Spirit of the Dragon Magazine (Summer 2022)

MISSION

Glenelg Country School cultivates a COMMUNITY that stimulates our students to realize their highest potential. Outstanding academic and enrichment opportunities nurture a PASSION for lifelong learning, personal INTEGRITY , and RESPECT for others.

By embracing DIVERSITY of background, culture, and thought, our students are prepared to become RESPONSIBLE and CONTRIBUTING members of our GLOBAL society.

ACCREDITATION

Glenelg Country School is accredited, age two through twelfth grade, by the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS) and by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA).

The School is affiliated with the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the Educational Records Bureau (ERB).

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Matt Walsh

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Danielle Peterson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jess Dolan, Lindsay Frost-Bhasin, and Danielle Peterson

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ryan Abbajay ’24, Jonathan Culbreath ’24, Zachary Gruzs ’23, Memi Pluznik, Brianna Sowell ’24, and Classic Photography

© 2022 Glenelg Country School

Please direct questions and comments to communications@glenelg.org.

12793 Folly Quarter Road Ellicott City, Maryland 21042 glenelg.org

410.531.8600

Cover: Eighteen lifers—students that have attended only Glenelg Country School— pose outside of Dragon Commons behind the Upper School.

Students, faculty, and staff in the Upper School celebrate the Class of 2022 on the seniors’ last day of class.

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

In capturing the special spirit of the Class of 2022, it is no surprise that this issue also clearly conveys so many of the core qualities that make GCS such an amazing place. As you may know, the senior car parade started in 2020 when were unable to have a traditional Commencement ceremony. We continue this event because it brings our community together in a special and less formal way to celebrate our seniors. All of our students and faculty across the divisions come out and line the parade route, sending up cheers, congratulations, and well wishes.

This year’s parade is a bit of a metaphor for this wonderful class, the challenges they have encountered, and all they have overcome. Despite the rain, seniors and their families just kept rolling and kept smiling! It was really something to see. In his Commencement speech, Daniyel Coy ’22 said one big lesson he and this class have learned at GCS is that life “entails the weathering of many storms” and that “staying hopeful in the face of adversity” is critically important. As I listened to Daniyel’s remarks, I thought about how this class epitomizes the idea of weathering the storm and staying positive as they encountered so many COVID-related disruptions during their time here.

Students did not overcome challenges in a vacuum, and we are grateful to parents for their partnership and support. Our outstanding faculty and staff were not only incredibly supportive of students, but also set a great example of how to adapt, innovate, and carry on in difficult times. I thank them for their efforts on behalf of the Class of 2022. While not surprising, it was striking how many of the senior reflections touched on the strong relationships that they had with our teachers and how they simultaneously felt supported and challenged to learn and to grow.

A school’s traditions are a window into its values and culture, and our approach to graduation is a perfect example. Allowing an opportunity for each student’s perspective on their GCS experience is what we are all about. Independent thought is prized here, and our rich diversity of views makes all of us better. It was stirring to hear the ways in which students have both strengthened our community and have been forever touched by it.

While the accomplishments and college acceptances of these seniors are certainly outstanding, this class will always stand out in our memories for the special way in which they came together and for how well they handled the vicissitudes of the last couple of years. They are, in many ways, heading off to college with the advantage of having already learned a number of life’s important lessons. Class of 2022, we are so proud of you and we can’t wait to see how your special gifts will make our world a better place.

MATT WALSH

THE CLASS OF 2022

COLLEGE BOUND

Albright College

American University

Arizona State University

Auburn University

Bentley University

Boston University

Brown University

Bryn Mawr College

Bucknell University

Carnegie Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

Catholic University of America

Clemson University

College of Charleston

Colorado School of Mines

Cornell University

Dartmouth College

Denison University

DePaul University

DeSales University

Dickinson College

Drexel University

Duquesne University

East Carolina University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott

Fordham University

Franklin & Marshall College

Frostburg State University

George Mason University

George Washington University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia State University

Gettysburg College

Goucher College

Hampden-Sydney College

Hampshire College

Haverford College

Hawaii Pacific University

High Point University

Hood College

Howard University

Indiana University Bloomington

Jacksonville University

James Madison University

Kenyon College

La Salle University

Lafayette College

Lebanon Valley College

Lehigh University

Loyola University Maryland

Marietta College

McGill University

McPherson College

Mercyhurst University

Miami University

Michigan State University

Michigan Technological University

Middle Tennessee State University

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Monmouth University

Moravian University

Morgan State University

Mount Holyoke College

Muhlenberg College

New York University

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Nova Southeastern University

Oberlin College

Ohio University

Ohio Wesleyan University

Old Dominion University

Oral Roberts University

Oregon State University

Pace University

Penn State Abington

Penn State Behrend

Penn State

Berks

Penn State

Harrisburg

Pennsylvania State University

Purdue University

Randolph-Macon College

Rensselaer

Polytechnic Institute

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Saint Joseph’s University

Salisbury University

San Diego State University

Sarah Lawrence College

Shepherd University

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Smith College

Spelman College

St. Bonaventure University

Stevenson University

SUNY at Binghamton

CLASS OF 2022 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

Susquehanna University

Syracuse University

Temple University

The College of William and Mary

University of California San Diego

University of California

Santa Cruz

University of Chicago

University of Connecticut

University of Dayton

University of Michigan

University of Mississippi

University of Missouri

University of Notre Dame

University of Pittsburgh

University of South Carolina

University of Southern California

University of Tokyo

University of Vermont

VERTO Education

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia Wesleyan University

Wake Forest University

Waseda University

Washington and Lee University

Washington University in St. Louis

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Virginia University

Western University

Williams College

Wingate University

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The Ohio State University

The University of Alabama

The University of Tampa

The University of Tennessee

Towson University

Trinity University

Tufts University

United States Coast Guard Academy

United States Naval Academy

University of Arizona

University of California Merced

University of Delaware

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Hartford

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Kansas

University of Kentucky

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

University of Maryland, College Park

University of Massachusetts

THE CLASS OF 2022

THIRD ANNUAL CAR PARADE

A few weeks ago, a few friends and I stayed late after school to review for our AP Physics Exam. And after our review session, while I was waiting for my dad to pick me up, I realized that aside from the diligent cleaning crew, I was the only person left in the Upper School. It already dark out, I, for the first time in weeks, actually stopped to reflect. And somehow, I began to walk around, pacing the halls, sitting in the forum, entering old classrooms, and thinking more deeply about my time here at GCS. In this moment, I came across three lessons that GCS has taught me, lessons that I feel are crucial as we, the Class of 2022, prepare to embark on the next phase of our respective journeys.

First, is to never place any limits on yourself; not limits on what you can learn nor on what you can achieve. One of the staples of the GCS experience is the spirit of persistent learning, and alongside that, persistent development. Such a sense of curiosity is vital as we depart GCS. Always strive to learn more, to do more, and dream big, for in the words of Langston Hughes, devoid of dreams, “life is a barren field frozen with snow.” In so doing, declare success over your future and make proclamations on your behalf. As I look around this room, I see future doctors and engineers, presidents and authors, musicians and athletes. I look out and see greatness; I see leadership.

Secondly, we must embrace that leadership. And to do this, we must fully immerse ourselves in a community. One of the things GCS has taught me, and I’m sure the entire class, is that leadership requires engagement; you must be involved. In this sense, we must integrate our interests and abilities with those of the broader world; we must use all our knowledge and skills, not only for our individual

progression and development, but for the betterment of others – the betterment of society writ large. And that is the legacy of this institution, the backbone and mission of this place: to prepare students to become responsible and contributing members of our global society. As I stand before you this morning, I am both proud and humbled to say that the Class of 2022 has inherited this gene, and we are ready and capable of fulfilling its task.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is staying hopeful in the face of adversity. Despite its incredible reward, the task of leadership is not to be understated; it entails the weathering of many storms and the fighting of many uphill battles. Life, for none of us, will be a crystal stair; our ascension to the moon of our potential will be constrained by the gravitational force of our individual fears, insecurities, and dilemmas. Yet, for us leaders coming from Glenelg Country School, there is some good news. We have been equipped with all the tools necessary to defeat such obstacles; we have been given a mighty powerful sword to fend off the inevitable encroachments of the enemy. As aspiring leaders, the Class of 2022 has everything we need to succeed and thrive in the future. Yet, I would be remiss if I did not comment on the role of these various trials and tribulations. Obstacles later in life will have a purpose, namely, to teach us certain lessons. The most important of which, I reckon, is to keep moving forward. Despite what may come, with eyes steady on our North Star, we shall press on and press on, always remembering that the hotter the battle the sweeter the victory. As such, I want to leave you with a quote from Dr. King that echoes these sentiments: “If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But by all means, keep moving!”

Congratulations, Class of 2022. After working tirelessly for the past four years, we are graduating high school. Thank you to our administration, our trustees, our teachers, and our parents for helping us get here.

For many of us, today felt like it would never come. We anticipated this day for years. Yet, now, we should remember to slow down and live in the moment as we reflect on our time as Dragons. American literary icon Robert Frost reminds us in his poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” that our favorite times, like those at GCS, are fleeting. So how should we honor our experience here?

My first day at GCS was ten years ago. I came to the Lower School clad in my plaid jumper, anxious for the start of third grade. I hoped to find friends. What I found was a family. This GCS family has changed over the decade that I have been a Dragon. We said goodbye to some students and faculty members and said hello to some new ones. Yet the things that remain constant are our shared memories. There are too many to enumerate, but I’ll share a few highlights that brought us together.

In Lower School, each May, we would go to the Teardrop for Field Day prepared for a day of Glens vs. Elgs tug-of-war where some of us would get rope burns yet still have fun. Later, we sat by the Upper School fields, Popsicles in hands, ready to cheer on our friends in the All-School Relay. We had our bitter green vs. white rivalry on these days but supporting our peers as they ran around the track gave us the same Dragon pride.

In Middle School, once December rolled around, we started on our STEAM Fair projects. Some complained constantly

HANNAH QUIGLEY

and some of us loved it so much that we decided to create a functioning hovercraft or an aurora borealis in a jar. However, we all bonded over our shared experience.

In Upper School, there was a pandemic. We substituted seeing each other’s faces in the flesh for seeing each other in boxes on our screen for over a year. Yet, COVID-19 did not break our class’s spirit. When we kicked off senior year in person at Senior Sunrise, our class was united again, ready to support each other through 11:59 pm Integrative deadlines and the college application whirlwind.

Our GCS family as we graduate today is unique and diverse. We appreciate each other’s talents. I know that some of us excel in our Dragon Stadium. (Girls lacrosse was literally first in the nation this year!) I know that others of us pour our hearts into our Mulitz Theater, whether we play instruments, sing in choirs, perform in musicals, or assist backstage. I know that still more of us dedicate ourselves to our communities, leading service initiatives from our Youth in Philanthropy program.

Seniors, our accomplishments and chosen family have defined our GCS experience. Now we will go our separate ways, from California to New York and beyond. This transition time will be difficult. We might look to the past, reminiscing on our days at GCS. We might look to the future, eagerly awaiting the day we get to college to start our next chapters. I encourage you to appreciate the time we are spending together right now. We may not be GCS students anymore, but moving forward, we will forever cherish our friends and our teachers, no matter where we are. We are a family, and GCS will always be where our roots lie. That’s how we “stay gold.”

MANY STARS ARE BORN

THE SCHOLARS PROGRAM GRADUATES A RECORD NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

By Christopher Shematek DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Finishing its sixth year, the Scholars Program inducted 15 seniors graduating from Glenelg Country School (GCS) with distinction in June. As a “challenge by choice” program starting in a student’s sophomore year, student candidates elect to focus on an area of interest within one of five key areas: aesthetics and culture, convergent science, entrepreneurship, global leadership, or technology engineering and design.

And so, the favorite question, Christopher Shematek ’98, director of the Scholars Program, likes to ask students who have recently started their Scholars Program journey: What are you going to do with this program? “I love to hear the responses. They range from detailed, mind-boggling projects to undefined declarations of interest to pursue a certain passion within a field of study.”

Regardless of the focus area, the experience culminates with a defense of an extensive portfolio constructed over two years. But, the real opportunity for students is the synthesis of study with the guidance of a faculty mentor.

The mentor relationship is the most critical aspect of the program and has roots from when Shematek was a student at GCS. His class graduated just 27 seniors. “During my senior year, I was one of a handful of students in many classes; in fact, I was the only student in two of my classes,” he recalls. “Our small size fostered flexibility to explore areas of interest and to extend learning. Teachers and students enjoyed close relationships, and those teachers acted as mentors inside and outside the classroom.”

Today, Glenelg Country has grown to over 270 students in the Upper School. And for the last 25 years, the Scholars Program has continued to foster students’ academic journey.

The program creates a strong bond between mentor and scholar and empowers students by giving them flexibility in determining their study path. Hearing phrases such as “I could not have done this without my mentor” or “Every time I ran into an obstacle, my mentor gave me the confidence to continue” is commonplace within the program. In addition to mentors, the program’s coordinators are responsible for each of the five areas and provide support to scholars. Coordinators are critical to the program’s success as they help challenge the level of work submitted and constantly encourage students to push for more.

Connie Durso, Lisa Haack, Brian Hudgins, Shay Tyndall, and Elisabeth Worthington work tirelessly to facilitate the program’s vision.

This year, students delivered on that high level of work. Each spring, senior scholars present and defend their portfolios which include satisfying summer internships, producing major projects or original creative pieces, and demonstrating opportunities where they taught a lesson to other students.

When optimal thresholds are exceeded, the device alerts the school. He then took his project to a higher level as he made a lesson plan about the process and taught the lesson to a software engineering class.

Joanie Morningstar ‘22 created the program’s website from scratch for her project. Her website design was clean and professional-looking, and many asked how much was spent on its development. When approached last year with the problem of creating a tool to market the program effectively, Morningstar worked with administrators and alumni to make a practical and helpful tool.

During an internship at Morgan State University’s Biochemistry labs, Gracye Cooper ’22 assisted researchers with further developing a meningococcal vaccine against serogroup W. Cooper’s research was doubly impactful for her as she wanted to explore and help bridge the minority gaps in STEM. “It meant a lot to me to assist a Black woman in scientific research at an HBCU. This program helped emphasize the importance of scientific research for my portfolio,” she explains.

Ellie Oyebode ’22 created a portfolio of original poems and photos based on interviews she conducted with her peers. The idea was to ask a series of questions to classmates and, from their responses, create not only a poem but a visual representation as well. Defense committee members appreciated Oyebode’s high-quality portfolio to be museum-worthy.

These impressive projects are just the beginning. The experience gained in the Scholars Program is profound for its graduates. “The Scholars Program completely transcended my high school experience. By immediately offering me the responsibility and quality of college and professional level expectations, it allowed me to gain an advantage over many of my peers, as I was far more prepared for self-guided work and stricter deadlines in college,” acknowledges Michael DiAngelo ’18.

Projects this year were awe-inspiring and problem-solving. A significant issue the GCS experiences with the Gould Observatory is the adverse effects to equipment that temperature and humidity can bring. Inspired to solve this, Caleb Solomon ’22 created a device and monitoring software that measures the observatory’s atmospherics.

Laura Littlefield ’19 echoes those sentiments. “The Scholars Program gave me a voice to showcase my passions, creative abilities, and curiosity. Working with a mentor to excel in something I am passionate about is a unique opportunity and one of the reasons why the program will forever be special to me.”

UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS

ALWAYS A DRAGON AWARD

Hannah Quigley

CHAPMAN DISTINCTION IN HISTORY AWARD

Hannah Quigley

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION AWARD

Amberlynn Garcia

Emily Kavic

Josef Marschall

COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AWARD

GRADE 9

Meera Saini

Brinley Tibit

Ayla Walsh

GRADE 10

Julia Gondek

Jola Oyegoke

Renée Yankah

GRADE 11

Kendall Francis

Brogan Graham

Peter Seelman

EXCEPTIONAL GROWTH AWARD

GRADE 9

Layaan Abbasi

Alexandra Oseghale

Trishima Sharma

GRADE 10

Aaminah Abdur-Rahman

Brenna Baim

Oyinkansola Olaniyan

GRADE 11

Xinci Bao

Dylan Bhandary

Quinten Cazares

GRADE 12

Ryan Fagan

Jaclyn Marszal

Jordan Oseghale

FACULTY PRIZE

Daniyel Coy

GOLDEN DRAGON AWARD

Jackson Roth

HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AWARD

Josef Marschall

THE JANI FAMILY SERVICE AWARD

Zachary Schulman

LAURIE AGUERA-ARCAS AESTHETIC APPRECIATION

Yasmine Tujjar

MOXLEY SCHOLAR ATHLETE

Josef Marschall

Jaclyn Marszal

Maggie Weisman

SEAL OF BILITERACY

Xinci Bao

Monique Diaz-Mackey

Mia Fortin

Zhixin Fu

Emily Kavic

Lucas William Mantzaris

Hannah Quigley

Philip Roberts

Nathalia Rocha

Peter Seelman

Devin Tyler

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN BIOLOGY— CAROLYN CRADLER AWARD

Grayce Cooper

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN BUSINESS

Ryan Fagan

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN CHEMISTRY

Noora Ghahremani

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN ECONOMICS

Benjamin Hulit

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN ENGINEERING

Joan Morningstar

Jimmie Ward III

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN HUMANITIES

Noora Ghahremani

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN LATIN

Lucas William Mantzaris

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN MATH

Lucas William Mantzaris

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN THE PERFORMING ARTS

THEATER

Amberlynn Garcia

VOCAL MUSIC

Jamie Marszal

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Kaitlyn Leavy

MARGARET WESLEY MUSIC AWARD

Amberlynn Garcia

THEATER TECHNICAL DESIGN

Zoë Wright

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN PHYSICS

Caleb Solomon

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN SPANISH

Noora Ghahremani

Hannah Quigley

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN TECHNOLOGY

Josef Marschall

Caleb Solomon

SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR DISTINCTION IN THE VISUAL ARTS

STUDIO ART

Caitlin Goh

SCULPTURE

Maria Tomarchio

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Josephine Pell

TIMOTHY C. CALLARD INTEGRAL AWARENESS

Noora Ghahremani

Emily Kavic

WINTER & SPRING SPORTS RECAP

BASEBALL

The team completed the regular season in second place in their division with a 9-7 record and made the MIAA B Conference playoffs for the eleventh consecutive year. The offense was anchored by Dylan Melton ’23 who led the team in most offensive categories and was supported by Brian Hammond ’22 who got on base and led the team in runs. Connor Wilson ’23 and Dylan Levin ’23 delivered many of the team’s RBI. The Dragons relied upon an experienced pitching rotation consisting of Hammond, Melton, and Trey Miller ’24 who were backed by a strong defense up the middle including second baseman Cary Pakulla ’24, and outfielders Ryan Fagan ’22, and Spencer Yu ’23.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The team took on the season with positivity and determination. Captain Neve O’Ferrall ’22 was rejoined by fellow classmates Josie Pell ’22, Cydney Lisk ’22, and Elizabeth Bateman ’22 to form a core of leaders. With O’Ferrall’s three-point shooting threat, Lisk’s leadership at point, Bateman’s steadfastness on offense and defense, and Pell’s defensive energy, the team had a solid foundation. Ashley Dyer ’23 was the team’s leading scorer, while Blair Byrne ’23 led in rebounds. Cate O’Ferrall ’23 and Madison Weller ’23 added height on the offensive and defensive ends. Despite a strong roster, the team struggled to a 1-11 league record (1-15 overall) in the newly formed B-1 IAAM. With poor competitive balance across the division, the league will return to its previous format. The Dragons look to bounce back with broader competition and veteran players.

BOYS GOLF

The boys golf team was one win away from making the MIAA team playoffs this season. The weather proved the toughest opponent for the team, who due to reschedules played the majority of the season’s matches in a two-week time frame at the end of the season. Zachary Schulman ’23 and Tyler Schrott ’23 led the team and represented GCS well in the MIAA Individual Tournament.

2022 SPRING SPORTS SENIOR RECOGNITION

BASEBALL

Ryan Fagan

Brian Hammond

Connor Schrott

Spencer Yu

BADMINTON

Ameero Chahal

Noora Ghahremani

Emily Kavic

Hannah Quigley

Sabrina Swing

BOYS LACROSSE

Monodeep Chahal

Samuel Dodge

Blake Eastwood

Benjamin Hulit

Josef Marschall

Brennan McKneely

Wyatt Olsen

John Pierce

Peyton Ridgely

Jackson Roth

Tyler Schrott ’23

Neve O’Ferrall ’22

Brian Hammond ’22

GIRLS LACROSSE

Elizabeth Bateman

Alyssa Corsetty

Kate Fuhrman

Hannah Glawe

Cydney Lisk

Jaclyn Marszal

Stephanie Marszal

Neve O’Ferrall

Josie Pell

Arianna Silvestri

Maggie Weisman

GIRLS GOLF

The girls golf team continued to grow and improve on its previous year. The team participated in several matches and players improved their match experience and skills. The young team was competitive in all matches and looks to continue is success in the 2023 season.

BOYS LACROSSE

The boys varsity lacrosse team overcame adversity this year, and finished the year strong. New players Monodeep Chahal ’22, Rhys Edwards ’24, Andrew Hibbert ’25, Mitchell Jackson ’23, JP Pierce ’22, and Jackson Roth ’22 provided great depth across the roster. Samuel Dodge ’22, Brennan McKneely ’22, and Charlie Reid ’24 led the team on offense, while Mitchell Jackson ’23, Jackson Pacylowski ’23, and Peyton Ridgely ’22, led the defense. Chase Traff ’25, joined the team midway through the season to play goalie, the most difficult position on the field. Traff had an amazing attitude all season and made great improvements by the end of the year.

GIRLS LACROSSE

The girls varsity lacrosse team had a historic 2022 season, finishing with a 17-2 record in one of the strongest conferences in the nation, the IAAM A Conference. Big wins in the regular season against nationally ranked Notre Dame Prep, McDonogh, and Saint Paul’s School for Girls pushed the team to its first ever #1 national ranking by USA Lacrosse Magazine, which it held for two weeks. The team secured home field advantage in the playoffs, cruising by Garrison Forest and Bryn Mawr to earn a spot in the A Conference championship game—also a school first. Unfortunately, the team fell short of the championship, losing to Saint Paul’s 15-7. Together, the team completed a season to remember ending the season ranked third in the nation and first locally by The Washington Post

BOYS TENNIS

Rohan Nedurumalli

Philip Roberts

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

Adam Abdur-Rahman

Alexander Farquhar

Emile Ntiege

Jimmie Ward

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Amberlynn Garcia

Arden Klipp-Lischner

Kaitlyn Leavy

Jordan Oseghale

Andrew Hibbert ’25

Maggie Weisman ’22

Anshula Dissanayake ’24

THE CLASS OF 2022

NCAA STUDENT-ATHLETES

The athletic department recognizes the following Class of 2022 student-athletes who have committed to play college athletics next year.

SAMUEL DODGE

Moravian University

Men’s Lacrosse Division III

TRE GREEN

Middle State Tennessee University

Men’s Basketball Division I

BRIAN HAMMOND

Lebanon Valley College

Men’s Baseball Division III

STEPHANIE MARSZAL

University of Delaware

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

JOSIE PELL

James Madison University

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

ABIGAIL ANDRUS

Susquehanna University

Women’s Lacrosse Division III

KATE FUHRMAN

Saint Joseph’s University

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

CORRIN GRIMES

Shepherd University

Women’s Soccer Division II

CYDNEY LISK

Loyola University Maryland

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

BRENNAN MCKNEELY

Stevenson University

Men’s Lacrosse Division III

ARIANNA SILVESTRI

United States Naval Academy

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

ELIZABETH BATEMAN

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

HANNAH GLAWE

Towson University

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

GABI GUERRA

Denison University

Women’s Track Division III

JACLYN MARSZAL

University of Notre Dame

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

NEVE O’FERRALL

University of Maryland, College Park

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

MAGGIE WEISMAN

University of Maryland, College Park

Women’s Lacrosse Division I

Dragons Choose

May 25 was a fantastic day for our Dragon community as the entire school and many families and alumni came together in Dragon Stadium for the All-School Relay!

Of course, as the Glens and Elgs competed in the annual tradition of the Relay, we all came together as Dragons to Give Green in support of our school. This year, Dragons had the option to Choose how they wanted to give.

GCS faculty, administrators, staff, and students identified a variety of projects representing all divisions and areas of the school, and donors were invited to help fund these projects. Over $30,000 was raised in support of projects as varied as landscaping for the front of the Lower School and projectors for the Upper School. Thanks to all who supported the effort!

FIELD DAY 2022

FROM THE ALUMNI OFFICE

Dear Alumni,

The culmination of every year is special for our Dragons and the community, but the end of the 2021–2022 school year undoubtedly surpasses that feeling. The new sentiment is not due to the usual arrival of summer or the start of GCS summer camps, but due to a newfound appreciation we have developed over the past two years.

For two years, we have ridden the pandemic rollercoaster of uncertainty and frustration; however, it would be remiss not to recognize the positive impact it has had on all of us. After isolating ourselves from family and friends, missing milestone celebrations, and restricting our everyday lives, we transitioned from taking so many aspects of our lives for granted to truly appreciating everything and everyone around us. We are grateful that GCS has finally experienced a “normal” school year filled with everything we have come to love.

After opening this year with only a mask restriction, students and faculty experienced a year with little interruption. Dragons saw athletic fields and gymnasiums filled with competitions and playoff games, turkeys returned to the stage, and the Mulitz Theatre hosted incredible performances such as “The Claw,” “Moana Jr.”, and “Music Man.” To end the year, all divisions gathered in person to celebrate award winners and milestones, and the Class of 2022 experienced a traditional graduation ceremony.

This year also brought back the excitement of alumni once again gathering in person and reconnecting with those they have lost touch. Alumni gathered for traditional and new events like the Dragon Dash, Holiday Cheer, a sculpture workshop with Deborah Banker, a young alumni reception following the All-School Relay, and the post-graduation celebration.

UPCOMING EVENTS

On May 25, the annual All-School Relay returned to campus, and alumni again joined together for a Dragons Give Green giving day themed “Dragons Choose.” Faculty, administrators, staff, and students identified various projects representing all divisions and areas of the school, allowing the community to choose which project to support. The day is a reminder that there is no more perfect ending to the year than watching the community gather to witness the Glens and Elgs race for the Dragon Cup. The Elgs took the win for the girls and the Glens for the boys, but we will never forget that we are all Dragons.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022 as they become part of the Dragon alumni family. The dedication and perseverance they’ve have shown during an unprecedented and often unpredictable time have proven that they will continue to have success and make GCS proud.

Always a Dragon!

Aaron Tolentino ’03 Alumni Coordinator

AARON TOLENTINO ’03

Fourth Annual Legacy Breakfast

Battle of the Beltway

Athlete Hall of Fame Induction

Holiday Cheer

CLASS NOTES

2009

On May 7, Erika Olney married Michael Heigh at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, MD. The wedding party included four GCS alumni including Sarah Councill ’09, Alexa Eversman ’11, Camille Hackney ’09, and Carolyn Savoldelli ’09. Molly Curtiss ’09 and Priya Yadav ’09 were fellow guests. Yadav performed “At Last” at the reception.

2011

Benjamin Koffel ’11 and Taylor DeFord said “I do” to a lifetime of happiness in Belmont, NC on April 23. The two Elon University graduates and their fur baby are excited for their future together.

KEEP IN TOUCH

How have you stayed connected to your Dragon classmates during the current challenges of social distancing? Have you recently reached a milestone in your career, married, or welcomed a child into your family?

If so, we would love to share it with the Dragon community online and in the upcoming issue of Spirit of the Dragon

Please send your responses (with photos if possible) to alumni@glenelg.org or via the alumni website.

ALUMNI EVENTS 2022