TIES Magazine: Summer 2022

Work That Matters Charles Wright leans into broader project-based learning and experiential education experiences for all students

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Work That Matters

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Alum of the Year Trevor Will ’93

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Class Notes

SUMMER 2022

CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY Established 1957 Tacoma, Washington

Head of School Susan Rice School Division Directors Rixa Evershed, Beginning School Director Robin Wheeler, Lower School Director Rachel Rippl, Middle School Director Betty Benson, Upper School Director Director of Development and Communications Laura Rose Director of Athletics Tyler Francis Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Denise Williams Director of Enrollment Management Steve Rudolf Director of Operations Samantha Einarson Director of Technology Holly Gerla 2022-2023 Board of Trustees Toby Murray III ’71, Chair Mark Hood, Vice Chair Adam Blakney ’00, Secretary Scott Limoli, Treasurer Drew Bamford ’91 Roger J. Bass Scott Case ’94 Dr. David Hirschberg ’80 Dr. Tamara Horn Ben Sclair ’88 Liz Snyder Nicole Stice Sarah Weyerhaeuser Trevor Will ’93 Publisher

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Amy Senftleben

T I E S | Summer 2019

hello!

Simmi Rohila ’26 and a crustacean buddy sent their greetings from Beach Hike last June.

SUMMER 2022

F E AT U R E S

18 Work That Matters

D E PA R T M E N T S CWA NEWS

Charles Wright leans into broader projectbased learning and experiential education experiences for all students.

8 Faculty News 9 Director Updates

26 Congratulations to the Class of 2022

12 2022 Spirit Auction Recap

The Tarrier community put their Heart and Soles into fundraising for CWA and a new running track at an intimate, in-person auction.

We welcomed 52 members from the Class of 2022 to the alumni family on June 11.

34 Kindergarten Counsel

The Class of 2034 shares sage advice­for the Class of 2022 as they get ready for college.

ATHLETICS

42 Bleed Green

Tarriers finally got a chance to compete in normal athletic seasons during the 2021-22 school year, and walked away with several championship titles.

36 8th Grade Celebration

The Class of 2026 celebrated the culmination of their Middle School careers on June 15.

38 5th Grade Moves On

ALUMNI

The Class of ’29 celebrated the culmination of their Lower School years on June 16.

46 Greetings from the Alumni Office 51 Class Notes

40 Faculty and Staff Awards

Catch up on news from classmates and mark your calendars for upcoming alumni events.

Meet this year’s recipients of the Inspirational Faculty Award and Christopher Steele Award for Outstanding Service by a Staff Member.

48 2022 Alum of the Year

55 In Remembrance LAST LOOK

The school honors Trevor Will ’93 for his staunch support of Tarriers and the South Sound community.

56 Retirements and 2022 Lifetime Teaching Awards

C WA M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T To inspire active, joyful learning while nurturing and challenging our students to develop the character, creativity, and skills to successfully navigate the future with confidence.

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T I E S | Summer 2022

INSIDE WRIGHT MINDS

Powerful Opportunites Ahead Susan Rice, Head of School

ear Tarriers, The Summer of 2022 finds many of us reflecting on all we have accomplished in the past year.

Our core institutional values—perseverance, excellence, compassion, respect, and integrity— continue to be reflected in so much of what we do every day. Our Mission to provide students with “active, joyful learning” experiences continues to find new ways of coming to fruition—be it through experiences on or off campus. The work that we are doing to examine and ensure that we are living our Inclusion Statement is powerful—we know that everyone does their best work when they know that they belong and when we all have a diverse group to learn from and grow with.

So much lies ahead for our community in 2022-23. I am honored to share a glimpse of the year ahead, and to reflect on all the effort of the past year that brought us here. We are creating new programs and making improvements to existing programs. We are resuming programs halted by COVID that make Charles Wright Academy a vibrant place to learn and grow. Powerful new opportunities for students lie on the horizon, within our grasp.

Many campus improvements took place this summer, including: •

a necessary expansion of our re-named “Beginning School” to accommodate increased enrollment,

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a new Lower School art classroom in the Sam and Nathalie Brown Visual Art Center for our youngest Tarriers to explore their artistic pursuits alongside our Upper School Tarriers,

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a fresh facelift in our Middle School building with plans to build a new space for our fifth graders to join in 2023-24,

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a major remodel for the Senior Stage area in the Upper School,

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and our first ever Harkness Table to support the student-focused pedagogical approach of the same name that Dr. David Adams uses and has used for many years.

And even more improvements are in progress right now. New opportunities for gardening and outdoor exploration will benefit all Tarriers with opportunities for hands-on learning. We have secured the new location for the Diane Hunt Outdoor Classroom, which was made possible by generous donors to the 2019 Tarriers at Play Fund-a-Need. This year’s Fund-a-Need donors made the replacement of the Track possible this summer including the accompanying Field areas (Shot Put, Long Jump, Discus).

These improvements will benefit all students from Preschool to Grade 12, but also allow us to host more regional events for our competitive Middle and Upper School Athletics.

Students in the Upper School shared that the locker rooms in the Dome needed a refresh and we are responding. New paint and logos inside and out of the Dome will build school spirit across all grade levels, alumni and families. A refresh of the locker rooms will include a new roof, skylights, new paint, and spirit branding.

When students engage in athletics, we want them to feel proud to be here. When visiting teams come to compete on our campus— we want them to know that they are in Tarrier Territory!

This work is guided by the revision of our Strategic Vision 2030, recently approved in May 2022 by our Board of Trustees. The revision was led by a committee of administrators and Trustees, and is an update from the original plan adopted by the board in 2018, led by previous Head of School, Matt Culberson.

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INSIDE WRIGHT MINDS

We began this revision process with discussions at the Board level about the limitations of the existing plan, and the need for some updating four years later. We then hosted a series of Town Halls and Faculty/Staff meetings to gather input from community and stakeholders, and met with student leaders in the Upper School Student Council to discuss. Then, our Senior Leadership team spent time interpreting all that input to create edits to the Plan.

We presented those suggestions and rationale to the Board of Trustees in our May 2022 meeting for approval. I am so excited to share it with you in this issue of Ties.

In this iteration we looked for ways to make it more actionable and less philosophical by choosing more active verbs to “do”—as Tarriers who value experiential learning and the act of “doing,” we wanted to “create” rather than “consider.” Additionally, we wanted to make some adjustments to the language to include needed campus improvements and to reflect the school’s new Mission Statement that was adopted after the original Strategic Vision 2030.

Lastly, having a strategic plan that carries us through to 2030 is unusual. So, now that we have created more actionable language and clarity of direction, we hope to begin digging into a clear plan to operationalize these initiatives with smaller timelines to ensure we are making progress. A Town Hall this fall will reveal some of those plans that will shape our community in the next 1-3 years that I look forward to sharing. Watch your email for more details coming soon.

While the issues of the world continue to challenge school communities and disrupt previously “normal” operations—Charles Wright Academy continues to evolve and grow.

Our resolve to live our value of excellence in all things is stronger than ever. The fruits of our labor in seeking that level of excellence have required us to lean in to our other values of perseverance and integrity, but as Tarriers—our community remains strong and committed to doing the work. The best is yet to come, and we have so much to celebrate and share.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership—it’s a great day to be a Tarrier!

With gratitude,

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T I E S | Summer 2022

STRATEGIC VISION 2030 Approved by the Board of Trustees May 26, 2022

STRATEGIES PLACE Finalize and execute a facilities master plan that considers the investment in space necessary to implement the Strategic Vision for 2030.

• Initiative #1: Expand early childhood programs and create an

Early Childhood Learning Center to maximize capacity and need in the South Sound for high quality Early Learning programs.

• Initiative #2: Develop and implement strategies to more fully

accommodate and utilize the campus, facilities and infrastructure year-round.

• Initiative #3: Explore and implement new opportunities to increase enrollment through ancillary business models, and possible strategic alignment with other schools.

• Initiative #4: Explore and implement strategies to increase the environmental sustainability of the campus.

INSIDE WRIGHT MINDS

Charles Wright Academy

• Initiative #2: Grow and develop our faculty and staff through the following:

A directed and strategic professional development program A culture of constant self-reflection, growth, and professionalism that always places the student at the center of every decision A collaborative, reflective, meaningful, and regular faculty/ staff feedback and evaluation process iv. Leadership roles and opportunities to model, coach, teach, and inspire colleagues, students, families, and community.

• Initiative #3: Integrate and embody Social Emotional Learning

(SEL) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) standards school-wide, and increase our collective resources and capabilities for support.

• Initiative #4: Live our commitment to caring in our inclusive and diverse community, in order to realize our institutional values of respect and compassion.

• Initiative #5: Design, fund, and implement improvements and

expansion to athletic facilities and infrastructure to meet evolving needs of those programs

PARTNERSHIPS Create a solid foundation for community engagement and partnerships that enriches learning experiences for students, and also positions Charles Wright Academy as a resource and partner to the broader community.

• Initiative #1: Partner with area colleges, businesses, and nonprofit

organizations to further strengthen and grow our program and create enriched and engaging learning opportunities for our students and community.

• Initiative #2: Strengthen relationships with local, regional, state, national, and global organizations to support our commitment to service-learning through service and internships.

• Initiative #3: Engage alumni and parents to be actively involved

through sharing their diverse experiences, expertise, and access to opportunities.

• Initiative #4: Strengthen our position as thought leaders in

the South Sound by participating in community events, hosting professional development, offering parent education opportunities, and building relationships between community leaders and school leadership.

PROGRAM Expand the understanding of what active, joyful learning should be in the mid-21st century by developing and supporting an experiential, integrated, and interdisciplinary curriculum and program to enhance the student experience in alignment with and in service of the Tarrier Traits and the Inclusion Statement.

• Initiative #1: Create multiple paths to a CWA diploma that nurture and challenge the learner on their PS-12 journey to develop the character, creativity, and skills they need to navigate the future with confidence.

• Initiative #2: Develop equitable and consistent cultural and global engagement experiences for all students.

• Initiative #3: Integrate distinctive place-based/experiential education into the curriculum.

• Initiative #4: Enhance learning experiences by purposefully and strategically integrating technology and further developing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs and curricula.

PLAN Build financial sustainability for the School and the next generation of students.

• Initiative #1: Build additional revenue streams to prevent reliance

PEOPLE Foster an engaged and inclusive community by cultivating CWA’s exceptional and committed faculty and staff for the future.

• Initiative #1: Implement innovative teaching methods to engage students in and out of the classroom.

on continued increases in tuition.

• Initiative #2: Design a strategic enrollment plan based on market realities and an understanding of the Charles Wright Academy mission-servable student.

• Initiative #3: Create a comprehensive marketing and

communication strategy to reintroduce and strengthen our brand in the market.

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CWA NEWS

Faculty News

Director Updates

Middle School Humanities Teacher Gabrielle Plastrik has been awarded a Teach YR fellowship through yrmedia.org. The Teach YR fellowship is designed to help teachers create young journalists who have a public forum for their work. Modules teach students about photojournalism, radio journalism, quick fact-checking techniques, video techniques, framing a news story, and more.

New Upper School Computer Science teacher Jeanne Jacobs will continue her works as an Amazon Future Engineers Fellow at CWA. Ms. Jacobs will bring a full Middle and Upper School curriculum to CWA in classes that include Artificial Intelligence in our World, Python Fundamentals, and AP Computer Science.

Faculty members DuChanté Davis, Sam Harris, Gabrielle Plastrik, and Rixa Evershed will be presenting at this fall’s NWAIS conference hosted this year by CWA. The NWAIS Fall Educators Conference is the premier event for independent school educators in the Northwest. The interactive program offers several opportunities to connect with national thought leaders as well as other educators for a rich day of reflection and learning.

This summer, several CWA administrators represented at the ISM Summer Institute in Philadelphia, including US Director Betty Benson, MS Director Rachel Rippl, LS Director Robin Wheeler, and Athletic Director Tyler Francis.

Upper School faculty Christina Bertucchi and Cori Blackman recently visited the University of San Diego where they attended an Advanced Placement Professional Development workshop.

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T I E S | Summer 2022

Betty Benson Upper School Director ast March, the academy was pleased to announce the appointment of Betty Benson as Upper School Director for the 2022-23 school year. CWA engaged in a confidential, international search with the prestigious firm Carney Sandoe & Associates, reviewing 22 highlyqualified candidate application packages, and interviewing six finalists.

Ms. Benson was the unanimous top choice of CWA’s search committee that included newer and longer-tenured Upper School faculty and members of the Senior Leadership Team.

Ms. Benson most recently served as the Associate Director of the Upper School at Lakeside School, a top-tier independent school for students in grades 5-12 in Seattle, where she was a member of the faculty since 2014.

Ms. Benson served as Assistant Director of the Upper School prior to being promoted to Associate Director. She has contributed to the growth of several independent schools during the past 14 years as a STEM educator, advisor, and administrator, as well as speaking at numerous independent school conferences, providing professional development to her colleagues engaging in ongoing learning.

We had a chance to catch up with Ms. Benson in July after she arrived on campus and began preparations for the new school year. Please join us in welcoming Ms. Benson, her husband Chantry, and their three young children—including new Tarriers Vasa ’37 and Skara ’35—to the Charles Wright community.

CWA NEWS

Q: What initially attracted you to CWA? attached to the Portrait of a Tarrier, and the inclusion

Q: You were a Division 1 soccer player.

How did that experience prepare you for your career in leadership?

statement is attached to the school’s values. This framework

“I have been characterized as a natural defender. For the

“I love that every time I see the mission statement, it is

that aligns who we are, what we believe, what we stand for, and how we bring our educational program and experience for students into alignment with these tenants was so attractive to me. How it’s done also sends a message, too.

This framework really painted a clear picture of what could be—all of the building blocks are here for great possibility.

There is a ‘due north’ compass pointing that helps you when things seem out of focus, and that is not always the case at other schools, where you may have to go searching to piece together and understand the organization’s values.”

majority of my soccer career I played in the center back position. That is a position that provides support, that has vision, that has a communicative role to give direction because you can see more of the field than others, and it requires a deep amount of trust to listen to that communication, even though the people who are listening to you can’t see what you can see. The trust is built upon the support, because in that center back position, if someone is unable to act—for whatever reason—you are the one who steps in, you are the one who fills in, you are the one who has the back, you are the one who can see and moves the

Q: Can Upper School families expect to see a return to international travel and other traditions next year?

pieces so people know that they can take risks. They can

“Yes, we are committed to a return to international travel

direction and not only say I’m in a supportive role, but can

this year. Since COVID, all schools have been playing a game

demonstrate it when it counts.”

try because they have the support and the backing of that central defender, and that allows them to trust and buy into that vision. So, that is my natural tendency, to give

of ‘Double Dutch’ in the unknown, responding to crises and meeting people where they were at any given moment, future. But there have been gifts from the pandemic, as

Q: What are you most looking forward to this fall?

well. We have a good sense of what students need in order

“I’m excited to meet students, to know what this campus

to have a sense of connection and belonging. In-person,

feels like when it’s populated, when people are in the midst

experiential experiences for students are priorities. However

of the joy of being together after a break. Many in our

we safely can deliver those—whether as big international

community have longstanding ties to CWA. Seeing what it

trips or experiences on campus—students need to be

means to parents, many of whom are alums, and discovering

together, and we need to give them opportunities to make

what it means to their students...I hear that when parents

things have meaning. Connectivity and relationship building

send their students here, CWA knows their student, and

should be at the core of the academic experience.

has got them. I hear it and it makes me excited, and it’s a

When we think about things in terms of loss, we know

totally different thing to feel it. To interact with families and

nothing will be the same. This has been a lot of change in

see faculty ‘in their shine,’ doing what they do best…I’m

a short amount of time. I’m excited to discover more of

really excited to have an opportunity to witness it and draw

the ‘gifts’ of COVID—the gems we pulled out of this dark

from it. I’m looking forward to this year with optimism and

time—and discover how that strengthens us on our path

positivity, and I can’t wait to get started.”

which doesn’t leave a lot of energy for planning for the

forward. I want to see us make a shift away from ‘what was lost’ toward ‘what is possible.’ That understanding that we are stronger together, not in spite of, but because of the challenges we’ve faced is a gift and we have an opportunity to establish new and meaningful experiences.”

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CWA NEWS

Director Updates

Brennan Dignan

Steve Rudolf

Associate Director of College Counseling

Director of Enrollment Management

Brennan Dignan joined our community this August as Associate Director of College Counseling. Mr. Dignan comes to us most recently from The Harbour School in Hong Kong, where he serves as their College and Career Counselor. Prior to his work at THS, he was the Associate Director of Admissions for Bennington College (VT), the Bridges to College Director for the California State School for the Arts Foundation (CA), and the Assistant Director of Admissions for Cornish School of the Arts (WA). He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Idaho and has completed postgraduate work with the University of Hong Kong in Positive Psychology in Education.

Mr. Dignan loves spending time with his young family, and he wistfully recalls when he had the time to use his degree playing music with local bands. Mr. Dignan was actually born in University Place, having left when he was just five years old. This appointment is a homecoming for him and his family.

After an international search with the prestigious independent school firm Carney Sandoe & Associates, Charles Wright Academy welcomed Steve Rudolf as our new Director of Enrollment Management in July.

Mr. Dignan will join Director of College Counseling Katie Ryan in continuing to grow and enrich CWA’s personalized college counseling program, which successfully serves students with a 35:1 Upper School student-to-counselor ratio. Each year, CWA’s graduates matriculate to competitive colleges and universities at home and abroad. Our 4-year, comprehensive college counseling program will soon grow to include counseling for students and families starting in 8th grade. Welcome, Mr. Dignan.

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T I E S | Summer 2022

Steve comes to CWA most recently from Eastside Catholic in Sammamish, Washington where he served as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, a role he’d held since 2012. In addition, Steve was a longtime coach for basketball, golf, and tennis at Eastside Catholic.

Steve holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and an accounting certificate from the University of Washington, and recently completed his Master of Education in Enrollment Management and Policy from the University of Southern California, graduating from the prestigious program (the only program of its kind in the country) with honors.

Steve is a data-driven leader, an avid reader, and places relationships with students and families at the center of his work.

We are so fortunate and honored to have Steve join the Charles Wright team.

CWA NEWS

“ Jonathan Smith

I am so honored to work alongside and learn from such incredibly talented, visionary, hard-working people. The future is bright at CWA - Go Tarriers!

— Susan Rice, Head of School

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Director of Finance

Jonathan Smith joined CWA as our new Director of Finance in May and has already made a positive impact on operations and the fiscal health of the academy. Jonathan shares an alignment with and connection to the school’s mission, and believes the finance office can and should support programs for students every day in the here and now, as well as always be looking toward the future.

Jonathan comes to us most recently from the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM), where he was the Director of Finance and has also served previously as both the museum’s Controller and Finance Manager. While at TAM, Jonathan gained experience managing their $35 million endowment, and a robust annual operating budget, overseeing many areas of operations, and all aspects of strategic financial planning and day-to-day execution.

A graduate of an independent school (Stevenson School, CA) himself, Jonathan remarked in the interview process about how eager he was to work in an independent school community similar to his own. In particular, he noted that his experience gave him such confidence and preparation to navigate the world. He recalled his experience on a “Sophomore Hike” that Stevenson required of all 10th grade students and how it “changed his life.” Jonathan went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business from the University of Puget Sound, and he is a Certified Public Accountant in Washington state. We are so grateful that Jonathan has joined the Charles Wright community. //

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hank you to all the families, faculty, staff, and friends of Charles Wright Academy who gathered in person and online to generously celebrate CWA at the Annual Spirit Auction on April 30. It was wonderful and exciting to gather again in person as a community for a gorgeous evening full of fun, laughter, stylish sneakers, and—most of all—support of the CWA experience and spirit.

Funds raised this year will directly support program needs at CWA, and help replace our track through this year’s Fund-A-Need. Construction on the new track started this summer, and soon every single Tarrier from our youngest to our seniors can enjoy the immediate benefits of this updated community space.

We extend our deepest gratitude to auction chair Molly Raybuck Chacón and the entire auction leadership committee who delivered an unforgettable event, as well as our lead all-school sponsors: Oral & Facial Surgery Centers of Washington,

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by Colleen Borst,

Titus-Will Automotive Group, and the Charles Wright Academy Board of Trustees

Associate Director of Development

for their commitment to active, joyful learning.

T I E S | Summer 2022

CWA NEWS

Alum of the year Trevor Will ’93, right, helps auctioneer Ian Lindsay pick a raffle winner.

The Inspirational Faculty Award was presented to Dr. David Adams (center) by (l-r) Rebecca Niazi, Stacie Nemetz, and Head of School Susan Rice.

Spirit Auction partiers (back row, l-r) Cassandra Will, Wendy Cochran, Loubna Pla, Kelley Turner, (front row, l-r) Nicole Stice, Julie Brink, Jen Smith, Katie Sabo, and Rebecca Niazi.

Jeannine Mackie, Jean Kerrick, Joelene Werden, and Victoria Stairs.

Sarah and Jae Han celebrate their recordbreaking, winning bid to “Name the Loop.”

Cheers to celebrating in person again!

Dr. Guillermo Chacón and Auction Chair Molly Raybuck Chacón with Hailey and Christian Mattson.

Angelina Marra Ojima, DeMeSHee Pye, and Tamara Horn.

All-School Sponsorship Show your green and white all year long!

Thank you to our 2021-22 sponsors:

By signing on as a sponsor or an advertiser, you play a leadership role in helping CWA continue its mission to promote the highest standards by providing programs and services to our students. Partner with us today, and learn how we can work together to promote your business while you make a significant difference in the lives of our students.

There are several ways your company can participate in supporting CWA. All include great promotional benefits while making a direct and immediate impact for our students.

Please contact Director of Development and Communications Laura Rose at 253-620-8315 or lrose@charleswright.org, or visit charleswright.org/sponsorship to get started!

charleswright.org/sponsorship

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T I E S | Summer 2022

Tarriers Give!

by Colleen Borst Associate Director of Development

A HUGE thank you to the current families, alumni, families of alumni, grandparents, friends, and CWA’s generous Board of Trustees who went ALL IN for CWA this year during our

Annual Fund drive!

This year, Annual Fund gifts from CWA community members like you helped us realize reimagined possibilities for CWA! The Beginning School (ages 3-5) is expanding. Active, joyful learning was palpable in the Lower School as students went on field trips across our state and found fun and friendship in clubs and other enrichment opportunities.

Your gifts to the Annual Fund also helped support Middle School grade-level activities such as Beach Hike, Camp Seymour, the “egg drop,” food truck designs, and more.

The Annual Fund helps support the Upper School with programs like a reenvisioned Winterim, support for our athletes as they play their hearts out and head to state, and support the ability to perform theater, choral, and orchestral shows to in-person audiences.

With the 2021-22 school year behind us, the Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty have big plans for the future. From arts to athletics, financial aid to faculty compensation, a gift to CWA’s Annual Fund is always the best way to ensure active, joyful learning for students today and tomorrow.

If you would like to get a head start and make your 2023 gift, please visit

charleswright.org/give or contact Associate Director of Development, Colleen Borst, at 253-620-8366 or cborst@charleswright.org.

Thank you for helping ensure joyful, active learning for years to come.

When we invest in our students, school, and mission, we thrive!

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Works by Artist in Residence Angela Gilmore were on display.

Henry Connors ’35 and fellow Tarriers explored the ceramics studios.

Artworks from every division were on display in the Upper School.

art fe

Anna DiPietrantonio ’22 presented her work with other seniors during the advanced art show.

Andrew Werden ’25 painted a custom mural on the windows of the John Long Classroom

Zoe Nemetz ’22 helps with festival t-shirt silkscreening.

to celebrate the all-school Art Festival on April 28. Several doors and walls of the Sam and Nathalie Brown Visual Arts Center also received colorful updates ahead of the spring event­—an expansion of the beloved C’DAT festival reimagined to welcome all CWA families back to campus.

Levi Goldberg ’22 presented his advanced ceramics show with fellow seniors.

estival

Work That Matters

Charles Wright has partnered with PBLWorks, the international leader in designing rigorous, Gold-Standard project-based learning experiences

by Joe Romano Director of Innovation

single light focuses the audience’s attention on a table set at the center of the Donn Laughlin Theater. A senior lays out their notes, shifts in their seat, and prepares to defend a yearlong quest for knowledge in front of faculty, families, and peers. Over the next 30 minutes, they field questions about the decisions, challenges, and results they discovered through their research in our Humanities Capstone and Science Research courses. The audience leaves inspired by how confidently and cogently these scholars speak about their learning journey, and the nuance and complexity they encountered throughout their year’s work.

Coached by expert faculty such as Dr. Cramer and Mr. Kangas, students develop studies ranging from “Examining the Impact of CaCl2 & MgCl2 Concentrations on Double Transformation Efficiency in E. coli” to “Contacting the Spiritual Past: How 17th and 18th Century Spiritualism Influenced Feminism Throughout America.” These topics are highly meaningful, both to the students who selected them and to the wider community of scholarship in which our students engage. The results are also stunning, both in the nuance and complexity our students navigate, as well as how nimbly and confidently students respond to questions about their year’s work. As students stand in front of a community and present all that they have immersed themselves in over many months, they reveal how much our learners thrive under the rigor of the Charles Wright experience.

Ultimately, this is work that matters. To the learners we cultivate and celebrate, as well as to the communities that are continually provoked and delighted by what our students set their learning at the service of accomplishing. Each year, we bear witness to the degree our seniors have flourished in Charles Wright’s Portrait of a Tarrier (the qualities we nurture and challenge students to develop during each step of the learning journey, from Beginning School to Upper School). Our community’s

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T I E S | Summer 2022

Seniors Reed Kregenow, Cedar Olsen, and Jaden Unruh presented their research on, “SweptVolume Displays and Economical Holographic Technology.”

Gold Standard Project Based Learning

© Buck Institute for Education

quality of our Thinkers, Innovators, Communicators, Collaborators, Explorers, and Stewards is phenomenal. They thrive in the capstone experiences described above, and they thrive in our Senior Spark projects, where students develop an array of impact projects, whether composing original film scores or performing complete energy-efficiency audits of our campus. They’re intensely evident in the incredible art exhibitions, ensemble concert performances, and theatrical productions we offer throughout each school year.

While the senior year at Charles Wright represents the apex of work that matters to our community, every grade level offers experiences that epitomize Charles Wright’s mission to inspire active, joyful learning. First graders study nutrition, food justice, and plant cultivation as a means to design a yearly farmer’s market. Sixth graders showcase emerging skills as professional photographers and essayists as they study community and identity through literature and social studies. Eighth graders learn to create logarithms and tables to calculate the potential return on investment–and the impact on carbon emissions–of transitioning from a gas-powered vehicle to an electrified car. Each grade prepares learners for the academic demands they will face in the future. And at every step of the Charles Wright learner journey, we challenge our students to find ways they can apply their learning in meaningful ways.

Hands-on, experiential learning has been a part of the fabric of a CWA education for decades. To deepen our ability to design active, joyful learning experiences, Charles Wright has partnered with PBLWorks, the international leader in designing rigorous, Gold-Standard project-based learning experiences that develop critical academic knowledge and skill alongside the 21st century learning skills represented in our Portrait of a Tarrier. Project-Based Learning is a teaching method in which students engage in rigorous college-prep academics by actively applying their emerging knowledge to real-world and personally-meaningful projects.

This may look like world language students creating informational brochures for migrant workers to help them navigate local services available to them. Or, this may look like mathematics students applying geometric modeling to redesign a product’s packaging to reduce the amount of waste produced in shipping.

Gold Standard Project-Based Learning is characterized by integrating rigorous academic learning standards into the following design elements:

•

•

•

• •

• •

A CHALLENGING PROBLEM OR QUESTION that ignites a learner’s engagement in the learning, and how they might use this learning to impact their community.

SUSTAINED INQUIRY encourages students to encounter the nuance and depth of the problem, as well as deepen the academic skill and knowledge they are developing throughout the project.

AUTHENTICITY, where learners complete work that matters and also encounter the tools and techniques of the professionals who take on similar questions and problems.

STUDENT VOICE & CHOICE, where students can develop a personally meaningful direction for the learning.

REFLECTION is when students and educators repeatedly assess their academic growth as well as their personal development, throughout the learning experience.

CRITIQUE & REVISION, to cultivate an ethic of excellence and craftsmanship among students.

A PUBLIC PRODUCT, shares the impact of the learning well beyond the walls of a classroom or school building, impacting broader communities with the answers to the questions or problems that guide the project experience.

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Each of these elements combines to develop abilities in critically important areas of academics while they engage in personally meaningful learning experiences that also develop 21st century skills and impact their wider communities. Charles Wright’s partnership with PBLWorks will nurture and challenge our curriculum to build on our best-in-class experiential education programming, providing all students the opportunity to take on work that matters to themselves, their communities, and the futures they might encounter.

Project based learning is transformational: students have repeated opportunities to apply their learning to the real-world. By taking on projects and challenges that ask them to embody the artist, designer, scholar, engineer, policy analyst, activist, financial planner, or any number of pursuits they might encounter in their time beyond Charles Wright, our students have handson experiences that develop their sense of purpose and personal possibility alongside their deep and rigorous academic abilities.

Academic Achievement in Project Based Learning A dominant body of research also proves the efficacy of a project based learning approach to developing the academic skills they need in the near future. In 2021, researchers at the University of Southern California found an 8% increase in the pass rate in project based versions of Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Advanced Placement Environmental Science for the 3,600 students involved in the study. Likewise, a Michigan State study on project based learning in the elementary science classroom found an 8% increase in science assessments for third graders, regardless of socioeconomic status or reading level. PBLWorks continues to partner with organizations like the College Board and Advanced Placement to develop a curriculum that serves both rigorous academic outcomes and the broad capacities needed for learners to thrive in the 21st century.

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Edith Ackerman, an education researcher who spent the bulk of her career with the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, once offered that… “Learning is less about acquiring or transmitting knowledge than it is about collectively designing a world that is worth living in.”

When we create experiences for our kindergarten artists to design their own variety of apples based on research into pomology, when we ask Middle School artists to develop amazing pieces of wearable art inspired by extensive interviews with clients, when we challenge Upper School scientists to develop arsenic sensors to better monitor water quality in the South Sound, or when we ask language learners to navigate through communities that rely on their target language, we invite learners into rigorous experiences that prepare them their academic futures while also helping them develop the confidence to use that learning to shape a world worth living in.

The experiences above are a part of a rich legacy of learning Tarriers encounter. Our work with projectbased learning will further enrich the learning we offer our Thinkers, Communicators, Collaborators, Explorers, Innovators, and Stewards at every stage in the learner journey we offer at Charles Wright.

What does Project Based Learning look like at CWA?

Gabrielle Plastrik, a member of our 8th Grade faculty, invited learners to investigate the origins of hate in her Humanities course, a project that culminated in students engaging in the Stronger Than Hate Challenge, where they composed original works that display how communities can become stronger than hate. Students engaged with several community partners such as Tacoma’s The Grand Cinema, as they developed a range

Middle School

of works, including poems, podcasts, menus, and visual displays. In their reflection on the year, many students noted their time with Kwabi Amoah-Forson, founder of Tacoma’s Peace Bus Movement, as the most transformational experience of their time at Charles Wright.

Lower School

Upper School Under the guidance of faculty

Beginning School

members Ryan Johnson and

Each year, CWA 5th Graders study the

Christine Jones, 9th Grade Biology

systems, structures, and processes of

students strive to communicate

the United States Government. This

For several weeks, Junior

the value of green public spaces to

year, educators Jeremy Clark and Janne

Kindergartners deepened their

a community by investigating and

Alfano opened this learning experience

passion and knowledge for

showcasing the ecosystem factors

by challenging their group to design

dinosaurs by approaching the

in 10mx10m plots of land in the

a Lower School Student Council,

topic from the professional lens of

backwoods of Charles Wright and

setting their study of governance and

a paleontologist. With guidance

Kobayashi Park. Pairs of students

the political process at the service

from Catherine Grider and Kara

sampled and documented abiotic

of the community of students. They

Gjesdal, some of CWA’s youngest

soil, microfauna, macrofauna, fungi,

researched the three branches of

scientists developed research

proteins, and plant identification,

government, parliamentary procedure,

questions, analyzed fossils, and

and they produced infographics of

and the passage of bills and resolutions.

modeled the skeletal structures of

their findings to offer guidance on

They spoke with local politicians and

their favorite prehistoric lizard. The

land use and various opportunities

shadowed elected representatives in

unit culminated with a visit with a

and threats to facilitating rich

the Upper School student government,

paleontologist who left surprised

environmental conditions.

using their emerging content

at the depth of knowledge and

knowledge on civics and governance to

questions he was challenged

draft and ratify a proposal for a Lower

to respond to from this crew of

School Student Council, which will

curious young scientists.

serve as a platform for continued and sustained study of the political process in the Lower School for years to come.

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Work That Matters

Welcome to the Atelier

Preschool returns to its roots as Beginning School and expands to offer the first Atelier learning space in the South Sound

by Rixa Evershed, Beginning School Director

hen a child walks into one of our early childhood spaces, they walk into a world of inquiry, exploration, risk-taking, adventure, creativity, and community. They see themselves and their learning reflected back at them in books, self-portraits, and learning documentation. It is a place of authentic interaction, relationships, and community. Each child knows, “I belong here.”

With the start of the 2022-23 school year, our early childhood programming is expanding. We will be able to offer the same amazing sense of belonging and community to more children living in the South Sound. With a nod to Charles Wright tradition, our newest division will be called “Beginning School.”

Four classrooms serving ages 3-5 will open in August. Our 3s rooms will be called Spruce and Madrona and our 4s, Maple and Red Cedar. Long time faculty member Catherine Grider, will be joined by Katie Beck to respectively lead both 4s classrooms, and Kara Gjesdal and Anna Watts will each have a room of 3s. The expansion will also give us the opportunity to include an Atelier studio for our youngest learners. Our Atelierista leading that work will be Avery Wittstruck, who joined us in 2021 as our lead Preschool teacher.

An atelier is a learning space. Looking in, the observer will notice art, science, music, language, and technology happening. It is a place of research, invention, and empathy expressed through a number of symbolic languages. The “languages” of a child refer to how they communicate and emphasizes the importance of providing children with many different ways to share their thinking about the world around them. The languages also represent the infinite amount of potential each child naturally has and each child’s individual view and understanding of their community. Our atelier will be a shared environment, in which children will engage with varied materials in ways

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designed to provoke creativity and discovery. Provocations to learn usually take the form of project based learning experiences or play based learning experiences. They are closely linked to classroom learning and curricular outcomes. Atelier experiences are also deeply tied to child voice allowing each child agency to follow their own curiosity while in a space of co-learning with educators.

Forest time will be an integral part of our youngest Tarriers’ time in Beginning School. Classroom communities take advantage of our beautiful campus with its built in learning lab of acres of old growth forest, a seasonal creek, and an entire ecosystem in which to explore, move, design, build, inquire, and promote collaboration. Young voices can be heard sharing stories of what they observe and wonders they have. A child’s imagination guides them through amazing play scenarios where themes related to real life, stories that they have heard and problems that need to be solved are acted out in ways that allow children a deeper understanding of the world around them.

There is an authentic flow between the Atelier, the forest, and the classroom. A through thread exists as children follow their curiosity to gain a deeper understanding of their community and the world around them. Faculty engage in their own collaboration so that the learning experiences they facilitate give opportunities to the children to broaden their world view. Children learn best when they are in spaces that support them as fully capable humans. Faculty respond to this raw curiosity by creating opportunities for children to engage in units of inquiry that honor the wonder that children have expressed. It is an introduction to the project based learning that continues throughout their journey at CWA. Charles Wright Academy Beginning School offers our youngest Tarriers a place of belonging, acceptance, authenticity, community, opportunities for growth, and active, joyful learning.

Evelyn Osborne ’36.

Photo by Brian Lee.

Upper Schoolers explored 19 local experiences—from Al Fresco art in Port Townsend to a Leavenworth Yoga retreat—for a “COVID-friendlier” Winterim this June.

“Build Your Own Dulcimer” 24

T I E S | Summer 2022

WINTERIM (IN JUNE)

“A Mountain Yoga Retreat”

“Al Fresco”

Goldman Sachs is proud to support Charles Wright Academy

© 2022 Goldman Sachs. All rights reserved.

CORT. Behind the moments.

SEATING & TABLES | DINING & SERVING LINENS & ACCESSORIES TENTS & DÉCOR | FLOORING & STAGING

“Mountain Bike Mania”

Call 877-939-RENT or visit cortpartyrental.com www.amandakphotoart.com | Kaleb Norman James Design

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Commencement

The 52 members of the Class of 2022 graduated on Saturday, June 11, in an outdoor commencement ceremony on the Upper School lawn. Families, friends, faculty, staff, and Trustees celebrated the accomplishments of this talented and caring group of graduates.

Welcome, newest Tarrier alumni!

June 11

MILESTONES 2022 Zoha Ahmad ∆ Jonah Bernard Ben Brink ∆ Emily Chen Wei (David) Dai Anna DiPietrantonio Tricia Estrada ∆ Liam Flaskerud Levi Goldberg Andersen Han ∆ Reed Kregenow Caroline Lee Jung (Paulina) Lee Megan Leith Yuris Luo Ryan Markert Carys Maynard Grace Maynard Alie McDougall ∆ Lena McKee Jack McKinley Annie Mebust Ling (Bruce) Mei Laylani Mulligan Sam Nagaich Natasha Nderitu Zoe Nemetz Andy Noh ∆ Dara Ogunbinu-Peters Cedar Olsen Caity Origi Yuxiao (Judy) Pan Tressa Paulson Martin Petersen ∆ Kate Piasecki ∆ Reece Poplawski Jaden Ritscher Chris Rosenquist Zoha Ahmad and Alie McDougall

Yixuan (Lucas) Yang, Jinghan (Sam) Zhu, and Wei (David) Dai

Matthew Saffari Avery Sandbeck William Schmid Elle Turner Jaden Unruh ∆ Emersyn Walker Wushuang (George) Xia Zhengke (Wilbur) Xie Chenming (Jerry) Yan Kaicheng (Kris) Yang Muxuan (Mars) Yang Yixuan (Lucas) Yang Xiaochuan (Andy) Zhou ∆ Jinghan (Sam) Zhu ∆ Cum Laude CHARLESWRIGHT.ORG

Megan Leith and Chris Rosenquist

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FACULTY SPEAKER Patti Crouch-Cook

Upper School English Teacher

CLASS SPEAKERS Ben Brink Megan Leith William Schmid

HEAD OF SCHOOL AWARDS RECIPIENTS

Class Speaker Ben Brink

Bradshaw Award

Left to right: Cedar Olsen, Sam Nagaich, Levi Goldberg, Andersen Han, Reece Poplawski, and Emersyn Walker

Cedar Olsen

Haertl Award Jaden Unruh

Havens Award Alie McDougall

Sanford Award Zoha Ahmad

Minnerly Award Anna DiPietrantonio

Camner Award Tricia Estrada

SAM & NATHALIE BROWN AWARD RECIPIENT

Class Speaker Megan Leith with her mother, Kendall (McGuire) Leith ’90

Ben Brink

NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS Tricia Estrada Reed Kregenow Andy Noh

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR Andy Noh

WASHINGTON STATE HONORS AWARD RECIPIENTS Zoha Ahmad Jonah Bernard Ben Brink Tricia Estrada Alie McDougall Andy Noh Martin Petersen Kate Piasecki Jaden Unruh Xiaochuan (Andy) Zhou

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Class Speaker William Schmid

Judy Pan, Natasha Nderitu, and Laylani Mulligan

Class Speaker Megan Leith

Carys Maynard

MILESTONES 2022 SANDRA OVERMIRE MINNERLY AWARD Andy Noh

SENIOR ENGLISH AWARD Tricia Estrada Ben Brink

SENIOR BOOK AWARD Matthew Saffari and Dr. David Adams

Martin Petersen Kate Piasecki

RICHARD NEUNHERZ HISTORY AWARD Andy Noh

DOROTHY CREPIN MATH AWARD Jaden Unruh

LEIGH VANETTEN SCIENCE AWARD Xiaochuan (Andy) Zhou

ROBERT J. CREPIN PHYSICS AWARD Jinliang (Andy) Li

WORLD LANGUAGE AWARDS Alie McDougall Zhengke (Wilbur) Xie Kate Piasecki

FINE ARTS AWARDS Yuris Luo Sage Mansfield

Jonah Bernard, Zoha Ahmad, and Zoe Nemetz

VINCENT PETERSEN MUSIC AWARDS Jaden Ritscher Tricia Estrada Tressa Paulson

PERFORMING ARTS AWARD Annie Mebust

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Emersyn Walker, Lena McKee, and Jaden Unruh

Mars Yang, Zhengke (Wilbur) Xie, Ling (Bruce) Mei, and Annie Mebust

MILESTONES 2022

2022 Yazi Scholar Graduates

SENIOR STEWARDSHIP AWARD Zoe Nemetz

CHUCK WIGHT ATHLETIC AWARDS Alie McDougall Kate Piasecki Ben Brink Liam Flaskerud

Laylani Mulligan

Dara Ogunbinu-Peters

The Carol Milgard Endowment for Community Service, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound (BGCSPS), affords the full financial need of two newly enrolling eighth-grade students at CWA. This award is known as the “Yazi Scholarship,” and the awardees are our “Yazi Scholars.” Every year, these scholars—chosen for their leadership in academics, the arts, athletics, and their communities—gain access to a CWA education for a brighter future, all because of the generosity of Carol B. Milgard.

The Yazi Scholarship was named in honor of Gary “Yazi” Yazwa, former president and chief executive officer of the BGCSPS, whom Carol B. Milgard admired for his work with youth and the community. Congratulations, Laylani and Dara!

Levi Goldberg

BOOSTER CLUB ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Ben Brink Dara Ogunbinu-Peters Muxuan (Mars) Yang Emersyn Walker

BILL WHITE MOST OUTSTANDING ATHLETE AWARDS Dara Ogunbinu-Peters Emersyn Walker

CHARLES WRIGHT PRINCIPAL’S SCHOLARS AWARDS Megan Leith Grace Maynard

PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT Liam Flaskerud Jonah Bernard Ben Brink Tricia Estrada Alie McDougall Andy Noh Martin Petersen Kate Piasecki Jaden Unruh Xiaochuan (Andy) Zhou

Once a Tarrier, Always a Tarrier!

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Dara OgunbinuPeters and family

Jung (Paulina) Lee

52% of The Class of 2022 will matriculate to colleges that are in Barron’s “Most Competitive” category.

Read more at

ties.charleswright.org

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T I E S | Summer 2022 Ryan Markert and family

MILESTONES 2022

Members of the Class of 2022 were accepted to the following colleges and universities: Arizona State University

Iowa State University

Seattle University

University of Hawaii at Manoa

ArtCenter College of Design

James Madison University

Smith College

Baylor University

Johns Hopkins University

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Bentley University

Kennesaw State University

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Berklee College of Music Boston College

Knox College Lafayette College

Stanford University

Boston University

Lawrence University

Bowdoin College

Loyola Marymount University

California College of the Arts

Loyola University Chicago

California Lutheran University

Manhattan College

California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo

Mercer University

California Polytechnic, Pomona

Montana State University

Carnegie Mellon University Carroll College

Michigan State University New York University

University of Massachusetts, Boston

Southern Methodist University

University of Michigan University of Minnesota

Syracuse University

University of New Hampshire

Tacoma Community College

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Texas Christian University The College of William and Mary

University of North Dakota University of Oklahoma

The Ohio State University The University of Montana The University of Texas at Austin Trinity University University of Arizona

Northern Arizona University

University of British Columbia

Central Washington University

University of California, Berkeley

Chapman University

Old Dominion University

University of California, Davis

Clark University

Oregon State University

University of California, Irvine

College for Creative Studies

Pacific Lutheran University

Connecticut College

Pennsylvania State University

University of California, Los Angeles

Cornell University

Pratt Institute

Dickinson College

Providence College

Drexel University

Purdue University

Eastern Washington University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Fordham University George Mason University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia State University Gonzaga University Grand Canyon University Hawaii Pacific University Hollins University Indiana University, Bloomington

Saint Edward’s University Saint Martin’s University Saint Mary’s College of California San Diego State University Santa Clara University Sarah Lawrence College School of the Art Institute of Chicago Seattle Pacific University

University of Pittsburgh University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of San Diego University of Southern California

University of California, Riverside University of California, San Diego

University of Utah University of Virginia University of Washington, Bothell University of Washington, Seattle

University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Chicago

University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown

Northeastern University

Case Western Reserve University

University of Oregon

University of Washington, Tacoma Campus University of Wisconsin, Madison

University of Cincinnati

Washington State University

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Western Washington University Whitman College

University of Colorado, Boulder

Whittier College

University of Connecticut University of Denver University of Florida University of Hawaii at Hilo

Bolded names indicate matriculation

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33

MILESTONES 2022

Kindergarten Counsel

The Class of 2034 shares sage advice­ for the Class of 2022 as they get ready to leave home for college.

Watch all of the kindergarten advice: charleswright.org/advice

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MILESTONES 2022

8TH

GRADE CELEBRATION Carson Hodge

A bit of rain and a mid-event relocation couldn’t stop the Class of 2026 from celebrating the culmination of their Middle School careers on June 15. The afternoon began with the much-anticipated Wearable Art Show showcasing innovative costumes inspired by their model muses, followed by individual student sharing and the presentation of certificates.

ON TO UPPER SCHOOL!

Carson Holler, Mason Theo, and Cayden Desjardins

Madeline Raney

Daniel Arshan Aref

Nathan Wesley Hilmer

Jeremy Kariuki Njonge

Ayden Robert Bailey

Carson Thomas Hodge

Nile Obie-Akil Ondo-Boxill

Joanna Nguyen Chase

Carson Louis Holler

Hailey Rose Piasecki

Tiancheng (James) Chu

Emilee Marinda Hood

Landen Joseph Poplawski

Saanvi Hrishikesh Churi

Catherine Ruth Jacobsen

Madeline Elizabeth Raney

Finnegan Everett Alexander Conway

Fisher Thomas Johannes

Simran Ava Rohila

Ethan Brian Cutler Cayden Lee Desjardins Andrew Jacob Dobler Brendan Hsin-Gian Ee Alyssa Madeline Fisher Kerr Jackson Forier Madison Jo Fournier

Rebecca Kim

Lily Cruz Sarroza

Solomon Sungkyun Kim

Avery Marin Satterlee

Tyler Kim

Aine Patricia Sullivan

Camdyn Linnea Lovejoy

Mason Theo

Zane Joseph Mason

Piper Jorie Weist

Samuel Charles Metzgar

Matthew Whitehead, Jr.

Gabriela Katherine Moreno-Sills

Zheyun (James) Zhang

Dante Wanjohi Nderitu

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T I E S | Summer 2022

Charles Yuliang Zhao

Dante Nderitu and Tamiya Mickelson

Joe Romano and Brendan Ee

DuChante Davis with Zane Mason and Arshan Aref

Avery Satterllee, Nikki FastLee, and Caty Jacobsen

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5TH GRADE Moves On 38

Henry Barcus

Madisen Han

Ashlyn Podbilski

Molly Beatte

Taylor Hill

Mehake’ Ganga Sidhu

Tobias Case

Quinn Kaplan

Henry Soles

Elizabeth Demuth

Cole Lamberton

Drew Stice

Khang Do

Ainsley Lawson

Ashley SweetDavis

Amelia Evans

Colin Lee

Reet Thakur

Arthur Evenson

Sadie Mackie

Lylly Veler

Madelyn Finkel

John Marley

Finn Weist

Maya Ghimire

Henry Michael

Theodore Woolley

Henry Goodwin

Luka Morrison

Yuming Xie

Zoie Grant

Emilio Ngo

Biniam Yimam

Brooklynn Guse

Alec Pla

Madison Young

T I E S | Summer 2022

The Class of 2029 celebrated the culmination of their Lower School years on June 16.

The traditional presentation of leis and certificates was accompanied by joyous renditions of “Portrait of a Tarrier,” an original composition by our fifth grade scholars, as well as other beautiful performances marking the special occasion.

WELCOME TO MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Archie Evenson, Toby Case, and Finn Weist

John Marley, Zoie Grant, and Alec Pla

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2022 Faculty & INSPIRATIONAL FACULTY AWARD Presented to

Dr. David Adams Upper School History Teacher and History Department Chair CWA Faculty Member Since 1998

E

ach year the Family Association solicits nominations from students, families, alumni, and faculty for an award to acknowledge the unique qualities of an individual teacher who inspires: students to learn, families to cherish their child’s experience, alumni to reflect on their CWA days, and faculty to continue to maintain their high standards both in and out of the classroom.

Motivating. Hardworking. Inspiring. Caring. Positive. These are just a handful of words that describe the educator receiving the Inspirational Faculty Award this year.

Described as a lifelong fixture in students’ lives, this faculty member is the embodiment of compassion and excellence. The student experience he provides extends beyond the school day, beyond the classroom, and beyond the school year. He has presented diplomas to countless CWA graduates, maintaining connections to CWA alumni as members of the CWA family.

One of his colleagues wrote, “He is the first to volunteer to cover a class or to stand outside checking cars or doing parking lot duty when someone needs help. He has served on numerous committees, including search committees, and has a warm, welcoming demeanor to new faculty. He’s inspiring to me, and I hope one day to be able to

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T I E S | Summer 2022

say that I’ve made an impact even close to the one he has made on students, faculty, staff, and families.”

One recent grad said, “He does an incredible job at boosting everyone’s confidence. For example, my first season I was put into a game toward the end and I told him that I didn’t see any point in it. However, he hyped me up, told me that I would do great, and once I got out there I scored for the first time that season. Without his support, I don’t think I would have found the motivation and confidence to score that goal.

This is just one example of the many ways he encourages his students.”

Several members of senior leadership mentioned his steadfast leadership and mentorship for others. Never one to be in the spotlight, he is often underrecognized, but believes in the importance of putting students at the center, and being united as a community.

He is a Tarrier through and through, exemplifying the Tarrier values that we hope for all who attend CWA. Excellence, compassion, integrity, respect, perseverance; he checks all the boxes.

This is why the Charles Wright Academy Family Association awards the 2022 Inspirational Faculty Award to Dr. David Adams.

MILESTONES 2022

Staff Awards CHRISTOPHER STEELE AWARD

for Outstanding Service by a Staff Member

Presented to

Matt Charlton Grounds Manager CWA Staff Member Since 2007

C

hristopher Steele graduated from Charles Wright Academy in 1982. As a student, he threw himself into all Charles Wright had to offer. He played soccer, took an active part in drama productions, and was a talented visual art student. He had a particular love for the outdoors, and those who went on trips with Chris Steele recall his passionate enthusiasm for hiking and climbing. After a long fight with cancer, Steele passed away in 2002. In his memory, his family and friends established an annual award to honor a Charles Wright staff member who has made an outstanding contribution to the school and its students and faculty.

Last year, Christopher Hoppin nominated Matt and said, “Matt is incredibly accommodating, seeks out needs before I even think about asking, and always has a smile on his face. He is kind, loyal, and cares deeply about CWA and our community. He is someone I look forward to seeing each day!”

Matt ensures each Tarrier takes great pride in their school, and that is an outstanding contribution to our students and faculty.

We are delighted to present the 2022 Christopher Steele award to Matt Charlton.

CWA’s 107-acre campus sets the school apart from every other school in a BIG way. Our founders had such foresight to dream about and realize a school campus that could provide so many opportunities for hands-on, experiential learning right outside the school building.

Not only is it important for the property to be maintained well for the safety and well-being of our students and employees, but it’s also imperative for the sake of our program. We all take great pride in the beauty of our campus.

The campus is our first impression to the community, and many of you have seen jaws drop at the beauty and magnitude of it. But so many underestimate just what it takes to keep our campus looking so glorious.

Matt Charlton understands all too well just what it takes. This year he was promoted to Grounds Manager to lead our grounds maintenance program, including oversight of our new relationship with Brightview Landscaping. The campus looks incredible, and it is in large part because of Matt’s commitment to excellence, initiative to try new things, and care for this community.

Jon Flies said in his nomination, “Matt is willing to help you with any project and he goes above and beyond to make the campus beautiful.

His dedication to the school, his sincerity, and his good-natured demeanor make him an excellent nominee for the award.”

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ATHLETICS

Bleed Green Tarriers finally got a chance to compete in normal athletic seasons during the 2021-22 school year, and walked away with several championship titles

by Tyler Francis, Athletic Director and Kate Rue, Assistant Athletic Director

t was great getting our sports teams competing in their normal seasons again as so much was modified the past couple of years. Sports brought some much needed normalcy to our student-athletes’ lives, and we were able to send teams to compete at District and State tournaments again after not having these competitions since the winter season of 2019.

Additionally, this past year and over the 2022 summer, many of our athletic facilities have received much-needed updates: branding in both gyms; freshly painted common areas; painted and carpeted athletic offices; a refinished Wight Gym court, sky lights in the Dome locker rooms; a resurfaced running track (thanks to so many of you who donated to the auction’s Fund-A-Need); and many more athletic facility improvements coming in the near future. We hope you’ll stop by campus this fall to check out our Tarriers and all of the updates!

STATE Champion

The girls tennis team won the League and District Championship and also finished 2nd at State. Sophie Buttorff ’24 (right) is the State singles champion, while sisters Nawal ’24 and Zoha Ahmad ’22 (center) played well at State in doubles. Maggie Mulder (left) was named a Nisqually League Coach of the Year.

STATE Champion Caption.

LEAGUE & DISTRICT Champions

Led by coach Nick Bivins, the CWA girls golf team took 2nd place at State and Emersyn Walker ’22 (center) is the 1A State Champion! This is Emersyn’s second time winning State; she won her freshman year, the last year we competed due to COVID restrictions. Emily Chen ’22 (left) also played very well and tied for 5th.

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T I E S | Summer 2022

Five CWA athletes, including Cameron Afrasiabi ’23 in the 100 meters, won both League and District championship titles.

Sports Highlights Follow all the action by liking

CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY on Facebook

Team Highlights

ATHLETICS

CWA WIAA 2021-22

Megan Leith ’22 (#17) is one of many Tarrier athletes who received Nisqually All-League honors last year.

• The GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM advanced to the State Tournament for the 7th year in a row.

• The GIRLS GOLF TEAM won the League and District Championship and also finished 2nd at the State Tournament.

• The GIRLS TENNIS TEAM won the League and District Championship and also finished 2nd at the State Tournament.

Individual State Champions • EMERSYN WALKER ’22 - Girls Golf State Champion • SOPHIE BUTTORFF ’24 - Girls Tennis State Champion

Individual District 3 Champions

Nisqually

ALL-LEAGUE

•E MERSYN WALKER ’22 Girls Golf District 3 Champion •S OPHIE BUTTORFF ’24 Girls Tennis District 3 Champion • SKY COCHRAN ’24 Discus District 3 Champion • TAVIAN BOWEN-MOORE ’23 High Jump District 3 Champion • CAMERON AFRASIABI ’23 100 Meters District 3 Champion

Individual Nisqually League Champions •E MERSYN WALKER ’22 Girls Golf Nisqually Champion •S OPHIE BUTTORFF ’24 Girls Tennis Nisqually Champion • SKY COCHRAN ’24 Discus Nisqually Champion • TAVIAN BOWEN-MOORE ’23 High Jump Nisqually Champion • CAMERON AFRASIABI ’23 100 Meters Nisqually Champion

Nisqually League “Coach of the Year” • RODNEY KALALAU - Volleyball • MAGGIE MULDER - Girls Tennis

Nisqually League Sportsmanship Awards

7th time at

STATE

• BOYS BASKETBALL • GIRLS GOLF • BOYS TRACK & FIELD

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43

ATHLETICS

Nisqually All-League

Tacoma Athletic Commission Awards

First Team

•E MERSYN WALKER ’22 Tom Names Inspirational Award Scholarship

• MEGAN LEITH ’22

Girls Soccer

• PARTH JAIN ’23

Boys Tennis

• KATE PIASECKI ’22

Volleyball

• DYLAN MANNING ’24

Cross-Country

•E MERSYN WALKER ’22

Girls Basketball

• WILL TURNER ’24

Boys Golf

• NOLAN ROBERTS ’24

Boys Golf

•E MERSYN WALKER ’22

Girls Golf

• EMILY CHEN ’22

Girls Golf

• SOPHIE BUTTORFF ’24

Girls Tennis

• NAWAL AHMAD ’24

Girls Tennis

• ZOHA AHMAD ’22

Girls Tennis

• SKY COCHRAN ’24

Track & Field

• CAMERON AFRASIABI ’23

Track & Field

•E MERSYN WALKER ’22 Girls Golf Athlete of the Year •S OPHIE BUTTORFF ’24 Girls Tennis Athlete of the Year

The Cheney Scholarship Award • ALISON MCDOUGALL ’22

National Football Foundation Scholarship (Pierce County Branch) • BEN BRINK ’22 • DARA OGUNBINU-PETERS ’22

• TAVIAN BOWEN-MOORE ’23 Track & Field

Second Team •E MERSYN WALKER ’22

Volleyball

• EMMA WANG ’23

Volleyball

• NATALIE PIASECKI ’24

Volleyball

• JACK SCLAIR ’24

Cross-Country

• MARS YANG ’22

Cross-Country

• BENJAMIN PARRISH ’24

Boys Basketball

• JEFFREY STICE ’24

Baseball

• ZOE NEMETZ ’22

Girls Tennis

• LIAM FLASKERUD ’22

Boys Soccer

Honorable Mention • REECE POPLAWSKI ’22

Girls Soccer

• ALISON MCDOUGALL ’22

Volleyball

• TAVIAN BOWEN-MOORE ’23 Boys Basketball • BENJAMIN PARRISH ’24

Boys Soccer

• MATTHEW SAFFARI ’22

Boys Soccer

For team schedules, please visit charleswright.org/calendars

SPORTSMANSHIP Awards

The boys basketball team, including Ben Brink ’22 and Benjamin Parish ’24 above, joined the girls golf and boys track and field teams as recipients of Nisqually League Sportsmanship Awards.

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Charles Wright Academy thanks the 2021-2022 Board of Trustees for their generous all-school sponsorship.

Toby Murray III ’71, Chair Mark Hood, Vice Chair Adam Blakney ’00, Secretary Scott Limoli, Treasurer Drew Bamford ’91

Nancy Schauer

Roger J. Bass

Liz Snyder

Johnny Fisher

Nicole Stice

David Hirschberg ’80

Shan Vipond

Rita Herrera Irvin

Sarah Weyerhaeuser

Sue Mayer

Trevor Will ’93

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ALUMNI

Greetings from the Alumni Office

by Laura Rose Director of Development and Communications

his June we welcomed the Class of 2022 into the alumni community. When the Alumni Association hosted a special lunch for the class before graduation, we talked about the importance of staying connected as an alum. We know many of you cherish your relationships together, and also fiercely support one another. Our alumni (graduates, parents of alumni, former students, retirees) cheer each other on with the highs and lows of life, and lend a hand when it’s needed. Thank you, in advance, for also being there for the Class of 2022. You’ll read about some of their accomplishments in this issue of Ties.

Many of you are getting ready to celebrate your reunions, and it’s so great to be able to support you with planning in-person gatherings. More fun alumni gatherings are in store, and we hope you’ll mark your calendars for Homecoming and the Athletics Hall of Fame on October 7 and Fall Pub Night on November 23.

UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS

OCTOBER Homecoming & Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame October 7 at 5 p.m. in the Phyllis Kriese Commons This is the time to reunite, reconnect, and reminisce. Join oodles of Tarriers back on campus!

NOVEMBER

If you have ideas for alumni gatherings, please reach out to me at alumni@charleswright.org. I also love hearing about how you’re doing, and sharing news with the alumni community.

Tacoma Pub Night for Alumni and Families of Alumni November 23 at 7 p.m. - Location TBD Come have a beer on Charlie at this annual event that has become a Tarrier favorite!

Once a Tarrier, Always a Tarrier!

How can you reconnect and get involved?

Class Connectors

Keep in Touch

Get Connected

If you would like to help organize an

We at Ties love to hear from you—

Join the CWA alumni Facebook

event for your class or for alumni in

whether by letter, email, social media,

community (send a friend request to

your area or would like to schedule

or phone. Send us your Class Notes

“Charlie Wright”) and connect with

a time to return to campus for

updates to alumni@charleswright.org.

CWA on LinkedIn.

lunch or to sit in on a class, please

(Tell us: Where do you live? How many

contact Director of Development and

people and/or pets are in your family?

Tarriers Give

Communications Laura Rose at lrose@

What do you do for work and/or play?)

Support today’s students through

charleswright.org.

We are always excited to hear about

charitable giving and help the

the developments in your life! We also

next generation discover their

welcome comments and suggestions.

potential. Give to your alma mater at: charleswright.org/givenow.

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ALUMNI

Alumni on the CWA Board of Trustees

Returning Alumni Trustees

We are thrilled to announce the

Trevor Will ’93 - Facilities Master Plan Task Force Chair

appointment of three new trustees,

New Trustees for 2022-23

as well as several new committee

Scott Case ’94 - Audit Committee Chair

chairs and committee members.

Tamara Horn P’33

Legacy Tarriers Nothing makes us happier than seeing the family members of our alumni, former students, and retirees enrolled in their own learning journey at Charles Wright.

Please join us in celebrating our new and returning Legacy Tarriers enrolled for the 2022-23 school year.

Toby Murray III ’71 - Board Chair - 2021-2024 Adam Blakney ’00 - Secretary and HECC (Head’s Evaluation and Compensation Committee) Chair Drew Bamford ’91 - Endowment Committee Chair Dr. David Hirschberg ’80 - Returning Trustee

Ben Sclair ’88

Judah Arias ’36

Ryan Judge ’27 and Ashlyn ’28

Mother is Jaleesa (Robinson) Arias ’07

Mother is former student Brooke Judge ’97, Grandmother is Nancy Judge

Tali Barnoon ’23 Step-father is Charlie Allen ’66

Lawrence “Ren” ’36 and Diego ’33 Kocsis

Leah ’32 and Harper ’33 Blakney

Mother is Laura Malcolm ’00

Father is Adam Blakney ’00

Leona Nellis ’37

Sophie Buttorff ’24

Mother is Allison (Hyde) Nellis ’02, Grandfather is Charlie Hyde ’70

Father is James Buttorff ’67

Gabriel Carlen ’34

Evelyn Osborne ’36

Father is Bryce Carlen ’89

Father is Bryan Osborne ’00 Grandfather was Robert Osborne ’67

Toby Case ’29

Elizabeth Saffer ’25

Father is Scott Case ’94

Mother is Sarah Huddlestone-Saffer ’97

Richmond ’32 and Rainier ’35 Chadwick

Jack Sclair ’24

Mother is Ellie Chadwick ’00

Devan Happy ’32 Mother is former student Emily Happy ’97, Uncle is Cyrus Happy IV

Dad is Ben Sclair ’88

Henry Soles ’29 Father is Peter Soles ’92

Eva Stocker ’36 Father is Blake Stocker ’07

Olivia Taylor ’37 Mother is Hala (Baghdadi) Taylor ’03 Father is Hayden Taylor ’03

Ollie Tuite ’36 Mother is Katie (Herrington) Tuite ’05, Grandmother is Judy Herrington

Payton ’36 and Gavin ’34 Whalley Father is Jeffery Whalley ’99

Carter Williamson ’23 Father is James Williamson ’92

Cooper ’27 and Mackenzie ’24 Will Father is Trevor Will ’93

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ALUMNI

MILESTONES 2022

Trevor Will ’93 2022

ALUM OF THE YEAR The school honors Trevor Will ’93 for his staunch support of Tarriers and the South Sound community

by Kimberly Banti

dds are if you’re a longtime South Sound resident, you know Trevor Will ’93’s face. For years he has starred alongside his brother, Courtney Will ’95, in charmingly goofy televised ads for their family business, Titus-Will Automotive Group.

But if you’re a Tarrier, you know that their theme of “protection” extends far beyond powertrain warranties and roadside assistance. As a member of Charles Wright’s only threegeneration family, Trevor is also a fierce protector of the legacy of not only founders Sam and Nathalie Brown, but also of his father, Jamie ’65—as well as of the futures of his children, Mackenzie ’24 and Cooper ’27, and all current and subsequent students.

As an alumnus and a parent alongside his wife, Cassandra, he has dedicated himself to the Spirit Auction, Parent Association, Sports Boosters, Arts Boosters, Annual Fund, the Alumni Council, and the Board of Trustees.

It is in honor of his passion for the school and his commitment to care for the greater community that Trevor has been named Charles Wright Academy’s 2022 Alum of the Year. “Trevor is one of CWA’s greatest alumni champions,” said Head of School Susan Rice. “His leadership on the Board of Trustees strengthens his alma mater. We have a bold vision for CWA’s future, and Trevor has been there every step of the way to make this school the best it can be.”

Fellow Trustee Nicole Stice P ’24, ’27, ’29 highlights a memory from their joint time as parents of Lower Schoolers as an example of the authentic relationships Trevor has developed among Tarriers. “No matter how busy he was with morning commitments or with work—and no matter how rainy or stormy

48

it was outside—Trevor could be seen parking his car in the LS lot, walking his kids into the building, and dropping them off at their classrooms,” she fondly recalled. “This small act of kindness, this unselfish giving of time, is a glimpse into Trevor’s character. He would actively cultivate respectful, supportive relationships with the kids, the families, and the teachers along his morning ritual.

These supportive relationships are the heart of community.”

Relationships are also at the heart of Trevor’s life as a Tarrier— both on campus and beyond. “I love that I learned from teachers whom my father had and that my children are getting that same experience,” he said. “My father and I remain close with the legendary Donn Laughlin, a teacher we shared. Mackenzie and Cooper were lucky to learn from my teachers Miz Candy, Ms. Herrington, Mr. Bob, and Ms. Hunt. Mackenzie was on the jump rope team with Mr. Pelander, my brother’s first grade teacher.

Her advisor this year is Mr. LeFrancois, my favorite math teacher.

These relationships matter to me.”

Trevor in particular cherishes the bond he had with European history teacher Doc Neunherz, with whom he stayed in touch long after graduation and shared a penchant for persuasive writing. “I remember telling him that I hoped my kids would go to CWA and learn to write the way he taught me,” Trevor said.

“Before he passed away in 2012, Doc came by my home and left a copy of his 200-page, nearly complete manuscript about teaching persuasive writing on my front porch along with a typed, two-page letter to me that read like a forward to the book.

Doc remained my teacher and friend for nearly 20 years after I graduated, and he continues to inspire me. I keep the manuscript, along with his letter, in my nightstand. I miss him terribly.”

ALUMNI

Photos by Brian Lee.

TIES.CHARLESWRIGHT.ORG CHARLESWRIGHT.ORG

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ALUMNI

“

Charles Wright is my family and, like any family, there are times when I’m madly in love and times when I get frustrated for one reason or another. But our bond keeps us moving forward. This school has been a part of me for 40 years—since I started as a second grader. It has made me who I am today and continues to challenge me. I’m never going to forget that, which is why I’m still here and why I continue to support Charles Wright.

”

Trevor now applies what he learned from Doc in his leadership on the Board. “Trevor asks great questions, truly seeking to understand others and their perspectives,” Mrs. Rice said. “As I have gotten to know Trevor more closely, I also know that he isn’t afraid to express opinions that differ from a group. He cares deeply for the success of Charles Wright Academy and keeps that at the forefront of his involvement with the school at all times.” Nicole agreed. “Trevor asks the tough questions, and he challenges and supports change,” she said.

“He has demonstrated vision, leadership, and sound business sense— all with a great sense of humor.”

Trevor now, of course, applies that sense of humor in Titus-Will commercials, and he credits Charles Wright with establishing his work ethic and noticing where he could make a big impact. “In the Upper School, a 14-hour day wasn’t unusual,” he recalled. “I woke up, went to school, played sports (not well—I’m a terrible athlete), did my homework, went to bed, got up, and started over.” He taught himself Adobe Illustrator in Steve Matson’s journalism class to design graphics for the Academy Times. “When I started working at TitusWill after I graduated from college, it was clear that there was no real marketing plan or anyone on staff who could build a newspaper ad or a direct-mail piece,” Trevor said. “I saw an opportunity to make a mark on the family business. I bought Illustrator and became a pretty decent graphic artist. That evolved into a love of all things marketing, including creating websites and television commercials. I realize now that all of the branding we now have in place at Titus-Will, including our silly TV spots that people seem to enjoy, are the result of my taking journalism at CWA.”

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Beyond marketing, Trevor has also spearheaded the philanthropic arm of Titus-Will through the support of local Boys & Girls Clubs, United Way, and the launch of tituswillgives.com. “Titus-Will has been part of this community for over 80 years,” Trevor said. “We believe in it and want to support it—we want to see it thrive, so giving back is second nature. Our passion is supporting organizations that benefit children and families in need.” The giving website, through which the business has donated more than half a million dollars, “allows nonprofits to easily request support and gives us the ability to better manage our contributions. We continued to give during the pandemic when many companies froze contributions. We’re very proud of that.”

The Will family’s generosity extends to CWA, too. Cassandra is the Family Association chair for 22-24. They have been Sports Boosters, Arts Boosters, and Spirit Auction sponsors for years—Trevor and Cassandra co-chaired the latter in 2019—and they prioritize the act of giving back. “As for CWA, I think I’ve been giving since college. I wanted to get in that habit early on,” Trevor said. “Charles Wright is my family, and—like any family—there are times when I’m madly in love and times when I get frustrated for one reason or another. But our bond keeps us moving forward. This school has been a part of me for 40 years—since I started as a second grader. It has made me who I am today and continues to challenge me. I’m never going to forget that, which is why I’m still here and why I continue to support Charles Wright.” //

ALUMNI

Class Notes Tarrier alumni share updates on their adventures and achievements

Former Faculty

Sid and Bruce Eaton visited campus in July to meet with Head of School Susan Rice and see how much the campus has grown since Sid and Meg Eaton taught for CWA in the 60s. Sid was visiting the places and people important to Meg, one of CWA’s first female faculty, who passed away earlier this year; she taught English under Ted Sanford and Bruce Haertl and was the first woman at CWA to teach English for Tarriers in 8th-10th grade.

While visiting with Mrs. Rice, Sid remarked that the campus was “clean as a whistle” and looked more beautiful than ever! His feedback means a lot, and we agree! Sid taught English in the Middle and Upper Schools from the early 60s until their move to Portland in June 1971. At various points he held administrative positions, including Middle School Head, Admissions Director, and Assistant Headmaster. Thank you, Sid and Bruce, for stopping by to visit and share your memories with us.

Sam Lockwood, CWA faculty from 19651972 and 1973-1976, stopped by campus in July and wrote, “56 years since I left CWA and 67 since I started in the fall of 1965…I stopped by a bit after 11 a.m. on the 13th to witness the Rainier Scholars at CWA. Sumiko, a family friend and my administrator when I worked for Rainier Scholars (faculty 2009-2010), was able to let me have a peek before heading to Steilacoom…Rainier Scholars were utilizing a classroom I shared in 197071 with Dave Nadal. The halls glistened with the sheen of summer cleaning…I’ve been by periodically since my 1976 departure, the pioneer era tasks of campus presentation were dramatically different from the finished product of today. I did not need to pick up one piece of glacial till or check to see if Deano’s Diner extension cord was plugged in. The Light Wright Campaign for football field lights was a resounding success by the Green Derby.” Thank you for stopping by, Sam, we’re so glad you were pleased with campus and CWA’s ongoing partnership with the Rainier Scholars.

Sid and Bruce Eaton visited campus this spring.

The Haertl family in May.

Many thanks to the 23 members of the Haertl family who visited campus in May to honor the memory of our former headmaster, coach, and teacher, Bruce Haertl. The group included Bruce’s wife, Tonia, and sons Bruce ’76, Mike ’77, Tony ’78, and Brett ’82. We had four generations of Haertls on campus, and they even helped cheer on the Lower School Tarriers at the track meet on Haertl Field. It was such an honor to have you all on campus to celebrate the memory of an incredible coach and mentor to so many Tarriers!

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ALUMNI

85

Dean Backus ’85’s first Young Adult novel, “Darts and Flowers,” will be released at the end of the summer

by Torchflame books. Look for it in bookstores, via Amazon, and other bookseller resources.

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Jamie Nacht ’98, his wife Cristin, and their business partner were featured in GeekWire in June. Their 5-year-old real estate investment startup, Havium (havium.com), aims to simplify identifying and managing single-family rental properties by providing two services: Its software component scours real estate offerings for lucrative investment opportunities in a select region, while its concierge service connects its clients with a property management company that will provide tenants and handle upkeep.

“Imagine you could put on a pair of glasses and look at any property or look out over the entire state of Washington and only see the properties that make sense to buy as an investment,” said CEO and co-founder Jamie, who previously held a leadership role at J.P. Morgan.

Congratulations, Jamie, we wish you much continued success with Havium.

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The Havium team from left: Co-founder and CEO Jamie Nacht ’98, co-founder Cristin Nacht, and technical co-founder Arash Motamedi. Charlie, a flat-coated retriever, is sitting in the front. (Havium Photo)

05

Mark your calendars, J’Nai Bridges ’05 is coming to Seattle in January 2023 to perform in Seattle Opera’s “Samson and Delilah in Concert.” On the Seattle Opera blog, J’Nai shared, “It’s truly a special thing for me to come home to my village.

There are so many people from Seattle, Tacoma, and Lakewood that have poured so much love into me that it really feels that this performance in McCaw Hall is a gift. This is my gift and I’m sharing it with them and everyone. It will be the highlight, I know, of my career so far. This performance means more than any award or any accolade. I’ve been looking forward to this moment for years. I’m so grateful because I’m in a place vocally, musically, and artistically where I can feel so proud of my talents. So, I’m happy to bring my talents home and show my hometown the best of me.” “Samson and Delilah in Concert” plays January 20 & 22, 2023 at McCaw Hall. For tickets and information, see seattleopera.org/samson.

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J’Nai Bridges ’05 will perform with the Seattle Opera in January.

Jean Pullen ’05 wrote a bestselling guide to regenerative living, happiness, and more.

05

05

and her SDSU ROTC team are competing in the Ranger Challenge at West Point University.

19 Gabi Joubert ’18 and Brenna Sclair ’19 competed at the DIII Track & Field Nationals this summer.

CWA forces from across generations came together in June to perform in Symphony Tacoma’s last concert of the season! Former longtime Lower School Music Director Judy Herrington, current Lower School Music Director Deryl Harter, and our current Middle and Upper School Choral Director Tamiya Mickelson performed with Symphony Tacoma Voices choral ensemble. They appeared alongside CWA alum and Mezzo Soprano Laurel Semerdjian ’05 as a professional soloist performing Mozart’s “Requiem.”

13

Please join us in congratulating Ruben Riordan ’13 on the recent award of his doctoral degree. The completion of his dissertation titled “The Role of Cellular Senescence in the Development of Alzheimer’s Disease” has earned him a Doctor of Philosophy from Oregon State University. Incredible work, Dr. Riordan!

18 18 & 19

Adam Berg ’18 was one of two student speakers at his commencement from Wabash College last spring. An announcement from Wabash noted, “Adam Philip Berg was a Spanish major and earned distinction on comprehensive exams. He plans to attend medical school after teaching English in Spain for a year.

He was a member of Wabash Christian Men, the Sphinx Club, Phi Beta Kappa, and Phi Gamma Delta, where he served

as president. Berg was also co-captain of the soccer team and was named to the NCAC Academic Honor Roll. He received the Senior Award of Merit and is the two-time recipient of the Community Service Award for Outstanding Work.”

Wabash produced a podcast ahead of commencement to talk about the upcoming event with Adam and his cospeaker. Check it out at wabash.edu/ news/story/11921. Congratulations, Adam!

ALUMNI

Aalia Gomez ’19

Jean Pullen ’05 wrote in to share, “I am excited to announce I am a bestselling author as of Earth Day this year.” In her book “Regenerate Your Reality,” Jean shows readers how to apply principles of regeneration, diversify their income, grow their way out of crisis, nurture the earth, and live holistically and passionately. By highlighting how she embodies love, works for herself, and lives her passions, Pullen serves as an example to readers of how to shift their perspective from survival mode to “thrival mode.” Jean has felt called to environmentalism since a young age. In 2017, she moved to Costa Rica to follow her passion for permaculture, agroforestry, and community. Jean is the founder of Regenerate Your Reality (regenerateyourreality.com), a resource for others who wish to join the regenerative movement.

Congratulations to Katie Dearth ’18 on her selection as one of 30 female college students to receive a scholarship from the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network Foundation. The scholarship includes a paid internship, six-month mentoring opportunity, student membership, and registration to the CREW Network Convention.

Katie graduated cum laude from Baylor University with a double major in marketing and management and is in her first year as a student at Clemson University pursuing her master’s in real estate development. Way to go, Katie!

Gabi Joubert ’18 and Brenna Sclair ’19 competed at the DIII Track & Field Nationals in Geneva, Ohio this summer for Whittier College and George Fox University, respectively. Brenna qualified for the prelims of the 1500 and 5000, and Gabi placed 7th with her team in the finals of the 4x100 Meter Relay. Congrats, Gabi and Brenna!

19

Danielle Gomez, mother of Aalia Gomez ’19, wrote in to share some highlights from Aalia’s ROTC achievements at San Diego State University. “She’s currently competing in the Ranger Challenge at West Point University. The Ranger Challenge is a sport team within ROTC that competes with other university ROTC teams across the nation. Aalia’s team made it all the way to the national competition held at West Point University.

You can check out her team at westpoint. edu/sandhurst/rotc-teams. The SDSU ROTC program made history this year as this is their first time ever competing at the national competition level. I like to believe that it’s because this was Aalia’s first year joining the team! Additionally, SDSU did a short profile of Aalia on their website highlighting her. You can check it out here: psfa.sdsu.edu/about_us/news/ army-rotc-student-profile-aalia-gomez.”

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ALUMNI

Julia Hanly ’19 and Nathan McDougall ’19 both played for their respective schools in the DIII Ultimate Frisbee College Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last May. Julia’s team from the University of Portland (called UP UPROAR) took 5th overall, and Nathan’s USNA team took 9th. Nathan’s mom, Tina McDougall, shared, “Julia also played in last year’s nationals (which were delayed to December) in Northern California, where her team took 2nd. USNA qualified for those nationals, too, but USNA made them drop out because they coincided with USNA finals.” It was so great to see these two Tarriers together again!

Ryan Quisenberry ’19 and Samone Watkins ’19 stopped by campus for a visit in May. Ryan is a rising senior at Reed College in Portland, while Samone is finishing up at the University of Portland.

It was great to see their smiling faces back on campus!

19

Ryan Quisenberry ’19 and Samone Watkins ’19

20

The oldest Conservative student organization in the UK, Glasgow University Conservative & Unionist Association (founded in 1836), has elected Calista Toner ’20 President for the coming year. Her father, former Trustee Ian Toner, shared, “She was made Treasurer halfway through her freshman year, then Vice President her sophomore year, then President unopposed. At the same time they also elected a Board that’s 50% female for the first time.”

Congratulations, Calista! //

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T I E S | Summer 2022

Julia Hanly ’19 and Nathan McDougall ’19

SEND YOUR UPDATES AND PHOTOS TO

alumni@charleswright.org

19

ALUMNI

IN REMEMBRANCE Fritz Jacobson ’13

Brian McGuire

1994-2022

1941-2022

Frederick (Fritz) Jacobson ’13 died tragically in a car accident in Montana April 16. He was a “lifer” at CWA, where he played golf, basketball and football.

He went on to attend Montana State University as an English major, fell in love with the state, and made it his home. Hundreds of friends and family members came to CWA in early June to celebrate his life. He will be deeply missed by many, and we are grateful for his many contributions to the CWA community. Former Upper School Director Bill White created a moving video tribute to Fritz available for viewing at charleswright.org/fritz.

At left, the beautiful portrait of Fritz created by

CWA Trustee 1984-2001 Brian McGuire passed away February 11 in the presence of his loving family. Raised in Tacoma, he attended the University of Puget Sound, and then owned and operated a variety of businesses in the Northwest, including the Day Island Yacht Harbor, Inc. since 1970. Brian served as a CWA Trustee from 1984-2001. His daughter, Kendall, graduated in 1990, and son, Brynn, also attended.

His granddaughters also graduated from CWA recently—Megan ’22, Lexi ’20 and Emma ’18. Thank you, Brian, for your many years of service to CWA and the greater Tacoma community.

classmate Delaney Saul ’14 for his memorial.

Barbara Jo Vest Mary Ann Ballew 1938-2022 CWA Faculty 1988-2006 Former Kindergarten teacher Mary Ann Ballew passed away on June 13. She was known for her warmth and positive impact on so many CWA families and colleagues during her 18 years with the academy. We received many messages of care and appreciation for Ms. Ballew from our community: former longtime Lower School Music Director Judy Herrington wrote, “What a privilege to work with this master teacher—her love of children and the art of teaching inspired all of us!” To former student Jordan Beckingham, “She was the best kindergarten teacher ever. I was so lucky to be one of her students. She will be missed.” Mary Ann is survived by her daughter Laurie Ballew ’00 and sons, Sean and Craig.

1933-2022 CWA Faculty 1976-1989 Barbara Jo Vest passed away February 13 in Vancouver, Washington. She taught third grade at CWA. After her retirement, her first historical novel, “My Dearest Patcy,” was published. Barb is survived by extended family and was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, James, and her daughter Michelle. Thank you, Barb, for 13 years of service and care of so many Tarriers.

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LAST LOOK

Celebrating Señora Judy Williams retires after 31 years of service to Charles Wright

by Rachel Rippl, Middle School Director

t was wonderful to see so many familiar faces on campus to celebrate and honor Judy Williams (affectionately known as Señora) at her retirement party last May. We were grateful to have her father, her husband, Bruce, and her children and their families celebrating her, as well.

Another passion of Judy’s is supporting the athletics department.

She started keeping the scorebook for Upper School Volleyball and Basketball around 2007 and continues to do that today. A few highlights she remembers were watching them play at the District and State levels and boys basketball winning the State Championship in 2008.

Judy began her career at CWA in 1991. As a dedicated member of the school community, she served in many roles including teacher, coach, advisor, and chaperone for many different sports and activities. In addition, she presented the Middle School as a liaison to the Board of Trustees and as a World Language Department Chair. Some of her favorite things have been teaching students how to cook foods from some Spanish-speaking countries, as well as designing cooking classes during our Middle School days. She was fortunate to take two Winterim trips to Oaxaca and Peru with many of her former Middle School students where she enjoyed seeing their language skills in action.

Coach Kate Rue had these words to share: “Judy has been a huge part of athletics at CWA and in particular the basketball programs. We can always count on Judy to provide sports management at the scorer’s table both at home and on the road. She will do the book, run the clock, and help anyone at the table learn the system. I have the added bonus of having Judy’s daughter, Jamie, as one of the girls basketball assistant coaches on staff. For years, when husband Bruce was driving the bus, the Williams family would make our annual trip to the University of Washington Women’s Basketball game a family affair.

Bruce would drive the bus, and both Judy and Jamie would attend with the team. We always stopped at the famous Dick’s Drive-In after games. The team loved that! Judy, congrats on your retirement! We are lucky in athletics to have you work with us on a semi-retirement schedule. Your positive outlook, friendly manner, fairness and loyal nature is so appreciated. Enjoy this day in your honor, you deserve it.

Go Storm and Go Tarriers!”

Middle School Japanese Teacher Alia Greenbaum shared, “Judy, I have so many wonderful memories, you could fill a book. From going to dinner with you and Rudy after my interview, it’s been an incredible nine years working with you. Thank you for being my mentor, my “Mama Judy,” for putting up with Maren’s and my antics in the World Language Cave. Thank you for being the “Knower of All Things” and “Answerer of All Questions”. I will especially remember our conference trips together - to San Antonio, Boston, and Vegas - and all the adventures we’ve shared. I know you’ll still be around, but the Middle School won’t be the same without you! Muchos besos, don’t be a stranger!

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Please join me in recognizing Judy and her 31 years of dedication to Charles Wright Academy. While she will truly be missed by all of her friends and colleagues, but we are thrilled she has chosen to stay connected to CWA through her work with athletics.

reasea joined the Middle School staff 20 years ago after moving around with the military for a number of years. She still says from the moment she interviewed with Diane Hunt, she knew this was a place she wanted to stay and we’re so glad that she did. Treasea generously served our school in many roles well beyond the original job description, from chaperoning trips to Ashland to caring for students in the health room, and this year becoming a COVID tester extraordinaire. Treasea is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

When we asked faculty, families, and students to share their favorite memories of Treasea, here are a few of the responses: Former Middle School parent Amy Senftleben wrote, “I’ll never forget our first conversation about Connor moving on to Middle School. I was so nervous about how things would go for him. She immediately put me at ease and assured me that everything was going to be ok.

And, as the years progressed, she helped us understand what was developmentally appropriate, and when to ask for support. She was always there to listen to and reassure our family that yes, believe it or not, these kids will actually walk across the stage at graduation someday, and yes, they will regain control of their frontal lobes.

Middle School ended up being a wonderful experience for our family, and Treasea is a central part of the ‘why.’”

From colleague and fellow retiree, Judy Williams, “She has made connections with so many CWA families and students over the years.

One time she came to Ashland with us and she kept telling me, ‘Just

second mom for 20 years of Middle School Tarriers

by Rachel Rippl, Middle School Director

LAST LOOK

Middle School Magician

Treasea Miller was a

let me know what you need me to do and I’ll do it.’ What a blessing she has been to our CWA staff.”

From another colleague, DuChanté Davis, “Treasea, I’m so jealous of everyone who has had the opportunity to work with you longer than two years. Your presence has touched so many. You are so warm, welcoming, and nurturing. I am very thankful for your tenderness and compassion for Cameron. It made our transition here so much easier and reassured me that we made the right decision to be a part of this community. I don’t think there will be anyone that misses you more than him.”

And finally, former student Eli Manza ’07 shared, “Congratulations on your retirement! I was in Middle School from 2000-03 and remember you always being the absolute sweetest. You were the first person most of us saw when we came in for the day, and often the last as we were leaving to go home. Thanks for making such an impact on so many of us little ones as we went through the ups and downs of early adolescent life. Wishing you a relaxing while also exciting next chapter of life.” The fact that Eli took the time to reach out after two decades speaks volumes to the lasting impact of Treasea’s care and commitment to our students.

Please join with me in acknowledging Treasea, her many years of service, and her incredible dedication to our community. We are all better because she was here for us. I hope she enjoys long rides on her Harley, time with her family (especially her grandchildren), and the opportunity to begin a new chapter.

Congratulations on your retirement, Treasea, you will be missed.

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LAST LOOK

Farewell, Mr. Fix-It Facilities Director Denny Dorum retires after 15 years at CWA

by Kimberly Banti

n any given winter morning with snow in the forecast, there was one place you could be sure to find Denny Dorum at 3 a.m.: behind the wheel as he drove every mile of every CWA bus route. “I don’t know of anyone who is willing to wake up long before the crack of dawn with even the threat of slippery roads and use their personal vehicle to drive all CWA bus routes to make sure they are safe for our kids and drivers,” said Christopher Hoppin. “I can’t imagine how long that would take in perfect conditions, much less with snow on the ground dodging drivers from the Pacific Northwest.”

That is the level of dedication Denny brought to his role for over 15 years as our facilities and transportation director. Denny knows every nook and cranny of our campus and what’s behind each wall.

He knows the finicky mechanisms of each building and who best to call when they start to act up. He knows what the city officials and fire marshalls won’t allow and how to make the most of our budget.

Many colleagues cherished Denny’s annual check-in at the opening meeting, sharing updates of all of the maintenance work done over the summer. “He was incredibly humble as he went through a nearly impossible-to-complete task list,” Christopher said, while Judy Williams shared that Denny’s rundown often included “many things that weren’t always visible to the naked eye.”

But most of all, Denny knew how to take care of Tarriers. Upper School faculty member Crysta Swarts-Gillison said the warm welcome she received from Denny went above and beyond any expectations she could have had when she moved into Lyon’s House on campus the summer of 2021. “As we walked through the house, he told me when it was built, when the addition was put on, pointed out odd little details, and showed me how I could see the chapel from across the ravine,” she said. IT team member Joe Budd compared his entertaining and educational interactions with Denny to “the CWA version of This Old House, which is truly wonderful because it shows how much he cares about sharing knowledge with others.” Many remembered Denny’s expertise with the buses, including “how to resolve a recurring alarm on the cross-country minibus after it got stuck under the awning at the Yakima Red Lion on a Friday night.”

Under Denny’s leadership, not a single Tarrier has sustained an injury while on a CWA transit vehicle. “We’d had bus accidents since I started here,” he recalled. “But no one was ever hurt. We’d always been able to get the kids either to school or home.”

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While Denny’s meticulous nature kept Tarriers safe—and he took his role quite seriously—his sense of humor brought levity to his legacy. Upper School Librarian Sam Harris reckoned that Denny would have some choice words should anyone ask about the sheep and goats that joined the grounds crew about a decade ago. Facilities colleague Randy Scafturon is still working through a stockpile of tens of thousands of nails Denny procured at an estate sale over a decade ago. “Those nails have been used all over campus to hang anything they will hold,” Randy said. “I have spent the last decade offering them up to anyone who might need some for home. The offer is still good, by the way. These nails will probably be used by some future maintenance person who is not even born yet, and Denny’s legacy will live on.”

Denny’s colleagues consistently appreciated that he never treated any fix-it request as being too small or unworthy of his time and attention.

Denny delighted in the details, but he could also take the long view.

“He even gave me photos taken each day of the LAPAC construction so we’d have a timelapse view in the archives,” Laura Rose said about an early meeting with Denny after she joined CWA. He thinks not only about how something will impact him and his team directly, but how it might impact every member of our community and visitors to our campus, today and into the future.

We celebrate an incredibly dedicated man who cared about the welfare of every person who passed through our campus gates. Denny, we will miss you and hope you succeed in your plans to both open a repair shop and take up your grandfather’s trade of making whirligig wind sculptures.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Icing on the 50th Birthday Cake

Above, the varsity team celebrated their first state championship victory.

At right, Tarrier fans gathered outside the locker rooms to share in the victory.

IN 2008, THE VARSITY BOYS WON CWA’S FIRST BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. The Tarriers beat River View 53-48 for the title in the Yakima Sun Dome after edging out top-ranked Bellevue Christian 54-52 in the semifinals the night before. Tournament MVP Gerald Hill ’08 scored all 17 of his points in the second half, while Patrick Philley also scored 17 points for CWA, and an exuberant throng of supporters in green and white surrounded the champions after their historic win. Coach Tyler Francis recalled, “The state championship was just the perfect ending to the school’s 50th year.”

TIES.CHARLESWRIGHT.ORG

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