The Bridge 2014-15

THE BRIDGE A P U B L I C AT I O N O F P H O E N I X C O U N T R Y DAY S C H O O L

Winter 2014

PCDS prepares promising students to become responsible leaders and lifelong learners through an education that emphasizes intellectual engagement, independence, collaboration, creativity, and integrity.

THE BRIDGE Phoenix Country Day School, Winter 2014

Andrew Rodin Headmaster Roz Abero ‘89 Assistant Head of School C. Ryan Joyce Director of Advancement Patrick McHonett Director of Admissions and Marketing Leslie Feldman ‘99 Director of Alumni Relations Katie Charles Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship Kaitlan Cady Assistant Director of Operations for Admissions and Advancement Lydia Rodin Advancement Events Coordinator Aashay Sanghvi ‘14 Advancement Intern Largo Photography Feature Photography & Special Events Other photography: Patrick McHonett; Aashay Sanghvi ’14; PCDS student, faculty, alumni, and parent contributors.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please email The Bridge at communications@pcds.org. © 2014 Phoenix Country Day School.

All rights reserved.

Cover: PCDS students wear the official THRIVE Blue & Gold t-shirts at the 47th Annual Blue & Gold event. The night featured a “Thrive-in Movie” to launch our comprehensive campaign, THRIVE, and was capped by a fireworks extravaganza.

This Page: PCDS Lower School students prepare to race in the new Aquatic Center during the annual Lower School Swim Exhibition.

Contents Features

Departments

4

Meet the Trustees

2

Message from the Headmaster

6

Educational Partners: PCDS & Stanford University

12

Athletics Recap 2014

13

Arts Spotlight 2014

8

Graduation 2014

18

Faculty Announcement

19

Student Service

12 New Faculty Spotlight:

Lisa Culbertson, Head

of Upper School 16 5 Questions for

Jessica Raab, Director

of College Counseling

34 Alumni Events 36 Honorary Distinguished

Alumna of the Year 38 PCDS Athletic Hall of Fame 48 Class Notes

20 Educating the Whole Child

One Day at a Time 22 Giving Back: A Family

Tradition Since 1961

60 From the Archives 61

Annual Report on Giving

76 Save the Date

30 THRIVE: A Comprehensive Campaign 78 Hooray for Hollywood!

Spotlight on Robert Simonds ‘81

THRIVE FLAG 101 If you’ve been on our campus recently, you’ve seen the THRIVE flags flying proudly. Those flags have a strong presence throughout the pages of this edition of The Bridge, as well.

So, what is THRIVE, anyway?

THRIVE: intransitive verb, \’thriv\ 1. to grow or develop successfully; 2. to flourish or succeed THRIVE is the name of our comprehensive capital campaign­— the largest in our history.

But it’s so much more.

It’s community. It’s spirit. It’s pride.

THRIVE. Since 1961. Always have. Always will.

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MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER

O

n a recent flight to the East Coast, the passenger next to me, looking to make small talk, asked where I was from.

Without giving it much thought, I replied: “Washington, D.C.” After all, I was born there.

But then I reconsidered, and offered a new answer: “Actually, I’m from Phoenix.”

The notion of “Where We Are From” is one that means something different to each of us. For me, it’s about where I feel at home—about where my family lives, and about where I feel connection and purpose. It’s also about where I find joy.

No doubt, the correct response is my second one: Phoenix is my home. But I’ll always feel a deep relationship to the Nation’s Capital, where my mind was opened to so many of the possibilities I still pursue today, and where the building blocks for my sense of self were formed.

Andrew Rodin, Headmaster

Through the last several months, as I’ve traveled around the country meeting with PCDS alumni, I’ve noted that I’m not alone in wrestling with this question of place.

Whether in Boston or New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco, our graduates are making their marks on their new communities. They are setting the bar high and exceeding their goals. They are having an impact on those around them.

But they never seem to forget where they are from. And they routinely have resoundingly positive things to say about their time at PCDS. I was keenly aware

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“ As a parent of three current PCDS students, I couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible good fortune that my own kids have to be part of this impressive community—of this family. And how they’ll always be able to draw from it strength and connection.” Andrew Rodin

of this positive energy and feeling of belonging as we hosted our annual Blue & Gold celebration in October. Our alumni tent was filled with Eagles who had traveled from far and wide to celebrate a new school year and the launch of our THRIVE campaign. Amidst the carnival rides, plentiful food, fireworks—and even the THRIVE movie—their conversations, time and again, returned to our school and the impact it has had on them. About how PCDS has made them the people that they are, and about how proud they are to see this as their shared point of origin.

As a parent of three current PCDS students, I couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible good fortune that my own kids have to be part of this impressive community—of this family. And how they’ll always be able to draw from it strength and connection.

So, as I introduce you to our latest issue of The Bridge, I’d like to leave you with one certainty: No matter where you’ve traveled and what you’ve done—whether you’re a current student or parent, alumnus, past parent, or friend­—you will always have a home at Phoenix Country Day School.

Andrew M. Rodin 3

Meet the Trustees

Top row, left to right: Donna Johnson, Susan Greenfield*, Taylor Burke, Mark Detmer, Michelle Hosmar, Tracy Schwimmer, Tracy Brennan, Don Dady. Front row, left to right: Jahm Najafi, Margaux Rosen, Adam Goodman, David Lewis, Paulette Dodson, Charles W. Shields, Tim Louis, Nicholas S. Firestone, Charlene Whitfill, Andrew Rodin*. Not pictured: Wendy Selig-Prieb, Augustine Gomez* *ex officio

“The Board of Trustees has three overarching responsibilities: to protect the school’s financial health; to oversee the Head of School; and, perhaps most importantly, to ensure thoughtful creation and execution of the school’s long-range vision through the strategic plan. It is my honor to work with a great team to achieve these objectives.”

Jahm Najafi, President, Board of Trustees Strategic Plan 2014 Highlights The full Strategic Plan, as well as updates on our progress, can be found under “About PCDS” at www.pcds.org. But to give you a sense of the plan, below are some highlights: Program • Continue review of curriculum with emphasis on maximizing student engagement.

See article on Challenge Success, page 6.

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Community • Continue to engage and build the alumni base.

See article on page 34.

• Create student internship programs to broaden and enrich student academic experience.

See article on page 43.

Faculty, Coaches, and Staff • Define PCDS pedagogical philosophy: The Portrait of a PCDS Teacher.

• Recruit and retain exceptional teachers, coaches, and staff.

Communications and Marketing • Launch comprehensive campaign for improved facilities and endowment growth.

See article on page 30.

• Continue to build and market a consistent school brand.

Finances • Consistently present balanced budget around stable enrollment of 720, low tuition increases, and draw on endowment between 2-6%.

• Grow annual fund beyond 80% parent participation. Lend greater emphasis to individual tax credit and Student Tuition Organizations.

Facilities • Seek opportunities to make our campus and our practices more sustainable.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jahm Najafi President Taylor Burke Executive Vice President Mark Detmer Vice President - Advancement Michelle Hosmar Vice President - Facilities David Lewis Co-Vice President Finance/Operations Charles W. Shields Co-Vice President Finance/Investments Charlene Whitfill Vice President - Trusteeship

National Association of Independent Schools PCDS is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), which sets forth guidelines for independent school governing boards.

Principles of Good Practice for Boards The board is the guardian of the school’s mission.

It is the board’s responsibility to ensure that the mission is relevant and vital to the community it serves and to monitor the success of the school in fulfilling its mission.

The following Principles of Good Practice are set forth to provide a common perspective on the responsibilities of independent school boards. The board and the head work in partnership in fulfilling these principles.

1. The board adopts a clear statement of the school’s mission, vision, and strategic goals and establishes policies and plans consistent with this statement.

2. The board reviews and maintains appropriate bylaws that conform to legal requirements, including duties of loyalty, obedience, and care.

3. The board assures that the school and the board operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, minimizing exposure to legal action. The board creates a conflict of interest policy that is reviewed with, and signed by, individual trustees annually.

4. The board accepts accountability for both the financial stability and the financial future of the institution, engaging in strategic financial planning, assuming primary responsibility for the preservation of capital assets and endowments, overseeing operating budgets, and participating actively in fund raising.

5. The board selects, supports, nurtures, evaluates, and sets appropriate compensation for the head of school.

6. The board recognizes that its primary work and focus are long-range and strategic.

7. The board undertakes formal strategic planning on a periodic basis, sets annual goals related to the plan, and conducts annual written evaluations for the school, the head of school, and the board itself.

8. The board keeps full and accurate records of its meetings, committees, and policies and communicates its decisions widely, while keeping its deliberations confidential.

9. Board composition reflects the strategic expertise, resources, and perspectives (past, present, future) needed to achieve the mission and strategic objectives of the school.

10. The board works to ensure all its members are actively involved in the work of the board and its committees.

11. As the leader of the school community, the board engages proactively with the head of school in cultivating and maintaining good relations with school constituents as well as the broader community and exhibits best practices relevant to equity and justice.

12. The board is committed to a program of professional development that includes annual new trustee orientation, ongoing trustee education and evaluation, and board leadership succession planning.

Tracy Brennan Don Dady Paulette Dodson Nicholas S. Firestone ‘84 Adam Goodman Donna Johnson David Lewis Tim Louis ‘81 Margaux Rosen Wendy Selig-Prieb Ex officio: Andrew Rodin Headmaster Augustine Gomez ‘99 President, Alumni Association Board Susan Greenfield President, Parents’ Association Advisory Trustees: Beverly Bradway Ax Susan J. Bansak Daniel J. Donahoe III Bennett Dorrance Susan Garrity Samuel Garvin Donald R. Loback Herbert J. (Tim) Louis Nan P. Miller Ellie B. Nolan Frederick M. Pakis Nicholas J. Sakellariadis ‘69 Jonah Shacknai Shoshana B. Tancer Garth Wieger Gay Firestone Wray

5

Educational Partners:

PCDS & Stanford University Maximizing Student Engagement

A

Dr. Rich Rende, PCDS Director of Curriculum and Instruction

s I prepared to move out west to assume the newlycreated position of Director of Curriculum and Instruction at PCDS in 2013, I asked my colleagues at Brown University for a little advice. I wanted to know of any educational research programs that were not just top-notch, but experienced in applying their expertise during this exciting era when curricular evolution is part of a national conversation. Without hesitation, two words always topped the list: Challenge Success.

article on Strategic Plan, page 4. As we thought about responding to this goal, we were struck by a defining element of the Challenge Success group: their conviction that student engagement is the foundation of effective education. We knew that we had found our ideal match; and it didn’t hurt that we would be affiliating with one of the most prominent universities in the world, further illuminating PCDS’ role as a national leader in education.

Soon after arriving at PCDS, I reached out to Dr. Denise Pope, co-founder and director of Challenge Success, a research organization at the Stanford Graduate School of Education.

It became clear why there was such enthusiasm about this group—they were thought leaders in educational research and practice, boldly tackling core issues with careful consideration of implications for practice. Like many outstanding graduate programs in education, they published cutting edge white papers and scientific articles. In addition, they had a unique track record of helping great schools continue to evolve in order to provide the most outstanding educational and developmental experiences for their students.

Much has already happened since we partnered with Challenge Success. Dr. Pope visited campus in the spring of 2014 to speak with our entire faculty and staff, where she observed that our talented faculty had already taken critical steps toward student engagement and were ripe to continue that momentum, saying, “It’s very obvious that this is a caring place.” In fact, she referenced a number of initiatives already underway at PCDS that she recommends other schools implement, such as block scheduling in both the Upper and Middle School and a wide range of course offerings, including an increasingly interesting mix of electives.

As the 2014 Strategic Plan came together, we considered the value of bringing in an objective academic partner to focus on one of the key goals: to continue our review of curriculum with an emphasis on maximizing student engagement. See

In the fall of 2014, Dr. Pope spoke to parents across all three divisions about the work done at Stanford and again met with faculty and staff. PCDS then sent a team of 12—representing faculty, parents, students, administration and trustees—to the Challenge Success Fall Conference at Stanford to dig into their educational research and to begin working with our Challenge Success team to develop a multi-year plan of action. Our latest step was surveying our students in grades 6-12 to get their insights about engagement and experiences here at PCDS.

Dr. Rich Rende is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for PCDS. He is a former faculty member at Brown University, has contributed to Parents Magazine, and is often published nationally for his works on child development.

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“ We knew that we had found our ideal match; and it didn’t hurt that we would be affiliating with one of the most prominent universities in the world, further illuminating PCDS’ role as a national leader in education.”

Dr. Rich Rende Through this partnership we have three core goals. First, we will identify specific academic areas that seem ripe for opportunities for enhancing engagement and develop faculty teams to pursue these topics. Second, we will develop ways for parents to join in on similar efforts, with an additional focus on promoting the health and well-being of our students. Third, we will continue to ask our students directly how we can best engage them.

While the specifics will result from our collective perspectives, it’s not hard to visualize educational practices that foster the development of 21st-century skills like problem-solving, innovative thinking, and collaborative learning.

As you can imagine, this is a multi-year process, beginning with an immediate focus on the Upper School before transitioning to the Middle and Lower Schools. The approach is not radical, and we will ensure that we balance opportunities for increased engagement with all of the beloved features that make PCDS so special. We couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities that this partnership brings to our community and our students. n

The PCDS Delegation to the Challenge Success Fall Conference at Stanford University (left to right): Don Dady, Parent and Trustee; Lisa Culbertson, Upper School Head; Donna Johnson, Parent and Trustee; Max Johnson ’17; Judson Garrett, Upper School History; Andrew Rodin, Parent and Headmaster; Sue Mazzolini, Upper School Math, Alana Francis-Crow ’17; Rich Rende, Director of Curriculum and Instruction; Mort Dukehart, Middle School Head; Sybil Francis, Parent

Visit PCDS.org for future updates on the partnership with Challenge Success.

“Like” Challenge Success on Facebook to read more important articles on the many factors of student engagement in schools.

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COLLEGE DESTINATIONS 2014

Congratulations to the PCDS Class of 2014!

Jonathan Abdo ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Briana Ewart ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Alexa Lewis Dartmouth College

Raghav Agarwal ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Kristine Forster Pepperdine University

Lauren Lindley University of Cincinnati

Deg Atmakuri George Washington University

Keely Franklin ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Margaret Loncki Claremont McKenna College

Sam Ax University of Pennsylvania

Andrew Garner University of Arizona

Madeline Louis Marymount Manhattan College

Mira Bansal Wellesley College

Michelle Greenfield Princeton University

Stephen Marquis Case Western Reserve University

Isabelle Brothers Trinity College

Suzette Guzman Scripps College

Kalea Martin* Mount Holyoke College

Brendan Burke Southern Methodist University

Sophia Ho Southern Methodist University

Chris Mattinson* UCLA

Karen Catano ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Sidrah Khan University Southern California

Alexandra Melikian Occidental College

Aaron Cohen ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Brennen Lee University of Pennsylvania

Ashlynn Miller Duke University

Ana Corey* ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

8

er h Bob Kosow es hands wit ak sh e) al (Y n ‘14 Alex Swanso ion procession. at du ra G ng ri du

The Class of on Daly B 2014 shakes hands ridge durin g Graduati with PCDS faculty on process ion.

Phoenix Country Day School Class of

2014

Blake Miller* ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Laura Samota Arizona State University

Emily Wendt* Georgetown University

Parisa Noghrehchi University of Arizona

Aashay Sanghvi Harvard University

Katherine Werth Carnegie Mellon University

Prescot Noghrehchi Arizona State University

Morgan Schwartz Smith College

Madeleine Withee New York University

Sydney Portigal* Elon University

Gabriele Shacknai* University of Edinburgh

Jaqueline Wright Cornell University

Saira Purewal UCLA

Cole Shepard* University of Arizona

Chelsea Wu Rice University

Alex Rigberg* Lehigh University

Adam Sidi ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Alice Zhao Yale University

Jonathan Rooney* Tufts University

Rachael Stottlemyre ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Nikhita Sachdeva University of Arizona Honors College

Robert Swanson Yale University

Clarisse Salazar Scripps College

Emily Taracena ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

* PCDS Lifer: A student who attended Phoenix Country Day School from pre-k or kindergarten through senior year.

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AWARDS 2014 Art Department Award Lauren Lindley

Mandarin Award Staley Lane

Rhode Island School of Design Award Katherine Werth

Robert Hendrickson Community Service Award Clarisse Salazar

Theatre Arts Award Madeline Louis

Eagle Awards Samuel Ax Michelle Greenfield

Jazz Band Award Christopher Mattinson Strings Award Chelsea Wu Choir Award Madeline Louis

Most Outstanding Athlete Awards Margaret Loncki Prescot Noghrehchi Margaret Madden Speech Prize Ashlynn Miller

Senior Prizes Robert Swanson Alice Zhao

Galen Brewster Leadership Prize Michelle Greenfield Geoffrey D. Campbell Award Jonathan Rooney Victor D. Feeney Prize Margaret Loncki Faculty Prize Morgan Schwartz

English Award Alexa Lewis English Award for Composition Robert Swanson Alice Zhao History Award Robert Swanson Salo Baron Prize Michelle Greenfield Mathematics Award Brennen Lee Alexa Lewis Rensselaer Medal Bryeson Rodgers Science Award Samuel Ax Chelsea Wu Bausch & Lomb Award Lance Nino Spanish Award Sean Svejda French Award Alexa Lewis Latin Award Sabrina Whitfill

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Saira Purewal ‘14 (UCL A) hugs Lower School tea Andy McKean, during Graduation procession. cher and Girls’ Varsity Soccer Coach,

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Thirteen PCDS seniors were honored in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program. The program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships for high school students nationwide. More than 1.5 million juniors nationwide, in some 22,000 high schools, took the qualifying test, the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. Each year, those scoring highest in each state are named Semifinalists. To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record, be recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. Scholarship designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

National Merit Commended Student Raghav Agarwal

National Merit Finalist Brennen Lee

National Merit Finalist Morgan Schwartz

National Merit Semifinalist Samuel Ax

National Merit Finalist Alexa Lewis

Merit Commended Student Emily Wendt

National Merit Commended Student Michelle Greenfield

National Merit Commended Student Alex Rigberg

National Merit Finalist & Scholarship Recipient Sidrah Khan

National Merit Finalist Jonathan Rooney

National Merit Finalist & Scholarship Recipient Chelsea Wu

National Merit Commended Student Aashay Sanghvi

National Merit Finalist Alice Zhao

PCDS LIFERS: CLASS OF 2014 These students attended Phoenix Country Day School from pre-k or kindergarten through their senior year. “ Being a lifer at PCDS meant that I had a second home. Every August for 14 years, I knew exactly what I was coming back to. I knew the quickest way to the gym and the best foods in the cafeteria. I knew all of my teachers so well that I knew most of their pets’ names. But most importantly, I would walk onto campus every morning at 7:45 and be happy to be there. For 14 years, there was never a question in my mind that maybe I should have left to go and ‘try something new.’ PCDS was, and will always be, a second home for me.

I am forever grateful to the PCDS community for helping me grow into the person that I am and for the relationships I made that I know will last a lifetime.”

Sydney Portigal ‘14 Back row to front, left to right: Chris Mattinson – UCLA; Jonathan Rooney – Tufts University; Alex Rigberg – Lehigh University; Emily Wendt – Georgetown University; Cole Shepard – University of Arizona; Blake Miller – ASU, Barrett, The Honors College; Gabby Shacknai – University of Edinburgh; Ana Corey – ASU, Barrett, The Honors College; Kalea Martin – Mount Holyoke College; Sydney Portigal – Elon University

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ATHLETICS RECAP 2014 The 2013-14 athletics year finished with a multitude of successes. With over 50 teams available to students in grades 5-12, over 80% of our students participated in at least one sport last year. A hallmark experience of many PCDS athletes is the ability to compete at an extremely high level and contend for and win championships, while also being able to participate in multiple sports throughout the year. While some students will specialize in a given sport or season, most PCDS students play multiple sports each year.

This trend continues on the varsity level in the Upper School.

The 2013-14 athletic year brought incredible successes for our students at each grade level: The 2013-14 sports seasons featured a state golf champion, Alexander Garner ‘14, and three section players of the year—Andrew Ekmark ’16 (basketball), Sarah Petrides ’15 (softball), and Bryce Stockslager ’15 (tennis). Additionally, PCDS athletes earned a total of 19 All-State nods in 2013-14.

Class of 2014 college athletes Alexandra Melikian, Andrew Garner, and Margaret Loncki

GO EAGLES! 12

Our athletic successes at the Upper School are built upon the many opportunities in the Middle School athletics program, as well as our Lower and Middle School PE programs.

In the 2013-14 year, our Middle School sports teams played in the championship game or match in thirteen different sports, bringing home six titles in the process. More importantly, participation in Middle School athletics continues to offer the opportunity for students to build leadership and time-management skills, value personal health and fitness, and attempt new challenges not otherwise offered at many other schools.

Lastly, our students’ athletic experiences at PCDS often open doors for their continued engagement with their sport at the NCAA level. Three graduates from the PCDS Class of 2014 continue to compete at the varsity level in college—Andrew Garner (golf) at the University of Arizona, Margaret Loncki (soccer and golf) at Claremont McKenna College, and Alexandra Melikian (volleyball) at Occidental College.

Andrew Ekmark ’16, Section Player of the Year

Middle School softball team champions

Bryce Stockslager ’15, Section Player of the Year

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New Faculty Spotlight: Lisa Culbertson, Head of Upper School

I

n April, after conducting a national search, Lisa Culbertson was announced as the new Head of Upper School. During the hiring process, a PCDS Search Advisory Committee identified key traits it would require of its next division leader—authentic presence, inspirational leadership, passion for education, clear communication, and decisive and courageous decision-making.

Since the announcement of her appointment, Ms. Culbertson has demonstrated all of these qualities and more.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Lisa attended the Hockaday School before moving on to Cornell University, where she majored in government. After teaching mathematics and serving as Dean of Students at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin, Ms. Culbertson completed her Master’s at the prestigious Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, with a major in private school leadership. Her field work at

Lisa competed in the 2008 Olympic Rowing Trials and can often be found trekking the mountains around Arizona in her time away from campus.

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“ She’s really progressive—she’s not going to let high school change and then catch up; she is going to keep this place moving forward in a great direction.” Kyle Money ’15, Student Body President

Columbia focused on educational innovation, where she served as a consultant at The Dalton School, investigating the implementation of design thinking in curricula.

FAST FACTS ABOUT “MS. C.”

In her first few months in Arizona, Ms. Culbertson has familiarized herself with the Sonoran Desert, hiking often and enjoying getting lost in nature. Similarly, she’s learned to navigate our Upper School. Thankfully, she’s had some help.

On only her second day in the office this summer, Lisa had a meeting arranged by a student to give her all the ins and outs of the Upper School.

M.Ed., Columbia University • Private School Leadership • Field work focused on implementation strategy for an interdisciplinary, design thinking curriculum at The Dalton School

Ms. Culbertson reflects on her first few months on the job: I am fortunate to inherit a situation where great work was already in motion. The faculty and I are working to improve our advisory program and are actively taking a deeper look at our curriculum, with the help of our partnership with Stanford’s Challenge Success. Additionally, with the help of Aashay Sanghvi ’14, we’re testing pilot programs designed to engage students outside of the typical classroom experience. It’s an exciting time to be at PCDS. With her strong leadership already making a positive impact on our students and faculty, the future is bright for Ms. Culbertson and our Upper School community. n

Education

B.A., Cornell University • Major in government, with minors in psychology and law

Previous Experience St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Austin, TX • Upper School Dean of Students • Upper School Mathematics Teacher Frederick Douglass Academy, Harlem, NY • High School Mathematics Teacher City College of New York, New York, NY • Mathematics Adjunct Professor for Summer Scholars Academy

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5 Questions for Jessica Raab,

L

Director of College Counseling

ast year, Jessica Raab was hired as the second Director of College Counseling in PCDS history. She joined PCDS

after spending 18 years in the Colorado College Office of Admission, supporting and evaluating applicants from top high schools around the country. After working in conjunction with Paul Schweikher last year, the renowned College Counseling program at PCDS continues under her leadership. The Bridge catches up with Ms. Raab, in the thick of her second year at PCDS, for “5 Questions�.

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What is your favorite aspect of working at PCDS? This is an amazing community of people. I’m inspired by how smart, interesting and engaged our students are. Their commitment to learning and to growing is apparent everyday.

One of the main reasons that I made the change from admission to college counseling was for the chance to work more closely with students in an ongoing way. Seeing their curiosity and helping them tell their story is incredibly rewarding.

What is the biggest challenge facing high school students in the college search and application process?

If you could give a piece of advice to any parent with a child about to begin this search, what would it be?

Finding the time to research, to be reflective, and to know themselves so that they can tell their story. We don’t spend much time “selling ourselves” as high school students—which is good. But applying to college necessitates that students tell their story in an authentic and complete way. It also means being open to the possibility that schools they apply to might, in fact, be places they yet haven’t discovered. We provide the tools to do a comprehensive search process. And we support students through every aspect of this journey—helping them tell their story and build their support team.

I believe in a mindful approach to this process that includes curiosity about a wide range of locations, sizes, programs, and schools; openness to possibility; acceptance that this journey unfolds in expected and unexpected ways, but just as it should; and kindness to one another and to one’s self as the journey evolves. I would also remind them that this journey belongs to their child. Parents are in the passenger seat, asking questions, providing guidance, but letting their student drive.

It seems like there’s more and more hype around college admissions. Has the landscape changed, or is there just more awareness of the competitiveness of admission?

College admission is in the news an awful lot. Most of that news is about a small number of schools. That said, the landscape has changed. Students are applying to more colleges because it’s both easier to apply and because there’s a perception that it is harder to get in. Standards for admission aren’t significantly different, but because college application pools have increased so much, schools have more talented candidates than ever before competing for the same number of spots. What students and parents don’t always realize is that there are nearly 4,000 schools to choose from.

Even that can be overwhelming, which is why we are so fortunate to be able to work individually with students to help them identify the qualities and characteristics that are important to them.

If you could counsel yourself as a high school senior, what advice would you give an 18-year old Jessica Raab applying to college?

I recently shared my story with the seniors, many of whom submitted some kind of early or priority application.

When I was a high school senior, I spent my school’s winter break finishing essays and applications and didn’t really have the time to enjoy my time off from school. My advice is to keep the application momentum going, even after the first few applications are completed. If, as a senior, you maintain a steady application momentum, you’ll have time to relax and unwind during winter break. I would also like to share that I ended up where I was supposed to be—William & Mary. It helped to further shape who I was, and who I was meant to be. William & Mary also helped me to open the door to what is now my career. So, it may sound a tad cliche, but while hard work during the search and application process is necessary, you also need to ‘trust in the process.’ n

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FACULTY ANNOUNCEMENT

Celebrating 45 Years of School Leadership Middle School Head Mort Dukehart Announces Retirement

This fall, Headmaster Andrew Rodin announced the retirement of Middle School Head Mort Dukehart at the end of this school year. In his letter to the community, Headmaster Rodin wrote: “ I’ve seen many, many leaders come and go through independent schools, and I feel supremely confident when I say that Mort Dukehart is one of the great ones. In saying good-bye to him, we bid farewell to his deep understanding of teens and pre-teens; his fierce loyalty to those he works for and with; and his keen sense of humor, which was delightfully often at my expense. Since Mort’s arrival in 2009, our Middle School—and, arguably, our entire school—has seen unparalleled growth in the most critical of areas. Our students feel more comfortable and confident in their daily routine, our teachers feel encouraged to be at the top of their game, and everyone who walks through that Middle School quad feels a sense of pride and belonging that is only really apparent in the very best schools.”

After a 45-year career making a positive impact in independent schools around the country, dating back to his days as a teacher and coach at the Hackley School in New York, and through administrative tenures at Prep for Prep (NY), New Canaan Country School (CT), Browne Academy (VA), and Trinity Episcopal School (TX), as well as the last six at PCDS, Mort has earned more time to enjoy his wife, daughter, grandchildren, and more birding throughout the country.

PCDS has contracted with a top independent school search firm in our national search for the 1975: Mr. Dukehart in the History Department of Hackley School in New York next Middle School head—the same group that brought us recent success in the hiring of Upper School Head Lisa Culbertson. We’re confident that the Middle School, and PCDS as a whole, will continue the positive trajectory set forth by Mort’s stewardship of the Middle School.

For now, though, we will continue to enjoy the last few months with Mort at PCDS. Thank you, Mort, for your enthusiasm and leadership! n

“ I’ve been working at independent schools for 45 years. Let me tell you something: This place is unbelievable, and you’re in good hands. I love all of you and thank you for my time here.”

Mort Dukehart, announcing his retirement to PCDS Middle School students and faculty on October 21, 2014

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STUDENT SERVICE

Serving Our Worldwide Community PCDS Students Carry the School Mission to Haiti

by Cole Dady ‘16

My sister, Samantha ’18, and I know the founders of the charity Chances for Children, which is an organization that has been working to care for orphans in Haiti for nearly a decade. As a result of our relationship, we had the opportunity to travel to Haiti last year to meet some of the Chances for Children beneficiaries firsthand.

When we arrived in Haiti, we were pretty shocked to see the drastic differences between life in Haiti compared to that which we enjoy in the United States—the roads are overcrowded, living spaces are cramped, and the lack of sanitation was pervasive. There is a widespread sense of poverty and disorder. Some walk for miles up hills carrying one hundred pounds of bananas in hopes that they will sell a few of them.

Children wake up before dawn to walk far distances to collect water from the well for bathing and drinking. The Haitian orphan epidemic is also a major concern.

Due to extreme poverty, many Haitian parents are forced to abandon or relinquish their children because they do not have the ability to feed, care or educate them.

Chances for Children works with a number of groups in Haiti to address the orphan problem through education and by providing food, clothing, medical care, and financial assistance.

The faces of the children whom I met at a Chances for Children adoption center will forever stay engrained in my memory.

After we returned home, my sister and I were more motivated than ever to help the Chances for Children cause in Haiti. As such, we planned a food and diaper drive within our community to collect spaghetti, pinto beans, white rice, and diapers—some of the basic items Haitian orphans need for daily life. We educated our friends, neighbors, classmates, and teachers about the dire situation in Haiti by handing out fliers and wristbands in the mornings at school. We were so moved by how our PCDS community, in turn, assisted our cause. By the end of our drive we collected over 1,000 items, which were sent to Haiti, including enough diapers to support Chances for Children for an entire month. Our work continued this fall when we hosted our second drive to assist Haitian orphans as their situation is still dire. It is the least we can do serve a very small portion of our worldwide community. To learn more about Chances for Children, please visit their website at www.chances4children.org. n

‘18 (above) and Samantha Dady Cole Dady ‘16 (top) iti.

Ha s for Children in volunteer at Chance 19

Educating the Whole Child One Day at a Time Experience a Typical School Day for a Phoenix Country Day School Student

THE HANDSHAKE In a gesture that encapsulates the PCDS spirit of supporting and educating the whole child, Headmaster Andrew Rodin greets each student with a warm welcome as they arrive on campus.

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY Our entire Lower School assembles to discuss and explore weekly themes such as Birds of Prey through activities and guest speakers.

The Middle and Upper School begin their class day. Middle School students might be in English class focusing on the six traits of writing, while Upper School students might be in advanced biology or a more focused instruction such as marine biology. The 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio means small class sizes. This hallmark of the School’s program allows the faculty to take extra time with each student to focus on their individual educational needs.

IT’S NOT A BREAK, IT’S ENGAGEMENT This period is a short but vital window of time. In Middle School, students use these 50 minutes called Enrichment Time to pursue electives such as organic gardening, or come together with the entire division for Morning Meeting or with their small advisor group. Upper School also uses the time for morning meetings to gather for announcements and recognitions or for advisor group sessions. Once a week the entire Upper School assembles to listen to Senior Speeches.

Every PCDS senior is required to write, edit, and then deliver a speech on a topic of their choosing to the Upper School

community. Senior Speeches are a unique and often times very emotional PCDS tradition.

LATE MORNING The day is in full swing and learning abounds. Our Lower School students are working on their reading comprehension skills and learning about new places and cultures. Middle School students are studying algebra or Mandarin, while Upper School students might be diving into precalculus or discovering the art of the short story in English IV.

EARLY AFTERNOON One of the things that make PCDS such a distinctive learning environment, aside from our phenomenally dedicated faculty, is our ability to offer a specialized education. We simply offer courses that other schools don’t. This allows our students to select academic experiences that best align with their passions and interests. During third class you might find Upper School students going over star charts in astronomy, learning the basics of robotics, or practicing their Mandarin, French, Spanish, or Latin before embarking on an international study trip to speak the language with locals.

AFTERNOON BREAK Whether it’s grabbing a snack or maybe taking part in a quick “Improv in the Quad,” this 20-minute break gives our dedicated students time to decompress and take a breather from their very busy and productive class schedules. Upper School students might also use this time to visit with teachers, whether to extend a conversation from class, catch up with a former teacher, or get extra help. Middle School students

From left to right: Headmaster Rodin greets students each morning; Lower School art teacher Michelle Gurnee offering individual instruction; Upper School Spirit Week Boat Regatta

20

PCDS by the Numbers

might grab a basketball for a quick game or just hang out with friends before finishing the school day.

AFTERNOON CLASSES As the academic day winds down, students are still immersed in a variety of subjects. Upper School seniors are perhaps discussing everything from human evolution to sound design and Ideation. Our Lower School kindergartners are focused on writing and learning about community through discovery, play and reflection. If you strolled by the music building at this time, you might hear a group of Middle School students harmonizing in vocal choir.

FINAL BELL, BUT THE DAY’S NOT DONE When the final bell rings you can find Headmaster Andrew Rodin in the middle of campus, greeting students and asking about the school day that just ended.

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Even after 3:00pm you’ll find the PCDS campus abuzz with activity. Afterschool care in Lower School is a boon to many of our working parents. Our Middle and Upper School students are heavily involved in athletics and clubs.

Practices, games, and meets teach our students about teamwork, commitment, and leadership, whether they are participating in soccer, basketball, speech, robotics, debate, or any other of our after school offerings.

THRIVE It’s not just a tagline for our Capital Campaign. As you can see above, at Phoenix Country Day School we take pride in our mission and ability to educate the whole child. This well balanced approach between academics, arts, athletics, and community has set the standard for educational excellence for over 50 years in the Southwest. The results are proven and as PCDS alumni throughout the years continue make their mark as world citizens, it becomes clear that our efforts to teach them to claim greatness have been successful. n

735 75

Total students, grades pre-k through 12

Number of students in 9th grade, our largest ever

30 Number of students in pre-k, our smallest grade level

8:1 36 years

Student to teacher ratio

Tenure of Assistant Athletic Director Bob Kosower at PCDS

15% Average percentage of National Merit Semi-finalists graduating over last five years

745,000 Gallons of water held in the 50-meter competition pool at the new PCDS Aquatic & Tennis Center

75% Percentage of Class of 2014 attending college out-of-state 102 pages Record length of a student’s ID paper submitted for Dave Martin’s AP US History class

70% Percentage of PCDS faculty with advanced degrees $2,082,918

Financial aid and tax credit dollars spent to support PCDS students with verified financial need in 2013-14

42 Letter sounds taught in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten Jolly Phonics program

147 Playbills tacked to the wall in Mr. Eriksen’s 5th grade English classroom

4.52 billion

Years drawn to scale on the Earth Science timeline surrounding Mr. Cook’s 7th grade science lab

80% Percentage of Middle and Upper School students playing sports at PCDS 8,095 miles

Distance from PCDS to Dehli, India— destination of an Upper School Spring Break 2015 service and cultural trip 21

Aquatic & Tennis Center Grand Opening August 2014: Amy and Timothy Louis P ’14, P ’17, P ’22, Gay Wray P ’77, P ’80, P ’83, and Director of Advancement C. Ryan Joyce

MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF

THRIVIN G

1961

1962

1964

1965

PCDS breaks ground with $316,000.

Annual Giving reaches $6,500.

Dutcher Science Building is completed.

PCDS graduates its first class.

Original Facilities: Main Classrooms, Study Hall, and Burch Hall.

Annual Fund begins.

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Giving Back:

A Family Tradition Since 1961

By C. Ryan Joyce, Director of Advancement, and Aashay Sanghvi ’14, Advancement Intern

A

merican novelist and former long-time Arizona State

University English professor Ron Carlson writes in his short story, “The H Street Sledding Record,” “Every Christmas Eve, my daughter, my wife, and I attempt to break the H Street sledding record. It’s a ritual we started when we first got married. We are competing against no one!”

Carlson’s narrator has no regrets about the disparity between his family’s traditions and more idealized versions of holiday rituals. What’s more important to him is consistency, custom, and longevity—tenets that should resonate with over 50 years of Phoenix Country Day School students, families and dedicated teachers. In fact, according to a New York Times article from May, 2013 entitled “The Stories That Bind Us,” Dr. Marshall Duke, a noted psychologist from Emory University, states, “The single most important thing you can do for your family may be the simplest of all: develop a strong family narrative.”

Aerial shot of Phoenix Country Day School campus in 1973

PCDS is, on all levels, a family. It is hard not to be whimsical in the holiday season. By the time you read this article and flip through the pages of The Bridge, daily life at Phoenix Country Day School will have been filled with holiday cheer. Our acapella group will have sung renditions of songs that resonate across our community’s many cultures and backgrounds.

What’s more, fake snow will have been thrown by Upper School students on the last day of finals, and Middle School students will have enjoyed the winter play with hot cocoa in hand. Lastly, alumni from across the country will have returned to Phoenix for the annual PCDS Alumni Holiday Party. These

1967

1969

1973

1976

1977

1978-9

First Field Day is held—now known as Blue & Gold Day.

Trustee Dr. Herbert J. “Tim” Louis gives money to establish the PCDS endowment.

Trustees Bert Getz & Peter Wray provide funds for Aquacenter and tennis courts.

Paul Schweikher establishes the College Counseling office.

The first capital campaign, The Pursuit of Excellence, raises $2,011,919 for buildings and endowment.

Campus improvements include the Admin building, more lower school classrooms, and the Burch Hall extension of the dining hall.

The Alumni Association is established.

Annual Giving reaches $150,000. 90% parent and 100% staff participation in the Annual Fund.

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Noyes Family—Three Decades of Generosity Since 1985, Linda F. Noyes has generously contributed year after year to Phoenix Country Day School. Ms. Noyes’ philanthropy marks the longest consecutive giving in PCDS history—29 years and counting.

In conjunction with the longevity of her continuous support and on behalf of her three alumni children, Clarissa Simek Robinson ‘88, Kate Portanova ‘96, and Zeb Portanova ‘97, Ms. Noyes established The Noyes Endowment for the Arts in honor of her mother, Clara R. Noyes, an arts enthusiast. Annual gifts to this endowment through the Linda F. Noyes Charitable Lead Trust are scheduled until the year 2032, and will directly benefit her granddaughters—Lilly ‘21, Ellie ‘24, and Josie ‘25—as well as hundreds of current and future students.

Thank you, Noyes family, for your consistent support to PCDS, which enables us to educate the whole child. Tomorrow’s bright leaders are benefiting today through your generosity, and for that we are grateful!

are just a few of our rituals and traditions at PCDS—ones we look forward to year after year and ones that alumni, parents of alumni, and former faculty often reflect on with fond memories. This also serves as a good reminder of how we got here and how thankful we are for those who paid it forward for generations.

Throughout our 54 years, our larger PCDS family has experienced moments that all families do. When a senior walks into Dorrance Auditorium every Thursday morning to deliver their Senior Speech, he or she has nerves and butterflies in his or her stomach. We all have vulnerable moments. Yet, when each and every one of them shares his or her story, we feel pride for a member of our family. It is the same way we feel when graduation happens in June; another batch of eagles is leaving the nest, but they will always be a part of our family.

What do good families do best? They support each other.

Giving back is a family thing, and giving back to one’s PCDS family is so important, no matter the amount. Sure, individuals give to PCDS. But more often than not, the choice to give back becomes a family decision since philanthropy leaves a legacy

for the future. Dr. H. Timothy Louis Sr. P ’77, P ’80, P ’81, seeded the school’s endowment fund in 1969 and set forth years of giving in his family’s name at this school. The tradition of giving continues on through the members of his family, as evidenced

by Tim Louis, Jr. ’81 and his wife Amy who ensured that funds were in place for the Teaching Pool in the brand new Aquatic and Tennis Center. Now, his own children, Maddie ’14, Curt ’17,

From left to right: Jacob Feder ‘13 - Brown University ‘17, Scott Minard ‘13 - Chapman University ‘17 and Alex Hosmar ‘13 George Washington University ‘17

1 9 84

1985

1987

1990

1 9 91

1993

The New Challenge for Excellence campaign launches with a goal of $1.25M.

Construction projects include the current gymnasium, Bean Mathematics and Computer Center, the music building and the Firestone Memorial building.

The Rex Allison Teaching Chair is established.

First Senior Speech is given.

The Army Corps of Engineers constructs Daley Bridge and the wash.

The $5M Campaign for PCDS included improvements to Madden Hall Science Center, the new Middle School, Loback Classroom, Pakis Science Center and Noyes Art Studios.

24

Project Excellence begins.

PCDS Alumni Association establishes Distinguished Alumni award.

“For over 50 years, families have been supporting PCDS so that our kids could receive an amazing education and our family could belong to an incredible community. We felt like it was our turn to lay the groundwork for the next 50 years so that thousands of families could share the gift that we have been so fortunate to receive.”

Sabrina ‘15, Parker ‘17, Harrison ‘24, Charlene & Jim Whitfill

and Clark ‘22, swim in that very pool! This is a true testament to the enduring gifts families can make to this school.

So, why do many of us feel the loyalty that these generous benefactors before us have so enthusiastically expressed?

What makes PCDS different from other colleges, schools, and organizations to whom we are also loyal? It’s because we are a family. We have always been a family. Many give back because they are grateful for what PCDS gave to them personally. Young alumnus Alex Hosmar ’13 commented on his recent decision to contribute to the Paul Schweikher Legacy Fund: “ Donating to the Paul Schweikher Legacy Fund was a no-brainer for me. I am eternally grateful to have been a part of the PCDS community, particularly with its members like Schweik and wish only the best for PCDS’s evolution and continued success.”

Families also look out for one another, which is something past parent Linda Noyes P’88, P’96, P’97 has done for Phoenix Country Day School for 29 years and counting.

She has consistently given to our Annual Fund over that duration because she found a family where her children, Clarissa (Simek) Robinson’88, Kate Portanova ’96, and Zeb

Portanova ’97 went to school, and where, today, her three grandchildren have found a home. See sidebar on facing page.

In that same fashion, the Firestone/Wray/Semegen family remembers the school each year when they consider the causes that matter most to them. Advisory Trustee Gay Wray P ’77, P ’80, P ’83 said: “ Phoenix Country Day School truly was the only wellrounded, co-educational, non-sectarian, high-achieving institution when it was time to send our children to school in the early 1960’s—it was a beacon. We are proud to say that the next generation of Firestone, Wray, and Semegen children continue to carry the torch as PCDS maintains its excellence every year. We give because, for us, it is one of THE places we feel strongly about supporting.”

Gifts and contributions like these make PCDS a very special place. Thanks to our PCDS family as a whole, we recently celebrated a record fundraising year, with 70% parent participation in the Annual Fund and a total of $731,421 raised.

Even more impressive is the 100% of faculty and staff who participated. Every employee of Phoenix Country Day School gives back because they are part of this family. Alumni Board participation this past year was also at 100%, which

2000

2003

2008

2 011

2 01 3

2 01 4

The 40th Anniversary Campaign launches with a goal of $10M.

The West Campus Capital Campaign launches with a goal of $10M.

Campaign for New Facilities focuses on Lower and Middle Schools.

PCDS celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The first Bridge-the-Gap is held.

T H R I V E launches.

Nearly $12M pledges received by year end.

25

demonstrates the familial bond our alumni still feel with their alma mater. Aylin (Tashman) Kim ’99 told us:

The Short Family Steve Short, President and CEO of Atlasta Catering and Event Concepts Kristine Short, Vice President and CFO of Atlasta Catering and Event Concepts Caden ’19 and Cloe ‘22 There are many ways to give back to PCDS, and as owners of a successful catering company, the Shorts have been remarkably generous gift-in-kind donors, providing the gift of their delicious catered food for many events throughout the year. Thank you, Short family! “ From the moment our family stepped foot on the PCDS campus, we knew it was the right place for us. The positive flow and energy from the staff and students on campus is contagious. You hear about how special PCDS is within the greater Phoenix community, but you can’t possibly understand its greatness until you live it.

PCDS appreciates who our kids are as individuals within the greater community, and is constantly striving to help our kids be the best possible individuals they can be. PCDS and Stanford’s Challenge Success Program are working together to help fine-tune the dynamic learning environment that balances creativity, compassion and thoughtfulness with competition and greatness.

There aren’t many other schools that can claim to strike this unique and necessary balance in today’s world. This artful balance mirrors our business philosophy and practices at Atlasta Catering. We believe in all that PCDS is and all that it is aspiring to be. We want to be a part of this winning identity, and giving to the school is just one of the ways we can help PCDS and its students continue to THRIVE and strive for greatness.”

“ Over the span of my sister’s and my combined 15 years at PCDS, our family inevitably grew deep roots at PCDS connecting with the teachers and staff who were dedicated to build excellence. We saw many transformations and were part of the evolution from good to great. Today, I see PCDS change from great to excellent, and want to continue to take part in a place that provides young minds with a place to be their best selves. I am always grateful that I spent my formative years someplace so special.”

Members of the PCDS community also exhibit their school pride outside of 3901 E. Stanford Drive. Why do we wear our PCDS gear proudly wherever we travel? Why do we slap a PCDS magnet on the back of our car above other decals? Why do we take off from work, drive long distances, sit in traffic, suffer through low and high (mostly high) temperatures, with smiles on our faces to arrive at a PCDS event? Perhaps it’s because we know we will be with family. Current parent Karen Williamson P ’17, P’17 puts it best: “ When I wear blue and gold gear at my children’s dive meets, I feel a sense of community and affinity. Showing off school spirit is easy for me and my family—we are proud to be a part of the PCDS community and want others to know it!!”

Her testimonial demonstrates that supporting your family doesn’t have to be through major gifts. It can also be about exuding pride and participating in events. For an alum, it can be showing up to a reunion. For a parent, it can be encouraging your friends to take their kids to our annual Open House.

From left to right: Glen Williamson, Libb y Williamson ‘17, Howard “Branch” Williamson ‘17 and Karen Will iamson

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PCDS Philanthropic Checklist

4 ANNUAL FUND

Support to the Annual Fund enables PCDS to hire top-tier teachers, provide unique academic and extra-curricular programs, and takes each child’s experience from an A to an A+. A gift of any amount matters—and it’s tax-deductible!

“ Our family believes strongly that by investing in the Annual Fund, Tax Credit and THRIVE campaign, we are helping to provide the absolute best tools available for the educators who invest their time, talent, and treasure towards the future success of our children.”

Aiden ‘25, Mila ‘27, Shelly & Mark Detmer PCDS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We have no choice but to rely heavily on each and every one of you for your support. For us to continue to be as fruitful and forthcoming on our scholarship requests, our campus improvements and the preservation of our mission, traditions and, most importantly our family, we count on you.

Our youngest donor this past fiscal year was twelve years old and our oldest was over ninety! Parents—we need your continued help with our annual fund. Alumni— we hope you continue the outstanding support you’ve consistently provided. By emblazoning the PCDS logo on your car, shirt, hat, or in your heart, you are already helping your family. And for that…how could we not be thankful this holiday season that PCDS is a part of our lives?

Short stories and New York Times articles about fictional characters following family rituals are one thing; but PCDS is blessed to have real characters. For the last 54 years, we’ve written a strong family narrative and we look forward to recording more stories for the next 54 years and beyond! n To create or continue your family tradition at PCDS, please contact C. Ryan Joyce at the Advancement Office at 602.955.8200 x2310 or ryan.joyce@pcds.org

4 TAX CREDIT Redirect your state tax obligation to PCDS’ financial aid program. Single filer: $1,053; Married filer: $2,106. You receive every dollar back!

4 THRIVE A comprehensive campaign to enhance our campus home, including a new Aquatic & Tennis Center, Indoor Athletic Complex, Science Labs & Art Studios, Administration Building, and Endowment Funds.

Ways To Give Your Philanthropic Gifts • One-Time Gift • Planned Giving • Recurring Monthly Gift • Securities/Stocks • Matching Gifts • Gifts-In-Kind

Carlson, Ron. “The H Street Sledding Record.” A Kind of Flying: Selected Stories. New York: W.W. Norton, 2003. N. pag. Print.

Feiler, Bruce. “The Stories That Bind Us.” The New York Times. 16 Mar. 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.

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Your Dollars at Work

UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH

UPPER SCHOOL MATH

ARTS ENRICHMENT

LOWER SCHOOL PEDAGOGY

CAMPUS SAFETY

MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULA

ATHLETICS

Your generosity enabled PCDS to support our students, faculty, art, athletics and campus safety programs this year.

Andrea Decker, Upper School English With the additional support of our PCDS professional development budget, Ms. Decker is pursuing her Doctorate in Education in Leadership and Innovation through ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. Ms. Decker is a recipient of a University Graduate Fellowship for her work studying the effect of student choice and growth mindset in writing instruction.

Sue Mazzolini, Upper School Math Ms. Mazzolini recently attended a weeklong conference at the SMU Lyle School of Engineering’s Infinity Project to design innovative STEM curricula at the high school level. Her work has resulted in a new and engaging Engineering class offering in the Upper School.

Middle School Curricula Through the flexibility of Annual Fund donations, PCDS was able to hire Kavita Tatapudi late last spring as Middle School English Coordinator. She is now teaching seventh grade English and working with the Middle School English Department as it aligns its curriculum to bridge students from Lower School Language Arts to the challenges of our Upper School curriculum.

28

Arts Enrichment Through the generosity of an endowed gift to PCDS, our fourth grade is taking multiple trips to the Musical Instrument Museum in order to participate with its Artist in Residence program and build a greater student understanding and appreciation for the performing arts.

Lower School Pedagogy Supporting PCDS means supporting our faculty in their continued development of an engaging curriculum for all students. Last year, fourteen members of our Lower School faculty attended a professional development conference in Iowa centered on Cognitively Guided Instruction, supported by our PCDS professional development budget.

Athletics In the first stage of our THRIVE campaign, construction of the brand-new PCDS Aquatic and Tennis Center completed this Fall, allowing Lower and Middle School PE, as well as Upper School Swim and Dive to flourish in a state-of-the-art facility.

Campus Safety Our budget helps keep students safe. In 2013-14, PCDS underwent an extensive campus safety review, partnering with a nationally recognized school safety consultant group. This review has helped refine our emergency protocols and ensure the continued safety of our students, faculty, and staff.

BLUE & GOLD 2014:

OH, WHAT A NIGHT! PCDS Launches Largest Fundraising Campaign in School History—THRIVE On October 17, 2014, in conjunction with the 47th Annual Blue & Gold Family Picnic and fireworks, PCDS made a commitment to its students, faculty, parents, alumni, past parents, and friends—to THRIVE! Nearly 2,000 members of our community joined us in celebrating this momentous occasion, whether it be shouting the PCDS fight song at our pep rally, testing their skills on the mechanical bull at our very own PCDS carnival in the evening, enjoying time with fellow classmates and friends at our alumni tent, or laughing with friends during the “THRIVE-in” movie premiere right before the fireworks.

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T O G I V E , C A L L 6 0 2 .9 5 5 . 8 2 0 0 O R G O T O P C D S .O R G / T H R I V E

INDOOR ATHLETIC COMPLEX — $6M Featuring the addition of a second gym, renovation of our current gym, and a Walk of Champions between the two gyms.

AQUATIC & TENNIS CENTER — $9M

TEACHING SPACES: ART & SCIENCE — $2M

This spectacular new facility opened in August 2014, featuring an Olympic size competition pool, a smaller teaching pool, and new tennis courts.

Renovations to the Upper School Arts & Sciences space will update classrooms and labs and create a hub of innovation on campus.

JANUARY 2014 LEADERSHIP PHASE

$0

$2M

OCTOBER 2014 PUBLIC LAUNCH AT BLUE & GOLD

$4M

$6M

$8M

E N S I V E C A M PA I G N I N EST COMPREH G R A L E H T

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$1

NAME YOUR LEGACY NA M I N G O P P O RT U N I T I E S I N C LU D E : CLASSROOMS

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING — $2M

LABS

Providing a new administrative home for several offices as well as a new welcome center and alumni mentoring suite.

POOL LANES SCOREB OARDS BLEACHERS T E N N I S C O U RT S OFFICE SUITES O U T D O O R S PA C E S SCHOLARSHIPS

ENDOWMENT — $1M+

FA C U LT Y C H A I R S

The endowment ensures the School’s financial strength for years to come.

For a full list of naming opportunities visit pcds.org/THRIVE

CHECK OUT THE

THRIVE-IN MOVIE

MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED US REACH NEARLY $12M IN PLEDGES AS OF PUBLICATION DATE

10M

$12M

$14M

PCDS.ORG/THRIVE

$16M

SCHOOL HISTORY WITH A G OAL OF $20 ,000,00

$18M

$20M

0

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THR I V ING HER E, THER E A ND EV ERY W HER E. PCDS STUDENTS A N D A LU M N I R A ISE T H EI R T H R I V E F L AG ACROSS T H E WOR L D

Lower School students excited to THRIVE

A Middle School student THRIVEs on a field trip.

PCDS students and faculty cross campus for First Friday waving PCDS THRIVE flags.

PCDS Boys’ Varsity Soccer seniors atop Piestewa Peak

32

Assistant Athletic Director Bob Kosower, Phoenix Suns Coach Jeff Hornacek, Athletic Director Shane Lewis, and Headmaster Andrew Rodin supporting the new Indoor Athletic Complex at a THRIVE event

8th Grade Faculty on their way to the annual Catalina Island trip

Libby Williamson and Olivia Zimmerman on First Friday

Class of 2018 trip to Heber, AZ

6th Graders on field trip to Prescott

PCDS Speech and Debate Team in New York

PCDS Students display their THRIVE flags on First Friday.

33

MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear Fellow Eagles, We strive each year to evolve and grow in ways that better support a strong Alumni base. There are a number of exciting developments related to the Alumni Board but I’ll only mention a few of the highlights: The first item of note is the addition of our new PCDS Director of Alumni Relations, Leslie (Kornreich) Feldman ’99. We are ecstatic to finally have a fellow Eagle back on campus with one primary focus: YOU­—our PCDS Alumni! Leslie hit the ground running this Spring and has already made an enormous impact on Alumni Relations.

Over the last year, the Alumni Board has also seen explosive growth. We are excited to announce the addition of 7 new Board Members! New Board Members include: Carolina Lopez ’82 – Scottsdale, AZ; Nicole Blaustein Spracale ’87 – Tempe, AZ; Melissa Tominac Stewart ’98 – New York, NY; Tiffany Westlie Pondelik ’00 – Phoenix, AZ; Alex Ashby ’05 – Cambridge, MA; Bryan McLaren ’05 - Scottsdale, AZ; Adam Sidi ’14 – Tempe, AZ. Augustine H. Gomez ’99 Alumni Board President

ALUMNI BOARD Randall Steckler ‘80 Carolina Lopez ‘82 Nicole Blaustein Spracale ‘87 Clarissa Simek Robinson ‘88 Melissa Tominac Stewart ‘98 Sarah Vieh Dworkin ‘98 Janelle Plaza Lika ‘98 Augustine Gomez ‘99 Aylin Tashman Kim ‘99 Tiffany Westlie Pondelik ‘00 Brian Snyder ‘01 Elizabeth Reahard Oviedo ‘04 Alex Ashby ‘05 Bryan McLaren ‘05 Clare Burnham ‘07 Ben McRae ‘07 Caitlin Wilenchik ‘08

Another new feature of the Alumni Board is the addition of Senior Class Representatives. This year’s Senior Class Representatives are Remi Edwards ’15 and Nihaal Reddy ’15. Remi and Nihaal will remain Board members and act as Class Agents upon graduation. With the addition of Remi and Nihaal, the Alumni Board this year has nearly doubled in size with 20 total members, now making it the largest active Alumni Board in the history of PCDS! 2013-2014 was also a year of unforgettable gatherings. The 2013 Alumni Holiday Party was held in conjunction with a celebration dedicated to Mr. Paul Schweikher.

That evening, over 300 alumni, past parents, faculty, and staff gathered in the Upper School “Quad” to honor Mr. Schweikher’s 40 years of service to PCDS! In the Spring, over 500 attendees enjoyed wine, cocktails, and cuisine from a wide variety of local restaurants at the annual Bridge-the-Gap event, all while enjoying live music

by Ross Bridgeman ’07 and the Ross Bridgeman Band. If you have not seen photos from this beautiful event, you can find them at http://www.pcds.org/media.

This brings me to the 2014-2015 school year. This fall, alumni gatherings were held in Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C. with special VIP guests Paul Schweikher and Head of School Andrew Rodin. Over 100 alumni and guests attended! Alumni—please save the date for the Annual Alumni Holiday Party which will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2014 and the next Bridge-the-Gap event will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2015.

As you can see, the Alumni Board is making moves! Please continue to reach out to the Board, Leslie, your former teachers and classmates and make sure to visit campus the next time you are in town. I look forward to seeing you at a PCDS Alumni gathering soon!

Best Regards,

Adam Sidi ‘14 Remi Edwards ‘15 Nihaal Reddy ‘15

Augustine H. Gomez ’99 34

WELCOME BACK LESLIE! Leslie (Kornreich) Feldman ’99 Director of Alumni Relations B.A., Washington University in St. Louis, History M.S.W., Arizona State University As Director of Alumni Relations, Leslie Kornreich Feldman (’99) is excited to be back at PCDS in a professional position that allows her to connect with fellow alumni.

In addition to working with the PCDS Alumni Board and planning alumni-related events such as class reunions and the annual holiday party, Mrs. Feldman also enjoys working with the Upper School senior class as they transition from PCDS students to PCDS alumni. Mrs. Feldman wants to make sure that PCDS graduates remain connected to their alma mater, so she hopes that alumni remember to send her updated contact information as they move around the world! Prior to assuming the PCDS Director of Alumni Relations role, Mrs. Feldman worked at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., in Undergraduate Admissions at Arizona State University, and was the director of a local education foundation.

THE PCDS ALUMNI BOARD

ALUMNI BOARD MISSION The Board of the PCDS Alumni Association will work to personalize the connections between the interests of the School’s graduates and the needs of the institution. As these connections are made, the members of the Board will help to interpret them to the School and to prioritize them for the attention of Trustees and Staff. An important effect of this process will be the identification and implementation of fund raising projects that will attract the interest and support of the School’s alumni.

From left to right: Alumni Board members Ben McRae ‘07, Nihaal Reddy ‘15, Bryan McLaren ‘05, Augustine Gomez ‘99, Adam Sidi ‘14, Clarissa Robinson ‘88, Elizabeth Oviedo ‘04, Sarah Dworkin ‘98, Tiffany Pondelik ‘00, Carolina Lopez ’82. Not pictured: Randall Steckler ’80, Nicole Spracale ’87, Melissa Stewart ’98, Janelle Lika ’98, Aylin Kim ’99, Brian Snyder ’01, Alex Ashby ’05, Clare Burnham ’07, Caitlin Wilenchik ’08, Remi Edwards ‘15

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Honorary Distinguished Alumna of the Year 2014:

Mae Sue Talley

Mae Sue Talley pioneered the founding of Phoenix Country Day School after moving her family from Connecticut to Phoenix in 1960. If it were not for her energy and vision, there would be no PCDS alumni. Upon her naming as the “Honorary Distinguished Alumna of the Year,” we formally thanked her for her leadership over 50 years ago in creating the school we now know as one of the nation’s best.

A dream coming true: Mae Sue Talley scoops the first shovelful of dirt at the School’s 1961 groundbreaking.

Mae Sue Talley at Bridge-the-Gap 2014, where she was named as the PCDS Honorary Alumna of the Year.

Mae Sue Talley is a rancher, businesswoman, diplomat and philanthropist. In addition to being a founder and the first chairman of the Board of Trustees of Phoenix Country Day School, Mae Sue Talley was the founder of Talley Industries, a Fortune 500 company. The name Talley is synonymous with Arizona business and innovation. She was the Director of Interior Design for the Arizona Biltmore (when Talley Industries owned the historic landmark) and also served as publisher and owner of Arizona’s oldest newspaper, the Arizonian.

She has been a Commissioner for the United States Commission on Public Policy, UNESCO, The President’s Export Council, and the Commission on Presidential Scholars and the President’s Commission on Executive Exchange.

She is the founding member of the President’s International Youth Exchange and member of the Advisory Committee on Book and Libraries Abroad, USIA, and the President’s Task Force on Books Abroad.

Mae Sue Talley has served with the Agency for International Development for the U.S. State Department, consulted for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, been a delegate at United Nations conferences, and written for the archives of the Defense Department Advisory Commission on Women in the Services.

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Throughout her life, Mae Sue Talley has founded, chaired, advised, or served on over 30 non-profit boards. She was a founding board member for a diverse group of organizations including: Hospice of the Valley, Barrow’s Neurological Institute Women’s Board, Phoenix Opera Company and the Stillman-McCormick Railroad Park in Scottsdale. n

Mae Sue Talley Recognition Limerick

By Andrew Rodin

Read during the presentation of the Honorary Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award.

There once was a woman named Mae Sue Talley Who ventured from Connecticut to the Valley A pioneer at heart She’d make a fresh start How different could it be from Southern Cali?

But there was one thing that just wasn’t right The school down the street was rather light The principal had phoned “Your kids are WAY ahead,” he groaned “And their test scores are far out of sight.”

Mae Sue had a decision to make Without a good school their move would not take She could skip them ahead Go find tutors instead Or start packing their bags, for heaven’s sake

Past Recipients

Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award 1990

Nick Sakellariadis ’69

1991

Steve Talley ’69

1992

Cleve Jones ’72

1993

Robin Mullen Waldmann ’72

1994

Carolyn Polson O’Malley ’65

1995

Michael Pachtman ’70

1996

Jim O’Connor ’77

1997

Herman & Cathy Lewkowitz ’79

1998

Anne Brook, Honorary

1999

Fritz Henze ’67

2000 Clarissa Simek Robinson ’88 2001

Tom Kempner Jr. ’71

2002

Laurie Wray ’80

But maybe there was one other play Something that would definitely enable them to stay A few friends in the know Pooled together some serious dough And founded our Phoenix Country Day

2003

Barbara Jones Hirvela ’70

2004 Peter Spiegel ’88 2005

Arden O’Connor ’96

2006

Joan Hay ’67

Within no time the school was a smash And though they often required more cash Her kids were clearly soaring School would never again be boring A fine reward for being so brash.

2007

Ana Maria Lopez ’78

2008 Rebecca Moran ’95 2010

Kirstin Gormley-Ghaster ’89

Margi Woods Brown ’85

Mae Sue didn’t just let it go there She still had so many talents to share The Biltmore needed her touch The State Department, United Nations, and such Even the Queen of England couldn’t avert her stare

2011

Eric Felten ’82

Matt Rollings ’83

Stanley Casselman ’81

Jacques deLisle ’78

So why do we present to you this fine lady Who for a lifetime was anything but shady It’s because she never backed down That she became a beacon for this bustling town This is our version of a Victory Parade-y

Peter Spiegel ’88

Apichai Shipper ’87

Paul Wernick ‘90

Rhett Reese ’87

2012

Leora Romney ’82

John Schupbach ’06

2013

Herb Stratford ’83

Mukesh Vidyasagar ’93

We thank you, Mae Sue For all that you’ve done and still do You are an example for us all Upon your shoulders we now stand tall In all of our graduates we see a reflection of you

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PCDS Athletic Hall of Fame 2014 Inductees

The annual PCDS Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony honored four outstanding individual athletes and a championship team as part of a spring weekend of festivities.

1983 Boys’ State Championship Soccer Team Chuck Bain ‘86; Kyle Baird ‘86; Peter Cove ’85; Hugh Daley ‘87; David Friedman ’87; Morris Friedman ’86; Greg Janis ‘87; John Morey ‘85; Rob Portnoy ’85; Tim Richey ‘86; David Rigberg ‘86; Jason Schoeffler ‘87; Andy Shanken ‘86; Apichai Shipper ’87; Brett Shire ’87; John Snead ’85; Kris Stathakis ’87; Carter Sweet ‘84; Jim Vernon ‘87; Chris Webster ‘85; Jon Wechsler ‘87; Coach: Paul Yardley

Kim Cotton Bojalad ‘93

T. J. DeMark ‘93

Varsity Tennis Captain Most Valuable Player Freshman Year, Undefeated, State Singles Champion Sophomore Year, Undefeated, State Singles Champion Junior Year, Undefeated, State Singles Champion

Varsity Basketball Co-Captain Most Valuable Player First Team All-Region First Team All-Conference First Team All-State Arizona Coaches Association, State Basketball All Star Team

Colin Jeffery ‘02 Captain: Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Basketball, and Varsity Baseball Varsity Cross Country, Most Valuable Player Varsity Basketball, Most Valuable Player Varsity Baseball, Most Valuable Player Named “Outstanding Male Athlete” All-Metro Region Recognition All-State Honors

Jennifer Wilson Juhl ‘89 Varsity Softball Co-Captain Varsity Softball Most Valuable Player (4 years) First Team All-State First Team All-Conference First Team All-Region

From left to right: 1983 Boys Varsity Soccer State Championship Team; Kim Cotton ‘93; and T.J. Demark ’93

“The 1983 State Championship Eagle Soccer team had an outstanding season with an overall record of 10-1. Leading this State Championship team was a young talented coach in Paul Yardley. Three out of the 5 years at PCDS, his teams won State Championships.”

Bob Kosower, Associate Director of Athletics

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“ Kim had the upmost respect the moment she walked onto the court.

They respected Kim, not only for ability in playing the game of tennis, but for her demeanor and how she handled herself on and off the court.”

Bob Kosower, Associate Director of Athletics

“ Colin Jeffery was one of the top athletes in the history of our school. Voted on by his classmates as the Most Athletic, Most Spirited, and even the most likely to be a PCDS faculty member, Colin had it all going for him.”

Bob Hendrickson, Former Director of Student Activities/Physical Education

“ Now a proud PCDS parent, T. J. DeMark is one of the finest basketball players in the history of Eagle athletics. T. J. had outstanding basketball skills, worked hard, won many awards, led his team to a Region Championship, and led his team to the State Tournament.”

Bob Hendrickson, Former Director of Student Activities/Physical Education

“ In 1987 with her outstanding pitching, Jennifer was the leader, the inspiration that carried our softball team to the State Championship.”

Class Agents Class Agents serve as important ambassadors for Phoenix Country Day School as well as conduits between the School and their classmates. Each Class Agent keeps his/her finger on the pulse of his/her class so the Alumni Relations office can better serve and connect with our graduates.

We offer our sincere thanks to our current Class Agents who are listed below. If your class is not listed, then it is missing a Class Agent. Do you have a genuine affection for PCDS and a willingness to engage with your fellow class members? If so, we would love to get you on board! Please email alumni@pcds.org for more information.

2014

Aashay Sanghvi & Adam Sidi

2001

2013

Alex Hosmar & Philip Rody

2000 Tiffany Westlie Pondelik &

Glen Goodman

2012

Nimra Khan & Samantha Kaplan

1999

Augustine Gomez & Aylin Tashman Kim

2011

Rachel Epstein & Rachel Chanen

1998

Sarah Vieh Dworkin & Melissa Tominac Stewart

2010

Hannah Keogh & Sarah Bauer

1997

Eric Cornwell & Jerry Mischel

1996

Arden O’Connor & Ashley Waters Gundersen

1991

Lisa Brook King

1989

Roz Bolger Abero

1988

Clarissa Simek Robinson

2006 Joel Fineman & Julie Bauer

1987

Nicole Blaustein Spracale

Alex Ashby & Callie Thompson

1986

Lisa Salvatore Steele

1982

Carolina Lopez

1980

Randy Steckler

1979

Greg Haus

1968

Sheryl Gillett

1965

Jean Kilker

2009 Anne Inkpen &

Zinnia Daas 2008 Caitlin Wilenchik &

Lauren Motzkin 2007

2005

Ben McRae & Mathew Cowlin

2004 Elizabeth Oviedo &

Brigit Donovan 2003

Lizzie Vieh

2002

Laura Neller Lanigan & Colin Jeffery

Brian Snyder & Nadia Fazel

Paul Schweikher, Former Softball Coach Quotations taken from the 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

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Generations of Eagles As we move towards our 55th year as a school, a special class of our alumni body is becoming larger—namely, alumni with children who are PCDS students. We sat down with eight of our parents who are alumni to learn more about their PCDS experiences and the reasons why they passed the blue and gold torch down to their children.

From left to right: Clarissa Robinson ‘88, Jason Hackett ‘88, Stephanie Hackett ‘91, Lou Werner ‘87, Carolina Lopez ‘82, Charles de Trenck ‘81, Pinar Korzay ‘90, Roz (Bolger) Abero ‘89

Joining us for the conversation were: Charles de Trenck ’81, who has a daughter in the 4th grade Roz (Bolger) Abero ’89, who has a son in the 3rd grade Pinar (Tashman) Korzay ’90, who has a daughter in the 5th grade Sephanie (Vithoulkas) Hackett ’91 and Jason Hackett ’88, who have daughters in the 5th and 1st grades and a son in the 3rd grade Lou Werner ’87, who has a daughter in the 3rd grade and a son in Pre-K Carolina Lopez ’82, who has a daughter in the 9th grade Clarissa (Simek) Robinson ’88, who has daughters in the 5th, 2nd and 1st grades

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Unable to join us were: T.J. Demark ‘93, who has daughters in the 5th grade, 3rd grade and Kindergarten Nicholas Firestone ’84, who has a daughter in the 7th grade Christine Grau ‘89, who has a daughter in the 11th grade and a son in the 9th grade John Hayden ‘82, who has daughters in the 11th and 9th grades Eric Jackson ’86, who has daughters in the 8th and 5th grades Gary Linhart ’88, who has sons in the 8th and 6th grades Timothy Louis ‘81, who has sons in the 10th and 5th grades and a daughter who graduated from PCDS in 2014

A variety of themes arose during our lively conversation. It became clear that though their time as students has passed, the memories are as present as ever today.

On Opportunities

On Faculty and Academics

Carolina: “PCDS gave me the best opportunities­—academic, arts, sports, music. Now, today, this school gives me the best opportunities for my child. Students today are exceeding and striving. Coming back here gives me happy memories. My friends from PCDS grew up with me and that’s special.”

Roz: “It’s bizarre seeing Mr. Majeski, Mr, Coon, and Mr. Kosower, and calling them by their first names. Also, this year, the daughter of Christine Grau ‘89 is in Dave Martin’s Upper School history course. The fact that it’s been over 25 years since these folks taught us testifies to the dedication of our faculty.”

Lou: “With regard to being a parent here, when you come from a school that’s so tightknit, if you go away and come back it’s a natural starting point to rekindle relationships with other alumni.”

Jason: “There are other parents at the school looking out for my kids. Their kids are my kids’ friends!”

On Sights and Smells Roz: “Being on the PCDS campus brings back latent positive memories. When it rains, for example, the smell of the creosote brings me back to a specific day in 8th grade for some reason. At that moment I felt happy. Now that my son is here, I find myself getting emotional with some of those visceral memories.”

Stephanie: “When our daughter, Emme Kate, first started at PCDS, the smell of the cafeteria brought me right back to my days as a student.”

On Campus Buildings and Structures Jason: “Our kids are amused when my wife and I point out the locations of buildings that are no longer standing.”

Lou: “There was no school gym until my senior year, so when it was finally built it was akin to the Taj Mahal—we finally had a place to run inside! It’s fun to point out buildings that I didn’t have access to.”

Charles: “The school is much better than it was in that regard.”

Stephanie: “It’s particularly meaningful to mention the origin of the Daley Bridge to our children when we walk over it, since we was childhood friends with the Daleys” (the bridge is named in honor of their parent).

Pinar: “When we graduated, there was no computer lab.

I was a fish out of water without computers [once I got to college]. Access to technology has obviously changed for the better for our kids.”

Jason: “I appreciate how PCDS teachers are proactive. They are the first to reach out to parents. You aren’t going to get that elsewhere.”

Carolina: “I believe that when you want the best for your kids you send them here. Here you get an education for life.”

Roz: “In college, I was one of the only students on my freshman hall who knew how to write a term paper…and this was before Becky Allison. Later in life when I worked in college admissions, I would say that schools like PCDS are your ticket to success in college. You’re held to a higher standard and you can’t hide. It can be easy for kids to just cruise along if your teachers don’t to hold you to a higher standard.

I see in my son that its easy to cruise along. You need your teachers to hold you to a higher standard. Since my son just started at PCDS this year, we are fresh off of public school.

The comparison is stark. Here, each teacher knows him and has a sense of his abilities and interests. They will challenge and support him.”

On Community Lou: “There’s a sense of community, and a relentless desire to strive to be better. That’s what we feel and that’s what we try to tell our kids about. We hope that they will get it.”

Pinar: “It’s safe and familiar. I never feel like something bad will happen to my kid here.”

Stephanie: “The familiarity, camaraderie, and security of the School—it’s like coming home. You feel that from the other families and faculty because we know so many people from having been here as students ourselves.”

Carolina: “There’s a certain mindset that’s similar.”

“All that speaks to what a great experience we had here.

We are individuals, not numbers—I want to give my kids that experience knowing they are making friends for life— friends who they will likely keep.” Lou Werner ‘87 41

Lou: “Even in a mentor program, if a current student or young alum calls, when you find out they went to PCDS, that leads into how can I help.”

Jason: “You come here because of the sense of community.

PCDS is still hiring the best teachers, and still has parents who are friends who watch out for each other’s kids. The core values of the School are the same.”

Stephanie: “Even though I was only at PCDS for two years, some of my closest friends were those whom I made here.

Moreover, my whole life wouldn’t be the same had I not come here since this is where I met my husband.”

Clarissa: “My best friends are not from college. Rather, they are the wives of friends with whom I went to PCDS.”

On Legacy and Traditions Clarissa: “We moved to Arizona from the east coast in 1984.

On the east coast, my cousins went to the same school that their parents had attended. It’s so nice to have a sense of longevity and history and belonging here. Everyone out here

is mobile; even today it is still so transient. They move from other places, and joke that no one is from here. Today, my daughter Lily is wearing my PCDS athletic team number!

That sense of generational continuity is something we don’t have a lot of here.”

Lou: “It’s nice to be able to create a legacy, especially when you’re uprooted and have to start over. I came from St. Louis in 1984 and it’s great to continue to build on the legacy that I forged.”

Stephanie: “On my daughter’s first day of Kindergarten, it was comforting to see Clarissa’s daughter in the class” (today, there are actually five children of alumni—all girls­—currently in the 5th grades alone!). “Also, we were here for the School’s 25th anniversary and life came full circle when, two years ago, the School commemorated its 50th anniversary with our own kids Charles: [In addition to providing a sense of continuity], “I feel that diversity is greater now. If they leave Arizona or the West they won’t feel out of place.”

Our alumni parents were unified in their sentiments that the School has consistently provided a top-tier education throughout the years. Further, Phoenix Country Day School’s uniquely enduring presence in the valley allows for legacies to be forged that other schools in the area simply cannot. Headmaster Andrew Rodin affirmed that there are “no better ambassadors for our community than those graduates who choose to send their kids here.” Here’s to the next generation of PCDS alumni! n Are you considering PCDS for your own children? If so, please contact Patrick McHonett, Director of Admissions and Marketing, at patrick.mchonett@pcds.org or 602.955.8200 x2256 to learn more about the admissions process.

PCDS Class of 2014 Gift The graduating classes of Phoenix Country Day School have a longstanding tradition of leaving meaningful class gifts behind to serve as their living legacies. The Class of 2014 is no exception!

As a way of boosting school spirit, the PCDS Class of 2014 chose to resurrect the PCDS Fight Song (which somehow lost its prominence in recent years) by way of a large banner that is now proudly displayed in the gym. As new generations of Eagles come through the doors of Phoenix Country Day School, they will be able to chant these spirited lyrics with pride.

During the Fall 2014 Blue & Gold Pep Rally, the PCDS fourth grade led the school in a lively rendition of the Fight Song— the 2014 Class Gift in action! Thank you, Class of 2014. GO, FIGHT, WIN! 42

FIGHT SONG We are the Eagles, we are the best, We will forever outshine the rest, With our strength and spirit, too, Eagles will always come on through.

Hail to the gold and hail to the blue, PCDS, we’re loyal to you.

We are Phoenix Country Day, Eagles, let’s go-fight-win!

Come Back to Give Back

It had just happened. My dream had been realized. I had been accepted to Harvard, the school I wanted to attend ever since I was little. Yet, there was a slight caveat. I was accepted not to the incoming class of 2018, but the following year’s class of 2019. I was going to take a gap year. What would I do with myself for an entire year?

It was already mid-May, and my peers would be heading off to college in late August and early September. I started to form the idea in my head that I wanted to stay home in Phoenix and work, at least for the first half of the coming academic year. Yet, what place would allow me to conduct meaningful work and stretch my entrepreneurial wings, rather than simply get coffee and file paperwork? This was a thought that went back and forth in my head for a few days.

Soon after he heard the news about my gap year, Mr. Rodin offered me an interesting proposition. Why not stay on at Phoenix Country Day and work as an intern in the Advancement office? I loved going to school at PCDS. I credit the school (and my parents, of course) for turning me into the young man I am today. But I had been at the school since 4th grade. Wasn’t it time for me to leave? I really wanted some meaningful work experience along the way.

I believe there is tremendous power in an internship. Also, I trusted the school, and they trusted me. I trusted them to provide me with an experience that would not only be valuable, but also enjoyable. They trusted me to be responsible, organized, and focused towards the goals of the school and the department for whom I would be working.

by Aashay Sanghvi ‘14, Advancement Intern

When I first started my internship, my primary focus was Alumni Relations. I helped re-engage and connect with people with whom we had lost contact with. I was also assigned to dig up a history of philanthropy at PCDS, which opened up a bunch of doors. Now, my role as an intern spans many different horizons. I am part of the team that launched THRIVE, largest capital and endowment campaign in the school’s history. I run all the internal web development for the campaign’s website. Essentially, I had to learn how to build a website overnight. This is the kind of stuff you learn out there in the real world, not in the classroom! I also help with marketing and communications, as well as fundraising and event-planning efforts. I have also created Project CIRI, a pilot program designed to see the feasibility of a full-scale Center for Internships, Research, and Innovation on campus.

This is quite possibly one of the most exciting things I have done in my life because I feel as if I am helping build the future of my alma mater.

When it’s all said and done, working at PCDS was the right choice. The internship will last until December, and then I will be an eagle leaving the nest. Some people ask me, “Isn’t it just like being a student again?” It’s actually completely different. There’s a level of freedom and accountability that simply was not there before. I love that and will truly miss this special place when I’m gone. n

After a few months of work experience at PCDS under my belt, I can gladly say it has been one of the most important undertakings of my life. I truly feel like part of the team within the administration. I sit in on important meetings and am starting to make key decisions for the future of the school.

I’m not just a coffee-boy intern; I’m actually one of “them.”

People even joke with me that I’ve already become too much like Mr. Rodin and Mr. Joyce (both natives of the East Coast) because of similar choices in pastel pants.

Are you a recent college graduate or someone who is looking for a meaningful opportunity during a gap year or summer break? If so, we invite you to consider applying for an internship at PCDS. Our internship opportunities allow you to grow professionally at a place that was once your academic home. For more information, please email alumni@pcds.org or call Leslie Feldman, Director of Alumni Relations at 602.955.8200 x2229.

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Alumni Around the Country The Alumni Relations Office was Busy Keeping our Graduates Engaged this Fall In 2014, regional alumni gatherings were held in Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Reunion 2014 was chock-full of fun in Phoenix with a special alumni-only tent at Blue & Gold and a festive dinner at Scottsdale’s Greaswood Flat the following evening commemorating the graduating classes of 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1979, 1974 & 1969.

We have had a blast re-engaging with alumni who graduated in the 1960s all the way through to the present. Stay tuned for information regarding an alumni event in your area! If you have not done so to date, please make sure to “friend” our Facebook page, “PCDS Alum,” and ensure that your contact information is up to date via pcds.org/alumniupdate.

Phoenix

Elizabeth Foglesong ’03, Elizabeth Oviedo ’04, Nicholas Oviedo, Guest of Stephanie Fineman, and Stephanie Fineman ’04 in the Blue & Gold Alumni Tent

Jennifer Juhl ’89, Daniel Durchslag ’89, Kristen Durchslag ’95; Reunion 2014 at Greasewood Flat

Blue & Gold Alumni Tent

Barry Monahan (guest of Brigit Donovan), Brigit Donovan ’04, Elizabeth Oviedo ’04 at Reunion 2014

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New York City

Boston

Boston-area PCDS Alumni at the October 21, 2014 gathering

Alumni Association Founder Nick Sakellariadis ’69 with PCDS Headmaster Andrew Rodin at the October 23, 2014 New York City Alumni gathering

Mark Eisenberg ’09, Tom Levenberg ’88, Rebecca Dicken Kano ’92, and Paul Schweikher

Humberto Duarte ‘03, Paul Schweikher and PCDS Alumni Board Member Alex Ashby ’05

Los Angeles

Jonathan Krause ’98, Taylor (Guerin) Rovak ’98, Paul Schweikher and Callie Kant ’01

Los Angeles-based PCDS Alumni at a lunch gathering with Ryan Joyce, Director of Advancement; Leslie Feldman, Director of Alumni Relations and Bob Kosower, Associate Director of Athletics

Washington D.C.

Christopher Yee ’06, Lizzie Thompson ’07, and Joel Fineman ‘06

Alumni Board Member Janelle (Plaza) Lika ’98, Jamie (Plaza) Bennett ’99 and their parents James & Joyce Plaza

Jonathan England ’04, Alice Gaston ’05, Abigail Seadler ’07 and guests at the October 24, 2014 alumni gathering

Ari Schlesinger ’10, Jon Teitel ’92 and guest in Washington D. C.

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THRIVING: The College Years We asked PCDS alumni who are currently in college to share their thoughts on how PCDS contributed to the ways in which they are THRIVING today. Here’s how they responded:

Samantha Kaplan ‘12 Emory University ‘16 “ PCDS has provided me with the academic skill set as well as the confidence to not only succeed, but to THRIVE in every aspect of my life.”

Nimra Khan ‘12 Columbia University ‘16 “PCDS has allowed me to THRIVE here by teaching me to never back down from a challenge. Also, working hard at PCDS gave me a work ethic that has truly served me well in college.”

Mariclare Rethore ‘13 Simmons College ‘17 “PCDS has helped me THRIVE in more ways that one. The rigorous academic standards to which PCDS holds its students has helped me THRIVE both personally and academically at the collegiate level.”

Isabelle Brothers ‘14 Trinity College ‘18 “PCDS has helped me THRIVE by pushing me to new heights academically and providing me with a support system of students and faculty who have helped me become a polished student who can now THRIVE at Trinity College.”

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Michelle Greenfield ’14 Princeton University ‘18 “PCDS gave me a wonderful foundation for how to succeed as a student at Princeton University. It taught me to be intellectually inquisitive, to seek close relationships with my professors and classmates, to strive for excellence, and most importantly, to find things in which I am passionate about and dive deeper into those interests.”

Alexa Lewis ‘14 Dartmouth College ‘18 “PCDS has given me the skills, determination, and curiosity to THRIVE wherever I go.”

Clarisse Salazar ‘14 (right) and Suzette Guzman ‘14 (left) Scripps College ‘18 “PCDS has helped us THRIVE today by helping us discover our passions and showing us how to pursue them within our community.”

Clarisse: “Volunteering with my Pre-K friends, learning that I love languages, and attending SDLC (Student Diversity Leadership Conference) substantially fostered my growth and learning during my time at PCDS.” Suzette: “PCDS helped me find my passion in medicine. It introduced me to Hospice of the Valley (HOV) and its amazing Teens in Nursing program, and it allowed me to do an Independent Study in the Fundamentals of Nursing in order to volunteer with HOV. Today, I’m working my way to medical school because of PCDS.”

Adam Sidi ‘14 Arizona State University, Barrett, The Honors College ‘18 “PCDS gave me the knowledge and skills I need in order to THRIVE in college. They were able to do this through the use of exceptional teachers and a well-rounded community.”

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Here’s what our alumni have been up to over the course of the last year…

1965 Paul Scharf is “now occupying our newly renovated 2-family which we share with our daughter and daughterin-law in Wakefield MA, after a 2-year+ development process.”

1969 Bruce Miles and his wife, Emma, moved to Portland, Oregon in 2010, finally leaving the Arizona blast furnace. “We love cool and the rain. I continue to do audio production, voicing commercials, audio books, video games, animation, medical narrations, television programs and the like from my home studio. Always interesting.”

1972 Lisa Babcock reports that “Life is good but way too dry in sunny CA.” 1974 Barbara Pierce is happy to announce that she has moved back to Colorado.

1978 Martha Smith works at Elmira College in New York as an Information Literacy and Accreditation Librarian, “which sounds very impressive but translates as: I teach people how to find stuff and evaluate information, and I keep track of the college’s academic assessment documents. My insatiable curiosity about almost everything has been an asset in my job. I remember Mr. Raymond despaired of my future because I was such a generalist; I think he’d be happy to see how things worked out for me.”

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Rhonda Eicher Selstad is “happily retired from teaching special education, enjoying my free time and recovering from some health problems.”

1979 Tim Magill is now managing a beautiful non-profit outdoor adventure/ experiential education center and wildlife preserve in the Lexington region.

His 22 year-old daughter is in her final year of an equine science degree.

Bart Hechtman is practicing law in the south Bay Area, representing property owners on land use, development and condemnation issues, and is active in the management of his synagogue.

“We have three kids: Nathan is starting his sophomore year at Willamette, Brynna is a high school senior and Cole a sophomore. We spent two weeks this summer in the UK exploring castles, pubs and my wife Carrie’s Scottish roots. I was bummed to miss Schweik’s retirement bash.”

1982 Karla Earnhardt Strand just moved up to Port Angeles. She “can’t wait to experience real seasons!! Love living at the base of the mountains and the ocean only 2 miles away.... Best of both worlds!”

Elizabeth Bean is now a Patent Consultant and Paralegal for Lodestar Patents, and took the Patent Bar Exam on September 15, 2014. “Once I pass that exam I will be a registered patent agent,” she writes.

1987 Apichai Shipper is now the Asia Regional Chair at the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Institute, where he is in charge of training Asia-bound US diplomats. This year he won a Meritorious Honor Award from the U.S. Department of State. In addition, he is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

Mark Three Stars “had a nice visit from Matt Ellinwood this past summer. It was great to see him and catch- up. I am also looking forward to Schweik’s visit to Boston this Fall.”

1981 Charles de Trenck has come back after a long stint in Asia/China and is now a PCDS parent.

Apichai Shipper ’87 with Paul Schweikher at the D.C. Alumni gathering

We collect many Class Notes each year and cannot guarantee that all submissions will be printed.

Class Notes are written in an individual’s own words.

Hugh Daley “had a great time at the PCDS Athletic Awards ceremony in April. I saw Kris Stat, Chris Coy, Kevin Wernick, Jim Purdy, Chuck Bain, the Hackett Brothers, my brother Tim, Apichai Shipper and Big Lou Werner along with many others!” The weekend party at Morris Friedman’s even included a guest appearance by Mrs. Friedman! Felt 16 again. Until the next morning...”

Terri Kalloch reports that “I have just finished my M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from NAU and I am working for the Maricopa Community College District. In my spare time, I volunteer with a local non-profit group donating food and clothing to the homeless in downtown Phoenix, but most weekends you will find me hiking in the national forest (particularly in Northern Arizona).

Maggie Roof Choate’s artwork was featured on the cover of the SeptemberNovember 2014 edition of Edible Phoenix magazine!

Christine Lane Bonanno “is teaching 1st grade here in the Phoenix area. My husband Tore and I have 2 kids who keep me quite busy, ages 7 and 9. I love to run half marathons and spend time with my family.”

1989 After almost 20 years at Emory University in Atlanta, Roz Bolger Abero moved back to Phoenix with her husband and son where she served as a vice president of development and affinity with the ASU Foundation. “I then found myself chatting with PCDS leadership and the next thing I knew I was returning all the way home as Assistant Head of School at PCDS. I couldn’t be happier to be serving the school that shaped who I am, and now am not only a proud PCDS alum and employee but a PCDS mom as my son Edu began third grade at PCDS this year. Go Eagles!”

Hiking in the snow in Payson

1991 Janet Castner writes that daughter Willow was born in April. “We are over the moon and hope to bring her to a PCDS Alumni event soon.”

Tim Small has been working at MHO for almost 12 years, and was recently given the title Senior Account Exec.

“Makes me feel old....”

Jafi Lipson is an Assistant Professor of Radiology in the Breast Imaging Division at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she has a clinical

Are you getting married locally and want the PCDS Eagle to show up?

Contact alumni@pcds.org so we can make it happen!

practice performing screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and imageguided biopsy, as well as a research program focused on breast density and breast cancer risk assessment; informatics applications in breast imaging; and novel imaging and blood biomarkers of benign and malignant breast disease. She has 3 daughters (ages 6, 10, and 12) with her husband of 18 years, Josh Lehrer-Graiwer, a cardiologist and biotech executive, and “our lives are currently filled with soccer games, piano lessons, and bat mitzvah prep. We had a great summer exploring Yosemite, Bryce and Zion National Parks and are hoping to visit Costa Rica in the near future.”

Kerr Lordygan recently closed a play festival in North Hollywood in which he starred in one production and five of his plays were produced. He was also “cast as a contestant on The Reel Deal TV show, so look out for that! I’m competing as an actor and a writer. I currently work at RottenTomatoes.com in the TV Editorial Dept. After almost 6 years, I’ve put in my resignation as President of the Eclectic Company Theatre in North Hollywood.”

1992 Jeanne Geantil Howard has 3 kids, ages 9, 7, and 4! She is still riding horses and busy with kid’s scouting in San Diego.

1996 Jessica Greene reports that she is “currently living in South Africa with my husband and our two boys aged 4 and 9 months. I have been working in the field of international HIV prevention for the past 11 years, the past 6 of which have been overseas. We are planning a move to Malawi towards the end of this year.”

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Jordan Spack Frost currently lives in Kansas City. She is married with 2 children and has been a Director of Volunteers for the past 12 years.

Anne Allison “lives in Berkeley, CA with my partner of 5 years, Eve. I am currently employed at my alma mater, Mills College, where I am the Academic Coordinator of A/V Media Services; I also work with Recombinant Media Labs in producing immersive sound and video installations. In addition to my work, I have a 2-hour weekly online radio program where I play electronic music. It’s almost always beautiful here in CA, so we spend as much time as possible hiking, camping, swimming, and generally enjoying the tall trees, blue skies, and gorgeous beaches of Northern California.”

Sonia Ghaswala Jurek is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has been in private practice for the past 6 years in the northwest valley. She and her husband, Jason, have two children, Landon (5) and Gianna (3). The family lives in the north Phoenix area.

Sarah Carlenzoli lives in Scottsdale and owns Sarah’s Custom Solutions, LLC, which is a Home, Business, and Online Project Management company.

Natan Jacobs wrote “I’m designated broker, principal and co-founder of Vestis Group, Arizona’s leading multifamily real estate brokerage, management and investment firm.

I started the company in 2008 with fellow PCDS alum, Les Litwin, with $10,000 and a dream. We currently own and operate nine apartment buildings across metro Phoenix. My wife, Larel Jacobs, works as a Counselor/ Department Chair for Camelback High School. We just celebrated our 10year wedding anniversary in June. We are having a blast raising our two sons, Kellan (7) and Donovan (2).”

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Christopher Bedford currently serves as the Director of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University.

William French is Vice President at Cassidy Turley Commercial Real Estate in Phoenix, AZ. He was married in November 2013 and has a baby due in January 2015.

Laura Hazlett is the Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration at California College of the Arts.

Ashley Waters Gundersen lives in New York with her husband Kevin Gundersen and their two sons, Liam (4) and Bo (2). After graduating from Harvard Law School in 2005, she spent several years working in litigation at a New York law firm before transitioning to the public sector.

Currently she works for the City of New York, where she focuses on the challenging task of balancing civil liberties and security issues.

Alexandra Rethore writes “Hi all. It’s been ages. I’m currently living between NY and L.A., leading the U.S. business of a venture-backed start-up called onefinestay. It is the third start-up company I have joined over the last 4 years and it has definitely been one of the hardest and most rewarding opportunities I’ve had yet. Beyond work, this no-nonsense New Yorker is getting used to the L.A. life—organic everything, a serious fitness mindset, beach proximity, and mild winters— and am now planning to officially relocate here early next year. The rest of the PCDS Rethore clan is doing well (with Abigail joining me soon in L.A., Becka and Chris both getting married this year, and my nieces and nephew all growing up as students at PCDS!).

I continue to stay in close touch with Arden O’Connor, but would love to catch up with others—perhaps over a great drink!”

Les Litwin is current owner of Vestis Group: Commercial Real Estate Brokerage & Asset Management, Vestis Capital, LLC: Commercial Real Estate Finance & Development. Under that company “we currently own and operate 10 apartment buildings. Previously we were providing Short Term Real Estate Financing for Residential Redevelopment.”

1998 Trey Packard lives in Richmond, VA, with his wife, Caroline, and two sons, Will (4) and Tilghman (2). Trey is vice president at Harris Williams & Co., an investment bank focused on providing sell-side advisory services to middle market companies.

Carrie Watson is currently a Lecturer at Arizona State University. She will complete her doctorate degree in Fall 2015.

Sarah (Vieh) Dworkin writes “Our family grew this spring when Benjamin was born on May 11. Nate and I are completely smitten with this little man and are having such fun as a family of three!”

Several members of the Class of 1998 gathered together in NYC in June to say farewell to Anamay Melmed Carmel, her husband, Bryan and their daughter Reya (17 months) before they relocated from NYC to LA.

From left: Taylor Guerin Rovak ‘98, Sophi Jacobs (Wife of Jonathan Krause ‘98), Anamay Melmed Carmel ‘98, Janelle Plaza Lika ‘98 and Melissa Tominac Stewart ‘98

Katie Green and Josef Haber had a daughter this year on March 16th. Her name is Fritz Melogale Haber and is on her way to becoming a little Portland Shield Maiden. Kate and Joey run martial arts schools for Capoeira and Baguazhang as well as a Chinese medical clinic in Portland, OR. Aylin Tashman Kim is excited to be a Class Agent for PCDS Alumni this year! She and her family had a fun summer—highlights include meeting Enzo Chiarelli (son of Drs. Megan and Peter Chiarelli ‘99) when he was one day old and watching some soccer games in Brazil during the World Cup. Azalea started Kindergarten this fall at The Evergreen School in Seattle so Aylin is frequently reminiscing about her Kindergarten days at PCDS.

2000 Sam Hartzmark recently moved back to Chicago to join the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business as an Assistant Professor of Finance.

2001 Brian Snyder (’01) and his wife, Amy, announce the birth of Mia Snyder, PCDS Class of 2032.

1999 Leslie Kornreich Feldman is thrilled to be back at PCDS in a professional capacity, serving as the Director of Alumni Relations. It is her mission to revive the Varsity Cross Country team. Leslie and her husband, Andy, are proud parents of their two yearold daughter, Tyler.

Leslie Kornreich Feldman ’99 (left) and Christopher Rethore ’99 (with Christopher’s wife, Tess) at the Washington, D.C. PCDS Alumni Gathering

Chris Michael continues to chug along as an advertising copywriter and comedian in New York. He’s written a couple TV commercials that you may or may not have seen, and his political satire and cartoons occasionally appear on places like Huffington Post and Salon.

Amanda Mabbitt Westlake and her husband, Garret, moved back to AZ in 2008. Amanda works part time as a nurse practitioner at St. Joseph’s, and tries to keep up with their 1.5 year old son Griffin. Life is good!

Lexie Carlson and Sean Fabor were married in May 2013. Kim Ruht ‘01 served as maid of honor and Ali Hicks LeClair ‘01 was a bridesmaid. Several PCDS alumni attended the wedding, too! Lexie is managing broker and top producing agent for the Scottsdale office of Engel & Volkers, which is the largest real estate firm in the world.

Lexie notes “I really enjoy helping people buy and sell homes. It’s such a passion of mine. My husband is a Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Wright Engineering. We have a dog and a cat too! No babies yet!”

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On July 3, 2014, Jeff Sand and his wife Nadia welcomed their baby boy into the world. His name is Constan Ray Sand, named after two of his great grandfathers. Constan’s older brother, a three-year-old goldendoodle named Barkley, is happily adjusting to life with a sibling.

Alexis Wielunski and her partner welcomed their son, Domingo Thomas, in March 2014. Part of his name is after Alexis’ dad (Tom Wielunski) who was a PCDS middle school math teacher for 10 years.

Rachel Chase Wagner married Eric Wagner on October 5, 2013 at the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, CA. PCDS alumni in attendance included Maid of Honor, Simi Dhillon (‘03), and Melissa Tominac Stewart (‘98).

Rachel and Eric currently reside in Los Angeles, CA.

From Erin Beresini: “Hi PCDS! My first book, Off Course: Inside the Mad, Muddy World of Obstacle Course Racing, comes out on October 14th! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is publishing it, so look for it on Amazon and other book sites. In the meantime, you can catch my stories in Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal, Triathlete Magazine, and on OutsideOnline.com. Mr. Coon better be proud!”

Rachel Chase Wagner (’03) with her husband, Eric Wagner

2003 Simi Dhillon is the Chief Resident in Family Medicine at Yuma Regional Medical Center. She is engaged to be married this November (2014) in Phoenix to Mandeep Singh, who is a software engineer at Evernote.

Molly Dean started her private psychotherapy practice in 2012. She will be marrying her college sweetheart in October 2014.

Rachel Chase Wagner (’03) with her Maid of Honor, Simi Dhillon (’03)

2002 Ted Blosser is currently living in the Bay area and working at Box as a product manager. He and his wife are expecting a baby in the Fall of 2014.

Gabriel Bruffy-Holmes has finished his residency in Emergency Medicine and is now practicing in East Texas.

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2004

Lauren Etzkorn married Lee Davidson in June 2014.

Erika Levin Needleman is living in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Matt, and two daughters, Binah and Mindy.

She has just started working at Torah Day School of Atlanta doing fundraising and development work.

Siblings Tommy Reahard ‘02, Laura Reahard ‘07, and Elizabeth Oviedo ‘04, gathered this summer in Leland, Michigan to celebrate their mom Cathy Reahard’s birthday. Also pictured: Tom Reahard and Nicholas Oviedo.

Katherine Kurtzweil Cooper has come out with her first self-released EP, and is in the middle of working on recording a full length album with her band. “I work in the sales department of the Hampton Inn & Suites to keep the roof over my head, food in my belly, and a guitar in my hands. www. kurtzweilmusic.com is where you can go to find out more, or listen (or buy) music and t-shirts.”

Jon England has relocated to Washington D.C. where he is now working at Dickstein Shapiro as a Patent Attorney focusing on all aspects of IP law.

Tammy McGavock is now studying and teaching economics at Cornell, researching the impacts of family structure on economic decision-making in developing countries. This winter she will be speaking to the PCDS International Relations class about her research, and specifically her time spent doing fieldwork in Liberia.

2005 Cassie Sonntag recently completed medical school at Keck School of Medicine of USC and has now moved to Hershey, PA for general surgery residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Victoria Jeans married Lubko Berezowsky last year (September 2nd, 2013). “We met at Lake Forest College and were married in Chicago IL. We now live in Scottsdale, AZ where he is a practicing attorney and I am a psychology student at Arizona State.”

Morris Chan is now working for the City of New York, currently as community liaison on the staff of Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. After spending parts of 2012 and 2013 on the campaign trail, he is glad to be able to settle down and have a place to call home.

Claire Brandon is currently finishing up her PhD in the history of art at NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts.

Danny Curzon is currently pursuing his MBA degree at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

John Kester III is wrapping up his final year of a PhD in Environmental Dynamics at the University of Arkansas.

He recently attended the Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy in Chicago.

Anne Slovin recently made her American mainstage debut as an Artist-in-Residence at Pensacola Opera, where she sang the roles of Frasquita in Bizet’s Carmen and Clorinda in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. She is thrilled to announce that this coming season she will be joining the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s outreach program to create a role in Wlad Marhulets’ klezmer opera The Property, based on the graphic novel by Rutu Modan. For more information on Anne’s upcoming performances, visit her website: http://www.anneslovin.com.

Brooke Sheppard is currently working as a business development analyst for a helicopter company.

Callie Thompson was married in March at the Arizona Biltmore. “It was great to have some familiar PCDS faces there including Kerry Persen (also a bridesmaid!), Jason Sanghi, Toby Seadler, and Abby Seadler. My sister, Lizzie Thompson (PCDS ‘07), was my Maid of Honor, and I could not have asked for more perfect Arizona spring weather for the big day. My husband, David, and I now live in the Bay Area with our dog Bernie.”

Shannen Fish Levin currently works for the Boston Red Sox, where she have served in both legal and public affairs capacities. At the conclusion of the 2014 MLB season, she will bid farewell to New England and head south to Jacksonville, FL so that her husband, Zac, can pursue his dream of playing with wire all day as an orthodontic resident.

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Stephanie Papp is a third year PhD student studying molecular biology at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

2006 Clare Burnham “Last fall, I relocated to Austin, where I am currently living and working in store management for lululemon athletica. I am currently pursuing my Level One yoga instructor certification (a goal I have had since High School) and progressing through the MBA application process for next fall. I am excited to continue my service on the PCDS Alumni Board to reconnect with fellow alumni this year!”

Grady Wieger is now engaged! His now fiancé, Jake, threw a great surprise party for him in San Francisco. He proposed to Grady on a Saturday morning in Muir Woods and then over 40 family and friends surprised him that evening for a celebration. PCDS Alumni in attendance for the San Francisco soirée included Aubrey Jacobs (‘00), Garrett Wieger (‘02), Christie Wieger (‘02), Tara Wieger (‘04), Julie Bauer, Joel Fineman and Caitlin Lisa (‘06).

In the very same week as the engagement, Grady commenced a new job to help start a San Francisco satellite office for a London-based technology advertising agency called April-Six.

Stephen Vrla is a PhD student studying sociology, animal studies, and environmental science and policy at Michigan State University.

Ian Krupar graduated from Tufts University in 2010 and University of San Diego School of Law in 2013.

Michaela Johnson-Clague recently completed her pharmacy residency and started her new job as a Clinical Pharmacist with Aetna.

In the past year as part of his physics PhD program, David Bracher has completed his master’s degree and passed his qualifying exam to become a PhD candidate. “I also got engaged to my wonderful fiancée, to whom I’m getting married next June.”

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Courtney McConnell has been living in San Francisco for almost 3 years.

She is currently working as the executive assistant to the CEO at a sales start up. She reports that “life is good.”

Michaela Flynn Brennan is completing a post-baccalaureate BSN program at Grand Canyon University and will graduate in April 2015.

Alexandra Heuser is currently working as a history and Japanese teacher at a small charity school in Norwich England that specializes in rehabilitating bullied and traumatized children.

Felisia Sainz is working as an art curator and freelance illustrator in Somerville, MA. Rebecca Hirsch is in her 2nd year of a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy program at University of San Diego. She is working as a trainee at UCSD Family Medicine treating individuals, couples, and families.

Katie Senzig recently graduated with a Master of Education in Higher & Postsecondary Education. She is currently serving as a Transfer Specialist for Arizona State University.

John Schupbach reports that “Squalor to Scholar and our students have continued to thrive over the past year.

Thank you to the many families and faculty at PCDS who have helped us place nearly 200 children from the slums into prestigious private schools for the first time (squalortoscholar. org)! I’m now in my second year of medical school at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and find every day even more fascinating than the last.

We’ll be starting some fascinating new epidemiologic projects in India soon. Stay tuned!”

Thomas McGarrett Sutherland— Reed College Class of 2010, B.A. Psychology; married Margaret Grove Nelson Oct. 2013; Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry Class of 2018.

Dathan Hamann is a Resident Physician in the Department of Internal Medicine—Division of Dermatology at the The Wexner Medical Center and The James Cancer Institute at The Ohio State University.

Drew Teer has moved to Atlanta and started Emory’s clinical psychology doctoral program this fall, focusing on posttraumatic stress disorder.

Mandy Baum has been living in Salt Lake City, Utah with her boyfriend, Ted (collectively “Manted”), having relocated there four years ago for her position at Goldman Sachs where she is now an Associate in the Compliance Division. “We have enjoyed the summers here but are sad that Winter Is Coming...”

John Tierney is looking forward to graduating from Temple University School of Medicine in May. His plans this Fall include running the New York marathon and taking Notre Dame football too seriously.

Jessie Baum is in her third year of a 5-year doctorate program in Clinical Psychology at the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium in Palo Alto, CA. She has completed a practicum rotation at the Palo Alto VA in Livermore working with veterans with mild traumatic brain injuries and looks forward to a year working with low income older adults in a community-health setting in San Jose this coming year. She notes, “I’m excited about starting my dissertation in behavioral medicine and receiving my master’s (en route to Psy.D.) at the end of this academic year!”

2007

Joey Cordes married Jeanette Love Baker on July 5th, 2014 at Lake Tahoe.

Alumni JoAnna Hartzmark, James Yurka, Christopher Yee, Ian Krupar, and Anand Jayachandran were in attendance.

Julie Bauer graduated from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in June with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

She recently moved back to the valley from Chicago after taking the board exam. She accepted a position as a physician assistant at Valley of the Sun Dermatology, and is excited to start a new chapter of her life back in Scottsdale!

Caytlin Reese Vilbrandt is “presently a freelance artist, primarily illustrating card games and rocking on with her bad self.”

Rebecca Cianci Grennon reports “My husband, Joe, and I will celebrate our 3 year anniversary in August; we currently are stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma but are moving to Fort Drum in upstate New York in the fall with our four dogs. I will receive my Masters of Science degree in Health Communication from Boston University in December and look forward to starting a new job in New York.”

Caroline Perry is relocating from New York City to Ann Arbor, MI this fall to make an enthusiastic return to academia. She will be pursuing a PhD in philosophy, specializing in moral theory, at the University of Michigan.

Katie Lupica has moved from Brooklyn to Cincinnati, Ohio, for the current theater season, where she is working as the 2014-15 Directing Intern for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park—a fellowship position in which she is assistant directing main-stage shows, helping select the company’s next

season, directing readings, and shadowing the artistic director. She also continues to direct and produce projects with her theater company, The Cake Shop, and will be returning to New York City next summer. So far she is enjoying her midwest adventure, including the opportunity it’s given her to reconnect with old PCDS friends, the Lipvosky family!

Jay Lundeen has been living and working as an Account Supervisor at an ad agency in Manhattan for the past two and a half years. He spends his spare time mentoring, running, reading, or out with friends.

Molly Kearns Milan was studying abroad in Florence, Italy in Spring 2010 when she met her future husband, Sean Milan, from Massachusetts, who was attending Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. They were married on June 29, 2014 on Cape Cod in Brewster, MA and currently live in Scottsdale.

Jake Swokowski is an artist working in his studio in Scottsdale, AZ for the newly formed artist collective “The Jacob Whim Project” which he founded.

The group focuses on the interconnectedness to which we are all subjected via social media sites such as Google+.

Elizabeth Jeans is currently enrolled in medical school and spent the summer attending friends’ weddings. She is also involved in the Neurosurgery/ Orthopedics Bridge Research Program at Columbia University in New York.

Asher Landay has transitioned to a new job and is now working for two TV producers. We are currently preparing for the Fall launch of our new comedy series Manhattan Love Story, premiering on ABC in September. It’s been nice catching up with various PCDS alums who have just recently moved to the L.A. area.

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2008 Lauren Motzkin just returned to the United States from a year in Germany where she participated in Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange for Youth Professionals, a fellowship funded through the State Department. She spent the majority of the year in Hamburg, where she studied History of Art and worked at the auction house Sotheby’s.

Jessica Nicholls finished her Teach for America commitment in May 2014 in the Louisiana Delta and is now teaching 1st grade for KIPP New Orleans Leadership Primary in New Orleans, LA. She is pursuing a Masters of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins as well.

Kaleena Patel is in her third year at USC’s Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles.

Steven Corey currently resides in Arizona where he has been working as a financial advisor for First Investors. “I would love to connect with PCDS and keep in touch with everyone,” he says.

2009 Andrew Seraichik is a PhD student in the Biomedical Genetics program at the University of Rochester. He works in Dr. Hartmut Land’s lab studying a group of genes that are synergistically disregulated downstream of initiating oncogenic mutations in several cancers.

After finishing his undergraduate studies in 2012, Matt Rosenzweig taught mathematics at Brophy College Preparatory during the 2012-2013 academic year and worked in operations management in Atlanta, GA during the 2013-2014 year. He is currently studying mathematics at Georgia Tech and applying to PhD programs in mathematics.

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Harry Kent graduated from Boston College in 2013 with honors, earning degrees in English and Economics.

He currently works in the Institutional Client Service group at Eaton Vance Investment Managers in downtown Boston. On the weekends, he enjoys tailgating at BC football games, hearing the crowd roar at Fenway Park (located right near his apartment), and visiting his good PCDS friend Janey Zitomer, who luckily lives just down the street!

Mark Zhang is in his second year of medical school at USC’s Keck School of Medicine.

Jack Schwimmer is a graduate student at Southern Methodist University, working towards receiving an MBA and an MA in Arts Management in May 2015. This summer, he interned at the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the government arts agency serving the largest county in the United States. He was a recipient of the Maguire and Irby Family Foundation Public Service Fellowship, awarded each year to SMU students who participate in public service summer internships; and the Patricia A. Porter Fellowship, awarded to North Texas graduate students pursing arts management as a career.

Salona Patel graduated Cum Laude from Northeastern University with a degree in Marketing and Accounting and a minor in International Affairs.

During her time at Northeastern, Salona started an Indian Fusion Dance Team, Rangila Rhythms, and got the chance to study abroad twice (in Greece and Brazil). She recently moved to New York, and is currently working with the buying team at Bloomingdales.

Anna Silverman is currently a first year medical student at George Washington University School of Medicine.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University, Rebecca Wax moved to New York City. After working in a nephrology research lab at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons for a year, she is now in her first year of medical school at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn, New York.

Anne Inkpen has been living in Germany for the past year working for a non-profit focused on increasing financial literacy. She was recently promoted to International Consultant and will be staying in Munich for another year and then maybe returning stateside.

2010

Alex Diones will be working in Hangzhou, China for the next year as a college counselor for Chinese high school students aspiring to attend U.S. universities. Afterwards, he plans to enroll in a PhD program in Political Theory.

Since graduating from Wellesley with a B.A. in mathematics, Diana Hsu Schron is spending this next year carving marble through various sculpture programs and interviewing for dental school.

Zachary McVay graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State this May 2014 with a B.A. in Latin/Classics, and is teaching primary school at Archway Cicero Academy in Scottsdale.

Looking for PCDS Alumni Gear?

Contact alumni@pcds.org to see what we have in stock!

Hannah Keogh graduated from the University of Arizona in May, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing and a Spanish minor. Since graduation, Hannah has relocated to Chicago, IL where she is currently completing her first rotation in a Sales Associate Rotational Program within PepsiCo. She has also begun training for the Chicago Marathon.

Peter Brown spent the summer studying Mandarin in Taiwan and will be spending the next school year teaching English on the mainland.

Sophie LaBelle recently graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Anthropology. She has moved to Boston with her boyfriend who is in his second year of law school at Harvard. “I am also applying to Physician’s Assistant School for the fall of 2015!

Lastly, I greatly miss the high school years at PCDS!” David Linder is studying at ASU in a masters program for The Science of Health Care Delivery.

Kevin Crain just finished up his undergraduate degree in Philosophy at Stanford. He will be returning to school next year to complete an M.S. in Computer Science. For a fourth and final summer, Kevin returned to Lake Tahoe for hiking & instructing waterskiing in the Sierras.

Maude LaBelle is in her last semester at Arizona State University. She is working towards a B.S. in Communications. This coming fall she will be starting an internship at The MakeA-Wish Foundation of America’s Chapter Support department. After graduation she hopes to obtain a job in social work and eventually pursue a JD/MSW Masters degree.

Jaclyn Roberts graduated from NYU in May with a double major in broadcast journalism and political science and a minor in business. This summer she worked as an associate account manager in the strategic brand licensing department at Peppercomm, an award-winning full-service public relations agency. She traveled to Israel in July for 10 days on a birthright trip and had an incredible experience!

Earlier this month she got an adorable puppy named Finn. Jaclyn started graduate school at Columbia University in September.

Michael Perry has been serving on active duty as an Army Infantry Officer since June 1st of this year. I’m currently wrapping up the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA and am looking forward to attending Army Ranger School, also here at Fort Benning, on October 5th. I’ll attend Airborne School next January before moving to Fort Campbell, KY to take over an Infantry Rifle Platoon in 1st Brigade (Bastogne) of the 101st Airborne Division.

Sarah Bauer is in her first year of law school at the University of Arizona.

Alexis Myers graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts in May 2014. She began the graduate nursing program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in August where she is pursuing a Masters of Science in Nursing to become a pediatric primary care nurse practitioner.

2011 Kylin Hamann married Eric Sager in June at the Arizona Biltmore.

Ryan Dougherty is working on his undergraduate thesis about graph (vertices and edges) representations of arctic ice concentrations. “I completed my minor in mathematics in Spring 2014, and will complete my B.S. in Computer Science in Spring 2015, and my M.S. in C.S. in Spring 2016 (4+1 program). I did an internship at Apollo Education Group this past summer, and previously worked at University Technology Office for two years working on web development. I also have been a grader and TA for over 750 students in basic programming classes at ASU. I was an apprentice for the National Music Festival near Baltimore, Maryland in 2012 and 2013.

One can find more information at (including other projects I’m working on): https://sites.google.com/a/asu. edu/ryan-dougherty/home” Cindy Hwang interned with the State Department’s Bureau of Human Rights, Democracy, and Labor in DC during the summer of 2014.

Gordon Silverman is a senior at Tufts University. This past summer he worked at the Harvard Kennedy School as a Research Assistant in the Center of International Development. This fall, he will be working in MA Governor Deval Patrick’s Office in the Office of Government Affairs.

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Shannon Manley is currently a senior at Georgetown University.

From Samantha Kaplan:

Sybil Rose will soon graduate from the TCU Neeley School of Business with a BA in Marketing and a Minor in Communication. She is still actively competing in equestrian completions and gearing up for finals back East in October and November of this year.

Rachael Lopez is a senior at Arizona State University in the W.P. Carey School of Business and Barrett, The Honors College where she will be defending her honors thesis this semester. She plans to graduate in May of 2015 with a Bachelors of Science in Business Management.

Rachel Epstein spent this summer in New York City where she was the Marketing & Public Relations intern for Chelsea Piers. She writes, “It was a really great experience, and my time in NYC was nothing short of amazing.

Excited to return back to Tulane and New Orleans for my senior year!”

Arianne Price is finishing her senior year at Georgetown University, majoring in international affairs with a focus on identity politics and cultural policy. She is interning this fall for The Raben Group, a progressive lobbying firm, and hopes to pursue a career in policy, lobbying, or campaign work after graduation. She is the Executive Producer of Nomadic Theatre, a student run group at Georgetown, and involved with H*yas for Choice on campus.

2012 Eric Showers is currently a junior at Stanford. In January he will be headed across the pond to Oxford, where his two courses of study will be the political implications of Science Fiction and Fantasy, and the oeuvre of Michel Foucault.

58

Samantha Kaplan ‘12 (Emory University), Keenan Simon ‘11 (University of Pennsylvania), and Nabeer Khan ‘11 (Princeton University) together during winter break 2013.

J Barrett Stockslager is a junior at Southern Methodist University majoring in Finance. In the upcoming year, he will serve as a senator in student government, as the President of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity chapter on campus, as a member of the Reformed University Fellowship leadership team, and as a marketing intern in the SMU Athletic Department.

Nicholas Meyer reports that “life is pretty relaxing right now. Not arduous at all.”

Harrison VanDolah is “hard at work” at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Currently majoring in Biology with concentrations in Biomedical Studies and Chinese. Harrison recently traveled to Cuba this past January for a history class about the 1959 revolution as part of St. Olaf’s “Interim” study abroad programs, and this January he plans to travel to China for another history class about Identity in China. “Keep in touch everyone!”

This summer, Nimra Khan interned for the planning and supply chain team at Birchbox, a start-up make up, lifestyle, and grooming subscription and ecommerce company based in NYC. “In my junior year, I will serve as a Resident Advisor for the freshmen and continue my studies in Psychology and Business Management at Columbia, while also remaining on the pre-medical track.

Additionally, I will be returning to my internship at Birchbox for the fall and will be a Teaching Assistant on campus for a Psychology course.”

During her sophomore year at NYU, Nicole Burke had two simultaneous internships at Rescuing Leftover Cuisine and the Jacob Riis Settlement House, all while adjusting to New York City. In her spare time, she taught weekly photography workshops to underprivileged youth in Queens, NY. Following in her brother’s footsteps, she attended the Johns Hopkins University SAIS summer graduate program in Washington, D.C., where she studied China and International Financial Markets. She is looking forward to working for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.

Nicole Burke at Johns Hopkins SAIS summer graduate program.

Save the Date for Reunion 2015!

April 24-25, 2015. Visit pcds.org/alumni for more details.

Elliot Goldberg is currently on a 5-year program majoring in computer engineering, and minoring in electrical engineering at Drexel University. This past spring and summer, Elliot has been working at The Annenberg School for Communication at UPenn as an IT assistant.

Madeline Stern, a sophomore at Wellesley, recently made the Scholar All-America team and qualified for Regionals in Division III diving.

Lindsay Coda spent the summer working at Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre as a Apprentice Scenic Artist, the Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh as a Scenic Charge, and an assistant production designer on the feature film The Race and the short film Paper Umbrellas.

She is now a junior at CMU as a scenic designer in the School of Drama.

Alex Sylvester is currently a sophomore in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

He is an active member in the Delta Chi Fraternity and will be working with Phoenix Country Day School’s basketball team this winter.

2013 Alex Hosmar spent the summer working in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, at both the Snow King Resort Hotel and an upscale art gallery in town.

He returned to George Washington University in the fall to continue his studies. Alex is also running cross country, and has consequently been able to see the vast majority of the city and surrounding areas by foot.

Mariclare Rethore is excited for her sophomore year at Simmons College in Boston after an incredibly successful first year. She will be joining the Honors Program at Simmons in the Fall as 1 of 10 sophomore entry applicants from her class. In addition, she is looking forward to hosting the second season of her weekly talk/music radio show on Simmons’ award-winning Internet radio station.

Leila Noghrehchi is currently a sophomore at the University of Arizona Honors College. She is majoring in Middle Eastern And North African Studies with a minor in Persian language.

Henry Roden spent the summer after his freshman year in Grand Junction, Colorado working at a company called Reynolds Polymer Technology. It’s best understood as a company that makes panels of all shapes, sizes, and thicknesses for aquariums around the world. He also attended the Successful Stuttering Management Program in Spokane, Washington, where I learned to better control and embrace my speech. Looking forward to my sophomore year at the U of A!

Slater Katz transferred to the Fashion Institute of Technology and reports that she “absolutely loves it! Since graduating, I’ve had 9 internships and have now entered the professional world. Currently, I am the content marketing manager for FreeFashionInternships.com and a social media specialist for a NYC branding firm.

Brandon Purcell is currently playing Division-I football at Tulane University (he is the first ever Division 1 football player in PCDS history). He was recently elected to the Student Athlete Advisory Committee as well as to the C-USA football conference Commissioners Honor Roll. He is on the Dean’s List at Tulane.

Breana Roberts is a sophomore at NYU. “This past summer, I was a business development analyst intern for a financial technology start-up founded by executives of Moody’s and Goldman Sachs. Currently, I am involved on an oral history project, ‘By the Work of Her Hands,’ funded by the U.S. State Department. My role, in the project, is to work with fellow college students in New York and Morocco to document oral histories of female textile artists in Morocco and quilt-makers in Brooklyn.”

2014 Suzette Guzman spent her summer working at a hospital in Mexico and teaching middle school students at Johns Hopkins University through the Center for Talented Youth. She is currently a freshman at Scripps College.

Ashlynn Miller placed in the top 15 at the New York City Dance Alliance National Competition.

Do you have news to share? We are always excited to hear from you. Please send pictures and details about a graduation, a new job, a birth, engagement or marriage announcement, a recent trip, a new hobby, or a visit with another alumnus.

Email your news to The Alumni Office at alumni@pcds.org. We look forward to learning what you have been up to!

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

The original charter for Talley Academy, which soon became Phoenix Country Day School

A Visionary In November of 1960, Mae Sue Talley decided enough was enough with her children’s educational experience. She held an “emergency” dinner party at her home with a group of parents who felt similar and the verdict was a lofty one—if we cannot fix it, let’s build it. An experienced, notable, and passionate woman, Mae Sue literally put the shovel in the ground in 1961 and established what we briefly called Talley Academy before opening as Phoenix Country Day School in August of 1961. We are so very grateful for the visionaries who made our school the incredible institution it is today and our students and alumni benefit from the forethought of Mae Sue and her team every single day!

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ANNUAL REPORT ON

GIVING

61

J ANNUAL REPORT ON GIVING L

OPERATING STATEMENT 2013-14 FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2014 The 2013-14 Operating Statement supports the School’s continuing commitment to retain a superior faculty and to upgrade the physical plant. The following financial data is a summary, assembled from our annual audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014. The financial data presented in this annual report does not represent a complete financial statement presentation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Copies of our annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, along with the auditors’ report, are available for review upon request from the Business Office.

Income Tuition and fees

$16,615,778

Contributions to operating fund (Annual Fund)

770,827

Contributions with donor-imposed restrictions

5,974,714

Endowment Contributions

254,158

Investment dividends, interest

521,777

Market gains/(losses) on investments

2,214,883

Loss on disposition of assets

(0)

Other miscellaneous income

88,500

Total Income

$26,440,647

Expenses

62

Salaries and benefits

$11,661,790

Instructional expenses

1,127,855

Financial aid & tuition remission

2,162,273

Facilities operations and maintenance

777,524

Auxiliary services

383,793

Administrative expenses

993,664

General operation expenses

445,421

Transfers to Net Reserves

8,888,327

Total Expenses

$26,440,647

J ANNUAL REPORT ON GIVING L

Meet the Team ADVANCEMENT TEAM Roz Abero ’89 Assistant Head of School C. Ryan Joyce Director of Advancement Leslie Feldman ‘99 Director of Alumni Relations Katie Charles Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship Kaitlan Cady Assistant Director of Operations, Advancement and Admissions From left: Katie Charles, Kaitlan Cady, C. Ryan Joyce, Aashay Sanghvi, Leslie Feldman, Lydia Rodin and Roz Abero.

Dear PCDS Community, With sincerest gratitude, thank you to our families, alumni and friends for your 2013-14 gifts to the Annual Fund!

With your partnership, our School continues to take each child’s experience from an A to an A+. Your investment has allowed us to continue to attract the very best teachers from a national applicant pool, provide distinctive academic and co-curricular programs, and distinguish ourselves as one of the most respected schools in the nation.

Last year, we raised $731,421—up 15% from the previous year—with over 70% of Families, 100% of Alumni Board, and 100% of Faculty & Staff participating in the Annual Fund. In addition, we were fortunate to receive nearly $500,000 in restricted and endowed gifts, above and beyond the Annual Fund.

Today, we continue to rely on Annual Fund gifts, of any size, to ensure that our school equips our students with the ability to THRIVE while creating leaders for tomorrow.

Thank you for making PCDS an outstanding institution!

Lydia Rodin Coordinator of Special Events, Advancement Aashay Sanghvi ‘14 Advancement Intern

YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK 12% 13%

75%

■ Program Expenses ■ General Operating ■ Financial Aid

With great appreciation, The Advancement Team

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GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND Founder’s Circle - ($50,000+)

Phoenix Society - ($5,000+)

Nicole & Peter Nakaji

Najafi Companies Cheryl & Jahm Najafi

Anonymous

Erin & Craig Olschansky

Courtney & Jeffrey Beyersdorfer

Joanne Shen & Robert Ortega

Biltmore Pro Print

Julie & Vasif Sabeeh

Polly & Scott Bindley

Tracy & Marc Schwimmer

Joo & David Cantor

Susan & Charles Shields

Joshua Cohen

SC Johnson Fund, Inc.

Donna & Douglas Currault

Jason Singer

Paulette & James Dodson

Molly & Rick Sodja

Elizabeth Byrnes & Barton Faber

Daisy & Bart Steiner

Bridget & David Fletcher

Marcella & Fife Symington

Rita & Samuel Garvin

Shoshana & Robert Tancer

Aquilae - ($15,000+)

Stephanie & Adam Goodman

Denise & Kent Voss

Atlasta Catering & Event Concepts Kristine & Steve Short

Wendy Selig-Prieb & Laurel Prieb

Kimberly & Michael Yue

Penny & Robert Sarver

Sheila & Michael Zuieback

Kathy & Larry Bain

Jenifer & Keith Swisher

Stacy & Timothy Casten

Mary & Dennis Wise

Headmaster’s Circle - ($25,000+) Anonymous Richard Burke Julia & Taylor Burke Linda F. Noyes Charitable Lead Trust Katherine Portanova ‘96 Barbara & Zeb Portanova ‘97 Clarissa (Simek) ‘88 & Brian Robinson

Amanda & David Crisalli Dominique & Don Dady

Eagle Fellowship - ($2,500+)

Louis Foundation, Inc. Julie & Herbert J. Louis

Ruth Bristol & Felipe Albuquerque

Bobette & Kevin Weiss

Beverly Bradway Ax

Roundtable - ($7,500+) Anonymous Keri & Brian deGuzman

Peter Ax Wendy Beninato Central Bistro Polly & Glenn Culpepper

Leadership Circle - ($1,000+) Anonymous Annaliza & Kenneth Anaeme Stephanie & Jonathan Ashman Smita & John Bailey Jo-Ann & Lowry Barfield Nadia & Faran Bashir Laura & Jeff Beraznik Alice Cho & James Bergera

Kerry & Dirk Cussler

Linda Jorgensen & G. Alan Bracher

Molly & Nick DeFilippis

Tracy & William Brennan

Tracy & Timothy Flaherty

Linda & Jeff Campbell

Robin & David Hanna

Susan & Mark Greenfield

Elisabeth & Paul Cereghini

Kimberly & Phat Hoang

Theresa & Michael Gregory

Tracy Chapnick Cohen

Donna & Stephen Johnson

Michelle & Michael Hosmar

Maria & Joseph Cooper

Century Foundation Amy & Timothy Louis ‘81

Carol Colombo & Louis Kirby

Stacy & Richard Cooper

Jill & Burt Kohler

Sybil Francis & Michael Crow

Rhett Reese ‘87

Mara & Brad Kotansky

Barbara Dawson & Samuel Thumma

Rose Law Group

Bonnie & Terry Maffi

Katerina & Patrick Derueda

Jordan & Jason Rose

Jeanne & Chad Miraglia

Larraine Ho & Pravin Dugel

Nicole & Lawrence Russo

Judy & Kent Mueller

Idara & Ini Ekpo

Shelly & Mark Detmer Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation

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GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND Holly & Kevin Fechtmeyer

Margaret & Steve Minard

Alisa & Earl Feng

Edit & Robert Murray, III

Community Circle - (up to $999) Anonymous

The Firefly Trust Andrew Norris ‘81 Joan B. Norris Jonathan Norris ‘77

Susan & Fred Newton

Greg Abdouch ‘01

Heather & Robert Novak

Jennifer Lewkowitz Abelson ‘04

Claudia & Shahram Partovi

Rosalind Bolger ‘89 & Inaudi Abero

Kathryn Ann & Michael Peters

Maha & Nabil Abou-Haidar

Kara & Mark Peterson

Jenifer & Ayad Agha

Savas & Terry Petrides

Christine & Benjamin Aguilera

Dana & Peter Powell

Faryal Adil & Wahaj Ahmed

Nicholas Firestone ‘84 Karl & Sally Forster Mari Fukami & Jon Sabol Susan & Thomas Garrity Sheela & Mark Giraudo Judith & Herbert Gold Iulia & Alan Hauser Henry Family Foundation Leslie & David Lewis

Jules & Andrew Rafal Amrita & Praful Reddy Shirley Michels & Bernard Rethore Stephen Robinson Lydia & Andrew Rodin

Rebecca & Ken Allison Jamie & Jackob Andersen Ada Araluce Heather Arguello Arizona Public Service Jennifer Scudiere & Dominic Armato

Carrie & Jon Hulburd

Deirdre Hahn & David Rogers

Nilma & David Igdaloff

Leigh & Brent Roland

Handong Jiang

Andru Roysden ‘07

C. Ryan Joyce

Alpa & Ashesh Sanghvi

Angela & Robert Keller

Kathryn & David Sellers

Aylin (Tashman) ‘99 and Louis Kim

Kristine & Steven Short

Kathy & Dave Kloeber

Tanda & Jim Siragusa

Pinar ‘88 & Naci Korzay

Mitzi Krockover & Jacque Sokolov

Praveena & Ramkrishna Kothur

Carolyn & Andrew Spangler ‘88

Nathan Learner

Toni & Craig Stein

Henry & Lisa Lee

Eva Sperber-Porter & Mark Svejda

Rebecca Bartness & Dennis Wilenchik

Tami Dairiki & Evan Leibner

Lauri & Eric Termansen

Alison & Michael Bassoff

Cristina & Shane Lewis

Barbara Dawson & Samuel Thumma

Riham & Ahmed Bedeir

Janelle Plaza ‘98 and A.J. Lika

Jennifer Treadway

Kristie & Gary Berg

Toni & Don Loback

Stacy & Michael Tucker

Courtney Berg ‘00

Olga & Hector Lopez

Lisa & Brian Walsh

Jennifer Berg

Susan & Marcus Mamolen

Kathleen Weber & Geoffrey Ossias

Rebecca Bernhardt

Gurjot & Dharminder Marwah

Harriet & Michael White

David Biel ‘01

Ashley Humes McDonough ‘04

Charlene & Jim Whitfill

Betty & Philip Bienert

Kate Groves & Warren Meyer

Ellen & Ian Whitmore

Marie & Roger Bippus

The Mikita Foundation Noel & Joseph Garagiola, Jr.

Adrienne & Andreas Xagoraris

Kylie Birnbaum ‘04

Jamey & Troy Zurawski

Carelie Bisinger

Erin & Christopher Ashby Patricia & Blair Ashner Mahdieh & Ali Askari Andrea Avery Misrach A. Lulseged & Ermias Ayele Lyn Bacon Luisa & Berke Bakay Nicole Barber Tara & Peter Bartlett ‘86

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GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND Salma Jesmin & Amar Bista

Dell Taylor & Jerry R. Cook

Eli Lilly & Company

Patricia Refo & Don Bivens

Judith Mitchell & Lance Coon

Kristina Ennis

Cindy & Donald Blosser

Christina & Charles Cooper

Christian Eriksen

Kelly & David Bockrath

Donna Corbett

Sadie & Kai Etheridge

Sarah & David Bodney

Clint Corcoran ‘03

Jennifer Evans

Joseph Boehle

Marlene & T Corcoran

Mavi & David Farca

Gail & Ron Bolden

Mark Corliss

Leslie Kornreich Feldman ‘99

Irene & Werner Bonadurer

Lisa & Michael Corridan

Karen Feltz ‘08

Brittany Bonfield ‘06

Carla & Tony Cose-Giallella

Katy and John Fielder

Lisa Borowsky

Mathew Cowlin ‘07

Julie Fine

Robyn & Steven Brenden

Elaine & John Crabb

Jacqueline Firestone

Gina & Paul Bridgeman

Jennifer Cunningham

Julie Firestone

Jasmine & Nathan Brown

Dian & Michael D’Avanzo

Tammy & Stephen Fisher

Karen & James Bruntz

Sara Damore

Katherine & Allan Flader

Susan & Richard Burnham

Yana & Igor Dashevsky

Sharon & Peter Flanagan-Hyde

Clare Burnham ‘07

Cindy Davis

Maurine Fleming

Karen & Keith Burns

Christie & Courtney Davis

Marian & Deron Florey

Shelby & Stephen Butterfield

Michael Dean

Daniel Foote ‘69

Barbara & Patrick Bzdak

Misty Anne & Fabrice Dechoux

Sarah Forster

Ketki & Nathan Cabbil

Christina Orozco & Anibal Deciga

Cynthia Fowler

Kaitlan & Cory Cady

Melinda & Thomas DeMark ‘93

Valeska French ‘93

Jennifer & Michael Caplan

Deutsche Bank

Jill & Michael Freret

Renie Cavallari

Elizabeth & Daniel Dever

Maki Fullerton

Alejandra & Reyes Chaidez

Erica Dohring ‘10

Lauri & Roy Gardner ‘71

Katie & Bob Charles

Erin & John Dover

Alice & Alan Garner

Vinita Dodd & Vivek Chawla

Linda & Ira Drate

Judson Garrett

Jenny & Kevin Cherilla

Kathleen & David Drewitz

Joan & G. Kenneth Gates

Rebel Rice & Adam Chodorow

Sarah Driscoll & Jese Gomez

Sarah Gaumer

Christie’s Lora & Nicholas Cogliani Krista & Gregory Cohen Lois Sayrs & Scott Cohen Lauren & Jordan Cohen

Sheila Druch Paula & Mort Dukehart Sandra & Edwin Duncan ‘70 Sarah Vieh Dworkin ‘98

Natalia Wilson & Garth Gemar Yolanda & Greg Gilbert Ronda & Adam Gilburne Sheela & Mark Giraudo Alexis & Bonsal Glascock

Jennifer Cohen

Farah Sutton Eberhart & Dan Eberhart

Terry & Eric Cole, Sr.

Sasha Eden

Jane & Harold Kwa

Jennifer & Michael Collins

Lee Edwards

Lisa & Eric Goldberg

Tamara Cook

Meg & Curtis Ekmark

Augustine Gomez ‘99

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Sonia & Narendra Godbole

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GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND Christine Grau ‘89

Yuki Kondo-Shah ‘03

Dana & John Marsden

Theresa & Michael Gregory, M.D.

Annemarie Korp

Kalea Martin ‘14

Cynthia Griffin

Jean & Robert Kosower

Debbie & Dave Martin

Michelle Gurnee

Sandra & David Koster

Allison & John Mathews

Matthew Guthrie

Sue & Craig Kyllo

Robert & Ida Mattinson

Nell Haddock ‘99

Sarah & Marc Lamber

Logan Milliken

Antoinette Hall

Asher Landay ‘07

Susan & John Mazzolini

Tammy McLeod & John Hamilton

Ann & Gary Lane

Jackie & Brandon McDermott

Angela & Edward Harris ‘88

Tracie & Pete Lane

Elizabeth McGee ‘99

Amanda & William Hayden

Laura Neller ‘02 & Kyle Lanigan

John McGrath

Kristin & Robert Hendrickson

Julie Larrea

Jessica & Patrick McHonett

Angelica & Gerry Hernandez

Arlene Lassila

Andy McKean

Rachel & Richard Herold

Tina Lassila

Katie McKean

Jill & Jeff Herzog

Tracey & Michael Lazarski

Hilary & James McNicholas

Michelle Hill

Marie Learner

Benjamin McRae ‘07

Jeanel Hoagland

Jane & Shiu Lee

Ana & James Melikian

Sean & Mary Hobin

Elisabeth & Jeremy Lee

Brian Mensinger

Adrienne Meredith & Brian Hoblit ‘92

Jacqueline & Don Lee

Mary Kay & Dennis Meyers

Alejandra Holwerda

Leslie Lerman & David Silverman

Nan P. Miller

Lee Kuan Hong & Keng Boon Tee

Diana Powles & Phillip Lett

Jamir & Racquel Miller

Neva & Thanh Hong

Leslie & Robert Lewis

Laurence Mills

Sandi & Jeff Hunter

Adam Lewkowitz ‘02

Jane & Bobby Mirzaie

Michele & Bryan Huskey

Blake Lewkowitz ‘07

Laurie Mittenthal ‘86

Steve Hutchinson

Cathy ‘79 & Herman Lewkowitz ‘79

Deanna & Weston Montrose

Diane Ingold

Genevieve & Eli Leyba

Priscilla & Paul Moore

Intel Matching Gifts to Education

Joan Liggett

Gabriela & Jose Moreno

Jaki Ivins

Mercedes & Richard Liljegren

Hallie Mueller

Eric Jackson

Nancy & John Linder

Melissa & Dave Mullard

Michelle (Rotman) ‘89 & Corey Jassem

Steve & Victoria Lindley

Alisa Jost JPMorgan Chase Foundation

Elizabeth & Carsten Loelke Joyce & Dorsey Lynch

Jesse Munch Angela & Joe Munoz Susan Biegner & Warren Murff Kelly & Alvin Murphy

Jay Kahn ‘98

Kothandapany Shalini & Murali Macherla

Jean & Robert Kauffman

Evelyne & Aristotle Macrodimitris

Jennifer & Christopher Neck

Jennefer & Kristine Kieran

Daniel Majeski

BJ Neller

Kathy & Randy Kirsch

Charles Maree

Taylor Nelson

Andrea Kolich

Sheila Marks

Carol & Eric Neufer

Heather & John Nassar

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GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND Sean Newland

Susan & Frederic Purtill, Jr.

Ian Sharp

Kelli Newsome

Lynn Quartermaine

Ulrika Sandbacka & Hani Shennib

Nicky B’s LLC #267

Qwest

Alexandra Shepard

Ellie & Patrick Nolan

Jessica Raab

Melissa & John Sheridan, IV

Maria & Alex Nolasco

Lyvie & Ralph Racine

Shelly & Charles Sherman

Kendall & Louis Novoa-Takara

Melissa & Thomas Radic

Louise & Christopher Shorten

Cari & William Oberfield

Gabrielle & Jon Ragsdale

Sel & Aaron Shuster

Karen & George Odden

Shelly Gandhok & Manoj Rawal

Florina Lezama & Juan Olea

Laura Reahard ‘07

Candice deSaint-Antoine & Brent Shuster

Dawn & Michael Olsen

Denise & William Reaves

Sarah & Charles Sidi

Elizabeth Olson

Sabrina & Seth Redden

Elizabeth & Carl Silverman

Desiree Ong

Denise & Naveen Reddy

Amy & Robert Orenstein

Cheryl Slomkowski & Richard Rende

Jennifer Kirkpatrick & Daniel Silverman

Sandy Orrick

Elisa & Fernando Reynoso

Alvaro Otalora

Lisa Richardson

Elizabeth Reahard ‘04 & Nicholas Oviedo

Bethany Richardson

Kimberly & Hal Owens

Roz ‘81 & Kevin Romney

Kateland Owensby

Elizabeth & Raymond Rooney

Christine & Bruce Palmer

Elaine Rosenthal

Nicholas Pappas ‘08

Cyndi & James Rosenthal

Priya & Gunjan Parikh

Barbara Pockaj & Michael Rossides

Carsyn Smith

Pamela & Irwin Pasternack

Frances Russo

Amy & Brian Snyder ‘01

Indu Gupta & Maitray Patel

Sage Dining Services

Ellen Solowey

Jason Pawloski ‘00

Mari Fukami & Jon Sabol

Joanna Solowska & Myllin Safir

Carol & Richard Peairs

Kimberly & Eric Saur

Monica Miller & Michael Souccar

Elizabeth Perla ‘00

Laura & Daniel Schwartz

Laura & Peter Spiegel ‘88

Caroline Perry ‘07

Mary & Paul Schweikher

Randall Steckler ‘80

Matthew Philips ‘93

Jack Schwimmer ‘09

Jennifer Sterling

Barbara & V. Douglas Pierce, Jr.

Max Schwimmer ‘07

Lucy Marshall & Robert Stern

Lee Pierson

Jill Scott

Laura & Matthew Stockslager

Amanda & Jeffrey Ploederl

Abigail Seadler ‘07

Lauren Strohacker

Nichole Pope

Claire & David Merkel

Ross Stuart ‘93

Heather Post-Logan

Susan & Daniel Semegen

Tracy & Robert Sucato

Katie Potter ‘98

W. R. Sergent ‘69

Cheryl & Edward Sucato

Kristin Pruett

Ruth & Jay Server

John Swett ‘13

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Lisa & Michael Rodgers

Jennifer Simone Harpreet Kaur & Bhupinder Singh Lenka & David Siroky Nimalka & Kumaraswamy Sivakumar Marti & David Skloven Joshua Skolfield Catherine Smith Maria & Michael Smith

J ANNUAL REPORT ON GIVING L

GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND Michael Swingler

Kelly & Michael Whalen

Thuy Vo & Marvin Tam

Anne & Dean Wilkins

Joseph Tamer

Rhonda & Bart Willett

Pinina & Hal Taylor

Molly & Jason Williams

Debora Tennant

Karen & Glenn Williamson

Barbara & Kenneth Thommen

Jennifer & Frederic Winssinger

Caroline Thompson ‘05

Gabrielle Goodrick & Calvin Winter

Elizabeth Thompson ‘07

Michelle & John Withee

Laura & Daniel Tillman

Michelle & David Woker

Wendy & Rick Timone

Melinda & Robert Xanthos

Lisa Tolentino Trudy & Hugh Tom

Kimberly Yamanouchi ‘74 & James Sackett

Teeraya & Samuel Tomlin

Stefan Youngs

Natalie Troadec

Betsy & Eric Zayanderoudi

Laura & Vladimir Troche

Katie & Jack Zink

Pritpal & Paramvir Tuli Claire Tyra Sarah & Ramsey Umar Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Thuy & Marvin Vo Ashley & Louis Vu James Waller Richard Walton Brian Wand Laurie & Michael Wang Doris Warriner & Bryan Brayboy Christiane Wassmann ‘93 Pamela & Michael Watson Sarah Watson ‘05 Kati Weingartner ‘74 Breda & Robert Weissmueller Wells Fargo Bank & Foundation Lea & Lou Werner III, ‘87 Cynthia & David Werth Sarah & Ethan Wessel Amanda Mabbitt Westlake ‘99

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FACULTY & STAFF GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND Roz Abero Sarah Aguirre Anonymous Heather Arguello Andrea Avery Nicole L. Barber Kristie Berg Rebecca Bernhardt Betty Bienert Marie Bippus Carelie Bisinger Joe Boehle Gina Bridgeman Karen Bruntz Keith Burns Kelly S. Butler Barbara Bzdak Kaitlan R. Cady Clifton Carlson Clifton Carlson, Jr. Katie Charles Jennifer Cherilla Jerry R. Cook Lance Coon Donna Corbett Mark Corliss Carla Cose-Giallella John Crabb Jennifer Cunningham Sara Damore Cindy Davis Linda Drate Sarah Driscoll Mort Dukehart Sasha Eden Brian Ellingson Christian P. Eriksen Sadie Etheridge Kai Etheridge Jennifer L. Evans Leslie Kornreich Feldman John Fielder Julie Fine Peter Flanagan-Hyde Maurine Fleming 70

Sarah Forster Cindy Fowler John Freeland Valeska French Maki Fullerton Judson S. Garrett Sarah Gaumer Yolanda Gilbert Ricardo Gonzalez Michelle Gurnee Matthew Guthrie Toni Hall Chris Hatton Jeanel Hoagland Alexjandra Holwerda Andrew Huff Michele Huskey Diane Ingold Jaki Ivins C. Ryan Joyce Robert Kosower Julie Larrea Jackie Lee Shane Lewis Nathaniel Lewis Richard Lopez Evelyne Macrodimitris Daniel G. Majeski Sheila Marks William D. Martin Susan Mazzolini Patrick T. McHonett Andy McKean Katie McKean Brian Mensinger Mary Kay Meyers Laurence Mills Judy Mitchell Hallie Mueller Jesse Munch Taylor J. Nelson Eric K. Neufer Sean E. Newland Kelli Newsome Maria Gilbert Nolasco

Jesse North Elizabeth A. Olson Desiree D. Ong Sandy Orrick Alvaro Otalora Kateland Owensby Christine Palmer Brandon Perry Kathryn A. Peters Nichole Pope Kristin Pruett Lynn Quartermaine Jessica Raab Gabrielle S. Ragsdale Pedro Ramos-Gonzalez Richard Rende Bethany Richardson Andrew Rodin Lydia Rodin Kimberly S. Saur Paul Schweikher Jill Scott Ian Sharp Marti Skloven Kyle Skolfield Catherine Smith Jennifer L. Sterling Lauren Strohacker Tracy Sucato Michael Swingler Joseph Tamer Kenneth Thommen Lisa Tolentino Trudy E. Tom Samuel Tomlin, IV Jennifer Treadway Claire Tyra James Waller Dean Wilkins Molly Williams Stefan Youngs Richard Zielenkieiwicz Katie Zink

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ALUMNI GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND Greg Abdouch ‘01

Blake Lewkowitz ‘07

Caroline Thompson ‘05

Jennifer Lewkowitz Abelson ‘04

Cathy ‘79 & Herman Lewkowitz ‘79

Elizabeth Thompson ‘07

Rosalind Bolger Abero ‘89

Janelle Plaza Lika ‘98

Christiane Wassmann ‘93

Anonymous

Tim Louis ‘81

Sarah Watson ‘05

Peter Bartlett ‘86

Kalea Martin ‘14

Kati Weingartner ‘74

Courtney Berg ‘00

Ashley Humes McDonough ‘04

Lou Werner III, ‘87

David Biel ‘01

Elizabeth McGee ‘99

Amanda Mabbitt Westlake ‘99

Kylie Birnbaum ‘04

Benjamin McRae ‘07

Brittany Bonfield ‘06

Andrew Norris ‘81

Clare Burnham ‘07

Jonathan Norris ‘77

Clint Corcoran ‘03

Elizabeth Reahard Oviedo ‘04

Mathew Cowlin ‘07

Nicholas Pappas ‘08

T.J. DeMark ‘93

Jason Pawloski ‘00

Erica Dohring ‘10

Elizabeth Perla ‘00

Edwin Duncan ‘70

Caroline Perry ‘07

Sarah Vieh Dworkin ‘98

Matthew Philips ‘93

Leslie Kornreich Feldman ‘99

Katherine Portonova ‘96

Karen Feltz ‘08

Zeb Portonova ‘97

Nicholas Firestone ‘84

Katie Potter ‘98

Daniel Foote ‘69

Laura Reahard ‘07

Valeska French ‘93

Rhett Reese ‘87

Lauri & Roy Gardner ‘71

Clarissa Simek Robinson ‘88

Augustine Gomez ‘99

Roz Romney ‘81

Christine Grau ‘89

Andru Roysden ‘07

Nell Haddock ‘99

Kimberly Yamanouchi ‘74

Edward Harris ‘88

Max Schwimmer ‘07

Brian Hoblit ‘92

Jack Schwimmer ‘09

Michelle Rotman Jassem ‘89

Abigail Seadler ‘07

Jay Kahn ‘98

W. R. Sergent ‘69

Aylin Tashman Kim ‘99

Brian Snyder ‘01

Yuki Kondo-Shah ‘03

Andrew Spangler ‘88

Annemarie Korp ‘72

Peter Spiegel ‘88

Asher Landay ‘07

Randall Steckler ‘80

Laura Neller Lanigan ‘02

Ross Stuart ‘93

Adam Lewkowitz ‘02

John Swett ‘13

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PAUL SCHWEIKHER LEGACY FUND Anonymous

Ginger & W. Brit Etzold ‘77

Amy & Timothy Louis ‘81

Rosalind Bolger ‘89 & Inaudi Abero

Janet Feltz

James Lundeen ‘07

Jan & Dick Andersen

Marcia Finberg

Katherine Lupica ‘07

Alex Ashby ‘05

Sharon & Peter Flanagan-Hyde

Anne & Joseph Lupica

Peter Ax

Regina & Robert Flynn

Erin Lynch ‘00

Beverly Bradway Ax

Susan Funkhouser

Danielle Goldstein Masserman ‘02

Jisook & Bruce Barnhill

Noel & Joseph Garagiola, Jr.

Robert & Ida Mattinson

Alison & Michael Bassoff

Erin & John Gogolak

Miko (McGinty) ‘89 & Nathan Carter

Cynthia Benin ‘04

Jill & Bruce Goldstein

Mary Kay & Dennis Meyers

Carol & George Biel

Alessandra Grace ‘07

Nan P. Miller

Carelie Bisinger

Susan & Mark Greenfield

Monique & Jean-Pierre Millon

Jehan Bista ‘12

Ann Stanton & Robert Haddock

Sharon Mills & Bruce Feder

Sharla & Thom Blischok

Angela & Edward Harris ‘88

Diana & Joel Monell

Janice Bodell

Carrie & Barton Hechtman ‘79

Ruthie & Lou Morgan

Sarah & David Bodney

Michael Hosmar ‘13

Cheryl & Jahm Najafi

Marcia Hunt

Jennifer (Bolyard) ‘91 & Dwight Nelson

Joan Brey Ellen & Fowler Brown David Calica ‘99 Alison Pulaski Carter ‘97 Kaitlyn Caughlin ‘03 Jenny & Kevin Cherilla Rebel Rice & Adam Chodorow Toni Clark Gayle Cordes

Julia Ivanova ‘08 Aubrey (Wieger) ‘00 & Sam Jacobs Karen & Don Johnson Jennifer (Wilson) ‘89 & Todd Juhl Ellen & Robert Kant Mary Beth & Andrew Kent Rosanne Kho

Network for Good Nicky B’s LLC #267 Ellie & Patrick Nolan Joan B. Norris Jennie (Miller) ‘77 & Wayne Oleksak Elizabeth Reahard ‘04 & Nicholas Oviedo

Elaine & John Crabb

Devon (Loback) ‘98 & Ryan Klinefelter ‘98

Rebecca Dalton ‘03

Josefina & Hugh Knoell, Jr.

Carol & James Dalton

Jean & Robert Kosower

Rod Dashnaw

Julie (Schaefer) ‘86 & Marc Krell

Patricia & Paul Davenport

Patricia & Lance Laban

Sandeep Dhadvai ‘07

Laura Neller ‘02 & Kyle Lanigan

Mary Jane Trunzo & Joseph Dillard

Henry & Lisa Lee

Anne & Daniel Donahoe Erin Dulaney ‘94

Annetta Argyres & James Levenson ‘82

Brad Durchslag ‘95

Janelle Plaza ‘98 and A.J. Lika

Bethany Richardson

Karin & Michael Epstein

Elizabeth & James Lincoln ‘76

Kathy & Burke Rosenzweig

Sophie Epstein ‘04

Toni & Don Loback

Kerstan (Lincoln) ‘89 & Guy Ruffer

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Judy & Robert Peirce Lee Pierson Jody & Kerry Pokorski Gary Potter Kristin Pruett Frederika Ranucci ‘84 Joyce & Ed Ravitsky Laura Reahard ‘07 Louise & David Reese

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PAUL SCHWEIKHER LEGACY FUND Alpa & Ashesh Sanghvi Laurie Schoeffler ‘81 Arlene & Stephen Schollaert Kelly Hsu & Charles Schron Laura & Daniel Schwartz Jill & Robert Schwartz Erich Schweikher ‘97 Tracy & Marc Schwimmer Jane Hagen & Thomas Selling Pauline Shongov ‘13 Roxane & Robert Simon Lenka & David Siroky Marti & David Skloven Ellen Solowey Judy & Richard Spiegel Nicole (Blaustein) ‘87 & Steve Spracale Shoshana & Robert Tancer Debora Tennant Sharon & David Thompson John F. Tierney ‘06 Renee & Chida Tse Claire Tyra Mary Karen Vellines Brigitte M. Wangberg Ashley Waters Gundersen ‘96 Cynthia & David Werth Charlene & Jim Whitfill Jeanne Wilcox & Joseph Rody Gay Firestone Wray Laurie Wray ‘80 Tim Wray ‘84 Yufeng Yang & Jianwen Wu Suzette & Gregory Wynn

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GIFTS TO DESIGNATED FUNDS Rex Allison Chair for Excellence

Project Excellence Endowment

Rex Allison Education Foundation

Rebecca & Ken Allison Larraine Ho & Pravin Dugel

Youngest Red Haired Son Endowment Judith Mitchell & Lance Coon Carol & Richard Peairs Linda Bryant Memorial Endowment Chester & Shein, P.C. Judith Mitchell & Lance Coon Carol & Richard Peairs

Barbara (Jones) ‘70 & Henry Hirvela Nicky B’s LLC #267 Tope Owoyemi ‘97 Yomi Owoyemi Alexandra Rethore ‘96 Shirley Michels & Bernard Rethore Dimitri Shivkov Charlene & Jim Whitfill

Victor Feeney Memorial Endowment

Robert Wilson Scholarship Endowment

Nancy & William Henze ‘67

Judith Mitchell & Lance Coon

James Roof Humanities Endowment

Sydney Anne Stewart Memorial Endowment

Judith Mitchell & Lance Coon

Julie & Taylor Burke Anna Munczek Memorial Endowment Judith Mitchell & Lance Coon Carol & Richard Peairs Katherine DeLongy O’Connor Memorial Endowment J. Kevin Adams Maria DeLongy

Susan & Richard Burnham Jaki Ivins Kerry and Eric Jackson ’86 Tracey & Michael Lazarski Elizabeth & Carsten Loelke Elaine & Steve Szeto Mary Lu Syllaba Memorial Fund Judith Mitchell & Lance Coon Carol & Richard Peairs The Noyes Endowment for the Arts Linda F. Noyes Charitable Lead Trust Unrestricted Endowment Sandra & Guy Gamble Duc Pham

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We did it... again!

Here’s how we did it… again: Total Annual Fund dollars raised: $731,421 – up 15% over last year Current Parent participation: 70% – up 10% over last year Faculty and Staff participation: 100% – up 2% over last year Board of Trustees participation: 100% Alumni Board participation: 100% 1,531 gifts to Annual Fund — 40% increase over last year!

Thanks to our fabulous alumni, dedicated parents and caring friends, the Annual Fund was the most successful funding season in our 53-year history!

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Save the Weekend to Celebrate!

APRIL 24th and 25th, 2015 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Outstanding Alumnus(a) Award Presentation Alumni Reunion 2015 (Honoring classes ‘05, ‘00, ‘95, ‘90, ‘85, ‘80, ‘75, ‘70 & ‘65) The Third Annual Bridge-the-Gap THANK YOU Celebration

This panel, clockwise: Diana Lett, Jill Freret, Steve Zimmerman, Emi Zimmerman; Kevin and Holly Fechtmeyer with Charlene and Jim Whitfill; Laura Reahard ‘07, Elizabeth Reahard Oviedo ’04, Nicholas Oviedo, Stephanie Fineman ’04, Brigit Donovan ’04, Sandra Weiss ‘07. Black panel, clockwise: Claire and David Merkel; The Restaurant Area; Margaux Rosen, Christie Davis, Jacqui Firestone, Shannon Hinkson, Linda Campbell, Dana Powell, Lea Werner, Jules Rafal; Jeffrey Beyersdorfer, Paulette Dodson, Courtney Beyersdorfer and James Dodson; Chad and Jeanne Miraglia with Tanda and Jim Siragusa; Rachel and Rick Herold. Background: Ross and The Bridgemen Band.

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CLAIM TO

FAME

Hooray for Hollywood!

Spotlight on Robert Simonds ‘81

By C. Ryan Joyce, Director of Advancement

I

t was no ordinary Tuesday in September at PCDS. Leslie Feldman (Director of Alumni Relations), Bob “Kos” Kosower (Associate Director of Athletics), Danny Minard ’15, and I headed to Los Angeles for a whirlwind 24 hours to meet with Bob Simonds ‘81, Hollywood movie mogul, CEO of the movie studio STX Entertainment, and member of the 1981 PCDS state championship baseball team (clearly his most seminal accomplishment!). Bob has recently signed one of the most significant movie producing deals in film history, raising $1 billion dollars to produce over 10 blockbuster movies in the next few years. But let it be known that we Adam Sandler fans (Bob produced “Happy Gilmore” and “Water Boy”) just wanted to hear a little “inside baseball.”

Danny, a budding film student, had arrived at the airport with movie camera in tow ready to meet one of his PCDS idols. And Bob Kosower was eager to see one of the star members of his former Hall of Fame baseball team, though the two have remained in good touch throughout the years. And the moment we learned we were going to Los Angeles, Leslie quickly arranged an impromptu gathering of LA alumni, where nearly 15 alumni showed up with less than a week’s notice!

By 8:30 am, the four of us, spanning generations at PCDS, had arrived at Bob’s office conference room awaiting his entrance.

Danny wondered if he’d be the fast-talking, cigar-chomping sort who dished about movie stars. Leslie was optimistic that he might offer to mentor Danny in a “trial run” of our alumni mentorship program. Kos was curious to know if Bob still had the moves that allowed him to score the winning run in the championship. And, having met Bob last winter at Paul Schweikher’s retirement party, my only thought was, “How does this guy have any time for us?”

When the conversation began, it all became clear.

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INTERVIEW Ryan: You originally came to Arizona from Hawaii, how were you introduced to PCDS? Bob S.: It was the only choice, and PCDS had an incredible reputation. It was a spectacular experience, and for a father of five who practically lives on a plane, I’m constantly trying to chase the Phoenix Country Day School experience for my own kids. It’s tough. It’s tough to replicate because there were spectacular teachers in an incredibly safe environment.

You’re getting a world-class education without the craziness that sometimes goes with that.

Ryan: Hollywood producer—what does that really entail for you?

Bob S.: It essentially means that you’re the boss of the movie. You hire the director and the writer and put the financing together. What often would happen is Adam Sandler would come to me with an idea and I would hire a writer to write the script. Then, I would oversee the development and the making of the film as well as its marketing and distribution. What people don’t understand is that what you see at the movie theater is really only 20% of the revenue.

There’s another 80% that comes from overseas distribution, DVD, networks, etc. Essentially, as a producer, you become the guy who wills the idea into being.

Leslie: Who are some of the teachers that you remember fondly?

Leslie: Any advice for Danny?

Bob S.: First, Danny, make sure you’re in touch with me. Let’s keep this dialogue going. Second, don’t feel that you must go to film school. We recruit more young people out of strong liberal arts colleges with film departments than ever. Do you find that PCDS is giving you what you need to prepare you for a strong career in film?

Bob S.: So many of them: Jim Wolf, Mary DeMarzo, Donald Hackling, Bob Kosower, of course, but these are in no particular order. Obviously Robert Wilson and David Raymond—they were a huge influence on me.

Ryan: Your sister, Tina, went to PCDS as well and is also a fellow Athletic Hall of Fame member.

Danny: My brother, Scott ’13, is at Chapman University studying film and he’s mentioned that the equipment he uses in college is the same as that which we have at PCDS. Really, it’s the opportunities like this that make me so grateful to be a PCDS student.

Bob S.: True, but let’s be clear, I snuck into the Hall of Fame on the backs of a successful team. My sister is the one with the talent!

Ryan: Where did you catch the bug for film?

Bob S.: At PCDS, in Linda Bryant’s art class. She had a few super 8 cameras and it became a “wow” moment—so fun to have that kind of control over reality, whether it was animation or having friends dress up in costume. It became my tool to engage as the new guy and plug in with people at PCDS. Danny: That all sounds VERY familiar. I have had a very similar experience—using the film class I took my first year at PCDS to develop friendships and, in turn, movies through that medium.

Leslie: You went to Yale and graduated summa cum laude.

How did PCDS prepare you for that type of rigorous academic environment?

Bob S.: I was completely prepared for that experience thanks to what was given to me at PCDS. When I graduated from Yale, my parents were in the water business in Arizona and that didn’t interest me so I moved to LA and started working in the movie business.

Ryan: What’s next?

Bob S.: I’m developing something with Diane Keaton and Steve Martin, plugging into the zeitgeist “60 is the new 40.”

There is a real disconnect between age and how you feel.

Bob K.: Yeah, everyone asks me when I’m retiring and I say, “Why? I feel great!” But I’ll tell you that I’m sticking around because PCDS continues to strengthen its stance as a nationally recognized educational institution. Bob, wait until you see the new pool and gym! With Schweikher retiring, I’m the oldest guy around, sort of keeping the history.

Bob S.: Even back in my time, we always thought you were the oldest…or wisest!

Ryan: In fact, Kos recently turned to me at our First Friday ceremony, where the 12th graders walk the pre-k students across the bridge for the first time, and he said to me, “These kids will graduate in 2028 and I’ll be nearly 80—I’ll still be here!”

Bob S.: That’s exactly what I’m talking about!

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We wrapped up our time with Bob Simonds by walking him through the newly launched THRIVE Campaign. He was thrilled to hear that his alma mater is not content with simply saying, “We’re the best,” but is proactive in maintaining excellence.

We walked into a restaurant a few hours later, unsure of how many alumni were going to be able to attend a last-minute PCDS reunion. Moments later, laughter and hugs filled the room as old friends and new gathered for lunch, shared stories and deepened connections that will last a lifetime.

We all left Bob’s with a spring in our step. There is nothing more special than an alumnus crediting their PCDS education—be they a 19-year-old college student or a member of the Class of 1981—speaking from the heart in a Hollywood movie studio as he recalls the very moment, at PCDS, that brought him to where he is today. This is who PCDS is—this is why we THRIVE as teachers, alumni, parents, and students.

Just ask Danny…

Ryan: So, how was that for a day away from school?

Danny: Just maybe one of the best of my life. I can’t wait to be in Mr. Simond’s seat, helping others one day. Mr. Joyce, where are you taking me tomorrow?!

Alums, you tell us! n

From left to right: C. Ryan Joyce (Director of Advancement), Danny Minard ‘15, Bob Simonds ‘81, Bob Kosower (Associate Director of Athletics), Leslie Feldman ‘99 (Director of Alumni Relations)

ALUMNI MENTORSHIP PROGRAM The Phoenix Country Day School Alumni Mentorship Program, launching in 2015, will provide PCDS alumni with a number of opportunities to share their expertise with current students and young alumni alike. From the moment a PCDS graduate steps foot on his/her college campus, connections with fellow alumni will ideally allow for easier transitions to life beyond the Phoenix Country Day School campus.

A mentor-mentee relationship is invaluable; a more experienced individual willing to share his/her professional know-how and personal skills with an “exploring” pre-professional can greatly contribute to career growth and development. PCDS Alumni Mentors will be selected from a variety of professions and academic backgrounds. These former Eagles will offer their insights and advice with regard to personal and professional development, as well as career and network building by meeting with students one on one in the soon-to-be-built Alumni Mentorship Suite, through returning to the classroom for a visiting leader presentation, and by means of utilizing technology for virtual meetings from their home cities. Our alumni, in turn, will gain exposure to fresh new talent, technologies, energy and ideas while improving their leadership, coaching, problem-solving, and management skills.

The connection between Bob Simonds ’81 and Danny Minard ’15 is just one example of how beneficial PCDS Alumni Mentorship opportunities can be. Are you interested in being a mentor or mentee in the program? If so, please contact alumni@pcds.org to learn more.

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Stay Connected to PCDS! www.facebook.com/ phoenixcountryday

www.pcds.org

www.instagram.com/ phoenix_country_day_school www.twitter.com/ PCDS_Eagles

Alumni: “Friend” PCDS Alum on Facebook, and let us know where you are and what you’re doing!

To learn more about Phoenix Country Day School or participate and support any of the issues highlighted in this issue of The Bridge, please contact Roz Abero, Assistant Head of School, or Ryan Joyce, Director of Advancement, at 602.955.8200.

Phoenix Country Day School 3901 E. Stanford Dr.

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PARENTS OF ALUMNI: If this magazine is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office of his or her new mailing address at alumni@pcds.org. Thank you!