Summer 2015 | The Academy Lantern

Lantern

The Magazine of Lexington Christian Academy

The Academy

50

Celebrating 50 years in Lexington 1 9 6 5 - 2 0 1 5 Summer 2015

Lexington Christian Academy Class of 2015 College Announcements Name

College of Choice

Brianna Aguilar............Massachusetts College of Art and Design Heather Baba....................University of Massachusetts, Amherst Mario Beauzile ................... University of Massachusetts, Boston Amber Biron...................................................Stetson University Abigail Bridge.................................................Liberty University Ana Bulger..................................................... Westmont College Olivia Chen........................................................Elon University Peter Cusanello........................................... University of Denver Rebecca DeCarvalho.......................................Liberty University Harris Desrosier.......................................... Wheaton College IL Christina Dibrova.............University of Massachusetts, Amherst Oluwadara Faleye...................................Northeastern University Juyao Fang............................................. Stony Brook University Matthew Figucia.............................................Boston University Timothy Hanley........................................... Brandeis University Jung Won Hwang............................................... Boston College Adrian Ibeh............................................................Dean College Alexandra Johnson...............................................Calvin College Helen Kwon................................................... Cornell University Kevin Lee....................................Rhode Island School of Design Yiran Li................... University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Yen Yu Liu.......................................................Boston University Yufeng Long..................... School of the Art Institute of Chicago Stephen Macomber............................................Gordon College Alexandra Madrid................ Washington University in St. Louis Meagan McIntosh.............................................Goucher College Thomas Munch.....................................Northeastern University Elizabeth Nalunga...................................Georgetown University Amanda Namchuk............... Washington University in St. Louis Johanna Nathan..............................................Suffolk University

Name

College of Choice

Daniel Newell....................................................Gordon College Sarah Newell......................................................Gordon College Caroline Niland.............................................. Skidmore College EunKyung Noh...............................................Boston University Dominique Norgaisse................................... Brandeis University Margot O’Brien................................................... Union College Hadeley Overaker............................Illinois Wesleyan University Avianna Perez.................................... The University of Alabama Josiah Perez.....................................................Liberty University Kesha Porter.................................................. Merrimack College Benjamin Pu................................................ Belmont University Benjamin Pyke.....................................................Calvin College Tristan Rix...........................................................Calvin College Juli Sampson.....................University of Massachusetts, Amherst Thomas Segreve........................... University of New Hampshire Emma Sharon................................. Loyola University Maryland Madison Stevens............................................ Providence College Willis Stinson.....................................................Oberlin College Emily Stutzman.............................................. Dickinson College Nina Surabian.......................................... Quinnipiac University Kelsey Tierney................................... University of Rhode Island Nicholas Turgiss..............................................Boston University Vanessa Vargas............................................... Merrimack College Maeva Veillard...............................................DePauw University Grace Wang...........................................................Colby College Liujia Wang............................. University of California, Berkeley Meng Ze Xu................................................... Bentley University Zijing Zhu.......................................................... Boston College

Lantern

Table

of

Contents

The Academy LCA 2015 Academy Lantern Board of Trustees James M. Bolton ’72, Chair Robert A. Lawrence, Vice Chair Gerald Moore, Treasurer Diane C. Cambourelis ’82, Clerk Robert Bloodworth Mark Boivin Joseph Dattilo Kenneth Fong Stephen H. Haig Michael Levitz Paul McGonagle M. Eric Mollenhauer ’89 Stephen Palmer Charles T. Pu Michael Stevens ’87 Beth Somers Stutzman Wallace W. Wadman Benjamin Warf Frank E. Wheatley III David Wilson

Summer 2015

The Magazine of Lexington Christian Academy

2 Letter from the Head of School 3 Letter from the Director of the Upper School 4-5 50 Years in Lexington 6-7 Jake Hoffman’s Legacy 8-9 LCA Lions Winter and Spring Season 10-11 Commencement

Tim Russell, Head of School, celebrated with Ryan Flynn ’00 on the installation of his painting, Madonna and Child.

12 Class Day Head of School

Timothy Russell Development Officer

13 Letter from Faculty 14 The Pirates of Penzance

Isaac Milton Associate Director for Alumni Relations and Advancement Services

15 Visual Arts 16-18 Alumni Spotlights

Meghan Reardon Contributors

19-20 Class Notes

The Community of LCA

Arielle Moreira ’16 received the first Ernest and Virginia Tavilla Memorial Scholarship, created by Rachel Gamelin ’14 and her family.

Photographers

Dorothy Greco, Chip VanderBrug, Paul Johnson, and The Community of LCA Designer

Christopher G. Coleman Printed by Cricket Press

On the Cover Miles Strodel, Head of School, and Cecil Breton, Director of Development, surveying the land in Lexington, the site for the relocation of Christian High School.

Summer 2015 • The Academy Lantern

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Letter from The Headmaster

Greetings,

I

n 1964, as Miles Strodel surveyed the land that would move Christian High School from Cambridge to Lexington, he was continuing a legacy that runs far deeper and is more enduring than any concrete foundation.

It is a legacy that I continue today as our 12th Head of School. Our priority remains “to educate young men and women in the arts and sciences with a complete commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Few members of our community have embodied that philosophy as thoroughly as Mr. Henry “Jake” Hoffman ’64. As hundreds of people came to his retirement celebration, I was reminded that while our mission is our foundation, our faculty are much like our building. They provide the structure and framework for our mission to be put into action. Mr. Hoffman exemplified the engagement of our faculty in the transforming nature of wisdom and vitality of a curriculum founded on the Truth.

Tim Russell speaking at LCA’s Class Day Program.

Our mission also extends beyond our hallways and fields in the lives of each of our graduates.

The class of 2015 is preparing to begin their college experience at Cornell, Georgetown, Brandeis, Calvin, and many other fine institutions. I know they will join the thousands of other CHS/LCA alumni who are bringing light and excellence into their communities and workplaces.

I could not be more excited to celebrate our 50th year in Lexington this fall as we remain poised to wholeheartedly take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world as we serve God and our neighbor.

Proud to Partner with You,

Timothy Russell Head of School

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“ Our priority remains ‘to educate young men and women in the arts and sciences with a complete commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’”

Letter from The Head of the Upper School

Dear LCA community,

W

hat is great teaching and learning? At the heart, it’s nothing more than this: changing the way you think. Each year that I am at LCA, I rediscover that I am part of a community that transforms how students view their world.

This past year in my role as Director of Upper School, I have been fortunate to see first-hand how our students are learning to think about the world in new ways — not only in my own English class, but all over campus. In biology classes, students hiked to a nearby vernal pool to collect samples that they found were packed with life. In geometry classes, students grappled with the principle of congruence. In the library, students bent over Spanish homework and bantered about reflexive and subjunctive verbs. In Bible classes, students pulled their chairs into a circle and discussed why Aquinas and Anselm might matter in their lives.

I have also seen that changed thinking isn’t just about what students learn; it is rooted in how they learn. I watch our faculty training students in the timeless skills of their disciplines, using carefully chosen, timely methods— blogs that extend the discussion beyond the classroom, multigenre projects that engage students deeply in critical thinking and analysis, and peer review of shared electronic portfolios.

And at LCA, there is yet one more piece to a transformative education — beyond the concepts we teach, and how we teach them. At LCA, transformation has to do with our whole lives. We work in the context of our commitment to the Christian faith. So all the teaching and learning we do starts with knowing that our human intellect has blurry vision, an incomplete perspective of the world. Then we set out to get new lenses — to see the world in light of God’s worthy purpose for us and for his creation. That’s exciting work, because it means we are taking part in the Gospel, in the good news that we can truly, completely, be transformed. When young women and men are educated in these walls, they do so with a whole community of faith — parents, faculty, and students — who hold tightly to the apostle Paul’s admonition: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2 NLT).

Your commitment to this kind of Christian education is what makes me excited about LCA’s future. Thank you for being part of the LCA family and for helping change the way young women and men think about themselves and their world.

Your partner in this task,

James Talkington Director of Upper School

Summer 2015 • The Academy Lantern

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Out

Suburbs

to the

By Ellen Gabrielse, LCA Faculty (1992-2013)

S

haring pride in overcoming inconveniences and annoyances of the 20 Garden Street building was a key bond between Christian High students of the 1950s and early 1960s. Who else could tell tales of racing from the bus stop after gym class to slide into chapel in the nick of time? Who else wondered when they entered the attic auditorium for chapel if the benches would stand up to their load or collapse? As Jim Manganello, class of 1962, recalls, “You never knew if you’d be seated or floored.” Who else won the state Class D basketball championship in 1961 and 1962 without a gym of their own?

Their teachers and parents knew that the aging, secondhand facilities in Cambridge could not support a quality education indefinitely. Classrooms were crowded and there was nowhere to expand; the only science lab, shared by all science classes, was in the basement, too close to the furnace whose boiler was in constant need of repair.

Conducting all gym classes and sports practices off site strained the schedule and taxed the ingenuity of teachers

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and Principal and Athletic Director Miles Strodel. One day during study hall in the library, students heard a creaking, cracking sound just before a 6-foot section of the plaster ceiling crashed to the floor. According to Buck Lombard, class of ’69, the boy most directly under it was not hurt, but he got a big laugh from the other students when he brushed chunks of plaster off his head and shoulders, blew clouds of dust off his book, and went on studying as if this were an everyday occurrence.

The Board had looked at several properties, but in 1958 when an anonymous donor offered a 29-acre parcel of land near the intersection of Lowell and Summer Streets in Lexington, they accepted it. The land was free, but building a new school was not. Fund raising was daunting, as the school was often unable to meet routine operating expenses, and sometimes ran deficits up to 1/3 of the annual budget. Although support for the move on the part of faculty, students, and parents was overwhelming, some worried that the new location, beyond the mass transit system which many students used

to get to school, would discourage current families and prevent new applications. The school needed to grow, not shrink! After many prayer-filled meetings, the Board forged ahead.

At the October 4, 1962 annual meeting and banquet the relocation campaign was officially launched. Master of Ceremonies Herman Van Schuyver proudly announced that Board members, faculty, and staff of Christian High had already pledged over $81,500 of the estimated $650,000 cost. Under the tireless leadership of the Board committee of Nathan C. Hubley, Jr., Walter F. Peterson, Herman E. Van Schuyver, Ralph Crocker, and Cecil Breton, the Christian High community worked to make the hopes and plans into reality.

Slowly, painfully, enough money came in to begin; an architect was hired; banks were approached for a construction loan. In April, 1963, a trustee proposed eliminating the gym and auditorium from the plans to make the building more affordable, but Coach Strodel insisted that the students needed and deserved a good gym. After all, that lack was one of the primary reasons for leaving Cambridge. Myron Ferrin, a parent and representative of one of the bidding contractors, said that if the Board believed that God was in this project, they should set out to complete the entire thing and approach banks with this in mind.

Lexington Savings Bank agreed to provide the loan; the Board authorized Leeland Construction Company to begin work. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 14, 1964. Board member Charles Schauffele and Headmaster Miles Strodel spoke; architect A. D. MacLaren described the future building and grounds to the excited crowd. Strodel turned the first shovel of dirt on the south side of the building near the current pool, and construction commenced. By March, 1965 the footings and foundation were laid, and the walls were up to the height of the first floor ceiling. Plumbing and electrical work began. The relocation fund reached $235,400 with over $400,000 still to be raised.

Christian High School’s new building in Lexington, MA.

It was hoped that classes could begin in September of 1965 in the new building, but that was not possible.

Classes began on September 27 at Arlington Heights Baptist Church and continued there until mid-November.

The arrangement worked well, but everyone was eager to move to the new building.

Meanwhile, 20 Garden Street was sold to the Association of American Trial Lawyers for $135, 776.

Many people volunteered to remove usable items from the

Miles Strodel at the Lexington campus groundbreaking in 1964.

old property. Some things were sold, others were stored in the gym in the new building until the school was granted an occupancy permit, but much was so worn out it was trashed. Two items from the school in Cambridge are on display: the Christian High School sign across from the admissions office and an old wooden desk in the library.

The lantern from 20 Garden Street is awaiting a new place of honor.

On Monday, November 15, students attended classes at 48 Bartlett Avenue for the first time. To Buck Lombard, a sophomore, the place seemed huge — “it seemed like the rooms were big enough for 50 desks! Every room had nice, new furniture. The labs were good, and they were safe.

But as far as I was concerned, the best thing was the gym, and not just any gym, but one with a springboard floor, the best! It was so good the Boston Celtics practiced there in the summers.”

Headmaster Strodel reported to the Board at the end of the first year: “It has been a thrilling year in many ways, and at times exceedingly strenuous. The new facilities have greatly enhanced the efficiency of operation and reduced discipline problems to a very minor level.” He closed his report by remarking that “the faculty and staff are keenly aware of God’s marvelous presence and sustaining grace.”

Fifty years later, we of the LCA community can say a hearty amen.

Summer 2015 • The Academy Lantern

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Faculty Highlight

Jake Hoffman’s 42 Years at LCA

By Kim Winsor, Director of Studies

A

forty-two year career working in the same place is hard to find in 2015. Few of us return to teach in the high school we graduated from and then become a legend for the next generation of students. Henry “Jake” Hoffman is one of those rare people who has influenced two generations of students.

When Jake ’64 entered Christian High School, now LCA, as a middle school student he never dreamed that he would be a teacher or that he would come back to teach chemistry at the new campus in Lexington. Jake started his career teaching in public school. He taught Introductory Physical Science (IPS), Chemistry and Oceanography. He returned to graduate school at Texas A&M to earn a master’s degree in

oceanography. An article about teaching caught Jake’s attention.

He recognized God’s call to a career in the classroom. When he was graduating from Texas A&M, Christian High School was looking for a chemistry teacher. Then Headmaster, Miles Jake during his first year at LCA in 1974.

Strodel, called Jake to interview for a teaching position. Though looking forward to working with his former teacher and coach, Jake never got to work for Miles Strodel because Art Hill was headmaster when Jake started to work at LCA. What keeps a great teacher in the classroom for 42 years? Jake enjoys teenagers and has been able to connect with them effectively. Jake was known for being at school early and staying late. During the blizzard of ’78 he was stuck overnight at LCA with colleague Tim Slighter. Early Jake Hoffman in 2012. in his career he was often grading papers late into the night or trying out a Jake had great mentors. Ray Martin new experiment. After he served as his mentor at LCA during married Lori he established the early years of his career. Dr. a more sensible routine Don Trizezenberg, a former LCA that still included lots of Physics teacher, helped to reorient time for extra help. his approach to be more student In his first year of centered. Students know that Jake teaching before grad school means business and that he will joke Jake collected a thick pile to a point but will quickly return of detentions that he wrote to teaching chemistry which is his for his wayward students. passion. He is well remembered for That seems hard to believe his unique style of grading labs by for a teacher that seldom having the students correct the lab Grace Strodel, Jake Hoffman ’64, and Lori Hoffman at the writes a detention at LCA. before it gets a grade. retirement celebration on May 28, 2015.

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Re flections

on

“Jake, honesty and integrity are the reflex of your heart. Your lack of selfseeking and devotion to your academic discipline, colleagues, and students’ knowledge and character are hallmarks of four decades of devotion to LCA and its mission — a mission which you enhanced, extolled and extended.

Beloved, respected and emulated, you will ever remain the ‘gold standard’ for LCA faculty to follow.”

—Remarks made by Timothy Russell, LCA Head of School, on the occasion of the retirement celebration of Henry J. Hoffman on May 28, 2015 “Teachers at LCA like Jake Hoffman helped me see the fingerprints of God in the complexities of chemistry and physics.

I left LCA focused on an initial career in science, thanks to Jake Hoffman.”

—Josh Bennett ’93

Hoffman : “The thing I remember most vividly about my time at LCA was the first day of Chemistry in Mr. Hoffman’s class. He opened the bible and read out of Mark and prayed for the class. My first thought was, ‘we just prayed in science class.’ That was the first time I experienced the lesson that you can’t separate your theory from your practice.”

—Lydia Brown ’11

Jake Hoffman in 1987.

“The science education that I received at LCA through Mr. Hoffman was outstanding technically and served as the foundation for my studies towards a doctorate. In addition, it was obvious that Mr. Hoffman cared deeply about teaching and was invested in his students’ success. I will always remember how emotional he became upon learning that I could not attend the university of my choice. In retrospect, where I went to school didn’t matter. What really mattered was my love of science that he worked hard to nurture.”

—Krist Azizian ’92

Jake is leaving a legacy of caring about kids. He is a chemist who is a strong Christian and the two are not contradictory. Jake’s deep commitment to God enlivened both his classroom and his relationship with his colleagues.

Having colleagues who share his faith is also a highlight of going to work every day, “My colleagues are competent people. They brighten a day and make it joyful.” Jake will be missed. We look forward to seeing him in the halls, as he has promised to stay connected as a support and mentor for LCA faculty.

Ja ke

“I am so thankful that I attended LCA during the years that Mr. Hoffman was teaching. He is a shining example of a person with a gift to teach, and I will always remember him and how much he helped me!”

—Angelique Scarpa ‘99 “Jake is the role model for a faithful servant of Christ. I have learned much from him by listening and watching. I have learned how to be a better teacher, how important it is to have a heart for God and others, and how to be a good friend. I have taught with Jake for 43 years and he is the best of the best.”

—Irene Campbell, LCA faculty

Th e H e nry J . H o ffman J r . Sc h o l a rship LCA has received a gift of $500,000 to establish The Henry J. Hoffman Jr. Endowed Science Chair. This will provide LCA with the resources to continue to pursue talented science faculty members who share Mr. Hoffman’s commitment to LCA’s mission.

In addition, The Henry J. Hoffman Jr. Scholarship was created to be awarded to students with financial need who share Mr. Hoffman’s commitment to LCA’s mission and demonstrate an active Christian faith. We are grateful for the many donors who helped us get halfway to our $25,000 goal to establish this endowed scholarship.

Please consider making a gift to help create a lasting legacy in Jake Hoffman’s honor. www.lca.edu/give

Summer 2015 • The Academy Lantern

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Athletics

LCA Lions Winter Season

Caroline Niland ’15 was named EIL (Eastern Independent League) Player of the Year for Girls Varsity Basketball.

Boys Varisty Wrestlers were winners of the EIL Tournament.

Winter Awards Boys Basketball

Girls Basketball

Wrestling

• NEPSAC Class C Tournament Quarterfinalists

• NEPSAC Class C Tournament Quarterfinalists

•2 014-15 EIL Champions

• Finished 3rd in EIL Regular Season Standings

• 2014-15 EIL Co-Champions

•E IL Coach of the Year: Charlie Cowen

• Winners of EIL Open A Pool Tournament • NEPSAC Class C 3rd Team Selection: Adrian Ibeh ’15 • EIL All-League: Adrian Ibeh ’15 & Jude Guerrier ’16 • EIL Honorable Mention: Akwasi Appiah ’15 & Dillon Koster ’17 • NCSAA Super-Regional Northeast Team Selections: Adrian Ibeh ’15 & Jude Guerrier ’16

• Winners of EIL Open A Pool Tournament

• Winners of 2015 EIL Tournament

• EIL Player of the Year: Caroline Niland ’15

•E IL All-League: Kevin Lee ’15, Connor Meaney ’16, Jason Calandra ’17

• EIL Coach of the Year: Bill Niland

•1 0 NEPSAC Tournament Qualifiers

• NEPSAC Class C All-Stars: Caroline Niland ’15, Shae Roys ’16, Jamese Word ’16

•N ational Prep Wrestling Championships Qualifiers: Kevin Lee ’15, Connor Meaney ’16, Jason Calandra ’17

• EIL All-League: Caroline Niland ’15, Shae Roys ’16, Jamese Word ’16 • EIL Honorable Mention: Katie Braga ’16, Courtney Teehan ’16 •N CSAA Super-Regional Northeast Team Selections: Caroline Niland ’15 & Shae Roys ’16 •N CSAA 2nd Team All-American: Caroline Niland ’15

Girls Varsity Basketball were the EIL Co-Champions and NEPSAC Class C Tournament Quarterfinalists.

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National Prep Wrestling Championships Qualifiers Kevin Lee ’15, Connor Meaney ’16, Jason Calandra ’17 and Coach Charles Cowen.

LCA Lions Spring Season

Dara Faleye ’15 was named to EIL All-League and New England Regional Team Selections for Boys Varsity Lacrosse.

Samantha Gibson ’16 was named EIL Player of the Year for Varsity Softball.

Spring Awards Boys Lacrosse:

Baseball

Softball

• EIL All-League: Dara Faleye ’15 & Jack McMahan ’16

• New England Small School Tournament Quarterfinalists

•2 015 EIL Champions

• EIL Honorable Mention: Peter Cusanello ’15

• Winners of the EIL Open A Pool Tournament

• New England Regional Team Selections: Dara Faleye ’15 & Jack McMahan ’16

• EIL Coach of the Year: Jordan McCarthy • EIL All-League: Thomas Segreve ’15, Walter Sharon ’17, Jesse Welch ’17

•E IL All-League: Samantha Gibson ’16, Shae Roys ’16, Victoria Cusanello ’17, Hannah Gouldrup ’17, Abigail Broadhurst ’18

Girls Lacrosse

• EIL Honorable Mention: Ryan Ahern ’16, Dillon Koster ’17

•E IL Honorable Mention: Kesha Porter ’15, Gaby Franchi ’16

• EIL All-League: Meaghan Hayes ’16 • EIL Honorable Mention: Alexandra Madrid ’15 & Katie Braga ’16 • NEPSAC All-Stars: Jillian Bowdring ’16, Katie Braga ’16, Meaghan Hayes ’16

•E IL Player of the Year: Samantha Gibson ’16 •E IL Coach of the Year: Brian LaHair

Annual Awards 2014-2015 Annual Athletic Award Winners Grace Strodel Coaches Award: Shae Roys ’16 Boys Coaches Award: Peter Cusanello ’15 Girls Sports Awards: Caroline Niland ’15 George Durward Memorial Award: Dara Faleye ’15

Meaghan Hayes ’16 was named EIL All-League for Girls Varsity Lacrosse.

Summer 2015 • The Academy Lantern

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2015

Commencement

C o m m e nc e m e n t

L

2 015

exington Christian Academy celebrated its 65th Commencement on June 13, 2015, where 59 seniors received their diplomas. Dr. Roberto Laver challenged the graduates to be actively involved with a local community of believers, intentionally reach out to others, and engage the world and embrace the responsibility as agents of God’s kingdom. Dr. Laver, father of Stephen ’06 and Laura ’03, is an international consultant and lecturer focused on governance, integrity and judicial reform issues. He has practiced international law for over twenty years including positions at major private law firms in Buenos Aires, Washington D.C. and Boston and as senior counsel at the World Bank. Graduates, family and friends also heard the Senior Testimony from Elizabeth Nalunga and the Senior Address by Ana Bulger.

The Class of 2015.

Dr. Roberto Laver delivering the Commencement Address.

Senior Address (excerpt)

By Ana Bulger, Valedictorian

E

ight years and seven inches ago, I toured around LCA with hope in my heart. Public school had not treated me well and after that first experience I begged my parents to let me come here. I told them it was “heaven.” I was looking for somewhere to belong, somewhere where I could make friends and did not feel afraid. What I received in return was more than I could have ever believed. I can tell you many good things happened at LCA that were so unexpected.

After adjusting to the rigorous academic style, I began to find my love of school and my value in education.

In opposition to the social darwinism that this world pushes on education, the people of this school really push for students to learn and develop into strong peers of faith no matter what background.

This past week for me and my friends has been an emotional one. We have listened to our teachers say

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their final goodbyes, begun to get advice from parents and family friends, seen our public school friends graduate, and we have wondered where the last two, four, or seven years have gone. In my own reflections on this place I have tried to come up with a way to describe my time here at LCA. Thus, to put it briefly, my time here has been unexpected. I say unexpected because the word itself has no true connotation of good or bad. It is simply a mystery.

What does this mean, then, for the future, class of 2015? It means the future will likewise be unexpected.

It will hold so many great things for each of you and many struggles. But suppose this time, you are better off. You have dealt with this before, and this time you know you can get through it with God’s help and you have the beautiful gift of sharing this love with others so that they may know there is hope beyond their wild dreams. Have courage, be prepared, and be joyful, because no matter your situation to come, God is always a constant in our lives.

Commencement

Senior Testimony (excerpt)

By Elizabeth Nalunga

I

n September of 2014, we embarked on the demanding, nonsensical and challenging journey of college applications. I spent months studying, testing, interviewing, and trying to communicate who I am.

In November, I was rejected from my early decision school that I was so sure God wanted me to attend.

And in the winter and spring I received rejection after rejection. As those awful letters piled up and internship opportunities fell through in the midst of a very trying time in my life, I looked up to heaven and asked, “what’s going on?” as if God’s only purpose is to make sure that my plans come to pass.

During that period, I had countless numbers of conversations with our brilliant and grace-filled counselors who always knew exactly what to say.

They taught me that faith in God is one of life’s most precious gifts…and also a tool we need to learn to use well. I have learned that it is difficult to trust an allpowerful being with your life when it is easier to work hard to rely on your own abilities. Faith is a tricky thing because when all odds are against you, waiting for God to do something can seem illogical and become the most excruciating experience.

But I stand before you as a living testimony of God’s faithfulness. And that is why I cry. Because when I look back at everything that God had planned and how it all came together, I see His pure faithfulness. It is true, God does work all things for the good of those who love Him. We cannot always see God’s hand, what He is doing, where He is taking us, or what He is teaching us; but we always have the choice to trust Him and I am so grateful that I was to learn that truth at LCA.

Nina Surabian with her parents Michael and Karen Surabian and brother, Zachary Surabian ’13.

Emily Stutzman with her parents Beth (current trustee) and Rob and brother, Andrew Stutzman ’13.

Kelsey Tierney, Alex Johnson, Ana Bulger, Sarah Newell, Amber Biron, Emily Stutzman and Helen Kwon.

Ana Bulger gives her Valedictorian speech.

Elizabeth Nalunga gives her senior speech.

Kevin Lee celebrates with his family.

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Class Day

Class Day

Class Day — June 11, 2015

C

lass Day is a time to recognize students, faculty and staff for their achievements of the past year and is the last day of school for students. It is also a time for seniors to be acknowledged for their hard work by being presented with Departmental awards.

Students, faculty and staff also heard the Senior Testimony from Dara Faleye and the Senior Address

by Alex Johnson, Salutatorian.

Senior Address (excerpt)

By Alex Johnson, Salutatorian What makes LCA special is that I didn’t just learn about helping others, hard lessons about life, or working hard, I also learned about God and how my life fits into His bigger plan. When I was in Wind Ensemble, Mr. Hawkins would stop us, and we would slump in Salutatorian Alex Johnson at the podium. our chairs, waiting for the “You guys never practice” speech. Instead he would start to talk about why he plays the French horn and why music is important to him. In that speech Mr. Hawkins taught me that everything you do is for the glory of God. It’s easy to hear in Bible class that God is in everything, but in life we easily compartmentalize God. Proverbs 16:3-4 says “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose.” Sitting in your room practicing and getting up on stage isn’t just for you, it’s for God. All those long nights of tears and the amount of work you put into a sports game or into a school project is not for you. It’s for God, and for me that makes everything worth doing. So when you are about to throw in the towel at midnight of the day before your huge test, remember that it’s not about the grade, it’s about becoming who you are and who God wants you to be.

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Senior Testimony (excerpt)

By Oluwadara ‘Dara’ Faleye Now, certain aspects of LCA are just like any other high school. There are cliques and social groupings. There are theatre kids, jocks, musicians, and artists. However, unlike other schools all these groups respect, integrate, and recognize each other’s Oluwadara ‘Dara’ Faleye.

God-given uniqueness and what each person brings to the community. I’ve seen theatre kids eating around the lunch table with jocks. I’ve not only seen it, but I’ve been a part of it. I had once considered myself to be in no uncertain terms, outside of the classroom, an athlete first and foremost. But somehow, at the end of junior year, I found myself on this stage singing “amazing grace” and auditioning for chambers singers. I found that I was not only accepted into the music room — an unfamiliar setting — but welcomed with open arms. I remember performing the song ‘Make Them Hear You’ from the musical Ragtime at Broadway Follies while being insanely nervous. I will never forget Harris Desrosier congratulating me on my performance afterwards. He transformed me through his encouragement. I can hardly remember a more fulfilling moment in my whole time at LCA. What had been normally uncomfortable for me become enjoyable.

LCA is constantly taking students out of their comfort zone and placing them in situations they never dreamed they would be in. However once exposed, you find that your uncomfort zone narrows and your comfort zone widens. The uncomfortable becomes comfortable and what we avoid becomes a wonderful welcomed, experience. Class of 2015, and all the students and adults here, I pray that you will continue to own the uncomfortable, that you would say “yes” when your mind says “no,” and when others around you do the same, that you would continue to provide the constant encouragement and support I have known during my time here.

Bible Studies

Letter From Faculty

Changes to LCA’s Bible Curriculum

By Jeremy Alexander, Chaplain and Bible Department Head (2003-Present), M.A., Reformed Theological Seminary, M.A., Boston College

C

hange is a difficult thing. More often then not we as people simply don’t like the idea of change. But it seems that one of the constants in life is in fact change. I’ve seen that in my own life over the last 15 years, where it often seems like no two years are the same or without some significant change. I’ve also seen change in the life of LCA over the 12 years I’ve been here — just count the number of front entrances we’ve had in the last 5 years.

Over the past 2 years I’ve been blessed to work with some talented other colleagues on orchestrating a change.

But this change isn’t one we’re scared or nervous about; in fact, we’re all pretty excited about this one. Starting this fall we are beginning a significant change to the Bible curriculum at LCA. Some may hear about this and have a lot of questions and concerns. So I want to take a moment and explain some of the heart behind these changes. The simplest way to explain is to start with who we are — we’re an academic Christian preparatory school that’s committed to a quality education and the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the end of the day, these two things — quality education and the gospel of Jesus — have driven the changes that we’re making.

We believe that these changes will help increase the academic rigor of the Bible curriculum. Now many people hear that and roll their eyes or raise concerns that this is a step toward Bible classes becoming just a class. But as believers we are called to love God with our minds as well as our hearts (Mark 12:29-31). We live in a time in which most Christians are not known for their wisdom and thoughtfulness, but this wasn’t always the case. In the early centuries of the church there were great minds dedicated to understanding the gospel and God. Men like

Jeremy Alexander at chapel.

Augustine, Basil of Caesarea, Ambrose, and the list goes on. I believe we sell Christianity short when we don’t offer it as a thoughtful, compelling and coherent way of seeing the world. To do this requires a robust life of the mind.

One we want to cultivate at LCA. And with this, the faculty are also driven with a deep passion to see students not only understand God with their minds, but love Him with their hearts as well. We want to see the gospel and the kingdom grow. The gospel will always be central to what we do at LCA, but the full gospel, not just a truncated version that tells kids God wants them to be good and promises them happiness at the end of the day. We want students to know and love the gospel that calls them to lay down their lives for God. Or as Dietrich Bonheoffer once famously said, “the call of the cross is to come and die — die to ourselves, our dreams, our desires so we can live a fuller more humane life for the kingdom of God.” Our hope with these changes is that students would be cultivated and raised in an atmosphere where Christianity is presented and seen as beautiful, compelling, and meaningful.

For more information on the changes to the Bible curriculum go to www.lac.edu/Bible.

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Performing Arts The Cross Center

The Pirates of Penzance

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ore than 60 upper school students presented the original 1879 version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s witty and silly The Pirates of Penzance in the Cross Center this spring. The full-scale musical featured a remarkable collaborative team of LCA faculty, staff, students, and parents, and we welcomed more than 700 delighted audience members over four performances.

The Major General’s Daughters

Theatre is a uniquely collaborative medium. Without many partners, theatre would not exist. Beginning with the playwright and, in this case, the composer, add director, designers, choreographer, actors, techies, painters, musicians, social networkers, chefs.

Collaboration is the special sauce.

It’s when I say to Mary Bulger, how about G and S, and she says “How about Pirates?” And how about the ministry of funny walks? It’s when I say to Chip VanderBrug, how about a pirate ship, and he then does what only Chip can do — make something above and beyond anything 14

The Academy Lantern

we could have imagined! It’s when AJ Lease says, “How about swords?” and the pirates in the cast say, “Argh!!”

A special feature of this production was the choice to double-cast the 9 leading roles, and the freedom we granted the actors to place their own individual stamp on their characters.

The actors traded ideas back and forth and cracked each other up!

I joked with the student body that each cast was better than the other, and those who took in both performances said that very thing.

A double-cast presented a challenge to conductor Ben Hawkins, who had to make detailed notes of how each of the featured performers handled the many improvised cadenzas.

Under Ben’s capable baton, student instrumentalists side by side with pro players filled the Cross Center with glorious sound.

Collaboration is something godly.

It’s when Stage Manager Owen Spangler ’17 and I list out the names of our crew, and he says, we’ve got to make sure this student is given more help and this other student is given more responsibility.

The Pirate King (Josiah Perez ’15) and his band of pirates.

It’s when Michelle Zhou ’16 asks, can we make costumes for the daughters, and Penny Sparrow says what color, what shape, and then sews and sews and mobilizes a parent crew.

Collaboration requires time, commitment, personal engagement, and profound flexibility. Effective education requires collaboration, between faculty and faculty, faculty and students, faculty and parents, parents and students, front office and back room. Everybody teaches.

Everybody learns.

A final shout out to cast, crew, and orchestra for a show that hit the target, cannon ablaze! Pirates will be well remembered for years to come.

Michelle Zhou ’16 as Ruth

Visual Arts

Post LCA Studies

Visual Arts

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his year, the Visual Art department celebrated the graduation of twelve incredibly talented Portfolio students, two of whom comprised the first two AP Studio Art students in our history. Kevin Lee and Yufeng “Amy� Long submitted AP Portfolios that included 25 works of artwork as well as a written articulation of their conceptual and formal goals. They are each intelligent, excellent students and it is with both pride and excitement that we send them each off to attend two of the very best art colleges in the county.

Kevin, attending Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the fall, primarily focuses in painting, but has never been shy of experimenting with three dimensional aspects to his work. Kevin also served as a captain of the wrestling team and as an integral part of the music and drama departments here at LCA. Amy, attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in the fall, also focuses on painting, but won a Scholastic Art Award for her ceramics piece this past year as well. Her AP concentration was centered on the sociology of teenage life. We wish the best for these two especially excellent students as they continue to pursue their creative gifts in the next chapters of their education and look forward to their alumni homecoming shows in the near future!

Drawing by Amy Long.

Painting by Kevin Lee.

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Alumni

Alumni Spotlight

Bethany (Morse) Yassin ’95

What brought you to LCA? My Father became a Professor at Eastern Nazarene College. We moved from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts at that time. He only agreed to accept the job if his children could go to a Christian school. We found LCA and was accepted.

I only attended LCA my Senior year.

How did your teachers prepare you for a career in science?

Mr. Hoffman was my Chemistry teacher. He is a very patient person and could make hard concepts Bethany and her husband, Kassim. easier to understand. His class was challenging and on me a love of classical music — which he really made sure you understood. Lab we listened to on the bus every morning to sessions were serious and notebooks had to and from the T station. Mr. Hoffman was be complete and accurate. It made college my Chemistry teacher and was very patient chemistry so much easier and I ended up and would try different ways of explaining being a tutor for other students who found it a concept until you understood it. Mrs. difficult.

Bengston was my Spanish teacher. She was

also patient and kind — caring for you both in Who was an influential faculty member and outside the classroom. Cared for you as a during your time at LCA? person and not just merely a student.

There were several — Mr. Watts, Mr. Hoffman,

Mrs. Bengston, and Ms. Campbell. Mr. Watts Do you ever look back on a particular was my math teacher and bus driver, he was experience at LCA that shaped who you are? always encouraging and really impressed

Bethany at Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital.

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The Academy Lantern • Summer 2015

One class that really shaped who I am is the Apologetics Bible class that we took senior year. It really made one examine their faith and truly know what one believes and why and how to explain it to others if needed.

What are you doing currently?

I am a missionary nurse. I have been working as a missionary since 2001. I started out in Zambia and lived there for 5 years. Worked at a the Zimba Mission Hospital for 2 years and then transferred to a rural health centre in the village of Jembo where I was the in-charge at the clinic for 3 years. After that I really had a need to further my education. I am now a Family Nurse Practitioner and graduate from University of Indianapolis in 2011 with a Masters of Nursing.

How did you end up serving in Sierra Leone?

After receiving my masters degree, I was transferred to Sierra Leone to work at the Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital. I work mainly in the children’s ward. While there I met my husband Kassim who is also a nurse at the hospital and we were married June 15th 2013. We came back to the States last August and planned on returning in November but due to the Ebola crisis could not return as the airlines were not flying into the country. Kassim’s time of stay in the States ended in February so he returned to Sierra Leone and is working at the hospital.

He will return in July in plenty of time for the birth of our first child — a baby girl in August. I remained in the States to receive better prenatal care and for safety reasons due to Ebola in Sierra Leone.

What are some challenges to your job?

Challenges of the job are many but among them is dealing with several different languages on a daily basis, patients coming in very late for treatment of serious (and can be fatal) illnesses, not always having the equipment needed or medication that patients need, so having to make do with what you have and trusting God will heal. Just day to day living in a developing country — water is not always there, having to go to the market everyday before cooking, cooking on a charcoal stove, doing all laundry by hand.

Alumni Spotlight

Conrad Johanson ’60 How was your experience at Christian High School?

My academic experience at CHS in Cambridge was short (just 2 years, as a junior and senior) but impactful in shaping my lifelong personal and professional philosophy (world view) and decisions. Opportunities in athletic and social activities, in a Christian context, also helped to fulfill a variety of needs in a wholesome manner. Overall I have very positive memories of my time at CHS and it was an important time in my life.

Conrad and Nancy Johansen at the Johnson Space Center, Houston.

How did your teachers prepare you for a career in science?

Solid courses and laboratories in chemistry and physics, as well as thorough geometry exercises, prepared me well for the college years. The modest CHS facilities at 20 Garden Street, Cambridge for science laboratories (in the basement next to the student lockers) was a challenge creatively met by the faculty with limited resources. A speech course, taught effectively by Leon Pippin, was rigorous but a much needed discipline to help prepare students for later presentations in professional life.

Who was an influential faculty member during your time at CHS? Miles Strodel, as my teacher of New Testament, presented a meticulous and demanding course that effectively balanced the critical spiritual thinking with the scientific, mathematical and literary

coursework taught by others. Headmaster Strodel also provided encouragement and challenges when coaching baseball and basketball, and on weekend work/study trips to Camp Brookwoods in Alton Bay, NH where he and Grace graciously hosted and mentored both the workers and conference attendees.

research findings and conduct investigations with other scientific colleagues.

What are some challenges to your job?

The biggest challenge for the contemporary scientist is to keep up with the vast amount of new knowledge that is continuously being generated. It is a humbling experience to realize that each person, no matter how intellectually capable and hard working, can only know a very tiny fraction of all the extant knowledge. Still, with the aid of computational devices and programs to cope with the huge knowledge base, we must try our best to collaborate as research teams to improve the health and well being of humankind.

Do you ever look back on a particular experience at CHS that shaped who you are?

Traveling by public transportation to and from CHS in Cambridge, while living on the south shore, involved 2-3 hours daily commuting time on trains and buses.

However, the extensive commuting time was worthwhile to obtain the valuable and enjoyable educational and social experiences.

Moreover, because CHS did not have its own How does your faith impact your career? gymnasium, we took physical education at My faith as a Christian provides motivation a gym in Central Square where the Boston to pursue research with a definite purpose: Celtics practiced; this meant traveling by to glorify God in his remarkable creation subway (MTA) between the gym and school. and to share the beauty of the human brain However, we students generally enjoyed with those who are interested in complex doing this and made the best of the situation. physiologic systems. It is remarkable that These experiences taught the need for being patient in certain ways in order to reap benefits in other areas.

What are you doing currently?

Currently, and for the past 30 years, I have been a neuroscience professor at Brown University Medical School in Providence, RI. While my research activities have now been cut back considerably, I spend substantial time writing neuroscience manuscripts: reviews, critiques and original research papers. Also I consult for NASA on a brain fluid imbalance problem that besets some of the astronauts on the International Space Station. My professional lifetime of research (40 years) on cerebrospinal Conrad Johansen at the Neuroscience Symposium fluid dynamics dovetails nicely in India. with the information that NASA now needs to correct this problem with of all the millions of species on earth, only intracranial hypertension in the microgravity the human species can study his own bodily of spaceflight. My wife Nancy and I enjoy being and brain. This amazing capacity traveling to the Johnson Space Center in concurs with the Biblical statement that Houston for the consultation work. It has man was fashioned in the image of God, been rewarding, as part of a team, to work i.e., potentially possessing great capability with the space physicians, scientists and and power. Another positive aspect of my astronauts on biomedical issues occurring purposeful faith is to try to help find cures in space flight. Other neuroscience research or improvements for human diseases, e.g., efforts and interactions have taken me to hydrocephalus, brain edema and intracranial Europe, Asia and South America, to share hypertension.

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Alumni Spotlight

Krist Azizian ’92 What brought you to LCA? Or, rather, who brought me to LCA? Simply, my mother! I attended a small, Armenian elementary school with a good, life-long friend, Christopher Hajian, and our mothers were good friends as well. When it came time to leave elementary school our families began looking for middle schools that had strong curricula. Chris’ mom duly brought LCA to our attention. I remember the day of my interview and exam well.

Dressed in a suit and tie, I sat across from Mr. Kevin Crispell (now Rev. Dr. Crispell) who grilled me with endless, probing and incisive questions that my mother nervously interjected on my behalf to answer. No, just kidding. That’s not how it happened at all except that Mr. Crispell was sweet, funny and nice as always in my interactions with him through the years. Later he would page me as “Krist AZZTop to the office please, Krist AZZTOP to the office” for the entire school to hear. That was cool because I liked the long beards the band members sported and probably didn’t mind the attention.

After the interview I sat in a classroom upstairs to take a proficiency exam that I was intimidated by. That classroom would later become the venue for wonderful English classes that ignited my imagination.

I probably responded with a shrug of the shoulders after the exam when my mom inevitably asked how I think I’d done. In retrospect, as with most things in my life, I couldn’t have imagined then the many blessings LCA brought to my life besides a great education.

Do you look back at any particular experience at LCA that shaped who you are?

Having the wonderful opportunity to be a member of New Life with James Bergin played a big role in shaping my attitude as an adolescent. First, being New Life members automatically placed us in roles of leadership and accountability — James expected us to lead by example through our actions.

He was a role model for us because he led by example also. He battled his cancer with dignity and humor, donning a colorful knit cap and showing up to direct chorale rehearsals despite the dreadful side effects of chemotherapy. Second, being New Life members taught us courage. We shared the gospel through music in shopping malls, the Topsfield Fair, a prison and an institution for the developmentally disabled. God used the latter experience as a mirror.

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What are your current responsibilities at your work?

I work as an R&D molecular biologist for a company located in San Diego called TriLink BioTechnologies. The main focus of the company to date has been to synthesize chemically modified, short stretches of genes, essentially the components of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and its downstream product ribonucleic acid (RNA), that academic labs and other companies

Krist with his wife and daughter. buy for research or manufacturing purposes.

Recently, TriLink developed a program for gene therapy, the ability to treat diseases by re-introducing into patients healthy copies of broken genes. To do this, we synthesize messenger RNA (mRNA), the molecule that directly encodes the instructions for making a protein, outside of the body in a manner that makes it suitable for use as a drug. The idea then is that once this healthy mRNA copy is introduced into a patient’s cells, it can then be used by the cells’ endogenous machineries to make healthy proteins which would otherwise be lacking. In short, my work responsibilities center on experimentation to understand how a better therapeutic mRNA can be made. I love my job because it’s genuinely interesting, fast-paced and every day poses new and challenging ideas. I also enjoy the fact that we are helping to treat and hopefully cure disease in a more biologically relevant way.

How did you get into this field?

My evolution as a scientist was slow and steady with periods of schooling punctuated

The Academy Lantern • Summer 2015

with work experience, although I’ve always done something related to scientific research so I consider it all formal training. I think the seed for becoming a scientist was sown by great LCA biology and chemistry teachers such as Irene Campbell, Denise Horwood and Jake Hoffman. Jake also taught me physics which is indispensible for understanding how the fabric of creation is stitched together especially in the field of molecular biology. Dick Watts was also instrumental in teaching skillfully algebra and calculus which are the fundamental underpinnings of all science. I went off to college wanting to be a medical doctor (helped in part by an interesting and fun senior thesis project with Dr. Daryl Erickson, father of a classmate, Dan) but in my last year I began to explore scientific research through a course modeled after what graduate school would be like. It involved reading and interpreting current scientific papers, generating new hypotheses based on the findings and giving formal oral presentations to describe them. The course was taught by a great professor, Bob Baker, and he really was instrumental in making molecular biology exciting and relevant to medicine. I was fascinated by how proteins called chaperonins helped other proteins establish their shapes to become functional.

That kind of fascinating biology captured my imagination and pretty much nudged me in a trajectory away from the clinic and into the laboratory. Looking back, the connections all point to outstanding teachers.

Anything else you’d like to share about your LCA experience?

Yes, that even to this day LCA and the events surrounding it have taught or reconfirmed important lessons for me in surprising ways.

Humility, quiet perseverance and prayerful meditation are themes that I learned at LCA by example of my role models. Watching a speech online resulted in my most recent surprising lesson. In his retirement address, Jake Hoffman used the words “thankful”, “thanks” and “thank you” twenty-seven times over its entire three minutes and forty-four seconds. He expressed his sincere appreciation for his life’s blessings about every eight seconds. My immediate impression was that someone who delivers a speech like that has embodied its message all along. An attitude of thankfulness is a powerful philosophy to live by because God’s grace is the ultimate equalizer, the common denominator that binds us all.

Alumni 1953 One of our must distinguished alumnus, Marv Wilson, meeting with a soon to be distinguished alumnae, Elizabeth Nalunga ’15, to discuss their mutual interest in Middle Eastern culture.

also is a volunteer docent at the JFK Library. Derek and she reside in the Boston area and are active supporters of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots!

2006 Groom: Christopher Picardi ’08 Bride: Laura Strong ’06 Jim Bolton ’72, Sara Jacobsen ’05, Jamie Jacobsen ’08, Robert Picardi ’09, Patrick Zhou ’06,

Elizabeth Nalunga ’15 with Marv Wilson.

2002 Molly (Joseph) Gerry married the love of her life Derek Gerry on November 8th, 2014 at Oakley Country Club in Watertown, MA. She was honored to be a cast member in the Christmas Revels 2014 which had a Victorian theme. It felt like she was back in LCA’s production of Oliver with those Victorian costumes! She

Nick Woolf ’07 and Kristina Woolf ’11.

on at BU to finish his last two years of medical school. Nick is excited to take the next steps toward getting his MD. Kristina Woolf ’11 received a Bachelors of Arts in International Relations with a minor in Korean.

Kristina is hoping to travel back to South Korea in the near future to further pursue studies there.

Wedding party at the Picardi wedding.

Rebekah Bolton ’06, Courtney Hughes (Johnson) ’06, Jessica Jacob (Dolan) ’06, Nicole Pearson (Lucey) ’06, Natasha Gallagher (Utter) ’06, David Gallagher ’06, Christina Desjardins (Johnson) ’06, Alyssa Torjesen ’06, Carolyn Wheatley ’06, Michael Carucci ’06, Catherine Strong ’10, Samuel Wheatley ’08, Ian Miller ’09, Jeremy Schuh ’06, Shauna Kilroy ’08, Andrew Meira ’08, Daniel Carucci ’09, Robert Wheatley ’11, Emily Picardi ’11, Josh Bolton ’08 (left to right, bottom to top)

2007 Molly (Joseph) Gerry ’02 with her husband Derek.

Class Notes

Nick Woolf received a Masters of Arts in Pathology and will continue

2008

Trevor Kishbaugh ’08 and Jennie (Caley) Kishbaugh ’08 with their newborn Charlotte Lily.

Trevor Kishbaugh and Jennie (Caley) Kishbaugh welcomed Charlotte Lily Kishbaugh on March 28, 2015. They are residing in Grand Rapids, MI.

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Alumni

Class Notes

2009

Reagan Mills will be serving as a foreign missionary with an organization called Family Missions Company, which is based out of Louisiana but serves the poorest of the poor around the world.

LCA ignited a deeper desire to serve, and has led her to her latest endeavor. You can find out more information on Reagan’s upcoming journey by visiting https://www. familymissionscompany.com/ portfolio/reagan-mills/

2012 Erin Falkenstrom married First Lieutenant Dustin Shimkus, United States Army, on Friday, May 22, 2015, at the Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers. In attendance from the Class of 2012 were Brent Buckley, Cecelia Buckley, Joey DeFrancesco, Sam Doran, Ashlee Duttweiler, John Fanis, Rachel

Watts and Carina Zhang, along with bridesmaids Tarana Chowdhury, Melody Demirjian, Anne-Milda Pu and Emily Schuh. Mrs. Linda Beals also celebrated with her former students. Not pictured but also in attendance from the Class of 2009 were Vatché Demirjian, Jim Falkenstrom and First Lieutenant Dan Vazquez.

Reunions

Falkenstrom wedding and family.

2015 Class Reunions

There’s no better time to get reconnected with the school and reunite with friends than Homecoming weekend, October 23-24.

1950

Class of 1985

If you’re interested in helping coordinate your reunion, contact alumni@lca.edu

John Cunningham

Class of 1955 Jean Taber

Class of 1960 Dick Schuhmacher

Class of 1965

Rachel Crist

Class of 2000 Ryan Flynn

Class of 1970

If you’re interested in helping coordinate your reunion, contact alumni@lca.edu

David McCowan

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Class of 1995

Class of 2005

Class of 1975

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Phillip Ibrahim

Fred Mihm If you’re interested in helping coordinate your reunion, contact alumni@lca.edu

Erin Falkenstrom ’12 with her husband Dustin Shimkus.

Class of 1990

Class of 1980 If you’re interested in helping coordinate your reunion, contact alumni@lca.edu

Class of 2010 If you’re interested in helping coordinate your reunion, contact alumni@lca.edu

Senior Internship

Internship

This past May I was truly blessed with the opportunity to intern at United States Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office. The experience was unparalleled as it widened my eyes to the dreams and aspirations that I hold. During my time at the office I was able to research different initiatives and resources around the country while learning many valuable lessons from Regional Directors. There was never a dull moment! One of my favorite moments took place towards the end of the internship when the Senator came by the office. It was a joy to see her, hear from her and even take a photo with her!

When I look back on those three weeks, I can’t say there was ever a moment where I wanted to be somewhere else. People are my passion and I love hearing the stories of others and helping them rise above whatever circumstances surround them — and that is exactly what the office exists to do. It was my true honor to intern in an office where the work and people were/are nothing short of amazing! — Elizabeth Nalunga ’15 standing with United States Senator Elizabeth Warren in her office.

—Elizabeth Nalunga ’15

Don’t miss your Opportunity!

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