Colorado Academy Journal Fall 2022
J urnal Fall 2022
Volume 50
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Colorado Academy Mission Statement
Creating curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners and leaders. About the Cover When CA’s official mascot Magnus— “Gus” for short—hyped up the crowd at the Homecoming Spirit Assembly on September 23, 2022, few knew the identity of the Senior wearing the Mustang costume, which is always a closely guarded secret. Fewer knew the special story of this year’s Gus. When he was in Kindergarten, Buzz Oertel ’23 and his family participated in an allschool contest to name CA’s mascot, and their entry, Magnus (meaning “great” in Latin), was the winner. Now, years later, Oertel was thrilled to be the Senior chosen to bring Gus to life. “It feels really good to be wearing this suit,” he said. “I’ve been at CA for a long time, and it’s an awesome experience to be part of Homecoming and help make this such a special occasion for the school.” Colorado Academy Journal 2021-2022 Annual Report Fall 2022
Colorado Academy
J urnal
2021-2022 Annual Report
Fall 2022 | Volume 50
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J urnal Contents
Fall 2022 n Volume 50
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The 2022 CA Journal is published by the Colorado Academy Office of Advancement. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information included in this publication is accurate and complete. If you note any errors or omissions, please accept our apologies and notify the Office of Advancement at chris.barnard@coloradoacademy.org, or 303-914-2510. PARENTS OF ALUMNI If this publication is addressed to a child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please send an updated mailing address to our Alumni Office at sue.burleigh@ coloradoacademy.org. CORRESPONDENCE Colorado Academy, 3800 S. Pierce Street, Denver, CO 80235, 303-986-1501 WRITERS AND EDITORS Chris Barnard Jan Beattie Sue Burleigh Niki Camarena Bill Fisher Vicki Hildner Jacque Montgomery Becky Risch Gravely Wilson DESIGN Cindi Sherman Sir Speedy Denver PHOTOGRAPHY Bill Fisher Cyrus McCrimmon Jacque Montgomery Becky Risch Kathryn Scott HEAD OF SCHOOL Mike Davis, PhD
Colorado Academy 3800 S. Pierce Street Denver, CO 80235
From the Head of School...............................................................................................................2 A Year of Mustang Pride and Resilience..............................................................................4 CA Moves Beyond AP with Advanced Studies and Research.............................6 Connecting Threads at The Big Draw....................................................................................8 Lives Intertwined: Aguil Goes to University...................................................................10 Ultimate Frisbee Program Takes Flight..............................................................................12 Leadership and Loss in Afghanistan: Geoff Ball ’06....................................................................................................................................14 Her Distinguished Résumé Started on CA’s Volleyball Court: Trier Bryant ’02...............................................................................................................................16 Decades Later, CA Influences Still Make a Difference: Paul Robbins, PhD ’85..............................................................................................................18 Seedlings of Change.......................................................................................................................20 Alumni Association Highlights and Reunions.............................................................22 Class Notes.............................................................................................................................................25 In Memoriam........................................................................................................................................34 Alumni Calendar of Events.....................................................................Inside Back Cover
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CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Dear CA Community:
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hree months into the school year, I continue to celebrate how wonderful “normal” feels. With the pandemic no longer driving day-to-day decisions, the 2022-2023 school year started with time-honored traditions like the AllSchool Picnic, Seniors welcoming the Ninth Graders, an All-School Assembly, complete with Lower School students sharing what they look forward to most—lunch.
The fact that we can have this mostly normal year after two-and-ahalf years of intense disruptions is testimony to Colorado Academy’s extraordinary community. Students showed up prepared for new lessons, teachers returned to campus weeks early to prepare their classrooms and attend professional development days, and families are engaged in various ways. As in every issue of the CA Journal, we like to showcase our programs and people, including our alumni. In the coming pages you will see how the F. Charles Froelicher Upper School is introducing new courses designed to drive advanced studies and research or ASR. And we catch up with Major Geoff Ball ’06, who shares an unforgettable experience on the front lines in Afghanistan. You won’t want to miss the feature on our Middle School’s 14-year effort, led by science teacher Sue Counterman, to support a young Sudanese refugee with her education. This story highlights the kind of teacher and students that make CA the special place it is. This issue also is my chance to thank each of you. Because of you, our academics, arts, and athletics are stronger than ever. CA is a modern campus, providing unmatched opportunities for students and an incredible professional environment for our faculty and staff. I am immensely grateful. It’s my fifteenth year at CA, and I can’t imagine another place I’d rather be! Sincerely,
Mike Davis, PhD Head of School Colorado Academy
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From the Head of School
Read my blog: coloradoacademy.org/head-of-school
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Colorado Academy 2021-2022 Timeline
A Year of Mustang Pride and Resilience
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he Colorado Academy community came together in 20212022 like never before. Determined not to let the pandemic dampen our spirits, students and families, faculty and staff celebrated the opportunities to unite—at athletic events, at performances and recitals, on campus for all-school gatherings, as a Parent Association, and much more. Key milestones and timehonored traditions proved that nothing could keep Mustangs apart. n AUGUST 2021
New playgrounds dedicated in memory of beloved teacher Leslie Webster welcomed Lower School students. Bryan Terrell Clark returned to campus, encouraging students to follow their passion and find their purpose. SEPTEMBER 2021 Homecoming came home, with alumni having a special reunion, previously delayed by the pandemic. The annual Big Draw encouraged students to “Make the Change” and find ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle to lessen our environmental impact. OCTOBER 2021
The Leach Center for the Performing Arts opened, and more than 1,600 members of the CA community gathered for the All-School Picnic.
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Girls Field Hockey headed to the State Championship.
Middle School students took to the stage in the Leach Center, performing Alice in Wonderland. NOVEMBER 2021 Seniors celebrated their official NCAA National Letter of Intent signing.
CA received a 10-year reaccreditation from the Association of Colorado Independent Schools. DECEMBER 2021 Student-led HOPE returned, providing hundreds with community support services.
Year in Review Grandparents & Special Friends Day remained on Zoom but did not disappoint in showcasing all that is extraordinary about CA. Computer Science enthusiasts gathered for an evening of fun-filled coding and experimentation.
Head of School Mike Davis introduced CA’s new strategic plan in his annual State of the School message. APRIL 2022 Girls Lacrosse won its seventh straight State Championship.
JANUARY 2022 The Middle School Future City team’s plan for a waste-free Thunder Bay, Ontario, reliant on circular economy principles, took First Place honors for the second year in a row. FEBRUARY 2022 Funuary brought a break from the winter blahs with a visit from farm animals. Boys Varsity Basketball set a CA record— winning 17 straight games. MARCH 2022
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center came to CA for the Fifth Grade daylong immersion into the lives of Ancestral Puebloan people.
Interim returned, with Middle and Upper School students enjoying a week of experiential education.
The CA Concert returned, with headliners Rodrigo y Gabriela and Isaac Slade, as attendees raised generous support for our financial aid program. CA alumni celebrated our “Pioneer Girls,” the first young women to graduate from CA, while the Parent Team won the snowy and wet Giant Relay. JUNE 2022 The All-School Art Festival “Vibrant-See” celebrated artists’ intent to see the world with “technicolor joy.” Upper School thespians performed Mary Poppins, and our state-of-the-art theater technology wowed the audience by having the characters fly.
Fifth and Eighth Grade Continuations marked the traditional milestone of students moving on to the next division.
MAY 2022 Ice Hockey played in the State Championship, while honoring volunteer assistant coach Danielo Kozachuk from Ukraine, whose family endured the war with Russia.
Taste of CA celebrated the many cultures of CA families.
Commencement exercises returned to the Welborn Lawn, celebrating 99 members of the Class of 2022.
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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CA Moves Beyond AP with Advanced Studies and Research
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his fall, in veteran social studies teacher Elissa Wolf-Tinsman’s new course, The American Experiment, Colorado Academy Seniors are analyzing the central events, people, and forces that transformed American society and culture from the years after World War II to the present. It was a period when several critical events and debates rocked the nation, such as civil rights, involvement with war and other nations, partisanship, and urban crises. With a particular emphasis on the use of primary sources, in-depth exploration of topics, and historical scholarship, WolfTinsman explains, the discussion-based, college-level course aims to help students learn how to write persuasively about complex material, while gaining a deeper appreciation for the lasting influence of the major events, crises, and interpretations of post-World War II American history. As the first of CA’s own Advanced Studies and Research (ASR) courses to be offered, The American Experiment heralds the start of an ambitious extension of CA’s mission. Developed by CA’s Upper School academic leadership, ASR harnesses the energy of a dynamic faculty and inspires authentic, rigorous engagement. ASR courses will boldly extend learning at CA, moving beyond College Board Advanced Placement (AP) classes that are constructed around an established curriculum designed to prepare students for cumulative exams. “ASR puts students and purpose at the center, emphasizing self-direction,” says Upper School Principal Max Delgado. “It cultivates mastery, more profound depth of study, and a learning posture that connects to the broader world.” According to CA Senior Dori Beck, “A
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course like The American Experiment has the speed and workload of an AP class, but there is also the time and space for students to explore what interests them the most.”
The anatomy of ASR Built on the expertise and passion of CA faculty members, ASR courses may be oriented around projects that attempt to advance the current state of knowledge in a particular field, requiring students to engage with real-world experts or academic endeavors. ASR courses may seek to blend multiple fields of study to generate new understandings through the interplay of disciplines. Students may choose their own area of investigation within a field, delving into the existing literature on a topic to develop a novel research focus. Through ASR, students encounter expectations around mastery not merely assessed through standardized exams. “By offering students methods to demonstrate what they’ve learned in ways that reach beyond traditional assessments and memorization, they gain the confidence to face an increasingly complex and changing world,” says Delgado. “It is incredibly exciting to allow teachers to teach what they love and what matters to students over the course of four years,” says social studies teacher and department chair Liz Sarles. “It really opens up for kids where their passions might lead them in terms of college and perhaps their careers.” Sarles’ Honors elective, Diseases that Have Changed the World, asks Upper School students to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the lenses of history, global health, statistics, literature, geography, and sociology. In part, it is
“The beauty of an independent school like CA is that we’re not tied to an outside curriculum. We can do more.” Dr. Mike Davis, CA Head of School
courses such as Sarles’ advanced elective that have set the stage for CA to review and enhance the Upper School curriculum.
Changes underway Beginning this fall, AP Human Geography is no longer offered. In 2022-2023, AP English Literature, AP Economics, and AP European History will sunset from the curriculum. By the 2023-2024 school year, CA’s Social Studies and English departments will eliminate four AP classes and introduce a range of new ASR options. “The driving question of any good school, including CA, is how do you maintain and grow your academic program?” says Delgado. AP classes “carry an emotional weight” with students and parents, and changes in curriculum require “a thoughtful system of how we let some or potentially all of these retire,” he continues. AP classes in science, math, computer science, and world languages will continue as usual. Guided by CA’s academic leadership, these departments will spend the next two years engaged in a structured and intentional process to evaluate the role of AP, in addition to mapping student growth and mastery. It’s too soon to say where each department will land based on their needs and assessment. Some may keep AP; others may phase out AP
Advanced Studies and Research
over time while phasing in ASR. CA will continue to offer weighted grades for all current and future AP and ASR courses, signaling clearly that both AP and ASR are college-level courses.
students freedom to explore their intellectual passions,” Davis continues, adding that 87 percent of the CA Upper School faculty have master’s and/or doctoral degrees.
A growing movement
“These classes and experiences will actually make our kids more distinctive,” Davis notes. “College admissions officers recognize and appreciate the quality and depth of CA’s Upper School curriculum.”
“Moving away from AP is not radical,” says Head of School Dr. Mike Davis. “It’s been in process in independent schools on the East and West Coasts for the last 15 to 20 years.” Historically, CA’s AP program has been small, offering just 15 out of 38 possible classes. “The beauty of an independent school like CA is that we’re not tied to an outside curriculum. We can do more.” “ASR will allow CA to provide rigorous classes that reflect both the interests and the expertise of faculty, while giving
Sonia Arora ’01, Director of College Counseling and Upper School Strategic Initiatives, says that the 170-plus college admissions officers who visit campus every fall are eager to talk in person about CA’s program and to meet students. “When colleges evaluate applicants, they want to know how students chose to
challenge themselves in different areas and how their stories unfolded,” she says. “And they want to see demonstrations of their passions and learning. It’s easy to count AP classes on a transcript; but students who can talk about their intellectual engagement and ways they extend their learning— sometimes into the community or the world—are far more rare.” CA’s Academic Affairs Committee will guide continued innovation in the coming years. This group—comprising the Head of School, Upper School Principal, Director of College Counseling and Upper School Strategic Initiatives, department chairs, Director of Inclusivity, and faculty members—is committed to building on CA’s legacy of preparing students to flourish here and beyond. n
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Connecting Threads at The Big Draw
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t Colorado Academy, the arts are a thread that runs from the first day of Pre-K to Twelfth Grade Commencement. Every CA student is truly an artist, and the evidence is all around, from the expressive and brightly colored displays adorning the hallways of the Lower School to the sophisticated and thoughtful works hanging in the exhibition spaces of the Ponzio Art Center, or the polished musical and dramatic performances on the stage of the Leach Center for the Performing Arts. For 12 years, The Big Draw has woven together the vast creative energy of CA’s many artists through a globally-inspired annual outdoor celebration held in the fall. Founded in England in 2000, The Big Draw Festival is the world’s largest drawing
event, promoting the universal language of drawing as a tool for learning, expression, and invention. The Festival is made up of a collection of thousands of creative events, activities, and workshops across the globe run by organizations big and small.
more like art, in my opinion,” says Junior Eliza Thorpe, a painter who believes some of the best teachers she’s ever had are in the CA Visual Arts Department. “Art is what the artist feels and what they see, so this is a great time to express that.”
At CA, says Lower School visual art teacher and Big Draw co-organizer Angela Hottinger, the two-day event, held this year on September 29-30, possesses the unique ability to bring together students of all ages in ways that make collaboration and creativity accessible.
Fellow Junior Noah Bub recalls, “I remember coming to The Big Draw as a Lower Schooler, and it being so much fun. I definitely feel it’s what helped get me into art, because being able to come here and see older kids doing art was so cool. It sent me down that path of doing art at CA.”
“It’s a model for both young and old,” she says. “The older ones watch their younger peers making art without any fear or self-consciousness, and the younger ones get a chance to see just how far the older students have come in their artistic journey at CA.” “It’s quite beautiful,” adds Middle School and Upper School photography teacher Karen Donald, who co-organized this year’s Big Draw with Hottinger. “This event really embraces the joy of being creative, which is so important, especially for our older art students who can, at times, focus so much on technical proficiency. The Big Draw is about freedom.” The student participants couldn’t agree more. “Being creative in an unstructured way feels
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‘The great provocation’ Each year, the international Big Draw Festival adopts a different theme. For 2022, it is “Come Back to Colour,” an idea that speaks to rediscovering vitality, health, care, and vibrancy in life after what has been a challenging few years. “For us,” explains Hottinger, “that theme is, again, essentially about rediscovering joy—the joy of making marks on the page, of expressing your voice. Color is the great provocation that allows each individual to engage with whatever they see in front of them, in whatever way they choose.” “Provocations” are a central feature of The Big Draw at CA. In past years, they have included recycled materials, farm animals,
The Big Draw modes of transportation, and architecture. This year’s provocations—a collection of inflatable sculptures—are notably silly, humorous, and playful, encouraging participants to let go and maybe even laugh as they observe and create. In the words of Third Grader Malachi Luong, “The Big Draw is cool because you can create a gorilla wearing a dolphin hat!” Or as Fourth Grader Audrey Linsley expresses it: “I like that we get to just sit out here and draw stuff. You can just let the pencil flow.”
A powerful force According to Katy Wood Hills, Director of Visual and Performing Arts, “The ability to use our hands to create something out of nothing is built into our DNA as humans. But with our digital devices nowadays doing so much for us, drawing can remind us how powerful we are with just our hands.” That reminder can make a big impact. “Art actually affects the brain’s state,” observes Hottinger, citing the large body of scientific evidence suggesting that art has an impact on brain wave patterns and emotions, the nervous system, and even levels of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that is believed to enhance mood. “Drawing is about slowing the mind down, relearning, and re-seeing what is in front of us to experience it in a new way.” “In one class I’m kind of stuck on a project,” says Junior Katherine Rhine, “so it’s nice to be out here drawing a watermelon and not really thinking about it.”
“The Big Draw embraces the imperfect,” adds Donald. “The Visual and Performing Arts Program here at CA values experimentation and emphasizes the importance of failure. Nurturing the confidence we want to see in our graduates—their ability to try a different approach when something doesn’t work the first time—starts early, when children are just beginning to find their style. The Big Draw makes space for that.” ”We can try stuff we’ve never tried before,” says Fourth Grader Wesley Clark.
Celebrating diverse visions Junior Avery Bakes says, “The resources and the faculty in the CA art program are just unmatched, and today, it shows. They have clearly put in a ton of work to enable us to be creative and to find what our artistic vision is.” “We do The Big Draw because it embodies a fundamental notion that we emphasize at every grade level,” Hottinger says. “It’s the idea that everyone sees things differently—everyone has their own vision. Just the other day in my class, I had children all illustrating the same sculpture. When they looked at what their peers had created, they realized that even though they were observing the same thing, each individual captured a different perspective.” The realization was like a bell ringing out in the classroom, Hottinger says. “Sharing and celebrating this diversity of perspectives— that’s central to The Big Draw, and to everything that we do.” n
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Lives Intertwined: Aguil Goes to University
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ducation is my mother and father,” say the orphaned children of the Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya, near the border with South Sudan. Education is the surest way for young refugees, traumatized and displaced by decades-long conflicts in South Sudan, to escape famine, poverty, and violence and build new lives. In fall 2022, one of those orphans, Aguil Lual Deng, fulfilled her dream of enrolling in university to pursue a medical career, with hopes of returning to South Sudan to help her people. The milestone accomplishment was made possible by the support of the Colorado Academy community. For 14 years, CA Middle School science teacher Sue Counterman has worked on behalf of Kakuma’s refugee children through Seeds of South Sudan, a Coloradobased nonprofit that provides orphans with education, health care, and nutrition. In 2008, she invited the founder of that organization, Arok Garang, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” to CA’s Middle School, where he told students about the orphans like him, fleeing civil war in their home country, who found themselves among the nearly 200,000 refugees living at Kakuma. The students were determined to help. Garang found seven-year-old Aguil among the thousands of children languishing at Kakuma; she had lost her entire family to the violence in South Sudan. CA Middle Schoolers raised money through bake sales and dances to support Aguil, who was able to begin her education in Nakuru, Kenya, at Roots Academy, one of the top boarding schools in the country. Year after year, with Counterman leading the way, Middle Schoolers continued to raise funds for Aguil. The steady support
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allowed her to thrive. She was elected Head Girl by the nearly 1,000 students of the K-8 Roots Academy, and, after earning a top score on the national high school entrance exam, Aguil attended Njonjo Girls High School, one of the most respected national high schools in Kenya. Throughout her education, Aguil exchanged letters with the Middle School students at CA. “Keep supporting me; I will never let you down,” she wrote.
‘A big dream coming true’ In summer 2022, Counterman traveled to Kenya to visit Aguil. It was a chance to celebrate Aguil’s graduation from high school with excursions to Nairobi for shopping and sightseeing, as well as a special trip with classmates to see their very first movie—Sing 2. But it was also an opportunity to surprise the now tall, elegant young woman with a special gift. In front of an audience of other young women gathered for a leadership seminar hosted by Seeds of South Sudan, Counterman told Aguil the news that CA would continue to support her by paying for her university tuition, room, and board—$3,800 a year at Mount Kenya University, where Aguil wanted to study. The scholarship would come from a combination of continued Middle School fundraising and additional support from Counterman herself. CA would also provide a laptop, so Aguil could have her own computer at school. Tears, laughter, and applause filled the room. “Aguil has had an amazing trajectory,” Counterman says now. “And this has been an incredible story—for her and for CA.” Recently, Counterman has stayed in touch with Aguil via WhatsApp, one of the primary
means of communication in Africa. In a text message, Aguil wrote, “I’m really excited about joining the university. I want to study clinical medicine, but I’m going to start with a diploma in health records. This is a big dream coming true for me. When I’m done, I want to establish my own clinic in South Sudan to treat the people there.” “South Sudan will be a better place because of Aguil,” Counterman points out. “That’s always been our goal: contributing to a just and peaceful future there.”
A heart of service CA has benefited in its own way from the long relationship with Aguil. “Many of our students have a heart of service,” explains Counterman. “But this has been a chance to be part of something that’s literally life-changing. Without our support, this talented young person would still be in the refugee camp. Any child who has passed through the Middle School over these last 14 years knows Aguil’s story and has been inspired.” Counterman has discovered her own special connection with Aguil’s journey. During her summer visit, she learned that Aguil had returned to the small village of Bor in South Sudan to teach science to fifth graders—much like Counterman herself. “I asked her about her students,” she says. “She told me she had all kinds— even cattle farmers. She said she had 20-year-olds just learning to read and write because they could no longer do the work they used to do.” Aguil also told Counterman about once having to punish her students. “‘What did punishment look like?’ I asked her,” Counterman recalls. “‘I made them go get water for the class because they didn’t do their homework!’”
Lives Intertwined XXXXX
Lives are forever intertwined through this global success story that is still going strong, says Counterman. As Aguil wrote in her most recent letter to CA students, “Thank you so much for supporting my education through primary and high school. I really appreciate your efforts to keep me in school. I don’t have words to describe what you mean to me, but I just want you to know that you are amazing and you mean a lot. … I wish you success in everything you do. May blessings be upon you and your family.” n
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Ultimate Frisbee Program Takes Flight
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ric Augustin couldn’t be happier. The teacher of Middle School English and social studies is also the head coach of the Colorado Academy coed Ultimate Frisbee team, and his sport is having a moment.
of experience and those just learning the rules; between standout athletes and those looking for nothing more than friendly competition; and between students of all genders whose approach to sport may be very different.
“Here, they can escape the pressure, not find more of it,” says Augustin. “My players love coming to practice. Boys and girls competing together, having fun, and laughing every day—there’s nothing else like it.”
Founded by Associate Director of College Counseling Cathy Nabbefeld and Upper School math chair Steve Hammer around 12 years ago—about the same time Augustin was first arriving as a CA faculty member—the Ultimate program has had its share of ups and downs.
“No one rides the bench, either,” Augustin continues. “Athletes come to us from other sports where they may not have seen much playing time, and we tell them, ‘Every single player gets time on the field in every single game.’”
A different kind of winning
Once seen as an “outsider” sport, Ultimate for a time struggled to gain players—and momentum—at CA. Augustin, who took the coaching role with the coed squad shortly after he came to CA, watched as athletes gravitated toward increasingly successful programs such as Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Soccer, and Golf. But today, he says, “We’re busting at the seams.” More popular than ever with CA students, Ultimate now occupies an important place in the varsity athletics lineup.
An inclusive environment The reasons for the recent surge of interest are varied, Augustin explains. Fundamentally, he says, Ultimate is inclusive. “Look, you don’t have to be the world’s greatest athlete to play— I’m a testament to that,” he admits. In fact, when he first started coaching the sport, he had to learn how to throw, along with many of his players. “If I can do this, anyone can. If you can figure out how to make a disc fly, you can make an impact on the field.” In welcoming all comers, Ultimate at CA breaks barriers: between players with years
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Juggling, with joy Ultimate is especially attractive to those Upper Schoolers who want to take advantage of all that CA has to offer. “I think of CA like a giant candy store,” Augustin says, “and there are students here who want to pick as many candies as they can carry. They want to excel academically, they want to do theater, they want to play multiple sports, they want to run clubs.” But some days, that deep engagement in the life of the school means they have to miss practice due to conflicting priorities. “And for me, that’s okay; I want to let them juggle,” says Augustin. “They’ll still get playing time in our next game. Everyone understands that we all have a lot going on—that’s the beauty of CA. We just want to play the game and grow the program.” Importantly, Augustin says, Ultimate is a sport where joy and laughter are part of every practice and every match. As academics and athletics grow ever more intense and more competitive—not just at CA, but at schools of all shapes and sizes all across the country—Ultimate offers an alternative.
The unique nature of league Ultimate competition contributes to the atmosphere out on the field. As with other Varsity sports, CA’s coed squad plays against other high school teams during the regular season, in the fall. But unlike other sports, the results of those matchups have zero bearing on who makes it to the state tournament. “Everyone’s invited to compete for the state title,” Augustin explains. “So we could be shut out in every regular-season match, and still go to the state tournament in November. That means there’s none of the pressure during the season to make it to playoffs and win that other teams experience.” Even “winning” means something different in Ultimate. At the State Championships, two titles are awarded—one to the team that wins on points scored, and another to the team that best embodies the spirit of the game. In 2021, the spirit award went to CA—a point of special pride for Augustin. “As a self-officiating sport,” he says, “Ultimate asks the players themselves to maintain the integrity of the game. Every time you compete, you ask yourself, are you playing the game the right way? Are you being respectful? Are you demonstrating sportsmanship? Are you enforcing the rules?” Teams literally evaluate each other on their spirit after each competition.
Ultimate Frisbee
Little moments with a big impact The spirit of the game is clearly alive and well at CA. It’s what makes Ultimate so appealing here, says Augustin. “Players introduce themselves to their opponents at the start of every match. They negotiate with each other when
there’s a disagreement about a call. Team members support each other off the field as well as on. Playing Ultimate, these young people are learning skills that will be with them for life.” At the beginning of every new season, Augustin pairs up veteran and rookie players for an easy jog around the playing fields. The goal: nothing but conversation, time spent getting to know one another.
“It doesn’t seem like a big deal,” he says, “but my Senior players, who have been with the team for years, tell me they still remember who they ran with when they were new to Ultimate, and how important that was to them.” Little moments like a jog around the CA fields, Augustin says, play a big role in making Ultimate an athletic experience like no other. n
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Leadership and Loss in Afghanistan
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n August 26, 2021, Marine Captain Geoff Ball ’06, commander of Ghost Company, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, was at Abbey Gate at the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, leading a group of Marines who were trying to manage the throngs of Afghans attempting to escape from the Taliban by plane on one of the final days of America’s withdrawal from their country, when a suicide bomber detonated an explosion that killed some 170 Afghans, nine of Ball’s company, and 13 American service members in all. Just over a year later, on September 16, 2022, Ball—now holding the rank of Major—was in Knowles Hall at Colorado Academy, speaking with students in Head of School Dr. Mike Davis’s War on Terror course about his experiences during the largest noncombatant evacuation ever conducted by the U.S. military. The subject of a feature story in the New York Times about the military’s last days in Afghanistan, Ball said teaching and sharing about his experiences was a way to honor the nine fellow Marines who died in the bombing at Abbey Gate.
The path to service Recounting how CA made an impression on his life and helped to prepare him for his experience in Afghanistan, Ball made an impression on the students and the other guests who listened to his talk. “When I was standing in your shoes,” Ball said, “I didn’t quite appreciate what I had at Colorado Academy, and every year that I go along in this thing called life, I appreciate it more and more. After some very intense experiences over the past year, I realized it was what these hallways gave me that helped me overcome some of the most chaotic stuff you could possibly imagine.” At CA and then at Occidental College in
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California, Ball admitted, he was mainly focused on baseball and himself. It was after dropping out of college and meeting a retired Marine, he said, that he began to discover his purpose—service to others. From a position with the Americorps VISTA program supporting American military veteran families, Ball went on to active duty with the Marines after attending its Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va. He quickly found himself leading a group of young Marines based at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego, who at any moment had to be prepared to be called for service in a war zone. While stationed in Jordan, they got the call in mid-August 2021.
Into an apocalypse Ball arrived in Afghanistan on August 19 with his company to find a scene of chaos at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Thousands of Afghans, many of whom had been waiting in line for days, had overwhelmed Abbey Gate, a main entrance to the airport, in their attempt to secure their place on one of the last flights out of the country. Dehydration, hunger, sleep deprivation, crowding, family separations, and the threat of Taliban violence made the scene “apocalyptic,” according to many accounts. It was Ball’s mission to help secure the gate, assist those people who were authorized to board a flight, and clear the area around the airport. His Marines stepped up without question, courageously wading into a sea of humanity to find families, translators, orphaned children, and others who were eligible for evacuation, or helping individuals who needed medical care. They witnessed nonstop tragedy and were under constant threat, Ball said, yet his Marines never failed to demonstrate compassion. Trust, he says, was what made it possible to accomplish such monumental and dangerous tasks. “Building trust takes a lot of work. But it is essential in creating the
team you want. As a leader, you have to show up every day, be consistent, and show your team that you have their interest in mind—that you are doing this for them, not for you. You’re truly a family. You have to demonstrate that you will share any burden or hardship that they will experience.” In time, Ball said, trust becomes love. “And the only way you get through something like August 26 is through love for one another.”
Facing the worst On August 26, the members of Ghost Company had spent the day rushing to save as many evacuees as possible; Abbey Gate was scheduled to be closed for good that night. When the bomb exploded, the Marines, along with hundreds of desperate civilians, were directly in the path of the flying shrapnel; tear gas sprayed from ruptured canisters, incapacitating many. “My Marines rushed toward the chaos,” Ball recalled. Ignoring their own injuries and the ongoing danger, they dragged fellow Marines to safety and heroically rescued scores of injured civilians. “In whatever organization you find yourselves in later in life,” Ball told the CA students, “you’re going to encounter moments when people want to quit, when people will lose sight of the vision you’ve set for them. As the leader, it’s your job to find a way—through your creativity and your care for people—to keep them going.” In the hours and days that followed the suicide bombing, Ball and his team got back to work; the mission wasn’t over. Ultimately, American service members at Abbey Gate helped rescue more than 30,000 people from the Taliban, according to the Marine Corps. “After we read off the names of our best friends who were gone,” said Ball, “we moved on, providing security inside the airport. We had gone from one unsafe
Geoff Ball ’06
location to another, and we were still wondering when we would be attacked again. Yet we never stopped treating people with decency and respect; we never stopped doing the right thing.”
than almost anywhere else. That is why people like me look to people like you as the future leaders who will determine the policies that will make us successful as a nation.”
A message for students
Ball reminded the students, “Many of my Marines who were killed at Abbey Gate were only 20 years old, two years older than you. Before you know it, you will be on your own, in a position of leadership, and you need to start preparing now.”
Ball urged his listeners in Knowles Hall to do the right thing, too. “The good news is that you are being taught how to do that here at Colorado Academy, more so
“You have such an amazing environment around you at CA,” Ball continued, “that is devoted to improving you as a person. My teachers at CA were the best teachers I ever had, and that includes my professors in college and most of my instructors in the Marine Corps. Don’t ever overlook those people in your life—the ones who put the spotlight on you, the ones who allow you to be successful. That’s who you need more than anyone else when you step up to be a leader.” n
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Her Distinguished Résumé Started on CA’s Volleyball Court
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tart with a military career. Add high-level technical and cybersecurity expertise. Blend in experience on Wall Street. Season with a relentless work ethic. Finish with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace and the world. What you have is a unique person with a broad set of skills. When Trier Bryant ’02 speaks, people listen. Bryant is 20 years out of CA, and her résumé includes the U.S. Air Force and some companies that are international household names: Goldman Sachs and Twitter. She has come a long way since she enrolled at CA after Spring Break in Seventh Grade. She had lived all around the world, changing schools whenever her parents moved for their careers, and she came to CA with English as her third language after German and Flemish. During her Upper School years, she found a home on the volleyball court, and she built connections that mattered to her— with volleyball coaches Guy Garcia and Bob Ulrich, and with English teacher Anne Strobridge. “Not everyone can give you tough love in a way that doesn’t feel patronizing,” Bryant says. “Ms. Strobridge loved softly in a tough way. She was one of those people who believed in me more than I believed in myself at that moment. You don’t need a lot of people like that in your lifetime, but they can change your life.” Today, Bryant has people who tell her that’s how she makes them feel. She has become the life-changer. And it all started with her first job, which she describes as “one of the bigger professional failures” in her life.
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Colorado Academy
U.S. Air Force Academy
Goldman Sachs
After graduating from CA, Bryant headed to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she majored in systems engineering and played volleyball. After graduation, where she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, the Academy requested that she stay to implement the recommendations she had made in her senior capstone project. Her project examined diversity—or “lack thereof,” she says—in all branches of the military, particularly among commissioned officers.
Through the Veterans Integration Program, Bryant joined Goldman Sachs in 2013. She rose quickly through the ranks to become Vice President, Global Diversity Talent Acquisition. In that position, she increased diverse representation across the firm, including gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
“The data was evident,” she says. “I think they thought, ‘Well, let’s let this Second Lieutenant stay and see how badly she messes it up.’” She set out to move the needle toward increasing diversity at the Air Force Academy with the next incoming class. In the process, she went into communities where, she says, her “eyes were opened to larger systemic issues in our country,” and she learned that her initiative was not as simple as just handing out scholarships to high school seniors. “I realized that meeting juniors and seniors in high school is too late,” she says. “You have to reach them in elementary and middle school, so they understand what they need to do to qualify. Getting into service academies is more than just great grades.” She considers her work a “failure” because in the first year, she did not see significant results. It took time. Over the next three to six years, “there was a shift,” she says. She stayed on Air Force active duty for seven years, continuing her work in DEI and also serving as Cybersecurity Officer. Ultimately, the military opened the door to her next opportunity, a company that was willing to put its money behind its good intentions.
“The company was intensely committed to this work because you can make multiple strong business cases that diverse teams perform better,” she says. “And Goldman is committed to anything that you can show impacts the bottom line.” Bryant calls Goldman “the best place for me to transition [out of the military] because in some ways, the culture of the company was like the military.” The company “wrapped their arms around veterans.” “It was an environment where I could have results and impact,” Bryant says. “They just said, ‘We need more, we need more, we need more.’ It was amazing.” Working at Goldman, Bryant found herself at the dinner table with bankers brokering tech company deals, and, she says, it became clear to her that tech was doing the bare minimum in its DEI efforts. That’s just the sort of challenge that intrigues her.
Twitter In 2016, Bryant was offered a leadership role at Twitter and received a Twitter email from the company’s co-founder and thenCEO, Jack Dorsey. She assumed it was a standard automatic reply that went out to all potential hires as a closing tactic. Nonetheless, she thought it was effective, and she told the Chief HR Officer who was hiring her that she was impressed.
Trier Bryant ’02
Top Photo: USAFA grads and volleyball players, From Left: Maggie Sherrill Nicklas ’12, Trier Bryant ’02
“That message came to you straight from the real Jack Dorsey,” the officer said. “You had better reply.” So Bryant did, sending Dorsey five questions. She asked him how Square could have such a good record on diversity, and Twitter could have such a mediocre record, when he was running both companies. Within 24 hours she heard back from him. His reply? “That’s why we need you at Twitter.” She spent two-and-a-half years there, building a diversity recruiting team, rebuilding the university hiring team, and standardizing the hiring of engineers. By the time she left, with the title of Global Head of Revenue, G&A (Corporate Functions), University and Diversity Recruiting, she had absorbed the work of multiple people. “In the military, you never had the luxury of saying no,” she says. “You figure out a way to do it, and you lead your teams to make it happen.”
Stepping into the future Not one to sit still for very long, Bryant left Twitter to consult and expand her human resources credentials. Just as the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, she was hired as the Chief People Officer at Astra, a space launch start-up in Alameda, Calif. She continued to do HR and DEI consulting on the side and co-founded her own company—Just Work—with the goal of building more equitable, productive, and successful workplaces. She sits on the board for Campaign Zero, a social justice nonprofit grassroots initiative to achieve zero police violence led by DeRay McKesson. Throughout the time she has been building her career, Bryant has maintained loyalty to individuals at CA. She says she “adores” Bob Ulrich, and even though she and Coach Garcia were often engaged in an argument, “when he asked for something, I showed up.” “When Guy Garcia got sick and was in a wheelchair and needed an extra set of hands, I drove more than an hour in traffic from Colorado Springs to be an assistant on
the team,” she recalls. “Garcia had the big personality that would get me fired up, but Coach Bob was my calm. When he speaks, it is so powerful and meaningful. Coach Bob doesn’t know the impact he had on me.” Today, Bryant has just started a new position as President of 82-VS, the venture capital arm of Alloy Therapeutics, a biotech firm that, according to its website, works with “exceptional founders, entrepreneurs, and executives-in-residence as well as biotech and pharma partners to develop new medicines.” She is ready to face a new set of challenges, and when she discusses her career path, she no longer talks about “failure.” Instead, you hear the word “love.” “I am very intentional about what I choose to do,” she says. “When you are in the military, you have no option but to do what you are assigned. Now, I have the luxury to choose, and I don’t take that lightly. I don’t sit in environments that don’t serve a positive purpose. I do what I want, and I do what I love.” n
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Decades Later, CA Influences Still Make a Difference
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ook up Paul Robbins, PhD ’85 on LinkedIn, and you will see a message that communicates his passion for people and their planet.
“We’re not saving the earth. We’re saving each other.” Coming from him, that is not just a platitude. As Dean of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Robbins is devoted to educating the future scholars, educators, and researchers who will tackle the toughest environmental issues that we face. On those subjects, he was ahead of his time. “I was teaching about climate change in the mid-’90s,” he says. “I taught water resource management, and it was pretty clear what was going to happen. There would be increasing water scarcity in some places and increased flooding in other places. Climate change is a complex puzzle that people will have to solve.” Robbins describes himself as a “glass half-full guy” who remains positive about the future. To some degree, he traces that outlook to his time at Colorado Academy. “I credit CA with being focused on problemsolving,” he says. “Teachers would say, ‘Here is the challenge,’ and then we would be given the freedom and time to try to figure it out.” Since he graduated from high school, Robbins has built a career that reflects his time at CA in many ways. “I’ve moved forward in the world with skills I gained at CA,” he says. “Interdisciplinary thinking, respect for arts and sciences, the ability to speak in public, tech theater—that is all in my arsenal.”
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Colorado Academy
‘You fall in love with the land’ Robbins’ first stop after leaving CA was the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He still remembers the surprise of meeting the Midwest. “I looked out the window, and I saw lakes,” he recalls. “I said, ‘Do they just leave all this water lying around?’” He majored in anthropology, but he now calls himself a “recovering archaeologist” after he traveled to India to do research as an undergraduate. “I fell in love with living people as opposed to dead people,” he says, with a laugh. He earned his PhD in Geography at Clark University, returning to India to do research for his dissertation with the support of the Fulbright Scholar Program and the National Science Foundation. In the northwestern part of India, he studied political ecology— the relationship between environmental change and politics. “The land there is a struggle,” he says. “It’s a place where people work out their problems. That only became super clear to me after I had been in India for quite a long time.” In retrospect, Robbins can see that his fascination with land issues may have started on a VW bus when he was a student at CA. “At CA, we would jump on a bus and drive to Utah to rock climb,” he says. “Growing up in Colorado, you fall in love with the land. You don’t think about it analytically. You just take it for granted.”
‘I could feel that CA vibe’ After he earned his PhD, Robbins taught at a series of universities before landing at the University of Arizona, where he helped establish and lead the School of Geography and Development. He left that position to
return to his current leadership position at his alma mater. On the university’s website, The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies is described as a home to “imaginative research that transcends disciplinary boundaries.” “It’s a huge, sprawling interdisciplinary experiment that’s been going on since 1970,” Robbins says. “You cannot solve the world’s problems with ecology alone. We have everyone from atmospheric scientists to historians, from engineers to authorities on Native American land rights—all looking at ways to meet people’s needs while still protecting the environment.” This multi-disciplinary approach reminds Robbins of his time at CA. “What we are doing [at the Nelson Institute] is not that different from what I remember about going to Advanced Physics taught by Pat Hogan,” he says. “We would be studying relativity and end up talking about Oppenheimer and the politics of the atomic bomb. The humanities and the sciences would intersect. That’s what we are doing here.” Robbins talks about the Nelson Institute as a “small college within a big university,” reprising his experience of finding small groups of like-minded students as friends at CA. “I know all my students by name,” he says. “We have created a nice neighborhood within a big city.” With his graduate students, he mimics the style of teaching he had at CA where he had teachers he describes as “mentors.” “I learned that when people were teaching well—and CA teachers were—they weren’t just teaching stuff,” he says. “They were role models. Once I was supervising
Paul Robbins, PhD ’85
graduate students, I could feel that CA vibe. I understood that it’s really important to perform in a way that you want them to emulate so they can succeed.”
‘The freedom to learn on our own’ Robbins remembers his years at CA as a time defined by freedom—for better or for worse. There was the freedom to do critical thinking in seminar-style classes. He points out that some of his colleagues did not have a seminar class until they got to graduate school, and he had his first one when he was 14. “At CA, you need to develop your thinking power so you can take what you read, come to a conversation, and have something coherent to say,” he recalls. “That is a lot of responsibility.” He also remembers the freedom he had at
CA with unstructured time, much of which he spent in the Froelicher Theatre, set loose with power tools used in technical theater projects where he got to “build something, and everyone could look at your labor.” There may have even been a few broken rules in those years—including nights he spent sleeping on the roof of Froelicher. Although Robbins says it is “both fascinating and troubling” to think that his own six-year-old son might follow in his footsteps, he still values CA’s willingness to let him be the “governor of my own time and sometimes the mis-manager of my own time.” “We lived in a way that meant learning continued even when no one was telling us what to do,” he says. “CA gave us the freedom to learn on our own, and that is among the most liberating opportunities of my life.”
CA also offered him the opportunity to explore ethical issues. “You were allowed to go out on a limb, look into the future, and think about the world,” he says. “There was an ethical framework at CA that meant you could worry about the world. It was not just a set of skills—it was your responsibility.” And that brings us back to today—and the challenges presented by a changing climate. Robbins can segue with ease among a host of climate-related topics. He gets your attention when he points out that one-third of bird life has been lost since 1970—that’s three billion birds. But he also remains optimistic when he says, “Our story is about hope.” He believes that human beings have the ability to adapt and change. And since he always keeps in mind his own education at CA, even as he educates the very people who may lead us through challenging times, his optimism is reassuring. n
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Seedlings of Change
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olorado Academy parents Catherine Rollhaus and Julie Martin had been volunteering with Horizons at CA for years—helping with the annual Wine & Dine event and assisting with the nonprofit’s growth and success—when, in 2021, as co-chairs of the organization’s Executive Board, they planted the seed of an idea with Head of School Mike Davis, PhD.
was in place. On two “Super Saturdays” during the late spring, CA students and Horizons participants—along with numerous Horizons Board members and volunteers—had worked together to construct raised beds, plant seedlings, and create artistic stepping stones to decorate the garden plot. When the CA students left and the Horizons program got fully underway on campus in the summer, the garden was ready to thrive.
“CA had experimented with the student-run garden concept in several different shapes and forms,” Rollhaus explains, “but none had really taken root, in large part because of summer break, when few students or employees are here for the growing season.”
Says Rollhaus, “I just love the idea that we are able to use this beautiful campus to educate and engage children that might not otherwise have access to such an incredible place.”
Rollhaus and Martin knew, of course, that the Horizons program brought a host of eager young people to campus during those important summer months—why couldn’t they be the “bridge” to keep a garden thriving between spring planting and fall harvest? By summer 2022, that all-important bridge
Sixth Grade Horizons students led the summer effort to care for the garden. According to Horizons science teacher— and 2012 Horizons graduate—Xitlalic Rios, the garden project made a big impact on her students. “It not only showed them where food comes from,” she says, “but it also taught them responsibility and selfadvocacy. They began to think more about
the environment and how they could make a difference, or even start their own garden.” Rios, who is now a high school biology and chemistry teacher in New Mexico, says that building relationships with her Sixth Graders through the garden project and other activities was one of the most gratifying experiences she’s had with Horizons. “I loved getting to know them more, as well as seeing their personalities shine through. The students were also able to build stronger bonds with each other.” Horizons Executive Director Daniela Meltzer believes the Board’s involvement in the garden project was critical to its success. “A lot of our Horizons participants come from the urban core, where fresh food from a garden is not necessarily readily available. This initiative allowed them to learn in a hands-on way about the importance of gardens, and to take ownership of something that mattered to them.” “All of this was thanks to the Board,” Meltzer continues, “which was passionate about creating a deeper connection between Horizons and CA.” Julie Martin explains that Board members are already looking ahead to strengthening that connection by summer 2023. “We hope to have a group of Middle School students who will participate in seed germination for the spring planting, and then be involved when they come back to school with the fall harvest.” Plans call for greater involvement of the Upper School Horizons club, as well. “We’re excited for what this garden can be,” acknowledges Catherine Rollhaus. “This summer was our maiden voyage, and we’ve learned a lot.”
Horizons Sixth Grade science teacher Xitlalic Rios with Horizons students from different grades in the garden, summer 2022. Opposite: Horizons Fourth Grade students and teachers just getting the planting started at the beginning of the Horizons 2022 summer program.
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Colorado Academy
One big discovery: even a garden cared for by a small group of students can produce a bumper crop of possibilities— and tomatoes. n
Seedlings of Change
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Alumni Association Highlights
Alumni join the Homecoming Spirit Breakfast, First Row (L to R): Jordan Greenberg, Maddie Campbell. Second Row: Taylor Slutzky (Grade 11), Kendall Slutzky ’97, Josh Greenberg ’02, Megan Young ’97, Ken Zinn ’92, Jim Flottman ’89, Nicole Moore Behrhorst ’87, Liz Buckingham Oertel ’93, Ryan Koch ’96, Julia Völkel Emerson ’94, Kelly Young Campbell ’98, Nicole Sisk Wiechecki ’01.
CA Spirit Day & Homecoming
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ed, white, and black dominated the colors seen on campus on Spirit Day, Friday, September 23. The Alumni Association continued its tradition of offering breakfast to the Upper School as everyone arrived for morning classes. Alumni and some of their
children handed out embroidered stick-on CA logos for students and staff to wear and show their CA spirit. Thirty-one dozen donuts and 15 dozen bagels with cream cheese quickly vanished. Alumni returned to campus for a Friday evening Happy Hour, Homecoming campus
tours both Friday and Saturday, and to cheer on their favorite teams, including a winning Varsity Field Hockey game Friday night under the lights at Slater Field. n See all Homecoming photos in the Alumni Photo Galleries at coloradoacademy.org/alumni.
The Alumni Board Working for You
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he Colorado Academy Alumni Association Board, both graduates and non-graduates of CA, are listed on page 45. The Alumni Board guides the
activities of the Alumni Association and upholds its Bylaws and Mission Statement. The Board helps plan alumni events, raise funds for The CA Fund, and represents CA and the
Alumni Association in the community. They look forward to a year filled with traditional in-person events, a few virtual ones, and new activities that engage more alumni. n
From Left: Andrew Bourke ’04, Sarah Goodyear ’06, Katie Cordes ’03, Isabel Gary Harper ’09, Dan Roller ’99, Emma Harrington Kane ’07, Abel Ramirez ’16, Liz Robinson ’01, Zach Tucker ’01, Elsa Woolley Harberg ’11, Natalie Newcom Ralston ’99, Murphy Robinson ’06, Jared Harding ’97, Caroline Cramer ’11, Chris Bailey ’02, Brian Pushchak ’04, Evan Simmons ’06 Not pictured: Lisa Harrison Ellsworth ’79, Marcus King-Stockton ’04, Myles McGinnis ’08, Aimée Nieuwenhuizen ’06, Zak Pollack ’08, Kyle Rajaniemi ’07, Terrie Dickinson Warren ’73
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Colorado Academy
Alumni Association Highlights
Challenge Foundation Mentors: A Great Opportunity to Impact a Child’s Life services to students from underserved communities from middle school through college. The mentoring program is a critical component of their support services. Scholars are paired with a mentor when they enter the program in sixth grade. The mentor partners with the student, their family, and Challenge to provide ongoing support, encouragement, and meaningful experiences for their mentee through their high school graduation and beyond.
Attending the Challenge Foundation breakfast this summer, From Left: David Harbaugh ’00, Debbie Meade ’00, Sonia Arora ’01, Nora Palenchar Golden ’00, Holly Ruderman Dichter ’00
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olorado Academy is fortunate to have 18 Challenge Foundation Scholars enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year. Thirteen are current Upper School students, and five are in Middle School. Three CA alumni have stepped up to be mentors for these students, Schuyler Grey ’78, David Harbaugh ’00, and Debbie Meade ’00, but more are needed. Helping the Challenge Foundation in another way is Nora
Palenchar Golden ’00, who serves on the Board of Trustees, and Holly Ruderman Dichter ’00 is the Executive Director. The Challenge Foundation helps smart, ambitious, and hard-working students break the cycle of poverty through equitable access to educational and experiential opportunities. Challenge takes a wholestudent approach, awarding tuition scholarships and individualized support
Save these Dates!
College Alumni Lunch
CA and the Alumni Association invite college alumni to lunch on campus. Join faculty, coaches, and current students. Thursday, January 5, 2023 Campus Center, Espresso Cart 12:30-2 p.m.
Please contact Irene Holguin-Sanchez at irene@thechallengefoundation.org to learn more about the Challenge Foundation Mentoring Program. n
Happy Hour in Five Points
Ice Skating, Dinner, and Spirits
Friday, December 2, 2022 DCC Skate House 1700 East First Avenue, Denver Family Skate: 5-7:30 p.m. Buffet Dinner: 5:30, 6:30, or 7:30 p.m. Adult Skate & Broomball: 7:30-9 p.m. Don’t delay! RSVP by November 27, 2022, to receive the discounted price. Reserve online at coloradoacademy.org/ alumni – go to December Events.
The Challenge Foundation seeks mentors who are willing to provide the support and attention necessary so that the scholars may reach their full academic and personal potential. Mentors serve as positive role models, forming a long-term, trusting relationship, while emphasizing the importance of education and career readiness, providing enrichment opportunities, forming life skills, and offering guidance.
Alumni Back-to-School Night
Thursday, February 2, 2023 5:30-9 p.m. Back-to-School Night returns for alumni and alumni parents! Come to campus for classes and activities that will spark your creativity, teach you a new skill, inform your curiosity, thrill your senses, or tickle your fancy. Catch up with other local alumni and former teachers, or just have FUN! Begin the evening with dinner in the Upper School lobby, then attend classes at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. across campus. Reservations open January 1, 2023.
Friday, April 7, 2023 6-8:30 p.m. 2736 Welton Street, Denver Join the First Friday Jazz celebration with CA alumni on the Spangalang Brewery Patio, owned by CA Alumnus Norman Harris ’94. Rain venue is inside the Brewery.
Reunion Weekend Giant Relay Day: May 19, 2023 Reunion Weekend: May 20-21, 2023 Glee Club Reunion with Dr. David Woods: May 19-20, 2023
CA Journal | Fall 2022
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Alumni Association Highlights
From Left: Camille Doherty ’20, Clark Steinhauser ’21, Zoe Worrall ’21, Ulisses Rico Moncada ’21, Oliver Dean ’22, Ryan Gaghen ’21, Wynn Sharp ’22, Griffin Stevens ’21, Galilea Landa-Posas ’21
Alumni Connect with REDI Lab Director Tom Thorpe By Tom Thorpe
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n a recent professional development trip to San Diego, where I attended the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC) symposium, I took some time to connect with Colorado Academy alumni and former faculty members. The conference was dedicated to providing an update about the progress of the mastery transcript to member schools, of which CA is one, as well as equipping us with new tools to implement this competency-based approach to providing feedback on student progress. What a fitting time and place to connect with CA graduates currently attending Chapman University and the Five Colleges (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Pitzer, Harvey Mudd, and Scripps), as well as others in the LA area. At Chapman, it was a treat to start our gathering by connecting first with Gracia O’Donnell ’19 and Liam O’Donnell ’21. Gracia, currently a junior, is an Econ major and has accepted a position with LA28, the organizing group for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She has met a number
From Left: Morgan Romine ’22, Alex Ford ’19, Gab Gaw ’19
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of inspiring people, and she is thrilled to be part of this effort. Liam is a Finance/ Econ major and finished an internship last summer with RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) in Denver. These siblings really enjoy sharing this experience! Morgan Romine ’22 joined and practically anchored the afternoon. She is enjoying her freshman intro and seminar classes, with plans to focus on political science and psychology. She is enjoying the camaraderie with new friends, as well as staying in touch with former CA classmates. Near the end of the gathering, Alex Ford ’19 and Gab Gaw ’19 joined us. Alex and Gab weathered much of the COVID remote learning from Chapman’s campus, then after studying abroad in London (Alex) and in France (Gab), both report loving Southern California, hoping that their next steps involve staying in the region. Other CA alumni at Chapman, whom I heard from, but didn’t see in person, are all doing well, including Remy Sherman ’20, Charlie Beasley ’22, Ahbil Woldeyohannes ’22, and Sabrina Wachuta ’22. Thanks to these CA alumni for connecting and showing up!
The next event took me to Claremont, Calif., where we had a great showing of alumni from the area. Aly Gallagher ’19 is a senior at Claremont McKenna, majoring in computer science, and she has accepted a position at Denver-based Palantir Technologies, where she has gotten to know current CA parent (whose children are in Classes 2030 and 2033) Shyam Sankar. Aly shared that her sister Anna Gallagher ’16 is moving to San Diego to work as a nurse psychologist at the Veterans Administration. Other alumni at Claremont who joined the event were Camille Doherty ’20 and Ryan Gaghen ’21. These three former REDI Lab students were certainly continuing where they left off and trying to make as big a difference in the world as possible. From Harvey Mudd, Zoe Worrall ’21 and Griffin Stevens ’21 are diving deep into engineering and chemistry, respectively. Oliver Dean ’22 and Clark Steinhauser ’21 are both at Pitzer. While Oliver is enjoying everything about his first year at the college, Clark is focusing on archaeology. Wynn Sharp ’22, a first-year at Pomona, is thinking about a future in the arts and/or art history. Brother Lewie Sharp ’21 is at Trinity College in Dublin and enjoying everything about that experience as well. Finally, an intrepid contingent drove up from downtown LA. Levi Pinkert ’21 is focusing on computer science, and Ulisses Rico Moncada ’21 is applying to switch into the USC Mitchell College of Business. On the drive to Claremont, Rico picked up Galilea LandaPosas ’21, who is attending Whittier College, majoring in foreign relations and public policy with minors in Chinese and Spanish. To finish the trip, I visited the Brentwood School in LA and spent a morning learning alongside former CA Upper School math and social studies teacher Neethi Venkateswaran about how the school is embracing 21st century education and the ways in which she is bringing her holistic approach to the Math Department there. They are blown away at her Desmos skills! With another round of school visits in October in the Bay Area, I hope to connect with the CA college alumni there! The faculty at CA are grateful and fortunate to have this type of “field work” opportunity, and to be able to weave in connections with former CA students is a huge joy. Thanks to all who participated.
Class Notes
Class Notes Stay Connected Class Notes is one of the most popular and well-read sections of the CA Journal. It provides a forum for alumni to share their news, from professional accomplishments and accolades to marriages, births, and anything else fellow alumni might find interesting. Thank you for sharing your updates. We love hearing from you!
Don’t See Your Class Year?
If your year doesn’t appear in the Class Notes, it means we didn’t receive any notes from your class. We really (really!) want to hear from you. Your news and photos are always welcome.
1963 60th Class Reunion! May 19-21, 2023
1968 55th Class Reunion! May 19-21, 2023
1966 Tim Lappen celebrated 46 years of law practice, 38 at the same firm. His practice, representing family offices and luxury homebuyers and sellers worldwide, remains
very busy. However, he loves spending time with his wife Gail and their five children, as well as their 12 grandchildren, ages four to 27. Tim has chalked up 10 years as the Fine Autos Editor for Haute Living, Haute Time, Haute Residence, and Haute Auto magazines, both print and online. He also writes for the Beverly Hills Courier. Tim recently returned from a week at Pebble Beach Car Week and Concours d’Elegance. He reports, “The highlight? Driving the $2.3M Pininfarina Batista, an all-electric hypercar with about 2,000 HP and a 0-60 time of 1.8 seconds. These details are for Craig Cropsey, Mike Parmakian, and Paul Whistler!” Tim also enjoys restoring a fuel-injected 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible. He reports that life in Manhattan Beach is good. Check out Tim’s website at LifeInTheFastLane.org and drop him a line if you will be coming to town.
From Left: Viola (Keith’s granddaughter), Keith ’67, and Maureen Robinson
1967 Keith Robinson and his wife Maureen both danced for three years with the Athens Ballet 40 years ago. He returned to Greece in March with his family, as his son Ian was staging a work for the Greek National Ballet. Keith says, “It was like going back to the future!” This year will be his 50th year of performing in The Nutcracker with the Robinson Ballet in Bangor, Maine.
Kim and Mark Reed ’69
1969 Mark Reed retired to sunny Florida in 2017, where he lives with his wife Kim. He enjoys tennis, golf, fishing, bike riding, and pickle ball year round, plus visits from his nine grandchildren ages 15 to three. Brock, his oldest grandson, followed in his CA footsteps as high school quarterback in Lago Vista, Texas. Don and Jana Dodge visit him in Florida yearly. Mark recently caught up with Steve Norris by phone and discovered his grandfather was active in Florida conservation. Mark reports his Sarasota home missed the brunt of Hurricane Ian but a home in Naples was flooded.
1970 Tim Lappen ’66 at Pebble Beach Car Week and Concours d’Elegance
Bob Jacobs summited Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft.) with two retired Special Forces
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At the summit of Kilimanjaro, From Left: Rob Heath, Bob Jacobs ’70, Erik Nordberg
A grand evening for CA alumni in Carbondale, From Left: Franz Froelicher ’72, Ashton Lee ’70, Rica Froelicher ’76, Jeff Lowdermilk ’70, Will Perry ’69
officers on September 14 at approximately 7:30 a.m. Bob and his group ascended the mountain on an eight-day trip. They scrambled up what is known as the Western Breach, which is 2,500 ft. of steep rock. Bob reports, “Not sure that at 70 years old I’m gonna’ climb many more mountains over 19,000 feet!”
teaching chemistry. He has spent his entire career in Title I schools in Texas and now the past two years in a Florida Juvenile Detention Center. Robert writes, “I obviously enjoy teaching, and I am still not ready to retire. I tried to retire in 2018 for one year but came back full time.”
Jeff Lowdermilk and his wife Annie moved to Carbondale, Colo. Franz Froelicher ’72 and his wife Heather hosted a beautiful dinner party for all the CA gang living in the mountain town. Will Perry ’69 grew up in Carbondale and has remained there. Jeff recalls he and Will were on CA’s Ski Team. Robert Martinez enters his 47th year
1971 Peter Theodore, having retired four years ago from the music business in New York, is teaching guitar, bass, and ukulele private music lessons in the Leesburg area of Northern Virginia. Since COVID, he has taught many students on Skype and says they are all used to it. Now however, he travels to some students’ homes. He
still writes music, which can be heard on Soundcloud under the name Peter Theodore. His son is 39 and is a nurse in an emergency room in New Jersey. Peter enjoys raising his dear Goldendoodle, Coco, who has been a blessing. Peter’s other joy is his model railroad hobby, which keeps him busy.
1973 50th Class Reunion! May 19-21, 2023 Edith Blakeslee had a wonderful visit with Dr. David Woods in Topeka, Kan., during August. She is looking forward to his joining the Class of 1973 for their 50th Reunion in May 2023. Dean Andres started a pickling business three years ago with his wife Suzi in Brookings, Ore. They can be seen frequently at farmer’s markets in the region. Visit their website: brookingspickledgoodies.com.
1975
Peter Theodore ’71
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Colorado Academy
From Left: Dr. David Woods, Edith Blakeslee ’73
Bill Bayne returned to campus this summer before moving back to Tucson, Ariz., in September. He had spent the last nine years in Colorado taking care of his aging mother. She passed in February 2022. Bill sold his current home in Morrison, Colo., and purchased a new home in Tucson. In addition to his mother’s care, Bill spent his time as a substitute English teacher at Chatfield High School, where he
Class Notes
1981 Tanya Muftic is teaching Montessori Upper Elementary (ages 9-12) at Midtown Montessori Academy, a private school in Wheat Ridge, Colo., near Sloans Lake. Since the classroom has both indoor and outdoor spaces, her students can work outside all day long if they choose. This year marks Tanya’s 27th year of teaching. Tanya writes, “When I am not teaching, my wife Linda Wheeler and I go to Winter Park and spend time taking in the gorgeous scenery from our deck.”
1983
Bill Bayne ’75 on campus
From Left: Matt King ’74, Linc Jackson ’75
developed many friendships with faculty and students. Bill came to CA in Fourth Grade and has fond memories of his first teacher, Yoeman Fisher, and his time in Glee Club with Dr. David Woods. Gary Coombs taught college-level courses for almost 40 years at the Economics Institute and as a doctoral student at University of Colorado in Boulder, then at Ohio University. Gary is now officially Professor Emeritus of Management at OU. His challenge now becomes to decide what is going to fill his time as a retiree. Linc Jackson, now living near Las Vegas, N.M., is still riding his mountain bike. On one ride, Linc was joined by Matt King ’74, who lives in Albuquerque, N.M.
1976
From Left: Jon Mahrer ’79 and his wife Debbie at Mont St. Michel
Sons of Suzanne Lippstreu Dugan ’83, First Row (L to R): Charles, Zachery, Conner. Second Row: Suzanne.
Sarah Boxer recently published reviews of two shows about the West in The New Yorker, newyorker.com/culture/culturedesk/the-photographic-search-for-truewest. She also contributes to The Atlantic.
1979 Jon Mahrer writes, It’s been great to travel again after over two years of shutting it down and learning that we can protect ourselves out there. We were able to get to France (Dordogne, Brittany) and to visit family in Nova Scotia. Otherwise, I enjoy working three and a half days a week, and getting plenty of hiking, biking, guitar, and golf in during the rest of the week.
40th Class Reunion! May 19-21, 2023 Suzanne Lippstreu Dugan reports her children are growing up. Charles finished his Commercial Multi Engine Pilot certification and is building his flight hours. Zachery is an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic for Endeavor and is living in Florence, Ky. Conner is in his fourth year of veterinary school at CSU, focusing on equine medicine. On the home front, Suzanne just celebrated her 20-year anniversary at Frontier Airlines, where she is a flight attendant.
1984 Louis Freese’s college campus was permanently closed in 2020 due to the
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pandemic. He is now a full-time remote employee, teaching online classes only. Louis misses being in an actual classroom with students but is enjoying saving money on gas by not having to drive to campus every day. After 35 years in construction, Cynthia Sharon decided to retire from the “build” part of her design-build company, Dancing Dog Design Build, and transition to just design. One of her best and brightest employees will continue doing the build portion. Cynthia is excited to do the relatively easy part of just designing. She is looking forward to time for a little more fun and a little less stress.
1985 Read about Paul Robbins on page 18.
1987 Alexandra Horowitz’s new book, The Year of the Puppy, chronicles her own experience adopting a pandemic puppy and explores puppy development to adolescence and beyond. Alexandra is extremely qualified to share her journey with Quid, as she runs the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College in New York City.
Alexandra Horowitz ’87 with the subject of her latest book, Quid
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Colorado Academy
1988 alumni, From Left: João Cowperthwaite and Robert Dickert
From Left: Michele Forstot Nadel ’89 and Coach Bob Ulrich
Che Prasad’s sea shanty band, The Shark Alley Hobos, missed out on the pandemic TikTok sea shanty craze. As he says, “In true Spinal Tap fashion, we missed out, but who needs recording contracts and world tours, right?” However, Che’s band is back in action and will perform a sea shanty tribute to The Who at the infamous Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, Calif.
1989
1988 While on a business trip to California, Robert Dickert was able to meet and catch up with João Cowperthwaite in Manhattan Beach. The two alumni have been friends since 7th Grade, yet had not seen each other in person for seven years. João writes, “These grade school bonds are golden!”
Michele Forstot Nadel ran into Coach Bob Ulrich while watching her daughter play volleyball against a CA team. Michele’s daughter attends Stanley British Primary School in Denver.
1990 Scott Schroeder has a YouTube channel named “Ascotpres,” where he presents short films he has made. The most recent playlist is “Fiery War Masks” and has eight videos. The channel has more than 700,000 views.
1993 30th Class Reunion! May 19-21, 2023
Homecoming volunteers, From Left: Remy Emerson (Grade 6), Julia Völkel Emerson ’94, Charlotte Emerson (Grade 7), Ryan Koch ’96, Avery Koch (Grade 7)
Class Notes
From Left: Jim Flottman ’89, Jordan Slutzky (Grade 8), Kendall Dennis Slutzky ’97, Michael Slutzky, Taylor Slutzky (Grade 11)
1997 Alumni enjoyed Happy Hour at Welborn House on Homecoming before the Friday night Field Hockey game on Slater Field.
1998 25th Class Reunion! May 19-21, 2023 Sarah Rich is still living in Oakland, Calif., where she and her husband Alexis Madrigal were able to buy their first house during the pandemic and plant their roots on the same block where they had been renting for a decade. About a year ago, Sarah took a job as Editorial Director at Heath Ceramics, a 75-year-old Bay Area company with a really wonderful history as a woman-founded, employee-owned California company. Alexis also took a new job as the host of a radio show on culture and society on KQED, the NPR affiliate of the Bay Area. Their children Orion (9) and Flora (6) attend a Spanish immersion school in Oakland. Sarah writes,
Sarah Rich ’98 and her family
“They’re beginning to follow my footsteps with an interest in music, dance, and singing, which of course is a very fun thing to see.”
1999
From Left: Abbi Hills Leazott ’00 and Pete Leazott with Ralph
College Counselor Cathy Nabbefeld ran into Erin Siegel Peikin and her sister Cassie Siegel ’05 while vacationing in Santa Fe, N.M., this summer.
2000 Abbi Hills Leazott, her husband Pete, and their golden retriever Ralph have relocated from Golden, Colo., to Lausanne, Switzerland, prompted by a shift in Abbi’s role at Deloitte. They expect to be living on the northern shores of Lac Léman in “The Olympic Capital” through 2026. Julia Richman was awarded a 2022 Outstanding Women in Business designation by the Denver Business Journal. Julia is the Deputy Executive Officer of the Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology.
Sitting on Stone Book, From Left: KP Yelpaala, Desmond Yelpaala, Eliana Yelpaala, Sara Shamos Yelpaala ’00
From Left: Cathy Nabbefeld, Cassie Siegel ’05, Erin Siegel Peikin ’99
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PHOTO BY EINSTEIN PHOTGRAPHY
From Left: Cole Kauffman (Elena’s husband), Elena Harman ’05, Ashley Shuyler Carter ’03, Elena’s friend Anna Griffis
From Left: Liz Polsin, Taylor Ross ’03
On the evening Campus Tour on Homecoming Weekend, Sara Shamos Yelpaala ’00 stopped to check out one of the many sculptures her family donated to CA.
and Off-Center at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. This immersive work runs until December 18, 2022, at the York Street Yards, Denver. On Homecoming Day, alumni from 2004 enjoyed beautiful weather, breakfast burritos, and a tour of campus.
2001 Sonia Arora stepped into a new additional role at Colorado Academy as the Director of Upper School Strategic Initiatives. She continues to work as the Director of College Counseling. Sonia is thrilled that her twins, Raj and Simran, are students in CA’s Pre-Kindergarten, the Class of 2036.
2002
Read about Trier Bryant on page 16.
2003 20th Class Reunion! May 19-21, 2023
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CA students and alumni who have made our work possible over the years. It was so wonderful to see many CA friends at our most recent Art and Soul event honoring my parents Rick and Nina Shuyler.” Taylor Ross married Elizabeth Polsin of Bremerton, Wash., on July 22, 2022, at the Pinery Country Club in Parker, Colo. Fellow CA golfers Tom Roller ’01 and Brian Fisher ’02 were in attendance. Liz and Taylor met in Las Cruces, N.M., at a friend’s Christmas party. She is a physician, and Taylor is a dentist. In August, Tom, Brian, and Taylor spent a long weekend playing golf in Nebraska at the famous Sand Hills Golf Club. The three of them would like to challenge Mark Hubbard ’08 to a 3-on-1 scramble at CA’s old home golf course, Foothills, with their former coach Beth Folsom officiating.
2005 Nick Palmeri and Jenn Forkel ’07 were surprised to connect while working at the Division of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate, in Boston, Mass. Jenn is a Cardiac Nurse Practitioner and Nick is an advanced fellow in Cardiac Electrophysiology. Nick said, “I had just finished an ablation and was calling Jenn to discuss the plan for the patient when we made the connection, small world!” Nick’s program will be completed in June 2023, and he accepted a job at a practice in Denver to start in the fall of 2023. He is looking forward to being back in Colorado with his wife and two children. Jordan Sedlacek completed her veterinary
Ashley Shuyler Carter and AfricAid Board Member Elena Harman ’05 celebrated the 20th anniversary of AfricAid at the annual fundraising event, Art and Soul. Ashley writes, “Heartfelt thanks to the very many
2004
From Left: Brian Fisher ’02, Taylor Ross ’03, Tom Roller ’01
From Left: Rosie Jones, Renae Jones, Ryan Jones ’04, Oliver Jones, Andrew Bourke ’04, Laura DePetro, Samantha DePetro, Nick DePetro ’04
Colorado Academy
Charlie Miller’s current production, Theater of the Mind, is in collaboration with David Byrne (of the Talking Heads)
Class Notes
The cardiac catheterization laboratory at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, From Left: Nicholas Palmeri ’05, Jenn Forkel ’07
With their dog Annie, From Left: Walker Shaw ’06, Andrew Battles
The sons of Evan Zeitler ’05, From Left: Sam, Harry, Felix
residency in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation at Colorado State University. Evan Zeitler and his wife Klara both started new jobs on the faculty at University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She is in Endocrinology, and Evan is in Nephrology. Their twins are now eight and are in second grade. Their three-year-old started in a Spanish immersion preschool and already speaks Spanish better than Evan and Klara!
2007
humorous songs. I’ve been able to perform it at the Oregon Country Fair, at a few local festivals, and in and around my hometown of Portland.” Brett will be performing live in Denver for the first time on November 19 at the Enigma Bazaar Venue & Bar. Tickets are available at: eventbrite.com/e/ comedic-musical-powerpoint-brett-sisunswild-ride-tickets-420110029407.
Christy LaPlante and her husband Peter Villani are thrilled to announce the birth of their first child, Franklin, on August 10, 2022. Christy says it has been fun to reconnect with CA alumni since she and Peter recently moved to Denver. They met while living in Australia and were there eight years.
2008
Walker Shaw married Andrew Battles on March 12, 2022. Walker reports, “We actually eloped but threw a wedding party on September 10, 2022, in Denver at Bigsby’s Folly.” CA alumni attending the celebration were Walker’s brother Max Shaw ’08, Jessie Thalman McLaughlin ’06, and Kedzie Schotters Schoenwetter ’06. Walker is an anesthesiologist at Lutheran Medical Center. The couple recently purchased a home in Denver. Read about Geoff Ball on page 14.
Rory Fry married Alex Reitsema in August 2022, in Grand Lake, Colo. She was surrounded by many CA alumni and alumni parents, including CA bridesmaids from the Class of 2008 Anna Cooley, Hillary Hoffer Arnold, Julia Carlson Landy, and Maggie Dickman. Rory and Alex live in Denver. Brett Sisun has had an adventurous and creative year. Starting in the spring of 2022, he has been performing a comedic musical PowerPoint presentation called the “Wild Ride.” Brett writes, “It has been a great deal of fun and is about exploring the meaning of life, depicted in animated slides and
From Left: Peter Villani, Franklin Villani, Christy LaPlante ’08
2008 alumnae, From Left: Julia Carlson Landy, Hillary Hoffer Arnold, Rory Fry Reitsema, Maggie Dickman, Anna Cooley
2006
Brett Sisun ’08 performing in Oregon
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The son of Natalie Lesinski ’09, James “Kuba” Proffitt
Second child of Peter Macartney ’10, Tucker James
At the wedding ceremony, From Left: Catherine Freeman, Schuyler Grey ’11
2009
Development. In September, Andrei joined EarliTec Diagnostics as a clinical study manager. At EarliTec, Andrei is helping research solutions for diagnosing Autism as early as possible.
and live in Dallas, Texas. Max Allen flew all the way from Wales, Great Britain, to attend.
David Jones returned to CA’s Upper School as an Associate Director of College Counseling, working with his former college counselor, Cathy Nabbefeld. Previously David was the Assistant Director of College Counseling at the Wildwood School in Los Angeles and an Assistant Admissions Director at USC and Knox College, his alma mater. Natalie Lesinski and her husband James Proffitt are overjoyed to announce the birth of James “Kuba” Woodford Proffitt IV on August 22, 2022. He weighed 7.8 lbs. and was 21 in. long. Natalie shared her pregnancy time with Mallory Frantz Buffington, who was also due in August and delivered a baby girl, Georgie, also at Rose Hospital, just five days apart. Andrei D. Semenov recently completed his National Institutes of Mental Health Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Minnesota, Institute of Child
From Left: Kelly and Jordan Ulrich ’10
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Colorado Academy
2010 Peter Macartney and his wife Jenna welcomed their second child Tucker James on October 10, 2022. Big sister Miller (1½ years) is thrilled. Jordan Ulrich married Kelly Grafeld on Saturday, October 8, 2022, on a lovely Colorado fall day. The best man was Gavin Ulrich ’02 and the ring bearer was Cayden Roll (Grade 7). The couple lives in Boston, where Jordan is a strength and conditioning coach at Boston University.
2011 Schuyler Grey married Catherine Freeman on September 24, 2022, in St. Louis, Mo. The couple met at Southern Methodist University
2013 10th Class Reunion! May 19-21, 2023
2014 Daryn Rhett Butler married Mallory Anna Wojtaszek on June 11, 2022, in Windsor, Colo. Daryn and Mallory met at CSU. He is teaching at STEM Highlands Ranch, and Mallory works as a researcher at Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.
2015 Jilly Christensen joined CA’s teaching staff in the Pre-Kindergarten Casita. She is also coaching Junior Varsity Field Hockey, a sport she played at Rhodes College. Grace Parham married Reid Zielinski on June 18, 2022, at the Timberline Lodge
Attending the wedding of Jordan Ulrich ’10, First Row, (L to R): Nehemias Luna ’10, Megan Abman ’10. Second Row: Jessie McCoy. Third Row: Michelle Stevens Zinn ’97, Jenn Adams, Bob Ulrich, Dan Zinn ’97, Guy Garcia, Beth Folsom, Brel McCoy, Dan Pratt.
Class Notes
At their wedding, From Left: Mallory Wojtaszek Butler, Daryn Butler ’14
Ivory Schulte ’19 (L) with her friend and fellow Emerson senior, Alyssa Frey, at Shakespeare in the Boston Common
Kiah May ’21 at Mission Control, JPL in Pasadena, Calif.
on Mount Hood in Oregon. Former CA Upper School English teacher Brett James officiated. Grace and Reid met at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. Reid is originally from Salem, Ore. The couple are currently living in Portland, Ore., where they settled after college graduation in 2019. Grace and Reid honeymooned in Costa Rica. Many from the CA community attended the wedding.
(JPL) doing research on exoplanets, planets outside of our solar system. Her work will continue throughout the school year. Kiah’s project included research on gravitational bodies within the system, other than the confirmed
planets, to discover more exoplanets. The program is called Exoplanet Watch, and Kiah and her team are planning an international launch of their project to citizen scientists around the world at the start of 2023.
2016 Abel Ramirez returned to CA as the Assistant Director of Admission for Middle School and Spanish Language Liaison. He is also teaching Middle School photography, the art he enjoyed as a CA student. Abel graduated from Bates College in Maine and worked for Accenture before finding his way home to CA.
2019 Ivory Schulte, formerly Noah Schulte, writes, “A lot has changed with me since I left CA. My transition from horribly depressed boy to shockingly optimistic girl being the most obvious. I am entering my senior year at Emerson College, with a new name, new friends, and a new outlook on life. I hope to enter the field of political communication, specifically working with campaigns and politicians close to my heart. I have a magazine that is relaunching (fettucinethezine.com) and new writing and artwork that should be published there soon.”
The marriage of Grace Parham ’15, First Row (L to R): Jack Parham ’17, Camryn Beall ’18, Hailey Detrick ’15. Second Row: Nikolai Lyssogor ’17, former CA English teacher Brett James, Kate Rydberg ’15, Grace Parham ’15, Reid Zielinski, Charlie Parham ’19, Lily Fox ’19.
2021 Kiah May spent the summer interning at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
CA alumni and current students were well represented among the CA Summer Camp counseling staff on campus.
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In Memoriam David is survived by his husband Matt McTighe.
Remembrance from Mark Mueller ’82 David Newman was a teacher at Colorado Academy for part of my years at CA. One summer, I went to Maine with David, Frank Wallace, and Peter King ’75 to build a cabin in the woods on land that Frank was leasing. After that experience, I started traveling to Boston and Maine to spend time with Frank, David, and friends of theirs, and I ended up developing a much closer friendship with David. It was very sad to see him dealing with cancer and eventually die, but his memory lives on, and his lifelong ambition of publishing his Medici book has finally happened. David Newman
David Newman Drama Teacher, 1979-1983
D
avid Newman died on June 4, 2021, at his home in Cape Neddick, Maine. Teaching was his lifelong career. In addition to teaching at Colorado Academy, David was a professor at Oberlin College for eight years. He spent the majority of his time at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H., where he taught for another 20-plus years. David’s principal area of expertise was the theater, building on graduate work he had done at Yale, where he earned his MFA in Play-writing. He was a Master Teacher of drama, acting, and stagecraft; however, he was mostly teaching about living an authentic life. David was an honest, courageous, persistent, and generous person.
The Secret Books of the Medici was David’s lifelong passion/project. He spent several decades immersing himself in the culture, history, and arts of Renaissance Florence. Although Book I of this three-part series and most of Book II were finished before his death, only a synopsis of Book III was completed.
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Colorado Academy
a passion for animals and wildlands and a keen sense of humor, for which he will be fondly remembered. Steve was generous of spirit and a dutiful family historian, with a quick wit and a forgiving sense, for which he will be truly missed. The 1967 Colorado Academy Telesis yearbook tribute to Steve spoke highly of him. “Colorado Academy was lucky to have Steve Underwood in its student ranks, for among his many achievements this year was the fringing of a little sunshine into the hearts of everyone he met. Although he labored under the nickname ‘The Crusher’ for a long time in his Samaritan duties, he still managed to keep smiling, and in fact, another nickname for him might be ‘The Twenty-Four Hour Smile.’ Whatever his nickname, Steve managed to be a hard worker all around. He worked all year on perfecting the card game Hearts and there was hardly a free period when he wasn’t in the Senior Lounge immersed in its complexities. With all kidding aside, though it can be thankfully said of Steve Underwood, that CA would really have been pretty dull without him and that the sunshine he brought was of the right kind.” Steve is survived by his loving best friend and longtime partner Annie Munch, brothers Michael Underwood ’63 and Edward (Buzz) Frost, nephew Amos Underwood, nieces Sarah Moyer and Leah Underwood, along with multiple great nephews and great nieces.
Steve Underwood as pictured in the 1967 Telesis
Steven Kimball Underwood ’67
S
teve died July 26, 2022, in Colorado Springs, Colo., after a brief illness. He was born November 7, 1948, to Arthur Kennard Underwood Jr. and Suzanne Kassler. Steve loved traveling and hiking and had many adventures throughout the world and in his home state of Colorado. He had
Condolences may be sent to: Michael Underwood 1136 Juniper Rd. Taos, NM 87571
Edwin Dwight Webber ’63
E
d Webber died on July 31, 2022. While at Colorado Academy, Ed was on the original Mountain Rescue Team at CA formed by Earnest “Tap” Tapley. Alumnus Bill Mackay, Jr. ’64 met Ed on the Rescue Team and always maintained a close friendship
In Memoriam William fashion, he not only learned about the culture of Paraguay, he grew very close to local students and other American students with vastly different backgrounds than he had. He had an excitement for life that drew people like moths to a flame, and he was able to share his vision for the future while getting other people excited about their own lives.
Ed Webber ’63 as pictured in the 1963 Telesis
with him. In addition, Ed was a member of CA’s Gun Club. After graduating from Montana State University, he moved to his family ranch near Big Timber, Mont. There Ed established a successful gun manufacturing business, which he ran for his entire life. Ed is survived by his wife Cindy and two sons. Condolences may be sent to: Mrs. Cindy Webber & Family HC 89 Box 4325 Big Timber, MT 59011
William Montgomery Ungar ’20
Will saw himself as an outlier whose mission was to make everyone feel included. He was always the first person to strike up a conversation and welcome any newcomer to any environment he was a part of. He saw it as part of his mission in life to bring happiness to people when they were in his presence. A common theme among those who knew Will was his ability to allow everyone around him to genuinely be themselves. Gone far too soon, Will packed more lifetimes into his 21 years than most ever will in a century. He truly lived life to the fullest, never missing an opportunity to climb a mountain, ski the steeps, or make someone laugh uncontrollably. He also would debate just about anything, from politics to privatized water. Will had a love for knowledge that he nurtured throughout the course of his life—as a kid he memorized the maps of mountains he had never skied, and as an
8/13/2001 – 9/2/2022
O
n September 2, 2022, William “Will” Montgomery Ungar, son of Jennifer Hines Loud and Scott William Ungar, and brother of Caroline Pierpont Ungar ’22, died in a rock climbing accident on Mt. Slesse in British Columbia, Canada. Born and raised in Denver, Will was in his second year of study at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver School of Economics. In his short 21 years of life, Will traveled extensively to Chile, Cuba, Europe, and many of the most beautiful areas of Canada. Selected from over 2,000 applicants, Will was chosen, along with 17 other students, as a U.S. Student Ambassador for Paraguay. In classic
adult he could recite the inner workings of old growth reforestation. Will was funny, kind, intelligent, adventurous, and unapologetically himself. With big hair and an even bigger heart, no one could argue, not even Will, that anyone had a bigger zest for life than he did. And he never let his impeccable academic career interfere with a powder day. Will achieved his mission of making others feel seen, loved, and accepted. If Will were here today, he would tell you to “share more of yourself with the world.” He followed his own advice by sharing his enthusiasm for outdoor adventure and the magic of the mountains with everyone he met, while bringing passion, pure happiness, and hilarious antics to every situation. Everyone’s light shined brighter when Will was around. Adventure was Will’s art, and nature was his canvas. He inspired countless friends with his love of the great outdoors, his inclusive personality, and his general silliness. Although we are grateful for the short time we had with Will, no time on Earth could have ever been enough. As one of his friends so adeptly put it, “He was the most individual individual I ever met.” He leaves behind his loving parents, Jennifer Loud and Scott Ungar; his sister, Caroline Ungar; grandparents, Gerda Ungar and Monty and Paula Loud; aunts and uncles, Christopher and Terri Coughlin and Matt and Lizzie Larock; and five cousins, and was preceded in death by his grandfather, Thomas Ungar. He will be missed by legions of friends and family who adored him.
Excerpts from remarks by Dr. Mike Davis at Will’s Celebration of Life Will emerged into adulthood as one of the most authentic and kind people I have ever seen.... Will charted a course for his life that was full of curiosity, adventure, and joy.
Will Ungar ’20
I vividly recall Will coming back to campus after graduating. He had this outrageous hair and a dangling Kokopelli earring. I loved it and told him so. I lived for a spell in Austin, Texas, a town whose slogan is “Keep Austin Weird.” Will was his true self,
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In Memoriam and we all loved him for the uniqueness that was Will Ungar. And, what an amazing thing for someone in their late teens and early 20s, when so many others seek to conform? When once asked by a teacher if kids teased him for being in the first tap dancing class at CA, he said. “I really don’t care.” He had ambition and drive, but was up for exploring—both intellectually and experientially. He understood how to be himself and be self-assured, while being gracious. What a lesson for all of us. A friend said, “I’d call Will a dreamer, but that would imply that’s all he does; it ignores that he will and does turn his dreams into reality. People who love learning for the sake of learning and personal growth as much as Will are hard to find.”
Excerpts from remarks by best friend Kole Hicks ’20 at Will’s Celebration of Life When I met Will, I would have never guessed that we would have been such good friends…. As he tells it, the inflection point was Sophomore year chemistry. I had the pleasure of being his lab partner, which meant that our teacher, Ms. Jekel, had the pleasure of staying after nearly every day. Normally I took the bus, but Will was older, and one day he offered to drive me home. In all honesty, I have no idea what we talked about, but it must have been something good because after only a few weeks, we had become inseparable. At the start, our relationship revolved around film. We both took video and
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Colorado Academy
considered ourselves auteurs. Back then, some company was dumb enough to give out unlimited passes for $9.99 a month. We would watch one or two movies a week. Afterward he would drive me home, talking the whole way about the merits of the sound design and cinematography. I’m sure we agreed on most stuff, but my fondest memories were passionate debate. At the end of that year, we were placed on the same Interim.... Will and I got to rock climb all around the Front Range. I had never rock climbed before, but had some intuition that I would be amazing at it. Needless to say, I found myself near tears on day one. By the end of the week, I was still crying, but my tears were no longer fear driven. Rather, I cried because I had worn down all my skin and it now hurt to wash my hands. From that week on, Will was my other half. ––––––––– In this past summer especially, I felt we were the same person.... For example, I had gotten into the Grateful Dead this past year and was excited to invite Will into the cult. Imagine my surprise when I step into his car, only to be greeted by who other than Jerry Garcia? I mean, come on, man; can I have my own life? Now I make it sound bad, but the truth is that it actually rocked. It meant I got to share all myself with him. It meant we got to share all kinds of music, all kinds of opinions, and most importantly, all kinds of adventures. With him, I got to share a sliver of the beauty this world has to offer. There are moments, like our days in Squamish or Eldo, that I can proudly recall in vivid detail. Will and I talked a lot about this, how
despite all our memories, life is really about, for lack of a better word, the vibe. ––––––––– And here, I arrive at my story of what may be the least forgettable day of my life…. Finally, an hour later than planned, we started in on what was most definitely the trail. The next two hours went by in silence.... However, as my teachers can attest, there’s only so much time I can shut up for. The words just came out of me. “Hey Will,” I called out. “This is a seminal day in our lives.” “I have no idea what that means,” he responded. “You know, a seminal day. As in, this is a day we’ll never forget. Like we’ll remember it for the rest of our lives.” He laughed, knowing that I was probably right, and I smiled at the thought, having no clue how right I would be. ––––––––– “Hey Will,” I said. “I think it’s sunrise.” And indeed it was. We looked up to find ourselves surrounded by stunning peaks and adorned by the first rays of an even more stunning sunrise.... In that pink light we crossed over to the base of Mt. Slesse. At this point, I asked Will if we could take a break, just to soak up the surroundings. I played “Fire on the Mountain” to commemorate the alpenglow. There we sat looking out to the sunrise, and Will to my left...trying to take as many pictures as he could. We rested there for the reminder of the 15-minute song. Will eventually put his phone down and we talked about how epic life is and how blessed we were to know that. That conversation we had was my last moment in the light.
CA Alumni Association Important Dates 2022-2023 Friday, December 2, 2022 Thursday, January 5, 2023
Alumni Ice Skating Party, DCC Skate House, 5:30-9 p.m. 1700 E. First Ave., Denver College Alumni Lunch, Campus Center, 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Alumni Back-to-School Night, CA Campus Dinner at 5:30 p.m., Classes begin at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 7, 2023
Happy Hour at Five Points, Spangalang Brewery. 6-8:30 p.m. 2736 Welton St., Denver
Friday, May 19, 2023
Giant Relay Day BBQ Lunch, Tour of Campus, The Race, Alumni-Faculty Party, Alumni-Varsity-Faculty Ultimate
Saturday & Sunday, May 20-21, 2023 Friday & Saturday, May 19-20, 2023
Reunion Weekend 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2013, 2018 Glee Club Reunion with Dr. David Woods
Please check the Alumni Home Page at coloradoacademy.org/alumni for updates and new events.
Dr. David Woods, far right, with the 1971-1972 Glee Club
CA Journal | Fall 2022
Colorado Academy 3800 South Pierce Street Denver, CO 80235
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The Spirit of the Mustang For generations, the wild Mustang has symbolized the adventurous and resilient spirit of Colorado Academy. Horses have figured in the life of the school since its earliest days, when students of the Colorado Military School, as CA was once known, practiced horseback riding from First through Twelfth Grade, and members of sports teams were already called “Mustangs.” Later, the CA tradition of the Giant Relay Race—a cross-campus competition between Seniors, parents, faculty, and alumni—for a time included a segment on horseback alongside kayaking, running, and swimming components. Through the years, CA’s Mustang mascot became a beloved part of allschool celebrations and sporting events—but he was never given a name. “Gus” was born in 2011, and today he continues channeling the untamed energy of the wild horses of the American West.