Chat Spring 2023

CHAT

THE MAGAZINE OF CHATHAM HALL

Featuring: Chatham

101, Senior Chapel Talks, Campaign Update

COVER: Students enjoy the spring weather has they walk to class in Shaw Tech.

ABOVE: Carmen Gorostidi ‘25 leads Caroline Keating ‘24 and others in making a Spanish omelette during a G.I.R.L.S. Day workshop. Learn more about this year’s G.I.R.L.S. Day on page 8.

CHAT SPRING 2023

Beth Stefanik, Editor

Rachel Balsley, Designer & Photographer

Susan Johnston Taylor, Writer

ADMINISTRATION

Christian J. Proctor, Ph.D., Acting Head of School

Beth Barksdale, Dean of the Chapel & Spiritual Life

Josh Doyon, Dean of Students

Jeremy Eubank, Director of Athletics

Deborah Glymph, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Martha Griswold, Dean of Academics

Jennifer Hiltwine, Chief Financial Officer

Christine Cutright Knight P’19, Chief Advancement Officer

Dr. Erin McHugh, Dean of College Counseling

Wynne Overton, Chief Enrollment Officer

Beth Stefanik, Chief Communications Officer

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Alison Carter-Cady ’91, Chair

Michelle Thomas Supko ’02, Vice Chair

Jennifer Gammill McKay ’84, P’20, Secretary

Andy Lee P’20, Treasurer

Jen Stone Abed ‘87

Sonja Fields Andrews ‘89 P’22

Nina Johnson Botsford ’72

Katharine Bulkley ’77

Judy M. Carter ’63

Clay Dunnagan P ’23

Venita Fields ‘71

Jane M. Garnett ’73

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 LETTER FROM THE ACTING HEAD OF SCHOOL

3 800 CHATHAM HALL CIRCLE: CAMPUS NEWS

14 OUT & ABOUT: ALUMNAE NEWS

26 A STITCH IN TIME: CHATHAM HALL’S HISTORY WITH TEXTILES

28 CHATHAM HALL 101 REIMAGINED FOR NEWEST GENERATION OF TURTLES

30 SENIOR CHAPEL TALKS: ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS WE CAN GIVE

34 ATHLETICS, HEALTH, & WELLNESS GROUNDBREAKING

36 CLASS NOTES

41 IN MEMORIAM

44 THEN & NOW: FROM THE ARCHIVES

Melanie Kirk Holton ’87

Mary Kay Karzas ’71

Adair Hendrickson Ravencraft ’02

Mary Reynolds ’84

James Secor, III

Robin Peake Stuart ’69

Kimberly Daniels Taws ’02

Hunt Whitehead P’22

Ex-Officio Member

The Rt. Rev. Susan B. Haynes, Bishop, Diocese of Southern Virginia

Trustee Emerita

Lucy McClellan Barrett ‘53

Povy LaFarge Bigbee ‘51 G’03,’09,’10,’11

Robin Tieken Hadley ’57

Adrienne Mars P’78

Linda Mars ‘78

Lisa Rosenberger Moore ‘59

Jean Armfield Sherrill ‘63

Designated Representatives

Danielle Thomas Kimmel ’04

Alumnae Council President

Paul Deigl P’23

Parent Advisory Committee President

The Chat is published semiannually by Chatham Hall. For comments, suggestions, or to request a copy, please email communications@ chathamhall.org.

Chatham Hall complies with applicable federal and local laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, disability, religion, national origin, or any other legally protected category.

800 Chatham Hall Circle Chatham, VA 24531 434.432.2941

www.chathamhall.org

© 2023 Chatham Hall

Letter from the ACTING HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Friends,

This spring we lost a truly remarkable member of the Chatham Hall community. Rachel Avery Connell was not just a former Rector and colleague, but also a leader, mentor, and friend. She had the Herculean task of bringing Chatham Hall safely through the global COVID-19 pandemic, and she did so with flying colors, all the while advancing our institutional goals in areas like diversity, equity, and inclusion, entrepreneurship, branding, and community health and wellness. Her ability to keep us moving forward during the pandemic was exceptional. Rector Connell believed in the potential of Chatham Hall and knew that we are at a pivotal moment to become real leaders in girls’ education. She wholeheartedly believed Chatham Hall is poised for a future full of success, and to honor her unwavering commitment we are dedicating this issue of the Chat to her.

In the following pages you will read about Chatham Hall girls young and old, on campus and off, engaging in traditions and taking risks to create new paths. You’ll notice pictures and stories of their explorations in academics, athletics, and the arts. You’ll likely be overwhelmed by one of their most overwhelming traits: curiosity. For nearly 130 years Chatham Hall has equipped curious thinkers to lead lives of impact, and our community not only fully understands but fully supports that encouraging girls to be curious, to ask questions, to synthesize facts into informed opinions, and to be confident enough to act on them can truly illuminate their worlds.

In October, we launched our Boundless Potential campaign dedicated to funding the ambitious goals of our strategic plan, and we have made remarkable progress towards meeting them. This campaign is focused on our community, through investing in faculty housing, building a comprehensive facility for athletics, health, and wellness, and securing the School’s long-term financial health. Yet ultimately, like everything we do at Chatham Hall, it is about our girls. The world needs Chatham Hall girls, and through this campaign we hope to guarantee another 130 years — at least! — of alumnae ready to make an impact in their communities.

I invite you to read this issue with all of this in mind and have no doubt that, like Rector Connell, you will be convinced of the potential of Chatham Hall and the pivotal moment in which we find ourselves. And I have no doubt that you will want to act to help us secure the future of which we dream. To learn more about our Boundless Potential campaign, and how to become involved, visit www.chathamhall.org/campaign today.

Esto Perpetua, Christian J. Proctor, Ph.D. Acting Head of School

800 CHATHAM HALL CIRCLE campus

Community Members Explore New Interest During January Term

For the first two weeks of January, the Chatham Hall community set aside its regular schedules and curricula to follow its passions in the second annual January Term.

“January Term is a chance for students and teachers alike to explore a topic that is of interest to them, and may not be offered or offered as in depth during our semester curricula,” said Dr. Francis Yun, director of music and January Term.

“This year we were able to offer fifteen courses, everything from Quilting to Biochemistry Techniques to Ethics in the Equine Industry, as well as daily programming for each of our four grades. In the evenings we were lucky enough to have guest visits, lectures, and group discussions on a variety of different topics.”

Among the evening activities was a community concert given by Dr. Yun and guest artists Dr. Nermis Mieses, associate professor of oboe at Michigan State University and faculty at Sewanee Music Festival, and pianist Mr. Xavier Suarez. Dr. Jonathan C. Friedman, professor of history and director of graduate Holocaust and Genocide Studies at West Chester University, Zoomed with students to discuss

the concepts of his book Haunted Laughter: Representations of Adolf Hitler, the Third Reich, and the Holocaust in Comedic Film and Television.On weekday mornings, each grade met to explore topics related to life skills and Living Well. The Class of 2026 focused on health and wellness, and the sophomores learned about personal finance. The Class of 2024 jumped into the college process including taking a practice ACT, while the seniors got a taste of many topics to prepare them for life after graduation.

Several alumnae volunteered their time to speak with the Class of 2023 during their grade-level programming. Dasia Moore ’14 spoke with seniors via Zoom about finding your path and setting your own expectations for yourself. On campus, licensed social worker Mary Elizabeth Wilkes Chand ’03 presented about beliefs, boundaries, and balance, while Claire Mayo ’15 shared the story of her life after Chatham Hall. Mayo also visited the FRC Robotics January Term course as a TuTu Turtles alumna.

“January Term classes focus on the little interests or fixations people have and expand on them. Classes are engaging and they explore the complexities of a seemingly simple topic,” said Elinor Harrison ’24, who

IEA Season Extends to Nationals

This year’s Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) riders were a strong group of hardworking athletes who came together as a team.

“What I loved most about coaching this group of riders this year was their overall positive attitude,” said Director of Riding Ally Doyon. “We went into the show ring every time with the understanding that it does not matter what ribbon you come away with, but rather that you accomplished your goals and rode your best.”

While the team missed out on qualifying for IEA Regional Finals due to a heartbreaking tiebreaker,

participated in the History & Politics in the Middle East and All That Jazz courses. “In January Term, students get to dive into a new educational experience without worrying about what they should already know.”

Carolyn Whatley ’23, Elle Reeves ’25, and Lainey Risley ’26 qualified as individuals. While Reeves finished just out of the running for Zone Finals with a third place ribbon, both Whatley and Risley qualified to move on to Zone Finals at which Risley earned placings in the top three, awarding her the opportunity to represent Zone 3 at IEA National Finals.

As a National qualifier, Risley is amongst the top 18 riders in the nation in the JV Novice Division, and she was one of only eight riders nationally to qualify as an individual for both the flat and over fences sections of her division.

800 CHATHAM HALL CIRCLE campus

School Recognized by USHJA

Chatham Hall has been honored by the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) as a Recognized Riding Academy.

According to the association, the USHJA Recognized Riding Academy Program acknowledges lesson programs, riding facilities, equestrian schools, and other types of educational equestrian programs that emphasize horsemanship and sportsmanship, promote safety, and offer introductory Hunter/Jumper lessons. These programs create a foundation for well-rounded equestrians who benefit the entire sport, and this recognition is designed to encourage the continued development and growth of these types of programs across the country.

Two Turtles Among Nation’s Top 1% of AMC Scores

Lucia Yang ’25 and Tina Zhang ’23 have been named to the Mathematical Association of America’s American Mathematics Competition 12 (MAA AMC12) Honor Roll for scoring in the top 1% nationwide of all exam takers.

They competed along with Oliwia Ledzwon ‘24, Krystal Lin ‘24, Stella Zhang ‘24, and Rose Yang ‘24 to earn a combined team score of 300 points or greater, earning the School Certificate of Merit (calculated on the top three team members’ scores).

“With all three Chatham Hall instructors being USHJA certified, and now the program having this recognition, it is evident that Chatham Hall is committed to teaching the American Forward Riding System as well as proper horsemanship as outlined by our national governing body. We are committed to upholding a level of excellence and safety within our sport and this is public acknowledgement of that commitment,” said Director of Riding Ally Doyon.

The recognition will also allow the School to participate in the RRA Honor Roll, which will spotlight its horses on a national level, and celebrate exceptional students by awarding them with an RRA Honor.

Abdilaahi ‘23 Expanding Use of Multifaith Room

When Nuura Abdilaahi ’23 arrived at Chatham Hall, she quickly realized she had no private space for prayer. As an observant Muslim, Abdilaahi prays five times a day and her shared dorm room was not ideal. She was among a core group of students who worked with Chaplain Barksdale to make a Multifaith Room a reality in fall 2021.

“The Multifaith Room is always available to members of our community, and I want to encourage other students to use it every day, to feel welcome to practice their religions,” she said.

Abdilaahi identified additional prayer tools and resources needed by current members of our community to make the Multifaith Room more usable, and has worked on a bulletin board for the room to display all of the holidays observed by each religion present on campus. This board will also feature weekly prayers submitted by members of our community. She will also put together a roster of students and faculty members who will lead weekly meditation sessions in the room, and another schedule of those who will lead weekly prayer walks around campus.

ISA Hosts Inaugural I-Fest

The International Student Association (ISA) hosted Chatham Hall’s inaugural “I-Fest” on Feb. 10 & 11 with a variety of activities designed to bring all students on a trip around the world.

“Our international students designed fun, educational, and interactive experiences to share their cultures, languages, and traditions with the Chatham Hall community,” said Charlotte Williams, international student coordinator.

All 35 of the School’s international students took part in the event. The opening ceremony, which took

place on Friday night in the Gym, included dances by Noir, poetry recitations including “Palabras para Julia” from José Agusrín Goytisolo and “The Sun of Arles” by Haizi, and a guitar performance of “Under Blue Skies” by Vladimir Vavilov.

On Saturday, all students participated in workshops on topics ranging from Chinese tea and calligraphy traditions, Chinese art and clothing, the Day of the Dead, and various languages and cultures. Prior to the workshops, some students prepared traditional foods from their home countries to add to their presentations, including homemade pierogi, pancakes, and

Student Writers Find Inspiration in Alumnae Pieces

soup. Several groups also danced, played music, and explored other facets of different cultures.

“I was thrilled with our first-ever I-Fest,” said Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Deborah Glymph. “It was student-run and student-focused, and the ideas for each aspect were authentic from student thought leadership. In the shortest month of the year, we’re exposing students to so many different things and that really works to our advantage. It offers so many opportunities for our students to just get out and try something new to them.”

Iris, the literary and art magazine of Chatham Hall, has produced a unique issue this year with a number of student pieces inspired by past submissions. Iris co-editors Ginny Hopkins ’23 and Liliana Stinson ’23 got the idea of looking to the past for inspiration while they were exploring the School Archives during their free time.

“They were writing about the same things we write about now, themes like heartbreak or even your dog, just decades ago,” said Hopkins. “A lot of their short stories are really beautiful and no one has read them since each issue of Iris was published.”

The pair used one issue from each decade, dating back to 1915, to introduce their idea to fellow student artists at a fall Iris meeting. Each interested artist selected a piece from a past issue and used it for inspiration for their submissions.

800 CHATHAM HALL CIRCLE campus

Mission: Valentine Triples Impact in Town

In its third year, the Spiritual Life League’s Mission: Valentine project far exceeded the approximately 150 cards delivered in each of the last two years. This year, more than 450 cards were hand-made and delivered to residences and businesses around the Town of Chatham.

Two Artists Recognized with Scholastic Awards

Olive Ye ’24 and Lucia Yang ’25 have each received recognition in the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley.

Ye’s embroidery project "Courage" was awarded a Silver Key in Expanded Projects while Yang’s photographs "Rainbow," "Alice’s Neighborhood," and "Real Flowers" earned her a Silver Key and two Honorable Mentions, respectively.

In early February, making cards was a priority for service leagues and campus clubs as the whole student body rallied around the mission. On Feb. 12 & 13, students mostly traveled by foot to deliver the cards to the Chatham community. A total of 467 cards were delivered over the course of two days including to a nearby health and rehabilitation center. This was well over the goal of 300, which in itself would have doubled last year’s total.

Souza '23 & Whatley '23 Sign National Letters of Intent

Faye Souza ’23 and Carolyn Whatley ’23 have signed National Letters of Intent to compete at the collegiate level. Souza has committed to diving at George Mason University, while Whatley has committed to riding at Wofford College.

Souza began diving just a few years ago, and competes with a club team in Greensboro, NC as well as the School team. In 2022, she traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina to participate in the First National

Open Diving Championship where she won silver medals in both the one-meter and three-meter competitions.

Whatley, a four-year Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team member, will compete at Wofford as part of the Equestrian Team in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. This year she was in the Top 16 Intermediate riders of IEA Zone 3 by qualifying for Zone Finals.

BSU Hosts Black History Month Overnight

Chatham Hall’s Black Student Union (BSU) created and hosted an overnight in collaboration with the Lee Library and Librarian Kaykeel Dillard to celebrate Black History Month. With the theme “Black Resistance,” the event included a scavenger hunt to find items created by Black inventors, a dance/step class, soul food snacks, viewings of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Woman King, and much more.

All Chatham Hall community members were able to drop in for a little while or stay overnight in the library. Overall, more than 50 students and faculty and staff members participated. The BSU is sponsored by Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Deborah Glymph and Ms. Christa Anderson.

“We had a bunch of different, fun activities that incorporated Black History Month,” said BSU Co-President Riquel Owusu ’23. “From all of this, I hope the community understands that we are all different people, but we are all one community and we wanted to have a sense of togetherness, and for everyone to have fun.”

Eubank Named Athletic Director of the Year

The Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (VIAAA) has named Director of Athletics Jeremy Eubank as Athletic Administrator of the Year for Independent Schools.

Eubank was among nominations from across the commonwealth and received the award after a vote by past VIAAA presidents. In his time at the School, he has created opportunities for girls’ sports not just at Chatham Hall, but also within the athletic conference and state athletic association. He has overseen the addition of three new Chatham Hall interscholastic teams including diving, golf, and track and field, and the creation of a girls’ golf state tournament which will be hosted by Chatham Hall in 2024.

TuTu Turtles Win Three Awards in First FRC Season

The TuTu Turtles robotics team competed in its inaugural FIRST® Robotics Competition (as FRC Team 9003) season and was honored with three different awards. Prior to the official season, the team attended the Rumble in the Roads Robotics Competition in Newport News, Va. where it was awarded the inaugural Pre-Rookie Tenacity Award. In February at their first FRC event, the team ranked first among all rookie teams and received the Highest Rookie Seed Award. At the CHS District competition in March, the TuTu Turtles received the Rookie All Star Award. Follow the team on Instagram @frc9003 to keep up with all of their news!

800 CHATHAM HALL CIRCLE campus

G.I.R.L.S. Day Ignites the Light for All

Growth, independence, relationships, leadership, and service. These are the foundations of Chatham Hall’s annual G.I.R.L.S. Day that sees students teach the entire School community about their personal interests.

This year, workshops ranged from scientific illustration to embroidery and sustainability to athletic training and more. Those leading sessions truly were able to ignite the light for others in not just their topics, but in numerous interactive activities as well.

“Journaling consistently has brought a number of benefits to my own life. It helped give me an outlet to

write and have a safe space to be creative,” said Lily Shaheen ’23, who offered her first workshop this year on bullet journaling, complete with time to write and draw. “Since I’m a senior, I’ll be leaving Chatham Hall soon and I wanted to offer a workshop this year as a way to give back to the community before I go.”

This year the School also hosted the Chatham Fire Department to provide a hands-on experience for students to learn more about containing and extinguishing fires. Students were able to use a fire extinguisher under the direction of fire department professionals, a life skill that they will be able to take with them anywhere they go.

Winter Sports a Season of Firsts

The 2022-2023 winter season will go down as a season of firsts for Chatham Hall Athletics.

“We had a lot of firsts this winter season and it was great to see the progress we have made in our winter programs,” said Director of Athletics Jeremy Eubank. “Our teams started strong and ended strong, and we look to continue to build for the years to come.”

Eighty-five percent of the Varsity Swimming team qualified for the VISAA State Championships and saw all swimmers lower their times throughout the season. Taylor Xu ’23 earned All-Blue Ridge Athletic Conference (BRAC) honors with a third in 100m backstroke and 50m

freestyle events, and the 200m free relay also placed third. Faye Souza ’23 captured the first-ever BRAC Diving Invitational Championship win, and continued her streak of qualifying for the VISAA State Diving Championships. She will compete in the U.S. Dive Regional Championships this spring.

The Varsity Basketball team started its season strong with back-to-back wins and finished with two All-BRAC honors for Priscilla Bennsion ’25 (2nd team) and Hadley Busbee ’24 (honorable mention). The campus community showed great support for our teams throughout the season through participation in several theme nights and spirit contests hosted by the Chatham Athletic Council (CAC).

Cousteau Discusses Interconnectivity, Natural World

Céline Cousteau, environmental activist, international speaker, and documentary filmmaker, was on campus in April to visit with students and speak about the interconnectivity between humans and the natural world, as well as her more recent work on identity.

“The ripple effect of what we do positively has a much greater impact than what we do negatively,” Cousteau told students and faculty of human impact on the natural world.

“Good humans, good guardians of nature, is when nature actually thrives. If you don’t live in balance with your environment, and sustainably, then you don’t survive. There is no other way. We have created amazing worlds around us, and we must now reconnect. We must go back to a root

understanding, we must adapt as a way to survive even further into the future.”

Cousteau, daughter of ocean explorer and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau and granddaughter of the renowned oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, is the founder of CauseCentric Productions which produces multimedia highlighting those working on environmental issues. She will soon launch Interconnected, a podcast bringing together leaders in a diverse range of fields to focus on answering some of today’s most pressing questions. She is also set to join a 2024 expedition to map the length of the Amazon River to the Atlantic Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean from a newly discovered spring in Peru.

During her time on campus, Cousteau was able to tour the

School, enjoy meals with students, and attend a Chapel service. Judy Carter ‘63, a member of the Board of Trustees, arranged the visit and traveled to campus with her.

Students Flourish in Little Shop of Horrors

For three days in February, the Van Voorhis Lecture Hall was transformed into Skid Row for Chatham Hall’s production of Little Shop of Horrors.

In addition to creating a new world for the audience, the cast and crew were tasked with bringing to life Audrey II or “Twoey,” a sentient, blood thirsty plant voiced by Sophia Taylor ’24 with puppeteering by Mia Swanson ’24. Twoey feeds on human blood, was created (and fed) by Seymour, played by Sarah Leineweber ’23 who was joined on stage by Lily Shaheen ’23 as the original (human) Audrey, Meaghan Kress ’24 as Mushnick, and Stella Snider ’23 as Orin, as well as Kayla Charway ’23, V. Edwards ’23, Annie Wells ’25, Anaiah Charway ’26, Sara Hunter Bryan ’25,

and Autumn Johnson ’26. Together they told the story of Twoey and Seymour becoming local celebrities, leading to some more concerning adventures.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated crew led by stage manager Ginny Hopkins ’23 supported the production through lights, sound, and props, including making Twoey larger than life through a shadow show. The students were led by directors Dr. Francis Yun, Kay Dillard, and John Kingery.

Little Shop of Horrors was originally produced as a film by the same name in 1960 and later adapted into a musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman.

CLASS OF 2023

CLASS OF

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES & MATRICULATIONS

Abilene Christian University

Alabama A&M University

Albany State University

Alcorn State University

Appalachian State University

Augusta University

Barnard College

Berry College

Boston University

Brandeis University

Bridgewater College

Bucknell University

Chatham University

Christopher Newport University

Clark Atlanta University

Clemson University

Colgate University

College of William & Mary

Colorado College

Colorado State University (Fort Collins)

DePaul University

East Carolina University

Elizabeth City State University

Elon University

Emory & Henry College

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Valley State University

George Mason University

George Washington University

Georgia College

Georgia State University

Greensboro College

Grinnell College

Guilford College

Hampshire College

Hampton University

High Point University

Hofstra University

Hollins University

Howard University

Jackson State University

James Madison University

Kennesaw State University

Longwood University

Louisiana State University

Mary Baldwin University

Mercer University

Meredith College

Michigan State University

Midway University

Miles College

Moore College of Art & Design

Morgan State University

Mount Holyoke College

New Jersey Institute of Technology

North Carolina A & T State

University

North Carolina Central University

Northeastern University

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Oberlin College

Ohio State University

Oxford College of Emory University

Penn State University (University Park)

Prairie View A&M University

Purdue University

Queens University of Charlotte

Radford University

Randolph-Macon College

Rice University

Roanoke College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rutgers University (New

Brunswick)

Rutgers University (Newark)

Salem College

Santa Clara University

Seton Hall University

Sewanee: The University of the South

Shaw University

Shenandoah University

Smith College

Southern Illinois University

(Edwardsville)

Southern Methodist University

St. Andrews University

St. John’s University

Tougaloo College

Tufts University

Tuskegee University

Union College

University of Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham

University of California (Berkeley)

University of California (Davis)

University of California (Santa Barbara)

University of California (Santa Cruz)

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Denver

University of Findlay

University of Florida

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Maine

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

University of Massachusetts (Amherst)

University of Massachusetts (Boston)

University of Mississippi

University of Mount Olive

University of Nevada (Las Vegas)

University of North Carolina at

Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

University of North Carolina

Wilmington

University of North Florida

University of Oregon

University of Richmond

University of Rochester

University of South Carolina

University of South Florida

University of Southern California

University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Dallas

University of Texas at San

Antonio

University of Virginia

University of Virginia’s College at Wise

University of Washington

Valdosta State University

Villanova University

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia State University

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest University

Walsh University

Washington State University

Wellesley College

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Western Carolina University

Wingate University

Winston-Salem State University

Wofford College

Xavier University of Louisiana

Members of the Class of 2023 celebrate their college acceptances and decisions.

2023

5 QUESTIONS WITH FACULTY DR. FRANCIS YUN

1. WHY TEACH AT CHATHAM HALL?

I always wanted to teach at an institution like Chatham Hall where we have curious students, committed faculty members, and an overall vibrant community. The students have a strong love for music that I feel I can nurture. The beautiful Kleuker organ, and the amazing Kingston harpsichord (which we have named “Bessie”) don’t hurt either!

2. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT MUSIC PROGRAMS?

The arts are an essential part of life. Involvement in arts is training in problem solving, and I feel that music education is as imperative as studying English or mathematics. Chatham Hall has such a wonderful tradition of music, and I am happy to contribute in my own way to this legacy.

3. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ITEM IN YOUR CLASSROOM, AND WHY?

Have I mentioned the amazing Kingston harpsichord? Other than that, I get to consider St. Mary’s Chapel my classroom and it has amazing acoustics. A recent guest artist, oboist Dr. Nermes Mieses, raved about the acoustics following her performance. It’s truly a beautiful space.

4. HOW DOES MUSIC PLAY A PART IN BUILDING CHATHAM HALL’S COMMUNITY?

Having Chapel three times per week is an important part of bringing together Chatham Hall’s community. There is the majesty of singing “Lift High the Cross” at Convocation and Baccalaureate, and we are bringing back “Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart” at the last Chapel before a break. Our Lessons & Carols service and annual Pageant wouldn’t be the same without music. And of course we have the Alma Mater and our own Birthday Song, and even singing the blessing before seated meals all bring together the voices of our community.

5. WHAT IS YOUR BEST CHATHAM HALL MEMORY?

The January Term Expo is such a great example of our students stepping out of their comfort zones and showcasing what they learned during their two-week explorations into personal interests. When I was asked to direct January Term, I was excited by the challenge and was glad to see it come to fruition with the success of our students.

5 QUESTIONS WITH STAFF TAMMY WATERS

1. WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO CHATHAM HALL?

I grew up in the area but moved away right after getting married. Then my husband, Dan, received an offer to return to Danville to teach at the public high school, and I was excited to return. When I applied to work at Chatham Hall, I remember being struck by the beauty of the campus the first time I drove up. I started working here in August 1990, more than 32 years ago, which is crazy to think about!

2. HOW HAS THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT IN THE RECTOR’S OFFICE EVOLVED?

When I started here, one requirement for the position was being able to take shorthand. At the time, Rector Jerry “Dutch” Van Voorhis dictated letters most mornings and I typed everything on a typewriter. I did not get a computer until the summer of 1997, then it was a couple more years before we had email. My day-today activities have changed a great deal since the early ’90s when most involved preparing correspondence and scheduling meetings. I now attend

Board of Trustees meetings and take the minutes, help with some School’s traditions and events, work with others on planning the annual calendar, and much more. I might have an idea of what I will be working on each day but most days something unexpected comes up. There’s nothing boring about this job.

3. WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?

I think the most rewarding part of the job is watching wonderful young women develop from the time they arrive at Chatham Hall until they graduate, and then even on into adulthood. I love hearing about their careers and accomplishments years after they graduate, and seeing pictures of their babies. Now I see a second generation as some of our students are daughters of alumnae from the 1990s and early 2000s.

4. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY?

For me, being at Chatham Hall is not just a job. It’s a very close-knit, caring

community and I have been very blessed to work with some absolutely wonderful people who are like a second family to me (including six rectors or heads of School). And my husband started teaching technology and math classes at Chatham Hall five years ago. He has also been a sponsor of the TuTu Turtles robotics team since its creation in 2012. Participating in seated meals and Advisory outings with him, not to mention attending robotics competitions, has added an extra dimension for me to get to know the students.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHATHAM HALL TRADITION?

My favorite is the Lantern Ceremony. I look forward to watching it every year, and I love how it represents the passing of leadership. There’s so much meaning in the songs and it’s truly beautiful to watch. I was honored to be named an Honorary Alumna in May 2020, and my daughter (Kathryn ‘14) dripped wax into my ring using a candle Cathy “La” LaDuke gave me from one of the School’s lanterns. It was a very special moment for me.

OUT & ABOUT alumnae news

Simanskis '15 Follows Love of Sports to NHL

Emily Simanskis ’15 has followed her love of sports directly to the National Hockey League (NHL) where she works as a social media coordinator for the Chicago Blackhawks.

After earning degrees in journalism and sports journalism from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Simanskis interned with the National Football League’s (NFL) Denver Broncos for the 2019 season. From there, she became a social media intern with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes in 2020 before the global COVID-19 pandemic ended that experience.

“Because the professional sports world had come to a grinding halt, from July 2020 to August 2022 I lived and worked in Sheridan, Wyoming as a sports reporter and social media manager for a junior hockey team,” she said. “That experience led to my current position with the Chicago Blackhawks as a social media coordinator.”

Simanskis points to her experiences at Chatham Hall as the foundation for her professional path.

“Being surrounded by faculty, staff, and peers who fearlessly and wholeheartedly believed in girls and young women made me confident, independent, and ultimately successful throughout college and my professional career,” she noted.

“Chatham Hall taught me that the best way to support women is to support each other personally and professionally and, in the wake of my mother's death, I learned that Chatham Hall's support, from my best friends to staff to peers, is enduring and everlasting.”

During her time at the School, Simanskis was a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team. She competed at the 2015 National Championships in Florida, though that week-long experience takes a backseat in her memory to the IEA Zone Championships at which the team found out they would be going to Nationals.

“Our team had missed the opportunity to qualify for IEA's National Championships the year before, and we were nervous to see if the 2015 team would place in the top three and advance to Nationals,” she explained.

“Chatham Hall's name wasn't called for third place, and we assumed the worst before a follow-up announcement turned our disbelief into elation and many, many hugs and cheers from our team. And the realization that our group would compete at Nationals!”

Other Chatham Hall memories include Samantha Fleming, Simanskis’ Advisor, coach, and “second mom” for three years. Simanskis credits Fleming with teaching her problem solving, leadership, and more.

“She advocated for me and supported me unconditionally, though often with doses of tough love, and treated me as an adult, a hallmark of many faculty and staff at Chatham Hall. I am forever grateful for her support during my time at Chatham Hall and continued love afterwards,” Simanskis said.

To today’s and future Turtles, Simanskis has some simple yet valuable advice.

“It's so cliche, but enjoy the time you have with your friends and the faculty above all else. I cannot remember any of the assignments I stressed over during my time at Chatham Hall, but I can still recall late nights I spent on dorm with friends.”

Alumna Spotlight: Molly Baskin ‘14

For Molly Baskin ’14, memories of Chatham Hall often feature two things: meals at Yardley Dining Hall and legendary faculty member Cathy “La” LaDuke.

“Mealtime was always so fun at Chatham,” she remembered. “I loved when everyone would pull up chairs and sit and laugh together. I feel like we always had the best conversations in Yardley.”

La, known for enjoying a meal and great conversations in Yardley, had a hand in making Baskin feel like part of the Chatham Hall family.

“I was usually one of the last students to leave campus before breaks or holidays, and La would always invite me to hang out and have cookies while most of campus was gone. We would also do frequent Starbucks runs on the weekends. Her taste in music was always a crowdpleaser in the car.”

Being part of a tight-knit community meant a lot to Baskin and was the perfect environment in which to learn more about independence and self-reliance. With meaningful relationships among community members, it was an ideal atmosphere for learning how to support others – something Baskin took with her to Elon University where she double majored in business administration and marketing, with many classes focusing on data analytics.

“My first job out of school was for a tech startup that offered a data analytics platform catering to associations and nonprofits. I held a couple of different positions while I was there, working with engineers internally and externally with clients. Several years later I made the decision to make a career change and

go into a different industry,” she said.

“I found that Mastercard had great offerings, and the people that I met in each interview made me want to work there more and more. I think I interviewed for five or six different positions, with seventeen interviews total, before landing the role I have now. I think one thing to learn from that is you can always try again until you see the result you are looking for. And don’t be discouraged by the answer ‘no!’”

During her journey, Baskin learned a lot about believing in herself while also learning from others.

“Always take a seat at the table when given the opportunity, even if you feel like you don’t ‘deserve’ to be there,” she advised. “Don’t be the one to discredit yourself. And remember that it is important to find mentors to help lead and support you during your career journey. They do not have to be at your company, or on your team, but find people where you can learn from their experiences to help grow and pave your own. It is also ok to have multiple mentors, they can all bring different perspectives.”

Today, in addition to being a senior specialist, product management at Mastercard, Baskin has also found a nonprofit with which to volunteer to help preserve horse accessible land in her local area of Greenwich, Conn. A keen equestrian while at Chatham Hall, she continues this love of riding as often as she can.

Living Well Alumnae Speaker Series Features Wilkes Chand '03

In December, Mary Elizabeth Wilkes Chand ’03 offered an installment of the Living Well Alumnae Speaker Series with “Catching Your Breath This Holiday Season.”

A licensed clinical social worker and board approved clinical supervisor, Wilkes Chand began the event with a mindful check-in, discussed the effects of stress on the body, and offered tips for stress reduction. She

focused on mindfulness as a way to reduce stress and offered advice on practicing mindfulness including getting comfortable, setting a time limit, observing your body, and focusing your attention.

She also discussed how to make mindfulness a habit, including to make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying.

“This was a great way for Chatham Hall alumnae to get together at the start of a busy season, and provide support to one another during what can be a very stressful time,” said Associate Director of Alumnae & Parent Relations Kristin Reese Solomon '08. “It was wonderful to see so many alumnae interested in learning more about how to live well.”

OUT & ABOUT alumnae

Olson ‘96 Releases Debut Album

Erika Olson ’96 has released her debut album, This Is How I Pray.

It may seem an unlikely path for a woman who majored in economics and theology at Boston College followed by earning a J.D. from Wake Forest Law School, but there is a commonality in each step of her career trajectory: using her voice.

“I was always alive to the injustices in the world,” Olson recounted. “In college I volunteered at Rosie’s Place, a women’s shelter in Boston, and at a Jesuit migrant shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. After college I spent a year in Albuquerque, New Mexico as an AmeriCorps Vista with ACCION New Mexico, an organization that provides microloans to small businesses without access to traditional lending institutions. Back home in New York I worked in resource development for a domestic violence shelter. After obtaining my J.D., I made pro bono work a priority, working with Legal Aid of North Carolina very early in my career, chairing the Pro Bono committee of the Mecklenburg County Bar and being named Young Lawyer of the Year because of my volunteer and pro bono work in the community.”

For Olson, who now resides in the United Kingdom, songwriting is a natural extension of the experiences she has had in her life.

“I write songs about the beauty and injustice of everyday life. I’ve found music as a means to make sense of life changes I never saw coming. I write songs of advocacy and connection,” she explained. “I came out of the gate hot but motherhood,

life, and moving to a new country forced me to slow down. And I am so grateful, because in slowing down I’ve just begun to truly live.”

It may seem that with interests in economics, theology, and the law, Olson consequently lacked interest in the arts but this could not be further from the truth. In reality, her interests began to emerge during her time at Chatham Hall.

“I did not identify myself as particularly creative until recently, but when I look back the markers were all there. I played the flute, performed in every school play I could, sang in Sextet, learned photography, and worked on the yearbook. But at the time I had a narrow definition of what qualified as art and because I wasn’t doing that, I just didn’t see myself as creative. Thankfully, I was able to explore so many different activities, disciplines, and facets of myself at Chatham Hall, and it has given me a variety of ways to show up in the world and my life.”

Olson enjoys writing about topics she doesn’t see fully explored in mainstream music, topics like motherhood, mature love, social justice, mental health, and the small moments in life that are easily overlooked. She

credits curiosity as a factor in her songwriting success.

“Be curious. Be curious about the world, your neighbors, your friends, the people you might not consider friends, but mostly be curious about yourself, your needs, desires, passions, interests, strengths, and limitations. Curiosity is a chance to go deeper, know better, see clearer. Curiosity is kindness, love, connection, humility, and respect. A curious heart is an open heart, one open to learning, to loving, to seeing and being seen, to connecting, and to growth.”

To learn more about Erika Olson, visit www.erikaolsonmusic.com.

Photo by Aiste Saulyte Photography

Dr. Dababnah ‘97 & Howard ‘10 Named 2023 Alumnae Award Recipients

At Reunion, May 5-7, Dr. Sarah Dababnah ’97, M.P.H., M.S.W. was honored with the 2023 Distinguished Alumna Award and Jennifer Howard ’10 as the 2023 Leader on the Rise recipient.

The Chatham Hall Distinguished Alumna Award was established in 2010 to recognize standout graduates representing diverse professions and interests. The award recognizes Chatham Hall graduates who embody the characteristics and values of Chatham Hall, such as honor, respect, and integrity.

Dr. Dababnah attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Johns Hopkins University where she earned several advanced degrees. Dr. Dababnah has made a global impact in the realm of health and well-being of families of individuals with intellectual and developmental differences through practice, policy, and research. She is currently an associate professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Social Work; a faculty affiliate at Yonsei University School of Social Welfare, South Korea; and a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. Her research focuses on family-centered, community-engaged, and culturally-relevant strategies to address racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in autism service access.

Dr. Dababnah received specialized training in early childhood and disability practice, research, and policy at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities in Chapel Hill, N.C.; Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, M.D.; Columbia University National Center for Children in Poverty in New York, N.Y.; and Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health in Washington, D.C. She is also a former Peace Corps volunteer and has received numerous honors and distinctions, including the New Investigator Award from the American Public Health Association in 2021. Dr. Dababnah’s research has been published in various respected journals across the span of her career.

The Chatham Hall Leader on the Rise Award was established in 2021 and recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves through creativity, achievement, and/or innovation either in their profession or through commitment to an issue, project, or cause.

A survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Jennifer Howard graduated from Chatham Hall in 2010 after participating in riding, volleyball, Spiritual Life, Bit ‘n Spur, and the Gold Team. Following graduation,

she taught riding in Bermuda, including helping students with disabilities, before starting an undergraduate degree at Brock University in Canada where she graduated with honors in Child and Youth Studies. After receiving both the Bermuda Hospitals Board Scholarship and St. John’s Trust Scholarship, she then traveled abroad to attend the University of Kent in the United Kingdom to study analysis and intervention in intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also earned a Master of Science at Birmingham City University.

After graduating and returning to Bermuda, Howard began her career at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, the only psychiatric hospital in Bermuda, where she spent five years as the assistant psychologist. There, she completed a research project about reducing the use of antipsychotic medications for behavior management, which is currently being submitted to the Journal of Positive Behavior Support. Most recently Howard became the administrator of the K. Margaret Carter Center, a day program facility to help adults with disabilities, mental health conditions, and traumatic brain injuries increase their independence and learn functional and life skills.

In fall 2022, she was named Big Sister of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda. Howard has also formed a charity, Carter House, to fundraise for vulnerable adults to help cover the costs of medical equipment or services, and was named Bermuda’s equestrian coach for the 2023 Berlin Special Olympics in June 2023.

A Conversation with Lisa Richmond '84

From 1985-2022, Lisa Richmond ‘84 was a fixture at Chatham Hall Graduation ceremonies. Whether posing portraits, gathering families, or up on a scaffold at the Lantern Ceremony, for 37 years she was the photographer documenting this milestone for hundreds of Chatham Hall alumnae with only one notable exception: 2020, when Commencement went virtual due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and her own daughter, Jaz Leddy ‘20, graduated.

This year, Lisa is hanging up her camera for graduation and had time to discuss her memories and all that she has been a part of for more than a generation.

1. Tell us about your life after Chatham Hall.

After Chatham Hall, I was looking for a large school in which I could get lost. I attended Syracuse University and studied at the Newhouse School of Public Communications. While there, I met a crew of visionary musicians and artists that changed my perspective; folks that are all still close friends today. We all shared a house brimming with creativity and spontaneity: painting, dancing, textile arts, photography, music, and maybe a few parties. Three bands rehearsed in the basement weekly — definitely not the quietest house on the block. I was studying photojournalism at the time and spending my free time photographing bands. I soon became the manager of a popular local band, Dogtalk, which rehearsed in the basement and with which I later ended up moving to San Francisco to find our fortune. Interested in a more creative role, I became Dogtalk’s live sound engineer when our current engineer was unable to head west with us. While I loved the thrill of live sound and being integral to the performance, I eventually built my own recording studio in a loft in Emeryville and ran it there for about 15 years. It was called Dance Home Sound, and I engineered and produced hundreds of recordings for local bands.

2. How did your time at Chatham Hall influence your life after high school?

Chatham Hall was ultimately a great place for me because my family moved consistently. My father chased business opportunities across the country and Chatham kept me grounded in one high school. I first heard about it as a ninth grader living in Greenwich, Conn. My parents hired a local girl who was home on spring break from a small boarding school in southern Virginia to stay with me while they were out of the country. This was Lauren McClain Kemmerer and her friend Margaret Streit Ben Shoshan ’83.

In tenth grade, my family moved again, this time to Georgia. When I didn’t really find it to my liking, Chatham Hall immediately came to mind. Plus, if Lauren and Margaret went there, it had to be fun! I started at Chatham Hall one week later.

I often tell people that I sometimes felt a bit too secluded at Chatham. Looking back, I can see it was a wonderful period of my life where I was able to learn who I was, the friends I liked to keep, and how to study. As a result of the academic skills I acquired at Chatham Hall, my first year at college was a breeze and I found the transition to a big university easy and welcome. Spending day and night with people,

you acquire lifelong friends and Chatham Hall was a great incubator for that. I also learned what it took to find success, and that success looked different for each of us. At an allgirls’ school, women are the leaders of everything. Chatham Hall set me up to understand that inherently. It’s something I took with me.

3. Which faculty member at Chatham Hall do you remember most?

Mr. Dixon, my sophomore English teacher and Advisor. He was youthful and engaged in the material he taught. He was quirky, funny, and entirely himself. It was easy to connect with him.

Dr. Ann Beal was my senior year English teacher, but I remember

Lisa Richmond ’84 at her Chatham Hall Graduation.

her mostly as a friend. I stayed with her year after year while she lived on campus and while I was just starting to photograph graduations. Once a year, we caught up on all things life. Once she retired, I used to stop in at her place in Hillsborough to visit with her out on her back deck. I miss her. Dr. Mary Edmonds, when awarding the Ann Dickenson Beal English Department Award at graduation, would find me on the ladder while capturing Commencement and with a quick glance we would acknowledge our mutual friend.

One great story: I met up with my precalculus teacher, Mr. Keith Krusz, at a Chatham Hall reunion a couple of decades ago. While I was apologizing for being so challenged by his class, he told me a story I did not know and something that I do carry around with me. He said while his wife was going through some file folders, she found a black dog collar and had to ask him what that was about. Keith explained that, during my junior year, there was a meeting called to discuss my attire and the fact that I wore a dog collar on occasion. My Advisor and many of my teachers, knowing that I was a solid and participatory student regardless of my accessory choices, all showed up to that meeting wearing dog collars in support. His story, while not known at the time, meant everything to me at that reunion a decade later. Those are the stories that make Chatham Hall. (Truthfully? Still waiting to use pre-calculus.)

4. Tell me about your photography. Mr. Van Voorhis, who was Rector from 1981-1997, was someone who believed in me. I’m sure I was a handful at his school, but he took a liking to me. I reached out to ask him to be the main photographer for the 1985 graduation weekend and he loved the idea. As a young alumna, I had enthusiasm for the School and a connection with the students having just been through my own graduation. I understood better than most what the weekend was about. I wanted to capture the friendships, the family, the traditions, and the emotions that really made this graduation so unique. I wanted to capture in photographs what it felt like to be there that weekend and with my Nikon 35mm

film camera in hand/36 exposures per roll, I got started. In context, this was 22 years before the very first iPhone was released. It has been a unique experience to have met and worked with most of the students and families in every single graduating class since 1985. That is a lot of people, a lot of graduates, and I’m privileged to have captured this memorable time for them all.

Currently, I own my own photography business in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, nestled at 4,000 ft between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe. My professional work consists mostly of events and life milestones such as engagements, weddings, pregnancy, kids, families, high school seniors, graduations, anniversaries, and then back around again. It’s my own circular business model and I have been rewarded with a strong repeat customer and referral network. Similar to my previous work as a sound engineer, I love the flexibility of owning a small business, wearing many hats, and thinking on my feet. I’m curious about people and their stories. I enjoy finding a connection and providing the space for them to be themselves in front of my camera. I’m passionate about discovering new ways of seeing things.

5. What advice would you give to a current Chatham Hall student? Dig in for the years you are there. Commit. It’s a safe place to learn how to be successful and productive, and there are mentors everywhere wanting to help you do just that. Sometimes it may seem like graduation will never come, and then all of a sudden it is and you’re crying your eyes out saying your goodbyes. I see this year after year. You will leave Chatham Hall with fond memories and great connections to friends all over the world, ready and well-prepared for what is next.

Thank you, Chatham Hall. Esto perpetua, and go Gold!

Photos courtesy of Lisa Richmond ‘84 from throughout her tenure as graduation photographer.

Alumnae "Catch the Spirit" at Reunion

More than 100 alumnae returned to campus May 5-7 for a “Catch the Spirit”-themed Reunion that invited attendees not only to reconnect with each other, but the spirit of Chatham Hall.

“We really wanted to help our alumnae reconnect not only with their friends and classmates, but also with the spirit of some of our beloved School traditions such as Chapel, a lantern event featuring our seniors, and even a Cookie Break. I think those bits of nostalgia allowed our alumnae to remember why they love Chatham Hall,” said Associate Director of Alumnae & Parent Relations Kristin Reese Solomon ’08.

In addition to beloved traditions, the Reunion schedule also included an interactive student showcase, Parade of Classes, Alumnae Council Silent Auction, a peek at recently renovated faculty housing, an exploration of Curtis’ Garden, and a history of Chatham Hall athletics with School Archivist Dr. Bill Black. Alumnae were also invited to cheer on the Turtles at a Varsity Soccer game, and watch the Riding Program in action at a jumping clinic at Mars Arena.

The Alumnae Association Annual Meeting included Dr. Sarah Dababnah ’96 receiving the Distinguished Alumnae Award and Jennifer Howard ’10 receiving the Leader on the Rise Award. Other award winners included Judy Carter ’63 receiving the Ellie MacVeagh Award as an alumna who best represents the School’s goals for fellow constituents, and Jean Sherrill ’63 receiving the Mildred Harrison Dent Award as an alumna who demonstrates an enthusiastic long-term commitment and devotion to the ideals of Chatham Hall.

Honoring New Trustees Emerita

The Board of Trustees is pleased to honor six former Trustees with the distinction of Trustee Emerita in recognition of their meritorious service and exemplary devotion to Chatham Hall.

Class Agent 2009-Present

Chair 1997-2000

Class Agent 2003-2008

Boundless Potential Honorary Campaign Circle

Boundless Potential Honorary Campaign Circle

Boundless Potential Honorary Campaign Circle

Trustee 2006-2015

Treasurer 2008-2010, 2012-2013

Boundless Potential

Honorary Campaign Circle

Trustee 1980-1987

Chair 1982-1986

Boundless Potential Honorary Campaign Circle

Povy LaFarge Bigbee ’51, G’03, ’09, ’10, ’11 Trustee 1994-2000

Adrienne Mars P’78 Trustee 1985-1990

Linda Mars ’78 Trustee 1998-2005

Lisa Rosenberger Moore ’59

Jean Armfield Sherrill ’63

Lucy McClellan Barrett ’53 Trustee 2008-2017

wellness.

Living Well inspires our community members to reflect on the multi-dimensional nature of their lives and the holistic nature of overall health.

partnership.

From long-time donors to dedicated volunteers, members of the Esto Perpetua Society are confident in the mission of Chatham Hall and are committed to igniting the light for future generations.

empowerment.

At Chatham Hall, it is our mission to equip curious thinkers to lead lives of impact every day.

connection.

During the 2022-2023 school year, we brought our global community together for several meaningful activities including the inaugural I-Fest.

inspiration.

Dedicated faculty and staff share their passions every day, illuminating new possibilities for intellectual growth and curiosity.

The generosity of Esto Perpetua Society members elevates our campus and community by ensuring the longevity of the Chatham Hall experience. Wellness, partnership,empowerment, connection, and inspiration are just some of the pillars of impact made possible by a planned gift.

Learn more about leaving a legacy at Chatham Hall and connect with a gift planning officer today: www.chathamhall.org/plannedgiving

A Stitch in Time: Chatham Hall's History with Textiles

On April 18, 1915, Lucy Chaplin Lee wrote to her mother from the American Church Mission in Anqing, China, that she had begun a “small industrial work” for some of the mothers of the mission’s day school children who were “almost starving.” The work was cross stitch, a traditional needlework craft Lee reported was an adaptation of using “coarse Chinese cloth and Chinese thread for curtains” as well as other items. Initially, the project was only to be “make-shift” while she tried to find something of “real economic value to teach.”

Ultimately, it was the cross stitch that became the important industry. Her Cross Stitch Society eventually employed 140 women, built a suitable building for its operation, and provided health care, education, day care, and nursery care as well as the best wages in Anqing for the women and their families. The company was run as a cooperative with an elected Workers’ Council making decisions.

Unfortunately, the flourishing industry was closed by the Kuomintang Revolution of 1927 and Lee and her husband Edmund were forced to leave China. Fortunately for Chatham Hall, the Lees arrived in 1928 having been invited to try to revive the small, struggling girls’ boarding school that, ironically, was located just outside of Danville — the home of textile giant Dan River Inc. The Lees remained at Chatham Hall until 1949.

Fast forward to almost a century later, and textile arts are still going strong at Chatham Hall with Mrs.

Sheppard “Shep” Morrison leading the way. Originally hired in 2001 with duties that included sewing costumes for the Theatre Department, Morrison began a formalized quilting program at the School just after 2010.

“When the iQuest program was developed, I thought that this was great for quilting, so I designed an iQuest program for four students,” she explained. “They had to apply for it, and I taught the history and methodology of quilting. That included art and design, color work, form, rhythm, and more. We learned about the history of quilting through modern quilting. I remember the day I taught about protest quilting, quilting to move people, and one student was really on fire about that. She realized that she could express a lot through the fabric. That was a great program.”

As part of the iQuest, the School bought the initial equipment that would be needed for quilting and other textile arts, and a room was dedicated in Dabney Hall. Morrison and longtime Chatham Hall teacher and honorary alumna Mrs. Alice Cromer Van Lennep both donated from their own fabric stashes to keep the program supplied. Students began to use the Quilt Room each weekend when Morrison ran an open studio. Students familiar with the machine would come to the room to sew and mend, and it became very popular at Halloween and in the run up to Formal. Lily Fulop ’14, who went on to publish Wear, Repair, Repurpose with Countryman Press/W.W. Norton & Company, often used the room independently.

“Then we started doing outreach for charitable or community quilting,” Morrison said. “We would join a group in South Boston to sew with them for an afternoon. We made Quilts of Valor for injured soldiers returning from service. It was wonderful to see our girls connect with these women. Unfortunately, COVID shut that down, as well as the open studio times.”

Throughout this time Morrison also recruited other teachers for a quilting club, Quilt Pro Quo. When Chatham Hall launched a January Term program in 2022, Morrison saw it as a natural opportunity to reintroduce quilting to the community. In January 2023, Quilt! had room for six students and all available spaces went to seniors.

“The students love quilting. They love working with colors, they love being intentional in design, they like having something physical at the end of the process. They also like that it allows them to spend time with their friends doing something joyful. I am amazed at all that they get from quilting,” said Morrison.

In addition to designing quilt patterns that rely on geometry, quilting also requires problem solving, the fundamentals of color theory and sewing machine usage, perseverance, and project management. In Morrison’s class, cooperation and collaboration are also required to create a group quilt as well as individual pieces.

For the students themselves, learning to quilt is as much about tapping into a cultural resurgence in textile arts and crafting as it is about spending time with friends, designing personal projects, and learning useful skills.

The explosion of “Stitch ‘n Bitch” groups following the publication of Debbie Stoller’s 1999 book of the same name has brought what was once viewed as domestic work back to the fore. Current students have become interested in techniques like embroidery as a means of increasing sustainability, with an Embroidery and Sustainability workshop offered as part of this year’s G.I.R.L.S. Day. Virtual platforms like Etsy, Shopify, and Amazon Handmade have allowed textile artists and crafters to sell their works like never before and Chatham Hall’s own social entrepreneurship program has evolved into a resource for students interested in creating their own businesses, much as Lee did a century ago.

“Quilting is cool,” said Lily Shaheen ’23. “It’s definitely trendy right now. I took the January Term class and learned a new activity that I can take with me. I love that I can hang out with my friends while making something that I can sell and use to make money, or just give as a gift to friends.”

For Sunny Xu ’23, gifting her quilt was a main goal of enrolling in the Quilt! class. “I love the sense of accomplishment I get when I finish a quilt and can actually use it. I’m going to give my quilt to my parents. Since I’m studying abroad, I know they miss me and having my quilt will be a comfort. And it’s a stereotype that quilting isn’t for teenagers. Everyone can do what they want to do!”

Thank you to Chatham Hall Historian Dr. Bill Black for providing the information relating to Lucy Lee’s entrepreneurship.

Sarah “Fish” Leineweber ’23, Ella Bowers-Young ‘23, Anny Lin ‘23, Sunny Xu ‘23, and Emily Wang ‘23 explore quilting during January Term.

Chatham Hall 101 Reimagined for Newest Generation of Turtles

By Susan Johnston Taylor

Chatham Hall 101 was originally designed as a program to not only introduce the School’s New Girls to its history and traditions, but also give them strategies for adjusting to a new environment, managing associated emotions, and more. Like so many things, the program paused during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

In summer 2022, Frankie Beyer stepped into the new role of assistant director of community life and wellbeing and was charged with reimagining Chatham Hall 101 for a post-pandemic world.

“My focus has really been about the skills our students need to have to be successful at Chatham Hall,” she said. “I’ve really looked at how we can teach them those skills during their first semester here so that they can be the most successful.”

Reinstated in fall 2022, Chatham Hall 101 once again helped New Girls acclimate through weekly meetings centered on topics strategically timed to match the life of the School.

“We’re helping them navigate those first ten or so weeks of school and preparing them for the roadblocks and challenges that they’re going to face before they face them,” Beyer explained.

To kick off the program, participants learned about support structures at the School — everything from how and when to use an Advisor to where to go for assistance with technology. The group also learned about the Honor Code, Purple & Golden Rule, and White Flag, tenets upon which Chatham Hall’s community norms are founded.

“We did that before our Picnic Honoring the New Girls and our Honor Chapel where everyone at Chatham Hall signs the Honor Code,” Beyer said. “We wanted to make sure our new students really understood what the Honor Code means here before they signed it.”

Also in Chatham Hall 101 curriculum is study skills timed to be taught ahead of students’ first big projects, and socialemotional skills such as navigating relationships.

“For a lot of our new students, this is the first time that they have lived away from home and away from their parents,” Beyer said. “They’re living in community all day, every day. There’s not really an off time when you don’t have to interact with other people, so we want to help them learn good

communication skills and how to deal with conflict in a healthy way.”

The program partnered with the One Love Foundation, a nonprofit founded to honor the unnecessary and tragic death of Yeardley Love by engaging young people through films and conversations about healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors.

“We discuss relationship behaviors in terms of a romantic relationship, but also in terms of friendships,” Beyer said. “It has helped students recognize how their friendships are going, and if they need to have some open communication with their friends about how to make their relationships better and stronger.” These lessons had an impact on this year’s new students.

“Chatham Hall 101 helped me settle into life at school by showing me how to navigate uncomfortable social situations that might arise in a boarding school environment,” reported Marilyn Mack ’26, who enjoyed the real-life scenario format of the lessons.

For Anaiah “Ana” Charway ’26, having Honor Council members lead some of the programming was invaluable, as were the scenarios Mack noted.

“Chatham Hall 101 helped me settle in by teaching me how to manage my classes and friendships, and keep a balance between the two,” she said. “I learned about different ways to solve problems and how to make the best use of your time during the day. The Honor Council came in to teach us about how to use our emotions to solve problems and about being an upstander instead of a bystander. We were in groups and were given fake scenarios to see if we could come up with the best solutions for the problems.”

It is a goal of Beyer’s that all of the lessons and activities in Chatham Hall 101 contribute to building community at the School.

“We’re hoping that the girls are taking away some tangible skills but also hoping that a big takeaway is that they feel at home and like they have a place here,” she said. “It helps them get to know other students, start to have those tough conversations, and learn just what it means to be a true student at Chatham Hall.”

In spring 2024, Chatham Hall introduced a new program to help seniors feel ready to take on the world off campus. The health and wellness focused Chatham 401 program not only equips these students with more life skills, but offers them a space to ask questions before heading off on their next adventures.

Expanding on lessons taught in both January Term and College Counseling, the inaugural Chatham 401 was led by Nurse Lynne Maddox and content was specifically chosen to introduce skills and knowledge to care for oneself in the world outside of Chatham Hall.

Sessions focused on the broad topics such as medication management, first aid care, self care, and medical insurance. Students were able to ask questions and explore everything from ending an unhealthy relationship to understanding the drawbacks of popular energy drinks to where to find reliable health-related information online. How to stay healthy, manage time efficiently, and be proactive about one’s own health and wellness were also discussed.

While discussing caring for one’s self, Maddox mantra was: “Just do it. Only you can take care of you. Find what you need to do for self care and make that a priority. You are worth taking care of!”

“Chatham Hall 101 helped me settle into life at school by showing me how to navigate uncomfortable social situations that might arise in a boarding school environment.”

Introducing Chatham 401

SENIOR CHAPEL TALKS

One of the Greatest Gifts We Can Give

Imagine having the opportunity to give a talk as a high school senior to your entire school, teachers included. Imagine being able to deliver a message of your choice, something you think is important for others to know about you or is a culmination of your experiences as a high school student. Imagine having the opportunity to select others to read quotes, passages from literature or theological texts, or even song lyrics that feel important to you and then speak about their relationships with you. Imagine having the chance to express yourself not only in words, but also in song, dance, writing, or other artistic works if you so desire. For decades of Chatham Hall graduates, this is not something to imagine but rather the established tradition of Senior Chapel Talks.

“Senior Chapel Talks were in their infancy when I gave mine” recalls Eleanor Burke ’86. “My senior class may have been the first or second year of Senior Chapel Talks, at least in more recent history. They were a relatively new brainchild of then- Rector Jerry ‘Dutch’ Van Voorhis and our Episcopal minister and religion instructor Dr. John Ruef. None of us had been coached in public speaking; some of us were just fortunate to be rambunctious, fearless, or theatrical.”

Burke will never forget the date she delivered her Senior Chapel Talk in St. Mary’s Chapel. It was Jan. 28, 1986, the day the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on live television just 73 seconds into flight. All seven astronauts on board including America’s first teacher-in-space, Christa McAuliffe were killed.

“I happened to be reading Leo Buscaglia’s Living, Loving & Learning, and truly identified with his hug-mentality, his celebration of being different, and how risktaking in life brought growth, happiness and success,” says Burke.

“My talk came together pretty easily for me, but on the day of the service I froze, and took a long pause before reading my last quote from Leo Buscaglia. I had to focus on the quote, and use my finger on my paper, at every line, and read it very slowly, especially that last sentence: ‘To live is to risk dying. I’m ready for it. Don’t you dare shed one tear if you hear that Buscaglia blew up in the air or dropped dead. He did it with enthusiasm.’

“I will never forget that, or the gasps and rustling from my friends in St. Mary’s Chapel when I finished. My talk, with this quote, had been approved months

prior, and here I was, on this day, somehow addressing a real moment in history. To say this blew my mind is an understatement. I have never forgotten anything about that day. Reflecting on it now, it still sends chills.”

For alumna Kristin Reese Solomon ’08, there was no national disaster by which to remember the day of her Senior Chapel Talk but she will never forget the memory of her mother and grandmother in St. Mary’s Chapel.

“My mom and my Nana were there, unfortunately my dad couldn’t get away from work,” she remembers. “I intentionally picked a day that was close to my birthday and a long weekend. I spoke about always struggling with change and accepting change, and how I was going to college and I knew that it was my time to embrace it. I also talked about moving from a public school to Chatham Hall, and all of the challenges and opportunities that came with it, and how much growth I went through as a result.” Solomon often thinks back to her Senior Chapel Talk, especially while she continues to experience change throughout her life.

“As an adult, I know that the one constant in life is change.

Everything keeps changing, often not in ways you expect. Even when you think you have life figured out, it’s going to change again. The process of writing my Senior Chapel Talk gave me time and space for really good introspection, and let me figure some things out about myself that will stick with me forever. Whenever I have a significant change after a life event, I often think of my Senior Chapel Talk.”

This time and space for introspection is a hallmark of the Senior Chapel Talk process, now overseen by Dean of the Chapel and Spiritual Life Beth Barskdale, the School’s chaplain.

“A Senior Chapel Talk is an important and significant rite of passage for each graduating Senior. These services are also a public and communal celebratory response from our community. Unlike some schools which offer seniors a chance to give a tenminute talk during a chapel service, we have created an opportunity for our students to fully express themselves by designing an entire program that articulates who they are. In many ways, the service is a story of their transformative experience while at Chatham Hall,” she says. “But it can also be a message about an important virtue of the senior, or a guiding principle or perspective.

“Though I shepherd the process, the senior creates the entire liturgy for a thirty-minute service. They decide the main focus of their message and they build components around that which comprise the

liturgy. This includes the opening and closing words, the hymns, texts, prayers, and blessing, all of which is meant to bring clarity and focus to the Senior’s main discourse, the Chapel Talk itself.

“Offered with honesty and humility, Senior Chapel Talk services offer insight into our individual and collective experiences and illuminate our shared humanity. For these thirty minutes, we celebrate a senior whose message is one that is fully embodied, and understood in a way that the community carries it forward wherever they go.”

The process formally begins at the end of a student’s junior year, when Chaplain Barksdale publishes the Chapel Talk schedule and encourages students to begin thinking about their messages. Many correspond with her over the summer, sharing initial thoughts and refining ideas into specific reflections.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Francis Yun, our musical director, and Mother Becky, our part-time Episcopal Priest serving on our Chapel team,” she says.

Sixty days before a Senior Chapel Talk date, the real work begins. Students begin receiving reminders about their upcoming talk, and both Dr. Yun and Mother Becky serve as helpful resources.

Dr. Yun focuses on the musical components and often an artistic expression. Likewise, if a senior requests Communion before or

Top: Anna B. Davis ‘22 gives her Senior Chapel Talk.

Middle: Eleanor Burke’s ‘86 handwritten Senior Chapel Talk.

Middle: Marisol Helms ‘23 gathers with friends for a celebratory picture after her talk.

Bottom: Kristin Reese Solomon ‘08 with Caroline Gibson ‘09 and Kasey Sakellaris Engel ‘08 on the day of her Senior Chapel Talk.

during their talk, Mother Becky serves as the Celebrant.

“While many students have a strong inclination of what they want their main discourse to be, others are uncertain,” says Barksdale. “I might give them writing prompts or have them journal to explore various ideas. Through these efforts, inevitably a specific theme surfaces. For many, the theme of a journey comes up. For others it’s an aspect of themselves that they’ve really learned to celebrate — not because they want others to congratulate them, but instead because public affirmation is important to their journey. For others it might be answering a really profound question like ‘What is happiness?’”

At least two weeks before the date of a service, the student works with Barksdale to build the program itself. Some choose to design it themselves, viewing it as another form of expression and an opportunity to engage skills in graphic design and multimedia, while others choose to use the School’s traditional template. Finally, with the program in its final draft and all music and speaker tributes approved, Barksdale schedules a full rehearsal with all student participants. While the overall rehearsal is usually straightforward, Barksdale meets as

many times as needed for a senior to feel comfortable. For some students this is a single practice session, for others it is multiple back-to-back sessions.

“It was such an amazing experience working with Chaplain Barksdale,” says Nuura Abdilaahi ’23. “We spent hours in St. Mary’s Chapel rehearsing and working on ways to make my reflection more engaging. It showed me how much effort and energy Chaplain Barksdale spends working with every student to make them feel special on their Senior Chapel Talk day and to ensure they feel confident.”

For students and faculty alike, Senior Chapel Talks are a way to come together to not only celebrate a specific senior but to learn from them and perhaps be inspired by them as well.

“Senior Chapel Talks are a great opportunity for the community to learn more about each of us, and I personally relate to all of the talks and learn from their experiences. It’s very helpful for me and the other students who are younger than the seniors,” says Vicky Gao ’24.

“I play piano and I sing, and I already have a song that I wrote that I’d like to perform at my Senior Chapel Talk. It’s about feminism,

so I think it’s very meaningful and would work well to sing after I give my reflection. I have a lot of things that I want to talk about, but I think mostly I’ll focus on growth and change. I still have some time to think about it. I also might want to talk about the importance of confidence as well.”

For Barksdale, the Senior Chapel Talk is not only a communal experience, but a sacred process by which Chatham Hall students come to learn about themselves, explore their worlds, consider their plans, and ultimately share a precious part of themselves with others.

“I think our Senior Chapel program is one of the greatest gifts that we as a school can give our seniors because it gives them permission to stop, and think, and consider themselves — who they are and who they want to be,” she says. “It offers them the opportunity to fully express themselves and to boldly say ‘hello world, this is me.’ This is something they will have for a lifetime of decisions to come.”

Stephanie Zhang ’20 gives her Senior Chapel Talk in St. Mary’s Chapel.

Madelyn Boltz ‘22 and friends perform a song during her Senior Chapel Talk.

GROUND BREAKING

This year’s Alumnae Reunion included a special event: the groundbreaking for the new athletics, health, and wellness center to be built on the site of the current Gym. Chatham Hall Board of Trustees Chair Alison Carter-Cady ’91 and Vice Chair Michelle Thomas Supko ’02 broke ground first, while Chatham Hall’s Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hiltwine struck a hole in the gym wall to symbolize the impending demolition. Following the ceremony, alumnae and students alike were invited to “make their mark” on the building with festive purple and gold spray paint.

“This was a wonderful day for Chatham Hall,” said Chief Advancement Officer Christine Cutright Knight P’19. “Our Boundless Potential campaign is bringing to life a dream that has been decades in the making, and it’s hard to believe that we are now so close to a state-of-the-art facility which will offer our students a destination to explore all of the facets of Living Well.”

The Boundless Potential campaign kicked-off in October 2022 and is Chatham Hall’s most ambitious fundraising initiative in history. To learn more, visit www.chathamhall.org/boundlesspotential.

CLASS NOTES

1946

Katherine Springs Milnor

Still enjoying life in my own home, living next door to Chatham Hall alumnae Walker Johnson Jones ’70. I would love to hear from any of my classmates.

1950

Kathleen “Roo” Herty Brown

I’m teaching a course at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. It’s called 1862-1863. I read my great-grandfather’s Civil War letters to his sweetheart and then talk about what else is happening in the world. This includes art, literature, music, science, sports, exploration, etc.. Loads of work, but loads of fun. And singing, as usual in choir, Mixed Blessings, and I lead a chorus called Elder Moments. Shades of the Senior Quartet. Lewes, Delaware has all one could possibly want!

Cynthia Murray Henriques

I was sorry to hear of Westy Childs Lovejoy’s death. She was a good friend, and we kept in touch over the years. We were members of the Riding Club, roommates our freshman year. She was one accomplished lady, and I’ll miss her. I’m still on the farm at Skyline Farm. We had a wonderful sleigh day with about 200 people. The kids particularly enjoyed the sleigh rides. I’m still able

to play the piano - the old fingers still work.

1951

Ann Cochran McCandless I had a hip replacement in April and am getting along fine. I send best wishes to all of my remaining classmates of 1951.

1953

Lucy McClellan Barrett

I have had the pleasure of speaking with some classmates in recent weeks. Judy Ruffin Anderson ’53 reports that she is “hanging in there.” She recently moved to Winchester, VA to be closer to her son, Billy. Now she is on one floor and sounds very content. She has a married grandson who works for IBM and a granddaughter who is a child psychologist. I caught Bran Lackey Johnston ’53 sitting in a sunny window doing embroidery for her children and grandchildren. Working with her hands and keeping up with friends and walking with husband, Jim, keep her occupied. She emphasized how very happy she was during her years at Chatham Hall. Linda Lovelace Brownrigg ’53 and I had a wonderful catch-up. Linda divides her time between California and England. She describes her English life as “easier” in a delightful village in the Cotswolds with clematis growing in profusion and

lovely neighbors nearby. Sounds idyllic! Doris “Didi” Silliman Stockly ’53 sadly lost her husband, Holmes, in 2021. Their children and grandchildren are helping to fill the void he left behind. They enjoy summers on the coast of Casco Bay, Maine in a house Holmes designed. Recently, Didi traveled to Spain and Portugal with three of her grandchildren and had a marvelous time. She says that “they took good care of me!” Barkie Billings Supplee ’53 continues to enjoy the senior retirement community outside Philadelphia where she has lived for the past five years. She is in good health and busy with lectures, concerts, walking, and friends old and new. Her three daughters are spread out in Washington state, Colorado and Virginia. On my end, life is good. Johnny and I celebrated our 65th wedding anniversary in December over New Year’s and had a fabulous family reunion (16 strong) in Punta Mita, Mexico. With the exception of our son, David, our children and grandchildren all live on the West Coast so we have to travel to get together. I am looking forward to a trip to Paris in the spring with my son, Jamie, to visit his daughter and our only granddaughter (7 grandsons!) who is studying there. Meanwhile, I am brushing up on my French! Unfortunately, I end on a very sad note.

Our dear and beloved classmate, Susan Elder Martin, passed away in November after numerous health issues. What fun we had at Chatham Hall. She was a very special friend. We kept up by phone over the years and happily, we were together at our 50th Reunion. Susan lived out her life in Chattanooga surrounded by lots of family and friends and was a force in her community. She will be missed by many. I hope to contact more of you by phone before the Fall Chat but, in the meantime, I would love to hear from you with your news or news of other classmates. My contact is: 203-869-3769. We shared such a special time in the ‘50s. Chatham Hall still stands strong!

1954

Donna Vroman Kreidler David and I are residents of Vero Beach, Florida, but we spend summers in Rumson, New Jersey. Our house is the one in which I lived!

1955

Anne Sallee Slater

After 50 years of living in Pacific Palisades, CA, Cliff and I moved to Port St. Lucie, FL. We still spend summers in Portsmouth, RI. I’d love to see any classmates in either place! I am still in the antique business and am now doing shows in Stuart and West Palm Beach. Come see me!

1957

Alice Williams Vining

I now live in Hanover, NH, which is only about 40 minutes from New London, NH where Janie Huntley Webster ’57 lives. We had a good catch up together in October.

1958

Leila McConnell Daw

Kate Bulkley ’77 and I traveled to most of the well known wonders of Egypt, including the less frequently visited sites of Dendera and Abydos, on a 12 day whirlwind tour in November, with Kate’s husband Ross and my grandson Brennan. Our Chatham educations made our adventures even more fascinating!

Ethel Baskerville Powell

My dear, darling Pete died on Jan. 2nd. He had been seriously ill for over a year, but he had a long and happy life. He was 86. I felt so fortunate that we were married for 55 years. He was sharp as a tack and barrels of fun. Everyone loved Pete. So many happy memories, and some hilarious ones!

Would love to see any of you if you are ever in Richmond, VA. My cell phone number is 804382-4838. Don’t even think of passing through without a visit, if only for 5 minutes.

1959

Margot Cushing

I’m glad COVID is over. I have resumed work as a travel planner. Last year I took two wonderful trips: to Piedmont Wines in Italy and a small cruise ship from Dover up to Western Isles and back. Highlights were the Waterford Museum and visiting Agatha Christie’s “Greenway” home in Devon and the Devil’s Causeway.

1960

Simone Crockett

Our class Zooms have been quite popular. Attendees so far: Marty, Toni, Denny, Noree, Margot, Katrina, Sharon, Frances, Jane, A, Audie, Carol, Jo, Carolyn, Marion, and Mary Duncan. Good stories, good memories and we are looking great!

Margaret “Miggie” Lloyd Keuler

This fall, with my sister, I went to Lima, Peru and Quito, Ecuador and learned so much about their cultures. The highlights were flying over the Nazca and figures, exploring part of the Peruvian Amazon, climbing around Machu Picchu, and last but not least revisiting the Galapagos Islands. We were with a very convivial group of 11. It was a spectacular adventure,

definitely once in a lifetime. The only aspect which slowed me down was the altitude of Cuzco (over 11,000 feet).

Eleanore “Noree”

Lee

Two of my four grandchildren are applying to law school (that’s half the population). I’m still writing poetry. Meditation helps my mental health. Love to all.

Sharon Rafferty Patterson

I have enjoyed our class meetings via Zoom. We’re all looking pretty good for 80!

1967

Anne Bryant

Serving on a few boards has kept me energized and allowed me to contribute to some great organizations. Starting

because of COVID and Zoom explosion! My three sisters (Cynthia, Rosie and Alida, all Chatham grads) and our partners gather every Sunday evening for a glass of wine and catch up!

Debbie Humphreys Jones

I have had some wonderful visits in Atlanta and Roswell with Chathamites about the exciting campaign to build a comprehensive Wellness facility. I hope all will support the Boundless Potential Campaign! I’ve also had a wonderful trip to Africa and Israel this year.

1968

Muffy Dent Stuart

Life is good in Kentucky and I’m looking forward to seeing classmates in May at Chatham!

Top: Muffy Dent Stuart ’68 with her family.

Bottom: Muffy Dent Stuart ’68, Lucy Williams Maish ’68, Jessica Bell Nicholson ’67, and Dana Paulson Davis ’64 at dinner in Lexington, KY.

Alice Williams Vining ‘57 and Janie Huntley Webster ’57.

1969

Ann “Annie” Watson

I published my book about my maternal grandparents’ life in November. “Service and Family: Ann Bauer and Norman Dingman” is available at Bookemon. com. I’m now working on one about my paternal grandparents. I’m also still doing Vermont research for genealogy clients and writing howto articles for several genealogy publications as well as family stories. The Champlain Valley of Vermont is beautiful as always.

1970

Ninna Fisher Denny

Our granddaughter, Beatrice, and I went to Chatham for an interview in November. The school looks terrific and the students vibrant. After Beatrice attended a Senior English class, she looked so happy. We had a great time staying in the Blacks’ cottage. They and their son made our visit to the school the best it could be! Do return to Chatham Hall when you have a chance! I also caught a glimpse of Nina Johnson Botsford ’72 in Florida in January while visiting a mutual friend.

Katherine “Kathy”

Washburne Reimelt

Larry and I made a detour to Chatham in October to visit the campus during our southern road trip.

Polly Smith

Surprise, surprise! This fall my husband Bill and I

relocated to Chapel Hill, NC from Maine. It’s a joy to reconnect with classmate Louise McReynolds who is here, and others living in the south, like Sara Johnson and Helen Mirkil. I am enjoying many tennis games outside in “winter,” places to paint, and simply exploring new horizons. We’ll be back in Maine for the hot summer.

1971

Irene Grant

I am an empty nester divorcee poised for change! Both my sons are off into their adventures; one a multitalented musician/actor in Hollywood; the other a wildlife conservation scientist in Boston. I feel like I don’t belong where I live anymore - Tarrytown, Westchester, NY- and should be relocating since most of my medical career is now via Zoom or phone. My current area of dedication, as an Infectious Disease specialist with expertise in immune deficiencies, is illness from hazardous indoor “sick-building” microbial and toxin exposures. How my past training in Chinese

Medicine and acupuncture fits in remains to be seen. Oh well. COVID quarantining helped me free-up from the grind trying to keep a medical office going - and to recover from burn-out I had ignored. I have been a hermit for way too long, only linking up with Lydia Selby or Holly Davidson Nagy. All hellos and suggestions welcome!!!

Email: ihg1md@gmail.com

1972

Julie Cleveland

No photos yet, but will be in France with Marion “Dolly” Harris and Sallie Wise, all Class of 1972.

1973

Margaret “Peggy” Sugino

I hope everyone’s been healthy and surviving the winter. Things have been mostly calm in my little corner of southwestern Ohio. I am looking forward to our 50th Reunion happening this spring, May 5-7. I want all of us to be at Chatham and prove once again, ours is the greatest class of all!

1974

Anne Wynn Weissinger

For the past 15 years I have been a School Counselor and teacher in a small private school in my town. I have taught a number of classes including middle school and high school English and Literature, elementary school and high school Spanish, middle school and high school Art, Psychology, and Spanish.

1975

Julia Morris Kashkashian

I was delighted to catch up with two classmates on a recent trip to western NC. Mary Archer Willis Vann and I met up a couple times to fill in the blanks of 48 years! We discovered a shared passion for nature, gardens, wildlife and the outdoors. It was a wonderful experience to pick up seamlessly, even with so much time gone by. We agreed we’ll need to get together again for more time, SOON! On the same visit I spent a night with Margaret

Louise McReynolds ’70, Polly Smith ’70, and Sara Johnson ’70 met for lunch in September 2022.

Left: Kathy Washburne Reimelt ‘70 with husband Larry.

Right: Julia Kashkashian ’75 and Mary Archer Willis Vann ’75.

Towers and her wife Sue Johnsen. That was equally great to relax in their warm home surrounded by rhododendrons and woods. We also caught up on much that has transpired since graduation. The only disappointment of the trip was that Kitty Hancock was traveling so I couldn’t impose myself on her TOO. Next time!

1977

Kate Bulkley

I had a lovely trip with Leila McConnell Daw ’58 in Egypt, with Leila’s grandson Brennan and my husband Ross. It was a fabulous trip. We traveled to most of the well-known wonders of Egypt, including the lessfrequently visited sites of Dendera and Abydos, on a 12-day whirlwind tour in November. Our Chatham educations made our adventures even more fascinating!

Pace Cooke Emmons

My daughter Robin ’14 and I enjoyed a week of fun visiting Kate Bulkley ’77 recently.

1978

Margaret Desmond Dahm

After retiring from the library, I’ve been loving having time to try all sorts of new things. Making patterns for fabric is really fun as it turns out. That’s math, right? I love CH and the way they help every young woman, individually, to have confidence even on the most winding path.

1980

Allison Sutton Fuqua

I just returned from a fabulous trip to South Africa and enjoyed two safaris in different parts of South Africa. I also had another granddaughter born, Mills Owen, and they live in Charleston. Our youngest daughter is still in Charlotte and we see her quite a bit at Lake Murray, South Carolina.

1981

Janet “Jan” Scott

At the ripe old age of 59 I tied the knot with Jeff Hoffman, Md. on May 14, 2022. We’re still in Atlanta but hope to retire to North Carolina soon!

1982

Karen Gates Kettler

Our second grandchild was born in October 2022 to our son David in San Francisco. Our daughter Ellen was married in May. She is in her second year of Residency as an ER physician at UCLA-RR.

1984

Sherry Thompson

Hi Classmates! I officially retired from United Airlines as an international flight attendant after 32 years. I have traveled to well over 80 countries and lived in Hong Kong, Japan and London, England to name a few. I currently reside in Los Angeles and am preparing where I wish to live in my retirement. Kimberly is doing well and is living in Sarasota, FL. Perhaps she and I will attend the next Reunion.

Leila McConnell Daw ’58 and Kate Bulkley ’77 at the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt.

Left & Top Right: Jan Scott ‘81 and husband Jeff Hoffman.

Right Bottom: Bottom: Sherry Thompson ’84 celebrating her retirement.

Bottom: Jennifer Gammill McKay ’84 celebrating Sarah Crosby McKay ’20’s 21st with one of her lanterns!

1998

Kerry O’Neill Irwin

I met up with Elaine Lao Campbell ’98 at the Mint Museum in Charlotte in January. We’re looking forward to our 25th Reunion!

2001

Katherine Currin

I am Managing Partner at MCC Law Group in Hampton Roads, VA. I have also recently renovated Nectar Landing, a vacation rental in Nelson County, VA. In my spare time, I spend time with my daughters Maya (8) and Sara (6) doing basketball, painting, and singing.

2003

JaQuette Page Gilbert

I can’t believe it’s been almost 20 years since graduating! Lots has happened. Last October, I officially began Baked Joyfully, LLC. It started as a therapeutic outlet during quarantine and grew into more. I even won our State Fair competition!

Greg and I can’t believe our oldest will be a Senior next year, and our younger two aren’t far behind. I’m still a school counselor by day at a virtual public charter school and I enjoy what I do. Can’t wait to see everyone at Reunion!

2006

Laura Rand Matheny

Our sweet son, Maxwell “Max” Rand Matheny, was born on September 25, 2022. He is a precious little ray of sunshine who reserves his brightest of smiles for devoted big sister Bebe. We are ever grateful for the abundance of joy brought to us by our darling little pair. Wishing you all well!

2008

Lea Lane

I had a very special guest at MESDA in December: Mr. Geoff Braun! It’s a banner day when you get to tour around a teacher who helped inspire your passion for history. Thank you for coming to the Museum!

Eleanor Burke ’86, Leigh Shuford Sparks ’86, Jennifer Chandler Davies ’86, Kerry Alexander ’86, Neta Vasquez ’86 (straw), Hallie Betcher Pettigrew ’86, Michele Motley Wilson ’86, Mary Wiley ’86 (straw), Elizabeth Todd Beall ’86, Alletta Lee Bode-Griss ’86, Flora Garner-Platt ’86, Mary Freed ’86, Barry Kudner O’Brien ’86, Carrie Bingham ’86 in Greenville, SC last October for a mini-reunion.

Top Left: Kerry O’Neill Irwin ’98 and Elaine Lao Campbell ’98.

Top Right: Katherine Currin ‘01 and Sarah Matista ’01 met up in Durham, NC over Thanksgiving 2022.

Bottom Left: Laura Rand Matheny’s ’06 children Bebe Anne and Maxwell Rand.

Bottom Right: Lea Lane ’08 & Geoff Braun.

Top: Faith, Maddie, and Grace Gilbert. Bottom Left: JaQuette Page Gilbert ’03 and husband Greg at a choir reunion in Clemson, SC. Bottom Right: State Fair winning cookie set by JaQuette Page Gilbert ’03.

2012

Anna Porter

In late June my partner and I said goodbye to Central Virginia and moved to Waltham, MA for work. Following our move, we were married on October 9th in Northwest NJ. We’re both looking forward to fewer big events in 2023 and seeing some Turtles at a wedding in April.

2015

Claire Gardner

I have joined GreeneHurlocker, PLC as an associate attorney and will be based at the firm’s Harrisonburg, VA office. I will provide corporate and transactional services, and support the firm’s clients in the renewable energy, technology, Agtech, commercial real estate and other industries. I graduated from William & Mary Law School in May 2022, where I managed a staff of 60 as Editor-in-Chief for the Environmental Law & Policy Review. I have interned for Justice Chafin on the Virginia Supreme Court and for International Bridges to Justice. While at William

& Mary, I participated in the Family Law, Domestic Violence, and Veterans Benefits Clinic. Before law school, I graduated from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude), where I doublemajored in International Studies and German Studies, and studied abroad at the London School of Economics and at Universität Tübingen in Germany.

2018

Hannah “Guppy” Utz

My current passion project is a surreal concept musical based on Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis. If anyone is in the Chapel Hill area in early April, I would love to share this with them. Thank you to the art department at Chatham Hall for inspiring me to dream BIG when it comes to mixed media art!

2021

Gabrielle “Gabi”

Preudhomme

I’m in my second semester of sophomore year in New York City, and I’m loving it! The city feels like home to me. Come visit and let me show you around!

IN MEMORIAM

Top Left: Christopher Newport University sophomore Sarah Storm ’21 dropped by the Junior Class Trip to say hello to Dean Martha Griswold and Dr. Erin McHugh.

Top Right: Mary Semerling ’21 and Krystal Lin ’24.

Bottom: Emily Boesen ’20 met and gave the junior class and chaperones Dean Martha Griswold, Dr. Mary Edmonds, John Kingery, and Dr. Erin McHugh, a tour of the College of William & Mary during their class trip.

Diana Beebe Richardson ‘45 passed peacefully on Oct. 25, 2022 at the Care Dimensions Kaplan House in Danvers, Massachusetts.

Ellen Childs Lovejoy ‘50 passed away on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

Liliane Rufenacht Selby ’50 passed away on Jan. 26, 2023. She is survived by her daughters, Lydia Selby Eitel ’71 and Isabelle Selby ’73.

Susan Elder Martin ’53 died on Nov. 20, 2022, in her home on Elder Mountain at the age of 87.

Sally Saltonstall Willis ’58 died peacefully surrounded by her family at home on Charlescote Farm on Dec. 12, 2022.

Sarah Leigh Swaringen Moore ‘90 passed away on Nov. 24, 2022.

IN MEMORIAM:

Remembering & Honoring

Rachel Avery Connell

1969-2023

Former Rector

Rector Rachel Avery Connell died after an aggressive form of cancer March 14, 2023. She was 54.

A resident of Portsmouth, NH, Rector Connell held previous positions as director of advancement at Emma Willard School in New York, senior consultant and principal at Marts & Lundy, and in development positions at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and Landmark College and World Learning in Vermont. She was on the board of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) and a member of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS). She had also been on the board of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Service Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in New Hampshire, and was a member of the New Hampshire Ranger Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Rector Connell was dedicated to the advancement of women’s and girls’ education and opportunities throughout her life.

She was a cum laude graduate of Wellesley College, Class of 1991, and National Cathedral School for Girls, Class of 1987. She held a master’s in business administration from Babson College, Class of 1999. A Russian Studies major at Wellesley, she spent her senior year living in Moscow, studying at the Institute of History and Archives as part of a student exchange following the Reagan/Gorbachev summit. While there, she traveled throughout the former Soviet Union, including providing relief in the Republic of Georgia following a devastating earthquake. As a Student Trustee of Wellesley, she developed and helped

implement a divestment portfolio from the college’s South African holdings with minimal revenue loss to the school. She was a dedicated member of the Wellesley Widows, an a cappella group, known for her rich mezzo and ability to jazz scat. She had a lifelong passion for literature, music, film, art and travel. One of the highlights of her life was the adoption of her son, Alexander “Sasha” Avery McEldowney, from Moscow.

In addition to her beloved son, she leaves her mother, Marion Fitch Connell; her father and stepmother, Lawrence and Linda Connell; her sister, Elizabeth Connell Nielsen, and her husband, Devan; her nephew and niece, Powell and Ava; her stepson, Captain Matthew McEldowney, USMC; her cousin Keper Connell and his wife, Andrée, and their children, Esme and Ronan; her stepsister, Gail McGovern Gulotta, and her husband, Geno, and their children, Ri and Keelan; and her former husband, Bruce McEldowney. She also leaves an array of beloved friends around the globe with whom she shared her unique spirit of generosity, joy, knowledge, and fierce love.

The family wishes to particularly thank Dr. Harold Burstein and his team at Dana Farber Cancer Institute for their devoted care to their beloved Rachel. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Rector Connell’s memory be made to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Dana Farber Cancer Institute directed to Women’s Cancers.

THEN & NOW: From club performances by groups such as Panache (pictured left in 1991) to afternoon activities (pictured right in fall 2022), dance has been an important part of life at Chatham Hall for decades.