Winter 2025/26 Review by Lake Forest Academy

Review

The Magazine of Lake Forest Academy and Ferry Hall

Review

The Magazine of Lake Forest Academy and Ferry Hall

Head of School

Tom Johnson

Main Editors

Greg Greenwell P’25, ’29

Emmy Schwerdt

Alex Stevenson

Magazine Layout & Design

Greg Greenwell P’25, ’29

Emmy Schwerdt

Alex Stevenson

Photography

David Atas

Ruth Keyso

George Pfoertner

Emmy Schwerdt

Alex Stevenson

Contributors

Carolina Alonzo Bracamontes

Beth Bentley

Courtney Ciampi

Greg Greenwell P’25, ’29

Tom Johnson

Ruth Keyso

Dianys Padró Pagán

Kristine Petroshius P’27

Rita MacAyeal ’87

Christine Ryder P’15, ’17

Emmy Schwerdt

Printing

John S. Swift Co., Inc.

Admission Office

847-615-3267 admission@lfanet.org

Alumni Engagement Office

847-615-3268 advancement@lfanet.org

Marketing & Communications Office 847-615-3284 comms@lfanet.org

Parent Relations Office 847-615-3238 advancement@lfanet.org

OPENING OF SCHOOL

Lake Forest Academy opened the 2025-26 academic year with the traditional All-School Handshake. This tradition enables every member of the LFA community to wish each other a great school year.

FAMILY WEEKEND

LFA welcomed families to campus at the end of September for a full weekend of activities that included the Parents Association Welcome Luncheon and Saturday Morning Mini-Classes. 6

REUNION 2025

The Lake Forest Academy-Ferry Hall class of 1975 celebrated its 50th reunion in mid-October during a weekend of celebrating the Academy’s past, present, and future. 8

AROUND CAMPUS

The first semester at Lake Forest Academy featured numerous events, news, and honors for students. Among the events were the senior and freshmen class retreats, National Merit Semifinalists, House Cup competitions, Ferry Hall Day, College Night, the Fall Food Drive, a LFA student winning Lake County’s “I Voted” sticker contest, and the studentfavorite tradition of End of Semester Treats in preparation for fall semester final exams.

BIRD ARTIST SERIES

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead visited campus as part of the Bird Artist Series. During the community presentation, Whitehead spoke about his life experiences and answered questions from the audience in The Cressey Center for the Arts. The following day, he met with English classes and faculty in more informal Q-and-A sessions.

2025-26 Board of Trustees

Jessica P. Douglas ’96

Chair

Bruce W. Anderson ’70, P’97, LT’13

Vice Chair

Eric Brown ’98

Treasurer

Karin Fink P’22, ’23

Secretary

Jim C. Cowart ’69

Member at Large

Elizabeth Alicea ’98

Ariana Bhatia ’12

Katie Frekko P’21, ’24, ’27

Gloria W. Harper P’93

Tom Hodgkins ’85

Suzanne Isenberg ’83

Duane C. Jackson ’01

Ned Jessen P’01, ’05, LT’08

Jeffrey Johnson P’20

Scott W. Kaeser ’96

Allan M. Kaplan ’72, P’03, LT’04

Junghwa “Maria” Kim ’03

Edward Kovas P’21

John Marlatt ’65

Margeaux McReynolds ’02

Scott Meloun ’77

Kathy Pollock ’70

Dr. Bancroft O’Quinn, Jr. ’72

Leslie Rosen P’25, ’25, ’27, ’27

Emily Sammon ’91

Frederick Waddell ’01

Xiong Yin P’23

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.

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

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

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

Did You Know? The Armour House at Lake Forest Academy is among the top wedding locations in the Chicagoland area. LFA hosted 79 weddings throughout 2025 starting on Feb. 22 with the first wedding of the year and concluding on Dec. 13.

Dear LFA Community,

Winter at Lake Forest Academy, complete with short days and cold weather, is a great time of year for reflection and aspiration. It is a time when we look forward to the possibilities that exist over the remainder of the year. Our seniors are hearing back from colleges and are starting to make decisions about their next four years. At the same time, our junior class is just starting their own college search.

It is a busy time of year as winter athletics concludes and the start of spring athletics is around the corner while the arts department’s annual winter musical is in production. Early spring features Intercultural Engagement Day and International Exhibition (IE²), welcoming admitted students to campus, and travel on curricular and co-curricular trips over spring vacation.

My travels for LFA have taken me across the country this year to places such as Madison, Denver, Cleveland, Nashville, Boston, Los Angeles, Portland, Hilton Head, Ponte Vedra, Vero Beach, and North Palm Beach. It has been great to meet alumni and parents who hold such strong affinity for LFA and to hear their stories. It has been equally exciting to share an update on the LFA of today, one which includes an enrollment of 452 students, a growing endowment, and faculty and students that are pushing each other to accomplish great things. My spring travels will take me to St. Paul, Pinehurst, New York City, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and South Korea. For those that have joined us on our travels, thank you. I look forward to seeing as many LFA people as possible as we travel the country and world to support the school’s mission.

After hosting our final fall Reunion this October in celebration of the 0s and 5s, we are excited to move Reunions to early June (June 5-7, 2026) this year to allow people to travel back to campus with their families and spend a weekend reconnecting with friends, teachers and the LFA campus. We’ll be celebrating the 1s and 6s at this Reunion, but all Alumni and friends are welcome to come back and join us.

This issue features highlights on the updated Niche rankings, which have LFA in the top 10 nationally for Boarding Schools, the October 23 visit from two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead, a recap of our alumni events from this fall including College Dinner Series and our Boston reception, athletic highlights from the fall, and spotlights on our theater program. I hope that you enjoy reading about these topics and more, and, as this school belongs to its alumni, I hope that you will make an effort to come back and visit Dear Old LFA. We’d love to see you, and will always make time for you.

Sincerely,

Tom Johnson Head of School

Lake Forest Academy welcomed a total of 452 students on the first day of the 2025-26 school year as the school opened its doors with the Opening of School Meeting followed by LFA’s traditional All-School Handshake.

The 452 students match the all-time high for enrollment set in 2025-26 as 143 new students joined 309 returning students. The student body traveled to the Lake Forest campus from 19 different states and 40 countries and territories. In addition to the students from across the nation and around the world, day students from 55 different local communities are enrolled this year.

The entire LFA community met in the Formal Gardens with Head of School Tom Johnson starting the All-School Handshake with a flip of the coin to decide which direction to start. He was joined by All-School President Krish Bahadur ’26 to get the line started around the Formal Gardens and Pagoda and every member of the school community personally wished each other a great school year.

Prior to the start of classes a week of preseason brought the campus to life once again as fall sport athletes reported to campus and retreats were held for the senior and freshman classes. The seniors traveled to Lake Geneva, Wis. for two days while the freshmen spent a day on campus learning about LFA followed by a day trip to Wisconsin and Boundless Adventures. In addition to fall sports practices, a theater workshop was conducted along with various community service opportunities for students, and the first residential dinner of the school year took place to welcome back boarding students to campus.

Lake Forest Academy continued its upward trend in the national rankings and was named the No. 1 private school in Illinois for the third consecutive year as Niche announced the 2026 edition of its Best Schools rankings at the end of September. After holding steady at No. 13 among all boarding schools in the United States, LFA cracked the top 10 by moving up four spots to No. 9 while also moving into the top 25 among the nation’s private schools at No. 21.

In just four years, Lake Forest Academy has moved from No. 18 in the 2023 Best Schools rankings for boarding schools in the United States to No. 9 in the latest edition. The 2023 rankings also placed LFA at No. 54 in the private school category before the Academy moved up to No. 21 this year.

Niche’s 2026 Best Schools and Districts rankings combine user input with quantitative data to provide a comprehensive view of each school. Key factors include academics, teachers, resources, facilities, extracurriculars, and more. Data sources include:

• Three million reviews from students, parents, and teachers capturing realworld experiences

• School-reported statistics, including enrollment, graduation rates, test performance, and more

• Vetted federal datasets such as from the U.S. Department of Education

• Additional information on resources, programs, facilities, and athletics

Among the nation’s private schools, the Academy moved up 13 spots from the 2025 rankings to No. 21 nationally (out of 4,917 schools) and is the topranked private school in Illinois (out of 153) for the third straight year.

LFA’s top 10 ranking among the Best Boarding High Schools in America also held the top-ranked spot in the state of Illinois. The rankings were out of 441 boarding schools nationally and 10 in the state.

Other national rankings for LFA include No. 35 (out of 5,268) in Most Diverse Private High Schools, No. 51 (out of 4,143) for Best College Prep Private High Schools, and No. 110 (out of 8,859) for Best High Schools for STEM.

In the state of Illinois, LFA is also No. 1 for Most Diverse Private High Schools (out of 160) and in Best College Prep Private High Schools (out of 132). Other state rankings include No. 3 (out of 296) for Best High Schools for STEM and No. 126 (out of 797) in Best High Schools for Athletes in Illinois.

For the third consecutive year, Lake Forest Academy was named the topranked private school in the state of Illinois.

The 2026 Niche Best Schools rankings placed Lake Forest Academy among the top 10 boarding schools in the nation at No. 9 overall. Among all private schools in the United States, LFA moved into the top 25 at No. 21.

Family Weekend

LFA welcomes families for a full weekend of fun on campus

It was great to see so many families back on campus and those that joined LFA virtually during Family Weekend at the end of September. The weekend opened with Morning Meeting and a discussion on the Student Experience Beyond the Classroom in The Cressey Center for the Arts.

Class Coffee and Tea

Head of School Tom Johnson and members of Deans Council joined families for a casual coffee and tea to kickoff Family Weekend on Friday morning.

Parents Association Welcome Luncheon

The LFA Parents Association (“PA”) Welcome Luncheon featured a State of the School Address from Head of School Tom Johnson and Chief Financial Officer Mike Reidy P’17, ’26 who presented an overview of the fundamentals of the Academy’s finance and operations and how tuition dollars and philanthropy sustain and enhance the student experience.

Student Clubs and Organizations Mini-Fair

Families were able to drop in and meet student club leaders to hear first hand about the offerings and leadership opportunities at LFA.

Fine & Performing Arts Drop-In

Fine & 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.

Family of BIPOC Students Gathering Families and students of color met 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.

Happy Hour Reception

Friday’s activities concluded with a Happy Hour Reception in the Garden Room and Formal Gardens for families to mix and mingle with faculty and staff.

Saturday Morning Mini-Classes

Families followed their student’s A-Day schedule for abbreviated 15-minute classes with five-minute passing periods on Saturday morning.

Caxy Family Lunch

The Caxy Family Lunch brought together families and students for a Family Weekend favorite. A beautiful Saturday afternoon was enjoyed by everyone in attendance to celebrate Lake Forest Academy!

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, golf, ice hockey, soccer, swimming, and tennis both on and off campus.

Reunion 2025

Caxys return to campus for a weekend of connection and celebration

What a memorable weekend at Lake Forest Academy! Alumni, families, and friends returned to campus for Reunion Weekend and Family Fall Fest to celebrate milestone classes, reconnect with one another, and experience the energy of today’s LFA.

The festivities began Friday evening as the Class of 1975 gathered for its 50th Reunion Dinner in Reid Hall. Classmates reconnected over cocktails and dinner, sharing and reflecting on the legacy they helped build. The evening was filled with laughter and pride in the Academy’s continued growth.

Saturday offered a full day of engagement across campus. Alumni gathered for a morning breakfast with Head of School Tom Johnson and joined studentled campus tours that highlighted academic spaces, residence halls, and gathering places both familiar and newly transformed. Later in the day, the Multicultural Dialogue brought alumni and students together for thoughtful conversation about identity, belonging, and community at LFA and beyond. Hosted by the Office of Equity, Pluralism, Inclusion, and Community, the session

The Lake Forest Academy-Ferry Hall Class of 1975 celebrated its 50th reunion. Pictured are front row, left to right: JD Stern Greenberg, Mark Towne, Jane Wilson, Bob Abboud; second row: Jody Cummins Stumpe, Beth Petit Shaw, Phil Palmer, Beth Stouder; third row: Darryl Thomas, Max Hiller; fourth row: Mike Daugherty, Burt Lohoff-Gaida, Jim Owen, Paula Rice Rucker, Gregg Hague; fifth row: Craig Anderson, Ted Bilharz; sixth row: Rick Giesen, Mike Walsh, Dick Quagliano; back row: Dean Alexandrou, Joel Goldblatt

reflected the Academy’s enduring commitment to inclusivity and meaningful connection.

The afternoon continued in the Formal Gardens with Family Fall Fest, as alumni and families enjoyed a festive picnic with live entertainment, food, and time to reconnect with classmates and the wider Caxy community.

Later in the day, guests explored the Athletic Center, visited the Cressey Center for the Arts and residence halls, and gathered again in the evening for class dinners and celebrations. The weekend concluded with The 2020

MULTICULTURAL DIALOUGE was led Dean of Equity, Pluralism, Inclusion, and Community Lusanda Mayikana P’14 and current students in a discussion about LFA today as the Academy is a diverse and inclusive community that celebrates differences in cultures, identities, perspectives, background, and thought.

Encore, a special post-dinner event honoring the Class of 2020 with trivia, a slideshow, and late-night festivities recognizing the milestones they missed during their senior year due to the pandemic.

Reunion 2025 was a joyful celebration of Lake Forest Academy’s past, present, and future. We look forward to welcoming alumni back to campus next summer. Mark your calendars for June 5-7, 2026, when we celebrate reunion classes ending in 1s and 6s!

The ALUMNI SOCCER MATCH pitted LFA’s 2025 team against an alumni team in a friendly, spirited match at Alumni Stadium.

CAMPUS TOURS were led by LFA’s student ambassadors, who guided groups of alumni and families around campus to visit familiar locations along with new buildings.

FALL FEST was a family-friendly picnic in the picturesque Formal Gardens behind Reid Hall. Alumni and families had the opportunity to meet and chat with LFA’s newest Head of School Tom Johnson, and reconnect with fellow alumni over some delicious food and refreshments.

Saturday evening welcomed alumni and friends to the REUNION CELEBRATION DINNER in the Great Hall followed by CLASS PORTRAITS.

Front row (left to right): Beth Petit Shaw ’75, Jody Cummins Stumpe ’75, JD Stern Greenberg ’75 P’04; back row: Paula Rice Rucker ’75, Beth Stouder ’75, Jane Wilson ’75

Terence Mangram, Chelsea Langston ’15, Madeleine Pye ’15, Aban Yaqub ’15

t Wayne Wright ’80 P’13, Mark Karstrom ’80 P’18, Joan Karstrom ’18

Head of School Tom Johnson

LFA Trustee John Marlatt ’65

Alison Von Glinow ’05 with husband Lap Chi Kwong and his family Marni Kwong, Johann Kwong, Winnie Kwong, Benjamin Kwong, Jimmy Kwong

Madison Olivieri-Rangel ’15, Madeleine Pye ’15, Gillian Smith ’15, and Aban Yaqub ’15

THE 2020 ENCORE celebrated the Class of 2020 with a Saturday night post-dinner event in the Little Theater. Alumni who could not celebrate their LFA graduation in person amid the COVID-19 pandemic enjoyed this special opportunity to catch up with classmates, participate in trivia, and walk down memory lane with a slideshow from their time at LFA.

Class of 2020 front row: Sophie Waimon, Michael Lentskevich, Sarah Eisendrath, Lauren Salliotte, Carolyn Lu, Montse Borjas; second row: Ani Martinez, Kalina Honczarenko, George Reavis, Davis Priest, Alex Zhou, Isis Burgos, Haaris Anjum; third row: Mia Castle, Rich Park, Derek Hui, Thomas Leonetti; back row: Graham Lin, Nikita Rapoport, Paul Rhoades

Class of 1980: Wayne Wright P’13, Mark Karstrom P’18

Class of 1970: Laurie Epstein Dearlove, Laurie Taylor-Curby

Class of 2010: Tommy Christoph, Matt Kneeland

Class of 2021: Maddie Dickerson, Bella Martinez

Class of 2015 front row: Madison Olivieri-Rangel, Chelsea Langston, Sydney Brundige, Aban Yaqub, Karisma Chhabria, Gillian Smith; second row: Kristine Zengeler, Liza Tarr, Madeleine Pye, Stanton Cope; back row: Junhao Pan

Class of 2000 front row: Jenny Jeep Johnson, Shanthi Ramanathan Radhakrishnan, Johnnie Johnson ’01, P’26, ’27, Rachel Llanas; second row: Katie Nitka, Sarah Griggs, Fred Kuznik; third row: Lauren Bassi, Justin Krick; back row: J.K. Moore Krupka

Class of 2005: Daniel Margul, Matt Rosso, Laniel Razdolsky

Lake Forest Day Parade

Ferry Hall Day

Prior to the start of the 202526 academic year, a group of LFA students, alumni, faculty, and staff joined the local community for its annual Lake Forest Day parade festivities. The Caxy contingent passed out a parade favorite of various types of a candy along with school supplies to get kids ready for the school year.

Class Retreats

LFA’s annual retreats for the freshmen and senior classes highlighted preseason week as the Class of 2026 traveled to Covenant Harbor in Lake Geneva, Wis. for an overnight two-day retreat that gave the seniors an opportunity to strengthen their bonds with one another and reflect on their role

within and impact on LFA’s community. The newest Caxys in the Class of 2029 introduced themselves with a day of events on campus before a trip to Boundless Adventures in Bristol, Wis., where they continued class bonding and set expectations for their time at LFA.

Every year on Sept. 22, Lake Forest Academy celebrates Ferry Hall Day! This year marks the 156th anniversary of the founding of Ferry Hall, the allgirls school that merged with Lake Forest Academy in 1974. To celebrate, the LFA community sported the school’s colors of yellow and white and enjoyed special treats during lunch, while Ferry Hall Prefect Christina Quiroz and Head of School Tom Johnson posed at the Ferry Hall sign on campus. On the courts and fields, LFA’s girls sports teams wore special Ferry Hall-themes uniforms in competition to recognize Ferry Hall Day and its contributions to Lake Forest Academy.

Ten Caxys Earn National Merit Honors

House Cup

The House Cup started with a festive field day at Alumni Stadium. Each academic year, students, faculty, and staff belong to one of four houses - Bird, Lewis, Sargent, or Welch. Throughout the school year, the four Houses compete for the coveted House Cup. The color of the cover of the student planner, as well as the ribbon around Monty the Bear’s wrist, indicate the reigning House Cup champion. The Class of 2025 as Welch House claimed the House Cup so the planner and ribbon are black for the 2025-26 school year.

Lake Forest Academy’s latest of academic honorees in the National Merit Scholarship Program were honored and recognized at Morning Meeting on Sept. 10 for being named semifinalists. An impressive 10 students at LFA were included when officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of over 16,000 Semifinalists from high schools around the country. Semifinalists are selected based on the results of the PSAT/NMSQT® exams taken during their junior years. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Members of the Class of 2026 that were named Semifinalists include: Drew Cobin, Ella Froberg, Jinki Hong, Quinn Macejko, Aadit Mantrow, Jackson Pick, Sahasrad Sathish, Veronika Vovk, Gabby Wang, and Cyrena Yang LFA’s 10 Semifinalists follow five in the Class of 2025 and 2024, seven in the Class of 2023, two in the Class of 2022, three in the Class of 2021, and five in the Class of 2020.

College Night

College Night hosted representatives from over 100 colleges and universities at Lake Forest Academy. This annual event during the fall semester provides an opportunity for LFA’s juniors and seniors to speak with college admissions personnel from schools across the United States and internationally. In addition to an opportunity for Caxys, the Academy welcomes students, parents, and counselors from local public and independent schools to attend the event as students prepare for the college admission process.

Caxys and Bears Meet

In early November, students in Journalism 2 and Advanced Journalistic Writing and Reporting were treated to a visit at nearby Lake Forest institution Halas Hall - home of the Chicago Bears. The students and Director of Journalism Mark Eleveld toured the facility’s media spaces, including the broadcast studio and press conference room in addition to a discussion and q-and-a with the Bears’ media relations and content teams.

Young Men of Color Symposium

Dakota McLaurine ’28 and Roman McLaurine ’26 represented LFA at this year’s Cullen J. Davis Young Men of Color Symposium. The leadership conference, held at Francis Parker High School in Chicago, is designed for self-identified young men of color in grades six through 12 who attend independent schools. The day featured opportunities for participants to explore their identities while learning selfadvocacy, community-building, and leadership skills.

The Reid Hall courtyard was renovated during the summer and fall of 2025 featuring new landscaping and a fountain that resembles the original courtyard design.

LFA Student Wins “I Voted” Sticker Contest for Lake County

After ballots are cast in the upcoming 2026 primary and general elections, voters in Lake County will receive their “I Voted” sticker, one with a special Lake Forest Academy connection: the design was created by LFA freshman Michelle Oum ’29.

Her design for the sticker was one of over 100 submissions from students in kindergarten through 12th grade throughout Lake County. This year, designs had to incorporate the words “I Voted”, the hashtag #LakeCountyVotes, and the colors red, white, and blue. Oum was selected as the winner by the Lake County Clerk’s Office, for both the 9th-12th grade category and as the grand prize winner. As a reward, she will receive gift cards for finishing at the top of the high school division and for her victory of the entire contest, along with the honor of seeing her design distributed throughout the March and November 2026 elections.

End of Semester Events

Fall Food Drive

The LFA community came together in November to support the annual Fall Food Drive. As a community, almost 4,000 items were collected which helped stock North Chicago Community Partners’ Family Care Closet throughout the holiday season. Members of LFA’s Interact Club helped count all the donations and Welch House (Class of 2029) took first place! The Family Care Closet is a food pantry located inside North Chicago Community High School that serves an estimated 80 families each week.

Weekend Activities

LFA’s close proximity to a variety of attractions and amenities throughout the Chicagoland area provides a plethora of different opportunities, guaranteeing something of interest for every student. On-campus activities are also offered each weekend for those who would prefer to stay closer to home. Popular weekend activities include home sporting events; van runs to local shopping malls, movie theaters, and restaurants; trips to Chicago and Milwaukee; movie and game nights; and open gym and open fitness center hours. Several times throughout each semester, LFA students are also treated to special themed weekends, often centered around holidays or other events happening on campus or in the local community.

The fall semester wrapped up with a variety of traditional events ahead of and during final exams in December. The Parents Association’s End of Semester Treats on the final day of classes filled the Garden Room in Reid Hall with various items for students to fuel up for studying for the four days of final exams. In addition to End of Semester Treats, the Health and Wellness Prefects, Residential Life Team and the Academic Office organized the Caxy Cafe for evening study time in groups and with faculty during final exams. In addition to the study times, students were able to unwind with ping pong, food and hot cocoa. During the final exams days just before Winter Break, the Head of School Exam Treats provided a quick snack for students between exam periods each day.

Bird Artist Series

Two-time Pulitzer winner visits campus for community presentation and discussion

The Cressey Center for the Arts is full. Students, faculty and staff, parents, and friends of LFA alike fill the seats. A line forms at a book-selling table as excited chatter echoes throughout the space. Why have the masses gathered on a chilly night in October? Well, it’s to see none other than two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead, of course.

By Emmy Schwerdt // Digital Engagement Specialist

Whitehead is only the four th writer to win two Pulitzer Prizes in the Fiction category with his No. 1 New York Times bestseller The Underground Railroad winning in 2017 (also an Oprah’s Book Club selection and winner of the 2016 National Book Award) and New York Times bestseller The Nickel Boys in 2020 (also winner of the 2019 Kirkus Prize for Fiction and the 2020 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction). His additional works, which include reviews, essays, and fiction, have appeared in a number of publications, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and New York Magazine. He has received a MacArthur Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Writers Award, and was named New York’s 11th State Author in 2018, among his accolades.

Joining the LFA community on Thursday, Oct. 23, Whitehead led a community presentation as a part of LFA’s Bird Artist Series. The community presentation featured two segments: first, Whitehead spoke about notable life experiences and how they shaped his path to writing and his works themselves; then, Whitehead answered questions from LFA students with the Dr. Ray Bird Jr. Master Chair in English Jon Freeman P’27, ’29. The evening concluded with a book signing where attendees could speak with Whitehead, have their books personalized, and snap some photos. Whitehead returned to the LFA campus the following day, meeting with English classes and various LFA faculty in more informal Q&A sessions.

Whitehead’s event marked the first Bird Artist Series community presentation of the 2025-26 school year. In recent years, the series has welcomed over a dozen guests from a variety of backgrounds: poets, authors, writers, artists, and more have graced LFA’s stages and classrooms. In his role as Dr. Ray Bird Jr. Master Chair in English, Freeman is responsible for selecting and coordinating guest visits.

“The process always starts with looking at which authors we are teaching in the English department, which genres, because the greatest value with visiting authors is meeting students where they are. Sometimes, our guests are just someone doing

really cool work that I think our students and faculty would enjoy, but curricular relevancy is always the primary driving force,” Freeman said. “When you look at Colson, he’s such a part of the English curriculum that almost half of our students are currently reading or have read at least one of his books. He was always on our radar as the ultimate person to bring in.”

The Bird Artist Series is named after former Lake Forest Academy English teacher Ray Bird. Bird 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 - a sentiment Freeman is aiming to continue with the Bird Artist Series.

“Those that know Ray would all remember him as probably the most enthusiastic teacher in their memory. He didn’t just wish success for his students, it was almost like he willed it into being, and I think the Bird Artist Series is a really fitting tribute to the work he did here,” Freeman said. “I always try to put the student experience at the center of every decision I make and it’s truly a joy to be in this position.”

While Bird Artist Series community presentations are open to the public, the focus of the program is on providing invaluable access to notable creative minds that builds on the student experience that LFA provides. One such student, Roman McLaurine ’26, had the opportunity to introduce Whitehead at the community presentation and speak to the author on a more personal level.

“I was nervous it was going to be this surreal experience, and it was, but I also learned that [people like Whitehead] are human too. It was amazing being able to hear about not just his writing, but how he thinks, about his life experiences, and his way with words.” McLaurine said. “Events like these unite us as a community, when we can all come together and build our beliefs and our confidence to express ourselves.”

The Bird Artist Series is one of many programs at Lake Forest Academy made possible due to the generosity of its community. For more information and opportunities to expand LFA’s reach through initiatives like the Bird Artist Series, please reach out to advancement office at advancement@lfanet.org.

Fall Play Answers the Question of... Whodunit?!?!

The classic mystery story of “Clue” was performed four times over three days in October by the Lake Forest Academy Fine and Performing Arts Department. The fall play transformed the stage in The Cressey Center for the Arts into a multi-dimensional set for a very unusual dinner party as the cast entertained the audience in each performance to figure out whodunit! The student cast portrayed the cult classic film and the popular board game with iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they raced to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up.

The fall orchestra concert featured a festive Halloween theme and utilized the set from the performance of Clue.

The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO), which features three LFA symphony orchestra students, performed its fall concert in November at Symphony Center in Chicago. Davin Lee ’26 (clarinet), Lucy Liu ’26 (viola), and Sienna Yang ’27 (violin) represent LFA in CYSO.

In addition to CYSO, Lee and Yang were also selected as members of the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) district festival orchestra. LFA is part of District 7 which is one of the most competitive districts in the state for ILMEA auditions.

Following the ILMEA district festival, Lee was selected for the fourth time in as many years to perform in the All-State Honors Orchestra. He was one of only 2,000 students from across the state selected to participate. In addition to the state honor, Lee also garnered national recognition in the YoungArts competition, being selected as one of five clarinetists among the 100 honorees in the Classical Music discipline. YoungArts sees thousands of applicants each year and Davin’s selection recognizes work that demonstrates exceptional technique, a strong sense of artistry, and a depth of thinking/performing that exceeds the level of other peers.

Pictured above from top: VOX Fall Concert in The Cressey Center for the Arts, Winter Choir Concert in Reid Hall, Co-ax performing at Homecoming Dance

Pictured left and right: Fall Solo Concert in Little Theater, Glass Exhibition in The Cressey Center for the Arts

From the Archives

Spotlights and Musical Notes: On Stage at LFA and Ferry Hall

By Rita MacAyeal ’87 // Library Director and Archivist

Music and theater have long been a part of the Lake Forest Academy and Ferry Hall student experience. In the earliest years at Ferry Hall a rigorous music department attracted students who enrolled solely to study musical instruments and vocal arts. Although it was not initially embedded in the early curriculum at LFA, musical opportunities were available to students through the Glee Club and Orchestra. The first known dramatic presentation at LFA was A Bicycle Farce, presented in January of 1896. In 1901, Ferry Hall students presented the first school play, Dido, and continued to stage outdoor productions as part of the May Day celebration each spring, often choosing from Shakespeare’s plays. At LFA in 1905, the school founded the “Dramatic Club” which staged original farces written by students and faculty or adapted from other works. The club was renamed the “Gargoyle Club” in 1915 and continued to offer entertaining comedic works to the Academy community.

In 1927, Ferry Hall student Harlean Carpenter ’29 played a role in Shakespeare’s play The Winter’s Tale and later went on to achieve Hollywood fame under her stage name, Jean Harlow. At LFA, one notable musician in the LFA Orchestra during the 1920s was cornet player Bix Beiderbecke ’24, who would leave the school to become a key figure in the jazz music scene of his time.

During the 1930s, the Academy celebrated annual “Mid-Winter Festivities” which included dances, Glee Club concerts, and introduced a comedy vaudeville revue called “Follies” that lasted into the 1950s.

In 1944, LFA and Ferry Hall came together for a joint stage production of Captain Applejack held at the Deerpath Theater, and again in 1946 for a staging of Tovarich. The schools would combine for a number of plays and concerts over the ensuing years, including an annual Fine Arts Festival beginning in May 1971 and lasting after the merger until 1985. The tradition developed at LFA to present a fall play and winter/spring musical, with additional small-cast plays by members of the Thespian Society.

Also in the mid 1980s, the student/faculty rock band Co-ax was formed (first known as Fax Plus) and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this school year!

The Chapel served as the main theater for LFA, but in 1979 the interior was destroyed by fire. The renovated facility did not have a stage, so for decades shows were performed in the venue on removable wooden platforms that provided minimal ability to design scenery. The need for a theater was finally met with the addition of The Cressey Center for the Arts, made possible through the generous philanthropy of Christy Cressey P’00, ’02, ’03 and Bryan Cressey P’00, ’02, ’03, parents of three LFA graduates. The Cressey Center opened in 2001 and was dedicated in 2003. The first full musical production to grace the Cressey stage was Gypsy, performed in the winter of 2002 to critical acclaim in The Spectator. Further additions to the performing arts in subsequent years have included the VOX ensemble, a cappella singing groups, and an electronic music program. A rich history of theater and music and an ongoing commitment to creative engagement ensures that LFA will continue to put a spotlight on the performing arts in years to come.

1900 Yearbook photo of class play at LFA

1901 Dido - the first play performed at Ferry Hall

1912 Stage play Pride and Prejudice at Ferry Hall

1921-22 LFA Orchestra with cornet player Bix Beiderbecke ’24 back row second from right

1927 Ferry Hall May Day production of The Winters Tale with Harlean Carpenter ’29 (Jean Harlow) sitting far right

1915 Stage play at LFA on the old campus

1921 Spring Gargoyle Club drama play Nothing But the Truth

1930 Follies comedy performance in the chapel at the old LFA campus

1960 Combined LFA and Ferry Hall musical production of A Walden Fantasia at the LFA Chapel

1939 Spring performance of the musical Pirates of Penzance at Ferry Hall

1954 Musical holiday production of The Christmas Nutcracker with music adapted from Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky

1974 Winter production the musical You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, with combined LFA and Ferry Hall student cast

1976 Performance of the musical Yankee Doodle in the LFA Chapel before the fire

1988 Production of the play Crimes of the Heart in the Chapel

1991 March production of the musical Guys and Dolls in the Chapel

1998 Production of the musical You Can’t Take it With You in the Chapel

2002 Winter production of Gypsy which was the first musical to be performed in The Cressey Center for the Arts

2008 Winter production of the musical Into the Woods in The Cressey Center for the Arts

The fall sports season to start the 2025-26 academic year was highlighted by girls golf winning its first ISL team and individual championship along with multiple broken records in the pool by the girls swimming team. Following the conclusion to the fall seasons, the Caxys added to the LFA trophy case with all-conference and region honors across multiple teams.

The boys cross country team capped off the season with standout performances at the Independent School League (ISL) Championships, held on LFA’s home course. Two Caxys – Valor Cutaia ’26 and Albert Hou ’28 – earned All-ISL honors after finishing fifth and sixth overall, leading the varsity squad to a strong third-place team finish.

The girls cross country team, led by standout Abbey Welsh ’28, impressed at the ISL Championships with a fourth-place team finish. Welsh earned All-ISL recognition after placing fifth overall, capping a breakout season for the young runner. Featuring one of the youngest varsity squads in the league, the Caxys rose to the occasion on championship day, with six varsity athletes setting personal records and 13 achieving PRs in the open race.

The 2025 season was one to celebrate for field hockey, as the Caxys’ hard work and talent were recognized across both the Independent School League (ISL) and the Illinois High School Field Hockey Association (IHSFHA). A total of 13 players earned postseason honors, underscoring the depth and dedication of the program. Peyton Pollak ’26 and Christina Quiroz ’26 led the way,

Lake Forest Academy | www.lfanet.org

earning first team All-ISL and IHSFHA All-Conference recognition for their outstanding play. They were joined by Robin Paisley ’27 and Zoe Wolfberg ’26 on the All-ISL first team, while Aniela Giese ’27 claimed a spot on the second team. Beyond their on-field excellence, the Caxys also shone in the classroom, with 11 players receiving IHSFHA All-Academic honors.

Four members of the boys golf team earned All-ISL honors at the ISL Golf Championships, capping another standout season for the Caxys. Fitz Knight ’27 tied for third, Veer Patwardhan ’29 placed fifth while Louis Raines ’27 and Mason Martin ’28 shared ninth place, all finishing inside the top ten. On a picture-perfect day at Cog Hill, the Caxys battled fiercely for what would have been a third straight team title, falling just three strokes shy of Latin.

Lake Forest Academy’s girls golf team dominated the ISL Championships, claiming the team title by 39 strokes and continuing the program’s remarkable ascent since its founding in 2021. Aurora Du ’28 made school history by winning the individual ISL championship, edging her nearest competitor by a single stroke. Du was joined on the All-ISL roster by Hanna Self ’29, who finished fifth, and Mary Rivera-Scheeringa ’26, who placed eighth.

The boys prep ice hockey team opened the fall portion of the 2025-26 season by sweeping through the Chicago Steel Icebreaker to claim the championship in September before winning the CCM Invite title in November. LFA outscored its four opponents 22-16 in the Icebreaker as the Caxys started the season with seven consecutive victories overall. In the CCM Invite, LFA dropped just one

game en route to totaling an impressive 31-7 scoring margin over the six games in the event. The Caxys closed out the first half of the season at the prestigious Circle K Classic in Calgary. LFA went 2-1 in pool play against some of the top programs in Canada before falling in the round of 16. Romain Lellouche ’26 was one of just 12 players recognized after the tournament as he earned Second AllStar team honors.

The girls tennis team capped a remarkable fall with a runner-up finish at the ISL Championships, narrowly missing the team title in a tightly contested race with Latin. The Caxys demonstrated depth and determination across all flights, excelling in both singles and doubles play. Sophia DeLise ’26 and Liza Lewis ’28 led the charge, winning the ISL championship at No. 1 doubles, while Beatrice Franklin ’27 and Kyra Quinn ’27 also captured first place at No. 3 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, Lindsay Farbman ’26 and Dora Huang ’27 placed third, solidifying LFA’s status as one of the conference’s strongest doubles programs. In singles, Vivienne Wang ’28 finished third at No. 1, and May Gao ’28 took fourth at No. 2. LFA closed the season with a 6-1 ISL record and an 11-2 overall mark.

T hroughout the 2025 girls swimming season, the Caxys set new marks in a variety of events and in some cases the new records didn’t last long as they fell multiple times. Of the five events that saw new program records, three of those were broken multiple times during the 2025 campaign. E.B. Poska ’28 broke the 500 freestyle record for the first time on Sept. 16 with a time of 5:23.19. She went on to break the 500 mark three more times and concluded the season with a time of 5:11.83 in the ISL Championship meet on Oct. 26. Defne Kocak

’26 set two new records in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke. Her time of 1:00.55 in the 100 backstroke on Sept. 25 broke a 10-year-old LFA record that was set during the 2015 season. She set the new record in the 100 breaststroke first on Oct. 9 with a time of 1:05.67 before her final swim for LFA in the event at the ISL meet where she posted an improved record of 1:05.24. Kendall Phillips ’28 improved on her own 50 freestyle record set during her freshman year with a time of 25.08 on Sept. 16. A month later at the ISL meet on Oct. 26, she broke the 50 freestyle record again with a time of 24.82. In addition to the individual records, the relay team of Kocak, Saathvika Narayan ’26, Poska, and Phillips posted a new record in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:42.55 on Oct. 2.

The Independent School League (ISL) announced its postseason girls volleyball honors, with LFA’s Emmie Greer ’26 earning first team All-ISL recognition for her performance as a middle hitter. The Caxys concluded the season with a 4–3 record in conference play, finishing fourth overall in the ISL standings.

The boys soccer team capped an outstanding 2025 campaign with a remarkable collection of postseason honors from both the Independent School League (ISL) and the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA). Headlining the awards, Kristian Kopacz ’26 was named ISL Co-Player of the Year, while goalkeeper Gio Ayala ’27 earned Goalkeeper of the Year. Additionally, Head coach Paul Makovec and assistants Dieter Villegas ’18 and Sole Antonijivic were recognized as Co-Coaching Staff of the Year by their ISL peers. Four players earned All-ISL recognition: Kopacz, Colton Dunford ’26, and Diego Pedroza ’26 were named to the first team, and Rodrigo Gutierrez-Hinojosa ’28 secured a second team selection. The honors extended beyond the conference as the IHSSCA recognized multiple Caxys: Kopacz, Ayala, and Pedroza earned first team All-Section, while Drew Cobin ’26 received Academic All-Section honors, and Dunford was awarded the Sportsmanship All-Section distinction.

On July 16, alumni from the Classes of 2009-2021 gathered at The Penthouse at Morgan’s on Fulton to reconnect, share stories, and toast to summer with Head of School Tom Johnson and his wife, Leigh Morrison. It was a wonderful evening full of laughter, memories, and Caxy pride.

Rich Park ’20, Elizabeth Campisi ’20, Sarah Eisendrath ’20, Montserrat Borjas ’20

Katie Wolters ’20, Chapin Grumhaus ’18, Nicki Rust ’18, Lindsey Pearlman ’20, Carlee Wolters ’18

Carrington Newsome ’19

, Alina Moreno ’18, Matthew Greco, Head of School Tom Johnson, Learning Resources Specialist Leigh Morrison, Ford Johnstone ’16

Head of School Tom Johnson shares an update on the latest happenings at LFA.

College Dinner Series

Connecting with collegiate Caxys around the country celebrates 12 years

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Case Western Reserve University

Indiana University

Purdue University

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Washington University in St. Louis

University of Michigan

Northwestern University

Cambridge-Area Colleges & Universities

Boston-Area Colleges & Universities

Head of School Welcome Tour

New Head of School Tom Johnson visits with alumni and families around the country

Lake Forest Academy was on the road throughout the fall as part of its Welcome Tour to introduce Head of School Tom Johnson to the wider alumni and parent community around the country. Thank you to all of our LFA and Ferry Hall alumni/ae who joined in the celebrations.

Denver // October 2025 at Barolo Grill

Chicago // December 2025 Breakfast in the Loop at Northern Trust

Lake Forest Academy | www.lfanet.org

Left to right: Mac Fuller ’04, Tanya Pramatarova ’05, Molly Nitka ’05, and her husband, Bruce Osborn

Front row, left to right: Trustee Duane Jackson ’01, Jessica DeBruin P’29, David Allen ’96, John Turney ’03, Alicia Cressey ’03, Katie Schilling ’21; back row, left to right: Scott Fuller ’12, Head of School Tom Johnson, Leland Brewster ’07, David Gupta ’81, George Reavis ’20

Phil von der Heydt ’65 and Head of School Tom Johnson

Left to right: Susan and Frederick “Tim” Damour ’58 with Kathy Neustadt ’74

Clockwise from bottom left: Bruce Osborn, Molly Nitka ’05, Barb Hediger von der Heydt ’66, Marla “Becky” Cunningham ’67, Michael Cunningham, Kathy Neustadt ’74, Susan Damour, Head of School Tom Johnson, Tom Kelley ’65, Linda Kelley, Tim Damour ’58, Phil von der Heydt ’65, Mac Fuller ’04, Tanya Pramatarova ’05

Head of School Tom Johnson with event host and LFA alumnus John Turney ’03

Boston // November 2025 at Trillium

Brewing

Learners and Leaders Lunch Series Connecting

Students with Industry Leaders

The Stuar t Center for Global Leadership launched the Learners and Leaders Lunch series, featuring experts from a wide range of industries who share their career journeys and connect with students during lunch in a small-group setting. These monthly gatherings provide students the opportunity to interact with alumni over lunch on campus.

In October, Jenae Brooks ’00, P’28, ’28 joined LFA students for the first event of the Learners and Leaders Lunch Series program. She shared her career journey from LFA to Vice President at Abbott, answered students’ questions, and imparted valuable lessons on remaining flexible, being willing to pivot, and fostering lifelong relationships.

Senior Physicist at

welcomed

He shared his career journey from student to a leader in the field of physics. Freeland leads research at Argonne National Laboratory using advanced X-ray techniques to study the structure and behavior of materials at the atomic level. Throughout his career, he remained dedicated to using his expertise to support the work of others and contribute to the global community.

Alumni interested in participating in a Learners and Leaders Lunch Series can reach out to Assistant Director of Experiential Learning Elizabeth Bulley at elizabeth.bulley@lfanet.org for more information.

The November lunch

Dr. John Freeland ’86,

Argonne National Laboratory.

Left to right: Alex Wang ’13, Jake Baxter and Katie Kim Baxter ’15, Carly Thomas ’15, Han Le ’15, Erica Cha, Head of School Tom Johnson, Abe Park ’17, Young Lee ’16, Becca Dee ’18, Trustee Suzanne Isenberg ’83, Maya Lieberman ’18, Mallory Hanig ’07, Maddie Ireland ’20, Katie Epmeier Tremblay ’93, Lizzie Frekko ’21, Doug Shaw P’17, ’19, Ramona Sequeira P’17, ’19, David Yao ’24, Adam Harder ’81, Perry Stoll ‘89

Left to right: David Yao ’24, Head of School Tom Johnson, Carly Thomas ’15, Katie Kim Baxter ’15, Jake Baxter

Left to right: LFA Trustee Suzanne Isenberg ’83 with alumni parents Ramona Sequeira and Doug Shaw P’17, ’19, and Adam Harder ’81

Left to right: Lizzie Frekko ’21, Maddie Ireland ’20, and Director of Individual Philanthropy Ruth Keyso

1967: Faculty Brats Reunite

After 60 Years

Chris Wetzel ’67 shares the following from a September 2024 reunion with fellow “faculty brats” who grew up on the LFA campus in the 1950s and 60s.

I was a “faculty brat,” a child of LFA faculty. We brats grew up on campus. There were about a dozen of us, with many within three years of one another. We were playmates and had the full run of campus, mostly wooded and much bigger than today.

We explored every inch of the campus and its buildings (including the whisper circle on the grand steps in Reid Hall), no doubt including many spots we weren’t supposed to know about. Back then, LFA was surrounded by farms or horse ranches, so we only had each other. It was a great life for a kid, but very unusual. When I tell “others” of my childhood, they think I was in a cult or on a top-secret military base.

Four families were at LFA for most of their children’s childhood: the Fremds, Wetzels, Barry/Blacks and, of course, the Corbins. Jon Fremd ’66, David Black ’64, and I attended LFA as students; the Corbins’ daughter, Linsey, moved away for boarding school (Ferry Hall had not yet merged with LFA). We all went our separate ways to college and only sporadically contacted each other since then.

In September 2024, my wife, Marsha, and I were biking along the coast in Maine, close to where I knew Linsey was living. After that, we planned to visit the D.C. area, where both David and Jon lived. I thought it would be a good time to reconnect; it had only been 60 years since the four of us had all been together, playing pool in the basement of Durand (before it was moved).

Marsha and I spent the night at Linsey’s beautiful house, reminiscing and sharing old photos. We met each other’s spouses. In D.C., we enjoyed a long lunch with David, Jon, and Linsey, who joined remotely via Zoom. So many of our memories and impressions of others and our lives at LFA were the same, but different. I remember trying to dunk a basketball (by running along the pullout bleachers in Glore Gym and jumping off the end). I grabbed the rim, swung, and slipped off it, hitting the deck and shattering my elbow. Jon recalled that I only grabbed the net and failed the dunk, but he heard the crack when I hit the floor. He went to get the campus nurse, who took me via ambulance to Lake Forest Hospital. Jon came with me. While I was being checked out, Jon was free to roam. He wandered into the physical therapy wing. That’s when he decided he was going to become a physical therapist –and he did exactly that.

During some summers, we would host “Junior Olympics,” where all of the faculty brats participated in track and field events. Jon, David, and I earned track letters at LFA, and Linsey and another female brat, Laurie, were much faster than I thought girls could be.

The LFA campus was the venue for weddings, debutante parties, and antique shows that we worked as teenagers during the summer and holidays. How fast those 60 years have passed. Maybe it’s time to track down a few more faculty brats and do it again, at LFA.

Linsey Corbin and Chris Wetzel ’67

Left to right: Chris Wetzel ’67, Jon Fremd ’66, Linsey Corbin (on screen), and David Black ’64

Clockwise from left: David Black ’64, Jon Fremd ’66, Chris Wetzel ’67, Linsey Corbin (on screen), and Chris’ wife, Marsha.

1970

Paul Heininger ’70 is retired and living in southeastern Michigan with his wife. He stays active through several volunteer activities and is slowly working toward a second bachelor’s degree. Paul enjoys time with his two children and three grandchildren and shares gratitude for his classmates who continue to support the Academy with their time, talent, and treasure.

1972

Classmates and lifelong friends met up at the Village Supper Club in Delavan, Wis., on Aug. 7, 2025.

2001 and 2002

While speaking at a healthcare award ceremony in Austin, Texas, Dr. Hussein Musa ’01 ran into one of his old Caxy classmates, Muhammad Abbasi ’02

2008 and 2011

Two LFA alumnae were expecting babies during the summer, Nicole Makris McAtee ’08 and Sophia Salsbery ’11

Left to right: Jim McLaughlin ’72, Merrill Ferguson ’72, John Collins ’72, Bert Webbe ’72, and Allan Kaplan ’72, P’03

Class of 1972 alumni and their spouses and families. Left to right: Lindy Webbe (spouse of Bert Webbe ’72); Emma Kaplan, daughter of Loretta ’73 and Allan Kaplan ’72, P’03; Merrill Ferguson ’72, P’10; Jim McLaughlin ’72 (in hat); Bert Webbe ’72; Karolee McLaughlin (spouse of Jim); Allan Kaplan; Loretta Kalnow Kaplan; and Peggy and John Collins ’72

Muhammad Abbasi ’01 and Dr. Hussein Musa ’02

Nicole Makris McAtee ’08 and Sophia Salsbery ’11

2017

On Oct. 12, 2025, Katie Dozois ’17 married Dillon Kleinvehn in Libertyville, Ill. Among the guests were about 35 LFA alumni, current, and former faculty members.

2010

Sarah (Jacobson) Anderson ’10 and Tom Anderson ’10 were married on June 14, 2025, in Wellfleet, Mass. Their wedding party included Sarah’s brother John Jacobson ’06, Lizett Meraz ’11, and Jackie Jacobson ’13 Classmates Gabbie Kim ’10 and Jasmine Brown ’10 joined in the celebration, and Chris Tennyson P’27 officiated. The Tennyson family, including Hugh Tennyson ’27, were also in attendance. Sarah is forever grateful to LFA for being the place where it all began.

1996 & 2024

Senior Associate Dean of Admission/Director of International Admission Adam Gerber P’21, ’24 visited with two alumnae while traveling in the fall. Gerber visited Katrin Ostwald ’96 (left) in Wiesbaden, Germany and caught up with Zuer “Elva” Zong ’24 (right) in Paris.

Left to right: Sarah (Jacobson) Anderson ’10, Chris Tennyson P’27, and Tom Anderson ’10

Left to right: Minyoung “Gabbie” Kim ’10, Lizett Meraz ’11, and Jasmine Brown ’10

Left to right: Lizett Meraz ’11, John Jacobson ’06, Jackie Jacobson ’13, Tom Anderson ’10, Sarah (Jacobson) Anderson ’10, Jake Moss, Lara Kenik, Erik Jacobson, Andrea Lauden

2022 and 2024

A group of young alumni from the classes of 2022 and 2024 visited campus on Thanksgiving Day and included Ashley Guo ’22, Stephen Huang ’22, Harry Luo ’24, Sophia Mou ’22, Carter Shi ’22, Steven Sun ’22, Sunny Sun ’22, Andrew Wang ’22, Jaroy Wei ’22, and Nina Zhang ’22. The class of 2022 will be graduating from colleges this year, and the Thanksgiving visit marked the first time for this group returning to LFA since graduation.

To submit information for Class Notes and the monthly Alumni eNewsletter, please send career/family updates and photos to classnotes@lfanet.org.

REUNION 2026

Mark Your Calendars for Reunion Weekend 2026! June 5-7, 2026

LFA Reunion enters a new era in June 2026. This year’s three-day celebration features a revamped summer schedule and exciting new signature events! Join us on campus to celebrate milestone classes ending in 1 and 6 and the Class of 1976’s 50th Reunion.

New this year, attendees will have the opportunity to stay the weekend on campus in Atlass Hall. Keep an eye on the Reunion Weekend website (lfanet.org/reunion) for more details, registration link, and full activity schedule as they become available this spring.

Want to help make Reunion Weekend a memorable experience for everyone?

Become a class volunteer!

Help spread the word about Reunion, connect with classmates, and share updates.

Interested? Email Director of Alumni Engagement Dianys Padró Pagán at dianys.padropagan@lfanet.org to get started. We’re already planning and would love input!

Six LFA faculty and staff members represented the Academy at The Association of Boarding Schools’ 2025 Conference (TABS), where they presented on different facets of the LFA experience and connected with other educators and administrators from boarding schools around the country.

In addition to attending the conference in Boston, the LFA contingent presented on a variety of topics. Head of School Tom Johnson and Dean of Faculty Paul Makovec discussed LFA’s co-curricular points system for faculty titled “Reconfiguring Faculty Roles in an Evolving CoCurricular Landscape.”

Director of Health Services Jen Madeley P’11, ’14 and Director of Experiential Learning Erin English P’18, ’20, ’23, ’24 presentation “Holistic Well-Being in Action: Bringing Health & Wellness to School Culture” featured LFA’s Health, Wellness, and Community programming.

“The Indispensable Executive Assistant: Navigating a Head of School Transition” was presented by Executive Assistant to the Head of the School and Board of Trustees Jackie Leib P’18 on managing the transition in leadership at a boarding school.

LFA is proud of our truly global community, with international students comprising 22 percent of the 2025-26 student body and representing 40 countries and territories. This year, LFA expanded our international travel to connect with more prospective families and educational consultants abroad. Already this school year, the admission team has spent over two months traveling internationally to the following locations:

Paris Hanoi

Frankfurt

Ho Chi Minh City

Tokyo Taipei

Seoul Hong Kong

Jakar ta Shenzhen

Bangkok Shanghai

Kuala Lumpur Beijing

In addition to the recruitment efforts by the admission office, the college counseling department was able to meet with many current parents and alumni during a trip to Asia in November.

Left to right: Tom Johnson, Jackie Leib P’18, President of TABS Susan Baldridge, Erin English P’18, ’20, ’23, ’24, Jen Madeley P’11, ’14, Jennifer Rundles, Paul Makovec

BEIJING

SHANGHAI

SHENZHEN

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 Dec. 15, 2025.

1938

John Armour

July 24, 2017

1945

Sara J. “Sally” Anderson

July 11, 2025

1948

Henry M. Steele

June 10, 2000

Jacqueline (Dougall) Smith October 6, 2025

1949

Ann Trowbridge Lawrence Richter August 27, 2025

1950

Stan B. Curtis

February 19, 2024

Constance “Connie” L. (Walker) Novotny November 3, 2024

1951

Thomas “Tom” B. Bradbury

May 31, 2025

Margaret (Wolfer) Burger October 28, 2008

Judith “Judy” N. (Nelson) Jorgensen

September 10, 2025

Jack Leroy Watson

July 24, 2025

1952

Dorsey Woodward Holt October 25, 2022

1953

Barbara L. (Ingwell) Meads September 3, 2024

1955

Stuart “Stu” March Olney May 4, 2025

1956

Charles Hirsheimer December 12, 2025

1958

Lee S. Schwartz June 25, 2025

1960

Paul Grant Gilroy October 13, 2025

1961

Bertram Wolf Roberts August 18, 2025

1962

Patricia Jane “Pat” (Ellis) Brainard June 9, 2024

1963

D. Stephen Buck September 14, 2025

1965

Catharine “Cathie” C. (Cline) Hamilton October 7, 2025

1976

Kenneth “Ken” B. Rothschild August 8, 2025

1977

JoAnne Bartholomew December 13, 2025

One Day. All Caxy.

Giving Day 2025 has remarkable support from LFA community

Our Giving Day was a remarkable success—because of YOU! Thanks to the incredible strength and spirit of the Caxy community around the world, LFA’s Giving Day exceeded every expectation.

An extraordinary number of donors stepped forward to do their part, once again proving just how powerful our LFA family can be. We are deeply grateful for what we accomplished together—and energized for what comes next!

Thanks to this global outpouring of support, we raised $383,438 from 296 donors.

This year’s Giving Day truly spanned the globe. Gifts came in from across the country and around the world, reflecting the reach of our community and the shared commitment that unites Caxys everywhere.

Congratulations to Our Challenge Winners

Class of 2029

Parents for highest Current Parent participation

Class of 2021 for leading Alumni participation

The One Day. All Caxy. donor map beautifully captures the story of this Giving Day and reveals the true breadth of Caxy pride —support arriving from our local community and from alumni and parents all across the world.

Thank you for making this One Day. All Caxy. unforgettable!