LINCOLN ACADEMY
FALL 2015
EAGLE EYE Lincoln Academy Takes the Long View
A Photo Tour of the Cable-Burns Applied Technology and Engineering Center
American Author Project: An LA Tradition
TV Stars Anna Belknap '90 and Ryan Gaul '92 reflect on their Lincoln Years
Contents
D E PART M E NT S
F EAT U R ES
LI NCOLN ACADE MY ADMI NI STRATI ON
BOARD O F T RUS T EES
2 3 18 22 28 38 44 52 54
4 10 14 20 24 27 30
Head of School - David Sturdevant Associate Head of School - Andrew Mullin Associate Head for Finance and Strategic Planning - Margot Riley Associate Head for Advancement - Matthew Goetting Director of Counseling Services and Studies - Sarah Wills-Viega Director of Enrollment and Marketing - Sheryl Stearns Director of Resident Life - Ken Stevenson Associate Dean of Students - Jeremy Marks Athletic Director - KJ Anastasio Director of Facilities - Briceson Henny
President - Ann McFarland ’73 Vice President - Christine Wajer ’85 Treasurer - Sarah Maurer Secretary - Dennis Prior ’91 Tim Alley '77 Robert D. Baldwin ’62 Stephen Dixon Pam Gormley Marcus Hutchins Lisa Masters ’83 Jonathan McKane Karen M. Moran William Morgner Robert Nelson Faustine Reny ’01 Hugh Riddleberger
LA Mission Statement A Letter from the Head of School Eagle Eye: View from the Drone Sports Highlights LA Homecoming 2015 Annual Report of Contributions Department & Committee Updates Faculty Notes Class Notes
The Faces of ATEC American Author Paper Choosing Place: Alumni Living Local Performing Arts Graduation Photos 2015 William A. Clark Field Dedication Homegrown Stars: Anna Belknap '90 and Ryan Gaul '92 35 Jim Birkett: A Life of Curiosity, Opportunity, and Casting a Long Shadow
THANKS!
Aerie is a Lincoln Academy Development Office Publication, and would not be possible without many hands helping out. This is the third edition of Aerie, and we get a little better every time! Thanks to the feature writers: Peter Wagner, Allison Wehrle ‘16, and Thanh Nguyen ‘16. Phil Page ‘70 and Maya Crosby gathered most of the Class Notes for this edition. Many people took time to write reports and reflections and be interviewed. Thanks to Matt Goetting, Sheryl Stearns, David Sturdevant, Andy Mullin, Sarah Wills-Viega, Ken Stevenson, Bryan Manahan, Phil Page, Griff Braley, Liz Matta, Beth Preston, Jim Birkett ‘54, Ryan Gaul ‘92, and Anna Belknap ’90. Maya Crosby, Shawn St. Cyr '97, Susan Levesque, Kirsten Campbell, and Bob Topper provided important information about their work at ATEC. Paula Roberts, Jim Amaral, Polina Scimone, Lucy Williams, and Missy Abbott contributed photographs to the sports, Homecoming, faculty profiles, and other sections of the magazine. Drone pilots and aerial photographers were Kevin Fitzpatrick ‘17 and Kendra Bellefleur ‘18, who took the incredible cover shot. Gary Peachy shared the back cover aerial photo. All other photographs in the magazine are by Jenny Mayher. Once again, I could not create such a sharp and professional magazine without the expert touch of graphic designer Kate Mess, whose keen eye, technological expertise, and unflappable demeanor make meeting publication deadlines a breeze. -Jenny Mayher Lincoln Academy Communications and Community Engagement Manager and Aerie Project Manager P.S. Be sure to follow our electronic communications between Aerie issues! Look for Lincoln Academy News on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Aerie Graphic Designer Kate Mess (L) and Project Manager Jenny Mayher (R).
Cover: The Girls' Varsity Soccer Team warming up for their homecoming game on the new William A. Clark Field. Photo by Kendra Bellefleur '18, taken with the drone that was a gift from the Class of 2015. Inside cover photo: Summer light at Lincoln Academy. Back cover: Aerial photo of the Lincoln Academy Campus.
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
1
OUR MISSION
THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY A Letter from the Head of School
A
L
incoln Academy, with a proud two hundred year tradition of preparing students to meet the intellectual demands of full citizenship, strives continuously to provide a learning environment in which all students can achieve their highest potential. As an accredited, independent, secondary school with deep roots in the communities of midcoast Maine, Lincoln Academy seeks to serve the public interest by affording not only a comprehensive academic curriculum, but also a diverse blend of co-curricular opportunities. Our programs undertake to build knowledge, skills, and social values, and to promote high aspirations among all of our students.
L
incoln Academy is dedicated to creating lifelong learners who understand their complex relationship to the broader world. We make every effort to recognize and to meet the needs of students as individuals, while affirming that education is a collaboration of community, family, and student.
Lincoln Academy admits students of any race, religion, gender, national origin, or sexual orientation in the rights, privileges, programs, and activities available to students at the school. LA does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, or any other programs administered by the school. 2
FALL 2015
t Lincoln, we count the spirit of community as a major focus and theme of our educational mission. We talk with students about being part of a school community, part of our local midcoast community, and part of a global community. We encourage students to become involved in community service, and we provide opportunities for them to participate in such activities individually, in small groups and even as an entire class. We promote community service through some of our clubs and organizations such as Student Council, National Honor Society, the Interact Club, Alpha Sigma Gamma, and Sigma, Sigma, Chi. Students have traveled to New Mexico and Guatemala in the past two years to work with Habitat for Humanity, and the International Club has worked with international organizations to raise money for disaster relief and aid to indigenous peoples. Perhaps our best reminder of the spirit of community comes every Friday morning during our community meeting. During this time, students and faculty make announcements, celebrate accomplishments, and perform for the student body and faculty. Just a few examples from the last three weeks include the Lincolnaires singing the National Anthem to open assembly, students talking about the Marine Explorers’ Club and their involvement in an underwater robotics competition, and eight student council members talking about their
David Sturdevant has been the Head of School at Lincoln Academy since 2013.
upcoming blood drive—in eight different languages! It’s satisfying to see students who might not normally speak in front of a group get up and talk about a new club or activity they are starting; they might also play a song on their guitar or sing a song with a friend. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of assemblies stems from the respect and encouragement students show toward their peers as they perform for them or inform them of upcoming events and opportunities. It speaks to the school as a community-a place where students can be individuals and part of the greater collective without feeling pressured or unimportant. This year, we are opening up two assemblies to the public. While community members, alumni, and parents are always welcome, we are making a special invitation to visit us in December and in May. If you are in town at 7:45 am on Friday, December 12, please come on in to the Lincoln Academy gym for our first Open Assembly. Chairs will be set up to welcome visitors, and we welcome you to join our community!
David B. Sturdevant Head of School LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
3
The Faces
ATEC
The state-of-the-art Cable-Burns Applied Technology and Engineering Center
is now up and running, with many LA students in the new building every day for a class, advisor group, or club. On these pages you will find a photo tour of how students and staff are using the new spaces, which include a wood shop, metal lab, design and fabrication lab, computer lab, and auto bay. In addition to clean, open spaces with plenty of storage and natural light, the new ATEC building boasts brand new equipment, including wood, metal, and auto, and engine repair tools, robotics equipment, 3D printers, a CNC machine, and even a new drone, capable of collecting aerial video and still photos. Welcome to ATEC! Come for a tour.
4
FALL 2015
Metal Sculpture The heat is on in the ATEC metal fabrication lab! New teacher Kirsten Campbell is teaching a sculpture class with a focus on metal fabrication and the safe use of oxy-acetylene gas welding and cutting, arch welding, metal grinders, saws, and other tools. Eventually each student will design and create his or her own creation, using the various tools and techniques available in the metal shop. “Understanding the fundamentals of metal fabrication and the proper safe use of tools opens windows for students creativity,” says Ms. Campbell, who is a welder and metal sculptor in her own right. “Once these students learn the basic techniques of metalworking, they will have the opportunity to get creative with the metal, using this incredibly versatile medium for sculptural and functional creations.”
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
5
Anatomy
Introduction
Technology
The first skills students learn in Introduction to Technology are basic woodworking
skills: using power tools to create chairs, tables, and other practical projects. Applied Technology instructor Shawn St. Cyr teaches students how to use a saw, drill press, and power drill, and sets them up to work in teams. This year student woodworking projects began with the construction of their own work benches, and have progressed to include tables, Adirondack chairs, and cutting custom components for other projects using the new CNC machine, including some of the sets for the Lincoln Academy fall play, One Man, Two Guvnors.
Physiology
The Anatomy and Physiology course at
Lincoln is a combination of hard science and hands-on application. During their first unit, students studied a modified Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) training, taught by certified WAFA Instructor and RN Eric Duffy, using first aid supplies donated by Lincoln Health. “We are fortunate to have the support of Eric Duffy, a veteran of these trainings, and Lincoln Health, who supplied our first aid kits. These students will leave this class with the ability to make good decisions in emergency situations and with a good preparation to become an EMT, help with global disaster and relief efforts, or move further towards a career in applied health care," explains instructor Maya Crosby.
The LA Computer Science class teaches students a basic introduction to computer science principles. Students learn several programming languages, including Python and HTML, as well as computer hardware, global issues of net access and neutrality, and computational thinking. Students are learning about Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) which determine the skin, or external appearance, of every website. “Computer Science has helped me understand the world around me, and identify different parts of internet that I wouldn’t have been able to talk about today” said Walter Hudson, a senior in the class. Teacher Maya Crosby says, “The ATEC building is a huge part of how we learn today. Now, with space to move, discuss and work together, we can be more productive as a class.”
Computer Science 6
FALL 2015
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
7
Innovation Robotics
The Robotics class uses a combination of computer programming and fabrication
skills to build programmable robots in preparation for the VEX robotics competition. Every morning during A period, Mrs. Levesques' students work in teams to create robots that can perform a series of tasks, including following a maze and using robotic arms to lift and carry objects. “Last year was a pilot program,” says Mrs. Levesque. “This year we have the equipment, experience, and space to go much farther both in our understanding of the technology, and in the VEX competition.” This winter LA will compete in one or more VEX competition events. Vex Robotics is an organization that puts together the equipment specifications and tasks for robotics programs worldwide. Students earn points by completing a single task with different approaches and levels of sophistication.
Technology
Without the students of LAIT , education at Lincoln would soon grind to a halt. LAIT students set up and maintain both the student and staff laptops. “We are completely dependent on these devices for everything from taking attendance, to grading, to receiving work that students share electronically,” said Social Studies teacher Kelley Duffy. “Without the students maintaining our computers, we would have to radically change the way we assign and assess student work.” LAIT is overseen by ATEC Program Director and technology teacher Maya Crosby, and led by senior Nate Courtenay, who is completing his Work Based Learning course by acting as this year’s LAIT Technology Assistant. Students use their free periods and after-school time to work on the school-issued Chromebooks, and team members are available for tech help most periods during the day. LAIT also sets up and assists with tools including the school's two 3D printers and the drone that was a gift of the Class of 2015.
Auto Maintenance In Auto Maintenance,
students learn the fundamentals of how engines work, so they can undertake basic maintenance: changing fluids, checking brakes, transmissions, and more. "Students need to learn the principles of how engines, brakes, and transmissions work so they can understand the why and how of basic auto maintenance," says instructor Bob Topper, who also teaches Engineering in ATEC. "Why does oil need to be changed? After so many temperature changes, it loses its lubricity and stops doing its job." The class is restoring a 1952 Ford Red Belly tractor to illustrate the principles they are learning.
8
FALL 2015
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
9
Whether juniors approach it with anticipation or with dread, the Lincoln Academy...
American Author Project
...is a rite of Passage.
by Jenny Mayher Bryan Manahan has been shepherding students through the American Author project since 1999.
F
or more than 30 years, as part of their required junior English class, every 11th grader at Lincoln Academy has picked an American author, read at least four books by that author, and written a series of papers about that author’s life and work. “The American Author project serves many purposes,” explains Bryan Manahan, the Lincoln Academy English Department Chair, who has been teaching junior English and shepherding students through their American Author projects since 1999. “Junior English is the study of classic American fiction and nonfiction, and this is the independent reading piece of that course. It is important that we read collectively as a class, and also important that students read individually, on their level, in their interest area. The American Author project is also the study of American ideals... If it works well, each student brings an important author to the class, and we end up discussing the impact and perspectives of 20 different authors, who are significant for different reasons, and who reflect the perspectives of different time periods. Educationally, that can work really well.” In the fall, junior English teachers introduce the project to their students, and give an overview of authors that students 10
FALL 2015
can choose. Choosing the right author is the first challenge of the year-long assignment. As part of this process, every junior English class visits the LA library, where librarian Cathi Howell sets up displays of books by American authors organized by genre. Each student chooses an author after sampling the works of at least three American writers. Manahan says, “for some students, this is the first time they have come back to independent fiction reading in years. If they pick an author that they connect with, it is a renewed chance for a student to make informed choices about what they want to read in the future.”
"The American Author project is also the study of American ideals." —Bryan Manahan Cate Organ ‘17 chose Ray Bradbury, after first considering Amy Tan and Tim O'Brien. “I wanted somebody I would stick with, so I would keep up with the reading. The truth is, I haven’t been a huge reader in the last year, with all my other school work, but I love science fiction, and I think this will really keep my interest.”
Jacob Brown ‘17 will read Cormac McCarthy. “The topic and genre are foreign to me,” he explained, “but I like the intense themes, and the use of unusual vocabulary and pronunciation is natively interesting to me. Interpreting the Spanish dialogue is a challenge. Some of it I know from Spanish class, but some I have to look up.” Through the course of the year, students read and write about each of four books by their chosen author. In the spring, students incorporate what they have learned about that author in a single culminating assignment. “The guts of this project are one final 8-15 page paper that is a synthesis of the author's work, the author’s life, and the student’s view and engagement with both. That final paper shows an understanding of the author, his or her work, the time period when the work was produced, and why the work is important. When it works, it works beautifully,”says Manahan.
"Alex Welch '15 understands more about F. Scott Fitzgerald than most people will understand about any author in their lifetime. She pretty much became a Fitzgerald character, dressing and talking like she lived in the 1920s." —Bryan Manahan Of course, some projects are more successful than others, and some students dig deeper than others. “Alex Welch ('15) understands more about F. Scott Fitzgerald than most people will understand about any author in their lifetime. She pretty much became a Fitzgerald character, dressing and talking like she lived in the 1920s. Do all students go that deep? Of course not. But this project offers them a chance to do that.”
students understand one they can appreciate the other all the more. “It's healthy to take a long slow drive through one author's world,” O’Mahoney continues. “Reading several examples of an author’s work like this allows students to see growth, change, development. You get to recognize types and patterns, and then you have a stronger relationship with the work. That makes you a stronger reader-I really believe that.”
"It's healthy to take a long slow drive through one author's world." —Brian O'Mahoney While the American Author project has certain universal requirements, in many ways the assignment is flexible, and changes according to author choices and student experience. Some students, like Thanh Tran ‘16, (see inset page 12) incorporate significant personal perspective into their papers, while others have a solely academic focus. Manahan explains, “I try to make sure the requirements are loose enough that students can craft a paper that suits them and their author. A student who studies Stephen King might not have to spend so much time on historical context, so his paper might be different.” How does Mr. Manahan manage to read-and enjoy-over 750 pages of student writing every spring? “I never get tired of seeing the ways that these authors and their 100-year-old works are still important to 16-year-olds. I tell students, ‘if I really want to understand John Steinbeck, I am not going to read a paper written by a high school junior.’ I read these papers not to find out about the authors, but to see how students are growing intellectually, how these works continue to teach them in their current lives as adolescents in 2015. That is the part that’s fun for me.”
One of the challenges of truly understanding the work of an author is researching and relating to the time period that produced that author. “The students who really fly are Juniors take time in the Lincoln Academy library to explore several American Authors before selecting the ones who get that, who internalize the history one to focus on for the year. and see their author in context,” says Manahan. “The reason that Alex Welch’s project was so good is that she rocked her history class.” The fact that students study U.S. History and American Literature simultaneously is no coincidence. The focus on American Studies has been an intentional part of the Lincoln curriculum for many years, as it is in many high schools around the country. “I think the American Author project is a useful challenge for students in the junior year, when students are studying their nation's history,” says Brian O’Mahoney, who teaches U.S. History at Lincoln. “Using the context of history to anchor a story helps students understand both literature and history. If LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
11
Thanh Nguyen ‘16 on Tim O’Brien A Vietnamese Student Reads the American Literature of the War in Vietnam the Vietnam War? “When I went home last summer I looked more closely at my own history. I read about the war, and asked my grandparents what it was like to live through it. My grandfathers were not soldiers, but my father’s father was an architect working for the government during the war. “Reading that book solidified my identity as Vietnamese.” - JM Excerpt from Thanh Nguyen’s paper:
Tim O’Brien: Vietnam, Fiction, Mystery, and Story Telling
Thanh Nguyen is a senior at Lincoln Academy who grew up in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. He started studying English in second grade, and his English skills are impressive: when he arrived from Vietnam last fall he walked right into junior AP English with Mr. Manahan, a course that has challenged many native English speakers. "Thanh arrived in my AP class with both the skills and the motivation to succeed at the highest level. He came 10,000 miles to find students at LA studying the war of his homeland. I think he demonstrated real courage by choosing O'Brien," said Manahan.
"Reading that book solidified my identity as Vietnamese."
—Thanh Nguyen '16
Why did Thanh choose to study in the US? “American education encourages more initiative and independent thinking in students. It is more free, and also more practical. I think it suits me.” At Lincoln, Thanh lives in Hall House and plays on the varsity soccer team. He plans to stay in the US for college, and then return home to Vietnam. When faced with the choice of American authors, Thanh chose Tim O’Brien, the novelist best known for The Things They Carried, an award-winning, semi-autobiographical book of short stories about soldiers in the Vietnam War. “I had never read any of his writing before, but the other students in my class read The Things They Carried over the summer, and when I heard the class discussion about that book I knew I wanted to read it.” How did reading O’Brien’s work affect Thanh’s thinking about 12
FALL 2015
In Vietnamese literature, American soldiers are often characterized as the brutal and warlike aliens who came to our land and committed unaccountable crimes to our people and country. This portrayal is an essential contribution to the Vietnamese perception of the war: one of continual and extreme suffering caused by American troops. Ever since I was a kid, I have read and have been taught about all the hardships and struggles that the soldiers from my grandparents’ generation had to deal with to protect our country. I was taught to hate the evil, coldblooded people who invaded it. After reading O’Brien’s work, I have come to realize that we rarely put ourselves in each other’s shoes, and therefore do not sympathize with or fully understand the opposite position, especially when we are at war against each other. We tend to view the enemies as a mindless force rather than human beings with their own consciences. In this sense, the same thing happens to O’Brien’s depiction of the war....In O’Brien’s stories, there are no significant Vietnamese characters, and the killings of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians seem ordinary, while American deaths are portrayed tragically. In addition, he fails to acknowledge the struggle and damage that Vietnamese soldiers and people had to endure. The author cannot be blamed for these “shortcomings,” however, because it is unlikely that he could possibly experience, or even witness, the other side of the conflict. He can only write based on what he knows: his own experience and the people he fought alongside, and he succeeds in doing so. American soldiers were scared and confused just like Vietnamese soldiers were; they hoped for and dreamed of peace and happiness just like Vietnamese soldiers did; and they had families and friends loving them and waiting for them to return just like Vietnamese soldiers did. Furthermore, unlike Vietnamese soldiers, American ones also had to struggle with their own moral beliefs trying to decide whether or not fighting in this war was right. The enemy of both Vietnamese and American forces, ultimately, is not each other but the war itself.
Allison Wehrle ‘16 on Edith Wharton Reflections on Reading the Classics For me, the most difficult part of the American Author project was choosing my author. Having to stick with the same writer for an entire school year meant that I really did not want to regret my decision halfway through. Fortunately, I cleared this hurdle successfully, and only grew more fascinated with the life and themes of my author, Edith Wharton, as the year progressed. Throughout the year students are required to read and write an analysis for four of their author’s works. These assignments serve as baby steps towards writing the final paper. I finally connected the dots while writing my first draft of the final paper; only then did I understand the connections between Wharton’s life and work. I was fully engrossed in deciphering meaning from layers of satire in Wharton’s views of society. Her poetic writing style and tragically realistic endings made reading her works enjoyable, and illuminated her viewpoints through passages such as: “She was so evidently the victim of the civilization which had produced her, that the links of her bracelet seemed like manacles chaining her to her fate.” (House of Mirth). A strong criticism of societal structure, marriage, and wealth is apparent in Wharton’s novels, but I was still searching for the reason behind these views. Through reading literary criticism and biographical information about Wharton, I finally fit the remaining pieces into the puzzle, developing a thesis about the impact of World War I on both New York society and Wharton’s societal views. The American Author paper, while slightly foreboding to begin with, allows students to become experts on a particular author. For me, the words of Edith Wharton have been ingrained within my mind and taken root for years to come. - AW
Excerpt from Allison Wehrle’s paper:
Edith Wharton’s New York Society
and Her Changing Critical Views PostWorld War I Edith Wharton wrote her first novel at age fifteen (Fast and Loose, 1877) and was an avid reader and storyteller throughout her childhood. However, deterred by her mother’s lack of praise, Wharton stuck to just writing poetry, some of which she would submit to magazines. Much of Wharton’s early work revolved around her experiences with upper-class society as well as her parents. These themes of marriage and wealth found in Fast and Loose are able to mature and deepen after Wharton takes up writing again nearly fifteen years later...Wharton was the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize, for her novel Age of Innocence, which was selected over Sinclair Lewis’s Main Street in 1921. Age of Innocence, often referred to as her “war novel,” sharply highlighted the chaotic nature which society was headed towards at the turn of the century and further evolved Wharton’s view on social order.
Allison Wehrle '16 (far left) and Thanh Nguyen (second from right) in Bryan Manahan's junior AP English class in Fall 2014.
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
13
Choosing Place.
Name: Nat Bryant Lincoln Academy Class of: 1993 Hometown: Newcastle Lives in: Newcastle Job title: Boatbuilder, Riverside Boat Company "You have to get out for a while to appreciate what you have here. This is a great community, with good schools, and a beautiful landscape, which makes it a great place to live... we are settled here. This is home. "I still use trigonometry every day for yacht design! I got a great education at Lincoln Academy, and we'll send our kids there for sure."
We have all heard about the Maine Brain Drain: Young people are taking their homegrown values, Maine work ethic, and education, and leaving the state to find work that pays better than Maine employers can offer. Yet there is a significant contingent of young midcoast natives who live right here, defying this common wisdom.
Here at Lincoln Academy we wanted to know: What makes LA graduates want to stay—or return—to this part of Maine? Here are seven graduates who have chosen to stay or return home, to build a life based on place.
Name: August DeLisle Lincoln Academy Class of: 2008 Hometown: Nobleboro Lives in: Newcastle Job title: Founder, owner, bartender, and chef, Van Lloyd's Bistro (Damariscotta) "I have thought a lot about what it means to move home. My first instinct was, 'I'm moving back in with a parent,' and we have been taught that this is somehow a defeat. We always think we will move away after college. But in truth, your hometown and your network is a resource that is under appreciated. This town has been very good to me and my family. There is always someone who knows someone who knows someone who wants to help."
14
FALL 2015
Name: Brady Hatch Lincoln Academy Class of: 1999 Hometown: Newcastle Lives in: Newcastle Job title: farmer, Morning Dew Organic Farm
"I am a farmer because food has always been a powerful motivating force for me. I wanted to facilitate a change in the way people relate to food, and I wanted to do that on a community level. The community I grew up in seemed the right place to start. "I am a strong believer in the economic multiplier effect. People shop with us at the farmer's market or the CSA, and we turn around and spend that money locally. The thing that I like about Maine is that it has a human scale, which makes for more respectful and invested interactions."
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
15
Name: Christa Thorpe Name: Ellen Sabina Lincoln Academy Class of: 2003 Hometown: Newcastle Lives in: Montville Job Title: Outreach Director, Maine Farmland Trust (Belfast) "Growing up in this area and going to local schools got me hooked on that sense of community that comes from living in a small town. That's something I have looked for in every other place I have lived. I wanted to carve out my own niche​when I moved back to Maine, but I was looking for that quality I found in the Damariscotta area. Belfast feels similar to me. There are towns that don't feel that way. Those are the towns you drive through. The ones that feel like a community, those are the ones that make you want to stay."
FALL 2015
"My ancestral roots are here and I experience a deeper sense of belonging, contentment, and identity here than anywhere else, despite my insatiable love for travel and exploration. Taking this job at Lincoln followed my decision not to accept an offer to a PhD program in NYC, and in a subsequent candid conversation with my advisor and professor, I explained my decision to stay in Maine. His response stuck with me: he affirmed the importance of having a sense of place and admitted that to make it professionally in higher education, you really can't choose your location. That's when I realized that "choosing my location" was exactly what I wanted to do, even if it came with some professional sacrifices. I haven't regretted that decision."
Name: Peter Drum
Name: Ross Bradley
Lincoln Academy Class of: 1992 Hometown: Damariscotta Lives in: Damariscotta Job Title: Lead Attorney, Peter Drum, Attorney at Law
Lincoln Academy Class of: 1997 Hometown: Bristol Lives in: Bristol Job title: Founder, Owner, and Master Electrician, Uprising Solar and Electric, Inc.
"I moved back here because I love the town, the people, and the community, and I feel I can make a real difference. Among other projects, I am trying to help small businesses resolve complicated legal issues so they can stay here, and not have to move to bigger markets like Portland or Boston.
"I always knew I would come back to Maine. I went to New Mexico to study solar systems, and there the solar resource is obviously more predictable. I knew it would not be easy to get into solar in Maine. But I grew up here, and there's a pull to come back here. It's a unique area, and you don't know the true meaning of it till you leave for a while. Maine's got a lot to offer; Maine's got it all, really."
"As a small town attorney I can help change policies that influence economic development. I work with the town of Newcastle to create ordinances that foster local economic development. I also work on state policy, where I wrote Maine's first GMO labeling bill and Maine's first feed-in tariff bill. Living in a small town in a small state gives me the chance to really make a difference."
16
Lincoln Academy Class of: 2005 Hometown: Newcastle Lives in: Bremen Job title: ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Teacher, Lincoln Academy
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
17
EAGLE EYE
Ph otos taken from the new Li ncoln Ac ade my Dro n e , a g i ft of t he Clas s of 2 0 1 5 . D ron e pi lots a re Kevi n Fitzpatr i c k '1 7 an d Ke n dr a B e lle fle ur '1 8 .
Opposite page, clockwise from top: the new LA Drone hovers above campus, piloted by Kendra Bellefleur '18. A view of the new William A. Clark field. Elise Dumont '16 waves at the drone from the Homecoming parade. A rare bird's-eye view of the bell tower. Above: The LA Campus lies just above the Damariscotta River. Below: A record-breaking crowd at Damariscotta Pumpkinfest in October 2015 watches the Pumpkin Boat Regatta in Damariscotta's historic downtown.
18
FALL 2015
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
19
"O Magnum Mysterium
was simply divine. The Lincolnaires' tone is more like a college choir than a high school choir." ––Concert goer at the Spring Choir Concert
CHOIR
T H E AT E R
When the LA Choirs
traveled to New York City in the spring of 2015, they received the highest "Gold" rating from the judges at the World Strides Heritage Festival. The choral program at Lincoln Academy continues to attract young people who love to sing and nurture them into mature, trained vocal artists. Beth Preston, in her 18th year at Lincoln Academy, says, "The first year I took kids to Districts, they fit in my VW Golf-two singers and a baritone player. This year, 42 Choir students auditioned, and 31 got in. Last year, all 14 singers were accepted for All-State. This was the second highest representation for choir kids in the state of Maine!"
"We decided
to take on the challenge of commedia dell'arte this year. Learning this aspect of theater has posed unique challenges for our students. When the work is hard, they rise. And, this fall, students took on extremely difficult acting roles, created music, learned carpentry and rigging, applied themselves to design and technology problems, and created their own show. It was eight weeks of intense learning about themselves through the art process,” said theater teacher and director Griff Braley, now in his 1 0th year at Lincoln Academy.
Two annual
productions are the hallmarks of each year in the Lincoln Academy Theater program: the fall play, which is just wrapping up its October/November run, and the One Act Play competition. This year's fall play was the British Comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, a British farce that played to great acclaim on Broadway. Earlier in 2015, the cast and crew of LA's one act adaptation of The Trojan Women won the District III Competition, and were runners-up in the All State Theater Festival.
One Man, Two Guvnors...
LA's Fall Play
Each summer
since 2012, LA Band students have participated in the Maine Music Outreach: Haiti Project, led by Ms. Matta. On this trip, students from Lincoln Academy and other area high schools work with Haitian musicians, teaching and modeling on instruments and learning their language and cultural traditions.
The Wind Ensemble
The Lincoln Academy Band
, led by Liz Matta for the 10th year, is now 70 strong. The Concert Band meets in the morning on a rotating basis, while the Wind Ensemble continues to practice every day during first period downstairs in the Poe Theater. “It is the best way to start the day!” commented senior trombonist Camden Gulden, a four-year member of the LA Band. Wind Ensemble and Concert Band perform separately and together throughout the year. 20
FALL 2015
BAND
will travel to New York City, April 1-3, 2016 and participate in the Heritage Music Festival. Other highlights of the year in band include the two marching opportunities in the Homecoming and Memorial Day parades, participation in the District III and All-State Music Festivals, and the winter and spring band concerts. Smaller groups of musicians participate in The Jazz Big Band and the Four and Five O'clock Jazz Combos, who perform both in the larger concerts and on their own. LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
21
4
2015 Sports Highlights
2015 was a great year for LA athletics. There were many strong performances and victories. Some of the year's highlights are pictured here. Winter: (1) Boys and (2) Girls Basketball both make it to Class B Western Maine Semi Finals in the State tournament. (3) Noah Jordan breaks school record and is KVAC Champ in the 100 breast stroke. (4) Lillian Bisset is 5th in state for indoor 55 meter hurdles.
2
Spring: 6
8
(5) Girls Tennis win KVAC Champs and are runners-up in Western Maine. (6) Softball team are KVAC Champs. (7) Boys 4x800 meter relay are KVAC champs, continuing a 3 year streak! (8) Lydia Harris takes 2nd in state and breaks the school record in 300 meter hurdles. (9) Alex Organ takes 2nd in state in 800 meters. (10) Abby Farrin selected KVAC Player of the Year for Softball.
3
Fall: (11) Bailey Plourde wins Golf State Championship. Not pictured: Don Strout, KVAC Coach of the year for Girls' Swimming, Tom Nelson, KVAC Coach of the Year for Softball, Alex Organ KVAC champ in indoor 800 meters.
5
22
FALL 2015
1
9
11
7
10
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
23
GRADUATION 2015
24
FALL 2015
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
25
2015 Awards
William A. Clark Field
Awards Presented at Final Assembly and Class Night
Dedicated at Homecoming 2015
B O O K AWA R D S
(Presented to Juniors at Assembly) Yale Book Award: Dana Hatch Williams Book Award: Alejandro Ramos Bowdoin Book Award: Shiann Keene Smith Book Award: Johanna Neeson Chatham Book Award: Lauren Hunt College of the Atlantic Book Award: Luke Huntington Dartmouth Book Award: Abe Steinberger Mount Holyoke Book Award: Kate Laemmle Princeton Book Award: Elise Dumont St. Thomas College Book Award: Braeden Waddell Wellesley Book Award: Alyx York Phi Beta Kappa Award: Kate Westhaver Ruth Ives Humanitarian Award: Kate Laemmle
FA C U LT Y AWA R D S
(Presented to Seniors on Class Night) Gary Bensen History and Social Studies Distinguished Scholar Award: Abbie Healey Lowell F. Simmons Award: Michaela Peabody Babe Ruth Good Sportsmanship Award: Sophia Carbonneau and Devin Scherer
ESOL "Panda" Award: Olivia (Bing) Li L Club Award for Athletic Achievement: Miranda Achorn, Morgan Achorn, Greg Anderson, Austin Armstrong, Kaleab Buchwalder, Andrea Call, Sophia Carbonneau, Travis Creamer, Keegan Dunican, Abigail Farrin, Eli Ganem, Tess Fields, Brady Leeman, Ashley Mason, Walter Morris, Taylor Oliver, Alex Organ, Nathan Osborne, Michaela Peabody, Bayley Pendleton, Danielle Pinkham, Sawyer Pinkham, Julia Ribeiro, Leslie Sandefur, Devin Scherer, Max Smith, Tyler Stevens Theater Awards: Audrey Harper, Michael Juchnik, Rowan Carroll- Christopher, Dmitry Pepper Mathematics Prize: Abigail Farrin Language Awards: Ashley Giles, Abbie Healey, Rowan Carroll-Christopher, Thanh Tran The Lion and Unicorn English Awards: Alexandra Welch, Owen Lewis, Sophia Carbonneau Maine Principal’s Award: Abbie Healey University of Maine-Orono Academic Award: Keegan DalyO’Donnell, Samuel Jones, Logan Molt, Devin Scherer, Thilee Yost University of Maine-Farmington Academic Award: Alexis Poland, Taylor Oliver Linda Jean Metcalf Award: Thanh Tran Achievement Cup Award: Ed Frankonis
A Fitting Dedication by Peter Wagner Lincoln Academy’s annual Homecoming celebration in September featured a number of events for students, staff, and community members, as well as fall sports competitions on Academy Hill. This year, one of the Homecoming highlights took place between the girls’ and boys’ soccer games, when LA dedicated the state-of-the-art turf playing surface that was completed just before the opening of the new school year. The turf field, made possible by an anonymous community gift, was named in memory of William A. Clark II of the Lincoln Academy Class of 1960, who passed away in 2013. It is appropriate that a facility that is already doing so much to bring members of the school and local populations together has been named for a man who spent his life working tirelessly to rally his community to achieve great things. Bill Clark was in his own right an outstanding studentathlete. In his career at Lincoln Academy he was a pitcher for the Lincoln Nine, a standout on the basketball team, and a record-holding discus thrower who helped lead the Eagles’ 1959 state champion track and field team. A beloved figure in Damariscotta, Clark was the ubiquitous proprietor of Clark’s Spa in the building now occupied by King Eider’s Pub. While he was well-known for his place in the family business, his legacy in the local community may be found in his work on behalf of its children and families. In the 1970s Clark helped establish and lead the Damariscotta Area Recreation Alliance (DARA) and the Central Lincoln County (CLC) Recreation Center, out of which grew the present CLC YMCA. Clark’s dedication to this project had
2015 Eagle Award Winners graduate with a Cumulative Average of 90 or above (from left): Ed Frankonis (Class Marshall), Abbie Healy, Wally Morris, Thanh Tran (Salutatorian), Jacob Stevens, Rowan Carroll-Christopher, John Potter, Michaela Peabody, Andrea Call, Devin Scherer, Paige Geroux, Danielle Pinkham, Sophia Carbonneau, Alexandra Welch, Bayley Pendleton, Cassie Leeman, Thomas Rushton, Abigail Farrin (Valedictorian), Tess Fields, Angus Fake, Leslie Sandefur, Owen Lewis, Thilee Yost (Class Marshall), Miranda Meserve, Nancy Billings, Dmitry Pepper. Not pictured: Eli Ganem.
26
FALL 2015
Bill Clark III, LA Class of '82 speaking at the field dedication on September 25, 2015 on behalf of his late father, William A. Clark II, for whom the new field is named.
a profound and lasting effect on the community and countless residents who continue to benefit from the facilities and organization he helped create. These lessons in civic involvement were clearly not lost on Clark’s son, Bill Clark III '82. The younger Clark was integral in creating the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest, which is now in its seventh year. Bringing upwards of 15,000 visitors to town on Columbus Day Weekend, the festival has been a boon for local businesses. “I see this as following in my father’s footsteps,” says Clark. “Pumpkinfest has turned out to be a great event for the town and the merchants, and it’s gotten good coverage for the community in the press also.” Much like his father’s organizing four decades ago, Clark’s work on this community project is a full-time job in itself… so much so that he’s rarely able to take in the Pumpkinfest activities. “I hear it’s pretty cool, though,” he quips. The dedication of the turf field in memory of Bill Clark ’60 is an honor for the family, and a well-deserved memorial to a giant in the local community. Clark notes that “Mom and I have wondered what Dad would have thought of all this, and he probably would have been embarrassed by all the attention. That’s just who he was. But in the end, we’re very proud and I know he would have been, also. Our family is still in disbelief a little bit, but Dad would have been happy and he’d really enjoy seeing that facility. This new field is first-rate, and one-of-a-kind in the area.” First-rate, and one-of-a kind. A fitting memorial, indeed.
The fall sports teams who play on the new field (boys and girls soccer and field hockey) stand on the William A. Clark Field during the dedication ceremony.
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
27
There's No Place... Like Homecoming.
28
FALL 2015
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
29
Home-Grown Stars:
Anna Belknap '90 and Ryan Gaul '92 by Jenny Mayher
to New York to do theater and pay her dues for a couple of years until she got her first TV gig as a guest star on Law and Order in 1999.
been in the movie Identity Thief with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, and in the third season of Showtime’s House of Lies, where he played a regular named Will.
From there she quickly moved from guest star to regular cast member on The Handler in 2003-4 for CBS, the role that took her to Hollywood, and Medical Investigation in 2004-5 for NBC. In 2005 Anna got her biggest break, getting cast as Lindsay Monroe in CBS’s CSI: New York. She was a regular on that show for eight seasons until it ended in 2013. In those eight seasons her character on the show fell in love, got married, and had a baby, a plot twist that coincided with Anna’s own real-life pregnancy with her second child, George. (The first pregnancy was covered up with a cobra bite that sent Lindsay to bed rest while Anna’s first child, Olive, was born.)
Ryan has been a busy guy in 2015. He just finished filming the movie Bastards with Owen Wilson and Ed Helms, who play brothers who set off on a journey to find their father. “I get to play a Boston native they meet along the way. I had a lot of fun with that part.” (The movie will be released in 2016.) He is also involved with a television project that is still shrouded in secrecy. “It is by the producers of Reno 911, which is one of my favorite shows, and we are shooting a full 18-episode season. It’s going to be jam-packed with hilarious actors. I’m very excited about it. I can’t tell you much more than that. Stay tuned!”
Since CSI: New York finished in 2013, Anna has had a few guest star appearances and filmed an independent movie with a friend, but “the pace of work has definitely slowed down. It has enabled me to spend more time at home with the kids,” who are now six and eight, said Anna. “I love it, but I miss working, too... As every working parent knows, balancing work and family can be tricky. Now that my kids are in school, working out of town is more difficult, so I try to stay in Los Angeles.”
Not many high schools,
especially in small Maine towns, can boast a prime-time television star among their alumni, let alone two of them. But there must have been something in the water in the early 1990s in Newcastle, because many stars were born right on Academy Hill. “It’s great how many people from Lincoln are doing well, all over the place,” said Anna Belknap ‘90, “There’s Ryan, of course (Gaul, ‘92), Kate Aldrich (‘92, an internationallyacclaimed opera singer), Brent Baldwin ‘88 is a conductor and arranger in Austin, Sam Nichols ‘90 is a composer of contemporary music, and there are more!” Ryan Gaul ‘92 recalls, “It makes me proud that so many talented people have come out of LA. It gives me a connection to our small town. I can’t help but think that something about our community fosters a liberal creativity-at least for me it did. I wonder, if I grew up in Portland or Boston, if I would have gotten lost in the mix. But living in a small community-a small pond-I could be a goofball and actually
be recognized for it.” Both Anna and Ryan are certainly recognizable; their faces are familiar to TV viewers around the world. Anna is best known as Agent Lindsay Monroe from CSI: New York, and Ryan for dozens of national commercials (for Campbell's Soup, KFC, McDonalds, and more) as well as spots on House of Lies, Modern Family, Identity Theft, among other TV shows and movies. Anna Belknap graduated from Lincoln Academy in 1990, one of a long line of Lincoln graduates. Her father, David, graduated in 1954, her grandfather, Dr. Robert Belknap, in 1908, and her great grandmother, Suni Hall, around 1876. “There are many grandparents, aunts and uncles on the Chapman side, as well,” Anna said (her father’s mother was a Chapman). Despite her deep Damariscotta roots, Anna decided to venture out of Maine to try her talents on a bigger stage. After graduating from Middlebury College in 1994, Anna got her MFA from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco where she met her husband, Eric Siegel. She then moved
“I wonder, if I grew up in Portland or Boston, if I would have gotten lost in the mix. But living in a small community—a small pond—I could be a goofball and actually be recognized for it.” —Ryan Gaul '92 30
FALL 2015
"It is so different now than when I started out. We did a lot of waiting around for our agents to call with an audition. Now, you can create your own work—film your own web series, make your own movies with your phone. These are exciting, empowering advances. The world is incredibly receptive right now to what young people have to say!” -Anna Belknap '90 Ryan Gaul graduated from Lincoln in 1992. His parents still live in Damariscotta. Ryan went from LA to Stonehill College, where he was a theater major, and from college to Boston, where he joined the Main Company of Boston-based Improv Asylum and worked on commercials. In 2001 he moved to Los Angeles, where his improv comedy skills landed him in The Groundlings, the Los Angeles theater credited with starting the careers of comedians like Lisa Kudrow, Jon Lovitz, Phil Hartman, and Kristen Wiig. Ryan excelled with The Groundlings, and eventually landed both national commercials and television work. His highest-profile work to date has Anna Belknap in the 1990 Lincoln Academy Yearbook.
"If you have something that you love to do, it’s probably less about finding the courage to do it and more about figuring out how to make it work logistically, financially, and personally." -Ryan Gaul '92
Anna and Ryan overlapped for two years at Lincoln, where they knew each other. “I grew up with the Gaul family. I see Ryan on TV all the time!” said Anna. In fact, the two actors were both part of LA Players during high school, an experience they each recall as pivotal in their development as actors. LA Players was founded in the 1980s by the late John Grant, a teacher and counselor also credited with founding the LA advisor system. The group, which is still active today, practices improvisational skills and performs for peers, acting out scenarios involving teenagers. Nick Azzaretti taught English and theater at LA when Anna and Ryan were students, and is the current faculty advisor to the LA Players. “The magical thing about that kind of improv is that you have to respond in character to the audience, and this magical thing happens when the audience responds not to you, but to your character. I believe both Anna and Ryan built the basis of their careers in LA Players.” “LA Players was my first experience with any sort of improv,” said Ryan. “It lit that fire inside me, and I was immediately drawn to it. It was really intense. LA Players was one of the highlights of my high school years; we thought it was the coolest thing in the world. We would go and perform for these other Continued on page 34 Ryan Gaul in the 1992 Lincoln Academy Yearbook.
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
31
"Lindsay Monroe became like a friend, someone I knew really well, and someone I even miss sometimes. When the show ended, it was actually a little hard to let go of her, and the life she had on the show. I had spent so much time with her. One drawback of working that long on one character can be that the physicality becomes so second nature, it can actually be difficult to shake afterwards. It is a bit like working one muscle really well—when it is over you have to remember all the other parts of yourself.”
Anna, getting her makeup done for one of her last episodes of CSI: NY, where she played Agent Lindsay Monroe for eight seasons. Her daughter, Olive, now six, is in the foreground.
Interview With Anna Belknap '90 When did you start acting? I did a little acting when I was at Lincoln. I was a member of LA players, and I did a few community theatre productions. It was at Middlebury College that I started thinking of it as something more. Sophomore year a friend convinced me to go to the spring semester faculty auditions. I was cast in a really terrific play, and that changed my life. The director of that production, Cheryl Faraone, opened my eyes to how being an actor could really be a viable profession. I switched my major to theater a few weeks later. What gave you the courage to do it professionally? The ignorance of youth? It didn't feel courageous, it was just what I enjoyed doing. I was naive about how difficult a profession it can be! Did you have a "big break" moment? When I got my first pilot for CBS, it changed how my career went from that point forward. When my agent called me to tell me that they were going to pick up the show—meaning shoot 20 episodes that would make it on the air—I leapt all around my apartment for 10 minutes. I was alone at the time, just shouting and leaping like a maniac. What have been some of your favorite moments or roles as a professional actor? I did an outdoor production of Pericles at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego that was one of my all time favorite productions. The weather was gorgeous, the words were Shakespeare's, the wind was blowing on stage—it was magical. On camera, I got to film in the middle of Times Square at night. I was all alone, up high on a crane for the shot thinking, 'I need to remember this moment! This is unbelievable!' What advice would you give to high school students thinking of pursuing acting? Number one: learn your craft; study with good people, read plays, go to the Theater, watch movies. Always try to grow and push yourself. Training is really important.
Third: it is so different now than when I started out. We did a lot of waiting around for our agents to call with an audition. Now, you can create your own work—film your own web series, make your own movies with your phone. These are exciting, empowering advances. The world is incredibly receptive right now to what young people have to say! Take advantage of it and make yourself heard!
Interview With Ryan Gaul '92 When did you start acting? The earliest acting I did was in school, but I always loved performing. As a kid I was constantly throwing myself into walls to make people laugh, and later I was into break dancing and skateboarding. It wasn’t until later on in my life did I realize how much that influenced me and what I do physically on stage. After LA, I went to Stonehill College and auditioned for in a bunch of different plays. Many of the plays I was cast in at Stonehill were dramatic, but even then I knew I gravitated more toward comedic roles. What gave you the courage to do it professionally? I’m not sure if it was courage or just the blind confidence of youth to say “I’m going to do this.” I had a bunch of different jobs after college, but my heart was never fully committed to working in a bank or selling office supplies. If you have something that you love to do, it’s probably less about finding the courage to do it and more about figuring out how to make it work logistically, financially, and personally. Did you have a "big break" moment? It may sound cheesy, but I think I’m always having big breaks—starting out in Boston I felt that the first time I booked a commercial and joining the main stage cast at Improv Asylum were two big ones. But that cycle began all over again in Los Angeles—booking a commercial that was a national campaign, joining the main company with The Groundlings, booking a pilot or being cast on House of Lies during their third season. For so many working actors, there’s probably a role that makes the public aware of who they are, but along the way it’s a series of small steps you take. I still try to enjoy and appreciate each of those steps.
What did you learn at Lincoln Academy that has impacted your life, as an actor or otherwise? We had a lot of freedom to be creative at Lincoln. My friends and I made a lot of movies for class projects. We were really allowed to express ourselves in all kinds of ways. To be sure, they were really bad movies. But our teachers were so open-minded and supportive. We were always encouraged! We thought we were amazing!
What have been some of your favorite moments or roles as a professional actor? I’ve loved being part of ensembles—by the end of my time at Improv Asylum in Boston, I was in a cast of six or so actors who work consistently, night in and night out with each other to create material and perform shows. As a member of The Groundlings, I’m part of a larger company, but the connections are the
Also—and this was huge—everyone at Lincoln had a summer job! I didn't realize it at the time, but I learned so much from those jobs. How to show up every day on time, how to do a job you thought was dull, how to get along with all kinds of people. Summer jobs will be mandatory for my own kids.
Ryan Gaul as Will in Season 3 of Showtime's House of Lies.
exact same. I love getting together with such talented, funny people and creating comedy. I feel very lucky to be able to do that on a regular basis. I think working on House Of Lies has been my favorite TV job because I was able to help develop a character over the course of a full season. What advice would you give to high school students thinking of pursuing acting? Do it and decide to do it earlier rather than later. It’s more work than you can imagine and it’ll take more time and money than you’d imagine. It can be frustrating—a lot of people don’t have the stomach for auditioning, but if it’s what you love and you can’t imagine doing anything else, it’ll get you through the rough parts. You really have to love the work, regardless of how "successful" you are. When I met my then future wife, I told her I was an actor and would go broke being an actor rather than spend my life working a job that did not make me happy. Luckily, she did not turn and run. What did you learn at Lincoln Academy that has impacted your life, as an actor or otherwise? Lincoln Academy taught me a lot about hard work and commitment. I was fine with the academics, but I loved being part of the wrestling team at Lincoln and there’s something translatable about the intensity of training for wrestling with acting. You have to be willing to work hard to make weight, and then once you hit the mat, it’s just you against someone else. I learned about physically and mentally pushing through pain and difficulty. What is it like to be a Mainer in Hollywood? Has your background from a small town in Maine made a difference—positive or negative—in your professional life? It’s lonely being a Mainer in LA! Not a ton of us here. Being a Mainer I certainly have a "small town" perspective. I stay humble and remember what is important. Growing up in Maine, I think, you lean on neighbors more than in a massive city like Los Angles. I think being part of a small town may influence how I value a strong community. Any theatre company or film set is like a little family or community. I thrive in that setting, at least partially, because of where I grew up.
"I love getting together with such talented, funny people and creating comedy. I think working on House of Lies has been my favorite TV job because I was able to help develop a character over the course of a full season."
How does it feel to be a Mainer in Hollywood? Has your background from a small town in Maine made a difference—positive or negative—in your professional life? Coming from a supportive community is SO important. I see it now with my own children. My daughter had her picture in the Lincoln County News a few summers ago because she donated five dollars to Miles Memorial Hospital! Five dollars! That kind of affirmation from the community is priceless. The only negative is that I still yearn for the small town, down-to-earth environment I had growing up, and that is sometimes hard to find in a big city, which is where I've needed to be to do the work I have done. But I have been able to spend a lot of time back home, for which I am very grateful.
Second: make sure you keep your life in balance. Never lose sight of the things that feed your soul outside of acting. Don't define yourself only through your work. 32
FALL 2015
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
33
kids, and they really responded! You put all this time into rehearsing, and you forget how much an audience will appreciate what you do. Then we felt like rock stars. Those kids in the audience definitely did not think we were people stopping the school bus at Arby’s for dinner, and going home to do algebra homework, which is what we were doing.” Azzaretti remembers, “Ryan joined the Speech team that I coached during his senior year. He was gifted in storytelling. I really watched him grow into that.”
Ryan Gaul share a dream of returning to live in Maine. Both visit their families in Damariscotta several times a year, but are not quite ready to tear themselves away from the bright lights of LA. “We’re always thinking about moving back,” said Anna, “and it’s torture. It’s tough to raise kids out here, and be so far from my family. I think about it all the time; I come from ten generations of Mainers, and I’m living here in LA like, what are we doing?” Ryan dreams of reopening a candy store in Damariscotta, “one just like Clark’s Spa. Our goal would always be to move back east. I am always hoping to test for a show that films back east. My wife (Christine) is from Chicago. Ironically, I pulled her out here, but she might pull me back East. I do love it (in LA), but when you are born and raised in Maine, there is a core of you that is ingrained with an authenticity that is harder to find out here. I miss walking around in Boston and having people give me a grumpy look, because I know how they feel, whereas out here people will open a door for you and smile, but what they are secretly thinking is, ‘what can you do for me?’”
LA Players had a similar impact on Anna. “It was great actor training, because you had to be very present and know your part to answer in character. We talked about alcoholism, depression, sexual abuse… It was pretty intense. I remember it being a hefty experience. You had to be so on it. Kids would stand up and ask you questions, and it was obvious that their questions were based on their own experience. Often the audience had real experience with suicide or abuse, and we were just acting. That made you get really truthful about what you were doing; it was so important to be honest. That’s the skill, the exact skill you need for acting, especially acting on camera.” “I had Anna in class during her senior year,” said Azzaretti. “We did a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and she played Tatiana. I will never forget it. She owned the stage; she really did brilliant work in that class.” Although Azzaretti worked with both Anna and Ryan on stage, he is quick to give credit for their growth as young actors to John Grant, who trained them to be LA Players. “John gave people a sense of mission. He had a gift for the emotional and spiritual part of people… I truly believe that John was the essential force in the driving of both Anna and Ryan’s lives. The power of their experience comes from channeling the experiences of their contemporaries in real time.” “Having seen both of them in LA Players,” concluded Azzaretti, “I am not surprised at their success.” In addition to a history with LA Players, Anna Belknap and 34
FALL 2015
JIM BIRKETT '54 A L i fe o f C u r i o s i t y, O p p o r t u n i t y, a n d C a s t i n g a Lo n g S h a d o w by Peter Wagner
H
umanity as we know it, without clean water, cannot exist. As living organisms, we are about 60% comprised of water. A person might live for a month without food, but only a week without fresh water. It's estimated that the global agricultural engine produces enough calories to feed 10 billion people per year-and sustaining those crops requires a staggering volume of fresh water. It's not difficult to conceive places in the world where it's a struggle to maintain an adequate supply of usable water: arid regions in the Middle East, western Australia, and North and East Africa face water short-
Ryan will be home in Maine for Thanksgiving, although, he says, “Traveling back East is harder now with the kids (Linus, two and Felix, five) on the airplane. I always look forward to coming home. It’s so quiet! That makes it hard to sleep, though. I need a white noise machine that plays sirens and honking horns.”
Both Anna Belknap and Ryan Gaul remember the LA Players as being essential to their development as actors. Above, left, the 1990 LA Players, with Anna on the far left (in a striped sweater). Above, right, the 1992 LA Players with Ryan in the front center (in plaid).
been a lead player in improving the process since those early days, and is known as the foremost authority on the early history of desalination. Birkett, who lives in the Nobleboro farmhouse where he grew up as a boy, carried his studies from Academy Hill on to Bowdoin College, and then to Yale where he earned his PhD in physical chemistry. His life's work has clearly had great effect on this important industry-even some of his earliest research is still cited in contemporary publications-but he's quick to
“The advice I give to students today is that it's nice to have a target to shoot for, but don't lose your peripheral vision while you pursue what you think is ahead of you. Opportunities are always out there, and many you just can't predict. The important question is, will you be able to spot them?” —Jim Birkett '54 ages with regularity. And droughts periodically affect specific areas, leading to emergencies such as today's water crisis in California and the American Southwest. One of the ways to address a sustainable water supply is desalination, which is the process by which salt and minerals are removed from seawater in order to produce fresh water. While humans for thousands of years have devised various methods for removing salt from seawater, not until the 1960s did the world become much more focused on the science and the business of desalination. Enter Jim Birkett '54, who has
point out that he is a man who happened to be in the right place at the right time, and that he simply took advantage of the opportunities he found. Jim Birkett's right place, right time moment was in the mid1960s, when he was a young chemist working with the Arthur D. Little analytical/consulting firm (ADL) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “I had started down the path of electrochemistry with ADL when interest in desalination really started to take off. In those days, corrosion within the plants was a big problem, and I spent a great deal of time visiting existing LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
35
Desalination Facts and Figures
From the International Desalination Association • There are more than 17,000 large desalination plants globally. • More than 80 million cubic meters (more than 21 billion gallons) of drinking water is produced per day. • 150 countries have desalination plants, serving more than 300 million people (about the population of the United States). • Of the world’s water, 97.5 percent is salt water from its oceans. Only 2.5 percent is fresh water. Of that 2.5 percent, approximately 69 percent is frozen in glaciers and ice caps, leaving less than 30 percent in fresh groundwater (swamps account for another 1 percent). • Carlsbad, CA — 50 Mgal/day. This plant produces 7% of the water in the San Diego Water District. • Sorek, Israel — 170 Mgal/day. In total, 50% of Israel’s drinking water is produced in desalination plants. • Ras al-Khair, Saudi Arabia — 264 Mgal/day. This is the largest desalination plant in the world. • Maine — MacMahan Island, Isle au Haut, and South Bristol each have desalination operations.
desal plants all around the Caribbean and the Middle East,” Birkett relates. “So corrosion is what started our work with these plants around the world, but the more time we spent with the plant operators the more they wanted to talk about everything else...they wanted to discuss everything from descaling the equipment to the best ways to manage their staffing. It was real 'mission-creep,' but it opened the door for us to play a big role in the industry.” Birkett's extensive work on desalination projects around the globe led to his deep involvement in helping Saudi Arabia establish a research program to support and nurture their desalination efforts, and helped cement Birkett's authority on this unique and critical
industrial science. After more than two decades with ADL, Birkett returned to his native home and established his own “one-man-band” consulting business, West Neck Strategies, which he ran from 1988-2013. “I chose 'West Neck' since that's where my family farm is located, and I chose 'Strategies' because it gave me the flexibility to do almost any type of work I wanted, and not be restricted by saying it was all about consulting. I've always been happy to take on any sort of work that interests me.” Over the years, Birkett took on work for American giants Dow and Monsanto, as well as desalination projects for industrial players in France, Austria, the UK, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, to name a few-no two jobs were alike. So while he's done his best to take a step back since 2013, retired is a word that is somewhat hard for him to define, or to address. “I haven't worked for real money for a couple of years now. When it comes to the society of desalination specialists, it's really a wonderful community. I'm still in the mix and keep up a lively correspondence with my colleagues, and every-other year we meet at the International Desalination Association conferences all around the world. I think I have one more good job left in me, but I won't take on another one unless I'm sure I will learn something new.” It's this lifetime of curiosity that makes a conversation with Jim Birkett so rewarding-he's always looking for his next intellectual fix. And it's an instinct that he brought with him to Lincoln Academy when he first set foot on campus in 1950. Raised on the farm in Nobleboro, at the end of a long dirt road and without electricity, Birkett remembers that “when I arrived at LA I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I came to Lincoln with an unfair advantage: I grew up in a house that was full of books. My parents were both university-educated,
Jim Birkett on his family farm in Nobleboro, where he grew up, and now lives with his wife Sarah. "If you use this photo be sure to mention that I cast a long shadow," he said during the Aerie's visit to his farm.
36
FALL 2015
Looking back on his upbringing, on his Lincoln Academy (and then Bowdoin and Yale) education, on his distinguished career as a desalination specialist, and as a tireless alumni volunteer for Lincoln, Birkett sees himself as being a lucky man. “I'm lucky to be here now, and able to serve Lincoln Academy. I'm sure that some see me as a burr under the Academy's saddle, but I believe that critical and challenging discussion produces the best work in the end. And I have always been proud to be involved in the desalination field. It's technically "In my time at ADL, I learned how to take criticism of my work and to defend it, and how to offer it to others. We were fierce critics fascinating, and holds so much of each others' work, and it made for a wonderfully challenging environment and made all of our work more relevant.” —Jim Birkett potential to do good for people around the world. But none of it was planned, really. The advice I give to students today is and we kids and my parents would spend lots of time reading that it's nice to have a target to shoot for, but don't lose your aloud to each other. My days at Lincoln were spent among a great number of really thoughtful teachers, mentors, and sup- peripheral vision while you pursue what you think is ahead of you. Opportunities are always out there, and many you just portive friends, and they had a huge impact on my life.” One can't predict. The important question is, will you be able to bit of anecdotal evidence in this regard can be found among spot them?” the three members (out of a total of 32) of the Class of 1954 -David Belknap, Bobby Packard, and Birkett-who went off to study at Bowdoin. These classmates together brought It's sage advice for a new generation of Lincolnians, and it's home to Lincoln Academy the Abraxas Cup, a prize given to got a lifetime of experiences standing behind it. But it's also the secondary school represented by at least three members in a mantra by which Jim Birkett still lives... always curious, the first year's class who achieved the highest combined grade always questioning, always looking for just one more good job point average. “We never thought of Lincoln being small or -literally or figuratively-where he can learn something new. simple-it was a great place for us to learn, and we did.” The dairy barn at the Birkett Farm on Damariscotta Lake in Nobleboro is full of memories from different times: wagon wheels and horse tack, opera memorabilia, and several giant banners from desalination conferences around the world. This one came from Abu Dhabi in 1995. "I asked what they were going to do with the banners after the conference, and they said they were going in the trash, and did I want it? That is the problem with a barn like this. You say yes to stuff when you probably shouldn't."
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
37
for the fiscal year July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015 Lincoln Academy gratefully acknowledges the generous support of alumni, parents, friends, and businesses throughout the year.
Unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund, Capital Campaign, and gifts designated to support specific programs and endowment funds.
Kiah Bayley Society $50,001 and above Anonymous (2)
Samuel Nickels Society
$15,001-$50,000 Edward L. and Ruth J. Jones Charitable Foundation Masters Machine Co. Sarah K. de Coizart Article TENTH Perpetual Charitable Trust The First, NA
Mary Borland Society
$5,001-$15,000 Anonymous Bob ’62 and Margie ’65 Baldwin Jim ’54 and Sarah Birkett Lewis Burleigh ’58 Colby & Gale, Inc. and Phillips Power Products Flory Fund of the Maine Community Foundation John H. Longmaid Ann ’73 and Alden ‘65 McFarland Rob and Stephanie Nelson Cleveland A. Page Family
In memory of Julie (Page) Burnheimer '73
The Class of 1950 The Class of 1974 The Class of 1975 The Reny Charitable Foundation 38
FALL 2015
Academy Hill Society
$2,501-$5,000 Marcus and Andrea Hutchins Lincoln Academy Alumni Association Christine (Sherman) Nelson ‘38 Janice O. Sprague ‘54 The Class of 1965 The Class of 1985 George Weston ’38
1801 Society
$1,801-$2,500 Margaret Rigg Atwood Brooks and Jennifer Betts Janice Chapman ‘66
In memory of Walter and Dorothy Chapman
John ’58 and Allison Chapman Damariscotta Bank & Trust, Co Lev Davis, Jr. ‘72 Stephen Dixon Northrup ’62 and Carole ‘64 (Fraser) Fowler In memory of Josephine Hart
Susan and Peter Glueck Betsy (Cable) Graves ‘76 Kathy (Chasse) Hanna ‘79 John and Koko Harris Hart Fund of the Maine Community Foundation Jack and Martha Lynch Johnston Family Garrett Martin and Jenny Mayher
Lisa ’83 and Steve ’79 Masters Sarah and Todd Maurer Mexicali Blues, Inc. Karen and Sean Moran Bill Morgner Christopher J. Olson ’83 Phil ’70 and Gail Page Victor ’71 and Ruth Perreault Randall Phelps and Pamela Daley Faustine Reny ‘01 Hugh Riddleberger and Louise McIlhenny Ned Steinberger and Denise Soucy David and Elisabeth Sturdevant The Class of 1991 Chrissy ’85 and C.J. Wajer Wright-Ryan Construction
Daniel Haskell Society
$1,001-$1,800 Anonymous (2) Jean W. Burrage Camden National Bank J. Edward Knight & Co. Lincoln Academy All Sports Boosters Mid-Coast Energy Systems, Inc. Charles L. Richards Bill and Judy Silver
Bell Tower Society $501-$1,000 Anonymous
In memory of classmates, 1972-1979
Seth and Mary Anderson Laurie ’73 and Jeffrey Bouchard Carol and Jack Dexter Martha Frink Mark ’71 and Judy Johnston Richard ’46 and Gladys ’47 Johnston Mary Jane Perry and Peter A. Jumars Ann W. Knott In memory of Barry (Gus) Knott ‘51
Linda ’65 and George Masters Dennis ’91 and Michelle Prior Sam and Abbie Roberts William and Gertrude Jones Trust Yereance and Son Plumbing and Heating
Robert Clunie, Jr. Society
$251-$500 Anonymous (3) Jake and Missy Abbott Willard R. Bailey ‘50 Bath Savings Institution Jean (Baldwin) Beaulieu ’56 Gary and Rosie Bensen Bob ’56 and Cindy Brown Ben and Sarah (Glueck) ‘95 Carlisle Mike and Rebecca Clark AJ ’64 and Alina Corson Larry ’77 and Judith Dumont Mary E. Edwards ‘81 First Federal Savings and Loan Tor Glendinning ‘90 Geoffrey E. Gordon ‘82 Mary S. Hart
Judith Hilton ‘91 Franklin Holland Cathi and Jef '77 Howell Porter D. ’50 and Patricia Leighton Jeremy Marks and Kirsten Campbell Marianne Masters ‘81 Patty (Genthner) Scudder ‘50 Shawn St. Cyr '97 Jillian Testa ’95 Suzanne Trazoff
Benevity Community Impact Fund Anni Jay Black ‘62 Donald F. Blagden ‘70 Dot Blanchard Leslie (Cheney) Bolster ‘85 Clifford W. Bosworth ’50 Jesse Boyd ‘88 Katharine Brewer
Dick Valentine ‘49 Dorothy (Merrill) Weber ‘55 Stan and Ellen Wells
Jean Brooks '96
Eagle Society
$100-$250 Anonymous (3) Judith and Thomas Abbott Charles F. Adams ‘64 Eleanor P. Adams Cally ’66 and Tom Aldrich David R. Alexander ‘51 John and Barbara ’74 (Stockmann) Allan Gary ’73 and Pamela Alley Thomas and Debra Arter In memory of Michael Frink
Carolyn Augusto ‘91 Rae and Ted Bachelder Todd ’77 and Jody ’78 Bachelder David and Sylvia Bailey Ellis W. Bailey ‘62 William Balch and Patricia Matrai Anne M. Baldwin Beckmann ‘85 Brent Baldwin ‘88 Kate and Charles Beaudette Anna C. Belknap ‘90
In memory of Charles F. Brewer, Jr. ‘50
Barbara P. Briggs ‘58
In honor of Coach Ryan Ball
Linda D. Brunner ‘60 Ruth J. Bryant ‘48 Scott Burnheimer
In memory of Julie Page Burnheimer
Jason H. Burns ‘70 Neil and Lynne S. '63 Campbell Jim and Sue Chambers Jodie A. Clark ‘81 Eugenie (Woodward) ’55 and Wayne Cole Ned ‘62 and Mary Martha ‘64 Collins In memory of Josephine Hart
Tom Cromwell A.G. Davis Arthur and Joyce Dexter Ellen and John Dickens Chuck and Meg Dinsmore Eileen Disavino Brian ’71 and Ruth Dodge Calvin ‘56 and Marjorie ’50 Dodge Dana L. Dow Jean Eaton ’54 Ellis and Jen Eckel Rosemary Emerson ‘55 Lynda E. Estabrook ‘65
Patsy (Parsons) Fales ‘50
In memory of Marion Albee Parsons ‘18
Janet Fowle, M.D., Cole and Max Wentworth Ken ’61 and Carol Fraser Dan Friedland and Heather Wolfe Chris Frost Margo Gilbert ‘85 Rowland V. Gilbert ‘50 USN/RET
Dr. Timothy Goltz and Karen Kleinkopf Holly (Page) Gwozdz ‘01 Michael J. Hanley ‘71 Paula (Chamberlain) Hanson ‘57 Harland and Janet Hatch Alan K. and Pamela S. Henrikson Ralph ’40 and Jean ’43 Hilton Daniel A. Hodgkins ’41 Stacey E. Hong ’84 Barbara (Smith) Hope ’63 Kristie Houghton and Family Laura ‘91 and Luke '88 Houghton Dale ‘85 and Kati Hunt Wilder ’63 and Ellen ‘63 Hunt In memory of Milton and Mildred Plummer ‘34
Malcom Hunter ‘70 Kate and Tom Huntington Karren Hurley ‘85 Bob and Tammy Jackson Johnna L. Jackson ‘61 Joan (Fish) Jackson ‘66 Caroline Davis Janover Richard ’69 and Genne Johnston Carol (Baker) Joyal ‘60 Carol (Ropes) Kelsey ‘65 Jan and Barbara Kiviniemi
David and Rosalee Landry Thomas Leighton ‘61 Phyllis C. Lichtenwalner ‘45 Ed Lincoln ’70 Mr. and Mrs. George R. MacKinnon Bryan Manahan George L. Martin ’75 Martha G. Mason Sarah ’81 and Jim Matel Paul and Sharon Mathews
Jonathan McKane and Susan Dale Anni Pat McKenney ’93 and Chris McKenney ’89 Nelson A. McLean ‘50 Peter and Amy ‘88 McNaughton Peter Mehlhorn Family Libby Mooney Stephany Morris Charles Mullen and Natalie Norris James and Margaret Newell Nobleboro Central School Sara (Schick) Nordhoff ‘89 Becky (Raser) Nunn ‘64 Betty Jean (Oliver) O’Dell ‘43 Patty M. Osmer ‘65 Robert W. Packard ‘54 Lincoln O. Page ‘68 Todd ‘97 and Monika Page Lurie ’79 and Paul ’67 Palino Janice Palmer Robert E. Palmer, Jr. ’71 Alan C. Pease ’48 Nancy (Woodward) Perry ‘65 In memory of Donald Perry ‘64
Randall and Jean Peterson James H. Phillips Cheryl ‘91 and Jarrod Pinkham ‘89
Class Gifts in Honor of Reunion Classes
The following classes made contributions this year as class gifts:
The Class of 1945 The Class of 1950 The Class of 1965 The Class of 1970
The Class of 1974 The Class of 1975 The Class of 1985
In memory of Classmates Anne Scofield and Matt Harvie
The Class of 1991
In memory of Classmates Matt Doughty, Todd Sherman, and Tori Welch
The Class of 1995
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
39
Bob Wheeler ‘65 Ken and Barb Williams Andy '51 and Louise Williamson ’51 Heather Wilson ‘91 Norman ’81 and Lori Wright
Black and White Society
$1-$99 Anonymous (5) Paula (Weeks) ‘60 and Louis Abbotoni Cynthia (Giles) Allen ‘54 Margaret (Barnes) Ames ‘57 G. Wells Anderson ‘50 Amanda Armstrong William Avantaggio, Esq. ‘86 Nancy (Lincoln) Baldwin ‘60 Irene Brady Barber ‘97 Theo Barstow ‘50 Richard Bartholomae David Bartlett ‘78 Lyn Bass Hilda K. Berry In memory of William J. Berry
Marcia (Swift) Prock ‘60 Alex and Anneliese Pugh Lee and Sandra Ramstrom Brian ‘76 and Rosa ‘76 Redonnett Chester and Katharine Rice Rightway Electrical Services Richard B. Riley Paul C. Robinson ’58 Diane Russell ‘65 John Schumacher ‘81 Julia Sherman '70
Charles and Ingrid Sherrill Rufus Short ‘44 Rita B. Simmons ‘65 William M. Snyder ‘64 Yvette Fish Sullivan ‘85 The Class of 1962
In memory of Richard Thompson
Middy Sherman Thomas ‘49 Willa C. Vinal
In memory of Catherine Vinal Ames ‘69
Rick Wahle and Carol Lariviere
Cathy (Fish) Walker ‘62 Steven and Lisa Wallace William and Eliza Walton Ricki ’82 and Randall Waltz ’81 Mary Sue Weeks ‘62 Elizabeth B. Welles Shirley (Batteese) Welton ‘65 Michael and Dawn Westcott Kelcey and Brian ’89 Westhaver Ellen (Keast) Wheeler '60
In memory of Louise Stanley ‘60
Mary Blanchard ‘88 Barb Briggs ‘67 Jim Briggs ‘70 Amy (Brunner) Brooks ‘90 Barbara Bryer ‘81 Lori (Leavitt) Budd ‘77 Peter Burke ‘85 Erin (Coyne) Burns ‘85 Dottie (Peck) Carlson ‘51 Katharine (Reed) Casey ‘65 Robert Caswell '70 Mr. and Mrs. Steven P. Chaney ‘61
Contributions to Scholarship and Memorial Funds Lewis C. Alley Scholarship Fund Gary ’73 and Pamela Alley
David Archer Memorial Scholarship Lucilla Archer Brian Huntley ‘76
Carol Lessard Bickford Fund
Eleanor Ricker O’Donnell ’47
Matthew S. Budrow Scholarship Fund L.A. All-Sports Boosters Matt Budrow Tournament
Julie (Page) Burnheimer '73 Scholarship Fund
The Cleveland A. Page Family
40
FALL 2015
Frances W. Dixon Memorial Scholarship Fund Richard and Mary Chase Jack and Martha Lynch Henry J. Sandlass
Cleveland Page ’42 Scholarship Fund Elizabeth Page Phil Page ’70 Link Page ‘68
Kay E. Dopp Scholarship Fund
Daniel A. Pinkham Sports Scholarship Fund
Maine Community Foundation
Ann Pinkham
Mary Gallagher Fund
Gary Pinkham Scholarship Fund
Maine State Grange
Michael T. Hadik Technology Fund Ann Gold and Steve Hadik
Crystalle Rose Johnson Scholarship Fund
Edward L. & Ruth J. Jones Charitable Foundation
Lanelle G. Duke ’88 Patsy Pinkham Malcolm ’59 and Carol ‘59 Ray
Leanne Pulsifer Scholarship Fund Jeff Eilenberg David and Susan Hanson Katy Harrington Priscilla Pulsifer The Class of 1995
The Reny Charitable Foundation Scholarship Fund The Reny Charitable Foundation
Salt Bay Art Scholarship Salt Bay Art Supply
Anne Scofield Scholarship Fund Hiram Sibley ’85 Yvette (Fish) Sullivan ’85
Matching Gifts Shell Oil Company Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation LPL Financial The Valentin Chase Family Judith (Hall) Cheney’65 Ed and Christine Chickering Larry and Jeanne Clampitt Maura Clark In honor of James Tukey '58
Howard Duane Clausing ‘49 Sonia (Perley) Clime ‘69 Christopher Rice and Tomlin Coggeshall Judith (Elwell) Collamore Kristen (Jones) Cowing ‘87 Scott Cranston ‘85 Frank Creamer Dick and Jenelle Cummings Nick Davala ‘96 Bernie and Penny ’66 Davala Dan and Sandi Day ’65 Mick and Laura Devin Martha (Reed) Dodge ‘62 Susan (Chasse) Dolley ‘85 Charlene Donahue Bryce ’65 and Patricia ‘65 Dubord Elizabeth J. Duckett Tom Elliman ‘61 Allan and Ellen Fisher Tracey (Geroux) Gervais ‘86 Paula (Welton) Goode ‘91 Holly Duncan S. Griffin ‘85 Margaret Grover ‘73 Ann A. Guild Mike, Liz and Emma Hall Marie H. Hall ’65 Kathleen Colquhoun Halm David M. Hanna ‘85 William Hart ’67 Clayton E. Hatch ‘54 Mark and Joan Hatch ‘70 William G. Healey ’85 and Family Jane (Small) Holmstrom ’60 Priscilla House ’69 Andrew Hubbard ‘68 Peter Huntington ‘10 Brian Huntley ‘76
Thank you for your support! Cooper (Campbell) Jackson ‘85 Tess Terry Jones ‘66 Marnie Kaler ‘91 Tom Keller Joan and John Kierstead Paula Knowlton ‘85 Jane Leavitt ‘50 Kyle R. Lebeau ‘90 Alison Macmillan Dave and JaJa Martin Hannah McGhee Kate (Lemos) McHale ‘91 Heidi McKechnie Frazier and Susan Meade Don and Mary Rae Means Jen Milliken Ralph Norwood ‘91 Michael Nussbaum ‘93 Karen and Steve O’Bryan Eleanor Ricker O’Donnell ‘47 Brian O’Mahoney Patty Palmer ‘66 Karen (Leavitt) Paz ‘78 Mike and Sally Emerson ’61 Pelillo Mr. and Mrs. Lynn E. Pierce ‘70
Helen S. Pietila ‘40 Kathy Pinkerton David Pope Elmer Potter ‘50 V. Stephen Prior '84 Nadine Raley Darlene Ray ‘84 & Charles Fairbrother Robert Reed ‘50 Susan (Bartlett) Rice ‘91 Penny Scherer Wally and Debbie Schling Alice Palmer Scott ‘45 Lisa Katz and Ed Seidel Patti Sims Nancy A. Slocum ’62 Suzan Splavins ‘57 Judith Stafford Margaret Stiassni Gary and Bonnie Stone Richard and Terri Taylor Susan Taylor Heather (Williamson) Thomas ‘79 Amber Tonry ‘85 Kat Tremblay ‘86 Marcia Trentin ‘47
Sonya S. Verney ’81 Carl and Lourdes Von Vogt Herb and Roberta Watson Matthew Weaver ‘88 Paul and Judy Weislogel Marty and Betty Welt Daria and Ed White Jane Whitmore ‘74 Bridget O’Brien ’86 and Kurt Widmaier Russ and Diana Williams Fran Williamson John Williamson ‘86 Sarah Wills-Viega Jeannette Wordock ‘71 JB and Loren (Bachelder) Wright ‘79 Joan M. Yeaton ‘53 Mary H. York ‘66 Jeffrey M. Zabik ‘73
Gifts of Goods and Services Anonymous Colby & Gale, Inc. Alexander (Sandy) Davis Martha Frink Hammond Lumber Co.
Lincoln County Publishing Metcalf ’s Beth Preston Chris ’74 and Paula ‘75 Roberts Social Security Administration
Stars Supplies Unlimited Letitia Utford Doug Vanderploeg Jean Williamson
Contributions received after July 1, 2015 will be reported in the next Annual Report of Contributions. LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
41
Board of Trustees
for fiscal year 2015 - 16 New Board Members:
BUDGET REVENUE
Tim Alley lives in Walpole, and joined the LA Board in July 2015. He was born in Damariscotta and raised in South Bristol, and graduated from Lincoln Academy in 1977. Tim is a commercial fisherman and President of the South Bristol Fisherman's Co-op. Tim’s children Luke ‘08, and Sarah ‘11 graduated from LA. “As an LA Board member I hope to enhance the communication between Lincoln Academy and local communities in order to maximize opportunities for all students.”
Day Tuition Residential Tuition Insured Value Factor Endowment Transfer(s) Auxiliary Programs (inc. SPED) Fundraising (Lincoln Fund) Misc. Income
Day Tuition Residential Tuition Insured Value Factor Endowment Transfer(s) Auxiliary Programs (inc. SPED) Fundraising (Lincoln Fund) Misc. Income Total
Budget Revenue $4,997,025 $2,609,850 $307,090 $192,350 $634,292 $225,000 $125,000 $9,090,607
% 55.0% 28.7% 3.4% 2.1% 7.0% 2.5% 1.4% 100.0%
BUDGET EXPENSE Salaries Benefits Administration Debt Service Auxiliary Program(s) Facilities & Transportation Capital Projects & Equipment Curricular/Co-curricular Programs IT Services Rentals Salaries Benefits Administration Debt Service Auxiliary Program(s) Facilities & Transportation Capital Projects & Equipment Curricular/Co-Curricular Programs IT Services Rentals Total 42
FALL 2015
Budget Expense $4,234,893 $1,170,387 $1,168,720 $793,403 $651,121 $586,900 $224,550 $184,065 $55,475 $20,750 $9,090,264
Pam Gormley lives in Damariscotta and joined the LA Board in July of 2015. She grew up in Bronx, New York, and attended the City University of New York. She is currently the Executive Director of Skidompha Library in Damariscotta. Her children Katie ‘07 and Quinn ‘12 both graduated from LA. “As a Board member I hope to help support the legacy of great education for all at Lincoln Academy.” Marcus Hutchins lives in Southport, and has served on the LA Board since 2015. He grew up in Harrington Park, NJ, and got his BA in Economics from Brigham Young University, and his MA and M. Phil in Economics from Columbia University. Marcus is a retired hedge fund trader and an active investor, as well as a part-time woodwind doubler, playing sax, flute, and clarinet. Marcus’s daughter Abbie graduated from LA in 2014. “My aspiration for LA is summarized in the mission statement. I hope to see policies and procedures enacted which will maintain and strengthen the goals outlined in the mission statement.” Hugh Riddleberger lives in Nobleboro, and joined the Board in July 2015. He was born in Poughkeepsie, NY, and grew up in New York State. He has a BA in Journalism from the University of Michigan, and an EdM in Administration from Harvard University. Hugh is a retired principal and Head of School, and the founder of a non-profit for high school kids in social leadership and entrepreneurship. “I hope to continue to strengthen Lincoln as a school of excellence for ALL students.”
Returning Board Members:
% 46.6% 12.9% 12.9% 8.7% 7.2% 6.5% 2.5% 2.0% 0.6% 0.2% 100.0%
Bob Baldwin was born and raised in Nobleboro, and has been a Board member since 2004. Bob graduated from Lincoln in 1962, and has a degree in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Maine, Orono. Bob is the owner of a General Contracting Business in Thomaston. His eleven siblings and many nephews and nieces have also attended LA. “During my Board tenure at Lincoln, I hope to set and maintain a sustainable income to support the school’s mission, which is to prepare every student for the successful opportunity to compete for a rich and prosperous life.” Stephen P. Dixon lives in Newcastle and has served on the LA Board since 2013. He grew up in Rumson, NJ, and has a BA in Economics from Curry College. Stephen was an elementary school educator for 40 years. His late wife, Frances Dixon, was Chair of LA Math Department for many years, and his daughter Irene Brady (Dixon) Barber
graduated in 1997. “My hopes for LA include providing support for administration and faculty, in order that they will provide the best possible education for a growing student body who will have the tools necessary to thrive in the 21st century.” Lisa Masters grew up in Damariscotta and has been on the LA Board since 2013. She graduated from Lincoln in 1983, and went on the get her degree in Business Administration from the university of Maine. She works for Camden Financial Consultants a division of Camden National Bank. Lisa has three sons. Tom graduated from Lincoln in 2013, Nathan will graduate in 2018, and Jacob will graduate in 2023. "My hope for the school is that we can continue to expand the endowment to provide more opportunities for faculty and staff, and continue to make the school a better learning environment for students." Sarah Maurer lives in Bristol and has been on the LA Board since 2011. She grew up in Fairport, New York, and is the current co-owner of King Eider’s Pub, the 1812 Farm, and Stone Cove Catering. She is the aunt of three LA graduates (Eric Organ ‘13, Alex Organ ‘15, Spencer Weiss ‘15) and two current students (Maggie Weiss ‘16 and Cate Organ ‘17). Ann McFarland has been on the LA Board since 2010. She grew up in Newcastle and now lives in South Bristol with her husband, Alden McFarland ‘65. Ann graduated from LA in 1973, and from USM in 1979 with a degree in Social Welfare, psychology, and sociology. She had a 21 year career in real estate before retiring in 2013. “I’ve always been proud of my education at LA, and want to give back whatever I can, to continue to see Lincoln succeed in today’s educational environment. As I near the end of my two-year term as the Board Chair, I hope to see LA continue to move forward with educational opportunities: new and better uses of ATEC, and continued partnering with local groups to offer other types of learning to our students. We live globally; we must learn, and therefore teach, globally also.” Jon McKane lives in Newcastle, and has served on the LA Board since 2013. He grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts and has a BA from New England College. Jon works as an electrical contractor and a realtor, and served four terms in the Maine Legislature. His son Sumner graduated from LA in 1994. "As a trustee my goal is the help assure the long term sustainability of Lincoln Academy while continuing the quality of education that we have come to expect." Karen Michaud Moran lives in Damariscotta, and has served on the LA Board since 2008. She grew up in Methuen, MA, and attended Boston College and Suffolk University Law School. She is both a registered nurse and an attorney. Karen is the parent of three LA graduates, Brendan ‘07, Patrick ‘08, Katie ‘11. “As a Board member I would like to ensure that LA remains financially sustainable and continues to nurture and support all of our students with an excellent faculty, comprehensive curriculum, extra-
curricular offerings, and improved facilities." Bill Morgner lives in Damariscotta and has served on the LA Board since 2014. He grew up in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and is a Graduate of University of Maine, with a BS in Biology. He is certified in Plumbing, Propane, Electrical, oil, and universal refrigerant. Currently he is the Owner and President of Mid-Coast Energy Systems. Bill is the proud parent of two LA graduates: Eric ‘09, and Alison ‘13. “I hope to help improve the ‘gem’ we have on the coast of Maine called Lincoln Academy, while making it sustainable and adaptable for future generations.” Rob Nelson lives in Newcastle, and has been on the LA Board since 2013. He grew up in New Jersey, and has a BSE in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton. Rob is self-employed in solar energy research and real estate development. Rob’s mother, Christine Nelson, graduated from in ‘38, and his sons Channing and Adlai will graduate in 2017 and 2020. “My hope is that Lincoln Academy does its best to prepare each of our students for their future beyond Lincoln.” Dennis Prior lives in Bremen, and has served on the Board since 2011. He grew up in Bremen and graduated from Lincoln in 1991. He holds a Bachelors of Architecture (BArch) from Roger Williams University and Wroxton College, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, and owns his own architectural firm called Precedent Designworks. Dennis is the parent of three future LA students, Nick ’22, Sarah ’26 and Kate ‘27. “I hope that LA can secure the necessary state-of-the-art facilities and educators to innovate education at LA and become a leader in secondary education in the State of Maine and across the globe.” Faustine Reny lives in New Harbor and has served on the LA Board since 2010. She graduated from LA in 2001 and holds a BS from Lasell College BS and an MS in Accounting from Suffolk University. She works at RH Reny, Inc., representing the third generation of Renys to run that company. Faustine is a fourth generation LA graduate; both of her parents, John ‘69, and Kathleen (Reeves) ‘73, graduated from LA. “During my Board tenure I hope to help promote how great this school is, and continue the success for the generations to come, including my daughter Cordelia, who will be a member of the class of 2033!” Chrissy Wajer lives in Newcastle, and has served on the LA Board since 2006. She grew up in Sheepscot Village, and majored in Broadcasting and Communications at USM. She owns Sheepscot Village Pre-school and Daycare. Chrissie graduated from LA in 1985. Her daughter Alex graduated in 2006, son Ethan in 2010, and daughter Brie is a current student in the class of 2017. “My hope is that trustees, administration, faculty, staff, parents, and the community continually and collaboratively work together to recognize and to meet the needs of all LA students.”
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
43
LA's Associate Head for Advancement Matt Goetting.
Right: Sheryl Stearns at an Admissions conference in Mexico. Below: The flags in the Lincoln Academy Dining Commons represent the residential students' countries of origin.
someone from the Advancement office and take a walk around campus. You'll see what I mean. Speaking of the Advancement office, I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge my team.
Advancement D
avid Sturdevant and I recently traveled overseas to meet the families of some of our residential students. Like most meetings with parents, the conversation focused on their child’s growth both in and out of the classroom. Questions were asked, answers offered. But unlike most meetings with parents of LA students, these parents are 7,500 miles away. At the end of our conversation, after expressing gratitude for what Lincoln Academy has done for her child, who has developed into a confident young man, the mother of one student said to us, “we hope that after our son has graduated, you will come back and visit. We are family.” Indeed, we are members of the same, very special family. This powerful comment made me think back to one of my early memories, when the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series. This team had a well-known leader, the late Hall-of-Famer Willie Stargell. Some background, with thanks to columnist Joe Starkey from the TRIBUNE-REVIEW: “Stargell heard the Sister Sledge song, ‘We are Family,’ over the P.A. system in St. Louis during batting practice... He liked it so much he asked the public-relations staff to buy the record and make it the club’s theme song. No song could have been more appropriate. This was a team composed of players from myriad backgrounds, sporting wildly different personalities. Its trademarks, however, were togetherness, depth and inextinguishable spirit.” Togetherness, depth and inextinguishable spirit. Yeah, I would say that is what family is all about. When it comes to the Lincoln Academy family, those traits are on display every day, in and out of the classroom. But don't take my word for it–come and see for yourself. Call 44
FALL 2015
Kerry Cushing has unparalleled institutional knowledge, a "can-do-ness," and a warm way with alumni of all ages. Kerry’s leadership of last year’s Lincoln Fund “1801” initiative helped take the program to new heights. It’s not often that an annual fund triples from the previous year, and Kerry deserves much of the credit. As important as the dollar increase was the increase in participation. Jenny Mayher has done a phenomenal job enhancing communications with our community. From the latest edition of this very magazine, to the weekly Eagle eNewsletter, to our social media and weekly stories of student and faculty accomplishments, our communications are on par with any institution, anywhere. Thanks to her good work, we are making progress in getting the word out about LA and continuing to develop stronger relationships with our extended community. “Mr. Lincoln Academy,” Phil Page, brings his positive love-LA attitude to getting our alumni more engaged with their alma mater. Phil's enthusiasm and passion for this school are contagious, whether he's talking to senior alumni or recent grads. Every family needs a Mr. Page! The newest addition to the team is Peter Wagner. Though Peter has Shipbuilder roots as a graduate of Morse High School, he has the spirit of an Eagle, and will help this office and institution soar. I am confident that you will enjoy getting to know Peter. In my opinion, there has never been a more exciting time to be part of the Lincoln Academy family, whether you live in Beijing or Bristol, Barcelona or Bremen, Istanbul or Newcastle. We are in the midst of a community-wide planning endeavor that will set the course for the next chapter of this venerable institution’s future. The plan will be unveiled in 2016, and the spirit of togetherness will soon be on display as Lincoln moves forward with its mission of preparing students for meaningful and productive lives. Get the Sister Sledge record ready! Finally, as you enjoy time with your friends and families, please consider an end-of-year gift to your Lincoln Family and support the good work that goes on here every day. -Matt Goetting Associate Head for Advancement
O
Enrollment and Marketing
ne of my favorite moments in the academic year is that first meal, meeting, or event when all of the boarding students-new and returning-are together in the same place. The admission year is an intense cycle of travel, developing relationships, introducing the school to new students around the world, generating inquiries, reading applications, and encouraging admitted students to enroll. No sooner has the new group of students arrived, and the admission office is already focused on the next recruitment cycle. To see students actually on campus becoming so much more than an application file is incredibly exciting. This year, that moment was especially poignant as the boarding program reached capacity with 82 students from 16 countries and the US. We now have students from Bangladesh, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE/India, UK, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. Although they come from such diverse cultures and backgrounds, one thing is absolutely clear: Lincoln Academy is where they belong. When asked what kind of student we want at Lincoln Acad-
emy, I always go back to the USA Network’s tagline, “Characters Welcome.” Our boarding students are far from onedimensional and have varied talents and unique personalities. While all of them aspire to university, they will achieve that goal in different ways. There is the artist whose drawings are beautiful in their simplicity; the focused student, who studies hard and serves as pianist for a local church; the debater, who spends hours in his art studio; the extroverted socialite who makes everyone smile; and the football player, who acts as the resident technology guru. Our day students are just as diverse. Students at Lincoln Academy are embraced as they are, but are also encouraged to move beyond what they know and try something new-whether it is taking a Ceramics class, studying ocean creatures, engaging in a lively discussion about the meaning of life, or creating something useful with a 3D printer. We want students, who are curious, compassionate, and most importantly, willing to be active participants in a community abounding in opportunities. The new recruitment season has begun, and I’m excited about the wonderful students I’ve already met in my travels. Our goal moving forward is to welcome more American students as well as increase the diversity within our international population. That is the official goal. My actual objective, however, is to find students who will transform us and push us to become an even better school than we already are. We cannot encourage students to move outside of their comfort zones without also being willing to do the same. We want characters. We need characters. -Sheryl Stearns Director of Enrollment and Marketing LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
45
Sarah Wills-Viega (L) is the Director of Counseling and Studies. Andy Mullin (R) is the Associate Head of School. They share the title of Lincoln Academy Academic Dean.
Academic Report T
his is an exciting time for students at Lincoln Academy. Keeping in mind our mission to create a learning environment that provides all students the opportunity to realize their academic potential, we have added numerous courses to enhance students’ academic experience. These courses can be found throughout the academic spectrum, and many have already become quite popular. In addition to new courses, we have made changes to our daily schedule to address other issues related to student learning. The opening of the Cable-Burns Applied Technology and Engineering Center, affectionately known as ATEC, has provided a new home with state-of-the-art equipment for some of our visual and applied technology courses such as Digital Media Production, Digital Photography, Auto Engines and Computer Aided Design. It has provided new academic opportunities in the technological world as well. These new courses cover topics such as engineering, robotics, 3D printing, and metal sculpture. We are also taking advantage of our coastal location by offering students the opportunity to pursue a Certificate in Marine Studies. This certificate will indicate a serious interest in and dedication to this area of study. The creation of this certificate has spurred the development of several new marine related courses such as Marine Ecology, Marine Resources, and Maritime History and provides students the chance to take advantage of community-based courses such as Basic SCUBA, Vessel Operations, and Cold Water Survival for high school credit. In their senior year, students will pursue a capstone project that will involve in-depth research and/or an internship in the field. Beyond these two specific areas, we are offering students the opportunity to excel by offering new Advanced Placement courses including AP Macroeconomics, AP Chemistry, AP 46
FALL 2015
Physics, and AP Calculus BC. Students can pursue interests in new directions by taking courses such as US Government and Politics, World Religions, Native American Studies, Entrepreneurial Studies, and Mandarin Chinese. While there was strong student interest for all of these courses, the US Government and Politics class was in particularly high demand. The course was added to allow students the opportunity to focus on current political issues and structures. It requires students to use their critical thinking and problem solving skills to address these issues, skills that are emphasized in today’s educational standards and that are necessary for success in the world of work. Regarding changes to the daily schedule, for the 2015-2016 school year, we were able to offer an extended 80 minute class. This will enable our lab sciences to set aside specific days and times to conduct labs. Other disciplines can benefit from preplanned extended time as well to show films, invite in outside speakers, review current events, and more. Along with the daily schedule change came an opportunity to allow monthly meetings of individual departments. A late-start Wednesday gives departments the chance to meet and coordinate efforts. Additionally, the advisor period now falls both in the morning and in the afternoon, giving our morning and afternoon vocational students the opportunity to meet with their advisor. These schedule changes and new courses provide all students with excellent opportunities to expand their learning. We are continuously looking at ways to enrich students’ experiences and to best prepare them for their future. To this end, we have begun a formal curriculum review process. The first two departments to undertake this process are the Math and Visual and Performing Arts departments. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in our academic program. -Sarah Wills-Viega and Andy Mullin Academic Deans
A
s the Resident Program at Lincoln Academy enters the third year of students living on campus, we are really hitting our stride. With 82 students from all over the world and the US living in the Hall House and the beautiful new dorm, this year promises to be absolutely wonderful. The additions to the campus of the ATEC building and the Clark turf field have transformed the experience of students and adults living on campus. At the same time that we’re rapidly evolving, the core principles of the residential program remain consistent. We talk regularly about being involved in the life of the community, communication and, respect. But we don’t just talk about these things-we experience them, together. On the first weekend of orientation in August we continued our “tradition” of expecting every resident student to be involved in some sort of community project. This year we focused on a variety of trail maintenance projects on Monhegan and other locations closer to campus. The key was that everyone did something. Setting that kind of tone right from the beginning leads to further involvement in the life of the local community. Over 50 resident students volunteered at the 2015 Pumpkinfest. In the words of the volunteer coordinator, “The 2015 Damariscotta Pumpkinfest KidZone was a huge success, and that is in great part due to the resident student volunteers from Lincoln Academy. I can't say enough good things about them. You certainly have a great group of students at Lincoln Academy, and I am thankful for their participation.” Our campus community is building as well. The lounge in the new dorm has been put into use as a meeting ground for the whole community. We’ve had film showings, speakers, a blood drive, students studying and relaxing, and students competing fiercely against the resident faculty in a trivia game, all this fall. This new space offers new ways to bring the community together. Below: screen shot of a video created by residential students, documenting their camping trip at Hidden Valley Nature Center. Scan the QR code to the left to watch the video.
Resident Life Resident Life Director Ken Stevenson.
Our resident student leadership programs are off to a strong start this year, with a new tour guide program, proctor leadership training, and collaboration with the Lincoln Ambassador program. Lincoln resident and day students led two successful workshops on racial equality and women in leadership at the Maine Leadership Day held at Hyde School in November 2015. Meanwhile, resident students continue to deepen their involvement in the life of the LA community, participating in sports, math, and debate teams, in music and arts programs, and in student government. This winter will mark the launch of our “Passport to Lincoln” program. Offering a structured, graphic plan with a wide variety of engaging activities, the passport to Lincoln program is designed to engage resident students in a thoughtful introduction to opportunities on campus and throughout Lincoln County. Categories include Community Service, the Arts, Local History, Nerdy Things, Nature Experiences, Winter Fun, Challenges, and “Strange Stuff.” With 29 seniors living on campus we’re very focused on their college application and selection process. Among other initiatives, several dorm parents are hosting a weekend college tour of Boston in November 2015. Even though our residential program is still quite young, we already have had recent alumni come back to see us. Thanh Tran, Lincoln Class of 2015, visits regularly from Bowdoin College. We look forward to hearing from others as well. —Ken Stevenson Director of Resident Life LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
47
LINCOLN ACADEMY BOOSTER CLUB
LINCOLN ACADEMY ALUMNI COUNCIL Letter from Alumni Outreach Coordinator Phil Page '70
Last year, the Alumni Council said goodbye to several members who had made significant contributions to the council for 10 years or more. The Council was fortunate to add some key new members who are eager to carry on the good work of past members. The Council is planning several new fundraisers: a Homecoming Golf Tournament and two 8th grade basketball tournaments. With current and new fundraising, the Council tripled its annual gift to the school in June, 2015. A third new fundraiser will be held in March 2016, as the Alumni Council and the Class of 2018 will co-sponsor the Harlem Superstars Comedy Team. The Council already has made an $1801 gift to the school this fall to support the Lincoln Fund, and we encourage fellow alumni to support the Lincoln Fund this year as well. The LA Classes of 1945 and 1965 marched into the Alumni Dining Commons to kick off the 2015 Alumni Banquet. In 2015, the Alumni Banquet added a cash bar and live music. Both of these additions were well received by attendees. In 2016, the Alumni Office hopes that reunion classes will plan their reunions around the Alumni Banquet on June 4 in hopes of increasing participation in both class reunions and the Banquet.
The Annual Alumni Night will be held on its traditional day: the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 27). The Girls Varsity Basketball team will play the Alumni girls to start the evening, followed by the induction of six new members of Lincoln Academy Sports Hall of Fame. The final event of the evening will feature the boys varsity basketball team playing an exhibition game vs. Morse. The Council is always looking for new members to attend meetings and carry out the good work of the Alumni Council. A spirited Homecoming Weekend in September kicked off the 2015-16 year. Please support the Alumni Council and its events throughout the year. In doing so you will be a contributor to the Council’s mission in assisting Lincoln Academy to be the best it can be. Lastly, Lincoln Academy Alumni are asked to assist class agents and the Development Office Alumni by updating their contact information under the Alumni section of the LA website. We look forward to seeing many alumni back on campus in 2016! -Phil Page '70
Below: Alumni Council Treasurer Britt Hatch '84 (L) and President Allen (AJ) Corson '64 lead the Homecoming Parade in September 2015. The LA Jeep has been a dependable presence at Lincoln Academy Homecoming for decades! Thanks to Mr. Page, the jeep is still well-oiled and ready to cheer on LA Atheletes.
CU RRE N T A L U M NI COU N CI L M EM BER S : Allen Corson ’64, President Heather Lewis ’82, Vice President Yvette Sullivan ’85, Secretary Britt Hatch ’84, Treasurer Jodie Clark ’81 Bob Plourde ’89 Phil Page ’70 Chris Roberts ’74 Jef Howell ’77 Marge (Huber) Greenleaf ’90 Angelina Waltz ’94
48
FALL 2015
T
he LA Boosters began the 2015-16 school year with the election of officers. Sue Schumacher and Maureen Dodge were elected Co-Presidents, Cheryl Poland Secretary, and Darci Harrington Treasurer. Special thanks to Lynne Brackett for her dedicated service as President for the last two years.
concessions enable the Booster Club to be a strong annual supporter of Lincoln Academy. Significant contributions were made to equipment needs for the William A. Clark Field, and as always the Booster Club is there to assist the Athletic Department in areas of need.
Great weather and the dedication of the William A. Clark Field led to another outstanding Homecoming weekend. This year’s theme, “There Is No Place Like Homecoming” was appropriate, as according to some observers, there was a record crowd in attendance for Saturday’s Homecoming games.
Thanks to all the Boosters, volunteers, parents, and contributors who continue to make the LA Booster Club a vital part of Lincoln Academy.
Traditional Booster Club Fundraisers such as the Booster Calendar, the Booster Auction, Homecoming activities, and
-Phil Page '70 Alumni Outreach Coordinator and Booster Representative
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
49
New Staff Profiles JI M B ERM AN - M ATH
Jim Berman earned a BS in Mathematics from Arizona State and an MA in Mathematics Education from Teachers College, Columbia. He did postgraduate work in Biostatistics at the University of Washington. Jim has taught in international schools in countries including Vietnam, Brazil, Israel, and Guam (among others) and in several US states. In addition to teaching, he has coached tennis, golf and softball.
X U EM EI ( L U C Y ) L I - WO R L D L A NG U AG ES
Xuemei comes to us from China, where she earned a BA in English from Heilong jiang University and an MEd from Harbin Normal University and the University of Canberra. She has taught Chinese language and culture, and she has worked in the Heilong jiang Education Center for International Exchange, facilitating training for teachers and principals in her province. She has worked with the Chinese Language and Culture Center of Maine for the past three years. She is teaching Mandarin I and II at Lincoln.
DAV I D M ELG A R D - M AT H
David earned a BA in Mathematics Education from Fitchburg State College and has taught in several independent boarding and day schools throughout the Northeast. He moved to Maine in 2014 and taught at Medomak Valley last year. In addition to teaching, he has served as Athletic Director, Dean of Students, and he has coached baseball and basketball.
KI RSTEN CAM P BELL - A RT/ATE C
Kirsten has been a working artist for 20 years, teaching in college and postgraduate programs for 13 years, and holds a BFA in Painting from Maryland Institute College of Art and an MFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. She taught at Pratt for 10 years, and later at Estudio Nomada and Metafora in Barcelona, Spain, creating an international artist residency program there in 2012. After moving to Maine in 2013, she taught at UMA, began working as a visiting critic at MECA, and taught Art Fundamentals at Lincoln. In addition to Visual Arts, she teaches Metal Sculpture in ATEC.
ST EV EN CHEFF - SCI E N CE
Steven has been teaching high school life and physical sciences in Maine for about 25 years, most recently at John Bapst in Bangor. He earned a BS in nutrition science from the University of California, Davis, and completed his secondary science teaching credential at Chico State University. In addition to teaching, Steven enjoys coaching youth sports, including ice hockey, football, and soccer, and spending time enjoying the natural beauty of Maine. He also has four children, three of whom are in college.
M EGAN DERAP S - AT H LE TI C TRA I N E R/ WE LLN E S S
Megan joined us last year as our first athletic trainer. She returns this year as our full-time athletic trainer, and she will also be teaching fitness courses in the wellness department. She earned a BS in Athletic Training from the University of New England.
JOHN JEN KI NS - WE LLN E S S
John has worked as a motivational speaker and instructor of the popular wellness program “Tai-Chi Therapy Experience™." He has a BA in Psychology from Bates, and served as mayor of Lewiston, mayor of Auburn, and as a Maine State Senator. A world champion martial artist and self-defense instructor for the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and others, he has also trained active-duty soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. He was inducted into the Lewiston/Auburn Sports Hall of Fame, Maine State Sports Hall of Fame, World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and will be inducted into the 2015 International Black Belt Hall of Fame in November. He teaches SAFE Plan™: A Self Defense Course for Women.
THOM AS KOT HE - EN GLI S H
Thomas earned a BA in English from Bates College and a Master’s degree in Geography from Ohio State where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. He taught English and College Test Preparation courses at Lee Academy for the past two years.
50
FALL 2015
BR I G I T T E M O R R I S - WO R L D L A NG U AG ES
Brigitte joins us from Montana State University-Bozeman, where she was teaching French and English seminars with the College of Honors and the College of Letters and Science. A native of France, she earned a BA and an MA in Sociology-Ethnology from University Paul Valery, Montpellier III and is completing a Master’s in Education from MSU-Bozeman. She has worked as a translator and taught French in universities in France. She is also director and founder of Alliance Francaise de BozemanInternational Language School and Cultural Center, a non-profit organization promoting French and other languages/cultures.
M I K E M O RTO N - NEX D I NE C H EF M A NAG ER
Mike is Lincoln Academy's new Director of Dining Services/Executive Chef, employed by NexDine. He has many years of food service experience, owning restaurants and serving as Food Service Director/Executive Chef at USM, Brewster Academy, Schooner Estates Living Community, St Joseph’s College, Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, NH, and Masters School for Girls in Dobbs Ferry, NY. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and the US Air Force Food Service School.
HI L A RY P ET ER S EN - A D M I S S I O NS
Hilary joins us as an admission associate, and comes to us from the Deck House School in Edgecomb where she was a teacher and assistant to the Head of School. She has also served as the AOS93 School Board liaison to the Lincoln Academy Trustees for the past four years. Before her work in education, she spent four years with Camden National Bank. Hilary earned a BS in Biology and a BA in Chemistry from Providence College.
BO B TO P P ER - AT EC /ENG I NEER I NG
Bob is an engineer and an applied technology consultant who has served in a leadership capacity in several national and international engineering and manufacturing companies. He earned a BSE in Aero-Space Engineering and an MSE in Applied Physics from Catholic University. He holds or has pending 17 patents, and he currently operates his own consulting business. Bob teaches engineering, automotive engines, and Invent to Learn courses at LA.
P ET ER WAG NER - D I R EC TO R O F T HE L I NCO L N F U ND
A Bath native, Peter began his career as a teacher and coach at Morse High School. He moved on to be an "event junkie" at national and international affairs including the 1996 Olympics and Paralympics in Atlanta, the World Series and NBA All-Star Weekend, the Goodwill Games, and the Boston to New York AIDS Ride. He worked in Events and Alumni Relations at Bowdoin College before returning as Alumni Director to his alma mater, Davidson College. Since 2011 he was Communications Manager for Rain CII Carbon, an organization based in New Orleans. Peter and his family returned to live in Freeport, Maine in 2014. LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
51
Faculty Notes
Faculty Notes
RETIREMENTS
of the new ShopBot CNC and set up ATEC for fall programs and courses. Jake Abbott atop Mannlichen Mountain, Switzerland
Jake Abbott (Teague Street Alternative Education Program Director, Restorative Justice Director, Dorm Parent in Hall House) spent a month of last summer traveling through Italy, Switzerland and France with his family, learning about languages, cultures and the people. He tells Aerie, “It was a truly enriching and rewarding experience!”
Retiring English teacher Mike Walsh at 2015 Graduation.
Michele Rodrigues (R) with two of her World of Work students in the spring of 2015.
He graded papers before school; he graded after school; he graded during lunch, during his prep period, in assembly, in meetings, during graduation, while on his back giving blood to the Red Cross. Mr. Walsh dedicated thousands of hours over 22 years to guiding his student’s thinking and writing.
They called her MRod, and they loved her. For 12 years Michele Rodrigues worked with the students at Lincoln who are more interested in the world of work than the world of academics. She taught them to shake hands and sit up straight, to arrive on time and to be prepared for class. She held them to a high standard and demanded excellence in every student.
Mike came to teaching from a background in business and real estate, and found a life working with students-the children, he called them, and he meant that in the best sense. Mr. Walsh always looked at students’ development, at their growth; he took seriously his role as their guide and felt privileged to witness their progress. Shortly after arriving at Lincoln, Mike brought his daughter Mary, class of 2001 He coached the golf team for many years, became a Dean of Faculty in 2003, advised the Prize Speaking Contest, and taught the AP Literature class to which many students aspired in senior year. Mostly, he did the work of a dedicated teacher day in and day out. He taught his classes in pursuit of the universal truths: beauty, love, courage; these he sought with students through literature. But, I think he enjoyed most the individual exchanges he achieved through student conferences and feedback on student papers. I began teaching in the classroom next to Mr. Walsh in 1999, and I doubt I will ever spend fifteen years teaching alongside such a terrific friend and mentor again. I hope his golf swing is improving and his poetry more prolific. I thank him for being mentor, teacher, and friend to me and so many. -Bryan Manahan 52
FALL 2015
instruments. This program continues to grow and attract more Maine musicians every year.
MRod pioneered the LA Works Community Counts Grant process, through which students raised funds for a community grant, then held a professional grant-making process for local non-profits. She directed the Work Based Learning Program, through which students spend a half day in classes and a half day in the workplace. To make sure students were ready to take on a job, she mentored them through applying, interviewing, and being professional on the job. MRod loves all kids, and it shows. She retired in June, and since then has been catching up on reading, traveling, and visiting her grandchildren. She is still connected to LA helping out with Work Based Learning, World of Work, and Teague Street Alternative Education when they need her. She writes, “Best part of all: not having to get up so early to get ready for school. I have time now for walking down at the lighthouse with my husband and dog each morning.” -Jenny Mayher
Dr. Robert Breckenridge (Social Studies) spent three weeks last summer participating in a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute for Teachers called "America's Reconstruction: The Untold Story," which was held at the University of South Carolina at Beaufort. 30 teachers from across the nation were invited to come together to study this topic under the guidance of nationally known faculty, including Prof. Eric Foner of Columbia University, Douglas Egerton of Le Moyne College, and Allison Dorsey of Swarthmore College. He writes, “It was a great experience which gave us both classroom instruction and field visits to historic sites around Beaufort, Charleston, and Summerton, SC and Sapelo Island and Savannah, GA. I have won appointment to several NEH summer teacher study opportunities over the years, but this one was something special, and I came home to Maine with lots of new ideas for my US history classes.” Maya Crosby (ATEC Program Director, Technology and Science) spent a week at UMA last summer with a cohort of Maine teachers being trained to implement a new computer science curriculum called Exploring Computer Science, using real life examples from Maine businesses such as Jackson Lab and LL Bean. She also trained in the use
Kelley Duffy (Social Studies) was certified last year by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as a qualified Social Studies Teacher, a process that requires teachers to be assessed through multiple channels. Duffy, who was new to Lincoln last year, has been teaching for 18 years. Of the National Board process she says, “The certification process is a more rigorous examination of what I do as a teacher than anything else I have done.”
Social Studies teacher Kelley Duffy teaching AP macroeconomics.
Lucy Li (Mandarin) moved with her husband and daughter from China to Maine to work at Lincoln Academy. She writes, “my family and I experienced a lot since we moved from China to Maine. We cherish everything we've seen, heard and felt from this great country!" Matthew Leland (Science) was elected President of the Maine Forensics Association in May after his Lincoln Academy Debate team won the State Championship in the spring of 2015. Two of his debaters, Alexandra Welch and Elise Dumont, went on to National Level debate competition. Liz Matta (Performing Arts, Band Instructor) took another group of Maine student musicians to Haiti with Maine Music Outreach in July of 2015. In Haiti students learned Creole music and taught Haitian musicians about their
Visual Art teacher and Maine Arts Commission Fellow Jonathan Mess creates abstract ceramic sculptures from reclaimed ceramic materials.
Jonathan Mess (Visual Arts) was awarded the 2015 Maine Arts Commission Fellowship in Contemporary Craft. This merit-based award is primarily informed by the artist's body of work and serves to acknowledge artistic excellence and advance the careers of Maine artists. Anna Myers (Science) has taken over as the lead science teacher in the Teague Street Alternative Education Program. She applied for and received a grant through the Myers Foundation to support science education projects at Teague Street. David Sturdevant (Head of School) has had three new grandchildren born this year, which meant most of his summer travel involved visiting family. He recently traveled with Matt Goetting (LA’s Associate Head of School for Advancement) and Sheryl Stearns (LA’s Director of Enrollment and Marketing) to Beijing and Shanghai to visit the families of Lincoln Academy students who are from China.
David Sturdevant, Matt Goetting, and Sheryl Stearns in Shanghai in October 2015.
LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
53
1950 John Bailey died on January 28th, 2014. He is survived by his wife, Arlene, Class of 1956.
1954 Jim Birkett lives on his family farm in Nobleboro with his wife, Sarah. See full story on page 42.
1958/62 Mary Mulligan Buchan ‘58 and Sally Mulligan ‘62 are keeping history alive in Damariscotta Mills. Both are active on the Alewife Ladder Restoration Committee, and continue to operate the alewife smokehouse in the month of May with the help of volunteers. Their father, John Mulligan, bought the smokehouse in 1977, and Mary’s husband Jack took on its operation along the way until his passing in 2003.
1963 Joanna Richardson is working as a Library Service Advisor in the Division of Information at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.
1968/70 Brad Burns ‘68 and Jason Burns ‘70 have been working together for 30 years in their business, Portland Computer Copy Inc. The main office is in Portland with branch offices in Augusta, Bangor and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Jason lives in Brunswick and has a son, Alex and daughter, Andrea. Brad lives in Falmouth and has three daughters: Emily, Caroline, and Morgan.
1970 Phil Page was inducted into the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame on October 24th. Phil was a member of six Knox-Lincoln Championship teams at LA in three sports: cross country, basketball, and track. Phil went on to coach all three of those sports on the varsity level. At Medomak Valley he coached two KVAC Championship boys Cross Country teams and rejuvenated the boys track program. In 1984 he took over the boys varsity basketball position at Lincoln Academy, taking them to the Western Maine Finals in 1988 and winning the Class B State title in 1989. He is currently in his 20th year in Athletic Administration at LA. 54
FALL 2015
ClasS Notes 1971 Patricia Herold Allen. After ten years in Chattanooga, TN, Patricia has relocated to Biddeford, ME to be closer to her two sons and three granddaughters. She is glad to be back in Maine, which she considers home. Maurice “Skip” Burns is retired from the Navy living in Tucson, AZ. He is now a CNC machinist for Vante. He and his wife Kathy are proud of their three children and six grandchildren.
1975/80 Rod Waltz ‘75 and Chris Feltis ‘80 completed their 23rd year broadcasting Lincoln Academy boys and girls basketball for LCTV. Chris and Rod have combined a knowledge of the game and a great sense of humor to provide entertaining games to the public. Productions are archived and can be viewed via the internet all over the country. LA Basketball broadcasts on local cable date back to at least 1985 when Seth Benner ‘85 and Chrissy Wajer ‘85 were students at LA taping LA games for local viewing.
1977 Jef Howell moved from Livermore to New Harbor last year. In September Jef was presented a service award for his many years of service and dedication to the Franklin Community Health Network/Franklin Memorial Hospital board of directors. Jef serves on the Lincoln Academy Alumni Council, and his wife, Cathi, is the librarian at Lincoln Academy.
1980 Kathleen Hawkins LaBree is living in Rockland where she owns The Eclipse Restaurant and the Speakeasy Pub. The Eclipse features Contemporary American Fare on its menu,
ClasS Notes
and the Speakeasy sports a Prohibition theme downstairs. Kathy is an accomplished golfer and was sighted at the LA Alumni on the Water Event at the Coveside, where she reminisced about her days growing up in South Bristol.
1986 Jamie Hilton lives in Portland. He spent three years at USM and one year at UMO, graduating with a degree in Physical Education and Health. He has been in education 23 years, one year at Sanford, three at the Waynflete School and the last 19 at Falmouth High School. Jamie coached boys varsity basketball at Waynflete before moving on to USM as an Assistant Coach. At USM the boys program twice (1998 & 2000) made it to the National Championships. In 2004 Jamie was inducted into the New England Hall of Fame for coaching in the 1997-98 season. Jamie has been the Assistant Boys basketball coach for the last 15 years in Falmouth, which has won two State titles and been to the Western Maine Finals five times. He has also been officiating soccer for 23 years. Bridget O’Bryan Widmaier lives on Long Island with her husband Kurt and and three children, Kurt, Connor, and Kirsten. On November 1 Bridget participated in her third New York City marathon, this time with her son Kurt. Bridget was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and has been declared cancer-free after four surgeries. Bridget and Kurt will be running for Fred’s Team, named for Fred Lebow, the co-founder of the NYC marathon, who died in 1994. To date, over $60 million dollars has been raised for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where both Bridget and Lebow received treatment.
1988 Brent Baldwin performed as part of Big Star Third with members of REM & Wilco. He toured South America as guest conductor for Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee, and was featured on recordings by Phil Ajjarapu, The Normans and Trail of Dead. In October he filled in as
1996
Bridget Widmaier '86 and her son Kurt. Photo courtesy the Lincoln County News.
lead guitarist for the Noise Revival Orchestra on a concert tour in Asia. He performed in front of 50,000 fans at the Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan.
1989 Adam Wheeler, a member of the LA Boys 1989 State Championship basketball team, a Maine Maritime graduate and a 1,000 point scorer for their men’s basketball team, is now residing in Camden, Maine. Adam has been working aboard a merchant vessel known as a drill ship which is used for deep water oil exploration.
1990 Anna Belknap is an actor living in Los Angeles. See full story on page 46.
1992 Ryan Gaul is an actor living in Los Angeles. See full story on page 46.
1994
Robbie Hunt lives in Newcastle with wife Katie and four children, Jeanie 11, twin boys Elden and Drew 9, and Mirabelle 3. Robbie is Vice President of N.C. Hunt in Damariscotta and Jefferson. He is a member of the Waldoboro Baptist church. While at Lincoln, Robbie was a mainstay for school spirit at LA as a student and has continued that good work as an alumnus. N.C. Hunt generously contributes the LA Spirit Float for the annual Homecoming Parade, which doubles as the traditional student body seating section for all Saturday athletic contests during Homecoming.
1997 Corrine Cappaletti is a performer, teacher, and maker of dance as well as a Somatic Movement Therapist based in Brooklyn, NY. Corrine became a Certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst (CLMA) in 2008 and earned her MFA in Modern dance from the University of Utah in 2009. Zack Leck is teaching blacksmithing in the island nation of Taiwan. Zack is responsible for the sundial sculpture by the Poe Theater, which was the Class Gift of the Class of 1997. His permanent residence is in Washington State on Orcas Island in Puget Sound.
1998
Shannon Fowler is living in Gorham with her husband and two children. She is a Speech Language Pathologist in a private practice in Portland. Shannon specializes in working with children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Samantha (Newell) Griffin now resides in Chula Vista, California with her husband Jim. They have two sets of twins, the last set born in Sasabe, Japan where Jim was stationed in the Navy from 2011-14. Jim was involved in relief efforts related to the tsunami that struck Japan.
Sumner McKane was featured on the WCSH show 207 for his combination visual and live music documentary film “In the Blood.” The video is a compilation of historic footage of the logging industry in Maine forests and on Maine rivers. Sumner plays guitar and is accompanied on bass by Josh Robinson. Audiences for the documentary vary from classroom settings to venues in towns and cities throughout Maine.
1999 Steve French. After graduating from Lincoln, Steve received a BFA in Theatre Arts from Hartt School in West Hartford, CT and moved to NYC to pursue his acting career. He has since worked off Broadway and at regional theatres around the country. In 2011, he and the rest of the cast of In Transit, an acapella musical, received a special Drama Desk Award
Steve French '99 (second from right) sings with A Time for Singing at the York Theater on Broadway in 2014.
for Outstanding Ensemble. Steve is a member of Broadway Inspirational Voices, a gospel choir made up of Broadway and off-Broadway actors and singers. He is also a professional voiceover artist who has been heard around the world on television, radio and in feature films. Steve is married to Allison Rodgers, who works for a Broadway group sales company, and their proudest achievement was the birth of son Oscar Leo in April 2015.
2001 Julia Plumb attended Bates College. She has recently purchased a home in Belfast and released her duo’s Velocipede’s second album Hunt the Squirrel. Mary Walsh is living in Southern California and is the Online Editor of Snowboarder magazine.
2003 Tristan Durgin works in the Sports Information Department at the University of New England.
2005 Lucas Lincoln is living on a sailboat in Edmonds, Washington near Seattle. Lucas did his undergraduate study at WPI and went on to the University of Utah to pursue his PHD in robotics. While working in San Francisco he was recruited by a research and development firm called Orthocare, which specializes in prosthetics especially for the ankle. Lucas travels the world in his work, since Germany is Orthocare’s biggest client. Jonathan Newell, like sister Samantha '98, also resides in Chula Vista, California working in the boatbuilding industry. Jonathan spent one year at Maine Maritime and one year at the Landing School in Arundel learning the boat LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
55
building trade. His wife Allie is a jeweler.
2006
ClasS Notes
Amy (Brooks) Burgess lives in Woolwich and is a stay-at-home mom with baby number two on the way. She writes, “I am finishing my medical transcription course so I can work from home. And, giving back to a program that I will always hold near and dear to my heart, I'm helping coach cross country at Lincoln.” Alex Graff got a Microbiology degree and worked at the Broad Institute as part of the human genome project. “I learned the importance of big data/analytics, went to software development bootcamp, and now work at Booz Allen Hamilton Strategy and Technology Consulting building cloud computing tools.” Ben Meader graduated from Middlebury College in 2011. After spending two years as an assistant instructor for GIS and cartography as a member of Middlebury’s faculty, Ben traveled to Mongolia on a fellowship to establish a GIS lab in Ulaanbaatar. He is now living in Newcastle and works on a variety of GIS and cartography projects. This fall Ben taught an Introduction to Cartography & GIS class to both students and community members in the new ATEC building. Jas Walton lives in Cornwall on the Hudson, NY near West Point, where he continues his career as a musician. Jas moved to NYC in 2006 to study at the NYU Jazz Department and established his musical roots performing on tenor saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He currently performs as a sideman for the group Antibalas performing jazz, afrobeat, pop, traditional rhythm-and-blues, rock and roll and modern/improvisational jazz. He has collaborated with other groups over the years such as String Cheese Incident, Asphalt Orchestra, Deer Tick, Superhuman Happiness, Father Figures and Vacationer to name a few. Jas has come a long way from his outstanding performances in LA Friday assemblies and the LA Band program.
2007 Lindsay Dinsmore has been teaching at various international schools since graduating from Connecticut College in 2011. She is now in her 56
FALL 2015
College with a BA in Chinese. She is now the program manager and head teacher at an intensive English training program for high school students in a Tibetan prefecture of China. She writes, “I have the most amazing students and a breathtaking view of the snow mountains from my apartment.”
2009 Kaitlyn Plummer got her pharmacy degree from the University of New England and is a Pharmacist at Walgreens in Portland, Maine.
2010 Jas Walton '06 playing saxophone with the Bang on a Can Marathon with the Asphalt Orchestra.
second year of teaching 6th grade math and science at the American International School of Chennai, India. KJ (Katie) Gormley is currently in NYC, writing plays, after finishing at Smith College in 2011 with a degree in Anthropology. “I work for a library software company, whose disdain for offices allows me to be a "digital nomad" and travel long-term. (Recently: Italy/France/Spain, upcoming: Eastern/Northern Europe). Annie Kass says, “I haven't stopped learning since Lincoln. I graduated from Bowdoin in 2011 and then went to graduate school at USM to become a nurse! I'm now four months into my own practice as a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner at a busy community health clinic in Washington state and discovering something new every day!” Alison Mehlhorn is a second year medical student at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Katelyn (McLean) Stailing is living in Florida and working as a cake decorator for a southern grocery store chain called Publix. Hope Rainey went to hairdressing school after high school, then worked in a salon for a couple years. She writes, “I have been working in Deposit Operations at Bath Savings Institution for four years now, but still do hair on the side for family and friends.”
2008 Kelly Ward graduated in 2012 from Bennington
Isaac Vesery. Since graduating from Brandeis with a major in music, and minors in anthropology and business, Isaac has been teaching humanities at the Tremont School in Weston Mass. http://www.tremontschool.org. He joined Liz Matta this summer as her co-teacher for the Maine Music Outreach (MMO) program, and spent two weeks in Haiti teaching students music, learning about the culture and returned with enthusiasm to broaden the program. He has been working with the MMO team towards this year’s Haiti experience.
2011 Katrina Belle graduated with Honors from Colby College with a degree in Global Studies and Human Rights, and Philosophy. She writes, “I am moving to Jackson Hole, Wyoming this winter to ski 24/7!” Samara Ethier-Whitmore is a super senior at UMF, majoring in Rehabilitation Services. She is currently studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic and planning a spring internship in New Mexico. She writes, “It's also important to note my status as a professional soul searcher and dog petter.” Alex Hadik graduated from Williams College in 2015. He is working as a Software Design Professional at IBM Design in Austin, Texas. Laura Louise Lee finished a NOLS Wilderness EMT certification in Lander Wyoming this fall. She hopes to find an EMT/Search and Rescue job back in Maine the near future. Olivia Osborne graduated a semester early from Maine Maritime Academy with honors and a Bachelors of Science. “I passed my
third mates unlimited license for any ship any ocean, and am currently employed by Military Sealift Command. Looking forward to getting on the ocean by November 1.”
ClasS Notes
Devin Temple works as an on-air personality at Rewind 100.9 and Coast 93.1 in Portland, Maine.
Kara Mullin is a junior at Randolph College studying history with a concentration in Genocide. She is in a college a Capella group, and a is currently acting as stage manager in the school production of Twelfth Night. Next semester she will be studying abroad in England and traveling around Europe.
2012 Amelia Chambers is a neuropsychology major at Colby College; farming intern, sculptor, and caretaker of many children and shelter dogs. Quinn Gormley left music school and “spent a year faffing about on various communes learning traditional wooden boat building. I started working campaigns last fall, and haven't stopped. I founded a small nonprofit that creates a safe space for, and teaches activism to queer youth in Damariscotta. I serve on lots of boards around the state and do a lot of sexual violence advocacy. Now I'm back at school (USM) getting a dual bachelors in economics and social work. Should start my masters in public policy this fall.” Emily (Crider) Krah married Logan Krah in August 2013. Emily is a trained doula, hoping to start a practice in the midcoast community this winter. Logan served in the Marine Corps from 2011-2015, and the couple recently moved back to the Damariscotta area. Katie Lewis has been in the Air Force for three years, working as an x-ray technologist. She lives in Ohio, where she is currently buying her first house at age 21! She writes, “I love my job and I get to shoot people every day… with x-rays!” Marine Cpl. Whitney Metz recently attended a function honoring females in the Marines at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C. The function was part of Women’s History Month also recognizing the 72nd year of the first female Marine enlistee. Whitney is a motor transport dispatcher with Marine Special Operation Support Group and was the youngest female Marine present at the ceremony. It was "an eye opening experience,” said Whitney, to talk with so many influential female Marines. Whitney answered questions from JROTC cadets at the event to provide them with insight on the life of a female Marine.
Allie Morgner is in her third year of a 5.5-year Masters of Architecture program at Roger Williams University, with a minor in Structural Engineering. She is co-president of an organization called Women's Leadership Network, which is “revolutionizing the way women climb the ranks in the field of architecture!”
Cristina Rushton is in her third year at Northeastern studying biology. She spent the past year doing research in social immunity in termites, “wistfully dreaming of getting published.”
2014 Self portrait by Olivia Dwyer '14, who is studying fashion and photography at MECA.
Zach Orenstein is working as a graphic designer at Sal.Operations in Bangor. Martin Shott is a senior Neuroscience major at Bowdoin, and also works part time as a Firefighter/A-EMT in Topsham. He will graduate in May, and is uncertain of his plans after that.
2013 Autumn May Beaudoin will graduate from Simmons College a year early this May, with a double major in Economics and Financial Mathematics. She writes, “I currently have an internship at the Society of Grownups, doing research on the financial behavior of adults and how best to keep them engaged and educated around their money. After graduation I want to work towards my CFP and engage in holistic, goals-based planning with the Grownup in mind at all times.” Hannah Fake took a gap year after graduating from Lincoln and traveled to France, Chile and Washington state. Now she is in her second year at St. Lawrence University, planning to major in conservation biology. She is running track and cross country at St. Lawrence.
Ethan Bartholomae is a a New Media major with a minor in marketing at UMO. On the side he researches immersive media technologies and virtual reality, and is also in the process of starting a digital marketing agency which will use film, animation, ui/ux design, web dev, and graphic/print design. Olivia Dwyer is studying fashion and photography at MECA and may work as a teaching assistant at Maine Media Workshops this summer, and doing freelance work on the side as well. She writes, “Right now I'm working with large format film cameras which is freakin' awesome!” Jen Genthner is in her second year at SMCC, double majoring in Radiography and Sport Management. She is also a student athlete, playing basketball and softball for SMCC. This year she is also coaching middle school basketball at the South Portland Rec Center. Nicholas Maney is a second year student at Husson University, studying for a BA in Video Production with a minor in Behavioral Science. During college he is working at Channel 5 as a videographer, and does freelance video work on the side. Michael McCormick is a second year Earth Science major with a concentration in Earth Systems at the University of Maine. “I am a LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
57
member of the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon. In addition, I'm also the Vice President of the UMaine Geology Club. I spent this past summer interning under a glacial geologist at the Maine Geological Survey in Augusta.” Forrest G. Meader took a gap year after he graduated in 2014 to sail down the East Coast with his brother Ben ‘06 and sister Emily. They started in late November, and writes, “we set sail from South Bristol and traveled all the way to Brunswick, Georgia by March. We were hoping to make it to the Caribbean, but that’s as far as we got. Now I am a student at University of Maine Farmington studying Secondary Ed in History.” Jonah Vesery took a gap year and had amazing experiences through the “Work Away” program. He started outside of Marseille, France teaching English to French children
ClasS Notes through music and theater, followed by time in Belgium, the Hague and finally, (his favorite), Barcelona. Now he’s studying International Relations as a freshman at the University of Delaware. He’ll be returning to Barcelona for his January term.
2015 Rowan Carroll-Christopher writes, “I just started at Northeastern University, majoring in Biology and minoring in musical theater, with high hopes of going on to med school. Surprisingly, I joined a sorority and I'm loving it, and taking every opportunity to go on adventures in nature with the superb outing club here. Just
got back from a weekend in the Whites!” Nathan Osborne passed his physical requirement test to gain entry to the SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) program of the U.S. Military. In January he will head to Texas for basic training, and then to Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington State to work as a SERE instructor. Thomas Rushton is studying in the intensive Cornell Architecture school He writes, “I am currently drawing all the time while I struggle through Cornell's B.Arch program. Also I nap when I can.” Alexandra Welch is traveling during her gap year. She plans to attend American University of Paris in the fall of 2016.
2015 ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD
CATH Y WA LKE R '6 2 The acceptance speech given by Cathy Walker at the 2015 Alumni Banquet
Thank you,
Alumni Council, for selecting me as the 2015 Alumni Service Award recipient. I am honored to have been chosen this year and am grateful for the opportunity to have served Lincoln Academy over the past years and will in some capacity continue to give of my time to my alma mater. Thank you to my family members who are here tonight: son, Chris, Class of 1988, and his wife, Elizabeth. Sister, Margie Baldwin, Class of 1965 (50 year reunion class) and a retiring Council member.
LINCOLN ACADEMY OBITUARIES Graduated from Lincoln Academy • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
58
Phyllis E. Osier Brewer ‘34 of Rockland, 4/4/15 Rufus H. Caswell Jr. ‘37 of Edgecomb, 4/19/15 Annette Hall Brooks ‘40 of Rockland, 7/9/15 Wellesley M. Humason ‘41 of Coopers Mills, 9/8/15 Kenneth Edward Kelsey ‘43 of Pittston, 3/30/15 Walter C. Shorey ‘44 of Sheepscot, 4/8/15 Faith Raddin Jones ‘44 of Damariscotta Mills, 8/8/15 Mabelle Piper Haynes ‘45 of Kimball, MI, 5/27/15 Louise Vannah Connelly ‘48 of Newport, 5/18/15 Nelson “Bud” Hancock ‘49 of Nobleboro, 7/17/15 Carolyn Lane Swett Russell Dolbear ‘51 of Round Pond, 8/14/15 Talbot Campbell, Sr. ‘52 of Newcastle, 6/21/15 Olaf William Johnson ‘54 of Boothbay, 6/9/15 Wallace Leeman '55 of Bristol, 4/16/15
FALL 2015
• • • • • • • •
Sheylah Annable Davis ‘58 of Rangely, 3/21/15 Kenneth Frasier ‘61 of Houston,TX, 8/1/15 Alvin G. Bryant ‘63 of Damariscotta, 5/25/15 Frank M. Beanieh Holmes ‘64 of Windsor, 6/10/15 Priscilla Gamage Waters ‘66 of Greenville,NC, 4/9/15 Michael A.Petrillo ‘69 of Newcastle, 10/4/15 Ronnie Hopkins ‘73 of Damariscotta, 5/31/15 Amy Jo Thorpe ‘81 of Port Charlotte, FL, 8/7/15
Attended Lincoln Academy • • • • • •
Zoe Erskine McFarland of Damariscotta, 8/17/15 Marie Pottle Breeding of Brunswick, 8/8/15 Sumner McFarland, Jr. of Limerick, 7/30/15 Susan Trask Cunningham of Nobleboro, 7/1/15 Jennifer C. Easter of New Harbor, 9/25/15 Judy Mae McLain Schwarz of Damariscotta, 7/24/15
Now back to the Alumni Council–a special thank-you to all I worked with on the council over the years. We always had a great group to work on projects: homecoming, Alumni basketball games, and Banquet, ably aided by Kathe Cheska and Kerry Cushing from the Development and Alumni Office. At the end of last year, many of us ran out of steam (a group which had graduated in 1950s and '60s) and we retired at the same time, hopeful that a new body of volunteers with fresh ideas would step up to the plate, and they have! Thank you Yvette, Phil, and Jef. Let’s keep the council strong and encourage more new alums to join in! As we all know, and have heard earlier this evening from Headmaster Sturdevant, Lincoln is going through major changes in just about every aspect of its operation. These same challenges face other small Maine academies that have over the past 200 years (in LA’s case) provided a quality education for local students.
I remember vividly trying to explain to my college friends, many who had attended what I always thought of as private, “private” academies (you know, with boarding facilities), the concept of the Maine academy run by a board of trustees but serving only local commuting students; they couldn’t quite understand how that could work! I told them that it worked VERY WELL indeed! Lincoln, and these other "town academies” as our unique high schools have been referred to, have taken on the challenge of continuing to serve as a local high school educating the college-bound student and those who will enter the work force or Armed Services directly after graduation, while at the same time providing a comprehensive education for residential students from many different countries and cultures. It is an awesome task and responsibility. We all need to work together to make a success of this education model, new to Newcastle, Maine, embracing and learning from the NEW while treasuring and continuing to uphold the traditions of the PAST. Thank you ALL for this honor and, thank you, Lincoln Academy, for being the outstanding school that you are. -Cathy Walker Cathy Walker was honored with the 2015 Alumni Service Award for her many years of service to Lincoln Academy, through the Alumni Council, the Development Office, and more. She retired from the Alumni Council Board in 2014.
"Lincoln and these other 'town academies' have taken on the challenge of continuing to serve as a local high school educating the college-bound student and those who will enter the work force or Armed Services directly after graduation, while at the same time providing a comprehensive education for residential students from many different countries and cultures. It is an awesome task and responsibility." —Cathy Walker LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
59
LINCOLN ACADEMY NEEDS YOU!
Alumni Weekend 2016
SUPPORT THE LINCOLN FUND lincolnacademy.org/makeagift
WHY GIVE TO THE LINCOLN FUND? • • •
Your gift is truly important to LA! Without the Lincoln Fund, our historic independent town academy simply does not have the funds required to provide a first-rate education to its students. Participation is a key measurement. The Lincoln Fund isn’t just about large gifts… it’s also about $50 here and $100 there, and a demonstration that we believe that a Lincoln Academy education is a solid investment in the future. You love Lincoln Academy, believe in its mission, and want the very best for current and future generations of Eagles.
O T H E R WAY S T O S U P P O R T L I N C O L N A C A D E M Y: • • • • • •
Use the envelope in this magazine and send a check Go to lincolnacademy.org/makeagift and make a secure online contribution Make a pledge, or set up an installment plan Make a bequest to LA in your will or living trust Give a stock gift "Give double” when you work for a company that matches employee charitable gifts
JUNE 3-5, 2016 It's Reunion for the 1s & 6s... and it won't be the same without you! Special Reunions for the Classes of:
For m ore i nform at i on, contac t the O ffice of Development and A l u m ni Rel at i ons at 2 0 7 - 5 63-3599, or email wagner@lincolnac ademy.org.
1966 (50th Reunion - Penny Devala, Class Agent) 1991 (25th Reunion - Dennis Prior, Class Agent) 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011
New Ways to Help Lincoln Grow:
Coming this Winter to a City Near You:
Lincoln Academy Do you shop with Amazon? Did you know that you can support Lincoln Academy every time you make a purchase? Go to smile.amazon.com, search/select Lincoln Academy – Newcastle, ME, and support LA every time you shop.
Remarks by David Sturdevant, Head of School Cash bar. Heavy hors d’oeuvres compliments of Lincoln Academy.
Would you like a
Lincoln Academy licenSe plate on your car? It could happen!
Check out the details on the LA license plate Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/ LincolnAcademyPlate
Please join Lincoln Academy alumni, parents, and friends for an evening of good conversation and good cheer.
PORTLAND
Tuesday, December 1, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Bull Feeney’s – Harbor View Room 375 Fore Street Portland, ME
BOSTON
Wednesday, December 2 6:00-8:00 p.m. Jerry Remy’s – Dugout Room 1265 Boylston Street Boston, MA
SARASOTA
Wednesday, February 17 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tommy Bahama’s 300 John Ringling Blvd. Sarasota, FL
Reconnect with classmates – Meet new friends – Celebrate Lincoln Academy LINCOLN ACADEMY AERIE
61
LINCOLN ACADEMY
Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid Newcastle, ME 04553 Permit No. 10
FALL 2015
Fall foliage highlights the Lincoln Academy Campus, where two new buildings and a turf field have been completed in 2015. Photo courtesy of Gary Peachy.