Starting Gate alumni magazine 2015

Starting Gate the alumni magazine of stratton mountain school • spring 2015

The Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center

The Starting Gate

Alumni Magazine of Stratton Mountain School Headmaster: Christopher G. Kaltsas Editor: Meredith Morin, (802) 856-1120, memorin@gosms.org Design: Sarah Snell The Starting Gate, the alumni magazine of Stratton Mountain School, is published once a year by Stratton Mountain School, 7 World Cup Circle, Stratton Mountain, VT, 05155. Editorial submissions are welcome and should be addressed to Meredith Morin, Director of Communications. Copyright 2015.

Stratton Mountain School Mission Stratton Mountain School provides a unique environment that offers each student the opportunity to pursue excellence in competitive winter sports and college preparatory academics while developing strong personal values.

Class Notes Parents, are your children still receiving mail at home even though they graduated from SMS years ago?

Please write to the address below to update us on their whereabouts. We promise we will continue to send The Starting Gate to you also!

Thank you to those of you who have contributed to The Finish Line Class Notes. We’d love to hear from more of you! Please email your notes to Carson Thurber at cthurber@gosms.org or send notes to Carson Thurber, Stratton Mountain School, 7 World Cup Circle, Stratton Mountain, VT, 05155.

Get the Latest! www.gosms.org www.facebook.com/strattonmountainschool www.smsalpine.wordpress.com www.smsxc.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/SMSsnowboarding www.facebook.com/SMSFreeskiing www.facebook.com/smsfreestyle

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Letter from the Headmaster

Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends, Graduates of Stratton Mountain School all share a special bond, and their parents and friends do as well. Whether being part of the first classes on the new campus or one of the classes on the old campus, there are so many memories.

Studying in the Hotel Tyrol, tuning skis in the Foundation, moving into brand new dorms on World Cup Circle – these are just a few. Beyond individual memories of a given year, however, our 900 alumni all share the unique opportunity and experience that Stratton Mountain School provides.

Throughout my travels, what I hear most often from alumni is that they felt prepared for college, and then for life after college. I’m told that the skills learned in being disciplined and independent student athletes gave them a distinct advantage in meeting life’s challenges, no matter what paths they chose.

In this issue of the Starting Gate, we proudly share with you the culmination of two major projects that mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Stratton Mountain School. The Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center and The Air Awareness Center are two beautiful, fabulous facilities that have already greatly enhanced the curriculum and campus life for our student athletes. We look forward to sharing these facilities with the surrounding Stratton community as well.

I wish to recognize the unfailing generosity of the good friends, alumni and trustees of Stratton Mountain School, who made these buildings possible. They were loyal and steadfast during the years of planning and construction, and on behalf of the entire SMS community, I thank them all for stepping up so generously, allowing these new landmarks to take center stage on our campus.

Thanks to all of you in the SMS community for your continued support, which allows us to provide the best programs possible to our student athletes. We hold to the highest standards at SMS, as you do, and it is so very gratifying that you share in our endeavors, achievements and pride. Please stay in touch, and you are most welcome to visit our campus!

Sincerely,

Christopher G. Kaltsas Headmaster

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New Stratton Mountain School Staff

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ach year, Stratton Mountain School is fortunate to welcome new staff to strengthen and enhance existing programs or lead new programs. This year, with the addition of the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center, SMS is excited to enhance its art curriculum with broader offerings.

“Beginning this fall, we are offering an art progression that allows students to learn and develop fundamental principles of visual art and to progress to more complex technique and awareness of the artistic process in a space designed to nurture and encourage creative exploration,” said Headmaster Chris Kaltsas.

In addition to enhancing existing Studio Art programming and once again offering the popular Video Production class, SMS has also created a History of Film class that allows students to use classic and contemporary films to explore the ways the world is represented through film.

Marybeth Bailey rejoined the SMS staff as a science teacher this year. She taught science at SMS for several years before taking time off to have children. Since leaving SMS in 2007, Marybeth was the volunteer coordinator for a small, grassroots organization in New Hampshire called the Circle Program. Missing academia and the Green Mountains, Marybeth found herself back in Vermont and the classroom teaching science at Killington Mountain School and then at The Mountain School in Winhall. Marybeth is excited to be back at SMS teaching Environmental Science. She enjoys providing students with opportunities to connect with nature and to deepen their appreciation of the natural world.

Jenna Daly joined SMS as the new art teacher to help implement the enhanced art curriculum. Jenna has taken full advantage of the spacious new studio in the PK Education, Arts & Student Center. Jenna graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Studio Art. Most recently, she has been a commissioned painter for the Portraits of a Man’s Best Friend project in Arlington, VT. She has also coordinated a farm-toschool program at MAUMS in Bennington and has been a farmhand and manager for Clear Brook Farm in Shaftsbury. Jenna is the sister of current SMS Spanish teacher Emily Daly. Jenna said that she is hoping to bring talented, professional local artists to the school to “further expose students to the creative opportunities in Southern Vermont and help to develop their artistic abilities.”

“I’ve had a blast so far getting to know these amazing kids and see how truly talented they are, both on and off the mountain,” Jenna said. “I am honored to be given the opportunity to bring art to the SMS community.”

Isaac Lowenthal teaches 8th-grade science, pre-algebra, English language support, health, winter-term tutoring and works on the dorm staff. Isaac

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received his B.A. in Economics from Bates College and his M.S. from Maine Maritime Academy in International Business & Logistics and Maritime Management. Isaac has been a lobsterman for the past seven years, as well as an electrical technician, master rigger and boat builder. He also taught sailing for nine years. He has worked in fine carpentry, construction and childcare.

“What I enjoy most about working at SMS is the people,” Isaac said. “The students are all highly motivated, not only in their athletics, but in their academics as well, which makes it a pleasure to teach here.”

Mary Mangiacotti is new to SMS as an English teacher, but very familiar with the school, as she has two children who call SMS home (Brian ’13; Sarah ’17). Mary earned her B.S. in Elementary Education and Reading from SUNY-Cortland and her M.S. in K-12 Reading from Fordham University. She is a 25-year teaching veteran with experience teaching at all levels. Mary earned the Vermont Teacher of the Year Award from the VFW in 2013, the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Knights of Columbus in New Jersey in 2006 and the Diocese of Brooklyn, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for Outstanding Teaching in 1992. Mary has created and implemented writing and SAT/ACT prep camps in Vermont, New York and New Jersey, and she has completed numerous professional development seminars in writing and literacy.

Prior to her teaching career, Mary worked as a legal proofreader at a corporate law firm in NYC. Mary most enjoys the unique community of SMS and the way in which faculty, coaches, administration and staff truly care about all aspects of our students’ growth. She values the team effort of everyone working in concert to help students pursue academic, athletic and personal excellence. Mary’s goals in her first year on the SMS faculty are to instill in her students strong analytical reading and writing skills that prepare them to think for themselves and communicate with confidence in high school, college and beyond.

Timothy Massucco joined Stratton Mountain School as a Freeskiing Coach, working with Freeskiing Program Director Jesse Mallis. A longtime Freestyle Aerials competitor, Tim has a USSA Level-3 Aerial Certification and is working toward his Level-4. Tim was a U.S. Ski Team Aerials athlete for four years, and then operated his own consulting/coaching business, where he successfully organized ski outings, backcountry trips and private coaching.

Tim has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Financial Services from Westminster College. Tim has worked extensively with trampoline facilities at all levels.

“I am very excited to come home to Stratton and coach at such a fine school,” Tim said. “The talent level here is amazing, and we have the ability to mold these hard-working student athletes into successful Olympic champions. The new Air Awareness Center, complete with skatepark, two jumbo spring fly-bed trampolines, 14’ by 14’ super tramp, and ramp jump into the foam pit, will allow Stratton Mountain School’s highly qualified coaching staff to continue to keep the school at the forefront of skiing and snowboarding. It is my goal to make our athletes well-rounded individuals, who can perform their best, anywhere, anytime. To have the Olympics on their mind and gold in their heart.”

Shannon Muscatello is the new French teacher and dorm parent. Shannon earned her B.A. at Middlebury with a double major in French and Psychology and a minor in Education Studies. She has lived in France twice, for five months in Paris studying as an undergraduate and for five months this past year as an English teaching assistant in the south of France on the Mediterranean coast.

She is currently working toward her M.A. at Middlebury in French during the summers, with a specialization in pedagogy and linguistics. She looks forward to watching her students blossom into French speakers, and cannot wait for the day that they all understand everything she says in class.

“The students at SMS are very special,” Shannon said. “They are enjoying the tough environment of an immersion French class and are happy to rise to the challenge. I am only just beginning to understand how great these student athletes are in so many ways, but I am already forming bonds with them in the classroom, the dorm, and all over campus.”

Patrick O’Brien is an alumnus of the SMS class of 2006, and he returns as the new SMS T2 Team Coach. He received his B.A. in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College. Most recently, Patrick has been a professional ski racer with the Green Racing Project in Craftsbury, where he qualified and competed in Quebec and Canmore at the Sprint World Cups. He had a 5th Super Tour overall ranking for the 2012-2013 season, and had a 2nd-place finish at the Super Tour Finals in Truckee in 2013. He has worked as a coach for the Craftsbury Ski Club and has also worked for the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and as a ski technician for Caldwell Sport.

“I am really excited to be back in the Stratton community after several years away skiing in college and professionally,” Pat said. “It is amazing to see how the school and all of the programs have grown and evolved since I attended Stratton. The culture of hard work and excellence the school fosters makes it a perfect location for the SMS T2 Elite Team. My biggest goal for this year is to continue to build upon the already stellar results the team has earned the previous two years. I think it’s really cool to see a small Vermont-based club program succeed both nationally and internationally.”

Lyman Richardson joined the SMS faculty as the History of Film teacher to help implement the enhanced art program in the new Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California School of the Arts. He also attended the Universitat der Kunste in Berlin, Johns Hopkins University, the Parsons School of Design and New York Film Academy. He was a designer for MTV’s World of Jenks program and worked for Selluloid Inc. He has worked as a set dresser, in advertising and in film production. Lyman has also exhibited his artwork at a dozen shows and galleries. Lyman returned to New York City in the winter to exhibit a solo show of his art and will return to SMS to teach again in the spring.

“In the first week that I worked here, I felt like I had worked here for years, because the community of adults is so welcoming,” Lyman said.

“Then, when I got to know the kids, they are just special, special people.

They are a breed of old souls – they are sort of the old-fashioned ideal of the American teenager that doesn’t seem to exist anymore. They are just more connected and driven than peers of their generation. I love it! It is like a family, and I’m honored to be part of it.”

Richard Thorley is teaching math at SMS. He has a lengthy resume of teaching math, physics and chemistry that spans several decades. He received his Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of WisconsinMadison, his M.S. in Science Education from Curtin University of Technology, and his B.Sc. and Diploma in Education in Physics from the University of Western Australia. He has taught at several secondary schools, both in the U.S. and in England and Australia.

Richard has also taught at the university level in the U.S., and in New Zealand and Australia. He has published several papers in academic journals. Richard is also no stranger to SMS, being a parent of Tegan ’16, and Neil ’18.

Martin Wilson joins SMS as a men’s alpine U18/U21 coach. Previously, Martin coached alpine skiing at the collegiate level at Tufts University.

Prior to that experience, he coached a private postgraduate team, which helped move athletes to nationals, and onto Division 1 college teams, including an All American. Martin has also coached at Bowdoin College and at the ski academy level.

“I’m pumped to be coaching at SMS,” Martin said. “We have everything we need to be successful here. We have a simple plan, take full advantage of the opportunities, and if we do that, I like our chances.”

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Back (L-R): Kazui Kusumi, Jack Elder, Jack Griffin Jimmy Duddy, Holland Doshier, Thomas O’Hara, Tanner Barrett.

Front (L-R): Lara Lathrop, Noelle Edwards, Karen Kobayashi, Gillian Serels, Kazia Karwowski, Sydney Shaffer, Leah Fowler, Tess Braddish.

Graduation 2014 O

n Saturday, May 31, Stratton Mountain School graduated 15 students at its Graduation Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the Burtscher Fieldhouse on the SMS campus. U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) President and CEO Gale “Tiger” Shaw addressed the class as the keynote speaker.

Shaw urged the student athletes to pursue their success incrementally. As a former U.S. Ski Team athlete, he told the SMS graduates, “Once you figure out what you want to do, you must pursue your goal as you have by chipping away and plowing ahead.

Follow your passions. Just break down your goals, and take them by incremental steps.”

Shaw is a two-time Olympic alpine ski racer and was named Chief Operating Officer of USSA last summer and took the helm as President and CEO in the spring of 2014.

“We are so proud of the Class of 2014 graduates,” said SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas. “They are such hard workers, both in the classroom and in their chosen winter sports. They have been admitted to top colleges, and their future is bright.”

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Two speakers from the graduating class addressed their peers as well: Class of 2014 Valedictorian Tess Braddish, Peru, VT, and Student Body President Holland Doshier, El Dorado Hills, CA. The SMS Class of 2014 graduates have gained admission to top colleges and universities throughout the country including, Boston College, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Middlebury College, University of Vermont, Wesleyan College and Williams College, among many others. Graduates have earned several Merit Scholarships and admission to honors programs.

Several awards were given during the ceremony in the Burtscher Fieldhouse Saturday morning. The school’s most prestigious award, the Founder’s Award, was presented to Lara Lathrop. Lara attends Williams College. The award was presented by SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas and 2013 Founders Award recipient Brittany Lathrop (sister of 2014 recipient).

Class of 2014 Awards Honors/High Honors (all quarters) Tess Braddish, Noelle Edwards, Jack Elder, Leah Fowler, Kazia Karwowski, Lara Lathrop, Thomas O’Hara, Gillian Serels, Sydney Shaffer

Founders Award Lara Lathrop Faculty Awards Holland Doshier and Tess Braddish Lisa Tuttle Award Kazui Kusumi SMS Alumni Association Awards Leah Fowler

Lara Lathrop is presented with the 2014 Founders Award by Headmaster Chris Kaltsas and 2013 Founders Award winner Brittany Lathrop.

Alpine Men Coaches’ Award Jimmy Duddy Alpine Women Coaches’ Award Leah Fowler Nordic Women Improvement & Perseverance Tess Braddish

Vermont Principals’ Association Awards Jimmy Duddy, Kazia Karwowski

Snowboard Women Achievement Karen Kobayashi & Noelle Edwards

Jay Leach Award Jack Elder

Snowboard Men Achievement Tanner Barrett

Academic Achievement Tess Braddish

Freestyle Improvement Gillian Serels

Vermont Scholar Award Tess Braddish

Freestyle Achievement Sydney Shaffer

Snowboard Men Improvement Thomas O’Hara

Undergraduate Awards

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n Friday, May 23, 2014, the undergraduate student athletes of Stratton Mountain School were recognized for their accomplishments at the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony in the Burtscher Fieldhouse.

SMS student athletes were also recognized for their athletic accomplishments and their honor roll status.

Headmaster’s Award Alice Merryweather (full-term); Anna Lehmann (winter-term) Micki Abbenhaus Award Amanda Steffey

Beckie McGill Award Emily Mallard Peter Burtscher Award Mason Geils Schlachter Citizenship Award Austin Lilley, Michelle Dreimann Middlebury Book Award Gavin Chen Harvard/Radcliffe Book Award Ryosuke Nagumo Williams Book Award George Steffey

Alice Merryweather received the Headmaster’s Award at SMS Undergraduate Awards night.

Governor’s Institute of Vermont Koby Gordon

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Campus completes two capital projects

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uring the crisp Vermont fall days this year, the beautiful buildings of our New England style campus were complimented by two new buildings that have now completed the third phase of the SMS campus plan begun in 1999. The Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center and the Air Awareness Center are the culmination of several years of planning and fund-raising, and will now provide our student athletes with the next level of state-of-theart facilities. Together, they greatly enhance the SMS curriculum and overall SMS experience.

The Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center is a fabulous 12,000 square-foot building that includes a 225-seat auditorium, five classrooms, a student center with kitchen, an art gallery, an art studio space, a yoga/dance studio, a school store and a billiards/game room - all with many features conducive to a superb educational experience in our technological, multimedia world. The PK Center was conceived with many purposes: to bring the students together in their own special space, to provide needed classrooms to the campus,

and to add public spaces that will be available to the greater community as well as for the school’s own use.

The Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center is named for the late wife of SMS Headmaster, Christopher Kaltsas. Patti was a loyal supporter of Stratton Mountain School and was beloved by the students.

She was an artist and designer who gave

generously of her talents and who was essential in establishing the vision of the new campus. “Patti was devoted to the students of SMS, and this new space speaks to that dedication to students and the arts,” Mr. Kaltsas said. “This fall, we began offering an art progression in our curriculum that allows students to learn and develop fundamental principles of visual art, with the option of moving on to more complex technique and instruction.” In addition to Jenna Daly’s visual arts classes, SMS is now able to offer classes in the history of film and video production, under the tutelage of Lyman Richardson and Chase Marston.

These three new staff are helping to develop the art curriculum.

“Since we moved to the new campus in 1999, we have built classrooms, laboratories, training facilities, dormitories and staff housing,” Mr. Kaltsas said. “Until now, we have not had a place where we can all come together ‘as a team,’ or invite the local community to share our campus. The Patti Kaltsas Center gives us that place.”

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The Air Awareness Center provides a safe and effective learning environment for the SMS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski programs. With 10,000 square feet, it features ramps, trampolines, foam pits and a skate park – all to enhance the athletic programs of all seasons. Weight and cardio spaces will also be provided for the benefit of the athletic programs. Headmaster Kaltsas believes that the Air Awareness Center will solidify SMS’s position as the top academy in the country for Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski student athletes. “This project reflects the need for a commitment to training and safety,” he said. “This Center will help give our athletes a safe environment to develop their skills and will enhance the overall program.”

Both Andy Newell ‘02 (U.S. Ski Team member, SMS T2 member and three-time Olympian) and Ross Powers ’97 (Snowboard Program Director and two-time Olympian – Gold & Bronze medals winner) agree that the Air Awareness Center is a tremendous benefit for SMS. Andy Newell has made SMS his home training ground ever since he graduated. “My National Team coaches are totally comfortable with me training out of SMS,” he said. “To see the SMS campus grow over the past 20 years has been amazing. Now, with the addition of the Air Awareness Center and the PK Student Center, it is one of the most advanced and well-rounded training centers in the country.”

“Stratton Mountain School has the premier snowboard academy program in the country,” Ross Powers said. “With this state-of-the-art Air Awareness Center, SMS athletes will be able to train year-round in a safe environment to hone their skills in the park and pipe.” Newell adds, “There are so many U.S. Ski Team members, who are SMS alumni like myself, who are proud to have attended SMS and still think of it as our home base. I think we’re going to continue to see the SMS legacy grow to new levels in future generations because of this campus.”

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A Day in the Life of... an SMS Student

Photo of the SMS campus at night, taken by Austin Lilley (SMS ’16).

Stratton Mountain School is a place of immense creativity and passion for learning. SMS students bring their drive and love of learning to the classroom and beyond. Throughout the summer, SMS student athletes are traveling the globe in search of training in many forms. This past summer, SMS student athletes traveled to Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor, OR, Waterville, NH and Lake Placid, NY, Saas-Fee, Switzerland and Chile. Once fall began, they worked hard in and out of the classroom to take advantage of their SMS Experience. Here we give you a glimpse into the day in a life of the SMS student athletes.

Jay Poulter, Bondville, VT, spent his summer the way that many American kids have, playing baseball. In July, his Montshire U10 baseball team claimed the Cal Ripken Vermont State Championship, starting with a win against Lakes Region, with starting pitcher Poulter and relief pitcher Sam Sacerdote combining on a four-inning no-hitter.

Montshire went on to defeat Central Vermont with 4-1 and 7-2 defeats, with Poulter and Sacerdote leading the pitching in both games. Montshire went on to compete in the eight-team New England tournament. In the first game, Montshire lost to the Western Massachusetts team, but Poulter was again the starting pitcher and was selected as that game’s MVP. In the second game of the regional championships, Montshire fell to Connecticut. Poulter again was the starting pitcher and hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. In the district tournament before the Vermont State Championship, Poulter pitched a six-inning complete game no hitter with 14Ks out of 18 outs.

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Max Anker, Old Greenwich, CT, is a member of LISOT (LI Sound Youth Sailing Team), and he represented the United States in the 27th Opti Team Cup, hosted by Potsdamer Yacht Club in Berlin. Twelve teams sailed in the event, and the USA Team with Max competing took third place overall. The LISOT Team finished preliminaries with seven wins in 11 races and moved on to the second round in fourth place.

In the second round, the team had three wins in five races, including a win against the eventual overall winner Poland, which was its first loss of the regatta. After two rounds, Poland and Finland sailed for first and second, with Poland taking first and Finland second overall. USA and Italy battled it out for third. In a best-of-three series, the LISOT USA team prevailed 2-0 over Italy.

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2 1. Students in Mrs. Mangiacotti’s Drama/Public Speaking class partnered with area local schools Long Trail School and Maple Street School to perform a staged reading of the book Wonder at SMS and at the Dorset Playhouse Nov. 6 and 7.

Wonder was the Vermont Reads 2014 book. Through a joint grant awarded by the Vermont Humanities Council, the schools received free copies of the popular novel so that their students could participate in the Vermont Reads initiative, uniting more than 100 communities throughout the state.

2. On Saturday, Sept. 20, the SMS T2 Team completed a 100 km, sixhour roller ski through the hills of New York to raise money for the SMS T2 Team. The third-annual event supports SMS T2, an elite Nordic ski team based at Stratton Mountain School. The team has eight members, five of whom are U.S. Ski Team members, four of whom competed in the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.

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3. On Saturday, Oct. 25, SMS students and parent volunteers Rob & Betsy Wadsworth participated in a Habitat for Humanity project. SMS students, staff and parents have helped build Habitat homes in the area for the past three years.

team raised more than $4,300 for the Kelly Brush Foundation.

4. On Oct. 23, Middlebury College acapella group the Mamajamas performed in the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center.

New French teacher Shannon Muscatello is an alumna of the group and organized their appearance.

7-9. Jenna Daly’s Art and Graphic Design classes have been busy this fall creating all sorts of projects, including Day of the Dead ‘calaveras’, and spirit animals as well as visiting local potter D. Lasser Ceramics in October .

5. On Saturday, Sept. 6, a team of Stratton Mountain School students, parents and coaches joined 750 other cyclists in the Kelly Brush Century Ride in Middlebury, VT, to raise money for the Kelly Brush Foundation. The SMS team included seniors Andrew Braverman, Amanda Steffey, Anne Guarino, parent Vito Guarino and alpine coach Sylvan Kaufman. Combined, and with the help of parent Robert Braverman, the

10 & 11. On Oct. 10 and 11, SMS hosted the annual Fall Parents’ Weekend. Athletes participated in the All School Obstacle Course Race, and two soccer games.

6. On Oct. 15, SMS hosted one of its ongoing Open Mic nights. The evening featured collaborations by faculty, students and parents.

12. On Sept. 27, a group of students took advantage of the Weekend Activities Trip to Boston, where they were able to explore old Boston and catch a show of The Blue Man Group.

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2013- 2014 Program Highlights Alpine World Junior Championships Qualifiers Libby Gibson (SMS ’13) Nick Krause (SMS ’11) US Ski Team C Team 2014-2015 Alice Merryweather World Juniors Results Alice Merryweather (Super Combined - 3rd U18) US Nationals Qualifiers Alice Merryweather Amanda Steffey George Steffey US Nationals Results Alice Merryweather (DH 1st U18/2nd Jr./6th Overall) U18 Nationals Qualifiers Finn McNamara Alice Merryweather Amanda Steffey George Steffey

Eastern FIS Championships 17 student athletes qualified U16 Nationals Qualifiers Hana Kusumi Mikayla Lathrop Austin Lilley Spencer Smith U16 Nationals Results Mikayla Lathrop (1st 99 YOB) Austin Lilley (7th SL) U16 Eastern Championships Qualifiers Jack Alpert, Emma Finfer, Mike Fischer, Zac Hall, Hana Kusumi, Mikayla Lathrop, Austin Lilley, Liam McNamara, Sean Pomerantz, Nina Reichhelm, Hunter Rodrick, Spencer Smith, Tyler Wetzel U16 Eastern Championships Results Super-G: 1st Spencer Smith, 3rd Austin Lilley, 4th Hunter Rodrick, 7th Emma Finfer

GS: 4th Spencer Smith, 9th Hunter Rodrick, 10th Austin Lilley, 5th Hana Kusumi, 7th Lara Lathrop SL: 1st Spencer Smith U14 Can-Am Qualifiers Lane Henry Olivia Holm Lexi Moynihan U14 Eastern Championships Qualifiers Lane Henry Olivia Holm Lexi Moynihan Junior World Championships Nick Krause Libby Gibson Nor-Am Cup Nick Krause 12th overall SG, 18th overall SC

Snowboarding Noelle Edwards 4th Halfpipe Junior Worlds, Chiesa, Valmalenco, Italy 5th Seven Springs PA Revolution Tour HP 6th US Open Qualifiers Karen Kobayashi 1st Revolution Tour SBX, Mammoth, CA 1st VT Open Pro Banked Slalom, Stratton, VT 13th Team SBX with Meghan Tierney, Junior Worlds, Chiesa, Valmalenco, Italy Tanner Barrett 12th US Open Qualifiers 13th Revolution Tour HP Overall Kiersten Edwards USASA Nationals, Copper, CO, Breaker Girls (12-13) 1st Overall, 1st BX, 2nd Banked SL, 3rd GS, 5th SL, 7th HP and 8th SS 6th Mammoth Mountain, CA Revolution Tour SBX 9th Seven Springs, PA Revolution Tour HP Madison Barrett 5th Sun Valley, ID Revolution Tour HP 7th Seven Springs, PA Revolution Tour HP 12 | Starting Gate - Spring 2015

Hannah Merson 1st HP USASA Nationals Copper, CO Youth Women (14-15) 11th US Open Qualifier Kirsten Webster 1st Burton US Open Qualifiers Junior Jam USASA Nationals Copper, CO Breaker Girls 5th HP and 5th SS Zeb Powell USASA Nationals Copper, CO Breaker Boys (12-13) 5th HP, 5th SS, 5th Banked SL and 16th BX Jonathan Twombly USASA Nationals Copper, CO Breaker Boys 6th BX and 22nd SS Kirk Teare USASA Nationals Copper, CO Youth Men (14-15) 10th BX, 18th SS Evan Werner USASA Nationals Copper, CO Junior Men (16-17) 7th SS, 5th HP

Mason Geils USASA Nationals Copper, CO Junior Men 11th HP Kurt Weidman 2nd VT Open Rail Jam 14-17 age group 5th Mammoth Mountain, CA Revolution Tour SBX Michael Boylan USASA Nationals Copper, CO Jams Men (18-19) 3rd HP and 11th BX Xander Raith 19th US Open Qualifiers HP USASA Nationals Copper, CO Open Class Men 19th SS Andrew Tousignant Finalist at The Comp Rail Jam, Mount Snow VT 3rd Loon HP USASA New Hampshire Caleb Kamins 1st Darkside Rail Jam under 15 2nd Slopestyle USASA Northern VT Series

Nordic 3 Gold Medals 10 All-American Performances Olympics Sophie Caldwell ’08 (SMS T2) 6th in sprint, 8th in sprint relay Jessie Diggins (SMS T2) 8th in 15 km skiathlon, 13th in sprint Andy Newell ’02 (SMS T2)18th in sprint Simi Hamilton (SMS T2) 6th in sprint relay Kris Freemen (WT ’99) 53rd in 30 km skiathlon, 52nd in 15 km World Cup Rankings Andy Newell 15th in sprint

Simi Hamilton 20th in sprint Jessie Diggins 20th overall Sophie Caldwell 8th in sprint, 23rd overall

USST U18 Scandinavian Junior Championships Katharine Ogden 16th in 5 km, 13th in sprint

U23 World Championships Jessie Diggins (SMS T2) 2nd in sprint Annie Pokorny (SMS T2) 28th in sprint, 31st in 15 km skiathlon Ben Saxton (PG ’14) 33rd in sprint, 38th in 15 km

Junior National Team Members Koby Gordon Katharine Ogden Pippin Evarts Mackenzie Rizio Tegan Thorley Russell Boswell William Haig

World Junior Championships Patrick Caldwell ’12 10th in 20 km skiathlon

Freeskiing Bennie Osnow USSA: East Free Slopestyle Championships, Sugarloaf, ME – 21st USASA: Nationals, Copper, CO Slopestyle (13-15) 20th Rail Jam (10-13) 13th Ryan Wadsworth USASA: Rail Jams – 1st, 3rd, 4th Finn Kennedy USSA: East Free Tour Slopestyle Championships, Sugarloaf, ME – 2nd

Nikita Shchemelev USSA: East Free Tour Slopestyle Championships, Sugarloaf, ME – 15th

Sam Gnoza USSA: East Free Tour Slopestyle Championships, Sugarloaf, ME 6th

Henry Robbins USSA: East Free Tour Slopestyle Championships, Sugarloaf, ME – 22nd East Free Tour Slopestyle, Waterville, NH – 12th USASA: Nationals, Copper, CO Slopestyle (13-15) 17th

Eric Stohler USASA: Nationals, Copper, CO Slopestyle (16-18) 25th Rail Jam (14 & over) 13th

Freestyle 100% of team members qualify for USSA Eastern Champs; five qualify for US Junior Nationals; four qualify for US Nationals Eastern Freestyle Highlights Georgia Wood (Dual Mogul Champion) Harrison Schunk (Rookie of the Year) LuLu Shaffer (Most Improved) USSA Eastern Overall Regional Results 41 Top Ten Results 12 Podiums 3 1st place finishes SMS Freestyle Athlete Best Finishes Sydney Shaffer: 5th Killington, 4th Waterville Gillian Serels: 14th Sugarloaf, 14th Whiteface

Jack Simon: 16th Killington, 9th Sugarloaf Christina O’Brien: 4th Killington, 3rd Killington Georgia Wood: 2nd Sunday River, 1st Sunday River Savannah Forehand: 4th Sugarloaf, 4th Whiteface LuLu Shaffer: 1st Waterville, 1st Killington Harrison Schunk: 3rd Sugarloaf, 7th Waterville Sam Gnoza: 8th Killington, 6th Sunday River Stewart Olson: 7th Sunday River, 19th Sunday River

US Freestyle Championships, Moguls LuLu Shaffer, 17th Savannah Forehand, 25th Sydney Shaffer, 39th US Freestyle Championships, Dual Moguls Georgia Wood, 21st Savannah Forehand, 26th Sydney Shaffer, 27th LuLu Shaffer, 28th

US Junior Nationals, Moguls Georgia Wood, 21st LuLu Shaffer, 37th Savannah Forehand, 38th Harrison Schunk, 43rd Starting Gate - Spring 2015 | 13

Olympic History 12 SMS alumni compete in Sochi

S

tratton Mountain School proudly counts 42 Olympians among its alumni since the school’s founding in 1972.

These 42 SMS alumni have been named to a total of 66 Olympic teams – an amazing achievement!

A record number of 12 SMS alumni competed at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Their results gave us even more to celebrate, especially these top finishes:

• Alex Deibold (SMS ’04), from Manchester, VT won a bronze medal in men’s snowboardcross

• Sophie Caldwell (SMS ’08, SMS T2), from Peru, VT finished

•

6th in the cross-country women’s sprint – the best finish in this event by an American woman in the history of the Winter Games!

Jessie Diggins (SMS T2), from Afton, MN placed 9th in the cross-country women’s 4x5 relay – the best finish in this event by an American woman in the history of the Winter Games!

Alex Deibold (SMS ’04) shares his Snowboardcross Olympic bronze medal with fellow Olympian and SMS Snowboard Program Director Ross Powers (SMS ’97, Olympic gold and bronze medalist) during Alex’s trip back to SMS to share his Olympic story with the SMS community.

14 | Starting Gate - Spring 2015

In March, newly crowned bronze medalist Alex Deibold came back to SMS to share his Olympic success with students and faculty. He told students to enjoy every moment and stressed to them what a special place Stratton Mountain School is. He remembers looking up to his snowboard idol, Ross Powers (SMS ’97), while Alex was a student at SMS, and he encouraged all student athletes to pursue their dreams and keep working hard.

Throughout the 2014 Olympic Games, SMS hosted more than a dozen media representatives from around the world, and more than 30 stories were written about SMS and its Olympic alumni in local, national and international media.

Below, you will find a complete listing of the 12 alumni who competed in Sochi and their results in the Olympics. Join us in celebrating and congratulating these 12 SMS alumni for their hard work, determination and tenacity. They are an inspiration to us all!

Jessie Diggins (SMS T2) and Sophie Caldwell (SMS’ 08, SMS T2) share Alex Deibold’s bronze medal at the Sochi Winter Olympics Closing Ceremonies.

SMS ALUMNI

Emily Bamford ’10 Alpine, Australia

Sophie Caldwell ’08, T2 Nordic

Danny Davis ’06 Snowboarding Halfpipe

Alex Deibold ’04 Bronze medal Snowboardcross

Jessie Diggins, T2 Nordic

Alexandra Duckworth ’05 Snowboarding Halfpipe Canada

Kris Freeman ’99 Nordic 4-time Olympian

Simi Hamilton, T2 Nordic 2-time Olympian

Jackie Hernandez ’10 Snowboardcross

Lindsey Jacobellis ’03 Snowboardcross 3-time Olympian

Klara Krizova ’07 Alpine Czech Republic

Andy Newell ’02, T2 Nordic 3-time Olympian

Complete Results February 23, 2014 Cross Country – Men’s 50 km Mass Start Free 57th place Kris Freeman (SMS ’99)

February 16, 2014 Snowboard – Women’s Snowboardcross 7th place Lindsey Jacobellis (SMS ’03) 23rd place Jackie Hernandez (SMS ’10)

February 22, 2014 Cross Country – Women’s 30 km Mass Start Free 40th place Jessie Diggins (SMS T2)

Alpine skiing – Women’s Super-G 17th place Klara Krizova (SMS ’07)

February 21, 2014 Alpine Skiing – Women’s Slalom DNF 2nd run – Emily Bamford (SMS ’10) February 19, 2014 Cross Country – Men’s Team Sprint Classic 6th place Simi Hamilton (SMS T2) Cross Country – Women’s Team Sprint Classic 8th place Sophie Caldwell (SMS ’08, SMS T2) February 18, 2014 Snowboard – Men’s Snowboardcross 3rd place Alex Deibold (SMS ’04) BRONZE MEDAL Alpine Skiing – Women’s Giant Slalom 50th place Emily Bamford (SMS ’10)

Cross Country – Men’s 4X10 km Relay 11th place Andy Newell (SMS ’02), Simi Hamilton (SMS T2) February 15, 2014 Cross Country – Women’s 4X5 km Relay 9th place Jessie Diggins (SMS T2) BEST US WOMEN’S 4X5 FINISH EVER February 14, 2014 Cross Country – Men’s 15 km Classic 52nd place Kris Freeman (SMS ’99) February 13, 2014 Cross Country – Women’s 10 km Classic 32nd place Sophie Caldwell (SMS ’08, SMS T2) February 12, 2014 Alpine skiing – Women’s Downhill 21st place Klara Krizova (SMS ’07)

Snowboard – Women’s Halfpipe 17th place Alexandra Duckworth (SMS ’05) February 11, 2014 Cross Country – Women’s Sprint Free 6th place Sophie Caldwell (SMS ’08, SMS T2) BEST US WOMEN’S FINISH EVER 13th place Jessie Diggins (SMS T2) Cross Country – Men’s Sprint Free 18th place Andy Newell (SMS ’02, SMS T2) 27th place Simi Hamilton (SMS T2) Snowboard – Men’s Halfpipe 10th place Danny Davis (SMS ’06) February 10, 2014 Alpine Skiing – Women’s Super Combined 19th place Klara Krizova (SMS ’07) February 9, 2014 Cross Country – Men’s Skiathlon 53rd place Kris Freeman (SMS ’99) February 8, 2014 Cross Country – Women’s Skiathlon 8th place Jessie Diggins (SMS T2) Starting Gate - Spring 2015 | 15

Powers nominated to U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame SMS Snowboard Program Director and twotime Olympic medalist Ross Powers (SMS ’97) will be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. Ross grew up in South Londonderry, VT, competed in his first U.S. Open at the age of 9, competed in nationals the next year and was a world champion before his 18th birthday. Throughout his career, he went on to win two Olympic medals, a World Championship title, XGames gold medals, Winter Goodwill Games and Gravity Games championships.

Ross earned the Olympic bronze medal in Halfpipe in Nagano in 1998 (the first Olympics for snowboard competition) and the gold in 2002 in Salt Lake City.

During his career, he held every title in halfpipe snowboarding. In 2001, he formed the Ross Powers Foundation with a commitment to offering assistance to promising athletes with financial need. In 2010, Ross returned to the area to become the Stratton Mountain School Snowboard Program Director.

“It's an honor to be part of the 2014 class being inducted into the Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame,” Ross said. “It's been an amazing ride: from trying my friend’s snowboard in his backyard, to standing on top of an Olympic podium. I love snowboarding, and I'm very thankful for where it's taken me. I look forward to helping

the future of the sport by continuing to coach athletes at Stratton Mountain School. Thank you to everyone for all of your support over the years.”

“We are so proud that Ross will be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas. “Ross was there for the beginning of international snowboard competition and led the U.S. domination of the sport through two Olympics. He is so deserving of this honor for his contribution to the sport with his tireless work ethic as a competitor, as a coach and as a philanthropist.”

In 2013, Ross was inducted into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame. Ross is only the fourth snowboarder to be elected to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. In the 2014 inductee class, Ross will join nine other inductees.

Ross’ induction will take place in Steamboat Springs, CO on April 11, 2015. There will also be a special enshrinement ceremony weekend for Honored Members at the home of the Hall of Fame in Ishpeming, MI on September 18-20, 2015. Ross and his fellow 2014 inductees join the nearly 400 inductees in the Hall of Fame.

Refresh… SMS gets a new look As members of the SMS community, we are in the midst of an exciting time.

With the construction of the Air Awareness Center and the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center, the campus is, quite literally, being transformed.

In the midst of this physical change, other improvements have been underway. The creation of the Freestyle Program last year has introduced a new population of a dozen athletes and talented coaches to our school. The expansion of the art curriculum and the addition of talented faculty have opened a new landscape of opportunity for our students. Robust admissions and enrollment

16 | Starting Gate - Spring 2015

has given the school a phenomenal group of motivated, talented student athletes who are seizing every opportunity.

It is no wonder, then, that SMS has chosen this as the ideal time to refresh its brand. This fall, the school launched a new software system that unifies the admissions experience with the overall school, classroom, grading and transcript databases. This winter, SMS will launch its new website. And this fall, the school unveiled a “refreshed” logo and style guide. Along with all of these items is a unifying Strategic Plan that the school has been working on for the past year through the hard work of faculty, staff and trustees.

“The new website, refreshed logo and strategic initiatives are the work of many people over several years,” said Meredith Morin, SMS Director of Communications. “SMS is in a great position to leverage its strengths, and the community is ready for these wonderful opportunities.”

Winter Ball raises $100,000 plus for scholarships On Jan. 25, 2014, the Stratton Mountain School community gathered together to celebrate at the annual Winter Ball and raised more than $100,000 to support SMS scholarships. The theme was “Dreams of Gold” to celebrate all past and present Olympians. In the 2014 Sochi Olympics, 12 SMS alumni competed.

Each year, more than 40 percent of SMS student athletes receive scholarship funds, and the Winter Ball is the school’s largest fundraising event. At the 2014 event, guests bid on more than 100 silent auction items and eight live auction items including an Aspen ski-and-stay slopeside (donated by the Dreimann family and Aspen/Snowmass); a steel and diamond ring from Von Bargen’s; a stay at a Connecticut mansion (donated by the Shaw family); Madison Square Garden box tickets for 12 (donated by the O’Hara family); a private plane charter for four (donated by the Henry/Borg family); a week’s stay at the Whistler Four Seasons (donated by the Davis family); two rustic timber trestle tables by Vermont Barns (donated by the Wadsworth family); and a ski package and Ski-with-the-Headmaster for two (donated by the Norse House).

Sue Long Wemyss (SMS ’78; Nordic Olympian), Carrie Sheinberg (SMS ’90; alpine Olympian), SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas, and Kristin Luckenbill (SMS ’97; gold medalist soccer Olympian) celebrate at the Dreams of Gold Winter Ball.

Other local donors included Trapp Family Lodge, 37 Central Clothiers, Bob’s Diner, Bromley Mountain, Brown Enterprises, Clover Gift Shop, Cosmetic Laser Center, Cotton Design Associates, Country Cleaning, Equipe Sport, Gifted Nails, Goodyville Productions, Grandma Miller’s, Gringo Jack’s, Heinel’s Clothier, Hubert Schriebl, Johnny SeeSaws, JOY all things underthings, Karl Pfister, Killington/Pico Ski Resort, Manchester Village Picture Shows, Massage by Raschid Joyce, Mistrals, Mt. Snow Resort, New Balance, Pikes Fall Painting LLC, Raymond Finan Fine Furniture Maker, Real Sports, Red Wagon Toy Co., SoLo Farm and Table, Stifel Nicolaus, The American Grill, The Fire Tower, The Grape Connection, The Mountain Goat, The Perfect Wife, The Starting Gate, Stratton Mountain Market & Deli, Verde, Vermont Barns, Vermont Bracelet, Vermont Skate Boards, Von Bargen’s Jewelry, Winhall Market, and Ye Olde Tavern.

Starting Gate - Spring 2015 | 17

Letter from Board of Trustees Chair Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends, 2014 has been an exciting year for all of us in the Stratton Mountain School community. We began the year by celebrating the 12 SMS alumni who went to Sochi to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. It was wonderful to be able to support current and past Olympians at the 2014 SMS Winter Ball, as we together supported future Olympians with this vital annual fundraiser.

The community celebration surrounding the SMS Olympians is something I look forward to every four years. Watching athletes use their passion and perseverance to compete on the world stage is inspirational. This pursuit and achievement of excellence at the very top of our athletes’ chosen sports is what we strive to provide. Alongside this incredible history of athletic excellence, we are incredibly proud of the academic achievement of our students. With students from the small Class of 2014 going on to top colleges and universities including Boston College, Brown University, Dartmouth College and Middlebury College, we are clearly preparing students to perform at the top of their field academically each year as well.

This year, we have committed as a school and as a Board to the completion of two construction projects: the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center and the Air Awareness Center. Thank you to all who have made funding these projects a priority. We have begun using the PK Center, and we look forward to finalizing details on both projects.

Each year as a community, we set higher goals for ourselves, and we thank you for your partnership in supporting these lofty ideals. Enclosed here is the 2013-2014 Annual Report (July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014). We asked you to partner with us in several ways last year: the Annual Fund, the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center, the Air Awareness Center and the Endowment. Total gifts and pledges this year were $1.33 million to all funds.

We are so grateful for your continued generosity toward all of these endeavors. Your desire to help the next generation of SMS student athletes is inspiring, and I thank you for partnering with me to support this community.

Sincerely,

Gary Giulietti Chairman, Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees 2014-2015 Elizabeth F. Ahlstrand ’97 Ronald Alvarez Carolyn A. Beckedorff ’85 Jeffrey R. Bennett ’87 Gary S. Davis Gary Giulietti James Haffner Dana Hollingsworth Christopher G. Kaltsas

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F. Graham Luckenbill II TD McCormick Joanna Miller William G. Morton Todd B. Richter Morton T. Saunders Neal H. Schuman Paul J. Sitarz

Chairmen Emeriti David Epstein Kimet Hand Benjamin F. Needell Richard Sheinberg

Annual Report 2013 - 2014 Annual Fund 2013-2014 World Cup Champion, $25,000 and above Preston L. Smith Joanna Miller

Olympic Gold, $10,000 - $24,999 The Beckedorff ‘85-DiGangi Family James Deveraux The MERE Foundation

World Cup Gold, $5,000 - $9,999

Gary & Ellen Davis David & Betsy Epstein The Foreman Charitable Foundation The Hollingsworth Family Sandy & Julie Luckenbill Morton T. Saunders Duncan C. Tenney

National Gold, $1,000 - $4,999

Susan Brady & Mustafa Abadan Dr. & Mrs. James Abbenhaus - Micki Abbenhaus Scholarship Award Philip & Margaret Anker Anne Boswell William & Renee Brinkerhoff Roland & Shirley Chen M. J. Basileo & Daniel Solaz Peter & Mia Edwards Irving & Muriel Fischer Edward M. Gillis ‘83 Gary & Mary Ellen Giulietti Brian Henry & Kiri Borg Laura & Michael Kaplan ‘82 Kristin Luckenbill ‘97 James Luckenbill PG’04 Terry & Krinstina Lundgren Alexa Raether Maddock ‘92 TD & Judi McCormick Paul S. McNamara Benjamin & Kathleen Needell Paul & Kimberly Sitarz Scott Steffey William & Carolyn Stutt Keith & Marsha Therrien Rob & Betsy Wadsworth

Junior Olympic Gold, $500 - $999 Susan & Herb Adler Robert & Libby Alexander Jim & Tracy Duddey Doug & Laney Fowler Ellen M. Halstead ‘94 James B. Hodges ‘87 Barret Kitch & Ann Celi Toni C. Knudson Bill & Kate Koch John & Julie Mallard Pam Finnerty Martin ‘97 Andrew & Kathleen Mecca Frances & Alan Offenberg Marisa & Ross Powers ‘97 Tim & Deb Reilly Eric Salus Elliot & Kathy Semet Jeff & Jennifer Tousignant Hannah Tsai ‘04 Carlene & Fritz Wahl ‘77PG

Eastern Cup Gold, $100 - $499 Jeff & Darcy Ahl ‘80 American Medical Imaging Rand & Carol April

(for fiscal year July 1 - June 30)

For gifts to funds excluding the Building for Excellence Fund, the Patti Kaltsas Memorial Fund, the Air Awareness Fund, the Winter Ball and Beckie McGill Scholarship Fund.

Carla Avila Robert & Patricia Barnes Sandra Bennett Roberta Boylan Patrick R. Burtis ‘87 Alan & Susan Bushell Norman Chen John & Annette Clark Class of 2014 Danny & Gail Cope Joshua Davis Peggy & Mike deSantis Peter & Susie Dow Catherine Whitcomb Everson ‘99 Charles & Karen Feldman Alicia Fiammett Sky & Sue Foulkes Larry & Liz Fryer Robbin & Glenn Gibson Vito Guarino Becky Hall ‘82 Lucy Hamnett John & Kimet Hand Tom & Cindy Heavey Don Hollingshead Ben & Anita Jacobellis John & Pamela Jacobi William Jahnke Ali & Peter Jennison Kevin Kerin & Marybeth Durkin Jean Knight Brian Knight Andrew K. Knox Ted & Irene Lehmann Kenneth & Karen Lilley Marianne Lipa ‘96 Jess Lopez ‘98 Shayne Lynn ‘89 Vivien Malloy Bob & Mary Mangiacotti Christopher & Anissa Martin Norman Masri Sandra McCue Mary McLoughlin Chuck McMahon Mary McLoughlin Patrick & Marge McMahon Hugh & Liz Merryweather Clarence F. Michalis Christine Morace Christopher J. Morano Chan Morgan ‘82 Mike & Meredith Morin Mulligans Tavern Akiko Nagumo John & Helen Nault Patrick O’Connor Bill & Liza Parkhurst Mark & Mary Pomerantz Lafe & Shelly Pottala Dave Redden Suzanne Reeves Scott Reichhelm ‘76 Robert J. Rodrick Lee & Susan Romano Richard J. Ross ‘77 Jana Caldwell Russell ‘83 Edward & Carmen Scheck Christine J. Schozer ‘08 Harriet & Alfred Schwartz John Schwartznau Barry M. Semet

Scott & Rose Serels Richard & Jill Sheinberg Irina & Eugene Shchemelev John & Mary Sikes Roy & Leigh Snell Jessie P. Snyder Marc D. Sorel ‘91 Catherine P. Stewart ‘08 John & Mary Stichter Charles & Sherry Stohler Carson & Ali Thurber Cornelia V. Tuttle Kevin & Molly Visnic John & Sally Wadsworth Suzanne & Alan Waxenberg Harry J. Weber Lawrence & Glenda Wetzel

Friends of SMS, up to $100

Rebecca Abadie Bill & Tracy Ahearn Frank Albergo Jeffrey J. Allard Barbara Ann Alonge American Hairlines J. C. Ancell The Appenzeller Family Rob & Amy Aubin Carol Bailey Sharon Barrett Stephanie & Christopher Bastek Perry & Karen Beadon Jeff Beal Joann Beckerman Justin Beckwith ‘97 Cassandra Bender Matt & Kate Boobar Poppet & Charlie Boswell James W. Brachfeld Michael Brandt Abigail S. Brown ‘13 Hannah J. Burwell ‘13 Sverre Caldwell Sean P. Campbell Stefania Camponi Peter Cerulo ‘13 Mary & Tim Clark Joshua A. Cohen ‘13 Dorothy M. Cohn Allison Coleman Stephen & Karen Coombs Jeffrey & Wendi Cooper Carolyn & Bruce Coplin Edward & Kathleen Corliss John & Brenda Coutinho Richard & Brenda Currier Chloe E. Daley ‘13 Emily Daly Amy Denzer Michael & Patty Doshier John H. Drucker K. Duane James Edwards Charles Farrell Richard & Elaine Ferrara Joseph & Laurie Fichter Tyler B. Foulkes ‘13 Richard & Kalpana Frain Andrew & Nancy Frankel Barry & Gail Fridling Morris Z. Gardner Michael & Laurie Gayda

Libby C. Gibson ‘13 James Gill Linda & Jeff Goldstein Thomas Grant ‘13 Heidi & Kelly Greenwood Barbara Haig Bruce Hallett Heidi & Edward Hannigan Joseph Healey Mollie Hoopes ‘13 Jean Hopkins Mary Ives Allison Jacobi Urs & Carol Joder Scott Johnston Kate Nolan Joyce Constance Judge Gus Kaeding ‘02 Sylvan Kaufman Kate E. Kerin ‘13 Paul H. Killegrew Andrew & Topsy King Zachary M. Kinsella ‘13 Morgan Korpi ‘99 Naga & Miki Kusumi Daniel O. Landy ‘13 Micah Lashar Brittany T. Lathrop ‘13 Steve & Rhonda Lathrop Nina Zerbo Lawrence Alex & Sandra Lehmann Florence & Robert Lilley Cari-Ann Linker David O. Linton ‘13 Steven Llorens Marian S. Lobell ‘13 Isabella C. Lynch ‘13 Julie Mackey Jesse Mallis Brian T. Mangiacotti ‘13 Mary Kay Marks Joseph & Martin Marsicano Chase W. Marston ‘08 Erin Mascolino James & Mary Maxymillian Denise & James McAllister Michael & Kathleen McCamy Hamish P. McEwen ‘13 Russell McNamara Howard Merson Amy Mestel Margot Meyer Nina Moore Hiroo Nagumo Deb Newson Francesca Occelli ‘13 Holly O’Harra Gino R. Pastore ‘13 Dan Pawlak Pensarwolf LLC Linda Perelberg Chris Perrotta Louis & Barbara Petra Kim & John Phillips Sam & Kate Punderson ‘90 Ezra Racine ‘13 Dr. & Mrs. Joel M. Rein William Rodrick Elizabeth Rodrick-Lex Rob & Katie Rose Richard & Barbara Rosenberg Keitha & Steven Rujak

Starting Gate - Spring 2015 | 19 continued...

Annual Fund 2013-2014 Patricia & Richard Schiller Wendy Schriebl Bill Sechrist Shann Senese Jacqueline Seuffert Allan & Sally Seymour Richard B. Shane Sandy Shapiro Serena S. Shaw ‘13 Carrie & Michael Shea Crystal Sheehan Jerry Skurnik Matt & Reid Smith Clare Smith-Wheeler

continued...

Dylan & Sarah Snell Dwaine & Kim Tait John & Nancy Talkington Donald Tarinelli ‘75 Sam Tarrant Tim & Morgan Taylor David & Linda Tousignant Biba Turnbull ‘13 Mary Via Mary Kate Visnic ‘13 John W. Wardlaw Peter & Susan Weaver Ed & Nancy Webster Holly Wendell

Michael & Lisa Wetzel Hayley Wolff ‘80PG Jamie & Josh PG’02 Wylie

Matching Gift Programs

Pepsico Foundation Bank of America United Way United Way of Los Angeles SAP Matching Gifts Program AIG Matching Gifts Program

Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center

For gifts and pledges as of June 30, 2014.

$625,000

Jeff & Linda Lennox

Mr. & Mrs. James Duddy Mr. & Mrs. Dana Hollingsworth Susan Hunter & Douglas Watson John H. & Kate D.’91 Krehbiel Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lemenze Mr. & Mrs. F. Graham Luckenbill II Mr. & Mrs. Leland Stacy Mr. Scott Steffey

$175,000

$1,000 - $4,000

Mr. & Mrs. William P. Scully

$250,000

TD & Judi McCormick

$200,000

Drs. Tricia ‘76 and Richard Gibbs

$100,000

Robert & A. Joyce Jones Ms. Joanna Miller Dr. Renee Novello Anonymous

$50,000 - $75,000

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Head Hellman Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Duncan C. Tenney

$20,000 - $40,000

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Alexander Mr. & Mrs. James Berrien Mr. & Mrs. David Epstein Mr. & Mrs. Gary Giulietti Mr. & Mrs. Worthy Johnson Mr. Morton T. Saunders Mr. & Mrs. Chad Waite Mr. & Mrs. Fred Weiner Anonymous

$10,000 - $15,000

Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Alvarez Mr. & Mrs. Gary Davis Mr. & Mrs. James Haffner Drs. P. Jack Hoopes & Vicki Scheidt Mr. & Mrs. William G. Morton Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin F. Needell Mr. & Mrs. John Ogden ‘85PG Mr. & Mrs. William S. Bo Peabody Mr. & Mrs. Gary Simpson Mr. & Mrs. William C. Stutt

$5,000 - $6,000

The Beckedorff ‘85-DiGangi Family Jeffrey R. Bennett ‘87 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Braverman

20 | Starting Gate - Spring 2015

Mustafa Abadan & Susan Brady Mr. & Mrs. Vince Andrews Mr. William Benedict Mr. Peter M. Britton Mr. & Mrs. Roland Chen Mr. & Mrs. James F. Crowley Mr. & Mrs. John Davis Jason Epstein ‘01 Ms. Jody Foote David Giulietti ‘99 Mr. & Mrs. William Hadden III Mr. & Mrs. John Hand Mr. Nathan R. Johnson Hunter Kaltsas ‘99 Mr. & Mrs. Paul Lowerre James Luckenbill ‘04PG Kristin Luckenbill ‘97 Mr. & Mrs. Tom Maneggia Mr. & Mrs. Paul Martin Mr. & Mrs. David McGill Mr. & Mrs. Paul McNamara Chan Morgan ‘82 Norse House Mr. & Mrs. Lance Odden Mr. John A. O’Leary Mr. & Mrs. Laird Pendleton Scott Reichhelm ‘76 Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Reilly Mr. Todd B. Richter Mr. & Mrs. Richard Sheinberg Mr. & Mrs. Paul Sitarz Dr. & Mrs. David Slovik Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Wahl ‘77PG Mr. & Mrs. Larry Wohler Richie Woodworth ‘76

$500

Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Chase Mr. Peter Deckers Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Fowler Edward Gillis ‘83

Mr. & Mrs. Richard C. Grondin Ms. Julie S. Hahn Mr. & Mrs. Brian Henry Ms. Lu Korte & Ms. Susan King Mr. A. E. Laidlaw Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Lynch Ms. Cheryl L. Rothman Mr. & Mrs. Neal Schuman Stratton Resort Mr. & Mrs. Evan Werner Mr. Jeff Wood

Gifts up to $500

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Adams Jeff & Darcy ‘80 Ahl Payton Alexander ‘15 Ellen & Lou Amantea The Appenzeller Family Lisa Feinberg Ballard ‘79 Jessica Epstein Baron ‘93 Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Bates Marjorie Daitch Beckwith Mr. & Mrs. William Beerman Sandra Bennett Kristen Petty Bills ‘82 Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Boylan Kate Stutt Brewer ‘76 Sverry & Lilly ‘81 Caldwell Mr. David Charron Stacie Chiodi Mr. & Mrs. Paul Choma Class of 2012 Mr. & Mrs. Saul Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Coombs Mr. & Mrs. Peter Cusick Dr. & Mrs. Michele deSantis Kari Diamond Dr. Michael A. Dick Mr. & Mrs. Peter Dow James A. Dow ‘87 David Edry Betsy Eklof Catherine W. Everson ‘99 Lindsay Fadner Mr. & Mrs. David Festa Mr. & Mrs. Sky Foulkes Jack & Ann Franzen Mr. & Mrs. Warren Fuller Jeff Gaeckle ‘88 Robbin & Glenn Gibson Lil & Evan Ginsberg

Amy Patenaude Gunn ‘80 Will Hadden ‘07 Mr. Michael Hahn Mr. & Mrs. Peter Hall Mrs. Sherry Harper Kim Marie Hartsen ‘99 Mr. & Mrs. Paul Heffernan Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Hogan Alex & Kate Hood Mr. & Mrs. David W. Hudson Miriam Hyman Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Ives Claire Jospe Susan Jospe Kate & Raschid Joyce Brooke Kaltsas ‘00 Nicholas Kaltsas Paige & Justin Kaptuch Mr. John H. Kells Mr. & Mrs. Donald Kendall Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Kinsella Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Klein Mr. & Mrs. Max Kobayashi Mr. & Mrs. Paul Krause Todd Kremin ‘98 Jeanne H. Larsen ‘78 Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lechthaler Alex & Sandra Lehmann Dr. W. B. Lewis Sally Lewis Ms. Yvonne Lodico Jess Lopez ‘98 Joseph Lopez ‘00 Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Lopez David Lord ‘96 Mr. Stephen Love Shayne Lynn ‘89 Mr. & Mrs. Joel MacClaren Dr. & Mrs. James Martin Mr. & Mrs. Seth Marx Francesca Mazzola Mr. & Mrs. Chuck McMahon Mr. & Mrs. Patrick McNamara Ms. Jean Miller William Montague ‘04 Gideon S. Morse ‘92 Mountain School at Winhall Mr. & Mrs. John Nault Jonathan A. Needell ‘88 Laura Nesbit

Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center continued...

Jeff & Karen Nicholson Mr. Bradley Olch Mr. & Mrs. Earl Olson Lorena O. O’Neill Mr. & Mrs. George Orme Mr. & Mrs. Herve Pelletier Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios Ptohos Sam & Kate Punderson ‘90 Mr. & Mrs. Neiko Razinger Dave Redden Mr. & Mrs. Walter Rogers Mr. Larry Ross Tyne ‘00 & David ‘02 Rothman

Bob Scarcello Wendy Schriebl Mr. & Mrs. Arthur M. Scutro Carrie Sheinberg ‘90 Sarah Simpson ‘09 The Singmaster Family Mr. & Mrs. John Skinner Mark Smith & Sherri Marzario Matt & Reid Smith Mr. & Mrs. John Spencer Mr. & Mrs. John Stichter The Tait Family Mr. & Mrs. Edward Van Woert

Louie Vito ‘06 Mr. & Mrs. Paul Wheeler Sarah Laidlaw Wilde ‘96 Williams Ski Team James & Grace Wu Josh ‘02PH & Jamie Wylie

Programs

AIG Matching Grants Program ExxonMobil Matching Gift Program Stanley Black & Decker Matching Gift Program

Air Awareness Center

Winter Ball 2014 Benefactors

$75,000 Philippe & Ana Laffont

$5k Benefactor Table Gary & Ellen Davis

$50,000 Peter & Alexandra Daitch Kevin & Donna McArdle

$3k Benefactor Table Mustafa Abadan & Susan Brady Carolyn Beckedorff & Tony DiGangi David & Betsy Epstein Gary & Mary Ellen Giulietti Sandy & Julie Luckenbill Christie & Douglas MacKenzie TD & Judi McCormick Ben & Kathleen Needell Todd Richter Morton Saunders Neal & Elizabeth Schuman Stratton Resort Rob & Betsy Wadsworth

$25,000 Holly & Ed Boylan-Flego Scott & Kristi Sweitzer $15,000 Max & Miki Kobayashi Jim & Mary Sullivan $10,000 Ray & Anne Marie Forehand Joanna Miller Chris Preziosi $5,000 Glenn & Laura Callen $3,000 An SMS Family

Cash Donations of $1,000 and more Hunter Kaltsas Leon & Joy Dreimann Jim & Tracy Duddy David Giulietti Brian Henry & Kiri Borg Ben & Kathleen Needell Paul & Wendy Olson Bob & Marianne Stevenish

$2,000 Irina & Eugene Shchemelev $1,000 The Landy Family Marc & Nancy Lobell Evan & Carol Werner $500 Peter & Mia Edwards $125 Dave Redden

Starting Gate - Spring 2015 | 21

The Finish Line 1973

1977

Dan Frost works for the family business, Frost Well Drilling, in Dorset, VT. Helping Vermont customers statewide!

Rich Ross reported last winter that the lack of holiday snow in Tahoe put a revision to his family’s vacation plan — Baja for kiteboarding lesson instead! As always, Rich wished the SMS community the best of luck.

1975 Andy Malloy lives in Colorado with his family.

Andy loves skiing and enjoying the outdoors with his family.

Andy Malloy

1976 Scott Reichhelm says, “My 50-year journey driving back and forth to Stratton Mountain has been re-energized by our 15-year old SMS daughter and by knowing my weekends will be full of Masters gate training with an amazing group of friends.

We get to pad up, cut lines, train on closed trails and pretend we are much better than we are, it is so much fun. This is our daughter’s second full year at SMS. I The Reichhelms am so impressed; the teachers, the coaches, the deans, Carson and Chris are amazing. And the campus is beautiful. A lot has changed since Hotel Tyrol and they are still ski racing.”

22 | Starting Gate - Spring 2015

1978 Brian Burnett works for Alyeska Resort in Alaska. He was in Vermont last winter and visited SMS. It was great having him on campus.

1979 Tiger Shaw gave the commencement address to Stratton Mountain School’s Class of 2014 and was appointed president and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association in March.

Lisa Densmore says, “I married my sweetheart, Jack Ballard, who is now addicted to Super G. We’re both racing on the masters circuit together. I was national champion (again) in my age group last March at Okemo in GS, slalom and combined.

The Super G was Lisa Densmore & son Parker cancelled. It was great to be back in Vermont ski racing again, though not exactly Eastern firm conditions. I received the Al Sise Award from USSA and was named Masters Skier of the Year by SkiRacing.com, two honors I never thought would happen again now

that I’m in my 50’s. Also, my documentary film, Passion for Snow, on the 100-year history of skiing in the United States and Dartmouth’s contributions to it, received an Emmy nomination. It didn’t win, but it was a thrill to get the nomination. The film aired on PBS last winter. My son Parker walked the red carpet with me.”

Mercedes Benzi Ross and Tini June Hamilton ‘84 talk on the phone daily, so you would never know that one lives in Vermont, Tini, and one in Colorado, me Mercedes Benzi Ross & — Benzi.

Even Tini June Hamilton though we are far apart, we managed to have quite a few “Shred Seester Adventures.” We post these adventures on Facebook to the enjoyment of our fans (haha). Tini lives in Jamaica, VT and has created an awesome farm where she trains horses and humans to get along. She has two beautiful children who have quickly become young adults. I live in Colorado and travel a bit. I still have my business, Merchandising Werx, a consulting business in the ski and bike industry. Our mom, Annedore, is in Austria holding down the fort. Over the year I have run into so many SMS alums: Brian Burnett, Rich Ross, Andy Dulin, Kevin Burnett, Kim, Scott and Todd Reichhelm, Mike Frost, Brent Bernard, and I’m sure I’m forgetting someone. We wish all the kids at SMS tons of luck this season!

1982

1987

John Borwick resides in Egermont, MA, with his wife Ingrid, and children, Jackson and Hunter. John is the head coach of the Berkshire School Ski Team. John watched his son Jackson race for Babson College this winter on their carnival circuit.

Barney Hodges reports, “I was at SMS from 198587, and it was without question the best decision I made growing up. The fact that my daughter, Barney Hodges & daughter Sophie Sophie (SMS ’16), has chosen to pursue a life at SMS and be coached by the same person who coached me, Sverre Caldwell, is just a great thing.

My SMS experience and Sverre Caldwell specifically, had such a deep influence on my life direction in such a brief period of time makes me excited for Sophie and the impact SMS may have on the life that lays ahead of her.”

1983 Heidi Frost lives in Norwalk, CT, and is employed by Nestle in Greenwich. Heidi has been spending more time in Vermont and recently visited the SMS campus with her husband.

1985 Carolyn Beckedorff recently moved to Weston, MA. Carolyn and her husband, Tony, are very active members of the SMS community.

Jeff Bennett recently took a job with Cantor Fitzgerald and is relocating to Boston.

1988 Sam Punderson resides in Sugarloaf, ME and recently took a new job in real estate.

Griff Long

Griff Long completed a 12-year journey by competing in and finishing the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, HI, on Oct. 11.

Robert Frenchman is enjoying having his son Tyler being a full-term boarding student at SMS.

Geraldine & Tyler Frenchman

Sam Punderson

kids. I’m living in Somerville, MA, with my husband Paul Hochman and our two boys Oscar, 6, and Arlo, 3. We drove up to Curtis Island for an overnight last August. As we were walking in the dark from the boat landing across the island to the lighthouse — following the blinking green light in the tower — Arlo whispered ‘This is the coolest house I’ve ever seen!’”

Jen Conover Andrus ’86 and Carrie Sheinberg

1991 Marc Sorel says, “Loving the SMS changes.

Just played in Brown University Sports Foundation Golf Outing and ironically enough the folks had daughter at GMVS so lots of ski conversation. Life is good. Met up with Josh Applegate and his fiancee at Rand Neeves’ 40th in Seattle, plus saw Jen Phillips. SMS rocks, and those were the best times of my life!! Miss all.

Megan (Brown) Brent lives in Park City, UT. She joined fellow SMS alumni at the Park City Alumni function.

1993 Renny Bloch welcomed a baby girl, Scout Summer Bloch, on June 26, 2014!

1990 Carrie Sheinberg reports, “I’ve had a few chances now to get together with Jen Conover and her three amazing kiddos.

She’s living up in Camden, ME, where she runs the Compass Rose preschool out of her house, runs the Camden Snow Bowl ski racing program and in the summer lives at the lighthouse on Curtis Island in Camden Harbor and runs Ocean Explorer camps for

Scout & Mia Bloch

Josh Yoshi Applegate is engaged.

Starting Gate - Spring 2015 | 23

The Finish Line 1994

1997

2000

Gordy Megroz resides in Jackson Hole, WY.

Ross Powers continues to run the SMS Snowboard Program. Loves spending time with his family when he’s not traveling helping future SMS Olympians reach their goals. Ross was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame this spring.

Tom Wisdom worked in Putney, VT for Caldwell Sports this fall, and now is back at Stratton at The Norse House. Tom is eager to spend his first winter in Vermont after too many years away!”

1995 Luke Omand made a big move with his family to Earlysville, VA. Emily Thurber lives in Boise, ID. Emily and her husband, Matt Carter, keep busy with their three children. They split their time between Idaho and Vermont in the summer.

1996 Sarah Brophy says, “My husband and I are still living north of Boston in Salem with our dog, Jameson. I work in Boston as a Senior Design Associate for Interior Architects.

Sarah Brophy I primarily focus on tech clients and have worked with Sonos, HubSpot, Carbonite, Twitter and Amazon.

Outside of the office, I try to stay active through road races, yoga and weekend trips to VT. I had a visit with the Tarui brothers this summer. Great to catch up!”

Justin Beckwith is the director of the Nordic Program at Green Mountain Valley School.

He is engaged to Brie Pike-Sprenger ’99.

Their wedding is scheduled for 4/4/15 at The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain in Vermont.

1999 Dave Giulietti says, “Jessica and I just had our 3rd son in the last 3 years. Blake Robert Giulietti was born on August 19, 2014. He has brought great joy to all of us. Mason & Drew love him so much and can’t wait till he gets big enough to get into the mix!

We skied at Stratton this winter although my runs were limited to the magic carpet ride trying to push Mason to ski by himself while having Drew ski between my legs. It was a long but memorable The Giulietti boys winter!”

Hunter Kaltsas recently got engaged and continues to own and operate his evergrowing business, Hunter Excavating, in South Londonderry, VT.

Tsune Tarui ‘94, Mika Tarui (Tsune’s wife), Yuika Tarui (Tsune’s daughter), Takeshi Tarui ‘96, Sarah Brophy ’96 and Sarah’s parents.

24 | Starting Gate - Spring 2015

Logan Thurber was married over the summer surrounded by friends and family in Nampa, ID.

David Koop and Sydney “Mickelson” Koop ’02 are running MAD Alpine, a USSA focused ski program in Madison, WI. Their goal is to foster a fun, supportive and challenging environment to help athletes reach their ski racing goals and dreams.

Seth Therrien Kentucky.

completed

Ironman

Brookie Kaltsas still lives in Stowe, VT and is a photographer. Check out her website at www.truckieloo.com Bobby Barnes reports, “I live in Ann Arbor, MI. My New daughter Caroline ‘Callie’ Marie was born on 9/17, her big sister Emma is psyched! My wife Tina is doing great as well!”

2001 Margaret Schlachter recently visited Vermont and Stratton Mountain School.

Margaret is an adventure racer, writer and blogger for outdoor sports.

Jason Epstein lives in Boston with his family and visits Stratton often during the winter months. Jason is one of the founders of Parlor Skis in East Boston. Parlor is a custom ski manufacturer that’s been receiving great reviews and press for their awesome product.

2002 Andrew Newell is racing for the SMS/T2 Team and U.S. National Team. Once again, Andy spent the summer training and living in Vermont.

Carson Thurber lives in Woodford, VT. He welcomed the birth of his daughter, Basil Thurber, in March. Carson and his wife, Ali, enjoy hiking and skiing many of the Southern Vermont ski resorts.

Chance Longley recently was engaged and lives in Stratton, VT. Dave Rothman works at Orvis and resides with his wife Tyne Pike-Sprenger ’00 in Wilmington, VT. DJ Wassick moved back to Vermont from California in April. He has been enjoying time with his niece, Basil Ellen Thurber. DJ has also been finding time to train and race in multiple marathons. Over the summer DJ spent time with fellow SMS classmates Andy Newell, Ryan Foster and Carson Thurber.

Erika Hogan says, “I’m taking a break from coaching at The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation this winter and will be coaching Hailey Duke on the World Cup Slalom Circuit. The first race is Levi, Finland.”

Molly Grey graduated from Vermont Law School and is now a Law Clerk with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Gus Kaeding lives in Park City, UT. Smaranda Munteanu lives in Romania.

Smaranda welcomed a new addition to her family last year: a baby girl, Neva.

James Hardy lives in Boston with his girlfriend.

2003 MacKenzie & Russell Watson

Teri Schlang married Adam La France in Tahoe. SMS Alumni Kelly O’Hear, AnnMarie (Turner) Jermy, and Kaitlin Fox were in attendance.

Worthy McCormick lives in Breckenridge, CO. Worthy owns and operates the Bivvi.

The Bivvi is a mountain hostel located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge, CO. Heidi Skinner is living and working in Boston, MA, for Athena Health. She’s been traveling and exploring the world and just recently became a homeowner!

Kelly O’Hear is now living in Palo Alto and is a second year anesthesiology resident at Stanford.

Greg Hardy moved to Burlington, VT and is looking forward to taking some time away from skiing.

Ryan Foster and his wife, Kate, reside in Vermont and are in the process of building a home in Landgrove, VT. Ryan is an architect for a Boston-based firm that specializes in historical restorations.

Scott Veenis is a member of the U.S. Ski Team coaching staff and travels extensively throughout the World Cup season.

MacKenzie (Rasch) Watson married Russell Watson on September 13, 2014 at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, NY. The couple is thrilled to begin the next chapter in their lives together. A two-week honeymoon to England and Italy is planned over New Year’s. The couple resides in South Orange, NJ.

AnnMarie Turner Jermy and Kelly O’Hear

Josh Bedard lives in Laconia, NH, with his wife and dogs. Josh coaches at the Gunstock Ski Club in the winter.

2005 Alexandra Duckworth was a member of Canada’s 2014 Olympic Snowboarding Team.

2006 Danny Davis was a member of the 2014 U.S. Olympic team. He joined the Martin Guitar Ambassador Family with the release of the 2015 Easy Livin, his latest pro model.

Danny won his second XGames Gold and was named Snowboarder Magazine’s Halfpipe Rider of the Year.

Louie Vito lives in Salt Lake City, UT. Louie is a great promoter of youth/action sports and continues to be one of the best snowboarders in the world!

Brian Vallario says, “I just finished my Master’s in Architecture from Pratt Institute.

I’m still living in Brooklyn and I’m now a designer at SITU Studio and teaching an architecture design studio at CityTech College. Elad Gilo, Sean Cummisky and I spent two weeks down in Nicaragua surfing and avoiding the responsibilities of growing up.”

Starting Gate - Spring 2015 | 25

The Finish Line 2007 Will Hadden joined the SMS alpine coaching staff this winter. The entire SMS community is excited to welcome him back.

Ryan Sullivan is a case manager at Forensic Health Services in Derby, CT, and is pursuing a Master of Social Work degree at Fordham University. He has been spending time on the slopes of Mohawk Mountain (CT) and Deer Valley.

Britt Wohler lives in New York City and works in commercial real estate.

Kelly Skinner is living and working in Western Massachusetts, specifically Shelburne Falls, with Jeremy Lawless.

Jeremy is a sales manager for Mayhew, a family-owned steel manufacturing company, and Kelly is a yoga/spin/Pilates instructor and just recently started her own health coaching business.

2008 David Guttman attended Hunter College in NYC and graduated with a double major in British Lit and New Media Studies, which he says was inspired by SMS’s Mrs. deSantis. Now, he is working at MTV in digital advertising, but is also staying active in the ski world by doing some work for an organization called Ski Bums, which is the world’s largest club of LGBT skiers and snowboarders. David’s current project is prepping the launch of their college chapter, which will occur next winter.

Amanda Chase moved to Florida after graduating from St. Lawrence University to work as the Miama Dolphins Director of Operations and Logistics for their nonprofit event called the Dolphin Cycling Challenge. The event is the largest single fundraising event in the NFL and is set to raise over $5 million this year 26 | Starting Gate - Spring 2015

for the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Though she misses the seasons of New England, she is having a blast down South.

Christine Schozer graduated from Middlebury College in May 2013. Currently she works as a production assistant at NBC in New York City.

Sophie Caldwell is gearing up for four months in Europe racing World Cups and chasing podium spots.

Kyle Dewey is currently living in Grovetown, GA, working in the lone tactical unit at U.S. Fort Gordon. In addition to gaining fluency in multiple languages, he and his wife Rebecca are recent home owners.

Daniel Feldman took a year off after finishing up at CU Boulder before attending New York Law School. Now in his second year there, Dan has found internships at Stryker Spine and the Nature Conservancy.

Mike Hahn is living in Brooklyn, NY, working as a freelance creative and fine artist.

John Sitarz says, “I moved from Denver to Chicago about 1 year ago. I now work for Harris Associates, as the manager for the Oakmark Funds doing equity research and loving it out here.”

Cort Ahl is living in NYC, and just started working at Neuberger Berman Private Equity. He sees Stratton friends often!

Chase Marston is living and working at SMS, coaching Nordic skiing and teaching.

Danielle Baron is living and working in Manchester, NH, at BerryDunn Public Accounting Firm. She loves her job and the people she works with, but misses having mountains and ski trails in her back yard.

Bond Longley is living in Vermont and manages outerwear at The Starting Gate Ski Shop.

2009 Mike Nocek is a freshman at Boston College.

Annie Davis reports, “I currently live in Boulder, Colorado, but as much as I love it here, Vermont will always be my home.

I keep busy by holding the position of creative director for Boulder Freeride, the largest ski and snowboard club in the world and the largest collegiate club in the nation.

This past year I have thoroughly been enjoying my classes at CU Boulder.”

Karmen Whitham says, “After graduating with my BS from Northern Michigan University last May I decided to stay in the Upper Peninsula where I am continuing in the graduate program of Exercise Physiology and helping with neurodegenerative research in Psychology & Neuroscience. I am also becoming a massage therapist at the Marquette School of Therapeutic Massage and am the head Nordic ski coach for Marquette Senior High School. Plans for the future are to finish my thesis on VO2max analysis of elite skiers in hypoxia and get my Physical Therapy licensure…but anything could happen!

Although I miss Southern Vermont and all its beauty, I’ve really been enjoying Lake Superior, ski-trails (xc & downhill), one of the biggest mountain bike destinations, rock climbing, cliff jumping and an awesome bike path all less than 5 minutes from my apartment!”

Lizzy Beerman says, “I graduated from Westminster (spring 2014) with a BFA: emphasis in photography and a minor in business. I am living in Salt Lake and I currently work as a photo editor for a professional action sports and portrait

photographer named Scott Markewitz. This will be my third season coaching with Team Utah up at Snowbird Resort, and I have a really cool dog named Collins.

Kelly Orme reports, “I live in NYC. I am a NYC teaching fellow (same fellowship Hayley Jones ’05, did). I’m the assistant director of special education at Mott Hall V School, where I also teach American History & Government. I got a Master’s at Hunter College. Schozer ’08, is my neighbor — small world!”

2010 Marta Decarli says, “I currently live in Cortina, Italy. I keep busy by going to University three days a week, by taking classes (on snow and in class) to become a ski instructor, and by doing yoga. This past year, I have graduated from Italian high school and began classes to become a ski instructor. My best SMS memory is Graduation day! (Not because the SMS experience was over, but because it was such a fun day, everyone was happy and the SMS staff made it so memorable.)”

Jackie Hernandez reports, “Last season was a wild one, making the Olympics was a dream come true and even though it didn’t go as planned, it is still an experience that I will never forget. I am still training and racing with the US Team. I am still living in Salt Lake City and I am loving it here.

I am going to Westminster College here in Salt Lake City and I am a sophomore slowly working towards a degree.”

Skyler Davis attends UVM and plays for the men’s soccer team.

Cole Skinner is a senior at UMass Amherst, studying business. Cole is also a member of the United States Air Force.

He’s an Operations Intelligence Analyst

with the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes ANGB, Westfield, MA, in support of F-15 Eagle. Cole is a graduate of Survival School, completed in a deployment to Malaysia over the summer.

Shelby Simpson currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, and is an event designer at Hatch Creative Studio and the art director for the Frendly Gathering Music Festival. Shelby has also founded the Creative Collective, a group committed to encouraging youth creatively through dance, music, film, visual arts, and writing.

Hunter Resek says, “I currently live in Durham, NH. I’m now a sophomore at UNH and I am studying Sport Psychology.

As for my athletic life I made the huge decision to quit ski racing totally and pursue cycling, only road racing. Last summer I competed in the BUMPS series (Bike Up the Mtns Points Series) and won 3 of the individual stages and was 2nd in the overall. After this I started racing for the UNH Cycling team and was 3rd overall in the ECCC (Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference) as a freshman. This opened the doors for me to get on my current team, CCB International Cycling team, though I still race for UNH in the collegiate season.

After having a huge summer of great races I have upgraded to the PRO 1/2 category and from here my goal is to get on a full pro team and travel the world and race bikes!”

Valley Academy coaching their U18 alpine girls. In addition, I am making jewelry and selling my items in a small shop in NH.” Prescott McLaughlin attends Dartmouth College and races for their alpine ski team.

Scotty trained in Mount Hood over the summer, where he cheered on many up and coming SMS racers!

Izzy Caldwell is working at the Burr & Burton Academy’s Mountain Campus.

Austin Caldwell is a senior at Dartmouth College and is the current co-captain of the Nordic team.

2013 Daniel Landy says, “I am now in my sophomore year enjoying Babson College.

Other updates from my classmates, Peter Cerulo is loving Utah! Josh Cohen is doing well in Boulder and doing well in his boarder cross career.”

Kevin Mattice worked this past summer at Inukton Services LTD, a custom robotics company, on Vancouver Island. Kevin was participating in a joint engineering program as the mechanical engineer from Adaptive Technical Solutions LLC.

Marley Pawlak says, “I graduated from Plymouth State College in May with a major in professional communication.

Currently, I am working for Waterville

You can view other notes and search for alumni online by going to www.gosms.org/alumni and clicking on the Directory link.

Starting Gate - Spring 2015 | 27

Stratton Mountain School 7 World Cup Circle Stratton Mountain, VT 05155 www.gosms.org

Join us for the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center Dedication and Alumni Weekend • Saturday, June 13, 2015 For more information, contact Carson Thurber at (802) 856-1108, cthurber@gosms.org.