Winter 2023 Review

Winter 2023

Review

The Magazine of Lake Forest Academy and Ferry Hall Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27 Main Editors Greg Greenwell P’25 Emmy Schwerdt Alex Stevenson Magazine Layout & Design Margaret Galeano Photography David Atas Jeff Bateman P’08 Ruth Keyso George Pfoertner Emmy Schwerdt Alex Stevenson Contributors Greg Greenwell P’25 Ruth Keyso Rita Schulien MacAyeal ’87 Christine Ryder P’15, ’17 Emmy Schwerdt Hannah Shallenberger Garry Sloan P’19, ’21 Chris Tennyson P’27 Printing John S. Swift Co., Inc. Admission Office 847-615-3267 admission@lfanet.org Alumni Engagement Office 847-615-3268 rkeyso@lfanet.org Marketing & Communications Office 847-615-3284 comms@lfanet.org Parent Relations Office 847-615-3238 leighann.jacobson@lfanet.org

The Review is published two times a year by the Office of Marketing & Communications at: Lake Forest Academy 1500 W. Kennedy Road Lake Forest, IL 60045 Telephone: 847-615-3210

POSTMASTER: please send change of address notices to Alumni Office, Lake Forest Academy, 1500 W. Kennedy Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-1047.

All the words and photos contained herein were written or taken by the editor, unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed in the Review are those of the authors. No material may be legally reproduced without the written consent of the editor and Lake Forest Academy. ©2023, Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, Illinois.

All rights reserved. Lake Forest Academy supports and adheres to a long-standing policy of admitting students of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

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ALL-SCHOOL HANDSHAKE Lake Forest Academy’s All-School Handshake kicked off the first day of the 2023-24 academic year. This annual tradition takes place in the Formal Gardens and allows every member of the LFA community to wish each other a great school year.

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ATHLETIC CENTER EXPANSION The north end of campus continues to transform as construction of the 45,000-squarefoot facility started this fall.

15 REUNION In mid-October, the Academy reunited with alumni and celebrated the newest members of LFA’s Hall of Fame and Woman of Distinction.

12 FAMILY WEEKEND LFA welcomed families to campus in September for a full weekend of activities.

24 ALUMNI EVENTS The College Dinner Series saw stops around the Midwest and Northeast along with Alumni Events in the Boston area.

Table of Contents New and Re-Elected Trustees_____________

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Opening of School_________________________

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Athletic Center Progress___________________

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Family Weekend___________________________ 12

17 CAMPUS EVENTS From preseason week in August through the end of fall semester, a jam-packed schedule of events around campus saw concerts, performances, athletic competitions, and field trips.

Reunion___________________________________ 14 Celebration of Philanthropy________________ 16 Campus Events____________________________ 17 Athletics___________________________________ 20 Fine & Performing Arts_____________________ 22 Alumni Events_____________________________ 24 Class Notes_______________________________ 26 In Memoriam______________________________ 31

Lake Forest Academy

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Mission Statement Lake Forest Academy strives to embody in its practices and to cultivate in its students excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.

CHARACTER encompasses respect for others and their beliefs, dedication to honesty in every sphere of life, realization of moral clarity and conviction, and pursuit of virtue and value in life.

2023-24

SCHOLARSHIP encompasses acquisition of knowledge, development of critical thinking, enthusiasm for discovery and learning, and exercise of a powerful imagination.

Jessica P. Douglas ’96

CITIZENSHIP encompasses appreciation of diversity and multiculturalism, involvement in the LFA community, participation in service to others, and commitment to global awareness and understanding.

Board of Trustees Chair Charles T. Cooper ’96

Vice Chair Ahmed Farag P’22, ’24

Treasurer Richard L. Zhao ’04, LT’20 Secretary Jim C. Cowart ’69 Member At Large Todd E. Altounian ’86 Bruce W. Anderson ’70, P’97, LT’13 Eric Brown ’98 Molly Pearson Campbell ’04 J. Patrick Corsiglia P’15, ’17, ’20 Karin Fink P’22, ’23, ’27 Katie Frekko P’21, ’24, ’27 Haji L. Glover ’92 David Gupta ’81 Gloria W. Harper P’93 Suzanne Isenberg ’83 Duane C. Jackson ’01 Ned Jessen P’01, ’05, LT’08 Scott W. Kaeser ’96 Allan M. Kaplan ’72, P’03, LT’04 Edward Kovas P’21 Margeaux McReynolds ’02 Scott Meloun ’77 Bancroft O’Quinn, Jr. ’72 Kristin Rey ’83 Emily Sammon ’91 Marianne Silver P’15, ’16, ’21 Thomas S. Wood ’78, P’23, ’24 Xiong Yin P’23

RESPONSIBILITY encompasses development of self-reliance, ability to seek guidance, dedication to cooperation and teamwork, and action based upon informed decisions.

From the Head of School Dear Alumni, Ferry Hall Alumnae, Parents, Family Members, Trustees, and Friends, As the Dean of Students, I always encouraged our new families and new students to challenge themselves to engage fully in the life of the school.

I would tell them that what they put into their time at the Academy would be returned tenfold through fun, learning, growth, and life-long friendships.

That has never been truer than this year! Buoyed by our recent Niche rankings – No. 1 private school in the State of Illinois and No. 13 boarding school in the entire country – school spirit and pride on campus has never been higher. Student attendance at events and in support of their peers has been outstanding to see. As you will see, they are truly engaged in their classes, the arts, athletics, and school life!

Other articles in this edition of the Review also focus on engagement. You can read about our Athletic Center Expansion project, the largest capital project in the Academy’s history. This building will house three multi-use indoor courts, five squash courts, an indoor running track, an indoor turf area, a second fitness area, and common areas for students, faculty, and staff, among other amenities. It will allow our community to further engage in physical wellness. It will also provide balance in the schedules of our students and coaches that should enable them to engage in other aspects of school life such as concerts, speakers, dorm life, and many other campus activities.

You can also read and view pictures of Family Weekend and Reunion Weekend. These two weekends brought parents, family members, and alums back to campus from around the world.

It was great to see them connect and reconnect with teachers, students, and one another.

Finally, I am thrilled to affirm that Lake Forest Academy is thriving. I wish you, your family, and your friends an excellent end to the calendar year. I hope all of you remain healthy and happy in 2024 and continue to thrive.

Best,

Chris Tennyson P’27

Lake Forest Academy

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Introducing the New and Re-Elected LFA Trustees

Eric Brown ’98

Katie Frekko P’21, ’24, ’27

Ned Jessen P’01, ’05, LT’08

Margeaux McReynolds ’02

*new and re-elected trustees since last publication of The Review in Summer 2023.

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Review Winter 2023 | www.lfanet.org

Suzanne Isenberg ’83

LFA Staff Updates NEW STAFF

Patricia Bartolome Del Canto

Beth Bentley

Shannon Dey

Faith Ekakitie ’12

Modern & Classical Languages Teacher

Director of Individual Philanthropy

English Teacher

Assistant Dean of Admission

Kevin Ingram

Leigh Morrison

David Scarisbrick

Gillian Teichman

Science Teacher

Learning Resources Specialist and Health, Wellness & Community Teacher

English Teacher

Photography Teacher

STAFF WITH NEW ROLES

Jonathan Freeman P’26

Tanika Golota

Dr. Ray Bird Jr. Master Chair in English

Assistant Director of Athletics & Summer Programs

Assistant Dean of Students: Residential Life and Campus Life & Senior Assistant Dean of Admission

Emily Kalis

Kyle Koncz

Ackim Mpofu

Garry Sloan P’19, ’21

Senior Assistant Dean of Admission & Assistant Athletic Director

Assistant Dean of Students: Student Leadership and Activities & History & Social Sciences Teacher

Dean of Advancement

Lake Forest Academy

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Back to School Traditions Strengthen Community

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ake Forest Academy opened the 2023-24 academic year with the traditional AllSchool Handshake on a beautiful August morning in the Formal Gardens. A few weeks later, a second school tradition of the AllSchool Photo saw the LFA community gather during an afternoon break.

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Review Winter 2023 | www.lfanet.org

LAKE FOREST ACADEMY STATS

#1

#13

LFA is the No. 1 Ranked Private School in Illinois

by Niche.com

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LFA’s National Ranking Among Boarding Schools

by Niche.com

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LFA’s Student Body Features Residents of 16 States

445

Percentage of LFA’s Student Body That Are Domestic Students of Color

7:1 5

73%

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

Seniors Were Selected as National Merit Semi-Finalists from the Class of 2024

27%

Countries and Territories Represented by LFA’s Student Body

37%

Percentage of Faculty That Live On Campus

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Average Class Size

#36

LFA’s National Ranking Among All Private Schools

by Niche.com

Percentage of LFA’s Enrollment Are International Students

LFA’s Enrollment at the Start of the 2023-24 Academic Year

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Top 10 Most Popular Matriculated Destinations for Classes 2020-23:

• Northwestern University (17) • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (17) • New York University (14) • University of Michigan (14) • Duke University (10) • Boston University (9) • Washington University-St. Louis (9) • Indiana University (8) • University of Miami (8) • Wake Forest University (8)

Niche Rankings LFA Is the Top-Ranked Private High School in Illinois

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he annual state and national rankings by Niche.com saw Lake Forest Academy continue its upward trend as the latest edition of Niche’s Best Schools rankings placed LFA among the top 15 boarding schools and top 40 private schools in the nation and the Academy is now the top-ranked private high school in Illinois.

The No. 13 national ranking among boarding schools moves LFA five spots from No. 18 in the 2023 Best Schools rankings by Niche. The rankings were out of 426 boarding schools nationally while LFA was at the top of 10 boarding schools in Illinois.

While traditional rankings rely almost exclusively on metrics like test scores and academic performance, Niche’s rankings combine user input – ratings from current students, alumni and parents – with quantitative data from sources like the U.S.

Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities, extracurricular activity opportunities and more.

Among private schools, the Academy is ranked No. 36 nationally (out of 4,990 schools) and is the top-ranked private school in Illinois (out of 157).

Other national rankings for LFA include No. 49 (out of 5,162) in Most Diverse Private High Schools, No. 52 (out of 4,546) for Best College Prep Private High Schools, and No. 111 (out of 9,676) for Best High Schools for STEM. In the state of Illinois, Lake Forest Academy is also No. 1 in Best College Prep Private High Schools (out of 146). Other state rankings include No. 2 (out of 166) for Most Diverse Private High Schools, No. 4 (out of 322) for Best High Schools for STEM and No. 110 (out of 801) in Best High Schools for Athletes in Illinois.

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November 2023

Under Construction Athletic Center Expansion Project Update

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ork on the Athletic Center Expansion started in June as the construction site underwent groundwork and foundational installation through September. In addition to the site work, Cottage Lane was reconfigured to the west side of Richards Cottage from its original position between Richards Cottage and the Crown Fitness & Wellness Center.

While the early stages of the project were on the ground, the facility went skyward in early October as the walls of the Athletic Center Expansion arrived

October 2023

in a convoy of flatbed trailers and were placed to form what is the footprint of the facility. Additional work continued with plumbing and electrical along with preparations for the arrival of the trusses and roof.

After the walls were placed in October, the month of November focused on the roof as trusses arrived in the first week of the month in preparation for the roof installation. The project will continue into the winter with an anticipated completion and opening of the facility in late summer or early fall in 2024.

When completed, the 45,000-squarefoot facility will double the indoor space for athletics, fitness, and recreation for the LFA community. The Athletic Center Expansion project features three regulation multi-use courts for indoor sports that currently share one court in Glore Memorial Gymnasium.

For more information, photos, and video of the Athletic Center Expansion project, please visit lfanet.org/about-us/ athletic-center-expansion.

Goals for the Athletic Center Expansion 1. Support the Academy’s commitment to wellness opportunities to ensure the educational and personal success of students, faculty, and staff.

2. Provide LFA’s 37 athletic teams with more functional and efficient indoor space for practice, training, and competition and recreational space for the entire LFA community.

3. Deliver on the promise of a Top 20 collegepreparatory boarding school experience with excellence in academics, arts, and athletics.

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Review Winter 2023 | www.lfanet.org

Beam Me Up! On Friday, Nov. 3 inside Glore Memorial Gymnasium, the past met the future as members of the Board of Trustees and major donors gathered to commemorate the Athletic Center Expansion project with a beam signing ceremony. The beam with the signatures will be installed in the new facility as the building is completed.

Support the Future of Lake Forest Academy!

Gifts to the Athletic Center Expansion project are still being accepted. For information about naming opportunities, please contact Dean of Advancement Garry Sloan P’19, ’21 at gsloan@lfanet.org or 847-615-3287.

Lake Forest Academy

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From the Archives

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thletics have been a big part of student life throughout the history of Lake Forest Academy and Ferry Hall. From the earliest days of “Cads & Ferries” to the many years of Caxy

athletes, students have played sports on three campuses with a variety of athletic facilities.

Here is a glimpse back at some of those games and meets of yesteryear as documented in our school archives.

1910s Ferry Hall students swimming in the indoor pool.

1894 LFA football team.

1911 Ferry Hall Gymnasium and Auditorium as shown in a published “Book of Views.”

1895 Ferry Hall students in gym class.

1920 Ferry Hall students in gym class.

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Review Winter 2023 | www.lfanet.org

1920s LFA gymnasium building in winter on the old campus.

1922 Baseball game in front of the gymnasium.

1920s LFA gymnasium with students and spectators.

1924 Track meet on the old LFA campus.

1940s Ferry Hall field hockey game on campus.

1940s Ferry Hall tennis game on campus.

1952 LFA football game in front of the Glore Memorial Gymnasium which was under construction.

1967 LFA lacrosse game outside Bates dormitory.

1977 LFA basketball game in Glore Memorial Gymnasium.

1980s LFA students outside Glore Memorial Gymnasium.

1990 LFA boys basketball game in Glore Memorial Gymnasium.

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2 0 2 3 F A M I LY W E E K E N D

We Are Family A Weekend of LFA Fun and Entertainment A beautiful and jam-packed September weekend welcomed families and friends back to campus for Family Weekend. In addition to Family Weekend events on campus and virtually, LFA also celebrated Ferry Hall Day during the weekend.

Family of BIPOC Students Gathering

Class Coffee and Tea Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27, Dean of Students Jennifer Rundles, and Dean of Admissions Carolyn Gorowski welcomed families of 9th and 10th grade students and transfer students to Wood House while Dean of Faculty Tom Johnson, Academic Dean Nancy Nassr P’24, ’25, and Dean of College Counseling Andrew Poska joined 11th and 12th grade families on the patio of the Formal Gardens for a casual coffee and tea to kick-off Family Weekend on Friday morning.

Parents, grandparents, and students of color met for a special gathering to deepen connections with one another and to discuss issues of intercultural importance in a small-group setting.

The session was hosted by Dean of Equity, Pluralism, Inclusion, and Community Dr. Lusanda Mayikana P’14 and the Parents Association Multicultural Liaisons.

PA Welcome Luncheon The LFA Parents Association (PA) Opening Meeting for the 2023-2024 school year took place with a luncheon. Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27 welcomed guests.

Chief Financial Officer Mike Reidy P’17, ’26 gave a presentation on how tuition and philanthropy sustain and enhance the student experience.

Fine & Performing Arts Drop-In Fine and Performing Arts faculty and students provided a drop-in opportunity for families to see rehearsals, performances, and answer questions about LFA’s fine and performing arts program.

The orchestra went through a rehearsal in New Hall while The Cressey Center for the Arts featured the ceramics and glass studios, a choir performance, a tour of the photography dark room, the theatre’s scene shop, and a rehearsal on stage for “The Tempest” that was performed in mid-October.

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Event Activities Fair & Open House Families met student club leaders to hear first hand about the offerings and leadership opportunities at LFA. The Stuart Center for Global Leadership welcomed guests that were interested in LFA’s curricular and co-curricular travel opportunities.

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The LFA Parents Association celebrated their guests of honor – the faculty, staff, and administrators at LFA – with a Nashvillethemed event complete with bourbon, boots, and music! Special thanks to event chairs Deanna Beise-Gertzoff P’26 and Amy Farbman P’22 ’24, ’26 for their incredible southern hospitality in “Nashville” on Friday evening.

Athletics Events The Caxys were busy competing on the fields, courts and ice during Family Weekend. LFA teams competed throughout the weekend in cross country, field hockey, tennis, and volleyball while the boys prep hockey team played its first home game of the season and recorded an impressive victory against York.

Ferry Hall Day

I Saturday Morning Mini-Classes The always popular Mini-Classes took place on Saturday morning as families followed their student’s A-day schedule for abbreviated 15-minute classes with 5-minute passing periods.

Family Tailgate The Family Tailgate brought together parents, students, siblings and grandparents for a Family Weekend favorite.

A beautiful Saturday afternoon was enjoyed by everyone in attendance to celebrate Lake Forest Academy!

n addition to Family Weekend, LFA also celebrated Ferry Hall Day on Friday with students wearing yellow and white – the colors of Ferry Hall – and athletics teams donning special yellow jerseys to recognize the contributions of the school to LFA. The Young Ladies’ Seminary at Ferry Hall, shortened to Ferry Hall in 1887, was a preparatory school for girls in Lake Forest.

The school merged with Lake Forest Academy in 1974 and each year on Sept. 22, the LFA campus celebrates its legacy with 2023 as the 154th anniversary of Ferry Hall. LFA’s Ferry Hall prefect Gabi Stewart ’24 joined Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27 at the Ferry Hall sign on LFA’s campus to start the day before students, faculty, and staff enjoyed treats in the JC Cowart Student Center during lunch periods.

On Saturday, LFA’s athletes in field hockey, tennis, and volleyball competed in special Ferry Hall uniforms to commemorate and celebrate Ferry Hall’s anniversary.

Lake Forest Academy

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Class of 1973 50th Reunion Dinner

Reunion Weekend Celebrating Lifelong Friendships

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ake Forest Academy welcomed more than 200 alumni, friends and family back to campus the weekend of October 13-14 for Reunion 2023. Among the festivities throughout the weekend were the 50th reunion for the Class of 1973, the Hall of Fame and Woman of Distinction ceremony, and events around campus.

Despite the rain on Saturday, there was a festive atmosphere on campus for alumni and families with events such as a Ferry Hall reception, the popular Multicultural Dialogue and inaugural

Multicultural Connections events with students and alumni, an open house for the Community Health Center, and plenty of fun fall activities, such as pumpkin carving and a hayride around campus.

The Hall of Fame induction class and Woman of Distinction were honored on Saturday evening. The honorees included Jeff Ackman ’73 (Service to Society), Ursula Bailey ’83 (Service to Society), Rodger Owen ’68 (Achievement in the Arts), and Sandy Pope ’73 (Woman of Distinction).

Jeff Ackman ’73 Service to Society

Ursula Bailey ’83 Service to Society

Rodger Owen ’68 Achievement in the Arts

Sandy Pope ’73 Woman of Distinction

• Merged his passion for helping children with his interest in orthopedics and today serves as a top surgeon at one of the country’s most esteemed research hospitals.

• An esteemed attorney who has dedicated her career to bettering the lives of residents in her beloved state of Tennessee. Her advocacy for underserved populations was recognized by the highest office in her state when she was appointed by the governor to the Tennessee Post Conviction Public Defender Commission and the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network.

• While in college, Owen first began to buy and renovate rental properties. But his interest in design blossomed exponentially when his studies, and his life, took him to Europe and he developed a deep respect for the work of 16th-century Italian master Andrea Palladio as well as other classical architecture.

• A lifelong advocate for the rights of workers and a woman in the male-dominated field of union leadership, Pope has given a voice to the voiceless for nearly five decades.

• Joined Shriners Hospital for Children (now Shriners Children’s) in 1989, where he found his professional home. Today, he holds the title of Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon and Chief of Staff of Emeritus at Shriners. He also helps train the next generation of doctors as an assistant professor and instructor at the University of Illinois, Rush University School of Medicine and Marquette University.

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• In 2011, she opened her own firm, the Law Office of Ursula Bailey, where she specializes in criminal defense, contract law, and civil rights. Her honors include Fellow of both the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Knoxville Bar Foundation.

Bailey has made a career of bringing justice and equality to underserved populations in Tennessee.

Review Winter 2023 | www.lfanet.org

• After a decade as president of his own real estate development company, in 1986, he founded BGD&C Custom Homes, a fullservice design and build firm specializing in custom designed homes within Chicago’s Lincoln Park and Gold Coast neighborhoods.

• Pope has acted as the Executive Director of the Coalition Labor Union Women in New York City and President of the Local 805 chapter of the Teamsters in Long Island City.

At a time when there were only 16 chapters of Teamsters run by women, she ran for general President of the entire organization. Today, she works as the Director of Bargaining at the Office and Professional Employees International Union, which currently has over 100,000 members.

2023 REUNION PORTRAITS

Class of 1968

Class of 1972

Class of 1974

l to r: Rodger Owen, Roger Baske, Steve Suiter P’05, ’11, Tim Smith P’12, Phil O’Brien

l to r: Dade Darby, Bancroft O’Quinn, Linda Rottman, Allan Kaplan P’03

Jamie Garard P’09 and Gertie Kalnow Chisholm

LFA and Ferry Hall Class of 1973 Front row, l to r: Darcy King-Leatham, Loretta Kalnow Kaplan P’03, Jeffie Cummins Tupper, Steve Temkin, Jean Fauntleroy, Melissa Warner Burget; second row, l to r: Lisa Siragusa Perrotte, Sandy Pope, Steven Goldman; third row, l to r: Sarah Olcott Moore P’97, ’00, ’06, ’09, Linda Parker Garard P’09; fourth row, l to r: Tim Sares, Michael Moore P’97, ’00, ’06, ’09, Richard Welch, Cyd Gordon-Goldberg; top row, l to r: Nathan Silver, John Evans, Jeffrey Ackman, Dan Lang

Class of 1983

Class of 1988

Front row, l to r: Kim McDavid Morton, Suzanne Isenberg, Liz l to r: Missy Lewy-Hirschel, Hillary Loeb Farwell, Lori Bade Keilen, Grace Lee-Park; second row, l to r: Chuck Singer, Nell Bruen Ireland P’20, ’24, Matthews, Cathy Cameron-Richey, Mark Gupta, Ursula Bailey, John Ireland P’20, ’24 Kristin Rey; back row, l to r: Myron Ford P’07, ’11, Karl Oder

Class of 1993

Class of 1998

Classes of 2002 and 2003

Front row, l to r: Rosalind Hodgkins Doane, Suzy Schlemmer, Beth Tahmoush Truett, Cappy Lau; second row, l to r: Steve Scialli, Jason Leonardo, Jesse Roberts

Front row, l to r: Nirali Dalia, Elena Chiappinelli, Phil Gross, Edna Togba; second row, l to r: Elizabeth Alicea, Eric Brown, Peter Juang

Front row, l to r: Zach Steveson, Johnna Jay Lynn Gross, Cassie Farren Chapman, Willow Walker, Nimmi Chilamkurti; second row, l to r: Beth Chevalier, Sara Jerez, Diamond Weathersby, Alicia Altheimer, and Peter Kane

Class of 2008

Class of 2013

Classes of 2016-2018

Qiushui Katherine Wei

Front row, l to r: James Padley, Allie Cedergren, Mimi Moses, Jane Strudwick; second row, l to r: Qinyu Tracy Lu, Nancy Wang, Lina Huang, Chris Shadek

l to r: Ian Strudwick, Ziwei Laky Li, Hongyi Ailey Fang, Sandra Shaw, and Ruidong Jimmy Liu Lake Forest Academy

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l to r: Dr. Ray Bird, Jon Freeman P’26, Jacqueline Neal, Brian Neal ’00, Jessica Douglas ’96, Caroline Waddell, Frederick Waddell ’01, Jeff Neal P’00, ’02, Chris Tennyson P’27

A Celebration of Philanthrophy Honoring Generosity and Achievements

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he annual Celebration of Philanthropy event took place on November 3 as Lake Forest Academy recognized the support of the Academy from donors and volunteers as well as the installation of the newest endowed faculty chair. Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27 and Dean of Advancement Garry Sloan P’19, ’21 opened the evening with updates from the Academy on the Athletic Center Expansion project and other giving initiatives before students shared how their LFA experience has been impacted by support from across the community. To see the student video, scan the QR code with a mobile device.

Among the giving initiatives are the endowed funds that support faculty development at LFA which are vitally important to recruiting and retaining talented educators. These funds provide access to training from one-off seminars to advanced degree programs to individually designed educational experiences. The funds provide opportunities for faculty learning to be enriched – so that student learning can be elevated.

Dean of Faculty Tom Johnson led the installation for the newest endowed chair recipient, who joined six other faculty members who hold endowed chairs.

• Sidney E. Ainsworth Chair in Mathematics: Paul Makovec • Harold H. Corbin, Jr. Endowed Chair: Dr. Kerry Cedergren P’13, ’17, ’24 • A. John Huss ’58 & Ruth S. Huss Chair in Humanities: Yue Chen • Ned & Lynn Jessen Chair in Humanities: Matt Vaughn P’27 • Edmund J. Rendtorff Endowed Chair in Science: Mathias Kerr • Dr. John & Mrs. Loring Strudwick Endowed Chair: Chris Dozois ’84, P’17, ’21

The Dr. Ray Bird Master Chair in English The Bird Chair was established through the generosity of parents and alumni in recognition and appreciation of former LFA English Department Chair Dr. Ray Bird. Dr. Bird was a cherished member of the English faculty from 1995 until his retirement in 2007. Throughout his tenure, he made a profound impact not only as an educator and coach but also by enriching our curriculum through the inclusion of prominent writers and poets who graced our campus.

Jon Freeman P’26 received his undergraduate education at Yale and Masters Degree in English from Middlebury College. He arrived at LFA in 2001, accompanied by his wife and LFA alumna Rebecca Makkai ’95, P’26. Freeman has taught a long list of classes in the English Department that includes AP Literature & Composition, English 9, English 10, English 11, American Studies with Suzy Vaughn P’27, and Senior Electives in Creative Writing, LeaveTakings, l to r: Jon Freeman P’26, Dr. Ray Bird, Tom Johnson Shakespeare Page to Stage, Images of Race in American Literature, Literature of the American West, and Children’s Literature. In addition to his teaching duties, he has also served as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life and Student Activities that included the establishment of the House Cup and Frog Hunt competitions. This is in addition to serving as a dorm parent in Marshall Field and Ferry Hall, an oncall administrator, coach of basketball, golf and tennis, and a basketball timer during his time at LFA.

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CAMPUS EVENTS

CLASS OF 2024

CLASS OF 2027

Summertime Retreats

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he freshman and senior classes participated in class retreats to kick off the 2023-24 academic year. These two events are among many during a student’s four-year experience at Lake Forest Academy that develops and furthers lifelong friendships.

The Class of 2024 returned from their two-day Senior Retreat in Lake Geneva bonded, united, and excited to carry the positive energy into the school year. Seniors set their intentions to support and encourage each other to be their best selves. They expressed an appreciation and respect for the many ways each is involved in school life and an eagerness to continue to learn from one another. Canoeing, archery, capture the flag, gaga ball, a ginormous jump rope and an evening bonfire - fun times they will surely remember!

The Class of 2027 began their legacy at LFA connecting together during their Freshman Retreat. Here is where they learn that the LFA Pillars are meant to be acted upon. They also learned each others’ names, created a map of the campus, played with balloons, went on a scavenger hunt and met chaperones who were familiar faces on campus at the start of classes. After a day on campus, the retreat moved to Bristol Woods Park in Wisconsin where freshmen celebrated and cheered each other on at the Boundless Adventures high-ropes course. Freshmen worked up an appetite after a morning of activity and were ready for the food truck lunch and an afternoon playing games in the park. The Freshman Retreat marks the beginning of wonderful friendships!

Admission Going Global

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FA’s admissions department resumed international travel this fall. Director of International Admission Adam Gerber P’21, ’24 (pictured with families during a visit in Seoul, South Korea) visited Germany and Poland in October, and Korea, Vietnam, and Japan in November.

Gerber was joined in China by Dean of College Counseling Andrew Poska, Dean of Admission Carolyn Gorowski, and Senior Assistant Dean of Admission Joy Zhou. The group represented Lake Forest Academy in Shenzhen, Beijing, and Shanghai, China, in November to host parent receptions and admission international sessions and interviews.

Lake Forest Academy

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CAMPUS EVENTS

Club Fair Has Something for Everyone

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he Club Fair on Sept. 8 saw more than 70 clubs represented for LFA students to join during the 2023-24 school year. The fair allowed students to explore the diverse array of clubs and organizations that Lake Forest Academy offers, including groups based on academics, arts, service, sports, special interests, and affinity groups.

Bird Artist Series Opens 2023-24 Schedule

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Colleges On Campus

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very year, LFA hosts College Night, an evening where representatives from over 100 colleges and universities visit campus to speak with students. The event is mandatory for juniors and seniors. In addition to the LFA school community, students, parents, and counselors from local public and independent schools are invited. College Night is just one element of the services provided by LFA’s College Counseling department as students prepare for the transition to college.

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ake Forest Academy is welcoming a number of artists, actors, and authors to campus during the 2023-24 academic year for the Bird Artist Series. The lineup features in-class opportunities and four community events in The Cressey Center for the Arts.

The first event was on Oct. 16 with a community presentation with author Tom Breihan.

Breihan is a pop culture columnist and founder of Stereogum and also writes for The A.V. Club. In his regular feature “The Number Ones” he writes about every No. 1 song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. This effort led to a book, The Number Ones, that examines the history of pop music through 20 different No. 1 hits. His visit to The Cressey Center for the Arts saw a discussion on his book and the history of pop music.

The Bird Artist Series is named after former Lake Forest Academy English teacher Ray Bird who taught English 9, 10, and AP English Literature for 12 years starting in 1995. He taught his students to love literature, to test the boundaries of their imaginative abilities, and to open their minds to ideas both novel and arcane. With a quick wit, abundant gestures, and a limitless supply of energy, Bird captivated his students and instilled a lifelong passion for reading, writing, and creative expression.

Other community events in the spring include April 3 with author Julie Otsuka. On April 8, Jonathan Eig visits the LFA campus for a community discussion. Eig is the author of six adult books and four children’s books including “King: A Life” as the first major biography of Martin Luther King Jr. in 40 years. The final community event is on May 8, when poet Jericho Brown joins the LFA community.

Additional events are scheduled and more events could be added. Among the events are visits by authors Rebecca Makkai ’96, P’26 and Juan Martinez, and Ben Steinfield, founder and co-artistic director of Fiasco Theatre in New York City.

There will also be faculty discussions throughout the academic year and local trips for theater events.

Excellence Recognized National Merit Semifinalists and Award Honorees

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total of 12 students at Lake Forest Academy were honored and recognized at Morning Meeting on Sept. 15. Five students were named Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program and seven students were recently honored by the College Board’s recognition programs.

Members of the Class of 2024 that were named Semifinalists include: • Luke Feltzin • Theresa Fu • Henry Gold • Toby Nelson • Jamie Pruett LFA’s five Semifinalists follow seven in the Class of 2023, two in the Class of 2022, three in 2021 and five in the Class of 2020.

Additionally, seven students were recently honored by the College Board’s recognition programs for outstanding academic achievements in school and on the PSAT/ NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and/or AP® Exams.

The students at Lake Forest Academy honored with the National Hispanic Recognition Award are: • Elise Brandt ’25 • Jose Onofre ’24 • Lukacs Khorzad ’25 • Xitlali Ocote-Arellano ’25 • Ysa Sanchez ’25

The students honored with the National African American Recognition Award are: • Kendall Scales ’24 • Yusef Primus ’25 College Board’s four recognition programs – National African American Recognition Program, National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program – award academic honors to underrepresented students.

Project Pumpkin and Trunk or Treat Are Blessings in Disguise

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he LFA community opened up campus on Oct. 24 to a group of 40 students from A.J. Katzenmaier Academy for Project Pumpkin. The event featured a Trunk or Treat between the JC Cowart Student Center and the Reyes Family Science Center that was followed by a science experiment, games of BINGO, and a dinner for the Katzenmaier students and their LFA chaperones.

Following the event, a message was shared by one of the Katzenmaier teachers in attendance, “Words can’t describe how thankful I am for our partnership with Lake Forest Academy.

Project Pumpkin was so magical (again, as always!); the smiles, the laughter, and the friendships students can continue to grow are so impactful.”

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2 0 2 2 / 2 0 2 3 AT H L E T I C S R E V I E W

Big Wins for LFA Athletics T

he 2023-24 athletics season kicked off in August with preseason as the Caxy fall sports geared up for each team’s season. Over the next three months, Lake Forest Academy teams competed for Independent School League (ISL) championships and earned conference honors. Check out some notables from the fall season and congratulations to all of our teams!

Two members of the Girls Cross Country Team earned All-ISL recognition for their performances at the conference championship meet hosted by Lake Forest Academy. By finishing in the top 10, Maria Retelewski ’25 (7th place) and Andrea Fernandez ’25 (8th place) were named to the All-ISL Team.

The Girls Field Hockey Team won its first round match in the Illinois High School Field Hockey Association (IHSFHA) State Series against Highland Park by a score of 1-0. Emma Swanson ’25 tallied the game-winner for LFA in the third quarter. The Caxys fell in the next round to Glenbrook South that eventually won the state championship. Head coach Meredith Norman and assistant coach Ardelle Hagar P’21, ’24 were picked as the ISL Coaching Staff of the Year while four Caxys earned ISL All-Conference honors.

Audrey Danz ’25, Christina Quiroz ’26, Swanson, and Claire Wyngarden ’25 were named All-Conference. Danz and Swanson also added All-Conference selections by the IHSFHA. Boys Golf won the ISL Championship with all five golfers in the top 15. The Caxys led the field by nine strokes with the winning team score of 304 at Harborside International Golf Center.

Fitz Knight ’27 led the LFA contingent with a round of 74 to finish tied for third overall. Head coach Ben Wetherbee was named ISL Co-Coach of the Year following the conclusion of the season while Fitz Knight ’27, Quinn Knight ’24, Trevor Reenan ’25, and Russell Stewart ’24 earned All-ISL recognition.

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Girls Golf finished second at the ISL Championships that were played at the Harborside International Golf Center. LFA combined to shoot 370 which was just behind University High at 365. Bela Bock ’25 led the team and finished in a tie for third overall with a round of 86.

Boys Prep Ice Hockey opened the season by winning the Tiger Cup Challenge at Ridley College. The Caxys won 13 of their 14 games during the fall portion of the season as they prepared for Midwest Prep Hockey League (MPHL) play during the winter. LFA opened the first weekend of MPHL action in early November at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh.

Members of the Boys Soccer Team earned honors from the ISL and the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) following the season. Evan Haldar ’24 was named IHSSCA All-Sectional First Team and ISL First Team and was joined on the ISL First Team by Franco Sovero ’24 while Eric Jotkus ’25 picked up ISL Second Team honors. Sovero was selected by the IHSSCA as an All-Sectional Sportsmanship Award winner and Jose Onofre ’24 was named to the Academic All-Sectional Team. Haldar was joined on the IHSSCA AllSectional First Team by Matthew Kupczyk ’24 and Onofre, and Niki Momcilovic ’24 was an Honorable Mention All-Sectional selection.

The Girls Swimming Team won seven events en route to finishing second in the ISL Championships. Tuana Turhan ’24 (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Defne Kocak ’26 (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) each won two individual titles while Kate Graham ’24 won the 50 freestyle. LFA also took first in the 200 medley relay (Victoria Kim ’25, Kocak, Turhan, Graham) and the 200 freestyle relay (Graham, Kocak, Kim, Turhan).

Girls Tennis earned medals in three of the five positions at the ISL Championships. Natalie Frekko ’24 and Vicky Mesropyan ’24 finished second at No. 1 doubles while Dora Huang ’27 and Esti Rosenblatt ’24 finished third overall at No. 3 doubles. Sophia DeLise ’26 was also a medalist with a third-place finish at No. 2 singles.

For the latest schedules, scores and rosters for LFA Athletics, please visit www.lfaathletics.org.

Fine & Performing Arts LFA Talent On Display

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ake Forest Academy’s Fine and Performing Arts department provided a full calendar of events during the fall as The Cressey Center for the Arts was transformed into a mystical island for “The Tempest” and LFA’s choir, orchestra, VOX and Co-ax performed throughout the semester. In addition to performances on campus, members of the Lake Forest Academy symphony orchestra were selected to a number of local youth orchestras and the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) district festival orchestra. The play earned state recognition with an invitation for LFA to perform “The Tempest” at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival (IHSTF) in January 2024 at Illinois State University.

“The Tempest” was performed over three evenings in October and entertained

audiences with the Shakespearean play where a sorcerer, Prospero, uses magic on a remote island to manipulate the lives of shipwrecked characters, exploring themes of power, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

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2023 Fall Concert LFA’s Choir and Orchestra conducted the fall concert in The Cressey Center for the Arts and the fall solo concert took place in Reid Hall’s Little Theatre.

LFA Musicians in the Spotlight Three students were selected for the ILMEA District 7 Senior Music Festival. Tanya Ganesh ’24 (oboe), Davin Lee ’26 (clarinet), and Issac Park ’24 (violin) represented LFA at the ILMEA District 7 Senior Music Festival on Nov. 4. In addition to the ILMEA selections, students from LFA are also members of the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, the Chicago Youth Symphony, and Milwaukee Youth Symphony. Ganesh (principal oboe), Kate Graham ’24 (violin), William Sun ’24 (principal trumpet), Kevin Wang ’24 (violin), and Jason Xing ’24 (cello) are members of the MYA orchestra while Charlie Griffiths ’24 (baritone saxophone) is in the MYA jazz ensemble. Lee is also the principal clarinet in the top orchestra of the Chicago Youth Symphony and Sienna Yang ’27 is the assistant concertmaster of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony.

Creative Classes In addition to performances, the classrooms were bustling as students took classes in ceramics, photography, glass, electronic music, woodworkings, acting, and public speaking.

Co-ax Steals the Show LFA’s student rock band – Co-ax – made their 2023-24 debut at the Nov. 20 All-School Meeting with a selection of music from across the decades.

VOX Rocks VOX – LFA’s extracurricular vocal ensemble – took the stage in The Cressey Center for the Arts and entertained the audience with a variety of solos, duets, and group numbers from musical theater productions.

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ALUMNI EVENTS

Summer Happy Hour July 13, 2023

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ver 70 LFA alumni from the classes of 2008-2019 got together for the annual Summer Happy Hour event. Held at Punch Bowl Social Chicago, the event was a great opportunity for young alumni to reconnect with their former classmates and teachers, as well as stay updated with the latest happenings at the Academy.

Top left l to r: Toks Onyekwuluje ’11, Alec Mesrobian ’15, Mbasa Mayikana ’14, Deji Akere ’15 Top right - l to r: Kate Mojica (guest of Dominic Scheerer ’18), Scheerer, Lilah Roth ’19, Rashad Bandealy ’19, Colin Weil ’19, Andrew Ivinjack ’19 Bottom left - l to r: Gio Harold ’15, Chelsea Langston ’15, Evan Walters ’15

Boston Young Alumni Happy Hour Nov. 14, 2023

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ront row, l to r: Catalina Todd ’11, Audrey Taillon ’19, Allison Sebulsky Colbert ’07, Sabrina Zhou (guest of Cameron Judge ’17), Katie Kim ’15, Katy Morrison ’18, Suzanna Newton ’18, Maya Lieberman ’18, Senior Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy Ruth Keyso. Back row, l to r: Cholapat “Turbo” Varongchayakul ’20; Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27; Judge; Jake Baxter (guest of Kim); Dean of Advancement Garry Sloan P’19, ’21; Jack Mengel ’06; Mike Kurfess ’11; Ben Kozak ’06.

Boston Watertown Reception Nov. 15, 2023

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FA and Ferry Hall alumni/ae gathered at the home of Nancy Neustadt Barcelo ’70 in Watertown, Mass. for a reception with other local Boston alumni.

Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27 and Margo McWilliams P’16

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l to r: Ferry Hall alumnae Connie Rakowsky ’70, Nancy Neustadt Barcelo ’70, Lori Rewick Simon ’70

College Dinner Series

University of Notre Dame Sept. 26, 2023 College Dinner Series kicked off with its first visit of the new school year in Indiana, with Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27 and Senior Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy Ruth Keyso meeting with Notre Dame students Nick Alutto ’21 and Helenna Xu ’20

Purdue University Sept. 27, 2023

Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

College Caxys at Purdue University gather for dinner together in West Lafayette, Ind. Clockwise from bottom left: Pierce Chaseley ’23, Marcel Sutkowski ’22, Max Bury ’22, LFA math teacher Dr. Mike Hall, LFA English teacher Dr. Glinda Hall, Senior Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy Ruth Keyso, and Lucea Larest ’21

Faculty and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni meet with current students for dinner. Clockwise from bottom left: Jiaxiang “Jay” Chen ’22, Jiamu “Jack” Wang ’22, Sophia Sokhi ’22, Senior Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy Ruth Keyso, Riya Kapoor ’23, LFA Spanish teacher Marianela Gonzalez (UIUC ’88), LFA science teacher Kevin Hagen (UIUC ’08), Maxwell Mullarkey ’23, Nate Koh ’20, Julia Knauz ’19, Ziyi “Emma” Ye ’23, and Yaokun “Clint” Shi ’18

Sept. 28, 2023

Northwestern University Oct. 26, 2023 LFA faculty attend dinner in Evanston, Ill. with College Caxys at Northwestern University. Left table, clockwise from left: Elizabeth Campisi ’20, Qingyang “Dora” Hu ’21, Ashley Guo ’22, LFA English teacher Angela Zhou ’18. Back table, clockwise from left: Michael Xing ’23, Shaopeng “Frank” Gu ’21, Josh Mayberry ’21, LFA computer science and math teacher Dieter Villegas ’18, LFA economics and entrepreneurship teacher Matt Vaughn P’27. Front table, clockwise from left: Annika Subrahmanian ’23, Lizzie Dozois ’21, Maeve Brady ’22, Akhil Kommala ’22, Diana Borland ’22, and Zihan “Josh” Li ’23

University of WisconsinMadison Oct. 24, 2023 Sarah Eisendrath ’20 and Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy Ruth Keyso meet together over dinner in Madison, Wis.

Boston Nov. 13, 2023 Caxys attending Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Tufts University meet for dinner at Mad Monkfish in Cambridge, Mass. Clockwise from bottom left: Mingyang “Derek” Hui ’20, Juliette Hulsizer ’23, Saanvi Malkani ’23, Evan Wang ’23, Dean of Advancement Garry Sloan P’19, ’21, Zongyun “Oscar” Li ’19, Cholapat “Turbo” Varongchayakul ’20, Ben Arthurs ’23, and Senior Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy Ruth Keyso

Boston Nov. 16, 2023 Dinner at Boston’s Cafe Landwer brings together Caxys playing junior hockey and attending Boston University, Wellesley College, College of the Holy Cross, and Northeastern University.

Clockwise from bottom left: Director of Human Resources & Risk Management Kristin Paisley P’24, ’27, Dean of Advancement Garry Sloan P’19, ’21, Senior Assistant Dean of Admission, Assistant Dean of Students: Residential & Campus Life Emily Kalis, Associate Dean of Admission, Assistant Director of Financial Aid Emily Wagner, Tien-Yu “Nemo” Lee ’21, Pattravadee “Pandy” Buasuwan ’21, Xiaojing “Jessie” Yang ’21, Francesco Accogli ’22, Jack Drobny ’23, Charlie Campbell ’23, Kelly Lombardo ’22, Ryo Nambara ’22, Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy Ruth Keyso, Yaelle Ortiz ’23, Ariana Rashid ’23, Ferdoss Ibrahim ’22

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CLASS NOTES

1953

Former LFA President and Principal Bondy and Tom Hodgkins ’53, P’82, ’85, GP’19 dropped by the Academy this summer. Here they are pictured with Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27 in his office in Reid Hall.

1980 Professor Laurence Minsky of Columbia College Chicago’s Communication Department has co-authored a new book: Voice Marketing: Harnessing the Power of Conversational AI to Drive Customer Engagement (Rowman & Littlefield).

Through this book, marketers “learn key strategies and tactics of the voice world while following a clear roadmap for developing and executing a voice marketing program.” Visit https:// www.voicemarketingbook.ai/ for more information about the book, which can be purchased in print or electronic form from all book retailers. Minsky was promoted from associate professor to professor at Columbia College Chicago last year.

1997 Jason DaWayne Smith is the author of the recently published book “Be and Seek”, a simple and approachable tool that applies our imperfections as stepping stones to personal growth. Jason is a graduate of LFA and Colgate University, and has pursued additional education at The Wharton School and NYU. He has worked in the field of advertising for more than 20 years. Jason’s book can be found online at bn.com.

2000

Bondy and Tom Hodgkins ’53, P’82, ’85, GP’19, along with Teddi and Dick Siragusa ’53, celebrate Tom and Dick’s 70th LFA Reunion in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on Oct. 11, 2023. They regret being unable to return to campus for the festivities.

Darren Kelly has been named the new Associate Vice President and Dean of the Office of African-American Affairs (OAAA) at the University of Virginia. Darren began his appointment on Oct. 2. Darren is a 2004 graduate of UVA. He joins his college alma mater from the University of Texas at Austin, where he served as the Associate Vice President within the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement.

1971

LFA pals Jim Oberly, Yosuf Taraki, and Mark Rueber reunited for a visit in October 2023. The men visited campus and toured the grounds. They also did a fun recreation of their “Academy Slurping Society” photo from the 1971 Caxy. Pictured in photos l to r: Rueber, Taraki, Oberly.

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2001

Jazmine Stephens is Executive Director at Humble Design, a nonprofit that fully furnishes the homes of individuals, veterans, and families emerging from homelessness. The organization partnered with House Beautiful Magazine for their Whole Home Showcase in Hinsdale, Ill. this fall. Learn more about Humble Design at: https://www.humbledesign.org.

2009

2006

Dr. Shamsideen Musa and Johnnie Johnson P’25, ’26 visited one another in Alaska in June 2023. Sham lives in Alaska, where he runs the Algone Anchorage Interventional Pain Clinic. Johnnie ran the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon with a finishing time of 3:25:37. These two Caxys enjoyed hanging out in Anchorage; Johnnie says: “Thanks to Shamsideen for the support before and after the race.

Twenty-two years later, and I can still count on my LFA family!”

Cecilia Lanyon, co-founder of The Cotton Duck Hospitality Group, hosted Revelry food and wine fest, produced with celebrity chef Beau MacMillan and her husband/partner, Dominic Zumpano, at her Lake Forest restaurant The Gallery from Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Read more at https://www.revelryfoodandwine.com.

2007

Alfred Schulz is co-hosting a brand-new podcast called Pizza Pod Party, which is available on numerous platforms.

Victoria Gordon got married on June 24, 2023, to Jack Crowe at St. James Chapel in Chicago. The wedding party was full of Caxys, including Tory’s sister Jacquelynn Gordon ’04 (maid of honor), brother Blair Gordon ’07 (groomsman), Deirdre Walsh Emery ’09 (bridesmaid), and Thomas Emery ’09 (part of the church ceremony). Also in attendance were Chapin Lee ’07 and Henry Cowie ’08.

2004

2010

Elizabeth Grisanzio recently established her own lobbying and consulting firm, EG Strategies (https://www.eg-strategies. com/). Elizabeth is based in Elmhurst, Ill.

Alex Olsen and Lisa Collins got married on May 20, 2023, on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif. They live in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Zac Mahoney and Hilary Thurmond got engaged on Oct. 3, 2023. They are planning an Oct. 19, 2024 wedding in Indian Pass, Fla., which is near their hometown of Port St. Joe.

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CLASS NOTES

2011 Dylan Ennis has joined a new team in the Liga Endesa league, the premier basketball league in Spain. He is playing for UCam Murcia this year, his seventh year playing professionally. Dylan also has a docuseries highlighting his basketball exploits, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at his everyday life through his Instagram account – @dylanennis31.

2012 Charlie O’Connor and his wife, Hillary, announce the birth of their son, Rory, in August. He joins big sister Reese.

The family lives in Alexandria, Minn.

Jenna Madeley got engaged to Jonathan Unick on July 27, 2023, at the spot where they met: Dungeon of Doom in Zion, Ill.

Jamie Balkin married Scott Woods on July 29, 2023, in Boston, Mass. It was a party!

Catalina Todd and John Hogan were married on May 28, 2023, in Laguna Beach, Calif. Caxys in attendance included bridesmaids Sachi Patel and Jess Kaminsky. Catalina and John are living in Boston, Mass., while John attends Harvard Business School. Catalina continues to work remotely.

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Kathleen Kennedy Zeller and Mark Yingling graduated in June 2023 with their MBA degrees from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Kathleen and Mark started school together in junior kindergarten, graduated from LFA, and sat next to one another at their MBA graduation. Kathleen, who lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Charlie, started a new job in January 2023 as a U.S. Agency Lead at Pinterest. Mark recently raised a search fund to buy a B2B services, or B2B SaaS business, and will run it as CEO. Mark lives in Chicago. Previously, he worked for Blackrock and Energy Capital Ventures.

Rich Barber married Delanie Kneeland on July 12, 2023, in Worcester, Mass. The couple resides in Shrewsbury, Mass.

LFA Assistant Dean of Admission Faith Ekakitie and his wife, Mikaela, welcomed a second child, daughter Elsie in October.

Elsie joins big brother Ezra. Faith joined the LFA Admission Office in October 2023.

2013

Melissa Mahoney married Cody Breuer on Sept. 8, 2023, in the mountains of Winter Park, Colo. It was a gorgeous day; many family and friends were in attendance.

Melissa and Cody reside in Wauwatosa, Wis. Pictured, l to r: Zac Mahoney ’10, Hilary Thurmond, Cody Breuer, Melissa Breuer ’13, Susan and Dominick Mahoney P’10, ’13.

Dani Mendoza married Santiago Pedraza, on July 28, 2023, in Madrid, Spain.

Lingxing “Michael” Meng married Jackie Huang on Oct. 15, 2023, in Beijing, China.

The couple lives in Hong Kong, where Michael works for Blackstone. LFA classmate Tunan Chen ’12 served as best man. Pictured above: Michael and Jackie; below: Tunan is second from left.

2015

2017

Wes Annan is earning a master’s in public health at the University of Maryland, where he is also a graduate teaching assistant for Foundations of Public Health.

Wes is a 2019 graduate of Stanford University.

Simeng “Sampson” Hao recently received the John and Barbara Yellott Award, presented by the American Solar Energy Society, for his “outstanding contributions to increasing solar energy adoption, achieved as a graduate research assistant in Environmental Science and Sustainability at Loyola University.” Sampson is an associate project manager at solar development company Pine Gate Renewables in Asheville, N.C. Sampson holds a bachelor’s degree in ecology/evolutionary biology from the University of Rochester and a master’s degree in environmental science from Loyola University Chicago.

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F A C U LT Y N E W S

Terry and Jan Bigalke stopped by campus on June 12, 2023. The Bigalkes worked at LFA from 1973-75. They were dorm parents in Bates Hall. Terry taught history and the first courses offered in Asian Studies. They greatly valued their faculty colleagues in Bates, including Larry Nesper, Jim Kowalsky, Russ Brockman, and their open door policy for students to stop by their apartment. Terry earned his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Southeast Asian History, with a focus on Indonesia. He published the book “Tana Toraja: The Making of an Indonesian People.” Jan taught ESL to international students during that time, and then with the British Council in Jakarta when Terry was a program officer for three years with the Ford Foundation.

After returning from Indonesia, Terry worked for the Big Ten university consortium on international development projects, and then at Beloit College directing study abroad and international student programs for 12 years. Jan taught ESL and the teaching of ESL. The Bigalkes moved to Honolulu in 2001. Terry became director of the education division at the East-West Center, and Jan administered English programs for international students at the University of Hawaii. They are retired and alternate their time between Honolulu and Wisconsin to be close to their two children and three grandchildren. They would enjoy seeing alumni during Reunion 2024.

Director of Experiential Learning Erin English P’18, ’20, ’23, ’24 published a second edition of her YA realistic fiction this summer, now with chapter discussion questions. The book is titled Life is _____.: Second Edition The cover design is by her daughter, LFA alumna Keyra English ’18.

English teacher Dr. Glinda Hall spent a week at Exeter Academy in New Hampshire at the Harkness Method conference. Dr. Hall also traveled to the UK and spent a week in Oxford participating in an AP Literature Summer Institute for recertification.

Information and Media Literacy Librarian Ashley Kolovitz presented last spring on AI Literacy at Lake Forest Country Day School’s mini-conference, Learning and Teaching in the Age of AI.

Journalism Director and English Faculty Mandy Krause started a master’s in Education Leadership at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She’s pursuing the PreK-12 Pathway in HGSE’s 2nd cohort of the Online Education Leadership program, consisting of live classes online at night throughout the week.

Dean of Equity, Pluralism, Inclusion, and Community Lusanda Mayikana P’14 completed her Ph.D. in Education and Social Justice at Lancaster University, UK.

Math teacher Dr. Mike Hall served as the Site Director for the Johns Hopkins UniversityCenter for Talented Youth (CTY) at the University of California-Santa Cruz during the summer 2023. CTY fosters intellectual growth in exceptional students from all backgrounds and communities. As a world leader in gifted education, advocacy, and research, CTY provides: advanced courses often not found in school; personalized instruction; and an inclusive community of peers who share a passion for learning. This was Dr. Hall’s third summer working with JHU-CTY, and his second as the site director.

Science teacher Mathias Kerr sailed in the Chicago to Mackinac race during the summer 2023. This was his 17th time finishing the 333 nautical-mile race after a few-year hiatus. Mathias sailed with a crew of eight, starting on a Friday afternoon and finishing on Tuesday afternoon.

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Associate Dean of College Counseling Ben Wetherbee recently finished a graduate degree program at Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center in Independent School Leadership. Additionally, he and his fiancée, Emma, tied the knot in Tasmania, Australia, in December 2022.

IN MEMORIAM

The Academy has learned about the passing of the following alumni/ae.

May they rest in peace. This listing includes those alumni/ae whose notices of death were received between June 1 and Oct. 31, 2023.

1943

1957

1971

Rozaine “Sue” Askin Siegler

Stephan Hobson

Mark Bauer

July 27, 2023

May 4, 2023

June 6, 2023

1948

1958

1972

Sally Hamilton Stout

Donna Koukas Luksic

John Warner IV

January 23, 2014

March 22, 2021

June 12, 2023

1951

1960

1973

Charles Dennehy

Robert McIntire Pollard

Carl D. Cohen

October 12, 2023

June 1, 2023

Jan. 29, 2017

E. Scott Vaile July 25, 2023

1964

Mark Dement June 26, 2023

Rita Shapiro 1953 Martha West Hamilton

July 5, 2023

June 12, 2022

1965

Sarah Penney Osborn

David Ayers

June 20, 2021

March 26, 2023

1956

1968

Wilson Dennehy

Martin W. Johnsen

2012 Alexandra “Lexi” DeYoung July 3, 2023

Former Faculty Charles Gedge October 22, 2023

April 5, 2020

July 4, 2023

Life Trustee

Nancy Overman Sher

Robert G. Lewis

Susan Morrison

September 28, 2023

July 22, 2023

August 30, 2023

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Have You Secured Your Caxy Legacy?

Join the Richards & Tremain Society!

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stablished in 1988, the Richards & Tremain Society recognizes those members of the LFA community who have made provisions for LFA in their estate plans. The group is named for Mr. John Wayne Richards, headmaster of Lake Forest Academy from 1913 to 1941, and Miss Eloise Ruthven Tremain, Ferry Hall’s principal from 1918 to 1945. The legacies of these strong, effective leaders have shaped the future of the school in many ways. It is fitting that we honor the lasting and important legacy of those who benefit the school through gift planning with membership in the Richards & Tremain Society.

For a limited time, you can become a member of the Richards & Tremain Society and experience both an immediate and long-term effect from your legacy gift thanks to the Caxy Legacy Challenge. With documentation of a new or existing estate gift*, you can gain access to funds from a challenge pool of

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$200,000 made possible by alumna Sheri Kersch Schultz ’72 and alumnus David Gupta ’81. The challenge pool dollars—up to a maximum of $10,000 per donor—can be directed to an existing fund of your choosing, meaning the impact of your gift is felt now and in perpetuity. *Eligible estate gifts must have a minimum face value of $50,000

For more information on the Caxy Legacy Challenge, visit www.lfanet.org/give/caxy-legacy-challenge or contact Garry Sloan P’19, ’21 at gsloan@lfanet.org or at (847) 615-3287.

For information on gift planning, including bequests, trusts, real estate, retirement plans, providing for heirs and more, visit lfa.givingplan.net.

DOES YOUR COMPANY

Match Donations?

You can double or triple the impact of your gift!

Support LFA students today! Go to give.lfanet.org and use the search field in the online giving form to find out if you or your spouse’s company has a matching gift program.

CAXY SOCKS GIVEAWAY The first 10 people to submit a corporate matching request with their Academy Fund gift will receive a pair of Caxy spirit socks. To participate in the sock giveaway: • Make a gift of $25 or more • Submit confirmation of matching gift request to Director of Development & Stewardship Hannah Shallenberger at hshallenberger@lfanet.org

Give today. www.lfanet.org/give

Lake Forest Academy 1500 West Kennedy Road • Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-1047

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LAKE FOREST, IL PERMIT NO.100

Review Save These Dates on Your 2024 Calendar Join us to celebrate the Lake Forest Academy and Ferry Hall community and support the Academy’s students and faculty.

Watch your mailboxes and inboxes for more information about these events.

H Admissions Spring Open House Sunday, April 14

H Gala Saturday, April 27 H Family Weekend 2024 Friday and Saturday, September 27 and 28

H Reunion 2024 Friday and Saturday, October 18 and 19