GFA Magazine Winter 2022

GREENS FARMS ACADEMY MAGAZINE | Winter 2022

Honoring Faculty Legends

New Spaces, Same Beauty

Inside GFA’s Next Strategic Direction

GFA Engages students as partners in an innovative, inclusive, and globally minded community to prepare them for a life of purpose.

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News & Events

GREENS FARMS ACADEMY MAGAZINE Winter 2022

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Editor

Frances Moore

athletics

Design

Lindsay Russo Additional Photography

Yoon S. Byun Frances Moore Nikki Oxfeld John Nash

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Contributors

Greens Farms Academy does not discriminate against any person in admission, financial aid, program involvement, employment, or otherwise because of sexual orientation, race, religion, age, gender, national origin, or disability.

arts

Highlights

Isabella Ferrante ’15 Ana Holwell Michelle Levi Nikki Oxfeld John Nash

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features

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Winter 2022 | 1

alumni

“This magazine shares the fruits of two years of visionary work on GFA’s Strategic Direction. I encourage you to explore these pages to learn more about our shared future.”

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A message from the head of school, BOB WHELAN This issue of GFA Magazine is a special one. Its pages recount a remarkable fall and winter at Greens Farms Academy including memorable athletics seasons (pages 20-27); the return of live theater with the Upper School performance of Grease (page 32); an uplifting Homecoming; and community voices shared through our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day assembly, Coyle Scholar, and Voices programs.

Each photo serves as a reminder of the vibrant spirit that has undoubtedly defined GFA’s 97th year.

Fundamentally, our school is about relationships — between people and with ideas. After the end of this academic year, GFA will say goodbye to the daily presence of several colleagues who have made a profoundly positive difference in the life of our school through decades of service and a deep commitment to building relationships with students, colleagues, and families. Kathleen Raby started at GFA in 1980 and she has truly seen it all.

Fittingly, her tenure has been capped by her indefatigable energy, trademark grace, and unflappable calm as she guided us through the most challenging health crisis in our school’s history. Paul Groves has been a faculty member and coach at GFA since 1989. His students and athletes benefited from his positivity, infectious smile, and his devotion to staying in their corner well beyond their days at GFA. Director of Theatre Stephen Stout will retire after 19 years of exhorting countless students to take creative risks and countless memorable performances. Finally, after 14 years at GFA, Associate Head of School Dr. Victor Llanque will be moving to California to be closer to extended family and start a next chapter at the Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek. His impact as a teacher, mentor, administrator, and as a partner and a friend, has been immeasurable.

You’ll get a glimpse at the outgrowth of two years of strategic design work, led by our Board of Trustees in partnership with faculty and staff, culminating in GFA’s Strategic Direction (pages 40-59). I encourage you to explore these pages, our guiding principles and visit livesofpurpose.com to learn more about shared future.

This issue notes the impact of two seniors Sanskriti Kumar ’22 (page 14) and Shealeigh Crombie ’22 (page 34), as well as the hiring of our new Director of College Guidance, Rachel Boyer (page 6) and new Executive Director of Horizons GFA, Erika Wesley (page 8). We are also delighted to introduce three new members of the Board of Trustees (page 5).

It is a treat to read about the lives of purpose our alums are enjoying. Jon Ocana ’04 leads the Internal Revenue Service’s Inclusion, Diversity, Education and Solutions team and personifies several of his alma mater’s core values (page 62), as does, Alex Perry ’06 who is a leader at sustainable superpower Patagonia.

Lastly, mark your calendars for Thursday, May 5: GFA’s second annual Giving Day. If you were not involved in the all-in celebration of our school and our future last year, picture a pitch-perfect Field Day featuring red versus blue, videos from alums, students, and faculty, and a record 24-hours of community philanthropy. It was an outstanding day to be a Dragon.

Remember to check back in now and then and share stories — and come back and visit. We would love to see you.

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The Board of Trustees EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE David Durkin, P ’18, ’22, ’23, President/Chair Samantha Rorer Mooney, P ’18, ’20, Vice President/Vice Chair Michael Blitzer, P ’24, ’27, Treasurer Vani Bettegowda, P ’22, ’25, Secretary Roger Ferris, P ’18, ’18, ’20, ’28 Ward Horton, P ’24, ’28

Barbara Cona Amone, P ’23 Rebecca Bliss Bill Bucknall, GP ’24, ’26 Richard Canning, P ’19, ’20 Sanford “Sandy” Ewing, P ’20, ’23, ’26 Meade Fogel, P ’27, ’28, ’28 Sandra Frost, P ’25, ’29 Lynne Laukhuf, P ’95 Kristen McDonald, P ’21, ’23, ’25 Nadene McKenzie-Reid, P ’25 Theresa Minson, P ’18, ’20, ’22 Thomas Murphy, P ’19, ’21, ’22, ’26 Sean Obi ’13 Kim Keller Raveis ’88, P ’23, ’25, ’28 Kate Roth ’90, Ed.D., P ’20, ’23 Don San Jose, P ’22, ’25 Gregg Tenser, P ’23, ’25 Angela Timashev, P ’21, ’23 Emily Von Kohorn ’96 Ex-officio: Bob Whelan, P ’24 4 | www.gfacademy.org

Welcome New Trustees William Bucknall, GP ’24, ’26 William Bucknall earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of New Haven. He was a Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from which he earned his master’s degree. He spent his business career at United Technologies rising to be Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Organization. He was inducted into the National Academy of Human Resources. William served on the Board of Governors of the University of New Haven from 1992–2000 including as its chair from 1998–2000. He rejoined the board in 2006 and served as vice chair from 2012–2018 and chair again from 2018–2020. He received an honorary doctorate in Business Administration from the university and the university’s President’s Award.

Sanford “Sandy” Ewing, P ’20, ’23, ’26 Sanford “Sandy” Ewing is a Managing Director in the marketing and investor relations area for Pemberton Asset Management, a European investment firm. Prior to Pemberton, he was Co-Head of Global Marketing at Cross Ocean Partners. He has also held various entrepreneurial roles in the cleantech and fintech space, including as CEO/CFO of Tellus Technology, a renewables company. Prior to this, Sandy was Managing Director, Founder, and Principal of Chapdelaine Credit Partners, a diversified credit broker-dealer boutique in New York. From 1993 to 2008, Sandy worked in investment banking and credit sales at Lehman Brothers and Barclays. He has been an active member of the GFA Advisory Council and served as a captain for the GFA Annual Fund. He received his M.I.M. from Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management and his B.S. from The University of California at Berkeley. Sandy lives in Darien with his wife Nicole and their three daughters.

Nadene McKenzie-Reid, P ’25 Nadene McKenzie-Reid is the U.S. Deputy Head of Technology at Natwest Markets in Stamford. She has worked in investment banking technology for over 20 years, having started her career at UBS in FX technology before moving to rates technology at Greenwich Capital Markets, now Natwest Markets, for the last 16 years. Nadene has a passion for pursuing equity in education and currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Stamford Cradle to Career board that has a city-wide education initiative addressing racial and economic disparities. She also serves on the boards of A Better Chance (Darien) and STEAMPark, organizations focused on providing educational opportunities to underserved students.

Nadene was born and raised in Jamaica and received her undergraduate degree in Physics and Computer Science from the University of the West Indies in Kingston. She then moved to the U.S. to earn a graduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. She currently resides in Stamford with her husband Cecil and three children, Tena-Lesly, Carlee, and Cecil, Jr. Winter 2022 | 5

News & Events

Boyer Named Director of College Guidance On December 1, Rachel Boyer, who has served as Interim Director of College Guidance since July, was named GFA’s next Director of College Guidance.

Boyer started at GFA in 2017 as a College Guidance Counselor. Since that time, she distinguished herself as a leader deeply committed to our students, mission, and community.

“I am honored to be entrusted to lead GFA’s College Guidance team,” Boyer said. “Our philosophy will always be one founded on knowing and caring for each student, understanding their journey, and supporting their aspirations. I look forward to continuing to partner with students and families as a guide — a compass to point them toward resources and remind them of their true north: leading lives of purpose.”

Boyer’s colleagues describe her as student-centered, thoughtful, calm, kind, and collaborative. Parents and students have noted her commitment to her students. As one parent put it, “Rachel has carefully balanced the importance of my daughter leading the college application process with keeping us informed. The process has been an absolute joy and an opportunity for my daughter to learn about herself and feel empowered.”

Prior to joining GFA, she was the Co-Director of College Guidance at Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich for 11 years and was a Senior Admission Coordinator for undergraduate admission at Boston University for two years. Yet it’s the time at GFA that has meant the most to her.

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She said, “Partnering with GFA students, families, faculty, and staff has made the last four years the most fulfilling of my professional life.”

Partnering with GFA students, families, faculty, and staff has made the last four years the most fulfilling of my professional life.

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News & Events

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I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead such a great organization whose mission connects to advancing the social and academic outcomes of students who come from a community I care deeply about, not only as a resident but as a graduate of Bridgeport public schools.

Horizons GFA New Executive Director This summer, Horizons GFA announced the appointment of Executive Director Erika Wesley, who joins the team with a rich experience in the non-profit sector and a passion for youth education.

exemplary work that has taken place for more than two decades."

Horizons stated in its summer newsletter, "We are thrilled to welcome her strong leadership, strategic planning, and fiscal managerial skills, all of which will be essential to the continued success of Horizons GFA."

Prior to joining Horizons GFA, Wesley worked at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and the Carver Foundation.

Wesley received a warm welcome on campus, including from Head of School Bob Whelan.

"Erika distinguished herself among a strong pool of finalists as a talented and thoughtful leader," Whelan said.

"Her passion for the mission of Horizons GFA and deep, personal connection to Bridgeport uniquely positions her to partner with the HGFA team to continue the 8 | www.gfacademy.org

"I am excited to join the Horizons at Greens Farms Academy team," Wesley said. "I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead such a great organization whose mission connects to advancing the social and academic outcomes of students who come from a community I care deeply about, not only as a resident but as a graduate of Bridgeport public schools."

News & Events

Horizons Gala Horizons GFA held its annual Fall Gala virtually this year, with ESPN (and former GFA parent and trustee) Mike Greenberg graciously returning to host.

The event was an incredible success thanks to the GFA community, generous supporters, and amazing volunteers.

“It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish!” rang true as a theme for the gala since Horizons emphasizes long-term success from PreK through college graduation and beyond for our 300+ Bridgeport students from low-income families.

Proceeds from the event support Horizons GFA’s academic programming, enrichment opportunities, social-emotional learning, SAT prep, college guidance, career placement, and more.

“It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish!”

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News & Events

We’re Back!

Homecoming returned to campus this fall, featuring some of our favorite festive events of the year: the Dragon Fair, a bake and merch sale, a community cookout, and of course a chance to cheer on our top athletes. Though Reunion has moved to the spring, we were excited to welcome alumni back to campus for the annual Alumni vs. JV soccer game. It was a close one this year, but our alumni held on to their title.

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News & Events

Tea Tradition Returns!

Another tradition bounced back to life this year, thanks to the GFA Parents Association. This fall they resumed the long-time tradition of hosting Thursday Teas for the faculty and staff.

Rebranded as “Staff&FaculTEAS,” the event was warmly remembered by the veteran faculty and staff, and a welcome surprise for new ones.

“We’re so happy that we can once again show our appreciation to everyone who has worked so hard to keep our kids happy, safe and thriving over the last two years,” said PA President Mary Pasierb.

Voices GFA Voices / Diversidad de Voces is an annual “Each member of the community brings a unique a celebra tion honoring our diverse, multicul tural community celebration honoring our diverse, multicultural perspective, background, and set of experiences, community — past and present. This year it was which are shared through music, stories, artwork, and hosted virtually on November 4, with an added more,” said Director of Equity and Inclusion Shanelle element: a Multicultural Cookbook, combining Henry. traditional family recipes that span several backgrounds.

If you would like your recipe added, please email it to voices@gfacademy.org.

Voices foamcore.indd 1

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10/28/19 4:03 PM

Von Kohorn Address

The Von Kohorn Address, named in honor of former Board Chair Henry Von Kohorn, is given by a faculty member (chosen by the Head of School). This year’s speaker was Computer Science Chair and STEAM faculty member Nina Yuen. In her speech to the Middle and Upper School students, faculty, staff, trustees, Warren Society members, and alumni, Yuen beautifully imparted important life lessons that unexpectedly clung to her over the years. She advised, “Let yourself visit the past; explore. There’s much to be discovered. I hope you find something beautiful.”

“Let yourself visit the past; explore.

There’s much to be discovered.

I hope you find something beautiful.”

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MLK Assemblies Upper School

This January, Upper School welcomed to campus dynamic activist, author, and public speaker Kevin Powell as part of its annual Martin Luther King Jr. assembly. Powell reminded students, “You have the responsibility to have the courage to learn about people who are different than you. … There is nothing wrong with being ignorant, but there is something wrong with enthusiastic ignorance.”

Director of Equity and Inclusion Shanelle Henry credited the many influential yet forgotten women who are largely responsible for the impact and progression of the civil rights movement: Claudette Colvin, Ella Baker, Diane Nash, Daisy Bates, Fannie Lou Hamer, Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, Tarana Burke, Tameka Mallory, and Alicia Garza, to name a few.

"Just like during the civil rights movement, or any other movement in this country, there are women, often women of color, behind it all, pushing the moral conscience of our country to do better,” Henry pointed out.

Lower and Middle School

Traditionally, GFA has gathered as a PreK–12 community to listen to speeches, songs, and stories that help to illuminate the words and ideas of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unfortunately, COVID-19 precautions have 14 | www.gfacademy.org

since limited our ability for all grades to gather together.

This year, students raised their voices and expressed an interest in going in a different direction.

Lower School students watched a short video interview between Lower School Equity & Inclusion coordinator Jennifer Ferreira and young Chelsea Phaire, a 12-year-old student from Danbury who created Chelsea’s Charity. The nonprofit provides art supplies and lessons to children in support of promoting social-emotional and mental health development. Students will be collecting art supplies to donate to the organization.

Later that week, the Middle School welcomed Phaire in person to share her experiences and offered advice on the many ways that they can make a difference at any age.

As part of the Middle School the MLK Assembly, seventh graders Nia Forbes, Jaiden Jackson, Abdallah Niass, and Ben Johnson spoke with their peers about the history of Martin Luther King Day and about the reasons why we celebrate Dr. King’s words and work.

"We owe it to Dr. King and to ourselves to finish what he started. How will we carry on his dream? How can we build upon it? What can we do to make our community, our country, and our world a better place?" asked Forbes.

community

Fall Service Update All divisions were busy this fall reaching out near and far with their service efforts.

Lower School’s Kids for Kindness Club made

placemats for the folks at the Grasmere Elder Day Care Center in Bridgeport and hosted the annual candy drive for U.S. troops through Operation Gratitude. Additionally, the LS students wrote cards to send to a veteran living in Seymour who distributed them to all the veterans currently staying at the VA Hospital in New Haven. The club is collecting winter clothing for the LS Annual Holiday Giving Box. This year’s collection of winter clothing will go to the Afghan refugees currently being resettled through the Connecticut Institute for Refugees & Immigrants (CIRI) located at the Burroughs Community Center in Bridgeport.

Middle School, led by students Abdallah Niass

and Rose Karlan, held a very successful candy drive for the Open Door Shelter in Norwalk collecting more than 100 pounds of Halloween candy and making over 300 goody bags for the shelter’s annual Halloween party for the kids in the shelter and surrounding neighborhoods.

Additionally they led the All School Food Drive and Angel Tree in their division, and decorated 25+ personalized holiday bags for our Elder Care friends in Norwalk.

The Upper School Service Board, lead by seniors Nicole Taylor and Olivia Sproule did an outstanding job of getting the word out for and staffing of our Annual All School Food Drive, gathering enough food to fill the food pantries of Operation Hope of Fairfield, Gillespie Men’s and Hoskin Place Women’s Shelters (Westport), and the Ecclesia Impact Church of Norwalk.

Board Leaders and seniors Shealeigh Crombie and Avery Woodworth organized and staffed our annual All School Angel Tree Drive — with almost 300 children’s wishes fulfilled.

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community

Senior Sparks Legislative Action On Food Safety Imagine that you have food allergies. It’s fairly easy to see what ingredients are contained in items that you purchase at the grocery store. Like GFA, most schools are highly sensitive to the needs of students, faculty, and staff with food allergies and make appropriate accommodations. So you’re relatively safe at home and at school. But what about when you go out to a restaurant or order take out? Without a list of all ingredients for each dish, how do you know you’re safe?

Senior Sanskriti Kumar has been working alongside Connecticut state representatives for the last few years hoping to ensure the safety of the state’s food-allergy sufferers. Together they have written and hope to pass legislation that would require restaurants to implement better practices to ensure the safety of those with food allergies.

The mission is personal to Kumar. A lifelong food allergy sufferer, she explained that an overlooked side-effect of food allergies is anxiety: how can you trust that what you’re eating is safe once you venture outside your house or school? This anxiety can prevent people from eating anywhere outside their own home.

“I’ve had a few scares and it developed into allergy anxiety later in my life, especially around like 10 or 11 when I had a really bad allergic reaction — that just kind of made me really afraid to eat any place that wasn’t my mom’s kitchen,” she said. “Luckily I was able to face my fears, and my family has been really supportive and helping me out quite a bit.

But I know that I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I hadn’t developed relationships with certain restaurants that were super careful about my food allergies and that really took care of that.”

Inspired by a food allergy law that passed in Rhode Island a few years ago, and driven by an interest in legislation, Kumar began to look into the process of creating legislation in Connecticut that would help ensure the safety of all consumers. Her first step was to reach out to the dining establishments in her area — she wanted this to be a collaborative effort rather than a critical one.

“I called 50 or 60 restaurants in Stamford — I wanted to find tangible goals that I could meet through legislation, and then be able to convey that to my legislators,” she explained.

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“It’s affecting more than just my friends and me. Once you hear about what’s going on with food allergies, I think it will change your perspective.

This is a small way to start, but it’s going to have a large impact.”

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community

She came up with a four-question system to get the information she needed. She would ask the restaurant owners: Have you received food safety training?

Do you label your menus?

Do you have a separate kitchen area for food containing allergens?

What precautions do you take, in general, for food allergies?

This research helped Kumar determine that very few restaurants — about 13 of the ones she interviewed — disclosed the ingredients in their menu items. Even the efforts of those 13 were superficial at best, merely using labels like “vegan” or “gluten-free,” which aren’t very useful to those with dairy or nut allergies, for example.

Getting restaurants to list ingredients was an area where she could encourage improvement.

Now that she had identified a place to start, the next step would be to get the support of local representatives.

Kumar emailed 20–30 legislators around the state, asking them to champion her ideas by helping develop a bill.

The first person she heard from was Connecticut State Representative David Michel — her own representative — who was eager to get involved, and who was on the state Public Health Committee at the time.

Kumar said, “He was really excited to see a bill like this pass and he really wanted to work with me on this, which I was super, super grateful for. I don’t think I would have been able to do any of this without him.”

Together they began to research precedent — there was none. They would have to start from scratch.

Next came the draft. By September of 2020, the two felt confident about their ability to present the item at the January 2021 General Assembly. Unfortunately, delays emerged with the ongoing COVID health crisis, Michel moved to the Transportation Committee, and they had to figure out a different angle to get the language introduced.

“Rep. Michel and I decided that it would be easier to incorporate this part of the bill into a larger bill that had previously been put forth — part of a broader food allergy bill,” she explained. “It would be more comprehensive and would include more funding for research on food allergies.”

Despite the change in her team and the change in her tactic, Kumar said that her original vision is still very strong within the larger legislation. She is hoping that this bipartisan effort will be introduced as part of the February 2022 General Assembly.

“In the meantime, we’re doing outreach and getting the word out to the public so they can let their representatives know that they’re interested in this kind of legislation,” she said.

Regardless of whether she gets traction in the legislation, she said the important part of her work will always be educating the public, and she constantly seeks other ways to get the word out. Still, she’s happy she discovered one avenue to help area school districts learn more about the issue.

A GFA student since seventh grade, Kumar said she is glad about how careful the school has been with food allergies. However, not every student has the same experience.

“We [at GFA] are lucky to have enough resources, but not every school district is like that,” she said. “There are a lot of students who need to bring in their own food all the time because they’re concerned about safety, or there aren’t enough options.”

Food allergies are affecting more and more people, according to Kumar, and getting information out there will save lives.

“It’s affecting more than just my friends and me. Once you hear about what’s going on with food allergies, I think it will change your perspective,” she predicted. “This is a small way to start, but it’s going to have a large impact.”

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HOME OF THE DRAGONS 20 | www.gfacademy.org

The fall 2021 Sports Season proved to be a return to normalcy for Greens Farms Academy athletics. By the time the dust settled, record books were rewritten, teams advanced further into the postseason than they had in a while, and dozens of student-athletes were honored with postseason accolades on both a league, state, and regional level.

Here’s a look back at a fall sports season GFA won’t soon forget.

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Soccer

BOYS soccer

GIRLS soccer

GFA opened the season topping eventual New England champ St. Andrew’s of Rhode Island, 2-1, setting the stage for a 10-5-4 season that ended with a loss to Vermont Academy (0-0, 5-4 in sudden death penalty kicks) in the NEPSAC Class C semifinals.

Sofia Atehortua arrived on campus and shattered the school record for most goals in a season, netting 36 in her freshman campaign as a Dragon.

Coach Chris Mira entered his 15th season at the helm of the Dragons program, having lost 10 of 11 starters from the prior year.

It was the Dragons’ first trip to the semifinals since 2014.

Sophomore Harry Harmston and junior Oscar Edelman were named All-State players while Harmston (First Team), Edelman (Second Team) and Matvey Timashev (Honorable Mention) were honored by the Fairchester Athletic Association.

Additionally, all three were honored by NEPSSA, as well, as All-New England choices. Harmston was a first-team choice while Edelman and Timashev were honorable mentions.

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The GFA girls soccer team put together one of its best seasons in recent memory, going 17-4-2 and advancing to the New England Class C semifinals for the first time since 2012, where the Dragons lost to eventual champion Brewster Academy.

Atehortua and Lauren Lior (20 goals) gave GFA a nice one-two offensive punch that allowed the Dragons to score almost 100 goals this season.

The Dragons’ defense only gave up 21 goals in 23 games, good for a 0.91 goals-against average.

Two players — Atehortua and Shealeigh Crombie — were named All-State for their seasons.

GFA, which also advanced to the FAA semifinals, had three players named All-FAA first team with Atehortua, Crombie and Lauren Lior being honored. Lane Murphy received an Honorable Mention nod.

cross country

cross country The GFA cross country program produced four All-New England runners this

season, including two girls who posted top 10 finishes at this year’s Regional Championship meet.

Grace Horton was seventh in the New England Division 3 race while Georgia Palmgren was ninth in earn All-New England nods.

On the boys’ side, Sam MacDonald and Brendan Howard finished 19th and 20th, respectively, to also receive the regional honor.

In the FAA championship races, all four earned All-FAA honors. Horton and Palmgren ran to First Team honors while MacDonald and Howard raced to Second Team accolades.

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Field Hockey Field Hockey After taking significant graduation

losses from the prior year, the GFA field hockey team rebuilt and posted a 14-5 record that included a trip to the FAA semifinals and New England Class C quarterfinals. The team also won the Class C WNEPSFHA championship — a first since 2004.

Senior Autumn Bartush etched her name into the school’s athletic history books by breaking a number of school records this season, including most goals in a career (61) and season (32), most career points (61 goals, 25 assists, 147 points), most points in a season (32 10-74), and most hat tricks in a season (4) and career (8).

Bartush was a first-team All-FAA choice, NFHCA All-Region (Southern NE), and first team All-New England; Anna Reynolds was first-team All New England; Analise Trani was All-FAA Second Team, Honorable Mention All-New England; and Lilly Hogan received an Honorable Mention nod for FAAs and New England.

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Volleyball Volleyball A young and rebuilding GFA

volleyball squad finished above .500 this season, qualifying for both the FAA and New England Class C tournaments.

While the Dragons fell in the first rounds of both tournaments, the squad battled hard and gained valuable experience that will carry over to next year.

Lily Lind, a junior, was named All-FAA honorable mention.

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DRAGONS at the Next Level Eight Greens Farms Academy studentathletes were honored this fall as part of the school’s first group commitment ceremony, celebrating their successful quests to play sports at the next level.

The event honored GFA students who received preadmission commitments and assurances from Division I and II colleges in the form of National Letters of Intent, “likely letters” from Ivy League institutions, and other official documentation.

The athletes who were honored this fall included: field hockey player Autumn Bartush (Merrimack); her twin brother Mike Bartush, a wrestler (Bucknell); tennis player Emily Callahan (Villanova); baseball players Trace Florio (Lafayette) and Jason Hernandez (Boston College); sailor Katherine McNamara (Brown); wrestler Marcus Murabito (North Carolina); and rower Lilly Sutter (Virginia).

GFA Head of School Bob Whelan and athletic director Eric Lee look forward to acknowledging additional recruited student-athletes this spring as they gain acceptance into their selected colleges.

Athletics

For Bartushes, Athletic Talent Runs in the Family Twin seniors are both headed to D-I college athletics next year. Field hockey star Autumn Bartush heads

from me going here,” Mikey said. “I definitely think without GFA, neither of us would have gotten to the level we have.”

to Merrimack, while her brother, standout wrestler Mikey Bartush will head to Bucknell.

After wrestling for GFA Wrestling Coach Jack Conroy on a club team, Mikey made the life-changing decision to become a GFA Dragon.

“It’s obviously made me a pretty good wrestler,” Mikey said. “If I had gone to another school, I have no idea where I would at right now, but I know I definitely wouldn’t be the same person I am today.”

Conroy called Mikey “one of the most improved wrestlers” he has had in his career.

“He’s just a really consistent guy, day in and day out,” Conroy said. “He does the right things. He’s not a guy who comes in and feels like he has to make up a lot of ground. Every workout, he’s right there. He always works hard. He’s just that kind of consistent guy.”

Autumn transferred to GFA shortly after her brother. “I think it was inevitable because of the positive feedback

Autumn now owns multiple school field hockey records — including most goals in a career (61) and season (32), most career points (61-25—147), most points in a season (32 10—74), and most hat tricks in a season (4) and career (8).

And while she helped change GFA field hockey, the school also helped changed her future.

“The level of field hockey, or just any of the athletics, is great here and at a higher level,” Bartush said. “It was like an attitude shift and that helped me grow, not only as a player but as a student as well.”

GFA coach Liz Schuellein knows the Warriors are getting a special player.

“I think Autumn has been such an example for the team to look up to — to learn about hard work, perseverance, and tenacity,” Schuellein said. “She single-handedly can take control of a game and we’ve seen that this season.

We’re so excited that she’s playing on the next level and we cannot wait to see what she can do.”

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The power of placebased learning

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Middle School Arts As a part of the Middle School STEAM mini-term this fall, art students created Kandinsky-inspired Robot drawings.

The students looked at the work of Wassily Kandinsky — and how he utilized line, shape, and color as the subject of his paintings. Kandinsky’s work focused on how these elements can best represent emotions and feelings. The students coded bee-bots (miniature robots) to create the lines in their drawings. As the lines began to overlap and create abstract shapes, students filled them in creating an emotion-filled, abstract work of art.

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Lower School Arts

“Music and art are the guiding lights of the world.”

Pablo Picasso

With the principle of partnership in mind, Upper School Music and Lower School Art joined forces this fall, creating a unique experience for the winter orchestra concert.

Performing Arts Teacher Chris Hisey provided the music: “Moondance,” performed by the Young Jazz Ensemble. Lower School Art Teacher Leanne Bloom created the lesson, assisting fourth-grade students in their creation of inspired art to showcase behind student musicians.

Broken out into three steps: listen, draw, and paint, students explored how the music made them feel, and then translated their feelings onto paper.

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“While students listened to the music, I asked them to consider different lines, shapes, colors, and analyze what they were feeling,” Bloom said. “Several students went in an abstract direction, while others were reminded of a memory or an image. In each finished product, you see their consideration of the instrument sounds, tones, and pitch.

I always remind my young artists that there is no right nor wrong — however a creative mind responds is the perfect way.”

“I always remind my young artists that there is no right nor wrong — however a creative mind responds is the perfect way.”

Leanne Bloom LS Art Teacher

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Upper School Arts This fall our Upper School theater team showcased its production of Grease, directed by Director of Theatre Programs Stephen Stout. The cast featured Jed Morgan ’22 as Danny, and Chloe Whelan ’23 as Sandy. Heading the backstage crews were Production Stage Manager Hannah Shairer ’22 and Assistant Director Zoma Tessema ’23. To read more about the production, as well as the talented team of actors and crew who put the show together, go to gfacademy.org/ theatre.

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This spring Stephen Stout announced his retirement from GFA after almost 20 years at his first and only teaching job. (We will be honoring retiring faculty at Reunion this spring, see page 58 for more information about how you can send in comments and congrats to Mr. Stout.)

Stephen Stout Joined GFA in 2003 In his experience: ““My wife was here as a lower school student and saw the

Bedford Gym get built and both of our children spent time in this school. So much institutional memory abounds for us. It’s time for the next chapter of our lives and as I have often said to parents, it has been an honor to have a ringside seat to encourage and observe the creative risk-taking displayed by my theatre students!”

What’s next: “I will be volunteering in all its forms, traveling, walking/hiking

and reading.”

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upper school arts

Crombie’s ‘Coordinated Visual Chaos’ It was announced this fall that senior Shealeigh Crombie received an Honorable Mention award in the prestigious 2022 YoungArts National Competition. Her photographic portfolio was distinguished from thousands of entries from high school students across the country.

Each year the entries in the YoungArts Competition are judged by disciplinespecific artists, and winners are selected for their high level of artistic achievement.

Crombie’s Honorable Mention award “recognizes work that demonstrates exceptional technique; a strong sense of artistry; and a depth of thinking/performance that exceeds the level of peers at this career stage,” according to YoungArts officials.

To achieve her distinctive artistic style, Crombie employs a variety of techniques.

Starting with original images, her paper or plastic prints would be layered and then distorted using a combination of clear plastic sheets, handmade shadows, and CitraSolv to transfer ink from one image to another. In some cases she made use of a lightbox to accentuate specific highlights.

“My portfolio was inspired by my observation that individuals are wonderfully multifaceted, and that our perceptions of individuals can’t be defined by simply one image or idea,” she explained. “I began to incorporate different levels of distortion and reflection that added dimension to my portraits while also creating a sense of somewhat coordinated visual chaos. In doing so, I also attempted to highlight the beautiful synergy that can arise from chaos instead of the overwhelmingly negative connotation that the idea of chaos is often given.”

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“Through this body of work I explored the ways in which chaos, both on the individual and collective level, is what makes our world so beautiful.”

Shealeigh Crombie

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Crombie’s portfolio is incredibly personal: the subjects of her photos were often people with whom she was particularly close. More than that, she drew inspiration and developed ideas from her teachers and classmates along the way.

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She stated, “I feel honored and grateful to receive this recognition, but really this is a testament to the wonderfully talented individuals and teachers who have allowed me to create this portfolio. The vast majority of the processes I incorporated were inspired by walking around and seeing what my peers were doing, as well as

talking through how they were using different strategies to experiment with their own work.”

Her visual arts teachers, Lisa Waldstein and Jeffrey Baykal-Rollins, expressed their excitement over Crombie’s achievement.

“Lisa and I are absolutely thrilled,” Baykal-Rollins said. “YoungArts has for decades been the single most prestigious competition in the United States for young artists, writers, dancers, actors, and musicians. No one deserves this more than Shealeigh.”

Crombie reciprocated: “This also wouldn’t be possible Winter 2022 | 37

without the unwavering support and resources that my art teachers Mr. Baykal-Rollins and Ms. Waldstein have provided for me.”

YoungArts awards are given in three categories: Finalist, Honorable Mention and Merit. Winners receive a monetary award and a medallion, along with “a lifetime of creative and professional support, and access to YoungArts Post—a private, online portal for YoungArts artists to connect, share their work and discover new opportunities,” the achievement letter states. Previous winners include Daniel Arsham, Terence Blanchard, Camille A. Brown, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Amanda Gorman, Judith Hill, Jennifer Koh, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Andrew Rannells, Desmond Richardson and Hunter Schafer.

In addition to her success as an artist, Crombie was also captain of the GFA girls soccer team. This fall she received All State honors and was named to the FAA First Team. She was also recognized as a 2022 National Merit Scholarship Commended Student. To read more about her portfolio visit us online.

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Quisque Pro Omnibus legacy Society

Honoring GFA through a will, trust, retirement plan, or other deferred gift continues the important work of those who have come before us. Together, we can focus on the future, secure in the knowledge that generations of GFA students, staff, and faculty will benefit from our visionary generosity.

Leave your legacy by joining the

Quisque Pro Omnibus Society.

For assistance with your charitable gift plans, please contact Christy Ball P’14, Winter 2022 | 39 Associate Director of Advancement, at (203) 256-7552

Lives of Purpose

GFA’s Strategic Direction

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livesofpurpose.com

The Road Ahead As Greens Farms Academy enters its next century as a community of learners, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. With record numbers in admissions, an increasingly diverse community, steady leadership, and a program in alignment with our mission and values, a cohort of faculty, staff, and trustees considered the future of GFA. The result, grounded in the experiences of hundreds of community members, is our new strategic direction. The pages that follow explore four guiding principles that will inform our next chapter: Our education is powered by purpose, our curriculum is dynamic and responsive, deep learning begins in belonging, we make space and time to connect and collaborate.

Think of this as a mindset going forward. Think of it as an invitation to the GFA community to be partners in building the future of the school. And think of it as the result of a purposeful, inclusive process, at the root of which is a comprehensive survey of the entire GFA community.

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STRATEGIC DIRECTION SPACES

“We did a deep dive into how, traditionally, the GFA community, faculty, and students have used the space provided to them. But what made it really interesting was doing that in the midst of a global pandemic. …

What that situation allowed us to do is take a step back and observe in real time how the school made strategic decisions around space to further our school’s mission.

All of these innovations that we witnessed shared a common goal: to create space for kids to continue to build authentic relationships, which contributes to GFA’s joyful culture.”

New Spa Ward Horton P ’24, ’28, Board of Trustees

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STRATEGIC DIRECTION SPACES

At GFA, we are fortunate to enjoy unmatched physical spaces inside and outside our school buildings. Our extensive Strategic Design surveying and the unexpected silver lining of some pandemic learnings encouraged us to dig deeper and imagine new ways our spaces could bolster the student and community experience, in the classroom and beyond. What we have learned is that how students learn and where they learn are intrinsically tied — attention to our use of space can only advance GFA’s mission.

“Space defines optimal learning,” said Iman Rasti, Middle School English teacher. “When students walk into the classroom and see that instead of the walls, they have whiteboards where they can actually go and collaborate with their friends on a math problem or a writing prompt. That alone increases their attention. Space can help with movement. Space can enhance creativity for both teachers and students.”

These advancements have been spurred by a common goal of creating even more room for students to form authentic relationships that contribute to GFA’s joyful culture. Design choices, guided by our partners at Roger Ferris & Partners, LLC., were organized around a simple principle: follow the kids.

Guiding the update to the building’s entrance was an appreciation for our school’s history and timeless façade, along with an understanding of the importance of warm first impressions and providing spaces to meet and collaborate. The new construction offers a stunning new entrance with views of the Long Island Sound; new administrative, security, and nursing spaces; and new meeting rooms for all to enjoy.

Spurred by the creativity of faculty members and students during the pandemic, the Middle School gained an important new recreational space by reclaiming a parking lot. Our Middle School Forum was also refreshed maximizing areas for connection.

Opportunities for spirited and mission-forward messaging are starting to pop up around campus.

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STRATEGIC DIRECTION SPACES

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STRATEGIC DIRECTION

“Space can help with movement.

Space can enhance creativity for both teachers and students.”

Iman Rasti, Middle School English teacher Winter 2022 | 47

STRATEGIC DIRECTION ADVANCED INQUIRY

Education is Powered by Purpose “ ‘Following the kids’ ” applies directly to the way which we’re thinking about curriculum. Our mission is very ambitious: to try to create an education that prepares students for lives of purpose. What that means, from a curricular perspective, is to try to develop programs that really follow the interest of the child or the students, and also curriculum that’s relevant to real-world problems. What we’re trying to do with the curriculum is create opportunities for students to come up with their own questions.”

Victor Llanque, Associate Head of School

At GFA we help students cultivate intrinsic motivation and find meaning in their work—keys to thriving as learners and citizens. Through student-led inquiry courses, students pursue topics that are personally meaningful. Through collaboration with peers and faculty advisors, the students get real-world learning opportunities while at the same time pursuing worthy goals, taking risks, and exercising resilience in learning from mistakes.

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STRATEGIC DIRECTION ADVANCED INQUIRY

Lulu Wu ’22 Advanced Inquiry in Visual Arts Continuing my sustained investigation from last year, I am working on creating a stop-motion animation film using my clay work, which depicts what goes on inside my mind and my mental journey.

I am a strong fighter, yet I often can be my own worst enemy.

On the outside I am seen as quiet, while alone within myself, different voices spark inside me. I feel the most powerful when I’m on the tennis court. But how do I bring that power into my voice and outside of me? I decided to start small, creating tiny figures of myself taking on an enormous world.

I carefully rendered the details of my body but without a mouth to emphasize my search for my voice. With my small self, I measured scale in the real world in relation to my own body to overcome everyday obstacles that the world throws at me, climbing massive objects, breaking through barriers, and freeing myself from the cages I let confine me.

I use art as an outlet to get away from negative thoughts and away from the stresses in my life. I enjoy working with clay because I get to feel the medium and transform it into 50 | www.gfacademy.org

anything I want. I also like working in miniature because I have to completely focus on what I am doing, which puts me in a very calm state where I’m immersed in the art, allowing me to be in a meditative mindset. Everything around me disappears when I’m creating art; it becomes just me and the clay. The creativity flows out through my hands.

It is important to do things that excite us. I feel like Advanced Inquiries can help students discover things about themselves. like I did in a similar process to AI in my AP sustained investigation. Last year my voice was clustered around negative thoughts that put me down and made me spiral out of control. Without so many of these negative thoughts, I am now able to push them aside, and be less afraid to let my voice outside me. Through art, I express myself and it helps me discover new things that can help me through life.

Check out Lulu’s artwork on Instagram: @mini_clay_creations118

Emma Fellows ’22 Advanced inquiry in Global Thesis: Linguistics and Discrimination Against Different Dialects in Schools Last year I did an inquiry in Jewish History and Argumentation. One of the units we did in that inquiry was about linguistics and the specific linguistics around argumentation. That’s how I got into linguistics itself. From that it grew into doing an Advanced Inquiry this year, and it became about linguistic discrimination and language bias.

It’s hard sometimes because there’s a lot of dense writing: at the end of the year, I’m going to have a 25-page paper on the subject. I’ve done something similar but never on this scale.

Doing that in this course has been really fun so far. It’s given me the chance to get my hands into a full-on research paper, and if you choose the right topic, you’ll be able to do that writing without getting frustrated. Knowing that you can take on a project of this size is really empowering.

It’s all based on where you go and the path your research ends up taking you on. Everyone is at a different place in their topics and process, so it’s very tailored to what you need to actually do the project well. What appealed to me is that you got to choose your own topic. There’s not really a field at GFA that goes into linguistics so choosing my own research topic was something I was really interested in. I think that’s a great opportunity just for your own learning and growth.

However, even though we’re working on our concepts solely, we always share and talk about our concepts in class. Every day we have a good discussion based off of what we’re doing and where we are. You honestly can’t do this on your own completely. You’re going to need some insight — someone to look at it from a different perspective and guide you a little bit.

Advanced Inquiry students will have a chance to present their topics at the annual GFA Symposium in the spring. Learn more at www.gfacademy.org/symposium Winter 2022 | 51

STRATEGIC DIRECTION BELONGING

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A step in the right direction Two years ago, the co-chairs of QUEST (Upper School Gender and Sexuality Alliance) Alicja Farber and Jenifer Bonilla approached Head of School Bob Whelan with an opportunity. The two students wanted to turn one of the crosswalks at GFA into a rainbow, hoping to make a clear statement that LGBTQ+ students are known and loved in this community.

With Whelan’s OK, the plans were made — and then COVID-19 hit.

When the club finally resumed in-person meetings at the start of the 2021–22 school year, advisor Betsy Bergeron put the idea back on the table in preparation for October’s LGBTQ+ History month. “We wanted to do something to make it obvious that the LGBTQ+ community belongs at GFA,” Farber shared.

“Throughout my time in QUEST, we’ve always talked about visibility,” Bonilla added. “This is a step toward more opportunities. We had instant confirmation from Mr. Whelan that he’s on board to make it known around the school that GFA supports LGBTQ+ students.”

After meeting with Grounds Manager Tom Barry and Director of Campus Master Planning and Engineering Ray Weaver, Bonilla and Farber watched the idea come to life. “[Barry and Weaver] were immediately on board and said, ’We’re going to make this happen,’” Bonilla explained.

While visibility continues to be the club’s greatest challenge, the students are finding hope and opportunity

with the completion of their latest project. With the increase in performative activism in today’s political landscape, the goal remained that this crosswalk would not be “just” a crosswalk.

“QUEST has a lot of programming,” Farber explained.

“The crosswalk differs because it is this permanent feature and it’s something that even if we’re not there to talk about it, people see it as an important sign of what the school stands behind and stands with. It’s also a step toward more important initiatives for QUEST at the school.”

According to QUEST Club Advisor Betsy Bergeron, Bonilla and Farber have established themselves as partners with the student community and the community at large. She remarked, “They have become wonderful leaders of QUEST. Under their guidance all of the members of the club had a hand in this project. It is so exciting to see their efforts pay off in such a visible way. I am so proud.”

Bergeron’s sentiment was shared by Whelan, whose front window looks out at the crosswalk.

“We believe that creating opportunities for our students to lead is a critical part of their development — it helps them realize the power of their own voices and see firsthand that they can effect positive change,” he said.

“This effort is another example of the partnership our mission describes, the positive leadership that Jen and Allie model every day, and the meaningful difference GFA students make in the life of our school community.”

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STRATEGIC DIRECTION BELONGING

Honoring

hispanic heritage

By Isabella Ferrante Middle School Associate Teacher, Grade 5; Sixth Grade Study Skills Teacher

On October 5, the halls of the Middle School were populated with cards celebrating famous individuals with Hispanic or Latinx heritage including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Amy Rodríguez, and Diana Trujillo. However, there were more exciting bios listed amongst these celebrities. Members of the GFA Middle School community were invited to submit information and pictures of themselves if they had Hispanic or Latinx heritage to be featured in the Middle-School-wide scavenger hunt BINGO. Toward the end of September, Middle School Spanish Teacher Elena Aniel and I began planning a school-wide event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. While the BINGO cards Elena found proved exciting, with many names and faces the Middle School students were sure to recognize, we thought of another way to get the students excited, involved, and educated about individuals with Hispanic and Latinx heritage.

We created a Google Form that was sent to the Middle School community asking people with Hispanic and Latinx heritage to give their name, grade, Hispanic/Latinx heritage, some hobbies, and a picture of themselves. Five individuals, two teachers, and three students submitted their bios and were able to be highlighted and celebrated in the scavenger hunt.

Over the next 10 days, until the end of Hispanic Heritage month, students were able to work together with other members of their House (each Middle School student is sorted into one of four houses at the beginning of their GFA Middle School career: Audubon, Orchard, Marsh, and Sound) to find an individual with a detail listed on the BINGO card.

Once the students turned in their team’s card, with varying levels of completeness, they earned house points on behalf of their house.

This is the first of many activities in celebration of different cultures and diversity planned in the Middle School for this school year!

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“Our team looked at the community’s desire to engage in conversations across differences. These skills and open discourse really have to be taught in the classroom. They have to be nurtured and practiced. They are done by our faculty who help nurture this.

I see students building connections with each other that are so meaningful in athletics, advisory, clubs, and trips, and our faculty does an amazing job of thinking creatively and helping these students form friendships and develop relationships.”

Vani Bettegowda P ’22, ’25, Board of Trustees Secretary

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Coyle Scholar Brackett:

Building Emotional Awareness This year Marc Brackett, Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, and Professor in the Child Study Center of Yale University, was the fall Coyle Scholar. He spoke to students, faculty, and parents about “The Power of Emotional Intelligence.” Brackett, is the lead developer of RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning adopted throughout the last several years at GFA, specifically in the Lower School.

“When GFA made the commitment to become a RULER school four years ago, little did we know how helpful that approach would prove to be in the midst of a global pandemic,” said Lower School Counselor Corinne Kennelly. “Lucky for us, teachers were primed to help students notice and identify their emotions, explore their impact on learning and friendships, and practice sharing feelings with others.”

One of Brackett’s most recognizable tools, the Mood Meter, has proved to be the most valuable in the GFA classrooms. The use of “anchor tools” helps students delve deeper into their feelings and in turn, learn how to manage those emotions.

“Using the Mood Meter helps our students build awareness,” second grade teacher Susan O’Brian said. First grade teacher Jen Ferreira added, “It also helps young learners develop more nuanced language skills.”

The use of Brackett’s tools in everyday classroom life helps to maintain or regulate particular emotions prior to learning. Teachers across divisions agree that the implementation of these practices have resulted in a common language and shared community-wide understanding.

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STRATEGIC DIRECTION DYNAMIC CURRICULUM

“An important finding of our team was that the school prioritizes supporting social and emotional learning. This happens across all divisions.

It’s so nice to see that each division has a full-time counselor, and they support the well-being of our students and really foster their social/ emotional development.”

Vani Bettegowda P ’22, ’25, Board of Trustees Secretary

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Thank you for the memories.

This year we say goodbye to four GFA icons: Stephen Stout, Kathleen Raby and Paul Groves are retiring,

while Victor Llanque-Zonta will assume the role of Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning at the Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek, CA. (See more about Stout on p. 33)

Paul Groves

Joined GFA in 1989 In his experience: “On the court, don’t leave anything behind.”

What’s next: “I have so much appreciation for the colleagues, kids, and families whom I have worked with, and

the people who have had the foresight to create a school environment where both the students and faculty all benefit equally. I have enjoyed my time at GFA, learned a great deal, and feel fortunate that my wife Kate and I are able to retire together to enjoy the many things that we talked about doing, and on a fairly full tank of gas!”

Alumni: share your thoughts!

Have a favorite memory of these esteemed faculty members or words of congratulations that you would like to share? Go to www.gfacademy.org/reunion to submit a quote or an anecdote. We will be honoring these esteemed faculty members this spring at the GFA Reunion, slated for May 20-21.

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Kathleen Raby

Joined GFA in 1980

In her experience: “Trust-building is the foundation. It’s a big deal for parents of children with chronic illnesses

or allergies to trust me with the care of their kids for eight hours a day. Take the time, build the relationships, and trust comes as a result of that.” — Kathleen Raby What’s next: “I have never been more honored nor prouder to have worked beside so many colleagues who are so

dedicated to teaching and guiding every student who attends GFA. These last two years have presented challenges for all of us, we continue to rise to meet those challenges together, and your encouragement and support have meant the world to me. Looking ahead, I have many retirement plans. I want to know everything about gardening, cooking, and LIFE! There is so much to learn and I’m excited about the next chapter.”

Victor Llanque-Zonta Joined GFA in 2009

In his experience: “I think my proudest

accomplishment in working within [GFA’s World Perspectives Program] has been to shift the conversation around global education from a narrative of fixing world problems to understanding world problems from multiple perspectives, supported by facts and information.”

What’s next: “I feel extremely grateful to the

GFA community for the opportunity to learn and grow among the incredible students and colleagues that define this special place. At the end of this year, I will have spent 14 years of my life on this beautiful campus —almost as long as I spent in Bolivia—and I feel fortunate to have met all of you and every student I taught during that time. GFA will always feel like home.”

Alumni Spotlight

’04 Jon Ocana

Equity and Empathy in Government

Perhaps the GFA core value that alumnus Jon Ocana ’04 identifies with most closely is “inclusive.” As the IRS Chief of Ideas, he leads its Inclusion, Diversity, Education, and Solutions teams — ensuring that the employees are fair and just, so they can better serve their customers.

“On one hand, we explore what we can do to better equip our employees to engage with specific communities and have cultural awareness. On the other hand, we practice conflict management — facilitation, mediation, team-building, climate assessment, and personality assessments,” he explained. “We’re here to ensure that not only are we taking care of our customers, but we are taking care of our teams so people are able to come here, do their job, and grow.”

Ocana and his teams are solution-oriented, proactive, and creative with their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) work in order to have the most meaningful impact on the individuals whom they serve. Their behind-the-scenes work can be seen in responses to crisis situations, like the pandemic or natural disasters.

He said, “It’s humbling to see the amazing work done.

During the pandemic, there was stimulus money going out to keep people out of poverty; when there’s natural disasters, there are segments of the IRS that will help connect people to FEMA.” Before joining the IRS, Ocana interned with different government agencies and nonprofits in pursuit of a career that afforded him the opportunity to give back. It was through an internship with the U.S. Department of Transportation in the Office of Civil Rights where those objectives came together.

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“I thought that [the role of an Equal Opportunity Specialist] would be for a year or two, but that grew into where I am now — 10+ years in the federal government doing civil rights or diversity- and inclusion-related work,” he said. “I haven’t looked back, and I think that’s a direct reflection of the different institutions I’ve worked for and the conversations and values those institutions stand for. I was always taught the importance of not just taking advantage of opportunities, but also thinking about how those opportunities may offer the chance to invest in the communities I’m a member of.”

Ocana came to GFA in 10th grade. During his three years at the school, he remembered, one person stood out the most: Lynne Laukhuf, current Trustee and former Assistant Head of School. Ocana said that Laukhuf instilled in him so many of the values that he carries with him today.

He remembered, “She was my advisor and a really great resource to talk about anything personal or academic.

It was so nice having someone who — and this was consistent with all GFA teachers across the board — cared about you. Not just how well you were performing, but reading the temperature, and having that ability to empathize and connect.”

Ocana got his undergraduate degree at Georgetown University, where his experience was mirrored in the themes he saw at GFA: “Educating the whole person — the mind, body and soul,” he said. He later enrolled in Fordham Law School, in hopes of becoming “the next great kind of corporate lawyer.” But his curiosity took him in a different direction, and Ocana encourages students to lean into that curiosity — because one never knows where it will lead.

“Be curious and ask around,” he said. “There are great opportunities for this generation to take the lead, provide insight, and be empowered to mold solutions for the future.”

Ocana currently resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife, GFA classmate, and high school sweetheart Lauren Weeks ’04, and their one-year-old daughter Charlotte. A consistent supporter of GFA, he has engaged in alumni of color meetings led by GFA Director of Equity and Inclusion Shanelle Henry; participated in the school’s annual Giving Day; and currently serves as a member of the Trustee Committee on Equity and Inclusion. Most dear to his heart is the GFA financial aid program.

He said, “I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to attend GFA because of how generous it was with financial aid. It meant a lot to my parents to be able to have my sister and me experience not only wonderful teachers and administrators, but also students who encouraged curiosity — to explore the material that we were being presented. It set us up for success later in life.”

“I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to attend GFA because of how generous it was with financial aid. It meant a lot to my parents to be able to have my sister and me experience not only wonderful teachers and administrators, but also students who encouraged curiosity — to explore the material that we were being presented. It set us up for success later in life.”

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Don’t Lose Sight of the Journey 62 | www.gfacademy.org

Alumni Spotlight

’06 Alex Perry

A conversation with Alex Perry ’06 GFA prides itself as a mission-driven institution “engaging students as partners in an innovative inclusive and globally minded community preparing them for lives of purpose.” Alex Perry ’06 is a prime example of an alum doing just that. He currently serves as the General Manager of Patagonia Latin America, President of Patagonia Chile, and President of Patagonia Argentina — roles he grew into because he was in the right place at the right time and ready to show up, as he humbly put it.

After graduating from the University of Rochester in 2010 and unsure of his next step, Perry packed up his car and moved to Colorado. He spent the next three years as a ski instructor in Aspen and worked part-time at a ski shop. During this period, Perry received some telling advice from a family member: Instead of figuring out what job you want, figure out what community you would like to be a part of and get your foot in the door.

At the time Patagonia, with its mission- and values-driven work, was at the top of his list. Perry reached out to a sales representative he worked with and was thrilled to learn that Patagonia was putting together an entry-level traveling team. Over the next eight months, he covered the midwest and New England territories and absorbed everything he could — how products are built, marketed, sold, and used — and gained a real understanding of the ecosystem of the company. Looking to address its international efforts in 2014, Patagonia brought Perry on as a coordinator for the Ventura, CA, office, in part because of his fluency in Spanish, a language he began studying at GFA. The risks Perry has taken so far have seem to have paid off. With him at the helm of Patagonia South America, the company recently won the Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) from the U.S. Department of State for Climate Innovation for its conservation work in Argentina. There Patagonia has teamed with conservationists to protect public land and ban farmed fishing, which is decimating the Patagonia region.

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“We have rejected old ways of thinking and learned how to build a successful business that contributes to the future in a positive way. We’re humbled by this global recognition and we will continue working toward Patagonia’s reason for being, which is to save our home planet. We could never do this without the grassroots environmentalists we partner with in Argentina and around the world,” Perry said.

He recalls his time on Beachside Avenue fondly, and after all these years he still hears the voice of his Middle School teacher, Mr. Cissel, emphasizing that GFA was their home. For Perry, GFA is still home, and it’s always been part of his family. His father, Dave Perry, is the former GFA Athletic Director and founder of the Harbor Blues; his mother, Betsy, was a familiar figure on campus; and his sister, Eliza, attended GFA through Middle School.

Two of his aunts, Laurie Perry Jones ’74 and Ginny Perry Worcester ’75 attended GFA, and his grandfather, Hoyt (Hop) O. Perry served on GFA’s Board of Trustees.

Beyond his family, Perry has a group of friends from GFA that he continues to communicate with daily. He said that the unique support system of faculty, friends, and family at GFA allowed him to take on challenges, knowing he had a network of people behind him. For example, during his sophomore year, he applied to School

Year Abroad (SYA), despite somewhat lacking Spanish skills. Then-Head of Upper School Peter Herzberg, who was also Perry’s English teacher, encouraged him to push himself — Perry spent his junior year abroad in Zaragoza, Spain, immersed in the language that has now been such a important part of his work.

Patagonia’s mission of being “In business to save our home planet” is bold, direct, and an important example of how a mission-driven company can be successful. And for Perry, it always comes back to the mission.

“If I don’t know an answer to a question I go straight back to one of the values or the mission. It’s kind of wild how tried-and-true that is,” he said. “The sense of purpose and community at GFA is really powerful.’’

Thinking about current GFA students, Perry warned them not to get too wrapped up in knowing exactly what you are going to do for the rest of your life.

“Don’t lose sight of the journey for the end goal. … Each day do something positive and contribute value to whatever room you are in,” he advised.

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“Each day do something positive and contribute value to whatever room you are in.”

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Alumni Thanksgiving Gathering This year, due to COVID safety concerns, the Alumni Thanksgiving Gathering moved to the GFA Front Lawn.

The fire pits, laughter, and good company more than made up for the chilly weather!

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Alumni Soccer Game

We were excited to have the annual Alumni vs. JV Boys Soccer game back on the calendar this fall. Alumni from the Class of 1982 through 2005 came together, dusted off their cleats, and played in a friendly but spirited match against the GFA JV Boys Soccer team over Homecoming Weekend.

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Class Notes...

1952

This summer, while on Martha’s Vineyard, Jane Dean ’52 and her daughter Susan Pratt ’82, had a spontaneous GFA reunion on the Edgartown Books front porch with David Lipton ’86 and Noel Cunningham ’86.

1966 Betsy Whidden

Well, those 55 years since my 1966 graduation flew by!

Tom and I are still living in Essex. He threatens to retire from North Sails, but hasn’t as of yet! Our kids, Avery and Holly are actually amazing adults and we have three grandkids: Thomas (15), Margaret (13), and William (11).

Thomas, who like his grandfather loves sailing, is the current 420 World Champ; 420 North American Champ and 420 North Atlantic champ. He and his skipper, Freddie Parkin, have trained hard and we are so proud of 68 | www.gfacademy.org

them! {They are currently students at Brunswick Academy in Greenwich}. For those of you who remember our wonderful history teacher, Ronald Gault Whittle, I have been in touch with his family. Mr. Whittle left us last summer. He was living in Maine. He and his wife visited GFA a few years ago and she said he was happy to see his history award in its case. Best wishes to all!

1974 Allen Hardon

Sending best wishes to all GFAers. I hope you have had a great year and are looking forward to a wonderful season!

1977 Alissa Keny-Guyer

After 27 wonderful years in Portland where we raised our three children and where I served in the state legislature, my husband and I moved to Santa Fe. I am

digging into local issues and have been appointed to the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board.

Neal and I are eager to explore the outdoor recreation, arts, culture, and great food in this region. We hope old friends will come visit!

01

1979 David Capodilupo enjoyed time sailing over

the summer.

Juliana Reiss Smith, Angela Clemmons, Sarah Bryant ’81 and Wendy

02

Weaver Chaix had an impromptu reunion at

Wendy’s home in Easton this fall.

1986 Donna Volpitta

I was just asked to join the Mental Wellness Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute. I’m very excited to have the opportunity to work with this group for global impact, specifically in regard to education and promotion of mental wellness.

1987 Robert Springall

This year was quite a full one for Karen and me. She and I celebrated our 25th anniversary in August 2021 and our first full year in State College, PA, in November. Though the special anniversary trip will wait for another year or two. This is my second year at Penn State, where I serve as Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions and work with about 200 people involved in recruitment and admissions. It’s a real blast to work with the great admissions teams across our adopted home state’s largest university.

03

1992 Josh Cornehlsen, Andrew Grosso,

and Josh Fishkin, ran the Annual 5K Hot Chocolate Run in Northampton, MA, this fall.

01

Susan Pratt ’82, Jane Dean ’52, David Lipton ’86, and Noel Cunningham ’86 ran into each other at Edgartown Books on Martha’s Vineyard.

02

Alissa Keny-Guyer ’77 with her husband Neal

03

David Capodilupo ’79 spending time on the water.

Members of the Class of ’92 including Josh Cornehlsen, Jake Robards, Andy Laird, Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Sasha DiScala Zolik, Josh Fishkin, Andrew Grosso, and Karima Hassan Hopkins supported Charlie Hall at The War on Drugs’ “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” concert on January 29 at Madison Square Garden.

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2001

Getting married was so nice, they decided to do it twice!

Michelle Cole and her husband, Andrew Bickford, were married on June 6, 2020, at their home in Easton, CT, with only their immediate families able to join them due to pandemic restrictions. Although a backyard wedding was not what they had originally planned, in the end, the intimate ceremony and wedding day were perfect. They postponed their original plans to summer 2021 and it was well worth the wait! On June 5, 2021, Michelle and Andrew celebrated their first anniversary with a wedding vow renewal in Manchester, VT, and an epic party to gather with all of their friends and extended family. Finally being able to celebrate with all of their loved ones was even more amazing than they had imagined it would be!

04

05

2004 Carlos Guzman

Halloween 2021 was a complete success. I was Olaf and my daughter told me I did a great job! I recently competed in the Alumni vs. JV boys soccer game at GFA and we got the win thanks to Andrew Stern’s lighting speed. Next year, I am hoping Zak Starr and Joakim Stenbeck will show up to give us a jolt of energy. I recently connected with Anchor Taxi’s lead singer, Joe Berg, and he is thinking of bringing the band back together for one last dance. I hope to see some of you soon and please reach out if you are ever in the area. We have an incredible fire pit!

2006 Jamie (Whittendale) Bergen and her

06

husband Will Bergen welcomed their first child, Owen Edward Bergen on July 2, 2021.

Matthew Doyle, his wife Lindsay, and their two

kids recently relocated from New York City to Old Greenwich, CT. 2010 Francesca Murray married Taylor Gerhardt at

her family’s home in Westport over the summer.

04

Juliana Reiss Smith ’79, Angela Clemmons ’79, Sarah Bryant ’81, and Wendy Weaver Chaix ’79

05

Josh Cornehlsen ’92, Andrew Grosso ’92, and Josh Fishkin ’92 at the 5K Hot Chocolate Run in Northampton, MA.

06

Members of the Class of ’92 at the War on Drugs Concert at Madison Square Garden.

Dorothy Vickery reports that Chris Friend

married Caitlin Niesen Blank over the summer. John Doelp, Ellie Monroe, Patrick Friend, IG Schottlaender, Ryan Friend ’13, Ben Swett, Dorothy Vickery, and Megan Kearns were all in attendance to help

celebrate the happy couple.

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2011

07

Evan Bieder

Evan is working with his former coach, Glen Colello as an assistant coach for the GFA cross country team. He founded lionheART Bridgeport, an art gallery in memory of his grandparents, in October 2021. The Mets continue to disappoint him but the Knicks bench unit brings him a great deal of joy.

Rebecca Lavietes

Rebecca won the women’s Pequot Thanksgiving Race while back in the area in November.

08

2012 Aubrey Carter

I recently accepted a position as Assistant Ecological Manager at Manitou Point Preserve in Manitou, N.Y. 2015 Scott Brown joined the Yale Squash Program as an

assistant coach for men and women in January.

09

10

07

David Cole ’04, Christina Doe Fellers ’01, Kimmie Keefe Smith ’01, Michelle Cole Bickford ’01, Amanda Glendinning ’01, Hilary Archer ’01, Julia Cole ’09 at Michelle Cole’s wedding celebration.

08

Michelle Cole Bickford ’01 and her husband Andrew Bickford

09

Carlos Guzman ’04 at the Alumni vs. JV boys soccer game.

10

Owen Bergen, son of Jamie Whittendale Bergen ’06.

11

Matthew Doyle ’06, his wife Lindsay, and their two kids, Oliver and Scarlette, enjoying a suburban Halloween.

11

12

13

14

14

12

Francesca Murray ’10 and Taylor Gerhardt

13

(L to R) John Doelp ’10, Ellie Monroe ’10, Patrick Friend ’16, IG Schottlaender ’10, Caitlin Niesen Blank, Chris Friend ’10, Ryan Friend ’13, Ben Swett ’10, Dorothy Vickery ’10, and Megan Kearns ’10 at the wedding of Chris Friend ’10.

14

Images from Evan Bieder’s ’11 art studio, lionheART Bridgeport.

Please send us a note for the next magazine vist: gfacademy.org/alumni email: alumni@gfacademy.org

In Memoriam Kathleen DeBoer ’73

Kathleen Ann DeBoer, 66, passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 9, 2021, surrounded by her family and dogs, following a three-year battle with lung cancer. Kathy, as she was known to everyone, was born on June 28, 1955. She grew up in Connecticut and Florida with her mother, father and two brothers. After college at Harvard, she lived in New York City, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C., before retiring in 2015 to Arizona, where her family had owned a home for many years.

Kathleen’s greatest joy was her family. In 1982, she married Christopher Ringston, with whom she had a son, Christopher “Chris” Alexander Ringston. They raised their son in Ridgefield, CT until their divorce in 1997.

While working in China many years ago, Kathy met her second husband, Wei Wang. They married on November 5, 2005. Over the past 20 years, Wei was a magnificent husband, friend, and, finally, caretaker.

After graduating from Harvard with a B.A. in Economics in 1978, Kathy started her career in publishing, an apt profession for someone who loved books as much as she did. She worked at Harvard Square bookstores before being hired by Oxford University Press as their first female sales representative in 1981. She was then recruited to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich to run international sales. Later in life, she returned to publishing at the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, where she worked for 10 years selling to colleges and libraries. She also taught a course on publishing at George Washington University. Kathy wrote several screenplays and in 2017 self-published a memoir of her life with her stepfather, Last Summer with Sal. Kathy was an avid traveler and adventurer. She was very involved in her church, publishing, and Harvard communities. Kathy wished everyone a fond farewell. She had an amazing life, as she saw it more of a wonderful life than anyone deserves, and she felt it would be selfish to ask for anything more. She is survived by her husband, Wei Wang; her son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Laurel Ringston; her wonderful German Shepherd, Gustavia “Gussie”; her first husband and mother-in-law, Christopher and Patricia Ringston; her brother and his daughter, Bruce DeBoer and Cassidy; her brother, Sam DeBoer; and her sister-in-law of the Navajo Nation, Lena Black.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Tucson, AZ. It will also be broadcast and available for later viewing.

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John a. Doherty (Jack) Former Faculty

John A. Doherty (Jack), who taught at Greens Farms Academy from 1992 through 2009, passed away on January 14, 2022 at the age of 77 in Arnold, MD. He was born in Winchester, MA, on April 15, 1944, a son of the late Joseph P. Doherty and Rita A. Doherty. He graduated from Reading (MA) Memorial High School in 1962 and earned his B.A. degree from Merrimack College in 1966.

Jack served 6 years in the Army Reserves, earning an honorable discharge in 1972. He completed an M.S. degree at Southern Connecticut State University in 1991. Jack was a devoted middle school English teacher over a 30-year career in New Hampshire and Connecticut. During summers, he worked as a mountain ranger, teacher, camp director, and more. He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Wendy C. Doherty of Arnold, MD; brothers Pat Doherty of Camden, ME and Dennis Doherty of Eastport, ME; daughter Kate Henry of Arnold, MD; son Brendan Doherty and daughter-in-law Robyn Altman of Chevy Chase, MD; and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by brother Peter Doherty of Reading, MA; sister Joyce Bergholtz of Rockport, MA; and sister Susan Johnson of Reading, MA. A private funeral service will be held in Massachusetts.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association.

Michael Pratt ’19

Michael Christopher Pratt passed into eternal life on September 15, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows, after a long cancer battle. Michael, son of Douglas and Sharon Pratt (nee Tinari) and brother of Sean, was 20 years old.

He attended St. Cecilia Elementary School in Stamford and then graduated with High Honors from Greens Farms Academy. He then went on to become a third year student at Villanova University.

At Greens Farms Academy, Michael was co-chair of the Community Service Board, a member of the Elder Care Club, co-captain of the varsity tennis team, and a member of the cross country team. He also played guitar in the school band and jazz band. At Villanova, Michael pursued a degree in business economics and enjoyed being a part of many extra-curricular activities such as the Young Life Christian Group, Cross-Fit Club, the Community Service Club and the Hiking Club. His faith sustained him and helped him be a focused, successful student.

Michael loved history, taking particular interest in historical war battles. One of his favorite trips was visiting Gettysburg. For Michael, summertime meant playing tennis at the Italian Center in Stamford, where his teammates called him "Cap." He found great joy and fulfillment as a volunteer at Abilis, a home for individuals with special needs.

When he wasn’t studying, helping others or playing music or tennis, Michael could be found outdoors, hiking up hills or paddle boarding in Avalon, N.J., where his family often vacationed. Michael was a huge fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, so it was a great day for him when they won the Superbowl.

Michael was a true friend to many, and his precocious, dry sense of humor made everyone want to be around him. He made an impact on everyone who was in his life. As one friend said, "The ripple effect from Michael’s touch on our lives will be far-reaching."

Michael is survived by his mother Sharon, father Douglas, brother Sean ’20 of Greenwich, grandmother Phyllis Pratt O’Neal, grandfather Nino Tinari, aunt Kathleen McGuiness (Rory), uncle Eugene Tinari (Suzanne), uncle Christopher Tinari, cousins Alexander and Owen Tinari, Finley and Rory McGuiness.

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William H. Miller Former Board Member

William Harlowe Miller, Jr., of Norwalk, passed away peacefully at Stamford Hospital on August 30, 2021, after a long bout with dementia. He was born on April 22, 1939 in Mineola, N.Y. Bill attended Phillips Exeter Academy (Class of 1957) and then Princeton University. After graduating from Princeton in 1961, Bill served in the U.S. Navy, during which time he sailed on a destroyer, the USS Strong, and achieved the rank of lieutenant. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1963, Bill earned his JD from Syracuse University College of Law in 1966. He also married Jean Piersol in 1966 and had two sons, both GFA alumni: William H. Miller, III ’87 and Thomas P. Miller ’90.

Bill was a trusts and estates attorney, initially with Humes, Botzow, Wagner, and Miller, and finished his distinguished career as a partner at Davidson Dawson & Clark, LLP of New York and New Canaan. He retired in 2014. Always generous with his time, Bill leaves a legacy of volunteering and service to the activities and cultures that provided him with so much joy throughout his life. He coached his sons’ hockey teams in the Darien Youth Hockey Association, served on the Board of Trustees of Greens Farms Academy, the Board of Directors of the Amateur Ski Club of New York (ASCNY), and the Board of Directors of the Wilson Point Property Owners Association, for which he served as secretary for 30 years. Bill was a modest, unassuming soul who was loved and respected by all who knew him.

Ron Whittle Former Faculty

Ronald Gault Whittle, 83, passed away on August 17, 2021, at Harbor Hill Center in Belfast, Maine, from complications of Parkinson’s. He graduated from Shrewsbury High School in 1956, received his B.A. in history from Brown University in 1960, and M.A. in history from Clark University in 1962. In 1961, he married Carol Handrich and the couple had two children.

His career began at The Gunnery in Washington, CT, where he taught history; coached football, hockey, and baseball; and became Head of the History Department. At Kathleen Laycock Country Day School (now Greens Farms Academy), he was Assistant Headmaster and taught history from 1964–1968. The Whittle Award is given out on Class Day to a student for their ability and interest in the study of history.

In 1979, he and his family moved to Choate Rosemary Hall, where he taught history; coached football, hockey, and baseball; was a college counselor; and head of the History Department. In 1974, he and his family became summer residents of Belfast, ME. Ron and Carol moved to Belfast full time in 1986 when he began a new career as an Associate Director of Admissions at Colby College.

In his retirement, he kept his love of history and teaching alive by offering courses at Belfast Senior College. Ron cherished the friendships he made over the years through his love of playing golf and tennis.

Correction:

In the Fall 2021 GFA Magazine, the obituary for Elizabeth Osborn incorrectly listed her GFA graduation year. She graduated with the Class of 1972.

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Ways to Give All donations to GFA are tax-deductible.

By Check

Checks should be made payable to Greens Farms Academy and mailed to the attention of the Advancement Office.

By Credit Card and Online

Credit card donations can be made online at www. gfacademy.org/giveonline. If you would like to make your payment over time, you can arrange a monthly or quarterly recurring gift.

Appreciated Securities

Gifts of stocks, bonds, or other appreciated securities allow donors to avoid paying capital gains taxes and qualify for a charitable deduction.

Please contact the Advancement Office if you would like to make a gift of securities.

Matching Gifts

By taking advantage of an employer’s matching gift program, donors can significantly increase the amount and impact of their gift.

Planned Gifts

An impactful way to make a gift to GFA is to make a commitment through your will. Please contact the Advancement Office for more information.

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35 BEACHSIDE AVENUE WESTPORT, CT 06880-9906

get ready for giving day

Reuni n

Friday, May 20, 2022 Drinks at the Horseshoe

Saturday, May 21, 2021 Diversity Luncheon for Current Students and Alumni of Color Tour of GFA Reception on the Front Lawn In honor of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, David Haskell ’97 and celebrating the retirement of Paul Groves and Kathleen Raby We will be in touch with more details and look forward to seeing you back on campus in the spring!