Cannon Magazine Summer/Fall 2022

CANNON THE MAGAZINE OF CANNON SCHOOL

SUMMER/FALL 2022

Letter from the Head of School Dear Cannon, Our beautiful campus was certainly quieter over the summer. It was that time of year when most of our learners stepped away from the daily routine, rediscovered the value of rest and recovery, and sought out a slower pace. From my perspective, making time for renewal and reflection is vital if we are to flourish and grow toward our full potential individually and collectively.

One way Cannon faculty reflected and renewed over the summer was by reading and preparing for next year’s study of Neuroteach: Brain Science and the Future of Education by Glenn Whitman and Ian Kelleher. In the book, the authors drive an argument supporting teachers’ integration of mind, brain, and education (MBE) science into their classroom practice. They champion teachers using MBE science research and data to reinforce, start, and even stop many of their “best” teaching and learning practices. I enjoy a bold thesis of any sort, particularly about the education enterprise built on the premise that we never reach our potential. Given our Cannon educators’ deeply ingrained growth mindset, I cannot wait to see where they help lead us as a result of this study.

In addition to such programmatic reflections, we are reflecting deeply upon our future facility needs on campus. We are asking one another real questions about the future of a Cannon education: How do we sustainably support Cannon’s mission built on transformative individual relationships and significant community experiences? For our youngest learners, what environments do current teaching practices demand? In a rapidly changing collegiate landscape, how will we serve the pre-collegiate needs of an increasingly individualized Upper School student? These are fundamental questions that challenge our courage and creativity. Their answers have the potential to accelerate our path toward a flourishing future.

I hope you and your family found your versions of reflections and renewal this summer. If I haven’t already, I look forward to seeing you soon!

With warmth,

G. Christopher Jones Head of School

CANNON MAGAZINE SUMMER/FALL 2022 Cannon Magazine is published semiannually by the Office of Advancement.

Send address changes to rriemersma@cannonschool.org.

EDITOR

LEADERSHIP

Amy Reiss Associate Director of Marketing and Communications

HEAD OF SCHOOL G. Christopher Jones

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Todd W. Hartung Jr.

HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL Dr. Regina Nixon

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Katie LaRue

EDITORIAL STAFF Beth Levanti Director of Marketing and Communications CONTRIBUTORS Sarah Sooklal Kendyl Lauher ’21

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Carla M. Moyer HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL Fabio A. Hurtado DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION William Diskin

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE Whit G. Brown DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Dr. Beth Wilner

Contents

4

Commencement 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Senior Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Oh, the Places You’ll Go! . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Cornerstone Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Arts Jam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Cannon Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Cannon Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

18

Cougar Tracks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Big Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Cannon Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Cannon Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

31

Tag Dumond ’23 used images from one of our partners, Billy Howard Photography, to create this collage of reflections from the 2022-2023 school year.

Additional photography by Amy Reiss, Rob Walley, Sr., St. John Photography, Kendyl Lauher ’21, Katie LaRue, Caeden Otey ’22, and Ben Premeaux

Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 3

Commencement 2022

The view from above.

4 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2022

I don’t know about you… but I’m #feeling22!

On May 27, the 108 members of the Cannon Class of 2022 crossed the stage on Bryant Central Green and officially became Cannon alumni.

After a rain-delayed start, the skies cleared, the sun shone, and the tassels were turned!

Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 5

My advice to underclassmen would be to do everything you can, say thank you a lot, and when you get tired--lean on someone who can help you.

After so many years at Cannon, Sammie Johnson, Morgan Jeter, and Miles Edmiston are used to grinning for cameras – even on their last day!

– Ben Childress

We asked our seniors… what are your reflections, looking back at your experience at Cannon?

Taylor Denby may be two minutes older than his twin, Hannah, but at graduation, she got to accept her diploma first!

Over the course of four years, advisor Mr. Keith West supplied his always-hungry boys with hundreds of dollars’ worth of Pop-Tarts. At Commencement, they jokingly paid him back—with a $1 bill.

Dylan Kabasakalian accepts his diploma.

6 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2022

Maya Goldsberry flashes a grin at her family and friends in the audience.

Talking to people you don’t usually talk to is so important. You never really know what you might have in common with others until you actually start to ask them questions about themselves. It’s easy to feel like you have to stay in one friend group, but that’s just not true. You can make friends everywhere.

– Harshini Gadudasu

Harshini Gadudasu (second from right, pictured with Meg Crosbie, Sammie Johnson, and Kiki Leung)

Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 7

Isabella Friedli

Deven Dighe, flanked by family, proudly shows off his new degree.

When they tell you freshman year that four years will go fast, I promise it will. Cherish each and every minute you spend in this community. Thank your teachers, your advisors, your friends. May of your graduating year is closer than you could ever imagine!

– Isabella Friedli

Be yourself.

Being yourself will open up so many more opportunities.

Don’t hide who you are from the world.

– Amaya King

Amaya King, pictured here with Jimmy Kinsella.

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It goes by in the blink of an eye. I wish I could go back and start over, so take advantage of every day you have here.

– Conrad Randall-Bauer Conrad Randall-Bauer (left) with Cam Abaqueta.

I would like to thank all of my advisors, deans, coaches, and teachers for pushing me to be my absolute best. Without the encouragement and instruction from them, I would not be the person I am today.

– Matthew Kroll Matthew Kroll (right) with Todd Pelino and Caeden Otey.

The Class of 2022 share a moment of levity during speaker Mr. Jon Ward’s Commencement Address.

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Senior Reflections Your name:

Olivia Varghese

8 years

attended Cannon?

How many years have you from the Disney trip, memory? My favorite memory is on nn Ca te ori fav r you is What and

Slinky Dog ng in line together for the ndi sta e wer us of up gro e when a hug ng in line, we had a great time standi but rs, hou 3+ e wer ts wai Avatar rides. The hanging out. talking, playing games, and lesson What is the most valuable

e at Cannon?

you learned during your tim

with a teacher so ether it's a good relationship Wh s. hip ons ati rel of e anc The import ference in a school or a peer, it makes all the dif I can turn to them for help, day. ool tradition?

on Sch What is your favorite Cann

House Games! Go Big Blue!

nnon? How did you face while you were at Ca you did ges llen cha at Wh o really struggled during I am a very social person wh overcome them?

d other

visory Zoom calls, StuCo, an

quarantine. But between ad

ends.

s back at school with my fri

organizations, I felt like I wa

lbach! She was the on and why? Mrs. Reu

Cann Who would you thank at

ve worked up the courage to

ldn't ha EVER and without her, I wou

best advisor

run for student

visory dance parties or rants

ked forward to ad council freshman year. I loo her.

with p.

ne here is willing to hel erience? Everyo

the Cannon exp What surprised you about

y of I was so lost on my first da

I know willing to help. Even today,

that everyone has my back

derclassmen?

What is your advice to un

just do it. Don't overthink it

and is there for me.

If you think you want to do

something,

'll be happy you took the

or talk yourself out of it. You risk.

you would Is there anything additional

e here?

like to share about your tim

I'm going to miss this place.

10 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2022

r and student was

5th grade, but every teache

Olivia, circa 2014, when she started at Cannon as a fifth grader.

Your name:

Rebecca Hurtado

How many years have you

attended Cannon?

What is your favorite Cann

on memory?

each morning.

What is the most valuable

14 years (lifer alert!)

Driving to school with my sibl ings

lesson you learned during

your time at Ca

nnon?

When something is missing fro m our community, whether tha t is a student-run newspaper or a senior magazin e, I've learned to be confident enough in my abilities and passion to make it happen .

What is your favorite Cann

on School tradition?

Watching CTC productions!

What challenges did you face while you were at Ca nnon? How did you overco them? me

The signature learning project s at the end of junior year wer e the most challenging but reward ing experiences of my time at Cannon.. For BioREX, I raised 6 chicks for a (complet ely ethical) experiment!

Who would you thank at

Cannon and why? Both Dean Boo ker and Mrs. Otey are

close family friends, and they made growing up at Cannon feel safe and supportive.

I am grateful for their kindnes s and subtle but ceaseless men torship along this 14 year journey.

What surprised you about

Rebecca, back in 2008 as a Junior Kindergartner.

the Cannon experience?

As a lifer, it is hard for anything to really surprise me. Over 14 years, I have falle n into a comfortable routine surrounded by familiar faces. It wasn't until now, as a senior, that Cannon has given me a bittersweet surprise . I am surprised at how hard it has been to say goodbye.

What is your advice to un

derclassmen? You are responsible for the education and experience you have here. Dev elop the self-respect to trust yourself with the challenges and celebrate your accomplishments.

Is there anything additiona

l you would like

to share about your time here?

Taylor Swift has dropped 10 albums since I've been at Can non. All of which are the soundtrack of my childhood. Tha t's all, just a shameless TS plug .

Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 11

The Class of 2022 will attend the following colleges and universities this fall.

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American University Appalachian State University Belmont University Cape Fear Community College Citadel Military College of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston Colorado State University (Fort Collins) Cornell University Davidson College Denison University Duke University Elon University Florida State University Furman University George Washington University Georgia Institute of Technology (Main Campus) High Point University Louisiana State University

McGill University Monmouth University North Carolina State University Northeastern University Queens University of Charlotte Radford University Ringling College of Art and Design Rochester Institute of Technology Salisbury University Santa Clara University Savannah College of Art and Design Southern Methodist University St. Bonaventure University Stanford University The University of Montana The University of Tampa The University of Tennessee (Knoxville) Tulane University of Louisiana University of Florida

University of Georgia University of Miami University of Michigan University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Carolina Wilmington University of South Carolina (Aiken) University of South Florida (Main Campus) University of Southern California University of Utah University of Virginia (Main Campus) Vanderbilt University Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wake Forest University Western Carolina University Wingate University Wofford College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 13

Eighth Graders Reflect Upon Middle School with Cornerstone Projects Each spring, eighth-grade students create Cornerstone projects, in which they look back at their Middle School experience and reflect upon how they embraced different challenges, show their growth as learners, and demonstrate who they are through the lens of our adaptive expertise traits—flexibility, mastery, risk-taking, autonomy, metacognition, purpose, communication, synthesis, and reflection. These projects are then presented to large groups, sharpening their presentation skills.

Meet Findley O’Brien, Blair Henderson, Zoe Griffith, Sophie Condon, and James Joyce, who each did an excellent job articulating their growth throughout Middle School.

James Joyce

Finding Purpose, Living with ADHD

My purpose is to have experiences and live and learn from them.

If you ask James Joyce for his personal definition of ADHD, it sounds like this: “One minute someone is explaining a math problem to me, and the next I’m staring out the window wondering if the yard guy gets paid enough.” In the third grade, James was diagnosed with ADHD, a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulse control, and over activity.

“The worst part of ADHD was that I didn’t know why I felt like this,” James said. “I didn’t know why it was so much harder for me to learn and stay focused, like everyone else.”

In his younger years, James admits he spent a lot of time trying to be liked by others, as well as trying to do what everyone else did.

14 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2022

But he also understood that having ADHD “automatically took me out of the category that everyone else is in.”

Throughout Middle School, James participated in lacrosse and cross country, which he credits for helping him understand that despite mistakes made along the way, he was driven to improve. “I began to realize that mistakes are at the heart of learning. At the moment of any mistake, I will always be mad at myself. I just have to remember that mistakes aren’t terminal.

They bring out the human in me,” he said.

The process eventually led to self-acceptance.

“Only until my last year in Middle School did I realize that being myself is the most substantial thing that one can accomplish,” James said.

“My purpose isn’t running cross country or playing lacrosse. My purpose isn’t trying to thrive through school with a learning disability.

My purpose is to have experiences and live and learn from them. My purpose is to take all of the challenges I have faced and become a better person from them,” said James.

Findley O’Brien Master Yak

When Findley O’Brien first thought of the word “mastery,” he assumed it meant “perfection.” However, his journey through Middle School helped him craft a better definition of the word—not being the best, but instead learning from mistakes, improving, and moving forward.

Shortly after he moved to North Carolina and started at Cannon in the fifth grade, Findley took a risk and joined Mr. Northrup in the ThinkTank to learn a little bit about Lego robotics. Despite having little prior knowledge, Chase quickly discovered a love for coding, and eagerly applied to become part of the Brainy Yaks, our Middle School robotics team.

“As soon as the applications came out, I typed as fast as I could, afraid that I wouldn’t get in,” Findley recalled. “I was stuck in suspense with each hour crawling by. The email arrived in my inbox, and I took a deep breath and opened it. I was a Brainy Yak!”

It may sound cliché, but mastery is learning from mistakes, setting goals, and always improving.

Findley spent the next few months coding, researching, and practicing, but quickly learned that not everything always went to plan. In fact, it was quite the opposite— things RARELY went as planned. “There were times we fumbled a transition, ran the wrong code, or let go too late. These are what we called ‘Epic Fails,’” said Findley.

It was these “Epic Fails” which ultimately displayed to Findley what true mastery means. “It may sound cliché, but mastery is learning from mistakes, setting goals, and always improving.”

Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 15

Blair Henderson Adapting to the Unknown

But each and every one of the roadblocks I have conquered has made me stronger.

We all remember, rather vividly, March of 2020 and the sudden shift our lives took due to the pandemic. For Cannon students, the rest of the year was spent online, adjusting to WebEx classes and learning from home.

For Blair Henderson, online learning didn’t stop in the fall of 2020, when the majority of Cannon students returned to campus. Blair continued learning from home. “That year was even harder for me,” she reflected. “I saw my friends on the other side of the screen and it made me feel excluded. All I really wanted was to be with them, but I wasn’t going to put my family’s health at risk.”

“School passed every day, and it was always the same thing—wake up, eat breakfast, and

join Zoom. By this point in the year, I started to become disorganized, distracted, and I put in little effort. It was around the one-year anniversary of COVID that my parents briefly brought up the conversation about going back, but at that point, I was fine in my comfort zone.”

When Blair did return to campus later that spring of 2021, she realized that the time that had passed presented new challenges. Her friend groups had shifted, and Blair was struggling.

“During this challenging time, I learned to adapt to the new environment around me,” she said.

“I was already becoming a pro at being flexible in any situation I found myself in. But I finished through the year strong with a couple of good friends by my side.” The following year, Blair continued to stay flexible, discovering an even larger circle of kind, accepting friends. “Every day they encourage me to step out of my comfort zone,” she said.

“Now, if I take a moment to reflect on the challenges I have faced in Middle School, there are quite a few. But each and every one of the roadblocks I have conquered has made me stronger.”

Sophie Condon Staying Flexible

16 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2022

abilities. “It was a full-circle moment for me to finally have an explanation for my inability to read well,” Zoe recalled.

Zoe Griffith The Power of Metacognition

I can confidently say that this is what I’m most proud of from my Middle School years.

Zoe Griffith had always associated reading with suffering. “I thought my struggle was that I just didn’t like to read, so I didn’t do anything about it since I believed it was something that couldn’t change,” she said.

As her Middle School years progressed and teachers asked Zoe to apply what she learned from readings, her life became more difficult.

Her grades slipped, as well as her confidence.

That is, until a teacher mentioned the situation to her parents, who were eager to help. Testing resulted in a diagnosis— dyslexia, a learning disability characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition, and poor spelling and decoding

Sophie Condon readily admits that when she started Middle School, she was someone who hated the unexpected. “Life is like driving on a highway,” she said. “You stay on the same path until your navigation tells you to get off at an exit.”

But…what happens when that navigation system reroutes?

Though she was skeptical at first, Sophie’s Middle School years taught her that she could adjust, change, and adapt.

Sophie credits her older brother, Aidan, with helping her realize this about herself. Aidan has a genetic disorder called Prader-Willi Syndrome. “For those of you who have met Aidan, you know that he loves people, and is very caring and outgoing,” Sophie said. “What you may not know is that he has difficulty regulating his emotions, sometimes doesn’t sleep through the night, and also follows a very strict diet that doesn’t include all the sweets we normally eat.”

Even with that understanding, it took Zoe some time to adapt her mindset and embrace different habits and strategies that would enable her to learn. “As if I was learning a new language or how to walk, it took time for me to understand how to correctly and productively add this new routine to my everyday lifestyle; so starting the process was difficult,” she said.

With the help of some great teachers, including seventh-grade history teacher Mr. John Cooke, Zoe learned that with her new adaptations, she was, indeed, an excellent student. “Having a fun-hearted, vivacious, and engaging teacher who consistently guides you to be the best learner and student possible makes all the difference,” she said.

After accepting her diagnosis and changing her mindset about what she was and wasn’t capable of, “I can confidently say that this is what I’m most proud of from my Middle School years.”

For Sophie’s family, traveling can be unpredictable. Sophie recalled a recent trip to Costa Rica in which Aidan gamely braved the zipline, much to his enjoyment. The return trip to the United States, however, presented challenges—challenges Sophie didn’t necessarily want to deal with—but because of her love for her brother, she faced them head-on, talking him through customs and the plane departure.

“There are so many of these examples of times where I wouldn’t think I’d have to be flexible, but with Aidan I’m able to better regulate my own emotions,” Sophie reflected.

“Just like that trip, when I’m with Aidan, the navigation is going to reroute our drive constantly, but we’re always going to reach our destination. Sometimes we may just have to take a different road to get there.”

...but we’re always going to reach our destination.

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Ellis LaRue ’36, Neely LaRue ’33, and Maxwell Reynolds ’33 enjoy a refreshing Kona Ice while sporting their new face paint.

Cannon Celebrates the Return of Arts Jam This past spring, Cannon celebrated the return of a beloved tradition—Arts Jam! Presented by Cannon School, Cannon Advocates for the Arts, and Cannon Cultures, the familyfriendly arts festival boasted an international flair, with art exhibitions, art activities, and live performances by student musicians, singers, and actors.

There were also international dancers, musicians, and food trucks. The event was a huge success, and we are already looking forward to next year!

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Thundering Wav eM

e. nc

ar

ti

n

Da

al

sented a Chines pre eL ts r io A

A dancer from the Connick School of Irish Dance performs alongside our own Julia Schattner ’25.

Mr. Leigh Northrup, Dean of Innovation and Technology, helped create all kinds of make and take projects.

It w

as a beautiful d ay on

B an ry tC a l G r ee n ! entr

Volunteer Aashvi Shah ’25 helps Matilda Holston ’35 create rangoli, an Indian art form in which patterns are created on the ground with different mediums.

Throughout the day, families enjoyed musical performances from band, strings, and chorus.

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Cannon Theater

Seussical Jr. Brings Down the House!

Oh, What a (Twelfth) Night!

As Dr. Seuss would say…“You miss the best things when you keep your eyes shut!” Good thing we had our peepers OPEN so we could check out the magical production of Seussical Jr. the weekend of May 20! Our 3rd - 6th grade thespians worked their (fox in) socks off to showcase their talents in this delightful tale. Many thanks to Mrs. Mindy Asa for pulling together an amazing show!

In February, Cannon Theater Company performed an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for packed houses all three nights and brought the audience to their feet at every show! The exciting musical adaptation showcased the star power of so many of our students.

Many thanks to Mr. Andy Macdonald, Director of Theater Arts, for helming an incredible production!

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Together, We Did It! On behalf of Cannon School’s students and educators, thank you to everyone who supported the Cannon Fund this school year.

We are grateful for our community’s dedication which helped us have a record-breaking number raised for the Cannon Fund—a number that supports our students’ learning and growth year over year. Like all independent schools, Cannon covers a sizable portion of our annual operating costs through the Cannon Fund. We are thankful to everyone who stepped up and generously gave back this year.

BY THE NUMBERS Educator giving for the 14th straight year

100% FUNDRAISING

Board of Trustees giving

429

current families gave

679,176

$

this year

A CANNON SCHOOL RECORD!

66

new families gave

193

people gave at a Cannon Society Level

54,000

$

from grandparents

31,000

$

raised from alumni parents

7,500

$

raised from alumni

1,522

$

average gift size

What the Cannon Fund provides: • Print and online resource materials for our libraries • Updated laptops and iPads • Music and art supplies, instruments, scripts, and sheet music • Stipends for our athletic coaches • Uniforms for our athletic teams • Professional development for our educators • Outfitting the arts studio and esports lab • Alumni programming • Financial Aid for our students

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Lower School Celebrates Annual Olympic Day On Friday, May 13, the Lower School celebrated their annual Olympic Day! A little rain didn’t dampen their spirits, even though Coach Judy Killam tells us it’s the first time in her fifteen years that we couldn’t celebrate outside. All of our treasured traditions endured, including the Parade of Nations (complete with country flags and class-made posters), the “lighting” of the Olympic torch, and plenty of friendly competition!

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First Graders showed pride for their assigned country of Australia!

First Graders Organize “Bright Blessings” Supply Drive Our first graders and the Lower School community recently embraced our core value of kindness with an amazing service learning project for “Bright Blessings,” an organization which serves more than 27,000 homeless and impoverished children of our area. To serve their Bless-aBirthday program, which helps struggling parents create birthday memories for their children, they collected 172 boxes of cake mix, 124 containers of icing, 109 boxes of candles, 85 packages of napkins, 82 packages of plates, and 38 rolls of wrapping paper! In addition, $364.14 was collected in our coin jars! We are grateful for the generosity shown by our Lower School families and proud of our first graders for their efforts!

TRACK News from

S

Cannon

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Students Volunteer at the Special Olympics For many years, Cannon has enjoyed an amazing relationship with the folks at the Special Olympics Cabarrus County. This year, because so many athletes and events had returned, we sent our sixth- through eighth-grade students, as well as Upper Schoolers who wanted to participate.

The two-day event was described by our students as “magical.”

There were Cougars everywhere - bonding with buddies, cheering at events, helping and playing and connecting with the athletes.

“This is my third year going to Special Olympics, and it was definitely the best one,” said Lily Wittgraefe ’25.

“This year was a new experience for me since it was my first time working with adults. My favorite part of the day was watching my buddy, Ella, participate in different events.

No matter if she won or not, she had a smile on her face and was so excited. After volunteering, I realized how impactful this day was for the athletes and I’m grateful I got the opportunity to go,” said Lily.

We are incredibly thankful to our friends at the Special Olympics for allowing us to help, and we are already looking forward to next year!

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Taylor Peters ’26 poses with her buddy for the day.

This was the first year we asked Upper School students if they were interested in volunteering. Clearly, plenty wanted to help!

Lower School Welcomes Back a Beloved Tradition – Grandparents and Special Friends Day! Our Lower School students were so excited to welcome our grandparents and special friends back to campus after a two-year COVID-induced hiatus! We had an incredible turnout, and it was the perfect day to laugh, sing, draw, read, and play games together.

Kindred Craven ’35 makes music with his grandparents.

Three Seniors Create a Capstone Magazine Each year, seniors create Capstone projects that reflect upon their time at Cannon School. The project extends upon students’ most meaningful experiences and contributes a deliverable to our greater community. Seniors plan, create a project, and present their work for panelists from our community.

Harshini Gadudasu, Rebecca Hurtado, and Taylor McGibbon decided that they wanted to celebrate their entire class, so they created a magazine that spotlighted their peers in a creative and fun manner. The class of 2022 shared personal essays, poetry, and artwork, and the girls laid out the entire publication. In addition, they wrote pieces themselves, created unique photo spreads, and designed and published the entire magazine, and then supplied every senior with a copy the night before graduation.

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Students Explore Similarities and Differences with

Question Bridge Program When Media Arts Teacher Ms. Ellen Loflin stepped into the Teacher’s Institute at the Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture back in 2019, she had no idea she would leave with an idea for a project that would change the lives of a small group of Cannon students—as well as some of their peers at West Charlotte High School.

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The idea began when Ms. Loflin caught sight of a video installation called “Question Bridge,” which promoted dialogue among Black males of various backgrounds through a question/answer format. “The way that I looked at it was that it was opening doors to difficult conversations among different people,” she said.

While watching, Ms. Loflin struck up a conversation with another teacher, Ms. Lynn Roach, who at the time taught at Harding High School. “We talked about how different our schools were, and how great it would be for our students to

have meaningful conversations with those from different backgrounds,” she said. “It felt like we had an instant camaraderie and vision, so we said, ‘Let’s start a program.’”

Ms. Loflin and Ms. Roach approached President and CEO of the Gantt Center, Mr. David Taylor, who happily agreed to sponsor the project.

How it Started

“Through frequent collaboration, I have built perennial friendships with my West Charlotte peers and have expanded my limited view on academic disparities. I have been a student of Cannon for most of my life, and am fully accustomed to the school’s supportive, safe, and inspiring learning environment. By hearing feedback from West Charlotte students during their Cannon visit and experiencing a day in the life at their public school, I have become even more grateful for my time at Cannon,” Fen continued.

The endeavor began with the hope that the groups could come together for discussion, but March 2020 hit, and plans were put on hold until the beginning of the 2021 – 2022 school year. At that point, Ms. Roach had moved to West Charlotte High School, and a new group of Cannon students were able to participate. The two groups dove in again, talking to each other over Zoom.

Ms. Loflin echoed Fen’s sentiment. “I think the best thing to come out of Student Question Bridge for our kids was for them to see that, as different as we are, we are also very much like the kids from West Charlotte. We have similar interests and things in common, as well as some shared struggles that transcend socio-economic boundaries.”

Trading Places In the spring, the Gantt Center welcomed the students from both schools to spend the day together, which included speakers, visits from teaching artists, and roundtable discussions. The two student groups ended the day creating a piece of collaborative artwork together.

Shortly after, the West Charlotte group spent a day here at Cannon, visiting and attending classes, and the Cannon students did the same. “These really cool friendships started to develop among the two groups,” recalls Ms. Loflin. “It’s been really amazing to watch our kids embrace their kids.”

One way our Cannon students did that was by helping West Charlotte students with their college application essays. “Here, we have five people in the college counseling department,” said Ms. Loflin. “At West Charlotte, they have one counselor (who is not even wholly focused on college counseling) for about 1,200 students.” Several of our Cannon Student Question Bridge members helped with ideas and proofreading.

During this past year, my involvement in the program has availed to me a vibrant community of friends from both Cannon and West Charlotte.

– Fen Cleveland ’23

Building a Larger Community Of course, our students wound up reaping numerous other benefits from the experience.

“Student Question Bridge began as an innovative pilot program with weekly Zoom calls and literature discussions.

However, during this past year, my involvement in the program has availed to me a vibrant community of friends from both Cannon and West Charlotte,” said Fen Cleveland ’23.

Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 27

The Big Picture

28 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2022

It’s a lot of work keeping Cannon clean!

Here, maintenance mechanic (and jack-of-all-trades) Mr. Mark Ferguson ensures that our landmark Cupola stays tidy.

Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 29

Varsity baseball starters huddle and talk strategy during a close battle that ultimately resulted in an 11-10 win over Concord First Assembly.

Cougar senior lacrosse players pose together before catching a big win on senior night.

Sadie Miller ’22, Sammie Johnson ’22, and Morgan Brown ’23 embrace after a goal that contributed to a 3-0 win over Carmel Christian.

Isaac Szilagyi ’24 rockets a forehand crosscourt to remain fighting in his match.

Cannon distance runners James Ter Poorten ’25 and Bernard Boon ’24 lead the pack nearing the final stretch of a race.

After a crucial out made by Brie Biddle ’23, varsity softball celebrates as they head to the dugout.

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BOYS HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE

For the first time in Cannon School history – state champs!

Coach follows through, guides Cougars to state title game – which they won.

By C. Jemal Horton, The Independent Tribune | May 31, 2022 CONCORD — The 2019 season had been a tough one for the Cannon School boys lacrosse team.

“That’s not going to happen again,” the veteran leader said flatly.

Really tough.

Schattner knew the Cougars had a talented young corps of players coming up the ranks. He knew the freshmen on that 2019 squad were a remarkable group themselves.

With a roster that was laden with freshmen, the Cougars lost 12 of their 15 games that year. Eight of those defeats were by eight goals or more, with the outcome of many being a forgone conclusion by halftime.

When that 2019 campaign was completed, and the Cougars had lost their seventh consecutive game, Cannon coach Steve Schattner assembled the ninth-graders from the team and made a promise.

He was going to see them succeed.

He was willing to make a vow.

“I promised them if they trust the process, with what we had coming up, I would get them to the state championship before they graduated,” Schattner recalled last week. “I Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 31

Coach Steve Schattner, who has coached the Cougars for thirteen seasons, was recently named Charlotte Observer Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year.

“I will unequivocally deny credit for anything. I didn’t play one minute of any of these games. I just managed them. I motivated the kids, but they went out and did the work. This is 100% about the kids and how they did everything.”

It wasn’t easy, but the Cougars kind of made it look that way.

And, well, it really helps that the Cougars have some of the most talented and coveted players around.

The headliner is junior goalie Brayson Wilson, who has made a verbal commitment to play at UNC Chapel Hill. According to most scouting services, Brayson Wilson — who had 126 saves at a 64% clip this season — is ranked among the top three goalies in the Class of 2023. And in some instances, he’s ranked No. 1.

didn’t promise (winning a state championship) or anything prophetic like that. I just said I would get them there.”

He did one better.

On May 21, the Cougars won the whole dang thing.

Playing in their home stadium, on the turf of Randy Marion Field, the Cougars defeated Arden Christ School, 14-9, to win the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I championship.

What’s more, it was the first state title in Cannon’s lacrosse history, and the Cougars, who finished with an 18-2 overall mark, established a school record for victories in a season.

Cannon also stormed through their conference with a 10-0 record and finished the year ranked 31st nationally by MaxPreps.com, higher than any team in North Carolina.

THAT’S how good this batch of Cougars turned out to be.

Three years ago, Schattner, who has spent 26 years as a lacrosse coach, knew his Cougars had something special in them, but he also knew it was going to take sweat equity.

He said that’s exactly what the players gave him, and the result was a state title.

“Those freshmen (from the 2019 team) were good, and I knew how good the guys we had coming up were,” Schattner said. “Our 2024 class is phenomenal. And then they DID the work.”

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The scary thing is Brayson Wilson isn’t the only talented goalie on the team. His “backup” is sophomore Conor Nelson, who would be a starter on many high-level teams.

Nelson registered 34 saves, and Schattner said it’s likely he played more minutes than Brayson Wilson in conference games this season. That’s because the Cougars were usually ahead by at least 10 goals in the second half, forcing a running clock.

On the season, they scored 247 goals and allowed 110.

Another Cannon standout, senior defenseman Miles Edmiston has signed to play at Monmouth University in New Jersey, and he led the Cougars with four takeaways and collected 52 groundballs this season.

“Edmiston is arguably the best defenseman in the state,” Schattner said. “Actually, I won’t say arguably; he is the best.

I know I sound biased, but other coaches say it, too. He can transition the ball, he’s lightning fast, he’s got a ridiculous motor, and he can see the field. He creates opportunities for us in transition.”

Senior Dillon Casey is a talented defenseman as well. He had the option of playing college lacrosse but instead opted to enroll at the University of Georgia to focus solely on academics. A pair of sophomores, Ben Maynor and Liam Gibbons, rotate starting there and making an impact, too.

Senior Aidan Swartz has signed with Salisbury University, another school in Maryland. A long-stick midfielder, Swartz was tasked with covering the opposing team’s best midfielder.

“And he basically shut them down,” Schattner said.

On offense, Brevin Wilson might only be a high school sophomore, but he’s a professional scorer. He topped the Cougars in goals (55) and assists (45). In two seasons of action, he has tallied 146 career points — a feat that normally takes players four years to achieve. Schattner calls him “the quarterback of the offense,” and Cannon assistant coach, Brett Frood, dad of sophomore Cole Frood, has dubbed Brevin Wilson “the straw that stirs the drink.”

And while senior Duncan MacFadyen wasn’t a major goal scorer, finishing with 16 on the season, he was an impactful one. Schattner noted that, “When he scored, he scored big time in big games for us.”

Speaking of Cole Frood, his specialty is transitioning the ball, as he did in the title game.

With all the contributions, the Cougars closed out the season with a 13-game winning streak, and they colored most postseason award teams Cannon Maroon and Gold.

“He basically can run by almost anybody who covers him,” Schattner said. “He’s just a strong player.”

Another Cannon attackman, and one of the most successful athletes in Cabarrus County history, is senior Riley Venos.

Last week’s victory made Venos the only athlete in Cannon’s history to win three state championships in his senior season, when he did it in football (with the Cabarrus Warriors), wrestling and lacrosse. He actually is a two-time titlist in wrestling, and he averaged two goals per game for the lacrosse Cougars this spring.

Many other players made contributions this season.

Sophomore Will Swartz — all 6 foot 5 and 220 pounds of him — is a physical presence who can heave the ball more than 90 mph toward the goal when he’s on the run.

Other stars in their roles for the Cougars this year included freshmen J.T. Murphy and Colby Dry, along with sophomore midfielder Will Jones.

On the all-conference first team, seven of the 11 players selected were Cougars: Casey, Crispino, Edmiston, Cole Frood, Aiden Swartz, Brayson Wilson and Brevin Wilson.

The second team included Venos, Maynor, Liam Gibbons, MacFadyen and Will Swartz.

On the 15-man all-state team selected by the NCISAA, seven Cougars earned spots: Casey, Crispino, Edmiston, Cole Frood, Aiden Swartz, Brayson Wilson and Brevin Wilson.

When the Cougars’ work was done against Christ School last Saturday, the post-game meeting was a bit more upbeat than the one in 2019.

And one thing is clear: When it comes to his lacrosse players, Schattner keeps his promises.

Will Crispino ’23 was one of seven Cougars to receive All-State honors.

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Hello!

I am Sarah Sooklal, the Alumni & Alumni Parent Relations Manager at Cannon School. I live in Concord with my husband Tristan and two little cougars Lennon (2033) and Clara (2036).

Growing up in Concord I had the awesome opportunity to attend Cabarrus Academy for my first two years of school. Walking into the Cannon home on Union St. for my first day of Kindergarten is something that holds a special place in my heart. The warm and inviting atmosphere and community was evident back then. The strong academic foundation, inclusive culture, and ever evolving campus made coming back to Cannon as a parent and staff member an easy choice.

In my personal time I love anything creative, planning parties, and painting. I am happiest when I am near the ocean or on stage singing karaoke. I feel so honored to be in the Alumni Relations role and cannot wait to connect with our wonderful community and celebrate our alumni! I am so glad to be back home at Cannon and look forward to meeting you soon!

Mrs. Sooklal’s kindergarten photo from Cabarrus Academy

Sarah Sooklal Manager of Alumni and Alumni Parent Relations

Upcoming Events

Homecoming Friday, September 23, 2022 Alumni Swim meet & Breakfast Friday, December 16, 2022 Alumni Jazz Jam Tuesday, December 27, 2022 | Cabarrus Brewing Co, Concord, NC Alumni Basketball Game TBD

Visit Cougar Connect, our online networking portal, for event details and to RSVP. Alumni.cannonschool.org 34 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2022

Alumni Events

On Saturday, June 25, we had the pleasure of welcoming back alumni from the following classes for their reunions.

5 Year Reunions: Class of 2015, 2016, and 2017 10 Year Reunions: Class of 2010, 2011, and 2012 15 Year Reunions: Class of 2005, 2006, and 2007 20 Year Reunion: Class of 2002

After a couple years apart, it has been wonderful to be able to come together on campus again!

Alumni lacrosse players were recognized on the field during the Lacrosse State Championship game.

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Alumni Letter Kendyl Lauher ’21, a rising sophomore at Syracuse University, served a summer internship in the Advancement Office, and was instrumental in helping pull this issue together. Below, she reflects on her first year away at college.

It has now been 391 days since I officially wrapped up my nine-year career as a Cannon Cougar and began my journey as a Syracuse Orange. I could give you a list with as many bullet points as there have been days containing all I’ve learned this past year. However, as I reflect on my first year in college, I find myself feeling immensely grateful for the preparation and stepping stones Cannon School gave to me and all my fellow alumni to take off in our individual directions.

The moment I set foot on Syracuse campus last August I realized I was making the transition from big fish in a little pond to being one small fish in a huge lake – one that also happens to be 579 miles away from home. Changes were occuring, but it didn’t scare or frighten me. I was excited for all of the new opportunities that were to come because, thanks to Cannon, I felt prepared and ready.

Building relationships – with coaches, administrators, teammates, professors, or anyone – came easily, because Cannon always emphasized the importance of establishing connections with those around you. Rigorous courses felt a little lighter because Cannon instilled proper study habits and reinforced adequate preparation. Athletically, I knew I could push myself to greater limits and strive to a new level of commitment because Cannon gave me the opportunity to grow as an athlete, a leader, and a teammate.

When you’re living through the high school experience, you often don’t realize the life lessons and takeaways placed in front of you. It isn’t until it becomes applicable in later scenarios that you can truly reflect back on how much was learned throughout the process. These reflections of preparedness that I can make now, 391 days post-graduation, serve as a sense of delayed gratification for all that Cannon provides for its students. Whether you’re a Cougar for one year, fourteen years, or any number in between, you can look back as alumni and be thankful for being equipped with the tools to take on the real world. #YouAlwaysBelongHere 36 | CANNON | Summer/Fall 2022

Kendyl is now a sophomore at Syracuse University, and excited to continue playing women’s soccer for the Orange!

“Mark Dunn was definitely the most influential to me. He gave me amazing advice when I was going through a hard time in life.”

– Garrett Cline ’18

Alumni Reflections We asked our alumni to reflect on some of their favorite memories from their time at Cannon.

“Mr. Cooke was the most influential to me.

He truly cared for his students and treated them as individuals.”

– Jaillin Johnson ’15

Which teacher was most influential?

Why?

“Mrs. Huffman was the most influential person to me at Cannon. She taught me so much about the world that I decided to start exploring it! Learning history inspired my love of travel.”

– Brooke Corley ’10 “Mr. Northrup was the most influential to me!

Best of the best!!”

– Caroline Malmstrom ’16 “Mr. West, due to his ability to be an inspiring teacher, and a fun seeking student as well!”

– Caeden Otey ’22

“Dean Booker was the most influential person at Cannon for me. He’s the best mentor I could ever ask for!”

– McKenna Koch ’20

What was your favorite cafeteria meal?

“My favorite cafeteria meal was definitely Taco TUESDAY!” – Ben Childress ’22

“My favorite cafeteria meal was taco salad! No brainer!”

– Kristiaan Andaas ’09

“I loved the nachos.”

– Madi Hardy ’21

“My favorite cafeteria meal was by far giant cookie day.”

– Jesse Ojanen ’14

“Chicken biscuits in the morning.”

– Madison Miller ’12

“The chicken nuggets in fifth grade slapped.”

– Danté Lowe ’15

“My favorite cafeteria meal was enchiladas!”

– Olivia Varghese ’22 Summer/Fall 2022 | CANNON | 37

“The English office, because I could sit on the couch and chat with my favorite teachers.”

– Grace Winchester ’21

What space on campus brought you joy?

A place where you made a happy memory?

“The library annex was always a fun place because you never knew who you would find there. I always seemed to run into someone and talk with them.”

– Sydney Wood ’21

“In my first cross country race, I ran so hard that I peed myself crossing the finish line. Epic finish!”

– Curt Black ’09

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“The Cougars’ Den, getting Mentos and snacks between classes.”

– Drew Glenn ’09

“Andrews Strength and Conditioning Center.

Perfect place for a study break.”

– David Riley ’16

“The middle of senior parking; it’s where my friends and I would eat lunch during COVID.” – Abigail Hill ’21

What was the funniest thing that happened during your time in school?

“The senior parking lot.”

– Eliott Diskin ’21

“The soccer field!”

– Dina Fahmey ’16

“The funniest thing that happened during my time at Cannon was when Mr. Drake would yell, ‘Run with potato chips’ during cross country practice.”

– Jenna Vitagliano ’05

Class Notes 2010

2016

Melissa Marcantonio got engaged to Matt Pigg after having been together for seven years in New London, NC. He completely surprised Melissa (and the photographer) at a photo shoot that Melissa won off of Instagram by proposing during the shoot! They plan to get married fall 2023.

David Riley graduated from Appalachian State in 2020, and returned to the area to work at Uwharrie Bank in Charlotte, NC as a lead customer service representative.

Melissa and Matt Photo by: Destiny Pierce Photography

2012 Tyler Carson Leach and her husband Brendon welcomed sweet Zoey Elise Leach to their family June 2, 2022 at 2:23 p.m., weighing 7 lbs 4 oz and measuring 20” long. Zoey means “life” and Elise is a diminutive of Tyler’s middle name, Elisabeth, which means “pledged to God.” Zoey joins big sisters Tatum and Makena.

Zoey Elise Leach

2017 Claudia Michaels completed her first year of studies at Columbia University, in pursuit of a Master in Public Health, after graduating from Emory University in 2021.

In June 2022, she relocated Claudia Michaels to Santiago, Chile for a sixmonth research practicum position at the Society and Health Research Center at Universidad Mayor. Her research will focus on the impact of recent public policy reforms in Latin America on human health.

We love to keep up-to-date with our alumni!

2013 Barclay Sparrow became engaged on Saturday, June 11, 2022 to Samuel Gonzalez. Sam popped the question at Brooklyn Pride near their home in Park Slope and they celebrated with friends and family.

They are thrilled to share their life together!

David Riley

Please submit any life changes, updates, and details that you wish to share.

Questions? Contact Sarah Sooklal, Manager of Alumni and Alumni Parent Relations, at alumni@cannonschool.org.

Sam and Barclay at the 75th Tony Awards the night after their engagement

https://alumni.cannonschool.org/page/classnotes-submission

In Memoriam: Ms. Julia Ruth Inglehart ’09 passed away on June 5, 2022.

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