This issue of Cannon Magazine has captured the importance of archiving our present to preserve it for our future. As we round out our 50th anniversary year, we need to continue to focus on building our archives for more than just this past year. We also need to capture memories from years past and years that are yet to come.

Sydney Ross

Our archive includes history to remember, stories to retell, and moments to relive. We must take the time to cherish these and collect them for future generations. As alumni manager, I want to make sure all your stories are heard and enjoyed. I call on you to share any photos or memorabilia—such as an old CTC program or a jersey—that we can preserve for years to come.

If you are interested, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sydney Ross Manager of Alumni and Alumni Parent Relations alumni@cannonschool.org

THANK YOU ALUMNI BOARD! Thank you to the 2019-2020 Alumni Board members for their time and commitment to the Cannon School Alumni Association. Specifically, many thanks to Isabelle Powell ’08, who is rounding out her time as the Alumni Board President. Isabelle is being proceeded by Hillary Gruce ’08, who will be the new Alumni Board President.

2019 – 2020 ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS President: Isabelle Powell ’08 Vice President: Hillary Gruce ’08 Secretary: Ashley Rivenbark ’10 Jane Campbell ’12

Erin Mason ’16

Jake Diskin ’17

Juliana Sirois ’14

Abhi Gadudasu ’19

Rosemary Sirois ’10

Hayden Keziah ’10

Brandon Wade ’15

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Alumni Healthcare Heroes Over the course of these past six-plus months, the world has witnessed a new kind of superhero emerge—one who doesn’t wear a cape. Instead, these champions have treated the sick and the injured on the frontlines during a once-in-a-century pandemic. They’re our healthcare heroes, and we are proud to feature the stories of two alumni, Anthony Oddo ’07 and Katherine Vendley Lynch ’09, who have been working in their respective medical fields throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

Read on to learn, in their own words, about their experiences.

Anthony Oddo ’07 earned his degrees in Anthropology and Chemistry at Emory University in 2011. Subsequently, he worked two years as a high school science teacher on the TexasMexico border as a Corps Member with Teach For America. In 2017, he attained his MD at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio, where he met his wife, Betsy, who is also a pediatrician. Dr. Oddo completed his general pediatrics residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis before moving to Charleston, SC this summer, where he will practice at Mt. Pleasant Pediatrics.

During the pandemic outbreak, I was a resident physician in general pediatrics and my assignment for the month of March was to be a night shift supervising doctor. As such, I supervised general admissions to the hospital overnight, and furthermore, I was assigned to be the sole provider to evaluate and take care of all of the COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the hospital overnight. At that time, with so little evidence-based information about the virus, it was both an exciting and intimidating experience. I embraced my role as a valuable opportunity to reinforce our safety protocols and to be flexible as new guidelines were released by the CDC and our state department of health throughout those weeks.

I was later assigned to the emergency department, where new safety measures were in place to best help protect our patients and providers. Employees and families alike were asked multiple screening questions and had temperatures taken. It was an adjustment to these new measures, but it also acted as a great time to reflect and to analyze our current practices in order to create safer ways to practice medicine. I helped take

care of multiple patients who were undergoing COVID work ups, and it was a unique experience to be the first physician to encounter some of these patients.

This summer, I have since completed my residency training and have relocated to Charleston, SC, where I will join a pediatrics private practice. Already amidst the anticipated challenges of working independently for the first time, working in a new job, and working in a new city, I am also faced with the responsibility of being knowledgeable about the latest national and local recommendations in taking care of my personal patient population. As I prepare to start in August, I am doing my best to stay up to date and to educate myself as much as possible to make informed recommendations to my patients and families.

Overall, fortunately, the pediatric population has had a much lower rate of COVID-19 diagnoses and related-illnesses, such as the multi-system inflammatory disease. Similar to the adult patients, we have children who are at known increased risk Summer/Fall 2020 | CANNON | 31

due to pre-existing comorbidities, who we work hard to help protect. My main message that I would like to share is that I am thankful for the measures that individuals have taken to be as healthy and safe as possible. I encourage everyone to keep creating new ways for us to interact remotely and

to keep social distancing appropriately, including wearing masks and limiting trips outside of the home. And if you are debating about going to a social gathering or doing something else, I ask that you err on the side of safety when possible.

Katherine Vendley Lynch ’09 graduated from Clemson University with her nursing degree in 2013. She worked as a RN in the NeuroTrauma ICU in Greenville, SC for two years, then went back to nurse anesthesia school in 2016 at the University of South Carolina.

She received her masters in nurse anesthesia and became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in May 2018. Katherine married her college sweetheart in March 2019, had her first son, Christopher Jr. in March, and is currently working as a CRNA at Prisma Health Tuomey in Sumter, SC.

I was fortunate enough to have my son the week prior to COVID-19 hitting Sumter, South Carolina. Therefore, I was on maternity leave during the initial scary times (thank goodness)! But since being back to work, Sumter has turned into one of the “hotspots” in South Carolina. Our hospital is currently full. The ICU is full of COVID patients again.

Therefore, we have to cancel all surgeries that require the patient to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time. (Hip/knee replacements, hysterectomies, carotid endarterectomies, to name a few.)

and oxygen masks. So when we have a COVID-positive patient or a pending test (we treat them as positive until the results come back), I have to truly think through what I need, or what I will potentially need with me. The room feels so empty. It’s also scary that when we need something, we usually need it fast, and not having our supplies right there with us can make the job even more stressful! We still do paper charting, and so we can’t even bring the chart in the room or else we will have to throw it away. We have another CRNA outside the room charting for us.

We have had COVID positive patients in the OR. Just last week, there was a patient who needed a colonoscopy (due to bleeding) and they were COVID positive. That was quite a scare for me. The scary part about a colonoscopy is this patient does not have a breathing tube. It is one thing to intubate a patient and have ten seconds of heart-throbbing fear placing the tube, but a colonoscopy can be 30-45 minutes of the nurse anesthetist being right near the patient’s airway keeping them asleep, yet still breathing! In the OR, we have to remove everything that can’t be wiped down. This includes syringes, tape, gauze, EKG leads, AMBU bags, ETT tubes,

It has also been extra scary having a young child at home. I was always very diligent about having “OR shoes” that I leave at the hospital. But now I am ten times more cautious of what I could potentially bring home to my son.

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That being said, I love my job. I wouldn’t change it for anything. A lot of times people are more scared of the anesthesia than the actual surgery. I’m the last person people see before they put their lives in my hands. I try and always take the extra time to make my patients feel comforted, knowing I am going to take the best care of them.

Class Notes 2008

2012

On March 6, 2020, the Luck Family honored Dallas Disbro by naming the spinal cord injury rehab facility at the Sheltering Arms Institute “The Dallas Disbro Ability Center” in his name. The Sheltering Arms Institute is a brand-new, state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation research hospital, located in Richmond, Virginia, and will serve those impacted by a spinal cord injury/disability (SCI/D), traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, amputation, and more.

Tyler Carson Leach and her husband, Brendon, welcomed their second daughter, Makena Grace, May 26, 2020. Tyler, Brendon, and Makena are healthy and home with big sister Tatum Marie.

Dallas Disbro ’08 (left) with the Luck Family at the Dallas Disbro Ability Center Reveal

Tyler Carson Leach’s

Mason McClanahan daughter, Makena Grace started a new career at Biosense Webster, a Johnson & Johnson company, as an Associate Clinical Account Specialist based in Queens, New York. He will be helping Cardiac Electrophysiologists treat heart arrhythmias during ablation procedures.

2016

2009 Katherine Vendley Lynch and her husband, Chris, welcomed their first son, Christopher Wayne Lynch Jr., on March 12, 2020.

2011 Marissa Deddens and Conor Larkin celebrated getting engaged this spring.

Their story began at Cannon School in 2009 and continued while attending the University of South Carolina and starting their professional careers. They are now living in Austin, Texas.

Katherine Vendley Lynch ’09 with her family

Class of 2016

Marissa Deddens ’11 and Conor Larkin ’11

Congratulations to all members of the Class of 2016 graduating this year and earning their undergraduate degrees. We understand most of you did not get to experience a proper college graduation ceremony, but our hearts are with you. Remember - you ALWAYS belong here!

Summer/Fall 2020 | CANNON | 33

Class Notes Sarah Dockery graduated from Clemson University this past May and accepted a role as a labor and delivery nurse at Mission Health in Asheville, NC. Katie McClanahan graduated from Stetson University with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She is moving to Tampa to begin her career as a second grade math/science teacher at Sulphur Springs K-8 Community School.

Katie McClanahan ’16 Carolyn Mitlehner graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Education and a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies.

She will be continuing her education at UNC for one more year in order to pursue her master’s in Elementary Education. Throughout this Carolyn Mitlehner ’16 program she hopes to continue learning how to foster a positive, equitable classroom culture that seeks to find the strengths in all students, while acknowledging and tackling the systemic injustices that continue to permeate society and the current education system.

Andrew VanWingerden graduated from Duke University this May with an undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and will be moving to Redwood City, CA to work at C3.ai, an enterprise-scale artificial

intelligence software company. His job title is Forward Deployed Solution Engineer, and he will be interacting directly with customers to integrate their software product in order to reduce operating costs.

2017 Allie Bunten got engaged on March 28, 2020 to Luke Miles. They met freshman year of college at Western Carolina University and plan to get married at Langtree Plantation in Mooresville, NC, next summer.

Allie Bunten ’17

2018 Meredith Haddock, a rising junior at High Point University, is an Admissions Ambassador for HPU and spent the month of July touring prospective students and their families.

Meredith is a Dean’s List student and a media fellow majoring in media entrepreneurship with a minor in business sales. She is also a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and participates in Young Life while on campus.

Meredith Haddock ’18

IN MEMORIAM 1974 Ann Shaw Wood Surratt passed on January 30, 2020 after courageously battling Multiple Sclerosis since 1993.

34 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2020

Alumni Sports Highlights Will Gordon ’15 tied for third place at the PGA’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. This was Will’s eighth PGA Tour appearance, and he entered on a sponsorship exemption and left earning himself temporary membership to the PGA Tour for the rest of the season. Will beat out many wellknown and accomplished veteran players in the process!

Vicky Bruce ’12

As Denmark began to slowly open up from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vicky Bruce ’12 and her professional soccer team, Fortuna Hjørring, made it back on the field, taking home the league championship at home in Hjørring, Denmark on Saturday, June 27. The tournament continues as they fight to earn The Double, the highest achievement and level of play in Denmark, called the Gjensidige Women’s League.

Tim Bunten ’17 won the Carolinian Amateur, a Carolinas Golf Association golf tournament, on Sunday, June 14 at Keith Hills Golf Club with a final round 5-under-par, 67 and 9-under-par, 207 total.

Lansdon Robbins ’18 took home the title at the 106th Carolinas Amateur Championship on July 12, 2020.

Lansdon, who currently plays for UNC Wilmington, shot a bogey-free 67 on Sunday at Cape Fear Country Club to finish the tournament at 17-under-par, 271 total.

Harrison Burton ’19

Will Gordon ’15

Tim Bunten ’17

Lansdon Robbins ’18

Austin Cindric ’17

Harrison Burton ’19 and Austin Cindric ’17 placed first and second, respectively, at the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, June 13. Harrison earned his second career victory of the season and became the track’s youngest series race winner. Austin was close behind taking home the second place title.

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#cannonstrong

Our community’s tagline, “You Belong Here,” was certainly tested this spring, as we experienced over eight weeks of being apart from one another as the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools across the country to close. However, just because we were physically distanced didn’t mean that our spirit was broken—evidenced here, as Aurora Tran ’29 shares a smile with her third-grade class in a Webex meeting. These challenging months have strengthened our community in ways never imagined, proving that truly…we belong to each other.