Through the Arch Magazine - Summer/Fall 2023

Through the Arch MAGAZINE

Empowering students to

pursue their passions

SUMMER/FALL 2023

SSM MOMENTS

It ’s Never Too Late to Make an Impact In coordination with Indigenous Peoples’ Day and our Impact Wednesday series, Shattuck-St. Mary’s welcomed Patrick Needham ’71 to campus in early October to speak with the student body about his heritage, his time at SSM, and where life has led him since.

Patrick is a descendant of Anishinaabe chief lineage and grew up on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota before he received the opportunity to attend Shattuck School on scholarship. He continued his education at Concordia College-Moorhead, where he eventually received his master’s in Education and Counseling. A deep passion for engineering, however, led him back to college at age 38, where he completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering, proving it is never too late to pursue your passion.

During his visit, Patrick spoke with students in the Indigenous Voices in American Literature class and The Major and Engineering Centers of Excellence, taught the Middle Schoolers a two-step snake line dance, and gave a presentation at a special Upper School assembly. He also worked with the sixth and seventh graders on a Native American traditional beading project—specifically a daisy chain beaded pattern. He is seen here helping Roy Kim ’29 with the intricate project in weCreate.®

1 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 2

SSMörgåsbord

Through the Arch MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY SSM Communications Shattuck-St. Mary’s School 1000 Shumway Avenue Faribault, MN 55021 | 507.333.1599 www.s-sm.org

F EAT U RES

EDITORIAL TEAM Editors Alyssa Christian Megan Maschoff Contributing Writers Matt Cavellier Alyssa Christian Megan Maschoff Ellie Ray ’14 Laurel Simer ’07 DESIGN TEAM Layout and Design Alyssa Christian Contributing Photographers Matt Addington Steve Cornish Maggie Osterbauer Lee ’03 Megan Maschoff Laurel Simer ’07 Johnnie Walker

15

SUPPORT TEAM Kim Bakken Fr. Henry Doyle Maria Hanson Maggie Osterbauer Lee ’03

OUR SCHOOL MISSION

We are a global learning community that honors tradition while embracing innovation. By cultivating creative, independent thinking, we foster the transformation of our students to become citizens of integrity for an ever-changing world.

Shattuck-St. Mary’s School community, with its strong commitment to protecting human rights and dignity, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin in its admissions and scholarship programs, the administration of its educational, athletic, or other school programs, or its employment practices.

3 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

2023 COMMENCEMENT Graduates of the Class of 2023 received their diplomas at ShattuckSt. Mary’s 165th Commencement Exercises on May 26, 2023.

CONNECT

WITH US FACEBOOK

@shattuckstmarys

VIMEO

vimeo.com/ shattuckstmarys

You can read Through the Arch Magazine online at: ISSUU.COM/SHATTUCK-ST.MARYS

INSTAGRAM

@shattuckstmarys

TWITTER

@shattuckstmarys @ssm_athletics

LINKEDIN

Shattuck-St. Mary’s School

TIKTOK

@shattuckstmarys

SSMörgåsbord

CONTENTS

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO PURSUE YOUR PASSION

31

Seven alumni demonstrate the importance of pusuing your passion at any age.

INDEX From the Head of School............. 5

Class Notes.......................... 53

School News........................... 7

In Memoriam........................ 54

Arts News............................ 23

Births................................ 55

Sports News......................... 27

Marriages........................... 56

Alumni Events....................... 49

SSMörgåsbord....................... 58

ON THE COVER:

39

ALUMNI CELEBRATE REUNION WEEKEND

As part of Shattuck-St. Mary’s inaugural field course in Montana, students had the opportunity to raft down the Blackfoot River. Read more about this unique course and partnership on page 7.

PHOTO: THE BLACKFOOT CHALLENGE

Alumni from classes as far back as 1953 attended the memorable celebration in June.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 4

INSIDE SSM

| FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Matt cavellier

| head of school

T

he introduction to Haruki Murakami’s Wind/Pinball: Two Novels tells the story of his early life as a young married man just out of college with no desire to work “company life.”

It is the kind of story that would seem apocryphal if he wasn’t writing about himself—and even so, it may be. One day in 1978, instead of taking a walk, Murakami decided to go watch the season opener for his baseball team, the Yakult Swallows.

While sitting in the outfield, he watched as the first batter for the Swallows came to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. That batter was Dave Hilton, who played four years for the San Diego Padres before making his way over to Japan to play for the Swallows. As the story goes, Hilton ripped a solid double and, as Murakami tells it, “The satisfying crack when the bat met the ball resounded throughout Jingu Stadium.

Scattered applause rose around me. In 5 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

that instant, for no reason and on no grounds whatsoever, the thought suddenly struck me: I think I can write a novel.” He was 29 years old.

Since that epiphany, Murakami has gone on to write fifteen novels, six collections of short stories, and several essays and non-fiction books. His works have been translated into over 50 languages and he is always listed as a top contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature. At 29, Murakami found his purpose and his passion, and he has spent the last 45 years delighting readers with weird characters and weirder plotlines. All thanks to former Padre, Dave Hilton. It’s got to be true—it’s on his Wikipedia page.

Our own Padre, Father Henry Doyle, has been living his passion at ShattuckSt. Mary’s for the past 35 years. He has made it his purpose over those three and a half decades to ensure that all members of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s community continue to feel the love and belonging they felt when they spent their days inside the Arch. It doesn’t matter how short their tenure, how loose their affiliation with SSM, if Father has gotten to know them and learns their birthday, you can bet they get a card.

Jan Peper has managed our School Store for … ever, it seems. In her 33 years she has transformed our humble location for students to get essentials into a one-stop shop for all the newest SSM gear, mail service, and online delivery fulfillment.

She has handed out more allowances than can be imagined and continues to be one of the adults in our community students turn to for a smile and some friendly conversation.

And, Senora Merry Mendoza even has Padre beat when it comes to years of passion-filled work at ShattuckSt. Mary’s, as she will cap off her 40th year in June. While perhaps a bit more understated than Father, Merry has filled her classrooms with love, passion, and respect for those four decades, and has helped thousands of students prepare for exams, pick out dresses for graduation, and ensure we are continuing to honor our traditions.

When Henry, Jan, and Merry retire at the end of the school year, they will leave behind a combined 108 years of legacy.

Their names will be inscribed on a pillar of the Community Walk, but more than that, the way they went about their work and the way they cared for each and

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

| INSIDE SSM

2023-2024 OFFICERS, TRUSTEES, AND ADMINISTRATION Officers

Matthew Cavellier Head of School The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya Honorary Chair Kristi Klungness ’84 Chair Tamara Kloeckl Nelsen ’80 Vice Chair Megan Trout ’04 Secretary-Treasurer Trustees Lev Alcott ’65 Parker, Colorado Nora Brown ’96 Washington, D.C. H.J. "Jack" Dane ’75 Davenport, Iowa David Duncombe ’79 Appleton, Wisconsin Katy Gray Cos Cob, Connecticut

Top left: Merry Mendoza in 1984 Top right: Jan Peper in 1996 Bottom: Fr. Henry Doyle in 1989

Help us celebrate the enduring impact of Merry's, Jan's, and Father Doyle's careers by sending your favorite memories, stories, and photos.

Email to: communications@s-sm.org.

Jonathan Hancock Fort Wayne, Indiana Paul Jeremiassen ’62 Olney, Montana Kristi Klungness ’84 Bloomfield, Michigan Fred W. Krahmer ’88 Fairmont, Minnesota The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya Chanhassen, Minnesota

every one of us along the way show that they were not working a job, they were living their passion.

Joel MacIntosh ’86 Wayzata, Minnesota

This issue of Through the Arch is dedicated to Henry, Jan, and Merry, and to all of those who have found their passion and chosen to spend their lives living it out. And, it’s dedicated to all the Dave Hiltons out there who inspired someone else to live their passion, knowingly or not.

Chris Silge ’81 West Palm Beach, Florida

I hope you enjoy.

Bruce R. Tuomala ’78 Roxbury, Connecticut

Tamara Kloeckl Nelsen ’80 Woodbury, Minnesota

Jonathan Smith ’96 West Hartford, Connecticut Ruthie Sudderth ’02 Lansing, Michigan Megan Trout ’04 Chicago, Illinois

Ruth Schenck Wiegand ’97 Lakeville, Minnesota

Trustee Emeriti Sharon Hoffman Avent ’64 Ed Carpenter ’60 Linda Stone Dasher ’56 Dan Gislason ’62 Abby Carlstrom Humphrey ’62 Fred C. Krahmer ’60 Hugh Wooldridge ’55 Administration John Blackmer Director of Community Life & Campus Security Tristen Brown Director of Health Services Courtney Cavellier Associate Head of School & Middle School Director Matthew Cavellier Head of School Michele Cornish Director of Athletics Amy Horstman Cox ’94 Director of Auxiliary Programs Sarah Flagstad Director of Residential Life Andrew Garlinski ’98 Director of Admissions Robert Gutwein ’95 Director of Counseling Maggie Osterbauer Lee ’03 Director of Institutional Advancement Rev. Colin Maltbie School Chaplain Megan Maschoff Director of Communications Mark Olson Director of Technology Daniel Ray Academic Dean Scott Ryberg Chief Financial Officer Patrick Schaefer Director of the Upper School Erin Sellner Director of Human Resources Stephanie Vagle Director of Innovative Academics Matt Wolfgram ScholarShift and Special Projects

Ex Officio Kim Bakken Office Manager

Matt Cavellier SSM Head of School

Katy Gray Parents' Association President The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya X Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 6

INSIDE SSM

| SCHOOL NEWS

SCHOOL NEWS SSM Partners with Montana Organization for Inaugural Field Course Study What started as a conversation in the hills of Montana in 2019 came to fruition this fall when five students had the opportunity to participate in Shattuck-St. Mary’s inaugural field course study in Ovando, Montana through a partnership with The Blackfoot Challenge.

The Blackfoot Challenge, which came to be in the early 1970s, formed when those who owned land along Montana’s Blackfoot River realized the strong need for partnerships with the public in order to address the multiple resource threats facing the watershed area.

“Before the pandemic, Matt and I were fortunate enough to join an alumni fishing trip to Ovando, Montana with Stoney Burke ’65,” stated Courtney Cavellier, Associate Head of School and Middle School Director. “On that trip, Stoney introduced us to Seth Wilson from the Blackfoot Challenge. I got to join Seth and his team to visit the trumpeter swans they had reintroduced to the region, explore sites where grizzly bears had been known to visit, and try out radio telemetry to track wolves. We also visited ranches to see how the Blackfoot Challenge was working in collaboration with land conversationists, ranchers, and biologists to help maintain a healthy and active ecosystem and working landscape. After years of thinking about ScholarShift® and weCreate®, Matt, Seth, Stoney, Nick Stoneman, and I all immediately saw the possibilities for our school, our faculty, and our students.”

In this very first partnership with a high school, the group focused on collaboration and conservation leadership. Specific areas of focus included the importance of developing public and private partnerships within the context of working agricultural landscapes and addressing some of today’s 7 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Preparing to tube down the Blackfoot River. L-R: Stephanie Vagle, Jeongbin Seo ’26, Paige Ostroushko ’24, Collin Kain ’27, Thai Long Nguyen ’26, Michele Cornish, Ella Krahmer ’26, and Greg Simons.

most pressing natural resource issues such as climate change, water, conserving wildlife habitat, and the role of fire in western forest ecosystems.

“I found the experience very humbling because going in I knew of the stereotype of ranchers … that they were all agriculture, not the environment,” stated senior Paige Ostroushko. “Coming out of this experience though, I realized how much they work with the watershed and the natural resources around them to preserve the ‘wild west’ of Montana. I already had an interest in environmental study, too, so this course was very helpful as I continue to look into this.”

Shattuck-St. Mary’s plans to offer this opportunity to students next year as well. To learn more about The Blackfoot Challenge, please visit blackfootchallenge.org.

Learning about grizzly bears, black bears, and wolves.

Discussing soil health on a multigenerational family ranch.

Horseback riding at E Bar L Ranch.

Monitoring stream water quality using macroinvertebrates as bioindicators.

SCHOOL NEWS

| INSIDE SSM

SSM Joins with Faribault High School to Offer Co-Op Sports

Reaffirming its commitment to encourage students to pursue their passions, Shattuck-St. Mary’s is now able to offer athletic opportunities to all members of the student body who compete in a sport that is not currently offered at SSM. Through a new partnership with Faribault High School, students will be able to participate in a wide range of sports and extracurricular activities as part of an athletic co-op.

This is not the first time that SSM will partner with local schools to provide athletic opportunities to its students. SSM students have previously competed alongside their Faribault counterparts in football, baseball, softball, and track and field to name a few. However, this new agreement provides the most comprehensive collection of sports and activities including football, swim & dive, tennis, gymnastics, wrestling, and many others. Students will also be able to join clubs like robotics and debate.

“Forming a co-op with Faribault High School benefits both schools and it was the right thing to do for all of our students,” said Director of Athletics Michele Cornish. “Our Shattuck-St. Mary’s kids now have the opportunity to play a wide variety of middle school and high school sports and activities and I’m hopeful that they will embrace these new opportunities to compete and meet some new friends.”

SSM still fields its own teams in soccer, volleyball, and basketball and competes against other independent schools under the Minnesota State High School League. The new co-op partnership will not interfere with those teams, but rather complement them in terms of athletic experiences that are offered to students.

Cornish expressed how this young partnership has already paid dividends.

“It has been really rewarding to see our kids building confidence through sport, and this stems directly from the Faribault coaches and athletes who have been so welcoming and accepting. Our co-op athletes have joined another loving community and for that I am grateful.”

Top two photos: Ella Krahmer ’26 (left) and Claire Ray ’25 (right) competed with Faribault High School’s swim and dive team this fall. Ella competed on the diving team, while Claire competed in both individual and team swimming events, seen in the second picture cheering on one of her relay teammates.

Bottom photo: Kelvin Fu ’26 joined the Faribault High School cross country team, taking his first try at the sport. He recently competed with the team in the Section 1AAA cross country meet, pictured here.

SUMMER/FALL 2021

| 8

INSIDE SSM

| SCHOOL NEWS

NEW TRUSTEES & LEADERSHIP

Shattuck-St. Mary’s School welcomes four new members to the Board of Trustees, along with a new Parents’ Association President.

Educational Background:

Shattuck School ’75, Grinnell College ’79, Iowa College of Law ’82 Professional Experience:

Attorney at Law Local/Civic Organization Involvement:

Kiwanis International; Bettendorf Schools Foundation (past President, Scholarship Chair) Currently Listening to:

Katy Gray

Parents’ Association President Cos Cob, Connecticut Katy’s daughter Ellie graduated in 2022, and her daughter Lulu is a current SSM senior.

H.J. “Jack” Dane ‘75 Trustee Davenport, Iowa

Jack entered SSM in 1971 and attended for four years, graduating in 1975.

Political and history podcasts An SSM Memory:

“Spring Break 1974 in Germany and Austria with Steve and Cheri Jensen.”

A Fun Fact About Jack:

“We have two goldens that attend work with me every day.”

Educational Background:

The Greenwich Country Day School – 1986 The Hotchkiss School – 1989 Ohio Wesleyan University - 1993

Educational Background:

B.S. Business, University of Southern California

Professional Experience:

Professional Experience:

Currently retired from a Senior Vice President position in public relations.

Twenty-five years in international sales; Strategy Consultant

Local/Civic Organization Involvement:

Junior League of Greenwich (retired); Panthers Hockey (organized, managed, and ran multiple ice hockey teams for girls in Southern Connecticut and Westchester, NY); Greenwich Country Day School parent volunteer

Local/Civic Organization Involvement:

Currently Reading:

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer (“Again”)

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl An SSM Memory: “I have two groups of

fond memories: Driving through the Arch—I get excited every single time we drive under it—and watching my girls play hockey.”

A Fun Fact About Katy: “I used to work in

politics—on a Presidential Campaign and for a Congressman from Connecticut—both in Washington, DC.” 9 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

In addition to SSM, Bruce serves on three other non-profit boards.

Currently Reading:

Bruce R. Tuomala ‘78 Trustee Roxbury, Connecticut

Bruce graduated from SSM in 1978. His sister Mia ‘79 and brother Todd ‘80 are also alums. Bruce also serves on the board of SSMES.

An SSM Memory:

“Although I was a proctor in Breck, Greg Kieffer kept taking my stereo away for cranking albums like Fool For The City by Foghat. Ten years later, I bought a house in Connecticut from Rod Price, Foghat’s lead guitarist. He found my story amusing.”

A Fun Fact About Bruce:

“I’ve seen all the essential art in Italy. It’s a commitment.”

SCHOOL NEWS

Educational Background:

| INSIDE SSM

Join Us for the

SSM: 1984-1988, Cum Laude; University of Minnesota: 1989 (transferred; Union College (Schenectady, NY): 1989-1992, B.A, Cum Laude; University of Minnesota School of Law, 1992-1995, Magna Cum Laude

Shattuck-St. Mary’s

Professional Experience:

Attorney at Law, with a practice focused on Agricultural Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Real Estate, and Tax Strategies; Farmer (family farmland, raising corn and soybeans); Banker: Chairman of the Board and shareholder of Profinium, Inc. and Profinium Insurance Agency, Inc.; Explorer of opportunities as they arise Local/Civic Organization Involvement:

Fairmont Area Community Center, Inc., current chair; Southern Minnesota Initiative Fund, former board member and chair; Martin County Historical Society, former board member and chair Currently Reading:

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berandt; The Wager by David Grann; 11/22/63 by Stephen King; The Codebreaker by Walter Isaacson An SSM Memory:

“The reality of playing every varsity football game from my freshman year to my senior year, and never winning a game—and never quitting. It taught me to find focus on how to chase a goal and live for a long time without tasting the success.”

Fred W. Krahmer ‘88 Trustee Fairmont, Minnesota

Fred entered SSM in 1984 and attended for four years, graduating in 1988. A number of Fred’s family members also attended SSM, including his father, Fred C. Krahmer ‘60, and grandfather, Fred P. Krahmer ‘26. He is the father of current SSM students Luella Krahmer ‘26 and Max Krahmer ‘28.

A Fun Fact About Fred: “I love to travel—for exploring, experiencing, and relaxing (rarely the

same trips). Travel for me is endlessly rewarding and refilling.”

Saturday, December 9

Educational Background:

B.S., Cornell University Professional Experience:

Currently retired, previously worked in Financial Services for Goldman Sachs & Co.

“Snow Globe Dreams: A Magical Christmas Journey through New York City” Figure Skating Ice Show

Local/Civic Organization Involvement:

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Chris volunteers for a number of non-profit organizations.

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides

Currently Reading:

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin An SSM Memory:

“Early football training with Coach Bob Stein.”

A Fun Fact About Chris:

“I am an avid pickleball player.”

1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Chris Silge ’81

Trustee West Palm Beach, Florida Chris graduated from SSM in 1981. His sisters, Anne Silge Merz ‘75 and Carol Silge Boucha ‘80, are also alums.

Santa Claus & Cookies in the Hub 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

SSM Holiday Party Reception at The Inn at Shattuck-St. Mary’s 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 10

INSIDE SSM

| SCHOOL NEWS

SCHOOL NEWS

01

02

03

04

After a three-year pandemic-induced hiatus, SSM was finally able to reinstate its tradition of sending two faculty members to Asia over the summer. The annual trip began in 2005 as a way to further the School's mission as a global learning community and give faculty and staff members the opportunity to experience the various cultures of many of our international students.

This year, SSM Mandarin Instructor Eva Sun and Spanish Instructor Leita Gjersvig spent 12 days visiting the countries of South Korea, China, and Japan—taking in the spectacular experiences these places have to offer and getting the chance to meet up with former, current, and new students and their families.

05

06 11 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

07 08

SCHOOL NEWS

09

| INSIDE SSM

12

10

11

01 Eva (left) and Leita (right) visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

09 Behind Eva (left) and Leita (right) is the Forbidden City in Beijing.

02 The pair climbed the Great Wall of China! It was 104 degrees that day.

03 In Shanghai, they met up with Peter Ai '23 (left), Carina Lyu '23 (second from right), and Jin Yan '22 (right).

04 They had dinner with Jeremy Zhang '21 (right) in Beijing, China.

05 While in Beijing, Leita (left) and Eva (right) visited the Temple of Heaven.

06 Leita and Eva had dinner with the families of Timothy Wang '27, Mary Zhang '27, Ivy Chen '28, and Jerry Liang '27.

07 They had dinner with Angela Tian '25 (right) and her family.

08 This photo was taken at the Bund, a famous waterfront area and protected historical district in central Shanghai.

10 While in Tokyo, Japan, they had lunch with Mao Kunitomo '25 (left) and Sakura Matsudo '22 (right).

11 They took a day trip with Korean students (l-r) Fumiaki Kawasuzuki '23, Justin Kim '25, Lia Byon '25, and Rachel Jang '26.

12 A delicious lunch in Seoul.

13 They visited Gyeongbokgung Palace dressed in traditional Korean hanbokclothing of the Joseon period, commonly worn during festivals and celebrations.

14 In Shanghai, they had dinner with Dora Gu '28 (second from right) and her family.

15 Eva, Leita, and Leita's husband Tom had dinner with Eva's parents in Shanghai. It had been four years since Eva had been home!

16 Photo with Korean students and families at the top of the N Seoul Tower!

13

15

16

14 SUMMERF/FALL 2023

| 12

INSIDE SSM

| A DAY IN THE LIFE

A Day in the Life:

Dual Degree Program

In July, 54 rising juniors from Wuxi, China traveled to Faribault, Minnesota for an innovative, academic summer session as part of our dual degree program with Tianyi Jiangsu High School. In their three weeks on campus, students were able to take classes, go on field trips, and most importantly, make new, lifelong friends.

CARE AND COMMUNITY Accompanied by a handful of adults from their high school, the Tianyi Jiansu students arrived to campus on July 9 after a long flight from their home country.

Greeted by camp directors and counselors, students were quickly wrapped into the SSM community—even having their own “Human Arch” experience on the Upper School campus.

13 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

INSPIRING ACADEMICS & CREATIVE ACTIVITIES Over the course of three weeks, the students had the opportunity to partake in a variety of classes, all taught by past and current SSM faculty. From creative writing with former English teacher Mike Frankenfield, BioScience with director Dr. Maren LaLiberty, and textile design in weCreate with Victoria Parrish, the students truly received an immersive SSM classroom experience.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

| INSIDE SSM

“During the three weeks we spent together, one thing shone the brightest for me: the magic of budding connections. Can you imagine the scene? Smiles of pure joy lit up the room as everyone danced, hearts opened to our emerging English writers’ words, and genuine friendships formed, evident in tearful goodbyes. Something extraordinary took root through our shared learning, play, and living together. It’s like a seed planted, and I can’t help but imagine it growing stronger with each passing year.” − Stephanie Vagle, Director of Innovative Academics

CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT

LIFELONG MEMORIES

Outside the classroom, time was spent exploring local Minnesota attractions. The Mall of America in Bloomington was a must, but trips were also taken to both Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges in Northfield, Minnesota, the movie theater, and a St. Paul Saints baseball game. Bonfires in front of Saint Mary’s Hall with s’mores were a popular activity as well!

Goodbyes came too soon at the end of July as students and camp staff had all grown close to each other in their time together. Their time, however, truly marked just the beginning of this wonderful program as a new group of rising juniors will make their way to campus this coming July to create their own lifelong memories.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 14

INSIDE SSM

| COMMENCEMENT 2023

15 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

COMMENCEMENT 2023 | INSIDE SSM

27 15 U.S. STATES

COUNTRIES

TOP HOME STATES: MINNESOTA, CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS, FLORIDA

17 CUM LAUDE INDUCTEES SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 16

INSIDE SSM

| COMMENCEMENT 2023

STUDENTS received their diplomas and post graduate certificates at the 2023 Commencement ceremony on May 26.

17 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

COMMENCEMENT 2023 | INSIDE SSM

T

he sun shined brilliantly on the members of the Class of 2023 as they made their final walk as Shattuck-St. Mary's students from Shumway Hall to the tent on the Chapel Lawn to begin the 2023 Commencement ceremony. Family, friends, and SSM community members filled the seats to celebrate the 99 seniors and eight post graduates during their milestone event. Following a blessing and the presentation of gifts from The Rt. Rev. Craig Loya, the audience listened intently to this year's speakers—Valedictorian Chloe Bednar and Commencement Speaker Tony Jenkins '70— as they delivered valuable insight and best wishes. After all of the graduates had taken the stage to receive their diplomas, they jubilantly filed out to the Community Walk, where a receiving line of SSM faculty and staff wished them a final "see you later!", marking the end of the momentous occasion.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 18

INSIDE SSM

| COMMENCEMENT 2022

Honors & Awards UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS SENIOR CLASS AWARDS Valedictorian: Chloe Bednar '23 Bishop Kellogg Award (Two-Year): Dina Dautova '23, Fumiaki Kawasuzuki '23 Bishop Kellogg Award (Four-Year): Andrew Politoski '23 Cornelia Whipple Award: Tiffany Ogunsemi '23 Diploma with Distinction in BioScience: Zhihan (Clay) Cui '23, Shujin (Tina) Tian '23, Lauren Undseth '23, Margareta VanGilder '23, My Le Vo '23 Diploma with Distinction in Engineering: Chloe Bednar '23, Teresa Salazar '23 Diploma with Distinction in Pre-Conservatory: Dina Dautova '23, Angela Dinis Pérez '23, Dominique White '23 Diploma with Distinction in The Major: Avery Hakstol '23, Madelyn Katz '23, Fumiaki Kawasuzuki '23, Seungwoo (John) Koh '23, Socks Smith '23, Elena VanHaren '23 Diploma with Honors: Yudong (Peter) Ai '23, Dina Dautova '23, Lucia Engelhardt '23, Avery Hakstol '23, Haeri (Hailey) Jeon '23, Madelyn Katz '23, Katie Lustig '23, Davin Phinney '23 Good Companion Award: Tiffany Ogunsemi '23 Hauschild Senior Scholarship: Chloe Bednar '23 Most Improved Senior Award: Dominique White '23 Newburg Silver Medal: Davin Phinney '23 Patty Travers Award: Teresa Salazar '23 Personal Achievement Award: Lucia Engelhardt '23 Plugger's Prize: Sebastien Brockman '23 ScholarShift Awards: Hailey Anderson '23, Hunter Anderson '23, Hattie Britton '23, Estelle Kuhlman '23, Ines Lemoine '23, Brigitte McGuire '23, Paige Mier '23, Zachary Nehring '23, Tiffany Ogunsemi '23, Maria Roth '23, Chase Rutty '23, Daniel Shlaine '23, Calvin Vachon '23 Spectator Award: Drew Mackie '23 Theopold Gold Medal: Alexander Dell '23 POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE Payton Holloway '22, Haley Jackson '22, Reese Keating '22, Daniel Kim, Jackson Kinsler, Ines Lemoine, Julie Verral, Monja Wagner '22 JUNIOR CLASS AWARDS Bishop Kellogg Award: Drake Murray '24, Maggie Scannel '24 Cooley Award: Louise Gray '24 Harvard Prize Book: Maggie Scannel '24 Yale Book Award: Ellen Smith '24

The Class of 2023 will be matriculating at the following colleges and universities: American University Amherst College Boston College Boston University Bryn Mawr College Butler University Canisius College Colby College Colorado School of Mines

19 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Creighton University Curtin University DePaul University Franklin Pierce University Georgetown University Gustavus Adolphus College Hamline University Harvard University Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

COMMENCEMENT 2023 | INSIDE SSM

SOPHOMORE CLASS AWARDS Derry Gardner Memorial Award: Kate Bittenbender '25 Princeton Plaque: Mathelyn Ruiz '25 Yale Cup: Ziteng (Lucas) Xiang '25 ACADEMIC AWARDS Agerter Science Award: Zhihan (Clay) Cui '23 American Sign Language Prize: Gabrielle Kim '23 Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award: Mikayla Murray '24 Below English Literature Prize: Madelyn Katz '23 Below French Prize: Alice Rivetta '24 Bloom Memorial History Prize: Madelyn Katz '23 English Mastery Award: Ziteng (Lucas) Xiang '25 Fenn Brothers Innovation Award: Dina Dautova '23 Mandarin Chinese Prize: Fumiaki Kawasuzki '23 Marthena Drybread Spanish Prize: Svante Standberg '23 Permanent Honor Roll: Alexander Dell '23, Davin Phinney '23 Poehler Mathematics Medal: Alexander Dell '23 Rensselaer Medal: Yan Ma '24 SSM English Department Prize for Writing: Zhihan (Clay) Cui '23 Whitney Latin Prize: Louise Gray '24 CUM LAUDE SOCIETY Chloe Bednar '23, Lleyton Bristow '23, Zhihan (Clay) Cui '23, Alexander Dell '23, Haeri (Hailey) Jeon '23, Madelyn Katz '23, Fumiaki Kawasuzuki '23, Paul Kliewer '23, Byungha Lee '23, Drew Mackie '23, Tiffany Ogunsemi '23, Riley Priddy '23, Shujin (Tina) Tian '23 New Inductees (Seniors): Lucia Engelhardt '23, Davin Phinney '23, My Vo '23, Lucy Woolf '23 New Inductees (Juniors): Louise Gray '24, Mikayla Murray '24, Ava Thorne-Thomsen '24 ARTS AWARDS Jay Wang Animation & Video Award: Cooper Pierson '23 John Phillip Sousa Band Award: Lloyd Robinson '25 National School Choral Award: Shujin (Tina) Tian '23 National School Orchestra Award: Teresa Salazar '23 Performer of the Year Award: Tiffany Ogunsemi '23 Photography Award: Ethan Beane '23 Rosauer Technical Theatre Award: My Vo '23 Spotlight on SSM Award: Dina Dautova '23 Wagner Dramatics Award: Ellen Smith '24 Visual Arts Award: Samantha Persram '23

Iowa Western Community College Mercyhurst University Nazareth College New York University Northeastern University Ohio State University Pomona College Princeton University Providence College Purdue University Queen's University Radford University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Sacred Heart University Simmons University Southern Methodist University St. Francis Xavier University Tiffin University Trine University Tufts University Union College University of British Columbia University of Calgary University of California-Berkeley University of California-Davis University of California-Los Angeles

ATHLETIC AWARDS Holsinger Sportsmanship Award: Jack Ross '23, Maggie Scannell '24 Kramer Cup: Drew Mackie '23 SSM Women’s Association Most Improved Girl Athlete Award: Katie Lustig '23, Annalena Beck '25 Williams Cup: Madelyn Katz '23 Zulfer Plaque: Zachary Nehring '23 SERVICE AND CITIZENSHIP AWARDS Charles "Bud" Wilkinson Award: Madelyn Katz '23 Elena Lizier International Student Award: Quynh (Vivian) Vu '23 School Service Award: Tiffany Ogunsemi '23 Tricker-Newman Award: Davin Phinney '23 Waitt Dearborn Award: Tiffany Ogunsemi '23

MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS Charles "Bud" Wilkinson Community Service Award: Ella Krahmer '26, Thomas Spaulding III '26 Bishop Kellogg Award: Liam Hanson '28, William Sperling '27 Dobbin Scholar Award: Ella Krahmer '26 Jenkins Cup: Michael Berchild '26 Most Improved Student Award: Elena Arteaga '26, Michael Iliff '26 Scanlon Award: Oscar Gates '26, Payne Riffey '26 ACADEMIC AWARDS English Award: Alison McCrea '27, Emmalin Simons '28, Cooper Soller '27, Xavier Wendt '26 English Language Learner Award: SeoYoon (Rachel) Jang '26 History Award: Elizabeth Matsuura '28, Zadie Abel '26 Janes Award: Kaden Bailey '28, Ruby Garlinski '28, Aida Lunderby '28, Ian Schleif '28 Mathematics Award: Elizabeth Matsuura '28, Jeongbin (Jason) Seo '26 Science Award: Max Krahmer '28, Oscar Gates '26 World Language Award: Xavier Davis '28, Madrid Satterstrom '26 ARTS AWARDS Band Award: Ian Schleif '28, Hunter Berry '26 Choir Award: Emmalin Simons '28, Natalie Sutherland '26 Orchestra Award: Taixen Kong '26 Theatre Award: Kaden Bailey '28, Liam Hanson '28 Visual Arts Award: Aida Lunderby '28, SeoYoon (Rachel) Jang '26

University of California-San Diego University of Canterbury University of Connecticut University of Denver University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign University of Massachusetts-Amherst University of Minnesota-Duluth University of Minnesota-Twin Cities University of Northern Iowa University of Notre Dame University of Texas at Austin University of Toronto

University of Virginia University of WashingtonSeattle Campus University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Parkside University of Wisconsin-River Falls Villanova University Wake Forest University Western University William Penn University Wofford College

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 20

INSIDE SSM

| EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

RECOGNIZING OUR EMPLOYEES Shattuck-St. Mary’s hosted its annual end-of-the-year Employee Recognition Picnic on May 31 at the Legacy Golf Course. Following an employee golf scramble, social hour, and a mouth-watering barbecue meal from Robert Brown and the SSM Food Services, a ceremony was held to recognize the 25 employees with years of service milestones, and celebrate the careers of our two retirees. Congratulations to the following individuals, and thank you to all of our employees for your oustanding service and support!

5 YEARS OF SERVICE (left-right)

Jess Purvis, Eva Sun, Bob Gutwein ’95, Nicole Taynton, Kathy Klein, Katja McKiernan, Rich Metro, Marissa Wentz, Tyler Ruegsegger ’06, Mick Barens, Alyssa Christian Not pictured: Matt Addington

10 YEARS OF SERVICE

Genevieve Andreas (left)

Jason Horstman ’07 (right)

Student Data Coordinator, School Store Assistant Recognized by Pat Schaefer (right)

Boys Prep Hockey Asst. Coach, Director of Hockey Operations, Director of Summer Hockey Operations

Mindy Ray (right)

Amy Warthesen (right)

Recognized by Greg Simons (left)

Recognized by Merry Mendoza (left)

Science Instructor

French Instructor

Recognized by Ben Umhoefer ‘05 (left)

15 YEARS OF SERVICE

Tabitha Bailey (left)

Matt Inman (left)

History Instructor

Science Instructor, Junior Class Dean

Recognized by Pat Schaefer (right)

Recognized by Pat Schaefer (right)

21 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Greg Simons (left)

Mark Olson (left)

Terry Gardner

Recognized by Pat Schaefer (right)

Recognized by Courtney Cavellier (right)

Recognized by Courtney Cavellier

Science Instructor and Department Chair, Senior Class Dean

Director of Technology

Facilities

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

25 YEARS OF SERVICE Kim Bakken

Manager of the Office of Institutional Advancement

| INSIDE SSM

s n o i t a l u t a r g n o C

TO OUR 2023 RETIREES!

We bid a heartfelt farewell to Leita and Meg—best wishes in your retirement! Your contributions to Shattuck-St. Mary’s cannot be measured, and you will be missed.

Recognized by Matt Cavellier

Leita Gjersvig

15 years of service, Spanish Instructor 30 YEARS OF SERVICE Steve “Rooster” Erickson

Sports Complex Asst. Manager Recognized by Cale Politoski

35 YEARS OF SERVICE

Leita was recognized with a speech by longtime colleague Merry Mendoza, World Languages Department Chair. Here is an excerpt:

Merry Mendoza (left) and Leita Gjersvig (right)

“Leita’s impact on our students’ lives extends far beyond the classroom.

Through the years she has taught most levels of Spanish from EWL to the Middle School students through AP. She has been a wonderful mentor to our new teachers. She has supported many of our international students and has welcomed them into her and Tom’s home here on campus and at their Mankato residence. Over the years, she has assisted students with activities for International Day and helped plan prom 10 times. Leita has been assigned to various other extracurricular activities, and for the past several years has been the head dorm parent at Breck, where she helped the boys with life skills. Leita, you will be missed by the entire faculty and all of the students who have come to you for help and guidance. Have a wonderful retirement and remember to actually relax from time to time and come back to visit us.”

Norm Tischer (left) Facilities Engineer

Meg Otten

Recognized by Erin Sellner (right)

45 YEARS OF SERVICE Marlyn “Doc” Schwanke Facilities Painter

Recognized by Erin Sellner

9 years of service, Director of College Counseling Meg was recognized with a speech by her friend and former colleague, Katherine Hauschild.

Here is an excerpt: “When you are in Meg’s orbit, there is sincerely no better place to be—she is the most dedicated and compassionate colleague and friend. She was the first person to sign up for Team 19 during the first scary days of the pandemic. She is the last person to leave the office if a student or family needs something. As a colleague, she would solve problems for me before I knew there was a problem. Meg taught me to always bring things back to basics, put what is best for students first, and stay true to your convictions and believe in your purpose. I will forever be grateful. Meg, thank you from myself and all the people you’ve touched throughout your career— we are the lucky ones.”

Katherine Hauschild (left) and Meg Otten (right)

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 22

ARTS NEWS

23 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

On Display Fall Family Weekend visitors were recently treated to a wonderful display of art created by Ms. Vignola’s Middle School art classes in the lower level of St. Mary’s Hall.

On the top shelf, works are displayed from the Middle School Art A class, which uses a variety of drawing and painting materials to create art that focuses on “the self.” In class, students study artists from history who are known for their self-portraits, including Vincent Van Gogh, who inspired both projects. For the top row project, students learned the anatomy of the human eye, and incorporated Van Gogh’s portrait style into paintings of their own eyes.

Below that, students used Van Gogh’s famous painting “The Bedroom” to inspire acrylics of their own bedrooms.

The bottom shelf holds the work of the Intro to Drawing and Painting for ninth graders class. The top work displays “Surreal Scratchboards,” in which students combined a variety of landscape images and human elements. The bottom row features “Master Painting Half and Half ” projects, where students chose a Master portrait drawing from history and built their drawing skills by trying to match the line variety and values of the artist.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 24

INSIDE SSM

| ARTS NEWS

ARTS NEWS

A Fall-tastic Performance!

A beloved part of our Fall Family Weekends is the All-School Community Gathering, which showcases our visual and performing arts programs. This year’s show brought collaborations, high energy, and even confetti. Well done to all!

Band and Orchestra

The band and orchestra brought nostalgia to this year’s show, with the band playing the fan-favorite “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, and the orchestra performing their take on The Beatles’ classic, “Eleanor Rigby.”

Choir

The combined choir of Upper and Middle School students brought the Top Gun: Maverick hit “Hold My Hand” by Lady Gaga to life with the help of Mr. Peck on bass, Mr. Peasley on drums, and Ms. Furgiuele and Mr. Schleif on piano.

25 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

ARTS NEWS

| INSIDE SSM

Dance

Ms. Homuth’s dance classes brought high energy to their performance as always. Beginning Dance got the crowd ready for Halloween with a mashup of “Thriller” and “Heads Will Roll”, and Arch Dance closed the show with a fun routine to “Fireball” by Pitbull.

Theatre

The cast of Clue: Onstage gave the audience a sneak peek into their show, which will premiere in November.

Pre-Conservatory & Vocal Performance

On the Friday evening of Fall Family Weekend, the Pre-Conservatory and Vocal Performance programs put on a concert in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 26

SPORTS NEWS

Peter Biver Joins Figure Skating COE Nearing its 20-year anniversary, the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Figure Skating Center of Excellence continues to be one of the premier programs for the dedicated figure skater and student. To continue that standard, SSM hired renowned skater and coach Peter Biver as co-head coach of the program.

The six-time U.S. Figure Skating Gold Medalist started at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, joining current coach Kyle Shropshire to help lead the program into the next decade of success.

“After coaching numerous Shattuck-St. Mary’s figure skating camps over the past decade, it’s an honor to join the faculty as co-head coach of the Figure Skating Center of Excellence,” stated Peter. “I look forward to connecting with and getting to know each student and family to set new goals for the upcoming competitive season.”

In addition to his time already spent coaching at SSM in the summer, Peter has a long history of coaching at rinks and clubs across the country. His coaching began at the Lake Placid Olympic Center in 2002 where he worked with U.S. Figure Skating pairs, and from there he went on to work with skaters of all levels in Wisconsin, Nevada, Texas, and even Europe.

Pictured: In a recent practice, Coach Biver worked with Sarah Gray '26 on her jump technique via the portable skating harness, which he specializes in.

27 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 28

INSIDE SSM

| SPORTS NEWS

SPORTS NEWS

SSM Well Represented in New Professional Women’s Hockey League

When the puck drops in January for the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), seven SSM alumni will be part of history.

The six-team league will arguably be the preeminent women’s hockey league in the world, featuring many of the best female hockey players worldwide. Aerin Frankel ’17 and Blayre Turnbull ’11 were among the first 18 players signed, as each team was able to sign three free agents as franchise players to build their squad around.

Maureen Murphy ’17 was selected by Montreal in the third round, as the 18th overall PWHL draft pick.

Photo credit: Instagram; @maureen_murphy

On Monday, September 18, the league officially held its first ever draft, where five former Sabres were selected. Maureen Murphy ’17 was the highest alum chosen in the draft at No. 18 overall. Five of the league’s six teams have at least one SSM alum, with Aerin playing for Boston, Blayre and Maggie Connors ’18 going to Toronto, Maureen chosen by Montreal, Clair DeGeorge ’17 and Natalie Buchbinder ’17 returning to their high school stomping grounds in Minnesota, and Abbey Levy ’18 going to New York.

Teddy Blueger ’12 Cashes in with Vegas, Wins Stanley Cup

For the second year in a row, a former Shattuck-St. Mary’s hockey player lifted Lord Stanley’s Cup as champion of the NHL. Teddy Blueger ’12 helped the Golden Knights defeat the Florida Panthers four games to one to capture the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in just its sixth year of existence.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Teddy was a late addition to the Golden Knights as he was acquired in March at the trade deadline. The forward played in six games in the playoffs and registered one goal and one assist en route to becoming the second Latvian born player to win the Stanley Cup in NHL history. Teddy has played in 268 games so far in his NHL career. He has racked up 35 goals and 63 assists, while being a top option on penalty kills. He becomes the 11th former Sabre to win hockey’s ultimate prize.

Luke Haakenson ’16 Faces off Against Messi Not long after Lionel Messi made worldwide headlines by signing with Inter Miami in the MLS, an SSM alum had the opportunity to play against the World Cup Champion and seven-time World Player of the Year. Former Boys Soccer COE player Luke Haakenson ’16 is in his third season with the MLS’s Nashville SC, which took on Messi and Miami in August. The teams played to a 0-0 draw, with Luke subbing in on the 65th minute. He has played in 12 games for Nashville so far this year.

Photo credit: Instagram; @ssmboyssoccer

29 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

SPORTS NEWS

Sabre Alums Breaking Barriers in Coaching World Although they graduated a decade apart, SSM hockey alums Matt Pinchevsky ’00 and Alyssa Gagliardi ’10 share at least one characteristic— they are both breaking barriers in their careers since hanging up their skates.

Matt was recently named the head coach of the University of Southern Maine’s NCAA Division III men’s hockey team, becoming the first black man to coach an NCAA hockey team since the late 1980s. He has 15 years of coaching experience, mostly in youth development programs, including the Selects Academy at the South Kent School, as well as stints in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) and North American Hockey League (NAHL). Matt has also participated in the National Hockey League Coaches’ Association (NHLCA) BIPOC Mentorship program and the NHL Bruins Diversity and Inclusion Scouting Mentorship.

Photo credit: University of Southern Maine Athletics

Photo credit: Neumann University Athletics

Alyssa meanwhile is sailing unchartered waters, becoming one of the first women to ever coach men. During the 2022-23 season, she was an assistant coach for Neumann University’s men’s hockey team. She became the first female coach in program history and was the only woman coach in all of NCAA men’s hockey last season. Alyssa pulled double-duty as she also served as a skill development coach for the ECHL’s Maine Mariners last season. This past summer, she was selected to join the coaching staff for the Carolina Hurricanes Prospects Development Camp, through the NHL Coaches’ Association (NHLCA) Female Coaches’ Development Program. She is currently an assistant coach with the Rochester Jr. Americans of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

| INSIDE SSM

Tiernny Wiltshire ’16 Makes History with Jamaica

When the Jamaican women’s national soccer team took the field in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup this past summer, it had a small contingent of fans cheering the team on from Faribault, over 2,000 miles away from the Jamaican capital of Kingston. The enthusiasm could be attributed to the fact that Jamaican player Tiernny Wiltshire ’16 honed her skills as a member of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Girls Soccer Center of Excellence before graduating in 2016.

Tiernny, who went on to play collegiately at Rutgers University after leaving SSM, suited up in all four matches for Jamaica, starting three of them. The midfielder helped lead the Reggae Girlz to their best finish ever in a Women’s World Cup as the squad advanced to the round of 16 for the first time ever.

In fact, they became the first Caribbean nation to advance to the knockout round.

Tiernny plays professionally for Stade de Reims in France’s highest division of professional soccer.

Lucky Number Seven for Former Sabres in NHL Draft

This past June, seven former Shattuck-St. Mary’s hockey players heard their names called in the 2023 NHL entry draft. Gracyn Sawchyn was the highest former Sabre selected as he was chosen in the second round (pick 63) by the Florida Panthers. 2023 graduate Zach Nehring was chosen in the third round by the Winnipeg Jets. Recent graduates Sam Harris ’21 and Aiden Celebrini ’22 were selected by the Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks, respectively.

William Whitelaw, Ty Henricks, and Tyler Peddle were the other former Sabres to be chosen, giving SSM claim to 103 total draft picks.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 30

CONNECT

| FEATURES

I T ' S N E V E R TO O L AT E TO

passion

by Ellie Ray '14

T

o many, Shattuck-St. Mary’s School is synonymous with the idea of “pursuing your passion.” Our unique community is comprised of students from all over the world who come to explore and achieve their dreams. Some arrive with a specific goalbecome a doctor, play a sport at a professional level, earn a chair in a world-class orchestraand others are here to seek out different opportunities in hopes of discovering their true calling. Shattuck-St. Mary's creates an environment that encourages its students in their goals, empowering them to branch out, take risks, face fears, and overcome obstacles in order to harness their talents. And this encouragement doesn’t stop when they're beyond the Arch.

These seven alums prove that no matter what stage of life you're in-whether you're fresh out of college or enjoying retirement-you can still discover what matters to you and build your life around it. There's still time to make that career change, write that book, learn a new hobby. There's still time to do something fulfilling and meaningful. After all, it’s never too late to pursue your passion.

31 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

FEATURES

| CONNECT

MIKE DALEY '68 It's Never Too Late to Become an Ironman Mike Daley '68 (right) recently coached a 95-year-old athlete to win two events, helping his team, the Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics Masters, win the 2023 Michigan Masters State Championship in April.

W

hen he was seven years old, Michael Daley ’68 was given a choice: join the Boy Scouts or swim at the YMCA. He chose to swim. Originally from Aurora, Illinois, he grew up spending his summers in and on the water in Holland, Michigan.

When he came to Shattuck School at the age of 14, it was an easy choice to join the swim team. Under the guidance of then swim coach George Kedrovsky, Mike honed his skillls and eventually served as team captain.

Following graduation, Mike swam competitively at Grinnell College and during a year teaching overseas in Australia. He then took a break from swimming while he started a family and pursued a career in higher education for 27 years. In the 1990s, Mike began coaching swimming at the University of Milwaukee as he worked toward a PhD in higher education. He coached a Masters swim team—a competitive and recreational team for those eighteen and older—as well as children as young as ten. He reached a point in his PhD program where he felt stuck, and decided it was time to make a change.

Mike began coaching full time, which he described as, “not a hard decision at all.” By 2013, he’d moved back to Holland, Michigan and established a Masters team at the Holland Aquatic Center. At their first practice on October 6, 2013, they had two swimmers. Now, they average 20-30 people at each practice, enough for a vibrant competition program and an open-water program. This past August, 25 people on the team swam all the way around Mackinac Island, Michigan.

One of his favorite parts about coaching is “seeing people who really make a commitment, and surprise themselves with their ability to do things they never imagined they could do—like swimming six miles in Lake Michigan.” One of Mike’s current swimmers is a 49-year-old ophthalmologist whose goal is to swim across all of the Great Lakes to raise money for the Holland Aquatic Center. One of Holland’s most prevalent causes of death is accidental drowning, and this swimmer wants to raise enough money to offer free lessons to any child that wants them in order to make the water a safer place for everyone.

Inspired by the determination of the swimmers he coaches, Mike began to pursue his own swimming goals. He started doing triathlons, and even completed his first Ironman race at the age of 59, ad has completed two more since. One of his greatest accomplishments as a coach is seeing how his program makes his swimmers’ lives more fulfilling both physically and mentally. He’s also grown the program enough to add more coaches—three women who he says will help the program’s legacy continue to grow once he retires.

Happily married to Maureen Murphy, who formerly served on the board of SSMES, Mike has two daughters that he’s very proud of, and is expecting his first grandchild this year. He encourages current SSM students to love whatever they decide to do, to learn another language, to try the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa at least once, and above all, to remember that nothing is impossible.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 32

CONNECT

| FEATURES

Mellaney Peper Moore '09 (right) and her husband, Matthew Moore, holding two of the first DVD albums of Spanish Bible teachings they helped produce for Andrew Wommack Ministries. Matthew currently produces the daily Bible teaching program in English, and was involved in the early days of the Spanish ministry. Mellaney says, " The Spanish ministry is a newer initiative, so to be holding two of the first teaching series available in Spanish was incredibly exciting."

MELLANEY PEPER MOORE '09

M

ellaney Peper Moore ’09 started at ShattuckSt. Mary's in the middle of her seventh grade year, and by eighth grade, she was fully immersed in studying Spanish as her second language. She also worked with her father at Faribault Community Television, where she interviewed players and coaches returning from national championships, filmed projects for SSM alumni, and interviewed volunteers and participants at community events like the Easter Egg Hunt. At the time of graduation, she received the Spanish Prize and was the top-ranked student of her year. She went on to study journalism at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, with Spanish as her minor.

After several years working as an on-air reporter for NBC, CBS, and FOX-affiliated stations, she decided to take her skills and experience in a new direction. In 2018, Mellaney took a job with Andrew Wommack Ministries, a teaching ministry that works to share Christian programming through television, radio, internet, and social media broadcasting. This position allowed her to further her career in broadcast journalism while nurturing her faith. In 2022, she had the opportunity to rekindle another passion, when she took on the role of Spanish TV Producer of the company's daily Bible teaching program, La Verdad del Evangelio, which airs in the U.S., 19 Central and South American countries, and online.

Now, Mellaney is the only member of her team who is not a native Spanish speaker. She uses the Spanish language in her job every single day, as well as in her travels. During a recent trip to Mexico, Mellaney got sick, and was thankful that her skills allowed her to speak to the doctor in his own language.

33 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

It's Never Too Late to Explore the World in Another Language

She credits her SSM experience for influencing her path. “It’s something I truly could not be doing without the instruction I had from teachers at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. While it would have been doable later on in life, the time I spent learning Spanish each day [at SSM] has been invaluable to my career and even my personal life,” she says. “SSM supported my journey as a young journalist. Now I’m using both my video production and Spanish skills!”

Mellaney's experience has helped her gain a tremendous amount of professional expertise, but also taught her a lot about herself. “I think what I have learned most is to follow my heart and to trust the Lord’s guiding for fulfillment in my life,” she declares.

“It led me to move away from home, be brave, step away from my comfort zone, take on new projects, learn new things, and even take on a job in my second language.”

Mellaney advises our current students to take advantage of the learning opportunities at SSM that will carry you into the future, and to embrace the pursuit of excellence the School instills in its students.

“I loved Spanish, so I went beyond my language requirement. What are you good at? What classes do you take because you want to? Lean into those giftings!”

FEATURES

| CONNECT

DAVID SCOTT '88 It's Never Too Late to Overcome an Obstacle

“I

n many ways, my time at Shattuck-St. Mary's was one of the mountain-top moments in my life,” says David Scott ’88, who served as captain of both the varsity golf and basketball teams during his time at SSM. “It provided an opportunity to work hard and experience the fruit of those efforts, taught me the value of persistence and having a strong moral compass, and most of all, surrounded me with faculty and friends.”

After SSM, David attended DePauw University in Indiana, where he got his degree in European History. He then went on to Saint Louis University School of Law, where he graduated in the top 15 percent of his class. Nowadays, David describes himself as a “recovering lawyer,” and has shifted his career focus to helping startup companies become successful.

In the early days of his law career, David discovered that not only did he have a MENSA level IQ (scoring in the top 2% of a standardized intelligence test), he also had dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words. At first, this diagnosis was a difficult pill for David to swallow. “The discovery of my learning disability during my early career materially and negatively impacted my identity, which I had wrapped up in being a high-power corporate lawyer.”

So David made a career change. Instead of drafting complex legal agreements as a private practice attorney for a prestigious international law firm, David began offering guidance and in-house counsel to startup companies, and it was there that he found his passion. Ultimately, the process of learning to accept and cope with his dyslexia led David to change not only his career path, but alter his overall focus and self identity. “What I learned through my journey is that when you place your identity in the wrong things,

it is very easy to have strong, negative feelings— feelings like 'why me' and 'I am a failure'—but when you have your personal identity focused on serving a higher calling, it is a lot easier to live a blessed and fulfilling life. Now instead of chasing worldly success, I am focused on living a life of significance.”

David no longer actively practices law, but currently serves as Senior Commercialization Manager at TechLink, helping federal laboratories connect with businesses and entrepreneurs to develop their inventions into new technologies. Through this work, David has helped companies secure over four billion dollars in investment capital, along with a myriad of grants. He is also the Managing Director of OCEAN, a faith-based organization that aims to teach people how to be successful entrepreneurs to better their own communities.

“When you get a chance to look back on the highs and lows in life, the odds are great that the things you will cherish the most are spending time with family and friends, opportunities to be generous with your time, talent, and treasure, and getting outside of your daily grind to experience new things,” David says.

“Your top ten moments will not be working late or running errands, so make sure to pursue passion, to make time for fun, and to serve others.”

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 34

CONNECT

| FEATURES

PHILIP DECKER '80 It's Never Too Late to Set Sail

O

riginally from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, a twist of fate brought Phillip Decker ’80 to ShattuckSt. Mary's when he was in eighth grade. He meant to interview with Groton School as part of an interview day hosted by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

However, there was a plumbing issue in one of the interview rooms, so Groton School and SSM were put in the same room. Phillip interviewed with SSM unplanned, and later received a scholarship to attend.

at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. After a couple of years, Phillip was allowed to work remotely, so he decided to sail down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Annapolis, moving his "office" to South Florida. Twelve years later, Phillip achieved his dream lifestyle by taking an early retirement and moving permanently onto his sailboat in the Florida Keys, where he now works part-time as a patent attorney from wherever the boat is anchored.

Shattuck-St. Mary's was also where Phillip was first exposed to sailing, when the School’s then business manager, Donald B. Purrington, would occasionally take students sailing on nearby Cannon Lake. “I clearly remember being astonished by the speed the boat could go through the water in complete silence when Mr. Purrington raised the sail,” he said. Later, he would also go sailing with fellow classmates, which would cement his passion for it.

“I am happier as a person and happier with my career with my low-key, island lifestyle than if I took my resume and worked in the city for a big firm risking burnout and resentment,” said Phillip, describing his life as a Jimmy Buffet song. He lives on his sailboat with his wife, Kay, and his nineteen-year-old cat, Maggie.

After earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Phillip worked for Westinghouse Electric developing nuclear products and power systems for seven years, before he found his opportunities in the field and his interest in the work waning.

His father had made a career change and gotten a law degree at the age of 40, so Phillip thought, why not do the same at age 30? Phillip decided to go to law school full time (while also fostering his love for skiing by applying to law schools near ski mountains).

After receiving his degree, he chose to avoid big firms and work for a tech start-up in New Hampshire.

The economic recession of 2009, combined with some personal struggles, motivated Phillip to spring for a change in lifestyle. He took a job as a patent examiner

35 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

While Philip's lifestyle change certainly came with some risks and good amount of trepidation, he encourages people not be afraid to face the challenges associated with change. “Sometimes you don't get to choose whether you have to go through one of those big changes or not … you just have to grit your teeth and move forward.”

Big changes can open up amazing opportunities that one couldn’t have imagined before, such as the decision to attend Shattuck-St. Mary's. Philip says that “living the boarding school experience, I was exposed to teachers, friends, and families who showed me so much of what is possible to achieve than if I never left home.” He advises current students to watch for life and career opportunities, ask the same questions of different people to learn about others’ experiences, and to learn to recognize the critical moments in life when it’s time to make the bolder choice.

FEATURES

| CONNECT

Grace Mancy '17 (left) says her dad has been her mentor her entire life.

They're pictured here at a 20th anniversary party held for their family's barbecue restaurant, Shorty's True American Roadhouse.

GRACE MANCY '17 It's Never Too Late to Come Home

G

race Mancy ’17 grew up in Toledo, Ohio in the warm community of her family’s restaurant business, Mancy’s Restaurant Group, where she began working at age 14 in the coat room. She came to SSM in the fall of her senior year to play soccer, after a series of injuries had set her back in her goal to play in college. She stayed for a post graduate year, during which she enjoyed arts and English classes taught by Johnnie Walker and Jan Gould-Martin ’75. “Those two teachers pushed me to see more than the average observer when it came to the works of the greats,” relays Grace.

After graduating from SSM, Grace attended the University of South Dakota, where she studied Business Administration and was a member of the women’s soccer team. During her junior year, she had an internship as an Event Coordinator with the Vermillion Chamber & Development Company.

Grace turned her internship into a full-time position running events in the community, where she realized that community is where her passion lies. “Community is what drives us forward through hardship,” she says. “Everything I did was for the people in town.”

It was this yearning for community that motivated Grace to move back home to Toledo in October 2022 to take up a new position within her family’s restaurant business. “Moving out to Minnesota at the age of 17 and staying away until I was 23 gave me the

ability to develop and grow as a person on my own,” she says. “It also allowed me to miss home … In the end, I realized many small moments led me back to that question of why I wasn’t home surrounded by the people I love and the community that raised me.”

Now, Grace is the first member of the fourth generation of her family to step into a managerial position at Mancy’s Restaurant Group, and the first woman in her role as Front of House Manager. “I do not know exactly how or where I will end up but that is what is fun about the unknown,” she says of her future prospects in the restaurant industry. She aims to carry on the Mancy family's legacy in Toledo.

“The goal at the end of the day is to be my own boss, but also acknowledge and be thankful for the generations that came before me that allowed me this opportunity.”

Looking back on her time at SSM, Grace says the experience showed her what a community truly is, saying “The common goal of excellence bonded us together to be forever grateful.” She encourages students to be present in their time at SSM, while allowing oneself to ask for help and lean on the community built over so many years. And she urges them to remember to “be grateful and kind to the grounds, which hold so much history and strength.”

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 36

CONNECT

| FEATURES

MARGOT MILLER '08 It's Never Too Late to Help Someone in Need

M

argot Miller ’08 was inspired to go into healthcare after watching her mother tirelessly work the 4:00 a.m. to noon shift for 20 years. “Her passion and motivation to help people transferred to me,” says Margot.

Margot spent two years at SSM, during which she was a member of the Girls Hockey Center of Excellence.

After graduation, she attended the University of North Dakota, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. She spent the next seven years as a nurse in the emergency room, which she was drawn to for the unpredictability of the job and the need to stay on her toes.

Currently living in Grand Forks, North Dakota with her husband, Max Markoitz, Margot had always had the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner percolating in the back of her mind. After so many years in the same position, working in the ER had grown stagnant, and Margot wanted to do more for her patients, and be more involved in their care. She decided to go back to school to get her Master’s degree and become a nurse practitioner, working in orthopedics and sports medicine. As a former athlete, she loves that she now gets to work with athletes, and finds it fulfilling to help them in their recovery process as they work to get back on their feet to play the sports they love.

37 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Margot continued to work part-time as an ER nurse to fulfill her clinical hours while in school full-time, and credits SSM with teaching her the time management and discipline to handle that load.

She began her new job in orthopedics in October of 2020, and when a surge of COVID-19 cases hit in November 2020, she was asked to step back into the ER to help. It was challenging, especially being the only point of communication between so many sick patients and their families, but she knew it was the right thing to do. Still, she managed to find a silver lining—she was able to leave the house and connect with her coworkers when many others couldn’t during that time.

Outside of work, Margot hopes to grow the girls’ hockey programming in Grand Forks. The University of North Dakota recently cut their women’s team, so Margot hopes to become a mentor in her community to give local players an opportunity to improve their skills. She advises SSM students to find a career they’re passionate about. “Even though we love hockey or other sports, we can’t play forever. Make sure to set your future self up in a good position.”

FEATURES

| CONNECT

GRACE HAYDEN '86 It's Never Too Late to Put Pen to Paper

I

t was while she was a student at Shattuck-St. Mary's that Grace Hayden ’86 says she was first encouraged to “dive deeply into intellectual pursuits that spoke to my soul and curiosity.” She learned to be disciplined and to organize her thoughts and research into effective writing, not knowing then how important those lessons would be later in life.

When she graduated from SSM, Grace had the intention of becoming ordained in the Episcopal Church. But life had other plans, and in her mid-20s, got married, had children, and became a step-parent.

A few years later, as a divorced single parent, Grace realized she needed more flexibility and began selling real estate while also working as a licensed drug and alcohol counselor.

However, Grace’s true passion had always been books from a very young age. “I remember sitting in the living room, looking out at the Mississippi River, drawing pictures and writing stories,” she says. “I'd make construction paper covers, and bind the books with a stapler, and then march into the kitchen and share my creations with my mother.”

Later, when she was in her mid-forties, Grace had a moment of feeling like she didn’t quite know herself anymore. That was when she decided she needed to get back in touch with her passions: writing and fishing.

“I decided that I couldn't and shouldn't wait any

longer to live the life that made me happy,” she said.

“I knew that if I didn't commit to spending time on the river fishing and guiding, coupled with pursuing a writing career, I would not be at peace once this life ends.”

Now, Grace has published her first book, Fish Food: A Feminist Moby Dick, which she says wouldn’t have been possible without first reading Herman Melville in Honors English at SSM. She still works in real estate, but makes sure to keep the stress and anxiety of her work in perspective, turning to writing or fishing when she begins to feel overwhelmed.

“Stay self-aware,” she says, when asked for advice to give current students. “No goal is too important if you are stepping on others to achieve your dreams.”

While some might know what they want to do in life from the moment they learn to read, it can still take time to discover where one’s passion truly lies.

Grace has come a long way from stapling together her own books in her mother’s kitchen, but those early moments are what led her to where she is now. “What we should be doing is often a variation of what gave us delight in childhood,” says Grace.

You can purchase Grace's book by visiting her website, grace-hayden.com, or by ordering a copy through your local bookstore.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 38

150 +

| REUNION 2022

REUNION WEEKEND 2023

CONNECT

ATTENDEES TRAVELED FROM AS FAR AWAY AS HAWAII TO JOIN THE CELEBRATION

44&72 SAINTS

SHADS

Alumni, family, and friends returned to the SSM campus on June 2, 3, and 4 to celebrate

Reunion 2023.

The weekend once again provided a flurry of familiar events, including the Old

Shads Drill, Daughters Tea Luncheon,

Alumni Hockey Game, and the Yearbook Party. The Class of 1973 celebrated their

50 year reunion at an honorary dinner at the Inn on Saturday evening, along with

27 & 2

ATTENDEES HAILED FROM

STATES

COUNTRIES

OLDEST ALUM IN ATTENDANCE WAS FROM THE CLASS OF:

1953

the honors classes. And the weekend

wouldn’t have been complete without

the well-attended Rendevous, held in

the Hub, allowing attendees of all ages to mingle and reconnect with former

classmates and teachers. Thank you to all

who joined us for the festivities, we hope to see you again next year!

All photo captions are left-right.

You can view more photos from Reunion on Flickr!

MOST POPULAR WEEKEND EVENT:

RENDEZVOUS

39 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

bit.ly/ssmreunion2023

REUNION 2023 | CONNECT

Rendezvous

Left: David Gray ’68, Chuck Beard ’54, and Bob Hauck ’53

Left: David Farmer ’63 and Eric Dyrud ’63

Left: Louise Helfrich ’73, Bonnie Carlin ’73, and Rebecca Wigg-Ninham ’73

Center Left: Lonnie Schroeder and Louie Hill ’63

Center: Laurel Simer ’07, Lauren Trout ’07, and Megan Trout ’04

Center Left: Zach Harbour ’03, Steve “Rooster” Erickson, and Ryan Merz ’03

Center Right: Amy Wolf, Steve Jones ’73, and Mike Sooy ’72

Right: Mia Becker ’13, Shae Watson ’13, Rosie Russell ’13, Jack Dudley ’13, Shannon Blackmer ’14, Olivia Chan ’13, Erin Olson ’13, Ellie Ray ’14, and Ty Leech ’13

Center Right: Claire Wittich Harper ’03 and Maggie Osterbauer Lee ’03

Right: Rick Barr ’75 and Matt Cavellier

Right: Alvaro Blanco ’73, Jim Grover ’73, and Bob MacKinnon ’73 SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 40

CONNECT

| REUNION 2023

Old Shads Drill

Left: A group of former Squaddies perform a drill on the Parade Field in front of Johnson Armory.

Center: Front row: Holland Duell ’63, Fred Quiel ’63, Eric Dyrud ’63, and David Farmer ’63 Back row: Ron Brescian ’63, Al Fahden ’63, Donald Negus ’63, Len Mackling ’63, and Louie Hill ’63

Right: Fred Quiel ’63, David Farmer ’63, Len Mackling ’63, Donald Negus ’63, Al Fahden ’63, Bill Ortmayer ’63, Ron Brescian ’63, Richard Manshardt ’63, Louie Hill ’63, Holland Duell ’63, and Eric Dyrud ’63

Daughters Tea

Top Left: Tracey Kloeckl-Jimenez ’83, Francisco Heredia-Jiminez, Richard Kalor, Renee Powell Kalor ’83, Laura Van Erp ’83, Eve Conkey Thornton ’83, and Sylvia Rasch Hernandez ’83

Top Right: Rande Paquin-Stanton ’93, Kristin Sumner Jones ’96, Heather Suffron ’93, and Deborah Shanahan ’73

41 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Bottom Left: Danni Sun ’73, Audrey Mills (Danni’s grandaughter), Carol Gordon ’73 Jill Maryland Laski ’73, and Deborah Fiske Shanahan ’73

Bottom Center: Polly Shea ’78, Melissa Clopeck Carlson ’78, Terri Deutsch Stewart ’79, and Jean Nusbaum ’78

Bottom Right: Rebecca Wigg-Ninham ’73, Nancy Denebeim ’73, Bonnie Carlin ’73, and Sarah Pearson Vollmer ’73

REUNION 2023 | CONNECT

Alumni Hockey Game & Reception

Left: Mia Becker ’13, Ty Leech ’13, Lonnie Schroeder, Olivia Chan ’13, and Erin Olson ’13

Center Left: Reid Brown ’13

Center Right: Mia Becker ’13

Right: Front row: Mark Carpentier ’98, Jarrod Houp ’98, and Nils Satterstrom ’94 Back row: Mario Mjelleli ’05, Jesse Bull ’93, Brianna Decker ’09, Tommy Breuer ’93 Brian Guastella ’94, Jimmy Alauria ’93, former coach Craig Norwich, Trevor Putrah ’93, Aaron Wagner ’93, Ian Tyson ’94, Hank Garrett ’24, and Beau Garrett ’93

Honors Classes Dinner

Top Left: Members of the 50-year Class of 1973 and anyone who graduated prior were invited to a special Honors Classes Dinner on Friday night at the Inn at SSM.

Top Center: Buzz Nady ’73 and Jim Grover ’73

Top Right: Front row: Carole Skinner and Christine Negus Back row: Richard Manshardt ’63, Rick Skinner ’63, and Don Negus ’63

Bottom Left: Beth Trout, Phyllis Freeman, and Bobbi Sumner

Bottom Center: Marty Breaker ’68, Amanda Hemmesch, Tim Gillin ’68, and David Gray ’68

Bottom Right: Todd Rutenbar ’73, Winifred Rutenbar, and Bob Hauck ’53

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 42

CONNECT

| REUNION 2023

Yearbook Party

Left: Bob Hauck ’53, Amy Horstman Cox ’94, and Burr Robinson ’58

Left: Leland Wigg-Ninham and Sarah Pearson Vollmer ’73

Left: Chuck Beard ’54 and Jacob Mosher ’15

Center Left: Richard Manshardt ’63

Center: Marty Breaker ’68, Amanda Hemmesch, and Tim Gillin ’68

43 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Center: Mia Becker ’13, Olivia Chan ’13, Ty Leech ’13, and Erin Olson ’13

Center Right: Nancy Denebeim ’73 and Bob MacKinnon ’73

Right: Alvaro Blanco ’73, Winifred Rutenbar, James Grover ’73, and Todd Rutenbar ’73

Right: Bill Norman ’73, Buzz Nady ’73, and Bonnie Carlin ’73

Right: Larry Evans ’80 and John Goldfine ’73

REUNION 2023 | CONNECT

Alumni Awards DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD: PHIL TROUT ’73 The following speech was given by Jim Pabst ’73

Since graduating in 1973, Phil Trout has given to the SSM Annual Fund each year. He became Class Agent in 1986 and has remained in that role, receiving the Class Agent of the Year award in 2018. Phil is a member of the SSM Fleur de LisWhitney giving society and is a member of the SSM Founder’s Society.

Phil worked for Shattuck-St. Mary’s as an English teacher, college counselor, Director of Admissions, and Financial Aid for 25 years.

He has served on the Alumni Board six different times for approximately 13 years: Treasurer from 1989-1991; Treasurer from 1992-1993; President from 1993-1995; Past President from 1995-1997;

RISING STAR AWARD: ESTHER AGBAJE ’03 The following is an excerpt from a speech given by Claire Wittich Harper ’05 in honor of Esther, who was unable to attend Reunion.

As a 2003 graduate of Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Esther Agbaje was born in St. Paul and lived in Brainerd. While at SSM, she played volleyball and was involved in The Drama Association, Youth in Government, Student Council, and The Spectator.

She graduated Cum Laude and is a past member of the Board of Trustees.

Esther received her degree in law from Harvard University and a master’s degree from University of Pennsylvania. She is now the first Nigerian American to serve in the Minnesota legislature, and one of only a few black women in the history of the Minnesota State House as a representative for the Minnesota House District 59B. In college, she worked to advance labor rights.

In graduate school, she helped build healthy and sustainable communities. While earning her Masters of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, Esther worked with local government offices to develop their performance management systems. She studied Political Science at The George Washington University and was active in mentoring incoming students and advocating for labor rights in different internships. Upon graduation, she received the Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship which led to her career at the State Department.

Secretary from 2007-2009; Member/Committee Chair from 2009-2013. Phil went on to attend Amherst College and the University of Minnesota.

Phil has been a college counselor at Minnetonka High School since 2007. Previously, he served as Director of College Counseling at Mounds Park Academy and as a college and academic counselor at Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

He also has worked in college admission at the University of Minnesota and College of William and Mary. He was the President of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) during the 2015-2016 school year and served on the Minnesota ACT Council. He has served twice as president for the Minnesota NACAC affiliate, in 2010-2011 and in 1990-1991, as well as on numerous committees. Phil retired in June 2023.

Congratulations Phil!

Jim Pabst ’73 (Class Agent of the Year), Phil Trout ’73 (Class Agent of the Year and Distinguished Alumnus), and Head of School Matt Cavellier

In the State Department, she managed programs advocating for civil rights. And in law school, she defended tenants from eviction. While at Harvard University, she spent two years as a student attorney defending tenants from eviction with the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.

Before turning to law, Esther was a Foreign Affairs Officer with the U.S. Department of State. There, she managed rule of law projects in the Middle East focusing on Egypt and the Gulf states. She also facilitated exchange and scholarship projects for judges, lawyers, journalists, and students between the region and the U.S.

Esther Agbaje ’03, winner of the new Rising Star Award

She is passionate about reliable public transit and affordable housing. In her first term as Minnesota State Representative, she championed efforts to increase affordable housing and was part of the team that worked to lengthen protections for the eviction moratorium. She was also the lead author on the CROWN Act for 2022.

Shattuck-St. Mary’s seeks nominations year round for:

Esther is currently a Staff Attorney with the Public Health Law Center providing legal technical assistance on commercial tobacco control issues.

She practices in general civil litigation and medical malpractice, and has experience in class action lawsuits. In 2019 she was part of a team that settled with the Minnesota Department of Corrections to allow prisoners who qualify access to potentially life-saving Hepatitis C medication. Minnesota Lawyer recognized her for this work when naming Esther a 2019 Attorney of the Year. Congratulations Esther on receiving the Rising Star Award!

 Honorary Alumni Membership  Class Agent of the Year Award  The Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus/ Alumna Award

 The Rising Star Award -

The Rising Star Award honors an alumnus/a for superior performance in their chosen field and service to the School. Recipients must be under the age of 40 and have graduated from Shattuck-St. Mary’s School.

To make a nomination, please contact : Maggie.Lee@s-sm.org

CLASS AGENTS OF THE YEAR: PHIL TROUT ’73 AND JIM PABST ’73 Phil Trout ’73 and Jim Pabst ’73 were both awarded the Class Agent of the Year award for their successful fundraising efforts to help digitize the School’s yearbooks, and their continuous work at keeping their fellow classmates involved with Shattuck-St. Mary’s School. Congratulations to you both!

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 44

CONNECT

| REUNION 2023

Class Photos

ALL PHOTO CAPTIONS ARE LEFT-RIGHT

1950s CLASS OF 1953 (left) Bob Hauck CLASS OF 1958 (left) Steve Wilson, Joe McMillan, Dash Goff, and Burr Robinson

1960s

CLASS OF 1963 (top left)

Front row: Holland Duell, Fred Quiel, Eric Dyrud, and David Farmer Back row: Ron Brescian, Al Fahden, Donald Negus, Len Mackling, and Louie Hill (top right)

Front row: Louie Hill, David Farmer, Donald Negus, Ron Brescian, and Richard Manshardt Back row: Holland Duell, Al Fahden, Carl Carl Baer, and Rick Skinner

CLASS OF 1968 (bottom) Hank Alcott, Tim Gillin, Marty Breaker, and David Gray

45 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

REUNION 2023 | CONNECT

50 Reunion Class th

1970s

CLASS OF 1972 (top) Dennis McCann CLASS OF 1978 (bottom) Terrance Kloeckl, Paula Shea, Jean Nusbaum, Melissa Clopeck Carlson, and Curt Houlihan

CLASS OF 1973 Front row: Carol Gordon, Deborah Fiske Shanahan, Nancy Denebeim, and Louise Helfrich

2nd row: Bob Webber, James Grover, Bonnie Carlin, and Jill Maryland Laski 3rd row: Danniena Sun and Sarah Pearson Vollmer

4th row: Bill Norman, Alvaro Blanco, Brant Barr, Steve Jones, Rebecca Wigg-Ninham, and Phil Trout 5th row: Jim Pabst, Carl Siegel, Todd Rutenbar, and John Goldfine Back row: Mike Cobb, Buzz Nady, and Robert MacKinnon

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 46

CONNECT

| REUNION 2023

1980s CLASS OF 1983 (left) Eve Conkey Thornton , Laura Van Erp, Renee Powell Kalor, Sylvia Rasch Hernandez, and Tracey Kloeckl-Jimenez

CLASS OF 1988 (right) David Scott and Amy Gragg

1990s & 2000s

CLASS OF 1993 (left) Front row: Rande Paquin-Stanton, Take Someya, and Tommy Breuer Middle row: Lisa Kirkpatrick Gill, Heather Saffron, and Hee Yon Lee Back row: Trevor Putrah, Jesse Bull, and Jim Alauria

47 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

CLASSES OF 2013 AND 2014 (right) Front row: Ellie Ray ’14, Erin Olson ’13, Maia Lundstrom ’14, Rosie Russell ’13, Shae Watson ’13 Middle row: Olivia Chan ’13, Shannon Blackmer ’14, Jack Dudley ’13 Back row: Mia Becker ’13, Dakota Sparrman Brekhus ’13, Ty Leech ’13

REUNION 2023 | CONNECT

Reflections at a Reunion

Heather K. Suffron ’93 wrote the following poem, eloquently expressing the fond memories and feelings of nostalgia experienced by many who attended Reunion Weekend. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt reflections, Heather!

If these walls could speak, what tales they might tell As we came of age to the sound of a bell Ringing us through all of our crushes, Whispered confidences, innocent blushes.

Of springtime and young love, fumbled but earnest.

Of flower buds and growing grass—youth at its purest.

Of dances and concerts and theater performances.

Painting and pottery and drawing of horses.

Of Pilgrims’ Breakfast, Daughters’ Tea Late night gab sessions, exams in AP. Parade field stargazing, deep in our thoughts The view from the Arch ties us up in knots.

Stories of ghosts from generations past Echo through the years from first to last.

Of bubbling laughter and heart wrenching tears, Of wide-eyed hopes and honest fears.

Teachers, advisors, and admin bunches, Proctors, Headmaster lectures, and sit-down lunches.

Authority was challenged, questioned, tested.

Records and rules were pushed and bested.

Of crosses, white dresses, connection and care.

Of caps and gowns, feelings brought to bear On the days and the nights within these halls Of the weeks and the months between these walls.

Taking notes, cramming for exams.

Rushing to the game and cheering with the fans.

Notes carried on the wind, a breeze through the door As the orchestra practices each interval and chord.

Of drills and marches and battles overseas, Scandals and struggles that brought us to our knees.

Of great loss and sorrow, heartbreak and sadness Weeks of feeling homesick, close to madness.

Friendships tested, torn apart.

Friendships mend and heal the heart.

Did we know at the time who we were becoming... ?

Our inner voice took flight and started its humming.

Of roommates, classmates ... meeting in the halls Scheduling a time to make your evening calls.

Of friendships forged over dining hall fare And pivotal songs floating up the stairs.

Hugs and compassion amidst frustration Joy mingled with grief, as well as elation.

Betrayals and hurts each tell their tale Redemption and forgiveness will not fail.

Events from the grand to the mundane Sad to glad along the way.

The days and the weeks and the months and the years Show in the tread on the stones like tears.

Long nights, late dates. Slogging through the snow.

Snowball fights, sleigh rides, Christmas Dinners all aglow.

Of lunch table assignments that no longer exist And fabled traditions that get x-ed off the list.

Sneaking out, getting caught, paying the price Of walking the trails, trying out a new vice.

Of rehearsals and practice, pizza and movies Of chapel and game day, no longer newbies.

Of dress codes and plights Chatting through the nights.

Of holding hands, stolen kisses Hopeful dreams and brazen wishes.

Of classes and study hall, stumbling from our beds With lines from ’Hamlet’ buzzing in our heads.

Of devastating loss, crushing defeat Of joy and triumph, our victory complete.

We invite you to join

shattuck-st. mary’s Founders Society The Founders Society was established by the Board of Trustees in 1993 to recognize individuals and families who notify the School that they have designated Shattuck-St. Mary’s School as a beneficiary of their will, trust, or life insurance policy.

Through this listing, the School recognizes those visionaries who value the education of future generations and honor the ideals of Shattuck-St. Mary’s by making deferred gifts.

Contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 507-333-1686 for more information on joining the Founders Society.

Planned giving

Create a lasting legacy with your gift

You have saved—now let us help you discover ways you can use your individual retirement account (IRA) to make an impact on our work and create your lasting legacy!

The IRA charitable rollover allows you to use your savings in a way that means the most to you.If you are over 70½ or older, you now have reached that milestone where you have to take a required minimum distribution from your retirement account. Making an IRA charitable rollover gift to us may lower the income and taxes from your IRA required minimum distributions— benefitting both you and our mission!

PLEASE VISIT

www.s-sm.org/support-ssm to learn more, or contact your IRA administrator to get started with your gift.

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 48

CONNECT

| ALUMNI GATHERINGS

ALUMNI GATHERINGS All photos are L-R

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

Over 50 Shattuck-St. Mary’s alumni, Board of Trustee members, faculty, and staff attended the Minneapolis Alumni Event in September at Cedar + Stone, Urban Table inside the JW Marriott Mall of America. The group enjoyed hors d’oerves and cocktails while connecting with fellow SSM friends!

Front row: Tamara Kloeckl Nelsen ’80, Trey Howard ’80, Chris Silge ’81, Sally Lightner ’82, Laurie Knutson, Scott Knutson ’80 Back row: Slade Schuster ’81 and Keith Flakne ’80

Kees Tonkin, Karen Ronnigen Jones ’95, and Matilda Jones

49 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Al Fahden ’63, Scott Berry ’59, and Dave Williams ’59

Kevin Blake ’79, Keith Flakne ’80, Scott Knutson ’80, Laurie Knutson, and Tamara Kloeckle Nelsen ’80

Jacque Drew Gutwein ’96, Ruth Schenck Natalia Mendoza ’06, Megan Trout ’04, Wiegand ’97, and Luke McCusker ’97 and Dan Cashin ’04

Eric Klungness ’89 and Kristi Klungness ’84

Nick Cobbett ’85, Grace Hayden ’86, and Andreas Kristinus ’84

PHILANTHROPY

you

| CONNECT

“BECAUSE OF I had the opportunity to pursue my passion for music through the Pre-Conservatory COE.

”

- Dina Dautova ’23

you

“BECAUSE OF i was able to share my talent and refine my skills.

- Daniel Shlaine ’23

you

”

“BECAUSE OF

you

“BECAUSE OF

I got to pursue my passions in wecreate®.

”

- Samantha Persram ’23

i learned about the polymerase chain reaction in the bioscience COE.

”

- Cara Suh ’23

our students are pursuing their passions Because of you, our School has been a place of inspiration and growth for our students. Your generosity has allowed us to maintain a nurturing and empowering environment, fostering a love of learning and personal development among our diverse student body. Every gift—no matter the size—makes a vital contribution to future leaders, artists, athletes, scientists, and innovators who will help shape the world.

WWW.S-SM.ORG/SUPPORT-SSM

you

BECAUSE OF Support the Annual Fund by donating today!

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 50

CONNECT

| ALUMNI GATHERINGS

01

02

2023 hockey alumni

golf tournament The 8th annual SSM Hockey Alumni Golf Tournament was another great success, thanks to all of the alumni, family, coaches, and friends who came together to show their support for the program. Thanks to all who attended!

03

04

05 01 Scott Gruber ’92, Tom Breuer ’93, Rich McHugh ’94, and Aaron Wagner ’93

04 Taylor Chorney ’05, Ryan Duncan ’04, Michael Gergen ’05, and Tom Ward

02 Drew Stafford ’03, Marty Mjelleli ’01, Casey Borer ’03, Brady Murray ’03, Jackson Parisé, and Zach Parisé ’02

05 Front row: Nils Satterstrom ’94, Madrid Satterstrom ’26, and Beau Garrett ’93

03 Jen Schoullis ’07, Brianna Decker ’09, Margot Miller ’08, and Dru Burns ’09

51 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Back row: Caren Currie Putrah ’92, Trevor Putrah ’93, Brian Guastella ’94, Nick Koparanyan ’93, Steve Satterstrom, and Michael Johnson ’94

ALUMNI GATHERINGS

| CONNECT

06

07

08

09

06 Matt Cooper ’19, Tyler Cooper ’18, Tyler Rollwagen ’19, a n d Jackson LaCombe ’19 07 Ruthie Sudderth ’02, Shae Desotell McKibbon ’02, Jessica Kovacevich Kiecker ’02, and Sarah Melchisedech ’01 08 Tyler Ruegsegger ’06, Marc Chorney, Tim O’Keefe, and Marcus Chorney ’16 09 Kenzie Hauswirth ’19, Makenna Webster ’20, Brooke Bink ’19, and Taylor Stewart ’19

SUPPORT SHATTUCK-ST. MARY’S

FOR MORE INFO, AND TO DONATE:

HOCKEY

Gifts to this restricted fund support athletes, coaches, and hockey-related facilities to help provide long-term sustainability of the program.

FRIENDS OF

bit.ly/ssmfriendsofhockey

SUMMER/FALL 2022

| 52

CONNECT

| CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES

1954

1947

1955

1950

1958

Duane Rasmussen shares, “I was selected to be the honorary publisher this summer of The Maynard News, a daily newspaper published each day of the Minnesota State Fair with the methods of a newspaper from the 1930s, which means hot metal. The working museum is operated by the Minnesota Newspaper Foundation, under the Minnesota Newspaper Association.”

Margaret “Peg” Thorpen Molesworth is enjoying living in a retirement home in San Marcos, California. She shares that she has good memories of her two years at St. Mary's Hall.

1951

The second of a series of articles by Peter T. Tomaras on Lodging's Legal Environment ran in the June issue of Lodging, the official publication of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Peter has spent most of seven decades in the hospitality industry in management, teaching, consulting, and expert witnessing.

1952

Georgia Hudson Henry writes, “I am still traveling when possible. Love cruising, as it is much easier than doing land tours. I am widowed and have seven grandchildren, seven greatgrandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

They keep me busy.”

1953

Dr. David Clines writes "a year of Summer School in 1953 started my path to becoming a physician. Thank you, Shattuck!"

Bob Hauck shares that "Life is good! Following the lives of 20+ family members is a full-time retirement job!”

Bob Hauck (front left) and Cindy Carpenter Glad (back right) joined Head of School Matt Cavellier (front right) and Director of Advancement Maggie Osterbauer Lee '03 (back left) at the Sunset Club in Seattle in August.

53 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Robert Oliver shares that he is retired, but that he'd “rather be working!”

Brenda Parkinson Hauschild (center, on the swing) and Kelly McGowan Grantham '00 (standing left of swing, in cream-colored shirt) and family had their annual summer reunion at Sugar Lake Lodge on Lake Siseebakwet in Minnesota.

Mary Coffin Stephenson is living in Dallas, but says she misses Austin. She's well and her family is well, and she shares that she will soon be traveling.

1959

Scott Berry writes, “My wife, Kate Johnson, and I spent two fabulous weeks in Scandinavia this June, including: Amsterdam; Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim, Norway; Stockholm, Sweden; and Helsinki, Finland. One of the highlights was a two-day cruise from Bergen to Trondheim. This picture was taken while in a large fiord that seemed appropriate as I'm proudly wearing my Crack Squad commemorative hat! It was a trip that we would highly recommend. Among many trips to Italy, France, England, and Africa, this was one of our best trips ever.”

O.D. Hauschild (second from right) and his brother, Karl Hauschild '55 (left) visited campus this past June. With them were O.D.'s daughter and granddaughter from California, as his granddaughter was interested to see the School that he talked about so much.

William “Bill” Newburg is retired and enjoying life.

1960 Left to right: Susan Gaynor Day '60, Molly Gaynor Hull '62, John Day '60, and Martha Lauterbach '62.

Susan Gaynor Day and John Day held a Fourth of July fireworks gathering on their deck overlooking the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. They were joined by Molly Gaynor Hull '62 (also of Portland) and Martha Lauterbach '62 of Alberton, Montana.

CLASS NOTES

1960

In June, Stephen Colvin (middle) stopped by and chatted with the Admissions, Advancement, and Marketing & Communications offices.

He has been in show business for over 35 years now and treated each office to a beautiful performance of a love song sung in French.

1961

Bill Martin shares, “My wife and I are no longer caring for our great-granddaughters, so we have moved to a 55+ community on a golf course and are enjoying ourselves with many activities.”

1966

Mary Jane White Cowden is enjoying travel—a river cruise in Europe!

Louis “Louie” Storm has retired from two 30-year careers and is 11 years in to his third career! He shares that he is “never bored; not always happy, but God has always made a way.”

1967

James “Jim” Newman has been named Interim Pastor at St. Alban's Episcopal Church (Westwood) in Los Angeles.

1968

Mark Allen shared these photos from Reunion 2018.

Left photo, L-R: Jim Niederhauser, Mark Allen, and Robert Nemer; Right Photo: A group of 1968 Shads.

Mike Daley's eldest daughter, Colleen, married in 2021 in Morocco, and is expecting her first child, a son (Mike's first grandchild) in October 2023. His younger daughter, Cara, was married on June 17, 2023. He also shares, “The U.S. Masters Swim Team I coach and swim for won the Michigan Master's State Meet (Women, Men Combinedlarge team) in April in Holland, Michigan. Highlight was coaching a 95-year-old athlete to win two events and inspire everyone in attendance and gain national attention for his epic achievement.”

Mike shared these photos from the event.

| CONNECT

IN MEMORIAM We honor and remember our alumni, faculty, staff, and SSM friends who have passed away.

Elizabeth Blodgett Myers '38 March 7, 2023

Rev. Dr. John Adler '61 September 10, 2023

Barbara Wright Heck '44 March 14, 2022

Norbert "Nubs" Fratt '62 May 4, 2023

Ruth Hirshfield Heidelberg '45 June 8, 2021

David Katrana '63 September 25, 2021

Mary Wrinch Hitchcock '45 June 27, 2022

Grant "Skip" Waldref '63 October 28, 2012

Earl Padgett '48 May 21, 2023

Rozilla Roberts Levesque '65 October 2, 2014

James Prest '48 January 13, 2023

H. Stephen Davis '67 May 15, 2022

Charles Buchanan '49 March 24, 2023

Robert McConnell '67 March 3, 2023

David Derber '49 May 4, 2022

Ane Petersen Shields '70 July 23, 2023

Nancy Trimmer Wulfing '53 March 15, 2023

Adrienne Lee '98 August 4, 2023

Juliana Bock Berglund '55 April 1, 2023

Parousia Elyon '13 April 12, 2023

Margaret Currie King '55 April 5, 2022

PAST FACULTY

Elizabeth Cuningham-Prest '55 June 4, 2023

Anne Maple April 28, 2023

Scott Kramer '58 April 6, 2023

Linda DuChene March 11, 2023

John Jeremiassen '59 July 7, 2023 Ronald Wunderwald '59 May 2, 2022 SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 54

CONNECT

| CLASS NOTES

BIRTHS

1969

Dr. William Hite, Jr. shares, “Our daughters are married, and we hope we are blessed with grandchildren!"

Congratulations on the new additions to your familes!

Taryn Eaves and Ben Eaves '00, a girl, Audrey Lou Eaves, June 3, 2023 Rachel Carpentier and Mark Carpentier '03, a girl, Neve Julianne Carpentier, August 20, 2023

Lindsay Bergland and Matthew Bergland '08, a girl, Francesca “Frankie” Mae Bergland, May 26, 2023 Sarah Elser and Brian Elser '08, a boy, Matthew Monroe “Marty” Elser, May 23, 2023

Courtney Vidrine and Eric Vidrine '03, a boy, Luka Keith Vidrine, June 7, 2023

Alyssa Murphy and Kyle Murphy '08, a boy, Nolan Joseph Murphy, January 10, 2023

Angela Dutrieuille and David Dutrieuille '04, a girl, Gabriella Mae Dutrieuille, May 10, 2023

Stephanie Williams and Maclain Williams '08, a boy, Mardy Maclain Williams, January 18, 2023

Alyssa Christian '05 and Ryan Wesley, a boy, Leo Douglas Wesley, August 26, 2023

Ellie Harrison and Brian Harrison '10, a boy, Henry Thomas Harrison, June 21, 2023

Maureen Gergen and Michael Gergen '05, a girl, Olivia Mary Gergen, May 21, 2023

Ellie Williams Doherty '11 and Teddy Doherty '12, a boy, Brady Charles Doherty, April 14, 2023

Maggie Horrigan Hughes '06 and Marcus Hughes, a boy, Maxwell Lawrence Hughes, April 6, 2023

Alex Volpicelli Greiner '11 and Luke Greiner '08, a boy, Will Joseph Greiner, May 9, 2023

Kelsey MacDonald and Jake MacDonald '06, a girl, Hazel Skye MacDonald, July 14, 2023

Johanna Ruby '12 and Jackson Oppenheim, a girl, Charlotte Ruby Oppenheim, July 5, 2023

Lauren MacDonald and Nick MacDonald '06, a boy, Cole Thomas MacDonald, February 26, 2023

Amy Brandt and Trevor Brandt '13, a boy, Atlas Elijah Brandt, March 5, 2023

Chelsey Sand Benedict '07 and Brock Benedict, a girl, Clara Sand Benedict, December 8, 2022

SSM FACULTY & STAFF

Hali Hendrickson and Ben Blood '07, a girl, June Rae Blood, June 2, 2023

55 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

Melissa Boik and Clark Shirley, a boy, Fredrick “Freddie” Aemon Shirley, June 23, 2023 Amber Nybo and Nate Nybo, a boy, Cameron Patrick Nybo, September 16, 2023

1970

Rex Bates (right) and Nancy Jia '18 (left) had dinner in Chicago over the summer. The two met through the Women's Leadership Summit in Hawaii, a program established in 2018 through generous funding from Rex. Nancy attended the summit her senior year at SSM.

1971

After seven years of retirement, Joseph Parsons is back working in a school as a guidance counselor.

Rodney Sather spends most of his days at the Bison Ranch in South Dakota. He says, "happy trails to you."

Fred Upton retired after 36 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

1972

Jeff Collins writes "Have had a couple of nice houseguest visits from former classmates; Sarah Pearson Vollmer '73 and husband Gary in April and my old Clapp roommate Jim Wilcoxen and his wife, Andrea, came for Jazz Fest.”

Scott Johnson and Cynthia Leslie Johnson share, “We continue our travels 'on the road'… departed Colorado May 24 on our 62-day journey traveling to Utah, Nevada, Northern California, the Oregon Coast, Washington PNW, British Columbia, Jasper, Banff, Alberta, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming … enjoyed the magnificent U.S. (6) and Canadian (5) National Parks along the way!”

CLASS NOTES

1974

(From left-right) In April, former classmates Robin Roberts, Scott Fenn, Jack Dane '75, and John Thomas reunited over dinner and drinks in DuPont Circle in Washington, D.C.

Sarah Knoepfler DeLong is producing watercolor paintings and showing at two galleries on the central coast in California.

1976

Ross Flakne's daughter, Stephanie, was married on June 10, 2023.

His former classmates Leslie Crosby Hansen, George Hagge, and Tim Hanscom '78 were all in attendance. He shared these photos from the joyous occasion.

(Left photo) Ross Flakne '76 and his daughter Stephanie.

(Middle photo, left-right) Mark Flakne '84, Brian Flakne '74, Ross Flakne '76, and Keith Flakne '80.

(Right photo) Back row: Tyler Flakne, Tim Hanscom '78; Front Row: Leslie Crosby Hansen '76, Ross Flakne '76, George Hagge '76

| CONNECT

MARRIAGES Congratulations and best wishes to the following!

Ashleigh Brooke Nichols-Solomon '03 and Kirk Roussel, May 6, 2023 Jenna Frankenfield '08 and T. J. Liquori, May 27, 2023 Katie Kruchten and Jordy Murray '08, June 24, 2023 Azra Feriz and Nick Kolz '09, June 9, 2023 Molly Byrne '11 and Kristen Manor, September 30, 2022 Abby Wager and Clay Curwin '11, August 5, 2023 Lexi Bender '12 and Jimmy Mace, August 5, 2023 Hannah Edwards and Justin Edwards '14, June 3, 2023 Micaela Hayton '15 and Sean Harrison '14, May 13, 2023 Kylie McCloskey '15 and Devon Koepp, September 10, 2022

1977

Christine Hart Goetsch writes, “My husband and I retired in 2022 and have moved to Florida. We will still spend summers in Wisconsin, at least for the next couple of years or as long as the political environment remains reasonably favorable to do so. We welcomed a new grandson in November 2022 and are putting every effort into convincing our kids to join us in Florida!”

1999

Zaki Abu-Ghazaleh (left) took Fr. Henry Doyle to lunch at Firehouse Brewing Company in downtown Rapid City, South Dakota in June, when Father was in town for a family wedding. Zaki's sister, Tracy Abu-Ghazaleh Bernard '91 (middle), was able to join them for bit.

Taylor Johnson '17 and Sam Ouellette, September 30, 2023 Payton Sender '18 and Tyler Gugino, February 17, 2023 SSM FACULTY & STAFF

Rachel Hammarberg and Lee Miller, July 22, 2023

We want to hear from you!

Let us and your classmates learn about your personal and professional successes and updates by submitting a class note to be included in a future issue!

Email news & photos to: alumninews@s-sm.org SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 56

CONNECT

| CLASS NOTES

2000

Meredith Roth was hired as the Associate Head Coach for Harvard Women's Ice Hockey, after serving the same role at the College of the Holy Cross for the last four seasons. Meredith's first head coaching job was in 2004 for the Shattuck-St. Mary's Girls U16 team. Since then, she's been on the coaching staff at Providence College, Cornell University, and St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. She has also been actively involved with USA Hockey and was recently named as an Assistant Coach of the U.S. U18 Women's National Team for the 2023-2024 season.

2001

Angela Wallace Pulera is entering her tenth year as a school counselor and her sixth year at Kent Career Tech Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her SSM counselor, Lynn Redmond, was a big reason why she went on to get her master's degree in Counseling. She also credits her dorm parent, Anne Redmond, and her Advisor, Jon Freeman, as having great influence on her career choice.

Angela's husband Vinnie Pulera is entering his third year as a Physical Education teacher at The Potter's House High School and first year in Elementary PE at Immanuel St. James Academy in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He credits Coach Tom Ward and his SSM advisor John Sumner as influences on his career. Vinnie and Angie have two boys; Vincenzo is 11 and Matteo is 8. They reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

2003

James Byron MS, MA, Ph.D. just finished his Ph.D. at U.C. Santa Cruz.

2006

Maggie Horrigan Hughes and her husband, Marcus, welcomed their third child, Maxwell Lawrence Hughes, on April 6, 2023.

2011

Jacob Davidson shared this photo of he and his son, Ben, showing off their SSM spirit in matching sweatshirts.

57 | THROUGH THE ARCH MAGAZINE

2018

Alyssa Hendricks and Bruno Fludzinski got engaged March of 2022 and are getting married in May of 2024. They write, “We would love to share this news with our SSM community because our relationship began during our sophomore year at SSM!”

2019

Hadley Hartmetz graduated from the Ohio State University in May 2023, and is pursuing her master's in Sports Coaching.

Hwisung “Harrison” Oh graduated from Indiana University's renowned Jacob School of Music in May. He is planning to return to the university to continue his cello studies and pursue a Master of Music. Harrison's sister, Inkyung “Alison” Oh '16, completed her Master of Music at IU in Hwisung "Harrison" Oh (left) and May as well, and will be Amy Wolf (right) at Harrison's senior returning for one additional recital at Indiana University. year of violin study. Former SSM Communications Director Amy Wolf and her husband James have had the opportunity to see both Harrison and Alison perform, and attended Harrison's senior recital in the fall of 2022.

faculty & Staff NOTES Larry Novak, former SSM music teacher, retired from public school teaching in 2007 and now works part-time in a group home for special needs adults. Larry and his wife Zelda hope to visit campus soon, and share “If anyone is in the Park Rapids, MN area, please stop by for a visit!”

Retired SSM faculty member Beth Trout (left) and her pickleball partner Bobbi Little took the gold medal in the skill level 4.5/5.0, ages 65-69 pickleball event at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh this past July!

SSMÖRGÅSBORD

ssm scrapbook

Then

| CONNECT

Send us your favorite SSM flashback photos for a chance to be featured in a future issue! Submit to: communications@s-sm.org.

From Commencemen t to Reunion! Three friend s from the Class of 1994 recreated a treasured photo from their graduation day while they were all together in June at Reunion.

From lef t-right: Ian Tyson, Kristen Treadway Thiele, and Brian Guastella

2023

1994

& Now

SUMMER/FALL 2023

| 58

1000 Shumway Avenue Faribault, Minnesota 55021

EXPLORING PASSIONS ABROAD SSM-Forest City Golf Students Visit Campus

In September, five students and Golf Director Fred Fruisen from SSM-Forest City arrived from Malaysia to spend three weeks on the Faribault campus, fully immersing themselves in the SSM experience. The students attended classes, stayed in the dorms, and practiced each day with the Golf Center of Excellence, joining them for a tournament in Florida in early October. This kicked-off the very first exchange program between the schools, with SSM-Faribault golfers traveling to Malaysia in January to golf and study.