Colorado Academy Journal - Summer 2023

FINDING OUR PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY

Celebrating Our Year

Favorite traditions and big events brought the CA community together. Seniors welcomed Ninth Graders on the first day of school. The Upper School musical, Mamma Mia!, brought the spirit of disco to the Leach Center for the Performing Arts. The Taste of CA highlighted our families’ many cultures. The CA Auction offered a “Roundup at the Mustang Corral.” The Arts Festival had students of all ages creating, dancing, and sharing on Stamper Commons. Girls Varsity Lacrosse won the State Championship for the eighth time in a row. Join in and cheer for our school!

Colorado Academy Mission Statement

and

About the Cover

The REDI Lab Aimee and Jonathan Coleman Center opened in March 2023 in the Mariposa District of Denver. See the story beginning on page 4.

There’s More!

Find online news, features, profiles, athletics highlights, and photos at our CA Newsroom: news.coloradoacademy.org.

Creating curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners

leaders.

J urnal

The 2023 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.

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If this publication is addressed to a child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, or to stop receiving the printed magazine, please contact chris.barnard@ coloradoacademy.org, or 303-914-2510.

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

Kate McDonnell

Becky Risch

Phil Smith

Gravely Wilson

DESIGN

Cindi Sherman

Sir Speedy Denver

PHOTOGRAPHY

Bill Fisher

Cyrus McCrimmon

Becky Risch

Kathryn Scott

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Mike Davis, PhD

Colorado Academy 3800 S. Pierce Street Denver, CO 80235

Dear CA Community: C

ommencement always reminds me just how much we as a school think about our students’ preparedness as we launch them into the world. In a fast-changing and complex global environment, we share a responsibility to ready our students to be problem solvers and drivers of change. Along with their engagement in a rigorous curriculum focused on the liberal arts and STEM, our alumni meet the world standing upon the foundational skills of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, cultural humility, and character development.

Finally out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are renewing deep conversations about how Colorado Academy can best serve its students. We have made and will continue to make changes to our schedule and calendar to create more space for experiential learning opportunities. We have launched a partnership with the Denver Housing Authority to bring our student-directed REDI Lab program to an urban campus. Next year, we will team with the more than 100-year-old Geneva Glen Camp to offer our students access to mountain field trips, retreats, and other activities.

Closer to home, we are working with more schools to expand the number of students served by Horizons Colorado. We are engaging intentionally in building upon our positive school culture to ensure all students feel a sense of belonging. And, we are refining a working draft of a statement on academic and intellectual freedom that reinforces a culture in which we debate and engage each other in respectful ways and never shy away from challenging ideas.

As we do this work, we celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our students. This year we cheered multiple athletic State Championships, absorbed memorable performances and exhibitions, followed state- and national-level competitors in engineering and debate, and applauded strong student leadership across the school.

With the Class of 2023 about to launch into the world, heading to impressive colleges, universities, and other opportunities, I am grateful for the work of our faculty and staff to support all of our students along their journey. I am thrilled to experience the energy of our families, who bring such dedication and generosity to our school. And, I am so thankful for the continued engagement of our alumni community for their critical support of our mission and work.

Enjoy summer!

Sincerely,

Mike Davis, PhD Head of School Colorado Academy

An Expansive Vision: REDI Lab Aimee and Jonathan Coleman Center

“REDI Lab is just the beginning of a lifetime subscription to learning,” said Tom Thorpe, the Director of Colorado Academy’s REDI Lab program, as he spoke on March 3, 2023, to parents, faculty and staff members, and friends gathered to celebrate the opening of the REDI Lab Aimee and Jonathan Coleman Center in the Mariposa District of Denver.

And that new space, Thorpe continued, is the beginning of the next evolution of CA’s signature program, opening up its mission to the wider world, where the innovative thinking and creativity that have been the hallmarks of REDI Lab since its inception in 2017 might flourish through authentic connection with community. A prestigious $100,000 matching grant from The Edward E. Ford Foundation, announced just a few weeks after the Coleman Center’s opening, will support that aim, enabling programming for CA and the greater Denver community, while establishing the space and program as a nexus for innovative education.

A one-trimester “school-within-aschool” experience for high school juniors and seniors, REDI Lab (REDI stands for Research, Entrepreneurship, Design, and Inquiry) inspires creativity, ingenuity, and success through highly personalized projects. It gives students the space and time to explore what they’re curious about, using principles and concepts taken from industry and business to reflect on their learning and practice skills necessary for success in a changing world.

“REDI Lab’s goal,” Thorpe said at the opening celebration, “is to build value by elevating students’ passions and interests and providing a platform for sharing their ideas. The Coleman Center mirrors that ambition.”

Once housed in a borrowed classroom in CA’s Ponzio Arts Center, REDI Lab now flows through three interconnected spaces designed with great intention. In a large open area, students can collaborate around a long conference table or use ex-

tensive whiteboard walls to brainstorm and build community. In another space equipped with movable desks and whiteboards and comfortable furniture, students do research, hold interviews with subject-matter experts, and further develop their ideas in small groups or on their own. Finally, in an amphitheater-like zone with tiered seating and a massive display, they refine their “pitches,” in which they share their vision and receive feedback from peers. Wraparound windows provide a view from any part of the space onto the neighborhood’s bustling streets.

Fittingly, the Coleman Center sits at the intersection of innovation, creativity, and equitable growth and development that are reshaping Denver’s urban landscape. Named for a lead gift from CA parents Aimee and Jonathan Coleman, the new facility is the result of a partnership between CA and the Denver Housing Authority (DHA), whose redevelopment of the Mariposa District aims to bring together affordable housing, nonprofits, community groups, entrepreneurs, and the arts to support a vibrant, sustainable, transit-oriented community.

Situated steps from the 10th & Osage RTD Light Rail Station, the Coleman Center anchors the ground floor of DHA’s Mariposa property, which also houses 87 LEED-certified affordable housing units. Celebrating the ribbon cutting that marked the official opening of the space, Jonathan Coleman said, “We are incredibly fortunate to be part of the CA community and benefit from the REDI Lab program, but relatively few people

in Denver have that opportunity. We have an obligation to expand the scope of what we are capable of and serve a much larger group of people.”

Head of School Dr. Mike Davis noted that since its inception, 150 CA and non-CA students have gone through the REDI Lab program—including a summer academy which debuted in 2021—and more than 100 teachers from the Denver Metro Area have taken advantage of professional development offered by UnlimitED, an outgrowth of REDI Lab that inspires innovation in education. “The new off-campus space allows REDI Lab students to take their ideas even further, and it will enable CA to make an even greater impact in the Denver area,” Davis said. Plans call for expanded professional development offerings for teachers, new college- and career-focused summer programs, and partnerships with community organizations. Financial aid will help more Denver residents take advantage of these opportunities than ever before.

“As the parent of a REDI Lab student, I’ve seen the dramatic impact this program can make,” Davis continued. “The kinds of questions and real-world problems students take on through REDI Lab are just inspiring; they grapple with everything from social justice to the future of technology and how we connect with each other as human beings. Stepping back from focusing on teaching content and letting students drive the process as they think about the world— it gives me a lot of hope that our graduates

will go on to conquer the really tough challenges we’re facing today.”

REDI Lab, said Thorpe, celebrates students’ capacity for thinking and dreaming. “Here, we’re living a model of education, where instead of doing just what’s asked of them,

“I think we’ve seen kids take their ideas more seriously because of the commitment that they have to have to leaving campus and coming here.They notice that there’s a little bit of a different pace here, and that they can step into the space and let their ideas live and breathe and grow. We’ve seen it happen—an acceleration of their thinking and dreaming.”

Tom Thorpe REDI Lab Director

REDI Lab Director Tom Thorpe

learners are spending their time imagining what’s possible and expanding their vision. They start seeing themselves in new ways.”

The prototype

Like the student-driven inquiry and innovation that spring to life each year in REDI Lab, the model Thorpe was describing had its roots in one learner’s unique quest.

During his Junior year at CA, Nick Bain ’16 became intrigued with the idea of making education more effective. He was already recognized by peers and teachers as an inventor and auto-didact, with a seemingly insatiable appetite for intellectual exploration, tinkering, and questioning the status quo of science and technology. He had been among the first to take full advantage of CA’s Anderson Innovation Lab, built as part of the new Froelicher Upper School just a year earlier in 2013; there, he designed and laser-cut a clever write-on light switch cover dubbed the Switch Port, enabling him to earn startup backing through Kickstarter and eventually market the product locally.

It was no surprise to anyone that he was curious about ways that he could squeeze even more learning from his time spent on campus.

Bain was enrolled in then-Upper School history teacher Paul Kim’s Global Design and Social Innovation course, which embodied the call by Dr. Jon Vogels, who was the Upper School Principal at the time, for CA to prepare students for a world that was rapidly being shaped by emerging technologies. “We know

that the future is being driven by creative genius, technological innovation, and the ability to navigate complex interactions,” Vogels said. “We must prepare our students for a future that we can only imagine.”

Inspired by discussions in the class about new educational models, Bain devised an experiment that he hoped would measure the effectiveness of his academic schedule. He kept track of his time in CA’s classrooms minute by minute, rating each quarter-hour chunk on whether or not he was actively learning. Very quickly, he realized that, according to his data, though he was doing something for all seven hours of the school day, direct instruction was actually happening less than half of that time.

“There’s sort of an assumption that to be educated, you have to go through this pretty specific process—which is why schools are set up the way they are,” Bain observes. “But maybe there’s a lot of variation in the way people learn best; they can follow their own path and still come out super-smart and motivated.”

Bain took his observations to Kim, and the two began a series of conversations to explore the concept of self-directed learning, in which students are empowered to assess and fulfill their own learning needs, with teachers serving more as coaches than as gatekeepers of information. It is a model that has earned increasing attention over the past two decades, as digital platforms such as Khan Academy and online high school and college programs have enabled

people all over the world to obtain degrees, professional certifications, and marketable skills without ever entering a classroom.

With Kim’s support, and armed with his own research about the effectiveness of student-driven education, Bain successfully pitched the idea of a largely self-directed trimester to CA’s administration, and was soon pursuing his own studies, which included both the topics covered in his regular courses and areas of his own choosing. The only caveats imposed by the school were that Bain had to pass the courses he was enrolled in and, just as importantly, keep a journal about his experience.

Bain did both, all while carrying out his own research in aerospace engineering and designing a battery-powered ultralight—pursuits that would help earn him admission to MIT and, later, land him a consulting gig working on vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft prototypes. His success, and the detailed notes in his journal, were the “proof of concept” that Kim needed to push forward the ideas that led to the creation of what is now one of CA’s marquee offerings.

“There were a lot of things happening in education at that time,” recalls Kim. “In a world that was increasingly digital, students were beginning to notice a disconnect between their lives inside and outside of the classroom. When Mike Davis arrived at CA in 2008, he brought a new energy and appetite to start addressing that divide.”

Nick Bain ’16 in CA’s Anderson Innovation Lab Paul Kim, center, speaking with students

“The thing I appreciate most about Colorado Academy is the growth mindset that so many of our teachers and administrators share,” Davis explains. “And when I came to CA, we really began to consider a more 21st century-based learning program that emphasized innovation.”

Kim turned to his colleague and fellow preceptor Thorpe for help in fleshing out the program that would become REDI Lab. Encouraged by Davis’s enthusiasm for new ideas, the two had been thinking about the future of teaching at CA. When, at a professional development retreat with the entire faculty the year after Bain’s successful prototype, Davis asked participants to share their ideas for a better CA, Kim and Thorpe suggested a self-directed learning trimester.

“We didn’t have a name for it at the time,” Thorpe acknowledges, “but Mike encouraged us to pursue it.” After building support for the idea among faculty and with the Board of Trustees, Kim and Thorpe launched REDI Lab with a first cohort of students during the 2017-2018 school year.

Recounts Davis, “I think we had reached a point where there was only so much further we could push the framework of a college preparatory environment. What’s so interesting about the REDI Lab idea is that it takes the kind of traditional mentor-student relationship, like you’d find in a graduate program, and allows us to harness that by letting students define and identify problems that they want to take on and solve.”

The process

During that inaugural voyage, Thorpe says, he and Kim refined their model of self-directed teaching and learning to emphasize a number of key themes.

First among these is Design Thinking, a human-centered approach to innovation and “unlearning” popularized at Stanford’s d.school. With empathy at its core, the Design Thinking process integrates the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for success in the world. Innovators, according to the Design Thinking philosophy, must abandon pre-conceived notions and biases to truly understand the scope of the problem they are trying to solve. Rapidly iterating from prototype to refined designs informed by user feedback, creators develop innovative and sometimes surprising solutions.

Upper School science preceptor and current REDI Lab instructor Martha Smith elaborates, “At CA, we have lots of students who are ‘good’ at school. But when they become engaged in Design Thinking, where you stop focusing on the end product and really start to ask what you can learn that someone isn’t teaching you, that just blossoms into something that they never expected. They get lost in the ‘messy middle.’ Those are the most powerful journeys for me to walk alongside.”

Second, the REDI Lab process challenges students to identify their values, their “why.” “You can’t be successful in developing the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ until you establish the

‘why,’” explains Thorpe. “Throughout the trimester we keep bringing students back to the central questions of ‘What do you value?’ and ‘Why do you value it?’” The answers to these guide all the work that follows.

Next, students learn the importance of asking questions to advance their thinking—not to get permission. “It’s so easy for young people to sit down with us and ask if they can do something,” Thorpe says. So, during regular mentoring sessions, students are encouraged to give themselves permission to take action and be creative. “We want them to practice their agency, to take risks, and for us to make something better together.”

According to Smith, “Some students really want to be told what to do—that’s what school has been for them up to this point. But here, I am not the expert in the room; I can’t answer their questions about how to code the app they’re working on, or to build the engine that they want to build. Many hit some bumps in the road, and they don’t like it. Watching them fight through that is one of the things that I love the most about REDI Lab.”

Finally, there’s Thorpe’s mantra, perhaps the defining feature of the REDI Lab process: “Hold your ideas lightly.” “Letting your initial conceptions go when you hit a roadblock, or watching them change and expand in response to new information, is a skill,” Thorpe says. “Being prepared to pivot and to capitalize on the unexpected is vital in the world these kids are facing.”

As Kim explains, not everyone at CA was on

From left: Tom Thorpe, Board Chair Erika Hollis, Dr. Mike Davis, Martin Goldstein of Venture Architecture, Jonathan Coleman, and Annie Hancock of DHA cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the REDI Lab Aimee and Jonathan Coleman Center.

board with the REDI Lab approach. “A few faculty members wondered, ‘How can kids learn without teachers?’ But the reality is that students live these rich inner lives that often are given little space in school. Kids can sit in a classroom day in and day out, and their teacher might never know what’s inside.” But once the CA faculty saw what the initial cohorts of students were able to achieve, and how they were able to grow as thinkers and creators, they were convinced of the model’s value.

Promising outcomes

One of REDI Lab’s early success stories was that of Ulisses Rico Moncada ’21, who came into the program determined to make a local impact around COVID-19. A first-generation high school student, Moncada had stood witness as family members became ill or died during the first year of the pandemic. He knew that his Spanish-speaking relatives were confused, fearful, and unsure of the benefits of vaccination, and he wanted to do something to help prevent further harm, particularly among young people.

Initially Moncada focused on a scientific approach, but through his REDI Lab research and discussions with peers and mentors like Thorpe, it became clear that some of the science remained elusive even to the top scientists working on the virus, and perhaps his efforts would be better spent elsewhere.

“How could you use your own unique perspective and abilities to make the kind of impact you envision?” Thorpe asked his student. A media production enthusiast, Moncada realized that he could answer a pressing need in his community—for more targeted communication about preventing the spread of COVID-19—through video.

Professional networking and mentoring are key to the REDI Lab process. Throughout their work, students are encouraged to reach out to researchers, businesses, grant-making organizations, and other potential allies to gauge interest in their ideas and garner advice and support. Moncada used his own networking efforts to pitch an idea for a video public service announcement, and when he eventually made a connection at Comcast Colorado, the company not only loved the idea, but

also let him write the script, shoot the video, and even hire the actors, who were mostly his friends from CA. The spot was broadcast in summer 2021.

“I think that REDI Lab gave Ulisses the time and the space to understand what he was uniquely qualified to do. And he did it,” says Thorpe.

Over the years, many students have followed a path similar to Moncada’s, discovering through the REDI Lab process how they might dig into their passions and talents to make a real difference in the world. There’s the one who came up with the idea of “an Uber for private planes,” and another who drew up plans for the “CA Natatorium.” One student created a conscious-living “manifesto,” one researched a project on Colorado’s Black history, and one proposed an inclusive e-sports training camp.

This year, Senior Jo Rydberg was interested in innovation in education (a not-uncommon theme for REDI Lab participants). She began by looking at Colorado’s state educational standards through the lens of equity, but quickly zeroed in on an issue with which she had first-hand experience, and where she could potentially make an immediate impact.

“My big question became, who needs schools to change more: students or teachers? And my answer really was both. How can we provide more support for both teachers and students to make schools a less stressful environment so that everyone can succeed together?”

Rydberg used her time in REDI Lab to interview students and teachers from both CA and other schools, and was able to begin writing job descriptions for roles such as a “Dean of Fun.”

“In a classroom setting, it can be harder for me to open up with my words about what I’m thinking about,” Rydberg says. “REDI Lab really pushed me out of my comfort zone to have those creative conversations about my project.” She plans to continue studying elementary education and child development at Vanderbilt University.

For fellow Senior Owen Tilman, REDI Lab was an opportunity to explore interests in politics, law, and the point where the two fields intersect. His focus was the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson case, which overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade precedent, and how it did or did not reflect growing politicization of the law.

While Tilman, through his REDI Lab research, found confirmation of his view that the Dobbs decision was influenced by politics, he was surprised to also discover that his support for the original Roe v. Wade precedent took on a whole new meaning.

“In one important part of this argument— that Roe v. Wade itself is good, in a vacuum, as case law—I’ve come around to the opposite perspective: that it’s terrible case law,” Tilman explains. “That doesn’t mean that it should have been overturned; it doesn’t mean that it’s an outlier in terms of cases that the Supreme Court has adjudicated and decided in the past. But

A scene from Ulisses Rico Moncada’s video, produced in association with Comcast

it has simply built a much more nuanced understanding of the issue for me in a way that I did not expect.”

Tilman will study philosophy and political science at Yale University, and indeed, he argues that REDI Lab has played a large part in his understanding himself as a learner and determining where he will go from here.

“Sometimes there’s an assumption that REDI Lab is very unstructured,” he says. “But on the contrary, I feel it’s given me better ways to engage with complex material and to carve out a unique pathway to explore these interests. It’s also important to remember that learning in REDI Lab takes place in a community—your teachers and fellow students are there with different interests and ideas, and they will challenge your biases and preconceived notions about whatever you’re pursuing. It may not be a linear or clear-cut path, but there’s immense value in that.”

Seeing beyond campus

It didn’t take long for CA families to begin hearing of students’ successful experiences in REDI Lab. Among these were Aimee and Jonathan Coleman, whose daughter, Emerson-Ellis, participated during her Junior year.

“When we first met Mike Davis when we came to CA,” Jonathan recalls, “his energy and enthusiasm for innovative learning was just contagious; it really lit a fire for us. We hadn’t even heard of REDI Lab at that point, but once our daughter joined and we saw how collaborative, innovative, and special the program was, we knew we wanted to be more involved in that vision.”

They began by endowing the Aimee and Jonathan Coleman Innovative Teaching and Learning Fund, which would attract other donors to lend support each year to the REDI Lab program. Next, in 2021, they helped launch the REDI Lab Summer Academy, a two-week entrepreneurial camp and idea incubator for high school students in the Denver area.

Along with Davis and Thorpe, the Colemans had always seen REDI Lab as a way to extend CA’s reach and impact beyond its suburban campus. “Expanding the ‘aperture of opportunity’ for lots of students to have

exposure to the types of programming and education that we are fortunate enough to enjoy at CA—this has always been part of the vision,” says Jonathan.

Adds Aimee, “Part of CA’s mission is cultivating kindness and giving back to the community, and having a presence downtown, where we can engage with Denver more broadly, would allow CA to follow its mission in a deeper, better way.”

When CA parent Brady Welsh, the President of Sherpa Commercial Real Estate, and another Denver real estate expert, Thorpe’s longtime friend Hayden Hirschfeld, called attention to a vacant ground-level space in DHA’s Mariposa development, Thorpe and Davis both thought it could be a good fit.

“We had been looking around the Denver area for locations with access to public transportation that weren’t already served by independent schools,” Thorpe recounts, ”and Mariposa fit the bill to a T.”

DHA saw CA as an equally good fit. A quasi-municipal corporation with a portfolio of over 13,000 units and housing choice vouchers, DHA provides affordable housing to more than 26,000 low- and middle-income individuals, representing over 12,000 families. It is transforming public housing in Denver by creating vibrant, revitalized, sustainable, transit-oriented, and mixed-income neighborhoods. Central to its strategy is partnering with businesses, nonprofits, and community and youth organizations to ensure healthy development and growth.

CA’s REDI Lab had a lot to offer, according to Thorpe. Not only did it come with a reputation and resources that would burnish and support DHA’s efforts, but it also could offer programming—summer opportunities and teacher professional development, with plans for even more to come—that would activate a neighborhood space and generate real local pride.

CA and DHA signed a letter of intent in November 2021, and very quickly, work began to finish the vacant Mariposa space. Another CA parent, Martin Goldstein, the co-founder and Principal Architect at Venture Architecture, arranged for his firm’s donated design services, and through the

summer and fall of 2022 the Coleman Center took shape.

“Oftentimes, if you’re investing in something that’s really innovative, it comes with a lot of risk,” says Jonathan Coleman. “But one of the things that was really compelling to us in supporting REDI Lab was that the innovation piece had already been ‘derisked’ by Tom and the team of faculty that is focused on this work. It was already operating at a high level, with lots of graduates of the program, and the new space was an opportunity to give that a boost.”

Aimee Coleman observes, “One of the exciting things about the new space is that it takes CA students maybe a little bit out of their comfort zone, away from the traditional campus that they’ve been on, and exposes them to a brand new area where they can think in a different manner, explore creative ideas in this amazing environment that we’ve been able to create.”

That distance from CA, both literal and figurative, is one of the biggest benefits built into the Coleman Center. As Tilman explains, “As much as I love CA, there definitely is that element of the ‘CA bubble’; there’s always some attachment which precludes your experiencing parts of the world outside. REDI Lab balances that with immersion in a very new Denver community that most of us had never really been to before. It forced me to reconsider the ways that CA has shaped my opinions and to look at the issues I’m passionate about through an entirely different lens.”

Thorpe agrees. “I think we’ve seen kids take their ideas more seriously because of the commitment that they have to have to leaving campus and coming here. They notice that there’s a little bit of a different pace here, and that they can step into the space and let their ideas live and breathe and grow. We’ve seen it happen—an acceleration of their thinking and dreaming.”

The power of connection

Out in eastern Colorado, where Bain is testing and refining his vertical-takeoff-and-landing prototypes, the REDI Lab’s prototypical student enjoys reflecting on the type of self-directed learning he first explored at CA. “With the aircraft designs

that I’m working on currently, it’s interesting to notice that I’m not trying to learn any specific skills exactly; I’m just trying to get a certain thing done. But as a result of that I feel I’m learning all these other things that I just have to know to make stuff work. And it feels effortless.”

He goes on, “I remember Dr. Davis once said something to the effect of, ‘There’s a difference between education being rigorous and it being stressful.’ I always thought there had to be a way you could treat your education less as a slog and more as something you really want to do.”

Still, with most of his project time spent working solo, Bain also acknowledges the value of collaborating with others.

“If there is one thing I think I missed at CA, it was being with people more often,” he says. “Some of my clearest memories are of Town Hall meetings; I remember coming out of those with my friends and thinking, ‘People here are just so good to each other.’”

When, in college during the pandemic, he and his peers were asking themselves, “What’s the value of attending school in person, anyway?” Bain heard the answer in his mind: to be around and to learn from people who are doing really cool stuff.

And in many ways, that’s the lesson of REDI Lab itself. Though “self-directed learning” is the catchphrase that is so often associated with this innovative program, the deliberate feedback loops that circle throughout each REDI Lab trimester—students sharing their ideas with each other, vetting them with mentors and experts, and revising and refining them through user-tested prototypes—expose just how deeply rooted community and connection are in the process.

“Today kids are growing up in a world where they may not be able to envision what happens in the long run for them,” says Thorpe. “I grew up in a generation where I was pretty certain I was going to get married and have children, but I don’t think kids feel that same certainty now. In REDI Lab, we allow our students to express that uncertainty, and in working together to create solutions, they feel less alone—they don’t have to take on whatever the world is throwing at them all by themselves.”

Thorpe continues, “I take this work so seriously, and I take the students so seriously, that I often don’t talk about how much fun it is to get to know people and see people in ways that you never have before. There’s an enormous amount of joy that comes with this work.”

That grounding in human beings and the hope found in the exchange of ideas comes to the fore during each trimester’s final presentations, when students take the stage to present TED Talk-like pitch decks to explain their work. The confident, carefully rehearsed presentations in front of classmates, parents, and other guests are the culmination of weeks of rehearsals with teachers and peers.

This part of the REDI Lab process, in which students can now make use of the dedicated, theater-like “arena” in the Coleman Center, embodies the critical final pillar of the program’s mission: building value by offering students a platform for sharing their ideas.

As Paul Kim puts it, “It’s so hard for students to understand sometimes, but the message is very simple: You have something important inside you, and we want to help you share it with the world. Most of us struggle with that notion all our lives. But to position young people to have a dedicated amount of time where that’s what they’re focused on—that’s powerful. That’s liberating.”

Kim, who now works on innovative school models with a consultancy called Transcend Education, believes that the REDI Lab process “stands up against some of the best programs in the country.” Think of High Tech

High, an independent public charter school in San Diego whose vaunted project-based learning approach was the subject of a 2018 documentary, Most Likely to Succeed.

“The soul of a school shows up” in a program like REDI Lab, Kim argues, and it’s hard to disagree. As Thorpe emphasizes, the best classrooms are “entrepreneurial endeavors,” in which all stakeholders work together to co-create knowledge. And in the Coleman Center, the CA community has quite literally joined together to realize a vision of what education should look like.

“Whether it was folks donating financially, whether it was giving us their time, skills, or expertise,” Thorpe explains, “Board members, Operations Team members, parents, REDI Lab alumni, and our earliest supporters, like Jon Vogels, Paul Kim, Mike Davis, and so many others—it truly took all of us.”

“When they graduate from high school and college, this generation of students will confront immense challenges,” observes Davis. “When I see what’s happening in the REDI Lab Coleman Center—with students thinking so ambitiously and engaging so directly in the real world around them—it truly inspires me as an educator.”

Jonathan Coleman adds, “CA has multiple responsibilities. Certainly a primary one is to its students; but there’s also our responsibility to our community, and making the world a better place. We don’t want to sound too grandiose here—we’re not trying to change the world. But in a real sense, this is a step for CA to expand its influence in Denver in a way that we hope is meaningful.” n

Seniors test their ideas in the theater-like “arena.”

Collinus Newsome Has a Calling

In November 2022, Collinus Newsome arrived at Colorado Academy to lead the school’s Office of Inclusivity. A nationally known strategist, facilitator, and educator who has served as a co-chair for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference and is a longtime co-chair of the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), Newsome was a natural pick to step in as Director of Inclusivity. The role is closely aligned with the school’s public 2020 commitment, laid out in a letter signed by Head of School Dr. Mike Davis and the Board of Trustees, to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at CA. That statement’s broad vision called for systemic changes in the areas of recruitment, curriculum, and programming, among other priorities, and it created the Office of Inclusivity to spearhead these initiatives.

Today, Newsome’s title is Director of Culture and Community—an update that speaks volumes. The shift reflects not merely the evolution of the critical position that Newsome will occupy as CA strives to answer the nationwide call for all institutions to address systemic issues of racism, discrimination, and inequality, but also, and most importantly, the much wider scope of the work that, according to Newsome, the CA community must undertake together if it is to meet that goal.

“Inclusivity is not a one-person job—it takes all of us,” says Newsome. “In the past, the person in my role has been seen as the one individual you call when an issue crops up—a sort of consultant to manage crises and solve problems.” This is true not just at CA, she explains, but at independent schools all across the country.

Newsome acknowledges the important contributions of past Directors of Inclusivity, including CA’s first, Adrian Green ’05, who took on the role in 2014, as well as his successors, including Sarah Wright. She points out that the school’s efforts toward building an inclusive community stretch back even further, to the work undertaken by dedicated faculty and staff such as Darnell Slaughter Castleman, Paul Kim, and Carolyn Cunningham Ash ’87.

This long history has resulted in undeniable progress: The CA community is more diverse than ever, with 32% of students self-identifying as people of color. Extensive services, programs, and events—not to mention a forward-looking, justice-inspired curriculum that spans Pre-K to Grade 12—foster ongoing learning, support, and growth across all constituencies at the school.

Still, relying on the efforts of a few individuals to effect large-scale, systemic change is not how a school truly moves the needle on issues of equity and belonging, Newsome insists. “In order to do this work well, you actually have to shift the culture. You can’t start to change systems deeply until you create a culture of humility.” She challenges, “What if we stop making the performative or business case for DEI work and instead make the human case—how would that change the nature of what we aspire to do? In order to do that, we must first ask ourselves, ‘How do we want to be for and with each other?’”

A changing community

The significance of that question for CA came as a revelation to Newsome, who spent her first months on campus observing and absorbing the culture and climate

of the school. Visiting classrooms, meeting with students and teachers, and talking with administrators, Newsome says she encountered welcoming and engaged individuals at every turn.

“I saw that CA students know they can show up as themselves; a sense of excitement and enthusiasm about that—and even playfulness—pervades the campus.”

During one classroom visit, Newsome recounts, a Fifth Grader eagerly told her about her project on the Underground Railroad. “She saw that my eyes lit up about that topic, and we were able to have a wonderful conversation about what she was learning. When I asked her questions, she was honest about the things that she was struggling with or that she wanted to know more about. She was just herself, and it was so fun for me.”

But as she learned more about CA as a whole, Newsome found herself wondering how those individual moments of growth and connection—whether in a Fifth Grade classroom, a lunch table conversation, or an advisor’s support for a student—contribute to a shared culture.

“We do so much as a school,” says Newsome. “We have incredible programs such as Horizons Colorado and REDI Lab, we host renowned speakers, we support robust after-school and summer offerings. But what is our North Star? How do all these things and all this activity work together to get us closer to being the inclusive community that we aspire to be?”

At the same time, independent schools such as CA have felt an increasing sense of urgency around issues such as racism, privilege, and identity. The 2020 murder of

George Floyd brought a flurry of commitments, many of which, like CA’s, led to action. The isolation and accompanying self-reflection of the COVID-19 pandemic added momentum, as white Americans increasingly seemed to understand what communities of color had been telling them all along. But in the rush to act, Newsome says, it was easy for schools to skip the critical first step of identifying how, precisely, they would enact real and lasting change within their communities.

All this, according to Newsome, means “It’s time for CA to step back.”

“We need to focus on rebuilding relationships with one another, on tending to the culture and climate of the school,” she says. “Let’s elevate those bright spots, where we really show up for one another, where people really feel like they’re seen and heard.”

Newsome cites a recent experience sitting down with a group of Lower Schoolers for lunch. “When I just walked up to their table and joined them, they didn’t treat me like a stranger. We got involved in a conversation right away. They were curious and had no fear when I asked them questions. When I popped into their classroom later, those same students all waved hello.”

But Newsome also points to patterns that are concerning. Particularly at the Middle and Upper School levels, she observes, “The stakes in the classroom feel higher.

Students seem to lose some of that curiosity and openness to exploring the world around them.” And as a result, she says, both students and teachers put up guardrails, unstated parameters that limit how they show up and the conversations they have about difficult topics such as race.

And, while Newsome, in the months she spent learning about nearly every aspect of the school, met many individuals who are passionate about equity and inclusion and are deeply engaged in these ideas, she also noticed signs that some community members may not be fully aware of divisions that persist.

“We’re not yet asking the right questions of ourselves. Are all the boys sitting on one side of the room, and all the girls sitting on the other? What does that observation tell us? Just like we celebrate the bright spots, let’s also call out those moments where we are not yet who we want to be,” Newsome says.

“The real work for CA,” she continues, “is

reimagining who we are in relation to one another, honoring each individual’s lived experiences and stories without judgment. There is a sacredness in that.”

A father’s story

Newsome arrived at her understanding of the human relationships at the center of any inclusivity work through decades of experience, both personal and professional.

In a family of eight children growing up poor in rural Mississippi, Newsome saw firsthand the legacy of racism in America. Slavery had occupied a central place in her home state’s economy and culture before the Civil War, and its impacts continued to reverberate all the way through the civil rights movement and beyond.

“Many people don’t understand that even then, in the 1950s and 1960s, the rural South was still a dangerous place for Black men,” she says.

Life in Jim Crow Mississippi was “brutal” for

Newsome listens to students and families at a SPEAK event.

Newsome with her father, John

her father, according to Newsome; he never went to school or learned to read or write because he, just like his seven brothers, had to work as a sharecropper to support the family. But a turning point came in 1955, when Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy, was lynched after being accused of offending a white woman in her family’s grocery store. The same age as Till, “My father understood then that he would one day take his family somewhere else,” Newsome says. That aspiration eventually led them to Denver, where they rented a two-bedroom apartment in the historically Black Five Points neighborhood. Part of the last wave of the Great Migration, which took approximately six million Black people from the South to northern states from the 1910s until the 1970s, Newsome’s family found reason to celebrate their journey.

“In the Five Points in the early 1980s, we were all poor,” recounts Newsome. “But we didn’t know we were poor—we had all arrived from various Southern states. We were a community, and we saw opportunity.”

Newsome’s father took a job as a janitor at the Gates Rubber Company, whose headquarters were located a stone’s throw from Five Points, and with the help of colleagues who taught him to read and write, he was able to earn his GED and then attend community college to study engineering. He went on to graduate from the Colorado School of Mines as a chemical engineer and had a successful career that took him all the

way to South America. The family settled for good in Northeast Park Hill, another historically Black enclave like Five Points, but one that, with its tree-lined streets and attractive homes, symbolized accomplishment and even affluence.

Newsome centers her father’s story in the narrative of her own life, she acknowledges, because it so clearly reflects the obstaclestrewn path—mapped by racism—so many Black Americans must follow as they seek to survive and succeed.

“My father’s sacrifices changed the trajectory of our lives,” she states. “The life he built for us ended generational poverty in our family, and enabled me and every one of my siblings to become first-generation college graduates and to find their own career success.”

That powerful family arc—the meaning

it communicates to anyone who wonders where she came from and what shaped her—speaks to one of the pillars in Newsome’s approach to building inclusive communities.

“Holding the stories and lived experiences of people who might be different from you with humility and without judgment places the emphasis on the relationships and trust that are at the heart of any systemic work,” she explains. “When we really lean into that, we’re fundamentally changing minds and behavior.”

Challenging spaces

The upward trajectory Newsome’s father had set for her and her seven siblings took her far.

As a teenager, she joined the legendary Colorado Flyers Track Club and trained at

Newsome presenting about her work with the Denver Foundation

Newsome became one of the nation’s top shot putters.

the same recreation center that launched Chauncey Billups, the former NBA star and now coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, who is just one of numerous exceptional athletes who trace their start back to Northeast Park Hill. Newsome became one of the nation’s top high school shot putters and earned a scholarship to attend the University of Illinois, Urbana, where she was named the National Big 10 Freshman Athlete of the Year and went on to win seven Big 10 Championships in the shot put and earn six All-American titles. After graduation, she obtained a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction at CU Boulder, and taught at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in far northeast Denver.

In her next position, as a ninth grade history teacher at Graland Country Day School, where she was also responsible for the school’s diversity work, Newsome began to see the broad scope and deep significance of the community building that would define her career. She became a better teacher and facilitator, arriving at a profound understanding of the nature of DEI work in primarily white institutions, including CA,

which has long been connected to Graland and where Newsome encountered some of the school’s early inclusivity advocates. She moved on to inner city public education, where the differences between those schools and institutions such as Graland stood out in even starker relief, and then to the Denver Foundation, where she worked toward equity throughout the metro area. Newsome eventually took a senior position with the Colorado Health Foundation, which focuses on health equity, often in rural areas, by investing and advocating on behalf of people who have less power, privilege, and income, and prioritizing Coloradans of color.

It was there, according to Newsome, that she discovered the “secret sauce” that is the cornerstone of her approach today.

“Working toward health equity in rural Colorado,” she says, “I immediately found myself the only person of color in rooms full of white men in cowboy hats—ranchers. My job was to help them understand the experiences and needs of those in their communities who were most vulnerable— often, Latine families. But even though the

Colorado Health Foundation’s mission prioritizes people of color in all its health equity work, I knew I couldn’t go into those rooms and start with the issue of race.”

Instead, says Newsome, she started with relationships.

“I realized that the only chance I had to open their eyes to the experiences of others in their community was by first building trust. It wasn’t me saying, ‘You’re racist.’ It wasn’t me talking about white supremacy. Nobody wants that—that just loses people. But when I’m in relationship with you, and I have a shared experience with you—like growing up in a rural area—it makes a difference.”

Spending much of her time getting to know people and connecting with them through her own lived experiences in Mississippi, Newsome was finally able to initiate the difficult conversations that were necessary to create change, and she was inspired by the response she got from those she reached.

“When you can sit in a room full of white ranchers and they ask you, ‘What do you think we should do for our immigrant community? How can we help them?’—that is what trust looks like,” she says.

“It didn’t mean that we didn’t wrestle with issues around racism and access to housing and health care, for example,” continues Newsome. “All of that was on the table. I just had to approach it from a place of empathy and kindness and compassion. That’s how people can see the real, systemic issues.”

“Do no harm” became her mantra as she challenged rural communities to appreciate the vulnerabilities of others and to hold themselves accountable for taking much-needed action. The approach paid off in impact and connections that endure.

“There are people I met who still call me and ask me for my advice. They ask about my family; they offer to give me half a cow. When you are willing to be in relationship with someone, that is how we can do this work together. Through human connection, you can accomplish really tough things.”

The work ahead for CA

Reflecting on the path that brought her to CA, Newsome observes, “It’s kind of funny how it came to be. I got a call from the Di-

Newsome with family members, from left: twin sister Cynthia, mother Ruby, Collinus, and sister Jackie

rector of Diversity at Graland, my friend and SDLC co-chair Oscar Gonzalez, and the next thing I know, I am talking to Mike Davis, and, well, here I am.”

She continued those conversations with Davis, and in finally settling on her title—and mission—at CA, the two returned often to the notion of empathy.

There is no doubt, she says now, that in her new role, all that she’s learned about using empathy to build relationships in places like Cheyenne Wells, Colorado—and all that she knows about successful communities from her own experiences in Five Points and Northeast Park Hill—comes into play. She keeps a sticky-note on her computer so that those lessons stay top of mind: “Show empathy. Show kindness. Show humility. Give people dignity and respect. Hold their stories and lived experiences with the sacredness that they deserve.”

Those words guide her as Newsome begins to ask the CA community—students, teachers, and families—to “build muscle” around some of the practical skills that will allow it to repair the relationships at its heart. That

practice, she says, begins with noticing what causes harm to those connections and then calling it out—not to blame or shame, but to inspire the vital conversations that strengthen community ties.

“We just assume people know how to have difficult conversations,” she says. “But they don’t. That’s a skill we all need to work on.”

Classroom practice is another area where Newsome is optimistic CA can make strides. Nothing new to CA faculty members, culturally responsive teaching is a framework that asks teachers to build a respectful, relevant learning environment through actions such as pronouncing students’ names correctly and inviting them to bring their own experiences, prior knowledge, and culture to the table.

“Culturally responsive teaching is not ‘in addition to’ everything else that happens in the classroom. It’s just good teaching. Every student benefits from this practice when we are intentional and rigorous about how we plan for the learning experience of each student who shares our classroom space. We already know that in many ways; let’s build

our capacity to be better. Everything we do should be done with excellence at the center.”

Just as with entering into difficult conversations, the ultimate goal of culturally responsive teaching is ensuring that every student can see themselves reflected in the learning environment. Cultivating a sense of belonging starts in the classroom.

“There is a subtle but significant difference,” Newsome observes, “between a student who feels invited into a community as a guest, and one who feels an inherent sense of belonging and shared ownership within their school environment.”

Room for all

Belonging may be the goal, but what does that mean for CA? Newsome has a metaphor drawn from her own experiences that suggests an answer.

“My good friend, Dr. Rodney Glasgow, Head of School at the Sandy Spring Friends School, and I have talked about what belonging feels like: When you feel welcome, you feel like you could come in, and you’ll be okay, and you could, to a degree, make

“As a woman of faith, just like for Dr. King, this work feels like a calling for me.And when I lean into that, doors seem to open, no matter where I am. But I also love this work, because I truly believe in people. I believe in humanity.”

yourself ‘at home.’ But when you belong, you already are at home. You know where the milk is kept in the refrigerator. You know where your favorite slippers are. You might even have a key, though it might not be your own home.”

Or, Newsome continues, she thinks about her children inviting their friends over to visit. “They know that when they walk in, they take their shoes off, and they can go right to the kitchen to find the snacks. They feel comfortable just sitting down to talk. In our house, we’ve established a space where they feel cared for—it belongs to them, in a sense.”

Still, it can be easy to get caught up in the idea of belonging as everybody having the same experience, Newsome explains. “That’s one of our blind spots as a school: Because so many of our families, students, and faculty have a similar profile, we just assume people feel they belong. But that can actually be harmful.” Conflicts arise when some members of a community as large as CA fail to understand that CA might be something different for others.

Belonging, she continues, means that no one has to have the same experience, and that there is space for all. “Yes, we are CA,” she acknowledges. “But what is the heart and soul of CA? Is it the sports, the academics? Every person who steps on this campus should have the ability to shape the experiences that are most meaningful for them, and every individual should find room to do that.”

When she speaks about belonging at CA, Newsome often references Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s notion of the “Beloved Community.” The philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce, who helped to found the interfaith Fellowship of Reconciliation in the early 20th century, coined the term to describe a heavenly utopia on Earth. King, a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, popularized the term and invested it with a deeper meaning.

King’s Beloved Community envisions a critical mass of people around the world committed to and trained in the philosophy and methods of nonviolence. Poverty, hunger, and homelessness are not tolerated. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice are replaced by an all-inclu-

sive spirit. Inevitable disputes are resolved through peaceful conflict resolution and reconciliation. Love and trust triumph over fear and hatred.

According to Newsome, CA’s beloved community most likely won’t look exactly like King’s vision. “It has to be our beloved community. There’s no roadmap; there’s no script.”

That leaves the community itself to decide on its own definition of “beloved” by agreeing, collectively, on who we are and what we value. “In order to do that, we will need to come together and co-create that beloved community,” Newsome says. “And when we do, every single one of us owns it.”

A planned survey about school culture and climate—intended to capture data about how people experience CA’s admissions, curriculum, hiring practices, and every other facet of what makes the school run—will inform that decision-making process.

Then, says Newsome, it will be time to ask ourselves, “How do we want to be for and with each other? How will we shape the school community we really want to be?”

Posing such questions makes her work all the more difficult, but challenging communities to heal themselves is inherently hard work. It is work that Newsome has

found herself involved in again and again throughout her career.

“I can’t seem to get away from it,” she says. Evoking King again, she talks about the leader’s “at-the-kitchen-table moment.” Fearing for his family and facing death threats while the Montgomery bus boycott was roiling the American South, King felt he heard a voice from God telling him how to persevere despite exhaustion and hopelessness.

The voice said, “Stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And know that I will be with you, even until the end of the world.”

Growing up in the rural South, where King’s voice held so much weight, is part of the reason these words resonate for her, Newsome says.

“As a woman of faith, just like for Dr. King, this work feels like a calling for me. And when I lean into that, doors seem to open, no matter where I am. But I also love this work, because I truly believe in people. I believe in humanity. I have to, in order to sustain myself in this work, which comes at a cost for me and for so many others. If we don’t carry this burden together, it will be impossible for us to do the hard work that’s coming. We must carry the burden together.” n

John Newsome with Newsome’s daughters Grace and Faith

Horizons Colorado: Doing More, For 25 Years

When Jenny Leger was hired to lead the preschool program at Colorado Academy in 1995, she had no idea that just a few years later she’d also be in charge of the first West-of-the-Mississippi affiliate of Horizons, a fledgling model for educational equity originally developed at New Canaan Country School, an independent day school in New Canaan, Conn., in the 1960s. “I had never even heard of Horizons until I came to CA,” Leger recounts.

In New Canaan, under longtime Executive

Director Lyn McNaught, Horizons offered a six-week summer program for students from surrounding public schools, who received academic support, sports and field trip opportunities, and swimming lessons. The design of the program was based on the work of Dr. Edward Zigler, at the time a professor of psychology and the Director of the Child Study Center at Yale University. Zigler is credited with creating Head Start, the federally funded service that bolsters early learning and development, health, and family well-being for eligible children. After decades of successful outcomes

in Connecticut, McNaught and a group of Horizons champions established the national organization the same year Leger came to CA, with the goal of expanding the successful New Canaan model to other communities. Three years later, in 1998, then-Head of School Chris Babbs took a chance on bringing the program west to CA.

“When I first stepped into the role of head,” Babbs recalls, “part of my mandate from the Board of Trustees was to engender greater community involvement for the school. That was a time when community service

and activism were really becoming part of our mission, and the idea was to get us out of the cloistered existence that sometimes independent schools maintain.”

Babbs observes that the boarding model under which CA operated through the first 60 or 70 years of its existence had begun fading away under the leadership of his predecessors, F. Charles Froelicher and Frank Wallace, and that when Babbs came onto the scene as head in 1991, the school was entering a new phase. The size of the student body would nearly double from 500-some to over 900 by the end of his tenure in 2008, and wider swaths of the Denver Metro area would access the campus than ever before.

Prioritizing openness and diversity during this time of change, argues Babbs, obviously meant undertaking new initiatives to bolster funding for financial aid and enhance recruitment efforts. But it also took the form of deliberately reaching beyond the suburban campus in other ways, seeking partnerships with schools and nonprofits to deepen CA’s connections throughout Denver and broaden the overall experience that was reflected within the school community.

That’s why, while attending a workshop at the National Association of Independent Schools annual conference in 1997, Babbs was struck with the Horizons approach. The

program’s public school-focused pre-K–12 model felt like a perfect fit for CA.

“Zigler understood that the summer learning gap, or ‘summer slide,’ was actually doing real harm to those kids who didn’t have the advantages of families like those who send their children to CA,” Babbs explains. “And he believed you could address that by bringing in real classroom teachers to run a robust summer enrichment program for these kids, and by having them return year after year.”

According to Zigler’s blueprint, all Horizons programs begin with a single class of children who have just finished public Kindergarten; most should be performing below grade level, believed Zigler. Then, when those students return the following summer at the end of their first grade school year, another class of Kindergartners is enrolled. The program grows organically, grade by grade and year by year, ensuring the development of long-term relationships with students and their families.

Though he knew he wanted to bring Horizons to CA, Babbs still needed a public school partner to make the program work. On paper, CA was well positioned to attract students from Denver’s bilingual west side who could benefit from summer academic and enrichment opportunities. So Babbs began cold-calling schools in these neighborhoods, and found a willing partner in Knapp Elementary, whose then-principal,

Katherine Adolph, was eager for her pre-K-5 school, which served mostly Hispanic and Latino children eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, to be CA’s first Horizons “feeder” school. It’s a role it continues to serve to this day.

Leger, an experienced early childhood educator, was the ideal candidate to lead the experiment, taking over from the late Sean Smith, the Middle School Principal who had worked with Babbs to get the program up and running with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Initially brought on as the first Horizons Kindergarten teacher at CA, Leger found herself in charge of the program’s rollout when Smith’s other duties as a dean and coach pulled him away.

“One day, Sean just said to me, ‘Take it from here, Jenny,’ and I immediately had so many questions,” recounts Leger. “It’s very different today with Horizons National providing all kinds of guidance to local sites, but at the time, the organization was still very young, and there was no formal curriculum or plan for activities. I had to do what I thought would be best. And I did.”

Innovation required

Leger’s background as an educator made it immediately clear to her that the first cohort of Horizons Kindergarten students from Knapp, many of whom didn’t yet know the alphabet, needed direct literacy instruction along with the enrichment activities

Chris Babbs, left, with the late Sean Smith

Jenny Leger with students

such as arts and crafts, swimming, and sports that were more typical of Horizons programs on the East Coast. So she built a hands-on, project-based classroom curriculum that gave children the fundamentals they’d need to succeed when they went to first grade in the fall.

“If they’re going to be successful, kids need to be reading after the first three years of their education,” Leger asserts. “Because after that, they’re reading to learn. If they can’t read by the end of those first three years, they fall further and further behind.”

The program Leger designed incorporated small-group instruction, much like in the early grades at CA, led by volunteers, interns, and assistant teachers who could offer one-on-one attention. A handful of high-achieving students, specially chosen to participate in the program, would work alongside their peers who needed more support, modeling success in the classroom.

Leger’s program offered breakfast and lunch, vitally important for students who often were experiencing food insecurity at home. Eventually, Leger brought in a reading specialist, CA parent and nationally recognized educator Judy Dodson, who designed curriculum and trained teachers. Most importantly, Leger slowly built up trust with the west Denver families who were sending their children to Horizons on CA buses.

“We did a lot of talking in the beginning,” she remembers. “We had to assure parents that we’d take good care of their children. We had to let them know that CA was a place their child would be safe, nurtured, taught, fed, and provided enriching experiences like swimming. I’m so proud of the work we did with Katherine Adolph at Knapp—a fluent Spanish-speaker—to make this such an authentic opportunity for that community.” From initial skepticism,

Horizons ended up with a waiting list.

The inaugural summer was in full swing when Leger received a visit from the legendary McNaught, who wanted to see how CA was implementing her program. After a day spent observing children learning and playing, she met with Leger and told her, “Jenny, you’re not doing Horizons as we’ve always done Horizons. This is very different.” Admits Leger, “All I was thinking was, ‘Oh no, I’ve failed.’” But McNaught surprised her by explaining, “Horizons has always been camp-like, with lots of activities like arts and crafts. We read to the children, of course— but you’re actually teaching your students to read. And from everything I’ve seen, it’s working. The kids are with you.”

From that moment, there was no looking back, and Leger continued to innovate as Horizons at Colorado Academy, as it was now called, grew and thrived. By the early 2000s, the program had expanded all the

Leger, center, surrounded by Horizons staff, 2010

way to the eighth grade, and the national organization was looking to CA’s implementation as a model as it continued to launch new sites throughout the country.

According to Lorna Smith, the CEO of Horizons National, organic local innovation like that taking place at CA was key to shaping the organization’s national vision.

“Jenny Leger and Chris Babbs played a large role in helping us to co-create the future of Horizons,” she says.

In 2005, Smith, then the assistant to the national director, came to Colorado for a regular site visit. When she saw the continued success of Leger’s reading-heavy curriculum model, she knew it was something special.

“‘This is remarkable, what’s happening here,’” Leger recalls Smith saying, “’and it’s not happening in other places. But I’m beginning to think it should if it can be done with the same amount of joy and spontaneity.’”

“Not long after that visit to CA,” recounts Smith, “we brought all of the local affiliates together in a room to decide what is

really at the heart of Horizons.” Now CEO of a network of fewer than 20 Horizons sites nationwide, Smith wanted a clear plan in place for driving the nonprofit’s national expansion.

“That experience of working together with CA and the other affiliates to determine what is core to our program really provided the foundation of what Horizons is today,” Smith attests.

Diving in

At the more than 70 affiliate sites in 20 states that today comprise the national network, serving nearly 7,000 students annually, perhaps nothing is more central to the Horizons experience than swimming lessons, a signature element of all Horizons programs. Zigler had insisted on the importance of learning to swim when initially working with New Canaan Country School to create its model. The confidence boost it provided was critical in building social-emotional foundations for lifelong success, he argued.

Lucky for CA, the large, Pre-K–12 campus was one of the few early sites to have its

own pool, and swimming has been a centerpiece of its Horizons program since the very beginning—a constant that has made a positive impact for hundreds of students throughout the program’s 25 years.

Jose Martinez, an alumnus of Horizons at CA and currently Dean of Students at Knapp Elementary, believes that learning to swim in CA’s pool helped to change the trajectory of his life. Now the summer Director of Operations, Henning Health & Wellness Director, and Restorative Justice Counselor with Horizons in addition to his role supporting students during the school year at Knapp, Martinez says that when he first was enrolled in Horizons as a Kindergartner in the program’s second year at CA, he was timid and shy.

“As a student, I wondered why teachers were making me do all these things that I didn’t want to do or didn’t understand,” he says. But learning to swim during the summer at Horizons, he explains, opened him up to taking risks and facing challenges that might seem intimidating.

“Being able to jump in the pool sets you up

to be an advocate for yourself, to cope with obstacles, to find the belief that you can overcome whatever you might encounter in life,” says Martinez. “And now in my role at Knapp, I have a natural connection to those kids who are struggling. I can tell them, here are the things I struggled with before Horizons, and I overcame them. Having that confidence in yourself affects your academics—everything. That’s why I love what I do, and why I’m excited to do that every summer at Horizons.”

Martinez’s path—from Horizons to his role at Knapp and now back to Horizons—is far from atypical, according to the current Executive Director at CA, Daniela Meltzer. In her five years with the program, she’s seen numerous alumni, like Martinez, return to campus to pass on the lessons they learned.

“So many have gotten so much out of the program,” according to Meltzer, “and they want to give that to the next generation. What’s even more profound is when those younger students see that the leaders, teachers, interns, and volunteers in the program were once just like them—they can start to envision themselves one day doing the same thing. It makes a huge difference for them to see models of success.”

Indeed, the Horizons program at CA is staffed predominantly by its graduates. Another longtime volunteer and staff member, Jessica Nuñez-Hernandez, is an alumna of the program who started in third grade after being diagnosed with dyslexia. She went on to intern and assistant-teach with Horizons, and after

earning her teaching certificate, returned as the lead pre-K instructor. She is now the Program Director, working side by side with Meltzer.

“My Horizons third grade teacher really pushed us to conquer challenges like the swimming pool,” she says. “I did the same thing when I was a teacher—it gives students a sense of confidence that, if they can do this one thing that scares them, they can do anything. They can conquer bigger fears, like reading or math.”

That growth—the confidence inspired by constant support and encouragement from a close-knit community—is often described as “Horizons magic,” says Meltzer.

“The relationships that Horizons creates— and they are year-round, because so many of our teachers and volunteers are also involved at Knapp and live in the community—give our students the tools they need to surpass the challenges they face and to do whatever it is that is meaningful to them.”

Yatzari Venzor, a Horizons alumna who is also a member of CA’s Class of 2019, agrees. Her mother, Nelly Fernandez, CA’s Assistant Custodial Supervisor, learned about Horizons from Leger, and Venzor was enrolled from third to eighth grade. When she was accepted to CA as a Fourth Grader and found herself daunted at the prospect, she says, “Even before I really understood what I was getting myself into, Horizons had prepped me for school: getting used to doing work, completing assignments—those very basic things

you need to build a foundation to be a good student.”

When she continued on to Middle School, because of her ongoing Horizons experience, Venzor knew all about how to use the hallway lockers that confused her classmates. And by the time she reached the Upper School, she was becoming involved in issues of equity and inclusion, leading the Faces of Diversity club and conducting a PlatFORUM workshop for her Senior-year capstone project. She was a Horizons volunteer, intern, and assistant teacher, and went on to earn her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the College of Wooster.

None of this, she insists, would have happened without Horizons.

“I have met so many amazing people and had so many amazing opportunities because of the program,” Venzor says. “And now, being on the other side and having had the opportunity to connect with so many students as a teacher, I think I realize these kids are so special. I feel like maybe they’re overlooked a lot of times just because of where they come from.”

Meeting new needs

As the number of Horizons alumni making a difference has continued to multiply over the past two decades, so, too, have the needs of those children Horizons serves both nationally and locally. The COVID-19 pandemic brought this into stark relief, as it became clear that students living near the

poverty line were profoundly affected by learning loss.

Head of School Dr. Mike Davis saw that time as an opportunity for CA to deepen its collaboration with Horizons, and worked with Meltzer to implement a year-round tutoring program. Starting with online sessions, the initiative went in-person in 2021, with Upper Schoolers traveling to Knapp Elementary twice a week for one-on-one time with young students.

“When we had to respond to COVID,” says Davis, “we realized that we as an institution could turn on a dime, being flexible and innovative to meet the needs of our community. And we also saw that so many kids and families nearby were hurting and falling further behind. We knew we had to leverage every resource at our disposal to help those in the larger Denver area, and Horizons was central to that effort.”

The tutoring program now brings help with homework, fun and games, and meaningful connections to more than 30 students each year. It’s an initiative that has had almost as many benefits for CA as it has for the Horizons students. CA

Senior and Horizons volunteer Ana Yáñez worked closely with Kamila, a Knapp third grader. Silly, hardworking, and loving, Kamila would write Yáñez a special note in Spanish or English on a whiteboard each week, and Yáñez, who attended a public school much like Knapp through eighth grade, explains that Kamila reminded her of herself.

“I was the one tutoring Kamila,” she says, “but I feel as if the impact we have had on each other is greater than I could have imagined. While not always as eager to do her math homework as she was to play Simon Says, Kamila has helped me unlock different sides of myself. She has taught me about responsibility and hard work.”

With the addition of the tutoring program, Horizons now serves well over 200 students a year both on and off campus. From an offering that began with a single class of Kindergartners and a fundraising approach that relied on Leger and the generosity of a handful of CA parents, Horizons has grown into an $800,000 annual operation serving children from pre-K to twelfth grade, with more than 60 summer staff members and volunteers and the support of hundreds of CA families.

There’s even a new Horizons garden program, begun in 2022 when Catherine Rollhaus and Julie Martin, co-chairs of the Executive Board, planted the seed of the idea with Davis. CA students and Horizons participants—along with numerous Horizons board members and volunteers—worked together to construct raised beds, plant seedlings, and create artistic stepping stones to decorate a plot on campus. 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 this kind of space.”

“The success of this program has really shown how much the CA community is invested in making an impact more broadly

in Denver,” Meltzer observes. “Virtually all of our funding comes from CA families. They’re volunteering during the summer or during the school year on our ‘Super Saturdays,’ when we invite Horizons students and their families to campus just to stay connected with them. Some are tutoring, or attending our annual Wine & Dine fundraiser, or serving on our board.”

With that kind of buy-in, Meltzer has been advocating for further growth, starting with a 2023 name change to Horizons Colorado. The new moniker points to her ambitions, along with Davis’s, of reaching even more students.

“How amazing would it be if we could get five or ten percent of all Denver Public Schools students enrolled in Horizons?” she wonders. In part, that work has already begun, with Meltzer reimagining the small Horizons high school-age program to connect older students with mentors—most of them Horizons graduates—who can offer support through college and beyond.

“Schools like Colorado Academy need to do our part to make our community better,” adds Davis. “We care deeply about society; we care deeply about creating leaders who are going to make change. We wish we had unlimited resources to educate more kids. But through Horizons, we have a chance to make a start.”

According to Lorna Smith, the need for programs like Horizons has never been greater, and the national organization’s latest strategic plan calls for reaching more youth all across the country—including in Colorado.

“We are incredibly excited and grateful at Horizons National for the leadership of Mike and Daniela, along with the CA and Horizons boards, in envisioning growth throughout the whole state. I can tell you that when I asked them if Denver wasn’t enough of a challenge, CA was very clear that they wanted to cast a wider net.”

“That’s one of the things that is at the heart of Horizons’ growth as a national organization,” Smith continues. “We have such a deep respect for local ownership and the wisdom of people in their own communities. It’s not for us to say how best for you to work; it’s for us to listen and support. And the clarity and enthusiasm of the team at CA are a testament to that approach.”

As Leger explains it, Horizons Colorado, as it is now called, proves CA is willing to “walk the talk” of equity and inclusion. In her first years running the program, she insisted on taking her young Horizons students on tours of the CA campus, talking to them about its history and especially about the many sculpture installations, about which they were particularly curious.

“Many of them just had no concept of sculpture—they came from places where that wasn’t something in the environment,” recounts Leger. “But once they learned about works like the Stone Book and Robert Frost, they began to feel a sense of ownership, as

if CA was their school, not just a place they were visiting for the summer. And when they’d return the following year, they’d be the ones to tell their younger peers about the campus. That growing sense of ownership was beautiful to witness.”

Babbs, who was invited to serve on the board of Horizons National for a time, emphasizes the importance of Horizons’ power to connect CA with the larger community. He personally spent time on campus during the summer to build relationships with Horizons students.

“If you’re a head of school, it’s called a ‘walkaround,’” he explains. “I’d go to the classrooms often, in part just to see what was happening, but largely so the children could identify with me and with CA. ‘That’s our Head of School,’ they’d say. It sanctioned Horizons as a fully integrated part of our school. They belonged.”

When Mike Davis’s daughter Eliza volunteered with Horizons as a CA Upper Schooler, and later when she returned from college to be an assistant teacher, she gained tremendously, Davis says.

“Eliza got a better sense of the world and the human experience, and how her own actions could make a difference. It set her up to be someone who is very outwardly focused in caring for others and understanding her responsibility to volunteer, to

give back, and to help make the world a better place.”

Horizons Colorado, argues Davis, is one answer to the fundamental question that guides CA forward: How can we do more? n

“So many have gotten so much out of the program, and they want to give that to the next generation. What’s even more profound is when those younger students see that the leaders, teachers, interns, and volunteers in the program were once just like them—they can start to envision themselves one day doing the same thing. It makes a huge difference for them to see models of success.”

Daniela Meltzer, Horizons Colorado Executive Director

Coach Bob Takes a Bow A

sk Master Teacher, P.E. instructor, and coach Bob Ulrich what he is most proud of over his 34-year career at CA, and he’ll tell you, “students, students, students.”

The thousand-plus wins across the four Varsity sports he’s coached at CA—Volleyball, Baseball, Basketball, and Tennis—certainly matter a great deal, but it’s the relationships, the trust and rapport he’s built with generations of Mustangs, that rise above everything else as he reflects on his retirement this year.

“The alumni athletes who come back to visit during their breaks, or after they graduate from college,” says Ulrich, “the ones who bring their families back to campus, or those who call me, text me, and email me to ask, ‘How’s it going? Anything I can do for you?’—that’s how I measure the success of my time here.”

And in teaching and coaching hundreds of CA athletes, Ulrich has always given out the same advice: “Later in life, you’re going to remember an incredible win, maybe a tough, devastating loss. But you’ll remember so many more experiences with people—all the bus rides, hotel stays, team dinners. Those are what you’ll actually take with you and cherish, far beyond the wins and the losses.”

Indeed, those are the kinds of experiences that define Ulrich’s legacy at CA. There’s a saying in his family: “People show you who they are every day; believe them.” Every day, Coach Bob has made believers out of so many students and colleagues, celebrating the joy of movement and human connections, whether through physical fitness or a championship game.

Reflecting on Ulrich’s impact on the school, Head of School Dr. Mike Davis says, “Bob is 100% real, 100% authentic, and has given CA 100% for 34 years. He has truly invested his life in our community.”

Ulrich adds, “Our students deserve that.”

Bringing back Baseball

With a little coaxing, Ulrich admits there are a few other things about his time at CA he’s proud of. There’s the Baseball program, which he revived after a 20-year hiatus.

Ulrich had been a baseball player and fan since age six, staying up late to listen to Harry Caray and Jack Buck call St. Louis Cardinals games on the radio. But when he arrived at CA in 1989, he found P.E. and athletics programs that in some ways lagged behind the school’s highly regarded academics and “incredible” fine arts, led at the time by Angel Vigil. Early in his first year, he went to then-Headmaster Frank Wallace and asked him why CA hadn’t had a Baseball program for two decades.

“We’re a lacrosse school, not a baseball school,” Ulrich recalls Wallace explaining. Asked to elaborate, Wallace continued, “We don’t have the clientele, and we don’t have the students who are interested in baseball.”

Ulrich got Wallace to agree to let him try to field a team anyway, and the coach was able to recruit more than enough players to compete that spring. But finding a place to play was a challenge in the first few years Ulrich coached the sport. The team was given a spot on what is now Firman Field— at the time little more than a dusty hayfield known as “the Desert.”

“We would hit foul balls over Pierce Street, and they would land where Slater Turf Field is now, but at the time was still a horse pasture. The balls would land in the mud and you’d just see them sink down and disappear. We went through a lot of baseballs,” Ulrich recalls.

Eventually, the team was allowed to level the Desert and put up a backstop, and baseball has been going strong at CA ever since. This spring, four teams ranging from Sixth Grade to Varsity were active out on CA’s Baseball Field near Woody’s Pond.

Doing it all

Revitalizing the Baseball program starting in his first year at CA is just one of Coach Bob’s gifts to the school. A multi-sport athlete when he was growing up, Ulrich took on the leadership of both Boys Basketball and Girls Volleyball programs at the very same time. The two sports regularly attracted enough players to field four high school teams each, and Ulrich is pleased to see that both programs remain robust today.

“We always did well,” he says. “But now we seem to be doing even better. The talent pool has improved and increased as our student enrollment has increased, which has been helpful.”

Later on, Ulrich moved from Baseball to Girls Tennis, where he’s been helping players thrive for the past 20 years. When his own baseball career finally ended in his mid-20s, Ulrich picked up tennis and fell in love with the game. Now, he shares that passion, as each year promising young players take to Stuie’s Courts under his wise and generous eye.

He feels lucky, he says, to have those eight high-quality courts at his disposal. Installed in 2007 with the support of donations from many CA families, Stuie’s Courts might be “one of the best high school tennis venues in the entire state,” he attests.

Ulrich has brought the same enthusiasm and dedication to CA’s P.E. program, which over the past three decades he’s helped to build into a diverse and welcoming experience for the youngest of the school’s athletes.

He developed his approach to physical education when he first began teaching in the early 1980s, and ensured it came with him when he signed on with CA: Every student should come to P.E. with a smile and, at the end of class, should leave with the same smile, or one that is even bigger.

“We hope to offer experiences that all students can benefit from and enjoy,” Ulrich

says. “We want the kids we teach to finish their CA careers enthusiastic about movement; it has so many benefits mentally, emotionally, and physically. So each day we expose them to something different, so they can always learn something new, either about themselves, cooperation, teamwork, or communication.”

Describing his own formative experiences in elementary and middle school P.E. classes as “horrible,” he explains, “I told myself when I first started that I didn’t ever want anyone to feel that way.” That they emphatically do not is clear whenever Ulrich walks a class group to or from CA’s Athletic Center: Inevitably his youngest students compete for the chance to hold his hand.

Along with Athletic Director Bill Hall, Ulrich is responsible for expanding CA’s program to include kinesiology, the study of movement. Not long after Hall came to CA in 2011, the two became interested in adding additional time in the schedule for Lower Schoolers to get out of the classroom and do something physical. They landed on the idea of focusing on concepts such as biomechanics, strength and conditioning, sport psychology, motor control, and sport and exercise physiology—all parts of kinesiology—one day a week. With the arrival of P.E. Director and coach Sean Stedeford, that emphasis has only deepened.

Offering CA’s Lower and Middle School students such a varied and robust program comes with a host of benefits, according to Ulrich.

“Bringing kids at an early age over to our Athletic Center, taking them out on the fields—these are ways that they start to see all the things that CA has to offer,” he says. “That’s one of the great things about the school. We get to see students starting in Pre-K, watching them progress from year to year as their love for movement grows. When they reach Sixth Grade and start playing on our Middle School teams, many of them begin thinking about what it would be like to represent CA on one of our Upper School teams. Their eyes just light up.”

Let the games continue

Still, even with a long list of accomplishments—not to mention a trophy cabinet

full of league recognitions in addition to CA’s Yoeman Fisher Award for Teaching Excellence—Ulrich doesn’t see his work as complete, not even as he winds up his final year at CA.

“I continue to grow as a teacher and coach. I’ve never been that person who’s just complacent, satisfied, ‘let’s do the status quo.’ No one in our department is. We’re always looking for ways to be innovative, stay current, be modern in our approach.”

Why such dedication? Because, Ulrich insists, the stakes are high. “For so many kids, P.E. leads into athletics, it leads into dance, it leads into yoga. As a school, CA stands for the whole student.”

He describes a favorite photo of his oldest son, Gavin, who graduated as a member of the Class of 2002. In it, he’s sitting at a classroom desk, pondering the next line in an essay he’s working on. One arm rests on a soccer ball—he was part of two State Championship-winning CA squads—and beside him on top of the desk is his flute, which he’ll be playing during a lesson later that day.

It’s a classic image, a virtual advertisement for CA’s approach, argues Ulrich. “The joy of movement and sport is so central to the experience here—just as much as academics and the arts. That’s why this is such a special place, and why I’ve been here as long as I have.”

A lifelong numbers guy, Ulrich says there

are a few that are significant to him now: 3, 5, 23, 34, and 42. Three full decades at CA; five different decades touched during his teaching career; 2023 and the legendary Michael Jordan’s number 23 jersey; Ulrich’s years at CA and Gavin’s Varsity Basketball number 34 jersey; and 42 years of teaching in total, as well as the jersey number of the great Jackie Robinson, “the baseball player I most admire for all he did on and off the field,” he explains.

“These numbers all align in their own way, which makes this a good time for me to retire,” says Ulrich. Yet he plans to be on campus often in the coming years, subbing in P.E. when needed and continuing to coach if possible. And he’ll remain a multisport competitor, playing golf and pickleball, going fly fishing, and tending to the yard work.

His wife, Jeanne, has plans for him, too. Her “bucket list” for the two of them includes visiting Petra, the famous city carved into the mountains of Jordan; seeing the Northern Lights; visiting the Vatican and the Grand Canyon; touring the redwood forests of California; and cruising the Northeastern seaboard.

Probably most of all, Ulrich will relish spending more time with a growing family that now includes grandkids. If his long run at CA is any measure, it’s the ability to hold tight to human connections that will continue to define the gifts—both given and received—of Coach Bob. n

The WTs are OOO

Self-described “school people” through and through, Elissa and Bill Wolf-Tinsman retire this year after dedicating a combined 37 years to Colorado Academy. They trace their connections to the school—and to each other—all the way back to the late 1980s, when they were both at the start of long and distinguished careers in education. Elissa was a first-year teaching intern and field hockey coach at CA, and Bill was teaching history and coaching tennis and soccer at the Kent Denver School when, in 1988, they met playing pickup basketball with colleagues in CA’s old gymnasium Over the next five years, their partnership blossomed, with Elissa quickly earning a full-time position in English and history and Bill becoming the Assistant Head of the Middle School at Kent Denver.

The two educators’ rapid rise would take them away from Colorado—but fortunately, not from each other. They married in the summer of 1993, and that fall, they moved to Cambridge, Mass., where they had both gained admission to Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Yes—the now-married Wolf-Tinsmans went to grad school together, and then, Masters in hand, they both found positions at schools in Greenwich, Conn., where they stayed for 13 years and started a family.

“When we left Denver to go to Boston, I was so sad to leave CA,” Elissa says. “I felt so lucky to have found a calling here. I think I said to Bill at the time, ‘I’ll go, but only if you promise we’ll come back.’ And Bill replied, ‘Absolutely we’ll get back here.’”

In 2007 they did, landing jobs, together at the same school for the first time, at CA— Elissa as an Upper School English and social studies teacher and Bill as the new Middle School Principal. “Our children were schoolage then,” Bill explains, “so we were very selective in terms of wanting to end up at a wonderful place. It was always clear that place was going to be Colorado Academy. What a compliment to Elissa’s first experi-

ence here and to what a great school CA is, that we really were very targeted on this one place in the entire country.”

A school and a family grow up together

As Elissa and Bill watched their children grow up at CA—their daughter, Story, attended from First Grade all the way through Twelfth, and their son, Chase, from Fourth through Ninth—they also witnessed, and influenced, the growth and evolution of the school itself.

“When I started in education, there was more of a ‘sage-on-the-stage’ model, which is predicated on every child learning in the same way,” Bill recalls. “But at CA, though the school has a rich, hundred-plus-year history, we’re always thinking about what we can do better for our students and families. So I’ve been privileged during my time here to be part of forward-thinking changes that recognize how different one child is from another.”

Bill was part of the team that developed CA’s “Six Cs”—critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, cultural competence, and character development—and worked with colleagues to see these essential 21st century skills integrated throughout the curriculum in every grade.

“Having the opportunity to think about what kids will need 20 years from now, and then working with administrative peers and teachers to help turn that vision into reality in the classroom—for an educator, it doesn’t get better than that,” he says.

Elissa, too, feels lucky to have played a role in CA’s evolving approach to teaching and learning. “As we’ve increasingly tried to address issues of race, gender, and political division in our social studies classrooms, I’ve felt so supported here in approaching these in a way that I think works best for our students. I value the participatory nature of our classes and the diversity of materials and

viewpoints that we strive to include in our teaching. I’ve felt so trusted as an educator.”

Elissa’s student-centered approach to deep learning provided the model for one of CA’s newest initiatives—Advanced Studies and Research (ASR) courses, which go beyond the traditional AP curriculum to offer Upper School students the chance to pursue original, collaborative, multi-disciplinary research. “Through ASR,” she says, “we’re really asking what are the ways that we can help our students grow for the future. It’s about working together and learning together.”

Both Bill and Elissa point to making it through the COVID-19 pandemic as an important milestone in their careers as educators.

“The pandemic had such a huge impact on schools. Huge,” says Elissa. “I don’t know how CA could have done a better job with it, supporting us as faculty, students, parents—it was monumental.”

At the same time, she acknowledges, COVID-19 forever changed the way she sees her work. “You realize some of the stuff you take for granted, like teaching without a mask. In a good way, the pandemic allowed me to be so grateful for how special the relationships we have with our students really are.”

Bill is equally circumspect when reflecting on the impact of COVID-19. “It taught us how flexible we could be when we knew we truly needed to be there for the kids,” he says. “I remember one meeting early on with the Middle School faculty. We all agreed right off the bat that no matter what, school still needed to be fun: Even if it’s on screens, even if it looks different than it used to, these are kids, and helping them enjoy being young people is part of our job.”

A dual legacy

Being part of the community of faculty and staff that ensured CA could thrive through the pandemic is just one of the accomplishments that colleagues chalk up to the Wolf-Tinsman team. According to Elissa’s

fellow teachers, “She was the intellectual pioneer of the Upper School, architecting our American Studies program and then teaching the first ASR course. She guided her students with equal measures of hard truth, tough love, reassurance, and affection. And Elissa inspired numerous teachers on long walks around campus that turned into profound and unexpected life lessons.”

Lizzie Welborn Rockmore ’90 was a CA Junior when Elissa first came to CA in 1988, and now Rockmore, a Second Grade teacher at CA, counts her former mentor and coach as one of her dearest friends. “Elissa pushed us to think and set us all on the lifelong search for truth. But she also took her role of caring for her students very seriously. That’s what makes Elissa such an exceptional teacher—she understands that knowing your curriculum is just one piece of being a master teacher. It’s also knowing your students.”

Of Bill’s legacy at CA, Head of School Dr. Mike Davis has said, “Bill Wolf-Tinsman has

long established himself as someone with great compassion, empathy, high expectations, and exceptional moral character. He models so many aspects of the CA mission. He puts kids first, he rallies behind faculty, he takes on hard conversations, and he remains curious about teaching, learning, and those around him. As he helped to push this institution onto a path that embraced innovative, student-centered learning, Bill inspired so many to take on new challenges.” There will be no escaping from challenges for the retired Wolf-Tinsmans, whose shared lifelong commitment to young people is sure to keep them involved in one way or another in something that’s “education-adjacent,” as Elissa puts it.

“I feel that I’ve learned so much here that I now have the ability and the time to consider what I can do to take some of the ideas and skills I’ve gained here on to some other endeavor,” she says.

“For me,” Bill adds, “there may well be a ‘So You’re Thinking about Being a Principal?’

book, for new principals or new administrators. And maybe I’ll get involved with schools in a supportive way, although I’m not exactly sure what that might look like.”

In the meantime, they’ll enjoy each other’s company, and for the first time in decades, not spend most of the summer planning and prepping course materials. “Knowing how much we love that work, it will be interesting to see how that goes,” Elissa observes.

Indeed, the Wolf-Tinsmans will probably remain pretty much who they are for the foreseeable future: partners, educators, and parents grateful to have been at home at CA.

“We are so fortunate to have been able to come back and spend the years here together,” Bill says. “It’s been great for us professionally; it’s been a great place for our kids. How lucky are they to have had such great experiences with caring, thoughtful teachers and administrators all the way through? How lucky have we all been?” n

“Having the opportunity to think about what kids will need 20 years from now, and then working with administrative peers and teachers to help turn that vision into reality in the classroom—for an educator, it doesn’t get better than that.”

Bill Wolf-Tinsman

Debord Is Still Opening Doors

When Dr. Brigitte Debord reflects on her 17 years teaching Upper School French at Colorado Academy, she mostly talks about the fun stuff—introducing French slang to her advanced students, sharing her love of French cuisine during Interim experiences, even making jokes with her French I class during conversation practice. And indeed, when students describe Debord, one of the first things they emphasize is that she is “super funny.”

While the Master Teacher underscores that she is happy with her decision to retire this year, she acknowledges that it is still “bizarre” to think about no longer spending her days immersed in the fun and collegiality that define the CA Global Language program.

“I always know that if I can laugh with the students and enjoy my time with them in the classroom, then it’s going to be a good day,” she says. “And, in this department, my colleagues and I really like each other. There’s no competition; we love to collaborate.”

Global Language Department Chair Lisa Todd, who’s known Debord since the day they both started teaching at CA and has shared an office with her for much of that time, adds, “We are all going to deeply miss the Monday morning updates on whatever fascinating new discoveries Brigitte has made or the adventures she’s had over the weekend.”

“For all of us,” Todd continues, “Brigitte embodies the concept of the lifelong learner. She’s always improving her teaching, saying she gets bored if she teaches a class exactly the same way twice. Brigitte is always willing to try anything once, even if it’s a foraged mushroom.”

Debord’s fun-loving and adventurous spirit will certainly serve her well in retirement. She plans on hiking and traveling in France to visit friends and family with

her husband, Jean-Luc Moreau, a teacher, Judo coach, and personal trainer. She also looks forward to volunteering as a translator for French-speaking refugees in Denver as well as spending time at Urban Peak, a nonprofit that assists youth experiencing homelessness by providing them with shelter, counseling, education, and job training.

Serving young people and their families is a theme that has run through Debord’s life and career, ever since she began teaching in Illinois not long after she came to the United States in her 20s. With her undergraduate degree in English literature and civilization and, later, her PhD in comparative literature, Debord taught in a variety of capacities at Lake Forest College, and then took a translator position with Rotary International, the global service organization whose translation department, according to Debord, is second only to the United Nations’.

In Illinois, she even started her own translation and cross-cultural training business, through which she would educate and counsel Americans who were going to live in France. She guided families as they negotiated everything from the school system, to giving gifts, to purchasing insurance coverage.

“Even though I came to the United States when I was 25, I still consider myself French,” she says. “I love the cross-cultural aspect of my work.”

When Debord and her husband moved to Colorado looking for new teaching opportunities, she surprised herself by taking a position at CA. It was the first time she had ever taught high school students, she relates, and, “I didn’t even know what AP meant.”

But she immediately took to her high school students—and they to her, of course.

“I’ve always been passionate about teaching, but with these kids, you develop real relationships over the years. That’s priceless.”

Debord says that she’s consistently been impressed by CA students’ grit and determination when it comes to languages. One such student, Hernaldo Piñón ’18, truly stood out. A solid but not extraordinary French student early in high school, Piñón decided in his Junior year not only that he wanted to enroll in AP French Language and Culture his Senior year, but that he also hoped to qualify to attend a university in France by passing the rigorous Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française.

“For all of us, Brigitte embodies the concept of the lifelong learner.

She’s always improving her teaching, saying she gets bored if she teaches a class exactly the same way twice. Brigitte is always willing to try anything once, even if it’s a foraged mushroom.”

Lisa Todd , Global Language Department Chair

With Debord’s help both in and outside of class, Piñón achieved those aims with flying colors. “It was the first time I had had a non-bilingua l student score a five [the highest possible score] on the AP test,” Debord says. “Hernaldo was definitely a success story, in the sense that he would not have been a student who I would have seen in AP at all, and then he proved me wrong.”

Witnessing students succeed at speaking

a new language, she says, is her greatest joy. And it’s no wonder: Debord herself is an eternal student of languages, someone who—though she says languages have never come easy—always wants to learn one more.

“I don’t value any language over another,” she explains. “If French is for you, great. But I also love German—I’m fascinated by the language. I want to learn Spanish, too. When I retire and have more time for travel, I will feel bad if I don’t know Spanish

when I go to Mexico or other Spanishspeaking countries.”

French may provide entry into many cultures around the world—for example, in Africa, where the language has historically been seen as that of politicians and intellectuals—but, Debord insists, “Any language is a door to another culture.” With retirement plans that include tutoring, taking classes in German, Spanish, and art, and much more, it seems certain that Debord will just keep opening those doors. n

Commencement: The Class of 2023

Guests began arriving on campus early for Colorado Academy’s Commencement on June 1, and their collective good cheer and celebratory spirits seemed to clear the cloudy skies just in time for the Class of 2023 to make their way through the doors of the historic Welborn House and down the sunny west lawn. There, the graduating Seniors had a view of the Front Range as they processed down the center aisle between their friends and family members, accompanied by the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” performed by the Boulder Brass.

The Class of 2023, with 104 graduates, is one of the largest in CA’s history, and the audience’s proud cheers were just as big, as Head of School Dr. Mike Davis offered personal tributes to each student on stage.

Erika Hollis, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, welcomed the students and their families to the ceremony. Speaking about the graduates’ success throughout their careers, she evoked the character Ted Lasso, who, as a fictional television soccer coach, believes, “Success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these players be the best versions of themselves on and off the field.”

The sentiment is much like CA’s mission, Hollis said: creating curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners and leaders.

Hollis continued with three pieces of advice, again drawn from the wisdom of Ted Lasso. “Connect with the people around you, but never stop being yourself. Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing; while it may not be easy, it is essential in caring for others and, more importantly, in caring for your own self respect. And finally, believe. We all have a front row seat to our personal failures throughout life, and it is easy to focus on the mistakes. But with hard work and an openness to learning, you can believe in your dreams today, and the dreams you will have tomorrow.”

Next, Dr. Davis took the stage to address the

graduates. “Congratulations on your many accomplishments in the classroom, on the playing fields, in the art studios, and on the stage. Seniors, you have made your families very proud. And you have served as important role models for other CA students by engaging wholeheartedly in all your activities. You have played an essential role in sustaining all that is unique and special about our school.”

Dr. Davis used the Rolling Stones’ 1971 song “Wild Horses” as the centerpiece of his Commencement remarks, in which he compared the song’s concerns about the loss of a relationship with fears students might have about being “dragged away by wild horses” from the safety and friendships of high school.

“College and life will drag you away from CA,” he said, “but that’s actually the point. We’ve prepared you for that; life is about weathering the challenges. I hope you can maintain a sense of independence and freedom throughout your life, knowing that only you can define your own happiness.”

Upper School Principal Max Delgado had a story to share with the graduates about one of his own high school teachers, who once told him, “Max, everything you do is just good enough. I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen you try to be truly excellent at something.” He wasn’t wrong, Delgado said, but what was surprising was that the same teacher advised another student to let himself be good enough more often.

“To become healthy adults,” he said, “we need to engage in the art of balance—that’s what that teacher knew. Through your CA career, you’ve been surrounded by a building full of teachers like this, who reached out to you, supported you in different ways informed by all your different temperaments. You have been well known and well loved, each in your own way. You stirred the emotions and the dreams of this community as we absorbed your work. We are thrilled for you and for the world you will shape.”

“The truth is, you are your own artists, and the hardest part of creating your masterpiece, your magnum opus, yourself, lies just ahead of you: that daunting first stroke of the brush.Take that brush and make something with it—a line, a swirl, a dash, anything.The important thing is this: Don’t let your canvas stay empty. If there’s anything I’ve learned from being your classmate, it is that you all are going to make something beautiful.”

Noah Sohn, Elected Student Speaker

When Elected Student Speaker Noah Sohn next took the stage, he echoed others’ thanks for CA faculty, family, and friends, and went on to ponder the question of what was next for him and his fellow graduates. “I’m afraid that I don’t plan to stand up here and pretend to have the answer,” he said.

But reflecting on the advice of his uncle, Sohn acknowledged, he realized, “Even though some of us think that we already know our future—what we want to be, the legacy we want to leave behind, maybe even our purpose in life—the truth is that none of us is anything more than a blank canvas.”

Sohn continued, “The empty canvas is the freedom to do whatever you want. It’s also terrifying.” As an artist himself, he said, he knows well the fear of making a mistake. Still, “The artist’s duty, first and foremost, is

to defeat the blank canvas, and turn it into something alluring—to take the bold step by making that first uncertain brush stroke and grow it into something with unique purpose, meaning, and beauty.”

He spoke to his friends and classmates when he concluded, “The truth is, you are your own artists, and the hardest part of creating your masterpiece, your magnum opus, yourself, lies just ahead of you: that daunting first stroke of the brush. Take that brush and make something with it—a line, a swirl, a dash, anything. The important thing is this: Don’t let your canvas stay empty. If there’s anything I’ve learned from being your classmate, it is that you all are going to make something beautiful.”

Finally, it was time for each graduate to be recognized as they received their diploma

from Dr. Davis.

CA’s Chanteurs, led by Vocal Music Director Dr. Kevin Padworski, performed Stephen Sondheim’s “No One Is Alone,” whose lyrics express a mix of apprehension, confidence, and hope that was perfectly suited to the day:

Sometimes people leave you

Halfway through the wood

Others may deceive you

You decide what’s good

You decide alone

But no one is alone

After students recessed at the end of the ceremony, they joined their families and friends to celebrate their graduation, proving that, though they may go forward on their own, they will never truly leave any of this behind—they’ll always have their CA experience to hold them up and hold them together as the Class of 2023. n

The Class of 2023

Piper Elizabeth Adams Norwich University

Olivia Lauren Aguirre Trinity College

Abigail Delina Alem Pomona College

Brogan Cole Andrus Bridgewater Jr. Bandits Junior Hockey

Claire Elizabeth Arney Vanderbilt University

Corbin Joseph Bank Bucknell University

Dorothy Nicole Beck University of Virginia

Sophie Claire Brants Tufts University

Adelaide Barrett Brown Santa Clara University

Emma Deyo Carpenter Dartmouth College

Emerson-Ellis Coleman Wake Forest University

Aidan James Collins Indiana University

Anna Elizabeth Colpack Stanford University

Zoe Katherine Cope University of Colorado Boulder

Joshua Genta Corn Columbia University

Muckleet Taye Degefa University of Virginia

Ava Elizabeth DelZotto

Santa Clara University

Tylar Elizabeth Dillon

University of Colorado Boulder

Jack Penston Doolittle

University of Colorado Boulder

Dana Mohamed Shereef Elprince Northeastern University

Liana Sarise Fagelson University of Michigan

Ariana Mia Foreman United States Naval Academy

Ethan John Frank Texas Christian University

Charles Davis Frankum

Tulane University

William Christopher Freimuth University of Colorado Boulder

Fabian Christopher Frenz Middlebury College

Fatima Garcia Pitzer College

Lee Alexander Gastis University of Miami

Ava Joy Geisler McGill University

Karl Richard Gifford Syracuse University

Naomi Dara Gillis Tufts University

Anthony Mark Giordano Jr. Texas Christian University

Avery Madeline Goldstein

Chapman University

Ezra Fraser Goldstein Colby College

Remy Theriault Guillot Syracuse University

Ashley Annabelle Hagen Whitman College

Katherine Ballentine Hardy

Texas Christian University

Olivia Xiu-Mei Harris Virginia Tech

Clare Elizabeth Henry

University of Colorado Boulder

Sofie Grace Henry University of Denver

Noah Matthew Hicks Indiana University

Sophie Claire Hunnewell

University of Colorado Boulder

Kaitlin Grace Johnson Colorado State University

Charles Trent Zachar Jones

Duke University

Anna Elisabeth Jordaan

United States Naval Academy

Matthew Gittings Kintzele University of Oregon

Toren Michael Knepper

University of Colorado Boulder

George Andrew Coleman Koclanes California Institute of Technology

Andrew Cassidy Kurtz Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering

Jane Simmons Lauchli

Georgetown University

Ann Katharine LeClair University of South Carolina

Riley Layne Leversedge Marquette University

Charles Joseph Link

University of Utah

Joseph Michael MacDougall University of Pennsylvania

Catherine Noelle Maloy University of Mississippi

Olivia Jade Marx

Santa Clara University

Harris May

Wesleyan University

Colin Patrick McCoy

University of Tennessee

Katherine May McKean

Texas Christian University

Teodor Kenneth McPeek

New York University

Aaron Turner McPheeters University of Virginia

Sofia Rose Meltzer Lewis & Clark College

Mattiline Elizabeth Mielke Denison University

Claire Catherine Millisor University of Miami

Spencer Hugh Mills Bowdoin College

John Buckingham Oertel University of Colorado Boulder

Campbell Elizabeth O’Neal University of Colorado Boulder

Xianhao Ou University of Pennsylvania

Hudson Chain Parks Santa Clara University

Lila Gillian Paton Syracuse University

Arantza Carolina Pereira University of Richmond

Grayson Stamper Perkins Furman University

Katherine Anne Pulido Bowdoin College

Brayden Michael Ramseier Northeastern University

Faith Elizabeth Reeman University of Michigan

Diana Lake Reidy University of Virginia

Sawyer Graham Risch University of Colorado Boulder

Benjamin Welborn Rockmore Chapman University

Eli Murray Rudy Colgate University

Elliot John Rutherford Tufts University

Joanna Lim Rydberg

Vanderbilt University

Heidi Elizabeth Schmid Northwestern University

Calvin Thomas Schumacher

University of Colorado Boulder

Danielle Kristine Seaton

The University of Alabama

Viola Sophia Sehl

University of California Santa Cruz

Desmond Lloyd Silverman-Joseph Brown University

Andrew Hudson Smart Northwestern University

Bowen Delaney Smith Tulane University

Noah Barrett Sohn Dartmouth College

Charlotte Frances Sovka

McGill University

Paul Bennett Spruell Christopher Newport University

Asher Dylan Stull

The Loomis Chaffee School High Point University

Owen Leonid Tilman Yale University

John Thomas Timmers Yale University

Bradley Ryan Troyer University of Illinois

James Curran Turner University of Virginia

Maya Vendhan Stanford University

James Caelen Wallace University of Denver

Isabella Catherine Walsh Stanford University

Kai Merrick Wang Georgetown University

Tanner Patrick Wells

University of California Santa Barbara

Madeleine Virginia Worrall

Northwestern University

Ana Paula Yáñez

Pomona College

Alekzondra Nastasia Andre Yuffa University of Oregon

Farming for Change: Fatuma Emmad ’00

During spring, catching up with Fatuma Emmad ’00 for a Colorado Academy Journal interview is a challenge. Summer and fall? Well, those times aren’t any better for her.

It’s not that she doesn’t want to talk about the pride she has in her profession. She is eager to share her experiences. It’s just that her work never ends. There is, she says, “always something more I could be doing.”

“Talk to me in the winter!” she says with a laugh. “I move with the sun, so now is my season to work!”

When she tells people about her chosen career, she often sees doubt in their eyes. “Show me your hands,” they demand. Some react by saying, “Oh, that’s so cool! I wish I were out there too!” To which she replies, “I’m not sure you actually do. It’s really hard work.”

But this hard work is also Emmad’s passion and a significant part of her identity.

“I am a child of immigrants, I am an earth steward, I am a farmer,” she says.

From Ethiopia to America and back again

Emmad was born in Denver, but her family returned to their homeland of Ethiopia after the Civil War ended in 1991. Throughout her childhood, she spent time in both Colorado and Ethiopia. Her upbringing—in two disparate worlds—and her family’s travels to different countries led her to see “many different realities.”

“Ethiopia, where agriculture has a long lineage, was a place that was known as the ‘famine country’ even though it is so much more than that,” she says. “In fact, it is called the land of 13 months of sunshine and is considered the genetic grain basket of the world.”

“At the same time that I was living in Ethiopia as a young child, I was also visiting the United States, where I saw so much food being wasted.” She points out that in the U.S., more than 40% of all food goes to waste.

Food is the basis for life, but for Emmad, it also became the source for many questions. How does food work? Why does one country have more food than it needs for its population and another country not enough? What does it mean for a nation to have to deal with starvation?

Those questions stayed with Emmad through her college career, so when she had the opportunity to enroll in a small farming program at the University of Montana, she did. After she graduated, she worked on an organic farm in northern Thailand for a year. Still seeking answers to old questions and ready to ask new ones, she headed to The New School for graduate work.

“I was a good child of immigrants,” she says. “I thought I would pursue an academic path and become a political scientist. I envisioned a career doing research, writing books, and advocating.”

Her graduate research into genetically modified seeds (“A single solution to a series of human-created problems, and there is no single solution!”) took her to sub-Saharan Africa, where, she says, “Communities embraced me because I look like them, and I speak their languages.” But her plan to follow an academic path, writing about agriculture and farming, ran into roadblocks. She realized that most of her academic work would be useful for an audience in the global North but did not answer very real and imminent questions people in her communities were asking.

“And I realized that I did not know how to farm,” she says. “How could I do good re -

search, how could I produce knowledge for others, if I don’t know the best questions to ask? So I decided I would learn to farm.”

A new generation of farmers

At the same time that many young farmers are fleeing their farm for a variety of reasons—64% of Colorado producers will exit farming in the next 20 years—Emmad was diving in. She enrolled in the Center for Agroecology at the University of California Santa Cruz for an eightmonth program where people come from around the world to learn about organic gardening, farming, and the food system. Emmad specialized in orcharding and mixed vegetables.

After she finished the program, she moved to Wisconsin, found land, and started farming. She collaborated with two farm-totable restaurants in Milwaukee to build their farms and joined a cooperative of women and immigrant farmers. She also was the head farmer at Alice’s Garden Urban Farm in Milwaukee, with a mission of building neighborhoods and nurturing people through gardening programs for children, youth, and their families.

But, as Emmad says with candor, “Farming does not pay a lot of money. It’s a labor of love.” Love brought her back to Colorado, where she started her own landscaping company and has begun teaching a new generation of farmers as an affiliate professor at Regis University and a lecturer in the Masters of the Environment graduate program at the University of Colorado Boulder. She also is Co-Founder, Executive Director, and Head Farmer of FrontLine Farming, a food and farming nonprofit focused on food growing and education, offering opportunities, she says, “to advocate for ourselves as people of color and as farmers.” FrontLine Farming, which operates on five acres divided among three farm sites

along the Front Range, explains her busy schedule.

“We produce a lot of food,” Emmad says. “We educate people how to become farmers, including youth programs and programs for children.”

The food is sold through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), which is basically a subscription service for consumers who pledge to support a farm operation. Every year, FrontLine Farming also allocates 200 boxes of food to WIC, a nutrition program that offers food and other services to families that qualify, and to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Check FrontLine’s website, and you will also find weekly “No cost grocery days” at the farm sites.

“Of our farm production, 25% goes to people who are facing barriers to food access,” Emmad says. “It could be women and children, it could be Black and Indigenous elders. It is often the most oppressed in our communities who face the systemic violence of food apartheid.”

Changing the country, one law at a time

When Emmad graduated from CA, she was named “Most likely to stand up for her rights,” a line out of a Bob Marley song. As an Upper Schooler, she had proved herself a leader, protesting gun violence after the Columbine High School massacre, rallying at the Colorado State Capitol for education rights.

Her classmates would likely not be surprised to learn that today she is an effective advocate for the rights of those navigating systems which seek to systemically oppress them. During the COVID pandemic, in her role as Co-Convener of Project Protect Food Systems, she assembled a coalition of more than a dozen organizations to lobby for historic legislation offering legal protections and rights to agricultural workers. Emmad joined Gov. Jared Polis on the steps of the Capitol as he signed the bill into law in June of 2021, making Colorado the first state to pass sweeping legislation addressing structural racism in agriculture labor laws.

“ This was really one of my proudest moments,” Emmad says. “I led this bill, from drafting it to every fight to pass it. The only thing that separates me from agricultural workers is access to resources and language skills which were built on the back of my immigrant mother. But I can tell you they are certainly better farmers than I am.”

The skills that Emmad honed in CA classrooms—writing with Anne Strobridge and critical thinking with Jim Blanas—now are put to good use four seasons of every year, whether she is writing legislation or grant proposals to support FrontLine Farming. Ask her what she would be doing if she were not farming and she pauses—for a long time. She answers by telling you what farming means to her.

“What I love about farming is that no one can take it away from me,” she says. “In the earth, you meet the most real me, the most authentic expression of myself. And when I give to the earth, sometimes it gives me things I didn’t even know I needed.”

Envisioning the Future of Gaming: Jake Sally ’08

When he was growing up, Jake Sally’s parents did not allow him to have any video games.

That—and the fact that he lived two blocks from the library—may be why he turned into a self-admitted “voracious reader,” the kind of booklover who would consume the latest Harry Potter novel in two days.

Thank goodness for grandmothers who break the rules. Sally’s grandmother bought him a Nintendo 64 and kept it at her house.

“On holidays, we would go to her place and during the four hours it took for the turkey to cook, I would just melt my eyes on this thing,” he recalls. “But it never occurred to me that I could be a professional gamer and make a living.”

Today, the child who had no video games sits in a room with five gaming devices, shed tears when he first played “The Last of Us” during the pandemic, and serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Jadu, an independent augmented reality (AR) game studio.

Sally has succeeded in joining the critical thinking, problem-solving, and competitive drive that were encouraged at Colorado Academy with the imaginative journeys he enjoys taking to create a career doing

what others might consider impossible.

“I like to do the thing that cannot be done,” he says. “It’s the only thing worth doing.”

From Princeton to Hollywood

To get where he is today—a dream job for any serious gamer—has taken Sally from CA (where, he says, “the aperture of my mind expanded exponentially”) to Princeton University (where he booked a then-unknown artist named Wiz Khalifa to headline the campus spring celebration) to Hollywood (where he survived his boss throwing a stapler at him).

Let’s start his story on the day he skipped home to proudly show off the grade he got on his first pre-algebra test at CA—72%. He started CA in the Ninth Grade after attending a school without a formal grading system, so his parents had to explain to him that a C-minus wasn’t very good. It was, he says, “a wake-up call” that he would have to up his academic game to make it at CA. That healthy sense of competition which CA encouraged would serve him well as his career developed.

He found a home in CA’s English Department, where academic demands from the teachers, including Anne Strobridge and Stuart Mills, required that he do more than speed read books for entertainment.

“When we read Dante’s Inferno, it was the first time I read a book to read a book,” he says. “By that, I mean I had to read other books to understand the references in this epic poem and slow down to absorb those references.”

At Princeton, he was named Social Chair for the university, tasked with planning which musical acts would be booked for the school year.

“It was my first taste of Hollywood, and I loved it,” he says. “I saw the business side of entertainment, analyzing our audience, talking with agencies, looking at talent, negotiating contracts, handling the performers.”

On a hunch, he booked a young underground artist, legal name “Cameron Jibril Thomaz.”

When the rapper exploded on the scene as Wiz Khalifa, Sally felt the thrill of discovery

Sally in the Class of 2012 at Princeton

Sally wearing a VR headset

that comes when you promote new talent. He did multiple internships in Hollywood, at Interscope Records and at William Morris Endeavor, the global leader in representing entertainment, sports, and fashion talent. That’s where he had a stapler thrown at him—just another day at the office or, as he describes it, “straight up ‘Entourage.’” (Think hit HBO comedy series). He also interned at a small production company where he read scripts all day and pitched TV show ideas. By the time he graduated from Princeton, he had an idea of how Hollywood works, and he had two goals.

“I wanted to be able to continue to read and write,” he says. “And I wanted to never wear a suit.”

He was hired at William Morris Endeavor as an assistant straight out of college. And yes, he had to wear a suit. But not for long.

Discovering AR and VR

At William Morris Endeavor, Sally found his calling while working for agent Craig Kestel, who was known as the “Sundance King” because of his ability to find undiscovered writers and directors bringing break-out hits to the Sundance Film Festival.

“I have no artistic skill whatsoever, but I really like artists who push the boundaries,” Sally says. “What I can do is act as a shield or amplifier for an artist, finding them the space and funding to get things they need and, most importantly, giving them the opportunity to focus on creating the art.”

In Hollywood, the person who finds talented smart people who believe in themselves but need money or help navigating lo-

gistical headaches is called a “producer.” Sally has already earned a reputation as a producer who doesn’t say, “It’s too complicated, we don’t have the budget.” Instead, he proudly claims, “The thing that has never been done before is the only thing I have done before.”

During a stint as a creative executive at Hasbro Studios, the entertainment arm of the toy company, Sally found his true calling. He saw other executives spending their nights and weekends watching TV and movies, reading scripts, looking for the next big hit, and he knew he didn’t share their passion—until he tried on his first VR (virtual reality) headset.

“My entire world changed completely,” he says. “This was going to be my nights and weekends. This was what I had to be doing.”

He quit his job at Hasbro, threw himself into the world of interactive media, asking every engineer he met “a thousand questions,” and ultimately defined his role as “a bridge between the technical and creative.” At RYOT, Verizon’s content innovation arm, he spent five years gathering financing and producing AR and VR projects that had never been done before, developing media formats of the future.

It’s not an easy job, and that’s exactly what he likes about it.

“I’ve been battle-tested,” he says. “I don’t get stressed because whatever comes up will probably not be half as difficult as what I have already done.”

The golden age of video games

At Jadu, he is working on what he believes will be the future of gaming, an AR world free of cumbersome, expensive headsets where gaming reaches more people. Imagine playing a next-generation AR game on your mobile phone, seeing your digital avatar compete with your friends’ digital avatars. It is, Sally says, “the ‘Mortal Kombat’ or ‘Street Fighter’ of the future.” And it is what makes Jake Sally tick.

“The core function of my identity is that I am a gamer,” he says. “I love playing. Today, we are in the golden age of video games with the cost to create and distribute them being democratized for people who couldn’t participate before.”

Don’t for a minute think of Sally as an isolated loner sitting around the clock in a dark room with game consoles. Although he calls himself a “closet introvert,” he likes to socialize with close friends—and most of them date back to his time at CA. On a night in early June, he is headed to watch the Nuggets play in the NBA finals with his CA friends. His first memory of CA is a preseason soccer practice when CA lifer and alumnus Charlie Gallagher ’08 jogged over to him and said, “Hey, I’m Charlie, nice to meet you.”

“There is a real permanence to those CA friends, and that is a testament to CA as an incubator of bonds that are very special and genuine,” Sally says. “At CA people leaned in rather than leaned out. It was just the right school for me.” n

Sally, right, proposing to his wife, Emma Needell, left Class of 2008 friends, from left: Tony Davis, Jake Sally, Trip Stoddard

Boards & Associations

Alumni Association Board 2022-2023

Chris Bailey ’02

Andrew Bourke ’04, Co-Vice President of Special Events

Katie Cordes ’03, Vice President of School Relations

Caroline Cramer ’11

Lisa Harrison Ellsworth ’79

Sarah Goodyear ’06

Elsa Woolley Harberg ’11, Past President

Jared Harding ’97, Co-Vice President of Special Events

Isabel Gary Harper ’09

Emma Harrington Kane ’07, Vice President of Development

Marcus King-Stockton ’04

Myles McGinnis ’08

Aimée Nieuwenhuizen ’06

Zak Pollack ’08

Brian Pushchak ’04

Kyle Rajaniemi ’07

Natalie Ralston ’99

Abel Ramirez ’16

Liz Robinson ’01

Murphy Robinson ’06

Dan Roller ’99

Evan Simmons ’06

Gordon Smith ’79, Honorary

Zach Tucker ’01, President

Terrie Dickinson Warren ’73

Parent Association Officers 2022-2023

Jen Wolkon, President

Amy McPheeters, President Elect

Amy Martin & Marte Timmers, US Vice Presidents

Lindsay Miller & Elana Schwartzreich, MS Vice Presidents

Erin Davis & Christina Joymon, LS Vice Presidents

Board of Trustees 2022-2023

Liz Arnold

Natalie Bocock Turnage

VJ Brown ’11

Carole Buyers

Sue Cho

Jocelyn Ege

Dalia EL-Prince

Matt Farncombe

Jeff Geller

Dan Goldman

Erika Hollis, Chair

Bryan Leach

Amy Livingston ’93

George Lochhead

Bob Martin

Lisa Osman

Kevin Reidy

Meshach Rhoades, Vice Chair

Andrew Robinson, Secretary

Catherine Rollhaus

Lisa Cullen, Secretary

Vanessa Homuth, Treasurer

Alyssa Clarke & Sarah West, Communications Coordinators

Patrick Rodriguez, Volunteer & Outreach

Caity Barton & Catie Cohen, Faculty & Staff Appreciation

Isiah Salazar

David Shapiro

Rob Stettner ’94

Ex Officio

Mike Davis, Head of School

Whitney Johnson, COO & CEO

Jacque Montgomery, Director of Advancement & External Affairs

Jen Wolkon, Parent Association President

Thank you for supporting The CA Fund this year!

Your generous support of The CA Fund plays an essential role in supporting CA’s annual budget, and your support is an investment in everything that makes CA extraordinary: expert faculty and staff, state-of-the-art musical and theater performances, the SPEAK lecture series, alumni activities and community outreach, sustainability programming, Middle School and Upper School Interim experiences, global travel opportunities, and our extraordinary, beautiful campus.

Please contact Niki Camarena, Director of The CA Fund, with any questions: 303-914-2559 or niki.camarena@coloradoacademy.org

coloradoacademy.org/TheCAFund

Legacy Children 2022-2023

Colorado Academy is pleased to report that 104 students enrolled for the 2022-2023 academic year are the children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews of alumni/alumnae. Current grade shown in parentheses.

Griffin Adams (9)

Piper Adams (12)

Steve Adams ’91, father

Chip Adams* ’89, uncle

Chloë Barton (3)

Alex Barton ’97, father

Tate Behrhorst (11)

Nicole Moore Behrhorst ’87, mother

Mandy Moore Mischler ’82, aunt

Hopi Moore-Sargent ’84, aunt

Ava Biederman (7)

Lilly Biederman (10)

Emily Pederson Biederman ’95, mother

Yori Blanchard (10)

Tiffany Woodward ’01, mother

Charlotte Braun (6)

Karsten Braun (8)

Alexa Hanke Braun ’95, mother

Cecilia Hanke Wolfson ’90, aunt

Georgia Burstein (11)

Rex Burstein (9)

Tatum Burstein (6)

John Burstein ’89, father

Alli Burstein Kozloff ’94, aunt

Lachlan Campbell (K)

Kelly Young Campbell ’98, mother

Bella Converse (3)

Kate Hart Converse ’03, mother

Joshua Corn (12)

Roger Corn ’87, father

Henry Cowperthwaite (9)

Kevin Cowperthwaite ’79, father

Tom Cowperthwaite ’81, uncle

Matthew Coyle (2)

Martha Fulford ’01, mother

Scott Fulford ’98, uncle

*Deceased

Lilah Dennis (5)

Travis Dennis ’00, father

Kendall Dennis Slutzky ’97, aunt

Oscar Dillon (K)

Samson Dillon (3)

Megan Young ’97, mother

Daron Young ’00, uncle

Emmylou Elkins (K)

Sarah Robinson Elkins ’06, mother

Brian Elkins ’02, father

Jenny Elkins ’99, aunt

Brian Robinson ’02, uncle

Charlotte Emerson (7)

Fletcher Emerson (9)

Remy Emerson (6)

Julia Völkel Emerson ’94, mother

Marc Voelkel ’89, uncle

Ella Firman (10)

Chris Firman ’93, father

Lyz Firman Olmstead ’95, aunt

Andrew Firman ’00, uncle

Matt Olmstead ’95, uncle

Carson Flottman (11)

Jim Flottman ’89, father

Elise Ford (4)

Jeska Horgan-Kobelski ’98, mother

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski ’96, uncle

Tim Horgan-Kobelski ’05, uncle

Karoline Freitag (6)

Kristin Todd Freitag ’99, mother

Lucy Garnsey (10)

Peyton Garnsey ’91, father

Michael Garnsey ’89, uncle

Digby Gile (5)

Gia Gile (8)

Merritt Gile ’95, father

Caitlin Gile Morris ’96, aunt

Philippa Gile Taylor ’05, aunt

Noa Gold (6)

Meagan Gold ’96, mother

Marshall Golden (4)

Nora Palenchar Golden ’00, mother

Ethan Palenchar ’98, uncle

Ezra Goldstein (12)

Jeff Goldstein ’88, father

Hayley Greenberg (1)

Jackson Greenberg (3)

Josh Greenberg ’02, father

Rachael Greenberg ’05, aunt

Daniel Greenberg ’09, uncle

Parker Grossman (6)

Nicole Cannon ’03, mother

Alix Cannon ’01, aunt

Lauren Cannon Davis ’99, aunt

Aidan Harrington (10)

Brendan Harrington ’89, father

Jillian Hills (6)

Molly Hills (9)

Zach Hills (2)

Liston Hills ’95, father

Zach Hills* ’01, uncle

Harper Hodgson (10)

Jennifer Hodgson ’92, mother

Ellie Jones (6)

David Jones ’95, father

Jill Bible ’99, aunt

Phil Jones ’99, uncle

Natalie Kesselman (1)

Rob Kesselman ’03, father

David Kimball (9)

Tom Kimball ’89, father

Allyson Kimball Johnson ’92, aunt

Ford Kimball ’91, uncle

Avery Koch (7)

Ryan Koch ’96, father

Alison Koch Mims ’98, aunt

Helaina Korneffel (11)

Peter Korneffel ’83, father

Tracy Korneffel ’82, aunt

Cezanne Kumpe (7)

Carl Kumpe ’90, father

David Kumpe ’93, uncle

Buckley Ladd (2)

Sadie Ladd (1)

Tucker Ladd ’99, father

Bryann Ladd Nourse ’02, aunt

Ben Ladd ’95, uncle

Beth Likovich (3)

Charlotte Likovich (1)

Tizzie Considine ’03, mother

Tay Considine ’01, aunt

Carter Maloy (10)

Cate Maloy (12)

Brooke Bansbach Maloy ’90, mother

Alex May (11)

Skylar May (11)

Kim Warner ’86, mother

Blake Miller (8)

Fletcher Miller (10)

Wren Johnson Miller ’95, mother

Craige Johnson ’93, uncle

Hadley Morris (11)

Piper Morris (9)

Caitlin Gile Morris ’96, mother

Philippa Gile Taylor ’05, aunt

Merritt Gile ’95, uncle

Claudia Nelsen (4)

Olivia Nelsen (8)

Amy Livingston ’93, mother

Katie Livingston ’96, aunt

Buzz Oertel (12)

Ollie Oertel (10)

Liz Buckingham Oertel ’93, mother

Elin Olmstead (5)

Gus Olmstead (9)

Maddy Olmstead (11)

Lyz Firman Olmstead ’95, mother

Matt Olmstead ’95, father

Amy Olmstead ’91, aunt

Andrew Firman ’00, uncle

Chris Firman ’93, uncle

Raj O’Rourke (PK)

Simran O’Rourke (PK)

Sonia Arora ’01, mother

Sasha Arora ’00, aunt

Ellie Perkins (10)

Gray Perkins (12)

Alli Stamper Perkins ’95, mother

Amy Stamper Corrigan ’98, aunt

Jeff Stamper* ’92, uncle

Josie Pryor (5)

Parker Pryor (9)

David Knowles ’66, uncle

Charlie Rakowski (10)

Jill Boat Rakowski ’92, mother

Hattie Ralston (2)

Sebastian Ralston (PK)

Natalie Newcom Ralston ’99, mother

Chip Newcom ’02, uncle

Maddy Reeves (11)

Julie Beattie Reeves ’90, mother

Jason Beattie ’93, uncle

Diana Reidy (12)

Laura Reidy (10)

Ann Benson Reidy ’88, mother

David Benson ’85, uncle

Jim Benson ’83, uncle

Ben Rockmore (12)

Eli Rockmore (7)

Lizzie Welborn Rockmore ’90, mother

Jeff Welborn ’64, grandfather

Cayden Roll (7)

Sasha Roll ’02, mother

Gavin Ulrich ’02, father

Jordan Ulrich ’10, uncle

Katherine Roller (K)

Tom Roller ’01, father

Dan Roller ’99 uncle

Evah Gunn Roller (6)

Dan Roller ’99 father

Tom Roller ’01, uncle

Sutton Schoenwetter (PK)

Kedzie Schotters Schoenwetter ’06, mother

Clark Seaton (10)

Danielle Seaton (12)

Andrew Seaton ’92, father

Conrad Sehl (9)

Lola Sehl (12)

Meagan Gold ’96, mother

Darcy Simon (6)

Finn Simon (3)

Dan Simon ’95, father

Jordan Slutzky (8)

Taylor Slutzky (11)

Kendall Dennis Slutzky ’97, mother

Travis Dennis ’00, uncle

Tula Stettner (7)

Willy Stettner (11)

Rob Stettner ’94, father

Andrew Stettner ’99, uncle

Rich Stettner ’91, uncle

Bea Wadsworth (10)

David Wadsworth ’86, father

Abigail Wadsworth Serfass ’94, aunt

George West (9)

Henry West (7)

Jack West (11)

Thomas Kerr ’76, uncle

Addy Westerberg (10)

J.D. Westerberg (11)

Jim Westerberg ’87, father

Peter Kugeler ’95, uncle

Sam Wiechecki (1)

Nicole Sisk Wiechecki ’01, mother

Jason Sisk ’98, uncle

Ben Zinn (8)

Jessica Zinn (11)

Ken Zinn ’92, father

Jenn Zinn ’95, aunt

Dan Zinn ’97, uncle

This list contains alumni non-graduates.

If you are not listed and are a legacy, please contact the Alumni Office at 303-914-2584.

From left: Lizzie Welborn Rockmore ’90, Ben Rockmore ’23, Jeff Welborn ’64

Giant Relay Day 2023

To recap the past four Giant Relay Days: 2020 – Pandemic, campus closed 2021 – Pandemic, campus partially open but not to alumni

2022 – Snow with a high of 40°, but the race continued.

2023 – Hopes were high for a beautiful sunny day, but rainy conditions lingered. Despite the weather, the festivities continued.

Traditionally Giant Relay Day starts with an all-school assembly on the Welborn Lawn. This year it was held in the Field House. The next activity is Lower School Field Day on the playing fields. Our resilient students and teachers participated in an abbreviated event until everyone was cool, damp, and needed to get dry. The all-school BBQ held in the Sculpture Garden was moved to the Campus Center Dining Hall.

Despite the dreary conditions, alumni came to campus for a BBQ lunch and a campus-wide tour featuring renovated and new buildings many alumni had not seen. The Giant Relay Race included puddles and muddy patches as obstacles. The indoor happy hour reception with current and former faculty was full of warmth and memories.

Racers on all teams took the conditions in stride and gave it their best effort. Bikers evaluated the course and made alterations before the start. Only the faculty biker took a muddy tumble. Perhaps the swimmers were happiest in the 88° water. Their only challenge was getting in and out of the pool.

Thank you to Ben Hock ’07 who designed the race shirts!

CA Ultimate Coach Eric Augustin and the Alumni Association organized an AlumniVarsity-Faculty Ultimate Game. Held on Slater Turf Field, the match was a huge success. With a good crowd for the alumni and former and current faculty attending the happy hour reception, the Campus Center had a lively vibe. There was a strong presence among many Glee Club members reminiscing about their music tours of 50 years ago. Read more about the Glee Club Reunion on page 46.

Giant Relay Day 2024 is guaranteed to be a beautiful day. See you on Friday, May 17! See all photos at coloradoacademy.org/ alumni/ca-alumni-association. n

Alumni take a tour of campus.

Relay swimmers, from left: Faculty Leo Procise and Pari Bradley, Parents Stephanie Dunn and Rick Zimmerman, Roger Burleigh ’06, Senior Emma Carpenter, Lucy Rakowski ’22, Senior J.T. Timmers

Alumni Team from left: Ross Smethills ’06, Kiah May ’21, Kim Warner ’86, Brooks Brown ’18, Jack Parham ’17, Camryn Beall ’18, Barrett Trigg ’22, Jordan Alexander ’22, Annabelle Swenson ’21, Jeff Goldstein ’88

Ultimate players

From left: Chris Oertel, Alli Stamper Perkins ’95, Julia Völkel Emerson ’94, Marshall Emerson

From left: Elsa Woolley Harberg ’11, Isabel Gary Harper ’09 holding her daughter Emerson, Ben Hock ’07, Sarah Goodyear ’06, Ross Smethills ’06, Aaron Hursh ’06

Alumni Faculty Party on Giant Relay Day

1966 to 1974 Glee Club Return to Colorado Academy

By David G. Woods CA Glee Club Director 1966-1974

On a rainy, magical day, 35 former Glee Club members met for lunch, a tour of campus, and then a two-hour “SING” in the Schotters Music Center on the CA campus. May 19, 2023, was a special reunion celebration of the 1973 Glee Club Tour to England.

Exactly 50 years ago, the Colorado Academy Glee Club boarded a World Airways 747 to fly to London and begin a concert tour that included performances in the beautiful chapels of Hurstpierpoint School and Lancing College. Afternoon teas, high teas, cricket games, and the exchange of ideas between the British and American students made the visits to these schools memorable. Riding on buses from the

seaside town of Brighton, through Arundel, Stonehenge, and through the plains around Salisbury, we made our way to Sherborne. We stayed with families in Sherborne and sang in the Sherborne School Hall to an audience of over 600 on a rainy English night. We then performed at Dauntsey’s School in West Lavington. We sang for the students of the Millfield School in the beautiful Strode Theatre in Street. Next, we traveled to Cheltenham, where we sang our final concerts at St. Mary’s College for Women and the Dean Close School. We then drove to the American Embassy in London, where we divided into small travel groups for the final two weeks in Europe.

Fifty years later, on the Colorado Academy campus, we sang from the repertoire once again, including “Turn Back O Man” and “How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place.” Three members of the original six from the 1966 Glee Club were in attendance and also sang with the group, along with Glee Club members from the Classes of 1967-1976! The “SING” was dedicated to Betsy King, who passed away on January 11, 2023. Both of her sons, Matt ’74 and Peter ’75, were

members of the Glee Club and returned for the reunion. Philip Levy ’68 from the 1966 Glee Club played music from his composition, “Circus of the Soul,” and Bruce Bistline ’69 sang “The Jabberwocky” with gusto, as Philip played the piano.

We sang Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” (in German), as well as the seven-part round from the 16th century, “Laudate Nomen.” Dr. Kevin Padworski, Director of Choral Music at Colorado Academy, accompanied the group and spoke to the returning Glee Club members. Susan Boxer ’74 and Sarah Boxer ’76 returned for the reunion. Susan was an accompanist for the Glee Club in the 1970s. Glee Club members came from Colorado, Honolulu, Washington, D.C., Memphis, Roanoke, Chicago, Reno, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland.

At the age of 80, I was personally touched by the enthusiasm of the Glee Club students, the joy of music that remained with each of them, and the heartwarming stories that they each shared regarding their musical experiences 50 years ago. The legacy of Colorado Academy music lives in each of the returning students.

I extend my deep gratitude to Sue Burleigh, who made this reunion happen; to Edith Blakeslee ’73, who encouraged this gathering; and to Dr. Padworski for giving his time and his incredible talent to us on the afternoon of May 19, 2023. Appreciation also goes to the Class of 1973 for sharing their 50th Reunion with us.

To all the students who sang with me in the Colorado Academy Glee Club, I thank you so much for your talent, your dedication, and your love of singing. Thomas Jefferson said, “Music is the favorite passion of my soul.” May it always be with each of you. n

See all photos at coloradoacademy.org/ alumni/ca-alumni-association.

Philip Levy ’68

Bruce Bistline ’69

At the Alumni Faculty Party on Giant Relay Day, Glee Club and 1973 alumni first row (L to R): Terrie Dickinson Warren ’73, Sabra Peine Fleck ’73. Second row: Harry Walker ’75, Jon Morris ’75, Tee Cowperthwaite ’74, CA Alumni Director Sue Burleigh. Third row: Kathy Conklin ’73, Sarah Boxer ’76, Edith Blakeslee ’74. Fourth row: Peter King ’72, Dr. David Woods, Chris Malo ’72, Matt King ’74, Susan Boxer ’74 John Jennings ’73, Clancy Burson ’74.

Class of 1973 50th Reunion

By John Jennings and Terrie Dickinson Warren

The Class of 1973 reached a big milestone of 50 years since graduation from Colorado Academy. Turnout for the 50th Reunion to celebrate this significant moment in time brought alumni from Oregon and Iowa, and Coloradans from Thornton, Breckenridge, Ft. Collins, Monument, and LaPorte, as well as a good showing from those who still call Metro Denver home. Impressively, by and large, we recognized each other without name tags, though they helped in that rare instance where we didn’t! Some classmates are still toiling away at desk or field jobs while others are content to be retired and get midday tee times or avoid weekend crowds at museums or on hiking trails.

There were several events scattered across the weekend. Friday began with an informal lunch for all classes, held, due to light rain, in the old Headmaster’s House instead of the Sculpture Garden, followed by the annual Giant Relay (without snow), then a tour of campus to see amazing new buildings and renovated facilities. We were all impressed by the voluminous rock climbing center and the new performing arts center. The big event of the day was a Glee Club Reunion and sing-along, marking the 50th year since the legendary England tour led by Dr. David Woods, who was also in attendance and being honored for his long, stellar service to CA. Many of the Class of ’73 were on that trip.

On Saturday morning, a small group got together at South Suburban Golf Course and enjoyed a round of nine where

everyone shot in the middle 30s! No need to mention we were playing the executive par 3 course.

Mike Simms arranged our Saturday night Class of ’73 rendezvous at the View House in Littleton. The evening temps were perfect for the balcony setting, and there was no sign of the rain that forced us indoors the previous day. Feasting on a variety of tasty appetizers and sipping libations, conversations flowed as ’73 alumni caught up with each other, as well as quite a few of the Glee Club folk from classes as early as 1967 through 1976, who joined our celebration. Former faculty member Jean Lachkar Dahlman (accompanied by daughter Sarah Lachkar Osmer ’84) traveled from Miles City, Mont., for the festivities, and Dr. David Woods joined us as well, reveling in the huge success of the Glee Club reunion and

From left: Leo Weiss, Karl Soderstrom, John Jennings, Sabra Peine Fleck, Michael Simms, Kathy Conklin, Frank Holzworth, Terrie Dickinson Warren, Edith Blakeslee, Chuck Arnold, Michael Mongomery, Becky Whealen Pearson. Not pictured: Andy Duke.

sing-along the day before. We were able to chat briefly via phone with a few remote classmates who couldn’t come because of medical and family issues. We’ve lost five classmates early, that we know of: Peter Apple-Ayers, Ben Blaylock, Gordon Bourne, Forrest Cranmer, and John Larson. Reunions are tricky things. We show up imagining everyone there will be mostly the same as they were when we graduated. But, life has a way of intervening. Nonetheless, our core being mostly does remain the same. Our friends then are still people we enjoy hanging out with. Some people have evolved their outer being to become something we didn’t anticipate, making for new and interesting connections. However, the most important thing is the renewal of our bonds, affirming our memories of who we thought we were, and bringing history alive.

Judging by those who showed up, we are generally aging well. Many have active lives, including sports, hiking, skiing, and traveling, as well as exciting plans for the future.

Of special note, we would like to award Andy Duke with our best-dressed honors. On Friday, he wore an impeccable threepiece suit. On Saturday, he rocked socks and shoes like no other!

To all those who couldn’t make it, we missed you! Hope to see you at the 55th (put it on your calendar now for May 2028), or at least the 60th in 2032! n

Alumni Faculty Party on Giant Relay Day, from left: Sabra Peine Fleck, Terrie Dickinson Warren, Kathy Conklin

Becky Whealen Pearson (L) with Dr. David Woods

Andy Duke (L) with Dr. David Woods

Mike (L) and Cindi Montgomery with Sabra Peine Fleck

Class of 1983 40th Reunion

By Spike Pearson

T he Alumni Faculty Happy Hour and the Class of 1983 40th Reunion were wonderful this year. Seven of us attended the reception and portions of Giant Relay Day on-campus activities: Gena Osborn Javernick, Wendy Wogan, Suzanne Lippstreu Dugan, Kent Thurman, Spike Pearson, Robby Schwarz, and Tino Sonora. It was great to see Paul Krajovic, Tom Fitzgerald, and other former faculty.

On Saturday afternoon/evening, nine of us, and many of our spouses, gathered for drinks and appetizers at the Pearson home in Centennial. Though Tino had to jet off to Bosnia, Stacy Aden, Darcy Owen, and Michelle Mueller were welcome additions to the party on Saturday. Four hours of reminiscing, catching up, and laughter were great fun for us all.

After over 40 years of friendship, we can still pick up right where we left off. To those who could not make it, you were missed, and we hope to see you next time! n

1983 alumni meet on Giant Relay Day, from left: Gena Osborn Javernick, Tino Sonora, Wendy Wogan, Spike Pearson, Kent Thurman.

From left: Michelle Mueller, Jeff Schwarz ’79, Terry Williams (Stacie Aden’s spouse), Spike Pearson, Robby Schwarz, Suzanne Lippstreu Dugan, Wendy Wogan, Gena Osborn Javernick, Gary Javernick, Helen Thurman, Kent Thurman, Stacie Aden

Class of 1993 30th Reunion

By Liz Buckingham Oertel

The 30th Reunion for the Class of 1993 was celebrated by a convivial crew of around 10 classmates who gathered at Dani Weily Coplen’s home in Denver for cocktails, dinner, and lots of catching up. Tori Zimmerman and Chelsea Young Yost traveled the farthest to celebrate Reunion Weekend, with Tori flying in from her home in Atlanta and Chelsea traveling from Brooklyn, N.Y. Local Denver/Boulder classmates joining the festivities included Jordan Forstot, Chris Firman, Schuyler Eddy, Dani Weily Coplen, Liz Buckingham Oertel, Lisa Ainsworth, Mark McNamara, and Mike Medina. Class of 1995 alumna Allison Stamper Perkins and 1992 alumnus Mark Sheldon also stopped by the party. We’ll look for the rest of you for our 35th Reunion in 2028! n

First row (L to R): Alli Stamper Perkins ’95, Jordan Forstot, Michael Medina. Second row: Dani Weily Coplen, Liz Buckingham Oertel, Lisa Ainsworth, Tori Zimmerman. Third row: Chelsea Young Yost, Mark McNamara.

Fourth row: Chris Firman, Schuyler Eddy, Mark Sheldon ’92.

Class of 1998 25th Reunion

CA classmates from 1998 gathered on Saturday, May 20 for their 25th Reunion at Max Gill & Grill on South Gaylord Street. Scott Fulford, coming from Washington D.C., and Steve Chan and Rachel Seay, from Palo Alto, Calif., traveled the farthest to celebrate Reunion Weekend. Local alumni and their spouses joining the

festivities included Zander Baron, Kelly Young Campbell, Fletcher Davis, Jamie Gilmore, and Dominique Cook McManus.

Saturday morning, Kelly, Geoff, Jamie, Steve, and Rachel met on a playground at Wash Park with their children.

Despite the rain, several alumni brought their families to Giant Relay Day and enjoyed seeing current and former faculty at the Alumni Party in the late afternoon. We’ll look for the rest of you for our 30th Reunion in 2028! n

On Giant Relay Day, Steve Chan (L) met up with his former College Counselor Cathy Nabbefeld.

From left: Scott Fulford, Kelly Young Campbell, Jamie Gilmore, Fletcher Davis, Geoff Shamos, Zander Baron, Finn Seay-Chan, Steve Chan, Emma Seay-Chan, Rachel Seay, Sue Burleigh. Not pictured: Dominique Cook McManus.

Class of 2003 20th Reunion

By Nic Cary

The Class of 2003 came together to celebrate their 20th high school reunion on May 20. Tap & Burger Sloan’s Lake in Denver played host to the occasion, as over 20 alumni graced the event with their presence.

The evening was filled with laughter, nostalgia, and excitement as former classmates reunited after two decades. Among the attendees were an impressive array of accomplished individuals who have carved their paths in various fields. The group boasted a helicopter pilot, successful entrepreneurs, a skilled dentist, and passionate philanthropists, showcasing the diverse achievements of the Class of 2003.

The reunion saw alumni traveling from across the globe to be part of this special event. One alumna flew all the way from Bosnia, and Nicolas Cary, who journeyed from London, added an international touch to the gathering. It was a testament to the enduring connections formed during their time at Colorado Academy.

One heartwarming aspect of the reunion was seeing the students at Giant Relay Day. In a delightful twist, a few of our classmates’ children currently attend Colorado Academy,

bridging the generational gap and keeping the school’s spirit alive within the same families.

As memories were shared, stories unfolded, and laughter filled the air, the Class of 2003 reaffirmed the lasting bond forged during their high school years. This memorable event served as a testament to the rich legacy of Colorado Academy and the lifelong friendships nurtured within its halls. Here’s to the Class of 2003, their accomplishments, and the vibrant connections that continue to thrive long after graduation! n

First row (L to R): Katie Cordes, Ashley Shuyler Carter, Hallie Weiss, Jessica McHugh Geesaman. Second row: Sarah Henderson, Bobby Henderson, Chad Thurman, Phil Carter, Creighton Hofeditz, Stuart Webster, Taylor Ross, Tyler Starr, Nic Cary, Jeffrey Kauffman, Rob Kesselman, Tracy Kesselman, “N.B.”

From left: Stuart Webster, Bobby Henderson, Taylor Ross, Tyler Starr

At the Alumni Faculty Party on Giant Relay Day, Ashley Shuyler Carter with her daughters, Liana (L) and Kinley

Class of 2008 15th Reunion

By Charlie Gallagher

The CA Class of 2008 enjoyed a lovely 15-year reunion at Pindustry in Denver. The group of 30 alumni got to share many laughs, a few drinks, and a ton of stories over live music and bowling.

The class has welcomed many new lives into the world since the last reunion, and we were lucky enough to even have several little ones join the festivities. The Class of 2008 has managed to stay remarkably close throughout the years and had an absolute blast catching up with fellow Mustangs. n

Class of 2013 10th Reunion

By Taylor Rabb

The Class of 2013 came together to celebrate their 10th Reunion on May 20 at the Lowry Beer Garden.

The evening was filled with memories and laughter as former classmates reunited. After only a decade, the attendees had already accomplished so much and carved their paths in various fields, including finance, medicine, software engineering, marketing, accounting, and law. This gathering showcased the already widespread achievements of the Class of 2013.

The reunion saw alumni traveling from across the country to be part of this special event. On Giant Relay Day, attendees got the chance to connect with former teachers and coaches, including some who have retired but returned for this special day. The alumni also got the opportunity to tour

campus, including the new and expansive Athletic Center and Leach Center for the Performing Arts.

As memories were shared, stories unfolded, and laughter filled the air, the Class of 2013 reaffirmed the lasting bonds forged during

their time at Colorado Academy, which for many of the attendees started all the way back in preschool and Kindergarten. Here’s to the Class of 2013, their accomplishments, and the vibrant connections that continue to thrive long after graduation! n

First row (L to R): Jasmine Jans, Caroline Nichols, Maeve Moynihan. Second row: Darby Shockley, Will Baird, Cole Bortz, Jason Blatt, Ethan Black, Ian Peterson, Stan Fox, Jared Moskowitz, Taylor Rabb. Not pictured: Regan Beall, Caroline Gilmore.

Alumni Faculty Party on Giant Relay Day, from left: Regan Beall, Caroline Nichols, Maeve Moynihan, Jasmine Jans, Taylor Rabb

Alumni Association Events: At a Glance

Veterans Day

To enlighten Upper School students, parents, and faculty, Leah Blake (Grade 10) hosted an alumni panel discussion featuring three alumni: Annelise Agelopoulos ’22, in her first year at West Point; Colin Gumm ’94, veteran of Kosovo and Iraq; and Maggie Sherrill Nicklas ’12, Air Force F-16 pilot.

Care Packages for the Class of 2022

A decades-long tradition brought cheer to CA alumni in the Class of 2022 when care packages arrived in their college mailboxes

just prior to their first final exams. In most cases, the package contained a really special treat: a personal greeting card from their Kindergarten Buddy.

Skating Party

Alumni and their families set a new record for attendance at the annual Alumni Skating Party. The widespread appeal of the event was evident, as alumni who have attended for two decades welcomed new families. Many young alumni came solo or with classmates, including some who stayed until the rink closed, playing broomball and hockey. The Skate House kitchen worked overtime

bringing tray upon tray of family-friendly food and replenishing the ice cream sundae bar frequently. This was, in fact, the best Skating Party yet, with the most fun being time spent catching up with friends.

College Alumni Lunch

Back on campus after a three-year pandemic absence, alumni from the Classes of 2019 through 2022 joined faculty, coaches, and current students in the Campus Center for lunch on January 5, 2023. Stories from college, extracurricular activities, and Winter Break brought back the familiar CA community camaraderie.

Colin Gumm ’94

Class of 2022 parent volunteers

Young alumni and faculty at the College Alumni Lunch

Alumni and their children warming up by the fire at the Skating Party

College Alumni Panel

In January 2023, Senior Class Dean Gabe Bernstein, along with the College Office, hosted an alumni panel for current Seniors, held in the Schotters Music Center. In

attendance were seven CA alumni, all currently in college, who provided a wealth of perspective. Enormous thanks to this year’s panelists for sharing their time and wisdom: Makayla Sileo ’19 (University of Colorado Boulder), Juliet Cramer ’20

(Macalester College), Erick Hernandez ’22 (Gonzaga University), Michael Malley ’22 (Indiana University), Jaden (JJ) Moore ’22 (Harvard University), Cooper Quatrochi ’22 (Colorado College), and Connor Wolfe ’22 (Vanderbilt University).

Thank You Alumni Association Board!

The Alumni Board administers the activities of the Colorado Academy Alumni Association and upholds its Bylaws and Mission Statement. The Alumni Board helps plan alumni events, focuses on diversity, equality, inclusion, and justice within the alumni community, raises funds for the Alumni CA Fund (Annual Campaign), and represents CA and the Alumni Association in the community.

A special thanks to our officers: President Zach Tucker ’01, VP of Development Emma Harrington Kane ’07, VP of School Relations Katie Cordes ’03, and Co-VPs of Special Events Jared Harding ’97 and Andrew Bourke ’04.

Thank you also to the committees who worked hard this year.

DEIJ: Caroline Cramer ’11, Lisa Harrison Ellsworth ’79, Elsa Woolley Harberg ’11,

Jared Harding ’97, Isabel Gary Harper ’09, Emma Harrington Kane ’07, Marcus King-Stockton ’04, Natalie Newcom Ralston ’99, Evan Simmons ’06, Terrie Dickinson Warren ’73, and facilitator Aaron Green ’05. A mentoring committee initiated our first steps and will continue efforts next year: Andrew Bourke ’04, Sarah Goodyear ’06, Elsa Woolley Harberg ’11, Brian Pushchak ’04, and Dan Roller ’99. n

First row (L to R): Evan Simmons ’06, Sarah Goodyear ’06, Caroline Cramer ’11, Emma Harrington Kane ’07, Isabel Gary Harper ’09, Elsa Woolley Harberg ’11, Andrew Bourke ’04. Second row: Marcus King-Stockton ’04, Jared Harding ’97, Aimée Nieuwenhuizen ’06, Myles McGinnis ’08, Dan Roller ’99, Natalie Newcom Ralston ’99, Zach Tucker ’01, Chris Bailey ’02, Brian Pushchak ’04, Abel Ramirez ’16. Not pictured: Katie Cordes ’03, Lisa Harrison Ellsworth ’79, Zak Pollack ’08, Kyle Rajaniemi ’07, Murphy Robinson ’06, Terrie Dickinson Warren ’73.

College alumni return to campus for panel.

Back-to-School Night Returns

The Alumni Office said farewell to virtual events this year and hosted its eighth inperson Back-to-School Night in February, following a three-year pandemic break. Alumni, alumni parents, and current and former faculty enrolled in a variety of classes. Gathering in the Froelicher Upper School for a light supper, guests greeted friends and former classmates to socialize a bit before heading to their classes.

Thank you to the Back-to-School Night presenters who shared their knowledge and expertise for the event this year: Abel Ramirez ’16, Jenni Hohensee Skeen ’97, Dr. Mike Davis, Elissa Wolf-Tinsman, Marcia Richards, Beth Folsom, Georgia Grey ’08, Dr. Jon Vogels, Jim Milavec and his wife Maureen Holland, Ben Hock ’07, Charles Coleman, and Bill Elder, Sr.

1960s Alumni Meet in the Desert

On a balmy evening in March, alumni who live full or part time in Arizona met for a happy hour in Phoenix, for several convivial hours of spirited conversation. Attending were Jeff ’68 and Kim Baker, Don ’69 and Jana Dodge, John ’69 and Kim Mullins, and John ’64 and Meredith Sullivan. Catching up on each other’s lives, introducing spouses, and reminiscing about campus life during the 1960s was on the agenda. Fond memories and humorous stories about Head of School Chuck Froelicher and other alumni and faculty who have passed on were shared. All affirmed their gratitude for the lifelong friendships first formed at Colorado Academy. Particular thanks go to Don and Jana Dodge for their assistance in planning the event.

A Conversation with Collinus Newsome

What makes a strong, cohesive school a community? What does it take for a school to achieve a culture of belonging? How can I contribute to that goal?

These were all questions discussed on an April evening at CA’s REDI Lab, located in the Mariposa neighborhood of Denver. The thoughtful conversation with CA Alumni Board members and local alumni was led by CA’s Director of Culture and Community, Collinus Newsome.

Annual Alumni Career Panel

The annual Alumni Career Panel is a highlight of the spring Senior Launch Week, when soon-to-be Colorado Academy graduates participate in workshops and activities that encourage them to look ahead to college and

1960s alumni

The popular line-dancing class

Alumni Career Panel Alumni meet Collinus Newsome.

Stay Connected

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CA Connection: Colorado Academy Alumni & CA Community linkedin.com/groups/117744

Join the more than 800 CA Alumni already registered!

CA Alumni Facebook Page

facebook.com/ColoradoAcademy-Alumni-Association

Colorado Academy Connect

coloradoacademyconnect.org

A secure online networking resource for CA Alumni. Connect with classmates, lend expertise, mentor others, or share job opportunities.

CA Alumni Newsletter

Do you receive the free online Alumni Newsletter in your email box?

There are stories from campus, Alumni features, and more in this newsletter, which is published three times a year: January, April, and October. To subscribe, contact the Alumni Office.

beyond. This year, the Class of 2023 heard from panelists Jacqueline Koehn ’08, Cazes Martin ’98, Julia Richman ’00, Dan Roller ’99, Jordan Sedlacek ’05, and Evan Simmons ’06. The alumni professionals shared their stories of college and career success, and offered words of advice to Seniors eager to hear about life after CA.

Five Points Happy Hour

On a sunny Friday evening in Five Points,

alumni gathered for happy hour, pizza, tacos, and live music at the Spangalang Brewery. Owned by Norm Harris ’94, the brewery has been hosting music every Friday plus weekend evenings and Sunday afternoons. It was a familyfriendly event with children dancing to the music and adults sipping on Spangalang brews. n

See all photos at coloradoacademy.org/ alumni/ca-alumni-association.

Sing at Carnegie Hall!

Have you ever wanted to sing at Carnegie Hall? Here’s your chance!

CA’s Vocal Music Director, Dr. Kevin Padworski, will take members of the CA Community, including alumni, to perform an original composition. Chorus members will fly to New York City on June 13, 2024, and return to Denver June 17. The performance will be on June 16. Dr. Padworski will arrange hotel accommodations and travel.

Registration is due no later than October 1, 2023. If you are interested in participating in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, contact Dr. Padworski at kevin.padworski@coloradoacademy.org.

Alumni at the Five Points Happy Hour

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.

1960

“There is a certain wistfulness in writing, arising from the realization that my three classmates, Dave Aitken, Lex Lubchenco, and Gary Wilkinson, have all left us, and that, by definition, I’m next. Time and cause unknown.

“Add to that, it was 63 years ago this spring that the Class of 1960 was going through the mental and emotional gyrations of selecting our next ‘home’: Dave heading to CU/Boulder, Lex to Menlo College (far and away the very best climate choice!), and Gary to Texas A&M. In addition, I was wavering between Haverford and Yale, the former being promoted heavily by Chuck Froelicher and Alec Rode, large influences in my life, where I eventually landed, but not necessarily on my feet. Yale would have been the wiser choice, for a variety of reasons, which I soon understood, albeit a bit too late. ‘My bad,’ as the cliché has it. However, thanks to the good people at CU/Boulder, I made it through the hoops to graduate successfully, although on the ‘five-year plan.’

“Today, I’m continuing my editorial assistance with Marvin Kalb, a close friend, and an unknown for the majority of CA alums, I suspect, which encompasses work on his books written in the last dozen or so years, beginning with The Road to War: Presidential Commitments Honored and

Betrayed, and including several covering his years as CBS bureau chief in Moscow and chief foreign correspondent for the network.

“In addition, I was elected last fall to the Board of Directors of the Washington Institute for Foreign Affairs, a membership organization founded in 1961 by three former Secretaries of State, Dean Acheson, James Byrnes, and Christian Herter, which conducts discussions and dialogue on foreign policy and national security issues at its meetings held at the Cosmos Club. Members include an array of former diplomats, military and intelligence officers, academics, journalists, and professionals whose careers include foreign policy credentials. And me!

“Sending best to all.”—Garry

1961

Mitchell

Rory Donaldson writes, “I asked ChatGPT to compose a little limerick for this note, and it did:

There once was a man named Rory D Living in Denver, feeling spry and free Waiting for warm weather to arrive Reading War and Peace, his mind alive Amazed by all that he can see Missing his loved ones, longing to be together once again, laughing and having fun Special thanks to Sue B, for being a special one.

Had I only had this tool at the time, I could have been a contender. I had the great fortune of having dinner with classmate Cito Fredrickson. It was wonderful to be together for a few moments again.”

1962

John Ragsdale continues to teach law at University of Missouri Kansas City Law School. That makes it over half a century. He still feels healthy and tries all the same old sports, albeit with a larger modicum of discretion.

1965

David Abbott remembers, “A colleague

of mine’s book club recently re-read George Orwell’s 1984. Like most of my generation (and perhaps others), I had read 1984 in high school, but not since. My colleague remarked that 1984 struck him much differently as an adult than it had then. Therefore, I began my own re-read of Orwell. There are certain things I remembered, and things I didn’t. The current ability of AI to examine our emails, social media posts, etc., along with various neurotechnology techniques, brings the ability to read our minds much closer to reality than even Orwell conceived. However, I also remember that I first read 1984 for a CA class in 1963 or 1964. Following Bloody Sunday, March 4, 1965, the Selma to Birmingham March, and the attack on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Headmaster Chuck Froelicher called for a Middle and Upper School assembly on the lawn on the west side of the Headmaster’s House to decry the evils of segregation. Froelicher’s remarks captured something important. Events in the current political divisiveness provide similar reflections. Stephen Stills’ Buffalo Springfield song, ‘For What It’s Worth,’ 1967, still has a lot to tell us.”

Rick Broome attended CA as a Freshman in 1961, where Mrs. Rhodes was his art instructor and taught him how to paint. He has gone on to have a distinguished professional career as a fine artist with tremendous passion and dedication. Although he did not get to finish school at Colorado Academy, his time at CA was the

Rick Broome as a Freshman at CA

foundation for his life. As fate would have it, he became an aviation and space artist. Five U.S. Presidents have been presented with his artwork at the Air Force Academy. Rick says he is positive that the great education he received, plus special attention to his aspirations of flight, guided him. Rick has been nominated as a Living Legend of Aviation. The only art lessons he received were in Mrs. Rhodes’s class. Rick writes, “I always credit CA for my success and integrity. To the 1965 CA grads with whom I went to school, I would love to hear your latest news.”

1967

Joel Knight spent one month in Argentina enjoying Buenos Aires and the surrounding area. He and his wife Sandra decided that following retirement, they would go somewhere that they always wanted to visit and spend a month or so. In that way, they could leisurely go about experiencing a country and avoid the scramble of required daily activities that are necessary with a one-week visit. They traveled to Mendoza for the wine country, Iguazú Falls on the border of Brazil, visited Colonia in Uruguay, went to Patagonia, and the southernmost city of the world, Ushuaia. Joel writes, “My Spanish is daily mentored by Uber drivers here in Buenos Aires. I put forth my best Spanish and they look at me as if I just said, ‘The oil pan on my cat is Tuesday’! However, we eventually piece it together. It’s been a great experience. The people here are wonderful and kind. Tonight my Uber driver and I had a conversation about politics

and an Argentine’s view of the world. I was humbled when he said, ‘There is only one real country in this world, the United States.’ When I look at alumni news, I hope to get some news from the old gang. It gives me a smile to read of someone’s activities and just know that they are a part of me, and vice versa, I’m a part of them. In the last newsletter, I read about Keith Robinson and his career. Some of it I knew, and an impressive amount, I did not. A life well lived, my very good friend.

“Just to give my classmates some of the same connection, I’ll tell you about my more boring activities. I left CA in 1967, and I knew two things: First, don’t send me to Vietnam. I wasn’t a protester with passionate anti-war beliefs, I was scared! Second, I knew I was smarter, quicker, luckier, and better than anybody was. There cannot be too much laughter in response to that immature rambling!

“I went to Vanderbilt in Nashville, and I was a total wreck. That was ok because remember, I was smarter, quicker, luckier, and better than anybody was, right? Longer story short, I swished around the ‘tidy bowl’ of life in Nashville, Indianapolis, and Steamboat Springs and found the famous bottom of the barrel, when suddenly, I had a Eureka! moment. To wit: I’m not smarter, quicker, luckier, and better than anybody is. Who’d a thunk it? I did an about face, went back to school, closed the library every night for years, and my fairy tale came true, when I was accepted to medical school. I married a

wonderful woman who knows that I’m not smarter, quicker, luckier, and better than anyone is. I have two sons who are smarter, quicker, luckier, and better than I am. I have had a wonderful life. One of the brightest parts of that life was going to school at CA and having such fantastic classmates as you all were. I love you all, my friends. With a strong sigh and a toast to my recently lost buddies, Owen Locke and Bill Friday.” Read about Keith Robinson in CA’s online Newsroom.

Charles Pachter, formerly Charles Zweig, wonders if his classmates watch The Crown on Netflix. One episode was devoted to Gordonstoun, the school which then-Prince Charles attended. As those who attended CA know, it is Gordonstoun and its founder Kurt Hahn that had an influence on Chuck Froelicher. Charles attended CA from 1963 to1967, when the school had boarding students. They were required to take part in a winter expedition. His was an igloo expedition in which the students learned to appreciate and embrace teamwork and nature’s elements, and to build and stay in an igloo. Charles remembers he was fortunate to team up with Tap Tapley, who taught him not only how to build an igloo, but also the value of self-reliance and teamwork and its importance in accomplishing a goal. CA students also learned drown-proofing, which Kurt Hahn stressed as well. Charles writes, “What CA taught me went well beyond the classroom. And I am a better person and citizen as a result.”

Keith Robinson ’67

Joel ’67 (L) and Sandra Knight at Mendoza, Argentina, with the Andes in the distance

1969

Mark and Kim Reed celebrated 16 years together with a night out in downtown Sarasota, Fla.

1970

Davis Wood had not been back to campus since graduating from CA in 1970. He attended the Glee Club Reunion.

John Burdick was last on campus for the 2005 Glee Club Reunion.

1972

Dudley Hulbert came to Giant Relay Day and Reunion Weekend.

1973

Read about the 50th Reunion on page 48.

Mark ’69 (L) and Kim Reed

Davis Wood ’70 (L) and Dr. David Woods

While on a tour of campus, Dudley Hulbert ’72 recognizes himself in a historic photo in the Athletic Center.

Dr. David Woods (L) and John Burdick

1973 Class Party, from left: Terrie Dickinson Warren, Dr. David Woods, Karl Soderstrom

1974

50th Class Reunion!

May 17-18, 2024

1975

On February 18, 2023, Linc “Action” Jackson biked-ran-skied-snowshoed his way through 7:07 hours of the Mt. Taylor Quadrathalon. He was the third-oldest participant and finished 10th in the sixtyplus age group.

1982

While practicing retirement for the past two years, Marla Cohen discovered that an enticing opportunity presented itself during her house/dog sit in West Seattle,

Wash. Within a few short weeks, Marla and her husband Salvador decided to embrace the opportunity and sell their Maryland house. She reports, thankfully, it sold in a week. They will continue to rent their Colorado home. The couple has moved south, where Marla accepted a position as the Executive Director for Jewish El Paso, formerly known as the Jewish Federation of El Paso and Las Cruces. “Here are some of my favorite answers from the interviews. From a committee member: ‘So you and your spouse/partner/whoever is family are ok moving to El Paso?’ My answer, ‘El Paso is not on our bucket list. You will need to impress us.’ They did. From a donor who wanted to know how long I will commit to the job (which had not yet been offered), my answer was, ‘I’m at the

Linc Jackson ’75 during the quadrathalon

1974 alumni at the Glee Club Reunion on Giant Relay Day, from left: Clancy Burson, Matt King, Kathy and Richard Hall

Attending the Glee Club Reunion, from left: Dr. David Woods, Charlie Woolley ’72, Jon Morris ’75, Harry Walker ’75

Gretchen Frantz ’75 (L) with Dr. David Woods

Reed Myer ’75 (L) and Tee Cowperthwaite ’74

end of my career. I already did Bay Area, New York, and D.C. I am not looking to be a bigger fish in an even bigger pond. El Paso is big enough for me.’ In addition, my top favorite: ‘I am not a CPA nor do I have an MBA. You should know there are some things I am not going to learn, because

they really do not matter to me anymore.’ Happy to share other interviewing tips anytime!” To her 1982 classmates who were in town last year to celebrate their 40th Reunion, Marla says, “I’m so glad we saw you. We were blessed to spend more time with some of you during the year. I know, I have said, ‘No more working for my people,’ but this is being on the fundraising and grant-making side of Jewish communal services. Looking forward to this next adventure. Come visit!”

1983

Read about the 40th Reunion on page 50.

1984

40th Class Reunion!

May 17-18, 2024

Ned Harvey is the CEO of Digital Gaia, an AI assistant for regenerative agriculture and

land use. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Colorado Cleantech Industries Association.

1985

Stacey Mitchell and Kevin Plummer, both CA and Colby College (1989) graduates, met in Tampa during a family trip to her son Jack’s national soccer tournament, where only the top 64 teams were invited. Stacey’s husband Martin accompanied them. Kevin is Head of School at Tampa Preparatory School.

Povy Atchison, Steve Char, Laura Vigor Woodard, Daniel Lopez ’86, and Orly Hersh ’86 met at the Sherpa House in Golden, Colo., for their October Book Club meeting to discuss The Newcomers by Helen Thorpe. Later in the year, the same alumni discussed Alexandra “Alix” Horowitz’s ’87 latest book, The Year of the Puppy. When Alexandra learned of their

Salvador (L) and Marla ’82 Cohen at Loveland Pass

1983 alumni at the Alumni Faculty Party on Giant Relay Day, from left: Robby Schwarz, Kent Thurman

1985 alumni Kevin Plummer (L) and Stacey Mitchell

From left: Lloyd Athearn (Povy’s husband), Jaime Giesen (Steve’s partner), Povy Atchison ’85, Daniel Lopez ’86, Gii Grimes (wife of Glen Grimes ’85), Laura Vigor Woodard ’85, Orly Hersh ’86, and Steve Char ’85

From left: Kent Harvey ’86, K.K. Harvey ’88, and Ned Harvey ’84 skiing in March

book selection she wrote, “Hello, hello! How completely delightful to hear from you and ever more delightful that you have chosen Puppy as a book club read. Thank you for the photo. Of course, I recognize many of those CA faces. Seeing everyone immediately evokes traveling to Russia with Orly on a very unusual Interim trip, and Steve, whose sardonic commentary post-assemblies stays with me still. Thanks, all, for reading.”

Povy Atchison’s photographs, “Faces of Golden,” were featured at the Golden History Museum for six months. Alumni attended the opening.

1986

Zachary Lazar’s latest book is The Apartment on Calle Uruguay: A Novel. Read about Garrett Zallen in CA’s online Newsroom.

1987

Greg Esser missed the Arizona Alumni Happy Hour in March when he was traveling to Los Angeles for a law school function. Yes, Greg is in his last semester of law school at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Greg did, however, send recommendations for local Phoenix attractions in the Roosevelt Row Arts District in downtown Phoenix. Greg was involved in developing the area, including his wife’s bookstore, Changing Hands Bookstore, and the only womanowned craft brewery in Arizona, which Greg and his wife developed several years ago in downtown Phoenix, the Greenwood Brewery and Taproom. They operate a small art boutique, Made Art Boutique, and a small art gallery, Eye Lounge Gallery, on the same property.

1988

Derek Mortensen is the Director of Manufacturing Information Systems for OSI Systems. For the past eight years, Derek and his family have split their time between Singapore (work) and Indonesia as their primary residence. He reports it has been thoroughly enjoyable.

1989

Lisa Grout Cabot and her husband Len traveled to the Holy Land while celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Great trip! Srael Boruchin, on a ski trip to Colorado, made time to attend a CA Ice Hockey game and enjoy dinner with classmates. CA’s home ice is Big Bear Arena at Lowry, so everyone enjoyed dinner at one of the neighborhood restaurants. In addition to the game, the other excitement of the

First row (L to R): Mari Newman ’88, Orly Hersh ’86, Laura Vigor Woodard ’85. Second row: Steve Char ’85, Chuck Newman ’85, Povy Atchison ’85.

Beth Freeman ’85 during a recent visit to Colorado Academy

1986 alumnus Zachary Lazar’s book

Garrett Zallen ’86

Len (L) and Lisa ’89 Cabot

evening was Misti Alders stepping into action when a classmate started choking on a chicharrón. Her Heimlich maneuver training came in handy. Aside from catching up and reminiscing about the good ol’ days, there wasn’t a lot of drama.

Tor Hillhouse joined the cast of an OffBroadway production of Perfect Crime. He stepped into the role of Detective James Asher for Michael Halling. The play is approaching its milestone 36th anniversary in the Anne Bernstein Theater at The Theater Center on West 50th Street.

1990

Former CA basketball players LeAndre Hitt and Mike Clemons ’91 remember playing Varsity Basketball for Coaches Bob Ulrich, John Suter, and Frank Messenger.

Read about Julie Ivker Dubin in CA’s online Newsroom.

1993

Read about the 30th Reunion on page 51.

1994

30th Class Reunion! May 17-18, 2024

1996

Tamara Walker’s new hardcover book published by Penguin Random House, Beyond the Shores - A History of African Americans Abroad, is

1989 alumni on campus for Giant Relay Day, from left: John Burstein ’89, Liz Buckingham Oertel ’93, Chris Spangler ’91, Patrick Neely ’88, Jim Flottman ’89, Skeeter Westerberg ’81, Ty Kilpatrick

1989 alumni, from left: Aaron Dallas, John Burstein, Tom Kimball, Patrick Neely ’88, Srael Boruchin, Brendan Harrington, Jim Flottman, Misti Alders

Julie Ivker Dubin ’90

Alumni cheering for CA’s winning Field Hockey Team at the State Championship game, from left: John Burstein ’89, Skeeter Westerberg ’87, Nicole Moore Behrhorst ’87, Liz Buckingham Oertel ’93, Julia Völkel Emerson ’94, Jill Boat Rakowski ’92, Ann Benson Reidy ’88, Dan Roller ’99, Evah Gunn-Roller (Grade 6), Kristin Todd Freitag ’99, Karoline Freitag (Grade 6), Mande Moore Mischler ’82, Logan Brown Snow ’07

From left: LeAndre Hitt ’90, Mike Clemens ’91

part historical exploration and part travel memoir. Beyond the Shores explores the histories of a diverse collection of African Americans who have left the United States over the course of the past century.

1997

The University of Denver Daniels College of Business invited Jared Harding  to speak on a panel for their series “Voices of Experience.” He is vice president, executive producer, and head of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment Digital. Jared is a seasoned digital executive with over 16 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry. He oversees all digital efforts for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, including the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Colorado Mammoth. Jared discussed how the metaverse is changing our world. Also on the three-person panel

was parent of two CA alumni, Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis.

1998

Geoff Shamos and his family made a nostalgic and exploratory visit to the CA campus. Their tour took them past some of the many pieces of art donated by the Shamos Family.

Read about the 25th Reunion on page 51.

1999

25th Class Reunion!

May 17-18, 2024

Aaron Goldhamer celebrated his yearly birthday party in December 2022 at the College Inn.

2000

Stella Prize, a major award for Australian women writers, for her powerful collection of poetry, The Jaguar. Sarah is the second poet to win the prize.

Shane Boris won the 2023 Academy

Poet Sarah Holland Batt won the 2023

From left: Adam Chanzit ’99, Aaron Goldhamer ’99, Tess Vigil ’00 holding Gigi, Jon Larner-Lewis ’99 holding his son, Laura Goldhamer ’02, Jill Bible ’99, Phil Jones ’99

Class of 2000 alumnae met for dinner in Boston, from left: Maggie Ruddy Crane, Julia Jackson, Megan DuBois Loucas.

In between Denver Nuggets NBA Finals games, Jared Harding ’97 had time to bring his family to the alumni party at Five Points. From left: Rachael, Josie, Jared ’97, Emma, Lucy Harding.

Shane Boris ’00 (R) with his team and his Oscar

From left: Genery, Harry, Geoff ’98, and Mae Shamos

Award for a documentary feature film, Navalny. He was also nominated in the same category for Fire of Love. Only Disney has ever produced two nominations for two different documentaries in the same Academy Awards season. Read more about Shane Boris in CA’s online Newsroom. Read about Fatuma Emmad on page 36. Eli Saslow has won his second Pulitzer Prize. He was recognized for a series of stories that intimately chronicled how Americans have reckoned with civic unraveling in the aftermath of the pandemic. Currently writing for the New York Times, Eli was writing for the Washington Post when the newspaper published his winning articles.

Tess Vigil and Aaron Goldhamer ’99 recently celebrated the birth of Gabriel

2002

Brennan Shippert is enjoying being a dad and building computers with his six-yearold son. He is currently the IT Systems Administrator for an aviation maintenance facility at Centennial Airport. Brennan writes, “I still find it amusing that I was a ‘lifer,’ being someone who spent Kindergarten through Grade 12 all at CA.”

2003

Jasmine McGlade recently directed a music video for Grammy-nominated artist Gregory Alan Isakov. It was released in late spring. Isakov is based in Colorado. Jasmine connected with him through his label, when she reached out, saying she was a

director and wanted to collaborate with more Colorado-based artists.

Lizzy Paulson and her partner David McKenzie welcomed their first child, Aurora Sara McKenzie, on April 19, 2023, at 8 p.m. Lizzy writes, “She has stolen our hearts!” Read more about Lizzy Paulson in CA’s online Newsroom.

After bouncing around the world for twenty years or so, Alex White is now living in Manhattan with his husband, Michael Hannaman. They married last New Year’s Eve in a small ceremony in California. Alex now works as an assistant professor of neuroscience at Barnard College, Columbia University. He enjoys teaching and directs a research lab: visionlab.neuroscience. barnard.edu/.

“Gabo” David Vigil Goldhamer. Gabo, a Taurus, was born at Rose Medical Center.

Read about the 20th Reunion on page 52.

Gabo, son of Tess Vigil ’00 and Aaron Goldhamer ’99

Aurora Sara McKenzie, daughter of Lizzy Paulson ’03

Bobby Henderson ’03 and his family, first row, (L to R): Isaac (6 months), Lucas (3½ years). Second row: Sarah, Bobby ’03 Henderson.

From left: Anup Rao, Darcy White Rao ’05 and her daughter, Michael Hannaman, Alex White ’03 and his niece, Barney White

While on a tour of campus on Giant Relay Day, Hallie Weiss (R) greeted Coach Bob Ulrich.

2004

20th Class Reunion! May 17-18, 2024

Andrew Bourke married Jessica Maupin on May 12, 2023, at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Fla. Fellow 2004 alumni who attended the weekend festivities were Jon Cook, Jon Dubin, Ryan Jones, Andre Delsol, Karl Koch ’05, and Andrew’s sister Libby Bourke Eberhardt ’99.

2005

Adrian Michael Green joined the Sterne School faculty, teaching high school history, including world history, U.S. history, civics, and economics in San Francisco. Adrian and his wife Chanel renewed their wedding vows in Jamaica.

2006

Marine Major Geoff Ball was deployed in Asia, attached to a Marine Expeditionary Unit until April 15. He then reported to Annapolis in June. In the fall of 2023, he will become the Deputy Chair at the U.S. Naval Academy of their Leadership, Ethics, and Law Department. This position usually goes to a more senior Major, but he was selected due to his body of work in the Corps. Geoff anticipates teaching one class, which is what he really wanted from this assignment.

Murphy Robinson, Denver’s former top public safety official, has been tapped by

the Denver Public Schools to help draft a new safety plan.

Evan Simmons was one of 28 Black and brown professionals selected for the Colorado Urban Leadership Foundation’s 2023 ULFC Connect program. He is embarking on a 10-month journey of discovery, community building, and education.

2007

Emma Harrington Kane and her husband Eddie welcomed Callen Kane to their family on Friday, April 4. All are healthy, home, and adjusting to life as a family of four. Big sister McKenna is starting to embrace her new role with little sister snuggles. Emma was recently named CA’s Director of Alumni Relations, following Sue Burleigh’s retirement.

Colin and Abbie Patterson were married in Seattle in August 2019 and became proud parents of Theodore Patterson in April 2023. Colin has been working for Blue Origin as an aerospace engineer in Seattle since 2018.

Kyle Rajaniemi and his wife Laura were thrilled with the arrival of their first child, Cooper, in September 2022. Cooper is now nine months old and buzzing around. He started crawling recently and is babbling away with many more sounds. Laura, Coop, and Kyle enjoyed a great trip to Cozumel in April. He loves the water and cries when he has to get out.

2008

Chris Anderson and his wife Mackenzie

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew ’04 Bourke

From left: Colin ’07, Abbie Patterson holding Theodore

Seen on Giant Relay Day, from left: Jeanne Ulrich, Coach Bob Ulrich, Adrian Green ’05

Daughters of Emma Harrington Kane ’07, big sister McKenna with Callen

The family of Kyle Rajamiemi ’07, from left: Laura, Kyle, and Cooper

Daughter of Chris Anderson ’08, Darby Christine Anderson

Everett Lane Atieh, son of Catherine Quinn Atieh ’08

Jacqueline Koehn (L) lunching with David Colodny following the Alumni Career Panel in May

Ellie and Carter, children of Olivia Ross Kowalsky ’08

Dori Shockley Wey ’08 and her family, first row (L to R): William, Kennedy, John Wey. Second row: Alex and Dori Wey.

John (L), Isabel Gary Harper ’09, and Emerson

Thank you to Dr. Natalie Proffitt Lesinski ’09, who gave dental health check-ups at HOPE.

were excited to welcome their first child, Darby Christine, into their home. She was born on February 12, 2023, in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Catherine Quinn Atieh and her husband Kevin greeted Everett Lane Atieh to their family on March 30, 2023.

Olivia Ross Kowalsky and her husband Markus are thrilled with the birth of their second child, Carter Ross Kowalsky. Carter was born on July 18, 2022, and joins his big sister, Ellie.

Read about Jake Sally on page 38.

Dori Shockley Wey and her husband Alex welcomed their third baby, John Alexander Wey, on December 14, 2022.

Read about the 15-year Reunion on page 53.

2009

Isabel Gary Harper and her husband John are thrilled to announce the birth of their first child, Emerson Alida Harper, born December 16, 2022.

Read about Erin Fisher Young in CA’s online Newsroom.

2010

Maddy Kane is graduating from the UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Medical Program this spring with a Master of Science and an MD. She is excited to be heading

to Seattle to start a family medicine residency at Swedish Cherry Hill and honored to be also working at the Seattle Indian Health Board, which serves the city’s Alaska Native and Native American population, offering Western medicine alongside traditional healing practices. Maddy looks forward to continuing to tackle equity and anti-oppression in medicine and public health. Maddy reports, “But my best piece of news is that I got to attend my brother Ben Kane’s wedding in April. Such a joyful day!” Archeologist Hank Woolley received his PhD from the Earth Sciences Department at the University of Southern California.

2012

T.J. Keller graduated from medical school this spring and begins residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Michigan Health-West in July. Taylor’s wife Maia Erickson Keller graduated from Rush Medical School in Chicago in April 2021. The couple married on October 10, 2021, after postponing their wedding due to pandemic concerns. Maia’s dermatology residency is at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. She has two more years to go there.

2013

Read about the 10th Reunion on page 54.

2014

10th Class Reunion! May 17-18, 2024

2015

It was a small-world coincidence for Emily Mott to find out she was working on music

Erin Fisher Young ’09

From left: Charlie Woolley ’72, Elsa Woolley Harberg ’11, Hank Woolley ’10, Karin Woolley

Drs. Maia and T.J. Keller ’12

clearance for a new movie SunHee Seo ’17 (aka Ji-Young Yoo) was filming.

2016

Read about David Schurman in CA’s online Newsroom.

2017

Jonah Reeman celebrated the CA graduation of his sister Faith Reeman ’23.

2018

Eva Knepper will start a master’s program at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík this fall to research Viking and Medieval Norse Studies. She graduated from Skidmore College with a major in art history and a minor in classics and studio art. Hernaldo Piñón is working with the Challenge Foundation and its executive Director Holly Ruderman Dichter ’00. In his role, Hernaldo will frequently be coming to the CA campus.

Charlie Wallace was a recipient of a  Schwarzman Scholars  program for a fully funded Masters in Global Affairs. Charlie is the first Colorado Academy alumnus to claim this prestigious honor. He will study at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Over 150 scholars from 36 countries and 121 universities were selected in 2023. Charlie states, “I look forward to having the opportunity to be with such a dynamic group of people interested in promoting international dialogue from across the globe. After the program, I plan to come back to the U.S. to complete law school with

the eventual goal of entering public service.” Charlie is a graduate of Columbia University, where he was student body president.

2019

Mac Behrhorst graduated from Hamilton College. He played on the Continentals lacrosse team. Mac also volunteered as a peer counselor where fellow students could talk with him and other counselors about academic stress and social anxiety. The college began the program, which was featured in the Wall Street Journal, to address the shortage of therapists on their campus. Volunteer counselors receive extensive training and are a valuable asset to Hamilton.

In May, Zach Brinker completed his BBA in Finance at Southern Methodist University. Zach thoroughly enjoyed his time at SMU. He was the Director of Marketing for the Tate Lecture Series, a part of the SMU Student Foundation, and a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, serving as Recruitment Chair and Parent and Alumni Relations Chair.

To enhance his education, Zach joined the Alternative Asset Management Program and the Spindletop Energy Investment Group. He worked for Jefferies as an Energy Investment Banking Analyst in Houston, but decided not to return, as he wanted a position in Dallas after graduation. He is currently working for FTI Consulting as a Restructuring Consultant in their Dallas office.

Zach writes, “I can’t wait to come back to school and see everyone at our five-

David Schurman ’16

Faith ’23 and Jonah ’17 Reeman

Mac Behrhorst ’19

Davis Ebel ’19

Ben Freeman ’19

year reunion next year! Hope you all are doing well, and I am extremely grateful for my time at CA. It was a super seamless transition to college, and I felt fully prepared going into classes and campus life.”

Davis Ebel graduated from Wake Forest University in May with a BS in Business and Enterprise Management and a minor in psychology. His new home is in Charlotte, N.C., where he starts with Red Ventures as a digital marketing analyst.

Ben Freeman was named the 2023 Swimmer of the Year for the Centennial

Conference. He made NCAA B cuts in all his individual events and had an excellent end to his collegiate swimming career at Swarthmore College.

2020

In May, Willa Dorgan celebrated the completion of her study abroad semester in Madrid, Spain. She lived with a host family and had a fully immersive experience that improved her Spanish exponentially. Not only was she challenged to communicate in a different language, but also she was pushed out

Future Alumni

of her comfort zone as she navigated a foreign environment completely alone. Willa writes, “I am happy to be back in the U.S. this summer in Los Angeles, starting my internship in government consulting at KPMG!”

Chris Wachuta started an internship in February with a carbon capture company based in Arvada called Carbon America.

2022

Read about JJ Moore in CA’s online Newsroom.

JJ Moore ’22

Willa Dorgan ’20 with her friend Charles Siegel in Granada, Spain

2023 Prom photo of Legacy Children in Grade 11, from left: J. D. Westerberg, Georgia Burstein, Carson Flottman

Buzz Oertel ’23 with his Kindergarten Buddy Oscar Dillon, son of Megan Young ’97, at a CA Ice Hockey game

Sue’s Turn in the Spotlight

Sue Burleigh retired as Colorado Academy’s longtime Alumni Director at the end of the 20222023 school year. Though her title said “alumni,” her role and influence were far larger. Sue built lifelong connections among CA’s alumni, former faculty and staff, and past parents and grandparents for 21 years, keeping them informed and engaged as our school has grown, and ensuring their continued support for CA. Her departure is a genuine loss for thousands of members of the CA community, many of whom she’s maintained relationships with for more than two decades.

A CA parent, volunteer, and advocate since 1992, Sue joined the Advancement staff as Director of Alumni Relations in October 2002, not long after her son, Roger, graduated with that year’s Senior class. She brought with her a wealth of knowledge about CA. Prior to her role with Advancement, she had served as president and treasurer of CA’s Parent Association, an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees, and vice president of the Middle School Parent Association.

Throughout her time in the Advancement Office, Sue was the school’s primary connection to its alumni, former faculty and staff, and past parents and grandparents during a period of incredible change, both at CA and more broadly in the independent school world. The engagement of this extended community in school life became more important than ever as CA grew in size, ambition, reputation, and impact.

Sue diligently kept track of alumni and celebrated their accomplishments as they succeeded in college and careers and grew their families. She forged many connections between those who shared professional interests or location, strengthened CA’s active Alumni Association, and marshaled the talents of the members of the Alumni Board. She kept in touch with former faculty, staff, and parents and grandparents, involving them in CA’s success long after they have moved on. Sue organized annual reunions, traditions, and get-togethers on

campus and across the country, and she managed an increasingly complex flow of digital communications via email, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Through it all, Sue become CA’s unofficial historian, maintaining the Smith Center archives, collecting oral accounts from past members of the CA community, and digging through old yearbooks and other artifacts to answer questions from more than 100 years’ worth of alumni, families, and so many others. And when CA alumni, past faculty, staff, and parents and grandparents stopped by campus for a visit—often unannounced—it was Sue who greeted them at the Smith Center by name, reminisced with them about the school, and led them on lengthy campus tours to show off new programs and facilities.

It was always Sue, too, who marked the passing of alumni, past faculty and staff, and family and friends, and personally represented CA at memorial services, funerals, and other community events.

In the words of Elsa Woolley Harberg ’11, former Alumni Board President, Sue’s dedication made her an indispensable friend and champion for alumni and the extended CA community. “When I think of CA, I think

of Sue. With her remarkable memory, she is able to recall every single person who has stepped foot on campus. Her ability to connect people is inspiring.”

But after a career that also includes previous experiences teaching third and fourth grade, serving as Program Director for the American Lung Association, and working in finance for Colorado Global Resources—along with a six-year stint living in Cairo, Egypt—Sue says it’s time to let someone else experience the joys of serving the CA community.

“CA alumni are the best. I am grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to become acquainted with so many wonderful people. Thank you all.”

After her departure, Sue will likely remain close with many of you. You may even see her at a CA event or three, or riding around Denver on her electric bike. There is no doubt Sue will remain an indispensable authority on CA’s people and history, with her innumerable personal connections throughout the community and unmatched depth of knowledge extending back to the school’s founding.

We thank Sue for her incredible service to CA and congratulate her on her retirement. n

A portrait of Sue is captured by longtime CA freelance photographer Cyrus McCrimmon.

Former Faculty News

Former Middle School teacher Jim Milavec and his wife Maureen Holland taught a line-dancing class at the Alumni Back-to-School Night in February.

Linda Lister (aka “The Friendship Lady”) attended Alumni Back-to-School Night and took a pickleball lesson from Beth Folsom and Marcia Richards, then followed it up with line dancing. In case you were wondering, The Friendship Lady is still smiling!

Erin Dolgan ’87 and Daniel Lopez ’86 celebrated former Upper School math teacher Milly Nadler’s 80th birthday.

During a trip where she accompanied students to Victoria, BC, Canada, CA Mandarin Chinese teacher Julie Wei took time to catch up with retired English teacher

Betsey Coleman

Former faculty paid a visit to campus for Giant Relay Day and Reunion Weekend.

Former Fourth Grade teacher and Technology Director Linc Jackson ’75 put in an appearance at the Alumni Happy Hour on Giant Relay Day. He is currently serving as

a librarian(!) at United World College-USA in Montezuma, N.M. His wife, former CA teacher Casey Nolen, serves as an admission officer at the college, which is located just outside of Las Vegas, N.M.

Current and former faculty showed up for the last Lower School P.E. class Bob Ulrich taught at Colorado Academy. His career spanned 34 years.

John Blossom taught English in the Upper School from 1981 to 1985. He currently has a #1 New Release on Amazon called The Last Football Player, a science fiction novel for middle grade and high school readers. Coming later in 2023 is Mahina Rises, a young adult novel in which a teenage Hawaiian girl fights climate change with her powerful dreams.

John writes, “I may not be as famous yet as Sarah Blake, but I’m working on it!”

He continues to live in Hawaii. n

Jim Milavec in CA’s Dance Studio

Nicole Moore Behrhorst ’97 and Linda Lister discuss pickleball strategy.

From left: Daniel Lopez ’86, Milly Nadler with her granddaughter, Erin Dolgan ’87

From left: Betsey Coleman, Julie Wei

From left: Sally Blaser, Paul Krajovic, Jean Lachkar Dalhman

Seen at the Alumni Faculty Party, from left: Dr. Ted Yungclas, Dr. David Woods, Dr. Tom Fitzgerald

From left: Guy Garcia, Beth Folsom, Dan Zinn ’97, Bob Ulrich, Marcia Richards

In Memoriam

years, where she was surrounded by family and friends.

Janet was beloved by her colleagues. She was highly supportive of her students, incredibly patient, and carried herself with grace. Former Fine Arts Director Angel Vigil recalls Janet’s gentle manner with students. “She was one of the mainstays of the private music program, and she was the calm, level head in any discussion. She was a truly kind, generous soul who ensured children could become wonderful musicians.”

Janet Arnold

Piano Teacher, 1983-2017

Janet Arnold, mother of cello instructor and Orchestra and Chamber Music Coordinator Jen Arnold, and grandmother of Seventh Grader Farah Arnold, passed away at the age of 79 on April 3, 2023. Before she retired in 2017, Janet taught hundreds of students during the course of her career, which began when she came to Colorado Academy in 1983. Janet was a positive force in our community. She guided students through so many piano lessons and recitals, taught them to appreciate music, inspired them to practice, taught them performance techniques and etiquette, and remained in touch with many of her students. She was also a much-requested and talented accompanist for the Music Department.

Janet was born in Texas and spent her childhood in Illinois before returning with her family to Texas as a teenager. She attended the University of Houston, where she earned a BM in Piano Performance and an MM in Music Theory and Piano Performance. While attending university, Janet met her husband Greg, had two daughters, and moved to Colorado. While she and Greg ultimately did not remain married, Janet opted to stay in Colorado for the next fifty

Director of Visual & Performing Arts Katy Wood Hills adds, “The CA Music Department has lost one of its finest. She was a dear friend to her colleagues and an inspiring mentor to so many of our students over the course of 34 years. Janet continued to be a face of support at all of our recitals after her retirement. Her legacy is one we will honor for years to come.”

Janet is survived by her daughters Jennifer Arnold and Laurie Arnold-Kelly and grandchildren Farah Arnold and Gabrielle Kelly. Condolences may be sent to: Jennifer Arnold

1248 S. Dover Way Lakewood, CO 80232-5249

Madeline Ann Cramer ’13

By Maddie’s family

Maddie Cramer was born on February 26, 1995. She came so quickly to us that she was born in the elevator at Swedish Hospital on the way up to the birthing room. This exuberance for life was her defining characteristic and at the center of her soul.

Maddie entered Colorado Academy for Pre-K and her beloved teachers Jenny Leger, Carol Rosberg, and Debra Pritchard discovered she was wonderful but a much different person than her big sister Caroline. Maddie loved school. In her application to Pre-K we wrote, “Madeline is a very special person—she wakes each day with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye.” So very true for so very long.

Maddie grew up quickly when her sister Juliet was born and they became quite close as Maddie loved all things Juliet and Juliet was a happy understudy. Our vacations to Europe, Mexico, and Hawaii ignited a passion for travel that grew over time.

After completing Freshman year at CA, Maddie transferred to the IB program at Lakewood High School. She excelled in the performing arts and blossomed in the larger population and diversity available. She not only was a gifted actress, but also began writing poetry and performing with Minor Disturbance, culminating in a 2013 Slam World Championship at Brave New Voices in Chicago.

Maddie entered Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, in August 2013 as a drama major, receiving two scholarships recognizing her potential. She won a role in the fall production and a lead role in the spring. Maddie was a wonderful actor, so calm and commanding onstage, attracting attention and respect as she took you on a journey. She decided to return to Colorado to be in a more inclusive and diverse environment at CU Boulder. Unfortunately, this was when her illness began to manifest.

Over the next eight years, Maddie fought incredibly hard against her bipolar disorder. Eventually she seemed to come to an

Janet Arnold

Maddie Cramer ’13

understanding that she needed a team of professionals, family, and loving friends to continue to build the beautiful life that was waiting for her. What was unknown and unclear to everyone was that the damage trauma had left behind could not be counseled or loved into silent submission. Maddie was and continues to be loved. She challenged us all to broaden our outlook, soften our edges, rethink our entrenchments. She made us all better.

Maddie left us for lasting peace on January 18, 2023, finally at rest and released from sorrow, pain, anguish, and worry. Her hope was always for a better world, and we wish to spread her desires to all who knew and all who seek peace and comfort.

Maddie is survived by her parents Jeff Cramer and Pam Miller and sisters Caroline ’11 and Juliet ’20 Cramer.

Condolences may be sent to: The Cramer Family

6920 W. Princeton Ave. Denver, CO 80235-3034

Susan Evans ’79

Susan R. Evans passed away on March 2, 2023, in Denver, Colo., after a long battle with breast cancer. Susan was born on December 18, 1960, in Denver, and she attended Colorado Academy, where she played Field Hockey and Basketball. Susan graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1983, with a BS in Marketing from the Leeds School of Business. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

After graduating from college, Susan had a diverse and successful professional career. She worked for many years at the Denver Zoo in the development department and also worked in development for other organizations, including Opera Colorado, Denver Botanical Gardens, and the 9 News Health Fair.

Always expanding her horizons, Susan obtained her certificate in Project Management in 2013 and subsequently worked as a project manager at SCL Health and then at American Water Works Association. She also held a real estate license.

With her friends from the Denver Zoo, Susan

enjoyed traveling the world and helping with animal projects. Turtles in the Galapagos Islands, lions in Africa, polar bears in the Arctic, and Komodo dragons in Indonesia were some of the great excursions. She traveled with her family to London, Paris, and Eastern Europe, by rail across Canada, Alaska, the Baltics, and Russia, as well as enjoying time at the family condo in Vail.

Susan was very active in supporting and participating in the endeavors of several animal rescue groups. Susan loved cats and will be dearly missed by Boots, Saffron, Socks, and Jet.

Susan was predeceased by her father, Bruce Evans, and is survived by her mother, Donna Evans, her brothers, Thomas ’82 and Jeffrey Evans (Lois), a niece and nephew, and by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and lifelong family friends.

Donations may be made in Susan’s name to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, Cat Care Society, or a charity of your choice

Condolences may be sent to:

Donna Evans

5365 W. Princeton Dr. Denver, CO 80235-3126

Joseph Korbel ’65

John Korbel passed away at home in Washington, D.C., on April 20, 2023, at the age of 76. John was born January 15, 1947, to Josef and Anna Korbel in Belgrade, Serbia, where his father was the Czech Ambassador to the former Yugoslavia. Following the Communist coup in Czechoslovakia in 1948, his

family sought political asylum in the United States. John grew up in Denver, Colo., where he later met and married his wife, Pamela Harmer.

Following graduation from Colorado Academy in 1965, John attended Williams College. Graduating in 1969, he majored in Russian area studies and later completed a doctorate in economics at the University of Colorado. He was an Assistant Professor of Economics at Middlebury College. In 1975, John and Pam moved to Washington, D.C., where John was an economist and policy analyst at the U.S. Congressional Budget Office. He then served as the Director of Economic Analysis at the U.S. Department of Energy. Following his years in public service, John joined PricewaterhouseCoopers and helped establish the firm’s government practice. John later became Partner, responsible for development and implementation of risk management and compliance standards for PwC firms around the world.

After his retirement, he continued to act as an independent consultant to private companies and government agencies, including the State Department. He served on the boards of the National Child Research Center preschool, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and the Social Science Foundation at the University of Denver, supporting the study and application of international relations at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies.

Even as he pursued a demanding global career, he was the foundation and proverbial rock of his family, a devoted husband to

John Korbel ’65 as pictured in the 1965 Telesis Yearbook

Susan Evans ’79 as pictured in the 1979 Telesis Yearbook

Pam, and an active father to his sons, Josef and Peter.

John was a uniquely engaged, humble, capable, loving, and welcoming individual. He enjoyed meeting new people and engaging with his community, especially on his daily walks with his beloved dog Ella. He loved hearing others’ opinions, even more so if a good debate could be had. At a time of widening political division, John spearheaded a virtual debate group and brought together diverging viewpoints for vigorous discussions on world events. John was charming and a captivating storyteller and his ironic, self-deprecating Czech humor never failed to bring a smile to a gathering. He was also an avid traveler, movie buff, voracious reader, and a hopelessly aspiring golfer.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his eldest sister Madeleine K. Albright, the first woman to serve as United States Secretary of State, and many family members who perished during the Holocaust and whom he and his sisters honored in 2015 with a commemorative plaque at Terezín, Czech Republic.

John is survived by his wife and best friend of 55 years, Pamela Korbel; his sons Josef Korbel (Magdalena) and Peter Korbel (Kristina); granddaughter Isadora Korbel; sister Kathy Korbel Silva; and numerous other family members and friends.

A celebration of John Korbel’s life was held at the Embassy of the Czech Republic on May 20. Donations may be made in John’s memory to the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver or to The Capitol Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Condolences may be sent to:

Pamela Korbel

3420 Newark St. N.W. Washington, DC 20016-3166

Lester Larson Jr. ’73

John Larson, age 68, passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, December 17, 2022. He was the middle child of John (Jack) and Margaret Larson, born on October 7, 1954.

John graduated from Fort Lewis College and immediately joined the family business, Larson Distributing Company. He served as

President from 1990 until the company was sold in 2014.

John was a natural athlete and enjoyed many sports, including tennis, golf, and skiing. John was always the life of the party. His rapier wit and dry sense of humor made him the center of attention and could draw small crowds. One of his close friends said he “had a special quality of always making new acquaintances feel he was their best friend.” He had a sympathetic, kind, and generous heart.

John fought hard to survive both Stage IV throat cancer in October through December 2002 and recovered from a massive cerebral hemorrhage in December 2015. Throughout all of those challenges, John always brought hope and an abundance of humor to everyone in his presence. His humble courage inspired more people than we could ever know.

John deeply enjoyed his family and friends. John was most proud of his daughter Paige, who truly was the light of his life. He was grateful and awestruck to see his beautiful granddaughter Finnley who was born in May 2022.

Please consider making a philanthropic gift in John’s memory to support either head and neck cancer research at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, CeDAR (the Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation), or Montview Presbyterian Church.

Gifts to CeDAR and head and neck cancer research can be made online at  giving.cu.edu/JohnLLarsonJr.

Ingrid Halvorson Hillhouse Moore ’92

Middle School French Teacher; Lower School Admission Director; Executive Director, Horizons, 2000-2014

Ingrid Moore died peacefully at home on March 20, 2023, surrounded by her devoted family. She was 48. Described repeatedly as the brightest light ever to fill a room, Ingrid was a fearless, generous champion of students, teachers, and colleagues. She loved her dream job as Lower School Director at The Steward School in Richmond, Va., and worked full time until three weeks before her death from cancer. Above all, she showered her love on her husband, John “Paco” Moore, and their four children, Virginia “Crary,” William “Wit,” Nelson “Nels,” and Edward Luchsinger “Lucky.” All of them survive her, along with her mother, Karin Halvorson Hillhouse; her father, William A. Hillhouse II and his wife, Lisa; and her brother, Torsten Hillhouse ’89.

Ingrid was born in Denver. Following high school graduation from Colorado Academy, she went on to Northwestern University, where she majored in French and art history. Subsequently, she received master’s degrees from Middlebury College (French) and the University of Nottingham (educational leadership) in England. Her interests were legion. They included children’s well-being, social justice, reading, travel, and singing— whether on stage or in stairwells—running marathons, hiking, and dancing.

Throughout Ingrid’s career at CA, she

Ingrid Hillhouse Moore ’92

John Larson ’73

excelled in countless plays and musicals, playing a memorable role as the Witch in her Senior-year musical Into the Woods. Ingrid excelled in choir and remained forever close with choir director Cindy Jordan. The 1992 Telesis yearbook stated Ingrid would be “Most likely to sing her thank you upon receiving an Oscar.” Her classmates miss her. A celebration of her life was held in April at The Steward School.

If you would like to honor Ingrid’s life and work, please consider a donation to support her legacy of teaching excellence at The Steward School, Champions of Play - Learning for Life: www.stewardschool. org/champions-of-play. Please visit  www.ingridhillhousemoore.com/.

Condolences may be sent to The Moore Family

1902 Hickoryridge Rd. Henrico, VA 23238-3806

Memories of Ingrid

Brielle Lebsack Cohen ’92: “I met Ingrid in Carolyn Nagusky’s Fourth Grade class when she arrived at CA as a new student. I remember her giant smile and immediately thought we would be friends. Little did I know Ingrid would become a life-long partner in crime, who would weave herself into the tapestry of my life in the most beautiful and permanent ways. From our first concert together to see Whitney Houston as kids, to Celine Dion in Vegas as adults, we made so many memories that I will carry forever. Ingrid was a force: a force of nature, a force of kindness, a force of brilliance. It really was her world, and I always felt so lucky to be in it. It’s impossible to imagine this world without her, but there’s no way the force she was leaves. We are all better for having had her in our lives, and I will never be the same. I am grateful beyond words for the 40-year friendship I had with my beautiful friend.”

Jill Boat Rakowski ’92: “I will always cherish my decades of memories with my dear friend. From our years at CA as students, to our year abroad in Paris during college, and later starting families in Denver, Ingrid was a force for fun and always sought out new experiences. She was the light in any room and truly devoted to her family and friends. All who ever met her felt her energy and

warmth. I feel grateful to have known her and will miss her always.”

Cindy Jordan, former Choir Director: “As Ingrid’s teacher, colleague, and friend, I experienced so many exemplary and meaningful parts of her life. The joy, laughter, and passion she brought to every one of us will live deep in our souls. ‘Children Will Listen’ from Into the Woods will forever be her song.” Suzanne Kolsun, former Lower School Teacher: “Ingrid lit up every room she entered. She taught me to always book the early bird seating on Southwest Airlines if flying to Los Angeles. Our shared love of England included visits to the village of Near Sawrey to the house of Beatrix Potter and walks to view the ruins of the Abbey in Barrow-in-Furness. She lived a wide-awake life every single day.”

Richard Andrew O’Connor ’80

Rich O’Connor, 61, of Evergreen, Colo., passed away on February 24, 2023. Born in Denver to Donald and Sue O’Connor on October 14, 1961, he graduated in 1980 from Colorado Academy and went on to earn a degree in geology at St. Lawrence University, in Canton, N.Y.

During summers in college, Rich worked on Martha’s Vineyard on sword fishing boats, which led to his passion as a fly fisherman. After college, Rich moved back to Denver and worked for the Xerox Corporation before entering into the finance industry

and working for both Kirkpatrick Pettis and D.A. Davidson as Senior Vice President of Institutional Sales. Rich retired in June 2022.

Rich met his wife Holly in the fall of 1988 and they married July 14, 1990. Holly and his daughters were the loves of his life. Rich loved the Colorado outdoors, spending time fishing in Colorado rivers, especially the North Fork of the South Platte on the family’s ranch in Pine. In the winter, Rich would ski at Vail and in the summer, mountain bike in Elk Meadow and Buffalo Creek. He loved hanging out with his beloved Labrador retrievers, Hoss, Izzie, and Millie. He was an avid Broncos and college lacrosse fan. He had an uncanny memory for just about any and every college and professional football player. Rich will be missed, but remembered for his quick wit, intellect, and integrity.

Rich is survived by his wife of 32 years, Holly, daughters Emma and Annie, his brothers Davis (Cathie) and Peter (Kathy) and sister Susan, and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service honoring Rich’s life was held in March 2023. His family requests donations to be made in Rich’s memory to The Wild Animal Sanctuary, Foothills Animal Shelter, or Evergreen Animal Protective League, all causes Rich was passionate about.

Condolences may be sent to:

Holly O’Connor

2253 Augusta Drive

Evergreen, CO 80439-8876

Rich O’Connor ’80 as pictured in the 1980 Telesis Yearbook

Lee Suter

Upper School History Teacher, Tennis Coach, 1988-1999

John Suter passed away on May 2, 2023. He was born on January 14, 1936, to Paul and Genevieve Suter. He was raised in Nevada, Ohio, with his sister Mary Lou. John grew up with a love of baseball, as well as an affinity for learning. He graduated from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, and then the University of Wisconsin. John was hired as a professor of American History at Colorado Women’s College. He continued his career as an educator at the University of Denver and Colorado Academy until his retirement.

John loved Colorado’s great outdoors. Camping and fishing with his family was one of his great joys. Tennis was his lifelong passion. He coached at CA and ran the Denver City Open. John was a USTA official for the US Open. He officiated for some of the best players in the world at numerous major tournaments around the country. John was

active in the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation, and he was recognized by the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame for his years of contributions. In his later years, John spent many joyous hours playing “geriatric tennis” three times a week with his friends at the Denver Tennis Club and enjoying life to the fullest.

John is survived by his sons Paul and Jack, daughters-in-law Ilene and Erika, and his grandchildren Zachary, Garrett, Jackson, Victoria, and Ryan.

Contributions may be made in John’s honor to the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation, CYTF.net.

Condolences may be sent to: Paul Suter

1350 Hudson St. Denver, CO 80220-2624

Memories of

Adam Chanzit ’99: ”John Suter, aka Mr. Suter, was my history teacher and tennis coach. He also became a mentor, confidant, and great friend.

“I came to CA as a Sophomore and I believe we had some tennis practices even before school started. So Mr. Suter was one of the people who first welcomed me, started my experience at CA off on the right foot (even if he wasn’t impressed with my jogging).

“Yes, Mr. Suter coached me hard that first year, but he also let me play my idiosyncratic style of tennis (which could be quite uncoachable). He coached the parts of my game that could be coached and just smiled at the others. I always worked extra hard to win for him. He was a student and teacher of the game, so very passionate

about the sport which was one of his great lifelong loves.

“And we had such a blast at State a couple of years, especially when we all traveled to Grand Junction together. He cheered me on in his quiet, wise way through an epic, wind-swept three-setter.

“Mr. Suter was a warm and wise presence in the classroom. I did an independent study in history with him as well, and he always knew when to give freedom and when to pull on the reins.

“He dispensed valuable advice to me over the years as we enjoyed many, many lunches after I graduated—and a few great tennis matches, too. I can’t remember if I ever got a set off him.

“And I saw him for the last time at a reunion a few years ago. He was one of the warmest, most genuine people I’ve ever met. He made a positive impact on so many through tennis and teaching and more. Here’s to a generous, genuine life well lived!”

Alison Carr Kochenberger ’99: “Mr. Suter taught me history at Colorado Academy. I failed one of the tests and as my consequence, I had to bring donuts in for the class. Mr. Suter was a fun teacher and always had a smile on his face. He never made you feel too bad about your mistakes.”

Josh Shulruff ’99: “I was very impressed that Mr. Suter had once thrown Andre Agassi out of a match. I have always remembered the particular phrase he used to describe 1998 alumna Kelly Young’s game as ‘classic as a Grecian urn.’ He taught us in the first AP Upper School History course CA offered, treating us just as if we were sophomores in college rather than high school.” n

John Suter

CA Alumni Association

Important Dates 2023-2024

Friday, September 29, 2023 Alumni/Upper School Spirit Breakfast Upper School West Patio, 7:30 a.m.

Saturday, September 30, 2023 Homecoming

9 a.m.-2 p.m., Varsity Games, BBQ Lunch, Carnival for children

Friday, December 1, 2023 Alumni Ice Skating Party

5:30–9 p.m.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 College Alumni Lunch Campus Center, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 1, 2024 Alumni Back-to-School Night, On Campus, Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Classes at 6:15 p.m.

Friday, May 17, 2024 Giant Relay Day

BBQ Lunch, Tour of Campus, The Race, Alumni Faculty Party, Alumni-Varsity-Faculty Ultimate Game

Saturday & Sunday, Reunion Weekend

May 18-19, 2024 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2014, 2019

Please check the Alumni Home Page for updates throughout the year, coloradoacademy.org/alumni.

Colorado Academy

3800 South Pierce Street

Once Upon a Time in Denver...

Before its current campus at 3800 South Pierce Street, Colorado Academy occupied a number of locations in downtown Denver. In 1906, the year of its founding, CA was known as the Hill School for Boys, located at 940 Pearl Street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Later, the school moved to a much larger building at East 13th Avenue and Clarkson Street, Wolfe Hall, which has since been demolished. CA finally moved to South Pierce Street in 1947 when it purchased the 75-acre former country estate of Jesse F. Welborn, president of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. There the school would grow, evolve, and, ultimately, reach north again toward a vastly changed Denver as it sought to strengthen connections with the city and its people.