Multum in Parvo Spring 2024

Multum in Parvo

From horseback riding to rowing, athletics and fitness at Gunston have continued to evolve over the last century.

Waterfront Sponsor

$10,000

Savings of $500

The Waterfront Sponsorship includes a 20% ($2,000) donation to the Heron Annual Fund, thus securing your participation for the year. Additionally, you will be recognized at the 1911 Council Leadership Donor level and receive a Leadership Reception invitation, as well as a copy of the annual Leadership Report.

Benefits for each event include:

• Event signage

Recognition by event speakers

• Logo/family name on event site and press releases

• Business listing on Green & White pages

Social Media shout out

• Recognition in printed and online annual report

Bull & Oyster Roast Grill Master Sponsor $5,000

• Eight (8) VIP tickets to the Bull & Oyster Roast

*VIP tickets include reserved tables for guests and complimentary wine at the table.

Heron Pickleball Tournament Sponsor $2,500

• Eight (8) Pickleball registrations

• Logo/family name on event t-shirt

Golfing Fore Gunston Tournament Sponsor $3,000

VIP Foursome Golf Package

* 4 Mulligans, 1 String Game per foursome

Corsica Sponsor $2,250

Savings of $250

Benefits for each event include:

• Shared event signage

Logo/family name on event site and press releases

• Business listing on Green & White pages

• Social Media shout out

Recognition in printed and online annual report

Bull & Oyster Roast Choice Sponsor $1,000

Two (2) tickets to the Bull & Oyster Roast

Heron Pickleball Paddle Sponsor $500

• Two (2) Pickleball registrations

Golfing Fore Gunston Award Sponsor $1,000

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.

Middleton Sponsor $5,500

Savings of $500

The Middleton Sponsorship level includes a 20% ($1,100) donation to the Heron Annual Fund, thus securing your participation for the year. Additionally, you will be recognized at the 1911 Council Leadership Donor level and receive a Leadership Reception invitation, as well as a copy of the annual Leadership Report.

Benefits for each event include:

• Event signage

Recognition by event speakers

• Logo/family name on event site and press releases

• Business listing on Green & White pages

Social Media shout out

• Recognition in printed and online annual report

Bull & Oyster Roast Rockefeller Sponsor $2,500

• Six (6) VIP tickets to the Bull & Oyster Roast

*VIP tickets include reserved tables for guests and complimentary wine at the table.

Heron Pickleball Court Sponsor $1,500

• Six (6) Pickleball registrations

• Logo/family name on event t-shirt

Golfing Fore Gunston Crew Station Sponsor $2,000

• VIP Foursome Golf Package

* 4 Mulligans, 1 String Game per foursome

Green & White Sponsor $1,200

Savings of $50

Benefits for each event include:

• Logo/family name on event site and press releases

Business listing on Green & White pages

• Social Media shout out

• Recognition in printed and online annual report

Bull & Oyster Roast Select Sponsor $500

Heron Pickleball Kitchen Sponsor $250

Golfing Fore Gunston Refreshment Sponsor $500

Everdell Sponsor $3,500

Savings of $500

The Everdell Sponsorship level includes a 20% ($700) donation to the Heron Annual Fund, thus securing your participation for the year. Additionally, you will be recognized at the Head’s Circle Donor level and receive a Leadership Reception invitation, as well as a copy of the annual Leadership Report.

Benefits for each event include:

Event signage

• Recognition by event speakers

• Logo/family name on event site and press releases

Business listing on Green & White pages

• Social Media shout out

• Recognition in printed and online annual report

Bull & Oyster Roast Prime Rib Sponsor $1,500

Four (4) tickets to the Bull & Oyster Roast

Heron Pickleball Court Sponsor $1,000

Four (4) Pickleball registrations

• Logo/family name on event t-shirt

Golfing Fore Gunston Ceremony Sponsor $1,500

• One (1) Foursome

Heron Sponsor $275

Savings of $25

Benefits for each event include:

• Logo/family name on event site and press releases

Business listing on Green & White pages

Social Media shout out

• Recognition in printed and online annual report

Bull & Oyster Roast Brisket Sponsor $100

Heron Pickleball Baseline Sponsor $100

Golfing Fore Gunston Hole Sponsor $100

Dear Gunston Community:

In a famous letter to his nephew Peter Carr about designing an intellectual plan of study, Thomas Jefferson offered this advice about the importance of exercise and learning: “Encourage all your virtuous dispositions, and exercise them whenever an opportunity arises, being assured that they will gain strength by exercise as a limb of the body does, and that exercise will make them habitual. [...] Give about two of them [hours] every day to exercise; for health must not be sacrificed to learning. A strong body makes the mind strong.”

Each year, Multum in Parvo explores a unique theme, and this year we’re focusing on the importance of athletics and fitness to the Gunston program. Indeed, every single day of the academic year, Gunston integrates the “Jeffersonian minimum” of two hours of physical activity into our afternoon school schedule. As you will read, Gunston’s athletics and fitness offerings have evolved over the years, but the past decade has been unique in regard to program growth and competitive success.

head of school

Like a gaggle of geese or a raft of ducks, a fun fact I recently learned is that a group of herons is referred to as a “siege.” Starting in Fall of 2024, new schools will be besieged by Gunston as we have been invited to join both the Maryland Interscholastic Athletics Association and the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association. To support this

both our outdoor and indoor athletic/fitness facilities, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Gunston continues to evolve and thrive across a wide range of curricular and co-curricular endeavors, and we look forward to meeting the goals of our accreditation Action Plan approved by AIMS. Finally, as I conclude my 14th year at Gunston, let me echo our Board Chair’s gratitude for your support of Gunston, and we look forward to seeing you on campus!

Warmly, John Lewis Head of School

growth, over the next few years we will be upgrading

Head of School John Lewis, wife Laurie and daughters Bea and Millie.

ON THE COVER: Allie Fitzgerald ’24 at a January 18 swim meet. PHOTO BY MICELLE HALLMARK PHOTOGRAPHY, P’24

Board of Trustees 2023-2024

Joe Janney, P’21, Chair

Patricia Parkhurst, ’88, P’18’21’23, Vice Chair

Megan Cook, P’22’24, Secretary

Isabel Hardesty, Treasurer

Jim Shifrin, P’21’21, At-Large

Jill Caron, P’17

Dr. Fernando De Leon, P’22

Greg Farley

Jeff Frederick, P’23’26

Chris McClary, P’21’23

Betsy McCown, P’11

Rick de los Reyes, P’23

Patrick Shoemaker ’03

Dr. Nina WagnerJohnston, P’23’25’28

Board of Trustees 2022-2023

Patrick Shoemaker ’03, Chair

Joe Janney, P’21, Vice Chair & Treasurer

Megan Cook, P’22’24, Secretary

Mara Schmittinger, P’15, At-Large

Patricia Parkhurst ’88, P’18’21’23, At-Large

Jill Caron, P’17

Dr. Fernando De Leon, P’22

Greg Farley

Jeff Frederick, P’23’26

Isabel Hardesty

Chris McClary, P’21’23

Betsy McCown, P’11

Rick de los Reyes, P’23

Jim Shifrin, P’21’21

Dr. Nina WagnerJohnston, P’23’25’28

Gunston Parents’ Association 2023-2024

Ildi Watkins, P’26, President

Lori Hammond, P’24, Vice President

Jennifer Runz, P’24’25, Secretary

Julie Gillespie, P’20’22’24, Athletics Liaison

Tine Dickey, P’24, Waterfront Liaison, Crew

Suzanne Lutz, P’24’24, Waterfront Liasion, Crew

Carrie Dare, P’25, Waterfront Liasion, Sailing

Lisa Callahan, P’24, Waterfront Liasion, Sailing

2024 Room Parents: Micelle Hallmark, P’24, Jennifer Runz, P’24’25, Suzanne Lutz, P’24’24

2025 Room Parents: Jen Franks, P’25, Rebecca Hanlon, P’22’25’27, Holly Allison, P’25

2026 Room Parents: Krystal Algier, P’23’26, Lori Day, P’24’26, Joanna Pierce, P’26

2027 Room Parents: Valerie Overton, P’24’27, Sarah Philippon, P’25’27, Tiffany Trautman, P’23’27

Gunston Parents’ Association 2022-2023

Irene Hansen, P ’23, President

Lori Hammond, P ’24, Vice President

Jennifer Runz, P ’24’25, Secretary

The S Tar DemocraT

Julie Gillespie, P ’20’22’24, Sports Liaison

SCULPTOR/from 1

2023 Room Parents: Christine Amygdalos, P’20’23

Naté Pope, P’23, Krystal Algier, P’23’26

2024 Room Parents: Jennifer Runz, P’24’25, Micelle Hallmark, P’24, Lisa Callahan, P’24

2025 Room Parents: Jen Franks, P’25, Sarah Philippon, P’25’27, Dawn Speidel, P’25

2026 Room Parents: Joanna Pierce, P’26

Ildi Watkins, P’26, Lori Day, P’24’26

Editor & Creative Director: Marie K. Thomas

Contributing Writers: John Lewis, Joe Janney, P’21, Tom McCall, Marie K. Thomas, and Ronnie Vesnaver.

to my dad,” he said. “There is a theme of modification and adjustment. Once you start welding anything could be anything. You can put whatever you want together. It is a ton of fun.” “It is like a hot glue gun. You can go to town,” he said.

Contributing Photographers : Jessica Coner, Derrika Baughman, P’16’22’24’26 ’26, Micelle Hallmark, P’24, Torrey Pocock, P’22, Jim Watson, P ’23’25.

Meyerhoff makes representational birds and rockfish and anchors. There is a giant metal crab claw at the Trippe Gallery in Easton, a gallery he has worked with

4 farewell

A letter from Board Chair Joe Janney, P’21, Green & White Awards, Disembarkation and Graduation.

10 welcome

Embarkation and Convocation.

14 news

Special events recap, students recognized by both the National Merit Scholarship Program and the National Advanced Placement Program, Sally Field re-dedication, Mid-Shore College Fair, School Nurse of the Year, ESIAC Coach of the Year, and 2023’s College-Bound Athletes.

20 features

20 Athletics & Fitness at Gunston

More than any single thing we do at Gunston, it is the integrated totality of the academic, athletic, artistic, and social experience in a beautiful natural location that promotes adolescent mental wellness and resilience.

26 Student Athlete Profiles

Sophia Kent ’24, Zoe Buzzelli ’24, Layla Kent ’26, and Colin Hallmark ’24.

28 Chesapeake Watershed Semester by Ronnie Vesnaver

Check out these capstone projects from the Fall 2023 semester.

30 alumni

3o Class Notes & Alumni Profiles

Cole Meyerhoff ’11, Liz Davis ’14, Sam Johnson ’18, and Rion McCluskey ’21.

38 In Memory Of

Paula Del Guercio ’48, Alexandra Steele ’76, Kristina Elizabeth (Kuplinski) Noell ’83, and Nina De Angelo ’20.

39 advancement

Honor Roll of Donors (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023).

chair of the board

Dear Gunston Community,

It is an exciting time to be a member of the Gunston School community, and on behalf of our entire Board of Trustees, let me share my gratitude for your ongoing support of the School. As we complete the 2023-2024 school year, I am delighted to share an important milestone in the school’s journey. After a comprehensive three-year process, Gunston recently received our annual 10-year re-accreditation from the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools.

In their report, the Visiting Team wrote:

“At the heart of every aspect of school life is Gunston’s mission. It is a clear reflection of where the school is and it guides where the school is going. Three words in the mission describe the educational experience at Gunston: rigorous, personalized, and nurturing The Self Study highlighted the myriad of ways this is brought to light in the student experience. Perhaps more importantly, the visiting team witnessed the big and small ways the mission is lived out everyday on Gunston’s campus. A phrase repeated throughout the report and on our visit was ‘relentlessly student-centered.’ This is the ethos the team experienced at Gunston.”

Gunston seeks to remain true to our core student-centered mission while also continuing to adapt to the many transformations we see around us. This year, we’ve led the way with innovative environmental education programs, like the Chesapeake Watershed Semester and Bay Studies which aim to prepare Gunston students to address critical environmental challenges and contribute to a more sustainable future.

We have also enhanced our wellness programming, recognizing the importance of mental and physical health in academic and personal success. These programs offer resources and support to ensure our students can thrive both inside and outside the classroom. In addition, we have embarked upon a multi-year upgrade of our athletic and academic facilities, much of which is made possible by the recent 40-acre campus property acquisition and the generosity of key school supporters.

None of this would be possible without the exceptional teaching and leadership that characterize our school. Our faculty and leadership team are at the heart of Gunston’s success, inspiring students to achieve their best and preparing them for a bright future. As we celebrate these recent achievements, let’s look forward to building on this

foundation with enthusiasm and ambition. Together, we are making a difference and shaping a better world.

Warmest regards,

Joe Janney, P’21 Chair, Board of Trustees

Pictured standing left (l-r) is commencement speaker Johnny O’Brien, Head of School John Lewis, and pictured standing right (l-r) is Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis and ‘22-’23 Chair of the Board Patrick Shoemaker ’03. Not pictured is Nicolás “Nico” Izquierdo (Spain). Students (l-r) Front Row: MacKenzie Smith, Autumn Watson, Olivia Faff, Ava Melvin, Julia McClary, Virginia “Ella” MacGlashan, Alanna Grace, Katelyn “Kate” Campbell, Jenna Frederick, Calla McCluskey, Katherine “Kate” Kroncke, Jennie LaTorre, and Olivia Amygdalos. Second Row: Natalie Henry, Grace Anne Phillips, YaXin “Angelina” Lin, Sarah “Eli” Ireland, Catherine Hansen, Julia Reed, Céline Denat, Sadie Cloud, Madilyn “Maddie” Algier, Elizabeth “Lane” Parkhurst, Brielle Tyler, Paige Kroncke, and Miranda Pope. Third Row: Julia Buchanan, Tess Kontarinis, Grace Evans, Xuanyao “Henry” Feng, Jiacheng “Jason” Ye, Aaron Sanderson, Paget Kellogg, Zachary “Zack” Adams, Kelby Booth, McKinsey Brown, and Isabelle Wagner. Fourth Row: Yining Wei, Linze “Alfred” Zhao, Finnegan “Finn” Theeke, Aiden Lafferty, William Stuart, Ian Kissel, Nathan Porter, Thomas “Tom” de los Reyes, Nicasio “Nick” Ceruolo, Aidan Trautman, and Thomas “Cy” Johnston. Fifth Row: Liam Thomas, Nicholas “Nick” Abell, Andrew Rich, Garrett Lang, Christopher “Bates” Nittle, Mekonnen Sahle-Selassie, Damian René, Oliver White, Charles Evans, Cooper Hightower, and Zacharia “Zach” Mozher.

green and white awards DISEMBARKATION

Gunston’s annual Green & White Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 9, 2023 featured the valedictorian address, the presentation of awards and recognition from the greater community, as well as the much-anticipated announcement of the Green & White Cup.

“The person I am today is a lot different than the person I was four years ago, and part of that is because Gunston really helped me grow and it provided a safe, welcoming space for me to branch out and find myself. [...] My time at Gunston was transforming, I think it made me a much more confident and better person and I’m really grateful for the experience I’ve had here. ” - Zach Mozher ’23.

- Valedictorian Zach Mozher with Head of School John Lewis. Zach is attending Princeton University’s Novogratz Bridge Program in Costa Rica before embarking on his four-year degree (also at Princeton) in biology and pre-med studies.

(Top) Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis presents Damian René with the Gunston Award.

(Bottom) White Team Captains Paget Kellogg and Lane Parkhurst hold up the trophy, winning for the fourth year in a row.

(Above) Recipients of the 12 Star Athlete Recognition Award (graduating seniors who have competed in 12 seasons including fall, winter and spring over their high school careers) include (l-r) Oliver White, Zach Mozher, Kate Campbell, Julia McClary, Mekonnen Sahle-Selassie, Aaron Sanderson, Isabelle Wagner, Kate Kroncke, Paige Kroncke and Autumn Watson. Also pictured is Assistant Athletic Director for Waterfront Natalie Reading ’16, longtime former Director of Athletics Anita Gruss, and current Director of Athletics Josh Breto.

The following students were recognized with awards:

SENIORS:

Samuel A. Middleton Award (Valedictorian): Zach Mozher

The Gunston Award: Damian René

Leadership Award: Lane Parkhurst

Diversity Leader Award: Angelina Lin

Community Service (Marguerite Thomas

Service Award): Isabelle Wagner

Moore Award for Improvement: Aidan Trautman

The Faculty Award: Julia Buchanan

Environmental Stewardship Award: Eli Ireland

The Anita Gruss Athletics Award:

Julia McClary & Mekonnen Sahle-Selassie

Fine Art Award: Tess Kontarinis

Music Award: Finnegan Theeke

& Bates Nittle

Theater Award: Calla McCluskey

Math Award: Nick Abell

Engineering Award: Damian René

Sciences Award: Olivia Amygdalos

History (Capt. John P. W. Vest Award): Tom de los Reyes

Spanish Award: Zach Mozher

English (Sandra Slacum Spears Award): MacKenzie Smith

Literature (Hila C. Ferguson Award): Angelina Lin

Senior Paradigm Project Award: MacKenzie Smith

Green Team Captains:

Julia Buchanan & Mekonnen Sahle-Selassie

White Team Captains: Paget Kellogg & Lane Parkhurst

JUNIORS:

Junior Symposium: Taylor Rainer

Immersion Award: Céline Denat

Megan V. Batdorf Award: Josie Merton

Clare Poussard Award: Mariner Schut

Paul M. Long Award: Zoe Buzzelli

The Marie Whittico Award: Jessica Hammond

(Top) Moe Weimer and his advisee Tom de los Reyes. (Middle) Autumn Watson gives high fives during the seniors’ final walk through campus.

(Bottom, left clockwise) Oliver White, Aidan Trautman, Zach Mozher, Olivia Amygdalos, Céline Denat, Jennie LaTorre, and Julia Buchanan prepare to depart from Gunston via boat.

112th Commencement: Class of 2023 Earns $10M in College Scholarships

The Gunston School celebrated its 112th commencement on Saturday, June 10, honoring the Class of 2023 with a waterfront ceremony overlooking the Corsica River, as family and friends looked on. The procession began with Bagpiper Robert Wallace, followed by school faculty and staff, and then the graduating seniors.

Head of School John Lewis introduced the commencement speaker, John A. “Johnny” O’Brien, the President Emeritus of the Milton Hershey School, Trustee Emeritus of Princeton University, and the founder of Renaissance Leadership, Inc. Additionally, he is the author of “Semisweet: An Orphan’s Journey through the School the Hersheys Built.”

“I discovered that adversity is an advantage when well processed with advocates,” said Mr. O’Brien. “You know what they look like, they have surrounded you in this amazing Gunston family for years! Your teachers, your coaches, your advisors and administrators. They won’t leave your heart but they must leave your side and it’ll be your essential job to replicate them.”

Mr. Lewis and Gunston’s Chair of the Board Patrick Shoemaker ’03 then presented each graduate with their diploma, individually handcrafted by faculty member Michael Kaylor on an antique letterpress. This year’s senior class had a successful college admission season and worked hard to earn $10 million dollars in merit scholarships.

(Top row, l-r) The Parkhurst family, Campbell ’21, Henry ’18, Lane ’23, Pat ’88, and Stephen. Math Department Chair Millicent Sheets, P’18’21 and Student Body President Mekonnen Sahle-Selassie ‘23.

(Middle row, l-r) Will Stuart. Oliver White, Autumn Watson and Damian René. Isabelle Wagner. John A. “Johnny” O’Brien. Angelina Lin and Catherine Hansen.

(Bottom row, l-r) History teacher Bobby Stephenson, Aidan Trautman ’23, Allie Fitzgerald ’24, Zach Mozher ’23, Zoe Buzzelli ’24, Oliver White ’23 and World Language Department Chair Juan Angarita, P’22. Head of School John Lewis and MacKenzie Smith ’23.

Embarkation & Convocation

The Gunston School commenced its 113th year on Tuesday, September 5 with its annual Embarkation tradition, welcoming a total of 83 new students and five new employees to the community by boat. After exchanging a handshake with the Head of School, newcomers signed the school’s honor code, and made their way up the hill from the Corsica River to greet fellow students and current staff and faculty. Parents and family members were invited to watch from the shoreline as students arrived.

Once all new students and staff arrived by boat, they made their way to the Field House for Convocation. Student Body President Maren Kneeland ’24 welcomed the crowd and addressed new students. “You’ll find that what’s best for yourself is going to change over and over and over again and constantly revise yourself as you grow up. [...] Being ready for the next chapter of your life, whether you’re starting high school or finishing it, is not feeling like you know everything, but that you’re ready to learn from whatever is going to come at you.”

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 2023-2024 school year, the bell has sounded, you may now commence the year!” New students had the opportunity to get to know their peers well before the start of school during Gunston’s orientation and leadership retreats. Ninth grade students went on a two-day retreat at Camp Pecometh, where they spent the day and evening participating in various outdoor challenges and team building activities. They then returned to campus the following day, where they were joined by new upper class students and current student leaders for informational sessions on central school values, technology, and more.

Running simultaneously, Gunston’s 8th Annual Leadership Institute invited student leaders from various clubs, student government, and athletics to gather and learn about leadership practices, set goals for the year, and to help facilitate activities for new students.

(Above) Student Body President Maren Kneeland ’24.

Photos by Derrika Layne Photography and Jessica Coner.

Gunston’s Math Department welcomed Captain Clay Saunders as a part time math teacher. Capt. Saunders possesses more than 35 years of military service and experience in industrial manufacturing. He holds Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy; a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island; and a Master of Science Degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Alum Ryan Redding ’17, who has served as one of Gunston’s rowing coaches since 2022, has also joined the math department. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington College and a Master of Arts degree in Chemistry from the University of Delaware. With professional experience as a technician in the Research and Development Lab at the LaMotte Company, Mr. Redding gained valuable expertise in lab management and analytical skills.

Our new Fine Arts Department Chair is Amanda (AJ) Pesce, who earned a double Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and Art History, as well as her Master of Arts in art history, authentication, and administration—all from Temple University. Most recently teaching art at St. Anne’s School in Annapolis,

(Pictured Above, l-r) Captain Clay Saunders, Assistant Athletic Director for Waterfront Natalie Reading ’16, Ryan Redding ’17 and AJ Pesce.

(Top, Front Row l-r) Pat Parkhurst ’88, P’18’21’23, (Vice Chair), Isabel Hardesty (Treasurer), and Megan Cook, P’22’24 (Secretary). Second Row (l-r) Susie Dillon (Former Trustee), Betsy McCown, P’11, Jill Meyerhoff, P’11’13 (Former Trustee), Dr. Nina Wagner-Johnston, P’23’25’28, Mark Freestate ’98 (Emeritus). Third Row (l-r) Jim Shifrin, P’21’21, Chris McClary, P’21’23, Stoney Duffey’54, P’88’88, GP’18’21’23’23’25’28 (Emeritus). Fourth Row (l-r) Patrick Shoemaker ’03, Jill Caron, P’17, Jeff Frederick, P’23’25 and Head of School John Lewis.

Ms. Pesce also taught at the Phelps School, and is a recent graduate of Columbia University’s prestigious Klingenstein Summer Teaching Institute.

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 including day-of volunteering with set-up, break down, check-in, etc., soliciting for sponsorships, securing auction items and more!)

WINTER/SPRING

• Teacher Appreciation Event (Spring)

• Event Support for Golfing Fore Gunston

• Career Talks with Students

YEAR-ROUND

• Support for student events such as Homecoming, Spring Formal, and other dances

• Heron Fund Parent Ambassadors (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 more

• Class coverage and substitute teaching

• Athletics (organizing tailgates and snacks, transportation, assisting with coaching and record keeping)

• Professional services including photography, videography and most recently, auctioneer services!

We have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the school year, at school and at home. Contact GPA Coordinator: Trish Rudolfs, P’18’20 at trudolfs@gunston.org.

(Top, l-r) ’23-’24 GPA President Ildi Watkins, P’26, Isabelle Rogers, P’27, Susan Brody-Grundner, P’26, and Leigh Wood, P’24’27.

(Middle, l-r) Holly Allison, P’25, Trish Rudolfs, P’18’20, Marcy Hein, P’26, Collette Figliozzi, P’26, and Joan Gaffner, GP’25.

(Bottom, l-r) ’22-’23 GPA, (front row) Suzanne Lutz, P’24’24, Christine Amygdalos, P’20’23, GPA President Irene Hansen, P’23 and Naté Pope, P’23. (Standing) Joanna Pierce, P’26, GPA Coordinator Trish Rudolfs, P’18’20, Sports Liaison Julie Gillespie, P’20’22’24, Vice President Lori Hammond, P’24, Tine Dickey, P’24, Carrie Dare, P’25, Ildi Watkins, P’26, Micelle Hallmark, P’24, Sarah Philippon, P’25’27 and Jen Franks, P’25.

The Golfing “fore” Gunston IV fundraiser on May 1, 2023 at the Prospect Bay Country Club welcomed 101 golfers and raised $30,000. The day’s winners include: Men’s First Place with a score of -19, Creg Fleetwood, Casey Grieves, Barton Shaw and Brian Bowser, and Women’s First Place/Mixed with a score of -10, Dane and Mary Ways, P’18 and Chuck and Jen Batchelder received prizes of Yeti Carryall totes and gift certificates to Prospect Bay’s pro shop.

The winner of the Men’s Longest Drive was Creg Fleetwood, and for Women’s Longest Drive, the winner was Vicki Dean with a prize of an MV2 Golf bag. Men’s Closest to the Pin winner was George Subioni, with a prize of a Prospect Bay Foursome and Women’s Closest to the Pin winner was Chesley Nonemaker, P’27 with a prize of a brand new Bat-Caddy X3R electric cart. Last Place Winners were Sean Matthews, Tyler King, and Michelle and Chip Compton, with a prize of brand new pickleball paddles and ball and Dick’s Sporting Goods gift certificates.

SAVE-THE-DATE: May 3, 2024

On Saturday, October 21, 2023, Gunston held its signature fundraising event, welcoming nearly 200 guests to the Bull & Oyster Roast, raising $120,000. The online silent auction featured 50 items ranging from original artwork, specialty baskets filled with local gift certificates, professional photography session, fishing charters, luxury catered cruises, NFL tickets, spa packages, and a wide variety of experiences such as the opportunity to be a beekeeper for a day, almost all of which were procured by Gunston Parents’ Association volunteers. The live auction featured six items including a Paul Reed Smith custom guitar, Ravens versus Dolphins tickets for six on New Year’s Eve, vacations to Jamaica and Mexico, a catered cruise for 10 with a private chef, and VIP tickets to the Gunston 2024 Commencement ceremony.

The evening’s auctioneer was volunteer Woody Dunstan, P’24, who once served as the Director of Operations at Christie’s Auction House. A very successful “Raise the Paddle” raised $42,100 for Health & Campus Safety initiatives including a comprehensive security audit with a professional security consultant that specializes in school safety, campus-wide upgrades including automated doors and locks, lighting, updated communications system, installation of tempered glass and faculty and student best-practices safety and security training.

SAVE-THE-DATE: October 19, 2024

The Fleetwood Insurance Group, (l-r) Brian Bowser, Barton Shaw, and Casey Grieves earned Men’s First Place. (Not pictured: Creg Fleetwood).

Mary Ways, P’18, Jen Batchelder, Head of School John Lewis, Chuck Batchelder, and Dane Ways, P’18 were the Women’s/Mixed First Place winners.

Justin and Chesley Nonemaker ’27 (Women’s Closest to the Pin winner) pictured with Jessica and Tim Ruff.

Emily & Jim Shifrin, P’21’21 and Jill Caron, P’17.

Gillespie, P’20’22’24, Trish Rudolfs, P’18’20 and Ildi Watkins, P’26.

Kevin & Christine Joyce, P’26, .Susan Willock & James Borghardt, P’20’25. Calvin & Kerry-Ann Farmer, P’27.

Micelle Hallmark, P’24, Shirley Lin, P’23, Ann Buzzelli, P’24.

Kate Loveless, P’27, Brigitte Stranahan, P’25’27, Braden Loveless, P’27 and Dr. Donald Stranahan, P’25’27.

P’22’24.

P’24.

Gussie and Woody Dunstan,

Julie

Samantha Hollomon,

Three members of the graduating class of 2023 earned recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program Nick Abell and Damian René received commendations, an acknowledgment given to students who participate in the program and demonstrate exceptional academic ability, recognizing their outstanding performance. Zach Mozher was named a National Merit finalist, a prestigious designation that places him among the top 15,000 students in the country, representing less than one percent of high school seniors.

Additionally, 25 students were recognized by the National Advanced Placement (AP) Program for the 2022-2023 academic year. AP Scholars include Zach Adams ’23, Olivia Amygdalos ’23, Kelby Booth ’23, Henry Feng ’23, Alanna Grace ’23, Jessica Hammond ’24, Paget Kellogg ’23, Tilghman Overton ’24, Grace Anne Phillips ’23, Julia Reed ’23, Joanna Riley ’24, Aaron Sanderson ’23, Anna Szwaja ’24, Brielle Tyler ’23, Yining Wei ’23, and Jason Ye ’23.

AP Scholars with Honor include Julia Buchanan ’23, Turner Day ’24, Maren Kneeland ’24, and Angelina Lin ’23.

AP Scholars with Distinction include Nick Abell ’23, Tom de los Reyes ’23, Zach Mozher ’23, Lane Parkhurst ’23 and Damian René ’23.

Sally Field was rededicated on Wednesday, September 21 with beautiful new Bermuda grass. This field, and the adjacent field were named for Temple and Sally Blackwood, longtime Gunston supporters. In attendance were former Athletic Director Anita Gruss, J. Temple Blackwood, (Temple & Sally’s grandson) who was head of Gunston for six years, his wife Victoria, son Andrew, and grandchildren Julian and Violet. A special thanks goes to Ernie Darling and Richard Spray, Gunston’s Building & Grounds team, who oversaw the installation and maintenance of the new field. (l-r) Coaches Cam ’05 and Juan Angarita, Violet Borland ’27, Victoria and J. Temple Blackwood, Julian and Andrew Blackwood, Head of School John Lewis, former Athletic Director Anita Gruss and Athletic Director Josh Breto pose on the newly refurbished Sally Field.

Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis, Damian René, Zach Mozher, Nick Abell and Head of School John Lewis.

Gunston hosted the 2023 Mid-Shore College Fair & Financial Planning Evening for the second year in a row with the support of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. Hosted at Chesapeake College, this free event was open to the public and boasted more than 50 colleges and universities in attendance from across the country. The event also included a session on the Financial Aid Process, led by Senior Associate Director of Student Financial Aid at Washington College, Cailean Leith.

“Years ago, Chesapeake College hosted this event,” explained Co-Director for College Guidance Emily Coffey, “but when the pandemic hit, the event stopped and there wasn’t another college fair happening in this region of the Eastern Shore. We realized that this lack of access to college representatives was bad for our students and community.” Together, Ms. Coffey and Co-Director for College Guidance Tony D’Antonio decided to take over the college fair and they re-designed it from scratch.

School Nurse/Health Coordinator Fairuz Manion, PhDc, MSN, RN has been awarded the 2023 Outstanding Private, Independent, and Parochial School Nurse (PIPSN) Award by the PIPSN Special Interest Group of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) as well as School Nurse of the Year by the Maryland Association of School Health Nurses.

These awards recognize school nurses who demonstrate excellence through clinical expertise, research and education, management, mentoring, advocacy and leadership with a scholarship to both the NASN Conference and the Maryland Association of School Health Nurses (MASHN) annual conference. Additionally, Nurse Manion will be featured in the fall issue of the NASN School Nurse publication

Ms. Manion leads Gunston’s overall approach to health, wellness, and health education, working with the school’s leadership to deliver a best practices health and wellness education program. She oversees student care management, employee care management, employee wellness program coordination, mental health support, and instructs the ninth grade wellness course.

Additionally, Manion secured grant funding to equip the campus with all new automated external defibrillator (AED) devices and leads the school’s annual trainings on First Aid, CPR, AED, epi-pens, Narcan administration, blood borne pathogens, and “Stop the Bleed” programs. She organizes and administers vaccination clinics for employees and coordinates the school’s menstrual products program.

Boys’ Varsity Basketball Head Coach Dontaye White was named the ESIAC Coach of the Year for Winter Sports for the 2023/2024 season! (Pictured far left with the varsity basketball team.)

Co-Director for College Guidance Tony D’Antonio with (l-r) Madi Lutz ’24, Louise Mulo ck ’25, Ben Cook ’24, Jan Serraviñals ’24, Quinn Baughman ’24, Caeden Harrison ’24, Matthew Periconi ’24, Michael Billings ’24, and Sophia Kent ’24.

Five members of the class of 2024 have signed their letters of intent to play sports at the college level. At a signing ceremony on January 17, students and their families along with coaches and faculty gathered in the Alice R. Ryan Family Library to celebrate their accomplishments. Nationwide, a little over 7% of high school athletes (about 1 in 13) go on to play a varsity sport in college and less than 2% of high school athletes (1 in 57) go on to play at NCAA Division I schools.

This past fall, Gunston was invited to join the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. MIAA is the state’s premier boys’ athletic conference and includes 29 private high schools across eight Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Divided into three tiers based on school size (A, B, & C), MIAA schools have a combined enrollment of 17,000, and it is recognized as one of the country’s most prestigious, competitive, and well-run independent school athletic conferences. Beginning in fall of 2024, Gunston’s boys’ teams which include soccer, cross country, swimming, basketball, lacrosse, tennis and golf will begin full-time MIAA competition in the “C” conference.

This spring, Gunston’s crew team will join the premiere rowing conference in the region, the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association (WMIRA). While Gunston has regularly competed against WMIRA teams at national regattas like Head of the Schuylkill, the school is now eligible to compete in the conference championship regatta on May 5th. The WMIRA includes independent and parochial school teams like DeMatha, Georgetown Day School, St. Albans, Gonzaga, Holton Arms, and National Cathedral School, as well as Montgomery County public school powerhouses such as Blair, BCC, Walter Johnson, and Walt Whitman.

Additionally, Gunston’s 75-acre waterfront campus is now the official host for the Maryland State High School Rowing Championships, sponsored by Washington College. At last year’s event on April 23, Gunston earned four first places finishes. The women’s varsity four, women’s JV four, women’s varsity eight, and men’s varsity 4 all took home gold medals.

Gunston’s men’s double took bronze in their event. The men’s novice eight claimed second, and men’s JV four took third.

(Seniors pictured l-r) Aiden Dunlap will be playing basketball for Bard College, Samantha Keith will be rowing for Sacred Heart University, Kate Porter will be rowing for St. Joseph’s University, Sophia Kent will be playing field hockey for St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Jonah Smith will be playing lacrosse for Flagler College.

Gunston Rowers (l-r) Ariel Stap ’26, Sophie Pierce ’26, Ava Augustus ’26, Olivia Amygdalos ’23, and Sanai Vanable ’26.

Spring 2023 Highlights

Girls Tennis (10-0): ESIAC Champions (Undefeated Season)

Boys Tennis (6-1): ESIAC Champions

Head Coach Will Freda, Assistant Coaches Megan Cook, P’22 ’24, Dorothy Johnson, P’25

• ESIAC All Conference: Evelyn Volkmer ’24, Alice Crouch ’24, Isabella Taylor ’24 & Caitlin Myers ’24

• Girls Team MVP: Jessica Hammond ’24

• ESIAC Boys Doubles Champions: Jan Serraviñals ’24 & Jackson Frederick ’25

• Boys Team MVP: Garrett Lang ’23

Triathlon: Maryland State Champions

Head Coach Bobby Stephenson, Assistant Coach Tony D’Antonio

• Team MVP (Boys): Colin Hallmark ’24

• Team MVP (Girls): Zoe Buzzelli ’24

Crew: Maryland State Champions

Head Coach Natalie Reading ’16, Assistant Coaches Tammy Boone P’17 ‘21‘27, Kylee Naumann ’16, Ryan Redding ’17, and John Wagner, GP’23 Medal winners included the Men’s Varsity 4, Women’s Varsity 8, Women’s Varsity 4, and Women’s JV 4 boats

• Team MVP: Turner Day ’24

Sailing

Head Coach Tom Chafey, Assistant Coaches Kate Larrimore ’16, Simon Kelly ’06

• The team qualified for and competed in the Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association Silver Championship. Gunston has not competed in this event in more than a decade. They competed against the top sailing schools in the country and landed a couple of 3rd places out of the many races held over the course of two days.

• Team MVP: Tommy McGeady ’25

Girls Lacrosse (5-7)

Head Coach Imani Black, Assistant Coaches Brian Aikin, John FauntLeRoy, P’22

• ESIAC All Conference: Sophia Kent ’24, McKinsey Brown ’23, Kate Campbell ’23

• Honorable Mention: Grace Shepherd ’25

• Team MVP: Kate Campbell ’23

Boys Lacrosse (5-6)

Head Coach Millicent Sheets, P’18’21, Assistant Coaches Jay Walker, P’25, Jeff Smith, P’18’22’24, Robb Wirts, P’25

• ESIAC All Conference: Jonah Smith ’24, Mekonnen Sahle-Selassie ’23, Zack Adams ’23, Eddie Gillespie ’24

• Honorable Mention: Nathan Porter ’23

• Team MVP: Jonah Smith ’24

Fall 2023 Highlights

Cross Country: ESIAC Champions & Undefeated in Conference (Boys), ESIAC Runner Up (Girls)

Head Coach Bobby Stephenson, Assistant Coach Moe Weimer

• ESIAC Runner of the Year (Boys): Colin Hallmark ’24

• ESIAC Runner of the Year (Girls): Zoe Buzzelli ’24

• ESIAC All-Conference (Boys): Colin Hallmark ’24, Zach Steinberg ’25

• ESIAC All-Conference (Girls): Zoe Buzzelli ’24, Grace Hanlon ’25

• Honorable Mention: Ben Cook ’24, Emma Walker ’27

Girls Soccer: ESIAC Runner Up (7-2-1)

Head Coach Tony D’Antonio, Assistant Coach Lucas Padhilla

• ESIAC Player of the Year: Amber Tormey ’24

• ESIAC All-Conference: Amber Tormey ’24, V McCluskey ’25, Abby Philippon ’27

• Honorable Mention: Aurora Baughman ’26

Varsity Boys Soccer: ESIAC Runner Up (7-2)

Head Coach Juan Angarita, P’22, Assistant Coach Cam Angarita ’05

• ESIAC All-Conference: Rowan Larkin ’24, Jaden Mahaffey ’24, Jan Serraviñals ’24, Quinn Baughman ’24

• Honorable Mention: Ethan Harper ’26

JV Boys Soccer: ( 1-3)

Head Coach Austin Barnes, Assistant Coach Brooks Armstrong ’19

• Beat club soccer team Bayshore 3-0 in season finale

Varsity Volleyball: ESIAC Runner Up (12-2)

Head Coach David Henry, P’20’23, Assistant Coach Jill Labrador, P’27

• ESIAC Player of the Year: Phoebe Kelly ’25

• ESIAC All Conference: Phoebe Kelly ’25, Liv Labrador ’27, Emma Nkanza ’26

• Honorable Mention: Jessica Hammond ’24, Scotia Hopper ’27

JV Volleyball (9-1)

Head Coach Mariah Goodall, Assistant Coach Jess Coner Went undefeated in conference; not losing a single set

Golf: ESIAC Runner Up

Head Coach Graham Shearer, Assistant Coach C.O. Johnson, P’25

• ESIAC All Conference: RP Johnson ’25, Jack Beasley ’25

Field Hockey: ESIAC Runner Up (7-2)

Head Coach Yvonne Gazelle, Assistant Coach Jen Matthews ’05

• ESIAC All Conference: Sophia Kent ’24, Layla Kent ’26, Grace Shepherd ’25, Caitlin Myers ’24, Genevieve Baughman ’26, Abbie Houseknecht ’24

• Honorable Mention: Samantha Jayne ’24

Crew

Head Coach Natalie Reading ’16, Assistant Coaches Tammy Boone P’17 ‘21‘27, Kylee Naumann ’16, Ryan Redding ’17

• Attended iconic regattas such as Head of the Christina, and Navy Day Regatta in Philadelphia. The team set personal bests at Head of the Schuylkill.

• Team MVP: Liam Dickey ’24

Sailing

Head Coach Tom Chafey, Assistant Coaches Kate Larrimore ’16, Simon Kelly ’06

• Both JV and Varsity Sailing Teams teams ranked in the top 10 within Maryland Interscholastic Sailing Association (MDISA).

• Sailors earned several 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishes at Mid Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association Silver Championships and second overall for Maryland Silver Championship.

Winter 2023-2024 Highlights

Swimming: Boys (11-0) & Girls (5-6) ESIAC Champions

Head Coach Bobby Stephenson, Assistant Coach Mel Skirkanich Corsica Cup Winners

• Team MVPs: Zoe Buzzelli ’24 & Colin Hallmark ’24

• ESIAC All-Conference (Boys): Colin Hallmark ’24, Kazys Morris ’25, Tilghman Overton ’24

• ESIAC All-Conference (Girls): Zoe Buzzelli ’24, Kate Seybert ’25, Emma Morris ’26

• Honorable Mentions: Riley Walker ’25 and Alivia Runz ’25

Varsity Girls Basketball (9-5)

Head Coach Brian Aikin, Assistant Coach Dave Robinson

• ESIAC All Conference: Caitlin Myers ’24, Layla Kent ’26

• Honorable Mention: Sophia Kent ’24

• Team MVP: Layla Kent ’26 finished 5th in the state for scoring amongst sophomores with 18.8 PPG

Varsity Boys Basketball ESIAC Runner Up (9-7)

Head Coach Dontaye White, Assistant Coach Tom Chafey

• ESIAC All Conference: Jonah Smith ’24, Aiden Dunlap ’24

• Honorable Mention: Quinn Baughman ’24

• Team MVP: Jonah Smith ’24

JV Boys Basketball (1-10)

Head Coach Drew Hightower ’17, Assistant Coach Andy Hightower, P’17’20’21’23’26

• Set season high scoring mark with a 45-13 win vs Wye River in the season finale

ATHLETICS AND FITNESS AT GUNSTON

Perhaps the happiest day on the Gunston calendar is the first day of spring athletics and fitness. After a long winter indoors, every corner of Gunston’s campus is filled with activity, engaging every one of the five senses: the smell of freshly mown grass; the thwack and dink of tennis and pickle balls; chilly Corsica River water; the sight of four dozen lacrosse sticks; and the tastes of water and Gatorade after a tough first workout.

“I love the first day of spring,” shares Head of School John Lewis, himself a former college baseball catcher at Georgetown University. “Truly, is there any place better to be on Earth than Gunston’s campus on a spring afternoon? When I think of my middle and high school experiences, my strongest memories came from my time on the sports field. The fun, the competition, the camaraderie, the sunshine, the fresh air, and the highs and lows of winning and losing–so many friendships were made, so many life lessons learned.”

Riding: A Way of Life

An emphasis on vigorous physical activity has been part of the school’s culture since its founding in 1911. Even now when driving down Gunston Road, the first structure one encounters is a 30,000 sq. ft. barn, and for well over half of the school’s history, the athletic program revolved around a central focus: horses. For the first six decades of the school’s history, equestrian activity was more than just a sport at Gunston, it was at the core of the school’s identity. The Gunston School for Girls was one of a small handful of schools with an emphasis on riding, and Princess Anne of the British Royal Family chose it as a stop for her 1977 tour of the United States.

Princess Anne’s visit to Gunston was national news, and as a June 1977 Washington Post article described:

“At Gunston, the jousting and jumping contests are scheduled Sunday in conjunction with the princess’s visit. Four of the 12 equestrian performers are U.S. Olympic gold medalists. ‘It’s all very fitting, really, for the school, because it’s always been a riding school,’ Mrs. Virginia Duffey remarked of the 63-student institution.”

At this year’s 50th reunion of the Class of 1973, many of the stories revolved around time spent with friends and horses in the barn, in the riding ring, and at horse shows. Many Gunston alumnae have maintained a lifelong passion for riding, and they remain active in the equestrian world.

At the same time, much of the Gunston School for Girls era offered limited opportunities for interscholastic competition, but the school still offered athletic and

fitness activities during the daily afternoon gym period including sailing, field hockey, dance, lacrosse, tennis, canoeing, swimming, karate, riflery, and basketball.

Boys varsity lacrosse, spring 2023. Photo by Jim Watson, P’23’25.

(Top) “The Horse Show,” 1974. (Middle) A rifle club member, 1976. (Bottom) Sailing team, 1999 Yearbook. “It was great to see Gunston, for the first time ever, race in inter-school regattas while practicing in a donated 420.” - Mr. Everdell

1978: The Arrival of Anita Gruss

When reflecting on her job interview, Anita Gruss, who served Gunston for 37 years as its first Athletic Director, said, “I think Mr. Long needed someone to coach three sports, teach health, and to get things organized.” As it turned out, the arrival of Anita Gruss was transformative for Gunston. She was a newly-minted graduate of Salisbury State University where she was MVP of both their women’s Lacrosse and Field Hockey teams, and where she still holds the university’s single season field hockey goal scoring record (31) and is a member of their Athletics Hall of Fame.

Ms. Gruss’ tenure saw the development of Gunston’s full range of interscholastic athletics, the founding of the Eastern Shore Interscholastic Athletic Conference (ESIAC), the transition of Gunston from an all-girls boarding school to Gunston Day School, the phasing out of the school’s equestrian program, the launch of the sailing and rowing teams, and the construction of the Field House and Tennis Center.

“Those early days were tough,” she reflected, “and it was hard to run an athletic program without a Field House. The girls would practice basketball at Centreville Elementary School, and since there was no ESIAC conference, we competed in the Kent County Women’s League. When I think back to early inflection points, the first was the construction of the new Field House in 1989, inspired by Mr. Blackwood, as well as the installation of Temple and Sally Fields in 1999. Before that, the playing fields were a little rough, since they were all former horse paddocks.”

When Gunston became co-ed in 1996, enrollment grew, and there became a need to create an infrastructure for co-educational interscholastic athletics. Thanks to the leadership of Anita Gruss, the ESIAC conference was founded and play began with four charter member schools: Gunston Day School, Worcester Prep, Sts. Peter and Paul, and Salisbury School. Gunston enjoyed early success in ESIAC competition, winning championships in multiple sports.

And horses? Ms. Gruss reflected, “Once we became a day school, our school population changed. Kids who liked riding had their horses at local barns. We just couldn’t

support the program anymore, and there weren’t folks on campus who could tend to the care and feeding of horses. I know it was tough on our alumnae to see horses go, but riding will always be part of the school’s rich legacy.”

In the final year of Ms. Gruss’ 37-year service to Gunston in 2015, the school cut the ribbon on an extraordinary new facility. Thanks to a generous lead gift from Bruce and Alice Rogers, as well as support from the YMCA of the Chesapeake, the school opened a six-court, USTA-designed Gunston Tennis Center in Fall of 2014. Supported by this facility, the Gunston Herons are the reigning men’s and women’s ESIAC tennis champions. Upon her retirement, the school named its annual Anita Gruss Athletic Award and the Anita Gruss Basketball Court in her honor.

“The Largest Navy of Any School in Maryland”

“When I arrived in 2010,” reflected Gunston’s Head of School John Lewis, “it was clear that the waterfront was an area of extraordinary programmatic opportunity for the school. We are one of the few schools in the United States with direct waterfront access, and in the early 2000’s, our sailing program was thriving and our rowing team had just been launched. Our Board and some generous supporters recognized the need to develop this space, and we’re grateful for their vision and support.”

Thus began the decade-long enhancement of the school’s waterfront athletic program, starting with the renovation of the school’s waterfront athletic complex. Thanks to a leadership gift from Tony and Sarah Everdell, the school rebuilt and dedicated the “Molly Dock” in 2012. From there, the school made a multi-year, multi-million dollar investment into waterfront facilities and equipment.

(above) Anita Gruss on the newly-dedicated Basketball Court, 2015. (opposite page, top) The sailing team out on the water, spring 2023. (middle left) Construction on the waterfront, 2012. (middle right) Molly Dock, spring 2022. (bottom) Crew on the Corsica, spring 2021.

Mrs. Natalie Reading ’16, Gunston’s current Assistant Athletic Director for Waterfront reflected, “When I started as a student in 2012 there was no Heron House, our boat fleet needed an upgrade, and carrying these boats down a steep hill with wooden steps to the waterfront was a death-defying experience. Now, it’s a first class facility that buzzes with student activity every day.”

Fortunately for Gunston, former Naval Academy Women’s Coach Nicky Stimpson arrived in 2013, beginning a consequential four-year tenure that quadrupled the crew roster, and launched Gunston’s participation in regattas like the Head of the Schuylkill and the SRAA Nationals. Current graduates row at schools like the Naval Academy and Rutgers University.

At the same time, the sailing program has grown into a regional power, winning a Tier 2 Championship in 2023, and sending graduates to sail at powerhouses like St. Mary’s College of Maryland and perennial national contender Old Dominion in Norfolk.

To complete the revamping of the waterfront facility, the building originally constructed as the Head of School’s residence was converted into Heron House, a facility that includes locker rooms, a state-of-the-art weight room, storage for waterfront athletics, and office space for the school’s athletic and environmental programs.

With nearly 40% of Gunston’s student-athletes competing in waterfront athletics, the program is supported by a fleet of 6 powerboats, 13 crew shells and 18 sailboats. As Head of School John Lewis humorously shared in a recent sports banquet speech:

“If each school in the ESIAC conference were a Greek city-state, Gunston would clearly be Athens. This is not because of our clear and overwhelming superiority and achievements in the realms of art, philosophy, and science, but because like Athens, Gunston has the most powerful navy of any school in Maryland.”

The present & future of Gunston athletics

With enrollment expanding over 80% in the past decade, the athletics and fitness programs have grown accordingly. Led by current Athletic Director Josh Breto, a former soccer standout at Ohio State, and Assistant Athletic Director for Waterfront Natalie Reading ’16, the school has recently added triathlon, swimming, cross country, golf, pickleball, volleyball, and lifetime sports. Last year, approximately 15% of the Class of 2023 moved on to compete at the Division I, II, and III levels (double the national high school average), in at least six different sports. Given the importance of athletics at the school, in 2022 Gunston’s Board of Trustees embarked upon a review

and revision of the school’s athletics philosophy in order to sharpen our shared understanding of its role at the school. This process included lengthy discussions by the Board, with the school’s athletic and academic leadership teams, with our Athletic Advisory Committee, with faculty, and with a diverse group of students as part of our annual Trustee Day. The revised statement reads:

Athletics & Fitness at Gunston:

In the service of inspiring a lifetime commitment to physical health and vigor in every student, Gunston’s program of daily athletics and fitness is an essential space where character, athletic skill, physical vitality, leadership capacity, and a mind-body balance are forged. A diverse range of offerings seeks to serve both elite and emerging athletes in a manner that maximizes the fresh air and waterfront access uniquely afforded by our 75-acre Corsica River campus. Guided by skilled and supportive coaching, we pursue varsity-level competitive excellence, value a participatory ethos, champion the values of honor and fair play, foster the values of self-discipline, and promote esprit de corps.

Then, in Fall of 2023, the new 65,000 square-foot YMCA facility in Centreville offered Gunston additional opportunities for our students. With their new pool as our home venue, Gunston re-launched a swim program in 2023, capturing the first-ever ESIAC championship in

both boys and girls swimming. The boys also completed an undefeated season, including victories over Easton, Queen Anne’s, and Kent Island high schools.

The future of Gunston athletics is bright. Over the next 36 months, the school will embark on a full renovation of our Outdoor Athletic Complex. All of our major playing fields are being converted into Bermuda grass, and the transformative acquisition of 40 additional acres of adjacent property gives the school a spectacular cross-country course, as well as space for new athletic fields and facilities. Gunston has also been invited to join both the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), as well as the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association (WMIRA).

Follow Athletics on Instagram @gunstonathletics or by visiting gunstonsports.com

SOPHIA KENT ’24

Millington, Md.

Bound for St. Mary’s College of Maryland for Field Hockey

(ESIAC) Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Association

(FHCAMD) Field Hockey Coaches Association of Maryland

(NFHCA) National Field Hockey Coaches Association

12- Star Athlete Field Hockey, Goalie (also played for Team Chesapeake and Shore Field Hockey)

2021: ESIAC All Conference, Team MVP

2022: FHCAMD All Mid-Shore Field Hockey Team, ESIAC All Conference, and Team Overall MVP

2023: FHCAMD All Mid-Shore First Team, NFHCA High School Senior Impact Team, ESIAC All Conference, Team Defensive MVP, Team Captain Basketball, Guard

22-23: ESIAC Honorable Mention

23-24: ESIAC Honorable Mention, Team Captain Lacrosse, Attack

2022: ESIAC All Conference

2023: ESIAC All Conference

“As a captain this year, Sophia is a leader on and off the field,” explains Assistant Coach Jen Matthews ’05. “She has incredible field vision, and her communication both on the field and during huddles make the team better as a whole. She sets high expectations and standards, and constantly works to improve herself and her team. Her drive, dedication, and determination are unmatched, and it shows in her performance.”

Even Sophia’s competitors agree. In a September 2023 article in The Star Democrat by Bill Haufe, players and coaches on the opposing team are quoted saying “Oh, she’s amazing. She stops everything. Things I think are going to go in… and then she’s there.” During that particular game, Sophia “notched 20 saves, which included foiling a mini-barrage while Sts. Peter & Paul was pressing for an insurance goal in the fourth quarter.”

Sophia began playing soccer at age four, waiting patiently until she was old enough to play field hockey and lacrosse at age six, eventually picking up basketball in middle school as well. She attributes her dedication to sports to her parents, Erin and Michael, who have always pushed her to be the best she can be.

“My lacrosse coach, Imani Black, has helped me prepare for film study in college along with my determination on and off the field,” explains Sophia. “And my field hockey coach, Jen Matthews has always pushed me to be my best everywhere.”

In addition to Sophia’s numerous athletic accolades, she is a regular on the Honor Roll and balances her academics and sports by using her study hall times wisely and staying in constant communication with her teachers.

ZOE BUZZELLI ’24

Grasonville, Md.

Cross Country

2022: ESIAC All Conference Team, Team Captain

2023: Cross Country ESIAC Runner of the Year (Girls), Team Captain

Triathlon

2021: USA Triathlon Maryland High School Club

Championship 2nd Overall

2022: Westfields Triathlon 2nd Overall (Women), Nanticoke Triathlon First Place (U19 female), Team MVP

2023: USA Triathlon Maryland High School Club Champion (Girls), Nanticoke Triathlon 1st Place (U19 female), Triathlon Team MVP (Girls), Team Captain

Swimming (also swims for Talbot

County YMCA Swim Team)

2024: ESIAC Swim Champions, Corsica Cup Champions, ESIAC All Conference Team, Team Captain, Team MVP (Girls)

Volleyball

2021: Team Captain

While Zoe is grateful for the chance to try multiple sports during her four years at Gunston including sailing, volleyball, basketball, cross country, swimming, and triathlon—it is the latter three which have ignited her competitive edge. Zoe’s been in the water since she was a baby and joined her first swim team at age five so it’s no surprise that she regularly outperforms her peers in the swim portion of triathlons, even beating out older age brackets. “I have always loved being in the water so while swimming competitively is absolutely hard work it is also equal parts joy for me,” she said.

In addition to keeping in peak physical condition and bringing home medals, Buzzelli also offers lessons to young swimmers.

“Zoe was amazing at teaching my older kids proper swim strokes and also working with my three year old and getting her comfortable in the water and teaching the basic skills of what to do if she accidentally fell in the pool,” said Dr. Mariah Goodall. “Her patience and creativity and fun teaching methods across such a wide age range impressed me even more than Zoe already has.”

“Especially at Gunston, sports are such an important way to connect with classmates regardless of grade. Over the past four years I have been lucky enough to be on teams where the culture and community has been one of fun, improvement, and hard work,” said Zoe.

“Playing two sports (High School Teams and Club Swim) during the school year takes a lot of time. Time management has been crucial for me to get all of my work done. I end up doing a lot of work in the car and am constantly using the reminders app on my phone,” she added.

LAYLA KENT ’26

Millington, Md.

Field Hockey, Midfielder

(also played for Team Chesapeake and Shore Field Hockey)

2022: ESIAC All-Conference, FHCAMD All MidShore Field Hockey Team, Team Offensive MVP

2023: ESIAC All-Conference, FHCAMD All Mid Shore First Team, FHCAMD All Eastern Shore Team, Team Offensive MVP Basketball, Guard/Point Guard

23-24: ESIAC All-Conference, Team MVP, MaxPreps Maryland Prep School Sophomores ranked 5th with an average of 18.8 points per game and 3rd for an average of 5.3 steals per game, MaxPreps Maryland Prep School All Grades ranked 7th for steals and 12th overall for points per game.

COLIN HALLMARK ’24

Arnold, Md.

Cross Country

2021: ESIAC Cross Country Champions (Boys), ESIAC All Conference Team, Team MVP

2022: ESIAC Cross Country Champions (Boys), ESIAC All Conference Team, ESIAC Runner of the Year (Boys), Team MVP (Boys)

2023: ESIAC Cross Country Champions (Boys), ESIAC All Conference Team, ESIAC Runner of the Year (Boys), Team Captain, Team MVP

Triathlon

2021: USA Triathlon Maryland High School Club Champion (Boys), Gold Finish U16 Hagerstown Duathlon, Team MVP

2022: USA Triathlon Maryland High School Club Champion (Boys), Nanticoke River Triathlon First Overall, Triathlon Team MVP (Boys), Ranked 9th in the nation for triathlon age group

Swimming

2023: ESIAC Swim Invitational Champions

2024: ESIAC Swim Champions, Undefeated Season, Corsica Cup Champions, ESIAC All Conference Team, Team MVP, Team Captain

Layla began her athletic career playing soccer around age four and as soon as her older sister Sophia began to play field hockey, Layla began as well. “I would play up an age group so we could be on the same team,” she explains. To this day, Layla plays up to stay with her sister as long as she can before Sophia leaves to play at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in the fall.

“From her first practice as a freshman, Layla immediately stepped into a leadership role on the team. She has wonderful field vision, an intensity that is hard to match, and an upbeat attitude. She inspires her teammates to become better players. Her speed, stick skills, and awareness make her an incredible asset to the team,” said Field Hockey Head Coach Yvonne Gazelle.

While Layla excels at basketball and lacrosse, field hockey is her passion and she wants to play at the collegiate level, having attended recruitment tournaments with her travel teams for the past few years.

“One of my favorite memories was a field hockey game (home) last year against SSPP. The team had worked so well together and we were able to win 1-0 for the first time in a very long time. I was very proud of how everyone played individually and as a team. During the game before we scored our first goal, I remember taking the shot on a corner and it went in but got called back because the shot was dangerous. I remember everyone being so happy until it got called back. I think that really encouraged all of us to take it up a notch and get that one goal in the end,” recalls Layla.

Layla excels in the classroom as well, making honor roll regularly. “Teachers here are very understanding of the amount of sports I play. If I have a big tournament and can’t find the time to do school work, I let them know beforehand and then I find time to finish them later. It’s all about time management and communication.”

During his four years at Gunston, Colin Hallmark has participated in cross country, triathlon, crew, sailing, basketball and swimming. He is a three-time Maryland State Champion in triathlon, a seven-time national champion in Taekwondo and third degree blackbelt, and two-time Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference’s (ESIAC) Runner of the Year. Gunston’s boys’ cross country team has won the ESIAC championship three years in a row, as well as the inaugural swimming championship in 2023 and again in 2024.

Colin began his athletic journey at the age of two with swimming, followed by Taekwondo at age four, recalling “I don’t really remember a time in my life without Taekwondo.” He won his first national sparring gold medal at age 10, and since then has earned four more. “The competition draws me in and I enjoy it,” he said.“I like to feel stronger and go faster. I ultimately believe that if you aren’t enjoying a sport, there is no point to continue. I don’t mean that you should stop if it gets difficult, because all sports are at some point, but if you truly no longer enjoy it then it is taking away valuable time,” he adds. He recalls his favorite memory of playing sports at Gunston would be his junior year of cross country season, “really just those moments where I am enjoying time with my teammates, not necessarily a big win or a triumph, although,” he says with a laugh, “I can’t say winning ESIAC and state championships isn’t super cool though!”

Additionally, Colin earned the 2023 Heisman Scholarship which requires a cumulative weighted high school grade point average of a B (3.0) or better, participation in a recognized sport, and being a leader in his school and community. “I apply the same discipline to academics that I do to athletics. You make time for the things you care about, so it has never been difficult to find time for both. I would like to get into medical school, possibly orthopedic surgery and I hope athletics can help me do so,” says Colin, who plans to continue with USA Triathlon in college.

Chesapeake Watershed Semester

(l-r) Lily Brantner ’25, Katherine Sadler ’25, Ben Cook ’24, Vee McCluskey ’25, Nina Johnston ’25, Thomas Callahan ’24, Aiden Dunlap ’24, Allison Davis ’25, Victoria MacGlashan ’25, Harrison Dunstan ’24, Shawn Barry ’24, and Rowan Lutz ’24.

In fall of 2023, the Chesapeake Watershed Semester (CWS) celebrated the completion of its fifth successful semester. What was once an experimental program is now a permanent fixture in Gunston programming. The education provided by CWS is not only possible, but is extremely impactful, meaningful, and necessary. And the students of the fall 2023 cohort benefited from all of the program design and building that has taken place over the last five years. This group had the opportunity to visit many of the same locations CWS has traveled to in the past.

They camped along the banks of the Savage River in western Maryland, waded in the waters of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, trekked into a coal mine in eastern Pennsylvania, and explored the urban infrastructure of Hampton Roads. And the group was able to interact with all of the program partners CWS has made over the years. After five years, the program has successfully made its foothold in the watershed by connecting with all kinds of individuals and organizations that work tirelessly for the environment.

Our current students and many students to come will be the beneficiaries of these important connections! Aside from all of the amazing places and people we meet

throughout the semester, an important part of the experiential learning provided by CWS is the completion of the capstone project. In this project, each student chooses a topic to research and write about for the duration of the semester. The topic has to relate to the Chesapeake watershed in some manner, but other than that students choose based upon their own interests. After researching and engaging with the topic in an in depth fashion, the students present their findings to an audience on the final day of the semester. The event is the culmination of all they have learned and will carry forward with them. It is an amazing representation of the real world implications of the content the students have explored throughout their experience!

Topics chosen by students are wide-ranging. Some choose to write about science, while others choose to write about commerce or art or history. And it should be noted that the research, writing, and presentation process is an intensive one. Students receive an immense amount of feedback on their writing and their public speaking skills in advance of the presentation.

Join us in celebrating the variety and depth of these amazing projects over the past few years!

Thomas Callahan ’24 (CWS ’23)

Maritime Transportation in the Chesapeake Bay

Thomas Callahan, maritime enthusiast and soon-to-be Maine Maritime Academy student, chose to research shipping in the Chesapeake Bay. Thomas shared all kinds of interesting data about the importance of the Ports of Norfolk and Baltimore and about the shipping channels that massive cargo ships use to make their way up the Bay. He uncovered that there are an array of environmental concerns in relation to shipping. In particular, he shared about noise pollution, air pollution, habitat destruction, and the spread of invasive species through ballast water. Thomas was able to take advantage of this project by diving into a topic that he knew he wanted to pursue in his future academic and professional life. What a way to kick off the beginning of his next journey!

“One thing I learned a lot about, and found really interesting, is the sound pollution that comes off ships. I knew all ships gave off sounds, but I never thought they were an environmental impact. I learned that sounds can affect a lot of the functions and daily habits of marine life,” said Thomas.

Jessica Hammond ’24 (CWS ’22)

Environmental Justice and the Chesapeake Watershed

Jessica Hammond completed her capstone project on the topic of environmental justice, doing a deep dive to understand what environmental injustice and justice looks like in our watershed. She had the opportunity to speak with three professionals including a journalist, an environmental nonprofit employee, and a lawyer, learning about the issues impacting the Bay and its surrounding communities.

Specifically, she discovered how these issues vary greatly between urban and rural places in the watershed. This project proved to be very impactful for Jessica who has long been environmentally active at Gunston and in the larger community, serving on the Environmental Club and as a student leader at the Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit for two years running. Jessica also recently received the Girl Scout’s Gold Award for her work designing and installing environmental awareness signs in a local community park.

“I learned this is a field that I am interested in and passionate about. And for me the best way to help the environment might be to stay on the policy side,” said Jessica.

Allison Davis ’25 (CWS ’23)

Potomac Horse Fever and Climate Change

Allison Davis, an equestrian and enthusiast for the outdoors, chose to do her capstone project about Potomac Horse Fever (PHF). PHF is an equine disease that was first discovered in our watershed. PHF is caused by the bacteria Neorickettsia risticii which implants itself onto aquatic insects. When horses drink from infested waters, they are at risk of ingesting an insect that is carrying the bacteria. If so, the horse could develop colitis and other digestive issues. In completing research on this topic, Allison learned that the life cycle of N. risticii relies on warm water temperatures. As a result, Allison was able to draw some really interesting conclusions about how rates of warming brought on by climate change might result in higher rates of Potomac Horse Fever. For this project, she interacted with a number of veterinary professionals who shared their own knowledge and experience with the disease.

“I have learned a lot about how to move forward in writing an in-depth research paper. Deciding on a topic, all the research it takes, writing, revising, and then presenting. My capstone project has taught me to be confident in my writing, time management, and better public speaking skills, which I will take with me throughout my career past Gunston,” said Allison.

(l-r) Victoria MacGlashan ’25 and Allison Davis ’25.

Jessica Hammond ’24.

Thomas Callahan ’24.

Save the Date!

May 3, 2024

Golfing Fore Gunston V

September 27-28, 2024

Alumni Weekend

October 19, 2024

Bull & Oyster Roast

*These dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances such as global pandemics or natural disasters. Please be sure to double check our website calendar before making plans!

STAY IN TOUCH!

1) Follow us on social media

@gunstonschool

Groups: @gunstonschoolalumni

Gunston School for Girls Alumni

@gunstonschool

@gunstonathletics

@TheGunstonSchool

linkedin.com/school/gunston-school

2) Sign up for the Alumni eNewsletter (Beyond Gunston Road) or submit an update at gunston.org/connect or email Catherine Lawson at clawson@gunston.org

3) Visit us We love visitors! Drop us a line and let us know when you’re coming by OR come to one of our special events!

During the last weekend in September, 2023 alumni were welcomed back to Gunston Road for two days of great food, drinks, and even better company. On Friday, an All Alumni Happy Hour at Head of School John Lewis’s house saw graduates from 1972 all the way up to 2020. The following day, alumni stopped by in the afternoon for a casual picnic, some lawn games, and tours of the school. On Saturday evening, the Class of 1973 celebrated their 50th Reunion with a catered dinner down by the waterfront.

Planning a Reunion? Get in touch!

Class of 1974: 50 years

Class of 1984: 40 years

Class of 1994: 30 years

Class of 2004: 20 years

Class of 2014: 10 years

Class of 2019: 5 years

Held annually in September, the Friday of Alumni Weekend welcomes alumni from all years for a Happy Hour at the Head’s House. The Saturday evening of Alumni Weekend is reserved for all those who wish to hold class-specific reunions on Gunston’s campus. While each reunion is different, depending on the size and attendance, we can offer indoor or tented outdoor options with catering for a nominal fee. Additionally, we can offer lodging recommendations for out of town guests. If you would prefer to have your event off-campus, we can still help by getting you in touch with classmates.

Contact Alumni Coordinator Catherine Lawson at clawson@gunston.org to get started!

class notes

1967

Susan (Stevens) Moore is celebrating a new grand nephew named Skylar and is living in Orlando, Fla. Favorite Gunston memory: “There are so many! One is when Mrs. Oakie caught me with my pet hamster, Charlie. That was fun!”

1973

Debra Kaden is a retired veterinary technician currently living in San Diego, Cal. Recently, she did some veterinary work overseas, living in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Bulgaria, as well as volunteering with the Vervet Monkey Rescue and Rehabilitation Volunteer project with Volunteer International Adventures.

Favorite Gunston memory: “Too many to list! Mrs. Chance’s lemon meringue pie, breaking into the kitchen late at night, Sunday church services, Mrs. Hoffecker [...] many, many demerits for anything/ everything imaginable.”

1977

Catherine (MacFarlane) Hoag has retired from teaching and now spends her time sewing, hosting friends at her beach house on Chincoteague Island and playing with her corgis.

1983

Laura Spencer’s favorite Gunston memory: “Loved every minute of being at Gunston, from Mr. Blackwood to Mr. and Mrs. Everdell, as well as Mr. Valiant in geography.”

Kathy (McKee) Haci has recently retired from government work after living and working abroad in four different countries. She has four children and many, many animals. Favorite Gunston memory: “Gunston was an oasis during some tough times and will always have a special place in my heart.”

2005

John Smith Walter “Ned” Foster IV and wife Katie Blaha welcomed John Walter Smith Foster V in November of 2023.

Cole Meyerhoff ’11

Sculptor Bends Metal & Wood

Local artist draws influence from past experience and the nature of the Chesapeake.

Photo & story by Tom McCall for the Star Democrat, Dec. 2023. Reprinted with permission.

Sculptor Cole Meyerhoff’s workshop is full of clamps, power saws and TIG welders. He can cut and bend metal and wood into shapes that please him. He takes pleasure in the color and underlying texture in a board of walnut. He likes a clean solder. He is an avid Log Canoe racer. Meyerhoff studied art at St. Marys College and has had several interesting and engaging internships from Maine to North Carolina to further his growth and vision. One even included a stint as a shipwright. But now he does his work at Darmand Creek Designs, which he relishes. He wears heavily worn Carhartts and a welding helmet. Meyerhoff got his start when his dad borrowed a welder from a friend. His first weld was in a tractor fender.

“I never saw myself working for someone else. I have always been making or modifying things. I owe a large part of that to my dad,” he said. “There is a theme of modification and adjustment. Once you start welding anything could be anything. You can put whatever you want together. It is a ton of fun. It is like a hot glue gun. You can go to town,” he said.

Meyerhoff makes representational birds and rockfish and anchors. There is a giant metal crab claw at the Trippe Gallery in Easton, a gallery he has worked with for six years. The art he makes draws heavy influence from his past experiences. Meyerhoff took a gap year before college. He started that year at the vaunted Haystack Mountain School on Deer Isle, Maine.

“I mapped a year of programs that didn’t overlap so it made an apprenticeship. There were half a dozen studios in session with about 10 people in each one. The ceramics, writing workshops, textiles — they even have a glass hot shop. That was the fun place to hang out at the end of the day because they would just keep working,” he said. “Watching those guys was a lot of fun.”

After Maine, he went to Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. “That place was incredible. A lot of super talented people there. The instructors, the people taking classes all the fellowship artists that were there — that was very eye opening for me,” he said.

Like a sailor Meyerhoff stopped in various creative ports before starting his own shop. Mastering craft is the north star that allows him express his vision. And he has a lot of fun doing it.

to my dad,” he said. “There is a theme of modification and adjustment. Once you start welding anything could be anything. You can put whatever you want together. It is a ton of fun.”

“It is like a hot glue gun. You can go to town,” he said.

Meyerhoff makes representational birds and rockfish and anchors. There is a giant metal crab claw at the Trippe Gallery in Easton, a gallery he has worked with for six years.

For the last three months of his gap year, he went to the Island School in the Bahamas for an internship. This was an ocean based inquiry into native ecosystems. You can see this appreciation of salty critters in some of his designs. When he finally got to college he found that there were not many people in the art department doing metal work, which gave him free rein to create. “My adviser said you have the studio, you have got the budget, nobody else is doing it. Go to town,” Meyerhoff said. “That definitely shaped the style of work that I have gotten into now.”

The art he makes draws heavy influence from his past experiences.

Meyerhoff took a gap year before college. He started that year at the vaunted Haystack Mountain School on Deer Isle, Maine.

He points to a 5-foot metal fish on the wall. “That was the first representational piece that I had done. I have always liked more abstract work that is focused on the monumental, like Mark Di Suvero and Alexander Liberman,” he said. “They make these giant metal things. I went to Storm King in upstate New York. It is a sculpture park. You could spend a couple of days there. The park is huge. To go there and see that stuff in person for the first time was spiritual after spending so much time reading about these guys.”

All this finds its way to what he is doing now, starting with the art trail organized by Mary Lou McAllister in St. Michaels.

For the last three months of his gap year, he went to the Island School in the Bahamas for an internship. This was an ocean based inquiry into native eco systems. You can see this appreciation of salty critters in some of his designs.

When he finally got to college he found that there were not many people in the art department doing metal work, which gave him free rein to create.

“I wanted to do it, but I wanted something that theoretically could be marketable and sell, so I did a heron. It really got me to look more closely at birds. To really hammer out the details of a heron, there is just so many cool little things. You have to look really hard,” he said.

“I mapped a year of programs that didn’t overlap so it made an apprenticeship. There were half a dozen studios in session with about 10 people in each one. The ceramics, writing workshops, textiles — they even have a glass hot shop. That was the fun place to hang out at the end of the day because they would just keep working,” he said. “Watching those guys was a lot of fun.”

After Maine, he went to Penland School of Craft in North Carolina.

You could spend a couple of days there. The park is huge. To go there and see that stuff in person for the first was spiritual after spending so much time reading about these guys.”

“I have done maybe six or seven birds. A couple of geese, one osprey on a nest. They have all been in the gallery space with Nanny (The Trippe Art Gallery),” he said. While his heart is in sculpture, Meyerhoff has a practical side too. He is doing marine fabrication building T-tops for boats. He has a couple of bending machines to shape the metal for center console boats. One time he fixed a Log Canoe’s broken rudder between races.

“That place was incredible. A lot of super talented people there. The instructors, the people taking classes all the fellowship artists that were there — that was very eye opening for me,” he said.

“My adviser said you have the studio, you have got the budget, nobody else is doing it. Go to town,” Mey erhoff said. “That definitely shaped the style of work that I have gotten into now.”

He points to a 5-foot metal fish on the wall.

just so many cool little things. You have to look really hard,” he said.

“I really like making things that you have an interaction with. You can tell when something doesn’t feel right, like if you sit on a stool that is a little too small. I learned from making pottery that subtle little things can affect your experience with it,” Meyerhoff said. He is looking to a future of more marine fabrication and creative takes on furniture. For now, Meyerhoff just likes making things.

All this finds its way to what he is doing now, starting with the art trail organized by Mary Lou McAllister in St. Michaels.

Like a sailor Meyerhoff stopped in various creative ports before starting his own shop. Mastering craft is the north star that allows him express his vision. And he has a lot of fun doing it.

“I have done maybe six or seven birds. A couple of geese, one osprey on a nest. They have all been in the gallery space with Nanny (The Trippe Art Gallery),” he said.

“That was the first repre sentational piece that I had done. I have always liked more abstract work that is focused on the monumen tal, like Mark Di Suvero and Alexander Liberman,” he said. “They make these giant metal things. I went to Storm King in upstate New York. It is a sculpture park.

While his heart is in sculpture, Meyerhoff has

Cambridge man killed in Bradley

geese, one osprey on a nest.

Log Canoe’s broken rudder

Tom mccaLL/ STar DemocraT

cole meyerhoff’s animal creations can be found at the Trippe Gallery in e pretends to have just caught this rockfish.

giant pencil

Officers from the Cambridge Police Department

responded to the 600 block of Bradley Avenue shortly a.m. Monday for a suffering from at least one apparent gunshot

Tom mccaLL/ STar DemocraT creations can be found at the Trippe Gallery in easton. he pretends rockfish.

a giant crab claw has found its way from cole meyerhoff’s pencil sketch, to workbench to the Trippe Gallery in easton.

2005

Evan Heisman and wife Morgan welcomed their second child, Macey Mae in early March. She joins older brother Brixton.

2007

Elizabeth Davis ’14

Charting Excellence:

From Dental School to Specialized Prosthodontics

Katharine (Greenlee) Henning has started an event planning business called Island Creek Events, a full-service event design and planning company specializing in weddings, social gatherings, corporate events, and nonprofit fundraisers. Island Creek Events was recently awarded “Best of the Chesapeake Wedding Planner” for 2023. Before founding her own business, she served as the Director of Corporate and Employer Brand Strategy at an education technology company. She holds a B.A. from Washington College, a M.B.A. from American University’s Kogod School of Business, and completed the University of Oxford (England) Womens’ Leadership Development Program. Katharine, her husband and two dogs split their time between their homes in Oxford and Silver Spring, Md

2009

Molly George left New York City in March 2020 due to the pandemic and continued working remotely. She’s currently a manager at a blockchain tech company. “In the last 2.5 years my partner and I have lived in 6 states and 10 countries and plan to continue our digital nomad lifestyle with no set end date in sight.”

2010

Dylan Blades was married in 2021 to Adriana Zegarelli. They had their first child, a boy, named Bennett in August 2023.

Elizabeth (Liz) Davis ’14 graduated from The University of Maryland Dental School last spring, where she received the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Implant Student Award that recognizes a dental student who has shown outstanding performance in undergraduate study and clinical training in the area of dental implant placement. Additionally, she was awarded the American Academy of Oral-maxillofacial Radiology Award that recognizes students for demonstrating high achievement in oral and maxillofacial radiology.

Liz was also inducted into three honor societies including the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Society, the Ferdinand J. S. Gorgas Odontological Honorary Society— where she served as vice president her senior year—and the Gamma Pi Delta Prosthodontic Honor Society.

She will be specializing in the field of Prosthodontics and is currently attending a three year program called the Advanced Prosthodontics Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Future goals include either pursuing a one year fellowship in Oral Maxillofacial Prosthodontics or returning back to Maryland to join a private practice.

“The English and science courses that I took while attending Gunston gave me the knowledge to place into advanced level courses my first year of college, making my transcripts look more impressive to dental schools. Gunston also taught me how to be a student athlete, which I continued into college and later taught me good school/ life balances while I was in dental school. Overall, I received a very solid foundation of education which allowed me to pursue my dream of becoming a dentist. I have wanted to be a dentist since the 7th grade. It became a serious ambition after joining KIDS (Kids International Dental Services) on a dental mission trip in 2015. KIDS provided dental services to the children of Cabo Verde as well as other countries. I also began shadowing a local dentist in Chestertown around the same time and solidified that I was going to pursue dentistry. I graduated college in 3.5 years and spent a year working in a dental office before starting dental school in 2019. I am happy that I pursued dentistry and I would not have chosen another career!” said Liz.

Sam Johnson ’18

Oxford’s Ertegun Scholar in Maritime Studies

Sam Johnson ’18 is a recipient of Oxford University’s 20232024 Ertegun Scholarship, a prestigious award given each year to 15 students from all across the globe. Sam is one of only two students from the United States to receive this award.

The Ertegun Scholarship for the Humanities is a highly competitive, with only a 1.5% acceptance rate. Oxford has one goal in mind when selecting Ertegun Scholars: “to choose the very best students who will realize Mica Ertegun’s (founder, Atlantic Records) Mission and one day become leaders in their chosen fields.”

2011

Taylor Rogers started a new role as the Advocacy Network Director at Outdoor Alliance, an organization that mobilizes and unites the voices of the human-powered outdoor recreation community to conserve America’s public lands and waters. Previously, she was the Senior Legislative Aide for State Senator Jeff Bridges (pictured) in the Colorado Legislature and received her Master’s in Power, Participation, and Social Change from University of Sussex in England.

2012

Charlie Fichtner married Jess Winter on April 1, 2023. Jake Mason ’12 and Andy Camp’15 were groomsmen. Pictured is Andy & Annabelle Camp ’15, and Jess and Charlie Fitchner.

Sam is attending Oxford University as a graduate student, continuing his study in Maritime History. He is a Summa Cum Laude ‘22 graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, with a degree in History and a minor in both Anthropology and Museum Studies. After completing his Bachelor’s Degree, Sam took a gap year before applying for graduate school and worked with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum as a shipwright, assisting on completing the construction of Maryland’s flagship, the new Dove, as well as sailing her through the necessary Coast Guard Trials.

He then sailed aboard the last Great Lakes three-masted schooner, the Denis Sullivan, as crew and ship’s carpenter for World Ocean School; sailing from Florida to St. Croix, USVI; then eventually sailing north to Boston, Mass. He hopes to stay in England, as he pursues both work and a future Ph.D. in the maritime field.

2012 & 2013

Jake Mason ’12 is engaged to Annie Agee ’13.

2013

Elijah Enriquez recently graduated from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and lives in Monterey, Cal. He works as a Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Collector in the United States Army.

2019

Dolan Carella graduated from Old Dominion in Spring, 2023 with a Bachelors of Arts in International Studies and a minor in European studies.

class notes

2019

Davy Song (pictured second from left) graduated from Emory University with highest honors (summa cum laude) in Biology and Music (Vocal Performance). After completing an internship and work as a research specialist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he is currently at Saint Louis University School of Medicine as an MD candidate.

“I often reminisce about our laughter-filled atrium, the Corsica blue, and those good ol’ days at Gunston. Thank you for being part of my golden memories, and I am forever grateful for your care, support, and inspiration many, many years ago while I was at Gunston. Simply put, I would not be where I am today without you in my life!”

Drew Seaman has been a part of High Point University’s Rowing team for three years and was made men’s captain a little over a year ago. Drew was also inducted into the Sigma Nu Tau Entrepreneurial Honors Society, and will be graduating in July with a degree in Business Administration with an entrepreneurship concentration.

2020

Erica Reece graduated summa cum laude from the Florida Institute of Technology in just 3 years! She majored in Forensic Psychology with a minor in pre-law and a certificate in Child Advocacy. Erica won Outstanding Student of the Year in Psychology in her Junior and Senior years, as well as a Distinguished Scholar award.

On November 22, several alumni came back to Centreville for a friendly “Hoopsgiving” match. With over 20 players in attendance, the event included a four-team tournament: Gunston’s JV and Varsity, and two alumni teams. Ultimately Gunston’s Varsity defeated the Young Alumni in a closely fought final game. (pictured, l-r) Henry Parkhurst ’18, Kellan Paddy ’16, Matt Barkley ’16, Drew Hightower ’17, and Evan Donahue ’17.

(Above) Last May during Chesapeake Bay Studies, students on a trip to Maine stopped by Tony and Sarah Everdell’s house to say hello!

(Below) In January, alumni were invited back once again for a “Winter Alumni Gathering” at the Head’s House.

Rion McCluskey ’21

Bonner Scholar at Allegheny College

Rion McCluskey ’21 was recently named as a Bonner Scholar at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. The Allegheny Bonner Program merges leadership, education, and service to transform the lives of students as well as their campuses and local communities.“I did take a gap year to work as an EMT in an Urgent Care in Colorado, and I spent this past summer working on ambulances with paramedics. I am [now] pursuing a degree in biology with a minor in global health studies with hopes of attending medical school after undergrad and becoming a family physician.”

2020

Mason Rudolfs completed a 10-week OCS (Officer Candidate School) for the Marines in Quantico, Va. This highly competitive and difficult program is focused on Leadership, Academics and Physical Fitness. Mason is finishing his senior year at the Virginia Military Institute, where upon his graduation in May, will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

Grace Holmes is attending graduate school at the University of South Carolina to receive her Master’s in Athletic Training.

Daphne Provance graduated on summa cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University School (VCU) of the Arts in three years. She is now at UVA pursuing her master’s degree.

2021

Rion is working with the Meadville Area Free Clinic as his Bonner service site, which is an organization that provides free medical care to members of the community without insurance. Recently, he organized a donation drive of used durable medical equipment, or “DME,” through the clinic’s Pass It On Program which accepts items such as wheelchairs, canes, walkers, bathroom equipment, shower chairs and more. The items are refurbished and cleaned and then distributed to area residents who lack the financial means or insurance coverage to purchase medical equipment.

“We’re glad to take anything we can get,” said Rion, who was quoted in a recent article by the Meadville Tribune “Donated medical equipment gets checked over, and volunteers help to clean, repair and refurbish the devices, if needed, before it’s given out.”

Lydia Periconi completed a three-week pre-vet program in South Africa this past summer. The Gunston valedictorian, who is currently studying veterinary science at Penn State Honors College, is pictured here working with animals and learning how to tranquilize antelope!

Hannah Worth graduated from Delaware College of Art and Design with a 4.0 GPA and was elected as the “Commencement Student Speaker.” She received an Associate of Fine Arts Degree majoring in Illustration. Hannah was on the Dean’s list with distinction every semester while attending DCAD. In the fall, she transferred to The University of the Arts, entering as a junior. She’s majoring in Illustration and was awarded a Dean’s Scholarship for Artistic Merit.

In Memory of

Nina De Angelo ’20

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Nina De Angelo, Class of 2020, after a battle with a long-standing health issues. Nina was a junior at Catholic University majoring in Theology and Religious Studies and yet still found time for advocacy, working with the Maryland State Advisory Council on Hereditary and Congenital Disorders (pictured above with Senator Edward R. Reilly at the state house in 2021). Most recently, her artwork was accepted into an art show entitled "Artists Without Limits" to showcase the creative talents of people with disabilities. Mr. Lewis reflected, "Nina was a special soul who always thought of others before herself, and her loss is deeply felt by all who knew her."

Paula Del Guercio ’48

Paula Marie Helene Del Guercio died peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, January 21, 2024. The following is excerpted from her obituary: “She was born at the American Hospital in Paris on September 9, 1930, to the Count and Countess Guy Marie de Vautibault. She and her mother left for America in 1940 after the Nazi invasion. Not speaking a word of English when she arrived in New York City, they moved into a small apartment until the end of the war with her maternal grandmother, aunt and cousin. She attended the Holy Child School in Suffern, graduated high school from the Gunston School in Maryland and went on to attend Briarcliff College where she earned the affectionate nickname Putt-Putt. She completed a degree in nursing at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. After returning to New York City, she became an Occupational Therapist on the Pediatric ward at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She and her husband Lou had four girls and four boys, followed by nine granddaughters and nine grandsons and two great grandsons. Paula and Lou, who were married for 56 years, were avid travelers and came back with stories from all over the world – Europe, Russia, India, Egypt, South America and many more.”

Alexandra Steele ’76

Alexandra Louise Steele died on Dec. 26, 2023 after injuries sustained in a house fire. The following is excerpted from her obituary: “Alex, as she was known to her friends and family, was a lifelong lover of horses and was a relentless fan of her incredibly athletic children, who played many different sports but all excelled on the ice rink at the Chester County Skating Club. [...] She loved all of her children with a fierce love. She participated in numerous activities while her children were at Upland Country Day School and in more recent years, she volunteered at the West Chester Senior Center, where she was welcomed and loved by all. She was forever curious and a lifelong learner.”

Kristina Elizabeth (Kuplinski) Noell ’83

Kristina Elizabeth (Kuplinski) Noell passed away unexpectedly on May 4, 2022. She grew up in Spain, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Maryland. She graduated from Virginia Tech and became a successful pharmaceutical representative. She later had one son named Jordan Noell.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Gunston School is an independent school and organized as a not-for-profit and governed by an elected Board of Trustees. Gunston is audited annually and we report our financial data to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS). As a result, our record keeping system must align with established industry standards. One of those standards is to measure Annual Fund Participation separately from overall Annual Giving. Overall Annual Giving encompasses all gifts to the school including capital contributions, designated gifts, gifts-in-kind, grants, special event revenue, sponsorships, annual fund donations, and anything that contributes to the institution’s overall fundraising efforts.

Our funding comes from two sources:

85% TUITION & FEES

Includes necessary operating expenses such as salaries, insurance supplies, maintenance, etc.

PARTICIPATION MATTERS!

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!

WHAT COUNTS AS HERON FUND PARTICIPATION?

Donations of cash/stock (usually in response to an appeal letter or online campaign, the donor receives nothing in return but an acknowledgment)

Event Sponsorships over $1,500 (of which 20% is designated for the Heron Fund)

WHAT DOES NOT COUNT?

Raffle tickets

Student fundraisers

Items purchased at auction

Event tickets or registration

Event sponsorships under $1,500

15% CHARITABLE DONATIONS

ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET

Includes value-added/optional expenses such as field trips, special traditions, celebrations, etc., as well as funding unexpected expenses, such as a new boiler.

Charitable Donations (Annual Giving): 15%

HERON FUND

SPONSORSHIP & EVENT REVENUE

MAJOR GIFTS

( Capital Campaign, Bequests, Special Grants)

ENDOWMENT (A perpetual investment fund that provides ongoing support.)

HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

In the last fiscal year (July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023), the generosity of our wonderful supporters provided an incredible degree of support! Undesignated gifts to the Heron Fund support the school’s operating budget, allowing us to offer students and faculty opportunities beyond what a tuition fee would typically pay for such as leadership conferences, robotic competitions, and the ability to establish and maintain treasured traditions such as Green & White Days, Embarkation, Disembarkation and more. Designated gifts can be spent only for a specific purpose, such as purchases including things such as scholarships, capital projects, on-the-water programs, and more. We thank you for your dedication!

HERON FUND

The Mary Middleton Society

The Salmon Foundation, Inc

Mary Byrd Wyman Memorial Association

Jerome S. and Grace H. Murray Foundation

DeVismes M Lee Revocable Trust Gladwood Foundation

Anonymous, In honor of Ella MacGlashan '23 and Lane Parkhurst '23

The Corsica Fund of the Mid Shore Community Foundation

The Everdell Committee

Mr. and Mrs. Christian Bent

The Ferree Fund of the Mid Shore Community Foundation

Reynolds/Cristiano Fund of the Mid Shore Community Foundation

Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Foundation for Tomorrow

Mrs. Carter Middleton Bond**

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Clauson

Mrs. Diane M. Lafferty

Dr. and Mrs. Donald Stranahan

The David Winton Bell Foundation

Blue Heron Panel

Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Fichtner

Mr. N. Ben Dize and Rev. Karen Dize

Mr. and Mrs. Todd S. Gillespie

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Janney III

Mrs. Emily R. G. Larkin

Robert L. Fessler & Patricia J. Fessler Foundation

Mr. Leo Rocca and Mrs. Christine Rocca ‘54

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Walker

Mr. and Mrs. Dane P. Ways

Susan Willock

Mr. and Mrs. James D. Wright

1911 Council

Mr. and Mrs. John Caron

Mr. Robert Dahl and Mr. Kasim Baihaki

David A. Bramble Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Meyerhoff

In honor of Ben Dize

Mr. and Mrs. Corey Duncan

Mr. and Mrs. Preston Everdell

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Gillespie

Mr. and Mrs. Alan R. Griffith

Mr. and Mrs. Sumit Gupta

Melissa Haber

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hallmark

In honor of The Hallmark Family

Ms. Christina Henderson ’81

Mr. and Mrs. C.O. Johnson

Mr. Thomas Johnston and Dr. Nina Wagner-Johnston

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Kent

Mrs. Paul M. Long, Sr.

Christine McWilliams

Mr. Robert McWilliams

Merriewold Trust of the Mid Shore Community Foundation

Ms. Catherine Murphy and Mr. Bryan McGrath

In honor of Hopewell Murphy ’19

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Parkhurst ’88

Mr. William B. Price

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Rich

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Sadler

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schmittinger

Mr. Patrick R. Shoemaker ’03

The Parker Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. F. Moore Watkins Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Horace Wood

Head’s Circle

Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Allison

Ms. Stephanie Ceruolo

Dr. Landy Cook and Mayor Megan Cook

Ms. Michaela L. Curran ’99

Mr. James R. Dickey

In honor of Liam Dickey ’24

Mr. and Mrs. Mark M. Freestate

Mr. and Mrs. William S. Ingersoll

Ms. Lauretta M. Keegan

In honor of Wylie Keegan ’25

Mr. and Mrs. Michael K. Kissel

Dr. John P. Knud-Hansen

Mr. John A. Lewis and Dr. Laurie Lewis

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lutz

In honor of Ben and Rowan

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher D. McClary

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan L. Myers

JULY 1, 2022 – JUNE 30, 2023

$523,757

Annual Giving Total

$428,063

Heron Fund Total

Designated: $194,269 includes $62,500 for Scholarships

$58,380 Waterfront Improvements

$40,000 Campus Master Plan

$25,127 Mental Health Initiatives

$5,715 Chesapeake Watershed Semester

$2,500 Rowing

Undesignated: $233,794 includes $50,000 Bequest

$95,694

Special Events Revenue

Annual Fund Participation

100% Board Participation

67% Parent Participation

419 Donors

Northrop Grumman Foundation

Mrs. Cecilia G. Orr

In honor of Christie Grabis and Anita Gruss;

In memory of William Orr

Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Pappas

Price and Gannon, Inc.

In honor of Ernie Darling

Mrs. Elizabeth Pupke

Mr. John Tormey and Ms. Barbara Stortz

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Tyler

Mr. and Mrs. John Wagner

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Ways

Mrs. Judith Willock

Mrs. Catherine Windsor

Mrs. Sara Woldemichael

Corsica Fellows

Mr. and Mrs. David P. Adams

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Algier

Amazon Smile

Mr. Juan P. Angarita and Ms. Liana Anikina

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Babylon

In honor of Lillian Babylon ’26

Mr. Jonathan Badger and Ms. Jamie Campbell

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Baker

Mr. and Mrs. James H. Barton III

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Baughman, Sr.

In honor of The Baughman Family

Dr. and Mrs. Curtis A. Baughman Jr.

Benevity

Mr. and Mrs. J. Temple Blackwood

In honor of John Lewis and Christie Grabis

Ms. Amy Boertlein

In honor of Maximilian Pynn ’25

Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Boone

In memory of Jerry & Marian McKusker

Ms. Mary L. Bourbon

Braden, Thompson, Poltrack, Mundy & McQueeney, LLP

Mrs. Meggan ‘91 and Mr. Mark Brennan

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brown

Mr. and Mrs. John Buzzelli

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Callahan

Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Callahan

Mr. and Mrs. J. Tyler Campbell

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher J. Campbell

Mr. Charles T. Capute

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin J. Clair

Col. and Mrs. Scott Clark

Mrs. Priscilla C. Cooper

Ms. Caitlyn Creasy

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony D’Antonio

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest A. Darling Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Day Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Fernando De Leon

Ms. Tine K. Dickey

Mr. and Mrs. Gabriele DiNicola ’85

Mr. Norman C. Durham

In memory of Carter Bond

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Faff

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Figliozzi

Ms. Frances B. Firth ’73

In honor of Beau Firth ‘73

Mr. and Mrs. Ron Franks

Ms. Seerojini Friedman

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Gale

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Grabis

Ms. Anita L. Gruss

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Hamm

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hammond

Anonymous (In honor of the Burgett Family)

Mr. and Mrs. John B. Hansen

Mr. and Mrs. Seth Hassett

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Hatch

Mr. and Mrs. Peter D. Heller Jr. ‘03

Mr. and Mrs. David Henry

Mr. Scott Herman-Giddens

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Hill III

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Hill

Mrs. Catherine Hoag ’77

Mr. William Hodge and Ms. Eliza Niemann

In memory of Donald & Cornelia Niemann

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher I. Holmes

Ms. Elizabeth D. Hopkins ’84

Mr. and Mrs. John K. Hopkins

In honor of Kendall Hopkins ’93

Mr. and Mrs. Dave Hubbert

In memory of Brooks Hubbert

Students traveled to Washington D.C. as part of Gunston’s Cultural Excursion Day, an event made possible by the generosity of our donors! (l-r) Seniors Luke Roser, Isabella Taylor, Anna Szwaja, Gabriella Hodge, Madi Lutz, Ben Lutz, Aiden Dunlap, Josh Nuessle, Jonah Smith, Jaden Mahaffey, Caeden Harrison, Jackson Wood, Tyler Hanson, Lucas LaFleur, Quinn Baughman and Matthew Periconi. Photo by Derrika Layne Photography.

Ms. Elizabeth M. Joyce ’75

Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Kade III

Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Keith

Mr. and Mrs. Reed Kroncke

Mr. Joseph Lafferty

In honor of Aiden Lafferty ’23

Mr. Jean-Paul LaFleur

Mr. and Mrs. William I. Mason Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan McCollum

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew R. McCown

Mr. Michael McFarland

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Merton

Ms. Rose M. Metcalf

Mr. Glenn W. Michael

In honor of Ben Dize and Patrick Shoemaker ’03

Michael J. and Patricia K. Batza Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. Brian Mielke

Mr. Jay Moore and Prof. Shirley Lin

Mr. and Mrs. Vance Morris

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Mosner

In honor of Nick Mosner ’17

Mr. and Mrs. Karim Mozher

Mr. and Mrs. William J. Mulford IV

Mr. William Mulock and Mrs. Elizabeth Stanton

Mr. and Mrs. James Nessly

Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Newberg

Ms. Anne Nielsen ’58

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher A. Nittle

In honor of Sydney Nittle ’21 & Bates Nittle ’23

Mrs. Gail Nittle

Hon. and Mrs. John E. Nunn III

Mr. and Mrs. Brendan O’Neill

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Overton

In honor of Tilghman Overton’ 24 & Peri Overton ’27

Benta Owino ’25

Mrs. Jenifer Owino

In memory of Baba

Mr. and Mrs. Phil Parish

Mr. and Mrs. William L. Patton

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Philippon

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Pierce

Dr. Laurie Porter

Mrs. Elselore Pretzler

Ms. Karen Pupke

In honor of Coach Tony D’Antonio

Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore Purpora

In honor of Natalie Purpora Reading ‘16

Mr. Michael Pynn

Ms. Margaret Quimby

In honor of Joshua Sanford ’21 & Family

Mrs. Marjo Rasin

In memory of Marian Mckusker

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Redding

Mr. Bryon Reilly and Mrs. Linda C. Reilly ‘75

Mr. and Mrs. Gary R. Robson

Mrs. Allison Rogers

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Rogers

In honor of Matthew Periconi ’24

Mr. and Mrs. Al Romanosky

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Rose

In honor of Aaron Rose ’01

Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Runz

Mr. Robert C. Sanderson Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Schopfer

Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Sheets III

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Shipps

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Simmons

Ms. Christine Sinatra

Mr. Thomas deR. Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Spurry

In honor of Sydney Nittle ’21 & Bates Nittle ’23

Mr. Adam Steinberg and Ms. Tracy Beckett

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Streichler

In honor of John & Laurie Lewis

Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Sturtevant, Jr.

Mr. Dominic Szwaja and Ms. Christa Chesley

Mr. and Ms. David Thomas

In memory of James A. Thomas

Mrs. Marie Thomas

Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Tolley

Ms. Mary Reed Valliant ‘77

Mr. Christopher Wagner ‘04

Ms. Nicole J. Wagner

Ms. Diane Watkins

Mr. Moe Weimer

Mr. and Mrs. David Weingaertner

Mr. Mark R. Wiening

Mr. and Mrs. John F. Williamson

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Wilson ‘90

Dr. William Wilson and Ms. Mary Samuel

Mr. and Mrs. Richard R. Winters

Mr. Robert Wirts and Ms. Erin Foley

CAPITAL PROJECTS

Mr. and Mrs. David P. Adams

Mr. and Mrs. John Caron

The CAVES Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation

Ms. Stephanie Ceruolo

The Corsica Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Rick de dos Reyes

Fred Frederick Family Foundation

Mrs. Penelope Hatten ‘73

The Hawkins Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Janney III

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Kent

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Nonemaker

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schmittinger

Mr. Patrick R. Shoemaker ‘03

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Showalter

Mrs. Marie Thomas

Bull & Oyster Roast 2022

RAISED: $107,000

Grill Master Sponsor

Dani & Rick de los Reyes, P’23, Heron Hero

Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23’25) Heron Hero

Precision Contractors, LLC (Lelsey & Tim Faff, P’22’26)

Rockefeller Sponsor

Friends of Gunston

Easton Dermatology Associates, LLC, Heron Hero (Brigitte and Dr. Donald Stranahan, P’25’27)

Prime Rib Sponsor

Gillespie & Son, Heron Hero, (The Gillespie Family, P’07’09’20’22’24)

Delaware Podiatric Medicine

(Jake & Rebecca Hanlon, P’22’25’27)

What’s Up? Media

Choice Sponsor

Chrissy McWilliams, P’25

Cross Street Realtors

McAllister, DeTar, Showalter & Walker

(Ryan & Adele Showalter, P’25 ’27 and Doug & Melissa Walker, P’25 ’27)

Shore United Bank (John & Amber Augustus, P’26)

Dr. & Mrs. Michael Amygdalos and Family, P’20’23

Select Sponsor

The Shoemaker Family ’03

Paul T. Ewing, Inc. (Charlie & Pam Andrews, P’26)

Kent School

Class of 2021 Parent

Coopers Tavern (Rick & Kathy Cooper)

Dr. Laurie Lewis & John Lewis

Sirloin Sponsor

Coastal Dock & Pile Inc.

(Steve & Catherine MacGlashan, P’23 ’25)

Joe & Martha Janney, P’20

Dr. Nina & Tom Johnston, P’23 ’25

The Morris Family, P’23 ’26

A Taste of Britain (Edward & Debbie Pierce, P’26)

Charlie & Suzy Lutz, P’24’24

360 Automation (Evan & Christine Evans, P’20)

Envision Wealth Planning

(Sarah & Edward Schut, P’17’21’22’25’26)

Brisket Sponsor

The Elfenbein Family, P’25

Mike & Isabel Hardesty

Dr. Laurie Porter, P’24 ’25

Adam & Tracey Steinberg, P’25

The Marketto Family, P’26

Glenn May & Amy Bower, P’26

Senior Women Rowers

Foundation for Tomorrow

The Figliozzi Family, P’26

The Keegan Family, P’25

Class of 2023

Jennifer & Tristan Arthur, P’25

The Kim Family, P’26

The Hodge/Niemann Family, P’24

The Tormey Family, P’24

Grain Surfboards (Aynsley & Brian Schopfer, P’26)

Susan & James Walker, P21’25

Ildi & Mory Watkins, P’26

Reliable Pest Control

Wrench & Socket LLC. (Tim & Beth Lavery, P’26)

The Hansen Family, P’23

The Thomas Family

The Algier Family, P’23’26

Attraction Magazine, (Allison Rogers, P’21’24)

In-Kind Sponsors: Bull & Goat Brewery and Draper Bros

Heron Hustle 2022

RAISED: $7,267

Premier Race Sponsor

Dani & Rick de los Reyes, P’23, Heron Hero

Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23’25) Heron Hero

Mile Sponsor

Friends of Gunston, Heron Hero

Easton Dermatology Associates, LLC, Heron Hero (Brigitte and Dr. Donald Stranahan, P’25’27)

Award Sponsor

Gillespie & Son, Heron Hero, (The Gillespie Family, P’07’09’20’22’24)

Sneaker Sponsor

Tidewater Physical Therapy

Finish Line Sponsor

Prime Capital Ventures (Adam Steinberg, P’25)

Reliable Pest Control

Golfing Fore Gunston IV (2023)

RAISED: $40,850

Tournament Sponsors

Atlantic Cruising Yachts (Dawn & Christian Bent, P’25 ’27)

Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23’25) Heron Hero

Dani & Rick de los Reyes, P’23

Palmieri & Shannahan Financial Planning (Gray Shannahan ’05)

What’s Up? Media

Station Sponsors

Easton Dermatology Associates, LLC , Heron Hero (Brigitte & Dr. Donald Stanahan, P’25 ’27)

Friends of Gunston, Heron Hero

Ceremony Sponsors

Gillespie & Son, Heron Hero, (The Gillespie Family, P’07’09’20’22’24)

Molly’s Place (Nick & Katie Shajwani, P’26)

Contest Sponsors

Ms. Alice Ryan ’75

The Shifrin Family, P’21

Radcliffe Creek School

Refreshment Sponsors

Mirando Chiropractic Center (Kristy & Dr. Dominick Mirando, P’25)

Dr. Laurie Lewis and John Lewis

Shore United Bank (John & Amber Augustus, P’26)

Kent School

Callahan’s Gas & Appliance (Dana & Mark Callahan, P’22)

Dogwood Acres (Audrey & Kurt Reichardt, P’21)

The Country School

Hole Sponsors

RBC Wealth Management

Hoyas ’94

McCrone Hartwell Engineering

R&D Electric

Queenstown Bank

The Algier Family, P’23 ’26

The Sanderson Family, P’22 ’23

Gunther McClary Real Estate

Moorhouse Electrical Services

Long & Foster Real Estate (Dane Ways, P’18)

Gunston Biddersnest Auction Donors: Links at Perry Cabin, Prospect Bay Country Club, Serino Orthodontics, New York Vacation (Karen Pupke, P’25), ReFocus Studios, and Chester River Country Club (Dan Philippon, P’25)

HOW YOU CAN 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

YOUR LEADERSHIP & INVOLVEMENT

Invest in the future of Gunston 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.

YOUR EVENT SPONSORSHIP

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.

YOUR PARTICIPATION

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!

(l-r) GPA Vice President Lori Hammond, P’24 and President Ildi Watkins, P’26’28.

Tournament Sponsor Gray Shannahan ’05 spoke at last year’s Golfing Fore Gunston Tournament.

Former Trustee Susie Dillon speaks with Kennedy Cooper’27 and Marley Farmer’27 on Trustee Day.

the gunston school

PO Box 200

911 Gunston Road

Centreville, MD 21617

Golfing Fore Gunston V

Friday, May 3, 2024 • 9 a.m.-4ish

Queenstown Harbor, Queenstown, Md.

Join us on the links catching up with Gunston parents, alumni, and community supporters. We tee off with a shotgun start at 9 a.m., followed by refreshments and snacks served throughout the day. Once you’ve completed all 18 holes, please join us for a luncheon and awards ceremony with fun prizes.

With various sponsorship opportunities available starting at $100, there are plenty of ways to get involved and show your support! Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just looking for a fun day out on the course, this tournament is the perfect event for you. So grab your clubs, gather your friends, and register today!

• GENERAL: $195 Individual Golfers/$755 Foursome (Men’s and Women’s Division)

• ALUMNI: $175 Individual Golfers/$670 Foursome

For questions or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Catherine Lawson at 410-758-0620 ext. 1200.