Ravenscroft magazine Summer 2016

| VOL. | VOL. SUMMER SUMMER 20152016 XVIII. XIX.NO. NO.2 2

magazine

RAVENS ARE TAKING TO THE SKY

Congratulations Class of 2016!

INSIDE: Dr. David Fajgenbaum ’03

| Changing the World Through Service | Alumni Working Abroad

Winning photo by KAT HIGGINSON ’17 from Ravenscroft’s #viewfromthecroft Instagram photography contest

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FEATURES 8 Academic Excellence

Class of 2016: A Celebration of Reflection, Preparedness and Gratitude

DEPARTMENTS 2 Vision & Voice

3 Lead From Here

16 Innovation & Technology

Dr. David Fajgenbaum ’03 Leading the Fight Against Castleman’s Disease for Himself and Others

Strategic Design and Accreditation Doreen Kelly, Head of School

Packing for a Purpose: Zambia, South Africa

4 Notes from the Nest

22 Creative Leadership

36 Student Showcase

Self-growth and Changing the World Through Service

30 Global Citizenship

Alumni Reflect on Ravenscroft and Working Abroad

News and Updates from the Ravenscroft Community Maker Space Magic — Middle School Students Design and Build Trebuchets

38 Center Stage

Ravenscroft magazine is published three times a year by the Marketing Communications Office. Any suggestions or comments should be directed to Kathleen Louis, 919-847-0900, ext. 2828 or kathleen.louis@ravenscroft.org.

Design by M Creative | Photography Laura Hunter and Jennifer Marchi | Written by Kathleen Louis, Jennifer Marchi, Phil Higginson, Kevin Flinn, Brett Haensel ’17 and Reed Margolis ’17, Karen Lewis Taylor

Violinist Niccoló Muti ’07

40 Game Day Junior Class Leads Volunteer Effort for Wake County Special Olympics 25th Anniversary

42 Class Notes 60 Ravenscroft Rewind

VISION & VOICE A message from our Head of School

Strategic Design and Accreditation Doreen Kelly, Head of School together to discuss the vision for Ravenscroft’s future, as well as the strategies and actions necessary to make our vision for the School a reality.

STRATEGIC DESIGN

DEAR RAVENSCROFT COMMUNITY, In looking at the 154-year history of Ravenscroft, there is no denying that our School and community have been built and sustained by two essential elements for success — visionary leaders and great educators. At every turn, there have been extraordinary individuals who have made Ravenscroft their sole priority and focus in order to guarantee our School’s success.

Today, Ravenscroft is a powerful teaching and learning community.

Our amazing faculty and staff live the mission of our School and are highly committed, passionate and focused on educating our children. The work of our educators is perfectly complemented by the contributions of our leaders — our Board of Trustees, who guide and consult on the business of the School; and our philanthropic supporters whose every gift makes an impact on our ability to deliver the Ravenscroft mission.

To guide our community in the very important work of delivering our mission, Ravenscroft has a history of strategic design planning which aligns with the accreditation process. Our leaders and educators work

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During my tenure, we have developed and successfully implemented two strategic designs for Ravenscroft. The first, approved in 2006, was focused on enhancing Ravenscroft’s overall program and implementing best practices like curriculum mapping and faculty evaluation.

In 2011, our strategic design, “Advancing our Legacy, Designing our Strategic Future,” focused on three key areas: Financial Sustainability, Distinctive Programs, and the Ravenscroft Story.

It is through the framework of the 2008 strategic design that we established our partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership and have created the most distinctive programmatic element of Ravenscroft’s history today: Lead From Here.

Lead From Here is transformative — it is transforming our School culture, academic curriculum, teaching methods and student engagement throughout the educational journey.

Building upon the 2008 strategic design framework, the Ravenscroft Board of Trustees has approved a new strategic design which will be shared more broadly this fall and will be our guiding focus through 2021.

Institutional Sustainability and the Ravenscroft Story continue to be critical foundational elements for our future, with Lead From Here remaining at the heart of our distinctive programming. Through the lens of Lead From Here, we will expand our focus to four key programmatic areas —

STEM+, Global Programs, Diversity and Inclusion, and Student Success.

I look forward to sharing the details of our design work with you throughout the coming year.

ACCREDITATION The accreditation process, completed by independent schools every five years, asks schools to analyze the current state of their programs by answering four key strategic and visionary questions: Where is the school right now? Where does the school want to go? How will the school get there? How will the school track its progress?

Ravenscroft is accredited by two organizations, the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). This fall we will welcome a team of educational leaders to our campus for a formal accreditation visit. Our accreditation team leader is Dr. Stuart Gulley, Head of School of Woodward Academy in Atlanta. I am excited to welcome the SAIS/SACS Accreditation Team to our beautiful campus so they can personally engage with our faculty and see Lead From Here in action.

It is my pleasure to partner with our dedicated community leaders, and our forward thinking faculty and staff, as we advance the mission of Ravenscroft and celebrate our legacy of excellence.

Sincerely,

Doreen C. Kelly Head of School

LEAD FROM HERE Updates from our Movement

Packing for a Purpose

By Kevin Flinn, Upper School English instructor

Upper School Students Are Changing the World Providing Service to Schools in Zambia DURING SPRING BREAK this past April, Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs Colleen Ramsden led a group of students on a trip to Zambia in southern Africa. While there, the students worked with Uyoba school by delivering needed supplies like white boards and markers, board books, toy cars and trucks, and even laptop computers. As an example of the “collaborative” Lead From Here competency, my group of 12 sophomore advisees partnered with the dozen sophomores in the advisory of Michael Erikson to advertise these needs throughout the Upper School, soliciting donations that the travelers could take with them to Zambia.

Working with guidelines provided by Raleigh-based nonprofit Pack for a Purpose, our advisees first divided up into smaller groups and assigned themselves a variety of communicative jobs: creating posters and flyers, making announcements at morning meeting, sending e-mails to the entire Upper School, creating videos for the Nevarmore Online and even creating a Twitter account (@ravens_zambia) so those going on the trip could share their adventures in Africa.

While we advertised in morning meeting and in the virtual world, another pair of advisories prepared a Google presentation for the students going on the trip; it focused on white privilege and “toxic aid” for community service projects, ensuring that our students traveling to Zambia understood the world they were entering and how they could best serve the children with whom they would interact. Sophomore dean Nicole Moore put the experience into perspective, saying, “We collaborate and help others because we do not live in this world alone, and the more complex this world becomes, the more we will have to rely on each other.”

The process of advertising, gathering and packing the items for Zambia was certainly complex, with many interlocking pieces. Indeed, I even had students from other advisories volunteering to help other groups once their own work was done. The most impressive part of the activity for me was giving our kids a task (especially one they’d likely never tackled) and watching them work together to complete it.

The best possible outcome of our hard work was achieved when

Ravenscroft students brought computers and school supplies to schools in Zambia

our Ravens landed in Zambia and distributed the supplies. “Spending time with the children at the schools was the highlight of the trip for all of us,” says Ramsden. “The children we met have so little and were so happy to read and play with the Ravenscroft students. Being part of Pack for a Purpose and taking the books, pencils, balls, jump ropes, computers, and other supplies was so rewarding. The expressions on the children’s faces were priceless.” R

A classroom in a Zambian school

Ravenscroft students brought and read books to students in Zambia

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NOTES FROM THE NEST News from around the campus

Winter Sports Shine at State Tournaments Science Olympiad Winners

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IRLS SWIMMING won the state championship for the fourth consecutive year. The girls achieved first place in the 200 medley relay (Chloe Mikles ’16, Kaitlin Ramsden ’18, Mary Pruden ’18 and Madeline High ’17), 200 freestyle relay (Chloe Mikles, Nora Bergstrom ’21, Grace Bergstrom ’18 and Kaitlin Ramsden), 100 butterfly (Madeline High) and 200IM (Mary Pruden). Chloe Mikles finished a perfect Upper School career with a win in the 50 and 100 freestyle.

THE WRESTLING TEAM was named State Runner-up, with five medalists and one champion — DJ Washington ’16. Calvin Atkeson ’18 achieved runner-up; third place went to Bradley Conley ’16, Ian Conley ’17 and Blake Sanders ’16.

GIRLS BASKETBALL was also State Runner-up following a loss to Providence Day in the NCISAA State Tournament. BOYS BASKETBALL was seeded fourth for the Tournament and made it to the Semifinals round.

CORY CARR ’16, YUNXIN OUYANG ’16 and MADELINE HIGH ’17 wearing their medals from the Raleigh Regional Science Olympiad

Middle and Upper School students competed in the Raleigh Regional Science Olympiad tournament in February. The Middle School team, participating for the first time, came in 11th place out of 27 teams. The Upper School team medaled in 13 of the 23 events and took home a team trophy for fifth place overall! Yunxin Ouyang ’16, Cory Carr ’16 and Madeline High ’17 achieved first place in Chem Lab and Hydrogeology, earning them entry into April’s statewide Olympiad, in which they did very well among the field of 50 teams.

Boys Lacrosse Wins First State Title in Ravenscroft History For the second year in a row, the varsity boys lacrosse team competed in the NCISAA state title game. This year, they brought home a win and gave Ravenscroft its first-ever state title in boys lacrosse. Never trailing in the game, the Ravens defeated Christ School 9-7 during the championship game played at Ravenscroft. “Assistant Coach Dan Ressner ’99 and I are so proud of this team. They’ve shown heart in every situation and the seniors have provided great leadership. All of the boys are really tight with each other and it shows on the field, they always have their teammates’ back,” said head coach Sandy Kapatos. “We’re also proud that Troy Jones ’16 has been named All American and Roberty Cooley ’16 has been named Academic All American from US Lacrosse.”

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Senior Athletes Competing in College Recognized Eighteen members of the senior class who have committed to play a sport at the collegiate level were recognized during a special assembly on April 29th. Seniors are: Henry Atkeson, Football, Amherst College Anna Collawn, Lacrosse, University of Colorado at Boulder Tommy Corchiani, Basketball, University of South Carolina Drew Davis, Lacrosse, Jacksonville University Andrew Ejiofor, Basketball, University of Charlotte Kobina Johnson, Track & Field, Brown University Cole Kennedy, Football, Furman University Johnny McNeill, Soccer, Sewanee The University of the South Chloe Mikles, Swimming, Cornell University Jack Newall, Lacrosse, Furman University Malachi Prince, Lacrosse, Guilford College Megan Ragusa, Field Hockey, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Maddy Ringenbach, Cross Country, Track and Field, Western Carolina University

Sydnie Schwarz, Lacrosse, Swarthmore College Zoe Strafford-Price, Crew, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill PJ Stephens, Basketball, Guilford Bridget Ulrich, Crew, Villanova University DJ Washington, Football, University of Miami.

Not pictured: Drew Davis, Kobina Johnson, Jack Newall, Malachi Prince, Zoe Strafford-Price, PJ Stephens and Bridget Ulrich.

Upper School Team Excels in African American Quiz Bowl

African American Quiz Bowl team members CHRIS LITTLE ’17, IAN DUBOSE ’17, Coach ALFIE HOBBS with children SIMONE ’27 and TRE, DONALD FULLER ’17 and KENNY BOWLING ’16.

For the first time, teams from the Middle and Upper Schools participated in the Wake County Carter G. Woodson African American History Awareness competition held in March. The Middle School team finished third overall, losing in the semi-final round. The team was comprised of Anthony Melvin ’22, Tre Crenshaw ’22, Kirstin Debrah ’20 and Owen McGinnis ’22.

The Upper School team, under the direction of team coach and Upper School computer science instructor, Alfie Hobbs, won the competition against six other high schools, including the six-time defending champion, Knightdale.

The Upper School team went on to win at the statewide competition, earning them entry to the District 6 competition where they came in second place to the South Carolina team, losing by just one point. Congratulations to Kenny Bowling ’16, Ian DuBose ’17, Donald Fuller ’17 and Chris Little ’17!

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NOTES FROM THE NEST News from around the campus

Lower School Battle of the Books Team Named State Champions

Elenor Campbell ’20 Wins School Level National Geographic Bee

For the fourth consecutive year, after their district win, the Lower School battle of the books team won the state competition against Cannon and Davidson Day Schools on April 6. Students read and studied 18 books in preparation for the competition.

Travel team members include Jasmine Akyurek ’24, Lillian Fendelman ’24, Alexa Gillon ’24, Garland Gould ’24, Michael Griffin ’23, Lilja Gudmundsson ’23, Sophia Hopper ’24, Connor Kowalczyk ’23, Eden Munster ’24, Montana Ramakrishnan ’23, Francie Rogers ’24 and Bryce Tascher ’23. Coaches are Rhonda Zayas-Palmer, Marianne Stapleton, Sue Whitehouse and board member Kelly Gould ’90.

After winning the school level round of the National Geographic Bee in January and taking an online qualifying test, eighth-grader Eleanor Campbell was chosen to advance to the North Carolina State Bee in Charlotte, N.C. Eleanor was one of only 100 students selected from across the state to compete in the State Bee. This was Eleanor’s second consecutive year winning the school round as well as her second time being selected to compete in the State Bee!

Upper School Students Raise $35,000 for Childhood Cancer Research Through a partnership with St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Upper School students organized St. Baldrick’s Day for the fifth year in a row to raise money for childhood cancer research. Participants, including students, faculty, parents and friends, raised money and shaved their heads or cut off eight inches of their hair to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. With 80 participants this year, the event raised over $35,000 for childhood cancer research!

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FACULTY NOTES News from our faculty and staff

Faculty Notes

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N OP-ED BY Bill Pruden III, Director of Civic

Engagement and Upper School social studies instructor, titled “George Washington offers a lesson in selflessness for 2016” was published by the News & Observer in February. The op-ed describes the tremendous leadership exhibited by Washington, through his selfless service and character and his willingness to surrender authority and power.

Two articles written by Kevin Flinn, Upper School English instructor, were recently featured in Walter Magazine. One of his articles was about about cookbook author and alumna Fanny Slater ’03.

Jason Ramsden, Chief Information Officer, has been appointed to the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) board.

Fine Arts faculty members David McChesney, Lisa Burn, Pam Kelly and Jake Wenger were involved in the world premiere of the Carolina Ballet’s production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. As members of the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle (CoT), the group also spent time at the Manifold Recording Studio in Pittsboro, capturing the historical recording of the music for future ballet troupes to use in practice and performance.

Retiring

Kevin Billerman, Assistant Head of Upper School for Student Leaders, was inducted into the Northern High School (NHS) Hall of Fame, recognizing his outstanding coaching at NHS over eight years in which he led the team to three conference titles. While at NHS, he earned Coach of the Year three times in basketball and seven times in golf. Additionally, this March, Billerman coached the North Carolina Private School All-Star East team to victory over the West team.

In Recognition of Faculty Serving 35+ years Martha Janes, 41 years Jimmy Cox, 39 years Ed Yohman, 38 years Angela Connor, 38 years

Carol Miedema, 37 years Marcia Jones, 36 years Ned Gonet, 35 years Melony Lightfoot, 35 years

Angela Connor, Co-director of College Counseling, 38 years; will miss “the joy of getting to know and appreciate the talents of so many students, learning of their interests and goals, recognizing their resilience and believing they are often just beginning to comprehend the richness of their skills and potential.”

Gary Duggan, Instructional Technology specialist and Middle School instructor, 30 years Marianne Stapleton, Assistant Head of Lower School, 20 years Diane Norwood, Director of Human Resources, 13 years John Dover, Upper School science instructor, 12 years

Retiring: (left) Angela Connor and Marianne Stapleton; (right) Gary Duggan and John Dover; not pictured Diane Norwood

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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

A CELEBRATION OF REFLECTION, PREPAREDNESS AND GRATITUDE

Photography by Laura B. Hunter Photography

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by Jennifer Marchi

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RADUATION IS A TIME FOR REFLECTION and a time for

dreams. Aspirational dreams of the life that lies ahead of our fine young men and women. And reflections of personal growth, friendships, good times, hard times and more. Reflection upon the years and journey at Ravenscroft.

Dr. John Wells Kuykendall, former president of Davidson College, addressed the Ravenscroft Class of 2016 during Commencement on June 10, giving the class six assignments to complete this summer. “All of which,” Kuykendall shared, “are to give you additional opportunities for reflection and growth before starting college in August.” The six assignments: Do something that overcomes a fear or anxiety in your life.  Give someone you barely know a gift. Keep it a secret and then see how keeping it a secret makes you feel.  Select a really big book, a classic, and enjoy it knowing that no one is making you read it.  Spend a whole day in a museum, exploring, discovering and reflecting.  Invite someone “different” from you to lunch (and you buy), to engage in listening to new perspectives.  Spend a full day, sunrise to sunset, in complete silence to test your resilience and resourcefulness.

Then, write yourself a letter that describes who you are. 

And he added a seventh assignment:

 Tonight,

say “Thank you” to the people that brought you to this moment — parents, teachers, coaches, anyone that helped you achieve this moment.

“Above all things,” Kuykendall said, “cultivate a gift of being grateful and practice it.”

Valedictorian Cory Carr ’16 spoke of the ups and downs of life, expressing, “Realize that life is more complicated, more rewarding and more exciting than expected. After all, what fun is a roller coaster without any hills?”

Carr shared that Ravenscroft has prepared the Class of 2016 for the good and bad, the ups and downs, and they will be able to handle all that life hands them.

Through the Senior Speech program, Ben Diehl ’16 was chosen by his fellow classmates to share reflections at Commencement. Diehl shared many humorous stories and inside jokes with the class as he recounted memories from his past eight years at Ravenscroft. Diehl highlighted, “Ravenscroft will always be a part of our lives, a part of who we are, and will always be home to us. We’ve earned this moment and we should all be proud of it.”

A very special moment during commencement is the longstanding tradition of the graduating senior presenting a single yellow rose to his/her mother, grandmother, or guardian. Laughter, tears, warm embraces, and emotions fill the air as families celebrate the significant accomplishments of their graduate.

Andrew Ziperski ’16 also announced that the Senior Class Gift would be a donation of $1,491 shared between Backpack Buddies and Serving Our Soldiers, which was founded by Ravenscroft graduate Clare Zaytoun ’16.

CONGRATULATIONS TO RAVENSCROFT’S CLASS OF 2016!

100% PARTICIPATED IN

SENIOR INTERNSHIPS

>$6.3M

IN SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO 62% OF STUDENTS

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COLLEGES ATTENDING

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TO COMPETE IN

COLLEGE ATHLETICS

11

FINALISTS IN THE

NATIONAL MERIT

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

AND 7 COMMENDED STUDENTS

74.4% RECEIVED A

4 OR 5

ON AP EXAMS

>15,000 HOURS OF

COMMUNITY SERVICE

COLLEGE BREAKOUT

BY REGION IN STATE: 46% OUT OF STATE: 54%

AMHERST COLLEGE Henry Connor Atkeson APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY Kaira Alesia Harrison ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Brooke Marie Sharp BOSTON COLLEGE Gage Brian Czito BOSTON UNIVERSITY Taylor Ilyssa Patel BROWN UNIVERSITY Kobina Amani Johnson Clare Kathryn Zaytoun CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Dongyu Li CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY William James Brosie CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE Connor James Ramsden CLEMSON UNIVERSITY Cross Alexander Carpenter William Lassiter Reddin COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON Abbie Trace Green CORNELL UNIVERSITY Chloe Sofia Mikles Yunxin Ouyang DAVIDSON COLLEGE John Forester Presson DUKE UNIVERSITY Chelsea Jeanne Schlacks EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Gaelan Margaret Bergstrom Alexis Taylor Hunter Michelle Lynn Powell Blake Chapman Sanders Lauren Alexandria Walsh ELON UNIVERSITY Megan Lachlan Boericke Grace Landon Dorsett Chandler Nora Hammersla Charlotte Anne Hood Aaron Bailey Inglee FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Taylor Helms Jackson FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY Ahmad Lamont Ratliff-Brown FURMAN UNIVERSITY Troy Douglas Jones Cole Ford Kennedy John Stephen Newall Robert Allen Sar Jr. GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY Kristin Marie Zillmann GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Rachel Avery Edwards GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY Nandi Sharee Traywick

GUILFORD COLLEGE Malachi DeVere Prince William James Stephens HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE Richard Warren Myers HAMPTON UNIVERSITY Kenneth Jamelle Bowling Jonathan Allen Marlowe

Megan Elise Ragusa Lucy Baldwin Russell Taylor Andrew Smith Zoe Sandra Strafford-Price THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON Shaojie Wu UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS Xiao He

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY Andrew Mologne Davis

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE Julia Elizabeth Jessel

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND Eleanor Grace Knudsen

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Justin Alexander Barber

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Kelvin Kyle Jones

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER Anna Elizabeth Collawn Bradley Thomas Conley

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI Dewayne Neron Washington II

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Campbell Hayden Mueller NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY Emerson Harmon Burkhardt Emma Frances DeMent Sabrina Danielle Earp Evan James Huseboe Karinn Joy Kasbekar Collin Alexander Thrash Sean Mitchell Wingo SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY Charlette Monee Wade SEWANEE: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH John Woodward McNeill Jr.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Menaka Susheel Atree Devin Matthew Gaines UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE Andrew Obinna Ejiofor Ryan Anthony McAtee UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO David Logan Hunt

SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY William Keniston Bird Isabelle Rose Giovinazzo

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT WILMINGTON John Mackin Boylan Julia Irene Meyer Sarah Elizabeth Mills Miles Larone Rabun

STANFORD UNIVERSITY Andrew James Ziperski

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS Haley Claire Murdoch

SWARTHMORE COLLEGE Sydnie Jene Schwarz

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER Kelawni Iset Hansquine

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY Daniel Conley Strong

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Blake Arthur Beckstrom Thompson Harris Corchiani Connor Michael Gridley

TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Vaden Elizabeth Ellwanger THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Lauren Michelle Cook James Christopher Kirk Stratton Alan Lindenmuth Danielle Marie Rusnak THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL Rachel Justine Anstett Spencer Brennen Beller Corwin Alexander Carr Caroline Pierce Christman Evan O’Neal Colby Thomas Westbrook Ellwanger Michael Gong Evan Dickenson Grimes Matthew Christopher Johnson Adam Jefferson Jordan Steven Payne Lubbers Bailey Davis McNeill Caroline Claire Poole

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY Bridget Eileen Ulrich VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE Andrew William Pruden WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY Benjamin Jacob Diehl WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY Robert Caldwell Cooley WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY Nelson Robert Petteys Madison Amber Ringenbach WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY Parker Bryson Carnahan WOFFORD COLLEGE David Chase Storch UNDECIDED London Quebec Smith-Moultrie

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“Ravenscroft taught me that I shouldn’t be scared of being myself.”

— Ben Diehl ’16

#seniorravens

THE SENIOR SPEECH — BEN DIEHL ’16: Life Learnings at Ravenscroft

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VER WONDER HOW the Senior Speaker is selected? This

year, as part of Ravenscroft’s new Senior Speech program, all seniors wrote and presented a personal experience, memory or struggle that changed them in some way. Seniors gained personal insights through self-reflection while also developing important skills of communication and public speaking.

And it is through the new Senior Speech program the Senior Speaker is chosen.

As part of the process, each advisory group selected one person to present to the entire Upper School. From the 10 presenters, the Senior Class then voted for the person they wanted to hear speak at Commencement.

Based on Ben’s charismatic, funny and very heartfelt self-reflection, his senior classmates chose him to be the Senior Speaker at Commencement 2016.

What was it that Ben shared? Below is an excerpt from his speech; the speech that earned him the privilege of being the Senior Class Speaker.

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By Jennifer Marchi Photography by Laura B. Hunter Photography

THE SENIOR SPEECH When Ben Diehl ’16 learned of The Senior Speech assignment, his immediate reaction was uncertainty, as he struggled to decide his topic and area of focus. Ben took the challenge to heart and solicited anonymous input from teachers, family and friends — asking them to describe him in just a few words.

Ben, pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming positive comments, reflected upon his very personal journey of self-confidence. “Ravenscroft taught me that I shouldn’t be scared of being myself ” As a young boy of 10, living in Memphis, Tennessee, Ben describes himself as 5’10”, 200 pounds and as constantly mistaken as a high school — or even college — student. Immediately labeled as a bully because of his appearance, Ben struggled with the hurtful comments that were often made about him, just because of his size.

Then, in 2008, Ben’s family relocated to Raleigh, and brought Ben to Ravenscroft to visit the fourth grade for

“I realized being uncomfortable is part of life. However, embracing it is one of the most empowering things someone can do.”

a day. “That was the moment that I realized Ravenscroft was my home.”

During his visit to Ravenscroft, and after having “a really, really great start in the 4th grade music class,” Ben shares: So what could possibly go wrong? I’m on cloud nine right now. Me and my two new buddies were on our way to PE, which, in my mind, meant dodgeball or casual basketball. “Units” were not a concept I was aware of, and I was thrown into the worst unit imaginable: jump rope.

Frankly, I could not jump rope if my life depended on it.

I was uncoordinated and awkward, so when I walked in, seeing everyone effortlessly pulling off some crazy tricks every 3 seconds, I had a panic attack. This was right after that Disney movie, Jump In, had come out, and everyone looked like little Corbin Bleus out there. I was legitimately intimidated. I could not calm myself down.

I grabbed a rope off the rack, and it was way too small for someone my size. However, I insisted on using it because I thought there was some low key walk of shame associated with getting a different jump rope, and everyone would look down on me. Look, I find it stupid too, but as a kid, it was a rite of passage. Regardless of my effort though, I could not pull it off. I repeatedly tripped over myself, slammed against the floor, made loud thuds that echoed through the gym, and all I could imagine were those eyes judging me again. I felt like a freak all over again despite West’s and Daniel’s encouragement. So like the angsty kid I was, I spiked the rope down on the ground with tears in my eyes and ran away.

Thankfully, Dylan Holowatch came to my rescue. He came up to me and asked me if I knew how to jump rope.

Trying to retain some dignity, I attempted my best to play it off cool in a deep, mature voice. It came off as more of a squeal, and he immediately understood the situation. After that, he insisted on teaching me how to jump rope. A complete stranger, no older than 10 years old,

dragged me out of my little corner, stayed patient with me for over 45 minutes, and worked very hard to create a bizarre, crouching jump rope stance (I was still using the little rope). He had no reason to do what he did, but it meant the world to me. And guess what? By the end of class, I could jump rope three times in a row! That is an Earth-shattering number. It was a crowning achievement, but I had to attribute it all to my new buddy, Dylan, who was a complete stranger less than an hour ago. That was the moment I truly realized Ravenscroft was my home.

The last eight years of my life almost changed completely due to a silly, little jump rope. After that existential epiphany, I realized life is full of jump ropes: minor obstacles that seem so dangerous but mean absolutely nothing in the long run. Getting a question wrong, embarrassing yourself in a conversation, or being selfconscious are all things everyone has experienced, yet there are billions of people in the world and you don’t see most of them crying about the little things. I realized being uncomfortable is part of life. However, embracing it is one of the most empowering things someone can do.

After many years of being at Ravenscroft, I think everyone: the staff, my teachers, and every single member of the class of 2016 has taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life: I shouldn’t be scared of being myself.

The entire speech can be viewed online:

www.ravenscroft.org/SeniorSpeech What’s next for Ben? After considering schools, like UNC-Chapel Hill, Bucknell and UPenn, Ben is attending Wake Forest University in Winston Salem to pursue a major in Business Administration. He anticipates partnering with his father to continue growing and evolving the family printing business. There’s no doubt that this charismatic, smart, and humble young man has a bright future ahead. R

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INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

Think It. Do It. Ravenscroft 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner David Fajgenbaum ’03 Leads the Fight Against Castleman’s Disease

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~ by kathleen louis ~

HEALTHY AND ATHLETIC HIS ENTIRE LIFE WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM, DR. DAVID FAJGENBAUM ’03 NEVER IMAGINED HOW SICK HE COULD SUDDENLY BECOME, HOW QUICKLY AND DRAMATICALLY HIS LIFE COULD CHANGE.

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AJGENBAUM WAS DIAGNOSED with the rare and deadly Castleman’s Disease in 2010 as a 25-year-old medical student. Today, as a medical researcher at UPenn, he is devoting his life to researching and raising awareness of the disease that causes the immune system to attack and shut down one’s vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and bone marrow.

In the last four years, Fajgenbaum has made tremendous strides in developing a network of researchers and resources for Castleman’s Disease, as well as for other rare diseases. The work of the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN) has led to several major breakthroughs, and Fajgenbaum’s current treatment regimen is based on his own research findings.

A Sudden Life Change

In 2010, worsening flu-like symptoms landed Fajgenbaum in a hospital ICU where he was eventually diagnosed with Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman’s Disease. With his liver and kidneys shutting down, Fajgenbaum became very ill, on the brink of death, and was even administered his last rites. Luckily repeated chemotherapy treatments proved effective and Fajgenbaum recovered, only to experience four recurrences of Castleman’s Disease over the next four years.

“I don’t remember much, but I do remember coming up with the list of family and friends that I wanted to fly to Philadelphia so that I could say goodbye to them for the last time.”

Not much was known about the disease back then.

About as a common as ALS (5,000 new cases each year in the US) and affecting individuals of all ages, one third of Castleman’s patients die within five years of diagnosis and another third die within 10 years.

With his first relapse, Fajgenbaum realized that he couldn’t wait for the biomedical system to figure out

how the disease worked and how to treat it. He decided to focus his energy on creating the CDCN and driving forward research to save himself and thousands of others. Each recurrence of the disease also changed his outlook on life, as he began to treasure, in a new way, every second of every day.

“It gave me this profound sense of appreciating every second. This realization — I didn’t regret anything I did do, but the things I didn’t do. It made me really want to hold onto every second.”

Take Action

Fajgenbaum credits his mother, Anne Marie, as his role model and hero, who taught him from an early age to maintain a positive outlook, particularly in times of adversity. “She went through a lot of challenges in her life and somehow she always smiled. In the toughest situations, she was always finding a silver lining,” said Fajgenbaum.

His mother passed away from brain cancer in 2004 while Fajgenbaum was a freshman at Georgetown University. He shifted his interest from sports medicine to cancer research and created a support network for college students grieving the illness or death of a loved one called Actively Moving Forward (AMF, also his mom’s initials). Fajgenbaum went on to co-found National Students of AMF with fellow Ravenscroft alumnus Ben Chesson ’03. Today, AMF, a formal non-profit entity, has grown to help students across over 200 college campuses.

“When my mom was diagnosed with cancer and I saw her battle, I saw how great her doctors were. I really wanted to take on this horrible thing. And one way to do that is to become a doctor.”

Optimistic yet realistic, Fajgenbaum realizes he’s in a race against the clock, already having beaten the odds.

He’s pushing research forward, bringing together the brightest minds in the industry to share ideas and raise

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awareness to save not just his own but others’ lives. The challenges he has faced and continues to face have taught him valuable life lessons.

model, I was able to question it. We should all question our assumptions and come up with new ways of thinking about things.”

Ask Questions

Fajgenbaum believes the strides he has made in the fight against Castleman’s is due in large part to his having the confidence to ask questions, and challenge the way things have always been done.

“I couldn’t just trust in the research system. I couldn’t just wait for someone else to figure it out. I’d have to do everything I could to figure this out,” Fajgenbaum remembers thinking after his first relapse.

At Ravenscroft, Fajgenbaum learned to “feel comfortable questioning the way things have always been done,” and to approach problems with an innovative mindset.

Fajgenbaum remembers teachers, including Bill Pruden and Steve McGill, encouraging him to think creatively, challenge himself and truly believe in himself.

“You need to feel comfortable questioning the way the world’s doing things. It’s the act of questioning, coming up with solutions people haven’t even thought of, that is where the world really makes progress.

For Castleman’s, because I was new to it, because I wasn’t entrenched in the old

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Collaborate

Fajgenbaum quickly realized a major roadblock in the progress on Castleman’s research came from lack of collaboration.

Through establishing CDCN, Fajgenbaum helped build an international network of the world’s top researchers, working together to share ideas, case studies and accelerate research.

“I asked my doctor all these questions — why does the immune system do that, what is the problem here, what’s causing Castleman’s — and he didn’t have answers for any of it. He is the world’s expert. It was really clear once I began looking at what everyone was doing that no one was collaborating.”

After his most recent relapse, Fajgenbaum realized that bringing together the Castleman’s community wasn’t enough. He needed to extend the reach, raise greater awareness, engage the general public and truly create momentum — a compelling movement.

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“ I LEFT RAVENSCROFT WITH

THIS BELIEF THAT I COULD CHANGE THE WORLD. IF I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ONE WAY, I BELIEVED I COULD DO IT. IF I WANTED TO CHANGE SOMETHING, I COULD.

”

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1. With parents, David and Anne Marie, at a Ravenscroft football game in 2002

2. Fajgenbaum in the ICU during his presenting hospitalization at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, where he was in medical school and is now on the faculty 3. Fajgenbaum as the student graduation speaker at Wharton MBA’s 2015 graduation 4. Fajgenbaum and Caitlin Prazenica Fajgenbaum’s ’06 wedding in 2014

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Stay positive. Be resilient

Despite experiencing multiple setbacks, including four relapses, Fajgenbaum hasn’t lost his optimism. He credits both his mother’s influence and his prior experiences overcoming difficult times as providing the strength and courage to remain positive and resilient.

“Every time you are able to overcome difficult times, it gives you more confidence.

And the next time you face a challenge, the small victories you’ve had before give you confidence.”

Taking action in the fight against Castleman’s has also helped Fajgenbaum maintain his positivity. He’s personally helping to shape the future of the disease through his own and CDCN’s research.

“For me, I gain a lot from being able to put all of my energy behind something. I can cope with really tough situations if I know I’ve given it my all. But the truth is, there’s nothing else I can do. I’m literally doing everything I could possibly be doing. I can’t be afraid because there’s nothing else I can do. So that really helps me a lot.”

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Discover your passion

Fajgenbaum counts himself lucky; lucky to have discovered his life’s purpose and his passion. His work as a medical researcher allows him to pursue his passion — searching for a cure for Castleman’s — and he finds each day satisfying and rewarding.

“I want everyone to find that thing that drives them.

If you don’t have that thing, Castleman’s needs you,” said Fajgenbaum.

Understanding that life can often be cut too short, he values every day and is determined to not waste one second. When he was administered his last rites, he remembers regretting things he didn’t do, rather than things he did do — such as telling his girlfriend (now wife) he wanted to marry her, telling his family and friends more often that he loved them.

“Make the most of your time. Do everything you can. Think It, Do It. Tell that person who you love that you love them. Life’s short.

Do those things to show people you care about them.”

Change your world

Fajgenbaum believed he could change his world and he’s doing that today. His unwavering belief and drive has allowed him to face challenging times, and help not just himself but all those suffering from rare diseases.

“I left Ravenscroft with this belief that I could change the world. If I wanted to do something one way, I believed I could do it. If I wanted to change something, I could.

I think that’s something that all young people should have and that Ravenscroft fosters.”

To learn more about how you can help with the fight against Castleman’s Disease, please visit www.cdcn.org. R

CASTLEMAN’S QUICK FACTS + The immune system attacks and shuts down one’s vital organs such as the liver, kidneys and bone marrow

+ Symptoms include fevers,

fluid accumulation, loss of consciousness and life-threatening vital organ system failure

+ About as common as ALS (5,000 new cases each year in the U.S.)

+ One third of Castleman’s

patients die within five years of diagnosis; one half die within 10 years of diagnosis

+ There are three subtypes and

the cause is unknown for two of them (including Fajgenbaum’s)

5. Accepting the 2015 RARE Champion of Hope: Science award in Huntington Beach, CA 6. With mom, Anne Marie, in 2004 a few months before she passed from brain cancer 7. Microscopic view of a lymph node demonstrating Castleman’s Disease 6

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CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

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EGINNING IN PRE-K and continuing through their Ravenscroft years, students learn the importance of giving back through a variety of volunteer programs.

Integrating service throughout the curriculum helps students realize the impact they can have, not just on their own community, but the greater world while also teaching valuable life-skills such as empathy and resourcefulness. Each school year, on average, Ravenscroft students in grades Pre-K through 12 dedicate MORE THAN 23,000 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE to various causes. In 2015, 51 UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVED PRESIDENTIAL SERVICE AWARDS in recognition of their completing 50+ HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE during the year.

“Our students are truly changing their world as their education extends far beyond classroom walls. From fourth graders selling homemade goods to raise money for Costa Rican schools to middle schoolers cleaning up Raleigh’s nature trails, our students, at a young age, learn the importance of giving back, shaping their life-long perspectives and attitudes,” said Head of School, Doreen Kelly.

The experiences gained through giving back have shaped the lives of many Ravenscroft students, both personally and professionally. Three alumni share their stories:

BY KATHLEEN LOUIS Illustration by Amanda King

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BLOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERISM OPENS DOORS TO HEALTHCARE CAREER ABBIE GREEN ’16

B

Y SIMPLY DONATING BLOOD, Abbie Green ’16, as a

sophomore, experienced first-hand the profound difference she could make in the lives of others.

“It’s rewarding to know that we’re helping real people in the community. I decided to pursue a career in medicine the first time I donated, which was also when I stepped into the Key Club’s recruitment position. I knew I was saving a life, and I was only 16.”

As head of recruitment for the Ravenscroft Key Club’s blood drive that occurs twice each year, Green promoted the event, sharing her passion for the cause, to drive registration. Last year, she recruited a record number of donors. The blood drive, under Green’s coordination, has saved 828 lives (as of May 2016)!

Green finds it easy to promote a cause she believes in so strongly; she herself has donated blood, platelets and plasma and is also a registered bone marrow donor.

Green remembers the moment when she first became interested in anatomy and science. Her sixth grade science instructor, Janet Vande Berg, who was “very passionate about anatomy,” sparked her interest in the medical field.

“I was so fascinated by it and I wanted to get experience in the medical field. I started volunteering at WakeMed in eighth grade because it has a great reputation, great trauma center and ER, and lots of resources.”

Through volunteering at WakeMed’s information desk, she saw first-hand how much critically-ill patients depended on blood and plasma. That inspired her to start volunteering with Key Club’s blood drive her freshman year.

As Green’s duties in the blood drive evolved from registration to keeping the “canteen” stocked with food and drinks to leading recruitment and coordination, her role at WakeMed evolved as well. Currently, specializing in the Labor and Delivery unit, Green helps expectant mothers as they arrive at WakeMed. Chosen this year to be a part of the Health Careers Pathfinders program, Green has toured various labs and units at the hospital, watched surgeries and learned about specialties from hospital doctors at monthly lectures.

Additionally, Green’s involvement in Ravenscroft’s Spain exchange program resulted in a strong relationship with her host family where both parents are in the medical field. The relationship led to a summer internship opportunity for Green at a bone marrow transplant unit in Madrid.

Green plans to attend College of Charleston in the fall, entering the School of Public Health on a pre-med track with the plan to become a nurse anesthetist or physician’s assistant.

ABBIE GREEN ’16 donating blood

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VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTING INSPIRES A LIFE OF SERVICE AND A CAREER IN MEDICINE BAKER MILLS ’11

“I

WANTED TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING that was bigger than what I was already doing.”

As a young boy, Baker Mills ’11 remembers, like many boys, aspiring to be a fireman. So, when looking into volunteering opportunities to fulfill Ravenscroft’s graduation requirement, Mills decided, as a 16-year-old, to sign up to be a junior volunteer firefighter at the Durham Highway Fire Department.

He’s never looked back. Starting as a junior fireman, Mills volunteered in a support role, learning all the equipment and helping out wherever he was needed.

His passion carried him to always go above and beyond junior firefighter responsibilities, helping out at the firehouse when he didn’t have sports practice and on weekends, even sleeping at the firehouse to assist on overnight calls once he was a senior.

“Volunteer firefighting was the catalyst that changed my career path and focused me on medicine. It’s something that I fell into and was kind of interested in. But as soon as I experienced it - the excitement, the adventure of it was something that I loved and to this day continue to love and shaped a lot of who I am today.”

Mills became a certified EMT his junior year, taking night classes at Wake Tech three times each week from 7-10 pm, between football practice and late night homework. Mills credits his teachers and coaches at Ravenscroft, who recognized his passion and talents, with helping him pursue his interest in pub-

At 16, BAKER MILLS ’11 as a junior volunteer firefighter in Durham

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lic safety and medicine through their “flexibility, understanding, and encouragement.” In particular, Dr. Nelson Nunalee, Mills’ Upper School advisor, was one of his biggest supporters, along with Coach Ned Gonet, Coach Michelle “Coach P.” Piette and Bill Pruden.

“I think they were excited I was doing something I was excited about. My teachers realized not every student is the same and falls into a cookie cutter mold; they embraced that.”

Volunteer firefighting not only opened his eyes to a career path in medicine and public service, but also taught Mills invaluable life-lessons and skills. Working in an environment with high emotions where there’s always “a lot on the line,” where he “always needed to be on the top of [his] game,” helped Mills quickly learn to be an adult. The rewards were countless as he witnessed the positive impact he could have on others’ lives in his community.

“I learned how to comfort people — whether it’s something simple or difficult and tragic. You’ve got to be that source of comfort and stability for those times of need.”

After Mills earns his Master’s Degree in Biomedical Science from USC School of Medicine, he plans to attend medical school. He still volunteers at the Durham Highway firehouse at least once a month, describing going back as reuniting with family.

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GLEANING — KEY CLUB CULTIVATES A COLLEGIATE FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AUSTIN MORIN ’15

A

DESIRE TO TAKE ON GREATER LEADERSHIP

responsibilities in Ravenscroft’s Key Club led Austin Morin ’15 to learn about gleaning.

Key Club faculty advisor, Elise Thrash, suggested Morin lead the club’s annual gleaning trip.

“I don’t think that I ever heard the word before.

Mrs. Thrash explained it to me as being like one of those pick-your-own strawberry patches, but instead of keeping the food we give it to the poor. I was intrigued but not really passionate at that point. On my first gleaning I was only able to muster up four students to go gleaning for yams. It was such a fun experience pulling up what would eventually become part of family’s Thanksgiving meal. For my next gleaning, which would be for kale, I was determined to attract a larger crowd.”

That determination, and a newly-discovered passion for gleaning, led Morin to organize multiple trips each year with Morin quickly becoming known around campus as “the gleaning kid.”

For Morin, enjoyment came from learning about agriculture and the sheer variety of crops. Even more importantly, he discovered great personal reward in

donating the freshly picked produce to Wake Relief in downtown Raleigh.

“When I spoke to the woman who ran the shelter she explained how the food we just gleaned gets used within the next few days by families in need. It was eye opening.

It was quite sad to learn that 1 out of 4 kids in North Carolina go hungry every day when there is an overproduction of crops that just rot in the fields.”

Morin credits his participation in Key Club with developing important leadership skills such as communication, planning and collaboration, while simultaneously allowing him to develop his interest, share it with others and give back to the community.

Morin further developed his interest in the environment through his courses at Ravenscroft. Mimi Lieberman’s AP Environmental Science course opened his eyes to the environmental effects of modern agriculture, directly influencing his collegiate path. Entering his second year at St. Andrew’s in Scotland, Morin is double majoring in Biology and Geology with an overarching career path of working to improve the environmental impact of agriculture. R

AUSTIN MORIN ’15 drives interest in and support of gleaning

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GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

ALUMNI REFLECT on RAVENSCROFT and WORKING ABROAD

~ by kathleen louis ~

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AVENSCROFT’S global

education programs and travel opportunities can have a profound influence on students’ lives by broadening their comfort and curiosity about potentially studying, working and living abroad. In addition, the life-skills learned during their time at Ravenscroft — adaptability, selfconfidence, open-mindedness, and resilience — have proven to be foundational for alumni excelling abroad.

Here are the stories of three alumni who have embraced the international experience, continuously learning and growing while overcoming a variety of challenges:

Describing every day as a “crash course” in Thai culture, Hayman has worked at the Ruamrudee School in Bangkok since July 2015 where he promotes the school through strategic planning and marketing. Hayman has redesigned the website, created marketing videos, and designed advertisements and collateral.

Being adaptable and staying positive has allowed Hayman to adjust to challenges that come with working and living abroad.

“Trying to learn a new culture and language along with the ins and outs of a new job can be very daunting. Especially when you are so far removed from your safety net of family and friends back home, you have to continue to keep your chin up and move forward.”

Hayman’s interest in global issues was sparked during Mary Beth Immediata’s World History and AP European History courses. Hayman joined Ravenscroft’s Academic

GROWTH and OPPORTUNITY with CHANGE Will Hayman ’11, Thailand A Spanish culture and literature major at UNC, Will Hayman ’11 had planned to gain international experience after graduation by working in Latin America and practicing his Spanish/Portuguese. Hayman had never studied Asia or Thailand, so working in Thailand was not on his radar. But when an opportunity arose to work as a Marketing Strategist at a school in “the Land of Smiles,” he made the difficult decision to break away from his original plan. And he hasn’t looked back. “[I’d encourage others looking to work abroad] to keep your mind open and search for the best opportunity before you pick the destination. Focus on finding the right situation for growth, even if it’s a country or a region you did not originally consider.”

WILL HAYMAN ’11 (far right) at the Ruamrudee School in Bangkok, Thailand

WorldQuest Team and traveled to Washington D.C. his senior year with the team to compete. His passion carried through to college where he studied abroad in Oviedo, Spain for a semester. “[Studying abroad] was one of the most formative experiences of my life. My time in Spain gave me the confidence and desire to try and work internationally.”

Hayman plans to work for two more years in Thailand before returning to the US for graduate school, but adds that “of course, plans are subject to change!”

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“These opportunities to experience NEW PLACES and learn about DIFFERENT CULTURES sparked my life-long love for travel.”

RUSH DORSET ’08 is Managing Editor at Publicize in Medellin, Columbia

TRUSTING Yourself for FULL IMMERSION Rush Dorsett ’08, Colombia It’s hard to find a perfect time to move abroad. It’s easy to think of excuses not to. Rush Dorsett ’08 encourages those interested in working abroad to just “do it — actively make it happen.”

When first exploring options to work abroad, Dorsett admits feeling uncertainty, as if she was “diving into a great unknown.” But having missed out on studying abroad in college to pursue studies in music, Dorsett promised herself she would seek work in South America after graduating.

“Once I started working after graduation, I realized that I had a window of opportunity before settling into a long-term career path. I trusted myself and stayed resolute in pursuing my dream of living abroad. I knew that if I didn’t go now, it would only get more difficult to leave in the future.”

After extensive research, Dorsett booked a one-way ticket to Medellín, Colombia in January 2015, committing to a three-month trial, which became a year and a half adventure filled with invaluable learning and growth experiences.

Landing a job as Managing Editor at Publicize, a start-up PR agency, after a month of net-

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working, Dorsett fully immersed herself in the local culture, quickly finding opportunities to integrate her passion for music with her international work. Dorsett regularly dances salsa and also sings with a local music ensemble called MonteCarlo, performing at business events, dinner parties, political functions and weddings throughout the city and surrounding pueblos.

Dorsett’s passion for music and Spanish go handin-hand. At Ravenscroft, Dorsett traveled to Paris, Seattle and Denmark with the choir over spring breaks.

She also describes her junior year summer abroad with the Spoleto Program to study music and the humanities in Italy as “pretty magical.”

“Those opportunities to experience new places and learn about different cultures sparked my life-long love for travel.”

It was more than Dorsett’s early experiences traveling that prepared her for working abroad. Being adaptable, curious and confident are all skills that helped her make the leap and take full advantage of her life abroad.

“Ravenscroft helped me develop skills to adapt to living abroad by providing an environment in which I could pursue multiple interests. I learned to adapt to many different settings and skills, which gave me a sense of confidence that I could be successful in a variety of fields as long as I had the right mindset.”

Dorsett also believes that humility and the ability to ask questions and ask for help have helped her step out of her comfort zone, build a community and be open to new experiences abroad.

“In my opinion, learning how to gracefully ask for help and cultivate a support network is one of the most important skills one can have. Your community lifts you up, and having that support while living abroad is extremely helpful for navigating new situations.”

The growth opportunities Dorsett experienced in Colombia have given her clarity on what she truly wants to pursue for her career — music. She’ll be returning to the United States this fall to pursue a Master’s Degree in vocal performance at New England Conservatory in Boston. She also plans to stay in touch with the friends she made abroad and connect with Latino communities in the U.S. to keep up her Spanish. Her experience abroad provided more than clarity for her career path.

“I hope to use the knowledge I’ve gained in Colombia to be a more understanding, informed, and compassionate person, and to help spread awareness and contribute to projects that seek to combat international social issues.”

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ADAPTABILITY and OPENNESS to NEW OPPORTUNITIES Ashley Allen ’86 Rather than fluency in a global language or deep knowledge of a culture, Ashley Allen ’86 describes skills instilled in her from Ravenscroft teachers such as selfconfidence, open-mindedness and resilience in helping her lead a fulfilling and successful life working abroad. “[At Ravenscroft,] I was given the self-confidence to thrive in school and to thrive as a person. I was given the tools to challenge myself and believe in myself, which has served me greatly in my life abroad.”

A lack of a grand plan to work abroad and an open mindset allowed Allen to take advantage of opportunities that came her way. After graduating in 1990 with a

Spanish degree from UNC Chapel Hill, Allen moved to France for the summer to work as an au pair as she figured out “what’s next.” She’s stayed in Europe ever since.

With new friends and new adventures awaiting, Allen remained in Paris working in various jobs until 1995 when she started working at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Beginning as a receptionist, Allen worked her way up to Directorate of Education where she assisted on various projects for OECD member countries’ education system. From organizing meetings with experts in the field to producing publications, Allen found her passion to be the constant learning that came from working with people from all over the world.

Inspired by her sixth grade Spanish teacher Wanda Easley, Allen continued her studies in Upper School with Nora Bounds and traveled to Mexico City and Cancun with her class during a spring break, describing the trip as a “priceless gift” that broadened her world and opened her eyes. Allen believes the act of learning about a language, rather than the language itself, set herself up for success abroad — and in life.

ASHLEY ALLEN ’86 spent many years in France working at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and now resides in Stockholm, Sweden

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“Learning a second language opened my eyes up to new worlds, new cultures. So when the opportunity to leave for France came about after college, even though I didn’t really speak French, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. Having already learned one language made me believe that I could take on another. I am certain that all of my teachers at Ravenscroft molded me for my future abroad. Not only were they excellent teachers, but they were dedicated mentors, always there to listen, to support and to guide us.”

At Ravenscroft, she was taught, from a young age, by her teachers to be “open-minded, to respect others as they are, to respect others’ cultures and backgrounds.”

This mindset helped Allen thrive in new environments and difficult situations.

“I was taught never to give up. I remember having some difficult academic moments, and my teachers never gave up on me; they encouraged me to keep trying. I would succeed each time, with their encouragement. We were taught to work together and became like family by the time we graduated.”

Currently living in Stockholm, Sweden with her two children, Annabella (12) and Gabriel (5), Allen is looking forward to beginning her next chapter, and is grateful to give the international experience to her children who speak French, Swedish and English. In addition to teaching her children new languages, she hopes to instill in them resilience, open-mindedness and self-confidence — skills that have helped her achieve success and happiness abroad. R

“[At Ravenscroft,] I was given the SELFCONFIDENCE to thrive in school and to thrive as a person. I was given the tools to CHALLENGE MYSELF and believe in myself.”

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STUDENT SHOWCASE Highlighting exceptional student work

Maker Space Magic — Middle School Students Design and Build Trebuchets

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S PART OF THE Think It, Design It, Make It elective,

Middle School students collaborated in small teams to design and build trebuchets or catapults in the School’s Maker Space.

Through this hands-on experience, students are required to think strategically as they develop a vision and architecture for their machine. Once they have used the available resources to construct their trebuchet, they must test it, reflect on performance, assess needed changes and make adjustments.

An excellent opportunity in hands-on physics, students not only learn how to design and construct the trebuchet but they also learn how to impact or change the trajectory of an object making it go higher, farther, and faster. R

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by Jennifer Marchi

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CENTER STAGE Students and alumni excelling in the arts

Musical Encounters Violinist Niccoló Muti ’07 Shares the Gifts of Community, Culture With Aspiring Musicians

The Cordova Quartet formed at Rice University in 2014. (left to right) Blake Turner, Andy Liang, NICCOLÓ MUTI ’07 and Matthew Kufchak

By his own account, Niccoló Muti ’07 was “basically born on the Ravenscroft campus,” where his mother, Jill Muti, served as Director of Fine Arts. In his years at Ravenscroft, he distinguished himself with his passionate pursuit of the arts — instrumental music, theatre and ballet, in particular — and was awarded the Hunter Family Scholarship in the Fine & Performing Arts in 2003.

“A

LOT OF MY FIRST ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES took place

there — musicals, recitals, concerts, ballets, madrigal dinners and more,” he says. “But there was also JV soccer and tennis, pep rallies, morning meetings, math tests, friendships and so on. If I am so ambitious today, and still so curious to see and experience more, it is because of en-

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vironments like Ravenscroft, where I could do a little bit of everything.”

Ambition and curiosity are defining characteristics for Muti.

In the decade since graduating, he has established himself as an accomplished musician. He made his solo debut in 2007, with the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Romania in Spoleto, Italy, and has performed

as a violinist in concerts across the United States and Europe. He has won numerous competitions and awards, including merit scholarships at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he received his bachelor’s degree in violin performance, and at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he received his master’s degree.

by Karen Lewis Taylor

MUTI (front) with SHANLEY ’04 and LYSANDRA LESTINI ’06 the first year of Spoleto Study Abroad in Spoleto, Italy

Beginning in 2014, he served with fellow members of the Cordova Quartet as the University of Texas’ Graduate String Quartet in Residence, studying with the Miró Quartet and performing with jazz legends Billy Childs and Dianne Reeves, pianist Anton Nel, and the Austin Ballet.

But even at this elite level of musicianship, Muti continues to explore the wider world of art.

“The quartet’s most recent highlight has been a series of performances revolving around a homegrown project involving dance,” he says. “I studied ballet for ten years at City Ballet in Raleigh, which started in the old wrestling room at Ravenscroft, and dance has always been an important part of my life and a really big influence on my musical training.”

Inspired by a program Muti observed during a seminar at the Banff Center in Alberta, Canada, the String Circle Project has brought together musicians, choreographers and dancers to explore Kenji Bunch’s string quintet, String Circle, in a performance piece that has evolved through collaboration.

“As I began speaking to people about the project and the ideas behind it, more and more people hopped on board,” Muti says. “The final product involves five musicians, nine dancers — five of whom each choreographed a movement — a set

designer, a costume designer, a projection designer, and a videographer.

A documentary of the project is being made this summer.”

That Muti embraces the larger arts community is no surprise to Ravencroft’s Russell Vacanti, who as theatre manager and stagecraft instructor had numerous opportunities to work with him as a Ravenscroft student.

“Niccoló excelled in every artistic endeavor,” Vacanti says. “He was always in the scene shop at lunch and hanging out during concerts, shows, or whenever else he could hang out with his friends. Fine arts gave

NICCOLÓ MUTI ’07

Niccoló, and other kids, many opportunities to explore their own creativity in all fields.”

Today, as a rising star, Muti is committed to paying that gift forward. In 2012, he founded the Incontri Musicali festival in Spoleto — also home to the Spoleto Study Abroad program, which his mother and father, conductor Lorenzo Muti, direct — to bring promising classical musicians together to explore their shared passions.

“Part of our job as classical musicians these days is to change the misconception that classical music

“Because of environments like Ravenscroft ... I could do a little bit of everything.” is difficult to understand and highbrowed. At its essence, it is a beautiful form of expression that can make you feel things at the deepest of levels,” he says. “This is what I want to share with people through Incontri Musicali.”

He has shared his music with Ravenscroft students as well, performing with the Cordova Quartet and soprano Katya Gruzglina in early 2015, and with the greater community through the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, where his father is conductor.

“I love connecting with new people, especially through music,” he says.

He also believes the experience of exploring other cultures is essential.

“Traveling and going to new places exposes you to new cultures and the ideas, points of view, and the ways of life that comprise them,” he says. “You will be able to connect with people on a much higher level, because you will have a greater and more varied pool of experiences to pull from. You will constantly reevaluate yourself and what is important to you.”

“I liken it to the building of a house,” he explains. “The most important parts are the foundations that you build at home and in school. What goes on top is shaped from what you experience outside.

You don’t want to do and think exactly like your classmates. Then your houses will look exactly the same.”

“The more you see and experience, the more colors you can paint your house, and the more variety of things you can have in them.”R Summer 2016

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GAME DAY Students and alumni support outstanding athletes

Junior Class Leads Volunteer Effort for Wake County Special Olympics 25th Anniversary

For the 25th year, the Ravenscroft community hosted the Wake County Special Olympics spring games in April.

T

HIS YEAR, Ravenscroft welcomed

over 100 schools and 800 athletes from area schools, along with their families and teachers, for two days of athletic events. Led by Upper School Academic Skills and Psychology teacher, Janet Smith, and Middle School Academic Skills teacher, Melony Lightfoot, Ravenscroft students, faculty members, parents and alumni assisted in a variety of ways, from supporting an athlete throughout the day as his/her “buddy” to coordinating the various events, putting on an event that the athletes would never forget.

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Involved with the event nearly since its inception, Smith serves as the lead event organizer, bringing years of experience and passion to the role. Having worked at a camp for handicapped children, serving as a Bigger Buddy in college and coaching elementary age developmentally disabled children, Smith’s experience enables her to work closely with Wake County leaders in the months leading up to the event to plan, organize and manage the event from start to finish.

This year, Ravenscroft’s Junior Class took on a larger role in both the

planning and execution of the event.

“It represents an opportunity to ‘Change Our World’ as we collaborate to accomplish the many jobs that go into staging such an event,” said Cy League, Junior Class Dean.

“Changing Our World” with “Leading Self” and “Leading With Others” are the three core competencies of Ravenscroft’s Lead From Here initiative. League, along with Smith and several administrators, saw that taking a larger part in an event as meaningful as the Special Olympics would provide an enlightening

by Brett Haensel ’17 and Reed Margolis ’17

experience for the Junior Class, while giving back to the greater Raleigh community.

In the weeks leading up to the event, Juniors painted encouraging banners and signs, decorated lunch bags with Lower School students, inflated hundreds of balloons, built podiums and visited athletes at participating schools to assist them in their training. During the competitions, Juniors served as buddies for athletes by encouraging

them throughout the various events, and by coordinating events from timing to awards ceremonies. “[The Juniors] all stepped up and did what was asked and also looked for opportunities to do more. We have laid a good foundation to do even more next year,” said League.

The Juniors’ eagerness to help was prevalent across the entire field. Both Smith and League agree that this Special Olympics ran incredibly smoothly, a testament to the hard work, creativity, collaboration and dedication of Smith, League, Lightfoot, the Junior Class, volunteers and, of course, the athletes and their families.

After a successful two days and twenty-fifth anniversary, Smith and League have no intention of slowing down, and they “hope to expand this program next year.”

“It represents an opportunity to ‘Change Our World’ as we collaborate to accomplish the many jobs that go into staging such an event.”

For 2017’s Special Olympics, League plans to “expand our involvement beyond the event at Ravenscroft and further into the community.” Putting a smile on hundreds of athletes’ faces across Wake County, League and Smith have become the figures representing an event that certainly qualifies as “Changing Our World.” R

Summer 2016

41

CLASS NOTES Catching up with our alumni

BIRTHS as of April 2016

1

3 1. JENNIFER MERRILL WARNE ’97 welcomed Patrick John Warne on April 4, 2016.

2. Jennifer and TRIPP LUMPKIN ’98 welcomed James Parker Lumpkin IV (Parker) on April 4, 2016.

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2

4 3. KATHERINE PFOHL TEJANO ’00 and her husband, Manny, welcomed their first child, Olivia Marie Tejano, on December 21, 2015.

4. CELESTE ALLEN CHAPMAN ’06 and her husband welcomed daughter MaCallan Boyd Chapman (Callan for short) on February 29, 2016.

Classnotes information as of May 15, 2016

TUCKER STREET Al Purrington ’51, father of Nick Purrington ’84, John Purrington ’86 and Beth Purrington Alley ’89, passed away on April 29. Al was also the brother of Ward Purrington ’53 and was a past member of the Ravenscroft Board of Trustees.

1975 Cindy Poole cindy@cindypoole.com

Scott Allen’s daughter, Melissa, graduated in December from Marymount University in Arlington, VA, with a Masters in Forensic Psychology. He stays busy with cycling, his medical practice and involvement at the med school.

Nancy Dameron Almquist commented that she had been reminiscing about when we were choosing ‘Ravens’ as our mascot! She is headed back to Camp Merrie Woode this summer for her 25th summer as “Nurse Nancy.”

Ashley Willson Brook says that she walks daily, reads, cooks and works part-time at J. Jill.

Sterrett, age 20, is studying at Wake Tech and Mary Grayson will be studying at Princeton University’s Department of German this fall and is pursuing her PhD.

Bernadette Ransbottom Hearne and her husband, John, moved to North Myrtle Beach, SC, in September 2015, returning to their roots in the coastal Carolinas. Bernadette continues to work for Dassault Systemes, the largest software company in France and the second largest in Europe.

She edits the company’s corporate magazine, Compass, and recently attended a global marketing meeting at its headquarters near Paris.

Ellen Woodlief Holding reported that her son, Spencer Holding, graduated from NCSU in December with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is now working with BW Design Group.

Shelley Cole Morgan remembers having the pleasure of dressing in the Raven outfit and running around on the basketball court chirping like a bird! She is enjoying her granddaughter every chance she gets.

Amanda Worth Tueting is enjoying life just as it is: working in the garden, painting and going to the beach every chance she gets! (Note from Cindy: if you haven’t seen her artwork, check out her Facebook page! I had her paint a por-

trait of our two dogs and it is amazing. It was a wonderful gift for my husband.) I have enjoyed seeing Amanda at BSF every week, learning to make her mom’s mints, and helped her darling daughter and husband buy her first home last year!

Cindy Poole Roberts comments that after three short years of being remarried, her three stepchildren (aged five years apart) have had four grandchildren with one more on the way!

Her son, Dash, is living in Oregon and daughter, Alex, has been a Wildlife (Young Life for middle school) leader at Ligon and graduated in May from NC State. She is doing triathlons again this year and swam in the National Masters Spring Championship in April.

TAL MANGUM ’77 traveled with daughter CALLEY ’13 in France during Calley’s study abroad break.

Earl Hunter ’78 passed away on January 16. Earl was the brother of Joe and Vernon ’81.

We are starting to plan another reunion so our class members need to join our Facebook page!

1976 Joel Reames joel@joelreames.com

Anne Lee, mother of Clinton Duncan, passed away in March.

1977 Terry Wallace Chambliss terry.chambliss@duke.edu

Tal and Michael Mangum’s daughter, Calley ’13 studied abroad in Lancaster, England from January to July of this year. During her monthlong term break in the spring, Calley rendezvoused with her mom, in France for a week of living like a local in an apartment in Vieux Nice (Old Nice). They were able to revisit some of the spots where Calley traveled with her fellow Ravenscroft French classmates and teacher in 2012. Highlights included a six-course lunch at Chateau Eza in Eze Village and pedaling an electric-assisted bicycle from Nice up over Mont Boron and down to Villefranchesur-Mer...without breaking a sweat!

Tal writes, “Michael, Walker, and I are flying back over to France when Calley finishes her term at the end of June. Michael and I will spend a week in Portugal for our 35th anniversary. Then all four of us are going to spend a week in Normandy.”

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CLASS NOTES

1978 Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, Director of Alumni Giving and Activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

Earl Hunter passed away on January 16. Earl was the brother of Joe ’75 and Vernon ’81.

1979 Allison Gilbert Holmes allisonholmes@nc.rr.com

Scott Luihn wrote that his oldest daughter, Sarah, is starting nursing school in August.

She is currently working in the ER at Duke Hospital in Durham. His youngest daughter, Jenny, is graduating from Appalachian State in May and will be working at Disney in the internship program this fall. Scott and his wife walk the Neuse River Greenway and Scott carries a camera — if you are Facebook friends with Scott, then you know how talented he is with his photography!

Broughton High School and is working on her college applications. He says that she is leaning toward several schools in Colorado.

Dianne Jones Hyneman let me know that she is still “on the payroll” at the law firm she worked with to help out with projects but her main job is back working as a private investigator for Lemieux and Associates, a private investigative agency based out of North Haven, Conn.

The company itself does all varieties of investigations but Dianne’s specific role is working in their Special Investigations Unit (SIU). She spends a lot of her day conducting research for SIU cases to confirm information for their client, as well as provide the most updated information for the SIU investigator out in the field.

She conducts SIU investigations as they occur in NC but the bulk of the SIU field work is in FL, NY, CT and MA. In the SIU side of things, they do all kinds of work for insurance companies, lawyers and the private sector. Insurance companies can cover things from automobile accidents, workers compensation claims, arson cases, theft, medical facilities, really anything that is insured by anyone. Plus Dianne says she gets to work from home… which is AWESOME!

Shahab Isfahani moved August 1, 2015 to Los Angeles, CA. He is selling his house in Raleigh and buying a new one in LA. Shahab says that business is “crazy good” at the moment and that they have to be out there. He and Tim are taking a 12-day cruise from San Francisco to Alaska. Sounds like lots of fun!

Sharon Hartzog Craig wrote that she is a teacher’s aide this year. She works in the third and fourth grades in a charter school in Corpus Christi. Her school is only eight minutes away from home.

Sharon is loving it! She has already started two art clubs and has about 30 kids on the waiting list.

Worth Harris let me know that his daughter, Sarah, graduated from Wake Forest University and is now living in New York, pursuing a master’s in business art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art. His other daughter, Georgia, is a senior at

Brett Hightower is going to be an in-house artist for Raleigh’s First Night in November at Brigg’s Hardware downtown — Evelyn Scruggs’ new hardware store. He will be showing plein air and studio oil paintings that chart the evolu-

BECOME A PEN PAL FOR A 4TH GRADE RAVENSCROFT STUDENT! JOIN THE PEN PAL PROGRAM with the 4th Grade at Ravenscroft! Stay connected and share your stories through a unique partnership with current students. Students begin writing letters in the fall and continue throughout the school year. Pen Pals will meet each other at a May event.

However, Pen Pals that live outside of the Triangle area can meet their Pen Pals at any time they are in town as well as via Skype! Distance is not a barrier!

To learn more and sign up, contact Tammy Haywood, Director of Alumni Giving and Activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

SHIRLEY FOX PHILLIPS ’43

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JAMES SANSOM ’76

tion of a self-taught artist. Brett is also starting to offer classes in his various areas of expertise.

Brett has been working on this for years and he is quite excited about getting it started!

Hope Strickland Pflaum writes that her kids are all grown. Her daughter, Angel (31), and her husband have been married for two years. Hope likes to play tennis, cycle and hike when she isn’t working.

George Andrews said that he travelled extensively last year. He went to St. John, the Florida Keys, New York, and on a ski trip with Worth Harris in Colorado. George’s daughter is a freshman at Elon and his son is looking at Woodberry Forest for next year. His wife, Debbie, is enjoying her friendships in town, playing tennis and travelling as well.

Stephen Gupton let me know that his son is applying to college. He says it’s hard to believe he is close to leaving the nest. His daughter is a junior at UNC Chapel Hill. He and his wife celebrated 24 years of marriage this past July.

Stephen says time really flies by when you are having fun!

Elizabeth Williams Martin says that life is good in Chattanooga. Her daughter, Elizabeth Murray, is a senior at University of Tennessee and will graduate in May. Her son, Marshall, just started his freshman year at UNC. They had fun visiting and bumping into old friends in Chapel Hill. Her youngest son, Philip, is 17 and a junior at McCallie. She is still trying to get to Atlantic Beach each summer which is proving harder with all the crazy schedules.

Evelyn Scruggs Murray let me know that she opened her own hardware store in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Though still a residential hardware store, her store has become Raleigh’s general store once again. Her daughter, Ashley, is now modeling and has a talent scout in Tampa, FL. Evelyn has moved to the country so her dogs have room to run.

Bill Fogleman, husband of Mary Dennis Hart Fogleman, passed away in May 2015.

Susan Berkstresser Kaminsky, sister of Mary Berkstresser-Monck and Gordon Berkstresser ’81, passed away January 25 after fighting a brave six-year battle with ovarian cancer.

My son, James, was a CIT at Camp Cheerio this past summer for five weeks and loved it.

He was there with Nat Walker’s ’78 son, Nathan, and Leigh Linberger Smith’s son, Will. It was a great experience for all of them. It is really cool

to me that he has been going there since I went there YEARS ago. My other son, Stuart, is a runner for Broughton’s Cross Country team.

They ran in Manhattan this fall and came in second out of 40 other teams. The boys are looking at schools. They will be seniors next year. My family and I had the privilege to have dinner with Debbie and George Andrews. It was entertaining as you can imagine with George.

George didn’t disappoint. We had a good time visiting with them!

Also, I want to highly recommend a great way to volunteer at Ravenscroft — their Pen Pal program. You are assigned a fourth grader and write back and forth throughout the year. This is the second year that I have been a Pen Pal and it has been great! At the end of the year, the school hosts a breakfast where you get to meet your Pen Pal. I have really enjoyed it — and gotten so much out of it! It is interesting to see what questions they ask you... remember to a fourth grader, we are really old! I hope that more of you will consider doing this. If you are interested, let Tammy Haywood at Ravenscroft know; her email is thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

You will enjoy it!!

1980 Alex McNair amcnair@charter.net

Kate Kenney writes, “After almost 30 years of selling real estate in the same location, I have decided to take on a new dream job for me, while having an empty nester adventure for a few years! I will be working onsite in Naples, Florida at www.mystiquepelicanbay.com while overlooking the Gulf Bay! To all of my Wake County clients/friends — please continue to contact me for your real estate needs as I have a team of agents who will be covering my business. I will be back in Raleigh by the time one of my sons makes me a grandmom! Meanwhile — I am beyond excited about this opportunity!! Come see me in Naples!!”

Margie Castleberry, mother of Jeff Castleberry and grandmother of Cameron ’13, passed away on March 4.

1981 Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, Director of Alumni Giving and Activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

Karl Smith writes, “I sold my dental practice and retired in June of 2015 and am enjoying Summer 2016

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CLASS NOTES

traveling, multiple hobbies, playing soccer and spending time with my golden retriever, Charlie.”

Susan Berkstresser Kaminsky sister of Mary Berkstresser-Monck ’79 and Gordon Berkstresser, passed away January 25 after fighting a brave six-year battle with ovarian cancer.

from running major companies was represented in the way his teams performed, his staff’s professionalism, and hospitality. Congratulations to Harry on pursuing his passion of racing and building a great organization to afford others the opportunity to grow. Look for the #15 and #46 on Sunday afternoons on FOX, TBS or NBC.

Earl Hunter ’78 passed away on January 16. Earl was the brother of Joe ’75 and Vernon.

Susan Dreyfus, mother of Dawn Dreyfus-Epstein and Troy Dreyfus ’89, passed away on April 11.

1983

1985

Caroline Day Plummer

Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, Director of Alumni Giving and Activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

VAN RUSSELL ’88 with daughter LUCY ’16

carolinedayplummer@gmail.com

Purcell Parker, father of Purcell Parker and Vicky Parker ’87, passed away in March. Purcell and his wife, Daisy, worked in the custodial department at Ravenscroft for years.

1984

John Parham

Congratulations to Dene Dawson’s son, Davis, on receiving the 2015 Glenn and Melina Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award for the Central NC Council.

Susan Holding, sister of Tom Holding ’87, passed away on March 23.

jparham@tcfnmail.com

Al Purrington ’51, father of Nick Purrington, John Purrington ’86 and Beth Purrington Alley ’89, passed away on April 29.

Jay Hoover writes, “I have retired from the Mississippi Department of Corrections as Surveillance Consultant at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. I’ve been married 25 years this August to my wife Cathie. We have a daughter, Sarah, who is 20 years old and a son, Jamie, 15 years old. I was adopted and just found my birth mother, half sister, half brother and four nieces on Easter Sunday — a true miracle. My mom is still living, and my dad passed threeyears ago of cancer. I would say Jesus has truly blessed me.”

Harry Scott, Jr. (Scott Scott) has become a wellknown name in the K&N and Sprint Cup racing series. HScott Motorsports houses the #15 Five Hour Energy Chevrolet driven by Clint Boyer and the #46 Flying J/Pilot Chevrolet driven by Michael Annette in the top series of Nascar. Harry also has four teams in the K&N series that provide up and coming drivers a path to the Craftsman Truck Series, Xfinity, or the ultimate…Sprint Cup series.

1986 Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, Director of Alumni Giving and Activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

Al Purrington ’51, father of John Purrington, Nick Purrington ’84 and Beth Purrington Alley ’89, passed away on April 29.

1987 Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, Director of Alumni Giving and Activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

Susan Holding ’85, sister of Tom Holding, passed away on March 23.

Purcell Parker, father of Vicky Parker and Purcell Parker ’83, passed away in March. Purcell and his wife, Daisy, worked in the custodial department at Ravenscroft for years.

1988 Cathy Myers Carlino ccarlino@carolina.rr.com

Tom Rohweder and John Parham went to Rockingham two years ago to see Kyle Larson’s first win in a truck owned by Harry Scott. His experience

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Vann Russell’s daughter Lucy ’16 is graduating from Ravenscroft in June then attending UNC

Class years without notes have been omitted. See Alumni at ravenscroft.org for class agents.

Chapel Hill this fall. She also served on the panel at the Alumni Association Annual Meeting in April and talked about her experience when she was in Ecuador as part of the global studies program at Ravenscroft.

Susan Dreyfus, mother of Troy Dreyfus and Dawn Dreyfus-Epstein ’84, passed away on April 11.

1990 Kristin Snyder Kash

Judith Waldenberg, mother of Hilary Waldenberg

Lamb, Alison Waldenberg ’90, Whitney Waldenberg ’00 and Lindsey Waldenberg ’08, passed away on

February 22.

1989 Amy Copeland Petitfils and Sonya Smith Beacham acpetitfils@yahoo.com sbeacham@cfcc.edu

Al Purrington ’51, father of Beth Purrington Alley, Nick Purrington ’84 and John Purrington ’86, passed away on April 29.

Wendy Bounds is serving on the Board of Directors for the UNC General Alumni Association.

Tom Abrahams writes, “I’m covering the presidential race for KTRK-TV in Houston. I’ve been to 10 states traveling with the candidates in the last few months. I spent most of February on the road in Iowa, NH and SC and got a great surprise when Mark Helms surprised me by showing up at Ted Cruz’s election night watch party in Columbia SC.”

Kkash@houseofkash.com

Judith Waldenberg, mother of Hilary Waldenberg

Lamb ’88, Alison Waldenberg, Whitney Waldenberg ’00 and Lindsey Waldenberg ’08, passed away on

February 22.

Sona Gupta Wuchenich and her husband Jeff are proud to belatedly announce the birth of their second son, Daniel Jai, on April 13, 2015.

Daniel’s big brother Benjamin is now four years old.

1991 25th Year Reunion — be on the lookout for more information!

1992 Stephenie Butler Kovac stephenie.butler@bcafreedom.com

Avon Privette, father of Leigha Privette Anderson and Jana Privette ’94, passed away on January 25.

The class of 1995 celebrated their 20th Class Reunion at Mandolin in October 2015. Classmates pictured are (l to r): BRAD MANNING, RICH GILLESPIE (’96), CASEY HARRIS HEDAYET, ERIC BUTTERFIELD, CHRISTIN WILLIAMS KIRBY, JEN MADISON SNOOK, KATIE PRESSEL GILLESPIE, DEVAN CULBRETH and STEPHEN DIENER.

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CLASS NOTES

1994 Tim Johnson tej916@gmail.com

Avon Privette, father of Jana Privette and Leigha Privette Anderson ’92, passed away on January 25.

1995 RYAN KRAMER’s ’95 three children are ready for their family’s move to Seattle!

Jen Madison Snook jmadison77@gmail.com

Ryan Kramer is leaving Florida! He recently accepted the Lead Pastor position at Arlington Assembly in Arlington, Washington (30 miles north of Seattle). Looks like he’s already got three Seahawks fans at home!

Becky Streamo Eberwein is still living in the Baltimore area with her husband, Tom, and their daughter, Gianna (who turns two this summer).

BRAD MANNING ’95 married Jennifer Jones on March 26, 2016 in Raleigh

Brad Manning married Jennifer Jones on March 26, 2016 in Raleigh. Jud Burnette ’93 was a groomsman, and Mike Candes ’94 was in attendance. They honeymooned in Seattle and Vancouver.

Christin Williams Kirby stays at home raising her family and supporting her husband, Mark, in his business as a custom builder. They continue to homeschool their four children, Oakley (10), Charlie (8), Coleman (6) and Sally (4). She keeps her Physical Therapy License current and enjoys practicing occasionally on friends and family!

YONIT ADELSTEIN SCHOOLMAN’s ‘95 15-year-old son, Colby, recently auditioned for and was accepted into the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem

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Yonit Adelstein Schoolman’s 15-year-old son, Colby, auditioned for and was accepted into the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, where he plays the French Horn. He recently finished up ninth grade. Her five-year-old, Liam, just started first grade at a year-round school in Raleigh. Her husband, Brian, is busy practicing law, and Yonit works at Aspen Center, a developmental preschool in Cary. Life is good!

1996 Katy Geil Smyth katygeil@hotmail.com

Anne Newell-Fugate and husband Aaron welcomed Colton Everett Fugate on March 17.

25th Year Reunion — be on the lookout for more information!

1997 Elizabeth Warren Hamilton Ecarver22@nc.rr.com

Jennifer Merrill Warne and her husband welcomed their son, Patrick John Warne, who was born on April 4.

As for me, I have a new job and am now Senior Manager of Financial Services at Adams, Martin and Associates PA.

Dr. Ivy Peed Pointer ’96 FEATURED ON ABC11 DR. IVY PEED POINTER ’96 works at the pediatric intensive care unit at WakeMed and is putting a new spin on promoting good health practices by reaching patients and their families through rap parodies. Acting as “Young I.V,” Dr. Ivy Pointer raps about various health topics from the importance of car seats to warning against the overuse of antibiotics. “It really just started out as a fun hobby; I did a few videos with the hospital to promote morale,” she said. “At this point I see it as an effective tool for educating other families and patients, and ultimately keeping kids healthier.” Visit www.youngiv.org or her Facebook page (Young I.V) to see videos of Dr. Ivy Pointer as Young I.V.

1998 Ellen Mann O’Connor Ellen.b.mann@gmail.com

Nic Hedstrom writes, “Enjoying New Hampshire with wife, Stacy, and our two kids (Penelope, age four, and Phaedra, age six months) while studying to complete my Masters in Social Media Marketing. Picture taken on a recent hike with Penelope in NH to find a hidden geocache.”

Jennifer and Tripp Lumpkin have welcomed James Parker Lumpkin IV! “Parker,” born April 4, 2016, was 6 lbs 13 oz and 19.5 inches long.

Evelyn is excited to be a big sister! Congratulations to the Lumpkin family!

Congratulations to Shannon Dooley who married Matt Rinella on April 17, 2016. She writes, “He won me over with his basset hound, Peanut!”

She has also been busy teaching at Georgetown as an adjunct in their hospitality management masters program. She is still working full time with Interstate Hotels & Resorts and writes “it’s a nice side gig and fun learning experience!”

Best wishes Shannon and Matt!

Adrienne Denninger Edmonds and her husband, Colton, had a baby in August — Kayleigh Brooke — and her 11-year-old Caroline loves being a big sister! Adrienne and her family have moved to Zebulon, NC, where she is a Registered Nurse at Rex Hospital. Congrats Adrienne and Colton!

Congrats to Kathryn and Chris Hamrick who welcomed their son Colton Graham Hamrick on March 29 at 10:30pm. Colton was 7 pounds and 21 inches and the they are thrilled!

Chris Drummond married Wurth Hosch on May 14, 2016.

2000 Melissa Warren Dougher melissawdougher@gmail.com

Josiah Drewry is starting a PhD in Management and Strategy at George Washington University in the fall.

Katherine Pfohl Tejano and her husband, Manny, welcomed their first child, Olivia Marie Tejano, on December 21, 2015.

YONIT ADELSTEIN SCHOOLMAN’s ’95 5-year-old, Liam, just finished up Kindergarten in Raleigh

Rachel Maurer married Jason Early, and they purchased a house. She is a Special Education teacher in Austin, Texas.

Steina De Andrade, mother of Andrew De Andrade, Paul De Andrade ’02 and Victoria De Andrade ’08, passed away on April 3.

Judith Waldenberg, mother of Whitney Waldenberg, Hilary Waldenberg Lamb ’88, Alison Waldenberg ’90 and Lindsey Waldenberg ’08, passed away on February 22.

2001 Jaclyn White Morgan jaclyn.w.morgan@gmail.com

Mark Reed writes, “In January, Paula and I were married in Hawaii and honeymooned there for the next week. I definitely recommend island hopping and visiting Volcano National Park, stargazing at Mauna Kea and stopping at local coffee farms along the way. Golf out there

NIC HEDSTROM ’98 on a recent hike in NH with daughter, Penelope, to find a hidden geocache

Kathryn and CHRIS HAMRICK ’98 welcomed their son, Colton Graham Hamrick, on March 29

MARK REED ’01 married Paula in Hawaii in January Summer 2016

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is fantastic as are snorkeling and the beaches.

Paula and I spent the last day exploring real estate options to move there full time; not that it’s any better than Charlotte.”

2002

happen this year, one being David Fajgenbaum receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award.

I attended the luncheon and ceremony along with Scott Manning, Alex Egler and Ben Chesson from our class. Please continue to send me your updates, as I know you all are doing exciting things.”

Alan Haydon

’03 grads gathered at the Distinguished Alumni Award Luncheon honoring Dr. DAVID FAJGENBAUM ’03 (l to r) BEN CHESSON, DAVID FAJGENBAUM, ANNA CLAIRE MURNICK PRICE, SCOTT MANNING and ALEX EGLER

ahaydon@gmail.com

2004

Chapman Hopkins writes, “I recently made partner at my firm Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC in Lexington, KY. Additionally, I was elected Chair of the firm’s Equine litigation practice.”

Gretchen Presnell Hyde and Ashley Board

Logan Roise writes, “I was recently promoted to Senior Timber Portfolio Analyst at Hancock Natural Resource Group.

Steina De Andrade, mother of Paul De Andrad, Andrew De Andrade ’00 and Victoria De Andrade ’08 passed away on April 3.

2003 Anna Claire Murnick Price annaclaireprice@gmail.com DR. EMLYN JOHNSON ’04 is the flutist and director of Music in the American Wild

DAVID (’04) and Katie Jones welcomed their second son, Ryder William Jones, to their family on April 7th just before midnight. Ryder’s brother, Braxton, is loving his new role as big brother

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David Fajgenbaum was awarded the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing his exemplary leadership and outstanding professional, civic and personal accomplishments, at a luncheon in April. Dr. Fajgenbaum is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Translational Medicine & Human Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania, the Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN), and Associate Director, Patient Impact of the University of Pennsylvania’s Orphan Disease Center. He is also a member of Forbes Magazine’s 2015 30 Under 30 Healthcare list.

Jenna Schneider Chalk writes, “We are living in Lynchburg, Va. My husband, Evan, is a practicing oral surgeon and about to buy into a great practice. Looks like we are putting our roots down here! We just had our second son, Parker, in October. He joins our older son, Hayes, who turns three at the end of April.

I work part-time as a general dentist. We love being close to my family in Raleigh and visit as often as possible.”

gretchenphyde@gmail.com ashleyboard@gmail.com

Dr. Emlyn Johnson writes, “As the flutist and director of Music in the American Wild, this summer I’m leading a concert tour of several national parks to premiere 11 new works inspired by the 2016 centennial of the National Park Service. Seven musicians will perform in the amazing vistas of parks throughout the Southeast and Pacific Northwest. You can follow along at www.musicintheamericanwild.com.

David Jones and his wife, Katie, welcomed their second son, Ryder William Jones, to their family on April 7 just before midnight. They write, “We’re thankful to God for a healthy baby and healthy mom! Ryder’s brother Braxton is loving his new role as big brother. We moved to Richardson, Texas in 2015 and are enjoying life here with wonderful community!”

2005 Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, Director of Alumni Giving and Activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

Heather Steelman Coleman writes, “I am excited to be finishing a year of specialty pharmacy residency training in Ambulatory Care from UNC Medical Center on July 1, 2016. I hope to work in a rural setting addressing health disparities among patients at high risk for readmission to the hospital.”

2006 Celeste Allen Chapman chapman.celeste@gmail.com

Celeste and Chris welcomed a leap day little

Anna Claire writes, “I have enjoyed serving on

girl — MaCallan Boyd Chapman (Callan for short), who arrived on February 29.

the Alumni Council again this year with our fellow classmate and President-elect, Scott Manning. Our class has had many exciting things

2015.

Katie Hyde married Adam Miller on July 25,

10th Year Reunion — be on the lookout for more information!

2007 Rob Byrd robertgbyrd@gmail.com

Alex Moss writes, “I haven’t traveled far from the nest in my 27 years, but I am proud to still call Raleigh my home. I get to not only enjoy the perks of living in a fast-growing city but also continue to visit my childhood home and steal food from the pantry. That’s a win-win. It’s also nice to keep in touch with several local Ravenscroft alums. In 2015, after 3 1/2 years at a public relations firm in Raleigh, I took a position as a communications manager at PrecisionHawk, a venture-backed drone and data company.

With no background in aeronautics or data analysis, it has been the challenge of my life to help maintain the public face of this company.

And I have loved every minute.”

2008 Taylor Rankin, Lauren Miller and Casey Stevenson tfr813@aol.com lauren.m.wieczorek@gmail.com ccs32@duke.edu

Lauren Meadows and William Heilman got married last summer. They live in Chapel Hill where William is currently a Pharm.D. student at

UNC. Lauren is working as a pediatric nurse and will be starting a pediatric nurse practitioner program in the fall at Duke.

Khrystyna Cozart Sweeney has been married for almost two years and is living in Raleigh. She and her husband have two dogs.

Lauren Miller Wieczorek is still living in Nashville, TN, and teaching freshman English in Franklin. Her one-year wedding anniversary is coming up in June.

Joseph Cline will be finishing up med school at UNC and then will head to Memphis for his orthopedic surgery residency at the Campbell Clinic.

Clockwise beginning front right is CAROLINE MURPHY TURCO ’06, KRISTEN WICHER MATTHERS ’06, SUSAN COGSWELL EGGLESTON ’06 and KATIE HYDE MILLER’s sister and maid of honor, SARA HYDE BENEDICT ’08

Sara Stephano moved to Atlanta this past January and started PA school at Mercer University. Prior to that, she was living in Raleigh, working as a nursing assistant at UNC where she enjoyed running into some of her Ravenscroft classmates during their rotations.

Kim Chekan is finishing up a master’s of public health degree in epidemiology at Columbia and then is moving to Blacksburg, Va, this summer to start med school at Virginia Tech.

Kevin Bratcher is still working between New Orleans and South America in the agriculture industry. He and his partners started a wholesale trading company last June that commercializes specialty beans, grains, and seeds from

KATIE HYDE MILLER ’06 married Adam Miller on July 25, 2015

Henry Zaytoun III ’07 INDUCTED INTO ALUMNI SPORTS HALL OF FAME HENRY ZAYTOUN III ’07 was inducted into

Ravenscroft’s Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Jan. 29. The first golfer to be inducted, Henry was a four-year starter on the Ravenscroft Golf Team, four-year most valuable player award recipient and received multiple All Conference and All State awards. Henry was the leader of two state championship teams at Ravenscroft and went on to play for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he had eight top 20 finishes, competed in national tournaments and was named All-ACC Academic Team all four years at UNC. Henry currently works at USB Financial as a financial advisor.

NY Reunion: Ravens on the Road in New York City in February

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around South America. They will have a retail line of superfoods (Sacred Valley Superfoods) launching later this year.

martech consulting firm that works with combat sports and fitness companies that want to expand or franchise.

Azadeh Dehgan is finishing up her master’s at Columbia Journalism. She will be going into digital broadcasting in New York.

Kenton Harrison loves his job as a graphic

Cleo Gholizadeh has been living in London with her husband. She was working as a guest hair stylist in a salon in central London. They’re moving back to Raleigh at the end of May.

Matt Werner is working as a senior editor for DZone, an online tech publication in Cary, and is looking for new opportunities in either content or marketing.

Stephanie Kramer lives in Brussels and does project development for an organization that represents and lobbies for everything related to brain disorders and research in the European Union.

William Myers lives in Colombia. He’s brewing

designer, and his band, Lost Continent, is playing more shows than ever. Lost Continent will be releasing their second EP in the next couple months (mixed and mastered by fellow Raven alum Artur Sandulyak ’06).

Anita Irbe got married last year. She is living in Riga and has been working in fashion, events/general management. Now, she’s joining a project called Ghetto Games. Ghetto hosts the Kings of Air event in Riga, Latvia, where all the best dunkers show off their skills.

Anya Svenningsen Knower moved from NYC to Charlotte and took a position in a marketing agency. She was recently promoted and is now the national rep for one of their clients and gets to travel around the U.S.

beer for a startup brewery in Medellín.

Allison Koziel Bolla lives in Raleigh. She has been

Mark Gozzo is proud resident of Durham,

married for three years and has a two-year-old son named Charlie.

NC, and a proud employee of Ticketmaster’s Program Management division. By virtue of Ticketmaster’s headquarter location, he is also a temporary resident of Hollywood, Calif., where he travels about once a month to be with one of his mobile app teams.

Robert Gurley moved back to Durham last year to take a position as the marketing technologist for an agency in downtown Raleigh (Centerline Digital) — which has him traveling a lot and working with IBM, Quintiles, SAS and GE. In his free time, he runs a small

Stahler McKinney moved back to Raleigh almost a year ago to take an analyst position with FMI, a management consulting/investment banking firm.

Clark Smith recently moved back to Raleigh and started Smith & Warren Construction Services with his friend Hank. They specialize in remodels, upfits, demolition and hauling. He will test for his contractor’s license soon and hopes to begin building his first house.

Charlotte Reunion: Ravens on the Road in Charlotte at Myers Park Country Club in April

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Anna Hunter works in downtown Raleigh at the District Attorney’s Office as a legal assistant assigned to the screeners unit.

Katie Mangano still lives in New York City where she has been promoted to Producer at Sandbox Studio, a fashion photography studio in Manhattan. Her main clients are Vince, rag & bone, Kate Spade and Jack Spade. She handles everything from hiring crew to organizing model castings, to establishing budgets. She loves it and has met a lot of great people!

Ryan Sandman still lives in the nation’s capital and is getting his masters in sports management at Georgetown as well as interning with the Georgetown Athletic Department in their marketing division which he will continue to do this summer.

D.J. Dover has received a class date to attend the FAA Air Traffic Control Academy in Oklahoma City.

Jes Malitoris still lives in Durham and attends Duke. She passed her prelim certification in November and is on to her dissertation! She’ll be doing research trips over the next several months to DC, NY and Northampton/Boston.

Lucy Turner is starting a PhD program at

my first Charlotte Hornets game earlier this month. I also saw the Washington Capitals and Washington Nationals play, which was a ton of fun, and I turned 24 on April 5. Dang, I’m starting to feel old, but I still look young. Hope everybody else is doing well.”

Tyson Presnell writes, “I’m doing a rotation program for Vanguard, an investment management company. It’s an adjustment for office life but enjoying it overall so far!”

Anna Van Venroy writes, “I’m currently M1 at Lewis Katz Temple Medical School. Also, I’m currently the President of my class.”

To brag about some other medical students ... Catherine Bernstein is an M1 at UNC med school. Omari Johnson and Nathan Brajer are both M2s at Duke med school. Nathan is also getting his MBA and he started a nonprofit to provided glasses to kids in third world countries.

Nathan and Catherine (prom king and queen) are also still dating. So that’s exciting as well. I’m excited to see some other Raven updates!

2011 Patrick Bailey, Zaki Haidary and Allie Withers

Columbia University in September and has a cat. The PhD is in Historical Musicology.

Jpb693@gmail.com zakihaidary@gmail.com alliewithers@gmail.com

Steina De Andrade, mother of Victoria De Andrade, Paul De Andrade ’02 and Andrew De Andrade ’00, passed away on April 3.

Haley Barefoot graduated from nursing school and is working at Duke in surgery/trauma ICU.

Judith Waldenberg, mother of Lindsey Walden-

berg, Hilary Waldenberg Lamb ’88, Alison Waldenberg ’90 and Whitney Waldenberg ’00, passed away on February 22.

2010 Natalie Salmonese, Tyson Pressell and Chase Bernhardt natalie.salmonese@gmail.com tarheel2006@gmail.com ccbern@umich.edu

Tim Monaghan writes, “I graduated from James Madison University in 2015 with a major in economics and a minor in sociology. From there, I’ve been working on my certificate in business intelligence at Wake Tech. I also got some part-time work in the meantime and I’ve also been doing some traveling recently, going to Washington D.C. and Charlotte. I got to see

Dorothy You has been accepted into NCSU’s toxicology PhD program and will be starting back in Raleigh this fall. She is currently in Korea visiting her family until then.

2012 Angelika Barth, Jordan Jeter and Lewis Stocks angelikagaledesigns@gmail.com jjeter@elon.edu lhstocks22@gmail.com

Jordan Jeter writes, “I graduated in May with a major in international business. Upon graduation, I will be working in Raleigh as a Financial Advisor at AXA Financial.”

Lewis Stocks writes, “I have moved to the Big Apple! I live in Manhattan and work in the financial district. I am an Analyst for A2 Access, providing corporate access to Hedge Funds and a number of ‘Long-Only’ funds as well.”

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Cathleen Pruden ’12 NAMED NATIONAL ALL-AMERICAN IN 400-IM AT MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE

CALLEY MANGUM ’13 is studying abroad in Lancaster, England, from January to July 2016

Mount Holyoke College senior CATHLEEN PRUDEN ’12 closed out her collegiate career by earning her third straight National All-American honor, finishing third in the 400-individual medley at the 2016 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships. In her career, Pruden has been a Capital One Academic All-American twice. Named the NEWMAC Swimmer of the Week 15 times during her career, including six during the 2015-16 campaign, she is a record holder in five Seven Sisters events. Pruden also holds 13 of Mount Holyoke’s 23 school records, including nine individual.

2013 Emily Bedsole, Bryant Dowd and Thomas Sigmon ebedsole2@gmail.com bdowd1@nc.rr.com thomasigmon@gmail.com

CALLEY MANGUM ’13 traveled with mom, TAL ’77, in France during her study abroad break

Fellow Raven alums and lacrosse players met up after Ravenscroft played the King of Spring Showcase game against Calvert Hall on 3/12/16. From left: MCLEAN VOELKEL ’15, CARTER VOELKEL ’13, ROBERT VAUGHAN ’14, Coach DAN RESSNER ’99, Coach SANDY KAPATOS and KUBI JOHNSON ’13

Calley Mangum writes, “I’m studying abroad in Lancaster, England from January to July of this year. I’ve been traveling around Europe — visiting Munich, Prague, Salzburg, Vienna, & London, researching and writing my thesis for graduation in December. The Sound of Music tour and the Harry Potter tour were given “thumbs up.” The James Bond tour was somewhat of a disappointment.” At the end of the break, Calley rendezvoused with her mom, Tal Mangum ’77, in France for a week of living like a local in an apartment in Vieux Nice (Old Nice.) They were able to revisit some of the spots where Calley traveled with her fellow Ravenscroft French classmates & teacher in 2012. Highlights included a six-course lunch at Chateau Eza in Eze Village and pedaling an electric-assisted bicycle from Nice up over Mont Boron and down to Villefranche-sur-Mer ... without breaking a sweat!

In addition, Calley had the honor of being initiated this spring into the Alpha of Iowa Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Iowa. Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most prestigious academic honor society in the United States.

Abby Quirk-Royal is majoring in mathematics and English. This year she has participated in an internship with the Cormac McCarthy Journal. She is also participating in research to develop a model for the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease with Differential Equations and has

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served as Editor-in-Chief of Centre College’s literary magazine, “Vantage Point.”

Kate Sweeney is majoring in zoology with a minor in genetics at NC State. She is a member of Alpha Chi Sigma Chemistry Fraternity and a peer educator at the NCSU Women’s Center.

Thomas Sigmon writes: “Starting in mid-May, I will be working at Moose Head Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming as a wrangler — then head back to Clemson in August!”

Emily Bedsole is double majoring in English and political science at Carolina. She is an undergraduate research assistant in the Political Science department, and will be interning with a North Carolina State Senator this summer.

Margie Castleberry, mother of Jeff Castleberry ’80 and grandmother of Cameron, passed away on March 4.

2014 Mary Grady Bell and Humza Rizvi mgbell@live.unc.edu humzarizvi@gmail.com

Garrison Rountree writes, “I’m truly enjoying myself at NC State University. My major is business marketing with a minor in Spanish. Outside of the classroom, I participate in volunteer organizations and write for the University newspaper, The Technician. This summer, I’ll be interning with Caterpillar in Peoria, Illinois.”

Thomas Matthews studied abroad in Belgium for the month of May and will be living in Washington, D.C., this summer while working with

a diabetes researcher at George Washington University.

Kathryn Anne Robinson will be interning in New York City this summer with the PR company Havas.

Humza Rizvi will be living in Washington, D.C., this summer while interning at Wells Fargo and Congressman David Price’s office.

Chase Johnson will be living in Washington, D.C., this summer while working with media and PR company he founded.

Juanita Perdomo has received her CNA certification and will be working in home care as well as participating in a medical service trip to Ecuador.

dance in college by joining a dance company on campus called the Panoramic Dance Project.

And, merging my love of dance and design together, this summer I have an internship with the Carolina Ballet Costume Shop. I am very excited!”

Charlotte Spence is enjoying UNC Chapel Hill.

She joined Kappa Delta Sorority and She’s the First (a club that raises funds to support women’s education in underprivileged countries). She is working for the Daily Tar Heel, the school newspaper, and declared journalism and history (U.S. concentration) majors with a minor in hispanic studies.

Kayla Reali will be interning this summer in the

Talia Wahl writes that she recently was initiated into Kappa Delta sorority and has officially declared a major in public health studies with a double minor in women’s gender studies and wellness and health education.

Community Development Division of Zions Bank in Utah.

Caroline Gainey is currently wrapping up her first

Rachel Hianik will be doing research on tobacco smoke this summer at Davidson.

Tammy Finch, mother of Grady Finch, passed away on March 4.

2015 Mykayla Perry, Rebecca Qubain and Alex Woodward mykayla_perry@baylor.edu rqubain@purdue.edu awoodward322@gmail.com

Sarah Miller writes, “I participated in two shows this semester. I was stage manager/script supervisor for the student-written play Cento, which is composed entirely of quotes. I also performed in the student-led dance group Orchesis.”

Kathleen Brandes is working with a research team to design and create a biological circuit that will detect and kill endometriosis cells. The team will present their research in the fall at the synthetic biology competition called iGEM.

Mateo Schiemann writes, “I have greatly enjoyed my time at NC State, and I have decided to major in electrical & computer engineering with a minor in German.”

Emily Sikkel writes, “I have enjoyed my first year at the College of Design at NC State thoroughly so far! Attached is a photo of a project that I really enjoyed from this year: a paper wearable sculpture made with no adhesives that wraps around an entire body. I have also continued to

year at NC State University, and says “it has gone by way too fast! It has been quite the busy school year. I’ve joined the Honors Program, maintained a research assistant position on one of the NCSU Psychology Department’s teams, started working on some of my own research endeavors, and became an official double major in psychology and communication (interpersonal/ organizational concentration). Outside of school work, I’m an active member of Kappa Delta sorority and I’m loving every second of it! I’m also back to training for a half marathon after having hip surgery this past December. Looking forward to a summer filled with a great research opportunity from an NCSU professor and some relaxation as well!”

EMILY SIKKEL ’15 is finishing her first year at the College of Design at NC State. One of her favorite projects was a paper wearable sculpture made with no adhesives that wraps around an entire body.

CLAUDIA BAILEY ’15 (middle) along with two American University classmates, won first place in the “2015 BIG IDEA” contest for American University’s Entrepreneurship Incubator Competition, sponsored by the Kogod School of Business during Global Entrepreneurship Week

Nina Barnett declared a dramatic arts and physics double major.

Stephanie Wiehe writes, “After two semesters at Duke, I have joined the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and continue to participate in the Duke Jazz Ensemble. Despite the doubts of many Ravenscroft students, administrators, and teachers, Laura Naslund and I continue to live exceptionally well together at this fine institution!”

Chloe Pacyna writes, “At Johns Hopkins University, I’m studying mechanical engineering with a biomechanics concentration. Outside of class I am a research assistant at the Mechanochemistry and Functional Imaging Applications laboratory on campus, working to understand mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment and cancer cell metastasis. Additionally, I volunteer at the Johns Summer 2016

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Hopkins Hospital’s pediatric oncology clinic.

I’m also an intern at Medical Education Resource Initiative for Teens (MERIT), an organization that works to stop health care disparities by providing tutoring, support, and mentorship to underrepresented minority students from Baltimore city schools who are interested in medical professions. If you couldn’t tell already, I’ve also declared pre-med! This summer I plan to come home to NC and intern at a forensic engineering and analysis firm in Cary.”

Rebecca Qubain joined the Purdue Reamer Club, which observes Purdue’s traditions, supports the sports teams, and cares for the Boilermaker Special and Xtra Special, their two trains.

She also declared industrial engineering as her major.

Moira Pelton writes, “I’ve had a fantastic first year at Virginia Tech! I’m in the College of Engineering, and I plan to declare my major as computer science at the end of this semester. This past year, I’ve been living in the Honors Residential College, a fantastic residence hall and community that has given me access to wonderful professors, incredible upperclassmen who have given me priceless advice on academics and beyond, as well as some amazing peers I’ve had the pleasure to live among and call my friends this year. In addition, I have had the awesome opportunity to be on the Operations Committee for The Big Event at Virginia Tech, a day of service where student volunteers go out and do service proj-

ects for the residents in the greater community around the university. This is the second largest event of its kind in the nation, and I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity to help organize this day and see it come to life, despite a bit of inclement weather (who knew it would snow in the middle of April?!?). Anyways, I have had a fantastic first year, and I can’t wait to come back to Raleigh and tell my family at Ravenscroft all about my experiences.”

Claudia Bailey, along with two American University classmates, won first place in the “2015 BIG IDEA” contest for American University’s Entrepreneurship Incubator Competition, sponsored by the Kogod School of Business during Global Entrepreneurship Week. The project is funded by Kogod School of Business through the Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative. Their video submission “The Eagle Exchange” proposes starting a campus-wide thrift shop that encourages sustainability. The first prize award includes $1,500 for start-up costs, use of office space on campus, and the opportunity to work directly with and be advised by two Kogod School of Business Faculty Entrepreneurs. The contest was judged by business school professors from around the country. Claudia is also a leader in the AU Student Zero Waste Club, which won the “Outstanding New Student Organization, Student Leadership Award” in April 2016.

WELCOME NEW 2016 AGENTS! Emerson Burkhardt, burkhardtemerson@gmail.com Zoe Strafford-Price, zstraffordprice@gmail.com Megan Ragusa, meragusa@yahoo.com Henry Atkeson, henry.atkeson@gmail.com Lucy Russell, lucyrussell414@gmail.com

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HIGHLIGHT ON AUTHORS

COOKBOOK BY Fanny Slater ’03 HIT SHELVES IN MARCH Orange, Lavender & Figs: Deliciously Different Recipes from a Passionate Eater, FANNY SLATER’s first cookbook, came out on March 1. Slater won a publishing contract from the Rachael Ray Great American Cookbook Competition in 2014, after beating out 1,000 entrants from across the country. The recipes in Slater’s cookbook feature favorite foods from her childhood updated with an eclectic twist for modern palettes.

Tom “TJ” Abrahams ’89 RELEASES POST APOCALYPTIC TRILOGY TOM “TJ” ABRAHAMS published his first book, HOME, as part of the Traveler Series, a post apocalyptic trilogy, in December, followed by CANYON in March. HOME made the Amazon Top 100 List and was named a Kindle All-Star selection for January. His second book CANYON reached #1 in the post apocalyptic science fiction genre within three hours. Abrahams’ final book, WALL, is set for a July 10 release. The publisher Luzifer Verlag purchased the translation and distribution rights for Germany for HOME; the German version should be available in 2017. Abrahams was also recently inducted into the International Thriller Writers organization.

FIRST NOVEL BY Adam Jones ’82 PUBLISHED IN APRIL ADAM JONES had his first novel published this spring by Wisdom House Books. Fate Ball is a romantic tragedy based in the South and set in the early 1980’s. Fate Ball begins as the perfect love story, but soon turns into Able Curran’s tortured quest to save his first love from herself and the dark demons that rule her from within. You can see early reviews and learn more at www.adamwjones.com or follow Adam on Facebook for updates and book signing events. He is planning a book tour this summer across the Southeast. Fate Ball is available now on Amazon.com, Kindle.com, Nook.com and will be available at local Barnes and Noble stores soon.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! August 13:

Soccer Scrimmage: College-Age Alumni vs. Ravenscroft Varsity Boys Soccer

October 7-8: Homecoming Weekend and Class Reunions October 7:

Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association and

Presentation of the Ravenscroft Distinguished Alumni Award

Campus Tours and visits with select classes for alumni

Homecoming Dinner and football game (alumni admitted free to football game)

October 8:

Sandbox Party! For all alumni families held at the Lower School playground

Class Reunions for 1976, 1991,1996 and 2006

October 23: Ravens on the Road – visit with us in Atlanta!

PLEASE CHECK THE RAVENSCROFT ALUMNI WEBSITE FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND UPDATES ON ALL UPCOMING ALUMNI ACTIVITIES!

Class of 2016 graduated 36 Lifers: (left to right) Front row: MADDY RINGENBACH, BLAKE BECKSTROM, AARON INGLEE, CONNOR RAMSDEN, ROBERT PETTYS, TAYLOR PATEL, ELLIE KNUDSEN, CHANDLER HAMMERSLA, KARINN KASBEKAR, EMERSON BURKHARDT, CORY CARR, GRACE DORSETT, TAYLOR JACKSON, STRATTON LINDENMUTH, RACHEL EDWARDS, VADEN ELLWANGER, ABBIE GREEN and PAYNE LUBBERS (slide) Back row: COLLIN THRASH, CAMP MUELLER, EVAN COLBY, LOGAN HUNT, RACHEL ANSTETT, LONDON SMITH-MOULTRIE, CAROLINE POOLE, JOHNNY MCNEILL, CAROLINE CHRISTMAN, WEST ELLWANGER, ANNA COLLAWN, GAGE CZITO, ROB SAR, ANDREW PRUDEN, MEGAN RAGUSA and EMMA DEMENT Not Pictured: JACK PRESSON, BLAKE SANDERS

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Ravenscroft students participate in a Lead From Here exercise

Ravenscroft Partner, Center for Creative Leadership, Recognized as a Top Provider of Worldwide Executive Education by Financial Times

T

HE CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP (CCL) has recently been ranked Number 4 worldwide in the Financial

Times’ survey of executive education for the third consecutive year.

“The recent ranking reiterates the reasons we’ve chosen to partner with CCL, a world-class organization, on our innovative Lead From Here program. CCL’s globally recognized reputation, innovative approach and expertise in executive education bring tremendous value to Ravenscroft. Through a jointly-developed curriculum, Ravenscroft is delivering leadership learning to students of all ages,” said Doreen Kelly, Head of School at Ravenscroft.

The rankings are based on direct feedback from business and individual clients who rated leading executive education providers, including Harvard, Wharton, IMD (International Institute for Management Development) and INSEAD (European Institute of Business Administration), for quality and impact. CCL is the only institution — from more than 85 in the rankings — that focuses exclusively on leadership development.

“The survey features a highly competitive field, and CCL’s continued success reflects the results we deliver for the many individuals and organizations we are privileged to serve,” said CCL President and CEO John R. Ryan.

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RAVENSCROFT REWIND A look back in time in Ravens history

Special Olympics Then and Now

Parade of Athletes 1991

Parade of Athletes 2016

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What is your Ravenscroft legacy?

A CONVERSATION WITH ED AND KATHY WHITE

“E

DUCATION IS THE OPPORTUNITY,” says Ed White. “I was part of the first generation of my family to go to college. As a student at N.C. State, I saw firsthand how that experience was going to change my life. When Doreen Kelly asked Kathy and me to do something for students and teachers at Ravenscroft, we knew we had to say yes.”

Adds Kathy, “I taught for a number of years, and so I know the amount of time and effort teachers at Ravenscroft put into their students. We also know that the cost of attending a school like Ravenscroft is going up and Henry, Robert, ANNA ’98 and Edward Hosea, Ed and Kathy White, that it is important for the School to be able to Creek, JACLYN ’01 and Rem Morgan enroll the best students regardless of their financial situation. We are fortunate to be able to help.”

Ed and Kathy recently established the White Family Endowment for Financial Aid and Faculty as a part of the Embrace Possibility Campaign. Part of their gift comes through a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT) the Whites established. A CRUT is a gift vehicle that provides the donor with income for life or a term of years and passes the remainder to charity.

“The CRUT is a way to do something that has a real impact for the School, and it’s a good element of a financial plan for the donor,” says Ed. “The CRUT is a great way to diversity investments.

It provides a tax deduction when the CRUT is funded and has no taxes on earnings generated within it.”

Join the Josiah Ogden Watson Society For more information on how a CRUT can be part of your financial plan, please contact Phil Higginson, Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement, or Anna White Hosea ’98, Director of Development. pch@ravenscroft.org | ahosea@ravenscroft.org | 919-847-0900

7409 Falls of Neuse Road Raleigh, NC 27615 Return Service Requested

OUR MISSION

The Ravenscroft community, guided by our legacy of excellence, nurtures individual potential and prepares students to thrive in a complex and interdependent world.

Emerson Burkhardt ’16 painted a watercolor of the sunset at Figure Eight Island, North Carolina as part of her AP Art project on visual representations of skies during her travels.

The silhouettes include a coastal bridge as well as a lighthouse.

Non-Profit Org US Postage PAID Raleigh, NC Permit No. 9