2016 GDS Alumni Board Annual Report

Alumni Board Annual Report J U LY 1 , 201 5 - J U N E 30, 2016

GDS Alumni Board: Who we are & What we do The Alumni Board is the leadership body representing all GDS alumni. Members of the board have attended GDS for any length of time and serve as ambassadors for GDS. Diversity is at the core of the GDS mission. In keeping with this mission, the Alumni Board seeks membership that reflects the GDS community and encompasses a broad spectrum of viewpoints and experiences. The diversity of the Board is achieved in a variety of ways, recognizing that diversity can be reflected in geographic distribution, age/class year, religion, socioeconomic identification, race, sexual orientation, parenting status (of both GDS students and non-GDS students), as well as a multitude of other ways. The Alumni Board provides direction in alumni relations event programming, involvement with current students, and fundraising as well as engaging with other alumni with regards to communications and All Alumni Reunion Weekend.

Alumni Board: Mission Statement The Georgetown Day School Alumni Board supports GDS and its mission of academic excellence, educational innovation, and social justice within a diverse school community. The board aims to build a community of alumni, facilitating their connection to each other and the school. Board members also serve as ambassadors to the school on behalf of alumni.

Any person who attended GDS for any period of time as a member in good standing is considered a GDS alumnus.

2 0 15 - 2 0 1 6 A LUMNI BOA RD M E M B E RS Jonathan Drobis ’98 Jeff Goldberg ’94 Alex Golding ‘03 Ava Jones ‘02 Liz Levine ’02 Elena Lobo ‘04

Mitch Malasky ‘04 Benjy Messner ‘08 Ben Nussdorf ‘00 Nina Hammond Ritch ’95 Matthew Solomon ’90 Rachel Yavinsky ’02

A LUMN I B OA R D O F FIC E RS A N D COMM IT T E E C H AIRS President, Governance and Recruitment Chair Liz Levine ’02 Vice President Nina Hammond Ritch ’95 Alumni Activities and School Involvement Committee Chair Jeff Goldberg ’94 Communications Committee Chair Jonathan Drobis ’98 Development Committee Chair Matthew Solomon ’90 Reunion Committee Chair Rachel Yavinsky ’02

Bottom Row: Rachel Yavinsky ’01, Nina Ritch ’95, Liz Levine ’02, Ava Jones ’02, Elena Lobo ’04 Top Row: Ben Nussdorf ’00, Benjy Messner ’08, Jonathan Drobis ’98, Jeff Goldberg ’94, Mitch Malasky ’04

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Message from the Alumni Board President: Liz Levine ’02, Alumni Board President 2015-2017 When Annie Vinik ’97 encouraged me to join the GDS Alumni Board in 2011, I was hesitant about the time commitment, but I’m so glad I agreed. Since then, I have reconnected with classmates from my time at the school, visited with some of my favorite teachers (many of whom are still at GDS), and met new friends who graduated well before and well after me. It has been such a great opportunity for me to stay involved with GDS, and I hope I have been able to help the school in some way.

I know that the work of the Alumni Board as a whole has a valuable impact on GDS, which is one of the main reasons why I decided to accept the role of President. The Alumni Board is comprised of members from different class years in an attempt to represent the full alumni body. We currently have a very committed group of alums who work on several committees to bring alums back to the school, get them together through events and activities, connect alums to current students and faculty, and raise important funds for the Annual Fund.

One thing that we have done through the Alumni Board is to speak with some of the students and faculty at the school today. At last year’s board meetings we heard from third grade teacher and coach of the amazingly successful HS track and cross country teams Antony Belber (did you know that approximately one fifth of students in the HS run on the track or cross country teams?), HS Principal CA Pilling, and LS Principal Laura Yee. We also heard from current students, who gave us a sense of what it is like to be at GDS now. GDS looks different than it did when I was a student (GDS now offers Mandarin and has an innovation lab), but it still has amazing faculty who are committed to offering their students the best education…and to keeping GDS weird.

This Annual Report shows some of our highlights from FY’16. Thanks to Director of Alumni Programs Nataki Corneille and to the members of the Development team for helping us keep alumni connected and engaged. There are a lot of ways for alums across the country to stay connected to the school - from attending regional events and returning to campus for reunion, to offering internships to current students. We appreciate all of the alumni who have volunteered in different ways this past fiscal year. We are looking forward to another great year of alumni activities, especially as we head into the campaign and campus expansion.

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Message from the Alumni Director: Nataki Corneille, Director of Alumni Programs It is always to amazing to look back on the year to celebrate the work of the Alumni Board and the many alumni volunteers that make this work so gratifying. This report celebrates the connectedness of the alumni, and the traditions that still live on at GDS. It is awesome to see alumni, no matter the year graduated, connect under common ground and to see friends remain unchanged over the course of so many years apart. The Alumni Board continues to grow and has transformed into an “all hands on deck� working board. The Board demographics have changed, welcoming members who attended for many years but did not graduate from GDS to Pre-K lifers. The Alumni and Reunion Weekend has over tripled in attendance and that is a testament to the hard work of the Alumni and Reunion Weekend Chairs and Reunion Class Chairs. We are able to travel across the country and visit with alumni who do not have the opportunity to connect with GDS at our community events, but still want to engage with the school.

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm, support and devotion to GDS.

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GDS ALUMNI

WASHINGTON 39

WHO WE ARE Total Alumni: 4746 States and the District: 48 International Alumni: 89 Countries: 31 Alumni Volunteers: 71

BY STATE

Alabama: 3 Alaska: 2 Arizona: 11 Arkansas: 1 California: 306 Colorado: 56 Connecticut: 27 Delaware: 4 D.C.: 1216 Florida: 36 Georgia: 28 Hawaii: 2 Idaho: 3 Illinois: 60 Indiana: 2 Iowa: 0 Kansas: 2 Kentucky: 2 Louisiana: 11 Maine: 14 Maryland: 1086 Massachusetts: 189 Michigan: 11 Minnesota: 0 Mississippi: 1 Missouri: 9 Montana: 8 Nebraska: 1

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OREGON 26 IDAHO 3

Nevada: 3 Oregon: 26 New Hampshire: 5 New Jersey: 41 New Mexico: 5 New York: 434 North Carolina: 29 North Dakota: 0 Ohio: 18 Oklahoma: 2 Oregon: 0 Pennsylvania: 68 Rhode Island: 12 South Carolina: 8 South Dakota: 1 Tennessee: 11 Texas: 18 Utah: 8 Vermont: 12 Virginia: 389 Washington: 39 West Virginia: 1 Wisconsin: 6 Wyoming: 4

NEVADA 3 UTAH 8

CALIFORNIA 306

ARIZONA 11

ALASKA 2

NEW HAMPSHIRE 41 MONTANA 8

NORTH DAKOTA 0

VERMONT 12

MINNESOTA 0

WISCONSIN 6

SOUTH DAKOTA 1

MAINE 14

WYOMING 4

CONNECTICUT 27

NEW YORK 434 MICHIGAN 11

NEBRASKA 1

COLORADO 56

OKLAHOMA 2

NEW MEXICO 5

PENNSYLVANIA 68

IOWA 0 ILLINOIS 60

KANSAS 2

MISSOURI 9

OHIO 18

INDIANA 2

WEST VA 1

NEBRASKA 1

MASSACHUSETTS 189 NEW JERSEY 41 DELAWARE 4

VIRGINIA 389

NORTH CAROLINA 29

TENNESSEE 11

MARYLAND 1086 DC 1,216

SOUTH CAROLINA 8

ARKANSAS 1 ALABAMA 3

TEXAS 18

RHODE ISLAND 12

GEORGIA 28

MISSISSIPPI 1 LOUISIANA 3

FLORIDA 36

HAWAII 2

Did you know there are more GDS alumni living in New York than Virginia?

Alumni Activities and School Involvement Chair Report Jeff Goldberg ’94

The GDS Alumni Activities and School Involvement Committee, continues to gain enthusiasm and participation.

In September 2015, we hosted our Fall Kickoff Social where about 40 alumni gathered at Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle. Bobby Asher attended and addressed the group on how the students were feeling at the start of the school year. In December, our Holiday Party was a huge success- filled with ugly sweaters and all! With over 100 alumni in attendance, spanning from the years 1953-2012, it was our strongest turnout! It was a great time for C.A. Pilling to attend to discuss “what’s new” with the students at the High School. We closed the year with our Spring Alumni Event, and those were just our socials. The committee also has a presence at Country Market Day, the Ben Cooper Lecture, the Taste, Tour and Do Good event at One Eight Distillery and other community events throughout the year. Our event attendance continues to grow.

The committee is looking to plan additional outings for the 2016-17 school year to engage and connect GDS alums, like a visit to an embassy or an alumni family event as well as a political roundtable at the High School, engaging alumni who have worked in many capacities on the 2016 Election.

2015-16 was a great year for the committee and we expect the positive momentum will continue.

20 1 5-20 1 6 R EG I O N A L C HAIRS Chicago: Batya Felman ’07, Jacob Osterhout ‘98, Lizzie Rosenthal ‘94 New York City: Elena Lobo ’04, Jesseca Salky ‘99 San Francisco: Annie Bernstein ’06, Alison Kadzik Gathright ‘00

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Alumni Events

YEAR IN REVIEW

AUG 13th Annual GDS Alumni Challenge Two Mile Run

More than fifty members of the GDS community who attended the 13th Annual GDS Alumni Challenge Two Mile Run and while the current women’s cross country team was able to defeat the female alumni, the current men’s team did not hold up as well under the onslaught of the top five male alumni, most of whom compete for their various college teams now. Parents, coaches, and faculty were present, some even lacing up their shoes to participate and show that running can be a life-long pursuit.

OCT Country Market Day

of Define American, a non-profit media and culture organization that seeks to elevate the conversation around immigration and citizenship in America; and the founder and editor of #EmergingUS, a digital platform that lives at the intersection of race, immigration, and identity in a multicultural America. #EmergingUS is the first-ever media property owned by an undocumented immigrant.

NYC Alumni Social

Annual Alumni VS Student Soccer Game

GDS’s annual fall festival, Country Market Day, brings our entire community, family, and friends together for great food, laughs, carnival games, and so much more. With nearly 80 alumni also doubling as current GDS parents, the Alumni Board hosted a gathering place to come to look through old yearbooks and exchange memories of Country Market Day’s past.

Over 40 alumni gathered at Flatiron Hall in Chelsea for an evening to reconnect and see old friends. Kevin Barr and Nooman Kacem made the trip from DC to visit with alumni and share GDS happenings. Thanks to our NYC Regional Chairs, Elena Lobo ’04 and Jesseca Salky ’99 for helping to make this event a big success.

SEPT

NOV

DC Fall Annual Kickoff Event

Benjamin Cooper Pre-Lecture Social

Nearly 70 alumni came out to Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle to celebrate the beginning of the fall season.

Bobby Asher attended the event and addressed the group on how students were feeling and managing the beginning of the school year.

The Alumni Board hosted a pre lecture social at Cactus Cantina prior to the Ben Cooper Lecture featuring Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, filmmaker, and media publisher whose work centers on the changing American identity. He is the founder and CEO

Alumni and current students met at the high school the day after Thanksgiving for a spirited game of soccer. The weather proved to be amazing for a late fall day.

Young Alumni Thanksgiving Lunch

Alumni from the class of 2012 gathered at Cactus Cantina to reconnect over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Annual Thanksgiving Bash

The Annual Thanksgiving Bash brought more than 100 young alumni together at the Big Hunt to enjoy their time over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The event each year is the largest gathering of young alumni.

lumni Holiday Party

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DEC

APR

MAY

DC Alumni Holiday Party

Spring Sports Saturday

DC Spring Alumni Event

More than 100 alumni gathered at Buffalo Billiards for the 2015 Holiday Party. Alumni ranging from 1953-2012 came decked out in ugly sweaters to enjoy the evening. C.A Pilling attended the event and discussed “what’s new” at the High School.

JAN Chicago Area Alumni Social

For the first time in over a decade, GDS alumni living in Chicago gathered to reconnect at the Tortoise Club in downtown Chicago. Special thanks goes to Chicago Regional Chairs, Batya Feldman ‘07, Jacob Osterhout ’98, and Lizzie Rosenthal ’94 for their help with the event.

FEB Bay Area Alumni Social

In February, alumni living in the San Francisco Bay area convened at Il Fornaio in Levi Plaza. Alumni attending ranged from one attending 9th grade in 1963 at GDS to graduating from the high school in 2006. Kevin Barr made the trip to northern California to reconnect and discuss the latest at GDS. Special thanks goes to Annie Bernstein ’06 and Alison Kadzik Gathright ‘00 for serving as San Francisco Regional Chairs.

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For the first time, and as a part of Alumni and Reunion Weekend GDS hosted Spring Sports Saturday.

The GDS community comes out to show their spirit and to cheer on our spring sports.

Alumni and Reunion Weekend

Parties for those classes ending in 1 and 6 started the weekend, with gatherings at alumni homes, as well as “keeping in the family” by gathering at GDS-owned venues.

Class events were well attended. The class of ‘06 had the largest party, with 41 alumni in attendance at their event at the Colony Club, owned by classmate Max Zuckerman.

The weekend continued with Sports Saturday, where the Varsity Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse teams competed, followed by a tour of the High School led by current students and a presentation by Kevin Barr, highlighting what’s next in the campus unification project. Classes of ‘06 and ‘11 battled it out on the basketball court for the Alumni Basketball Game on Saturday afternoon.

The weekend concluded with the All Class Reunion Party. The Library was transformed, mood lighting, DJ, photo booth and all, where Harold Newton was honored as he retires this year, for his 36 years of service at GDS. The Class of ‘81 wins the award for “Best Dancers”, dancing the night away with favorites old and new. Nearly 250 alumni, faculty and friends from 18 states and the District traveled to attend the weekend.

Over sixty alumni and current faculty gathered for the third DC social event of the year. Classes with the largest turnout for the event were the classes of 2004, 2011, and 2012, however, alumni in attendance ranged from the class of 1984 to 2012.

JUN Washington Nationals Donor Thank You Event

GDS alumni gathered at Nationals Park on Sunday, August 14 to watch the Nats hammer the Atlanta Braves 9-1. Despite the oppressive heat, over 30 attendees caught up over delicious food, cold beer, and an exquisite view of the game. These alumni enjoyed boxseats as part of a giveaway for local alumni Annual Fund donors. Thank you to all of our donors.

Alumni & Reunion Weekend Committee Chair Report Rachel Yavinsky ‘01 Excitement and attendance at GDS reunions are growing! In 2016, nearly 250 former students turned out to connect with old friends and teachers, learn about campus planning, and dance the night away. To kick off the weekend, members of the classes of 1976,1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011 held class events around DC, and then joined the All Class Reunion Party at the GDS High School on Saturday night. Having heard the stellar reviews from the 2015 reunion, attendance increased 348% from the same classes’ reunion five years ago.

The weekend also included Sports Saturday, where the Varsity Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse teams competed, a tour of the high school led by current students, a presentation on the campus reunification plan by Kevin Barr, and an alumni basketball game on Saturday afternoon.

The GDS Alumni Board was proud to support the success of Alumni and Reunion Weekend by recruiting class chairs, encouraging teacher attendance, and advising on communications and activities.

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R EUNIO N C L ASS C HA I R S: 1981: Lori Davis, Monica Hernandez, Gary Williams 1986: Michael Edgar, Rebecca Fishman, Kimberly Shoonover 1991: Knox McIlwain, Michael Shaffer 1996: Sarah Nissim 2001: Jess Berenson, Alex Hirschhorn, Lauren Jonas, Brady Kirchberg, Joel Silberman, Katherine Sedaka, Rachel Yavinsky 2006: Annie Bernstein, Philip Cohen, Brian Fung, Shawn Sendar 2011: Dominique Campbell, Alexa Dettelbach, Hunter Fortney, Marc Gottesman

A LUM N I AN D REU N ION W E E K END C H A IRS : Amy Nyberg ’91, Brady Kirchberg ’01, Hunter Fortney ‘11

FIVE Y EA R CYC L E O F AT T E N DA N C E : 2011: 50 2012: 90 2013: 93 2014: 43 2015: 276 2016: 242 10

That’s an increase of 384%!

Development Committee Chair Report

Matt Solomon ‘90 1970: 10%

1994: 21%

1973: 19%

1996: 12%

1972: 23% 1974: 17%

FY 2015-16 proved to be another strong year for development.

While we fell just short of our ambitious 19% participation goal (we had greatly exceeded our goal the previous year, so we knew we had a challenge), we raised $$225,000 during the annual fund and fund-a-scholar campaigns. We faced some challenges this year, despite our two challenges we hosted throughout the year and last year’s reunion classes were some of the largest percentage contributors in the school’s history. Nevertheless, the percentage giving and overall numbers for FY2015-16 were strong, and we look forward to an even stronger year ahead.

A NNUA L FU N D $225,000 raised for GDS 17% overall alumni participation 11 classes increased participation from previous fiscal year 100% Alumni Board Participation

1975: 19% 1976: 18% 1977: 8% 1978: 9%

1979: 15% 1980: 15% 1981: 20% 1982: 18% 1983: 7%

1984: 10% 1985: 28% 1986: 20% 1987: 19% 1988: 16% 1989: 14% 1990: 36% 1991: 21% 1992: 14% 1993: 15%

1995: 21% 1997: 23% 1998: 27% 1999: 13% 2000: 27% 2001: 26% 2002: 13% 2003: 16% 2004: 31% 2005: 18% 2006: 17% 2007: 9%

2008: 10% 2009: 11% 2010: 10% 2011: 7% 2012: 9%

2013: 20% 2014: 24% 2015: 16%

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STAY CON N ECT E D Facebook Members: 1,299 Number of Posts: 91 Top Post: 261 Likes LinkedIn Alumni Group Members: 665 *Numbers as of 8/23/16

G DS ALUM N I U PDAT ES The GDS Alumni Updates is an electronic newsletter that delivers news and information about GDS current students as well as upcoming events. It is sent to all alumni.

Please send your current email to alumni@gds.org if youare not currently receiving the newsletter and would like to do so.