Fall 2017

MAGAZINE | FALL 2017

Graduates to Pursue Undergraduate Studies in 28 States See p. 12 2 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

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CONTENTS Board of Trustees 2016–2017 Mr. Richard J. Hendrix, Chair Mrs. Sarah D. Hazel, Vice Chair Mr. Gary D. Rappaport, Treasurer Mr. John M. Thomas, Secretary Mr. Randall W. Byrnes, Development Committee Chair Board Members Gen. John R. Allen, USMC (Ret.) ’71 Mr. Steven C. Anderson Mr. John M. Beatty Sr. Mr. Matthew J. Bullock Mrs. Jacqueline M. Copeland Mr. Michael P. Corkery Mrs. Claudia Z. Fouty Mr. James J. Fitzpatrick ’95 Mrs. Linnie M. Haynesworth Mr. Edward H. Kennedy Mr. John M. Kudless Mrs. Lisa R. Lisker Mrs. Sharon C. McBride Mr. David W. Middleton Mrs. Liza Wright Renner Mr. Hugh E. Taylor Ms. Lucia Anna Trigiani Mr. John M. Wasson Trustees Emeriti Mr. John T. Hazel Jr., Founding Chair Emeritus Sister Martha Carpenter, O.S.F. Mr. Edward R. Carr Mr. Otis D. Coston Jr. Mr. John M. Dowd The Honorable Johanna L. Fitzpatrick Mr. Paul C. Kincheloe Jr. Mr. Michael C. McCarey Mr. William N. Melton Mr. Norris E. Mitchell The Reverend Edwin M. Ward Editorial Team Angela Brown, ambrown@flinthill.org Jackie Viteri, jviteri@flinthill.org Magazine Design Eve Shade, eshade@flinthill.org Director of Alumni Relations Maria Graceffa Taylor, mtaylor@flinthill.org Photo Contributors James Kegley Photography Susan Spencer, Perfect Shot Photos, LLC Victor O’Neill Studios Jackie Viteri Flint Hill School 3320 Jermantown Road, Oakton, VA 22124 www.flinthill.org Flint Hill School is a Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 independent school.

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LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER

THE HILL GRADUATES TO PURSUE UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES IN 28 STATES COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER PROFILE: DR. JOHN N. KHEIR ’94

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ARTS ON THE HILL

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ATHLETICS

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FACULTY/STAFF NEWS

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SPECIAL EVENTS

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ALUMNI EVENTS

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REUNION WEEKEND 2017

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ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

Dear Flint Hill School Families, Have you ever noticed our tendency to mark moments in life by the beginnings and endings of events? Those benchmarks carry significant weight in our thinking even though the real substance is what goes on between those milestones. Opening a school is a festive day. At Flint Hill, opening day is filled with music, our mascot Klondike dancing about, and warm welcomes to students, teachers and staff members from student leaders. And then, in the blink of an eye, we have special ceremonies that mark the closing of school each June. We often make a big deal about the start of each athletic season, like our Tip-Off Classic in the winter, and then we celebrate the end of a season with championship tournaments. All of this is a part of the cycle of school life. Our Class of 2018 even started a new tradition this year when they held a gathering to celebrate the beginning of their Senior year, at sunrise, on the first day of classes. They plan to hold a similar event at the very end of the school year, on the last day of classes, to watch the sunset.

In this issue, there are a number of stories that cover new beginnings and celebrate the endings of special events, seasons and opportunities. One event, in particular, is our beautiful Commencement, which is highlighted here. It is an exciting culmination, just not for the Senior Class, but for the entire school year. Please remember that between these beginnings and endings, tons of active, dynamic and vibrant learning goes on throughout the year. But the graduation ceremony allows us to bring closure to the year with dignity, spirit and tradition.

Flint Hill is an entrepreneurial and relentless program; we are constantly creating a school experience that is second to none. We are very intentional in all that we do and know what it takes to make it great every day for our students. Our school vision, “Take Meaningful Risks. Be Yourself. Make a Difference,” could never be more evident than it is when you visit this campus, which I hope you will all do at some point in the near future. And if you have been away for a while, this visit may mark the beginning of your renewed connection with the school.

Enjoy this issue of our wonderful magazine. Allow time to reflect on all the opportunities and experiences that are offered. Whether it is the end of last year or the tremendous start to this school year, together, we will all be working to make 2017-2018 one of our very best!

Best wishes to you!

Sincerely,

John M. Thomas Headmaster FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 1

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Students recited the Pledge of Allegiance at a Military Honors Ceremony held for WWII and Korean War veterans. See p. 7 2 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

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Reflections of the Lower and Middle School, 2016–2017

FLASHBACK TO 2008-09

The Lower and Middle School closing ceremonies, held in June, were filled with nostalgic moments from the 2016-2017 school year, as well as recognition of accomplishments. The Lower School ceremony celebrated the promotion of fourth- graders to the Middle School, and the students reflected on their Lower School experiences.

Here are some of their thoughts:

In April, a few Seniors opened time capsules they made when they were Flint Hill fourthgraders during the 2008-2009 school year.

“Why will I miss Fourth Grade? Because of going to Williamsburg and Flag Ponds, doing all of the fun edible science experiments, and especially being with our buddies! I will forever remember Fourth Grade, the last year of Lower School.”

They returned to the Lower and Middle School Campus to share the moment with students from the 2016-2017 Fourth Grade

— Arda Alpan

class. A variety of mementos resurfaced,

“This was the best school year of my life. I can’t wait for Middle School. The sad part though is that you can’t go back in time.”

including letters they wrote to their future selves, pictures, drawings and class projects.

“We are the Flint Hill Huskies, because huskies pull a sled together. In First Grade, I pulled my first sled with my first friends. Throughout the years, I met new people, and we have been pulling our sled together. I give thanks to all of my friends for helping me pull the sled.”

— Jackie Krug

“Even though I have been all over the world, Flint Hill will always be the most tremendous school in history.”

— Sebastian Gratacós

— Giselle Foynes

“I would love to thank all the teachers I had in First through Fourth Grade and how much of an impact they made. Thanks to all the great teaching all the teachers did, I can now do challenging brain teasers and science questions.”

“I’m glad there is more to come at Flint Hill.”

— Lillian Burns

— Charlie Langen-Ball

“One memory I have of Fourth Grade is that almost every morning, we would watch the Bald Eagle Cam. Every time we took a break from it and looked again, the chicks had grown and were not babies anymore. Right now I feel like those young eagles. I feel like life is going by so fast.”

— Brady Fitzgerald

“All of my teachers helped me make more friends every year.

I learned that making friends might sound hard, but it is easy.

I am looking forward to Middle School and making more friends.”

— Ian Ball

In the Middle School, students looked back at 2016-2017 by completing the sentence “One of my favorite memories is … ” • When I was welcomed by a friend on the first day of school.

• The Rube Goldberg challenge.

• When we first got our House assignments.

• Being in the Fifth and Sixth Grade play.

• Working backstage at the play.

• The Phases of the Moon project.

• In Social Studies, doing the geography challenge.

• Scavenger hunts in Math.

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• On Field Studies, when we completed the rope bridge challenge.

• Our STEM project when we got to build our own robot.

• Writing our narrative in Language Arts.

• The ecosystem project in Science.

• Playing on the new playground.

• On Service Day, we talked to senior citizens who played pickleball.

• The first choir concert.

• Building friendships with new people and trying new things.

• Winning my first Flint Hill sports game.

• Performing in the talent show.

• The dog-sledding trip.

• Creating our class mascot.

• Beginning every morning in Advisory.

• Singing at the top of our lungs on the bus rides on the way to soccer games.

• Getting to debate in History. I loved expressing my ideas on the matter.

• Making graphic novels in English.

• Laughing because who knows why.

• Latin convention, because I love Latin.

• Listening to guest speakers who came to school.

• Zip-lining during Field Studies.

• Every Spanish class.

• The feedback I got from my teachers during first semester.

• Making great relationships and becoming inseparable with my closest friends.

• Being able to discuss my essays with friends in English class.

• Writing and acting out plays in Creative Writing.

• Preparing for the robotics competition at the Capital One Arena.

• Getting to know myself.

• Getting to know new people.

• Getting to know more about people I already thought I knew.

• I have too many memories to pick one.

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Clues, Codes and Educational Breakthroughs

Celebrating our International Community DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, students

and teachers on both campuses celebrated Flint Hill’s International Week. The Lower School selected the theme “We are One.” At an assembly, in the beginning of the week, there was a reading of the Mem Fox book “Whoever You Are.” Kindergarten students also gave a short presentation based on two of their class projects: self-portraits and a map of the world highlighting where their families are from originally. An “international dress” day was also designated for students to wear clothing that represented their own heritage or a country special to them. “This is an opportunity for Lower School students to share aspects of their unique cultures and family traditions, to celebrate the characteristics that make each of them special, and to experience the importance and beauty of being a member of our Lower School community,” said Director of the Lower School Sheena Hall. “At the end of the week, the whole Lower School assembled in the Commons, in front of all the flags that were on display, to demonstrate that we are one!”

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Middle schoolers gave a presentation based on the book “If the World Were a Village” by David J. Smith. With 100 members of the Middle School on stage, students and faculty created an imaginary village in which each person represented 75 million people; combined, they totaled the world’s population of 7.5 billion people. Six students served as narrators and shared statistics about the world, pointing out that “by learning about these 100 villagers, we can find out more about our neighbors in the real world and the problems our planet may face in the future.”

At the end of the week, an International Week Showcase was held for Upper School students to participate in an Open Mic style celebration of cultures. And on Saturday, March 4, the Upper School Commons was transformed into an international marketplace for an International Festival. Booths were set up to represent 15 different countries, and student ambassadors and parents served as hosts, sharing the traditions, artifacts, foods, and cultures from those different parts of the world. The event also included a drumming performance by visiting artist Kofi Dennis and a musical performance by a choir of Lower and Middle School students.

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tudents in a Middle School English class sleuthed their way through clues pertaining to the “The Outsiders” — the book they were reading in class — to crack codes that would open a series of locks. Using an educational game called Breakout EDU, the students set out to open five locks, each with a different five-letter combination, by answering questions correctly about the book. For instance, on one particular lock, the students had to match characters to quotations; the first letter of each character’s name was part of the combination. “Students worked in small groups, collaborated and

problem solved,” said English teacher and Assistant Director of the Middle School Tanya Salewski. “The learning was autonomous with the student. Rather than me telling or delivering content, the students facilitated their own learning journey. It was such a huge hit. Truly engaging for all!”

Breakout EDU was inspired by the popularity of Escape Rooms, a relatively new game held in venues worldwide. From Salewski’s observation, “Breakout EDU requires students to use both teamwork and critical thinking skills to solve small tasks related to unit material. One of the things I loved most was seeing my students fail, laugh, fail again, laugh again, and then finally, using a wide range of creativity and collaboration, succeed.”

MEETING HEROES FROM HISTORY On a trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and World War II Memorial, in May, our seventh-graders had the honor of meeting and thanking World War II and Korean War veterans traveling with the Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization that transports military veterans to visit memorials dedicated to their service. Middle School Social Studies teacher Katie Knicely, a chaperone on the trip, said, “As the men were escorted into the memorial, our students lined up (without being asked), clapped, shook the veterans’ hands, and thanked them for their service. After being thanked for his service by one of our students, one of the men — while still holding his hand — replied, ‘we did it all for you.’ To see our students do this of their own accord literally brought tears to my eyes. I’ve never been so proud. After seeing this, the directors of the Honor Flight approached me and asked if our students would be willing to participate in the Military Honors Ceremony by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Of course, we were honored to be asked, and our students were in awe of this responsibility.”

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the hill Award-Winning Authors Attend Writers Day Events

National Parks Conservation Association Commends Students’ Harriet Tubman Book STUDENTS IN A FOURTH GRADE CLASS collaborated to create a

digital book about Harriet Tubman’s life, in celebration of Black History Month and Women’s History Month. While doing their research, they discovered that a Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center was scheduled to open in Church Creek, Md., in March. “The students were particularly excited to learn about the new visitor center at the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, and their teacher, Rob Taylor, sent a copy of their book to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA),” said Director of the Lower School Sheena Hall. “They received a number of wonderful accolades. We are so proud of them!”

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or Writers Day at the Upper School, two award-winning authors read their work and participated in a question and answer session with students: Matt Ferrence, a fiction and nonfiction writer and an assistant professor of creative writing at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., and Noah Stetzer, a poet and an associate editor at Bull City Press in Durham, N.C. The authors have had their own work published as books and in magazines. “Writers Day is a day to celebrate writing as creative expression and as a profession. Together, these writers represented a wealth of experience and perspectives in the writing community,” said Grades 7-12 English Department Chair and English teacher John Copenhaver, who coordinated the event.

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The authors also attended an assembly during which six students were recognized with awards for their creative writing. “It’s a moment to honor excellence in poetry, prose and composition produced by our students,” explained Copenhaver. The winners were: The Richard Rouse Prize First place: Cecily Wolfe ’17 for her essay, “An Environmental Concern.”

Second place: Lena Cohen ’17 for her essay, “Apples and their Trees: The Complexity of Parent-Child Relationships.”

Junior/Senior Creative Writing Prize

Freshman/Sophomore Creative Writing Prize

First place: Julia Finkelstein ’18 for her story, “Dissociate.”

First place: Claudia Wood ’19 for her story, “The Room.”

Second place: Leyla Ebrahimi ’18 for her poem, “Withered Walls.”

Second place: Isabel Mejia ’19 for her story, “Moscow Slaughterhouse.”

“

“I just took a look at the Harriet Tubman book you shared with National Parks Conservation Association. As both a national park advocate and a dad, I was really moved by the amazing work your students did. The story they told through the book is clear, informative, and inspiring. And the artwork is amazing! I would buy this book if I saw it in a bookstore and give it to every child I know. I will be on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for a family vacation, and your students have inspired me to make sure we visit the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center.”

— Mark Wenzler, Senior Vice President, Conservation Programs, NPCA “Thank you so much for sending us a digital copy of your class’s fantastic book on the life of Harriet Tubman. It has been circulated to everyone in the NPCA organization across the country (all 150 of us!). The artwork and the storytelling are very well done. That is one intelligent and talented group of fourth-graders you have there! Thank you, again, for sharing this important American story with us.”

— Don Barger, Senior Director Southeast Region, NPCA

”

“You have a group of thoughtful writers and talented artists on your hands! I am so very impressed with the beautiful use of texture and color and how the art complements the important story being told. I love the piece and am printing a copy to keep here in the conference room of our Florida office. Please tell your students their effort is appreciated and been shared over 1,000 miles away!”

— Cara Capp, Everglades Restoration Program Manager, NPCA

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the hill PORTRAIT OF HEADMASTER JAMES LYNCH RECEIVES SPECIAL VISITORS Last April, we had two very special visitors. Marybeth Lynch H ’72 and her sister, Cathy Lynch, daughters of former Headmaster James Lynch, returned to Flint Hill for the first time since their father left the School. James Lynch was headmaster of Flint Hill Prep from 1966 to 1972. Marybeth and Cathy had heard that there was a portrait of their father but had never seen it. The portrait of Mr. Lynch hangs outside of current Headmaster John Thomas’ office. Their visit on April 12 had even more significance as it was their father’s birthday. Marybeth said during her visit, “What a beautiful way to celebrate his birthday and to honor him.”

In addition to Marybeth and Cathy, Mr. Lynch had three other children, Colleen, Jim and Joanne, who all worked as counselors at Flint Hill summer camp. James Lynch passed away in June of 1989; Marybeth and Cathy’s mother Lois Ann Mulcahey still lives in the area.

STUDENT ACCOLADES Lauren Craige ’18 was nominated to represent Virginia as a delegate at the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE), in June, at George Mason University, where 250 high school national youth delegates were invited to attend for a week. The students received one college credit after completing the Summit. As per the WYSE website, “Outstanding 10th and 11th grade students are nominated by educators and the program to attend the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment and serve as a National Youth Delegate based on strong academic performance, a demonstrated interest in the environment, conservation and sustainability fields, and with the desire to explore careers in the fields of environmental science, conservation, policy, law and engineering.”

Leyla Ebrahimi ’18 won first place in the 2017 Claremont Review Annual Writing and Art Contest — fiction category — for her work, “We Shed Blood,” which will be published in the fall 2017 issue of the Claremont Review.

Classical League to the Intermediate Certamen national champions. Lucido and Van Der Weide were on the Virginia state team that won the national championship. The team was comprised of members from various schools, and the trophy was shared, traveling to each school to be hosted during different months of the year.

Mackenzie Sidor ’17 advocated diligently for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to recognize the Classics, and her efforts resulted in the Board issuing a proclamation declaring April 16-22, 2017, to be Classics Week in the county. As an officer in the school’s Classics Club, Sidor and her fellow officers, Trinidad Kechkian ’17 and Hailey McDonnell ’17, organized activities on campus to celebrate National Classics Week, April 21-27, including a celebration of the proclamation.

Calvin Lucido ’20 (left) and Simon Van Der Weide ’20 are two of the youngest students ever to be inducted into the Certamen Hall of Fame. They are pictured holding The Doris Kays Trophy, awarded by the National Junior

We’d love to hear Falcon stories/ memories of Mr. Lynch. Please send your stories to alumni@flinthill.org.

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Graduates to Pursue Undergraduate Studies in 28 States

In her commencement speech on June 9, Valedictorian Cecily Wolfe’s description of the Class of 2017 explained our graduates’ inclination to pursue a variety of interests. “There is so much more to our class and school than academic achievement. A heart for service, a contagious enthusiasm, and an incomparable passion in the classroom, on the stage, on the court and field, and in the studio — and wherever else life might take us — those three things have defined the past four years of my life, and I could not be more grateful.”

This fall, the 127 graduates are attending 77 different schools in 28 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. They have crisscrossed the country, making their way to Brown, Columbia, Cornell, West Point, Williams College, and Yale in the Northeast; The University of Chicago, Northwestern, Purdue, University of Michigan, and University of Wisconsin—Madison in the Midwest; Georgia

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Institute of Technology, Rice University, Tulane, University of Miami, and Washington University—St. Louis in the South; and The University of Arizona, Gonzaga, University of Montana-Missoula, and University of Southern California in the West. In our own D.C.Maryland-Virginia region, they are attending American University, College of William and Mary, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, George Mason, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, and The University of Virginia.

“As we are about to embark on a new journey, I am sure that everyone is leaving with passion and a sense of responsibility,” said Salutatorian Eugene Oh, now a Johns Hopkins University freshman. “I honestly could have never asked for a better class with such intelligent and compassionate friends. Along our journey, we made so many amazing friends, we were inspired by great teachers, and we were supported by loving parents and family.”

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$5 million 193 schools offered students admission

Wolfe, who chose to study at The University of Virginia, offered her classmates thoughts to reflect on in the forthcoming years. “We each have our own voice, and we must find it and use it. Each of us must recognize, though, that his or her voice is not dominant. Establishing our own beliefs and opinions is essential, yes, but disregarding others’ in the process is a common flaw.

Our voices are not weapons to enforce our own brand of justice; they are the light by which we understand the minds of our fellow human beings. That is not to say that we must compromise the very core of our

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being in order to placate others, but, rather, we must acknowledge that there are various types of light, and more than one is illuminating. Just as the sun’s natural radiance enables us to see during the day, the stars guide us when all other light fails. The two represent opposite ends of the spectrum, yet both direct our footsteps in their respective environments. So, too, while we strive to educate others and instill our principles in them, perhaps certain situations demand that we listen while others enlighten us.”

To see a complete list of where the 2017 graduates are pursuing their studies, go to: www.flinthill.org/college-counseling/acceptance

4 foreign countries granted admission to Flint Hill Seniors

in merit scholarships awarded

956 applications submitted

4,146 miles to Switzerland,

the farthest a student will travel to attend college this fall FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 15

Commencement Speaker Profile:

DR. JOHN N. KHEIR ’94

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lint Hill’s vision for every student is this: Take meaningful risks. Be yourself.

Make a difference. Our 2017 Commencement speaker Dr. John Kheir ’94 is a shining example of our vision statement at work. As staff physician in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Boston Children’s Hospital and an assistant

professor at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Kheir’s life’s work is to make a difference in the lives of critically ill patients and their families. Kheir also embodies Flint Hill’s commitment to innovation. At Boston Children’s Hospital, Kheir and his colleagues, including a talented chemical engineer named Brian Polizzotti, Ph.D., have developed a process that packages oxygen in microbubbles for direct injection to blood and tissues—a process with the potential to treat patients suffering from health complications from lack of oxygen. In 2013, Dr. Kheir gave a talk at TEDMED about the intravenous administration of oxygen.

The day before Commencement, “Flint Hill Magazine” talked to Dr. Kheir about his time at Flint Hill and the path that led him to his current work combining medicine with groundbreaking technology.

FLI N T H I LL: D E SC R I B E YO U R E X PE R I E N CE AT FL I NT HI L L .

JK: I started in 1990 and [graduated] in 1994. I had a great time here. Mr. Atwood definitely made a lasting impression on me.

He was more than a teacher; he was a role model. He very much loves his students, and that shines through in everything that he does. And he loves his subject matter. He is really passionate about biology, and he was really the person I identified with most at the School.

[Former Latin teacher] Mr. Himwich made a very different but equally important impression on me, because he’s the first person who really taught me to take my mind seriously. I had always been kind of an overachiever, and he expected more because he knew that I was capable of so much more than I knew I was capable of. That’s a very important lesson to learn in high school— that you are capable of so much more than you think you are. The gifted teachers here are the thing that I really remember most.

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“...it’s really important to be perseverant and to work hard. If you’re on a path and stuff doesn’t work out the first, second, third or thirty-fifth time, you can still stick with it and not be a fool.”

FLINT HILL: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO ENTER THE MEDICAL FIELD?

patients in an emergency was very calming to me and that I could think clearly in difficult situations.

JK: When I left Flint Hill, I went to the University of Virginia and that was an incredible experience for me.

At an event at UVA, I was talking to someone who had to rush off in the middle of our conversation. When I asked where he was going, he told me that he was an EMT and got to drive ambulances, which I thought was amazing.

I asked how he got to do that, thinking that it was some unattainable skill someone was born with that I just didn’t have. He told me I had to take a class, so the summer after my second year in college, I came home and took an EMT class at George Washington University.

One day when I was a senior in college, we got called to a child’s house who had asphyxiated on a string. Usually, when the [sirens] go off and the words “cardiac arrest” come across the radio, EMS professionals get excited but not scared. They know exactly what to do. But this one was a pediatric cardiac arrest, and that is a totally different story. Thankfully they were close to the airport, and we had a really great helicopter crew, so an experienced paramedic, named Blee, was there. He was the only person in the room who was calm and knew exactly what to do every step of the way. Thanks to Blee, we were able to get her pulse back, and while we were driving to the hospital, she started to open her eyes. I remember looking at Blee and thinking, “You just saved this girl’s life.” And I wanted to be like that.

The Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad is the largest volunteer rescue squad in the country. I joined the [rescue squad] as an EMT, and it was the first time in my life that I was uniquely good at something. I found that treating

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FLINT H I LL: WH E R E D I D YO U R T R A I N I N G TA KE YOU FRO M TH ERE ?

FLINT HILL: HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO EXPERIMENT WI T H I NJ EC T I NG OXYGE N I NTO PAT I E NTS?

FLINT HILL: WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT S UCCESS TO?

JK: I only wanted to go to UVA [for medical school], because I didn’t want to stop being a paramedic. Thankfully, they let me in, and I had a great experience. I went to residency knowing that I wanted to become an ICU doctor. I chose to go to Cincinnati Children’s for my residency, because it is one of the best children’s hospitals in the country, and I fell in love with it. The best thing that happened there was that I got to be a chief resident. What I learned from that year was the power of a complementary team. My co-chief residents were organized and paid exquisite attention to detail, and that allowed us to accomplish great things together as a team.

JK: In October of 2006, I was taking care of a very similar patient to the first one that made me want to become a PICU doctor. Her name was Jordan Morgan. She was nine months old and had just gotten a liver transplant. Her mother and I were talking, and I told them they were going to leave the ICU tomorrow and that I wasn’t worried about her at all. Her mother went out to go to the bathroom, and I was talking to my friend, Patrick. Literally three minutes after her mother left the room, the code bell went off. We ran into the room, and she was bleeding into her lungs.

We started doing CPR, put in a breathing tube, and gave her an emergent blood transfusion. Unfortunately, because of the time that she had no oxygen and blood in her body, her brain had suffered severe brain injury, and she died three days after that.

JK: I think it takes courage to try new things. And I think the fact that I believe in God gives me every confidence to try new things. And that is actually very important — for the first three years that I worked on this project, everyone was a naysayer. When you’re doing something hard and new, you’re going to be different. And that’s necessary, actually, because if it were not different, it already would have been done. One of the great lessons I’ve learned in life is not to view people’s criticism as criticism but as alternative perspectives.

I went to Boston to interview [for my fellowship] and my wife and I went to a Red Sox game, and we were in love. Sure enough, I got one of two spots to be a critical care fellow at Boston Children’s. It was amazing because I moved to Boston with an inkling that I was going to do something new and different, but I didn’t know what it was. I just wanted to do something that was risk-taking and different than what most people do.

The night she died, I was laying in my bed in my call room because I couldn’t sleep, and I was really angry. I was angry because we were at the number one children’s hospital in the country, she was already in the intensive care unit and something happened when I was there, and I watched it happen and we couldn’t fix it. I thought if that happens here, it’s going to happen everywhere, and we need to find a solution to this problem. And so that’s when the idea to inject oxygen gas into the vein was born; it was right there in that call room.

FLINT HILL: HOW HAS THAT PROJECT PROGRESSED FROM YOUR I DE A I N T HE CAL L ROOM?

JK: Over the next three years, I worked with a colleague and we developed a couple of prototypes that were lipid-based oxygen bubbles. We showed that we could inject the bubbles into an animal that wasn’t breathing for 15 minutes and keep it alive. We published that paper in 2012, but the problem was that the bubbles we used for that first generation were very fragile.

Today, we’ve built up a team of 12 people. We have several million dollars in grant funding, and we have a particle that just might be able to save Jordan Morgan’s life next time.

And we’re very excited about that. We’re doing something that nobody else has done before, and we’re encountering all sorts of problems and overcoming them one by one, and that’s fun.

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The reason that I think it’s important to have faith if you’re a scientist is that so much of life is about your audience.

When you’re a kid, you want to please your parents and your teachers; we’re always working for an audience. If my only audience at that time was my boss or all of the people I was asking for advice, I would have stopped. But instead, what I felt very deeply was God saying, “I made you. They didn’t make you. And I made you to take a risk.”

doesn’t work out the first, second, third or thirty-fifth time, you can still stick with it and not be a fool. You have to do something different each time (the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again expecting a different result), but a lot of life is about just sticking with it and persevering. If you believe in something, you can’t give up because then the dream is over. The last thing is, surround yourself with good people. Nobody lives on an island. You have to surround yourself with people who are different from you but like you. They are different from you in that they have different skills, but they are like you in that they are pushing in the same direction. When they’re down, you’ll pull them up, and when you’re down they’ll pull you up. That’s so important.

Interview has been edited for clarity and length.

To watch Dr. Kheir’s TEDMED talk, visit bit.ly/DrKheir.

FLINT HILL: THE JOURNEY YOU’V E TAKEN FROM FLINT HILL HAS BEEN FULL OF S URP RIS ES , RIS KS AND REWARDS . WHAT ADV ICE WOULD YOU GIV E TO OUR GRADUATES — AND YOUNGER STUDENTS — AS THEY CONS IDER WHAT’S NEXT FOR THEM?

JK: Don’t be afraid of failure. Failure is an integral part of success. I also think that it’s really important to be perseverant and to work hard. If you’re on a path and stuff

“

AN EXCERPT FROM DR. KHEIR’S COMMENCEMENT SPEECH: You have been given a gift that few people across the word have. The gift of opportunity. The gift of time.

The gift of a great mind and imagination — and the gift of a future. Which makes this moment in your life actually very important. Up to this point, most of you have lived at home. To greater or lesser degrees, you have followed your parents’ rules and desires for your life. But in college, you will have the chance to get away.

To think fully for yourself. And to blossom into a full-fledged adult. And so today, I must emphasize that what you do — and don’t do — during those years will have a tremendous impact on the trajectory of your life.

Some of you probably have big dreams — aspirations to invent something, to lead something or to enter a certain profession. And I can stand up here and tell you with all sincerity that if you set your mind to it, you really can do almost anything. But accomplishing hard things requires perseverance. It requires time. And, it requires failure. That’s right — I can state with a high degree of confidence that if your dream is to do something hard, you will encounter failures along the way. You will encounter naysayers — those who say that your dream is too big, or not right for you, or you’re going too fast. How you respond to that is one of the most important determinants of what you can accomplish in life.

”

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 19

arts on the hill

Upper School production of “Mary Poppins” See p. 22 20 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 21

arts on the hill “Mary Poppins” arrived at Flint Hill School in the spring of 2017 for two weekends of sold-out performances. Kites flew high over the stage as the ensemble created theatrical magic with outstanding performances. For his outstanding portrayal of Bert, Henry Jeanneret ’18 was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical by the Critics and Awards program of the Capital Region, also known as the Cappies. The large scale of the production was seen in the number of cast and crew involved; there were so many soloists that 20 microphones and 180 batteries were used. Live music was provided with an orchestra pit of student-musicians accompanied by every faculty member from the Music program, all playing together for the first time.

Arts Jam 2017, held at George Mason University’s (GMU) Concert Hall in April, was themed “Legacies,” and featured 160 of Flint Hill’s Upper School Music and Dance students.

Among the highlights: the Major Minors sang hits by Bruno Mars and Adele; the Orchestra performed music from “Pirates of the Caribbean;” the Percussion ensemble played “Rainforest Journey;” the Jazz Band played “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square;” and the Modern and Jazz dancers performed to original choreography.

In May, Middle School student-musicians excelled in competition, winning the Esprit de Corps trophy at their spring music festival.

The award recognized the entire school group for their decorum, comportment, discipline and spirit. It’s fair to say that the Middle School musicians lived Flint Hill’s four core values very well during the festival, and it showed. In addition to the trophy, the students completed the competition with impressive results: Advanced Orchestra, Superior, First Place; Advanced Percussion, Superior, First Place; Advanced Band, Excellent, First Place; Advanced Chorus, Excellent, First Place.

For the final spring concerts of the year, the Lower School Music program added storytelling to their traditional performances. In addition to the energetic Ghanaian drumming and dancing by the third- and fourthgraders, students in Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 performed stories of Anansi the spider. Musical instruments and movement accompanied a narrator in the telling of the surprising tales.

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The same week that students were on stage at GMU, 175 of our Visual Arts students were busy installing their work for the Upper School Visual Arts Show opening, which took place on April 24. The well-received exhibit showcased the creative results from what the students learned in our studios all year. The Lower and Middle School Art Show also displayed some of the best student work of the year. Gallery walks and talks were held for a month to share the students’ art with the school community and visitors. Between the two campuses more than 600 works of art were displayed.

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 23

athletics

24 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 25

athletics With four teams qualifying for state tournaments, the 2017 spring sports season put the finishing touches on another banner year for Flint Hill Athletics. The Huskies compiled five regular season and tournament conference championships while sending two teams to the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division I state semifinals.

BOYS’ LACROSSE SOFTBALL The Varsity Softball team repeated as Independent School League (ISL) AA regular season champions with a 7-0 conference record and 12-0 overall record in regular season play. Behind the strong leadership of Senior captains Victoria Barbessi ’17, Carolyn Holran ’17 and Allison Jones ’17, the team remained undefeated in the conference tournament, capturing its second tournament championship in as many seasons. The Huskies also recorded victories over state rivals Bishop Ireton and Paul VI during the regular season. The season ended with a second straight appearance in the VISAA tournament semifinals and an overall record of 16-1.

Husky Awards Varsity: Carolyn Holran ’17 JV: Sarah Fulton ’19 MVP Natalie Plaut ’19

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All-State First Team: Tess Brady ’20 First Team: Carolyn Holran ’17 Second Team: Natalie Plaut ’19

All-Conference Tess Brady ’20 Sarah Davisson ’18 Carolyn Holran ’17 Natalie Plaut ’19 Honorable Mention: Kathleen Boyce ’19

All-Met Washington Post Honorable Mention: Sarah Davisson ’19

The Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse program enjoyed one of its finest years in recent history with a 15-6 record, a VISAA Division I playoff appearance, and a regular season Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAC) title. After the graduation of several leaders the previous year, the team had to create its own identity. Beginning in the offseason, the core of this team worked diligently to improve their skills as well as to build vital chemistry. On offense, six top players scored twenty or more goals in the season, for a collective scoring average of 11 goals per game. At the head of the pack were Kevin Cruz ’18 (58 goals) and Kyle Jung ’18 (48 goals). In addition to those exceptional players, attackmen Reagan Gray ’18 and Sean Connolly ’18 regularly dented the net, as did phenom Connor Bath ’19.

At the head of the defensive effort was Michael Brown ’17; in addition to playing great defense, he also contributed 20 goals and added 18 assists. Defensemen Will Kelly ’18, Aidan Wheeler ’18 and Conor Keegan ’18 all helped to anchor a unit that allowed on average less than eight goals a contest. Perhaps the biggest surprise this season was the emergence of Danny Stone ’20 between the pipes, who not only played exceptional lacrosse but also immediately earned the respect of his teammates through solid leadership and skill.

Husky Awards Varsity: Will Kelly ’18 JV: Jake Daniel ’18

MVP Kyle Jung ’18 All-State First Team: Michael Brown ’17

All-Conference Michael Brown ’17 Kevin Cruz ’18 Kyle Jung ’18

All-Met Washington Post Honorable Mention: Michael Brown ’17

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 27

athletics

BASEBALL The Varsity Baseball team showed steady improvement throughout the season, which culminated in a MAC Tournament championship at the end of the season. After working hard in the weight room in the winter months, the Huskies began the spring with a trip, to Tampa during spring break, where they faced tough competition in several scrimmages. The experience proved beneficial as they won six of their first eight contests. Finishing the season with a 13-7 overall record, Flint Hill was led by a solid group of Seniors which included solid pitching from Kent Morrison ’17 and Teddy Reddington ’17. Justin Taylor ’18 and O’Kelly McWilliams ’19 provided solid defense in the middle infield positions. The Huskies remained driven and focused throughout the season, which resulted in the team winning their last five games and the MAC Tournament championship. In the tournament finale, Reddington was hit by a pitch, which allowed the winning run to score in extra innings.

Finishing the game with a walk-off win was an exciting and fitting way for the team to end their successful season.

Husky Awards Varsity: Tom Burr ’17 JV: Clark Agnew ’19 MVP Teddy Reddington ’17 Justin Taylor ’18 All-State First Team: Justin Taylor ’18

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All-Conference Kent Morrison ’17 Teddy Reddington ’17 Justin Taylor ’18 All-Met Washington Post Honorable Mention: Justin Taylor ’18

TRACK AND FIELD The Varsity Track and Field team enjoyed a tremendous season with five new school records set. The season began at the Potomac Invitational where Nya Reed ’18 won first place in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, setting a new school record in the 100m. At St. Albans, all-around sprinter/hurdler Jackie Fraley ’18 won the 200m and 300m hurdles and placed third in the 100m. Jamarian Hawkins ’18 finished first for the boys in the triple jump. At the Lake Braddock Invitational, Ainsley Jacobs ’17 and John Moxley ’18 both destroyed the school records in the 3200m run. Jacobs returned the next day with Natalie Johnson ’18, Barrett Harrington ’20 and Catie Stack ’20 to take down the 4x800m relay record. Moxley highlighted the Huskies’ effort at the Draper Invitational by winning the 3200m run and then, on the next day, set a school record in the 1600m run. The Huskies had two champions at the MAC/ISL Championships, which included Hawkins winning the triple jump and Moxley capturing the title in the 3200m. At the VISAA State Championships, Moxley placed second in the 3200m and Hawkins placed fifth in the triple jump. Other highlights for the Huskies at the state meet included Stack placing sixth in the 400m; Fraley, eighth in the 100m hurdles; and Harrington, eighth in the 1600m run.

Husky Awards Varsity Girls: Emily Freedman ’17 Varsity Boys: Robert Fitzgerald ’17 MVP Girls: Ainsley Jacobs ’17, Jacqueline Fraley ’18 Boys: John Moxley ’18 All-State Second Team: John Moxley ’18 All-Conference Jamarian Hawkins ’18 John Moxley ’18

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 29

athletics GIRLS’ LACROSSE The 2017 Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse season was memorable and rewarding. Entering the season, one of the girls’ main team goals was to win the ISL A conference, which would earn them the right to move back to the ISL AA ranks. The team members had worked hard in the off season, in addition to playing multiple sports at Flint Hill, so the excitement and focus was evident on day one of practice. Led by a fantastic group of seven Seniors, the team started the season with a play-day against Bishop Ireton, WT Woodson High School and Madison High School — all strong programs that would be a test and prepare the squad for the future. The Huskies played well, and it became clear that they had a strong bond with great team chemistry. The team was challenged early by many of its AA opponents and others. Despite this tough stretch of eight games, the team had a hard fought win over Woodgrove High School and one of its best games against Potomac in an overtime loss. The Potomac game really galvanized the team, proving that they could play with anyone. In the next 12 games, Flint Hill went 10-2 to close out the season and won the ISL A conference, achieving its goal of moving back to the AA ranks.

BOYS’ TENNIS Despite some early season injuries and some key losses to graduation from the previous year, the Varsity Boys’ Tennis team battled some tough opponents and gained valuable experience, which helped them significantly during the last part of the season. The Huskies did have their two top players back from the 2016 season: Arnav Boppudi ’17 and Devan Geib ’17. After losing some close matches to St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, Bullis and Sidwell Friends, the team pulled together and won league matches over Maret, Georgetown Day School, Saint James and St. Andrews. They also had a very good state win over Episcopal, one of the top private school programs in the area. In post-season play, the Huskies made it to the MAC semifinals and qualified for the VISAA Division I state tournament. As the number six seed, Flint Hill traveled to Woodberry Forest, the number three seed, for a first round match-up. The boys played an excellent match and pulled an upset by a score of 5-1. According to Head Coach Steve Spratt, this was the team’s best match of the year as everyone played very well and really focused on the individual matches. In the state semifinal, the Huskies lost a tough match to rival Potomac, which ended a very successful season.

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Husky Awards Varsity: Pranav Ravikumar ’17 JV: Gabe Dombrowski ’20

Husky Awards Varsity: Tori Herman ’17 JV: Bianca Fiore ’19

MVP John Nault ’18

MVP Offensive MVP: Alexia Lee ’19, Catherine Martchek ’17 Defensive MVP: Grace Shiveley ’17, Whitney Wiley ’19

All-State First Team: Devan Geib ’17 All-Conference Arnav Boppudi ’17 Devan Geib ’17

All-State Second Team: Alexia Lee ’19 All-Conference Alexia Lee ’19 Catherine Martchek ’17 Whitney Wiley ’19

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athletics

DANCE This year was filled with many new experiences for the Varsity Dance team.

As the team grew larger, so did their enthusiasm for many changes. Dancers tried something new by attending workshops and learning from guest teachers throughout the season to learn new choreography and perfect their technique. In addition to attending the Universal Dance Association (UDA) camp over the summer, the team also participated in a daylong workshop hosted by the Washington Area Independent School Dance Education Association (WAISDEA) for dance programs in the area. Dance team is a two-season athletic experience, and dancers face a demanding performance schedule. They tackled this challenge with a smile and were ready to perform something new at every home football and basketball game, which meant that they were learning multiple dances each week. According to Coach Olivia Landrum, “It has been inspiring to watch each member reach new goals and to see the team grow together with every performance.”

Husky Award Madison Peck ’20 MVP Becca Stone ’18 32 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

COLLEGE ATHLETIC COMMITMENTS CLASS OF 2017 David Akinyemi, Basketball Bates College

Carolyn Holran, Softball St. Lawrence University

Jordyn Park, Volleyball Dickinson College

Mimi Baker, Swimming Rice University

Ainsley Jacobs, Track & Field Lafayette College

Teddy Reddington, Baseball Dickinson College

Ethan Lloyd, Soccer York College of Pennsylvania

Matt Stottlemyer, Football College of William & Mary

Kate Lyon, Volleyball Allegheny College

Walker Venable, Football Christopher Newport University

Kent Morrison, Baseball Santa Clara University

Nick Wright, Basketball Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

Arnav Boppudi, Tennis The Citadel Tom Burr, Baseball Drew University Devan Geib, Tennis Swarthmore College Elli Hausamann, Swimming York College of Pennsylvania Gage Herdman, Football College of William & Mary

Hannah Nightingale, Soccer University of Mary Washington

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faculty/staff news Director of the Learning Center Susan Biggs completed

a ten-week course, Professional AD/HD Parent Coach Training. She will use the new information and skills she gained to conduct workshops for parents.

Dean of Professional Development and Coordinator of Faculty Hiring Howard Chang — formerly a Flint Hill

Classics teacher and department chair — concluded an 11-year tenure as Virginia Senior Classical League (VSCL) advisor and, in April, was honored at the VSCL State Finals Certamen with the introduction of a trophy named for him. The Howard W. Chang Trophy will be awarded each year to the state champion advanced certamen team. Chang’s accomplishments with VSCL included: running 23 statewide certamen tournaments; managing state team tryouts; and designing and running the All-Virginia “Street” Certamen tournament at the state convention.

At Maker Faire NoVa, in March, Middle School Makers Education and Science teacher Chris Cook gave a presenta-

tion about Flint Hill’s Makers Program, and Innovation Department Chair Joey Starnes and Fifth/Sixth Grade teacher Sarah Magner

hosted a booth called Innovators’ Playground.

Grades 7-12 English Department Chair and English teacher John Copenhaver attended the Bread Loaf Writers’

Conference in Middlebury, Vt., in August. Participants were accepted to attend through a competitive application process which required submitting a sample of original work. In August, he also ran a writing workshop at the OutWrite 2017 Conference in Washington.

Work by Upper School Art teacher Cianne Fragione was on display for The Making of Things exhibition at the Dadian Gallery, in Washington, from March to May. Upper School French teacher Robin Goldstein gave place-

ment tests for the Alliance Française in Washington and taught an Advanced Placement preview class; it was her fourth summer doing so.

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At St. Paul’s School’s Advanced Studies Program in Concord, N.H., Upper School Technology Integration Specialist and Information Specialist Nate Green taught Mass Media, a six-week intensive course on media literacy and societal changes stemming from the internet and social media.

Director of the Lower School Sheena Hall served as a

faculty fellow at the Washington International School’s Project Zero Institute in July and August.

Fourth Grade teachers Rachel Hinnant and Rob Taylor

participated in the week-long Colonial Williamsburg Teacher’s Institute, where they “examined interactive teaching techniques and developed instructional materials.”

Upper School Classics teacher Sherry Jankowski gave a

presentation, “Let’s Play Scopa: Using Modern Italian Card Games to Teach the Latin Basics,” at the American Classical League Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich., in June.

Middle/Upper School Art teacher Linda Okoth was selected

from a national applicant pool as a National Endowment for the Humanities’ Summer Scholar. In July, she attended a two-week Summer Institute, titled “Tales from the Chihuahuan Desert: Borderlands Narratives about Identity and Binationalism,” at The University of Texas at El Paso.

Director of Studies Emily Sanderson presented “Under-

standing the Year Ahead: What is Curriculum?” at the Virginia Association of Independent Schools’ New Teacher Institute in Richmond, Va., in July.

Middle/Upper School Band teacher Dereck Scott is principal

cornet with the Rockville Brass Band; the group won its section at the North American Brass Band Association Championships in Fort Wayne, Ind., in March. He finished fifth in the solo competition at the same event. In June, he performed a solo with the Rockville Brass Band at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater in Rockville, Md.

Grades 7-12 Science Department Chair and Upper School Science teacher Zack Krug co-authored the scientific

Junior Kindergarten teacher Leslie Viente received the

article “Phylogenetic Paleoecology: Tree-Thinking and Ecology in Deep Time,” which was published in the June issue of Trends in Ecology and Evolution. His co-authors were professors with Penn State and West Virginia University, and an assistant curator with the American Museum of Natural History’s Division of Paleontology in New York. Krug was also asked by the Paleontological Society to continue his responsibilities on the Committee of Education and Outreach, a role in which he has served for the past few years.

Grades JK-12 Math Department Chair and Upper School Math teacher Joe Vignolini gave a presentation, “Projects

Upper School Dean of Students Sam Moser served on

the Virginia Association of Independent Schools’ Tech Planning Committee. He also was named an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE), Class of 2017. In a congratulatory letter, the Apple Distinguished Educators Team explained, “The ADE Program began in 1994, when Apple recognized K-12 and higher education pioneers who are using a variety of Apple products to transform teaching and learning in powerful ways.

Today it has grown into a worldwide community of over 2,500 visionary educators and innovative leaders who are doing amazing things with Apple technology in and out of the classroom.”

Virginia Association of Independent Schools’ Technology Conference Newport News, Va. — April 2017 Middle School Makers Education and Science teacher Chris Cook presented “Let’s Level Up! A Gamified Makers Class!”

Middle School Math teacher Erin Mahony presented “Reverse Architects: 3D Printing a Playground.”

Director of Studies Emily Sanderson presented

“Experience Design Thinking through Centers.”

Middle/Upper School Science teacher Gary Smilowitz

presented “A Journey through the Engineering Forest — Empowering Students with the Tools to Make Informed Decisions.”

Upper School Math Teacher Riki Weeks presented “Digital

Learning and Assessment in the Math Classroom — Free and Easy Tools that Work!”

Hemera Contemplative Fellowship for Educators and spent five days, in July, at the Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center in New Mexico, where she participated in the Mindfulness in Education Residential Retreat program.

— What Can We Do to Encourage and Inspire?” at the Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics in March.

Lower School Technology Integration Specialist and Lower/Middle School Computer Science teacher Lisa Waters

co-wrote the article “Mapping the Futures with Video” with Flint Hill Middle School student Vlad Kovtun, which was published in ChildArt magazine’s April-June 2017 issue.

In June, Middle School faculty took a professional development field trip to the Newseum in Washington, where they spent time at an exhibit pertaining to perspective and the impact of words.

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 35

special events Greetings Flint Hill Community, I am honored to be serving as Flint Hill’s Parents’ Association President for the 2017-18 school year. Our family has been affiliated with Flint Hill for 14 years, and we believe this is an exciting time to be a part of this special place.

For those of you who might not know, the mission of the Flint Hill Parents’ Association is the following: • To provide a welcoming environment in which parents can work together with the School to build a stronger school community by encouraging active involvement of all parents in school activities.

• To provide a means through which parents of Flint Hill students may effectively aid Flint Hill School in achieving its mission by encouraging communication, school spirit, and a strong community environment.

• To sponsor educational, community-building and fundraising activities to benefit the mission of the school.

True to this mission, your PA Executive Committee has chosen “Making a Joyful Impact” as our motto for this school year. In addition to our traditional communitybuilding activities and events, we have established Working Groups this year that will focus on the following areas: • Increasing School Spirit.

• Engaging parents in supporting students and alumni in their career development.

• Growing the Endowment for Financial Aid in Honor of Sally Hazel through increased attendance at events and strong fiscal management.

These Working Groups will develop proposals to present to school leadership that will meaningfully move the needle in these key areas.

Watch for more details on these in the monthly Parent Connection Newsletter.

For Flint Hill to continue to be a leader in the independent school community, we must have an engaged parent body, so I encourage you to check out the Parents’ Association website (www.flinthill.org/parents) and get involved today.

Sincerely, Sharon McBride P ’16 P ’20 Parents’ Association President, 2017–18

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Springfest Mother Nature may have turned Springfest into a rainfest, but the rain could not stop our Husky pride. On April 22, dedicated fans braved the rain and cool temperatures to cheer for the JV Baseball and Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse teams.

The Parents’ Association hosted a tent for fans to stock up on spirit gear and get a quick reprieve from the elements.

They also opened the Husky Hut and kept fans warm with hot chocolate, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.

Thank you to the dedicated parent and student volunteers who weathered the elements and made it a soggy yet funfilled day! We extend our gratitude to Springfest Volunteer Coordinators JoEllen Testwuide P ’19 and Mike McClements P ’18, P ’26 for orchestrating a fun and festive day focused on supporting spring-season athletes.

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 37

special events

Members of the Flint Hill Community Come Together on the Links for the 2017 Golf Invitational On Thursday, May 25, the Westfields Golf Club was the backdrop for another successful golf outing for Flint Hill. Proceeds from the event benefitted the Flint Hill Parents’ Association, which contributes its net income to the Parents’ Association Endowment for Financial Aid in honor of Sally Hazel. There was a wonderful mix of parents, parents of alumni, trustees, community partners, and a record 18 alumni participating this year, ranging from the Classes of 2001 to 2015.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day On May 12, more than 275 visitors attended Grandparents and Special Friends Day on the Lower and Middle School Campus. During a light breakfast, hosted by the Parents’ Association, attendees watched band, choir and dance performances by students in various grade levels. Headmaster John Thomas welcomed guests to campus and provided a snapshot into the Flint Hill experience. Skip Coston shared his experiences as a former trustee and board chairman, and the impact the School has had on his family and grandchildren. In the latter part of the morning, guests visited classrooms to observe and participate in activities with the students. Before leaving, visitors had the opportunity to shop the School Store pop-up and visit the photo booth with their students. Thank you to our parent volunteers for their role in providing a delightful experience for our guests!

The festivities began with a putting contest before a shotgun start on the course. Hole-in-one contests and giveaways of custom Flint Hill belts and golf balls were welcome surprises throughout the course. Golfers returned to the Clubhouse for dinner, raffles and a new silent auction, in addition to tournament prizes.

Our highest level of support came from our 16 Husky Sponsors, each of whom was instrumental in the event’s success. We had a record eight Clubhouse Sponsors, which is our second highest sponsorship level for the golf tournament.

The generosity of our Flint Hill community made this a truly successful event.

There are many people to thank whose contributions added to the success of the tournament. We are grateful to Co-chairs Ted Kramer P ’19, P ’19; Sean McBride P ’16, P ’20; Jon Peterson P ’09, P ’10, P ’14; and John Beatty P ’13, P ’17, and Alumni Co-chairs Andrew Pacala ’06 and Sebastian Abrigo ’12 for their leadership and enthusiasm in making the day such a great success.

We extend our gratitude to parent volunteers Sibel Unsal P ’22; Michelle Stanciu P ’19, P ’22; Susan Wood P ’14, P ’19, P ’19; Mike McClements P ’18, P ’26; Sharon McBride P ’16, P ’20; and Mary Ellen Bowman P ’28, P ’30, P ’31 for their support of the event, including decorating the club, securing raffle items and volunteering on the course throughout the day.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS GOLF SPONSORS HUSKY SPONSORS:

CLUBHOUSE SPONSORS:

The Community Bank of the Nation’s Capital

The Union Labor Life Insurance Company

Sean McBride Andrew and Mary Ellen Bowman Jacqueline ’31, Joe ’30, Sophia ’28 and William

Chris and Catherine Miller Claire ’19 Steve and Dayna Anderson Brandon ’12 and Britton ’14 Friend of Flint Hill Rich and Elissa Morrison Kent ’17

38 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

Kevin and Liz Murray Matthew ’17 Ron and Lana Pabis Nina ’20 and Nate ’22

SIGNAGE GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY:

Jon and Anne Peterson Chris ’09, Tim ’10 and Nick ’14 The Taylor Family Hugh, Tana, Jordan ’16 and Justin ’18

The Rein Company Inc. Lilian Li and Joe Ritchey Matthew ’26

The Kramers Ted, Doreen, Mardy ’19 and Nixon ’19

Al and Laura Young Alex ’23

LUNCH AND BEVERAGE SPONSOR:

The Community Bank of the Nation’s Capital

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 39

alumni events

ALUMNI COOKING CLASS D.C.-area alumni gathered at CulinArie, in Washington, for a private cooking class. Alumni from the 1970s to 2000s worked together in small groups to prepare a delicious meal that they ate while sharing stories of Flint Hill. Keep your eyes out for future D.C.-area alumni events — there’s more to come this fall! Not receiving our invitations? Update your address and email at alumni@flinthill.org.

S E N I O R A L U M N I M O V E - U P DAY The Monday before Commencement, Seniors participated in the first-ever Senior Alumni Move-up Day. During the event, they attended a college panel with six Flint Hill alumni from the Classes of 2015 and 2016 who answered questions about the college experience. Additionally, the soon-to-be graduates learned best practices for using the LinkedIn career social networking site and had the opportunity to set up their professional LinkedIn profiles. They also were introduced to Flint Hill’s alumni app, which is connected to LinkedIn, and they had the opportunity to have a professional profile photo taken.

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reunion weekend 2017 Reunion 2017 was a great success! As the Alumni Office has been increasing alumni programming overall, Reunion Weekend programming has also increased. Here’s a recap of the activities that drew alumni back to campus.

5 0 T H R E U N I O N C H A M PA G N E A N D C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H T H E H E A D M A S T E R The weekend kicked off with the Class of 1967 toasting their 50th Reunion.

Classmates gathered in The Parlor in the Miller House, which used to be the headmaster’s office, for champagne and conversation with Headmaster John Thomas.

During the Champagne and Conversation event with Headmaster John Thomas, several members of the Class of 1967 shared that the only time they had visited the Headmaster’s Office during their time at Flint Hill Prep was when they were in trouble. John Thomas decided that he would take the opportunity to invite them to his office for a happier occasion during this Reunion Weekend.

42 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

W E LC O M E RECEPTION The Faculty/Staff Welcome Committee greeted alumni on the Miller House patio for a festive cocktail reception. It was a great opportunity for alumni across the years to connect and share stories about Flint Hill.

1. (L-R) Brian Lamont, David McNerney ’07, Steven Lenz ’07, AJ Coston ’07, Stevie Lederer ’07, Greg DiMattina ’07 2. (L-R) Greg DiMattina ’07 and former faculty Dave Rabadan 3. (L-R) Alexa Tellez-Mansy ’07 and Gemma Hobbs ’07 4. (L-R) Front: Eliot Brenner ’67 and Pete Peterson ’67 Back: DeeDee Dellinger Oehms ’67, Jim Rogers ’67, Dianne Davis ’67, Carolyn Bohling ’67 5. (L-R) Fred Atwood and Stephen Johnson ’92 6. (L-R) Steven Lenz ’07, Rebecca Morris ’07, Kaitlin Hill ’07, Samantha Unger Coston ’07

1.

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reunion weekend 2017

CLASS OF 2007 TIME CAPSULE OPENING On Saturday morning, the Class of 2007 opened their time capsule, which had been sealed after their graduation ten years ago.

Reunion Co-Chairs Rebecca Morris ’07 and Samantha Unger Coston ’07 had the honor of cutting the time capsule ribbon. Alumni discovered all kinds of memories and memorabilia!

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reunion weekend 2017 R E U N I O N L U N C H /C L A S S P I C T U R E S

1992

ALUMNI CLASSES

Reunion alumni headed back to the classroom with two of their favorite teachers, Mr. Atwood and Mr. Lamont.

1997

Fred Atwood’s “Field Natural History and Ornithology” Class In true Mr. Atwood style, alumni attending this class had the opportunity to hold some of the animals in Fred’s classroom.

He then took them on a nature walk (in the rain)!

2007

2012 46 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

Brian Lamont’s “Leadership Lessons (Good and Bad) from TV and Movies”

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reunion weekend 2017

FA LC O N R E C E P T I O N Flint Hill Prep Falcons returned to the Miller House Saturday evening to reminisce and share stories.

Several members of the Class of 1987 were not able to attend their Reunion in May, so they held a get together in July. Kimberly Maines Falkenhagen ’87, Cindy Williams ’87 and Sean McDonald ’87 toured the Upper School Campus and then took a walk down memory lane in the Miller House. Later that day, the get together continued off campus as they met classmates Irene Voglsam Conklin, D.J. Bourgeois, Lybbi Hintze Martin, Jim Morrill, Samantha Sisson McGraw and Paul Cantwell ’88 for dinner.

Go Falcons 1. Carolyn Bowling ’67, Jim Church ’67, Charlie Dixon ’72, Eliot Brenner ’67, Dianne Davis ’67 2. Barb Bach Gladieux ’87 and former faculty Russ Alexander 3. David Moshier ’72, Dianne Davis ’67, Jim Church ’67, Charlie Dixon ’72

During the dinner, they recreated a picture taken when they were at Flint Hill Prep (with a few different alumni standing in).

1.

1987

2.

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C L A S S O F 1 9 8 7 G E T TO G E T H E R

From left to right: Paul Cantwell ’88, Irene Voglsam Conklin ’87, D.J. Bourgeois ’87, Kimberly Maines Falkenhagen ’87, Sean McDonald ’87, Lybbi Hintze Martin ’87, Jim Morrill ’87, Samantha Sisson McGraw ’87, Cindy Williams ’87

3.

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REUNION WEEKEND 2018 F R I D AY & S AT U R D AY, M AY 4 – 5 Classes of 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013

T H E FLI N T H I L L A LU MN I A P P Have you downloaded it yet?

a w e a k l a T ow k d n

m e

mory lane

TWO DAYS OF REUNIONS, RECEPTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Connect with alumni in your industry based on LinkedIn data

Update your information

Geolocation-powered search finds alumni living and working nearby wherever you are Search the Flint Hill alumni directory using LinkedIn premium search fields

Falcons and Huskies return to Flint Hill for Alumni Reunion Weekend 2018.

Whether you are celebrating your 50th reunion or your 5th ­— or somewhere in between — come to campus to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones.

Classes ending in 3s and 8s will celebrate their Reunions at Flint Hill on May 4–5, 2018.

If you would like to help plan your Reunion, please contact Maria Taylor, director of alumni relations, at mtaylor@flinthill.org or 703.584.2350.

. t c R e n e m n o i n c i e sce . Reunite R

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The new Flint Hill alumni app is exclusively for alumni and can be accessed using your LinkedIn login information or with your email address.

Now available on desktops!

Have questions?

Contact Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor at mtaylor@flinthill.org or 703.584.2350.

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alumni class notes To be included in Alumni Class Notes, email the Alumni Office at alumni@flinthill.org with news of a union, birth of a child, professional developments, travels, or anything you’d like to share with your classmates. If you would like to include a photo with your submission, please note that digital photographs must be high-resolution JPEG images (1MB+) to appear in print.

Flint Hill Magazine editorial staff reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity and length.

1962 Jeffery Chewning writes that he recently “retired [from] working with Fleet Reserve Association and life member Vietnam Veterans of America.”

2002

2003

Danny Chahel and Priyanka Khosla were married on August 19 at the MGM in National Harbor, Md. A number of alumni were there to celebrate the occasion, including Michael Barba ’02, Sachin Anand ’02, Anjali Singh Code ’02, Raj Sethi ’02, Neha Grover ’02, Ezzat Shehadeh ’02, Dev Sethi ’02, Priya Raheja Dalwadi ’01 and Shelly Chahel Cooper ’01.

Kyle Elliott joined the international law firm of Ogletree Deakins in the Richmond, Va., office. In this role, Kyle specializes in representing employers, of all sizes across all industries, in labor and employment matters.

2004 Elena Plionis writes, “I recently hiked Mt. Fuji in Japan and finally made it to the anime homeland (I had started an anime club there). I continue to work as a consultant for the Army for their rehabilitation department in the Warrior Transition Units. These provide care to wounded, ill and injured soldiers and allows me to travel all across the country.”

1963 Douglas A. Milliken ’65 writes, ”This is to inform you that my sister, Priscilla Milliken Critchfield, passed away on November 9, 2016, after a three-year battle with ALS. She was 72 years of age. Pat, a resident of Bend, Ore., graduated from Flint Hill in 1963. Our father, Colonel Charles Burnham Milliken, was head of the Flint Hill Math Department from 1961 to 1963, while I was in the Class of 1965.

1972 Arthur “Ace” Ernst writes, “After working as an ER physician for 34 years in the Richmond, Va., area, I have just retired this month. I have been lucky enough to be listed every year in the Richmond Magazine as a Richmond ‘Top Doc’ for the last eight years.”

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Jessica King and Matthew Tsun had a civil wedding ceremony on September 16, 2016, followed by a big wedding celebration on June 2, 2017, at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyard in Charlottesville, Va. The newlyweds began dating, in November 2006, after meeting at Flint Hill. Other alumni in attendance from the class of 2004 included alumni Andrew Sensi, Julie Mezainis, Katelyn Berryman (McGinnis), Robert Hawkins, Russell Watts, Eric Polgar, Ben McVane, Nick Bradford and Ryan Miller.

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alumni class notes 2005 Eugene Bednov writes, “Since our last update, I have been lucky enough to marry an amazing woman and fellow physician, Brittany Bednov, in Thailand, providing some amazing photo ops! We are currently second-year Internal Medicine residents; I am at Florida State University and she is at Orlando Regional Medical center.

We are starting to think about moving back to the great state of Virginia to begin practice after residency.”

Elizabeth Dalton Baca graduated from George Mason University Law School last May and married Richard Baca on October 1, 2016. Elizabeth was joined by her fellow classmate, Lauren Kolb, who was her maid of honor.

2008

2011

Sara Anne Schlegel and Dr. Roy Schoenberg were married on June 18 on Nantucket, Mass., at the Galley Beach restaurant. The couple were introduced in July 2014 when Sara accompanied her sister on a boat trip after her sister’s boyfriend, a doctor, was called to hospital duty. Their host was the groom. Sara celebrated with fellow Huskies Julia Sigal ’11, Cady Carmen ’08, Caroline Gray ’08, Tenley Satre ’07, Becca Sigal ’08, Catherine Schlegel ’09, Christina Schlegel Morss ’04, and Ashley Sprano ’08.

Olivia Landrum writes, “This past year, I became the head coach of the Dance Team at Flint Hill and have enjoyed staying connected to the school. Outside of FHS, I perform with a professional dance company, in D.C., ReVision Dance Company. In January, I traveled with the company to Pretoria, South Africa, to perform at the South African State Theatre and teach at the Tiqwa School for children with disabilities. We also collaborated with an African dance company while there. It was truly a rewarding experience getting to share each other’s cultures and create a sense of community in a foreign country. I love getting to share my passion for dance with children and feel fortunate to get to do what I love everyday.”

2007 Olea Morris writes, “I graduated from San Diego State University with an M.A. in cultural anthropology, in 2015, and then took a year to travel and learn about organic farming methods. The trip took me through 12 countries, from the Brazilian Amazon to India. I ended up relocating to Berlin, Germany, where I’ve lived the last 11/2 years as an English teacher and freelance editor and researcher.

I’m starting a Ph.D. in environmental science and policy at Central European University (Budapest, Hungary) this fall! My research will focus on sustainable communities in central Mexico and how organic agriculture movements are becoming a new expression of political identity.”

Left to right: Julia Sigal ’11, Cady Carmen ’08, Caroline Gray ’08, Sara Schlegel ’08, Tenley Satre ’07, Becca Sigal ‘08, Catherine Schlegel ’09, Christina Schlegel Morss ’04, Ashley Sprano ’08 54 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

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alumni class notes 2013 Natalie Brendsel and Connor Chess celebrated their graduation from Washington & Lee University this spring by remembering their Flint Hill commencement four years ago. Natalie graduated with a Bachelor of Science and was a business and accounting major. She will be working in Richmond, Va., for PWC. Connor graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree and will be heading to California.

Jesse Anderson received the SAAC Male Griffin Award from the College of William & Mary, presented annually “to one male and one female who bleeds green and gold, shows outstanding commitment to his/her team, sport, and Tribe Athletics as a whole.” Jesse was a co-host for the 2017 Griffy Awards, an annual event in which the college honors and recognizes all of its student-athletes.

Jared Busby writes, “I graduated from Clemson University, in May 2017, with a B.S. in environmental science — natural resource and economic policy concentration and with a minor in sustainability. I will be pursuing an M.B.A. from the College of Charleston in their 12-month M.B.A. program, beginning in August.”

Marriages

In Memoriam

Danny Chahel ’02 and Priyanka Khosla on August 19, 2017.

Ronald Metenyi ’62 February 11, 2014

Jessica King ’04 and Matthew Tsun ’04 on September 16, 2016.

2014 Carlyn Baldwin is heading overseas to play professional soccer for the BSC Young Boys women’s pro soccer club team, which plays in Switzerland’s highest National League A women’s competition.

Richard M. Geib ’63 March 31, 2016 Tom Chambers ’65

Eugene Bednov ‘05 and Brittany Bednov.

Priscilla Milliken Critchfield ’65 November 9, 2016

Elizabeth Dalton Baca ’07 and Richard Baca on October 1, 2016.

Abigail Johns ’70 August 6, 1988

Sara Anne Schlegel ’08 and Dr. Roy Schoenberg on June 18, 2017.

Patrick Abrhamsen was on the Dean’s List at Dickinson College for the fall semester of 2016.

Greg Lobel graduated from the University of Michigan last spring and began work with Uber in Chicago, in July, after a month of travel in East Asia.

L I F E C YC L E S

Alice Marie L. Jamison ’77 October 25, 2013 Susan Adams ’81 February 26, 2015 David J. Austgen ’91 March 26, 2015 John P. Marinenko ’95 August 25, 2002

Matthew P. Shevlin ’97 January 22, 2016 Kirstin A. Dorn ’98 Marh 25, 2011 Edward D. Ward ’05 January 2, 2017 George W. Johnson Trustee Emeritus May 30, 2017 Betty Webb Trustee Emeritus December, 2013 Hooks K. Johnston III Parent of Mary ’09, Allison ’11, Hooks ’15, and David ’19 September 3, 2017 Thomas Johnson Parent of Garrett H’19 August 14, 2017

From the Archives: Do you know who these alumni are?

This picture from the Flint Hill Archives is from the Falcon era. If you can identify any of the people in this picture, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor at mtaylor@flinthill.org or 703.584.2350.

We are always looking for alumni and parents of alumni to visit the archives to identify pictures. If you are interested, please contact Maria Taylor using the information above.

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Winterfest | SATURDAY,

JANUARY 20, 2017

Join fellow members of the Flint Hill community for a festive celebration of basketball and school spirit.

The Igloo will be open for refreshments, and there will be plenty of spirit giveaways for Huskies of all ages!

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

Preparation matters.

(for students in Grades JK–8)

Friday, May 11 Lower and Middle School Campus 10409 Academic Drive, Oakton, VA 22124

Highlights of the day include student performances, classroom visits, a portrait station and the School Store.

Your gift to The Flint Hill Annual Fund will ensure that students continue to benefit from a dynamic curriculum that will prepare them for a world in a constant state of change.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit www.flinthill.org/parents or contact Tiffany Parry at tparry@flinthill.org or 703.584.2364.

Your gift matters.

The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and a welcome reception.

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 643 Oakton, VA

3320 Jermantown Road Oakton, VA 22124

THE HOLIDAY SHOPPES at Flint Hill School

Saturday, November 11 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.

Upper School Campus - 3320 Jermantown Road, Oakton, VA 22124

One day only . Free admission . Open to the public . Kids’ Space with festive activities .

Shop 30+ new and returning boutique vendors offering clothing, jewelry, accessories, menswear, home décor, holiday decorations and more!

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A portion of all vendor sales benefit the Parents’ Association. The Parents’ Association contributes their net income to the Parents’ Association Endowment for Financial Aid in Honor of Sally Hazel.