multum in parvo
Your Dollars At Work
ESIAC VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP | GUNSTON 3- STS. PETER & PAUL 0
Herons net historic championship
Complete 16-1 season with sweep of Sabres for program’s first ESIAC crown WILLIAM HAUFE bhaufe@chespub.com Oct. 24, 2025
Every gift to Gunston is an investment in the moments that define the
student experience.
This year, your generosity came to life across our campus and beyond. You provided the cool air and the polished grain of the gym floor where our volleyball team spiked their way to a historic first championship You fueled the engines of the buses that carried our students to national competitions and transformative field trips From the quiet moments of study on our beautiful new academic porch to the community pride of our award-winning parade float, your support is the foundation of every victory. Thank you for making these milestones possible!
Gunston School’s volleyball team celebrates Friday after defeating Saints Peter and Paul, 3-0, to win their first ESIAC championship.
multum in parvo
Dear Gunston Community,
Let’s get real for a second. Having worked at several schools during my career, I’ve learned that the word “club” can be the emptiest of terms. Indeed, I’ve seen college applications where students have a higher number of clubs listed than actual minutes spent on meaningful participation. Thus, when Gunston formalized our club program over a decade ago, we were guided by three key terms—ROBUST, SUSTAINABLE, and MEANINGFUL— to define and shape our club philosophy.
In his delightful Netflix documentary Join or Die: A film about why you should join a club… and why the fate of America depends on it, Pete Davis reminds us that “social capital”— the networks of relationships that enable a society to function effectively—isn’t built in isolation. It is forged in the shared effort of belonging. To this end, Gunston’s clubs program has grown into an ecosystem of community and belonging where every student can find a home.
From the competitive thrill of the Stock Market Game in the Business and Investment Club to the faith discussions in the Christian Athletes Club, to the passionate engagement of the Environmental Club to the warmth of the Mental Health Awareness Club, our clubs are not just a list of empty extracurriculars, but a thriving landscape of commitment and a laboratory for skill development. Simply spend a few minutes observing the high-stakes precision of the Robotics Team, or observe the Model UN team practice diplomacy, or watch the Ambassadors for Community & Belonging planning our Civic Learning Day, and you’ll see this in action.
There is magic in seeing a student find their people, and we all likely remember a time in our lives when a shared interest became a lifelong bond. As the coach of Gunston’s Academic Quiz Bowl Team for the past 16 years (lovingly called “The Nerd Squad”), I’ve seen these bonds form first-hand countless times. What happens when students answer thousands of quiz questions after traveling hundreds of miles to attend dozens of tournaments? Simple. Friendships form, inside jokes develop, confidence grows, and community blooms.
While the focus of this year’s Multum in Parvo is our club program, next year’s will focus on the school’s updated Strategic Plan, which is being formulated this year. Similar to the term “club,” the phrase “strategic plan” is also a term with meaning at Gunston, and this upcoming plan will guide us through the complexities of the decade ahead. Indeed, our club program was driven by a goal identified in a previous strategic plan.
Thank you for your support of Gunston, and enjoy this year’s Multum!
Regards,
John Lewis Head of School
Head of School John Lewis, wife Laurie and daughters Millie ’29 and Bea.
Board of Trustees 2025-2026
Joe Janney, P’21, Chair & Treasurer
Jim Shifrin, P’21’21, Vice Chair
Jill Caron, P’17, Secretary
Patricia Parkhurst, ’88, P’18’21’23, At-Large
Megan Cook, P’22’24
Tim Faff, P’23’26’29
Tom Hipp
Chris McClary, P’21’23
Betsy McCown, P’11
Justin Nonemaker, P’27’29
Patrick Shoemaker ’03
Dr. Nina WagnerJohnston, P’23’25’28
Ildi Watkins, P’26’28
Board of Trustees 2024-2025
Joe Janney, P’21, Chair
Patricia Parkhurst ’88, P’18’21’23, Vice Chair
Megan Cook, P’22’24, Secretary
Jim Shifrin, P’21’21, At-Large
Isabel Hardesty, Treasurer
Jill Caron, P’17
Dr. Fernando De Leon, P’22
Tim Faff, P’23’26
Jeff Frederick, P’23’26
Chris McClary, P’21’23
Betsy McCown, P’11
Patrick Shoemaker ’03
Dr. Mike Sosulski
Dr. Nina WagnerJohnston, P’23’25’28
Gunston Parents’ Association 2024-2025
Ildi Watkins, P’26’28, President
Joanna Pierce, P’26, Vice President
Carolyn Yanavich, P’27, Secretary
Stefanie Zottarelli, P’25’27, Athletics Liaison
Tracy Beckett, P’25, Athletics Liaison
Kerry-Ann Farmer, P’27, Waterfront Liaison, Crew
Kara Morris, P’27, Waterfront Liaison, Crew
Billie Walton, P’27, Waterfront Liaison, Crew
Holly Allison, P’25 Waterfront Liaison, Sailing
2025 Room Parents: Jen Franks, P’25, Jen Runz, P’24’25 2026 Room Parents: Krystal Algier, P’23’26, Lori Day, P’24’26 2027 Room Parents: Rebecca Hanlon, P’22’25’27, Sarah Philippon, P’25’27
2028 Room Parents: Melanie McMahan, P’27’28, Bethany Thomas, P’23’26’28
Faculty/Staff Appreciation Chairs: Jen Franks & Sarah Philippon
Bull & Oyster Roast Chair: Valerie Overton, P’24’27 Pickleball Chair: Kellen McCluskey, P’21’23’25
Gunston
Parents’ Association 2025-2026
Ildi Watkins, P’26’28, President
Alaina McDermott, P’28, President-Elect
Joanna Pierce, P’26, Vice President
Stella Dreeke, P’28, Secretary
Stefanie Zottarelli, P’25’27, Athletics Liaison
Kerry-Ann Farmer, P’27’29, Waterfront Liaison, Crew
Kara Morris, P’27, Waterfront Liaison, Crew
Billie Walton, P’27, Waterfront Liaison, Crew
Lucie Dalzell, P’28, Waterfront Liaison, Sailing
Sarah Philippon, P’25’27, Teacher and Staff Appreciation Chair
Melanie McMahan, P’27’28, Bull & Oyster Roast Chair
Megan Owings, P’29, Pickleball Chair
Brigitte Stranahan, P’25’27, Golf Chair
2026 Room Parents: Krystal Algier, P’23’26, Lori Day, P’24’26
2027 Room Parents: Rebecca Hanlon, P’22’25’27, Leigh Wood, P’24’27
2028 Room Parents: Stella Dreeke, P’28, Natalie Doffermyre, P’28, Pam DeGour, P’28’29
2029 Room Parents: Sarah Volker, P’29, Barb Perez, P’29, Christine Joyce, P’26’29
Editor & Creative Director: Marie K. Thomas
Contributing Writers: Joe Janney and John Lewis
Contributing Photographers : Jessica Coner
A letter from Board Chair Joe Janney, P’21.
Green & White Awards, Disembarkation and Graduation.
Embarkation, Convocation, and welcoming new staff, faculty and board members.
Special events recap, student news, and athletic accolades.
22 Much in Little Reimagined Beyond Academics
28 A Tale of Two Watersheds The Power of Comparative Learning
32 Class Notes & Alumni Profiles
33 A Golden Reunion
The Class of 1975 Unearths Memories from a time capsule buried in 1971 .
35 College Athletes
36 The Human Element
Dr. Christina Bowman ’05 on finding her calling in psychiatry.
37 2000 Varsity Field Hockey Team Inducted into Heron Athletics Hall of Fame
38 Connecting the Dots at Duke
Evan Heisman ’05 celebrates a decade of storytelling for the community of one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions.
40 From the Potomac to the Peaks Drew Hightower ’17 and the Seven Summits.
42 From Spanish Class to Soil Health: The Return of Dani Winters ’07
44 Honor Roll of Donors (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)
chair of the board
Dear Gunston Community,
This year’s magazine highlights one of the defining elements of the Gunston experience: the many ways students engage beyond the classroom. Whether through clubs, the arts, outdoor learning, athletics, or leadership opportunities, these experiences help students discover new interests, develop confidence, and build meaningful relationships across our community.
At the same time, Gunston is engaged in an important moment of reflection and planning. This year, the school is partnering with Tim Fish of Two Chairs Studio to develop a strategic vision that will help guide Gunston’s priorities and direction in the years ahead. While this document will articulate the school’s values and strategic focus, smaller working groups of trustees and school leaders are also exploring how those priorities can be translated into operational planning and long-term sustainability.
We look forward to sharing the final vision with the broader community once the work is complete. In the meantime, the early phase of the process has focused on listening— to faculty, students, alumni, parents, and trustees—to better understand what makes the Gunston experience so distinctive and what must never be lost.
Across all of these conversations, the same themes surfaced again and again. First, Gunston is a place where students are truly known and seen. Small classes and close relationships mean students cannot disappear into the background, and that closeness creates a strong sense of belonging.
Second, the relationships between teachers and students are transformative. Alumni shared vivid memories of teachers who encouraged them, challenged them, and sometimes changed the course of their lives. These connections—often lasting well beyond graduation— remain one of Gunston’s greatest strengths.
Third, Gunston’s approach to learning is deeply studentcentered. Faculty consistently described a culture of meeting students where they are—supporting those who need time and confidence to grow while also challenging those ready to dive deeper and accelerate.
Finally, the campus itself and the sense of community it fosters play a powerful role. The waterfront setting, the natural beauty of the grounds, and the traditions and shared experiences of school life create an environment where students feel grounded, connected, and inspired.
As the strategic planning process continues, one thing is clear: Gunston’s future will be built on protecting and strengthening these essential qualities. We look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead.
Warmest regards,
Joe Janney, P’21 Chair, Board of Trustees
The Gunston School held its 114th commencement on June 7, celebrating the 62 members of the senior class of 2025. Pictured standing left (l-r) are commencement speaker Isabel Hardesty, Director of ShoreRivers and Gunston’s Head of School John Lewis, and pictured standing right (l-r) are Gunston’s Chair of the Board Joe Janney, P’21 and Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis. Students (l-r) Front Row: Margaret (Maggie) Porciello, Victoria MacGlashan, Allison Davis, Emma Sharp, Nina Johnston, Katherine Sadler, Grace Hanlon, Louise Mulock, Lily Brantner, Elizabeth Pupke, Phoebe Kelly, Evelyn Russ, Caroline Mirando, Benta Owino, Sydney Dare, and Katherine (Kate) Seybert. Second Row: Grace Shepherd, Victoria (Tori) Nessly, Allison (Alli) Lutz, Elena Fraser, Mia Walker, Isla McCollum, Elizabeth (Lennox) Franks, Alivia Runz, Olivia Arthur, Margaret Randolph, Alix Allison, Pearl Kontarinis, Alexa Duncan, Ellery Philippon, Aidan Watson, and Logan Kille. Third Row: Grayson Allen, Gareth Borghardt, Evan Zottarelli, Alexander (Alex) McIntyre, Thomas McGeady, Brayden Hamm, Elijah (Eli) Moore, Vee McCluskey, Justin McCubbin, Kazys Morris, Adit Gupta, Jackson Stranahan, Brendan (Wylie) Keegan, Jackson Showalter, and Riley Walker. Fourth Row: Benjamin (Ben) Gilbert, John (Jack) Beasley, Zachary (Zach) Steinberg, Jeffrey (Tanner) Hatch, Alexander (Alex) Bent, Robert (Ethan) McWilliams, Robert (R.P.) Johnson, Trevor Janssen, Owen Daffron, Maximilian (Max) Pynn, Elijah (Ezra) Lillie, James McDonald, Bennett Wirts, Jackson Frederick, and Alex Elfenbein.
green and white awards DISEMBARKATION
Gunston’s annual Green & White Awards Ceremony on June 6, 2025 featured the valedictorian address, the announcement of awards, and recognition from the greater community, as well as the announcement of the Green & White Cup winners.
“We are comprised of talented designers and engineers, of dedicated environmental advocates, of prospective medical practitioners, of creative writers and essayists, of stunning artists, of gifted musicians, of skillful athletes, of distinguished coders, and of incredibly knowledgeable trivia junkies – all just to name a few. We have spent countless hours of hardship in charting our way forward with commendable course rigor, while also finding sufficient time to enjoy the company of one another and keep our experience tangible and enjoyable. But, of course, not much of this would have ever been possible if it weren’t for the greater community at Gunston.”
- Valedictorian Brayden Hamm ’25
(Top)
(Middle) The
(Bottom)
Head of School John Lewis with the 2025 Samuel A. Middleton (Valedictorian) Award winner Brayden Hamm.
2025 Gunston Award was presented to Mia Walker, pictured with Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis.
Captains Zach Steinberg and Grace Shepherd claim victory for the Green Team for the second year in a row.
(Above) Recipients of the Anita Gruss Athletics Award were (l-r) Zach Steinberg, Grace Shepherd, and Kazys Morris. Athletic Director Josh Breto is pictured right and Former Athletic Director Anita Gruss is pictured left.
The following students were recognized with awards:
SENIORS:
Samuel A. Middleton Award (Valedictorian): Brayden Hamm
The Gunston Award: Mia Walker
Leadership Award: Benta Owino
Diversity Leader Award: Sydney Dare
Community Service (Marguerite Thomas Service Award): Maggie Porciello
Moore Award for Improvement: Wylie Keegan
The Faculty Award: Allison Davis & Victoria MacGlashan
Environmental Stewardship Award: Vee McCluskey
The Anita Gruss Athletics Award: Kazys Morris, Grace Shepherd & Zach Steinberg
12 Star Awards: Alex Elfenbein, Lennox Franks, Jackson Frederick, Trevor Janssen, Tommy McGeady, Kazys Morris, Alivia Runz, Zach Steinberg & Bennett Wirts
13 Star Award: Zach Steinberg
Fine Art Award: Aidan Watson
Music Award: Ben Gilbert
Theater Award: Ezra Lillie
Math Award: Brayden Hamm
Engineering Award: Eli Moore
Sciences Award: Trevor Janssen
Computer Sciences Award: Justin McCubbin
History (Capt. John P. W. Vest Award): Margaret Randolph
Spanish Award: Brayden Hamm
English (Sandra Slacum Spears Award): Mia Walker
Literature (Hila C. Ferguson Award): Lily Brantner
Senior Paradigm Project Award: Margaret Randolph
Green Team Captains: Grace Shepherd & Zach Steinberg
White Team Captains: Victoria MacGlashan & Riley Walker
JUNIORS:
Junior Symposium: Annabelle Baker
Immersion Award: Luis Ortiz Fernandez
Megan V. Batdorf Award: Aidan Marketto
Clare Poussard Award: Luca Tyler
Paul M. Long Award: Eamon Schopfer
The Marie Whittico Award: Kate Andrews
(Top) Advisor Dr. Ken Wilson presents Alex Bent with his brick. (Middle) Evelyn Russ, Caroline Mirando and Jackson Showalter on their final campus march.
(Bottom) Recent graduates disembark by boat, captained by Catherine MacGlashan ’88, P’23’25’28 and Stoney Duffey ’54, P’88’88, GP’18’21’23’23’25’28.
114th Commencement:
The Class of 2025 was accepted to 149 colleges and universities, earning nearly $12 million dollars in merit scholarships.
The Gunston School celebrated its 114th commencement on Saturday, June 7, 2025 honoring the Class of 2025 with a waterfront ceremony overlooking the Corsica River, as family and friends looked on. Despite some rain, the procession began on time with Bagpiper Andrew Jaecks, followed by school faculty and staff, and then graduating seniors. This year’s 62 members of the senior class were accepted to 149 colleges and universities, earning nearly $12 million dollars in merit scholarships.
Head of School John Lewis introduced the commencement speaker, Director of ShoreRivers, Isabel Hardesty, who works to protect Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-backed advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement. She had this advice for the graduates:
“You all are entering a really exciting and energizing time of your lives, where you have so many new opportunities to experience and new people to meet. So for the next 2-4 years, say yes. Do stuff that scares you. Go outside and move your body. Character and attitude matter more than hard skills.
I look forward to seeing your confident, driven, risk-taking, problem-solving, happy, well-rounded selves in my applicant pool when you graduate college. Good luck!”
(Top row, l-r) Jackson Stranahan, Isla McCollum, Ethan McWilliams, Lennox Franks, RP Johnson, Mrs. Adele Showalter, Adit Gupta, Olivia Arthur, Jackson Showalter, Alivia Runz, and Wylie Keegan. Commencement speaker and Director of ShoreRivers, Isabel Hardesty.
(Middle row, l-r) Mrs. Janell Frederick and Jackson Frederick. Preston Allen and Benta Owino. Ezra Lillie and Katherine Sadler.
(Bottom row, l-r) Lydia Davis ’21, Allison Davis ’25, Mr. Lewis, Baby Davis, Catherine Davis ’12 and Elizabeth Davis ’14. Mr. Lewis and Elizabeth Pupke.
(Above, right) Tori Nessly and Ellery Philippon.
Mr. Lewis and Gunston’s Chair of the Board Joe Janney, P’21 then presented each graduate with their diploma, individually handcrafted by faculty member Michael Kaylor on an antique letterpress.
Embarkation & Convocation
The Gunston School opened its 115th academic year on Tuesday, September 2, with its annual Embarkation tradition, welcoming a record 84 new students along with eight new faculty and staff members. After exchanging a handshake with Head of School John Lewis, newcomers signed the school’s Honor Code, known as the “Responsibilities of the Community” and made their way up the hill to greet fellow students and current staff and faculty. Parents and family members were invited to watch from the shoreline as students arrived.
In all, 15 boats made their way down the Corsica River to Gunston’s docks, each captained by parent and community volunteers. Once all new students and staff arrived by boat, they made their way to the Field House for Convocation where they were greeted by Student Body President Eamon Schopfer ’26. After ringing an antique bell from Gunston’s days as an all-girls boarding school, Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis declared, “Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year!”
A special thanks to volunteer boat captains Stanley Dunn, P’29, Mat Bird, P’29, Ed Schut, P’17’21’22’24’26, Creg Fleetwood, Megan Owings, P’29, Will Gordon, P’28’29, Ken Nyczaj, John Chiochetti, P’27’27, Matt Spedden, Michael Crandall, Kevin White, P’29, Mike Pugh, P’29, Kate Larrimore ’16 and Simon Kelly ’06.
(Above) Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis rings the bell to signal the beginning of the academic year.
Gunston welcomed several new faculty, staff, and board members for the 20252026 academic year. Nicole Benner joins the English department from North Dorchester High School, where she taught AP Literature and Composition. Beyond the classroom, she has served as a senior class co-advisor, fitness coach, and choreographer. She earned a B.A. in English and Psychology from Penn State and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching from Goucher College.
Brent Cernak serves as our new Director of Technology, responsible for student and faculty support, campus hardware and software, and network policy. He brings valuable technical experience to the role, most recently having worked at the Dixon Group in Chestertown. He earned a B.S. from Salisbury University.
members and emeriti of the board gathered for Trustee Day in November. (first row, l-r) Stoney Duffey ’54, P’88’88, GP’18’21’23’23’25’28, Justin Nonemaker, P’27’29, Betsy McCown, P’11, Pat Parkhurst ’88, P’18’21’23 and Jim Shifrin, P’21’21. (second row, l-r): Tim Faff, P’23’26’29, Ildi Watkins, P’26’28, Chris McClary, P’21’23, Head of School John Lewis, P’29, Tom Hipp, and Jill Caron, P’17. Not pictured: Megan Cook, P’22’24, Joe Janney, P’21, and Dr. Nina Wagner-Johnston, P’23’24.
Kevin Dachille joins the Math Department, having transitioned to education five years ago following a career in finance. He most recently taught at the Cristo Rey School in Baltimore, where he also served as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach and Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach. He earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master in Finance from Loyola University.
Erin De Falco joins as the Associate Athletic Director, where she oversees Waterfront Athletics and serves as the School Transportation Coordinator. She comes to Gunston from the Severn School, where she managed a wide array of athletic leadership responsibilities, including operations, IAAM/MIAA scheduling, and social media for 17 years. She also brings professional sports experience, having worked for three years with the Washington Commanders managing gameday operations and guest services. A decorated Division III All-American lacrosse player at Salisbury University, Mrs. De Falco holds a Master’s degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University.
Delaney Rizzuto is responsible for coordinating major Gunston events, including Embarkation and Graduation, while keeping alumni connected to the school. She previously served as the Group Services Coordinator at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and worked at the James Monroe Museum in Virginia. She earned a B.A. in History and American Studies from the University of Mary Washington.
Katie Lowman joins the team as the Associate Director of College Guidance. With a background in English education and extensive experience as a college guidance tutor, she
assists students through every stage of the application and recruiting process. She earned a B.A. in English and Fine Arts from Loyola University Maryland and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Notre Dame of Maryland University.
In addition to our new staff, we are pleased to welcome three distinguished members to our Board of Trustees. Tom Hipp joins the Finance Committee following a 32-year career in financial services. He earned a B.A. in Economics from Denison University and currently serves on the board of the HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy.
Justin Nonemaker, P’27’29, a co-founding partner of ShoreGate Partners, brings deep expertise in real estate and private equity, including experience with Goldman Sachs. He earned a B.A. in Economics and Spanish from Colgate University and previously served as Board Chair for The Country School.
Ildikó (Ildi) Watkins, P’26’28, joins the Advancement Committee following a career as a Deputy Director at the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute. She earned a B.Sc. from the Budapest University of Economics and Business, a B.Ed. from Eötvös Lóránd University, and an M.A. in Organizational Management from The George Washington University.
Current
The Gunston Parents’ Association fosters a vital partnership between parents/guardians and the school by promoting open communication, parent education, and community interaction through a multitude of programs and activities. In addition to GPA officers, class representatives provide grade-level support for students and parents and work to welcome new families. Our GPA is passionate about supporting the students, faculty, and staff both on and off campus. Every parent is an automatic member of the GPA and is invited to attend all meetings and participate in discussions. Here are just a few ways the GPA supports the school:
SUMMER/FALL
• Boat Captains for Embarkation and Disembarkation
• New Parent Orientation
• Annual GPA Tailgate/Picnic
• Admissions Ambassadors (welcoming new families)
• Teacher Appreciation Event (fall)
• Event Support for the Bull & Oyster Roast including day-of volunteering with set-up, break down, check-in, soliciting sponsorships, securing auction items and more!
WINTER/SPRING
• Teacher Appreciation Event (spring)
• Event Support for Golfing Fore Gunston and the Heron Pickleball Tournament
• Career Talks with Students YEAR-ROUND
• Support for student events such as Homecoming, Spring Formal, and other dances
• Heron Fund Parent Representatives (fundraising)
• Administrative assistance (helping at the front desk, answering phones, stuffing envelopes, creating decorations, writing thank you notes, etc.)
• Event support for smaller events such as Open Mic Nights, Night of the Arts, the annual Gunston Players’ theater production, In Celebration of Books, and other small social events throughout the year
• Class coverage and substitute teaching
• Athletics (organizing tailgates and snacks, transportation, assisting with coaching and record keeping)
• Professional services including photography, videography, landscaping, auctioneer services etc. We have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the school year, at school and at home.
2024-2025 GPA Appreciation Luncheon, (front row, l-r) Gabi Morgan, P’26, Holly Allison, P’25, Marissa Wallie, P’25’27, Jen Franks, P’25, Nicole Conner P’26. (standing, l-r) Melanie McMahan P’27’29, Ildi Watkins, P’26’28, GPA Coordinator Trish Rudolfs, P’18’20, Julie Kille P’25, Joanna Pierce, P’26, Bethany Thomas P’23’26’28 and Leslie Quirion P’26.
(top left) Dawn Hoelz, P’28 and Lori Day, P’24’26 prepare decorations for the Bull &
(top
Alaina McDermott, P’28 and Stella
P’28 help out with a teacher appreciation event. (bottom left) Sarah Philippon P’25’27, Joanna Pierce ’26, Head of School John Lewis, and Ildi Watkins, P’28’26. (bottom right) Melanie McMahan, P’27’28 volunteered during the recent My Gunston Valentine fundraiser.
Oyster Roast.
right)
Dreeke,
Women’s Beginners:
Leigh Halkerston & Mary Bergmann
The second annual Heron Pickleball Tournament chaired by Kellen McCluskey, P’21’23’25 was held on Sunday, April 13, 2025 on the school’s tennis courts, raising just over $13,000 for the athletics program! A total of 60 players, alongside staff, parent, and student volunteers, participated in the tournament, which featured double elimination brackets, with many more fans and spectators on the sidelines to show their support. REGISTER NOW! April 18, 2026: gunston.org/pickleball26
first for the Women’s/Mixed category was
Frederick
first for
and
The Golfing “fore” Gunston VI fundraiser took place on May 2, 2025 at Queenstown Harbor, chaired by Brigitte Stranahan, P’25’27. More than 80 golfers and 25 sponsors raised $40,000 for the school’s annual giving program, supporting the students and faculty of Gunston. Golfers began at 9 a.m. and enjoyed a lunch cookout at the Turn as well as refreshments and snacks throughout the day. After finishing 18 holes, golfers gathered for an awards ceremony.
REGISTER NOW! May 1, 2026: gunston.org/golf26
Placing
the “Fred
Team” of (l-r) Julie Dixon, Janell Frederick, P’23’25, Liz Brinster,
Bonnie Castille. Julie Dixon was also the winner of Women’s Longest drive and Closest to the Pin.
Placing
the Men’s category was the “Angry Birdies,” with John Caron, P’17, Curtis Biggs, Jim Shifrin, P’21’21, and Brian Zottarelli, P’25’27.
Thank you to Golf Event Chair Brigitte Stranahan, P’25’27, pictured second from left with husband Dr. Donald Stranahan, and Kim and Craig Zwobot.
Women’s Intermediate: Laura Downes & Kim Seidel
Men’s Intermediate: Patrick O’Brien & Gary Shenk, P’28
Men’s Intermediate/Advanced: Matt Hall & Ben Herr, P’28
Mixed Intermediate: Patrick O’Brien & Lina Mazeina
Mixed Advanced: Fred Sjoelin & Maura Majeski
The 10th Bull & Oyster Roast on October 18, 2025 welcomed more than 220 guests. Chaired by Melanie & Nash McMahan, P’27’28, the event was dedicated to funding a crucial overhaul of the school’s rural campus technology infrastructure. The event generated more than $73,100 through sponsorships, raffle tickets, and general event income. The live and silent auctions contributed $35,000, and the highlight of the evening was the direct-giving “Raise the Paddle” segment, which alone generated an impressive $45,000, bringing the total gross funds raised to just over $150,000. The live auction was led by auctioneer Woody Dunstan, P’24.
SAVE-THE-DATE: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Thank you to Bull Roast Chairs Nash & Melanie McMahan, P’27’28 pictured center with Ryan Snow (left) and Jamie Riccio Haddaway.
Katie & Will Telligman, P ’29, Derek & Dawn Hoelz P’28, and Rob Forloney and Katherine Binder, P ’29’29.
Head of Kent School Nancy Mugele, Executive Director of AIMS Peter Baily, Gunston’s Head of School John Lewis, and Radcliffe Creek’s Head of School Dr. Jenn Durham.
Donna Lunn Ray, Stephen Shenk, P’11’15 and Susan Willock. James, P’20’25 & MacCallum Borghardt ’20.
Elaine & Scott Rensberger, P’29. Barb & Vinny Perez ’29 were the evening’s big winners of the “Best of Live Auction” Raffle.
Ricardo & Meghan Roman, P’27 and Gary and Kelly Shenk P’28.
Lesley & Tim Faff, P’23’26’29 consider the PRS guitar during the live auction with auctioneer Woody Dunstan, P’24.
Nicola Smith-Kea and Howard Kea, P’29. Alaina & Brad McDermott, P’28.
Gunston Earns National Academic Honors
Over the last year, Gunston has reached several significant milestones in its college preparatory program, ranging from school-wide rankings to individual student achievements.
Gunston Joins Top 7% of Schools
Nationally with AP Platinum Honors
The College Board named Gunston to the 2025 AP School Honor Roll at the Platinum level. This is the highest distinction awarded by the program, placing Gunston among the top 7% of participating schools nationally.
To become an AP Platinum school, high schools must meet rigorous College Board AP School Honor Roll criteria: at least 80% of seniors must take at least one AP exam, 50% or more must score a 3 or higher, and 15% must take five or more AP exams, with at least one taken in 9th or 10th grade.
New AP Cybersecurity Pilot
Gunston has been selected as a pilot site for the College Board’s new AP Cybersecurity course. Part of the “Career Kickstart” initiative, the course is currently being offered during the 2025-2026 school year, a full year before its national release. As a pilot participant, Gunston will work with industry partners like Cisco and CYBER.ORG to provide students with early access to digital security curriculum and professional certification opportunities.
National Merit & College Board Recognition
Four members of the Class of 2026— (pictured l-r)
Kate Andrews, Eamon Schopfer, Arlo Badger, and Lucas Watkins with Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis and Head of School John Lewis—were named Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Additionally, ten students received College Board National Recognition Awards, which highlight academic excellence among students from diverse backgrounds, including first-generation and rural/small-town categories. The recipients include: Kate Andrews ’26, Jed Cohen ’26, Kennedy Cooper ’27, Emery Day ’26, Gianni Figliozzi ’26, AJ Friedrich ’27, Conner Joyce ’26, Sydney Kim ’26, Jack Owens ’27, and Lucas Watkins ’26.
AP Scholars
A total of 34 students were recognized for their performance on the 2024 AP exams:
Scholars with Distinction: Lily Brantner ’25, Emery Day ’26, Elena Fraser ’25, Brayden Hamm ’25, Trevor Janssen ’25, Conner Joyce ’26, Justin McCubbin ’25, Elijah Moore ’25, Margaret Randolph ’25, and Lucas Watkins ’26
Scholars with Honor: Kate Andrews ’26, Annabelle Baker ’25, Jed Cohen ’26, Victoria MacGlashan ’25, Vee McCluskey ’25, Isla McCollum ’25, Ethan McWilliams ’25, and Eamon Schopfer ’26.
AP Scholars: Alex Bent ’25, Allison Davis ’25, Alex Elfenbein ’25, Lennox Franks ’25, Adit Gupta ’25, Grace Hanlon ’25, Eleonor Hubbert ’25, Logan Kille ’25, Sydney Kim ’26, Louise Mulock ’25, Alivia Runz ’25, Evelyn Russ ’25, Kate Seybert ’25, Zachary Steinberg ’25, Mia Walker ’25, and Lily Weny ’26.
Pictured bottom from left, Gianni Figliozzi ’26, Arya Shajwani ’26 and Mrs. Emily Coffey.
Gunston brought home first place at the 2025 Salisbury University’s Annual Eastern Shore High School Computer Programming Competition . The team, Justin McCubbin ’25, who also claimed first place in the individual challenge, Eli Moore ’25 and Lucas Watkins ’26 are pictured left to right above.
Gunston’s Mid-Shore College Fair, a cornerstone of our personalized college guidance program, was a phenomenal success! The October event attracted record participation from students, parents, and college representatives alike, with 160 students and their families representing 13 different high schools. This free community event had 68 institutions in attendance and offered two Financial Planning Sessions. The colleges and universities represented a full spectrum of sizes, missions, and geographic locations relative to the Mid-Shore.
Heron Athletics: A Year of Historic Heights
For Gunston Athletics, 2025 was a year defined by record-breaking participation and a significant leveling up across both the ESIAC and MIAA conferences. With nearly 93% of the student body competing, the Herons didn’t just participate—they rewrote the record books and solidified the “Nest” as a regional powerhouse.
Spring 2025
The spring saw Gunston’s boys’ programs make a definitive statement in their new conference home. Boys’ Lacrosse delivered a defensive masterclass, dropping their goals-allowed average from 9 to just 6 per game. They secured a winning conference record and a gritty 6-4 quarterfinal upset to reach the MIAA Semifinals. Boys’ Tennis mirrored this effort, going 7-3 overall and also battling their way to the MIAA Semifinals. In Golf, RP Johnson ’25 highlighted the season by finishing 3rd overall in the MIAA C Conference Individual Tournament.
The girls’ programs continued their dominance as Girls’ Tennis captured its third consecutive ESIAC Championship, with Player of the Year Elena Fraser ’25 becoming the first Heron to win the honor, while the doubles team of Kate Andrews ’26 and Eleonor Hubbert ’26 became the school’s first back-to-back champions. (pictured top right). Adding to the season's excitement, Gunston also debuted its brand new Varsity Pickleball team!
Fall 2025
The fall of 2025 was the most decorated season in Gunston history, bringing home three major ESIAC trophies and boasting three Players of the Year:
• Volleyball: In just their fifth year, Varsity Volleyball captured their first-ever ESIAC Championship with a dominant 14-1 record, led by ESIAC Player of the Year Liv Labrador ’27. (pictured second from top)
• Girls’ Soccer: After a 20-year wait, the Herons claimed the ESIAC Championship. The team featured a defense that went 400 minutes without conceding a goal, anchored by ESIAC Player of the Year Ellie Roberts ’25. (pictured third from top)
• Cross Country: The girls’ team secured back-to-back ESIAC titles, proving to be the most consistent program in the conference. (pictured bottom right)
• Field Hockey: Ranked in the top 20 statewide, the team finished as ESIAC Runners-Up. Captain Layla Kent ’26 joined the elite 60-career-goal club and was named ESIAC Player of the Year.
Additionally, in only their second year in the MIAA, Varsity Boys Soccer finished 3rd in the conference with a 6-2 record.
Winter 2025
The momentum carried into the winter as the Girls’ Swim team broke five school records—including the 400 Freestyle Relay— on their way to a 2nd place ESIAC finish. The Boys’ Swim team finished a strong 4th at the MIAA Championships, with Dylan Kroncke ’27 earning a silver medal in the 200 Free.
On the court, Girls’ Basketball reached the ESIAC playoffs for a record fifth consecutive year. Layla Kent ’26 capped her incredible year by leading the state of Maryland in steals (7.3 per game). The Boys’ Basketball program continued its growth, highlighted by a gritty defensive victory over Salisbury Christian.
On the water, Crew took home gold in both the Men’s Varsity and 2nd Varsity Fours (pictured below) at the Maryland State Championships, while Sailing finished the season ranked 7th at the Silver Mid Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association (MASSA), increasing their standings out of 30 varsity teams across the state of Maryland.
We also celebrated our graduating seniors who competed in their final seasons this year. Their leadership facilitated this transition into the MIAA and helped secure the most championship banners in a single year in school history!
R.P. Johnson ’25 signed his letter of intent to play golf at Washington College during a ceremony last May (after publication of the 2025 Multum). RP joined four classmates from the Class of 2025 to go on to play sports at the college level. For the Class of 2026, our college-bound athletes include Layla Kent, who will be playing Field Hockey for Salisbury University, and Colin Buckley, who will be playing lacrosse for SUNY Maritime College.
ROWING & FITNESS CAMP
August 3 – 7th | Ages 13-18
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | $200
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 3 pm & Friday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | $350
Designed for athletes of all experience levels, the camp features three specialized tracks:
• Beginner: A focus on rowing fundamentals, water safety, and basic technique.
• Experienced: Advanced skill refinement, race preparation, and performance goals.
• Fitness: General body conditioning and endurance using rowing as a full-body workout.
Register online at gunston.org/rowingcamp
YEAR 2025
ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
ESIAC Players of the Year: Layla Kent ’26 (Field Hockey), Ellie Roberts ’28 (Soccer), Liv Labrador ’27 (Volleyball), and Elena Fraser ’25 (Tennis).
Girls’ Lacrosse Team: Elena Szwaja ’27, Layla Kent ’26, Grace Shepherd ’25 and Honorable Mention: Brynn Roberts ’27
Girls’ Tennis Team: Elena Fraser ’25, Kate Andrews ’26, Eleonor Hubbert ’26 and Honorable Mention Zoey Loveless ’28.
Girls’ Cross Country: Elea Oehme ’28, Peri Overton ’27, Phoebe Fritz ’28 and Honorable Mention Lily Weny ’26.
Volleyball: Liv Labrador ’27, Emma Nkanza ’26, Scotia Hopper ’27, Alie Merkle ’28, and Honorable Mention Addison Coldwell ’28.
Girls’ Soccer: Abby Philippon ’27, Olivia Blusk ’27, Reagan Johnson ’28, Ellie Roberts ’28, Hannah Mae Conner ’26, Brynn Roberts ’27, and Honorable Mention Addison Temple ’28.
Girls’ Basketball: Layla Kent ’26, Eleanor Owings ’29. and Honorable Mention Kate Zottarelli ’27.
Field Hockey: Elena Szwaja ’27, Izzy Labrador ’28, Gabi Shepherd ’27, Layla Kent ’26, and Genevieve Baughman ’26.
Girls’ Swimming: Emma Morris ’26, Ali Workman ’29, Bridget Walden ’28 and Honorable Mention Peri Overton ’27.
Golf Team: RP Johnson ’25 and Alex Elfenbein ’25.
Boys’ Lacrosse: Bennett Wirts ’25, Evan Zottarelli ’25 and Riley Walker ’25.
Boys’ Soccer: Ethan Harper ’26, Van Topjian ’26, and Dylan Kroncke ’27.
Boys’ Basketball: Amir Williams ’26.
Much in Little Reimagined: Beyond Academics
At Gunston, a club or extracurricular activity is not merely a line item on a college application; it is a manifestation of the school’s ethos. Clubs are a central place where students can belong with like-minded classmates and share meaningful experiences. This sense of belonging is the fertile soil in which leadership grows. In these spaces, students are encouraged to build hard and soft skills, from the technical aspects of digital photography to the nuance of parliamentary procedure. Whether it’s a service project or a breakthrough in the robotics lab, clubs provide the autonomy to see a vision through to completion.
By integrating these groups into the fabric of the school day, we reinforce the notion that a student’s passions are not “extra”—they are essential.
“Gunston’s history of clubs pre-dates my arrival, but when I started in 1984, the clubs program was much like our motto, ‘Much in Little,’” recalls Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis. “With 90 students, we had a club for just about every interest. Clubs met during the tutorial period, which was after lunch. I led the French club and later became the advisor of the Honor Court. Each special interest club had the expectation of designing school-wide activities through the year. As a boarding school, we had the time both during club and in the evenings to meet. The extra activities helped strengthen the community and fill the many long evening hours, especially in the winter.”
Clubs continued during the transition into a day school, but it was challenging to find meeting times and it was often necessary to steal time from a lab or tutorial period, or even meet after school. Clubs in their current form took root around 2013 when Gunston moved to a new 6-daily schedule on campus. This created a space for the first “ACT” period which included advisory, clubs, and tutorial, and in that time period, clubs have increased three-fold, along with the school’s budget to fund these activities. While some club activities require a fee to help offset some of the cost, most of the $30,000 per year funding comes from donations to the Heron Annual Fund.
“We want all of our students to be able to participate,” explains Head of School John Lewis. “We try to subsidize as much as possible, wherever possible, so that every student can join in, regardless of their ability to pay for a hotel room or a flight to a competition.”
THE INNOVATORS
In the Science & Engineering Club, the work is breathtakingly complex. Perhaps the most visible of all programs, it offers students the chance to touch the edge of space.
The Near Space Balloon Project involves attaching cameras and sensors to a weather balloon and sending it 20 miles into the stratosphere—above 99.9% of the atmosphere— before using HAM radio equipment to track and recover the payload.
The Rocketry Program takes this engineering challenge a step further. This year, four separate teams are competing in the American Rocketry Challenge. Unlike many programs, students do not use pre-made kits; they must design, build, and test their rockets from scratch. Two of these teams are tasked with the delicate mission of lifting an egg to a specific altitude and returning it to Earth undamaged.
(Opposite page) In their final competition on February 1 at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, the Robotics team climbed to 10th place out of 28 teams. They were honored with the Judges’ Choice Award, a prestigious nod to a team whose unique efforts and dynamics stand out beyond standard categories. (l-r) Blake Algier ’26, Logan Brock ’28, and Connor Joyce ’26. (Top right) Tai Davis ’28 and Eamon Schopfer ’26.
On the ground, the Robotics Team (“The Honey Nut Gearios”) represents the only team on the Eastern Shore in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). In this global program, students are tasked with designing, building, and programming a robot to compete in a complex, themed game. Unlike traditional science fairs, FTC operates like a professional sports league: teams must form strategic alliances, support STEM efforts in their local community, and present a professional “engineering portfolio” to expert judges.
This professional rigor extends to Model United Nations, an authentic simulation of the UN General Assembly and Security Council. Students step into the shoes of ambassadors to debate peace, security, and human rights. As delegates, Gunston students must navigate complex rules of procedure to mobilize international cooperation—skills they put to the test annually at national conferences. Meanwhile, in the Business & Investment Club, students hear from guest speakers from firms like INVESCO to explain deep value portfolio management and Porter’s Five Forces. Completing this strategic pillar, the Technology Club ensures that computer science and physics coexist, and STARS (Students Together in Astronomy Research & Studies) keeps the community looking upward with presentations on meteor showers and rocket launches.
THE INTELLECTUALS & LITIGATORS
For the Academic Team (also known as the “Nerd Squad”), the “ACT” period is just the beginning. The most dedicated members arrive at school before dawn to catch vans for regional tournaments, eventually qualifying for the national tournament in Chicago.
“I’ve made a lot of friends through my clubs, so I definitely think they are an important way of building a community within the school, especially if you’re a new student.”
- Kate Andrews ’26
In the courtroom, the Mock Trial Team tackles criminal and civil cases through the Maryland Youth and the Law (MYLAW) program. Students argue before actual judges, building the rhetorical skills and “dramatic talents” needed for careers in law and public service. This competitive spirit is mirrored in the Math Club, which explores concepts outside the standard curriculum, and the Chess Club, where students solve complex puzzles and compete for rank in a culture of “friendly competition.”
“Gunston Clubs, especially a club like Chess Club, gives Gunston students the opportunity to develop a sense of camaraderie, fellowship, and self-improvement. I think creating the space and time for students to do this is especially important for our students, whose schedules are often full and whose lives are often busy, busy, busy!” said club advisor Mr. Moe Weimer.
Addison Coldwell ’28, Marie-Louise Trinkner ’28, Jessalyn Tavenner ’28, Siroon Topjian ’27, (front row) Lizzy Chiochetti ’27, Lila McDermott ’28, Camilla Nonemaker ’27, Kennedy Cooper ’27, Liv Labrador ’27, Peri Overton ’27 and AJ Friedrich ’27. (back row)
Ida Mawad ’27, Jemima Shanks ’26, Maria Boone ’27, Dylan Chiochetti ’27, Teddy Verger ’27, Ben Watkins ’28, and Matt Walton ’27.
THE ADVOCATES & THE STEWARDS
Leadership at Gunston is deeply rooted in service. The Ambassadors for Belonging & Community (ABC) and the Gender Spectrum Alliance (GSA) are central to the school’s culture, organizing events like Civic Learning Day and the T.I.D.E. (Talking about Identity, Diversity, and Equity) book club.
“Clubs and extracurriculars allow students to see themselves as more than students, more than the grades that we receive on our report card. We’re actually tapping into our own personality, who we are as people. And
as we grow up, I feel like that’s
very
important
to be in tune with who we are.” - Marley Farmer ’27
The spirit of service extends both on and off campus. Inside the classroom, the First Response Club focuses on hands-on training in life-saving strategies, while out in the community, the GIVE (Gunston Initiates Volunteer Efforts) club raises over $2,000 annually for local and international charities. Similarly, the Christian Athletes Club bridges faith and sport, recently delivering Christmas gifts to 28 local families.
“Christian Athletes bridges the gap between faith and sport. We gather for group readings and move into student-led circles for deeper conversation. We believe in the power of praying together and supporting one another through
the highs and lows of competition. Victory is about more than the final score, it’s about who you are becoming,” said club advisor Mrs. Tammy Boone.
Environmental stewardship is led by the Environmental Club and the Youth Climate Institute (YCI), where students earn national certifications as climate ambassadors by leading community-level advocacy, bridging the gap between classroom science and real-world environmental action.
(top, l-r) Rilynn McMahan ’28, Jamie Tate ’28, Lila McDermott ’28, Olivia Blusk ’27, and Maddie Knight ’27 wrap presents for Christian Athletes Club. (bottom, l-r) Phoebe Fritz ’28, Lily Thomas ’28, Caroline Thomas ’26, Gianni Figliozzi ’26, and Sophie Pierce ’26 in CPR training.
Elizabeth Pupke ’25, Sydney Kim ’26, Camilla Nonemaker ’27, Lilly Showalter ’27, Wren Weingaertner ’26, Eleonor Hubbert ’26, Eamon Schopfer ’26, Phoebe Fritz ’28, Elena Szwaja ’27, Jack Houseknecht ’27, and Maria Boone ’27 on a trash pick-up for Youth Climate Institute.
THE CREATIVES & STORYTELLERS
For the artistically inclined, clubs offer an authentic outlet beyond the classroom. Debris, the school’s literary and arts magazine, gives writers and musicians a real audience for their work. While academic courses often focus on analysis and skill-building, Debris allows students to create for a real audience, which can often provide a more independent sense of purpose. The magazine encourages student voice, artistic risk taking, and creative confidence, while also teaching collaboration and revision through the editing process.
“Debris validates creative students, writers, artists, and musicians alike, by showing them that their work matters and deserves visibility,” said club advisor Ms. Larrimore ’16 (who was a member of the literary magazine club during her time at Gunston as a student!).
“I
joined
Debris so I could explore more of who I was. Clubs allow everyone to branch out and find these little parts of themselves that maybe they didn’t know about before.” -
Eamon Schopfer ’26
The Art Club allows for creative freedom in jewelry making and printmaking, while the Photography Club captures the spirit of campus for the yearbook. Film & Screenwriting encourages critical thinking through the lens of moving images.
“It’s important that students get to experience the freedom of creativity,” remarks club advisor Ms. Macauley. “It helps build problem solving and time management skills, as well as reinforce their individuality.”
The Gunston Players theater troupe has served as the creative heart of the performing arts department for many decades, offering students a comprehensive, hands-on experience that doesn’t just focus on acting. Students are immersed in every facet of the production, from set design and stage management to lighting and sound engineering. The Players are known for tackling a diverse repertoire ranging from Shakespearean classics to modern comedies (and most recently, the classic “Little Women”), fostering a tight-knit community where student leadership and artistic expression take center stage.
The Gunston Choir participates in Night of the Arts, Open Mic Night, the graduation ceremony, and participates in local festivals, including the Eastern Shore Arts Festival at Chesapeake College.
A COMMUNITY OF CARE
Not all clubs are about competition; some are about preservation. The Mental Health Awareness Club hosts Unity Day in October to promote bullying awareness and provides stress breaks during exam weeks. Their impact reaches into the broader community as well; members volunteer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) information booth at the Chestertown Farmers Market, representing the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. They also participate in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) “Out of the Darkness” Walk held annually in Easton, Md.
As Gunston continues to evolve, the “ACT” period remains a daily testament to the school’s belief that a student’s potential is limitless when given the space to explore. From the quiet strategy of a chess match to the roar of a student-engineered rocket, these programs do more than
fill time—they build the leaders, advocates, and creators of tomorrow. By investing in these passions, Gunston ensures that the spirit of “Much in Little” is not just a historical motto, but a living, breathing reality for every student. Whether they are reaching for the stratosphere or reaching out to a neighbor in need, Gunston students are proving that when you give a young person the autonomy to lead, they will surely find their way.
(top, l-r) Chloe Bennett ’28, Ellie Krafchik ’28 (at piano), Caroline Thomas ’26, and Lily Weny ’26 on stage in “Little Women.”
(bottom, l-r)
A recent cover of Gunston’s Literary Magazine, Debris Marley Farmer ’27 editing images in the photo lab.
Members of the Gunston Choir performing at the 2025 graduation ceremony led by Dr. Ryan Asprion with piano accompaniment by Ms. Avis Wheatley.
Annie Geng ’26, Jack Houseknecht ’27, Emily Steele ’26 and Susannah Clark ’26 volunteering at the annual Centreville Day in October.
Members of the Chess Club set up in the annex during ACT period.
A Tale of Two Watersheds :
The Power of Comparative Learning
Toward the end of every May at Gunston, something familiar happens which never feels routine. Students shoulder dry bags, apply sunscreen, grab field journals, and depart our campus in more than a dozen groups. They climb aboard historic boats. They drag seining nets through shallow water. For most students, they feel the air of the Chesapeake Bay as they dive into a dynamic week of experiential learning. Chesapeake Bay Studies exists for a simple reason: deep learning takes root when students feel connected to a place, to each other, and to the real stakes of the world they are about to lead. Since the program’s launch in the mid-1990’s, it has been shaped by a set of values that are both ambitious and grounded. We want students to build a deep, personal connection to the Chesapeake Bay and the natural world, and then to translate that connection into knowledge, empathy, and action.
We want environmental literacy to evolve beyond simple vocabulary words and into complex systems thinking around issues such as land use and water quality, biodiversity and invasive species, nutrient and sediment flows, and climate impacts and resilience. We want students to see how ecological health and human thriving are linked, and how decisions made in board rooms, kitchens, classrooms, and statehouses ripple into rivers, marshes, and communities, including Gunston’s 75-acre Corsica River campus.
Over the years, Bay Studies has evolved in many ways. It now exists as a four-course graduation requirement and in recent years, we have added an element that makes the program even more distinctive: Comparative Watershed Trips.
The Comparative Watershed Trip program was born in 2014 when former Bay Studies Director Emily Beck led a first-of-its-kind research expedition deep in the Peruvian Amazon, conducting field studies at the Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies.
The highlight of the visit was the station’s celebrated canopy walkway, a several-hundred-foot network of suspended platforms and bridges rising nearly 120 feet above the forest floor. Students drew names for the coveted top platform, Platform 6, where they watched the sun set over an unbroken green canopy while Swallow-tailed Kites soared on thermals below. The evening concluded with an after-dark walk to observe bioluminescent fungi glowing among the forest roots, which was an experience students described as “otherworldly.”
Even amidst tropical rain, the group’s research continued without pause. Students pursued independent projects across the forest’s varied ecosystems, including entomology observations, butterfly surveys, and bioacoustic recordings.
(opposite page) Gunston’s first Comparative Watershed Trip to the Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies in Peru. Photo by Emily Beck. (below) Students kayaking in the Florida Everglades.
Working alongside Jesse, a field educator from the Washington D.C.-based Rainforest Trust, students used professional recording equipment to capture and analyze bird calls at multiple canopy heights. The expedition marked the first time Gunston students had conducted this kind of hands-on, field-based scientific research in a tropical rainforest setting.
The main takeaway from that experiential Bay Studies trip was that comparative watershed experiences are uniquely transformative, and from there, the Comparative Watershed Trip program was born. Since then, students have traveled far and wide, from the rocky shores of Maine and Rhode Island to Florida Everglades, to New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta, with stops in Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina along the way.
This year students will explore Charleston, South Carolina — widely considered one of the most climate-vulnerable cities in the United States — paddling in Charleston Harbour, exploring barrier islands, visiting historical sites and tracing how climate shifts affect ecosystems and livelihoods. Meanwhile, students will also travel to the Grand Canyon and Colorado River Basin where the contrast is even starker: geology on a massive scale, a river system under intense pressure, and a region where water management is inseparable from history, politics, and cultural sovereignty.
The insight behind our Comparative Watershed Trip program is straightforward. Students can love the Chesapeake—and still misunderstand it—if they only ever see one watershed. Every region can start to feel “normal” when it’s the only case study you know. Comparison changes that. By visiting a different watershed and setting it beside the Chesapeake, students begin to recognize patterns and ask sharper questions.
What changes when the climate is different? When the geology is different? When land use is more urban, or more arid, or more forested? How do different economies shape water quality? How do governance systems help or hinder resilience? What does “stewardship” look like in a place where water is scarce, or warming is rapid, or the coastline is fragile?
This comparative lens does more than add variety, it also deepens understanding. Students return to the Chesapeake seeing it with new eyes. They notice what they had taken for granted. They recognize that watersheds are both ecological systems and human stories, and that solutions are never one-size-fits-all.
(opposite page) Students take in the view at the Grand Canyon. (right, from top) Students enjoying a crawfish boil in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Students gearing up to explore in Blue Hill, Maine. Students pause at the top of a mountain after a climb in the Shenandoah Valley of West Virginia.
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THE DATE! Saturday, October 3, 2026 is the 50th reunion for the class of 1976! (neighboring classes welcome to attend) NEW DATE TBD: April 2027 Alumni Weekend
This image taken by H. Robins Hollyday sometime in the 1950s-60s is titled “Gunston Hall Dance Party” and features a couple in what was then the front entrance of Middleton house (now the mail room). If you recognize the photo or anyone in it, let us know! Photo courtesy of the Talbot County Historical Society.
Mystery Photo
A Golden Reunion
The Class of 1975 Unearths Memories from a Time Capsule buried in 1971.
The Alice R. Ryan Family Library filled with laughter as the Class of 1975, joined by members from the classes of ’73 and ’74, gathered for their 50th Reunion this past September!
As alumnae gathered for dinner and drinks, a small metal box was laid on the table. Excavated earlier this year under the steps of the academic building during the porch renovation, the box turned out to be a time capsule, sealed since 1971. It contained a collection of items from each class that year.
As the capsule was opened for the first time in 54 years, it revealed five items including a handwritten letter written by Alice Ryan ’75 and signed by the 9th grade class, a poem entitled "Searching" from the sophomore and junior classes, a collage reflecting the style of the 1970s through magazine and newspaper clippings, and a blank application to Oxford University paired with a pretend diploma signed by former Head of School Paul Long, which drew immediate recognition and laughter. The remainder of the evening was spent enjoying a delicious dinner and combing through old yearbooks and photo albums while exchanging stories from years past!
The Letter: 9th Grade
To whom it may concern, we would like you to know what it is like to be alive and 15 in 1971. It is bluejeans and bare feet, football, baseball, popcorn and movies, horseback riding, water skiing, tennis, rabbits, dogs, cats, elephants, hippopotamuses, lion cubs, snow, snowball fights, building sand castles, riding bicycles, playing pianos, talking on the telephone, watching television and having friends. We hope your world is as great as ours is.
The Poem: “Searching”
Dazed with troubled times
We seek what is right
Confused and anxious
We make mistakes
Through this, solid character forms.
Yearning to share joys and sorrows
We find closeness in others
Look for knowledge and wisdom
We begin to find ourselves.
- Classes of 1973 & 1974
Head of School John Lewis, Linda (Covell) Riley ’75, Barbara Libersky Brendle ’75, Kim (Fischer) Stewart ’75, Hope Roybal ’75, Kitty (Spurry) Nelson ’74, Anne Whaley ’73, Anne (Crawford) Trumpler ’75, Susan (Newcomb) Wright ’75, Jenny Mellor ’75, Alice Ryan ’75, Jennie (Norris) Jacobs ’75, Christie (Drewes) Clarke ’75, and Susan Whaley ’75.
2003
Rita Baghdadi is an executive producer for the true-crime miniseries, Wild Boys: Strangers in Town, which premiered in February on Paramount+. The two-part documentary investigates the bizarre and captivating story of the "Bush Boys" a pair of brothers who mysteriously appeared in a small British Columbia town claiming to have been raised entirely in the wilderness. Based on the hit podcast Chameleon: Wild Boys, the series unravels the truth behind their origins and the global media storm that ensued.
2009
E.T. (Talley) Wilford (pictured above left with actor Ben VanNest) recently directed The Elephant Man at the Garfield Center for the Arts in Chestertown. Talley currently serves as the Artistic Director of Groove Theatre through the Factory Arts Project. For the Groove, he directed many productions including The Jungle Book, The Yellow Boat, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Torch Song. He also directed productions of Peter and the Starcatcher, The Rocky Horror Show and many of the Stephen Sondheim titles for various other theaters. Talley founded his own student-run theatre company in Easton at the age of 16 and returned every summer as a director for 8 years. After graduating from Shenandoah Conservatory with a BFA in Theatre for Youth, he served on the board of the Tred Avon Players for five years and has also been involved in other theaters all over the Eastern Shore.
From the Corsica to the Severn
Colin Lang ’22 Leads the Navy Heavyweights
Midshipman First Class Colin Lang ’22 is currently making a significant impact in his final year at the United States Naval Academy as Captain of the Navy Heavyweight Rowing Team. Colin was a standout force during his time at Gunston. A three-year varsity letter winner and three-time Team MVP, Colin left a lasting legacy by setting the school records for the fastest 2,000m and 5,000m ergs. His leadership was equally evident on campus, where he served as class president and student body treasurer.
Now representing the 30th Company ("Dirty Thirty"), Colin’s collegiate rowing career has been defined by elite competition:
• 2024: Competed in a seven-race campaign, earning a seat in the third varsity eight for the regular season, the Eastern Sprints, and the IRA National Championship.
• 2023: Raced with the fifth varsity eight, helping the crew secure a fourth-place finish at the Eastern Sprints.
In the classroom, Colin is a Foreign Area Studies (Russia) major, preparing for a career of service. When he isn't training or studying, he stays true to his Eastern Shore roots, enjoying fishing, duck hunting, skiing, and competitive clay target shooting. Alex Kincaid, current Head Coach at Washington College, coached Colin during his first year at the Academy and notes that his success is no surprise: “Colin was one of the finest athletes I have ever gotten to coach, and what made him special were all the intangibles he possessed. He was always hard-working, coachable, humble, and most of all a great teammate. All things I'm sure he developed while at Gunston.”
Go Herons and Go Navy!
Colin is pictured fourth from right. Photo courtesy of the USNA
IN COLLEGE
Alfred College
Samantha Lecrone Womens Rowing Monmouth University
Gunston Class of 2022
Jude Smith Mens Lacrosse High Point University
Gunston Class of 2022
Colin Lang Mens Heavyweight Rowing U S Naval Academy
Lucy Bamford Womens Golf Ursinus College
McKinsey Brown Womens Lacrosse SCAD
Gunston Class of 2023
Maren Kneeland Womens Rowing Holy Cross
Gunston Class of 2024
Grace Anne Phillips Sailing St Mary’s College
Gunston Class of 2023
Jonah Smith Mens Lacrosse Flagler College
Gunston Class of 2024
Sophia Kent Field Hockey & Lacrosse St. Mary’s College
Gunston Class of 2024
Liam Dickey Mens Rowing Ithaca
Gunston Class of 2024
Samantha Keith Womens Rowing Sacred Heart
Gunston Class of 2024
Damian Rene Swimming Swarthmore
Gunston Class of 2023
Tilghman Overton Swimming
Gunston Class of 2024 Macalester
Andrew Rich Swimming Florida State University
Gunston Class of 2023
Zoe Buzzelli Swimming Colby College
Gunston Class of 2024
Samantha Jayne Shotgun Club Univ. of Nebraska Lincoln
Gunston Class of 2024
Aidan Trautman Cross Country Emory and Henry Univ.
Gunston Class of 2023
Riley Walker Mens Lacrosse Lebanon Valley
Gunston Class of 2025
R.P. Johnson Golf Washington College
Gunston Class of 2025
Alex Bent Mens Rowing La Salle
Gunston Class of 2025
Aidan Watson Mens Lacrosse SCAD
Gunston Class of 2025
Grace Shepherd Field Hockey Central Michigan Univ
Gunston Class of 2025
class notes
2012
Yaozhi (George) Wang and his wife BeiBei Feng visited Gunston for the first time since graduating in 2012! George lives in Wuhan, China where he and his wife run a marketing firm specializing in promoting the automobile industry. George is pictured with Mrs. Grabis in 2012 (top) and with BeiBei, Mrs. Shepardson and Mrs. Grabis in 2026.
2017
Jared McLean is currently a Service Success Coach for the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation, following his service as an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader. A Salisbury University History alumnus with a background in the farming industry, Jared recently hit a major personal milestone: he married Alyssa De Las Salas this past June!
The Human Element:
Dr. Christina Bowman ’05 on finding her calling in psychiatry
For Christina Bowman, the path to a medical career wasn’t a straight line, but rather a steady evolution of finding where her curiosity about the human mind met the complex needs of the community. After graduating from Gunston, Christina took her interest in human behavior to the University of Maryland, College Park, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Neuroscience. Following a productive gap year of “soul-searching,” she decided to lean into her family heritage; as the daughter of two OB/GYNs, medicine had always been a quiet presence in her life. She enrolled at the American University of the Caribbean in Sint Maarten. While the location sounds like a permanent vacation, Christina remembers it as a true test of endurance, trading the island’s famous beaches for long hours in the library.
The true clarity of her mission arrived during her clinical rotations across the Northeast. As she moved between family medicine, surgery, and pediatrics, she began to notice a recurring pattern: she was consistently drawn to the patients whose struggles weren’t just physical. Whether it was a surgical patient dealing with depression or someone marginalized by the healthcare system, Christina found herself gravitating toward those navigating the intersection of mental and physical health. It was in those moments of connection that it became clear psychiatry was her true calling.
After completing her psychiatry residency at the University of Kansas, a major life milestone prompted her next move. Pregnant with her first son, Christina and her husband began to look for the ideal community to raise a family. The draw of the Eastern Shore—and the “priceless” benefit of having grandparents nearby—brought her back to the Easton area, where she now practices.
Reflecting on the rigors of medical training, Christina points to an unexpected source of strength: her Gunston Latin teacher, Mrs. Cunningham. Though she admits she didn’t appreciate it enough at the time, Mrs. Cunningham’s refusal to let her “get away with anything” pushed Christina to see a potential in herself that she hadn’t yet recognized. Today, as she supports her patients through their own mental health journeys, Christina remains grateful for those high standards— and, of course, she remains a fiercely loyal member of the Green Team!
2000 Varsity Field Hockey Team Inducted into Heron Athletics Hall of Fame
This past May, the legendary 2000 Varsity Field Hockey Team was inducted into Gunston’s Athletic Hall of Fame. This exceptional team carved their place in Gunston history with a dominant season, finishing with an impressive 13-3-2 record and clinching both the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference’s (ESIAC) regular season and tournament championships, a first for the newly-reincorporated Gunston Day School at the time. Not only was this their first season in the ESIAC, but it was also the first time Gunston had won a championship of any kind. They’re also the first team to be inducted into the hall of fame. Under the guidance of Coach Anita Gruss—who also won the ESIAC’s Coach of the Year Award in 2000—the field hockey team not only demonstrated athletic excellence but also set the standard for teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship. Captains Carrie Fredland ’01 (ESIAC Player of the Year), Rachael Osberger ’01, and Chrissie (Terpeluk) Parker ’01 (ESIAC Tournament MVP) led the team. The team’s success was widely recognized across the conference and region.
Seven players earned ESIAC All-Conference honors: Jenny Dey ’03, Carrie Fredland ’01, Rachael Osberger ’01, Shaw Strannahan ’02, Chrissie (Terpeluk) Parker ’01, Summer Veltman ’02, and Laura Williams ’03. Four players—Diana Jeffra ’01, Fletcher Johnson ’01, Shaw Strannahan ’02, and Chrissie (Terpeluk) Parker ’01—were named to the ESIAC All-Tournament Team. Parker also earned First Team honors on the Star Democrat All Mid-Shore Field Hockey Team, with Strannahan and Osberger named to the Second Team, and Fredland receiving Honorable Mention.
“The biggest part of this team’s success was our three captains, [Fredland, Osberger and Parker]. It was like having three assistant coaches, which was a luxury,” said Ms. Gruss. “They helped manage things and they believed in my plan and they supported it and the team one hundred percent.”
The full roster of the Hall of Fame inductees includes: Katie Willis ’01, Elizabeth Miller Walters ’01, Sarah Ross ’02, Katie Scott ’01, Cullen West Raphael ’01, Diana Jeffra ’01, Chrissie (Terpeluk) Parker ’01, Rachel Osberger ’01, Carrie Fredland ’01, Rita Baghdadi ’03, Cristina (Laggini) Mudge ’03, Ora Beth (Mika) Mills ’03, Summer Veltman ’02, Denise ’02, Katie (Graham) Phillips ’04, Megan (Moore) Dunne ’04, Fletcher Johnson ’01, Laura Williams ’03, Shaw Strannahan ’02, Lauren Breslin ’03, Jenny Dey ’03, and Coach Anita Gruss, who previously served as Gunston’s Director of Athletics for many years.
(Pictured from l-r) Head of School John Lewis, former Athletic Director and Field Hockey Coach Anita Gruss, Summer Veltman ’02, Carrie Fredland ’01, Fletcher Johnson ’01, Katie (Graham) Phillips ’04, Katie Willis ’01, Shaw Strannahan ’02, Jenny Dey ’03, and Gunston’s Athletic Director Josh Breto.
Connecting the Dots at Duke
2019
Samuel (Sam) Umidi gave the keynote address for the 2025 National Honor Society Induction ceremony at Gunston. Sam currently serves on Capitol Hill as a Research Assistant for the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship—the committee that originated the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which provided critical small business funding for payroll support during the pandemic. Sam generously continues to support Gunston students as a mentor, hosting Bay Studies students at the U.S. Senate and giving them a tour.
Si-Tong (Vicky) Zhou stopped by campus with fellow alumni Ni (Katherine) Chen and Qirui (Allen) Wang. Mrs. Grabis, Mr. Wiening, and Mr. Lewis enjoyed catching up with the group during their visit.
Gunston would like to extend a huge congratulations to Nellie (Stup) Pappalardo and husband Brad on getting married!
Evan Heisman ’05 celebrates a decade of storytelling for the community of one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions.
Morgan, Brixton, Macey and Evan Heisman.
After graduating from Gunston in 2005, Evan Heisman attended Juniata College, where he received his bachelor of arts in Communication. Located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, Juniata is in a scenic and rural area and, similar to Gunston, the school has a beloved, surprise annual tradition called “Mountain Day,” where classes are canceled and the entire campus community heads to Raystown Lake for outdoor fun, games (like tug-of-war!), swimming, food, and community building—a cherished event that began in 1896. Sound familiar?
Evan went on to earn his master of science in Management with a focus in Public Relations from the University of Maryland University College. His career path has taken him from working as a Montgomery County Senate Delegation Coordinator in Annapolis, to a role in student support services at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to Duke University.
“In my current role, I focus on marketing, public relations and strategic communications for a department of 500 to effectively share messages about campus projects and employee initiatives,” explains Evan, who serves as the Communications and Support Services Manager within Duke University’s Facilities Management Department. Duke’s vast 1,200-acre campus, which includes 325 buildings and 2 million square feet of space is one of the nation’s top-tier, complex campus environments and Evan’s role is essential for translating the technical work of utilities, grounds, and building maintenance into clear communications for the entire Duke community.
“One of the biggest challenges currently facing me and employees at major universities are federal funding cuts,” he adds, “leading to workforce reductions and creating a climate of uncertainty within higher education and the systems that support educational and scientific progress.” Even with its challenges, Evan thoroughly enjoys creating visual and written content that showcases his team’s hard work through storytelling.
He goes on to say, “Even before pursuing a career in communication, Gunston taught me the importance of understanding how messages sent differ from messages received because of lived experiences and backgrounds — a scenario all high school students eventually encounter.”
Favorite teachers during your time at Gunston?
“Just to name a few (the list could be much bigger!) — Catherine Cunningham, Glenn Michael, Mark Wiening and Ned Southworth.”
What Team?
“White Team!!! My favorite activities were capture the flag and the mile run.”
Fun Gunston Memory:
“One memory that comes to mind from senior year was spending a week on the skipjack Elsworth for Bay Studies with some of my closest friends. We got caught in a wild storm and our sleeping area felt like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean — with lightning, crashing waves and strong winds. We had fun bonding over the slightly terrifying experience and returned to shore the following day to a submerged dock.”
The annual Alumni Hoopsgiving took place this past November, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
(pictured left to right) Sawyer Hightower ’26, Nooné Topjian ’28, Layla Kent ’26, MaLou Trinkner ’28, Zac Gray ’29, Van Topjian ’26, Max René ’28, Ben Simon ’26, Head of School John Lewis, Lucas LaFleur ’24, Mekonnen Sahle-Selassie ’23, Sophia Kent ’24, Bennett Wirts ’25, Zach Steinberg ’25, Ranger HIghtower ’21, J. Smith, and Cooper Hightower ’23.
From the Potomac to the Peaks
Drew Hightower ’17 and the Seven Summits
As the eldest of five boys, Drew has always been a trailblazer. Now, the trail he’s chiseling (with an ice axe) is a path toward the world’s most challenging peaks: the seven summits of the Big Seven. By day, Drew works for the family business, Highstarr Copy and Print Services, based in Annapolis.
Putting his degrees in business management and marketing from Palm Beach Atlantic University to good use, Drew interacts with clients across dozens of industries, integrating physical manufacturing and technical marketing solutions, which ensures that no two days at work are the same. An avid outdoors enthusiast, Drew also founded his own business, Rush Hour Fishing, where he sells his patent-pending vehicle fishing rod storage racks.
While he’s always been a fan of adventure-style traveling and what he calls “type 2 fun”— used to refer to activities which can be miserable, difficult, or uncomfortable while you are experiencing it, but deeply rewarding and enjoyable in retrospect — it wasn’t until he read “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” by Ernest Hemingway that, in his own words, he “became obsessed and read everything I could on climbing. Within a year, I was boarding a plane for Africa.” Up until that point, the highest thing he’d ever climbed was a hill during a Bay Studies trip in the 9th grade to explore the Potomac river.
Drew recalled a quote from British mountaineer George Mallory, famous for his three early expeditions to Mount Everest in the 1920s. Mallory was asked by a reporter why he wanted to summit Everest, and he simply replied: “Because it’s there.”
“I, myself, am no Mallory, nor ever will be,” said Drew. “But the statement is the same. I wanted to climb Kilimanjaro because it’s there. It’s an adventure, and I have a deep love for exploration in God’s creation.”
In the year leading up to his first climb in 2024 (Kilimanjaro), Drew began lifting weights and walking with an 85-100 lb backpack and full climbing gear, often at night, making it as cold as possible to mimic the conditions he’d face. “I needed to feel comfortable that I could do pull-ups in a full kit in the event I needed to self-arrest.” The term “self-arresting” describes a critical safety technique in snow and ice climbing. It refers to the act of immediately stopping a slide or a fall down a slope using an ice axe, and requiring a massive exertion of strength against gravity. He also had to pack on the pounds. Looking back, he concedes that the hardest part of training was eating.
“I lost 10 lbs in 8 days on Kilimanjaro and 18lbs in 20 days on Aconcagua. Going into those trips with weight to lose was crucial for success.”
With the help of guide services, Drew climbed Kilimanjaro with fellow Gunston alum David Rogers ’16. However, for Aconcagua, he went alone. “The vast majority of climbers I met on Aconcagua were there alone. Apparently, it’s hard to convince friends to join you on a 20-day climb of a hill with the nickname ’mountain of death.’ Our group consisted of 12 climbers and 3 extremely talented guides. By our summit bid, 6 members remained, and 4 of us were able to summit the mountain.”
The climb was brutal. The summit of Aconcagua in Argentina is 22,841 feet, making it the tallest mountain in the world outside of Asia. Sleeping at an altitude with only 41% of the oxygen available at sea level made even basic movement difficult. Combine low oxygen with the rough terrain, freezing cold temperatures of -30° and biting wind, just making it to the summit is an accomplishment in and of itself, a perfect “type 2” activity. The climb to the summit was 12 hours, and the stamina required is not something every human body can muster.
“Unfortunately, on both climbs I was on, people lost their lives. They were not in my expedition, but were attempting on their own,” recalled Drew. Many fall prey to pulmonary edema (lungs fill with fluid), or frostbite, which commonly affects the face, toes, and fingers. Other members of his group went temporarily blind due to the cold. Drew bled through his socks, with wounds down to the muscle.
“All this being said. I absolutely loved it, and hope someday to do it again. The world melts away in the days, trying to
survive. Danger is present, and much can go wrong, but in the hour-to-hour of a trip on the mountain, you are safe most of the time.”
Drew’s strong faith kept him going through the hardest nights. He credits “Jesus, my guides and porters, and Tolkien. In that order,” for helping him push through to the summit. He credits his faith for pushing him farther than any amount of muscle ever could. “I never felt alone, but rather walking with Christ, creating a sense of calm, no matter the situation.”
He is also deeply grateful for the guides and porters who carried heavy loads up to base camp and made crucial recommendations for gear, weather, and served as the outlook for their safety. Lastly, listening to both The Hobbit and all of The Lord of the Rings during his 20 days of walking (with the logic being that the characters of the book were also on a long walk), helped to pass the time.
“Gunston helped me fall in love with reading, which is one of the greatest gifts anyone can be given by their alma mater,” said Drew. “However, the most tangible story from Gunston that aided me on alpine accents would be rowing with Coach Stimpson. I remember freezing on the crew boat with ice still in the river. Coach would say on a day with any bad weather, ’There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.’ Something that replayed in my mind several times, wrapped in a sleeping bag in -40 weather during a heavy storm.”
As for what’s next, Drew has his sights set on Denali in the coming years, the highest mountain peak in North America. Drew did have one final thing to say and that is “GO WHITE TEAM!”
Drew Hightower (left) with David Rogers ’16 (right) climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern Tanzania.
class notes
2020
Congratulations to Andrew Amygdalos, who was accepted into Case Western Reserve University Law School, class of 2028.
2021
Congratulations to Jack Pigman, Hannah Beckman, and Max Brady who graduated from Elizabethtown College last spring. Also in attendance were James Fordi and Emma McClary . Jack accepted a position with Teach for America and will be focusing on special education in Philadelphia.
Severin Schut completed his first semester of teaching in Paraguay with the Peace Corps. Severin is working with his students on computer science and business development.
2022
Huge congratulations to Ainsleigh Pocock , a current student at Virginia Tech, for getting accepted into the Disney College Program! After working toward this goal for over eight years, Ainsleigh will be heading to the parks on August 31st to start “making magic” for others.
2023
Congratulations to Catherine Hansen for Graduating from Full Sail University in just 2 years (that’s 120 credits in 22 months) AND as the Salutatorian! Catherine graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science, majoring in Graphic Design and currently is a freelance automotive photographer. Find her photos on Instagram @cth333_.
IN MEMORY OF
Jane H. Riley ’68 passed away peacefully on November 14, 2025, at the age of 76. A devoted wife of 54 years to her husband, Athol, Jane began her journey in New Zealand before settling in Pennsauken to raise her family. Remembered for her gentle spirit and nurturing presence, Jane is survived by her husband, her children James and Katherine, and her brother Peter.
Elizabeth “Wizzie/Wiz/Liz” Drayton Hopkins ’84 passed away on November 14, 2025, at the age of 61. After finding her "mojo" at Gunston and forming lifelong friendships, Elizabeth graduated from Centenary University and enjoyed a successful 25-year career at Powers, Craft, Parker and Beard. A passionate self-taught photographer and dedicated Philadelphia sports fan, she was known for her kindness, her "silly" sense of humor, and her love for the Philadelphia Flower Show. Elizabeth is survived by her mother, Bessy, and siblings Stockton and Mary.
From Spanish Class to Soil Health
The Return of Dani Winters ’07
For many young people growing up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, success is often defined by how far away you can get. For Danielle “Dani” Winters ’07, that journey took her across the Atlantic to the cobblestone streets of Seville, through the halls of Vanderbilt University, and into a decade-long career in education. But sometimes, the most adventurous path isn’t the one that leads away—it’s the one that leads back home. Today, Dani is the founder of Winters Farm Florals, a thriving sustainable flower farm in Salisbury, but her path from Gunston graduate to agricultural entrepreneur was anything but linear.
After graduating from Gunston in 2007, Dani headed to the University of Richmond. Inspired by her high school Spanish teacher, Ms. McComas, Dani pursued a double major in Spanish and Education. Her twenties included a transformative year in Spain and summers spent working in Ocean City, NJ. She spent seven years teaching, eventually rising to become the Dean of Students at The Salisbury School and spent her summers taking courses and traveling to Spain, Uruguay, Scandinavia, Costa Rica, France, Morocco/ Gibraltar, Portugal, Martinique, the Netherlands, and Australia. In 2017, she applied to Vanderbilt University’s Independent School Leadership Program and spent two summers in Nashville working on her Master’s in Education. Yet, as she entered her 30s, a restless realization set in: she was outgrowing the classroom, and her roots were calling her.
In 2019, Dani returned to her family’s grain farm in Kennedyville to work under her father’s expertise.
“Stopping to honestly and fearlessly reevaluate my career path opened up a thousand ideas I had never really allowed myself to entertain before, and like pulling a true Wild Card from the deck, I settled on returning home to our family farm and working under the expertise of my dad in agriculture, an industry I hadn’t the faintest clue I would ever end up in.”
Transitioning from a Master’s in Education to driving combines and grain trucks was a steep learning curve. However, it provided her with a front-row seat to a legacy
of innovation. Her father was an early adopter of no-till farming, a practice he’s championed for over 40 years. “He was an early adopter... and most people thought he was crazy,” Dani says. “But I’ve learned that the crazier people think you are, the more likely it is that you’re doing it exactly right.”
By skipping the plow, the Winters family protects the Chesapeake Bay from runoff and fosters a productive soil ecosystem where fungi and earthworms thrive. This commitment to soil health became the foundation for Dani’s next venture. While working the grain fields, Dani “sweet-talked” her mother into letting her use a corner of the garden to experiment with cut flowers. That corner quickly turned into the entire garden.
By 2022, the “hobby” blossomed into a full-scale business. Dani moved the operation to a plot in Salisbury to be closer to home, and Winters Farm Florals was born. Today, the operation is a powerhouse of local production with three greenhouses for year-round growth with more than 35 flower varieties across 1.5 acres. The farm sells wholesale, for weddings, and is also available at the Lewes Farmers Market. Applying her father’s no-till principles to floriculture, Dani’s blooms aren’t just beautiful, they’re sustainable. “It allows us to grow a quality product that severely cuts down on our carbon footprint by ensuring our product only travels within a few hours of where it was grown,” she explains.
Looking back, Dani credits her time at Gunston—specifically the rigorous standards of teachers like Mrs. Everdell—for her tireless pursuit of excellence. “Mrs. Everdell was another legend of a teacher during my time at Gunston—and likely many students’ time at Gunston—and she absolutely ripped my world apart when she gave me my very first B, haha! I still remember her justification for being hard-pressed to give students an A — ‘if it’s not good enough to publish in the New York Times, it’s not getting an A.’ I spent the rest of my high school years chasing that A, and a very handy byproduct of that tireless pursuit was that I was one of very few students who entered college with a rock solid foundation in writing. I have said it for years—Gunston was 10 times harder than college, and the standard to which the teachers held us made ALL of the difference heading into college, grad school, and even into the scary abyss of adulthood. I am forever grateful for the rigorous education I received from Gunston, and I am such an advocate of independent schools as a result of my experience both in Kent School and Gunston.”
Whether she’s scouting for crop diseases or designing a wedding installation, Dani Winters is proof that you can travel the world and still find your greatest purpose in your own backyard. And for the record? She’s still a proud member of the White Team. Check out her business at wintersfarmflorals.com.
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
In the last fiscal year (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025), the generosity of our wonderful supporters provided an incredible degree of support!
HERON FUND
The Mary Middleton Society ($10,000+)
15+ Years of Giving
The Salmon Foundation, Inc
10+ Years of Giving
Gladwood Foundation
5+ Years of Giving
The Reynolds/Cristiano Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation
The CAVES Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Corsica Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Edward E. Ford Foundation
Fred Frederick Family Foundation
The Hawkins Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Robert McWilliams
The Webster Family Legacy Fund of the Essex County Community Foundation
The Everdell Committee ($5,000-9,999)
25+ Years of Giving
Nancy and Robert Shoemaker
20+ Years of Giving
James and Janet Clauson
Alan and Elizabeth Griffith
Linn Lyford ’70
10+ Years of Giving
Jill and John Caron
5+ Years of Giving
Eliza ’88 and David Dunn
Joseph and Martha Janney
Charlie and Pam Andrews
Craig and Kim Baer
Libby and Thomas Hipp
Jerome S. and Grace H. Murray Foundation
Christopher and Kathryn Kent
Chesley and Justin Nonemaker
Blue Heron Panel ($2,500-4,999)
20+ Years of Giving
Michael and Pattie Batza
Rev. Karen Dize and Mr. N. Ben Dize
15+ Years of Giving
Lorraine and Richard Batdorf
10+ Years of Giving
Anna and Charles Fichtner
In honor of Charlie Fichtner ’12, Annabelle Fichtner Camp ’15, and Andy Camp ’15
Patrick R. Shoemaker ’03 and Nathan Twerberg
5+ Years of Giving
Robert Dahl and Kasim Baihaki
Lesley and Timothy Faff
Sarah S. Goldsmith ’88
In honor of “The Gunston Girls”
Diane M. Lafferty
Samantha Hollomon
Susan Willock
1911 Council ($1,000-2,499)
30+ Years of Giving
Preston and Sarah Everdell
Christie and Joe Grabis
25+ Years of Giving
Erin and James Gillespie
Mrs. Paul M. Long, Sr.
In memory of Paul M. Long
15+ Years of Giving
Christina Henderson ’81
Dr. Laurie Lewis and Mr. John A. Lewis
In honor of the Class of 2025
Jack and Jill Meyerhoff
Diane and Peter Pappas
Chris and James Wright
10+ Years of Giving
Julie and Todd Gillespie
Patricia ’88 and Stephen Parkhurst
In honor of Victoria MacGlashan ’25
Dane and Mary Ways
5+ Years of Giving
Mary and Peter De Angelo
In memory of Nina De Angelo ’20
Andrew and Micelle Hallmark
Dr. Nina Wagner-Johnston and Mr. Thomas Johnston
Northrop Grumman Foundation
Julie and Peter Rich
Anonymous
David A. Bramble Foundation
Lindsay and Noah Gerstmyer
Christopher and Sarah Hartman
Kevin and Mary C. Joyce
Daniel and Sarah Philippon
In honor of Ellery Philippon ’25
Dr. Cori Crane and Dr. Mike Sosulski
Ed Symonds
Leighton and Rex Wheeler
Head’s Circle ($500+)
25+ Years of Giving
Diane and Mark Freestate
20+ Years of Giving
Anne Charles ’61
15+ Years of Giving
Dr. Ross I. Heisman and Mrs. Patricia Heisman
Cathy and Thomas Hil
10+ Years of Giving
Susan and William Ingersoll
Catherine ’88 and Steven G. MacGlashan
5+ Years of Giving
Dr. Michael A. Amygdalos and Mrs. Christine M. Amygdalos
Michael Borland
Foundation For Tomorrow
Christopher and Ellen McClary
Jonathan and Kristy Myers
July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
$553,934 | Annual Giving Total
$383,779 | Heron Fund Total Undesignated: $219,621
Designated: $ 164,157 includes
- $100,000 for Environmental Programming
- $30,000 for a new Digital Media Lab
- $10,740 for the Music Department
- $10,000 for Bridge Scholarship
- $7,000 in Mental Health Ecosystem
- $5,000 for Boy’s Lacrosse Concussion Prevention Equipment
- $868 for Robotics
- $550 for Rowing
$170,154 | Special Events Revenue
Annual Fund Participation
100% Board Participation
61% Parent Participation
- Class of 2025: 66%
- Class of 2026: 60%
- Class of 2027: 58%
- Class of 2028: 60%
417 Donors
support the gunston school
GIVING LEVELS
Leadership level donors (gifts of $500+) have the power to change lives and inspire others to do the same.
Mary Middleton Society
$10,000 +
Everdell Committee
$5,000-9,999
Blue Heron Panel
$2,500-4,999
1911 Council
$1,000-2,499
Head’s Circle
$500-999
Corsica Fellows
$100-499
Green & White Team up to $99
BENEFITS OF A LEADERSHIP GIFT
Invitation to our Spring Leadership Reception. A copy of our Annual Leadership Report.
Recognition in the Annual Report section of our alumni magazine, Multum in Parvo
LEADERSHIP & INVOLVEMENT
Invest in the future of the school and everyone we serve by making a leadership gift, serving on the board or a committee, volunteering your time and expertise, or including Gunston in your estate plans.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The success of our events is entirely dependent upon the generosity of the community. You can support these events by serving on an event committee, purchasing tickets, donating and/or bidding on auction items, or purchasing an individual or corporate sponsorship.
CONTINUED ANNUAL SUPPORT
Large participation numbers for the Heron Fund, especially among alumni, faculty, parents, and our Board, show confidence in the school and can impact gifts from outside sources. Most foundations consider participation rates before donating funds to a school. Each and every gift is important and we are grateful for your support!
GET IN TOUCH:
Catherine Lawson, Director of Institutional Advancement
5+ Years of Giving
Dianne Marshall ’75 and Steven Estes
William B. Price
Emily and James Shifrin
Barbara and John Ways
Judith Willock
Catherine Windsor
Anonymous (3)
Colleen and Joseph Baldwin
Nick D’Alonso
Horace K. Wood, DMD, PA Oral & Maxillofacial
Surgery
Joyce & Associates LLC
Lauretta M. Keegan
Dr. Christopher Koterwas and Mrs. Joanne Koterwas
In honor of Wylie Keegan ’25
Jill and Paco Labrador
Bonita J. Lankford
In honor of R.P. Johnson ’25
Catherine P. Lawson
Leita and William Hamill Family Foundation, Inc.
In memory of Edith Grassi
Professor Shirley Lin and Mr. Jay Moore
In honor of Eli Moore ’25
Elizabeth Pupke
Dr. Donald Stranahan and Mrs. Brigitte Stranahan
Julie VanMetre Tate
Jim and Sidney Trond
Jacqueline and Vicco Von Voss
Ildi and Mory Watkins
Corsica Fellows ($100+)
25+ Years of Giving
Meggan ’91 and Mark Brennan
Anita L. Gruss
Hon. John E. Nunn III and Mrs. Nancy Nunn
Charles T. Capute and Beth Spurry
Linda C. Reilly ’75 and Bryon Reilly
20+ Years of Giving Anonymous
Debra and J. Tyler Campbell
Marjo Rasin
Amy and Peter Sturtevant
Eugenia Wootton ’72 and Michael Wootton
15+ Years of Giving
J. Temple and Victoria Blackwood
Frances B. Firth ’73
David and Reid Henry
Elizabeth M. Joyce ’75
Douglas Kliever
Susanne and William Mason
Andrew and Elizabeth McCown
Norma and William Patton
In memory of Paul M. Long
Diane Watkins
Emily and John Williamson
10+ Years of Giving
Charles and Tammy Boone
Susan Boone
In honor of Tammy Boone and the Boone Grandchildren
Jane M. Clauson ’07 and Dylan ViaCava
Barbara and Thomas Gale
Babette Gwynn ’77
John and Penny Hopkins
In honor of Kendall Hopkins ’93
Dr. Howard C. Hughes and Mrs. Kathleen Hughes
Austin A. Kana ’05
John and Rosalie Lewis
Michael McFarland
Eugenia and Mark Newberg
Salvatore and Yvonne Purpora
In honor of Natalie Reading ’16
Patricia Rudolfs
Thomas deR. Smith
Kenneth and Shari Streichler
In honor of John and Laurie Lewis
Moe Weimer
Dr. William Wilson and Ms. Mary Samuel
5+ Years of Giving
Anonymous (2)
Krystal and Mark Algier
Jane and Patrick Bannon
Linda Barton ’78 and James Barton
Captain James P. Borghardt
Marc and Shawna Buckley
Dr. Landy Cook and Mrs. Megan Cook
James R. Dickey
In honor of Liam Dickey ’24
Sandra ’85 and Gabriele DiNicola
Irene and John Hansen
Kellen and Timothy McCluskey
Michael J. and Patricia K. Batza Foundation
Gail Nittle
Jeannette and Phil Parish
Price and Gannon, Inc
Annie W. Raymond
In honor of Aggie Raymond
Sharon and Stephen Redding
Antares E. Samson
Kay Sweezey
Marie and Stephen Thomas
In honor of Lennox Franks ’25
Brian and Michelle Tyler
Ann and Howard Vreeland
In memory of Megan Batdorf
Carol and John Wagner
James and Susan Walker
In honor of Riley Walker ’25
Kimberly ’90 and Christopher Wilson
Anonymous (5)
In honor of Tommy McGeady ’25
In honor of R.P. Johnson ’25
Dr. Sarah E. Aifderheide
Jennifer and Tristan Arthur
Charles and Claudine Baker
Christian and Dawn Bent
Erica and Jerome Brock
In honor of Logan Brock ’28
Fran and Frank Butler
In honor of Marcelo Roman ’27
Dr. Alice Chiochetti and Mr. John Chiochetti
Andrea Clair and Franklin Ellis
Col. Scott Clark and Mrs. Jessica Clark
Anthony and Bethany D’Antonio
Franz and Nikki Davis
Charles and Lori Day
DBA Draper Brothers
Katharine Denby
In memory of her Godmother, Edith Grassi
Tom Dixon
Dana and Stella Dreeke
Julie and Michael Dunlap
Lee and Marybeth Edgar
Dr. Heather Symons and Dr. Ron Elfenbein
In honor of Alex Elfenbein ’25
Faithful Accounting and Consulting Inc.
John and Michelle FauntLeRoy
Riley Figliozzi
Collette and Stephen Figliozzi
Jennifer and Ron Franks
In honor of Lennox Franks ’25
C. Lee Gordon
William Gordon Jr.
Shivani and Sumit Gupta
In honor of Adit Gupta ’25
Eric and Janette Hamm
Isabel and Mike Hardesty
Catherine Hoag ’77
G. David K. Hopper M.D.
In honor of Scotia Hopper ’27
Dave and Wendy Hubbert
Charles and Jenny Kade
Doug and Jennifer Krafchik
Dr. Florence Lednum
In honor of Sarah “Eli” Ireland ’23
CB and Willis Lovell
In honor of The Gunston Faculty
Alexander and Carolyn MacGlashan
In honor of Victoria MacGlashan ’25
Jocelyn Conway Malone and Robert Malone
McAllister, DeTar, Showalter & Walker LLC
Dr. Jonathan McCollum and Mrs. Kimberly McCollum
Alaina and Brad McDermott
Diane McLendon ’81
In honor of the Class of 1981
Elizabeth H. Morris
Gina and Vance Morris
James and Nancy Mugele
Anne and Greg North
In honor of Willem Grant ’27
Jose Luis Ortiz and Marta Fernandez
Jenifer Owino
In honor of Joelle Siwald
Karen Pupke
In honor of Elizabeth Pupke ’25
Col. Paul Quirion and Mrs. Leslie Quirion
Jenny and Patrick Randolph
In honor of Margaret Randolph ’25
Lou and Mo Reycroft
In honor of Eamon Schopfer ’26 and James Schopfer ’28
Crystal Richard
Isabelle Rogers
Meghan and Ricardo Roman
Maury Schneider ’76
Stephanie Senserini
In memory of Alessandro Senserini
Serino Orthodontics
Elizabeth Seroka
Adrien and Helen Sharp
Gary and Kelly Shenk
Luke and Susan Shingledecker
Danielle and Eric Silk
Peter Thayer The Whiting-Turner
Tri-Gas & Oil
Dr. Marissa Wallie and Mr. Jay Shepherd
Ann K. White
Erin Foley and Robert Wirts
Green & White Team (up to $99)
25+ Years of Giving
Sara Jane Davidson
Patricia Meyer ’57
In memory of Louis Duffey
20+ Years of Giving
Melissa M. Browne ’75
Sally F. Cornish ’51
Anne B. Gray
Eric and Patricia Rubin
15+ Years of Giving
Mark and Sarah Cramer
Ernest and Missy Darling
Joan ’64 and James Hammer
Dr. Thomas Rose and Mrs. Dorcey Rose
In honor of Aaron Rose ’01
Rhonda Sisk Friscia ’84
10+ Years of Giving
T. Michael and Vickie Kaylor
Joanna Pierce
Edward and Sarah Schut
5+ Years of Giving
Anonymous (2)
Dr. Curtis and Mrs.
Derrika L. Baughman
Tine K. Dickey
Dr. Jacob and Mrs. Rebecca Hanlon
Erin and Michael Kent
Marjory J. Lee
In memory of Josef Eynck ’13
Jennifer ’05 and Sean Matthews
Brion and Greta Umidi
Nicole J. Wagner
JoAnn Walker
Anonymous (9)
Chris and Craig Allen
Dr. Ryan Asprion
Jamie Campbell and Jonathan Badger
Dylan ’10 and Adriana Blades
Stephanie Blusk
Thomas M. Callahan ’24
Dr. Jennifer Clark
Dave and Susan Cloud
In honor of Alexander McIntyre ’25
Emily and Matt Coffey
Douglas and Nicole Conner
Joshua Cooper
Jeffrey and Lucinda Dalzell
Frank and Rebecca Davis
Dr. John and Mrs. Pamela DeGour
Jason and Jessica Donnelly
John and Sandra Filer
Heather Focht
Joan Gaffner
Donna and Mike Graziano
Cindy Strauss and Dave Griffin
Christina and David Harper
Marcia E. Herman-Giddens
David and Sharon Hilder
In honor of Allison Hilder ’28
Bradley B. Hirsh and Mary Battle
Dawn and Derek Hoelz
Matthew and Victoria Janssen
In honor of Trevor Jansen’s Senior
Year at Gunston
Kathryn M. Kana ’01
Howard and Julie Kille
Dr. Tamara and Mr. Andrew Kim
Clay Larrimore
Margaret-Elizabeth and Tim Lavery
Geoffrey Leech
Amy Bower and Glenn May
Jennifer and Patrick McCubbin
Elizabeth Stanton and William Mulock
In honor of Louise Mulock ’25
Dr. Carolyn Yanavich and Dr. Joe Perrin
David and Susan Russ
Smithey Law Group, LLC
Adele and Ryan Showalter
Dr. Gabrielle Morgan and Edward Smith
James and Jennifer Tate
Dustin and Shannon Temple
Tiffany Trautman
Isabelle I. Wagner ’23
Carolyn York
In honor of Aidan Watson ’25
Capital Projects
Susan and David Adams
Jill and John Caron
The CAVES Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Stephanie Ceruolo
The Corsica Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Dani and Rick Rick de los Reyes
Fred Frederick Family Foundation
Penelope Hatten ’73
The Hawkins Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Martha and Joe Janney
Kathryn and Christopher Kent
Chesley and Justin Nonemaker
Mara and Walt Schmittinger
Patrick R. Shoemaker ’03
Adele and Ryan Showalter
Joseph S. Sollers III
Judith Willock
Heron Fund
Parent Representatives
Melanie McMahan, P’27’28
Sarah Hartman, P’27
Sarah Phillippon, P ’25 ’27
Joanna Pierce, P’26
Tim Lavery, P’26
Jennifer Owino, P’25’27
Jennifer Franks, P’25
Endowment
10+ Years of Giving
Barbara W. Gale Foundation
Gifts were made in honor of the following graduates:
Tommy McGeady
R.P. Johnson
Alli Lutz
Lily Brantner
Alexander McIntyre
Lennox Franks
Adit Gupta
Trevor Jansen
Wylie Keegan
R.P. Johnson
The Class of 2025
Eli Moore
Victoria MacGlashan
Ellery Philippon
Elizabeth Pupke
Louise Mulock
Alex Elfenbein
Riley Walker
Aidan Watson
Olivia Arthur
Alex Bent
Gareth Borghardt
Owen Daffron
Allison Davis
Elena Fraser
Jackson Frederick
Brayden Hamm
Grace Hanlon
Nina Johnston
Phoebe Kelly
Logan Kille
Vee McCluskey
Isla McCollum
Justin McCubbin
Ethan McWilliams
Kazys Morris
Benta Owino
Max Pynn
Margaret Randolph
Evelyn Russ
Emma Sharp
Grace Shepherd
Jackson Showalter
Zach Steinberg
Jackson Stranahan
Mia Walker
Bennett Wirts
Grayson Allen
James McDonald
Elizabeth Pupke
Riley Walker
Bull & Oyster Roast 2025
Event Chair: Melanie & Nash McMahan, P’27’28
Auctioneer: Woody Dunstan, P’24
Decorations: Dawn Hoelz, P’28
Bull’s Eye Sponsors
Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23’25)
Precision Contractors (Lesley & Tim Faff, P’23’26’29) What’s Up? Magazine
Oyster Sponsors
Easton Dermatology Associates, LLC (Brigitte and Dr. Donald Stranahan, P’25’27)
Horace K. Wood, DMD, PA (Leigh & Dr. Horace K. Wood, P’24’27)
Joyce & Associates, LLC
(Kevin & Christine Joyce, P’26’29)
BBQ Sponsors
Eastern Shore Vacation Rentals (Bryan Trautman, P’23’27)
Faithful Accounting & Consulting, Inc. (Edward & Heather Bennett, P’27)
Friends of Gunston
Harvest Ridge Winery (The Nunan Family, P’29)
KRM Construction (The Gray Family, P’29)
McCallister, Detar, Showalter & Walker (Adele & Ryan Showalter, P’25’27,
Melissa & Doug Walker, P’25’27)
Paul Ewing’s Contractor Supply (Pam & Charlie Andrews, P’26)
Shore United Bank (The Augustus Family, P’26’28) Whiting-Turner
Pearl Sponsors
Allison Prell
Ash & Ember (The Herr Family, P ’28)
David A. Bramble, Inc. (The Owings Family, P’29)
The Dreeke Family, P’28
Ebb Tide Tent & Party Rentals
Fleetwood Insurance Group
The Law Offices of Parker Counts (Lee Gordon, P’28’29)
Molly’s Place (Nick & Katie Shajwani, P’26)
PepUp (The McMahan Family, P’27’28)
Wye Gardens, LLC (Will Gordon, P’28’29)
Pit Beef Sponsors
Avon Dixon Insurance (An Alera Company)
Building System Solutions, LLC (Michael Younger, Jr.)
Delaware Podiatric Medicine
(Dr. Jacob & Rebecca Hanlon, P’22 ’25 ’27)
Dr. Laurie Brigandi, P’24’26
Dr. Laurie & John Lewis P’29
Emily’s Produce
Mr. Glenn Michael
Gretchen Wichlinski, P’28 with Compass Realty
The Malone Family
Serino Orthodontics
The Shifrin Family, P’21’21
ShoreGate Partners
(Chesley & Justin Nonemaker, P’27’29)
Smith and Weston Construction
Smithey Law Group (Joyce Smithey, P’26)
Wye Mills Mechanical (Marie & Stephen Thomas)
Half Shell Sponsors
Christie & Joe Grabis
Jeannie & Joseph Riccio
Mark & Diane Freestate, P’98
Shore Sponsors
Eastern Shore Acupuncture
(Katherine Binder & Rob Forloney, P’29’29)
Fit Flock
The Johnston Family, P’23’25’28
Lona Sue, Taylor Properties
Reliable Pest Control
The Rensberger Family, P’29
The Steinberg Family, P’25
Wrench & Socket (Tim & Beth Lavery, P’26)
A special thank you to Drapers of Centreville for their in-kind donation and event support.
Heron Pickleball Tournament 2025
Event Chair: Kellen McCluskey, P’21’23’25
Grand Slam Sponsor
Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23’25)
Court Sponsors
Easton Dermatology Associates, LLC (Brigitte and Dr. Donald Stranahan, P’25’27)
Horace K. Wood, DMD, PA (Leigh & Dr. Horace K. Wood, P’24’27)
Joyce & Associates, LLC (Kevin & Christine Joyce, P’26’29)
Volley Sponsors
McCallister, Detar, Showalter & Walker (Adele & Ryan Showalter, P’25’27, Melissa & Doug Walker, P’25’27)
Paul Ewing’s Contractor Supply (Pam & Charlie Andrews, P’26)
Friends of Gunston
Paddle Sponsor
PepUp (The McMahan Family, P’27’28)
Crabby Pickleball Club
David A. Bramble, Inc. (The Owings Family, P’29)
Dogwood Acres (The Reichardt Family, P’21)
Ebb Tide Tent & Party Rentals
The Dreeke Family, P’28
Wye Mills Mechanical (Marie & Stephen Thomas)
ShoreGate Partners
(Chesley & Justin Nonemaker, P’27’29)
Dr. Laurie & John Lewis, P’29
The Shifrin Family, P’21’21
Wye Gardens, LLC (Will Gordon, P’28’29)
Golfing Fore Gunston VI (2025)
Event Chair: Brigitte Stranahan, P’25’27
Tournament Sponsors
Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23’25) Heron Hero
What’s Up? Media
Grill Station Sponsors
Easton Dermatology Associates, LLC, Heron Hero (Brigitte and Dr. Donald Stranahan, P’25’27)
Horace K. Wood, DMD, PA, Heron Hero (Leigh & Dr. Horace K. Wood, P’24’27)
Joyce & Associates, LLC, Heron Hero (Kevin & Christine Joyce, P’26’29)
Award Sponsors
The Bent Family, P’25’27
Friends of Gunston McCallister, Detar, Showalter & Walker (Adele & Ryan Showalter, P’25’27, Melissa & Doug Walker, P’25’27)
Paul Ewing’s Contractor Supply (Pam & Charlie Andrews, P’26)
Serino Orthodontics
Eagle Sponsors
Callahan’s Gas & Appliances (The Callahan Family, P’22)
Ebb Tide Tent & Party Rentals (Heron Hero)
The Dreeke Family, P’28
PepUp (Melanie & Nash McMahan, P’27’28)
Birdie Sponsors
The Country School
Dogwood Acres (The Reichardt Family, P’21)
Dr. Laurie & John Lewis, P’29
The Shifrin Family, P’21’21
ShoreGate Partners
(Chesley & Justin Nonemaker, P’27’29
Shore United Bank (The Augustus Family, P’26’28)
Tred Avon Family Wealth
Wye Mills Mechanical, LLC (Marie & Stephen Thomas)
Hole Sponsors
Lona Sue Todd of Taylor Properties
St. Anne’s School of Annapolis
Wrench & Socket, LLC (Beth & Tim Lavery, P’26)
Heron Hero Annual Sponsorships
By sponsoring multiple events, you’ll receive a discounted rate and year-long recognition! Visit gunston.org/sponsor for more information.
Gunston holds three fundraising events each year, the proceeds of which support our Annual Giving Program, which allows us to offer students and faculty opportunities beyond what a tuition fee would typically pay for. Additionally, annual giving provides 60% of our students with financial aid. The success of these events is entirely dependent upon the generosity of our community. Scan the code for more information and to sign up online. Questions? Contact Catherine Lawson at clawson@gunston.org.
APRIL 18, 2026
MAY 1, 2026
Scan the codes to register to play or sign up to become a sponsor!
