Summer Magazine 2018

| VOL. | VOL. SUMMER SUMMER 20152018 XVIII. 21.NO. NO.22

magazine

The Keim Center for Innovation and Research Opens Up the STEM+ Classroom to Create New Possibilities

INSIDE: Senior Reflections on Leadership |

Global Parent Ambassadors | Academic Committee

Performers in the first-grade musical “Go Fish!” included (top) JACKSON GLOVER ’29 and HUDSON PERDUE ’29 (at microphones) as Card Sharks and (bottom) ELLA WHIDBEE ’29 and EMBREY ZOLA ’29 as Rainbow Fish

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WEB EXTRAS There’s more Ravenscroft Magazine on our website!

Visit www.ravenscroft.org/ summermagazine2018 for web-only bonus content including videos, photos and additional stories, plus archives from previous magazines.

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FEATURES 10 Innovation & Technology

The Keim Center for Innovation and Research

14 Creative Leadership

Seniors Reflect on Their Leadership Experiences

22 Global Citizenship

Global Parent Ambassadors

DEPARTMENTS 2 Vision & Voice

3 Embrace Possibility

Ravenscroft’s Academic Committee

Thank You to Our Campaign Leadership and Volunteers

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26 Academic Excellence

Doreen Kelly, Head of School: #GoodEndures

Lead From Here Middle School Programs Encourage Students to Explore and Engage

6 Notes From the Nest

News and Updates from the Ravenscroft Community

30 Student Showcase

Photography by Cole Hudson ’18

32 Center Stage

Marriott Procter Little ’47 inducted into the Fine Arts Hall of Fame

Ravenscroft Magazine is published three times a year. Please direct suggestions or comments for the Summer 2018 magazine to Karen Lewis Taylor, Marketing & Communications, at 919-847-0900, ext. 2812, or karen.taylor@ravenscroft.org.

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Design by M Creative | Photography by Mary Kornegay, Laura Bradford, Bob Handelman and Cole Hudson ’18 | Keim Center illustrations by Davis Kane Architects | Written by Karen Lewis Taylor, Jennifer Marchi, Stacy Calfo, Karen Shore and Shannon T. Zarb

36 Class Notes 48 Ravenscroft Rewind

Curt Johnson ’87 Credits His Success to Building Relationships

VISION & VOICE A message from our Head of School

#GoodEndures Doreen Kelly, Head of School

DEAR RAVENSCROFT ALUMNI, PARENTS AND FRIENDS, At the beginning of the school year, I shared my social media theme for the year, reflecting my belief that #GoodEndures at Ravenscroft. And while I often stop to appreciate the many blessings of our community, recently on the quiet banks of the Neuse River, I took a few moments to pause and reflect upon this past school year — a truly exceptional year.

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As a community… we have joined together over the past five years in support of Embrace Possibility, the Campaign for Ravenscroft, which supports the professional development of our teachers, student wellness programs, financial aid and our annual fund.

Because of generous philanthropic supporters and the hard work and determination of many volunteers, we have exceeded our $15 million goal!

As a community… we have received a truly transformational gift that allows Ravenscroft to have both cuttingedge programming and facilities and an elegant new social space for our older students. The new Keim Center for Innovation and Research allows us to expand our curricular offerings and STEM+ classes, offering a truly exceptional educational experience for our students.

As a community… we have graduated another class of outstanding scholars, artists, athletes and leaders. These students, who came of age as our Lead From Here framework was taking flight across campus, enter the next phase of their lives during a season of extraordi-

nary youth leadership across the country, and we are very proud to see how they have grown into resilient, empathetic, adaptive leaders.

As a community… we’ve made “Telling the Ravenscroft Story” a significant part of our school’s strategic design and plan, and this publication plays a tremendous role in supporting that initiative. To enrich your experience of our magazine, we are happy to share even more WEB EXTRAS — bonus digital content that contains engaging stories, photos and videos that go beyond these printed pages. As you read through the magazine, please as an indicator that look for digital content on our website extends our storytelling in new ways.

Please enjoy this edition of Ravenscroft Magazine and know, just as I do, that #GoodEndures when we work together as a community.

Sincerely, Doreen C. Kelly Head of School

EMBRACE POSSIBILITY CAMPAIGN

ENJOY BONUS CONTENT ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

Embrace Possibility

www.ravenscroft.org/ summermagazine2018

The Campaign for Ravenscroft

We Have Exceeded Our $15M Goal for Embrace Possibility, the Campaign for Ravenscroft!

Thank You to Our Campaign Leadership and Volunteers!

Campaign Co-Chairs: Easter Maynard ’89 Jenny and Charles Winston ’78 Campaign Public Phase Co-Chairs: Pickel and Pete Tannenbaum Campaign Parent Co-Chairs: Kelly ’90 and Stephen Gould ’91 Laura ’92 and Carmin Kalorin Campaign Honorary Co-Chairs: Fran and Watson Pugh ’38 Joy and Temple Sloan Campaign Honorary Committee: Judy and Chip Anderson ’55 Mary Grady ’81 and Vic Bell ’74 Cecelia and Mike Condrey Noel and Harold Lichtin Jane and Tom Mann Connie and James Maynard Mary and Bill Moss ’74 Flo and Charles Winston ’47 Tracy and Bob Winston ’80 Mary Brent and Bob Wright

Campaign co-chair EASTER MAYNARD ’89; public phase co-chairs Pickel and Pete Tannenbaum; parent co-chair KELLY GOULD ’90; campaign co-chairs Jenny and CHARLES WINSTON ’78; parent co-chair LAURA KALORIN ’92

Special thanks to ALL of our Embrace Possibility donors!

SAVE THE DATE! Join us on the evening of Friday, October 5, 2018, for the

EMBRACE POSSIBILITY CAMPAIGN COMMUNITY CELEBRATION as part of Homecoming.

More details to follow.

LEAD FROM HERE Updates from our movement

What Community Means Middle School Programs Encourage Students to Explore and Engage

Seventh-grade World Geography students send letters to local and state officials as part of their unit on urbanization; above, a response from one Wake County leader

Ravenscroft Middle School students enjoy many opportunities for civic and community engagement. Sixth- and seventh-grade advisory groups volunteer with local organizations — sorting donations at the food bank and making blankets for Project Linus, for example — and see firsthand how committed citizens can make a difference.

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S THEIR LEADERSHIP competencies strengthen, they dig more deeply into issues or causes they are passionate about, exemplifying the model of engagement at the heart of Lead From Here.

WORLD GEOGRAPHY: Global Issues, Local Action In the World Geography unit on urban geography, seventh-graders explore how humans’ use of resources shapes (and reshapes) communities. From disappearing forests to traffic congestion, the

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effects of urbanization are apparent on a global scale — but they are managed largely at the local level.

This reality, social studies teacher Greg Anysz said, allows students to apply their learning to “real-world experience they can actually see.”

“Our driving question is how we can raise awareness of the impact of urbanization around our area in a way that matters,” he said.

“Students do research on urbanization around the world then choose a topic they’re interested in and can explore locally.”

Armed with facts, students write to local or state officials, typically in urban planning or natural resources departments, urging them to take action or congratulating them for a job well done.

“Many recipients email or write letters back, and some have come in to talk to the students about their work,” Anysz said. “The community is starting to take notice about the issues that are important to seventh-graders.”

By Karen Lewis Taylor

ENJOY BONUS CONTENT ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

www.ravenscroft.org/ summermagazine2018

MODEL U.N.: Multiple Perspectives, One Mission Seventh- and eighth-graders interested in international relations explore diplomacy and develop critical-thinking, communication and teamwork skills in Model United Nations.

Central to the experience: both in class and at the regional simulation in the spring, students must represent the viewpoints and interests of a country other than the United States. The shift in thinking is challenging but essential, teacher Sameera Anwar noted.

“The goal is for students to take on new perspectives,” she said. “We spend time defining what community means, both locally and globally, because each goal we discuss has ripples and effects in other places ... We always go back to the U.N.’s mission, which is furthering human rights for all.”

Next year, Anwar will teach Diplomacy Through Dialogue, a year-long extension of Model U.N. that allows more focus on the “skills and tools” used in consensus building and decision making.

“Part of Model U.N. is seeing how interconnected we all are,” she said.

“Learning how systems work and interact helps students start the process of getting involved, forming connections. It takes a while to

Model U.N. students prepare for a large-scale simulation of United Nations negotiations, representing the perspectives and priorities of another country

do, but the action piece follows the understanding piece.”

RAVENS IN ACTION: A Capstone Project All eighth-graders integrate their service and leadership experiences in a capstone project called Ravens in Action, researching a global issue that has local ramifications — homelessness, habitat destruction, caring for the elderly — and identifying organizations that address that issue and ways to help.

“So much of what they do stems from their passions,” said language arts teacher Sarah Baker, who oversees the program with science teacher Tim Phillips. “They find ways to use that passion to help others.”

The project’s “action” takes place off-campus, so students engage with the broader community, and must provide direct service. Students often draw on their Lead From Here competencies to see it through.

“We’re asking them to be visionary: what can they do, add to, help with?”

Phillips said. “The hardest part can be moving from research to practice.

That’s when it gets strategic.”

At the end of the year-long project, students present outcomes and reflections to their families and classmates. For most of them, the project represents a significant commitment of time and energy. For many, the cause remains the focus of their community service as they move to Upper School. R

(left) Ravens in Action present their service projects and reflections to classmates and families; (right) GRAY BAKER ‘22’s Ravens in Action care packs, which provide snacks and supplies for the homeless in Raleigh Summer 2018

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NOTES FROM THE NEST News from around the campus

Athletics Volunteers Receive RAC Service Award The Ravens Athletic Club honored the significant contributions of four longtime volunteers — Willa Burgess, Michael Fajgenbaum, and E. Brooks Wilkins and Darlene Wilkins — with the RAC Service Award on Friday, Jan. 26.

Relay team COURTNEY REA ’19, ELISA PLAYE ’20, CYNTHIA WOODWARD ’19 and SAMANTHA DRISCOLL ’18

Spring Sports Teams Claim Championships, Honors

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HE VARSITY GIRLS LACROSSE TEAM clinched the

Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference Championship with a 17-9 victory over Durham Academy. Players Brooke Baker ’20, Makayla Crawford ’19 and RuthAnne Winston ’18 were recognized with All-State honors.

In addition, Brooke received a U.S. Lacrosse 2018 Girls High School All-American award, and RuthAnne received an All-American Academic award.

The varsity boys golf team won their 12th consecutive TISAC championship with a team score of 279, beating the second-place team by 25 strokes. Quinn Riley ’18 shot a 66 (-4) to win his second individual championship and was named TISAC Player of the Year; he has also received All-State recognition. The team finished third in the state playoffs.

Boys lacrosse players Val Edwards ’19 and Jake Schneider ’19 were selected to All-State. Their teammate Clay Baker ’18 received the U.S. Lacrosse All-Academic honor.

Varsity track athletes Kirstin Debrah ’20 (100- and 300meter hurdles) and Alex Marchi ’20 (triple jump) won individual championships, and the girls 4x800 relay team of Elise Playe ’20, Cynthia Woodward ’19, Samantha Driscoll ’18 and Courtney Rea ’19 set a new school record at the TISAC track and field championship. Kirstin and the relay team went on to top-three finishes at the state championship.

TISAC-championship golf team with Coach Jimmy Cox

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RAC’s Diane Alridge, Willa Burgess, Head of School Doreen Kelly, Michael Fajgenbaum, Athletic Director Ned Gonet, RAC’s Cathleen Pete-Peay, E. Brooks Wilkins and Darlene Wilkins

Lower School Science Olympiad teammates LOGAN GILLESPIE ’25, MARNI KIM ’25, MORGAN RILEY ’25 and JACK CONWAY ’26

Academic Teams Impress Across Region Congratulations to students on the following teams for their strong performances at academic meets this spring: > North Carolina Science Olympiad: Upper School varsity and junior varsity, sixth-place finish; Middle School, 13th-place finish; Lower School, four medals > Future Chemists of America Scholastic Tournament: Upper School, first-place finish, with sweep of team medals and numerous first-, second- and third-place individual wins > Carter G. Woodson African-American History Awareness Competition: Upper School, third-place finish; Middle School, second-place finish > Battle of the Books District Competition: Middle School, third-place finish; Lower School, thirdplace finish

ENJOY BONUS CONTENT ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

www.ravenscroft.org/ summermagazine2018

Fourth-Grader Wins Statewide Writing Competition Elle Warner ’26 has been recognized by the North Carolina Reading Association for her poem “Not Alone,” which she submitted to the group’s Young Authors contest earlier this year. Students were asked to write about perseverance. “I wrote about starting at a new school, which I’ve done a few times,” Elle explained. “A lot of people can relate to that.”

Junior Holly McCann Among Top 144 on National Chemistry Olympiad Holly McCann ’19 has achieved an honors-level score on the rigorous U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad exam. Of the nearly 16,000 U.S. students who participate at the local level each year, only 1,000 students qualify for the national exam.

Holly’s results placed her among the top 144 students nationally (and only four students from North Carolina) who scored at the honors or high honors level.

Latin Students Achieve Outstanding Scores One hundred and seventeen Ravenscroft students across five levels of language study took the National Latin Exam, joining more than 143,000 students around the world in testing their learning. An impressive 65% of participating Ravenscroft students in Levels IA-V won recognition for outstanding scores, including 10 gold medals and 19 silver medals.

Bennett Gillespie ’23 earned a perfect score on the Introduction to Latin exam, for which he received a special certificate. In recognition of their earning gold medals for four straight years, Vivian Avery ’19 and Erin Pugh ’19 (pictured) have received the Maureen O’Donnell Oxford Classical Dictionary Award.

Middle School Teams Win KidWind Challenge Two more Engineering I teams have won the KidWind Challenge, a monthly online competition to design and test wind turbines. Sara Baende ’23, Chaz Davidian ’23 and Mason Foster ’23 — known as “Team Insert Name Here” — won the January 2018 competition. Team DJ, made up of Delaney Washington ’22 and Julia Clancy ’22, won for March 2018.

KidWind winners DELANEY WASHINGTON ’22 and JULIA CLANCY ’22

Summer 2018

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NOTES FROM THE NEST News from around the campus

Youth and Government Delegation Receives Top Award The Upper School’s Youth and Government team’s outstanding performance at the annual Youth Legislature conference, held Feb. 8-11 in Raleigh, earned them the Premier Delegation Award, the program’s highest recognition. Nearly 1,000 students from 38 delegations across North Carolina participated in the program.

First row: KATE DEMPSTER ’18, LAUREN SHAFFER ’20, HANNAH PANGBORN ’19, ISABELLA BREDWELL ’19, SKY WISEMAN ’20; second row: MARTHA ZAYTOUN ’18, SASHA NAINANI ’20, BROOKE BAKER ’20, Tomeiko Carter (faculty), ERIN PUGH ’19, Sean Kennedy (faculty); third row: RACHEL KIRKHAM ’18, ALI REEG ’18, TENLEY ZIPERSKI ’18, Austin Howe (YMCA Youth Director); back row: Phil Kantaros (faculty), MATTHEW SILVER ’18, BRADLEY TABER ’20, RHETT PARHAM ’20, FOSTER MARSHALL ’20, NICK ZULLO ’19; not pictured: CLARKE HAYWOOD ’21, ZACHARY SKUBIC ’19, CLAIRE ZIPERSKI ’20

Ravens in the Hood’s sixth annual Running Over Cancer 5K, held March 11 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, drew KYLER SULLIVAN ’19 at the 387 runners and raised St. Baldrick’s fundraiser more than $75,000.

Now in its 10th year at Ravenscroft, Ravens in the Hood has raised more than $500,000 for the fight against cancer.

Students, faculty, staff and families also raised more than $78,000 for childhood cancer research by shaving their heads in solidarity with children undergoing treatment. The March 10 St. Baldrick’s event was organized by Caroline Vande Berg ’18 with Jacob Crater ’20, Zachary Skubic ’19, Sam Tabet ’19, David Gring ’21, MaLea Spooner ’21, Thomas Barker ’21 and Nicole Finney ’19. Since 2012, Ravenscroft has raised over $400,000 for St. Baldrick’s.

Tate Russell ’18’s “Sounds All Around” nonprofit raised $10,000 for the Pediatric Audiology department of UNC Hospitals. Tate, who has bilateral severe-profound hearing loss, said, “I want all children who are hearing-impaired to be able to have the same opportunities I had — going to school, playing sports and just knowing what it’s like to be able to hear.”

Art Students Win State Awards

Cellist Selected for National Youth Orchestra

Four Middle School students won awards in the statewide GFWC-NC Arts Festival. Congratulations to Jasmine Tran ’23 (first place, mosaic design, pictured at left), Olivia Barefoot ’22 (first place, graphics/scratchboard design), Abbey McCuen ’24 (first place, dye craft/printmaking) and Rachel Mason ’22 (second place, pen and ink/ Zentangle design).

Upper School Advanced Placement® Photography student Cole Hudson ’18 was recognized for outstanding photography. Cole’s photo, “Lobby Ambiance,” took third place. More of Cole’s photography is featured in our Student Showcase, p. 30.

Quenton Blache ’19 is among the 106 outstanding young musicians selected for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. Pamela Kelly, Ravenscroft’s director of string ensembles, said, “Quenton’s selection reflects his superior level of musicianship and reinforces his musical accolades on the local and statewide level during this past year.”

Quenton was also selected as principal cellist for the Triangle Youth Orchestra and the North Carolina Eastern Regional All-State Symphony Orchestra, as third chair for the North Carolina Honors All-State Orchestra, and as a member of the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute’s WCPE String Quartet.

WANT MORE NOTES FROM THE NEST? Visit our website, ravenscroft.org, and select “News & Calendar” for great stories about our students and staff throughout the year!

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Ravens Lead From Here with Charity Fundraising

Ravenscroft magazine

FACULTY NOTES News from our faculty and staff

Faculty and Staff Notes Nicole Girvan assumed the role of head of Lower School at Ravenscroft on July 1. Girvan brings expertise in curriculum development, a commitment to academic excellence and an appreciation for differentiated instruction.

She most recently served as head of the Lower School at Charlotte Preparatory School. Head of School Doreen Kelly said, “We are thrilled to have attracted a leader with Nicole’s experience, collaborative abilities and dedication to the education of young children.”

In April, music and voice teacher Mary Royall Hight performed with North Carolina Opera in their production of “Samson and Delilah” under the direction of Maestro Timothy Myers. She also performed in the Hayes School of Music alumni recital alongside other up-andcoming musicians in the Triangle area.

Upper School computer science teacher Alfie Hobbs was awarded an Aspirations in Computing Educator Award, which recognizes mentors who encourage young women’s participation in technology pursuits. Student Danielle Rowe ’19 received an Aspirations in Computing Award. The awards were given March 17 at Campbell University.

Middle School language arts teacher Sameera Anwar presented at the Global Educators Conference April 26-28 in Cleveland. Anwar’s presentation, “Embracing Controversial Topics: Teaching ‘I Am Malala’ as a Vehicle to Develop Global Citizenship,” was later published on the conference blog, The Global Bookshelf.

Susan Perry, assistant head of school for student affairs, was appointed to the NAIS/TABS Task Force on Educator Sexual Misconduct, formed in 2016 to address sexual abuse prevention and mitigation in independent and boarding schools. Task force members presented an overview of their report at the NAIS Annual National Conference in Atlanta in March.

Perry joined Doreen Kelly and Colleen Ramsden, assistant head of school for academic affairs, in presenting at the NCAIS Women in Leadership Conference, held June 10-12 in Raleigh. Their topic was “Moving Beyond Thinking It’s a ‘Pipeline Problem.’”

Faculty and staff celebrated these retiring colleagues at the Faculty & Staff Recognition and Reception on May 14 (above): Ed Yohman (Middle School student activities coordinator and former soccer coach and math teacher, 40 years), Marcia Jones (Upper School English teacher, 38 years), Ed Durham (Upper School mathematics teacher and former wrestling and football coach, 21 years), Leana Stewart (Lower and Middle School Spanish teacher and director of Camp Ravens Nest, 12 years), and Toni Katen (assistant to the director of admissions, 30 years; not pictured).

The following faculty and staff awards were also presented: the Helton Award, to Buildings & Grounds supervisor Woody Davis and staff accompanist S.K. Chipley; the Qubain Award, to teachers Kat Belk, Alfie Hobbs, Michelle Nunalee, Emily Roach and Mary Craig Brown; and the Parents’ Association Distinguished Faculty Award, to Mary Ripple.

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INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

where

CREATIVITY meets TECHNOLOGY

The Keim Center for Innovation and Research Opens Up the STEM+ Classroom to Create New Possibilities

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RESOURCES

ENJOY BONUS CONTENT ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

by Karen Lewis Taylor

www.ravenscroft.org/ summermagazine2018

(facing page, at top), the Library Technology Center (LTC) before its April 2018 closing for extensive renovations; (at bottom) the same space after demolition in June, with interior walls removed for robotics and technology labs; (at center) the architect’s vision for the space, which includes glass partitions and open collaboration space; (above) DIYA SHARMA ’22 adjusts solar panels as part of a project in Middle School Engineering II;

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MAGINE A LEARNING CENTER where creativity meets technology and resources,

making it possible to take an idea from conception to production, all in the same space.

IMAGINE A BUILDING PROGRAM so flexible it can be configured (and reconfigured) to meet the changing needs of students and curricula for years to come.

IMAGINE A WELCOMING SOCIAL SPACE where inspiration flourishes, innovation is

encouraged and collaboration occurs naturally.

NOW IMAGINE THAT A TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFT COMES ALONG — in the

midst of a major five-year campaign, no less — and makes all of that possible, and you’ve just imagined the Keim Center for Innovation and Research, currently taking shape in the shell of the school’s Library and Technology Center.

A TRANSFORMATIONAL SPACE Made possible by a generous gift from the Keim family, the Keim Center will foster inquiry, research and entrepreneurial exploration, further enhancing the distinctive programming that has made Ravenscroft one of the area’s preeminent independent schools.

Renovations are underway this summer, with the goal of opening the Keim Center in Fall 2018. Facilities will include modern classrooms, robotics and technology labs, library resources, and collaboration and community areas for both Middle and Upper School students.

“It’s a flexible space, so we can be agile about adding new classes and addressing how the next 10 years will shape technology, media and more.”

—JASON RAMSDEN, RAVENSCROFT’S CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

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(above) Another angle of the Keim Center’s main collaboration space; (opposite page, at top) Melissa Spainhour’s sixth-grade science students marvel at an experiment; (at bottom) Upper School Robotics Club members cheer as student-designed robots compete

“The Keim Center provides the Upper School with a first-class, ageappropriate space to continue pushing our students to new heights.”

— NELSON NUNALEE, UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING TEACHER

“It’s a flexible space, so we can be agile about adding new classes and addressing how the next 10 years will shape technology, media and more,” Jason Ramsden, Ravenscroft’s chief information officer, said. “For me, the flexibility to adapt to the educational environment is the most important piece.”

In other words, this isn’t your old-school library and computer lab.

“From the entry door on, with the exception of two classrooms that are being built in the former Parents’ Association Room, there are no walls or dividers. Some areas will be glassed in, but the idea is to allow students to see what their classmates are doing, to inspire and encourage their collaboration,” Ramsden said. “We’ve even created a shared, open workspace for all nine members of the Library and Technology Department, breaking down the typical divisions in our work and modeling for everyone on campus the kind of collaborative environment we want this space to be.”

SPARKING INNOVATION Such a space is in high demand, as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curricular programming grows and evolves to meet the interests of Ravenscroft students and the ever-changing technology landscape.

“Previously, we did not have properly vented or soundproofed spaces to allow our students to work in these hands-on ways,” said Head of Upper School Peter Bogue.

“The Keim Center provides, among other things, the tools, technology and collaborative space to pursue electives like robotics and computer-aided design.”

The renovation capitalizes on the momentum created by the growth of STEM courses and project-based learning in the Lower and Middle Schools, both of which have dedicated MakerSpaces that are very popular with students. They will now have a cutting-edge facility in the Upper School to use and expand those skill sets.

“The Keim Center provides the Upper School with a first-class, age-appropriate space to continue pushing our students to new heights,” said Nelson Nunalee, Upper School science and engineering teacher. “Imagine how well-prepared and attractive our graduates will be when they understand how to work effectively as part of a team, strategize how to successfully move a project forward and have the resilience to embrace and learn from failure — while simultaneously being proficient with skills such as CAD, coding, basic power-tool operation and engineering design.”

“I am excited about the opportunities this space will present for faculty to engage in cross-disciplinary work as well,” Bogue said. “The impact this space will have on the future of education in the Upper School is limitless.”

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES The updated facilities provide something else Upper School students have been asking for: a comfortable place to relax and enjoy a snack when they’re not in class.

“When I approached student government leaders this past year about what it would take for them to walk up to the LTC, their unanimous answer was a coffee or smoothie lounge,” Bogue said. “The new space will include a café that will serve these items and more. Its proximity to the Middle School is an added bonus, because now those students won’t have to walk to the Dining Hall during their brief break to grab a snack.”

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As Susan Perry, assistant head of school for student affairs, explained, providing a welcoming social hub for students is just as important to their success as these academic programs.

“This is an inherently interdisciplinary space, accessible to all, which builds community,” she said. “It creates opportunities for students, faculty and staff to connect in a STEM-rich learning environment, where the rewards of persistence, unhurried approaches to problem solving and reaching across difference sustains and fuels the joy of learning. What a gift to the growth and development of a young person!”

“There’s so much to be gained when we move beyond traditionally designed classrooms,” Sarah Loyola, director of educational technology, added. “The Keim Center will allow teachers and students to find inspira-

tion in unexpected places through experiential learning.”

“It’s not just about STEM,” Ramsden concluded. “The entire building is focused on encouraging innovation.”

Get the latest on the Keim Center renovations — including behind-the-scenes photos and videos, testimonials from campus leaders and updates on our progress — on our blog, www.ravenscroft.org/our-community/keim-center.

“WHERE STUDENTS CAN DREAM”: Expanded course offerings in the Keim Center laser cutters or CNC routers) to create and manufacture 3-D objects — a blending of the technical and the creative that puts the “plus” in STEM+. As students move from one project to the next, they build their skill sets and learn to transition from the independent work of design to the more collaborative work of manufacturing.

In addition, two new courses further the Keim Center’s mission to spur innovation:

T HE OPENING OF THE KEIM CENTER

enriches Upper School course offerings in STEM+ and entrepreneurship, providing the kinds of real-world, project-based learning that authentically engages students and aligns with Ravenscroft’s strategic vision.

These expanded courses will be offered starting in Fall 2018: > ROBOTICS: While an Upper School robotics club has offered interested students the opportunity to build, program and compete with robots, this new course provides a more in-depth and structured curriculum to explore the field in a team-centered approach. Units include mechanical design, electrical design and programming, all leading up to building, testing and revising robots for a competition in which teams race against the clock (and one another) to complete a series of tasks. > COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN (CAD): This course provides students with the software (such as SketchUp and Fusion 360) and the tools (such as 3-D printers,

> GENIUS LAB: Ravens interested in technology trends, design, hardware and network architecture learn about technology integration in an authentic setting, working under the guidance of Ravenscroft’s IT team to run a help desk for their fellow students. They will explore trends in educational software and hardware, design, digital citizenship, customer service and prototyping and then create screen-casting tutorials. Students also have time to work on an individual project on some aspect of technology they choose. > INNOVATIONS: Modeled on Google’s Genius Hour, Innovations is a project-based class devoted to design thinking, experiential learning and the development of an entrepreneurial mind-set. Students design a project of interest to them (which does not have to be STEMfocused), connect with outside mentors, and develop and present a plan on how to implement their ideas in the real world. This course allows students to take the lead, collaborate with experts in the field, and fail as part of the process.

“I want this to be a space where students can dream,” said Sarah Loyola, director of educational technology, who helped design the new courses. “How many young people, or even adults, have the time and space — and resources — to explore avenues so completely of interest to them?” R

Summer 2018

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CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

Class of 2018

SENIOR REFLECTIONS on LEADERSHIP

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by Karen Lewis Taylor

S MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2018 walked across the stage during Commencement on May 25, they carried with them their families’ love and support, the well-wishes of their teachers, their own hopes and dreams, and the satisfaction of having done the hard work required to take their place among the Ravenscroft alumni who have crossed the stage before them.

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ENJOY BONUS CONTENT ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

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THAT THEY DID SO DURING AN UNPRECEDENTED WAVE OF AMERICAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP — epitomized by the fierce determination of the Parkland school activists but ultimately transcending geography, class, politics and labels — brought into sharp focus the urgency of the school’s mission to prepare our students to live and lead in a complex and interdependent world.

Bolstered by their work with the Lead From Here framework and empowered by their many opportunities to flex those leadership competencies, these graduating seniors are more than ready to step into that space.

Many of them already have.

Here, seniors who participated in the Culture Observers program — the Upper School’s groundbreaking new work with the Center for Creative Leadership to identify and address barriers to diversity and inclusivity — reflect on their own leadership journeys, share the lessons they and their classmates have learned, and explore how those experiences have prepared them for what lies ahead. From advocacy to peer mentoring, service to activism, these students and their classmates embody the audacious assertion at the center of Lead From Here: that when students commit to lead themselves and lead with others, they can change their world.

(below) DEMARCUS TAYLOR ’18 after receiving his diploma; (at left) graduates-to-be including RYAN MICELI ’18

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ADVOCACY Create the Change Ourselves

I Have a Voice

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ULTURE OBSERVERS PROVIDED A PLATFORM to effect change within the Ravenscroft community. From the firm foundation Ravenscroft has helped me develop, I was able to learn from my peers and listen to their feedback, allowing me to advocate for them directly to the school’s leadership team and the Board of Trustees. As a group, we were able to shine a light on issues [related to diversity and inclusivity] that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

I greatly appreciate the willingness of Ravenscroft’s faculty to support student-driven initiatives while fostering an environment of positive change. Thanks to this type of support, I was able to design my senior internship with three other cause-driven leaders to find further areas of improvement for the community. We created proposals that can effect change — even after we go off to college — with the confidence that Ravenscroft will consider our suggestions seriously. Ravenscroft has given us the power to not simply tell them what we want to change but, instead, to create the change ourselves. Each stepping stone Ravenscroft has provided me with has guided me to where I am today, hoping to leave a lasting impression here and create positive change throughout my life.

O BIG CHANGE has been made overnight. Each major event has been preceded by smaller actions leading to the larger happening.

This is something I came to realize at Ravenscroft.

The abundant opportunities present at Ravenscroft allowed me to realize that I have a voice and the ability to think on my own.

Experiences such as SDLC [Student Diversity Leadership Conference, a national event] and Culture Observers have allowed me to meet like-minded individuals, both in our own Ravenscroft community and around the globe, who are passionate about issues that are important to them. I realized that, while there are those who may object to my beliefs, there are those who support causes that I advocate for. Knowing that I will have an audience that is attentive and supportive gave me the confidence to increase my opportunities to advocate.

– BAKARI YOUNG-SMITH ’18

– SYDNEY SCHIFF ’18

PEER MENTORING Far Beyond Our Own Lives

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HEN WE WERE FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES at Ravenscroft,

many teachers encouraged us not only to go to tutorial but also to seek help from our peers, both older and younger.

The peer-to-peer mentoring relationship is different, as fellow students experience similar situations in school and can often relate to your own challenges in more personal ways. For example, many students understand the burden of multiple honors or AP classes while also trying to fit in extracurriculars or community service. As we transitioned into upperclassmen at Ravenscroft, having been influenced by the impact older peer mentors had on us, many members of the Class of 2018 readily took up the mantle of becoming a peer mentors and became much more involved with younger students.

Being attentive and communicative are two of the many leadership competencies and skills that we, as student leaders, realize are

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important in being a peer mentor. While we guide and motivate our peers through NHS tutoring, sports and other extracurriculars, and much more, we also learned to encourage our peers (and young future leaders) to voice their opinions. However, our peer mentoring was not limited to the Upper School.

Through programs such as the Science National Honor Society, which helped prepare Lower School students for the Science Olympiad, and MathNC, which offered virtual math tutoring to children at Boys and Girls Clubs and the YMCA, we created peer-to-peer bonds and increased the impact Ravenscroft and its students have on the surrounding community.

By mentoring our peers, the Class of 2018 was able to change their worlds. With the resources given to us by the school and our own capabilities, seniors were able to make an impact far beyond our own lives and improve the education of others. Already at an early age, we have begun to change our world in our everyday lives.

– CLAY BAKER ’18 AND SAMMIE KIM ’18

SERVICE Bridging the Gap

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HROUGHOUT OUR EXPERIENCE AT RAVENSCROFT, we

have been trained extensively in Lead From Here. We’ve learned the necessary skills that will aid us in our journey through our complex and interdependent world.

These valuable competencies — such as collaboration, communication and empathy — have been a driving force behind many of the Class of 2018’s initiatives.

Students have demonstrated their understanding of the Lead From Here framework by continuing the service work of organizations such as Key Club, SPEAK [Students Pursuing

ACTIVISM Push Toward a Better Future

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OLLOWING INSTANCES OF INJUSTICE AND TRAGEDY, activism allows us to magnify our voices in unison to create change — to come together as a community in order to reflect, adapt and push toward a better future. To be completely honest, I don’t think that, as a freshman, I would have ever predicted that I’d be an activist (or at least one of the most active students in our community). Sure, I was passionate about correcting moments of injustice, but I wasn’t an outspoken leader.

However, all of this changed after Ravenscroft provided me with the opportunity to attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Tampa. I met all sorts of people, fellow students of different cultures, ethnicities and races, and sexual orientations. Through dialogue, whether friend-to-friend or in workshops, I began to empathize with a greater diversity of experiences and beliefs. SDLC piqued my interest and helped me put names to the faces that are continually mistreated by society. I became heavily involved in our SPEAK (Students

Equity And Kindness], Ravens in the Hood and St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

Students were also empowered to start their own service organizations, including Spread the Love and Music, an intergenerational program devoted to bridging the gap between youth and the elderly; MathNC, a program that provides virtual math tutoring to Boys and Girls Clubs and the YMCA; and Sounds All Around, a nonprofit organization devoted to raising awareness of hearing loss and raising money for the pediatric audiology department at UNC Hospitals. The Class of 2018 has led these organizations with enthusiasm and dedication, raising thousands of dollars and generating community support for their cause. Students have traveled across the state, country and globe to change their world. They’ve attended marches in Raleigh, run across Oregon to fight cancer, and taught tennis to underprivileged kids in Costa Rica.

Regardless of where we all end up, the Class of 2018 is bound to continue their passion for service.

– BELLA CHURCH ’18

Pursuing Equity And Kindness) Leadership Team and the Triangle Diversity Alliance, in addition to SDLC. The other student leaders I encountered through these various pursuits pushed me to expand upon my convictions; they inspired me to finally take action and to add my voice to the calls of other students. The Parkland tragedy was one of the most moving instances of student unity in our nation.

We, as a national student body, stood up against gun violence and in memory of the students who tragically lost their lives. As we head off to college, the world is changing all around us, and our generation is the instigator of this change.

Ravenscroft has provided us with a solid foundation of support, allowing us to cultivate our convictions in a safe and accepting environment. We know that our peers will continue this cycle of activism and carry our community in the right direction.

– ALLY TANNENBAUM ’18 THERE’S MORE CREATIVE LEADERSHIP ONLINE! Visit www.ravenscroft.

org/summermagazine2018 for web-only bonus content including senior reflection videos, additional photos and videos from Commencement, and our Senior Success piece showcasing the Class of 2018’s many accomplishments.

Ravenscroft’s first Culture Observers, comprising juniors and seniors dedicated to working within the school culture to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for all students, included (front row) ERIN PUGH ’19, KEMMIA GHODRAT ’19, HANNAH PANGBORN ’19, VIVIAN AVERY ’19, BELLA CHURCH ’18, SAMMIE KIM ’18; (back row) ELLE SCHANTZ ’19, ANTHONY PEAY ’19, JAYLEN HAYES ’19, BEN SCHWARZ ’18, CLAY BAKER ’18, CHARLOTTE TANNENBAUM ’19 Summer 2018

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“... Sometimes it’s the process and the journey that matters, not the destination, and that’s how we should think about high school.”

— Akshay Lulla ’18

The Senior Speech

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S PART OF THEIR LEAD FROM HERE FOCUS on “Change Your World,” all seniors compose and deliver a speech to their advisory groups early in the year. Each advisory selects one person to deliver their speech to the entire Upper School in the second semester. The class as a whole then votes for one of those people to serve as the senior class graduation speaker.

Seniors use these speeches to explore questions about personal identity: Who am I? What are my passions? How have I grown in my years at Ravenscroft? What has my personal journey taught me about myself?

Read excerpts from some of the winning advisory speeches below, and enjoy highlights from Akshay Lulla ’18’s Commencement speech in our web-only Class of 2018 coverage at www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2018.

AKSHAY LULLA ’18

I gradually became more comfortable with the people around me and developed great bonds with many of them. ...

The junior mountain trip was a great experience that forced us all to leave our comfort zone for four days, even though it was a bit unpleasant at times. I remember waking up one night with water dripping on my head and me sleeping over Demarcus with Daniel’s head on my back and his legs outside the tent. There was also a time during the trip when we tried to find a waterfall by listening to its sound. We spent an hour looking for it after an extremely tiring day, but we never really found it. The process of looking for the waterfall as a team was fun. What I’m trying to convey is that sometimes it’s the process and the journey that matters, not the destination, and that’s how we should think about high school.

On Trying New Things

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Y AUNT DROPPED MY COUSIN AND ME OFF at Rhonda’s on

orientation day. I was guided to an orientation room, which really scared me at the time. There was Calvin Atkeson, Jack Hemphill, Jack Hanley, Ian Dubose, Douglas Elks, so basically a bunch of guys over six feet four inches, and then there was me. I said goodbye to my chances of playing soccer at Ravenscroft that moment because I thought that everyone else would be that big.

The first few months [at Ravenscroft] were extremely uncomfortable for me. I wondered why I left the school I was at for 12 years to come here. I soon realized how beneficial it was for me because of all the experiences I have had and the amazing people that I have met. There was plenty of awkwardness in the beginning. … I ate lunch alone for the first two months and, looking back, I wish I had taken the effort to start conversations from the beginning. I learned that it’s better to take action rather than sitting and waiting for things to happen.

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JACK HEMPHILL ’18

PETER LIU ’18

On Pursuing His Goals

On Embracing Differences

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I

OST PEOPLE I HAD GROWN UP WITH didn’t un-

derstand why I wanted to transfer [to Ravenscroft] right before my senior year and thought it was strange.

I found that the people who really cared about me just wanted the best for me, regardless of who I played [basketball] for. This taught me to value those who truly care for me as a person rather than just as a basketball player.

When I came to Ravenscroft that fall, I still felt way different than everyone else. It was my first year in private school and all the different type of people and surroundings made me feel uncomfortable at first, but I soon realized that I made the right decision by how I was being pushed to improve in the classroom as well as on the court. I was fortunate enough to be mentored and kept on track by people like Coach Billerman.

KATHERINE GRING ’18 On Appreciating Community

[

DURING A TRIP TO MOROCCO,

we visited the home of our driver, Dris, in a remote village.] There was no electricity, no running water and no air conditioning, even though the temperature that day had reached 105 degrees.

I knew that Dris’ family had lived in this same area for generations, but I asked him why he would still, in modern day, continue to live this way. … “It is my culture, my community, my commitment to my family and friends. And this.” He stretched his arm into the distance. “We stay for the view. Just look at that view.” Sure enough, the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas mountain range rose in the distance. It was beautiful. Dris told stories of the community coming together, just sitting, sharing stories and looking out at that view. ...

Every day I try to do what he said: to look at the view, with my community of people, supported by my family and friends, being secure in who I am, and enjoying the moments right in front of me. Because he’s right, the view does not disappoint. And I realized that sometimes the view is not so much what we are looking at but how we choose to see it.

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T IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE THING that all of us with

different characteristics can build such a tight bond over the course of four years. And when I look back now, I really appreciate that I had an opportunity to join this family, and I am really thankful that you guys, my fellow advisees, can accept me with such distinct characteristics myself. The experience I had here taught me, and I believe all of you, that people can build close relationship with one another despite our many differences. And I believe that this is one of the most important lessons I learned, which can affect me as I meet more people in the next stage of my life.

MADISON HUNT ’18 On Experiencing “Lasts” and Saying Good-bye

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E ALL KNEW SOMEDAY we would be taking our last test, experience our last fire drill and sit down in those beige metal chairs for a final time. We can no longer look around us and see the familiar sights of our childhood and youth. It will no longer be a ten-minute drive to see our best friends, and instead we will be hundreds of miles apart. Without even knowing it, we will laugh for the last time in our classrooms or walk down a stairwell and never climb back up. We are going to have our last taste of teenage rebellion with the people we’ve made a million memories with. We knew one day we would close our lockers and walk out those double doors for the last time as a student here. We will leave a place that has become so familiar to us that we won’t even realize how big of a role it was in our lives until we are gone. R

“The experience I had here taught me, and I believe all of you, that people can build close relationships with one another despite our many differences.

This is one of the most important lessons I learned.”

— Peter Liu ’18

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Global Parent Ambassadors

Ease Cultural Barriers and Build Community

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

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~ by STACY CALFO ~

ENJOY BONUS CONTENT ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

www.ravenscroft.org/ summermagazine2018

A WELCOMING COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CORE VALUE AT RAVENSCROFT. THAT VALUE HAS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER AS THE SCHOOL HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE MORE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. RAVENSCROFT’S GLOBAL PARENT AMBASSADORS, OR GPA, WAS FORMED

BY PARENTS IN 2016 TO STRENGTHEN THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES AND HELP SHARE THEIR CULTURES WITH OTHERS.

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HE GROUP HAS CLEARLY STRUCK A CHORD among Ravenscroft families: in just two years, membership has grown from 30 to over 100 members.

MORE THAN MEETINGS Since its inception, the GPA has organized dozens of social events designed to increase cultural awareness and help international families feel welcome in the school community. From a Diwali-themed coffee that spurred a larger school-wide event exploring the holiday to a kayaking trip (which included some parents who had never been on a boat) to trying new cuisine at local restaurants, the group’s activities help international Ravens get involved and try new things.

Another key facet, explained parents Kelly Margraf and Karen Taber, who currently lead the GPA, is that their events are open to everyone, including Americans who have never traveled outside of the U.S. It is this desire to explore and learn about other cultures right here “glocally” that gives this group their energy.

Although Margraf grew up in the United States, she spent grades seven through 10 in Tokyo and attended an international school with students from more than 50 countries. That experience, she said, made her passionate about the GPA. Taber, whose son plans to pursue an international diploma at Ravenscroft, jumped at the chance to engage with families from around the world.

“We want to make people feel welcome,” Margraf said. “The GPA wants everyone in our community to realize that we are all global citizens and, therefore, ambassadors of our school and of Raleigh. We do not need to live overseas to be one.”

A SIMPLE QUESTION Past parent Gail Kansler was the driving force behind forming the GPA. Kansler’s daughter, a 2017 Ravenscroft graduate, was adopted from China.

“As a parent of an Asian child, I was intrigued with the concept of preparing our children for global citizenship,” Gail explained. She reached out to David Kates, Ravenscroft’s director of global education and initiatives, with a simple question: how could she support international parents?

Kates, too, had recognized the need to provide international families with “help with everything from understanding grocery stores to getting a driver’s license.” Beyond that, he said, he wanted to promote international families’ overall sense of belonging and better understanding between these families and the school.

That conversation led to the GPA. Parent Bo Zhao appreciates the important role the GPA has played in her family’s experiences in the school community and beyond. After the Zhaos moved from China to

Above and at left, GPA members share Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, with students, faculty and staff last fall

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Raleigh, they, like many other international families at Ravenscroft, faced challenges in adapting to new cultural norms and the language barrier.

“Everyone in the GPA is very friendly and speaks slowly so I can understand,” Zhao said. “They encourage me to share my culture and to participate in other activities at school.

I didn’t think I could do it, but they are a very good support. I like to be more involved at school now.”

A LASTING IMPACT Zhao was instrumental in bringing together Chinese families and other members of the GPA for this year’s Chinese New Year celebration. The event was well-attended and allowed students, faculty and staff to learn more about this festive time.

Such enthusiasm is contagious. This year’s Cultural Festival, a school-run event which the GPA supported with know-how as well as volunteers, included food, dance and booths representing more than 40 countries and cultures, providing an opportunity for students and families to broaden their worldview.

The group’s passion for sharing cultures makes them ambassadors for Ravenscroft’s global programs, too.

Last year, they invited Kates and Upper School teacher Jessica Yonzun to speak to members about the International Diploma program and study abroad opportunities, resulting in increases in enrollment for both programs.

“WE WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME. THE GPA WANTS EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE ALL GLOBAL CITIZENS AND, THEREFORE, AMBASSADORS OF OUR

SCHOOL AND OF RALEIGH. WE DO NOT NEED TO LIVE OVERSEAS TO BE ONE. ” — KELLY MARGRAF, PARENT LEADER OF GPA The GPA’s Chinese New Year celebration, recognizing the Year of the Dog, included the opportunity for students to practice painting characters

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The school-sponsored Cultural Festival encouraged students and their families to explore one another’s heritage through food, dance, song and more

Many families who are new to Ravenscroft point to this global presence as a key reason they chose the school.

“The GPA has been a huge influence for our new parents,” said parent Jessica Sullivan McDonald, who volunteers with the Admissions Office to connect with prospective families. “It’s wonderful that I can share a hands-on group like this with prospective families.”

As global perspectives become more and more critical to our students’ success, GPA continues to play an important role in making Ravenscroft a thriving and

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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

RAVENSCROFT ACADEMIC COMMITTEE:

Innovations Across the Curriculum ~ by shannon t. zarb ~

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F YOU ASK RAVENSCROFT STUDENTS about the quality of their classes, their responses are likely to be enthusiastic: “We have a ton of art classes and extracurriculars!” “I love the International Baccalaureate program!” “The History Department is amazing!”

Ask those same students about the role the Academic Committee plays in designing and supporting this curriculum, and chances are they won’t know what you’re talking about. But while the committee may not be on the radar for most students, its influence is evident in every classroom and across the curriculum.

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A COMMITMENT TO GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT The Academic Committee comprises more than 30 members and includes the department chairs from all three divisions. The committee meets monthly to discuss everything from curriculum updates to department visitations and the overall academic focus of the school.

A major priority is ensuring the alignment of content and learning objectives between grades and across divisions so teachers understand, from a curriculum standpoint, both where their students have been and where they’re going.

Erin Altschuler, who chairs the Middle School Math Department, said Ravenscroft teachers value having that level of awareness about what’s going on in other divisions. “We’re able to fully align our courses, which has been a huge advantage for our department and students. Otherwise, we’d be teaching in isolation.”

While the committee reviews instructional policies, course changes and both short- and long-range strategic initiatives, the broader focus of the committee often feels more personal.

Fifth-grade teacher Dante Johnson and students engaged in small-group work

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Upper School science teacher Aaron Ashe assists students in a hands-on lab in Honors Biology

“Most of the committee’s work revolves around helping us grow as educators.”

— COLLEEN RAMSDEN, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

“Most of the committee’s work revolves around helping us grow as educators,” said Colleen Ramsden, assistant head of school for academic affairs, who chairs the Academic Committee. “We are constantly assessing what we do as academic leaders to help our colleagues in the classroom.”

Their contributions range from training department chairs to be effective leaders to coaching teachers and even providing guidance to run productive meetings.

“Part of our responsibility is to support teacher growth and ensure these skills are being implemented in the classroom regularly,” Ramsden said. “These teachers are our academic leaders.”

VISITATIONS One of the more innovative approaches the committee employs for continued growth and curriculum development involves bringing in experts from outside Ravenscroft to help inform and shape academic programming. Each year, three or four departments bring in a team of school leaders, college professors and classroom educators to take a “deep dive” into existing programs and generate recommendations on areas for improvement.

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These volunteers visit classrooms, meet with department members, students and parents, and then present a report on their findings. Their feedback is essential, Ramsden said.

“Sometimes you get in an echo chamber when you’re the only one looking at your curriculum. Visitations help ensure we’re examining our courses and overall goals with an objective eye,” she said.

Departmental visitations are on a five- to six-year rotation cycle. The insights that emerge from the process can help departments fine-tune their curriculum or even jump-start a significant redesign. A recent Middle School math review, for example, became the impetus for reconsidering how classes are taught.

“We got lots of praise, but our most useful feedback suggested shifting to more creative discovery and hands-on activities that allow our students to take more ownership of their learning,” Altschuler said. “The difference has been pretty incredible.”

“Our most useful feedback suggested shifting to more creative discovery and handson activities that allow our kids to take more ownership of their learning.”

— ERIN ALTSCHULER, MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH DEPARTMENT CHAIR

INNOVATIONS ACROSS THE CAMPUS In fact, visitations have the potential to translate into innovations across subjects and even across campus.

The past two years, for example, have seen a shift from direct-instruction models of the past to more facilitative, student-centered classrooms as a result of visitation feedback.

Capitalizing on these changes are two new Upper School programs, Genius Lab and Innovations, both being offered this fall in the new Keim Center for Innovation and Research. Genius Lab will pair students with IT specialists to create a help desk, while Innovations facilitates independent study of subjects and careers students are passionate about.

Even the Keim Center itself is a reflection of the shift.

“The new center is a move from traditional lecturing to a community space that embraces creation, innovation and collaboration,” said Angela Finn, chair of the Library Department. “Most importantly, it allows kids to explore the messy process of research in a supportive, collaborative environment.”

Sarah Loyola, director of educational technology, said of the inspiration behind the new space and its new courses, “For us to stay on the cusp of innovation, we have to consider what skills these students need for the workplace and provide real-world, hands-on tasks that center instruction on the learners. We’re literally preparing our students for jobs that don’t yet exist.”

At the heart of the Academic Committee’s focus is preparing a new generation of learners for this everchanging landscape. That’s why the most transformative initiatives at Ravenscroft always begin with one simple question: how do we continue to improve?

Read more about the new Keim Center for Innovation and Research in our Innovation and Technology feature, p. 10. R

First-grader WESLEY WU tests gravity in Patrick Knox’s Science Lab

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STUDENT SHOWCASE Highlighting exceptional student work

From City to Coast

Photography by Cole Hudson ’18

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OR HIS ADVANCED PLACEMENT ®

Photography course, Cole Hudson ’18 took Joyce Fillip’s AP Studio Art: 2D Design, which has photography as a subcategory, and an independent study on photography editing with Photoshop software under the guidance of computer science teacher Alfie Hobbs.

“I have been taking pictures for about three years here and there, but within the last year I have gotten more serious,” Cole said. “I also got an FAA Drone license and started an

aerial photography and video business last summer. So I enjoy all realms of photography.

“With this set of pictures I was trying to explore a theme of an urban city and a relaxed coast. When taking them, I was trying to find well-composed pictures that need a little bit of editing, which I would do in my independent study. For instance, the photo with the palm tree had an ugly trash can on the lower right side of the picture, and I was able to remove it without a trace. Additionally, the

Clockwise from top left: “Room With a View”; “Beachin’”; “Paradise Found”

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COLE HUDSON ’18

two panoramic pictures were each 12 individual shots that I pixel-matched and stitched together.” R

Clockwise from top: “Empire State of Mind”; “City-Set”; “Low-Country Colors”; “Sunset Surfer”

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CENTER STAGE Students and alumni excelling in the arts

Seeds Sown at Tucker Street Yield Fruit (and Flowers) for Artist Marriott Procter Little ’47 inducted into the Fine Arts Hall of Fame

The award-winning “Fair View XXI” (left) and its series companion “Fair View XVIII,” which depict transformations in LITTLE’s garden over time, “gracefully straddle the line between representation and abstraction,” according to curator Xandra Eden

While many artists can identify the moment when their creativity was first sparked, few of them will trace the start of a long and successful career to their time in the third grade.

B

She says her artistic journey beUT MARRIOTT PROCTER LITTLE ’47 does — and with her induc- gan as a third-grader in 1937, when

tion into the Fine Arts Hall of Fame on May 2, the Tucker Street alumna and prolific visual artist has come full circle.

Little’s career in art has spanned decades, and her work is displayed widely: former North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue and actor Alan Alda have pieces in their personal collections, and SAS Institute, Duke Hospital, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bank of America and GlaxoSmithKline display her work as well.

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she was among the first students at Ravenscroft’s Tucker Street campus and took art lessons from teacher Elizabeth Dortch. Little feels lucky to have been able to study under Miss Dortch at all, because her parents wanted all of their children to take piano lessons instead.

“I will never forget the long climb up the stairs into St. Savior’s Church tower for those classes!” she said with a smile.

But Little’s experience with the fine arts at Ravenscroft was just the

beginning, as she went on to study art at Smith College and Duke University. Since then, she’s won over 60 awards in juried exhibitions, taken part in more than 25 solo and two-person shows, and studied under some of the best artists in America. With each experience, she said, she has integrated new techniques into her approach and explored media including oil, acrylic, pastels and watercolor.

“I think my art has evolved over the years because of critique sessions with my peers and viewing art in galleries, museums and exhibitions,” she added.

By Karen Shore

ENJOY BONUS CONTENT ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

www.ravenscroft.org/ summermagazine2018

“Create the kind of art that gives you joy!”

— MARRIOTT PROCTER LITTLE ’47

LITTLE (at center) with her family at the Fine Arts Hall of Fame induction ceremony

While Little began painting in a realistic style, she eventually — as her confidence grew — moved into impressionism and nonobjective styles. She has named some of her artistic phases: her “Cherries and Berries” period in the 1980s and ’90s was spent painting watercolors of fruits, and her more recent abstract acrylics, dubbed the “Fair View Garden” series, are her personal favorites. Most popular with the public, she said, are her poppy paintings.

Little is proud that she also created a family full of love and art

MARRIOTT PROCTER LITTLE ’47

with her husband, Bill. Their four children — Corneille, Elizabeth, Marriott and Bill Jr. — all spent some time at Ravenscroft, although, Little noted, “only two were there for any length of time, in the early years of the Falls of Neuse campus.”

Two of her children are artists, as are two of her seven grandchildren, and Little counts seven artists in all among her family.

She has also made time for volunteer work. She has served with the Junior League of Raleigh, the Wake County chapter of The National

Society of The Colonial Dames of America, Visual Arts Exchange and Artspace Artists Association, plus eight years corresponding with Ravenscroft fourth-graders in the Pen Pal program.

Little says she feels “thrilled and honored” by her induction into the school’s Fine Arts Hall of Fame. Her advice to young artists: “Learn the basis of composition, explore various genres and materials, and create the kind of art that gives you joy!

You will discover the ‘art spirit’ in yourself.” R

A piece from LITTLE’s “Cherries and Berries” period Summer 2018

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GAME DAY Students and alumni support outstanding athletes

Growing Soccer on His Home Turf

Curt Johnson ’87 Credits His Success to Building Relationships

As part of Raleigh’s bid for a Major League Soccer expansion team, local sports, business and community leaders have proposed building a stadium downtown

Long before he was the driving force behind professional soccer in the Triangle, CURT JOHNSON ’87 was a seven-year-old realizing he could be good at sports. He credits the relationships he built with teachers and coaches, including Ravenscroft physical education teacher Jimmy Cox and soccer coach Ed Yohman, as critical influences in his development.

“J

I M M Y COX brought out a love of sports in me, even as a second-grader, ” Johnson said.

“He built my self-confidence that helped me develop my athletic ability.”

That encouragement would soon pay off, as Johnson’s skill and leadership helped propel the boys varsity soccer team to two state titles, in 1983 and 1986, and four straight victories at the Ravenscroft Invitational Soccer Tournament. But his legacy at Ravenscroft, celebrated with his induction into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, isn’t just about soccer.

“I can go on and on about how good an athlete Curt is,” Cox said recently, “but he is an even better

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person. He was a leader and a man of high character.”

Yohman agreed. “Curt had the rare ability to make a team or class rise up and excel beyond the group’s belief. His success comes from his willingness to think independently and his tremendous work ethic and determination. We are all fortunate to have had Curt touch our lives.”

Johnson went on to play soccer at NC State University, starting all four years and serving as team captain his senior year. The team racked up the most wins in the school’s history that year, winning the 1990 ACC tournament and finishing the season ranked No. 2 nationally. He was

inducted into the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame in 2013.

Johnson is quick to say it’s the relationships he’s built that have had the greatest impact on his life. WRAL sports anchor Rick Sullivan gave Johnson the internship that cultivated his understanding of sports broadcasting. His college soccer coach, George Tarantini, and his Spanish professor and her husband — who worked in athletics at Duke University — helped Johnson get his foot in the door at Adidas, where he served as the Midwest region’s marketing manager.

These experiences laid the groundwork for Johnson’s career in sports

by Stacy Calfo

management. He has served as vice president of operations and general manager for the Richmond Kickers, general manager of the Kansas City Wizards, director of marketing for the Carolina Hurricanes, and senior vice president for US Club Soccer in Charleston, South Carolina.

In 2011, Johnson returned to North Carolina as president and general manager of the Carolina RailHawks, now North Carolina FC, and the North Carolina Courage, part of the National Women’s Soccer League. He has played a key role in building a partnership between Raleigh’s Capital Area Soccer League and the Triangle Futbol Club Alliance, creating the largest youthto-pro soccer program in the country.

And now Johnson is spearheading Raleigh’s bid to bring a Major League Soccer team to Raleigh. Johnson and other business and community leaders are passionate about their proposal to nab an MLS expansion team, with plans to build a major-league stadium downtown.

“We are trying to grow the game in all aspects, from spectators to gender equality to facilities and affordability for many participants of all ages,” Johnson said. “Our goal is bringing the highest level of pro-

fessional men’s soccer [Major League Soccer] to the Triangle alongside the North Carolina Courage, the highest level of women’s professional soccer.”

Johnson honors the relationships he has cultivated as he leads efforts to enhance the Triangle community through sports. He considers Ravenscroft home — in fact, his second job was as Ravenscroft’s first full-time director of alumni affairs, and he also coached our boys and girls soccer teams — and points to his experiences here as the launching pad for his accomplishments.

“I have been very fortunate to have incredibly supportive parents and family and outstanding friends, coaches and teachers. All of these relationships have played a role in my path as a person and my career,” Johnson said. “From second grade P.E. through college, my connections and relationships have led to my success.” R

CURT JOHNSON ’87

“We are trying to grow the game in all aspects, from spectators to gender equality to facilities and affordability for many participants of all ages.”

— CURT JOHNSON ’87

JOHNSON on the field during an NC State soccer match

JOHNSON (center, back row) on Ravenscroft’s 1986 state-championship team JOHNSON and his NC State co-captain, Henry Gutierrez Summer 2018

35

CLASS NOTES Catching up with our alumni

BIRTHS as of April 30, 2018

1. Matt Cantando ’95, his wife, Amy, and their son, Jack ’28, welcomed Emma Abigail Cantando on Feb. 12, 2018.

2. Dan Ressner ’99 and his wife, Briana, welcomed Wilder Michael Ressner on Feb. 7, 2018.

1

3. Sarah Gilleskie Hoverstad ’04 and family welcomed Eloise Adams Hoverstad on Dec. 19, 2017.

2

4. Keith Pair ’05 and his wife, Katy, welcomed Anna Wilder Pair on March 17, 2018.

4

3

WEDDINGS as of April 30, 2018

1

2

1. Amanda Raxlin ’09 married Joey Powell on April 28, 2018.

2. Wilson Day ’11 married Haley Smith on April 21, 2018.

36

R avenscroft magazine

Class Notes information as of April 30, 2018

1974

1979

Lynn McKinney

Allison Gilbert Holmes

lynnwmckinney@gmail.com

allisonholmes@nc.rr.com

Mel Broughton’s son, Mel ’15, was recognized

I ran into Rena Watkins MacGill and got to meet her granddaughter, Eleanor, when she was eight months old. She has the biggest eyes and is gorgeous like her grandmother. Rena says that Eleanor looks just like her mother, Amy, Rena and Jim’s first daughter. Rena says that being a grandmother is the best!

with the 2017-18 “Athlete of Character Award” by the Flagler College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Mel, who was goalkeeper and co-captain of the soccer team in his senior year at Ravenscroft, is goalkeeper for the Flagler Saints soccer team.

1978 Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, director of alumni activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is Oct. 5-6, 2018!

See p. 44 for details.

Ann O’Neal writes, “John and I just bought a new boat (Beneteau 42-ft. Swift Trawler) that we are so excited about! We will be keeping it in Beaufort and love to have visitors, so let me know if you will be in the neighborhood!”

Lee Quinn has become a grandfather twice over.

His daughter, Meredith, and her husband, Anwar Castillo, are parents to a baby boy, Axel Kennedy Castillo, born on Dec. 15, 2017.

Kennedy weighed 8.5 pounds. Meredith works at Hyster Yale in the Latin American division, and Anwar is getting his master’s at East Carolina University. Lee’s oldest, Trey, and his wife, Stephanie, just had a little girl, Nora Kathryn Quinn, born on Jan. 9, 2018. Nora weighed 7 pounds. Trey is a small-business banker for BB&T, and Stephanie is a neonatal nurse at Vidant. Lee is going to be called “Pops” and Pam is “Granna.” Lee’s youngest, Caleb, is currently in his fourth year at ECU. Lee is a physician assistant and partner at Greenville Health Care, a family practice/urgent-care facility in Greenville.

REBECCA DAMERON ’77 leading a Sierra Club trip to Denali National Park & Preserve in Alaska

WILLIAM PARRISH ’79 and his granddaughter Elle

Lee Horton ’74 NAMED A UNITED SOCCER NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR Lee Horton ’74, longtime coach of both boys and girls soccer at Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, was recognized by United Soccer Coaches (formerly National Soccer Coaches Association of America, or NSCAA) as both the Spring Atlantic Region Girls’ High School Coach of the Year and the National Girls’ High School Coach of the Year for private/parochial schools.

Horton said he was “humbled, excited and thankful” to receive this award, presented at the United Soccer Coaches Awards Banquet on Jan. 19, 2018, in Philadelphia.

Horton has been at Charlotte Latin since 1985. He is a five-time LEE HORTON ’74 honoree as Coach of the Year by the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association and was named Boys’ National Coach of the Year for private/parochial schools by the NSCAA in 2004.

He also led the Charlotte Lady Eagles, an elite amateur team in the now-defunct W-League of the United Soccer League, to the W2 National Championship in 2001 and a second-place finish in 2002 and was twice named their National Coach of the Year.

At Ravenscroft, Horton was an All-State midfielder and an All-American goalkeeper and went on to letter at UNC-Chapel Hill. He was inducted into our Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. He is also in the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame and the United Soccer Leagues Hall of Fame.

Summer 2018

37

CLASS NOTES

Our condolences to Margie Johnson Springer, whose mother passed away on Jan. 17, 2018.

1982

William Parrish became a grandfather to a baby

wmgaither@msn.com

girl, Elle, on Feb. 7, 2018. Olivia, Eric and Elle are doing great. William says that he and Martha are already trying to spoil her.

LEE QUINN ’79’s grandchildren, born just three weeks apart

BENJYE ROSE ’83 on his first day as director of social services for Durham County

All is well in Tom Rice’s world, he writes. While he is still in the middle of all of the craziness of Washington, D.C., and lobbying for a defense aeronautical manufacturer, he and his wife have started to think about where they will end up in retirement. After two years of searching, they decided to move from the boating community of Annapolis to horse country in The Plains, Virginia. They bought a small farm near one owned

by Robert Duvall. The house is 115 years old and “in need of everything,” he says. His Texan wife has taken up polo and would like to put longhorn steers and horses on the land, but first they need modern bathrooms! In the meantime, they both commute into D.C. at least three days a week. Tom pictures himself a gentleman farmer, but he is afraid that “Green Acres” is probably more accurate. Fortunately, both of his sons will be pursuing MBAs at the Wharton School in Philadelphia next year, which is the closest they’ve been to home in four years.

George Andrews reported that he has started a new residential project in Raleigh. He is also going fishing in the Florida Keys with a group of Ravenscroft guys.

Skipper Day’s son, Wilson ’11, married Haley Smith on April 21, 2018. Skipper served as Best Man.

ELIZABETH JONES DEMPSTER ’83 and daughter KATE ’18 with CAROLINE DAY PLUMMER ’83 and her daughter CARLEY ’18 on senior/mom trip to Now Onyx Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

As for me, I am still teaching 2-year-old preschool in Raleigh and loving it. My boys were freshmen this year and seemed to love it.

Remember, if you aren’t getting an email from me each month, then I don’t have your email address. I would love to add more classmates to my list. Let me know what is going on in your world.

R avenscroft magazine

Adam Jones shares that his book, “Fate Ball,” has been adapted into a screenplay and a director/ producer is interested. He says, “I’ll know in a few months if he buys the film rights. Search ‘Adam W. Jones’ on Amazon to get both of my books. My girls are 6 and 9 now… growing like weeds and attending Durham Academy. Yes, I had to get over that as a Raven. Life is good.

Love to all!”

1983 Caroline Day Plummer carolinedayplummer@gmail.com

Benjye Rose writes, “On Oct. 9, 2017, I started a new job as the director of social services for Durham County. I have served as a social service director for 27 years in the state of North Carolina, working in Chowan County, Cabarrus County and now Durham County.”

1988 Cathy Carlino ccarlino@carolina.rr.com

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is Oct. 5-6, 2018!

See p. 44 for details.

1991 Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, director of alumni activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

Sanna Bryant writes, “It was great to see some

Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, director of alumni activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

fellow Ravens at the Ravens on the Road in February here in Atlanta. I am still a project manager for the Healthcare Services practice at Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm. I am also still continuing my undergraduate degree at night at Georgia State University and will graduate this December.”

Emily Beahm Walser has joined Smith & Noble

1993

1980

Custom Window Treatments as an in-home designer in the Triangle. She says she would love to work with fellow Ravens to find them the perfect window treatment options. Contact her at ewalser@smithnoble.com.

38

William Gaither

David Rountree david.r@psychorockproductions.com

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is Oct. 5-6, 2018!

See p. 44 for details.

Kellie Falk ’81 NAMED IN TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS Kellie Falk ’81 has been named a Triangle Business Journal CEO of the Year, the publication announced in April 2018.

Falk, who is a partner at Drucker + Falk, the real estate management company founded by her grandfather and his partner 80 years ago, has been with the company since 1996 and served as principal and managing director since 2006.

“My philosophy is to try to create a place where good things can happen,” she said of her role at Drucker + Falk, which has 1,000 employees and oversees 30,000 apartments in the Southeast and Midwest. “It’s very personal, as there are many friends, family and peers that have lived in one of our properties in Raleigh over the past 48 years.”

Falk also serves as president of the North Carolina Apartment Association and is a frequent lecturer at industry events throughout the country. She has been recognized with multiple industry awards, including TBJ’s Top 40 for Real KELLIE FALK ’81 Estate and Construction, Women in Business, and the Triangle Leader Impact for Commercial Real Estate award.

Falk said she was “very honored” to receive a CEO of the Year Award because “it’s an award given by my peers.

You are nominated and voted by other community leaders, so that’s a huge honor,” she said. “Also, a part of me wishes my father was alive to share it with me.”

1995

2000

Jen Madison Snook

Melissa Warren Dougher

jmadison77@gmail.com

melissawdougher@gmail.com

Matt Cantando and his wife, Amy, welcomed a

Jeremy Bull has teamed up with Jeff Walker ’97 to resurrect Walker & Associates Landscaping, a full-service residential and commercial landscape company that they originally formed when they were students at Ravenscroft over 20 years ago.

baby girl, Emma, to their family on Feb. 12, 2018.

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

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is Oct. 5-6, 2018! See p. 44 for details.

1999 Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, director of alumni activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

2001 Emily Taylor Farrell emilyannefarrell@gmail.com

Meagan Matt Maddox says she and her family have been living in New Jersey and are looking forward to heading back to North Carolina and settling down in Charlotte very soon.

Six-year-olds Holden Longley, daughter of JACKIE BARNETT LONGLEY ’00, and Tommy Mullin, son of SARAH WISHON MULLIN ’00 and BILLY MULLIN ’99, who play rec-league basketball team together

Boz Zellinger has moved from the U.S. Attorney’s office and joined the North Carolina Attorney General’s office as a special prosecutor.

Summer 2018

39

CLASS NOTES

2002

2004

Alan Haydon

Gretchen Presnell Hyde GretchenPHyde@gmail.com Ashley Board ashleyboard@gmail.com

ahaydon@gmail.com

Katherine Cadwallader shares, “We just recently celebrated our first year of marriage! We have relocated to Atlanta, and I am now working for an incredible international conservation nonprofit, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, as the director of annual giving. I’m looking forward to traveling to Rwanda soon to see the gorillas in person!”

In early April, Alan Haydon decided to continue his career as a professional aviator with Delta Air Lines. He says, “I am based in Atlanta, flying the MD-88 throughout the Southeast, Midwest and some parts of the Northeast. I’m looking forward to running into fellow Ravens in an airport soon!”

SUZANNE MORGEN ’02 publishes new children’s novel

Suzanne Morgen has published her debut novel for children, “Inventors at No. 8,” under the pen name A.M. Morgen. Suzanne shares Amazon’s blurb about the book: “Brimming with mystery and treasure, this action-packed tale sends a boy in need of luck and girl in need of a friend on an adventure that will change their lives forever.” She adds, “And it’s available now in a bookstore near you!”

Sarah Gilleskie Hoverstad shares, “Eloise Adams Hoverstad was born on Dec. 19, 2017. She joined two very energetic brothers, James, 3, and Henry, 1 1/2.”

Taylor Greene just submitted his thesis, “Sir William Johnson, the Covenant Chain, and Eighteenth-Century British Imperial Patronage,” at NC State. He will graduate in May with a Master of Arts in History. He has an adjunct position lined up in the fall but says he hopes to end up in secondary education.

David Jones and his wife, Katie, just celebrated six years of marriage. Their sons, Braxton, 3, and Ryder, 2, are both healthy, joyful and full of energy. They’re enjoying life in Dallas. David continues to serve as the general manager for Booster Enterprises in north Texas and Oklahoma. Katie is investing her time with their local church and community.

Michael Cooper currently resides in New York City, where he has spent the past six and a half years working at BlackRock investment man-

John Chiulli ’04 WINS RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPETITION John Chiulli ’04, who just wrapped up his first year in the

MBA program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and teammates won first prize in an international renewable energy competition, held Dec. 1, 2017.

The University of Michigan Ross School of Business Renewable Energy Case Competition takes place in Ann Arbor, Michigan, each year. The RECC features MBA teams from top national and international business schools competing to solve challenges facing the renewable energy JOHN CHIULLI ’04, at right, with teammates from “Tyrannosaurus industry. The 2017 challenge was to create a plan for a Unbundled RECs” after winning the Ross School of Business Renewable mid-sized private food company to procure 100 percent Energy Case Competition on Dec. 1, 2017 of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

“Coming into the competition, each member of the team had a passion for energy and renewables and had volunteered for the case to learn more about the industry,” Chiulli explained. “The members of the Booth team came from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, including consulting, financial services, economic analysis, tech and engineering, and as such were able to provide a rich breadth of perspectives on the different issues facing the corporation.”

Chiulli has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and worked for Enercon, an engineering consulting firm in Atlanta, before moving to Chicago with his wife, Nicole. Energy continues to be his focus during the summer, as he recently started an internship in Tesla’s energy department, working on batteries for cars and energy storage devices.

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R avenscroft magazine

Classes with no notes submitted have been omitted. See Alumni at ravenscroft.org for class agents.

agement company and was recently promoted to vice president of acquisitions in the company’s Real Estate Private Equity Group, investing in and developing a wide array of residential and commercial properties on the East Coast from Washington, D.C., to Boston. For the past two years, Michael has also been an active member of the 40-and-under board of MakeA-Wish, where he contributes to the organization’s mission of granting wishes to children in the NYC metro area with life-threatening illnesses. Although he no longer lives in North Carolina, Michael still makes frequent visits to the Raleigh area to visit friends and family and to support his beloved Duke football and basketball teams. Michael’s mother, Roz Cooper, will celebrate her 25th anniversary as art teacher in Ravenscroft’s Middle School, where she continues to enjoy making a meaningful and lasting impact on the development of her students.

2005 Class Agent needed! If you are interested in serving, please email Tammy Haywood, director of alumni activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft.org.

Michael Penick ’05 and his wife, Robyn, welcomed Mary-Shepard Penick on Feb. 16, 2018.

Keith Pair ’05 and his wife, Katy, welcomed Anna Wilder Pair on March 17, 2018.

2006 Celeste Allen Chapman chapman.celeste@gmail.com

Bahati Mutisya is a second-year associate at Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP, in Raleigh.

She has a diverse legal practice that includes representing private businesses and local governments in regulatory matters and civil litigation. In her land-use practice, she assists municipalities with land-use regulation, advises real-estate developers on compliance with local zoning laws and defends developers in real-property litigation matters. Bahati also has a growing health-care practice, helping providers navigate complex legal and regulatory requirements. She recently published an article on the firm’s international business blog titled “Corporate Responsibility to Migrant Workers: Preventing Exploitation in Your Supply Chain.”

2008 Taylor Rankin tfr813@aol.com Lauren Miller Wieczorek lauren.m.wieczorek@gmail.com Casey Stevenson casey.stevenson0422@gmail.com Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is Oct. 5-6, 2018! See p. 44 for details.

Justin Cates writes, “I hope all is well with each of you. It’s crazy to me that our 10-year reunion is already here! As far as life goes, no complaints from me! I moved back to Raleigh in 2016 and met Lindsey, the love of my life. I transitioned from a career in finance to working as a sales rep out of RTP and couldn’t be happier with the move. We have a black lab and a golden retriever at home. Life is busy, but I feel very blessed to be here and to have what I do. I look forward to seeing everyone soon!”

Elise Dorsett and husband Marco Levati currently live in Boylan Heights in Raleigh. Elise works as the director of brand research and strategy at New Kind. She also teaches bilingual chair yoga at Alliance Medical Ministry, and she and Marco teach weekly tango classes at Cirque de Vol.

AMANDA RAXLIN ’09 and now-husband Joey Powell

2009

Greg Bicksler is living in Atlanta with his wife, Hilary, and dog, Taco.

DAVID JONES ’04 and family

Kathryn Fogartie katfogartie@gmail.com Jack Greenberg jack.d.greenberg@gmail.com Brian Rekuc is working for a software company in Dallas involved in the health and safety space for upstream oil and gas producers.

Amanda Raxlin married Joey Powell in Asheville on April 28, 2018.

2007 Rob Byrd robertgbyrd@gmail.com

In June, Caroline Fish graduated at the top of her class at St. John’s University School of Law in New York. Her first job post-bar will be as an associate in the New York City office of DLA Piper, LLP.

2010 Chase Bernhardt ccbern@umich.edu Tyson Presnell tcpresnell@gmail.com Natalie Salmonese natalie.salmonese@gmail.com Natalie Salmonese has moved to Portland, Oregon, and married Ian Williams on April 28, Summer 2018

41

CLASS NOTES

2018. She is in the second year of her MBA at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan–Flagler Business School.

Erica Arcudi writes, “In June of 2017, I graduated

WILSON DAY ’11, center, with his father, SKIPPER ’79, and fellow Ravens

from the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, where I was classically trained in drawing and oil painting. I continue to live in Florence, where I split my time between painting and instructing at the Academy. My Instagram is @ericaarcudifineart and my website is to come!”

2011 Patrick Bailey jpb693@gmail.com Zaki Haidary zakihaidary@gmail.com Allie Withers alliewithers@gmail.com Allison Powell is completing her doctorate in biomedical sciences at George Washington University. Allison’s research focuses on genetically engineering immune cells to fight HIV and cancer. She adds that she loves Washington, D.C.

MIKE HUTTER ’12 in DC with Capitol visitors KENNETH HAYWOOD ’85 and kids CLARKE ’21 and ANNA ’24

Reeves Zaytoun has been working in business development at Red Hat in downtown Raleigh for two and a half years. As a part of his job, Reeves has had the opportunity to travel abroad, including trips to Munich, Germany and Buenos Aires. In June of last year, Reeves became a first-time homeowner in Raleigh and is enjoying doing projects around the house.

Caroline Scales recently moved to New Bern, where she is an English teacher at an early college.

Margaret Edwards worked at Ravenscroft as a Spanish substitute teacher and track coach. She is moving to Chile in July 2018 to teach English for a year.

2014 Mary Grady Bell mgbell@live.unc.edu Humza Rizvi humzarizvi@gmail.com Vanessa May writes, “I am looking forward to moving to Washington, D.C., to start my career with Oracle as a business development consultant. I am excited for this next chapter!”

Kayla Reali is moving to New York to work for Third Bridge as an analyst.

as Best Man.

Jamie Mason is graduating from George Washington University in May.

2012

Matt McDowell writes, “I have been working at UNC Rex Healthcare in Raleigh as a patient care technician and am looking forward to starting the physician assistant program at East Carolina University beginning in August 2018.”

Angelika Barth is working toward an M.S. in nursing at Duke University.

Mike Hutter is in his second year of law school at University of Pittsburgh. He is currently an intern at Congressman George Holding ’86’s office in Washington, D.C. R avenscroft magazine

Kelsey Hill graduated from Clemson University in May 2017 with B.S. degrees in psychology and marketing. She is now the marketing director of the Magnolia Mall in Florence, South Carolina, and has five dogs!

JT Fritsch is graduating from UNC-Wilmington

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

42

Emily Bedsole ebedsole2@gmail.com Bryant Dowd bd45fb@gmail.com Thomas Sigmon thomasigmon@gmail.com

Wilson Day married Haley Smith on April 21, 2018. The wedding party included Chad Day ’07,

Bo Andrews ’09, Reeves Zaytoun ’11, Jamie Herakovich ’14, and Wilson’s father, Skipper Day ’79,

VANESSA MAY ’14

2013

in May.

Thomas Matthews is moving to Washington, D.C., to conduct research at Georgetown University.

Rachel Hianik graduated from Davidson College in May and has a one-year fellowship at the Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute doing medical ethics research. She plans to apply to medical school for the following year.

2015 Mykayla Perry mperry52@uncc.edu Rebecca Qubain rqubain@purdue.edu Alex Woodward awoodward322@gmail.com Nina Barnett shares, “I have officially launched Grooop in the App Store! I was also asked to be

a presenter at the ASU + GSV Summit alongside keynote speakers such as John Legend, Deborah Quazzo, former President George W. Bush and others.”

Rebecca Qubain writes, “This summer, I will be working as a sales and marketing intern for Scholle IPN, a packaging company in Northlake, Illinois.”

Michael John Malone won the award for “Most Active” in the junior class for his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, at the University of Alabama. He also handles the social media for his fraternity.

Mel Broughton was recognized with the 2017-18 “Athlete of Character Award” by the Flagler College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Mel is goalkeeper for the Flagler Saints soccer team.

2016 Henry Atkeson henry.atkeson@gmail.com Emerson Burkhardt burkhardt.emerson@gmail.com Megan Ragusa meragusa@yahoo.com Lucy Russell lucyrussell414@gmail.com Zoe Strafford-Price classagents2020@gmail.com

Lauren Walsh was crowned “Miss Clayton 2018” on March 3, 2018.

Stratton Lindenmuth won the award for “Most Active” in the sophomore class for his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, at the University of Alabama.

Chloe Mikles, a sophomore at Cornell University, spent the spring semester in Hawaii and the San Juan Islands, Washington, studying coral reef health and humpback whale migration.

Jonathan Marlowe writes, “I have been attending Hampton University for the past two years and will start pharmacy school here next fall.”

MEL BROUGHTON ’15 recognized for outstanding character by Flagler College athletics

Andrew Pruden is a cadet at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. He had dinner with Ryan ’09 and Lindsay Cowher Kelly ’09 in Seville, Spain, in March and watched Ryan play basketball for Real Betis Energía Plus.

Continuing a tradition started at Ravenscroft, Henry Atkeson participated in the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser for childhood cancer, shaving his head March 25, 2018, as part of an effort by Amherst College Football.

ANDREW PRUDEN ’16 in Seville, Spain, with RYAN KELLY ’09

Dewayne Washington II ’16’s “COLLEGETICKPIC” APP WINS UNIVERSITY’S BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION On April 11, 2018, Dewayne Washington II ’16 won the 2018 University of Miami Business Plan Competition for developing and launching an app that makes it easier for college students to resolve their parking tickets. Washington and his business partner, Josh Johnson, were awarded $10,000, plus a $1,500 award for Best Presentation.

The app, CollegeTickPic, grew out of an experience Washington had that affects many college students: expensive campus parking tickets.

“I did what any college student would do and contacted my parents to receive help,” he said. “They gave me advice that I did not want to hear but DEWAYNE WASHINGTON II ’16, AT RIGHT, with needed to hear: ‘Figure it out.’ So I did, not only for myself but for every partner Josh Johnson after winning the 2018 college student at the University of Miami and Florida International University.”

University of Miami Business Plan Competition Users pay a monthly fee for the service, which allows them to submit a photo of any parking ticket they receive, pay $5, and have the ticket paid for — promptly.

“CollegeTickPic finances parking tickets for college students. Instead of paying a large lump of money for unforeseen expenses, students can now budget and prepare for this expense,” Washington said. “The app was received well, getting 2,000 downloads within the first month.”

Washington and Johnson plan to invest their prize money in upgrading the app’s user interface, adding some new features and expanding its use to all of the universities in Florida. Their goal is 20,000 active users by the end of 2018.

Follow them on Twitter at @collegetickpic.

Summer 2018

43

CLASS NOTES

Natalie Hianik is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill and is a manager with their women’s lacrosse team. She has an internship with the Chicago Cubs this summer.

2017

Save the Date for Homecoming/ Reunion Weekend 2018

Douglas Dillon douglaswdillon@gmail.com Jordan Parham jparham2@me.com Jaxon Stocks jaxson.stocks@gmail.com Natasha Zaletel natasha99@mac.com

In her freshman year at Oxford, Allison Arber received a letter of commendation from the senior tutor regarding her collections (exams) at the beginning of this term. She adds, “I am still loving Oxford and having a wonderful time! I could not be happier.”

Jordan Parham participated in the University of South Carolina Dance Marathon, dancing for 14 hours to help raise over $1 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

LEGACY LUNCH

FRIDAY, 10/5 Alumni Association Annual Meeting Luncheon Homecoming Games begin at 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, 10/6 Class Reunions All-Alumni Ravenscroft Rendezvous at Pugh Pond Stay tuned for the full lineup of activities! See p. 3 for details on our Embrace Possibility celebration.

Reunion classes are 1978, 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2008. Please contact Tammy Haywood, director of alumni activities, at thaywood@ravenscroft. org to learn more or get involved in planning.

Visit www.ravenscroft.org to learn more.

Ravenscroft alumni joined their children and grandchildren for the annual Legacy Lunch on Feb. 7, 2018.

Attendees included (pictured at left, l to r) KATE JOHNSON FONVILLE ’65, granddaughter MARGARET EDWARDS ’13, daughter MARY BURR FONVILLE EDWARDS ’85 and grandson VAL EDWARDS ’19.

IN MEMORIAM Marriott Procter Little ’47 INDUCTED INTO FINE ARTS HALL OF FAME Tucker Street alumna and prolific visual artist Marriott Procter Little ’47 (seen here with Head of School Doreen Kelly and Alumni Council president Scott Manning ’03) was inducted into Ravenscroft’s Fine Arts Hall of Fame on May 2, with her family and many friends in attendance.

Enjoy our Center Stage article exploring Little’s varied and successful career in art on p. 32.

Charlotte Anderson Straney, Tucker Street alumna, passed away on March 25, 2018.

John Browning ’80 passed away on April 8, 2018.

Bobby Jenkins ’87 passed away on April 18, 2018.

PEN PAL BREAKFAST

Alumni joined their fourth-grade pen pals for breakfast on May 18, 2018, to celebrate their year of sharing through letters. Attendees included (clockwise from top right) JOHN PARHAM ’84, ELIZABETH COZART ’77, JUNE SMALL ’66 and PENNY ABRAHAMS ROGERS ’93.

Summer 2018

45

CLASS NOTES

SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE ALUMNI EVENTS Aug. 10, 2018: Alumni vs. Varsity Soccer Scrimmage Oct. 5, 2018: Alumni Association Annual Meeting Oct. 6, 2018: All-Alumni Party - Ravenscroft Rendezvous Nov. 20, 2018: Alumni Mix & Mingle during Varsity Basketball Games Nov. 23, 2018: Alumni Boys Lacrosse Game

JOIN RAVENSCROFT ATHLETICS FOR A FULL LINE-UP OF HOMECOMING GAMES ON OCT. 5: MS Volleyball: 3:45 p.m.

MS Soccer: 4 p.m.

JV Soccer: 4:15 p.m.

JV Volleyball: 4:45 p.m.

KEN MARSH ’75, JAXSON STOCKS ’17 and SAHIB SINGH ’17 at the 2017 Ravenscroft Rendezvous

Varsity Soccer: 5:30 p.m.

Varsity Volleyball: 6 p.m.

Football: 7:30 p.m.

Ravens on the Road at Ormsby’s in Atlanta, Feb. 12, 2018: (l to r) BILLY HOWARD ’73, SANNA BRYANT ’91, SUSAN HARRIS WEST ’73 and STEVE NIELSEN ’76; not pictured, ANN BARNETT ’12

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WELCOME TO OUR NEW 2018 CLASS AGENTS Camilo Corrales Gil camicorrales@hotmail.com Bella Church bella.g.church@gmail.com RuthAnne Winston rbw.1999@gmail.com Dasha Teyf dashateyf@live.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 37 LIFERS GRADUATING IN THE CLASS OF 2018!

First row (seated): Matthew Silver, Carley Plummer, Kate Dempster, Caroline Bardini; second row (standing): Arman Dillard, Cole Malone, David Russo, Nevin Jonson, Madison Taylor, Caroline Crumpler, Cayla Belcea, Leah Horton; third row (on equipment): Andrew Kloster, Chase Tickle, Braxton Sandman, James Castleman, Tate Russell, Bennett Phillips, Caroline Vande Berg, Cole Hudson, Hannah Ramusevic, Lily Sykes, Bella Church, Ally Tannenbaum, Batu Tomac, RuthAnne Winston, Sydney Schiff, Sammie Kim, Julia da Roza, Madison Hunt, Wolt Knudsen, Stevie Cummins, Georgia Vernal, Kaitlin Ramsden, Madeline Zucker, Ashley Zucker. Not pictured: Weldon DeMent

Summer 2018

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RAVENSCROFT REWIND A look back in time in Ravens history

When Computer Science Was New

T

HE REDESIGN OF RAVENSCROFT’S

Library Technology Center into the Keim Center for Innovation and Research (see story on p. 10) got us thinking about the birth of computer science as a curriculum at Ravenscroft.

According to Debbie Pirotte, Upper School registrar, who has access to archived curriculum guides, “the first year computer courses were offered was 1989-90, with Computer Science I, a semester-long course; AP

Computer Science, which was yearlong; and Computer Applications, another semester course,” she said.

“I don’t have any statistics on how many students enrolled that first year, or if all of those courses were actually taught. The first year we had kids take the AP Computer Science exam was 1992, and that was only two students.”

Computers don’t pop up in our other archival source — photos in

Upper School students in the 1990-91 school year take advantage of the latest computer technology

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“Corvus,” Ravenscroft’s yearbook — until the 1991 edition. Which means the members of the Class of 1991 were destined to become technology trendsetters, going from desk-smothering personal computers (complete with floppy-disk drives and eyekilling black screens) to touchscreens, smart watches and Alexa… and the game-changing technology coming to the Keim Center in Fall 2018. Onward!

“Corvus” faculty advisor Angela Connor with a black-screened personal computer on the desk behind her, circa 1990

A Legacy of Giving Charlotte A. Straney’s Bequests Reflect Her Passion for Helping People

CHARLOTTE ANDERSON STRANEY ’64

had a gift for bringing people together.

Whether she was gathering her high school classmates for reunions or endowing a scholarship for the Eastern Music Festival, which draws gifted musicians from across the county each summer, Straney revelled in community and fellowship.

(And dancing — she loved dancing.)

“She was all about living life to the fullest and with great joy,” said Charlotte Atkinson Sweeney, who first met Straney in kindergarten at Tucker Street. “We just had such a wonderful time together. She was the glue that held our high school class together.”

CHARLOTTE ANDERSON STRANEY ’64 “Her skills and talent were in organization,” said Straney’s brother, Glenn “Chip” Anderson ’55. “She served on a lot of committees and did a lot of volunteer work.

She enjoyed spending time helping people.”

Straney, who passed away March 25, made those passions her legacy through generous bequests to institutions she loved: Greensboro College, where her grandfather was once the business manager; the Friends Center at Guilford College, where she served for 11 years as executive secretary to President Bill Rogers; the Eastern Music Festival, where she and Sweeney endowed a scholarship; and Ravenscroft, which she attended as a girl at its downtown location.

“We really enjoyed the small classes,” Anderson said about his time at Tucker Street, which preceded Straney’s matriculation. “All of us spent a lot of time together, and we still have those relationships today — and I’m 80!”

That affection for Ravenscroft led to the family’s establishing in 2013 the Anderson Family Legacy Scholarship, which provides financial aid to children of alumni. Straney’s gift was directed to that fund because she wanted to share the joys of a Ravenscroft experience with other families.

“She did things like that that were well thought-out,” Sweeney said of Straney’s planned giving.

“She did that for others. And she drew me in as well, giving money to causes we cared about.”

The Josiah Ogden Watson Society was established to honor and recognize those individuals who have included Ravenscroft in their estate plans.

To establish a new gift or add to an existing plan, contact Phil Higginson, assistant head of school for institutional advancement. phigginson@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.

Art from Roz Cooper’s Middle School classes: at left,“Coy Fish” by Sophie Thomas ’23, stained glass; and “The Giraffe With Attitude” by Jack Shimer ’23, scratchboard design

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