Column By Head of School Matthew Bolton School News
Self-guided Exploration: Seven Hills Fine and Performing Arts Program
Putting the "Experience" in Experiential Learning
Seven Hills On the Go!
Miriam Titcomb Memorial Fund
Challenge Experiences: Four Stories of Discovery
Nurturing Creativity in the Digital Age
Winter & Spring Sports Retirements
Bill Waskowitz Middle School Scholarship Fund
Alumni News
Reunion 2025 Class Notes
In Memoriam: Frances Garber Pepper H’58 Calendar of Upcoming Alumni Events
Matthew Bolton, Ph.D.
Margo
Special
to
THANK YOU!
The Seven Hills Development Office extends its heartfelt appreciation to the more than 270 dedicated volunteers who generously give their time, energy, and talents to support The Seven Hills School. Your commitment ensures that we continue to provide the exceptional learning experiences and close-knit community that define a Seven Hills education. Your contributions make a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful!
DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTEERS
Karin Anderson Abrell ’88
Will Adams ’87
Janet Allen-Reid ’76
Nupur Anand
Carol Andress ’76
Libby Andrews
Dulany Anning
Angie Apple
Helen Asbury H’72
John Atkinson
Nancy Pechstein Aubke H’67
Wajiha Azhar
Steve Baggott
Fran Barrett
Nolan Bean
Jack Binkley
Natalie Bird
Rose Bitsoff
Steve Black L’60
John Bloch ’03
Victoria Frazer Bonebrake ’77
Catherine Shelby
Bowie-Hightower
Matt Bramlage ’95
Muzette Britt
Katie Brooks
Bruce Brown
Stephen Brown III
Sumbol Budhani
Shayne Byer ’90
Nicole Byers
Dottie Callard ’19
Lee Carter
Colin Cassady
Peter Cha
Sophia Choi
Lalitha Chunduri
Teresa Clayton
India Cole
Margaret Walker Comey H’70
Mary Ida Sloneker Compton ’77
Tucker Jones Coombe ’79
Dorothy Kim Corbett ’84
Margaret Cox ’16
Wynne McCarthy Curry H’71
Gabe Davis ’03
Paige deBuys
Ron DeLyons
Amy DeWitt
Tiffany Domet
Tim Drew
Peter Dumbadze ’06
Clare Dupree ’76
Fay Dupuis
Scott Dust
Nancy Hogan Dutton H’56
Patricia Eastin
Norman Ellard
Christie Evans ’76
Merry Ewing ’76
Ellie Fabe ’78
Lissy Fabe H’71
Molly Fender
Andi Ferguson
Meredith Edwards Ficks ’98
Alicia Fitscher
Barbara Frey
Jennifer Frey ’99
Thomas Charles Garber ’96
Kathryne Gardette ’79
Jane Garvey C’74
Lukas Geiger ’17
Carol George-Rucker
Marty Mueller Gerhardt ’85
Robin Gerhardt
Raji Ghosh
Lisa Gilbert ’96
Ben Glassman ’93
Sherry Glover
Vickie Buyniski Gluckman
Jan Fullgraf Golann H’67
Samantha Buyniski Goldfeder ’04
Charlie Goldsmith ’17
Max Gollobin ’09
Debbie Good
Sarah McDonough Goodacre ’04
Cathy & Chris Gross
Brooke Guigui
Frederick Hall ’05
Joy Hall
Datha Harrison
Leslie Miller Hattemer ’90
Tom Hayes
Louise Atkins Head H’56
Melanie Head
Michael Heldman ’16
Patti Heldman
Sarah Henry
Karlene Herman
Carol Smith Hesser C’65
Debbie Hill
Grace Allen Hill ’80
Nicki Hirsh
Miriam Lipson Hodesh ’00
Dan Hoffheimer
David Hoguet
Brenda Holloway
Laurent Huguenin
Eric Hunter ’86
Andre Hunter-Woodard ’11
Brandon Hydrick ’92
Laurie Durbrow Hyndman H’70
Pamela Hysinger
Shirelyn Iyoha
Judy Jackson
Kimberly Jackson
Sam James ’05
Clay Jamison ’06
Jie Jiang
Kay Johnson
Sarah Raup Johnson
Evan Joiner ’03
Patricia Bigham Journeay H’65
William Junkin
Kathy & Tom Kahle
Cal Kalnow
Jacky Kalubi
Tshiunza Kalubi ’02
Amy Bulger Kattman ’89
Muthoni Kori Kastner
Lair Kennedy
Steve Kent
Sarajane & Richard King
Andrea Knarr
Ashley Ackerman Kohn ’05
Ashley Kohnen
Justin Kreindler ’98
Alex Kreines ’18
Matt Kreines ’18
Lauren Boymel Krekeler
Libby Landen Krone ’77
Samir Kulkarni
Donna Langford
John Larkin ’13
Sarah Ott Lautar ’05
James Lee
Laura Hoguet Leonard ’06
Sally Leyman
Shannon Li
Mary Beth Losch
Jun Lu
Anni Macht C’70
Eryn MacKenzie ’14
Jessalyn Reid Mahoney ’08
Kathi Makoroff
Zola Makrauer
Susan Makris
Kishen Mangat ’92
Anne Mapes ’11
Bill Markovits
Michael A. Marrero
Josh Martin
David Maxwell
Jill McBride
Dani McClain
Rebecca McDonough ’10
John McIlwraith
Diana & Henley McIntosh
Christina McKee
Holly McLeod
Leslie Bennett McNeill C’61
Abby McNerney
Tim Meckel ’77
Miranda Menzies
Ryan Miller ’09
Candace Miller-Janidlo
Linda Miltner
Chuck Mingo
Tracy Lynn Monroe ’82
Melissa Morelli ’85
Lisa Carothers Morgan H’70
Terri & Gary Morgan
Mike Morger
Sybil Behrens Mullin ’83
Cheryl Murrer
Theo Nelson
Jenny Oestreicher
Barbara Oliari
Libby Warrington Ott ’78
Tory Woodhull Parlin H’63
Ishita Patel
Nirvana Patel
Pretty Patel
Carol & Jim Pearce
Alana Pepper
Rita & Tom Pohl
Isak Poirier
Jerry Porter
Dick Quimby
Andrew Quinn
Daniel Quint
Glenna Rabourn
Sarah Rabourn ’09
Matthew Randazzo
Karen Recht
Melody Sawyer Richardson C’61
Elizabeth Rogers
Jennie Rosenthal L’75
Patricia Rouster
Rachael Rowe
Sunny Rowe
Cinny Hastings Roy ’75
Regina Russo
Sunny Bowman Saelinger C’61
Marielle Samaha
Laura Lindner Sankey ’82
Missy Schade
Beth Schiff
Jim Schiff
Max Schimberg ’09
Lucy Schmidt ’00
Samir Shah
Priya Shahani
Jim Shanahan
Laura Beckman Sheldon ’90
Tom Shepard
Anne Shepherd
Dennis Shiels
Marc Shotten ’92
John Silverman
Mary Jo & Bill Simpson
P.G. Sittenfeld ’03
Stephanie M. Smith
Erin Snelting
Jennifer Stein
Kelli Stein
Sarah Steinman
Elizabeth Stock
Melanie Finn Sureau ’01
Lani Swinford
Dudley Taft Sr. L’52
Mary Taliaferro ’09
Anne Drackett Thomas H’66
Anna Topalidis
Avanti Vadivelu
Sharon Worthing Vaino C’70
Ellen van der Horst
Suhas Vaze
Heather Zaring Vecellio ’92
Deborah Verderame
Elizabeth Walker
Sheila Waterman
Stephanie Waugh
Paula White Wharton ’83
Joy Whinery
Katherine Oechler
Whitbeck H’67
Emily Wiedemann ’01
Susan Elliott Wilkening C’60
Brandon Williams
Jackie Wilson
Robin Wilson
Cassie Iseman Wissel ’02
Joan Wolfram
Jill Woods
Chris Wyant ’01
Margaret Hogan Wyant H’60
Marcy Wydman ’76*
Laney Yaninek
Echo Zhang
Lori Zimmerman
* Deceased
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: MIKE MARRERO
At Seven Hills, there are many ways to volunteer and even more reasons to do so.
Mike Marrero, former trustee and parent of alums Molly Marrero Aquilino ’99 and Sam Marrero ’02, has volunteered for the Seven Hills Annual Fund for 30 years. Director of Development Margo Kirstein recently caught up with Mike to learn more about why he chooses to give back to Seven Hills.
Q: How did you first get involved with Seven Hills?
A: My involvement at Seven Hills began when my daughter, Molly, started kindergarten at Doherty. She was a Seven Hills Lifer, graduating in 1999.
Three years later, my son, Sam, started at Doherty and was also a Lifer who graduated in 2002.
Q: Why do you volunteer for Seven Hills?
A: I knew right away Seven Hills was a good fit for my kids, and I wanted to be an involved parent. At Doherty, I helped coach soccer, baseball, and basketball. I was a trustee from 1992-2000, and I worked on the beginning of the project to purchase the houses on Ellmarie Drive [the street that once was the border of the Hillsdale Campus and will now lead to the new Doherty Lotspeich Lower School]. Fast forward to today, I have now been an annual giving volunteer for approximately 30 years.
Q: Why do you continue to give of your time to Seven Hills?
A: Seven Hills was very good for Molly and Sam. They made friends for life and were very happy. The school continues to be a special place for all of us. I volunteer as a former parent and give financially because of the impact the school has had on not only my life, but my children as well.
WE’RE THANKFUL FOR VOLUNTEER SUPPORT
The Development Office is grateful for the support we get from our volunteers. If you’d like to join our team of volunteers, we’d be very happy to have you!
HELPING HANDS
Join fellow parents, alumni, former parents, and grandparents of Seven Hills who assist with Development Office mailings.
ANNUAL GIVING COMMITTEES
Help support the Annual Fund by writing notes or making calls to encourage Seven Hills families and friends to make a gift.
CLASS & REUNION REPRESENTATIVES
Help keep your classmates connected to each other and to the school with information about upcoming events, sharing classmates’ news, and encouraging Annual Fund support.
To volunteer, please contact the Development Office at 513.728.2430 or development@7hills.org.
CONGRATULATIONS SEVEN HILLS CLASS of 202 5
Comedian, actor, and activist E.R. Fightmaster ’10 gives the commencement address at graduation.
Student body president Nicholas Stein and vice president Everett Rinaldi address the crowd at graduation.
Graduating senior Mariela Miller receives her diploma from Head of School Matt Bolton.
Graduating seniors Landen Langhammer, Anderson Lee, Sophia Levesque, Reagan Licata, Claire Liu, and Rachel Losch stand as they are recognized as the Class of 2025.
Graduating senior Ryan Brackett celebrates with his diploma in hand.
Graduating seniors Keliang Yao and Terrance Yarbrough smile at the crowd of friends, family, and teachers.
Graduating seniors Charlotte Quint, Evelyn Quint, Ian Rafalo, Maxwell Ralph, and Aryan Reddy listen to the commencement address.
Graduating senior Michaela Atkinson smiles as she receives her diploma.
Graduating senior Claire Liu smiles with her diploma.
Graduating senior Jazelle Merritt waves to the crowd after receiving her diploma.
Graduating senior Timmy DeWitt smiles and points to his diploma.
“There is not only one right path to take,” commencement speaker actor, comedian, and activist E.R. Fightmaster ’10 told the Class of 2025.
Seven Hills celebrated its 51st Commencement in the Field House on the Hillsdale Campus on May 30. The 105 graduates, clad in caps and gowns, came together to commemorate their myriad of achievements and time at the Seven Hills Upper School.
“You are coming to the end of a very hard academic journey, but when you look back at your time here, you will not think about your grades. When I talked to your class representatives, they said your grades were great and all but you as a class have something special. Everyone in this class has something about them that is exceptional,” Fightmaster said.
The graduates listened to words of wisdom from several school community leaders, including Head of School Matt Bolton, Head of Upper School Rick Tate, and Board of Trustees Chair Lair Kennedy. Students also heard from classmates Nicholas Stein, Everett Rinaldi, and William Huguenin-Virchaux, Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz, and parent Kelli Stein.
In addition, Seven Hills alum Dan Schimberg ’80 received the Goodall Distinguished Alumni Awards. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
The Class of 2025.
CONGRATULATIONS SEVEN HILLS
CLASS of 202 5
Obaidah Alshami
Areej Arif
Michaela Atkinson
Vikasni Bandinani
Liam Bardon
Samantha Bean
Sarina Bedi
Devin Best
Sydney Best
Rowan Blair
Ryan Brackett
Samir Chaudhary
Daniel Choi
Megan Corrado
Audrey Cors
Carson Crane
Harriet Culpepper
William deBuys
Abigail Deimling
Timothy DeWitt
Hazel Doepke
Aditya Duggal
Raine Ellerman
Evelyn Ferguson
Katherine Gabriel
Diego Godoy
William Good
Mason Griffin
David Haas
Caleb Hamon
Jackson Hamon
William Hartmann
Aaron Howard
Ethan Hu
William HugueninVirchaux
Erin Jackson
Charlotte Johnston
Madeleine Kasman
Annie Katuska
Spencer Klein
Oz Knarr
Anna Kunkel
Evelyn LaBare
Saxon Lackey
Landen Langhammer
Anderson Lee
Sophia Levesque
Reagan Licata
Claire Liu
Rachel Losch
Elliott Luntz
Chinmay Machavaram
Annabelle Magruder
Parth Mehta
Shlok Mehta
Arman Merchant
Jazelle Merritt
Mariela Miller
Quincy Morris
Ahalya Nambiar
Lillian Necessary
Daphne Nelson
Kira Njegovan
Brady O’Connor
Fiona O’Driscoll
Sophie Ottke Moore
Samantha Parker
Nicholas Patel
Julia Pease
Lucas Petren
Elena Pohl
DeHaven Quinn
Charlotte Quint
Evelyn Quint
Ian Rafalo
Maxwell Ralph
Aryan Reddy
Nikhil Reddy
Everett Rinaldi
Nicholas Roblyer
Roman Russo
William Schade
Douglas Schecter
Josephine Schneider
Sydney Schneider
Sophia Schuermeyer
Ella Skipper
Nicholas Stein
Nicholas Stetter
Katherine Stevens
Henry Stimson
Graciela Trindle
Kavan Vadivelu
Reese van Rooyen
Lauren VordemEsche
Boris Voronov
Kyle Wang
Tony Wang
Samantha Willard
Devan Willis
Sage Willke
Brett Woffington
Keliang Yao
Terrance Yarbrough
Andrew Zhou
CONGRATULATIONS
SEVEN HILLS CLASS of 202 5
SSeven Hills’ “Unification Trilogy”
BY MATTHEW BOLTON, PH.D., HEAD OF SCHOOL
OME OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES COME IN THREES: CLASSIC TRILOGIES LIKE “STAR WARS,” “BACK TO THE FUTURE,” AND “THE LORD OF THE RINGS,” TO NAME A FEW. I MENTION THIS NOT JUST BECAUSE I ENJOY A SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER, BUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE CONCEPT OF THE TRILOGY IS A GOOD ANALOGY FOR OUR THREE-YEAR PROCESS OF CAMPUS UNIFICATION.
This past school year, 2024-25, was the first of three stories that we will be telling together — the first episode of our unification trilogy. Our story began last fall, developed over the course of the year, and came to a dramatic conclusion in May, when we announced the sale of the Doherty Campus to the Springer School and Center and shared our plans for building the new Doherty Lotspeich Lower School at the wooded north end of campus. What will our story be in school year 2025-26, the next installment of our unification trilogy?
Like any great sequel, our story this school year will expand to include more people, places, and themes. After all, unification isn't just about bringing the two Lower Schools together; it's about developing a shared vision for Seven Hills as a whole. Our new location for Doherty Lotspeich will create a "campus within the campus" for the pre-
To better live out its mission and values, The Seven Hills School will focus on four strategic goals:
1. Unify our Campus, Culture, Identity, and Vision
2. Sustain Excellence in Teaching and Learning
3. Deepen our Sense of Community
4. Foster Student Well-being, Engagement, and Fulfillment
kindergarten and Lower School students and will at the same time transform the experience of Middle and Upper Schoolers.
We will open up space at the heart of Hillsdale for a campus green, playfields, and other common outdoor areas and will rededicate some of our existing buildings to new purposes. Here are a few examples. Because the Lower School will have its own cafeteria, the Commons will go from being an overflow lunchtime seating area to a fitness center. With labs and makerspaces in the Lower School, the Leyman Science Center will become a mindfulness and retreat center for all divisions. Meanwhile, the greenspaces that surround each division will be home to a new outdoor education program and the beginnings of a farm-to-table approach to food service.
In our post-unification configuration of Hillsdale, students will move clockwise through the campus as they grow from
being toddlers in the Early Childhood Center to being teenagers in the Upper School. In each division and at each developmental stage, they will find a comprehensive zone of the campus built to meet their needs and interests. The Lower Schoolers may be getting a new building, but we are all getting a new campus. Ultimately, though, unification is about more than our campus and our facilities. It's about honing in on what is unique and special about the Seven Hills experience. With many of the major structural decisions behind us, 2025-26 will be a year for introspection, exploration, and growth. We'll be engaging teachers, families, and students themselves in meetings to discuss some of the big challenges and opportunities facing our school now and in the future. Balancing our use of technology with low-tech and no-tech approaches to teaching, learning, and student life. Strengthening the parent/ school relationship through meaningful programming and partnership. Building a curriculum that allows for more student voice and choice. Living out our mission as a community that engages students’ hearts and minds.
These priorities and possibilities are captured in our new Strategic Plan, which we'll be sharing with the whole community at the start of the school year next
month. In the spirit of a movie trailer, here's a sneak preview of that plan, which we are calling "Seven Hills 2025-2030: Heart, Mind, Community."
To better live out its mission and values, The Seven Hills School will focus on four strategic goals:
1. Unify our Campus, Culture, Identity, and Vision
2. Sustain Excellence in Teaching and Learning
3. Deepen our Sense of Community
4. Foster Student Well-being, Engagement, and Fulfillment
You may notice that these major goals focus not on construction projects and timelines, but on people, culture, and community. As important and valuable as our new buildings may be, building them is not a goal in and of itself; it is the means for reaching all of our other goals.
At our back-to-school nights and other events next month, we'll share
the plan in full and will also get it out to the alumni community through print and social media. The strategic plan points the way forward for us as a school, and I speak for our board and administration when I say how excited we are to undertake this joyful work. Coming soon to a campus near you: a new year, a new plan, a muchanticipated sequel! Thank you for being part of our story.
After unification, students will progress through campus clockwise, with early childhood beginning in the lower left and ending in the Upper School on the lower right.
Middle and Upper Schoolers working out in the Commons Fitness Center (currently the Hillsdale Commons)
MIDDLE
Red Barn
Donovan Arts Center
Founders Hall
Red Bank Rd.
Red Bank Expressway
Ellmarie Dr.
Field House
PREVIEW OF HILLSDALE CAMPUS 2027-28
LAURA LEONARD ’06 NAMED NEW ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL
LAURA LEONARD ’06 IS THE NEW ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL BEGINNING THIS 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR, BRINGING HER DEDICATION AND ENTHUSIASM TO ADVANCE SEVEN HILLS’ STRATEGIC PLAN ACROSS ALL FOUR DIVISIONS.
“It’s kinda a ‘pinch me ’ moment, ” Leonard said from her dean of students office in the Upper School. “I’m so honored to serve this community. I went into education because of the teachers and mentors I had here at Seven Hills, starting from my elementary school experience at Doherty and Mrs. Wolfe, the former Doherty librarian, in particular.”
In addition to being an alum and current parent, Leonard has worked for Seven Hills since 2021, starting
as a history teacher, and was most recently the Upper School dean of students. In her new role, Leonard will work to connect students, parents, faculty and staff, and alumni throughout the Seven Hills community.
“Laura has demonstrated a remarkable ability to build community, to reenvision and redesign programs and practices, and connect students’ daily lives to the school’s mission and values,” Head of School Matt Bolton said.
Leonard is succeeding Susan Marrs, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year after 53 years with Seven Hills.
Leonard has a B.S. in child development and community health, a master’s degree in teaching history from Tufts University, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Harvard University. Before returning to Seven Hills to teach, Leonard spent more than 10 years as a teacher, team leader, and social studies
“I’m so honored to serve this community. I went into education because of the teachers and mentors I had here at Seven Hills, starting from my elementary school experience at Doherty and Mrs. Wolfe, the former Doherty librarian, in particular.”
- Laura Leonard ’06 New Assistant Head of School
department head in schools in Massachusetts and Denver.
“When I went to college, I went with the goal of creating more Seven Hills environments in other schools or other cities,” Leonard said. “I am really grateful to have had a Seven Hills education. We have great capabilities with being at a small school. Now working here, I understand the huge benefit of being under one organization that is small enough that we can pivot on quick notice and bring in new programming that we think is best for kids.”
Leonard said she is looking forward to helping Seven Hills through the unification of the two Lower School programs.
“I am really energized about the role because it is an exciting time. I feel like we have a real opportunity to create a world-class Lower School experience, with a world-class building, and create, starting from the toddler years, a really streamlined, cohesive educational experience that
“Laura is known for her dedication and enthusiasm, her creative problem-solving, and her care and concern for her students and colleagues. She will bring all of these qualities to bear on her work as Assistant Head of School, a role that will focus specifically on elevating the student, family, and alumni experience and on advancing the school’s strategic goals.”
- Head of School Matthew Bolton, Ph.D
builds year after year and enhances a student’s experience,” she said.
Leonard was selected after a nationwide search conducted by a Search Advisory Committee, made up of Seven Hills teachers and administrators. She began her new role in July 2025.
“Laura is known for her dedication and enthusiasm, her creative problemsolving, and her care and concern for her students and colleagues,” Bolton said. “She will bring all of
these qualities to bear on her work as Assistant Head of School, a role that will focus specifically on elevating the student, family, and alumni experience and on advancing the school’s strategic goals.”
ARTS THE
SELF-GUIDED EXPLORATION
THROUGH THE SEVEN HILLS FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM
EARLY INTO THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, DOHERTY MUSIC TEACHER JON NEWLIE WAS ASTOUNDED BY THE NUMBER OF LOWER SCHOOL STUDENTS WILLING TO GET TO SCHOOL EARLY AT 7:45 A.M. TO JOIN THE NEW PERCUSSION GROUP, THE DOHERTY DRUMMERS.
“The response has been exce llent. I have an excellent group of students who regularly attend rehearsals and are excited to start the day drumming together,” Newlie said. “Percussion as a medium works great because everyone can drum regardless of experience.”
For years, Upper School art teachers Jason Knarr ’86 and Daniel Vance have
created a studio art feel in the art rooms in the Donovan Arts Center that allows students to explore any medium they choose.
Student-determined and self-guided learning can be found throughout every level of the Seven Hills fine and performing arts program. Students develop their creativity and use their imaginations to direct their learning in ways that challenge and enrich them.
“
“There
are all kinds of opportunities for students, and it is our job as teachers to introduce them to those opportunities and see how they want to explore them”
“There are all kinds of opportunities for students, and it is our job as teachers to introduce them to those
UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ART TEACHER JASON KNARR '86 EXPERIMENT WITH THE GREEN SCREEN.
- Upper School art teacher Jason Knarr ’86
THE DOHERTY DRUMMERS PRACTICE THEIR PERCUSSION SKILLS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MUSIC TEACHER JON NEWLIE.
opportunities and see how they want to explore them,” Knarr said.
Newlie began teaching at Doherty during the 2023-24 school year and instantly saw the love for music and performing among the students. He started the Doherty Drummers to foster that passion.
“I wanted to prov ide an opportunity for music students with a drive to focus on instrumental performance,” Newlie said. “The goals of the ensemble are
“I encourage students to switch up their parts from piece to piece and even learn a new part on a groove we’re already comfortable with. Learning multiple instrument parts within the same piece provides a sturdier understanding of what to listen for and how to fit into the group sound,”
Newlie said.
That level of musical knowledge continues throughout a student’s time at Seven Hills and by the time they
to develop a steady sense of tempo and learn to perform within a larger ensemble. Students also get to learn more advanced rhythms and percussion techniques than is possible in our school-day music classes.”
The group, open to second through fifth graders, learned an arrangement of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” which they performed as part of the Doherty Winter Program. For the spring, they focused on shorter grooves with up to five different parts being played at the same time.
reach the Upper School, they have the musical knowledge and confidence to determine how they perform.
“The Upper School students play a huge role in the music we perform,” instrumental teacher John Rising said. “But they play an even bigger role in the way we perform it, through improvisation and student compositions.”
The students play an equally important role in Upper School theater teacher Marc Raia’s masterclass in theater, the
advanced acting and directing class. He has used student-driven activities before, but this year the class prepared a full-length play, “12 Angry Jurors.”
“It makes total sense to ‘work on the clock’ preparing an actual main stage piece rather than working hypothetically. It makes what we do in class have a completely practical application,” Raia said.
He came to the class with a list of potential scripts, but after reading a few, the students wanted to keep searching. Raia admitted he added “12 Angry Jurors” to the list “as a back-up plan.”
“I did not expect the students to be so inspired by the play and its content, but they were,” Raia said. “The script’s hard look at how implicit bias can guide our decisions and our choices is still very relevant. We read the play and every student in the room nodded their head.”
One student, junior Vivian Brown, offered to direct it.
Continued on page 18
THE DOHERTY DRUMMERS PERFORM AT THE AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY.
JUNIOR VIVIAN BROWN ACTED IN AND DIRECTED “12 ANGRY JURORS.”
SELF-GUIDED EXPLORATION
THROUGH THE SEVEN HILLS
FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM
“It was a transformative experience for me,” Brown said. “This was the first chance I've ever had to express myself so fully creatively. Normally I'm trying to fulfill the teacher or director's creative vision. This time, it was my creative vision. That was cool to experience.”
Brown and the rest of the class learned a lot from and wanted to make a statement with the platform they were given.
“
“They really put their hearts and their collective all into this project. I think people were changed by it and that’s ultimately the goal of any work of art, to somehow change the way we think and feel.”
- Upper theater teacher Marc Raia
“The rarity of the situation and the idea that it was something we might only get one shot to do made it important for us all,” Brown said. “We wanted to do it well. We learned how to work collectively and create an environment that allowed us to do so.”
Brown praised Raia for trusting her and her classmates with such a unique opportunity.
“I am really proud of this year’s masterclass in theater students for their work on ‘12 Angry Jurors,’” Raia said. “They really put their hearts and their collective all into this project. I think people were changed by it and that’s ultimately the goal of any work of art, to somehow change the way we think and feel.”
Masterclass in theater, like all Seven Hills fine and performing art classes, can be taken multiple times so students can build on what they have learned and explore their creative passions.
Knarr and Vance have a different curriculum depending on how many times a student has taken their art classes. As the student matures, the curriculum becomes more advanced and focuses more on independent study work and developing a portfolio.
“With the introduction classes, there are absolutely certain criteria we want to discuss. Once the general rules
UPPER SCHOOLERS PERFORM THEIR WINTER PLAY, “12 ANGRY JURORS.”
and basics of good composition and good design are covered, students have the ability to make their way not totally independent but enough that their interest and their predisposition to a medium allows them to be more creative,” Knarr said.
While art teachers are allowing Upper Schoolers to explore techniques they learned about in art history into their painting class, Newlie uses the same approach of independent learning while teaching Unit II students the recorder.
“I use a reward system for practicing and successfully performing songs on the recorder called Recorder Karate,” Newlie explained.
As the students master new songs, they progress through the belt levels of karate from white to black. The students can either perform the songs in class or make a video of them playing at home to send to Newlie for feedback.
“I keep it completely up to the students on how quickly or slowly they progress
through the belt levels,” he said.
Once Knarr teaches his students the basics, he lets their creativity dictate what comes next.
“You have to learn certain chunks of history or math, but in art we have a much broader spectrum to pull from, of things that they can do,”
Knarr said. “It enables the students to use their creativity and their imagination
to guide themselves. And we are always there to help.”
Like all Seven Hills fine and performing arts teachers, Raia takes a similar approach for an important reason.
“You just never know what may open a door for a young person,” Raia said.
“Fine and performing arts classes can be a safe place, a place where a young person can take creative risks without fear of judgement. When you have trust in the room, you can do anything. It’s not perfect, we're all human, but when it's good, it’s an amazing thing.”
ART TEACHER DANIEL VANCE GUIDES STUDENTS THROUGH A DRAWING LESSON.
THEATER TEACHER MARC RAIA LEADS STUDENTS THROUGH AN ACTING EXERCISE.
SEVEN HILLS CONGRATULATES NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS
Seven Hills continues its tradition of excellence, with 20 students receiving recognition from the National Merit Scholarship program. Four students were named as recipients, seven were named finalists, one was named a semifinalist, and eight were named commended scholars.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
FINALISTS & SEMIFINALIST
Seniors Ahalya Nambiar, Anna Kunkel, and Kyle Wang were named winners by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Senior Sophia Schuermeyer received a National Merit college-sponsored award from Emory University.
National Merit will announce additional college-sponsored scholarship winners in mid-July.
Congratulations
Congratulations to seniors Nick Patel, Evelyn Quint, Nicholas Roblyer, Sydney Schneider, Brett Woffington, Keliang Yao, and Andrew Zhou for being named National Merit Finalists.
Senior Adi Duggal was named a National Merit Semifinalist.
National Merit Commended Scholars were seniors Michaela Atkinson, Daniel Choi, Abby Deimling, Evie Ferguson, Ethan Hu, Everett Rinaldi, Josie Schneider, and Tony Wang.
HAUCK SCHOLAR SHIP WINNERS
The Seven Hills School awarded the 2025 Frederick Hauck Scholarship to eighth grader Angella Zong, freshman Aiden Yang, and sophomores Freddie Murrer, Irene Zhang, and Jason Zhou.
SENIORS INDUCTED INTO THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOLARS SOCIETY
Hauck Scholarship
The Hauck Scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding commitment and achievement in math or science. Recipients are chosen based on their academic achievement in math and science and a demonstrated special interest in math and science outside of the classroom.
The award is named after Dr. Frederick A. Hauck, a world-renowned nuclear scientist and philanthropist. He served on the Atomic Energy Commission and worked closely with Albert Einstein. In addition to his scientific achievements, he was a businessman, explorer, historian, industrialist, metallurgist, nature lover, and humanitarian. Winning students entering grades nine through 12 receive a one-year scholarship of $1,760 to be applied to next school year’s tuition at Seven Hills’ Upper School.
28 MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2025 WERE INDUCTED INTO THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOLARS SOCIETY.
THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOLARS SOCIETY IS CLOSELY TIED TO THE SEVEN HILLS VALUES. THE SOCIETY HONORS STUDENTS FOR MEETING REQUIREMENTS IN GPA, COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS, CLASS PARTICIPATION, AND CHALLENGE EXPERIENCES. THE PROGRAM REPLACED THE CUM LAUDE SOCIETY DURING THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR.
CONGRATULATIONS
to the following members of the Class of 2025 for their induction into the Seven Hills Scholars Society: Areej Arif, Michaela Atkinson, Megan Corrado, Audrey Cors, Evie Ferguson, Caleb Hamon, Jackson Hamon, Erin Jackson, Anna Kunkel, Chinmay Machavaram, Ahalya Nambiar, Brady O’Connor, Elena Pohl, Charlotte Quint, Evelyn Quint, Everett Rinaldi, Nicholas Roblyer, Roman Russo, Dougie Schecter, Sydney Schneider, Sophia Schuermeyer, Nicholas Stein, Kavan Vadivelu, Lauren VordemEsche, Kyle Wang, Tony Wang, Brett Woffington, and Keliang Yao.
JASON ZHOU
FREDDIE MURRER
ANGELLA ZONG
IRENE ZHANG
AIDEN YANG
MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS WIN 2 26 SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS
THE REGIONAL SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS RECOGNIZED MORE THAN 100 SEVEN HILLS MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH 226 AWARDS FOR THEIR WRITING AND ARTWORK.
The Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition is one of the oldest and largest student competitions in the nation and more than 50 schools competed in the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky Region.
The art Gold Keys were won by Liu, eighth grader Angella Zong, freshman Hasika Avanigadda, sophomores Timothy Wang and Irene Zhang, and junior Grace Kennedy
“We are so proud of our creators and producers who were recognized in the Scholastic Awards,” Head of Upper School Rick Tate said. “It’s hard not to see the effects of media consumption on young people today, yet these 226 awards show that creation and production are alive and well at Seven Hills.”
In the writing competition, Seven Hills students won eight Gold Keys and 44 Silver Keys across various writing categories, including poetry, critical essay, flash fiction, short story, and personal essay. Gold Keys enter them
Seven Hills’ 19 Gold Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards were earned by (front row, left to right) freshman Hasika Avanigadda, sophomore Jackie Katuska, sophomore Irene Zhang, junior Lily Plum Gartenlaub, junior Grace Kennedy, (back row, left to right) junior Miles Rizor, eighth grader Angella Zong, eighth grader Sophia Liu, freshman Mia Wong, (three insert photos) eighth grader Aly Trevino, sophomore Timothy Wang, and sophomore Sakshum Vij.
into consideration for the national awards, across all categories.
The writing Gold Keys were earned by eighth graders Sophia Liu and Aly Trevino, freshman Mia Wang, sophomores Jackie Katuska and Sakshum Vij, and juniors Miles Rizor and Lily Plum Gartenlaub.
In the arts competition, eight students, including two Middle Schoolers, received 26 awards, earning 11 Gold Keys and six Silver Keys.
“It’s hard not to see the effects of media consumption on young people today, yet these 226 awards show that creation and production are alive and well at Seven Hills.”
- Head of Upper School Rick Tate
SEVEN HILLS HONORS LIFERS WITH LUNCH
The fourth annual Lifers Lunch honored the 28 members of the Class of 2025, who have spent their entire education at Seven Hills. To be a lifer, a graduating senior must have started at Seven Hills in at least the first grade.
Some lifers started as early as prekindergarten for 2-year-olds and spent 15 years at Seven Hills.
“
“You won’t
recognize how special everyone sitting next to you is and this place is until you leave and then get to come back.”
- Jennifer Frey ’99, Alumni Board member
Jennifer Frey ’99, a member of the Alumni Board, encouraged the lifers to cherish the sense of community and value what they experienced during their time at Seven Hills.
“You won’t recognize how special everyone sitting next to you is and this place is until you leave and then get to come back,” Frey said. “Take care of each other and remember
that though you will say goodbye in June, it will not be forever. Those lifers who came before you and after you will always be there to cheer you on in your next chapter.”
Director of Development Margo Kirstein thanked the seniors’ parents for entrusting Seven Hills with their children for so long.
Each lifer was gifted a plaque with their school photo from their first year at Seven Hills. As in the previous three years, the students were given a group photo taken this year with their fellow Doherty or Lotspeich
Lower School lifers. This year, in the spirit of the upcoming Lower School unification, all 28 of the lifers gathered for a group photo in The Schiff Center.
1. Seniors Billy Good and Ryan Brackett admire the plaque with their school photo from their first year at Seven Hills and a group photo of the Lifers taken this year. 2. Senior Aaron Howard enjoys time with fellow seniors at the Lifers Lunch. 3. Seniors Devin Best and Dougie Schecter admire the plaque with their school photo from their first year at Seven Hills. 4. Jennifer Frey ’99 addresses Seven Hills Lifers at the Lifers Lunch. 5. Seven Hills Lifers
TEACHERS ARE THE DIFFERENCE
At Seven Hills, our teachers are experts at their craft. They create a welcoming environment for students to test their limits, try new things, and achieve more than they ever thought possible. Together, we are
UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER JEN TORLINE
For over a decade, Upper School science teacher Jen Torline has experimented with a curriculum that generates academic results and encourages students’ natural curiosity.
“My connection to Seven Hills was Linda Ford, a science teacher at Upper before she retired. She taught me how to do a tie dye experiment I still teach in class. The school's positive reputation really drew me in, and it
was a chance to teach just chemistry, which is my favorite science,” Torline said.
Torline created a curriculum that leaves plenty of room for wonder and inspiration. Her students learn about chemistry through experiments, labs, and coursework that taps into their creativity.
THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY STUDENTS...
Upper
School science teacher
1. There is more than one way to solve a problem.
2. Learning is more fun collaboratively and keeps evolving thanks to technology.
3. Stay curious and continue to be lifelong learners.
During an AP Chemistry class, students worked in small groups to create a vivid rainbow in test tubes using a variety of liquids. Students used pea flower tea to test different chemical reactions and craft their best rainbow. After completing their experiments, the groups submitted their rainbows in a friendly competition. Peers reviewed one another’s work, with each group complimenting the others for their vibrant colors.
“The hands-on aspect is one of my favorite things to teach. The lab work and seeing the concepts in person show students we can prove and solve the equation. It’s not just about teaching kids the chemical terms and knowledge. I’m helping them expand their ways to solve problems inside and outside the lab. It’s part of preparing students to be responsible citizens who can analyze the world around them,” Torline said.
Her favorite part about teaching students is hearing the “aha” moment from her students.
“How my students push and take things further to comprehend the subject matter is always a delight to witness. Their curiosity is innate and I want to encourage and foster. A chemical reaction can be scientifically simple and yet still inspire a sense of wonder for several reasons, which is part of chemistry’s beauty,” Torline said.
Jen Torline
celebrating our excellent teachers in this magazine installment, which features Upper School science teacher
Jen Torline and Middle School drama teacher Jacob Hauser.
MIDDLE SCHOOL THEATER TEACHER JACOB HAUSER
Inside the Donovan Arts Center’s black box theater, Middle School students are gently pushed step-by-step outside their theatrical comfort zone.
Middle School drama teacher Jacob Hauser’s classes enable students to explore creative choices and figure out how to bring dialogue and characters to life.
“The kids are super confident,” Hauser said. “I think the biggest thing is helping them
become comfortable as an artist with who they are and what they want to say. It’s about learning how to make choices on stage, regardless of the art form. It’s all about the choices. Whether it's tempos in music or mediums with painting, I want them to understand that they have to make their own choices.”
Hauser explained that students may be nervous about committing to a choice because it might be wrong.
“It’s a safe place to fail, onstage, because every rehearsal is learning to fail until we get
THINGS
I LEARNED FROM MY STUDENTS... Middle School drama teacher
Jacob Hauser
1. Patience
2. Having a growth mindset
3. Not taking yourself too seriously
the desired result. Until you get an audience in the seats, you’re free to make mistakes and choices,” Hauser said.
Hauser has different goals for each grade level in Middle School, to help students build a solid foundation of skills and a love or appreciation for theater.
“My sixth grade class is about getting them interested in theater and performing, and it’s all improv based to sort of trick them into having fun. They need that intrinsic motivation to want to learn it. Building up the joy and fun they can experience helps them have something to remember when they’re nervous about making a choice, because they know something great comes afterward,” Hauser said.
In seventh grade, students read open scenes, which have intentionally vague, nondescript dialogue. The lack of description causes students to decide all of the details in the piece.
“We do that so they understand a script doesn’t do everything, and their job as an actor is to bring meaning to the words on the page,” Hauser said. “They need to use vocal inflection, tone of voice, body language, and other things to bring the words to life. Open scenes are a great opportunity for them to practice a wide range of skills.”
By eighth grade, students are discovering what aspects of theater they’re drawn to and are showcasing initiative to hone their talents.
“During ‘Willy Wonka, Jr.,’ we were very proud of the tech kids. We had 21 scene changes, and the eighth graders in the stage crew took it upon themselves to practice the stage cues and make them better. Their maturity and initiative helped make the production run smoother,” Hauser said.
PUTTING THE " EXPERIENC E " IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING :
AND SERVICE LEARNING AT SEVEN HILLS REAL-WORLD
WHETHER IT IS AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASS OR A DAY OF SERVICE, REAL-WORLD AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IS USED IN EVERY DIVISION AT SEVEN HILLS TO DEVELOP EMPATHY, DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING, LAY A FOUNDATION OF SERVICE, AND OPEN A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FOR STUDENTS’ FUTURES.
LEARNING BY DOING
T he Oxford English Dictionary defines “entrepreneurship” as “the activity of setting up a business, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.”
Director of Instructional Technology
Kristina O’Connor, who teaches the Upper School’s entrepreneurship class, takes a different approach. She defines it as a variety of skills and characteristics.
“REAL-WORLD LEARNING PROJECTS PROVIDE A WAY FOR STUDENTS TO CONNECT WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM AND WITH OTHERS.”
~ Lotspeich teacher Jacquie Berting
“Innovation, communication, collaboration, iteration, perseverance, focus, growth mindset, energy. I could go on and on. True entrepreneurs try and try again. They fail forward. They know business, and they know people,” O’Connor said.
For O’Connor, teaching entrepreneurship to juniors and seniors is about creating connections that will enhance knowledge and understanding.
“Connecting students to the Cincinnati community is key for this entrepreneurship class. There are many exciting initiatives happening right here in our own city,” she said.
The class invited numerous guest speakers into the classroom and visited the University of Cincinnati's
1819 Innovation Hub, the Sedler Xavier Center of Experiential Learning at Xavier University, Alloy Development, A&P Technology, and PatientPoint.
“Real-world learning is essential to entrepreneurship,” O’Connor said. “Students learn more from experts. It is important for students to make connections with those who are in the work. Being able to spend face-to-face time with professionals and ask them questions about their stories has been invaluable.”
While on field trips, like to PatientPoint, a digital health company, students saw how the business operates and applies business concepts and practices they learned from O’Connor in the classroom.
Middle School social studies teacher Doug Huff is able to help his seventh grade students make those connections with the Stock Market Game, a year-long project where the students get $100,000 of pretend money to invest in real stocks.
“There are so many connections,” Huff said. “We talk about the Great Depression, the rise of big business
Members of the Middle School community volunteer at A Child’s Hope International on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
during industrialization, global trade, and more. So, when students are investing and watching the market go up and down, it all clicks in a new way.”
The stocks are based on real market data and teams of two to three seventh graders check their portfolios, talk through moves, and decide if they want to buy, sell, or hold.
“It’s such a fun way to get students thinking about economics, money, and decisionmaking. They’re learning about risk, teamwork, research, and strategy without even realizing it,” Huff said.
Lotspeich Project Math teacher
Jacquie Berting uses a similar approach with her real-world learning projects: the plant sale in first grade, the mini playground project in third grade, and the mini golf project in fifth grade.
and authentic topic that can then be enhanced and understood more deeply.”
Berting has her third-grade students use their real-world knowledge of playgrounds while they design and build their own miniature ones. In addition to deciding what elements to include, the students visit Makino Park to learn about accessibility in playground design and that playgrounds can have themes. In their science class, the students learn about forces and must include a variety of forces in their designs.
“Real-world learning projects provide a way for students to connect with the world around them and with others,” Berting said. “By drawing on real-world experiences such as growing plants, having fun at playgrounds, and playing mini golf, students come to the project with a working knowledge of an engaging
“They are also thinking about how to keep people safe on their playgrounds from the sun, falling, traffic, etc., and understanding that playgrounds are public spaces meant for a variety of different ages and abilities to enjoy,” Berting said.
Because the playground project — and the other real-world projects Berting uses
Freshmen take part in their first Day of Service.
in her classes — have a relevance to the students’ lives, they have a high retention of the knowledge and skills gained.
“Some of the skills project-based learning is meant to foster include critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, flexibility, perseverance, and team-work. These projects in particular help students connect with others and build community by working with and learning from each other and interacting with other students and adults outside of their own grade level,” Berting said.
Director of Experiential Learning Karen Glum witnessed a clear example of the importance of building connections and learning by doing during the ninth grade’s Day of Service at St. Vincent de Paul’s Ozanam Center for Service Learning.
The students took part in a workshop known as a poverty simulation and were each given an identity with an age, income, history, and an objective to fulfill by the
Doherty students write thank you cards for Save the Animal Foundation volunteers during their Day of Service.
AND SERVICE LEARNING AT SEVEN HILLS, CONT.
end of the workshop, like getting enough money to pay rent. The workshop simulated a month in the life of the students’ identities and they had to make choices and weigh the costs and benefits of each as they tried to reach their objective.
“After that experience, we debriefed it together and there was no other way for the students to speak about all aspects of poverty without experiencing it during the simulation. It absolutely required experiential learning,” Glum said.
The Upper School entrepreneurship class visits PatientPoint and learns about its operations.
“AT STAF , THERE ARE 60 DOGS AND ALL OF THEM DESERVE BETTER. I’M VERY THANKFUL TO STAF . IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO TAKE CARE OF THAT MANY ANIMALS.
~ Unit III student Claire Cullen
look back on that experience and think about who and what they are going to serve and what kind of obstacles people face that are invisible to many of us,” Glum said.
LEARNING BY SERVING
Real-world learning was also a key component of Doherty’s Day of Service, the culmination of a year-long servicelearning project where the Hives partnered with Save the Animals Foundation, or STAF.
While each Hive, a multi-grade buddy group for kindergarten through fifth grade students, has done service-learning projects with various organizations in the past, Doherty guidance counselor Angie Bielecki explained that choosing one organization for everyone to work with helped unify the purpose of service.
The students began to understand not all support, like rent assistance, is guaranteed and the problems a lack of transportation, health insurance, translation services, and reliable childcare can cause.
“The experience laid a foundation so now when they go out and do service, they can
As part of the project, the Unit III students traveled to STAF and spent the day there assisting the volunteers.
“So many of our field trips are centered around people doing, performing, and teaching things to us. The STAF field trip was different than all of that because we went for the sole purpose of helping them,” Bielecki said.
The students mopped floors, made cat toys, and saw the day-to-day operations of the all-volunteer organization. Unit III student
Claire Cullen and other members of her class gave a presentation about their trip to their classmates during the Day of Service.
“At STAF, there are 60 dogs and all of them deserve better. I’m very thankful to STAF. It takes a lot of work to take care of that many animals,” Claire said.
During the Day of Service, students made dog toys and designed thank you cards for STAF volunteers.
“STAF is a place whose mission is relatable and understandable to children of all ages,” Bielecki said. “We also wanted to highlight an organization that was a member of our community, and STAF is close to our campuses. Another reason we chose STAF was that it is volunteer-run and we wanted to emphasize the importance of volunteers and finding a way to put your passion into action.”
Giving students the chance to find and identify their passion continues through a students’ journey through the Middle and Upper School with events like the A Day On, Not Off, held each Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Middle School students and their families are encouraged to volunteer at local organizations, like Matthew 25: Ministries, A Child’s Hope International, and the Freestore Foodbank.
“At our Middle School, social-emotional learning and community-building are intentionally woven into everything we do,” said Middle School teacher Jacky
Lotspeich third graders pose with their miniature playground project.
Kalubi. “A Day On, Not Off brings core values like empathy, generosity, kindness, compassion, social justice, and civic responsibility to life. Rather than simply reading or hearing about these ideals, students engage in meaningful, real-world actions that allow them to practice these values firsthand.”
During the ninth grade’s half day of service in the fall, Glum explained, students volunteered at one of nine organizations, varying from the Cincinnati Reuse and Recycling Hub to Bethany House to the Know Theatre.
“We intentionally choose very different types of opportunities so that when students come back to campus, if they were not passionate about what they did, they would hear about all these other opportunities,” Glum said. “It started to open their minds to the idea that there is a lot of different ways to serve.”
Before the poverty simulation at the Ozanam Center, the ninth graders spent time at the Linden Grove School, where the principal gave them a lesson about autism to create empathic understanding of the challenges for the school’s students. The ninth graders spent time in classrooms, had lunch with the students, and played together at recess.
“Our students really enjoyed that and a couple have said they want to start volunteering there because they enjoyed that experience so much,” Glum said.
Finding that passion within Seven Hills students and leading by example is exactly what Kalubi hopes Middle Schoolers take away from the A Day On, Not Off each year.
“These powerful experiences have a potential to spark a lifelong passion for making a difference,” Kalubi said. “Teachers and administrators all actively participate, modeling the very values we hope to
“THESE POWERFUL EXPERIENCES HAVE A POTENTIAL TO SPARK A LIFELONG PASSION FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE. TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ALL ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE, MODELING THE VERY VALUES WE HOPE TO CULTIVATE IN OUR STUDENTS. ”
~ Middle School teacher Jacky Kalubi
cultivate in our students. The students also learn that donations do not have to be monetary but just as importantly, people can donate their time and skills.”
The Upper School entrepreneurship class welcomes Dr. Matthew Regele from Xavier University to learn about design thinking.
The top three teams of seventh graders in the Stock Market Game are honored at the end of the year with a pizza party.
SEVEN HILLS ON THE GO!
French Exchange within the World Language Department
The Upper School world language department’s trips abroad are a way to teach Seven Hills students about the world so they can truly become global citizens. During the 2024-25 school year, the Upper School participated in an exchange program with La Croix Blanche in Bondues, France.
APRIL
In April, Seven Hills hosted 21 students and two faculty members from La Croix Blanche . The French
students were introduced and welcomed at the all-school meeting, learned about American sports with senior Nicholas Stein, had a day of
special classes tailored just for them by Upper School teachers, and attended Seven Hills' prom.
Outside of school, they got to know their host families and explored the greater Cincinnati area.
MAY
In May, 18 Upper Schoolers and French teachers Meghan Stevens and Michele Laude traveled to Bondues to reunite with their French counterparts and expand their knowledge of the French language.
“In class, students learn the basics of the language, but when they travel, they really use it,” Stevens said. “Living in a place where people speak the language every day helps them grow more confident, make real connections, and understand the culture in a deeper way. They don’t just study the language; they live it firsthand.”
While in France, the Upper Schoolers spent time at La Croix Blanche to learn about the school and visited Lille, Paris, the Cathedral de La Treille, and Arras.
The students also learned about everyday life in France and practiced their language skills in various ways, from taking public transit to buying patisserie in a boulangerie in Paris.
ARTS ALIVE
IN EARLY MAY, THE HILLSDALE CAMPUS WAS BURSTING WITH CREATIVITY AND TALENT AS STUDENTS IN FIRST THROUGH 12TH GRADE CAME TOGETHER TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR FOURTH ANNUAL ARTS ALIVE. FROM CAPTIVATING PERFORMANCES ON STAGE TO ART DISPLAYS AND GALLERIES FILLED WITH STUDENTS’ WORK, THE EVENT WAS A POWERFUL CELEBRATION OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS.
Families, friends, and community members enjoyed beautiful weather while witnessing the fruits of their students’ hard work this year. Thank you to everyone who joined us in supporting and celebrating the arts at Seven Hills — we’re so proud of our students and grateful for the enthusiasm and encouragement from our school community!
1. The Middle School cast of “Willy Wonka, Jr.” sang a mix of songs from their spring production.
2. Sophomore Maya Little wowed the audience with her vocal performance.
3. Attendees viewed Lower School and Middle School art in The Schiff Center lobby.
4. Sophomore Elsa Guo showed off her dancing skills.
5. Brett Woffington ’25 sang a solo during one of the Upper School symphonic ensemble’s songs.
6. Face painting, tie-dye, and friendship bracelets were just some of the many offerings at the arts and crafts booths headed by U.S. student volunteers.
7. Diego Godoy ’25 and Will Schade ’25 were ready to perform on The Schiff Center stage.
8. Middle Schoolers performed a specially curated theater piece for their audience.
9. U.S. and L.S. students collaborated for their special production of “The Day,” a play written by junior Evie Horner when she was in fifth grade.
10. The fifth grade Doherty and Lotspeich combined singing performance showcased students’ choreography, comedic timing, and beautiful voices.
11. Black Cherry performed during the Arts Alive after-party on The Deck.
12. Freshman Rose Fidler sang a love song.
13. Doherty and Lotspeich second graders showed off their dancing and vocal talents.
MIRIAM TITCOMB MEMORIAL FUND Grants for Enrichment
Since 1978, the Miriam Titcomb Fund, an endowed enrichment fund established by alumni, has made it possible for more than 100 Seven Hills faculty and staff to have meaningful travel and study experiences. These adventures are personally and professionally inspiring for our faculty and staff. Their increased scholarship and enthusiasm enrich the entire school community. We are pleased to share the stories of grant recipients Marty Gerhardt, Racheal Quinn , and Katie Swinford
DOHERTY PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER
MARTY GERHARDT ’ 85, 2024 RECIPIENT
Marty Gerhardt ’85 received a Titcomb grant for her experience, "The Olympics in Europe.”
Gerhardt and her daughter traveled to France to watch the Olympic games in person during the 2024 summer and to England to sightsee. The pair watched a beach volleyball game next to the Eifel Tower, a soccer match, and swimming
events. While sightseeing, Gerhardt and her daughter visited the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Seine River, and more.
Being able to see Olympic athletes’ greatest level of performance, combined with Gerhardt’s love for all sports, made her Titcomb trip an experience she’ll never forget.
“It was a thrill to be at the Olympics and to be a part of something bigger: people from all over the world coming together to cheer on the world’s best athletes as they gave it their all, competing in their sport and representing their country,” Gerhardt said. “People were friendly, and there was so
much excitement in the air.
I love all that the games represent in competition, personal development, and achievement.”
DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION RACHEAL QUINN , 2024 RECIPIENT
Racheal Quinn received a Titcomb grant for her experience, "Healing and Heritage.”
While her initial plan was to visit Senegal, after her friend was unable to accompany her, Quinn changed course for Morocco. During her trip, Quinn saw the sunrise on desert dunes, connected with women from around the world, visited the city of Marrakesh and the Sahara Desert, and more.
“I chose Morocco because I wanted to visit a country that wasn’t westernized,” Quinn said. “It was a beautiful intersection of cultures, and I got to see what it looks like when cultures come together and share their histories and their futures.”
One of her favorite parts of her trip was meeting a new friend, Darlene from Sri Lanka.
“Darlene said it was the trip of a lifetime. We met at the beginning of my trip, going to a tea ceremony. We literally ran into each other, because it is so crowded in the medinas. She brought her entire family with her since she explained her husband passed before they could travel there. I love intergenerational living, and
she was just a joy. We laughed together for five minutes and then parted. Five days later, we discovered we were staying in the same desert camp,” Quinn said.
Like her new friend, Quinn said her visit to Morocco was also the trip of a lifetime.
“The culture, the people, the tea, and the heat! It was an experience that expanded my humanity, and I am grateful for the opportunity to explore these pieces of me and our world,” Quinn said. continued on page 36
MIRIAM TITCOMB MEMORIAL FUND
Grants for Enrichment, continued . . .
MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL WORLD LANGUAGE AND HISTORY TEACHER KATIE SWINFORD , 2020 RECIPIENT
Katie Swinford received a Titcomb grant for her experience, "Teaching & Learning in Tanzania.”
In the summer of 2024, Swinford and her son traveled to Tanzania to volunteer at the nonprofit her sister helped found, Edpowerment. For a week, Swinford and her family worked with the students and teachers at the Business Incubation Center, helping to craft YouTube videos showing off the apprenticeship programs where students spend a year honing their craft and taking business courses and English lessons. Then, the trio explored the national parks surrounding the Serengeti and laid on the beaches of Zanzibar for a week.
“Edpowerment has a group of USbased colleagues and Tanzanian friends,” Swinford said.
She explained that the organization, based in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, initially had the mission to support education and social services for single mothers and orphaned children, but has now grown to support ventures like well-building and maintenance, autism awareness, primary and secondary education support, and its newest venture: the Business Incubation Center.
“It was incredible to learn about my sister's nonprofit work, about which I've heard so much over the years, and to see my son Lucas experience food, culture, language, and people that were at first so unfamiliar to him,” Swinford said. “I am so grateful to the Titcomb Committee for supporting our trip!”
CLASS AGENTS BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH ALUMNI OFFICE
For more than two decades, Class Agents have played a special role in the Alumni/ Development Office, strengthening the connection between Seven Hills students and alumni. This spirited program, led by the director of alumni engagement, brings together a group of juniors and seniors who meet monthly to learn, lead, and make a lasting impact on the school’s incredible alumni network.
“Being part of this program has been such a rewarding experience. I especially loved assembling care packages for our alumni in college — it’s inspiring to see how Seven Hills continues to support its graduates.”
~Junior Claire Bachelder
Over the past year, our Class Agents have spread gratitude, built connections, and brought joy to the Seven Hills community. They’ve written heartfelt thank-you notes to alumni donors of the Annual Fund, packed care packages with Seven Hills swag and treats for college freshmen and sophomores, and helped the Alumni/Development Office make our buzzing day of giving, Fill the Hills, a successful day.
The Class Agent program is just the beginning of a lifelong connection to Seven Hills, inspiring students to stay involved as Class Representatives, Reunion Representatives, and engaged alumni for years to come.
Junior Claire Bachelder shares, “Being part of this program has been such
Thank you for your service, class agents for the 2024-25 school year!
JUNIORS
Daniela Alper, Claire Bachelder, Sai Basava, Mikael Choi, Rhys Ceron, Siddhant Chunduri, Sabrina Donovan, Malcolm Faison, Lily Plum Gartenlaub, Nina Head, Caleb Katz, Brendan McLaughlin, George Mullin, Hannah Olowokure, Avani Shah, Rose Vecellio, and Davion Washington SENIORS
Areej Arif, Sarina Bedi, Timothy DeWitt, William Huguenin-Virchaux, Annie Katuska, Reagan Licata, Saxon Lackey, Chinmay Machavaram, Shlok Mehta, Ahalya Nambiar, Kira Njegovan, Sophie Ottke Moore, Everett Rinaldi, Nicholas Roblyer, Roman Russo, and Sammy Willard
a rewarding experience, allowing me to learn more about the Alumni and Development Office. I especially loved assembling care packages for our alumni in college — it’s inspiring to see how
Seven Hills continues to support its graduates. I can’t wait to receive mine in a few years, knowing that this community will always be a part of my life!”
CHALLENGE EXPERIENCES
Four Stories of Discovery
Each Upper School student designs an original Challenge Experience that helps define their interests, explore their passions, and stretches them beyond their comfort zones. Challenge Experience embodies the spirit of Seven Hills’ dedication to experiential learning.
Recorded a CD
Senior HATTIE CULPEPPER
Experience Description: Hattie recorded a CD of original music and covers, providing vocals and playing ukulele and banjo on different tracks.
Experience Process: Hattie has wanted to record a CD with her dad in his music studio since she was 4 years old. She began playing the banjo at age 6, but was still too young to handle any of the recording process on her own. “When I came to Seven Hills my freshman year, I heard that each student was expected to complete a Challenge Experience. I immediately knew it was the perfect opportunity to finally make this goal come to life.”
Hattie began by determining if she would record pre-existing songs or create her own pieces. Once she had the instruments, styles, and vocals of the songs sorted, she began practicing.
“One of the most challenging parts was making sure I had
every part down perfectly before I recorded so I could play each track recording in one try, otherwise I would have to go back and redo it and use the recording technology to blend and merge the two tracks, which was tedious work and very time consuming,” she said.
She worked from sheet music for some of the songs, but others she had committed to memory during her years of playing the banjo.
“Some of the songs on the CD are among the first songs I ever learned to play on the banjo at around 7 or 8. I reimagined the simple picking patterns and notes by adding in other instrumentals, vocals, and more challenging banjo solos to bring the simple songs to life,” she said.
Hattie: “I plan to record more songs and CDs in the future
with my dad, in college, and beyond and improve every aspect of the recording
What Makes a Good Puzzle? Senior SAGE WILLKE
Experience Description: Sage researched what goes into deciding the difficulty of a puzzle and created nine puzzles of her own with increasing difficulty in various types.
Experience Process: Sage has always liked puzzles and began her project by filling up her whole kitchen with jigsaw puzzles to test the theory that more pieces equal a higher difficulty. While she had puzzles with up to 1,000 pieces, the one with only 29 was the most difficult because the
CHALLENGE EXPERIENCES ARE A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS. EACH STUDENT DESIGNS AN ORIGINAL PROJECT THAT HELPS DEFINE THEIR INTERESTS AND
Hattie Culpepper
Sage Willke
Hattie Culpepper
pieces were clear and could be turned any way, be corner pieces, or be inside the puzzle.
“I ended up coming up with an equation to figure out the difficulty, and I used it on the jigsaw puzzles that I did. I made a graph and showed that the equation was pretty accurate to the listed difficulties of the puzzles,” Sage said.
With her equation in hand, Sage created three sudokus, three logic puzzles, and three cryptograms each with increasing difficulty. Making the puzzles took longer than she anticipated and the sudokus were challenging.
During one of the Upper School’s Challenge Experience sharing days, Sage passed out copies of her level 1 cryptogram, which many of her classmates enthusiastically solved. The cryptogram is a message that has been encrypted by taking each letter and substituting for another letter.
Sage: “I learned I want to do something involved with solving for my career. I’m majoring in math so math is all about solving. Solving — no matter what it is — is something I am going to want to do in the future.”
Documentary on Unique Entrepreneurship in India
Senior VIKASNI BANDINANI
Experience Description: Vikasni interviewed three Indian entrepreneurs and created a documentary for her nonprofit, SheSeva, which helps women in rural India achieve financial independence.
way of starting that business. I wanted to create a little change so I started SheSeva when I was in the 10th grade,” she said.
Experience Process: Vikasni’s interest in female entrepreneurship in India — and its difficulties — was sparked when she was able to visit her grandmother for the first time in four years and learned the woman who ran the store at the end of the street was forced to close it.
“So, she had the ambition, she had the drive, she even got as far as starting it. It is just she didn’t have the opportunity, the backing, the funding, or a more sustainable
STRETCHES THEM BEYOND THEIR COMFORT ZONES. PERSONAL CHALLENGE EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF SEVEN HILLS’ DEDICATION TO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.
Her documentary focuses on businesses that are unique to India’s market and consumer base. Vikasni researched the businesses and decided on her questions before she went to India to conduct the interviews, which she filmed.
“One challenge was coming up with the questions. They would tell me their stories, but it wasn’t until after I had interviewed all three of them, and I was on my plane back that I thought about questions,” she said.
Using her editing skills from previously having a YouTube channel, Viskani edited
continued on page 40
Vikasni Bandinani
CHALLENGE EXPERIENCES ,
Continued . . .
Four Stories of Discovery
the interviews and footage she filmed in India into the documentary.
Vikasni: “I uploaded it to my nonprofit’s YouTube channel and our nonprofit’s website along with some clips. People can go read the blogs about each one. The next big project for SheSeva is making a market where our female entrepreneurs can sell those goods, without taking the risk of setting up a big store. We want to connect them with a more global customer base.”
Translated Mandarin Chinese Poetry Senior NICHOLAS ROBLYER
Experience Description: Nicholas translated three Chinese poems into English.
Experience Process: Nicholas has a knowledge of the Chinese language from his classes at Seven Hills but wanted to learn more about the culture. He started with extensive research into the history of Chinese poetry and its many varieties. He chose to translate “Lament of Ying,” written around 280 BCE; “Dream,” written around 1100 CE; and “Stamps,” written during Maoist China’s cultural revolution.
“I had to first painstakingly translate the lines word by word, then apply contextual knowledge to find the overall meaning of the line,” Nicholas said. “Without much cultural context,
I found it almost impossible to make sense of these works on a line by line basis, especially during my translation of ‘Lament of Ying.’”
Through his research, Nicholas learned the death of Qu Yuan, the poet behind “Lament of Ying,” is commemorated annually with the Dragon Boat Festival in China.
Nicholas: “I already take a Chinese language class at Seven Hills, so I had some advance knowledge of the language. Because I plan to study abroad in either Taiwan or China,
I wanted to gain a better understanding of Chinese culture.”
Nicholas Roblyer
LUNCH SEVEN HILLS FOR
BOOKS FOR LUNCH
AUTHOR
COLM TÓIBÍN
ENGAGED UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS, PARENTS, ALUMNI, AND FRIENDS OF SEVEN HILLS WITH HIS THOUGHTFUL ANECDOTES, WRITING PROCESS, AND CHARMING DEMEANOR.
On Feb. 7, the world-renowned author visited the Hillsdale Campus to engage with Upper School students in a thoughtful discussion about his writing process and the inspiration behind his works. After his keynote speech, students had the unique opportunity to ask him multiple questions, gaining insight into his creative approach and the ways in which he developed his narratives.
Later in the day, Tóibín met with parents, alumni, and friends of Seven Hills at the annual Books for Lunch, held at The Lightwell at North by Hotel Covington. During the gathering, he explored the responsibilities of writers and emphasized the power of listening as a crucial tool for finding inspiration and crafting compelling stories. His reflections provided a captivating perspective on the literary world and the art of storytelling.
The newest of Tóibín’s 11 novels is “Long Island,” a sequel to “Brooklyn.” The New York Times bestseller and Oprah’s Book Club pick revisits the life of Eilis Lacey, now in her 40s and a mother of two teenagers.
In “Long Island,” Eilis’s journey is a reversal of her initial immigration, as she returns to a homeland she left many years before. As she navigates this personal crisis, Tóibín subtly steps back from her perspective, allowing other characters’ stories to emerge in rich, intricate detail.
A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Books for Lunch co-chairs, Leesa Pruett Ceron and Elizabeth Stock, along with the entire planning committee — Nupur Anand, Sophia Choi, Lalitha Chunduri, Laura Leigh Hahn, Alison Hess, Natalie Martin, Maria Mingo, Meg Niederhelman, and Kelli Stein — whose hard work and commitment made this event a success.
Please note that this year’s Books for Lunch was relocated to The Lightwell at North by Hotel Covington due to an electrical fire at The Summit Hotel. We appreciate everyone’s flexibility and support in making this event a wonderful experience.
COLM T Ó IBÍN
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 SPONSORS!
Presenting Sponsor
Elizabeth Warner & Laurent Huguenin
Bestseller Ginger Warner Anonymous
Final Draft
Leesa Pruett Ceron & Ramon Ceron
Nancy & Jay Clark
Kelli & Richard Stein
Liz & Chris Stock
First Draft
Sue & Steve Baggott
Asher & Kelsey Lanier
Christa & Mark McAndrew
Friends
Karen Brown
Lindsay & Colin Cassady
Bre Gaffney
Amber & Syed Hassan
Melissa Lounsbury & James Osher
Susan Marrs
Jane Terrill
Ann & Andy Thompson
Colm Tóibín with Upper School students in the Young Family Library.
Tóibín with BFL planning committee, English teacher Nate Gleiner, and Head of School Matt Bolton at luncheon.
NURTURING
CREATIVITY IN A DI GITAL AGE:
THE ARTFUL BALANCE OF TECH AND EXPRESSION
How Seven Hills art teachers thoughtfully integrate technology to enrich creative learning and support every student’s artistic journey.
AT SEVEN HILLS, STUDENTS ARE IMMERSED IN THE ARTS AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL. TEACHERS CRAFT THEIR CURRICULUM TO HELP STUDENTS GAIN A STRONG FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR A RANGE OF ART FORMS. PART OF STUDENTS’ EDUCATION IS UNDERSTANDING HOW AND WHEN TO INCORPORATE TECHNOLOGY INTO THEIR ARTISTIC PROCESS.
For Lower School students, Doherty and Lotspeich art teachers Kacey Watkins and Sarah Hyland limit technology in the classroom and focus on physical skill development, but still create intentional opportunities for students to explore technology through a creative lens.
One of the ways Watkins teaches her students how to balance their technology usage is by dedicating time to making personal sketchbooks at the beginning of the year.
“Using a sketchbook forces students to internally reflect and think creatively about the prompts they're given,” Watkins said. “Our world doesn’t do that as much, so I’m trying to schedule some time for them to do that. There’s definitely a balance, and while
I’m incorporating screens less in my classroom, when we do use them, it’s to learn transferable skills. I like to choose a platform that is useful and productive in everyday life. For example, on Tinkercad — an online 3D modeling platform that lets kids design, edit, and print 3D objects — students may learn how to make keychains. Kids are learning how to use these tools, and my hope is they understand they have options in their downtime besides scrolling.”
Hands-on activities are also at the core of Hyland’s classroom. Her pre-kindergarten through fifth grade art curriculum encourages students to explore drawing, painting, pottery, and more. However, Hyland also believes there are moments when technology can deeply enrich a lesson.
“For example, when introducing kindergartners to artist Piet Mondrian, we explore the elements that make his iconic painting ‘Broadway Boogie Woogie’ so unique,” Hyland said. “The piece is an abstract, bird’s-eye view of Manhattan. So to help students grasp that perspective, we watch aerial footage of New York City for inspiration. We also listen to 1920s Boogie Woogie jazz — just as Mondrian did — while creating our own bird’s-eye view city artworks.”
Upper School art teachers Jason Knarr ’86 and Daniel Vance explain that technology has always been a part of art’s evolution.
“
“Even in graphic design, we start with pen and ink; with film and animation, we start with a flipbook. It’s
important that students understand it’s not just about what they create but
knowing the process of how things are made.”
- Upper School art teacher Jason Knarr ’86
“Within the arts, we’re always using technology,” Knarr said. “Whether it’s screen printing, logography, movable type, 3D printing, or something else, you can always rely on artists to gravitate towards exploring how they can use technology. Screen printing used to be looked down on when it first came around, and so was photography, just to name a couple of examples. Stone logography, which has been around for ages, is still a valuable skill to learn because of its versatility and low skill level.”
The iPad is a great resource, according to Vance, especially when it comes to drawing.
“Sometimes, I’ll have students take a photo of an object and then they trace the image,” Vance said. “They’re developing muscle memories that transfer when they draw on paper or a different medium.”
Knarr discussed how AI strengthened his and Vance’s opinions that students need to learn the process behind making art.
“We could easily use AI to reconfigure any image to make it look like logography. But, it’s unreal,” Knarr said. “With AI, there’s no end to copies. Now, it’s more important than ever for humans, artists, and visual people to understand and learn the processes because
they’re unique and generate wonder. Even in graphic design, we start with pen and ink; with film and animation, we start with a flipbook. It’s important that students understand it’s not just about what they create but knowing the process of how things are made.”
Middle School art teacher Elissa Donovan utilizes technology in a similar way to Knarr and Vance while emphasizing transferable skills in her lessons.
One of her most unique projects is her LED emoji pillows. Sixth graders use conductive thread, LED lights, and a power switch to sew an emoji of their choice as a pillow.
“Those components teach them about conductivity, but the art is the focus,” Donovan said. “It strengthens lessons they’ve learned in science class, and they pick up additional skills too, like learning how to sew. I want to make sure the technology is a resource and a support
for students’ art. When we have our stop motion unit, they’re still drawing and creating things out of clay, they’re just using the iPad to record their individual frame.”
Art has continued to evolve since its beginning, according to Donovan.
“For a long time, it was about recording events, people, or other historic moments,” Donovan said. “Then, when technology advanced enough with photography and other inventions, it evolved to demonstrate colors, textures, and concepts more so than an event.
Movements like abstract, modern, and others came in part because of technological changes.
Technology can be just like any other tool for artists.”
1. A Doherty student learns to paint “The Great Wave” with watercolors before recreating the piece using their iPad.
2. Lotspeich students explore the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known for her signature use of polka dots.
3. Middle School students hold their LED emoji pillows, which use conductive thread to create a circuit.
4. Students explore 3D modeling in ceramics.
5. An Upper School student learns to draw while using the iPad as a resource
WINTER SPORTS HONORS
Talented teams, competitive players, and thrilling matchups
There were several highlights of the Seven Hills winter sports season. Some Stingers traveled to state and national tournaments, went deep into the post-season, and broke school records. Congratulations to our athletes and coaches who made the winter 2024-25 sports season successful!
The varsity swim teams had an impressive postseason run, with the girls team finishing eighth at the state tournament and the boys team finishing ninth. The girls placed fourth and the boys placed fifth overall at the district meet. Freshman Marissa McNerney finished second in the 500 freestyle. Sophomore Danny Beyerbach took second in the 100 backstroke and senior Henry Stimson finished second in the 100 backstroke. The boys 200 medley relay team of Beyerbach, Stimson, freshman Santiago Garcia, and junior Colin McNerney placed second.
The boys varsity basketball team ended the regular season with a record of 18-3 overall and 10-2 in conference, tying for the Miami Valley Conference Gray Division title. The Stingers entered the postseason with a No. 1 seed. The Stingers beat Norwood 67-27 and Clermont Northeastern 67-57, ending as the district runners-up.
Numerous Stinger bowlers shined in the alleys this season. The boys varsity bowling team placed seventh overall at the sectional tournament with senior Nicholas Stein placing fifth individually and going on to compete at the district tournament. Senior Madi Kasman finished fourth at the sectional tournament and also competed in the district tournament.
The girls varsity basketball team ended the regular season with an inconference record of 11-3. The Stingers defeated Clermont Northeastern in the first postseason game and reached the district semifinals. Senior Reagan Licata was second in the MVC in scoring, averaging 19.8 points per game. She led the league in blocks and was second in rebounds per game.
The girls and boys varsity squash teams both had stellar seasons. Both teams reached the U.S. High School Team Championships in Philadelphia in February. The girls team made it to the quarterfinals after defeating Millbrook School 4-3.
The co-ed varsity indoor track team broke eight school records in just two weeks of competition. Senior Brady O’Connor set a new record in the 60 meter and 400 meter. New records were set in the 200 meter by junior Vaughn Iyoha, 800 meter by sophomore Madison Zortman, and in the 800 relay by O’Connor, sophomore JJ Beatty, junior Thibaut Briquet, and senior Ryan Brackett. On the field side, juniors Sabrina Donovan and Jon Boehm set new shot put records and Beatty set a new long jump record.
Senior Evie Ferguson competed in gymnastics this year, including at the Southwest Ohio District Gymnastics Championships in February.
The hard work, enthusiasm, and Stinger spirit of the cheer squad kept the atmosphere high in Kalnow Gym and on the road during the boys and girls basketball games.
2 STINGERS
REACHED
1 ,000 POINTS
S ENIORS TERRANCE YARBROUGH AND REAGAN LICATA BOTH REACHED 1,000 CAREER POINTS FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER. YARBROUGH PASSED 1,000 POINTS ON JAN. 31 AGAINST LOCKLAND, AND LICATA SCORED HER 1,000 th POINT ON FEB. 3 AGAINST CINCINNATI HILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY.
YARBROUGH IS THE FIRST BOYS PLAYER TO REACH 1,000 POINTS SINCE BRICE HILL IN 2019 AND LICATA IS THE FIRST GIRLS PLAYER SINCE MAGGIE KERSTING IN 2018.
YARBROUGH AVERAGE POINTS PER GAME
18.8
LICATA AVERAGE POINTS PER GAME
19.8
Boys Varsity Basketball
Seven Hills Squash Team
Sophomore Danny Beyerbach
Senior Reagan Licata
Seniors Reagan Licata and Terrance Yarbrough
Senior Madi Kasman
SPRING SPORTS HONORS
Athletic success continued into the spring, with state tournament appearances, career milestones, and new school records.
The boys varsity tennis team had another fantastic season. Junior Adi Nayak made it to the second round of the state tournament, after finishing second at the district tournament. Nayak and senior Chinmay Machavaram faced each other in the final round of the singles sectional tournament with Nayak taking first and Machavaram taking second. The doubles team of seniors Brett Woffington and William Huguenin-Virchaux took third in the doubles sectional tournament.
The boys varsity tennis team finished first in the Miami Valley Conference with an in-conference record of 7-1 and a record of 12-4 overall. Wins by Nayak and Woffington and Huguenin-Virchaux earned the Stingers a spot in the district tournament. Woffington and HugueninVirchaux went undefeated throughout the regular season.
The track team had an excellent showing at the post-season meets. Sophomore Madison Zortman took second place in the 800 at the regional tournament, setting a new school record and earning a spot at the state tournament. Three other Stingers competed at the regional tournament: senior Nicholas Robyler in the 3200, sophomore Campbell Coyne in the 1600, and junior Lemuel Zyyon in high jump. The girls team was district runners up with first place finishes by Zortman in the 800, Coyne in the 1600, and the relay team of Zortman, freshman Cecilia Pohl, senior Elena Pohl, and sophomore Isabella McCloy in the 4x800. The boys defended their 4x800 district title with the team of juniors Malcolm
Faison and Vaughn Iyoha and seniors Ryan Brackett and Brady O’Connor finishing first.
The girls finished third at the MVC meet with sophomore Ava Demling taking first in the high jump and Coyne finishing second in the 1600 meter. The girls 4x400 and 4x800 and the boys 4x200 teams took second place.
The girls varsity lacrosse team had a stellar season, reaching the second round of the regional tournament after defeating Madeira 7-5. The Stingers finished second in the Miami Valley Conference with a record of 9-4. Junior Siena Motch had 38 goals and 23 assists, and senior Quincy Morris reached her 400th career save during the 15-2 win over Roger Bacon on April 30.
The boys varsity baseball team reached the second round of the sectional tournament after defeating Clark Montessori 9-2 in a game that gave senior pitcher David Haas his 200th
career strikeout. The baseball team finished second in the MVC Gray Division with an in-conference record of 8-2 and 12-6 overall. Haas led the league in strikeouts during the regular season with 79 and earned five wins this season.
The boys varsity lacrosse had a good season with wins over Wilmington and Monroe. Junior Miles Rizor made second team all-region, after leading the team in goals, assists, ground balls, and caused turnovers.
Junior Lemuel Zyyon
Varsity Baseball
5 STINGERS SIGN COLLEGE TO PLAY IN
CONGRATS TO THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2025 WHO WILL BE CONTINUING THEIR ATHLETIC CAREERS AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL.
DAVID HAAS — BASEBALL , GRINNELL COLLEGE
ANNIE KATUSKA — SOFTBALL, AMHERST COLLEGE
HENRY STIMSON — SWIMMING, COLBY COLLEGE
DEVAN WILLIS — BASKETBALL, UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO
TERRANCE YARBROUGH — BASKETBALL, HANOVER COLLEGE
The student athletes were honored with a signing ceremony in Kalnow Gym in April.
“What they have accomplished is awesome for our school, and it was so much fun rooting for these guys,” said Athletic Director Scott Willard.
“Not many people go on and do what they are going to do, and it takes a lot of accomplishments, ability, and work-ethic.”
Boys Track
Girls Track
Girls Lacrosse
Boys Lacrosse
Junior Adi Nayak
FILL THE HILLS: SEVEN HILLS DAY OF GIVING
ON FEB. 25, THE ENTIRE SEVEN HILLS COMMUNITY WAS INVITED TO COME TOG ETHER FOR OUR ONE-DAY FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR THE 2024-25 ANNUAL FUND, FILL THE HILLS, SEVEN HILLS DAY OF GIVING. WE AIMED TO “FILL THE HILLS” OF BOTH THE HILLSDALE AND DOHERTY CAMPUSES WITH PERSONALIZED STINGER BEES, EACH REPRESENTING A DONOR'S CONTRIBUTION.
Thank you to everyone who made Fill the Hills a success! We buzzed past our goal of 225 donations and recorded a total of 272 donations from parents, alumni, faculty & staff; as well as our extended community of grandparents,
parents of alumni, and friends. The generosity of this supportive community of people all over the country speaks to the deep connections forged at Seven Hills.
We are grateful to ALL our donors and Annual Fund volunteers whose calls, texts, and emails helped us get the word out about this important event. Clearly, Stingers understand the power of GIVING BACK! Each gift to the Annual Fund provides resources that our students and faculty use every day, in every classroom. Whether it’s providing microscopes or art supplies, field trips or field equipment, the cumulative impact of the gifts we received during Fill the Hills helps keep our standards high, our classrooms stocked, and our students engaged.
THANK YOU!
JOAN CLAYBOURN
Doherty Unit I Teacher
28 YEARS OF SERVICE
“Joan is the best! She is a ball of energy and always up for trying new things. Joan is constantly learning, discovering, and trying to find ways to make learning fun, meaningful, and interesting for the students. You can always count on Joan to be there to help and lend a hand. Whether it’s helping a student cut and glue or a fellow teacher hang something on the bulletin board, Joan never fails to provide support. She has a heart of gold, a sense of humor like no other, and a passion for making those around her better. I have loved every minute of being able to work with Joan. We have developed a friendship over the years, and being her teammate has been a joy and a highlight of my career.”
— Amy Kulhavik, Doherty Unit I Teacher
DAN DINGER
Assistant Director of Technology
33 YEARS OF SERVICE
“It is amazing to think of all the different tasks Dan performs throughout all four divisions and more. To go from location to location, taking on technology issues both big and small, is not a small task, and Dan has performed these duties admirably. He also had a love for the classroom and working with students. When he left teaching, he stayed connected, spearheading the Newfound Harbor trip to the Florida Keys for Middle School students. This trip focused on marine biology and was a highlight for many.”
–Andy McGarvey, Middle School History Teacher
BILL WASKOWITZ
Middle School Scholarship Fund Announced
ON JUNE 6, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT MARGO KIRSTEIN ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF THE BILL WASKOWITZ MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND DURING THE ALL-FACULTY AND STAFF CLOSING MEETING.
Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz recently concluded his 15-year-long adventure at Seven Hills at the end of the 2024-25 school year to begin another one as the founding middle school director at the Jackson Hole Community School in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
“This scholarship fund honors Bill’s wish to give students and families who can’t afford a Seven Hills education the chance to attend this amazing school,” Kirstein said.
During his 15 years as Head of Middle School, Waskowitz’s skills,
“REMEMBER
THIS, WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE MIDST OF YOUR JOURNEY AND THINGS APPEAR A BIT STRANGE, FRIGHTENING … AND ODDLY BEAUTIFUL, WHEN YOU KNOW YOU’RE NO LONGER IN KANSAS ANYMORE, WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE CERTAINLY ON THE RIGHT TRACK HEADING OVER THE RAINBOW FOR A FUTURE YET TO BE DEFINED ... THAT IS EXACTLY THE PLACE WHERE THE DREAMS THAT YOU’VE DARED TO DREAM REALLY DO COME TRUE.”
- B ill Waskowitz Head of Middle School
knowledge, and empathy impacted hundreds of lives. His innovative leadership led to the implementation of block schedules, grade-level teaching teams, the Innovation Lab, M.A.S.T., the Learning Lab; MLK Day On, Not Off; and the C.A.R.E.s approach toward student behavior.
“Your love for Middle School students has always been at the heart of your work,” Middle School world language teacher Jacky Kalubi said during the meeting. “Where others might see awkward transitions and growing pains, you’ve always seen promise, potential, and joy. You’ve understood the magic of this age — their creativity, curiosity, big questions, bursts of laughter, and even their occasional chaos. Because of you, our Middle School became a place where students felt seen, supported, and inspired to grow into themselves.”
Kalubi thanked Waskowitz for his passion, heart, unwavering dedication, and belief in every student.
“Fifteen years is a legacy — not just in time, but in lives touched. As you embark on your next journey, know that the seeds you’ve planted here will continue to grow for many years to come. Your legacy lives on — not only in the hearts of those you've inspired, but quite literally in the foundation of the Middle School building,” Kalubi said.
ALUMNI PROFILE: CAROLINE KALNOW ’06
“As a student, I was exposed to different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, which gave me a lifelong love for learning about people.”
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT TESS COHAN RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH CAROLINE KALNOW ’06 TO DISCUSS HER CAREER IN FASHION AND DESIGN.
After graduating from Seven Hills, Caroline began her college journey at Wheaton College in Boston before transferring to the University of Denver, where her brother, Chip Kalnow ’04, had attended. The move was a perfect fit. At Denver, she joined the club tennis team and majored in English and art history, building on her passion for creativity.
Caroline's love for fashion and design started early — she has worked in retail since high school. Her career took her from fashion retail roles in Colorado and New York City to an exciting opportunity in Shanghai, China. There, she pursued a master’s degree in fashion business from the International Fashion Academy. After graduating, she worked in product development for a manufacturing company, focusing on the European market.
Returning to Cincinnati, Caroline became the stylist at Soho Boutique in Hyde Park, where she has spent the past eight years curating looks, developing strong relationships with clients, and playing an integral role in the store’s buying process. While earning her master’s degree in Shanghai, she also came up with the concept for her own clothing line, Mabel Frost, further solidifying her place in the fashion industry.
Q :
What is something Seven Hills taught you?
A : Seven Hills taught me so much about relationships and the importance of human connection. As a student, I was exposed to different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, which gave me a lifelong love for learning about people. When I moved to Shanghai, I was eager to immerse myself in a new culture and see how it compared to my upbringing.
The school also instilled in me the value of kindness. I loved having classes with a diverse group of peers and engaging in meaningful conversations.
Now, I carry that same passion into my work — whether I’m connecting with clients at Soho, chatting with neighbors on a walk, or striking up a conversation in a coffee shop.
Seven Hills has proven time and again what an incredible community it is. I remain close with many of my classmates and often find myself reconnecting with fellow alumni. The friendships and experiences I gained there continue to shape my life today.
Q :
What is your favorite Seven Hills memory?
A : I have so many amazing memories from Seven Hills and, most importantly, friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
My nearest and dearest friends have been in my life since the beginning of my Doherty days. One of my favorite memories is of Mrs.Wolfe’s class (the wolf pack). We chose a poem to act and perform, and I picked “When Tillie Ate the Chili” by Jack Prelutsky. I remember being nervous about memorizing and performing in front of my class and their parents. I will never forget this experience because it instilled a lasting and formative sense of confidence in me that I will cherish forever.
Q :
What is one piece of advice for current Upper School students?
A : To continue to push through the challenges and hardships both personally and professionally because you will always find the other side, and I promise it’s worth fighting for.
Caroline Kalnow ’06
ALUMNI PROFILE: MATTHEW MARQUARDT ’16
“The Challenge Experience taught me anything is possible with hard work and determination. [Post-Seven Hills], I even set a second Challenge Experience for myself to bike from San Diego to Boston.”
Matthew Marquardt ’16
surgical outcomes, as well as the fascinating parallels between surgeons and athletes — specifically how athletic principles can improve surgical performance.
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT TESS COHAN RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH MATTHEW MARQUARDT ’16 TO LEARN ABOUT HIS JOURNEY SINCE GRADUATING FROM SEVEN HILLS AND HIS IMPRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS IN MEDICINE, ATHLETICS, AND BEYOND.
After graduating from Seven Hills, Matthew attended Princeton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in chemistry and a certificate in entrepreneurship, all while competing as a member of the varsity swim team. Now in his third year of medical school at Ohio State, he has been doing rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, and otolaryngology (ENT). Matthew hopes to do his residency in ENT and eventually do head and neck cancer surgery. Last fall, his research focused on how 3D printing can enhance
Beyond his academic pursuits, Matthew is also a professional triathlete. What started as a passion for biking, running, and swimming quickly turned into an elite-level career. His initial goal was just to train and have fun, but his natural talent propelled him to success. He soon found himself invited to compete in major events as an amateur, where he won an Ironman World Championship title in 2022, and now as a professional, where he has six topthree finishes and was ranked fourth in the world for the overall season in 2024.
Q :
A:
How has Seven Hills influenced your career?
Looking back on my time at Seven Hills, I credit the school’s inclusive policy in athletics for helping me discover my passion for swimming. Due to the school’s no cut policy, I had the opportunity to try all sports before I found my niche for swimming.
I also give a lot of praise to the Challenge Experience. It taught me that with hard work and dedication anything is possible. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This experience sparked my interest in medicine and deepened my
Q & A
appreciation for the human body's capabilities. When I was training for Kilimanjaro, it was my first step in discovering the two things that bring me so much joy today — medicine and being a professional athlete.
When COVID cut my swimming career short, it was the first time I felt like I had no commitments. So, over winter break, I set a new Challenge Experience for myself. I biked from San Diego, California, to Boston, Massachusetts. Having already climbed Kilimanjaro, I wanted to challenge myself again. Seven Hills taught me anything is possible with hard work and determination.
Q :
What is your favorite Seven Hills memory?
A : One of my fondest memories at Seven Hills is winning two state championship relay titles alongside my brother, Henry Marquardt ’17. In my senior year, Henry and I won both the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay at the state championship. Sharing that experience with him was incredibly special.
Q :
What is one piece of advice for current Upper School students?
A : Don’t think of life as a single path — imagine it as a series of doors. Sometimes, the most unexpected route turns out to be the most valuable. Having a 5- or 10-year plan is great, but don’t be so focused on one path that you overlook amazing opportunities along the way.
ALUMNI BOARD UPDATES
By Gabe Davis ’03, Seven
Hills Alumni
Association Board Chair Emeritus
FIRST, I WANT TO BEGIN BY CONGRATULATING THE CLASS OF 2025! ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE SEVEN HILLS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, I AM THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU INTO OUR VIBRANT ALUMNI COMMUNITY.
As you prepare to take your next steps, know that you carry with you the relationships, values, and growth you cultivated at Seven Hills. You should be proud of all you’ve accomplished, and we are proud to now call you fellow alums. As I'm fond of saying, this is your alumni association — our mission is to support you as you forge your path and leave your mark.
This year has been full of meaningful connections and memorable moments. In January, we launched the year with a spirited Seven Hills Roadshow in Washington, D.C., followed by an incredible gathering in New York City this April. These events brought together alumni from across generations to laugh, share stories, and deepen their connection to the school and to each other.
Reunion Weekend, also in April, was a joyful celebration that brought alumni back to campus for a weekend full of reconnection and reflection. One of the highlights was the first-ever State of the School address by our new Head of
School Matt Bolton. His thoughtful remarks were a testament to both our school's enduring strengths and its exciting future. We’re grateful for his leadership and vision.
To our alumni community — thank you. Your continued support, your photos and updates for Class Notes, and your presence at events all help keep the Seven Hills spirit alive and thriving. Please, keep those updates coming! We love hearing from you.
After four years as president of the Alumni Association Board, it is time for me to pass the baton. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve this community and to help lead the reformation and strengthening of our board. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done and deeply grateful to my fellow board members for their passion and partnership.
I’m equally excited for what’s ahead. Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Jennifer Frey ’99, our next board president. Jennifer brings energy, thoughtfulness, and deep commitment to this role, and I have no doubt the alumni association will thrive under her leadership.
A special thanks to Director of Development Margo Kirstein and Director of Alumni Engagement Tess Cohan. Their dedication to our alumni and to the broader Seven Hills community has been nothing short of inspiring.
Davis '03 has served the community in many ways, and Seven Hills has been fortunate to have his guidance as the Alumni Association president. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, Davis has held positions at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, Frost Brown Todd, and the Cincinnati Citizen Complain Authority. Davis is now the CEO of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center.
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Seven Hills Alumni Association Board Chair Gabe
Gabe Davis ’03
WELCOME TO OUR NEW ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT
As we say goodbye to Gabe Davis ’03, we welcome Jennifer Frey, Ph.D. ’99.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
AFTER FOUR YEARS AS THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD PRESIDENT, GABE DAVIS ’03 IS PASSING THE TORCH. THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT EXTENDS ITS SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR GABE’S YEARS OF SERVICE AND GUIDANCE IN THIS ROLE. READ ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT, JENNIFER FREY ’99.
JENNIFER FREY, PH.D. ’99
Jennifer Frey joined the Alumni Board in 2024. After graduating from Seven Hills, Jennifer completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Vanderbilt University, directed large scale curriculum implementation projects in Head Start in Birmingham, Alabama, and joined the faculty of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., to direct their graduate programs in early childhood education/ early childhood special education.
As an accomplished researcher, clinician, and educator whose work is guided by an overarching goal to optimize health and learning outcomes for children with or at risk for developmental differences, she has studied biological and environmental influences of early development and advocated for improved coordination across education and health sectors caring for young children and their parents.
In November 2020, Jennifer returned home to Cincinnati to lead Every Child Succeeds, where she is president & CEO, and join the faculty of Cincinnati Children's and UC College of Medicine.
Jennifer is a proud alumna and now a proud parent of a Doherty pre-kindergarten student. She is enthusiastic about participating on the Alumni Board and deepening Seven Hills' connections with alumni.
SEVEN HILLS WELCOMES BACK FOUR ALUMNI SPEAKERS
’17
’95 ’92 ’05
FOUR SEVEN HILLS ALUMNI RETURNED TO CAMPUS TO SHARE THEIR LIFE AND CAREER EXPERIENCES WITH CURRENT SEVEN HILLS STUDENTS IN SMALL CLASS ENVIRONMENTS AND ALL-SCHOOL ADDRESSES.
This winter and spring, the Upper School welcomed Charlie Goldsmith ’17, Samuel James ’05, Kalpana Kotagal ’95, and Kishen Mangat ’92.
Goldsmith, a sports reporter, explained the importance of building relationships, the need to be prepared, and the human side of sports journalism with students from the sports business and sports broadcasting clubs.
“It is the excitement about the nugget that no one else knows that someone opens up to you, because they trust you and you are a part of that community. Those are the best stories; that is what gets me excited,” he said.
Kotagal, a commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, met with students in the Young Family Library to answer questions about what her work with the EEOC entails and how she works to protect people from employment discrimination.
The alumni shared their career paths and encouraged current Upper Schoolers to not be overwhelmed by uncertainty about the future. James, a naturalist and photographer, explained how he combined his passion for storytelling and care for the environment in his work.
“I do work as a photographer. When you distill it all down, it is about telling stories. I tell stories with pictures. I also work as a field biologist, which is kind of the same thing. I am out looking at the world and telling stories about the world,” James told students during his talk at the all-school assembly.
Currently, James is focusing his work on the study and conservation of life in the Eastern Deciduous Forests in Ohio’s Allegheny Plateau. He shared his photos of insects with the Upper School’s environmental club and explained how he captures the connectedness of the ecosystems.
Mangat is currently the general partner at Boulder Ventures in Colorado, where he invests in software companies. Having graduated from Colorado College with a B.A. in economics, he founded multiple startups during the rise of the internet in the late 90s and early 2000s.
“Each experience has really built on itself. Each experience that you have and everything that you are passionate about are building blocks to what you can achieve,” Mangat told the students at an all-school meeting in The Schiff Center.
Many of the alumni shared how their time at Seven Hills helped them in their careers.
Goldsmith credited his ability to write stories under pressure, like at the Super Bowl between the Bengals and the Rams, to his time at Seven Hills.
“The writing background that was really stressed at every level with what Madame Curry taught me about strong verbs and what Mrs. Hoar and Mr. Gleiner taught me about analysis prepared me for that moment,” Goldsmith said.
Mangat thanked Seven Hills for creating a drive for knowledge and fostering his confidence as a student.
“While I was here, I learned to really love learning in a few different classrooms, but certainly in history teacher Mr. Turansky’s. He had an indelible effect on my passion around learning,” Mangat said.
“And I gained confidence because of the strong relationship with teachers, who really knew me.”
Charlie Goldsmith Kalpana Kotagal Kishen Mangat Samuel James
DAN HOFFHEIMER , former Trustee and parent: INVESTING IN THE VALUE OF A SEVEN HILLS EDUCATION
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 Clifton Open-Air School founded by Mrs. Lotspeich, and The Hillsdale School.
As a former Board of Trustee member, Seven Hills legal counsel, and parent, Dan Hoffheimer knows the value of a Seven Hills education.
“Seven Hills provides such a nurturing environment that addresses the needs of the whole child, not just academics. It instills academics, but it does not neglect the emotional and psychological needs of every child, including mine,” he said.
Hoffheimer served on the Board of Trustees from 1981-85 and had three daughters and a stepdaughter who attended Seven Hills.
“One of my favorite memories was going to the Doherty Winter Program,” said Hoffheimer, whose daughters were Doherty lifers, while his stepdaughter attended Lotspeich. “Getting to be inside the schools to witness what a nurturing environment Seven Hills provided was a great experience.”
Hoffheimer became one of the first members of the Seven Hills Legacy Society after suggesting to long-term Head of School Peter Briggs that there should be more ways to give. Having served in numerous roles
“Seven Hills provides such a nurturing environment that addresses the needs of the whole child, not just academics. It instills academics, but it does not neglect the emotional and psychological needs of every child, including mine.”
~ Dan Hoffheimer
within the Seven Hills community for 16 years, Hoffheimer understood the importance of giving.
“For every education at every institution, no matter what you pay in tuition, it never comes close to covering the actual cost of an education. How can I pay back Seven Hills for the education my children got there that helped launch them into successful lives, personally and professionally? I can do that by making sure that after I am gone — and while I am still alive — that Seven Hills gets a major gift,” Hoffheimer said.
He added “major” can be defined by whatever a family is able to give, whether $10 or $1,000. Hoffheimer enjoys the work he has done to encourage others to donate to the
Annual Fund and getting the chance to catch up with other members of the Seven Hills community.
“I love being able to rub shoulders with other Seven Hills parents, so we can talk about our children and grandchildren, and I can tell them how I miss those Doherty Winter Programs,” Hoffheimer said.
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/home/giving/planned-giving/. For information about becoming a member of the Seven Hills Legacy Society, please contact Director of Development Margo Kirstein at 513.728.2437 or margo.kirstein@7hills.org
REUNION
2025
Classics Luncheon at Cincinnati Country Club
REUNION WEEKEND OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF ON FRIDAY, APRIL 4, WITH THE CHERISHED TRADITION OF THE ANNUAL CLASSICS LUNCHEON.
Held at the Cincinnati Country Club, the event welcomed alumni from the Classes of 1950 through 1975 — honoring those who graduated 50 or more years ago. This year marked a special milestone as the very first graduating class of Seven Hills joined the Classics Society.
Director of Development Margo Kirstein welcomed guests and reflected on the legacy of the luncheon, which has been a highlight of Reunion Weekend
for more than two decades. While the origin of the name “Classics” remains a mystery, Kirstein offered her own inspired definition.
“A classic car is over 25 years old,” Kirstein said. “A classic book is timeless and influential. A classic album is unforgettable. But what defines a classic at this luncheon? All of the women in this room are classics. You have timeless style, grace, and poise, elegance in communication, respect for tradition, and inner strength and compassion.”
The luncheon featured reflections from members of the Class of 2025; Areej Arif, Reagan Licata, Sophie Ottke
Moore, and Roman Russo shared the impact Seven Hills has had on their lives and the opportunities they’ve experienced. Head of School Matt Bolton also addressed the group, offering updates on the school’s progress and future vision.
To close out the luncheon, freshman Lauren Breese sang “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” Junior Vivian Brown followed with a performance of “When You Wish Upon a Star.” The celebration ended on a high note with the two joining together for an upbeat duet of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Standing: Areej Arif ’25, Avani Shah ’26
Seated: Charlene Simons Pfingstag C’50, Mimi Plattenburg Gilbert C’56, Susan Elliott Wilkening C’60, Louise Kahn Jenks C’60, Fran Prosser Morriss C’60
L to R
Standing: Malcolm Faison ’26, Roman Russo ’25, Sophie Ottke Moore ’25, Reagan Licata ’25 Seated: Barbara Simpson Garner H’61, Janet Keys Simpkinson H’58, Carolyn Huwe Ludwig H’56, Missy Richards Holzman H'59, Gay Seybolt Bain H’51
Polly Adair Culp H’65, Susan Krehbiel Holzapfel H'65, Patricia Bigham Journeay H’65, Nancie Newkirk Loppnow H’65, Deborah Hinckley C’65, Joan Archiable Maxfield H'65, Ann Bartlett Blemker C’65, Marge Davis C’65, Lawsie Pennington Coler C’65 L
REUNION 2025 Classics Luncheon at Cincinnati Country Club
Standing: Shawn Stewart Brevard ’75, Xana Moore-Wulsin ’75, Lucie Closson Dean ’75, Tammy Knechtly Woodhouse ’75, Karen Jones Koch ’75, Margaret Avril Lawson ’75, Kathy Axiotes Dingler ’75, B. Wiley Gordon ’75, Cami Elliott ’75, Leslie Wichman Whiting ’75, Kimberly Pahner Deye ’75, Karen Koetzle ’75, Paige Rogers ’75 Seated: Susan Guggenheim Lodge ’75, Patti Downey Lowe ’75, Helen Richards ’75, Robin Revelson Hunts ’75, Amy Cohen Diamond ’75, Cinny Hastings Roy ’75, Susan Upson Steffensen ’75
Standing: Christine Ogden H'70, Marian Barrett Leibold H’73, Shannon Kelly Carter H’67, Helen Garber H’67
Seated: Nancy Pechstein Aubke H’67, Betsy Robinson Schram H’70, Ellie Quackenbush Block H’70, Head of School Matt Bolton
Standing: Barbara Busener Miller C’69, Debbie Meyer Chamberlain C’69, Ina Zimpelman Loftspring C’69, Hildred Cohen Clayton C’69
Seated: Laurie Crutchfield Leonard C’69, Valerie Vornheder Allendorf C’69, Gretchen Holzman Kauscher C'69, Jane Garvey C’74
REUNION 2025
Hillsdale and Doherty Campus Tours
Hillsdale Campus Tour
Before the Cocktail Reception honoring both reunion year and local alumni, the Hillsdale Campus came alive as alumni toured with Assistant Director of Operations and Finance John Brooks Jr. ’94, CFO/COO Lynn Kroeger, Upper School Dean of Students and Assistant Head of School-elect Laura Hoguet Leonard ’06, Head of Lotspeich Susan Miller, and Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz.
Despite the cold, rainy day, alumni went through the new and old buildings and shared memories
about the same teachers who shaped their journeys across generations.
The tour ended with a visit to Kalnow Gym and the Spirit Shop, which opened for business and offered the perfect chance to refresh Seven Hills gear.
CPS Tour of Doherty
Following the Annual Classics Luncheon, nearly 30 alumni made their way back to the College Preparatory School (CPS)/Doherty Campus to remember their days as students. Not even the rain could dampen
their spirits, as alumni from the classes of 1965 to 2018 explored their old stomping grounds. With each stop on the tour, alumni reminisced about their time as students and gained a deeper appreciation for all that Doherty has meant to generations of students.
The campus tour was led by Doherty pre-kindergarten for 2-year-olds and Beginnings teacher Julie Brackett and Upper School Dean of Students and Assistant Head of School-elect Laura Leonard ’06. Alumni enjoyed hearing about the exciting ways current Doherty students are learning and engaging in their classrooms.
HILLSDALE CAM PUS TOUR
As they strolled through Brooks Hall, Haile Hall, and Jones Hall, stories and laughter filled the air. Alumni fondly recalled favorite teachers, meaningful moments, and the friendships that have stood the test of time — a heartfelt reminder of the lasting impact of a Seven Hills education.
REUNION 2025 Cocktail Reception at The Schiff Center
Following a tour of the Hillsdale Campus, alumni came together for a special reunion and cocktail reception at The Schiff Center. For many, it was their first time experiencing the stunning space. As guests entered, they heard junior Rhys Ceron playing the piano. Alumni from the classes of 1958 through 2012 reconnected over cocktails and dinner by the bite.
The Schiff Center, our performing arts building, was filled with great conversations as alumni reunited
with one another — laughs echoed throughout, memories were shared, and new connections were made.
The space buzzed with warmth and nostalgia as former classmates reminisced about their time on campus, celebrated milestones, and toasted to the future.
Head of School Matt Bolton welcomed all guests and thanked everyone for coming. Followed by two talented performances, junior Vivian Brown
captivated the audience with a rendition of “Amazing Grace,” sung to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals, while Ceron impressed the crowd with an original piano composition.
As the evening ended, alumni took their parting gift and continued their celebration at various locations.
REUNION 2025: Individual Class Events
Throughout the weekend, alumni gathered for individual class events to celebrate their reunions and reconnect with classmates.
The Hillsdale Class of 1965 enjoyed their reunion weekend complete with meals, a visit to the zoo, and a show at Playhouse in the Park. Thank you to Polly Adair Culp and Patty Bigham Journeay for being reunion representatives!
Alumni from the CPS Class of 1970 gathered for their 55th reunion to reconnect and reminisce — some for the first time since graduation. The weekend included a potluck dinner, a pottery class, and plenty of shared memories from their time as students. Thank you to Anni Macht for organizing the weekend!
Alumni from the Class of 1975, Seven Hills’ first graduating class, traveled from across the country – even as far as Switzerland — to celebrate their 50th reunion. The weekend was filled with lots of laughs and memories. Thanks to B. Wiley Gordon, Karen Koch, and Cinny Hastings Roy for bringing your class together!
REUNION 2025: Individual Class Events
Throughout the weekend, alumni gathered for individual class events to celebrate their reunions and reconnect with classmates.
The class of 1980 celebrated their 45th reunion at classmates Dan Schimberg’s house. The highlight for everyone was the alumni from out of town getting to try Graeter’s Skyline Spice ice cream. Thank you to Dan Schimberg for hosting and to Karen Bidlingmeyer Callard and Grace Allen Hill for getting your class together!
The Class of 1985 celebrated their 40th reunion with a weekend full of pickleball matches, sharing meals, and other events hosted at classmates’ homes. Thank you to Scott Carroll, Marty Mueller Gerhardt, Eric Goering, David Hummel, Mike Kaufman, John Osterman, Melissa Morelli, and Stephanie Wood Toomey for making it happen!
Matt and Kristin Bramlage hosted the Class of 1995’s 30th reunion at their home, where classmates and spouses enjoyed Mazunte catering while catching up. A heartfelt thank you to Matt and Ann Pettigrew Nunes for bringing their class together to celebrate!
The Class of 1990 reunited at Shayne Byers’s home for their 35th reunion. Alumni came in from all over the U.S., and it was their biggest reunion yet! Thank you to Shayne Byers, Laura Beckman Sheldon, and Leslie Miller Hattemer for planning. SHS
SHS
REUNION 2025: Individual Class Events
Throughout the weekend, alumni gathered for individual class events to celebrate their reunions and reconnect with classmates.
Alumni from 2000 gathered for their 25th reunion at Young Buck Deli where classmate David Beaver is the corporate chef for Crown Restaurant Group. David and his team prepared a delicious buffet of charcuterie, oysters, and more. Thank you to David Beaver, Paige Schweitzer Connelly, Lucy Schmidt Crowley, and Miriam Lipson Hodesh for planning your reunion.
The Class of 2005 along with their children gathered at Oakley Greens to celebrate their 20th reunion. Special thanks to Ashley Ackerman Kohn, Sarah Ott Lautar, Frederick Hall, Brittany Nelson-Turner Davis, and Nyomi Lyttle for serving as reunion representatives!
SHS
CLASS OF 2009 REUNION
ALUMNI CELEBRATE 5,
10, and 15
YEAR REUNIONS
2009 15 th REUNION
The Class of 2009 celebrated their 15th reunion on Nov. 29 at Rhinegeist Brewery in Over-the-Rhine! Alumni from Cincinnati, New York City, Boston, California, and beyond came together for an unforgettable night of laughter, storytelling, and reconnection. The room buzzed with excitement as classmates met each other’s babies and partners, shared career and travel adventures, and reminisced about their unforgettable days at Seven Hills. Thanks again to Max Gollobin, Ryan Miller, Sarah Rabourn, Max Schimberg, and Mary Taliaferro for planning your class reunion!
2014 10 th REUNION
On the evening of Nov. 30, the Class of 2014 gathered at Local Post in Columbia-Tusculum in Cincinnati to celebrate their milestone 10th reunion! With the entire first floor reserved just for them, alumni enjoyed a night filled with old friends making new memories. From reflecting on their days at Seven Hills to catching up on exciting life updates, it was a reunion to remember. Thank you, Eryn Mackenzie, for planning your class event!
2019 5 th REUNION
On Nov. 30, the Class of 2019 came together at MadTree Brewing in Oakley for their five year reunion. Alums reconnected over favorite Seven Hills memories, classes and beloved teachers, and their careers. Thank you to Dottie Callard for planning your first reunion!
CLASS OF 2014 REUNION
CLASS OF 2019 REUNION
THE GOODALL DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Dan Schimberg ’80
During the Upper School Commencement ceremony on May 30, Head of School Matt Bolton presented the Goodall Distinguished Alumni Award. This award was established in 1978, which annually honors an alum of CPS, Hillsdale, Lotspeich, or the Seven Hills School who has achieved distinction in a public or private career or activity that betters the lives of others. We are pleased to honor Dan Schimberg ’80 as the recipient of the Goodall Award this year.
During the ceremony, Bolton commended Schimberg and shared how his vision has reshaped the Cincinnati skyline.
Schimberg is president of Uptown Rental Properties LLC. After graduating from Seven Hills in 1980, he attended the University of Cincinnati. He founded Uptown Rentals in 1985 to fill a niche in
off-campus student housing at the University of Cincinnati. Starting with the rehab of one house, Uptown has grown to own and manage over 4,000 multi-family units and 200,000 square feet of commercial space in the Greater Cincinnati area. Under Schimberg’s leadership, Uptown Rental Properties has renovated hundreds of structures and developed 2,600 multi-family units from the ground-up in Cincinnati and Florida.
But Dan’s impact goes beyond real estate. A passionate philanthropist, Dan has championed causes in healthcare, medical research, and community development. He served as president of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to support and promote diabetes research.
He also served on several University of Cincinnati community and safety task force initiatives and the Non-Profit Development Corporation (NDC), which supports individuals, nonprofit organizations, and government entities in obtaining technical assistance, affordable space, supported employment, and funding opportunities.
Dan continues his volunteer service as a board member for the Cincinnati Art Museum, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, and the Talbert Services Board, where he acted as chair for many years.
“It's no exaggeration to say that not just this building and the Doherty Lotspeich building, but the future of our unified campus is only possible because of Dan's foresight and dedication.”
~ Head of School Matt Bolton
During his tenure on the Seven Hills Board of Trustees, Dan served as chair of the facilities committee, leading the school's 18-year effort to acquire and assemble 18 acres adjacent to the school. Those 18 acres are home today to the Field House, tennis courts, the Early Childhood Center, and to the future Doherty Lotspeich Lower School.
“It's no exaggeration to say that not just this building and the Doherty Lotspeich building, but the future of our unified campus is only possible because of Dan's foresight and dedication,” Bolton said.
Congratulations, Dan! Your legacy is built into the footprint of Seven Hills and the Cincinnati community.
DANNY MOU ’04 AND DAVID MOU ’04 RECEIVE THE 2024 YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
Established in 2 018, the Young Alumni Award is given to an alum under the age of 4 0 who has made outstanding contributions in their area of endeavor or community, exemplified the Seven Hills values in a well-rounded life, demonstrated the value of a Seven Hills education, and shown leadership among peers.
Danny Mou ’04 and David Mou ’04 are the recipients of the 2024 Seven Hills Young Alumnus Award. Both attended Harvard University and went on to have successful careers in the medical field.
Danny is the associate director of bariatric surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, and David is the co-founder and chief medical officer of Valera Health. The Young Alumnus Award honors alums under the age of 40, who have achieved excellence in their chosen pursuits since graduation.
During their keynote address to the Upper School students, David shared how Seven Hills was instrumental in teaching him how to learn, which helped him through his entrepreneurial work combining data science and mental healthcare.
“It was not just learning how to learn, the second component is safety. The feeling that you can try on new ideas,” David said. “We walked in here in the eighth grade, and it was intimidating, but Seven Hills does a fantastic job at inclusivity. It does such an amazing job of making everyone feel like they are part of the family.”
Danny, after telling the story of the multiple medical specialties he explored before landing on minimally invasive
We walked in here in the eighth grade, and it was intimidating, but Seven Hills does a fantastic job at inclusivity. It does such an amazing job of making everyone feel like they are part of the family.”
- David Mou ’04
surgery, encouraged the students to not stress if they are uncertain about their career paths and to be confident that Seven Hills has prepared them well.
“There are so many chapters of your life ahead of you that you are going to experience. Enjoy each chapter. Embrace the change. Embrace the uncertainty. Seven Hills will prepare you very well for life. Beyond the academic rigor, the way it socializes you, you will be phenomenally prepared,” Danny said.
Danny and David also visited various Upper School science and computer science classes and answered questions from students about their work and the role technology plays in the healthcare industry.
Danny Mou '04
David Mou '04
Reunion 2026 April 10 &11
We look forward to welcoming back alumni celebrating their reunion!
Are you interested in helping to make this a special weekend for your class? Please contact Tess Cohan, director of alumni engagement, at tess.cohan@7hills.org or call 513.728.2432 if you are interested. We are always looking for Reunion Reps to help make your reunion special for your class.
CPS & HILLSDALE
Classes of 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, and 1971
LOTSPEICH
Classes of 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, and 1970
SEVEN HILLS
Classes of 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2006
All events are provided at no cost, thanks to the generosity of your Alumni Association and the Development Office. Information
be found on our website this coming fall at 7hills.org/reunion
REUNION
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SEVEN HILLS CLASS OF 1976 ON YOUR 50 th REUNION!
DOES THE SCHOOL STILL ... RUN THE MINI PIG?
Alumni
often wonder if the school maintains the traditions, events, and activities that they enjoyed while they were students at the school. Many times, our answer is, “Yes! We still have that!”
SINCE THE EARLY 2000 s , DOHERTY PRE-KINDERGARTNERS HAVE CARRIED ON THE CHERISHED TRADITION OF THE MINI PIG RACE. FORMER TEACHER CYNDI KENYON INTRODUCED THE EVENT IN 2004 AS SHE WAS TRAINING FOR THE FLYING PIG MARATHON. SHE SAW THE MINI PIG AS A FUN AND MEANINGFUL WAY TO TEACH YOUNG STUDENTS ABOUT PHYSICAL FITNESS, SPORTSMANSHIP, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING THEIR PEERS.
While the Flying Pig Marathon covers 26.2 miles from Northern Kentucky to Mariemont, the Mini Pig offers a more manageable challenge for the young runners — two laps around Doherty’s soccer field.
The entire Doherty student body comes together for the Mini Pig to support the pre-kindergartners running — older classmates create colorful posters with words of encouragement to cheer on the runners. As they grow older, their connection to the event evolves. Many begin by watching older students or siblings participate, eventually take their own turn on the course, and later find themselves cheering from the sidelines.
In the days leading up to the event, pre-k dives into learning about running through exciting activities. In recent years during art class, they create vibrant, tie-dye pink T-shirts to wear for their big run. Teachers with running experience visit each classroom, bringing along medals, worn-out running shoes, and old race bibs to spark curiosity
and inspire the young runners. The children listen to their heartbeats both at rest and after exercise, gaining a hands-on understanding of how movement affects their bodies.
In PE with teacher Marty Gerhardt ’85, they learn the importance of stretching,
movement, and building healthy habits. Adding a creative touch to the experience, each child designs their own handcrafted medal to proudly wear after crossing the finish line — making their achievement even more memorable.
“Each year, teachers emphasize that it’s not a competition — the goal is to cross the finish line and earn your deserved medal.” Gerhardt said.
The morning of the Mini Pig is filled with excitement, activity, and jitters for some. Each athlete receives a bib number to pin to their tie-dyed shirt. The soccer field transforms into an official racecourse, complete with a starting line and a finish line marked by a large banner decorated with hot pink pigs. Current seniors who once attended Doherty return to oversee the water stations, supporting and encouraging the pre-kindergartners following in their footsteps. Adding to the tradition, the seniors cap off the event with their own spirited “final lap,” celebrating
“Years later, I still vividly remember how exciting this day was for me. My teachers, parents, older sister, and the entire community made me feel like it was such a big accomplishment.”
~Lulu Gordon ’18
how far they’ve come since their days at Doherty. Spectators, families, and friends line the course, cheering on the young runners as they take part in this beloved tradition.
Current pre-kindergarten teacher Katie Dawson shared, “Personally, my favorite part of the Mini Pig is the water station. When we tell the students they’re allowed to toss their cups on the ground, their reactions are priceless. The look of pure disbelief on their faces — realizing they’re not only allowed but encouraged to 'litter' — is unforgettable. It’s a fun and memorable way to teach them about real race etiquette, where runners need to keep moving while a clean-up crew handles the mess. In this case, the crew is made up of our most recent Mini Pig alumni: the kindergarten students."
Years after they cross the finish line, the excitement and sense of accomplishment
remain. Lulu Gordon ’18 shared, “Years later, I still vividly remember how exciting this day was for me. My teachers, parents, older sister, and the entire community made me feel like it was such a big accomplishment. I also remember being in elementary school, eagerly cheering on the runners and feeling the thrill of the day from the sidelines.”
The Mini Pig is more than just a run — it’s a beloved event that brings the entire Doherty community together. For the youngest students, it’s something they
joyful day to watch their little ones thrive. It captures the excitement of fitness, the pride of accomplishment, and the incredible spirit of the school.
Are you a Doherty alum who ran the Mini Pig and the Flying Pig Marathon? If yes, we would love to feature you on social media! Please email tess.cohan@7hills.org.
eagerly look forward to. For the runners, it’s an exciting achievement. For older students, it’s a beloved memory from their past, and for family members, it’s a
THE SEVEN HILLS ROADSHOW Hits the Big Apple
Ona beautiful spring evening, alumni spanning the Classes of 1965 to 2023 gathered on the terrace of the Cosmopolitan Club on Manhattan’s Upper East Side to reconnect with the Seven Hills community. This occasion on Thursday, April 24, marked the 21st year of the Seven Hills Roadshow returning to the Big Apple.
Throughout the night, alumni bonded over what brought them to New York City, their favorite classes and teachers, and fond memories of their days at Seven Hills. New professional and personal connections were formed, once again reminding us that relationships built at Seven Hills are truly made to last a lifetime.
It was wonderful to see everyone who attended — and if we missed you this time, we hope to see you at the next roadshow!
A special thank you to our hosts Tori Frazer Bonebrake ’77, Peter Dumbadze ’06, Lukas Geiger ’17, Jan Fullgraf Golann H’67, Evan Joiner ’03, and Emily Wiedemann ’01.
THE SEVEN HILLS ROADSHOW Flies South for Naples
OnJan. 8, the Seven Hills Roadshow returned to Naples, Florida. Graciously hosted by alumna Melody Sawyer Richardson C’61 at the Royal Poinciana Golf Club, alumni and former parents and grandparents gathered for a beautiful lunch. It was a great time for everyone to catch up and meet new Seven Hills faces.
During lunch, Head of School Matt Bolton provided an update on the school and also showed a presentation of the school’s future plans. Afterward, guests shared a favorite
memory either as an alum or when their children or grandchildren were at the school. For some, decades have passed but it is evident that the school still holds a special place in their hearts.
By the end of the luncheon, guests were already looking forward to next year’s roadshow. Building connections to last a lifetime is what Seven Hills continues to do.
Many thanks again to Melody for hosting an amazing event.
THE SEVEN HILLS ROADSHOW Visits the Nation’s Capital
For the first time in six years, the Seven Hills Roadshow returned to Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 6. Alumni from the Classes of 1956 to 2021 gathered at the home of Nancy Hogan Dutton H’56 to reconnect, reminisce, and hear updates from the school. Guests each shared a favorite memory, a beloved teacher, or something they are grateful for from their time at Seven Hills.
Many reflected on the lifelong friendships that began during their school years and their appreciation for such a strong education foundation.
Thank you to everyone who attended, and a special thanks to Nancy Hogan Dutton H’56 and Chris Wyant ’01 for hosting such a wonderful event.
RECENT ALUMNI RETURN TO SEVEN HIL LS O VER COLLEGE BREAKS FOR THE FIRST YOUNG ALUMNI REUNION
In early January, while many colleges were still closed for winter break, the Alumni Office welcomed, for the first time, alumni from the Seven Hills Classes of 2021-24 for a special afternoon of connection and reminiscing at the Young Alumni Reunion.
“We are very happy to have all of you back here and want to remind you that our Alumni Office is always available to you. Whatever you need to make connections we are always here for you,” Director of Development Margo Kirstein told the alumni gathered in the Young Family Library in the Upper School.
Spread throughout the library, the alums caught up with their teachers and shared what they have accomplished so far in their new academic environments.
Reminiscent of their time as Seven Hills Upper Schoolers, the young alumni played a trivia Kahoot. Paired off in teams with fellow alumni and teachers, they wrote in their best guesses to trivia questions written by Upper School science teacher Tim Drew and math teacher Cassie Levesque about Seven Hills history, lessons they should have remembered from their Upper School classes, and pop culture events from their time as Seven Hills students.
Kirstein thanked the alumni and teachers for attending the first of a new Seven Hills tradition.
“We are very happy to have all of you back here and want to remind you that our Alumni Office is always available to you. Whatever you need to make connections, we are always here for you.”
~Director of Development Margo Kirstein
Above: Alums chat with their former teachers over lunch and trivia during the Young Alumni Reunion.
Left: Director of Instructional Technology Kristina O’Connor greets a former student at the Young Alumni Reunion.
Below top: Former Assistant Head of School and Director of College Counseling Susan Marrs greets an alum at the first Young Alumni Reunion.
Below bottom: Graham DeWitt ’23 catches up with Upper School counselor Vicky Hausberger during the Young Alumni Reunion.
CLASS NOTES
News from our Alumni
1971
Wendy Gradison (H) (Washington, D.C.) has happily retired and is loving it! She has stayed busy traveling to see her four grandchildren in San Diego, CA, and Raleigh, NC.
1984
Mary Lynne Boorn (Los Angeles) and her husband Rick Kieser recently relocated to California. Mary is now a professor at the University of Southern California, and the two are enjoying life back by the beach, where they first met while attending business school at the University of California, Los Angeles.
1986
Betsy Quammen (Bozeman, MT) has called Bozeman home for the past 32 years and continues to stay engaged in her community. She is working on her third book while dedicating her time to teaching, writing, and advocating for democracy, social justice, and environmental causes.
1998
May Eynon Selby (Aspen, CO) was recently promoted to director of VIP experiences at The Little Nell. In her previous role as director of public relations, she led impactful collaborations, launched the hotel’s publication, and played a key role in positioning the property for prestigious accolades. May is excited to foster deeper connections and craft unforgettable, immersive guest experiences in her new position. Outside of work, May is currently training for the Sydney Marathon in August 2025 — her 48th marathon.
Recently moved? New job? Just got married? Addition to your family? New email? Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates to update your information or send your news to development@7hills.org
1999
Scott Shapiro (Cincinnati) has spent the last decade as chief revenue officer for various PE and VC-backed tech companies. At each stop, he’s been responsible for building or rebuilding teams to accelerate growth and profitability, ultimately leading them through a successful majority recap. Scott currently works for SPOTIO, a fast-growing software company based in
Our condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones as reported in this issue.
Dallas, where he was recently promoted to president. While he’s not worked for a locally based company in quite some time, he’s kept his home base in Cincinnati, and his two boys, Barron (10) and Brooks (5), are Seven Hills lifers in the making — just like their dad!
2004
Lena Eastin Levy (Cincinnati) recently took on a new role as the U.S. business leader for the hospital organization at Merck & Company. In this new role, she sits on the U.S. commercial leadership team. She has financial responsibility for a multi-billion-dollar product portfolio while positively impacting the lives of millions of patients within the U.S.
IN MEMORIAM
Our condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones.
2005
Ashley Ackerman Kohn and Drew Kohn ’08 (Cincinnati) had their second child, Benjie Leonard Kohn, on Feb. 14. Congratulations, Ashley and Drew!
2007
Hannah Elkus (Cleveland) married Jeff Feldman at the Key Tower, Cleveland Marriott in September 2024. Grace Elkus Bianconi ’10 and Maddie Elkus Berman ’10 were in attendance. Congratulations, Hannah and Jeff!
2008
Adam Tami (Marin County, CA) recently began a new role as a software engineer at Anthropic. Adam is part of the runtime infrastructure team, which focuses on
developing pipelines and cloud infrastructure that support training and deploying large language models.
2010
Grace Elkus (Pittsburgh) and her husband Patrick Bianconi welcomed their first child, Daisy Blazer Bianconi, on Dec. 15, 2024. Congratulations, Grace and Patrick!
Francie Garber Pepper (L’52) (H) (Cincinnati) passed away on March 28, 2025.
1965
Martha (Whitney) Rowe Long (L’59) (H) (Cincinnati) passed away on Feb. 7, 2025.
1982
Gary Bassett (Cincinnati) passed away on Apr. 9, 2025.
1985
Cean Shands (Minneapolis) passed away on Jan. 7, 2025.
2022
Evan Michelman (Cincinnati) passed away on May 3, 2025.
Friends of Seven Hills
Patricia Morger (Cincinnati), current grandparent, passed away on Jan. 6, 2025.
Jim Hawkins (Cincinnati), former parent, passed away on Feb. 17, 2025.
Matthew VanderLaan (Cincinnati), former attendee, passed away on Feb. 11, 2025.
CLASS NOTES,
2011
Joe Soonthornsawad (New York City) is a director and producer in New York. He recently directed, wrote, and produced a short film titled “Grand Super Buffet,” which has been featured at ImageOut: Rochester LGBTQ+ Film Festival, the St. Louis International Film Festival, and the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival — where it was awarded Best Narrative Short Film. The film follows two Asian American college students who reunite at Grand Super Buffet, their favorite hometown Chinese buffet. As they reminisce and attempt to reconnect, the two begin to question their friendship and why they came to this pan-Asian buffet in the first place. Joe is currently developing a new film.
2012
Rebecca McDonough Albrecht (Cincinnati) and her husband Barrett Albrecht welcomed their first child, Ruby Christine Albrecht, on Feb. 17. Congratulations, Barrett and Rebecca!
2013
Rachel White Kuhrt (Cincinnati) was promoted to clinical supervisor at NewPath Child & Family Solutions. In her new role, she provides guidance, support, and care for a team of 12 therapists as they work with their clients.
2014
Blair Brinker Kronewitter (Chicago) married Brandon Kronewitter in Scottsdale, AZ, in October 2024. Congratulations, Blair and Brandon!
2015
Ike Lainer (Dayton, OH) is in the Army Reserve and is working at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center. Ike supports all-source scientific and technical intelligence analysis, NASIC, United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, and National Level intelligence efforts. He interfaces with other intelligence community members, including U.S. and foreign partners, and Department of Defense agencies to support production activities.
Ike also proposed to his girlfriend, Katie Christesen, who he met while living in Colorado. Congratulations, Ike and Katie!
Daniel Sauers (Washington, D.C.) started a new role at Gap Inc. as a senior specialist in federal government affairs.
2016
Kate Coley (Chicago) will begin law school at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law this fall. After earning her B.F.A. in theater arts from DePaul University, she hopes to pursue a career in entertainment law. Kate is passionate about advocating for creators, protecting their work, and championing labor rights within the industry.
Palmer Kruzner (New York City) has recently joined BlackRock as vice president. BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager, providing
and advisory services to institutions, financial professionals, and individuals worldwide.
Claire Stewart (New York City) was promoted to manager at Kearney, a global management consulting firm.
Claire specializes in strategy, growth, and organizational transformation, helping organizations improve efficiency and effectiveness.
2017
Vaivhav Vagal (Stony Brook, NY) has completed his fourth and final year of medical school and matched as a neurosurgery resident at the University of Virginia! Becoming a neurosurgeon has been Vaivhav’s childhood dream, and he is thrilled to begin this exciting next chapter. Congratulations, Vaivhav!
Oliviabelle Mayfield (Washington, D.C.) is the events coordinator at Chief Executives Organization, a membership group based in the D.C. area that brings together executives, business leaders, and decision-makers from various industries. The organization fosters collaboration, facilitates the exchange of insights, and addresses leadership challenges on a global scale. This year, Oliviabelle is helping plan events in Azerbaijan, Egypt, France, Italy, and Saudi Arabia. Fun fact: she's roommates with Grace Greenwald ’17!
2018
Smith Hickenlooper (Batavia, OH) proposed to his girlfriend Natalie Deiters at their home in Batavia in January 2025. Congratulations to Smith and Natalie!
Reagan Brackett Peace (Lexington, KY) and her husband Adam Peace welcomed Hayden Elaine Brackett on Nov. 6, 2024. Congratulations, Reagan and Adam!
Garrett Reich (New York City) is a business analyst on the finance team at Value Retail, known for a group of luxury outlet shopping villages called The Bicester Collection. The Bicester Collection consists of 12 villages worldwide, with one in the U.S. in New York, outside of Manhattan, in Long Island called The Belmont Park Village. Garrett supports financial operations, investor relations, and strategic planning, collaborating across business divisions at Belmont Park Village. With a background in investment banking, he enjoys merging his financial expertise with his passion for retail, fashion, and real estate.
2019
Varshini Odayar (Ann Arbor, MI) is in her first year of medical school at the University of Michigan.
Grace Wharton (Cincinnati) is working at VSC Tech News in tech public relations, where she helps startups in B2B, digital health, AI, and venture capital share their stories. From product launches to major announcements, Grace develops strategies to secure media coverage, industry awards,
conference speaking opportunities, and podcast features to amplify her clients' narratives.
Michael Weirich (Austin, TX) started a new role at Hylilion, a late-stage startup that enables clean, flexible, and affordable electricity production. At Hylilion, Michael is a senior associate in strategy and supply chain management.
2020
Adam Chen (St. Louis) recently completed his first year of medical school at Saint Louis University. After earning his degree in neuroscience from Case Western Reserve University in May 2024, he has enjoyed deepening his knowledge and passion for the medical field.
Katie Remaklus (Claremont, CA) is starting her doctorate in English at Vanderbilt in Nashville this fall. Katie looks forward to furthering her research in Latin American and indigenous feminist literature. Congratulations, Katie!
IN MEMORIAM:
Frances “Francie” Garber Pepper H’58
FRANCES “FRANCIE” GARBER PEPPER H’58
THE SEVEN HILLS COMMUNITY IS SADDENED BY THE LOSS OF OUR LONGTIME FRIEND OF THE SCHOOL FRANCIE GARBER PEPPER H’58, WHO PASSED AWAY AT HER HOME IN WYOMING, OHIO, ON MARCH 28 AT THE AGE OF 84.
“MOM LEFT THIS WORLD AS SHE LIVED IN IT—FEARLESSLY, FIERCELY, FOCUSED.”
-David Pepper
Growing up in the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati, Francie attended the Lotspeich School in the 1940s and 50s and graduated from the Hillsdale School in 1958. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Smith College and became a legal secretary and an interpreter.
Francie’s ties to both Lotspeich and Hillsdale run deep. Her mother was a teacher at Lotspeich, and Francie was even driven to school by Mrs. Helen Lotspeich. According to her husband, John Pepper, Francie’s love of language sprouted at Hillsdale, where she took French and Latin, and that love continued to grow at Smith. She was fluent in Spanish, Italian, and French.
Together, Francie and John raised four children. While they called Cincinnati home, John’s career at P&G took them overseas to Belgium and Italy. When their children had grown, Francie dove into advocacy, charity work, and later in life, politics.
According to the Enquirer’s obituary, “[Francie] became an advocate in Cincinnati and beyond for a range of causes, taking a particular interest in women’s rights and domestic violence programs. She led a campaign that raised millions of dollars for the YWCA, which helped renovate its downtown headquarters and converted a historic mansion into a shelter for battered women. She was named an Enquirer Woman of the Year for 1996.”
In 2024, Francie published her autobiography, “Letters from Spain,” while battling cancer. Told largely through letters she wrote to her parents during a year abroad, the book shares the inspiration and insight this
formative year had on the rest of her life.
After college, she would go on to spend several years living in Spain in the 1960s.
In memory of Francie and in honor of her gift for languages, a Spanish classroom in the new Doherty Lotspeich Lower School will bear her name.
“We went all over the world, but a lot of it came back to Hillsdale,” said David Pepper, Francie’s son. “As Mom looked back, it became more and more clear how important Hillsdale was to her — the friendships that she made. It was one of the most important institutions in her life.”
Francie is survived by her husband, John Pepper; her four children, John Pepper (Maggie), David Pepper (Alana), Doug Pepper (Kim), and Susan Pepper (Jonathan); ten grandchildren: Tibby, Izzy, Bo, Jack ’32, Charlie ’35, Andrew, Katherine, Molly, Hubbard, and Rhoda; her brother David Garber L’59 and sister Helen Garber H’67. She is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Stanley T. Garber and Frances Davis Garber, and her brother, S. Thomas Garber.
“Mom left this world as she lived in it,” David shared in a tribute. “Fearlessly, fiercely, focused.”
Seven Hills is forever grateful for the impact Francie has had on generations of our community. Her legacy lives on through her family, friendships, and generosity to Seven Hills and Cincinnati.
1.
Frances “Francie” Garber Pepper H’58
2.
Francie's senior photo from the Hillsdale 1958 Yearbook
3.
Francie (pictured back row, third from right) was captain of the gold team in field hockey during her time at Hillsdale.
2025-26 Alumni Calendar
We are looking forward to connecting with alumni in the coming year! Stay updated with events by visiting www.7hills.org/alumni, checking your email for details, and following our Instagram @sevenhillsalumni.
Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025
Alumni Sports Day
Women's Soccer: 5 p.m.
Men's Soccer: 7 p.m.
Lower Field
5400 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025
FC Cincinnati Game:
Join other Seven Hills alumni for an exciting night cheering on FC Cincinnati! Tickets are limited — reserve your seat today by calling 513.728.2430 or emailing development@7hills.org.
7:30 p.m.
TQL Stadium
1501 Central Pkwy. Cincinnati, OH 45214
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
Alumni Homecoming
Girls and Boys Varsity Soccer Game: 1 p.m.
Upper Field and Lower Field
5400 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227
Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
Annual Alumni Basketball Games:
Women’s: 10 a.m.
Men’s: 10 a.m.
Field House, Hillsdale Campus
5400 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227
Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
Young Alumni Reunions:
Join your fellow alumni from the Classes of 2010, 2015, and 2020! More details to follow.
Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
Young Alumni Return to Campus: Alumni from 2022-2025 are welcome back to campus to catch up with one another and see their former teachers and classrooms.
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Upper School Library, Hillsdale Campus
5400 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227
Friday & Saturday, April 10 & 11, 2026
REUNION WEEKEND:
Classics Luncheon, Campus Tours, Alumni Art Show, and Cocktail Reception, and more!
Mark your calendars now.
Seven Hills Roadshow events will be announced at a later date.
Recently moved? Just got married? New email? Go to 7hills.org/alumniupdates to update your information or send to development@7hills.org.
