experience the langley school Summer 2008 Special Alumni Issue
The Langley Sc hool Experience is published twice a year for friends and families of The Langley School. Head of School Doris E. Cottam Editor & Designer Sharon Ifft Photographers Sharon FrankMatthewIfftLesterMcPartland Advancement Office Paula DirectorDilligof DirectorMegpdillig@langleyschool.orgAdvancementCluteofParent&Alumni Relations diverseteachers,Thesifft@langleyschool.orgDirectorSharonedavis@langleyschool.orgAssistantEmilymclute@langleyschool.orgDavisDirectorofAdvancementIfftofPublications&MarketingLangleySchooliscomprisedofstudents,parents,andstaffwhobelievethataschoolcommunitypromoteslearning and growth, preparing students for responsible and compassionate citizenship in the global community. We administer all programs and policies without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or any other category to the extent protected by applicable laws. The Langley School 1411 Balls Hill Road McLean, VA 22101 Phone: (703) 356-1920 Fax: (703) www.langleyschool.org790-9712 A Message from the Head of School Campus HappeningsGraduation Class of 2008 High School Listing What Makes Langley Special? My Favorite Langley Memory Langley’s High School History Advancement Update Sherman Arts Center to Open This Fall Meet Langley’s Director of Advancement Sports Spotlight Langley Athletes Shine Langley in Depth Honoring Langley’s Library Lady, Pat Bush Alumni in Action Robert McDowell ’77 Ashleigh Rabbitt Sekoski ’90 Mark Bengston ’79 Cynthia Leive ’80 Christopher Gergen ’84 Lauren Rabbitt ’92 Jim Fitzpatrick ’90 Alumni News Class Representatives Class of 2004 Colleges Langley’s CollegeClassHistoryNotes 222119171614131087766542124242526
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Doris E. Cottam Head of School a message from the Head of School
Whether graduating from Langley in the past five years or 20 years ago, our alumni continue to feel a special connection to the school of their childhood. Since our founding in 1942, Langley has provided a wellrounded education to thousands of students, preparing them to become successful, contributing adults. From their beginnings on Langley’s campus in McLean, our graduates have spread their wings, attending the top high schools and colleges nationwide and launching impressive careers in everything from business and law to the arts and sports. In this special alumni issue of the Experience, we take a look at the lives of seven alumni, some of whom attended the school for the full 11 years, some of whom were only here a short time. But the friendships they made, the teachers they loved, and the memories they created here at Langley shaped them into the successful people they are today. Their titles are impressive –commissioner of the FCC, opera singer, fashion designer, editor-inchief of Glamour magazine, author and entrepreneur, lawyer, and basketball coach – and we are proud to call them Langley alumni.
As we celebrate the school’s 66th anniversary and move forward with a new strategic plan for our future, it’s important to remember our roots and the foundation on which Langley was built back in 1942. It is through connections with our many alumni, past parents, and past faculty that we keep this important sense of history and perspective alive. So it’s only fitting that we honor longtime Langley librarian and parent Pat Bush in this alumni-centered issue (see page 10). Pat retired in June at the age of 85 after 45 years of dedicated service to the school as a parent, volunteer, Board member, and our first paid librarian. Over the last halfcentury, this remarkable lady oversaw the creation and growth of our library program and shared her love of reading with countless students, parents, faculty, and staff members. Even in her retirement, she will continue to serve as an important link to Langley’s past and we treasure her Ifriendship.hopeyou enjoy reminiscing with our alums, learning about their many accomplishments, and celebrating with our most recent graduating class as you flip through the pages of this Wemagazine.treasure each of you and hope to keep the connection between past and present alive and well. So please come back for reunions, visit the campus, stop by to chat with former teachers, attend our concerts and plays. As alumni, you will forever be part of the Langley family and are always welcome here.
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Clockwise from top left: Ten students in grades 4-8 competed in the first round of the annual National Geographic Bee at Langley in January. The school’s winner, sixth-grader Danny Rodriguez (kneeling in photo), qualified as one of 100 students in Virginia to compete at the state level of the Geography Bee.
After taking on the identities of new immigrants arriving in America – complete with passports and foreign currency – second-grade students participated in an authentic Ellis Island simulation during their “Coming to America” unit in February.
As part of their study of Colonial America, third-graders researched and depicted the Jamestown story during their Colonial Day performance.
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campus happenings
Through poems, recitations, skits, and songs, first-grade students shared their newfound penguin knowledge at the “Penguins on Parade” performance. Their month-long integrated unit included penguin-related lessons and projects in a variety of subjects.
Middle School students demonstrated their musical talent at the annual spring concert. Langley’s three bands achieved their best results to date at a national band competition in Chicago in April.
fifth-graders participated in the school’s 10th annual cricket match. Now a springtime tradition, this much-anticipated event teaches students the finer points of cricket while also providing them with valuable lessons in sportsmanship, honesty, and respect for other cultures.
Three favorite children’s stories came to life in Langley’s original Middle School production of “Night at the Library” which was created by Middle Schoolers from the “Developing a Play” elective class. The play’s three-night run in March drew record Inaudiences.May,Langley
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During the fourth annual BardFest Shakespearean festival, sixth-graders presented a series of original scenes from the comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing,” recited monologues from a variety of Shakespearean works, and enjoyed a delicious Elizabethan feast. Students in grades 1-8 teamed up to test their skill in 10 creative outdoor events at the school’s Field Day in May. Kindergartners shared their knowledge of crickets, spiders, mosquitoes, and more through creative songs, poems, and dances during their performance of “It’s a Bug’s World” this spring.
graduation LangleyTheSchoolClassof2008 EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 4 Michael McCarty Barclay, Jr. Marlana Alexis Barnard Peter Elliott Behm* Tyler Adam Brown, Jr. Ryan Mitchell Chang* Chandra Susan Chea Nathaniel Chen Aurian Darvishi Brian Robert DeMocker* Thomas Anthony Duffy* Mollie McIntyre Evans* Nathan Jeremy Gemmell* Hamdah Saqr Ghobash Geoffrey Glenn Gibson Erin Christine Gistaro* Dillon Robert Gorsen* Keon Hashemi Claire Elizabeth Kett Andrew Kositzke Doran Klein* Connor Leif Knutsen Margaret Antonia Lewis Delia Sydney Maresco Claire Marie McDonald Marisa G. Messina* Brittany R. Jenkins-Murray Mary Virginia O’Connor Kameel F. Omar Allison Marie Pool* James K. Rosen* Victoria Leigh Schwehr Bennett Richard Silverman* Julian Joseph Weiss Jason JaeHo Yang Catherine Ji-eun Yim Georgetown Day School The Bullis School McLean High School The Field School St. Albans School National Cathedral School George C. Marshall H.S. IB Program The Bullis School Flint Hill School The Potomac School The Madeira School St. Albans School Al Raha School in Abu Dhabi, UAE The Bullis GeorgetownSchoolDay School Maret School The Bullis School The Madeira School Maret School Flint Hill School The Madeira School The Madeira School Kent Denver School Georgetown Day School Edison H.S. IB Program The Bullis School Landon GeorgetownSchoolDay School Flint Hill School The Potomac School Choate Rosemary Hall Sidwell Friends School Flint Hill School Sidwell Friends School *Denotes that student has continually attended The Langley School since nursery, TPC, or JK years
“Even though I was only at Langley for two years, I learned how to become independent and made great friends here. The teachers care for more than their students’ academic knowledge; they also care about our character.” -Catherine Yim “Langley has taught me a lot about who I am and who I hope to be one day. I learned to be a leader, both in the classroom and on the athletic field.” -Kameel Omar
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“I’ve been at Langley since junior kindergarten. During that time, I’ve grown stronger and more confident, built friendships that will last a lifetime, and learned a great deal about myself and the world around me.” -Marisa Messina
What “I’mLangleyMakesSpecial?definitelywellpreparedforhighschool. I wouldn’t have gotten the same education anywhere else.” -Margaret Lewis
“Langley inspired me to work hard, taught me to never give up, and shaped my character. I feel incredibly prepared for the future, academically and emotionally.” -Claire McDonald
“From finger painting in kindergarten to algebra in eighth grade, Langley has prepared me well for high school and whatever may come next in my life.” -Jimmy Rosen
“In an extremely friendly and supportive environment, Langley challenged me. I’ve learned to be open to new ideas and was pushed to do the best I could.” -Victoria Schwehr “Langley has changed me a lot and taught me to grow up. The school directed me on the right path for the future.” -Aurian Darvishi
“Langley offers an environment that pushes you to your limits, but provides a safe place to fall if you fail.” -Mollie Evans
Members of the Class of 2008 purchased a wooden bench, which will be used by future generations of Langley Middle Schoolers, as their parting gift to the school. Spearheaded by Class of 2008 representatives Allison Pool and Victoria Schwehr – who were chosen by their peers to serve as a link to Langley – the class raised money for the bench through a series of bake sale fundraisers.
Leaving a Legacy
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My Favorite Langley Memory Is… “…the sixth-grade rafting trip. It was the first time I had ever camped out, made food in a bowl, and been rafting.” -Delia Maresco “…traveling to Williamsburg with the eighth-grade class where we got to stay in a hotel, visit Busch Gardens, and learn about Colonial Williamsburg.” -Brittany Murray “…playing soccer games against Norwood. We always wanted to beat them so badly, but after the game, we were like best friends.” -Geoffrey Gibson “…the last day of school every year because the feeling of accomplishment is great.” -Michael Barclay “…when Mrs. Mikey walked onto the basketball court for the eighth-grade vs. faculty game wearing 10-inch heels.” -Mollie Evans “…the Middle School plays. I made friends in all different grades and learned so much about theatre.” -Claire McDonald
AttendingGraduatesLangleyof# 10-125-93-4FlintHillSchoolGeorgetownDaySchoolMadeiraSchool NationalCathedralSchoolThePotomacSchool ThomasJeffersonHSSTTheBullisSchool LandonSchool St.Andrew’sEpiscopalSchoolAcademyGeorgetownPreparatorySchoolGeorgetownVisitationSchooloftheHolyCrossGonzagaCollegeHighSchoolTheHolton-ArmsSchoolSidwellFriendsSchool St.Stephen’s&St.AgnesSchoolMaretSchool 15+ Langley’s High School History Which independent and magnet high schools have Langley graduates most frequently attended in the past six years?
6 “…representing Langley at Math Counts in seventh and eighth grades because of the feeling of accomplishment I had when I placed first for Langley.” -Bennett Silverman “…my sixth-grade band trip. It was exciting to be able to represent Langley, travel with my friends, and be on our own away from our parents.” -Chandra Chea “…winning the Langley Spirit Award. It was my first year at Langley and I was not expecting to receive such a prestigious award.” -Nathaniel Chen
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After a year of construction, Langley’s new Jeffrey J. Sherman Arts Center is nearly complete! Finishing touches are being added this summer to ready the building for use when school begins in the fall. We will celebrate the arts center’s grand opening with an event for students on September 3 and an adults-only parent/donor dedication ceremony on September 9. This state-of-the-art facility features a 350-seat multi-purpose auditorium, band room, music and art rooms, art display gallery, and spacious lobby area for student lunches and parent receptions. Named in honor of former Langley parent and Board Chair Jeff Sherman, it will elevate the school’s arts programs, open up space on campus so that we can maintain our low student-teacher ratio, and provide a central gathering spot for the entire school community to use daily. Due to the generosity of our supporters, Langley was able to raise $7.7 million for this large-scale project, the biggest in the school’s history. We thank everyone who helped make the Sherman Arts Center a reality. It is truly a magnificent addition to Langley’s campus. Support for the Future
Build a meaningful legacy for present and future generations through your generous support of The Langley School’s Legacy Society which recognizes benefactors who have provided for the school’s future through gifts such as bequests, trusts, or other estate plan gifts. These are gifts that will sustain the school’s tradition of excellence for years to come. If you have remembered the school in your will or through another type of planned or deferred gift, please contact Director of Advancement Paula Dillig at (703) 848-2785 or via e-mail at pdillig@langleyschool.org. We would be pleased to acknowledge your thoughtful generosity and welcome you to the Legacy Society.
Meet DilligInAdvancementDirectorLangley’sofApril,LangleywelcomedPaulaastheschool’snewdirector of advancement. Paula comes to Langley with nearly 10 years of fundraising experience at educational institutions, most recently serving as director of development at Sewickley Academy in Pennsylvania where she planned and implemented a $20 million capital campaign for endowment and phase one of a five-phased new campus master plan. In addition, Paula has solicited major gifts at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Carnegie Mellon University, and the West Virginia University Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education administration, both from West Virginia University, and has also earned her certificate in fundraising management.
Sherman Arts Center to Open This Fall advancement update
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Overall Record: 12-0 CAC Regular Season Finish: Champion CAC Tournament Finish: Champion Season Highlights: The girls’ JV squad was unbeatable this season, winning all 12 of their games, including a non-conference win over Bullis. In the CAC tournament final, they topped Immanuel Christian 35-25 to take home the title.
Season
Overall Record: 18-2 CAC West Division Regular Season Finish: Champion CAC Tournament Finish: Second Place CAC All-Stars: Claire Kett, Brittany Murray
Girls’ JV Basketball
Highlights: The girls had impressive non-conference wins over St. John’s, Bullis, and Loudoun Country Day and beat rival Westminster twice in the regular season. They powered their way to the CAC tournament final, where they fell to a hot Westminster squad 40-29.
Langley Athletes Shine
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Season Highlights: The boys began the season by winning the annual Langley holiday tournament and continued undefeated in the CAC west division throughout the regular season. In the CAC tournament semifinals, they suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss to Woods Academy, but captured the consolation game in convincing fashion, topping Immanuel Christian by 20 points.
During the winter and spring sports seasons, Langley athletes in grades 5-8 displayed their athletic abilities and sportsmanship as they competed in basketball, softball, lacrosse, and track and field in the 10-school Capital Athletic Conference (CAC). Our teams brought home a total of seven first-place banners in these sports. Congratulations to all of our student athletes and coaches on successful seasons! sports spotlight
Overall Record: 17-3 CAC West Division Regular Season Finish: Champion CAC Tournament Finish: Third Place CAC All-Stars: Peter Behm, Matt Sniezek, Mike Sniezek
Boys’ Varsity Basketball
Girls’ Varsity Basketball
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Season Highlights: Both boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams worked hard this year and learned the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. Although there is not a season-ending CAC tournament for lacrosse, both teams placed fourth during the annual Woods Academy Invitational tournament.
Overall Team Finish: Champion Individual Finishes: 7 first place, 4 second place, 3 third place Team Relay Finishes: 1 first place, 2 second place, 3 third place
& Field
Season Highlights: After a strong start to the season, the JV boys faded down the stretch and were knocked out of the CAC tournament quarterfinals by a tough St. Patrick’s team. Despite a few difficult losses, our hard-working team enjoyed some exciting wins to finish third in the regular Trackseason.
CAC Regular Season Finish: Third Place CAC Tournament Finish: Quarterfinals
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Highlights: More than 40 Langley students in grades 5-8 competed against about 300 students from seven other CAC schools in the following events: 100-, 200-, 400-, and 800-meter dash; 4x100- and 4x200-meter relay; shot put; and long jump.
CAC Regular Season Finish: Champion CAC Tournament Finish: Champion
Boys’ JV Basketball
Season Highlights: After defeating Westminster in the semifinal game of the CAC tournament 10-6, the girls made a tremendous comeback in the final to take the championship. Trailing 18-6 to Congressional in the fourth inning, Langley’s girls had a late-game run to win it in a thriller, 20-19.
Overall Record: 6-5
Overall Record: 7-0
Boys’ & Girls’ Lacrosse Final CAC Record: 2-3 (boys), 1-4 (girls)
Girls’ Softball
Honoring Langley’s Library Lady pat bush retires after 45 years of service
The Bush family’s Langley journey began when a neighbor recommended the school for their daughter, Karen. Mrs. Bush and her late husband, Stewart, enrolled Karen in junior kindergarten in 1963 and soon became actively involved volunteers.
The Evolution of Langley’s Library
In the early 1960s, the “library” was housed in a tiny room next to the teacher’s kitchen with a few shelves of books. It was staffed solely by volunteers and was only open one day a week. Far from today’s integrated library curriculum that ties into classroom lessons, the library in those days served one purpose: a place for children to check out books individually with permission from their parents. Mrs. Bush spent one day each week volunteering in the library, where her duties consisted of taking inventory, purchasing new books on a budget of $50 per year, and ordering textbooks for every classroom. “I remember bringing my pregnant cat with me one day to the library and she had her kittens right there in that room,” Mrs. Bush laughs. “I guess you could say my cats were born and bred at Langley.”
In addition to serving on the school’s Board for several years and taking a lead role in organizing the annual spring fair, Mrs. Bush was chosen to head the Library Committee and its group of volunteers. So when Langley decided to hire its first full-time paid librarian in 1971, Mrs. Bush was the obvious choice for the job. On a salary of $2,400 per year, she embarked on a new career as Langley’s head librarian, a position she would hold for the next 16 years. By the early 1970s, the library began to outgrow its closet-sized space and moved to a brand new, more spacious building which later became the school’s band room. “We finally had enough space so that the children could come into the library as a group for story time or to browse the shelves,” Mrs. Bush says. “That move enabled us to begin forming an actual library program.”
Mrs. Bush was instrumental in developing several of the library’s most-loved traditions and programs during her tenure, including the Book Fair and Birthday Books. This Langley tradition allows families to purchase books for the library and honors them with special bookplates which were designed by one of Mrs. Bush’s parent volunteers.
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As a Langley parent, library volunteer, and paid librarian for the next 45 years, Mrs. Bush oversaw more than four decades of growth and change in the school’s library. Her retirement at the age of 85 this June marks the end of an era at Langley.
When Pat Bush first set foot on The Langley School’s campus in 1963, the school was housed entirely in one building, tuition was just $32 per month, and the library consisted of a closet-sized room open one day a week.
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“Back then, all parents were required to volunteer quite a few hours at the school,” recalls Mrs. Bush, who previously worked at Filene’s in Boston and in the FBI’s administrative offices. “Although I had never worked in a library before, I loved to read, so I chose to spend much of my volunteer time on the Library Committee.”
Photo at right: Pat Bush with her late husband, Stewart, and daughter, Karen.
A Unique Perspective
As a farewell gift, Langley Middle School students presented Mrs. Bush with a book of reflections they had written describing their love of reading – a memento of great significance to her that validates her life’s work as a librarian.
“I worry that with so much technology out there today bombarding our children, they are not reading and learning to appreciate books,” Mrs. Bush says. “The wonderful pieces our Middle Schoolers wrote about the joy of reading give me hope for the future and confidence that Langley is providing our students with a solid foundation.”
In addition, Mrs. Bush felt the school should teach library research skills to the older students and began incorporating these lessons into the curriculum. She also started working collaboratively with teachers to make the library a more integral part of the curriculum. “We had a calendar that showed what units each class was studying, and began putting together lists of library books that would help enrich the topic,” she recalls. It was Mrs. Bush’s vision and foresight that brought technology to Langley’s library. She recalls attending an Association of School Librarians conference where she first heard about new technology for libraries. So she and Langley’s assistant librarian, Pam Edwards, researched several computer and software companies and eventually bought the very first computers for the library.
In 1987, at the age of 65, Mrs. Bush stepped down from her position as head librarian. However, she remained a vital part of the library staff as assistant head then library associate for the next 21 years, supporting and providing guidance to four head librarians. In 1992, Langley paid permanent tribute to Mrs. Bush’s many contributions when the school named its brand new library facility in her honor. Today, the Pat Bush Library boasts more than 20,000 volumes, more than 100 print and online subscriptions, videoconferencing technology, numerous computers, and an Activboard, and serves students of all ages daily.
As an active member of the school community for 45 years and a library employee for 37 years, Mrs. Bush is able to offer a unique perspective on the school’s progression throughout the last half century. So what has changed the most since her arrival in 1963? “Technology!” she says, without hesitation. “Of course there are other big changes such as the number of buildings, the size of t he student body, and the tuition, but I think the technology we have today both in the library and around campus is so far beyond what any of us could have imagined in the early 1960s.”
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Celebrating
Pat Bush
One thing that hasn’t changed during Mrs. Bush’s 45 years at Langley is the sense of community and caring. “While I truly enjoyed working with books in the library, what I love most about Langley are the people and the lasting friendships I’ve made,” says Mrs. Bush. When her husband died suddenly in 1977 and her only child, Karen, left for college just six weeks later, the entire community surrounded her with love and support. In fact, Mrs. Bush says that if it wasn’t for her many Langley friends, she would have never remained on the library staff well into her 80s.
On May 4, more than 150 members of the Langley community, both past and present, came together to celebrate Pat Bush’s 45 years of service to the school at a special reception. Pictured at right: Former Head of School Lucy Daoust, Pat Bush, and Head of School Doris Cottam.
What’s next for Mrs. Bush? Almost 86 and showing no signs of slowing down, she plans to remain an active member of Langley’s faculty book club, hopes to volunteer at her local library in Great Falls, VA, and will keep in close contact with her many Langley friends.
“After Stewart died, the parents, faculty, and staff here became my family, so coming to work was a pleasure,” she adds.
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“Working in the Langley library not only was a delight, but also gave me a wonderful friend in Pat. What she has given to the Langley library over the years is remarkable. But what she has given to the Langley children, the school, and all those connected to her has been extraordinary.” -Ginnie Mars, past parent
“From the early days of the library-in-a-closet to today’s impressive print and digital collection, Pat envisioned a place and program to match Langley’s pursuit of excellence. She has given Langley more than the school library physical space; she has given us the love of reading and the desire to explore knowledge beyond the classroom.”
“So many of my Langley memories include Pat Bush: Her wonderful way with children – urging them to choose books that interest them, rather than ones that please adults – her magnificent sense of humor, and finally, her beloved place among colleagues.” -Chris Till, past parent
“Pat’s greatest influence and contribution to Langley through the library program has been her love of literature and her interest in authors and books – she is the quintessential bibliophile! And everyone knows she is a great storyteller.”
-Jan Silvano, co-head librarian
“In those years of my silly little girlhood, Mrs. Bush proffered a reverent look at words on a page, and how they could so uniquely compliment the perfect illustration. There was the beauty of Ann, and how she liked red, and the brilliance with which Charlotte would spin a tale. And I never tired of the manic hilarity of Amelia Bedelia and Superfudge and Fourth Grade Nothings. Mrs. Bush even made research seem a gift, with the help of Dewey. How fitting that the library now bears her name. She created it, carried it, nurtured and tended it and all who passed through it.” -Nevah (Thompson) Stevenson ’79
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“I have great memories of movies in the Castle Room (particularly “Harold and the Purple Crayon”), and I thank Mrs. Bush for instilling in me a love of reading and learning.” -Ashley Snowdon Blanchard ’90
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“Entering the library for story time was one of my favorite times of the day. I remember finding the perfect spot in the tiered reading area. The library has now moved to a brighter and larger space, but the lovely lady with the white hair has been a constant behind the desk for years. She will be missed.” -Vivian Keller ’79
-Maria Koropecky, co-head librarian
“I continue to have many fond memories of library time at Langley and the special feeling Mrs. Bush helped facilitate of choosing a book each week and making reading exciting. She is such a warm and friendly person and I found her to be a comforting presence throughout my 11 years as a student at Langley and for the last 25 years beyond my graduation as well. Her dedication and service at Langley are extraordinary.” -Jenny Brown Sheehan ’83
Pat Bush’s Legacy Photos at right from top: Pat Bush cuts the ribbon to Langley’s new Pat Bush Library in 1992; Pat Bush works with a student; Pat Bush and Librarian Susan Viola share their love of reading.
Robert McDowell ’77
FCC Commissioner Alumni in Action: A Look at Where They Are Today
Whether debating a merger between two satellite radio companies, orchestrating the shift to digital television broadcasts, or creating a nationwide public safety broadband network, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Robert McDowell ’77 is on the forefront of the nation’s increasingly digital age of Nominatedcommunications.byPresident George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2006, McDowell, 45, is one of five appointed commissioners who direct the FCC, an independent government agency charged with regulating interstate and international radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable communications. The FCC, with 2,000 employees nationwide, is organized in a series of bureaus covering everything from consumer and governmental affairs to wireless telecommunications to public safety and homeland security.
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“Today, American consumers are more empowered with information than ever before, thanks to brave and brilliant entrepreneurs, increased competition, and less government regulation,” McDowell says. “All Americans should be able to benefit from the Digital Revolution and the FCC should strive to help American consumers realize that goal.” Working with his own staff of three lawyers, McDowell reviews thousands of matters that come before the FCC every year. Once a month, he and his fellow commissioners hold an open public meeting at which they debate and vote on some of the issues at hand. Although the job requires long hours at FCC headquarters in Washington, DC, McDowell has the opportunity to travel frequently throughout the country to gather information and hear from real people. One trip took him to remote Nome, AK, to see firsthand how a phone subsidy works.
“The job is daunting, challenging, and extremely rewarding, all at the same time,” says McDowell, who dubs his role as commissioner as the most enjoyable of his career. “The FCC touches the lives of every American, every day. What we accomplish today will shape the future for our children and their children. It is an awesome Soresponsibility.”whatpathdid this Langley grad and Vienna, VA, native follow from his days as a Middle Schooler to the FCC? McDowell arrived at Langley in 1975 as a seventh-grader when his parents moved him from nearby Green Hedges School in search of a larger student body. While he was only a Langley student for two years, the school and the knowledge he gained here clearly made a lasting impression on him.
McDowell fondly remembers John Trott, eighth-grade teacher of English, history, social studies, ornithology, and botany, who he claims was the best teacher he had throughout his entire educational career, including high school, college, and law school. “Mr. Trott was able to figure out how each student learned in order to inspire us and grab our attention,” he recalls. “He had a way of spreading his infectious enthusiasm and maintaining a strong level of discipline without being Inoverbearing.”additionto his positive academic experience at Langley, McDowell was involved in numerous extra-curricular
Alumni in Action: A Look at Where They Are Today
SekoskiRabbittAshleigh’90
Despite his busy schedule, McDowell finds time to indulge his other passion – the arts. An avid fan of both performing and fine arts, he serves on the board of the nearby McLean Project for the Arts, an organization with a mission to expose and connect the community to the arts, and recently completed his term as chairman of its board. “One thousand years from now, no one will remember what the FCC did, but art will always be remembered and valued,” he says.
“In my heart, I’ll always be an opera singer,” says the 32-year-old New Yorker. “But it is very, very difficult to make a career out of being a performing artist. Eventually I realized that I don’t have to sing the role of Susanna in order to be a part of the process that makes it possible for Susanna to Withsing.”an annual budget of $40 million, City Opera is one of the biggest opera companies in L
As a third-grader at Langley, Ashleigh Rabbitt Sekoski ’90 sang her very first solo in a production of “The Pied Piper of Hamlintown” on the stage of the old Field House. It wouldn’t be her last. During her seven years as a professional opera singer, her lyric soprano voice could be heard in regional companies across the United States and in Europe.
He and his wife, Jennifer, and their three young children currently live in the family home in Vienna, VA, where he grew up. “My parents bought the property in the early 1960s when the area was considered the Wild West!” McDowell jokes. “It’s really a great experience to raise my own children there now.”
Recently married to a fellow opera singer, Sekoski and her husband, Josh, made the tough choice to leave their performing careers behind for a more settled and stable life. He has moved into finance, while she still has her hand in the opera world as part of New York City Opera’s development team.
After graduating from Langley, McDowell attended The Potomac School for one year (at the time the school only went through ninth grade) then moved on to Deerfield Academy for his final three years of high school. In 1985, he graduated cum laude with a major in political science from Duke University, with the goal of becoming a lawyer. For the next two years, he gained political experience as chief legislative aide to Delegate Robert Andrews in the Virginia House of Delegates, while also freelance writing for Time Life Books.
Former Opera Singer activities – such as Student Council, sports, and dramatic productions – that helped shape him into a confident, well-spoken leader.
“I’ve always been fascinated with media-related issues,” says McDowell, whose parents worked for National Geographic and The Washington Post. “Add to that my interest in public policy and it was clear that I should pursue media law.” So he enrolled in the College of William & Mary’s School of Law and took his first step toward a successful and fulfilling career.
During this time, his strong sense of civic duty led him to run twice for a seat in the Virginia General Assembly and to serve as a member of countless boards and commissions, including the Governor’s Advisory Board for a Safe and Drug-Free Virginia.
While the specifics of a particular FCC case may be forgotten, the commission’s crucial decisions today – shaped in part by Robert McDowell – will have a far-reaching impact on the ever-changing future of global communications.
As McDowell built his resume in the private sector of the communications industry, he worked for several law firms and as senior vice president and assistant general counsel for COMPTEL, a trade association representing a variety of communications providers.
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Even though she and her classmates went their separate ways after eighth grade, Sekoski and her childhood friends made connections which have withstood the test of time. As a class representative, she has recently reconnected with many classmates and was thrilled that alum GroenningsChristina’90 was able to attend her wedding last May. “Langley was very much a community, and my entire family (her sister, Lauren ’92, also attended) feels such loyalty to the school,” she says.
Music became an increasingly important part of Sekoski’s life in high school at National Cathedral School and in college at Indiana University School of Music, where she was awarded two scholarships and began appearing on stage in university opera productions.
Surprisingly, she actually preferred drama to music as a child, fondly recalling her many performances, including the dinosaur production in kindergarten and her roles as a witch in the Halloween play, the bird in the Greek play, and the lead in an eighthgrade production. “What was so incredible about Langley was that I was able to do it all,” Sekoski remarks. “I played basketball and softball, was in the band, and acted in plays. I was exposed to a wide variety of activities, and as a kid, your mind just opens up to the Excellentworld.”teachers such as Mr. Silvano and Mrs. Mikey taught her valuable lessons in more than just science and math, and she still recalls the proud feeling of being a leader of the school during eighth grade. To this day, she remembers the carefully rehearsed graduation ceremony, the Walt Whitman poem she read, and the tremendous sense of accomplishment she felt afterward.
“You’re very fortunate if you are able to pursue what you love,” says Sekoski, who returned to Langley in 2003 to sing at the kick-off for the school’s arts center campaign. “The years I spent singing were life-building years. Singing afforded me many opportunities – I learned multiple languages and traveled to many countries. The best thing about being a performer is that you learn how to comport yourself, how to improvise, and how to act with grace under fire. Those skills will translate into other fields the rest of my life.”
From her early days at Langley – she attended the school from preschool through eighth grade – Sekoski was involved in music and credits the school for cultivating that interest.
In 2000, she received her master’s of music from the Eastman School of Music and soon after began her life as a professional opera singer.
“Langley was the first place I studied music,” she says, noting that she played the flute in the band for four years.
she no longer travels the world as a professional opera singer, Sekoski cannot completely give up her passion to perform. Last year, she starred as Kate in the concert version of “Kiss Me Kate” with the Annapolis Chorale and sang with her husband in a production of “Little Women” with Summer Opera Theater in Washington, DC. In fact, the couple postponed their honeymoon because the rehearsals began just three days after their wedding.
The work of an opera singer is freelance, so while at home in New York City, Sekoski worked as a temporary administrator in finance to support herself and studied privately with well-known voice teacher, Bill Neill. Her impressive resume includes leading roles with Lyric Opera of New York, Annapolis Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Shaker Mountain Opera (Berkshires), Opera in the Heights (Houston), Skylight Opera (Milwaukee), Center City Opera (Philadelphia), and Opera in the Ozarks, as well as performances at music festivals and embassies in Washington, DC, London, Rome, Berlin, and AlthoughSalzburg.
EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 15 the country. Sekoski and the 25-member development department are currently raising funds to renovate the New York State Theater, the company’s home in Lincoln Center. “I knew I’d be a little fish in a big pond. Not to be cliché, but I figured if I could do well here, I could go anywhere,” says Sekoski, who is currently taking classes at New York University to obtain her professional certificate in fundraising.
“Mr. Cummins taught me to read music, Ms. Dutton taught me to sing, and Mrs. Booth taught me to play the piano during after-school lessons.”
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If you’ve recently purchased a piece of clothing from Macy’s Charter Club line, chances are Mark Bengston ’79 had a hand in designing it. As a senior clothing designer for the renowned department store’s private label, he develops each season’s styles and colors found on Macy’s racks throughout the Althoughcountry. he always loved art, Bengston’s life took several twists and turns before he realized fashion design was the career for him. The youngest of four, he describes himself as a very sensitive child who would have been lost in a public school. “My parents, who both worked, wanted to find a school where I would be well-supported by the teachers, so they enrolled me at Langley in junior kindergarten,” says Bengston, who attended the school for 10 years until graduating in eighth grade. It turns out Langley was the perfect choice for this shy, but creative, child.
Academics took center stage in high school at Bullis, where Bengston became a very focused student, driven to get into a competitive college. He attended the College of William & Mary, graduating with a major in government, before enrolling in American University’s business school to obtain an advanced degree in marketing. Part way through his time at American, Bengston realized he was following the wrong path and began to think about a career in fashion design instead.
“Attending Langley was an amazing experience,” he says. To this day, Bengston, 42, clearly remembers the names of nearly every one of his Langley teachers, from Mrs. Booth in first grade to Mrs. Layman in fifth to Mr. Trott in Middle School. He still recalls the class field trips to Mrs. Layman’s house and the many hours Mr. Trott spent teaching students about birds, memorable lessons that transformed Bengston into the avid bird-watcher he is today.
Taking a cooking class, learning German in fifth grade, playing the saxophone in band, visiting an vania,communityAmishinPennsyl-participatinginfrequent art projects, learning about different religions through trips to temples and mosques – each of these experiences throughout his Langley years helped shape Bengston into a more wellrounded person. “Langley exposed me to so many different experiences, ideas, and religions. The school was incredibly progressive at the time and it made a big impact on me,” he adds.
Although Parsons was incredibly competitive, Bengston gained the necessary technical knowledge and landed his first job in the fashion world as an assistant designer at J. Crew in New York City. He then moved to Harold’s – a southern men’s and women’s clothing store headquartered in Dallas, TX – as design director, opening the company’s New York Inoffice.2004, Bengston happily accepted an offer to join Macy’s prestigious design team and speaks highly of the megacompany which has offices in 10 countries and takes in $27 billion per
Alumni in Action: A Look at Where They Are Today
“I was always creative and took many art classes in school, and I had a relative who was a designer,” he says. “I definitely wasn’t conscious of wanting to be a fashion designer early on. Perhaps I didn’t realize I could make a living doing it!”
Mark Bengston ’79 Macy’s Fashion Designer
So he boldly dropped out of business school to enroll in a four-year program at Parsons School of Design in New York City from which he received a B.A. in fashion design in 1992.
As a 10-year-old, Cynthia Leive ’80 edited and produced her very first magazine, filled with essays and poems she solicited from neighbors and Langley classmates. From these humble beginnings, she worked her way to the top of the publishing world, becoming the youngest-ever editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine in 2001 at age 35.
The 41-year-old Leive, who has also written a self-help book called Glamour’s Big Book of Dos & Don’ts: Fashion Help for Every Woman, admits she loves scanning the nearly 1,000 pieces of reader mail the magazine receives each week. “I have an incredible opportunity to reach 12 million women each month. They are a vocal and interested group and give me a lot of good ideas for future issues,” says this working mother of two who lives with her husband, a film producer, in New York.
Overseeing a staff of 85 and a multimillion-dollar budget, Leive continues to write articles and produces the magazine’s annual Women of the Year Awards, which honor women who have made significant contributions to entertainment, business, sports, science, politics, and philanthropy. She and her team also travel to fashion shows across the country and abroad, including several weeks in both Paris and Milan each year.
“Each magazine has to speak with the right voice for itself,” she says, adding that Glamour’s parent company, Conde Nast, gives its editors a lot of freedom.
“Charter Club is a traditional brand, so we can’t be too outrageous and promote the wildest Paris trends. Customers respond to our prints, our fit, and our colors,” adds Bengston, who notes that flexibility is key as fashion design is a very changeable and volatile field. His most successful design to date? The argyle cashmere vneck sweater that Marcia Cross, the actress who portrays Bree on “Desperate Housewives,” wore on the cover of Newsweek
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Now in her seventh year at the helm of Glamour, Leive has taken the popular women’s magazine to the highest circulation rates in its 70-year history and has transformed it into a friendlier, more practical publication that includes a unique combination of style and substance. For her first issue as editor, Leive gave the magazine a complete overhaul – removing certain columns and expanding beauty, health, and nutrition coverage – to distinguish it from competitor Cosmopolitan
“With Glamour, our role is to be a friendly, encouraging presence rather than lecturing the reader about what to do and what not to do. I’ve tried to offer our readers what they want in a newer, fresher way.”
Alumni in Action: A Look at Where They Are Today
EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 17
“My team of seven designers and I start with inspiration such as a piece of clothing we bought in Europe, a particular theme like safari, or a previously successful style that needs updating,” Bengston explains. The team then sketches the look they want and sends the sketches and measurements to Macy’s overseas offices for a prototype to be made. If the buyers like it, Bengston fits the piece on a model, makes final adjustments, and sends it to be produced. Since fashion designers typically work about one year in advance, he recently put the finishing touches on the spring 2009 line which will be unveiled next February.
While designing clothing is his first love, this New Yorker also enjoys birdwatching in Central Park, hiking along the Appalachian Trail, playing tennis, and exploring the many museums and restaurants throughout the city. After all, if there’s one thing he learned at Langley, it was the importance of being well-rounded.
Cynthia Leive ’80 Editor-in-Chief of Glamour Magazine year. As a senior designer for the store’s Charter Club line – the oldest private label brand of clothing – he frequently travels overseas to Paris to attend fabric shows, Asia to meet with vendors and manufacturers, and throughout Europe to shop for design ideas.
Her accomplishments at Glamour have not gone unnoticed. Since Leive’s arrival as editor-in-chief, the magazine has received numerous editorial awards, including the prestigious National Magazine “Ellie” Award for General Excellence in 2005 – an honor no women’s magazine had received since 1992.
But before she took the publishing world by storm, Leive attended Langley for 10 years from junior kindergarten to eighth grade. “There were a lot of great teachers at Langley and I really enjoyed my experience there,” she comments, adding that she still remains in touch with several classShemates.mentions
An industry leader, Leive has been named as one of the “Top 40 Under 40 Executives” in New York by Crain’s New York Business, was selected for Gotham’s list of the “Most Powerful Women Under 40,” and recently finished a term as president of the American Society of Magazine Editors. She also appears regularly on television, including interviews on “Today” and “Good Morning America.”
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Mr. Trott as a terrific teacher who had a true passion for ornithology – the study of birds – and transferred that passion to his students. “He taught us to categorize birds and his enthusiasm was contagious. Even though the eighth-grade girls were boy-crazed, we’d spend our time looking out the window with binoculars in search of a woodpecker!” Leive says.
Mrs. Trott in fourth grade and Mrs. Layman in fifth grade instilled a love of reading and writing, she adds, recalling the in-depth research reports both teachers assigned. “An embarrassingly large percentage of what I know about Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan came from what I learned doing my fifth-grade country report for Mrs. Layman,” she “Ilaughs.always knew I would end up working at a magazine,” says Leive, who loved reading magazines and would pour over any issues she could find as a child. Her journalistic interest continued at Langley High School, where she was editor of the school newspaper. At Swarthmore College, she served as features editor and managing editor of the weekly school paper, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in SheEnglish.gained her first professional experience during summer internships at several magazines, including The Saturday Review and The Paris Review, where she was primarily a “gofer,” but did some writing and research. “I wanted to work at a magazine so badly that I would have been willing to work for free,” Leive says, noting that she sent 50 resumes out to magazines after graduation and was only offered two or three interviews due to the highly competitive nature of the field. Finally, Leive landed an editorial assistant position at Glamour and worked her way up to deputy editor over the next 11 years. In 1999, she was offered her first editor-in-chief position at then-struggling fitness magazine, Self. “It was a thrill to be chosen as editor,” she says. “Although I had strong writing and editing experience, there were parts of the job which were challenging such as managing multimillion-dollar budgets and learning to understand profit and loss Duringsheets.” her three years at Self, Leive resuscitated the magazine, changing its focus to be more specific on women’s physical and mental well-being. Her efforts did not disappoint, as Self’s circulation soon increased by 11 percent. She brought this experience and newly found management style with her when she returned to Glamour to serve as editor-in-chief. At the end of the day, Leive hopes to make a difference in the lives of those who pick up her magazines. “Every day I hear women who have six-figure incomes, great families, and great jobs talk about hating their thighs,” she says. “I want our magazine to shake them. There are enough sexists and Neanderthals to get in our way. We don’t need to do it to ourselves. We’re telling readers that they can do whatever they want with their lives.” L
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A business founder, teacher, author, world traveler, sought-after speaker, and true global entrepreneur, Gergen has accomplished more in his 37 years than many do in a lifetime. His latest venture, in partnership with co-author Gregg Vanourek, is a new book titled Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Lives. Drawing on interviews with 55 well-known leaders around the world, the book provides stories and strategies for integrating life, work, and purpose through the power of entrepre“Thinkneurship.of it as a road map for leading a life of adventure, fulfillment, and service,” Gergen says. “Life entrepreneurship is a way of life, a mindset. As I shared my entrepreneurial experiences with others, I began to realize that entrepreneurship should not be relegated to a specific professional experience, but rather to a broader life philosophy. It was this revelation that led us to write this Thebook.”son of former White House Director of Communications David Gergen and former Langley teacher Anne Gergen, he and his sister, Katherine ’87, had high expectations to live up to from an early age. Christopher came to Langley as a junior kindergartner in the 1970s and spent the next 10 years developing not only academic skills, but also social and leadership abilities that continue to serve him well today.
“I actually wasn’t the best student during my Langley days,” he laughs, “but I did have the opportunity to try a lot of new things which helped me grow as a person.” Although he was relatively small, Gergen joined the taller, stronger kids on the soccer and basketball teams thanks to Coach Jim Gleason’s inclusive sports policy and vividly remembers how hard he worked to achieve the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. It’s served him well as he now compares notes with Coach Gleason on their respective triathlon Gergenevents. attributes his well-developed public speaking skills to his dramatic endeavors on the Langley stage in Middle School. “I’ll never forget the time I died on stage in the wrong location outside of the curtain during our production of ‘Hamlet!’” he recalls. After many years of schooling beyond Langley, he still has high praise for his teachers, like Kathy Pascal, and their impact on his life. The deep friendships he formed as a child and the palpable feeling of community on campus have stayed with him through the years and kept him connected to the school. “I love coming back to Langley,” says Gergen, who served on Langley’s Board of
Christopher Gergen ’84 Cultural Entrepreneur
“Some people don’t just live; they lead a life. They don’t sit around waiting for a lucky break. They create opportunities. They go after their dreams and bring them to life.” This inspiring quote, which appears in the first few lines of his new book, sums up the entrepreneurial philosophy by which Christopher Gergen ’84 lives.
Alumni in Action: A Look at Where They Are Today
Starting a coffeehouse turned out to be only the beginning for Gergen, who currently lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and two young children.
EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 20 Trustees from 2001-2004 and returns each spring to speak to the eighthgrade class. “The school still holds a strong sense of home for me.”
Gergen’s post-Langley academic achievements speak for themselves: a diploma from Gonzaga College High School, a B.A. with honors from Duke University, an M.A. in public policy from George Washington University, and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University. What stands out most about this remarkable man, however, are not the degrees on his resume, but what he has done with this knowledge. Always looking to expand his horizons through a new adventure, Gergen’s broad experiences on six continents and in more than 50 countries include studying art in France, working for a theater in Massachusetts, teaching on a sheep farm in New Zealand, studying politics and teaching in squatters’ camps in Capetown, South Africa, filming a short documentary in Peru, and working as a writer at CNN in “WhileAtlanta.I was working at CNN, I discovered that I was not cut out to write about the news,” he says. “I wanted to be part of the news.” So, defying all external pressures, Gergen left his stable job at CNN and spent a year traveling solo through Latin America, eventually arriving in Santiago, Chile, where he launched his first entrepreneurial venture –founding a coffeehouse, bar, and restaurant dedicated to promoting the arts – with fellow alum Dean Dessouky ’84. “Through a mentor in Chile who had started his own university, I had an epiphany and realized I wanted to focus my entrepreneurial energies on doing good in the world and set out to be a ‘cultural entrepreneur,’” he says.
On the lookout for innovative ideas in education, he saw a need for an online educational service in the late 1990s. So he and his business partner spent six months writing a business plan, raised $9 million, and SMARTHINKING,startednow the leading online tutoring provider in the country which assists more than 200,000 university and high school students 24 hours a day. Gergen still serves as chairman of the company. He has also helped launch the Entrepreneur Corps, a national service initiative sponsored by
“I’m doing things I never thought I’d be able to do,” Gergen told Langley’s Class of 2008 this spring. “Be aware. See and seize opportunities. Be willing to take some risks and never forget where you’ve come from or what you can contribute along the way.” Powerful words by which he continues to live.
AmeriCorps*VISTA that placed 400 full-time business volunteers in nonprofit organizations for a year of service, and LEAD!, a leadership, entrepreneurship, and service program for students at his high school alma mater, Gonzaga. Most recently, Gergen co-founded a national entrepreneurial leadership development firm – New Mountain Ventures – which offers workshops and programs for aspiring life Withentrepreneurs.alifelonginterest in education, Gergen is a founding board member of the E.L. Haynes Public Charter School in Washington, DC, and last year, joined Duke University’s faculty as a visiting lecturer. The success of his course on social entrepreneurship led him to develop a new year-long Entrepreneurship Leadership and Social Innovation program focused on working with student teams to create high-impact, sustainable enterprises to address priority needs in Durham, NC.
To purchase a copy of Life Entrepreneurs by Christopher Gergen ’84 and Gregg Vanourek, log on to their Web site at www.lifeentrepreneurs.com
While visiting the site, you can also take a 10-minute online personal assessment which provides feedback reflecting your current life entrepreneurship profile. In addition, their online “Life Entrepreneurs Exercises” are designed to give you actionable steps to help you put the framework outlined in the book into practice.
Become a Life Entrepreneur
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“Langley offered a nice mix of personal attention with a great sense of independence,” Rabbitt says. “The teachers had quite an impact and as students, we cherished them.”
“A light bulb went off in my head and I knew I wanted to go to law school,” says Rabbitt, who was majoring in history as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan when she had this life-changing revelation. The incredible teachers and stimulating discourse she found at The George Washington University Law School quickly confirmed her passion for law. With her law degree in hand, Rabbitt began her new career as a corporate attorney at a Washington, DC, firm where she specialized in corporate law. She soon realized, however, that private equity work wasn’t the right choice. Driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in her native city of Washington, Rabbitt changed practices and firms – and in the process discovered the excitement of real estate law. She is currently an associate in the real estate section at Washington-based Holland & Knight LLP, a position she has held for the past four years, and enjoys the focus on Rabbitt,centersthemandrepresentingspendtions,development,retailacquisi-andleasing.“Imostofmytimelandlordsdevelopers,helpingbuy,sell,orleaseshoppingormixed-useprojects,”30,explains,addingthat the recent downturn in the economy has made her job a bit more challenging.
Lauren Rabbitt ’92 found her life’s calling in a dry cleaning store. This now successful attorney first discovered her passion for law when a dry cleaner ruined two of her shirts, refused to refund the $4.50 cleaning fee, and threw her out of his shop by hurling a stapler at her. A 20-year-old college junior with no legal background at the time, Rabbitt boldly decided to take the case to small claims court where she represented herself and won $155.
A sports enthusiast who made the varsity basketball team as a sixth-grader, she speaks highly of Coach Jim Gleason who was not just her P.E. teacher and coach, but a mentor as well. A mention of other favorite teachers, including Ms. Booth, Mrs. Mikey, and Ms. Dutton, still brings a smile to her “Asface.I look back on those years at Langley, I think what I loved most were the school’s traditions,” she adds, referencing the square dances, Field Day, the fair, and Middle School trips to Williamsburg and Assateague. She still vividly remembers the excitement of the unique and somewhat progressive eighth-grade “egg project” which paired male and female students as married couples who had to take care of an egg for one week as if caring for a Evenbaby. after she completed eighth grade and moved on to Holton-Arms School for high school, the bond between Rabbitt and her Langley classmates
Alumni in Action: A Look at Where They Are Today
Lauren Rabbitt ’92 Real Estate Lawyer
To be a successful lawyer, self-confidence, problem-solving abilities, and strong interpersonal skills are key –qualities which Rabbitt began to develop during her 11 years as a student at Langley. Following in the footsteps of her older sister, Ashleigh ’90, she joined Langley’s preschool class at age 3 and still cherishes the many lessons learned and friendships made.
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Imagine captaining your college basketball team to an NIT championship in Madison Square Garden, scoring 19 points against Duke University’s powerhouse basketball team live on ESPN, or coaching hoops at the college level. For Jim Fitzpatrick ’90 these amazing achievements are a Currentlyreality. head coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team and associate director of admissions at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, Fitzpatrick has come a long way from the little kid who loved to shoot baskets with his family. When he arrived at Langley in fifth grade, he was a highly touted soccer player who also enjoyed other sports, including basketball. “I had good basketball skills, but I was very small for my age, so I just assumed that soccer was the sport in which I would excel,” he says, adding that he was only 5’1” by the end of eighth grade.
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Jim Fitzpatrick ’90 High School Basketball Coach
Alumni in Action: A Look at Where They Are Today
This summer, Rabbitt, who recently became engaged, will begin a one-year term as president of Women in Retail Real Estate (WIRRE), a professional organization with 150 metro area members dedicated to providing networking opportunities and promoting the industry. This honor not only cements Rabbitt as a leading attorney in her field, but also makes her a role model for the next generation of young women lawyers.
“Langley was an incredibly accepting community,” adds Fitzpatrick, who says that he felt at home from day one. “That inclusive atmosphere rubbed
22 endured. In fact, when her family moved to Maryland soon after, her Langley friends served as an anchor at a challenging time of transition. Today, she remains in close contact with many of them, serving as a class representative for Langley’s Class of 1992. Although most of her Holton classmates enrolled in small East Coast colleges, Rabbitt had developed a sense of independence and wanted a new experience. So she decided to attend a large Midwestern state school, the University of Michigan, and loved the diverse experiences it offered. A sixthmonth semester abroad in Paris, which included French classes at the Sorbonne and long weekends of European travel, helped bring her history major to life.
Rabbitt credits her mother, Linda –CEO, chairman, and founder of Rand Construction Corporation – with inspiring her to succeed. “My mom is a pioneer and a trailblazer, and she provided both of her daughters with a strong role model of a working woman,” she comments. “She encouraged me to be my own person.”
Thanks to Coach Jim Gleason, Fitzpatrick was given a chance to participate in not only soccer, but also basketball, softball, track and field, and cross country during his four years at Langley. “Coach Gleason produced great athletes and great kids and gave everyone a chance to play,” he adds. “He not only worked with us on our athletic skills, but also taught the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. He made me a better competitor and a better person, and deeply influenced my decision to pursue basketAball.”self-described “sports guy,” Fitzpatrick is thankful that Langley provided opportunities to participate in other activities such as art, music, drama, and community service even though he was often forced outside his comfort zone. “Langley tested me to push my boundaries, but always in a comfortable, safe environment,” he says. He happily remembers his first eighth-grade dance, the much-anticipated Field Day, and spending time in Mrs. Mikey’s room during breaks where real-life learning often occurred.
After attending Paul VI Catholic High School for two years – and playing basketball on the freshman and JV teams – Fitzpatrick decided the school wasn’t the right fit. So he transferred to nearby Flint Hill School in search of an experience similar to Langley and repeated his sophomore year due to age. It was at Flint Hill that he began to thrive, playing varsity soccer and basketball all three years and serving as senior class president. His defining athletic accomplishments include being chosen first-team All-State in basketball, fourth-team All-Met in basketball, and first-team All-MAC in both sports. As a senior, this talented point guard led Flint Hill’s basketball team to the state championship and was voted MVP of the tournament.
EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 23 off on me, and soon I was the one welcoming other students.”
“Transferring to Wake was the best decision of my life,” the 6-foot-tall 31year-old says. Although he red-shirted his first year, he started in seven games as a junior and senior from 19982000. “Playing in the ACC was a stretch for me, but Coach Dave Odom played me because he knew I was a great competitor,” adds Fitzpatrick, whose teammates chose him to be captain his senior year. “I may not have been the best player on the floor, but the team knew I would provide leadership and heart.”
coaching at the college level is tremendous, I felt like I was missing the interaction with the students,” Fitzpatrick says. “I only got to know the 13 kids on the team and experienced a very small part of the educational atmosphere.” So when the head coaching/associate director of admissions position opened up at Episcopal High School, he jumped at the chance. Now finishing his third year at Episcopal, Fitzpatrick is fully invested in the school, serving as an advisor, living on campus, and helping build future classes through his admissions duties. “I walk through the campus now and know all the kids I see,” he comments. “I bring my athletic competitiveness to admissions as I strive to place kids here who will Onsucceed.”thecourt, Fitzpatrick led his Episcopal squad to a first-place tie in their conference and the quarterfinals of the state tournament this year, the first time the team has reached the state tournament since 2003. “This is where I belong right now,” he says, “coaching, educating, and making a difference at the high school level.” L
His favorite memories at Wake include playing 24 minutes against the University of Illinois at Madison Square Garden in his very first game, topping Notre Dame for the NIT championship his senior year, and coming home to 1,000 fans waiting to greet the team at the airport.
The combination of his on-court experiences and memories of Coach Gleason sparked his interest in a coaching career. So after graduating from Wake with a major in sociology, he stayed on as a volunteer assistant coach for a year while working in the university’s alumni office. Fitzpatrick took this coaching knowledge back to his alma mater, Flint Hill, when the school hired him as head boys’ varsity basketball coach in 2001. While there, he held multiple positions in the admission and alumni offices. In 2003, he had the opportunity to return to the Division I college setting as assistant men’s basketball coach at Elon University, a position he held for two “Whileyears.
Heavily recruited by numerous colleges, Fitzpatrick earned a full basketball scholarship to Campbell University, a Division I school in North Carolina, where he started for two years and, most notably, scored 19 points against Duke. Campbell gave him the necessary experience to springboard to the ne xt level – a position on Wake Forest University’s well-respected ACC team.
The following Langley alumni have volunteered to serve as class reps to help keep classmates connected to each other and to the school. If your class year is not listed or you would like to be a class rep, contact Director of Parent & Alumni Relations Meg Clute at
VictoriaAllisonLillianToreyCarySarahMandySaraDanielAliciaMaryAlexandraCarolineAshleyKathleenCarlJoAnnCharlesAliAnneChrisJenniferMorganMollyLaurenRachelleAshleighWendyGayleBrookeJenniferAnnJoAnnaTomHelenmclute@langleyschool.org.MethvinPayneKleinCostonChenBrownSheehanLeckySuppleShaferTrotterWeinbergerRabbittSekoskiR.HillRabbittBoehmBowenReganDreilingJustHarrisLaughlinHassanLathamSchneiderSilvanoJenningsPetittGroomNasifElizabethTaylorDiGiammarinoKanterWallaceCostonBermanGarfinkelBarthSingerPoolSchwehrhmethvinp@aol.comtlklein@cox.netjoanna.coston@verizon.netteachen3bee@comcast.netJennyBrownSheehan@gmail.combsupple@oz.umd.edumamahoo@gmail.comheywlw@yahoo.comoperarabbitt@hotmail.comtappa_k@yahoo.comlrabbitt@yahoo.commollyboehm@gmail.commorgan.regan@gmail.comjld7k@virginia.edutufts2003@gmail.comalaughlin1@aol.comahassan05@gmail.comcjlatham1@yahoo.comjoann.schneider@gmail.comcharliebythedozen@cox.netkejenn@wm.edugrtescape907@hotmail.comcgroom@madeira.organasif@madeira.orgMiaHmmfan1@aol.comadigiammarino@madeira.orgdkanter08@gmail.comswallace08@gds.orgdixsis3@aol.comsarahbmia@aol.comcag1392@yahoo.combballgirlytab132@hotmail.comthepiccolopiper@yahoo.comapool12@gds.orgvickyleighgirl@aol.com20082008200720072006200620052004200420042003200320022001200019991998199719971996199519941994199319921992199019871985198419831982198119801979EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 24
On May 26, Langley’s Class of 2004 and their families reconnected with each other during their four-year reunion (photo at left). It was their last chance to gather as a group before these high school grads begin college at the following schools in the fall.
Nicholas Anderson Colin BrendanAliceSaraKaylaCatherineJamesDanielAlexandraAlisonJasonJeffreyAlexandraAnneEleanorEliMargaretAustinCourtneyKyleDevonRossShomaAnnaLauraDanielHannahKerryMatthewAlexanderPeterDarcyKatherineCourtneyPatrickAliciaTracyAmandaPaulaRobertNathanBarbalaceBarthBauerBelliniChuziDeMockerDiGiammarinoFoleyFreedmanFrenchGabrielHollerHsuHudecekHughesJosephKanterKanterKarnazeKimuraMacAvoyMarescoMcGinnisMillianMontvillePoolRanesesRobertsRosenRosenSchneiderScottSerotaShaheenSternbergStewartTriboneVennersWallaceZichtZotter
Northwestern University Florida Institute of Technology Drexel University Rice JamesUniversityMadison University Tufts WashingtonUniversityUniversityofVirginiaUniversity in St. Louis New York University University of Georgia OldUnknownDominion University Southern Adventist University Connecticut College University of Rochester Lynn UniversityNewOberlinUniversityCollegeYorkUniversityofSouthern California University of Virginia University of St. Andrews (Scotland) University of Vermont University of Mary Washington Washington and Lee University Washington University in St. Louis Lynchburg College College of William & Mary Johns Hopkins University University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania University of South Carolina Haverford College Loyola Marymount University Virginia Tech (Business School) New York University Richard Bland College of the College of William & Mary Harvard University Loyola College in Maryland University of Colorado at Boulder Princeton University Oberlin UniversityCollegeofVirginia
alumni news Class of 2004 Colleges
Class Representatives
Alan Hitchcock Parent of rising fourth-grader Hutman Parent of rising kindergartner Malek Pont Olson ’82 of rising fifth-grader Marvin ’76 Parent of rising sixth- and eighthgraders Neto ’87 Parent of rising second-grader and kindergartner Norton ’86 Parent of rising preschooler Norton ’83 Parent of rising junior kindergartner Trehan Parent of rising fourth-grader Magruder ’88 Parent of rising second-grader and kindergartner
Andrew
’81
Veena
Laura
As evidenced on the pages of this alumni-centered issue of the Experience, Langley alumni treasure their years here and frequently credit the school for shaping them into the people they are today. So it’s only natural that some of our alumni want the same wonderful well-rounded education for their own children. The following alums have returned to their alma mater – this time as parents – and are enjoying sharing the Langley experience with their kids today. alumni news
AttendingGraduatesLangleyof# UniversityofVirginiaJamesMadisonUniversity WakeForestUniversity CornellUniversity CarnegieMellonUniversityCollegeofWilliam&Mary GeorgetownUniversityPrincetonUniversity DukeUniversityNewYorkUniversity StanfordUniversityUniversityofMichiganUniversityofSouthCarolina BatesCollege BrynMawrCollegeColbyCollegeElonUniversityGeorgeMasonUniversityGettysburgCollegeHarvardUniversity MichiganStateUniversityNorthwesternUniversity Randolph-MaconCollegeSouthernMethodistUniversityTulaneUniversityUniversityofNotreDameVirginiaTech OberlinCollege UniversityofPennsylvaniaWashingtonUniversityinLouisBostonCollege Langley’s College History Which colleges and universities nationwide have Langley graduates most frequently attended in the past four years? EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 25 22222 2 22 22 2222 2 33 3 333 44 4 55 5 66 8 11
Kenny
Frank
Alums Turned Langley Parents
Luis
Phillip
Parent
’82
du
Trent
Michelle
John Gerber Parent of rising second-grader
Michael Coakley Parent of rising second-grader and kindergartner
’76
EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 26
To submit your news for the Class Notes section of Langley’s magazine, log on to http://alumni.langleyschool.org or contact Director of Parent & Alumni Relations Meg Clute at mclute@langleyschool.org or (703) 356-1920, ext. 897.
1980 Cynthia Leive is in her seventh year as editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine. For more about Cynthia, see the article on page 17.
alumni news Class Notes
1983 Christin Passaro lives in New York City and is vice president of marketing/sales at Burberry.
Chip Coston works in real estate development and management and says the most rewarding thing he has done since graduating from Langley 35 years ago is raise two great kids, A.J., 19, and Mandy, 17. Both children are Langley alums. Chip and his wife, Susie (now an assistant junior kindergarten teacher at Langley), and Chip’s parents, Skip and Jackie Coston, attended Pat Bush’s retirement and the Class of 1973 reunion.
1979 Mark Bengston works in New York City as a senior clothing designer for Macy’s private label, Charter Club. For more about Mark, see the article on page 16.
Caspa Harris lives in Bluemont, VA, and teaches science at Stonebridge High School in Ashburn. Caspa and his wife attended Pat Bush’s retirement party, as did his parents, Caspa and Peggy Harris.
John Kempton lives in Boulder, CO, with his wife. Both attended the Class of 1973 reunion and Pat Bush’s retirement party.
Marty Elvin lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her daughter, Molly, 14, and horses, goats, and dogs. Mar ty works at a wilderness center for adjudicated youth and does art work as well. She and her daughter attended the Class of 1973 reunion and the retirement party for Pat Bush in May.
Karen Bush lives in the mountains of Bristol, NH, and is a self-employed sign maker and carpenter. She is also a part-time commercial bee keeper assistant and a goat herder. Karen was in town for her mother’s retirement party in May and enjoyed a minireunion of the Class of 1973.
1970
Jennifer Brown Sheehan and her husband, Sean, are happy to announce the birth of their son, Owen Robert Sheehan, on May 5. Owen arrived weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces.
James Tully is married with three children and is a deputy sheriff sergeant for the Office of the Sheriff in Fairfax, VA. When not working, he enjoys coaching soccer. 1984 Christopher Gergen and his wife, Heather, are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Liam David Gergen, born on February 9 (pictured below with big sister, Maya, 3). For more about Christopher, see the article on page 19.
George Elvin is married and has two children. He teaches architecture at the University of Indiana in Muncie, IN. 1973 Kent Arnold is an engineer at MITRE Corporation. He and his wife, Doreen, have two children, Kathleen, 16, and John, 15. In addition to being a proud parent, Kent is an avid photographer. He attended both the retirement party for Pat Bush and the Class of 1973 reunion on May 4 at Langley.
1977 Robert McDowell is a commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, DC. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Vienna, VA, with their three children. See the article about Robert on page 13.
Kate Hamilton will marry Tom FitzGerald on August 2 in Alexandria, VA. Currently living in Charlotte, NC, Kate teaches kindergarten at Windsor Park Elementary where she was named teacher of the year this year. She finished her Master’s of Education with a focus on teaching English as a Second Language this spring. Kate and Tom will reside in Charlotte.
Brian Pence and his wife, Leigh, are the proud parents of a new son, Wyatt.
Anne Laughlin enrolled in Boston University’s one-year certificate program for graphic and Web design and is enjoying being a student and the creative aspects of the field. The program is located on a satellite campus in Washington, DC.
Andre Redwood is living in New Haven, CT, and working on a Ph.D. in music theory at Yale University. While in town recently, he stopped by Langley for a visit and was pleased to reconnect with his former band instructor, Chuck Schmidt.
1987 Wendy Weinberger and her husband, Jim Poole, are the proud parents of a baby girl, Emerson “Emme” Iliyah, born on Leap Day, February 29, at 11:48 p.m. (pictured above).
1996 Betsy Boehm will marry John Bland on August 3, 2008. Betsy works at SRA International as a user experience designer, a position which involves Web design, analysis, and development. In March, Betsy finished her second marathon, the National Marathon.
EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 27
1991 Megan Phillips Drury , her husband, Philip, and their daughter, Juliet, are thrilled to welcome a new arrival to their family. Alexander Philip was born June 19. The Drury family lives in New York where Megan is a horse trainer and continues to pursue her studio art. Her brother, Todd Phillips ’94, is a fabulous uncle. He received a law degree from George Mason University and lives in San Diego, CA, practicing law and surfing.
Jenny Hamilton recently finished taking her STEP1 US medical licensing exam (USMLE) and is starting her third year at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk,VA.
1992 Lauren Rabbitt , an associate in the real estate section at the Washington, DCbased law firm, Holland & Knight LLP, recently became engaged. See the article about Lauren on page 21. 1994 Chiara Potenza lives in Chicago, IL, and is in the entertainment business. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a theater major in 2002.
Bryce Waller is married to Lisa Madrid and graduated from Westminster Seminary in Escondido, CA, in May. He will begin a year-long internship at Rocky Mountain Community Church in Billings, MT, after graduation. Bryce graduated from the University of Texas in 2002 and spent two years in Barcelona, Spain, before entering the seminary.
Ashleigh Rabbitt Sekoski, formerly a professional opera singer, is currently working in New York City Opera’s Development Office and is taking classes at New York University to obtain her professional certificate in fundraising. See the article about Ashleigh on page 14.
1990 Jim Fitzpatrick, who played college basketball at Wake Forest University, is currently head coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team and associate director of admissions at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA. Read more about Jim on page 22.
1985 Kate Holcombe is a yoga teacher and founder/executive director of Healing Yoga Foundation (HYF) in San Francisco, CA. Kate began her yoga education in 1991 with TKV Desikachar and the staff of the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM) in Chennai, India. Since then, she has returned to India many times for extended periods of intensive one-onone study with her teacher, Sri TKV Desikachar, and to teach students and international groups at the KYM. In conjunction with her studies in India, Kate studied Sanskrit at the University of California-Berkeley and in 1997, spent 10 months teaching yoga for healing to individual patients at the Healing Arts Medical Practice in Cambria, CA. Gayle Trotter and her husband, Joel, will welcome their sixth child to the family this summer. Grace is the eldest at 11, Nell is 9, Mack is 6, Jack is 4, and Billy is 2.
1999 Sarah Chuzi graduated cum laude from Williams College in June 2007 with honors in psychology/neuroscience. She is a member of a team engaged in research involving clinical depression and is considering medical school following the program.
Jordan Katz graduated from the Washington University in St. Louis in May 2007. He then moved to Israel and enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces where he is currently serving in the Paratrooper Brigade. Upon the completion of his military service, Jordan plans to attend law school.
2000 Courtney Gorrell is working as an assistant teacher in Langley’s Summer Studio program this summer.
Brittany Mitch was recently granted a release from Duke University’s women’s basketball team. She plans to remain at Duke, graduate in December, and use her two years of remaining basketball eligibility at her graduate school of choice.
1997 David Lewis lives in Charlottesville, VA, and works as a research analyst for SNL Financial. He received his B.A. from the University of Virginia in 2005.
Rajiv Shenoy was the recipient of the 2008 Johns Hopkins University Dean of Student Life Achievement Award in April which recognizes senior undergraduates who have made significant contributions to the Homewood community during their tenure as a student. The following month, Rajiv was the recipient of the Mechanical Engineering Department’s annual Mechanical Engineering Student Involvement Award, recognizing significant leadership or achievement in extracurricular activities.
Alexandra Shaheen will attend New York University in the fall. She credits her wonderful Langley teachers for her success at Georgetown Visitation, where she was editor-in-chief of The Georgetowner , the school’s art and literary magazine, and a member of the Breast Cancer Awareness Club and the Spanish Honor Society. Alex volunteered at the bone marrow transplant program at Georgetown University Hospital during her senior year and is active in the ACLU and Amnesty International.
EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 28
William Wallace is majoring in public policy at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.
1998 Kasra Adham is in medical school at George Washington University. Alan Hunt lives in Denver, CO, and recently obtained his pilot’s license. His sister, Melissa ’02, will be a junior at the University of Colorado in Boulder and the two are able to see each other from time to time.
Elizabeth Thayer married Ben Pendergrass at the Homestead in Hot Springs, VA, last summer. Langley classmate Ramune Rastonis was one of Elizabeth’s bridesmaids. Pictured in the photo below (left to right) are Langley friends Elizabeth Brokaw, Ramune Rastonis, Zarina Morais, and Kimberly Brokaw Elizabeth is currently working as a marketing analyst at Quantitative Software Management, Inc.
Sara Wallace will be attending Princeton University in the fall and is excited that she will overlap for one year at Princeton with her brother, William ’01, who is also attending.
Kathleen Jennings graduated from the College of William & Mary in May with a degree in psychology and elementary education. In the fall, she will join the faculty at Langley as an assistant teacher in first and second grades. Kathleen hopes to return to school for her master’s degree eventually.
2001 Brittany Gleason is working as a counselor in Langley’s Summer Studio program this summer.
2002 Emily Sherman will be working on Capitol Hill as an intern this summer in Senator John Warner’s office. This fall, she will participate in a semester abroad in Barcelona, Spain.
2003 Jasmine Thomas , who recently completed her freshman year on the women’s basketball team at Duke University, was named Honorable Mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman in April. As a freshman, Jasmine started 14 of the 29 games this season, seeing action as both a point guard and a shooting guard. She averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 blocked shots. Duke finished the regular season with a 21-8 overall and 10-4 league record.
2004 Maggie Pool and Daniel Sternberg are working as counselors in Langley’s Summer Studio program this summer.
Pictured at right L to R: Alexandra Rosen, Daniel Kanter, Kayla Venners.
Michael Gorrell and Alex Kersten are working as counselors in Langley’s Summer Studio program this summer. Eliza Sherman is working for the Obama campaign this summer along with Langley classmate Katie Fletcher . Eliza will also spend part of her summer in Costa Rica doing community service work.
2006 Nikita Chadha is working as a counselor in Langley’s Summer Studio program this summer.
Thursday, December 18, 2008 Lower School Holiday Concert
Upcoming Events at Langley
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 First Day of School & Opening of the Jeffrey J. Sherman Arts Center
Langley’s Class of 2004 – now high school graduates – were all smiles as they gathered for a reunion on campus on May 26.
Pictured at right L to R: Shoma Kimura, Alicia DiGiammarino, Colin Barbalace. Pictured bottom right L to R: Maggie Pool, Amanda Chuzi, Alison Serota, Paula Bellini.
Class of 2004 Reunion
Thursday, December 11, 2008 Middle School Holiday Concert
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 Dedication of the Jeffrey J. Sherman Arts Center
Saturday, October 18, 2008 Fall Fair Thursday, November 13 – Saturday, November 15, 2008 Middle School Fall Play Tuesday, November 25, 2008 Grandparents & Special Friends Day
EXPERIENCESCHOOLLANGLEYTHE 29
2005 Mandy Coston will attend the Governor’s School for French, a language immersion program at Virginia Commonwealth University, this summer.
Pictured above L to R: Brendan Zotter, Matthew Hudecek, Shoma Kimura, Robert Bauer.
The Langley School 1411 Balls Hill Road McLean, VA (703)www.langleyschool.org22101356-1920 Nonprofit Org. U.S. McLean,PAIDPostageVA22101PermitNo.48 LangleyCongratulationsClassof2008!
