Toaxnoes Summer 2023

Mission

Kate Roach ’83 P’14,’16

Chair, Board of Trustees

Chris Burner Head of School

Leslie Garcia P’14 Assistant

Head

of School for Advancement

Design:

Kelley Rechin, Duffy Moon Design

Contributors:

Jennifer Bamann

Austin Farber

Sara Wiese

Janelle Zera

Photography:

Paul Stockman

Tom Wolf, Tom Wolf Imaging

All other alumni matters: alumnioffice@nicholsschool.org

Published by Nichols School’s Marketing & Communications Office and Advancement Office for alumni, families and friends of the School.

“Our aim is 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.”

– Joseph D. Allen, 1909 (second Headmaster of Nichols School)

1. To kick-off the school year, Nichols partnered with Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm for a butterfly release. Students in grades 5-12 gathered on the Quad to release the butterflies.

2. Science in Action! A group of 5th graders, along with faculty member, Josh Ring, worked on planting native trees and plants to absorb runoff and improve habitat as part of our Meaningful Watershed Experience.

3. Upper School students show their school spirit at Springfest with face paint and kickball.

4. Linda Ullmark ’24, recently committed to play NCAA Division I Soccer for The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill! Ullmark will join the Tar Heels,

who compete in the ACC, in the fall of 2024. She is one of 6 juniors who have committed to play at the Division 1 level in college next fall.

5. This spring, students showed off their impressive talents at the Nichols Choreographers Showcase. Students in all grades performed dances that they choreographed themselves.

6. Every Wednesday, Nichols Middle School gathers as a community for Middle School meeting. One of the highlights each week is acknowledging the HEART students. Students are nominated by their teachers and peers for acts of kindness they displayed during the week.

7. Both the Upper and Middle School Arts departments gave holiday-themed performances before Nichols closed for the Holiday Break. Junior Sheldon Gibbs ’24 performed Children Go Where I Send Thee, by Kevin Phillip Johnson, an African American spiritual.

8. Due to the generosity of our loyal alumni and parents, Nichols was able to install brand new turf on both the Strauss Truscott Field and Peek Field.

Head of School Chris Burner

As Head of School at Nichols, one of my primary tasks is planning for the future. This planning involves creating and implementing a strategic plan, concluding a successful campaign, hiring faculty and staff, and enrolling students. All these activities lead to our future success, some far off and some immediate, as current students graduate and new students arrive. The current issue of contains many updates about the future of the school, and I am pleased to report this future and the momentum of Nichols remains strong.

I also have the benefit of witnessing the present, day-to-day activities and successes of the Nichols community. This includes student performances, athletic competitions, the daily interaction of faculty and students, and even the joy of our Middle School students running in the Quad at the end of a school day. Through all of these activities – some formal and many informal – our students

2022-2023 Board of Trustees

Chair

Kate Roach ’83 P’14,’16

Vice-Chair

Nelson S. Walsh ’80

Vice-Chair

Theodore B.K. Walsh ’73 P’05,’07,’12

Secretary

Kristan Carlson Andersen ’80 P’13,’16

Treasurer

John Darby P’19,’21,’23

Melissa Balbach ’83 P’22,’22

Katie Campos ’04

Tom Chambers P’21,’23

Gregory Desautels ’95

Brigid Doherty P’21,’23

Andrew Fors ’91 P’19,’22,’22,’25

Sonja Gallen-Kallela-Sirèn P’22,’25,’28

Colleen Heidinger ’02

Lisa Jackson P’18,’21

Bridget Lett P’17

grow, develop, and experience the benefits of a Nichols School education. Let us celebrate another successful school year, as well as a campaign that will change the trajectory of Nichols. We will also consider our future through a Strategic Plan, as well as the excellence that occurs every day on campus.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Nichols School. n

Alexandra Jewett McPherson ’92 P’22,’24

Matthew D. Miller ’95

Michael F. Newman P’17,’19

Bonnie Padwa ’79

Montgomery Pooley ’80

Scott Socha P’19,’24

Alyson Spaulding P’14,’16,’18

Cynthia Vance P’14

2022-2023 Parents’ Association Council

Officers

President(s)

JJ and Priscilla Bennett P’23,’26

Vice-President

Kirsten Maidment P’22,’24

Correspondence & Records

Hillary Green P’27

Ex-Officio

Dede Koeppen P’23,’26

Grade Representatives

5th Grade (Class of 2030)

Kristin DiCunzolo P’27,’30

Uzma Siddiqui P’28,’30

6th Grade (Class of 2029)

Jamie Latko P’26,’29

Heather DeFazio P’29

7th Grade (Class of 2028)

Jamie Blair P’28

Jessica Hapeman ’95 P’28,’28

Kristie Giaimo P’28

8th Grade (Class of 2027)

John Fox ’94 P’27

Dana Chiavetta P’24,’27

9th Grade (Class of 2026)

Amy Judd P’26

Randilyn Kimelberg P’26

Amy Rogalski P’26

10th Grade (Class of 2025)

Shannon Martin P’23,’25

Dina Benderson P’25,’29

11th Grade (Class of 2024)

Jennifer Balbach P’24

Marianne Lagutaine P’24,’28,’30

12th Grade (Class of 2023)

Cathy Amdur P’23,’25

Jamie Kelly P’23,’28,’28

Continuing At-Large

Molly Boscarino P’23,’27

Cheri Carter P’24,’26

Carmen Fors ’92 P’19,’22,’22,’25

Lisa Gelman-Koessler ’93 P’26

Leah Mills P’28

Dawn Ryan P’23

2022 - 2023 Alumni Board

President

Sarah Washington ’08 P’26

Vice President

Dillon Joseph ’10

Jessica Baird ’92 P’21,’23,’25

Emma Bianchi ’17

Eleanor Brason ’13

Karen Camacho ’89

Brittney Comstock ’11

Tommy Elia ’17

Nick Ennis ’17

RJ Gicewicz ’14

Zoe Jackson-Gibson ’12

Connor Kenney ’09

Alisha Lall ’03

Melissa Pope ’07

Gregory Sibick ’15

Joe Trapp ’09

Tyler Van Schoonhoven ’07

Darcy Zacher ’88 P’12,’13,’20,’22,’22

Meet Our New Faculty and Staff

Maya Barnes Music Faculty

Nicholas Brown History Faculty

Rachel Deemer Math Faculty

Peter Martin History Faculty

Thomas

Kelly Murray Advancement Office

Elliott Reichman Math Faculty

Scott Stambach Director of Security

Sara Wells STEM Faculty

Lily Wright Admissions Office Manager

Mr. Josh Leroy – Head of Upper School

Nichols is excited to welcome Mr. Josh LeRoy as the next Head of Upper School, bringing a wide range of educational experience to this role. LeRoy is joining Nichols from the Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, New Hampshire, where he began his tenure as Senior Assistant Director of Admission and then Director of Student Life before assuming his current role as Associate Head of School and Dean of Students. Prior to that, LeRoy served in multiple roles at Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York – Mathematics Faculty, Dorm Parent, Advisor, Coach, and Director of Athletics. He received his bachelor’s in mathematics and his master’s in education from St. Lawrence University. To help get to know him better, we asked him a few questions.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in upstate New York, where my mom was a public school teacher for 35 years, and my dad was a truck driver and coached every youth sports team I ever played on. So, I knew from a young age that working with kids - both inside and outside the classroom - was my calling. I went off to college to play hockey and become a doctor (I found out during my sophomore year that trying to do both at the same time was not possible) – and in a short time realized that I wanted to pursue teaching and coaching.

I’m an avid reader, golfer, a huge sports fan, and I love dogs. I have two golden retrievers, Max and Sully, and enjoy spending time with my wife, Kristin, and two sons, Conor (15) and Cayden (12).

Why Nichols?

Growing up in Queensbury, New York, and working at a boarding school in Lake Placid, I always heard that Nichols had a tremendous academic and athletic

reputation. As a student at St. Lawrence University, I had a hockey teammate who went to Nichols and always had great things to say about his experience at the school. I’m excited about returning to working with Upper School students and families, and I’m equally excited about having my family join me in the Nichols community!

What have you heard about the Buffalo community, and what are you most excited to experience?

When my family and I decided we were moving to Buffalo, it was incredible how many of our friends and colleagues reached out, saying they knew someone in the Buffalo area, and commented on how much we would love Western New York. We have found out so quickly just how welcoming everyone has been. Even during my interview, when I met with current parents, students, and faculty, I was blown away by the passion for the school and excitement about its future. Everyone I spoke with gave me the feeling that Nichols was an exceptional community and Buffalo was a great place to live!

Of course, everyone tells me how great the chicken wings are and to watch out for the Bills’ fan base … as a New England Patriots and Chicago Bears fan, I think I’ll tiptoe around Buffalo, at least initially.

What are you looking forward to?

I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of the students, faculty, staff, and families in the Nichols community. I’m excited to develop connections with everyone at Nichols and bring my experience to various aspects of independent school life to help Nichols School move forward strategically over the next many years … and of course, I’m excited to have the opportunity to attend various professional sports games in the Buffalo area. n

Looking Forward

Kelly Jorgensen is wrapping up her 25th year working in College Counseling, her second as the Director of College Counseling at Nichols. She is beginning to see a change in how students and families utilize what her office has to offer. She is also seeing the effect Nichols strategic academic initiatives are playing out for Nichols students in the college landscape.

‘We are starting to see the buy-in from families. They are taking advantage of the SAT and ACT boot camps being offered. We have had to add extra sessions this summer to our College Application Workshop. We are one of the only schools in Western New York with an office where college counselors’ full attention is guiding students and their families through the college process.’

Jorgensen takes great pride in the makeup of the college counseling staff. They are intentionally studentfocused. When asked what that means to her, Jorgensen stated, “We want to meet students where they are. I ask each family to meet together in their junior year so we can discuss what the students’ needs are and what limitations they have.” Each counselor looks at all of the pieces of a student; courses they are taking, clubs and activities in and out of school, athletics, and the arts.

The academic rigor of Nichols and the direction of the curriculum, specifically the type of AP courses being offered, is pivotal in setting Nichols apart from other independent schools. Being a pilot school for the AP African Studies class, the additional Research Scholars opportunities, and an expanding Work of Life program are setting future Nichols students to be competitive in

the evolving college landscape. While Nichols students have always had research and writing skills, what we are building academically formalizes the process.

Each senior class brings a new and different energy to the school and sets the tone for the school year. This year’s senior class is different because it has been their first true year of normalcy in school. They were freshmen when the pandemic hit, and their senior year has been the only year without COVID restrictions in place. This has shaped the story of their class. When asked how she would define this class, she said, “They have a big personality, are fun, funny, and committed. They have to handle certain disappointments that other classes have not had. This has been reflected in the college process as well.”

When asked what she hopes for in the next few years, Jorgensen said, “There is still a big focus on building data to help guide families. Using data to support and help guide families when considering where to apply, how many people are getting in, and what scholarships are available. We will also continue to be more involved with students in each grade level. Beginning the conversation early and in an age-appropriate manner can help set Nichols students up for success.” n

Upper School Spring Spirit: We had a blast at our Upper School’s spirit day to end the week! It was filled with exciting activities like face painting, kickball, and tons of fun and games! We loved seeing everyone showing off their school spirit and enjoying the afternoon together.

Nora Williams Platt ’07 visited Ms. Kelley’s advanced acting class. Williams Platt is a professor in the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies at the University of Essex. Thank you, Nora, for coming back to campus to share your knowledge with our students.

All Alumni are encouraged to follow the Nichols School Alumni page on Facebook.

@NicholsSchool: Accepted Student Day: Congratulations to all of our accepted students! These students are ready to start their Nichols journey next fall!

A-LEG: This morning, our A-LEG group got together for their annual tower challenge. Our A-LEG group combines juniors and eighth graders and will meet regularly to help develop leadership skills. Check out some of the photos from this morning!

Follow us:

@NicholsSchool – Follow us to stay in touch

@NicholsVikings – Sports scores and more

Livestream Nichols Athletics –www.nicholsschool.org/athletics/ athletics-livestreams

All Alumni are encouraged to follow the Nichols School Alumni Network on LinkedIn.

Blood Drive: Today, we hosted ConnectLife on campus to help with our annual blood drive. We had over 35 faculty and students donate today. Thank you to all of the community members who donated blood!

Class of 2023 College Acceptance

The Class of 2023 steps boldly into the future, eager and prepared to impact the world. Thanks to the personal dedication and mentorship of the College Counseling team, these newly minted alumni are headed to destinations that are as unique as they are: big, small, technical, artistic, and Ivy League.

Colleges and Universities highlighted in green are the schools the Class of 2023 will be attending this fall.

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Albany, NY

Alfred University

Alfred, NY

Allegheny College

Meadville, PA

Arizona State University

(Main Campus)

Phoenix, AZ

Babson College

Wellesley, MA

Baldwin Wallace University

Berea, OH

Barry University

Miami, FL

Baylor University

Waco, TX

Belmont University

Nashville, TN

Bentley University

Waltham, MA

Binghamton University

Binghamton, NY

Boston College

Boston, MA

Bradley University

Peoria, IL

Brock University

St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada

Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr, PA

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA

Butler University

Indianapolis, IN

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, CA

Canisius College

Buffalo, NY

Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH

Champlain College

Burlington, VT

Clark Atlanta University

Atlanta, GA

Clark University

Worcester, MA

Clarkson University

Potsdam, NY

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY

College of Charleston

Charleston, SC

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA

Colorado College

Colorado Spring, CO

Columbia College (Chicago)

Chicago, IL

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

New York, NY

Daemen University

Amherst, NY

DePauw University

Green Castle, IN

Dickinson College

Carlisle, PA

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, PA

D’Youville University

Buffalo, NY

Elon University

Elon, NC

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach)

Daytona Beach, FL

Emmanuel College

Boston, MA

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT

Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY

Fordham University

New York, NY

Franklin & Marshall College

Lancaster, PA

Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA

Gordon College

Wenham, MA

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA

Hamline University

St. Paul, MN

Hawaii Pacific University

Honolulu, HI

High Point University

High Point, NC

Hilbert College

Hamburg, NY

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Geneva, NY

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY

Howard University

Washington, DC

Indiana University (Bloomington)

Bloomington, IN

Iona University

New Rochelle, NY

Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY

Scotland

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

John Carroll

University Heights, OH

Keuka College

Keuka Park, NY

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL

Le Moyne College

Syracuse, NY

Louisiana State University

Baton Rouge, LA

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL

Loyola University Maryland

Baltimore, MD

Lynn University

Boca Raton, FL

Manhattan College

New York, NY

Marist College

Poughkeepsie, NY

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI

McGill University

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Mercer University

Macon, GA

Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA

Miami University (Oxford)

Oxford, OH

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Middlebury College

Middlebury, VT

Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley, MA

Nazareth College

Rochester, NY

New York University

New York, NY

Niagara University

Niagara, NY

Northeastern University

Boston, MA

Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR

Pace University (New York City)

New York, NY

Penn State University (Abington)

Abington, PA

Penn State University (Berks)

Berks, PA

Penn State University (University Park)

University Park, PA

Penn State University (York)

York, PA

Providence College

Providence, RI

Purdue University (Main Campus)

West Lafayette, IN

Queen’s University

Kingston, Ontario. Canada

Queen’s University Belfast

Northern Ireland

Quinnipiac University

Hamden, CT

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY

Rhodes College

Memphis, TN

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY

Roger Williams University

Bristol, RI

Rollins College

Winter Park, FL

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Terre Haute, IN

Royal Holloway, University of London

England

Saint John Fisher University

Rochester, NY

Saint Louis University

St. Louis, MO

Saint Michael’s College

Colchester, VT

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah, GA

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, IL

Siena College

Loudonville, NY

Smith College

Northampton, MA

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX

Spelman College

Atlanta, GA

St. Bonaventure University

St. Bonaventure, NY

St. John’s University

Queens, NY

St. Lawrence University

Canton, NY

St. Olaf College

Northfield, MN

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY

SUNY Alfred State College of Technology

Alfred, NY

SUNY Albany

Albany, NY

SUNY at Fredonia

Fredonia, NY

SUNY at New Paltz

New Paltz, NY

SUNY at Purchase College

West Chester, NY

SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo, NY

SUNY College at Brockport

Brockport, NY

SUNY College at Cortland

Cortland, NY

SUNY College at Geneseo

Geneseo, NY

SUNY College at Oswego

Oswego, NY

SUNY College at Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY

SUNY College at Potsdam

Potsdam, NY

SUNY College of Environmental

Science and Forestry

Syracuse, NY

SUNY Erie

Williamsville, NY

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY

SUNY University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY

The College of Saint Rose

Albany, NY

The College of William and Mary

Williamsville, VA

The Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

The University of Alabama

Birmingham, AL

The University of Edinburgh

Scotland

The University of Tampa

Tampa, FL

The University of Tennessee (Knoxville)

Knoxville, TN

Trinity College

Hartford, CT

Trinity College Dublin Ireland

Trinity University

San Antonio, TX

Union College

Schenectady, NY

University of Aberdeen

Scotland

University of Amsterdam

Netherlands

University of Arizona

Tuscon, AZ

University of Bridgeport

Bridgeport, CT

University of California (Irvine)

Irvine, CA

University of California (Riverside)

Riverside, CA

University of California (Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz, CA

University of Central Florida

Orange County, FL

University of Colorado (Colorado Springs)

Colorado Spring, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Denver

Denver, CO

University of Connecticut

Tolland County, CT

University of Connecticut (Stamford)

Stamford, CT

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH

University of Delaware

Newark, DE

University of Denver

Denver, CO

University of Florida

Gainsville, FL

University of Georgia GA

University of Greenwich England

University of Hartford

Hartford, CT

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY

University of Maryland (College Park) College Park, MD

University of Massachusetts (Amherst)

Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth)

Dartmouth, MA

University of Miami

Miami, FL

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI

University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)

Minneapolis, MN

University of Mount Union Alliance, OH

University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Lincoln, NE

University of New Hampshire (Main Campus)

Manchester, NH

University of New Haven

New Haven, CT

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC

University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND

University of Northern Colorado

Greely, CO

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

University of Pittsburgh (Bradford)

Bradford, PA

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)

Pittsburgh, PA

University of Richmond

Richmond, VA

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA

University of Scranton

Scranton, PA

University of South Carolina

Columbia, SC

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

University of Tampa

Tampa,FL

University of Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

University of Vermont

Burlington, VT

University of Virginia (Main Campus)

Charlottesville, VA

University of Wisconsin (Madison)

Madison, WI

Utah Valley University

Orem, UT

Utica University

Utica, NY

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

Villa Maria College

Cheektowaga, NY

Villanova University

Villanova, PA

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

Western University

London, Ontario, Canada

Wheaton College - IL

Wheaton, IL

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA

Xavier University

Cincinatti, OH

York College of Pennsylvania

York, PA

Celebrating the Class of 2023

On June 2, members of the Class of 2023 walked in a processional to the Quad in front of Albright Hall. Dressed in the Nichols green robes and laurel wreaths, they joined family, friends, faculty, staff, and members of the Board of Trustees for the 131st Commencement Ceremony of Nichols School.

Head of School Chris Burner remarked on how 97 members of this year’s senior class developed into a supportive, tight-knit community despite their first couple of years at 1250 Amherst St. being restricted by the pandemic.

“At this moment, it is also a time to look forward. You will depart Nichols prepared to continue your growth and education, and I must emphasize that this does not represent an end to your learning,” said Burner. “In fact, if we have truly succeeded in your education, we have created the skills, curiosity, and drive for continued

learning. Learning does not occur just at Nichols School or whatever college you will attend but instead involves a life-long commitment to constant learning and growth.”

Senior Leyla Akil, who was selected as class speaker, said, “We are a diverse class, a group of individuals with different identities, values, and aspirations. Throughout our time here at Nichols, we have accepted and embraced each other’s differences. We drew inspiration from one another’s triumphs, but also from our setbacks. We recognized the humanness of making mistakes and took it upon ourselves to learn from them. We taught each other as we learned, and this allowed for us as a class to build each other up.”

Congratulations to the members of the Class of 2023, a class known for their accomplishments in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, and for their sense of community and camaraderie.

Nichols faculty had a record number of graduates in 2023

2023 Upper School Major Awards

Senior Awards (VI Form)

Caitlin Love Crowell History Award

Sophia Jones ’23

The Caitlin Love Crowell departmental award recognizes and celebrates a senior Nichols student who skillfully and purposefully combines high intellectual achievement in the study of history with a deep and longstanding commitment to social justice and community engagement characterized by hands-on work away from the confines of the Nichols classroom and campus. It is hoped that the student receiving this award is an inspiration to others, and that their work serves as a lived example that a life well lived calls us to be guided not only by our minds but also by our hearts.

Castiglia Family Award for Community Service

Camden Bartlo ’23, Daniel Lang ’23

The Castiglia Family Award for Community Service was established in memory of Joseph “Jerry” Castiglia for his life dedicated to charity and community service both locally and nationally. This award will be granted each year to a graduating senior male student(s) who has devoted significant time and energy to community service and charitable organizations.

Edmund Petrie Cottle, Jr. Award

Leyla Akil ’23

Awarded to that member of the graduating class whose scholarship, achievement, leadership, and influence based on character has been of greatest value to the school.

Faculty Prize

Elise Glahe ’23, Cate West ’23

Awarded to the member(s) of the graduating class who has contributed most to the school in activities, other than athletics.

Head of School Award

Eden Alphonse ’23, Owen Block ’23, Henry Chambers ’23, Kate Coburn ’23, Maris Conrad ’23, Ava Farkash ’23, Bri Hiller ’23, Clare Ring ’23, William Rosen ’23

Presented to the student or students who have made outstanding contributions to the school and its life during the year.

Joseph L. Hudson, Jr. ’49 Award

Rick Walker ’23

Awarded to a senior who embodies citizenship and virtue throughout his or her years at Nichols School, and emerged as an exemplary individual who has contributed to the Nichols community through his or her willingness to live with honor and without pretense or judgment. It is hoped that this award will not be given to a student who will also receive several other awards.

McCarthy Prize

Amy Andrews ’23, David White ’23

Awarded to a student(s) who has shown outstanding growth during his or her career at Nichols.

Bonnie Lerner Posmantur Award

Samantha Darby ’23

The Bonnie Lerner Posmantur Award recognizes, through community service, a sincere commitment to helping others as exemplified by the efforts of Bonnie in her short life. Although not necessarily an annual award, this recognition is made to honor worthy young women and encourage other students at Nichols to actively engage in community service.

Williams Cup

Matt Carlson ’23

According to the inscription on the cup, this award is presented to the student with the highest scholastic standing in the graduating class who has won a varsity letter at Nichols and exemplified the spirit of Nichols athletics.

Junior Awards (V Form)

Dudley M. Irwin, III ’45 Award

John Green ’24

Presented to an outstanding member of the junior class who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievement in other fields.

G. Robert Strauss, Jr. ’79 Memorial Scholarship Award

Sianna Le ’24

Bob Strauss was a member of the graduating class of 1979. To honor his memory, this award is given to a rising senior who espouses the qualities most noteworthy in Bob – commitment to community service, academic growth, and athletic participation.

Harvard Prize Book

Avery O’Carroll ’24

Presented to an outstanding member of the junior class who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievement in other fields.

Nottingham Award

Sianna Le ’24

Presented to a junior girl who, by virtue of character and leadership, has assumed prominence in her class.

Williams College Book Award

Ciara Desai ’24

Presented to a junior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and intellectual leadership, and has made a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the school.

Sophomore Awards (IV Form)

Moscov Family Award

Ethan Jaffri ’25

The Moscov Family Award was established by former Sophomore Dean Steve Moscov. The award is presented to sophomore students who have shown significant personal growth in one or a combination of the areas of character, leadership, athletics, and academics.

Yale Award

Evie Walcott ’25

Presented to that member of the sophomore class who, by scholarship performance, by participation in school activities, and by character, has assumed a position of prominence in the class.

Freshman Award (III Form)

Christopher Wadsworth Award

Austin Benedicto ’26, Oscar Jorgenson ’26

Presented to the member(s) of the freshman class who, by scholastic performance, by participation in school activities, and by character, has assumed a position of prominence in the class.

Class of 2023

Cum Laude Society

Camden Bartlo ’23

Owen Block ’23

John Boscarino ’23

Matthew Carlson ’23

Kate Coburn ’23

Maris Conrad ’23

Ava Farkash ’23

Elise Glahe ’23

Bri Hiller ’23

Rebecvca Korsh ’23

Daniel Lang ’23

Long-Hao Li ’23

Isabella Lin ’23

Gabby Radford ’23

Alyssa Rich ’23

Clare Ring ’23

William Rosen ’23

Cole Schoenborn ’23

Cate West ’23

1. Kathryn Saverino ’23 and friends

2. Matt Carlson ’23

Alexandrea Brannen ’23

John Boscarino ’23

Logan Bork ’23

Zachary Boeck ’23 Owen Block ’23

3. Maris Conrad ’23

4. Diego Guzman ’23 and family celebrating at Commencement

5. Christian Schwartz ’23

6. Alyssa Rich ’23

7. From left to right: Julia Peters ’23, Eliana Tadeo ’23, Quinn Benchley ’23, Emma Kathryn Covelli ’23, Fallon Griffin ’23

8. Lakari Carr ’23 and family

2023 Middle School Awards

The Bruce Anderson Award

John Dunn ’27

This award is given by his eighth grade classmates of 1973 in memory of Bruce Anderson. It is awarded to an eighth grade boy who not only displays athletic excellence and a fine sense of sportsmanship, but also contributes to the general welfare of his classmates through strength of character and leadership.

The Cornelia L. Dopkins Award

Gabriele Pili ’27, Emmet Mehaffy ’28, Ryan DeFazio ’29, Luca DiCunzolo ’30

Named in honor of an extraordinary teacher, scholar, and Head of the Nichols Middle School on two different occasions, this award is given to fifth-eighth grade students who have been nominated by their peers because they have demonstrated a genuine concern for others and for Nichols School. The recipient is a person who sees what needs to be done and does it with enthusiasm and without expectation of reward, a quality Mrs. Dopkins displayed throughout her lengthy career at Nichols.

The Henry D. Waters Award

Justin Houze ’29, Riley Stinson ’29

This award was established to honor Henry D. Waters, who dedicated his life to his second career as a dean, advisor, English teacher supreme, Hall of Fame coach and athlete, and friend of middle school students for twenty-five years. It is awarded to fifth or sixth grade students who display the qualities Henry Waters valued most: a willingness to participate in all activities to the best of their ability; fair-mindedness;

good sportsmanship; honesty; empathy; citizenship; and a positive sense of humor.

The Pliny H. Hayes III Award

Levi Mayer ’28

This award was established to honor Pliny H. Hayes, III, former Head of the Nichols Middle School; a brilliant leader, counselor, classical scholar, and world traveler, Pliny was devoted to Nichols, its students, and its faculty. It is given to that seventh grade student whose commitment to and pursuit of excellence in all endeavors challenges others; whose enjoyment and pleasure in new experiences and learning stimulates others, and whose character and personal integrity inspires others.

The Charles I. Kleiser Award

Anne Boscarino ’27

This award was established in 1960 by the faculty to honor the memory of Charles I. Kleiser, a Nichols Junior School teacher for more than thirty years whose devotion to his craft and his students remains legendary. It is awarded to an eighth grade student who has demonstrated qualities of positive leadership, sound character, and concern for others.

George J. Kloepfer ’68 II Faculty Award

Aedan Brockman ’27, Ellen Fox ’27, Emmett Hughes ’27, Sofia Sanchez-Wolf ’27, Gus Smith ’27

This award is named in honor of George Kloepfer, who devoted his entire professional career of 48 years to the Nichols Middle School. As a wise,

no-nonsense advisor, teacher, and coach, he provided a model of ethics, responsibility, and accountability for his students and co-workers, earning their respect, admiration, and love.

The George J. Kloepfer II ’68 Award is presented to eighth grade students who exhibit the qualities Mr. K exemplified: positive leadership, sound character, true concern for others, and a helping nature.

The Elizabeth R. Stone Award

Olive Donaghy ’27, Hayden Printz ’27

This award honors Beth Stone, who, in her 40-year career in the Nichols Physical Education and Athletic Departments, challenged both Upper and Middle School students to surpass their perceived limitations and develop a love of sports and wellness. It is given to an eighth grade girl(s) who not only has displayed athletic excellence and a fine sense of sportsmanship, but also, through strength of character and leadership, has contributed to the general welfare of her classmates.

The Robert A. Gillespie-Vincent E. Walsh Academic Award

Ashlyn Xiao ’27

The Robert A. Gillespie-Vincent E. Walsh Academic Award was established by Allan J. Lerner, class of 1947, to honor two outstanding Nichols teachers. It is awarded to the eighth grade student(s) who has achieved the highest academic standing during his or her eighth grade year.

More than 8,000 promising young men and women have graduated from Nichols over the school’s 131-year history. Our alumni are doctors, musicians, lawyers, professional athletes, business owners, and so much more. We invited one of our talented alums, and newly appointed President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, Betsy Constantine ’93, back to campus as this year’s commencement speaker. Prior to her visit, Nichols had a chance to ask Constanine about her time at Nichols and how her experience here set her up for future success.

Creating Connections A Legacy of Helping Others

As the President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, Betsy Constantine works with “the best staff in the world” to help people support causes that are important to them. The Community Foundation administers over $800 million in charitable assets, representing the legacies and foundations of over 900 individuals and families.

A legacy student at Nichols, Constantine followed in the footsteps of her father, uncle, sister, and brother. After graduation, she earned a B.A. in Economics from Franklin & Marshall College and then worked on Wall Street for eleven years, moving back to Buffalo following the crash of 2008. “I was intellectually stimulated and financially successful on Wall Street, but my work didn’t satisfy my desire to help people,” stated Constantine.

Constantine explored her passion for helping others by taking classes in social work at the State University of New York at Buffalo, earning her master’s degree in social work while raising an infant, and working full-time. She feels her Nichols education allowed her to develop the skills she needed to reach her highest potential.

“Nichols does a beautiful job of helping

you learn how to think and question things. To dive in deep, do better, and strive for excellence. Nichols teachers want you to do your best—whatever that is for you.

“My teachers introduced me to books and ideas I never would have come across. They opened my mind to other cultures and communities, a mindset which is now core to my work,” continued Constantine. Teamwork, another vital skill learned at Nichols, has also played a huge role in her success.

Constantine believes, “The key to community change is linking arms to work together toward change: having good information, building relationships, and learning to work together. The unique environment that Nichols offered fueled my success, inspiring me to become the best version of myself and helping me create rewarding personal and professional

She began work at the Community Foundation in 2009, was promoted to the newly created role of Vice President of Giving Strategies in 2011, and was named Executive Vice President in 2017 as part of leadership succession planning. Assets have grown from $150 million to over $800 million during her tenure. Through partnership and teamwork, Constantine

has helped the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo build an international reputation and brought over $100 million into Buffalo over the last fifteen years from national private foundations and other entities.

As CEO, Constantine helps people “do the good they want to do” and trains incoming community foundation professionals around the country, further widening the impact of her passion and talent for helping others. “There is nothing better than going to work every day and working at the nexus of passion and talent,” said Constantine. n

When you were a student at Nichols, did you know what you wanted to be when you “grew up”?

I wanted to help people. In my mind then, that meant being a doctor, so I attended college at Franklin & Marshall, a small liberal arts college in Lancaster, PA. They had an incredible premed program—and a great squash team, which was also important to me. Obviously, I took a very different path to helping people than I expected, but I use every skill I’ve built along the way!

Have you kept in touch with your Nichols classmates?

Some of my Nichols friends are still my best friends. When I lived in New York City, I never missed a chance to meet with other alums when the Head of School came to visit. I loved being connected to home and making new career connections. That’s one of the great things about the alumni network. You have a friend that can help you in every city.

What does it mean to you to be asked to speak at Commencement?

It’s such a gift. I’m humbled and honored to have the opportunity to speak to students who have so much of their lives ahead of them, so many possibilities. To be part of their graduation day is an extraordinary privilege.

Top: Class of 1993’s 25th Reunion in 2018. Pictured from left to right: Jessica (Jacobs) Enstice ’93, Marie (Habib) Carroll ’93, Leslie (Biltekoff) Myers, Lisa Gelman Koessler ’93, Betsy Constantine ’93

Bottom: Constantine speaking to students, families, faculty, staff, and friends at this years Commencement Ceremony.

2023

SAVE THE DATE Reunion 2024

Fri., June 7 and Sat., June 8

Betsy Constantine ’93 kicked-off the 2023 Reunion celebration early when she spoke to the 131st graduating Nichols class at Commencement on June 2. Following the graduation ceremonies, Nichols alumni gathered for the 2023 Reunion Quad party. Alumni from 1950 through 2018 came out to celebrate in style. After the Quad party, members from the class of 1973+ came together in The Class of 1961 Student Commons for a 50th Reunion Dinner. Events continued throughout the weekend with different classes cruising down the Niagara River on the Miss Buffalo, cooking out in classmates back yards, and taking a private tour exploring the newly renovated Buffalo AKG Art Museum.

For those who will celebrate their reunion next spring (classes ending in 4 or 9), now is the time to get involved. Make your class reunion the best one yet and be a part of your class planning committee. It doesn’t matter where you live, as planning can be done virtually. For more information, email alumnioffice@nicholsschool.org.

Reunion 2o23

1958: Bill Leed, Chris Burner, Howard Saperston

1963: Back Row: Warren Gelman, James McGibbons, Chuck Kreiner, Jack Walsh, Clay Hamlin, Calvin Brainard

Front Row: Tom Goldstein, Bob Ramage, Bill Mathias, Bruce Baird, Bill Loweth, Chuck Hobbie

1968: Back Row: Tom Keiser, George Kloepfer, Eric Keller, Middle Row: Gar Miller, Brian Patterson, Charley Jacobs, Peter Ross, Max Davis

Front Row: Vic Ament, Bob Skerker, Rick Ohler, Mike Hettler, Brian Baird, Don Tracy

1973 Nichols Men: Back Row: Seymour Knox, Kurt Ziemendorf, Steve Metzger, Philip Niswander, Jeff Heckman, Bob Miller, Patrick Lango, Adrian Jewett, Bruce Trigg

Middle Row: Barney Walsh, Jay Waters, Paul Smith, Peter Linder, Larry Michel, Tim Hayes, Ted Pierce

Front Row: Bill Wadsworth, Al Butzer, Kevin Campbell , Harry Cohen, Peter Gates, Jim Renaldo, Doc Bagley, Philip Bean

1973 Nottingham Ladies: Back Row: Sally Haungs, Katie Vogt Schneider, Janet Collins Jordan, Beth Bukowski Franklin, Jeanne MacDonald

Middle Row: Christine Karnes, Mary Jo Veling ’72, Bette Rydzynski Hulley ’74, Margy Rydzynski, Kathy Hurley, Kate Simmons

Front Row: Monica Hamill, Kerry De Witt Sayres, Sr. Gail O’Donnell, Cathy Cavey, Melissa Weiksnar

1978: Back Row: Jackie Ziegler deAlessandrini, Cris Delius, Bill Crone, Annie Griffin, Eric Ward, Dave Tiftickjian, Bob Grosof, Peter DeRose

Middle Row: Ted Marks, Kim Buchheit, Nick Trbovich, Ward Urban, Debbie Lansky Waitkus, Mike Reynolds, Hugh Russ

Front Row: Eric Harrod, David Rieth

1983: Back Row: David Johnson, Angela McLellan-Desai, Kate Roach, Bill Pfeifer, Doug Bradley, Matt Sullivan, Rob Torgalski, Joe Tomizzi

Middle Row: Julie (Papademetriou) Skinner, Lisa Corin, Mary (Marlette) Smith, Julia Gessner, Melissa Balbach

Front Row: Chris Tiftickjian, Wendy (Lebowitz) Pressman, Jason Klein, Meg (Hibbard) du Four, James Putnam, William Ullmark

1988: Fourth Row: Phil Nobel, David Pfalzgraf, Luke Jacobs, Josh Levite

Third Row: Doug Bradley ’83, Lyman Castle, Chris Galvin, Kevin Flanigan

Second Row: Liz Sacheli, Tina Burker, Jay Riddlesberger, Rosemary Maggiore, Adrienne Stanfill, Darcy Zacher

Front Row: David Rizzuto, Andrew Kahn, Elizabeth Duffett

1993: Back Row: Jodi Priselac de Riszner, Adrian Quackenbush, Betsy Constantine, Keely Sheehan

Front Row: Mark Travers, Leslie Biltekoff Myers, Sandy Smith, Lisa Gelman-Koessler, Jessica Jacbos Enstice, Norm Joseph

1998: Back Row: Delilah (Burke) Lapson, Craig Semple, Kristina (Saperston) Semple, Susan Gelman, Eric Penfold

Middle Row: Seth Seegart, Emily Koren, Alexis (Muscato) Agnello, Adrienne (DeCarlo) Ptak, Dale Segal

Front Row: Jessica Spino, Gary Wilson

2003: Back Row: Jenine Paner-Bansi, Melissa Stark, Leo Dandes, Deidre Batson-Griggs, Keenan Toohey

Front Row: Jessica Smith, Erin Hart, Imroz Hakim Ellaurie, Justin Douds

2008: Back Row: Tyler Finn, Campbell Smith, Tyler Van Schoonhoven ’07

Front Row: Sarah (Draper) Washington, Allison Todd Van Schoonhoven

2013: Eric Luko, Trevor Berninger, Kristen Knoll, Daniel Scully, Lucas Froman

2018: Roy Lahood, Ryan Silver, John Tantillo, William Robinson

2023 Honorary Alumni Award

In 1985, the Alumni Board initiated the practice of naming honorary alumni to publicly recognize members of the Nichols community who have given devoted service to the school.

Head of School Chris Burner presented John Darby P’19,’21,’23 with the 2023 Honorary Alumni Award at the 131st Commencement ceremony.

Darby was honored for his dedication to this school, which rivals that of its alumni. Along with his wife Candy, a member of the class of 1984, the two have shepherded three children through Nichols, the last graduating in the class of 2023.

Joining the Nichols School Board of Trustees in 2017, Darby offered to lead an enrollment task force, serve as a member of the Facilities, Endowment, and Finance committees, chairing Finance since 2020, as well as join the Executive committee as treasurer. John and Candy served as auction co-chairs in 2020 and then again in 2021, helping take Derby Day to Nichols Night. Finally, Darby assisted in coordinating the Class of 2023 Senior

2023 Gannon Award

The Gannon Family Foundation Faculty Award is awarded to a Nichols faculty member who is nominated by their peers for making an outstanding contribution to the education of students. This year’s recipient is Josh Ring P’23,’26, who, in his 21 years on campus, has taken on every challenge that Nichols has asked, including 5th grade math, 5th grade science, 7th grade science, 8th grade math, 9th grade math, 9th grade physics, 12th grade geology, and AP Environmental Science. Ring’s knack for teaching 5th graders and seniors on the same day is a testament to his remarkable ability to relate to students of all ages.

Known for bringing handson activities and project-based learning to all his classes, older students and alum revel in returning to his space in the Middle School to point out the papier-mâché birds they created

Gift Initiative, raising funds to dedicate the entrance to the Junior Senior Lounge to this special group of students while creating an effective template for future parent-giving initiatives.

Darby has been a generous donor and eager volunteer during his time as a Nichols parent, all while running his family’s business. From day one, he has been a Nichols School ambassador, guiding prospective families through the admissions and orientation process and generously opening the family’s home to welcome new and old families.

during their earliest days at Nichols.

Focusing on experiential learning outside the classroom, he takes his students and the environmental club out into the Buffalo and Western New York communities, regardless of the weather. In fact, some may say Ring hopes for torrential rain just to ensure the field trips are even more memorable.

Leading multiple environmental initiatives around Nichols that include building a wood frame shelter so that 5th graders could watch the metamorphosis of monarch butterflies and then release them, spearheading the creation of the pollinator garden along Colvin Blvd., and spurring initiatives to get composting going at Nichols. Ring is known to be persistent without being pushy and work tirelessly to get projects completed. He is often selected to sit on committees because faculty and administration recognize his intelligence, thoughtfulness, and measured tone.

2023 Mitchell Award

Honored for her dedication and unwavering commitment to Nichols School, the 2023 Mitchell Award was presented to Molly Boscarino P’23, ’27 Head of School Chris Burner presented the award at the Nichols School Annual Leadership Giving reception at the Buffalo Club last fall.

“This year’s recipient sets the bar high when it comes to volunteering and dedication to Nichols School,” said Burner. “Whether organizing the Middle School’s uniform sale, filling bins with food for Journey’s End Thanksgiving meals, co-chairing the parent portion of the Nichols Fund, serving as an ambassador for new families, hosting a Nichols Night event at your home, serving on the Parent Council for 4 years as a Grade Rep, a Vice President, and an At-Large, or organizing the best-ever Faculty Staff Appreciation events for the past three years, your smile and warmth bring many people together. You devote an enormous amount of time and energy to making Nichols School the best it can be.”

Established in 2000, the Mitchell Award is named in honor of John A. “Jock” Mitchell ’66 P’94,’96,’99 and is presented to “that individual or individuals whose volunteer efforts have made the school stronger and whose commitment to the mission of Nichols School is outstanding.”

2023 William Nichols Award

Established by the Alumni Board in 1985, the William Nichols Award recognizes members of the faculty and staff who have significantly contributed to the overall quality of the Nichols education.

With the ability to shape minds, ignite curiosity, and inspire a lifelong love for learning, James Cammarata, or Mr. C, is an educator who empowers students by providing knowledge in numerous ways, a mentor who nurtures potential, and a champion who believes in the untapped abilities of every student.

While teaching 6th grade geography in his patented bowtie, Cammarata pushes students to think strategically and empathetically about the world around them. Being an engaged world citizen at the core of his teaching, his innovative teaching methods have brought learning to life and turned the classroom into a vibrant and dynamic space of dialogue and discovery.

As a cross-country coach, he pushes his athletes to dig deep and achieve their potential. In his tenure, the Nichols cross country team has gone from being in the middle of the pack to challenging for first place.

As 5/6 Dean of Students, Cammarata has unwavering patience and a genuine belief in everyone’s potential that allows students to grow, understand, and repair the community due to poor decisions.

Beyond the classroom, he is a pillar of support and guidance. He seeks out the unique strengths and talents of every member of the Nichols community and engages them in thoughtful and supportive dialogue. He goes the extra mile to ensure the well-being of all of us in the community by offering a listening ear, a comforting shoulder, and a source of unwavering encouragement. Mr. C is a mentor, a role model, a trusted colleague, and just a good soul who leaves an everlasting impression on the hearts of those he comes across.

2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award

Created by the Alumni Association in 1976, the Distinguished Alumni Award is given to honor alumni who have given extraordinary time, energy, and wisdom through their volunteer efforts.

Head of School Chris Burner presented Nelson S. Walsh ’80 with the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award at the 131st Commencement Ceremony.

Walsh entered Nichols School in the 5th grade in 1973. According to classmates, Walsh embodied Nichols’ core values of pursuit of excellence and integrity of character from the moment he stepped on campus. He immediately found his second home and established friendships that remain as strong today as they were more than four decades ago.

From Nichols, Walsh continued his educational journey at Williams College, and then at Columbia Business School. He has committed his career to the financial world and currently serves as Vice Chairman of Investment Banking for Morgan Stanley.

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, several cousins, three uncles, father, and grandfather, Walsh joined the Nichols School Board of Trustees in 2017 and has served on the Advancement, Governance, Endowment, Finance, and Executive Committees. As a true example of legacy, 21 members of his family have attended Nichols School.

In 2018, he answered the call to serve as Co-Chair of All iN: The Campaign for Nichols School with his classmate Kristan Andersen ’80, creating perhaps the most dynamic duo Nichols has ever seen. Thanks to his leadership and guidance, an original goal of $35 million was expanded to $60 million just two years later. Doubling the Walsh Family Scholarship Fund, he led by example and helped secure the future of Nichols School by closing the All iN Campaign at a remarkable $66.3 million.

2023 Katherine B. Roach ’83 Award for New Faculty

The inaugural Katherine B. Roach ’83 Award for New Faculty was announced by Head of School Chris Burner at this year’s Commencement. Created for Katherine B. Roach, class of 1983 and current Chair of Nichols School Board of Trustees, Roach has been an active volunteer at the school.

Serving on the Alumni Board, as class agent, on her Class Reunion Committee, as Annual Fund Parent volunteer, a member of the Parent Ambassador Network, and on the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, Roach is a proud parent of Nichols alumni Caroline ’14 and Lindsay ’16.

During her tenure as Chair, ending on June 30, 2023, Roach has helped steer the Board of Trustees and Nichols through some very challenging times, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic. Her love of this school and commitment to ensuring its ongoing success is evident in everything she does.

The award was presented to Elizabeth Hamm, and recognizes a new faculty member with four or fewer years of service who has made exceptional contributions to the Nichols community in both teaching and extracurricular or athletics.

Hamm, agreed to come to Nichols a day before the school year began, in the middle of a pandemic, while moving cross country to a city she knew nothing about. In her first weeks as a Latin teacher, she taught on Zoom at rest stops along the way, and then in isolation in her home. Once she got to campus, it did not take long for her to make her mark. In the last couple of years, Hamm has rebuilt the Latin program growing the number of students, and leading students on trips to Athens and Rome all while spending afternoons, evenings, and weekends running with the students on the cross-country and track teams. n

Our Future is Bright

by Kate Roach ’83, Chair, Nichols School Board of Trustees

We are pleased to share the Nichols School Strategic Plan 2023.

Our work on this plan began in September 2020, and was extended as the COVID-19 pandemic continued. The plan represents the efforts of many members of the Nichols community. We are grateful for the time and dedication devoted to this project by our faculty, staff, families, administration, students, and alumni.

Led by Head of School, Chris Burner, members of the Board of Trustees and strategic planning committee focused on the school’s mission and vision for the future. The committee identified four areas for strategic attention – students, teaching, facilities, and finance and advancement.

Developing a strategic plan is a thoughtful deliberative exercise, and the COVID-19 pandemic informed our work. The plan is a student-focused, forward-thinking document with clear and direct goals to guide the work of the Board and Administration in the years to come. Strategic Plans are developed to create opportunities to lead the school into a bigger and brighter future, and this plan does just that. I look forward to all that is accomplished in the years to come.

Our Strategic Goals

Students

Goal 1: Provide a nationally recognized, evidence-based academic program that allows students to discover their passions while building the necessary skills to maximize their potential and live a life full of opportunity.

• Grow partnerships with the expanding Buffalo community in order to connect students with experiential learning opportunities.

• Create opportunities for collaboration among all academic departments and all grade levels 5-12.

• Maximize student opportunities after Nichols. Deepen our already robust and responsive college counseling process.

• Create opportunities for greater involvement among students, families, alumni, and the wider community.

Goal 2: Provide a program that supports the diverse community of students we serve. Ensure that all students feel a sense of true belonging in our school regardless of learning differences, socioeconomic status, race, and gender.

• Create a comprehensive wellness program.

• Ensure equity of outcomes for historically under-represented identities.

Goal 3: Provide a program where students have the opportunity to participate in multiple high-quality extracurricular activities and programs, including arts, service, and athletics.

• Create deeper community service experiences for all students.

• Encourage faculty to serve as teachercoaches in order to promote a cohesive program across academics and athletics.

Teaching

Goal 4: Attract, develop, and retain skilled and passionate faculty, staff, and coaches who reflect the diversity of the student body and the greater Buffalo Community.

• Build faculty capacity in pedagogy, social-emotional learning, and extracurriculars.

• Create a consistent philosophy of compensation that reflects our institutional values and facilitates the national hiring of best-in-class faculty, staff, and coaches.

Facilities

Goal 5: Provide superior facilities to support the needs of Nichols students, faculty, and staff – today and tomorrow.

• Renovate campus buildings (specifically Albright, Mitchell, and the Flickenger Performing Arts Center) so that they are state-of-the-art academic environments while meeting or exceeding standards for safety, accessibility, and security.

• Create a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic center to support student mental and physical well-being.

• Embark upon a comprehensive plan for environmental sustainability.

Finance and Advancement

Goal 6: Capitalize on our current financial stability to secure the future sustainability of Nichols School.

• Create a 5-year strategic financial plan.

Goal 7: Create community-wide engagement in building the financial support necessary to realize the current strategic plan.

• Develop, communicate, and implement a long-term advancement plan that emphasizes overall financial viability, fundraising, expansion of non-tuition revenue, endowment growth, and cost management.

Christopher Burner Head of School ___

Mission

Our aim is to train minds, bodies, and hearts for the work of life and carry into all we do the highest ideals of character and service.

Nichols commits to being a courageous community, grounded in equity of process and outcomes, where we can all safely and authentically be ourselves and therefore accept the challenges of our collective growth.

Vision

Nichols School is a diverse, independent school community, nationally recognized for developing motivated, adaptive, and empathetic scholars who are prepared to thrive as contributing members of our increasingly global world.

Building the Future

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Robotics Program

Ten years ago, physics teacher and Dr. Lewis F. McLean ’51, Endowed Science Chair Larry Hiller P’23,’28 started the robotics program with a single team, Electric Mayhem. Now he carries the distinguished title of Director of Robotics and oversees six middle and upper school Electric Mayhem teams that compete on regional, state, and international levels in the FIRST LEGO® League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competitions. This year, Nichols robotics teams won 30 awards at their competitions and completed 1,556 hours of service and outreach.

When virtual learning increased the complexity of planning and hosting events during the pandemic, New York needed a new regional robotics leader. Hiller was happy to step up, recruiting colleague Sara Wells, a tenyear veteran of the FIRST program, now an upper school science teacher, to help coach the teams. With the assistance of two other teachers, 12 Work of Life student leaders, alumni, and community mentors, Nichols hosted the Inaugural LEGO® League Regional Championship. Robotics is a big draw for prospective students, who visit the lab on every school tour. Team members guide prospective students around their workspace and proudly talk about team events and future plans. “I’m excited for next year,” said Levi Mayer ’28, a member of the Middle School team that won first place in their category and came in fifth out of 42 teams overall at the regional finals.

When asked what she loves most about robotics, Mayer said, “It integrates real-world problems that we can help change.” Last year’s robotics competition theme was “Energy,” and their winning GymGen project used the energy left over from exercising to charge phones. The Robotics Program embodies the Nichols mission to “train minds, bodies, and hearts for the work of life,” teaching STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) through fun, handson learning. “Anyone who wants to build and program robots professionally can do so. This is work that will benefit the kids long-term,” stated Hiller.

With so many kids interested in the program, the robotics teams need more room to work—and grow. Over a hundred students participated this year—gaining on the number of students who play sports—and more students join the teams each year. The program needs more space to build and test projects, and a volleyball court-sized performance space is currently being planned.

Hiller and Wells hope to increase the number of robotics teams in Buffalo, allowing Nichols to host more events close to home and providing increased access to STEM to the community. “It’s easy to look at the program and think we have kids building robots. But what it feels like to us is that we’re using robots to build kids,” stated Hiller. n

William Rosen ’23 is all smiles as he gets a 120 lbs. robot ready to compete for Electric Mayhem.

Mentors Make a Difference

The robotics teams actively seek alumni and community experts to provide feedback, ideas, and inspiration for their projects. “If you have engineering experience, wish to be a mentor, or have an interest in art, we’d love your help,” said Wells. The theme for next year’s competition is “Art,” and students are already brainstorming ways to use technology to make, display, enhance, and teach art. “Having alumni come back and help out is amazing for them and awesome for the kids,” continued Wells. “These kids are growing into awesome people who will do great things. Seeing what they get out of building robots is a powerful experience.”

Levi Mayer ’28 works with physics teacher Larry Hiller on a robot for FIRST LEGO League competition.

Learning for Life

AP Capstone Diploma ™ Program Helps Students Build Essential Skills

This year, as a testament to its commitment to helping students build the skills required to succeed in college and life, Nichols applied to and was accepted to the AP Capstone Diploma™ Program, a rigorous academic program offered by just 2,000 schools worldwide—and only five schools in Buffalo, NY. A true mark of distinction, only 46,840 students took the AP Seminar exam in May 2021, compared to the nearly half-million students who sat for the AP U.S. History exam.

The Value of

the

AP Capstone Diploma College Board AP courses are globally recognized for their academic rigor and consistent grading standards. These high standards are increasingly valuable post-pandemic when rampant grade inflation and test-optional college admissions practices have made it more challenging for genuinely outstanding students to distinguish themselves. In this changed academic landscape, the AP Capstone Diploma Program offers students an elite opportunity to stand out among competitors in the college application process—and learn skills that will elevate the rest of their academic career.

Introduced in 2022, the two-year AP Capstone Diploma Program is comprised of two challenging courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Led by Dr. Aranya Maritime P’17,’25, Dean of Academics, the 30 Nichols students enrolled in AP Seminar this year are using a classic work of English literature as a jumping-off point to develop research questions that touch on real-world issues. There are two sections of 15 students this year, and Dr. Maritime expects to have six sections next year. Students wishing to complete the AP Capstone Diploma in time to display the honor on their college applications can begin work their sophomore year. However, Dr. Maritime expects many juniors—and even seniors—to enroll in the course to gain the benefit of the work and to list their participation in the program on their transcripts.

Opportunities for Advancement

To earn the AP Capstone diploma, a student must earn a score of 3 or higher in the AP Seminar and Research courses, as well as a score of 3 or higher on four AP exams. The challenging coursework and frequent collaboration with other students make it crucial to attend every class, which can be challenging—but not impossible—for students heavily involved in athletics or other school-sponsored activities. For students wishing to explore other advanced academic opportunities, Nichols also offers a dual enrollment program through which they can earn college credit transferable to a SUNY school.

Backward Design Begins With the Goal

“The AP Capstone Diploma program is an incredibly well-designed series of authentic assessments. It’s stunning to be in the middle of it,” says Dr. Maritime. The backward-designed program aims to prepare students to orally defend a 20-page research paper during the Research course at the end of the two-year program. To that end, students begin their work in a team in AP Seminar, drawing on each other’s strengths and unique perspectives to begin the research process. They work together for the first half of AP Seminar to write and defend a short research paper. Students then create their own research papers during the second half of the year. By taking these measured steps, students build the necessary skills to move on to the AP Research course the following year, where they research, write, and defend an individual 20-page research paper on a topic of their choice.

Empowering Students

Sarah Jacobson, Associate Head of School for Academics, believes AP Seminar’s group approach adds value. Each student has their own task, but they come together to generate the topic and present the first paper, keeping students engaged with topics that interest them. As the course progresses, the group becomes the sole source of feedback, providing students with a sense of ownership and empowerment. “The AP Capstone allows students to begin building their Nichols narrative earlier in their academic career, helping them figure out who they are and what they are interested in pursuing in their lives,” says Jacobson. “The scaffold of the program is adultgenerated, but the content is open to student passions and interest, allowing them the freedom to choose a topic and delve deeply into research in an intentional, integrated, and cohesive way,” Jacobson continued.

Academic Skills to Carry Forward

The AP Capstone Diploma Program teaches students how to think critically, analyze the validity of source material, work in a team, and meet the standards of an academic rubric—all essential for success in college. Dr. Maritime feels digital literacy is one of the primary benefits of the program. “Research methods have evolved because of all the electronic things students can access. We need to intentionally teach students how to verify sources for credibility and evidence for validity,” explains Dr. Maritime. “During the AP Seminar and Research courses, students learn to use cutting-edge databases, craft a research paper, and create an oral defense of their paper before they ever set foot on a college campus.”

The AP Capstone Diploma Program’s rubric scoring affords

students another advantage: Once they understand the language used in the AP Seminar and Research rubric, students can use it to excel in their other AP courses. Additionally, students’ writings get submitted to the College Board for external grading throughout the course, galvanizing them to strive for a level of professionalism that will earn a high score from an objective grader. “I see my students getting stronger daily as they learn to grapple with the vast array of information they have access to every day and build the skill set to help them discern what is of value—and what is not. The essential skills and enduring understandings students develop in the AP Capstone Seminar and Research classes will serve them well in college, their chosen careers, and their whole lives,” said Dr. Maritime. n

“The AP Capstone allows students to begin building their Nichols narrative earlier in their academic career, helping them figure out who they are and what they are interested in pursuing in their lives.” – Sarah Jacobson

Celebrating Black History Change Begins with Education

When beginning to plan events to celebrate Black History Month in the Middle School, Holly Cercone, Assistant Director of the Chispa Program and Middle School DEI Coordinator, instantly thought of Zeneta Everhart. Cercone knew right away that she was the person needed to deliver a positive message of hope and inspiration to not only the Nichols community but the community of Buffalo as a whole.

Everhart serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for New York State Senator Tim Kennedy, working to ensure equity through legislation, community building, and the equitable distribution of resources. Everhart is also the mother of Zaire Goodman, a survivor of the Buffalo Tops Market mass shooting on May 14, 2022. A Tops employee, Goodman was helping a customer with her groceries when a gunman opened fire, allegedly choosing the Jefferson Avenue location because he wanted to kill as many Black people as possible.

The entire Nichols community kicked off Black History Month with “A Day with Zeneta Everhart.” Everhart shared her story, passionately conveying the importance of learning about the world and respecting all the different kinds of people in it. “The hardest part is that someone who didn’t look like Zaire wanted him to die because of the color of his skin,” stated Everhart. “Skin color is important—what we look like is important to us. We’re all different—and that’s a good thing. It doesn’t make anyone better, and it doesn’t make anyone less.”

After the shooting, Everhart and her son created a book drive called “Zeneta and Zaire’s Book Club” to start conversations about race and diversity. They’ve collected more than 20,000 books through their Amazon wish list and have partnered with Villa Maria College for

distribution to broaden the impact of their efforts. By addressing the Middle School in the Pond and visiting individual classrooms in the Upper School, Everhart began conversations about racism that raised awareness of prejudice and hatred happening close to home—just ten minutes away from Nichols on Jefferson Avenue. “Zeneta and Zaire’s Book Club” sets an example for how to turn tragedy into community building. However, Everhart was careful to state that her efforts were not intended to detract from the horror and injustice of the attack but to do something rooted in love in response to it.

When asked what she hoped our students learned that day, Cercone shared that she hoped that our students ‘biggest takeaway was having someone from the community, who was personally affected by the horrific event of May 14, come in and share the importance of serving others through love, understanding, and education’. She is an inspiration to all and motivates us to be better humans!

Nichols seeks to provide students with an education that goes beyond ideas and translates into real-world impact. “You learn different things from different kinds of people,” stated Everhart. Change begins with learning— and continues throughout the lives and legacies of Nichols students, a diverse community committed to caring, respect, action, and—above all—respect. “At the end of the day, we’re all human beings,” Everhart said. n

Nichols Middle School students celebrated “Black History Around the World” as they traveled through Reagan Hall in February this year. Each Middle School student received a passport, which was stamped as they participated in activities celebrating Black excellence and the contributions of Black Americans throughout history. Passport activities for the Middle School included a community art project and a canned food drive during “Souper-bowl” week. Upper School students celebrated with student presentations on soul food and art.

Leyla Akil ’23 Studies Psychosocial Oncology with Nichols Alumna

For the past four years, Nichols School has partnered with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to provide a secondary data analysis research opportunity for eight seniors each year. This past school year, a new opportunity for students was created. Nichols has once again partnered with the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to focus on how caregivers’ interpersonal networks shape family outcomes after a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer. Students collaborated and worked with Dr. Elizabeth Gage Bouchard ’99, Senior Vice President for Community Outreach and Engagement and Professor of Oncology, to develop a research question, formulate hypotheses, conceptualize statistical tests, and analyze statistical results to answer their initial research question. This topic sits at the intersection of public health, sociology, and cancer research.

Seniors who are accepted to this program know that the work ahead of them does not make for an easy or relaxing senior year. In fact, in the spring, when their classmates are breathing a sigh of relief from their college acceptances and AP exams being over, the Research Scholar students are still deep in writing up the results of their analysis in the form of a journal article.

Leyla Akil ’23 is one of the seniors who applied and was accepted for the Psychosocial Oncology program. Below she details what the experience has been like for her this year.

I initially signed up for the new Research Scholars Psychosocial Oncology class as my junior year was ending. It occurred to me that this class would be demanding, and I would still be dialed in with the coursework until the very end of the school year. The thought of this didn’t bother or daunt me because taking this course would mean that, in the end, I would leave with lots of newly acquired skills and abilities. So, when I officially heard that I was accepted into the Psychosocial Oncology course, I was excited. I had an idea of who my classmates would be by the end of junior year, and that elated me

further because they were people I knew to be diligent scholars. We were fortunate to be able to work with Dr. Bouchard ’99. Her presence at some of our classes provided us with valuable insight as we began to prepare to write our final journal article aiming to answer the following question: How do caregivers’ interpersonal networks shape family outcomes after a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer?

The first couple of months consisted of introduction topics that didn’t necessarily have much to do with our main question, but still allowed us to have vital

background knowledge so we could understand the future references and topics that we would encounter. We learned how to use resources like PubMed and Google Scholar to find reliable scholarly articles that would help us expand our language around the topic.

A regular segment of our class was ‘Journal Club,’ which was an opportunity for students to pick an article relevant to our discussions and present it in class. At first, this was intimidating because the individual presenting would need to read and understand their article to successfully share it. I appreciated having this task as I was unfamiliar with reading and analyzing scientific articles. This exercise allowed me to develop effective skills that have since helped improve my comprehension of science.

Another focus of the class was how to better perceive

and understand data charts and graphs. We ultimately ended up focusing on qualitative data, as it is important to know how quantitative data differed and why it was significant.

At the beginning of the school year, I began to wonder if I was “smart enough” to be in the class. I often felt far behind my classmates during discussions which hindered my ability to participate productively. With the support of my classmates and teacher, Mr. RJ Bouchard, I began to feel engaged when I made a relevant point in class, and my confidence grew. I am truly grateful for the experience that this program granted me. Not only did I learn so much, but the people I interacted with have left me with so many fond memories that I will cherish forever.

n

“We were fortunate to be able to work with Dr. Bouchard ’99. Her presence at some of our classes provided us with valuable insight.”

– Leyla Akil ’23

Nichols faculty member RJ Bouchard with senior Leyla Akil ’23 and class mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Gage Bouchard ’99.

Speakers on Campus

Alexander J. Wright, JD ’97

March 2, 2023

Dr. Howard Stevenson January 13, 2023

On Friday, January 13, Nichols hosted nationally recognized clinical psychologist Howard Stevenson. Dr. Stevenson is a Professor of Africana Studies at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, whose primary research focuses on negotiating racial conflicts.

He also serves as the Executive Director of the Racial Empowerment Collaborative, a research, program development, and training center designed to promote racial literacy in education. He works extensively with organizations and school communities across the country, helping them develop the skills necessary to navigate conversations about race.

Dr. Stevenson delivered a keynote address introducing the concept of racial literacy and research, which supports the practical application for negotiating racial stress, difficult conversations, and relationship conflicts. After his presentation, he spent the day at Nichols talking with small groups of students, faculty, and families.

His was one of several presentations and workshops hosted at Nichols to continue the conversations surrounding the feeling of belonging and cultivating a stronger, tight-knit community.

On Thursday, March 2, Mr. Alexander J. Wright, JD ’97, Nichols alumnus and Founder and President of the African Heritage Food Co-op, shared his words and wisdom with Middle School students as part of our Upstander Day. Upstander Day aimed to shine light upon ways in which students can be upstanders for themselves and others. This year’s theme was conflict resolution. Wright’s presentation titled, “Disagree Without Being Disagreeable: Attacking Ideas Not People,” asked students to see the dignity in the human person during matters where there is a difference of opinion. Wright used the example of preferences for affinities for different types of sweets, treats, and candies as a relatable example where students could defend their stance while respecting people who held other opinions, in other words, “disagreeing without being disagreeable.”

This day was made possible by the George J. Kloepfer II ’68 Nichols Middle School Enrichment Fund.

Dr. Devorah Heitner March 20, 2023

On Monday, March 20, Nichols welcomed Dr. Devorah Heitner to campus for a two-day workshop. Dr. Heitner is the author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. Dr. Heitner’s work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN Opinion. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. She was on campus for two days and spent her time at Nichols working with students and faculty in small groups across both divisions.

Her presentations focused on how families can help their children navigate mistakes made online, mentoring and not just monitoring, character vs. consequences, and college admissions MythBusters.

Head of Middle School, Michael Russell, spearheaded the event. “Dr. Heitner’s visit reminds us of the importance in mentoring our students with the proper use of these powerful devices that they’ll interact with for the rest of their lives. She affirmed the importance and power of relationships in helping to provide students with that guidance. She also reminded the adults within our community to reflect on their own device use as a means of recognizing the importance of setting a proper example for our young learners of what a healthy relationship with technology can look like. If we are to help educate a generation of digital creators – as opposed to digital consumers – we must work to model health technology boundaries while also helping students be their authentic selves as they grow up online.” said Russell.

Dr. Harry Cohen ’73 April 13, 2023

On April 13, 2023, Dr. Harry Cohen ’73 returned to Nichols as our Prince Lecture speaker. Dr. Cohen graduated from Nichols in the class of 1973. He went on to attend Cornell University before receiving his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Michigan.

Currently, Dr. Cohen is a psychologist, coach, husband, father, restaurateur, serial entrepreneur, speaker, and friend. He’s an executive coach on retainer at several companies to help their executives and high-potential managers hone their leadership skills and focus on their unique strengths.

Dr. Cohen’s day at Nichols was focused on his book, “Be the Sun, Not the Salt.” Throughout the day, Dr. Cohen presented to groups of upper school students, middle school students, administrators, parents, and alumni. His message about being uplifting, spreading kindness, and helping others was incredibly impactful for everyone who heard him speak.

Thank you to Dr. Cohen for sharing his message on heliotropic leadership and ways our community can become more supportive, kind, and successful. These meetings provided more opportunities for Dr. Cohen to address specific issues we are facing as a school and how to do so in a way that is uplifting and builds community. n

Alumni Inspiration Nichols Connections Come Full Circle

Nichols alumni returned to campus to film “Mirror of Matsuyama” with the help of Nichols students and faculty.

When director James Grachos ’13 wrote “Mirror of Matsuyama,” a contemporary, poetic adaptation of a Japanese folk tale by the same name, he imagined his former Nichols acting teacher, Kristen Tripp Kelley, in a supporting role. As a testament to the strength of Nichols’s connections, reaching out to Kelley to gain her participation led to Kelley mobilizing her professional contacts in the Buffalo theatre community—and eventually filming on location at Nichols and inviting students to participate in the production as interns, assistants, actors, photographers, and extras.

“The Mirror of Matsuyama” follows a high schoolaged boy through his waking life and lucid dreams as he comes to terms with the recent death of his mother. The four days of filming took place during December when many other Nichols alums were home on break and visited the set to pitch in and support the production. “You can always count on the Nichols network,” said Grachos. “It wouldn’t have come together without the incredible commitment of the teachers and students working behind the scenes—and in front of the camera.”

When asked what inspired the desire to film at Nichols, Grachos spoke of how the beauty of the campus made it easy to stand out visually in a short film, and producer Elizabeth Cappuccino ’13 shared some advice she was given early in her career. “Send the elevator back down once you get to the top. Mentoring is incredibly important. This is a difficult industry, and we want to share what we’ve learned to make it easier for other Nichols students to develop their artistic talents and passions.” Director of Photography Michael Thompson ’13 also stressed the value of his Nichols mentors. He credits film teacher Andrea Mancuso for helping him attend a summer film program and win a grant to make his own film. “Teachers who inspired me and let me create my own things helped me know I wanted to become a filmmaker,” said Thompson.

During their time at Nichols, Grachos, Cappuccino, and Thompson took classes that fed their love of the arts, nurtured their creative talents—and still impact their work today. During filming, they created a welcoming, constructive, and professional environment for the student actors, production assistants, and extras. Students highlighted how kind Grachos, Cappuccino, and Thompson were on set, a reflection of Kelley’s teaching,

who encourages students to “share their individual strengths while working to uplift and support one another.” When interviewed, film intern Liam Stine ’23 said the experience cemented his desire to study film in college.

Knowledge shared while filming “Mirror of Matsuyama” will live on in the work of Nichols students and faculty. “Andrea and I are currently planning a film collaboration for our film and acting classes that was absolutely inspired by our time working with James, Elizabeth and Michael,” stated Kelley. Grachos spoke of his Nichols student volunteers in glowing terms, “We were thrilled to provide opportunities to the next generation of creators, but they had to deliver quality work—and they exceeded our professional expectations. We’ll be working for them someday.” n

Nichols School Participants – Film Interns: Henry Chambers ’23, Tommy Maidment ’24 (also production photos), and Liam Stine ’23, Actor in the role of Elle: Trinity Chatwood ’25, Actor in the role of Melanie and pre-production assistance: Kristen Tripp Kelley, Upper School Theater Teacher, Extras: Kate Coburn ’23, Ethan Jaffri ’25, Bri Hiller ’23, Henry Chambers ’23, Tommy Maidment ’24, and Liam Stine ’23, Film Intern Co-Ordinator: Andrea Mancuso

1. Kristen Tripp Kelley takes direction from her former student and director James Grachos ’13, in a transformed Rand Dining Hall.

2. Trinity Chatwood ’25 on set in a supporting role.

3. Alumni Elizabeth Cappuccino ’13, James Grachos ’13, and Michael Thompson ’13 pose for a picture on set.

4. Nichols Acting and Film students served as extras on the film, “Mirror of Matsuyama.”

5. Grachos ’13 reviews angle of mirror with film extra.

6. Film assistants adjust lighting to get the perfect look for a scene.

7. Elizabeth Cappuccino ’13, looks on as her former Nichols theater teacher acts on screen.

Recognizing Greatness

National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Welcomes Beth Stone

If you have been to Nichols in the past 40 years, you certainly have felt the impact Beth Stone made on this community. Serving as a faculty member and coach, Stone’s legacy has been one of inspiration, motivation, and equality for all Nichols students. Since her arrival at Nichols in the early 1980s, Stone has made it her mission to coach young athletes, grow the game of lacrosse, and ensure women’s sports have equal opportunity.

Stone’s commitment, dedication, and passion for women’s lacrosse were recognized this past October when she was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Maryland as a great contributor to the game. In her speech, Stone reflected on the support she received throughout her career, the students who have allowed her to achieve success, and Nichols for allowing her to do her three favorite things – coach, teach, and raise her two daughters, Wendy ’01 and Kristen ’04.

“I think Nichols gave girls wonderful opportunities, in athletics, in the arts, in STEM, everywhere,” Stone said. “You got the complete package when you came to Nichols. You had faculty that were supportive in every realm of your education. The faculty all coached; they all saw you on the field, and if they weren’t coaching, they’d watch you in a different sport, or in a play, or in a music concert.”

Stone’s arrival at Nichols came a few years after the school and Nottingham merged, making Nichols a co-ed school for the first time in its history. From the beginning of her tenure at Nichols, Stone began fighting for female athletes to have the same opportunities as male athletes.

“Equal gym time, practice time in the gym on the main campus, locker room access, those were battles that we fought from day one,” Stone said. “There were five boys’ locker rooms in the gym, there was one girls’ locker

room until the gym was redone in 2001. It took a long time to get some things changed.”

While there were some hurdles to navigate at Nichols, from the transition as an all-boys school to a co-ed school, Stone had no shortage of talented female athletes to work with.

“The reputation of Nichols School was that we were very strong in athletics, for both boys and girls,” Stone said. “Even in 1973-74, you had a tremendous group of female athletes that came to Nichols because of the academics, but also because we had the athletic piece. Female athletes were treated as athletes. It was accepted and encouraged.”

When Stone took over the Nichols lacrosse program, there were only two other women’s teams in the area – SEM and Park. Wanting to grow the game and find higher-level competition for her team, Stone reached out to schools in and around Lake Erie and founded the Midwest School Girls Lacrosse Association.

“I called the private schools in Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh, and they were all in the same boat,” Stone said. “So, we got together and founded the Midwest School Girls Lacrosse Association. We’d go to one of the cities each weekend, and they’d come here the second weekend in May. It was a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful way to play the game. I loved it. I loved being on the road with the team.”

Playing in the Midwest School Girls Lacrosse Association allowed the Nichols lacrosse team to play against stronger opponents, which ultimately led to more girls picking up lacrosse across the Midwest.

“The level of playing in the Midwest grew tremendously by playing teams out of your area,” Stone said. “The Midwest League was crucial to our

development as a program. We could not have grown our teams to the level we had if it wasn’t for playing in that league.”

Stone’s ability to grow the sport drew attention and interest to Nichols from prospective students. She started “community” days where young players could come to Nichols and learn from Stone and her players. Teams would come to Nichols from all over WNY and Canada.

“We did clinics with players and coaches, and if you ask the Canadian teams, they’d say that coming to Nichols playdays helped them grow their programs tremendously,” Stone said. “In that way, Nichols was a big, big part of growing the sport in Western New York.”

However, Stone had her sights set on a much larger goal – to push Nichols into the national conversation for women’s lacrosse.

“I wanted Nichols to be known nationally,” Stone said. “Known with the colleges, with other high schools as a school with a great lacrosse reputation. I wanted them to know that Nichols was out there and that we loved the game of lacrosse.”

Through her work with USA lacrosse, Stone brought in members of the USA World Cup team to run camps and clinics, helped Nichols players through the recruitment journey, and always brought Nichols lacrosse up when speaking with college coaches.

Stone never stopped her pursuit of equal opportunity for girls athletics. Much of her effort can still be felt on campus today with the addition of girl’s locker rooms in the gym, equal time on the turf fields, and her work on the Hall of Fame Committee to get deserving female athletes recognized in the Nichols Athletic Hall of Fame.

Despite giving up her role in the classroom, Stone continues to coach the Nichols field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams. The profound impact that she has made on Nichols is still being felt by current students and former players.

“Beth introduced me to lacrosse,” Alise Barrett ’88 said. “She helped me get my first coaching job and introduced me to officiating. I continue to officiate to this day. I am so grateful for her encouragement over the years.” n

Beth Stone joined by family and friends at her National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2022.

Athletic Achievements

Fall Sports

Varsity Boys Cross Country (5-3 MML)

Head Coach: James Cammarata

The Boys Cross Country Team had a positive season competing in many local invitationals as well as a full league schedule. The team had an exciting league win over St. Mary’s of Lancaster and placed 3rd at All-Catholics. Ryan Janese ’26 was named 1st Team All-Catholic. Owen Block ’23, Ryan Koeppen ’26, and Eli Kiddy ’25 were named 2nd Team All-Catholic.

Varsity Girls Cross Country (1-4 MML)

Head Coach: Roddy Potter ’82

The Girls Cross Country Team competed at multiple invitationals including Red Dragon, East Aurora, Alden, and McQuaid. The Monsignor Martin opponents were strong, with the teams lone win coming over Mt. St. Mary’s/Mt. Mercy. Emily Huckell ’24 was named 2nd Team All-Catholic and the Most Valuable Runner of the team. Trisha Jupudy ’23, Rebecca Korsh ’23, and Gabriella Radford ’23 were named Honorable Mention All-WNY Scholar-Athletes.

Varsity Field Hockey (17-3 Overall, 6-0 CISAA)

Head Coach: Beth Stone

The Field Hockey Team had an amazing season. They were 17-3 overall, going undefeated in regular season play in WNY, and Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA). They won the CISAA Championship to earn the inaugural Sharon Creelman Cup. The team finished the season ranked #2 in

WNY, #7 in NYS and #87 in the USA by Max Prep. A highlight was attending the MAX National Tournament in Pennsylvania. These were the team’s only losses to formidable opponents in Ridge (#8 in NJ), Tabb (#4 in VA), and Myers Park (#1 in NC). The team scored 120 goals and only allowed 21. In the CISAA Tournament, they dominated with an astounding victory over SJK in the semi-finals and an exciting 7-0 win over Appleby in the Finals. Ilsa Neumann ’26 had 12 shut-outs in goal over 17 games.

Many players received multiple accolades to wrap-up the season. Leading the team with 26 goals and 14 assists, Kiersten Smith ’24, was named 1st Team All-WNY, All NYS Honors, and an NFHCA Scholars of Distinction Nomination. Julia Peters ’23 was named 2nd Team All-WNY and Honorable Mention All-WNY ScholarAthlete, as well as NFHCA National Academic Squad Nomination. Molly DiGiulio ’25 was named 1st Team All-WNY and All NYS Honors, led the team with 31 assists, which was ranked 1st in WNY and NYS and 4th Nationally. She was the Channel 7 Athlete of the Week 11/11. Ella Murphy ’25 was named 1st Team All-WNY, All NYS Honors, and finished 3rd in NYS and 10th in U.S. with 26 assists. Callista Printz ’24 was named 2nd Team All-WNY. Brynn Bacak ’25 and Molly Duffett ’24 were named Honorable Mention All-WNY. Duffett was also nominated for NFHCA Scholar of Distinction. NFHCA National Academic Squad Nominations went to Julia Peters ’23, Siena Spadone ’24, and Ava Varecka ’24. Julia Peters ’23 also received a nomination for NFHCA Senior Impact Team.

Varsity Boys Golf (2-5 MML)

Head Coach: Ronald Montesano

The Monsignor Martin League was a tough field this year; however, the Boys Golf Team persevered and finished strong. The entire starting lineup of eight golfers, which includes one of our best female golfers the school has ever seen, qualified for the All-Catholic Individual Tournament at Springville Country Club. Lily Zhang ’26 and Gavin Weinstein ’25 made 1st Team All-Catholic with scores of 74 and 78. Ross Yoshida ’25 made 2nd Team All-Catholic with a score of 80. The team had four qualifiers for next year’s State Catholic Championship in Poughkeepsie: John Boscarino ’23 , Gavin Weinstein ’25, Ross Yoshida ’25, and Lily Zhang ’26. John Boscarino ’23 was named All-WNY Scholar-Athlete. William Rosen ’23 was named Honorable Mention All-WNY Scholar-Athlete.

Varsity Sailing

Head Coach: Rene Bouchard

Nichols Sailing brought on a number of promising new sailors, and the growth in both technical sailing and race tactics was impressive. The team won a number of local regattas and placed well in events against high school teams from Rochester and Chautauqua. The team was granted a berth at the competitive MASSA Silver Championships. The two-day championship event was grueling, with challenging conditions of cold, high winds, and choppy waves, but the sailors rose to the occasion and improved consistently throughout the event. The team ultimately finished 8th at

Silvers, resulting in being 24th in the Mid-Atlantic (New York to Virginia) district.

Varsity Boys Soccer (2-15 Overall, 2-8 MML)

Head Coach: Rudy Pompert

The Boys Soccer Team had a season of improvement, hope, and one-goal games. Exciting games included two wins over Bishop Timon, and seven one-goal losses. The team fell short in the MML Quarterfinals to St. Francis 2-1.

Cutler Greene ’23 was named 1st Team All-Catholic.

Kurt Mauser ’23 and Camden Christian ’24 were named 2nd Team All-Catholic. Greene and Mauser were also named Honorable Mention All-WNY Scholar-Athlete.

Varsity Girls Soccer (12-6-1 Overall, 7-1 MML)

Head Coach: Larry Desautels

The Girls Soccer Team had an exciting season, winning the Monsignor Martin League with a 7-1 record. In the league Semi-Finals, the team handily defeated Sacred Heart 6-0. This set up the ultimate re-match of Nichols vs. St. Mary’s of Lancaster who had split their regular season games. Unfortunately, they lost a heartbreaker in overtime 4-3.

Linda Ullmark ’24 was named NYSSCOGS Class B NYS Player of the Year, Monsignor Martin Player of the Year, and 1st Team All-WNY. Ullmark was also selected to play in the ECNL Girls National Selection Game in Florida this winter.

Sophia Jones ’23 was named 1st Team All-Catholic and All-WNY Scholar-Athlete. Helena Crotty ’23 was named Honorable Mention All-WNY Scholar-Athlete.

Mara Batchen ’25 was named Honorable Mention All-WNY, NYSSCOGS Class B 4th Team, and 1st Team All-Catholic. Eden Alphonse ’23 was named 1st Team All-Catholic. Gabriella Hall ’23, Ella Fishkin ’24, and Emerson Bacak ’24 were named 2nd Team All-Catholic.

Varsity Girls Tennis (6-3 Overall)

Head Coach: Amy Borden

The Girls Tennis Team was very talented this fall and had a strong season, with close, exciting wins over Williamsville South and Lancaster. Other victories were over Alden, Mercyhurst, Starpoint, and Iroquois. The only defeats were at the hands of Erie, PA, schools Villa Maria and McDowell. Elizabeth Berdysiak ’23, Maris Conrad ’23, Ava Farkash ’23, Farah Feldman ’23, Xinyan Jiang ’23, Saniya Kalra ’23, and Anastasia Seidler ’23 were named Honorable Mention All-WNY Scholar-Athletes.

Varsity Volleyball (Overall 9-7-1, MML 6-6)

Head Coach: Molly Gasuik

The Volleyball Team had a solid season competing in the Cheektowaga Tournament to start the season and the Lakeshore Tournament midway through. The team went undefeated (4-0) in pool play at the Lakeshore Tournament. In the best of three semi-finals, they defeated Holland 2-0 and lost to host Lakeshore 2-0 in the championship round. With a 6-6 league record, there was a 3-way tie for the last seed in the Monsignor Martin Tournament. The team tied Nardin, and lost to

Mt. St. Mary’s in the ‘play-in tournament’ and did not make the semi-finals. Ryann O’Carroll ’24 was named 1st Team All-Catholic and Gabby Seneca ’25 was named 2nd Team All-Catholic. Gracie Dunbar ’23, Mary Margaret Martin ’23, and Ambros Saverino ’23 were named Honorable Mention All-WNY Scholar-Athlete.

Winter Sports

Boys Basketball (Overall 15-10, MML 9-5 MML)

Head Coach: Matt Bradshaw

The Boys Basketball team played a season filled with tremendous progress recording the most overall wins and most league wins in the past seven seasons. Highlights included wining the Lockport Tournament, defeating Aquinas twice, and winning against Canisius and St. Joe’s in the same season for the first time in eight years. Unfortunately, the Vikings lost by one in the Monsignor Martin Quarter-Finals to St. Francis. There were many individual accolades for the players. Jakye Rainey ’24 scored a career high 53pts, eclipsed the 1000pt mark midway through the season, and was named 1st Team All-Catholic. Parker Rey ’24 had a career high 48 pts and was named 2nd Team All-Catholic. Channing Francis ’24 had a career high 38 points.

Girls Basketball (Overall 21-5, MML 8-1)

Head Coach: Kayleigh Rizzo

The Girls Varsity Basketball team had an extraordinary season compiling one of the best records in team history, including a 12-game win streak during the season. In a rare occurrence, Quinn Benchley ’23 and Brianna

Barr-Buday ’24 scored their 1,000th point in the same game against Mt. Mercy. They defeated the O’Hara Hawks in the Monsignor Martin League Finals to capture the AA Championship. With the win the team advanced to the AA CHSAA State Tournament to play St. Mary Manhasset, NY. The game was exciting, with each team battling back and forth for the lead, but unfortunately, Nichols could not hold on and lost. Quinn Benchley ’23 and Brianna

Barr-Buday ’24 were named 1st Team All-Catholic, and Fallon Griffin ’23 was named 2nd Team All-Catholic.

Girls Prep Hockey (Overall 21-12-4)

Head Coach: Jamie Printz

The Girls Prep Hockey team had an exciting season, playing a pre-Covid strength schedule competing in the NAPHA and CISAA leagues. The team won the Hill School Tournament with victories over Hill School and Vermont Academy and turned around five days later and swept a NAPHA weekend, 4-0. They had an exciting Northwood Tournament going 2-2, unfortunately losing in the finals to Northwood. The girls competed for the NAPHA Championship, losing to Gilmour in the finals.

The season wrapped up with a CISAA quarter final win over Havergal College and a semi-final loss to eventual champions Crestwood Prep.

Boys Prep Hockey (22-31-5)

Head Coach: Michael Benedict

Boys Prep Hockey had many trips this season, starting off the winter portion of their year at Gilmour Academy where they went 2-2. They then traveled to Minnesota and Lawrenceville for December tournaments. Unfortunately, the Belmont Hill Tournament was cancelled due to the December blizzard. The team hosted the inaugural championship weekend of the Two Nations Prep Hockey League and enjoyed an exciting senior night win vs. St. Francis.

Boys Federation Hockey (17-1-1)

Head Coach: RJ Gicewicz ’14

Boys Federation Hockey captured their repeat Monsignor Martin Championship with a victory over St. Francis.

Alex Glofka ’24 received the Miguel Rodriguez award for Most Valuable Goalie. Jake Caffrey ’26 was Most Valuable Player of the MML Championship game. The team went on to win their second Catholic State High School Championship in a row over Chaminade High School.

TJ Bamrick ’24 was the Most Valuable Player of the championship game. Nathan Enwright ’25 and Alex Glofka ’24 were named 1st Team All-Catholic. Mclean Agrette ’26 and Kasey Kohler ’26 were named

2nd Team All-Catholic. Griffin Johnston ’25, Miles

Santa Maria ’24, TJ Bamrick ’24, Hudson Nguyen ’26, Joe Conte ’25, and Drury Schmidt ’25 were all named Honorable Mention All-Catholic.

Boys Squash (Overall 15-6, CISAA 8-1)

Head Coach: David Pfalzgraf ’88

Boys Squash enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in years. The team played a competitive CISAA schedule and defeated Canisius twice. In the CISAA Semi-Finals, they defeated Crescent School 4-3 and then matched up against a tough UCC team, where the team came up short. The team represented well at High School Nationals with wins against Riverdale and Berkshire, finishing 6th in Division IV. They enjoyed a trip to Cleveland to play University School and MICDS.

Girls Squash (Overall 10-1, WNY 4-0)

Head Coach: Steve Bell

The Girls Squash team enjoyed a very successful season winning their 13th consecutive Western New York High School Championship, defeating local teams Buffalo Seminary and Nardin each twice. The Clough Cup remains in Buffalo with a victory over Berkshire to start the season. The girls finished 5th in Division IV at Nationals, defeating Roland Park and Millbrook, only losing to Westminster along the way.

spring Sports

Baseball (10-12 Overall, 4-5 MML)

Head Coach: Brian Brazee

The baseball team started off strong with a sevengame win streak against strong local non-league teams, including Grand Island, Kenmore West, Maryvale, and Depew. In league play, they defeated Bishop Timon twice, and Canisius and St. Francis each once. The team defeated St. Mary’s of Lancaster handily in the league quarter finals 11-1. They lost two games in a row to St. Joe’s in the semi-finals. John Boscarino ’23 and Michael Zacher ’23 were named 1st Team All-Catholic, Luke Colpoys ’24 and Jonah Walh ’24 were named 2nd Team All-Catholic, and Ross Yoshida ’25 was named Honorable Mention All-Catholic.

Boys & Girls Crew

Head Coach: Peter Martin

The crew teams had a busy spring with success along the way. The highlights of the season were the boys Senior 4+ placing third at New York State Championships and qualifying for SRAA Nationals in Oak Ridge, TN. They placed 16th at the National Regatta. The girls Freshman

4+ placed 3rd at the New York State Championships, earning a bronze medal. The girls Junior 4+ placed 4th at New York State championships, just missing qualifying

20 Years of Women’s Golf

This year marks the 20th season of women’s golf at Nichols. For the past two decades, the Nichols women’s golf team has achieved tremendous success both on and off the course through dedication, perseverance, and unwavering team spirit. Growing in popularity and skill each year, the talented athletes who have played on the women’s golf team at Nichols have brought numerous championships and accolades while paving the way for future Nichols students to have an opportunity to show their skills on the course.

Beyond the fairways, the Nichols women’s golf program has made a lasting impact on the lives of our students. The program has not only shaped students into exceptional golfers but also strong, confident, and determined young women from the guidance of the program founder and current head coach, Ron Montesanto.

Join us in applauding the women’s golf program and their remarkable journey over the past 20 years.

for SSRA. Locally, the teams competed at the Bennett and Fontana regattas, as well as the Syracuse Charges invitational.

Girls Golf (1-2)

Head Coach: Ron Montesanto

The Girls Golf team had a successful season, returning to full competition in the CISAA league. The girls finished in 5th place twice and 8th place once to secure a spot in the championship round. They played multiple nonleague matches vs. Cassadaga Valley, Olean, Maple Grove, and Fredonia. Rory Warren ’24 had the best scoring average on the season. Kate Fan ’28 was a medalist for one 9-hole match.

Boys Lacrosse (10-7 Overall, 5-6 MML)

Head Coach: Brendon Burke

Boys Lacrosse started strong with three straight wins vs. Iroquois, UCC, and Aquinas. In league play, they defeated Timon and St. Mary’s of Lancaster each twice, along with St. Francis once. The team hosted the Monsignor Martin quarter finals, where they handily defeated Bishop Timon. Unfortunately, the team came up short vs. St. Joe’s in the league semi-finals. Nate Bair ’23 and Belal Hamdani ’25 were named 1st Team All-Catholic, Joe Conte ’25, Qasim Hamdani ’25, and Aidan Porter ’23 were named 2nd Team All-Catholic, and Jacob Brunton ’24, John Duffett ’26, Macay Jimerson ’25, and Ryan Janese ’26 were named Honorable Mention All-Catholic.

Girls Lacrosse (15-5 Overall, 12-0 MML)

Head Coach: Beth Stone

The Girls Lacrosse team once again enjoyed a spectacular season going undefeated in regular season league play, defeating each team twice, which led to the number one seed in the playoff tournament. The team had some hard-fought non-league battles vs. Cleveland Heights, Orchard Park, Lancaster, and Hamburg. They hosted St. Mary’s of Lancaster in the league semi-finals where they had their closest game of the season earning a 16-13 win. They went onto the finals, where they defeated Nardin 16-10 and won their 3rd consecutive league championship. The girls represented Monsignor Martin at the state semi-finals where they lost to Our Lady of Mercy. Julia Peters ’23, Molly Duffett ’24, and Kiersten Smith ’24 were named 1st Team All-Catholic, Kate Sheline ’24 and Gwyneth Sheline ’26 were named 2nd Team All-Catholic, and Kamryn Amici ’24, Molly DiGiulio ’25, and Kirsten Domagola ’24 were named Honorable Mention All-Catholic.

Softball (3-10 Overall, 2-7 MML)

Head Coach: Molly Gasuik

The softball team started off with a win at the Mudville Tournament and then two wins over league opponent Mt. Mercy. The second Mt. Mercy game was an exciting come from behind 1-run victory. Lauren Geyer ’23, Ellery Jaworowicz ’25, and Ryann O’Carroll ’24 were named 2nd Team All-Catholic, and Avery O’Carroll ’24 was Honorable Mention All-Catholic.

Boys Tennis (11-0 Overall, 8-0 MML)

Head Coach: Thomas LaPenna

Boys Tennis had an extraordinarily successful season going undefeated in league play to win the regular season Monsignor Martin League for the 3rd season in a row. They won non-league matches vs. Harley, Cathedral, and Orchard Park. At the All-Catholic championship competition, Nichols swept 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place

in the singles and secured 1st place in the doubles championship. Matt Carlson ’23 defeated teammate Martin Emmons ’24 in the singles final.

Vonn Dudek ’26 won the 3rd place singles match.

Ryan Tingley ’24 and Joe Tuber ’25 won the doubles championship. Nichols has won both the All-Catholic singles and doubles championships for 3rd year in a row.

Boys & Girls Track (Boys 2-5 MML, Girls 2-4 MML)

Head Coach: Roddy Potter ’82

The Boys Track team finished the Monsignor Martin League season with victories over Christian Central and the Cardinal O’Hara/Park combined team. Girls track earned victories over Mt. St. Mary’s and Christian Central. Both teams competed in the Warsaw and Jamestown Invitationals. Owen Block ’23 was the Boys Most Valuable Player, winning the 400m dash at All-Catholics, and going on to represent Nichols at states in New York City.

2023 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

2023 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

Saturday, September 16 at Nichols School

Nichols will pay tribute to this year’s honorees and formally acknowledge the accomplishments of these exceptional alumni athletes. For more information, visit www.nicholsschool.org/athletics/athletic-hall-of-fame.

Joe Banach ’81

Ray Empson ’55

Bill Pettit ’67

Kevin Burke ’91

George Kloepfer ’68

Don Smith ’97

Eulis Cathey ’71

Ed Marlette ’64

Tina Wagle ’92

Julia Drury ’02

Matthew Martin ’80

Lucy and Sherman Maisel ’35 General Information Test

The Nichols Upper School General Information Test is a tradition that began in the 1911 Verdian yearbook. It is compiled from questions submitted by Nichols faculty and is given to students in grades 9 through 12 as a measure of general knowledge. This GIT was coordinated by Associate Head of School for Academics Sarah Jacobson, and it is funded through the generosity of Lucy and Sherman Maisel ’35.

1. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is set during which war, explaining the presence of the many soldiers?

2. One product from the neutralization reaction between hydrochloric acid and potassium hydroxide is potassium chloride. Name the other product.

3. Name the reigning World Cup Men’s Soccer champion.

a. United States b. France

c. Argentina d. Brazil

4. How many domes did Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi nestle together (for stability purposes) in order to create what appears to be the single dome of the Florence Cathedral?

a. one b. two

c. three d. four

5. Which is the capital of Nicaragua?

a. Tegucigalpa b. Managua

c. Lima d. San José

6. What was the name of the Carthaginian general who led his troops, and his elephants, across the Alps in 218 BCE?

7. Parent of a Nichols graduate, this acclaimed stage and film actor recently starred on Broadway in “Between Riverside and Crazy” by Stephen Adly Guirgis.

a. Ruben Santiago-Hudson

b. Stephen McKinley Henderson

c. Wendell Pierce

d. Jesse L. Martin

8. The Arabic word aljabr means completion or “reunion of broken parts.” What modern study of mathematics takes its name from aljabr?

9. What is the name of the English street artist whose Balloon Girl shredded itself at auction in 2018 after being sold for £1,042,000 and is now called Love is in the Bin?

10. Name the NBA team with the most consecutive championships.

a. Boston Celtics b. Los Angeles Lakers

c. Chicago Bulls d. Cleveland Cavaliers

11. What singer-songwriter is the first and only female solo artist to win the Grammy for Album of the Year three times for her solo recordings?

12. Both plant and animal cells have cell membranes. In addition, plant cells also have _________________.

13. If you are born in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, an archipelago of eight islands off the coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, what is your nationality?

14. What is a five tone scale called?

a. slendro b. pentatonic c. pelog d. major

15. Portland, Oregon was named after Portland, Maine in a coin toss. True False

16. There were three famous Bronte sisters, ______________________, _________________, and _____________________________.

17. Many new energy storage devices are based on the 3rd element on the periodic table, which is?

18. Who was the only U.S. president to serve two nonconsecutive terms?

19. Who are the Nichols tennis courts named after?

a. Billie Jean King b. Aranya Maritime

c. Margaret Pauly d. Amy Borden

20. What is the name of Picasso’s famous painting depicting an attack during the Spanish Civil War?

21. In Born a Crime, Trevor Noah writes about growing up in this African country.

22. Named after the princess rescued by Perseus, what is the name of the galaxy that will collide with our galaxy in 4.5 billion years?

23. A stage with a picture frame arch through which the audience views the action is called a(n):

a. arena b. thrust

c. proscenium d. black box

24. What creature has no teeth, no stomach, mates for life and is the only species on earth where the male carries unborn offspring?

25. Who was the first Prime Minister of India after it achieved independence in 1947?

26. The Nobel Prize does not have an award in the field of mathematics. What is the name of the award that is considered as “the Nobel Prize of mathematics”?

28. In 1984, 10 years after the tragic death of this Canadian restaurant’s namesake, Tim Hortons opened its first successful store in the United States –it is still operating today. Which Buffalo area suburb would you need to visit to get a coffee and Timbits from the longest-operating Tim Hortons in the United States?

29. In what decade was the microwave oven invented?

30. Toni Morrison, arguably one of the most influential and important writers of the last fifty years, most famously author of Beloved, wrote just two short stories. The first and most famous of which is: “Recitation,” “Recitatif,” OR “Resignation”?

31. Which French port city lies on the River Garonne and is the capital of the southwest French region Nouvelle-Aquitaine?

32. What is the name of the coffee shop where the characters in Friends hang out?

33. What type of camera was described as early as 500 BCE?

34. What do the two most recent female Nichols alum Olympic Gold Medalists have in common?

a. They played the same sport.

b. They have the same first name.

c. They won gold medals in the same year.

d. They both married a Canadian.

35. Who wrote The Tale of Genji, the world’s first novel?

27. The symbols are called: incidentals, accidentals, coincidentals, or intentionals?

36. One of the first three black students at West Virginia University, she graduated summa cum laude at the age of 18. She joined NASA in 1953 and contributed to the Mercury and Apollo missions sending people to the moon. In 2015, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. Who is she?

37. List two of the five countries that border Kenya.

38. After Adam and Eve eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God casts them out of the garden before they eat the fruit of a second tree, the tree of _____________________________.

39. During a 2022 concert, what pop star played the crystal flute made in 1813 for James Madison to commemorate his second inauguration?

40. What was the population of the country of Andorra in 2021?

a. 79,000 b. 100,000

c. 68,000 d. 53,000

41. What are the standard units that energy is measured in?

42. The opening of a camera lens is measured as an “f-number,” but what is this opening called?

43. Recent discoveries indicate that Viking women were warriors and were given full Viking funerals. True False

44. Which Greek mathematician is best known for “his” theorem? He was also a religious and philosophical leader of a group bearing his name. Additionally, he is credited with recognizing that the morning and evening star is the planet, Venus.

45. Japanese artist Hokusai produced a woodblock print series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji from 1830 to 1832. The most famous print in the series is The Great Off Kanagawa

46. If we allow x to increase without bound, i.e., x approaches infinity, what is the value of (1 + �/x )X?

47. Lemony Snicket uses which of these JD Salinger characters in his Series of Unfortunate Events: Esme, Franny, or Zooey?

48. What was the first U.S. territory to give women the right to vote?

49. Who scored the final touchdown of the 2022-2023 Buffalo Bills season (including playoffs)?

a. Dawson Knox b. James Cook

c. Josh Allen d. Stefon Diggs

50. The Wrexham Football Club, which has recently been promoted to League Two, is owned by which famous actor?

51. In ancient Greek humoral theory, the four humoral temperaments are sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, and _____________________________.

52. Matter particles that are not made up of quarks, like electrons, are called “leptons.” Matter particles that are made up of quarks, like protons, are called ____________________________.

53. The Greek goddess Circe of Aeaea is most famous for turning Odysseus’ men into __________________.

54. List out the dynasties, in order, that ruled China between 1271 and 1911.

55. Grand Island is the world’s largest fresh water island. True False

56. How is the decimal number 16 written in the hexadecimal number system?

57. ______________________________ wrote a number of novels including, One Hundred Years of Solitude, considered to be second only to Don Quixote as the greatest novel in the Spanish language.

58. Which of these Buffalo Sabres did NOT score 50 goals in a season?

a. Alexander Mogilny b. Danny Gare

c. Pat LaFontaine d. Gilbert Perreault

59. The late Prince Philip, consort of the late Queen Elizabeth II, was a prince by birth of ___________________ and __________________ based on his patrilineal descent.

60. In the 95 year history of the Academy Awards, how many women have won the “Best Director” Oscar?

a. 21 b. 3 c. 12 d. 5

61. If each person on earth were given enough space (0.5) to stand comfortably on the ground without touching anyone else, estimate the length of the side of a square that would contain everybody in this fashion.

62. What are the two main ingredients of the Spanish tortilla?

a. flour and water b. eggs and potatoes

c. eggs and flour d. sugar and eggs

63. The film version of Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play A StreetCar Named Desire starred Marlon Brando as Stanley and Kim Hunter as Stella. What garment is Stanley famous for wearing through much of the play’s action?

a. trench coat b. fedora

c. undershirt d. hoodie

64. Complete the Solfège notation: do re mi ________ la ti do.

65. What is the name of the supreme court case that legalized gay marriage across the USA?

a. Plessy v. Ferguson b. Miranda v. Arizona

c. Tinker v. Des Moines d. Obergefell v. Hodges

66. Yellow light shines on a piece of paper containing blue pigment. What color does the paper appear to be?

67. When molecules of different types stick together it is called adhesion. When molecules of the same type stick together it is called?

68. Which Puerto Rican baseball great died in a plane crash in 1972 while on his way to Nicaragua to deliver relief supplies to the earthquake-ravaged country? In his final game of 1972, he secured his 3000th career hit for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

70. In music, what word means the quality of a sound that distinguishes it from another?

71. Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to be elected from what political party?

a. Whig b. Know Nothing

c. Democrat d. Republican

72. Name the last MLB player to win the Triple Crown?

a. Miguel Cabrera b. Sammy Sosa

c. Bryce Harper d. Mickey Mantle

73. Which prefix is used to describe very small units, namely one-billionth of a unit?

74. Depicted as having the head of a crocodile, front legs of a lion, and hind legs of a hippo, the Egyptian goddess Ammut/Ammit was known by what epithet, which refers to her role in ancient Egyptian religion? Sofia Danu (body) and Saba Mubarak (voice) portray her in the Marvel series Moon Knight.

75. Which of the following Chinese cities is not a coastal city?

a. Guangzhou b. Shanghai c. Beijing

76. Pi, π, is an irrational number with an approximate value of 3.14. Pi is defined by a ratio that can be found in a common formula used in geometry. What is that ratio?

77. Name three of South Africa’s official languages. ___________________ , ,

78. __________________________ is a renowned Argentine writer whose short stories inspired modern movie director/writer Christopher Nolan to create the hit movies Inception and Memento.

79. In kickball, how many bases is a base-runner allowed to advance after a foul overthrow?

69. Two masses are separated by a distance, d, and exert a force, F, on each other. If the distance between the masses is increased to 4d, what is the new force between the masses?

80. When Beatrice of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing declares that she does not wish to be “overmastered by a piece of valiant dust,” she is referring to what famous story?

81. Name the only NHL defenseman to lead the league in scoring?

a. Cale Makar b. Paul Coffey

c. Larry Robinson d. Bobby Orr

82. Mr. Red, Mr. White, and Mr. Blue meet for lunch. Each is wearing a red shirt, a white shirt, or a blue shirt. No one is wearing more than one color, and no two are wearing the same color. Mr. Blue tells one of his companions, “Did you notice we are all wearing shirts with a different color from our names?” The other man, who is wearing a white shirt, says, “Wow, that’s right!” What color shirt is Mr. Blue wearing?

83. Stanford dropout, Elizabeth Holmes, in November 2022, was convicted of defrauding the investors of her health technology company and sentenced to 11¼ years in prison. What was the name of her company?

84. As the amplitude of a swinging pendulum decreases, does its period increase, decrease, or remain the same?

85. ________________________ is the first woman to translate Homer’s Odyssey into English.

86. Who was the only U.S. president to be a prisoner of war?

87. Which of these current Nichols Coaches is NOT a Nichols alum?

a. Ted Marks b. Beth Stone

c. Roddy Potter d. RJ Gicewicz

88. Who is considered the “founding father” of free market capitalism?

89. What singer-songwriter and Academy Award nominee for Best Actress for A Star is Born was recently tapped by President Biden to co-chair the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities alongside producer Bruce Cohen?

91. What transport project connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and played a significant role in shaping United States trade and commerce in the first half of the 19th century?

92. Where is Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night housed?

a. New York City b. Paris

c. London d. Amsterdam

93. Which word is pronounced exactly like the French word fin: faim, fond, or feu?

94. Gabrielle Zevin takes the title of her new novel, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, from which Shakespeare play?

a. Hamlet b. King Lear

c. Macbeth d. Othello

95. Who is 2nd on the Nichols Boys Basketball 1000-point club behind Christian Laettner?

a. Chris Miner b. Ron Torgalski

c. Will Regan d. Greg Plumb

96. During the reign of Justinian, the first recorded major outbreak caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis occurred, killing at its height 5,000 people a day. What is the more common name for the disease caused by this bacterium?

97. What Category 5 hurricane struck south Florida in the midst of the 1992 presidential election campaign but appears not to have affected the vote?

98. Declaring independence in 2011, ______________ is the world’s newest country.

99. What are the three main Abrahamic religions?

90. What famous item of clothing did Coco Chanel introduce to women’s fashion in the 1920s?

100. This bespectacled and red stripe-wearing wanderer with a dog named Woof was created by Martin Handforth in 1987. In his original England, he is known as Wally; in France, Charlie; in Denmark, Holger; in Norway, Willy; and in Lithuania, Jonas. What is his name in Canada and the U.S.?

The answer key for the GIT can be found on page 8 and also at www.nicholsschool.org/ alumni/general-information-test

With the backdrop of downtown Buffalo, Nichols School hosted its 45th annual auction on May 6 at Seneca One. A special celebration, Nichols Night: The Party to N All Parties, is a night for parents, families, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Nichols to come together and support the students. Co-chaired by Elizabeth ’88 and Brian Duffett P’24,’26, and Becky and Jason Locke P’26, Nichols Night featured unique food pairings from Salvatore’s Hospitality, a specialty cocktail bar from Tommyrotter Distilling, a wine pull by City Wine Merchant, and magic by Garret Thomas.

“Many thanks to all the amazing volunteers who dedicated countless hours to make this event successful,” said Co-Chair Elizabeth Duffett ’88. “This includes corporate and individual sponsors, Nichols Night

Committee members, our gift gathering party hosts, and families and friends of Nichols who helped make the evening spectacular.”

Nichols Night featured over 100 gray (silent), white (premium), and green (live) auction items as well as a new way of raising money for the student experience by encouraging guests to stick their nametags to a board to designate the amount of money they would like to donate. Some of the one-of-a-kind items that were auctioned included an opportunity to become Head of School for a day; a Buffalo Bills experience with VIP passes to training camp, on-field access, and tickets to the home opener; trips to Rome, Italy, Yosemite National Park, New York City for a Yankees or Sabres game, and Ellicottville; plus, so much more.

This year, Nichols School was also able to give back and giveaway $10,000 to one lucky winner in the BIG $10K Raffle. Offering a 1 in 300 chance to win, the winner was pulled the night of the event via a big spinning wheel, and you did not need to be in attendance to win.

“We were grateful to have everyone that participated in our largest annual fundraiser,” said Head of School Chris Burner. “Most importantly, this was a night to support and enhance the Nichols experience that generations of students have enjoyed and will enjoy in the future. We are grateful to all for helping us raise more than $200,000 for our students.” n

The sunset over Seneca One created the perfect backdrop as over 200 people enjoy this year’s Nichols Night auction.

1. Nichols Night co-chairs Elizabeth ’88 and Brian Duffet P’24,’26 and Becky and Jason Locke P’26 received high praise after helping to plan the event.

2. Attendees stick their name tags to boards as money is raised for the student experience.

3. Guests admire auction items while placing bids on their mobile devices.

The Campaign for Nichols School exceeds $60,000,000 Goal

On March 15, 2023, Chair of the Nichols School Board of Trustees, Kate Roach ’83, welcomed a crowd of past and present school leaders and community philanthropists at the Saturn Club to celebrate the successful completion of All iN, the largest campaign in the 131-year history of the school.

Campaign Co-chairs Kristan C. Andersen of Buffalo, NY, and Nelson S. Walsh, of New York, NY, both alumni and members of Nichols’ Class of 1980, described the road from vision to completion.

“When we started in 2018, we set an overall goal of $35 million for a comprehensive campaign: $17 million to secure and expand the School’s financial aid program; $7 million to increase endowed support for faculty salaries, professional development, and innovative curriculum; $4 million to create a Student Commons building on campus; and $6 million for the Nichols Fund in support of day-to-day operations of Nichols School.” stated Walsh. “By 2021, it became clear that the Nichols Community was indeed “All iN” in support of these

priorities and the overall goal was expanded to $60 million.”

“We are thrilled to report that as of today, Nichols has received $66.3 million in commitments that will have a significant impact on the lives of countless students and faculty and will secure the future of Nichols School for generations to come.” said Andersen.

Through the efforts of the All iN Campaign, Nichols has raised over $47 million for student support, including the Chispa Scholarship Program, the Lytle Scholarship Program expansion, the creation of the Gelman Scholars Program, the Gisel Family Scholarship, Walsh Family Scholarship, Duffy Family Scholarship, 1892 Scholarship, Richard G. Stratton Memorial Scholarship, and many additional generous gifts to the overall financial aid program at Nichols School.

Additionally, transformational gifts were received in support of teaching and learning, including the Dr. Lewis F. McLean ’51 Science Department Endowed Chair and

Leadership Team Members listed from left to right

Kristan Carlson Andersen ’80 P’13,’16 CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR

Jeffrey S. Meyer P’09,’14,’16 CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2017-2020

Leslie S. Garcia P’14 ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR ADVANCEMENT

Christopher D. Burner HEAD OF SCHOOL

Katherine B. Roach ’83 P’14,’16 CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2020-2023

Nelson S. Walsh ’80 CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR

the Richard C. Osborne ’61 STEM Fund, the Wadsworth Family Fund for the Arts, Nichols’ Academic Enrichment Center, the Digital Foreign Language Lab, the Class of 1961 Student Commons, the Jacobs Scholars Program, an exciting Faculty Appreciation Award, and so much more.

Head of Nichols School, Chris Burner, explained, “Major campaigns are about securing the future. This campaign was focused largely on building our endowment. When we started the All iN Campaign in 2018, our endowment was $28.5M. Today, the Nichols School Endowment is $49M, and when the commitments from this campaign are fully realized, our endowment will be almost $74M, providing millions of dollars each year in support of Nichols’ faculty, programs and most importantly, our current and future students. This is a true testament to the passion and generosity of the Nichols community!”

“More than 50% of the commitments have been received and are currently benefitting our students, faculty, and programs,” said Burner. “The remaining funds will

come to Nichols over time through multi-year pledges and deferred gifts.”

When asked, “What’s next?” Burner replied, “Nichols School recently completed a new strategic plan setting goals and aspirations for the next 5-10 years. We’ve done a remarkable job expanding support for our students and our faculty through the efforts of All iN. Our next campaign will focus on providing faculty and students with the very best facilities for teaching and learning.

“We are excited to celebrate the enormous success of the All iN Campaign. Nichols is a remarkable school with an incredible alumni and parent community. Thousands of lives will be changed because of the generosity and passion demonstrated by the more than 500 donors who stepped up in support of this campaign,” stated Assistant Head of School for Advancement, Leslie Garcia. “To remain the preeminent educational institution in WNY, we must always be thinking about the future. We look forward to the next chapter in the philanthropic history of Nichols School.” n

Student Faculty and Student Nichols Fund Support Program Support Commons 2019 - 2023

David C. Laub ’56

Memorial – August 15, 2022

On a crisp fall afternoon in September 2022, alumni, family, and friends gathered in the Class of 1961 Student Commons to celebrate the life of David C. Laub ’56.

At the celebration, people were able to pay their respects, share their stories, and reflect on the impact David made on the Nichols School community and those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

The memorial featured remarks by Laub’s three children, David Jr. ’84, Derek ’89, and Alexa ’00. Those in attendance were reminded of David’s love for all things sports, including the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills, “his” NY Yankees, golfing, and being a proud parent in the stands watching his kids play sports and giving unsolicited commentary afterward.

David came to Nichols in the fall of 1948 and was an honors student all four years of upper school and served on the news staff and the charities committee. It was his athletic career over the years that was something to behold as he played soccer, hockey, and baseball and was later inducted into the Nichols Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. When describing David in the 1956 Verdian, it states, “For many years coaches have watched this spirited blonde kid batter, bruise, and befuddle the opposition on the field, rink, and diamond and in the process win no less than nine major letters as well as the captaincy of the ’56 hockey team. His fiery, competitive drive complimenting ideal coordination, won him berths on the All-Interstate soccer link for two straight years. David’s flashy stick-handling and scoring punch on the ice, and his consistent clover work and pesky hitting on the diamond have made him a mainstay of both the hockey and baseball teams.”

After Nichols, David was on the vaunted ’Nichols line’ on the Brown University hockey team. He graduated from Brown University in 1960 and and the University at Buffalo School of Law in 1965. He went on to practice Civil Law in Buffalo for over 50 years.

He coached his sons in hockey for many years in the Shamrock organization, could be found playing Old Timer hockey up and down the QEW well into his 50s, and loved to cheer on the Nichols hockey squad long after his children had graduated.

David served his alma mater with pride as a Class Agent and an Alumni Board member for many years and rarely missed a Nichols event. He was an active participant in the Nichols Golf outings for several years and made a point of taking a golf trip each summer with his kids to somewhere new.

David will be remembered for the grand stories he told, the smiles and laughter he elicited, and his children who loved him dearly. He is survived by his brother, Richard Laub ’59; three children, David (Jocelyn) Laub Jr., Derek (Michelle) Laub, and Alexa (Chris) Gibson; and his six grandchildren, Dylan, Elle, Creighton, Tyler, Kennedy, and Hayden.

J. David Schnatz ’49

Memorial – October 27, 2022

Written by his son Peter Schnatz

J. David Schnatz, M.D. was born on April 16, 1932, to Frederick T. and Edith Hubler Schnatz. Growing up in Buffalo, Dave attended Nichols as a part of the class of ’49. Dave loved Nichols School and always gave credit to Nichols for giving him the solid foundation and start to his successful career. While at Nichols, Dave received the Nichols Headmaster’s award in 1949. Dave had many close friends at Nichols, in fact, his wedding party included many former Nichols students. Among these were brother Paul ’53, Hamilton Ward ’49, Reginald ’Vic’ Williams ’49, Chuck Rogers ’49, and Bob Dillon ’49. On Dave’s first day at

Nichols, Vic Williams loaned him a pencil, so began a lifelong friendship. As well as being best friends, Dave and Vic played on the varsity hockey team at Nichols as defense partners. Vic and Dave made a great team and used to love talking about the opposing offensive players, who, approaching the 6’4” defenseman on one side and the little 5’9” defenseman on the other side, would skate away from big Dave, and then get a whopping hip check from Vic at the blue line, sending them flying.

Dave and Vic went on to play defense together for four more years as partners and roommates at Princeton University, where they were two-time title champions. Dave was a clean but hard-hitting defenseman, so much so that some of their rival teams nicknamed him “Dirty Dave” and would boo him as he skated onto the ice.  He was recruited to play professional hockey. Instead, he returned to Buffalo to attend the University of Buffalo (UB) medical school. During his UB years, Dave met Carolyn Larter. Carolyn was the love of his life and steadfast partner for over 65 years.

After an endocrinology fellowship, Dave returned to Buffalo, establishing and heading a diabetes program at the Buffalo Children’s Hospital. As a Professor at the UB Medical School, Dave loved caring for patients, teaching, and training residents as well as medical students. Dave and Carolyn immersed themselves in Buffalo with work, faith, and family (daughter Julie and son Peter, both of whom attended Nichols School). After growing professionally restless, Dave and Carolyn made the difficult decision to uproot from Buffalo, a place where they both had deep roots and lifelong friends. In 1977 the Schnatz family left Buffalo and moved to West Hartford, where Dave joined Saint Francis Hospital as the Director of Medicine and Professor at the UCONN Health Center. Despite moving away from Buffalo, they maintained close friendships and relationships in the city they loved so much. In fact, Dave and Carolyn never stopped supporting the school, which Dave credits as having catapulted his career.

Dave died peacefully on October 27, 2022, at home with his family in Bloomfield, CT. Dave is survived by his soulmate, partner, and wife, Carolyn. He leaves his daughter, Julie Schnatz Rybeck, and her husband Dean Rybeck as well as his son, Peter F. Schnatz D.O. and his wife, Melanie. Dave was a proud grandfather to six grandchildren he deeply loved: Margo and Lincoln Rybeck, Rebekah, Abigail, Sarah, and David Schnatz. He is also survived by his brother Paul T. Schnatz M.D. and his wife Libby Brough.

ALUMNI

Peter Andrews ’43 – August 24, 2022

Cameron Baird ’89 – May 31, 2023

Ann Duffy Bellows N’67 – July 16, 2022

Peter Boer ’57 – October 3, 2022

Robert B. Brown ’53 – April 11, 2023

Edward Bush ’79 – April 15, 2023

Timothy Butzer ’78 – March 31, 2023

Julia Ladds Clauss ’75 - May 6, 2023

Neil Ehrenreich ’51 – November 1, 2022

James Forman ’56 – November 1, 2022

Neil Goodman ’75 - May 8, 2023

Stephen ’Randy’ Gretz ’66 – January 21, 2023

Dale B. Haidvogel ’67 – March 14, 2023

Richard O. Hopkins ’52 – August 25, 2022

David Laub ’56 – August 15, 2022

John McLean ’54 – September 23, 2022

Nathaniel S. Norton ’46 – April 5, 2023

J. David Schantz ’49 – October 27, 2022

Dale P. Skoog ’55 – February 20, 2023

James H. Smith ’44 – January 20, 2023

Tracy Straub ’83 – July 21, 2022

Frederick Terry, Jr. ’49 – January 13, 2023

Thomas Webb ’55 – August 23, 2022

Raymond Weil ’71 – May 18, 2022

FORMER FACULTY AND STAFF

William Fedchak – September 14, 2022

Charlie Hoff – April 27, 2023

FRIENDS

Sheldon Berlow P’84 – January 12, 2023

Father of Eric Berlow ’84

Heather Williams P’07,’09,’10,’14 – February 15, 2023

Mother of Nora Williams ’07, Joseph Williams ’09, Theresa Williams ’10, Ian Williams ’14

If you would like to serve as a Class Agent, please contact the Alumni Office at 716-332-5152 or alumnioffice@nicholsschool.org.

38 85th

Thomas Harriman turned 101 on November 26, 2022.

56

Tim Norbeck published his book, No Time for Mercy, in 2022. Tim began writing novels at the beginning of his retirement, and his first, Two Minutes, was published in 2018. His third novel, Almost Heaven, was published in late 2022. 59

61

66

Richard Goldberg, Professor (Emeritus) of Psychiatry at Brown University, has recently published a golf book, Better Golf Better Life, describing the transformational power of golf.

72

Dr. Nick Hopkins was honored with the Kaleida Lifetime Spirit Award as an influential physician who has impacted the WNY community for the better.

Jeffrey Linsky traveled to Western Australia to see the April 20 total solar eclipse. It was his 12th solar eclipse, and he plans to be in Buffalo and at Nichols to share his knowledge on these events for the next total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

John Yochelson and his wife Diane enjoyed a 10-day trip to the South of France in the Fall of 2022, their first real vacation since 2017. John writes, “We’ve had the opportunity to go to Cannes several times over the years. This was the first without renting a car and perhaps our most enjoyable. We just hung out in an apartment with a view of the Mediterranean, did plenty of walking, enjoyed the restaurants, took the train to Nice, etc.”

John Eaton’s horse, Goodnight Olive, won the grade I Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga in August 2022, followed by the Breeders Cup Filly/Mare Sprint in early November 2022 at Keeneland. She received an Eclipse Award as Champion Sprinter in January 2023 at The Breakers in Palm Beach.

Mark Kelley won first place in the portfolio category for the 2022 National Wildlife® Photo Contest with his collection of ten images of the bears of Anan Creek.

Ted Walsh was appointed the new Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC). An active champion of community development and growth, Ted brings over 44 years of experience in leadership to the BNMC Board and is poised to lead the organization as it advances the next wave of Buffalo’s economic development.

73 50th

81

Dan Lieberman published a book titled Spellbound: Modern Science, Ancient Magic, and the Hidden Potential of the Unconscious Mind. It bridges the gap between modern neuroscience and ancient traditions of the supernatural to reveal the workings of the unconscious mind and its profound effects on our lives. It describes strategies for learning to accommodate this hidden force within us and make it our ally.

84

88 35th

Harry Cohen, author of Be the Sun, Not the Salt, met with students, administration, alumni, and friends throughout the day on April 13, sharing his wisdom and insights as part of the 2023 Prince Lecture Series.

76

Erik Grosof is now the Chief of the Special Operations Division at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) headquarters in Washington, DC. His division is responsible for the agency’s evidence management program, unmanned aerial systems program, law enforcement liaison program, and 24/7 Response Operations Center.

Joan Saab has been named executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Richmond, effective July 1. Saab is currently the Susan B. Anthony Professor of Art History and interim dean of faculty in Arts, Sciences, and Engineering (AS&E) at the University of Rochester.

Amy Bortner has been living in Baltimore, MD, for 15 years with her husband and three children. She enjoys working in development for the neurosurgery department at Johns Hopkins. She returns to Buffalo almost every Thanksgiving to spend the holiday with her brother, Doug Bradley ’83, and his family. She loves being back, catching a Sabres game, running the Turkey Trot, and enjoying some wings!

89

Allison Emily Grande received a Juris Doctor magna from Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, at its 133rd commencement in June 2022. Allison began articling in July 2022 and was sworn in as a crown prosecutor in the Ministry of the Attorney General of Canada.

93 30th

98 25th

Gary Wilson was appointed by Mayor Byron Brown to serve as a Buffalo City Court judge. Wilson is the first openly LGBTQ+ judge to serve on the City Court bench.

02

Nandita Shenoy returned to campus as part of the Smith Writer’s Program. Nandita, an accomplished playwright, actress, and activist, addressed the Upper School, spent time with the English faculty and students and met with the Middle School Theatre Club.

91

Susan Shipman Shingledecker (right) and Lourdes Vera ’08 (left) met each other at an Environmental Data Science Summit workshop in Santa Barbara, CA. Shingledecker runs a national and international nonprofit organization, Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP), and Vera works at SUNY Buffalo and is involved with the Environment Data Governance Initiative (EDGI).

95

Matt Miller was appointed to the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Board of Directors. Matt said, “It’s an honor to be among such distinguished individuals in a great organization and to dedicate time and resources to the betterment of our amazing community.”

Jeremy Witt is a business manager at the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

04

Capt. Samuel F. de Castro, a U.S. Naval Academy Class of ’96 graduate, wrapped up command of Military Sealift Command Far East during a ceremony in Singapore in October 2022. MSCFE ensures approximately 50 ships in the Indo-Pacific region are manned, trained, and equipped to deliver essential supplies, fuel, cargo, and equipment to warfighters, both at sea and on shore.

96

Katie Campos, a Certified Pommelier, launched her cider, Wild Apple, in March 2023. Wild Apple is a traditional English cider made from untamed local fruit. Crafted from a blend of Dabinett, Baldwin, and Chisel Jersey varieties, along with foraged apples from Western New York’s forests and hunting lands, Wild Apple combines centuries-old techniques with an ability to bring you a funky, full-bodied flavor that’s as pure as it is timeless.

Brian Gatewood and his longtime writing partner Alessandro Tanaka released the movie “Sharper” in February on Apple TV+.

05

Matt Felser gave a TEDxBreckenridge Talk in October 2022 and shared the story of how downsizing his life and moving into a van enabled him to thrive in a mountain town—all while living and working on a teacher’s budget. 06

Harry Zemsky and his team at Hydraulic Hearth did an outstanding job hosting the Nichols Alumni holiday party on December 22, 2022.

08

15th

10

was

into

Olivia McManus joined Rivalry Projects, owned by Ryan Arthurs ’01, as Director. Olivia brings over 10 years of experience in the arts to Rivalry, having worked for institutions and commercial art galleries in Chicago before returning to Buffalo.

Lourdes Vera is an assistant professor in sociology and environment and sustainability at the University at Buffalo.

Aliena Aubrecht, Will ’17, and Alex ’21 were all introduced to service during their time at Nichols and continued to give back to WNY as volunteer firefighters.

11

Alexandra Merritt Mathews made her network TV debut in the fall finale of NBC’s Law and Order in December 2022. 12

Tarik Erk spoke in Korea on the cryptocurrency regulatory landscape in Busan, Korea, at the Upbit Developer Conference. Erk is based in Singapore and works for Crypto.com as the Head of Regulatory Compliance and Government Relations for AMEA (Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific).

Sarah Washington received the Trailblazer Award at the University of Buffalo School of Law’s 32nd Annual Students of Color Dinner. The award honors the achievements of outstanding individuals in the legal community who have helped pave the way for minority legal professionals.

Sydney Muggia married Collin Hinson in Buffalo on October 15, 2022.

Emily Regan

inducted

the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in November 2022.

13 10th

Troy Ludtka is a senior U.S. economist at SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

Elizabeth Cappuccino, James Grachos, and Michael Thompson returned to campus to use Nichols as the setting for a short film inspired by the Japanese folktale, “The Mirror of Matsuyama.” They shot scenes throughout Mitchell Hall and Albright Hall and even used current students as crew, in speaking roles, and as extras.

16

Lily Verbeck passed the D.C. bar exam and was promoted to attorney at the Federal Trade Commission. 17

RJ Gicewicz has been named Director of Nichols Boys Youth Hockey Program and 18U Prep Head Coach.

Alexandra Montesano played Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street at the Historic Palace Theatre in Lockport during the summer of 2022.

Armen Soukiazian is an account executive at ZoomInfo. 15

Elena Ciotta worked as a Showrunner’s Assistant on the Netflix animated comedy series Mulligan.

Myles Hervey received the Talal-AbuGhazaleh Award at the Canisius Accounting Banquet in April 2023. This prestigious award is given to a graduate student who has not only excelled in the rigorous academic programs of Canisius College but has demonstrated the potential for contribution to the accounting profession.

18

Spencer Bacon has two animated releases coming out in June 2023. Spencer is currently the Production Manager on Disney’s new television series Hailey’s On It! which premiered on June 8. Before that, he worked on the animated feature Nimona as a Coordinator and then Consultant, which will be released on Netflix on June 30.

Allison Gasuik started her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at St. Bonaventure University.

Sam Stark was part of the Forbes 30 under 30 class for social impact! Sam started the Green Project to provide companies with an affordable and easy-to-use platform to track, understand, and reduce their carbon footprint.

5th

Hanna Prince graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2022 and has earned her commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy! In July 2022, she moved to England to study for an MPhil in Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge as a member of Newnham College.

Dylan Lugris was the driving force behind the Penn State men’s hockey inaugural ‘Sled Hockey Classic’ scrimmage game against the Happy Valley Coyotes. The Coyotes came away with a 6-5 victory and raised over $20,000 for charity.

Mirann Gacioch earned All-Big Ten accolades as she was named to the All-Freshman Team. Gacioch made a significant impact in her first season at Ohio State. She played in 16 games, making 15 starts, and played a key role on the Buckeyes’ back line.

Lucas Suero won first place at the Hospitality Business Plan Competition at Cornell. The Cornell Business Plan Competition is an annual entrepreneurship competition that began in October and ended in April. Most of the finalists were teams comprised of graduate students and upperclassmen. Lucas is the first solo freshman ever to win.

Jesse Adamu was awarded the Heart of SUNY Erie student award. This award exemplifies traits of generosity, teamwork, compassion, and ethics.

Alex Musielak has committed to Boston College to play hockey. He recently completed his first and only season with the Kemptville 73’s of the Central Canada Hockey League and posted a .905 save percentage.

Tremiya Giddens was honored at the Buffalo State Theater Department’s end-of-year banquet with the “Donald Savage Actor of Promise” scholarship for her outstanding contributions to the program.

Faith Walh was awarded the Robert M. Cumnock Scholarship at the Northwestern University School of Communication Honors Convocation Ceremony.

If you have a class note and/or photo that you would like to share to be in one of our upcoming monthly newsletters or end-of-year magazine, please email it to Janelle Zera, Nichols Alumni Director at alumnioffice@nicholsschool.org.

Participate in the Nichols Fund by visiting www.nicholsschool.org/give

James Hamilton ’24

“Nichols has allowed me to make meaningful connections with my classmates and has fostered a real sense of community since I started in 5th grade. The variety of clubs that are offered here has allowed me to explore many interests. Nichols has provided me with the opportunity to join several extracurricular activities including, Mock Trial, robotics, and the sailing team – three things I wouldn’t have been able to do elsewhere. The engineering courses offered at Nichols have sparked a passion for me, and I plan on pursuing a major in mechanical engineering after I graduate.”

Save the Dates

Big Green

Friday, September 15, 2023

Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Alumni Holiday Party

Friday, December 22, 2023

Nichols Night

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Reunion Weekend

June 7 - 8, 2024