Chat Spring 2024

CHAT

THE MAGAZINE OF CHATHAM HALL

COVER: In April, students and their guests enjoyed a Cloud 9-themed Formal behind the Rectory.

ABOVE: Nineteen students and faculty traveled to Kenya, Africa over Spring Break for a service-learning trip. Learn more on page 6.

SPRING 2024 CHAT

Rachel Balsley, Editor, Designer, & Photographer

Susan Johnston Taylor, Writer

ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Christian J. Proctor, Acting Head of School

Beth Barksdale, Dean of the Chapel & Spiritual Life

Josh Doyon, Dean of Students

Caroline Fisk, Chief Enrollment Officer

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

Mary Semler, Director of Athletics

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

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

Trustees Emeritae 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 Kimber Keating P’20, ‘22, ’24, Parent Advisory Committee

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.

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© 2024 Chatham Hall

Letter from the ACTING HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Chatham Hall Community,

Spring always brings with it an increased focus on next year, beginning with the process of electing new student leadership. In April, we elected the 2024-2025 Honor Council and its president, appointed Prefects, and designated many other new and returning leaders.

I was very impressed that we had five candidates indicate interest in serving as Honor Council president, and each one was an exceptional example of a girl ready to take on the tremendous responsibility of overseeing our Honor Code and the Purple & Golden Rule. Moreover, I am always amazed at the seriousness with which our students take these positions and their willingness to maturely choose who they think is the best candidate regardless of friend group or peer pressure. The fact that living honorably in a close-knit learning community is so valued says a great deal about the Chatham Hall experience.

Membership on the Honor Council is a very difficult position to hold in that as a member, one sits in judgment of one’s peers. And in a school community the size of Chatham Hall, everyone knows each other and the issues at hand. Our success in preparing students to render thoughtful judgments is in no small part related to the support and understanding of the entire student body. Everyone registers the difficulty and respects the findings.

I have told this story a number of times, but it is such a powerful testimony to the importance of the Honor Code that I need to run the risk of being repetitive. For last year’s Lunar New Year, I gave each student a red envelope with money in it. Most cards had a dollar bill enclosed, but one lucky student received $20! Shortly thereafter, I found a dollar bill on the floor of the Well. It wasn’t mine, so I put it on the coffee table, and there it sat for about a month as no one could be sure of its ownership. Our rules state that if it is not yours, you don’t pick it up. This is a true testament to our students’ commitment to our values.

Our focus on the next year is not confined to just incoming student leadership. We are also welcoming a new school leader in Rector Sara Stephenson. While Sara is still completing her duties at her current school, she has increasingly become part of our decision-making process for next year. Sara and her family have made a few trips to campus this spring to meet with faculty, staff, students, and alumnae, and I couldn’t be more excited for her arrival. I believe she is the perfect fit for our School, its culture, and its future.

Of course, Sara’s arrival means my tenure is coming to an end. I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years at Chatham Hall and will always treasure the relationships I’ve made. In a way, I wish all of you could have had the experience I have so that you could rekindle your appreciation for an institution that is as amazing now as it always has been. If I could leave you with just one thought, it is that Chatham Hall is a place like no other in the world and the experiences had here are a gift that keeps giving.

Esto Perpetua,

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

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Sara Stephenson Named New Rector

Sara Stephenson has been appointed to lead Chatham Hall, one of the nation’s preeminent girls’ boarding schools, into its visionary next chapter.

On Nov. 12, the Board of Trustees enthusiastically and unanimously approved the Rector Search Committee’s recommendation to appoint Stephenson as Chatham Hall’s 18th Rector and head of school.

The announcement concludes a nearly year-long comprehensive search process led by Rector Search Committee Co-Chairs Nina Johnson Botsford ’72 and Adair Hendrickson Ravencraft ’02, both graduates and current members of the Board of Trustees.

“The search committee was thoroughly impressed not only by the competitive caliber of the candidates, but by their compelling desire to lead Chatham Hall. This, along with the active engagement from all our constituencies and community, truly underscores how special and beloved Chatham Hall is by so many,” they said.

In Stephenson’s own words, “I knew unequivocally that Chatham Hall is an extraordinary school, uniquely dedicated to preparing and empowering young women for a life of impact ... I am deeply honored to be the next Rector.”

Stephenson comes to Chatham from Ashley Hall, a school for 660 girls in Charleston, SC where she is currently the director of strategic enrollment management and director of Upper School admission. During her more than five years at Ashley Hall, the school has significantly increased enrollment

and advanced its educational mission.

Stephenson brings 27 years of experience as a teacher and administrator at several outstanding schools. Prior to Ashley Hall, she was director of enrollment at the University School, a school for boys in Cleveland, OH, and previously served as Middle School head at Hathaway Brown, a school for girls in Shaker Heights, OH. She also served as assistant director of the Middle School at the Blake School in Minneapolis, MN and started her career as a teacher at the Greenhill School in Dallas, TX. Stephenson thus brings to Chatham Hall a wealth of experience in very strong and diverse schools.

A strong voice in independent schools, Stephenson has presented and shared her knowledge at national conferences throughout her tenure in education. Most recently, she led a workshop at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference about engaging parents in 2023, and co-wrote an article on the same topic for the Southern Association of Independent Schools. In February 2024, she returned to the NAIS Annual Conference to present “Mind the Gap: Making the connection between new families and long-term ambassadors and donors.” In the 2022-2023 school year, Stephenson was named the NAIS Aspiring Head Fellow. She also served as an Association of Independent School Admission Professionals cohort leader in 2020-2021.

In the wider community, Stephenson is currently the vice

president of the Greater Charleston Admission Professionals Society. She also previously served on the Sunbeam Board of the Vocational Guidance Services in Cleveland, OH, and attended the Racial Equity Institute in 2020.

Stephenson stood out for her experience, enthusiasm, commitment, and personality. She holds the qualities and skills that the Board, the Rector Search Committee, and the Chatham Hall community feel are essential to successfully lead the School into its exciting future. She will start serving as Rector on July 1, 2024.

Botsford and Ravencraft were joined on the Rector Search Committee by Sonja Fields Andrews ’89, P’22, Josh Doyon, Dr. Mary Edmonds, Venita Fields ’71, Stacey Goodwin ’83, Melanie Kirk Holton ’87, Danielle Thomas Kimmel ’04, and Kimberly Daniels Taws ’02. The committee and Board of Trustees were assisted in the search by consultants Katherine Stuart, Dennis Campbell, and Margaret Moore of The Education Group.

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19 Travel to Kenya During Spring Break ServiceLearning Trip

Nineteen Chatham Hall students and faculty spent the duration of the School’s Spring Break, March 16-30, in Kenya, Africa learning about and serving the local community.

During this leadership and community engagement trip facilitated by WorldStrides, students experienced life in two localities, Camp Tsavo and Camp Muhaka, while also exploring vast savannas and deserts, beaches, and mountains. The participants worked side by side with locals to achieve their servicework goals through various activities and jobs. One day, students visited with a Tumaini women's group and made elephant dung paper and bracelets to be sold at a local market. Another day was spent deworming more than 90 goats in support of local residents and the economy. On several occasions, the students put their minds and muscles to good use painting and building mud houses, bricks, and ramps for families and schools.

The students also made meaningful connections with locals, including several visits to primary schools, taking Swahili lessons, and spending time with the Maasai tribe who taught them a traditional dance. They also participated in an ecotrek in the Marungu Hills and a bush skills workshop that included archery, shelter design, and fire making lessons. At the end of their journey, students participated in a marine conservation project during which they sorted and collected data on microplastics, learned about sea turtles, and cleaned a beach. Before heading back to the States, the travelers enjoyed a final relaxing day at the beach.

The cultural immersion not only

allowed students to explore a new place and culture, but develop and implement real-world solutions that will make a lasting impact on both them and those they interacted with.

“This trip was incredibly valuable to me because it was such a unique opportunity. It wasn't just a typical vacation; it was a chance to really be a part of something meaningful. And what I'll remember most are the connections we made—with each other in our group and with the people we met along the way. Those unexpected relationships are what really made the trip special and what I'll carry with me long after it's over,” said Auri Henderson-Jones ’25.

Outside of their excursions, the students enjoyed cohabitating in camp, which included dance parties in the rain, meeting campers from other groups, and reflecting on their experiences. They learned to negotiate and barter at local markets while enjoying fresh mangoes and local milk cookies. They bonded with local children and their team leaders, making memories that will last a lifetime.

“Other than playing in mud, my favorite part of the trip was meeting the people. The children were precious and the adults were inspiring. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, and people seemed genuinely happy … I loved dancing with both tribes we met, and I truly loved every second of the trip,” reflected Anne Rachel Sheppard ’27 during a campus Chapel in honor of the trip.

Joining Henderson-Jones and Sheppard were Stephanie Cano Barranco ’24, Kate Denny ’25, Anna Froneberger ’27, Elinor Harrison ’24,

Bella Haughton ’26, Emalyn Herring ’26, Sadirah Jasper ’25, Georgia McGuire ’27, Allie Midkiff ’27, Saki Oshiro ’26, Mone Saito ’27, Siyi “Angel” Su ’25, Vale Ulloa Soto ’27, Maddie Walsh ’26, and Youao “Rose” Wang ’27. The students were guided by chaperones Dr. Erin McHugh and Ms. Frankie Beyer.

College Counseling Prepares Students for Life Beyond Chatham

Each year, the College Counseling program helps challenge students to look ahead at what awaits them when their time on campus comes to an end.

In addition to learning more about specific higher education institutions, the program helps students determine the right fit for them in terms of size, location, academic programs, and more.

Dean of College Counseling Dr. Erin McHugh personally guides each student through the college application process during individual and small group meetings throughout a student’s junior and senior years.

“Our College Counseling program is designed to offer support to our students as they prepare for life beyond Chatham Hall. It requires a good deal of self-reflection and organization, but the students are well prepared by the time they take

the next step,” Dr. McHugh said.

By the end of the fall semester, every student has completed some form of college preparation, be it through attending a fair or visit by a college representative, taking the PSAT, or participating in an essay writing workshop.

This year, a small group of seniors also had the opportunity to go to the University of Lynchburg for a tour and to apply and receive their admission decision the same day. During a trip to Washington, D.C. over Fall Long Weekend, a group of international students were able to visit Georgetown and Howard Universities.

This fall, the Class of 2025 participated in the Junior Class Trip, during which they attended open houses at the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University and visited the Virginia Museum of

History & Culture.

“The Junior Class Trip to Richmond was such an awesome experience,” said Rowan Ruppel ’25. “I was able to get to know my class better and learn a lot about what I want for my next step in my academic career! Touring the two different schools gave me a chance to see what I’m looking for in a college and start planning for the future.”

Beyer Shares Chatham 101 at VAIS Annual Conference

Frankie Beyer, assistant director of community life & wellbeing, presented about the School’s Chatham 101 program during the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) Annual Conference on Nov. 3.

New Girls meet weekly throughout the fall for Chatham 101 and are introduced to School traditions, campus resources, and helpful life skills. Lessons include how to navigate relationships and conflicts, develop healthy study habits, and more.

“The great part of Chatham 101 is not just the curriculum, but that it provides our new students a place to connect and share experiences and

perspectives. We focus on a different topic each week and open the floor for students to share ideas and feelings, allowing them to get to know each other and learn that at Chatham Hall they can be their best selves,” said Beyer.

At the conference, Beyer shared the program’s success over the past two years since it was reimagined after the COVID-19 pandemic, including how the program was created, lesson content, and resources for socialemotional learning curriculum planning. She also discussed how to adapt this type of programming for other schools and environments to better serve students around the state.

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Poumpouras Empowers Students as Guth ’44 Leader in Residence

“Your voice matters. Be okay with being wrong and be okay with making mistakes. Use your voice.”

This was one of many inspiring pieces of advice our 2023-2024 Polly Wheeler Guth ’44 Leader in Residence Evy Poumpouras shared during her time at Chatham Hall on Nov. 8 & 9.

Poumpouras’ keynote address to the School community explored the importance of strength, leadership, and communication, and how to use all three to advance in the world. In addition to sharing the skills she developed and used as a U.S. Secret Service agent, she provided students with tactics to be better communicators and speak with confidence, including making eye contact, building trust, using body language, actively listening, and practicing communication etiquette.

“I want you to take up space. It sends the message that you deserve to be here. Don’t make yourself small,” she said. “If you want to have good communication with people and have confidence, you show them, you don’t tell them.”

Before the keynote address in the Van Voorhis Lecture Hall, Poumpouras’ eagerly awaited arrival was followed by lunch with members of the Honor Council, class visits, and an interview

with staff members of the School newspaper, Columns.

Students also had the opportunity to join a study group to learn more about the incoming leader and share their findings with the School community at Assembly. They were then able to meet with her in their small groups to pick her brain on a more personal level.

Before departing, Poumpouras held a final Q&A during which students asked additional questions or reflected on what they absorbed during her 24 hours in Chatham. “I thought she was one of the most insightful people I’ve ever met. She taught me a lot about not thinking so hard about goals and just doing them,” said Olivia Kauffman ‘24 who was a member of the career study group and introduced Poumpouras ahead of her keynote address. “It was pretty much a life-changing experience for her, with all her accomplishments, to tell me that I can do it. That was on another level, just so helpful to me.”

Poumpouras served as a special agent of the U.S. Secret Service for 12 years, during which she was part of the protective details for three presidents. She also worked on complex criminal investigations and undercover operations, executed search and

arrest warrants, investigated both violent and financial crimes, and served as an interrogator for the agency’s elite polygraph unit. She now serves as a multimedia journalist who often covers national security, law enforcement, and crime on NBC, MSNBC, “The Today Show,” and “Good Morning America.”

Poumpouras is currently the co-host of Bravo TV’s competition series “Spy Games” and was also cast on HLN’s “Dr. Drew On Call” and CBS’s “The Hunted,” among others. She also serves as an adjunct professor for the City University of New York where she teaches criminal justice and criminology. In 2020, she penned the best-selling book Becoming Bulletproof: Protect Yourself, Read People, Influence Situations, Live Fearlessly.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the endowed Guth Leader in Residence program. Poumpouras joins the prestigious ranks of former leaders, including the WNBA’s Lisa Leslie, former president of Sri Lanka Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, primatologist Jane Goodall, professional tennis player Venus Williams, author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code Reshma Saujani, and feminist writer and activist Gloria Steinem, among many others.

Giddyup, Cowgirls: Four Participate in Spring Break Western Riding Camp

For a week during Spring Break, four Chatham Hall riders traveled to La Mesa, NM for a unique equestrian experience.

A vision of Trustee Emerita Povy LaFarge Bigbee ’51, G’ 03, ’09, ’10, ’11 and family, this “cowgirl camp” allowed Beverly Kucera ’25, Madeline Parris ’27, Sophia RichardsCordell ’27, and Lainey Risley ’26 to gain hands-on experience at Armstrong Equine Services.

“Povy really wanted to benefit the Riding Program in a meaningful way. A neighbor of Armstrong Equine Services, together they brainstormed the idea of a ‘cowgirl camp’ so Chatham Hall girls could experience a different type of riding and discipline while continuing to strengthen their horsemanship skills,” said Director of Riding Ally Doyon.

Interested riders expressed a desire to participate through an application process. Selection was based on individual interest, riding experience, and how they would bring back what they learned to the Chatham Hall community. Four riders were chosen to participate in this pilot-year program.

During their trip from March 24-29, the four riders learned about western riding, cattle work, roping, branding, breeding and husbandry, and much more.

“Through this experience, I wanted our riders to gain a greater understanding of what horsemanship means in all different disciplines while appreciating how horses can be a way of life in certain areas of our country. What they’re going to take away from the trip can be applied across the board,” Doyon said.

“The ranch had so many things to offer, and I had so many great experiences. The people there were the most inviting and loving I have ever met,” said Parris. “I think this was a valuable trip for me as a rider in getting more

confident in a different riding style. It also helped me gain confidence with people who I have never met before and traveling to places I have never been.”

The cowgirls also spent time with the Bigbee family learning about New Mexico geography, history, and culture. In particular, they learned about homesteading, agriculture, and significant legislative acts. Furthermore, Joe Armstrong took the group to visit the New Mexico State University Horse Farm where Joby Priest gave them an overview of their program. Family members Sam and Diane Calhoun P’03, ’09, ’11 graciously provided accommodations for the riders for the week including an evening of s’mores around the fire pit with fireworks courtesy of Susannah Calhoun ’09.

“We’re so grateful to Povy and John Bigbee and their family for helping facilitate this experience,” added Chief Advancement Officer Christine Cutright Knight P’19 who also traveled to New Mexico. “It’s important to surround yourself with strong women, and this trip provided that experience for our students which underscores the value of our greatest asset: our alumnae and family network.”

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G.I.R.L.S. Day Builds Community On & Off Campus

G.I.R.L.S. Day returned to Chatham Hall once more with the goal of building and promoting community, both on and off campus.

On Feb. 26, students and faculty forwent their normal Monday schedules to engage in several community building activities, including a self-defense workshop hosted by C.O.B.R.A. based out of Lynchburg, Va. Students were empowered with hands-on techniques to better their situational awareness and gain the basic means to protect themselves, if needed.

In workshops, the ninth graders focused on the concept of community at Chatham Hall and how they can best support it as they move into their second year through various activities such as a communication game. Sophomores participated in a session exploring leadership, how it is defined, and how they want to embody those values as they prepare for junior year. Both classes also engaged in some exercises in reimagining campus spaces, including cleaning up the Fitness Trail and organizing communal areas.

The junior and senior classes ventured off campus to do

some good in the Chatham and Danville communities through volunteering with various organizations. A group of seniors continued the ongoing work with Chatham Elementary School while the rest of the class split up between processing food for God’s Storehouse and creating disaster relief buckets for God’s Pit Crew. The juniors received a special message from Chatham Mayor Alisa Davis before dividing up to work with two churches, the fire department, and the town manager on a beautification project.

“It was really strange how much fun it was because you could see the trash disappear off the sides of the street and it was actual evidence of the good you were doing for the community and nature,” said Beverly Kucera ’25 who ventured into town for trash cleanup.

Students also had the chance to introduce a topic of interest to the campus community. Several students shared food while one group led a bird feeder making activity. The day ended with an activity that showed appreciation for one another. Each student decorated a medallion for a peer, recognizing the values and strengths they bring to our community.

Winter Athletics Season Welcomes New Sport

Our Athletics program saw growth this winter through the addition of a new sport to its ranks.

Following the introduction of spring Varsity Track & Field two years ago, the Varsity Indoor Track & Field team made its winter debut this season. Student-athletes had the opportunity to try a variety of events while working on their conditioning. During this inaugural season, two Turtles qualified for the VISAA

State Meet, including Sophie Becker ’25 in the 55m hurdles and Auri Henderson-Jones ’25 in the 300m dash.

The basketball teams saw strides as it nurtured its program across the varsity and JV levels, promoting teamwork and sportsmanship. At the end of the season, Priscella Bennsion ’25 was recognized with an All-BRAC Honorable Mention.

The Varsity Swimming & Diving team had a strong season, seeing many student-athletes earn personal bests throughout the winter.

Additionally, five Turtles earned spots in the VISAA State Meet, including Sydney Fisk ’27, Caroline Keating ’24, Stephanie Velez ’27, and Ashley Winters ’26 for diving and Zuri Assam ’25 in the 100m breaststroke.

BSU Hosts Afrofuturism-Themed Library Overnight

On Feb. 23, the School’s Black Student Union (BSU) hosted their 2nd Annual Black History Month Library Overnight.

This year’s Black History Month theme is Afrofuturism, which is defined by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture as “expressing notions of Black identity, agency, and freedom through art, creative works, and activism that envision liberated futures for Black life.”

The event was carefully curated by members of the BSU in coordination with Librarian Ms. Kaykeel Dillard. Myriad activities took place throughout the evening, including language workshops, performances, cultural crafts such as waist bead making and woodcarving, an art exhibit, movie screenings, and more. The event also offered opportunities for discussions about cancel culture, white fragility, respecting boundaries and other cultures, and the use of

racial slurs. Panels and training were also hosted, including a Black Business Network panel, teacher panel, and DEI training with Leslie King.

“I hope that the persons that were in attendance were able to take a step inside what it means to be Black. Whether this was through listening in on a conversation, learning some of the language, crafting cultural bodily adornments such as waist beads, or gaining an understanding on sensitive topics such as hair, slurs, etc.,” said BSU president Mikaili Madden ’24. “I hope that people in attendance gained an understanding of the significant impact that Black people have on the community and that they feel more comfortable in their newfound ability to embrace that impact rather than shy away from it due to fear of appropriation.”

Faculty, staff, and friends provided a wonderful meal for participants to enjoy, featuring a variety of soul food dishes. Attendees were then invited

Turtles Engage with Regional Community

This year, students have ventured off campus to connect with the greater regional community through many service and engagement activities.

A large group of Turtles have volunteered at Chatham Elementary School as classroom assistants, helping their younger counterparts with reading, math, and activities for an hour on select Tuesdays.

“Volunteering at Chatham Elementary has been a great opportunity for the students of Chatham Hall to get involved with the community,” said Mia Swanson ’24. “There are very few experiences that are comparable to seeing a child’s eyes light up when they figure out the answer to a challenging problem, and knowing you helped them feel that joy and accomplishment.”

On the weekends, students participated in multiple charity 5K walks and runs in both Chatham and Danville, Va.

to spend the night in Lee Library for more fun and time together as a community.

The BSU is led by Madden and covice presidents Hanna Parsonian ’24 and Sophia Taylor ’24 and faculty sponsors Dillard, Mrs. Deborah Glymph, and Ms. Christa Anderson.

St. Mary’s Choir and the fall dancers spent two afternoons in Danville at Commonwealth Senior Living performing and interacting with residents.

“Getting out into the community and supporting those around us is a great way for our students to give back. Service not only supports the wider community, but also allows students to see their own value and what skills they have which increases self-worth and self-esteem,” Assistant Director of Community Life & Wellbeing Frankie Beyer said. “When choosing activities like these, we look to support our local community and really find projects where our recurring work makes a difference.”

Other service activities have included working with Habitat for Humanity in their ReStore, visiting the House of Hope, the God’s Storehouse Empty Bowls fundraiser, and many activities during this year’s G.I.R.L.S. Day.

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Students Channel Creativity During Winter Performing Arts Season

The winter performing arts season was filled with opportunities for students to embrace and express their creativity.

This year’s Winter Musical, Snow Queen, brought joy to the Van Voorhis Lecture Hall for a threenight showing Feb. 29 - March 2. Snow Queen by Des Henderson and Mike McCahon is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s 1845 story by the same name told as a pantomime, a comedy stage

production. Students and faculty also contributed to the writing and adapting of the lyrics and script, including several references to the campus community. This style allowed students to interact with the audience and show off their improv comedy skills. The show was an engaging breath of fresh air that inspired lots of laughter. The musical was directed by Dr. Francis Yun and Mr. John Kingery.

In lieu of a formal recital, the winter

I-Fest Showcases School's Global Community

If you walked through Dabney Hall on the evening of Jan. 14, you couldn’t miss the incredible aroma emanating from the Niche and Student Kitchen.

The smells belonged to cuisines from all over the world that were prepared by students and faculty for this year’s International Festival (I-Fest), which kicked off with a street food fair.

“Nothing transports you through space and time like food. It really gives you an impression of what a culture is like, so we thought a street food fair would be a great way to introduce people to other cultures,” said Ms. Mara Jarrett and Dr. Francis Yun, who coordinated the events in collaboration with the participants, including members of the International Student Association (ISA).

The fair featured myriad dishes prepared by nine groups, ranging from jollof rice to Mexican hot chocolate to dorayaki.

“Japan is a small country and not everyone knows the details of it, so we wanted to introduce our traditional culture through dorayaki, a Japanese pancake with red beans,” said Mone Saito ’27 and Saki Oshiro ’26 of their contribution.

dancers explored different styles while gaining filming experience during the production of their video-based performance. The dancers formed groups based on style and choreographed their routines before recording them for inclusion in a video that was screened for the campus community on March 7. Dance styles ranged from ballet to contemporary to Bollywood. The dancers were led by instructor and choreographer Ms. Kaykeel Dillard.

The following day, the community gathered in St. Mary’s Chapel for the second part of the I-Fest program, a fashion show which included 14 students dressed in clothing representing their respective cultures and heritage. To close out the fashion show, seven student dancers performed the piece Engun Dance Variation.

“The fashion show showcased traditional clothing of various cultures, as well as the skill and beautiful craftsmanship involved in creating them. The different types of garments told a visual story about the many cultures represented in our student body, both domestic and international,” Jarrett and Dr. Yun said.

The events included participation by more than 30 students and faculty representing 12 countries, including Austria, China, India, Israel, Ghana, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

This year’s festival was a true celebration of culture, food, fashion, and community.

Student Entrepreneurs Launch Sweet New Business

Some sweet treats and goods have been introduced to the campus community through a new student-led business.

Led by several international students and members of the Global Entrepreneurship program, Sweet Next Door offers the campus community a way to treat themselves and try new things.

“As an international student, I always miss the food back home when I am at school,” said Yuyang “Vicky” Gao ’24, one of the founders of Sweet Next Door. “So I thought, why don’t we bring this to our community so everyone has the chance to try our food and have more options for desserts and snacks?”

Sweet Next Door launched at the end of January, serving up traditional Chinese “button” sandwich cookies to be purchased in Yardley Dining Hall. The offerings included several flavors, including vanilla and chocolate with eyes designed by Hongyi “Krystal” Lin ’24. The next suite of products included crocheted roses and another Chinese traditional treat, Snowflake Crisps, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Gao is a year-two member of the Global Entrepreneurship program which empowers and inspires students to take their ideas and turn them into real businesses. Through the program, students learn about market research, the ideation process, marketing, operations, and more.

“Global Entrepreneurship was definitely one of the factors that enabled me to launch this business. I learned how to put my idea into action, have the courage to take risks, find the needs of the community, set the price, and launch the business,” she said.

Sweet Next Door also features an element of social impact through supporting “those who make our community better every day.” The business vows to donate a sampling of its products to School staff members on the maintenance, housekeeping, and other teams to show appreciation for their contributions to the community.

Gao and Lin are joined in this endeavor by Xiran “Rosey” Yang ’24, Wenlin “Olive” Ye ’24, Yuxi “Annie” Chen ’24, Erqi “Kate” Wu ’26, and Erzhen “Jane” Wu ’26 who help make and sell the products. The team plans to diversify their product line with additions such as boba tea, other snacks, and more in order to “provide people happiness with good snacks.”

IEA Season Brings Second Consecutive Trip to Nationals

The Chatham Hall IEA season saw much success, including the team’s qualification for Regional Finals and the School bringing a rider to National Finals for the second consecutive year.

The IEA team hosted a number of competitors during its first show of the season. Chatham Hall tied for High Point Team but finished as Reserve Champion following a nailbiting tiebreaker. The team followed up that show with a fourth place finish and another Reserve Champion recognition to close out their fall shows.

In the winter, success at several additional shows, including being named Champion of their final regular

season competition, proved fruitful as the team and several individual riders earned a spot at Regional Finals. At Regionals, Sophia RichardsCordell ’27 and Anna Froneberger ’27 qualified to compete individually at Zone Finals, with 2nd place winner Maeve Raible ’25 taking Froneberger’s place due to her unavailability to compete.

Competing in the JV Beginner Flat class at Zone Finals, Richards-Cordell had a great draw and performance resulting in a blue ribbon win. Placing first out of 15 riders, she earned a spot at IEA National Finals in April, the second time in two years that a Chatham Hall rider would compete at that level. Raible had a strong round

and earned 5th place out of 14 in the JV Novice Over Fences class, a great end to a successful season.

“I am so proud of Sophia for qualifying for IEA Nationals in her first year,” said Director of Riding Ally Doyon. “While she did not place at Nationals, just the fact that she made it that far into postseason competition is such an accomplishment.”

The Riding program also hosted a clinic with decorated horsewoman Diane Carney, who leveraged her more than 35 years of experience to help 15 riders harness their focus, work together as a team, gain show skills, and strategize for future competitions.

800 CHATHAM HALL CIRCLE

Students Live Well During January Term

This year’s January Term emphasized the nine dimensions of Living Well at Chatham Hall in addition to stepping outside of the typical curriculum.

In the mornings and evenings, students participated in workshops and presentations about various aspects of wellness, including nutrition, self-care, finance, mental health, sex education, healthy relationships, college counseling, and more.

In the afternoons, each student explored a topic or two of interest that they normally wouldn’t get to experience in our regular semester curriculum. Courses ranged from understanding surrealism through media, learning to juggle, experimenting with ceramics, examining protests through music, making quilts, and much more.

“I really enjoyed it, I enjoyed learning something new. I had never sewn or quilted before, and we got to learn the whole process of it,” Anne Rachel Sheppard '27 said of her experience in the Quilting! course.

On Jan. 12, many classes headed off campus for experiential field trips, which included myriad opportunities for learning. The Regions of France

class participated in a cooking class, learning to make quiche and crêpes. Hooray for Hollywood! enjoyed a movie and a behind the scenes tour of the theater. Yoga: History & Practice visited the Satchidananda Ashram at Yogaville where they went through a guided session with one of the instructors. Several groups visited museums to see their topics displayed in real life.

New to January Term this year, the School organized the “Women In…” Speaker Series to introduce students to new perspectives and industries. The series featured five presentations from women working in careers and fields that are or have historically been male-dominated.

“My favorite part of January Term was the evening programming because a lot of the speakers had a lot to do with what I’m interested in, especially engineering. It wasn’t just lectures about what they do and why they do it, but it was also about how to help us, how to get into schools, and if they were an alumna, what they did at Chatham Hall to help them prepare for a career,” said Ana Charway ‘26, who participated in the LEGO Challenge course.

To close out the session, all students

and faculty participated in an expo on Jan. 19 to showcase what they learned and experienced throughout the term. In Lee Library and various locations around campus, each class shared their story, gave demonstrations, or showed off the fruits of their labor, including bracelets made using a loom, presentations, LEGO structures, and lots of bread.

Yang '25 Scores in MAA AMC 12 Top 5%, Two Qualify for AIME

During the fall semester seven students participated across two levels of the Mathematical Association of America’s American Mathematics Competition (MAA AMC).

Ana Charway ’26, Sydney Fisk ’27, Chrisette Jones ’26, Hannah Payton ’26,

Youao “Rose” Wang ’27, and Xiwen “Nina” Zhang ’27 all competed in MAA AMC 10 along with more than 50,000 students who took the test nationwide.

Luyi “Lucia” Yang ’25 was among more than 35,000 students who participated in the MAA AMC 12,

receiving a Certificate of Distinction by scoring in the top 5% of all test takers.

Wang and Yang both scored high enough in their respective competitions to qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME in 2024).

TuTu Turtles Compete in 2nd FRC Season, Earn Industrial Design Award

This winter, the TuTu Turtles (9003) robotics team embarked on its second season as a part of the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC).

The team transitioned from the FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) to FRC last year, providing them the opportunity to build bigger robots (up to 60 inches and 120 lbs) and compete at a larger scale.

This year’s theme, CRESCENDO presented by Haas, tasked teams to use their STEM skills to build a robot that could take discs and place or shoot them in different goals while working in an alliance with two other teams. Human players also contributed by providing discs and scoring points from the sidelines while the drivers controlled the robot. These guidelines required the students to build the robot, learning construction skills, how to connect and power motors, programming and coding the robot to complete certain tasks without drivers, and many other skills.

The TuTu Turtles constructed a practice robot, competition robot, and field of play during the School’s January Term and winter athletics season ahead of their first competition on March 1-3 at Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg, Va. During the competition, the team advanced to the semi-finals after winning several heats. They also earned the Ion All-Star Award for their use of Ion Rev products in their robot, the only award given that came with a monetary prize.

The following weekend, the team was back on the road traveling to Portsmouth, Va. to compete at Churchland High School. After success early on in the competition, the TuTu Turtles were ranked fourth out of 23 teams at the end of the qualification matches. They earned the title of Third Seed Alliance Captain and picked two strong partners to join their alliance in the playoffs. The alliance ended the weekend in third place overall after a semi-final loss just two points shy of their competitors. During the competition, the TuTu Turtles were also presented the Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors for the design and construction of their robot, which the presenter described as "ingenious."

“I have endless pride in this team. They are an amazing group of students who work hard as a team to tackle challenges and obstacles,” said Mr. Dan Waters, one of the TuTu Turtles’ coaches. “I cannot even begin to convey the praise I’ve heard from competition volunteers

and other mentors about this group of professional and strong young women from Chatham Hall.”

During the season, Maryn Call ‘26 was named a FIRST Dean’s List Award Semi-Finalist. Her second year as a TuTu Turtle, Call was nominated in recognition of her leadership on the team.

“Maryn’s gift for collaboration and encouragement truly helps the whole team shine through her support of newer members. She also uses her creative talents to design buttons and necessary parts for the robot, and her enthusiasm and spirit has allowed the TuTu Turtles to form stronger bonds with other FRC teams,” said teammate Catherine Nichols ‘24, who helped prepare Call’s nomination.

The TuTu Turtles ended the regular season ranked 20th out of 106 teams in the tri-state area, earning them a place at the District Championships. The top 56 teams in the First Chesapeake District from Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia competed from April 5-8, with the TuTu Turtles finishing 30th.

“With this being our second season in the FRC, I’m really proud of how we’ve done so far. We’re growing as a team,” said team captain Caroline Greganti ’24. “I’m so excited to hear about the TuTu Turtles after I’ve graduated because I know they’re going to keep getting better and better.”

CLASS OF 2024

Members of the Class of 2024 celebrate their college acceptances and decisions.

CLASS OF 2024 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES & MATRICULATIONS

Agnes Scott College

American University

Appalachian State University

Austin College

Averett University

Bates College

Boston University

Bradley University

Brenau University

Bryn Mawr College

Campbell University

Cape Fear Community College

Case Western Reserve University

Central Michigan University

Champlain College

Charleston Southern University

Chatham University

Chowan University

Christopher Newport University

Colby-Sawyer College

Colgate University

College of William & Mary

Colorado State University (Fort Collins)

Cornell University

Davidson College

Dickinson College

Drew University

East Carolina University

Elon University

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida International University

Florida Southern College

Fordham University

Furman University

George Mason University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Gettysburg College

Greensboro College

Guilford College

Hampshire College

Hofstra University

Hollins University

Hood College

Howard University

Indiana University (Bloomington)

Ithaca College

Jacksonville University

James Madison University

Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte)

Johnson & Wales University (Providence)

Kenyon College

Lebanese American University

Longwood University

Loyola University New Orleans

Mary Baldwin University

Miami University (Oxford)

Michigan State University

Mount Holyoke College

Muhlenberg College

New England College

New York University

North Carolina Central University

North Carolina State University

Northern Michigan University

Occidental College

Ohio State University

Oklahoma State University

Old Dominion University

Penn State University (Abington)

Penn State University (University Park)

Purdue University

Queens University of Charlotte

Radford University

Reed College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Roanoke College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rollins College

Rutgers University (New Brunswick)

Savannah College of Art & Design

Scripps College

Sewanee: The University of the South

Simmons University

Smith College

Southern Methodist University

St. John’s University

St. Olaf College

Stetson University

Suffolk University

SUNY University at Buffalo

SUNY University at New Paltz

Sweet Briar College

Thomas Jefferson University (East Falls)

University of Alabama

University of California (Davis)

University of California (Irvine)

University of California (San Diego)

University of California (Santa Cruz)

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Connecticut

University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign

University of Lynchburg

University of Maine

University of Maine at Machias

University of Maryland (College Park)

University of Massachusetts (Amherst)

University of Massachusetts (Boston)

University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth)

University of Mississippi

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina

Wilmington

University of Richmond

University of Rochester

University of San Francisco

University of South Florida

University of St Thomas

University of Vermont

University of Virginia

University of Washington (Seattle)

University of Wisconsin (Madison)

University of Wyoming

Virginia Military Institute

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and

State University

Virginia Wesleyan University

Wake Forest University

Western Carolina University

Western Michigan University

Whitman College

5 QUESTIONS WITH FACULTY CAMERON AYRES

1. HOW DID YOU COME TO CHATHAM HALL?

I grew up here. I am from Chatham and my mother, Madame Mary Lee Black, began teaching French at Chatham Hall in 1980. My stepfather, Dr. William Black, joined the English department in 1982. As a faculty child, I was actually offered a place in the Class of 1993, but went to Woodberry Forest instead. In 2016, I happened to be living in town working as an adjunct theatre professor in North Carolina when the School needed someone to come in mid-year to teach dance. In the eight years since, I’ve spread into photography, senior English electives, yoga, and now theatre.

2. WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT BEING AN EDUCATOR?

As a graduate student teaching fellow, there was a line in a book that I often taught that has always encapsulated this for me: “Learning is the highest form of play.” I love to be in the classroom or rehearsal room with a group of our “curious thinkers” teasing out ideas and new ways of looking. I love it when my students shake me from a preconceived notion and make me see things with fresh eyes.

3. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CLASS OR CAMPUS RESPONSIBILITY?

Trick question! I love all my classes. Actually, my favorite thing is the same as when I was in high school: theatre. I am so happy to get to come together with a group of artists to tell stories and make worlds, to compose with time and space.

4. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ITEM IN YOUR CLASSROOM?

My posters. Right now, my particular favorite is of Joni Mitchell. Most students have been convinced that it was an odd photo of Taylor Swift. When a senior walked into my room this fall and said “I love Joni Mitchell,” I was pleasantly floored.

5. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHATHAM HALL TRADITION?

The Lantern Ceremony. It remains as magical for me now as it was when I was a child. It also has a bittersweet edge, as it is the last night of school, the last night when we will be together in that particular configuration of community.

5 QUESTIONS WITH STAFF PAMELLA HARBIN

1. WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO CHATHAM HALL?

I was completing my degree in administrative support technology at Danville Community College in 2016 and the head of the department asked if I was interested in applying for an intern position at Chatham Hall in Admissions which could possibly become a fulltime position. I jumped at the opportunity! I was hired in January 2016 part-time and continued full-time starting that July.

2. WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE ADMISSIONS TEAM?

In Admissions, I have the opportunity to work with a team toward the goal of enrolling new students. This admission cycle takes a year to complete, which means what I work on in September is quite different from what I work on in February. I like the variation in tasks and the challenge of working through the admission cycle because every season is different.

3. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THE CHATHAM HALL COMMUNITY?

For every event, activity, Chapel, dance recital, play, or game day, everyone is invited to participate in some way. It could be just cheering the Turtles on, saying a prayer during Chapel, saying hello to our visitors, helping unload boxes on move-in day, or just being around. The Chatham Hall family is always there to help and support one another.

4. WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB?

The people I work with each day! For eight years, I have worked with a great group of professional teammates. We became connected through our work, but the relationships grew into lasting friendships. Also, the people throughout the School that I engage with during the week, and the staff I get to share lunch and birthdays with. All these people have made working at Chatham Hall a pleasure!

5. PURPLE OR GOLD? Purple!

12 Student Prefects

Student Access to Support 24/7

5,000+ Cookies Consumed During Cookie Breaks

Laughs with Friends

Dorm Rooms Across Three Buildings & Five Halls 90

7 Pets Living on Dorm

8 Community Gatherings Per Week

2 Weekly Advisory Meetings

Dorm Advisors

7

OUT & ABOUT alumnae news

Fields ‘71 & Hogg ‘15 Named 2024 Alumnae Award Recipients

The Chatham Hall Advancement Office in partnership with the Alumnae Council is pleased to announce Venita Fields ’71 as the 2024 Distinguished Alumna Award recipient and Susanna Hogg ’15 as the 2024 Leader on the Rise.

Established in 2010, the Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes standout graduates representing diverse professions and interests while embodying Chatham Hall’s traditional values such as honor, respect, and integrity.

After graduating from Chatham Hall in 1971, Venita Fields attended Northwestern University from which she earned a Bachelor of Arts in history. She began her finance career at the Continental Illinois National Bank before receiving her Master of Business Administration while working full-time at Citibank.

One of Chatham Hall’s first Black students, Fields continued to break boundaries as a person of color and woman working in corporate America. Throughout her 35-year career, she rose in the ranks of several companies including senior vice president and group executive officer at Bank of America, partner at Smith Whiley & Company, and her current role as partner at Pelham S2K Managers. Fields also served as a guest Lecturer at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management for several years.

“Venita is an accomplished woman of honor and great integrity who respects and inspires respect because she is the epitome of a curious thinker, continually striving to make a positive impact on everyone who enters her universe of grace,” said nominator and longtime friend Gloria Bond Clunie ’71.

Fields has been nationally recognized numerous times in her

life, including most recently in 2023 by BoardProspects as one of the top Black Board Members in the U.S., by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) as a Directorship 100 Honoree in 2021, as one of the Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A by Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine in 2018, and as a Director to Watch by Private Company Director’s Magazine in both 2019 and 2017. In 2017, she was also one of 50 women recognized in Chicago Woman’s Magazine “Fierce 50.” Fields was among the winning team of the M&A Advisor’s 2005 Consumer Deal of the Year, the Chicago United’s 2005 Business Leader of Color, and one of YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Woman of Achievement Award recipients in 2004, among other accolades.

In the community, Fields is a dedicated and long-time member of Sherman United Methodist Church and has donated her time and skills to many corporate and nonprofit boards, including as a Chatham Hall Trustee. She has also served as an active and energetic leader of the Superior Group of Companies, IMA Financial Group, Lifespace Communities, the Association for Corporate Growth Chicago, Chicago Finance Exchange, Economic Club of Chicago, NACD, David’s Bridal, Women Corporate Directors, Private Directors Association, Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Ravinia Festival, and Delta Sigma Theta, to name a few.

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.

Susanna Hogg graduated from Chatham Hall in 2015 before

attending the University of Michigan. During her time at Michigan as an aerospace engineering major, she was a member of the student branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and gained experience as an intern with Northrop Grumman where she would return to work full-time upon graduating in 2019.

Currently a propulsion engineer, Hogg works on the first stage of the Antares rocket, which sends supplies to the International Space Station. She has contributed to the design, development, testing, and optimization of various propulsion systems for both the launch vehicle and ground systems, and collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve mission success. Eager to learn and contribute, Hogg is passionate about advancing the field of aerospace engineering and exploring the possibilities of space.

Grossman '19 Explores Italy as Fulbright Scholar

After graduating from Chatham Hall, Maddi Grossman ’19 fell in love with the Italian language and culture.

Initially studying psychology at Mount Holyoke College, Grossman switched her major to Italian with an art history minor before voyaging to Italy for a semester abroad. For six months in 2022, she explored, lived, and learned in Bologna while working on a thesis on Italian literature. These experiences set the stage for Grossman to apply to the Fulbright Scholar Program.

“After studying abroad in Bologna, I knew I wanted to spend more time living in Italy before graduate school. I had some language teaching experience from college, so I decided to apply to become an English teaching assistant in an Italian high school with Fulbright,” Grossman said.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Grossman was granted a comprehensive stipend for living expenses, allowing her to not only gain teaching experience, but live in an immersive environment, learn about the culture and region, and have a truly authentic experience.

“It’s been very challenging and very rewarding,” she said. “It has been a tremendous growth experience, and despite the challenges, I’m extremely grateful to be here and have this opportunity to speak a language I love and interact with wonderful people every day.”

Following her time in Campania, Italy, Grossman will continue her exploration of Italian studies at the University of Notre Dame in pursuit of a master’s degree.

During her time at Chatham Hall, Grossman was a member of the Gold Team and an accomplished rider. A Massachusetts native, she credits the School in helping prepare her for the experiences she’s had since graduating.

“In my two years at Chatham Hall, the rigorous coursework was immensely helpful in preparing me for university study,” said Grossman. “I also feel that living far from home in high school prepared me well to live far from home in university, and now after graduation. It helped me become more independent and resourceful.”

Alumnae Return to Campus for Joyous Reunion Celebration

From May 3-5, more than 100 alumnae and guests ventured back to campus to revisit their favorite spaces, share fond memories, and reconnect with peers during Reunion 2024.

Highlights from the weekend included a social featuring Scout & Cellar wine, the induction of new Heritage Society members, Class of 1974 50th Reunion Dinner, Purple & Gold Reception, State of the School Address, presentations about special programs, and a “Chill & Chat” between the Classes of 2019 and 2024. Alumnae also had a special opportunity to meet and greet incoming Rector Sara Stephenson.

During Saturday’s brunch, alumnae heard from this year’s Leader on the Rise, Susanna Hogg ’15, who spoke about her experiences at Chatham Hall and how they not only prepared her for a career in aerospace engineering, but set a precedent for personal relationships.

“Chatham Hall allowed me to see what a supportive community of women really looks like, and made me realize that every place I go in my life, that’s something I should make for myself and seek out,” Hogg said in her remarks.

Her presentation was followed by an address from the 2024 Distinguished Alumnae Award recipient, Venita Fields ’71, who spoke about her time at Chatham Hall, experiences in corporate America, and advice for fellow alumnae.

“I say congratulations to us all. Congratulations on the choice that we made to attend this great school. You have received a great education, and you’ve received the opportunity to meet young women from all over the world, developing life-long friendships and critical thinking skills that will serve you well,” noted Fields.

Other award winners included Kate Bulkley ’77 and Jennifer Gammill McKay ’84, P’20 both receiving the Mildred Harrison Dent Award as alumnae who demonstrate an enthusiastic long-term commitment and devotion to the ideals of Chatham Hall, including their work in establishing the Chatham Hall Arboretum. Current Alumnae Council President Danielle Thomas Kimmel ’04 received the Ellie MacVeagh Award as an alumna who best represents the School’s goals for fellow constituents.

Additionally, Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hiltwine and longtime faculty member Dr. Mary Edmonds were both named Honorary Alumnae by the Board of Trustees and Alumnae Council in commemoration of their service and commitment to the School.

A festive celebration behind the Rectory was held on Saturday evening, which included a viewing of the Kentucky Derby, dinner, class photos, dancing, and lots of fun. The weekend concluded on Sunday morning with Reunion Chapel and a farewell brunch.

“It is always such a pleasure and privilege to have alumnae with us on campus,” said Chief Advancement Officer Christine Cutright Knight P’19. “This year’s Reunion was filled with joy, togetherness, nostalgia, and community. Thank you to everyone who journeyed back—Esto Perpetua!”

ARBORETUM FOSTERS

HANDS - ON

LEARNING, COMMUNITY, & CONNECTION

By Susan Johnston Taylor

For decades, Japanese maples, flowering dogwoods, sweetgums, gingkos, and many other species of trees have greeted visitors to Chatham Hall’s 365-acre campus. Now, thanks to the hard work of trustees, employees, and students since the idea emerged two years ago, the School has a Level 1 accredited arboretum to help community members and visitors enjoy these natural wonders.

A Seed is Planted

Inspiration struck when Trustee Kate Bulkley ‘77 saw Sherley Young ’57 accept the Chatham Hall Distinguished Alumna Award in 2022. In her remarks, Young talked about her experience starting an arboretum in Philadelphia, PA, and Bulkley asked her how difficult it would be for Chatham Hall to create its own. Young’s response was immediate: “Chatham Hall has enough varieties of trees already; all it takes is a leader to get it done.” With Young’s encouragement, the Chatham Hall Arboretum Task Force was formed.

“I’ve always thought the Chatham Hall campus is beautiful, and I believe that we have a duty to steward our trees and tree canopy,” explained Bulkley. “An arboretum is about the beauty of the trees and also, increasingly, about the importance of sustainability.”

Trustee Jennifer Gammill McKay ’84, P’20, whose family created The Crosby Arboretum in Mississippi, and Molly Davis ’79, director of The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, also happily joined the task force.

Continued on page 28

Ideas Take Root

The task force performed a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis and presented a proposal to the Board of Trustees, which embraced this tree stewardship project. After securing board approval, the task force identified on-campus champions, including Beth Barksdale, director of entrepreneurship and dean of the Chapel & Spiritual Life.

Students in Barksdale’s Global Entrepreneurship classes readily embraced the project and quickly began driving it forward in fall 2023. They crafted the arboretum’s mission statement and objectives, and helped identify which species should be included in the first phase of accreditation before researching and creating fact sheets for each. The arboretum’s objectives include fostering wellbeing through nature, facilitating hands-on learning, provoking curiosity about the world, and encouraging sustainable environmental practices.

Student Learning Grows

During the fall semester, the Global Entrepreneurship students not only learned teamwork and project management, but also gained an introduction to botany.

“How do you identify a tree by its bark?” Barksdale asked. “What are the different leaf patterns? How do the flowers and seeds vary from tree to tree? Which trees grow well here? Which trees are native here? How do you care for them? How do you preserve them?”

“Chaplain Barksdale walked with us throughout campus on many different occasions, teaching us to identify the trees and showing us how to photograph them for the fact sheets. She also organized us into collaborative groups so that we could manage all the data we were collecting,” said year-two Global Entrepreneurship student Yuyang “Vicky” Gao ‘24.

With help from Wolf Josey Landscape Architects, who previously created the School’s Tree Framework Plan*, students drafted Chatham Hall’s application for the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation, which was submitted in December 2023 and gained approval the following February. Level 1 arboretums are required to have at least 25 identified species of trees, and the Chatham Hall Arboretum currently has 27 species with more additions anticipated.

Cultivating Engagement Through Nature

Designing the arboretum’s visitor experience was another opportunity for student learning.

“The students wanted our arboretum to be an interpretive educational experience,” Barksdale said. “To that end, we developed the idea of engagement stations that would incorporate our peace garden, pollinator garden, and an area with bluebird houses as resting places along the way.”

All the designated trees in the arboretum have stand-alone signage which includes the common and Latin name and a QR code to access its custom fact sheet.

“This approach allows each tree’s story to come to life,” said Barksdale. “There is information about the tree unique to Chatham Hall, which might include who donated the tree or for whom it may have been dedicated. It might also include a historical story that has taken place familiar to the past and present Chatham Hall community.”

Quotes from literature and sacred texts offer another form of engagement.

“Students wanted to ensure that each tree also had a quote so everyone touring the arboretum encountered the vast appreciation for trees that have stood the test of time,” Barksdale added.

An Arboretum Blossoms

The entire community, including students, visiting alumnae, and local residents, gathered on Earth Day on April 22 to dedicate the new arboretum. The festivities included workshops for students, a public keynote by Davis, performances, student-guided tours, a tribute by Town of Chatham Mayor Alisa Davis, and more. Following the dedication, the Chatham Hall Arboretum is now open to the public during the School’s regular operating hours.

Bulkley believes that this project not only benefits the community, but also connects to Chatham Hall’s broader mission.

“It’s not just about getting good grades, it’s about making capable young women who are taking care of themselves as well as taking care of the world,” she said.

This project is part of a larger master plan for the campus, which includes adding more wildflowers to bring the meadows back to their natural state.

“It’s been a fun and engaging project for students, and everyone involved. I believe that with proper support, it will be around for a long time,” said Bulkley. “With such enthusiasm from the students to launch the whole thing, it’s created a meaningful legacy for current and future generations to come.”

Learn more about the Chatham Hall Arboretum at www.chathamhall.org/arboretum

*Tree steward Robin Hanes ‘73 introduced Wolf Josey Landscape Architects to Chatham Hall when she commissioned them to develop a Tree Framework Plan in 2016 to guide the School with respect to its planning and care of trees on central campus.

The Chatham Hall Arboretum logo, initially conceptualized by Robin Emmons ‘14, was designed in commemoration of the Big Oak that stood for decades in the Meadow before it fell in 2013. The Big Oak (pictured to the right in the 1920s) had an extraordinary tree canopy, and was cherished by generations of students, faculty, and staff. Thus, the logo is a reminder of both longevity and transience. A new oak tree sapling is currently growing in its place!

CHATHAM HALL ARBORETUM

Arboretum Task Force

SPRING 2024 UPDATE

On May 4, Chief Advancement Officer Christine Cutright Knight P’19 delivered an update on the Boundless Potential campaign to the Reunion audience in the Van Voorhis Lecture Hall. Knight reminded participants that this campaign is historic and transformational for both the student and faculty experience, as well as for the campus footprint. She expressed a desire that all friends of Chatham Hall, particularly alumnae and parents, would experience a deep pride of association for their affiliation with the School. The power of the alumnae network has fueled the success of the campaign. The initial goal range was set between $30-35 million. We have achieved $35 million with an additional $5 million in future gifts through estate plans for a total of $40 million. And, since global supply chain issues have escalated construction costs along the way, we are striving to raise another $5 million for the new facility. Thank you for your support.

The campaign includes four initiatives: annual support for the Chatham Hall Fund at $1 million per year; growth in the endowment, primarily through estate plans; and two special projects of major capital construction: the renovation of campus faculty homes and construction of a new athletics, health, and wellness center. Knight challenged the audience to give to the Chatham Hall Fund every year. Not only does it benefit the student experience, but participation acts as a proxy for alumnae confidence and the strength of the School. Make Chatham Hall

a beneficiary of your estate plans, insurance, or retirement funds. This is how schools grow endowments. Endowments are to schools what personal retirement funds are to individuals—they ensure that a steady stream of resources are available for the future. Give to special projects when you can as you can stretch payments over multiple years. The Boundless Potential campaign is historic and transformational, and you will look back and experience pride in bringing it to fruition.

The campaign started by taking care of existing needs. It has been able to bring to fruition many projects on the School’s wishlist including the reopening of the dorms above Yardley Dining Hall and modernization of community spaces to create a welcoming environment for students and visitors. Most recently, thanks to the generosity of riding families, the barn classroom was refurbished in time for the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) trainers’ program to meet in April.

The athletics, health, and wellness center makes a statement about the commitment of the School to the development of the whole person because this is how learning is best accomplished. We are equipping curious thinkers with skills and habits that will enable them to thrive and flourish well into adulthood. The new building has several layers of intention baked into the design and the programs which will be housed therein.

Athletics: At Chatham Hall, every student can engage in sports. Teamwork is an essential skill that will enable students to work effectively with others in college and in the workforce. One of the features of the new facility includes a bouldering wall. At face value, the bouldering wall will serve as a training opportunity for those who want to enjoy the many hiking and climbing opportunities available in this region. For others, it will be something more. We believe that stepping outside of your comfort zone enables one to develop resilience and fortitude, and this wall will provide a safe and supportive environment in which students can push themselves. Substantial space for strength and conditioning as well as a dedicated room for attention and care by an athletic trainer underscore our commitment. A light-filled dance studio will provide a fitting practice space. On the lower level, a flexible multi-purpose room will allow for athletic activities, seminars, or even social gatherings.

Health & Wellness: It is impossible to ignore the growing complexity of what it means to be a teenage girl in today’s world. She is more exposed to social and environmental factors that can lead to long-term health challenges. For better or for worse, she is deeply entrenched in a digital world that may exploit her emotions and insecurities. The new building will create a home for mindful practices such as yoga that can help reset, restore, and prepare a girl for her day. Modernized healthcare facilities are essential, and we will gain exam rooms and dedicated overnight rooms. A conference room and two counseling offices round out the new Health Care Center. Community and connection are essential components of wellbeing. At the building’s center is the Commons, which offers informal gathering spaces and alcoves for students to lounge, meet up with friends, or gather with their teams.

Environment: One of Chatham Hall’s differentiating features is its expansive campus. As a community we value the ability to engage with and enjoy our natural assets. Light and the integration of nature into wellbeing and healing were key considerations in the design of the building. The new Health Care Center will overlook tree canopies where birds and natural life can contribute to healing. Both the yoga studio and the strength and conditioning room include porches and patios to enable indoor-outdoor expansion. An allée of trees will line the approach to the building on one side and on the other, a play lawn and courtyards with benches will allow for leisure activities including permanent posts for our students to hitch their hammocks. The facility itself will take advantage of LEED practices including the use of geothermal heating and cooling and solar energy. At two and a half times the size of the building it replaces, it will utilize less energy in its operation.

Fueled by the generosity of its community of families and alumnae, Chatham Hall is prepared to embrace and prepare the next generation of girls. With your support, their future has boundless potential. If you have not made a gift yet, consider how you might participate in this project now or perhaps you could stretch your contribution over 3-5 years. We are in the home stretch, and your partnership and generosity are invaluable. To explore more, please visit: www.chathamhall.org/bp

What's it like being a dual citizen?

It took a LONG time to achieve, but becoming a citizen was one of the most defining moments of my life. In 2020, I took the responsibility of becoming a citizen very seriously. I moved to the U.S. on a visa in 1995. Since then, I've only spent three years in Europe; the U.S. has been my home since I was 23. Not having citizenship, especially when we have built our family life here and our two sons are U.S. citizens, was increasingly destabilizing. Having said that, I was keen to retain my U.K. citizenship, too. I did not leave the U.K. until I was nearly 18 years old. All my family are based there, and it's where I spent my entire childhood, school, and college years. While I had become increasingly familiar with U.S. culture, I was deeply rooted in English culture. I did not want to lose that—my connection to England and to my British heritage will always be strong. But, it is a huge honor and privilege to be a U.S. citizen. Being able to vote in a country where I have spent nearly 25 years living and working is a big deal. I take my vote seriously, and value the importance of giving back to my American home and community. I love being able to bridge two worlds and cultures, and to have given my boys the chance to do the same.

Getting to Know RECTOR SARA STEPHENSON

What's your favorite thing about working in education?

Literally everything. I recall very clearly knowing that I was lucky to have chosen a profession that I loved very early in my career, as soon as the first six months of my first teaching job. That feeling has never left me. I've played lots of different roles in different schools, including science teacher; advisor; dean; science department chair; head of middle school; crew, lacrosse, and cheerleading coach; international trip planner; head of school; dorm parent; and enrollment and admission manager, and have loved them all. This has given me a chance to push myself out of my comfort zone and to learn more about more areas of education. I'm not sure I would have been inspired to diversify my roles in any other profession.

Educators are some of my favorite people to be around, and they always will be. I have been fortunate that each school I have been a part of has been a family to me on every level. Many of my closest friends are educators, and five of my boys’ eight godparents are educators or former students. At the root of my deep love of education, though, is connections with students. Being around students and interacting with them is lifeblood to me. I can’t be shut up in my office for too long without student interaction. It's at the heart of every part of my career—interacting with students, hearing their thoughts and dreams, sharing their concerns and worries, lifting them up, showing them care and attention, and, ultimately, coaxing them towards being the best humans they can be. I will never get tired of that work, never stop enjoying it, and never fail to be amazed at how fast the days pass when you are deeply involved in work that is perpetually interesting, fulfilling, and inspiring.

What about living on campus are you looking forward to? Everything! Being able to be with students 24/7 is something I look forward to. Same with faculty and staff. As my school has always been my family, this is like spending more time with your family—it feeds the soul! Opening the doors to the Rectory is something that I can't wait to do. Sharing that space with students and employees will be really fun. Sharing in the moments that are missed in a day school is a huge gift. I also can't wait to have y'all get to know my family. Our dogs, Molly and Stella, are going to love having more than 100 human siblings! I am excited to become fully immersed in serving the School, and to experience all of our traditions and, perhaps, starting some new ones.

What about Chatham Hall and its future excites you the most?

Again, everything! I was profoundly struck by the emotional intelligence of the students when I first visited. Having worked in girls’ schools for many years, I am used to empowered student voices and confident young women who are not afraid to carve their own path. But Chatham Hall takes this to a new, and I believe, groundbreaking level. Understanding how to live well is deeply embedded at Chatham Hall, and I believe that this critical differentiator makes it ready for transcending other girls’ or boarding school experiences, and truly stepping out as a leader in providing students with the most complete portfolio of skills in the widest and most meaningful areas of life.

What's something you want the Chatham Hall community to know about you?

I'm a huge reader! I read every day and am rarely without a book. I collect books about Kings and Queens of England and Europe, as well as the Russian Imperial family. I also collect books on doll houses and miniatures. I'm obsessed with musical theater, although I can't hold a tune! If I could magically acquire one skill it would be to have a great singing voice with perfect pitch.

FUN FACTS

Years Working in Education

Favorite Color (Closely followed by purple and gold, of course) Reading,

Hobbies

Sar Sar

Childhood Nickname

Molly 9 Stella 1.5

Current Dogs' Ages

Chocolate Labs & Fox Hounds

Favorite Dog Breeds

Sara, Jonah, Jasper, & Paul Stephenson

Remembering & Honoring a Legend

Mr. John Henry Waller

Mr. John Henry Waller passed away after a short decline in health on Dec. 19. He was 93, just a few days shy of his 94th birthday.

John Henry had an immense impact on the Chatham Hall community throughout his nearly 70 years at the School. He was an institution within our institution. He lived a long and full life, spending many years in service of the Chatham Hall community as a member of the Yardley Crew, grounds team, and housekeeping team.

John Henry came to Chatham Hall in 1954 after serving in the U.S. military. He was hired as a server and quickly became a part of the lives of so many. He knew and made an impact on generations of Chatham Hall students, alumnae, parents, and colleagues. Additionally, several members of John Henry’s family also worked at Chatham Hall, including his wife, Selma, who worked at the School for 40 years.

John Henry is often remembered ringing the gong and serving cherries jubilee in Yardley Dining Hall, offering a smile and quiet strength in the halls, and helping to keep our campus beautiful. The gong was dedicated to him in 2004 in commemoration of his 50th year of service to the School. The Chathamite yearbook was dedicated to John Henry in 1995, and in 2014, a financial aid scholarship fund was established and named in his honor. During the School’s 125th anniversary celebration, the Class of 2019 families renovated and named the Waller House on Rt. 57 in his honor.

As John Henry once said in an interview for a previous issue of the Chat, “If you do right, and treat people right, right will follow you.” Thank you for doing right by us for so long, John Henry. You are already sorely missed.

Alumnae, friends, faculty, and members of the Chatham Hall community share their fond memories of John Henry.

“He was a gracious man with a kind, gentle, and loving spirit who did SO much to improve the lives of so many. I have so many memories of John Henry, from my first day as a new student—sobbing, and he was a voice of calm— to daily interactions, and his wonderful smile the day of my wedding at the Chapel when we recalled shenanigans and Chatham stories from my school days and ‘townie time’ with my grandmother. He will be missed.”

- Lucy Webster Archie ’87

“To me as a teenager, John Henry was what embodied the heart and soul of Chatham Hall. Tall sentry. Trusted caretaker. Shining dignity. Gentle beauty. Quiet strength. As an adult, he is a hero.”

- Belinda Thornton Ruelle ’85

Class of 1998

“So saddened by the news of John Henry. What a wonderful man who dedicated so much of his life to all of us at Chatham Hall. He always had a smile on his face. He will be missed dearly. So happy we all got to see him at our 25th Reunion.”

- Susan Gillings Gross ’98

“We had the privilege of knowing John Henry, our friend, for 13 years. His gentle, dignified presence, kindness, and quiet demeanor graced our lives. We often spoke together of his growing up in the segregated south and family. He represents the ultimate beacon of how to fully live our lives, in the arc of kindness.”

- Susan & Don Morley

John Henry Waller & Anne Blodget Holberton ’69

“I treasure this photo. I recall we were reminiscing about 1968-1969, when John Henry would sound the gong, then he and I would round up the hungry from the Well to the dining hall and together we would shepherd the School to lunch or dinner. He would look at me to make the final gong, then I was queued up to lead grace. He was a statuesque, quiet leader and he was my ‘wingman’ that year. His smile was calming and our daily routine was a comfort. It was a joy to see him in 2019 and share with him how much I appreciated him.”

- Anne Blodget Holberton ’69

Jennifer Gammill McKay ’84, P’20, John Henry Waller, Mary Reynolds ’84, & Ginny Cates Bowie ’73

“I was not what anybody on the faculty or staff would have thought would make anything of myself. The night before I took over as board chair, we were having dinner at the Rectory and John Henry came out of the kitchen and he motioned to me to come over. He put his hands on hips and he looked at me and said, ‘What is this I hear about you?’ And I said, ‘John Henry, can you believe it?’ And he looked at me and shook his head and said, ‘Honey, I would have never voted on you.’ So we hugged and carried on, and he said, ‘Sometimes it’s those of you that don’t seem to have much potential that turn out to be the best!’ That’s my favorite story of my years as board chair.”

- Jean Armfield Sherrill ’63

“John Henry Waller was a symbol of the best of Chatham Hall. He was there when I attended from 1960-1963 and when I returned for a Reunion. Not sure which one. There had been a major remodel of the dining hall and he was right there welcoming alumnae. I'm sure all students remember him from tall and handsome to a smaller man in size only. I know he appreciated education and had children that went to college. I'm looking forward to learning more.”

- Mary Michael ’63

“What a fine man and kind soul! God is so good to put people like John Henry in our life to remind us to live up to his standards of goodness and grace.”

- Ginny Cates Bowie ’73

Picture courtesy of Rebecca Frackelton ’97 Pace Cooke Emmons ‘77, P’14 & John Henry Waller

Alice Moore ’69, Robin Peake Stuart ’69, John Henry Waller, Tucky Stout Pogue ’69, Lee Wulsin Roberts ’69, & Virginia Maurer ’69

Still an athlete in his 90s! In 2021, John Henry threw out the first pitch at the Danville Otterbots game with the Chatham Hall community, including faculty member Molly Thomas P’06, ’08, cheering him on.

“John Henry was there every time I came back over the years, with always a wonderful warm greeting. And I certainly remember his announcement of dinner when I was there, I think the gong came in my last year. Like Pavlov’s dogs, the sound of the gong made us all salivate.”

- Consie Flint West ’66

“John Henry has been a constant at Chatham Hall for me, ever since I was a student in the 1970s. He was omnipresent in the dining room in those days and rang in the meals with the gong. But more than that he was always happy to have a chat if you needed one. His smile and warm welcome I will miss! I was always happy to see him and very glad I gave him a hug when I saw him in October of last year.”

“This is my precious photo memory from the May 2023 Reunion Weekend, when the Class of 1968 had a wonderful visit with John Henry Waller in the dining room. I asked him about the gong and specifically if it was heavy. He graciously allowed me to hold it, and YES! it is terribly heavy. AND I did not gong it as there is only one person who should do that, and that is our dear John Henry Waller. God bless him and the many loving memories we have of him.”

- Muffy Dent Stuart ’68

- Kate Bulkley

’77

wellness.

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

empowerment.

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

inspiration.

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

partnership.

From longtime 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.

connection.

This year, we brought our global community together for several meaningful activities including I-Fest, celebration of the Lunar New Year, and more.

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

ALUMNAE CLASS NOTES

Submit your Class Note: www.chathamhall.org/class-note

1946

Arvia Crosby Morris

I still happily manage my apple farm in the Hudson Valley and spend winters in Warren, RI near my family, as small town life is very appealing. I miss my Chatham roommate Eleanor Owens Earle ’46, as we had many great winter memories to share. Wishing everyone good health. As someone said, “We do our best with what we have.”

Nancy Howland Washburne

Still blessed to be able to drive, play games, and aid others! Looking forward to our 80th in two years!

1950

Kathleen Herty Brown Musically, I’ve had a dynamite fall season. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (myself included) sang one of my anthems. I also sang at the Rehoboth Jazz Festival with Shore Jazz, then pianist Joe Holt and I performed at the Main Stay in Rock Hall, MD. My a cappella group, Mixed Blessings, still meets in my back room on Monday nights. We’ve had several gigs, and are in our 14th year together, laughing and warbling. I urge you to do the same: laugh and warble.

1951

Sarah Shartle Meacham

1951 trudges along, sadly this year without MaryStuart Waterbury Alvord ’51, who died in the fall of 2023. Tootie was a great

companion and an awfully funny person. Notes came through from Ann Cochran McCandless ’51, Sylvia Ericson ’51, Dulcinea “Dulcy” Lee Green ’51, Ann Tracy Ross ’51, and I thank them for keeping in touch. The rest of our class insists on keeping mum! No surprise since most of us had 90th birthdays recently. For my 90th in December, I took my whole family to a beloved southern AZ ranch for Christmas week. Included in our band of 20 were Emory Phillips Stein’s ‘51 three daughters. No, I did not get on a horse.

1955

Carlotta Hellier Parsons

After having lost three husbands (the last one to COVID), I am now blessed with a new and wonderful man in my life. We both live in the same CCRC in Sarasota, FL. He lost his wife 10 years ago to breast cancer. We are enjoying life to the fullest, and in addition to both loving our active community, we also plan to travel. I also am enjoying my children, my four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Anne Sallee Slater

Cliff and I moved to Port St Lucie, FL last year after 50 years in Pacific Palisades, CA. Quite a change but nice to be near our daughter, Pamela. I am still in the antique business but not doing as many shows here in Florida, while Cliff retired last year.

Lucy Williams Maish ‘68, P’97, Pace Cooke Emmons ‘77, P’14, & Muffy Dent Stuart ‘68 enjoy lunch in Lexington, KY following a regional campaign event.

Carlotta Hellier Parsons ’55 & Charlie Brooks

1957

Claire Gardner Robinson Ken and I came through the pandemic reasonably well, though we each got a mild four-day case two days after singing in our concert which, of course, involved sitting-standing cheek by jowl. This has sadly led us to drop out of the chorus we’ve sung in for years, but you do what you have to. My oldest grandson graduated from college in June and is now working for a law firm and starting his “adult life.” Great fun to see and talk to him about it. Youngest grandchild, current high school sophomore, plays really well for his football team and loves it! Ken and I entertained all the assorted families over the holidays, which was great fun and included my 2-, 4-, and 11-yearold great-grandkids from late husband Bill’s side. We loved it all, and also love this quiet, peaceful January!

Sara “Sally” Chase Byers ’59 & Emily Peg Arents ’59

1959

Emily Arents

My roommate from 19571959, Sara Chase Byers and her husband Dean drove down from their home in OR to my place in Arcata, CA (behind the Redwood Curtain!) for a visit. We hadn’t seen one another since visiting Lala Mapes Maresi ’59 in FL in 2010. So good to pick up where we left off, as true friends can do.

Priscilla Mapes Maresi Ann Weir ’59 visited us recently, much to our happiness. We have been the closest of friends since our freshman year at Chatham — friends for 69 years!

1960

Susan Huntington Fisher Joined Toni Tucker ’60 and Laura Bethea ’60 for a delightful dinner. We shared our view of the friendly and nurturing climate we lived in there with fellow students and classmates.

Margaret Lloyd Keuler

My sister and I went to Vietnam and Cambodia last year and had an amazing time. In Vietnam we started in Hanoi and ended in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City with six cities and many small villages in between. There were many opportunities to meet the friendly and welcoming people and to learn about their current lives and also what happened during the “American” war. We then flew to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat; so impressive, and learned that there were many temples nearby, just not as well restored. It was amazing to see huge trees with extensive, immense roots covering temple walls. It was fun to try new and delicious foods; we learned how to make rice paper and then prepared a meal with it.

1963

Anne Clement Haddad

Gini Wilson organized a mini reunion of five of us for lunch at her new home at Stone Ridge in Mystic, CT. We all had an awesome time catching up with each other and enjoying each other’s company. Now that we’re all retired we can enjoy doing things like that. Best wishes to all Chatham classmates who get to read this note. I now live in Durham, CT with one of my daughter’s family. Any classmates in the vicinity are most welcome to stop by and visit.

1966

Margie Hastings Quinlan

Our daughter Katie

and her husband Jeff Tomlinson are the proud parents of Perry William Tomlinson. Perry was born Thanksgiving weekend 2023. He is pictured with his sister Annie, age 5.

1968

Laurie Nussdorfer

I’ve had fun visits with Annie Clarke Ager ’68, Alice Moore ’69, and Peggy Perkins Sise ’67 last fall and this winter. My class cheered me on when I was working on my book on male servants in Baroque Rome during the pandemic. I’m delighted that it is finally out!

Christine Robinson Secor Old Girl Trina Robinson Secor ’68 and New Girl Elizabeth “Biz” Carey Boden ’70 reconnect after a few decades!

1969

Paget Humphreys

I am currently living in Colorado to be near my youngest child, a son, my daughter-in-law and their almost-3-year-old son. Life is great. I love reading and taking yoga and Pilates, and hiking near Boulder or around my neighborhood. My two feline boys keep me entertained. I hope to attend another Reunion one of these years! Hello to everyone!

Talmadge Ragan

I’ve been busy narrating audiobooks and enjoy sharing the written word. I love sharing stories!

Ann Watson

I just published my third family history book, A Life in Art: Eva Auld and

Ernest Watson, about my father’s parents, both of whom were artists. My grandfather founded American Artist magazine. Other than that, I’m loving writing clients’ family stories and spending time with my daughter Emily, son-in-law Maurice, and grandchild Mara.

1970

Carolyn Davenport

I am sorry to advise of the sudden loss of my only brother from pancreatic cancer at the end of March 2023 at the age of 69. Fortunately, my mother, son, and I were able to spend time with him over several days in the hospital in advance

of his untimely death. He had experienced a life well lived.

1972

Sarah Morris

I was thrilled to visit “Babe” Kirk Unger ’73, my New Girl, at her gorgeous home in Roaring Gap, NC, in beautiful September. My husband and I enjoyed meeting Peter and hiking in beautiful mountains. I am finally retiring from UCLA this spring, and look forward to spending more time in North Carolina with family, friends, and Chatham Hall alumnae!

Top: Margie Hastings Quinlan’s ‘66 grandchildren Annie and Perry.

Bottom Left: Laurie Nussdorfer ‘68

Bottom Right: Christine Robinson Secor ‘68 & Elizabeth “Biz” Carey Boden ’70

1973

Virginia Cates Bowie

Mae Mae Andrews Cook’s ’73 son, William Cook, married Clare Rizer in Charlotte, NC. We were talking with Margaret Googe ’09 from Knoxville, TN who was a sorority sister of the bride-to-be at Wake Forest. What a wonderful world! We found out she went to Chatham Hall and her parents now live in Chapel Hill—Tenney Circle where I grew up! It was a dream weekend and wedding—getting to see Mae Mae, who has such a mom’s heart , and her family at this happy, happy occasion—priceless!

1980

Allison Sutton Fuqua

Randy and I are moving to Lake Murray, SC. We will be enjoying retirement close to our girls and grandchildren.

Catherine Doeller Sage Fun-loving, heartfelt hotties from the Class of 1980 gathered in Scottsdale, AZ for a long overdue and laughterfilled visit last fall!

1981

Susan Carlson Balderrama

All is well in Austin, TX. I live on five acres and have two miniature donkeys, two horses, and three dogs. We have lots of room, so come on by if you are near us!

1984

Tracy Bartlett Lively

On a recent visit to Portland, ME, I made a day trip with a friend to

Right: Kate Bulkley ’77, Pace Cooke Emmons ‘77, P’14, Ellie Wotherspoon ’73, & Janey Schaff Odell ’48 together in Northern MI over the summer.

Molly (daughter of Mott Givens Nicol ’70), Kate Johnson Nielsen ’72, Studie Johnson Young ’70, Nina Johnson Botsford ’72, Mary Stuart, Studie’s daughter, and Mott Givens Nicol ’70 gather for a mother-daughter trip to Florida.

Studie Johnson Young ’70, Mott Givens Nicol ’70, & Kate Johnson Nielsen ’72

Peter Unger, Elizabeth Kirk Unger ’73, Sarah Morris ’72, & John Papadopoulous

Margaret Googe ’09, Ginny Cates Bowie ’73, & Mae Mae Andrews Cook ’73

Left: Robin Emmons ’14, Kate Bulkley ’77, & Pace Cooke Emmons ‘77, P’14 in Aspen, CO for New Years 2024.

Bottom Right: Kate Bulkley ’77, Julia Morris Kashkashian ’75, & Sarah Finn ’74 meet for lunch.

Cathie Doeller Sage ’80, Bridget Sullivan Gerhardy ’80, Susan Sampson McDade ’80, Alicia Thompson ’80, Diane Wellborn Cagni ’80, Merrell Anne Graham Shearer ’80, & Peyton Koeppel Lester ’80

Brunswick. At lunch, I was introduced to Katherine, and we discovered we were both Chatham Hall girls! Katherine J. Watson ’60 and I had a great time sharing stories and even looking through her yearbook later in the day. Jeanne Wagoner overlapped us both! Katherine was the first woman selected to direct the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, a position she held from 1977 to 1998. This was my first “Me, too!” Chatham Hall alumnae chance meeting – it was such a gift!

1986

Anna Avery

Great mini-reunion of renders souls: Shannon McGee ’88 and I were able to get together when she was in town recently for a few days. We’ve kept up over the past 30 years through social media and phone, but this was our first face to face visit since school. It all came back like it was yesterday! My how time has flown!

Eleanor Burke

The Class of 1986 got together this January in Denver, and thanks to Aletta Lee Bode-Gris ’86, we were able to enjoy the Denver Rodeo and Stock Show!

1987

Judy Currie Hamilton Chatham love and support really showed up last February to help mourn the death and celebrate the life of my mother. I am profoundly grateful for this extended family of ours!

Tracy Bartlett Lively ’84 & Katherine Watson ’60

1998

Taylor Hall Bandyke

Amy Schilling ’98, Katherine McLean Ryan ’98, and I met in Asheville this fall for a mini-reunion. Chatham Hall friends are truly the best in the world!

2000

Shawndra Smith

Hi everyone! I can’t believe it’s almost been 24 years since we graduated! I have just started my 19th year as a Sergeant with the NYPD in New York City, and was so incredibly lucky to have Crystal Breedlove ’00, Debbie Varela ’02, and Tammy Varela ’03 at my wedding this past September! It’s been an amazing ride so far. I hope all of you are doing great! Go Gold!

Avery

Top: Mary Wiley ’86, Eleanor Burke ’86, Alletta Lee Bode-Gris ’86, Jennifer Chandler Davies ’86, Kerry Alexander ’86, Leigh Shuford Sparks ’86, Michele Motley Wilson ’86, Hallie Betcher Pettigrew ’86, and Neta Vasquez ’86.

Bottom Left: Deborah “Debbie” Varela ’02, Crystal Breedlove ’00, & Tamara “Tammy” Varela ’03 at Shawndra Smith’s ‘00 wedding in New York in September 2023.

Bottom Rigt: Taylor Hall Bandyke ’98, Amy Schilling ’98, and Katherine McLean Ryan ’98 biking the Biltmore Estate.

Eleanor Burke ’86, Mary Frazier Pickel ’87, Semmes Wright Calvert ’87, Judy Currie Hamilton ’87, Shepard Ansley P’90, Elkin Cushman Taylor ’87, Leslie Lawhorn Neely ’87, & Laura Lee Fagerness Simmons ’87.

Anna

’86 & Shannon McGee ’88

2003

JaQuette Page Gilbert

Some say the days are long and the years are short; I’d certainly agree. My oldest graduates from high school this year and she’ll attend CIU for nursing in the fall. All of my girls are playing volleyball and I’m still growing my home bakery. I’m now a Sugar Angel for Icing Smiles and I had the opportunity to make a set of decorated cookies for a young child with a critical illness. I’m still a school counselor and enjoy working with my students. Greg and I are going to enjoy this last year in our 30s and work on some bucket list goals. We pray all is well with everyone!

2014

Molly Penny 2023 was so special!

I graduated with my master’s in French from Georgia State University in May, and began teaching as a limited-term faculty member there in August while still pursuing theatre. In November, my partner Zach and I got married, surrounded by so much love from so many people, including

my wonderful, dearest Chatham friends. So grateful to Chatham Hall for bringing these beautiful souls into my life (and into that of my sister and maid of honor, Caroline-Daly Penny ’17).

2015

Delaney Evans Kelemen

I married Chris Kelemen (Woodberry Forest ’15) in Beaver Creek, CO this past September! My Chatham Hall roommate of all four years, Susanna Hogg ’15, was my maid of honor, and Katie Buckner ’15 was a bridesmaid! Chris and I currently live in Gainesville, FL where I am completing my Ph.D. studying the neural correlates of dyslexia and other learning disorders. Go Gators!

2016

Victoria Bates Samuel I started the New Year right by spending a weekend in Charlotte, NC with Chatham friends! We had an incredible time together after not seeing each other for many months. We even found my wedding dress! What a special moment to share with forever friends!

Top: Samantha Franklin ’05, Amanda Peterkin Mansfield ’05, Emily Pulliam ’05, Lindsay Burkart Holbrook ’05, Laura Anne Roquemore McLaurin ’05, & Honor Hostetler ’05 gathered in the NC moutains to celebrate Lindsay’s upcoming wedding.

Bottom Left: Greg & JaQuette Gilbert ’03 at their youngest daughter’s Sneaker Ball in February 2024.

Bottom Right: Amber Huggins ’16, Victoria Bongard ’16, Torey-Bates Samuel ’16, & Anna Grace Sommers ’16 at Lovely Bride in Charlotte, NC after saying “yes” to the dress!

Top Left: Mary Helen Spence Wainwright ’06 with her mother Helen McPherson Spence ’71 on her wedding day in October 2023.

Top Right: Delaney Evans Kelemen ’15 and her husband Chris at their wedding at the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Colorado.

Bottom Left: Juliana Avery ’14, Molly Penny ’14, Don Wood, Robin Emmons ’14, Katie Ferro ’14, Michaela Campbell ’14, Dasia Moore ’14, & Lily Fulop ’14

Bottom Right: Molly Penny ’14’s wedding party, including Juliana Avery ’14 & Caroline-Daly Penny ’17.

IN MEMORIAM

Joan Williams Baldridge ‘81, P’88, ’90 died on Aug. 19, 2023 with her daughters at her side. She is survived by her daughters, Ellen Baldridge Gregan ’88 and Margaret Baldridge ’90.

Former Trustee Edwin “Ed” Bonner Conner, Jr. P’81 passed away on March 2, 2024 at 92 years old. He is survived by daughter Erin Conner Conrad ’81.

Former Trustee Thomas James Hadjis P’89, ’90 of Lake Placid died peacefully at his recent residence in Delmar, NY on March 5, 2023, after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his daughters Nini Hadjis ’89 and Priscilla “Lollie” Hadjis Hannan ’90.

Former Trustee Robert Dean “Bob” Pugh, 94 died peacefully on Dec. 18, 2023, in Little Rock, AR. He was predeceased by daughter Martha Ann Pugh ’77. He is survived by daughters Virginia Pugh Hernandez ’73 and Mary Pugh Manning ’74, and wife Sis Pugh.

Lois Sands “Sandy” Hart Coleman ’46, formerly of Minneapolis and Orono, MN, passed peacefully with family by her side, on July 15, 2023 in Maine.

Marian “Robin” Morris Aikman ’48 passed away at age 93 peacefully at her home on Sept. 17, 2023, in Rollinsford, NH.

Mary Stuart Waterbury Alvord ’51 passed away on Sept. 28, 2023 in Ukiah, CA.

Ann Staples Waldron ’57 died peacefully on Nov. 1, 2023.

Mary Faith Pusey Pankin ’60 died of complications from Alzheimer’s in Charlottesville, VA on Oct. 14, 2023.

Carole Robertson Coviello ’62 passed away on Jan. 17, 2024 at the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital with her husband of 56 years, Phil, her daughter, Sarah, and son, David, at her side.

Catherine “Cathy” Walker ’69 passed away at home on Aug. 1, 2023 after a long illness.

Margaret “Maggie” Adger Malloy Sanders ’71 died on Dec. 2, 2023, surrounded by family and love. She is survived by sisters Marion Malloy Murphy ’67 and Mary Malloy Kelley ’72.

Nurse Gilda Millner passed away on Jan. 6. Gilda was a member of the Chatham Hall community for 19 years, starting as a nurse in 2005. Her commitment to our students and employees both in and out of the Health Care Center was vast. Nurse Gilda cared for each student as if they were her own. In 2015, she also served as a chaperone on a School trip to India. Gilda was a friend to all who worked at Chatham Hall, frequently offering care, support, and hospitality. She was also a dedicated mother and grandmother, and loved by many throughout the local community.

THEN & NOW: Pictured above in 1915 and below today, the Well has been a central place on campus for decades.