THE MAGAZINE OF BURR AND BURTON
WINTER 2022
Cinematography Takes Authentic Learning to the Next Level
DEPARTMENTS 2/
From the Headmaster
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News From Campus
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Athletics Roundup
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Arts Roundup
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Class Notes
FEATURES 12/
Cinematography Takes Authentic Learning to the Next Level
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Alumni Interview: Terrell Williams '97
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New Faculty Profile: Nora Hefner, Director of Food and Farm Studies
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Class Reunion: A Welcome Return to Campus
Headmaster Mark H. Tashjian Director of Advancement Kate Leach Board of Trustees Ed Campbell '70 Chair Carol O’Connor '67 Vice Chair Scott Swenor Treasurer Sanfra Weiss Secretary
Kellie Baker-Waite '79 Brian M. Barefoot Peggy Brophy Brockett '88 D. William Cairns '72 Charity Clark '93 Rabbi Michael Cohen Michael Cooperman Heidi Lynn Michael Powers '60 Robert Redmond Charley Stevenson Trustees Emeriti Seth Bongartz '72 Orland Campbell Robert E. Treat '55 Tony Whaling
Director of Communications Jill Perry-Balzano Photography Gary Baker, Ivey Dahlstrom, James Chandler '10, Tony Cirelli, Cheryl Cornwell, Abby Raeder, Alex Vincent Contact Us: 802-362-1775 burrburton.org
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OFFICE OF THE HEADMASTER
Dear Families, Alumni, and Friends, When I think about what defines Burr and Burton as a school, I return again and again to the phrase “a world of opportunities.” And as we take hopeful steps toward normality, I want to pause with you to consider why. Education has many layers. It is about the transfer of knowledge, the development of skills, the ability to apply what we’ve learned to what we encounter. But underlying those measurable components is something far less tangible but no less important—a feeling of belonging. Of purpose. Of love. Yes, school is about subject matter and mastery, but it’s also about having a faculty and staff committed to finding the spark that makes students want to learn and grow. Burr and Burton’s world of opportunities is exactly that: an array of classes, programs, and offerings diverse and dynamic enough to reach every student and inspire the kind of effort that comes from the heart. That is what all kinds of bright futures are built on. As you read through this winter issue of The VIEW, I hope you’ll join me in feeling inspired by our students, teachers, and alumni—and how they inspire each other. I know that I am grateful for the hopes and dreams that connect us all.
Sincerely,
Mark H. Tashjian Headmaster
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NEWS FROM CAMPUS Founders Hall Opens On October 19, 2021 Burr and Burton students, faculty, staff, and honored guests gathered on a brilliant morning to celebrate the official opening of the school’s new 25,000-square-foot academic building, Founders Hall. The crowd assembled in the Rowland Courtyard, which joins Founders Hall to the historic Seminary at the heart of campus, and bears the name of the late Barry and Wendy Rowland, whose vision and generosity over decades culminated in a $20 million gift to fund the new building.
Out Into the World: BBA Kicks Off a New Year of Service Learning In September, all Burr and Burton 9th graders participated in a service learning experience that brought them to 25 partnering organizations in the community. Projects ranged from digging potatoes and cleaning garlic to Battenkill River clean up to wrapping presents and making signs. Facilitated by 9th grade advisors, senior student-mentors, and representatives from partnering organizations, students spent the entire morning out in the community working together to help others. BBA Service Learning Coordinator Jillian Joyce describes the thinking behind the day: “It’s a way to build relationships in advisories and have our 9th graders realize the impact they can have on the broader community. That’s a wonderful aspect of BBA’s mission; it includes service and the 4
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Speaking before the event, Headmaster Mark Tashjian noted how the building will impact learning at the school. “Founders Hall brings the architectural design to support a different kind of learning that is more integrated; we’re going to bring our disciplines together in a way that hasn’t been possible before. It’s a very exciting day.”
Joyce recounts that though service has long been part of the school’s mission and a graduation requirement, it became more fully embedded in the curriculum in the mid-2000’s when BBA hired its first service coordinator. Though the program has evolved in form, it’s focused on sending 9th and 10th graders out into the community on coordinated service projects.
Student assembly leaders Lou Cubberly ’22, Matt Grabher ’22, and Chloe Andersen ’22 welcomed the crowd of nearly 1,000, and introduced the speakers, who included Chair of the Board Ed Campbell ’70, Associate Head of School Meg Kenny (see full remarks below), and former Headmaster Chuck Scranton. BBA alumnus and project architect Kyle Murphy ’07 was present to watch legendary employee and fellow alumnus, Benjamin Franklin Beers ’61 cut the ribbon, officially opening the building to BBA students.
For Joyce, it’s exciting to see how service work can help students relate to learning in a new way, “[Students] start getting positive feedback in a different way, other than grades . . . but showing up and accomplishing something and having others value your work; it can be a hook for kids to create a new interest.”
Almost two centuries ago, Burr Seminary students took their first steps into the Seminary Building. They started a legacy of care for our Burr and Burton home. Today, you join them in that history and honor. Absorb the specialness of this place. It was designed with intention, for you to learn with intention. Be inspired, be curious, and be good stewards.
idea that our education should go beyond ourselves, out into the world.”
ACCESS Moves to the Heart of Campus Last summer Burr and Burton renovated a large space on the first floor of the historic Seminary building to relocate and better accommodate the needs of the ACCESS Program. ACCESS Program Director Dan Flanagan relays what the new space means to the program.
What does the new space in the Seminary mean to the ACCESS program?
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Founders Hall Opening Comments Associate Head of School, Meg Kenny October 19, 2021
Today we add Founders Hall to our Burr and Burton home; our newest learning space is ready to welcome us. Like all BBA spaces, Founders Hall is a place of possibility–a place where gifts harbored deep inside you are discovered. Founders Hall is unfinished, and I don’t mean the final touches on the central stairs and bookshelves; or a missing piece of carpet; or the unfinished concrete. Buildings come to life when their people and purpose come together. Nestled at the base of Mount Equinox, Founders Hall, arms outstretched, welcomes you to complete the building. Your wonder and curiosity, your questions and collaborations, your struggles, goals, accomplishments and engagement fill Founders Hall with life. When you enter through the main doors, stop, take a breath and look up. You are in the heart of the building, our library, where people and ideas connect.
Notice the center stairs. Let them remind you to climb to new heights– to discover new ways of knowing the world and yourself. Sometimes learning is bounding up the stairs two at a time, energetic and invigorated. Other times learning is a slow trudge– one stair at a time. Remember, there is great value in both kinds of climbing. Notice the windows. I hope the shifting light reminds you to look at issues from different perspectives. As your perspective shifts, your thinking changes. Let the sweeps of landscape focus your learning in new ways. Notice the expanse of the building–the long views. Let them deepen and refine your vision for today, and for your future. Let the scale invite you to think bigger and beyond your time at BBA. This space reminds you to take a breath–to breathe oxygen into the parts of you that fuel learning. Leave space for spontaneity–for the unexpected; leave space for reflection; leave space for joy.
It means a lot! First, it’s more space, and the space is better organized for what we do with students everyday. But most importantly ACCESS is now in the main part of the campus! That means there is a lot more interaction with the rest of the students, whether it’s just passing through, using the bathroom, or using the kitchen. It also means that more teachers and staff come into our space. We think ACCESS is a pretty cool program, and we like to show people the great stuff we are doing.
What elements of this new space are most impactful in terms of your program? The best thing is our new sensory/ regulation room. It is a dedicated homebase for our Physical and Occupational Therapists to deliver services, and it gives students a place to go when they need a little break from the hustle and bustle of the school day. Everyone has to deal with sensory issues, but many of us have systems that allow us to cope with those issues without even realizing. Most ACCESS students can’t recognize and identify when their sensory system is off kilter, so having a place for them to go regularly and get their body and mind aligned is fantastic. We also increased the number of individual learning spaces. We often BURR AND BURTON ACADEMY
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have students whose needs require highly individualized programming, and providing them with their own space to customize to their needs and learning style is a tremendous benefit. Lastly is our kitchen. ACCESS students have a cookie business, and the kitchen allows students to maintain this business. We also have a washer, dryer, dishwasher, and stove, so we are better able to teach students independent living skills. All of that is now centralized, which makes it easier to dedicate the time to doing it right.
What else strikes you as important about this relocation? The increased visibility of ACCESS will serve to educate people about disabilities. People are uncomfortable with the unknown, and unless you have a family member with a disability, you may not think much about individuals with intensive needs. I have said for many years that ACCESS students want and need all the same things other students need: to be loved, to be needed, to have fun, be respected, to grow and learn. Just look them in the eye. That says that you see them.
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News from the Mountain By Andy Dahlstrom, Mountain Campus Director A new teacher and a new publication changed the course of the Mountain Campus this year. English teacher Scott Clausen was up from the BBA main campus for his Mountain Campus working-sabbatical, and the gorgeous Vermont Almanac: Stories From & For the Land entered our lives. The preamble to the first volume of Vermont Almanac quotes Vermont poet Robert Frost on “the need of being versed in country things.” The rural and seasonal stories told by Vermonters in the Almanac became a foundation for Mountain Campus work: for Scott in English, for Tina in Science, and for Andy in History. Our Science focus is already Vermont’s ecosystem, and phenology (observations of seasonal change to weather, plant, and animal life). Vermont Almanac gave us insights on drought and cold spells, the apple and honey harvests, country fairs, and the Christmas tree industry. It
also presented us with a model for telling local stories, which led Scott to create new English assignments—and a month-by-month portfolio—for our fall students. (Almanacing—our verb—has begun anew with the January arrival of the spring semester class.) Armed with the Vermont Almanac, our Wednesday Rambles—pack a lunch and get outside for half the day—became a celebration of PeruLandgrove habitat and history, and a chance to hear and compose writing at the site of interesting things: Utley Brook restoration for trout; mowings and hayfields; stone wall enclosures from Vermont 19th century sheep boom; American Beech groves, where leaves endure long past Vermont’s fall foliage. From these rambles, Scott had students write reflections on the fall months. And as a class, we assembled our own Mountain Campus Almanac, writings about this place. It’s a beautiful document of the Fall 2021 semester, revealing what is here on our 100-acre campus, and who was here reading this landscape in 2021-22.
The International Program: A Semester Full of Experiences By Emma Hoos ’22, Communications Intern because of Covid-19. In welcoming students back to campus, program staff and teachers were able to plan many of the community-building events and travel opportunities that make the experience special.
The International Program was thrilled to welcome students back to campus after teaching mosty remote last year
In October, students and teachers went to Washington, D.C. to visit national landmarks and museums. Back in Vermont, students also participated in pumpkin carving, gingerbread house building, hay rides, and fun icebreakers to get to know each other. A local chef named Travis Dobson came to the dorms to do a cooking
demonstration. International students and local students had hotpot and made dumplings together! Most recently, BBA’s international students took a trip to California over winter break and visited Los Angeles, San Diego, Universal Studios, and Disneyland. They went zip lining, whale watching, and went to the San Diego Zoo. As Associate Director Cheryl Cornwell said, “The most important goal is to build a strong international student community here on campus.”
Special Science Projects Engage Physicists Students in Nicole Preiser’s Honors Physics 2 and Thom Collins’ Biotechnology classes finished the semester working on special projects that took understanding and application to a whole new level. Students chose from five project options on innovative topics that presented the opportunity for original research and collaboration with working physicists. Preiser explains that the project design enabled students to apply their research to their community: “Each project had a component that would contribute to the learning of future BBA students. For example, in the human orrery project, students are designing a human orrery that once built can be used by science classes to study gravity and orbital motion. In mathematics classes it can be used to study ellipses and other mathematics concepts.”
was matched with a physicist. Four of the five groups had at least one Zoom meeting with their physicist to discuss their project. For example, the human orrery project met with Emmanuel Rollinde, a physics education professor in Paris, France. The cosmic detector group met twice with Mark Adams, a physicist from FermiLab in Illinois.”
The final step of the project was an informal presentation session where faculty, staff, and other students were invited to come and learn about the projects. Associate Head of School Meg Kenny was impressed with the projects: “The depth of their research and the students’ ability to explain it to others was outstanding.”
Preiser also explained how students connected with experts: “Each group
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ATHLETICS ROUNDUP
Game On! It was game on this fall as the Bulldogs appreciated a full season of fall athletics. Highlights included Homecoming, a weekend full of games and events where Bulldogs past and present came together to connect and show support for current athletes. After canceling many Homecoming-related events due to Covid in 2020, Athletic Director Dave Miceli was happy to have more people together this year: “There’s always this understanding that the people who came before us helped to make the program what it is; so Homecoming is an amazing confluence of having everyone in one place and knowing that there’s this larger membership in the Bulldog community than the athletes and coaches who are currently participating.” Girls and Boys Golf came away with impressive Division I State Championship wins: Girls Golf winning on the road at Champlain Country Club, and Boys taking the state title one week later at the Manchester Country Club. The Bass Fishing team also made a strong showing with the best finish in the history of the program: second place in the State Championship. In addition to stellar performances on the field, BBA student-athlete leaders worked hard around issues of consent, mental health awareness, and anti-hate and harassment initiatives.
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GO BULLDOGS!
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ARTS ROUNDUP
Take Back the Stage After nearly 18 months of quiet in the Riley Center for the Arts, BBA student actors, dancers, and musicians reclaimed their home stage this fall with three dazzling performances. In the fall play, A Wrinkle In Time, student-actors brought to life the complex and moving story of a family in conflict with space-time, evil forces, and at times each other. The brilliant set design, costumes, and special effects enhanced the performance for three evening audiences and one student matinee. At the Winter Concert, 60 musicians from the BBA instrumental and vocal music ensembles performed a wide repertoire of timeless works. Performances included a student matinee and a sold-out evening performance, and the event was live-streamed to remote viewers. As music teacher Julie Freebern said, “It was wonderful to have the opportunity to share our collaborative efforts with a live audience and our livestream viewers.”
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Just before the semester break, the annual Theater and Dance Festival, a collaboration mixing dance performances with contemporary comedic and dramatic scenes, engaged and entertained a full Riley Center. Theater Director Jim Raposa noted the difference that it made this semester for students to be fully in-person with their classmates and audience: “the students voiced how important it was for them to be back in a supportive and creative community.”
Open-Door Collaboration This semester, the Visual Arts Department began an open-door initiative to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas, skills, and media in the Visual Arts. On Fridays, teachers Travis Kline, Anharad Llewelyn, and Mel Virgilio opened up the doors of their Studio Arts classes for Whole Studio Days, where teachers and students led community-building activities like baking bread in the bread oven and making applesauce and tackled studio projects like reclaiming clay and building shelves. Students were able to move freely throughout the classrooms, meeting other students and getting a feel for the techniques and materials used in other classes and levels. Visual Arts students also enjoyed getting to know BBA alum Brooke McGowan ‘09 who was a visiting artist to the Studio Arts classes. Visual Arts Department Chair Travis Kline said, “[McGowan] spoke of her work, the progression through her own artistic career and the real-life community of artists helping to propel and amplify each other's voices and missions for making change in the world.”
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Cinematography Takes Authentic Learning to the Next Level By Jill Perry-Balzano
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At Home Bill Muench sits comfortably in an office chair in his Cinematography class space. It is his free period, but the room is far from empty: several students are sitting at desktop computers working on film editing, a group of students is in the adjacent studio filming, students and fellow teachers come in and out of the space–and Muench connects with each of them fluidly.
The BBA Cinematography program has become immensely popular–in no small part thanks to Muench’s leadership and vision. Taking over the Cinematography program in 2010 after the loss of beloved teacher Brian Gawlik to leukemia, Muench knew that he would have to make the program his own. He shifted the curricular focus and created the Gawlik Awards, an Oscars-style, red carpet event that honors the very best films and filmmakers from the school year. From the very first assignment to the final act of the Gawlik awards, Muench has structured the Cinematography program to be completely authentic: students start out using cameras and professional film editing software from the beginning; they work on group projects that are driven by student interests; they take on videography projects for BBA and community organizations. Each element builds upon the others to make Cinematography hands-on, impactful, and sometimes, a life-changing experience for BBA students.
The Edge of Opportunity On November 7, 2020, Henry Kornaros ’18 was at his apartment in New York City. Like most Americans, he was somewhat impatiently awaiting the presidential election results. A message from his dad flashed on his phone that the election had been called. Kornaros didn’t miss a beat–he didn’t even read the full message. Instead, he grabbed his camera to head outside to document how New York would react. What follows is a montage of New Yorkers framed by a few scene-setting images of the filmmaker himself heading out. He captures people reacting, dancing, jumping into the fountain at Washington Square Park. But he also captures the juxtaposition of the extraordinary against the mundane. People respond in different ways; some are elated, and others are out jogging– some are holding signs and others are riding in yellow cabs. The video ends with a simple caption: “<3 love you.”
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Each element builds upon the others to make Cinematography hands-on, impactful, and sometimes, a life-changing experience for BBA students.
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He is clearly in his element, and evidence of his mark on the Cinematography program is everywhere: he points to the list of categories of Gawlik awards, photos from previous shows, inspirational quotes, an archive of videos.
More than a year later, the film has been viewed 3.2 million times. Other short films Kornaros has made, especially the sequences depicting people and cityscapes in New York City–short, emotive love letters to a place–have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Only 22 years old, Kornaros is already well into a successful filmmaking career that began when he was still in high school at Burr and Burton. Though some of it has a lighthearted tone, the social media is not for fun; it is part of a meticulously curated presence that gets Kornaros lots of filmmaking and photography work. He describes what it means to be out on the edge of social media innovation: “In my job, 20 percent is the actual creative work, and 80 percent is marketing myself and the work that goes into that. You’ve got to figure out how to get paid. You learn very quickly that creating content all the time is great, but what do I love doing the most? My day consists of sorting out how to market myself across platforms–instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, and others–to be positioned to get the kind of jobs I want.” BURR AND BURTON ACADEMY 13
Successfully harnessing new tools and ideas requires a unique set of circumstances: vision, confidence, freedom, and perhaps a bit of luck. Talking with Kornaros, it’s clear that at a young age he was able to see opportunity others might not have recognized–and he is clear that BBA was a part of that: “I’ve told my family many times–this probably wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t gone to BBA . . . I was given so many opportunities at BBA to learn what I wanted to learn. If I had an idea, my teachers would let me run with it. Because of that, it benefited me beyond high school.”
Media in a Changing World Bill Muench began his career at BBA as an English teacher and later added in AP Psychology and a Humanities course about the history of space exploration. Film teacher Brian Gawlik was a colleague and a dear friend. Gawlik was BBA’s first film and media technology teacher, holding the Jonathan Levin chair in technology, a position endowed by Gerald Levin and Barbara Riley Levin in 1998 in honor of Mr. Levin’s son, another teacher tragically lost at a young age. Gawlik had been a broadcast journalist for CNN, and he had a natural talent for working with students. For nine years the two worked together. Muench recalls Gawlik’s program: “Brian did mostly broadcast journalism, so the big project was a weekly news show.” In 2008, Gawlik was diagnosed with leukemia and had to seek treatment. He was at Mt. Sinai hospital in NY for months, but returned to BBA for
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the fall of 2009. Devastatingly, the cancer was not cured, and Gawlik became seriously ill in late October. He passed away on December 8th of 2009. Muench recalls, “When Brian got sick, he asked that I take over the program.” Muench knew that it would be a big transition: “If I was going to cinema, I asked [administration] to go all in. I had a lot to learn.” Muench also had to adapt the program to a rapidly changing media landscape. Digital technology was shifting the foundation that media, journalism, and even cinema were built on. Muench implemented a range of new projects, and the culminating event of the program became the Gawlik Awards, named to honor the big shoulders Muench now stood upon.
Award Winning Danielle Hazelton ‘15 vividly remembers her first day of Cinematography class as a sophomore at BBA: “I remember showing up to class wearing the most ridiculous outfit; sitting in the front of the classroom with my notebook and pen ready to take notes–because I didn’t know anything about taking a film course. Bill teased me about that and called me out in front of the class in the best possible way, saying that I was ready and prepared. At that point, I knew it was going to be a good class.” Muench could see immediately that Hazelton was excited to learn Cinematography, and he supported her interest in a way that increased her motivation to learn more and make more films.
INSPIRE Hazelton went on to win four Gawlik awards her sophomore year, and the experience made an impact: “Winning four Gawlik awards that year was really exciting and set me on a trajectory: I realized, this isn’t just a class; this is something that I’m interested in, and I want to continue to do in some capacity for the rest of my life.” She was now on a path. Hazelton took every opportunity she could in Cinematography at BBA and through hard work and determination, she succeeded at all of them: she produced the fall film–a short film that a student is selected to produce from concept to completion–both her junior and senior year; as producer or director, she won multiple Gawlik awards both years; she even won multiple independent film awards for films she made at BBA.
mentor, music teacher Neil Freebern, would go on to win an Emmy Award for short form fiction.
The Spark Both Kornaros and Hazelton describe a rapid period of intrinsically motivated growth sparked by an interest in cinematography. For Kornaros it was a commitment he made to himself: “The formative moment for me was when I went to New York on my 17th birthday with my mom; we took a helicopter flight over the city. At that point I committed myself to create content every single day. It forced me to learn and grow quickly; the only way of doing that was to put myself out there over and over again, to create and create, and it made me develop so much faster.”
Deciding to focus on film in college, Hazelton applied to top film schools and was accepted everywhere, but in most cases, the cost of these programs was staggering. In the spring of her senior year, Hazelton was not sure what to do; she held out hope for a strong financial package from the one school she’d not yet heard from.
Inspired by New York, Kornaros began a significant undertaking: “I went to NY every Sunday by myself for 25 weekends in a row, and shot for ten hours straight, and came back the same day. I was waking up at 2:30am and trying to catch a train [into Manhattan] at 4:35am. I’d get back home at midnight, and then I had hockey practice the next morning.”
That package was worth waiting for. Champlain College in Burlington awarded Hazelton a Vermont First Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship (minus any federal grants or loans the student qualifies for) for first-generation college students. In retelling the story, Hazelton speaks deliberately as she considers what the scholarship meant for her: “I wouldn’t be able to do anything I’ve done if it weren’t for that.”
And he was learning so much: “I’d shoot 2000 photos per weekend. There was so much development. I was making so many mistakes that were benefiting me for the next trip.”
Four years later, Hazelton’s incredible efforts would be recognized: her senior capstone film featuring another BBA
Hazelton said that the degree and depth of experience at BBA helped her to understand the role she wanted to play in filmmaking: “It gave me a lot of insight into what kind of role I wanted to play on set; I found through the opportunities that I had that I wanted to be a director or a producer...and this is something that I currently do in my work today.” BURR AND BURTON ACADEMY 15
She goes on, “My time at BBA was a great opportunity for me to experiment and to figure out what I wanted to do. It was a great general education on film and learning how to love film. When I got to college, I already had a ton of experience and was able to go into more depth. BBA really prepared me for that; it gave me a great baseline.”
The Gawliks If you haven’t been to the Gawlik Awards, you’ve been missing out. There’s a red carpet, and the audience and presenters are dressed to the nines. There are pre-award interviews given by BBA teachers, dance numbers that students and teachers spend months preparing for, and performances by well-known musical acts; there’s a fair amount of comedy at the expense of BBA’s dearest community members. It’s an all-in kind of event if there ever was one. Muench recalls his inspiration: “I wanted to honor Brian, and I wanted to have a fun thing that they had to shoot for. I knew that we should have an Academy Awards night; a real honor for kids to work toward.” He explains that the Gawliks are very competitive and that experts around the country weigh in on the nominations: “The films are top quality. The Gawliks are very selective; it’s only the best films from the year of Cinematography.” Kornaros, winner of multiple Gawliks recalls, “The Gawlik Awards was the biggest event of the year by far–not even a question.” The awards pushed him and his peers to be more and more creative: “We were making a ton of videos, because we loved making a ton of videos, and we wanted [the Gawliks] to be amazing. That initial spark started in NY, but was fueled in other ways back at BBA.”
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Fuel for the spark, the Gawliks give BBA Cinematography students an authentic goal and opportunity to be recognized for their diligence and creative work.
Part of the Team In early February, Bill Muench announced to BBA faculty that this will be his last semester leading up the Cinematography program; he’s planning to retire. Muench will undoubtedly be remembered for his many grand gestures; the big things he made happen that changed so many students’ lives. But he will also be remembered for his daily practice–the way he made every student feel welcome in his classes. Hazelton reflects, “Bill has done so much for the school, and his classroom is a place that you could go into–no matter what type of student you are, no matter what you’re focused on, what your background, or who you were–it didn’t matter. You could succeed in Bill’s class. He made that possible for every student who has taken his course. He’s a great person, and he deserves all the recognition.” Muench himself notes that it is this very aspect he loves most about teaching Cinematography: “I love that this class is a mix of types of kids; every gender, athletes, tech people, actors, visual artists. The good films are made with a diverse group of people.” “It’s a team sport is the main thing that we talk about over and over again. It takes a lot of hands on deck, and that’s the fun of this. I love being part of the team.”
It’s a team sport is the main thing that we talk about over and over again. It takes a lot of hands on deck, and that’s the fun of this. I love being part of the team.
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ALUMNI INTERVIEW
– FREDERICK DOUGLASS
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IT IS EASIER TO BUILD STRONG CHILDREN THAN TO REPAIR BROKEN MEN.
Terrell Williams '97 Weighs in on Hip Hop, Identity, and the Impact of Service By Meredith Morin
Terrell Williams ’97 grew up in Newark, NJ, and attended BBA for four years as part
of a program known as “Link.” The Link program allowed for two to three students from the Project Link (now Link Community School) to board with local families while attending BBA. Terrell graduated from the University of Vermont with honors in 2001, majoring in sociology and comparative religion. He earned his Master’s degree in clinical social work from Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work in 2008. After working in the field for more than 20 years, he began working as a school social worker at Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia, realizing, he said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men (Frederick Douglass).” Additionally, Terrell collaborates on a History of Hip Hop class with BBA social studies teachers Pete Nicholson and Andrew Cassarino. And he recently joined the BBA Alumni Association Board. Terrell lives in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia with his fiancé Vanessa and their nine-child blended family.
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What does your typical day look like as a high school social worker in Philadelphia? As the school social worker, I do almost anything to support our students, except for teaching classes. I begin my day by crunching numbers, identifying students who are accumulating excessive absences and have significant behavioral challenges or needs, then I collaborate with support staff and grade team leaders to find solutions, contact families, and conduct home visits when necessary. My goal is to identify, address, and alleviate any core non-academic issues leading to interruptions in academic performance and social-emotional progress. I also lead and manage the school-wide positive behavioral program for students using a point system. All staff members can give positive points for Imhotepian behavior (identified positive behaviors); conversely, students receive negative points for undesirable behaviors. The balance of those points is used as currency to purchase items like snacks, Philly pretzels (not to be confused with NY pretzels!), pizza, and school swag in the Tep Store, set up just outside of the cafeteria. We also hold monthly ceremonies to recognize those students who have accumulated the most positive points. In previous years, this program focused on students who accumulated the most points, which were often the same students month to month. We wanted to shift the process so that students who may have earned only five
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points could purchase items. This way, it’s inclusive and encourages students with the most challenging behaviors, and recognizes their improvements. (Driven by the daily data, Terrell said that the number of points spent went from just 145 per day early in the fall to 2,165 on the day that we spoke.)
You have managed to combine passions in your career: You guest teach the History of Hip Hop class at BBA alongside your work as a high school social worker. How does your career in social work inform your teaching at BBA? How does your past work in music inform your work with high school students? Hip hop music and culture have been extremely important to me and the main source of my cultural identity since I was about 9 or 10 years old. At that time and in the 90s, the music was diverse, informative, and empowering. In 1993, at 13, when I moved from Newark, New Jersey, I embraced an almost opposite cultural landscape in Manchester, Vermont. The socioeconomic disparities between the two environments were vast and often unsettling, which piqued my sociological/ cultural curiosities. As I teach BBA students, I seek to stay true to my lifelong commitment to break down barriers and educate folks from all socioeconomic backgrounds about the
While attending BBA, the music and culture kept me grounded and sane to a large extent. Though the messaging can get overshadowed by raw and sometimes abrasive language, the cultural connections are what kept me committed. I remember early on in my stay, I had unintentionally been playing some offensive hip hop loudly and my host father, rightfully so, asked that I not play such music in the home, since there were other children in the house, who could hear the spicy lyrics. My host mother talked with him, and they agreed to respect my cultural differences, allowing me to keep my music. It was so powerful that they understood that—perhaps more than I did at the time. I love them so much and still communicate with them regularly. Hip hop has also had such a global impact so it fosters a worldly education that BBA students can learn from. When I traveled to Germany while at BBA in 1996, I couldn’t believe that hip hop culture was so strong there. While attending University of Ghana in 1999, I was also amazed at the respect and fascination for hip hop culture in Africa. I subsequently visited and witnessed hip hop growth and commitment in the UK, France, and Belgium. Then in 2004, I moved to Montreal for a year and
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I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE MUSIC AND ALSO THE GREATER CONTEXT OF STRONG CULTURAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC MESSAGES.
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importance of diversity in every form. Hip hop is such a great space to do this as it’s a communal and ever-evolving culture.
interned at Ninja Tune records known for awesome abstract, instrumental and noncommercial hip hop. Here we are in 2022 and hip hop is on display at the extravagant Super Bowl Halftime Show. All three of us [Williams, Cassarino and Nicholson] acknowledge the value of the diverse messaging in hip hop and are excited to deliver this curriculum. I want to make sure that students understand the music and also the greater context of strong cultural and socioeconomic messages. I think it’s important that folks don’t just see the current versions and variations of hip hop and think this is it. I want the whole story and evolution of the music and culture to be told.
What inspires you? I’m deeply inspired by cross-cultural exchanges and communication that impact change in positive ways, like this one. Through my experiences, I have been given this very rare opportunity to be able to live in and navigate these different worlds. To be from the inner city and to also have lived in Vermont, I find myself as part of multiple cultures at the same time. While I’m very African American and feel very comfortable in my skin, I also embrace my white family members in Vermont. I’m inspired by my children, family, students, and staff that I work with. I have learned so much from my travels and experiences and want to share them with others for education and growth purposes. For example, the very concept of intergenerational wealth wasn’t something that folks in my BURR AND BURTON ACADEMY 21
neighborhood were privy to. Also, understanding the value of travel is inspiring for me. Most of the folks in my neighborhood have stayed within a five-block radius and not traveled outside of the city, state, or country. I’m inspired by my family of origin, my neighborhood at Shanley, Avon, & Rose Terrace and my city, Newark, NJ, all of which provided me with the grit, fortitude, and stickwithitness to grind and thrive despite all odds. I strive to achieve this daily in everything that I do to assist others in their journeys whenever possible. I’m inspired by understanding the world on a larger scale and embracing multiple truths at once. I consider myself a Pan-Africanist as well as a humanist. I really appreciate the ability to engage both worlds seamlessly. W.E.B. DuBois coined the term ‘double consciousness’ for the internal conflict of attempting to reconcile his African heritage with European constructs. Sometimes, I even felt like there was a triple or quadruple consciousness. Upon arrival in Vermont, I couldn’t wait to get back to Newark. After visiting Germany in my junior year, my world opened up. I realized that there was something of
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BBA SHAPED MY CAREER PATH IN EVERY WAY. I CAN’T OVERSTATE THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT IT HAS HAD ON MY LIFE.
great value in Vermont. I was (and am still) inspired by Clare, my second Vermont host mother. I ultimately learned that loving Vermont didn’t mean that I had to denounce other parts of my identity or background that I loved. I just had to learn to make space for it to fit and make sense. Last but not least, I’m most inspired by adulting and parenting our nine-child blended family with my beautiful fiancé, Vanessa. We met in 2017 after I lost my twin daughter, London, while my other daughter, Brooklyn, lived in the NICU for seven months. After Brooklyn was discharged, Vanessa became my home nurse in late 2017. Early on, I learned that she had lost a twin son, Jordan, in 22
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2015 and we became fast friends. We finally got together in the fall of 2019, just before Covid, and then had Autumn in May 2020. We had our twins Zaria and Zakhi (girl/boy) in May 2021 to join my two and her other four children. To raise kind, honest, and hardworking children is my greatest inspiration.
What has life been like for you during the pandemic? In February 2020, I began working as a clinical supervisor for a residential treatment program for men with significant trauma and mental health diagnoses (schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder). When Covid hit, the residents lost all ability to go out into the community, get jobs, go to the library etc. The program became the opposite of what was intended. Personal life in the pandemic was eventful, to say the least. My mom passed on March 2; her service was on March 10, just before the world shut down, and I’m pretty sure that’s how I caught Covid. Autumn was born in May then contracted Covid a month later! We were pregnant with twins by the fall. The pandemic in conjunction with the birth of our twins were also major forces that made me begin thinking, ‘What do I love? What do I want my legacy to be?’ Children will have a greater likelihood of survival and success when those invisible hands of systemic oppression are made visible for their comprehension, critique, and conquering. For my students, my mantra is: “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” All of this led me to join Imhotep Charter High School to impact the lives of young people.
younger. When I was at BBA, I worked at a deli across the street from the Equinox, called Village Fare, and they introduced me to some of the best music. I didn’t know much about jazz, reggae, or rock until my peers and coworkers introduced me. It was strange how white folks put me on to all this music that fueled hip hop. I’m grateful for [my BBA] experience as it changed the entire trajectory of my life for the better.
How did your time at BBA shape your career path? What important things did you take away from your time at BBA? BBA shaped my career path in EVERY WAY. I can’t overstate the positive impact that it has had on my life. I just talked to a frustrated student [about this] the other day. ‘If someone has a problem with you, remember, it’s their problem and they can keep it.’ As a young person in Vermont, white folks would stare at me, and I would get really upset thinking, ‘You never seen a black person before?!’ I learned you can have a problem with me, but it’s yours. It doesn’t belong to me so it shouldn’t live rent-free in my bandwidth. At BBA, I developed a lot of pride as well as a lot of humility. I learned the importance of helping others and the value of working for what I need and want. I learned the importance of enhancing my internal value over my external appearance. Prior to my arrival, I spent all of my summer earnings on new clothes and shoes, so I could look fresh for the first day of school as we do in black communities. I got to BBA on the first day, and no one looked fresh! My host brother (and best friend) wore beat-up sneakers. I asked him, “Don’t you have new shoes for school?!” He said, “No! I love these shoes. They’re broken in. They’re comfortable.” This taught me the valuable lesson of appreciating what I have and not following materialistic trends. To this day, I haven’t bought Jordans for my children or myself. As I’m teaching History of Hip Hop, there’s so much that’s in this curriculum that I didn’t know about music when I was
Terrell traces the evolution of hip hop in slides he shared with the History of Hip Hop class.
BONUS So, what are you listening to now? (music, podcast, audio book) • King Tubby (‘68-‘79 roots reggae) • Gold School Hip Hop (‘86-‘98) • Invisibilia podcast • Hidden Brain podcast • The Moth podcast • Code Switch podcast • StoryCorps podcast “I listen to NPR every day. The sensibilities and contexts have strong Vermont-ish undertones.”
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NEW FACULTY PROFILE
Nora Hefner, Director of Food and Farm Studies By Tobianna Aldrich ’22
It’s over the river and through the woods to the BBA-Hildene Farm each morning. For students attending Farm and Food Studies classes at the farm, the journey is well worth it; the rustic classroom has a lovely view of the farm and the hills, and in the morning the sun and fog create a mystical scene. The scenery isn’t the only amazing thing here though. The new director, Nora Hefner, is also fantastic. Hefner was born in Gill, Massachusetts, and from a young age she loved the outdoors. Her most prominent childhood memories include frog catching, learning to build, and animal tracking. She says, “I have a vivid memory of getting lots of bark dust in my eyes from crawling inside a hollow tree as a little kid.” Her adventurous spirit is contagious, and one of her favorite parts about working in Food and Farm Studies is the opportunity to inspire curiosity in others: “I love that I get to work with such curious and creative students and colleagues, and we have so much room to try new things and get outside.” Hefner even finds joy in stick season. “Often the conditions in nature that make me uncomfortable–cold, dark, soggy, etc.–are the ones that get me to think the hardest about how and why natural systems work the way they do.”
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I LOVE THAT I GET TO WORK WITH SUCH CURIOUS AND CREATIVE STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES, AND WE HAVE SO MUCH ROOM TO TRY NEW THINGS AND GET OUTSIDE.
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As an undergraduate in college, she studied biology, environmental studies, and studio art, and Hefner says she had a hard time choosing. After discovering her love of teaching, she pursued a graduate degree in Education. Hefner not only studies ecosystems, but also sees herself as part of one: “Every atom in my body, every decision I make, everything I consume is part of an ecosystem. Feeling connected to something as big and complex as the natural world is kind of heavy...It makes things complicated and personal, and sometimes it is really, really sad, but for me, it also brings a lot of meaning and joy, and I am grateful to feel connected to the land and the living things around me.” By being part of this ecosystem and understanding her impact on the world, Hefner takes active steps to think critically about the materials she uses. She puts her ideology into action by knitting. “It has taught me to respect and value the labor of making consumer goods, and it forces me to question how much stuff I really need.” She acknowledges that handmade goods are often a luxury that people can’t afford. “Developing skills to make things myself has helped me feel I have a little bit of independence.” Hefner is excited to build on the hands-on opportunities Farm and Food Studies provides. She explains, “Hands-on learning is a big part of how I hope to [help students] develop understanding. Handson learning and getting outside are great scientific tools as well as important opportunities to build that relationship with a place that you know, care about and interact with in meaningful ways”. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tobianna Aldrich ’22 has taken several Farm and Food Studies courses and deeply appreciates the opportunity to connect with nature through learning. A Utah native, Aldrich enjoyed spending time outdoors with her family growing up and brought that love with her to Vermont. She hopes to work with nature as a wildlife biologist or an ecologist.
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EVERY ATOM IN MY BODY, EVERY DECISION I MAKE, EVERYTHING I CONSUME IS PART OF AN ECOSYSTEM. FEELING CONNECTED TO SOMETHING AS BIG AND COMPLEX AS THE NATURAL WORLD IS KIND OF HEAVY...
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A Welcome Return to Campus for Reunion 2021 After more than a year’s hiatus due to Covid restrictions, alumni gathered once more to celebrate their time at Burr and Burton for Reunion Weekend September 24-25. Moving the Reunion Party on campus under a tent for optimal health and safety meant that alumni got to immerse themselves in the experience of current Burr and Burton students. Beginning with an Alumni Social in the Seminary Building on Friday evening, alumni were able to connect with classmates and fellow alumni spanning from the Burr and Burton Classes of 1954 (Suzanne Dern Green) and 1956 (Nora Gay Larsen) to the Class of 2015 (Carson Fillion). The people traveling farthest to attend Reunion included Thomas Hand ’01, who came from Portland, Oregon, and William Brooks ’61, traveling from Palm Springs, California.
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The class with the largest turnout was the Class of 1981, celebrating their 40th reunion, with a close second from the Class of 2001, celebrating their 20th reunion. The class of 1981 was recognized for its generous college scholarship fundraising, which awarded three scholarships to the graduating class of 2021. Alumni gathered to sing the Alma Mater, led by current students, Alexandria Lacoste ’22, Summer Murphy ’22, Teri Salmon ’22, and Gracie Durgin ’23. Headmaster Mark Tashjian thanked Alumni Association Executive Board President Gloria Rovnak Palmer ’81 for serving on the board for more than 15 years. Tashjian also thanked and recognized Board Secretary Judy McPhail ’65 for more than 10 years of service, as she transitioned off the Board. Both Palmer and McPhail were presented with Burr and Burton gifts of appreciation.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTS NEW MEMBERS At the 2021 Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Headmaster Mark Tashjian warmly welcomed Burr and Burton graduates and their families, saying “Togetherness is something we cherish more than ever after feeling its absence during the height of the Covid lockdown, and that is why I’m especially happy to be here with all of you on this special occasion.” Tashjian went on to say that one of the lessons learned during time spent apart was an appreciation of one another. “Everyone honored today has something in common: They helped make Burr and Burton a better school, and they serve as a shining example of what is possible when we care deeply for each other. May we find inspiration in their stories.”
Congratulations to the Burr and Burton 2021 Hall of Fame inductees. Bobbie Jean Booth ’88, Athlete Alex Maier ’88, Athlete Rebecca Alberti ’13, Special Olympian Edward Smith ’66, Legend Athlete Dave Miceli, Coach Guy Boyer, Friend of Athletics 1985 Softball Team, Team 1965 Baseball Team, Legend Team Gwenn Wisell Bogart ’76, Alumni Achievement Award Chris Kochenour, E.H. Henry Distinguished Faculty & Staff Award Pierce Fulton ’10, Alumni Arts Award
Dr. Andrew Boyer to lead Burr and Burton Academy Alumni Association Burr and Burton Academy is pleased to announce that Dr. Andrew Boyer, Rutland, has been elected President of the Alumni Association. Boyer, a 2001 graduate of Burr and Burton Academy, is a Radiologist at Rutland Regional Medical Center. He has served on the BBA Alumni Association Executive Board for the past two years, helping to grow alumni participation and engagement. Boyer is a member of the Board of Directors for One World Children’s Fund and previously was a board member and the Vice President of Healthcare Sustainability and Relief Effort, which was founded in the wake of Covid-19 to assist small healthcare organizations. He continues to serve on their Advisory Council.
REUNION PLEASE JOIN US September 23-24, 2022 On the Burr and Burton campus.
CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR DETAILS. Questions or suggestions on Reunion? Please contact alumni@burrburton.org
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CLASS NOTES Life Beyond Graduation 1954 Peter McNamara ’54 published his ninth book of poems, that end/not end, in December 2020. His other collections include Recurrent Dawn (2019), Quickened Dark (2017) and Orbit’s Crossing (2013). Peter is a former professor (Georgetown and UNC-Chapel Hill), Wall Street financial editor, lyricist/librettist with Polyhymnia and the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. He has translated poems of Neruda, Garcia Lorca, and Reverdy, is a founding member of the Southern Vermont Poetry Coop, and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.
60th. To contact any ’65 classmates - get in touch with Bill at wjwestvt@gmail. com. Stay in touch!
1999
1963 Edwin M. Norse ’63 passed away on January 25, 2021. He was a proud graduate of Burr & Burton Seminary, served in the Army after graduating from UVM, had a long, successful career as a chief financial officer to utilities, and a wonderful retirement filled with adventures with family. He loved all things Vermont, but especially his childhood in Manchester, including his days at Burr and Burton Seminary and the reunions he was able to attend.
1965 Bill West ’65 wrote that he talked to Rollie Read ’65. He has moved from Colorado to Valencia, CA to be closer to his daughter. He loves it there and wishes the best to all his classmates. Bill also heard from Shirley Cook McGuire ’65 whose brother Bob was combating Covid-19 in hospital even though he had been vaccinated. Bunny Lyon Solari ’65 could not attend the reunion because of health problems with her husband Ed. She hopes to make our 30
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2004
Megan Beattie-Cassan ’99, Burr and Burton’s school nurse, shared this wonderful photo of four generations of bulldogs showing Phyllis Hurley ’46 (celebrating her 75th Reunion in 2021), Ivan Beattie ’72, Megan Beattie-Cassan ’99, and her son Chase Cassan ’25. Chase is the sixth generation of the family to attend Burr and Burton! Two generations that are missing include Helen Adams and Roger Hurley (Phyllis’ parents) who graduated in approximately 1924 and Harry Adams (Phyllis’ maternal grandfather), a graduate from 1892 (Adams Park in Manchester is named in his honor).
SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES: alumni@burrburton.org. MAIL YOUR CLASS NOTES: Burr and Burton, Alumni Office P.O. Box 498, Manchester, VT 05254
Liz Hand Mackey shared a photo of the alumni vs. current student soccer game on McCormick field in August 2021. The alumni eked out a 2-1 victory. In the post-victory photo, left to right: Jamie Hand ’04, Willy Appelman ’05, Riley Houser ’06, Liz Hand Mackey ’05, and Charley Mull ’03. (Also pictured are children Essie Appelman and Lang Mackey).
2007 Arianna Dawley Anton ’07 received the Colby-Sawyer Young Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes a young alumna for significant achievement and contribution in their field. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Colby-Sawyer in 2011 and went on to receive her Master of Science in Nursing from Norwich University in 2015. Arianna has worked as a staff nurse in the surgicaltrauma intensive care unit at DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center. She currently serves as assistant professor in the School of Nursing & Health Sciences at ColbySawyer. In 2021, she became the ColbySawyer Nursing clinical coordinator, and she also teaches the Senior Leadership Capstone course. She also volunteers in the inter-professional education sessions held between the Colby-Sawyer Nursing program, the Geisel Medical School and the Franklin Pierce University Physician Assistant program.
2012 CLASS LIASONS WANTED HELP YOUR CLASS STAY CONNECTED.
If interested, please contact Meredith Morin at mmorin@burrburton.org or 802-549-8103
2008
Mindy Stone Kitchens ’08, LMSW, writes that she has “ . . . been elected to serve as the National Association of Social Workers - Texas Branch delegate for aging. In my three-year term, I will represent Texas at the national level in all aging related policy decisions. I live in Texas with my husband, three year old son, and our dog and cat. I’ve been a licensed social worker for about 3 years, after a career in wealth management. I graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in German from the University of North Texas in 2013, and completed my Masters in Social Work at the University of Texas Arlington in 2019. I work as an ombudsman - an advocate for residents of assisted living facilities in the Dallas area. My career has been informed by time spent volunteering in my youth at The Equinox Terrace. My work is rewarding, and I love it! I brought my son to Vermont over the summer of 2021 and he especially loved his time swimming at Lake Shaftsbury and getting ice cream from all the local dairy bars. I hope he can have a high school experience at a place just as wonderful as Burr and Burton.
Adam Zeif ’08 and Sophie Bellinis were married in August at Appleton Farms, Ipswich, MA. Burr and Burton graduates in the wedding party included best man Jesse Myerson ’08, Adam’s sisters Molly Zeif ’12 and Maddie Zeif ’16, and groomsmen Dave Faxon ’08, Reed Bongartz ’08, Sterling Cobb ’08, Judd Hoffman ’08. Burr and Burton alumni wedding guests included Kerry Comollo Mackinnon ’77, Sara Wilson ’12, Taylor Sniffin ’08, Chris “Red” Murray ’09, Livi Bellingham ’16, Gabe Myerson ’12. Adam and Sophie have moved to the Burlington, VT area. Judd Hoffman ’08 was married in December to Shana Petriello in Massachusetts. Best man Taylor Sniffin ’08 was joined by Jesse Myerson ’08, Dave Faxon ’08, Adam Zeif ’08, Reed Bongartz ’08, Jenna Hoffman ’11, and Seth Bongartz ’72. All thoroughly enjoyed the winter celebration!
Megan Tate ’12 and Shane Fuller ’12 met at Burr and Burton and continued dating until their engagement in 2020. They now live in Portland, Oregon. Their wedding on July 17, 2021 brought them back to Vermont where they were able to celebrate their love with family and friends. From left to right: Britton Blanchard ’14, Peter Cousseau ’14, Zack Beauregard ’11, Will Tate ’15, Geoff Fuller ’16, Torey Beavin ’12, Kieran Halligan ’12, Shane Fuller ’12, Megan Tate ’12, Sarah Hawksley ’12, Laura Ellis Hawksley ’75, Sara Wilson ’12, Maddie Zeif ’16, Kerry Comollo Mackinnon ’77, Molly Zeif ’12, Sarah Kittross ’12, Melissa Oliva ’12, Hannah Brosnan Logan ’12, Sarah Maness ’13, Kelsey Korejko ’12, and Kory Kingsley ’11.
2014
2010 James Chandler ’10 has a thriving wedding photography business in the Northshire and beyond. In addition, he directs digital e-commerce for Chandler 4 Corners, the Manchester family business that has made high quality, handcrafted, artist-designed decorative accents for over a quarter of a century. This fall he has also helped with several Burr and Burton projects, both print pieces and social media photography including photos in this edition of The VIEW.
Drew Herbert ’14 had planned to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2020, but because of COVID-19, the trail was shut down and he hiked the Long Trail instead. This summer he completed the Appalachian Trail! Drew is living in Burlington, VT and is working for Keller Williams, a real estate company. BURR AND BURTON ACADEMY 31
CLASS NOTES 2018 Bea Bellingham ’18 and Margo Grapshi ’18 gathered updates from many classmates! Shayla Heekin ’18 is a junior at Hobart & William Smith Colleges majoring in writing and rhetoric with a minor in education. She plays on the lacrosse team, which is a D3 #6 ranked team. John Sebastian Thörn ’18 will graduate in May with a major in Business Analytics from the University of Notre Dame. He will work as an associate at an aviation consultancy firm in Manhattan after graduating. Ruiqi Xuen ’18 is a senior at Middlebury College majoring in Economics and Psychology. After graduation, he will explore options in asset management and graduate school, focusing on quantitative analysis in social studies. Evan Rawson ’18 is a senior at UVM studying finance and economics. He will do a summer internship with Baystate Financial to work on becoming a financial advisor. Nick Price ’18 is a senior at SCAD in Savannah studying graphic design. He works at a screenprinting studio and does freelance graphic and fashion design work. Jay McCoy ’18 is a senior at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, majoring in Educational Studies with a double minor in child advocacy and biology. He plans to apply to medical school in 2023 and says, “I wouldn’t be successful without the life skills BBA has taught me!”
Margo Grapshi ’18 is a senior at Hobart and William Smith Colleges double majoring in media & society and writing & rhetoric with a French minor. She just completed a remote internship with LA-based OBB Media. She studied during January term in France and is “so thankful for my four years at Burr and Burton Academy!”
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Beatrice “Bea” Bellingham ’18 will graduate from UVM with a degree in Mechanical Engineering this spring and plans to nanny in New York City in the fall.
Jackson Ameden ’18 will graduate in May from UVM with a bachelor’s degree in natural resources with a concentration in parks, recreation and tourism. He recently earned his National EMT certification and coached the BBA alpine ski team this winter while working at the Bromley Outing Club on the race crew. Georgia Lord ’18 graduated from Williams College in December with a major in psychology. She headed to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics to work for NBC Sports, saying, “I loved my experience with NBC this past summer at the Tokyo Olympics and I can’t wait for round two!” Paige Marion ’18 is going to graduate from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Sports Nutrition this spring. She plans to go to nursing school in the coming years to become an RN. Katie Liell ’18 will be graduating from Connecticut College with majors in Government and French, as well as a minor in Philosophy. She will be applying to international masters programs, after a well-deserved break. Sam Citron ’18 is set to graduate from Bucknell University with a degree in Computer Science Engineering and a Minor in Mathematics. Post-grad she will be in the Boston area at MITRE, specializing in Software Engineering. CeCe Szkutak ’18 will be graduating from Boston University as a doublemajor in Economics and Political Science. After graduation, CeCe will pursue a career in political strategy and research. Colvin “Cole” Hathaway ’18 is currently in his junior year at UVM after taking a year off because of the pandemic (often seen working at the Dorset Union Store!) and is pursuing a major in Theater and designed his own minor in Arts Management. He just recently acted in a production of Macbeth which got featured on CBS Mornings and hopes to pursue his theater career after graduating in 2023.
Pat Zilkha, head coach for varsity soccer, shared that the “Varsity kids had more hair but the alumni team had more experience. And we all know experience matters. Temperatures were north of 90 on the turf field. Big thanks to Brenton Pinkus P’18,’20,’25 and Jamie Hand ’04 for organizing. The alumni game exists due to the efforts of former faculty member Peter Mull P’03,’04,’07,’08,’10,’17 longtime head coach, who built this into an annual fun-fest!”
2021
Teddy Mirenda ’21, a freshman at Hobart, painted this amazing mural for Willoughby’s (the former Mrs. Murphy’s) owned by Courtney Mutz Callo ’84. In addition to baking amazing donuts and pastries, Courtney also offers three different delicious egg sandwiches, and of course, coffee and tea.
Burr and Burton Academy is grateful to its business partners who invest in a brighter future for our community. 2021 Gala Sponsors Presenting Sponsor
Advocate Sponsors
TPW Real Estate
Alkemi Equinox Golf Resort and Spa Langway Chevrolet VW of Manchester Mountain Goat North, Inc. RE/MAX Four Seasons Same Sun of Vermont, Inc. Southwestern Vermont Health Care TOAST Beverages William Raveis Winhall Real Estate, Inc.
Lead Sponsors
Taconic, a Kimpton Hotel Berkshire Bank
Champion Sponsors Express Copy First Republic Bank Four Season Sotheby’s International Realty H.N. Williams Store Lily of the Valley Florist Nathan Auctions & Real Estate, Inc.
Builder Sponsors Baerlein Landscaping, Inc. Brook Valley Appliance Decorative Interiors
East of Equinox Day Spa Heritage Family Credit Union Manchester Capital Management, LLC Rain or Shine Tent Company Rutland Regional Medical Center Spivey Lemonik Swenor PC
Partner Sponsors Alpine Physical Therapy & Sports Care Chroma Technologies Flying Cow Signs MJG Interiors Wright Construction Co., Inc.
Wine Sponsors Orland and Hoa Campbell
Annual Business Partners Bromley Mountain Resort r.k. Miles, Inc.
Rugg Valley Landscaping The Orvis Company W.H. Shaw Insurance Agency, Inc.
Headmaster’s List
Honors
H.N. Williams Store Manchester Country Club Mountain Goat North, Inc. Northshire Bookstore
The Bank of Bennington Earth & Sea Fish Market, Inc. The Equinox Golf Resort and Spa Kitchens of Vermont, LLC Lily of the Valley Florist Salem Farm Supply, Inc. Samuelson Law Offices Wood and Signs
Founders
High Honors Finn & Stone Insurance/Hub International Limited RE/MAX Four Seasons
Academic Letter Baierlein Landscaping, Inc. The Inn at Manchester JBL Foods, LLC Manchester Capital Management Spivey Lemonik Swenor PC The Works Bakery Cafe Zen Revolution
Academic Pin The Body Lab Community Bank iShip Express The Richards Group
Burr and Burton Academy 57 Seminary Avenue PO Box 498 Manchester, VT 05254
Non-Profit Org. US Postage
PAID
Permit No.3 Manchester, VT 05254
WINTER
2022 burrburton.org
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