Seven Hills Magazine - Fall 2014

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learning from our Values

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L I VI N G O U R VA L U E S : E M PATH Y AT S E V E N H I L LS

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Development Office 513.728.2400 alumni.news@7hills.org Fax: 513.728.2430

www.7hills.org

04 06 16 32 51 Front cover photo: Unit III teacher Patty Dawson leads her students on a “tunnel walk,” a solemn exercise in remembrance of those who ran through Battery Tunnel in New York City to rescue victims of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Read about this on pg. 27.

Above photo: Tucker Robinson ’14

Fall 2014

A special thanks to Keith Neu for his sports photography.

Seven Hills Magazine is a publication of The Seven Hills School.

Contents Cultivating Caring Hearts

By Head of School Christopher P. Garten

Living Our Values: Empathy and the Human Experience at Seven Hills By Karla Dejean School News Alumni News and Class Notes Upcoming Alumni Events

Christopher P. Garten Head of School

Nancy McCormick Bassett ’83 Director of Alumni Engagement

Carol Brueggemeyer Graphic Designer

Margo Kirstein Director of Development

Karla Dejean Writer & Project Manager, photographer

Kathy Deubell photo editing

Chris Hedges Editor, Writer, Director of Marketing & Communications

Annual Giving B

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We are more than halfway to our annual giving goal of $1,300,000! Your generosity makes possible the full richness of the Seven Hills experience.

Because of you, more is possible.

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Annual Fund FAQs Why does Seven Hills need annual giving?

years, and are used to fund long-term initiatives

secure foundation grant support. When

Simply put, tuition does not cover the cost of a

such as the new Early Childhood Center and

Seven Hills submits grant applications,

Seven Hills education. This year, 80 percent of

athletic fields, and other new construction

foundations want to see that we have strong

the school’s operating budget will be funded

projects or endowed programs.

support from our own community before

with tuition dollars. The rest is funded through annual giving and investment income.

I can’t make a big gift. Will my $10 or $25 really make a difference?

they will commit. The only gift too small is no gift at all. Seven Hills is truly grateful for your support.

Does annual giving pay for things like the new Early Childhood Center and the new Athletic Complex?

Every gift — regardless of the amount — every single student’s experience every single

Is it true there is a “challenge grant” right now that will double my gift?

No. Annual giving supports the school’s

day. Remember that a gift of $15 pays for an

Yes! The Hauck Foundation has established

operations. Every dollar raised through annual

online subscription to National Geographic

a challenge grant that will match — dollar

giving is put to immediate use to support and

Magazine or a gift of $5 buys a teacher a set of

for dollar — any new or increased gifts to

sustain student experiences — in the

whiteboard markers. At the same time,

the Seven Hills Fund this year, up to

classrooms and on the playing fields, through

participation is key to Seven Hills’ ability to

$100,000. You can help us turn $100,000

supports the current year’s programming and

academic and cocurricular programs — there is

into $200,000 for the school, and double

no aspect of school life that is not funded in

the impact of your gift!

some way through annual giving.

Goal =$1,300,000 $1,200,000 $1,100,000 $1,000,000 $900,000 $800,000 $700,000 $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000

To make your gift today, please visit

Capital and endowment gifts are completely

www.7hills.org/annualfund or call Andi

separate and apart from annual giving. These

Simon ’98, Director of Annual Giving, at

types of gifts are often pledged over a number of

513.728.2436.

Thank you!

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“… THE UNIQUE CULTURE OF SEVEN HILLS STEMS FROM MORE THAN A HAPPY CONFLUENCE OF CONGEN IAL PERSONALITI ES. UNLIKE MANY SCHOOLS I KNOW, SEVEN HILLS HAS PURPOSELY A N D INTENTIONALLY BU I LT AN I N C L U SIVE, EMPAT H ET IC, A ND M U T U A L LY S U P P O RT I V E C O M M U N I T Y T H AT M A K E S T H I S A N EXTRAORDINARILY COMFORTABLE PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW. ”

CU LTIVATI NG CAR I NG H EARTS by Head of School Christopher P. Garten

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’m often asked by prospective families to define what differentiates Seven Hills from other schools in our area. I always give the same answer. Though I am deeply proud of the breadth and depth of our educational program and of our skill in preparing students both for college and for meaningful and fulfilling lives, I believe what truly distinguishes Seven Hills is our culture. I’ve been working in independent schools for 37 years and, as the son of an independent school headmaster, my knowledge of communities like this stretches back more than half a century. In all honesty, Seven Hills is the warmest school community of which I have ever been a part.

When I first moved here five years ago, having spent most of my career first in New York City and then in coastal Georgia, I assumed that the root of the very noticeable cultural differences was simply that Midwesterners are nicer. But the more time I spend here, the more I realize that the defining warmth of this community has been built, in a very intentional way, over several decades. It is certainly true that the people of this community, students, parents, teachers, and staff, are, in fact, very nice people, but I believe that the unique culture of Seven Hills stems from more than a happy confluence of congenial personalities. Unlike many schools I know, Seven Hills has purposely and intentionally built an inclusive, empathetic, and mutually supportive community that makes this an extraordinarily comfortable place to learn and grow.

We are, of course, living in a world that often seems more frenzied and less civil than at any time in recent memory. In secondary schools, concerns about unkindness 4

and issues like “cyberbullying“ are on the rise, and many college-level professional disciplines have felt the need to supplement their core curricula with explicit coursework on how to promote compassion in physicians or ethics in businessmen.

There is a growth industry in experts who offer, to parents and to schools, reams of advice about how to cultivate empathy in young people. The titles of several recent books reveal both the urgency of the concerns and broad spectrum of points of view.

They range from the urgent: Empathy: Why it Matters, and How to Get it; to the encyclopedic: The Art of Empathy: A Complete Guide to Life’s Most Essential Skill; to the Machiavellian: Mirroring People: The Science of Empathy and How We Connect with Others; to the downright cynical: The Empathy Factor: Your Competitive Advantage for Personal, Team, and Business Success. (Only in our century can we reduce the recognition of common humanity and the ability to feel the suffering of others to a “competitive advantage!”)

A more serious study is a research project conducted by Richard Weissbourd and Stephanie Jones of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The frontispiece of their study offers this observation: “Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human. It is a foundation for acting ethically, for good relationships of many kinds…

It is the [key to] living well and [an important element] of professional success.”

“Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human. It is a foundation for acting ethically ...”

- Weissbourd & Jones study

Citing research by Thomas Lickona, Weissbourd and Jones offer five “guideposts” in their program to cultivate empathy in young people:

1. Empathize with children and model empathy for them.

2. Make caring for others a priority and show children your own high ethical expectations.

3. Provide opportunities for children to practice empathy.

4. Find ways to expand your children’s “circle of concern.”

5. Help children develop self-control and manage their feelings effectively.

In a similar vein, Roman Krznaric, professor of sociology and politics at Cambridge University, identifies these “six habits of highly empathic people.”

1. Cultivate curiosity about strangers.

2. Challenge prejudices and discover commonalities.

3. Try another person’s life [by submerging oneself in another culture].

4. “Listen hard” [to other people] and “open up” [about one’s own inner life].

5. [Study the power] to inspire mass action [to bring about] social change.

6. Develop an “ambitious imagination” [to empathize with adversaries].

Of course, no school culture, no community of human beings, is ever perfect. We all have our moments when we relapse into selfishness or indifference or even into active unkindness. But at the heart of our school is an active commitment to many of the activities that cultivate a caring heart.

In our Lower School classrooms, our students are taught to “listen hard,” to put themselves in other’s shoes and respect other points of view. They are taught to control their impulses, and they are disciplined in patient, thoughtful ways, that encourage them to reflect on the impact their behavior has on the lives of others.

As they grow, they have frequent opportunities to work together in collaborative teams. They come to view one another as potential partners and to learn, through experience, to value the complementary strengths and capacities that each of their classmates brings to a given task.

Our rich and diverse curriculum encourages an empathetic disposition. In history and social studies classes, students are challenged to live, vicariously, the lives of other people, to understand the challenges they faced and the human emotions they felt.

They read rich and complex literature, which compels them to immerse themselves in the lives of people from very different backgrounds, who look at the world in very different ways.

Finally, through project-based problem-solving, through assembly programs, and our service learning program, students learn to “widen their circle,” to enter imaginatively into the lives of other people and through mass [and individual] action, they are called upon to understand the suffering of other people and to find ways to relieve it.

Again, no community of human beings is perfect, and periodically our behavior can fall short of our defining principles, but we can, I believe, take great pride in having built a culture that fosters the very best instincts in our young people, that cultivates their empathy and idealism, and channels them into effective and purposeful action.

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Living Our Values: Empathy and the Human Experience at Seven Hills Empathy is a skill that is woven into Seven Hills’ pre-kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum. It can be seen in the way Lower School teachers ask one friend to bring a tissue to the other after a playground scuffle.

It is apparent in the “ It has been amazing to watch the children communicate with each other even when not way second graders shake their heads speaking the same language.” disapprovingly - Kindergarten teacher Theresa Cohen when they hear a story about fictional characters snubbing a new girl at school. Empathy is taught in such a way that fifth and sixth graders begin to learn more than surface stories about slavery, the Civil Rights movement, and the Holocaust. It is why, by the time most students are navigating the Upper School, they are compelled to move beyond empathy – and act.

A Shared Journey

During the summer of 2014, everything changed for five-year-old Shelyhane (pronounced Shelley-Ann) Montchausse.

Bicyclette et métro became cars, bonjours 6

became hellos, and Montcourt-Fromonville, France, became Cincinnati, Ohio. Like a muffled radio broadcast, dozens of letter sounds poured out of the mouths around her. Only a few vowels and consonants assembled to form something familiar to her ears.

French native Shelyhane arrived at Lotspeich this fall with her loving family, which includes Seven Hills third grader Yanis Montchausse and sixth grader May Montchausse. She was greeted by smiling soon-to-be friends and helpful teachers who prepared to make learning English effective and fun. But Shelyhane’s kindergarten experience at Seven Hills would be the most

By Karla Dejean foreign event the five-year-old had ever known. It would be frustrating. There would be tears and at first, very little would be familiar. Shelyhane would be a French-speaker in a sea of young English-speakers.

“It’s like being on an island – and you feel like you can’t reach the other person,” said Seven Hills parent and native French speaker Isabelle Thomas, who took on a unique volunteer role specifically to help Shelyhane. “We take it for granted because we understand everything we hear. It is so hard to appreciate what it would feel like to be a regular little girl with your friends, then all of a sudden everything is different. It is difficult when you feel you have your friends, your teachers, the culture – especially the language – taken from you – overnight.”

What wasn’t lost in translation, however, was the thoughtful consideration applied in kindergarten teachers Diane Schulteis and Theresa Cohen’s classrooms. Every day the kindergarten teaching team’s

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conversations, careful connections, curriculum plans, and overall mindfulness support and highlight Shelyhane’s gift of another language.

When Schulteis, Cohen, and Head of Lotspeich Carolyn Fox decided to make Shelyhane’s new language a shared journey, the idea for “French Friday”— an hour of lessons entirely in French every Friday — emerged.

“Isabelle Thomas offered to help us when she learned that a French family would be coming to

STEPPIN G STONES OF KINDNESS First grade: Self-regulation Second grade: Empathy, kindness, fairness, and justice Third grade: Appreciating differences Fourth grade: Conflict resolution Fifth grade: Time management, understanding learning styles

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Seven Hills,” said Cohen. “We were trying to find a way to include Shelyhane as a member of the kindergarten class within an all-English-speaking class, as well as offer all children ways to include her and break the language barrier. It has been amazing to watch the children communicate with each other even when not speaking the same language.” Cohen said the students are exhilarated when they do make the language connection, but having only a few common words between them doesn’t slow new friendships.

In time, Shelyhane will feel the waters around her island subside, as learning pathways in the brains of children five and younger easily accommodate new languages, said Fox. But the example remains a metaphor for how the school community absolutely embraces its values. In subtleties, in high-profile ways, in fantastic presentations, in wordless gestures, Seven Hills truly is singular in its collective ability to teach empathy, the learned skill that allows students to not only understand, but also be in someone else’s place. The lessons aren’t about the importance of community service alone. Rather, they are about the students’ ability to remove

themselves from one situation, place themselves in another, and respond proactively. Once the ability to empathize is honed, the ability to understand and help others is inevitable.

Building Blocks for Kindness

A walk through a Seven Hills Lower School classroom tells a story about its organization, the energy of the day, lessons for the week, whether a project has just been introduced or completed.

Among the many posters, pockets, and wall hangings, the clear expectations for classroom continued. . .

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Empathy and the Human Experience at Seven Hills (continued) conduct in a Lower School classroom are simple:

1. Take care of others.

2. Take care of the school.

3. Take care of yourself.

E M PAT H I C L I S T E N I N G Builds trust and respect Enables the disputants to release their emotions Reduces tension and encourages the surfacing of information Creates a safe environment that is conducive to collaborative problem solving

A disagreement between four-year-olds always ends in a lesson in empathy, said Doherty pre-kindergarten teacher Katie Dawson. “We are helping children understand or recognize the feelings of others. We ask children to step outside themselves to consider another’s feelings. This is more difficult for some than others but is a vital lesson to learn in a school setting.” Three basic steps of conflict-resolution are incorporated into situations as needed.

Students are asked to explain their point of view, students are asked to recognize the other’s point of view, and lastly, students are asked to offer solutions.

Lower School teachers, during the summer of 2014, decided to use a Seven Hills summer curriculum grant to expand their reach to teach kindness. Head of Lotspeich Carolyn Fox said the grant would translate, throughout the school

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year, into a more comprehensive program around kindness.

“In third grade, students talk about the Greensboro sit-ins during the Civil Rights movement. In fifth grade we have discussions on the more global issues of slavery – historically and about slavery that still takes place in our world today. Having these in-depth

conversations are part of our values. We have respect for others and an appreciation for diversity,” said Fox. “These candid discussions are part of our value system. Our classes are small and we can comfortably talk about these harder subjects and answer questions.”

Fox said the school’s depth of focus on empathy is signature to Seven Hills. “There is a different feel here. No one can attach a name to it,” said Fox. “There is a warmth here, but there is something more.”

The difference starts with Seven Hills’ unique approach to social interaction early on. Head of Doherty Patti Guethlein said teachers place importance on empathy because it is a building block for interaction throughout students’ lives.

Seven Hills’ emphasis on understanding and being able to identify emotions is strategic.

“Teachers spend a lot of time, in the moment, to ask students what they are feeling. Are they disappointed? Sad? Happy? Angry? Frustrated?

Kids need to understand themselves before they understand others. Teaching empathy has to be a core value,” said Patti. “Empathy is interesting. It is something that develops and deepens over time. Parents are our students’ first teachers. And once our students come to school and become part of a group, empathy really takes on a different kind of importance.”

While the building blocks for being able to empathize take place in early childhood

Empathy and the Human Experience BEYOND SYMPATHY – A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE lessons on segregation and Jim Crow laws aren’t removed bits of information from a history book.

education, the skill is formally introduced in second grade because children at this age are developmentally ready to move away from egocentrism, said Lotspeich second grade teacher Danielle Necessary.

“It is one of the reasons why we call our Studentof-the-Week activity ‘Take a walk in my shoes,’” said Necessary. “We encourage students to think about what it would be like to be that person. It helps build a strong classroom community when our students are able to empathize. It’s such an important key to everything. It’s a key to being able to respect ourselves and others.”

That respect translates into academics just as much as it does to a meaningful grasp of social awareness. When Necessary and fellow second grade teacher Becky Swain begin their units on African-American leaders and social justice,

“Sometimes my students will cry and say, ‘You mean I wouldn’t be in school with some of my friends during the Civil Rights movement?’ You see these light bulbs go off and you know the students are able to apply the empathy they are learning,” said Necessary. “They are also learning that some of these things are still going on in other parts of the world. They connect to the curriculum in such a deeper way.”

Empathy in Learning

In addition to being exposed to the more traditional examples of empathy, such as

community service and appreciating others’ life experiences, fifth graders learn to appreciate the learning experiences of others.

Lower School guidance counselors Judy Arnold and Mitzi Moser incorporate learning style differences in their work with students throughout the year. Using self-assessment tools, students and teachers learn they may appreciate learning in an auditory, visual, or kinesthetic way. Students have the option to discuss in front of the class how and when they do homework best and how they manage stress throughout the day, as well as share tips with peers regarding how they motivate themselves to persevere on challenging assignments.

On March 11, 2013, fifth grader Evelyn Astafiev-Holmes and her brother were in a serious car accident. Evelyn, in her first year at Seven Hills, suffered serious injuries that kept her in the hospital for three days. Her 9-yearold brother Nicholas, who does not attend Seven Hills, was admitted for a much longer time, due to the complexity of his injuries.

“You can see the children trying to understand what everyone is bringing with them into the classroom, as far as their thoughts, ideas, experiences, emotions, social dynamics, and family experiences,” said Moser. “The children put words to their emotions to express how they are feeling, to help one another, to communicate, to collaborate, to problem solve.”

Holmes said her family’s harrowing experience revealed more about her daughter’s new school community than anyone could ever tell her. With both children admitted to the hospital on different sides of the same floor, Holmes planned to make revolving stops in her children’s rooms throughout the night. But she didn’t have to.

Arnold said fifth grade is an excellent time for study habit differences to be introduced because at that age, students have a higher self-awareness and self-interest than at previous ages. “Kids are surprised to learn that there is so continued. . .

“By March 13, all of the classes were writing cards for Evelyn,” said Evelyn’s mother Dr. Pamela Holmes. “By the time we left the hospital, we had 12 DVDs and several stuffed animals, crafts, books, and cards. I don’t think there is one single teacher who didn’t show up to visit.”

“(Head of Doherty) Patti Guethlein asked me who was going to stay with Evelyn overnight,” said Holmes. “I told her that I was going to bounce back and forth. But Patti said ‘no.’ She came back with a Bananagram game for Evelyn and the two of them sat and talked while I spent time with Nicholas. It was incredibly touching,” said Holmes.

The next morning, Guethlein was still there, sitting in Evelyn’s hospital room. continued on page 11

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Living Our Values: Empathy and the Human Experience at Seven Hills much variation in how others learn, study, manage time and handle stress,” said Arnold.

While stress management is the primary purpose for lessons about learning styles, being able to understand that not everyone learns the same way adds a social benefit as well.

“When you learn that everyone has different learning styles, you aren’t quick to put people in boxes,” said Fox. “It becomes more apparent as they get older and more groups start to occur.

Our students create an atmosphere of acceptance and individuality. It opens minds.”

As students enter Middle School they are constantly exposed to a broader view of the world. Throughout their Middle School careers, students learn from art teachers from the Sanskriti School in India, they raise awareness and money to fund potable water in the Congo, they meet Bhutanese refugees and learn what it might feel like to be cast out of the only community you have ever 10

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known. That comprehensive exposure, week after week, teaches them that the school community values differences. At no other time is this more critical, said Middle and Upper School guidance counselor Vicky Hausberger.

BOOK DISCUSSIONS OFTEN OPEN NEW CHANNELS F O R E X P L O R I N G E M PAT H Y (For students ages 6-10)

1. Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson 2. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo 3. The Three Questions, by Jon J. Muth 4. The Story of Ruby Bridges,

by Robert Coles 5. Fireboat, by Maira Kalman 6. 14 Cows for America, by Carmen Agra Deedy 7. How Full is Your Bucket, by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer 8. One Smile, by Cindy McKinley 9. The Other Side of the Fence,

by Jacqueline Woodson 10. Stand in My Shoes, by Bob Sornson

“Middle School is the time to practice skills. And this includes practicing empathy,” said Hausberger. “As students grow and change, we stretch them to see the world through eyes other than their own.”

Year after year, the lessons carry through, with students absorbing and applying more as they go, as they begin to understand how empathy affects their peers at school, friends and family at home, and how the power of empathy can change lives outside our state and national borders. It can also put into perspective historical information so that students are learning about not only what took place, but also gaining a clearer understanding of the social complexities that underlie the events.

As part of the eighth grade history curriculum for the past 15 years, students have focused on the Jewish Holocaust. Middle School history teacher Judith Neidlein-Dial said the scope of the unit has expanded over the course of the last several years to go beyond the factual and historical, to the personal and present. While her eighth graders have a clear understanding of the Holocaust, Neidlein-Dial said the Holocaust

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BEYOND SYMPATHY – A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE underscores the marriage of humanity and empathy, and what can happen when neither is present in a socio-culture.

room had misunderstood the name of the college. I knew that not one person in the room was interested in this college,” said Marrs.

“In a unique way, the Holocaust lends itself to talking about and practicing feeling empathy,” said Neidlein-Dial. “After all, perpetrators of some of the most horrific atrocities have answered that it was the conscious process of dehumanizing their victims that allowed them to inflict unspeakable horror on fellow humans.”

What didn’t happen next is what makes this story one of Marrs’ favorites.

Neidlein-Dial said empathy is also a key focus of the cross-curricular collaboration with eighth grade English that parallels William Golding’s Lord of the Flies with the rise and rule of the Nazi Party in Germany, and challenges students to find their personal positions by exploring the concepts of bystander versus an upstander.

Living Empathy

In a values-based learning environment where seven values remain the cornerstone of the school’s philosophy and mission, it is not difficult to understand why kindness pervades every level of curricular and extra-curricular activities.

As senior and Seven Hills lifer Nicole Malofsky explains, “We don’t see the values being applied in any particular way, I think, because we live them. We don’t know any other way.” The reality is, however, life at Seven Hills is rich with consistently unique realities that go beyond the expected.

“It’s in the subtleties,” said Assistant Head of School and Director of College Counseling Susan Marrs. An example of the ingrained kindness of the Upper School student body points back a few years during college representative visits. Eager to meet the representative from a particular university throngs of students squeezed into a classroom.

“After the representative introduced himself, it was very apparent that all of the students in the

“Not one person left,” said Marrs. “They sat through the representative’s entire presentation and asked questions out of respect because they knew how it would feel to be giving a presentation and have several people walk out.

That college rep went away never realizing that these kids had zero interest in that university.”

Students extend that same kindness to teaching candidates who teach classes as part of their interviewing process, she said. “Even though many times the students have already learned what they are being taught, I will see them asking questions of our candidates, helping them through awkward silences,” said Marrs. “You just see them sitting there thinking, ‘How can I be helpful to this person?’ Even kids who are not normally forthcoming in initiating comments, you can see these kids trying to reach out.” continued. . .

continued. . .

“What kind of a head of a school spends the night with their student?” said Holmes. “Patti left a little card for Evelyn that said, ‘Thanks for the sleep-over.’ ” When Guethlein recalls the night she spent with Evelyn, she says, “I didn’t really think about it.

Pamela couldn’t be in two places at the same time and when I overheard her trying to explain to Evelyn that she would be with Nicholas much of the night because he was younger and his injuries more severe, I asked Pamela if she thought Evelyn would mind if I stayed.”

Today, when Holmes recounts the difficult times following the accident, the most touching story remains the way Evelyn’s friends also reached out to her brother Nicholas. “One could say that it is what schools do, sending cards to friends who get hurt,” said Holmes.

“But the part that is extraordinary is how they treated Evelyn’s little brother. He received just as many cards as Evelyn did and no one even knew him.”

Guethlein said her “small” gesture was just an extension of the way Seven Hills students reach out to friends on a regular basis. “It is a culture that defines us, whether it is holding a door open, packing lunches for Open Door (Ministry in Walnut Hills), or rushing to help a friend,” said Guethlein. “After our students learned of the accident, they both wanted – continued on page 13

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Living Our Values: Empathy and the Human Experience at Seven Hills The examples of empathy take place in every day interaction within the student population as well, said Director of Experiential Learning Nick Francis. Francis facilitates students’ community service requirements throughout the year, so he naturally witnesses students serving organizations - Junior Jessica Seibold within the Greater Cincinnati area.

What he sees on a daily basis, however, is what moves him and his colleagues.

For example, during the 2013-14 school year, teachers were touched to see a PowerPoint presentation looping on monitors throughout the Upper School hallways. They were stopping to watch a scrolling list of activities, interests, and accomplishments of all Upper School students. No names were used in the listing, only impressive line after line of little-known facts about each student. The list, which looped throughout the week, served as a billboard for beyond-the-surface identifiers of each student.

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The list was an initiative of the Student Senate to celebrate and acknowledge the out-of-school accomplishments of all Upper School students.

At a glance, one could see that these students share the commonality of Seven Hills and, at the same time, enjoyed possessing singular talents.

From receiving a scuba diving license, to becoming a member of the Army ROTC, to being published in an anthology, to rebuilding the engine of a 1974 Mini Cooper, all of these accomplishments were important and heralded by the Upper School student body.

“This project was very well received throughout the school,” said junior Matthew Marquardt, who spearheaded production of the list. “My favorite part about the project was how it opened everyone’s eyes to all the great things students are doing outside of school.” The list illustrated how Seven Hills’ unified body of Upper School students appreciated each other’s individualities. “They were all impressed with the accomplishments of their peers because they all understood that what the other person had done to accomplish their goals was not easy,” said Francis.

“Seven Hills has crafted a warm, homespun community that fosters kindness and empathy. '' This year, Francis worked with a small group of Upper School students, who met during lunchtime to manage the distribution of 3,000 boxes of school supplies for Cincinnati-based Crayons to Computers. The boxes were given to teachers of schools that have a large percentage of students on free-and-reduced lunch programs.

The same energy of camaraderie and appreciation among students runs through the school’s social media. When a Facebook posting shared the news that sophomore and accomplished student scientist Shane DiGiovanna had been selected to be a TEDxCincinnati speaker, a number of student athletes “liked” the posting. And when the men’s golf team was the only Division III Cincinnati team to make it to State, an outpouring of “likes” from students of all disciplines flooded Seven Hills’ Facebook timeline.

“In some schools only the students with athletic talent are the rock stars,” said Francis. “Here, you have students on the chess team rooting for the

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soccer team, the theater student supporting and applauding the work of a chemistry student. You will see the Spanish language student appreciating the mathematician. These kids truly appreciate the different talents and skills of their peers.”

A S N A P S HOT O F P ROG R A M S A N D P R O J E C T S T H AT I N C O R P O R ATE E M PAT H Y Day without Shoes • Lotspeich students donate shoes and experience what it feels like to walk without shoes.

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Kindness, Full Circle

Lifer and senior Nicole Malofsky said she defines her last year at Seven Hills as she has the past 12 years. “Seven Hills has crafted a warm, homespun community that fosters kindness and empathy. From preschool to senior year, Seven Hills has been one of the best experiences for me, one that molded who I am today and who I will become,” said Malofsky.

• Tunnel Walk • Unit II and III students honor the heroes of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The Caring Place and Spring Food Drive • Middle School students donate their time, clothing, canned goods, and toys, as well as raise funds for The Caring Place in Kennedy Heights.

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• ShantyTown • Upper School students sleep overnight in cardboard boxes to better understand the plight of the homeless.

• Magnified Giving • Upper School students vet a number of charities and after much consideration, decide to donate funds to a charitable organization.

Like Nicole, Seven Hills students value the interests of younger students as much as they do their peers’. They understand that community building – in and outside Seven Hills’ walls – is better for everyone, and they strive to empower others.

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One of Malofsky’s favorite projects at Seven Hills began two years ago when she and a few of her peers began reading stories to prekindergarten students once a week. What started out as a reading program has grown into a more personal mission for Malofsky, who herself was the age of her young friends when she began attending Seven Hills.

Malofsky’s story demonstrates the unique culture of empathy that not only runs from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, but also comes full circle, as some of the oldest students, knowing what the little ones are about to experience, wrap their arms around the youngest, handing off a model for kindness and purpose the younger generation will use throughout their Seven Hills careers.

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BEYOND SYMPATHY – A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE continued. . . and needed – to respond. They asked not only how they could help their friend Evelyn but how they could help Nicholas as well. They didn’t need to know him, they just needed to know that Evelyn’s little brother was hurt and they wanted them both to know they cared.”

Evelyn and Nicholas keep their homemade cards in a large shopping bag. Together, the siblings have enough cards to paper their bedroom walls – something that Evelyn said will always remind her of how lucky she feels to have such strong, new friendships. “I felt surrounded by friends,” said Evelyn. “It made me feel really happy that I had so many people trying to make me feel better. All these cards are really special to me. I will keep them forever.”

“I can see the pre-kindergarteners learning new words before my eyes. Over the past two years, I have seen them develop their skills as young readers and this, above all, makes my experiences all the more rewarding,” said Malofsky. “When I see them smiling ear-toear, I have that warmhearted feeling, that feeling of knowing that we are making a positive difference in their lives.”

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Living Our Values: From Empathy to Empowerment Over the past five years, Seven Hills Upper

day,” said Wabler. “I wanted my students to

School students have funded microloans across

think about what we can do to help someone

continents, fueling the capabilities of dozens of

as opposed to simply learning about it and

indigent people who have skills and talent but

leaving class with this weight of helpless

no financial means.

sadness over them.”

Teacher and history department chair Brian

At the speed of a click, students in Wabler’s

Wabler said empathy has always been at the

global issues class have been changing the lives

core of his class by nature of its focus on the

of people who do not live like them, but with

many devastating world events that have taken

whom the students feel a connection. Five

place since 1945.

years ago, the class raised about $1,000 through baked goods sales at school. With the use of Kiva, a secure microlending site, the students have been able to loan out more than $1,000 each year, for five years – essentially

The students spend a considerable amount of

$6,000.

time researching their loan recipients. They ask

allow them to use their empathy to fuel the entrepreneurial goals of others, while having the opportunity to see movement with their

these terrible things that happen to people all 14

loan out funds as well.

loaning a total of 55 loans equaling about

Wabler wanted to take them a step further and

“This class can be depressing. We talk about all

next semester’s classes have an opportunity to

questions – Will it set off a positive ripple effect in a community? – and they draw from their knowledge of news in a certain area to help make their decisions.

loan decisions. It is one of the reasons why

A comprehensive profile shows that 57 percent

students typically engage in short-term loans.

of their loans have gone to women in 15 main

When the money is paid back, students in the

countries, including Bolivia, Democratic

Empathy and the Human Experience A T

Seven Hills’ Lending Activity by Country

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received our loan and actually see how the funds were going to be used, I felt more connected with the person we loaned to and in turn truly felt that our funds would make a tangible change in his business and life.”

To learn more about programs Seven Hills global issues students are supporting through microlending, scan the QR code with your smart phone, or, from your computer, visit: www.kiva.org/lender/SevenHillsGlobalIssues.

Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, Mexico,

opportunity,” said Rouan. What she

Pakistan, Mongolia, and El Salvador, to name

appreciated most about her project, however,

a few.

was being able to view a business opportunity

Senior Mollie Rouan and her class partner made a decision last fall, to loan out about $150 to a computer cafe owner in Kenya. Rouan’s

through the eyes of someone across the globe, and help fund someone’s aspirations in the time it takes to tap “send” on her iPad.

lending team spent considerable time

“It showed me how truly significant a loan of

determining who should receive the loan. “We

$150 or even only $25 can be to a small

decided that not many Kenyans have facile

business owner in a different country,” said

access to computers, so we wanted to ensure

Rouan. “Because I was able to choose who

sets and cupboards new year! Clean out clo . Happy New Year!

Get a fresh start for the op Sh e sal Re items to the today and donate your

his business would continue to provide this 15

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We are pleased to welcome new Seven Hills faculty and staff!

Matthew Bolton Head of Upper School

Bolton Beyreis Freeman Howard Laughlin Levesque Morgan Polifka Schulteis 16

Matt started his career as a member of Teach for America, and later taught English in Japan. Matt comes from Loyola School in New York City, where he served for the past 15 years. He was Loyola’s Dean of Students for six years and Dean of Academics for the past seven years. Matt received a B.A. in English from Binghamton University, master’s degrees in Educational Administration and in English Education from Fordham University, and a master’s and Ph.D. in English Literature from the City University of New York.

Mark Beyreis Upper School English Teacher

Mark received his B.A. with Honors in English from Stanford University, an MBA from Seton Hall University, and an M.A. with Honors in English from the University of Kansas. Mark most recently taught freshman, sophomore, and senior English at Louisville Collegiate School where he developed a senior English elective combining socially important literature, such as The Grapes of Wrath, with community volunteerism. He also served as president of the area High School Journalism Council.

Vallie Freeman Donor Relations and Stewardship Manager in the Development Office

Vallie received a B.A. in Political Science from The University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a J.D. from The University of Cincinnati College of Law. Vallie most recently held the position of attorney at Wolterman Law Office, LPA, and at Triton Energy Asset Management, Inc., in Centennial, CO.

Danielle Howard Doherty After the Bell Teacher

Danielle most recently served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dreams to Memories Social Events in Cincinnati. She has 15 years of experience in business development, strategic planning, marketing, and client and program management.

Claire Laughlin Doherty Unit III Teacher

Claire received her B.A. in Psychology and Elementary Education from Saint Louis University, and her M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University Peabody College. Claire most recently taught fourth grade at Dorothy Howell Elementary School in Erlanger, KY, where she incorporated technological tools into her curriculum to further enhance daily lessons in all subject areas. Claire also was selected to be a teacher representative on the School-Based Decision-Making Council as well as the Erlanger-Elsmere School District Council.

Cassie Levesque Upper School Math Teacher

Cassie received her B.S. in Psychology and Mathematics from Connecticut College and her M.S. in Teaching Mathematics from University of New Hampshire, Durham. Cassie most recently taught algebra I, algebra II, honors geometry, and pre-calculus at Providence Country Day School in Providence, RI, and before that, at Kingswood-Oxford School and Suffield Academy in Connecticut. She has co-chaired a Social and Emotional Learning action group, which served

to manage social and emotional issues in a learning environment. In addition, Cassie initiated Suffield’s squash program.

Margo Morgan Doherty After the Bell Teacher

Margo most recently served as a care provider for children and the elderly in South Bend and Osceola, IN, respectively.

In addition to her six years of providing care and community outreach, Margo also has experience as a community relations coordinator, as well as working with the continuing education of patients with Alzheimer’s.

Dan Polifka Upper School History Teacher

Dan received his B.A. in History from Middlebury College in Vermont and his M.A. in History from Brown University. Dan most recently served as a history teacher at Providence Country Day School in Rhode Island and Marianapolis Preparatory School in Connecticut. Dan is a 2012 Klingenstein Summer Institute Fellow of Teachers College, Columbia University.

Diane Schulteis Lotspeich Kindergarten Teacher

Diane holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Cincinnati. Diane has served as a first grade teacher at Princeton City Schools and has worked with the Ohio Department of Education.

With 24 years of experience in education, Diane has an extensive background in afterschool programs and has served on district councils for outdoor and multicultural education, math, reading, and advisory.

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Kathleen Slone Lotspeich Assistant Kindergarten Teacher

Kathleen received her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from The Ohio State University. She also is a candidate for an M.A. in the Early Childhood Education Initial Licensure Program. Kathleen most recently volunteered on a weekly basis at Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati. Before that, she taught at The Compass School and at the Creative Play Center in Cincinnati.

Trey Tatum Upper School Technical Director

Trey received a B.A. in Theater Arts from Birmingham-Southern College and an M.F.A. in Playwriting from Actor’s Studio Drama School in New York.

Trey most recently served as a theater camp counselor and a teaching artist at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. He has worked on sound, set, and lighting design for numerous productions since 2009.

Philip Thornberry Middle and Upper School Spanish Teacher

Philip received a B.A. in Spanish and a B.S. in Economics from Saint Louis University, and an M.A. in Spanish Literature and Culture from University of Louisville. Philip is currently a doctoral candidate in Hispanic and Lusophone Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics from University of Minnesota. Philip most recently served as a visiting instructor of Spanish at Normandale Community College and Macalester

College in Minnesota, and as a graduate instructor at University of Minnesota. Philip also has taught Spanish at University of Louisville and Gordon Tech High School.

Jen Torline Upper School Chemistry Teacher

Jen received a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Xavier University. Jen most recently served as a science teacher at McAuley High School in Cincinnati, where she wrote curriculum and led laboratory instruction of students in the disciplines of AP chemistry, forensic science, geophysics, physics, marine biology, and biology. Before that, Jen was an AP chemistry exam reader, a consultant with Procter & Gamble, and a facilitator with the Ohio Science Curriculum Institute.

Rose Truong Lotspeich Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Rose received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana University and an M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Rose most recently taught preschool at Boston Children’s School in Massachusetts. She also has taught preschool and elementary school grades at a number of schools, including Arlington Heights Nursery School in Massachusetts, Cedar Crest Academy in the state of Washington, American School of Bangkok in Thailand, and Sythwood Primary in England.

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Daniel Vance Upper School Art Teacher

Daniel received a B.A. in History, a B.F.A in Art from Western Illinois University, and an M.F.A. in Sculpture from University of South Dakota.

Daniel most recently served as an art instructor at The Classical Academy in Colorado. Before that, Daniel taught at Parsons School of Design in New York, Spoon River College, and Chicago International Charter School. In addition to teaching, Daniel has received a number of honors and awards for his work.

Maggie Walker Middle and Upper School Spanish Teacher

Maggie received a B.S. in Spanish Education from Miami University and a M.Ed. in Administration from Xavier University. Maggie most recently taught all levels of Spanish in the Lincoln County School District in Kentucky, as well as in Loveland City Schools. Maggie also has served as a lacrosse coach at Indian Hill High School and as a Spanish tutor at Miami University.

Erin Wierzba Upper School Physical Education and Health Teacher Erin received a B.S. in Physical Education from the University of Toledo in Ohio.

She most recently served as a physical education and health teacher at Atlanta Girls School and The Lovett School in Georgia. In 2011, Erin was named Most Outstanding Teacher for the University of Toledo physical education program.

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Slone Tatum Thornberry Torline Truong Vance Walker Wierzba 17

School News H O M E C O M I N G

Homecoming 2014: A night to remember!

Ribbon cutting for the Seven Hills Athletic Complex

Boys Soccer clinic

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Seven Hills watches the breathtaking fireworks at the close of Homecoming and dedication of the Athletic Complex

The new concession stand was a popular stop

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Seven Hills’ pep band, Pepsplosion

Cheerleading clinic

Boys Soccer clinic

Tennis clinic

Seven Hills student athletes kick into full gear during the traditional soccer “shoot out.”

Girls Soccer clinic

Seven Hills parents show their Stinger Pride

School News F A C U L T Y

Drury Faculty Chair Awarded to Judith Neidlein-Dial I like the moments when one can see the light bulbs go off, I like working with young people, and I love working with gifted and dedicated colleagues.” She continued, “I also appreciate the way history disciplines the mind. Historians are taught to cut through murky wording and outdated phrasing to read between the lines. History teaches us to find, share, and analyze information, to discern patterns and to anticipate different perspectives.”

The Seven Hills School has awarded one of its highest faculty honors, the Mary Drury Faculty Chair in History, to Judith NeidleinDial, in recognition of the excellence of her teaching. Neidlein-Dial is in her sixth year of teaching Middle School History at Seven Hills.

In her remarks upon receiving her Drury chair, Judith told the assembled faculty and staff, “I like having to learn new things, I like the challenge of looking for different and always better ways of making kids connect,

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At the same event, Head of School Chris Garten said, “Never one to rest on success, Judith continually revises and tweaks her curriculum, looking to the current world’s events to make relevant the events and people from the past. What marks Judith’s skills as a teacher is her ability to empower students to “feel” the urgency of engaging with the world; students know that they will be the ones who will inherit the world and it is, ultimately, up to them to make a difference. ”

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Brodie Awards Honor Katie Dawson, Linda Ford for Excellence in Teaching Two teachers are recipients of Brodie Grants for Excellence in Teaching from the Brodie Family Faculty Betterment Fund — Doherty pre-kindergarten teacher Katie Dawson, and Upper School science teacher Linda Ford. The Brodie Fund is an endowed fund that provides professional development opportunities for faculty and which recognizes outstanding teachers at both early and later stages of their careers.

Katie Dawson Head of School Chris Garten said, “Katie Dawson brings energy, enthusiasm, and patience to each day. While her talents are vast and varied, teaching is her gift. Katie treats her 3-year-olds with respect, her colleagues with patience, the parents with honest clarity. Teaching very young children requires a deep commitment to the future. It is the foundation upon which academic success rests and habits of mind take root.” Garten explained, “Someone once said, ‘They (the students) may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel!’ Katie makes each child feel safe and powerful and joyful every day!”

Linda Ford Of Linda Ford, Head of School Chris Garten shared, “Anyone who knows Linda Ford can tell you about her enthusiasm for teaching, for science, for preserving the environment, indeed for life in general! Linda is a whirlwind of energy around school; whether she is planning new activities for her lively, engaging classes or labs, meeting with students to provide encouragement or support, or organizing field trips or extracurricular activities, Linda gives everything she does her full attention.” Garten continued, “Linda sets the very highest possible standards for herself and her students, and she models for all of us a life of devotion to learning and to education in the very broadest sense.”

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P H . D .

Creating Conversations - Michael Thompson, Ph.D.

Our speaker series continues this year and features experts in their fields relating to raising bright, healthy, happy children.

In a thoughtful, gritty September message, renowned child psychologist and New York Times bestseller Dr. Michael Thompson encouraged parents and educators to rethink the way they view the role of their children’s school. Thompson’s personable presentation brought the audience to tears, laughter, and everything in between as he demystified parents’ fears and assumptions about the role of formal education in their children’s lives.

Parents voiced a number of concerns during the interactive presentation, including college acceptance angst, time management, sleep deprivation among students, the perception of looming competitiveness, and the pursuit for overall happiness throughout students’ pre-kindergarten through college years. Thompson responded that much of parents’ fears creep in when they unwittingly replace reality with “fantasy” views of school once parents become adults.

“There is a big disconnect between the school lives of parents and the lives of their children,” he told an audience of 300. “Parents are always asking if they can manage their kids’ school experience so it will go better than their’s did.” But Thompson warned, “A child’s school experience is his, and his alone.” Once parents fully accept that their child’s school career is not about arranging building blocks in a certain way to guarantee a desired outcome for their child’s life, and once parents see school for what it is, they can begin to more lovingly and effectively respond to their child’s needs.

In addition to encouraging parents to look at school more realistically, Thompson shared

preparation for life,” said Thompson. “Children are living their lives right now.”

M O R E C R E AT I N G C O N V E R S AT I O N S E V E N T S :

In a special presentation just for parents of ninth graders, James Lingo discussed the vital role communication plays in families with teens and young adults. A favorite among the Seven Hills community, Lingo, of Freedom from Chemical Dependency, conducted this interactive workshop in November. Don’t miss child psychologists Dr. Andrew Sweeney and Dr. Shelby Werner, who will share evidence-based parenting techniques for improving the parent-child relationship with children in pre-kindergarten through second grade. This final event for the 2014-15 Creating Conversations series will take place on April 16, 2015.

The Seven Hills School speaker series, Creating Conversations, welcomes you, your family, and friends to attend these free-ofThe Seven Hills School Speaker Series charge events. To learn more visit www.7hills.org/CreatingConversations.

several provocative statements, asking parents to embrace their child’s current academic, social, and athletic health. “School is not about 21

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AP Scholar Awards

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National Merit Semifinalists and Commended students

94% of AP Exam scores qualify for advanced standing in college

Fifty-five members of the Classes of 2014 and 2015 have been named AP Scholars by the College Board for their exceptional achievement on the college-level AP Exams.

Of the 195 Advanced Placement exams in 13 subjects taken by 101 students, as of June 2014, 94 percent of scores were 3’s or better on the 1–5 national scale, qualifying our students for advanced college standing.

Receiving National AP Scholar Awards for average scores of at least 4 or higher on all AP Exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more are 2014 graduates Brian Hu, Andrew Ligeralde, Steven Shi, Benjamin Sorscher, Gregory Sun, and senior Ellen Lu. Their average score was 4.65.

Receiving AP Scholar with Distinction Awards for average scores of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more are seniors Stefan Antonsson, Nicole Barresi, Carl Compton, Ben King, Joanne Li, Ellen Lu, and Ellie Pasquale.

2014 graduates who received AP Scholar with Distinction Awards are Roshni Bagli, Ashok Dheenan, Allie Feuerlein, Kayla Kavanaugh, Angie Li, Sarah Shim, Panos Skoufalos, and Phoebe Um. Their average score was 4.40.

Receiving AP Scholar with Honor Awards for average scores of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more are seniors Adam Buford, Grade Cawdrey, Alayna Choo, Maddy Cole, Arjun Dheenan, Claudia Fernandez, Pearce Kieser, Nicole Malofsky, Clarke Waskowitz, Andrew Wilson, and 2014 graduates Zachary Abraham, Kevin Cole, Tess Renusch, and Reena Sengupta.

Their average score was 4.30.

Receiving AP Scholar Awards for scoring 3 or higher on three or more exams are seniors Avery Coombe, Charles Gregory, Alexander Hunter, Srishti Kapur, Mitchell Polonsky, Christopher Shoemaker, and 2014 graduates Emily Addy, Nick Davis, Madeleine Gold, Louis Goldsmith, Caroline Linne, Connor Rouan, Emma Uible, Lauren Weems, and Eleanor Wilson. Their average score was 3.67.

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National Merit Semifinalists (l to r) Ben King, Andrew Wilson, Alayna Choo, Joanne Li, Mitchell Polonsky, Nicole Barresi, Carl Compton, Pearce Kieser, Adam Buford. (not pictured: Grace Cawdrey and Lindsay Finn)

Seven Hills continues its tradition of excellence with 22 students who received recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Eleven students were named Semifinalists, and 11 were named Commended students. In addition, one senior, who also is a National Merit Semifinalist, received distinguished recognition from the National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Seven Hills National Merit Semifinalists are National Merit Commended Students Nicole Barresi, Adam Buford, Grace Cawdrey, (front) Ellen Lu, Judy Sun, Ellie Pasquale, Avery Coombe, and Grace Carroll Alayna Choo, Carl Compton, Lindsay Finn, (back) Arjun Dheenan, Alex Li, Sean Yoshitomi-Gray, Chris Janidlo, Chris Pearce Kieser, Ben King, Joanne Li, Mitchell Shoemaker, and Duncan Gibson Polonsky, and Andrew Wilson. National Merit Commended students are Grace Carroll, Avery Coombe, Arjun Dheenan, Duncan Gibson, Christopher Janidlo, Alexander Li, Ellen Lu, Ellen Pasquale, Christopher Shoemaker, Judy Sun, and Sean Yoshitomo-Gray. The National Achievement Scholarship Program recognized Adam Buford.

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Fall Sports Honors

The words strength, grit, and dedication sum up Seven Hills’ fall sports season. Seven Hills student athletes and coaches earned recognition for a number of rewarding competitions in boys soccer, girls soccer, golf, girls tennis, volleyball, and cross country. Congratulations to all of the student athletes who worked hard to make the fall season so successful, receiving a number of accolades and recognition during the fall sports awards ceremony in October.

In a dynamic season, Seven Hills’ varsity boys soccer team defeated Cincinnati Country Day 2-1 to win the MVC Championship in early October.

The boys finished the regular season with a 13-1-2 record and a 6-0-1 record in MVC play.

The team also won the district championship against Franklin Monroe in late October and fought hard in the regional finals on Nov. 1.

Summit Country Day won 4-3. The final score, however, did not overshadow the Stinger team, which consistently showed sportsmanship, determination, and honor on and off the field.

The Seven Hills golf team used impressive skill and strategy to become Cincinnati’s only Division III team to make it to the state level this season.

Represented by Ben King, Brian Goertemoeller, Daniel Grass, Bennett Smith, and Jack Lane, the team took second place at the Division III district golf championship at Middletown’s Weatherwax Golf Course in early October. The boys shot a

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The Seven Hills cross country team competed with determination and perseverance in the MVC last fall. The boys placed fourth overall, paced by sophomore Chase Gardner, who set a personal best record of 17:29. Matt Maring placed 12th with a time of 18:05, and Nia Page placed 15th with a time of 23:15. Gardner and Maring advanced to compete at the regional meet at Troy High School.

Varsity girls soccer fought hard all season, growing as a team with each game and taking smart risks on the field that demonstrated their effort and skill.

As a result, the girls proved they can compete with some of the best teams in the city.

combined 335, finishing just three strokes behind district-winner West Liberty -Salem, and qualifying them for the state tournament. The day was highlighted by a hole-in-one by senior King on the eighth hole. King and Lane tied for the team lead, shooting a score of 82 in the match. The Seven Hills golf team later competed in the Division III state tournament at the North Star Golf Club near Columbus in mid-October. Goertemoeller set the pace for the team, finishing tied for 23rd in the state with a score of 161. Lane and King also finished in the top 50 overall. With additional help from Smith and Grass, the boys finished tied for 10th overall as a team.

For the second consecutive season the Seven Hills girls varsity tennis team, coached by Tim Drew, won the MVC Championship. The girls finished the regular season with a perfect 6-0 record against conference opponents. Congratulations to the members of the team: Brooke Bailey, Natalie Choo, Ellie Kennedy, Kelly Pan, Laney Saggar, Lauren Saggar, Piper Spooner, and Nicole Tiao.

Congratulations to Max Lane for his win in the Cincinnati Middle School Golf League Championship.

The eighth grader won the tournament on Saturday October 11, at The Mill Course with a score of 78. Max won the tournament, featuring more than 70 golfers, by three strokes, completing a season in which he was either the medalist or co-medalist in every tournament he entered.

Tennis coach Tim Drew and soccer coach Terry Nicholl received the Miami Valley Conference (MVC) Coach of the Year award, while senior Jules Baretta received the Dick Snyder Sportsmanship Award, which is awarded to students who display integrity and general sportsmanship throughout the season.

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Homecoming ribbon-cutting opens new Lower Fields Athletic Complex The Seven Hills School is now home to one of the largest outdoor athletic facilities in the Cincinnati area — three turf fields measuring a total of 175,000 sq. ft.

Athletic Facilities Task Force Chair Patrick Rogers and members of the committee, and Athletic Director Brian Phelps participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the athletic complex at the close of the 2014 Homecoming events on Sept. 28.

“This new facility is a great example of what this community can accomplish when we pull together,” Garten told hundreds of school community members during the ribboncutting. “It took less than 12 months — from conception to engineering and design, to fundraising, to execution — to make this dream a reality.”

Ribbon Cutting for The Seven Hills School Athletic Complex Front row: Beth Schiff, Patrick Rogers, Elizabeth Rogers, Amy DeWitt, Margot DeWitt Good Back row: Billy Cyr, John Silverman, Amy Callow(partially hidden), Karen Antonsson (partially hidden), Brian Phelps 24

In a joyful moment filled with pride and gratitude for the vision of the state-of-theart facilities, the school community looked on with Stinger Pride as Head of School Chris Garten, members of Seven Hills’ Board of Trustees, Board Chair Beth Schiff,

Garten said the new Lower Fields Athletics Complex is a major step forward for Seven Hills’ athletic program providing, not only a second competition venue, but also two new lighted all-weather practice fields, a grass softball field, fan seating, an access road, and nearby parking.

“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of our donors and especially to the Athletic Facilities Task Force, led by Patrick Rogers, for seeing this project through to

completion on such an accelerated timeline,” said Garten. “It will enrich our outdoor athletic and physical education programs for many years to come!”

While Seven Hills soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and softball teams will have use of the facilities, the fields also will be used for physical education classes, school events, and summer camp activities, said Phelps. Last fall, Seven Hills’ athletic complex also became

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Seven Hills watches breathtaking fireworks at the close of Homecoming and dedication of the Athletic Complex

home to Ohio Elite Soccer Academy. Phelps said the partnership with Ohio Elite enables The Seven Hills School to realize a revenue stream which helps support athletic programs and the physical education department,

“This new facility is a great example of what this community can accomplish when we pull together ...

It took less than 12 months — from conception to engineering and design, to fundraising , to execution — to make this dream a reality.”

while Ohio Elite will have access to all three turf fields for winter training, showcase events, and games.

“The original vision for this project was to create more practice space for all of our teams in grades one through 12,” said Phelps. “It is not only going to serve that purpose, but will add another exceptional competition venue, as well.”

- Christopher Garten 25

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ALL ABOUT BEES This fall, students in Theresa Cohen and Diane Schulteis’ kindergarten classes enjoyed a lesson on bees under the pavilion on the Hillsdale campus. Cohen, who also is an apiarist, demonstrated beekeeping with empty versions of the boxes she uses in her apiary. Students watched Cohen don her beekeeping suit and ignite her smoker. They learned about the many items that can be made from beeswax, the importance of bees in our ecology, and held and smelled honeycomb. Cohen concluded her lesson with a nectar tasting and an art project.

H U N T I N G A N D G AT H E R I N G AT K N O O P FA R M In one of many favorite Lotspeich traditions, fifth graders explored, gathered, and foraged at art teacher Jody Knoop’s farm in New Richmond, OH, in early September. “We all had such a fun time helping each other as we hiked down a creek bed and explored the farm,” said fifth grade teacher Karla Balskus.

Balskus and teacher Kate Fischer transformed every step of the rural journey into an outdoor classroom as students gathered tinder and kindling, along with black walnuts and marigolds – some of the natural materials they 26

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used for their colonial dye baths in October. A special treat was visiting the animals who live on the farm, including Lana, the “fifth grade sheep,” who comes to Lotspeich each spring to be shorn.

PA RT N E R S H I P W I T H C R AYO N S TO CO M P U T E R S

Upper School students, along with Seven Hills’ Director of Experiential Learning Nick Francis, announced a new partnership with Crayons to Computers. Over the course of a couple of weeks, Upper School students used their lunchtime to manage a plan for distribution of 3,000 boxes of Yoobi school supplies accumulated through fund-raising efforts by Crayons to Computers.

Once completed, the project reached hundreds of classrooms throughout Greater Cincinnati last fall. Yoobi is an organization in coordination with Target Department Stores that makes one Yoobi school supply available to a school in need for every Yoobi school supply purchased. Founded in 1997, Crayons to Computers operates a free store

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for teachers from nearly 600 greater Cincinnati area schools in 16 counties (in Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Indiana), offering new and gently used school supplies, educational tools, and incentive items.

D E B AT E I N U N I T I I I Last fall, Unit III students engaged in a gritty debate around the book Frindle by Andrew Clements. The debate centered on the positions of Frindle book characters student Nick Allen and language arts teacher Mrs. Granger. Half of the Unit III students took student Nick Allen’s side — which was that students should be able to use the word “frindle” whenever and wherever they want. The other half of the Unit III students debated Mrs. Granger’s side — that “frindle” is not a word and students should not be allowed to use it. Students were responsible for working in cooperative groups, identifying main points to support their side, and using evidence from the text to support their reasons. They also were encouraged to use real world examples. Fifth graders acted as the moderators and asked questions, challenged students thinking, and made sure the debate was well organized.

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COLLEGE COUNSELING HOLDS MOCK COLLEGE ADMISSIONS WORKSHOP There are very few opportunities for students and their parents to experience what it is like to be on the other side of the desk in the world of college admission. Seven Hills’ college counseling department created that unique opportunity this fall during the school’s first Mock Admissions Committee Workshop for seniors and their parents. During the event, more than 90 students — 230 parents and students total — worked in groups with representatives from 26 visiting colleges and universities from all over the country. Students played the roles of college admissions officers, discussing the applications of fictional students applying to fictional colleges, said Seven Hills college counselor Lara Magdzinski. The groups placed the fictional students in admitted, denied, or waitlisted categories. “The students really got into it,” said Magdzinski. “The biggest complaint was that students wanted more time to discuss their choices. The goal of the program was to demystify the college admissions process for students and parents, and I think it went a long way in doing just that.” Magdzinski continued, “By stepping into the shoes of admissions officers for an evening, participants walked away with a better understanding of the complexities and subjectivity of how, and why, admissions decisions are made.” Seven Hills hosts visits from more than 100 colleges and universities across the nation every year.

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOLS BEGIN WORK FOR SHAKESPEARE PROJECTS In an exciting launch of a new partnership with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Middle and Upper School performing arts students recently received word they will perform The Tempest and Pericles, respectively, in Cincinnati-based spring productions. The students will be presenting the

plays as part of the PROJECT38 festival in downtown Cincinnati in April. Middle School theater teacher Rachel Damon will direct The Tempest. Upper School theater teacher Stephanie Park will direct Pericles.

READING WITH ISRAEL As part of the International Shared Reading Project, participating eighth graders will engage in a collaborative learning enterprise with a middle school class in Netanya, Israel, as part of their study of World War II and the Holocaust.

Students who chose to participate signed contracts on Sept. 23, said Middle School history teacher Judith Neidlein-Dial.

Participants were matched with an Israeli partner to discuss pre-determined questions related to the book The Island on Bird Street by Uri

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Orlov via a secure website that is solely dedicated to the reading project. Neidlein-Dial said students are looking forward to the international literature project.

Neidlein-Dial also created an “ambassador” model in which student volunteers, who elect to actively participate in this project, communicated with the Israeli partners and then reported back to their respective classmates.

S C AV E N G I N G T H E B O N E YA R D In an event so full that science department chair Karen Glum had to create a second opportunity after the first filled to capacity, 20 Middle School students participated in a brown bag lunch workshop led by Seven Hills parent and Procter & Gamble engineer Brad Walsh.

Walsh took students into the inner workings of a hand mixer by dismantling the mixer and explaining its parts. Students enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions throughout the lab.

Glum, also the director of the new program, The Innovation Lab, said the “boneyard” is a shelf overflowing with broken and old appliances and other mechanisms. The Innovation Lab is designed to offer Middle School students the opportunity to incorporate design and conceptualization into their work.

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In memory of Beth Leonard The Seven Hills community shared reflections and memories of the dynamic legacy left by Middle School physical education teacher Beth Leonard, who passed away in July 2014.

During a special tribute service in Kalnow Gym last fall, Middle and Upper School students, teachers, and administrators came together to remember Ms. Leonard’s words of wisdom, accomplishments, and the gift of friendship she gave to so many.

Throughout her 27 years at Seven Hills, Ms. Leonard was known for her strength of character and tenacity in all of her endeavors, for broadening the opportunities of our athletic program, and for championing a comprehensive wellness program in the Middle School. Seven Hills teachers and administrators called Ms. Leonard “fiercely loyal,” “wise,” “sensible,” and “passionate about education.”

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Head of School Chris Garten said, “One of the ways Ms. Leonard expressed her love for The Seven Hills School community was through encouraging all of us to take care of ourselves and advocate for healthy habits … She also took a great deal of pride in trying to find new and exciting experiences like fly fishing and yoga and other activities to add to our athletic program.”

Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz said the Middle School will install a bench in the

Middle School bird garden this school year in Ms. Leonard’s honor.

“We continue to keep alive Beth’s devotion to students and holding all students to the standards that distinguish Seven Hills as a caring and compassionate community,” said Waskowitz. “This is a special opportunity to memorialize Beth’s observant spirit and connection with the world around her.”

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In memory of Ben Nordmeyer (Class of 2016) The Seven Hills community suffered the terrible loss of a dear friend on November 20, 2014, when Ben Nordmeyer passed away. Ben will be forever remembered, loved, and missed by his parents Mary Lynne and John; grandparents Jean (George) Birck, and John and Ruth Nordmeyer; aunts, uncles and cousins; teammates; and the entire Seven Hills community.

At a celebration of his life held on November 25, friends and family, many from the Seven Hills community, gathered to honor Ben’s memory. Among the many thoughts shared by those who spoke about Ben were remembrances of his passion for baseball and soccer; deep connection to nature and the natural world; love of music; and gift of sharing true, sincere, and loyal friendship.

A few of the thoughts shared by the Seven Hills community follow: Ben’s third grade teacher Kim Walden reflected on his progression from Lower to Upper School. Of Ben as an Upper School student, she said he was never “too cool” to say hi to his old third grade teacher. “…With a warm smile and a ‘How are you?’ he would quietly make my day,” she said. “What an amazing young man.”

Head of Lotspeich Carolyn Fox, had many fond memories of Ben as a Lotspeich student — his kind, helpful ways with teammates; his role as trusted, dependable friend to classmates.

“He continued to touch our hearts as a big guy because each year he would stop in at Lotspeich to reconnect. And if any of us were lucky enough to see him around campus, he was always quick to offer a warm greeting,” she said, reflecting on Ben as he moved up through the Middle and Upper schools.

Music teacher Tina Kuhlman summed up her thoughts about Ben with a call to action, saying,

“We all have so many special memories of Ben. Share these stories often. Tell others of his integrity. Talk of his kindness toward people and animals. Emulate his sincerity and his sense of fair play. In doing so, you will honor his legacy. For certainly, Seven Hills is a better place for having had him among us, and we are better people for having known him.”

Head of School Chris Garten, reflecting on the impact of Ben’s death on all of us in the Seven Hills community, said, “Ben’s father told me, ‘We will all get through this, though we will never get over it.’ It will, indeed, take all of us some time to come to terms with all we are feeling, but it is comforting to know that we will be sustained by our warm memories of Ben, by music and laughter and prayer, and by the healing thoughts we can share with one another.”

Friends and family have established a scholarship fund in Ben’s memory.

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School News C A R E E R

career café

Students asked Sittenfeld about his educational background, his

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Books for Lunch 2015

Career Café P.G. Sittenfeld ’03 was the speaker for the Nov. 3 Career Café for Upper School students. After finishing first in the 2013 City Council election, Sittenfeld is serving his second term as a member of Cincinnati City Council. He chairs the Education and Entrepreneurship Committee, and also serves on the Budget & Finance Committee and the Major Transportation & Regional Cooperation Committee.

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experience at Google in London, and how he got involved in politics.

During the lively Q&A session, he shared that, of the many initiatives he has been involved with, one of the projects he is most proud of is his work to facilitate the launch of free, universal wireless Internet access in Lower Price Hill. As he explained, this will help ease the digital divide in a Cincinnati community that has had one of the lowest rates of Internet access in all of Ohio.

The 2015 Books for Lunch committee, co-chaired by Seven Hills parents Patti Heldman and Elizabeth Coley, is honored and excited to present this year’s guest author, National Book Award winner Colum McCann.

In its 29th year, Books for Lunch brings authors of note to the school for a morning with Upper School students and a luncheon with parents and the greater Cincinnati community.

If you haven’t participated before, you are invited to come and see what it is all about. And if you have, please rejoin the fun. Save the date for the Feb. 6, 2015, luncheon at Xavier University’s Cintas Center.

Tickets are $50. Please visit: www.7hills.org/BooksForLunch for more information about Colum McCann and his brilliant, award-winning work.

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Friday, February 6, 2015 12 p.m.

Luncheon and book signing at the Cinta s Center, Xavier Uni versity For more inform ation visit www.7hills.org /BooksForLunc h

School News M A T T

Matt Bolton Q & A What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading A Wild Sheep Chase, a very odd and funny novel by Haruki Murakami. Next up is Books for Lunch author Colum McCann’s Transatlantic (I loved Let the Great World Spin). When I’m driving, I listen to Ian McKellen reading The Odyssey.

So many books, so little time!

What parts of Cincinnati do you look forward to exploring with your family?

My wife and I love walking around cities, and so we’re looking forward to spending more time exploring downtown, Overthe-Rhine, Newport, Covington, and other historic neighborhoods.

Each Cincinnati neighborhood seems to have its own distinct

character. We also love parks, museums, and libraries, all of which Cincinnati has in abundance.

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upper school learning program under the leadership of Nick Francis. We’re going to have a great year in the Upper School.

What are your initial impressions of the Seven Hills student body?

Seven Hills students genuinely love coming to school. You can see this in the enthusiasm they bring to the classroom and to all of the different teams, clubs, and activities in which they’re involved. We have great teachers at Seven Hills, and I know that our students recognize and value this.

What are some new initiatives in the Upper School this year?

We’re building on the success of the block schedule; our 80-minute classes allow teachers and students to explore topics in greater depth and to engage in a richer variety of classroom activities. I’m also very excited about our launching the experiential

Get a fresh start for today and dona the new year! Clean out closets te your items to the Resale Shop and cupboards . Happy New Ye ar!

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Catching up with Kishen Mangat ’92 The diverse range of opportunities at Seven Hills enables students to play to their strengths at a highly formative time in life.

BroadHop, was acquired by Cisco Systems in 2013. I am currently serving as Director of Product Management in Cisco’s mobility business.

What was the inspiration for your career path?

Kishen: During childhood I observed my father and grandfather build their businesses. I was always interested in hearing about the latest challenges and triumphs. As an artist, my mother pioneered a new medium in contemporary quilt making. This had a huge impact on my awareness of the inobvious path.

How did you discover this in yourself?

Kishen: I graduated from Colorado College in 1996 with a degree in Economics. The internet was just emerging and I could see that the technology space was filled with opportunity. I have since founded several software businesses, the most recent of which,

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Aspen on July 4, 2014 with children: Vincent (age 8), Desmond (age 6), Julia (7 months)

Descending from the summit of South Howser Tower in the Canadian Bugaboos

Tell us briefly about your work.

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Kishen: I could see from a young age that my father and grandfather were striving to realize their full potential. I really wanted to experience this same level of fulfillment and felt that I would be disappointed with a traditional path. During college I became quite passionate about climbing and mountaineering, and completed a number of challenging expeditions. This deepened my understanding of how I manage risk. These two factors contributed greatly to my pursuit of entrepreneurship.

What were your goals at the start of this?

Kishen: On the day I graduated from college, I will never forget saying to my Dad, “I don’t want to work for someone else.”

What were significant accomplishments along the path you’ve taken in pursuit of your passion and work?

Kishen: Some of the triumphs in my climbing career have been influential in terms of understanding my own capabilities and what it takes to succeed in attaining a goal. A successful expedition to Mount Foraker in the Alaska Range stands out. There was also a major setback. After the dot-com crash, the once free and easy venture capital ran dry.

Faced with cash flow problems we were forced to merge with another firm in a stock transaction. The business was eventually shut down. This experience shaped many of my business philosophies and ultimately prepared me for future success.

What are your goals now?

Kishen: I want to spend time with my wife,Lindsay, and three children. I cherish

my health and the ability to still engage in rock climbing and mountaineering at a high level.

In my career, I want to be able to realize my potential.

What gives you the most satisfaction?

Putting my family in a position to live life on our terms.

Is there anything you would like to share with your Seven Hills teachers or about your Seven Hills experience?

Seven Hills is such a supportive environment.

I arrived in the tenth grade and was unfocused.

The teachers and administration really helped me to understand and harness my potential.

Diane Kruer (art), Bob Turansky (history) and Patty Flanigan (performing arts) all had a tremendous impact on me. I also had a rock and roll band with a group of my Seven Hills classmates. The school made the quad available to us for a “Battle of the Bands.” The diverse range of opportunities at Seven Hills enables students to play to their strengths at a highly formative time in life.

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Catching up with Monica Dealy ’99

I have always felt prepared to deal with whatever challenge is in front of me, and I know that is a direct result of the solid foundation that I have from my 13 years as a student at Seven Hills.

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Tell us briefly about your work.

Monica: I am a Director of Global Marketing for Clinique, part of the Estée Lauder Companies in New York City. I launch new skincare products each year by working on all aspects of the development of a product launch from initial launch strategy to the advertising consumers see in magazines and on TV. It is exciting to bring products to market that are part of peoples’ everyday lives not only in the U.S. but also across the globe. I moved to New York following graduation from Middlebury College in Vermont after falling in love with the city during a summer internship in college.

What was the interest/passion that brought you to this work?

Monica: I have been interested in fashion and beauty since I was young. I still remember my first trip to the department store with friends to purchase makeup. The beauty consultant sat with each one of us to find the perfect shade and talked to us about how to take care of our skin. Each time I opened the product I bought that day it brought back a little bit of the excitement of that first purchase. I discovered my interest in marketing while attending the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and focused my second year elective

classes on marketing topics. It was during this time that I realized that I could combine both interests into a successful career and focused my job search on finding a position in prestige beauty.

How did you discover this in yourself?

Monica: I have always liked math because I feel grounded in numbers. I knew that I wanted a job that involved analysis as part of the decision making process. Now I analyze the industry and business opportunity of a new product launch as part of my daily job.

What were your goals at the start of this work?

Monica: When I joined my current company, I was starting in a new industry.

My main goal was to learn as much about the industry as possible by reading newspaper articles, flipping through magazines, finding beauty blogs with cult followings and talking to sales associates selling beauty products in stores. Beauty is such an emotional category, and I wanted to make sure that I was connecting with those emotions and that I knew as much about the beauty consumer as possible to help

inform the analysis that I do as part of my job. As a marketer of consumer products, the consumer needs to be in the forefront of my mind during all phases of development.

What were significant points along the path you’ve taken in pursuit of this work?

Monica: I wasn’t sure about what career I wanted to pursue after college. I knew that I wanted to go to graduate school to refine my skill set after attending a liberal arts college.

The more people I spoke with in different jobs after college, the more I learned about different career possibilities that were available to me.

Business school was a turning point since it allowed me to switch careers from what I was doing previously and pursue a new career in marketing. I graduated during a difficult time in the economy but fortunately, with significant effort, I was able to find my current position.

Is there anything you would like to share with your Seven Hills teachers or about your Seven Hills experience?

Monica: I am grateful for the strong education that I received at Seven Hills.

As a student, I was not only given the tools for success (learning to write, give presentations, etc.) but most importantly, teachers like Mr. Abineri challenged me to learn how to think through problems on my own. That has been an invaluable training that has carried me through college and business school and into my career in marketing. I have always felt prepared to deal with whatever challenge is in front of me, and I know that is a direct result of the solid foundation that I have from my 13 years as a student at Seven Hills.

What gives you the most satisfaction?

Monica: There is nothing more satisfying than reading a consumer’s review of a product that I have worked on and hearing how this person feels better about herself and has more confidence because her skin looks better.

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Alumni News Download the Seven Hills Alumni mobile app

Alumni participation

Why is this important?

• Alumni giving helps maintain the experience of excellent education, exceptional faculty, small classes, fine arts, athletics, and close-knit community that are part of Seven Hills and its predecessor schools.

• Alumni participation is important in helping Seven Hills receive foundation and corporate grants.

• Your gift, no matter the size, has an impact. Participation is the goal — your support makes a difference.

Please make your gift to The Seven Hills Fund before June 15 by visiting www.7hills.org/TheSevenHillsFund Thank you for your support!

Give now – Learn more!

Attention Seven Hills alumni! Download the free Seven Hills School Alumni App for iPhone and Android. When you sign in using the email address on file with the Seven Hills Alumni Office, you can access contact information and the LinkedIn profiles of fellow alumni.

No matter where you live or how busy your schedule, you can connect with alumni and keep up with the latest Seven Hills and alumni news.

F E AT U R E S I N C LU D E : • Alumni directory searchable by “Name” or “Class Year” • Update your contact information • “Nearby” function lets you search for fellow alumni by location and view the result on a map • Integration with LinkedIn • Access to the Seven Hills’ Career Mentoring Network • Access to alumni and school events calendars • Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr feeds • Easily upload photos and class notes to the app • Make your gift to The Seven Hills Fund

SUPPORTED DE VICE S: • • • •

Android iPhone iPod Touch iPad

Please contact Nancy McCormick Bassett ’83 at nancy.bassett@7hills.org if you’d like to check the email address we have on file for you. *This free app is available through Apple iTunes App Store and Android Google Play.

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Alumni News The Seven Hills School Career Mentoring Program

2014 Alumni Directory

Join our Seven Hills School Alumni Page on Facebook

Are you a recent college graduate eager to access job interview tips and advice? Are you a seasoned professional seeking a mentor to help you chart the course of your career path? Are you a business owner or corporate leader with an interest in helping Seven Hills alumni by sharing your experience and guidance?

Thank you to everyone who updated personal information for the latest alumni directory. If you ordered a copy of the directory, CD, and/ or merchandise, all items were mailed in early November. If you think there has been an error with your order, please contact Publishing Concepts Inc. Client Services Department directly at 800-982-1590.

Thank you to the 731 alumni who have already joined the Seven Hills Alumni Group.

If yes, then the Seven Hills Career Mentoring Program may be of interest to you.

CAREER MENTORING IS AVA I L A B L E F O R A L L S E V E N HILLS GRADS The Career Mentoring program provides opportunities for Seven Hills alumni to connect with business executives around the country to make professional contacts and access career advice. Participation in the program is available for renewable one-year terms. Mentors provide valuable help and guidance but do not offer employment opportunities.

If you have any other questions, please contact Nancy McCormick Bassett ’83, Director of Alumni Engagement, at nancy.bassett@7hills.org or 513-728-2432.

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Now we’d like to ask you to join the Seven Hills School Alumni Page, as well as the Alumni Group.

Our new Seven Hills alumni mobile app requires us to use a Facebook page, not a group, to share information. We will continue to post news in both places with the goal of eventually using only the Alumni Page.

It’s easy and takes only a minute!

Added incentive: For every 100 people who sign up on the Seven Hills School Alumni Page, we will raffle off swag from the Spirit Shop.

Thank you for your help!

HELP US GROW THE MENTOR NET WORK! Please join the program today by completing the brief online form at www.7hills.org/jobnetworking.

Q U E S T I O N S ? Contact Nancy McCormick Bassett ’83 at nancy.bassett@7hills.org or 513.728.2432.

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Cincinnati alumni gathered on October 2, 2014, at Peterloon for a fall reception. The beautiful location and warm fall night provided the perfect setting for people to reconnect with the school and each other.

Peterloon

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Job Networking

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The Seven Hills School Job Networking Program Seven Hills is pleased to make the following program available to rising juniors, seniors, and alumni. At the same time, we are seeking the support of Seven Hills alumni, current and former parents, or friends who are interested in supporting this program.

JOB NET WORKING For the past 14 years, the Seven Hills Job Networking Program has helped provide paying summer jobs for rising juniors and seniors as well as alumni currently attending college who return to the Cincinnati area for the summer. Since its inception, nearly 200 students have secured employment as child care providers, camp counselors, administrative assistants and receptionists, servers or hosts, and retail sales associates.

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H O W Y O U C A N H E L P If you or your company can provide an opportunity for Seven Hills students or alumni, please complete our Job Network form found at www.7hills.org (click on Alumni, then click on Job Networking). You will receive a follow-up call to clarify

On behalf of our students, thank you for your participation in this valuable program.

Thank you!

QUESTIONS? Job Networking: Contact Nancy McCormick Bassett ’83, Director of Alumni Engagement at 513.728.2432 or nancy.bassett@7hills.org.

Thank you to everyone who has offered a job, internship, or shadowing opportunity. This program would not be possible without your support.

For more Seven Hills news, download a QR Co de app to your smartphone an d scan the code below to vie w Seven Hills’ e-newsletter, The Buzz (or visit www.7hillsBU ZZ.org).

your needs or requirements and help identify and screen potential applicants.

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Connections to Last a Lifetime

By Scott Carroll ’85, Seven Hills Alumni Association Board Chair LOOKING BACK Forty years. In 1974, I was a first grader at the Lotspeich School. Over the next 11 years I became a 7Hills student. As I reflect on these 40 years, a torrent of 40 7Hills images, events, and faces re-emerge: 1. Friends that have lasted a lifetime 2. Give a cheer for Lotspeich 3. Assembly with Mr. Wuerfel and singing with Mrs. Cornn 4. The Red Barn 5. May Fete 6. Living as Colonial Americans with Mrs. Blocksom 7. Class at Mrs. Howard’s house during the winter of 1978 8 Sledding 9. Outdoor program trips 10. The Halloween parade 11. Basketball 12. The presidential debates of 1980 and 1984 13. Harvest Fair 14. Breakfast Club 15. Senior lounge 16. Dick Snyder’s office 17. Nancy Anderson 18. Carol Brestel 19. Mrs. Stirsman

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Vera Hutchinson Mrs. Smith Faye Kaufman Edgar Hill Mrs. Fox Mr. Betts Mr. Burke Mrs. Gace Mr. Black Frau Meckel Mrs. Marrs Miss Huffman Mr. Abineri Mr. Wenger Mrs. Beaver Mrs. Thompson Mrs. VanderLaan Mr. and Mrs. Porter Mr. Morehouse Duke and Mrs. Snyder Pat Howard

These are events and souls that helped shape me. This is the school that helped a young boy with something called dyslexia (even though no one knew that term then) discover how he learned, and, meanwhile, taught him what it took to be a decent person and a contributing member

of the community. Forty years hence, these are still the lessons I’m trying to learn and the example I try to live up to every day. This is my 7Hills. What are your 40 images, events, and faces of these 40 years?

As you ponder, let me exhort you: don’t just revel in the memories. Rather, reconnect with friends, teachers, and especially this place. In so doing, you will reconnect with yourself. That’s the kind of gift this school has given us — one that keeps on giving, even over a span of 40 years.

Seven Hills Alumni Association Board Chair Scott Carroll is a Seven Hills lifer who entered Lotspeich in 1973, and was a Seven Hills graduate — Class of 1985. Scott, his wife, Erin O’Grady, and their daughter, Grace (Seven Hills Class of 2015), live in Cincinnati.

Scott is the Managing Partner and Litigation Manager of the Cincinnati and Dayton offices of Jackson Lewis LLP.

S TAY C O N N E C T E D !

Like • • • NEW Seven Hills School Alumni Page Join • • • Seven Hills School Alumni group Download • • • Seven Hills Alumni mobile app, available FREE through the Apple iTunes App Store and Android Google Play.

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Paul Sittenfeld

F O R M E R B O A R D C H A I R , PA R E N T O F A L U M N I

“Access to faculty has always been and continues to be a hallmark of the Seven Hills experience. The faculty members come to know the students in many ways and respond sensitively and caringly to their needs.”

Hank Alexander ’02 “There are so many important people and experiences that I had as a ‘lifer’ at Seven Hills that it’s virtually impossible to pick just one. I’d be remiss not to discuss the quality of the faculty though, at all levels from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. Sometimes it felt like too much, but they always challenged you to push yourself a little harder and make yourself the best person you could be, and I’m still benefitting from the values they instilled in me.”

Toni Sciarra Poynter ’77 “Seven Hills was a place that supported that kind of intense engagement with learning and those kinds of richly faceted, appropriately personal relationships with teachers. Those were gifts I took with me into my life and have tried to provide to others.”

Tracy L. Monroe ’82 “Seven Hills provided a rich and unique journey of discovery. We were nurtured and challenged to connect with ideas, with each other, with our community and our world. None of this would have been possible without all the teachers who devoted themselves to us — not just as students, but also as individuals.”

Caroline Kalnow ’06 “Seven Hills taught me to be an individual, feel comfortable expressing my thoughts, and not be afraid to ask questions.”

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SEVEN HILLS:

E NGAGI NG H E A RTS AN D MI N DS F OR 40 YE A RS

Tom Hayes

F O R M E R B O A R D C H A I R , PA R E N T O F A L U M N I , G R A N D PA R E N T

“Seven Hills is a friendly place where the example of community service shines. It’s a place where the lesson is ‘do what we do.’”

Lib Asbury Stone L’42 F O R M E R B O A R D C H A I R , PA R E N T O F A L U M N I , G R A N D PA R E N T

“In all our years, for my daughters Suzi H’72 and Margaret ’78 and me, there wasn’t a day that we didn’t want to go to school. And we have never stopped taking courses or learning something. How lucky are we!”

Kathy Leake Weese ’83 “From among all of my wonderful teachers, two English teachers, Bill Porter and Susan Marrs, stand out. They instilled in me a love of writing and interpreting literature that has had a lifelong influence, leading me to major in English in college, earn graduate degrees in the field, and become a college teacher.”

Louise Head H’56

F O R M E R B O A R D M E M B E R , PA R E N T O F A L U M N I , G R A N D PA R E N T

“Our grandkids have learned to think critically and have compassion for those throughout the world … Seven Hills brings out the best in each person.”

B. Wiley Gordon ’75

PA R E N T O F C U R R E N T S T U D E N T S

“I talk to Seven Hills schoolmates on a weekly basis, and my best friends from my class remain my best friends today … they are also such a special part of my children’s lives which I cherish so much and which is exactly the reason that when I got the chance, I chose to send my children to Seven Hills!”

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Lotspeich classes of 1939, 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969 Seven Hills classes of 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995*, 2000 The classes of 2005 and 2010 will celebrate their reunions on Saturday, November 28, 2015. * The Class of 1995 is invited to attend both Reunion Weekend in April and the class party that will be held on Friday, November 27, 2015.

All events are free of charge courtesy of your Alumni Association & the Development Office Spouses, guests, families are welcome All information is available at 7hills.org/reunion

Reunion reps are needed to help make this a special weekend for your class.

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CPS & Hillsdale classes of 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970

W E L O O K F O R WA R D T O S E E I N G Y O U T H I S S P R I N G !

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Looking for hotels or things to do in Cincinnati? A block of rooms is reserved at Courtyard by Marriott Midtown/Rookwood for $144.

3813 Edwards Road, 45209 513.672.7100 Reservations must be made by March 13, 2015.

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reunion schedule

reunion schedule

12 - 2 P. M . L U N C H E O N

All events are held on the Hillsdale campus

for 1944-1965 CPS, Hillsdale, and Lotspeich alumni

5400 Red Bank Road, 45227

Friday, April 10:

2726 Johnstone Place, 45206

Cocktails and light bites

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Reunion reps are needed to make this a special weekend for your class. Look in the Alumni Class Notes section to see if there are reps for your class.

12 : 3 0 - 1 P. M . T O U R S O F U P P E R S C H O O L

5400 Red Bank Road, 45227

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ssett@7h ills.org 513.728 .2432

12 : 3 0 - 2 P. M . B B Q L U N C H

Hillsdale Commons and Deck

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nancy.ba

12 :15 - 12 : 3 0 P. M . W E L C O M E by Chris Garten, Head of School

5 - 7 P. M . R E C E P T I O N

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

Director

11: 4 5 - 12 : 15 P. M . R E G I S T R AT I O N

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Contact Nancy

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2348 Grandin Road, 45208

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INTERE STED I N BEIN A REUN G ION RE P FOR YOUR CLASS ?

Saturday, April 11:

Cincinnati Country Club

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Alumni News Margot Deupree Taylor (H’61) :

legacy

Leaves a Legacy Gift to Ensure Outstanding Education for Future Generations

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We are pleased to honor our family of CPS, Lotspeich, Hillsdale, and Seven Hills alumni and friends who remembered the school in their estate plans. The Seven Hills School has a rich history, which, from 1974 to the present, has combined the traditions and standards of educational excellence of three well-known Cincinnati schools: Miss Doherty’s College Preparatory School for Girls (CPS); the Lotspeich School; and the Hillsdale School.

Margot Deupree Taylor (H’61) has an impressive connection to both Lotspeich and Hillsdale, as one of many from her family who attended today’s Seven Hills School.

This family legacy – three generations educated at Seven Hills – is what prompted Margot to give back to her alma mater and become a Legacy Society member by setting up a Charitable Remainder Trust to benefit the school.

Margot’s siblings, Pepper Deupree Miller (H’59) and Charles (L’63), also attended Seven Hills as did their aunt, Betty Deupree Goldsmith, a 1938 graduate of Hillsdale. Margot’s cousins also attended: Susan Deupree Jones and Jenny

Deupree (both H’60), Jesse Deupree (L’61), and her Goldsmith cousins, Martha (H’66), Tim (H’64), and Jeff (L’62). Jeff ’s children, Benjamin and Elizabeth, are the third generation to attend Seven Hills. Margot explains, “It was all in the family – my parents and their generation knew the immense worth of an education at The Seven Hills School and started us all on a successful path.”

Margot’s years at Lotspeich and Hillsdale were important and incredibly special to her. She says, “I cherish my time at the school and have a number of long-lasting friendships to this day.

My exceptional education led me to a degree in English and history from the University of Michigan.”

She, her husband, and two daughters lived in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Providence, R.I., and later moved back to Cincinnati. After losing her first husband, she remarried and now lives in Canton, GA. Even though she is out-of-town, she knows – just like her parents before her – the value of a Seven Hills education and wants to help ensure that this quality education is available for generations to come.

Margot confides, “Attending my 50th Reunion was a reminder to me of how grateful I am for all that Seven Hills has given to me. The visit back to campus and reconnecting to my alma mater and

friends strengthened my resolve that it was time for me to leave something to the school – to give back.”

If you would like information about becoming a member of The Seven Hills School Legacy Society, please contact Director of Development Margo Kirstein at 513.728.2437, margo.kirstein@7hills.org , or Major Gifts Officer Marney Hupper at 513.728.2431, marney.hupper@7hills.org.

Including The Seven Hills School in your estate plans makes possible the full richness of the Seven Hills experience. Learn more about the Legacy Society at 7hills.org/giving/plannedgiving

new york

N E W Y O R K C I T Y A L U M N I G A T H E R I N G The Seven Hills road show visited New York alumni on Friday, May 2. Alumni enjoyed a luncheon at the Doubles Club, thanks to sponsor Jan Fullgraf Golann H’67. The evening reception was held again this year at Hecho En Dumbo (354 Bowery, between Great Jones and East 4th), which is owned by Ethan Smith ’97. Thank you to Ethan and his staff for a great event! (photo at right) Jay Antenen ’03 Henry Antenen ’08 Alex Shifman ’08 Jake Shifman ’06

(photo at far right) Jay Antenen ’03 Jake Wylie ’03 Ian Hayes ’03 Brit Cowan ’03

Bryan Bibler ’04 Sarah Bibler Liz Westendorf ’06 Chris Westendorf ’04

(photo at left) Front row Sabine Smith Rhys Smith Back row Noah Biro ’05 Monica Ramos Ethan Smith ’97

Joe Kraeutler ’96 Morgan Reis ’98 Ethan Smith ’97 Rhys Smith

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(photo at right) Front row Monica Dealy ’99 Claire Gerhard ’77 Margo Pollins Schab C’64 Margo Kirstein Nancy McCormick Bassett ’83 Jan Fullgraf Golann H’67 Back row Melanie Fleishman H’69 Suzanne Marquard H’68 Eileen Gould C’74 Sherry Walker Chapin C’62 Katherine Crone Cline H’53 (hidden behind the group)

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Alumni Class Notes 1930 New job? Recently married?

Written a book? If you have stories to share, please don’t hesitate! Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates.

Drop us a line and send photos (jpeg format, please) to nancy.bassett@7hills.org.

Ed Kanze featured Virginia “Ginnie” Pogue Weinland (C ) (Williamstown, MA) in his Podcast “All Things Natural.” He referred to her extensive knowledge and ready information about the study of Botany.

1939

Cecil Shepard McLelland (H) (Naples, FL) died on August 23, 2014.

Caroline Hoehler Kirkpatrick (H) (Newtown Square, PA) died on March 19, 2013.

Ann Louise “Annie Lou” Richardson Helmsderfer (H) (Cincinnati) died on May 18, 2013.

1942

Helene Thoman Cornelius (H) (Arlington, MA) died on May 3, 2014.

Our condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones as reported in this issue.

1945

70th Reunion

1946

Anne Upson Smith (C ) (Stuart, FL) died on April 30, 2014.

1947

Margot “Miggie” Balch Jacobs (H) (Cincinnati) died on August 1, 2014.

1948 46

Robin Carrier (C )(Prospect, KY) writes, “No new job, haven’t married recently or written a book, but I’m still here — in Prospect, KY, for summers and Beaufort, SC, for winters. And I would love to

hear from any of my old classmates from CPS or Hillsdale (that’s what we called them back in the Class of ’48.) I do still paint and read a lot, not terribly athletic. Miss you all.” robin@nobird1.net

1950

(H) 65th Reunion Elizabeth “Libby” Legg Dinsmore (H) (Cincinnati) died on August 4, 2014.

1952

Francie Hauck Pavey (C ) (Cincinnati) writes, “[We] have downsized our animal shelter but still keeping busy with some emergency animals, gardening, and church. Busy is good!”

1954

Lotspeich Reunion Rep John Parlin parlinjohn@yahoo.com

1955

60th Reunion CPS Reunion Rep Carrie Hayes Gosiger cgosiger@live.com Hillsdale Reunion Rep Mary Dryden Richards maryrichards37@gmail.com

1957

Carolyn Edwards Bartels (H) (Tolland, MA) died June 29, 2014.

Betsy Alexander Berry (H) (Cincinnati) writes, “[I] am a grandmother of five and enjoy being a traveling Nana.”

1959

Gibson “Gibby” Bowman Keesling (C ) (Campobello, SC) died on March 30, 2014.

1960

55th Reunion CPS Reunion Reps Louise Kahn Jenks ljtcw@mac.com Sue Elliott Wilkening susan.wilkening@fuse.net Hillsdale Reunion Reps are needed.

1963

Margaret “Tuck” Hooker Fraser (H) (Cincinnati) died on Sept. 23, 2014.

1965

50th Reunion CPS Reunion Reps Ann Bartlett Blemker annblemker@gmail.com Lawsie Pennington Coler clpc@mac.com Marge Davis (513) 321-6835 Jane Maddox Dumbadze jlmd@fuse.net Carol Smith Hesser cshesser72@gmail.com Hillsdale Reunion Reps Polly Adair Culp culp@fuse.net Susan Krehbiel Holzapfel sleds@fuse.net Patty Bigham Journeay pbj2000@prodigy.net Eleanor “Ellie” Lazarus (C ) (Lincoln, MA) died on February 26, 2013.

1967

Leezie Walker Borden (H) (Cincinnati) writes, “Imagine celebrating school friendships, a talented 1867-68 Red Stockings player (J. William Johnson), and a children’s book about baseball all at the same time at Great American Ballpark. Judy Robinson Williams H’67 made that happen on June 21, a day of summer sunshine, when Beth Johnson Fotheringill and I (both Lotspeich ’61 and Hillsdale ’67) each threw out solid first pitches to begin an exciting game that the Cincinnati Reds won over the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-0. Following a tour of the Reds Hall of Fame, many classmates were on the field or in the stands cheering us on. A thousand thanks to Judy and the Reds for giving us a spectacular ‘Cincinnati and Seven Hills day.’ ” Learn more about Leezie’s book Baseball Is…

1970

45th Reunion Reunion Reps are needed for CPS and Hillsdale.

1972

Melissa Morris Mishoe (H) (Winter Park, FL) with her daughter Elizabeth’s son Ariel Contreras. “I enjoy every moment I spend with him.”

1973

Cathleen Unger Thayer (H) (Cincinnati) died on July 5, 2014.

1974

Friends who enjoyed baseball history included Meg Davis ’75, Nancy Pechstein Aubke H’67, Beth Johnson Fotheringill, Judy Robinson Williams, Leezie Walker Borden, Deborah Koons Garcia H’67, Sissy Lambert Stearns H’67, Terri Pytlik, Mary Kay Kroeger.

1968

Margo Taft Stever (H) (Sleepy Hollow, NY) writes, “My most recent collection of poetry, The Lunatic Ball, has been accepted for publication in 2015 by Kattywompus Press.”

CPS class of 1974 gathered in June to celebrate their 40th reunion.

First row L to R Mitsu Suyemoto, Eileen Gould, Jane Garvey, Debbie Salzer Kincaid, Shelley Waits Moon, Lydia “Goody” Harrison Hirsh H’74, Karen Schulman-Bear, Vicki Bentley, Patti Williams Niehoff, Cindy Bardes Galvin Second Row L to R Billy Drew Purcell ’74, Libby Helmholz Jones, Leslie Sciarra Shimer, Holly Keller Wilson, Linda Pockros Brightwell Walnut Hills ’74, Hank Brightwell Walnut Hills ’74, Lucinda Lett Leugers

1975

40th Reunion Reunion Reps B. Wiley Gordon bessgordon@me.com Margaret Avril Lawson lawson@taftlaw.com Cinny Hastings Roy cinnyroy@gmail.com

1980

35th Reunion Reunion Reps Karen Bidlingmeyer Callard Karen.Callard@fwmedia.com Grace Allen Hill gracehill@fuse.net

INTERESTED IN BEING A REUNION REP FOR YOUR CLASS?

Contact Nancy McCormick Bassett ‘83 Director of Alumni Engagement

nancy.bassett@7hills.org 513.728.2432

1985

30th Reunion Reunion Reps Scott Carroll scott.carroll@jacksonlewis.com Eric Goering eric@goering-law.com Marty Mueller Gerhardt marty.gerhardt@7hills.org David Hummel david.hummel@baml.com Michael Kaufman mike@mkaufmanfamilylaw.com Susan Shepherd Kersting Susan.Kersting@FMR.com Melissa Morelli melissa.morelli@7hills.org Lisa Collins Winick lisajcwinick@gmail.com Congratulations to Mike Spitz (Los Angeles, CA) and his wife Maria Belen De Jesus on the birth of their first child Max Julian on March 15, 2014.

Paige Wideman (Cincinnati) curated TRIFECTA an exhibit that ran in the spring of 2014 at the Covington Arts Center. Promotional material shared “TRIFECTA brought together three exhibits under one roof and invited viewers to reflect on the divergent nature of imagination.

Individually, each show featured pairings of two or

(1967) Beth Johnson Fotheringill, Mr. Redlegs, Deborah Koons Garcia, Leezie Walker Borden

47

more artists where variations of scale and materials created a visual dynamic built upon contrasting subtleties. Collectively, 48 artists from the region displayed many works on canvas, drawings, prints, photography, and mixed media.”

• • •

U P D AT E

• • •

The Class of 1995 is invited to attend the April 10 & 11 Reunion Weekend and our class party that will be held Friday, November 27, 2015.

Questions?

Contact Jill or Alyssa.

Our condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones as reported in this issue.

1987

Michael Laurence (New York, NY) and his wife Sherri adopted Dashiell C. Laurence “Dash” on July 21, 2014. Congratulations!

1990

25th Reunion Reunion Reps Shayne Byer shaynebyer@yahoo.com Monica Coffey Faison monicafaison@yahoo.com Leslie Miller Hattemer leslie@hattemer.com Christa Parker McAndrew christaparker@yahoo.com Doug Meyers dsmeyerscreative@gmail.com Sara McCormick Oliphant sara.m.oliphant@gmail.com Heather Warncke heathwar@microsoft.com Jaime Willis jaimebwillispsyd@gmail.com

1994

Thanks to Sarah Pancoast Broad (Princeton, NJ) for sharing this photo of her family in the Grand Cayman Islands this spring. “Henry learned how to paddleboard and snorkel while Eliza was happy sand digging and floating in the sea.”

Daniel, Henry, Sarah, Eliza, Priscilla, and John Broad

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Best wishes to Alan Cheng (New York, NY) and his wife Monica on the birth of Jeremy and Arielle Cheng on April 20, 2014.

1995

20th Reunion Reunion Reps Jill Jeffers Olman jillolman@gmail.com Alyssa Rammacher abrammacher@yahoo.com

Congratulations to Kathryn Findlay Balnes (Cincinnati) and her husband, Sean, on the birth of Kathryn Alexander “Katie” on September 3, 2014.

The proud parents and big sister Lizzie (age 2) are doing well.

1996

Congratulations to Peter Fischer (Davidson, NC) and his wife, Breland, on the birth of their second son Langston Frederick on August 27, 2014.

Paige Schweitzer Connelly paige.s.connelly@gmail.com Miriam Lipson Hodesh miriam@hodesh.com Laura Gilinsky Katz hilaurakatz@gmail.com

2003

Eva Motch Spitzer (Seattle, WA) has started a new women’s sock line based on beautiful patterns and unique knit details. To say thanks for the excellent fine arts education she received at Seven Hills, she’s offering 15% off with coupon code 7HILLS in her online store, www.peonyandmoss.com.

2004

Congratulations on your 10th Reunion! Thank you to reunion reps Ashleigh Lyons, Ashley Jackson, and Sarah McDonough.

1998

Marti Newland (Riverdale, NY) recently earned her Ph.D. from the Ethnomusicology program at Columbia University. She specializes in voice studies and African-American music. Her dissertation, “Sounding Black: An Ethnography of Racialized Vocal Practices at Fisk University,” is a phenomenological study of radicalized vocality in the United States, with a focus on blackness.

Through ethnographic research about radicalized vocal practices among Fisk students, a historically black university in Nashville, TN, Marti examines the procedures at play in sounding “black” — the performance of race ideologies through vocal acts, as well as the ethics of listening for race in voices.

2000

15th Reunion Reunion Reps

Best wishes to Jessica Moss (Cincinnati) on her marriage to Lawrence Gagin on May 24, 2014.

Seven Hills alumni in attendance included Liza Newman ’04, Ryan Stinnett ’04, Brooke Richart ’04, Stefani Wolkoff ’04, Nicole Stein ’04, and Malcolm Drane ’05.

Congratulations to Kyle Dinger (Asheville, NC) and his wife, Ashley, on the birth of sons Bennett and Colton on July 21, 2014.

Alumni Class Notes Stefani Fishel (Cincinnati) married Michael Wolkoff on June 15, 2014. Jessica (Moss) Gagin ’04 was a bridesmaid; also in attendance were Brooke Richart ’04, Liza Newman ’04, and Nicole Stein ’04. Congratulations!

2005

10th Reunion: Saturday, November 28, 2015 Reunion Reps are needed.

Best wishes to Emily Lusenhop Bolton (Burlington, VT) on her marriage to Gabrielle Joy Lipman on August 9, 2014. Bridesmaids included Tuckie White ’05 and former Seven Hills faculty member Julie Lusenhop Bolton, mother of the bride.

2006

Debra Dixon (Cleveland, OH), a medical student at the Cleveland Clinic, was elected to the Executive Committee of the Student National Medical Association’s (SNMA) Board of Directors.

The SNMA is the nation’s oldest and largest, independent, student-run organization focused on the needs and concerns of medical students of color. Debra was a Robertson Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduating in 2010 with a dual degree in Biology and Spanish, she chose to attend the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. She is currently completing her third year of training and aspires to a career in cardiology.

2007

Sarah Margaret Gibson (Florence, Italy) was in Cincinnati for a show at the Mary Ran Studio in August, 2014. She returned to Florence Academy in September to be a Principal Instructor of Drawing and Painting in the Year 2, Intermediate Level studio.

2009

Congratulations on your 5th Reunion! Thank you to reunion reps Julie Koenig and Doug Wulsin.

Billy Braff (Washington, DC) emailed, “On the evening of April 5, 2014, Kevin Pan ’11 and I welcomed Georgie Russell ’13 into the Kenyon College Chapter of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.

Georgie marks the third Seven Hills graduate in five years to join the Alpha Delts.”

Sarah Rabourn (Houston, TX) shares, “I joined Teach for America after I graduated from Wellesley, and I am currently in the midst of teaching eighth

grade Social Studies and Public Speaking in Houston, Texas! It has truly been a challenging and enduring year, but I fundamentally love my job.

In fact, I am proud to say that I was awarded New Teacher of the Year for the Houston Independent School District!”

Abbey Gauger (New York, NY) is attending New York Law School as a Global Law Fellow.

The selective fellowship is awarded to three to five students annually. This fall she was one of nine firstyear students elected to the Student Senate.

2010

5th Reunion: Saturday, November 28, 2015 Reunion Reps are needed.

INTERESTED IN BEING A REUNION REP FOR YOUR CLASS?

Contact Nancy McCormick Bassett ‘83 Director of Alumni Engagement

nancy.bassett@7hills.org 513.728.2432

Tiffany Au-Yeung (Cincinnati) is working at Proctor & Gamble as a PS SNO Process Engineer.

She writes, “I work in Supply Network Operations and my current role is the Supply Network Pillar – Process Engineer (SNP PE). As the SNP PE I am responsible for reviewing and executing the inventory target setting work process for all of North America Fabric Care as well as monitoring, investigating, and eliminating inventory issues. In addition, I assist with continuous improvement projects as well as loss elimination activities to improve overall performance of the category. I have an Industrial Engineering degree but SNP PE’s also have degrees in other engineering disciplines, supply chain management, logistics, and transportation.”

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Alumni News

Alumni Class Notes

Our condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones reported in this issue.

Congratulations to Batsheva Serota (Cincinnati) on her marriage to Jacob Guy on June 7, 2014. Seven Hills alumna Sara Schonfeld ’10 attended the ceremony.

New job? Recently married?

Written a book? If you have stories to share, please don’t hesitate! Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates.

Drop us a line and send photos (jpeg format, please) to nancy.bassett@7hills.org.

Britt Cyr (Boston, MA) graduated in June from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with dual majors of Theoretical Math and Computer Science. After a summer internship at Google, he will begin a Master’s Program at MIT in Encryption Technology. He was a member of MIT’s lacrosse team and was named Academic All Conference for the second time.

Jake Davis (Atlanta, GA) finished his college basketball career at Emory University as second on the school’s all-time lists in scoring (1,870 points), scoring average (18.3ppg), field goals (671) and free throws (409). During his time on the team, the program compiled an overall record of 78-27, making him the most winning player in the school’s history. D3hoops.com recognized Davis with a place on its All-America second team.

Congratulations to graduates Alexander Hill and Heidi Garrett: Seven Hills lifers, members of the

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Seven Hills Class of 2010, and graduates of the University of Richmond’s Class of 2014.

above and beyond our highest expectations.” While no longer teaching, Jacquie continues to volunteer as an educational consultant for the school.

Former Doherty faculty member Doris Parsenios (Cincinnati) died on September 18, 2014.

The annual Alumni Softball game was held on Sunday, August 3, 2014. Thanks to all the alumni and families who came to play.

Kyle Neu (Greenville, SC) a senior pitcher for Centre College, was named to the 2014 Southern Athletic Association’s AllSportsmanship Team. Kyle, a two-year captain, tied the school single season record for complete games (8) as a junior, and finished his career with the third most innings by a Centre pitcher, and the lowest career earned run average (3.74).

Other News

Jacquie (Hasley) Jones (El Cerrito, CA) former teacher at Lotspeich, Middle and Upper from 19812007, was honored at the 34th graduation ceremony of Keystone Montessori School on June 27, 2014, with the creation of the Jacquie Jones Scholarship Fund. The fund was established for Jacquie’s “enriching Keystone’s program and setting a precedent

Bottom row: Keri (Betts) Rizkallah ’05, Amy Betts ’07, Lauren Gerhardt ’13, Catherine Bain ’16, Eliza Clark ’17, Liz Sidor ’04 Middle row: Jordan Bain, Marty Mueller Gerhardt ’85 Top row: Matt Rizkallah, Robin Wilson, Tom Betts, Eric Gerhardt, Matt Smith, Randy Wilson, Maggie Kersting ’18, Audrey Wilson ’18 Not pictured Lauren Driskell ’13, Caleb Daniel ’13

Alumni Events \

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For more Seven Hills news, download a QR Code app to your smartphone and scan the code below to view Seven Hills’ e-newsletter, The Buzz (or visit www.7hillsBUZZ.org).

Alumni Calendar 2015 Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 Reunion Weekend See page 41 for a full list of Reunion activities or go to 7hills.org/reunion Friday, April 10 Classics Luncheon for local alumni 1935-1965 Cincinnati Country Club 2348 Grandin Road, 45208 12-2 p.m.

Thursday, April 30 7Hills Road Show visits New York City Luncheon The Doubles Club The Sherry-Netherland 781 Fifth Ave., Corner of 59th Street 12:30 -2 p.m.

Reception Houndstooth Pub 520 8th Ave. at 37th St. 5:30 -7:30 p.m.

Hillsdale Campus 5400 Red Bank Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45227 Intellectually vibrant, individually attuned, future-ready learning for students two years through grade 12.