“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)
Barney Walsh ’73 P’05,’07,’12
Chair, Board of Trustees
Chris Burner Head of School
Design: Kelley Rechin
Duffy Moon Design
Contributors: Jennifer Bamann
Barqar Marketing
Leslie Garcia P’14
Austin Farber
Kristin LeRoy P’26,’29
Sara Wiese
Janelle Zera
Photography:
Tom Maynor ’81 P’14,’21
Calvin Nemec
Paul Stockman
Tom Wolf, Tom Wolf Imaging
All other alumni matters: alumnioffice@nicholsschool.org
20
1. This winter, Nichols Middle School students performed the ‘Addams Family Young@Part’. THE ADDAMS FAMILY Young@Part® is the authorized 60-minute edition of the Broadway musical for elementary and middle schools, and youth theatres.
2. In celebration of college applications and essays complete, seniors celebrate with members of the College Counseling Office.
3. As soon as hockey season concluded, the Buyers Family Arena underwent important renovations to improve the cooling system for the ice.
4. Members of the Class of 2024 show their school spirit at Upper School Spirit Day. The Class of 2024 student council representatives raised their class flag to signify that last month of school.
5. For nearly twenty years, Nichols has supported the Roswell Park Cancer Institute by participating in Bald for Bucks. Anthony George, founder of Bald for Bucks, joined the day to
encourage students, faculty, and staff to celebrate cancer research, cancer survivors, and honor those who are no longer with us.
6. Nichols Middle School art students participated in Art Alive and took home the award for Best Tableau from the Buffalo AKG Collection for the K-8 category.
7. Congratulations to Macay Jimmerson ’25 for his recognition as MMHSAA Boys Lacrosse All Catholic First Team and earning Player of the Year.
2023 - 2024 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
Ron Canestro ’10
Nick Ennis ’17
Tom Hadala ’07
Zoe Jackson-Gibson ’12
Connor Kenney ’09
Melissa Pope ’07
Gregory Sibick ’15
Joe Trapp ’09
Tyler Van Schoonhoven ’07
Darcy Zacher ’88 P’12,’13,’20,’22,’22
2023-2024 Parents’ Association Council
President
Jessica Hapeman ’95 P’28,’28
Vice-President
John Fox ’94 P’27
Correspondence & Records
Michelle Maccagnano P’29
Ex-Officio(s)
Priscilla and JJ Bennett P’23,’26
Grade Representatives
5th Grade (Class of 2031)
Amy and Chris Capalbo P’28,’30,’31
Kim Schindler P’26,’28,’31
6th Grade (Class of 2030)
Ananya Banik P’29,’30
Jennifer Coppola P’27,’30
7th Grade (Class of 2029)
Dina Benderson P’25,’29
Rachelle Nurse P’29
8th Grade (Class of 2028)
Julia D’Amico P’26,’28
Leah Mayer P’26,’28,’31
Maansi Travers P’26,’28
9th Grade (Class of 2027)
Leah Hughes ’88 P’27
Dora Iskalo P’23,’27
10th Grade (Class of 2026)
Melissa Jorgenson P’26,’28
Jill Metz P’26
11th Grade (Class of 2025)
Anne Burnidge P’25
Jackie LoVullo P’25
Nicole Nobel P’25,’29,’29
12th Grade (Class of 2024)
Melissa Christian P’22,’24,’27
Danessia Scott-Warren P’19,’19,’22,’24
Takeisha Williams P’24
At-Large
Cathy Amdur P’23,’25
Jennifer Aubrecht P’25,’28
Kristie Giaimo P’28
Amy Judd P’26
Jamie Kelly P’23,’28,’28
Dede Koeppen P’23,’26
Marianne Lagutaine P’24,’28,’30
Jamie Latko P’26,’29
Kirsten Maidment P’22,’24
Shannon Martin P’23,’25
Uzma Siddiqui P’28,’30
Continuing At-Large
Jessica Baird ’92 P’21,’23,’25
Amat Fatimah P’28,’31
Julie Plata P’22,’22,’29
2023-2024 Board of Trustees
Chair
Theodore B.K. Walsh ’73 P’05,’07,’12
Vice-Chairs
Montgomery Pooley ’80
Alyson Spaulding P’14,’16,’18
Secretary
Kristan Carlson Andersen ’80 P’13,’16
Treasurer Andrew Fors ’91 P’19,’22,’22,’25
Melissa Balbach ’83 P’22,’22
Dina Benderson P’25,’29
Jonathon Blumhagen ’01
Margaret Boscarino P’23,’27
Thomas Chambers P’21,’23
Jodi Priselac de Riszner ’93 P’22,’25
Gregory Desautels ’95
Brigid Doherty P’21,’23
Sonja Gallen-Kallela-Sirèn P’22,’25,’28
Colleen Heidinger ’02
Lisa Jackson P’18,’21
George T. Laub ’80
Bridget Lett P’17
Matthew D. Miller ’95
Michael F. Newman P’17,’19
Bonnie Padwa ’79
Scott Socha P’19,’24
Nicholas Tzetzo ’91 P’28
Cynthia Vance P’14
Head of School Chris Burner
Nichols School rests on a foundation of traditions while embracing the challenges and opportunities that have presented themselves in our 132 years of educating students. This ability to honor the past and embrace the future continues to guide my work as Head of School, as well as the contributions our faculty, staff, students, and alumni make to the Nichols community. The current issue of is a testament to the positive impact of past decisions and the future today’s programs and activities will create.
As I consider the athletic, artistic, and academic successes outlined in these pages, I can attest to the day-to-day activities on campus and in the wider community that continue to engage our students and form them into adults who are prepared to navigate an increasingly complex world. The relationships they form with faculty, staff, and coaches provide the support and encouragement that make this possible.
I hope you experience fond memories and feel confident in the future as you read this edition of . Thank you for your ongoing support of Nichols School. n
Our Board Chair Connects with First Year Faculty
To gain a deeper understanding of the first-year teaching experience at Nichols School, Board Chair Barney Walsh ’73 P’05,’07,’12 recently sat down with Guinevere Blue, who is concluding her first year as a faculty member. In this interview, they discuss her teaching responsibilities, involvement in school programs, and the unique challenges and rewards of joining the Nichols community.
Barney: Let’s jump right in, shall we? Tell me, what did you teach this year?
Guinevere: This school year, I taught three sections of Advanced World History 3, and I taught an AP African American studies course.
B: I know this is the first year Nichols offered the AP African American Studies course. What was that like?
G: It was great! Nichols was one of a few schools selected to pilot this course, and next year, it will be offered to schools all over the country. It was a really interesting course to teach. I majored in American Civilization with a minor in African Studies, so being able to teach a course that I have a real passion for made me excited to teach, and I hope that was felt by the students.
B: I heard you are also heavily involved in the Service and Social Justice program; how did you get involved in that?
G: Very quickly after the school year started, my mentor, Kevin Powers, organized a Community Day that all of the students were involved in. Community Service is something I feel deeply connected to.
B: Kevin Powers is your mentor?
G: Yes, Kevin is my mentor, and our classrooms are right next to each other. He has helped me navigate what becoming a Nichols faculty member really means. I’m immensely grateful to him for his patience and his thoughtfulness in the way that he has guided me.
Upper School History Teacher, Guinevere Blue and Board of Trustees Chair, Barney Walsh ’73 P’05,’07,’12
B: Reflecting on the end of the year, what is one of the challenges you faced?
G: I think finding a way to connect with students and get them to start the conversation was something that I worked on all year. I would often start the class with a quote, depending on the students. The one thing I didn’t do was cold-call students; I remember I didn’t really like that when I was a student. As the year went on, I noticed that because I didn’t do it, I had students participating more. I think that over time, I developed relationships with the students that, by the end of the year, they felt empowered to speak up and answer questions.
B: Was there something or someone at Nichols who empowered you here?
G: Kevin encouraged me to do what fits my style. I had to be open and receptive to figure out what works best, and I know I still have so much to learn and improve
upon. What I do think, and it’s something you and I both agree on, is that our students receive the best education to support them post Nichols, that is what matters most.
B: Is there something, outside of teaching, that you do at Nichols that you feel makes an impact?
G: The advisory program stands out to me. This year, I have sophomores, which means that during X period, they come and see me. I am always in my classroom, even if I’m not teaching, and there is always a revolving door of students who are in and out of my class. They are either doing work or getting help from me or their peers, or we just catch up on what is going on with them in their lives. It’s important that I am accessible to them, even if it means I have very limited time to prepare or work on things.
Blue’s reflections on her first year at Nichols highlight the school’s supportive environment and commitment to fostering academic and personal growth. Her passion for teaching and dedication to her students exemplify the values Nichols School strives to instill in its educators and students. As she looks forward to future years at Nichols, her experience is a testament to the impact a first-year teacher can have within a nurturing and dynamic educational community. n
During commencement, Blue was presented with the 2024 Katherine B. Roach ’83 New Faculty Award.
Mrs. Colleen POtocki –Head of Middle School
The Nichols Middle School has a new Division Head, Mrs. Colleen Potocki! Nichols is thrilled to welcome Potocki this summer as we prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. Potocki joins Nichols from the Community School of Naples, where she served as their Head of Middle School since the fall of 2017. Prior to working at the Community School of Naples, she worked at The Roeper School in Birmingham, Michigan, one of that state’s best independent schools for gifted students, as a Middle School English Teacher and subsequently as the Middle School Director. Potocki holds a B.A. and M.A. in English from Oakland University and an M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership from Vanderbilt University. We asked Potocki a few questions to get to know her better.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. I love my family. My husband Jim and I have five daughters who are currently in or done with college: Sarah, Sophie, Olivia, Marne, and Corrine. Our son Tadeusz graduated from Community School of Naples (CSN) this year. Class of 2024. He is heading to Kalamazoo College in September. I love books. My favorite authors are John Steinbeck and Jim Harrison. The most recent book I read: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Very wonderful. Other than family and books, I am fairly one note: I love school. Luckily, working in a school is anything but one note.
Why Nichols?
I feel grateful to have landed at Nichols School. I researched Nichols before applying for the Head of Middle School opening. And I researched even more before I went for my campus interview. The school has a rich and storied history. The wording of the Nichols School mission aligns with my professional, philosophical bent: “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.” Many independent schools have a “sound mind, sound body” approach; Nichols stretches to include “heart.” I love the ambition and humanness in that extension. When I came for my interview, the place and people felt right. I tend to trust my gut. And my heart. Teachers and students were engaged and happy. I had lunch with MS students. They asked me the toughest interview questions of the day and were, at once, very kind. A great combination.
What have you heard about Buffalo, and what are you most excited to experience?
To get to know the Buffalo area, my family and I booked an Airbnb in Marilla, NY, over Spring Break (13 of us). We mainly cooked big meals and played games, but we also explored the area and attended a Buffalo Bisons baseball game on March 31. Forty-six degrees and sunny. We loved Sahlen Field – getting much screen time on the jumbotron and running the bases after the game.
My CSN colleague, Mr. Joel Siepierski – former Nichols School College Counselor – told me I had to visit a Wegmans during our visit to Buffalo. I did. I am now deeply in love with Wegmans Organic Rosemary Sourdough Bread. CSN Theater Director Mr. Mark Danni also hails from Buffalo. Both Joel and Mark light up when they talk about Buffalo. You can see the love in their eyes. When I hear them gush Buffalo, it is hard for me not to be sold on the place even before knowing it.
I ordered eight books on Buffalo for my 2024 summer reading stack, including Buffalo at the Crossroads: The Past, Present, and Future of American Urbanism; City on the Edge: Buffalo, New York, 1900-Present; They Call Me, Korney: The True Story of Buffalo’s Korney Gang; Ghosts of Buffalo; and Cold Heart: The Great Unsolved Mystery of Turn of the Century Buffalo. I want to know Buffalo well.
Jim and I are excited to find our Buffalo house, to explore Buffalo-area farmer’s markets, and to experience Buffalo weather. We miss being cold. True story.
What
are you looking forward to?
I am looking forward to the new school year at Nichols – to experiencing a Nichols school day (over and over again), to learning about and living school traditions, and to attending community events. I look forward to sharing time and space with teachers, students, and parents. Every day. I am looking forward to introducing a hearty dose of green into my wardrobe. I am honored to be joining Nichols School. n
All Alumni are encouraged to follow the Nichols School Alumni page on Facebook.
Ted and Beth Marks retire from coaching the Nichols Crew program after 17 years of service.
all the student participants who worked tirelessly on their presentations.
@NicholsSchool
@Nichols_School_Alumni
Upper School students showcased their talents at the FIRST Lego League 2023-2024 at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. FIRST® IN SHOW shines a spotlight on the role STEM plays in the arts and empowering young people to design and build a world of endless possibilities.
Sianna Le ’24 brought a vibrant celebration of Black History Month to life with a stunning mural in Mitchell Hall! Using mixed media and collaborating with the Middle School Art Club, Le’s artwork honors the past, present, and local contributions of Black Americans.
Check out the new floor in Gerard Gymnasium! @NicholsViking
All Alumni are encouraged to follow the Nichols School Alumni Network on LinkedIn
A special thanks to Gracie Newman ’17 for being our guest as a part of the Smith Visiting Fellows program at Nichols School. This program is made possible by The Mary Jane and Graham W. Smith ’48 Fund, established in 2008 through the generosity of George and Elizabeth Smith to celebrate and promote writing. Newman is currently a fellow in fiction at the Michener Center for Writers in Austin, TX.
TedX Nichols School Youth annual event was a fabulous success thanks to
Meet the New Faces at Nichols School
Faculty
Guinevere Blue
M.A., University at Buffalo
Blue joined Nichols as an Upper School History teacher. Previously, she worked with several organizations in and around Buffalo, including the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center and DOPE (Dismantling Oppressive Patterns for Empowerment) collective. While at DOPE, Blue coordinated community events and received the Arthur Schomburg Fellowship, which allowed her to get her master’s in History while being a teacher’s assistant for professors in the program.
Ryan Brygmann
B.A., SUNY Binghamton
Brygmann joined Nichols as the Upper School Visual Arts and 7th-grade Art teacher. He spent his college years studying Film and English with a focus on Creative Writing at Binghamton University. In his senior year, Brygmann’s film was selected to headline the school’s annual Film Festival. He was an integral member of the University’s baseball team and credits his time on the team for teaching him the importance of teamwork, determination, poise, and time management.
Chris Cloutier
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Cloutier joins Nichols as the 5th- and 6th-grade Physical Education and Middle School Humanities teacher, as well as Lacrosse Program Advisor. Previously, he worked in business development with Relay Network, LLC. He is a current member of the Buffalo Bandits, Premier Lacrosse League Chaos Lacrosse Club, and Lacrosse Ambassador for the WNY Lacrosse Foundation. Cloutier was a member of the 2017 UNC Chapel Hill NCAA Championship Lacrosse team, where he scored the game-winning goal and set the NCAA Division I National Championship Tournament goal record.
Adam Dietrick
B.A., University at Buffalo
Dietrick joins Nichols as a middle school science teacher, after teaching 5th- and 6th-grade Computer Science and Technology, and Science at the Buffalo Academy of Science. He started and led the Middle School Science Math Olympiad Program, taught a summer enrichment course, and launched a competitive gaming team.
Hannah Geerlings
M.A., University of Tennessee
Geerlings joins Nichols teaching 10th-grade English. Prior to, she was a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Romania teaching English reading and writing to undergraduate and graduate students. Greelings was also a graduate teaching associate at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville where she taught two sections of English 101 and 102 focusing on rhetoric and research in academic writing.
Kathryn Harden
M.A., Canisius University
Harden joins Nichols as an 8th-grade Science teacher. Beginning her career in higher education, focused on academic support, she managed the Canisius University GRIFF Center for Academic Support, and during her time there, she also researched the efficacy of graphic novels as learning aids for young adults. Most recently, Hayden decided to pursue work that would allow her to further embrace the elements of her work she most enjoyed, teaching and working directly with students as a 6th-grade Science teacher and instructional coach for the entire Science team at her former school.
Stacey Kartub
M.A., Wayne State University
Kartub joins Nichols as an Upper School English teacher. She began her teaching career in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and, along the way, moved on to pursue editing and publishing books. After moving to Buffalo, she got back to what she loves to do, teaching, where she taught at several local colleges and universities. Kartub has been involved with Journey’s End Refugee Services, teaching English and serving as Adult Education Program Coordinator.
Renee Landrigan
M.A., Univeristy at Buffalo
Landrigan joins the Mathematics Department in both the Middle and Upper Schools. Most recently, she has been a math tutor, developing effective strategies and lesson plans that are individualized for each student she works with. Landrigan has also worked at Ingram Micro as a Project Manager supervising administrative and daily program operations, training team members, and developing and maintaining workflows, procedures, and reports. In addition, she was an Adjunct Instructor and Instructional Support Specialist in the Mathematics Department at Erie Community College where she had the opportunity to integrate technology to enhance the overall student learning experience.
Richard Lindamer
M.A., St. Bonaventure University
Lindamer joins Nichols as an Upper School Mathematics’ teacher. Previously, he worked for over twenty years in the Lewiston-Porter School District teaching various levels of math from Algebra through Calculus. In his time there, Lindamer served as Department Chair for three years where he led and participated in curriculum development, and was head coach for girls basketball, track and field, and football.
Jie Zhao
M.S., University at Albany
Zhao joins Nichols as an Upper School Chinese teacher. Her introduction to education came after a short career in journalism, working for a newspaper upon graduating from college. Zhao moved to the United States and started to teach Chinese at Rosetta Stone, where she had a broad range of students from all ages and stages of life. She found her experience in journalism helped her learn to communicate with her students and understand their needs better. After instructing Chinese on different online platforms for four years, she joined Buffalo Seminary teaching Upper School Chinese.
Staff
Becky Braungart
M.A., University at Buffalo
Braungart has 20 years of experience in education, specifically in English, educational technology, and library science. She has worked exclusively in independant and Catholic Schools in WNY as an English teacher for grades 4-8, an Educational Technology/Librarian in PreK-12th grade, and and a tech coach for teachers focusing on current trends in technology use in the classroom. She has a passion for helping students conduct proper and modern research through credible sources while also making sure they are learning to navigate the world of technology.
Jill Gerhardt ’97
B.A., Lake Forest College
Gerhardt joins Nichols as the Director of Advancement Services after a 20-year career with Northwestern Mutual in Chicago and Buffalo. An alum from the class of 1997, Gerhardt is excited to return to campus.
Amanda Heiser
M.A., University at Buffalo
Heiser joins the Nichols Business Office as the Controller. She comes to Nichols after spending over 10 years in the Finance Department at Kaleida Health. Heiser is involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Elma, Marilla, and Wales where she serves as the Treasurer of the Board.
William Ingalls
M.A., University at Buffalo
Ingalls is an armed guard, private investigator, and tactical instructor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the Rochester Institute of Technology, which he attended after graduating from the Park School of Buffalo. He has completed over 400 hours of training with New York State and various private sector classes across five states. His specialties include Active Shooter Response, Armed and Unarmed Combative, Wilderness First Aid, and Immediate Action Medical Response. Ingalls’ diverse skill set reflects his dedication to safety and investigative excellence.
Kristin LeRoy
B.A., St. Lawrence University
LeRoy joined Nichols as the Communications Coordinator in the Marketing Office. Over her career, she has served as director of annual giving and alumni outreach, wellness teacher, coach, and dorm parent. Most recently, she served as assistant director of secondary school counseling and 9th-grade wellness teacher. LeRoy and her husband Josh, who is the Head of our Upper School, have two sons at Nichols – Conor ’26 and Cayden ’29.
Katie McIntyre
M.A., University of Virginia
McIntyre joins Nichols as the Director of Family Engagement and Philanthropy. Prior to, she held positions in both advancement and school administration at three local private Catholic schools. Growing up in Western New York she attended Canisius University. McIntyre left the area for a brief period of time to begin her teaching career in Virginia. While there, she received her master’s before returning home to raise her four children.
Meghan O’Connor ’20
B.A., B.F.A., Niagara University
O’Connor returns to Nichols as the Stewardship and Prospect Research Coordinator. After graduating from Nichols in 2020, she went to Niagara University. She recently graduated with a BA in Communications and Media Studies, and a BFA in Theatre Performance.
Alexis Schultz
M.A., Niagara University
Schultz joins Nichols as the Associate Athletic Director and Middle School Athletic Director. Before Nichols, most of her experience was at the collegiate level, working at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Daemen University, and the University at Buffalo. Schultz was a student-athlete herself, playing Division I softball at Niagara University.
Shannon Wiencek
B.A., SUNY Fredonia
Wiencek joins the Nichols Business Office as the Human Resources Officer. She has worked in the Human Resources field for over 15 years in three unique industries including insurance, manufacturing, and now education. She is very excited to join Nichols in this role.
College Counseling Helping Students Navigate the College Admissions Process
It’s no secret that the changing landscape of college admission has been fraught with difficulties in recent years. The most significant factors impacting students and families across the nation have been rising tuition costs coupled with the increase of test-optional colleges and universities, resulting in a dramatic increase in applications at some colleges. Entering this cycle for the class of 2024, we (all college admission professionals) anticipated those same issues, and we were keenly aware of the Supreme Court ruling as it related to affirmative action and the planned delayed release of the FAFSA. Students are evaluating now, more than ever, the campus climate when deciding where to attend. The unmitigated failure of the launch of the new FAFSA has put many dreams of a college education on hold as some still await college financial packages. Decision deadlines have been extended, waitlists were released earlier than anticipated, and who will attend and where continues to be a shifting picture. The press quickly deemed this year “the year college admissions was broken” and “the peak college insanity.” Each year, we reflect on the graduating class from Nichols, and with all the noise of the college process from the press, the frustration of the FAFSA, and the turmoil of the world, this group of young graduates did a remarkable job of quietly moving forward. They stayed focused on telling their individual story. While some students feel they must manufacture who they are, our graduates were unapologetically authentic and honest in their application essays. The class of 2024 led quietly and humbly, eager to support one another. One aspect
of this class I found striking was their faith. For some, that was faith in a higher power; for others it was faith in the process or themselves. Students worked closely with their counselor to create a list that spoke to the needs and wants of each student. School lists were curated and intentional, and students listened and responded when asked to rewrite essays. All the while, they displayed grace, a sense of purpose, and appropriate confidence.
At Nichols, we are fortunate to be able to work closely with our families and students to help them move through these challenges with a dedicated college counseling office and manageable student loads. Our office makes every effort to explain the process through family coffees, individual meetings, a college application workshop in August, emails, and providing resources. When we work with students, we focus on the process and not solely on one desired outcome. Focusing on the process allows the student an element of control over where (and how) they apply and choices at the end. As a result, our graduates experienced impressive outcomes this year.
It is important to note that we believe the mission of the college counseling office is to meet every student and family where they are when looking at life beyond Nichols. We welcome and celebrate each student as they evaluate whether a traditional college path, junior hockey, service academy, gap, or postgraduate year is best for them at this time in their lives. It is our privilege to support each student. To that end, we offer our sincere congratulations to the class of 2024 as they leave to make a difference in our world! n
Director of College Counseling, Kelly Jorgensen describes the college admissions process to a group of students
Class of 2024 College Acceptance
The Class of 2024 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 2024 will be attending this fall.
Adelphi University Garden City, NY
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Albany, NY
Allegheny College Meadville, PA
American University Washington, DC
Appalachian State University Boone, NC
Arizona State University Tempe, AZ
Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OH
Belmont University Nashville, TN
Bentley University Waltham, MA
Binghamton University Binghamton, NY
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
Boston University Boston, MA
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH
Brown University Providence, RI
Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA
Butler University Indianapolis, IN
Cal Poly Humboldt Arcata, CA
California State University Long Beach, CA
Canisius University Buffalo, NY
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH
Cayuga Community College Auburn, NY
Christopher Newport University Newport New, VA
Clark Atlanta University Atlanta, GA
Clarkson University Potsdam, NY
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC
Colgate University Hamilton, NY
College of Charleston Charleston, SC
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO
Columbia University
New York, NY
Connecticut College
New London, CT
Cornell University Ithaca, NY
Creighton University Omaha, NE
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY
Daemen University Amherst, NY
Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA
D’Youville University Buffalo, NY
Eckerd College Saint Petersburg, FL
Elmira College Elmira, NY
Elon University Elon, NC
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL
Emerson College Boston, MA
Emmanuel College Boston, MA
Endicott College Beverly, MA
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
Flagler College
Saint Augustine, FL
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Fordham University Bronx, NY
Franklin & Marshall College Lancaster, PA
Gannon University Erie, PA
George Mason University Fairfax, VA
George Washington University Washington, DC
Georgetown University Washington, DC
Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA
Goucher College Baltimore, MD
Hamilton College Clinton, NY
Heidelberg University Tiffin, OH
High Point University
High Point, NC
Hilbert College
Hamburg, NY
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, NY
Hofstra University Hempstead, NY
Hood College Frederick, MD
Howard University Washington, DC
Indiana University Bloomington, IN
Iona University New Rochelle, NY
Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
Jackson State University Jackson, MS
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
John Cabot University Rome, Italy
John Carroll University University Heights, OH
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
Johnson & Wales University Providence, RI
Kansas State University Manhattan, KS
Keuka College
Keuka Park, NY
Lafayette College Easton, PA
Lancaster Bible College Lancaster, PA
Le Moyne College Syracuse, NY
Lees-McRae College Banner Elk, NC
Liberty University Lynchburg, VA
Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA
Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
Marquette University Milwaukee, WI
Marymount University Arlington, VA
Mercyhurst University Erie, PA
Merrimack College North Andover, MA
Miami University Oxford, OH
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
Middlebury College Middlebury, VT
Morgan State University Baltimore, MD
Nazareth University Rochester, NY
New York University New York, NY
Niagara County Community College Sanborn, NY
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY
Northeastern University Boston, MA
Ohio Northern University Ada, OH
Ohio University Athens, OH
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, FL
Paul Smith’s College
Paul Smiths, NY
Penn State University University Park, PA
Pennsylvania State University Abington Abington, PA
Pepperdine University Malibu, CA
Point Park University Pittsburgh, PA
Point University West Point, GA
Providence College Providence, RI
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY
Rice University Houston, TX
Richmond American University London London, England
Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY
Rowan University Glassboro, NJ
Rutgers University Piscataway, NJ
Rutgers University Newark, NJ
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT
St. John Fisher University Rochester, NY
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD
Salve Regina University Newport, RI
San Diego State University San Diego, CA
Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure, NY
St. John’s University Queens, NY
St. Lawrence University Canton, NY
Stonehill College Easton, MA
Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY
Suffolk University Boston, MA
SUNY Alfred State College of Technology Alfred, NY
SUNY at Albany Albany, NY
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Temple University Philadelphia, PA
The Ohio State University Columbus, OH
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Trinity College Hartford, CT
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Union College Schenectady, NY
United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD
University of Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands
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University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT
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Celebrating the Class of 2024
On June 7, members of the Class of 2024 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 132nd Commencement Ceremony of Nichols School.
Head of School Chris Burner remarked on how 109 members of this year’s senior class “were flexible, resilient, and determined. You not only “pulled through” the changes and inconveniences, you thrived. In many ways, I believe your eagerness for involvement, connection, and community afterwards were fired by your growth through these changes and desire for a return to the Nichols community you wanted. You are a class of achievers and joiners – I am impressed by the number of you who are involved in multiple areas – not specialists – but involved in the arts, athletics, clubs, social mission, and numerous other activities. Your passion and participation made this an even more interesting and compelling school. I know you will continue to be involved in numerous activities.”
Senior Martin Emmons, who was selected as class speaker, said, “To me being intrepid means pursuing that change we want to make until it is made, not just when we feel like it, or when it is easy, or when others support us. It’s realizing that others will doubt us and will judge us because the fact is changing the world isn’t normal. Its understanding and accepting that change is hard, and we will fail but in failure remembering, we did not set out to change the world because it was going to be easy, we did so because it was hard. Because it is in the struggle that we find our true strength and character. Because it is in the relentless pursuit of a better world that we wish to define our legacy. So, if we want to change our world class of 2024, let’s be passionate, be driven, be intrepid.”
Congratulations to the members of the Class of 2024, a class known for their accomplishments in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, and for their sense of community and camaraderie.
Finn Balbach ’24 and Sayward McPherson ’24 receive an award from
2024 Upper School Major Awards
Senior Awards (VI Form)
Castiglia Family Award for Community Service
Jonah Walh ’24
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
Sianna Le ’24
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
Mia Bedenko ’24
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
Eleanor Bares ’24, Chase Carter ’24, Liam Clancy ’24, Lillian Colpoys ’24, Jack Green ’24, James Hamilton ’24, Anthony Honeine ’24, Ryann O’Carroll ’24
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
Avery O’Carroll ’24
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
Arianna Damon ’24, Mason Howell ’24
Awarded to a student(s) who has shown outstanding growth during his or her career at Nichols.
Bonnie Lerner Posmantur Award
Tiffany Jiang ’24
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
Emily Huckell ’24
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)
The Legacy of a Teammate Award
Avery Musielak ’25
The Legacy of Teammate Award is given in honor of Matthew Benedict ’11 and aims to inspire student-athletes to embrace profound team responsibilities, emphasize ongoing growth beyond scoreboard statistics. It reinforces that true sportsmanship transcends the field, promoting enduring responsibilities, daily interactions, mutual respect, and unwavering team support. This award goes to the exceptional teammate who spreads the importance of physical and mental health and wellness, along with kindness and understanding. Aimed at inspiring dedication, the award encourages future generations to value teamwork, unity, and the lasting impact of selfless support. Through this award, we aim to cultivate a culture where being an exceptional teammate becomes a legacy passed on to those who follow.
Fitzhenry Award
Cecelia Stewart ’25
The William J. ‘Bill’ Fitzhenry, Jr. Award was established in memory of and presented to a student-athlete who excels both on the playing field and in the classroom. The recipient exemplifies the spirit of Bill’s life’s work as a beloved teacher, coach, and mentor; demonstrating a strong moral compass and work ethic with a zeal for academic challenges. Preference will be given to a student from the Old First Ward or South Buffalo.
Mr. Justin Gibson Mr. Rob Stewart and Molly Duffett ’24
Dudley M. Irwin, III ’45 Award
Drury Schmidt ’25, Gavin Weinstein ’25
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
Trinity Chatwood ’25
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
Honora Corso ’25
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
Evelyn Walcott ’25
Presented to a junior girl who, by virtue of character and leadership, has assumed prominence in her class.
Williams College Book Award
Lara Radovic ’25, Brady Roland ’25
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.
James Williams ’04 Memorial Award
Honora Corso ’25
Celebrates a student who bravely and thoughtfully engages with the curriculum, and whose transformative presence inspires their classmates to debate, engage, and explore new perspectives.
Sophomore Awards (IV Form)
Moscov Family Award
Tate Boccaccio ’26
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
Maya Takabe ’26, Thomas Yang ’26
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)
Eulis Merle Cathey, Jr. ’71 Memorial Award
Kabari Bagia ’27
Established in memory of Eulis Cathey for his passion for music. This award will be granted each year to an underclassman who displays leadership, is of high character, and makes significant musical contributions to the arts program at Nichols.
Christopher Wadsworth Award
Oscar Jorgenson ’26, Doga Vanwesenbeeck ’27
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.
Maya Takabe ’26 and Thomas Yang ’26 receive the Yale Award
Melissa Weiksnar ’73 presents the Nottingham Award to Evie Walcott ’25
LoVullo ’28 receives an award from Ms. Rachel Deemer-Best
2024 Middle School Awards
The Bruce Anderson Award
Drew Daley ’28
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
Anna Bearden ’30, Henry Dandolph ’31, Levi Mayer ’28, Emme Nobel ’29
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
Ava DeFazio ’30
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
Asuka Takabe ’29
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
Levi Mayer ’28
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
Matthew DiPaola ’28, Mia Gorton ’28, Dylan LoVullo ’28, Francesca Michael Saffire ’28, Mitram Sinha ’28
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
Sophie G.K. Siren ’28
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
Rainer Aubrecht ’28
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.
Dylan
Sophie G. K. Siren ’28 receives an award from Ms. Alexis Schultz
Class of 2024 Cum Laude Society
Finn Balbach ’24
Eleanor Bares ’24
Liam Clancy ’24
Ciara Desai ’24
Martin Emmons ’24
Anastasia Hall ’24
Anthony Honeine ’24
Emily Huckell ’24
Leena Jalees
Richard Lagutaine ’24
Sayward McPherson ’24
Giacinta Murray ’24
Avery O’Carroll ’24
Ryann O’Carroll ’24
Reshub Pendyala ’24
Asa Piver ’24
Michael Ricotta ’24
Kiersten Smith ’24
Kristina Vlasaty ’24
Rory Warren ’24
Ruofan Zhao ’24
Leon Zivadinov ’24
5.
7.
8.
1. Camden Christian ’24
2. Holland Greene ’24 and Rob Greene ’90 P’24,27
3. Linda Ullmark ’24 and Lillian Colpoys ’24
4. Callista Printz ’24 and family celebrating at Commencement
Chase Carter ’24 and Richard Langutaine ’24
6. Ava Varecka ’24 and Joseph Smith ’24
Rory Warren ’24 receives her diploma from Head of School, Chris Burner
Brayden Scibor ’24 and Avery O’Carroll ’24
24 Members of the Class of 2024 are Eight Year Scholars
Finn Balbach, Eleanor Bares, Ciara Desai, Holland Greene, James Hamilton, Jr., Matthew Harshany, Anthony Honeine, Alina Khan, Sayward McPherson, Jude Michael-Saffire, Roman Michael-Saffire, Giacinta Murray, Avery O’Carroll, Ryann O’Carroll, Reshub Pendyala, Asa Piver, Callista Printz, Michael Ricotta, Virginia Sheline, Joseph Smith, Bennett Socha, Jacob Stoffman, Sofia Suero, Jeremiah Williams.
Nichols School
We want to recognize their accomplishment by highlighting where they will start their journey in the Fall.
Georgetown University, Columbia University, SUNY at New Paltz, Rochester Institute of Technology, Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University, Syracuse University, University of St. Andrews, Boston College (2), University of South Carolina, Providence College, University of Vermont, Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, University of New Hampshire, George Washington University, Wake Forest University, College of Charleston, Hamilton College, University of Richmond, Canisius University.
2024
Following the commencement ceremony and despite the weather putting a damper on things, hundreds of Nichols alumni gathered for the 2024 Reunion. Alumni spanning seven decades—from the 1950s to the 2020s— came together to celebrate their shared history and reconnect with old friends. The shift to the Class of 1961 Student Commons, due to the weather, provided a party atmosphere for everyone.
A highlight of the evening was the Reunion Dinner in the Rand Dining Hall, specifically for the classes of 19591974. Adding a special touch to the night was the musical performance by members of the class of 1974 and 1979 which brought back fond memories through their music.
The Nichols 2024 Reunion weekend offered a variety of activities for alumni, ensuring everyone had opportunities to reconnect and enjoy themselves. Classes explored the Buffalo AKG Art Museum that provided a cultural and artistic highlight, lunch at Cole’s on
Elmwood was a casual gathering spot for reminiscing, and the happy hours and hangouts at classmates’ homes added a personal touch.
Class dinners at various local establishments throughout Buffalo capped off the weekend with delicious meals and vibrant conversations, celebrating the bond and enduring friendships formed during their time at Nichols. The diverse range of activities ensured that the reunion weekend was memorable for all attendees.
Gordy Gannon ’74 hugs Richard Melzer ’74 during reunion weekend
1954: Hugh Hartzburg and Joel Levin
1959: Front Row: Jeffrey Linsky, Peter MacMurtrie, John Henrich
Back Row: Howard Benatovich, Henry May, Daniel Kraft
1964: Front Row: Tina Ruff, Keith Karnofsky, David Backhurst, Peter McCormack, Dan Botsford, Thoma Johnson, Bob Nichols, Dick Russell, Jeff Birtch
Middle Row: George Metzger, Toby Llop, Sarah Llop Holten, Kathy Coward, John Fiorella, Peter Burke
Back Row: Jim Paul, Ed Marlette, Greg Coward, Peter Fleischmann, Ned Hengerer, John Spitzmiller, Bruce Roberts
1969: Art Cryer, Ken Sullivan, Jad Cordes
1974: Row 1: Mark Morris, Ann Brady, Greg Stevens, Kathleen Hopper Massimilian, Zibber Clauss Stockman, Carol Jasen Sampson, Doug Hamill, Tim Burke
Row 2: Richard Melzer, Adam Lehotay, Rick Hayden, Martha Bush, Barb Graf Bergantz, Bette Rydzynski Hulley, Tom Meyers, Michael Wilcove, Mike Mathews, Peter Jones, John Adams, Jay Smith
Row 3: John Schapiro, David Maghran, Arinna Neal-Moody, Mark Wells, John Gabrieli, Dennis Reilly, Paul Ricotta, Doug Hopkins, Randy Gridley, Joan Mathias, Joe Trimboli, George Haar
Row 4: George Sinks, Stu Barber, Pat Shields, Steve Nesbitt, Tory Williams, Gordy Gannon, Barb Kloepfer McFadden, Kim Kennedy Cardwell
1979: Front Row: Ted Spangenthal, Susan Bassett, Liz Dann, Erica Proctor Tank, Darby Johnson, Nancy Dickey, Loretta Kennedy, Diane Gardner Cozzarin, David Sherris, Angela Papademetriou Bolton, Chris Hamill.
Back Row: Chip Rogers, Peter Bellas, Lowell Grosse, Rick Smith, Evan Lewis, James Middleton, Rick Herrick, Jim Newman, Dennis Brinkworth.
1984: Front Row: Andy Scirri, Valerie Zingapan, Bob Barone, Suzanne Taylor, Candy Darby, Kim Rich Lupkin, Robyn Zuydhoek Gilmartin, Kirsten Thomas Miller, Zandra Weis Walton, Julie Genco Alford, Elle Anthone Barnhart
Middle Row: Mike Roach, Greg Castiglia, Pam Smith Graver, Susan Hanifin, Bez Hassett Schmidt, Joy Trotter, Gigi Chen, Rick Treadway
Back Row: Monish Bhattacharyya, Patrick Scott, Pam Bos Kefi, John Robshaw, Sarah Yerkovich, Carl Contino, John P. Weiksnar, Conrad Winkler, Jim Fitzhenry, Bill Gruen
1989: Front Row: Christen Clifford, Rachel Moog, Kedar Lele, Joy Santos, Andrew Adams, Suchitra Koneru, Kulpreet Liu, Jane Bahk, Karen Burgess Camacho
Middle Row: Lindsey Cranz Esposito, Bridget Saab Van Sickle, Mona Wagle Bargnesi, Jason Rothchild, Karthik Achar, Adam Greenburger, Richard Denning
Back Row: Howard Saperston III, Lars Harstad, James Azurin, Rob Gerstenzang, Mary Giallanza Carney, Eric Saldana, Peter McGennis, Brendan Brady, W. Scott Butsch
1994: Front Row: Matt Montante, Amity Lippes Mann, Kristina Nesensohn Prokop, Jennifer Battaglia Teach
Back Row: Jay Mepani, Brian Keating, Tricia Boland White, Kathy Kelly Peniston, Jamie Lovejoy Resmini, Craig MacDonald, Brian Mathias
2004: Katie Campos, Erin Parisi, Sam Duggan, Charlie Cannan
2014: Front row: Leah Finkelstein, Rochelle Finkelstein, Alexandra Montesano, Anna Pressman, Marie Zaccagnino, Madeline Brason, Christopher Kotrides
Middle Row: Allison Gasuik, Nicolette Tomani, Michael Rapaport, Colin Hogan, Gabriella Holevinski, Kaley Kawi, Anthony Tirabassi
Back Row: Katie Hobika, Naomi Hourihane, Mackenzie Hamil, Fred Maynor, Zach Cole, Mike Lask, RJ Gicewicz
2019: Front Row: Najya Fayyaz, Miles James, Ellie Nuchereno, Abbey Gicewicz, Jeanne Gandon
Back Row: Tristan Midlik, Harrison Guigui, Trevor Davis, Will Pfalzgraf
For those who will celebrate their reunion next spring (classes ending in 5 or 0), 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. Save the Date
May 30 and 31, 2025
2024 Honorary Alumnus Award for Sister Gail O’Donnell
In 1985, the Alumni Board initiated the practice of naming honorary alumni/alumna to publicly recognize members of the Nichols community who have given devoted service to the school. Head of School Chris Burner presented Sister Gail O’Donnell with the 2024 Honorary Alumni Award at the 132nd Commencement Ceremony.
A strong leader who played a pivotal role in the history of Nichols as the head of Nottingham at the time of its merger with Nichols 50 years ago, Sister Gail helped transform the community and foster a new era of education at Nichols.
This year’s graduating class is the 50th to benefit from the coeducational environment that Sister Gail helped establish. Her leadership during the merger and in the years following was instrumental in the two schools successfully coming together, combining their strengths and traditions to create a unified, inclusive community. Her vision and dedication ensured a smooth transition
2024 Gannon Award
The Gannon Family Foundation Award is awarded to a Nichols faculty member, nominated by their peers, for making an outstanding contribution to student education.
This year’s recipient is Phil Coburn P’22,’23,’25, who in his 21 years on campus, has shown a collaborative nature with a combination of enthusiasm and thoughtful reflection to colleagues and students.
In Coburn’s early years at Nichols, he helped develop the curriculum for the Physics First initiative in the Upper School Science Department. Several years later he formed the Electric Company, a group of teachers in the middle and upper schools who explored best class practice and curricular connections. A decade later, he organized a series of meetings between the physics and math teachers to ensure our students’ experience in ninth grade was cohesive. During the challenging COVID years,
and laid the foundation for the thriving, diverse student body we celebrate today.
Sister Gail’s contributions extend beyond her administrative excellence. She was a guiding force during her time at Nichols, nurturing the minds and hearts of countless students. Sister Gail’s legacy of compassion, wisdom, and service inspires those who have had the pleasure of knowing her at Nichols, Nottingham, and her life beyond. Her ability to foster a supportive and inclusive environment enriched the academic, social, and emotional experience at Nichols. Her pioneering spirit and tireless efforts have made a lasting impact, creating opportunities for future generations to thrive.
Coburn supported his colleagues through encouraging emails and video tutorials. His efforts enabled faculty to be more effective educators, and his calm tone of confidence asserted the collective ability to move forward successfully despite adversity.
In spite of all you do to support your colleagues, the Nichols students are truly the focus of Coburn’s work. He communicates his love of the discipline of physics in a classroom space that embraces teaching and learning as joint endeavors. A visitor to his classroom is more likely to find him kneeling next to a young 9th grade student rather than delivering from the front of the room. One student described his style as “gentle guidance,” asserting that he makes solving even the hardest problems seem achievable.
With the goal that students should carve their own path, is particularly evident in his work with the robotics team. He pushes the students just slightly beyond their comfort zone, and they
discover they can accomplish more. He serves as “logistics master” for the team, ensuring that travel to events comes off without a hitch. The warm smile he wears as one enters the robotics lab reveals the key to his success is students and colleagues know that they matter.
2024 Mitchell Award
Honored for their dedication and unwavering support of Nichols School, the 2024 Mitchell Award was presented to Priscilla and Jeffrey “J.J.” Bennett P’23,’26. Head of School Chris Burner handed out the award at Nichols School Annual Leadership Giving reception at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum last fall.
“The Bennett’s have set the bar high when it comes to volunteering and dedication to Nichols School,” said Burner. In their own special way, they have shown unwavering leadership and unconditional love of Nichols. They have been involved for seven consecutive years in the Parents’ Association, including as CoPresidents for the 2022-2023 school year, helped to organize the Middle School uniform sales, served as ambassadors for new families, co-chaired the parent portion of the Nichols Fund, hosted a Nichols Night event at their home, and supported the Faculty and Staff Appreciation event with grace and style. They are wonderful role models who devote an enormous amount of time and energy 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.”
2024 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 a Nichols education.
With the ability to shape minds, ignite curiosity, and inspire learning of the sciences, Jake Morris P’24, is an educator who empowers students, former students, and colleagues with a welcoming demeanor, receptive ear, and well-timed wit that can turn a moment on the edge of disaster into a burst of laughter.
Arriving at Nichols fresh from a stint at boarding school to teach middle school science, opportunities kept taking him in unexpected directions, but Morris always managed to land on his feet. After a year of settling into a Nottingham classroom, he jumped to the Amherst Street campus to Moot Hall, where the transition to the Upper School happened, teaching biology and anatomy, and physiology. Not content with those changes, he tackled the “year without biology,” adding chemistry to his teaching resume. One final jump brought Morris to his home in Center ’63 where he now teaches several Upper School science classes.
In the classroom, Morris’ quiet demand for effort, respect, and honesty from the students he teaches clearly embodies those qualities in his interactions with them. He knows what students need to thrive; and he clearly conveys those expectations. When students fail to adhere to standards, he lets them know in a strong, yet fair, manner. His room is a sanctuary for many on campus, a place of learning and fellowship, of laughter and stories. Though unassuming, he looms large in the lives of countless students.
2024 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 Julie Alford ’84 P’11,’15,’17 with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award at the 132nd Commencement Ceremony.
Alford’s time at Nichols dates to her student years, beginning at Nichols in 8th grade and extending all the way to this year, retiring after 22 years of teaching. She has dedicated her life to the school out of love and purpose, holding diverse roles, including student, teammate, coach, parent, advisor, teacher, team leader, and middle school STEM chair.
Alford has had a fulfilling career, sharing her passion for science with many students. Her husband Scott, an alumnus of the Nichols Middle School, and their three children, Martha (“Mimi”) ’11, John (“Jack”) ’15, and Grace ’17, flourished from their days at the Little Greenhouse Nursery to the halls of the Upper School. Nichols holds great significance in her life and has greatly benefited from her dedication over the years.
Throughout Alford’s career, she was primarily a science and math teacher for 6th grade, but also taught students
in other grades. She emphasized the importance of the Scientific Method, working with units, taking detailed notes and writing comprehensive lab reports. In addition to these fundamental concepts, she organized engaging and meaningful projects that showcased the beauty of science. Her approach to teaching inspired all students to embrace the world of science, encouraging them to see themselves as young scientists and foster a love of learning. In math class, she covered topics like ratios and percentages, and expanded students’ knowledge through an unforgettable simulated stock market investment project.
She was a truly remarkable teacher and an even more amazing colleague and friend. She worked well with everyone and listened to ideas with an open mind and heart, encouraging all to embrace new challenges. n
100. Roddy Potter
99. B, A new approach that marine scientists are using to train distressed coral reefs to survive more extreme oceanic conditions.
98. B, An earth-sized planet located within the habitable zone of a distant star brings NASA a step closer to determining if “other earths” could exist.
97. B, Harriet Tubman
96. Chat GPT
95. Eleanor Roosevelt
94. B, bass, tenor, alto, soprano
93. Frank Lloyd Wright
92. Improv/improvisation
91. Offsides
90. None
89. Oppenheimer
88. Impressionism
87. D, City of Light
86. B, Cooking show
85. Fermi
84. Tonal
83. The Rockpile
82. A, Instinct
81. Feminine/female
80. D, None of the above
79. Choreography
78. War of 1812
77. Drake
76. Hat trick
75. D, Madeleine Albright
74. Wide right
73. Total solar eclipse
72. Marbury v. Madison
71. Gunpowder
70. B, guanine
69. A, It implied that the ruler was a successor to the Prophet Muhammad
68. Vulcanized rubber
67. A, Flying buttress
66. Color
65. Beth Stone
64. Tangent
63. Wordle
62. Teapot dome
61. Point guard
59. Cicadas 60. A, Lotus
58. League of Nations
57. C, 24
Beyonce 48. B, The wavelength is halved 49. C, James K. Polk 50. Stratton 51. A, Endothermic 52. C, The caravel 53. Derivative 54. False 55. B, Bunburyist 56. A, Ionic bond
B, Light energy
Red 45. Stump
D, x(2x-3)=43 43. B, There is more air resistance against the flat paper
E, Hyperbole 41. A, Simile
D, Metaphor
B, Alliteration
C, Personification
B, Always Negative
8
Olmstead
Guaranty
Peter
Number of Valence Electrons
C, Taco Bell
B, MySpace
The answer key for the GIT can also be found at www.nicholsschool.org/alumni/general-information-test
Goldfinch
Once
D x=-4
50%, 0.5, 1 in 2
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
1A (1amperes)
Horse
B, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
538
Diwali
Missouri Compromise
D, Grave
B, is consumed completely
Beef on Weck
D, The Pharaoh
C, Fahrenheit
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Constantinople or Byzantium or Istanbul
Cosine
At the Heart of What Matters Most
Members of the Nichols community cultivate mental health initiatives
Fostering community and compassion on and off the field
This year, Nichols welcomed two new faculty members to our community: Chris Cloutier and Brandon Robinson. Cloutier and Robinson bring a unique perspective to the school as they are both teachers in our classrooms and professional athletes playing for the two-time National Lacrosse League Champion Buffalo Bandits.
Beyond their roles at school and as professional lacrosse players, Cloutier and Robinson are deeply committed to giving back to the Western New York community. Cloutier is actively involved with the PUNT organization, which supports families facing pediatric cancer. Robinson is dedicated to Morgan’s Message, an organization that aims to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the studentathlete community.
Cloutier was introduced to the PUNT organization through the Bandits. After witnessing the profound impact PUNT has on families, he
decided to become more involved. This fall, Cloutier invited the PUNT organization to speak at a middle school meeting, where they discussed their mission. Cloutier’s advisory group also assembled gift bags for families supported by PUNT as part of their HEART Challenge of the week.
Similarly, Robinson has found a meaningful connection with Morgan’s Message. Motivated by his own experiences as a student-athlete, he has become a passionate advocate for mental health awareness. This fall, Robinson organized a workshop for our upper school students, emphasizing the importance of mental health and the resources available to them. He looks forward to finding ways to involve Nichols students in his work with Morgan’s Message.
Cloutier and Robinson embody the spirit of Nichols by fostering a sense of community and compassion both on and off the field. Their dedication to their students and the wider Western New York community exemplifies our values and enriches our school culture. We are proud to have them as part of the Nichols family, inspiring our students to embrace challenges and discover their potential.
Chris Cloutier and Brandon Robinson brought the National Lacrosse League Cup to Nichols after their 2024 Championship win
Mind Over Miles: 24-Hour Challenge to benefit Suicide Prevention
On April 13 and 14, 2024, Nick Ennis ’17 and his friends raised more than $50,000 for suicide prevention and mental health awareness in a most astounding way. They ran for 24 hours straight at Delaware Park, across the street from Nichols, logging more than 80 miles.
With a strong philanthropy background from their families and schools, Ennis and friends decided they needed to do something big—a WOW event— to raise funds, but mainly awareness for these two growing problems in society. Ennis, Jack Pfalzgraf ’17, and friend Max Montante, who all love to run, brainstormed ideas until they created the Mind Over Miles: 24-Hour Challenge.
All proceeds from the Mind Over Miles 24-Hour Challenge went to the Western New York Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital Psychiatric Clinic. The trio was joined by over 50 friends and family on a cold and rainy weekend as they completed the challenge from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday.
“This incredible endeavor is more than just a run; it is a mission to ignite conversations, break stigmas, and offer hope to those battling mental health challenges. Through this event, we aim to shed light on the importance of mental wellness and the need for accessible support systems,” they announced on their GoFundMe page.
Just before finishing his final lap, Ennis looked at all those who arrived to support him and his friends finished strong and said, “I am overwhelmed with gratitude. You have family, your best friends, and the community coming together to support such a worthy cause. This is not about us. This is not about the run. It is all about expanding conversations about mental health.”
Nichols Alumnus Honored for Promoting Inclusivity in Sports
Dylan Lugris ’20, a junior forward on the hockey team at Penn State University, was honored with the 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award at the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in Saint Paul, MN. This highly prestigious award recognizes “college hockey’s finest citizen,” celebrating student athletes who make significant contributions to their communities through volunteerism and leadership.
Lugris received this accolade for his outstanding work with the State College Coyotes, a local sled hockey team. Upon his arrival at Penn State, Lugris quickly immersed himself in community service and formed a strong bond with the Coyotes. Recognizing the team’s potential and need for support, Lugris started the Penn State Sled Hockey Classic in 2023. This annual event has not only raised significant funds for the Coyotes, but also increased awareness of sled hockey within the community.
Lugris’s dedication extends beyond organizing the fundraiser. He and his teammates regularly attend Coyotes’ practices, fostering a supportive environment and promoting inclusivity in the sport. His efforts have left a lasting impact on the sled hockey team and the broader community.
Lugris’s story is an inspiring testament to the power of sports to unite and uplift communities. Nichols School is proud to celebrate his accomplishment and impact on his community. Dylan is a shining example of Nichols’ mission to carry the highest ideals of character and service into all we do.
Top: Dylan Lugris ’20 being presented with the 2024 Hockey Humanitarian Award by the Hockey Humanitarian Foundation
Bottom: Nick Ennis ’17 along with Max Montante and Jack Pfalzgraf ’17 starting the 24-hour challenge
Nichols Alumnus Believes in You
With the goal of starting the conversation about mental health, breaking down stigmas, and normalizing the topic of mental health, in December 2023, Danielle Vallas ’95 P’23,’25, a licensed mental health counselor and founder of a D&G Wellness Consulting, launched a wellness clothing brand. Spending almost two decades working at Nichols as the Director of Wellness and coaching youth and high school sports, her passion for helping athletes on and off the field led to her career as a therapist. Her love for wellness, mental health, and clothing led her to create Buffalo Believes.
As a therapist, Vallas knows thoughts create reality, so what you believe shapes the way you experience the world. With this thought in mind and the idea that daily reminders that mental health matters, each shirt was created in response to what she was working on with clients in therapy. Currently, collections are designed to support athletes’ mental health, promote love and self-care, and glimmers while celebrating the city of Buffalo. She likes to say, “Each shirt tells a story.” For example, with shirts
Danielle Vallas ’95 and her husband
that say “Find Your Glimmer,” the line is designed to help train your brain to see the good that is all around you. Look for glimmers of hope, positivity, and beauty in everyday life instead of the negatives or triggers; what you look for, you will see. With new concepts formulated all the time, merchandise is currently sold online with the hope of getting it into local Buffalo retail stores. Vallas says, “Buffalo Believes in helping you believe in yourself, your wellness, and your community.” The company believes that fashion can be so much more than just a way to look good; it can make you feel good inside and out. They are committed to giving back to our community by donating a portion of all sales to mental health organizations including One Last Goal and Child and Family Services. Buffalo Believes is designing gear that promotes goodness while providing support and accessibility to mental health services. To check out the designs, visit BuffaloBelieves.com or BuffaloBelieves on Facebook and Instagram. n
To highlight the importance of Mental Health Awareness, the Benedict Family created a new award in honor of Matthew Benedict ’11.
“I am honored to be the first recipient of the Matthew Benedict ’11 Legacy of a Teammate Award and I cannot express my appreciation enough. I have an internship where I advocate for mental health awareness with our Wellness Department. I play varsity soccer along with travel soccer.” – Avery M.
Donald Musielak, Julianne Musielak, Avery Musielak ’25, Elizabeth Benedict ’12, Anne Benedict, Bill Benedict.
Celebrating 50 Years of Coeducation
The late 1960s and early 1970s were defined by a mix of advancement and upheaval, with the Vietnam War, the civil rights and feminist movements, and other influences raising awareness and inspiring change. The decision to begin co-education was very much in keeping with the times. In the fall of 1973, the Upper School at Nichols merged with the all-girls Nottingham Academy of the Sacred Heart. Girls were also welcomed at the Middle School, which relocated to the Nottingham campus.
Sister Gail O’Donnell
Chris Wadsworth assumed the role of headmaster in 1969 and helped launch a sea tide that carried Nichols to where it is today. Although Nichols wanted to become co-ed, it didn’t set a course until Nichols parent and board of trustees member, Jim Dillon ’51 P’73,’75’,76’,77,’78 suggested a merger with Nottingham. Because Dillon had children in both schools, he knew of Nichols’ desire to embrace co-education and Nottingham’s lack of clergy available to teach classes, forcing it toward closure.
“It was a marriage made in heaven,” stated Sister Gail O’Donnell, headmistress of Nottingham during the merger. She went on to explain that Nichols was known for its strength in sports, science, and math, while Nottingham excelled in the humanities and arts.
change. “Everybody was excited about it. The girls’ input and viewpoints were different in class. Co-education expanded our horizons and our view of the outside world.”
“It was bittersweet news that Nottingham would cease to exist, but on a positive note, I would graduate with my Nottingham classmates,” shared Carol Jasen Sampson ’74. Classmate Kathleen Massimilian ’74 added, “I had attended Nottingham since 7th grade, so naturally, I felt a little uncertain about what a co-educational experience would be like, as well as how academically challenging Nichols would be.” Both women commented positively on the keen academic competition that emerged and highlighted the Nottingham-led production of West Side Story as a powerful promoter of inclusivity and equality that year. Continued Massimilian, “The play brought together so many students of all ages to perform in both acting and non-acting roles—all of which contributed to putting on a first-class musical!”
Jim Dillon’s son, Brian ’76, attended Nichols during the transition and remembers the time as full of positive
During the planning stages, no one was certain of how easy combining devoutly Catholic Nottingham with staunch Protestant Nichols would be. Other notable challenges included finding space for the growing student body among the two campuses and building out the girls’ much less robust sports program. But merge, they did.
Growing Stronger Together
“I don’t remember any real hardships,” said Wadsworth to Sister O’Donnell when asked what challenges stood out in his memory. “I think it was because of the respect, trust, and enjoyment we had in each other.”
George Kloepfer ’68 had a similar observation from a faculty perspective. Kloepfer graduated from Nichols before the merger and spent his entire forty-seven-year career teaching English at the Middle School. “Every teacher wants to put forth the best thing possible in their classroom,” said Kloepfer. “At the beginning, many Nichols teachers had no experience teaching young women. There was a big learning curve, which sparked extraordinary enthusiasm among the faculty to make it work. A great feeling of collaboration ensued, inspiring curricular development and discussions. Sometimes, there were hearty disagreements, but everyone was pulling in the right direction.”
During the transition year (’72-’73), Nichols and Nottingham worked together to smooth the co-educational path. Nottingham girls attended classes at Nichols, and
Chris Wadsworth
Nichols teachers taught at Nottingham. Wadsworth appointed a school life committee of faculty and students (chaired by Sister O’Donnell) to encourage continued collaboration. Nichols also created a freshman orientation program, instituted a dean program, and developed a new department of philosophy, religion, and social relations with a required class of the same name. Women assumed positions of authority, with Sister O’Donnell becoming Nichols’ assistant head of school. Nichols also made great strides to equalize sports representation, eventually offering fall, winter, and spring sports for all.
Kristan Carlson Andersen ’80 was among the first girls to start in the Nichols Middle School and go through the Upper School. “As a parent of two alums, and as a member of the Board of Trustees, I have seen a LOT of decisions made at Nichols School,” stated Andersen. “I have to tell you, the decision to go co-ed in 1973 was the most important decision ever made in the history of the school.”
Wadsworth remained Head of School until 1979, and Kloepfer fondly recalled how Wadsworth launched each school year by referring to the scene of the ship under the clocktower in the quad. “Every year, we set out in September, and we hope for good winds and mellow seas,” Kloepfer recalls from Wadsworth’s speech. “Now and then, it gets a little windy and choppy, and we’ve got challenges along the way, but we get through it. We come into port in June and prepare and hope for an even better voyage come September.”
During the 1973-1974 school year, enrollment grew from 468 to 649 students, with girls making up 27% of the student body. For the 2023-2024 school year, student enrollment stood at 583 with 44% of the population being girls, proving Nichols has sailed a long way in fifty years.
Moving forward, always seeking the best in every student, Nichols strives to provide the ultimate learning environment — for students, faculty, and administrators — while continuing to be a beloved port for all. n
“I have to tell you, the decision to go co-ed in 1973 was the most important decision ever made in the history of the school.”
— Kristan Carlson Andersen ’80 P’13,’16
Kristan Carlson Andersen ’80 P’13,’16
Building Inclusivity, Community, and Belonging Through Storytelling
This year, Nichols School and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted a three-part Community and Storytelling series inspired by the work of Dr. Howard Stevenson.
The three collaborative workshops created a forum for individuals to share meaningful stories highlighting the importance of racial literacy and belonging, helping Nichols students, faculty, alums, and other community members cultivate a deeper sense of understanding, empathy, and connection.
Story Brings People Closer Together
As Dr. Stevenson explains in his book Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools: Differences That Make a Difference, “In storytelling, individuals can ease into self-reflection and become self-critical without public scrutiny. With practice, one can learn to forgive mistakes and see how context and history matter in racial decision-making and action.”
Dr. Ramone Alexander, Nichols’ Director of Inclusivity and Community Building, and Jeremy Besch, founder of Stone Bench Consulting, spearheaded the series, creating diverse workshop panels to inspire lively discussions. The first panel discussion took place during the 2022-2023 school year and was so well received that it inspired this year’s three-part series.
“For me, the root of the work is around connection and building relationships through the intentional deep listening of each other’s stories and the courage and vulnerability to share our own,” stated Alexander. “Our Community and Storytelling events allowed brave individuals to share their stories around racial incidents and for the audience to engage with their stories, inspiring our community to share more, listen more, and ultimately build stronger connections and a greater sense of belonging.”
Sianna Le ’24 put the impact of the series into words during the inaugural panel. “It doesn’t matter if it was me or anyone. It was still racism…I do wish some things were different, and I feel like those feelings of wish and hope are slowly becoming resolved because of the teachers here and things like this.”
Creating A Sense of Belonging
The Community and Storytelling series addressed more than racial diversity. “Multicultural education goes beyond race,” stated Alexander. “Whether it’s family dynamic, religion, sexuality, or learning differences, we all have a story of belonging to share.” Panel participants for the four events over the last two school years spanned to include five decades of Nichols alums (dating back to 1963 before Nichols enrolled its first underrepresented student), current students, department chairs, board members, administrative staff, and faculty. In the panel that included Nichols faculty, staff, and administrators, it leveraged the insight of the participants who took part in The Lion’s Story Racial Literacy Virtual Institute, a fourday workshop grounded in Dr. Stevenson’s work.
Besch believes Nichols is uniquely positioned to have a significant, sustained positive impact on racial literacy and belonging in the community. “The respect Nichols has earned during its history in Buffalo, its ability to be innovative and impactful as a well-established independent school, and its physical location and presence are all ideal. Efforts like the Community & Storytelling series help the Nichols community better and more routinely tell its story—both collectively and individually—and become a better leader in this work in Buffalo.”
Alexander agrees wholeheartedly. “The more stories we can tell, the more we can humanize all identities. It is my aspiration to continue to have conversations like these because they make us better.” n
Top: Gary Wilson ’98 talks at the spring edition of Community and Story Telling
Bottom: Ramone Alexander, Director of Inclusivity and Community Building, Laliya Kashindi ’22, Gary Wilson ’98, Alisha Lall ’03, Deidre Batson-Briggs ’03, Jessica Smith ’03, Sarah Washington ’08, Camryn Warren ’19
“I had a lot of interesting conversations with people as they were deciding their poems, which was a nice experience to have.” — Lara Radovic ’25
Madisen Wilson ’25 hands her paper in to Mr. Larry Desautels
Nikki Suchak ’25, Emily Ricigliano ’25 and Lillian Weinmann ’25 celebrates the end of the JPP
Reinventing The Junior Poetry Project
In 1963, when the Junior Poetry Project (JPP) was first introduced at Nichols, its creator, English teacher Austin Fox, likely never imagined that sixty years later, the 3,000-word, formal study of a single poem could be generated by AI in a matter of seconds.
Times Change
Long considered a rite of passage for juniors, the JPP is a revered Nichols tradition intended to teach critical thinking skills. With AI entering the classroom, it was clear to the faculty that for students to reap the benefits of the challenging JPP, the assignment would need to be updated to support its original goal—and keep pace with changing times.
“There’s a difference between getting an answer and knowing how to think,” stated Aranya Maritime, Dean of Academics. “But how can you make critical thinking visible—and gradable?”
Working backward from the goal of the project, Nichols teachers added new layers to the JPP that would help students build relevant skills they would use throughout their academic journeys, careers, and lives.
The result? A brand new, shared rubric for the English department and a more robust— and rewarding—Junior Poetry Project for Nichols students. This year, in addition to selecting a poem and writing a 2,000-to-3,000-word essay, juniors were tasked with choosing a work of art from the Buffalo AKG Art Museum and creating an oral presentation for family and friends encompassing both works. Using the foundational reading and writing skills gained during their earlier years at Nichols as a jumping-off point, students were encouraged to make creative choices for their presentations that underscored their understanding and ability to engage with their chosen poem, connect its themes with the larger community through art, and then communicate their insights to their audience.
Nichols Explores New Horizons
Of his experience this year, Gavin Weinstein ’25, writes, “After completing the JPP, I now feel confident to attack long essays in high school and future assignments in college.” Lara Radovic ’25 voices a similar sentiment, “The new JPP rubric focuses less on analyzing your poem and more on writing about your personal connections to the poem… Over the course of writing, I got a good feeling of how to transition from the more analytical segments of my paper to the more personal, which I think is a very useful skill, especially when it comes to college essays.”
Without essays and presentations from previous years to use as models, this year’s juniors truly broke new ground at Nichols. “It was a lightbulb moment for me to experiment with things like writing style and structure in a way I normally do not in academic writing,” continued Radovic. Lucy Coburn ’25 concurs, “One thing I learned from this paper was how to write in my own voice. I didn’t have to write it with a super academic tone like a research paper, so there was a lot more room to experiment with my style.” Coburn also notes, “One skill I needed to succeed with this project was time management. I started it early, and I was so glad I did because I had plenty of time to think as I went along and edit parts that I wanted to be better.”
Reimagined and re-engineered, the JPP remains a timeless rite of passage, challenging Nichols juniors to learn invaluable life skills—while giving them the freedom to find their voice. n
Riley Keller ’25 visits the Buffalo AKG Art Museum
Express Yourself in the Fashion Laboratory
“To pull off any look, wear it with confidence.” – Audrey Hepburn
“This is one of my favorite quotes,” explained Trinity Chatwood ’25, co-president of the Nichols Fashion Design Club and Fashion Lab veteran.
Long dubbed “Fab Lab,” the Nichols Fashion Laboratory teaches students more than how to follow a pattern and use a sewing machine. Clare Greely ’25, co-president states, “The Fashion Laboratory class is taught as a social history class.”
For the past eight years, Fab Lab students have explored topics such as body image, gender politics, sustainability, and global fashion design to answer two seemingly simple questions:
Why do you wear what you wear? Does your outfit fit who you are on the inside, and does it fit your physical body?
Students in this class draw inspiration from everyday objects, nature, history, science fiction, art, and more to design and create their own unique fashion items. They then feature their items in photo shoots and model them in videos, building their confidence and learning to display their body. Their ultimate fashion challenge? To walk the runway at the end of the year in the student-produced runway
show. Students wear the items they create with boldness, confidence, and bravery. Works such as figure drawings, vision boards, and designs made on mini mannequins are displayed during the show as well.
The mediums of artistic expression used in Fab Lab go far beyond fabric and thread. Students knit, glue, heat, bleach, tape, twist-ties, and use other scientific and textile methods to create their fashion themes. Chatwood most enjoyed “experimenting and working with different plastics and dyes to form an outfit that fits a body. We also work alongside the Nichols Environmental Club to focus on using sustainable materials for our creations and advocate this through school thrift swaps. The fashion industry is a tremendous environmental polluter. When creating fashion, we embrace the challenge to use non-traditional materials to help alleviate this crisis.”
Greely added, “Fashion allows for personal choice and creative expression. We are thankful for the collaboration of the administration, faculty members, and students who play pivotal roles in the Fashion Laboratory and Fashion Design Club.”n
Trinity Chatwood ’25 inspires Nichols students to think outside the box in the Fab Lab.
The Stars Align for the 2024 Prince Lecture
Dr. Jeffrey L. Linsky graduated from Nichols School in 1959. A renowned astrophysicist, he received his BS in Physics from MIT and his PhD in Astronomy from Harvard. Linsky currently holds the title of Research Professor Emeritus at JILA, a joint research institute of the University of Colorado and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado.
Linsky’s research areas include astrophysics, stellar radiation and winds, the abundance of deuterium in the universe, and the gas between stars. His studies in astrophysics are interdisciplinary in nature dealing with such issues as the effects of stellar radiation and winds on the ability of planets to retain their atmospheres and water, which are essential for life. Linsky is a coinvestigator on the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope and on instruments on other NASA spacecraft.
Linsky is also a self-proclaimed solar eclipse junkie. It was during a visit to Buffalo in 2019 for his 60th reunion that he first shared the news of a solar eclipse to occur in five years with the path of totality falling directly across Buffalo, NY. Conversations continued and on Thursday, April 4, 2024, just four days before the 2024 phenomena would occur, Nichols School welcomed Dr. Jeffrey L. Linsky ’59 as the 50th Prince Lecture Speaker.
Linsky and his wife Dr. Lois Linsky have traveled to see 13 total solar eclipses in their lifetime and rather than heading to Mazatlan, Mexico where the view was predicted to be clearest, they agreed to head back to Nichols and WNY to share Linsky’s knowledge as the 2024 Prince Lecture Speaker.
Linsky spent a full day on campus addressing the entire student body and attending classes. Later that evening, he greeted guests at a leadership reception in his honor and presented to the greater WNY community in the Flickinger Performing Arts Center. Sharing his astronomical expertise, Linsky explained the celestial mechanics behind a solar eclipse and the different types of eclipses, why solar eclipses are important for both scientific research and cultural history, what causes a solar eclipse, what to expect during a total eclipse, and how to safely view this rare event.
We are grateful to the Linskys for accepting our invitation and to the Prince Family for making this once-in-a-generation educational opportunity possible. n
The Prince Lecture series was established in 1974 by S. Warren Prince, Jr., a Nichols graduate of the class of 1947 and President of Prince Rubber & Plastics Co, in honor of his father, Sidney Warren Prince, Sr. Each year a person of national renown is invited to Buffalo to serve as speaker for this long-standing series.
A Perfect Fit
Nichols Class of 2029 Creates Community Connections
Scan code to purchase at Amazon. All proceeds from puzzle sales benefit White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary, supporting its incredible work in the Western New York Community.
The seventh-grade Connections class speaks to the heart of Nichols’ Mission: “to train minds, bodies and hearts for the work of life, and to carry into all we do the highest ideals of character and service.”
Designed to foster connections with the Western New York community and Nichols alums, the Connections class has evolved throughout the years, changing shape to explore enriching opportunities for Nichols seventh graders to connect with the world around them.
This year’s Connections cohorts collaborated with Buffalo Games, a local puzzle and game creation company, to design, produce, and market a puzzle. The Community Puzzle Project was primarily led by Assistant Head of School for Student Life Gregory Plumb ’96 and Buffalo Games Director of Sales John Fox ’94, with inspired creative support from middle school art teacher and renowned WNY artist Kari Achatz.
As an alumnus, current Nichols parent, and member of the Parent Association, Fox understands the power and potential of the Connections class and saw a natural fit between his employer and his alma mater. “Buffalo Games shares many of the same qualities as Nichols in terms of being a leader within their space and thoughtful contributors to the growth of the community,” stated Fox. “Our goal was to create an experiential learning project that activated these shared qualities of learning and growth.”
a mixed media collage of unique dog characters. Buffalo Games took it from there, turning the collage into a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle and inviting students to visit the facility in April to gain insight into the manufacturing process of their puzzle.
Nichols alums helped the final Connections cohort create and execute an extensive marketing plan to promote and sell their puzzle via print, digital, and social media platforms—finishing the project. The puzzle is available for purchase at Amazon.com, Buffalogames. com, White Whiskers fundraising events, and the Nichols bookstore. All proceeds from puzzle sales benefit White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary, supporting its incredible work in the Western New York Community.
From community outreach through production and sales, the collaborative project proved fun and inspiring for the seventh-graders.
The first seventh-grade cohort launched the ambitious undertaking in the fall, doing community research and outreach to identify a hero organization to inspire the design and creation of their puzzle. The entire seventh grade voted to choose the winner in a landslide victory: White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary. Founded by Polla Milligan, the charitable organization is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of senior dogs while offering companionship for humans who will benefit from their canine companionship.
The next Connections cohort carried the project through design. Buffalo Games Design Lead Rebecca Carden shared her expertise with the seventh grade in the Pond, and Achatz and the Connections class created
Finn Riordan ’29 “enjoyed brainstorming and making the drawings that will go into the final project.”
Cayden LeRoy ’29 was enthused by “working with my friends on creating and completing our puzzle. Figuring out the different colors and types of dogs to put together with each color was a very fun time.”
Violet Glynn ’29 enjoyed learning more about her community and working as a team. “White Whiskers is an amazing business, and they support an amazing cause,” said Glynn. “A business that provides homes for older dogs in need is truly inspiring. Overall, the biggest piece I’ll take away from this is how everyone worked together and put their best effort into the project.”
“We celebrate the Class of 2029 for their creativity, commitment, and hard work in developing and executing this special project with Buffalo Games and White Whiskers,” shared Plumb. “I hope to continue exploring different careers and industries in future years. One of the best things that could come out of the project would be for other parents or alumni to hear about it and say, ‘Hey, I have something interesting that might work for the students.’” n
The class of 2029 joined John Fox ’94 for a tour of Buffalo Games to see the production of their puzzle
Athletic Achievements
Fall Sports
Varsity Boys Cross Country (MML 5-2)
Head Coach: James Cammarata
• Placed 2nd at the Red Dragon Invitational and 5th at the East Aurora Invitational
• Finished in 2nd place in the MML championship race
• Ryan Janese ’26 finished 2nd at the All-Catholic meet and was named to the All-Catholic team and represented Nichols at the Federation Meet in mid-November
• Most Valuable Runner: Ryan Janese ’26 Most Improved Runner: Reino Becker ’26 Coaches Award: Sayward McPherson ’24 and Michael Ricotta ’24
Varsity Girls Cross Country (3-2)
Head Coach: Roddy Potter
• Finished 5th at Red Dragon Invitational and 6th at the East Aurora Invitational
• Placed 3rd at the All-Catholic Meet
• Most Valuable Runner: Emily Huckell ’24 Most Improved Runner: Maia Porter ’26 Coaches Award: Mia Anderson ’24
Varsity Field Hockey (6-0 CISAA, 21-1 Overall)
Head Coach: Beth Stone
• Finished 2nd in the state, 6th in the Northeast region, and 26th in the country
• Went undefeated in regular season CISAA play and won the CISAA Championship for the second year in a row with a 12-0 victory over Appleby
• Kiersten Smith ’24 was named the 2023 All-Western New York Player of the Year
• All-State Honors and 1st Team All-WNY: Kiersten Smith ’24, Molly DiGiulio ’25 and Ella Murphy ’25
• 2nd team All-WNY honors: Molly Duffett ’24, Seina Spadone ’24, and Callista Printz ’24
• Brynn Bacak ’25 was named Honorable Mention All-WNY; DiGiulio and Smith were also recognized by NFHCA on the NY All-Region team
Varsity Boys Golf (MML, 7-5)
Head Coach: Ronald Montesano
• Took 2nd place in the regular season of Monsignor Martin League and placed 4th at the MML league team championships
• Gavin Weinstein ’25 won the Erie County Junior Series at Elma Meadows
• Lily Zhang ’26 was named to the All-Catholic team and finished 4th at the All-Catholic Individual meet
• Gavin Weinstein ’25, Lily Zhang ’26, Ross Yoshida ’25, and Bryce de Riszner ’25 all qualified for the Catholic State Championship in June
Varsity Sailing
Head Coach: Rene Bouchard
• Finished the season ranked 15th in the Mid-Atlantic District
• Finished 1st in more than one Friday night Buffalo Yacht Club local regatta and finished 2nd overall in WNY to finish the season
• Most Valuable Sailors: Mason Howell ’24 and Sophie Kimelberg ’26
• Finished the season ranked 2nd in the small school poll
• Had a 2-0 win over Canisius in the MML semis, but unfortunately lost in the league finals, 1-0 to St. Joe’s
• 1st Team All-WNY: Camden Christian ’24 and Jakob Sacher ’24
• Monsignor Martin Division A-All-Catholic: Camden Christian ’24, Jakob Sacher ’24, and Tommy Maidment ’24
Most Valuable Players: Jakob Sacher ’24 and Tommy Maidment ’24
Most Improved Players: Joe Smith ’24 and Jonah Walh ’24
• Joe Thompson ’24 received the 110% award and Christian, Maidment, and Sacher were selected to the WNY Exceptional Senior All-Star game
Varsity Girls Soccer (12-6 Overall, 4-2 MML)
Head Coach: Larry Desautels
• Earned non-league victories over Lancaster, East Aurora, Voorhees, Cathedral Prep, Mercy Rochester, Byron-Bergen and McDowell
• Earned the 2nd seed in the MML Tournament and beat Nardin 4-3 in OT
• Lost in the finals to St. Mary’s of Lancaster 2-1
• Monsignor Martin Co-Player of the Year: Mara Batchen ’25
• Monsignor Martin League A Division All-Catholic: Emerson Bacak ’24, Addie Davis ’25, Sienna Nobel ’25, and Cecelia Stewart ’25
• New York Class B All-State: Mara Batchen ’25 (1st Team), Addie Davis ’25 (2nd Team), and Linda Ullmark ’24 (4th Team)
• Most Valuable Players: Mara Batchen ’25 and Addie Davis ’25
Most Improved Players: Sienna Nobel ’25 and Sofia Suero ’24; Coaches Award: Emerson Bacak ’24 and Avery Musielak ’25
Varsity Girls Tennis (Overall 11-3, MML 9-0)
Head Coach: Amy Borden
• Undefeated in league, finished 1st place in Division A and 1st place in League
• Lily Norman ’27 won the singles title and Amelia Greenawalt ’24 finished in 2nd place for the singles title
• Leena Jalees ’24 and Adeline Glenn ’27 finished 2nd place for doubles at the league championship
• Rory Warren ’24 and Giselle Glenn ’26 finished in 4th place. Norman, Greenawalt, Jalees, and Adeline Glenn all qualified for the state championship matches in Long Island. Lily Norman ’27 finished in 2nd place in the State Singles Championship. Amelia Greenawalt ’24, Leena Jalees ’24 and Adeline Glenn ’27 won their state consolation matches in singles and doubles, respectively.
• Most Valuable Player: Lily Norman ’27, Most Improved Players: Madalyn Diamond ’25 and Maya Sherman ’25 Coaches Award: Amelia Greenawalt ’24
Volleyball (8-6 Overall, 7-5 MML)
Head Coach: Molly Gasuik
• Placed 2nd at the Lakeshore Tournament
• Earned the 3rd seed in the Monsignor Martin League tournament and lost to Sacred Heart in the Monsignor Martin Semi-Finals.
• Monsignor Martin A League All-Catholic: Ryann O’Carroll ’24 and Katherine Martin ’25
• Most Valuable Player: Ryann O’Carroll ’24 Most Improved Players: Giacinta Murray ’24 and Madisen Wilson ’25 Coaches Award: Avery O’Carroll ’24 and Katherine Martin ’25
Football
Two Nichols student-athletes played on the Cardinal O’Hara football team, and they had an outstanding season! Jakye Rainey ’24 and Jakson Ross ’24 were named Monsignor Martin B Division All-Catholic.
Swimming
Three Nichols girls represented our school on the combined Nichols/Sem/St. Mary’s Swim team. Veronika Puzanovova ’26 placed first in her individual events, the 200 IM and the 100 back, and qualified for the state meet where she finished 4th in both events.
Winter Sports
Boys Basketball (Overall 12-12, 8-6 MML)
Head Coach: Matt Bradshaw
• Jakye Rainey ’24 became the Nichols and MMHSAA All-Time leading scorer, with 2,074 points
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic First Team: Jakye Rainey ’24
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic Second Team: Heze Hall ’25
• Most Valuable Player: Jayke Rainey ’24 Most Improved Player: Heze Hall ’25 Coaches Award: Luke Colpoys ’24
Girls Basketball (Overall 15-11, MML 6-4)
Head Coach: Kayleigh Rizzo
• Brianna Barr-Buday ’24 surpassed the total career points record, with a total of 1,332 points and surpassed 1,000 career rebounds, becoming the highest female total career rebounder as well
• Lost in the MML “A” Finals to St. Mary’s of Lancaster
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic First Team: Brianna Barr-Buday ’24
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic Second Team: Evelyn Walcott ’25
• Most Valuable Player: Brianna Barr-Buday ’24
Most Improved Players: Evelyn Walcott ’25 and Madisen Wilson ’25
Coaches Award: Lillian Colpoys ’24
Girls Prep Hockey (Overall 21-12-4)
Head Coach: Jamie Printz
• 2023-24 marked the inaugural year as a full season Tier I Girls Program
• Finished the season ranked as #25 in the USA Hockey U19 Tier 1 rankings
• Advanced to the quarterfinals in both the Roc City Girls Fest and the Motor City Girls Fest
• Earned a CISAA semi-final win against Crestwood, but lost in the CISAA final to Appleby, 2-1
• Earned a 2nd place finish in the NYSAHA District 19U Tier I tournament
• Most Valuable Players: Seina Spadone ’24 and Callista Printz ’24
Most Improved Players: Alexis Hudson ’26 and Cassidy Crogan ’26, Coaches Award: Kiersten Smith ’24 and Molly Duffett ’24
Boys 16U Hockey (25-31-2)
Head Coach: Ryall Ledyard
• Qualified for NYS Championship Tournament
• Had a 3-3 tie vs. #7 ranked BK Selects
• Most Valuable Player: Tucker Lyndaker ’26 Most Improved Players: Max Colosimo ’26 and Greg Kasza ’26
Coaches Award: Ryan Clancy ’26, AJ Lovullo ’25, and Griffin Johnston ’25
Boys Prep Hockey (17-1-1)
Head Coach: RJ Gicewicz ’14
• Beat # 6 nationally ranked Northwood School twice and #7 nationally ranked Bishop Kearney Selects
• Won the Northwood Tournament in Lake Placid, NY for the first time since 1947
• Finished the regular season in the Two Nations Prep Hockey League as the #1 seed
• Most Valuable Player: Alex Glofka ’24
Most Improved Player: Kasey Kohler ’25 Coaches Award: Brayden Scibor ’24, TJ Bamrick ’24, and London Goodwin ’24
Boys Squash (Overall 16-4, CISAA 9-1)
Head Coach: David Pfalzgraf ’88
• Lost in the CISAA Championship finals, finishing the season in 2nd place
• Played in Division 3 at Nationals for the first time in a generation
• Most Valuable Player: Jacob Stoffman ’24
Most Improved Player: Jonatan Siren ’25 Coaches Award: Patrick Regan ’25
Girls Squash (Overall 7-4, WNY 4-0)
Head Coach: Steve Bell
• Won their 13th consecutive Western New York Girls High School Squash title
• Compiled a 7-4 record and went 2-2 at Nationals
• Olive Donaghy ’27 had an impressive record of 22-0 over two seasons
• Most Valuable Player: Olive Donaghy ’27
Most Improved Player: Cordelia Hsu ’27
Coaches Award: Sydney Giardino ’24
spring Sports
Baseball (8-13 Overall, 5-7 MML)
Head Coach: Brian Brazee
• Lost in the MML quarterfinals to St. Francis
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic First Team: Jakson Ross ’24 and Ross Yoshida ’25
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic Second Team: Drury Schmidt ’25
• Most Valuable Player: Jakson Ross ’24
Most Improved Players: Ross Yoshida ’25 and Drury Schmidt ’25
Coaches Award: Kaleb Johnson ’27
Boys and Girls Crew
Head Coach: Peter Martin
• Girls Varsity Double of Eleanor Bares ’24 and Clare Greely ’25 placed 2nd in the state
• Girls Varsity Four of Eleanor Bares ’24, Clare Greely ’25, Ciara Desai ’24, Mia Bedenko ’24, and Fiona Brown ’25 placed 4th in the state
• Boys Senior Four of Finn Balbach ’24, Bennett Socha ’24, Say McPherson ’24, Sun-Jae Nigayle ’25, and Anthony Visco ’24 won the Scholastic State Championship
• Boys Most Valuable Player: Finn Balbach ’24
Boys Most Improved Player: Bennett Socha ’24
Boys Coaches Award: Bella DiTondo ’24
• Girls Most Valuable Players: Eleanor Bares ’24 and Clare Greeley ’25
Girls Most Improved Player: Marisa Michaels ’24
Girls Coaches Award: Ciara Desai ’24 and Abby Zhu ’25
Girls Golf
Head Coach: Ron Montesanto
• Played in two CISAA tournaments and finished 8th and 9th
• Most Improved Player: Kate Fan ’28 Coaches Award: Rory Warren ’24 and Charlotte Carlson ’27
Boys Lacrosse (10-4 Overall, 9-2 MML)
Head Coach: Brendon Burke
• Lost in the MML finals, 8-7 to St. Joe’s in OT
• MML Player of the Year: Macay Jimerson ’25
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic First Team: Joe Conte ’25 and Lucas Smith ’26
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic Second Team: Ryan Janese ’26, Wulfgar Weber ’24, and Ryan Koeppen ’26
• Most Valuable Player: Macay Jimerson ’25, Most Improved Player: Ryan Koeppen ’26, Coaches Award: Joe Conte ’25
Girls Lacrosse (15-5 Overall, 14-0 MML)
Head Coach: Beth Stone
• Undefeated in league play, winning the Monsignor Martin League regular season championship for the 4th year in a row
• Lost in the finals, 13-12 to St. Mary’s of Lancaster
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic First Team: Molly Duffett ’24, Clare Gordon ’27, and Kate Sheline ’24
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic Second Team: Kamryn Amici ’24, Lilly Kushner ’26, and Cecelia Stewart ’25
• Most Valuable Players: Molly Duffett ’24 and Kate Sheline ’24, Most Improved Players: Lilly Kushner ’26 and Alexis Hudson ’26
Softball (5-9 Overall, 4-6 MML)
Head Coach: Molly Gasuik
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic First Team: Riley Keller, ’25
• Monsignor Martin All-Catholic Second Team: Lillian Colpoys ’24 and Reyes Rodriguez ’27
• Most Valuable Player: Reyes Rodriguez ’27 Most Improved Player: Gabby Seneca ’25 Coaches Award: Lillian Colpoys ’24 Camryn Flanigan ’24, Ryann O’Carroll ’24 and Avery O’Carroll ’24
Boys Tennis (8-1 Overall, 8-0 MML)
Head Coach: Thomas LaPenna
• Undefeated in league play, winning the regular season Monsignor Martin League for the 4th time in a row
• Ryan Tingley ’24 went undefeated in regular season singles play
• Vonn Dudek ’26 took 1st place in the singles championship, beating Ryan Tingley 3-2
• Joseph Tuber ’25 and Matthew Travers ’26 took 2nd place in the doubles championship
• Most Valuable Player: Ryan Tingley ’24 Most Improved Player: Vonn Dudek ’26 Coaches Award: Joey Tuber ’25
Boys and Girls Track (Boys 2-5 MML, Girls 2-4 MML)
Head Coach: Roddy Potter ’82
• Competed in the Starpoint and Jamestown Invitationals
• Boys Most Valuable Player: Eli Kiddy ’25, Boys Most Improved Player: Connor Harshany ’26, Boys Coaches Award: Michael Ricotta ’24
• Girls Most Valuable Players: Ella Fishkin ’24 and Sofia Callocchia ’26
Girls Most Improved Players: Cordelia Hsu ’27 and Ashanti Washington ’26
Girls Coaches Award: Mia Anderson ’24
Nichols Women to Compete at the Next Level
Linda Ullmark
University of North Carolina, Soccer
“Here at Nichols, there are many driven and competitive athletes, whether it be in basketball, soccer, or lacrosse, we are always having healthy competition between each other. Having this competitive nature has made playing sports here very enjoyable. I believe the main benefit of playing sports at Nichols is the exposure you get from playing all different kinds of sports. It helps you to be stronger in your main sport. I could not be more grateful for my experience here and truly believe the other athletes that have pushed me here has prepared me tremendously for my following years at UNC.”
Seina Spadone
Stonehill College, Women’s Ice Hockey
“It’s such an honor to be given an opportunity to sign at the Division 1 level. The journey has been amazing with my best friends by my side, and I am so grateful for the adults in my life that have supported me the whole way. Nichols has provided a challenging yet rewarding environment that has pushed me to reach my goals. I’ve made countless bonds that will last a lifetime and experiences that have built me as an athlete and a student. I am so excited to be a part of this new program at Stonehill and can’t wait to see what the future holds. Thank you, Nichols, for helping me achieve my goals!”
Bri Barr-Buday
University of Buffalo, Basketball
“Nichols has prepared me to be on a team at the next level and to be a leader. I am excited about joining Coach Burke’s team and building an awesome program with her and all of the new incoming players.”
Callista Printz
University of New Hampshire, Women’s Ice Hockey
“Playing sports at Nichols isn’t only fun, but it’s very competitive. Every time you step on the ice, you have to be prepared to compete and work hard. It’s prepared me to go Division 1 by continuously pushing me to work harder than the day before and to push myself out of my comfort zone to be the best athlete I can be, and always to be better than the day before. I am looking forward to bringing my game to the next level.”
Kiersten Smith
Brown University, Field Hockey
“Nichols has really helped me create a balance between school and sports. The teachers really want you to succeed in the classroom as well as being able to compete in sports and are very accommodating to your needs. Nichols has helped me achieve both my academic and athletic goals. I feel that I am ready to take the next step, and I’m excited to continue playing at a higher level.”
amelia greenawalt
Niagara University, Tennis
“Attending Nichols, where athletics is an important component in student life, has provided me with the foundation to balance academics and athletics, which will greatly aid my transition to becoming a student-athlete at Niagara. Nichols teaches students how to manage their time effectively and excel both in the classroom and on the field. Many thanks to the Nichols community for their unwavering support throughout my academic and tennis journey.”
2024 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
2024 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
Saturday, September 28 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.
Julia Drury ’02
Deborah Lanksy Waiktus ’78
Wendy Stone ’01
Coach Coley Felser
Dennis Miller ’85
Matthew Szydlowski, Jr. ’69
Brett Greenky ’75
Ted Nangel ’80
Hector Todd, Jr. ’72
Seth Greenky ’74
Emily Pflazer Matheson ’11
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 is funded through the generosity of Lucy and Sherman Maisel ’35.
Match each person with their current office:
1. Chris Burner
2. Kamala Harris
3. Vladimir Putin
4. Mike Johnson
5. Kathy Hochul
6. Mark Poloncarz
7. Justin Trudeau
8. Benjamin Netanyahu
a. Erie County Executive
b. Governor of New York
c. Speaker of the US House of Representatives
d. Vice President of the United States
e. Prime Minister of Canada
f. President of Russia
g. Prime Minister of Israel
h. Head of Nichols School
9. Aldous Huxley’s 1932 novel Brave New World derives its title from a speech by which character in Shakespeare’s The Tempest?
10. Name the state bird of Iowa. This bird commonly appeared in Renaissance paintings, symbolizing Christian redemption and the Passion of Christ. It also provides the title of Donna Tartt’s 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
11. The Buffalo Sabres first advanced to the Stanley Cup finals in 1975 against the Philadelphia Flyers. How many other times have they made the finals?
12. Which equation represents a line parallel to the y-axis?
a. y = x c. x = -y
b. y = 3 d. x = -4
13. Mr. Cammarata has five Nichols bowties, three blue bowties, one black bowtie, and one red bowtie. If he chooses his bowtie randomly, what is the probability that Mr. Cammarata will wear a Nichols bowtie?
14. Name two of the four Gospels in the New Testament.
15. An electric circuit contains a 10 ohm resistor and a 5 ohm resistor in series with a 15 volt battery. What is the total current flowing through the circuit?
16. What is the common name for the animal equus caballus?
17. What three South American countries share a border with one another?
a. Brazil, Peru, Chile
b. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
c. Argentina, Chile, Columbia
d. Guyana, Columbia, Venezuela
18. How many total electoral votes are up for grabs in a presidential general election?
19. _________________________________ is the Hindu festival of lights.
20. What 1820 legislation sought to temporarily settle the growing divide over the expansion of slavery in the United States that included admitting Maine as a free state?
21. Which of the following tempo markings indicates a piece should be “slow and solemn”?
a. Andante c. Largo
b. Vivace d. Grave
22. The limiting reagent in a chemical reaction is one that: a. has the largest molar mass. b. is consumed completely. c. has the smallest molar mass. d. has the smallest coefficient.
23. What meal is commonly believed to have arrived in Western New York via German Immigrants and was first featured at the Pan American Exposition in 1901, it predates our region’s best-known food, chicken wings, and in recent years has been featured on the travel channel and food network as one of Western New York’s “must try” delicacies?
24. Which of the following was NOT a nickname given to a United States President?
a. Old Rough and Ready c. Tricky Dick
b. The Gipper d. The Pharaoh
25. Which of the following is NOT an SI unit?
a. Moles c. Fahrenheit
b. Kelvin d. Kilogram
26. What American author would sometimes pass the time listening to the sounds of revelers across the bay from his residence in Great Neck, wondering how “great” the parties really were?
27. What city on the Bosporus, home to the Hagia Sophia, was once fortified by the Theodosian Walls? The city was captured by Mehmed II in 1453 and served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
28. The ratio of the adjacent side of a right triangle to the hypotenuse is called the
29. Which of the following social media platforms is the oldest?
a. Facebook c. Pinterest b. MySpace d. SnapChat
30. What fast food company includes the phrase, “think outside the bun” in their marketing?
a. Pizza Hut c. Taco Bell
b. Baja Fresh d. Wendy’s
31. What is the same within each group on the periodic table?
32. Which Russian tsar was known as “The Great” and led a cultural revolution that replaced some traditional systems with ones based on Enlightenment Thinking?
33. Which downtown Buffalo building, designed by Louis Sullivan, is considered one of the masterpieces of the early skyscraper era?
34. Which landscape architect designed some of New York City’s most loved parks, including Central Park, Prospect Park, and Fort Greene Park? He also designed the beloved park across Amherst Street from Nichols.
35. How many significant figures are in 190909090?
36. The work done by a friction force is
a. always positive.
b. always negative.
c. always zero.
d. either positive or negative.
Match the following sentences with the type of figurative language:
37. The wind blew so hard that the frightened sun hid behind the clouds. ______
38. My daughter decided to divide her delicious doughnut in two. ______
39. The meadow is an ocean of flowers. ______
40. I have told you to put your lanyard on a million times. ______
41. My father’s snore is as loud as thunder. ______
a. simile
b. alliteration
c. personification
d. metaphor
e. hyperbole
42. If the width of a rectangle is three less than twice the length, x, and the area of the rectangle is 43 square feet, which equation can be used to find the length in feet?
a. 2x(x - 3) = 43
b. x(3 - 2x) = 43
c. 2x + 2(2x - 3) = 43
d. x(2x - 3) = 43
43. A crumbled piece of paper hits the ground before a flat sheet of paper because
a. the acceleration of gravity is greater on the crumbled paper.
b. there is more air resistance against the flat paper.
c. the crumpled paper is more massive.
d. the crumpled paper is less massive.
44. As a gift for the Lunar New Year, children in China often receive money in what color envelopes?
45. What was the term for a speech repeatedly delivered by a politician during a campaign for public office?
46. In photosynthesis, which of the following types of energy is used to make new substances?
a. sound energy c. thermal energy
b. light energy d. nuclear energy
47. Who is the first Black female artist to have a No. 1 Country song?
48. If a wave travels at a certain speed and its frequency is doubled, what happens to the wavelength of that wave?
a. The wavelength doubles.
b. The wavelength is halved.
c. The wavelength is stopped.
d. The wavelength remains the same.
49. Which of the following US Presidents does not have a significant connection to Western New York?
a. Millard Fillmore
b. Grover Cleveland
c. James K. Polk
d. Theodore Roosevelt
50. The Nichols baseball field is named after which legendary Nichols English teacher and long-time author of the General Information Test?
51. A process that absorbs heat is a(n) ____________ process.
a. endothermic c. exothermic
b. polythermic d. ectothermic
52. Which of the following was a significant advancement in transportation technology developed by the Portuguese in the 15th century?
a. the astrolabe c. the caravel
b. the saddle d. the flex capacitor
53. Name the term: In Calculus, this is the rate of change of a function with respect to a variable; in Economics, it is a securitized contract whose value is dependent upon one or more underlying assets.
54. A chemical change occurs when ice melts. True False
55. In The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde, what does Algernon call someone with a convenient imaginary friend?
a. Doubler c. Ernestine
b. Bunburyist d. Blaggard
56. What bond forms when electrons are transferred from one atom to another?
a. ionic bond c. atom bond
b. electron bond d. James Bond
57. A machine produces 12 widgets in 3 minutes. At this rate, how many minutes does it take the machine to produce 96 widgets? a. 8 b. 15 c. 24 d. 3
58. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge led his party against the Treaty of Versailles following the conclusion of WWI. This action would prevent the United States from becoming a member of what organization?
59. In the spring and summer of 2024, two broods of what insect, known for its loud noise, will emerge simultaneously for the first time in 221 years throughout the Midwest and Southeast of the US?
60. In the Odyssey, what plant makes Odysseus’ men lose interest in returning home?
a. lotus c. poppy
b. hemlock d. dandelion
61. In basketball, what is the player that brings the ball down the court and generally runs the offense called?
62. What scandal involved Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall during the administration of Warren G. Harding in the 1920s?
63. What web-based word game was developed by Josh Wardle and sold to the New York Times in 2022?
64. If a line is perpendicular to the radius of a circle at a point on the circle, then the line is _________________ to the circle.
65. Which legendary Nichols coach was selected to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2021?
66. __________________________ is light reflected off of objects.
67. Which of the following components of Gothic cathedrals was designed to support outward force?
a. flying buttress c. clerestory
b. portal d. stained glass windows
68. What is a hockey puck made of?
69. What did taking the title of caliph mean for rulers of the Ottoman Empire?
a. It implied that the ruler was a successor to the Prophet Muhammad.
b. It implied that the ruler was a Christian.
c. It implied that the ruler was European-born.
d. It implied that the ruler was a military commander.
70. In DNA, which of the following does cytosine pair with?
a. adenine c. thymine
b. guanine d. quinine
71. Between 1450 and 1750, land-based empires depended heavily upon what technology to maintain or advance their power? (A common name for their empires is this product.)
72. What landmark Supreme Court Case established the precedent for judicial review in 1803?
73. A _______________________ occurs when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s disk.
74. What phrase was popularized in Western New York when former Buffalo Bill Scott Norwoods missed a 47-yard field goal at the end of Super Bowl XXV?
75. Which of the following was the first female Secretary of State of the United States?
a. Condolezza Rice c. Sonja Sotomayor
b. Hillary Clinton d. Madeleine Albright
76. What is the common term for a series of three victories, success, or related accomplishments?
77. What mononymous, popular rapper who sang “Find Your Love” grew up in Toronto, Canada?
78. In what war were portions of Buffalo set ablaze by British soldiers?
79. What term is used for planning and arranging dancers’ movements, steps, and patterns?
80. Viruses are assigned to the kingdom: a. fungi c. eubacteria b. protista d. none of the above
81. The word for “hand” in Latin is manus; in French, main; and in Spanish, mano. In all three languages, it has the same gender, and it is not what you would expect based on the ending. What is the gender?
82. Birds associating the bright colors of certain butterflies with an unpleasant taste is an example of a. instinct c. imprinting b. habituation d. insight learning
83. War Memorial Stadium (1937 to 1989) was a stadium complex in Buffalo to watch baseball games. The stadium was also featured in the film The Natural (1984). What was the beloved nickname given to War Memorial Stadium?
84. Chinese is a ___________ language, one in which the pitch of a word determines its meaning.
85. __________________ estimation is a problemsolving technique that uses rough but educated guesses to simplify complex problems.
86. In The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Titus Andronicus is caricatured as a. a soap opera c. an opera b. a cooking show d. a reality tv show
87. Hydroelectric power, harnessed from Niagara Falls, was used in the 1901 Pan American Exposition, giving Buffalo, NY, what special moniker? It is also the name of a novel written by Lauren Belfer. a. City of New Invention c. Nickel City b. The Queen City d. City of Light
88. The art of Renoir, Monet, and Cassatt are part of which art movement focused on capturing feeling or movement rather than creating an accurate depiction?
89. Name the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory during the Manhattan Project, who is known as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb.”
90. How many sharps or flats does the key of C major have?
91. What common term in soccer and hockey refers to player positioning and comes from a military term for when a soldier was trapped behind enemy lines?
92. What is the name for the form of theater in which the dialogue, characters, and story are created spontaneously and collaboratively by the actors?
93. The design of one-story homes, with low-hanging roofs and large windows to allow for plenty of natural light, is referred to as a Prairie-style home, and a quintessential example of this type of structure can be found in Western NY. What is the name of this architect?
94. Which of the following lists the parts of a four-part choir from lowest to highest?
a. soprano, alto, tenor, bass b. bass, tenor, alto, soprano c. alto, bass, soprano, tenor d. tenor, soprano, bass, alto
95. Which first lady flew into the Pacific Theater during WW II to meet with wounded soldiers?
96. What chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched in November 2022 is credited with starting the AI boom?
97. Which abolitionist with Western New York ties was known as the “Moses” of the Underground Railroad?
a. Frederick Douglass c. Sojourner Truth
b. Harriet Tubman d. William Lloyd Garrison
98. Kepler-186f refers to which of the following:
a. The designation of a new particle associated with a rare mineral discovered in Central Africa in 2018.
b. An earth-sized planet located within the habitable zone of a distant star brings NASA a step closer to determining if “other earths” could exist.
c. Nanotechnology associated with the next generation of microprocessors.
d. A series of underwater remote vehicles being developed for future search and rescue operations.
99. The concept of a Coral Gym refers to which of the following:
a. A chain of fitness locations owned by Dwaine “The Rock” Johnson and Kelly Ripa.
b. A new approach that marine scientists are using to train distressed coral reefs to survive more extreme oceanic conditions.
c. An exhibit that is set to open at the Perez Art Museum in 2026, featuring an interactive component for visitors to learn more about our oceans and tributaries.
d. A type of rehabilitation program that first gained popularity in 2023, utilizing aquatic resistance training to prevent back injury.
100. Which current Nichols teacher had the highest score on the GIT in their senior year?
The answer key for the GIT can be found on page 34 and also at www.nicholsschool.org/ alumni/general-information-test
Nichols School hosted its annual Auction on May 4 in the 1961 Student Commons. 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 Nichols students. Co-chaired by Nicholas ’91 and Nicole Tzetzo P’28 and Roger and Karen Walcott P’25,’27, Nichols Night featured unique food pairings from Delaware North’s Patina 250, a specialty cocktail bar from Hartman’s Distilling Co. and Big Ditch Brewing Company, music performances from current Nichols students, live art from Nichols Faculty member Kari Achatz, and a live raffle drawing to see Taylor Swift in London.
“Many thanks to all the amazing volunteers who dedicated countless hours to make this event successful,” said Co-Chair Nicholas Tzetzo ’91. “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 more than 120 auction items up for bid and a traditional raise the paddle, which brought in
more than $60,000 in support of the Nichols Fund. Some of the one-of-a-kind items that were auctioned included an opportunity to name the street that runs through campus; Buffalo Bills Season Tickets with VIP passes to training camp and on-field access; trips to Florence and Rome, Italy, Yellowstone National Park, New York City, the Finger Lakes, and Ellicottville; and so much more.
This year, Nichols School had two raffles that raised more than $90,000 for the Nichols Fund. Back for its second year, the Big $10K giveaway gave participants a one in 300 chance to win $7,500 for first place price, a custom Nichols Bubble hockey machine from ICE for the second prize, and $2,500 to the third-place winner. In addition, Delaware North provided the school with four sought-after suite tickets to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert in London, England, along with a $6,000 travel voucher thanks to three generous alumni donors.
“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 $325,000 for our students.”
1. Kevin Hogan P’14,’16, Anna Bailey and Jon Blumhagen ’01, Holly Cercone, and Michael ’84 and Christine Roach P’14,’16 enjoy the Nichols Night Auction.
2. Nichols Night attendees enjoy a fun evening of entertainment in support of Nichols School in the Class of 1961 Student Commons.
3. Co-chairs Roger and Karen Walcott P’25,’27 and Nick ’91 and Nicole Tzetzo P’28 at the Nichols Night Auction.
4. During the Nichols Night auction, guests played with the “Hot Shot” game from Ice Games. This was one of more than 100 items donated to Nichols Night.
Charles E. Balbach H’52
May 23, 2024
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Charles Balbach H’52, former Nichols Board Chair, cherished member of the Nichols community, and a beacon of generosity and wisdom. Born in Dayton in 1934, Balbach lived a life marked by significant contributions to both the business and non-profit sectors, leaving a legacy that will be remembered by many.
Balbach moved to Buffalo in the early 1960s, recruited by Paul Eckel, a connection he made while working for General Motors in Detroit. Together, they embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, purchasing Science Kit in Tonawanda, where Charles’ meticulous attention to detail and sharp business acumen flourished. The company’s success was a testament to his extraordinary ability to manage countless details and navigate complex business landscapes.
Adhering to the mantra “Work Hard, Play Hard, contribute to your Community,” Balbach lived a life of vigorous dedication to these principles. His career spanned more than just business; in the 1980s, he transitioned to the non-profit sector, serving on the boards of numerous organizations, often as Chairman. His leadership was instrumental in projects like the Kaleida Health merger and the enhancement of cultural institutions such as the Albright Knox Gallery and the Flickinger Performing Arts Center at Nichols.
the history of Nichols School to serve in this position. Charles later re-joined the Nichols Board of Trustees from 2010-2013. His leadership throughout the decades guided Nichols through several strategic plans and major campaigns including the successful completion of the $66.3 million AlliN campaign, the largest in the history of the school.
For his extraordinary commitment to Nichols School, Charles was named the inaugural recipient of the Nichols School Centennial Medal at the school’s Centennial Convocation on September 20, 2019. These medals are rarely given and presented only to those individuals who have made a significant contribution to the education of Nichols students or to the advancement of education. In 1992, Charles was also named Honorary Alumnus.
Perhaps Charles’ most significant gift to Nichols School is his family legacy. Charles and his late wife Peggy entrusted Nichols with their children, Melissa Balbach ’83 and C. Teo Balbach ’86 who in turn, entrusted Nichols with their children Aidan Charles Balbach ’17, Lucas Balbach ’19, Madeline Bace ’22, Margaret Bace ’22, and Finn Balbach ’24. Charles remained an active and engaged parent and grandparent throughout his life.
Charles was a true philanthropist, ranking among Nichols School’s most generous contributors. He believed in the power of an excellent education, investing significant time and resources to advance the mission of Nichols School and to make a Nichols education possible for the best and brightest students, regardless of their family’s ability to afford tuition.
Charles served as Trustee from 1980-1989. He was named and served as Board Chair from 1989-1991 joining an exclusive group of only 6 non-alumni in
Balbach’s passion for life extended beyond his professional endeavors. He was an avid fisherman, a collector of contemporary art, a lover of fine food and wine, and a devoted traveler, exploring remote corners of the world and relishing in the beauty of nature.
Balbach leaves behind a legacy of dedication, generosity, and an insatiable curiosity for life. His contributions to the community and the lives he touched will be remembered fondly. As we mourn his loss, we are reminded to honor his legacy by working hard, playing hard, and contributing to our communities.
Charles Balbach H’52 (middle) with son Teo ’86, daughter in law Jennifer P’17,’19,’24 (top right), and daughter Melissa ’83 P’22,’22 (bottom right) at the Nichols Leadership event this past Fall
William (Bill) H. Donaldson ’49
June 12, 2024
On June 12, 2024, the Nichols School community lost one of its most distinguished alumni, William (Bill) H. Donaldson ’49. Donaldson entered Nichols in 1943 as a 7th-grader and was involved in various activities throughout his career. His athletic prowess earned him positions on the varsity football and hockey and track teams. He also served on the Board of Editors for Nichols’ student literary publication, The Gleaner, and as business manager for the school yearbook, Verdian. Donaldson was named chairman of the Assemblies Committee, was a member of the Glee Club and consistently earned academic honors. In his senior yearbook, Bill was voted “Typical Joe Nichols” by his classmates, a title given to those who best represent Nichols School.
Donaldson had an illustrious career, serving as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, chairman, president, and CEO of Aetna, Inc., and chairman and chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange. He served in the State Department under Henry Kissinger and co-founded the influential investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Donaldson attended Yale University, earning his BA in 1953. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1958. At that time, Yale did not have a business school, a dilemma Bill would later help resolve by founding the Yale School of Organizational Management, where he served as the Founding Dean from 1976 to 1980.
ALUMNI
Charles ‘Lee’ Abell ’52 – August 11, 2023
Robert J. Adams ’50 – October 3, 2023
Charles E. Balbach H’52 - May 23, 2024
James Bourne ’54 – March 15, 2024
Margaret ‘Greta’ Burke ’76 – March 30, 2024
Stephen Burke ’85 – October 13, 2023
Maxwell Cywinski ’14 – December 5, 2023
Roger Dayer ’52 – July 6, 2023
Burtis Dougherty ’66 – April 23, 2023
Alexander Fulciniti ’14 – April 12, 2024
Thomas Geckler ’67 – February 20, 2024
Theodore Irwin II ’50 – December 2, 2023
Jeffrey Jayson ’81 – June 13, 2023
Theodore “Ted” Jewett ’66 – August 27, 2023
Stephen Kellogg, Sr. ’55 – March 7, 2024
George Laub ’46 – May 1, 2024
David Lewis ’70 – March 18, 2024
Sydney Lohr ’20 – July 16, 2023
Dennis McCarthy II ’52 – August 21, 2023
Lewis McCauley ’50 – August 8, 2023
Thomas McElvein ’54 – September 8, 2023
As a scholarship student himself, Donaldson deeply valued the education and friendships he formed at Nichols. This gratitude led him to establish the Eames and Guida Donaldson Scholarship Fund in 1973 and Donaldson Hall in the middle school in 2001, in memory of his parents. Donaldson served on the Nichols School board of trustees from 1972 to 1978 and later as trustee emeritus. For his support and dedication to Nichols School, Donaldson received the Distinguished Alumni award in 1998.
Bill Donaldson’s legacy of generosity, leadership and commitment to education will be remembered and honored by the Nichols School community for generations to come.
Charles Milch ’60 – May 30, 2024
Kenneth Neil ’61 – January 24, 2024
Lawrence ‘Bud’ Merckens ’53 – November 15, 2023
Alan Oestreich ’57 – September 20, 2023
Georgiana ‘Genny’ Pickett ’86 – February 5, 2024
John Talbott ’53 – November 29, 2023
Stephen Trivers ’57 – April 10, 2024
Stephen Vogel ’63 – August 21, 2023
Dyke Williams ’58 – May 18, 2024
FORMER FACULTY AND STAFF
Sandra Putnam – July 27, 2023
FRIENDS
Sally Walsh P’63,’70,’73 – July 9, 2023
Marian McLellan P’83 – September 14, 2023
Pam Kennedy P’71,’71,’74,’76 – September 19, 2023
Heidi Truscott P’79,’80,’84 – February 22, 2024
Patricia Hughes P’89,’90,’92,’99 – April 6, 2024
Wilbur Trammell P’78 – May 1, 2024
If you would like to serve as a Class Agent, please contact the Alumni Office at 716-332-5152 or alumnioffice@nicholsschool.org.
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Robert Greene married Angela O’Brien on August 19, 2023, in Buffalo, NY.
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Five members of the class of 1958, Hugh Johnson, Dick Butsch, Peter Regan, Barney Hamby, and Stuart Johnson are still hanging out today, 66 years after graduating from Nichols. Butsch hosted the crew at the Lake Mansfield Trout Club, in Stowe, VT, at the end of May 2024.
Stuart Angert and his wife Joyce met up with classmate Paul TenHoppen and his wife Marian for dinner in Naples, FL. It was the first time Angert and TenJoppenl had seen each other in 60 years. How wonderful that the friendships formed at Nichols last a lifetime, despite how often you see someone.
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Dr. Jeffrey Linsky presented an informative Prince Lecture at Nichols in April on the total eclipse that sparked a deeper curiosity about the wonders of our universe.
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Dr. L. Nelson ’Nick’ Hopkins was honored with the Buffalo Club medal. The medal honors esteemed individuals of the Buffalo Club who made a profound impact on the WNY community.
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Paul Eisenhard writes, “Elizabeth and I are enjoying Port Townsend and access to the water, mountains, and arts. Wish Nichols friends were closer for visits.”
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Warren Gelman has been selected for the 2024 Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame class. Gelman was a threesport athlete at Nichols, a longtime WNY youth hockey administrator, and a talent on the golf course. Gelman will be officially inducted on November 12, 2024.
Mike Keiser was recognized with the Golf Writers of America 2023 William D. Richardson Award. And in May 2024, Keiser celebrated the 25th anniversary of opening Bandon Dunes Golf Course and was joined by Nichols classmates and friends in Oregon.
Jack Walsh was named the United Way Tocqueville Society Philanthropist of the Year. Walsh has been actively involved with the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County for nearly 40 years and encourages all people, in their own way and within their means, to get involved to help solve community problems.
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David Kiely writes, “My wife, Theresa, and I have moved to Tucson, AZ. I have retired from teaching in the nonprofit executive education department at Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, in South Bend. I appreciate all that Nichols did to prepare for my life and career. I hope to be able to attend our next reunion in 2026. If my classmates get to Arizona, I’d love to connect.”
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Clinton Brown published a book, Olmsted’s Elmwood: The Rise, Decline, and Renewal of Buffalo’s Parkway Neighborhood, A Model for America’s Cities, which tells for the first time the fascinating story of how Buffalo’s Elmwood District came to be, why it is significant, and how we can care for it well.
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Rick Halpern was appointed the Director of the Centre for the Study of the United States (CSUS) at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
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Hugh Russ received the Hon. Hugh B. Scott, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award from the Minority Bar Foundation at its 40th annual awards ceremony in March 2024. Russ is pictured with his daughter Caroline ’10, Erin Hart ’03, and Sarah Washington ’08.
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Donna Nesselbush retired after 20 years as judge of the Pawtucket Municipal Court in Rhode Island.
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Ellen Considine Miller and Piper McCalmon Madland ’85 sat by each other at Rice University’s ‘Brains in a Bar’ event. They had never met before and found out that day they were both Rice graduates and Nichols School alumni!
Debby Heath retired after 35 years of teaching high school Spanish in Seattle. Her former Nichols Spanish teachers, Albert Sutter and Steve Moscov, played a large role in her decision to pursue education as a career.
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Pamela Bos Kefi became the Chief Executive Officer of Journey’s End Refugee Services in the spring of 2024. Bos Kefi’s experience is
invaluable with over 25 years in human services including more than 15 years working with refugees and immigrants in Buffalo.
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Mark Applebaum, President of Oehlers Welding and Fabrication, was one of 19 multigenerational and family businesses that were honored for overall excellence, innovation, ethics, philanthropy, and contribution to the strength of Western New York.
Cheryl Camillo is an Associate Professor at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada, specializing in comparative health systems and policy research focusing on Canada and the United States. Since 2020, she has been leading work for Canada’s Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network documenting and analyzing vaccination campaigns to identify lessons for the future.
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David Weber became the president of HUNT Insurance Agency in February 2024. Weber joined the firm in 2019 as vice president after 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, including as an independent producer with Lawley Insurance and as vice president of insurance at financial institutions and member and affinity group organizations.
Dr. Kyle Randolph Bacon was selected as a Making STEM Matter Master Teaching Fellow! The Making STEM Matter Fellowship is a five-year professional learning experience designed to transform STEM instruction in Prince George’s County Public School System by cultivating teacher leadership through justice-centered pedagogy and makerspace technologies.
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Nanette Burstein’s latest film Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes was shown at the Cannes Film Festival from May 14-25, 2024. The documentary uses a series of intimate audio interviews with Taylor to examine the icon’s life in her own words. The film debuts on HBO and will be available to stream on Max on Saturday, August 3.
Ed Park’s novel, Same Bed Different Dreams, was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Park will be coming to Nichols in the fall of 2025 as a visiting Smith Writer.
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Thomas Gwitt became the Executive Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Roswell Park.
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Chris Plumb served as an assistant coach for USA Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Plumb is the leader of one of the country’s most dominant high school programs in Carmel, Indiana.
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John Fox P’27 works for Buffalo Games and teamed up with Greg Plumb ’96 and his 7th-grade Connections class. The 7th-grade class designed and created a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle with the help of Fox, and all the proceeds from the sale of the puzzle will benefit WNY and their mission.
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Randie Torgalski, the assistant athletic director at Elmira, hosted D&G Wellness consulting at Elmira College this winter. Elizabeth Benedict ’12 and Danielle Vallas ’95, founders of D&G, presented a day-long training for their athletic coaches on mental health and sports, including why mental health matters in sports, how coaches can support their own mental health, and how coaches can lead their team with a wellness approach.
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Greg Plumb ’96, Chris Plumb ’93, Josh Gibbons ’96, Jeff Brooker ’96, Matthew Brooker ’99, and Andy Brooker ’02 reunited to see U2 in Las Vegas at the Sphere concert venue in November 2023.
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Dr. Annie Burke was the Keynote Speaker for the first-ever Student Research Conference at Nichols. Burke presented on Transdiagnostic Risk and Resilience in Mental Health
Jill Fox Gerhardt joined the Nichols Advancement Office as the Director of Advancement Services in 2024.
Vikram Vilkhu was elected as Brighton Town Justice. With his election, Vilkhu is Upstate New York’s first Indian American trial judge and the first Sikh elected to any office in state history. Vilkhu will continue as a supervising partner at the law firm of Relin, Goldstein & Crane, LLP. He was sworn into office on January 1, 2024, and given his robes.
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Jared Kozinn has joined the Pittsburgh Pirates as Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Premium & Events.
Daniel Skerker has been named Director of Engineering for Aveox, Inc. Since 1992, Aveox has provided custom and COTS brushless DC motor and controller solutions for the military.
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Wendy Stone was inducted into the Western New York Chapter of the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in February. In May, she coached the Niagara University Women’s Lacrosse team to its first-ever MAAC title, defeating No. 22 Fairfield, 11-10.
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Molly Kinkel served as a mentor for the inaugural TEDx Nichols School Youth event in February. Kinkel joined rehearsals, shared her experience with TEDxBuffalo, and supported the student speakers.
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Caley Bulinski was featured in Forbes. She is the creator and CEO of Music with a Message, which empowers music assemblies that build confidence in students from Pre-K to 12th grade and teach them to be resilient to bullying.
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Shoan Yin Cheung lives in Hong Kong where she is a tenure-track professor in Cultural Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is grateful to be a humanities scholar in the age of AI, incidentally at the same university that collects her father’s paintings. She lives with her partner, Christopher Szabla (who attended Nichols ’95 -’97), a professor of international law at Durham University.
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Peter Marlette, Jr. has announced the formation of Buffalo Pro Soccer – a group that plans to bring a USL Championship club to Buffalo by 2026 through an exclusive partnership with the United Soccer League (USL). Marlette recently spent three years as the general manager of the USL’s Union Omaha squad.
Brandon Davis won the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards as the producer of Barbie the Album. Davis produced the critically acclaimed soundtrack alongside Mark Ronson.
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Meredith Vivian attended the wedding of Marcela Guevara in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. In 2010, Vivian and Guevara were partnered for the Nichols Costa Rican exchange, which provided them both with a valuable experience and a beautiful lifelong friendship.
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Hayley Scamurra, former Olympian, was drafted to Ottawa in the fifth round of the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) draft. The PWHL formed over the summer of 2023 and began play in January 2024 with six teams.
James Grachos returned to Nichols in March 2024 to speak to the film class. He shared his career path and what led him to become a director. He also shared a short clip from his film Mirror of Matsuyama, which he filmed on the Nichols Campus in January of 2023.
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Spencer Bacon won a GLAAD Award for Hailey’s On It! in the category of Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Animated. Hailey’s On It! is created and produced by an outstanding team, including Bacon, who was the Production Manager.
Marie Zaccagnino played the role of Funky in the Off-Broadway Production of “All We Really Know Is That We Exist!” The show was performed in November 2023 at the American Theatre of Actors in Manhattan.
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Lydia Gavner transitioned out of active duty in the Army, was hired by Alico, Inc., and appointed Chief of Staff. Alico is the largest citrus grower in the United States, and the primary supplier to Tropicana. Nasdaq welcomed her to the company with her name displayed in Times Square.
Jenna Rich is the Co-Producer of, “How to Dance in Ohio,” which opened on Broadway in November 2023. Based on the award-winning HBO documentary, How to Dance in Ohio is a heart-filled new musical exploring the need to connect and the courage it takes to step out into the world.
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Emma Bianchi was named an International News Media Association (INMA) 30 under 30 award winner in the Reader Revenue category for her work with The Boston Globe
Gracie Newmann was a guest author to Nichols in March 2024 as part of the Smith Writer’s Program. Newmann was part of a Q&A session during an Upper School morning meeting and visited multiple English classes throughout her visit.
May 30 and 31, 2025
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Katy Knoll was selected in the 2024 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) draft. Knoll was drafted by PWHL Minnesota with the 39th overall pick in the seventh round.
Camryn and Marisa Warren were a part of four sets of siblings accepted to the Jacobs School of Medicine at the University of Buffalo for the Class of 2027.
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Jackson Glynn graduated from Notre Dame and will be starting his graduate work in political science and international relations at the Yenching Academy of Peking University. Glynn credits Ms. Yajie Zhang (retired Nichols teacher) for his love
of Chinese culture. “It was Ms. Zhang’s class that helped to grow my love of Chinese and Chinese culture, and she had a big impact on me and my life.”
Alison Elia graduated from Wake Forest University in May 2024 and joined the Denver Broncos Football Club as a Partnership Marketing Intern through the 2024-25 season.
Michael Matuch was on the WFUV Public Radio beat reporter crew for the New York Islanders throughout this 2023-2024 season.
Michael McClure received his bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Chicago with a double major in music and political science and a minor in statistics. While at UChicago, he performed regularly in chamber music concerts and served as the 2023-24 managing editor of The Chicago Maroon, UChicago’s independent student newspaper.
Meghan O’Connor graduated from Niagara University and began working in the Nichols Advancement Office as the Stewardship Coordinator and Prospect Researcher.
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.
Austin Bares (Cornell University), Lyla Allen (University of Virginia), Sierra Warren (Canisius University), and Laura Franz (St. Lawrence University) returned to Nichols in January 2024 to share their college experiences with Kelly Jorgensen, Dean of College Counseling and Academic Affairs and members of the Nichols class of 2025 and 2026.
Lawton Zacher received the First-Year Male Athlete Award at Brown University, awarded to the most outstanding first-year varsity male athlete. Zacher was one of the best goalies in the country and compiled some of the best goaltending statistics in the 126-year history of Brown Ice Hockey.
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