PDS Magazine, Spring 2024

a look inside The Face Of Fencing, Let's Get Virtual, Making Waves Against Cancer, The Heart & Soul Of Freedom School, and more!

Beyond the Border

Providence Day shapes students into empathetic, informed, and empowered global citizens

Contents

HEADlines

The latest from our Head of School, Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw

The Mysterious Origins Of The Ferryboat

How did the Ferryboat get its name?

The Face Of Fencing Sophomore Grace Lozier embraces fencing as a transformative discipline

Pack Rat

Ted Dickson reflects on decades of Providence Day mementos and the memories they hold

A Surreal Symphony

Director of Orchestras, Adrian Gordon, recalls sophomore Owen Moore's original composition

"A Nighttime Overture"

Beyond The Border

Global education initiatives at Providence Day extend beyond travel, shaping students into empowered global citizens

Let's Get Virtual

Lower School students engage with virtual reality technology to better understand engineering concepts

Making Waves Against Cancer

The Hart family mobilizes the Providence Day community to combat cancer

The Heart And Soul Of Freedom School

Katie Carmichael serves as the driving force behind Freedom School and other community engagement efforts

Making A Connection

Alumni Walter Bridgeman and Skip Tappy reflect on the school's enduring influence and sense of community

Class Notes

Updates on alumni near and far

On the Cover

Global Education initiatives at PD extend beyond travel — encompassing deliberate preparation, intercultural learning, and impactful experiences shape our students into empathetic, informed, and empowered global citizens.

Magazine

HEADLINES

A word from our Head of School, Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw

DEAR PROVIDENCE DAY SCHOOL COMMUNITY:

After a year hiatus, the spring issue of our magazine is back! We are so excited to share the stories of our students, faculty, and alumni as they continue to excel in and out of the classroom.

Part of what makes Providence Day special is our global education, which is threaded into our curriculum as early as Transitional Kindergarten. We purposefully develop opportunities for students to become empathetic, informed, and empowered global citizens. The world needs innovators who are going to make a significant impact and we know that work starts here at Providence Day. It is exciting to see how our graduates go on to successfully contribute to their communities, both personally and professionally.

In this issue, we are celebrating some of these globalinspired accomplishments, but also so much more! We pay tribute to a student who composed and conducted his own orchestra piece and another student who recently competed

in the 2024 Junior Fencing Olympics. That passion for fencing grew right here on the grounds of Providence Day during a Lower School Enrichment Program. In fact, you will find most of our stories are student-centered, as students are the focus of what defines our work as educators. You will also read about our student philanthropy, community service, and the far-reaching impact both of those can cultivate.

I am proud of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff who continue to represent Providence Day and advance its mission. I hope you enjoy reading about all of our Charger family success, and I look forward to much more good news to come.

Cheers,

Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw

SCAN NOW to win 2 FREE tickets to the Thursday, August 22, 2024 Keep Pounding Classic

The Mysterious Origins of the Ferryboat

The landmark has been a part of campus for as long as most of us can remember. But how did it come to be called the "Ferryboat?" Written by Anna Maria Della Costa.

The Ferryboat is one of the most legendary landmarks on campus— home to morning and afternoon carpools. But few know how the Ferryboat got its name.

When the City of Charlotte reconstructed the intersection of Rama and Sardis Roads, it meant Providence Day had to close the main entrance at the time and block off the entrance/exit.

“Our entrance was moved to where it is today, and the ferryboat was created,” School Historian Bobbie Hinson says.

Roberta McKaig, Middle and Upper School World Language teacher who first started at Providence Day in 1975, says the designation of "ferryboat" comes from the actual procedure of a ferry, where the gates open and the available space is filled completely with no other movement until it is time to disembark.

“Similarly, we fill the drop-off area with cars that remain in place until a signal is given and then everyone climbs out and exits the area before traffic moves again,” she says.

Established by the Office of Institutional Advancement PD, NetWORK engages various constituencies of the Providence Day community to provide internship and mentorship opportunities in a range of industries for our alumni to develop their professional experience.

Thank you to the companies who partnered with us this past year! We are currently looking to establish 2024 summer internship opportunities.

If you would like to share an internship opportunity with our alumni or have questions about PD NetWORK, please contact Rachel Ellis at 704-887-7058 or rachel.ellis@providenceday.org.

The Face of Fencing

Sophomore Grace Lozier embraces fencing as a transformative discipline, supported by her unwavering determination and familial encouragement. Written by Anna Maria Della Costa.

Grace Lozier is 5-foot-5 and fearless. She almost has to be. On a weekly basis, she’s facing adversity in the form of competitors who are coming toward her with a nearly 3-foot epee (bladed weapon.).

“I wouldn’t be who I am today without fencing,” says Grace, a sophomore at Providence Day. “Fencing has given me discipline and has taught me how to really work for something that I want. It takes years of hours of practice and consistency.

Grace found the sport as a third-grade student at Providence Day, where extended-day enrichment camps offered students a chance to try nontraditional sports. She’s been pursuing the sport seriously since and competed against the best in the country in the 2024 Junior Olympics in February at the Charlotte Convention Center.

“I was always drawn to fencing after the class at Providence Day because it felt natural,” she says. “I love fencing because it’s a really cool experience, and it’s always exciting and different every bout,” she says. “It has connected me with so many new people from all over the world, and it has really changed me as a person.”

She won four of her six pool bouts in the Junior Olympics and ended up coming in 143 out of 270 participants. She has three more tournaments in Virginia, Alabama, and Florida in April and then the national fencing championships in July.

“Junior Olympics was seriously one of my favorite things I’ve experienced,” Grace says. “I had tons of friends and family show up to support me, which meant the world to me. I fenced some of the best bouts of my life and had some really crazy moments that I’m still thinking about today. It’s definitely an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Amanda, her mom, says they immediately began noticing the benefits when Grace started fencing and competing.

“She has worked very hard over the past two years, traveling year-round, across the country, to compete for USA fencing,” Amanda says. “She has spent the past two summers training in [Washington, D.C.] and in Boston with the Harvard coaches. She has learned so much about how to deal with adversity and is developing self-confidence. Fencing requires tremendous self-discipline and fearlessness.”

Her daughter, Amanda says, often faces opponents who are much older and more experienced. She’s also started competing against athletes from top colleges in the country.

“She is learning how to deal with the pressure of performing at the national level and dreams of maybe one day competing internationally for Team USA,” Amanda says. “Ultimately, she hopes to fence in college.”

Her fencing schedule has been the most significant adjustment: she practices five times a week, along with two to three private lessons with her coach on the side. She doesn’t typically get home from practice until 9 p.m.; then, she has to do homework.

“It can definitely be difficult, but it’s worth it to me because I love the sport,” Grace says. “On the weekends, I practice in the morning, and on my days off, I try to stay active by going to the gym to train.”

Most of her tournaments are out of state, which means 5 a.m. wakeup calls and spans of several 12-hour days. She competed in the national championships in Phoenix last summer, and she’s qualified to compete in championships this summer in Columbus, Ohio.

She found out she qualified for the Junior Olympics, a goal she’s been working toward, in late October.

“Watching her compete at Junior Olympics was one of our proudest moments as parents,” Amanda says. “It was amazing to see the culmination of years of training and sacrifice result in an opportunity to compete with the best in the country.”

The only pre-match ritual she needs is a pep talk from her coaches at Triple Threat Fencing Academy in Monroe because it helps her “get in the zone.” Her coach, Maestro Oleksii Ivanov, is Ukraine's national fencing coach and an international referee. He has more than 55 years of experience as a fencing coach, 20 of which have been in the U.S.

“Regarding Grace, I can confidently note her hard work and sociability in communicating with club members and coaches during the training process and at competitions, as well,” he says. “I am very pleased to watch her progress. She is a real sportsman in the full sense of the word.”

Pack Rat

Ted Dickson reflects on decades of mementos from Providence Day, unable to part with the memories they hold. Written by Ted Dickson.

History teachers seem to have a genetic marker or predisposition for becoming pack rats.

I grew up with that gene and lived in an old house where my grandfather had collected antiques. My dad added to the clutter and never threw anything out. In my case, nature and nurture combined, and here I am in an office filled with stuff.

Many of my treasures are keepsakes from my decades-old career teaching at Providence Day. I started in the fall of 1991, and not only did I teach, but I coached Middle School soccer and

junior varsity boys basketball. I also coached 100-plus recreation teams that included a lot of Providence Day kids.

Every 10 years or so, I cull, discard, reorganize, and, in the process, rediscover all kinds of mementos. This time, I found basketball scorebooks, exams, and newspaper clippings, among other things.

The scorebooks, for example, are from JV basketball in the 1990s. They featured Providence Day players such as Clay Nunley (leading scorer and now D1 college coach), Kelly Dyer, William Jarjour, Tripp Cherry, Bill Monroe,

Isaac Osabutey, Casey Field, Davius Miller, Tommy Cardo, Jeff Wilson, Brian Shambo, Andrew Stark, Lee Tappy, Trent Cherry, John Hollmeyer, Scott LeTourneau, Raj Naik, Daniel Knost, Ben Hovis, Matt Morrow, Jimmy Montague, Kyle Heasley, Zac Jordan Frankie Johnson, Scott Hinson, Tim Morrow, Connell Handford, Mike Spillars, James Park, and many more.

How can I let go of these books? I can’t. Just like I can’t let go of the rest of it. They’re all souvenirs for me.

The basketball coaching manuals I came across are from legendary Providence Day coaches Dave Price, David Carrier, and Brian Field. I also found Carrier’s 10 Commitments of Charger Basketball from the 1995-1996 season.

I have the notes from Providence Day parent Dr. Matthews’ fascinating presentation to the 60s class on his experiences as a radio operator for the Marines in Vietnam in 1966-1967.

A Roy Garrison and Ted Dickson First Semester (January 1992) and Second Semester (May 1992) Western Civilization exams included an excerpt from The Prince. These were typed on my original MacPlus desktop computer, which is still in my school office.

The rule and script for the Cash Cab skit I created for one of the last Faculty Follies performances is another find. Questions included: What is Dr. Creeden’s first name? Name two faculty members who played pro baseball. Name all of the third-grade teachers. How many members of the Field family are teaching at Providence Day? What graduating class donated the sign at the entrance to the school? What is Mr. Bibby’s first name?

The script I wrote for Providence Day’s MLK Day celebrations in the 1990s told the highlights of Dr. King’s life from Montgomery to Memphis. Patsy Steimer and I alternated reading from a script with slides projected as illustrations. Students took turns reading Dr. King’s words.

Is it possible I have Jett Steiger‘s first movie? One of my finds is a videotape that Steiger and Andy Grosso produced for their 11th-grade U.S. History class project on the Civil War. The critically acclaimed film received two thumbs up from esteemed film critic Phillip McEneny. It won multiple awards at the Sundance Film Festival. Today, Steiger is an award-winning producer and cofounder of the creative studio Ways & Means. His productions include the video for Pharrell William's “Happy.”

I have a copy of the famous Mark Fader, Chris Wallace, and Ted Dickson's 60s final exam , for which students needed glue sticks and scissors to write and illustrate their own history of the 1960s. And a copy of the National Geographic Magazine with a beautifully illustrated cover story on reimagining dinosaurs that Providence day alumnus Michael Greshko wrote.

I kept a Boston Globe article from the COVID NBA playoffs: “Williams Held

the Celtics Fate” about rookie Grant Williams, who attended Providence Day. Williams blocked a shot to win Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors. Consequently, Williams is back home with the Charlotte Hornets.

The moral of this story: all of this stuff is going back into a box to await the next 10-year cleanup. The memories are too important.

ANNUAL FUND FAMILY OF FUNDS

The Annual Fund Family of Funds gives the entire PD family an opportunity to partner with us as we seek to inspire and equip the world’s next generation of leaders. We invite Annual Fund donors to support the yearly needs of the school while also pursuing their personal philanthropic passions.

Visit www.providenceday.org/annualfund to learn more and to make your gift today!

The Annual Fund Family of Funds supports our students and faculty in the current academic year through the school’s operating budget. Should designated contributions exceed a designation’s budgeted need, the school will direct contributions to the area of greatest need.

PD’s Greatest Need

Faculty Support & Professional Development

Student Financial Assistance

Student Innovation

Health & Wellness

Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging

The Arts Athletics

A Surreal Symphony

Adrian Gordon, Director of Orchestras, recalls being captivated by sophomore Owen Moore's original composition "A Nighttime Overture." Written by Anna Maria Della Costa.

The melody lingered in Adrian Gordon’s head. It had been days since his initial encounter with “A Nighttime Overture”—a piece Providence Day sophomore Owen Moore composed over several months. The allure of the music was powerful.

“I was captivated,” Gordon, the Director of Orchestras, says. “It actually got stuck in my head. I was impressed by his ability to compose in a manner that showcased the distinctive characteristics of each instrument within [an] orchestra. I remained impressed by the overall composition he created.”

Owen swears he’s had a connection to music since birth, but it really sparked when he joined a children’s choir. By the fifth grade, he played several instruments, including the cello. Now he composes music, DJs middle school dances at Providence Day, and knows all kinds of music, his favorites being electronic and Indian Punk rock.

Composing “A Nighttime Overture” and then taking the lead and conducting his piece during the Orchestra Concert this school year was surreal, he says. Gordon swapped positions and played the cello as Owen directed his peers.

“It's valuable for musicians to gain insight into the interpretation of music directly from the source,” Gordon says of giving Owen the opportunity to conduct his own piece. “It felt natural for him to share his personal experiences and artistic intent with his colleagues. This presented a unique teaching opportunity, allowing us to collectively delve into the art of conducting and further enhance Owen's and everyone else's understanding of this intricate musical skill.”

Owen’s opus was born from a passion he uses to escape, relax, and find comfort.

“It’s a creative outlet,” Owen says. “I can’t put it into writing, but I can use music to convey messages. ‘A Nighttime Overture’ was really this melody that came into my head while I was doing homework or getting ready for bed. From there, I built harmonies around it.”

He says his peers' being open to having him conduct his own piece pushed him to perfect the music.

“It was a really cool feeling to be the person leading all the other instruments,” Owen says. “I wanted to evoke the emotion the best they [could.]”

Gordon says the experience instilled in students the importance of thinking outside the box, emphasizing that the sky's the limit when it comes to fostering creativity.

“My mantra ‘permission granted’ has always encouraged sharing ideas with the world without constraints,” Gordon says. “This experience served as a powerful reminder that there is no age minimum or limit to embracing and embodying this mantra in our creative pursuits.”

It’s not the first time Owen, who will study engineering in college because he’s “really into the way things work,” has taken unprecedented steps at Providence Day.

The member of the school’s cross country and track teams created the Air Jordan 1 “PD” shoe in the spring of 2022 with fellow sophomore Calvin Currier.

“[I] decided to make some designs, and when I sent them to [Calvin], he thought it would be cool to make them real shoes,” he says. “I’ve always had a lot of ideas, and then I think, ‘Why does this have to be an idea? Why can’t it actually be happening? So I try to make it happen.”

And where did he get the idea for the title of “A Nighttime Overture”?

“It was something I thought about for a while. I did a lot of listening to the piece and reflecting about how it felt to me,” Owen says. “I went through a lot of options. Then I thought about the feeling of when the sun is going down, and the moon is coming out, and the darkness of night. That really summed it up. All of it is connected. That’s how it is with me and music; it all connects.”

the Border

Global education initiatives at Providence Day extend beyond travel — encompassing deliberate preparation, intercultural learning, and impactful experiences, shaping students into empathetic, informed, and empowered global citizens. Written by Anna

Maria Della Costa.

Jessica Williams is a global citizen. She’s been to China, Taiwan and Scotland.

In October, she accompanied a handful of teens to Africa.

The Director of Global Programs at Providence Day knows each trip means more than just traveling to another continent.

“At its highest, global education is both an inner and an outer journey that has the capacity to raise human consciousness,” Ms. Williams says, adding the inner journey is a time of reflection. The outer journey provides experiences and an opportunity to open hearts and minds.

“How do we want to ‘be’ in this world? As we travel, our hearts sometimes hurt from what we witness. In that space, we have a choice. Do we turn away, or do we turn toward? Our world needs us to turn toward one another.”

At Providence Day, Williams and the Global Education Office intentionally create experiences for students that foster intercultural learning inside and outside the classroom. They purposefully develop opportunities for students to become empathetic, informed, and empowered global citizens.

“A lot of thought and work go into in-depth preparation,” Williams says. “We want students to understand their own identity and be aware of their own culture. What does it mean to be a United States citizen? Then, we look into the culture of where they’re going. It’s a very intentional design.”

Providence Day is also a member of Round Square, an internationally diverse network of 200 schools in 50 countries on six continents. Round Square schools connect and collaborate to offer conferences, the volunteer Big Build, and exchange experiences that develop global competence, character, and confidence.

“Round Square's sustainable and community-centered approach to service is key,” Williams says. “Students have the opportunity to exist technology-free while serving, reflecting, and learning with peers from around the world, and the experience is much richer.”

The inner journey

Marly Celebron-Brown, a junior at Providence Day, was part of the group that attended the Round Square International Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. They participated in “The New Africa,” a week-long endeavor that explored how Africa has evolved in the 21st century yet clings to its traditions and ties with nature.

They also developed an appreciation for differences.

“They live in simplicity,” Marly says of the people in Kenya. “They don’t have to be doing something or spending a lot of money. Their happiness comes from being with each other.”

Williams says trips give students the opportunity to reflect internally. In Africa, they learned to “be aware of your presence. Part of the inner journey.”

Even better, the group will share with Providence Day Transitional Kindergarten students about the journey.

“We’re not just traveling for ourselves,” Williams says, “but traveling for others, too. We’re not only breathing for ourselves, but we breathe for others.”

A shift

Suzanne Clements is the assistant director of global programs at Providence Day. She says a large part of the global journey is when students come home.

“They bring back that awareness they gained,” Clements says. “They come back and embrace that experience. They have lunch discussions. They make presentations. That’s what makes our day. It’s wonderful when we see the students come back impacted and wanting to share.”

Williams adds: “The power of knowing yourself, the power of preparation, and the power of expectations - it empowers students. That piece is key.”

When Providence Day students attended the Round Square Big Build in Thailand in December, they came back with a different perspective. Big Builds are international service projects that unite participants from member schools worldwide.

“We couldn’t have any phones, no electronics, so it was easier to connect,” says Ella Mellone, who worked with teams of students in Thailand on the construction of a community research center, park ranger huts, lookout towers, hornbill nest boxes, and beehive fences. “When I got home, there was a little shift (because of the experience in Thailand.) I didn’t care about everything I was getting for Christmas. I put more emphasis on relationships this time than material things.”

Kristin Santo, a Middle School English teacher and learning coach, was independently accepted as a Big Build leader in Thailand.

“I was reminded of the importance of authentic experiences and relationships for self-growth,” Santo says. “I was inspired by watching 59 students from fourteen countries work and play together in an organic, purposeful, and pure way. It was worthwhile to see the confidence grow in each student, whether that was seeing them emerge as leaders or seeing them master a new skill set. It is important for our students and children to see us, at all ages, trying new things and modeling what it looks like to be lifelong learners.”

Global education at Providence Day is hardly limited to trips - plenty of opportunities are available on campus.

“We try to create experiences that expose students to global programming without them going abroad,” Clements says, “Students don’t even have to get on an airplane. We’ve had instances of students hearing a global speaker and being so moved they ask, ‘What can we do?’”

‘Building their skillset, mindset and heart-set’

During this school year, students heard from an Australian basketball team, got a glimpse of Japan’s culture, and attended an in-person lunch with Marie Yovanovitch, former United States Ambassador to Ukraine, among many more.

A group of middle school students spent a portion of their Valentine’s Day at a virtual event with students from around the

world to talk about school lunches. Providence Day’s Middle School Postcard included students from Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, India, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

“We addressed issues like the nutritional values of school lunches and how they impact students,” says Alex Duvel, a Providence Day eighth-grader who helped plan the Postcard event. “We talked about lunchtime social dynamics that take place in the dining hall. It was important because it allowed students to connect with each other on a global scale and address subjects that are also happening locally.

“We found many similarities and learned new things about other students and how their schools work.”

The event gave Alex and her peers the experience of planning a significant event, facilitating a meeting, coming up with an agenda, and being a leader - inner and outer journeys wrapped up in a postcard.

“The purpose [is for students to] connect with peers through intercultural dialogue,” Williams says. “But they’re also picking a topic, leading discussion questions - it’s very student-driven. We're helping them begin to build their skillset, mindset, and hearts.”

In His Own Words...

Throughout my time at Providence Day, I’ve always heard great things about the school’s global trips but hadn’t taken advantage of them. When I saw the information about a Round Square Big Build trip to rural Thailand come out, I saw it as my chance — a chance to finally step outside of my comfort zone and into the possibility of a new experience during my senior year.

As I stepped off the plane in Thailand during the holiday season, the nerves of the unknown hit me. I realized that I honestly had no clue where I was going, who I would meet, or what exactly I would be doing, all without the comfort of technology. However, within the first few days, I could answer all those questions. I’d been living with students from every corner of the world while working toward a common mission that’s greater than ourselves.

As the trip went on, it was these connections that I developed while immersing in another culture without the distractions of everyday life that ended up meaning the most to me. I learned that I didn’t just appreciate the mix of cultures from all over the world; I discovered my curiosity and fascination with other cultures. I considered this more and more as I took in the beauty of the surrounding Thai mountains with my new friends from Denmark, India, Kenya, and Australia.

Following my return to the U.S., it’s been tough to find just one big takeaway from this experience. But what I am sure of from my experiences is that the fear of the unknown is the only thing holding me back from learning more about the world and myself.

Owen Klepser, Class of ’24

Let's Get Virtual

Lower School students engage with virtual reality technology to learn engineering concepts through hands-on experiences and enhance their understanding of complex concepts in a tangible way. Written by

Anna Maria Della Costa.

Hudson Tyree-Rodriguez stood in the IDEAS Xchange space at Providence Day and built a roller coaster that included a drum.

The fifth-grader added the drum for noise because it was an option in the virtual reality exercise where students learned being an engineer means making adjustments.

“It’s really interesting because you can use anything you find to create something,” Hudson says. “And, you learn how to fix stuff.”

Providence Day fifth graders built Rube Goldberg creations this semester using virtual headsets - boosting science lessons on the history of the Pulitzer Prize-winning American cartoonist, inventor, and innovator of simple machines.

“The experience allows students to use various levers, pulleys, inclined planes, wheels, and axles to build their own machines,” says Tomarra Londeree, the Education Technologist who collaborates with teachers to integrate student experiences through various digital media. “[It] will also require our students to use their problem-solving and critical thinking skills by using trialand-error to build their machine.”

The Rube Goldberg exercise is part of the school's commitment to introducing Lower School students to multiple digital media resources. Exposure to digital media equips students with the tools they will need as future leaders in the community, educators say.

“Integrating technology into the classroom allows teachers to have more engaging lessons, which increases student motivation and participation,” Londeree says. “The key to successful technology integration is intentional

planning, vetting ageappropriate content, and aligning the goals with our curriculum. It's important for us to teach healthy habits to our students inside of school so they are able to navigate the digital world outside of school.”

Marcie Jacobs, a fifthgrade teacher, says digital media such as virtual reality reinforces classroom teachings, and abstract ideas are more tangible and memorable for students.

“[Virtual reality] can cater to different learning styles, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to grasp complex concepts effectively,” Jacobs says. “We are privileged to use virtual reality technology to enhance our fifth-grade science units. Next up... space, perhaps?”

Providence Day offers multiple ways for our TK-5 students to use technology in the classroom to continue staying at the forefront of new technologies. Teachers use Seesaw as the platform, where students are able to record audio to explain concepts, draw pictures to explain their thinking, type sentences and paragraphs to answer teacher responses and take pictures to capture their learning.

“They can essentially create digital portfolios of their learning throughout the school year,” Londeree says. “It's amazing to see the growth and progression of their digital portfolio through the years.”

Students also use digital breakouts or escape rooms on their iPads. Londeree says they use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to solve clues to break out.

“When they finally solve a clue, they are filled with such excitement and are so proud that they persevered through something that was very frustrating and difficult to them at first,” Londeree says.

Digital literacy is another digital media

that is used throughout Lower School. Epic! books, Raz-Kids, Scholastic News, and News-O-Matic give students a selection of diverse literacy resources to ensure they can find books and articles on their reading levels and have exposure to age-appropriate news topics.

“Young students definitely need to hold a book, learn reading strategies, and comprehend the written word, but much of our daily news and information comes from digital media, so it's beneficial to expose young students to literature online,” Londeree says.

The Goldberg virtual reality experience is unlike any other because it incorporates mixed reality, meaning students are able to see the physical room and furniture they are in but are also able to build 3D machines within the virtual world.

Students chose from various tracks, balls, wheels, and pulleys to build roller coasters, marble tracks, basketball hoops, confetti cannons, or any simple machine.

“It’s amazing to see the ownership the students took of their own learning,” Ms. Londeree says. “I tell the

students it's OK to fail. Try new things. If it doesn't work, make adjustments and try again, much like Rube Goldberg did when he invented various machines. It's all part of the engineering design process.”

Fifth-grader Lina Han says the experience was fun because “it’s a different way of learning how to do things.”

Londeree says she plans to offer students many more virtual reality experiences.

“I already have a teacher asking if we can send the kids to the moon,” Londeree says, “and the answer is ‘Yes.’”

Making Waves Against Cancer

The Hart family, driven by a personal connection to pediatric cancer, has mobilized Providence Day students and the community to combat the disease.

Written by Anna Maria Della Costa.

When cancer hit close to home for Sheri Hart, it was a punch to the gut. A good friend’s 6-year-old child was diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer.

Hart, a collegiate All-American swimmer at the University of Southern California, had three young children of her own and lived in Seattle, Washington, with her husband.

“It was the first time any of us spent any time in an infusion room and also the first time we learned how little money was focused on pediatric cancer research—less than 4 percent of the National Institute for Health's annual budget for cancer research funding,” says Hart, whose daughters Kelsi and Kaleigh, or KK, attend Providence Day. “Even if kids can survive their cancer diagnosis, they are subject to a lifetime of side effects from toxic treatments.”

Hart continues: “After spending a career in management consulting, always focusing on the 'burning platform,' this gave true meaning to urgency around finding a solution, or at least a better pathway.”

The path Hart and her family chose is Swim Across America, a nonprofit dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention, and treatment. It hosts charity swims that have raised more than $100 million since it was founded in 1987.

She was introduced to the nonprofit when she participated in the Dallas Swim Across America open water event.

“I was blown away by the event and inspired knowing we could use our sport to support a greater cause,” she says.

With her background—Hart was an Olympic Trial finalist in 1988, a semi-finalist in 1992, and has set more than 20 swim records—the family helped start a Swim Across America event in Atlanta, Georgia. They’ve brought that philanthropy spirit to Charlotte and united the Providence Day family for the cause.

“We love Swim Across America because it's family,” Hart says. “We have such a cool network of swimming alumni from Olympians to master's swimmers to club swimmers to friends and family of swimmers who join together annually to make an impact. It's truly a grassroots type of organization where no one is a stranger.”

Kesli, a sophomore, and KK, a senior, sit in a classroom space in the Academic Center on Providence Day’s campus. Their sister, Kennedy, attends Rice University and is a college ambassador for Swim Across America.

The younger sisters recently helped recruit dozens of participants—they swam, too—and raised more than $270,000 for a Swim Across America event at Camp Thunderbird in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, in October.

“It gives your life greater meaning,” Kelsi says. “It’s greater than school, greater than yourself. You’re giving back.”

Kelsi and KK got involved in 2011 while living in Seattle, Washington. Their friend Brooke was diagnosed with brain cancer. The family moved to Atlanta and started the Atlanta chapter of Swim Across America in 2013, and they have been a part of chapters in Florida and now Charlotte.

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 1,958,310 new cancer cases in the United States by the end of 2023 and 609,820 deaths from cancer. Brooke, Hart's friend, lost her battle with cancer.

“We want to help limit the disease,” KK says. “Little footsteps at a time.”

Sheri says they were too little to understand the magnitude of what they were getting involved in early on.

“It was a great way to spend time as a family,” Hart says. “They gave speeches to their classmates, sports teams, clubs. They met countless kids undergoing treatment for cancer and got to see that what they were raising money for served a greater cause. It's something that has put us out of our comfort zone, but the older they have gotten, the easier it has become.”

When the family moved to Charlotte, they were a part of the Inaugural Junior Advisory Board, where 20 leaders from across the Charlotte swim community were chosen to represent their high schools and club teams to bring awareness and energy to Swim Across America and the Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children's.

This board came together with the help of Providence Day Head Varsity Coach Kristina Bond; Kaleigh, KK, and a handful of other Providence Day students are part of the advisory board.

“The Providence Day student-athletes that were selected to Charlotte’s first Junior Advisory Board this summer have had a different journey in the sport of swimming as athletes, but they genuinely enjoy the sport,” Bond says. “I’m incredibly proud of them for embracing the opportunity to use their passion and love of the sport as a platform for larger community impact.”

Zetta Grace Bartee is a sophomore at Providence Day School and is on the Junior Advisory Board.

“[A] lot of people close to me have been affected by cancer, so this cause means the world to me,” she says. “To know that teenagers like myself are taking a stand and making a difference through the junior advisory board and [Swim Across America] is very cool.

“It's super special that several people from Providence Day support this cause because people close to me and in my community are helping save lives across the country. I love

that I can use my sport of swimming to help improve cancer treatments and early diagnosis.”

Charlotte’s Junior Advisory Board is the newest group in Swim Across America. Both Kevin and Sheri Hart were involved—Sheri was the board’s advisor, and Kevin led the corporate sponsor efforts.

“It’s another resource to get more of the younger population involved and aware of cancer,” Kelsi says.

Tom Caruso’s emotions are visible amid the workout mats and weights. Providence Day’s strength and conditioning coach is sitting in the Mosack Athletic Center, powering his way through an interview that is both personal and uplifting.

It’s about a month after he participated in the event at Camp Thunderbird.

“I talk about it with my students - the ‘c’ word,” says Mr. Caruso about cancer. He was 35 years old the first time he was diagnosed with the disease. “This fundraiser helps us talk about it, early detection—it’s saving lives because maybe a student has someone in their life who needs to be aware.”

Not only has Caruso battled the disease, but he’s had friends who have been diagnosed, which is why he believes the Harts’ involvement and other students at Providence Day in the Swim Across America cause is so important.

“It meant a lot to be able to work on this event with people from [Providence Day] because we had strong connections already, meaning we had even better cohesiveness throughout our mission,” says Granger Bartee, a junior and member of the advisory board.

The Heart & Soul of Freedom School

For 28 years, Katie Carmichael (above, right) has served as a champion for her students, a leader in the Freedom School summer program, and a driving force behind community engagement efforts, embodying the school's commitment to social responsibility and educational equity. Written by Anna Maria Della Costa.

Katie Carmichael is a lot of things to a lot of people.

At Providence Day, where she’s taught in the Lower School for 28 years, she’s a champion.

For Freedom School, the six-week summer program she directs on campus for underserved children in Charlotte, she’s their advocate for an equitable education.

She’s a leader. She’s a hero and role model.

And to Providence Day junior Sia Matai, who had Carmichael as a secondgrade teacher, she’s a force to be reckoned with.

“Her ability to manage a room full of seven or eight-year-olds is a force,” Sia says. “Being a teacher for so long, she clearly has a passion for teaching, and it is evident. Everything she does in and out of the classroom is done thoroughly and with the intent of helping someone. She also formed relationships with us that we will be able to hold onto for a lifetime.”

Carmichael is called the “heart and soul” of Freedom School, a program that began on campus in 2012. Providence Day, which teams with Freedom School Partners, serves about 55 scholars by boosting their literacy and confidence, among other things, during summersa time when learning loss is common.

Providence Day hosts supply drives for Freedom School scholars throughout the school year. Last year, Providence Day donated more than 241 boxes of supplies, including everything from bathing suits to backpacks and magazines. In January, students and faculty will be collecting cleaning supplies and toiletries.

“It’s little pieces of everybody contributing,” she says. “I feel like I’m the Wizard of Oz. No one really sees me, but I get to tap into the generosity of our community and their time and treasures.”

Providence Day is the first independent school in the nation to host a Freedom School. It focuses on three resources

needed to develop scholars’ potential and inspire a love of reading and learning - literacy skills, character strengths, and a community that believes in them.

Multiple Upper School students and community members volunteered for the program during the summer - in 2019, more than 3,500 hours were logged between more than 500 Providence Day volunteers.

“We’re like a family,” Carmichael says of Providence Day. “If there are needs that are identified, you can find the people who want to step up and participate. Here, it’s not just showing up; you might be part of something. People want to be a part of something. Also, the students see and understand what poverty can look like. It’s not just something that should get our attention during a holiday or something that happens in a third-world country. It’s right down the street.”

Breathe the PD Mission

Providence Day’s mission is to have a sense of social responsibility, Ian Kutner, an Upper School English teacher for nearly 25 years, says. He helped start Freedom School at Providence Day because it allows students to live and breathe that mission.

they practice Drop Everything And Read when they read for 30 minutes one-onone with a volunteer. The intervention program - participants are teacher recommendations - is also meant to help scholars gain more confidence.

“I believe in the importance of education equity,” says Carmichael, who quoted Condoleeza Rice, the former U.S. Secretary of State: “If I can look at your zip code and I can tell whether you’re going to get a good education, we’ve got a real problem.”

Carmichael says: “It’s true for Charlotte. Everybody deserves to have a chance at a good education. Some

themselves, and create extraordinary futures,” says Annalise Wilson, the marketing and communications manager for Freedom School Partners. “Our ability to provide six weeks of highquality summer learning experiences is rooted in our deep relationships with our site partners across Charlotte, like Providence Day School.”

She adds: “We are thankful for their continued support and look forward to more summers full of the joy of learning.”

Kutner says it’s Carmichael’s support that makes Freedom School shine.

“It’s her depth of commitment, her love for the scholars who come here and for her own students she nurtures to be part of the Freedom School learning process,” he says. “Her love for helping those in our community is unmatched.”

Despite his influence with Freedom School, he says Carmichael is the one who’s kept it running.

“She’s the big hero,” Kutner says. “We would not have the Freedom School without her. “To be that devoted to people on campus year after year,” he says, “that is the story. I was just the seed planter. [Carmichael] is the farmer in the fields year after year.”

Freedom School scholars spend their summer days on Providence Day’s campus, focusing on classroom work, field trips, and activities like art lessons and jewelry making. Each day,

people are more fortunate than others in terms of access. It’s so sad. There are so many kids in poverty in Charlotte.”

On average, 90 percent of parents surveyed report an increase in their child’s confidence in their reading ability after participating in Freedom School, according to Freedom School Partners, which is based in Charlotte. More than 85% of Freedom School scholars gain or maintain reading ability compared to under-resourced children, who typically lose two to three months of learning during the summer.

“Our mission is to inspire our scholars to love reading and learning, believe in

Making a Difference

Freedom School summers have an even bigger impact on Providence Day students.

Senior Alex Jessey has spent the last three summers volunteering. Alex’s duties included everything from greeting the scholars in the morning, helping them get food during lunch, and working with them on their subjects. He read one-on-one with scholars and accompanied them on field trips.

“Freedom School is important to [Providence Day] because it is so important that we give back to the less fortunate given our situation,” Alex says. “Everyone at [Providence Day] is so blessed, and it is important we share both our physical resources and time with the community.”

Alex and Sia believe Ms. Carmichael’s devotion to Freedom School is contagious - the reason why they will continue giving back to the community.

“Freedom School has taught me the value of giving back,” Alex says, “and that even as teenagers, we can make a big difference in our community and change the trajectory of kids’ lives.”

Sia, a volunteer for the last two summers, believes having a Freedom School site is at the heart of Providence Day’s promotion of a passion for lifelong learning. With poverty causing such a gap in literacy rates, it is great to see their confidence in reading and all-around confidence grow throughout the summer.

“I believe it is our duty and job to provide our resources to the greater Charlotte community and lend a helping hand when needed,” Sia says. “I have learned that these small moments are worth gold. Whether it be a hug from a scholar or listening to them read with great fluency, it is amazing knowing that I was making a firsthand impact on their success. I would not trade this experience for anything in the world, especially with a leader like Ms. Carmichael.”

For Carmichael, it is difficult to come up with the words for what Freedom School and Providence mean to her.

“I love this school. I live and breathe this school,” she says. “I’ve never been prouder of Freedom School. I never thought about how much it would change us. It’s helped our students see life beyond our campus and the importance of being engaged in their community.”

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AND PD

Gift planning is the art of designing your charitable gift so that you realize your philanthropic objectives while minimizing your after-tax costs.

In addition to fulfilling your philanthropic goals, you can generally expect some or all of the following benefits depending on the kind of property you contribute and the type of arrangement you select:

Income-tax savings

Avoidance of long-term capital-gains tax

Stream of income for life

Increased cash flow

Reduced costs and time in estate settlement

For more information about creating your own gift plans contact Jeffrey S. Appel, Associate Head of School for Institutional Advancement, at (704) 887-6038 or jeff.appel@providenceday.org .

Making a Connection

Alumni Walter Bridgeman and Skip Tappy, tethered by shared experiences and a successful business partnership, reflect on the school's enduring influence and sense of community.

Written by Anna Maria Della Costa.

Walter Bridgeman and Skip Tappy are sitting in a Panera Bread about five miles from the Providence Day campus, and nostalgia enters.

The men graduated from the school years apart—Bridgeman in 1979 and Tappy in 1991—but the memories are the same. Students were only allowed to wear jeans once a week, and shorts were absolutely not allowed. The campus was small, and parent involvement was huge—they even ran the lunchroom.

The sense of family at Providence Day was deep-seated. Still is, they say.

“You knew everybody,” Tappy says, “even the kids two or three years ahead of you and behind you. You still have those lifelong friends.”

Bridgeman and Tappy are a testament to Providence Day's connections. Their time at the school never overlapped, yet they are talking about their school days amid a business partnership. Bridgeman, a former member of the Board of Trustees and owner of Remedics Restoration Carolinas, and Tappy, a partner in Hood, Hargett & Associates, work together to ensure families’ homes are taken care of in a disaster.

Bridgeman’s business, which he bought in 2016, provides fire, water, and mold repair services—a perfect match for Tappy’s clients if they need that type of service.

“It’s really cool,” Tappy says, “to be able to connect with someone with whom you have that common bond in Providence Day. It’s fraternal in nature. We were molded in the same way by the same school. In a lot of ways, Walter and I have the same ideals.”

Bridgeman agrees.

“Providence Day is what brought us together,” he says. “We have that same level of respect. Business is about trust. If you don’t have trust, it’s not going to work. We trust each other and feel connected with each other.”

The duo met during an alumni event.

“Walter was a number of years ahead of me,” Skip says. “But I really appreciated how friendly and welcoming he was. Everyone was older than me. He was just so friendly, and that really impressed me. He’s an accomplished guy. It can be intimidating even though you have that common connection. We reconnected years later.

Bridgeman and Tappy, whose brother is Lee Tappy, the Middle School Dean of Students, started in public school before transferring to Providence Day.

“It changed my trajectory,” Bridgeman, who recently received Charlotte Business Journal's Fast 50 award, says. “I remember getting Cs, and I got to Providence Day, and students were upset they got an A minus. I knew my game had to get better.”

Adds Tappy: “There was more accountability. Providence Day was just a good, healthy environment. We took that with us, and that’s what helps make the (business) relationship we have really solid.”

Class Notes

Updates on Alumni Near & Far

1979

Class Reunion! Save the date for your PD reunion on September 21, 2024. We hope to see you there!

Walter Bridgeman has been selected as a member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors. During his four-year term, Walter will serve as an ambassador of UNC and provide his professional experience as CEO of Hempstead Capital, LLC, to help UNC better serve communities.

After three decades in television news, Scott Fitzgerald has become the Director of Sales in North America for Octopus News, a broadcast software technology group. Scott has won three Emmys for outstanding TV news production and worked at NBC News and CBS Sports during his career with stops in San Diego, Seattle, Miami, Nevada, and Houston.

1981

Kim Godwin Leazer was nominated for the inaugural list of the top 50 most influential women globally in the Office Product International Industry. Kim serves as the CEO of FSIoffice, one the largest independent office suppliers in the US.

1984

Class Reunion! Save the date for your PD reunion on September 21, 2024.

We hope to see you there!

1988

Effective in January 2023, Leigh Dyer became the Executive Director of GreenHill Center for NC Art, a nonprofit devoted to presenting, promoting, and advocating for the visual art and artists of North Carolina.

1989

Class Reunion! Save the date for your PD reunion on September 21, 2024.

We hope to see you there!

Dwayne Deatherage joined the Providence Day Board of Alumni in August 2023.

1994

Class Reunion! Save the date for your PD reunion on September 21, 2024.

We hope to see you there!

1999

Class Reunion! Save the date for your PD reunion on September 21, 2024.

We hope to see you there!

2001

News

Ward Childress, business analyst at Ben Mynatt Family of Dealerships, served as the Cabarrus Chamber’s Board Chair from 2022-23. Since he joined the Board in 2017, Ward has served as Advocacy Committee chair, helped guide budgets and the current strategic plan, and sponsored and attended networking events, ribbon cuttings, and other forums and meetings.

2002

Traci Cherry Cockerham joined the Providence Day Board of Alumni in August 2023. Traci is Vice President at Carolina Made.

Adam York has been admitted to the partnership at Deloitte. Adam has been with Deloitte for over 11 years, where he focuses on helping the firm's largest retail clients improve growth; develop, implement, and operate omnichannel digital solutions; and design and implement store operations best practices to improve customer experiences.

2004

Class Reunion! Save the date for your PD reunion on September 21, 2024. We hope to see you there!

2005

Beth Leazer Freeman has been named to Office Product International's 40 under 40 most influential leader list. Beth is the Executive Vice President of FSIoffice, and has had a broad impact on the dealership through her efforts in sales, marketing, and procurement while also being the driving force behind comprehensively modernizing the family business.

Ben Shaul joined the Providence Day Board of Alumni in August 2023. Ben and his wife, Nicole, welcomed their second son, Maverick, on January 25, 2023.

Class Notes

Updates on Alumni Near & Far

2007

Christopher Herrin started a new position as Director of Product Management with Saviynt, managing a cybersecurity product line that enables privileged remote access for highly regulated industries.

2008

The Washington Post published photography by Nate Brown in the article In Taiwan, Finding Solace – and Identity– in Traditional Healing. This summer, he will be returning to Taiwan to facilitate a workshop for Indigenous Taiwanese youth on story-telling and developing agency in your own narrative.

2009

Class Reunion! Save the date for your PD reunion on September 21, 2024. We hope to see you there!

2010

Tyler Brown and Nate Brown ’08 completed the New Zealand “Coast to Coast” race, which consists of 140 kilometers of biking, 70 kilometers of kayaking down the Waimakariri river and 30 kilometers of running over the Goats Pass Mountain Trail. Tyler and Nate conquered the notoriously rough terrain in two days.

Kaitlin Laxer Danze joined the Providence Day Board of Alumni in August 2023. Kaitlin and her husband, Adam, recently opened Providence Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics on Providence Road.

With less than 4% of competitors advancing to the championship tournament, Paul Fitzgerald secured a tee time at the 123rd United States Amateur Golf Championship in August 2023.

2011

David Bailey started a new position as a Multi-Location Strategy supervisor at Vert Digital in Bozeman, Montana. This will be David's fifth year working for Vert Digital.

News cont.

2012

Tommy O'Gorman completed his pediatric residency in Chicago and will continue his medical education with a fellowship in pediatric critical care.

2014

Class Reunion! Save the date for your PD reunion on September 21, 2024. We hope to see you there!

2015

Tyler Hawk, alongside the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lost Bayou Ramblers, took home the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album.

Mary Riolo received her J.D., magna cum laude with honors from the University of South Carolina School of Law in May 2022. She is currently working in the Intellectual Property Litigation Group at Alston & Bird in Charlotte, NC. Mary utilizes her background in electrical engineering to assist her clients in various complex intellectual property disputes.

2017

Lauryn Harper is the Co-Founder and COO of Hey Eldy, an online platform whose mission is to enhance generation-to-generation connections by providing a user-friendly, communitybased online learning platform. They empower seniors, affectionately known as “Eldys” to navigate technology, evolving societal norms, and shifting cultural dynamics with confidence. Hey Eldy redefines aging narratives in a welcoming and judgment-free digital space, fostering connections and understanding across generations.

Manny Riolo graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in May 2021 and received his Pilot Wings in October 2022. He completed his pilot training in March 2023 and is flying the C-5M, Super Galaxy.

Class Notes

Updates on Alumni Near & Far

2019

Class Reunion! Save the date for your PD reunion on September 21, 2024. We hope to see you there!

Ryan Fessler set the new program record for the Wake Forest University Men's soccer team for career appearances by a freshman, surpassing the previous records set in 2007. During his three years at Wake Forest, he has accomplished the Academic Honor Roll every year and received the All-ACC Academic Team Selection in 2022.

Obi Oriaku released his first song, "Overthinkin." You can stream his single on all platforms now!

2020

Chloe Ayscue and her team at Samford University received the 2022 Best in Class Montgomery Biscuits Baseball Marketing Strategy Award. As a Sports Administration and Marketing major, she led her team to create a marketing plan worthy of execution at a home game for the Biscuits.

Kaila Dawkins worked at Nike Air Manufacturing Innovation (Air MI) as an Industrial Engineering intern throughout the summer of 2023. Through this program, she characterized and quantified waste— including motion, inventory, and defects—on the manufacturing floor; conducted five sets of test runs across multiple product lines with a focus on safety, comfort, and usability; and recommended four future impactful projects using quantitative (cost) & qualitative (observation) analyses. Kaila will be graduating from North Carolina A&T in May, where she will receive a B.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering and plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program afterward.

Maddie Henderson, current Chapel Hill senior, interned at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC in the summer of 2023. During her internship, she published her work in the Smithsonian Voices about the Indian boarding school era and how forced assimilation has affected the dissemination of cultural practices generations later.

News cont.

Kevin Kaspar was included in Forbes 30 under 30 Chicago for his work on InfernoGuard, an early-stage startup company providing prompt wildfire monitoring solutions uniquely customized for large-scale landowners. Kevin, alongside Shreya Bhasin, Zoe Sherman, and Nandita Balaji, created InfernoGuard while students at PD. Kevin will be graduating from Northwestern in May.

More details to follow. If interested in sponsoring or participating, please contact Lucy Drinkwater at (704) 887-6001 or lucy.drinkwater@providenceday.org. Save-the-Date FOR

We hope to see you there!

Class Notes

Updates on Alumni Near & Far

2003

Drew Wozniak and wife Cristina welcomed a son, Theodore "Teddy" Carl Wozniak, II, on November 9, 2022.

2004

Jill Ingram and wife Maggie welcomed a son, Redding J. AustinIngram, on February 16, 2024. Their daughter, Collins, is excited to be a big sister!

Amanda Golmont

Schneider and husband Philip welcomed a son, Colemon John Schneider, on July 20, 2023.

Katie Walters

Tucker and husband Austin Tucker welcomed a daughter, Charlotte Gayle, on October 10, 2023. Their son Miles is a proud big brother.

2006

Katie Zweng

Masciangelo and husband Patrick welcomed a son, Thomas "Tommy" Masciangelo, on October 5, 2023. His big sister, Izzy, is thrilled to have a little brother!

2007

Ashley Berman

Ahearn and husband Briggs welcomed twins, Ella Mason and Mia Elisabeth, on January 6, 2024. Their big sister, Olivia, couldn't be more excited!

2008

Alessandra Di Iorio Stringfield and husband Wes welcomed a son, Scott “Scottie” Philip Stringfield, on January 16, 2023.

Erin Brown Yablonski and husband Jim welcomed a daughter, Carter Frances Yablonski, on January 17, 2023. She joined her brother, Abbott, who loves being a big brother!

2009

Olivia Hostetter

Callese and husband Tyler welcomed a daughter, Bennett Piper Callese, on September 12, 2023.

Births

Christian Rautenstrauch and wife Maddy welcomed a son, Casey James Rautenstrauch, on May 16, 2023. Christian started a new position as Senior Manager of Public Policy for The Coca-Cola Company in May 2023.

Maggie Ruff Brydon and husband Drew welcomed a son, Harvey Edward Brydon, on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023.

Kirby Montgomery Strickland and husband Blake welcomed a daughter, Smith Montgomery Strickland, to the world on February 16, 2023, joining her big brother Coleman. Kirby is a Senior Product Marketing Manager for IBM Security.

Class Notes

Updates on Alumni Near & Far

2010

Tori Furr Buening and husband Matthew welcomed a son, Robert "Ro" Matthew Buening, on April 7, 2023.

Michael Greshko and wife Jaclyn welcomed a son, Andrew Roeing Greshko, on April 8, 2023.

Lucy Stickler Singletary and husband William welcomed Elliot "Eli" Parker Singletary on July 22, 2023. Lucy is currently the Upper School Science Department Chair at Providence Day.

Marian Barrett Versalko and husband Luke welcomed a daughter, Lena Rae Versalko, on October 17, 2023. Marian and her family live in Charleson, SC where she owns and runs Marian Frances Events, a boutique wedding and event planning company.

Mary Wallace and husband Peter welcomed a daughter, Saskia Marie Brock, on July 2, 2023.

2011

Lauren Burgess and husband Wesley welcomed a daughter, Parker Louise Roten, on January 2, 2024.

Camilla Paramore Cannon and husband Wes welcomed a son, Banks Everett Cannon, on October 17, 2023. Camilla currently lives in Waxhaw, NC, and works for Caterpillar.

2012

Austin Brown Martin and husband Daniel welcomed their second child, a daughter, Annie Blaire Martin, on November 20, 2023. She joins her brother, DJ (Daniel Robert Martin, Jr.), to complete their family.

Dacia Thompson welcomed twin daughters, McKayla and Maddison, on June 3, 2023.

Births cont.

Class Notes

Updates on Alumni Near & Far

2009

Nick De May got engaged to Kelly MacDevette on October 26, 2023 in Jackson, WY. They plan to marry this October in Asheville, NC.

Chris Ohl married Cameron Bailey Ohl on July 15, 2023, in Winston-Salem, NC. Chris and Cameron currently live in Charlotte, where Chris is a Senior Associate at PwC.

2010

Kimberly McAllister

Vawter married Matt Vawter on May 13, 2023, at The Ivy Place in Charlotte, NC. PD alumni, families, and faculty & staff in attendance included Dr. Ryan Welsh, who read an original poem for the occasion at the ceremony; former Spanish Teacher Colleen Gibson Coffeen, who read Biblical scripture at the ceremony; Liz and Todd Swartz, Smita Sawyer, Kelsey Sneed, Julie Cannon Bowen, Mary Virginia Hahn Rockwell, Allie Ruark, Jay and Jessica Wardlaw, and Karen and Jeff Lapiana. The Charger mascot made a surprise appearance on the dance floor during the reception!

Carlisa Warner Wu married Sam Wu on April 8, 2023, in Charlotte, NC. PD Alumni in attendance included Jen Shambo Schmidt ’94, Jennifer Montague Gould ’96, Charlene Warner Oldfield ’03, and Jasmine Robbins.

2011

PJ Heacock got engaged to Jessica Campbell on December 9, 2023 in Cold Spring, NY.

Drew Vandemore got engaged to Micayla Stanley and will be married in October 2024. Drew is a Manager at PwC, where he focuses on Treasury & Working Capital projects to resolve complex business issues.

2012

Emily Stewart Carney married Grant Carney on May 20, 2023, in Charlotte, NC.

Emily lives in Charlotte and works as a law clerk for Judge David Keesler at the US District Court.

Chelsea Hawk married Michael Burgess ’15 on November 22, 2023, in Charlotte, NC. PD Alumni in attendance included Ryan Connor ’15, Ross Vandemore ’15, Alex Cantrell ’15, Tyler Hawk ’15, Meg Mischinski, Sophie Hawk ’25, Nathan Hawk ’20, Lauren Burgess ’11, Paul Johnson ’20, and Harry Murrell ’11. Chelsea and Michael currently live in Austin, TX, where Chelsea works in tech and Michael teaches.

Natalie Jones Kohn married Lennox Kohn on November 17, 2023, in Kiawah Island. PD alumni in attendance included Caroline James Coffin ’11, Anna Chapman, and Hillary Jones Ash ’09.

2013

Shana Thomas and Landon Rudd were married on October 14, 2023, in Charleston, SC.

2014

Tori Cassell married Ross Caldwell on September 9, 2023, in Charleston, SC. Tori lives in Charlotte and works for Wells Fargo in Wealth Management.

Keyla Cueto got engaged to Austin Whittington. The couple will marry in September 2024 in Gastonia.

Charlotte Downing got engaged to Clayton Roberts and will be getting married on April 27 on Figure Eight Island. Charlotte recently received her Master’s of Education from Vanderbilt University.

Class Notes

Updates on Alumni Near & Far

2014

Jimmy Messmer married Manisha Mishra on June 24, 2023, at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. The couple pledged their vows at both a morning Hindu ceremony and an evening ring exchange. PD students and alumni who attended included Best Man Peter Messmer ’07, Eli Barr, Arthur Linne, Alessandro Claybrook ’32, and Ring Bearer Nino Claybrook ’35. Jimmy and Manisha reside in Fuquay-Varina, NC, where Jimmy works as a software engineer for Ridgeline, Inc., and Manisha attends medical school at Campbell University.

Morgan Mosack Jaulin married Madison Jaulin in April 2024 in Charlotte, NC. Guests in attendance included Charlie Willen, Caroline James CarterHirt, Tori Cassell, Ellie Dunlap, Tomas HilliardArce, Marcos Alberto, John Velardo, Corey Michocki, Addi Berry, Kelsey Peterson ’13, Lee Taylor, David Russell, and Dan Dudley.

2015

Emma Brown married Ross Vandemore on October 28, 2023, in Charleston, SC. The wedding party included Drew Vandemore ’11, Lauren Vandemore ’13, and Ryan Connor

2016

Isabel Ghica got engaged to 1st Lieutenant Liam Day of the United States Marine Corps on January 15, 2023, in Torrey Pines-La Jolla, California. Isabel is a Project Executive for Tanner Pharma Group.

2017

Abbie Cochell got engaged to Brett Manning on Oak Island in July 2023. They plan to marry in Charlotte in August 2024.

Jill Jacobson got engaged to Michael Yamnitsky in December in Grand Teton National Park. They plan to marry in Jackson Hole, WY, in the winter of 2026.

Spring Party

PRESENTING SPONSOR Book Drive

Show Your Support & Pride for Providence Day

Thank you!

The Providence Day Heritage Society recognizes those members of the PD community who have included PD in their estate plans. Heritage Society giving includes planned gifts such as life insurance policies, bequests, and real estate.

Estate gifts are generally designated to unrestricted endowment, however there can be an opportunity to restrict your contribution. Members of the Heritage Society are listed in our annual Report on Philanthropy and are included in our donor recognition programs and events. Each new member also receives a set of commemorative coasters to show their “PD pride.”

Providence Day thanks Hendrick Luxury Group for being the Presenting Sponsor for the 2023-2024 school year, and for helping us live our mission of social responsibility through activities such as Fall Fest, the Bike and Helmet Drive, Battery Recycling, the Crown Town Compost Campus Drop Off, the Book Drive, the Greenway Cleanup, and the E-Waste Drive.

For more information contact Jeffrey S. Appel, Associate Head of School for Institutional Advancement, at (704) 887-6038 or jeff.appel@providenceday.org.

Thank you! Providence Day thanks Hendrick Luxury Group for being the Presenting Sponsor for the 2023-2024 school year, and for helping us live our mission of social responsibility through activities such as Fall Fest, the Bike and Helmet Drive, Battery Recycling, the Crown Town Compost Campus Drop Off, the Book Drive, the Greenway Cleanup, and the E-Waste Drive.