The Vedette | 2021 Alumni Weekend Special Edition

2021 Alumni Weekend Special Edition

Alumni Interviews Q&A with Fetuga, Quinn, Haldewang

Culver During Grad Letter to the class of 2021 Employees at Culver

VOL. 122 #4

Vedette Staff

Jyothinagaram Editor in Chief Maya

Garbacik Senior Editor Dayne

Emilia Murphy Managing Editor

Our Mission The Vedette is the student-run news magazine of the Culver Academies. We seek to give students a voice on local and global matters with a focus on Culver life.

The goal of The Vedette is to facilitate open and honest discussions and bring relevant information to students, parents, faculty, and administration while leaving a journal of record for the campus.

Xie, Rudy Zhang Editors Emeritus

Disclaimer

Wang Design Editor

The articles included in The Vedette are created by the authors and do not, in any way, constitute official Culver Academies policies or stances.

Sherry

Tammy

Mikel

Alvis, Roberta Herrero

Writers

Want to make your

Liu, Becky Young, Kate Lin, Zhang Contributing Designers

voice heard?

Allison Rudy

Rubado, Larry Flynn Sponsors Dan

The Vedette welcomes contributions!

Submissions: The Vedette is open to letters, ideas, photos, cartoons, stories, and other contributions. Please send your submission to us at vedette@culver.org Corrections: As members of the Culver community, we value your feedback.

Please direct criticism, concerns, and corrections to vedette@culver.org.

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11

50th Year

Class of 1971

10th Year

5

20th Year

2001: Ibrahim Fetuga

2011: Anna Haldewang

13 5th Year

8

20th Year

2001: Sebastian Quinn

2016: Where Ever We May Roam

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Grad Year

2021: Letter to Graduates

Dear Culver Alumni, I have always believed that there is not a more beautiful and poignant time in Culver than the month of May. May is the time when Culver students come out of hibernation and seize every minute of daylight on the field with their friends. May is the time when graduating seniors find it exceptionally hard to say goodbye. And May is also the time when we celebrate the Culver alumni, without whom Culver would have never become the prestigious institution it is today.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic prevents the 2021 Reunion Weekend from happening in person, making it the second consecutive Reunion

Weekend to be canceled because of the pandemic. Despite the physical barrier the pandemic poses, the Culver Alumni Office has still provided ample online resources and information packets for the classes celebrating their reunions. On this special occasion, I am honored as the Editor Emeritus of The Vedette to introduce you to the 2021 Vedette Alumni Magazine, in which student journalists of The Vedette joins in the effort of the school as a whole to celebrate the Classes of 1971, 2001, 2011, 2016, and 2021 through personalized interviews and detailed journalistic accounts.

As I compose this final Dear Culver letter, I myself will also be going through the Arch and joining the Culver Alumni family soon.

I would like my final message in the Vedette to be this: it is the combination of Culver students, alumni, parents, and all those who deeply care about Culver personally that makes Culver, Culver. As Culver students of today, and Culver alumni of tomorrow, we have always kept Culver deep in our heart, and likewise, Culver will always remain a part of our lives.

Welcome Home (virtually!),

Sherry Xie

CLASS OF 1971

Mikel Alvis

It is easy to view the Culver experience as one that ends as soon as the journey through the arch or gate is completed. The Culver Class of ’71 is proof that Culver is truly about the people and that the experience

will

continue

far

past

graduation.

Looking back on their Culver experiences, these alumni remember Springs in the field, living in tents rather than barracks, and the reality that was the “Culver bubble.” This graduating class faced a country that was rebellious in the face of the Vietnam War as well as the War on Drugs. Mr. Mario Romine, CMA ‘71, expanded on this, emphasizing that at the time, the military did not have public support. As the public underwent massive political and social upheaval, Mr. Romine and his fellow cadets were at Culver. Mr. Romine points out that this rebellion was grounded in a firm belief that “we youth were going to change the uptight, strict, autocratic, racist world in which we lived”.

Culver provided an environment that allowed for a “real-life education on structure… sportsmanship, and even on diversity.”

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CLASS OF 1971

I had the opportunity to speak with two other classmates of Mr. Romine, Mr. Hornbeck, CMA’ 71, and Mr. Simonini, CMA ‘71, a previous member of the Culver Legion Board. These three alumni, when asked if there was a memory that stood out to them from their time at Culver, had distinct memories of cannons. Whether by the lake for Reveille, enjoying the view from a tree, or attending chapel, the cannon was by the side of this class.

Each of these men recognized the importance of fellow cadets both in their time at Culver and in their present lives. Culver friends, as well as the fact that their class can continue to grow closer, mean a lot to all three of these alumni. What stood out was how vividly each alumni recalled their time spent with friends at Culver. Mr. Simonini noted that a Culver friend lives close to him in North Carolina even today, demonstrating the lasting bonds created at Culver.

Mario A. Romine, CMA '71 Their individual accomplishments achieved at Culver remain noteworthy. Mr. Hornbeck was named to the Culver Athletic Hall of Fame and cites this as an accomplishment he values to this day. He was recognized for not only his effort in sports but his passion for his teammates and competition at Culver.

1971 was the last year before women were allowed to officially attend Culver Academy. Faculty daughters were allowed to go to classes during that year but did not have a graduation ceremony.

Thankfully, Culver Girls Academy does today. Culver has changed over the years, but still aims to build a tightly woven and genuinely

Huntley A. Hornbeck, CMA '71

compassionate community.

After discussing their time at Culver, I asked each of these alumni what made them happy today. Their answer was, in several different forms, their family. They have been able to watch their children grow and see the benefits of the many life-skills engrained in them at Culver.

It is important to be intentional with the limited time given at Culver and to appreciate the education and resources provided. These alumni would remind current Culver students to engage with the opportunities

Alan C. Simonini, CMA '71

provided

to

them

while

recognizing

that

the

importance of time at Culver lies mainly within making strong friendships and fun memories.

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CLASS OF

IBRAHIM FETUGA INTERVIEW As the Class of 2001 celebrates their 20th Anniversary virtually, their memories live on. Ibrahim Fetuga, Culver Military Academy ’01, is currently the Assistant Director for Admissions at Culver and is always one of the brightest faces on campus. Whether it be saying “Hi!” at the Dining Hall or checking in with some of the students, he’s always there for a kind word. Fetuga, as a member of the Class of 2001, has been able to reflect on some of his experiences along with what Culver means to him.

Q:

What is your favorite memory of Culver?

A:

Hands down, the night before Graduation. I remember a large group of us were hanging out at Beason reminiscing about our past experience and being optimistic about what our futures held but being really sad that it was our last night spending with our Culver classmates. We stayed at Beason for what seemed like forever and had a great time thinking about our pasts together and our hopeful futures.

Q: A:

What do you think Culver means to you after 20 years?

To me, Culver means family and foundation. It’s the place I often think about when I’m thinking about good memories. All of my closest friends for the most part are Culver grads. That’s why it means family to me, because even through all of life’s ups and downs, Culver has always been there for me.

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Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Can you tell me a little bit about your graduating class, the Class of 2001?

I like to think of the Class of 2001 as a change of guard. When we started Culver, Dean Ralph Manuel was the Head of Schools. By the time we graduated, John Buxton was the Head of Schools, so we got to see the transition for Head of Schools. It was also a great time for athletics. My class has a two-time Olympic medalist in it. We also have other successful athletes and professionals. Also, with it being the end of the millennia, we had a sense of pride in being the ’01 class. It was really easy to show people what year we graduated because we’re number one. It’s a class of hardworking people, both men and women, teachers and admission counselors alike!

Q: What were some big changes during your time at Culver?

Although this may be speaking for me specifically, one would probably have to be the change in the football schedule. Leading up to the 2000-2001 season, Culver football had always played on Saturday afternoons, meaning we often didn’t get as large a crowd as we wanted watching. However, in the 2000-2001 season, the Culver football team was finally able to play on Friday nights, and we were finally able to have a more normal high school experience.

Do you have a message that you want to send to the Class of 2001?

I’m sad that we didn’t get this year to celebrate our 20th together, but I look forward to all of us getting back together again and reminiscing on stories from the 90’s and early 2000’s.

Is there any word of wisdom that you would like to convey to the current Culver students?

Enjoy the last couple of days of your senior year, soak it up. As the class of 2020 learned, you never know what can happen. Don’t be afraid to reach out and come back to Culver. Don’t be afraid to come and stay a part of this wonderful institution. I’d really like to encourage the Class of ’21 to stay involved and come back to Culver!

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CLASS OF

SEBASTIAN QUINN INTERVIEW He credits much of his success to Culver, a place that shaped most of his adolescent life. Quinn currently works as a global marketing director for Travel and Leisure and has worked in several interesting marketing positions across the world. Through it all, his commitment to Culver has remained, whether it be through class reunions or group text chains. Quinn was able to then reflect on his Culver memories, and how they helped him twenty years later.

Q:

What is your favorite memory of Culver?

A:

Tough, in a good way. I’d have to say in general, the second half of my senior year. All the work you put into it is worth it. I also went to summer school in addition to winter school. By this point, you’re just trying to not get kicked out and walk through the Iron Gate. At that time, it was nice to spend time with the kids who you didn’t know if you’d ever see again. I’m still really close to many of my classmates, especially the golf team.

Q: A:

What do you think Culver means to you after 20 years?

A: It certainly means a lot more. It makes me wish I would have done things more differently, done more of the hard work while I was there. Ultimately, it comes down to the core relationships in Culver. I’m still much closer to my Culver friends than my college friends. I love the community aspect of Culver and the lifelong relationships you make. I met my wife through one of my Culver friends, and I still go on trips with my Culver friends. Oftentimes, it’s not even your closest friends at Culver, it can often be the people you meet from Culver later.

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Culver Faculty Since 2001

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Can you tell me a little bit about your graduating class, the Class of 2001?

We certainly were a fun bunch! I think there were around 170 people. We were certainly a diverse group. The biggest thing about that class was that we were the last class to graduate before 9/11. It really set us apart as we never had the high school experience of 9/11 that many other students did.

Also, while we all had our circle of friends, I always thought it was cool how our friend groups mixed a lot. There were a lot of good mixes across sexes and races and more. I think it is very interesting that many of us are still good friends.

Another thing was that it was funny that we were the last class to not have laptops. We got email addresses my sophomore year, and that was the biggest thing ever! We came of age in Y2K, the 2000 election, and in a very transformational time. That reflected on the class.

How was your time at Culver different that the time many students currently have?

I was a day student my first year but then a boarding student for the next three years. It was a very different time than I’m sure exists now due to security and etc. A lot of my good memories were weekends. Weekends were very much defined by sports. So many friendships and memories were created during weekends as it gave us time to bond outside of Culver. Senior dinner dance and spring break were big things. Hockey games were huge.

Culver’s just such a treasured place for me, just hearing about Culver triggers good memories for me.

What unit were you in and what were some of your leadership positions?

I was in Band for four years, and I never learned to play an instrument. I was in Band because my parents knew the counselor, and they decided that I should be in the unit, even though I had absolutely zero musical talent. In freshman year, they told me to stand in the back with a tuba. For the rest of my Culver career, I was a “tuba” player who didn’t even know to play an instrument. Another funny story I have is about the soccer team. I actually made varsity soccer my freshman year and then I didn’t make it my sophomore and junior year then made it again my senior year. I was just never a structural person, and I found it interesting. The military never clicked with me although I later served in many leadership positions. I graduated as a PFC.

What were some interesting changes to Culver during your time there?

Our sophomore or junior year they renovated Beason. It used to be a complete mess. Nobody wanted to hang out there. By the time they redid it, it was a cool place to go hangout. When we were there in class, all the construction significantly ramped up. They completed the Huffington Library when I was there. The crazy construction definitely started during this time.

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As part of our Culver family, there have been faculty and staff who have come and gone. However, there is still a select few who have remained at Culver. In honor of the Class of 2001, here's a list of faculty and staff who have been at Culver since 2001.

Lyman Knight Michael Chastain Cynthia Master Daniel Burke Carol Ely Melinda Master Merrill Millow Emily Ryman Scott Joyner Rita Shireman Estill Rice Nancy McKinnis David Millow Randy Sellers Gabriel Napierkowski Martin Engelbrecht Diann Parsons Daniel Cowell Lori Elliot Alan Loehr Gary Hinton Anthony Clemons Mary Rasch Timmy Hawkey Kristine Myers Bradford Trevathan Timothy Montgomery Walter Wilhelm Cory Barnes Mitch Barnes Kevin Trent Brian Rhode Lorraine Miracle Dusty Dawn Deherrera Daniel Davidge Jacqueline Erwin Robin Siems Terry Schultz Edward Kelley Robert Nowalk

Culver Faculty Since 2001 (Continued) Brian Rosenau Marth Bridegroowm Raymond Kreischer Judy Reynolds Leslie Shepard Andrew Dorrel Elizabeth Schmiedlin James Schmiedlin Stacey Warren David Weirich Richard Tompos Julie Melton Edward Quella Debrah Fox Anne Kelley David Blalock Della Gaines Judy Campbell Melissa Alexander Teri Yeargin Linda Kiechle Barbara Wynn Joshua Pretzer Pamala White Karen OBlenix Tammy Bryant Catherine Zurbugg William Baker Jen Cerny Stephanie Wright Ned Davis Jan Garrison Terri Anderson Antonio Giraldi John White

Q:

What did you do after you left Culver?

Q:

Is there a collective unforgettable memory of our class?

A:

A:

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Spent 4 years at Indiana University. Then drove down to Florida and did an internship in XOS, a sports agency, in 2006. We were developing software for coaches to break down games. From there, I went and worked at Hard Rock International for 7 years. Got to travel the world and went to 23 countries with them. It was a great brand to work for, and I worked in marketing. Did that until 2016/2017. Left Hard Rock and worked with NBC sports on the golf channel. Did digital marketing and just left last year, the week before the pandemic, and took a role as a global marketing director at Travel and Leisure.

A big change that happened was when John Buxton became head of schools. Dean Manuel was very much “this is a military school.” When Buxton came there, it changed the dynamic to a prep school with a military focus. When I first started going to Culver, everybody asked me if I went to Culver because I got into trouble. Then by the time I was in college, people knew Culver for its prestige.

Do you have a message that you want to send to the Class of 2001?

I can’t wait until we can all be in-person for an Alumni Weekend again, it’ll probably be our 25th year. We’ve got 5 extra years to make up and enjoy!

Do you have any advice for the class of 2021?

Enjoy your remaining time at Culver because it really is precious. Cherish the relationships you make at Culver because there’s a good chance that a handful of them will be your lifelong friends. Culver is such a protected bubble of fun and memories. When you meet other people in the future, you’ll find out how unique your memories are. You’ve literally created lifelong friendships with people from all over the world.

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CLASS OF

Sherry Xie

ANNA HALDEWANG INTERVIEW 2021 is an especially poignant year for the Class of 2011, as members of this class are celebrating their first two-digit reunion while not being able to be back on campus. Anna Haldewang, a member of the Culver Girls Academy Class of 2011 who currently serves as the Founder and CEO of InsightTRAC, reflects on her Culver experience.

Q:

What is your favorite memory of Culver?

A:

The experience of hanging out with friends and going to town at weekends. While this is not a specific memory, it is truly incredible to think about the amount of time we laughed with our friends together in a day.

Q: A:

What do you think Culver means to you after 10 years?

Culver will always hold a special place in my heart. I am still best friends with the three other girls that I roomed with my senior year. It is so nice to always have them as my support system.

My experience at Culver sets me apart from others my own age and has really set me up for success in my career. I have seen in the past 10 years how much the foundation that I have created at Culver has grown into what I am today.

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Q:

A:

Can you tell me a little bit about your graduating class, the Class of 2011?

The majority of the class still stays together and is in contact with each other constantly. Everyone is so excited to see how we have taken off after Culver and to witness the wonderful things we have accomplished despite the numerous different paths we have taken. We still have that unity of Culver and Culver still holds a very special place in our hearts.

Q:

Is there a collective unforgettable memory of your class?

A:

Our senior prank! During an All School Meeting, all the seniors snuck out of the Eppley Auditorium and transported huge amounts of sand all around the fountain in front of the auditorium. We were swimming in the fountain, and we all had a huge beach party there.

Q:

A:

Q:

A:

Do you have a message that you want to send to the Class of 2011?

I hope that everyone is doing well. I am always around to catch up with anyone!

Is there any word of wisdom that you would like to convey to the current Culver students?

Find lessons in the struggles. Find lessons in the areas you have failed, whether it be in a test, or in a game. Think about those moments as growing points and learning experiences, rather than as negative things. There is always something to learn from everything you do.

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No Matter Where We Roam its Culver, Culver, Culver...

Roberta Herrero Ampudia Reunion weekend is an opportunity for alumni all around the world to return to the place they hold so dearly and close to their hearts. Alumni Weekend is a medium for Culver alumni to reconnect and relive those unforgettable Culver memories that have shaped Culver graduates into the people they are today. As a result of the uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Alumni Weekend was not able to happen in person. Three extraordinary Culver graduates from the Class of 2016: Andres Sada, Jose Figueroa, and Lexi Zrelak reflected on the importance and the strength of the Culver family.

Andres Sada is a third generation, 2016 Culver graduate from Torreon, Mexico. As a Company C cadet, Sada made Culver history by being the fourth Mexican Regimental Commander of all time. As captain of the CMA Soccer team during his Senior Year, Sada led his team with resilience and leadership to win the sectional tournament series. He continued his academic endeavors at El Tec of Monterrey, Brown University, and University of California at Berkeley, where he became a financial analyst. Currently, Sada works at a private equity fund where financial models are thoroughly designed. His humor and charisma are some of his strongest suits, and both served him well during his time at Culver.

Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jose Figueroa is another proud Culver alumnus of the Class of 2016. Participating in cross country, track and field, and basketball all four years as a Culver student, Figueroa shares how these “experiences brought me together with incredible friends that believed in me and allowed me to grow to the person I am today.”

He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he studied Anthropology with a focus on Global Health and the Environment. Currently, Figueroa works in a local medical non-profit organization in Chicago called the Medical Organization for Latino Advancement. Next fall, he is planning on attending medical school in Chicago where he plans on fulfilling his dream of becoming a physician.

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Last but certainly not least, Lexie Zrelak attended Indiana University upon graduating from Culver in 2016, where she majored in advertising and public relations. In what she refers to as her “serendipitous” Culver career, she was the captain of both the Cheerleading and the Equestriennes team. Zrelak’s love for Culver and for horses urged her to work as a summer instructor at Culver for four consecutive years in the horsemanship department.

Her passion and willingness to go out of her way to help people and her courageous personality have helped her succeed as a leader both in Culver and the real world.

Zrelak shared how after graduating, the “next Culver-related thing to look forward to is your 5 year reunion.” Sada also echoed Zrelak’s sentiment and especially appreciates the moment when one’s entire class “gets to be back together as one.” These comments highlight the importance and sentimental value that Reunion Weekend has on Culver graduates.

Figueroa shares his comments on the pandemic and believes that it “brought personal hardships, losses and uncertainties that have made it hard for everyone to grasp all that was and is still going on.” Figueroa, an expert in global health, emphasizes the importance of focusing on the wellbeing and protection of the entire community. “The most important thing I wish for is that every current student, faculty, staff, alumni and community—along with their families—maintains themselves in good health.”

Although it is disappointing that this year’s Alumni Weekend cannot happen as planned, people are maintaining high spirits within the community. Sada, who is trying to keep a positive mindset, hopes that “next year we will have more classes along ours together, allowing us to further connect with other peers.” Like Sada, Zrelak is not hesitant; she refuses to let the pandemic ruin her Culver connections and is willing to keep them as strong as possible.

No matter where they roam, these eagles will forever sing along. Andres Sada, Jose Figueroa, and Lexi Zrelak demonstrate the integrity and strength of the Culver Community. It is their legacy that every Culver student tries to carry on.

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L E T T E R C L A S S

T O O F

T H E 2 0 2 1

seize the day. The future is not yet in our hands. The only thing that we are in control of is to seize the current moment and make full use of the time we have left here at Culver.

Dear Class of 2021, Congratulations! You have almost reached the finish line of your Culver career and are about to go through the gate and arch which officially mark the end of your high school experience.

We as a class have been through too many struggles and unforeseeable hardships together. Starting from losing our junior spring and abruptly leaving campus because of the COVID-19 pandemic to surviving one of the

most

competitive

and

unpredictable

college

admissions seasons, we have sailed with and against the waves

together.

Yet

despite

the

unprecedented

challenges facing us, none of us have conceded to the challenge. Perhaps we’d all be surprised that the young and immature freshmen four years ago could emerge into the thoughtful students and inspiring leaders that we all

In the end, as we put on our graduation dresses and

have become today. We emerge as the senior leaders

uniform and prepare to go through the gate or the arch,

and role models for the underclassmen at an extremely

rather than viewing the conclusion of our Culver career

difficult time—when none of us knew what and how

as an ending, or even a grand finale, we should perceive

pandemic

Culver

it as a gateway to a wider world that we are ready to take

experiences. But we have all risen up to the challenge—

on. At the same time, as we embark on our future

as CGA leaders have trained new CGA members and

journeys in the world, we will always know that we can

guided the girls through another school year and CMA

always come back to call Culver home, and we will carry

cadets ensured another successful year of military and

the weight of our memories at Culver on our shoulders to

leadership training.

achieve the grandest ideals that we all harbor deep in our

restrictions

would

change

our

hearts.

With less than a month left for our entire Culver journey, Sincerely,

we have all likely had bittersweet thoughts and have been troubled by the paradoxical ideas of not wanting to ever leave Culver on one hand and excited for the next

Sherry Xie

part of our journey on the other hand. One Latin phrase that I find particularly fitting to the current moment is carpe diem – 15