the bulletin - Spring 2022

the bulletin S T O N E L E I G H - B U R N H A M S C H O O L A LU M N A E M A G A Z I N E

A GLOBAL VIEW

SPRING 2022

EDUCATIONIDENTITYCOMMUNITYCULTURE

contents

SPRING 2022

FEATURES

06

A Q & A with Miriam Przybyla-Baum

How IB broadens perspective for the School and our Students.

07

A Vision for Admissions

Mara G. Kohls discusses strategic thinking on building a student body.

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

For the Spring 2022 issue of the bulletin, the editorial team struggled with choosing between two different representations of A Global View. Hence, we have printed a split run with two different covers. We encourage everyone to visit sbschool.org/ twocovers to learn about both magazine covers and vote on their favorite.

We look forward to hearing from you.

08

Pedal to the Metal

12

Ashely Girard ‘02 melds good food with good business.

Her Truth

Chinwe Okorie’s ‘13 journey from Lagos to Greenfield and well beyond.

IN EVERY ISSUE 01

Letter from the Head of School Global Views

02

Around Campus

14

Class Notes

16

In Memoriam

17

Coda A Global View is Forever Work.

STAY CONNECTED WITH SBS. Tag us on social media! Use the hashtag #SBSOwlsForLife Instagram.com/sbschool Instagram.com/StoneleighBurnhamAlumnae Instagram.com/SBSequestrian

Vimeo.com/StoneleighBurnham

@sbschoolorg

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SC HOOL

GLOBAL VIEWS I’ve always loved jigsaw puzzles, and one that I recently completed was a wonderfully hard map of the world in intricately shaped pieces, each one unique. There were no distinguishing marks or labels for countries; land masses and bodies of water, clouds and polar ice were shown in rich natural colors, as if from space. The box’s picture was intentionally incomplete.

And the toughest part? There were no edge pieces, no “straight lines” by which to easily navigate. To complete the puzzle, one had to first connect pieces in small groups built from recognizable features, and then work to see patterns in those groups that could be built into the continents and oceans. Along the way to completion, I became aware that I needed to have a view of the entire world in my mind, even as I tried to connect small and nearly indistinguishable pieces together.

Life in a boarding school like StoneleighBurnham, even one with many day students and staff, shares some qualities of this puzzle. We live together for months at a time, intensely focused on supporting each other, our learning, our teaching, and our shared mission. This is a beautiful and special way to live, but the last two years have consistently reminded us that we are inseparably connected to the larger community outside of campus and indeed to the rest of the world. Having a “global view” is a part of our mission. We specifically state that we are a school that “fosters an international perspective.” Moreover, the voices of our current student body and many from our broad community of supportive alumnae speak about their belief that engagement with the larger world is essential to living a life that brings both individual success and positive change through service to a cause.

However, a global view is far more than an international perspective.

It is, fundamentally, our ability to lift our vision from our intense day-today efforts and see in all directions, including the past, present and future.

We work within a larger, shifting, and complicated context: a world wide pandemic, the need for authentic social justice and equity, the opportunities and consequences brought about by changes in technology, the effects of climate change and its human causes, and social and political polarization.

Every day we are helping our students prepare for success and positive contribution in the complex, changing world that they will enter when they

move on to college and careers, and to do so we need a vision for our school that honors our rich and diverse past and also prepares us for decades to come.

In this issue of the bulletin, you will find some of the pieces of Stoneleigh-Burnham’s global view. The everyday individual achievements of the students and adults in our community are uplifting and fascinating, but it is the ways in which they are connected to each other, and to the larger world, that is truly special.

Stephanie Luebbers Head of School

Facebook.com/sbschool Facebook.com/StoneleighBurnhamAlumnae Facebook.com/sbsequestrian

@sbsconnect.org

the bulletin | Spring 2022

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A RO U N D C A M P U S

WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE

EDITORS

WEBSITE REFRESH THIS SPRING

Charles L. Greene II

Director of Marketing and Communications

Susan Mattei

Director of Development & Alumnae Relations

Kathleen Tuck Fontaine ’83

Assistant Director of Development & Alumnae Relations EDITORIAL BOARD

Virtual visitors to the school will soon be treated to a new and improved website. The needs of the school have continued to evolve, as have the expectations of our potential families visiting the website for information on the School and our programs.

Director of International Admissions, Marketing & Communications Coordinator Brittany Weiss has overseen the herculean effort of

Stephanie Luebbers

implementing the new website with the help of web developers

Head of School

SoSimple. When asked what prompted the move to update the website

Amanda Mozea

Brittany responded, “The new site will give our team the ability to

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Brittany M. Weiss

Director of International Admissions & Marketing & Communications Coordinator A DV I S O RY G RO U P

better create and manage content, integrate with our global marketing programs, and create a more accessible and engaging experience for our visitors.”

The new website will easily provide translations for our many international visitors to the site, as well as improved accessiblity.

Sam Sattin-Torres ’08

Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Cole Whitaker

Carolyn Flowers Retires

Sharon Weyers P’13

FOR OVER 40 YEARS, the Stoneleigh-

Assistant to Head of School & Special Projects Manager Director of Financial Aid & Director of Day Student Admissions CONTRIBUTORS

Mara G. Kohls

Director of Enrollment Management DESIGN

Penny Michalak PHOTOGRAPHY

Matthew Cavanaugh

Matthew Cavanaugh Photography

the bulletin is published two times a year by Stoneleigh-Burnham School, 574 Bernardston Road, Greenfield, MA 01301. Printed by Hadley Printing, Holyoke, MA on 10% post-consumer recycled FSC certified paper with vegetable-based inks We’d like to know what you think!

Do you have story ideas? Send comments on the bulletin and story ideas to communications@sbschool.org Change of address?

Please send change of address to alumnae@sbschool.org or on website at sbschool.org/alumnae

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Stoneleigh-Burnham School

Burnham community has been able to count on the warm and friendly presence of Carolyn Flowers, who started working at the reception desk in February 1981.

Over the many decades, she has seen many faces come and go, both students, employees, and the many guests who walked through the doors to visit our community. Through it all she recalls how welcoming Stoneleigh-Burnham has always been. “Even when there were more boarders and fewer people walking past reception every day, the students have always been wonderful.

I was working here when I bought my first house and had my daughter as well.

Some of my favorite memories have come while being part of StoneleighBurnham.”

Head of School Stephanie Luebbers, in a communication to the school regarding Carolyn’s

retirement, says “While I was sad to learn of Carolyn’s decision, I am so happy that she will get more time to do the things that mean the very most to her—spend time with family, work in her gardens, and begin more art projects.”

Carolyn’s last official day of work was January 17. While the school was able to gather at Housemeeting to say goodbye, at Carolyn’s request, we will celebrate her and her dedicated service to SBS in the spring when we can gather together outside.

Thank you again Carolyn, and congratulations on your well deserved retirement. Please join us in wishing Carolyn the very best!

A RO U N D C A M P U S

Performing Arts on Campus

ON DECEMBER 17 the

Stoneleigh-Burnham Performing Arts Department hosted their annual Winter Solstice Concert. This year’s presentation included a wide variety of exciting performances from roughly

70 student instrumentalists, singers, and dancers. Student music performances from Big Band, Chamber Music, Octet, Middle and Upper School Chorus, and Voice Studio entertained an audience of faculty and friends with a mix

of holiday, traditional, and popular music. In addition to the group performances, there were also two beautiful solo performances by Nick ’23 singing Ave Maria and Breanna ’22 singing I Have Nothing.

The second half of the show was dedicated to our amazing dancers and featured several studentchoreographed pieces such as Radio Silence, Ainsley ’23; Low Low, Yuzelin (Judy) ’24; Jenny, Stella ’23;

and Moon, Ruoya (Doreen) ’25. The final dance of the show was performed by our Advanced Dance group. The piece was titled Excerpt from “Giselle”, taking music from the famous ghost-filled ballet and included none other than our beloved history teacher Alex Loud as Hilarion.

While audience numbers were limited in an effort to keep the the community safe during the ongoing pandemic, the enthusiasm for the program was palpable.

the bulletin | Spring 2022

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A RO U N D C A M P U S

Dressage

A

IS BAC K!

fter a nearly 20 year absence, the Stoneleigh-Burnham Equestrian team is featuring dressage as part of the School riding program. For those who know the program well, this seems only fitting given the history of the school. Says Coach and Program Director, George Halkett, “Stoneleigh-Burnham has always been known as having an outstanding riding program, and yet our Dressage program took a hit some years ago and it has taken a bit of time to bring it back.”

When asked what makes for a great Dressage program, George was quite clear that the strength of the program is really about everyone involved, citing his team working in the barn, the commitment of the School to maintaining an elite program, and of course the riders themselves.

This year, in particular, StoneleighBurnham is fortunate to have a particularly strong group of riders who have their

sights set on competing at Nationals.

Six riders qualified for the Regional IEA Dressage Championships on March 6, with three riders McKenna ‘22, Ava ‘25, and Josie ‘22, advancing individually to Nationals. The team finished as the Reserved Regional Champions, with two points separating them from the championship team.

“It was a real nail-biter. Every class, and with every rider, the lead was changing back and forth. It all boiled down to the last class of the day. They rode the best they’ve ever ridden.” said George Halkett, Director of the Equestrian Center.

Congratulations to the entire Dressage team on an outstanding showing. IEA Nationals will take place in Pennsylvania from April 28th to May 1st. We look forward to reporting on the success of our riders in the fall issue of the bulletin.

“

The School is really well represented by our riders. They are really outstanding and dedicated young people and having a strong [Dressage] program speaks to the work they have been willing to do.

— George Halkett, Director of the Equestrian Center

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Stoneleigh-Burnham School

”

Fitness Center

UPDATED AND EXPANDED

A RO U N D C A M P U S

THE SBS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, Scott Gray, has made a tagline out of the phrase “healthy mind in a healthy body. ”As a community, StoneleighBurnham has always been committed to wellness, with that commitment more important than ever as we live through another pandemic year.

Renovating and expanding the Fitness Center was initially announced in 2014 as part of the School’s Bridge Fund Initiative. Immediately, past Board Chair Lynn Schultz Kehoe ’77 was the lead donor on the Fitness Center project. When asked what inspired her to give to this project, Lynn’s answer was simple; the students deserved more. “The area the girls had to use wasn’t really up to the standard it should be and so giving them an area to work out that I too wanted to use was the real motivation for me.”

Stoneleigh-Burnham is fortunate enough to be the greatest recipient of Kehoe’s philanthropic support and she says that to her, supporting SBS means “I can see directly the impact I have on the well-being, enjoyment and education SBS students get from every dollar of my donation. I believe strongly in the value, benefit and mission of SBS.” A benefit and mission she knows well as an alumna and former Board Chair.

Kehoe inspired many others to donate to the project as well, like Dr. Denise Bruner ’70 and her husband Paul Schipper. In 2019 Bruner and Schipper pledged a matching major gift that was met with a tremendous response from others and ultimately led to the completion of the fundraising goal and turned into the “Bruner Family Athletic Training Room.” Generous lead gifts were also made by Courtney Babcock Borntraeger ’70 and Darcy McCormick Tarbell ’70. In addition, SBS received leadership support from Melissa McKallagat Shorey ’96, the Maureen McCarthey Foundation, and the AEC Trust.

Yoga WITH DAISY-DIANE SUEIRAS IN THE 2021-2022 school year, StoneleighBurnham hired a handful of highly qualified and enthusiastic faculty members. One such addition is Middle School science faculty member Daisy-Diane Sueiras.

Every Thursday since the start of the academic year, Daisy-Diane has offered students the opportunity to join her as she leads a yoga class during afternoon athletics. The particular training program that Daisy-Diane received her certification through a training program that focuses on “preparing instructors not only for yoga but social-emotional learning as well.”

Daisy-Diane’s commitment to young people brought her yoga class to the School. She tells her yoga classes that," by being present in your body you are able to be better present in everything you do.”

the bulletin | Spring 2022

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FAC U LT Y P E R S P E C T I V E

The IB Minute, Global View, and Stoneleigh-Burnham Ethos Q & A WITH MIRIAM PRZYBYLA-BAUM

We want to weave the IB approach to thinking into the daily way we think about our school so that everyone understands there isn’t one right way to learn.

We are also coming from different cultures and languages. The exciting part is that because this is IB, students and teachers are doing the same thing on the other side of the globe, 6 hours before us or 12 hours ahead of us. That is a pretty cool thing.

So, how long have we been an IB School, and is it working?

I

had a moment to sit down and chat with Miriam Przybyla-Baum, Language Department Chair, and IB Diploma Programme Coordinator. We discussed the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) and its impact on global perspective-taking at Stoneleigh-Burnham.

How do you think the IB program impacts education and learning at the entire institution?

There are several ways I could answer that question. One thing that comes to mind is the IB Minute presentations we do during Housemeeting. We have been educating our entire community on what it means to be an IB School and trying to do it in a fun and engaging way. When we have our students make presentations on Theory of Knowledge and what they are working on, we want all of our students to have the impression that everyone can do the IB. We are doing the same thing when we put the IB Minute content in the Snapshot, the weekly newsletter for parents.

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We are currently teaching the 10th cohort. As for your second question, again, I could answer yes, it works from many different angles.

As a parent, I think about my daughter, a sophomore at Brandeis, who did well here with the IB program.

She is on track to finish early because of her IB experience, saving me some money. (laughs) She is finally taking a French class, and she has done well in that class. She is also looking at study abroad programs. Her advisor asked how she had done so well in the class.

My daughter’s response was, “Well, I went to an IB school.” Her advisor didn’t have to ask any more questions after that. It makes sense to professionals in higher education that IB students are well prepared for college work. As a parent, I think it is cool that my daughter is potentially getting to do an internship in her second language. What she learned here was how to engage her learning. She learned to think creatively. She learned to think metacognitively. These things are how we want to set our students up for

life. We want the students to know there are many ways to think about learning and knowledge. Our IB curriculum helps us do that.

Another cool thing is that the education here at Stoneleigh-Burnham is often interwoven unintentionally. For example, when I was teaching Carmen in my class, Cat Wagner, our dance instructor, had an outside instructor coming into her class to teach flamenco. I got to go in and observe this teaching of flamenco so that I could understand the culture a little better.

I don’t think that happens in other programs that might be more compartmentalized.

Before I go, I want to talk about the IB program’s Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component. I wonder how CAS impacts our community on campus?

CAS is really about getting the students to engage the community around them, outside of and beyond the classroom and themselves.

IB is great because it constantly gets you to think about things beyond your borders. For CAS, the pandemic has impacted the ability of our students to engage in community service in the way we have in the past, but it will bounce back. Community service is built into the ethos of the School. Even when we ask our students to engage locally through community service, we still push them to engage in real issues that impact the entire world. And this is pretty cool too.

BY CHARLES L. GREENE II, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

BY MARA G. KOHLS, DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

Building a School, Developing Voices THE NEW ADMISSIONS GUIDEPOSTS

evaluate our applicants. Our students are multi-dimensional learners, aspirational leaders, and committed community members.

Multi-dimensional learner: The SBS

student community is filled with students who find joy in learning and are eager and curious. They have multiple interests and fully engage with their faculty and classmates. They also seek out and leverage resources when needed.

Aspirational leader: Our students

“Speak, even though your voice shakes.”

Attributed to elder rights activist Maggie Kuhn, the quote above lives on my refrigerator at home. We all have experienced moments where we were challenged to speak and courageously did so, creating confidence and strength one moment at a time. Stoneleigh-Burnham prides itself on creating and providing ubiquitous moments where voices shake, courage builds, and confidence thrives.

And data show that voice development for women of all ages is transformational for the individual, companies and organizations, governments, and more significant societal and global priorities.

The Admissions Office is committed to building a student community that brings together voices from many different backgrounds, experiences, countries, and perspectives. Based on a 2020 faculty survey, we have created three guideposts that exemplify today’s Stoneleigh-Burnham students. We will use these as the lenses through which we

proactively craft each step of their educational journey. Some take small risks and steps, and others go all in.

Developing a voice requires courage, and SBS provides a nurturing space for all of our students to be courageous in their own space and time while also being supportive, empathetic, and encouraging of others.

Committed community member:

Our students celebrate differences, practice inclusion, and listen to others’ views and perspectives without judgment.

We raise each other up and seek opportunities to improve ourselves and the world by learning from each other.

VALUE OF WOMENS’ VOICES It is estimated that companies with three or more women in senior management functions score higher in all dimensions of organizational effectiveness.

(UN Women’s Facts and Figures: Economic Empowerment)

Each of these guideposts is intentionally broad yet specific. They help provide a framework around how we talk about our students, and you will see

something familiar that resonates with your own experience. Students can come from any background, city or town, domestic or abroad, and exemplify these characteristics.

How You Can Help

You will begin to hear these terms more frequently. We hope that our entire SBS family will not only commit them to memory but recognize when they see someone who wears these traits and might be looking for an educational home to shape and mold themselves into their best selves. I guess that you know someone or know of an organization that understands and buys into our mission. There are three key ways you can help us.

First, talk about us at any given opportunity, whether it is with a friend, a family member and even on social media.

Help us get the word out. Second, make introductions for us. Is there a school in your town whose mission aligns with ours? Is there a family you know who is exploring boarding school? Are there organizations in your city whose mission is to empower young girls? Help us build our network by connecting us. And finally, I would love to meet you where you are.

I want to hear your stories, learn from your experiences and hear your ideas for building the next generation of empowered Stoneleigh-Burnham students.

If I have learned anything from my first few months here, it is that StoneleighBurnham is THE home for students looking to learn and grow. They immerse themselves in an environment that expects and encourages risk-taking, courageously using their shaky voices and growing into leaders of their own making.

It is an honor and privilege to work here, and I look forward to meeting you.

Do not hesitate to contact me directly at mkohls@sbschool.org to arrange for a chat. the bulletin | Spring 2022

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A LU M N A S P O T L I G H T

Ashley Girard ’02

Pedal to the Metal

BY SUSAN MATTEI

While growing up in Turners Falls, MA, the next town over from Greenfield, Ashley Girard ’02 took it upon herself to pursue an education at Stoneleigh-Burnham. Her parents told her they could fund her SBS education or college, but not both.

She said, “I chose the all-girls high school, knowing that my experience there would be a down payment for a happier future.”

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Stoneleigh-Burnham School

Ashley continued, “At SBS I would do sports and school and theater full time, and then work on the weekends. I wanted to make the most of each day.”

While at SBS, she was one of a handful of students who had jobs, even washing her classmates’ dishes on the weekends. At the age of 16, she was a “Subway Sandwich Artist” at the chain’s local restaurant. “It paid off,” she said, “I was the first person in my family to graduate from a private, four-year college.” It wasn’t easy.

During her junior year at Northeastern University, she had to undergo open-heart surgery to repair a rare and extremely lifethreatening congenital defect. Despite that setback, she ran the Boston Marathon less than a year later and went on to earn a BS in Communication and Media Studies with a minor in Macroeconomic Theory from Northeastern University.

After working fifteen years in marketing for iconic brands such as TechStyle, Puma, K-Swiss, and Rue La La, Ashley found herself without a job in December 2020 during the COVID pandemic. She said it gave her the time and the motivation to follow her entrepreneurial spirit.

This past October, a shiny new trailer that was custom designed with a functional, clean aesthetic, rolled onto a Southern California beach, and – poof – Ashley Girard’s self-funded startup, Welly’s Wellness, Inc., was officially in business. Not only is her trailer up and running, but snacks, merchandise, and combo packages are sold through the company website at wellyswellness.com.

Through her marketing and tech skills, passion, and a spirit for partnership, Ashley created what may be the world’s first healthy-food convenience store on wheels. The patent is pending for Welly’s self-contained mobile retail storefront.

Welly’s Wellness sells healthy graband-go snacks and drinks. One hundred percent of the company’s products are curated as natural and organic as possible.

According to its founder, the company offers tasty mushroom jerky, yummy natural sodas, and crunchy parmesan cheese crisps.

Ashley said, “Our snacks have tons of nutritional benefits. Think of your typical junk food items, but without the junk ingredients.”

Self-funded and with more than 30 brand partners providing healthy snacks, Welly’s Wellness launched its first trailer within 90 days. Ashley reported that the very first unit had met projections in terms of transactions, average order value, and selling days. The company was

(above) Ashley Girard ’02 launched Welly’s Wellness in October 2021. (left) The company’s patent-pending mobile self-contained storefront. Think healthy 7-Eleven, but on wheels!

founded as an owner-operated franchise opportunity. The first two trailers will fund the third, and so on. The plan is to quickly scale from there: 200 trailers in three years and 1,000 in five years.

The second Welly’s Wellness shop plans to open soon and will be owned by a good friend, who will start small on the Connecticut shoreline before heading to Brooklyn and the other Boroughs of New York City.

“

There is no reason why good food shouldn’t be affordable.” the bulletin | Spring 2022

9

“

I believe you are the company that you keep, and your network is your net worth.”

WELLNESS ON WHEELS “There is no reason why good food shouldn’t be affordable. People like to discover things and try something new.

These are grab and go, fun snacks. I believe that healthy food should be affordable and accessible for all. Welly’s is like a healthy 7-Eleven on wheels.

And with at least 50% of my food partners are women or BIPOC brands.

I personally choose the types of brands I support.”

She’s optimistic about bringing healthy snacks to high-traffic areas like horse shows, professional sports stadiums, college campuses, and innercity neighborhoods. “My research shows that 60% of the U.S. population routinely shops at convenience stores as their primary source of groceries.”

The company plans to accept the federal nutrition assistance program known as SNAP, and has an application in process.

A LITTLE HELP FROM HER FRIENDS When asked where her courage and enthusiasm came from to take this on, Ashley said, “Tenacity – I want to push forward and do the right thing. A lot of that I developed at SBS.” All this is a lot to take on, but from the very beginning, Ashley has relied on a valuable network she had built throughout her career. During the planning period for her start-up, she also became involved as co-chair of

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the Los Angeles chapter of the SoGal Foundation, which fosters diverse founders and funders. On her LinkedIn profile she writes, “I believe you are the company that you keep, and your network is your net worth.”

Ashley said she has gotten tremendous support from “my best SBS friends.” Erika Lovely Reynoso ’02 and her daughter Poppy are the T-shirt models for the Welly’s Wellness website.

Juliana Clark ’02, Sara Dugas ’02, Leigh Martin LaGrant ’02, Amanda Macchi ’02, Joyhdae Albert ’01, and Mary Dooley ’03 have all given ideas, tips, and insights. Mollie Sitkin ’02 is involved. Her fifth generation, familyowned organic walnut farm Old Dog Ranch is supplying snacks. McKenzie Rollins ’01 helped make it possible for the Welly’s Wellness trailer to be part of the 2022 Kickoff Horse Trials.

Ashley said about her experience creating Welly’s, “I lost my job. I said, ‘I’m going to take this as an opportunity to invest in myself.’ I was overworked and stressed, and I was wanting to have a community that makes an impact and creates a family.” With pride she added, “Now, I’m filling my time with work that brings me joy. I’m pushing myself physically. I didn’t think I could hook up a trailer and back it up into a tight parking space. I learned how to create a brand in 90 days and take it to market.”

SBS Sisters

Ashley Girard ‘02, founder and CEO of the startup Welly’s Wellness, credits her friends from Stoneleigh-Burnham for their help and encouragement.

JOYHDAE ALBERT ’01 Office Manager, ROTH Capital Partners

Joyhdae, who works for New York City investment bank ROTH Capital Partners, gave Ashley input on her pitch deck. “I’m always happy to help a Stoneleigh sister and I’m proud of Ashley and what she’s doing. Lower income communities don’t have great grocery stores, farmers markets, etc. Ashley’s goal is to address that issue and make healthier snacks more accessible. And, she’s working with women-owned brands, small brands, and women of color brands.”

ERIKA (LOVELY) REYNOSO ’02 Senior PR Manager, Sustainability, Amazon

“Ashley, as long as I have known her, has been about challenging herself.“ The two have been friends since they shared a “Day Room” when freshmen.

Erika helped with positioning, consumer feedback, and content creation.

“The success she’s had since she launched has been astounding.

She’s built all of this with her own finances and time. It takes a lot of guts to be an innovator. Ashley is an example of how you can make that dream a reality.”

MCKENZIE ROLLINS ’01 Equestrian: Rider | Trainer | Coach

“It has been fun following Ashley's project via social media. As a vegetarian, I often have a hard time finding good snacks at horse shows that are good fuel and healthy for you! I was so happy to put Ashley in touch with one of the biggest organizers of horse shows in our area. I always look back at my time at SBS with such fondness and any way I can reconnect with those sweet memories brings me great joy.”

Ashley is open to strategic brand partnerships, mentors, and investors.

She invites readers to contact her at wellyswellness@gmail.com.

SPEAK UP!

FOR STONELEIGH-BURNHAM

C A M PA I G N

$3.5 Million Campaign Goal $2,000,000 for COVID-19 Relief $1,000,000 for Student Experience $500,000 for Alumnae Engagement

Let Your Voice Be Heard.

Learn more about the campaign at sbschool.org/donate.

SPRING

Facing the Coronavirus Pandemic and Ensuring the Future

2022 ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN

INTO ACTION

to Support Stoneleigh-Burnham

DAY OF GIVING

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 Your gift will help SBS continue to prepare students for a bright future.

the bulletin | Spring 2022

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A LU M N A S P O T L I G H T

Chinwe Okorie ’13

her truth

BY KATHLEEN TUCK FONTAINE ’83

Chinwe Okorie ’13 came to Stoneleigh-Burnham (SBS) from Lagos, Nigeria, where family and education are of the utmost importance. Like many alumnae, she still speaks of that feeling of coming up the driveway onto campus for the first time. As a student, that driveway became a place for her to walk and think things over.

She had a lot to think about in her year at SBS.

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“The sense of family I found at SBS was important to me. That’s what I looked for in the colleges I considered, in jobs, in teams.”

SBS provided Chinwe not only with the feeling of family that she held dear but with the education that would help propel her to outstanding academic achievements. Speaking six languages—four native Nigerian languages, French, and English could make one feel they’d stand out. “The inclusivity and cultural mixture, the acceptance I found at Stoneleigh-Burnham gave me a power that I carried with me, even to the locker rooms at MSU (Mississippi State University), to today.” She took advantage of the opportunities in and out of the classroom that would serve her well after graduation.

While at SBS, Chinwe was named the Student Council Leadership Award winner for her contributions to the School. She was a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court, as MVP, a New England Prep School All-Star, and SBS Athlete of the Year Awardee.

This earned her an induction into the SBS Athletic Hall of Fame. Chinwe’s accomplishments would earn her a full basketball scholarship to Mississippi State University (MSU).

At MSU, Chinwe continued to excel both on the court and in the classroom.

She had an amazing basketball career while earning a business administration degree in May 2017, with a second degree in marketing and a minor in French.

The idea of working in France was her inspiration. A logical next step was a master’s degree. Chinwe was grateful for the ability to hold the scholarship for her master’s when she was invited to the

WNBA Training Camp with the New York Liberty. Though later cut from the camp, Chinwe reflects on that experience, on her conversation with her coach, and that while one may have a plan, plans can change. “Have your plan. But have a plan B. And a plan C and D. One of those may become your new plan A.” Chinwe also learned the value of relationships and that while a door closes, those relationships continue. As an intern at PACCAR Engine Company in procurement and manufacturing, she discovered her love of production and engineering. Through a variety of experiences in different fields, she questioned how she could transfer her knowledge and passion into the healthcare industry. In 2020 Chinwe earned her first master’s degree in Management Information Systems and French. While serving as a graduate assistant at MSU, in 2021 she earned

(L to R) Receiving her second MSU master’s degree in 2021; With a horse friend; On the job in Rhode Island.

“

Say your truth. Say the truth.

Don’t be afraid to be the only person in the room to do so.”

Chinwe Okorie ’13, a talented, 6’ 5” athlete, was a basketball standout at SBS and a member of the volleyball team.

another master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. From one closed door to another maintained relationship came an internship which led to job shadowing.

That led to her current position at Medtronic, a global healthcare technology company.

The Stoneleigh-Burnham mission statement speaks of “inspiring girls to pursue meaningful lives based on honor, respect, and intellectual curiosity,” of “graduating with confidence to think independently, act ethically, knowing that her voice will be heard.” Chinwe found all that at SBS. She embraced all she experienced in the classroom, on the court, with her peers, and continues to live to those standards today. Medtronic’s mission speaks of “inspiring the extraordinary.” As they inspire her, she in turn lives her life in a way that will do so for others.

A conversation with Chinwe encompasses all of the emotion, heart, and energy one imagines she shared when at home in Nigeria, and both on the basketball court and in the classroom.

When the buzzer sounds, or in the case of a scheduled Zoom meeting coming to an end, one is left wanting more. A passionate and powerful speaker, she is willing and happy to share her story, her journey to encourage and inspire others, all done with incredible modesty. Her convictions are strong. “Say your truth.

Say the truth. Don’t be afraid to be the only person in the room to do so.”

the bulletin | Spring 2022

13

class notes

Submit class notes and photos at sbschool.org/alumnae/classnote. If you would like to request contact information for another alumna, please call the Alumnae Relations Office at 413.774.2711 x317, or email alumnae@sbschool.org

1957 MAB Sarita Saraga Alitowski Sarita shared a wonderful photo. (below) We’re loving the SBS merch!

1963 SPH Lynn Lynch Houston Sad to share the news of the passing of Susan Carrington Smith. The photo is from our Stoneleigh-Prospect Hill graduation in 1963.

1964 SPH Sharon Lewis Gaffey Sharon, a member of the Stoneleigh-Burnham Trustees, hosted an Alumnae Gathering in Ocala, FL.

1977 Debbie Magidson Martinez Just an update since we saw each other 45 years ago. Wait...did I just say 45 years?

Wow! Somehow it doesn’t seem that long.

Currently, I am in private practice as a divorce coach and family mediator/arbitrator in Charleston, SC. I tell everyone I am a little bit Yankee, a little bit y’all. I’m finishing up

my 3rd year in the PhD program in the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University. Who would have thought at 62 I am back in school! I am also a travel editor for a magazine in Miami, so I’m a busy bee. ’Still playing tennis, Coach would have been proud. I have been divorced for 15 years and have two kids, ages 25 and 26. I would love to connect with classmates, so if you ever find your way to Charleston, please call me. Perhaps a reunion at good ole SBS is in the future!

1981 Sue Zonino McNamara In true “SBS sister supporting SBS sister fashion”—Sue shared about her classmate Liz Spencer Forkel. “Liz is such an inspiration to me, she really is a shining star.” Liz is the owner of LizFit, a “welcoming fitness destination” in Portsmouth, NH. While her accomplishments as a business owner and trainer are impressive, Sue is in awe of Liz’s philanthropy and community involvement.

Liz created “Spinning Generosity”— a seven-day charity indoor cycling event —

Sarita Saraga Alitowski ’57 and Clarita Kushelevitch Kaufman ’56

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Stoneleigh-Burnham School

Janelle Batta ’07, Susan Mattei, Jennifer Jones McIntyre ’81

Abby Fuller ’77, Sharon Lewis Gaffey ’68 SPH, Lynn Shultz Kehoe ’77

L to R: Pat Barnes Baker, Sue Carrington Smith, Lynn Lynch Houston from ‘63 SPH

Debbie Magidson Martinez ’77

which celebrated its 10th Anniversary this past December. Through this event riders come together to support seven local charities, one each day. Leaders from the charity organizations present to the riders, educating them on the charity and how the monies raised will benefit their work and the community. In the first nine years, through her endeavors and the riders' participation, Spinning Generosity has raised over $267,000, with 100% of the proceeds going to the nonprofits as Liz covers all expenses.

Barbara Mayo Llewellyn ’69, Allison Porter ’89, Dr. Denise Bruner ’70, Michelle Hanney ’90

Jennifer Jones McIntyre Jennifer hosted an Alumnae Gathering in the LA area this past November. Director of Development and Alumnae Relations Susan Mattei was in attendance and shared updates on Stoneleigh-Burnham with alumnae.

Jennifer is a member of the SBS Alumnae Board and the Leadership Council.

REUNION WEEKEND ʼ22

JUNE 10 –12 FRIDAY

•5 P.M. Welcome Reception •6:30 P.M. Dinner

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

•Campus tours •Student panel •Lunch celebrating Alumnae

Awardees & Reunion Classes

•Distinguished Alumna

1986 Donna Lynn Jordan I am working as a Realtor in Central New York and love connecting with my SBS Sisters on social media.

1989 Allison Porter DC Area alumnae enjoyed an Alumnae Gathering hosted by Trustee Allison Porter.

Presentation and Dinner

SUNDAY

•Brunch and Farewells

Join Us! TO REGISTER:

1996 Melissa McKallagat Shorey In January 2021 we had our second child, RJ. Elizabeth started full day Pre-K this past year and started soccer last fall. It was a full and tiring year. I hope everyone is doing well in these crazy times.

Katherine Short ’01, Mina Payne Affhauser ’78, and Samantha Pleasant Fleming ’01

Stoneleigh-Burnham

2001 Katherine Short Katherine and Samantha Pleasant Fleming ’01 visited SBS in December. They stopped by the Equestrian Center to see Mina Payne Affhauser ’78, Director of Riding.

2007 Kirsten Porter McKenzie White Introducing our future SBS Owl, Winona Rose, born on July 21, 2021.

sbschool.org/alumnae

Get Involved The Stoneleigh-Burnham School Board of Trustees is a dedicated group of alumnae, parents, and friends of the School that takes seriously its role as the governing body of Stoneleigh-Burnham School.

We invite members of our community to engage with and become a crucial part of our extended family through various roles as SBS. If you are interested in joining our Leadership Council, Alumnae Board, or the Board of Trustees, please email communications@sbschool.org.

Kirsten Porter McKenzie White’s daughter Donna Lynn Jordan ’86

Melissa McKallagat Shorey’s children

Please submit photos that are at least 500KB in size or they may not be printable.

the bulletin | Spring 2022

15

IN MEMORIAM

1942 MAB

1954 MAB

Maurine Helms Lee October 10, 2021

Miriam “Mimi” Smith Hardy March 18, 2021

1943 MAB

1954 MAB

Mary Oppedal Johnsen August 15, 2021

Emmy Groeneveld Crosby April 9, 2019

1946 MAB

1963 SPH

Anne “Kentucky” Foley Heisler October 16, 2021

Susan Carrington Smith December 18, 2021

1946 SPH

1989 SBS

Phyllis Ruszenas Pickett June 12, 2021

Tara M. Bannister December 20, 2021

FORMER FACULT Y AND FRIENDS OF SBS

John McNear P’79 Trustee Emeritus July 30, 2021

1953 MAB Jane McGrath Packer December 2, 2021

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Stoneleigh-Burnham School

Paula Roche Wray P’80 Former Faculty September 13, 2021

Tara M. Bannister ’89 Tara M. Bannister, SBS class of 1989, passed away on December 20, 2021 after a battle with cancer. Tara was the daughter of Cedric and the late Geraldine (Hurlbut) Bannister P’89, ’92 of Turners Falls, MA, and sister to Colleen Bannister, SBS class of 1992.

Tara was a very proud Stoneleigh-Burnham alumna, who frequently spoke about how her all-girls school education was the backbone of all she endeavored. At SBS she was an avid singer and was an extraordinary debater, winning a spot at the World Debate Championship.

Tara started a chapter of the Young Democrats at the University of Southern California (USC) and was a delegate to the National Young Democrats Association.

Her keen interest in election law propelled her to work for many politicians, including California Governor Gray Davis. In 2015 she ran for City Councilor of her District in Los Angeles, CA. Most recently she created several startup companies and worked to support entrepreneurship of small, womenowned businesses. Tara’s love of singing continued after SBS. She was noted for always singing a joyful noise whether in church or in one of her flashy convertibles.

Tara is remembered by Allison Porter ’89 as a staunch supporter of Stoneleigh-Burnham and a loyal friend who loved to meet up with alumnae at any opportunity. Heather Schab Brown ’89, a friend from first grade adds, “May her father, sister Colleen (our SBS sister), and her beloved dog Moonshine find peace with the loss of this great light in our lives.” Heather called on Travis Stewart ’88 who shared these words that represent Tara: “Keen political mind;’ ‘Beloved dog owner;’ ‘Fierce Stoneleigh Supporter and sister;’ ‘Quick witted and funny;’ and ‘Gone Too Soon.’”

CODA

BY AMANDA MOZEA

A GLOBAL VIEW is FOREVER WORK

I am notorious for my ability to steer every conversation towards the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Family and friends have learned to sit back and hold on tight as I transform a previouslylighthearted exchange into a reflection on representation, a treatise on inequality, or musings on the meaning of justice. But, with the topic of a “global view,” there is no need to steer the conversation anywhere: to have a global view is to, fundamentally, be grappling with and working alongside the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In other words, there can be no global view, no holistic perspective, without a deep reckoning with and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Let me show you what I mean.

The beauty and the complexity of striving to achieve a global view is that it is impossible to achieve in isolation: a global view necessitates community, connection, and conversation. It requires us to expand our vision beyond ourselves. A global view can only be realized by reaching across cultural, political, and linguistic differences, borders — both man-made and natural — and time, in recognition of how our pasts have shaped our presents and how our presents will shape our futures.

There can be no profound or meaningful cross-cultural dialogue without valuing the perspectives and experiences of people who have little or nothing in common — across the world or right next door — without valuing the concept of diversity. There can be no meaningful international perspective without understanding how to incorporate those different, diverse voices, without understanding the art of inclusion. There can be no true progress without first reckoning with how our past has become our present, without working to better examine issues of equity.

You see what I’ve done there? A global view is fundamentally a “calling in” to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The “global view” that we have explored in this issue of the bulletin demonstrates Stoneleigh-Burnham’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. And, while our institutional commitment to this work is strong, there is — and always will be — room for growth and change.

There is no finish line and no box to check when working towards a global view and truly honoring a responsibility to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is forever work.

I can think of no journey more rewarding.

Join us, won’t you?

Amanda Mozea is the Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Stoneleigh-Burnham.

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NONPROFIT ORG. U . S . P O S TAG E

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PERMIT #5860

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sbschool.org Families: If this issue is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumnae Office at alumnae@sbschool.org or 413.774.2711 x317

Upcoming 2022 Events VIRTUAL ALUMNAE PROGRAMS Visit sbschool.org/alumnae for a full list of events.

Register Now!

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS

•April 2-3 (Virtual) •August 13–14 (Virtual) •October 21–23

ALUMNAE CAREER PROGRAM

•April 8

ALUMNAE BOARD MEETINGS

•April 16 (Virtual) •September 25 •June 12 •December 3

Stoneleigh-Burnham

REUNION WEEKEND ʼ22 JUNE 10 –12, 2022

ANNUAL FUND STUDENT PHONATHONS

•April 18 •April 19

HONORING THE CLASSES ENDING IN 2 & 7, 1 & 6, 0 & 5

•April 26

ALUMNAE MONTH

ALL ALUMNAE WELCOME

•May 1–31

SPRING INTO ACTION

•Day of Giving, May 4

REGISTER ONLINE: SBSCHOOL.ORG/ALUMNAE

REUNION WEEKEND

•June 10–12

CONVOCATION

•September 5

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETING & 1869 SOCIETY DINNER

#TogetherAtLast

•October 21

Not receiving our bimonthly Alumnae Newsletter? Contact us at alumnae@sbschool.org.