Issuu

Alumni Profile: Dr. Kevin Peter Hand ’93

Faculty Interview: Jen Hyatt, Architect of Integration

2024 Reunion: Celebrating 175 years of women

Framework for the Future: the BBA STEM Vision

Headmaster

Mark H. Tashjian

Associate Head of School

Meg Kenny

Director of Advancement

Samantha Watson

Director of Communications

Jill Perry-Balzano

Design

Craig DesRoberts

Board of Trustees

Charley Stevenson, Chair

Ed Campbell ’70, Vice Chair

Scott Swenor, Treasurer

Sanfra Weiss, Secretary

Kellie Baker-Waite ’79

Brian M. Barefoot

Dr. Andrew Boyer ’01

Peggy Brophy Brockett ’88

D. William Cairns ’72

Rabbi Michael Cohen

Michael Cooperman

Pauline de Laszlo

Heidi Lynn

Daphne Markcrow

Carol O’Connor ’67

Michael Powers ’60

Robert Redmond

Trustees Emeriti

Seth Bongartz ’72

Orland Campbell

Robert E. Treat ’55

Tony Whaling

Photography

James Chandler ’10

Charleigh Carthy '19

Addi Greenland '27

Madison King '26

Kristi Lewicki

Evan Miksis '27

Mike Morin

Brian Sherras

2025 SPRING

From the Headmaster

News From Campus

Athletics Roundup

Arts Roundup

Interview: Jen Hyatt

Human Solutions: A Framework for the Future

Alumni Profile: Dr. Kevin Peter Hand ’93

OFFICE OF THE HEADMASTER

Dear Alumni, Friends, and Families,

With the end of this school year comes the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Burr and Burton. For nearly two hundred years, we have proudly served the communities of rural Vermont, providing an outstanding education that welcomes and supports all learners. As we look to the future, we know that remaining true to our history must go hand in hand with evolving to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

This issue of The VIEW highlights one exciting part of that evolution: the growing importance of STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—in shaping our students’ futures. You’ll read about alumni whose career paths began in our classrooms and the STEM Vision that informs the transformation of the Smith Center into a full blown STEM Center. This new space will foster exploration, creativity, and innovation for generations to come.

Our students continue to thrive across all areas of school life. From hard fought athletic seasons to inspiring artistic achievements, this year has been a remarkable one. We are so proud of all our students, and especially the Class of 2025, whose leadership, spirit, and resilience have left a lasting mark on our school.

As we invest in the programs and people who shape our future, we do so with deep gratitude for your continued support. Thank you for being a part of the Burr and Burton community.

Onward and forward,

Mark H. Tashjian Headmaster

NEWS FROM CAMPUS

The Smith Center Makes Room for the Future

RENOVATED SPACES, DRIVEN BY THE STEM VISION

Last summer, the Smith Center, built in 1998, began a renovation that is driven by a new vision: The BBA STEM Vision that was developed over the past few years to make sure all Burr and Burton students have access to the skills of the future.

Learn more about the BBA STEM Vision in this magazine's faculty interview with Jen Hyatt on page 17 and feature story, Human Solutions: A Framework for the FUTURE on page 20.

The basement of the Smith Center has been transformed into STEM labs and classrooms that provide collaborative workspaces for the students in Foundations of STEM, Introduction to Computer Science, and other integrative courses.

The third floor math labs and classrooms have also been transformed into modern classrooms with breakout spaces.

Burr and Burton Mountain Campus Expands to Offer Half-Day Courses

BUILDING ON MOMENTUM FROM A FALL SEMESTER WHERE MORE THAN 400 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN ORIENTATION, LEADERSHIP RETREATS, AND OTHER EXPERIENTIAL COURSEWORK, THE BBA MOUNTAIN CAMPUS IS EXCITED TO OFFER FOUR TWO-CREDIT, DOUBLE BLOCK INTEGRATIVE LEARNING COURSES THAT WILL BE HOSTED AT THE PERU CAMPUS DURING THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR. AN IMMERSIVE, FOUR-CREDIT SEMESTER PROGRAM WILL BE OFFERED IN THE 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR.

Taught by current Burr and Burton faculty, the Mountain Campus courses will be held during the regular school day and will allow for enrolled students to participate in any after-school activity. Each half-day course will count for two-credits, and all four courses are offered for CP or honors credit.

New courses available for sophomores are CP Literature, Leadership and Learning in the Outdoors fulfills the sophomore English credit and a physical education credit and CP Environmental Chemistry Literature: Investigating our Impact which fulfills the sophomore English credit and the chemistry credit.

New courses available for juniors and seniors are CP Conservation Biology and Environmental Literacy: Principles and Practice, which fulfills the junior or senior English credit and the biology credit and CP Vermont Ecology and Data Science, which fulfills the biology credit and one math credit.

The Mountain Campus Working Group, established in the spring of 2024 as the semester program began a year-long pause, reviewed program

feedback from students, parents and alumni. The group then created a framework for an expanded program that would include two-credit, double block integrative learning courses in addition to an immersive semester experience.

The working group developed the following mission statement:

The BBA Mountain Campus immerses students in realworld learning focused on the interdependence of human and natural communities. Students are empowered to deepen their relationship with the world around them through the integration of environmental studies, leadership practice, reflection, and community partnerships.

What do you do when life gets really hard? Like really hard?

Gather, and the Practice of Belonging

LAST FALL, BURR AND BURTON FACULTY ENGAGED IN A SHARED READING OF GATHER BY KEN CADOW, A POWERFUL COMING-OF-AGE NOVEL AND THE 2024 VERMONT READS BOOK OF THE YEAR.

In January 2025, BBA faculty and staff gathered for a rich discussion with author Ken Cadow, whose visit marked an important moment in this year’s professional development. Cadow asked educators to consider why some students feel disconnected at school: “The fact that school isn’t considered real world is deeply problematic.” He emphasized the importance of fostering real, meaningful connections with students and closed his talk with a resonant reminder: “It’s irresponsible not to have hope.”

The conversation around Gather became more than a literary discussion—it inspired action. Faculty took part in a school-wide assessment and analysis of student connections, identifying opportunities to deepen community and support for students who may be on the margins.

Through this work, Burr and Burton staff continue to embody the spirit of Gather, seeking to build a learning environment where every student is seen, supported, and belongs.

BBA Wins Back-to-Back Science Olympiad State Championships

THIS SPRING, BURR AND BURTON ACADEMY TOOK HOME THE TOP PRIZE AT THE SCIENCE OLYMPIAD STATE COMPETITION, HELD AT NORWICH UNIVERSITY.

This victory marks the second consecutive year that BBA has claimed the state championship title.

With a full roster of 15 dedicated members, BBA showcased impressive teamwork and scientific expertise across a broad range of events. The winning team included Captain Jackson Kitts, Hazel Cornwell, Addison Greenland, Ben Kirkpatrick, Betsy Kirkpatrick, Christopher Madsen, Aleks Rūtiņš, Charles Smith, Pengju Sui, Carter Teitelbaum, Jon Vernon, Miles Vernon, Rachel Yan, and Dhruv Patel.

The competition featured six teams from four schools—St. Johnsbury, People’s Academy, Mt. St. Joseph, and Burr and Burton Academy. Despite the fierce competition, BBA’s commitment to excellence in science and problemsolving earned them the top spot.

BBA’s Science Olympiad team was guided by teacher leaders Rebecca Allen and Ollie Brown. Huge thanks to Ms. Allen, Mr. Brown, and the entire BBA Science Department for their unwavering support of this incredible team.

“What makes Science Olympiad truly special is the community it builds,” said BBA science teacher Rebecca Allen. “It’s a space where students connect through a shared love of science—where talents

are celebrated, especially those that might not always shine in a traditional classroom or on an athletic field. Over the course of the season, we focus on collaboration, growth, and fun. We build strong team bonds, and by the end of the year, we’ve created a tightknit group with a ton of inside jokes and unforgettable memories.”

For team captain Jackson Kitts ’25, this final season was especially meaningful. “All of us dragged ourselves out of bed at 4 AM to travel to our state competition,” said Kitts. “While I might not be majoring in science in the future, this experience has established connections that will last forever.” He reflected on the Science Olympiad as an opportunity to explore many different fields of science—from chemistry to engineering—in a fun, collaborative setting.

Addi Greenland ’27 echoed that sense of personal growth and team pride. “One thing that was exciting about this experience was seeing my progress in my specialized event,” she said. “Charles, my friend, and I work together to compete in Forensics. We signed up with no prior knowledge except for bits we’d picked up from crime series, and through hard work and perseverance, we went from 18th place to 1st place at states.”

Greenland described the competition as a fast-paced and dynamic experience. “Our club is basically track, but within the field of science,” she said. “Each of us specializes—or is thrown into—an event, and we score points based on how well we do. It’s challenging, but also incredibly rewarding.”

ATHLETICS ROUNDUP

The Mountain Biking Team, in its 11th year at Burr and Burton, finished 4th in their league with one first place finish and four second place finishes. Coach Mowry is hopeful to get more interested girls next year.

THE BURR AND BURTON FALL 2024 ATHLETICS SEASON

Boys Varsity Soccer had a competitive season, finishing the season 123, and losing the quarterfinal game narrowly in a penalty shootout.

MAKING STEADY GAINS:

A season of growth, perseverance and triumph.

Football captains Thomas Sheldon ’25 and Tyler Benson ’25 were selected to the South All Star team this year! Although the team faced some hardship, captains brought their team together and had some big wins to close the season. Coach McCoy is looking forward to a long roster of returning players next year.

GO BULLDOGS!

Our Boys Golf team had a solid showing in the sectionals and Grayson Rourke ’26 was selected to play as an individual in the state tournament.

The Bass Fishing Team took 5th in the varsity competition and 3rd in the JV competition.

Girls Golf earned a 2nd place trophy in the State Championship.

This year's Southern Vermont League coach of the year was Els Van Woert, Girls Varsity Soccer coach, leading their team to victory in the Southern Vermont League.

Field Hockey had a great season with a 7-7 record in the regular season. Goalkeepers Marlee Clark ’26 and Emilly Abbot ’27 had 5 combined shutouts! Captains Mai-liis Edwards ’25, Bea Thompson and Piper Morgan ’25 were named to the SVL All-star First team. After the season's conclusion players Emily Abbott, Marley Clark ’26, Shelly Clark ’26 , Fiona Corbett ’28 , Madi King ’26 headed up North to compete in the Rising Stars games. Mai-Liis Edwards, Giana Fiske ’25 and Piper Morgan ’25 also made the trip to play in the Senior Showcase.

With an undefeated regular season and winners at League Championships for both boys and girls the Cross Country team also had a successful season, but it didn’t end there. The boys came 3rd in D2 for states, and the girls came in 2nd. Sydney Remenar ’26, Emily Harris ’26 , Madelyn Harris ’26, and Kiki Ondrouskova ’25 all came in top 10, qualifying them as individuals for New Englands!

ATHLETICS ROUNDUP

GirlsWrestlingispavingtheWay:Asmallgroupmakingabigdifference.

This season marked the second season for Girls Wrestling. The team is continuing to make history as the only girls wrestling team in Vermont. This year's team had an athlete from each grade, captained by Hazel Cornwell ’25. Bringing in many individual medals, the team took five qualifying girls to New Englands. Wrestling continues to grow all over the country, especially for girls, and the small team at BBA is a representation of that. The team hopes to see many new faces next year!

THE BURR AND BURTON WINTER 2025 ATHLETICS SEASON

“Iwasatmysecondtournamenteverandmentionedto someonethatwehavetheonlygirlsteaminVermont,andhe saidsomethingI’llneverforget:‘Rightnowpeoplearesurprised you’reagirlwhoiswrestling,butwhenyouareolder,you won’tbesurprisedtoseeyourgranddaughteronamat.’ Ithenwentontowinfirstplaceatthattournament,anditfelt awesome.” - Madison King ’26

This year Boys Basketball ended with a season record of 11-9 and a playoff seed #7. Jackson Kunisch ’27 was selected for the All SVL First Team and Grayson Rourke ’26, Gevin Roberts ’26 and Joe Livingston ’26 got an All SVL honorable mention.

Girls Basketball was made up of many young athletes and crucial upperclassmen, ending their season with a record of 7-13. One returning player, Piper Morgan ’25, was selected to the South All-Star team and the second team A-Division all stars!

Girls Hockey earned the #1 seed for playoffs at the end of their amazing season. The Lake B All State Selections this year went to Mai-Liis Edwards ’25 earning Co-Player of the Year. Katie Brownlee ’27 was First Team-Defense and Mya Duncan ’26 was Second Team-Offense. Soon you will see a new addition to the walls of the gym, the name Mai-Liis Edwards. She scored her 100th career point this season, becoming the third BBA player ever to do this.

MAKING STEADY GAINS

There was a lot of young talent on the Girls Snowboarding team this year. That talent brought home a first place trophy from states. Anna Carson ’26 was 2nd in the state overall. Hana Heidebrecht ’28 got 2nd in slopestyle and Carson got 1st. Eliza White ’27 received 2nd in the GS race!

Winning first place in 1-5 of their regular season comps was a good sign going into states. Rock Climbing then took home the title of State Champions! Harry Weikert ’27, Griffin Mcintyre ’25 and Maeve Braico ’27 earned top climbers at the state competition.

Boys Hockey ended their season with a 6-12-2 record. The captains this year were Owen McGunnigle ’25 and Colin Brady ’25. Henry Parent ’25 stepped onto the ice for the first time in his life, taking the position of goalie, winning on Senior Night! Bodie Smith ’26 and Ryan Kramer ’26 were recognized with honorable mention selections by Division 1 coaches. McGunnigle was selected to play in the Rotary Senior All-Star game.

Boys Snowboarding were runners up this year at states. Keegan Joyce ’25 got 3rd in the state for Giant Slalom. Willem Vickers ’26 was 4th in Boys Slopestyle.

ARTS ROUNDUP Theater

By Stephanie Liy

THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THE ARTS AT BBA HAVE BEEN BUZZING WITH VIBRANT ENERGY! IT HAS BEEN THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR STUDENTS TO SHINE—WHETHER ON STAGE, AT THE EASEL, OR IN THE MUSIC ROOM.

Fall Play: Radium Girls

This fall, the BBA Theater Department captivated audiences with Radium Girls, a powerful and thought-provoking play that told the story of the real-life struggle faced by women who worked with radium at a watch factory in the early 1920s. These women, many of whom were teens, were unknowingly exposed to the harmful effects of radium as they painted watch dials, leading to debilitating health issues and, in many cases, death.

The student performers handling this serious and emotional material did so with incredible maturity and depth, bringing a strong sense of empathy and responsibility to their roles. Their performances not only honored the historical significance of the story but also highlighted the courage and resilience of these young women.

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Burr and Burton students have been making waves in the art world! Willa Seo ’26 received a prestigious Gold Key Award in the Scholastic Art and Writing competition, recognizing her as one of the top artists in the region. Willa’s painting, Host Father, part of her AP Art series, explores the emotions of loneliness, growth, and gratitude that she experienced during her exchange year in Japan. This deeply personal work also earned Willa a nomination for the Visions Award, a national honor for original and authentic student artwork.

Emma Southworth ’25 also made her mark on the arts scene, receiving an Honorable Mention in the Vermont Presidential Scholars in the Arts Program for her oil painting, Sheep Emma's talent and dedication were celebrated at the State House in Montpelier, where she was recognized for her outstanding artistic achievements.

Music and Performances

Spring Musical: Urinetown was Extraordinary

In early spring, Burr and Burton Performing Arts staged the riotous musical Urinetown at the Riley Center for the Arts. Set in a dystopian city where citizens paid to use public toilets, the show blended sharp satire with exaggerated, theatrical characters. “I absolutely loved how this show celebrated musical theater, and the characters were just so over the top in such a fun way. I had a blast playing the villain,” said actor Joey Masalsky ’25. The production delivered big laughs and bold performances, leaving audiences both entertained and thoughtful.

A Cultural Enrichment: Japanese Koto Workshop

This year, Burr and Burton's music program ventured into the world of global music traditions. Chie Addington, a master of the Japanese koto, led a workshop for students in World Music, Contemporary & Classical Music History, Music Theory, and Applied Music. This unique experience introduced students to the rich sounds of the koto and the cultural significance of the instrument, enhancing their understanding of music from around the world.

Arts

Woodshop Creations

Woodshop students have also been busy crafting impressive works of art in the workshop. Under the expert guidance of the talented woodshop instructor Jon Mowry, students have created a variety of functional and artistic pieces that showcase their skills and creativity. Whether it’s intricate wood carvings, beautifully constructed furniture, or innovative design projects, the craftsmanship displayed in the woodshop reflects the spirit of hands-on learning and artistic expression at Burr and Burton.

ARCHITECT of INTEGRATION JEN HYATT:

By Jill Perry-Balzano

FACULTY INTERVIEW

It’s a focused afternoon on campus—students and teachers are in the midst of E block—and the Founders Hall stairs leading up to Burr and Burton Academic Dean Jen Hyatt’s bright office are unusually quiet.

Hyatt is focused too—on the critical work of hiring for the next school year. Though it’s a busy time, Hyatt is utterly centered— grounded, thoughtful, and unmistakably tuned in. In our conversation, she doesn’t rush. She reflects. And when she speaks about her work, it’s with the clarity of someone who knows exactly why she’s here.

“It’s in my DNA, really,” she says, when I ask what first drew her to education. “I come from a family of farmers and educators. My mother was a teacher. My aunt was a principal. My grandfather was a teacher and coach.”

Hyatt comes from a close-knit family where the connections between work, community, and family were lived every day.

“I grew up in a family where people were talking about teaching, talking about their teaching lives. I remember watching my mom write her report cards at the kitchen table, and I helped her make bulletin boards for her classroom.”

In her early twenties, Hyatt first thought she’d stay in academia. “I went to college thinking I would become a college professor. I would get my PhD, because I loved talking about literature and reading literature.”

But something shifted during graduate school: “I was working for the Boys and Girls Clubs in inner city Schenectady, New York. By day, I was reading literary critical theory—and by night, I was working with kids living in poverty—it

was an impactful moment in my life. I was like, what’s more important?”

“I thought, I’m reading this theory that few people read, I’m going to write papers that few people will read. Or I’m going to work with kids like this—and make a difference.”

“And that was the deciding factor; I switched gears and decided to be a high school teacher.”

Serendipity

Hyatt began her teaching career in Averill Park, New York. And it was there, through a chance connection, that her path began to bend toward Burr and Burton. A veteran colleague at Averill Park knew that Bennington College was hiring faculty to run its new teaching program. Hyatt recalls with a smile, “He brought me to Bennington College and introduced me to the president.”

That meeting opened a new chapter. “I was hired as the associate director of the Center for Creative Teaching and worked in that role for six years. It was an amazing opportunity that was truly formative for me.”

The Bennington College program was known for its full-year teaching internship model. One of the partner schools was Burr and Burton, and Hyatt met former Headmaster Chuck Scranton while arranging student teacher placements. Later, when Scranton began the search for an academic dean, he reached out to see if she was interested.

“That was twenty years ago,” Hyatt says.

Leadership

In her two decades at Burr and Burton, Hyatt has become a key architect of the school’s academic evolution. From codeveloping the Professional Development Plan (PDP) faculty evaluation process,

“I’ve been a world traveler my whole life,” she says. “Seeing different perspectives, different ways of living, different ways of doing things always informs my work.”

launching the school’s program review model, and supporting the development of cornerstone programs like the Student Success Program, the Farm and Food Studies Program, the Mountain Campus and others, Hyatt’s impact on the way students learn at Burr and Burton is massive.

Q&A

Hyatt credits a myriad of experiences with shaping her approach to leadership.

At Bennington College, she found a model rooted in John Dewey’s educational philosophy—one that gave students autonomy and purpose: “How do we give kids more voice and choice in their education? That’s what I wanted to see happen here.”

Hyatt also takes inspiration from travel: “I’ve been a world traveler my whole life,” she says. “Seeing different perspectives, different ways of living, different ways of doing things always informs my work.” Her global curiosity helped to inspire the school’s program review process, which encourages faculty to look beyond BBA’s walls to learn, grow, and evolve.

She rounded out her leadership philosophy at Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center, where Hyatt earned a master’s in independent school leadership: “[The program]

I know that you were involved in a team that did a lot of research and exploration as you developed the STEM education goals and vision; what was that process like and what inspired you along the way?

Enhancing BBA’s STEM program has been a goal of mine for a number of years; it was a real area for growth in our curriculum. I spent time meeting individually with all of the teachers in our math and science departments, as well as with the director of technology, to develop a STEM education vision that laid out what STEM education is, why it is important, what other high schools in our area were offering in comparison to BBA, and why we needed to start offering computer science classes, as well as more integrative STEM courses that bring math and science together in real-world, hands-on, projectbased ways. The redesign and renovation of the Smith Center aligned with this vision nicely, so the timing was right. It was important to me that we worked as a collaborative team, with all of the teachers and administrators agreeing that this is the direction in which we want to move.

helped me to really nail down my personal core values—who am I as a leader, and what’s important to me?”

When asked about leadership, she returns quickly to her early work. “I have always been drawn to working with kids who are living in poverty—who face so many life challenges. It was formative for me thinking about obstacles to kids’ learning. My orientation is always around how to serve all kids well.”

“That’s always at the forefront of my leadership work—always the question, ‘What’s best for kids?’”

That student-centered lens shapes everything from her relationships to programs: “I think we have that kind of community at BBA where people genuinely care, support one another. That core value is real. And, I think leadership is built on good relationships. Caring for kids, caring for the adults—and making sure they feel valued, they feel seen—the adults and the kids. We are a community, and we need to care for each other.”

The STEM Vision highlights the importance of integrative learning, critical and creative thinking, and 21st-century skills. As we adopt this vision, where are some places where you see this happening already? And, what is the potential you see in the future?

One of our strengths as a learning community is that we’re reflective practitioners. We are always thinking about what we’re teaching and how we’re teaching it. We respond to both the students’ needs and to best practices, as well as what the world is asking of our students in order for them to be successful. I am confident that the more hands-on, real-world, integrative, and immersive the work that students are doing here is, the more engaged they will be and the more they will understand and grow their skills and content knowledge. Courses such as robotics, engineering, biotechnology, CAD design and programming are going to continue to evolve, especially as AI becomes more and more central to our use of technology. We probably can’t imagine what STEM classes will look like in ten years but I’m confident that BBA will be responsive as the landscape of STEM changes.

This year, you developed a new way of thinking about Burr and Burton’s academic core, which is reflected in updated graduation requirements. Would you tell me more about this academic core, and how the STEM Vision fits into it?

In partnership with Associate Head Meg Kenny, I led the academic department chairs through a multi-step process that involved looking at our strategic goals, the transferrable skills and portrait of a graduate models at the Vermont Agency of Education, and a review of what other high schools in Vermont are doing. It led to a revisiting and updating of BBA’s core values and Spire skills and then work to think about better aligning our grad requirements with them, particularly around the Spire of integrative thinking.

We were able to break down and clearly convey our academic “core” into three categories: Spire skills, subject-centered objectives, and essential experiences: all three comprise what we believe to be the critical things students need and deserve. A new graduation requirement involves student participation in an integrative, immersive experience. Integrative, immersive courses and experiences prioritize meaningful engagement and interdisciplinary connections.

These experiences aim to cultivate deep learning, curiosity, and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world contexts. They are place-based, work-based, and/or experiential, resulting in engaged students who see the value and relevance of their education. Integrative STEM courses combined with student presentations of learning and authentic application of the skills learned in those courses (such as through a workbased learning internship) are one of many ways to fulfill this requirement.

You have had a long tenure leading academics at Burr and Burton; in 2029, the school will head into its third century educating the community—what are you most excited about as Burr and Burton approaches this milestone?

This is my 20th year at BBA. I have seen so much growth and positive change in those 20 years. Looking back, I’m particularly proud to have played a role in developing impactful programs like the Student Success program, the Mountain Campus program, and the farm and food studies courses at Hildene Farm. I’m proud to have helped usher in more integrated, project-based learning and to have helped to create our teacher PDP and program review processes, through which our culture of collaboration, reflection, and ongoing professional development is fostered.

As BBA approaches its 3rd century of educating the Northshire community, I’m first and foremost grateful to have been a part of BBA’s long and proud history and am excited to keep building and innovating in partnership with the faculty and staff. My footprint is a small one in the story of this school, but it is fulfilling to know that I have played a role in contributing to and nurturing BBA’s special learning community.

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HUMAN SOLUTIONS A Framework for the Future

By Jill Perry-Balzano

Empathize

In the spring of 2020, despite the palpable strangeness of life during the Covid-19 pandemic, Burr and Burton sophomore Michael Alfano committed to learning something new.

That semester Alfano began the first of four independent studies with Director of Technology Amy Wright. He recalls how he felt as he began learning: “The first one I took was an intro to computer science course that covered the basics of Python. A couple weeks into the course I was hooked. Solving a problem, running the solution, and seeing the result was almost magical.”

In each course, Wright facilitated progressively complex work, and recalls: “Michael was a voracious learner who was captivated by computer science.”

In her work with Alfano, Wright, a seasoned educator, connected with him to learn more about his interest and support it. Her ability to empathize enabled her to find a way to provide the educational experiences that he was looking for.

Ollie Brown, who joined BBA this year as the first STEM Integrationist and Computer Science teacher, knows that empathy—this defining human ability—is really the first step in learning to harness the power of technology: “The first step of the design process is empathizing with the person that you’re designing for and really understanding what their need is. It’s not what’s easiest for you as a designer to make or what’s least expensive—it’s what’s best for that user?

“The only way you can know is by trying to understand what their life is like and what the problem really is and why it’s a problem. Only then are you really going to come up with good solutions, really effective solutions, human solutions—and that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

Define

Before there was the BBA STEM Vision, there was a clear challenge: How do we make STEM education accessible, inspiring, and integrative—for all students?

This is what Academic Dean Jen Hyatt set out to do alongside Director of Technology Amy Wright and the full force of the Math and Science Departments. [See interview with Jen Hyatt on page 16.]

“When there is a need,” Wright says simply, “BBA rises to it.”

Joe Mundt, longtime BBA math teacher and STEM advocate, adds, “As a math teacher, STEM has the potential to connect fields of interest for students and help them see the connections lying underneath. So much of the work under the STEM umbrella comes down to abstraction, problem solving, and determination.”

Ideate

What emerged from that reflection was a bold new vision: STEM for All.

The BBA STEM Vision:

Through project-based, integrative, and engaging educational experiences that incorporate design thinking, BBA’s STEM program helps students to:

• Become critical, creative thinkers and innovative problem-solvers;

• Prepare for the future workforce by developing 21st-century skills;

• Enhance their technological and scientific literacy and mathematical numeracy;

• Address real-world issues facing our complex global society.

Actionably, the vision also indicated hiring a unique educator with specialized skills: a STEM Integrationist, who could build bridges

to core science and math classes while simultaneously partnering with key faculty to create a computer science curriculum.

Prototype

Burr and Burton was excited to find this educator in Ollie Brown, who hit the ground running in September teaching two new courses: Introduction to Computer Science and Developing Apps for iOS. Brown also co-taught the new 9th grade Foundations of STEM class with math and science educators and collaborated with faculty on many integration projects.

Sitting atop a tall stool that will shortly be moved into storage for the second stage of Smith Center renovations, Brown’s open posture matches his easy and amiable recall of the experiences that led him to Burr and Burton.

Brown was initially drawn to chemistry and began the path to become a pharmacist at the UConn School of Pharmacy. During his internship, Brown realized that pharmacy was not for him, and made a major shift to focus on sustainable agriculture. The path through plants led him to working in schools and eventually getting a master of arts in teaching at Marlboro College. Shortly after, Brown was hired as a STEAM, digital technology, and computer science teacher at Rutland Middle School, where he pioneered the school’s first maker space.

“I want us to see and really internalize the idea that science, technology, engineering, math are inseparable,”

It is clear that it is this range of expertise that enables Brown to create truly integrative experiences for students: “I want us to see and really internalize the idea that science, technology, engineering, math are inseparable,” he says.

Brown believes that true impact lives at the intersection—where math meets biology, where coding meets ethics, where theory meets the real world. “Our goal,” he says, “is to blend together those disciplines in a way that enables students to see the whole of it.”

Already, bolstered by the new spaces in Smith, change is happening. Mundt describes it as a quiet but powerful shift: “The past few years have been a good start; the revamp of Smith has given a needed lift to half of the departments, and the rest will be finished soon. Ollie has been wonderful in linking classes to STEM ideas and helping all different classes see what’s possible.”

He adds, “There’s been some solid 'under the hood' work, where teachers are talking about connections and building

more and more bridges between classes that used to be more isolated. Through that work, we are also now building new data science courses—and trying to reach as many of our students as possible in doing so.”

In many ways, the new curriculum compliments the skills and processes that Kevin Morrison has been working on in his robotics courses for several years: “When I teach robotics, I emphasize the design process to encourage my students to think like designers and engineers,” he explains. “We created the acronym DRIVE to help students remember the steps of the design process. DRIVE stands for define, research, ideate, verify, and evaluate. Students are expected to build, program, test, modify, and retest their robots until they complete various challenges.”

For Amy Wright, the next step is about even greater integration: “The next phase will allow us to double down on the engineering side of things. That’s where math and science concepts come together in practice and where creative problem solving really is critical.”

Test

Last fall, Addi Greenland ’27 walked into Burr and Burton’s club fair feeling unsure of what she might join. That changed when she spotted a table labeled Science Olympiad. “It gleamed like a lighthouse signaling home,” she recalls. Though she knew little about the club, she followed that instinct—and walked into a room full of students she would soon call “my people.”

In Science Olympiad, a club co-advised by Brown and science teacher Rebecca Allen, Addi and her partner Charles dove into the world of forensic science, balancing it alongside preparation for other events like anatomy and physiology. “Through these stressful yet fun experiences,” she reflects, “I learned how resourceful I could be by just being gritty.” That self-driven learning, marked by both challenge and community, is at the heart of integrative learning.

For students like Dahlia Cohn ’25, the impact of integrative STEM education was transformative. During this spring’s trip to

Costa Rica as part of the Conservation Biology course pioneered this year by Rebecca Allen, Cohn found herself crouched in the sand at 2:00 a.m., helping protect endangered sea turtles. “I had the chance to collect her eggs—a moment I will remember for the rest of my life,” she says. “In my tightly clenched fist was a bag containing 40 lbs of life . . . I was engaging in change in its rawest form. Change is real, and it’s tangible, and it exists in even the smallest of actions.”

Aleks Rūtiņš ’25, a fellow student on the Costa Rica trip, echoes that sentiment. “Learning about carbon emissions and ecosystems in a classroom is useful,” he explains, “but experiential learning . . . adds a degree of understanding the real impact of things that you can't get from a textbook.”

Beyond biology, Aleks’s experiences in robotics and IT support also left a lasting mark. Over his years at BBA, he has explored programming, systems troubleshooting, and collaborative engineering. The work was practical and real—and it helped him chart a course toward studying computer science and music in college.

In each of these stories, the throughline is clear: lasting learning happens when students are given the chance to do. Whether designing code, wiring a robot, collecting data in a new ecosystem, or stepping into a new scientific discipline for the first time, Burr and Burton students are discovering that STEM is not simply a subject—it’s a way of engaging with the world.

Refine

A year ago, Michael Alfano decided to relocate to San Francisco in order to go all in on an artificial intelligence (AI) startup founded by a University of Pennsylvania peer.

Paradigm, an AI first workspace, was initiated with the goal to automate busy work using AI powered spreadsheets, allowing users to collect data from an enormous range of sources with a few clicks.

Alfano is still deeply motivated to find solutions: “Learning computer science, or any engineering related field for that matter, is widely applicable to almost every profession,” he says. “Fundamentally when you study any engineering field you are just studying

varying degrees of applied problem solving. These are skills that are applicable to basically anything.”

That transferability, Alfano believes, is key to understanding the relevance of STEM, even in an age shaped by artificial intelligence.

Looking ahead, Burr and Burton faculty are energized by what’s next.

Joe Mundt is particularly excited about expanded programming at the Mountain Campus [see page 6 for more on the new Mountain Campus courses]: “The collaboration between math and science, and the connection it brings both pedagogically and to the

Michael Alfano ’22

Alfano demonstrates Paradigm.

land and space around us—it’s just the beginning. I’m also excited to see the continued building and collaboration of how technology can help our students see the abstract ideas that are at the core of all we do in the STEM arena.”

Kevin Morrison is looking forward to the ways the new Smith Center spaces will enhance his courses: “I am most excited about the new spaces for testing and prototyping students' designs.”

Amy Wright sees those spaces transforming how students experience STEM. “The first floor space is going to become an engineering hub where kids can apply the concepts that they’re learning,” she says. “We’re going to have industry-standard tools that’s

going to allow students to step into it in a way that’s really exciting.”

And for Ollie Brown, it’s about opportunity for all: “I’m excited to see students that wouldn’t have thought of themselves as engineers or scientists or mathematicians really grow into that; there is a world of creativity, selfexpression and opportunity that lies in those fields, and if exposure opens students’ minds towards that, that’s what I’m excited for.”

Because every student should have access to the skills and knowledge of the future. As Alfano reflects back to us from an ever-evolving world: “The highest impact individuals in any organization are the ones who can solve the hardest problems.”

“The highest impact individuals in any organization are the ones who can solve the hardest problems.”

- Michael Alfano '22

ALUMNI PROFILE

Kevin Hand behind the wheel of an arctic tractor hauling gear in Antarctica, December 2019.

FROM THE GREEN MOUNTAINS TO THE STARS:

THE MAGIC AND MYSTERY OF

EXPLORATION

By Meredith Morin

When running through a list of possible emotions one might expect to feel if trapped in a small submersible at the bottom of the ocean, “calm” probably wouldn’t make the list for most of us.

Anxious? Yes. Panicked? Absolutely. Facing-death-and-certain-existential-dread? Yes, yea, and yep.

(his first of nine to the ocean floor) on that day in 2003 as part of a team whose work was filmed as part of James Cameron’s 2003 Aliens of the Deep documentary. When he reflected on the mishap in his book, Alien Oceans, Kevin expressed gratitude at being

the ice that could support life. “Europa is a place where we can search for life in an ocean that exists today,” Kevin said. “It is a game changer in that it has an ocean that’s completely covered with ice, and its ocean is maintained through tidal energy.”

flybys of Europa. A companion Europa Lander mission that was in the works was recently shelved, but Kevin hopes a lander mission will be conducted in where we can search

game changer in that it has an ocean that’s completely covered with ice, and its ocean is maintained through tidal energy.”

Kevin Hand at work at the bottom of the ocean in a Russian submersible, 2003.

CREATIVITY CURIOSITY

AND

Throughout our conversation, Kevin moved seamlessly through the many projects he is working on, describing the purpose and mission of the science with a casual accessibility that belies the true complex nature of such profound scientific inquiry. His enthusiasm for the work almost looks like playfulness, which indeed it could be, knowing where it was cultivated.

Growing up in Manchester, Vermont, Kevin was one of four with his siblings Sean Hand ’91, Peter Hand ’00, and Meaghan Hand ’96. Kevin dedicated Alien Oceans “To my parents Peter and Marybeth Hand, for providing a childhood few in fences but full of nets.” He remembers life in his Barnumville Road neighborhood as “a kind of Calvin and Hobbes childhood where there’s a universe in every mud puddle.”

He said that he and his siblings and friends were free to explore. “We would fish the Battenkill, we’d hike Equinox, and bushwack up areas of the Green Mountains and Taconic Range, so the ‘fences’ were few, as we were told to get out there, explore and follow our curiosity, but my childhood was also full of nets. When anyone in the community needed help, when anything went wrong, it was not just your family that was there to catch you, but also the whole community,” he said.

“The night sky of Vermont really captivated me at a young age,” he said. “Growing up under the clear night sky of Vermont was a key component of seeding my fascination with and passion for the cosmos and the search for life. It planted that sense of wonder.”

At Manchester Elementary School, Kevin remembers the influence of his middle school science teacher Mike Ceparaun. “He got us out into the woods and taught us about tools and technology, so scientifically, he really paved the way for me,” he said. “At a young age, my friends and I, we were all building model rockets and model airplanes and launching them at the Rec.”

“The

good scientist should, Kevin curiously sought and received lessons from a variety of sources that would build on his foundational love of science. “I often tell students that I mentor that one of my best science teachers was my high school English teacher,” he said. Kevin recalls that Burr and Burton English teacher Bob Leslie “taught me how to distill my thoughts into words on the page. And that is so critical for science, whether it’s writing scientific manuscripts, writing proposals to get grant money, or in the case of writing a book - how to communicate science clearly.”

A three-season athlete (soccer, alpine skiing, tennis), Kevin was also voted Most Artistic (alongside friend and Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark ’93) in his 1993 yearbook. “Betsy Hubner was such a fantastic (art) teacher,” Kevin said. “She allowed me

connective thread between art and science is that what makes you good (in

either field) is your creativity,” he said. “The way in which your creativity and curiosity can, in the case of science, lead you to clever hypotheses and experiments and new ideas.”

Following on the heels of a successful stint in a Long Island magic camp, Kevin launched a magic company, called The Jug Heads with David McIntire ’94. “We’d work at birthday parties doing magic and juggling, riding unicycles,” he said, mentioning some fairly large-scale illusions that his father helped them build.

And then at Burr and Burton Academy, Kevin broadened his horizons once more, diving deeply into his artistic, athletic, and creative sides. Just like a

and other artistically inclined friends like Stephen Williams ’93 to take over this decrepit attic space in town and turn it into our crazy art studio.”

Rather than see these as interesting diversions from his eventual career in science, Kevin sees the connection between art and science as inextricably linked. “The connective thread between art and science is that what makes you good (in either field) is your creativity,” he said. “The way in which your creativity and curiosity can, in the case

Kevin Hand with a penguin in Antarctica, 2019

of science, lead you to clever hypotheses and experiments and new ideas.”

Kevin went on to major in Physics at Dartmouth, and continued on to earn his Master’s in engineering and robotics from Stanford University and his PhD in Geological and Earth Sciences from Stanford. “But you know, there’s a parallel universe in which I don’t go to college,” he said, “but instead I run away to join the circus.”

In 2020, Kevin began to lend his scientific creativity to the Mars Perseverance Rover mission, and in 2023, he was asked to lead one of the instruments on that mission, the SHERLOC spectrometer. “On Mars, our search for life is really focused on signs of life that may have existed on the surface of Mars in the past,” he said. “Three and a half billion years ago, we have good evidence that Mars had oceans and rivers and lakes and streams. So, our search for life on Mars in some ways is similar to roving the deserts on earth looking for evidence of fossilized life.”

Additionally, Kevin is working on the Titan Dragonfly lander mission, which is launching in 2028. This mission will explore Saturn’s moon Titan using a lander to explore the moon’s habitability

and chemistry, ultimately looking for signs of life. “It’s not just a lander, it’s an octocopter, so it will come into Titan’s thick atmosphere, deploy a parachute and then it will let go of the parachute and with the octocoptor blades, it will become a kind of drone that will propel it down to the surface, so we can do an analysis of the surface materials,” he said.

Kevin was a scientist onboard James Cameron’s 2012 dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. In 2011, Kevin was selected as a National Geographic Explorer, and he published a study in 2020 Deep Sea research that confirms life based on the Mariana Trench research that offers some clues to how alien life forms might survive in the oceans on other planets and moons, like Europa.

The depth and breadth, and frankly the astronomical scale of Kevin’s work boggles the mind, especially when looking at the sheer timeline of any of his work. Thinking back on the recent launch of the Europa Clipper mission just a few months ago, but knowing that it won’t even be in Jupiter’s neighborhood until 2030 seems daunting. But not for Kevin. “This business - it’s not for the faint of heart,”

he said. “When I first started working on Europa Clipper, it was back in 2005, and here we are two decades later. And, it’s still going to be a half dozen years until we get data back.”

This work is a lesson in patience, we might think. But for Kevin, the curiosity and the inquiry is the work. “These are generational projects,” he said. “These are sort of the cathedrals of our day in terms of having a vision and then implementing it. If we’re lucky, we can maybe see one or two of these in our careers.”

Which maybe gives us just a little more insight into that moment in the small submersible stuck at the bottom of the ocean and why it didn’t feel so panicky to Kevin. “It’s funny, because that experience really does connect back to Vermont. I never really got claustrophobic or too fearful in any of those dives in part because I grew up caving in Vermont. Morris Cave, just north of Manchester in Danby, is a really tiny cave where you have to squinch through some tight spaces,” he said. “So, you know I’ve had tighter and scarier experiences in the caves of Vermont than I had at the bottom of the ocean.”

I suppose that it is really no wonder that a kid growing up with caves under his feet, and the limitless horizon in his backyard, would have no trouble broadening those horizons to the outer reaches of space and science to look for what life and universe could be in the next mud puddle.

Kevin Hand in Antarctica in December 2019. He was working in collaboration with the Australian Antarctic Division, en route to Casey Station, Antarctica.

BURR AND BURTON ACADEMY IS GRATEFUL TO ITS BUSINESS PARTNERS WHO INVEST IN A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

Annual Fund Business Partners

Founders $10,000+

Bromley Mountain Resort

rk Miles, Inc.

Headmaster’s List $5000+

Manchester Country Club

High Honors $2500+

Bank of Bennington

Earth & Sea Fish Market, Inc.

HUB International Limited

Lily of the Valley Florist

Mountain Goat North, Inc.

The Richards Group

Rugg Valley Landscaping

Presenting Sponsor – $10,000

Berkshire Bank

Champion Sponsors – $2,500

Express Copy

Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty

High-Tech Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Lily of the Valley Florist

MVP Health Care

Nathan Auction and Real Estate

TÖST Beverages

Honors $1000+

Ben & Jerry’s

Academic Letter $500+

Biogen

The Inn at Manchester

Scott Thompson Builders

Smith Brothers Insurance

TÖST Beverages

Academic Pin $250+

Aeolus Animal Hospital & Equine Center

The Avocado Pit

Batten Kill Construction LLC

Buckstop

Fowlers Point

H.N. Williams Store

RE/MAX Four Seasons

The Vermont Country Store

Woodlawn Creamery

Gala Sponsors

Advocate Sponsors – $1,000

DesRoberts Creative

Rutland Regional Medical Center

Langway Chevrolet Volkswagen of Manchester

RE/MAX Four Seasons

Smith Brothers Insurance

$500

Spivey Lemonik Swenor

Samuelson Law Offices

Wine Sponsors

Special Friends of Burr and Burton

2024 REUNION

BBA Alumni were back on campus for Reunion Weekend on September 20-22

By Mary Francis

BBA Alumni were back on campus for Reunion Weekend on September 20-22. This year BBA celebrates 175 years of women. Along Seminary Avenue and throughout campus, alumni were greeted with signage and stories of some the remarkable women that have helped shape BBA and become what it is today. On Friday evening, Alumni gathered in the EH Henry Gym lobby for the Alumni Social. Attendees toured the campus with student volunteers, enjoyed refreshments and caught up with faculty and friends on a crisp fall evening.

On Saturday morning alumni celebrated the classes of ’74 and beyond during a special breakfast at the Headmaster Mark Tashjian’s Home, Birchbrook. After breakfast, they enjoyed a memorable Hall of Fame ceremony, followed by an exciting BBA Homecoming Football game and an additional campus tour.

On Saturday evening, nearly 150 alumni and guests enjoyed a warm fall evening at the Reunion Party in Founders Hall and courtyard. Guests gathered to sing the Alma Mater and were welcomed by BBA Headmaster Mark Tashjian and Alumni Board President Liz Mackey ’05. Alumni and guests celebrated during the cocktail reception and enjoyed a delicious dinner. For dessert, as a nod to our distinguished almunae, guests were treated to Mildred Orton’s Summer Berry Cobbler served with Wilcox vanilla ice cream.

Class photos were taken on the Founders Hall balcony and in the courtyard. Classes spanning from 1948 to 2016 were in attendance. The most senior alumnus was Bob Treat ’55, youngest alumna was Alexi Leach ’14 - Alexi is our 2024 Special Olympian Hall of Fame recipient as well!

Farthest travelers for Reunion was Sean Murphy ’84, travelling 4,446 miles, from Anchorage, Alaska, and runner up was Bert Hinkley ’66, who is also a member of the Legend Team Hall of Fame this year and a founding member of the soccer program at Burr and Burton. Bert traveled a distance of 2,865 miles from Bend, Oregon. The largest class turnout was the Class of 1984, with 20 alumni celebrating their 40th Reunion.

2025 Reunion dates have been scheduled for September 19-21. If you would like to help gather your classmates for this year's event or you need to update your contact information to stay informed, please email the Advancement Office at Alumni@ BurrBurton.org or call 802-549-8110.

CLASS NOTES Life Beyond Graduation

1974

Karen La Farge-Unrein wrote to send her regrets for her 50th Reunion last fall.“Unfortunately, I got held up by storms,” she said on her trip to Vermont from her home in Truckee, California. Karen shared photos from her life and travels, including this one near her home, one of her great-great grandfather John La Farge, the famous muralist and stained glass artist, and of black bears in her yard in Truckee. She sends her best wishes to her Burr and Burton class of 1974!

1993

Alicia Mindel ’93 wrote in September, “Class of 1993 alumni Erin (Wehner) Levinthal ’93, Scott Faraci ’93, and Alicia (Williams)

Mindel ’93 attended Dr. Kevin Hand's ’93 (sold out!) lecture at the Cal Academy in San Francisco. Kevin's fascinating presentation on Europa's Clipper Mission included several photos of their hometown Manchester, Vermont. The lecture description said, “NASA is launching a spacecraft to Jupiter’s ocean moon Europa in October 2024 to learn more about its potential habitability. Scientists describe Europa as an ‘ocean world’ because decades of evidence from analysis of spacecraft observations strongly suggest that an ocean of liquid water is hidden beneath the moon’s icy surface. The search for life beyond Earth is one of NASA’s primary objectives. If humans are to truly understand our place in the Universe, we must learn whether our planet is the only place where life exists. Life needs a source of energy, the presence of certain chemical compounds, and temperatures that allow liquid water to exist. Jupiter’s ocean moon Europa seems to be just such a place! Join us to learn more about Europa and why NASA wants to go there.” For more about Dr. Kevin Hand, read our Alumni Profile of his work in this issue of The VIEW.

HEY ALUMNI,

Are you still getting mail at your parents' address?

Scan the QR code to update your address or go to:

burrburton.org/alumni/ alumni-community

2005

Aubrey Carpenter ’05 is the founder of It Takes a Village, a parenting wellness and consulting practice in Richmond, Vermont. Aubrey holds a PhD and is a licensed Clinical Psychologist. After more than a decade of clinical experience working with youth and families, Aubrey now specializes in working with parents to support them at all stages of their children’s development. Aubrey and her husband, Conor, a Psychiatrist, have three children – Bowen 7, Sage 5, and Wilder who is almost 2. https://www.ittakesavillagevermont.com/

2007

Eamonn Campbell ’07 appeared on Jeopardy in October, and went on to become a two-time champion, earning

him a spot in the Jeopardy Champions Wildcard Tournament in January. Eamonn is a lawyer in New York City. To read more, check out https://www. burrburton.org/alumni/alumni-news

As counsel for a New York City law firm Chelsea Edson ’07 is the Manager of Hinterland Bridal Boutique in Burlington, VT. She also owns a children’s clothing company, Fox Honey Goods where she sells her art and jewelry creations at shops in Burlington and online. Chelsea lives with her partner, Pete Ianocone and their daughter, Indiana, who will be two in June 2025. Chelsea still gets out on the ice occasionally to play a little hockey when she can! https://foxhoneygoods.com/

2010

Ethan Edson ’10 is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ocean Diagnostics, inc., in Vancouver Island, Canada. While Ethan was attending Northeastern University, he spent a Semester at Sea and saw the amount of plastic that roams free in our pristine oceans. He went back to school and created a sensor that quantifies and qualifies microplastics in the ocean and took off from there! Ethan created a series of inventions and co-founded a company

that creates micro-plastic sensors. Ethan is now expanding the research into E-DNA. With climate change at the forefront of concern with marine scientists, Ethan and his team have created a sensor that determines the DNA of sea animals as they find new migratory paths to elude the warming waters. In 2022, Ethan married Brooke McGowan ’11, and they live in Victoria, B.C. Canada with their dog, Goose. https://oceandiagnostics.com/

Kaitlin (Filippi) Todd ’10 and Damon Todd ’05 welcomed Quinn Oliver Todd on August 2, 2024. He is a happy, snuggly, charming little guy, and they are so grateful for him. The Todd family lives just outside Portland, Maine, and they love all that the area has to offer – the city, the ocean, and plenty of trails in the woods to go on walks with their dog, Koivu.

2014

Stevie Hunter ’14, the daughter of English Department Chair Nancy Strain and retired faculty member Rob Hunter, now works at the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. In her free time, she is a devoted cat mom to Jasper.

2022

Michael Alfano ’22 is a founding team member of Paradigm AI, a spreadsheet-based interface to gather, structure, and take action on data with human-level precision. He lives in San Francisco with his team. For more about Michael, read the feature story, Human Solutions: Framework for the Future. https://www.paradigmai.com/ https://fortune.com/2024/09/04/exclusiveai-agents-startup-transforms-spreadsheetsto-take-on-google-microsoft/

2023

Jamie Knafel ’23 took first place for Projections Design (Design, Technology and Management category) at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in January. Jamie attends Adelphi University, and he presented his projection design for Adelphi’s production of Love and Information. Due to his performance, Jamie advanced to the National Competition at the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) in March in Columbus, Ohio to share his design, take classes, and make connections. He said, “This has been an incredible experience that has opened up many possibilities, and I am so grateful for each and every one of your support throughout this amazing experience!”

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES: alumni@burrburton.org.

MAIL YOUR CLASS NOTES: Burr and Burton, Alumni Office P.O. Box 498, Manchester, VT 05254

IN MEMORIUM

This section will be printed once a year in the spring issue of The VIEW.

Send submissions to alumni@burrburton.org, or scan the QR code. Submissions must be accompanied by the subject’s obituary to be printed.

1944

Ruth Stone Fowler ’44 died on October 4, 2024. She and her husband, Bob, worked at Fowler’s Poultry Farm and opened the Poultry Nook. Ruth was a teacher’s assistant at Manchester Elementary Middle School (MEMS).

1953

Tom “Vollie” Griffith ’53 died on October 8, 2024 after a long illness. Tom met his wife, Sharon at the Lone Mountain Ranch near Bozeman, Montana in 1958 where the two worked with horses and tourists. They moved back to Danby in 1968, and Tom spent 29 years as a heavy equipment operator. He played and sang country music throughout his life.

1962

Raymond “Crunch” Carangio ’62 died on February 9, 2025. At Burr and Burton, he was a member of the football team, and voted ‘Biggest Flirt,’ a story he enjoyed sharing, according to his obituary. A Navy veteran, he returned home to Manchester after his active duty service.

1960

John Marsden ’60 died in early 2024. He lived in San Juan Capistrano, California with his wife, Neddy.

1969

Louis Dryden ’69 died on July 16, 2024. His wife, Carol, said in a social media post, “Louie finally decided his work here was done. Louie fought like the hard worker he was to beat the Frontotemporal dementia he was finally diagnosed with April of 2023. He leaves wife, Carol of 42 years, sons, Trevor and Levi (Christina). 7 grandchildren Skylar Lola, Garrett, McKenna, and Colton. Grandson Brian Morse, granddaughter Kimberly Morse, and 3 great-grandsons. Brother Gib,(Cindy) and many neices and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Fay and Betty Dryden, daughter Amanda, grandsons Payton Dryden and Bill Morse. There will be a Celebration of life at the Bondville Fairgrounds July 28th from 1-4. Bring a chair if you wish. Donations may be made to Londonderry Rescue Squad in Londonderry Vt. 05148 in his memory.”

1969

Debby (Fisk) Williams ’69 died on March 15, 2025, surrounded by her family after a long battle with ALS. She was a retired Randolph County school teacher, and upon her retirement, she and her husband, Terry, enjoyed camping at the Outer Banks. Classmate and friend Gayl Heinz ’69 wrote, “Debby was a close friend to Linda (Day) McKeever and me. We had many crazy adventures during our years at BBS and beyond.”

1970

Bill Downey ’70 died on October 4, 2024, as reported by classmate and friend Gayl Heinz ’69. Gayl said, “(Bill’s wife) Lauren Downey '70 let me know that Bill passed away. I am so grateful that I got to see him while I was there (in Vermont). He was one tough guy and battled his persistent brain tumors for 12 years. Lauren has handled this all with such strength.”

1972

Jacquelyn M. (Dooley) Perry ’72 of West Pawlet, died December 23, 2023. She married her Burr and Burton high school sweetheart Ken Perry ’72, and they resided in West Pawlet for more than 20 years.

1974

Dana (Foster) McNair ’74 died on February 16, 2025. Dana was the longtime manager of Viking Nordic Center in Londonderry, Vt., working there for 44 years before she retired at the end of last season. She passed after a long battle with breast cancer. On a Viking Nordic Center post, they said, “Dana’s caring ways, sense of humor, and enjoyment of life will be greatly missed by our entire community.”