Summer 2019 Magazine

MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

Commencement speakers reflect on growth and gratitude CO M M E N C E M E N T 2 0 1 9 2019 Commencement Speaker Mardieh Dennis ’05

Board of Trustees 2018–2019 Mr. Richard J. Hendrix, Chair Ms. Lucia Anna Trigiani, Vice Chair Mr. Gary D. Rappaport, Treasurer Mr. John M. Thomas, Secretary Mr. Randall W. Byrnes Mr. Taylor O. Chess Mr. Michael P. Corkery Mr. Harry Edward Dean III Mrs. Claudia Z. Fouty Mrs. Shawn W. Fraser Mrs. Linnie M. Haynesworth Mr. Edward H. Kennedy Mrs. Doreen L. Kramer Mrs. Lisa R. Lisker Mr. Michael Mendler Mr. David W. Middleton Mr. Richard Moxley Mrs. Liza Wright Renner Mr. Hugh E. Taylor 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 Editor Angela Brown, ambrown@flinthill.org Staff Contributor Jackie Viteri, jviteri@flinthill.org Magazine Designer Eve Shade, eshade@flinthill.org Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement Meredith Cook VanDuyne, mvanduyne@flinthill.org Director of Alumni Relations Maria Graceffa Taylor, mtaylor@flinthill.org Photo Contributors FREED Spirit Photography James Kegley Photography 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.

CONTENTS 2 REUNION WEEKEND 20 SENIOR ALUMNI MOVE-UP DAY 26 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS REFLECT ON GROWTH AND GRATITUDE 34 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER PROFILE: MARDIEH DENNIS ’05

LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER Dear Flint Hill School Family, This fast-paced school year kept us charged right to the very end! While it has been a “sprint” all year long, I think the School has reached new heights on so many levels, and we have crossed the “finish line” in great shape. Throughout the year, we continued to grow and develop as a school family. The successes outlined in earlier editions of our magazine have continued into the summer months. The Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team won the ISLA League Championship, a diver on the Boys’ Varsity Swim team achieved All-American status, and a faculty member was named a National Leading Educator for OESIS, a leading network for innovation in schools nationwide. We recently learned that our 2017-2018 Annual Report won an international Circle of Excellence Award from CASE, the world’s leading advancement association. And in mid-June, our Robotics team competed once again in the International Student Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Competition. In a field of 71 universities and 4 high schools, we defended our “national title,” coming in second, for the second year in a row, behind a university from Canada and ahead of schools like Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Penn State, and Purdue to name a few.

As you know, all of this has been in addition to the enormously successful Momentum campaign, which has allowed us to break ground on the new Peterson Middle School including a terrace and permanent seating adjacent to the Peterson Family Field and prepare to renovate the existing Lower School in the Hazel Academic Building. All of this work is scheduled to be completed in August 2020.

In this summer supplement of Flint Hill Magazine, you will read about our largest-ever Reunion Weekend in April and all of the celebrations that occurred during Commencement week. This year’s Senior Class was 151 strong, making it the largest in Flint Hill’s history. They were an incredible group of students that have come from all over the world and have been enormously successful in all that they accomplished throughout their careers here at Flint Hill. They excelled in the classroom, the arts and athletics with eight league titles and three state titles this year alone. As leaders, they were committed to our vision to “Take meaningful risks.

Be yourself. Make a difference.” Senior Alumni Move-up Day allowed them to reflect more on the approaching transition to college, with opportunities to create LinkedIn accounts and to learn strategies for managing the new responsibilities they will face living away from home.

The Commencement Ceremony could not have been more beautiful. Our Salutatorian Shuhan Zhang and Valedictorian Kathleen Boyce gave the student addresses. And our Commencement Speaker, Mardieh Dennis ’05, could not have been more direct, honest and authentic with the seniors. Her speech, in which she reflected on our vision and core values, will not be forgotten.

If you happen to visit campus this summer, you will see a flood of activity. In addition to the long-term projects I mentioned previously, there is quite a bit of construction work occurring as I write this letter. We are expanding the Upper School parking lot and installing new floors in that building. The field hockey field on the Lower and Middle School Campus is being redone, and the cafeteria level of the Miller House is being refreshed with new flooring and new bathrooms. And, of course, the new Middle School is already coming out of the ground. The list goes on and on with big and small projects around both campuses.

“Momentum,” the name of the most successful fundraising campaign in the history of the School, was chosen intentionally. I hope you will continue to feel a sense of that momentum just from reading this edition of the magazine and realizing that Flint Hill’s “Driving Spirit” continues to impact every one of us.

Best wishes to you for a phenomenal rest of the summer! I hope everyone will get the rest and relaxation you need during these summer months and will be ready to help to cheer on our great Huskies when they return in the fall. And I wish our newest class of alumni, the Class of 2019, the very best as they head off to the next phase of their lives.

Best wishes to you!

Sincerely,

John M. Thomas Headmaster

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R E U N I ON W E E K E ND

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Reunion Weekend 2019

— a record number of alumni returned to campus!

BACK TO CLASS Reunion alumni had the opportunity to go back to class with some of their former teachers. Robert Spencer Redding ’09 jumped into a discussion about “The Catcher in the Rye” in Jeff Sealy’s English I class, while upstairs, Logan Frederick ’09 talked with current students Holly Fan ’21 and Anissa Patel ’21 in Andy Krug’s Precalculus Honors class.

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CHAMPAGNE AND CONVERSATION Members of the Class of 1969 returned to Flint Hill to celebrate their 50th Reunion!

Some classmates had not seen each other since graduation. It was wonderful to see them reunited!

Headmaster John Thomas hosted the Class for champagne and conversation in the Falcon Room, which they previously knew as their headmaster’s office. Alumni shared stories about their days at Flint Hill Preparatory School.

The Class of 1969 posed for a picture in front of Miller House.

TO P : Chip Paciulli ’68 and Ric Smale ’69 reconnect during the champagne

reception.

Anne Cole Pacuilli ’69 greeting Debe Bautz Thompson ’69

B OT TO M : Headmaster John Thomas gave an update on Flint Hill and ended

with a toast to the Class of 1969’s 50-year milestone.

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WELCOME RECEPTION

Catherine Schlegel ’09, Nina Melisi Pohlman ’09, Fred Atwood, Mandy Firestone DuVall ’09, Carly Cox Marcks ’09 and Chloe Rappaport ’09

Alumni from Reunion classes officially kicked off the weekend with a lively welcome reception at Barrel & Bushel in Tysons. Local alumni in non-reunion classes were also invited to see friends who were in town. It was great to have former faculty members Maddie Krug, Kirby Meade, and Juanita Csontos join us along with current Science and Math Teacher Andy Krug, Science Teacher Fred Atwood and Headmaster John Thomas.

Trish Cochran ’99, Juanita Csontos, Yakhsha Sharif ’99, Julie Greenman ’99, Nick Lahar ’99, Jenny Greenman-MacDonald ’99, Riya Mehta ’99 and Molly Sullivan Hickey ’99

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Andy Krug, Doug Howard ’09, Chris Herlihy ’09, Maddie Krug and Mandy Firestone DuVall ’09

Abe Dashtara ’01, Jennifer Schadoff ’01, Eric Legaspi ’00, Dalton Guevara ’99, Ellen Turner ’01, Christy Witter ’00 and Colin Sullivan ’01

TO P : Caroline Stottlemyer ’12, Olivia Landrum ’11 and Taylor Kim ’12

TO P : Lizzy Schofield ’14, Ally Lucas ’14, Christina Vohra ’14 and

B OT TO M : Carly Cox Marcks ’09, Catherine Schlegel ’09, Mandy

B OT TO M : Julian Wills ’09, Tyler O’Connor ’09 and Tim

joined fellow Huskies to celebrate their Reunion.

Firestone DuVall ’09, Grant Marcks ’09, John Rehberger ’09 and Jessica Johnson ’09 enjoyed the Welcome Reception.

Katie Andersen ’14 enjoyed the Welcome Reception.

Weidinger ’09 reconnected at Reunion.

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ALUMNI BASKETBALL GAME

English Teacher and Service Coordinator Travis Keatley, English Teacher Jeff Sealy, Nick Bazzarone ’12, Kevin McNerney ’12, Robert Rucks ’12, Andy Rehberger ’12 and Science Teacher Tim Uher.

Alumni gathered before the Reunion festivities began on Saturday morning for some hoops with faculty and fellow alums.

TO P L E F T: Jeff Sealy scored one for faculty!

TO P R I G H T: Nick Bazzarone ’12 faced off against classmate Robert

Rucks ’12.

R I G H T: Andy Rehberger ’12 and Kevin McNerney ’12 in action

during the alumni basketball game.

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The Class of 2009 posed with their time capsule before the ribbon-cutting.

CLASS OF 2009 TIME CAPSULE OPENING The tradition of opening alumni time capsules continues. Members of the Class of 2009 were thrilled to see what they had included in their time capsules 10 years ago.

Brendan O’Flaherty ’09 and Jess Wisiackas ’09 had the honor of cutting the ribbon on the time capsule that had been sealed for 10 years!

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CLASS OF 2009 TIME CAPSULE OPENING

(CONT.)

One of the first items pulled out of the time capsule was this banner with an old Flint Hill logo.

Michael Libonati ’09 revealed a t-shirt from his Senior year to Nina Melisi Pohlman ’09.

Catherine Schlegel ’09 found a Flint Hill pin in her time capsule.

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TO P : Classmates from 2009 shared memories they

opened from their time capsules.

R I G H T: Mary Johnston Morris ’09 and Kristina Burger ’09

looked through the memories they put in their time capsule 10 years ago.

Chris Peterson ’09, Doug Howard ’09 Jess Wisiackas ’09, Christian Melton ’09, Brendan O’Flaherty ’09, John Rehberger ’09, Mandy Firestone DuVall ’09, Jessica Johnson ’09 and Carly Cox Marcks ’09

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SPRINGFEST ALUMNI LACROSSE RECOGNITION

L E F T TO R I G H T: Maria Taylor, Diana Parente, Matt

Zecca ’14, Jake Shevlin ’14, Christian Melton ’09, Chris Peterson ’09, John Rehberger ’09, Jess Wisiackas ’09 and Adam Rice

This year, Reunion Weekend was held on the same weekend as Springfest, which gave us the opportunity to recognize some of our alumni athletes. During the halftimes of the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse games, alumni from the 2009 and 2014 boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams were recognized. Director of Athletics Diana Parente, Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor, Coach Adam Rice and Coach Justin Fitzgerald were on the field to congratulate them.

TO P ( L E F T TO R I G H T ) :

Maria Taylor, Diana Parente, Justin Fitzgerald, Katherine Doyle ’14 and Courtney Wiley ’14 B OT TO M : Christian Melton ’09 came

out to the field to be recognized by classmates and former teammates.

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ALUMNI AROUND CAMPUS A Demonstration with the Robotics Team In between games, alumni had the opportunity to watch a robotics demonstration by our awardwinning Robotics team.

Birdwatching with Fred Atwood Fred Atwood led an ever-popular birdwatching walk after a visit to his beloved classroom of animals!

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It’s all about the friends and faculty!

Alumni enjoyed catching up with faculty and our mascot Klondike, during the games!

TO P : Trainer Derek Ross, Christian Melton ’09, Jess Wisiackas ’09, Klondike, Chris Peterson ’09 and John Rehberger ’09 B OT TO M : Carly Cox Marcks ’09, Catherine Schlegel ’09, Director of Studies Emily Sanderson and Mandy Firestone DuVall ’09

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TO P : Chris Peterson ’09, English Teacher and Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Tracy Peterson, Middle School Athletic Direc-

tor and P.E. Teacher Adam Rice and John Rehberger ’09

B OT TO M : Matt Zecca ’14, Director of the Upper School Rico Reed and Jake Shevlin ’14

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FALCON RECEPTION Falcons gathered for the annual Falcon Reception to cap off Reunion Weekend.

B E LOW: Gay Staubel Fuerst ’69 and her

husband Joel Fuerst

A B OV E : Piper Dankworth-Sutton ’75 caught

up with Kip Baker ’74 and Bev Winston ’74.

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L E F T: Judy Bates, Rob Bates ’74, Kip Baker ’74,

Charlie Dixon ’72 and Keith Thompson ’74 B E LOW: Cathy Freeman Holder ’69 and

Debe Bautz Thompson ’69

L E F T: Cathy Freeman Holder ’69

shared a Flint Hill Prep t-shirt with classmates.

B E LOW: Holly Niklason Paciulli ’74,

Kip Baker ’74, Kirsten Matsumoto ’74, Rob Bates ’74 and Judy Bates

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As the weekend progressed, more members of the Class of 1969 joined in the festivities.

With each addition, we took a new class picture. We’re so glad each and every one of you could make it!

1969

Class Pictures

1974 Keith Thompson, Holly Niklason Paciulli, Dorothy Lear Mooney, Bev Winston, Kirsten Matsumoto, Kip Baker and Rob Bates

1999 B OT TO M P H OTO : Randy McQueen, Cathy Freeman

Holder, Debe Bautz Thampson, Debbie Hoffmaster Hoch, Ann Cole Paciulli, Ric Smale, Beckie Swicegood Day, Gay Straubel Fuerst, Bobbie Latimer Cloud and Barbara Wall 18 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

B AC K R OW ( L E F T TO R I G H T ) : Jennifer Greenman-MacDonald (holding Delcan),

Ginny Hazel, Trish Cochran, Julie Greenman, Katie Pluebell, Rita Mehta, Keya Dashtara F R O N T R OW ( L E F T TO R I G H T ) : Dalton Guevara, Molly Sullivan, Nick Lahar

2009 B AC K R OW ( L E F T TO R I G H T ) : Scott Eckman, Danny Marsky, Julian Wills, Brendan O’Flaherty, Mike Libonati, Nina Melisi Pohlman,

Julia Fortkort, Noreen Abdul-Aziz, Kristina Burger, Anna McCabe, Jessica Johnson, Catherine Schlegel, John Rehberger and Chris Peterson F R O N T R OW ( L E F T TO R I G H T ) : Jess Wisiackas, Christian Melton, Carly Cox Marcks, Mandy Firestone DuVall, Chloe Rappaport, Logan Frederick and Rachel Hicks

2014 B AC K R OW ( L E F T TO R I G H T ) : Reid Frazier, Matt Zecca, Moksha Sharma, Brandon Alloy, Danielle Hewitt, Bryce Johnson, Bethany

Patton, Will Breen and Jake Shevlin F R O N T R OW ( L E F T TO R I G H T ) : Ally Lucas, Katie Andersen, Lizzy Schofield, Christina Vohra, Katherine Doyle and Courtney Wiley FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 19

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S EN I O R A LUM N I M OV E-UP DAY

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S E N I O R A L U M N I M O V E - U P DAY ON JUNE 7, 151 graduating seniors joined the ranks of nearly 5,600 Husky and Falcon alumni. Just ahead of Commencement, the seniors spent an afternoon preparing for this next step. During the second annual Senior Alumni Move-up Day, they attended a College Panel with six Flint Hill alumni who answered questions about the college experience. The seniors also did a seminar with History and Social Sciences Teacher Doug Schoemer and Science Teacher Desi Frost on “How to Write a Check and Other College Budget Essentials.”

Finally, the soon-to-be graduates participated in “LinkedIn 101,” led by Zane Homsi ’15, where they learned best practices for using LinkedIn and created their profiles. Then they downloaded the Flint Hill Alumni App (which is connected to LinkedIn) and had professional photos taken to use for their profiles.

The afternoon ended with the Headmaster’s Dinner that evening.

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LinkedIn 101

Alumnus and 2019 University of Virginia graduate Zane Homsi ’15 taught LinkedIn 101 to seniors and helped them set up professional LinkedIn profiles. Zane is currently working as a strategy and analytics program analyst for LinkedIn in San Francisco.

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Alumni College Panel

Alumni Kayla Hewitt ’17, Patrick Lovelace ’18, Tori Herman ’17, John Kallas ’18, Hart Mankin ’18 and Carolyn Holran ’17 returned to campus to provide seniors with insight into college life.

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How to Write a Check and College Budgeting

History and Social Sciences Teacher Doug Schoemer and Science Teacher Desi Frost presented seniors with essential college budgeting skills.

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CO M M E N C E M E NT 26 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

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Commencement speakers reflect on growth and gratitude During their Commencement day speeches on June 7, Valedictorian Kathleen Boyce and Salutatorian Shuhan Zhang reflected on how they’ve grown, and they thanked their teachers, coaches, families and friends for the supportive roles they played while at Flint Hill. “We are a school that has living trees inside our building,” said Boyce. “Just like these trees, we receive the resources we need so we can grow. The faculty members here are so supportive, and they embrace their responsibility to provide a nurturing environment. I have learned this through many hours of extra help, staying after class, and corresponding with teachers by email. Our instructors truly care about us not only as students but also as young adults. I’m proud to say that at Flint Hill, we get to know our teachers and coaches as human beings and learn more from them than just the curriculum.”

Fourteen years after graduating from Flint Hill herself, 2019 Commencement Speaker

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Mardieh Dennis ’05 advised the 151 graduates how important it is to continue to grow. “As you enter this new phase in your life, you may feel overwhelmed by some of the choices and opportunities ahead of you. At times, it may seem easier to play it safe; however, consistently remaining in your comfort zone will undoubtedly inhibit your growth.

Instead, I encourage you to constantly challenge yourself to seek new experiences and take meaningful risks. … You can start small, and sometimes you may stumble, but each setback will offer you a valuable lesson that can make you stronger and gradually push you closer to your ultimate goals.”

Since leaving Flint Hill, Dennis has accomplished many goals, all with a focus on helping to improve people’s lives, by dedicating her studies and work to the field of international health. She completed degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, worked for several years in Zambia with a non-governmental health organization, and now is a Ph.D. candidate at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine while also working for the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents, in Liberia, to strengthen its health system. Undoubtedly striking a chord with the graduates, she reminded them about the importance of giving back to their communities. “As Flint Hill students, you have been required to complete a certain number of hours of community service each year. … Although most of you will no longer have this type of requirement going forward, I encourage you all to think about the ways in which you can use your opportunities, skills and resources to make a difference in the lives of people around you.”

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Zhang, whose immediate sights are set on attending Columbia University, is already mindful about her and her classmates’ contributions toward a better world. “I hope that we will never stop learning and striving ... I hope that we will always be grateful for the events and people that inspire our personal growth. I hope that we will all become future change-makers who have a positive [impact] on our society and other people’s lives.” Boyce, who will attend the University of Virginia, echoed those sentiments and confidently called on the Class of 2019 to “use the foundation that Flint Hill has provided” in the future. “During our time here, we have focused on living the four core values of respect, responsibility, honesty and compassion. If we keep these in our hearts, as we go to college and then out into the world, we will do great things and find lasting relationships.”

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Flint Hill's Class of 2019 by the Numbers

1,210

college applications submitted to 255 different schools

31

students received Senior Project honors

18

9 National

Merit Scholarship Commended students

students will play college sports

32 different colleges

accepted 5 or more seniors

14 accepted 10 or

Students will attend 74 schools in 26 states, D.C. and Canada

more seniors

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COLLEGE ATHLETIC COMMITMENTS

Brandon Allen Connecticut College, lacrosse, Division III

Jordan Houston North Carolina State University, football, Division I

David Cohen Skidmore College, tennis, Division III

O’Kelly McWilliams Wofford College, baseball, Division I

Justin Duenkel University of Virginia, football, Division I

Claire Miller Middlebury College, basketball, Division III

Caroline Dycio Depauw University, tennis, Division III

Krissy O’Malley Liberty University, volleyball, Division I

Ar’riyauna Fleming Wilkes University, softball, Division III

Trey Rucker Wake Forest University, football, Division I

Jordan Hairston Texas A&M Corpus Christi, basketball, Division I

Jyden Simms Christopher Newport University, football, Division III

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Bonae Swain-Price Bluefield College, football, NAIA

Alex Walsh Lafayette College, baseball, Division I

Miles Thompson University of Pennsylvania, football, Division I

Whitney Wiley University of New Hampshire, soccer, Division I

Qudus Wahab Georgetown University, basketball, Division I

Joe Worman James Madison University, football, Division I FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 33

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CO M M E N C E M E N T S P E AK E R PROFIL E

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Commencement Speaker Profile: MARDIEH DENNIS ’05

I

f you are a regular reader of Flint Hill Magazine, you’ve likely noticed a theme — Flint Hill has a particular knack for matriculating graduates who make their living helping others. Our 2019 Commencement speaker Mardieh Dennis ’05 is no exception. After graduating from Flint Hill, Mardieh attended the University of Pennsylvania, on a path she thought would lead to a career as a medical doctor. However, with time, she

discovered a love for public health that continues to drive her today.

After completing her bachelor’s degree, Mardieh received a Master of Science in public health with a focus on international health systems from Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. In 2010, she moved to Zambia, where she worked with non-governmental organizations to monitor and evaluate the success of programs designed to improve health systems and increase access to essential health services. After five years in the field, Mardieh moved to London to further her studies and pursue a Ph.D. at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where her research examined the impact of different policies for financing maternal healthcare services in Kenya. Mardieh is completing her studies and has accepted an opportunity to move to her family’s home country of Liberia to support the Liberian government’s efforts to rebuild and strengthen its health system.

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After Commencement in June, Flint Hill Magazine spoke with Mardieh about her time at Flint Hill and her career in international development.

FLINT HILL: Tell us about how you got started at Flint Hill.

MARDIEH: I came to Flint Hill in the Sixth Grade. I was going to a smaller private school, and was looking for more extracurricular activities, so I decided it was time to take advantage of what a larger school had to offer. It was the first time I had different periods for my classes. I was on different sports teams in middle school, and there was drama, there was art, there was so much to do. Even though Flint Hill was a tiny school back then, it was much bigger than what I had come from, so it was quite exciting at the time.

FLINT HILL: Do you remember how large the School was at that point?

MARDIEH: I’m not sure, but my graduating class was around 67, and at the time, that was the biggest graduating class the School had ever had.

FLINT HILL: We just set a new record with 151! What was your experience at the School like?

MARDIEH: I think it was in the Upper School where things really started to come together for me. I played sports in middle school and I was in choir, but in terms of joining clubs and trying to seek out leadership roles, and things like that, I think that happened to me more in high school.

It was just so much fun, and we got to record albums every year, and go on tours. It was such a unique high school experience.

FLINT HILL: You were also elected student body vice president and president. One of the things you mentioned in your Commencement speech was that you weren’t naturally inclined to be an extrovert. How did you go from being a new student in middle school to running for student government?

MARDIEH: As much as [Flint Hill] was a bigger environment than my old school, it was [still] a very small community, and that helped me to become very comfortable.

I thought, “Okay, this is a safe environment, this is an place where I can try new things, and nothing bad is going to happen to me.” I felt supported and I felt safe.

FLINT HILL: You were a founding member of the Major Minors a cappella group, correct?

MARDIEH: Yes. I accompanied my friend to her audition and ended up trying out and getting selected. I think it was probably one of the best things I could have done in high school.

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It wasn’t until I spent that first six months to a year in Zambia that I thought, “I’m not going to apply to medical school, I’m quite happy with what I’m doing, and this seems like the path for me.” I was still holding on for a while because I had done so much of the pre-med curriculum that I knew that I could always fall back on it, but this other area of work was so interesting to me, I decided I’d rather try it out than [go to] to medical school and [risk being] unhappy.

FLINT HILL: What was your experience in Zambia like?

MARDIEH: It was scary, but exciting. I felt like those years, for me, were when I really became an adult. I got to learn about myself and what I wanted to do in life.

If I had been in a much larger school, it would have been easier for me to stay in the background without anyone ever really pushing me to do anything outside of my comfort zone.

FLINT HILL: After Flint Hill, you attended the University of Pennsylvania. You were originally planning to become a medical doctor but changed your mind. How did that happen?

MARDIEH: I was already a little bit interested in international development when I was applying for college, even though I wanted to be a doctor, and I saw that Penn had a concentration in international health. After learning a bit more about the field of public health, I decided to major in a subject that Penn called health and societies, an interdisciplinary major exploring health through the lenses of anthropology, history and sociology.

Even though I continued to complete the academic requirements for applying to medical school, I started to become more interested in international development and population-level health issues. In my senior year of college, I decided to apply for a master’s in public health instead of medical school. When I went to my master’s program, and even when I moved to Zambia, I still had it in the back of my head that I could still take that one last course, retake the MCAT, and then go to medical school.

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It was a valuable reality check for me, to be in a completely different culture, a completely different environment. To see how other people live, and understand my place in the world, and the privileges that I’ve had that maybe I didn’t recognize I had. I was also able to reflect more on what I want my difference to be.

FLINT HILL: And now you are living and working in Liberia?

MARDIEH: I work for the Global Financing Facility, which is a trust fund managed by the World Bank focused on reproductive, maternal and child health. My role is to be the liaison between this fund and the government, and to help the government plan how they spend their funds, track how they’re spending it, and implementing their activities, and to monitor and communicate their performance.

I sit in a government office in the Ministry of Health, which presents a new set of challenges that I hadn’t experienced before. Before, I was working more with NGOs, and now I sit in a government office in Liberia, and at 4:00 PM, most days, the power goes off. There’s no running water. I’ve always had a very comfortable work environment, so I’m learning to adjust and be productive in an environment that’s different from what I’m used to.

In this field, no matter how long you’re in it, you’re always going to have a new challenge, and this has been quite a big one. But it’s a good challenge. It’s validating. I always wanted to go to Liberia and work there, and I’m working in international health. Liberia needs a lot of help in the health sector, so I’ve always wanted to go there and see how I can contribute.

FLINT HILL: Based on your experience, what advice would you give to a Flint Hill student who is considering attending college or working in another country?

MARDIEH: I think, number one, you need to have an open mind. And number two, you need to have an attitude of listening and learning, rather than teaching and prescribing.

For a lot of us who have spent time or were educated in the U.S., we might go to other countries and believe we know everything there is to know. But I think you have to have humility, and understand that even if you’ve had the best academic training, there’s still so much you can learn.

You need to be open, you need to listen, you need to take the social and cultural cues that people are giving you. It’s important to have a spirit of humility, an open mind and a desire to learn.

That’s how I’ve tried to carry myself. I hope that the people who are [interacting with] me have felt that, but I have really tried to listen and learn from everyone. No matter what our different backgrounds are, I think anyone can teach you something. So I believe in going into new systems and new environments [with a desire] to understand them rather than wanting to change them to what you’re comfortable with, or what you know.

FLINT HILL: As someone who attended a prestigious university, yet chose a non-traditional career path, what advice would you give to current students who are considering their options for the future?

MARDIEH: You have to do what’s right for you. There is value and security in certain professions, but at the same time, you have to be happy. When you’re going into college, use that opportunity not to specialize too much, and to take some other classes, and to do some other things.

When I was at Flint Hill, the message was to be wellrounded and try new things, and if that took you to an elite school, great. But that was never the focus here, and that’s a good thing because, for a lot of students, it probably helped them to avoid being pigeon-holed.

My friend Alicia [Waller ’05], she loved music. She was in [Major Minors], she was in choir, and she went to Maryland and studied music, and no one questioned that. So I would say to take what you are given here, and try to give yourself a well-rounded experience wherever you go.

“

AN EXCERPT FROM MARDIEH’S SPEECH: As you start your young adult life, you will be exposed to new people, ideas, and experiences.

My advice to you is to take advantage of this new environment and challenge yourself to explore your interests and develop your own personal values. Try new activities; join clubs; take classes in subject areas that you don’t know much about; and get to know people with different backgrounds from you.

Once you have a better understanding of the world around you and how you fit into it, you will feel more confident in being yourself and living your life in a way that reflects you rather than those around you.

The late poet, writer, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, once said, ‘Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself, and then stand up for somebody else.’ While you focus on being yourself and living a life that makes you happy, you must also think about how you can lead your life in a way that makes a positive impact on the lives of others.

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 39

Don’t miss a thing.

Follow Flint Hill Alumni on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and the Flint Hill Alumni App to connect with other alumni and get real-time updates from the Alumni Office.

Search Flint Hill Alumni to connect now!

ALUMNI APP

40 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

REUNION WEEKEND 2020 FRIDAY & SATURDAY, APRIL 24-25 Classes of 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015

a w e a k a T downlk

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mory lane

LL A S IT’

ABOUT THE FR IEN DS A ND F A C U LT Y.

TWO DAYS OF REUNIONS, RECEPTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Falcons and Huskies return to Flint Hill for Alumni Reunion Weekend 2020.

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

Classes ending in 0s and 5s will celebrate their Reunions at Flint Hill April 24-25.

If you would like to help plan your Reunion, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor 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

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 41

Thank you to President Doreen Kramer P ’19, P ’19 and the 2018-2019 Parents’ Association Board!

42 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

AND SKILLS CLINIC

Friday, September 13 Upper School Tennis Courts | Rain Date: Tuesday, September 17 . All abilities welcome . Round robin, mixed doubles . Skills Clinic for beginners . . Luncheon to follow .

Space is limited. Registration opens in August. www.flinthill.org/tennis

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 43

S AV E T H E D AT E

HO M ECOM I N G WE E KE ND Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19 Join the Flint Hill community for a weekend filled with school spirit, family fun and a celebration of fall athletics!

Powderpuff Game . Bonfire . Field Hockey . Football . Soccer Volleyball . Activities for Huskies of all ages! www.flinthill.org/homecoming

S AV E T H E D AT E

Shop and Socialize!

Parents of Alumni Luncheon AT T H E A N N U A L H O L I D AY S H O P P E S

S AT U R D AY, N O V E M B E R 9 1 2 : 0 0 – 2 : 0 0 P. M .

Upper School Campus Learning Commons 3320 Jermantown Road, Oakton, VA For more information please visit www.flinthill.org/holidaylunch 44 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

“Flint Hill definitely shaped me into who I am today, and I want to make sure it continues to provide the same solid educational foundation for the next generation.�

- FLINT HILL ALUMNUS

Your gift to The Flint Hill Annual Fund sparks intellectual curiosity in our youngest students through their final steps across the stage to receive their diplomas.

Thank you for supporting students through every step of their Flint Hill experience.

FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 45

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 643 Oakton, VA

3320 Jermantown Road Oakton, VA 22124

Save the date to shop with us!

THE HOLIDAY SHOPPES at Flint Hill School

Saturday, November 9 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 This is not a craft show! Shop 30+ new and returning boutique vendors offering clothing, jewelry, accessories, menswear, home décor, holiday decorations and more!

www.flinthill.org/holiday 46 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL

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.