McDonogh Magazine, Summer 2023

McDONOGH

MIKE CUMMINGS BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT

DAVE FARACE ’87 HEAD OF SCHOOL

Q A&

You became President of the Board of Trustees on July 1. Why do you volunteer your time to support the school?

[MIKE] Unlike most previous Board Presidents, I did not attend McDonogh. My wife, Carol, our two daughters, Taylor ’12 and Kelsey ’15, and I moved to Maryland in 2000 when I was transferred for work. We moved to Howard County because of the strong public school system. In 2005, I was transferred again, to New York City this time. We agreed as a family that I would commute each week on Amtrak, which I did for nine years. For those years, Carol was essentially a single parent during the week and it was important to have both of our girls at one school, operating largely on the same schedule, with access to bus transportation. Additionally, being part of a community that fully met their academic and athletic aspirations was a priority.

We were fortunate to find McDonogh, and our girls started in 2008. Taylor was a ninth grader and Kelsey was a sixth grader. Carol grew up in the rural Northern Neck of Virginia and I grew up in rural upstate New York near the Canadian border. We both attended small public schools and had no idea what to expect at an independent school. What we learned during our girls’ time at McDonogh is that passionate teachers, supportive leadership, and a curriculum that fosters intellectual curiosity

Q A&

provided Taylor and Kelsey with the life skills necessary to pursue their dreams and make lifelong friends. Having experienced the benefits of McDonogh firsthand, I felt it was important to give back, so I joined the Board in 2014. It was a small way to express my gratitude to a place that had played such an important role in the lives of our daughters and helped Carol and me survive a weekly 400-mile roundtrip commute for nine years.

The Board of Trustees has a new slate of officers. Tell us about this team’s dedication to McDonogh.

[DAVE] As I enter my 14th year as a Head of School (six years at McDonogh), I continue to be impressed by the commitment and dedication demonstrated by these groups of passionate volunteers. The amount of time and energy our trustees invest in leading McDonogh is truly inspiring. Among these exceptional individuals, the officers, particularly the Board President, deserve special recognition for their unwavering efforts in shaping the long-term financial and strategic direction of the school. Their tireless contributions exemplify a deep-rooted love and sense of duty toward our mission, vision, and values. Furthermore, they’re just good people, and I enjoy spending time with them.

How do you see your role as Board President; what will you focus on during your two-year term?

[MIKE] The Board of Trustees is a group of volunteers comprised of alumni, current parents, and parents of alumni who each feel a special connection to the school and want to ensure McDonogh continues to be a place where students prepare to lead in a rapidly changing world. While it may be a surprise to some members of the community, the Board does not get involved in the day-to-day operations of the school. Rather, the Board plays a fiduciary role focused on intermediate and longer-term initiatives underway and planned by Dave Farace and his leadership team for the benefit of McDonogh. These initiatives are regularly discussed with the Board, whose members represent a wide spectrum of personal and professional expertise, to foster disciplined decisionmaking, sound governance practices, and ensure consistency with the school’s mission, vision, and values. As President for the next two years, my focus will be on continuing the work of my predecessor, Rob Young ’86, to have a Board that is energized and engaged in reviewing the strategic initiatives in order to provide Dave and his leadership team with the best possible counsel.

McDonogh’s Global Engagement Program is featured in this issue. Why is this program so important?

[DAVE] It’s imperative that we equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s increasingly globalized workforce. I’m grateful to Program Director Hilary McDonough—she is a gifted educator who has been strategic in building out a robust PK-12 program. I love the progression through the divisions from learning about different people and cultures in Lower School to exploring global perspectives in Middle School, to really digging into complex global issues through specialized courses, conferences, and travel abroad programs in Upper School. Like Greatest Good McDonogh, I believe this program will continue to flourish in new and exciting ways and will reinforce the value of a McDonogh education in an interconnected world.

Secretary Dee Drummond ’92, Vice President Stacey Boyer ’76, and Treasurer Curtis Cornwell ’82

McDonogh is turning 150 years old! What are you most looking forward to as we enter the yearlong sesquicentennial celebration?

[DAVE] Learning how to pronounce “sesquicentennial!” Seriously, the yearlong celebration will give our community the opportunity to reflect and deepen the collective sense of pride and joy already found on campus. In particular, I’m looking forward to the November 2-4 weekend schedule of events that includes an original arts production, class reunions, a gala celebration on campus, and our annual battle against Gilman on the gridiron.

[MIKE] As someone who did not attend McDonogh, I am most looking forward to meeting with and learning from alums during the various celebratory events throughout the year. Connecting directly with former students, faculty, and staff will provide me with a much greater appreciation for what they hold most dear about the school and any areas of concern. These insights will prove valuable as the Board works with Dave and his leadership team on the strategic initiatives they want to pursue in the coming years.

The school engaged professional historians to research and write a transparent narrative of the school’s first 150 years that will be published as a commemorative coffee table book this fall. How would you describe the book?

[DAVE] Previous McDonogh history books were written by employees or alumni. For this volume, we intentionally sought the expertise of unaffiliated professional historians with a commitment to transparency. I think they have written an honest narrative, unearthing the intricacies and richness of McDonogh’s past. The book is a testament to our remarkable journey, capturing the milestones, victories, and challenges that have shaped us—often mirroring the very fabric of our nation’s history. As we embark on the next 150 years, my hope is that it will inspire the McDonogh community in our continued pursuit of John McDonogh’s extraordinary vision.

What book are you currently reading for pleasure?

What’s next on your list?

[DAVE] I’m currently reading The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff. Frankly, I didn’t know much about him, and Schiff makes the case that he was the most important patriot in the lead-up to 1776. It’s a great read. Schiff is a dynamic storyteller, and it’s a fast-paced narrative. I’m also a sucker for good leadership books so I’m also reading The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by retired Four-Star Admiral William McRaven. It is a small book packed with fascinating stories and leadership lessons from his time in combat.

[MIKE] I recently finished reading Lonestar: A Texas Football Novel by C.W. Wells, the pseudonym for Charlie Britton, former McDonogh Head of School. It is Charlie’s second book and one that I would recommend. In fact, I liked it so much that I sent it to my parents for their summer reading enjoyment. I am now in search of my next book and Carol has suggested I explore the Detective Josie Quinn thriller series by Lisa Regan. The first book in the series, Vanishing Girls , was pretty good, so I am going to give the second one, The Girl With No Name , a try. I am not nearly the reader my wife and girls are so I suspect this next book will take me well into the fall to finish.

BECOMING MCDONOGH SCHOOL

1873 – 2023

The 150th Anniversary commemorative book, Becoming McDonogh School, will be available in the School Store this fall.

CLASS OF 2031 CLOSING CEREMONY

Sunshine, smiles, handshakes, and hugs were among the highlights of the Lower School Closing on Friday, June 2 as the Class of 2031 prepared to move on to Middle School. After representatives from each Lower School grade processed down the hill with their current class banner in hand, the fourth grade made their entrance behind the Drum Corps. Students, families, and friends enjoyed welcome remarks and musical interludes, as well as memories and advice from the fourth graders. “My best piece of advice is just to have fun and enjoy Lower School while you can because it goes by fast,” said one astute student.

Following the presentation of certificates by Head of School Dave Farace ’87 and Head of Lower School Nancy Fleury, the Class of 2031 lined up to receive a warm embrace from the teachers who nurtured and guided them on the first part of their McDonogh journey. The ceremony ended with the exchange of banners signifying the moment when the younger students were officially promoted to the next year’s grade, and the joyful tossing of the blazers by the rising fifth graders.

1. Amaia L. with her grandmother

2. Jack K. with his parents

3. Skylar B. and her family

4. Head of Lower School Nancy Fleury, Associate Head of Lower School Silvia Patterson, and Mila G.

5. Kamryn T. and her family

6. Fourth-grade teacher Dayla Simon, Mikayla U., Lower School Counselor Dan Wagner, and Reed V.

7. Fourth-grade Drum Corps leads banner bearers and classmates

8. Tyler S., Hudson F., Ryan M., Riek M., and Jack G.

CLASS OF 2027 CLOSING CEREMONY

Parents, families, and friends gathered at Childs Memorial Terrace on a picture-perfect June 5 morning to celebrate the Class of 2027’s unforgettable Middle School years and to send them off to Upper School for the final leg of their McDonogh journey. The program began with student speakers Andrew Han who addressed where the class has been by comparing it to a field trip, and Nengi Briggs who focused on the future by speaking about the opportunities that await fellow classmates in Upper School. “How wonderful would it be if we could realize our true potential together?” she envisioned.

Before the presentation of certificates, Head of Middle School Robyn Little challenged the eighth graders to “be courageous and show the world who you are; look for friends who will build you up and encourage you to be you; and to take the time to experience the world outside of social media.” The ceremony closed with the class being turned over to Upper School Head Merritt Livermore ’91 and Freshman Dean Alex Gardner.

2. Andrew Han

3. Head of Middle School Robyn Little and Will Zanti

4. Claudia Colton, Meaghan Cootauco,Megan Viglucci, Alexa Gamber, and Morgan Woelfel

5 Maxwell Jackson and family

6. Amy Luo, Ava McIntyre, and Ava Duhaney

7. Jack Schwartzberg and family

1. Nengi Briggs

CLASS OF 2023 COMMENCEMENT

Clear skies and bright smiles defined the Class of 2023 Commencement

Ceremony on Friday, June 9 at Childs Memorial Terrace. The morning began with the Baccalaureate ceremony in the Ceres M. Horn Theatre where the speaker, Director of College Counseling Alice Margraff shared her “Top 10 List for Adulting.” Then, the class moved to Tagart Memorial Chapel for a final moment together before they processed through a gauntlet of cheering faculty members, and passed their proud family and friends in the audience. Following the presentation of awards, Senior Class President Katie Jones introduced the senior speaker Jack Gordon, who entertained the audience and his classmates with memories of their time at McDonogh. Prior to presenting diplomas to the 161 members of the class, Head of School Dave Farace ’87 spoke directly to the families and broke the news that McDonogh is “a secret training ground for superheroes” and that their children will “surreptitiously wield their superpowers for good in the larger world beyond McDonogh.” As the audience chuckled he asked, “So what are the superpowers our students have honed in our laboratories, otherwise known as classrooms, stages, and athletic fields, over their McDonogh careers?”

The answer, he said, was grit, gratitude, and courage. After describing all three superpowers, he turned to the seniors and reiterated that each quality will make them exceptional leaders.

Then, along with a McDonogh diploma, members of the class each received a card signifying their new status as alumni as well as a mask symbolizing their status as a superhero.

Ayomide Miriam Addey

Malik Oyindamola Adegbenro

Aneel Singh Ahuja

Katherine Stewart Allen

Remy Drew Alperstein

Abigail Feyisayo Ariyo

Calton Joseph Ates

Avari Lanai Ayanbadejo

Sumner Murphy Baines

Mehek Bajaj

Benjamin Jacob Bavar

Sophiane Caroline Beauvois

Enzo Dominic Bell

Kyle McLean Bitz

Lilly Anne Block

John Nicholas Bolduc

Connor Rhys Bollinger

Lucia Jean Bonat

Piper Riley Borz

Sophia Ann Bredar

Sydney Morgan Brooks

Maxwell John Brothers

Alexis Sienna Brown

Jack Margraf Bussard

Ryan Datta Callahan

Connor Justin David Cashman

Colin McCarthy Christmas

Eliza Moats Cleverley

William Wagner Cussimanio

Caden Leif D’Souza

Rhian Renee-inez Delgado

Natalia Hansel Diaz

Jackson Robert Dollenberg

Aidan Mollie Dubin

Aeiris Olivia Paige Faloni

Aliyah Makayla Frazier

Paige Gardner Fried

Aiden Douglas Fries

Brock Patrick Geoghan

Gabriel Ethan Gerecke

Harrison Leonard Goldstein

Isabella Victoria Goltser

1. Tyler Tucker and Libet Ottinger

2. Morgan Kazerman, Alexa Kessler, and Will Kibel

3. Dylan Liedy, Natalie Little, and Paris Locke

Chloe Elizabeth Gordon

Jack Ryan Gordon

Gabrielle Rose Grabush

Elizabeth Kate Greeley

Jada Madison Green

Andrew Ellis Greene

Bailey Marie Greenfield

Ryan William Griffin

Trevor Allen Grodsky

Amelia Grace Gunsior

Cathryn Mason Hardin

Rebecca Jean Haskey

Zachary Mitsuo Hayashi

Matthew Keith Henson

Mia Catherine Hoffman

Molly Marie Horrigan

Brooke Annalee Hurley

Kemka Chiemelie Ihemelandu

Darby Jean Irrgang

Harnoor Kaur Jagra

Anaiah Gabrielle Jenkins

Codi Alexis Johnson

Paige Marjorie Johnston

Katie Emebet Solomon Jones

Sophia Alexandra Jones-Tricomi

Gabriella Sage Juanteguy

Kali Jade Karpovich

Morgan Elizabeth Kazerman

Alexa Skye Kessler

William Alexander Kibel

Samantha Lynn Kimball

Benjamin Michael Kinney

Christopher James Kobulnicky

Peter Charles Kokinis

Sophia Carley Koman

Zachary Song Kurlander

Lauren Lynn Lanza

Grace Margaret Lare

Elizabeth Ann Lawrence

Adam Harry Levine

Dylan August Wieboldt Liedy

Natalie Christine Little

Paris Clyde’ Nicole Locke

Caroline Mason Lockyer

Christian Jack Lodowski

Makena Sydney London

Megan HsiaoHui Lu

Seth Anthony Malek

Michael Markels

Andrew John Marsh

Bryant Joseph Mayer

Erin Mary McCarthy

Summer Ricquel McKoy

Taylor Jean McNerney

McCabe Anthony Millon

Leonard Moore III

Alexander Benjamin Noel

Zoe Miran North

Simon Dale Osgood

Devin Nicholas Pal

Tanush Parhi

Sophia Holly Park

Charles Hoke Parks

Mathani Ziare Paul-Swinson

Logan Elizabeth Peacock

Erik Cole Pearl

Ty Kristian Picker

Rachel Leah Polotsky

Meghan Marie Powderly

Mackenzi Victoria Preston

Avery Simonne Pugh

Jillian Lila Pugh

Elizabeth Alex Pustavoitau

Makaela Elle Quimby

Jack Ryan Raley

Viren Bimal Rami

Tayah Sade Reid

Laura Elizabeth Richter

Kalie Hannah Robertson

Bennett Mackenzie Robinson

Ian Alexander Robinson

Mason Makai Robinson

Jordan Ryan Rozencwaig

Luke James Ryan

Nicholas Konrad Herson Ryu

Edward McCormick Scarborough

Ryan Thomas Scarff

Christopher Wei-Jun Schlossnagle

Kassidy Allison Seol

Dean Louis Serino

Babika Singh

Demitrius Ma’Kai Smith

Alexander Vikrun Sodhi

Alexios Drew Spector

Alexa Jordan Spencer

Lucca Fulvio Stanziale

Logan Everett Sterenberg

Sean Savion Stevenson

Kathleen Abigail Sullivan

Daniel Robert Sung

Nina Jessie Swayne

Grant Jaycob Swirnow

Sanjay Bhagwan Talwar

Adrianna Trinity Thomas

Tyler Montez Tucker

Julia Maria Velculescu

Sofia Elena Velculescu

Magdalena Cathleen Vertrees

Kyla Irie Vetter

Oliver Leo Wack

Tamarus William Walker

Demetrios Alexander West

Alexandra Rachel Willen

Samuel James Willen

Taylor Marie Wilson

Cole Ryan Winston

Yasmeen Alana Yarborough

Benjamin Ben-Chi Yu

Emma Catherine Zoeller

CLASS OF 2023 HONORS

THE MARSHALL C. ANDERS, JR. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AWARD

William Alexander Kibel

Jillian Lila Pugh

THE MARSHALL C. ANDERS, JR. VOCAL MUSIC AWARD

Gabrielle Rose Grabush

Jada Madison Green

THE THEATRE ARTS AWARD

Aeiris Olivia Paige Faloni

THE PICK AWARD

Sofia Elena Velculescu

THE ROBERT L. LAMBORN AWARD

William Alexander Kibel

THE EXCELLENCE IN ENGLISH AWARD

Sophia Ann Bredar

THE EUSTACE STRAUGHN GLASCOCK

1879 AWARD (CREATIVE WRITING)

Kemka Chiemelie Ihemelandu

THE ENGLISH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Samuel James Willen

THE CHARLES C. KINARD AWARD (JOURNALISM)

Chloe Elizabeth Gordon Gabrielle Rose Grabush

Morgan Elizabeth Kazerman

Sophia Carley Koman

THE PHOTOJOURNALISM AWARD

Laura Elizabeth Richter

THE CUM LAUDE SOCIETY PRIZE

Sophia Holly Park

THE SENIOR CHINESE AWARD

Connor Rhys Bollinger

THE MARION SPARKS PRIZE (FRENCH)

Simon Dale Osgood

THE SENIOR LATIN AWARD

Demitrius Ma’Kai Smith

THE RUTH KEEBLER WHITE AWARD (SPANISH)

Erik Cole Pearl

THE MARTIN H. MCKIBBIN, JR. EXCELLENCE IN HISTORY & SOCIAL STUDIES AWARD

Jackson Robert Dollenberg

Aliyah Makayla Frazier

Rebecca Jean Haskey

THE FRANCIS L. FENWICK ’68 AWARD (MATHEMATICS)

Ayomide Miriam Addey

THE ALVIN S. CHILCOAT AWARD (MATHEMATICS IMPROVEMENT)

Brock Patrick Geoghan

THE ROBERT C. WHITE AWARD (PHYSICAL SCIENCE)

Benjamin Ben-Chi Yu

THE DR. HERBERT E. WILGIS ’53 AWARD (BIOLOGY)

Sophia Ann Bredar

THE ALBERT C. SCHAUMAN ’31 AWARD (SCIENCE)

Simon Dale Osgood

THE ENGINEERING AWARD

Jack Ryan Gordon

THE HUETHER-MCCLELLAND FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP (ENGINEERING)

Benjamin Ben-Chi Yu

THE DANCE AWARD

Paige Gardner Fried

Tayah Sade Reid

THE JOHN VAN METER AWARD FOR TECHNICAL THEATRE

Samuel James Willen

THE CLEVELAND AWARD (VISUAL ARTS)

Anaiah Gabrielle Jenkins

Katie Emebet Solomon Jones

Sophia Holly Park

Babika Singh

THE NORTH-EDWARDS AWARD (DEBATE)

Jack Ryan Gordon

Rebecca Jean Haskey

THE WILLIS K. LYNCH ’28 AWARD (EQUESTRIAN)

Lauren Lynn Lanza

THE ROBOTICS TECHNOLOGY AWARD

Alexander Benjamin Noel

THE ADMISSIONS AMBASSADOR SERVICE AWARD

Leonard Moore III

THE GOLDEN EAGLE AWARD

Katherine Stewart Allen

Avari Lanai Ayanbadejo

Lilly Anne Block

Maxwell John Brothers

Cathryn Mason Hardin

Rebecca Jean Haskey

Zachary Mitsuo Hayashi

Paige Marjorie Johnston

Alexa Skye Kessler

Lauren Lynn Lanza

Natalie Christine Little

Caroline Mason Lockyer

Erin Mary McCarthy

Erik Cole Pearl

Kathleen Abigail Sullivan

Adrianna Trinity Thomas

Yasmeen Alana Yarborough

THE WILLIAM C. MULES ’59 LEADERSHIP IN WOMEN’S ATHLETICS AWARD

Sophia Ann Bredar

Anaiah Gabrielle Jenkins

1. Senior Speaker Jack Gordon

2. Head of School Dave Farace ’87 and AJ Marsh

3. Enzo Bell, Sophie Beauvois, and Ben Bavar

4. Jordan Rozencwaig and his mom

5. Upper School science teacher Andy Motsko rings out the year

6. Matthew Henson, Eliza Cleverly, Katie Jones, Abigail Ariyo, and Codi Johnson

THE ENSIGN C. MARKLAND KELLY, JR. MEMORIAL TROPHY (ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE)

Zachary Mitsuo Hayashi

Adrianna Trinity Thomas

THE STEWART SENIOR HONORS PERFORMANCE AWARD

Alexa Skye Kessler

William Alexander Kibel

Alexa Jordan Spencer

THE JOHN C. BENTZ AWARD (SERVICE TO OTHERS)

Simon Dale Osgood

Sophia Holly Park

THE GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARD

Benjamin Jacob Bavar

Lilly Anne Block

Viren Bimal Rami

THE THOMAS R. HARPER AWARD (INTEGRITY AND HONOR)

Remy Drew Alperstein

Mason Makai Robinson

THE HENRY CHILD KIRK, JR. MEMORIAL TROPHY

Anaiah Gabrielle Jenkins

THE EDWARD A. LOOPER, JR. AWARD (MCDONOGH SPIRIT)

Peter Charles Kokinis

Tayah Sade Reid

Edward McCormick Scarborough

THE A. LUDLAM MICHAUX, JR. AWARD (SERVICE TO MCDONOGH)

Gabrielle Rose Grabush

Daniel Robert Sung

THE CORNUCOPIA AWARD (CARING AND CONCERN)

Alexis Sienna Brown

Meghan Marie Powderly

Tyler Montez Tucker

THE COURAGE AND RESILIENCE AWARD

Adam Harry Levine

THE HOWARD C. EYTH SCHOLARATHLETE AWARD

Connor Justin David Cashman

Codi Alexis Johnson

THE BRANDON C. WILSON ’89 AWARD (LEADERSHIP AND COMPASSION)

Aneel Singh Ahuja

Erin Mary McCarthy

THE LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR THE SENIOR CLASS

Katie Emebet Solomon Jones

THE DEDICATION AWARD

Aeiris Olivia Paige Faloni

William Alexander Kibel

THE LOUIS E. LAMBORN CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE AWARD

Jack Ryan Gordon

THE LYLE MEMORIAL TROPHY AND THE W. TAYLOR COOK AWARD

Cathryn Mason Hardin

Zachary Mitsuo Hayashi

CLASS OF 2023 COLLEGE CHOICES

Rhodes College, 1

San Diego State University, 1

Southern Methodist University, 3

Spelman College, 1

Susquehanna University, 1

Swarthmore College, 1

Syracuse University, 5

The New School, 1

The Ohio State University, 3

Towson University, 2

Tulane University of Louisiana, 4

Union College, 1

United States Air Force Academy, 1

American University, 1

Amherst College, 2

Auburn University, 3

Bellarmine University, 1

Boston College, 4

Boston University, 1

Brown University, 3

Bucknell University, 3

Catawba College, 1

Christopher Newport University, 1

Clark University, 1

Clemson University, 2

Colorado School of Mines, 2

Columbia University, 2

Davidson College, 1

Denison University, 1

Dickinson College, 1

Duke University, 1

Elon University, 2

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 1

Fordham University, 1

Franklin & Marshall College, 1

Frostburg State University, 1

George Washington University, 1

Georgetown University, 1

Goucher College, 1

Grove City College, 1

High Point University, 2

Hofstra University, 1

Howard University, 1

Indiana University (Bloomington), 1

Johns Hopkins University, 3

Kenyon College, 1

Louisiana State University, 1

Loyola Marymount University, 1

Loyola University Maryland, 1

Marquette University, 1

McDaniel College, 3

New York University, 1

North Carolina A&T State University, 2

Northeastern University, 4

Northwestern University, 3

Penn State University (University Park), 7

Queens University of Charlotte, 1

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1

United States Naval Academy, 3

University of California (Santa Barbara), 1

University of Colorado Boulder, 2

University of Delaware, 1

University of Georgia, 1

University of Illinois at Chicago, 1

University of Lynchburg, 2

University of Maryland (Baltimore County), 2

University of Maryland (College Park), 12

University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1

University of Miami, 4

University of Michigan, 2

University of Mississippi, 1

University of Notre Dame, 1

University of Pennsylvania, 1

University of Richmond, 1

University of South Carolina, 1

University of Southern California, 1

University of St Andrews, 1

University of Vermont, 2

University of Virginia, 2

Vassar College, 1

Villanova University, 2

Wake Forest University, 5

Washington College, 2

Williams College, 2

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1

York College of Pennsylvania, 2

1. Harnoor Jagra, Babika Singh, Sophie Bredar, Sophia Jones-Tricomi, and Jada Green

2. Kali Karpovich

GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT:

CREATING CRITICAL CONNECTIONS

BY NOREEN LIDSTON AND MEREDITH BOWER

Our planet Earth is increasingly described as a global village as the lives of people across the world become connected in ways we never could have imagined even decades ago. Advancing technology and increasing travel opportunities allow us to see, hear, and experience how people around the world navigate their daily lives. Good communication and a deeper understanding of other cultures, combined with meaningful interactions with our global neighbors, can allow us to build respectful relationships and celebrate our similarities as well as our differences.

develop competencies that will enable them to not only understand the diversity and complexity of our world but to be ethical leaders in it.

McDonogh’s Director of Global Programs Hilary McDonough, who taught French and Spanish in the Upper School for 11 years, is responsible for spearheading an initiative to deepen students’ understanding of life in an interconnected world. As a result, she and a team of committed colleagues have developed the Global Engagement Program, designed to “create citizens ready

Hi everyone! We’re having an amazing experience here in Nicaragua! We started by visiting Popoyo, a small surfing town, where we worked with the local surfing team to collect and distribute 117 bags of food to low-income families. We also volunteered at a local school, where we helped teenage students improve their English through conversation and helped children practice their reading and comprehension in Spanish! We then took a ferry to Ometepe Island, bringing along six suitcases worth of clothes we collected, along with all 12 phones that were donated through our Phone Drive at McDonogh! After sorting and repackaging the clothes, we drove up to the dormant volcano on the island and visited a remote village. In the village’s school, we had each student come up and receive new clothes that properly fit them, including new uniforms, swimwear, and shoes! Being able to give back to less fortunate communities was an incredible opportunity, and we will always be grateful for the experience, along with all the support McDonogh has provided! – Mark

backgrounds, cultures, and ways of thinking” in order to prepare them to live and work in the global village that awaits them.

McDonough says, “While we can’t yet imagine all the careers our students will pursue, we do know that they will be leading in a variety of ways when they eventually enter the workforce. Having the opportunity to develop and perfect global competencies throughout their time at McDonogh will help ensure their ability to navigate the many settings in which they will find themselves.”

Dr. Kevin Costa, Director of

Our students are living—and will go on to lead—in communities near and far. A McDonogh education must help them develop the ‘muscles’ needed to investigate the world, to seek a range of perspectives, to communicate effectively and nimbly across a range of domains, and to take meaningful action when the circumstances necessitate.”

While the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 forced teaching online and paused travel plans and student exchanges, it also prompted teachers to imagine other ways of achieving the same goals. McDonough says, “Because so many of us around the world were at home, we started connecting virtually with schools

Maggie Johnston ’25, Milana Nuñez ’25, Catelyn Godey ’25, and Mark Cherches ’25 work with One Global Mission in Nicaragua.

Middle schoolers (from front to back) Andrew Han ’27, Gabe Clark ’27, Charleston Caruso ’27, Meghan Zoller ’27, Kiera Perigo ’27, and Ethan Davies ’27 lead a dragon parade in celebration of Lunar New Year.

pandemic taught us all how truly connected we were and are. It also shifted our overall approach and accelerated the explicitly globallyfocused coursework in the Middle School and Lower School.”

McDonogh’s Global Engagement Program, which just completed its third year, is tailored to meet the needs and interests of students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. In fact, the name of the program itself varies by division. Lower schoolers learn about Global Connections while middle schoolers examine Global Perspectives. In Upper School, students immerse themselves in Global Issues in various ways.

In each division, students learn and broaden their horizons through history, social studies, science, English, and world languages curricula. Coursework is enhanced by travel opportunities, student exchange visits, and other enriching experiences. By the end of their McDonogh journey, students have a greater perspective on the world and a better understanding of and appreciation for the people in it.

LOWER SCHOOL STUDENTS MAKE GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

Because young children often view the world as a place that is all about them, teachers in the earliest grades begin at the beginning. In a unit titled “Me on a Map,” created by Lower School Spanish and Global Connections teacher Maria Beteta, students learn more about themselves as individuals and where they are located on a world map. At the same time, they learn to respond respectfully when someone shares something unfamiliar.

Lower schoolers are also introduced to people and communities from across the world through engaging

puzzles, flashcards, board games, books, videos, coloring pages, and comics. They happily participate in festive holiday celebrations, such as Lunar New Year, and cook and sample popular international dishes.

On the topic of food, a group of fourth graders describe their favorite desserts and compare them to similar treats in other countries. One student explains that sticky rice is served as a dessert in some places while another says she now knows that the chocolate in brownies comes from cocoa beans grown in Mexico.

Ugandan dancer, drummer, singer, and storyteller Ssuuna teaches lower schoolers how to play the drums and other percussion instruments.

Madalyn P. ’36 learns how to use chopsticks.

and are a place where meaningful connections are made. During the 2022-2023 school year, Lower schoolers welcomed guests from Germany and Japan as well as a surprise virtual visitor from Scotland.

As students progress through the Lower School, they are introduced to the language and the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. In their Global Connections and social studies classes, they

In January 2023, Nancy Holt ‘12 and her father, Harry, boarded a ship in Ushuaia, Argentina, bound for Antarctica. Their arrival was a milestone for Nancy— who now had officially visited all seven continents. Although Nancy traveled throughout the United States with her family when she was little, Harry believes her wanderlust and love of travel began in Middle School on a trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos with science teacher Eileen Heady. In ninth grade, she joined a People to People delegation on a trip to Australia and New Zealand, and two years later, as a McDonogh senior, she traveled to Italy with John Grega. She recalls, “The food was glorious, and the sights were superb!”

While pursuing a biology degree at Brown University, she visited Tokyo, Japan, and after graduation joined the Peace Corps where she taught high school chemistry in Mozambique on the southeast coast of Africa. Nancy earned her Master’s in Teaching from Arizona State University and today is teaching middle school science and traveling throughout the states with her dog, Khan, a companion from her days in Africa.

acquire foundational geography skills as they learn to read maps, understand the Earth’s geographical features, and locate their countries of origin. Their worldview is broadened with age-appropriate lessons on the universal needs that connect all the world’s communities. “It has been gratifying to witness the excitement that engaging with the world can ignite in students of all ages,” says McDonough.

In April, Global Connections dovetailed with the character development unit on

Understanding Global Citizenship. At a Lower School assembly, students shared their understanding of the most valuable lessons the Global Engagement Program has to teach—learning about the many different cultures and communities around the world; taking care of the Earth and the life on it; being a positive, inclusive, respectful, and humble leader; and listening to learn and making their voice heard for the good of all of the Earth’s communities.

Greetings from Antarctica!

This year, the seventh- and eighth-grade French classes got the opportunity to explore Quebec City and Montreal, Canada, over a long President’s Day weekend. We flew down hills in inner tubes at the Villages Vacances Valcartier, drank delicious chocola chaud (hot chocolate) at Le Petit Coin Latin, toured the breathtaking Hôtel de Glace (ice hotel), and danced off an excessive amount of maple syrup at a Sugar Shack. While we were there, we witnessed firsthand the tremendous impact of winter on Quebec’s identity and culture. We were welcomed with warm smiles everywhere we went and were amazed by the kindness all around. Unlike in the United States, where winter is usually a time for relaxing inside, Canadians were actively participating in many winter activities such as walking in the park, shopping at markets, playing in the snow, cross- country skiing, tubing, and enjoying the natural beauty that Quebec has to offer. We enjoyed amazing crepes, croissants, and macarons while we were there, along with a Canadian favorite, poutine. We truly experienced the incredible impact of winter and learned so much about Canada’s unique culture and fascinating history.

– Maxine Koymen ’28

QUEBEC

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

By Middle School, students have the capacity to compare and contrast their lives with those of others. They can consider how and why the lifestyles and circumstances of people—across town or across the world—differ from their own.

Specific lessons on Global Perspectives are part of the Middle School curriculum. Guided by Spanish teacher Ann Whitman, sixth graders consider how they see people in other parts of the world, how those people see us, and what commonalities they share.

Whitman aims to broaden their view by focusing on sports, a topic that tends to create unique allegiances and friendships, both locally and globally. After learning why soccer (known by most countries as football) is the most

passionately loved sport around the world, they gave presentations on other popular pastimes including skiing (Switzerland), Vogelpiks or darts (Belgium), and the French sport of petanque (a form of lawn bowling) at which the students tried their hands (or feet) and found more challenging than anticipated.

The sixth-grade curriculum also focuses on food, a topic that goes beyond sampling different cuisine. Whitman explains, “Through the lenses of culture and global food issues, students learn about school lunches around the world and typical family food consumption. They examine questions of abundance, trade, resources, and climate as well.”

“It’s a big world out there,” says Whitman, “Global Perspectives helps our students prepare to find common ground, shared passions,

and delightful surprises in the world that awaits them.”

Similar projects and experiences await eighth-grade students as well. Chinese teacher Xuan Weng partners with French and Spanish teacher Carly Perry to inspire students to explore the world beyond their immediate experience. Through the Global Perspectives curriculum, students conduct research and create passports with stamps representing each nation they explored as well as information about that country’s population, economy, geography, language, holidays, and sports/activities.

This year, the eighth graders communicated virtually with German students from Gymnasium Grootmoor in Hamburg, comparing and contrasting their daily lives. As they discussed their favorite sports, music, books, games, pets,

Sightseeing in Montreal included a stop at the geodesic dome in Parc Jean-Drapeau, a relic of Expo ’67.

and best places to travel, they discovered that, although they live on different sides of the Atlantic, their interests and activities are much the same. Dialogue such as this “empowers them and helps with relationship building—an important skill for the future,” says Weng.

Weng and Perry see numerous benefits of the Global Perspectives class from providing a place to explore and be curious about the world to understanding that people can have many different perspectives on the same topic.

Weng notes that long term, students have increased self-awareness, greater global citizenship skills, and a wider grasp of history and geography. “We also find that students strengthen their ability to advocate for the planet and the people living on it,” she says.

In addition to Global Perspectives, since 2016, seventh- and eighthgrade students studying French have had the opportunity to travel internationally to the Canadian Province of Quebec.

“One of the aims of this trip is to support the LifeReady goal of deep, collaborative, authentic learning,” says Jody Christophe, Middle School World Languages Department Chair. “We also want to encourage students to investigate the world. This trip adds to their excitement about learning an additional language, and, while in Canada during February, they develop a different perspective on weather and winter!”

UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS EXAMINE GLOBAL ISSUES

Once students reach Upper School, they are able to grasp complex ideas and understand multiple perspectives on a single topic, make informed judgments about important issues, and take action in order to produce effective results. They are ready to tackle Global Issues.

Unlike the other divisions that have stand-alone courses, Global Issues is embedded in the Upper School experience in a variety of ways. Students may elect to enroll in coursework that will allow them to take a deeper dive into life in our interconnected world; participate in Global Dialogues with partner schools around the world; attend McDonogh’s Global Connections Conference featuring alumni studying and working internationally; or choose to join one of the school’s many global travel learning programs.

History teacher John Wood who offers the Senior Honors elective

Vietnam and the Vietnam War Seminar, says that as students of history, “We want to be able to argue that we have put meaningful effort into reaching our conclusions through sound and honest use of sources while recognizing there is always more to learn. Historical evidence is contestable, and there is much more than a simple ‘two sides’ to each issue.”

English elective Memoir and Profile uses contemporary texts to explore global issues. This year, students read Elsewhere Home, a collection of short stories by Leila Aboulela, a writer who grew up in Sudan, began her literary career in Scotland, and uses her life experiences as the basis for her fiction. English teacher Rabiah Khalil enhanced the student experience by arranging a meeting with the author, collaborating with a high school in Brooklyn, New York, and ultimately visiting the United Nations with their peers.

Director of Global Programs Hilary McDonough (left) and students from France, Germany, and McDonogh (above) sign off at the end of a Global Dialogues session.

Dozens of upper schoolers took advantage of Global Dialogues—a program that began with a connection between Hilary McDonough and alumnus Kristina delCarmen Compan ’86, an English teacher at Lycée Joseph Vallot in the South of France. Initially, their students met virtually through clubs and language classes, and over the past three years, the relationship evolved into an opportunity for students around the world to generate ideas for enacting change through online conversations. This year, more than 100 students from McDonogh and Joseph Vallot were joined virtually by a second French school as well as schools in Germany, Peru, and Senegal. They focused their conversations on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development

Hello, Risako!

Goals, paying particular attention to combating climate change and its impacts.

Together, the students explored and reflected on why progress on sustainable development is imperative, how they saw each goal progressing (or not) in their own experience, and how they might enact change to continue progress within their own communities.

Maggie Johnston ’25 and Elyse Scott ’25, whose interest has been piqued by the Global Dialogues Program, underwent training through the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG)—an international, nonprofit association of K-12 schools that researches and establishes model practices in global education—and

I’m so glad you visited McDonogh in April! I loved the experience of this exchange program and interacting with you and your friends from Seijo Gauken High School. I hope you liked seeing the sights in Baltimore, New York, and Washington D.C. I’m glad we got to watch a lacrosse game at my sister’s college, Georgetown, and that you had time to go to golf practice and church with me. Did you like the vegan food at McDonogh?

Thank you so much for teaching me more about Japan. It’s exciting to see pictures of your life in Tokyo. If I have the opportunity to go next summer, I would love to travel to Japan again to visit your school. It would be interesting to see what everyday life is like for the students, and possibly pick up some Japanese!

– Taylor

became members of the Student Leadership Council. The two leaders also hosted “Coffee and Conversations,” an opportunity for their peers to discuss globallyoriented topics.

Maggie believes the most valuable aspect of Global Dialogues is the opportunity to “connect with people around the world and share opinions on topics that are relevant to us.” Elyse says she hopes to see the dialogues expand and eventually include in-person meet-ups. She adds, “They present a powerful opportunity for anyone interested in global relations.”

McDonogh host Taylor Wu ‘24 and Risako Kikuchi of Seijo Gauken High School catch a lacrosse game at Georgetown University.

WHERE IN THE WORLD DID MCDONOGH CONNECT?

Meeting people from around the world has long been a part of McDonogh’s history.

pandemic, robust travel and the opportunity to welcome visitors from around the world are rebounding. The school’s longest-running international exchange took off again in April, when a delegation of eight students and two teachers from Seijo-Gakuen High School in Tokyo, Japan, landed in Baltimore for a 12day trip to McDonogh and the East Coast. The Japanese contingent visited classes in all three divisions, toured the region, and experienced daily life with their Upper School host families. History and social studies teacher Marilyn Boyle, who organized the exchange, calls it “life-changing,” saying, “It’s a wonderful experience all around. I know a lot of McDonogh students (from previous years) are still in contact with their Japanese friends!”

Several months later in June, under the guidance of Spanish teacher Laura Bayón and the language school MundoLengua, 17 upper

schoolers, and their chaperones traveled to Cadiz, an ancient port city in the Andalucia region of southwestern Spain, where they lived with host families and attended language classes each morning. Afternoons were spent enjoying the city’s beautiful beaches and sailing on the Bay of Cadiz.

In 2024, the Japanese exchange will continue when eight students and two teachers from McDonogh stay with host families in Tokyo, visit Seijo-Gakuen High School, and sightsee. Plans are also being made for another group of upper schoolers to have their passports stamped when they visit their French friends from Lycée Joseph Vallot.

COUNTRIES WHERE MCDONOGH STUDENTS

MADE CONNECTIONS IN THE PAST YEAR

KEY Upper School Middle School

AFRICA

Morocco

Rwanda

Senegal

South Africa

Sudan

Uganda

ASIA

Japan

Myanmar

Pakistan

Vietnam

At the end of the 2022-2023 school year, before students in each division headed out for summer break, they were given the opportunity to enjoy tailormade global experiences. The schoolwide Passport to Learning featured games, music, and a global scavenger hunt. The two-week Middle School Academy included both cooking and dance classes that brought another dimension to students’ cultural understanding. Lastly, an Upper School Global Connections Conference featured a panel of McDonogh alumni who provided a snapshot of the different global career pathways that students may explore in the future—a future that is dependent on creating critical connections.

Lower School

Professional Development

EUROPE

England

France

Germany

Scotland

Spain

Ukraine

NORTH AMERICA

The Bahamas

Canada

Haiti

Nicaragua

SOUTH AMERICA

Chile

Peru

Keshav R. ’31 plays the sitar at Passport to Learning.

This is one of the most common greetings we have encountered during our trip to Cadiz, Spain. As one would assume, the biggest difference in living in a foreign country is the language barrier. While living with a host family that speaks no English can be challenging, being exposed to both the Spanish language and culture 24 hours a day for 15 days increases your ability to learn and comprehend at immense speeds. Yes, acclimating is tough, but a thousand times more rewarding because being welcomed into a different country and adjusting to the lives of the locals helps you realize and appreciate the differences in our cultures.

!

Hola! from SPAIN

From an all-Spanish school to runs on the beach, traditional Spanish omelette (tortilla española) and of course, gelato, this trip has been an experience that, as Spanish speakers/learners, we will always carry with us.

- Maya Rodriguez ‘26

INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE

The Legacy Campaign—a $90 million fundraising initiative—is the largest campaign in the school’s history. This historic effort will propel McDonogh forward, strengthen our commitment to LifeReady learning, and ensure that academic excellence continues far into the future. The campaign’s priorities include:

The Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Middle School: The early generosity of our community allowed us to complete construction of this 21st century space that fosters modern learning.

Endowment: Increasing McDonogh’s endowment—with a focus on financial aid, faculty support, and campus preservation— provides a perpetual source of income for these critical areas.

Wilson | Young Archives and Special Collections: Opening in the fall of 2023, the Wilson | Young Archives and Special Collections will house McDonogh’s substantial historical collection and offer a vibrant and engaging environment for research, learning, and discovery.

McDonogh Fund: Growing the McDonogh Fund allows the school to annually support all of the important LifeReady initiatives happening on campus.

It will take the participation of the entire McDonogh community to meet our goal. Help us shape the path forward. Visit mcdonoghlegacycampaign.org to make a gift online and learn about other ways to support the campaign.

4 37 10 17 10

new teaching chairs

new endowed scholarships

new endowed funds for faculty support and tuition remission

new endowments for programmatic support and campus preservation

percent growth in McDonogh Fund gifts

The Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Middle School

ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS GETS NEW NAME AND LOCATION

The Wilson | Young Archives and Special Collections, which includes the school’s extensive collection of institutional records, manuscripts, photographs, art, and artifacts, will open on the second floor of Lyle Building in September. As lead donors for the

renovation project, Jon Aaron ’72 and Philip Stackhouse ’65 earned the special privilege of naming the space. Committed to honoring and preserving McDonogh’s evolving history, they chose to remember two important figures from the past—Josepha Young,

school matron from 1873-1907, and Eddie Wilson, staff member from 1957-1984.

Aaron and Stackhouse also jointly created an endowment to provide ongoing resources for the Archives and Special Collections.

MORE THAN $80 MILLION IN COMMITMENTS AND GIFTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY ARE ALREADY HAVING AN IMPACT ON MCDONOGH’S STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

Celebrating

PHILANTHROPY

More than 60 of the McDonogh Fund’s most generous donors gathered in late May at the Head of School House for the Orange and Black Society Dinner. The beautiful weather and bucolic scenery created the ideal setting for guests to mingle while celebrating their leadership in philanthropy.

The evening was highlighted by remarks from Head of School Dave Farace ’87 who thanked donors for their incredible support. He was joined by President of the Board of Trustees Rob Young ’86 who explained the importance of the McDonogh Fund, and trustee and Philanthropy Committee Chair Kristin Finkelstein ’03 who shared how she sees the benefits of philanthropy in her childrens’ classrooms every day.

1. Scon ’57 and Jean Boccuti

2. Bridget Collins ’90, Lauren Schultz Colton ’93, and Craig Colton

3. Paul McKinnell, Jennifer McKinnell, and Anna Dopkin ’85

4. Radhika Gummadi, Shalendra Cherukuri, Vivek Sood, and Nancy Fleury

5. Kelly Blavatt, Mark Kaplan, and Ronnie Footlick

The entire McDonogh community is encouraged to visit the Wilson | Young Archives and Special Collections to learn more about these individuals and the history of the school.

THE LEGACY CAMPAIGN

ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT

Paula Frohring, an ecologist, scientist, and conservationist, cares deeply about the planet and the importance of teaching students how to become environmentally-conscious citizens. It’s why she created an endowment fund dedicated to environmental education and the sustainability of McDonogh’s built and natural landscapes.

Parent of two alumni and grandparent of four current students, Frohring is an advocate of LifeReady learning. Her gift, supported by The Paul and Maxine Frohring Foundation, is intended to inspire action, education, and responsibility within the McDonogh community. It will help provide the school with the financial resources required to expand academic offerings in the areas of ecology, environmental sciences, and sustainability.

She says, “I hope this gift helps the administration, faculty, and staff guide students to become stewards of this diverse and beautiful campus, ultimately producing citizens who can responsibly address their everchanging environment.”

Frohring, like the school, views McDonogh’s 800acre campus as an oasis of natural resources in need of protection. Her philanthropy will allow the administration to be intentional about how the land is cared for and cultivated by ensuring the restoration, maintenance, and conservation of the unique landscape.

The gift, an investment in the future, is already being put to good use on a stretch of land east of Roots Farm. Upper School Environmental Science teacher Josh Jones, who serves as the school’s Sustainability Liaison, has also begun to collaborate with a team to roll out several new campus initiatives including grassland restoration, reforestation, stream monitoring, and coyote studies as well as research on terrestrial salamanders.

McDonogh is grateful that Frohring’s Legacy Campaign gift will enable the school to steward the land that has played a role in educating students for 150 years.

—Danielle Schollaert

The Frohring Foundation Establishes

Gift from the Bostons to Enhance EQUESTRIAN OPPORTUNITIES

McDonogh’s equestrian facilities are being upgraded and expanded, and soon will be named the Boston Equestrian Center thanks to a transformational gift from alumni parents Sharon and Wally Boston ’72 and their daughters, Grace ’18 and Sarah ’18. The updated facility will not only provide a better experience and greater opportunities for the athletes in McDonogh’s renowned equestrian program, it will also allow the school to attract and accommodate more highly-rated horse shows, which help to generate additional revenue for the riding program and greater recognition within the equestrian world.

The Bostons’ affiliation with McDonogh goes back to Wally’s time as a scholarship student and later as President of the Alumni Association and a member of the Board of Trustees. Sharon served as McDonogh’s Director of Admissions and was involved with the McDonogh Parents Association. Their affection for the equestrian program began when Grace and Sarah developed a deep love for riding as lower schoolers, and they saw how the equestrian experience at McDonogh impacted their lives. As their girls became more involved with riding, the Bostons began to focus their philanthropic efforts on the equestrian program. Their generous Legacy Campaign gift is the latest and largest demonstration of their commitment.

The Boston Equestrian Center improvements, slated to be completed in the coming school year, will include the addition of a second indoor ring, new restrooms, and a show office. It will also feature the construction of an additional building with 42 stalls to house visiting horses and the relocation and beautification of the outdoor show ring.

The Bostons have seen firsthand how the equestrian experience distinguishes McDonogh students, and they want the program to be the best it can be. “McDonogh’s athletes in the pool, on the fields, in the gym, and on the courts enjoy some of the finest facilities in the area. We wanted equestrian athletes to have access to equally outstanding facilities,” they say. “We hope the Boston Equestrian Center will provide additional space for McDonogh riders of all ages to improve their skills and experiences year round, regardless of the weather.”

—Danielle Schollaert

ENDOWED CHAIRS AWARDED FOR COMMITMENT AND TEACHING

At McDonogh, the most prestigious honor an educator can earn is an endowed chair. Two deserving members of the community were celebrated for their teaching and commitment to the school at the annual winter faculty and staff meeting in March.

ERICA SEAMAN AWARDED THE DUTCH EYTH TEACHING CHAIR

For more than two decades, school nurse Erica Seaman has been a healer, listener, teacher, counselor, advocate, and friend to all. She is known for approaching her daily responsibilities with calm confidence, a kind-hearted manner, and a genuine tenderness toward every student she encounters. These qualities were among the reasons she was awarded the Dutch Eyth Teaching Chair.

During the award presentation, Head of School Dave Farace ’87 noted Seaman’s professionalism and dedication to the entire community, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, “She possesses a strong and varied skill set and a work ethic that few could hope to match.”

He praised her for her role during the pandemic saying, “Her learning curve was steep and sudden, but she confronted it and conquered it. She kept pace with ever-changing public health education, lab testing, social distancing guidelines, quarantine monitoring, and

vaccination management. And she responded faithfully to the open floodgate of emails and phone calls seven days a week.”

Farace concluded his remarks by quoting a colleague who said, “In any kind of emergency, I would want her to be by my side, taking charge, providing care, and supporting us through a traumatic time.”

SUSAN SCHERZ RECIPIENT OF THE W. WRIGHT ABBOT IV DISTINGUISHED TEACHING CHAIR

Energy, creativity, and willingness to do more than is asked or expected are among the traits that set Middle School World Language teacher Susan Scherz apart and are why she was honored with the W. Wright Abbot lV Master Teaching Chair.

For the past 12 years, her commitment to students and passion for language— she is proficient in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish— have guided her teaching career. In fact, she describes her mission as “fully using my passion and creativity to assist students in

developing their passion for world languages and cultures, pursuing academic excellence, and discovering pride in their accomplishments.”

Farace described Scherz’s daily practice of greeting each student individually at her classroom door and engaging them in a brief exchange in the target language before they enter. “This is their entry ticket to class,” he said. He

Recent endowed chair recipients Erica Seaman and Susan Scherz

shared other ways in which she engages middle schoolers such as making and stringing 1,000 origami cranes across the Bavar Commons and creating a heightened level of excitement for the recent World Cup competition. He concluded the announcement by sharing the words of a colleague who said, “Susan is one of the most intellectually and emotionally intelligent individuals I have ever met.”

—Meredith Bower

MCDONOGH VOICES

SHARE MEMORIES IN THE CONTEXT OF HISTORY

During the 2022-2023 season of McDonogh Voices, alumni from different decades shared their school experiences in the context of history. The episodes were part of a two-year series planned in conjunction with the school’s approaching 150th-anniversary celebration.

Those who tuned in were reminded that the 1950s, often described as a period of conformity, stability, and prosperity, gave way to the 1960s—one of the most tumultuous and divisive decades in history. They saw that the 1970s dawned as a time of transition during which McDonogh experienced the most dynamic reshaping of school culture with the elimination of the semi-military program and the addition of girls. In the episode on the 1980s, it was clear how these two major transitions ushered in an era of opportunity. During this decade, the school turned its attention to a strategic campus plan, while arts programming and athletic opportunities evolved along with an intentional focus on the academic and emotional needs specific to each division.

The McDonogh Voices decade series will continue in the 150th-anniversary year with a focus on the 1990s through today. Join the conversation virtually on Thursday, September 21 for The 1990s: A Commitment to the 21st Century. Watch your email for details and save Thursday, December 7; Thursday, January 25, 2024; and Wednesday, March 27, 2024 for episodes focusing on the most recent decades in McDonogh’s 150-year history.

Recordings of the 2022-2023 McDonogh Voices episodes are available at mcdonogh.org/about/voices.

CIRCLING THE HILL

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Greatest Good McDonogh is making an impact. As experiential learning is integrated into curriculum, clubs, leadership groups, sports teams, and the arts, students are gaining an understanding of the best practices in philanthropy, community engagement, and social innovation. McDonogh is energized, and the scope of the school’s efforts is vast. “Once you get involved, you can’t stop. This is something that I plan on continuing for the rest of my life,” says Isabella Sodhi ’25, a member of the Special Olympics Club.

At the end-of-year Greatest Good McDonogh Showcase, Program Director Bridget Collins ’90 told the audience, “The amount of time, talent, and treasure our community has shared with the greater Baltimore community this year is so inspiring.”

Lynne Kahn, Executive Director of the Baltimore Hunger Project, was among the non-profits represented at the event. Her organization, a beneficiary of the work of the McDonogh community, is devoted to eliminating the growing problem of weekend childhood hunger by feeding bodies and minds.

Throughout the year, in conversations with Kahn, McDonogh students learned that many children in Baltimore are food-insecure on the weekends. In turn, they asked, “How can we help?”

Middle Schoolers Raise Funds Through Empty Bowls Event

In February, the Middle School Farm to Fork and 3D Design classes joined forces and raised more than $2,000 for the Baltimore Hunger Project by hosting an Empty Bowls Luncheon at Roots Farm. After learning about Empty Bowls, an international

movement to remind people about the plight of world hunger, they heard from Kahn, who explained that her organization provides food packages for students struggling with hunger on the weekend. She emphasized the connection between proper nutrition and academic success.

Once they understood the “why,” the seventh and eighth graders began working on the “how.” The 3D Design students learned to make, paint, and fire ceramic bowls and those in the Farm to Fork class made and froze tomato soup, focaccia, and cornbread for the event. On a chilly Saturday afternoon, more than 100 guests gathered in the cozy barn at Roots Farm for the Empty Bowls fundraiser to benefit the Baltimore Hunger Project.

When the last ladles of soup had been served and guests had selected their favorite bowl to take home, the students presented an oversized check to the Baltimore Hunger Project. Maxine Koymen ’28, who was responsible for baking bread, reflected on the benefit of helping others while doing something enjoyable. She said, “One community coming together to help another while doing something you enjoy is the best kind of helping because you both benefit.”

Upper School Class Proposes Solutions

The middle schoolers weren’t the only ones working to support the Baltimore Hunger Project. After gaining an understanding of what drives food insecurity, upper

Special Olympics Club members Isabella Sodhi, Amanda Bavar, and Savannah Radz celebrate with the Eagle and Program Director Bridget Collins ’90 after the Greatest Good McDonogh Showcase in May.

Representatives from the Farm to Fork and 3D Design classes who hosted the Empty Bowls event at Roots Farm, present a check to the Baltimore Hunger Project.

Hayden Keelty ’28 and Kenzie Gardner ’28 serve the tomato soup they helped make for the event.

Raquel ’29, Jennifer, and Langston ’36 A., a rising kindergartner, enjoy soup made by the Farm to Fork class for the Empty Bowls fundraiser.

schoolers in Cynthia Cox’s English elective Nonfiction Studies in Food Culture and Systems met with Kahn, ready to apply their knowledge to a local organization. She explained the challenges of running the Baltimore Hunger Project in her spare time and shared the operational issues her nonprofit faces: recruiting volunteers, organizing the warehouse, spreading the word to families in need, and of course, fundraising.

Working in groups, students brainstormed and envisioned workable solutions. In May, they presented their ideas to a panel including Kahn and David Rothschild ’82 who catalyzed the launch of Greatest Good McDonogh with an endowed commitment and partnership support. While one group of students shared their idea for an innovative warehouse organization system for the intake and distribution of food, another proposed spreading the word to those in need in a dignified and non-threatening way by posting flyers, in multiple languages, at schools in lowincome areas. Another solution, destined to launch in the fall, was to establish a Baltimore Hunger Project Club at McDonogh to generate awareness, volunteers,

BIG KIDS INSPIRE LITTLE MINDS

Kindergartners proved that you are never too little to have big ideas when they collaborated with upper schoolers on solutions to environmental issues impacting McDonogh. As part of their Sharing the Planet unit, the lower schoolers invited Upper School Environmental Science students to explain some of the environmental challenges on campus. From that discussion, they learned about litter, food waste, cutting down trees, and air pollution. The young students asked thoughtful questions, and once they had an understanding of the problems, they began working on solutions.

Several weeks later, the earnest young inventors presented their ideas to the juniors and seniors.

Vida Stephens and Harper Demers

and funds, with the goal of establishing chapters at other area independent schools. Kahn told the students, “I’m so impressed that you heard me. You listened to what I needed.”

Kahn’s enthusiasm and dedication to the Baltimore Hunger Project resonated with Cox’s students. Kolby Brown ’24 told the audience at the Greatest Good McDonogh Showcase, “My takeaway from the class, and this project in particular, is that anyone can make a difference. In other words, if there is something that currently seems too big for you to tackle, take that jump because you never know how many lives you might be able to change.”

Led by David Rothschild ’82, the Rothschild Foundations—which are committed to advancing educational initiatives that inspire philanthropic and social engagement—catalyzed the launch of Greatest Good McDonogh with an endowed commitment and partnership support. —Meredith Bower

suggested an invention that picks up trash in the water through a tube. They explained, “The water is pushed out of the back and the trash stays in the big part.” Other students made posters encouraging recycling and created petitions that their classmates signed.

The real-world application not only involved deep critical thinking, research, and creative problem-solving on the part of the kindergartners, but it also taught them to empathize and advocate.

Executive Director of the Baltimore Hunger Project Lynne Kahn and Greatest Good McDonogh benefactor David Rothschild ’82 listen to proposals on supporting the nonprofit.

Ethan D., Nia M., and Toby M. show their petition, signed by their classmates, to encourage recycling.

Braxton C. and Charlie R. explain their invention to Claire Cook ’23.

Environmental science students enjoy a laugh with their kindergarten friends during a Q&A session.

THE STORY BEHIND MCDONOGH’S SECRET SAUCE

Chef Mallory Staley leans over the 20-quart stainless steel pot on the stove in Roots Farm’s Culinary Kitchen slowly stirring the contents. The herbaceous scents of garlic and balsamic vinegar are the first clue that something delicious is cooking. Chef Staley is making another small batch of Roots Farm Pasta Sauce, a recipe that she and Farmer Sharon Hood perfected over the past three years and will begin selling in the fall.

The idea for a Roots pasta sauce began simmering several years ago

as Hood considered new ways to give the tomatoes, grown and harvested by the McDonogh community, more purpose. That was the easy part. Determining the type of tomato and what other ingredients would result in a flavorful sauce with just the right color and texture was much more difficult. “We started with heirlooms and cherry tomatoes, but the sauce turned out orange,” Hood explains. Eventually, she says they figured out that the San Marzano variety had the color, taste, and texture they were looking for, and in the summer of 2022, they grew a bumper crop.

In the meantime, Staley, who was keenly aware of the steps necessary to have a product approved, began processing the tomatoes in jars, adding herbs and acidity to assure the proper PH levels. Then, they sent jars of tomatoes and tomato paste—the basis of the sauce—to Cornell University’s Food Venture Center

for testing to ensure safety and stability. “We knew if we could store the tomatoes from our harvest, then we could utilize them for the sauce,” says Staley.

As they awaited approval, they began developing a recipe that would produce a tasty and memorable sauce. Staley says, “We had to find the right combination of things. I approached it in a scientific way where I broke out the acid, the sweet, and the finish. It was chemistry.” For weeks, the two tweaked, tasted, and rejected countless batches of sauce. Hood admits, “It was frustrating and at times we had to walk away.”

But they always came back to the table, eager to fine-tune the combination of ingredients and the exact process to yield the desired result. “At the end of the day, we wanted our sauce to be so good that you’d want to eat it right out of the jar with a spoon,” says Hood. In January 2022, they landed on the

Chef Mallory Staley samples Roots Farm Pasta Sauce.

perfect pasta sauce. The feedback from family, friends, and local professional chefs has been what the two hoped for. “People say that they crave it,” Hood boasts.

Ten months later, they sent the sauce to Cornell for testing and soon after, began the approval process with the Maryland Department of Health, which scrutinized every step of production to ensure that the end product was shelf-stable. With the approval of the two regulators, Staley has begun production.

When Roots Farm Pasta Sauce makes its debut in September, much of the McDonogh community will have played a role in getting it to the shelf, from the first graders who planted the San Marzano seeds to the volunteers who harvested the ingredients that make the recipe unique. So what is the secret to the sauce? Some may say it’s the Roots tomatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic crops, while others argue it’s the drop of Roots honey added to each batch. Hood gives credit to Chef Staley saying, “This sauce happened because of Mallory’s passion for cooking, her creativity, and tenacity to make things happen!”

In keeping with McDonogh’s mission, a portion of the sale of each jar of Roots Farm Pasta Sauce will be donated to the Maryland Food Bank.

—Meredith Bower

SHOP TALK: READY FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE!

BY KEVIN J. COSTA, PH.D., DIRECTOR OF LIFEREADY

Around their junior year, students enter what becomes an all-too-familiar conversation for the next 18 months of their lives. A well-intentioned uncle asks, “Where are you applying to college?” A family friend whom they haven’t seen in years offers her unsolicited advice, “You need to major in...” Yet, another well-meaning soul implores, “No! Don’t major in...” These conversations—unavoidable, ubiquitous—have become a “rite of passage” on the road to adulthood.

Lately, however, many conversations I’ve had are not about major or campus size—they are about AI (Artificial Intelligence). It began last December when high school English teacher Daniel Herman published an essay, “The End of High School English.” Suddenly, I was being asked, “Does this mean you’ll be teaching another subject now?”

As a long-time English teacher, I have to admit that I was startled by what ChatGPT could produce—strong college personal statements and academic essays. But I didn’t skip a beat when the question was asked. “If writing were only taught as a product, then we might have something to worry about,” I answered. “But writing at McDonogh has always been taught as a discursive practice that trains students to think and reason for themselves.”

That said, it would be naive to think we could just ignore generative AI. Like any technological advances that have emerged since the first Industrial Revolution, which got underway in England in the 18th century, generative AI can be seen as yet another, inevitable advance that simultaneously threatens current practices even as it promises to improve life. Great schools don’t react impulsively to such change when headlines make it the talk of the town; rather, thoughtful schools embrace such phenomena with curiosity, wisdom, and imagination. And that is precisely what we’re doing at McDonogh.

McDonogh is already deep in its own research on AI to understand its implications for education and to ensure that we prepare our students for life with such advanced technologies. We will continue to develop and deliver programming to educate students about AI and other emerging and critical literacies necessary for success. And we will do what LifeReady has always promised: to graduate self-reliant critical thinkers prepared to do good in a diverse and rapidly-changing world. Generative AI may be a game-changer in ways we cannot fully appreciate yet, but we are confident that we have a comprehensive approach to educating students so that they are prepared for the volatility, ambiguity, and uncertainty they will most assuredly face in life.

What’s more, McDonogh’s time-tested liberal arts and sciences curriculum not only retains its standing in the age of AI—it may very well accrue value. LifeReady’s vision has always been to deliver our foundational academic curriculum through teaching methods and classroom practices that demand students to think for themselves as well as in collaboration with others. This rigorous, intentional vision for a well-rounded education may be more and more necessary as certain careers and practices are prone to automation.

Daniel Araya and Creig Lamb, researchers with the Brookings Institute, write, “[I]t is becoming obvious that we are entering an era in which many kinds of routine work are simply becoming much less valuable. At the same time, AI has limitations. Machine learning has been particularly effective at making predictions, but it has been much less successful at managing challenges associated with judgment, decision making, and interpretation.” They conclude, “When effectively paired with disruptive technologies, students within liberal arts programs... are positioned to generate the kinds of intuitive thinkers that understand the future.”

LifeReady has been making this very case for nearly 10 years: retain the very best of what has always been true of a McDonogh education, infuse it with research-supported pedagogical practices, and help students become ready for the wonders of progress. Bring it on—our graduates are LifeReady!

Shrey P. ’34 and Winnie E. ’34 plant San Marzano seedlings—the tomatoes used in Roots’ tasty sauce.

GOLUBTSI: MORE

BY ALEXA KLEIN ’24

Alexa Klein ’24 was awarded the National American Voice Medal by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers for her essay Golubtsi: More Than a Meal at a ceremony on Thursday, June 8 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She wrote the memoir for her English elective, Nonfiction Studies in Food Culture and Systems.

Chaos is the term that best describes the KleinLeykin family leading up to our most important holiday: New Year’s. But, as New Year’s Day finally arrives, so, too, does the pinnacle of our preparation—the family meal.

On New Year’s Day, I pull my hair back, put on an old t-shirt, and prepare myself to cook golubtsi with my grandma. Golubtsi—pronounced “ga-loop-tzee”—is a traditional Ukrainian dish made of ground turkey filler meat wrapped in cabbage. These balls of goodness are then transported into the oven where they will take a royal bath in our life-changing, carrot-tomato sauce that we prepare together. My grandma and I are like a clownfish and anemone in the kitchen. While we may be independent individuals, a successful outcome depends on us working together. My grandma, whom I live with, is the ultimate boss: she tends to assert her authority by taking up 95% of the counter space with her spices and cutting boards, as well as her beloved Trader Joe’s plants she refuses to move. I essentially serve as her sous-chef and have to do the tasks my grandma, with worsening eczema on her hands, cannot do alone—like cutting and cleaning.

Cooking golubtsi always begins with making the sauce. Consequently, for me, this means that I must inconveniently rummage for the grater through the cabinet that houses our plethora of QVC kitchen gadgets. I, then, must risk the well-being of my fingers to grate the seemingly endless pile of carrots that will be the base of the sauce. “Be careful of fingers,” my grandma says as I begin to grate—her Russian accent

audible with her heavy emphasis on “r”s and frequent omissions of articles and pronouns. If I’m lucky enough to still have all ten fingers after grating the carrots, I move on to cutting the onions, where my burning eyes usually make me throw in the white flag. “I vill finish cutting,” my grandma says, interchanging the “w” for a “v.”

To finish the sauce, we combine my grandma’s homemade tomato sauce that she has bottled in the fridge, homemade chicken broth, fresh tomatoes, beautifully—might I add—shredded carrots, onions, lemon juice, and more spices than I know the names of in a large pan. Normally, I am tasked with mixing the sauce as it simmers, but year after year, I am forced to retire from duty after my grandma rushes over with a repurposed old t-shirt as a sponge to clean the sauce splotches on the stovetop that serves as hard evidence of my mixing failures.

“Vhat are you doing,” she questions as she vigorously scrubs at the stovetop. I watch as she takes over and stirs the sauce, oftentimes adding in a few extra spices and squirts of lemon juice. Unlike my frantic, messy cooking style my grandma has a swift, calm aura about her. She moves effortlessly in the kitchen, always dressed in a blue, seashell-patterned robe with a black Lululemon headband to draw back her graying, thinning hair—her biggest insecurity that I insist is beautiful. I admire my grandma and her willingness to put traditional retirement activities aside to care for my siblings and me and the unconditional love she expresses through food. No spices, herbs, or cooking techniques alone could ever replicate the homey taste of my grandma’s food.

While keeping an eye on the sauce, my grandma and I prepare the filler meat which we bind with white rice and season with almost the entire seasoning cabinet. We lay parboiled cabbage leaves out and begin rolling the meat in them. No matter how hard I try, the golubtsi I make never look as good as my grandma’s. I look over at my grandma and watch as she effortlessly wraps each

THAN A MEAL

Alexa Klein ’24 and her grandmother, Slava Leykin, enjoy a meal of Golubtsi.

STUDENT VOICES

golubtsi, making sure to tuck in all the outer edges of the cabbage leaves. We wrap in silence, until my grandma says, “я люблю готовить с тобой’’ (pronounced: ya lublu gotovit’s toboy), meaning “I love cooking with you.” We make eye contact and she smiles, revealing the fine lines and wrinkles she tries to rid with million-dollar creams that are permanent evidence of her infectious smile. “я тоже” (pronounced: ya tozche), I reply, meaning “me too.”

With every wrapped golubtsi neatly laid in a pot and the sauce poured over top, my grandma and I get ready to put the final touches on the dish. This includes a sprinkle of dill as well as taking leftover filler meat and making mini meatballs for my brother, who refuses to eat the cabbage due to his strong aversion to anything remotely green. A few mini meatballs later, we put the golubtsi in the oven. The only thing standing between me and the dinner I have been looking forward to all month is the oven’s built-in timer ticking down from 65 minutes. I leave the kitchen for the duration of the time while my grandma hovers over the oven, listening to a Russian audiobook on full volume to pass the time.

The comforting smell of the golubtsi wafts through the house, and we all eagerly wait until my grandma shouts “

иди кушать” (pronounced: idi coo-shat), meaning “come eat.” My family scurries to find their unassigned assigned seat around the dining room table, which is set with our finest china and is only used a maximum of five times a year. The table is overwhelmingly crowded with Ukrainian dishes including Olivye, a potato salad, and Vinegret, a beet salad. As soon as we sit down, our forks collide as we reach into the center of the table for the golubtsi, and my mom quickly gets up from the table to retrieve a serving spoon that we, without fail, always forget to bring to the table. We all take turns scooping our portion of the golubtsi, until we all have mountains of Ukrainian food on our plates. I dig my fork into the golubtsi, cutting it into smaller pieces, and my mouth begins to salivate as I look down at the filler turkey meat that has absorbed the color and flavor of the sauce. I take my first bite, and my tastebuds are taken through a roller coaster ride—first tasting the soft, decadent cabbage that practically melts in your mouth and then the turkey meat that leaves you with a satisfying bite.

We are only about 10 minutes into dinner when the separate conversations evolve. My grandparents begin to talk politics while subconsciously switching from speaking English to Russian. My mom interrupts trying to change the subject while my dad, the only non-Russian speaker in my household, looks to her for translation. My brothers, uninterested in their conversation, begin to turn to each other. They talk, Fortnite, Minecraft, and up-and-coming YouTubers— all conversations I cannot participate in. I listen to their oddly passionate conversations and cringe when I hear the “dude” and “bro” they throw into every sentence. I wait in awe counting down the moments until the inevitable “who will fall asleep first” debate. I sit and smile in silence, knowing that they will both be sprawled out on the couch out cold by 10:30 p.m.

I continue eating my golubtsi, and chime into conversation, but most of all, I take the time to appreciate the fact that I am with my best friends. As I have grown older, I learned the importance of embracing my Ukrainian heritage. I look over at our New Year’s tree that has been covered in tinsel and ornaments, surrounded with gifts, and it reminds me of the sacrifices my family has made to attain a better life. What may seem like a Jewish family’s odd attempt at Christmas, actually celebrates the challenges my mom and grandparents overcame in pursuit of the American Dream. My grandparents and mom immigrated from Kyiv to the United States in 1989 with three suitcases and eighty dollars to their name to escape religious persecution and corrupt political beliefs. New Year’s Eve, the only non-political holiday at the time, became the way my family and other Jews in the Soviet era showed they would not succumb to communist rule. Now, my siblings and I get to enjoy the fruits of my grandparents’ and mom’s labor with full religious liberty, but we still consider New Year’s Eve to be more than a celebration of the start of the next calendar year. I am proud to be a first-generation American, and I strive to learn how to embrace my Ukrainian heritage in the future, and the first step: cooking golubtsi.

ON THE DOT

A COLLABORATIVE ART INSTALLATION BY SIXTH GRADERS

You may not know the name of the artist who inspired this year’s sixth graders, but you’d probably recognize the whimsical work of Yayoi Kusama which predominantly features polka dots and pumpkins. In a collaborative yearlong effort, sixth-grade students not only studied Kusama, but they modeled the themes and colorful motifs found in her work through painting, paper maché, sculpture, and ceramics. Their learning was on display throughout April in an immersive Tuttle Gallery display—On the Dot—which the students installed themselves.

Art teacher Holly Thompson explains that each sixth-grade student had a part in the exhibition in some way, saying, “Every quarter, they created a different project based on the artist, and the fourth quarter students had the unique opportunity to organize, plan, and install the gallery show.”

Tuttle Gallery Manager Dave Radford, who taught the students how to hang and display the pieces, says that the unconventional floor-to-ceiling installation allowed the art to flow and work together. He explains, “The show was great for the sixth-grade mind. Their separate ideas worked together to create an experience that everyone could participate in.”

Upon entering On the Dot, visitors were encouraged to add dots to the walls around the art and to immerse themselves in an adjacent polkadot balloon-filled room.

“From beginning to end, On the Dot was a blast,” says Thompson. “The fact that the entire sixth grade had a hand in this project is really exciting to me both as an educator and artist. The students were able to see it as a whole art installation piece rather than a classroom project.”

—Meredith Bower

Lucas Zhang ‘29 and Ryan Setty ‘29 enjoy the participatory element of the exhibit.

Sixth graders discover their work on the walls in the Tuttle Gallery.

Caroline Kucskar ’29 and Scarlett Roberts ’29 help install the On The Dot exhibit in the Tuttle Gallery.

Ceramic polka dot pumpkins in the style of artist Yayoi Kusama.

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS STILL FIRM IN 2023

Audiences came to the McDonogh Theatre Department’s spring production of Once Upon a Mattress for the lords and ladies, stayed for the talented student performers, and left with a sense of what we all can learn from musical theatre! Dance and theatre teacher Nina Pongratz explains in her Director’s Notes:

Once Upon a Mattress takes Hans Christian Andersen’s classic 1835 story, The Princess and the Pea, and resets it in 1428, in the midst of moats and knights and damsels in distress. So, how does a 200-year-old fairy tale set 600 years ago hold up in 2023?

Well, it has jokes, brilliant songs, lyrics by Broadway royalty, and iconic characters that we’ve known our whole lives. What really makes this show work today, though, is all the ways we recognize that it shouldn’t [work, that is]. By mixing time periods and styles and politics and science across centuries, the show reflects our world back at us, revealing the social and cultural journeys that got us here. Through brilliant innuendo, the dialogue, characters, and plot present to us a truly cringe-worthy gender landscape that still manages, through some witchcraft or magic, to offer relatable modern moments. We see ourselves, our parents, our not-distant-enough legacy onstage. And maybe, just maybe, through this process of recognition, we can strive to do better in the next century.

With each rehearsal, casting choice, design, and meeting, many collaborators helped weave the medieval tapestry. Student designers illustrated the animated backdrops that set the enchanted landscape our castle overlooks; the orchestra is a harmonious blend of professional and student musicians whose sensitivity magically brings this challenging score to life; student builders transport us to another place and time, and sound, prop, and costume design teams amplify swampy texture and bellowing notes.

Megan Winakur ’24, Josie Kibel ’25, Vivie Labellarte ’26, Andrea Otrocol ’25, Gabby Grabush ’23, Callie La Testa ’26, and members of the ensemble perform “Opening for a Princess.”

Teddy Seward ’24, as Prince Dauntless the Drab, wishes he could find a suitable princess worthy of his mother’s expectations

Dana Thompson ’24, as Princess Winnifred, sings “Happily Ever After.”

Stage Manager Ebonie Bogle ’25 makes notes during a final rehearsal before opening night.

Zac Moore ’24 and Katherine Schlossnagle ’25, as Sir Harry and Lady Larkin, sing “In a Little While.”

Aeiris Faloni ’23, as Queen Aggravaine, reminds her court of the rules: “Throughout the land no one may wed, ’til Dauntless to the altar’s led.”

Auden Beauvois ’24, as King Sextimus The Silent, uses pantomime to warn others about the Queen.

Princess Winnifred (Dana Thompson ’24) is unable to fall asleep on top of a stack of 20 mattresses.

KINDERGARTEN JOURNEY FROM CREEK TO CHESAPEAKE

Kindergartner Toby McGrain and his family were on their way to Philadelphia during spring break when they crossed over a large body of water. From the backseat, he asked, “Mom, is that the Potomac, Rappahannock, Susquehanna, or the James River?” His mother, both surprised and impressed replied, “The Susquehanna. How did you know?”

Toby and his classmates did not learn about the rivers that feed into the Chesapeake Bay in science class, they learned about the tributaries in Music and Movement as they prepared for the KinderGarden Blooms production Creek to Chesapeake. As they rehearsed the choruses of popular songs about water, they also absorbed the knowledge that the Gwynns Falls stream that runs through McDonogh’s campus eventually makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay.

Creek to Chesapeake was written in a few hours by Lower School performing arts teacher Cal Davis who says the script-writing flowed easily because local waterways are of interest to her. She says, “It’s exciting

to make work about things that are around you. It may be more work for me, but because I care about it, it’s less work. And it makes me happy when kids can connect to real things in their life.”

She adds that the theme dovetailed with the Lower School spring learning focus on reusing and recycling— ways in which we can keep our rivers clean. But Davis didn’t just incorporate the theme into the script, she had students make their own costumes using recycled materials and fabric, and she created the backdrop for the show by reusing an art project created by lower schoolers during the 2022 PopUp Art Day.

The 30-minute production also included input from members of the third- and fourth-grade Laptop Orchestra who created, mixed, and edited the backing tracks for the songs in the show using a variety of online platforms. Davis says that involving the older kids not only creates a connection between them and the kindergartners, it also gives them an opportunity to collaborate on an actual project.

Kindergartners take their family and friends on an aquatic journey from McDonogh to the Bay in Creek to Chesapeake.

On the afternoon of the performance, with their proud parents seated in the audience, the kindergartners described the journey of water from Horsehead Creek on campus to the Chesapeake and ultimately to the Atlantic Ocean. Meandering throughout the show was a rap that illustrated the journey. It began:

The McDonogh creek called Horsehead Branch Red Run, Painter’s Mill, it’s like a baby avalanche

Where did we come from?

Where do we go?

To the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Oh—shun

As each of the four kindergarten classes became the focal point of the production, the rap picked up a few more lines to illustrate the journey. The songs Davis chose for children to sing also mirrored the size of the area tributaries. From creeks and waterfalls to the Atlantic Ocean, they sang Neil Young’s Cripple Creek Ferry and Waterfalls by TLC as well as Proud Mary/ Rolling on a River by Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Beach Boys’

Catch a Wave

Davis was pleased that all the elements of Creek to Chesapeake came together in the performance and says she won’t be surprised when on a family road trip, from the back seat of the car, one of her students starts singing along to Billy Joel’s River of Dreams. —Meredith Bower

Noelle P. delivers her lines while classmates Evan S., Jaiden M., Riley H., and Vida-Sophia S. look on.

Summer L., Victoria M., and Madalyn P. play Boomwhackers in the 2023 KinderGarden Blooms production.

WINTER CHAMPIONS

McDonogh’s athletic teams performed well throughout the exciting 2022-2023 winter sports season, and a number earned their way to the championship rounds of play.

At the end of January, the girls soared toward the indoor track championship title, snatching the IAAM A Conference crown from Maryvale. The Eagles dominated early in the meet to win five of the first six events and eight of 10 running competitions.

After an exciting season with only one league loss to St. Frances, the girls basketball team faced the Panthers again in the IAAM A Conference finals in February and defended their championship title with a score of 50-47. The following month, the Eagles were one of four teams invited to compete in the 2023 GEICO High School Basketball Nationals in Florida.

On the heels of an undefeated season, the boys varsity and JV swim teams made a big splash earning first-place MIAA A Conference titles in early February. It was the JV team’s first title ever!

FOR THE RECORD

On the fields and the courts, in the pool and on the track, and in the riding ring and on the golf course, McDonogh athletes achieved stellar performances in a display of talent and sportsmanship. Congratulations to all our winter and spring athletes. Following are the varsity teams’ records:

WINTER 2023

Boys Basketball: 15-15

Girls Basketball: 23-2

Boys Indoor Track: 2-4

Girls Indoor Track: 5-0

Boys Squash: 8-6

Girls Squash: 4-8

Boys Swimming: 7-0

Girls Swimming: 5-2

Wrestling: 3-4

SPRING 2023

Baseball: 18-11

Boys Golf: 2-11

Girls Golf: 1-7-1

Boys Lacrosse: 17-1

Girls Lacrosse: 20-1

Softball: 4-9

Boys Tennis: 5-3

Boys Track: 1-5

Girls Track: 5-0

SPRING CHAMPIONS

The excitement of the spring sports season kicked into high gear on a summerlike Friday (April 21) when McDonogh lacrosse was televised nationwide by ESPNU in a thrilling double header featuring both the girls and boys varsity teams. The stadium rocked with hundreds of spectators cheering on the Eagles, and both teams used the occasion to bring attention to the One Love Foundation’s efforts to end relationship violence. Championship play began in the weeks after, and Eagles fans were on the edge of their seats cheering on the players and coaches until the very end of the season.

The playoffs took two weeks and seven games, but in the end, McDonogh’s baseball team was crowned the MIAA B Conference champions. It was the team’s first championship title in some 30 years. Throughout the tournament, the Eagles persevered with great pitching and clutch hitting, only losing once. The hard work of Coach Matt Tuneski was recognized at the end of the season when MIAA coaches voted him Coach of the Year.

A light rain on the second day of the IAAM championship meet did not slow down the Eagles. The girls track and field team finished well ahead of Archbishop Spalding, their closest competitor, and earned points in a variety of events including sprinting, hurdles, shot put, long jump, and pole vault. Coach Phil Turner was later recognized as Coach of the Year by The Baltimore Sun.

In a thrilling girls lacrosse game against St. Paul’s, the Eagles swooped in and grabbed the IAAM A Conference crown back from the Gators in a decisive 13-8 victory. It was the team’s first title win since 2019 and a record 11th A Conference crown. In June, The Baltimore Sun named Head Coach Taylor Cummings ’12 Co-Coach of the Year.

After knocking rival Boys’ Latin out of the MIAA A Conference Tournament in the semifinal round in overtime (8-7), McDonogh’s boys lacrosse team faced Calvert Hall for the championship title. Their decisive victory over the Cardinals (14-8) was the second in a row for the Eagles. At the end of the season, Andy Hilgartner received the MIAA Coach of the Year award from his peers.

Sibling

Camaraderie

BY MEREDITH BOWER

Competing at the varsity level at McDonogh is a notable achievement for any athlete, and when your teammate is also your sibling, the opportunity to play together is extra special. For many siblings, after years of playing on sports teams based on age group, making a McDonogh varsity team is often the first time they have competed together.

This year at McDonogh there were six pairs of siblings (and one father-daughter coaching duo) who competed at the varsity level. While the athletes love their sports and enjoy the opportunity to work with their team toward a common goal, they treasure the experience and the time they get to spend with their brother or sister.

Ella ’24 and Elise ’25 Cooper | Track and Field

Last year, when Ella and Elise Cooper competed in the IAAM Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field meets they were battling each other. Ella, the older of the two, was a student at Bryn Mawr and Elise was at McDonogh. Today, both Cooper sisters are Eagles and are soaring across the finish line within fractions of a second of each other. Next year, a third sister, Elise’s twin, Elena, will join the team at McDonogh.

The Cooper sisters have been involved in club-level track since before they hit double digits. When Elise was in elementary school she loved to race (and beat) her classmates. Soon she was running with the Owings Mills Track Club, and by age eight, she won her first national championship meet. Her sisters weren’t far behind in embracing the sport.

Now that Elise and Ella are on McDonogh’s Track and Field teams, they have combined their individual strengths for the good of the whole. Ella says, “In a meet, everything I do is for the team. It’s fun to have Elise by my side every single time. She pushes me to do better.”

While Elise pushes Ella to be better, they believe that their sibling dynamic (as well as their speed) is an asset to the team. Ella says, “We are known as a sibling pair. We are both leaders. And our chemistry helps.”

Coach Phil Turner agrees. “Ella and Elise provide a work ethic and love for track and field that enhances the entire team. They are serious athletes who care deeply about the sport,” he says, noting that they use their many years of experience to mentor athletes who are newer to the track. “This season Elise and Ella helped our 4x200 meter relay team learn how to hone their baton hand-off skills.

That team went on to win the 4x200 at championships. Seeing Ella and Elise cheer for them and feel that connection to their success was really special and showed what kind of high-character people they are.”

Turner’s respect for the pair is mirrored by their understanding of and mutual admiration for each other. There is no question that Elise has her sights set on competition beyond the college level, taking her passion and talent for sprinting as far as she is able. It’s a drive that impresses her older sister who says, “I’ve never seen her shy away from an opportunity.” If Elise is determined, Ella is persistent. “She tore her ACL a few years ago,” shares Elise, “It still affects her but she keeps going and doesn’t give up.”

Although they argue like sisters about things like what music to play on their commute to school, in the past year, the bond between the two has grown stronger now that they race together. They relish one of their biggest wins—at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia— when they advanced, with teammates Adrianna Thomas ’23 and Kelsey Coley ’25, to the Championship of America 4x100 relay—the most prestigious relay final in the country.

Ella and Elise are looking forward to next year when their sister joins them at McDonogh and they have the opportunity to compete together, if for only one year. Knowing that their time together is limited, Ella says she hopes her younger siblings will continue to find joy in their sport and give themselves grace when it gets hard.

Brendan ’25 and McCabe ’23 Millon | Lacrosse

At the end of the 2023 MIAA Championship game, as Eagles fans were celebrating the varsity boys lacrosse team’s second consecutive title win, a photographer caught McCabe and Brendan Million in a tight embrace, seemingly unaware of the jubilation swirling around them. It was their final high school game together and a poignant moment for the brothers who are both ranked #1 in the nation in their respective classes.

Growing up, the two played just about every sport, and eventually, the children of the only married couple inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, found the love of the game themselves. McCabe describes that when they were younger he and Brendan constantly played one-on-one games from wiffle ball and basketball to soccer (in the house.) He believes those games built their athleticism and timing.

“Because we played together in the backyard for so long Brendan knows when to cut and I can see the way he’s setting up for something,” McCabe says. “Every time we are out there, even if it doesn’t make the highlight reel, we know where to be for each other.”

The brothers’ unspoken chemistry on the field is a connection that has served the team well for the past

two years. Brendan shares, “We both play attack and we are constantly on the same line with each other. He knows that I can get open for him and he can get open for me when we need it.”

The boys cherish their relationship off the field as well. Before the end of the school year, Brendan said that they’ve become closer in the past few years at McDonogh. “Now that I’m in high school and we’re on the same team and practice together every day, we bond over what we have in common.” McCabe added that he enjoys the little things like the time together driving home after practice or a game. “It’s fun playing with someone you are really close with in a different way than our other teammates on the field. Before we’re even home we’ve kind of broken down everything from the game with each other. It’s an extra thing that makes it special.”

Their coach Andy Hilgartner understands the value of McCabe and Brendan’s relationship with each other and the team. He says, “They have a genuine excitement for each other and will always be the other one’s biggest fan. We always talk with our team about it being a brotherhood. Their relationship strengthens the bond of our entire team. Playing high school sports with your brother is a true life-changing opportunity and these guys are making the most of it.”

After their final game together at McDonogh, Brendan told a Baltimore Sun reporter about a text he received from his older brother earlier in the day. “It was an unbelievable note just saying how proud he is of me and how much we mean to each other and how happy these two years have been.” Then, speaking about the win, he continued, “To do it with your friends and the people you go to school with is one thing, but to do it with your own blood is something else. I’m so proud of him and I love him so much and I’m going to miss him.”

Max ’24 and Jack ’26 Mislow | Swimming

Max explains that because swimming is a team sport, it’s not a bad thing for your teammate to beat you…even if it’s your brother. Because Max and Jack usually swim in different events, they don’t often race each other. Jack looks up to his older brother saying he is a great role model of good sportsmanship. Max, on the other hand, appreciates Jack’s raw talent for swimming, having made the varsity team as a freshman. He also admires his younger brother’s communication skills, noting how easily he makes connections with swimmers on other teams.

Gracie ’24 and Payton ’26 Salais | Soccer

Gracie and Payton know each other so well that they finish each other’s sentences. It’s a connection that pays off on the soccer field. As Payton describes, “If she goes forward, I’ll drop.” Gracie jumps in to explain, “Our style of play is very different, but we complement each other. Sometimes we don’t even need to look at each other. She knows I’m going to go for that ball and she drops. It’s instinctive.” The sisters love that soccer allows them to spend so much time together before and after school. “We are very, very close,” Gracie says. “I look at her not just as a sister but as a best friend.”

Lucca ’23 and Max ’25 Stanziale | Wrestling

Can you imagine living in the Stanziale household with wrestlers Lucca and Max rolling around like puppies, competing to be the best at everything? In the afternoons at practice, they take it up a notch, each doing his best to pin the other. But when it comes to competing against other schools, they are each other’s biggest cheerleader. One thing they agree on is that they are best friends off the mat. Max is very aware of how his older brother looks out for him and pushes him to be better. It’s why he’s always at the gym trying to get stronger and better—an extra effort that makes Lucca proud.

Drew ’24 and Grant ’25 Stoler | Football

Drew and Grant may be close in age (13 months apart), but otherwise they are quite different. Drew considers himself to be “more chill and low key” than his younger brother who readily admits he’s competitive about everything from football to board games and basketball games with their family. Drew likes his things in order; while Grant says his piles of things are organized…in their own way. While the brothers are rarely on the football field at the same time, they share a love of the game, the opportunity to play together, and the trust required of being teammates. Grant sums up their relationship by saying, “We are siblings, we’re rivals, but at the same time I’m always rooting for him and he’s always rooting for me.”

John and Carliana ’16 Folfas | Softball

After years of playing softball under the direction of her father, Carliana has been his assistant (along with another dad and daughter duo, Wade and Ruby ’20 Jocelyn) for the past two years. The Folfas team brings a unique dynamic to the softball squad, and John happily admits that having his daughter as his assistant has made him a better coach. “It helps to have someone know me and how I coach. Carliana knows my expectation levels but also looks at the big picture. She brings balance to our team,” he says. Carliana backs him up adding, “It’s great to have someone so passionate to coach with. He’s very Xs and Os. I go with the flow and make things jell.”

SUCCESSFUL ROOKIE YEAR FOR THE ATHLETIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

younger players made a difference in the basketball championships as she encouraged them to keep going, especially during “nail-biter moments.”

In its inaugural year, 37 studentathletes graduated from McDonogh’s Athletic Leadership Academy—15 of them with distinction, having gone above and beyond the course requirements. The program, under the leadership of Aquatics Director Scott Ward, is designed to give students the skills needed to be leaders in their sports and in life. The Academy is based on the work of Jeff Janssen, one of the world’s top experts on sports leadership.

“The premise of the program is to become a credible leader that the teammates will trust and follow,” Ward says. “You have to lead yourself before you can help your teammates.”

The 2022-2023 participants, primarily sophomores and juniors, demonstrated their commitment to the program from the start by attending a series of early morning classes and completing assignments throughout the year. Commitment is one of the four Cs on which the program focuses. The others are confidence, composure, and character.

Ward is careful to explain that not all participants will go on to become captains of their teams,

but the skills learned throughout the program can be applied in all aspects of life. “You can be a leader but not a captain,” he says, noting that many great leaders “lead from the bench.”

In her junior year, Ava McKennie ’24 did just that as a “backup leader” for the freshmen on the varsity basketball team, by applying the Academy lessons of respect and trust. She explains that she earned the respect of her teammates by not being overbearing, and because she is a person who listens, they trusted her enough to accept what she said. Her connection with the

Ava feels McDonogh’s Athletic Leadership Academy has prepared her well for her senior year and beyond. A member of the Greatest Good McDonogh Council and a Rollins-Luetkemeyer Leader, she also hopes to be a three-sport captain. “It’s a great program even if you don’t want to be a captain,” she notes. “It gets you ready to be on a team and to be a team player.”

Ward expects the program to flourish and grow as this year’s graduates become veterans and apply their leadership skills on the fields, courts, and in the pool. At the same time, a new class of rookie athletes will learn the value of the four Cs, beginning by demonstrating their commitment to the Athletic Leadership Academy.

—Meredith Bower

Student-athletes collaborate to guide their blind-folded peers in an exercise on trust.

Supporters of the Leadership Academy and the parents of three McDonogh alumni, Dr. Susan Cummings and Dr. Kris Jenner, join Program Director Scott Ward and the 15 athletes who completed the program with honors at an end-of-year ceremony.

FRANCIS KNOWLES: A MAN AMONG MEN

A Scholarship Story Impacting Generations

Francis “Frank” Knowles, Jr.’s yearbook page in the 1922 issue of The Dragon looks slightly different than those of the rest of the class. Unlike the other boys dressed in uniform, he is pictured in civilian clothes and listed as an “Honorary Member of the Class of 1922.” The quote on his page, “A man among men,” hints at the person he was, as does a line in the narrative written by the editors which said, “After Commencement he will, no doubt, make his way through whatever college he decides to attend, as well as he has made it through McDonogh.”

But the yearbook only captures a fraction of Frank’s life—one that changed dramatically due to his resilience and the attention of a mentor who saw the potential of a young man. What led to Frank’s opportunity to graduate from McDonogh, and what came after, is a testament to scholarship and the unpredictable impact it can have on future generations of students.

Frank Knowles was born in Wisconsin in 1904, the fifth of six children. As a young boy, his family moved more than eight times, eventually to Maryland, as his father chased his dream. Frank dropped out of school by age 16 and two years later was sent from home to a dairy farm in Denton, Maryland, where he learned about animal husbandry. In 1919, he moved to Ellerslie Farms near Catonsville and continued to study and practice the breeding method. When the farm sold, he landed a job at McDonogh as the herdsman for the school’s dairy farm where his pay was $73 a month plus room and board. Seeing Frank’s potential, his supervisor took him under his wing and convinced the Board to accept the young man as a student.

“Returning to school at age 20, having been out of school for four years, was a challenge,” his son, Richard “Dick” Knowles ’53, says. “Each day began at 4:00 a.m. taking care of and milking the cows, attending school classes all day, afternoon cow milking, and then studies.”

Frank Knowles, Jr. portrait in the 1922 issue of The Dragon as an honorary member of the Class of 1922

“Embracing the challenges, Frank graduated in 1922 with the best average grades of any McDonogh boy up to that time,” boasts the younger Knowles. With the help of his McDonogh mentor, Frank earned a full scholarship to Dartmouth College, where he majored in chemistry. He married, started a family, and began a career in chemical manufacturing at DuPont. Eventually, the former dairy hand and one-time high school dropout became the manager of the biggest chemical plant in the Western Hemisphere and served as the Chairman of the Board of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

As Dick notes, “Frank lived through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the 1918 flu epidemic, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He saw a lot of turmoil and trauma in our country and the world. But he always tried to keep building on the values instilled in him while at McDonogh, improving himself, life-long learning, and growing.”

CONTINUING THE LEGACY

The lives of Dick and his two brothers, each of whom briefly attended their father’s alma mater, were also altered by their McDonogh experience. Before arriving at McDonogh, Frank, Jr. ’49 struggled in school, but things changed for him, and he graduated having learned the value of integrity, hard work, and service. He went on to Duke University. He eventually earned a masters in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware and followed in his father’s footsteps with a career at DuPont.

Dick, the middle child, a lonely and scared kid who was often bullied, arrived at McDonogh in his junior year. Over the next two years, he was diligent and focused on the values of honesty, hard work, and respect. He strove to do his best, and upon his graduation in 1953, was the co-winner of the “Best All-Around Student” award. He went on to study chemistry at Oberlin College, earned a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in 1961, and like his father and brother, went on to have a successful career at DuPont in a variety of capacities including research (40 U.S. patents), sales, manufacturing (manager of three large chemical plants), and organizational behavior (creator of the Process Enneagram, a tool that shows how organizations work and change), and ultimately, developing his business as a global consultant for more than 27 years. Looking back, he attributes his career success to McDonogh.

The third of Frank’s sons, John, also spent two years at McDonogh, graduating in 1955. He went on to Rutgers University and later completed a masters degree in Spanish language and literature at Middlebury College before returning to McDonogh for several years as a language instructor and coach. John then earned his Ph.D. in Spanish language, literature, and culture from Rutgers. He served as a professor at Salisbury State University for many years, a fulfilling career for him.

In 2006, Dick Knowles and his wife, Claire, established the Knowles Family Scholarship because, as he says, “I wanted to be able to pass along the opportunity of a McDonogh education, which was life-changing for my father as well as my brothers Frank, John, and me.” Dick never hesitates to share his family’s McDonogh history with today’s scholarship students, reminding them, “One day you will have your own story to share about how you grew, overcame obstacles, and gave something more than you took. Your McDonogh years are a large part of the foundation you are building for your life’s journey.”

In 1922, Frank’s young McDonogh classmates predicted, “We, the members of the Class of ’22, wish our friend all success wherever he may go, and we are reasonably certain that our wishes will not be in vain. Frank will make friends anywhere.” More than 60 years later, an obituary echoed their foresight. It read, “He thoroughly enjoyed people. As a community leader, he spent many an hour listening to their personal problems, pet projects, or dreams. As a business leader, he was able to cope with increasingly complex challenges of economic fluctuations and always displayed a friendly smile.”

—Meredith Bower

The Knowles family sits for a family photograph, circa 1938. Frank holds Dick ’53, Frank ’49 is in the middle, and Dorothy holds John ’55.

VARIETIES Orange &Black

BY CHRIS RAGEN, ARCHIVES INTERN

For most of its history, McDonogh School has showcased the talent of its students in the performing arts. But no production was as big as the Orange and Black Varieties—a monumental effort undertaken annually between 1933 to 1943. Each year, as many as 600 students participated in the variety show put on by the Patron’s Club. The performance dubbed the Orange and Black Varieties displayed the talent and dedication of the entire school, requiring acting, music, stagecraft, and organization far beyond the normal expectations of any school play.

AThe idea for the show grew from the expansion of the curriculum in 1929 to include a new class, the Appreciation of Music, which expanded student access to live performances and introduced new musical ideas. This led to the wild success of a performance at the McDonogh Christmas Bazaar that featured a group of students performing vaudeville acts. These acts included comedy, pratfalling, juggling, and over-the-top musical numbers. The popularity of the

performances intrigued the members of the Patron’s Club who approached the director and asked him to lead a dedicated variety show.

Seeking to raise additional funds for their activities, the Patron’s Club provided a significant budget for the show. In March 1933, the students took over the Maryland Casualty Auditorium to produce the very first Orange and Black Varieties. Comprised of two acts and sixteen total scenes, the students put on short plays and performed mimes, tap routines, and choral numbers. The sold-out crowd at the show, numbering 1,500 people, earned rave reviews. A report in The Baltimore Sun praised the performance saying, “It was not because it was good or bad, but because it was a school play that they were delighted—200 of McDonogh’s best putting on the grandest exhibition of the year, choruses that stretched from one end of the stage to the other, endless varieties of costumes, the whole school taking part—both the talented and the willing—and everybody who was interested in the boys packed into the auditorium.”

The Orange and Black Varieties grew steadily following the initial show, growing so large that in 1936 it was moved to the Maryland Theater with a capacity of 2,000 people and again in 1938 to the Lyric Theater that held 2,700 people. As the venues grew larger, so did the number of student participants, and by 1939, the number had tripled to 600. The growth of the performances necessitated greater sophistication in sets and set design. In 1938, sets were rented at a cost of $100 (equivalent to $2,120 today) from theater houses in New York City and were transported to Baltimore. Advertisers flocked to the shows and paid handsomely to be included in the playbills, fighting for space with the other local businesses that sought to reach McDonogh families. The 1938 show had a total operating budget of $2,350 and saw a return of $8,431 (equivalent to $50,650 and $181,384 today.)

As the shows expanded to include more and more of the student body, questions began to swirl among the families and faculty. No one could deny that the Varieties were a rousing success and a significant source of fundraising, but some questioned how theater performances could be compatible with

McDonogh boys played both male and female roles in the skits that were part of the variety show.

McDonogh’s mission. In the lead-up to the 1938 show, Headmaster Louis E. Lamborn (1926-1952) penned a letter to the community addressing the concerns. Lamborn dismissed these questions entirely, arguing that practice and preparation for the Orange and Black Varieties took place outside of educational time and did not impede on academic pursuits. In refuting the idea that theater had no place at McDonogh, Lamborn pointed out that singing, dancing, and acting were secondary to the advancement of the core ideals of McDonogh, stating, “The revue does not lay claim to merit because of the excellence of the singing nor the grace of the dancing, nor yet the humor of the comedy sketches, but rather because of the lessons it teaches the young cadets, lessons of team-play, cooperation, precision, promptness, self-assurance, and poise.”

Lamborn called on the faculty and parents to think of the stages of development through which the students would have passed to grow into their roles both behind the scenes and on the stage. He closed his letter by noting that John McDonogh had hoped that the influence of the school would be felt through the lives of the students and thus McDonogh had an obligation to build well-rounded, confident, and poised students who were prepared to carry the legacy of McDonogh forward.

The Orange and Black Varieties ended its run in 1943 not because of pushback, but because of America’s entry into World War II. Lacking both time and money, the 1943 show was significantly stripped down with the production referred to as The Rationed Varieties due to the rationing of timber, metal, and cloth as well as wartime production quotas. McDonogh’s students shifted their focus to selling war bonds, producing materials for the United States Army Signal Corps in the wood and machine shops, and engaging in military drills. As a result, the student body found it nearly impossible to devote their time to extracurricular activities including the show. Although the students involved tried their best to raise the spirits of their schoolmates and the community as best they could, the Rationed Varieties, draped in patriotism, lacked the pomp of previous iterations. The reality of war left America with limited access to goods and materials and so, the Orange and Black Varieties were put on hold until sunnier days. But the show did not return after the war ended.

In celebration of McDonogh School’s 150th Anniversary, Home Again, an original arts performance, will be performed as an homage to the Orange and Black Varieties on Thursday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ceres M. Horn Theatre.

The popularity of the Varieties resulted in more elaborate scenery and costumes.

Make sure you stay connected to the Alumni Association on social media!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

My Fellow Alumni, I can honestly say last year was one for the books! Alumni events were back in full swing, feeling very much like the days before the pandemic.

I had an incredible time reconnecting with alumni from all over the country both on campus and through regional events in New York City and West Palm Beach. We maxed out attendance at the Alumni Association’s 47th Annual McDonogh Classic and had a great turnout at our brand new Golf Night at Topgolf. Our Alumni engagement has been steadily increasing, and I challenge you all to help us make it even greater as we celebrate McDonogh’s 150th Anniversary this year. It has been invigorating to meet so many new people and hear stories from alumni who graduated throughout the decades. One of my favorite things about McDonogh is realizing the traditions and experiences that I cherished as a student—the EighthGrade Bay Trip, the boarding program, working at McDonogh Summer Camps, holiday assemblies in Eddie’s Gym, and the Cardboard Boat Races—are beloved memories for others as well. And knowing that many of these traditions continue today makes it even more special. These shared experiences connect alumni of all ages, and I hope they continue to create bonds for years to come.

My love for McDonogh has grown more than I could have imagined since I took on this role. It is that devotion and pride for our alma mater that encourage me to stay connected, give back to the McDonogh community, and continue supporting students, faculty, and staff through philanthropy.

My first year as Alumni Board President was off the charts, and I can’t wait to reach even higher heights this year. I genuinely hope we cross paths at an alumni event soon!

ALUMNI BOARD

OFFICERS

Caitlin C. Xenakis ’07

President

Kimberly D. Hilson Carmichael ’10

Vice President, President-Elect

Morris L. Garten ’85

Secretary

Heidi E. Pollokoff Topaz ’04 Treasurer

Joshua A. Thomas ’06

Immediate Past President

DIRECTORS

Lauren Snyder Ades ’99

Bruce A. Baggan ’65

Lori R. Sheitel Baylin ’92

Gregory M. Bell ’86

Keith L. Brown, Jr. ’06

Bradd M. Caplan ’98

Benjamin S. Carson ’03

Deborah L. Sher Gold ’06

Kellee Parrott Gonzalez ’96

Lauren M. Street Goodall ’93

Robin B. Edlow Heller ’00

Julie E. Katz Heyman ’01

David C. Holland ’90

Abigail E. Caso Holmes ’06

Blair A. Kessler ’16

Niela A. Magwood-Phoenix ’96

Nathaniel Z. Margolies ’10

Meghan J. McGuire McGee ’02

Ashley M. LeBow Mutch ’03

Rachel Brooke Petty ’12

Katherine M. Reider ’96

Shannon D. Leahy Rosenbaum ’02

Douglas N. Silber ’76

Bennett W. Silver ’77

Caitlin Xenakis ’07 Alumni Association President

2023-2024 ALUMNI CALENDAR

DEDICATION DAY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13

HOME AGAIN, AN ORIGINAL ARTS PRODUCTION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND YOUNG ALUMNI AWARDS LUNCHEON

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

150TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

107TH MCDONOGH VS. GILMAN FOOTBALL GAME

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

REUNION PARTIES FOR GRADUATION YEARS ENDING

IN 4 AND 9

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Mario F. VillaSanta ’76

Staci A. Weber ’97

M. Sterling Wilson ’92

YOUNG ALUMNI HAPPY HOUR

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

BOYS LACROSSE ALUMNI GAME AND LUNCH

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24

HOLIDAY LUNCHEON

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5

TAKING 150 ON THE ROAD

Join us for a reception near you!

Not everyone can return to campus to celebrate McDonogh’s 150th Anniversary, so we are taking the party on the road to locations across the country! Plans are being made for receptions in Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. Alumni in those areas should be on the lookout for additional details.

REUNION CLASS PARTIES FOR 4s AND 9s

Alumni with graduation years ending in 4 and 9 have the unique opportunity to celebrate their upcoming reunions during McDonogh’s 150th Anniversary weekend. Join us November 2-4 for three days of exciting events, including special reunion parties just for these classes! Details will be shared soon.

HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN! Since January, the Office of Alumni Engagement has been connecting with alumni at events up and down the East Coast as well as out west. There was a great turnout at a reception at The Lofts at Prince in New York City in January; an intimate wine tasting at Cugini Winery in West Palm Beach in February; a fun cooking class at the Fitler Club in Philadelphia in March, and a charcuterie board workshop at the Clayton in Denver.

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

We are proud to honor our outstanding athletic alumni and are currently seeking nominations for the Athletic Hall of Fame. This award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the life of McDonogh athletics by achieving outstanding athletic records and by demonstrating the ideal values of a McDonogh athlete: dedication, perseverance, positive attitude, leadership, and teamwork. The Hall of Fame also recognizes McDonogh coaches or members of the Athletic Department who meet the same qualifications and whose work in athletics has made a positive impact on the life of McDonogh’s student-athletes.

To learn more about the qualifications and to submit a nomination, please visit mcdonogh.org/hof. Nominations for the April 2024 induction are due by Friday, September 8, 2023.

Questions? Contact Director of Alumni Engagement Carol Croxton at ccroxton@mcdonogh.org or 443-544-7054.

Alumni in New York listen as Dave Farace ’87 shares updates on school life.

Alumni spanning several decades connect in West Palm Beach.

Philadelphia-area alumni reunite for a night of fun. Alumni from 1957–2015 enjoy time together in Denver.

REUNION WEEKEND 2023

Reunion Weekend 2023 was filled with festive events that appealed to alumni of all ages. Despite the sometimes soggy weather, more than 500 alumni and guests came back to McDonogh on April 28-30, eager to catch up with old friends and learn what’s new on campus.

Friday afternoon included a cavalry and riding program reunion in the Equestrian Center and a memorial service in Tagart Memorial Chapel. Later that evening, there was a great turnout for the Alumni Cocktail Party in the Rogers Lobby of the Edward St. John Student Center. During the event, Gerrard Sheppard ’08 was presented with the Young Alumni Award and the Board of Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award was given to Dick Knowles ’53.

Hundreds of alumni and their families spent Saturday afternoon at the annual Crab Feast and Family Picnic in Paterakis Hall. The day concluded with reunion parties for classes ending in 3 or 8, including the Class of 1973’s celebration of their 50th reunion at Roots Farm. On Sunday, the McDonogh Black Alumni Committee wrapped up the weekend with a brunch at Turf Valley Resort.

FRIDAY EVENTS

MEMORIAL SERVICE

1. Members of the McDonogh alumni community braved the rain to enjoy the annual cocktail party.

2. Carrie Fisher Jacobs ’03, Shani Moore ’98, Maria Quinn ’03, and AJ Babb

3. George Eichner ’73, Catherine Manley, Murray Wilson ’73, and Giles Manley ’73

4. Elizabeth O’Callaghan ’13, Paige Magrogan ’13, Catherine O’Callaghan ’13, and Alexa Watson ’13

5. Ken Voelker ’73 and Mark Hallman ’73

6. David Holland ’90, Praveen Madhiraju ’93, and Dee Drummond ’92

7. Hank Phillips ’73, Simone Motton ’88, and Rob Young ’86

Alumni return to the Eagle’s Nest to reminisce and learn about McDonogh’s equestrian program.

CAVALRY AND RIDING REUNION >>>

>>>

Recently deceased members of the McDonogh Family are remembered during the Alumni Memorial Service.

YOUNG ALUMNI AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS CEREMONY

A highlight of the Alumni Cocktail Party was the awarding of the Distinguished Service Award to Richard “Dick” Knowles ’53 and the Young Alumni Award to Gerrard Sheppard ’08.

Knowles, who learned the importance of hard work and honesty from his father’s McDonogh legacy (see story on page 44), embodies the ideal of “giving something more than you take.” After graduating from McDonogh in 1953 as the co-winner of the Best All-Around Student Award, Knowles went on to earn degrees from Oberlin College and the University of Rochester. He then embarked on a long and successful career as a chemist and plant manager at DuPont. Reflecting on his education and experience, he says, “Although a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester equipped me for my career, I believe my McDonogh and Oberlin liberal arts educations prepared me more for life. The world is bigger than chemistry alone. We need to think less about what we are going to do and more about how we are going to be. McDonogh inspires its students to develop these values.”

In 2006, Knowles and his wife, Claire, endowed the Knowles Family Scholarship. He explains, “We wanted to give back in a significant manner to something I deeply value. I wanted to be able to pass along the opportunity for a McDonogh education, which was life-changing for my father as well as for my brothers Frank ’49, John ’55, and me.” In addition to the ongoing gift of this scholarship, Knowles continues to provide significant mentorship support to the scholarship program.

When Sheppard arrived at McDonogh School as a freshman in 2004, he encountered a fast-paced and highly demanding academic program that challenged his level of preparedness. However, he rose to that challenge, persevered, and upon his graduation in 2008, was awarded the Henry Child Kirk Jr. Memorial Trophy for Most Improved Senior.

Also known for his ability on the football field, Sheppard attended the University of Connecticut for three years before transferring in 2011 to Towson University where his athletic prowess drew the attention of the Baltimore Ravens. After his time with the Ravens, he played for several other teams before retiring and turning his attention to his growing desire to give back to his local community. He recognized that he had an enterprising spirit and launched himself into the business world focusing on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and a nutritious diet. Sheppard and his sister founded Sunset Raw Juice Bar in 2017 to address the shortage of healthy food options in the Owings Mills community. The mission of the juice bar also includes providing outstanding service, top-quality ingredients, and ongoing education for customers about holistic eating.

As Sheppard demonstrates the positive changes that an entrepreneurial spirit can have on a local community, he says, “I haven’t forgotten the values I learned at McDonogh; they made me a better person.”

Young Alumni Award recipient Gerrard Sheppard ’08 and Distinguished Service Award recipient Dick Knowles ’53.

CRAB FEAST AND FAMILY PICNIC

CAMPUS TOUR >>>

1. Lydia Parker ’16, Norman Parker ’73, Cheryl Parker, Norman Parker ’10, and Leah Parker

2. Gabbe Cadoux ’16, Jordan Burgess ’16, and Carliana Folfas ’16

3. Laura Stone ’88, Guy Walden ’88, and Alex Behringer ’88

4. Jay Woods ’88 and Dave Farace ’87

5. Jaynie Tversky, Jenny Tversky ’03, Jon Tversky ’00, and Arden Tversky

6. Bethel Henry ’78 and Julie Gallager ’81

7. Jill Cohen Shaw ’89, Jon Merriman ’78, and Patti Raksin ’88

8 Brandon Jordan ’02 and George Buntin ’03

9. Carey Williams, Cornell Williams ’98, Dawn Geller ’98, and Patrick Mace ’98

Black alumni conclude Reunion Weekend with a brunch at Turf Valley Resort. Front row, from left: Jabari Miller ’92, Caleb Dixon ’21, Etosha Dixon ’93, Erika Hall-Johnson ’95, Ericka Wells ’94, Carrie Fisher Jacobs ’03, Alexa Watson ’13, and Kellee Parrott Gonzalez ’96; back row, from left: Lauren Street ’93, Kenita Harrison Tang ’95, Dee Drummond ’92, Mark Howie ’88, Jessy Morgan ’03, David Holland ’90, Norman Parker ’10, and Norman Parker ’73

BLACK ALUMNI BRUNCH >>>

GOLF CLASSIC FAMILY FUN AND FRIENDLY COMPETITION

The 47th Annual McDonogh Classic was bigger and better than ever with the addition of Golf Night, an outing for families and friends at Topgolf on Thursday, May 11. Four days later, the traditional Golf Tournament at Woodholme Country Club was the perfect opportunity for more competitive golfers to get out on the links for a morning round. The two fundraising events, hosted by the Alumni Association, earned rave reviews from the participants. The evening at Topgolf, one of Baltimore’s newest attractions overlooking the city skyline, provided plenty of entertainment for golfers of all abilities. The tournament at Woodholme started with a continental breakfast, was followed by 18 holes, and finished with a hearty cookout luncheon and awards.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S

GOLF CLASSIC WINNERS:

FIRST PLACE TEAM:

Isabel Soliman, Jack Soliman ’88, Tim McCoy ’90, and Claro Pio Roda ’87

SECOND PLACE TEAM

Aaron Finkelstein ’75, Bruce Finkelstein ’73, Scott Finkelstein, and Rob Singleton ’73

THIRD PLACE TEAM

Ben Crabbs ’87, Kenny Klaff ’87, Matt Saler, and Scott Stein

THE LONGEST DRIVES

Ovetta Smith and Logan Sharp ’79

CLOSEST TO THE PIN AWARD

Claro Pio Roda ’87

1. David Holland ’90 and Serenity Holland

2. Scott Sorongon ’80 and Luke Giorgilli ’14

3. Otto Hershkovitz ’33, Liam Heller ’33, Logan Matthews ’33, Justin Matthews, Robin Edlow Heller ’00, Noni Heller, and Lev Heller ’35

4. Jonathan Ades ’99, Lauren Snyder Ades ’99, Eugene Poverni, Someya Poverni, Leah Zimmerman, and Ryan Zimmerman

5. Jack Anderson, Fran Anderson, Scott Baylin, and Will Anderson ’22

6. Derek Mitchell, Russell Clark, J.P. Grant, and Ovetta Smith

7. David Reed ’07, Morgan Koopman Silcott ’09, Rob Owen ’09, and Patrick Toohey ’09

8. Shelby Block Laugtug ’01, Jenna Block Cooper ’06, Bruce Block, and Mindee Block

9. Tim McCoy ’90, Jack Soliman ’88, Isabel Soliman, and Claro Pio Roda ’87

10. Kevin McDonagh, Vicky Munafo, Marc Munafo ’83, and Angelo Munafo ’14

Many thanks to the sponsors, players, and volunteers who contributed to the success of the day.

AUGUSTA NATIONAL SPONSORS

CAM CONSTRUCTION

Marc Munafo ’83

GRANT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

J.P. Grant

POPIELARCZYK, LAAKE, MARTIN, AND LINK

SCHOCHOR AND STATON, P.A.

SEH EXCAVATING

Scot Hare

ST. ANDREWS SPONSORS

ACE UNIFORM SERVICES, INC.

The Finkelstein Family

Classes of ’73, ’75, ’87, ’99, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’13, ’15, ’30, ’30, ’32, ’32, ’34, ’35, & ’36

STRATEGIC FACTORY

Scott Stein

PEBBLE BEACH SPONSORS

COCKEY’S ENTERPRISES, INC.

Robert Singleton ’73

MITCHELL-WIEDEFELD

FUNERAL HOMES, INC.

DULANEY VALLEY

MEMORIAL GARDENS, INC.

John O. Mitchell III ’57

John O. “Jack” Mitchell IV ’89

RP WOODCRAFT, LLC

Parker Mitchell ’81

WOLF PROFESSIONAL SECURITY

Rick Landsman

GOLF NIGHT SPONSORS

EHS MARYLAND, LLC

Nina Zunt

THE GARTEN AND TOPAZ FAMILIES

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE

McDonogh School’s 77th annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Thursday, May 25 was a solemn occasion remembering and honoring those members of the McDonogh Family who lost their lives in service to our country. Students, faculty and staff, trustees, retirees, and alumni gathered in silence at Memorial Court as the Upper School String Ensemble set the tone for the morning.

Bridget Collins ’90, The Charles W. Britton Director of Character and Service, shared the story of Robert Eugene Cook, Class of 1942, known as Bobby to his family.

She described Bobby’s McDonogh experience noting it was not unlike today’s students’, “challenging academics…excellence in arts and athletics. “But,” she continued, “his senior year was anything but ordinary.”

Collins explained that in the wake of the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the U.S. declared war on Japan and entered World War II. Instead of heading to Cornell University in the fall, Bobby enlisted in the Army. The following year, after only a few weeks of fighting the Germans in the Netherlands, he was killed in action at the age of 19. He is

buried at a veterans cemetery in the Netherlands, and McDonogh’s memorial is the only one his family could visit.

As the service concluded, Phil Stackhouse ’65 and current students Ava Jankowski ’24, Libby Hardin ’27, and Matthew Popeilarczyk ’31 recited the poem “The McDonogh Uniform” written by Eustace Glascock, a member of the McDonogh Class of 1879.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WELCOMES SENIORS

BLACK ALUMNI COMMITTEE SENIOR SEND-OFF

Members of the Class of 2023 were excited to receive a beach towel from the Alumni Association and Office of Alumni Engagement during their Monday, June 5 Commencement rehearsal.

Members of the Alumni Association’s Black Alumni Committee met with soon-to-be graduates on Monday, June 5 to offer their congratulations and welcome them to the McDonogh alumni family.

MILESTONES

WEDDINGS

’02 Joseph J. Cristaldi and Aileen Cristaldi, 9/24/22

’02 David R. Frenkil and Gaby Zunde, 3/4/23

’04 Brooke C. Poklemba and Justin Novak, 10/13/22

’07 Nicholas A. Kruter and Paul Stroup, 3/25/23

’07 Colby F. Loetz and Joseph Keidel, 11/5/22

’09 Zachary T. Jeffrey and Candace Bradam, 11/6/22

’09 Brileigh I. Pinkney and Phillip McHugh, 4/23/23

’11 Navid S. Abbaei and Nancy Dunbar, 7/2/22

’11 Matthew J. Berman and Laney Mann, 1/8/22

’11 Brady M. Faby and Erica Matz, 10/15/22

BIRTHS

’00 Emily Kramer Shure and Jared A. Shure: Charles Benjamin, 3/13/23

’02 Mariel M. Wilner Moakley and Eric Moakley: Laila Skye, 4/7/23

’03 Kimberly A. Freeman Newell and Ryan Newell: Mara Bridget, 3/15/23

’04 Jennifer A. Oliver Schultz and Charles Schultz: Kit Duncan, 4/14/23

’06 Benjamin D. Schultz and Julie Schultz: Vivian Catherine, 9/19/22

’06 Deborah L. Sher Gold and Richard A. Gold ’07: Miles Samuel, 7/29/22

’07 Richard A. Gold and Deborah L. Sher Gold ’06: Miles Samuel, 7/29/22

’08 Peter J. Franklin and Katie Leshinsky: Lucas James, 3/28/23

’08 Laura A. Morrison Ginsberg and Brian Ginsberg: Joshua Harrison, 11/4/2022

’08 Samuel D. Greenberg and Katie Silver: Mayer Jeffrey, 5/22/23

’08 Stanley J. Kraska III and Carolyn Kraska: Anne Elizabeth, 12/14/22

’08 Tara C. Messing Rengifo and Rodrigo Rengifo: Eva Lucia, 11/25/22

’08 Gerrard V. Sheppard and Kristen Sheppard: Brynn Hazel and Summer Riley, 3/24/23

’08 Morgan P. Koopman Silcott and Blake Silcott: Saylor May, 12/26/22

’09 Hannah D. Johnstone Mathis and Jae Mathis: Bryce Evangeline, 10/5/22

’09 Robert A. Owen and Katelyn A. Miller Owen ’10: Lucas Lee and Paul Bernard, 7/18/22

’10 Katelyn A. Miller Owen and Robert A. Owen ’09: Lucas Lee and Paul Bernard, 7/18/22

IN MEMORIAM

’47 George I. Johnston

’47 Godfrey K. Kelly

’50 Edmond H. Johnson

’53 Darryl Carter

’53 Robert R. Sieck

’54 Gordon I. R. Lore

’55 T. Hume Dixon

’55 David L. Fringer

’55 Mark O. Hopkins

’55 Paul F. Lindenmuth

’55 James W. Mitchell

’55 Robert E. Pac

’55 Richard H. Pairo

’55 Peter W. Powell

’55 Alexander J. Stuart

’56 John G. Brodie

’56 John C. Gigliotti

’56 Richard G. Hunter

’57 John C. Dumler

’57 David E. Johnson

’59 A. T. Dashiell

’63 Donald B. Heimark

’63 John M. McGlasson

’63 Marc E. Rudick

’64 Steven R. Koch

’64 Gary K. Vaughan

’68 Henry W. Heymering

’70 Eric S. Freeman

’70 Thomas W. Hughes

’73 James A. Ramsay

’74 Gary A. Lustine

’77 Stephen P. Gilbert

RETIRED FACULTY AND STAFF

Katherine G. Long

As of June 6, 2023

1960

JOSEPH W. BROWN , an attorney with Jolley Urga Woodbury & Holthus, received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award from NellisCreech Air Force Base. Joe has been a valued and treasured member of the two military installations and the Las Vegas community for many years, and the award honors his more than 32 years of support. He is a former U.S. Marine, one of the founders and former Chair of the Nevada Military Support Alliance, and a former Honorary Commander and Vice Commander of the Nellis Support Group to the Commander of the Air Combat Command. Until very recently, he had been Honorary Commander for the 526th Intelligence Squadron at Nellis Air

CLASS OF 1958 65TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Don Rittler, George Ramsey, and Bill Clark; back row, from left: Mike Everngam, Gerald Clarendon, Revell Carr, George Hocker, Carl Born, Alex Vollmer, and Nevett Steele.

Force Base. Additionally, Joe received the National Guard Association of the United States Patrick Henry Award, which provides recognition to officials and civic leaders who, in a position of great responsibility, distinguished themselves with outstanding and exceptional service to the Armed Forces of the United States and the National Guard.

1962

J. MICHAEL HEMSLEY continues to write about classic cars as Associate Editor for Sports Car Digest, an online automobile magazine. He has profiled cars ranging from a 1919 Leyat Helico to a 1987 Ferrari F40.

Charlie Davidson ’62 published Foster’s Pie Pan: Stories of Grace Abounding in a Fallen World (Parson’s Porch Books, 2023).

CLASS OF 1963 60TH REUNION. From left: Vernon Haas, John Sieverts, Alan Herbst, Rick Klein, Rick Mitchell, Tom Pritchett, Davis Hahn, Laddie Levy, David Wertz, John Veltman, John Kratz, Chris Cordi, Bill Lutz, Rick Catterton, Sid Mohsberg, Robby Mace, Tony Lambros, Tank Urban, Doug Simms, John McCormick, Steve Stackhouse, Skip Buchanan, and Art Lazerow.

1965

C. O’DONNELL LEE BOYCE published a memoir about his tour of duty in Vietnam. No Wooden Nickels is available from major booksellers online. Don hopes his account gives readers a picture, with some humor, of what life was like in an Evacuation Hospital in Chu Lai.

1966

DONALD M. THOMAS is celebrating his 50th year at the University of Hawaii as a member of their research faculty at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology and as Director of the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes, a program that provides training to volcano scientists and technicians from the world’s developing countries. Don maintains an active research program in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory that supports students and faculty researchers studying Hawaii’s volcano hazards, and he recently started an investigation of groundwater and contaminant transport at the site of a large fuel release that impacted one of the primary aquifers supplying drinking water to the island of Oahu. He credits his continuing interest in pursuing a career in the sciences to the inspired teaching of ROBERT C. SMOOT III ’51 (Chemistry) and Robert White (Physics) who made learning about how the world works interesting, exciting, and surprising.

Retired

CLASS OF 1968 55TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Tony Kraus, Chuck Woodfield, Don House; second row, from left: Mike Kearns, George Antonakos, and Lambert Boyce; back row, from left: Jim Beckstrom, Dick Bukowsky, and Russ Bryant.

Middle School faculty member Tom Young ’70 knit this blanket for his former teaching colleague, Tina Karpovich.

CLASS OF 1973 50TH REUNION. Front row: Karl Meek; second row, from left: Richard Low, Chuck Rogers, Norman Parker, Sheldon Himelfarb, Giles Manley, Adam Goodman, Mark Hallman, and George Kevarian; third row, from left: Kyle Swisher, Dave Polinger, Glenn Horner, John Dimling, Dave Townshend, Bob Samet, Jack Dudley, Rob Singleton, Hank Phillips, Murray Wilson, and George Eichner; back row, from left: Bob Martin, Bruce Finkelstein, Ken Voelker, and Bob Ramsey.

1976

JONATHAN L. HÖLLJES , wife Jeni, and their family have had lots of ups and downs over the past few years from the loss of parents to the marriage of children, and the birth of grandchildren. As a way of refocusing, Jonathan took up the mantle of coaching lacrosse again after a 15-year break. His team is the Clover Hill High School Cavaliers in Midlothian, VA, and more than half of the players had never held a lacrosse stick before the season started. He enjoyed taking the team to watch games in the inaugural Mens A10 Lacrosse tournament in Richmond, VA.

1977

LEONARD E. TROUT III retired in 2021 after 35 years as a physician serving the U.S. military. He now spends his time supporting Kelly, his wife of 33 years, in her full-time volunteer work with the nonprofit she founded for families afflicted with WAGR Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. The couple recently returned from a glorious two-week hiking trip in the Swiss Alps.

1982

GEORGE R. DICKERSIN is still based in Brooklyn with his wife, Ivana, and his third son, Nicky, who is in his final year of high school and heading to Brooklyn College for film production in the fall. His middle son, Jesse, will be graduating in the spring of 2024 from SUNY Purchase with a screenwriting major and moving back to Brooklyn. His oldest son, Nino, graduated from Columbia Law School and is starting at Sullivan Cromwell in Manhattan this fall.

CLASS OF 1983 40TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Jim Linsao, Jon Sevel, Craig Gold, Sam Yoon, Cheryl Iglesia, Maria Sorongon Dubois, Chris Jett, and Jeff Alperstein; second row, from left: Jon Blum, Michele Vetter Moker, Janet Mariani Herbert, Jon Hamburger, Brad Mendelsohn, Mary Hooper Klaff, Kim Smalkin Barranco, Kevin Bode, J.C. Garnish, Dave Reamer, and Bruce Voelker; back row, from left: Marc Munafo, David Seifert, Lorne Silverstein, Paul Schlimm, Paul Meurer, Larry Silverstein, Jim Lotfi, and Eugene Lee.

CLASS OF 1978 45TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Drew Nagle, Jon Merriman, Grant Aleksander, Stan Kraska, and Peter Rosenwald; second row, from left: Shawn Harman, Beth Gallager Kennick, Trish Hall Cottone, Paula Denison Katinsky, Ellen Schwartz Patterson, Mike Barranco, Kevin Kellam, Bethel Henry, and Bob Kaufman; back row, from left: Arthur Adler, Kent Leacock, Geoff Cole, Chris Chambers, Ti Doeller, Randy Smouse, and Suzanne Scheeler.

CLASS OF 1988 35TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Laura Stone, Ann Parks, Patti Raksin, Liz Ruksznis Waller, Simone Motton, Liz Levy Hembling, Jill Cohen Shaw, and Missy Beck Lemke; second row, from left: Jay Woods, Alex Behringer, York Eggleston, Julie Beebe Asada, Julie Brandon Carter, Stacie Bershak Peddy, and Indye Caplan Gersh; third row, from left: Guy Walden, Daki Venetoulis, Paul Faust, Mark Howie, Beth Skinner Lavery, Julie Brafmann-Dorkan, Russ Redgate, and Maya KaiKai; back row, from left: Ron Zappacosta, Melissa Williams-Gurian, Brian Timian, Dan Lohaus, Casey Clark, Antoine Burgess, Larry Chang, Katherin Koorbanoff Hoegy, Rick Ferrer, Ken Freiberg, Todd Webber, and Paul Alecce.

1989

After the past decade of serving as the Head Priest of the Austin Zen Center, MAKO J. VOELKEL was recently invited to be Abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center in San Francisco, CA.

CLASS OF 1993 30TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Dawn Hubbard, Lauren Street, Dara Harris Davis, Debbie Johnson, Lauren Schultz Colton, Jamie Blum Seward, Megan Roberts

Celedonia, Susan Kwon Han, Kriste Krusell, and Caroline Stewart Oberle; second row, from left: Wendy Cweiber Burstein, Peggy Marfori Wolf, Shawn Fagan, Shana Haygood Silva, Tiffany Schaefer Newman, Christine Cooper, Brandon Elsey, Vineet

Bhargava, Lauren Lipscomb, Sarah Hill Schlenker, Amy Thomas

Drummond, Laura Okehie Cowan, Kerry Kress Levy, Courtney

Odum-Duncan, and Adrienne Bavar; back row, from left: Nikki Cunningham Svejda, Julie Folkemer Zimmer, Matt Greenawalt, Anne Shematek Smith, Travis Allen, Etosha Dixon, Praveen

Madhiraju, Rob Seidel, Daemian Schreiber, and Vikas Varma.

During the Class of 1993 reunion party, Travis Allen ’93, Sean Fagan ’93, and Daemian Schreiber ’93 recreated a scene from their Eighth Grade musical Good News.

1994

LAURA E. SINGER WALTERS received her Master’s of Fine Arts in Socially Engaged Art from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia in May 2023. She recently had a show of her large format photographs at The Galleries at Moore which featured work from her series “The Neverlands.” She is starting a new job as an associate professor of photography at Drexel University in the fall. Laura is delighted that her niece, Madelyn Singer ’24, was recently honored with The Robert

Eric Farmer ’81 Art Achievement Award, the same fine arts award she received as a junior.

1999

JASON B. SCHWARTZBERG co-founded MD Energy Advisors, a commercial, utility, and financing energy solutions company in 2013. Recently, it was named one of the nation’s fastest-growing firms by Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) for the third consecutive year. MD Energy Advisors was ranked 34th overall and second in Baltimore.

CLASS OF 1998 25TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Melissa Blume, Kelli Connor Dewey, Sara Walentowicz Northamer, Kaisha Askins Blackstone, Suzanne Kesler Kleinwaks, and Christy Landsman; second row, from left: Dawn Geller, Jeremy Gold, Azra Malik, Laura Babkes Reaven, Todd Exler, Cornell Williams, Laura Schroeder, Bradd Caplan, Jonathan Bondroff, Scott Fishkind, Jordan Lieberman, David Pritzker, and Rick Faint.

Vance Row ’95 was featured in Outside Magazine in September 2022 after winning a national competition called “Yoga Warrior.”

2000

After a career in communications, ROBIN B. EDLOW HELLER started her own home design business called Surrounded by Color. She currently lives in Baltimore with her husband and three sons after residing in Los Angeles, CA, for several years.

2002

ROBERT M. RICKETTS is finishing a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. In the fall, he will be an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Anesthesiology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. His focus is on the anesthetic care of children and adults undergoing heart surgery for congenital heart disease. He’s excited to be joining the faculty at UVA, and he and his family look forward to living in Charlottesville and rooting for the Cavaliers.

DAVID R. FRENKIL married Gaby Zunde in New York City on March 4. They live in New York City where David is the founder of a solar company called Centennial which provides financing and engineering services for commercial real estate owners and industrial facilities.

Finkelstein, Ashleigh Framm Lynn, Ashley LeBow Mutch, Katie Sauer, Parker Jenkins Spear, Jessy Morgan, and Erin Nagle; back row, from left: Mack McGee, Jon Goldman, Ben Schramm, Logan Bernstein, Matt Falcao, Lee Thompson Kendall, Joe Pietropaoli, Maria Quinn, Chris Feroli, Jason Blight, and Bobby Franklin.

CLASS OF 2003 20TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Ben Nichols, Benjamin Carson, and Press Palmer; second row, from left: Layne Hurwitz, Jenny Tversky, Lindsay Appel, Carrie Fisher Jacobs, and Dominique Mack; third row, from left: Mark Weingram, Shawn Paterakis, Kristin Kushian

Joe Cristaldi ’02 married Aileen Cristaldi on September 24, 2022.

2007

NICHOLAS A. KRUTER married Paul Stroup at Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte, NC. The couple met at Davidson College in 2008. Several McDonogh alumni attended the wedding, including Nick’s sister, LUISA A. KRUTER ’11, and classmates

NEIL J. PARIKH, ROBERT M. FORD, and MELISSA MIRCHIN . Nick says it was meaningful to have the parents of ANDREW U. FUGOSO ’12 there to represent their son who has passed away.

HILARY D. O’BRIEN CLEVELAND lives in Catonsville, MD, and owns a counseling practice called Aurora Rising Counseling Services in Eldersburg, MD. Hilary, a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP), works with patients who experience a myriad of mental health issues. She focuses specifically on anxiety and life transitions, and she approaches therapy in a holistic and personcentered manner. Hilary has a master’s degree in Public Health from Indiana University and a master’s degree in Applied Counseling Psychology from the University of Baltimore.

Brooke Poklemba ’04 married Justin Novak in Santa Barbara, CA, on October 13, 2022. From left: Kristin Poklemba, Cap Poklemba ’99, Al Poklemba, Brooke Poklemba Novak ’04, Justin Novak, Cheryl Poklemba, Lexi Hartner ’02, and James Hartner.

Jeremy Sieverts ’05 enjoyed catching up with Joe Brown ’60 and talking about McDonogh at the National Lacrosse League Las Vegas Desert Dogs game.

Colby Loetz ’07 married Joseph Keidel on November 5, 2022.

CLASS OF 2008 15TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Kira Paterakis Nissley, Lisa Feroli Brewster, Ana Rodriguez, Emily Isenberg Coogan, Kit Bannantine Vinsonhaler, and Charles Vinsonhaler; second row, from left: Ryan Brewster, Malcolm Moses-Hampton, and Caroline Sisson; third row, from left: Carolyn Kraska, Jay Kraska, and Jason Nissley.

2009

PARKER B. BRATTON recently started a non-profit called The Loop. The organization trains underserved children to caddie on the golf course so they have the opportunity to be hired for a great summer job, build life skills, and form relationships with people who can be advocates for them. The Loop also encourages the kids to apply for the Evans Scholarship, a full scholarship to the University of Maryland. The program is a six-week overnight camp run out of the dorms at McDonogh.

2011

NAVID S. ABBAEI married Nancy Dunbar in Chicago, IL, on July 2, 2022. Nancy attended The Bryn Mawr School and played lacrosse at Northwestern University. The couple met in Chicago, where Navid works for a real estate developer. Nancy is attending medical school at Case Western Reserve University.

Classmates WILLIAM T. SINNOTT V and MATTHEW J. BERMAN were groomsmen in the wedding. Matt and his wife, Laney, were responsible for introducing Navid and Nancy.

Zach Jeffrey ’09 married Candace Bradam on November 6, 2022, at Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, NC.

JOANNA E. BAIRD discovered the joy of running and swimming at McDonogh, and it continues to be a big part of her life. In the fall of 2022, Jo entered Ironman Florida, where she was the first female out of the water and qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI. Five months later, she ran in the Boston Marathon for the eighth time, finishing in under three hours. One of the highlights of her race was when she spotted her former teacher, Mr. Sanborn, cheering for her! Jo is leaving her job as Assistant Director for Fitness and Wellness at Old Dominion University to move to Indiana with her husband, Kevin Reihner, who is starting a coaching position at Notre Dame.

MATTHEW J. BERMAN married Laney Mann at the Four Seasons in Baltimore on January 8, 2022. They currently live on the Upper West Side in New York City where Matt works as a software engineer at a startup in the supply chain industry called NYSHEX. Laney is a pediatric oncology nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering.

BRADY M.

married Erica Matz on October 15, 2022. Erica attended The Bryn Mawr School, and the couple met at Johns Hopkins where they both played lacrosse. Brady and Erica work for technology startups within the cyber security and financial technology industries, and they recently moved to San Diego, CA, after living in New York City for seven years. AUSTIN M. BERG, BRENDAN T. DALY, TYLER M. FREDERICK ’10 , and MICHAEL T. DOHERTY ’10 were groomsmen in the wedding. Erica’s cousin, KATIE A. MATZ ’09 , was responsible for introducing Brady and Erica at Hopkins.

SEAN F. HUTZELL earned his Master’s of Legal Studies with a concentration in conflict resolution at Washington University in St. Louis on May 15. He previously earned his Master of Arts in Liberal Arts at St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD. Sean teaches history and law at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, MD, where he serves as the Pre-Career Program Department Chair and Agnes M. Brown Law Academy Program Coordinator.

FABY

2014

VICTORIA A. RUDNICKI enjoyed a summer cross-country road trip (pictured in Arches National Park in Utah) before starting the MBA program at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business this fall.

2019

ALASTAIR S. CHO and ABIGAIL E. SCHUSTER ’22 represented Princeton University in a collegiate squash match against UVA where CULLEN F. LITTLE is a student. They all won their matches and had a great reunion. Alastair also made the Ivy League Squash Academic All-Ivy team.

SA’ID S. RAHIM graduated from Dickinson College with an undergraduate degree in psychology on May 21. Sa’id plans to continue his educational and professional pursuits in the field of neuropsychology.

2021

EMMA L. SETO was recently hired as a corporate engagement intern for Rhia Ventures and will be working with fellow alum and Rhia Ventures CEO ERIKA R. SETH DAVIES ’94.

CLASS OF 2013 10TH REUNION. Front row, from left: Stephen Hoffmeister, Alexa Watson, Theo Duncan, and Logan Meister; second row, from left: Catherine O’Callaghan, Elizabeth O’Callaghan, Alli Bowen, Josh Veltri, and Josiah Jorgensen; third row, from left: Rachael Siegelbaum, Emily Fairbaugh, Alex Meyer, Alex Sanchez, Maggie Gill, and Paige Magrogan; back row, from left: Katherine Phillips, Posey Valis, Jasmine Paylor, Allison Friedman, Juliann Rossi, Nathaniel Potrepka, Lance Goodridge, and John MacKay.

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS & CLASS NOTES

The deadline for the next issue is December 1, 2023.

Upload class notes and photos to mcdonogh.org/classnotes.

iPhotos will be published based on quality and available space. Please be sure to identify everyone. Digital images should be at least 2 megapixels [1600 x 1200 pixels].

Cullen Little ’19, Alastair Cho ’19, and Abigail Schuster ’22 reunited at UVA.

1. Mariel Wilner Moakley ’02, Eric, and big sister Jayden welcomed Laila Skye on April 7 in Amsterdam.

2. Kimmy Freeman Newell ’03 and Ryan welcomed Mara Bridget on March 15.

3. Jennifer Oliver Schultz ’04 and Charles welcomed Kit Duncan on April 14. Pictured with big sister Winnie and older brothers Huck and Oliver.

4. Deb Sher Gold ’06 and Rich Gold ’07 had their second child, Miles Samuel, on July 28, 2022. Pictured with older sister Leni.

5. Peter Franklin ’08 and Katie welcomed Lucas James on March 28.

6. Laura Morrison Ginsberg ’08 and Brian welcomed Joshua Harrison on November 4, 2022.

7. Jay Kraska ’08 and Carolyn welcomed Anne Elizabeth on December 14, 2022.

8. Tara Messing Rengifo ’08 and Rodrigo welcomed Eva Lucia on November 25, 2022.

9. Gerrard Sheppard ’08 and Kristen welcomed twin girls Summer Riley (left) and Brynn Hazel (right) on March 24.

10. Hannah Johnstone Mathis ’09 and Jae welcomed Bryce Evangeline on October 5, 2022.

11. Rob Owen ’09 and Katelyn Miller Owen ’10 welcomed twins Lucas Lee and Paul Bernard on July 18, 2022. Pictured with big brother Patrick.

12. Morgan Koopman Silcott ’09 and Blake welcomed Saylor May on December 26, 2022.

Thursday, November 2 Home Again: 7:00 p.m. Delight in an original arts production highlighting special McDonogh moments. Dessert reception to follow.

Let’s

Friday, November 3

Distinguished Service and Young Alumni Awards Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. Join us as we honor former Headmaster Charlie Britton, John Beever ’50, Kimmy Hilson Carmichael ’10, and Mike Smith ’15.

150th Anniversary Gala: 7:00 p.m. Celebrate in style with good company, delicious food and drinks, and live music.

Celebrate!

Saturday, November 4 Alumni Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Remember those in the McDonogh Family who recently passed away.

Young | Wilson Archives & Special Collections Open House: 11:30 a.m. Tour the new home of McDonogh’s Archives & Special Collections in Lyle Building.

107th McDonogh vs. Gilman Football

Game

Don your orange and black and join Eagles fans for this historic rivalry. Hospitality tent, food trucks, and family-friendly activities begin at 1:30 p.m. Kickoff is at 2:00 p.m.

Reunion Parties for graduation years ending in 4 and 9

Learn more and register at mcdonogh150.org.

8600 McDonogh Road

Owings Mills, Maryland 21117-0380

www.mcdonogh.org

PARTING SHOT

After learning about the science of velocity, momentum, and force, middle schoolers in the Cardboard Soap Box Academy class competed in a soap box derby race to determine which design was most effective. Head of School Dave Farace ’87 was at the finish line to congratulate the contenders.

Our mission is to provide life-altering educational experiences that inspire personal and intellectual growth.