2016 Landon Fall Magazine

L A NDON FAL L 2016

FLYING HIGH United States Navy Cdr. Mark Mhley ’92 reflects on a career of service

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What’s Inside

Our Mission

Landon School prepares talented boys for productive lives as accomplished, responsible and caring men whose actions are guided by the principles of perseverance, teamwork, honor and fair play.

Features

22 | Flying High United States Navy Cdr. Mark Mhley ’92 reflects on a career of service that has led him from Top Gun flight school to Iraq and almost to outer space.

28 | The Idea Guy Nantucket Nectars co-founder Tom Scott ’85 seeks to spread big ideas — and perhaps change the world — with his latest venture, The Nantucket Project.

46 | Annual Report Departments 2 3 12 16 34

From the Headmaster Landon Lowdown Arts Athletics Alumni News

22 On Our Cover Cdr. Mark Mhley ’92, photographed at the United States Naval Academy May 16, is a Naval flight officer and former Top Gun instructor who now teaches and coaches at the Naval Academy. For more, read the story on page 22.

Photo credit: Edgar Artiga

28 Landon School Board of Trustees Chairman: Joseph A. Kenary Jr. ’82 Vice Chairman: H. Keith Powell President: Jim Neill Secretary: Michelle L. Freeman Treasurer: Dale Wolf

Trustees Emeriti:

Peter J. FitzGerald ’50 Knight Kiplinger ’65 Lawrence Lamade ’65 Samuel M. Lehrman H ’09 Russell “Rusty” C. Lindner ’72

Trustees:

16

Anderson J. Arnold ’78 Michael S. Banks ’92 Michael I. Connolly ’75 Matthew A. Coursen ’99 William C. Eacho III ’72 Robert H. Edwards Jr. Scott S. Harris ’84 Kenneth W. Jenkins ’78 Aranthan “Steve” Jones II Douglas C . Kiker ’93 Rev. Steve Klingelhofer ’60 Douglas H. Lagarde Steven C. Mayer Amy R. Mehlman John P. Oswald Tushar Patel ’81 N. David Povich ’54 Katheryn P. Wellington Martin J. Weinstein

Landon Magazine Headmaster Jim Neill

Editor Meredith Josef

Assistant Editors Tom DiChiara Daphne Kiplinger

Contributing Writers Tom DiChiara Derrick Chengery

Please send any letters, comments or suggestions to the editor, Meredith Josef, at meredith_josef@landon.net.

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

Designer Hillary Reilly

Photography Edgar Artiga Derrick Chengery Lowell Davis Tom DiChiara Laura John James Kegley Daphne Kiplinger Landon School Archives Wendy Steck Merriman GoLandon.com 1

HEADMASTERLETTER

A

t the opening meeting

connected to this, we find ourselves in the midst of a toxic political

August, I shared that

that run counter to what we espouse at Landon. So, in the face of all of

of faculty and staff this

one of my favorite things to do

is to spend time in the outdoors, and in recent years, I have

spent a good amount of time

climate where public discourse has been marked by words and actions

this, the priority for all in the Landon community — whether student,

faculty, staff, parent, or alum — must be to remain true to the principles of the school, principles that are enduring and ever more relevant.

Here we are dedicated to creating an experience that is framed by

in the woods of Maine where my family goes in the summer. Over

our codes of character, honor, and civility, that is marked by our core

had been timbered years ago and along a road in an effort to create a

the boys right behaviors, not least of which is how to engage in civil

these years, I have had the occasion to plant trees in a small area that natural buffer. I have learned that it is something in which I take great satisfaction and have found myself planting and transplanting several hundred pine, spruce, hemlock, maple, and birch trees, this summer

adding about a hundred balsam fir. These are small trees — saplings

mostly — but despite their size, it is hard work, digging into the rocky

soil, cutting back weeds to keep them from choking out the small trees, ongoing watering during dry spells. But I really like it.

It occurred to me at some point over the summer that this work

— these efforts to plant and grow something that will last for not

just years but hopefully generations — is analogous to the work of

the educator. All of us who are in the business of education are, in a

metaphorical sense, planting and nourishing young trees. In our case, these are the young men of Landon. Like the trees, our boys are all a

little different in shapes and sizes and rates of growth, but they, whether the tree or the boy, all need the same things. The former needs soil,

values of respect and honesty. We are committed to modeling for

discourse and reasoned debate on matters of principled disagreement, how to recognize differences of opinion with dignity and openness,

how to treat others with care and compassion. We are committed to promoting the virtues of challenge, intellectual rigor, and hard work that are hallmarks of our program, a program that highlights the

values of perseverance and effort, of collaboration and teamwork. We are committed to engaging in authentic, caring conversation about

important matters of the day and to doing so in a way that emphasizes our commitment to all of the above principles. We are committed to

leading our boys and one another to greater understanding of, and thus greater respect and sensitivity for, the differences that are part of the fabric of not just the Landon student body and community, but the

world at large. We are committed to the call of the Landon motto — virtute et non vi — which summons us to words and actions of virtue.

Put another way, here we are called to live lives marked by integrity,

sun, water and mulch; and the latter, attention, patience, support, and

decency, and a constant striving for excellence — lives marked by

their surroundings and community in some way — even more so and

boys, and really for the entire Landon community, at this year’s opening

care. Both the tree and the boy will one day define the landscape of more positively, and perhaps even more enduringly, if given a strong

foundation. Both the tree planter and the educator are in the field of

goodness and greatness. Which gets me to the challenge I laid out the day Convocation: Be good and be great.

These simple words are easier said than done, and they represent

shaping what the future will look like.

a challenge that we will not always meet. But if the goal is there and

planting trees is perhaps the same reason I like working in a school. In

advance towards the highest standards of honor and excellence. So let

As I thought about this more, I realized that the reason I like

both cases, the work is at once difficult and rewarding. In both cases, one is serving in some way as a foundational catalyst for real growth.

In both cases, the work is hope-filled. And in both cases, one’s efforts are geared towards a beautiful, enduring, and natural legacy, towards a more abundant future.

So it is serious and important work, this job of educating young men.

And perhaps never more so than today. For the greater environment,

the larger society, in which our boys find themselves planted is in many ways hostile to their full and wholesome growth. Our job, therefore, is

if the drive is there, we will move forward, we will improve, we will

us — to use the seniors’ motto for the year — make every minute count, never wasting a one, on this road to both goodness and greatness. For

the ultimate truth here is that if we take into our hearts and our minds a commitment to being both of these things, we will make ourselves better, our school better, and our communities better. We will, to

continue my earlier metaphor, help young saplings grow into a thriving forest of prodigious trees.

And isn’t that the point of an education?

to counter that environment or at least ready them for it, prepare them to better it.

These last few months have proven to be days of confusion, unrest,

tragedy, and hurt in many corners of our nation and our world. And

2

Jim Neill

Headmaster

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

Rain or Shine?

L

ogan Giles ’16 was in sixth grade English class when

he first sensed his calling.

“Snowmaggedon” was barreling

toward the metro area, and Logan was locked in a debate with a

classmate over how much snow

would shroud Bethesda. “I plotted

out the hour-by-hour and day-byday forecast for how much would fall... and I nailed it,” Logan

recalled. “That’s when I knew

I wanted to be a meteorologist someday.”

For his capstone Independent

Senior Project (ISP) — which

LOWDOWN Landon Installs Brand-New Track

L

andon installed a state-of-the-art track over the summer and not surprisingly, Middle School and varsity Head Track Coach Addison Hunt is thrilled.

“A new track is going to help our track and field program move in the

right direction,” Hunt said. “We have the right coaches now, we have kids that are interested in track and committed to working hard, and certainly having a state-of-the-art facility is going to help our Middle School and varsity programs achieve what they are capable of achieving.”

The field events surfaces (long jump, pole vault, high jump, shot

put, etc.) were also renovated to ensure that all facilities are safe and competition-ready.

requires seniors to undertake a

unique assignment and deliver a

presentation on what they learned — Logan landed his dream

internship working with WUSA9 Chief Meteorologist Topper Shutt ’77.

For the month of May,

Logan shadowed Shutt and saw

everything that goes into being an on-air meteorologist. “I learned

so much,” Logan said. “The cool

thing is how many things Topper does. He looks at the models and

then makes up in his mind what the forecast is going to be — that’s

the scientist part — but he’s also a writer, a graphic designer, a producer and a broadcaster.”

For Logan, who plans to study meteorology at Fairfield University,

the experience solidified his dream. “Weather impacts everyone,” he said. “I feel like I can help people by forecasting weather.”

Logan’s classmates also pursued worthwhile endeavors for their ISPs.

Brian Jordan and his brother Eric ’12 learned about perseverance and teamwork when they climbed 14,110 feet to the top of Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains. Jared Rymsza, Jantay Abdychev and Derek Hankim employed their engineering prowess to build computers

from scratch using a 3-D printer. And Franco Abdala-Arata, Jack Pingle, Ben Gilbert and Andrew Ibrahim discovered the skills

required to operate a small business when they opened the on-campus coffee shop, the Landon Cup — and donated their $4,000+ in profits to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

3

LANDON LOWDOWN

The Fantastic 4 L

ike the finale of an epic movie setting up a sequel, the end of the 2015–16 school year saw several superheroic educators boldly strike out from the White Rocks to discover what life’s next

understated — and their views often issue forth wearing clown’s clothing,” he said. “Laughter is good medicine.”

A fervent proponent of lifelong learning, Swinehart plans to do just

chapter holds in store. In early June, the community feted for their

that in his retirement: he has enrolled in several academic courses about

who retired and one who left to be a head of school in New York. (For

provides daily challenges where l need to learn how to paint pole fences or

service to Landon four of these fantastic teacher-coach-mentors: three more on all the teachers who moved on — and the new educators

Adolescent boys often perceive the world from a variety of perspectives — naïve, ironic, hyperbolic, wryly understated — and their views often issue forth wearing clown’s clothing.

Laughter is good medicine.

literature and Jungian psychology. “In addition, living on a small farm

change oil in farm machines or tend to a horse’s medical needs,” Swinehart said. “I spend a lot of time watching instructional YouTube videos.”

A

fter 24 years at Landon, Middle School English teacher, and cross country, track and basketball coach Ted Lewis also

retired from teaching and has transitioned to a career in real

estate. According to fellow teacher Addison Hunt, Lewis was known

to his Middle School colleagues as “Captain” Ted “not only because of the boat-sized cars he has been known to drive [he currently skippers a stretched limousine] but

because he truly has always been captain of his own ship.”

Whether Lewis was teaching

sixth graders his favorite novels (including Old Yeller, The Call of the Wild, The Outsiders and

– Peter Swinehart

Tom Sawyer), staying late at a

Landon has welcomed for 2016–17 — see story p. 6.)

track meet to teach an athlete

Peter Swinehart retired in June after 43 years at Landon. During

from an opposing team the

that time, Swinehart co-created the Upper School’s signature course in

art of the high jump (Lewis,

Humanities; chaired the English Department; coached baseball, football

a graduate of Sidwell Friends,

and wrestling; and advised the Student Honor Council for 10 years. Along

still holds the IAC high jump

the way, he mentored thousands of Landon boys — but he also had a life-

record), or engaging his fellow

altering impact on many of his colleagues.

coaches in a “Ginger vs. Mary

One of these was John Botti who, as a fresh-faced young teacher in

Ann” debate, Hunt says Lewis

1999, was paired with Swinehart to teach the history half of Humanities

brought enthusiasm and care to

— and credits Swinehart with helping to mold him as both a teacher and a person. “When I learned from another colleague in the springtime of

my first year that ‘Peter Swinehart thinks you’re pretty good,’ it was like learning that I was on Santa’s ‘Nice’ list,” Botti said.

Swinehart’s favorite Landon moments were often unremarkable

ones: helping a student grapple with an ethical dilemma, talking about

interpretations of literature, coaching inexperienced wrestlers... or simply

enjoying his students’ sense of humor. “Adolescent boys often perceive the world from a variety of perspectives — naïve, ironic, hyperbolic, wryly

4

everything he did. “Ted carries

Ted carries this spirit of generosity and good will with him in every aspect of his life here at Landon.

this spirit of generosity and good will with him in every aspect of his life here at Landon,” Hunt

said. “Being around him is like having Charles Dickens’ ghost

of Christmas present around you every day of the year.”

– Addison Hunt

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

G

rade 5 language

arts teacher and Assistant Head

of Lower School Trish

Rhodes also retired in June after 14 years inside the

White Rocks and 30 total

years as a teacher here and at international schools in Guatemala, Haiti,

I’ll miss the kids most — they’re amazing and motivated and fun and full of beans...

– Trish Rhodes

Morocco, Nepal and South Africa. In her retirement, she plans to read, spend

T

he final departing faculty member honored in June is decidedly not retiring from education. History and humanities teacher, basketball coach, and Associate Headmaster John Botti took

over as the new head of the Browning School in New York City this

summer. In his 16 years at Landon, Botti provided moral direction as Landon’s Banfield ethics chair, spearheaded curriculum review and professional development as associate headmaster, and captivated students with his accessible teaching style, inquisitive mind, and fondness for big words.

“My memories of John will always be that he is, quintessentially,

what we are trying to produce at Landon,” History Department Chair Bill Reed said. “He operates at a high level in the classroom, he loves his connections to athletics,

time with family, and

he models all of the behaviors

travel, with Cuba atop her

we want our boys to emulate,

list of destinations. During

and he does all of the above

her time at Landon,

every single day, without fail,

Rhodes cultivated a joy

year after year after year. He

for reading in her young students and helped bring fun and stellar

manages to combine the grit and

production values to the Lower School plays as an assistant director.

determination that make people

According to Lower School Head Randy Bednar, Rhodes had perhaps

successful with the grace and

her most profound impact on the boys as their Student Council advisor

poise that make people want to

and the organizer of community service initiatives that instilled in them

be around him.”

the importance of always looking out for the other fellow. These included “Pennies for Patients” to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

and an annual canned food drive that in 2016 collected more than 14,000 non-perishable food items for Bethesda Cares, a local food pantry that distributes food to in-need families.

“Trish is a one-woman tornado to promote human welfare and social

reform on behalf of our Lower School boys,” Bednar said. “This world

— and in particular Landon School — is a much better place because of her... someone who is always thinking of others, always thinking of how we can improve this school and the world at large, and someone who

realizes that the reason we are all put on this planet is to help others.”

“I’ll miss the kids most — they’re amazing and motivated and fun

and full of beans — and I’ll miss this team of professionals that I work with in the Lower School,” said Rhodes, who counts teaching War

Comes to Willy Freeman and Operation Redwood, working on the Lower School play, and spearheading community service endeavors as her

Upper School Head Ehren

I don’t know that I’ve given enough to Landon, but Landon has certainly given more to me than I ever could have asked.

– John Botti

Federowicz agrees and cites a

telling conversation he had with a student this spring: the boy

raved that Botti was “the most

influential teacher and mentor” he has ever had. “The depth,

care and intensity of the boy’s

feelings for John as an educator were moving and revealed the full impact John had on this

boy’s life, an impact that educators only dream of imparting on their

students,” Federowicz said. “John’s relationships with students run deep, are genuine, and have a lasting influence on them well after they leave Landon.”

According to Botti, Landon has had a similar influence on him, as

favorite Landon experiences. “It’s been fun promoting and setting up

he has transitioned from young teacher to school leader. “In 1997 when

a mission and providing the whole Lower School boy population the

the best way that I could express my life, I wouldn’t have guessed that

the community service and Student Council programs, giving them

opportunity to do something for somebody else. This is just planting that seed, and hopefully they will carry it into their lives.”

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

I started teaching, if you had told me that 20 years on this would be

to be true — and looking back, I can’t imagine having done anything

differently,” Botti said. “I don’t know that I’ve given enough to Landon,

but Landon has certainly given more to me than I ever could have asked.”

5

LANDON LOWDOWN

Fond Farewells and Warm Welcomes for Faculty & Staff As the 2015–16 school year drew to a close, the Landon community said goodbye to several faculty and staff members who positively shaped thousands of boys over their combined 165 years of devoted service to the school. This fall, Landon embraces the new educators and administrators who will continue the good work of these departing Bears.

Peter Swinehart retired after 43 years as an English and

humanities teacher, coach, and longtime English Department chair.

New English and humanities teacher Sean Foley taught history and

duties. She has taught at both the high school and collegiate level and

comes to Landon from the International Student Exchange Program.

Sixteen-year Landon veteran Aaron Brophy, a Middle School art

coached varsity wrestling, including 10 All-Americans, at Northfield

teacher and curator of Landow Gallery, has moved on to teach art at

Wesleyan University and is pursuing a master’s at St. John’s College.

graduate of Fairfield University, taught and coached at Town School for

Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts. Foley holds a B.A. from

Upper School teacher Emily Piacenza has assumed Swinehart’s role as English Department chair.

Following a 24-year career at Landon, Middle School English teacher

and track and field coach Ted Lewis has retired from teaching to

pursue a career in real estate. New Middle School English teacher Katie Lamade taught at Center City Public Charter Schools in Washington,

D.C. She holds an M.A. from Loyola University and a B.A. from Duke University, where she was co-captain of the women’s lacrosse team.

Grade 5 language arts teacher and Assistant Head of Lower School

Trish Rhodes also retired in June after 14 years inside the White Rocks.

New Grade 5 language arts teacher Rebecca Poyatt taught at High

Meadows School in Georgia. She holds an M.A. in education from the University of Georgia.

Associate headmaster and humanities teacher John Botti left Landon

Sidwell Friends School. New Middle School art teacher John Nolan, a Boys in San Francisco.

After 15 years at Landon, onetime Math Department chair and head

coach of the tennis team Adam Atwell moved to Ohio to be closer to family and to teach math at the University School in Cleveland. New Upper School math teacher Torey Tonche comes to Landon from

St. Augustine High School in Arizona. He holds his M.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Following nine years at Landon, head athletic trainer Stephen

Herman will be a stay-at-home dad to his daughter Isla. Michael

McCormick, who has been the assistant athletic trainer at Episcopal

High School since 2013, takes over as head trainer and will also teach Middle School health. He holds an M.A. from the University of Connecticut.

Humanities teacher Bill Gordon departed Landon after nine years

to take the reins as the new head of Browning School in New York City.

to pursue new professional opportunities. New history and humanities

Anna Armentrout, who holds her B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. (all in history)

in Connecticut. He holds an M.A. from Georgetown University.

(For more on Botti, Swinehart, Lewis and Rhodes, see story p. 4.) Dr. from the University of California at Berkeley takes on Botti’s teaching

6

teacher Thomas Pipoli taught and coached at Loomis Chaffee School Upper School math teacher Andy Petusky left Landon after eight

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

years to teach computer science at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.

New Upper School math teacher Michael Vertuli holds a B.A. from

Penn State University and taught at the Newton American Education

University of Virginia. He previously taught at the Potomac School and Georgetown Day School.

With Upper School academic technologist Dr. Tara Northcott

Studio, a consultancy he founded in Shanghai to place Chinese students

on a leave of absence to stay home with her children, Larry Franklin

Alejandro Berthé, who was the Lower and Middle School counselor

in computer science from the University of Maryland and has taught

in American schools.

for three years, has moved on to The Heights School. The new counselor for Grades 3–8 is Justin Roman, a licensed clinical social worker who

worked as a family therapist at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School in D.C. Roman received his M.A. from Catholic University.

After three years as a Fourth Grade teacher-coach-mentor, Will

Buchanan left Landon to begin an MBA program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Longtime Landon teacher Stevie Brown moved from Third to Fourth Grade this fall and has taken on assistant head of Lower School duties. New Third Grade teacher Lindsay Horbatuck comes to Landon from Brunswick

has stepped into her role on an interim basis. Franklin holds his B.S. technology to K–Grade 8 students.

The Middle School has also added several part-time teachers. Bev

Williams — who has taught at St. Albans, National Cathedral School, and previously at Landon in his 25 years as an educator — is back on

board to teach two English classes. Joining Landon as a Spanish teaching intern is David Eusse ’10, who has his B.A. from the University of

Maryland and is also an Army National Guard EMT and medic. And

Marty Bednar ’11 has moved from Lower to Middle School, where he will teach a section of math.

In the Development Office, Stephanie Meinhardt joined Landon

School in Connecticut. Horbatuck, who holds a B.A. from Bucknell

as director of special events last fall. Liza Tanner Boyd has departed

her experience playing professional basketball internationally to use as a

real estate sales at Washington Fine Properties. Lauren Priestas, who

University and is finishing her M.A. at Columbia University, will put Landon coach.

After three years at Landon, Tiffany Hani, P ’15 ’16, has stepped

down as assistant to the Lower School head. Saima Ahmad, P ’14 ’19,

assumed the role over the summer. Ahmad received her bachelor’s degree from Kinnaird College for Women in Pakistan. She has been a Lower

and Middle School substitute teacher for four years and was the 2014–15

her role as director of the Landon Fund for a position in residential

oversaw data and analysis for Development for 12 years, has taken a new role as development director at Hopecam. Director of Development Barbara Goodwyn will oversee the Landon Fund this year, while

Development associate Taylor Bates has assumed a full-time position to assist in various capacities.

After 11+ years at Landon, Cathy Walton retired as payroll and

Landon Mothers Association (LMA) chair.

benefits coordinator in February. Morgan Theriot, a certified human

be a stay-at-home mom to her daughter Viktoria. Dr. Troy Prinkey,

a consultant in March and is now the new full-time human resources

After two years as a Spanish teacher at Landon, Azeane Lohoff will

who served as a long-term substitute in 2015–16, has joined Landon full time as a Middle School Spanish teacher. Prinkey holds his B.A.

from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.A and Ph.D. from the

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

resources professional with 15+ years’ experience, came to Landon as

director. Shayda Safikhani, who has worked part time in the Business

Office since 2014, takes over student billing duties from the departing Gillian Thomas. And Cindy O’Neill, P ’06, steps into Shayda’s role.

7

LANDON LOWDOWN

Anas ’11 Signs with the Minnesota Wild

S

am Anas ’11 has wanted

that dream when he signed a two-

hockey player since his

Hockey League’s (NHL)

to be a professional ice

second birthday, when his father gave him a hockey stick as a

year contract with the National Minnesota Wild.

Anas, a forward, will compete

present and the two spent the day

for a spot on the Wild’s NHL

Anas edged infinitely closer to

September, but realizes he will

playing in the kitchen. In April,

roster at training camp in

Playing in the NHL is what I’ve always wanted to do. It’s getting closer and closer now — but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

– Sam Anas ’11

likely have to prove himself with

Conference championships, as

League affiliate the Iowa

Prep Hockey League state title —

the club’s American Hockey

well as the 2011 Mid-Atlantic

Wild first — a challenge he

wholeheartedly embraces, and one for which Landon prepared him.

“One of the biggest influences

and was named 2011 Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year.

After graduation, he played

junior hockey for two years and

[Landon varsity ice hockey

in 2013 enrolled at ice-hockey

coaches] Chan Gammill and

power Quinnipiac University.

Hans Farnstrom had on me was

Anas topped Quinnipiac in

cutting me freshman year,” Anas

scoring each of his three years

laughed. “It was a bit of a blow to

there and, in 2016, led the team

me, but it was really a blessing in

to second place in the NCAA

disguise because it taught me to

Division I Frozen Four national

work harder, appreciate what you

championships.

have, and never get complacent.

Anas earned his degree from

When I did make the team

Quinnipiac in May and opted to

values of teamwork and hard work

eligibility to sign with the Wild.

sophomore year, they taught the and how that all pays off.”

Pay off it has. Sophomore

through senior year, Anas led the

Bears to three Interstate Athletic

forego his final year of NCAA

“Playing in the NHL is what I’ve

always wanted to do,” he said. “It’s

getting closer and closer now — but

there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

From Landon to Team USA

P

atrick Giles ’18 will forgo

his junior and senior years

at Landon to become one of

22 members of the U.S. national

under-17 hockey team, known as the USA Hockey National Team

Development Program (NTDP),

which prepares players for success

in college and beyond. That “beyond”

includes the National Hockey League

(NHL) — 12 NTDP players were drafted into the NHL this June.

Giles, who led Landon to two straight Interstate Athletic Conference

and Mid-Atlantic Prep Hockey League state titles in 2015 and 2016, is already committed to Boston College and will attend Plymouth High

School in Massachusetts while he trains and competes with the NTDP.

While he is excited for the next chapter, he is also sad to say goodbye to the land of the White Rocks.

“Leaving Landon was a tough decision. I had to make it,” he told

The Washington Post. “Nothing is more fun than playing in big games for Landon.”

8

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

The 63rd Landon Azalea Festival Highlights

R

ainy weather didn’t put a damper

on the 63rd Azalea Garden Festival

this April 29–May 1. Thousands still

shopped for gorgeous plants and unique finds at dozens of boutique vendors, and families enjoyed FunLand carnival rides (and funnel

cake) on Freed Field and the Mark’s Run charity 5K. This year, Azalea

Festival events, which also included the Headmaster’s Wine Tasting and Greens Sale & Holiday Boutique, raised $440,000 to benefit student

financial assistance and faculty enrichment. Thank you to the hundreds of dedicated volunteers who made the events such a big success!

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

9

LANDON LOWDOWN

Landon... In Your Words

The Bear Blog on our website gives alumni, students, teacher-coach-mentors and parents a platform to share their perspectives on Landon. The following are excerpts from three recent posts. To read the full posts, as well as many more from members of the community, please visit landon.net.

VOLUNTEERING AT A SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND CHANGED MY LIFE Harsh Singh ’18, an honors student, musician and varsity tennis athlete, wrote this post.

P

resident John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for

you, ask what you can do for

your country.” This statement has

inspired me — and probably many

others — to be a little more generous within my community. My

Pune, India, and volunteered at a

munity Service Club has provided

blind children. What I saw there

involvement in the Landon Commany outlets to do so, thanks to

our work with organizations such

government-mandated school for changed my world forever.

The school’s name is Bhosari.

as Operation Smile (raising money

Situated in the backroad slums

for children born with facial

81 boys who eat, sleep, study and

to provide life-changing surgery

deformities), Stop Hunger Now

(packaging thousands of meals for hungry children across the globe) and Wounded Warriors (leading

a drive to provide winter coats to military veterans at Walter Reed National Medical Center).

Through these experiences,

I have learned that community

of Pune, the school is home to

live together. I spent my first day

grow as a person. One of the most

writing Braille in massive books,

how to overcome adversity.

the kids organized in classrooms

cleaning their laundry, and playing

direct impact in another country?

I accepted this challenge over

winter break when I visited

10

few weeks a year. I created a local

needing the help of anyone else the

For the next two weeks,

there thanked me for the time

not challenge myself to make a

Every day I saw these kids

did, they did it with a big smile.

countries as well. And so I asked

on the community I live in? Why

Bhosari students inspired me to

wake up at 6 a.m., get dressed, eat

all was that no matter what the boys

played with them. The boys

I spent with them, but really I felt that I should be thanking

them. Working with them taught me about their way of life, the

challenges they face daily, and life lessons that I believe helped me

This display of character by the

important of these lessons was

chess. The most amazing part of it

I taught them English and

myself: Why stop at just focusing

– Harsh Singh ’18

touring the facilities, and I saw all

service has an impact close to home, but its reach can extend to other

Thanks to my work at Bhosari and my community service activities at Landon, I now know this: When you give without expecting anything in return, that is when you get the most.

breakfast, and go to class without

entire day. Even more inspiring is that once they reach high school, the students merge with the local school and compete academically and athletically with the rest of

do more than just volunteer for a

fundraiser to help the school and,

with the help of neighbors, family

and friends, have been able to raise more than $1,800 for Bhosari.

This money has all gone toward a fund to build a new roof and upgrade classroom materials...

Thanks to my work at Bhosari

the population. It blew my mind

and my community service

to compete, but also able to win

this: When you give without

that these kids were not only able competitions against other students without any special treatment.

activities at Landon, I now know expecting anything in return, that is when you get the most.

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

W

hether you’re in the

School to Upper School, guide you

classroom, competing

through college, and absolutely set

athletically, or trying

the groundwork for a successful

grow up with a huge group of

career.

younger brothers, and you have

to succeed in your career, it’s a safe bet that not every day is going

and learn to be respectful.

At the same time, you also

Landon is more than that,

to set a good example for them. I

to be easy. People who expect

though. The community Landon

see younger Landon graduates in

things to be easy usually end up

fosters is big. When you’re an

New York all the time, and when

LANDON’S LESSONS SET THE

struggling. At Landon, I learned the

alumnus, you know people 10 to 15

I talk to them, it’s like a touch of

GROUNDWORK FOR SUCCESS

value of hard work, perseverance,

years older than you, and you know

home... and they look at me like it’s

Michael Voris ’95 wrote this blog

grit, teamwork, honesty — and

kids 10 to 15 years younger than

a touch of home too. That really

those are all things that help you

you. That comes from the older

noticeable, consistent sense of

succeed in any endeavor and

brother-younger brother aspect

community strikes me as amazing

definitely in the business world.

of going to the school. When you

— and is probably the thing that I

Those traits are bred in you at

start at Landon at a young age, you

cherish the most about Landon.

an early age at Landon and carry

grow up with a huge group of older

through all the way from Lower

brothers, so you learn your place

post. After he graduated from

Landon, Voris went on to play

lacrosse at Cornell University and is now a managing director with

Goldman Sachs in New York City.

HOW ONE TEACHER HELPED CHART MY ETHICAL COURSE Former Landon student, teacher and Head of Middle School Doug Norry ’90 wrote this blog post. Norry is now the head of Triangle Day School in Durham, North Carolina.

L

ess is more. This phrase dates back to a poem, “The Faultless

Painter,” written by Robert Browning in 1855... [and] encapsulates the idea that less complicated works are better understood and

more appreciated. But what about speaking to our children after they have behaved in an inappropriate or disappointing manner? Does “less is more” still apply?

September 1983. The first day of my second year as a student at

Landon... I squirmed uncomfortably in my chair toward the back of Mr. Murray’s Sixth Grade classroom. Standing 6’2”, Sandy Murray ’63 was a no-excuses, strict disciplinarian, fond of requiring boys to take laps

around the building, and rumored to have quite a temper. Far from the

schoolers — but my bubble burst when he returned to the nurse’s office.

when boys stepped out of line.

Murray uttered nine simple words: “Well, that wasn’t the full story, now

troublemaking sort, I nonetheless winced as Mr. Murray raised his voice Even good kids do dumb things. Before P.E. class one fall afternoon,

[fellow student] Gordon Vapp and I found ourselves alone on a rocky field.

Expecting a thundering tirade, my palms began to sweat. Instead, Mr. was it?”

I never determined what accounted for Mr. Murray’s brevity that

Before long, we were lobbing golf-ball-sized stones at each other from 25

afternoon... Could he have possibly known that I would remember these

until it wasn’t. Gordon fired a direct hit, cutting me above the eye. Minutes

in my development as a responsible, ethical human being?

yards away. It was easy enough to dodge the meteors falling from the sky, later, Mr. Murray bounded into the nurse’s office.

“What happened?” he wanted to know.

“Gordon hit me in the head with a rock.” Technically true, but miles

away from the full story.

I’m sure I was hoping for the final bell to ring before Mr. Murray

uncovered the truth — one has to admire the optimism of middle

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

nine words 32 years later, and that this moment would figure prominently A few years ago, Betsy Braun authored a piece titled “13 Ways to Deal

with Kids Who Misbehave.” No. 4 on Braun’s list caught my eye: “Say as

little as possible.” I’m not sure I would have recalled much had Mr. Murray

launched into an extended diatribe about the dangers of rock throwing and the importance of telling the truth, but I will always remember those nine words. Sometimes, nine words are enough; sometimes, less is more.

11

ARTS

Performing & Visual Arts A Rush of Creativity

T

his spring, 22 Upper School artists were finalists, and four won awards, in the 10th annual Best of the Independent Schools Art Competition. The event, which is hosted in Landow

Gallery, draws hundreds of entries from one dozen D.C.-area high

schools. Middle and Lower School Bears joined their Upper School

brethren to showcase their painting, sculpting, drawing, ceramics and mixed media prowess in the All-School Art Show.

The Buchanan Library provided a unique backdrop

for Landon and Holton-Arms Upper School students to stage their riveting take on the play Twelve

Angry Men, complete with faculty cameos by Matt

12 ANGRY MEN

Dougherty, Dartha Dragnich and Mac Jacoby. Nine Middle School thespians explored the often hilarious results of our connection to the digital world when

they appeared with 40 of their Holton peers in a trio of comedic short plays titled #ScreenPlay.

And musicians from all three divisions and

numerous disciplines performed for the community at a series of year-end concerts and assemblies,

while Lower and Middle School groups wowed

judges at the Music in the Parks Festival held in

#SCREEN PLAY

Pennsylvania’s Hersheypark.

12

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

VISUAL ART SPOTLIGHT

ARTS

Face of a Thousand Rings

L

ook carefully at this portrait by Alex Kapelina ’20 and you will notice that it appears almost

“pixelated” when viewed up close, but resembles a straightforward portrait the farther away you get.

To complete this acrylic

masterpiece for Middle School art

teacher Brad Rose’s class, Kapelina

learned to apply the style of Chuck Close. The contemporary abstract artist creates a grid on canvas and

fills in the faint squares with rings of color painted against a contrasting background.

If that sounds like a challenging

way to paint a portrait, it is meant to be. Close sees art as a way to stretch

limits — a lesson Rose was happy to

pass on to Kapelina, who painted the portrait this past year after working

on this technique. While the portrait

isn’t of a specifc student, the face may seem familiar — it is a composite of

the facial features of several of Alex’s Landon classmates.

“The process of doing a Chuck

Close-style painting is a slow, tedious one, but Alex tackled it with his

trademark enthusiasm,” Rose said. “I love his commitment to excellence, and his willingness to constantly

go back and rework and adjust his

paintings. My two years of teaching

him were a steady escalation of how

hard I could push him, and he never

failed to rise to the occasion. Alex has an incredible work ethic and desire to learn, and I was so happy to see him finish his Middle School experience with such a masterpiece.”

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

Alex Kapelina ’20

13

ARTS

Visual Arts Gallery

Sky Cui ’18

Caden Blazer ’24

Drew Neviaser ’25

Oliver Bourne ’25

14

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

Matt Seebald’17

Tyler McTague ’16

Bobby Ramkissoon ’17 Matthew Lowrie ’18

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

15

ATHLETICS

Spring Sports BASEBALL, GOLF & RUGBY BRING HOME CHAMPIONSHIPS

B

aseball, golf and rugby claimed regional championships, and lacrosse finished the season ranked 14th in the nation. In

addition, eight student-athletes were named to the Washington

Post’s spring All-Met roster, and 14 earned All-IAC (Interstate Athletic Conference) accolades.

BASEBALL HIGHLIGHTS Perseverance, teamwork and resilience made all the difference for baseball this spring, especially during their Cinderella-story run in the IAC Tournament. After a 10–0 loss to Georgetown Prep in their last regular-season meeting, the 10–6–1 Bears prevailed 4–1 over their rivals in the IAC Tournament semifinals on the strength of fantastic pitching from aces Randy Bednar Jr. ’17 and Patrick Lightner ’16 and a run-scoring triple from Josh Hunter ’16 in extra innings. The IAC championship game vs. Bullis was equally dramatic. In the seventh inning, Bednar battled through a do-or-die, 17-pitch at-bat before doubling in the tying run. The Bears won 5–4 in the eighth to clinch baseball’s first IAC Tournament crown since 2011. INDIVIDUAL HONORS Randy Bednar Jr. ’17: All-Met Honorable Mention, All-IAC, Co-Captain; Matt Brady ’16: Mid-Atlantic Baseball Classic (MABC) Senior All-Star; Josh Hunter ’16: MABC Senior All-Star; Patrick Lightner ’16: All-IAC, MABC Senior All-Star, Co-Captain; Scott Prutting ’17: All-IAC; Zach Wiener ’16: All-IAC, MABC Senior All-Star GOLF HIGHLIGHTS Coming off an undefeated 2015 campaign, the Bears were a perfect 10–0 in match play in 2016. They defeated Bullis 168–193 to secure the IAC regular season title and set a new school record for best nine-hole team score in the process. Although rival Georgetown Prep edged Landon to win the IAC Tournament, the Bears bounced back to win their second consecutive Metros tournament championship over Prep and Gonzaga. Co-captain John Kalavritinos ’17 finished second at both IACs and Metros and tied the school record for single-season 18-hole scoring average with a 72.8. And fellow co-captains Evan Katz ’17 and Jeff Samit ’17 moved up to No. 4 and 5, respectively, on Landon’s all-time scoring average list. INDIVIDUAL HONORS John Kalavritinos ’17: All-Met First Team, AllIAC, Co-Captain; Evan Katz ’17: All-Met First Team, All-IAC, Co-Captain; Jeff Samit ’17: All-Met Honorable Mention, All-IAC, Co-Captain

16 LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

LACROSSE HIGHLIGHTS The 17–4 Bears finished the season ranked 14th on Nike/Lacrosse Magazine’s list of the nation’s best high school teams on the strength of big wins against Baltimore-area powerhouses Gilman, St. Mary’s and Mount St. Joseph, as well as New Jersey behemoths Lawrenceville Prep and St. Augustine. For Assistant Coach J.R. Bordley ’00, the highlight of 2016 was Landon’s 10–5 victory vs. Georgetown Prep under the lights at Prep, sparked by a five-goal performance from Joey Epstein ’18. Drennan Greene ’16 led the team in goals this season with 44; co-captain Griffin Brown ’16’s 64 points were the most ever by a Landon midfielder; Justin Shockey ’17 won 75 percent of his face-offs; and co-captain Andrew Fowler ’17 anchored a tough defense. INDIVIDUAL HONORS Griffin Brown ’16: Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association (MSLCA) All-State Second Team, All-Met First Team, All-IAC, US Lacrosse Bob Scott Award, MSLCA Senior All-Star, Co-Captain; Justin Conner ’16: MSLCA Senior All-Star; Joey Epstein ’18: MSLCA All-State Second Team, All-Met Honorable Mention, All-IAC; Andrew Fowler ’17: MSLCA All-State Second Team, All-IAC, Co-Captain; Drennan Greene ’16: MSLCA Senior All-Star; Justin Shockey ’17: MSLCA All-State Second Team, All-Met Honorable Mention, All-IAC RUGBY HIGHLIGHTS Led by o-captains Nick Blasey ’16 and Wesley Pan ’16 and forward Maanik Lal ’17, rugby outscored its opponents this season 430–60 and rode a series of impressive wins — 66–5 over T.C. Williams, 45–7 over Eleanor Roosevelt, 57–0 over The Heights, and 73–5 over Model School for the Deaf — to the Metro Area Varsity Rugby Conference (MAVRC) division 2 championship game for the fourth time in program history. When

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

the final whistle blew in that game, the Bears had accomplished two firsts with their 19–5 victory over perennial rival Bell Multicultural High School: they had closed out a perfect 8–0 undefeated season and earned their first ever MAVRC title. INDIVIDUAL HONORS Tommy Baldwin ’18: MAVRC All-Met First Team; Nick Blasey ’16: MAVRC All-Met First Team, CoCaptain; Andrew Engel ’18: MAVRC All-Met First Team; Ben Goodfriend ’16: MAVRC All-Met First Team; Jonathan Hsieh ’17: MAVRC All-Met First Team; Nico Kenary ’18: MAVRC All-Met First Team; Maanik Lal ’17: MAVRC All-Met First Team; Mitchell Pan ’17: MAVRC All-Met Second Team; Wesley Pan ’16: MAVRC All-Met First Team, Co-Captain; Luke Peterson ’17: MAVRC All-Met First Team; Jacob Wright ’16: MAVRC All-Met Second Team TENNIS HIGHLIGHTS A combination of strong senior leadership and young talent propelled the Bears to a 7–4 record and fourth place finishes in the Woodberry Forest Tournament and the IAC Tournament. Captain Henry Smith ’16 and Josh Engel ’16 set a strong example for younger players with their work ethic and optimism, while freshmen Sachin Das ’19 and Rodrigo Pedraza Garcia ’19 and sophomore Harsh Singh ’18 played with a maturity that should ensure the success of the team for years to come.

INDIVIDUAL HONORS Sachin Das ’19: All-Met Honorable Mention, AllIAC; Rodrigo Pedraza Garcia ’19: All-IAC; Henry Smith ’16: Captain TRACK & FIELD HIGHLIGHTS Varsity track and field notched third place finishes at the Saints Track Classic and the Cronley Invitational. Cocaptain Wesley Feldman ’17 won all but two of his 1,600-meter races this season, Kevin Tsai ’18 excelled in the 800 meters and as the anchor of the ever-improving 4x400-meter relay team, and co-captain J.J. Meka ’16 was a reliable scorer in the jumps. Landon capped the season with a strong showing at the IAC Championships, where Feldman and Peter Gilbert ’18 finished first and third, respectively, in the 1600 meters, Tsai took third in the 800 meters, and the 4x800-meter relay squad nabbed second place.

INDIVIDUAL HONORS Wesley Feldman ’17: All-IAC, Co-Captain; J.J. Meka ’16: Co-Captain; Eric Shalloway ’16: Co-Captain; George Shalloway ’16: Co-Captain

17

COMMENCEMENT

The Class of 2016

As a classmate of yours I don’t want to impart advice, but I will say this... Really try to stay close with everybody, especially those few friends that helped you when things got hard.

— Student Council President Jack Concannon ’16, Baccalaureate speaker

18

Franco Abdala-Arata Johns Hopkins University

Robel Dereje University of Colorado at Boulder

Jantay Abdychev McGill University

Nikhil Dey Boston College

Amil Raj Agarwal The George Washington University

Mark Anthony Ebo College of the Holy Cross

Nicholas Stone Blasey Dartmouth College

Joshua Steven Engel Duke University

Matthew Campbell Brady Carleton College

Hayden Scott Fralin University of Vermont

Charles William Branche Ohio Wesleyan University

Joseph Roger Gagnon Washington and Lee University

Griffin D. Brown Colgate University

Steven Douglas Gee University of California, Los Angeles

Chase Stockdale Christensen Lehigh University

Brian Andrew Gelb Pennsylvania State University

John D. Concannon University of Notre Dame

Benjamin Douglas Gilbert Wake Forest University

Justin Conner Cleveland State University

Logan Allen Giles Fairfield University

James Blake Dannenbaum Southern Methodist University

Isher Singh Gill The George Washington University

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

Rahul Singh Gill Connecticut College

Aditya Manavasi Krishnan Lawrence University

Jared Matthew Rymsza Villanova University

Ian Edward Sweeney College of William and Mary

Luke Glenn Gordon College

Charles Michael Lederberg Emory University

Noah Breslin Thomas Cornell University

Anton William Golding Drexel University

Samuel Itasaka Lieberman The George Washington University

Eric Andrew Shalloway University of Maryland, College Park

Ben Emmer Goodfriend Washington University in St. Louis

Patrick Church Lightner Marist College

Kyle Joseph Grafmeyer Berry College

Trevor MacKenzie Mathers The University of Alabama

Jonathan Drennan Greene United States Military Academy Army

Nicholas Augustin Mayer Hamilton College - New York

Grayson William Hanes The University of Alabama Grant Ahlstrom Hani Georgetown University Derek Woorim Hankim University of California, Los Angeles Clayton John Henschel University of Maryland, College Park Joshua David Hunter Bucknell University Drew Joseph Hurley Syracuse University Andrew Bassam Ibrahim University of Richmond Eriksen Mark Johansen Denison University Brian Joseph Jordan Duke University Matthew McGuire Keegan Virginia Tech Harrison L’Hommedieu King Loyola Marymount University Max Robert Krause University of Chicago

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

Tyler Conrad McTague Ohio Wesleyan University Joshua Mendo Meka St. John’s University Queens Campus Brian Richard Menendez Salisbury University Brian Kent Merkle Boston College Anthony James Miele Dickinson College Thomas Robb Mottur Washington and Lee University Ryan Scott Murray Elon University

George Phillip Shalloway University of Maryland, College Park Keith Patrick Simms University of Oregon John Rockwell Slowinski Bucknell University Henry M.L. Smith University of St Andrews Michael Mariano Soraci Wake Forest University

John Wayne Walker-Turner Emory University Andrew David Whicker Washington and Lee University J. Zachary Elijah Wiener University of Chicago Jacob Lawrence Wright Ohio Wesleyan University James Alexander Zampella University of Maryland, College Park

As you have persevered through the trials inherent in your Landon journey, you have begun to forge the character that will be yours throughout your life.

— Headmaster Jim Neill, Commencement speaker

Ian Oliver Napoleon Dickinson College Wesley Sterling Pan Virginia Tech Carson Jiles Petty Stetson University Jonathan Tyler Pingle Columbia University Evan Thomas Pugh Reed College Aaron William Rose Lehigh University

19

COMMENCEMENT

Men at Landon are unbound and dynamic, resilient and ever-changing. The thing that makes Landon so special isn’t the Honor Code and it isn’t brotherhood. It’s the freedom to discover your true self.

— Valedictorian Josh Engel ’16, Commencement speaker

CLASS OF 2016

AWARDS Valedictorian Josh Engel The Upper School Headmaster’s Award Josh Hunter The Fathers Club Citizenship Award (integrity) Jack Concannon The Malcolm Coates Student Activities Award Ben Goodfriend The Eleanor Ann Johnson Award (arts) Henry Smith The William Harrison Triplett Award (athletics) Mark Ebo The Carroll Mercer Marbury Award (tenacity) Logan Giles The Stephen J. Smith ’01 Spirit Award (given at senior dinner) Jack Concannon Scholarship Award for Highest GPA in Form V Arslon Humayun ’17

BACCALAUREATE

AWARDS The Patrick Tanner ’96 Community Service Award Jared Rymsza The Alexander Aikens ’67 Award for Diversity Support Josh Hunter and John Walker-Turner The Cary Maguire ’46 Ethics Scholar Jack Concannon

20

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

CUM LAUDE

SOCIETY Class of 2016 (elected in 2015) Amil Agarwal Nick Blasey Josh Engel Grant Hani Brian Jordan Brian Merkle Jack Pingle Zach Wiener Class of 2016 (elected in 2016) Franco Abdala-Arata Jantay Abdychev Jack Concannon Ben Goodfriend Henry Smith Noah Thomas Andrew Whicker Class of 2017 (elected in 2016) Andrew Clark Timothy Dye Jonathan Hsieh Arslon Humayun Andrew Javens Evan Katz Jeffrey Samit Matthew Seebald Chenyu “Shoun” Shi

JUNIOR

AWARDS

If asked today where I went to high school I would not hesitate: ‘I went to Landon and I am proud of that fact.’ As we move forward, we can’t let ourselves forget this: It’s our responsibility to give Landon the good name it deserves.

— Harry King ’16, Baccalaureate speaker

Johns Hopkins Book Award Shoun Shi ’17 Harvard Book Award Bilal Wurie ’17 Dartmouth Book Award Arslon Humayun ’17

FACULTY & STAFF

AWARDS The Mary Lee and Paul Landon Banfield Award (faculty) John Botti The Alice F. Cosimano Award (staff) Patti Pfeiff

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

21

FEATURE | MARK MHLEY

UNITED STATES NAVY CDR. MARK MHLEY ’92 REFLECTS ON A CAREER OF SERVICE THAT HAS LED HIM FROM TOP GUN FLIGHT SCHOOL TO IRAQ AND ALMOST TO OUTER SPACE.

by To m DiCh i a ra 22

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

23

FEATURE | MARK MHLEY

he day he gave up his dream of becoming an astronaut, Cdr. Mark Mhley ’92 was on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the South Pacific. Mhley, a Naval flight officer and lieutenant at the time, was headed back to the United States after his second deployment to Iraq. The date was September 11, 2001. When the planes struck the Twin Towers, Mark made a decision that would affect his own trajectory.

“When 9/11 happened, I realized — we all realized — that there was going to be a fight coming, and I wanted to play a part,” Mhley said. “Becoming an astronaut was not part of that. I respect very much what they do, but that day I decided to change my path and apply to Top Gun to be a Top Gun instructor.”

THE STARGAZER Mark did not abandon his dream lightly. Since he was a boy, he wanted to be an astronaut. Gavin Mhley ’94, a 10-year Bear like his older

brother, remembers that even at a young age, Mark often could be found staring through the lens of his telescope.

“When other kids were running around tackling each other, Mark

would be looking at the sky at these little white dots,” Gavin recalled.

“He was always interested in what’s out there — is there something greater out there that we don’t know about?”

The dream of becoming an astronaut led Mark to attend the United

States Naval Academy and, upon graduation, to select a commission as a Naval aviator. The first steps along this path were conversations with

planted some seeds at Landon, and they basically saw them grow at the

Naval Academy,” Fullerton said. “The honor, the integrity, the character, the civility that we teach here are so important there. Mark lives it. It’s him. And as long as I can remember him, it has been him.”

“As a guy who went to school with him for 10 years, and knows him

well now, Mark hasn’t changed much,” said classmate Jeremy Norman ’92, now a Spanish teacher at Landon. “He’s been that honorable, driven, humble guy all the way throughout, 100 percent. He had

everybody’s respect because he always did things right. Everybody

looked up to him. Everybody admired him. He’s a really hard hitter in football too.”

Mark’s Upper School advisor Steve Sorkin agrees. “Mark is a

his Seventh Grade earth science teacher at Landon, Larry Fullerton,

superman. He was one of the most self-disciplined kids ever to

Vietnam War.

character are concrete.”

who had been an air traffic controller with the Navy during the

“Larry would share some of his stories about his experiences in the

be here,” Sorkin said. “He just makes you think that integrity and

Navy, and he would associate it with what he was teaching in science

THE REAL TOP GUN

things space- and aviation-related. Larry really engaged me on that

well at the Naval Academy and in his career. “I was at Landon for 10

class,” Mark said. “At the time, I was a big science geek, and I dug all

Those characteristics, as well as lessons learned at Landon, served Mark

and really got me interested in thinking about the Navy as a career.

years... that was family,” he said. “Spending that amount of time there

He talked to me about becoming an astronaut and highlighted that

the Naval Academy produced the most astronauts of any school in the country. That was it — I was done.”

Fullerton is not surprised the Navy was a perfect fit for Mark. “We

24

taught me the value of commitment — not the requirement of it — and how enriching it can be. It has made committing to a career in the Navy a no-brainer because there’s so much to be gained from it.”

Although deteriorating eyesight during his college years meant Mark

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

“LEARN TO MAKE THEM YOUR FRIENDS AND APPRECIATE THEIR UNIQUE ABILITIES, BECAUSE SOMEDAY, YOU WILL NEED THEIR HELP IN SOME RANDOM PLACE OR PART OF THE WORLD AND UNDER THE MOST BIZARRE CIRCUMSTANCES.” – Cdr. Mark Mhley ’92

FEATURE | MARK MHLEY

could not be a Navy pilot, he majored in physics and after graduation

enrolled in the Naval Flight Officer (NFO) program. He subsequently flew the F14 Tomcat under the call sign “FUN.”

Mhley explains his role as an NFO, the airborne weapons and sensors

operator who sits behind the pilot in a Navy jet, by referencing the

movie Top Gun — “You know the character Goose? That’s me.” —

but quickly adds that the film is far from accurate. Mark learned that

firsthand in 2002 when he landed a spot in the ultra-competitive Top

Gun (formally known as Navy Fighter Weapons School), which he calls “the Ph.D. program for the Navy’s strike-fighter community.”

“You finish that 10-week program, and you are the most tactical,

and the supported American Marine units lost 24. Mhley returned home discouraged.

“It was a very bloody time, and I was equally frustrated with that

effort as I was with what was going on in Iraq,” Mhley said. “The

solution to both was never in military application of force; it was always in political reconciliation of some sort, and that’s what we struggled with. All we were trying to do from an aircraft carrier was provide

security to our ground forces that had the hard job, that were going

door to door trying to build the relationships and help restructure the country, all those things that made up the counter-insurgency.”

Mark was still committed to the Navy, but he also needed a change.

lethal aviator you are ever going to be,” Mhley said.

“I wanted to do more, and I wanted to be more precise against who I

the East Coast Weapons School in Virginia Beach (there is also a West

affiliates,” he said.

For this reason, Mark was ecstatic to become a Top Gun instructor at

Coast Weapons School in Lemoore, California), a post he held from

saw as our nation’s primary enemies, which were Al-Qaeda and their

2002–05. “Top Gun standardizes their tactics,” Mhley explained. “They

SEAL SUPPORT

two Weapons Schools. That allows us to rapidly change tactics and then

for a Virginia Beach-based SEAL team and spent three-and-a-half years

teach the instructors, and those instructors teach the fleet from those

Enter the Navy SEALs. Mark was hired to work as an operational liaison

have our fleet adapt very quickly, while maintaining standardization

working with representatives from different service entities — including

throughout the enterprise.”

During his three years as a Top Gun instructor, Mhley led a group of

engineers and test pilots on a “James Bond trip” to install software into

Army helicopter pilots, Air Force para-rescue-men and submariners — to provide support to Navy special forces around the world.

“We would take the Navy SEALs’ ideas for operations, and we would

the F-14D Tomcat jets that were converging on Iraq on three aircraft

make them reality,” Mhley said. “We would fuse together an operation

ins and outs of how to use GPS technology and weapons-guidance

and execute it... We would provide air support, intelligence collection,

carriers. “That was an awesome experience,” Mhley said. “I learned the systems, applied everything I learned in every math and science course you can imagine. I had to teach the air crew in layman’s terms how to

employ GPS-guided weapons so that we could very quickly overwhelm Saddam Hussein’s defense system and ensure a quick victory in the war we thought would last a couple weeks.”

The war did not last a couple weeks, and Mhley needed a break

following a fifth deployment to Iraq in 2005–06. After taking a year to complete an international affairs graduate program at Auburn

that had very high-level approvals, and we would go with the SEALs

surveillance, medical support, and fire support from layers upon layers of contingency response.”

While Mhley cannot divulge the specifics of these operations, he

raves about the SEALs’ ability to pinpoint a target, “bang down the

door,” and accomplish their mission. “To work for the varsity team once in my life was humbling,” he said. “I built friendships there that I will have for the rest of my life.”

University and simultaneously attend Air Force Command Staff

TEACHER-COACH-MENTOR-IRONMAN

provided air support for British and American troops. During his nine-

him in far less peril. Since the summer of 2013, he has been a political

College, Mark did his first and only tour in Afghanistan, where he

Today, Mhley has risen to the rank of commander, and his job now puts

month deployment there, those British units lost 55 men and women,

science teacher and the deputy director of humanities and social sciences

26

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

at the Naval Academy. He rides his bike to work, teaches summer flight school to midshipmen (Naval Academy undergraduates) in Easton, Maryland, and is the officer representative (a coach-mentor) to the

Naval Academy triathlon team. He is also the proud finisher of four Ironman triathlons.

These days, coaching and mentoring, something Mark first

experienced inside the White Rocks, are what truly excite him.

“Being the officer rep for the triathlon team is the best thing I

do here because of the opportunity to mentor these 21 young men

and women during their entire time here,” he said. “Of course I take

learned at Landon — where he was the band’s first-chair flute player

and a varsity football and baseball player — have come back to him time and again throughout his Naval career.

“I had no idea of the lessons I was learning playing football for

Lowell Davis: how to be resilient, how to adapt and overcome…team first, Bear pride,” Mhley said. “When you are in combat, it’s a varsity

sport, from the brief for the day’s event, to suiting up in the para-rigger shop, to going out and executing the mission... demonstrating that

resiliency, adaptability, flexibility — and always believing that you can win, never giving up.”

These are teachings he now conveys to his students. “We teach them

advantage of every opportunity to tell them my Naval Aviation sea

how to deal with adversity in a short amount of time,” he said. “A close

out which officers around them they want to grow to become like,

have to be very quick to overcome the obstacles that come your way,

stories, but I also encourage them to keep their eyes wide open, figure learn more about that officer’s community, and follow in that person’s footsteps. After 20 years in this business, I can share the unvarnished

pros and cons of being a SEAL, being an explosive ordnance disposal

air support mission in Afghanistan only lasts a couple of hours, and you trust your judgment, make calls that are going to be questioned, and put all your training into application.”

To illustrate the point, Mhley recounts what unfolded during his

officer, being a Marine Corps infantry officer, being a Marine Corps

deployment in Afghanistan. He and his pilot, call sign “Tike,” were

The importance of this career mentorship is one key reason why half of

ambush. Mhley and Tike spotted 12 unidentified males rapidly

helicopter driver, being a submariner in an ever more complex world. the instructors at the Naval Academy are military officers.”

Mhley says that if his midshipmen learn one thing from him, it

should be the importance of your network of friends. “Landon taught me that no matter who you are, there is always going to be someone

faster, smarter, better looking, funnier and harder working than you,”

he said. “Learn to make them your friends and appreciate their unique abilities, because someday, you will need their help in some random

place or part of the world and under the most bizarre circumstances.”

LESSONS LEARNED Mhley’s ties to Landon remain strong. He spoke at Fathers Visiting Day 2012. In March 2016, he hosted Jeremy Norman and Middle School students for a tour of the Naval Academy. And he says the values he

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

providing air support to British Marines taking fire during a Taliban approaching from another direction and were authorized to release

weapons on them. After five excruciating minutes of coordinating the

attack, Mhley believed the men were moving with too much discipline

to be Taliban, however, so he made the call not to engage. It turned out the 12 men were also British Marines.

“There was a somber moment in the jet when we realized, had we not

been more disciplined and patient today... we would have killed those

guys 20 minutes ago — and we would have had the lives of 12 British soldiers on our hands for the rest of our lives,” Mark said. “Our whole lives would be changed. It was one of those moments where I paused

and was so thankful for our training, for the preparation that we had, for the discipline that we were instilled with — such that those 12 British soldiers will never know what almost happened.”

27

FEATURE | TOM SCOTT

28

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

IDEA GUY

Nantucket Nectars co-founder Tom Scott ’85 seeks to spread big ideas — and perhaps change the world — with his latest venture, The Nantucket Project.

I

ridescent white paper doves soar above a brick wall, and thousands of flowers glow a haunting blue in the dark. They illuminate Tom

Scott ’85 as he stands front and center on the transformed stage in

Landon’s Coates Auditorium. The audience is silent in anticipation, focused acutely on what Scott will say next, curious to know why

he has returned to Landon and what he will reveal about his own

personal journey.

It has been 31 years since Scott graduated from Landon. During

that time, he co-founded the multimillion-dollar juice brand Nantucket

Nectars in 1989, piloted a twin-engine plane halfway across the world in 2001, and won an Independent Spirit Award for film in 2011. On this

April evening, however, Scott won’t talk about his achievements. Instead, he is here to share his latest enterprise, The Nantucket Project (TNP), with the community that helped shape him.

“Very simply put, we look for the very best ideas on Earth,” Scott

tells the crowd of TNP’s mission. “And then we find the most inspired

thinker on Earth to deliver it... We ask them to give the talk of their life...

And then we turn it into a perfectly packaged film. That’s who we are, and that’s what we call beauty.”

What follows is a presentation that is at once moving and thought

provoking. It includes stirring speeches, startlingly frank personal

conversations, hard-hitting short films and three wildly different classical music performances all tied together by one big idea: how we as a species can break down the walls that divide us.

When the lights come up at the end, there is a lot to think and talk

about. In other words: mission accomplished.

NO TIE, NO PROBLEM Scott first worked with Kate Brosnan on Juice Guys Care, the

philanthropic arm of Nantucket Nectars. In 2011 they founded TNP,

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

29

FEATURE | TOM SCOTT

I’ve always been curious, and I’ve found that going from not knowing to knowing is not that difficult. You do not need a degree or a path. There are no rules. That’s all made up.

– Tom Scott ’85

a conference held each September on the Massachusetts island of

no cussing, coat and tie on the bus to a game, no celebrations in the

through accomplished speakers, original short films and moving musical

said. “He took that stuff to heart, and he was tough. Bordley was just

Nantucket to promote the exchange of potentially groundbreaking ideas performances. The notable speakers now number in the hundreds and

include Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, TED founder Richard Saul

end zone kind of thing. As corny as it is, the ‘no I in team’ thing,” Scott tenacious.”

Davis thinks equally fondly of Scott, and the two have kept in touch

Wurman, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and former Landon

over the years. “Tommy was a very, very good football player for me, but

runs the Visible Men Academy for underprivileged black males.

to think he’s stayed very down to earth about things.”

Upper School head and Scott’s best friend Neil Phillips ’85, who now “One of the things that’s always drawn me to Tommy and caused

the thing I remember most is how grounded he was,” Davis said. “I’d like Tom’s mother Jane is grateful for her family’s Landon experience.

me to admire him is that he’s a very unique thinker. He just has this

“Both Tommy and Billy thrived there,” she said. “I loved the whole

going to create an agency that was going to celebrate that through the

school, somebody I could call and say, ‘What do you do now?’”

incredible intellectual curiosity,” Phillips said. “The idea that he was work of others just felt like such a great match for his personality.”

While The Nantucket Project is a fairly new enterprise, its inception

system that you have an advisor that you stay with all through high

LIVING THE DREAM

can be traced to Tom’s childhood. “From the time I was a little kid... I

When Scott graduated from Brown University in 1989, he immediately

sense,” Scott said. “I’ve always been curious, and I’ve found that going

enjoy every day. As the first step, he and his college roommate Tom First

never felt any sense of, ‘Here’s what you have to do in life,’ in the career from not knowing to knowing is not that difficult. You do not need a degree or a path. There are no rules. That’s all made up.”

Tom’s father Bill Scott, a retired lawyer who now teaches history at

set out to answer that question and, of course, to do something he would moved to Nantucket, which Scott had grown to love while visiting with his parents during summers spent in Cape Cod.

The two Toms got a small Boston Whaler boat and launched a

Landon, remembers well his son’s adventurous nature: Tom built forts in

floating-store business called “Allserve” that provided laundry service,

of a bicycle and driving it around without a license. During the gas crisis

that I liked working for myself and that I loved boats. So we built a boat

trees and was arrested at the age of 10 for putting a motor on the back

of 1973, he sold coffee to people waiting in line for fuel. “Tommy never

wanted to wear a tie,” Bill said. “He didn’t want a normal job. His whole

drinks and snacks to yachts in the harbor. Scott’s logic was: “I just knew business that became one thing and another thing and another thing.”

One of the drinks they peddled was a nectar First had learned to

thing is: I want to do something I enjoy going to every day.”

make in Spain. It became so popular the duo decided to pitch it to small

‘YES, SIR’ TO CHARACTER

Rent-a-Car, bought half the company, now called Nantucket Nectars,

Tom had to follow some rules at Landon. He arrived at the school in the Sixth Grade, two years after his older brother Billy ’83. A three-sport

varsity athlete and co-captain of the football team, Tom counts lacrosse

coach Rob Bordley ’66 and football and basketball coach Lowell Davis as defining influences.

“Lowell was like the ultimate, ‘Yes sir, no sir,’ ‘Yes ma’am, no ma’am,’

30

investors. They got one big investor. Mike Egan, then-owner of Alamo

and helped “Tom and Tom” market their juices. Before long, Nantucket

Nectars was sold in almost every state and several foreign countries, and

made Inc. magazine’s list of fastest-growing companies five years in a row.

The Toms used unique marketing tactics, such as running for office

so they could hang Nantucket Nectars banners over freeways, and

they made most of their own ads. “We won the Mercury Award for

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

31

FEATURE | TOM SCOTT

32

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

The net is: How happy are you? If you can choose something that makes you happy, do it... I think that is everything in life.

– Tom Scott ’85

advertising in 1995 or ’96 as clueless idiots,” Scott laughed. “This was not something we were destined to do. But we loved it.”

After 11 years as the driving force behind their brand, the Toms sold

the company in 2002 to Cadbury Schweppes, and Scott began to search

the online dissemination of “IdeaFilms,” the short films inspired by TNP talks, that Scott sees the greatest opportunity to reach the most eyes, ears and minds.

Reclaim Democracy, about political campaign finance reform, has been

for his next passion.

viewed more than 4 million times. Ergo Mars, about the inevitability

FROM NECTAR TO PLUM

believes the new short Acceptance has the power to hit big. In this

Scott found it next in film and television production. He produced a

movie made by Landon classmate Mike Stevens ’85 in the early 2000s

and was instantly hooked. He went on to produce the independent film

Daddy Longlegs, which won the 2011 Independent Spirit Award for best feature with a budget under $500,000, and the 2010 HBO series The Neistat Brothers (among others).

At the same time, he and Kate Brosnan spearheaded Plum TV,

which Scott envisioned as a “for-profit PBS.” Launched in 2004, it was a national network of eight stations that broadcast to targeted affluent

that we will colonize the Red Planet, is also hugely popular. And Scott piece, best-selling author and TNP speaker Kelly Corrigan describes

acceptance as “the Mount Everest of human emotions” because it is so hard yet rewarding to achieve.

“If [our speakers] give the talk of their lives, you either have a) the

best screenplay you would ever want or b) the best treatment you would ever want,” he said. “That’s how we get an IdeaFilm... Digitally, we can reach millions.”

THE POWER OF PASSION

communities such as Nantucket and the Hamptons.

Today, Scott lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, with his wife Emily

run, but was unable to attract the advertisers to sustain itself in the wake

for TNP, he has some ideas. “Is it crazy to think 10 years from now

The network earned 14 Emmy nominations and one win during its

of the 2008 economic downturn. It went off the air in 2012.

START SMALL, THINK BIG Even as Plum TV faltered, Scott set in motion plans for The Nantucket Project, an idea that sprang from his admiration for TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design), a nonprofit that holds conferences and

and their two sons. And while he doesn’t know what the future holds that The Nantucket Project is also a news service?” he said. “Could

The Nantucket Project be a learning institution? We’re not competing with colleges, but maybe we appeal to adults who want to learn in an

organized fashion for the rest of their lives. I know I do... And I know that if we keep making great stuff, we may have a choice.”

For Scott, it all goes back to something he realized when he was a

produces videos devoted to thousands of topics in more than 100

young entrepreneur with Nantucket Nectars and he mingled with the

Festival in 2005.

and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

languages. Another big influence: his attendance at the first Aspen Ideas “That was Christmas morning for the mind,” Scott said. “I stayed as a

junkie around that world for a while, made some documentaries, and then eventually partnered with Kate Brosnan and said, ‘Let’s make our own.’”

While TNP started as a weekend-long conference on Nantucket each

September, a traveling satellite series launched in May 2015 now helps to bring TNP to a wider audience, like the one at Landon. But it is in

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

likes of Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Boston Beer founder Jim Koch “All those people, the only thing they share in common... is that they

love their products,” Scott said. “You can always tell when someone

doesn’t really care about their product; they want to get rich or they

want to get famous. It’s silly, but the net is: How happy are you? If you can choose something that makes you happy, do it... I think that is everything in life.”

33

ALUMNI

January 1, 2016 – July 31 , 2016

CLASS NOTES

1944

1947 Col. Godfrey Crowe writes: “We’re still here with five children and 11 grandchildren living all over the U.S.”

1948 Dr. Pedro Arcaya writes: “Retired. DDLL Central University Caracas 1956. Counselor at the Venezuelan Embassy, Washington, 1948–9.

Law practice, 1959–63. Manager and later CEO of Seguros Caracas (largest insurance company in Spanish America), 1963–89. Member Board of Directors Banco del Caribe, 1990–2008. Chairman of the Board for AIG Venezuela and Seguros Venezuela, 1992–2008.”

1950 Theodore P. Wright Jr. (pictured above) writes: “Went on a cruise of the upper Amazon in Peru in January. On April 2, I had

a splendid 90th birthday party at the Century House with 46

relatives and classmates (actual birthdate is April 12). Later, I

had a similar celebration at Glen Eddy, the retirement community where we live in Niskayuna,

New York, near Schenectady.

And [there was] a picnic with

my late brother’s four children

and grandchildren in San Jose, California... in mid-July.”

Everett Wilson writes from Palm

While some of you were sleeping, Allen Hobbs and two former

Lots of golf and sunshine.”

boat out of Herrington Harbor, Maryland. Pictured above (L to R):

Desert, California: “All OK here.

Landon parents were out catching fish on the Chesapeake Bay on a

Tim Vanderver, Hobbs, fishing guide and Mitch Ellington. Tim had three sons graduate from Landon: Tim ’88, Bruce ’91 and Ben ’92.

Mitch had one son, Mitchell ’94. Allen had one son, Allen ’87.

34

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

1952

1966 Daniel Ladd writes: “Looking forward to our 50th anniversary. Still local, about to retire.”

Tom Kauffmann writes: “Living in the country!!”

1968 Alan Pierpoint writes: “Retired after 24 years teaching at Southwestern Academy in San Marino, California. Facebook newbie!”

Four Landon ’52 couples (pictured above) — Jan and Lee Derrick,

1970

Marge and Bill Gawler, Nancy and Al Long, and Pam and Dan

Frank Crilley writes: “Ellen and I are moving about 10 miles from our

turned out to be a wonderful day of regurgitating tales of the past, the

on the Indian River and welcome any travelers to visit us.”

Thompson — got together in Sarasota, Florida, on February 24. It

past being some 63 years ago! Strangely, memories were still sharp, and

current residence. Looking forward to condo life once again. We will be

the stories produced many smiles... Al and Nancy were vacationing in

1971

from their winter home in Boca, Bill and Marge from their home in

Tom Wadden writes: “I had the great pleasure of attending the 2015

op, they said so long until the next meeting and reflected that the only

brother Scott ’67. Tom Williams also joined us.”

Sarasota from their home in North Carolina. Lee and Jan traveled

Jacksonville, and Dan and Pam from Naples. After the requisite photo downside of the day was a regret that more of their classmates were unable to be with them.

Army-Navy game (in Philadelphia) with Mike Van Ness and his

1973

1955 Sam Milliken and his son Rudy went skiing at Gore Mountain in New York.

Landon ’73 boys recently reconnected with their general science

teacher, Bev Williams, at American Tap Room in Bethesda. Pictured

above (L to R) in the back row: Bruce McNair, Bev Williams, Bruce Tanous; second row: Mitch Stanley, Dries van Wagenberg, Jeff

Wright, Jay Hawfield; first row: Chase Libbey and Skip Ivison.

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

35

ALUMNI

27TH ANNUAL ALUMNI GOLF TOURNAMENT!

S

ixty-eight Landon alumni, faculty members and friends reunited at Worthington Manor Golf Course June 3 to play in the 27th Annual Alumni Golf Tournament, this year held in honor of

former Landon Spanish teacher Alfredo Benavides. A great day of golf and camaraderie was capped off with a hole-in-one on the 17th green, courtesy of Derek Sappenfield ’83! Congratulations to Derek and to the winning players!

Closest to the Pin: Gray Hurd ’69 and James Morrison ’71 Longest Drive: Jake Samperton ’05 Low Net Score: Brian Haney ’99, P.J. Horan, Jim Morris 2nd Place Net Score: Ian Kelso ’11, Ralph Blasey Jr. ’11, Constantine Valanos ’11, Jack Duquette Low Gross Score: Jake Samperton ’05, Scott Smith ’05, Stoddie Nibley ’05, Tommy Leachman ’06 2nd Place Gross Score: Bob Mahoney ’04, Robert Mahoney, Ricardo Casillas, Eric Hilbreath

Special thanks to all the sponsors who made the tournament a success!

PRESENTING SPONSOR Dreamcatcher LLC — Ed Semans ’82 RIDDLEBERGER SPONSORS Admiral Security and Red Coats — George Vincent ’99 and Mack Wells ’95 MassMutual Greater Washington — Brian Haney ’99 COATES SPONSORS Capital City Nurses — Brian Rodgers ’89 Cushman and Wakefield — Paul Adkins ’11, Michael Collins ’03, Austin Dodson ’10, Zeke Dodson ’69, Scott Johnston ’82, Rocky Kern ’82, Sam McDonough ’10, Austin Sanders ’04 and Blake Shue ’09 Employee Benefits Group — John Sanders ’80 Galliher & Huguely — Scott Huguely ’89 Military Job Networks — George Purcell ’01 Sport Automotive — Robert Fogarty ’00 Sterling Capital Management — Don Harris ’78 HOLE-IN-ONE SPONSOR Criswell Chevrolet — Clayton Weber ’92 ALUMNI GIFT SPONSORS Falls Road Veterinary Hospital, Greenbriar Hospital and Luxury Boarding Kennel — Bill Amoroso ’77 RW Restaurant Group —

Frank Shull ’86

36

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

1974

1977

Louis Meyers is a physician and a candidate for the state senate in

Holden Bank left Além after 9.5 years to embark on a new adventure

Vermont.

— as principal of Inside/Out Advisors, LLC, his own legal and business consulting firm.

1975

Dr. Roger Blumenthal writes: “As an avid Johns Hopkins lacrosse fan, it was fun to get to speak to recent Landon stars Sam Lynch ’14 and

Hunter Sells ’15. I look forward to seeing them play on Homewood Field.”

Topper Shutt, chief meteorologist for channel WUSA9, spoke to Michael Connolly writes: “Steve Gordon, Tom West, Hunt Mitchell

and I [pictured above] had a fun golf outing at Shoal Creek in Alabama.

We hope that many of you can come join in the fun next year! We

enjoyed memorable late-night sawdust shuffle board and putting. We

played a bunch of golf, which was outstanding. Many wagers were made

Landon’s Meteorology Club about his experiences with weather

forecasting for the Washington, D.C., market. Pictured above (L to R): Logan Giles ’16 (who organized the discussion), Topper, and faculty members Larry Fullerton and Russ Gagarin (also a member of the Class of 1977).

but few bets were paid off. We also caught a bit of March Madness and

1981

The Metro champ Landon golf team was down here and had a good

Dr. Antonio Ortiz-Mena joined the Albright Stonebridge Group

saw parts of Birmingham. We missed seeing your smiling faces, however. time getting ready to beat Prep and Gonzaga. Go Bears!”

Dr. Michael Murphy (pictured

left) enjoyed a round of golf with his son-in-law Greg Shurts

as their senior advisor for Mexico and Latin America. He is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh

School of Foreign Service and at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics in Mexico City (CIDE).

(pictured right) while visiting his daughter Kate and friends in the Bethesda area.

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

37

ALUMNI

Grizzly Bear Two Continents and Many Perspectives

B

orn into a Venezuelan family, Dr. Pedro

Arcaya ’48 has spent his career as a lawyer, diplomat, and leader in the realms of

international banking and insurance, both in the

United States and in Venezuela. He says his unique

University.

After law school and an apprenticeship at a

embrace different perspectives, a quality that has

more than 150 political, commercial, economic and

“The teachers at Landon not only taught their

subject but also how to think, which was very

Venezuelan embassy in Washington, D.C. He wrote legal reports to help the Venezuelan government

better understand the U.S. socioeconomic culture.

Arcaya soon returned to Venezuela to work in

valuable to me in my college education,” Arcaya said.

security and exchange law. He went on to lead

with me due to the very fine Landon education.

held leadership positions from 1963 to 1989.

“I experienced a new outlook that has been always

[It was] the lesson of opening the door to a proper

Seguros Caracas, an insurance company where he “I’m very proud of my time as CEO of Seguros

behavior in life in the United States.”

Caracas because it became the largest and most

Lower School until his family returned to Venezuela

Arcaya said.

Arcaya came to Landon in 1938 and attended the

in 1940. He attended a Jesuit school there, but

profitable [insurance company] in Spanish America,” Arcaya also served as Chairman of the Board

returned to Landon in 1947 to complete Forms V

at both American International Group (AIG)

residence.

he sat on the board of directors at one of Venezuela’s

and VI while he lived in the Venezuelan embassy’s “[I] met up with all the same classmates that I

had left behind in 1940. It was one of the happiest years of my life,” Arcaya recalled. “It reintroduced me into the American way of life.”

Arcaya’s classmates welcomed him back too. He

Venezuela and Seguros Venezuela for 16 years, and largest banks.

Although distance prevents Arcaya from

returning to the White Rocks, he still carries fond Landon experiences with him today.

“I shall always remember Headmaster Banfield’s

was a member of both the varsity soccer and baseball

talk to us on the day prior to our graduation. I

yearbooks says he “became one of the most popular

whenever we doubted making a decision, we should

teams, and the 1948 edition of the Brown and White members of the gang. His easygoing sophistication and Latin sense of humor made Pete an invaluable addition [to the senior class].”

38

to Venezuela to attend law school at Caracas

law firm, Arcaya was appointed counsellor to the

served him well throughout his life.

– Dr. Pedro Arcaya ’48

University’s School of Foreign Service and returned

blend of American and Venezuelan education, particularly his time at Landon, taught him to

The teachers at Landon not only taught their subject but also how to think, which was very valuable to me in my college education.

After graduation, Arcaya attended Georgetown

still cherish it,” Arcaya said. “[Banfield said] that

think of it as a traffic light and look to see if it was right to go ahead or not.”

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

1981 (continued)

1983

John Shiffman ’83 spoke at the Brinkley Lecture series event at

Landon named for Alan Brinkley ’67, a renowned scholar and author.

Seniors and faculty from Landon and Holton-Arms listened to John’s Alums from the classes of 1981 and 1983 got together for a spring

break ski trip in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Pictured above (L to R): Steve West ’83, Tyler West ’81, Steve Hildreth ’83, Walker Simpson ’81, Pat Gorman ’83 and Steve Amitay ’83.

commentary regarding his book titled Operation Shakespeare, which

is the true story of an elite international sting. John was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Many of his classmates (pictured L to R) were in

attendance: George Hani, Lawrence Bou, Matt Carberry, Shiffman,

David Ebner, Pat Gorman, Lt. Col. Todd Minners and Steve Amitay.

1982

Five Landon graduates — and also Landon dads — from the Class

of 1983 gathered during the Landon Azalea Festival Preview Party.

Pictured above (L to R): Rich Henschel, Rich Slowinski, George Hani, Steve Amitay, Chip FitzGerald and Lawrence Bou.

John “JR” Roberts Jr.’s boat “The Super Pear” won the 2015

International One Design North American Championship Regatta hosted by the Larchmont Yacht Club. In the series of seven races,

Roberts (pictured above, second from right) finished with bullets in the first two and the last one. He was second in three more for a final score

of nine points. JR attributes his boat’s success to the role of Captain Ed Semans. According to JR, “Without Captain Ed’s help, we would have been lost at sea!”

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

Derek Sappenfield (pictured far right in the photo to the left)

scored a hole-in-one on the 17th green at Worthington Manor

golf course during the Landon

Alumni Golf Tournament. There was no need to use the putter in his hand!

39

ALUMNI

1983 (continued)

1985

1990

Sandra Gichner, wife of the late Steve Gichner, writes: “When

Steve was sick, [George Pappas] kindly gave him the Landon

Ultimate hat, which he was proud of because he told the girls that he was one of the guys who

started the team way back when.

Harmar Thompson and his wife

chance to wear it before he passed

old son Theiss (born June 9, 2014,

Even though Steve didn’t get a

Christie Grymes have a 2-year-

away, our oldest daughter Frances

and pictured above).

(pictured) wore it every day while

she walked the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain for her

Taylor Simmers is the chief

senior project. She honored his memory and took a piece of him with her as she walked the medieval pilgrimage for 112 kilometers... You

strategy officer at the Tahoe

never know when small gestures have such a huge impact!”

Neil Phillips (pictured above

1984

Visible Men Academy, to Nancy

left) gave a tour of his new school, (above right) and Lowell Davis

while they were on a spring break in Bradenton, Florida.

1989 Don Sienkiewicz writes that he

Expedition Academy. The

academy hosted their winter

Celebration of Learning event, a

showcase of the students’ globally conscious projects. The students are encouraged to develop a

product with a vision of making a difference in the world.

1991

studied European commercial law at the Law School of the

University of Augsburg (Bavaria) for six weeks in the summer of 2016. He and his wife Katja

celebrated their 20th anniversary there (allegedly, the “Tesla” anniversary). She and their Mike Cole writes: “While I was delighted to see the article on Sam

Anas ’11 [posted on the Landon Facebook page], I was surprised to see

that he was the only alumnus referenced in the photo [above]. If you look above Sam’s left shoulder, you will see me with beard decked out in my

gold Quinnipiac shirt and hat. I am flanked on my left by my son in his

hot dog costume and on my right by my daughter. As an employee of the

university, as well as a season ticket holder, I can tell you that Sam and his teammates have brought great notoriety to the school for their success both on and off the ice.”

40

four children Ellie (17), Elias

(15), Davina (13) and Jana (11) vacationed and visited family

while Don made connections for his international estate-planning

practice and earned credit toward a master’s degree in international taxation (or a German fishing

license, whichever took less effort).

Art Rosen’s son Manning (pictured above) is a Bear in the making!

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

1992

1997

1998

Bill Magruder met up with

Lance Archibald in Park City, Utah, where they had dinner,

reminisced about the 1992 IAC

John Frekko (pictured above with his family) writes: “Kelly and I

and snapped the above photo.

trying to learn best practices on how to prepare celebrations for two kids

championship basketball season,

1997

welcomed our second child, Laurel Frekko, on June 14, 2016. We’re still with the same birthday (our son Jack was also born June 14 two years

ago). Other than that, things have been going well, and I am settling in well in my new role as assistant general counsel at CoStar Group.”

Brian Mathis’ son Taylor

(pictured above) shows his Bear pride!

1999

Erin and Ali Fardshisheh

welcomed twins, Farrah Rey and

In the Washington Business Journal Best Deal of the Year Awards issue,

with their dad), January 18, 2016.

car micro-factory and showroom at National Harbor. Justin Fishkin

Finn Thomas (pictured above

“Most Creative Deal” went to Local Motors for their 3-D printed

(pictured above, back right) is Local Motor’s chief strategy officer.

Landon alumni (pictured left, L to R) Teddy Lamade ’00,

Stoddie Nibley ’05, Pat Mufarrij

Drew Cole and his wife Bridget

the Sibley Soirée June 9, 2016, in

Cole January 20, 2016 (pictured

’96 and Ali Fardshisheh attended support of Sibley Memorial

Hospital’s Pediatric Oncology

welcomed baby boy Chase Wiles above).

Program.

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

41

ALUMNI

1999 (continued)

2001

9 lb. 8 oz. and 22 inches. We’re

2005

still figuring out how he fit inside his mom. Patricia, myself and

Thijs’ older brother (Alex, 3 years old) are doing great and very

excited to welcome him into the world!”

Gibbs Fogarty and Margaret

Jenn and Cameron Coursen welcomed their first child,

Reid (pictured above) were

William Dennison Coursen, May

Seythe McCoy (pictured above)

oz. and was 21 inches long. The

I attended the 20th Annual

10, 2016. “Will” weighed 8 lb. 5 photo above was taken in

Chatham, Massachusetts, on vacation.

2000

married June 25, 2016, in Annapolis, Maryland.

writes: “On Saturday, January 30, Maryland State Police Polar Bear

2006

Plunge at Sandy Point State Park

Alex Cornell was featured in the

Musician Austin Bisnow was in

State Bar Association (MSBA)

They Got There (pictured above)

Mark Ronson. Watch it at

as a member of the Maryland

– Young Lawyers Section Team!

It was great – chilly day. So glad the sun was out! This was my second year plunging! #BearsOnIce.”

2003

new book by Khoi Vinh, How The book interviews digital

designers about their career paths.

a Bose commercial with producer youtube.com/user/Bose.

Henry Dudley III became the

father of daughter Haden Anne

on April 5, 2016. Henry Dudley Jr. ’66 is also doing well and delighted to be a grandpa.

Robert Gelb married Amy

Wallace on October 10, 2015 in St Andrews, Scotland (pictured

Ahna Marie and Alex Chip

welcomed a son, Julian Vincent (pictured above with dad), June 15, 2016.

42

Matt Gill writes: “My little boy is named Thijs (rhymes with ‘dice,’ in homage to Patricia’s Dutch

above). They also threw a New

Year’s Eve party in Washington, D.C., to celebrate.

family) Jackson Gill [pictured

above with proud grandpa John

Gill ’75 and father Matt]. He was

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

2008

2012

Etaba Assigana graduated in the spring of 2015 from Carnegie

Mellon with a master’s degree in entertainment technology, game and interactive media design. After graduation, he traveled to Mexico to teach English.

2011

Current Bears Evan Katz ’17 (pictured above center) and Jeff Samit ’17 (above right) met up with Cord Peters (above left) during a visit

to Duke University this spring. (Evan is committed to Duke as a golf

recruit, and Jeff is considering applying.) The boys toured campus and Several Landon alums watched Sam Anas and the Quinnipiac Bobcats

play ice hockey against Harvard in the “Rivalry on Ice” at Madison Square Garden. Sam had a goal and an assist in the game, which Quinnipiac won in overtime. (For more on Sam, see story p. 8). Pictured above (L to R):

attended the Duke vs. UVA basketball game, which the Blue Devils

won with an acrobatic game-winning basket at the buzzer! During the

2011–12 school year at Landon, Cord was the Form VI prefect mentor to Jeff ’s Form I advisory group. Brothers forever!

Greg Economos ’80, Quinn Simpson, Dillon Rupp, John Rupp ’10, Alexandre Johnson ’12, Anas, Sean Stouffer and Kyle Colgain.

Tyler Murray is in an MD/MBA program at the Tufts School of Medicine, class of 2020.

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Submit your update to:

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landon.net/classnotes.

Photos are appreciated!

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

43

ALUMNI

2012 (continued)

IN MEMORIAM Mary Anne Kleh, mother of Bill ’63 and Tom ’67.

December 31, 2015.

Steven Gichner ’83. January 7, 2016.

Jim Simpson, father of Bret ’71. January 13, 2016.

Frank Roller ’81. January 13, 2016.

George Cabell Williams Jr., father of Cabell ’73 and grandfather of George ’02 and James ’04. January 13, 2016.

Frank King ’45. January 28, 2016.

Norene Dann Martin, mother of David Martin ’61.

February 5, 2016.

Arthur Pratt ’45. February 9, 2016.

Walter Bank, father of Holden ’77. February 10, 2016.

Helen Pappas, mother of George ’82 and grandmother of Nick ’18. February 20, 2016.

Joe McDonald celebrated his “Senior Night” at his last home

basketball game at George Washington University. Joe was honored

for his membership in the 1,000-Point Club and his role as a captain,

which brought a thunderous round of cheering from the crowd. Joining Joe at center court were his family members and Meredith and Andy

Luther, his coach at Landon (top photo above). Several Bear brothers

were also in attendance. Pictured (L to R) in second photo above: Zach

House ’09, Johnny Sharp, McDonald, Andy Luther, Cyrus House, and Michael Thornton ’10).

Alumni Paddle Tennis Tournament

James V. Kimsey, father of Mike ’83. March 1, 2016.

Julia Tucker Harris, mother of Mark Tucker ’75. March 1, 2016.

Loyce Johnson, wife of Walter ’42. March 5, 2016.

Elizabeth “Betty” Nibley, grandmother of Stoddie ’05, Pearse ’07 and Stu ’09. March 5, 2016.

James B. McCeney ’60, father of Robert ’88 and brother of George ’56. March 19, 2016.

W. Paatii Ofosu-Amaah, father of Nii Amaah ’00.

April 13, 2016.

Howard T. Phelan ’54, brother of Jay ’52. April 26, 2016.

Joseph S. Devereux Jr. ’43, brother of Jack ’42. April 29, 2016.

Thirty Landon alumni (pictured above) reunited at the Chevy

Chase Club for an Alumni Paddle Tennis Tournament, organized by Nick Barquin ’97, Matt Coursen ’99 and Pat Guarnieri ’00. Penn

Leachman ’94 and Burke Hayes Jr. ’94 won the tournament, while

Stephen Gordon ’75 and his son Stephen Gordon Jr. ’07 took second.

Ralph Kopp, father of Jeff ’13. May 16, 2016.

Dr. Craig Alan Winkel ’64. May 26, 2016.

James “Jim” Boler, father of Jim ’85, Brendan ’90 and Kevin ’92. May 28, 2016.

Kathleen Sturtevant, mother of Clark Cochran ’73.

July 7, 2016.

Richard S. Beatty ’51. July 9, 2016.

Carol Smith, wife of Pierce Smith ’62. August 27, 2016.

Robert Timberg, father of Sam Timberg ’03.

September 6, 2016.

44

LANDON SCHOOL | FALL 2016

FROM THE ARCHIVES

RUNNING BACK FLASHBACK. Landon’s football uniforms weren’t always brown and white. Can you identify the color of these vintage jerseys, pinpoint the year, and/or name any of the players? Bonus points if you know the opponent. Send your best guess to communications@landon.net!

“Old-School Technology” Archive Photo Identified Thanks to Jeff Brown ’84, Peter Duncan ’76, Landon math teacher and Director of Financial Aid Russ Gagarin

’77, Samuel Johnston ’80, Ed Lee ’62, Kit Mays ’79, Boyd McHugh ’79, and Landon math teacher Steve Sorkin!

They all correctly identified longtime Math Department Chair Peter Brown as the teacher showing young Bears

how to use an early desktop computer in our last “From the Archives” photo. The photo was taken circa 1974, and popular consensus was that Scott Hilles ’79 is pictured to the far right, although opinions on the other students’ identities varied wildly.

Sorkin shared that Brown hired him to work at Landon, while Gagarin said he stepped into Brown’s role when

he retired. Lee, a physics teacher at Landon from 1972–77, was also a colleague. Jeff Brown had a bigger edge

than anyone in identifying the teacher — Peter is his father. “This had to be about 1974 or 1975 since [my father]

introduced computers to Landon soon after his arrival,” Jeff wrote. “I think it’s a Hewlett Packard 9830A, which was still marketed as a calculator so

as not to try to compete with IBM. It had the optional thermal printer, which allowed students to play games on it even though it only had a one-line display screen. I can remember students playing Star Trek or something like that.”

FALL 2016 | LANDON SCHOOL

45

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Painting by Will Nussbaum ’20

SAVE THE DATES

Homecoming & Reunions Weekend

Greens Sale & Holiday Boutique

November 10 – 12

December 1 – 2

Alumni Holiday Luncheon

Azalea Garden Festival

December 16

May 5 – 7