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PE O PL E O F COLOR CONFERENCE

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STEAM for Every Season

Campus Clips A.

E. A. Prince Lecture Series speaker, James Prosek, paints in Andrea Mancuso’s art class as students look on and ask questions. B. Upper School art teacher, Frank Sacheli, drops the ceremonial puck at a Boys’ Prep A Hockey game in the Dann Memorial Rink. C. Author, comic artist and musician, Lucy Knisley, visited with Allan Hayes’ fifth grade students as part of the Smith Visiting Fellows program. D. The Upper School Antigravity Club poses in the Adirondacks during their annual winter mountaineering trip. E. Upper School students show their support for One Billion Rising, a campaign that intends to put an end to domestic violence through awareness, by holding a dance party in the FPAC.

Editor’s Note What would you do if you weren’t afraid to fail?

Staff

Spring/Summer 2014

It’s a question that has been tossed around frequently in professional development circles. For as often as I’ve heard it, I’m surprised it hasn’t made its way into academia’s

Editor

conversations more. At Nichols, our students are encouraged to take healthy risks in an

Nina Barone nbarone@nicholsschool.org

environment where they are known and supported. What exactly does this mean for them? One of our main goals is to instill confidence in our students, empowering them to realize their potential and achieve their goals. If we send

Associate Editor Genevieve Carbone

graduates who are less afraid to fail into the world—or boldly, those who face failure head on—the positive results are limitless. When we model this behavior for our students and cultivate an environment where one does not always have to be right, but rather, constantly learning and growing, we experience extraordinary outcomes. Children develop resiliency. Angela Lee Duckworth’s TED talk, “The key to success? Grit,” shares the difference between what she calls her “best and worst” students, and it is not IQ. Ms. Duckworth refers to the work of world-renowned Stanford University psychologist, Carol Dweck Ph.D., on the concept of a growth mindset. Our faculty members have done remarkable work around this concept this school year and it’s an area we hope to expand further to ensure exceptional results for our students.

Contributors George Alexander Stephanie L. Angelakos Emma Carberry, Marketing Communications Intern William P. Clough Phil Coburn Sandy Smith Cunningham ’93 Jane Cox Hettrick ’78 Clare T. Poth ’81 Kevin Powers Josh Ring Craig Semple ’98 Richard Stratton Blake S. Walsh ’98

What can we do for our children to instill this? Encourage them to fail forward. Keep going. Keep trying. We can all stand to hear that more often.

Photographers Alex Fisher ’15

Keep in touch,

J. Matthew Kianka Ron Montesano

Nina M. Barone Director of Marketing & Communications Director of Admissions

– means “that which is true” and is pronounced “taw alay théss.” is published twice a year by the Development Office. Telephone: 716.332.5151 • Fax: 716.875.3931 Third Class postage paid at Buffalo, New York. Nichols is an inclusive community. Acceptance granted to qualified students. Nichols School 1250 Amherst St., Buffalo, NY 14216 • 716.332.6300 • www.nicholsschool.org

Front cover: Emma Stephen ’21 and Reilly Hamill ’21 pick radishes to taste at the CAO urban farm on Harvard Place in Buffalo on Earth Day. STEAM stands for Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics. Photo credit: Alex Fisher ’15

Contents NT CA RD NI CH OL S DI SC OU

Introducing the Nichols Discount Card! Developed by the Nichols Alumni Board Upon presenting this card at any of the participating alumni-owned and operated vendors listed on the back, users will receive a 5% discount on their final bill of sale. It’s a win-win for Nichols alumni and business-owners alike! Do you wish to include your business on the 2015 Discount Card and offer Nichols alumni a discount at your place of business? Email Blake Walsh ’98, Director of Alumni Relations, at bwalsh@nicholsschool.org.

Nichols School

Head of School Report .........................................................................

A Letter from the President of the Board of Trustees ............................

Jeremy Jacobs Jr. ’81 Named Next Board President ..........................

Calendar of Events ...............................................................................

Our Thanks to Jane Cox Hettrick ’78 .........................................................

New Alumni Board President Named ..............................................

Thank You, Craig .................................................................................

SUMO Brings Multicultural Awareness to Middle School Students .................................................................

2014–2015 Art Shows ........................................................................

People of Color Conference: The Capital’s Mosaic ...........................

International Students: Where Are They Now?...................................

After Nichols – Alexandra Jewett McPherson ’92 ...............................

Scajaquada Creek ..............................................................................

The Fifth Grade Naturally Embraces STEAM .....................................

Nichols Hosts Teddy Bear Toss ..........................................................

2013 Big Green Athletic Celebration .....................................................

Middle School Arts Curriculum Sets Nichols Apart ..............................

Old Guard Luncheon ............................................................................

Nichols Robotics: Electric Mayhem’s Inaugural Season .....................

Alumni Holiday Gathering ....................................................................

The 2014 General Information Test ......................................................

Collaborative Composting ....................................................................

Sport Focus – Boys Basketball............................................................

After Nichols – Trevor M. Fuller ’85 .....................................................

Save the Date: 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony .........

Alumni Golf Day ...................................................................................

Appreciate Your Appreciated Property .................................................. 43 Alumni Gatherings ................................................................................

In Memoriam .....................................................................................

Class Notes .......................................................................................

Faculty Profile – Roddy Potter ’82 ......................................................

Head of School Report

The Momentum of Year One by Bill Clough I visited my parents in New Hampshire in late March to participate in their spring ritual of making maple syrup, a Clough family tradition that now spans five generations. The sugar orchard is small, but on any given year, depending on weather or motivation, they produce between 50 and 100 gallons of syrup—enough to enjoy, sell and give away. The actual production lasts only as long as the cold nights and warm days allow, typically a month, and this spring the run began late and ended early. It’s hard to say when one sugaring season begins and another ends. In reality, one season begins as another ends with the cleaning of buckets, tubes, boilers and tanks. Wood is cut and stacked during the summer and left to dry in the fall and winter. Buckets and tubes are repaired, parts are replaced and brush is burned, all in anticipation of another spring run. In a small operation, there is no getting around the work. My mother and father and aunt and uncle do the vast majority of the heavy lifting—the cutting, cleaning, burning, stacking, lugging, repairing—but every year relatives and friends show up to lend a hand, some for hours, some for days. I’m always glad when I make the effort to help. I feel a sense of connection when I participate, not just to my family, but to generations of people I will never know who also loved—and who will love—the orchard. I suspect the same is true for those who have lugged and are continuing to lug the proverbial buckets for Nichols. We are all eager to make our contribution, to lend a hand as stewards of the Nichols legacy and work collectively to make it better yet. The adage “Many hands make light work” is both figuratively and literally apt here. We lean in collectively and audacious feats are

suddenly possible. We feel good working as a team. We become part of something and not simply consumers. I’ve always loved working with people. As a young person, I participated broadly in sports, and I felt that same shared purpose when I acted in plays. I feel happiest when I am working collectively, and the more I contribute to the group, the better I feel. I’ve found wonderful teammates at Nichols. I am surrounded by people who are eager to contribute their time, energy and resources in support of our mission: to train minds, bodies and hearts for the work of life, and to carry into all we do the highest ideals of character and service. Kids feel that investment profoundly. This spring, my wife, Nannie, and I invited seniors to a series of dinners at our house, and we asked them to reflect on their tenure at Nichols. Two recurring themes emerged: they love their teachers and they value their community. They are deeply grateful for teachers who know and love them, who challenge them and nurture them in equal measure. They are proud of their peers and value their diverse talents and perspectives. They use the word family a lot. They know, too, that they need to pay that investment forward, and the more selflessly they do, the better they’ll feel. So they do. Many others have stepped forward this year, too. Over the last six months, over 50 people—parents, Trustees, alumni and community members—have helped us to examine our program, faculty and staff, marketing and communications efforts and fiscal sustainability as part of a strategic planning process that will result in a fiveyear action plan. Our participation in The Nichols Fund has never been stronger,

and we are hopeful we will surpass our fundraising goal. Alumni have shown up in record numbers at regional receptions in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles and Buffalo, and over 600 have signed up to participate in our Alumni Network, which will help connect students and alumni with career advice and opportunities nationwide. Parents continue to participate actively in the life of the School, volunteering countless hours, hosting international students and cheering for our students at events on and off campus. Admission numbers are up, and we are identifying and attracting families new to Nichols. Students are participating actively in community service projects and forging new and expanding partnerships within the city of Buffalo. And, of course, our faculty and staff remain the epitome of selfless dedication, ever finding new ways to engage and challenge our students. The momentum feels palpable. Our collective force is uncontested and inevitable, our mass gaining speed and traction. By working together to make Nichols an even more powerful version of itself, we hope to honor the legacy of those who came before us and inspire the stewards of the future. With one year now under my belt, I am grateful for the efforts of the Nichols team—the Nichols family—and thank you humbly for your participation. I know we have a bright future together. Spring/Summer 2014

A Letter from the President of the Board of Trustees by Jane Cox Hettrick ’78 It has truly been an honor to serve as President of the Board of Trustees for the past four years. I’m grateful to Bill Gisel ’70 for entrusting me with this important responsibility and to all those who have served with me on the Board and its various committees. Together, we accomplished so much: • Dedicating Center ’63 in September 2010 • Successfully completing the nicholsfuture. org Capital Campaign by raising over $23.3 million • Presenting four consecutive balanced budgets and remaining debt-free • Growing the endowment and The Nichols Fund to record highs • Conducting an extensive international search for our next Head of School • Overseeing the transition to Bill Clough’s leadership • Undertaking Nichols’ most comprehensive strategic planning process of this century • Increased tuition remission available to children of faculty and staff members to 80% The strategic plan is focusing on four main areas: program; faculty/staff; finance/ sustainability and marketing. Over four dozen current and former Trustees, parents, alumni, faculty, staff and grandparents are engaged in this ambitious undertaking along

with several highly respected community leaders. Their task is to draft a roadmap for Nichols’ future success. It is a monumental and exciting effort, which we hope to complete this year. The fact that so many busy people would devote so much of their time for our School is a testament to Nichols’ standing in our community. We are grateful to those working on the strategic plan and to the hundreds of others who volunteer their time and talents to help make Nichols even stronger. The rewards of volunteering at Nichols

are numerous. It’s a great way to give back to the School that shaped us and is preparing our children for the work of life. One of the best things about volunteering for Nichols has been the amazing people I’ve been privileged to work with including two Trustees who will be retiring from the Board along with me this year: Jim Ennis ’81 and Sasha Yerkovich. You’d be hard pressed to name two more dedicated volunteers who bring a unique enthusiasm to all they do. I also want to thank former Board Vice President, Tom Donahoe, for having more integrity than anyone I’ve ever met, and my successor, Jerry Jacobs Jr. ’81, who has eagerly and graciously accepted every challenge and opportunity presented him. It’s Nichols’ mission after all “to carry into all we do the highest ideals of character and service.” The Board of Trustees embodies that mission at all times. Jerry and Bill Clough carry the highest ideals of character and service into all they do, and I know Nichols will grow even more outstanding under their leadership. Finally, I want to thank my family, who had no idea what they’d be getting into when I accepted the responsibility of Board President. Thank you, John ’73, Emily ’07, Laura ’09, Johnny ’13 and Bob ’16.

We are grateful to those working on the strategic plan and to the hundreds of others who volunteer their time and talents to help make Nichols even stronger. 6

Nichols School

Board of Trustees

Jeremy Jacobs Jr. ’81 Named Next Board President By Nina Barone Jeremy Jacobs Jr., a principal of Delaware North Companies, was appointed President-elect of the Board of Trustees at Nichols School, effective July 1, 2014. Jerry has been a loyal member of the Nichols community and a key leader for the School in many capacities since graduation. He has served on the School’s Board for nine years and is the Vice President of the Board. He most recently served as Chair of the School’s Head of School Search Committee to find our next leader in Bill Clough. Mr. Clough said: “I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Jerry as we chart a bold course for Nichols School. He is a proven leader with a keen intellect and global perspective who continues to demonstrate his commitment to Nichols. His judgment, vision and dedication will serve Nichols well, and I look forward to a long and fruitful partnership. But perhaps most importantly, I like Jerry and know we’ll have a lot of fun working together.” “Jerry has provided incredible leadership to Nichols, as an active alumnus, loyal benefactor and diligent member of the Board of Trustees,” said Jane Cox Hettrick ’78, outgoing President of the Board of Trustees. “As Board President, Jerry will oversee strategic, long-term protection and strengthening of the financial, physical and programmatic assets of the School.” Delaware North has revenues of nearly $3 billion and more than 55,000 employees serving half a billion customers on four continents. Jerry provides stewardship to Delaware North and its six operating companies, which include industry leaders in food and retail operations at airports and sports venues, sports facility ownership and management, operations of parks and

major tourist attractions, hotel ownership and management, and gaming operations both in North America and around the globe. He is responsible for long-term strategic direction, determining mergers

and acquisition candidates, positioning the company in emerging markets and working with financial institutions on overall business strategy. “Nichols is in a strong position under the leadership of Jane and Bill, as I’ve watched the School maintain solid footing and remain debt-free despite challenging economic conditions locally and nationally,” said Jerry. “I look forward to serving my alma mater in partnership with Bill, whose inspiring student-centered educational philosophy is complemented by his strategic foresight.”

Jerry is very active with a wide variety of civic and philanthropic organizations, including education, cancer research, neurological research and treatment, green initiatives and other community causes. He and his family have supported Nichols throughout the years, including a $1 million gift to the School’s nicholsfuture.org Capital Campaign, which raised over $23.3 million in total. On Earth Day in 2008, Jerry and his family presented the donation to fund the sustainability elements of the School’s new academic building, which broke ground that spring. The occasion also started a tradition of Delaware North bringing guests to the School on Earth Day, including NASA astronauts and speakers, and animals from SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. Following the 2008 gift from the Jacobs family, the School created the Jacobs Award for Environmental Sustainability to honor a student who embodies environmental stewardship; the award is presented annually on Earth Day to a senior at Nichols. Jerry and his family brought the Stanley Cup to the School following the Bruins’ win of the Stanley Cup Championship in 2011. In addition to his senior management post with Delaware North, Jerry serves as Alternate Governor for the Boston Bruins. “Jerry and his family are dedicated and generous supporters of Nichols in every sense, and we are so grateful that they continually share the exciting results of their accomplishments with us,” said Jane. Before joining Delaware North, Jerry was a financial analyst with the Money Market Group at Paine-Webber, Inc., in New York City. He has a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, continued on next page

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continued from previous page

Calendar of Events Monday, Aug. 11 Alumni Golf Outing Wednesday, Sept. 3 123rd Opening of School Monday, Sept. 8 New Family Welcome Barbecue Friday, Sept. 26 – Saturday, Sept. 27 Homecoming (Sept. 27) Worldwide Nichols Day (Sept. 26) Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Sept. 26) Sunday, Oct. 5 Open House Friday, Oct. 10 Professional Day – School Closed

Nichols School

Monday, Oct. 13 Fall Weekend – School Closed Tuesday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day – School Closed Wednesday, Nov. 26 – Friday, Nov. 28 Thanksgiving – School Closed Friday, Dec. 19 Holiday Vacation begins at end of school day

For the most up-to-date event information, please visit our website and click on “School Calendar.”

where he remains an active alumnus interviewer, and he received a master’s degree in business administration from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to his professional endeavors, Jerry is very active with a wide variety of civic and philanthropic organizations both in New York and on a global scale. He and his family give millions of dollars to charitable causes. Recently, Jerry donated $1 million to Say Yes to Education. His visionary leadership and philanthropy have been recognized by numerous organizations and associations. In 2012, he and his family were named Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year by two organizations. Jerry also participates in numerous industry organizations, including the Global Sports Summit and the U.S. Travel CEO Roundtable. In addition to serving on Nichols’ Board, he is a member of the Georgetown Board of Regents and the University at Buffalo Foundation Board. He dedicated more than a decade of volunteer service to United Way, including chairing the campaign in 1999 and serving as Chairman of the United Way of Erie County Board of Directors from 2003-2006. He currently participates on the United Way Advisory Board. In April 2014, Jerry was selected to serve on the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, he will offer practical insight and recommendations on a variety of travel, tourism and hospitality issues in this volunteer capacity. Jerry resides in East Aurora, N.Y., with his wife, Alice, and their family. “It’s an exciting time for Nichols, and I am honored to help usher in the next great era for the school on behalf of our alumni, students and the Western New York community,” said Jerry. Congratulations, Jerry! We look forward to your continued leadership on behalf of Nichols School.

At Bill Clough’s convocation last year, Jane welcomed the gathering of students, Trustees, faculty, staff, parents and friends.

Jane Cox Hettrick ’78, Catherine Beltz Foley ’79 and Alex Johnston at the 2014 Derby Day Auction

Our Thanks to Jane Cox Hettrick ’78 By Genevieve Carbone responsibilities on the Board, I know she will Jane Cox Hettrick ’78 began her term of continue to serve the school in every way President of the Board of Trustees in 2010, that she can. She has no choice but to do monumentally making her the first female that: she bleeds green.” to lead the Board. During her tenure at Prior to becoming President of the Board Nichols, Jane dedicated Center ’63 and the at Nichols, Jane was a member of the Board nicholsfuture.org campaign successfully came of Trustees and served as Secretary for three to a close, and she spearheaded the effort to years. For her dedication and support of the sell 1180 Amherst St., the house adjacent School, Jane was deservingly awarded the to the campus. The most significant event Distinguished Alumna Award in 2009. She during Jane’s term was the swift formation was a leader in the nicholsfuture.org Capital of the Search Committee that led to the Campaign and acted as Chair of the Major appointment of Head of School, Bill Clough. Gifts Division, making her an instrumental She was pivotal in the decision to elect Bill part of the campaign’s success. She also and worked tirelessly for the Committee and served as a Class Agent and a member of the betterment of the School. the Alumni Board. She has worked on the Jane spent many days and nights on Headmaster’s Society, the Derby Day Auction campus, whether for events, meeting with Gift Gathering parties, the Big Green search consultants, committee meetings or Jane addresses a crowd at the 2010 dedication of Center ’63. Athletic Celebration and served as a member soliciting for The Nichols Fund. She worked of the Parents’ Council. passionately, utilizing each one of her “hats” We are extremely grateful for Jane’s service and commitment to for perspective: Trustee, alumna, alumni parent and current parent. Nichols School. She skillfully guided the School during a pivotal “I am grateful for the way that Jane has supported my family and period in its history, and her contributions to Nichols will be me during our first year at Nichols School and in Western New recognized for years to come. York,” said Head of School, Bill Clough. “In addition to helping me Thank you, Jane, for all you have done for Nichols. We know you get off to a strong start, she has been instrumental in helping our will continue to be a familiar face on campus! Board align itself for the future. While she is stepping away from her

Spring/Summer 2014

Alumni Board

New Alumni Board President Named Scott Saperston ’90 will succeed Craig Semple ’98 as President of the Alumni Board, effective July 1. Scott has served multiple terms on the Alumni Board since 2007. He also is a Class Agent, has supported the School as a Headmaster’s Society member for many years, and remains a fixture at Nichols athletic events, auctions and alumni receptions. A graduate of Trinity College (B.A.) in Hartford, Conn. and Washington University (MBA) in St. Louis, Mo., Scott is First Vice President, Wealth Management, at Morgan Stanley in downtown Buffalo. Prior to his current role, Scott worked at Goldman Sachs in Chicago from 2000 to 2005. Scott is the Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors at Olmsted Center for Sight; a former member of the Board of Trustees at Elmwood Franklin School; and a member of Nichols’ Endowment Committee since 2012. Regarding his new role as President, Scott says: “I am honored to become the Alumni Board President and carry on Craig Semple’s leadership,

as Nichols has been a hugely powerful force in my life and in the lives of my family. My eight enjoyable years as a student provided me with the foundation to be successful in life, and the Nichols community has contributed to many of my lifelong friendships and lasting relationships with important mentors. It is only natural that I do everything possible to give back.” He and his wife, Kristin, live in Amherst and are the proud parents of Max ’20, a rising seventh grader, and Rose ’22, an incoming fifth grader, who will be the ninth Saperston to attend Nichols (great-great uncle, Lee ’49; grandfather, Howard ’58; great uncle, Willard ’66; uncle, Howie ’89; father, Scott ’90; and cousins, Kristina Saperston Semple ’98 and Billy ’03).

Thank You, Craig By Blake Walsh ’98 On behalf of Nichols, the Alumni Board and the Alumni Association, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to my classmate, Craig Semple ’98, for serving as President of the Alumni Board over the last three years. Craig brought great energy and conviction to the Board when he first joined in 2007, and he further enhanced the organization’s effectiveness as the event planning, network boosting, handshaking entity it aims to be during his years as President. Highlights of Craig’s tenure include the establishment of the inaugural Nichols Alumni Golf Day in 2013, which brought more than 100 alumni, staff and friends together for the day at Orchard Park Country Club; creation of the first-ever Nichols Discount Card (to be distributed later this spring), which provides discounts to all card holders at participating alumni-owned businesses in Buffalo; multiple local alumni happy hour events that have averaged 50 to 75 attendees during Craig’s tenure; and a 10

Nichols School

strengthened relationship with the senior class, highlighted by a nowannual Alumni Board/ senior class networking lunch held each spring on the stage in the Flickinger Performing Arts Center. Craig, his wife, Kristina Saperston Semple ’98, and their children, Hailey and Tanner, will continue to support Nichols as class agents, friends and fans. Thank you, Craig, for your time and energy! We will see you around the campus.

SUMO Brings Multicultural Awareness to Middle School Students By Emma Carberry Students United for Multicultural Awareness (SUMA) serves as a safe-haven club that helps Upper School students embrace diversity at Nichols. Upon hearing of the club’s existence, Middle School students wanted to bring the same sort of organization to their grade levels. After some discussion, the students decided to call themselves by a slightly different name, Students United for Multicultural Opportunities (SUMO), in order to set themselves apart from the Upper School group. SUMO was born out of a trip that club advisor, Ms. Zohara Zamor, took to a New York City school that “had affinity groups in which students who shared the same ethnicity or race had a safe space to talk.” These groups met during their lunch periods and talked about cultural and minority issues that they faced in their school. Ms. Zamor liked this idea and wanted to bring it to her students at Nichols. Like the New York City students, SUMO members meet during the seventh and eighth grade lunch period every Thursday to discuss various cultural issues. According to Ms. Zamor, the range of the topics is wide, including “tolerance, traditions, travel, food, nonviolence, things they like, human rights and music.” The members then present the topics they have discussed at Morning Meeting in order to spread awareness of their ideas on tolerance and diversity to their fellow students. The aim of the group is to encourage students to discuss diversity, a mission which has landed with Nina Calleri ’18, who says that SUMO has taught her that she can “speak freely but respectfully about other cultural views.” She adds that she was “always under the impression that we had to suppress controversial ideas.” Ms. Zamor emphasizes the importance of making sure each student is heard and valued during discussions, an idea that has led

to a mutual respect and understanding among the club’s members. Talia Stoffman ’18 says that SUMO has helped her become more aware of the reasoning behind people’s actions, a lesson many of the young minds in the club are absorbing. Libby Malone ’18 shares Talia’s sentiment, saying SUMO has taught her that “there are so many different ways to view and approach things and so many different opinions on the same things.” Since its inception on the Nichols School campus, SUMO has served as a wonderful resource not only for its members, but for Middle School students in general. One of the values that Nichols stands upon is Diverse Community, and SUMO cultivates this value in Nichols students daily by promoting multiculturalism and open communication.

Since its inception on the Nichols School campus, SUMO has served as a wonderful resource not only for its members, but for Middle School students in general.

2014–2015 Art Shows Janne Siren Sept. 3 – Nov. 10 Evan Hawkins Nov. 12 – Jan. 19 Kurt Treeby Jan. 21 – March 30 The Parents of Nichols School April 1 – June 30 Visit www.nicholsschool.org/artshow as the dates approach for more information on these shows.

Spring/Summer 2014

A. Upon hearing the news of Nelson Mandela’s passing, people pay tribute at his statue in front of the South African embassy in Washington, D.C. B. Upper School faculty member, Kevin Powers, signs the tribute book for Nelson Mandela. C. The Nichols team poses in front of the statue of Nelson Mendela in Washington, D.C. Front row: Elaine Gardner, Masha Kolesnikova ’14, Jillian Daniels ’16, Laurie Ousley. Back row: Erin Habelt, Matthias Williams ’15, Madeline McQuistion ’14, Kayla Yellen ’14, Kevin Powers, Rob Kubiniec ’14

Nichols School

People of Color Conference: The Capital’s Mosaic By Kevin Powers It was 7:30 p.m. on a cloudless early December evening. Maybe it was the 10-hour drive or maybe it was the shine of the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials bathed in moonlight, but our voices fell silent as we drove down the George Washington Parkway and headed toward our hotel. It had been a long trip down to Washington, D.C., but there was no way that our fatigue was going to sap our excitement and anticipation. We were tired but wired. Thanks to the work of Nichols Diversity Coordinator Caitlin Crowell, 10 of us – students, Jillian Daniels C. ’16, Masha Kolesnikova ’14, Robert Kubiniec ’14, Madeline McQuistion ’14, Matthias Williams ’15 and Kayla Yellen ’14 and faculty members, Elaine Gardner, Erin Habelt, Laurie Ousley and Kevin Powers – were making the journey from Buffalo to D.C. as delegates to the National Association of Independent Schools’ Student Diversity Leadership and People of Color Conferences. We rolled into town on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, excited but not knowing quite what to expect. Three days later we headed home, inspired and changed by our experiences. The faculty members made the trip not only to serve as chaperones but also to participate in the People of Color Conference. Our three-day experience included workshops, a number of excellent speakers and countless conversations with independent school colleagues from across the country. Workshops such as “Creating Cultures of Inclusion: What Administrators and Students Can Do” and “Inclusivity and Multiculturalism across the Curriculum” prompted us to think of exciting ways that we can better promote diversity and improve our students’ experiences here at Nichols. We heard from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Junot Diaz, who gave a raucous and downright hilarious keynote address about his own immigrant experience before underscoring the importance of fostering school communities that celebrate diversity. Most meaningful were the challenging and inspiring conversations we had with the independent school colleagues we met. These conversations led us to appreciate the successes that Nichols has achieved in terms of diversity and inclusivity. But they also forced us to reflect deeply on the ways in which our School can and must improve. The job of creating an inclusive community is never complete, but the PoCC left us inspired and energized to continue this essential and very noble work here at home. The centerpiece of our stay in Washington, D.C., though, was the experiences that Jillian, Masha, Robert, Madeline, Matthias and Kayla had as participants in the Student Diversity Leadership

Conference. Their days were filled with intense and often difficult dialogues about race, class, gender identity and sexual orientation. They worked to learn leadership and community-building skills. And they engaged in intensive self-reflection about their own identities and their goals for the future. The schedule was grueling. But the experience was life-changing. Matthias remarked that he was “taken aback by the honesty and expression that occurred among students from all over the country who had just met each other.” Matthias felt particularly empowered when the students separated into their affinity groups: “I was met with the largest gathering of AfricanAmericans that I had ever seen in my life…I was in a space where I was no longer a minority. I was amazed at the feeling of being completely surrounded by people who looked like me and shared some of my experiences.” Maddie was equally moved, although for slightly different reasons: “I wish everyone had a chance to attend! I got some time to reflect and think. Everyone is valued at this conference! The experience was just magic. There is no one who leaves without feeling confident and empowered to bring positive change back to your school.” Even if the students hadn’t said a word, we faculty would have suspected what was going on. At the end of each day, we could see the changes on their faces and hear it in their voices. The conference was indeed magic. And then something truly historic happened. On Thursday, Dec. 5, our conference sessions were interrupted with the sad news that Nelson Mandela had passed away. The next day, the South African embassy announced that it would open its gates to allow the general public in to pay its respects, both by leaving flowers and notes at Mandela’s statue and by signing a book of remembrance that would then be flown to South Africa for the state funeral. We knew we had to visit the embassy, and we did. The 10 of us paid our respects at Mandela’s statue and each of us signed our name and left a short message. Inspired by this singular experience, we then decided to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Lincoln Memorials before leaving D.C. for Buffalo. And so there we were – paying our respects to three of the greatest champions of freedom and equality the world has known. History had intervened to make our time in Washington more memorable than any of us could have anticipated. Could there have been a more fitting end to a conference on diversity and multiculturalism than this? I thought a great deal about Mandela’s long walk to freedom during our long bus ride back to Buffalo. And I thought about how, as a result of what they had learned in Washington, D.C., Jillian, Masha, Robert, Maddie, Matthias and Kayla had each been empowered to become a slightly larger part of Mandela’s as yet unfinished project of building a more just, fair and peaceful world. You can help them if you want to – they’ll be starting here at School. The next People of Color Conference/Student Diversity Leadership Conference will take place Dec. 4-6, 2014, in Indianapolis, Ind. Interested in attending? Contact Nichols Diversity Coordinator, Caitlin Crowell.

Spring/Summer 2014

International Students: Where Are They Now? By Stephanie Angelakos campus in vivid details As our graduates move as if he was just here. on in their lives, where Upon graduation from they go and how they Cornell, Seong plans are doing are always to continue his pursuit questions we wonder as of physics – in atomic, a School. Many of our molecular and optical graduates contact us and physics specifically. He is submit “Class Notes” to interested in “applications let us know about their of Bose-Einstein lives. But some do not condensate quantum connect with us regularly metrology and condensed about where they are and matter simulation, what they are doing. and optomechanics in Since 1987, we have the context of cooling welcomed students mesoscopic objects from other parts of and high precision the world to study at measurements.” Seong Nichols. Their length of has received Ph.D. stay ranges from three program admission months to four years, Future Nichols graduates and current international students, Jack Shi ’15, Wendy Hu ’16, offers from Cornell AEP, and they all live with Soo Kim ’14 and James Yang ’15 pose at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens in December. University of Michigan, host families. We often Ann Arbor, Columbia wonder what happens to University, Yale University, University of Colorado at Boulder and these international students, where they went from here, how and Princeton University. what they are doing, and what role Nichols played for them as they “The opportunities that I have received in college and will moved on. receive in the future would not have come about without the I recently reached out to numerous graduates from the past help that I received at Nichols,” he wrote. “I have met many several years’ graduating classes to find out more about their lives international students who failed to obtain the level of education now. Seong Woo Oh ’10, from South Korea, who attended Nichols they sought in college because their high schools either did not for three years, will graduate from Cornell University in May of provide them with good enough preparation or did not have the this year with a degree in physics and mathematics. With three necessary prestige or reputation to make their students competitive years’ worth of gratitude for his time studying at Nichols, Seong in college application.” wrote: “Although the intensity of the studies I have encountered in An “Andy” Jiang ’11 from China studied with us for two years. college was admittedly higher than that at Nichols, I felt my time at Currently a sophomore at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, Nichols prepared me well. The strength of the English Department N.Y., he is studying electrical engineering and computer systems at Nichols is well-known and it has prepared me well across a wide engineering for a dual major. “I am very interested in networking range of writing spectrum, from first-year writing classes to scientific and communication in the field of electrical engineering, so I am writing.” He also said the science and math programs prepared him involved in a research project of developing a new way of video well because he was able to survive the initial weed-out process in coding to achieve robust and efficient Internet video streaming the first three semesters of physics thanks to the great teachers at and multicast.” Andy is also taking a networking course to obtain Nichols. Because his major is so focused on physics and math, his Cisco Certified Network Associate certification to start pursuing a learning of U.S. history came solely from the history classes he took career as a network engineer. He plans to attend graduate school while at Nichols. (“Thanks, Mr. Combs.”) Seong also wrote that he and would like to get a job in the U.S. He hopes to find a summer “thanks the Modern & Classical Languages Department, especially internship and is preparing for the GRE. Mr. Ron Montesano. Over the course of three years of Spanish, As a foreigner at an American school, Andy is appreciative. I wasn’t happy with the fact that much of my study effort had to He explained: “Nichols provided a great environment for me to be put into learning Spanish. I appreciate the reason for it now, familiarize and blend smoothly into a completely different culture. though, as it broadens one’s perspective in culture.” All faculty and students are nice and friendly, helping me with Seong finds it hard to believe four years has passed since his time English and school work. I was a bit shy and afraid of socializing at Nichols; with fond memories of his time here, he visualizes the 14

Nichols School

with other students at first, but soon realized they were easy-going for four years and at Nichols for two of them. When asked about and made lots of friends. I also enjoyed after-class activities like her adjustment to college, she said that first semester was hard, and chorus and talent shows, which are a great experience.” she wished that she had taken advantage of professors’ office hours As a student, Andy wrote, “Nichols helped me to get ready for more. “Having a roommate was not that difficult because I have college studies by offering AP courses. I was mostly involved with lived with host families for four years. However, communicating the math department from which I took three AP courses, which with your roommate is really important to have a great experience.” gave me a good preparation for college.” Mr. Jason DeGroat helped Jin enjoys school and the international relations program, one of Andy choose his college major and Mrs. MaryAnne Hejna, an RPI the top 10 in the country. Jin wrote, “The entire environment at alumnus, recommended him to study at RPI. Andy was awarded the Nichols portrays the atmosphere of a college so it helps students to Nichols Math Department’s top junior math award, the Rensselaer have an easier transition.” In terms of academics, “Nichols prepared Medal Scholarship, which made a great impact on his final decision me well – especially the English and History Departments! I have to go there. answered questions in class that I remember learning, and I was the Kai Di Peng ’12 is enjoying her second year at Boston University. only one who knew the answer.” Referring to her senior thesis, she Kai Di came to Nichols from Singapore for her senior year. She said she currently writes many 7-, 10- or 13-page academic research has moved from the school of management to the college of arts papers and “having done the [senior thesis], I can apply similar and sciences, choosing geophysics and planetary sciences as her techniques in my college essays.” sole major. She enjoys earth science and geo-related studies, but This semester, Jin was very fortunate to land an internship with takes many physics classes for her major. She looks forward to her U.S. Senator Paul Strauss (D.C.). “I go to government events geochemistry courses next year. with him and also local events. I meet very successful people every “I really thank Nichols for the opportunity to take a bunch of day. In his office, I summarize news that is related to D.C. and AP courses,” said Kai Di. “These credits enabled me to transfer send them to the Senator. I had lunch with the mayor of D.C., into a science major much more easily…If a student is able to get had a discussion about the homeless population in the city and most of the core/divisional studies fulfilled with AP credits before got involved with an election campaign. Real world; firsthand matriculating, the student would be able to begin major studies experience.” Having this internship earlier. [When] a high school develops has helped Jin with her timea student’s mind to understand and management. “I am definitely wasting think broadly, and show that the less time,” she noted. student has obtained such abilities Caring families who would like Jin is involved in a club called through AP results, I hold this high to share their family, culture and Peace in East Asia. “We have school in great regard.” discussions on different issues every While enjoying her college hospitality with an international other week and we bring in speakers academics, Kai Di works as an event student are encouraged to who are working in the field. I learn technician on campus and really contact Stephanie Angelakos different perspectives on foreign enjoys this work. “Technical-wise, I affairs and diplomacy issues, but also am subpar, but I am able to contribute at sangelakos@nicholsschool. improve my skills with organizing my strengths to each and every event. org or 716.332.5154. There are an event. My internship and club It is always fun to have a birds-eye activities have helped me expand my view of the audience, and I love short and long-term hosting connections.” pushing buttons on consoles! I have opportunities available. Jin is already on her way to met TV stars and authors.” Kai Di becoming a leader in her aspirations danced at Nichols and has since to be a global partner. She offers this enjoyed folk dancing, participating in advice: “Be open-minded. There are both Irish and Israeli dance. a lot of people from all different places. It is natural to disagree Un-pil Baek ’13 and Jin Sol Park ’13, both natives of South with other people’s opinions. However, you have to understand Korea, also offered their updates. Un-pil, a student at Nichols for that others are completely different coming from different cultural three years, attends University of California at Berkeley. He intends backgrounds even if they are from the United States. You do not to declare a major in physics and applied math and hopes to land a have to agree with everyone, but just understand and accept other research opportunity this summer while taking additional courses. perspectives. It will only help you have richer and deeper thoughts He continues his study of the Chinese language as well. and insights to support our relationships with other cultures.” Un-pil participates in numerous church activities – musical We love to hear from our graduates and hope that they continue moments of praise songs and he also sings in the choir. “Living at to share their life’s journeys and accomplishments with us. Our Berkeley gives me a fresh new sense of independence and I believe international students bring us a rich and open relationship with that Nichols has given me a lot of opportunities to explore various other cultures that will hopefully engage our greater community extracurricular activities for letting me know what I am good with empathy, compassion and goodwill to promote better at. I got a lot of help from participating in the Nichols Chorus.” friendship and world peace. Learning Chinese and continuing that study “has prepared me to be If you were an international student at Nichols, we’d love to closer with my Chinese friends – they tell me my Chinese is better stay in touch with you. Feel free to contact Stephanie Angelakos, than most of their friends!” Director of Parent Relations and International Students, at Jin Sol Park ’13 attends American University in Washington, sangelakos@nicholsschool.org. D.C., as an international service major, after studying in the U.S.

Spring/Summer 2014

After Nichols

Alexandra Jewett McPherson ’92 Alexandra Jewett McPherson ’92 is the Director of Advancement at Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, a leading water-focused environmental organization, which restores water quality and quantity as well as rebuilds public access to our waterways. Buffalo Niagara is a Great Lakes region sitting on the largest fresh water system in the world. For 25 years, Riverkeeper has worked to revitalize the health and integrity of Buffalo Niagara’s greatest natural asset, fresh water. Riverkeeper’s success is largely attributed to its ability to develop dynamic partnerships across the public and private sector that work collaboratively to advance solutions for complex environmental problems. Armed with perseverance and training gained in school through the essential influences of authors and teachers alike, Ali is a real social and environmental champion who herself has been proven an invaluable resource for Western New York. Tell us about your life and career. For over 15 years, I have had the privilege of leading environmental campaigns, programs and organizations at the regional, national and international levels. My specific focus was on creating strong, collaborative partnerships with businesses, unions, governments, academics and other nonprofit organizations that leveraged investments in environment innovation. These initiatives advanced a clean production platform that enabled major companies and governments to start valuing ecological and human health into the design of production systems worldwide. Currently, I apply this approach to my work at Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, where I collaborate with an incredible team of ecologists and urban planners to create a thriving “blue economy” that embeds the value of a healthy watershed into community development. Prior to joining the Riverkeeper team, for 10 years I remotely managed the development of a new national nonprofit, Clean Production Action. We worked with major government entities in Europe and the United States as well as leading innovators in the private sector, such as Hewlett Packard, Dell, Apple, Kaiser Permanente and Nike, to deliver strategic solutions for safer chemicals, sustainable materials and environmentally preferable products.

Nichols School

What motivated you to get involved in this line of work? When I was 16, my mom gave me a copy of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” for Christmas. It gathered dust for six years until I spent a year learning about how social and environmental issues affect people and communities while interning for a progressive member of the British Parliament during my junior year abroad in London. The book transformed my understanding of science, industrialization and the health and well-being of all living things. It formed the baseline of a lifelong passion for working on solutionbased initiatives to complex global, social, environmental and economic challenges. Over the past 20 years, these challenges at times could get a bit overwhelming, but the foundation of perseverance, resilience and drive that Nichols provided—in the classroom, on the athletic field or in the community—served me well, kept me moving forward and grounded me in the fact that I would need to constantly improve, adapt and evolve to create positive change. How did Nichols prepare you for college and life beyond college? At Nichols, I quickly learned I was a small fish that had to figure out how to swim in a big pond with peers who were culturally, socially and intellectually very different from me. Learning how to strive toward excellence in all facets of life in an environment where many of my friends excelled in areas I did not, has been essential to the success I have had in my career and life. I learned that perseverance, resilience and the ability to learn from failure were critical to my personal growth and well-being. These foundational blocks became further refined throughout my life and enabled me to compete globally, take risks on cutting-edge initiatives, and have the true privilege of building a life that feeds my innate passions. Describe your home life. I have come full circle in life and now live on the East Aurora farm I grew up on with my husband, Ryan, my two children Jasmine (11) and Sayward (8), and all the domestic and wild animals that enrich our life daily. For our health and vitality, we spend most of our time outdoors hiking, gardening, working on the farm and playing. Ryan is from New Hampshire, and my brother, Dean ’99,

Our goal for The 2013-2014 Nichols Fund is $950,000.

lives in Massachusetts with his family, so we have strong roots in New England and spend as much time as possible in the White Mountains and along the New England coastline. The Adirondacks and the Coachella Valley are also very important places that refuel us and allow us to connect to the wilderness at a scale that works for all members of our family. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment? My greatest accomplishment is finding a partner who not only shares his life with me, but also opens up new doors to opportunities that I would have never experienced otherwise, which most importantly includes the privilege of having two wonderful children. What do you like to do for fun/volunteer work? For fun I love to hike, do triathlons, and kayak along our beautiful waterways in Buffalo Niagara. Exploring the great outdoors locally and globally with my family and friends including the equine and canine contingent in our life is essential to my fulfillment and personal evolution. I thrive on exposure to diverse cultures and globally significant ecologies as it helps me better understand my sense of place and purpose. I have a deep connection to African culture and life and work closely with the newly formed Girls Education Collaborative in Buffalo that is using the transformative power of education to enable young women and girls in developing nations to become catalysts for change in their communities. Their inaugural project is the creation of a new boarding school that will house and educate 1,000 girls in Kitenga Village, Tanzania. I also love cooking and exploring ways to subsist more on our farm’s resources, as well as advocate for healthy local food systems throughout the region. I served two terms on the Lexington Co-operative Market Board of Directors. I also worked with my children, and other parents to help spearhead the development of the Parkdale School Community Garden, which now has cutting-edge programs to educate children about the importance of food, the environment and local nutrition. What is your favorite Nichols memory? The whole of my experience surviving and ultimately thriving studying “The Odyssey” in Mr. Stratton’s AP English class.

We are within $120,000 of our goal, but we can’t reach it without loyal support from alumni. Gifts to The Nichols Fund vary in size from $25 to $25,000. Each and every contribution shapes our School’s future. To remain the premier institution in Western New York, we rely on our generous alumni. Unlike public schools, Nichols does not receive government funding; tuition income must be supplemented by The Nichols Fund. Your annual gifts to The Nichols Fund secure the future of our School. Thank you for your commitment to keeping Nichols strong!

Support Nichols today. Shape our tomorrow. To make your gift, visit www.nicholsschool.org/give or call the Development Office at 716.332.5151.

Scajaquada Creek By Sandy Smith Cunningham ’93 and Genevieve Carbone For the last 10 years, the seventh graders in Sandy Smith Cunningham ’93 science classes have worked at different sites along Scajaquada Creek in the fall and spring. In the fall, the classes conduct a physical survey where they study the watershed of the creek and the land uses (both current and historic) that have impacted and continue to impact the creek today. Students map the watershed, sketch the area around their sampling site, and identify land uses, as well as outfalls, sewers and drains that contribute water to the creek. The second part of the investigation involves an evaluation of the riverbank and its potential for erosion based on the ratio of the percent of bare soil to vegetation. This also leads to conversations about creek management and the purposeful channelization of sections of the creek that has happened over time. Lastly, students test the water for different chemical and biological indicators of water quality, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, turbidity, conductivity and coliform bacteria (which indicates a likelihood of the presence of e. coli bacteria). During the trips, students typically take garbage bags and help clean up any debris along the shoreline. In the spring, after studying principles of chemistry in class, students

return to the creek and do a more in-depth chemical analysis of the water quality. “When I talk about the creek and the work that we’re doing there, I always talk about different ways to communicate and ‘tell the story of the creek,’” says Ms. Cunningham. Students come to the realization that the creek’s story can be told by maps and history, it can be written in words, told through the sketches we make and data we collect. This year, an aspect was introduced to this project, where students were asked to take photos during each part of the investigation. The point of the assignment was to take photos that reflected the task for the day, (e.g., land uses and the watershed, riverbank and erosion potential, and water quality). Students were then asked to pare down the photos they took to the one photo that best communicated the part of the story that they were trying to convey. We did this in conjunction with Ms. Olenka Bodnarskyj, who joined the class out in the field and shared insights on photo techniques. Afterwards, the photos were printed. In March, Nichols had the opportunity to host Alberto Rey, a professor at SUNY Fredonia in the Department of Visual Arts and New Media. In addition to being an educator, Mr. Rey is a fly fishing

Nichols School

Students visit Scajaquada Creek in the fall to take water samples.

guide and practicing artist. He most recently exhibited his collection, “Biological Regionalism: Alberto Rey,” at the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo. Mr. Rey’s work seeks to address the history and present condition of Scajaquada Creek through art and scientific research. Middle School students were initially introduced to Mr. Rey through his artwork, visiting his exhibition at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Mr. Rey visited campus and dropped into Middle and Upper School classes that spanned across the disciplines. While at the Burchfield Penney, students were asked to write reflections on the experience. When Mr. Rey joined the students in class, they shared those reflections and were given back their photos and asked to reflect on the images. The students were asked to talk in their groups and describe each photo and what they were trying to capture. This led into a conversation about developing a website to display information about this ongoing project and our relationship with Scajaquada Creek. We discussed what we thought would be important information to be contained on a website, and with the help of Mr. Tom Maynor ’81, the class worked on compiling all of that information digitally: maps,

Professor Rey addresses students during his visit.

Ms. Cunningham works with students to evaluate their results from the fall.

sketches, photos, data, descriptions of our work, conclusions, etc. Students were then asked to collaborate and brainstorm what they envisioned this website should look like in terms of layouts, links and making the important information clear and accessible. At the time of printing, Ms. Cunningham and students are working with the Nichols Technology Department to decide the best platform to use to create this website and how to integrate a team of students to help with the maintenance and editing. Stay tuned for details and updates on this exciting project, and also for the new website!

Spring/Summer 2014

The finished project: student-created native Western New York birds are perched atop branches in Allan Hayesâ€™ cathedral ceiling in his classroom.

Nichols School

The Fifth Grade Naturally Embraces STEAM by Clare T. Poth ’81 and I created a holistic approach. Science and art provided the core The best collaborations often start as a dream, a random thought, curriculum, from which the class pursued research, scientific writing an opportunity. I have long admired Allan Hayes’ expansive and mathematics, integrating technology, observation and recording approach to learning and the many innovative ways he encourages techniques, spelling and grammar. The concept of STEAM (science, inquiry and exploration. Eight years ago, my son Fred ’14, now a technology, engineering, art and math) was fully actualized in a senior, was Mr. Hayes’ student. We renewed the cycle this year natural fashion. The topic was birds of Western New York. Each with our fifth grade daughter, Lydia ’21. I also offered my skills as an student chose the bird of artist and teacher to Mr. his or her liking as long as it Hayes. Within an hour was indigenous to Western we had developed a plan. New York. Reasons behind Our shared philosophy individual choices varied. can best be described Gaby Finkelshtein ’21 chose in the words of C. S. a Canada goose because it Lewis: “Let your mind “would be a challenge. Also, run up the sunbeam to I wanted to make a big bird.” the sun.” The goal was Olivia McKnight ’21 chose to develop a curriculum the blue jay because “it is very based experience colorful and has interesting that would encourage markings.” Alex Aubrecht experimentation, ’21 picked the red-tailed exploration, research and hawk “because I see this kind self-discovery. Because of bird a lot” and Chloe Desai Nichols students are ’21’s choice was dictated by passionate learners the fact that she “didn’t know accustomed to passionate much about it and wanted to teachers, even new fifth Clare Poth ‘81 works with fifth grade students to paint their birds. know more.” Carson Kania graders understood these ’21 was captivated by the expectations. “awesome color on the stomach” of the sharp-shinned hawk, and Lily Inspired by the natural world and guided by the science Margulis ’21 and Lydia Maynor ’21 both chose the white-breasted curriculum, Mr. Hayes and I got to work. We would utilize the nut hatch for its habit of going down trees backwards. Even though soaring cathedral ceiling in his classroom as the location for a fullthe intention was to create all birds to scale, we did not impose size scale art installation. Using this space would ensure that the students limits. The structural engineering that accompanied the larger birds have the opportunity to live with their work throughout the year. inspired many suggestions and much trial and error. In fact, the many Financial support from the Middle School science budget allowed us to purchase supplies. The choice of materials (papier-mâché) reflects our School’s commitment to recycling. Since a significant amount continued on next page of class time (26 hours total) was devoted to the project, Mr. Hayes

Spring/Summer 2014

questions that flew about the room and the ideas that took flight served as an apt metaphor for the birds we were discovering and creating. As Emerson said, “Passion rebuilds the world for the youth. It makes all things alive and significant.” Mr. Hayes’ classroom was certainly passionate and alive! After students made their bird choice, research began in earnest. Audubon guides were made available and iPads were in constant use. We encouraged drawing from observation when possible, with the BirdsEye Eastern North America app providing crucial images when the birds could not be located in the wild. Students were constantly on the lookout for “their” birds and the chosen birds of others. Highly detailed colored pencil sketches were created. There was an underlying commitment to authenticity in the room, each student was committed to authenticity, and strove to be accurate with markings, color variations and scale. Once the drawn studies of the birds were complete, I taught the class how to create an armature out of newspaper and how to apply the strips of papier-mâché to further build the form. One group measured and mixed the flour and water to make the paste. Another group tore the newspaper strips and yet another crew readied the classroom by covering tables and preparing our cleanup buckets, since the project was done in a room without a water source. Initially, students worked solely on their individual projects. Some students, particularly those working on smaller birds, finished ahead of their classmates. Instinctively, the children noticed who would benefit from an extra pair of hands. Kids offered to help Alex, whose red-tailed hawk had a four-foot wing span. Much discussion focused on just how to create those soaring wings which extend so far from the body. The class wondered how Emma Stephen ’21 would balance her great blue heron on its naturally spindly legs. Others stepped in to help Josh Stead-Dorval ’21 with the many layers of white paint required to cover his Cooper’s hawk. We joked that the classroom resembled the guilds they were learning about in Central Studies. Indeed, students formed crews as certain kids self-identified as “painters,” while others served as “papier-mâchérs.” Another team devoted a morning to experimenting with a variety

of different gage wires. Their experimentation helped us discover the best way to attach the birds to the many branches Mr. Hayes brought into the classroom. Establishing this level of camaraderie early in the school year resulted in positive outcomes for the fifth grade. An atmosphere of creative achievement and exploration fosters a sense of mutual respect. Though the birds serve as individual, self-determined works of art, the installation component reminded everyone that the final work would serve as a reflection of the entire class. This attitude of shared success extended beyond the walls of the fifth grade classroom. Once the birds were finished, the School’s Facilities crew arrived for installation. Their first challenge involved the wonderful branches a freak storm had strewn all over Highland Avenue, which Mr. Hayes hauled into school. Andy Richer and Greg Jordan, Nichols Facilities crew members, suspended the branches from the beams (after we received the okay from the fire marshal) using fishing line. Instantly the room was transformed into a wooded glen. Using the lift and a ladder, Mr. Richer and Mr. Jordan artfully arranged. The installation professionals at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery could not have done better. To quote Mr. Richer, “I have never done anything like this before. I worked hard on the placement to make everything look natural.” Mr. Jordan commented, “Getting the branches up was challenging. It was a different kind of project. I could see the excitement in the kids’ eyes.” The care and detail Facilities brought to our project is a reflection of the teamwork that exemplifies our School. The arts are an important way children learn about themselves and their world. For this project, students experienced the nuance of color mixing, the technique of papier-mâché and the value of patience and follow-through. Each student felt challenged, learned to set goals, collaborate and take risks. I learned right along with the fifth graders, and I am proud to report that I can recognize and name several birds now. Apologies for my reliance on Emerson, but he is an apt philosopher to quote in this instance, “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better.” Mr. Hayes, the students and I invite you to visit the fifth grade classroom space. The next project will inspire the class to create a Medieval Village. Never a dull moment in the fifth grade!

Nichols Hosts Teddy Bear Toss

animals for donation to the hospital. Thanks especially to Mr. Rob Stewart and Mr. Jamie Printz for their help. Thanks also to Alec Yerkovich ’16, Michael Bliss ’16, Tommy Elia ’17, Steven Senese ’17, Eddie Halady ’16 and Zach Gannon ’17, who served as the teddy bear cleanup crew. Thank you to all who participated!

continued from previous page

By Genevieve Carbone On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Nichols hosted a teddy bear toss at the Dann Memorial Rink during the Boys’ Prep A Hockey game against St. Andrew’s College. Excited fans threw teddy bears onto the ice when the home team scored their first goal towards the end of the second period. Organized by siblings, Nick ’15 and Lauren ’17 Pollina, all of the teddy bears tossed were donated to the Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. The game marked the opening of the boys’ hockey season, which was commemorated with a ceremonial puck drop by, George Ostendorf ’59. The event was a huge success and garnered over 200 stuffed 22

Nichols School

Fans throw teddy bears onto the ice after Nichols scores its first goal against St. Andrew’s College.

2013 Big Green Athletic Celebration

By Stephanie Angelakos Thank you to our 2013 Big Green Chairs, Elisa Appelbaum and Carol Cicatello-Sibick, for organizing a very successful event that supports our Athletic Department! Leading a team of over 30 enthusiastic and dedicated parent volunteers, they oversaw the gathering of silent auction items and setup for the event. Over 200 parents, faculty, staff, coaches, alumni and friends of Nichols attended the event in the Gerard Gym and had a great time – all in support of our Athletic and Physical Education Departments. Our special thanks to all who attended, donated an item to the event, and to the wonderful student volunteers who helped us

that evening. The Athletic and Physical

Education Departments are grateful for this special event, as the Big Green Celebration is a vital fundraiser that supports all student athletes, both on teams and in physical education. E.

A. Carol Cicatello-Sibick, Kriki Read, Sheila Kowalski and Mary Jo Contino B. Jack Flatau, Bill Clough and Tim Vanini ’87 C. Zack Peresie ’17, McCaeley O’Rourke ’17, Emma Catipovic ’17 and Preston Read ’17 D. Erin Hart ’03, David Munschauer and Mary Rech Rockwell E. 2013 Big Green Chairs, Carol Cicatello-Sibick and Elisa Appelbaum

Spring/Summer 2014

Seventh grade students visit the Fargo House located in Buffalo as part of Olenka Bodnarskyj’s art class. Owned by local artist and architect, Dennis Maher, the house is a vibrant culmination of art, architecture and an archeological dig.

Middle School Arts Curric By Genevieve Carbone

As you walk through Regan Hall, it is no wonder the arts play an integral role in the curriculum and daily life of Middle School students. The walls are adorned with selfportraits, masks and other creations that portray abilities and expertise beyond those of a typical junior high student. And not the just visual arts are apparent; on any given day, you can find Kate Olena in the Pond coaching and encouraging her students during a performance. Also, any attendee of a Middle School Morning Meeting can attest to the beautiful musical performances students present. Computer technology is also included as part of the arts curriculum, through which every student receives a solid foundation of technology use for future successes. The Middle School arts curriculum is as unique as it is diverse. Students are introduced to a myriad of topics categorized 24

Nichols School

into four units: general music and chorus, visual arts, theatre and computer technology. Each grade level participates in all four units throughout the year, maximizing their familiarity with the subjects. “It’s all about exposure,” says Middle School Dean, Annie Newall. “Students don’t know what they have an affinity for until they try it. Our curriculum allows them to try a variety of arts.” The theatre program begins in fifth grade, where students write their own play. Each group of fifth graders meets for one quarter throughout the year, which means each group writes and performs its own unique play. Each quarter the students perform a medieval play, which coincides with their Central Studies lesson. Sixth grade students are introduced to improvisational skits and short scenes from

plays. They also engage in creating scenery, costumes, props and lighting. Students build upon these skills in seventh grade by auditioning for and rehearsing, researching and performing a one-act play. In eighth grade, students choose from four courses: Acting with Masks and Puppets, Asian Theatre Acting Styles, Player Performance and Technical Theatre. “What makes Nichols’ arts program unique is that it is curricular,” says theatre teacher, Mrs. Olena. “In many schools, students have to audition and it is an extracurricular. At Nichols, every single student is going to take part in a play.” One of the more unique components of the Middle School curriculum is the computer technology courses taught at each grade level. While initially instituted because it made sense structurally, technology is now interwoven in the

First-term eighth grade drama students perform “Mask and Puppet Exhibition.”

culum Sets Nichols Apart creative process. In the classes, students learn basic computer technology fluency using computers, the Internet, iPads and various computer programs. “An interesting facet is the pace at which technology evolves. There is a constant need to be current, while still distilling the information to be fit for Middle Schoolers,” says computer technology teacher, Tom Maynor ’81. In the visual arts, new faculty member, Olenka Bodnarskyj, aims to foster creativity, imagination and a love of learning. In fifth grade, students focus on the narrative and how art can tell a story. Sixth grade students expand upon their learning and use of sensory element, organized principles and express images to communicate ideas in art, but with a focus on symbolism in art. Building upon those concepts, seventh grade students explore

contemporary artwork and how those artists have access to an almost limitless array of media and materials they can choose. During eighth grade, the final year in Middle School, students discover how artists can explore personal and cultural identity through a variety of approaches and media; in years past, students have done this through the creation of a selfportrait. The visual arts program is structured, but allows for creativity and “wiggle room,” as Middle School art teacher, Ms. Bodnarskyj, explains. “I have the big ideas that frame the work and what I would like students to walk away with.” Ms. Bodnarskyj praises the arts culture at Nichols by saying: “At Nichols, everyone, including the administration, understands the intrinsic value of the arts. Nobody questions it. They understand that exposure

to the arts is essential.” The last pillar of the Middle School arts curriculum is music. Fifth grade students begin with an introduction to reading and writing music as well as an emphasis on the Western orchestra. Each term culminates with an in-class research project and multimedia presentation on a medieval instrument of the student’s choice. Sixth graders continue their education of reading and writing music and put their creative skills to work by creating a short original composition. In seventh grade, students focus on learning to play the acoustic guitar. The repertoire typically ranges from “Yankee Doodle” to “Ode to Joy,” from folk songs to Beatles’ songs. Eighth grade students are able to choose between two

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continued from previous page hands-on learning options: film scoring or piano composition. “What sets the Nichols arts program apart are the resources that Nichols has. We have rows of guitars, pianos, computers. I have so much more freedom because of everything our School has,” says Middle School music teacher, Mary Kate Morrow. Mrs. Morrow is especially excited about the addition of ukuleles for fifth grade students for the next school year. She explains that Nichols resources and appreciation of the arts makes this curricular addition possible. Throughout the year, art classes are supplemented with guest speakers, field trips to experience various museums, galleries or performances. Students showcase their work throughout the year at concerts and plays, an appreciation for art is fostered in other subjects, like Mr. Hayes’ fifth grade bird project or Ms. Cunningham’s Scajaquada Creek endeavor. Another interesting factor that enriches the program is the fact that each faculty member is a practicing artist in his or her field. Our faculty members are learners themselves outside of the classroom as they gain more knowledge and perspective to teach students and apply to their lessons. The Middle School arts program is a constantly changing effort. Each faculty member speaks to the flexibility and dynamic nature of the arts curriculum that allows students to thrive. Established to create exposure and maximize the subjects covered,

the arts offered at Nichols allow students to enhance their learning of other topics while learning valuable skills for the future. The Arts Teach Life Skills As many recent studies have proven, participation in the arts assists students in other disciplines. Skills they learn in theatre, music and visual arts can be applied in other subject areas in school, and can be exercised throughout a lifetime. A constant theme the faculty expresses is that involvement in the arts benefits students later in life, regardless if he or she is a currently practicing artist. “Arts are the connective tissue and should always be interwoven into the curriculum. I teach my students to use art as a vehicle to explore other subjects. They learn visual literacy—our world is so visual and they learn how to critically analyze something. I teach them just because you see something, doesn’t mean you necessarily understand it,” says Ms. Bodnarskyj. She also explains that art teaches students to be comfortable with ambiguity. In life, there may not always be a right or wrong answer; life is open to interpretation. Mrs. Olena explains her theatre program prepares students for more practical applications that can be utilized throughout a student’s life. “When you have to stand in front of crowd to make a speech, if you’re pitching an idea to your boss, trying to get someone to donate to your cause or if you’re a doctor delivering news to a patient, all of these take proper communication skills that can be mastered through

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theatre,” explains Mrs. Olena. “Having theatre this early teaches collaboration and the ability to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. Empathy is so necessary in our world.” Mrs. Morrow hopes her students develop an appreciation for music that continues throughout their lifetime. “The skills I teach help my students become well-rounded. I hope they continue to keep playing and keep making music in their adult life.” With the proliferation of technology, it is easy to see the benefits of a computer technology class later in life. Knowing the basics of computers and technology is necessary in almost every job, are becoming even more important in our personal lives. Mr. Maynor explains the importance of developing problem-solving skills at a young age. By learning computer programming and facets of technology early on, students discover how to work through challenges independently and come up with an answer on their own. Are you an alumnus who has been touched by the arts education you received at Nichols? We would love to hear from you and how the arts programs at Nichols continues to influence you – even if you aren’t a practicing artist! Email alumnioffice@nicholsschool.org to let us know how you still apply your Nichols arts lessons today. A. Jules Mahn ’19 performs at Party for the Arts. B. Students use iPads for an assignment in class.

Old Guard Luncheon A.

By Blake Walsh ’98 A. Jeb Bray ’50, Bob Nichols ’64, Bob Adams ’50 and Dick Teach ’50

During the lunch hour on Dec. 23, 2013, over 60 Nichols alumni from the 50th Reunion and older classes returned to campus for the fourth annual Old Guard Luncheon in the Rand Dining Room. Head of School, Bill Clough, addressed this distinguished group and enjoyed an equally distinguished meal provided by Nichols’ own Sage Dining Service.

B. Bill Clough addresses the lunch crowd. C. Dick Hopkins ’52 and Charles Balbach H’52 D. John Halstead ’41

Spring/Summer 2014

Nichols Robotics: Electric Mayhem’s Inaugural Season By Phil Coburn

The Finger Lakes emcee displays the Nichols Flag before the start of the match.

“And from Buffalo, New York, it’s the rookie sensation: Team 4930 – the Electric Mayhem!” With these words, the emcee introduces the Nichols School FIRST Robotics team at the Finger Lakes Regional competition. We are ready. Our team of Nichols students and mentors has spent six weeks working shoulder-toshoulder to create a 120-pound robot. This robot–the Great Gonzo–is ready to play the game: it can pick up the game ball, pass it, throw it over obstacles and shoot it into the three goals. Students have designed the mechanisms, drawn key parts on the computer, and helped fabricate the parts on mill, lathe and band saw. They have wired and programmed the robotic brain, written marketing materials, designed logos and worked on team branding. This has been a truly multifaceted effort. But now all the planning, talking and building work is over – it is time for Gonzo to perform. From the moment we first got the competition schedule, this match has been highlighted. Three rookie teams in an alliance 28

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together against three veteran teams? The schedule makers are not going soft on us. The odds grow significantly longer when a key part slips out of our throwing mechanism and one of our drive motors starts misbehaving 40 minutes before match time. Our pit crew springs into action. Two mentors, Gary Britton and Dillan Sayers, go to work on the thrower. Students Derrick Tang ’15, Ava Karet ’15, Damone Miller ’17 and Jeff Britton ’17 work to reverse our bumper fabric from blue to red. John Tomczak ’14 and Mike Rapaport ’14 work to recalibrate the drive motors. Mentor Matthew Benjamin jumps in to re-crimp a faulty motor wire. Meanwhile, the scouting crew, led by students Tyler Kuhns ’14 and Rena Lyon ’14 and mentor Rebecca Wasmer, prepares information on the strengths of the opponents and how to counter them. After finishing with calibration and bumpers, the drive team of Derrick, Ava and John meet together with our alliance partners to plan strategy for the match.

The team at the Buckeye Regional after our award-winning performance

“Now queuing for match 53…” The pit announcer’s call puts us on notice. Time is running short, but Gonzo is coming back together. Fresh battery in. Check the bumpers. Set the intake arm to its start position. Reconnect wireless communication. Tighten the last bolts–and the “Great Gonzo” is ready for action again. But will it be enough for three rookies to prevail? Now the drive team takes center stage, setting up at their station on the far end behind the Plexiglas wall. The emcee introduces the team and waves the school flag. The countdown ends, and we watch with bated breath – will Gonzo go? As always, the match starts with an autonomous period; the robot acts on its programming to drive up against the low goal barrier, swing its intake arm out of the way, then throw the ball up… and IN! A good start for Gonzo and the rookie alliance. The trumpet sounds 10 seconds in, and the drivers step up to their joystick controls. Now the fun begins, as our alliance’s three

red robots maneuver against the opposing blues to gain possession of our ball and score goals. We start with a nice lead after the autonomous period, but give most of it back via a teammate’s inadvertent penalty…50 points to the other team! Gonzo, as always, is scooping the ball up off the floor with ease. He completes a toss over the truss…10 immediate points! Our partner pushes the ball into the low goal to finish off the cycle. Meanwhile, we run interference against the opposition, blocking their progress with some clever driving. The strategy talks are paying off, as our alliance is advancing the ball smoothly down the field, while hindering the other team at every turn. We complete a cycle… then a second… then a third… while the opposing alliance struggles to finish their first. The horn sounds and match ends.

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Spring/Summer 2014

Electric Mayhem team has reached out Thirty minutes ago, we had a robot to nearby schools to offer to conduct wearing blue bumpers that couldn’t robotics presentations. We are starting drive straight or throw. Our reda FIRST Lego League team in our own bumpered, straight-driving, pinpointNichols Middle School, headed by accurate Gonzo has just teamed up to Middle School faculty member, Tom deliver a comfortable 40-point victory Maynor ’81, with students from the high for the rookie alliance! school serving as team mentors. Our This is just a glimpse into the action students have tutored and organized and excitement of FIRST robotics. clothing drives. In recognition of these This international competition broader efforts, we were recognized at features robots built from scratch both regional competitions with the to compete in a unique game that Rookie All-Star award! is unveiled in a worldwide kickoff This award qualifies us to attend the ceremony on the first Saturday in FIRST Championship in St. Louis, Mo., January. After kickoff, teams have from April 23 to 26, 2014. The 400 best just over six weeks to design, build, FIRST teams are gathering to compete program and test their robot. Then, from around the world – from as far in regional competitions all over the away as Israel, Brazil and Australia. Four country, teams are randomly grouped separate arenas will see simultaneous in three-team alliances to compete action as 8,000 passionate and dedicated against each other. Enthusiastic high school students gather to test their crowds, elaborate mascots and conga mettle, and help each other out, on lines create an electric atmosphere the field of the Edward Jones Dome, for the competition, beginning with home of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams. They 100 qualification matches. Then will leave with new friends, having the top-ranked teams pick partners been challenged and inspired to test to form permanent alliances for their limits, deepen their knowledge, the elimination rounds, a series of and hold to the standard of gracious best-two-out-of-three matches in a professionalism. traditional tournament bracket. The success of the team is the product Not everything goes smoothly; of an extensive network. Our students, our intake arm gets stuck during one of course, are at the core. While the match, and the whole robot goes limp robot is at the center of the team, in the midst of another. The process of students are put to work not only on the troubleshooting and improving never technical tasks of designing, building ends. In between matches, judges visit and programming the robot, but also on our pit and speak to our team members the artistic tasks of creating team logos, about the process of making our robot, T-shirts and buttons; on the business its capabilities and our team activities tasks of creating a budget and business beyond building our robot. plan and writing an executive summary This year, we have competed at of team activities and achievements; the Buckeye Regional in Cleveland A. Derrick Tang ’15 gives Gonzo a last check before the start of and on the organization and leadership and the Finger Lakes Regional in the match. tasks of creating a scouting program Rochester. At Buckeye, we finished B. In the pit: mentors Dillan Sayers and Gary Britton with and planning its implementation. the qualification matches ranked students, Jeff Britton ’17 and Damone Miller ’17, get Gonzo A team of mentors with similarly 13th, 30 places higher than the ready for action. disparate expertise, from mechanical next-best rookie team. Against the C. Rena Lyon ’14 holds the board while Karim Hassanali ’15 engineering to programming, from stiffer competition of the Finger drills under the watchful eye of mentor Les Whitt. sewing and welding to marketing and Lakes Regional, we finished the publicity, leads the way. Large corporate sponsors such as NASA qualifications ranked 22nd, but our quality of play earned us a and Lockheed-Martin make our work possible, along with generous selection by the 4th ranked alliance for the elimination rounds. support from Nichols. Local companies play a key role too, offering We won our quarterfinals before being eliminated by the eventual money, fabrication expertise and bagels to keep the work going. We championship alliance in the semifinals–not bad for a rookie year. are grateful to Brava Metal Supply, Atech-SEH, WSF Industries, FIRST is an organization with lofty goals. Its mission is Unifrax and Bagel Jay’s for their hometown support of our efforts to transform culture by promoting cooperation, gracious in this inaugural season. We are always looking to add partners, professionalism and service while working “for inspiration and whether new adult mentors with skills to share with the team or recognition of science and technology.” As such, the highest awards new corporate partners to support our work. Please be in touch at each regional go to the teams that do the most to promote these with me if you are interested in joining the fun or learning more values by assisting other teams, by serving in their community (pcoburn@nicholsschool.org)! and by working as agents of change in the larger world. Nichols’ 30

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A. C.

Alumni Holiday Gathering B.

By Blake Walsh ’98 On Monday, Dec. 23, Nichols held its annual Alumni Holiday Gathering, welcoming back a crowd of over 250 to the Rand Dining Room. For the second year, the December holiday gathering served as a festive cocktail reception, giving alumni, faculty and friends from Buffalo and out of town a chance to catch up with one another. Although no formal program was featured this year, Head of School, Bill Clough, welcomed all in attendance and on behalf of his wife, Nannie, thanked alumni young and old for making the couple’s transition to Nichols and to Buffalo an enjoyable one.

A. Rand Dining Room B. Sarah Draper ’08, Courtney Kirbis and Elisa Peebles ’08 C. Matt Winkel ’06, Kelsey Ryan ’10 and Larry Desautels D. Andrew Stegemann ’05, Annmarie Cellino ’05 and Erin Hart ’03 E. Alex Epstein ’08, Hannah Epstein ’10 and Jonah Epstein ’12

Spring/Summer 2014

The 2014 Lucy and Sherman Maisel ’35

General Information Test At Nichols, the Upper School’s General Information Test – a tradition that began in the School’s 1911 yearbook, Verdian – is compiled from questions submitted by the Nichols faculty on an annual basis and is administered to students in grades 9-12 as a measure of general knowledge. The highest score of record is 81, earned by four-time winner George Binette ’78. The GIT is created and coordinated by English teacher, Richard Stratton. It is funded through the generosity of the late Sherman J. Maisel ’35 and his wife, Lucy Maisel. 1. New York City’s most colorful and flamboyant 20th century mayor was 16 inches shorter than Bill de Blasio and served from 1933 to 1945. He was Fiorello _________________. 2. The first Roman Catholic nominated by a major party for President of the United States lost the 1928 election to Republican Herbert Hoover, after serving four two-year terms as New York’s governor. Name him. ________________________________ 3. Mayor of Buffalo in 1881, he was elected President of the United States three years later. He was ______________________________. 4. The first New Yorker elected President succeeded Andrew Jackson after the 1836 election. He was a native of Kinderhook, in the Hudson Valley. Name him.

7. Which two cities in Australia have hosted the Summer Olympics? ________________________________ 8. Once the third-largest city in the former Soviet Union, this city is now the capital of Ukraine. ________________________________ 9. What small island nation in the Caribbean is second only to the United States as a source of Major League baseball players? Cuba Dominican Republic Haiti Jamaica Virgin Islands 10. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has just become the third British monarch to reign for 60 years or more. The others were Queen Victoria and one of the Georges. Which one? ________________________________

________________________________ 5. Name the largest city in New Zealand. Auckland Christchurch Dunedin Wellington 6. Rio de Janeiro is the second-largest city in Brazil. Name the largest. ________________________________

11. A LUPINE individual has the characteristics of a Cat Dog Fox Rat Wolf 12. A GAUNTLET is a device meant to defend in battle the _________________. Breast Foot Hand Head Knee

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15. Which Hawaiian Island is the site of Honolulu? _______________________________. 16. Juvenal was a Roman poet whose specialty was Elegy Epic Pastoral Panegyric Satire 17. The one non-fictional country visited by Gulliver in his “Travels” was Brazil Chile Japan Nepal Switzerland 18. SANCHO PANZA was the earthy and practical squire of what idealistic and visionary fictional knight? ________________________________ 19. MOOSEHEAD and SEBAGO are the two largest lakes in what New England state? ________________________________

13. Which of the United States is the Green Mountain State?

14. A German-born 18th century musical composer named William Herschel was also the discoverer of which planet in our solar system? Mars Pluto Saturn Uranus Venus

GIT 20. Though unrelated by blood, two of the greatest Academy Award-winning Hollywood actresses, named Audrey and Katharine, had the same surname. What was it? ________________________________ 21. Which of these great 19th century novelists was an equally distinguished poet? Jane Austen Charles Dickens George Eliot Thomas Hardy Anthony Trollope 22. Who was the only U.S. President who also served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? John Adams John Quincy Adams Herbert Hoover James K. Polk William Howard Taft 23. ARTURO TOSCANINI (1867-1957) was a world-famous ______________. General Musician Painter Poet Scientist 24. Of what Asian country is Katmandu the capital?

29. What is the capital of VENEZUELA? ________________________________ 30. Feb. 12, 1809 was the birth date of both the greatest American President and the greatest British scientist of the 19th century. Name them. (half credit available) ________________________________

________________________________ 32. In the Old Testament what younger brother used trickery to gain his father’s birthright from his older brother, Esau? ________________________________ 33. To whom does Shakespeare’s Hamlet address the line “Assume a virtue if you have it not.”? ________________________________

25. Which two nations occupy the Iberian Peninsula? ________________________________

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26. U.S. Senator from Mississippi, and Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce, he became President of the Confederate States of America. Name him.

35. What major league baseball team plays its home games in Wrigley Field?

________________________________ 27. St. Petersburg, Russia, founded by Peter the Great in the early 18th century, was known as ________________ during the era of the Soviet Union. 28. Of what American state is HELENA the capital? ________________________________

________________________________ 40. Four men have become President of the United States after losing the national popular vote. Who was the most recent of these? ________________________________

31. By what name is Saul of Tarsus better known to religious history?

34. Which of these 5 large Australian cities is located on the coast of the Indian Ocean? Adelaide Brisbane Melbourne Perth Sydney

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39. Name the long-time senator from Massachusetts who is now U.S. Secretary of State.

41. Which Mediterranean island was Napoleon Bonaparte’s first place of exile? Capri Elba Malta Rhodes St. Helena 42. Which bodily organ is affected by myopia? ________________________________ 43. Which poetic foot consists of a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables? ________________________________ 44. Which English sea-captain was the victim of the “Mutiny on the Bounty”? Aubry Bligh Cook Hornblower Nelson 45. The chief mutineer who organized that mutiny was FLETCHER _______________________________.

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46. By what more familiar name is the Civil War Battle of Manassas known?

36. XENOPHOBIA is a hatred of

________________________________

_______________________________.

47. Which Massachusetts city contains the National Whaling Museum? Fairhaven Holyoke Lowell New Bedford Provincetown

37. In what Olympic sport is an EPEE used? ________________________________ 38. If a man’s weight increases from 13 stone to 200 pounds, how much weight (in pounds) has he gained? ________________________________

48. In which of these years did Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party seize political power of Germany? 1924 1928 1931 1933 1936 Spring/Summer 2014

49. In four terms as U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had three different Vice Presidents. The first was John Nance Garner and the third Harry S. Truman. Who was the second? James Byrnes Tom Connolly Joseph P. Kennedy Henry A. Wallace 50. What was the name of the wooded area where the legendary hero, Robin Hood, “hung out”? ________________________________ 51. He was a Senator from Ohio, son of a former president, and known in the ’40s and ’50s as “Mr. Republican,” but lost the 1952 Presidential nomination to General Dwight Eisenhower. He was Robert A. ______________________________. 52. In 1941, despite Ted Williams’ .406 batting average, the writers selected Joe DiMaggio, who hit in _____ straight games as MVP. 37 46 56 61 70 53. Ex-Senator CHUCK HAGEL is Secretary of Defense in President Obama’s Cabinet. What was the original name of this Cabinet Post (up to 1940)? ________________________________ 54. CHOBANI’S __________ ______________ is currently a hugely popular, best-selling food product in the U.S. 55. POLYPHEMOS was the name of a giant ________________ who captured and devoured several of Odysseus’ mariners. 56. What was the surname of Scotland’s “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” who tried to gain his country’s throne in the 18th century? Dinwoodie Duncan MacTavish Percy Stuart

57. GARRY TRUDEAU’s brilliant satire comic strip, _________________, which he has drawn for over 40 years, will (alas!) no longer appear in daily papers. 58. California has had two female U.S. Senators since the 1990s. Fill in the surname of each (half credit available): Barbara ____________ and Dianne ______________.

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68. APHRODITE, the Greek Goddess of Love, was called ___________ by the Romans. 69. What is the world’s tallest QUADRUPED? ________________________________

59. The first openly gay woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate, TAMMY BALDWIN, won her seat in the mid-western state of

70. What three colors appear on the flag of Ireland? (no partial credit)

________________________________

60. A couple of elections earlier, Minnesota elected to Congress KEITH ELLISON, a ____________ and a Progressive.

71. The flightless Great ________ (three letters) was a now extinct diving bird found in the colder parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

61. Which of these 20th century Russians was not known primarily as a musician? Emil Gillels Maxim Gorky David Oistrakh Sergei Prokofiev 62. HILLARY HAHN is a contemporary ___________________. Actress Athlete Ballet Dancer Violinist

72. “NINOTCHKA” (1939) was the last film made by the enigmatic and beautiful, privacy-seeking Swedish film actress, _____________ __________________. 73. What U.S. vice president shot a political opponent to death in an 1804 duel? ________________________________

63. Which of these novels of the sea was not written by MERMAN MELVILLE? “Billy Budd” “Benito Cereno” “Lord Jim” “Redburn” “White-Jacket”

74. The dead victim in this duel had been the first Secretary of the Treasury in U.S. history. Name him.

64. Which of these exercises is not aerobic? Cycling Rowing Swimming Walking Weight Lifting

75. ANNE BRADSTREET (16121672) was the first significant female ___________ in American history.

65. A “SIDEWINDER” in the American West is a slang term for a _______________________________. 66. What was the surname of the French husband-and-wife team who discovered radium? ________________________________

67. On which Aegean island did the woman poet Sappho live? ________________________________

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76. HANS HOLBEIN was perhaps the most celebrated German ______________ of the 16th century. 77. FREDERICK REMINGTON (18611909) was a celebrated American ______________ of the late 19th century.

GIT 78. CAPE BRETON ISLAND is a portion of which Canadian province? ________________________________ 79. HAWKS, EALES, VULTURES and OWLS are carnivorous birds belonging to the category of ___________________s. 80. DON GIOVANNI was perhaps the most celebrated opera composed by that musical genius, _________________________. 81. In competitive diving the TUCK position requires a bend of the _________s, the PIKE position a bend of the __________. 82. “Big Bill” Tilden was in 1950 voted the greatest athlete in his particular sport for the first half of the 20th century. What was the sport? ________________________________ 83. Of which Canadian province is Winnipeg the capital and most populous city? Alberta British Columbia Manitoba Ontario Saskatchewan 84. SAINT JOHN and SAINT JOHN’S are each the largest cities of the Canadian Maritime Province. Which city is the largest of which Province? ________________________________ 85. What Texas city is across the Rio Grande River from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico? Del Rio El Paso Laredo McAllen San Antonio 86. “Three Places in New England” is a musical composition by the American __________ _________. Irving Berlin George Gershwin Charles Ives Cole Porter 87. LOUIS SULLIVAN was a 19th century American ____________, some of whose work can be found in Buffalo.

88. Who was JoAnn Falletta’s most recent predecessor as Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic? Semyon Bychkov Lukas Foss Julius Rudel Maximiano Valdes 89. In what area did these 19th century Americans first gain fame and prominence: Horace Greeley, William Randolph Hearst and James Gordon Bennett? ________________________________ 90. After 27 years of confinement, spent mostly in his country’s maximum security prison at Robben Island, he emerged to be elected president of that country. Name him. ________________________________ 91. He served as Presidents Abraham Lincoln’s and Andrew Johnson’s Secretary of State, and negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Name this upstate New Yorker. ________________________________ 92. She was burned at the stake as a heretic in 1431 AD and canonized as a Saint in 1920. Name her.

96. The only two states to vote for Republican Alf Landon in 1936 against FDR in the latter’s landslide electoral victory have since become two of the “bluest” of Democratic states. Both are in New England. They are ____________ and ______________. 97. A celebrated boxing film of the 1980s was “Raging Bull,” which starred Robert DeNiro as former world middleweight champion _________ ___________. Rocky Graziano Al Hostak Jake LaMotta Tony Zale 98. What widely watched and controversial TV News Service solemnly proclaims itself to be “fair and balanced”? ________________________________ 99. A native of Niagara Falls with a stadium named after him and a nickname of “The Barber,” he once achieved a record of 23 wins and six losses with the former New York Giants. ________________________________ 100. The most famous of the stage comedies written by the brilliant and notorious Oscar Wilde was titled “The Importance of Being ______________________________.”

________________________________ 93. What is the world’s largest island in area? ________________________________

To check your answers, please see page 42.

94. Leader of the American Socialist Party, he gained over 900,000 votes in the presidential election of 1920 after being imprisoned for opposing U.S. entry into World War I. ________________________________ 95. Shakespeare’s rollicking, farcical comedy “The Taming of the Shrew” became the basis for a rollicking American musical comedy by Cole Porter. What was it? “Carousel” “Kiss Me, Kate” “Oklahoma!” “Showboat” “Sound of Music”

Spring/Summer 2014

Collaborative Composting By Genevieve Carbone and Josh Ring Nichols kicked off the 2013-2014 school year with a new school-wide compost program made possible through the Big Green Initiative, the School’s wide-ranging approach to campus environmental sustainability. Through a partnership with the Community Action Organization, the Nichols community enhanced and improved upon the existing program. Nichols implemented a compost program eight years ago, composting small amounts of material from the kitchen and faculty rooms, and using a worm composter to break it down. The compost was used in campus gardens, faculty gardens and compost tea was prepared and used to fertilize campus trees. The latest editions to the program include disposable compostable cutlery, plates, bowls, cups and trash bags in addition to new bins, all made possible through a grant from HSBC Eco-Schools, supplemented with resources from The McCarthy Fund. The new flatware and utensils have been utilized at special events on campus and during many school lunches, reducing our carbon footprint as the utensils are able to break down whether they are thrown in a compost bin or in the regular garbage. The new bins were placed in the dining room and the kitchen to collect scraps of food and paper for compost. Students coordinate collecting the scraps and prepare the waste for pickup. Each week, members from CAO pick up the compost material from Nichols and other area organizations and store the material at their facility. Once the compost breaks down, it is able to be utilized at their facility as fertilizer for the crops that are grown. Starting with the last school year, Nichols students have volunteered to work at CAO’s urban farm, where they plant crops and learn how to utilize the compost. The urban farm strives to produce chemical-free produce in “food deserts”–places where access to grocery stores is limited. Nichols and the CAO continue to cultivate the relationship, as Nichols used a grant from Young Adults Environmental Leadership Program for upgrades at the facility. Nichols students will continue their work at the CAO and have made plans to educate Nichols community members on the compost program through creative efforts like videos and signage around campus.

Photos by Alex Fisher ’15

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A. Picking up where they left off in the fall, Upper School faculty member, Kevin Powers, with Natalie Jusko ’16 and Brady Stevens ’15 B. Students place compost material on the pile at the CAO in the fall. C. Jason Shine ‘17 weeds the urban garden. D. Students lay down a tarp at CAO. D.

Spring/Summer 2014

Sport Focus

The team gathers for a photo shortly after securing the Manhattan Cup.

“Why Not Us?” Nichols Boys Basketball’s Unforgettable Turnaround Leads to Magical Postseason Run By George Alexander, Boys’ Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach Just 13 games into the season, Nichols Boys’ Basketball Head Coach, John Reinholz, found himself in a dilemma. The Vikings, who had come into the season with high hopes and high expectations, had just lost three straight—at home against Bishop Timon/St. Jude, St. Mary’s of Lancaster and on the road at the Park School—and had fallen to one game above .500. The team had suffered early losses, including a blowout loss to Lancaster in the season tipoff tournament and a blowout loss in Long Island to Holy Trinity High School. They led Olean for about 31 minutes and 53 seconds before falling to the Huskies. What concerned Coach Reinholz most, however, was that his team had yet to develop an identity and hadn’t quite discovered what it meant to be tough. 38

Nichols School

In one of the greatest turnarounds, the team began to come together in the second half of the season and their play began to pick up. Their defensive intensity was at an all-time high. Their confidence was brimming, and they became one unit, characterized by hard play, lockdown defense and an uncanny ability to seemingly weather any storm. From the Park loss that left the team at 7 and 6, the team would lose only two more games against Monsignor Martin opponents: a tightly played 13-point loss at Canisius High School and another tightly played loss at St. Mary’s. A convincing win over St. Joe’s Collegiate, coupled with momentum-building wins over Cardinal O’Hara and hot-shooting Niagara Catholic, began to galvanize the team to the point that they were an inner

circle, seemingly impervious to all the talk that surrounded them. forth battle for the first 30 minutes of play, Nichols reigned supreme After beating Park in an overtime thriller in their home finale, by pulling away in the last two minutes of play, capturing the the team prepared for the Manhattan Cup playoffs, adopting the school’s third Manhattan Cup in eight years. Cameron was named mantra of Coach Reinholz, “Why Not Us?” the Manhattan Cup Most Valuable Player as he was also announced The team, led by a talented and experienced senior core of Greg as a First Team All-Catholic selection. Chris was voted Second White ’14, Seth Meyer ’14, Jack Vance ’14, Jordan Tyson ’14 and Team All-Catholic. Shouting “Why Not Us?” the team prepared Tom Nuttle ’14, began to turn the corner, paced by the stellar to continue its hunt for a state championship. By virtue of winning play all year of juniors, Cameron Lewis ’15, Chris Miner ’15 and the Manhattan Cup, Nichols earned the right to contend for the transfer, Tanner Schmit ’15. Chris reached the 1,000 career points NYSCHSAA Class A Championship, but would have to complete milestone in the Vikings’ first-round game against Park, one that its “Revenge Tour” against a team that handled them earlier in would become the year: Holy a breakthrough Trinity. After a game for the team. dogfight for much During the regular of the first three season, they had and half quarters, lost to Park by two Holy Trinity pulled at Park, and then away by sinking all beat Park by two in of its free throws overtime at home. down the stretch The third game was and prevailing nowhere near as 66-55. Cameron close. After taking scored his 1,000th a 27-3 lead into the career point on second quarter and a 4th quarter play not allowing the that pulled Nichols Pioneers to record within two points a basket until a before some clutch minute had passed three-point and in the second free throw shooting quarter, Nichols down the stretch coasted to a 66-51 by Holy Trinity. win. The win set The loss brought up a rematch with Nichols’ magical Canisius, the heavy season to an end, favorite not only to leaving the team Jack Vance ’14 holds up the team’s Manhattan Cup plaque. win the Manhattan with a final record Cup, but also to of 19-9. win the state championship. Though the team was not able to win a state championship, the Watching the Nichols-Canisius game in the semifinals of the players, coaches and fans have every right to be proud of all they Manhattan Cup tournament this year, one would be hard-pressed have accomplished. They went from overlooked to unexpected to figure out which team was the heavy favorite. Nichols came out, champions. They came together and played incredible team unafraid, well-prepared and focused. The team used stifling defense basketball. From the starting five to the last five off the bench, the to frustrate the Crusaders, taking their star players out of the game 2013-2014 Nichols Boys’ Varsity Basketball team was one in which as Nichols built a late double-digit lead, withstanding one final every player felt as important as the next! They set the foundation spurt from Canisius to complete what many reporters called the for next season, and they showed everyone that there was no real biggest upset in Western New York since Sweet Home beat the answer to the question that had come to embody them in the Jonny Flynn-led Niagara Falls Wolverines in 2007 (interestingly, second half of the season: “Why Not Us?” Nichols also won the Manhattan Cup that year). Throughout the game, the team repeated their mantra: “Why Not Us?” The win propelled Nichols into the spotlight and into the Manhattan Cup finals at Canisius College’s Koessler Athletic Center against Bishop Timon/St. Jude, led by Monsignor Martin League Co-Player of the Year, Dante Williams. After a back and

Spring/Summer 2014

After Nichols

Trevor M. Fuller ’85 By Blake Walsh ’98 Trevor M. Fuller ’85 is the Chairman of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners in Mecklenburg County, the most populated county in the state of North Carolina. Following a lengthy and formative career focused solely on practicing law, this self-proclaimed new kid on the political block reflects on his life’s journey that began in working class Buffalo, and how Nichols played a profound role in his upbringing. Tell us about your life and career. After graduating from [Georgetown University] law school in 1992, I returned to Buffalo for a time to practice as an associate with the law firm Phillips Lytle. I had met the woman who would become my wife, Camille Davidson, in law school, and when I came back to Buffalo, she stayed in D.C. My wife is originally from Oxford, Miss., so I knew that living in Buffalo would have proven a hardship for her. So, like in most marriages, we compromised…and I moved back to D.C. A couple years later, we had our first child, our son, and decided that we needed to live somewhere more conducive to raising a family. After much research, deliberation, personal visits and preparation, we decided in 2000 to move to Charlotte, N.C. We’ve been here ever since. We had our daughter in 2002, and she is fond of reminding us that she is the only native Charlottean in the family. Meanwhile, after practicing with a small law firm in D.C., I decided to start my own law practice in 1998. I’ve had my own law practice for the past 16 years, although I did have a law partner for a few years. My practice primarily involves litigation of employment and business and commercial disputes. In 2012, I decided to run for public office, and was elected as a county commissioner at large in Mecklenburg County (where Charlotte sits). As an at-large representative, I represent residents in all parts of the county, some 1 million people. In December 2013, my colleagues on the board of county commissioners elected me as Chairman, the position I currently hold.

Where did you go to college? I graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., with a degree in English literature and a minor in Spanish in 1989. After that, I earned my law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1992. How did Nichols prepare you for college and life beyond college? I tell people that my time at Nichols was absolutely transformative in my life. There, I learned not only academic rigor, but I also received a cultural and social education. Every day I went to Nichols, it was as if I was transported to a different world: a world of possibility and accomplishment, and of self-realization. Richard Stratton pushed all of us to write passionately with power and precision. Doug Parker, my debate coach, was essential in developing big, effective voices. He’d tell us that you’ve got to be distinguishable when you talk. You can’t just say things without passion, without feeling. Who notices you when you’re merely listing off points? He knew the key to winning—you don’t win debate tournaments being just like everybody else. Did anything from your time at Nichols inspire your career path? Yes. Being on the debate team was the specific thing that caused me to decide that I would be a lawyer. What advice do you have for others who may want to work in your field? In light of the many changes in our profession, I always tell young people to make sure that they really want to be a lawyer, and not to use law school as a default. It is simply too much work unless you really have a passion. Having said that, being a lawyer opens up a new way to look at the world that is quite empowering. It is no accident that a number of CEOs of large corporations are lawyers. What is your favorite Nichols memory? Ski Club on Friday evenings. What do you like to do for fun/volunteer work? I still love tennis, when I have time to play, and I still play the piano.

Nichols School

Save the Date!

2014 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Friday, Sept. 26 The awards ceremony will take place in the Flickinger Performing Arts Center, with a dinner reception to follow in the Rand Dining Room. Invitations will be mailed this summer. All alumni and friends of Nichols are welcome to attend! Congratulations to the 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees:

Mike Quinlan ’64

Hank DePerro ’66

Fred Hunt ’69

Ron Killinger ’72

John Mineo ’72

Michael Sullivan ’80

Paul Danieu ’82

Derek Laub ’89

More information on the Athletic Hall of Fame can be found at: www.nicholsschool.org/ alumni/athletichalloffame Meghan Sittler ’94

Sarah Kloepfer McLynn ’97

Spring/Summer 2014

Nichols School

SPACE IS LIMITED! You can reserve your spot now by emailing your party’s name(s) to Blake Walsh ’98, Director of Alumni Relations, at bwalsh@nicholsschool.org. One non-alumnus per foursome is permitted. Questions? Call Blake at 716.332.5164.

www.nicholsschool.org/alumnigolf Reconnect with your alma mater, spend a day with old friends, and make new ones while enjoying a great day of golf at Orchard Park Country Club. Online registration will be available this summer. Alumni can register a foursome, a twosome or a single.

Monday, Aug. 11, 2014 Orchard Park Country Club

Registration includes: • Golf • Cart • Practice facilities • Prizes • On-course rangers • Scoring and hospitality from OPCC staff • Locker room facilities with attendants • BBQ lunch on the patio • 2-hour open bar for cocktails and networking after your round • Steak or chicken dinner with dessert

Second Annual Alumni Golf Day Nichols School General Information Test 2014 – Answer Sheet

1. La Guardia 2. Alfred E. (AC) Smith 3. Grover Cleveland 4. Martin Van Buren 5. Auckland 6. São Paulo 7. Melbourne and Sydney 8. Kiev 9. Dominican Republic 10. George III: 1760 - 1820 11. Wolf 12. Hand 13. Vermont 14. Uranus 15. Oahu 16. Satire 17. Japan 18. Don Quixote 19. Maine 20. Hepburn 21. Thomas Hardy 22. William Howard Taft 23. Musician

24. Nepal 25. Spain and Portugal 26. Jefferson Davis 27. Leningrad 28. Montana 29. Caracas 30. Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin

31. St. Paul 32. Jacob 33. To his mother, Gertrude 34. Perth 35. Chicago Cubs 36. Foreigners 37. Fencing 38. 18 pounds 39. John Kerry 40. George W. Bush in 2000 41. Elba 42. The eye 43. Dactyl 44. Bligh 45. Christian 46. Bull Run 47. New Bedford 48. 1933 49. Henry A. Wallace

50. Sherwood Forest 51. Taft 52. 56 53. Secretary of War 54. Greek yogurt 55. Cyclops 56. Stuart 57. Doonesbury 58. Boxer and Feinstein 59. Wisconsin 60. Muslim 61. Maxim Gorky 62. Violinist 63. Lord Jim 64. Weight lifting 65. Rattlesnake 66. Curie 67. Lesbos 68. Venus 69. The giraffe 70. Green, white, orange 71. Auk 72. Greta Garbo 73. Aaron Burr 74. Alexander Hamilton 75. Poet 76. Painter

77. Painter 78. Nova Scotia 79. Raptors 80. Mozart 81. Knees, waist 82. Tennis 83. Manitoba 84. New Brunswick (Saint John) and Newfoundland (Saint John’s) 85. El Paso 86. Charles Ives 87. Architect 88. Maximiano Valdes 89. Newspaper publishing 90. Nelson Mandela 91. William H. Seward 92. Joan of Arc 93. Greenland 94. Eugene V. Debs 95. “Kiss Me, Kate” 96. Maine and Vermont 97. Jake LaMotta 98. Fox News 99. Sal Maglie 100. Earnest

Appreciate Your Appreciated Property Should I give stock or cash? In spite of the recent market turbulence, some of your stocks still maintain a fair amount of appreciation. Imagine you’re considering using some of that stock to make a gift to Nichols School, instead of writing a check. But, you are wondering if it’s better to sell the stock and donate the proceeds, or donate the shares themselves. Appreciated stock should be donated, not cashed in. Why? If you’re selling the stock and plan to give us the cash proceeds, you will still be liable for capital gains tax on the appreciation—a needless reduction in the net amount you can give away. As an example, say that you hold $50,000 worth of X Co. stock that you bought many years ago for $10,000. Selling the stock, even to donate the proceeds, would trigger a capital gains tax on that $ 40,000 gain. With tax on long-term capital gain property ranging anywhere from 15%-20% depending on income bracket, that means a $6,000-$8,000 tax on your $50,000 sale proceeds. Additionally, families with an adjusted gross income in excess of $ 250,000 (or $200,000, if single) will pay a 3.8% surtax on all net investment income. If you donate the stock directly to Nichols, your gift and charitable deduction will be based on the full $50,000 value of the shares. (Note: Your actual gift amount will be the average of the high and the low of the stock on the date of transfer).

What if I need the income from my stocks? You can make a gift of appreciated securities, and replace or increase the dividend income. Life-income gifts provide a stream of income to you and/or other beneficiaries you designate. You may wish to consider a charitable remainder trust that can increase your annual income while making a significant gift to Nichols. Let us help you craft a gift using appreciated securities that makes good financial sense for you. We look forward to discussing the various options available to you.

For more information, please contact Leslie S. Garcia, Director of Development at 716.332.5163 or lgarcia@nicholsschool.org. This information is intended to provide general gift planning information. As always, Nichols School recommends that you consult with your own legal and financial advisors before making any gift.

Boston Alumni Gathering April 11, 2014

Hosted by the Alumni Association at the Downtown Harvard Club in Boston 44

Nichols School

A. Daniel Broderick, Rahul Gupta ’01, Elizabeth Hardner Hannick ’01 and J.D. Hannick B. Chris Kennedy ’77, Randy Fling ’75, Tim Dillon ’75, David Alexander ’75 and Brian Dillon ’76 C. Donna Nesselbush ’80, Bonnie Padwa ’79 and Darby Johnson ’79 D. Mary McKernan, Paul Tortorella (former faculty) and Peter Petri ’89

Washington, D.C. Alumni Gathering

A. Alice Barron Kahl ’84, Ellen Considine Miller ’81, Kelli Myree ’81 and Michael Miller B. Peter Klein ’84, Bill Clough, Allison LeVan Gersch ’84, Bill Duggan ’84 and Deena Kotlewski ’88 C. Bridget Rochester ’02, George Matthews ’01, Nannie Clough and Andrew Constantine ’00

Dec. 4, 2013

D. Tad Brown ’95, Regan Marsh ’95 and Greg Desautels ’95

Hosted by the Alumni Association at the Cosmos Club in Washington

Spring/Summer 2014

Los Angeles Alumni Gathering Feb. 13, 2014

Hosted by the Alumni Association at The Buffalo Club in Santa Monica 46

Nichols School

A. Colleen Heidinger ’02 and Sarah Maloney Baldwin ’98 B. James Williams ’04, Anna Whistler ’07 and Lucy Sears ’06 C. Brett Zatulove ’76 and Bill Clough

New York City Alumni Gathering

A. Adam Greenberger ’89, Kyle Hess ’99, John Mascari ’04 and Nannie Clough B. Amy Blum Houston ’85, Dinesh Maneyapanda ’90 and Frits Abell ’90

April 17, 2014

C. Robert Rahn ’66, Tom Anderson ’67 and Joseph Kaming ’52 D. Chris Kercher ’97, Bill Clough, Eric Formen ’97, Nick Amigone ’98 and James Gutow ’97

Hosted by Adam Greenberger ’89 at Judith Charles Gallery in Manhattan

Spring/Summer 2014

San Francisco Alumni Gathering

A. Kate Schapiro ’76, Peter McCarthy ’65 and Nannie Clough B. Andy MacDonald ’90, Colleen Serafin ’81 and Rich May ’92 C. Bob Lentz ’62 and Carl Yerkovich ’75 D. Ingrid Lund ’11, Jeremy Baird ’98, Kyle Walsh ’95 and Rebecca Goodstein

Feb. 12, 2014

E. Tom Keiser ’68 and Mike McGee ’87

Hosted by Chris Wilkens ’89 and his wife, Susan, at their home in San Francisco

G. Liz Demakos ’05, Lindsay Mayfield ’03, Bill Clough and Mike Aylward ’00

Nichols School

F. Ted Cotsen ’90, Mike Daley ’84, Betsy Billings Wright ’91 and Jane Lee ’85

CLASS NOTES

1931

1943

1940

1947

Arthur Hengerer celebrated his 100th birthday in May 2013 and his 72nd anniversary in August 2013! Art lives in Slingerlands, N.Y., near Albany.

Head of School, Bill Clough, visited with one of Nichols’ biggest fans, Ted Roth, at his home in Denver, Colo., in December. Ted married his longtime companion, Judy Hock, on Jan. 9, 2014.

David Howard writes: “70th Reunion was great! I also had a dinner party that weekend with the ’43 Sem alumnae.”

A performance space in the Flea Theater in New York City was recently named for playwright, A.R. “Pete” Gurney. The Flea Theater is an Off-Off Broadway theatre founded in 1995 by artistic director, Jim Simpson, and his wife, actress, Sigourney Weaver. Following a large donation from the theater’s founders, the Flea will be moving to a new location (20 Thomas St. in Tribeca) that will include three performance spaces, in addition to offices and costume and scene shops. The theatre space with 72 seats will be named “The Pete” in honor of Pete Gurney, who has had eight works produced at the Flea. Pete’s production of “Family Furniture” was most recently running this past winter at the Flea.

1948

Wolcott Johnson writes from Brunswick, Maine: “Life continues to cause me to wallow with delight in Maine, as there is very little about living here that is not to like. I was pleased to have a visit from Toby and Alma Strachan this past summer in Brunswick, where my late wife and I moved to in 2003 from Wilton, Conn.”

1949

Bill Donaldson met up with Bill and Nannie Clough during Nichols’ New York City alumni reception in April.

In Memoriam Alumni

Friends

Rev. William F. Egelhoff ’36 – May 5, 2013 John H. Evans, Jr. ’82 – May 27, 2013 David Y. Parker ’49 – July 17, 2013 Sarah Hannan ’69 – Oct. 8, 2013 Colin M. Wegner ’11 – Dec. 9, 2013 David P. Howard ’71 – Dec. 20, 2013 Randolph L. Robb ’49 – Dec. 21, 2013 Sheldon Thompson III ’40 – Jan. 9, 2013 John L. Truscott ’45 – Jan. 22, 2014 Peter B. Flickinger ’47 – Jan. 23, 2014 Charles “Jack” Hahn ’45 – Feb. 24, 2014 Frederick “Fritz” Jerauld ’52 – April 16, 2014 Allen Raymond ’41 – May 1, 2014

Janet Ford – Oct. 27, 2013 – Grandmother of Anna ’19 and Sarah ’20 Sauer; motherin-law of faculty member, Lisa Sauer Hilda Koren – Nov. 27, 2013 – Mother of Bruce Koren ’69; grandmother of Emily Koren ’98 Peter Umbras – Jan. 3, 2014 – Father of Sophie Umbras ’11 Adrian Vladutiu – Jan. 9, 2014 – Father of Christina Vladutiu ’93 and Catherine Vladutiu Suczynski ’98 Eleanor Walsh Wertimer – Jan. 18, 2014 – Wife of Sidney Wertimer ’38; sister of John N. Walsh, Jr. ’39 and Edward F. Walsh ’43

Robert Seward – Jan. 20, 2014 – Grandfather of Kelly Seward ’13 Louis Reif – Jan. 22, 2014 – Former Trustee; father of Christopher Reif ’82 Ed Halady – Feb. 18, 2014 – Grandfather of Eddie Halady ’16 Chauncey Kennedy – Feb. 22, 2014 – Father of Michael Kennedy ’71, Lucie Kennedy Desautels ’71, Kathleen Kennedy Cardwell ’74 and Sharon Kennedy ’76; grandfather of Greg Desautels ’95 and Caralyn Desautels Foster ’99 Doris Cart – March 13, 2014 – Former Nichols librarian (1968-1978); wife of Edward Cart ’39; mother of Ted Cart ’69; cousin of Fritz Zeller ’47

Spring/Summer 2014

1954

Robert Nilson writes from New London, N.H.: “Still surviving after brain tumor and heart attacks. [I] thank God for blessing us with four children, 10 grandchildren and my 105-year-old mother!” Robert Travis writes: “With an investment banking wife who speaks nine languages, life has been full of constant travel and living abroad: 20 years in Hong Kong, five in the Philippines, three in Indonesia and lesser years in Singapore, Thailand, Mexico, Nicaragua and Bremen, Germany. Collecting Indian and Chinese art has been a major pastime.”

1957

Bob Carter writes: “Enjoying retirement in Southern Oregon, where we get 11 plays a year with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I also take classes through Osher Long Life Institute at Southern Oregon University. We travel to Vermont to see grandchildren, and around the west to see sights. Now we are working hard to get Oregon to give same-gender marriage to all.” Jim Cole is retired from the practice of orthopedic surgery as of March 2013 and is enjoying life as a new grandfather. Max Stachura writes: “Still full-time at Georgia Regents University. Sarah and I spend a week at the beach and take annual trips with our four grandchildren.”

1960

David Donaldson and wife, Dianna, welcomed their third granddaughter in 2013. Bruce Stoesser and his wife, Linda, write from Tulsa, Okla.: “Retired and enjoying every minute!”

1965

Bruce Keiser writes: “I would like to remind all ’65 classmates that our 50th Reunion is only one year away, so please begin your planning to gather in Buffalo in June of 2015. It’s a great chance to get together again in a city and at a school that have been revitalized since we left in 1965!”

Nichols School

1974

1979

Mike Mathews ’74 operated a special 4K (super high definition/super slow motion) camera for both men’s and women’s hockey for NBC at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. As Jerry Sullivan of The Buffalo News reported in his Olympics blog, “It’s the only 4K camera at the Olympics. Mathews handled the same camera for [NBC] at the Stanley Cup finals.” After Nichols, Mathews graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1978 and founded Scene & Herd Productions, a full-service broadcasting, advertising and corporate communications production company, in 1989. As he told Sullivan from Sochi in February, “It is a special honor as a sports cameraman to be hired to help bring the incredible Olympic events to the whole world. And maybe being a full-blooded Greek— the people credited with creating the modern Olympic Games—that feeling runs a bit deeper for me.”

RDML Dave Duryea recently took command of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. He oversees an organization of over 4,000 people leading the Navy’s fullspectrum research, development, test and evaluation, engineering, and fleet support center for submarine and undersea warfare systems.

Dion Birney writes: “After 20 years, [I] finally married my partner, Todd Olson, this past August [2013]. As we eloped, a group of Buffalo friends threw us a party in November, including Doug Swift, Pen Starke and Tom Meyers. I hope to see many at the June Reunion. Cheers!”

1976

Peter Marlette was elected to the Board of Directors of ALFA International, a global network of independent law firms, and will serve as Vice Chairman. Peter is Managing Partner of Damon Morey LLP in Buffalo.

1977

Katie Fretwell, a 1981 graduate of Amherst College who has served her alma mater’s Admission Office in various capacities for nearly 25 years, has been appointed Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at the college, effective July 1, 2014. Katie, currently the Dean of Admission, succeeds Amherst’s longtime Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Tom Parker, who will retire at the end of June. Katie will oversee all of the operations of both the Admission and Financial Aid offices at Amherst.

1981

Jennifer Jarvis Hamberger recently joined the Board of EPIC (Every Person Influences Children), a national not-forprofit dedicated to helping families, schools and communities raise children to become responsible and capable adults.

1984

Ellen Hassett Cahill was named Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Buffalo based not-for-profit theatre company, Road Less Traveled Productions.

1988

1989

Karen Burgess Chiantella was re-elected as President of the Trocaire College Alumni Board through 2015.

1990

Nanette Burstein directed “The Price of Gold,” an ESPN “30 for 30” film that debuted on Jan. 16 documenting the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan 1994 winter Olympics saga that captured the attention of the world. The film explores why Kerrigan was attacked and what/when Harding knew. Burstein is an acclaimed filmmaker whose work has won her several awards, including an Academy Award nomination for her documentary “On the Ropes,” two Emmy awards for “NY77,” and a Sundance Best Director award for “American Teen.” In 2010, she directed her first narrative feature for Warner Bros, “Going the Distance,” a romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore. Recently, Nanette directed episodes of television shows “New Girl” and “The Carrie Diaries.” Brad Kahn is working in a “Living Building” – the Bullitt Center – in Seattle, Wash., where he does communications work on climate, forests and cities. His son, Nico, is almost 2 years old, and daughter Ezra is 5. Brad writes: “Maybe Nichols’ next building could try out the Living Building Challenge (https://ilbi.org).”

Mike Shatzel’s gastropub, Blue Monk (727 Elmwood Ave.), was named the “best beercentric restaurant in New York State” in February by RateBeer.com, an international beer rating site driven by the beer reviews of more than 100,000 enthusiastic drinkers. As quoted in The Buffalo News on Feb. 4, Shatzel said the honor shows Buffalo “doesn’t have to take a back seat to New York City or any other place in the country. I’m very proud with what my staff and I have been able to accomplish in our short tenure on Elmwood.” Shatzel has also recently acquired the former Quaker Bonnet restaurant at 175 Allen St. and will be turning it into a place with “wild burgers and a world-class beer list,” as told to The Buffalo News in February. He aims to open by June 1. Nandita Shenoy was recently seen in a national commercial for IBM. Her latest stage production was in the world premiere of “Some Other Kind of Person” at Philadelphia’s InterAct Theater Company, where she was lucky enough to have Dinesh Maneyapanda in the audience one night.

1991

Daniel Montante, President of Montante Solar, was elected to the Arts Services Initiative of Western New York Inc. Board of Directors.

1992

Alexandra McPherson was honored as a member of Business First’s “40 under 40” at their annual Buffalo awards luncheon in November. Alexandra is Director of Advancement at Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, the only science-based, community-focused, advocacy organization in Western New York dedicated to protecting and restoring the quality and quantity of our water. Riverkeeper’s goal is “for everyone to have access to fishable, swimmable and drinkable waterways throughout the Buffalo Niagara region.” See story on page 16.

1993

Betsy Constantine was honored as a member of Business First’s “40 under 40” at their annual Buffalo awards luncheon in November. Betsy, a new member of the Nichols Alumni Board, is Vice President, Giving Strategies at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Chris Plumb is the head coach of the Carmel High School (Indiana) women’s varsity swim team that won the 201314 IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State Championships on Feb. 15, 2014, at Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis. The win is Carmel’s 28th consecutive State Championship title and Plumb’s 9th as coach. Carmel now stands a single title shy of the national high school all-sports record owned by the boys swim team of Punahou High School in Honolulu (Barack Obama’s alma mater), 1958-86.

1994

Meaghan Sittler gave birth to a boy, Sawyer Jacob Apps Sittler, on Feb. 27, 2014. Meaghan and her wife, Amy Apps, were married in June 2013, and reside in Burlington, Ontario. Baby Sawyer clocked in at 9 pounds, 1 ounce, with his aunt, Ashley Sittler ’99, standing bedside.

1995

Eve Moscato and her husband, Bryan Walker, welcomed their son, Kai Aspen Walker, this past year. Eve is an oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in San Francisco, and Bryan works at IDEO, an international design and innovation consulting firm. They love the outdoors and enjoy residing in the Bay Area.

1996

Evan Pozarny married Laura Lugash on Aug. 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, Calif. Evan is VP of Muselli Commerical Realtors in Santa Monica, Calif. Laura owns Optimal Wellness Labs of Brentwood, Calif. After enjoying their honeymoon in Greece and Italy, they now make their home in Brentwood.

Spring/Summer 2014

Greg Plumb and wife, Cassie, welcomed Vaughan Lawrence Plumb on March 11, 2014.

1998

Gina Wettlaufer married Walter Scott Tomenson III at the Lyford Cay Club in Nassau, Bahamas on Nov. 16, 2013. Many Nichols friends were in attendance: (left to right) Lori Decillis Tiedje ’95, Lindsay Hogan ’16, Caroline Hogan ’14, Kate Roach ’83, Teagyn Simon Weidner ’95, Melissa Marlette Kresse ’96, Linsey Snyder Walchalter ’97, Eric Termini ’97, Hannah Simon Schneider ’96, Brennan Keating ’94, Charlie Jacobs ’68, Walter Tomenson, Gina Wettlaufer ’98, David Talley ’71, Lindsay Sullivan ’99, Blair Griffin Kirwan ’99, Eddie Marlette ’99, Sarah Kriener Godshaw ’99, Spencer Carbone ’00, Jon Cox ’85, Melinda

1999

Gigi Gatewood is working as a commercial photographer and artist in New York City, where she also teaches at the International Center of Photography in Manhattan and Hostos Community College in the Bronx. She returned to her alma mater, Middlebury College, in January to teach a winter session course in photography, and in March, she exhibited photographic work developed during her Fulbright Fellowship in Trinidad and Tobago. Tristan Kwieciak married Marcie Anne Cook on Aug. 10 in St. George Catholic Church in Erie, Penn.

2001

Richard Gioia was named a principal in Lorraine Capital LLC, a private equity search fund. He is of counsel at Damon Morey LLP.

Kahle Constable ’83, Chris Rozanski ’95, Megan Carbone Steven ’96, Kevin Wyckoff ’64, Jennifer Wettlaufer Sednaoui ’79 and Kevin Rozanski ’96.

Save the Date! 2014 Homecoming Saturday, Sept. 27

Nichols School

2002

Star Davis received the award for the Best Newcomer at the 2013 Professional Lighting Design Convention, a biannual gathering that was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the fall of 2013. Star was honored for her design work at Carpenter Norris Consulting and at Arup in New York City, with her specialty in the field of daylight design. Star is also an adjunct instructor at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City.

Meg Angelakos Kaimakliotis ’02 and husband, Costas, became the proud parents of a daughter, Panayiota, on Feb. 17, 2014. The family resides in Manhattan.

2003

Falynn Koch has moved back to Buffalo to open a macaroni and cheese food truck called FallyMac. As described in The Buffalo News story in November 2013, Falynn’s truck offers different types of mac n’ cheese, featuring caramelized onions, creamy sausage, Cincinnati chili, flavored breadcrumbs, french fried onions and more. She also offers a vegan gluten-free version. You can find FallyMac on Facebook or Twitter (@FallyMac716) for information on daily locations and schedule.

Sarah Marlette married Chris Van Duyne on Sept. 14, 2013 at American Yacht Club in Rye, N.Y. Many Nichols friends and family were in attendance. (First Row) Eliza Cheyney ’09, Cooper Carbone ’03, Cary Marlette ’09, Lindsay Sullivan ’99; (second row) Perry Marlette ’00, Whitney Carbone Parker ’01, Sarah Marlette ’03, Spencer Carbone ’00, Megan Carbone Steven ’96, Melissa Marlette Kresse ’96, Grace Marlette ’09, Carolyn Potts Sullivan ’87, Laura Molyneux ’03; (third row) Bridget Williams ’03, Edward Marlette, Jr. ’64, Paul Sullivan ’88, Gray Schweitzer ’03, Peter Marlette, Jr. ’06, Eddie Marlette ’99; (last row) Michael Marlette ’71, Kevin Wyckoff ’64, Peter Sullivan ’92, Karr Marlette ’02, Peter Marlette ’76, Gina Wettlaufer ’98, Jack Hurley ’03 and John Hurley ’70

We announced Meghan McAdam’s marriage to Kevin Gomez (June 22, 2013 in East Aurora) in our previous issue. We now have a photo of Nichols alumni in attendance to share. Pictured left to right are: Julia Accetta ’10, Marie-Catherine Riekhof (German exchange student at Nichols, 2000-2001), Alie Wright ’02, Kevin Gomez, Meghan McAdam Gomez ’02, Daniel McAdam ’08, Emily Accetta ’07 and Brooke McAdam ’05.

2005

Will Cheyney writes: “Please continue to help kids go to Nichols whose families may otherwise not be able to pay tuition. Nichols helped me with financial aid and it has made all the difference in my future.”

2006

Curt Vogelsang was published in “Parachutist Magazine,” both in the December 2013 issue (#650 on page 28) and in the January 2014 issue (#651 on page 27) for two articles and his skydive photography. “Parachutist Magazine,” the world’s largest and most widely read and distributed skydiving publication, is published monthly by the United States Parachute Association.

2008

In her capacity as an organizer for Sierra Club Beyond Coal, Charlotte Olena is part of a larger network of local businesspeople who are calling on New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to support renewable energy. The group is urging Cuomo to take the lead on climate issues and make a commitment to boosting wind energy across the state as part of the “Turn, Don’t Burn” campaign, offering that the renewable resource is not only a healthier, green energy option, but it can create well-paying jobs locally. As Charlotte told WBFO radio in a March interview, “Governor Cuomo has the power to make New York State a leader by doubling onshore wind energy by 2018 and to support an off-shore wind project this year in Long Island.”

Spring/Summer 2014

2009

Business First published its annual Power 250 listing of the most influential people in Western New York. Multiple Nichols alumni, current and alumni parents, and current and former Trustees were named in the rankings, including: Jeremy Jacobs, Howard Zemsky, Carl Paladino, Bill Gisel ’70, John Koelmel, Darius Pridgen, Robert Gioia, Chris Collins, Rocco Termini, Chris Koch, Ted Black, Jerry Jacobs, Jr. ’81, Clotilde Dedecker, Donna Fernandes, Tom Kucharski, Michael Montante, Nick Hopkins ’61, Peter Marlette ’76, Alan Elia, Jack Walsh ’63, Jim Newman ’79, Anthony Gioia, Matt Enstice ’91, Keith Blakely, Rick Smith ’79 and Shelley Drake.

Molly Scherer writes: “I graduated from The College of Wooster with a B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2013. I am currently a graduate assistant in the electrophysiology lab at James Madison University as I work on my Doctorate of Audiology. A special thank you to Mrs. Hejna and Mr. Desautels, who greatly influenced me while I was at Nichols.”

2011

2013

Maya Jackson-Gibson earned a spot on the NESCAC women’s soccer all-conference second team. A defensive anchor on Amherst College’s backline, Maya has started 50 of her 53 career appearances and this year helped the Jeffs reach the second round of the 2013 NCAA Division III tournament.

Pearl Guerin is a freshman at University at Buffalo Honors College, majoring in Biology (pre-med), Psychology and minoring in Spanish. She is currently completing research at the Research Institute on Addictions and an internship at Mercy Hospital, while also doing work at Buffalo public schools. “I am currently taking 21credits and maintaining a high GPA as well as helping out at home being the oldest of five!” writes Pearl. “I would like to thank Nichols for everything it has given me.”

Photo by Gil Talbot

Bethany Bisone is a junior Mechanical Engineering Dean’s List student in the Watson School of Engineering at Binghamton University. She works as both a Resident Assistant and as a Teaching Assistant for a freshman engineering course. She is a member of the Society of Professional Women Engineers and looks forward to club soccer during her senior year next fall.

Harvard freshman Sean Malone received All-Ivy League honorable mention accolades as a member of the men’s varsity hockey team. Malone also took home the league’s Rookie of the Year award, sharing it with Yale’s Alex Lyon. Sean became the 13th Harvard skater in program history to collect the Ivy Rookie of the Year honor. The top-scoring freshman on the team, Malone amassed 19 points on six goals and 13 assists in his inaugural collegiate season, playing in all 29 games for the Crimson. He recorded the longest point streak on the team this season at five games and also had a team-high two short-handed scores on the year.

PHOTO CONTEST Can you guess which year and where this photo was taken of Middle School graduates? Submit your response to development@nicholsschool.org. The first to answer correctly will receive a Nichols prize pack! Like us on Facebook to see more photos from the archives! For the Fall/Winter 2013 photo contest, the answer was 1988.

Nichols School

Roddy Potter ’82

Faculty Profile

What is your position at Nichols? I teach English and art history in the Upper School. Outside of teaching, what other activities at Nichols are you involved in? I’m the Chair of the Student Conduct Committee, the coach of the Girls’ CrossCountry team, and faculty advisor to Gleaner and the Fragrance Club. In the past, you have written about the history of Nichols and been involved in archiving. Explain how you got involved and why this interests you. I’ve been around the school a long time—it seems incredible to me, but first I stepped onto this campus as a fifth grader 40 years ago. I was a student for eight years, then came back to teach for two years in the late ’80s, and then finally returned once again in 1997 and have been on the faculty ever since. So I’m very aware of Nichols as an historical proposition, an entity that changes over time and is responsive to the historical currents around it. I think also to some degree I’ve been intrigued by Nichols’ history from the beginning, from my student days. The late ’70s and early ’80s were a tumultuous time at the school— the administration and the faculty were grappling with all kinds of difficult social, educational and economic crosscurrents, both national and local, and that led to a lot of experiment, a lot of structural change in the curriculum and even spatial reconfigurations of the campus. There were ’70s-modern touches: foam-rubber modular furniture, carpeted risers, lots of Plexiglas. But then you had these sepia-toned pictures of serious-looking people on the walls everywhere, yellowed rolls of Cum Laude winners, artifacts of an earlier ivy-covered period at the school. Even as a kid, that interested me; it seemed kind of mysterious but also kind of calming to think about in all that post-’60s hurlyburly. Of course, I know now that this Edenic and serene early era at Nichols was pretty much a myth—disruptive change has always been there, ever since 1892.

So anyway, I guess my interest in school history comes from a desire to connect these elements—the place where I work now, the place where I went to school and which formed me to a large degree, and a deeper past. What is the best part of your job? Teaching, working with students, getting engaged in lots of conversations with colleagues and kids about interesting material and ideas. It keeps me on my toes! What is your favorite book and why? Students ask me that all the time, and I always stammer and equivocate. I just don’t know. I think the internet has put us very much in the mode of making lists, favorites, top 10s. It’s so tempting. That approach appeals to me too at first, and I try to do it, but then I can’t figure out what my criteria are or even what constitutes a “favorite.” I guess it means a book that has stuck with you and retained its relevance and impact over a long period of time, a lifelong companion. But I don’t know that any one book has ever been or done that

for me. The most impressive contemporary novel I’ve read recently is Sheila Heti’s “How Should a Person Be.” I’ve been yammering at people about that one for a few weeks now. What are your hobbies and interests beyond Nichols? I’m very serious about perfume, and I have a pretty large collection. I play the drums, and I spend a lot of time listening to music. I read a lot. I’m very interested in painting (although I’m hopeless at art), history, comparative religion. Of course, all of these are interests that I bring to what I do at Nichols as well—the older I get, the less division there seems to be between my life at School and my life in general. I see that as a good thing!

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