Toaxnoes Winter 2011-2012

AP P OI NT M ENT S

COLLEGE COUNSELING

H O ME CO MI N G

L EADERSHIP GIVING

W i n t e r 2 01 2

Creativity and Innovation at Nichols

Campus Clips A.

B.

C.

D.

A. Award winning writer, Ann Rinaldi, highly regarded for her historical fiction and young adult novels, visited Nichols on Oct. 17 and 18, to speak and work with Middle School students.

B. Tom Noonan ’12, Zoe Jackson-Gibson ’12, Will Zacher ’12, Kristen Winter ’12 and Adam Noonan ’13 volunteer at the Big Green Athletic Celebration on Nov. 18, which raised needed funds for the Athletic Department.

C. Doug Reed ’49 and Bud Graves ’40 write letters to their classmates at the Alumni Division Kickoff for The Nichols Fund.

D. Adrian Quackenbush ’93, and his father, David ’66, pose with the Stanley Cup and their company’s coffee cups at the “Coffee with the Cup” event.

E. TaNia Cunningham ’18 and Dylan Hall ’18 celebrate Spirit Week by dressing up for Twin Day.

E.

E

Editor’s Note On Black Friday, when some were shopping and many were still digesting the previous day’s turkey and pie, there were some Nichols students focused on the giving thanks and giving back part of the holiday season. If you were in Buffalo and took a stroll down Elmwood Avenue that day, you may have seen a table set up, anchored by Nichols students, surrounded by bags and boxes filled with shoes.

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, Lizzie Cappuccino ’13 got her peers and the entire community on board with holding a shoe drive. Vincenzo DiNatale ’13, Jack Faso ’13, Emily Collins ’13, Caitlin Barilec ’13, Anya Schulman ’13, Mitch Riter ’12 and others were instrumental in the project. Boots and shoes went to children and adults in need in Western New York, especially refugees.

Donations were given primarily to VIVE, an organization that provides food, shelter, clothing and legal services to refugees in Buffalo as they await their asylum hearings.

There was a very worthy Middle School community service project running in tandem. Students held a clothing drive to benefit an area international school, which has students from around the world. With over 30 countries represented and over 30 languages spoken, the School reflects the local refugee population and Buffalo’s diversity.

Students come from countries such as Burma, Somalia, Yemen, Thailand, Iraq and Burundi; the more popular languages spoken at the school include Karen, Arabic, Somali, Burmese, Kirundi and Vietnamese. Much of the donated clothing went to Burmese refugees, many of whom do not have warm clothing for winter.

Most recently, the School held a food drive for the Food Bank of Western New York.

(Read more about this year’s community service projects on pages 5 and 6.) These are just a few of the many service projects going on each day at Nichols. While some are communitywide efforts, there are many happening behind the scenes that you’ll never hear about: students volunteering in schools, building homes through Habitat for Humanity, working at soup kitchens, and the list continues. Our amazing faculty and families support these important endeavors, giving our students meaningful experiences that will stay with them forever.

Keep in touch,

Staff W i n t e r 2 01 2

Editor Nina Barone nbarone@nicholsschool.org Contributors Stephanie Angelakos Richard C. Bryan Nina Barone Genevieve Carbone Leslie S. Garcia Victoria W. Garner Jenna Herskind ‘12 Kristen Tripp Kelley Connie Klinck Klopp N’73 Jennifer Peresie Chuck Ptak Blake Walsh ’98 Designer Kelley Rechin, Duffy Moon Design Photographers J. Matthew Kianka Tom Maynor ’81

Front Cover: Nichols is proud to unveil its new Upper School arts classrooms. Pictured is the Painting Studio, located on the third floor of Mitchell Hall.

Back Cover: John Tantillo ‘18 and James Hughes ‘18 show their Big Green spirit at Homecoming.

Nina M. Barone Director of Marketing and Communications

– means “that which is true” and is pronounced “taw alay théss.” is published twice a year by the Development Office.

Telephone: 716.332.5151 • Fax: 716.875.3931 Third Class postage paid at Buffalo, New York.

Nichols is an inclusive community. Acceptance granted to qualified students.

Nichols School 1250 Amherst St., Buffalo, NY 14216 • 716.332.6300 • www.nicholsschool.org

AreYou Missing Out?

Contents Head of School Report........................................................................... 5 Departing Board Members ................................................................... 6 Appointments to the Board of Trustees ................................................. 7 Q & A with Jane Cox Hettrick ’78.......................................................... 8

Like Nichols School.

Q & A with Craig Semple ’98 .................................................................. 10 After Nichols – Katie Campos ’04........................................................ 11 Faculty & Staff Appointments ............................................................. 12

Follow NicholsSchool.

College Counseling ............................................................................. 14 Legacies .............................................................................................. 18

Join the Nichols School Alumni Network.

Honoring Elizabeth Stevens Gurney ’75 ............................................... 20 Upper School Visual Arts Move into the Light .................................... 22

Out of Town Alumni Events

Headmaster’s Society Reception ....................................................... 28 Nichols Work Detail Program .............................................................. 30 William S. Wright Award ..................................................................... 31

Wednesday, Feb. 8 NYC Area Alumni Gathering with Buffalo Seminary, Elmwood Franklin School and The Park School Location: Public House

Eye on Haiti with Jane Regan ’78 ....................................................... 32

Tuesday, Feb. 28 Los Angeles Area Alumni Gathering Location: The Buffalo Club, Santa Monica

After Nichols – Chuck Hobbie ’63 ....................................................... 37

Wednesday, Feb. 29 San Francisco Area Alumni Gathering Location: University Club

Fresh Tastes in the Dining Room ............................................................ 34 After Nichols – Naa Quaye ’04 ............................................................. 36

Homecoming ...................................................................................... 38 Sports Focus: Varsity Field Hockey ...................................................... 40 In Memoriam ...................................................................................... 43 Class Notes ........................................................................................ 44 Faculty Profile – Russell Combs ......................................................... 63

4

Nichols School

Head of School Report

The Highest Ideals

by Richard C. Bryan

For the past two decades, we have used a quote from the esteemed second Headmaster of Nichols, Joseph Dana Allen, as our mission statement: “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.” It is on plaques in every classroom and in the hallways of Mitchell and Regan Halls. Some objected to the word “train,” believing that teaching at Nichols goes deeper than simply training. Some wondered about the “work of life.” Almost universally, people understand that “minds, hearts and bodies” refers to three major pillars of the Nichols experience: academics, arts, and athletics.

Not all alumni experienced the richness of the arts that has been a major part of the School since the early 1980s. Building the Flickinger Performing Arts Center, the beautiful dance studio in the old gym, the arts facilities in Regan Hall, and our recent renovations in Mitchell Hall for the Upper School Visual Arts, have all enhanced the growth of the arts in the past 30 years.

Nichols graduates now attend arts colleges and universities in growing numbers, and we have an incredible alumni talent pool that includes the names of Shire, Hopkins, Ali, Arcangel, Gurney, Milch, Edge, Simon, Sullivan, Burstein and Angelakos.

The key to the quotation lies in the second half of the sentence, “…carry into all we do the highest ideals of character and service.”

Great schools are called to a far greater mission than simply college admission and preparation. They are not defined by the number of students admitted to Ivy League Schools, nor the number of Division I athletes; rather, they are defined by how we prepare students for the work of life.

What does that mean for us at Nichols?

The one word answer is character. Great schools are those who put character development at the forefront. William Nichols was characterized as “a man of high

ideals who impressed upon his pupils the highest ideals of character and right living.

He emphasized this side of teaching, as well as scholarship.” Notice: character first and scholarship second.

Great schools must picture the qualities of character, the essence of goodness that it seeks to develop in its students. What sort of people do we want them to be? In our vision statement, endorsed by the Board of Trustees and the faculty, we state that we are committed to producing young men and women of distinction, who desire to accomplish something special in their lives.

In the past five years, we made it a priority to educate our students about the importance of character. We have done this through three key endeavors. The first was the adoption of the Nichols Honor Code.

Since 2008, the Honor Code has been the guiding light for discussions with students on many levels. It led to the adoption of the School’s multicultural statement, which is considered the model statement for schools in the Western New York region.

It inspired us to rethink discipline in the Upper School; to abandon automatic detentions, and to emphasize discussions and reminders about the Honor Code between faculty and students.

The second endeavor is the G. Frederick Zeller ’47 Initiative for Character and Leadership. Established to honor the legacy of Fritz Zeller, it has become the center of three major efforts. The Zeller Initiative is the cornerstone of our advisory programs in both divisions. In the Middle School, advisory meets every day for 15 minutes, and once a week for one hour. It is during this hour period each week that advisors acquaint students with character traits deemed crucial to their development as well-adjusted citizens. Topics include responsibility, ethics, integrity, altruism, perspective, perseverance, thoughtfulness and tolerance.

The purpose of the Upper School Advisory Program is to offer each student the opportunity for an adult relationship on campus to provide counsel and support over their four year Upper School career.

This relationship also connects to the family, providing communication about the student’s personal and academic life. Weekly meetings with a group of less than 10 students of the same gender are hosted by advisors. Advisors are provided topics of discussion on the majority of meetings, and have free time to foster the group’s overall relationship. Topics run the gamut from school procedures to social life, world issues, and topics of moral and ethical behavior. Advisors also meet with each individual member of the group throughout the year. Advisement groups are brought together as co-ordinate coeducational groups at times in order to engage in dialogue connected to a school-wide theme. These discussions may be preceded by a speaker or film designed to stimulate thought and critical thinking on important issues.

The second effort is two summer leadership training sessions for Upper School student leaders. In June, we held a required workshop for the Student Council. Students considered the challenges of leadership and how a leader develops moral and ethical behavior. They explored how to build a culture of equity and justice, and develop a strong sense of community. A larger leadership symposium was held in August for any interested students, elected leaders of clubs, captains of teams and Student Council members. continued on next page Winter 2012

5

The Highest Ideals continued from page 5

There was a kick-off speaker talking about his life of leadership and character, principles of good leadership and practical leadership skills. The theme for last year’s symposium was diversity on campus, and we utilized facilitators from the National Federation for Justice and Community for a two day workshop. This year’s student symposium centered on community service and how Nichols can improve upon its commitment to the surrounding community.

The third significant effort from the Zeller Initiative is training faculty and staff to be more effective advisors and instructors in character education. Meetings last August focused on the tools and strategies to support and challenge students to practice ethical decision making. In addition, meetings are held each trimester between deans and advisors to review the advisory curriculum for each trimester to anticipate questions and responses from students. Last June, two faculty members attended the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute for a week long session entitled “Teaching Teachers about Teaching Leadership.” They returned with materials to share with advisors both in the August meetings and the November Professional Development Day. The final endeavor is centered on community service. In the late 70s, there was a Charities Committee at the School.

Named for Rev. Albert Butzer, service brought Nichols students into the Buffalo

community, and the activities were cultivated by faculty advisor, Mimi Dow. Following the consolidation of the campuses in 2001, community service evolved into distinct programs for the two divisions.

The Middle School adopted a service model by grade, which mirrored activities in that grade. There was an alliance with the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, planting bulbs and maintaining areas in nearby Delaware Park. Public School 54 became a focus with reading to children, and offered a chance to team with Upper School students to bring arts programs into the school. School 45 was the recipient of gloves, hats and coats collected in the winter for newly arrived refugee children. Each year, the Middle School walked for Cystic Fibrosis to honor KC Bryan White ’97. In the past six years, students raised over $50,000 and were recognized nationally.

The Upper School established a 40 hour service requirement similar to peer schools locally and nationally. While this requirement spawned many new opportunities for Nichols students, it was felt to be lacking in gaining knowledge and buy-in by students on the core issues facing the Buffalo community. At this summer’s leadership workshop, leaders from each grade pondered and then recommended a new vision for community service. At the August Leadership week and at the opening faculty meetings, the new approach was heartily endorsed.

Each Upper School grade now has a theme tying into the major issues of the Western New York community. Freshmen

(III Form) are looking at environmental issues; Sophomores (IV Form) are examining poverty; Juniors (V Form) focus on issues involving the growing refugee population in our area; and Seniors (VI Form) concentrate on education and educational literacy. Each class must develop a project centered on their theme, and each advisor group within the form must develop their own project. We are seeking hands-on learning experiences that get Nichols students into the community and learning firsthand about these vital problems.

Our hope is that we will achieve the “highest ideals of service.”

Our goal is to produce confident and ethical young people equipped for the challenges of life. We have identified personal resilience, strength of character and adaptability as crucial components for success in the 21st century. The faculty and staff believe we are on the right track, and have taken many significant steps that we are building through advisory and curriculum, student leadership workshops, and community service opportunities. Preparing our students for the work of life is and will remain our highest priority.

We have learned that a key factor in developing character in students is the example of the adults and as role models in their lives. It may be the most important foundation of the partnership between teachers and parents. It is crucial that we model truth in our dealings with students, as well as our dealings with each other. We must insist that honesty is important not only in students’ academic assignments, but in all aspects of their lives, both on and off campus.

Departing Board Members

by Genevieve Carbone Robert Battel ’56 Bob joined the Board of Trustees in 2005. During his tenure, he served on the Endowment, Strategic Planning, and Marketing and Communication Committees.

Bob will continue to serve on the Endowment Committee.

Ramey Griffin Caulkins ’92 Ramey began her term on the Board of Trustees in 2006. She served on the Strategic Planning and Development Committees during her term.

6

Nichols School

Cornelia Dopkins Cornelia joined the Board of Trustees for a second term in 2008. This time around, she served on the Education, Finance, Marketing and Communication, and Governance Committees.

Robert Genco Bob began his term on the Board of Trustees in 2005. During his time on the Board, he acted as Chair of the Alliances and Education Committees. He also served on the Facilities, Governance, Strategic Planning, and Trilateral Committees during his tenure.

Carol Jackson-Gibson Carol joined the Board of Trustees in 2006.

During her term, she served on the Alliances, Education, Governance, Marketing and Communication, and Strategic Planning Committees.

Valerie Zingapan ’84 Valerie began her term on the Board of Trustees in 2005. She served on the Alliances, Education, Finance and Development Committees. In addition, she was the Chair of the Trilateral Committee for two years.

Appointments to the Board of Trustees

by Genevieve Carbone Annette Holzman Fitch ’82 Annette is the President of Print Plus, a printing company located in Buffalo. A 1982 graduate of Nichols, she went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s of business administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

A longtime Class Agent, Annette also served on the Alumni Board from 20032007. Most recently, she was on the Board at Elmwood Franklin School. Annette and her husband, Michael, reside in Amherst with their children, Elizabeth ’13 and John ’17, who both attend Nichols.

Garthfield Gibson Garth is the Comptroller for Spectrum Radiology Associates, a medical diagnostic imaging center located in Williamsville.

Prior to his current position, he taught chemistry and worked as a research chemist and technical consultant. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and a master’s degree from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Garth is the father of two Nichols graduates, Adele ’09 and Maya ’11, and current student, Zoe ’12. Garth has been active at Nichols for several years, helping coach soccer, serving on the Parents’ Council, and volunteering at numerous school events. Garth and his wife, Carol, reside in Amherst.

Jeremy M. Jacobs ’81 Jerry is Principal of Delaware North Companies, Inc., a global leader in hospitality and food service. After graduating from Nichols in 1981, he received a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a master’s of business administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

Each year, Delaware North sponsors various Earth Day events and has continually supported the School’s many Big Green Initiatives.

In 2010, Jerry received the Distinguished Alumni award for his dedication and leadership at Nichols. Jerry and his wife, Alice, reside in East Aurora with their two children, Justin ’14 and Melissa.

Donald Miller ’60 Don is a recently retired physician and Chair of the Buffalo Medical Group.

After graduating from Nichols in 1960, he attended Hamilton College and transferred to the State University of New York at Buffalo to complete his medical degree. He had an academic appointment as clinical associate professor of medicine at the UB School of Medicine from 1980-2007. From 1971-2008, Don was the associate attending in internal medicine at Buffalo General Hospital.

Don is a Class Agent and has served on the Alumni Board. Don and his wife, Marilyn, have four children, Denise, Lisa, Michael ’87 and Matthew ’95. Don has three grandchildren at Nichols, Sydney Muggia ’12, Ben Muggia ’15 and Sophie Muggia ’18. He and his wife, Marilyn, reside in Orchard Park.

David Pfalzgraf ’88 David is a Founding Partner of the Buffalo law firm, Rupp, Baase, Pfalzgraf, Cunningham & Coppola where he specializes in corporate matters and commercial litigation. A 1988 graduate of Nichols, David continued his education at Miami University of Ohio and earned a juris doctor from the State University of New York at Buffalo’s law school. He serves as the Vice Chair of the Kaleida Health Foundation and on the Board of the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation.

David is a past member of the Alumni Board, having held the titles of Vice President and President. This year, David will be Chair of the Alumni Division of The Nichols Fund. David lives in Buffalo, with his four children, David ’15, Jack ’17, Will ’19 and Maggie.

Winter 2012

7

Q & A with the President of the Board of Trustees

Jane Cox Hettrick ’78 Jane Cox Hettrick ’78 is in her second year of serving as President of the Board of Trustees. We sat down with her to discuss the Board of Trustees, endeavors for the current year, and her leadership vision for Nichols’ future. Jane is a graduate of Georgetown University and attended the Georgetown University Law Center before graduating from the State University at New York at Buffalo Law School. As a lawyer, she worked for the City of Buffalo, Corporation Counsel’s Office and the law firm, Cox Barrell. Prior to serving on the Board of Trustees, she held many parent and alumni leadership roles, and volunteered for the School’s major events and fundraisers. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the past four years and served as Secretary for three years before being elected President. Jane lives in Buffalo with her husband, John ’73, and four children, Emily ’07, Laura ’09, John ’13 and Bobby ’16.

What is the Board of Trustees?

The Board of Trustees is a group of 24 volunteers comprised of alumni, parents and community members who concentrate on the strategic planning of the School to ensure that Nichols remains true to its mission and stays strong for coming generations.

What motivated you to become involved on the Board of Trustees?

Elizabeth Stevens Gurney ’75 asked me to work on The Nichols Fund and join the Alumni Board, and it was a great way to reconnect with the School, which I lost some touch with until my children started as students. When they became Nichols students, I got a whole new perspective and appreciation for what the School is today and what it has to offer families.

What do you want people to know about getting involved at the School?

As parents and alumni, we want your input. We want you to volunteer. You have the ability to make a positive change at the School. I’m always telling people to come to these amazing events we have every day – sporting events, art shows, plays, concerts, truly interesting lectures, parties and more – all open to the greater Nichols community.

8

Nichols School

What was your favorite part about leading the Board last year?

Last year, the best part was the dedication of the Class of 1963 Center for Mathematics and Science with the members of the Class of 1963 present, including Jack Walsh ’63, whose dad, John Walsh, Jr. ’39 – who really inspired me – had just passed away. We felt his spirit of volunteerism and his love for Nichols present on a sad day for some of us personally, but a very happy day for the School’s future. It was a really moving moment. That day was a culmination of over five years’ worth of hard work and we were able to announce that we’d surpassed our very ambitious goal of $23.3 million. Those dollars raised went to numerous important projects around Nichols, including not only the incredible new building, but need-based financial aid for students, two synthetic turf athletic fields, reconfigured parking and roadways, added campus green space and more.

What are some goals and strategies for the School this year?

The most significant goals and strategies come down to fundraising and growing the endowment so the School can remain financially secure in these times of economic difficulty and the shrinking population we face in Western New York.

A strong endowment will allow us to maintain our fabulous campus and facilities, attract and retain the best and brightest faculty, and offer financial aid to promising and deserving students. The Trustees are working very hard to keep tuition as low as possible while still offering the quality of education we expect from Nichols. In order to do that, we need to make up the difference between what tuition costs and what educating each student costs, which is why The Nichols Fund is so important. Closing this gap must be a group effort from alumni and others across the world, as a thank you for the great education Nichols gave us. In addition, parents and grandparents of alumni and current students should support the School financially as a show of appreciation for what Nichols is doing for their children and grandchildren.

What opportunities do you see for the School right now?

Top opportunities include growing the endowment, increasing planned giving, and increasing giving to The Nichols Fund so that we have the resources to explore adding new programs and opportunities for our students, as well as hiring the best teachers possible and giving them professional development opportunities so they can stay at the forefront of their fields. Our Director of Marketing and Communications, Nina Barone, has done a great job of letting people know what’s going on at Nichols today and I want to keep that up. Sharing our students’ successes, on the field and in the classroom, is a great way to stay connected with our alumni.

We want to keep reaching out to our alumni, especially alumni we have lost touch with and alumni of color. We love to learn the fascinating things that our alumni are doing out in the world and we want to continue to tell their stories.

How do you see Nichols faculty living the mission of the School?

We know that our outstanding faculty trains the minds of our students with academic work on a daily basis; the Athletic Department trains their bodies; and it’s a whole group effort to train their hearts. It happens when a coach sees a kid in the corner that they know isn’t the best athlete, but they give him the chance to play anyway. It happens when a teacher takes a kid who isn’t necessarily artistic and helps him create a masterpiece. It happens when an advisor knows a kid is having a bad day and they pull him aside and say something encouraging. When you send your child to Nichols each day, you know there are 100 people looking out for your child. That’s amazing. I’m so grateful for the concern that these teachers show. They are unsung heroes. They truly make a difference in kids’ lives. Some of them have really gone above and beyond the call of duty. Can they be tough on the students? Sure, but that’s where carrying the highest ideals of character come into play.

What is one perception of Nichols that you want to change?

I want people to fully appreciate the value of a Nichols education. I want them to understand that as an independent school, we aren’t confined to New York State’s minimum requirements and that’s why you won’t see Nichols ranked by Business First. We don’t have to teach to the test and our students don’t have to merely rely on memorizing the correct answer. We want students to learn how to think for themselves and figure out what the answer is.

This freedom from the State’s minimum requirements also means that our teachers have the flexibility to explore a certain topic if they want to. Last spring, during the uprising in Egypt, Mr. Jim Cammarata’s 8th grade class went online to learn about history as it was being made. You can’t do that if you’re stuck memorizing facts from a textbook written 5-10 years ago. Dr. Mary Rech Rockwell,

our Director of Studies, makes sure our curriculum is constantly expanding and evolving to meet the demands of the global community of the 21st century. Critical thinking and creativity are life skills that will serve you well no matter what you do later in life.

What’s something you learned by being Board President?

I’ve learned we have some exciting classes like Computer Programming, Engineering, Creative Writing (in which they write a novel), Urban Studies, Middle School Technology (including computer skills, programming and Lego® robotics), and Digital Photography and Video. We have exciting internships, at leading institutions like Roswell Park Cancer Institute and HauptmanWoodward Medical Research Institute, and four incredible exchange programs to China, Costa Rica, France and Spain. Our faculty members are writing their own course materials (work on the NYS watersheds system by Sandy Smith Cunningham ’93) and have their artwork displayed at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery (Andrea Mancuso’s current exhibit is a must see)! Our Athletes have won more championships than I can recount. The fascinating things the kids learn and experience here on a daily basis is astounding. Last year we had an amazing week where the School received an award from Polar Bears International and the Buffalo Zoo; writer and musician, Wesley Stace, visited as our Smith Visiting Fellow; NASA astronaut, Capt. Jon McBride, spoke to our students on Earth Day; and Juan Enriquez visited as our Prince Lecturer to discuss the human genome. You won’t find all that at a typical school!

How has your Nichols education continued to serve you since graduation?

The writing skills I attained at Nichols are priceless. I write a lot in my work and everyday life. Furthermore, being able to stand up to recite responses extemporaneously, in complete sentences and with proper grammar, has been very useful (thank you, Mr. Fitzhenry and Mr. Stratton). Mostly, though, my Nichols education has served me well through the unbreakable bond that I immediately have with anyone who is a fellow alumnus or friend of the School – whether you are the Head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or are a server working your way through grad school, we have an automatic connection. As alumni, we are connected and have a shared bond with those who have experienced a Nichols education.

As my colleagues, Jim and Alex, always remind me, it’s not what we learned in the classroom that ties us to Nichols, but what we learned on the playing fields, during Work Program and just hanging around in the Quad that make us want to give back.

Winter 2012

9

Q & A with Alumni Board President

Craig Semple ’98 Craig Semple ’98 began his term as Alumni Board President this past summer. An Investigator for the New York State Attorney Grievance Committees, he’s a proud Nichols alumnus, husband to a fellow graduate, Kristina Saperston Semple ’98, and longtime supporter of all things Big Green. Craig looks forward to polishing the ways in which Nichols connects with its alumni.

Why did you attend Nichols?

My first experience with the School was spending my summers at Nichols Day Camp as a child. I think that being there on campus every day, using all of the buildings and athletic fields, made me want to be a part of it in a scholastic sense. When my parents eventually organized a shadow day for me it was immediately apparent that Nichols offered a completely different and far more positive school experience than my school at the time. The small classroom settings and the friendly, engaging faculty, as well as the inviting students, heavily influenced my decision to attend. Furthermore, the facilities Nichols offered its students in the mid-90s were certainly unmatched by any other school in the area. This is funny to say today, considering how many improvements and additions Nichols has made since my time there. But that is the wonderful thing about Nichols – in each of the years it has been in existence, it has continued to improve itself.

Why do you serve your alma mater?

As a student, I received a first-rate education and made lasting friendships. As an alumnus, I continue to work with and learn from my fellow alumni in many ways as a professional. I feel it is my duty to give back to the School in any way that I can so that current Nichols students will one day benefit from the guidance and support that our alumni community has lent me.

What do you hope to accomplish as Alumni Board President?

I am very excited to build upon the success of our first Alumni Board sponsored local networking event last year. We received terrific feedback from our alumni and we hope to sponsor three more similar events this year. In addition, I feel that the alumni section of the Nichols website could be even more beneficial to alumni users.

The Alumni Board is working with Nichols on identifying key improvements and changes necessary to better connect our alumni on the web so that our site can become an invaluable networking experience for alumni around the world.

10

Nichols School

How do you suggest fellow alumni support Nichols or get involved?

Without question, contributing to The Nichols Fund is extremely important to the ongoing and future success of Nichols, but I also encourage everyone to attend one of the many wonderful events Nichols holds on campus or across the country. I find that the more our alumni learn about what is happening at Nichols, the more enthusiastic they become about getting involved.

What is your favorite Nichols memory?

I look back at my time at Nichols with many fond memories. I have lasting reminders of success – and some failures – in the classroom and on the playing fields with wonderful friends, teachers and coaches. I also particularly enjoyed the moments when I was able to engage in meaningful conversation with teachers outside of the classroom. Whether it was sitting under a tree in the Quad, or spending time in Mr. Moscov’s office with his dog, Luther, conversations between teachers and small groups of students outside of the classroom always seemed warm, profound, and often resulted in many laughs.

How does your Nichols education benefit you today?

If there was one common message that seemed to come from my teachers and coaches, it was that “hard work, preparation and attention to detail will always set you on a course to success.” I would also say that Nichols’ emphasis on writing created a strong foundation for me in my professional life. I used to give Larry Desautels grammatical fits as a freshman writer. Thank God he stuck with me!

What are three things alumni need to know about Nichols today?

1. The new buildings on campus, as well as the updates and improvements to the existing facilities and fields, are truly breathtaking. It is a real testament to Nichols that it can continue to improve on a physical plant that was already considered the best in Western New York.

2. The curriculum: course offerings across all departments have expanded greatly since my time and are truly impressive.

Graduating students at Nichols will be head and shoulders above their collegiate peers on a wide range of subjects.

3. Nichols has made several technological improvements on campus and has done a wonderful job of integrating that technology into the classrooms for the benefit of their students’ overall educational experience.

After Nichols

Katie Campos ’04 Drives Change with a Passion for Education

by Blake Walsh ’98 Katie Campos ’04 is the new Assistant Secretary for Education to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and founder of Buffalo ReformED, an education reform advocacy organization. We recently caught up with Katie and learned more about her path from Nichols.

How did Nichols prepare you for college and life beyond college?

At Nichols, I learned how to think critically and that is a skill that allows me to be resourceful and creative in whatever I am working on, from developing education policy, to constructing a debate for the media or legislators, to planning an event. Nichols also taught me how to value and strengthen character and integrity – essential to successfully moderate the varied opinions I deal with on a daily basis.

What are you up to now? Tell us about your life and career.

I am currently the Assistant Secretary for Education to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Before taking this position, I founded and ran Buffalo ReformED, an education reform advocacy organization that aims to improve the quality of public education in the City of Buffalo by engaging parents and the community to advocate for the highest quality public education for all of Buffalo’s students. At Buffalo ReformED, I worked with Hannya Boulos ’06, who is now the Executive Director, to re-prioritize the way Buffalo handles the public education system by always putting students first.

Did anything from your time at Nichols inspire your career path?

Nichols is the biggest inspiration in my career path! I was brought up valuing a quality education and I feel incredibly grateful for the quality of education I received at Nichols. It prepared me for a successful life. I believe that education is of paramount importance in shaping your life – regardless of what zip code you grow up in

or the color of your skin. It is a lack of education that breeds most problems: poverty, ignorance, racism – which in turn, leads to much bigger problems. Since I was fortunate enough to have received the highest quality education, I am prepared to work toward policies that will make education the number one priority in a young person’s life. If we already offer public education, there is no reason it can’t be the very best quality for the students it serves and the many stresses they bring with them.

What advice do you have for others who may want to work in your field?

Just do it. Get involved by volunteering as a tutor or mentor and start going to school board meetings. Go see firsthand what kind of situation the teachers and students are in and think about what could make it better. Then voice your opinions.

What is your favorite Nichols memory?

My favorite Nichols memory is sitting on the floor of the basement locker room with all of my friends and the majority of the Class of 2004 throughout our senior year. During the last week of school, Mr. Bryan approved our taking of a couch to the basement locker room, thus allowing for our makeshift senior lounge.

What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment is starting Buffalo ReformED. A lot of sweat, equity and passion went into getting it up and running. I am also proud of the fact that another Nichols graduate, Hannya Boulos ’06, is continuing that hard work and doing a great job.

Winter 2012

11

Faculty & Staff Appointments

by Genevieve Carbone Victoria Garner A Philadelphia native and longtime resident of Washington, D.C., Vickie’s move to Nichols coincides with her twenty-fifth year working as a teacher and administrator in independent schools. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education (English, Speech and Theatre) from West Chester University, Pa., and a master’s of fine arts degree in Theatre from The George Washington University, D.C. As Director of College Counseling, Vickie combines her love of working with students and families during this significant time with her organization and communication skills to help facilitate a successful college admissions process.

Sarah Jacobson Sarah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Classics and Distinction in Spanish from Hendrix College. She earned a master’s degree in Classics from the University of Arizona, and is currently finishing a doctorate in Classics at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Sarah has received several teaching awards during her time in graduate school and is a Presidential Fellow at SUNY at Buffalo. Over the last 10 years, she presented at numerous conferences and has archaeological field experience in Portugal and Italy. Sarah teaches Latin in the Upper School and co-advises Mock Trial.

12

Nichols School

Jason Mahn Jason taught AP and IB-level courses at City Honors School for eight years, in addition to serving as an Administrative Dean at Freedom Middle School in Orange County, Fl., for two years.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Canisius College, earning honors upon completion.

Jay teaches Ancient World History and Modern European History in the Upper School and serves as coach of the Girls Junior Varsity Basketball team and assistant coach to the Varsity Baseball team.

Mary Kate Morrow Mary Kate most recently taught at John F. Kennedy High School, leading their concert choir, women’s choir and show choir, and teaching music technology and production to students. Prior to that, she taught at John F. Kennedy Middle School, working with the sixth, seventh and eighth grade choirs and teaching general music. Mary Kate earned a master’s degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago and holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Mary Kate leads the Middle School choral groups and teaches fifth and sixth grade general music.

Apryle O’Farrell Apryle graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Waynesburg College and earned a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame. Apryle has been a teaching assistant since 2005 and has presented at numerous conferences.

She received the American Chemical Society Analytical Chemistry Undergraduate Research Award in 2006 and earned two pre-doctoral fellowships in 2009 and 2010.

Apryle teaches Chemistry in the Upper School and helps coach the Girls Modified Hockey team.

Sandra Roland A native of Madrid, Sandra has dual nationality in Spain and the United States.

She taught at Elmwood Franklin School and SUNY at Buffalo. Sandra received a law degree from Carlos III de Madrid University prior to receiving a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from SUNY at Buffalo, where she was a member of the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society and was published in the academic fraternity’s annual publication. She is currently working on a doctorate degree in Spanish Literature at SUNY at Buffalo.

Sandra teaches Spanish in the Upper School, coordinates the Spanish Exchange, and teaches flamenco as a physical education option.

Rong “Cindy” Yan Cindy joins Nichols with a master’s degree from SUNY at Buffalo. She previously taught Mandarin Chinese to grades 5-10 at the Frederick Law Olmsted School.

Cindy has taught English and Chinese at a variety of schools in both Buffalo and China. Prior to moving to Buffalo in 2008, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Education from the National University of Defense Technology in Changsha, China. There she earned numerous awards for her English skills and her work in the tourism field, including Champion of “Miss Tourism Queen International” in South China and the Champion of National TV Anchor Competition in Loudi, China. Cindy teaches Mandarin Chinese teacher for the fifth and sixth grades.

Events

Stephanie Tibollo ’06 A Nichols alumna, Stephanie graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Theoretical Mathematics and a minor in Education from SUNY at Buffalo. While attending SUNY at Buffalo, she worked as a mentor with the Gifted Math Program from 20082011. In addition to her passion for mathematics, Stephanie is an avid opera singer. Stephanie teaches mathematics in the Upper School and helps advise the Verdian.

Upcoming Events Friday, Jan. 6 Upper School “See Us in Action” Thursday, Jan. 19 Party for the Arts

Wednesday, Jan. 25 Middle School “See Us in Action” Friday, Jan. 27 Winter Sports Night Wednesday, Feb. 1 International Dinner

Friday, Feb. 3 Upper School “See Us in Action”

Monday, Feb. 20 – Tuesday, Feb. 21 Winter Break Thursday, Feb. 23 Headmasters’ Society Breakfast Saturday, Feb. 25 Admissions Test

Friday, March 2 Upper School “See Us in Action”

Wednesday, March 14 Middle School “See Us in Action”

Monday, March 26 – Monday, April 9 Spring Break Classes resume Tuesday, April 10 Wednesday, April 18 Middle School “See Us in Action” Saturday, May 5 Derby Day Auction Wednesday, May 16 Founders’ Society Dinner Friday, June 1 Verdian Day Friday, June 8 Commencement Friday, June 8 – Saturday, June 9 Reunion Weekend

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

Winter 2012

13

When Questions Matter More Than Answers

E

arlier this fall, Nichols School welcomed author Richard Bausch to campus as the 2011 Smith Visiting Fellow. In between Mr. Bausch’s two days of speaking to the Upper School students in large and small settings, I had the pleasure of having dinner with Mr. Bausch and Mary Jane Smith, our benefactor. As we, and members of the English Department, enjoyed the hospitality of Lucie and Larry Desautels, I asked Mr. Bausch, “Tell me, what do you think of our students?” He leaned forward as if to share a secret, “Vickie,” he said, “they’re like college students!” I gave a happy but inquisitive look. He continued, “The students (at Nichols) are engaged. And they ask good questions. It’s the questions that matter most.”

Learning how to ask questions is a far greater intellectual skill than learning the process of providing answers. Even when the answers are complicated and challenging, one must first understand the question. This is especially true when Upper School students begin to contemplate their educational life beyond Nichols School. They know from the start that, given a successful experience in the rigorous curriculum at Nichols, they will be well prepared to tackle their

14

Nichols School

by Victoria W. Garner

undergraduate studies at a college or university. But, what about all the other questions we adults ask them to consider in their final year of high school? What do they want to study? How competitive an environment are they seeking? How far from home are they willing or able to go? In state or out-of-state? Do they want a small, liberal arts program, a mid to large research university, or a focused, careeroriented program? How will their athletic and/or artistic ambitions factor in their search? How much can they and their family commit to their tuition and fees? And, a task that nearly every Nichols senior has completed by now, how will they make an application and write essays that reflect their academic strengths while also revealing their true selves?

Considering these and many other significant questions is usually a mind-boggling experience for students. It is hard work and, to a large degree, different than any previous challenge they have faced in their life. This is where being “engaged” and able to “ask good questions” comes in and, I believe, helps to define one of the great strengths of a Nichols education.

One need look no further than the School’s Core Competencies to find out why every Nichols student is qualified to address the many

College Counseling Demystifying College Counseling by Chuck Ptak

A representative from Tufts University meets with students in the Junior/Senior Lounge.

questions involved in the college search and application process.

Richard Bausch witnessed these educational goals being realized when he talked with our students about the writing process. Their ability to “think critically” and “make creative and authentic connections” impressed him. And when faced with the opportunity to “move beyond formulaic responses to a given problem,” Nichols students succeed because they have the strength to find “a better question.”

The philosophy of our College Counseling Program is rooted in the mission of the School: “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.” We see the work of counseling students through their years of high school as an extension of what goes on in the classroom every day. Helping them tackle the essential questions that frame a successful college research, application and matriculation process is our priority. By supporting every student’s efforts and providing relevant, accurate and timely information, we enable students to grow from their status as a high school student into an independent, mature, young adult ready to face the challenges and embrace the opportunities that await them in college.

My counseling of students takes great influence from Loren Pope’s classic Colleges That Change Lives. In his introduction, Mr. Pope states a most-asked question: “Which college is most challenging?” He then attempts to decode the question: “‘Challenging’ really is a code word for ‘Which is the most selective, has the brightest students?’ Higher education being a status industry, the assumption is that selectivity equals rigor.

Wrong. Confront yourself honestly. Why, really, are you going [to college]? What are your abilities and strengths, what are your weaknesses? What do you want out of life, something tangible or intangible? Are you a self-starter or in need of nurture and structure?” Notice that Mr. Pope does not attempt to answer the question…because there is no answer. Instead, Mr. Pope educates the reader that the experience of education, socialization and independence trumps a college name alone.

Mr. Pope concludes with a thought from a Canadian colleague: “[The] American practice of judging colleges by the academic records of the high school seniors they pick is like judging the quality of the hospitals by the condition of the patients they admit. What happens during the stay is what counts.” What happens during the stay is what counts. As difficult as it may be in this day and age, my advice is to avoid college rankings. Proper research will yield many wonderful options.

I’ve also been influenced by two friends in the world of Division III college athletics: Zafi Levy, the Head Coach of mens’ and womens’ squash at Williams College, and David Webster, the Assistant Director of Athletics and the Head Coach of mens’ lacrosse at Dickinson College. In the process of recruiting student-athletes to his teams, Mr. Levy tells me that “without exception” he recruits “a student with higher academic standards and a lower standard of squash. Over the past 10 years, I have seen a direct correlation between higher academic achievements and success on the squash court. We recruit strong students first, so we know they will be able to do the work and therefore fulfill their athletic potential as well.”

Mr. Webster offers a similar conclusion: “We try [to] learn about the recruits’ attitude, work ethic, and values. Effort and production [in the classroom] is a big factor in the process.

Strong candidates for top colleges demonstrate maturity and focus.” Strong candidates for top colleges demonstrate maturity and focus. While these thoughts come from an athletic perspective, the universal sentiment remains the same for all students: colleges are interested in students who continually strive to engage their studies while being positive and responsible contributors to a community.

Chuck Ptak, Associate Director of College Counseling, meets with Louie Jacobs ‘12.

15

College Counseling Ambition and Academic Achievement: Why Grade Inflation Can Kill Them Both

by Victoria W. Garner Eighty-eight college admissions officers have visited Nichols School this fall to meet with prospective students. Associate Director of College Counseling, Chuck Ptak, and I have also met with these representatives to discuss our respective programs and to share the Nichols School Academic Profile. An important part of our work is to educate colleges about the rigor of our school’s curriculum and the Upper School faculty’s commitment to hold fast to high standards in their grading rubrics. The Academic Profile provides a brief description of the School’s history, mission, course offerings, and recent college placements.

The profile also gives colleges a detailed assessment of the grade distribution for the current senior class based on their final junior year grades.

During one of our recent meetings, an admissions officer visiting Nichols for the first time listened to our summary while looking at the grade distribution information and said, “So an A is really an A at Nichols School?” Chuck and I nodded and in unison answered with an emphatic “Yes!” Our visitor was impressed and went on to say that in reviewing some high school transcripts, she has seen student averages as high as 109 (on a 100-point scale) and that makes determining academic achievement very difficult.

Grade inflation has been a hot topic in American colleges and universities for over five decades. Like most issues in the world of education, the conversation about assigning higher grades for comparable work over time started in higher education and has since trickled down to secondary education. As the competition to gain admission to the most selective colleges has increased, so has the pressure on high schools to raise the “average” grades in order to position their students to be competitive in the college admission process. But, at what cost?

Schools that have accepted grade inflation as part of a new paradigm run the risk of diminishing the high achieving student’s ability to demonstrate their academic accomplishments. Even more potentially damaging is the effect of devaluing the real meaning of the educational experience itself.

Nichols School students are expected to approach each class with their best effort. Their performance is measured by acknowledging their ambition to succeed through consistent effort as well as their ability to demonstrate mastery of the material being studied.

Encouraged by an accessible and engaged group of high quality teachers, students are given the opportunity to develop a complete set of skills that will not only allow them to gain admission to college, but to also succeed once they’re there.

16

Nichols School

Reflections from College Age Alumni

by Nina Barone We spoke with some young alumni who went through the School’s College Counseling process in the last few years. As with our student body each year, these alumni went into their college searches with a diverse set of interests, academic backgrounds and extra-curricular activities. They possessed different goals for college and explored a variety of paths. Here’s what they had to say : What they remember about the College Counseling process I remember Mr. Kramer being there for support from the first meeting we had at the beginning of my junior year through all of the panic, stress and anticipation of the college process, right through to the day that I was accepted at Yale. – Siobhan Hanley ’10 The College Office didn’t just say ‘Go,’ but created a timeline for us with what to do when. I think the most helpful thing was simply being able to sit down with Mr. Ptak at any time and talk over new schools, concerns or anything on my mind regarding college. This made the process less intimidating, for me at least. – Elliot Johnston ’10 What I remember most about the College Counseling process at Nichols was the personal attention. I had a unique situation because my mom works at Canisius College and they have a tuition exchange program. My counselor worked hard to understand that exchange program so that he could advise me properly. – Alayla Henry ’09 Mr. Ptak and Mr. Kramer were both very involved in my college search and they were always there when I needed their advice on anything.

Mr. Kramer went above and beyond for me. He followed up with college coaches that I was talking to, and presented me with various scholarship opportunities. – Maya Jackson-Gibson ’11 The college admissions process was a really positive experience. At the very beginning, the college counselors sat with me and really listened to what I wanted. I had many scattered ideas at the time, but they helped me get a sense of what I was really looking for… They do a great job meeting with every student, listening to their ideas and giving thoughtful feedback and support. – Devin Friedlander ’10

Troy Ludtka ‘13, Pearl Guerin ‘13, John Tank ‘13 and Madeline Green ‘13 talk with Vickie Garner about how to start looking for colleges.

I had Mr. Ptak as my college counselor, and I remember always being in his office taking about anything and everything as far as the college application process goes. From how to write my college essay, what sport I wanted to play in college, what I wanted to major in, which schools I was going to visit, which schools I was going to apply to, and finally which school was I going to choose. Whether it was Mr. Ptak or Mr. Kramer, they were both always willing to find the time to meet with me and discuss how my college application process was going. As a high school senior with a thousand questions about college, having access to my college counselor anytime I needed it was important to me. – Rosemary Montani ’09

I was not overwhelmed by the workload when I got to college because my teachers at Nichols helped me to learn time management during high school. This gave me a leg up over many of my classmates because they spent the first semester figuring out how to do six hours of homework at one time while I had already perfected that skill.

– Alayla Henry ’09

How Nichols prepared them for college The biggest way in which Nichols prepared me for college was that it taught me how to think: to look at a problem or a work of literature and to think critically about it. I do not remember a single class at Nichols where I would sit in class and regurgitate information, but I was taught to analyze, make connections, and to think outside the box.

Thinking critically is the most important skill that I learned at Nichols, one that is necessary at a competitive college. – Siobhan Hanley ’10

Nichols could not have prepared me better for the college level expectation of essay writing; I had some of the best English teachers at Nichols that taught me to earn an A in The George Washington University freshman writing program during my first semester, and as a result my professor asked me to come back to talk about my final essay to her second semester class. – Devin Friedlander ’10

Nichols taught me to be a strong writer and this is a skill that is important no matter what you want to do in life. It’s obviously an important skill for writing college essays as well. A Nichols education is a well-rounded education that allows graduates to jump right into college and become a top student. – Elliot Johnston ’10

Nichols helped me with my time management skills. College classes are a lot of hard work, but I have been able to manage my time wisely and get my work done. Nichols also taught me to establish good relationships with my professors. – Maya Jackson-Gibson ’11

One thing I learned at Nichols was work ethic. I played two varsity sports and danced during the winter season, which left me with little time to slack off. After a long day of school and practice, I would come home, after 6 p.m. most of the time, to do 4+ hours of homework a night … When assigned 100 pages of reading a night and multiple papers a week, I was able to handle it because of the work ethic I had learned at Nichols. – Rosemary Montani ’09 continued on page 19

Winter 2012

17

Legacies The following are the new legacy students who joined Nichols in the 2011-2012 school year.

Brandi M. Ball ’15 Daughter of John E. Ball ’79

Colin D. Brinson ’19 Son of Colin M. Brinson ’85

Joshua A. Biltekoff ’15 Son of Robert A. Biltekoff ’80 Grandson of Murray A. Yost, Jr. ’58

Chandra C. Desai ’19 Daughter of Angela McLellan-Desai ’83

Connor Desai ’19 Son of Angela McLellan-Desai ’83

18

Nichols School

Raina Duggirala ’13 Daughter of Kalpana Gopalakrishnan Duggirala ’83

Claire M. Foley ’18 Daughter of Catherine Beltz Foley ’79

Stephen R. Foley, Jr. ’15 Son of Catherine Beltz Foley ’79

Sophia N. Fors ’19 Daughter of Andrew L. Fors ’91 Daughter of Carmen Llugany Fors ’92

Andrew Fromen ’18 Son of John J. Fromen, Jr. ’79

Allison Gasuik ’14 Daughter of Brian Gasuik ’81*

Audrey L. Lazar ’19 Daughter of Eliot S. Lazar ’74

Grace E. Gioia ’15 Daughter of Horace A. Gioia, Jr. ’72

Bailey Lewczyk ’16 Daughter of Salvatore Lewczyk ’97

Peter Gurney ’19 Son of William H. Gurney ‘80 Grandson of Charles L. Gurney II ’38

Michael J. Montante ’13 Son of Alexandra Llugany Montante ’86

Delaney Hamill ’16 Daughter of Christopher L. Hamill ’79

Paris Howell ’16 Daughter of Peter J. Howell ’86 Daughter of Jennifer Hellriegel Howell ’86 Granddaughter of John C. Hellriegel, Jr. ’56

Peter O. Montante ’14 Son of Alexandra Llugany Montante ’86

David R. Pfalzgraf III ’15 Son of David R. Pfalzgraf, Jr. ’88

Reflections from College Age Alumni continued from page 17

William Pfalzgraf ’19 Son of David R. Pfalzgraf, Jr. ’88

Pia I. Sharma ’19 Daughter of Rajeev Sharma ’90

James C. Rauch ’18 Son of J. Bradley Rauch ’’85

Shea I. Spanier ’16 Son of Beth Lansky Spanier ’82

How they selected the “right” college Through constant intellectual challenges, Nichols also helped me select the right college for myself. If it were not for the constant support and motivation of many teachers and counselors who pushed me to expand my intellectual horizons, I would not have been able to get into Yale… In applying to colleges, I knew I wanted to find a community just like Nichols, in which I could constantly challenge myself, and not be content with what I already know. Nichols helped me find this in Yale, where my knowledge is constantly growing and changing. – Siobhan Hanley ’10 Nichols helped me choose the ‘right’ college by helping me consider many colleges and subsequently narrowing them down. I felt I made a fully informed decision by talking things over numerous times with Mr. Ptak until I felt comfortable.

– Elliot Johnston ’10

Jenna C. Rich ’15 Granddaughter of Robert E. Rich, Jr. ’59

Sara H. Rimmler ’15 Daughter of Anne Beltz Rimmler ’75

I had some trouble choosing my school. I had my mind made up on a school that many students at Nichols were also going to and I changed my mind at the end of April. I had many reasons for changing my mind about schools – the first of which was that the education department at Canisius is incredible and at the other school I wouldn’t have been able to be an actual education major.

– Alayla Henry ’09

Annawade M. Stevenson ’14 Daughter of Wade Stevenson ’63 Granddaughter of Charles P. Stevenson ’36

Throughout my time at Nichols, I learned that I loved the small class atmosphere. I loved knowing everyone on campus and having a great relationship with my teachers. I went about my college search with these qualities in mind.

– Maya Jaconson-Gibson ’11

Holly A. Stevenson ’19 Daughter of Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ’97 Great-granddaughter of Robert B. Adam, Jr. ’36

I am currently a junior at Catholic University, and I believe that Catholic was the right choice for me. Nichols helped prepare me to discover what type of college community I wanted to be a part of. I wanted a college similar to Nichols, a small school where I could get to know my professors and they could get to know me. Sports were a big part of my life at Nichols, and I wanted to continue playing a sport in college… Nichols led me to the right path and then gave me the tools I needed to continue my journey successfully.

– Rosemary Montani ’09

Jennifer Roach ’14 Daughter of Michael J. Roach ’84

William N. Viti ’15 Son of Susan Schoepperle Viti ’80

Alexander W. Schmidt ’15 Son of Wendy Zacher Hammond ’79 Grandson of William H. Zacher ’55

If someone would have mentioned International Affairs as my future major in college as a freshman at Nichols, I wouldn’t have believed them; however, after taking four years of intensive Spanish classes, traveling abroad to Spain, reading many world-renowned pieces of literature, and studying different parts of world history, it seems the very root of my interest in international affairs transpired during my four years at Nichols. I know I am at the right place, studying at The Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University because of my academic career at Nichols School and the faculty that enabled me to get here.

– Devin Friedlander ’10

Thomas F. Wagner ’19 Son of Thomas F. Wagner, Sr. ’80

Nicholas H. Scott ’19 Son of Patrick V. Scott ’84

*Allison Gasuik ’14 has been a student at Nichols since 2010. We regret that she was left out of the previous issue’s Legacies.

Winter 2012

19

Honoring Elizabeth Stevens Gurney ’75

by Rick Bryan

V

ery quietly on Oct. 1, an era ended at Nichols School. Elizabeth Stevens Gurney ’75 ended her 26 years as the Director of Development/Associate Head to become the founding Executive Director of the First Niagara Bank Foundation. It is an exciting opportunity for Elizabeth, who desired the chance to be on the other side of the aisle, giving money away as opposed to raising funds.

After being one of the first female pioneers at Nichols, Elizabeth returned to the campus shortly after graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1979. She began as the assistant in the Development Office under Bob Priddy, organizing the first Nichols Auction, overseeing the Nearly New Sale with parent volunteers, and connecting with alumni of all ages. In two short years, she became the Director of Development. In the early 80s, Nichols was in the forefront, having a Development Office with a consummate professional. Under Elizabeth’s guidance, Nichols developed close ties with its alumni all over the country, supported parents in a newly formed Parents’ Association, and began growing the Annual Fund.

20

Nichols School

Elizabeth has many personal and professional qualities that made her identifiable with Nichols. She welcomed hard work and the chance to work alongside alumni, parent or faculty volunteers. No task was too small; it needed to get done. So, you would find Elizabeth flipping burgers at Homecoming, organizing books at the Nearly New Sale, arranging tables at the Auction, making Annual Fund calls during the phonathons, or assisting an elderly alumnus to dinner at Reunions. The second quality was her warmth. Elizabeth made people feel at ease in talking about money, and had a knack for defusing a potentially sensitive situation. Another important quality was her ability to embrace change, while still preserving important school values and traditions. Every major school ceremony had Elizabeth’s scrutiny, each alumni magazine had her imprint, and school mailings her review. It was important to keep the Nichols seal and the School’s values consistent and visible.

Yet, she embraced the use of technology in the Development Office, recognizing its value in communication, record keeping and outreach.

She had a knack for sensing when an event had grown stale, and positively encouraged a new concept or way of doing something. Early on, Elizabeth saw the potential of websites, marketing and email as significant aspects of admissions, fundraising or friend-raising.

Elizabeth and the Nichols Administration in 1984

Elizabeth with Kristan Carlson Andersen ’80, Robin Bronstein and Kelly Ostendorf at the 2008 Alumni Holiday Gathering

Elizabeth with Colleen Heidinger ’02 at an alumni gathering in California Elizabeth at her 35th Reunion

Under her guidance, three major Capital Campaigns were successfully concluded in the past 15 years, raising over $45 million for Nichols. Her leadership and ability to secure major lead gifts resulted in the Flickinger Performing Arts Center, Regan and Donaldson Halls, the Scully Gymnasium, the turf transformation of Peak and Strauss Truscott fields, our new roadways and green spaces, and Center ’63. She championed the building of the School’s endowment from a few hundred thousand dollars when she returned to Nichols in 1979 to over $25 million in 2011. Her efforts have resulted in many young people having the opportunity to attend Nichols and thrive.

While she was of Nichols royalty, due to the significant leadership of her father, E. W. Dann Stevens ’47, a past President of the Board of Trustees, Elizabeth was recognized by many as a symbol of Nichols in her own right. In 1996, she was named a Distinguished Alumna by the Alumni Board, citing “all her good works, her wonderful spirit, and her tremendous loyalty to the School.” In 2002, following the successful conclusion of the One Community Capital Campaign, Elizabeth received the William Nichols Award at Commencement. At the Alumni Holiday

Gathering in December 2011, Elizabeth became only the fifteenth person to be honored with a Nichols School Centennial Medal.

Recognized as a significant talent in the Buffalo philanthropic community, Elizabeth was lured away from Nichols in 1989 to work for Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Hospice. In the early 90s, Elizabeth ran a successful campaign for Hospice that resulted in the building of the Mitchell campus. Elizabeth remains on the Hospice Board, as well as the Josephine Goodyear Board. When she returned to Nichols in 1995, one of her new roles was as a Nichols parent. Elizabeth and Sam ’75 were frequent supporters of the many athletics teams that Will ’06 and Bo ’10 participated on, and this role helped Elizabeth understand the need for the nicholsfuture.org Capital Campaign that successfully concluded in September 2010 with over $23 million.

Elizabeth had a simple philosophy in her approach to development. “Make friends,” she would encourage the volunteers and the staff. “If you make friends and make the events fun and exciting, the money will come.” It’s hard to argue with success, and Nichols will continue to thrive for many years to come, due to Elizabeth’s talent, hard work and spirit.

Winter 2012

21

Into the Light: A New & Innovation at Nichols

by Kristen Tripp Kelley Photos by Andrea Mancuso and AP Photography student, Mitch Riter ’12

With the help of our tireless Facilities staff, Visual Arts teachers, and art students past and present, the Nichols Upper School Visual Arts program moved in to its impressive new home this past August, just in time for the beginning of the 2011-12 school year. After 10 years in the basement of Albright Hall, our art classes have resurfaced with gusto into three beautiful studios and a dark room in Mitchell Hall. The new space brings the Visual Arts curriculum and it students distinctly improved opportunities for creative discovery.

22

Nichols School

Home for Creativity

Winter 2012

23

Upper School Visual Arts

Students work with Ms. Andrea Mancuso in the room that houses Design, Filmmaking/Video and Digital Photography classes.

Highlights Andrea Mancuso is teaching Sophomore Arts, Photography, Digital Video and AP Studio Art in what was formerly the Study Hall in Mitchell. A spacious, well-lit room with beautiful architectural features serves her diverse curriculum well. One area of the room hosts a SMART board™ and a set of Macintosh computers, including 10 new Macs to be used for photography and film editing, as well as sound design and graphic design. Adjacent to the Mac station is a set of drafting tables for drawing and design projects. There is ample storage for student work and supplies, a student critique space, and an area that can be set up as a shooting studio. The new dark room is in the basement of Mitchell. We are pleased that our students will still learn the foundations of photography in addition to exploring contemporary digital imagery.

Ms. Mancuso explains: “I’ve imagined a space like this for the past decade, and being part of the transformation of our Visual Arts program is inspiring. The spectacular daylight from two walls of windows invites possibilities, the large open classroom promotes multi-media practice, the new computer equipment and black and white darkroom facilitate creativity, and the central and in plain sight location ground the visual art program into the daily life of the School.”

Frank Sacheli is teaching Freshmen Arts, Drawing and Sculpture classes in what was the Mitchell Conference Room, and has created an attractive and functional painting studio in what was formerly the Alumni Room on the second floor of Mitchell. Now that there are two rooms for different media, students can set up their work for extended periods of time without the worry of damage or interference. Like Mancuso’s studio, these rooms enjoy the best light on campus. Mr. 24

Nichols School

Sacheli worked around the clock to salvage what he could from Moot for the new art studios. Moot countertops and cabinets are now used for work stations and storage.

Mr. Sacheli adds: “While not necessarily bigger in terms of square footage, the high ceilings and full length windows give the new studios an airy, spacious feeling. The north light is wonderful even on the darkest days, and the location is more central and vibrant.”

Location The central location has made the art program far more visible on campus. Its proximity to the Flickinger Performing Arts Center should encourage even more collaboration with the performing arts. In addition to the first floor gallery space, student art work will be displayed on the second floor outside of the language rooms, where student lockers used to be, and in the new and improved SeeArtRun Gallery.

SeeArtRun, a gallery curated by Nichols students, is now outside the second story painting studio. Its dramatic placement atop a small staircase should help to draw students to the original work of their classmates. The first SeeArtRun opening in the new space is scheduled for this month.

The Future Above ground, with faces in the sun, our art teachers and their students are excited about how this space will allow for imaginations to flourish and skills to develop. This new home beautifully supports our current art curriculum, and will no doubt spark innovative and challenging projects in the future. We are certain that these studios will bring inspiration to many Nichols art students to come.

Maxcy Gayles ‘13, Emily Moffett ‘12 and Jin Park ‘13

Winter 2012

25

Upper School Visual Arts

Top: Mitch Riter ’12 and Toni Warnick ’13 in Painting class Bottom: Aarti Chandan ’14 in Design class

26

Nichols School

The benefits of a Nichols education last long after graduation.

A worldwide network of support and resources Pictured are Liz Koelmel ’05 and Dr. Reed Stevens ’80 with patient, Bruce. Reed helped Liz get an internship at his veterinary practice while she prepared to apply to veterinary school.

Why do we ask you to make an annual gift to The Nichols Fund?

Annual gifts to The Nichols Fund provide critical support to each area of the School, its students, and resources for our world-class faculty who maintain a nationally recognized college preparatory curriculum.

Your tax-deductible gift reaffirms your devotion to the 120-year legacy of Nichols School and ensures the same strong foundation you received for a new generation of promising students.

Visit www.nicholsschool.org/give or call the Development Office at 716.332.5151.

A.

Headmaster’s Society Reception On Sept. 22, we welcomed members of our Headmaster’s Society to the Rand Dining Room to celebrate them as the most generous supporters of our Nichols School community. Head of School, Rick Bryan, introduced the student speaker, Madeline Greene ’13, who expressed what she loves about Nichols and how grateful she is to be a part of the community.

Jane Cox Hettrick ’78 recognized Michael Montante and Alex Llugany Montante ’86 for their steadfast leadership of The 2010-2011 Nichols Fund. The Montantes thanked their Division Chairs and volunteers for their unwavering dedication throughout the year. They also welcomed Jim and Vicki Newman as their Co-Chairs for The 2011-2012 Nichols Fund.

Head of School, Rick Bryan, revealed the new Leadership Giving Societies of The Nichols Fund, which was established this fall to recognize our most generous alumni, parents, grandparents and friends. The Nichols Fund Leadership Giving Societies are the most prestigious annual recognition clubs for donors of the School.

In addition to our longstanding Headmasters’ Society, the new Founders’ Society offers enhanced opportunities for giving and benefits.

Membership into Nichols’ Leadership Giving Societies allows the School an important opportunity to applaud donors for their philanthropy and commitment to the School. Furthermore, membership provides additional means for connecting deeply with the life of our remarkable community. We invite you to take a moment to learn more about becoming a member of the Leadership Giving Societies. For more information, contact Leslie S. Garcia, Director of Development, at 716.332.5163.

E.

28

Nichols School

B.

C.

LG

The Nichols Fund

eadership iving

D.

SOCIETIES

Founders’ Society

1892 Club Includes all benefits in the John J. Albright Club, plus two tickets with premier seating to all concerts in Ramsi P. Tick Concert Series and a premier table at Derby Day Auction $20,000 and above John J. Albright Club Includes all benefits in the George A. Mitchell Club, plus two tickets to Derby Day Auction and the Big Green Athletic Celebration $10,000 to $19,999

George A. Mitchell Club Includes all benefits in the Joseph D. Allen Club, plus two tickets with premier seating at Prince Lecture, Kew Raiser Lecture and Smith Lecture Series $7,500 to $9,999

Headmasters’ Society

F.

Joseph D. Allen Club Includes all benefits in the Nottingham Club, plus membership in the Founders’ Society, and an invitation to Founders’ Society Annual Dinner $5,000 to $7,499

A. Sasha Yerkovich and Alex Llugany Montante ’86 & Michael Montante

Nottingham Club Includes all benefits listed in the Clock Tower Club, plus invitation to Headmaster’s State of the School Breakfast $2,500 to $4,999

B. Wayne Bacon, David Pfalzgraf ’88 and Garth Gibson C. Anne & John Bliss D. David & Jessica Brason and Tim Johnston ’78

Clock Tower Club Includes all benefits listed in the Quad Club, plus admission and premier seating to all school plays and concerts $1,500 to $2,499

E. Annette Fitch ’82, Donald & Joan Holzman and Charles Balbach H’52

Quad Club Invitation to Annual Leadership Giving Society Cocktail Reception and acknowledgement in Nichols’ Report on Giving and on the School’s website. $1,000 to $1,499

F. Warren Gelman ’63 & Patti Gelman and Chris Greene ’66

Winter 2012

29

Work Detail Program Introduced 40 Years Ago

by Blake Walsh ’98 In the fall of 1971, Nichols introduced Work Detail Program to its students, requiring them to clean toilets, sweep floors, wash dishes and maintain a clean campus on a daily basis. In an era void of the comprehensive Facilities staff that Nichols knows and loves today, the program instilled a sense of responsibility and camaraderie amongst Nichols students. Here are some reflections from alumni who were there to experience it!

“I was one of the heads of Work Program on the student end. Stan Bryant was the chief custodian that was hired to oversee it. Stan was an ex-military guy. All Upper School students were expected to fulfill a minimum number of work hours annually, a.k.a. public service. We literally cleaned toilets, swept floors, washed dishes, etc.

It was started in the fall of 1971 and was an active program from 1972-1974.” – Barney Walsh ’73 “Ah yes, Work Program. My favorite memories are of Stan Bryant mangling the students’ names (Przybylski, Kmiecek, Uncapher) at lunch, calling out the assignments and some of my choice ‘details’ including cleaning out the girls’ bathroom in Mitchell (worse than the boys’ room) and replacing the urinal biscuits in the basement bathroom of Moot. If nothing else, it taught me humility (and to use gloves whenever possible). I also have fond memories of the new line of Kirby vacuums buzzing through Albright (they really sucked…in a good way). Now whenever my wife asks me to vacuum the living room, I actually know what I’m doing. My favorite memory, though, is having Saturday morning penalty Work Program Detail which required that I rake Headmaster Chris Wadsworth’s backyard leaves on Tillinghast for being a wise guy.”

– Tim Franczyk ’75 30

Nichols School

“Work Program did more to build anyone’s character than anything since its time. No matter who you were, or what you were good at, everyone started from the same place with Work Program (i.e., the bottom). Stan ‘The Man’ Bryant taught us to leave a room cleaned the way you would want your own room cleaned if you were at home. To the outside world, it looked as if Work Program was about saving money on cleaning, or punishing students, but I think it really was about teaching respect, team building and character.

After all, if you could clean the toilets after 500 people had used them, you could do anything. I’ve always said that some of the best lessons I learned from Nichols weren’t necessarily taught in the classroom…they were learned through experiences like Work Program.” – Jane Cox Hettrick ’78 “I thought [Work Program] was a good experience. It helped me appreciate the work that the maintenance staff did. Stan Bryant put up with a certain amount of abuse and disrespect from the students. He was always good to me though, and he was the first person to ever tell me they thought I would make a good priest.”

– Father Jud Weiksnar ’75

Awards

William S. Wright Award Each year, the William S. Wright Award is given to acknowledge outstanding individuals whose volunteer efforts with The Nichols Fund were exceptional. At the Headmaster’s Reception on Sept.

22, Leslie Garcia, Director of Development, presented the award.

The 2010-2011 Nichols Fund was a triumphant success, with many leading the charge to meet an ambitious goal, but the Class of 1961 Central Committee made astounding strides. With a total dollar amount of $61,251.61, the Committee not only broke their own record, but also raised more dollars than any other class for the 2010-2011 year.

Fred Cohen ’61 and Rich Adams ’61, longtime Class Agents, accepted on the Committee’s behalf. Fred and Rich, along with classmate Ken Neil ’61, played a pivotal role in the planning of their 50th Reunion. Those who saw their dedication on a daily basis at Nichols were not surprised that the pair would lead the charge on class giving. Spending countless hours at the School for an entire year leading up to Reunion Weekend, the Committee contacted their classmates and rallied support for coming back to Nichols and giving in honor of their golden Reunion. Their enthusiasm was contagious to all their peers and they successfully exceeded their goal this June.

We are continually grateful for Fred, Rich, Ken and the Class of 1961 for their volunteer efforts, philanthropy and undying support of Nichols through the years. Congratulations to the Class of 1961 on their accomplishment! It was a pleasure to honor them.

Rich Adams ’61 and Fred Cohen ’61 accept the William S. Wright Award on behalf of the Class of 1961 Central Committee.

Save the Date!

Derby Day Auction Saturday, May 5, 2012 This year’s auction Co-Chairs are Kristan Carlson Andersen ‘80 & Robin Bronstein and Cynthia & Frank Ciminelli II. For more information on tickets, volunteering or donations, call 716-332-5151.

Winter 2012

31

Jane Regan ’78 speaks with AP Human Geography students about her connection to Haiti.

Eye on Haiti

by Nina Barone and Genevieve Carbone On Monday, Oct. 24, the students in Kelly Ostendorf’s AP Human Geography class welcomed alumna, Jane Regan ’78. Since graduating from Nichols, Jane has held an eclectic and impressive career, which she shared with the students that day. Her diverse career background and personal connection to Haiti provided a unique and intriguing history lesson to complement Mrs. Ostendorf’s curriculum.

The students inquired about everything from the politics and history of Haiti to the culture and religions of its people.

After studying Renaissance music in college, Jane Regan ’78 developed an intense desire to explore issues she never contemplated before graduation from college.

She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and Radcliffe at Harvard University, and soon began traveling. Her journeys led her to land a job as a newspaper reporter. She credits her Nichols teacher, Dick Stratton, with teaching the invaluable lesson of how to write.

32

Nichols School

“Nichols is where I learned how to write – not at Harvard,” Jane said. “Mr. Stratton was one of the best teachers I had in my high school or college career.”

Jane’s deep interest in learning about other cultures drove her passion to explore journalism. After college she began to think deeply about socioeconomic and cultural issues, asking, “Why are some people poor because of where they are born?”

“I’ve been asking the ‘why?’ question ever since,” Jane said. She traveled to many places where she put her Spanish skills from Nichols to use – Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia and more. She then began working in Haiti and delved into the history of “why Haiti is the way it is.”

She worked on a documentary about Haiti for WGBH, Public Broadcasting from Boston, and worked to fund a news agency that reported from the people’s perspective and talked about what was going on in the community.

Then, while doing volunteer work in Haiti and simultaneously trying to fund the

aforementioned agency, the 1991 Haitian coup d’état took place, which overthrew the President. During this trying time for the nation, Jane worked with a group of people who were dedicated to getting news out from the ground in Haiti under challenging conditions: “In the middle of the night we would travel to the home of a Jesuit priest who had Internet. We worked on a giant Mac…it was so slow…and we wrote a newsletter in English, which went out to all English speaking publications.”

Jane stayed in Haiti through the 1990s, and went back to do field work for her dissertation. She earned awards for her work filming for the AP, Reuters and CNN. “I came back [to Cambridge, Mass.] and said, ‘I’m done with Haiti,’ and then the earthquake happened.”

Jane, with her inherent connection to Haiti and its people, immediately wanted to know how she could help. She lost several friends and talked about how many lives were lost: 200,000 killed; 1 million in camps and 600,000 still in camps. These startling numbers are not because of the earthquake alone, but the abysmal state of Haiti’s living conditions despite the earthquake.

“An earthquake is a natural disaster, but that’s not the whole story. What is not natural is people living in horrible hillside

Photo credit: Daniel Morel/Wozo Productions

Jane passing a contingent of Haitian anti-riot police while running from rock-throwing protestors near the National Palace, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2003.

slums and people live in homes the size of this [classroom table we are meeting around],” said Jane, who went on to relate that most Haitians live without electricity, public water systems, sewage systems or latrines. There are no public housing options or zoning laws. She explained to the students that although there were not solely poor people killed in the earthquake, the majority of deaths were.

Currently, Jane teaches at the State University (Université d’Etat d’Haïti) and is Coordinator of Haiti Grassroots Watch, a multimedia grassroots and citizens “reconstruction watch” multimedia effort, based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. Made up of students and journalists in Haiti’s capital as well as at Haiti’s community radio stations, the organization investigates and analyzes various aspects of the reconstruction process and produces content in Haitian Creole, French, Spanish and English in text, audio and video forms for audiences in Haiti and worldwide.

“The quality of media in a country helps you either have good democracy or not,” Jane said. “If citizens don’t know or don’t care, they don’t vote and participate.”

Following Jane’s impressive lecture, Mrs. Ostendorf tied in examples from Haiti to a

lesson in urbanization. The class explored how cities respond when masses of people from suburban areas move to cities and the infrastructure of the cities cannot handle them.

In response to many eager students’ questions, Jane covered the textile industry’s movement of operations to Haiti and the low wages the Haitian workers receive. The base salary for a textile industry worker in the U.S. is $9 an hour, yet Haitians earn $5 per day for the same work, and the majority of those earnings are used to get to and from work and eat. The class explored how U.S. workers are being laid off and Haitians are being hired to do the same jobs for such measly compensation.

Fitting the discussion, Jane also shared details about Alta Gracia, the only apparel company in the world that pays a living wage to the people who make its clothing.

The company focuses on respecting workers’ rights, providing a safe workplace, and welcome unrestricted monitoring of its factory by an independent watchdog.

Jane answered questions about education in Haiti, and shared some population statistics. There are 10 million people in Haiti, with 3.4 kids per female, and an average life expectancy of 61 years old. Half of the country’s children attend elementary

school and 80% finish it and go on to Middle School. About 10-15% attend high school, and a tiny amount of those graduates attend university.

Other students’ questions related to where Jane lives in Haiti, sanitary conditions and the recent cholera outbreak, and voodoo as one of several official religions in Haiti.

Jane undoubtedly has a passion for education and a desire to help create fair and just living for people around the world.

Her understanding of journalism and her skillful use of media coverage to increase awareness was inspiring to our students. She also holds a master’s of philosophy degree in Communication Studies from the University of the West Indies (CARIMAC), Jamaica, and is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Haitian Creole.

When asked if anything from her years at Nichols helped motivate her to get involved in her current line of work, Jane answered, “the quest for excellence that I learned from many of the teachers, and also from some of my peers, inspired me to always seek challenges, and try new things.

Mr. Budington and Mr. Stratton were fundamental in making me who I am today.”

Winter 2012

33

Fresh Tastes in th

by Nina Barone

Nichols is proud to offer a new food service program through SAGE Dining. Following a presentation regarding the national Chefs Move to School program and the partnership efforts of Delaware North Companies, the School evaluated its food service program with a fresh perspective, and began exploring options for providers whose mission and product aligned with the School’s desire to continually offer quality food and bolster sustainability efforts.

SAGE focuses on healthy options and high quality ingredients, while keeping up with modern trends and tastes. SAGE can be found in 190 schools across the U.S., with the majority of their clients being private schools and universities.

The staff at SAGE provides fresh cut salad items daily, house made hummus, and house made grain salads, bean salads, pasta salads and more. Each morning, our kitchen team makes soup and pastries, salad bar items, main entrées and side dishes.

SAGE uses local produce as much as possible, and strives to use seasonal produce throughout the year. With the help of a menu database, the chefs search for dishes that fit with the season and time of year.

34

Nichols School

The kitchen staff also visits the Dining Room to ask the kids what they like. Students, faculty and staff provided feedback, and SAGE likes to know what they want to see in the menu.

SAGE serves organic products whenever feasible, and their milk is rbST-free and hormone free. Eggs are cage-free and Certified Humane, and they serve only dolphin-safe tuna, packed in water.

SAGE supports the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guidelines and strives to increase purchases of sustainable seafood.

Spa water – fresh fruit in water, without sugar or sweetener added – has become a favorite of many in our community. It offers a delightful option for a healthy beverage with a great deal of flavor.

Milk and chocolate milk are bought in bulk in order to eliminate the waste of individual cartons. Antibiotic and hormone free milk are used. They serve shade-grown coffee that is certified Fair Trade.

SAGE promotes sustainability in many ways, including by helping fulfill our mission of being “trayless.” By using only plates, we greatly reduce the amount of water used by the School for dishwashing. Many of our students led the charge in eliminating trays last school year.

the Dining Room They also offer aesthetically pleasing food displays for all their menu items, as well as educational signage and nutritional information. All SAGE menus are checked by a nutritionist, and all items are approved by a dietician at corporate headquarters.

Furthermore, menus are custom-designed for each school community.

SAGE enthusiastically supported the School’s green roof garden and love to serve locally grown food in our kitchens. In the fall, we harvested tomatoes, peppers and basil, which were used in the lunch menus to make dishes such as fresh salsa, soups, roasted vegetables, and fried green tomatoes.

We look forward to enjoying more of what SAGE has to offer!

Food for Healthy Living SAGE helps all members of our community maintain healthy lifestyles. They shared the following principles with us and we are happy to have such offerings at lunch and our events: • We cook primarily from scratch, reducing use of processed foods.

• We grill, bake, broil or sauté to avoid frying.

• We use fresh and frozen vegetables to maximize nutritional value.

• We offer meatless entrees daily.

• We offer fresh salads and fruit daily.

• We offer a variety of whole-grain breads, bagels and rolls.

• We offer a complete deli bar daily, with a low-fat selection.

• We offer 2% and skim milk at all locations.

• We offer 100% fruit juice.

• We cook with trans-fat-free oils, such as olive and canola.

• We use MSG-free seasonings.

• We use a variety of herbs and spices to reduce the use of salt.

Winter 2012

35

After Nichols Many Nichols faculty and alumni have spent time in the Peace Corps over the years, working to help less fortunate communities both domestically and abroad. This “After Nichols” segment focuses on the current Peace Corps experiences of an alumnus with over 43 years of service and a recent college graduate stationed in Africa.

Naa Quaye ’04 Gives Back in Africa Naa Quaye is a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique, Africa, working in health care. We caught up with her recently to find out more about this recent graduate’s experience in Africa. You can follow Naa’s Peace Corps journey on her blog at http://myafricanguitar.blogspot.com.

Where do you live currently?

I reside in Mozambique, Africa.

Where did you go to college?

I attended Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill. How did Nichols prepare you for college and life beyond college?

I think Nichols was a great foundation for college, and now the Peace Corps, in that it helped me develop my leadership skills and taught me how to communicate effectively with my teachers and peers. Nichols definitely helped shape who I am today.

What are you up to now? Tell us about your life and career.

I am currently a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mozambqiue, Africa, working in the health field. I was placed in a town called Chongoene, where my main role is to work alongside activists at my organization – Arepacho. It’s a small community based organization that produces agricultural goods for underprivileged families and those affected with HIV/AIDS. My job is to oversee the activists through their work.

My other role in Chongoene is assisting the nurses and administrative staff at the local hospital and maternity clinic.

Fortunately, the people in my community have access to local health care. I help create materials and information needed for the nurses and other staff, so when they consult patients they have correct information.

In addition to my primary role, I am the National Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator for a group called Redes, a national network of girls’ clubs in Mozambique, which promotes girls’ empowerment and reduces their vulnerability

36

Nichols School

to HIV through gender awareness activities, reproductive health and HIV prevention messages, technical skills-building and planning for the future.

What motivated you to get involved in this line of work?

After Nichols, I learned quickly that I am not a “9 to 5” office girl.

The Peace Corps allowed me to work out in the field rather than in an office. And since giving back to the less fortunate is what I came to be passionate about, the Peace Corps was an ideal destination for me.

What advice do you have for others who may want to work in your field?

The Peace Corps is a doorway that leads to many amazing opportunities! For anyone who is interested in international work, the Peace Corps is a great place to start.

What is your favorite Nichols memory?

Cabaret! I remember the year that I was one of the hosts, and it was the most fun night I’ve had at Nichols. I have always loved the performing arts and I still continue singing as a hobby today.

What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment has been coming to Mozambique and speaking Portuguese. It’s not easy coming to a new place and not knowing how to communicate, so the fact that I can now speak another language and communicate here…that is a huge accomplishment! As for future accomplishments, I’d love to write a book one day about my experiences in Africa.

After Nichols

Chuck Hobbie ’63 Makes Lifelong Work in the Global Community Chuck Hobbie joined the Peace Corps in 1968 after earning degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of Wisconsin. He has since served on Peace Corps staff and as American Federation of Government Employees’ Deputy General Counsel, and is now Associate General Counsel for the Peace Corps.

Where do you live currently?

My wife, Young-ei, and I live in Falls Church, Va., which is a small, historic city eight miles west of Washington, D.C. The Falls Church, for which the city was named, was George Washington’s church. We love the city, especially because of its history.

Dolly Madison fled here when the British burned the White House in 1814. General Lee’s early headquarters was just down the street from us. Fort Taylor, which later guarded Washington during the Civil War, was one block away. Dwight Eisenhower’s residence was across the street during World War II. Where did you go to college?

I graduated from Dartmouth College in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in French. I loved the years at Dartmouth, particularly evening seminars at the home of my faculty mentor (Professor Richard Eberhart, who was the poet laureate of the United States and won a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1966), singing in the glee club, the beauty of the White Mountains surrounding the campus, skiing, and other outdoors activities throughout New England. While in college, I studied at the University of Montpellier, France, during my junior year and worked as a research assistant for three summers in Swedish Lapland and at the University of Uppsala, Sweden.

How did Nichols prepare you for college and life beyond college?

Nichols gave me the finest preparation I could have received for college and life thereafter. I learned in high school the joy of focus and hard work, the seductiveness of poetry, and the exhilaration of being part of teams. At Nichols I learned how to express myself orally and in writing, and how to drive a car – perhaps the most important skills for my later life.

What are you up to now?

I wanted to be a poet and ended up as a labor lawyer. After receiving my master’s degree in English from Wisconsin, I joined the Peace Corps. I was a volunteer in Korea from 1968-71, teaching at a university in Daegu. Subsequently, I was a Peace Corps trainer at the School for International Training in 1971, and later joined the Peace Corps headquarters (1972-78). I attended law school at The George Washington University (1971-76).

After almost nine years with the Peace Corps, I became Staff Counsel and then Deputy General Counsel for a labor union representing federal employees. In the latter capacity, I supervised about 25 attorneys and litigated in the federal courts to vindicate federal employees’ rights (1979-2011). I recently was appointed as the Associate General Counsel of the Peace Corps, where I am engaged in mostly administrative law involving personnel and labor relations issues. I love working for the Peace Corps again!

What inspired your career path?

I have been very fortunate to have had two enjoyable careers. The first – the Peace Corps – involved international development and volunteerism, first as a teacher in Korea and then as an administrator. Nichols teachers, such as George Stevens, Norman Pedersen, Albert Sutter and Pliny Hayes, especially, encouraged my interest in international travel and affairs. All of my Nichols teachers provided a daily example of excellence in teaching.

My second career – labor law – involved writing (legal briefs), oral advocacy, and some teaching. George Stevens and Austin Fox taught me to love writing, and at Nichols I also learned how to speak publicly or to make oral presentations. Both writing and oral advocacy were significant skills that helped me as an attorney. My experience as a Peace Corps volunteer inculcated a desire to work to further human rights, which ultimately led me to litigate and teach as a union-side labor lawyer to protect workers’ rights, as well as to return to Peace Corps to conclude my career.

What advice do you have for others who want to work in your field?

Law is a wonderfully interesting field – the “glue” holding society together – that is broad enough to nurture virtually any talent and yearning. But whatever field students pursue, they must develop an awareness of the world as a community of which we are all very much a part with accompanying responsibilities and obligations. All students must travel abroad, live abroad and speak other languages in order to fully appreciate, and to become engaged in, the world in which we live.

Additionally, whether at home or abroad, service to others, in programs such as AmeriCorps, Teach For America, or the Peace Corps, is an important means to achieve self-fulfillment and happiness.

Winter 2012

37

A.

B.

Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 1 38

Nichols School

On Saturday, Oct. 1, over 350 alumni, students, parents, grandparents and friends came out to support the Big Green at Homecoming. The Alumni Board and Parents’ Association sponsored the day’s food tent, and spirits ran high despite the rainy, cold weather.

C.

D.

E.

A. Hillary Vossler ’13, Savannah Young ’13 and Kendall Appelbaum ’13 B. Emma Elia ‘15 and Lauren Randaccio ‘13 C. Alumni Board members Ian Jones ’80, Jen Jarvis Hamberger ’81, Todd Brason ’76, Wendy Lebowitz Pressman ’81, Alexis Moscato Agnello ’98 and Theresa Tantillo ’81 presided over the grill.

F.

G.

E. Nate Black ’14, Mike Lask ’14, Carson Gicewicz ’15, Troy Dobbs ’14 and RJ Gicewicz ’14 (sitting) F. Dick Stratton and Don Cockerill G. Jack Deni ’15

D. Troy Ludtka ’13 and Varsity Football teammates

Winter 2012

39

Who Are Jenna Herskind ’12

Shannon Nachreiner ’12

by Jenna Herskind ’12 and Beth Stone

Nichols Varsity Field Hockey: how do you even attempt to describe this team in a few short paragraphs? Let me begin the definition with this: 17 girls who played their hearts out everyday.

Seventeen girls with fire, hoping to have their season finale be a repeat NYSAIS State Championship. Girls with a passion for the game, and more importantly, for each other. Returning seniors Jenna Herskind ’12, Emily Janiga ’12, Julia DiTondo ’12, Hannah Elsinghorst ’12, Sarah Miller ’12, Shannon Nachreiner ’12, Hanna O’Neill ’12, Meredith “Earl” Vivian ’12 and Shelby Wilde ’12, set our team goals high. Kelly Seward ’13 and Madison Sansone ’14 joined the returning seniors to set a positive tone for the team from beginning to end. Newcomers Kendall Applebaum ’13, Nico Tomani ’14, Grace Munschauer ’14, Brandy Streeter ’14 and Maddi Welch ’15 were quickly enveloped into the fold. Who are we?

Nichols Field Hockey, my friends, is a family.

A sports season is difficult to write about without quoting the clichés, probably because each cliché is true in its own way. We saw our ups and down, we saw our share of victory and pain.

40

Nichols School

Packed like sardines on the yellow Ridge Road school bus (no bathrooms and no movies!!!) we traveled with our awesome JV team to Trinity College, Appleby College, Havergal College and Ridley College to meet our Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association league foes. With each game, every single one of us developed one more skill, honed another part of our game, and understood more fully what it meant to be a part of this team. Playing, studying, singing country songs, eating, shopping or “talking story,” everything we did together was lively and fun.

After finishing in first place in the CISAA regular season with a 6-0-2 league record (9-1-2 overall), we stumbled in the CISAA tournament losing to Trinity in the semifinals.

Heartbroken but prepared for redemption, we set to work to “take care of the details” as we prepared to head to New York City.

Seeded first in the New York State Association of Independent

continued on next page

Sports Focus

We? Madison Sansone ’14

Winter 2012

41

Hannah Elsinghorst ’12

Sports Focus: Varsity Field Hockey continued from page 40

Schools tournament but having no “home” field in NYC, we found ourselves once again having to play our opponents on their own turf. Horace Mann School was swiftly eliminated 5-0 in the quarterfinals as we quickly squashed their hopes for a successful senior day. Leading scorer, Madison, (12 goals and 9 assists) and Brandy each scored twice and winger, Shannon, tallied the fifth goal off of great assists from Jenna, Emily, Madison and Grace. It was a true team effort, as our strong defense allowed Horace Mann very few opportunities to shoot.

School of the Holy Child (Rye, N.Y.) was the next opponent in the semifinals, and we once again played on their turf. The game was a rematch of the 2010 final game. With an even game at 0-0 at the end of the first half, Nichols came out strong with Jenna scoring at 1:03 into the second half off a penalty corner. Fueled with momentum, Holy Child evened the game at 12:52 in the second half on a penalty stroke. A fast and furious game to the finish, both teams played hard, ending in a 1-1 time in regulation and again after a 10 minute overtime period. Julia, (who combined time in goal with Kelly to have seven shutouts for the season) was cool and collected in goal, making a potentially disastrous save on a break away in the first overtime to keep our hopes alive and put us into double overtime. At a timeout in the second overtime, we took a breath and reassessed our situation, remembering our roots as a team, as a school, and as friends with a common passion. It was here that we coined the question, and the theme, of our season, “Who are we?” Leaving everything on the field, the seniors inspired everyone to dig deeper, be faster, and push harder. Madison scored with an assist by Nico at 5:35 to put Nichols up 2-1. With a stellar defensive effort in the closing minutes of the game, we took one more step toward our goal towards the NYSAIS championship.

42

Nichols School

Emily Janiga ’12

After a great Saturday visiting Ground Zero and Occupy Wall Street (for 5 points in extra credit for Human Geography class!) and shopping, we traveled to Manhattenville College on Sunday to meet Rye Country Day School. In one of the best high school field hockey games played in the history of the NYSAIS tournament, we each found ourselves playing at a new level, standing toe to toe with each Rye player and never once backing down. Rye scored 15 minutes into the first half, putting the pressure on. End line to end line, the game was fast with one outstanding play after another. With the seniors taking charge, giving up was never in our vocabulary, much less an option. Diving after balls to keep them alive, sprinting after another great pass, or chasing down a Rye attacker, our team played their hearts out, leaving everything on the field. With 1:20 left in the game, Shannon scored off an assist from Brandy; we tied the game to send it into overtime. Julia had another superior game with 12 saves.

In another excellent overtime period, Rye took the lead on a goal at 2:58 into the period. Nichols fought hard the entire 10 minute period with several great chances to score. As the final whistle sounded, there were tears of disappointment, but our chins never touched our chests. We lost on the scoreboard that day, yes: but when you’ve learned as much, grown as much as this team did this season, can it truly be called a loss?

The Class of 2011 finished their field hockey careers at Nichols with a 54-10-4 overall record. This team leaves behind a legacy of pink socks for our loved ones fighting cancer, yellow laces for our fearless Mr. Kim, and a lifetime of friendships and memories.

So, who are we? Ladies and gentlemen, we are Nichols Field Hockey. We’ll kick your butt on the field, we’ll push harder and be smarter and work more than even we thought possible. But at the end of the day, we’re a team characterized by friendship, acceptance, and a love for each other, and for one game that has changed each one of our high school lives.

In Memoriam Alumni Philip W. Meech ’65 – Dec. 20, 2010 Harvey J. Hambleton ’52 – Feb. 1, 2011 Edward E. Donaldson ’45 – April 19, 2011 George K. Hambleton ’50 – May 17, 2011 Raymond S. Ettlinger ’49 – June 20, 2011 Theodore G. Lewis ’41 – July 9, 2011 Peter S. Upson ’82 – July 11, 2011 John Kenefick ’39 – July 15, 2011 Lane Montesano ’52 – Aug. 21, 2011 Alexander Torre Tasso ’57 – Aug. 29, 2011 Willard C. Frank ’53 – Sept. 2, 2011 Charles W. “Bill” Hart ’78 – Sept. 4, 2011 N. John Thomas ’43 – Sept. 4, 2011 Philip R. Jacobs ’41 – Sept. 25, 2011

Friends Paul Beltz – Sept. 20, 2011 – Father of Anne Beltz Rimmler ’75, Margaret Beltz Gellatly ’78, Catherine Beltz Foley ’79, John Beltz ’82, Mary Beltz Falls ’83 and Sara Beltz Rodriguez ’88; grandfather of Philipp Rimmler ’09, Sara Rimmler ’15, Stephen Foley ’15 and Claire Foley ’18 Jean Berger – Aug. 22, 2011 – Grandmother of Seth Seegert ’98

Lucille Cole – May 10, 2011 – Grandmother of Allison ’00 and Robert Drake ’00 William Copping – April 16, 2011 – Father of Luke Copping ’99 John Evans – Sept. 10, 2011 – Father of John H. Evans, Jr. ’82 and James S. Evans ’85 Francis Faust – Sept. 22, 2011 – Father of the lates Philip Faust ’69 and Peter Faust ’70; grandfather of Gregory ’01 and Carolyn Faust ’03 Elizabeth Hamlin – Sept. 10, 2011 – Mother of Clay Hamlin ’63 Barbara Hochreiter – April 13, 2011 – Mother of Emily Barron ’00 Suzanne Johnson – Oct. 5, 2011 – Grandmother of Gregory Vanderhorst ’13, Jack Vanderhorst ’18 and Samantha Vanderhorst ’16 Susan Surdam Johnston – July 31, 2011 – Wife of Edwin M. Johnston, Jr. ’51; mother of Susan Schoellkopf Mele ’80 and J. Frederick Schoellkopf VI ’84; stepmother of Jennifer Johnston ’75, Edwin M. Johnston III ’78 and Sarah Johnston Mitchell ’82

Margaret Kew – Sept. 5, 2011 – Wife of the late C. Taylor Kew ’58; mother of the late C. Taylor Kew, Jr. ’83 Dorothy Klopfer – April 10, 2011 – Grandmother of Michael ’87 and Matthew ’95; great-grandmother of Sydney ’12, Ben ’15 and Sophie Muggia ’18 Murray Light – Oct. 12, 2011 – Father of Jeffrey Light ’78 Margaret Ramage – Nov. 19, 2010 – Mother of Bob ’63, Anne N’65, Peggy N’66, Kathy N’67, Carol N’70 and Jim Ramage ’77 Richard Maxwell Rieser – June 30, 2011 – Father of Rick Rieser ’61 Karin Roach – Oct. 24, 2011 – Mother of Daniel “Tad” Roach ’75, Katherine Roach ’83, Michael Roach ’84; grandmother of Caroline Hogan ’14, Jennifer Roach ’14 and Lindsay Hogan ’16 Marilyn Schlehr – April 19, 2011 Grandmother of Madeleine ’12, Eva ’14, Isabelle ’17 and Jack ’19 Schlehr Joan Shatkin – Nov. 15, 2011 – Grandmother of Jade Shatkin ’17

Barbara Clement – Aug. 14, 2011 – Mother of Stephen Clement ’62

Susan Schapiro Susan Schapiro, the first female faculty member at Nichols and an Honorary Alumna of the School, died Friday, Nov. 11, 2011.

Sue assisted in coaching the tennis team and taught courses in Philosophy, Religion and Social Relations. She helped build the dean and advisory system we still use today, and she had a strong commitment to community service and character education, which remain the foundational pillars of a Nichols education.

After Nichols, Sue went on to work in the President’s Office of the State University of New York at Buffalo. As Special Counsel to the President, she saw to it that courses about how to learn were added to undergraduate requirements, and she taught faculty how to teach them. She earned national recognitions for her methods of teaching.

Sue also offered popular courses through adult education programs and wrote two children’s books.

She received the Honorary Alumna Award in December 2009, at which time a tribute was offered about her special place in the history of the School and her dedicated years of service to Nichols.

Sue is survived by her husband, William; a son, John Schapiro ’74; daughters, Kate ’76 and Annie Schapiro ’80; and five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son, Ignacio Uriarte ’71. Those wishing may make donations to Nichols in her honor.

Winter 2012

43

1938 After 62 years of practicing law, Rit Moot retired at age 91. He will continue to serve as a consultant for Damon Morey LLP where he recently served as Partner. He and his wife, Barbara, reside on Clarendon Place in Buffalo, where they have lived for over 50 years.

1943

David Howard writes: “Summers at Lake Chautauqua are always great! Big news for us – I’m a great-grandfather. Kennedy (a girl), was born Aug. 7, 2011. All are doing fine. I still hope to be at the 70th Reunion in 2013.”

1944

Newton Garver writes, “I am still President of the Bolivian Quaker Education Fund. There are 30,000 Quakers living in Bolivia, more than in England. They are indigenous, very poor and emerging from five centuries of oppression. It is exciting to nurture the potential in the young Andean Indian population and to see their talents blossom.”

E.W. Dann Stevens posthumously received the Award of Merit from the Bar Association of Erie County at their annual dinner on June 8, 2011. The honor is intended to recognize the recipient’s conduct in the face of extraordinary circumstances. “Throughout his life, E.W. Dann Stevens faced many extraordinary circumstances and consistently dealt with each in an extraordinary fashion,” according to the Awards Committee. A highly successful estates and trust lawyer, he was a founding member of Williams, Stevens, McCarville & Frizzell, P.C. He devoted a great deal of time to the Western New York community. In addition to his role as President of the Nichols Board and a member of the Board of Trustees, of particular note was his role as a Founding Director of the Food Bank of Western 44

Nichols School

Class Notes

New York, where he later was Board Chair.

His work with key executives within the food industry contributed greatly to the Food Bank’s success. He also served as Chairman Emeritus of the Josephine Goodyear Foundation and as Chair of Goodwill Industries of WNY’s Board of Trustees, where he remained active as an Emeritus Trustee until his death in April 2010. In September of that year, Goodwill rededicated its shelter workshop in his memory. “His extraordinary accomplishments and involvement in community activities, although too long to list, reflect his enormous generosity of heart for (our) community, regardless of status or position in life.”

1951

James Dillon writes, “We have moved to Naples, Florida from the Napa Valley – voting with our feet. We now split our time between Florida and Bridgton, Maine, where I still serve Camp Winona as a counselor during the camp season. We also spend six to seven weeks on Maui in January/February. Tough life but we do help the economy!”

happy memories of the teachers, staff, Headmasters, college advisors, students, and of course, squash and tennis. One of Lisa’s twins, Sarah, is a tennis natural. Her mother and Aunt Penny are having trouble beating her. Jillian is the actress. And we grandparents love everything they do and are. They are truly blessings. The twins would not only receive a lot from Nichols, but they would be excellent representatives of Nichols, as was their mother and Aunt Penny. Both and all would be proud to have them there. I wish they could enjoy the ‘Nichols experience’ as we did. Even their nana, Lorelei, would love that. Best wishes to all!”

Norman Wilson writes, “When I retire in September from my private practice in psychiatry, I probably will volunteer at a free clinic or treat soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder. But first, I want to go mountain trekking again.”

1957

1954

Robert Nilson writes, “Life’s been good to us thus far. Four children doing well and 10 lovely grandchildren. Bless you all!”

1955

Harvey Benatovich writes, “I love living in Rhode Island to be closer to Penny Benatovich ’79, who lives in Boston and enjoys her excellent reputation as Executive Producer of films, videos, etc., and Lisa Benatovich Brosofsky ’82 and her wonderful twin daughters, Jillian and Sarah. They are almost 11 years old and ready to start fifth grade in September. And that is my big regret that they are not in Buffalo to attend our beloved Nichols. Those were our very special years – everlasting friendships and

George Morris, Peter Boer and Jim Wadsworth celebrated their 50th Reunion at Princeton University in the spring.

1958 The Independent Health Board of Directors elected Stuart Angert as Second Vice-Chair on May 13, 2011.

Donald MacLowry and his wife, Enid, drove their RV to the Calgary Stampede last July. Don writes, “A trans-Canada meandering took us to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Highlights of the trip were Quebec City, the Bay of Fundy and an appreciation of Canada’s geographic size.”

Hugh Hartzberg recently lost his beloved wife, Arlene, to pancreatic cancer. “We were married just under 49 years,” writes Hugh. “She donated her body to the University at Buffalo School of Medicine for research. She was a wonderful lady who spent her entire life trying to help others.”

1959

Robert Rich, Jr., chairman of Rich Products Corp. and owner of the Buffalo Bisons, published a new book in May of 2011 entitled, “The Right Angle: Tales of a Sporting Life.” The book offers an inside look on notable moments in Buffalo sports history, including: the arrival of the Buffalo Sabres in 1970; the naming of Rich Stadium; how the movie “The Natural” came to be filmed in Buffalo; and what it’s like to go fishing with the President of the United States. All proceeds from book sales benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo.

1966

1968

David Kiely writes, “I have semi-retired. My wife and I have a consulting company, Silver Fox Advising. I am facilitating and providing training with the University of Notre Dame’s nonprofit leadership program.”

1967

Michael Pastor was featured in a Nov. 1 article in The Buffalo News for his renowned work as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. Pastor has presided over several highprofile cases involving celebrities over the years. He most recently presided over the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, who was found guilty of medical negligence in Michael Jackson’s 2009 death. A quote from The Buffalo News article: “He’s a wonderful judge,” says Marcia Clark, prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson case and now author and legal analyst. “He has control of the courtroom with a warm, engaging demeanor that’s really great for jurors.”

Ken Cohn’s book was published by Health Administration Press in May, 2011.

“Getting It Done: Experienced Leaders Reveal Field-Tested Strategies for Clinical and Financial Success” is the first known book so-edited by a practicing surgeon (Ken) and a hospital Chief Operating Officer (Steven Fellows). It celebrates the heroic journeys of sixteen courageous leaders who broke down barriers to collaboration to improve clinical and financial outcomes for their communities.

1963

Chuck Hobbie has written a new book entitled, “The Time of the Monkey, Rooster and Dog: A Peace Corps Volunteer’s Years in Korea.” Filled with insights into the times and the people both in Korea and the Peace Corps, this memoir captures the essence of a rapidly changing nation.

Jack Walsh was one of two recipients of this year’s Red Jacket Award, given annually by the Board of Managers of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society in recognition of quiet, continued, unbroken devotion to civic progress. Created 54 years ago by the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, the award is based upon a medal presented in 1792 by President George Washington to the renowned Seneca orator and leader, Red Jacket.

The alumni pictured (left to right) are: George Bergantz ’67, Ted Walsh ’72, Matt Enstice ’91, Jack Walsh ’63, Warren Gelman ’63, Bill Mathias ’63, Ed Marlette ’64, Leon Smith ’69, Mike Walsh ’70.

1963

On Sept. 15, the Boys Varsity Golf team held their annual Varsity-Alumni match.

The score was 4 matches to 2 matches in favor of the Varsity, who broke a three-year losing streak to the Old Guard. Every match went to the final green. The alumni in attendance were Warren Gelman ’63, Ed Marlette ’64, Jack Walsh ’63, Mike Walsh ’70, Ted Walsh ’72, Leon Smith ’69, Matt Enstice ’91, George Bergantz ’67, Bill Mathias ’63, as well as coaches, Frank Sacheli and Ron Montesano. Varsity players who competed were Jeremy Castiglia ’12, Tom Mediak ’12, Mike Gates ’12, Dean Arthur ’13, James Grachos ’13, Erik Lipa ’14, Alex Fisher ’15, Greg Sibick ’15, Connor Schutte ’15, Zac Herrmann ’15, David Pfalzgraf ’15.

Winter 2012

45

1970

Nardin. We completed our nearly seven year sailing circumnavigation last June and then brought Estrela, our Westsail 32, from Connecticut to Buffalo via the incredible Erie Canal. So after being away for 30+ years, I’m back in Buffalo, living in the Elmwood Village and talkin’ proud again!

Highlight? Coaching Sem’s JV lacrosse team in a game against Nichols on the fabulous turf fields!”

1976 Trey Dedecker, his wife, Clotilde, and son, Adrian ’08, were in Berlin in April and had a chance to see the first solo show

by Cory Arcangel ’96 at the Hamburger Bahnhof museum.

1972

Ted Walsh, President and Chief Operating Officer of Walsh Duffield Companies, Inc., received the Business Executive of the Year Award at the annual Canisius College Business Awards Dinner on Oct. 11, 2011.

Established in 1969, the Business Executive of the Year Award annually honors an outstanding Western New York business executive who has achieved professional success and demonstrated a broad interest in civic affairs. Ted was recognized as a successful businessman, philanthropist and community advocate.

1974

Leslie Gardner has been a senior lawyer at JPMorgan in New York City for almost 20 years and is still going strong. She is living in Park Slope with her husband, Michael, and teenage children, Rebecca and Cyrus.

Peter Marlette, Managing Partner at Damon Morey LLP, was appointed to the Managing Partner Forum Advisory Board.

He is Senior Partner in the firm’s litigation department where he focuses his practice on the defense of high exposure products liability and toxic substance litigation.

David Wilcove, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, was named a recipient of the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute’s 2011 Pioneers of Science Award.

Awardees are chosen by a panel of members of the Western New York scientific community and are selected based on the significance of their contributions to their respective fields.

1979

Thompson Herrick and spouse, Reed, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year. Thompson writes: “Our son, Ian, age 21, is a junior at Dartmouth. Our daughter, Gretchen, is a senior at Saratoga Springs High School. Our business, Maxwell Property Management, begins its 20th year in September 2011. Much love to all!”

Doug Hopkins writes, “My wife, Kyle, and I have just finished our first year as teachers at Buffalo Seminary. Eliza is a junior at Sem and Abby is in 8th grade at

46

Nichols School

While in Cape Cod during Fourth of July week, the Weinmann family ran into the Benatovich family by pure happenstance.

Pictured are Penny Benatovich and Peter Allen Weinmann.

Dennis Brinkworth ran the Dublin Marathon in Ireland in October on behalf of Roswell Park Cancer Insititute, and raised $5,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society along the way. Despite a turbulent flight over the Atlantic and the fact that the airline lost his bag containing his running gear, Dennis breezed through the marathon in under four hours.

After 17 years living in the United Kingdom, Jeffrey Clifford moved from London, England to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he will continue to work for the Standard Bank Group in a new role. He will be responsible for structuring crossborder credit transactions between Latin America and Africa, with a focus on Brazil and Lusophone (someone who speaks native Portuguese) Africa, including Angola and Mozambique.

Michael Montesano remains on the research staff for the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. He writes regular op-eds on Thailand for The Wall Street Journal Asia, co-edits the Institute’s annual “Southeast Asia Outlook,” and is editor of the recent book, “Bangkok, May 2010: Perspectives on a Divided Thailand.” In recent years, he has been traveling to Burma, both to lecture in the social sciences and to serve as a member of a Harvard Kennedy School research team working on agricultural policy. In December 2011, he was to give a key-note lecture at the Fifth Thai-Malaysian Conference on Southeast Asian Studies, whose theme was “Re-Making Historical Memory in Southeast Asia” at Mahidon University in Bangkok. He urges Nichols alumni who find themselves nearby to contact him at michael.montesano@aya.yale.edu.

Michael Plager writes, “I continue to work as a nephrologist in western Massachusetts.

Any spare time I have is spent attending to my two sons, Matt, age 13, and Ben, age 10, in their myriad activities. I think of my Nichols days often and hope to return for a visit in the near future.”

1987

time leading scorer for lacrosse with 200 points (120-80) and, as a senior, led the nation in scoring with 5.67 points per game, while ranking fifth in goals per game with 3.67. He was also named the Patriot League MVP and a USILA All-American honorable mention selection.

1981

Philip Hamilton writes, “My husband, Tim, and I live in Putney, VT, where we raise chickens and grow much of our own food.

I continue to work as a whale biologist and am in my 25th year of studying right whales for the New England Aquarium in Boston, Mass. I have reduced my field work to summers in the Bay of Fundy and spend the rest of the time working remotely.

Tim’s painting continues to evolve (www.TimAllenArt.com) as he explores a move away from treescapes. Our dog, Bob, no longer works with me locating whale scat at sea – he now stays home and protects the chickens from predators.”

1991

HealthNow New York named Bridget McIntee as Vice President, Operational Excellence. She brought 15 years of healthcare industry experience to the company when she joined them in 2010.

Mark Rauch completed the Ironman Triathlon in Lake Placid, N.Y. Mark and his wife and their three girls (pictured: Emily, Madison and Mackenzie) live in Evergreen, Colo. His brother, Brad ’85, and his wife live with their four children (pictured: Hannah, James, Grace and Lilly) in Orchard Park, N.Y.

1992

Tina Wagle, associate professor and chair of Empire State College’s School of Graduate Studies, was reappointed to the Catholic Charities Board of Directors.

1988

1993

Kaleida Health Foundation appointed David Pfalzgraf to their Board of Directors as an Officer.

Betsy Constantine was named Vice President of Giving Strategies at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

1989

1997

Derek Laub has been inducted into the Colgate University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Derek finished his career as Colgate’s all-

Sarah Kloepfer McLynn and husband, Bob, welcomed daughter Brayton Isabelle McLynn at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City on July 11, 2011.

Clare Poth, Jeffrey Hayes ’87, Hugh Jones ’87, Fred Maynor ’14 and Diana Jones ’87 (pictured) attended the second annual Target Cancer fundraiser in Boston on Nov. 3. Also in attendance were Simone Federman ’80 and Ken Barthalomew ’87.

Target Cancer was founded in April 2009

by Paul Poth ’87 five months before his death from cancer. For more information, visit www.targetcancer.info.

1983

On Jan. 22, 2011, Jonathan Russ was married to Julie Sulzbacher in their hometown of Wilmington, Del.

1990

The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup in June for the first time since 1972. Posing with the Cup (left to right) are Charlie Jacobs, Bruins Principal and Alternate Governor; his brother, Lou ’82; father Jeremy, Owner; and brother, Jerry ’81.

Winter 2012

47

Kelly McMullen Vogel ’97, her husband, Dan, and big brother, Justin, are proud to announce the arrival of Colin Neal, who was born on April 23, 2011.

1998

Jill Brodsky-Ibrahim graduated from her pediatric endocrinology fellowship at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and joined the Mid-Hudson Medical Group over the summer.

2001

2002

Sara Campos married Jason Saak on Aug. 20, 2011 in Buffalo. Nichols alumni in attendance were: (seated) Anjum Koreishi, Wendy Stone, Sara Campos Saak, Mike Feneziani, (standing) Katie Campos ’04, Lauralynn Drury ’04, Marisa Kaminski ’04, Casey Branchini ’04, Tim Emmerick, Grace Randall, Matt Switala, Jason Saak, Joe Perna and Jonathan Baird.

Nicholas Arnold is a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a pilot who flies the MV-22 Osprey. He returned from Afghanistan in January 2011 and got married in November 2011. He returns for another tour of duty in Afghanistan in January 2012.

Taylor Greene and wife, Rachael Peters, gave birth to a baby boy, Emmet Christopher Greene, on Aug. 18, 2011.

Catherine Vladutiu Suczynski and her husband, Matt, welcomed their son, Noah Adrian Suczynski, on Nov. 30, 2010. A few hours later on the same day, Jessica Napora Spino and her husband, Mike, welcomed their second daughter, Vivian Lynne Spino. Noah and Vivian are already good friends, despite living 700 miles away!

2000

Matthew Willis and wife, Laura Pailler Willis welcomed twin girls in January 2011.

Pictured are Meg Angelakos ’02, Vanessa Jones Visners and Alyson Jones ’98. Vanessa married Reinis Visners in Andover, N.J., at Perona Farms on July 3, 2011. She is an elementary school Assistant Principal in the Bronx and Reinis is a middle school math and science teacher in the Bronx. The couple resides in the Bronx. Meg lives in Manhattan and works for the Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group. Alyson completed her Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Michigan last December, and started as an adjunct professor there this fall. She married Martin LaTreille on Aug. 13, 2011 in Montreal, Canada.

Nomiki Konst is living in Los Angeles, serving as Executive Director of Alliance Hollywood, an advocacy group that represents socially conscious members of the entertainment industry. This year has been a busy year as she is serving as a National Co-Chair of Generation Forty Four (the young professional arm of President Obama’s Re-elect), an at-large DNC Council member and a Partner with the Truman National Security Project.

During her down time, she’s trying to flex her Nichols writing muscles by writing for political/news/entertainment media. She regularly keeps in touch with several of her former Nichols classmates who reside in N.Y. and D.C. and cannot wait to see everyone at the 10-year Reunion!

Roger Scarselletta is working at KPMG Accounting Firm in Boston, Mass.

2003

Dean Wieczorek is a fourth year medical student at Nova Southeastern University.

2004

Constance Butcher Boddice married Luke Boddice in Markinch, Scotland this past July and is working in public relations in Edinburgh.

48

Nichols School

2005

Michael Angelakos ’05 is in the studio working on a new album to be released in early 2012. He recently headlined at shows in Virginia and at Cornell University, and he co-headlined at Moogfest in Knoxville, Tenn., and the Fun Fun Fun Festival in Austin, Texas.

After two years in East Asia, Shoan Yin Cheung has returned to Cornell University this fall to pursue her Ph.D. in the Department of Science and Technology Studies. She is sad to leave her home in Kobe, Japan, but she looks forward to bringing her Japanese and Chinese to a professional level while she investigates her research topic: colonial medicine and ideas of race in Imperial Japan.

Emily Donowick works at the Naval Ship Yard in Washington, D.C., for the Department of Defense as an Industrial and Management Engineer. She will be based in Seattle for five months until December 2011.

Adam Goldfarb recently accepted the position of VISTA Program Manager with WNY AmeriCorps.

Arjun Jain is a first year student at St. John’s University School of Law in New York City.

Jeff Monnin is in his first year of the School of Pharmacy Doctoral Program at D’Youville College. He will graduate in 2014.

C.B. Ohl lives in Chicago, Ill., and is an account executive for The New England Seafood Company.

Shannan Scarselletta is a consultant for IBM in Washington, D.C. She also coaches a girls’ basketball team and performs as a comedian at an improvisational club.

Kyle Winnick has been admitted to the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City, Class of 2014, and was selected to receive a dean’s merit scholarship.

2006

Sarah Dexter is on the dean’s list at the University of Vermont where she majors in Psychology with a minor in Music.

Emily Hettrick graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology and was named the 2011 Holimont Women’s 19–29 ski champion.

Alexandra Best was published in the national newsletter for American Student Dental Association; her article is the cover story of the September issue. She also presented about the Orgullo Project, a community service initiative she launched for the Hispanic chapter of ASDA, at the Hispanic Dental Association annual meeting in San Diego. Ali is a Princeton University graduate and now in her second year of dental school at the University of Florida.

May 2011 Fordham University graduate, Adam Dexter began graduate work this fall in philosophy at the University of Amsterdam.

Bryan Kauffman completed primary flight school with the U.S. Navy and was selected for Tailhook. He will soon be flying jets off of aircraft carriers.

2007

Christopher Arnold graduated in May 2011 from University of Wisconsin, Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Aspects of Conservation with a minor in Environmental Studies.

Anna Whistler graduated from Smith College and was awarded The Harriet Dey Barnum Prize for outstanding work in music to the best all-around student of music in the senior class. Anna also received the Ernst Wallfisch Prize, awarded to a student of music for outstanding talent, commitment and diligence. Anna will attend the University of Massachusetts at Amherst this fall to pursue a master’s in Piano Performance.

Julia Butcher graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Geography and French from the University of Denver. Following a summer internship at Level 3 Communications in Colorado, she will move to Lille, France, to teach high school English.

Thomas Butcher graduated from St. Andrews University in Scotland with first class honors in International Business.

Daniel Deacon graduated magne cum laude from LeMoyne College in May 2011. He completed an internship at the U.S. Department of State and began law school in September at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.

In the spring of his senior year at Hobart College, Michael White won the Lt. John Vandeverg ’50 Memorial Award, which is presented to the varsity lacrosse player who has shown the most improvement. Michael

Winter 2012

49

started every game in his senior season at midfield for the Statesmen and was among the team’s leading scorers.

Nora Williams directed a show for the Toronto Fringe Festival over the summer called “Can You Believe?” a smart satire of religious fanaticism. The play asked tough questions about the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, the on-again, off-again ‘apocalypse’, and the relationship between media and politics through the lens of the hilarious antics of John the Divine (who wrote the Book of Revelation) and his four Horsepersons of the Apocalypse. The play also starred fellow Nichols alumnus, Steve Kellogg ’10.

2008

Allison Todd made the Pre-Elite National Crew Team as a coxswain. The national races, held in Indiana, finished the summer racing season.

Alexandra Verrastro writes, “I’ve transferred yet again. This fall, I’m going into my second year at Medaille College for Veterinary Technology (which is basically

veterinary nursing). I hope to graduate with my associate’s degree of science in Veterinary Technology in the spring of 2012 and take the NYS examinations shortly thereafter to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician. I will continue on at Medaille to get my bachelor’s of science in Veterinary Technology.”

2009

Laura Hettrick is the manager of the College of Charleston hockey team.

Cary Marlette recently studied abroad for a semester in Aix-en-Provence, France.

2010

Matthew Angelakos is enjoying his sophomore year at Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford, Ct. Sebastian Augustine is now working as a Circulation Associate on the Business Board of the Harvard Crimson. This summer, he studied Italian with Francesca Fulciniti in Abruzzo, Italy.

Photo Contest

Jessica Briatico writes, “I had a great first year at George Washington University – I really love D.C.! I enjoy working for D.C. Reads, a nonprofit organization that offers one-on-one tutoring for D.C. students in need, to help the city’s ailing public schools and low graduation rates. I’d like to thank my Nichols teachers for inspiring me to teach.”

Peter Loree is a sophomore at St. Lawrence University, majoring in Biology with a minor in Geology, and writes that both areas of study “are a nod to my excellent teachers at Nichols: Dr. Rosenblum in chemistry and Mr. Ring in physics and geology. Thank you both for introducing me to some of my favorite studies. Your enthusiasm was contagious!”

Jacob Shedd made the dean’s list at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Thomas Unger is a sophomore majoring in Physics at Boston University.

Victoria Vossler has had a successful rowing season with St. Lawrence University. She is the varsity coxswain on the four boat and so far has been undefeated in the 2011 season.

Former Faculty

James Cosbey III writes in memory of Kim Kimberly ’47, “Although four-score in chronological age, I will always remember you as a kid at heart!”

Keep in Touch!

Share your

good news with us!

“What are these students celebrating?”

The first person to email the correct answer to development@nicholsschool.org will receive a Nichols prize pack!

The first Friday of every month, we have a similar contest on our Facebook page. Like us on Facebook to play.

50

Nichols School

Contact: Blake Walsh ’98 Director of Alumni Relations 716.332.5164 bwalsh@nicholsschool.org

Faculty Profile

Russell Combs What is your position at Nichols?

I teach Ancient World and U.S. History and am chair of the History Department.

How long have you been teaching at Nichols?

This is my fifth year.

What was your path leading to Nichols like?

My path to Nichols started in the library of Limestone Union Free School in Limestone, N.Y. – a quiet hamlet of less than 400 people on the N.Y./ Penn. border in Cattaraugus County. There are more people in Morning Meeting than where I grew up.

I read Frederick Douglass’s narrative in sixth grade and at that point knew I wanted to study and teach history. From Limestone I went first to the Olean campus of Jamestown Community College, then on to the State University of New York at Potsdam (B.A.) and St. Bonaventure University (M.A). For three years, I was a graduate assistant in the University at Albany’s doctoral program in history. I left the program for a teaching position at The Doane Stuart School where I spent the next five years teaching history and serving as the Dean of Students. I worked the next two years at The Albany Academy as their Dean of Students, director of the leadership program and the resident faculty member in their dorm. Shortly after my time at Academy, my family moved to Buffalo and I came to Nichols.

What extra-curricular activities are you involved in?

I am the Chair of the Student Conduct Committee and I work with the Mock Trial and Masterminds teams.

You recently attended a Leadership Conference and brought back some great ideas for how we at Nichols can use what you learned. Tell us about that.

The Gardner Carney Leadership Institute is a nice fit with what we are trying to build at Nichols through the Zeller Initiative for Character and Leadership. Their philosophy is that leadership can be taught and that teachers are the best people to do so. The strongest leadership development programs emerge organically from a school’s cultural values. Young programs are nurtured carefully and with great patience.

To that end, we are devoting chunks of our professional development days this year to giving tools to teachers that will help them understand their own leadership strengths and tendencies. We have to understand ourselves before we can effectively teach our students about leadership.

What is the best part of your job?

This question reminds me of a conversation I had with one of my professors at Potsdam.

We were talking in his office about grad school and my career goals. Professor Mathews’ office was small with a number of tall, wobbly stacks of books and papers scattered about. He leaned back in his chair, put his hands behind his head and said, “This is the greatest job in the world.

Every day I get to come to work and talk about history. And they pay me!” There are many duties associated with being a teacher and almost all of them take a fair amount of time and energy. Despite that, there hasn’t been a single day in the last 12 years that teaching felt like work. Every day I get to talk with intelligent, interested and interesting students and swap ideas with brilliant colleagues about history and teaching. And they pay me!

What do you like to do on the weekends?

I play as much softball as I can fit in and golf a bit here and there. When I can, I drop in on Thursday Night Hoops. My favorite weekend activities involve Saturday morning cartoons and chocolate chip waffles with my amazing daughters and beautiful wife.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

I’ve had the good fortune to work at three very good independent schools and attend a number of conferences around the country where I visited and learned about many other schools over the last dozen years. I can say with great conviction that Nichols is not only the strongest school in Buffalo, but it is a rare gem in the independent school world.

This is, quite simply, a special campus.

1250 Amherst St. Buffalo, NY 14216

In the Next Issue: Alumni Awards, Party for the Arts and International Dinner

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Buffalo, NY Permit No. 3658