The Banyan Magazine | Fall 2018

BANYAN

THE

FOR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND ALUMNI OF THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY

CELEBRATING

20 YEARS OF GROWTH

ON THE UIHLEIN CAMPUS

FALL

2018

Core Values Respect Integrity Service Excellence Responsibility Since 1924, The Out-of-Door Academy has remained true to its original mission. Our faculty has always understood that shaping the lives of our students, by instilling core values and helping young people make good decisions, is essential for student learning, growth, and development.

www.oda.edu

A Message From the Head of School Dear Friends of Out-of-Door, The 2017-18 school year was certainly a year to remember for The Out-of-Door Academy. Thanks to the incredible generosity of an anonymous donor, we cut the ribbon for both a new solar array and a spectacular new marine science lab on the first day of classes on our Historic Siesta Key Campus. In their first year of operation, our rooftop solar panels produced over 100 megawatts of power, reduced our carbon footprint by 135,000 pounds, and yielded over $70,000 in electrical savings while serving as a visible symbol of our school’s commitment to sustainable practices. Designed in collaboration with Mote Marine Aquarium, the marine science lab includes interactive touch tanks with local gulf coast species, project space, and state-of-the-art technology including a video conferencing center which allows our faculty and students to connect with scientists and researchers around the globe. In February, thanks to a major gift from the Dart Foundation, we opened the Dart STEM Lab in the Three-story Building which includes new lab stations with built-in technology for data analysis, augmented reality software, project space, 3-D printers, and a video conferencing center. These amazing new facilities are transforming the learning environment for our youngest students in the critical areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

To accommodate enrollment growth and a rapidly expanding athletic program at the Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch, we completed a new athletic practice complex on Deer Drive in November 2017. This important addition to our campus eliminates the need for off-site rentals and staggered practice schedules so that all of our student-athletes participating in field sports will remain in the security of our campus and can return home by the dinner hour. In the summer, construction began on the Fox Field House which will provide similar benefits for our student-athletes competing in indoor sports. This new facility will add more than 12,000 square feet of practice and competition space and will be a fantastic enhancement to our athletic infrastructure. The end result of these projects will be the gift of time. Our student-athletes will have more time with family during the school week, along with additional time in the evenings to study. We are extremely grateful for the philanthropic support of all of the donors who have helped fund these greatly needed additions to our physical plant.

As a faculty, we continue our collective effort to provide a more rigorous, innovative, and relevant educational experience for every Out-ofDoor student. Our investment in state-of-the-art labs and technology is promoting hands-on, student-centered learning. In year one of the implementation of our engineering program—a strategic partnership with the University of Texas—we had strong student enrollment resulting in a significant increase in our graduates pursuing programs in engineering-related fields. A newly formed collaboration between Out-of-Door, Columbia University, and Mote Marine will result in the development of a model Pre-K - 5th grade STEM curriculum that will engage our younger students in design-thinking and real-world problem solving. The expansion of our relationship with the Hybrid Learning Consortium is enriching our Upper School curriculum with diverse elective offerings taught by independent school teachers from across the nation. In April, we hosted the HLC’s Annual Conference and we welcomed educators from Phillips Exeter Academy to instruct our faculty on the Harkness Method which is specifically designed to engage students in discussion and debate. Our ongoing commitment to enhance and enrich our educational program resulted in the Class of 2018 setting an all-time high average score on the SAT, eclipsing the previous record by an impressive 50-point margin.

In this edition of the Banyan, we take time to celebrate and reflect on the past two decades of remarkable history and growth of the Uihlein Campus. Beginning with the original “pioneers,” the twelve members of the inaugural ODA Class of 1999, we are grateful for all those who have contributed to our history and progress. On behalf of the entire Out-of-Door family, thank you for your volunteerism, your generous support, and all that you do for our school. Thanks to you, the essential work of living our mission, instilling our core values, and inspiring every one of our students to realize their dreams continues on our campuses each and every day.

With gratitude,

David V. Mahler Head of School

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

3

Contents FEATURES

5

CELEBRATING TWO DECADES OF GROWTH ON THE UIHLEIN CAMPUS

32

LOWER SCHOOL STEM PROGRAM EARNS ACADEMIC HONORS

82

2018 THUNDER STATE CHAMPIONS

SECTIONS

Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Faculty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Academics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Traveling Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Senior Profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Graduation Ceremonies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Siesta Key Campus

Grades Pre-K - 5 | 444 Reid Street | Sarasota, FL 34242

Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch

Grades 6 -12 | 5950 Deer Drive | Sarasota, FL 34240 oda.edu | Main Phone: 941-349-3223 | Admissions: 941-554-3400

Head of School

David V. Mahler dmahler@oda.edu

Chief Financial Officer

Angel Cappar acappar@oda.edu

Associate Head of School

L’Tanya Evans levans@oda.edu

Head of Upper School

Christopher Chesley cchesley@oda.edu

Head of Middle School

Julie Bianchi

jbianchi@oda.edu Head of Lower School

Tanna Horner thorner@oda.edu

Athletics Director

Kippie Crouch kcrouch@oda.edu

Director of Admissions & Alumni Relations

Laura Murphy lmurphy@oda.edu

Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Director of Communications

Kim Metrokotsas

kmetrokotsas@oda.edu

Student-Athlete Profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Traditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Campus Visitors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Service Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Philanthropic Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Alumni. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Editor’s Note: The Banyan Magazine is designed for members of The Out-of-Door Academy family in an effort to tell the ODA story and celebrate our successes. The Banyan Magazine is published by the Communications Office. We make every effort to ensure the names and information in this publication are correct at press time. Comments or suggestions can be addressed to: The Banyan Magazine, The Out-of-Door Academy, 444 Reid Street, Sarasota, Florida 34242 or call 941-203-3655. © 2018 The Out-of-Door Academy

A Message from the Board Chair Dear Out-of-Door Community, It is hard to believe that it has been twenty years since we opened the doors and the first group of high school students walked into their classrooms on the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch. It is truly astounding to realize how much the campus has grown in such a short amount of time; the student body, administrators, and faculty have increased exponentially, dozens of exciting and innovative academic courses have been added, cutting-edge technology has been introduced, and new buildings and athletic facilities have been constructed.

In addition to the massive growth at the Uihlein Campus, there have been substantial improvements at the Historic Siesta Key Campus. Students now benefit from an expanded marine biology lab and have the most high-tech educational tools available to them in the new Dart STEM Lab. In addition, the entire campus is now outfitted with solar panels, reducing our carbon footprint and making great strides in keeping with ODA’s focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention all of the people who worked tirelessly to improve and expand when needs arise. Without the hard work and dedication of administrators, facilities personnel, trustees, and loyal faculty members, our School would not be the world-class educational institution it is today. Many of these professionals were a part of the ODA community prior to the opening of the Upper School campus and quite a few of the administrators and faculty members are still a part of the ODA community today. The longevity of our faculty speaks to the pride and dedication they have to Out-of-Door and our students, and their commitment represents the very model of why Out-of-Door stands head and shoulders above its competitors.

I thank you for your support of the education offered at Out-of-Door as we help prepare our students for what lies beyond graduation. I continue to be a proud part of The Out-of-Door Academy community, and look forward to watching ODA’s growth and continued success.

Larry Fox Board Chair

6

The Banyan | Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees New Members of the 2018-2019 Board of Trustess Fred Cochran Fred Cochran and his wife Allison have lived in Sarasota since 2000 with their daughters Audrey ‘07 and Chloe ‘06. Fred is an avid cyclist who enjoys traveling with his family.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida, and has been an active member in the Young Presidents Organization since 2013.

Fred and his business partner Larry Fox formed Insula Cos. to acquire multi-family apartment projects in 2009. Their company has acquired approximately 6,000 apartments valued at over $500M. Insula Cos. maintains a corporate office in Sarasota and employs approximately 100 employees.

Leigh Dalton ‘99 Leigh Dalton ‘99 graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in English with concentration in English and American Literature. She currently holds a Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate in English for grades 6-12, and prior to staying home to raise her two young sons, she taught Middle School English. Leigh is the first “Lifer” who graduated from the Uihlein Campus, and has stayed involved with the school post graduation.

She is proud that her children have the opportunity to follow in her footsteps at ODA, and says it has been exciting to see the ways the school continues to evolve, improve itself, and grow.

2018-2019 Board of Trustees Jamie Becker Tony Bonacuse Doug Bradbury Fred Cochran Rob Crisci Leigh Dalton ‘99 Ariane Dart Larry Fox Mitzie Henson Teena Humphrey Tammy Karp

Ann Kittle Donna Koffman Ashley Kozel Julie Luhrsen Tom Murphy Ken Pendery Scott Smith Larry Thompson Terri Vitale David White

Emeriti Ron Gelbman Gerd Petrik Reed Savidge Brendra Uihlein Ex-Officio David V. Mahler

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

7

CELEBRATING TWO DECADES

OF GROWTH ON THE

UIHLEIN CAMPUS Since 1924, Out-of-Door has changed in size and configuration, but never in its mission. From the beginning, our curriculum has been focused on teaching the whole child—body, mind, and spirit.

Out-of-Door has always offered superior education for students from their first educational experience in Pre-K through their early teens. However, with continually increasing enrollment and expansion restrictions at the Siesta Key Campus, students could only attend ODA through eighth grade. During the 1997-98 school year, the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch opened, adding grades 9-12 to ODA’s prestigious program. This year, we celebrate 20 years of continuous growth and success with the graduation of our 20th class.

Focus on Early Childhood Education Expands to Include College Prep Throughout Out-of-Door’s history, families continually expressed a desire for their children to be able to continue their Out-of-Door education through their high school years. In the early 1990s, Headmistress Martha Duffy and Board members started to talk seriously about expanding the school to give ODA students the opportunity to experience a true college preparatory program. “Academically, we had the foundation. My feeling

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

9

was that if we were a pre-college prep school, our students needed a collegeprep high school, but I knew we couldn’t do it on Siesta Key” recalled Mrs. Duffy. After much time, and many ideas and discussions, it was decided that the best course of action would be to build a separate campus at a new location.

Mrs. Duffy met with Mary Fran Carrol (CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch [SMR] at that time) and SMR Trustees to ask for property in Lakewood Ranch on which to build ODA’s new high school. Ms. Carrol and her Trustees agreed, and granted Out-of-Door the generous donation of a 50-acre parcel of land in Lakewood Ranch on University Parkway. The arrangement with SMR also allowed for the possibility of two additional parcels of land for campus expansion in the future. Lakewood Ranch was a completely undeveloped area at the time which many found concerning, but the Trustees were determined to forge ahead and they broke ground for the new school in the

CLASS OF 1999 was hired as Interim Headmaster of

write the dress code and pick the

the Uihlein Campus while the school

mascot,” she shared. Mrs. Collins

navigated the realities of operating two

credits ODA with feeling confident and

campuses separated by nearly 20 miles.

prepared for college. “The transition into college was pretty flawless. I

Over the next two years, there were

was used to the load of classes, the

many details to iron out, including

type of classes, and the high level of

developing a strong college prep

work that was expected.” Mrs. Collins

spring of 1995.

curriculum, building competitive sports

Vision Becomes Reality

the two campuses. Staying true to the

open for the first group of high school

during the first years at the new high

teams, and planning bus routes between

In 1996, Out-of-Door’s Uihlein Campus Out-of-Door vision, students were actively involved in making decisions at Lakewood Ranch was ready to students, including the twelve members of the Class of 1999. When it first opened, the school was comprised of the Savidge/Bowers Library, Petrik Commons, Petrik Thunderdome, Lindsay Administrative Building, and classrooms. Mr. Stephen Bowers 10 The Banyan | Uihlein Campus Growth

school. Carrie Smith Collins ‘99, was part of the first class at the Uihlein Campus. The class was instrumental in helping shape the tone and culture of ODA as it is known today. “The teachers would ask us what specialty classes we wanted and we got to help

1999

GRADUATING CLASS

12 STUDENTS

received her master’s degree from the

school. The school leaders looked to

competitive athletic training program at

our class for input. Allowing us to

University of South Florida in 2003 and

have a say in the development of the

•

Piloting a laptop program

returned to Out-of-Door as the Head

school gave us a sense of ownership

•

Integrating new technology

Athletic Trainer from 2014-2016.

throughout the process.” Mrs. Dalton

•

Implementing the first phase of the

•

Presiding over the first Commencement ceremony

was recently selected as one of ODA’s

Master Plan, which included the

Leigh Dalton ‘99 was the first ODA

first alumna Trustees for the 2018-2019

construction of four new buildings

“Lifer” to graduate from the Uihlein

academic year. She has served on the

Campus (attending ODA from Pre-K

Student Life Committee, and had a

through 12th grade). She remembers the career in education before focusing on

•

Developing the School Honor Code

Dr. Novello brought many well-known

excitement of being involved during the

raising her two boys (including a son in

authors to speak to Upper School

school’s first years at Lakewood Ranch.

ODA’s Class of ‘31).

students. Matt Mathabane, Mel Levine,

“We broke ground at the Lakewood

and Michael Thompson all came to

Ranch campus in 1995 during my

In 1998, Dr. Mike Novello was hired as

freshman year and moved into the

the new headmaster. He initiated several faculty, and parents. In addition, he

Lakewood Ranch campus in the spring

new programs and instituted events that

organized field day competitions, the

of 1997,” she recalls. “Although the

became annual traditions during his six-

100-Days Dinner, and visited college

gym floor wasn’t quite finished, we

year tenure, including:

admissions offices to advocate for

were excited to be in our new high

Lakewood Ranch to present to students,

ODA students.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

11

Middle School Makes a Move

layout artist. Her experience working

unique environment, while committing

In 2000, the seventh and eighth

on the school paper helped her to secure

to expand programs and facilities in

grades moved from the Historic

a position at the East County Observer.

Lakewood Ranch.

Siesta Key Campus to a new home

That experience, coupled with strong

on the Uihlein Campus. Lifer Steven

grades and her athletic prowess earned

Continued Growth Expands

Jones ‘08 reflected on the transition

Cristin a full scholarship to Southern

Student Opportunities

from the Siesta Key Campus. “I loved

Methodist University.

From 2009-2015, multiple capital improvements on the Uihlein Campus

that the Middle School was up there in Lakewood Ranch. The Siesta Key

After a nationwide search in 2004,

occurred in rapid succession, including

Campus was great when we were small;

Mr. David Mahler was hired as the

the construction of an Arts Center, The

it still felt big. But by Middle School,

new Head of School. Mr. Mahler’s

Dick Vitale Family Student Center and

we really did need the space the Upper

immediate task was to combine the

Dart STEM Center, Thunder Stadium,

School provided, especially for sports.” two campuses at Lakewood Ranch;

Malisoff Tennis Center, Taylor Emmons

Students on the Uihlein Campus felt the

however, in 2006 the Board of Trustees

Memorial Field, and the Gelbman

advantages of attending a new, small

voted to maintain separate campuses

Family Wellness Center.

high school. They were encouraged

to preserve Siesta Key’s history and

to participate in everything the school offered, and to create new activities and clubs that students could join. Cristin Lavelle Goerke ‘01 helped create the first Upper School newspaper, “The Bolt,” working as editor, writer, and 12 The Banyan | Uihlein Campus Growth

“Allowing us to have a say in the development of the school gave us a sense of ownership throughout the process.”

Mrs. Leigh Dalton ‘99

After nearly 16 months of construction,

Dailey ‘13 and Daniel

date, the Dick Vitale Family Student

the Arts Center officially opened

Pivonka ‘14 were the first ODA

Center and Dart STEM Center. The

in 2009. The new building boasted

students to play on the new courts built

two-story, 19,000 square foot building

“green” architectural design in line with

with funds donated by the Malisoff

was designed to accommodate

ODA’s environmental commitment to

Family. On the same day, the new

innovative academic needs and provide

design. The Arts Center boasted a Black

baseball fields were unveiled, (later

a space for students to socialize and

Box Theater with professional lighting

named Taylor Emmons Memorial

study. On the first floor, the college

and sound equipment, music practice

Field in honor of ODA alumnus

campus style student center totals

rooms, a scene shop, instrumental and

Taylor Emmons ‘09 [1991-2010])

11,000 square feet, encompassing

chorus rooms with state-of-the-art

marking the official opening of ODA’s

classrooms, a technology center,

acoustics, art and ceramics studios, and

new Athletic Complex.

meeting and study spaces, tutoring center, administrative offices, and an

a graphic design and video production studio. The new Arts Center opened

Additional capital improvements

enormous, sun-filled student lounge.

the possibilities for drama students to

followed quickly:

The 8,000 square feet on the second

rehearse and perform in a professional

•

August 2010 - Gelbman Family

floor is home to a fully equipped marine

Wellness Center

biology lab, math labs, classrooms,

September 2010 - Thunder

project rooms, and an open-concept

their work. Musicians had copious

Stadium, home to ODA’s football,

STEM lab complete with high-tech

practice rooms and the Black Box

lacrosse, and soccer field, softball

equipment, mobile workstations, 3-D

Theater for performances. The new Arts

field, 400-meter track, and track and printers, eco-tanks, robotics stations,

Center finally gave ODA students at

field facilities

space. Artists now had large studios to work in and areas devoted to displaying

Lakewood Ranch a beautiful space to share their artistic passion.

•

•

and more.

September 2011 - Kittle Concession Stand

Aidan Dowdy ‘15 was one of the first students to enter the building. He was

An inaugural tennis match was held on

In August of 2015, ODA held a

eager to see the new STEM lab where

January 30, 2010 to mark the opening

ribbon-cutting ceremony for the most

he would take his AP Environmental

of the Malisoff Tennis Center. Caroline

progressive campus enhancement to

Science class. “This gave me an idea

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

13

of what college life would be like...it

grants related to STEM in Sarasota

to explore countless careers that a

honestly took my breath away.”

County for the past eight years.

STEM education can offer,” said Mrs.

Spokeswoman Ariane Dart says

Dart, when explaining why the Dart

Brittany Wenger ‘14, was one of

“STEM learning is a critical part of a

Foundation and Dart Family invested in

Mr. Mahler’s inspirations for the STEM

child’s education and STEM learning

the new school improvement.

Center. As an ODA student, Wenger,

helps expose students to more career

who graduated from Duke University,

possibilities.” Mrs. Dart shared that

earned international acclaim by winning her father-in-law had been focused

These new facilities opened up additional opportunities for students.

Google’s International Science Fair for

on science, technology, engineering,

Students with interest in physics

her cancer research. “It was [Brittany’s]

and math long before the term STEM

and marine biology were given the

passion in the STEM area that began

was used. “This building satisfies all

resources to pursue projects and

to shape my thinking on what the

that it should for Out-of-Door students

experiments that can implement real

Dart STEM Center might be,” Mr. Mahler remarked.

The project was funded mainly through grants from the Vitale Family Foundation and the Dart Family and Dart Foundation, which has provided 14 The Banyan | Uihlein Campus Growth

“This building satisfies all that it should for Out-of-Door students to explore countless careers that a STEM education can offer.”

Mrs. Ariane Dart

change. Those interested in pursuing

Building Spaces to Accommodate

In November of 2017, students, faculty,

the arts have the opportunity to explore

Student Needs

staff, and families gathered just south of

various genres. Each year, more

In 2016 it had become apparent that the

the main campus buildings to celebrate

seniors specialize in these areas with

number of student-athletes at ODA had

the opening of the new Thunder Athletic

plans to pursue concentrated studies in

reached a critical point, and the needs of Fields. The fields were designed to be

engineering, arts, and athletics.

growing teams were severely outpacing

used year-round by soccer, lacrosse, and

the number of playing fields ODA had

football teams.

While the class of 1999 had a new

available. Varsity and junior varsity

campus with strong curriculum and

teams were growing larger, and practice

innovation for its time, technological

space was so limited that many student-

and societal changes over the past 20

athletes weren’t getting home from their

years have resulted in a new definition

practices until after 9 pm on school

of educational excellence that includes

nights. Mr. Mahler recognized that this

hands-on, collaborative, student-

was clearly not in the best interest of the

centered learning. Offering a well-

student-athletes, who still needed to eat

rounded balance of the arts, athletics,

dinner and do homework after arriving

and academics has always been a

home. With that in mind,

priority at ODA where students are

Mr. Mahler went to work to find

encouraged to try it all.

a solution.

100%

OF ODA’S 844 ALUMNI accepted to four-year colleges/universities

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

15

With the size and needs of the student body growing, the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch is not finished expanding. This summer, the School broke ground on the Fox Field House

“The Siesta Key Campus was great when we were small; it still felt big. But by Middle School, we really did need the space the Upper School provided, especially for sports.”

Mr. Steven Jones ‘08

which will be located near the Malisoff Tennis Center and Taylor Emmons Memorial Field. The 12,300 square

200 spectators. Additional phases of

graduating class. That is impressive

foot field house will be home to ODA’s

development may include team rooms,

growth for a 20-year old institution.

basketball and volleyball teams, and

a trainer’s room, and a new fitness

ODA has enhanced its status as an

will provide indoor practice space for

center.

educational leader by considering the student experience with every new

football, cheerleading, soccer, lacrosse, and tennis along with seating for

2019

GRADUATING CLASS

80 STUDENTS

Future campus renovation plans include

development. Head of School

an expansion of the College Counseling

Mr. Mahler, campus administrators, and

suite as the size of the graduating

the Out-of-Door Trustees are always

classes continues to increase. The class

looking forward, continually striving

of 2018 recorded the highest average

to anticipate how best to ensure the

SAT score in school history. Of the

success of all of ODA’s students. And

68 graduates, 12 student-athletes will

although no one can say exactly what

compete at the collegiate level and five

the future holds, one thing is certain,

have declared Arts majors. That means

ODA’s original mission, teaching the

the number of students now pursuing

whole child—body, mind, and spirit,

concentrations in arts and athletics is

continues to flourish.

larger than the size of the entire first

16 The Banyan | Uihlein Campus Growth

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

17

Faculty

Michele Corley Reflects on a Full Career in Education Michele Corley began teaching at The

of encouragement about moving up

teaching language arts, math, and

Out-of-Door Academy in 2011 where

to the high school, inquire what their

history from four-year-olds to Middle

she taught English to Middle School

summer plans were, and reminisce

Schoolers. Michele taught in the

students at the Uihlein Campus in

about the time they spent in

public school system in Massachusetts

Lakewood Ranch. She had a strong, yet

class together.

and spent thirteen years teaching at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta,

gentle approach with her students, and became a valued and positive member

Michele received a Ed.S. degree in

GA. After teaching at the Berlin-

of the the ODA faculty. Michele

Reading and Literacy from Georgia

Brandenburg International School

genuinely cared for all of the children

State University, a M.S. in Early

in Germany, Michele returned to the

that she taught. The connection she had

Childhood Education from Wheelock

U.S. to teach at Out-of-Door. An avid

with her students was evident in the

College, and a B.F.A. from Florida

traveler and riding enthusiast, Michele

way she interacted with them on a daily

State University. In addition, Michele is

also loves to read about all the places

basis. During the yearbook signing on

also a state-certified reading specialist.

she has visited. During her first year of

the last day of school, the line to have

Throughout her career, Michele

retirement, Michele will live in Paris,

her sign books stretched out the door

continued to increase her education

a city she loves, and travel throughout

as students waited patiently for their

and skills through professional

Europe. She plans to spend time with

turn to have a page inscribed by their

development, adding a TESOL

her family and enjoy her time relaxing

beloved teacher. She quietly spoke with

certificate to her CV. She had more

after a long and successful career.

each one, taking the time to share words than twenty-five years of experience 18 The Banyan | Faculty

Mr. Sean Ball: Celebrating 25 Years of Service Sean Ball has been an educator for

developing his own style of teaching

he says his ultimate goal is to teach

28 years, spending 25 of those years

in the process. When he first arrived at

students life skills to encourage them to

at The Out-of-Door Academy as a

ODA, his goal was to learn the ropes

be more thoughtful, caring people who

teacher, coach, dean, and administrator.

and survive the pivotal first school year.

demonstrate character whether they are

He graduated from the University of

Although every year since has had

in a classroom or on a playing field.

Florida and completed his Master’s

challenges, Mr. Ball is a glass half-full

Degree in Educational Leadership at

kind of person. “One of the best aspects

In addition to teaching, Mr. Ball has

the University of South Florida. He

of being in education is that every

coached many athletics teams, including

watched his father spend his entire

year is new. There are new challenges

football, basketball, tennis, lacrosse,

career in education and witnessed what

and new wonderful outcomes every

soccer, and golf. He has been a grade-

a rewarding career it was for him. By

year,” he reflected. Each year his goals

level dean and has run Camp ODA

the time he graduated, Mr. Ball knew

evolved as he gained experience, and

during the summers. After seven years

that his professional life would follow the same path in education.

In 1992, Mr. Ball began teaching at Out-of-Door and quickly immersed himself in the ODA community. He

“One of the best aspects of being in education is that every year is new. There are new challenges and new wonderful outcomes every year.”

Mr. Sean Ball

taught Latin, English, and history, The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

19

as the Assistant Head of the Middle School, Mr. Ball has transitioned to a new role as ODA’s Assistant Head of the Upper School.

He shares why he believes in a hands-

“The reason I continue to teach and coach is having that personal connection with the students and athletes. That is such an important part of the job for administrators. If you treat students with respect, you can be a successful teacher and administrator.”

Mr. Sean Ball

on approach as an administrator and teacher. “The reason I continue to teach and coach is having that personal

and every time I stand on the Lincoln

Another favorite event,

connection with the students and

Memorial steps with students looking

Thunderpalooza, brings a smile. “I

athletes. That is such an important part

out across the reflecting pool in the

really look forward to Thunderpalooza.

of the job for administrators. If you

spot where Dr. King gave his ‘I have a

Not just because there is that awesome

treat students with respect, you will be a dream’ speech, it still gives me chills. I

boy band—The Deer Street Boys—but

successful teacher and administrator.”

hope that I am allowed to go on that trip

because you see students taking musical

even though I will be at the high school

or creative risks and you see them in a

Mr. Ball feels fortunate to have had the

next year.” He also looks forward to

whole different light.” There are many

opportunity to watch his own children

Spirit Day. The long-standing event

other favorites that Mr. Ball mentions,

grow up at Out-of-Door and have the

stands out to him because the whole

including the 50s Dance, Convocation,

experience of attending a school so

school is focused on community.

and Turkey Bowl. He says these

rich with traditions. One of his favorite

“When the blue and white teams are

events “show that we are a tremendous

events is the 8th grade minimester trip

cheering during the senior obstacle

community.”

to Washington, D.C. “I have gone on

course, it is just an incredible event,”

the Washington, D.C. trip for 25 years

he says.

20 The Banyan | Faculty

Professional Development Our inspiring and innovative teachers are the most important assets influencing student learning and achievement. At Out-ofDoor, we retain extraordinary faculty with an average of nearly 10 years of service. Faculty and staff at ODA are committed to challenging themselves by continuing with their own education, attending conferences and webinars, and supporting both new and experienced educators and administrators. Ongoing professional development keeps Out-of-Door employees up-to-date with research on how children learn, emerging technology tools for the classroom, new curriculum resources, and more. The best professional development is ongoing, experiential, collaborative, and connected to educating students.

LOWER SCHOOL Jessica Banks • • • • •

Participated in an accreditation visit at St. Philips Episcopal School, Coral Springs Appointed as Secretary of the Florida Kindergarten Council Board of Directors Attended the Folio Collaborative Institute Served on the Steering Committee for the annual FCIS Convention Hosted the annual FKC Caucus with guest speaker Donalyn Miller

Jessica Urbans • •

Dr. Linda Vasilaki • •

Martha Gulacsy • •

Webinars: Online Office Hours (Lucy Calkins), Interactive Notebooks (Erin Cobb) Attended the Writing Institute at the Teachers College of Columbia University

Sarah Higham •

•

Attended Project Think: Exploration into the world of innovation and creativity in learning; Ringling College of Art and Design; Sarasota, FL

Dr. Kelly Rose •

•

•

• •

Completed “Intellectual Disabilities/Gifted” master’s course at Southeastern University

Tanna Horner

Partnered with Dr. Donna Wilson and Dr. Marcus Conyers to create a streaming video to accompany their book published through ASCD Served as FCIS Accreditation Team Member at Seacrest Country Day School

Earned a Master’s Degree in STEM Education at California University of Pennsylvania Completed “Standards Aligned Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction,” “Integration of Technology, Teaching Mathematics in the STEM Classroom,” “Methods in Research, Teachers as Leaders,” and “Integrating STEM Education” at California University of Pennsylvania

Completed “Beyond the Repertoire: Round Out Performance Program with Fun, Time-Saving Theory and Composition” Member of the Venice Symphony, Music Educators’ National Conference, Florida Music Educators Association, and the Suzuki Association of America Attended the 2018 Florida Music Educators Music Convention: “Artistry: Teaching and Performing” which included workshops, demonstrations, and performances Conductor of the Orchestra at Church of the Palms Represented ODA as an honored guest at Walnut Hills School of the Arts in the Boston area during the senior cello recital of a former ODA student

MIDDLE SCHOOL Dr. Joanne Barrett • • • • • •

Earned a Doctorate of Education Hour of Code Review Committee Member Reader for College Board AP Exam Presenter, Society for Science Research Teachers Conference Presenter at FCIS Annual Meeting Presenter at Future of Education Technology Conference

•

Invited presenter for FCIS Summer Symposium

Cynthia Fougere •

Qualified for the 2018 Reebok Crossfit Games, by ranking 7th in the world in the 50-54 age group

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

21

Anya Grady

Victoria Davis

•

•

Wrote the Grammar II test for the Florida Junior Classical League Regional Forums

•

Alyssa Mandel • • • •

Authored several authentication reports for Art Experts, Inc. Member of the Association of Independent School Librarians Presented at the Association of Independent School Librarians Annual Conference Attended the Bay Area Association of Independent School Librarians semi-annual meeting

•

Attended the Exeter Humanities Institute at Phillips Exeter Academy Member of the National Council of Teachers of English and National Endowment for the Humanities Attended the Suncoast Youth Shine Workshop, a program to discuss ensuring success outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth in schools

Deborah Frye •

Attended AP Statistics workshop on Simulation

Leslie Garasic Connor Ventling • •

•

Participated in the FCIS New Teacher Institute Member of the National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section

Completed “Art Education in American Culture” master’s course and “Art For Students With Diverse Needs” master’s course at University of Nebraska

Camela Giraud Kathryn Walters • •

Completed “Coaching for Student Learning” and “Teacher Research for Student Learning” at University of South Florida Attended the FCIS Convention in Orlando, FL

•

•

UPPER SCHOOL

Completed “Administrative Analysis and Change & Principles and Practices of Educational Supervision” master’s course at University of South Florida New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) ACE accreditation team member for an international school in Washington, D.C.

Stefanie Betz

Ryan Kinser

•

•

•

Organized Harkness conferences with Phillips Exeter Academy staff Reader for AP Language and Composition

•

Completed the 9-12 Engineering certification through the University of Texas at Austin Presenter at 2018 Hybrid Learning Consortium Symposium

Tim Brewer

Andrew J. Lemieux

•

•

Earned a Master’s Degree in Educational, School and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in positive coaching from the University of Missouri

Marc Alan Roberts •

Darryl Calkins •

Selected to serve two-year terms on the Washington University (St. Louis) Counselor Advisory Board and the Lynn University Counselor Advisory Board

Participated in the Phillips Exeter Academy Harkness Workshop

• •

Earned a Master’s of Education Degree in Leadership and Management from the Open University in The United Kingdom Member of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Attended the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Christopher Chesley •

Independent School Management (ISM) Seminar: “Leading the Effective Upper School

Kippie Crouch •

Instructor of Athletics Administration Master’s Degree program at Ohio University’s College of Business

22 The Banyan | Faculty

Kimberly Walsh • • • • • •

Florida Marine Science Educators Association member Aquatic species collection workshop 2018 Environmental Summit Sarasota County Rain Barrel workshop Sustainable Communities Workshop Florida Coastal Mammals Workshop

Nicole Young

Terri Medina

•

•

• •

•

Awarded the 2018 Music Enrollment Award from the Florida Music Educators Association Attended the Music Educators National Conference in Tampa, FL Attended multiple clinics focusing on implementing technology and music theory in the classroom, string technique, and creativity in the music classroom Member of Florida Orchestra Association and Florida Music Educators Association

Shumin Yu • • •

President of the Florida Chinese Teacher Association Board member of Florida Foreign Language Association Attended the Florida Foreign Language Association Conference

Michael Salmon • •

Presented at the 2017 Florida Council of Independent Schools Conference Board Member of The Circus Arts Conservatory

•

2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Volunteer

Dr. Ellen Zitani • •

Recipient of ALSO Youth’s 2018 Unsung Hero Award for her continued work as chair of the ALSO Prom Wrote “The Envelope System,” a book on personal finance for recent graduates due to be printed by Rebel Hearts Press. Cover designed by Dylan Dennehy ‘19

Cheryl Zaccone •

ADMINISTRATION / STAFF L’Tanya C. Evans • •

Appointed to the Board of Directors at Asolo Repertory Theater Adjudicator for Theater Odyssey 10-Minute Play Festival 2018

Alyse Evasius •

Certificates Earned: Blackbaud K-12: Calendar, Resources, and News, Blackbaud K-12: School Forms, Notifications, and Messages, Blackbaud K-12: Content and Media, Blackbaud K-12 Core: Pushpage, Blackbaud K–12 onMessage: Page Builder

David Mahler • • • •

Co-Director of SAIS Institute for Strategic Leadership IPP FCIS Board of Trustees USF Continuous Improvement Advisory Board NAIS Commission on Accreditation

David McDonald •

Certificates Earned: Basics of RE, Basics of RE NXT, RE: Basics of a Query, RE: Basics of Blackbaud Online Express, RE: Basics of Data Analysis, RE: Basics of Data Extraction, RE: Basics of Gifts, RE: Basics of Mail, RE: Campaigns, Funds, and Appeals, RE: Constituents 2, RE: Event Management, RE: Fundamentals - Gifts, RE: Fundamentals - Query, RE: Fundamentals Constituents, RE: Fundamentals - Data Analysis & Extractions, RE: Managing Prospects, RE NXT Basics of Fundraising, RE NXT Basics of Lists, RE NXT Basics of SKY Reporting for Execs, RE NXT Fundraising and Analysis, RE NXT Overview, RE NXTBasics of Constituents Record, and Alumni Engagement

•

Certificates Earned: Blackbaud Certification in ON Products, K–12 onBoard: Communication, K–12 onCampus: Academic Group Faculty Features 1, K–12 Core: Pushpage, K–12 onCampus: Academic Group and Gradebook Administration, K–12 onBoard: Communication, K–12 Core: School Forms, Notifications, and Messages, K–12 onMessage: Page Builder, K–12 onBoard and onMessage: Event Registration, K–12 onMessage: Page Builder, K–12 onBoard: Admissions Process 1, K–12 onBoard: Admissions Process 2, K–12 onRecord: Schedule and Attendance, K–12 onRecord: Official Notes and Conduct, K–12 Core: Content and Media, K–12 onBoard: Community and Candidate Profiles, K–12 onBoard: Candidate Management, K-12 onBoard: Forms, K–12 onRecord: Official Notes and Conduct, K–12: Calendar, Resources, and News, K–12: School Forms, Notifications, and Messages, K–12: Initial Configuration, K–12: User Management and Database Administration, K–12 Core: Annual Procedures, K–12 Workshop: Policies and Procedures—Constituents, K–12 onRecord: Learning Profiles and Medical, K–12: Calendar, Resources, and News, K–12: Annual Procedures Attended Blackbaud BBcon Conference

Certificates Earned: Blackbaud K-12: Calendar, Resources, and News, Blackbaud K-12: Content and Media, Blackbaud K–12: Initial Configuration, Blackbaud K–12: Pushpage, Blackbaud K-12: School Forms, Notifications, and Messages, Blackbaud K–12: User Management and Database Administration, Blackbaud K–12 onBoard and onMessage: Event Registration, Blackbaud K–12 onMessage: Page Builder

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

23

New Faculty & Staff Julie Bianchi - Head of Middle School Julie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a teaching minor in French from Hillsdale College. She also earned a Master’s degree in the Art of Teaching from Marysgrove College. Julie has taught English and French from Michigan to Maryland in grades 6-12.

Julie joins the Out-of-Door community from Detroit Country Day, where her work spanned 18 years and included roles as teacher, varsity coach, Dean of Students, Director of Admissions, and School Director. Julie’s strategic vision balances the rigors of tradition, the excitement of innovation, and the physical and emotional well-being of the complex Middle Schooler to create classrooms and experiences that thoughtfully and artfully engage individual students each and every day.

Dianne Spence - Director of Campus Security Dianne joins our team with over 25 years of law enforcement experience with the New York City Police Department and as a School Resource officer.

Dianne retired from the NYPD as a First Grade Detective after 23 years of service; she spent 15 years of her career in the Narcotics Division specializing in drug and weapons trafficking.

Dianne was a 9/11 first responder spending several months participating in the rescue/recovery efforts at Ground Zero and the Staten Island Landfill. She finished her career in the Internal Affairs Bureau investigating allegations of serious misconduct made against members of the NYPD. Dianne received extensive training in human trafficking, crimes against children, and firearms proficiency.

Dianne joins the Out-of-Door Academy after serving as a School Resource Officer at the State College of Florida Collegiate School where she oversaw the safety and security of students and faculty.

24 The Banyan | Faculty

Jose “Fernando” Azcona-Meza - Upper School Math Fernando comes to ODA with five years of experience teaching English Language Learners in the Bilingual School system in his home country Honduras. Fernando’s passion for Math instruction earned him a position to teach Pre-Algebra and Algebra I in Middle School.

After moving to the United States to pursue his master’s in education from USF-St. Pete, Fernando started substituting for Sarasota School county and ODA. Fernando is excited to join ODA’s faculty for the upcoming school year. His classes include innovative strategies and combination of creativity with critical understanding of mathematical concepts. During his free time, Fernando enjoys going to theme parks, traveling, entertainment, spending time with friends, outdoor activities, fitness, and spirituality.

Levi Biedermann - Upper School Art Levi joins The Out-of-Door Academy with a colorful background. Growing up in a military family, Levi lived in four different states as well as overseas by the time he was in Middle School. He started his college career at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and finished a BFA in Art Education with a minor in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

During his time in California he worked in a variety of school settings and trained with professional artists in a variety of mediums including ceramics, metal, woodworking, papermaking, and printmaking. Levi’s artwork has been featured in various galleries and museums, and he has mentored students, guiding many who went on to receive awards and recognitions as emerging artists. Levi has served on curriculum development teams, created and branded an art curriculum for i2 International Institute of Education, and been featured by Edutopia for his innovative teaching practices. Levi is returning back to Florida after teaching in China and Wisconsin, and is ready to make Out-of-Door his permanent home.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

25

Gina King - Middle School English Teacher Gina King is excited to be a part of the Out-of-Door family, and comes to ODA with over 12 years of teaching experience. Gina is originally from Lake Orion, Michigan, and went to Michigan State University. She earned a Bachelor’s in Education with a specialization in Language Arts, and has a Child Psychology certification from The University of Texas-Austin.

For the last nine years Gina has lived in a small beach town in Hermosa Beach in Los Angeles, California. She has spent the last six years teaching 4th grade at Rolling Hills Country Day School in Rolling Hills, CA. Gina created a program at her school called Girl and Boy Talk which teaches girls and boys about self-worth, kindness, compassion, and empathy. She has taught these classes and workshops in 4th-8th grade and is excited to bring this program with her to ODA. Gina loves the beach, walking her dog, Hopper, traveling, and exploring new places.

Derrkia “Kia” Louis-Jones - Second Grade Teacher’s Assistant Derrkia “Kia” holds a B.S. in Business Education with a concentration in Sports Management from Webber International University. She has a range of experience as both a classroom teacher and athletics coach. Kia has been teaching in the classroom since 2016 and has also coached youth boys and girls basketball since 2013. When she is not teaching or coaching she enjoys spending time with her family. Kia has a wonderful husband and son, and they all love to attend sporting events, traveling, and making sure to try all the tasty treats when they are on vacation.

26 The Banyan | Faculty

Carolyn Martin - Third Grade Teacher Carolyn is a native of Bradenton and is excited to return to her home state of Florida after spending the last eight years in Boston, Massachusetts. After earning her Master’s in Education from Harvard University, she taught for seven years as a Lower School teacher at the Meadowbrook School of Weston where she developed the school’s socio-emotional curriculum and pioneered Open Studio, an authentic display of student learning centered around growth mindset and metacognition.

Carolyn enjoys collaborating with teachers across various disciplines and values meaningful integration. She served as a member of the school’s admissions committee and participated actively in other school-related functions including chaperoning student trips to Costa Rica and China. She has a special interest in writing and has participated in renowned workshops including the Kenyon Review and Tin House. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College where she spent her junior year studying abroad in Florence, Italy. When she is not in the classroom, Carolyn finds herself tutoring, running, and rooting for her favorite teams in basketball and football.

Kristin Ulrick - Lower School Wellness Coordinator Kristin is a Colorado native and received her B.A. in Communications and Marketing and her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Colorado. Early in her career she worked as a writer and producer for a news channel in New York City before pursuing education. Two years in Fiji working with children helped solidify her desire to help foster positive, engaging, and supportive learning environments.

Most recently, she served as a curriculum developer and lead teacher at a school for gifted and talented children in Santa Barbara, CA. Her passion lies in social emotional learning (SEL); helping students develop and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. As Lower School Wellness Coordinator, her focus is on implementing current research-based practices in SEL and mindfulness. Kristin loves to travel and learn about other people and cultures as well as spend time at the beach with her son.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

27

ODA Teachers Expand and Enrich the Curriculum The Out-of-Door Academy participated

adapt that for the online learning

depth, online courses through a global

in faculty training and symposiums this

experience. During the session, the

learning community. These are not

year to expand the use of innovative

group was led through an exercise of

your everyday virtual classrooms—this

methods in our classrooms.

solving a real-world problem to give the is online learning of the caliber our participants an idea of how this teaching students receive within the walls of

ODA Hosts National Symposium for

method could be applied to the online

ODA. HLC courses are designed and

Educators

learning arena.

taught by independent school educators with a focus on student-centered

This year The Out-of-Door Academy hosted the annual Hybrid Learning

Another highlight for the attendees

instruction, and the students enrolled

Consortium (HLC) Symposium at

was the student-directed tours of the

are from independent schools across the

the Uihlein Campus. Out-of-Door is

campus. Students took groups of one to

nation. All HLC courses are designed

wrapping up its first year in partnership

three people around the campus, leaving for self-guided components, as well as

with this innovative educational

plenty of time for questions from the

collaboration through various online

community. ODA’s Ryan Kinser, Upper

guests. “The campus tour is always

platforms and support learning and

School Instructional Technologist, led

a popular part of the symposium. It

interacting in real time.

a hands-on session entitled “STEM

is a great way to see how the school

Works: Take an Engineer’s Approach

actually works and what student life is

This year, ODA students could choose

Online,” which offered a preview

like,” commented Laura Siebers,

from 13 HLC courses, including

of “The Art of Innovation,” an HLC

HLC’s Coordinator of

“Issues in Contemporary Healthcare”

course he will teach next year. Mr.

Community Connections.

and “Essentials of Entrepreneurship.”

Students who enrolled felt that

Kinser described his approach in the classroom, which encourages design-

As members of the HLC, ODA students

they had rich, student-centered

thinking, and discussed how he would

in grades 10-12 are eligible to take in-

learning experiences and built strong

28 The Banyan | Faculty

relationships within their classes.

to feel so welcome on this campus.

brought in experts from Phillips Exeter

Bella Fiorucci ‘20, took “Art and

The students are so polite and I love

Academy–where the Harkness method

Practice of Screenwriting” and

the beautiful, outdoor ambiance”

originated. In small groups, teachers

enjoyed the experience. “The way

reflected HLC’s Coordinator of Content

took the student seat, learning about,

my classmates and I collaborated and

and Innovation, Christopher Mullis.

and participating in, discussion-based

communicated was quite different

ODA is committed to working with

conversations about texts appropriate

from the way we do in my regular

innovative groups like HLC that focus

to their subject matter. The Harkness

classes,” she said. “We used a variety of

on progressive educators working

method teaches students how to learn

discussion threads, voice threads, and

collaboratively to develop skills, refine

from their interactions with each other

video chats in place of the face-to-face

ideas, and bring the best of 21st century

as opposed to a more teacher-led

interaction I have at school. In addition,

learning to teaching.

method. They have to prepare for the conversation by analyzing material

pretty much all of the homework was given at the beginning of the week,

Teachers Become Students During

they read and bringing their reflections,

which meant that I could set my

Harkness Training

ideas, and questions to the table for

own schedule.”

What would you gain from a

discussion. As they explore the topic

compelling, engaging, educational

verbally with others, they gain a deeper

Out-of-Door was proud to host the

discussion facilitated by your peers?

understanding of their subject.

HLC Symposium. “HLC is particular

Teachers at The Out-of-Door Academy

about each partner school we choose.

had the chance to learn as they attended

The instructors from Phillips Exeter

We look for individuality; schools with

two days of training about the Harkness

Academy walked faculty members

their own character, goals, and ideas

method of teaching. To sharpen their

through the discussion method in topics

about education. We have been made

skills in facilitating discussion, ODA

like literature, scientific research, and The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

29

history. Intensive sessions demonstrated how to take students through warm-up exercises as they embark in learning the Harkness method to increase their comfort with it. One tactic was to craft a fairy tale with each member of the discussion contributing details to the story randomly one by one. This demonstrated how the method inspires students to be thoughtful and creative as they collaborate and communicate.

Additionally, students must learn to actively listen to each other, read body language, and contribute equally.

The importance of silence was discussed, as this often indicates that students are processing information.

Having teachers walk through the process provided insight into what

by students to an extent. Often, a

development allows faculty

their students experience. “I now

student is responsible for tracking

members the ability to fine-tune their

better understand the stress students

the conversation. In one observation

understanding of various methods of

have, fearing their comments are being

method, a circle represents the table and

teaching. While the Harkness method

evaluated,” Ken Sommers shared. This

each student, and the person tracking

has been in use in many English

experience will help Mr. Sommers and

draws a line from student to student,

and History classes over the past

other teachers guide students through

indicating the pattern of the discussion

several years, this focused training

Harkness discussions with ease.

and whether a text citation, question,

provided instruction to all subject

or comment was offered. At the end

areas in the hopes of improving rigor,

Teachers must convey to students that

of the discussions, the teacher and

communication skills, and analytical

the approach aims for discussion and

class talk about how the session went

skills across the curriculum. Mrs. Leslie

not debate. It encourages open-minded

in a debriefing session. The goal is

Garsic shared, “this will help me move

conversations that garner respect and

for each student to contribute equally,

towards student choice in the visual

understanding of other perspectives.

meaning that some students are working arts program and foster more 21st

Rather than saying “this is how it is,”

on listening skills while others are

century teaching pedagogy.” Expanding

the method encourages students to

working on speaking skills. Rather than

this method of collaborative, student-

discuss and collaborate to deepen their

competing for the chance to speak, it is

centered learning to other disciplines

understanding of concepts and ideas in

a group effort to hear every voice at

and all levels is an exciting move for

every subject.

the table.

ODA as it continues to seek excellence in the classroom.

So how is this method of learning

The Out-of-Door Academy’s

evaluated? Even the grading is overseen

commitment to professional

30 The Banyan | Faculty

FREE ADMISSION

- BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Saturday, November 10, 2018 11:00 am - 3:00 pm PRESENTED BY:

The Out-of-Door Academy Historic Siesta Key Campus 444 Reid Street, Sarasota, FL 34242

FUN DAY oda.edu/TFD FOOD • FUN • GAMES • CRAFTS • INFLATABLES • CHILI COOK OFF

Out-of-Door Featured by ASCD Recently the Out-of-Door Academy

on brain-based learning with whom

Out-of-Door Academy.” The video

was selected to participate in the

ODA’s Lower School Media Specialist

will help teachers around the world see

creation and production of important

Dr. Kelly Rose has collaborated through how they can help students learn how

professional development resources

her work on brain-based learning and

to “drive their own brains” through the

for educators across the globe. This

teaching for both children and adults.

teaching of metacognition.

the Association for Supervision

“When ASCD asked me and my

Dr. Rose worked with ASCD to develop

and Curriculum Development, an

company, BrainSMART, Inc., to consult

a schedule that would allow for filming

internationally-known professional

on the production of a companion video

with minimal disruption to classes.

organization for educators, to create an

to our book, it was a difficult decision

“I knew I wanted the team to leave

instructional video for teachers. Model

about where we wanted to shoot the

ODA with a lasting impression,” she

teaching and learning was on display

video since we have worked with

said. In preparation for filming,

for film crews in classrooms on our

hundreds of high-performing schools

Dr. Rose met with teachers and helped

historic Siesta Key Campus.

across the U.S. and around the world,”

them plan for modeling the teaching of

Dr. Wilson explained. “In the end,

metacognition, which is higher-order

The video is a supplemental piece for

our decision was based on knowing

thinking that enables understanding,

Dr. Donna Wilson’s book, “Teaching

the instructional leadership skills of

analysis, and control of one’s cognitive

Students to Drive their Brains.”

BrainSMART Program graduate

processes, especially when engaged

Dr. Wilson is an international expert

Dr. Kelly Rose at Sarasota’s The

in learning. “The Lower School

fall, ODA partnered with ASCD,

32 The Banyan | Faculty

teachers who worked with me were phenomenal,” Dr. Rose shared. “It was easy to find examples within the lessons they were already teaching.” After

“…it was a difficult decision about where we wanted to shoot the video since we have worked with hundreds of highperforming schools across the U.S. and around the world.”

filming, Dr. Wilson shared that she was

Dr. Donna Wilson

“very impressed with the thoughtful answers students were giving about their amazing brains.”

get to know the teachers and the school while we were filming. I know how

The film crew spent two days on our

difficult it can be to have a film crew

Siesta Key Campus filming in multiple

plunked down in the middle of a school

areas with various grade levels. The

day, but everyone at ODA took it in

filming occurred during regularly

stride. It’s a very special place.”

scheduled classes and showcased Out-of-Door’s exceptional instruction.

Congratulations to all who were

Dr. Wilson, Mrs. Cheney, Ms. Hiller,

involved in what will be a valuable

Ms. Jaiswal, and Dr. Rose each taught

resource for fellow educators.

a lesson and were then interviewed

Participation in projects such as this

by ASCD.

demonstrates how the ODA community embraces excellence, supporting

Ken Cornwell, Senior Producer at

important educational research and

ASCD had this to say about their time

earning nationwide recognition for

at Out-of-Door, “It was such a treat to

its programs.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

33

LOWER SCHOOL

STEM

PROGRAM EARNS

ACADEMIC

HONORS

The Out-of-Door Academy’s Lower School on Siesta Key unveiled the new Dart STEM Lab in February. This is the latest in a series of significant capital investments in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs at Out-of-Door.

This new lab space affords our Lower School students the opportunity to explore the world around them with innovative resources such as robotics, augmented reality software, video-teleconferencing and 3-D printing. The addition of state-of-the-art facilities for STEM studies on both campuses has enhanced student learning opportunities in these key academic disciplines. Thank you to the Dart Family and The Dart Foundation for their continued generous support of the STEM program at ODA. Fifth Graders Win Award at Sarasota County STEM Fair Fifth graders Sequoia Miller ‘25 and Noah Knego ‘25 won second place for their product, the “Headphone Helper,” at the 2018 Sarasota County STEM Fair this year. For the competition, they conceptualized and designed several versions of their product before creating a prototype using a 3-D printer. Their product eliminates the chance of the wires from headphones and other wired technology from becoming entangled.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

35

Fifth Grade Presents at Renewable Energy Summit Fifth graders presented the renewable energy projects which they designed during their Renewable Energy Summit in the Dart STEM Lab. Students were excited to share their knowledge about geothermal, solar, wave/tidal, biomass, and wind energy through the projects they designed—a majority of which were created utilizing iPads, small props, and other creative devices.

Hands-on interaction and questions were welcome as classes visited each student’s station and learned why these types of energy are so important.

Students Bring Fiction to Life Through

Students took note of applicable Earth

Then, it was back to the iPads,

Cross-Curricular Project

Science concepts within the story,

where they coded a journey for Roz.

A cross-curricular project in fourth

including plants, animals, landforms,

Finally, students shared their work

and climate. In STEM class, students

with classmates and compared the

completed a six-phase journey that

similarities and differences in their

allowed them to experience every

interpretations of the same book. This

aspect of STEM. Students developed

intricate project allowed students

predictions for the sequel book using

to combine creative elements with

meaningful format.

engineering applications. They coded a

analytical research. The result was

robot while applying essential skills to

an interconnected journey that taught

After reading this year’s Global Read

help assist Roz in escaping the horrible

collaboration, ingenuity, critical

grade allowed students to experience every aspect of STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, while applying Earth Science concepts in a

Aloud book, “The Wild Robot” by Peter factory in the story. Using Google Earth, along with their notes from the Brown, students used the framework of the book in an exciting project.

In this action-packed story, readers find out what happens when nature and technology collide. Robot Roz discovers that she is alone on a remote

book, students analyzed where in the

thinking and more, while keeping students engaged and excited about the work in true STEM fashion.

world the island from the book may be located. They built three-dimensional replicas of the island they chose using math and engineering concepts.

island. To survive, Roz befriends the animals and adapts to her wild surroundings. The island soon begins to feel like home. But, where in the world is this new “home” located? It’s up to the fourth graders to find out!

36 The Banyan | Academics

The Out-of-Door Academy is committed to preparing students for their future by providing them with essential problem-solving skills—the new Dart STEM Lab is the most recent development towards this goal.

Academics

Lower School Students Explore Past, Present, and Future The theme on the Historic Siesta Key

posters about littering and being

the equipment in the new Dart STEM

Campus this year was “Sustainability”

environmentally conscious, which

Lab. They hosted Chinese exchange

and students and faculty gave the

were hung in businesses all along

students in their classrooms and made

topic their full attention. There were

Siesta Village.

cooking presentations in Spanish class.

There were reading and writing events

multiple projects, activities, and field trips centered around the subject

In addition to sustainability, Lower

with their Middle School and Upper

including visits to Mote Marine Lab

School students were immersed in a

School partners, and many students

and Aquarium to study marine biology

wide range of topics and time periods.

participated in poetry, STEM, and

and learn how to protect Florida’s

Civil War reenactors talked about life

writing competitions.

marine ecology, participating in beach

during the second half of the 1800s

clean ups, and visiting the Florida

and there were lessons on sewing and

House Institute. Fifth graders hosted

quilting during the Westward Expansion The second grade took the

a Renewable Energy Summit, where

unit. There were cross curricular

they presented their projects about

projects combining science and English, whole new level as they embarked on

geothermal, solar, wave, biomass,

such as The Wild Robot coding project.

a year-long initiative to learn how

and wind energy, and second graders

Students dissected owl pellets, studied

they can make positive changes to the

created public service announcement

cellular biology, and learned to use

environment. During the year, students

Second Grade Focus on Sustainability Sustainability Superhero theme to a

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

37

partnered with a school in Portugal to

Kindergarteners Ponder Future

takes place annually on March 2–Dr.

share information about where they live, Aspirations During Career Day

Seuss’s birthday. On the Siesta Key

and exchange ideas about how to live

On Kindergarten Career Day, students

Campus, first and second grade

more sustainably. They spent a morning

decorated a paper cut-out to portray

students got together in groups and

at Siesta Beach cleaning up trash in the

the career they want when they grow

read their favorite Dr. Seuss books to

playground, picnic, and beach areas.

up. Parents and students were invited

one another. Teachers remarked at what

The students visited the Mote Marine

to browse the “career people” and

a wonderful morning it was, watching

Laboratory and Aquarium, where

ask students why they chose their

small groups of students sitting

they learned about the importance of

jobs. Parents were impressed with the

together sharing the stories of a

maintaining a clean environment for

creative, insightful, and sometimes

beloved children’s book author.

marine life in Florida and around the

humorous answers they heard from

world. Finally, students created posters

the kindergarteners who had put a lot

Fifth Graders Learn about

reminding people about the hazards of

of thought into what career they might

Westward Expansion through

littering and how important it is to keep

want to have one day.

Collaborative Lessons A fun collaboration in fifth graders’

our environment clean. Students spoke with local business owners on Siesta

Students Enjoy Read Across America

Reading and History classes allowed

Key and asked to have their posters

Day with Seuss Theme

them to explore many facets of colonial

hung in their shops to help spread

Read Across America Day is a

life as they learned about the Westward

their message.

nationwide reading celebration that

Expansion. In History class with

38 The Banyan | Academics

Mrs. Bryan, each student researched

prized possessions with the fifth-grade

All of the students did an amazing job

an 1860s topic, such as the Oregon

class – a holiday sampler quilt, which

of thoroughly researching and creating

Trail, Lewis and Clark, The Louisiana

was hand-sewn by her mother. As

a visual display about their subject.

Purchase, or the Gold Rush. Once they

students became more and more excited

During the event, the third graders

became experts, they wrote lyrics to

about this lost art, they requested to

dressed like their subject and posed by

create a humorous and educational

bring in their own quilts from home.

their displays, emulating wax figures in a museum.

parody that taught others about their topic.

The students’ immersion into the time period through research and writing,

There were many unique and creative

During Literature class with Miss

while also reading a relatable historical

projects covering characters from long

Hiller, students read “The Quilt Walk”

fiction story about someone their own

ago to modern day, including Erik the

by Sandra Dallas. In this historical

age provided them with a well-rounded

Red, Amelia Earhart, Stan Lee, and

fiction novel, 10-year-old Emmy Blue

snapshot of life in the 1860s.

Steve Irwin. Students were excited to share everything they learned about

Hatchet travels west with her family to a new home in Colorado. The journey

Third Grade Wax Museum

their subjects, and guest were impressed

by wagon train is full of hardships and

Families and students enjoyed touring

with the effort put into both the displays

excitement, but the family never gives

the Third Grade Wax Museum in May.

and costumes.

up. As Emmy Blue walks alongside the oxen, who are hauling her family’s possessions, she passes the time by learning how to quilt.

In an interactive tie-in to the book, ODA’s fifth graders learned to sew.

They learned about plastic canvas stitchery and quilting from an expert, Ms. Carol Crossman, ODA’s fourth and fifth grade teaching assistant and learning specialist. Ms. Crossman was kind enough to share one of her most

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

39

Middle School Minimester: Learning on the Road Out-of-Door Academy Middle School

and a question and answer session with

activities. The final day of Minimester

students take part in a trip each spring

veteran NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott.

was spent at Adventure Island where

where they can explore educational

Ms. Stott talked about experiences from

students enjoyed the sun and fun of the

sites with their classmates. Each grade

her exciting career, answering questions

water park. It was a great chance for

level visits a different region of the

about what it’s like to travel to space.

the students to relax together before

country. Their daily outings bring

She shared that a personal highlight was returning to campus to gear up for the

together information they have learned

painting the first watercolor in space

in Science and History throughout the

which led to her second career as an

year while students bond from traveling

artist. Through her artwork, she shares

Seventh Grade Explores Ecosystems

together as a class.

the unique beauty she saw from the

in the Everglades and Keys

vantage point of space–this compelling

This year, seventh graders had a

Sixth Graders Travel Florida

integration of Art and Science

different trip from previous years

For the sixth grade Minimester trip,

resonated with ODA students

due to Hurricane Irma’s devastation.

students traveled within the mid-

who regularly participate in

Students started in the Everglades with

Florida region. While they stayed

cross-curricular assignments.

a conservation walk where they learned

final month of classes.

about various animal and bird species

close to home, this three-day outing without parents was an opportunity

After spending the night at the Kennedy

and the ecosystems in which they live.

to gain independence and practice

Space Center the group spent the next

They enjoyed an alligator tram and an

responsibility. This year’s trip began

day exploring the exciting attractions

airboat ride–a highlight for many as

at Kennedy Space Center with a tour

before heading to Busch Gardens. The

most students had never before had

that excited and inspired students with

students arrived after the park closed

this experience. The next day was

hands-on challenges, a 3-D movie in

to have a private animal encounter

spent on Key Largo interacting with

the IMAX® theater, a scavenger hunt,

and participate in team-building

various marine species. After a shallow

40 The Banyan | Academics

snorkel where they saw creatures in

together the focus on conservation they

After reading the book “Night” by

their native habitats, seventh graders

gained in sixth grade with this year’s

Elie Wiesel and learning about the

visited a dolphin research center and a

learning about various organisms to

Holocaust from visiting speakers, ODA

turtle hospital. They learned about the

produce a project about coral reefs.

students entered the Holocaust Museum

behavior and rehabilitation of dolphins

They explored how coral multiplies and

with reverence and respect due to their

and turtles, seeing 100 turtles who had

researched what causes bleaching and

understanding of what happened in

been rehabilitated and will eventually

how to prevent it. They then became

Europe during World War II.

be released back into the ocean.

environmental advocates, and created a campaign on how to preserve coral.

The group visited the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, and stood where

The last day of the trip was a unanimous favorite for our marine

Eighth Grade Visits our Nation’s Capital

Martin Luther King, Jr. stood as

explorers. The entire last quarter of

The culminating event of the eighth

he delivered his famous “I Have a

learning in their science class involved

grade year and of the students’ study of

Dream” speech. Students saw the

invertebrates and the classification of

American History was the Minimester

Jefferson Memorial, Arlington National

animals. On Marathon Key, they were

trip to Washington, D.C. Throughout

Cemetery, FDR and MLK Memorials,

able to see the organisms they had

the year, students read books and

and the National Archive, where they

been studying up close. They went

worked on projects that provided a

viewed the original Declaration of

dip netting to catch various wildlife,

deeper understanding of history and

Independence, Constitution, and

including puffer fish, scorpion fish,

the sites and memorials they would

Bill of Rights.

and crabs, identifying the phylum in

visit in D.C. Students enjoyed touring as many of

which they belong. They kayaked through the mangroves–something

Given a name from the Vietnam Wall,

the Smithsonian Museums as time

almost every student mentioned in

each student created a journal based

allowed, and for the first time, this year

their reflections about the trip. Finally,

upon his or her person. They then wrote

they visited the 911 Memorial at the

they fed tarpon, amazed to see these

a personal letter to the person, which

Pentagon. A Nationals baseball game

enormous fish in the wild. After a full

they left at the wall near the person’s

and time at the Pentagon Mall rounded

three days, students were invigorated

engraved name. During the visit to the

out the trip. After this jam-packed trek

by all the knowledge they had obtained

Wall, the group encountered Vietnam

through our nation’s history, eighth

while having fun with classmates in

veterans who were pleased that not only

graders returned exhausted but with

South Florida. When they returned to

have the students read a novel about the

an indelible memory that they will

campus, a culminating project brought

war, but that they have studied about it.

never forget.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

41

Hands-On Learning in the Middle School Middle School had an exciting year

preserving Florida’s marine ecology,

students. Mrs. Glatz was a child in

with a focus on hands-on STEM

and there were many amazing STEM

Hungary when the Nazis entered her

learning in science classes and many

experiments, guest speakers, and

town, sending the men–including her

cross-curricular projects connecting

projects throughout the year.

father–to forced labor camps. She spoke about the part Rudolf Israel Kastner

history, English, science, math, and art.

Eighth Graders Take In-Depth Approach

played in helping to free her family

Students spent considerable time

to World War II Studies

from Bergen Belsen, and her positive

learning about the Holocaust this

During the eighth grade unit on World

memories of living in Israel after the

year, reading Elie Weisel in English,

War II, students learned the subject

war. Mrs. Glatz spoke candidly about

hearing from a Holocaust survivor and

matter through a variety of sources.

the pain and suffering she experienced,

a historian, learning about World War

This interdisciplinary approach brought

stating, “I cannot comprehend that a

II and American History, and visiting

history to life as students read “Night”

thing like this could have happened

the Holocaust Museum in Washington

by Elie Wiesel in their English class

in a country so civilized….people

D.C. during Minimester. There were

while learning about the war and

should always speak out when they

trips to museums, Mote Laboratory

subsequent rise of Adolf Hitler in

think that something is not right, when

and Aquarium, Ybor City, an Invention

history class. They also heard first- and

people aren’t being treated fairly...

Convention, and a poetry cafe in Mrs.

second-hand accounts of the atrocities

The Holocaust is a reminder that the

Dozier’s room. Sixth graders held a

that took place from guest speakers.

unspeakable can happen.”

symposium in the Black Box Theater

Local Holocaust survivor Mrs. Rifka

to share the websites they created about

Glatz shared her experience with

42 The Banyan | Academics

Guest lecturer Mr. Richard Ohlsson visited as well, giving a presentation entitled, “How A Jar of Potato Salad Led to the Rescue of 15,500 Holocaust Victims.” Mr. Ohlsson told the story of the ‘White Buses’ operation in May of 1945—the largest rescue action of Scandinavian prisoners that took place before the liberation of concentration camps at the end of the war. He talked about several key figures, including Wanda Hjort Hesen, who brought jars of potato salad to prisoners interned in camps in Berlin, using the opportunity to compile lists of names to pass on to the Swedish Red Cross, and Zygmunt Lakoscinski, who became an archivist of the personal interviews and items collected from survivors. Mr. Ohlsson showed several videos which went into detail about the influential people

own in science class. After learning

They have truly come up with some

involved the White Bus rescue, and

about famous inventors and the

amazing inventions.”

answered questions posed by students.

invention process, and participating in a video chat session with a patent

Sixth Grade Symposium

These accounts of this tragic time in

attorney, sixth graders were challenged

After researching local marine

our history provided students

to identify a “problem” from their

conservation issues in Florida, teams

with a deeper understanding of what

everyday lives which could be solved

of sixth graders developed an inquiry-

occurred and its lasting effect on those

with a new invention.

based research question to better

involved. Their visit to United States

understand their topic. Topics included

Holocaust Memorial Museum as part

After deciding on a concept, students

the ecological impact of the loss of

of Minimester was a fitting close to

performed research about similar

seagrass, manatee conservation, and

the unit.

products and made blueprint drawings

the decline of shark populations over

of their inventions. The culmination of

the past ten years. Students spent

Sixth Graders Invent Products

this project required students to build

considerable time reading and outlining

to Solve Everyday Problems

working prototypes of their products

scientific research papers in both Mrs.

Sixth grade students in Mrs. Walters’

to display at the annual Invention

Walters’ and Ms. Lonsdale’s classes, as

class rose to the challenge in a cross-

Convention. Mrs. Walters shared her

well as collecting their own data

collaborative project in their English

reactions to the to the students’ final

during their fieldwork at Mote

and science classes. While reading

designs, “I am so proud of the hard

Marine Laboratory. Students then

the novel “Tesla’s Attic” in English,

work and dedication these students

created websites in order to display

students developed inventions of their

have displayed throughout this project!

their findings.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

43

printing in medical fields. Mr. Sassetti

distance traveled, and ability to support

The students presented their websites

talked about the history of medical

weight without capsizing. The students

during the Sixth Grade Symposium,

imaging, and explained the importance

designed the boats with a freely moving

talking about the issues they had

of voxels in imaging technology, and

propeller and a cargo area so that sand

researched, possible solutions they

the many medical applications that are

could be added in order to test the load

theorized, and answering questions

already in use in humans and animals.

capacity and stability.

from attendees. Guests were impressed

He showed several short videos which

with the vast amount of information

utilized 3-D imaging, including an

Eighth Graders Take in Cuban Culture

and complex strategies the students

internal navigation of a heart and brain,

in Ybor City

developed over the course of

explaining how surgeons would use

In December, students in the 8th

this project.

similar videos to assist when planning

grade Spanish classes traveled to the

an operation. Mr. Sassetti also brought

Ybor City Museum State Park in

STEM Learning in

3-D printed samples for the students

Tampa, Florida. This integral part of

Seventh & Eighth Grade

to examine, including a complete frog

the curriculum increased the students’

Dr. Barrett’s students learned about

skeleton and the radius and ulna of

awareness of Florida’s history and

circuitry and robotics during a cool

a canine.

understanding of how the early Spanish settlers helped to create the unique

STEM week experiment. The class built “Operation Game”-type boxes

Led by Mrs. Walters, 7th grade

culture of Ybor City. Following the

using balloons to represent lungs and

science students participated in a squid

guided tour of the Museum, students

sensors for the heart. The students then

dissection. The class learned about

and chaperones had lunch at La

closed their boxes and tried to trigger

external and internal physiology, as

Tropicana Café. Afterwards, students

the “heart” sensor through pre-made

well as the importance of following

walked to a cigar factory down the

holes in the box. After they succeeded,

procedures and learning new skills and

street. After the walking tour, students

students combined various circuits and

techniques in the science lab.

and teachers stopped at La Segunda, an authentic Cuban bakery and purchased

motors to make small machines with moving parts.

Dr. Barrett and Mrs. Sassetti’s eighth

some delicious Cuban bread, cakes, and

grade students designed blueprints

other baked goods.

Mr. Ronald Sassetti, an expert in the

and created 3-D boats to meet specific

field of advanced 3-D medical imaging

criteria. They tested their 3-D printed

and technology, spoke to students

boats in an outside pool on the Wood

about the current utilization and the

Family Amphitheater. The boats were

future potential of 3-D imaging and

tested on three criteria: buoyancy,

44 The Banyan | Academics

Anthology of Poetry Competition Featured Poets Congratulations to ODA’s fourth and fifth grade students whose work will be published in the “Anthology of Poetry” by Young Americans. The Anthology of Poetry is the forum that recognizes writing excellence in students from kindergarten through grade twelve. They select and publish the finest poems submitted by student writers.

Grade 4

Grade 5

James Abernathy

Savanna Pearce

Reese Allen

Zaid Morsli

Caitlin Abrams

Blair Phillips

Addison Dowdell

Camiryn Opstal

Mia Amdur

Mia Proctor

Jack Feeney

Celia Rayman

Caleb Cheney

Madison Robinson

Christian Frias-Imbert

Madison Romito

Alexander Dart

Chase Smith

Izzy Green

Ella Shuel

Cyrus Harandi

Michael Smith

McKay Kay

Kristina Spilka

Mili Knego

Katerina Sommers

Noah Knego

PJ Svilokos

Zain Majeed

Anezka Svobodova

Jaden Maggio

Aidan White

Emerson Miller

Jackson Wilcox

Sequoia Miller

Mays Montagna

Kaia Yturralde

Sophia Paterson

Sophie Yturralde

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

45

Broadening World Views in the Upper School Students in the Upper School studied

essential pollinators are to the world’s

research on the issue and creating a

a wide variety of subjects this year.

food supply. Students developed

website to present the conflicting sides,

There was a decided nod towards topics

friendships with their Easter Seals

then writing and presenting a speech.

outside the world they presently know,

partners, learning about their lives, and

Student speeches on the different

many reaching far beyond to broaden

traveled to distant countries, immersing

viewpoints kicked off their class period

their world view.

themselves in new cultures and opening

presentation, followed by giving their

their minds to new opportunities.

classmates a quiz on the research compiled in the website and leading a

Alumni who spent time living in

Harkness discussion.

other countries visited world language

AP Students’ “Moment of Voice”

classes, and guest speakers spoke

What do human trafficking, national

about the refugee crisis and the history

healthcare, gun control, and assisted

Leading a class gave students a unique

and etymology of terrorism. Students

suicide have in common? They were all

perspective about teaching: “I’ve

learned how to be better public

topics Upper School students selected

realized how difficult it is to teach a

speakers, putting their skills to practice

to research and discuss in an AP

class; we have spent weeks preparing

during the AP Language & Composition Language and Composition assignment, Symposium. Theories were tested,

titled “Moment of Voice.”

for one class period,” said Andrea Schiro ‘19. “I never thought teaching was easy, but this project showed me

and retested on how to improve the pollution problem in Sarasota Bay,

Through this multi-step collaborative

that it is a lot harder than it seems to

and students came up with new

project, students were responsible for

teach a class.”

ways to help bees, recognizing how

leading a class period after conducting

46 The Banyan | Academics

The takeaways from this project were

Alumni Interact With ODA Spanish

more friends.” Both Ms. Tengerdy and

profound. The overarching response

Language Class

Mr. Tannheiser hope to continue their

students gave was that they learned the

Ms. Bianca Tengerdy ‘15 and

foreign language studies in college.

importance of respecting one another’s

Mr. Oliver Tannheiser ‘15 participated

opinions. In addition, they learned

in a video exchange conference call

Out-of-Door Environmental

what it means to be informed citizens.

with a Spanish II Honors class in

Science Students Explore

“Throughout this process I have learned

February. Since graduating,

Bee Preservation Methods

to question what I read and to always

Ms. Tengerdy, a former ODA Spanish

“Busy as a bee” is a phrase you often

ask why?” said Caty Castro ‘19. “My

student, has returned from completing

hear about people who work extremely

opinions are no longer formed by what

a semester abroad in Paris to study

hard, but in August, students in Ms.

my friends or parents tell me, but rather

French. Mr. Tannheiser, who studied,

Kim Walsh’s Advanced Placement

by my own deductions and research.”

Spanish, French, and Mandarin while at

(AP) Environmental Science course

“I gained a lot of perspective,” Adelaide

ODA, and had participated in an ODA

learned exactly what the phrase means.

Mahler ‘19 shared. “Many arguments I

cultural exchange trip to China, has

Local beekeeper and honey maker

had often overlooked because I hadn’t

studied Russian and French in college.

Mr. Tom Mawn provided additional

taken the time to research, were actually In addition to significantly boosting

insight into the life of bees. Mr. Mawn

quite compelling.”

language learning, living and traveling

is dedicated to the survival of honey

abroad provides students with a unique

bees and takes time to educate students

At Out-of-Door, our mission is to

perspective of the culture and traditions

about the importance of bees in our

create responsible citizens of the world

of the country. Ms. Tengerdy and

daily lives. He houses 12 beehives with

who are ready and capable to think

Mr. Tannheiser talked about the

approximately half a million bees that

critically about not just how our world

importance of learning other languages

produce honey in Sarasota.

works, but how to improve our world,

and how it becomes easier to learn

as well as why and how they can do so.

languages once you speak more

The AP students learned about the

Giving students their own “Moment

than one. As Mr. Tannheiser put it,

livelihood of the bee. “Bees have work

of Voice” allows them to not only do

“the best thing about speaking other

to do,” he explained. “If you don’t

this themselves, but help guide their

languages is you can connect with a

bother them, they won’t bother you.”

classmates in the same process.

more diverse group of people and make The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

47

Mr. Mawn indicated a perception that many people have is that bees are out to get us, but they only live for six weeks and their goal is to work to keep the hive running; whether it’s the queen bee producing eggs, the drone, or the working bee, they all have a job to do.

Students had many questions for Mr. Mawn about bees and why we should live in harmony with them.

More than one-third of the food we eat requires honey bees for pollination.

Bees pollinate almond plants, blueberry bushes, and fruit trees just to name a few. Without pollinators, fruit would be impossible to produce. Bees will travel

AP Language and Composition

digital presentations that supported

up to seven miles to find an abundant

Symposium

their data. A wide variety of topics

supply of nectar and pollen. They then

Mrs. Stefanie Betz’s AP Language and

were covered, including the need for

go back to the hive and produce an

Composition students presented their

housing in Nepal, education in the

emphatic “bee dance,” showing other

cumulative projects to an audience

Dominican Republic, legislation to

bees where to go.

of parents, friends, and community

help foster children in Florida, equality

members in the Dick Vitale Family

in healthcare, human trafficking, and

It’s Mr. Mawn’s goal for everyone to

Student Center. Students addressed

gun violence in schools. Attendees

practice treatment-free, natural bee

the question “What is a government’s

were impressed with the visuals used

preservation so bees continue to stay

responsibility to its citizens?” They took to convey the information as well as

busy and keep living, creating the

different approaches to the challenge,

the comprehensive knowledge students

honey, wax, food, and other products

preparing infographics, photographs,

shared as they visited each booth.

we depend on.

and other materials to accompany the

Declamations In 2015, ODA initiated the Declamations Program to strengthen the public speaking skills of students in grades 9-12. Students worked on their assigned pieces in their English class and presented three speeches to their peers over the course of a semester. Now in its fourth year, this program has considerably improved the students’ oration skills. We look forward to continuing the program each year, and are proud of all the students for their progress, as well as the winners from each of the four grade levels this year.

Congratulations to the 2018 winners:

48 The Banyan | Academics

Grade 9: Jenna Viard ‘21

Grade 11: Robert McCampbell ‘19

Grade 10: Bella Fiorucci ‘20

Grade 12: Ashley DeBartolo ‘18

Service Learning: Tenth Graders Collaborate with Easter Seals and Ringling College Every year, tenth graders at ODA

It may be hard to measure the full

After their third visit, Brian Lutton

participate in the Biography Project—a

impact of this special program, but it

‘20 remarked, “I got to know Jason

long-term collaborative assignment that

is apparent that both the ODA students

well; I am excited to see him become

brings ODA students together with a

and their Easter Seals partners learn

successful later in his life. It has been

special needs partner from Easter Seals

from one another. Some of the ODA

eye-opening to go to the school, to see

of Southwest Florida. The students

students have kept in touch with their

what the Easter Seals students do each

and their partners spend time together

partners and continued relationships

day, how they learn, how they live,

during visits that take place over several with them after the program ended.

and ultimately, how they prepare to be successful in the world.”

months, asking each other questions

“The interactions students have

and getting to know one another. They

with their Easter Seals partners help

talk about typical teenage interests;

normalize their view of people with

Giraud attended training for The

music, favorite foods, friends and pets,

disabilities. The students become more

Biography Project in 1998. Reflecting

likes and dislikes, and often share

comfortable with people they may

on her initial reaction to the program

thoughts about their hopes and dreams.

have previously perceived as being

she notes, “I knew that when I first

ODA students then create visual art

very different from themselves,” says

got involved in the Biography Project

projects about their partner, this year in

Director of Collaborative Learning

it would be something that I would

collaboration with artists from Ringling

and Educational Outreach, Mrs.

continue to do regardless of where I was

College of Art and Design. The projects

Camela Giraud. “Students who have

working. Every year I learn something

are put on display in the Student Center

a family member with physical or

new, and am always impressed with

on the Uihlein Campus, and then

mental challenges have found that this

the way our students interact with

brought to Easter Seals of Southwest

program helps them open a dialogue

their partners.”

Florida to be displayed during the

with their peers. These students say

annual Shining Through Community

that this program gives classmates an

Partnerships Luncheon.

understanding of what their lives at home can be like.”

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

49

Engineering Class Tackles Real-World Challenges Instead of building robots, or designing

projects have proven to not only clean

several rough scaffold prototypes. After

a cool new gadget, students in Ryan

polluted water, but help to regain the

reviewing the pros and cons of these

Kinser’s Engineering class partnered

balance needed to help restore a healthy

initial ideas and discarding the ones

with the Mote Marine Aquaculture

and thriving ecosystem. Successful

that didn’t fit all the criteria, the group

Lab to solve a real world problem.

reef projects have included the Billion

decided which they would continue on

Mr. Kinser challenged the students

Oyster Project in Hudson Bay and

with. They began the work to build a

to develop a practical, economical,

the Oyster Reef Restoration in the

structure to host an oyster colony which

and sustainable solution to the water

Chesapeake Bay. Once the students

would naturally filter the water and

pollution issue in Sarasota Bay.

identified that oysters could be the

remove the pollution without disturbing

solution, they began to research how to

the established ecosystem of the bay.

Students learned that oysters are the

cultivate oysters and then protect them

only bivalves that naturally build and

within Sarasota Bay.

live on reefs. They are filter feeders

After compiling their research and many hours of deliberation, they

that obtain their nutrients from the

They held Skype calls with experts

decided to design a mesh bag to enclose

phytoplankton that they filter out of the

across the globe in order to research the

the oysters, protecting them against

water through their gills. Mature oysters materials, structures, and methods that

boat wakes and predators, but allowing

can filter an average of fifty gallons of

would work best for their purpose. The

the proper amount of water and oxygen

water per day, and up to 2.5 gallons

class conducted brainstorming sessions,

flow. The bags will be suspended in a

of water every hour. Many oyster reef

which quickly led to the design of

scaffolding made from potato starch,

50 The Banyan | Academics

which will naturally break down over

concentration of salt in the water and a

Mr. Kinser’s class hopes that with the

five years, with absolutely no negative

carefully regulated temperature range

right conditions, the reef will sustain

impact on the environment. During

to grow successfully, the group decided

itself indefinitely, providing a solution

the course of those five years, the

to grow the oysters inside the STEM

to Sarasota Bay’s water pollution.

oysters will build their own reef and

lab. The class designed a plan to build

Helping to establish a thriving oyster

be able to support themselves once the

aquaculture tanks to raise the oysters

colony, in combination with better

scaffolding dissolves.

in, which would allow the students to

community education about the

control the growing environment during

importance of keeping the bay’s water

the critical early development stage.

clean, will improve the quality of the

Next, the students became familiar

bay and all of the animals and plant life

with aquaculture and learned how to

that are part of its ecosystem.

raise oysters. They quickly realized

Once the oysters are old enough to

that this was a longer process than

be moved to the mesh bags and new

they originally anticipated, and would

reef structure, they will be moved into

entail careful monitoring throughout

Sarasota Bay. After one year, the oysters exciting project that will continue

the process. They learned about the

will be fully mature and the colony

lifecycle of oysters, paying careful

will naturally begin to reseed itself.

attention to how delicate the young

Over time, the colony will become

oysters, called “spat,” are early in

self-sustaining, filtering thousands of

life. As oysters need a particular

gallons of water per day.

Watch for the next phase of this into the 2018-2019 school year.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

51

ODA Students Excel in Academic Competitions Students at The Out-of-Door Academy

Regional STEM Awards Ceremony in

four students from across the United

participated and excelled in local, state,

March. John received the First Place

States who become eligible by earning

and national academic competitions in

Award in the ‘Earth & Environmental

a high score on the National Spanish

math, science, and world languages.

Sciences’ category for his project “The

Examination and then submitting

These competitions play an important

Long-Term Recovery of Damaged

samples of their written and oral work

role in academic achievement and

Aquatic Ecosystems,” which examined

in Spanish to a selection committee.

help students to pursue excellence.

the effects of the Deer Drive road

They are challenged to work harder

construction on the aquatic life of the

Addie traveled to Spain with the

in the classroom while engaging in a

ODA pond. He was also the recipient

other 23 winners to study Spanish

more exciting academic curriculum.

of the ASU Walton Sustainability

language and culture at the Universidad

Academic competitions bring together

Solutions Initiative Award, and the

Complutense de Madrid. “This two-

Out-of-Door students who share

NOAA “Taking the Pulse of the Planet.” week immersion program is designed to allow our top students to study

common interests and abilities while pursuing their favorite subjects and

Addie Mahler ‘19 Wins 2018

university-level material during

learning more about the topics that can

Junior Study Abroad Scholarship

morning classes and then go on an

inspire them to follow their passions.

Addie Mahler ‘19, won the 2018 Junior

excursion to see first hand what they’ve

Study Abroad Scholarship for her

learned in class” said Kevin Cessna-

John Floersheimer Earns

achievement on the National Spanish

Buscemi, Director of the National

Top STEM Award

Examination and for her excellent skills

Spanish Examinations.

Mr. Mahler and Ms. Beeman joined

in the Spanish language. Each year,

John Floersheimer ‘19 at the Sarasota

this national award is given to twenty-

52 The Banyan | Academics

Students Excel at Annual

speaking, declamation (poetry), and

Division for Olympika; and 5th Place

Florida State Spanish Conference

dramatic presentation. The students had

in the Senior Division for Creatives.

This year, ODA’s Modern Languages

an impressive showing with 16 first-

ODA Latin students then traveled to

Department sent a team of 16 students

place awards.

Orlando to participate with more than

to compete in the annual Florida

1,000 Florida students in the 2018 State

State Spanish Conference in Orlando,

Students Impress at 2018

Latin Forum. ODA Middle School

FL. Approximately 800 students

State Latin Forum

and Upper School students performed

representing over 50 Florida public

At the Florida Junior Classical League

extremely well in the competition and

and private high schools participated in

Regionals this year, ODA excelled,

were wonderful representatives of The

this year’s event. ODA competed in a

earning 4th Place in the Junior Division

Out-of-Door Academy.

number of events including impromptu

for Creatives; 3rd Place in the Senior

2018 State Latin Forum Awards ODA Students in the Top-10 for Academics

ODA Students in the Top-8 for Creatives

Middle School

Middle School

Pedro Briceno ‘23: 6th place Derivatives

Johnny Robinson ‘23: 7th place Maps (5-9)

Catie Pacer ‘23: 6th place Customs Ian Strang ‘23: 4th place Geography

Upper School Tyler Barlow ‘18: 3rd place Modern Myth (10-12)

Upper School

Arya Bulusu ‘20: 3rd place Drawings (10-12)

Arya Bulusu ‘20: 3rd place Derivatives (Level 2)

Maram Faqqouseh ‘20: 7th place Charts & Posters (10-12)

Nina Dinh ‘20: 7th place PMAQ (Level 2); 9th place Derivatives (Level 2)

Mary Fulton ‘19: 3rd place Miscellaneous (10-12); Origami

Mira Khazanchi ‘20: 7th place Customs (Advanced)

Mia Hamill ‘19: 2nd place 2-D Non Graphic Art (10-12); Mosaic

Lauren Millar ‘19: 9th place Vocabulary (Level 2); 10th place Derivatives (Level 2)

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

53

National Honor Society Induction Thirty-six students were inducted into The Out-of-Door Academy’s National Honor Society (NHS) in a special ceremony.

The event included a candle ceremony introducing the four NHS pillars – Scholarship, Leadership, Character and Service – which are upheld by every member in the National Honor Society. The NHS is one of the premier high school memberships that students are invited to join.

2017-2018 Inductees Nicklaus Auen ‘19

Sofia Delgado ‘19

Hannah Greenblott ‘20

Kinsey Newhams ‘19

Gillette Bauer ‘20

Alexander Denler ‘19

Maxwell Hajduk ‘19

Madisyn Opstal ‘19

Patrick Buck ‘19

Nina Dinh ’20

Tucker Harris ‘19

Robert Peterson ‘19

Arya Bulusu ‘20

Grace Dunn ‘20

Ben Johnson ‘19

Rachel Redington ‘19

Lillian Carlton ‘19

Maram Faqqouseh ‘20

Mira Khazanchi ‘20

Grace Schlotthauer ‘19

Brianna Carney ‘18

Mutaz Faqqouseh ‘19

Samantha Lozier ‘19

Maksuts Schukenovs ‘19

Haley Carney ‘18

Leeson Foullon ‘19

Christina Lutton ‘18

Sydney Sforzo ‘20

John Colosimo ‘19

Katherine Gaukhman ‘19

Declan McCann ‘19

Chloe Spingler ‘19

Cayla Dammann ‘19

Michael Gosnell ‘18

Celia Miller ‘19

Earle Timothy ‘19

Students qualified based on GPA and service criteria, as well as participation in a process beginning with an application and interview, which was reviewed by NHS Faculty Advisors Mr. Andy Lemieux and Mrs. Stefanie Betz. After applications were submitted, current NHS members interviewed prospective inductees and introduced them at the ceremony. Rachel Silverman ‘18 was inducted into the NHS in her sophomore year. “As I introduced students for this year’s group of inductees, I reflected on my time in NHS. NHS is an academic society; however, it also values community service at ODA and in the local community. NHS has encouraged me to be a well-rounded student and I hope that this year’s inductees will gain as much as I have from NHS,” she said.

This year’s NHS inductee class recognizes the immense honor of being selected to represent the National Honor Society and will do their best to uphold the four pillars bestowed upon them.

54 The Banyan | Academics

Traveling Abroad

An Immersive Trip to Vietnam Nine ODA students, Quinn Isaac ‘21,

students learned how to plant and

beautiful country, and the people were

Cole Kirschner ‘21, Luca Marfella ‘20,

cultivate rice using hand tools, and

friendly everywhere we went. Working

Christian Reece, Matthew Rosen ‘21,

worked with water buffalo to plow

alongside our hosts gave the students a

Phineas Scanlan ‘21, Hugh

the fields. The additional rice the group

deeper empathy and understanding for

Schimberg ‘21, Mika Siefert ‘18,

planted is expected to boost the harvest

people whose lives are so different than

Nick Talucci ‘21, and two faculty

by more than 320 lbs–a substantial

what we are accustomed to back home.”

chaperones, Dr. Ellen Zitani and

increase for the families whose

Mr. Paul Lebras, experienced an

sustainability is dependent on

After two days of hard work, rustic

amazing cultural immersion journey

their farming.

quarters, and delicious local food, the students said goodbye to their

in Vietnam. The intensive week-long excursion included stops in bustling

The work was physically demanding

host family and made their way to Ha

Ha Noi to tour the Museum of

and the group was tired, but when they

Long City. The group spent the day

Ethnology and in Ha Long City to

weren’t working, they explored the

visiting the breathtaking Ha Long

experience the beauty of the world-

area, taking long hikes through lush

Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage

famous Ha Long Bay—but the main

valleys and terraced rice paddies. They

Site. They were awed at the beauty

focus of the trip was a service project

found a beautiful river where they

of the landscape and couldn’t stop

in Sa Pa.

swam and went cliff jumping, and were

commenting about the stunning colors

constantly amazed by the dramatic

of the towering limestone pillars and

beauty of the land.

the turquoise water. On this final day in

For two days the group immersed

Vietnam, they all agreed that visiting

themselves in local Tay culture at the Ho Commune working with their

“This was a trip of a lifetime,” said

Ha Long Bay was a fitting end to their

homestay hosts in the rice fields. The

Mr. LeBras. “Vietnam is an amazingly

inspirational trip.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

55

Spanish Language & Culture Program in Salamanca “One of my former Spanish colleagues

The Summer Immersion Program

sports in the parks, dance classes, and

once told me, ‘In the U.S., we live to

was designed for participants to study

a boat ride, to name a few. There was

work. Spaniards work to live’,” said

Spanish at a recognized academy in

always time to stroll through the streets

Ms. Daniela Rozanes, Upper School

Salamanca, while participating in

of the city to enjoy delicious tapas

Spanish teacher. After the completion

extracurricular activities. Students

and the historic sites. During the trip,

of Out-of-Door’s 2017 summer trip

traveled to different Spanish towns

students visited Toledo, Ávila, Segovia,

to Salamanca, Spain, students who

during the two-week visit. In addition,

La Alberca, Mogarraz, and the splendid

attended also agreed with the saying.

they had the opportunity to learn more

capital city of Madrid.

about the Spanish society through From July 8-28, 2017, Ms. Daniela

volunteer work to the Spanish Red

“Salamanca que enhechiza la voluntad

Rozanes and Mr. Pablo Fernandez,

Cross and at The Association of Parents

de volver a ella a todos los que de

along with 10 students from The Out-

of People with Cerebral Palsy and

la apacibilidad de su vivienda han

of-Door Academy, Arya Bulusu ‘20,

Encephalopathy (ASPACE).

gustado.” - Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), novelist and poet

Cole Chalhub ‘18, Hunter Chalhub ‘18, Philip Chiritescu ‘18, Daniel Fernandez

During the two-week program, ODA

considered to be the greatest Spanish

‘20, Joshua Fernandez ‘19, Sergio

students attended Spanish classes along

writer of all time. His most influential

Germade ‘20, Kate Crump ‘20, Victor

with their new friends from around

work is Don Quixote, which has been

Marcano-Santos ‘20, and Jay Sussman

the world. Every afternoon after the

translated into more than 60 languages.

’20, travelled to Salamanca, Spain,

“siesta” hour, the group readied for a

(Translation: Salamanca charms into

one of the most beautiful, historic, and

different adventure with guide Pablo

returning everyone who has enjoyed the

traditional university cities in Europe.

Pérez García, including city tours,

harmony of the town.”)

56 The Banyan | Traveling Abroad

Exchange Program - Kaiwen Academy, Beijing Four years ago, Director of Middle

Participants overwhelming say that they

exposure and grow the World Language

and Upper School Admissions Michael

have the richest experience during the

Program at ODA, which offers a unique

Salmon and Derek Han, who has a

time they spend with their host family.

opportunity for students to live in a

connection to Beijing Kaiwen Academy

The visiting students learn much from

different country and become engaged

and is the father of Owen Han ’16,

living with their host families and

in the culture.

began to build a Chinese Exchange

often become like an extended family

Student Program at The Out-of-Door

member. At ODA, the hosts try to give

Through their interactions, students

Academy. Once the framework was in

them a very “American” experience;

from both countries learned they were

place, the reins were handed to Camela

there have been trips to Miami, deep

interested in many similar things

Giraud, Director of Collaborative

sea fishing, and professional sporting

like music, video games, technology,

Learning and Educational Outreach,

events. During the day, the group of

movies, friends and relationships,

and since then she has been running the

Chinese students visit both campuses

and more. Reflecting on the students’

program with World Language faculty

to meet students of different ages and

takeaway from the program, Giraud

member Shumin Yu.

have group outings. Throughout their

remarked, “We hear about China as a

entire stay, they are exposed to new

big entity, and can easily lose sight that

From the beginning, the idea was to

culinary and cultural experiences that

the country is made up of individuals.

create a partnership with a school in

are decidedly American.

For all kids, but especially our ODA students, we hope they have learned

China to help expose students both at Out-of-Door and in China to new

The other part of the program is the trip

that the Chinese students, and in fact

experiences through immersive travel.

for ODA students to visit China. These

all people, are inherently the same. As

The program was intentionally designed students spend a week living with host

our students grow up and join the world

for both sets of visiting students to live

families, fully absorbing themselves in

of working professionals, they will

with host families, attend classes at

the culture of their hosts. They go to

remember that the foreign professionals

the partnering school, and explore the

school in Beijing, taking classes more

they do business with are just like them.

region through travel to fully experience focused on Chinese culture such as

Their experience with this program will

what life is like for teenagers in their

calligraphy. Mrs. Giraud and Mrs. Yu

help them see that all people are more

host countries.

hope that travel and exchange programs

similar than different.”

such as this will help to increase the The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

57

Senior Profiles Ashley and her sister, Alexa DeBartolo ‘17, organized the first hair donation event at ODA four years ago. Since then, they have organized school donations of more than 650 inches of hair to CWHL. Faculty, alumni, parents, and students have participated in each of the hair donation events at ODA since their inception. At the April event this year, twelve students and four Ashley DeBartolo ‘18

teachers donated 144 inches of hair. All

Ashley DeBartolo is a driven

of the hair donated is used to make wigs Michael Gosnell came to ODA as a

philanthropist and role model whose

and hair pieces that will be provided to

junior when his family relocated from

inspiration began at an early age. When

children at no cost to their families.

Cleveland, OH. A basketball player

Michael Gosnell ‘18

who loves physics, Michael was able

she was a child, her stepfather was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

In addition to her philanthropic

to fit both of his interests into the busy

She was profoundly affected by

achievements, Ashley has been a tour

schedule he maintained during his two

watching him battle the disease,

guide trainer for the student admission

years at ODA. He quickly became

especially when he lost his hair during

team and a varsity cheerleader and

involved with many of the campus

chemotherapy treatments. As she got

softball player. She is also an avid

life activities and programs, finding

older, she learned that hair loss is a

photographer who has taken all of the

it surprisingly easy to become part of

side effect of many childhood diseases

photography courses offered, as well

the ODA community. “I will always

or their treatments, and decided that

as AP Studio Art, to sharpen her skills.

remember how welcoming people

she wanted to help in some way. After

Ashley has a strong affinity towards

were and how smooth the transition to

researching many companies, Ashley

numbers, and says that her favorite class ODA was after I transferred here my

got involved with Children With Hair

was AP Calculus AB. “I like to say I

Loss (CWHL), a non-profit organization have a ‘math’ brain because both of my

junior year...From my first day, it was evident how friendly other students

that provides human hair replacements

parents are accountants...I love learning

were and how passionate teachers were

at no cost to children and young adults

and working with numbers.”

about their subjects. This environment allowed me to excel in my academics

facing medically-related hair loss.

Ashley now attends the University of

and shaped me into a better student.”

Miami. “I would like to finish college

58 The Banyan | Senior Profiles

with a degree in accounting and work

Michael leans heavily toward physics

in Florida...Eventually I would like

as his favorite subject. He enjoys

to get married and start a family, and

applying scientific processes to solve

hopefully move back to Sarasota to

real world problems, which he was able

send my children to ODA.”

to do as a student in ODA’s first Intro to

Engineering course during the 2016-

Mackenzie says that ODA has allowed

2017 academic year. He is also the head

her to explore many different subjects,

of the STEM Competition Club, where

and to try out new things that she might

he can combine his love for physics

not have otherwise been exposed to.

with his competitive nature. During

She also says she learned valuable

his senior internship, Michael worked

skills that she will use in college. “ODA

at Sun Hydraulics in Sarasota. He

taught me how to set and achieve goals,

shadowed a different engineer each day,

and how to study and take notes. I

learning about the variety of disciplines

also feel that I learned much broader

within the engineering field.

concepts at ODA—I learned how Mackenzie Grace ‘18

to work with other people and how

As a co-captain of the basketball team

Co-valedictorian, Mackenzie Grace

important teamwork is. I learned how to

during his senior year, Michael says

has been a prominent fixture in the

ask for, and get, help when I needed it.”

he was able to use difficult situations

class of 2018 since her arrival at

as opportunities for growth. “I learned

ODA. Mackenzie has lived in Manatee

During her four years at ODA,

the ability to overcome failure through

County her entire life and is active in

Mackenzie participated in many clubs

perseverance and effort, and how to

the local community, volunteering at

including the Dance Club, Calliope,

effectively work as a team.” He cites

area organizations including Girls, Inc.,

Acapella Club, and World Language

a game early in the season against

ALSO Youth, and the Jewish Federation Club. She was the President of the

Berkeley Prep when the Thunder was

of Sarasota-Manatee. She has a wide

GSA, Treasurer of Spectrum, and

down 24-4. “In the locker room at half-

variety of interests, and names dance,

Secretary of the National Honor

time, we talked about what was going

musical theater, mathematics, and

Society. She had parts in all of the

wrong, and how we were going to fix it.

science at the top of her list.

musical theater performances each year including “Cats,” “High School

We still lost the game, but we closed the gap considerably. It was a good feeling

As a senior, she maintained her

Musical,” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”

to see that we had turned our game

demanding schedule that included four

Last summer Mackenzie attended

around by working together.”

AP and two Honors classes

a summer program in Israel, and

in her courseload. She credits

participated in The March of the Living,

In addition to his scholastic and athletic

Ms. Garcia as a powerful influence who

traveling through Poland

pursuits, Michael was a peer tutor in

helped her get through the AP Calculus

and Israel to study the history of

physics and voted in as a member of

BC course.

the Holocaust.

the Student Council. He was also the recipient of the Notre Dame Book Award and his grades earned him a spot on the Head’s List.

Michael began attending the University of Florida this fall. He will be majoring in Exploratory Engineering.

“From my first day, it was evident how friendly other students were and how passionate teachers were about their subjects.

This environment allowed me to excel in my academics and shaped me into a better student.”

Michael Gosnell ‘18

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

59

Mackenzie is a confident, focused and self-motivated student who is starting her college career at Williams College in Massachusetts. She has not yet decided what major she will declare, but says that mathematics and science will definitely be prominent areas of study.

“On the first night [at the Senior Retreat], my classmates and I sang and swayed back and forth around the campfire with everyone’s arms around each other. The senior class has grown to become one cohesive unit. Everyone is supportive of others’ successes...I will miss the senior class so much next year.”

Rachel Silverman ‘18

his techniques and constantly improve

program with lots of high-tech

the videos he produced throughout the

equipment–they really invest in their

year. With Chase behind the camera

program. I will also be able to play

and Max in front, the two worked the

basketball for them, so that was a huge

crowds, getting them excited from

plus.” Chase plans to pursue a career

pre-game all the way through to post-

in mechanical engineering, and hopes

game celebrations. Fans and athletes

to put his leadership skills to use by

enjoyed the upbeat, support-our-team

running his own firm one day.

Chase Maasdorp ‘18

atmosphere they brought to the games,

The bleachers at sporting events had

and it could be argued that the increase

been slowly growing more quiet at

in wins during the year was due, in part,

ODA until Chase Maasdorp decided to

to the positive support the teams have

shake things up. Having always been

gained from their spectators.

heavily involved in sports as a lacrosse, football, and basketball player, he

Early in 2018, one of Chase’s videos

knew that players draw energy from

caught the eye of the FHSAA and was

the crowds that come to cheer them

entered in the 2018 Sunshine State

on. Chase decided to revive Thunder

Spirit Showdown. The Showdown is an

Nation–the athletics spirit club. When

annual competition that gives schools

Rachel Silverman ‘18

students saw Chase’s determination to

the opportunity to show their school

Rachel Silverman has been very

make a change, he was voted to head

spirit, promote positive sportsmanship,

involved in ODA’s student life on

Thunder Nation, and he made it a goal

and share their enthusiasm for their

campus. She has been a peer tutor since

to amp up school spirit and show the

school. Chase was proud that his

10th grade, helping students in math,

rallying sense of community that is

submission made the final round of the

history, and Chinese. In her senior year

pervasive throughout ODA.

competition and is thankful

she became the president of the Peer

for the experience.

Tutoring program. “As president, I

A large part of Chase’s contribution was

improved the peer tutoring system by

videos he created, along with the help

Chase now attends Auburn University

creating tutor profiles, making a school-

of fellow senior Max Munroe. As head

and studies engineering. “I am

wide presentation of the program’s

of the Film Club, Chase worked with

definitely looking forward to starting at

benefits and recruiting new tutors.”

club advisor Mr. Tim Brewer to hone

Auburn. They have a strong engineering During her time at ODA, Rachel has

60 The Banyan | Senior Profiles

achieved the Head’s List, been inducted

of the Dryads (“don Quixote”), Fairy

combined with understanding what

into the National Honor Society and

Godmother (“Cinderella”), and Aurora

consumers want has been an

the Cum Laude Society, and has been

(“Sleeping Beauty”).

informative experience.

Award. She served on the Honor

Rachel has no hesitation when asked

Rachel is excited to be able to combine

Council since 10th grade, and says that

what her favorite class was at ODA.

mathematics and creative expression

this experience taught her skills that she

“My favorite class in high school was

as a Business Administration major

will continue to use in the future.

definitely AP Calculus. Mrs. Murphy

with a concentration in Marketing.

made every information-packed class

She attends Northeastern University’s

In addition to participating in

fun with her high energy and math

D’Amore-McKim School of Business

established ODA groups, Rachel

jokes. She always made difficult

in Boston, MA, and is excited to move

founded Feeding the Hungry Club to

concepts seem easy and approachable

north and live in a new city. “I am

raise awareness about poverty in the

which is definitely what I needed during looking forward to the cooperative

local community. The club educated

my stressful school day.” As far as her

education program at Northeastern...I

the student community, ran a successful

favorite subject, Rachel leans toward

will participate in three six-month paid

“Campaign Against Summer Hunger”

Economics. She says she has found

internships that are related to my major.

food drive, and participated in a food

it interesting to learn about consumer

I think this will be a great way to gain

sorting event at All Faiths Food Bank

behavior and how the economy works.

real-world experience in the business

in Sarasota. She is a lifelong dancer,

During senior internship week, Rachel

world and help me decide what career I

practicing 15-20 hours weekly, and has

worked in the marketing department

would like to pursue after college.”

danced the principal roles of the Sugar

at Coastal Eye Institute. She says that

Plum Fairy (“Nutcracker”), Queen

watching the blending of creativity

awarded the Wellesley College Book

Senior Awards Classical/Modern Language Award for Excellence Mackenzie Grace ‘18

Robert P. True Award Mackenzie Grace ‘18

English Award for Excellence Christopher Eckart ‘18

Head’s Choice Art Award Hunter Chalhub ‘18, Hayley Wahl ‘18

History Award for Excellence Matthew Luhrsen ‘18

Dobosz Family Spirit Award Mackenzie Grace ‘18

Mathematics Award for Excellence Marius Bschorer ‘18

Petrik School Service Award Tyler Barlow ‘18

Science Award for Excellence Christopher Eckart ‘18

Sportsmanship Awards Christina Lutton ‘18, Gustave Mahler ‘18

Griffin Award for Excellence in Musical Arts Zijiao Liu ‘18, Vivienne Miller ‘18

Math ACES Award Zijiao Liu ‘18

Griffin Award for Excellence in Performing Arts Haley Carney ‘18

Achievement Award Rebekah Lang ’18

Griffin Award for Excellence in Visual Arts Hayley Wahl ‘18

Faculty Cup Gustave Mahler ‘18

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

61

Commencement

20 Years of Out of Door Lifers Out-of-Door families are committed to giving their children the best education possible. At ODA, students who attend from pre-K through 12th grade are known as “Lifers.� Lifers and their families are invested in the ODA community, and develop a special connection with the faculty, staff, and fellow students that they move up with from year to year. We are proud to be able to say that 168 Lifers have graduated since the Uihlein Campus opened.

1999-2003

20 LIFERS

62 The Banyan | Commencement

2014-2018

41 LIFERS

Aurora Clements

Matthew Luhrsen

Gus Mahler

Vivienne Miller

Max Munroe

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

63

Class of 2018 by the Numbers The Out-of-Door Academy celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2018 on June 2 at the Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch. The Commencement Ceremony included student and faculty speeches, musical performances, awards presentations, and the presentation of diplomas to our 68 graduates. Legacy families and “Lifer” students were also recognized during the event. Special thanks to those who joined us for this amazing celebration.

Highlights from the Class of 2018 include: • 88% of the class received unsolicited merit/academic scholarships • $9.25 million total awarded to the class in merit/academic scholarships • $157,000 average four-year scholarship per recipient • 72% of the class will matriculate out-of-state • Highest SAT average in School history These very talented graduates look forward to starting a new and exciting chapter in their lives. Congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2018!

64 The Banyan | Commencement

The Out-of-Door Academy 65

Commencement Speakers Chris Eckart ‘18 and Mackenzie Grace ‘18 Valedictorians Speech Excerpt “As a class of 68 students, we will be attending 47 colleges in 18 states, and in 3 different countries. A sudden departure from the community we have all come to know and love to all of our new homes was frankly a scary thought to us. For some classmates who have attended ODA for most of their lives, the start of college seemed to threaten lifelong friendships.

For those who joined more recently, we were welcomed with open arms and have found our closest friends here. Regardless of when we started at this school, we have all fostered unforgettable relationships and built an unbelievably close-knit community.

As we go off to our various schools, all of us will make our marks there just like we did at ODA. I’m confident that our class is one of leaders; we’ve started clubs, been team captains, and surpassed expectations in creative expression. The Class of 2018 will leave a legacy, and as each class has a personality, unity will define ours.”

Matteo Romano ‘18 Graduation Speech Excerpt “I’m so lucky to have met and call all of you my friends. This is just something that I wouldn’t have been able to experience at any other school. The level of friendliness and comfort we all have with each other by now is admirable in my eyes and something that deserves to be celebrated. I couldn’t have been given a better group of friends over the last four years and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.”

66 The Banyan | Commencement

Congratulations to the Class of 2018!

100% ACCEPTED

And attending four-year colleges/universities

OVER

88%

72%

OF CLASS

OF CLASS

Received unsolicited academic/merit scholarshipsÂ

$9.25 Million

In total scholarship dollars awarded

OVER

Matriculating outside the state of Florida

$157,000

Average four-year scholarship per recipient

941-554-3400 | www.ODA.edu Siesta Key Campus: Pre-K-Grade 5 | Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch: Grades 6-12 | Sarasota, FL

The Out-of-Door Academy

Nora Altajar Pitzer College

Tyler Barlow

Dickinson College

Hunter Bogumil La Salle University

68 The Banyan | Commencement

Valentina Alvarez

Florida Gulf Coast University

Imani Barnette Barry University

Marius Bschorer

Universität zu Lßbeck

Ryan Appleby

University of Miami

Kevin Bernet

Schiller International University, Heidelberg

Brianna Carney

Savannah College of Art and Design

Martin Baffico Balharry University of Chicago

Ethan Bertrand

Muhlenberg College

Haley Carney

Savannah College of Art and Design

Class of 2018

Phillip Cecil

Taber Chadwick, IV

Philip Chiritescu

Aurora Clements

Dakota Dickerson

Alexander DiMare

Stetson University

Stevens Institute of Technology

Monmouth College

University of Miami

Flagler College

University of Miami

Cole Chalhub

Hunter Chalhub

Georgia Institute of Technology

University of Richmond

Maxwell Coutsolioutsos

Ashley DeBartolo

Florida Southern College

Delaney Dowdell

Northeastern University

University of Miami

Allison Drzewucki

Florida State University

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

69

The Out-of-Door Academy

Christopher Eckart

Georgia Institute of Technology

Sereena Feeney

Florida State University

Agustin Gualtieri

The University of Alabama

70 The Banyan | Commencement

Skye Ehrhart

College of Charleston

Chloe Flanders

The University of Alabama

Courtney Hamilton Purdue University

Bailey Ekes

Mikhail Fazlutdinov

Michael Gosnell

Mackenzie Grace

Florida State University

University of Florida

Matthew Jones

University of Florida

University of Aberdeen

Williams College

Ani Kapreilian

Parsons School of Design

Class of 2018

Serafima Kosacheva

Florida International University

Matthew Luhrsen

University of Richmond

Lucas Macleod

College of Charleston

Abigail LaGasse

The University of Alabama

Caitlin Lutton

Furman University

Gustave Mahler Hamilton College

Rebekah Lang

Florida Gulf Coast University

Christina Lutton

Loyola University Maryland

Ian Martin

University of Notre Dame

Zijiao Liu

Northeastern University

Chase Maasdorp Auburn University

Evalee Mason

Florida State University

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

71

The Out-of-Door Academy

Vivienne Miller

University of Wyoming

Katherine Pacitti Elon University

Melanie Saltz

Emerson College

72 The Banyan | Commencement

Maximilian Munroe

The University of Alabama

Joshua Raimon

Chapman University

Joshua Samuel

University of Connecticut

Alexis Murphy

Samford University

Matteo Romano

Sarah Lawrence College

Mika Siefert

High Point University

Tallulah Newlin

College of Charleston

Haille Rutsky Elon University

Rachel Silverman

Northeastern University

Class of 2018

Kai Soderberg

Liberty Strafuss

St. Lawrence University

Hayley Wahl

Northwest Nazarene University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Patrick Watson Marietta College

Brett Szalbirak

Simone Timol

University of South Florida

DePaul University

Zachary Wells

Thomas Wilander

Florida Gulf Coast University

Methodist University

Class of 2018 Awards Cum Laude Society Members Ryan Appleby ‘18, Marius Bschorer ‘18, Cole Chalhub ‘18, Hunter Chalhub ‘18, Delaney Dowdell ‘18, Christopher Eckart ‘18, Michael Gosnell ‘18, Mackenzie Grace ‘18, Matthew Jones ‘18, Matthew Luhrsen ‘18, Gustave Mahler ‘18, Ian Martin ‘18, Matteo Romano ‘18, Rachel Silverman ‘18 Valedictorians Christopher Eckart ‘18 Mackenzie Grace ‘18

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

73

Graduation Ceremonies

Eighth Grade Graduation Ansley White ‘22 Graduation Speech Excerpt “Geoffrey Chaucer said, “All good things must come to an end.” The truth in that saying can be seen here today. We are here to say goodbye to Middle School, but I don’t like goodbyes. I would rather see today as the start of something new. The start of high school. We will always have the memories of Middle School, that will always be a part of us, but we will open our minds now and take on the title of freshmen. The seeds growing in us will take root in a new garden, and continue to shape into the beautiful, complicated trees they were born to be. So, as Dr. Seuss once said, “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.”

Eighth Grade Awards Faculty Cup Samantha Malcolm ‘22

Art Award Zoe Polivchak ‘22

Academic Award Samantha Malcolm ‘22

Sportsmanship Award Lucas Schanz ‘22 Claire Karp-Hauser ‘22

Achievement Award Austin Bonacuse ‘22

74 The Banyan | Graduation Ceremonies

Music Award Madisyn Wandall ‘22

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

75

Fifth Grade Graduation Alexa Gettel ‘25 Graduation Speech Excerpt “Fifth grade has taught me a lesson, do you know what it is? Believe in yourself, and your dreams might come true. But you have to work hard, make an effort, and the most important part is to be kind. That is another thing fifth grade has shown me.

Kindness isn’t just a word. It’s a word with a powerful meaning that can spread like ripples.

I remember when I first started kindergarten at ODA. I had so many emotions, and I didn’t know what to think. After a few hours, I had met so many nice kids and teachers that I knew this was the school for me. As I grew and grew, I finally became a fifth grader. I couldn’t ask for more. I am so blessed to be in a private school. The teachers, students, and administrators have been so nice. They have brought me joy every day. I never want to leave this school. I have learned that school isn’t just a place with kids and people teaching you. They’re like family…Confident, joyful, and the most important part is that they are kind. Amazing kind people.”

Fifth Grade Awards Academic Award Celia Rayman ‘25

Spirit of ODA Award Kristina Spilka ‘25

Citizenship Award Izabella Green ‘25 Thomas Perez ‘25

Sportsmanship Award Ella Shuel ‘25 Aidan White’25

76 The Banyan | Graduation Ceremonies

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

77

Arts

ODA Students Excel in the Arts Students on both campuses shared

sculpture, photography, and digital

Zeppelin. This is the fourth symphonic

their creative talents as they learned to

artwork. Lower School students learned

rock concert put on by The Out-of-

express themselves artistically. Talented

new art processes such as weaving and

Door Academy. Mrs. Young has been

ODA students performed in on- and

printmaking and studied artists from

waiting for a group of students who she

off-campus productions that included an around the world and throughout time.

thought could do the multidimensional

outdoor Jazz Under the Stars concert,

Upper School students represented

band justice. The music was more

classical and contemporary orchestra,

ODA in the 2018 Congressional Art

difficult than previous rock concerts

band, and choral concerts, and a

Contest, with Hayley Wahl ‘18 earning

as trying to emulate the guitar playing

rock-star worthy Led Zeppeli

first place and Cole Chalhub ‘18 placing of Jimmy Page and vocal lines of

tribute. They acted in plays and

third in the competition.

Robert Plant is a unique challenge.

ODA students rose to the occasion. The

musical theater shows in Uihlein’s Black Box Theater and the Siesta

Led Zeppelin Rock Concert

performance showcased a variety of

Key’s Kozel Family Amphitheater.

In February, the Upper School

students and talents while delighting the

Advanced Orchestra, Rock Band, and

audience in hits including “Kashmir,”

Throughout the year there were visual

Chorus performed a collaborative

“Heartbreaker,” and “Stairway to

art exhibitions at both campuses to

symphonic rock concert featuring

Heaven.” The Rock Band featured

showcase paintings, ceramics, drawings, music of the iconic rock band Led

78 The Banyan | Arts

guitarist Ethan Ball ‘19, bassist Kat

Gaukhman ‘19, and percussionist Ethan Marino ‘19, accompanied by talented lead vocalists on each number.

Art Under The Banyan Four Art Under the Banyan events were held in the Kozel Family Amphitheater, featuring multiple pieces of artwork from each student. Two and threedimensional artwork was displayed,

“We were so thrilled to receive this recognition and be a part of our students’ musical growth. We have a deep gratitude to our feeder music program on Siesta Key and our administration for making the arts an integral part of the Out-of-Door experience. Dr. Vasilaki, Martha Gulacsy, and Ed Stiles have instilled a love for their voices and instruments, inspiring them to continue their music education and performance through their Middle School years.”

Mrs. Nicole Young

including paintings, illustrations, paper art, multimedia sculptures, and ceramics. Collaborative pieces, 5th grade stepping stones, ceramic sculptures, and artwork inspired by field trips to the Salvador Dali Museum (5th Grade) and Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center (4th Grade) were also exhibited. The events showcased work from specific grade levels each time (Pre-K & K, 1st & 2nd, 3rd & 4th, and 5th). Our orchestra students added to the creative atmosphere, performing on the deck of the dining hall.

DeAngelo ‘22 performed as part of

collaborative experience, they played

the All-State Honors Orchestra. These

original music that combined orchestra,

Middle School Music Enrollment Award

students were selected based on ability

band, and chorus.

The Out-of-Door Academy’s Middle

and musicianship after being nominated

School received the 2018 Music

by Mrs. Nicole Young.

Enrollment Award from the Florida

In January, Mr. William Patterson, developer of the “Tropical Sweets”

Music Education Association.

Lower School Music:

classical music DVD series, came to

This award honors the school’s

Visiting Artists and Performances

work with our students and help them

commitment to the arts through its

The Lower School music students had

interpret musical pieces, expressions

excellent programs, demonstrated

a busy and rewarding year. The year

and forms. In the spring, third grade

by high enrollment in music courses

began with a visit from the Sarasota

students were treated to a concert by the

and attractive music curricula. Choral

Opera as students were treated to

Venice Symphony String Quartet made

Director Denise Hoff, Band Director

beautiful arias and explanations of

up of seasoned music educators. Also,

Patrick Miller, and Orchestra Director

opera terms and stories. Students

a Venice Symphony Ensemble came

Nicole Young accepted the award at

learned new pieces and honed their

to perform for and demonstrate brass

the Music Educator’s Conference in

skills to prepare for all-school concerts

instruments for our 4th and 5th grade

Tampa, Florida. At the ceremony, senior

on Grandfriends’ Day, the Winter

students. In May, 2nd, 4th and 5th grade

Emily Liu ‘18 and eighth grader Celine

Concert, and Arts Day. Gaining

students were treated to a Youth Concert The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

79

by the Venice Symphony at the Venice

‘25 was principal cello in her orchestra,

Following the morning concert,

Performing Arts Center. They prepared

and Brody Rose ‘27 was assistant

visiting artists offered sessions

ahead of time, as the symphony

concertmaster in his orchestra.

teaching weaving and cartooning, and dancers from the Sarasota Ballet gave

provided us with the curriculum from the Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute

Lower School Arts Day

entitled “Link Up.” Many of their music The Siesta Key campus was filled

demonstrations and dance lessons.

There were multiple painting stations

teachers and ODA alumni were in the

with the the sounds of music, singing,

in the Lower School Pavilion, fourth

concert, including Dr. Vasilaki (viola),

laughter, and applause as the students

graders created their blue and green

Karissa Ratzenboeck (violin), A.J. Topp

in Pre-K through 5th grade performed

dots for next year, and fifth graders

(string bass, former ODA student),

for parents throughout Arts Day. In the

worked in groups on colorful bottle-cap

Dr. Aaron Romm (trumpet), and Avis

morning, students in Pre-K through

murals featuring underwater scenes.

Romm (piano).

second grade gave a concert in the Kozel Amphitheater, entertaining the

In the afternoon, students in grades

Our students continued to pursue

audience with songs ranging from

3 - 5 assembled in the Dining Hall

advanced studies in music, and two of

“Waking Up Is Hard To Do” and being

to perform for parents and faculty.

our orchestra students represented the

“Upstanding Citizens,” to a lively

The Concert Band performed several

Lower School in the Sarasota Youth

adaptation of Ezra Jack Keats’ classic

pieces including a rousing march, and

Orchestra Program. Madison Romito

story “Over In The Meadow.”

the String Ensemble accompanied the

80 The Banyan | Arts

chorus in several songs, including “My

School. The walls throughout the Arts

Shot” from the Broadway musical hit

Building were filled with student pieces, Combined String Orchestras finished

“Hamilton,” and a fabulous adaptation

ranging from photography and paintings the concert playing several selections

of “Love Me Tender,” complete with an

to ceramics, charcoal drawings, and

including “Fire in the Bow,” “Viva La

Elvis impersonator.

wire sculptures. Guests spoke with the

Vida,” and “Celtica.”

Dreams” by the Advanced Strings. The

student-artists about their work and Lower School Five-a-Day Play

enjoyed touring the building to view the

The Band performers were the last to

ODA third grade students presented

variety of media on display.

take the stage. Middle School musicians opened with the lively “Pirates of the

multiple performances of the Fivea-Day play, which emphasizes the

The Chorus concert was the first

Caribbean” theme, entertained with

importance of incorporating five or

performance of the day. The Black Box

the easily identifiable “Jurassic Park

more fruits and vegetables into our

Theater was filled with a wide range of

Theme Song,” and brought smiles with

daily diet. Besides putting on a fantastic

musical genres, including a Zambian

War’s “Low Rider.” The Upper School

performance, the students were able to

Welcoming Song, “Barbara Ann” by the

amazed the audience with the complex

educate the audience on the importance

Beach Boys, “The Boy From New York

“Mask of Zorro” and “The March from

of including these items in their daily

City” by Manhattan Transfer, and “Take

First Suite in Eb,” before joining with

routine, while offering valuable tips on

Me Home” by Pentatonix. The String

the Middle School players to perform

how to do so.

Ensembles followed, beginning with a

the final piece of the concert, “Esprit”

traditional “French Folk Song” by the

by Kevin Daley.

Upper School Arts’ Day

sixth grade. “Bonny James Campbell”

The Arts Center on the Uihlein

and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Campus overflowed with amazing arts

Jabba Flow” were played by the

performances and impressive visual art

Middle School Ensemble, followed by

exhibits during Arts’ Day at the Upper

“Writing’s On the Wall” and “Arabian The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

81

Performances at the Uihlein Campus

The Curious Savage

High School Musical

Little Shop of Horrors

In October, the Upper School

Students at The Out-of-Door

Through melodic vocals on harmonic

Performing Arts Department presented

Academy’s Upper School campus

hits like “Skid Row (Downtown),” the

“The Curious Savage,” a comedic

showed the importance of doing what

lead and supporting Upper School cast

play about an elderly widow whose

you love and accepting everyone with

gave this dark comedy unique appeal.

husband has recently died and left her

their rendition of Disney’s “High

The abundance of talented students

as sole heir to his fortune. Her adult

School Musical On Stage.” In the show,

allowed two sets of stars to perform on

step-children have her admitted to a

East High basketball star Troy Bolton

alternating nights of the four-show run.

sanatorium when they learn she has set

(played by Johnny Robinson ‘23),

The Faustian story followed a meek

up a memorial fund in order to help

befriends the school’s new girl, math

flower shop clerk who discovers a

average people pursue their dreams.

genius Gabriella Montez (played by

strange plant with an unusual appetite.

Audiences laughed until they cried as

Madisyn Wandall ‘22). Both discover

From moments of sorrow to uproarious

they enjoyed the performance written

they love to sing and perform, despite

laughter, the dynamic cast of characters

by Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony

their friends’ wishes to stay within their

left you wondering who the real villain

Award winner, John Patrick. The cast

social circles.

is. The audience laughed out loud at

and crew performed impeccably in the

the antics of the love triangle of Audrey

well-polished production that reminds

The presentation featured Middle

(Mackenzie Grace ‘18 and Sofia

us to enjoy life and value love above

School leads with several Upper School

Delgado ‘19), Seymour (Filip Svoboda

greed and corruption. A true ensemble

students assisting in the ensemble. With

‘19 and Kelland Timothy ‘19), and

piece, the cast featured talented Upper

memorable, catchy songs and great

Orin (Nicklaus Auen ‘19), as well as

School students and one guest Middle

choreography, ODA’s cast commanded

the relationship between Mr. Mushnik

School student. “The show was great

the stage. In the end, they learned that

(Joshua Cohen ’20, Robert

fun, and made me cry too,” said Upper

“We’re All in this Together.”

Peterson ’19) and Seymour. Leeson

School student Mary Fulton ‘19.

Foullon ‘19 shined from behind the curtain as the voice of Seymour II.

82 The Banyan | Arts

ODA Students Earn Top Honors in Congressional Art Competition Each spring, the U.S. House of Representatives sponsors the Annual Congressional Student Art Competition. This nationwide competition provides students with an excellent opportunity to showcase their talent. This year the students’ entries were judged by curators from the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota with five Upper School ODA students selected for the exhibit: Maeve Cappar ‘19, Cole Chalhub ‘18, Hunter Chalhub ‘18, Vivienne Miller ‘18, and Hayley Wahl ‘18.

Cicada Study Hayley Wahl ‘18

Albert Einstein Cole Chalhub ‘18

Hayley Wahl ‘18, was awarded first place for her piece “Cicada Study,” and Cole Chalhub ‘18 took third place in the competition for his photograph titled “Albert Einstein.” The entries were judged by The Ringling Museum’s Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections Curator, Sarah Cartwright, the Keith D. and Linda L. Monda Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Ola Wlusek, and the Ringling Museum Manager of Design and Production, Libby Bennette.

Hayley’s winning piece will be displayed for one year in United States Capitol, alongside artwork from every congressional district across the country. She was also awarded a flight for two to Washington D.C. to attend the Congressional Art Competition Reception. Cole’s artwork was put on display in the Johnson-Blalock Education Center at the Ringling Museum.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

83

2018 THUNDER

STATE CHAMPIONS It was a great year for the Thunder!

We have sent swimmers, runners, and tennis players to state competitions and the Boys Tennis team captured our first team State Championship!

We are proud of the many accomplishments of our student-athletes on the playing fields, pools, and courts, as well as in the classroom.

Boys Tennis Team Wins State Title While many individual athletes have represented ODA and earned state titles, the boys’ tennis team championship win is the Thunder’s first team state championship. Andrew Chiritescu ‘21 (alternate), Quinn Isaac ‘21, Connor Krug ‘21, Jake Krug ‘21, Collin O’Callaghan ‘19 (alternate), Josh Samuel ‘18, and Jakub Svoboda ‘22 won the FHSAA Boys Class 1A Team title. In addition, Jake and Connor Krug advanced to the Championship round in doubles play,

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

85

finishing as Class 1A Boys Doubles

200m. Saraiah earned her first state title

and Abbey have a disciplined work

runners-up.

last year as a freshman in the 100m.

ethic. Both girls are in the top-five on

With genetics from athletic parents,

ODA’s varsity team, meaning they

and the drive and determination of a

contribute to the team score. With the

The boys’ team swept their first

opponent Miami Country Day, 5-0, then champion, Saraiah has emerged as one

addition of Aubrey and Abbey, it’s not

took down Tampa Preparatory School

of the top sprinters in the state. “Yes,

a coincidence that ODA is performing

4-0 to earn the State Championship

who wouldn’t be happy to get first,

well overall, one year after only fielding

title. Coaches Kieran Killigrew and

second and third. This is not the end

a full team for three meets.

Paul von Saman are very proud. “All

of me,” she said. “These girls are going

the hard work and effort the kids put

to have to put up with me for another

Martin Baffico Balharry - Swimming

in to actually accomplish this is just

three years.”

Martin Baffico Balharry ‘18 graduated from Out-of-Door as the most

unbelievable,” said Coach Killigrew.

Aubrey Robbins and Abbey Burwood -

decorated athlete in ODA swim

Saraiah Walkes Repeats in

Cross Country

program history. He earned five school

State Competition

Middle School girls cross country

records, seven District Titles, and four

This spring at the State Track & Field

runners Aubrey Robbins ‘24 and Abbey

Regional Championships. In August

Championships, Saraiah Walkes ‘21

Burwood ‘24 are crushing many of

2017, Martin was selected to swim

finished first in the 100m, third in the

their high school senior opponents. At

for Chile at the Sixth FINA World

400m and second in the 200m, in that

the Tri-County Championships meet

Junior Swimming Championships in

order, in about a three-and-a-half hour

in October, arguably the biggest of the

Indianapolis, competing in the Men’s

period. “It was pretty good, really busy

regular season, Aubrey finished the 5K

100m Backstroke with a final time of

though back-to-back-to-back,” Saraiah

in 23:42.12, good for 22nd individually.

59.23 and the Men’s 200m Butterfly

said. Saraiah ran 12.18 seconds for a

Burwood wasn’t far behind, finishing

with a final time of 2:08:05. He also

win in the 100m, 57.51 for a third in the in 24:33.90. Coach Taylor says that 400m and 24.47 for a runner-up in the 86 The Banyan | Athletics

it’s not all natural talent, Aubrey

competed in the South American Games.

Martin’s goal is to competitively

Ava Krug Wins Two

off the draw’s No. 2 seeded team in

swim in college and to qualify for the

USTA Championships

the semifinals in three sets. In the final,

2020 Olympics in Tokyo. “I have to

Ava Krug ‘24, is currently ranked as

Krug and Hovde beat their opponents

drop about three and one-half seconds

one of the top-rated 13-year-old tennis

4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the event held at the

off my best time in both backstroke

players in the nation. In July 2017,

USTA National Campus in Orlando.

and butterfly,” Martin said. He has

she won the doubles title at the United

committed to the University of Chicago, States Tennis Association Girls’ 12

This spring, Krug and her cousin

where he will polish his swim skills, but National Clay Court Championships

Sydney Sforzo ’20 paired up at FHSAA

he also chose the school because of its

at The Polo Club of Boca Raton. Krug

Class 1A States. The student-athletes

computer science program.

was paired with Pacific Palisades,

advanced solidly through the rounds,

California, resident Tsehay Driscoll as

and finished the competition as the

Martin is determined to be the best,

the doubles bracket’s No. 4 seed in the

doubles State Runners-Up.

not only at swimming, but also in the

tournament. In the championship final,

classroom. During his senior year he

the pair rallied past their opponents for

Girls Soccer Regional Semifinalists

took three Advanced Placement (AP)

a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 win.

ODA’s Girls Varsity Soccer team earned its fourth consecutive District Title with

courses including Calculus AB, Physics II and his favorite course, Computer

In August 2017, Krug teamed with Liv

a 4-0 win over St. Stephens in January.

Science Principles.

Hovde of Texas to capture the USTA

The team went on to the Regional

National Championship in the 14-Under Semifinals where they fell to division. Krug and Hovde, seeded fifth,

Sarasota Christian.

won five matches, including knocking The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

87

Athletics

Thunder Athletic Awards Team Honors

Individual State Runners-Up

Tennis, Boys - STATE CHAMPIONS Cross Country, Girls - District Champions Football - Division Runners-Up Lacrosse, Girls - District Runners-Up Soccer, Boys - District Runners-Up Soccer, Girls - District Champions Tennis, Boys - District Champions Tennis, Girls - District Runners-Up Volleyball - District Champions

Swimming, Boys - Martin Baffico Balharry ‘18, 100 Back Tennis, Boys - Connor Krug ‘21 and Jake Krug ’21, Doubles Tennis, Girls - Ava Krug ‘24 and Sydney Sforzo ’20, Doubles Track & Field, Girls - Saraiah Walkes ‘21, 200M

State Champions Tennis, Boys - Andrew Chiritescu ‘21 (Alternate), Quinn Isaac ‘21, Connor Krug ‘21, Jake Krug ‘21, Collin O’Callaghan ‘19 (Alternate), Josh Samuel ‘18, and Jakub Svoboda ‘22 Track & Field, Girls - Saraiah Walkes ‘21, 100M

Regional Champions Swimming, Boys - Martin Baffico Balharry ‘18, 100 Back, 100 Fly, 200 Medley Relay Swimming, Boys - Thomas Naylor ‘20, 200 Medley Relay Swimming, Boys - Zach Szmania ‘19, 200 Medley Relay Swimming, Boys - Sarsen Whatmore ‘19, 200 Medley Relay, 500 Free Tennis, Girls - Ava Krug ’24 and Sydney Sforzo ‘20, Doubles

High School All-Americans Cheer - Brianna Carney ‘18, Haley Carney ‘18, Sofia Delgado ‘19

88 The Banyan | Athletics

State Qualifiers Cross Country, Girls - Chelsea Ball ‘21, Abbey Burwood ‘24, Cayla Dammann ’19, Abby Eakle ‘20, Carina Fiorucci ‘23, Aubrey Robbins ‘24, Maeve Studdiford ‘21 Golf, Boys - Max Coutsolioutsos ‘18 Swimming, Boys - Martin Baffico Balharry ‘18, 100 Back, 100 Fly, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay Swimming, Boys - Max Hajduk ‘19, 400 Free Relay Swimming, Boys - Thomas Naylor ‘20, 200 Medley Relay Swimming, Boys - Marco Schanz ‘21, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay Swimming, Boys - Zach Szmania ‘19, 100 Breast, 200 Individual Medley, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay Swimming, Boys - Sarsen Whatmore ‘19, 200 Free, 500 Free, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay Swimming, Girls - Reece Whatmore ‘21, 500 Free Tennis, Boys - Andrew Chiritescu ‘21, Quinn Isaac ‘21, Connor Krug ‘21, Collin O’Callaghan ‘19, Josh Samuel ‘18, Jakub Svoboda ‘22 Tennis, Girls - Ava Krug ’24 and Sydney Sforzo ‘20, Doubles Track & Field, Boys - Skye Ehrhart ‘18, Pole Vault Track & Field, Boys - Kai Soderberg ‘18, 800M Run Track & Field, Girls - Saraiah Walkes ‘21, 100M Dash, 200M Dash, 400M Dash

Male Athlete of the Year Dakota Dickerson ‘18

Female Athlete of the Year Abigail LaGasse ‘18

Male Sportsmanship Award Gustave Mahler ‘18

Female Sportsmanship Award Christina Lutton ‘18

Cross Country, Boys Kai Soderberg ‘18 – MVP Ethan Ball ‘19 – Most Improved Christopher Eckart ‘18 – Coaches Award

Cross Country, Girls Maeve Studdiford ‘21 – MVP Abigail Eakle ‘20 – Most Improved Cayla Dammann ‘19 – Coaches Award

Cheerleading Ashley DeBartolo ‘18 – MVP Lauren Millar ‘19 – Most Improved Brianna Carney ‘18 – Coaches Award

Football Dakota Dickerson ‘18 – MVP Geoffrey Paxton ‘19 – Most Improved Ethan Bertrand ‘18 – Coaches Award

Golf, Boys Maxwell Coutsolioutsos ‘18 – MVP Jake Naese ‘21 – Most Improved John Vickery ‘19 – Coaches Award

Golf, Girls Lexi Murphy ‘18 – MVP Madeline Crosby ‘24 – Most Improved Christina Wyatt ‘19 – Coaches Award

Swimming, Boys Martin Baffico Balharry ‘18 – MVP Lucas Schanz ‘22 – Most Improved Ryan Appleby ‘18 – Coaches Award

Swimming, Girls Reece Whatmore ‘21 – MVP Paige Crittenden ‘20 – Most Improved Delaney Dowdell ‘18 – Coaches Award

Volleyball

Lacrosse, Girls

Adelaide Mahler ‘19 – MVP Serafima Kosacheva ‘18 – Most Improved Catalina Castro ‘19 – Coaches Award

Sereena Feeney ‘18 – MVP Elle LaClair ‘20 – Most Improved Caroline Lafoe ‘19 – Coaches Award

Basketball, Boys

Softball

Chase Maasdorp ‘18 – MVP Jake Naese ‘21 – Most Improved Michael Gosnell ‘18 – Coaches Award

Christina Lutton ‘18 – MVP Alexis Assha ‘19 – Most Improved Caitlin Lutton ‘18 – Co-Coaches Award Jenna Viard ‘21 – Co-Coaches Award

Basketball, Girls Sereena Feeney ‘18 – Co-MVP Liberty Strafuss ‘18 – Co-MVP Adelaide Mahler ‘19 – Most Improved Rebekah Lang ‘18 – Coaches Award

Soccer, Boys Matteo Romano ‘18 – MVP Mateo Luna Agamez ‘20 – Most Improved Gustave Mahler ‘18 – Coaches Award

Soccer, Girls Natalie Gorji ‘20 – Co-MVP Madisyn Opstal ‘19 – Co-MVP Caroline Lafoe ‘19 – Most Improved Abigail LaGasse ‘18 – Co-Coaches Award Chloe Spingler ‘19 – Co-Coaches Award

Baseball Austin Brinling ‘19 – MVP Tanner Fairchild ‘21 – Most Improved Max Munroe ‘18 – Coaches Award

Tennis, Boys Connor Krug ‘21 – MVP Quinn Isaac ‘21 – Most Improved William Diesel ‘19 – Co-Coaches Award Collin O’Callaghan ‘19 – Co-Coaches Award

Tennis, Girls Ava Krug ‘24 – MVP Mairead Studdiford ‘19 – Most Improved Laura Davenport ‘20 – Coaches Award

Track, Boys Kai Soderberg ‘18 – MVP Dylan Dennehy ‘19 – Most Improved Robert McCampbell ‘19 – Coaches Award

Track, Girls Cayla Dammann ‘19 – MVP Rachel DeLaRosa ‘21 – Most Improved Catalina Castro ‘19 – Coaches Award

Lacrosse, Boys Ethan Bertrand ‘18 – Co-MVP Christopher Wheeler ‘19 – Co-MVP Samuel Millie ‘20 – Most Improved Jarred Flahive ‘20 – Coaches Award The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

89

ODA Teacher is Also a World Class Athlete In 2011, Out-of-Door Middle School

more about the importance of nutrition

rounds during the six-month CrossFit

physical education teacher Cici Fougere

as her fitness continually improved. For

open, finishing in the top 200 from

took a two-week CrossFit on-ramp

the next two years she made this her

a starting group of more than 6,000

course and instantly fell in love with

goal: working hard to get physically

competitors in her age group. She

the constant variety and challenge of

stronger and put on more muscle mass

advanced to a regional event where the

the classes. With the initial intent of

to keep up with her competitors.

top 20 were invited to compete in the 2018 Reebok CrossFit Games, a world

losing some weight and feeling better on a daily basis, Cici threw herself

In 2013, she became involved in the

championship event hosted in Madison,

into CrossFit training. She began to

CrossFit Open, an annual five-week

WI, in August.

incorporate custom nutrition planning

worldwide competition held online,

into her training and noticed the

finishing in the top 200 finalists. Her

Ranked in the top ten in the world for

additional positive impact it had.

first live competition was in Miami

her age group, Cici was one of the

at Wodapalooza in January of 2018.

world’s top athletes in her class to

As her training continued and she

Cici worked on strengthening her

participate in the intense competition

began to feel better and lose weight,

mental game as much as her physical

which took place over a five-day span.

Cici’s focus switched to getting better

training and it paid off. At the end of the Cici credits her combined love for

at CrossFit. Until then, she had never

weekend-long competition, she stepped

competition and the hard work she

excelled at cardio, and found that she

up on the winner’s podium to accept

put into training for her impressive

had to push through the pain during the

the bronze medal in the Womens

performance, finishing 8th in the world

running, rowing, biking, jump rope, or

50+ age category.

in her age group. She is currently the number one ranked school teacher in

burpee elements of the workout. Her goals continued to evolve, and as she

Cici made it through the qualifying

CrossFit in her age group of 50-54.

was able to become more efficient in her workouts, she became stronger, more fit, and had more energy.

After training for six years, Cici realized that if she worked hard enough, she could try to quality for the Reebok CrossFit Games. She found a great coach who knew how to keep her motivated and focused, and taught her 90 The Banyan | Athletics

“When I first started out, I thought Crossfit was going to be just a form of ‘exercise’ for me. I thought I would just be going for an hour a day and didn’t realize how all-encompassing it would be. The community is a big piece of Crossfit, my best friends in life are mostly people who I exercise with. We get through it together and that creates a bond.”

Coach Cici Fougere

ODA Thunder Athletics by the Numbers Consistent with The Out-of-Door Academy’s mission, philosophy and core values, the athletics program strives for excellence, which demands commitment and discipline from our student-athletes on a daily basis. More than 670 roster spots were filled across 49 teams, 21 varsity and 28 junior varsity, in 13 sports during the 2017-2018 season. Teamwork, sportsmanship and the display of Core Values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Responsibility) are integral ingredients in our teams’ recipe for success. Student-athletes bring the same dedication to athletics that they exhibit in classrooms and performance venues. In return, student-athletes are well prepared for growth and improvement, competition, team success, and life.

INDIVIDUAL STATE

INDIVIDUAL REGIONAL

INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT

TEAM STATE

TEAM REGIONAL

TEAM DISTRICT

ALL-STATE

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

ATHLETES

16

22

14

1

8

28

22

2017-2018 Student-Athletes

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

91

Student-Athlete Profiles his White Team teammates “kidnapped” She is an athlete in the truest sense. A the Blue Team’s Spirit Stick and made

varsity swimmer, soccer, basketball,

a treasure-hunt for the Blue Team to

and softball player, in the two years that

follow to retrieve their stick in time for

Caitlin has been at ODA, she has been

the start of the competition. They hope

involved in the athletics program to the

that the teams will think it was a fun

fullest extent.

idea and it will become a new custom.

After her family relocated to Sarasota Dakota spent his senior internship at

just before the start of her junior

Bodywise, a physical therapy office

year, Caitlin dove into ODA’s sports

Dakota Dickerson ’18

in the Sarasota area. He attends

opportunities and never looked back.

Dakota Dickerson says he has set

Monmouth College and intends to

Talking to Caitlin about her ODA

the bar high for himself and that he

major in physical therapy with a

experience, she says that she gained

is always ready for a challenge. As

possible focus on sports therapy.

more than just athleticism. “Sports have

a three-sport athlete at ODA, he is

taught me how to be a team player in

quite familiar with facing challenging

the sense that I can communicate and

situations and persevering. Dakota has

work well with others. I have made so

played football, soccer, and lacrosse

many friendships and developed social

throughout his time at ODA and has

skills that you don’t just learn in

truly made a name for himself. He has

the classroom.”

also received outside recognition for his athletic achievements, most recently

Caitlin’s leadership and communication

being selected as a Top 25 Impact

skills were evident this spring as the

Player by Tampa Lax Report, and being

captain of the softball team. This spring

chosen to play in the Senior All Stars

Caitlin Lutton ’18

there were barely enough interested

Game representing the Thunder. He has

Caitlin Lutton knows what it means

players to keep the softball team viable.

been selected three times to the All Area to work hard. As a multi-sport athlete,

“Keeping the softball team alive was

First Team in the district. In addition,

Caitlin took a full load of challenging

a huge challenge...but I want to be

Dakota was named captain of the

classes while holding a part-time job.

remembered as a go-getter and as

ODA football and lacrosse teams his senior year.

With the encouragement of Mr. Mahler, Dakota and his fellow seniors decided to start a new tradition during the lead up to Spirit Day. Dakota and some of

92 The Banyan | Student-Athlete Profiles

“Keeping the softball team alive was a huge challenge...but I want to be remembered as a go-getter and as someone who was able to accomplish what she set out to do.”

Caitlin Lutton ‘18

recognized her drive and commitment,

Christina Lutton made ODA history by being the first female player to play on the varsity football team.

and treated her no differently than anyone else, readily accepting her as one of their own. This year she had more time on the field. She says that one of her favorite moments of the

someone who was able to accomplish

season was when a player from an

what she set out to do.”

opposing team came up to congratulate her on playing a good game, and told

Caitlin was also a member of the

her that he and his teammates thought it

Thunderheads, supporting other

was cool that she was playing.

student-athletes as they cheered them on at sporting events. In addition to taking

In addition to football and soccer,

AP and honors classes and a part-time

Christina played basketball, softball,

job at the Sarasota Farmer’s Market, she

and lacrosse for ODA. Off the field, she

was a member of Key Club, Gardening

worked with students as a Spanish and

Club, and Knitting Club. She is also a

Christina Lutton ’18

math peer tutor, maintained honor roll

regular blood donor with the SunCoast

ODA’s first female football player

marks each year, and was inducted in

Blood Bank.

was a trailblazer on the field and has

the National Honor Society. Christina

high aspirations to pursue a career law

was an active member of the ODA

Caitlin hopes that the Class of 2018 will

enforcement. When Christina’s family

community. She was a member of

be remembered as agents of change.

relocated from Ohio right before the

Thunder Nation, Student Council, the

“We had the first female football player,

start of her junior year, she learned that

Student Admission Team, and started

we had the first unisex bathrooms

ODA’s soccer season would be in the

a knitting club. She has a strong

implemented–we stood up as a class

winter, as opposed to the fall as she

interest in the justice system, and is

and made changes in the community.”

was used to. An avid soccer player,

hoping to work in law enforcement and

she had played in youth leagues and

government, ideally with the FBI.

During the spring, Caitlin interned at

traveling teams, and for her middle and

Blue Pearl Specialty and Emergency

high schools. She had always had an

This spring, Christina interned at the

Pet Hospital in Sarasota. She says her

interest in playing football, but it was

Sarasota County Jail. She worked in the

internship helped solidify her decision

also a fall sport, so the seasonal overlap

Programs department which focuses

to be a veterinarian. Caitlin intends

presented a conflict. When she arrived

on keeping people out of jail, and

to major in Biology in the Pre-Vet

at ODA, Christina knew this was her

preventing former inmates from making

program at Furman University.

opportunity, and she decided to try out

mistakes and coming back. “I think it

for the varsity football team.

is interesting how when one thinks of jail and the police, they think of locking

While Christina didn’t play very much

up bad people. When, in reality, there

during her first year, she believes it was

is so much more to it. There is an entire

because of her inexperience. She trained portion that works to prevent people hard, learned a lot, and never asked

from getting there.”

for special treatment. Her teammates The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

93

Christina now attends Loyola

Award, given annually to a rising senior

the basketball and softball teams, and

University of Maryland in Baltimore,

who shows commendable leadership

she continued to play all three sports

MD. She plans to major in Political

qualities.

during her four years at ODA. Playing team sports gave Liberty more than just

Science and minor in a foreign language, possibly Arabic.

This spring, Gus interned at The Visible

an athletic outlet. “It’s easier to make

Men Academy, an all-boys school in

friends when you join a team. Their

Bradenton that delivers high-quality

friendship has helped throughout the

education to at-risk elementary and

four years I have been here. I knew

middle school boys. While working at

I didn’t just have to rely on myself

the academy, Gus tutored students in

because I had the whole team to

the classroom and shadowed teachers,

support me.”

learning more about the behind the

Gus Mahler

scenes involved in a teaching career. He

Liberty says that her experience at ODA

was also involved in several ODA clubs

has been positive and she will leave

including the Book Circle, Film Club,

with many great memories. She says

and Calliope.

she will always remember when a group of seniors from the Class of 2017 did a

When you ask Gus Mahler what his most memorable moment at ODA

Gus now attends Hamilton College

lip sync battle for Thunder Cup points,

was, he answers without hesitation.

in Clinton, NY. While he has not

and when she donated her hair in the

“Winning the Homecoming game

determined a major, he has considered

hair-cutting event for Children With

during my senior year. It was the first

a career in education as a teacher. He

Hair Loss.

time we had won a Homecoming game

plans to continue his athletic career

in the past four or five years and school

playing football in college.

Liberty currently attends Northwest

spirit was at an all-time high—the

Nazarene University in Idaho. She

crowd was cheering for us the entire

plans to focus her studies on Exercise

game. When the game ended, all of

Science/Kinesiology and to work in that

the students in the stadium swarmed

field post graduation.

down to the field to celebrate with us.

It was an amazing time that I’ll always remember.”

Gus has been part of many athletic achievements during his time at ODA. As an ODA “Lifer,” he has participated

Liberty Strafuss

in school sports from an early age,

Liberty Strafuss came to ODA in

demonstrating his skills as a natural

ninth grade after her family relocated

leader. As captain of the football,

from Branson, MO. She immediately

soccer, and lacrosse teams, he has also

joined the volleyball team that fall,

learned about motivation, goal setting,

knowing that it would make it easier to

and responsibility. In 2017, Gus was the

meet people if she was playing a team

recipient of the Gelbman Leadership

sport. Her first year she also joined

94 The Banyan | Student-Athlete Profiles

Sincerely Thanks our Corporate Partners BAKER

ORTHODONTICS

Support Out-of-Door’s Corporate Partnership Program please visit: oda.edu/corporatepartners

or contact Terri

Medina at tmedina@oda.edu or 941-554-3403

Traditions

The Foundations of our School Traditions at The Out-of-Door Academy

Senior Kindergarten Buddies

the buddies had to connect with

are abundant and represent a critical piece

In October 2017, the annual tradition

one another. This first meeting was

of ODA’s history. They help form the

of pairing students in the senior and

important because it provided the

structure and foundation of our beloved

kindergarten classes at The Out-of-Door kindergarten class time to get to

school and remind us about ODA’s

Academy took place. The pairing of

know each other before Convocation.

history. Traditions at Out-of-Door range

“buddies” allows many of the Upper

Throughout the year, the buddies

from Convocation and Grandfriends’ Day, School students who attended the

enjoyed many school activities together,

to Homecoming and Spirit Day, and all

Lower School to return to their roots,

including Convocation, Spirit Day, a

reinforce our Five Core Values: Respect,

while inviting seniors who did not

breakfast at the Siesta Key Campus,

Integrity, Service, Excellence, and

attend the Lower School the chance to

and more.

Responsibility. ODA’s traditions bring

visit the Historic Siesta Key campus.

together families, supporters, and alumni

The tradition also gives kindergarten

Convocation

to reconnect. New traditions emerge, and

buddies a chance to develop friendships

Convocation, an annual tradition at The

some have retired, but they started with

with senior role models.

Out-of-Door Academy, was held during Homecoming week in October of 2017

the vision of two remarkable women who founded our OUTstanding academic

The Senior-Kindergarten luncheon

at the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood

institution in 1924.

and playtime was the first introduction

Ranch. Convocation is about the school

96 The Banyan | Traditions

community lifting up the senior class

procession began with kindergarten

Safety Wednesday,” and an afternoon

and acknowledging them as school

students escorting their senior buddies

pep rally in the Petrik Thunderdome led

leaders. The entire school community

into the Petrik Thunderdome. The

by “The Captain,” Mr. Brewer, and his

participates at this event, including

Class of 2018 student representatives

“First Mates,” Thor, Mr. Newhams,

students, faculty, staff, and the parents

presented Mr. Mahler with this year’s

and Mr. Ball.

of the Classes of 2018 and 2030.

Honor Scroll, which included the signatures of every Upper School

ODA’s varsity football team was

Convocation promotes unity across

student, pledging to uphold and respect

cheered on by excited fans in

the student body and is one of several

The Out-of-Door Academy’s Honor

Thunder Stadium as they defeated

school-wide events throughout the

Code and abide by its Five Core Values:

St. Petersburg Catholic High School

year. The tradition began in 2002,

Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence,

at the Homecoming game. ODA’s

when the dean of students, Martha

and Responsibility.

cheerleaders had a fantastic half-time presentation complete with cheers,

Holland, acknowledged the seniors and their leadership by having them

At the conclusion of Convocation, the

dance routines and stunts. Festivities

sign the Honor Pledge in front of the

Class of 2018 and the Class of 2030

continued with the introduction of

Middle and Upper School’s student

rang the school bell and took

the 2017 Homecoming Court: Count

body. In 2004, the idea to include the

photos together.

and Countess, Christopher Heller ‘21 & Begoña Barrales ‘21; Duke and

entire school, matching seniors with kindergarten buddies, and having each

Homecoming

Dutchess, Michael Shulman ‘20 & Ava

class acknowledge the senior class’

The annual Homecoming events began

Small ‘20; Prince and Princess, Sarsen

leadership with gifts of song and poetry

on the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood

Whatmore ‘19 & Hannah Bizick ‘19

was created.

Ranch during the week of October 16,

and Homecoming King and Queen,

2017. This year, Upper School students

Matteo Romano ‘18 & Sima

Head of School Mr. David Mahler

had a nautical theme for their Spirit

Kosacheva ‘18.

officially opened the 2017 Convocation

Week, and many participated in the fun.

celebration. The Middle and Upper

There were dress up days, including

The Out-of-Door Academy annual

School Orchestra played and the

“Tacky Tourist Tuesday” and “Water

Homecoming Dance was held in the The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

97

Black Box Theater. The night was filled

activity stations set up to learn about

The friendly competition commenced

with music and dancing. Students had

composting, wind and solar energy,

with the student processional around

plenty of fun in the photo booth, giving

and other environmentally-centered

the track before the games officially

them mementos to cherish their night

projects for students and their guest to

began with the 8th grade obstacle

far into the future.

experience together. Throughout the

course where the White Team narrowly

campus, there were photo stations set

outpaced the Blue Team. Students

Grandfriends’ Day

up complete with capes and props so

then broke into grade level “Olympic-

Lower School students welcomed their

Grandfriends and their students could

style” competitions including events

grandparents and family friends to the

have their photo taken as Sustainability

such as the balloon toss, kick ball, and

Grandfriends’ Day event on the Historic

Superheroes. Many posed in their

water games. Spirit Day ended with

Siesta Key Campus on February

best imitation of what they thought a

the highly anticipated senior obstacle

9, 2018. The annual event gives

Sustainability Superhero would look

course, which the Blue Team won in a

students the opportunity to invite their

like, adding to the day’s fun. Guests

race down to the wire. At the close of

grandparents or special friends to visit

had a wonderful time at the event,

the event, there were smiles, laughter,

ODA to experience music and choral

and enjoyed experiencing a day with

and an incredible celebration of the

performances directed by

their students.

teamwork between the two groups with the Blue Team edging out the White

Dr. Vasilaki and Mrs. Gulascy,

Team as the winner of 2018 Spirit Day.

participate in activities with students,

Spirit Day

and spend time together sharing

Spirit Day, one of Out-of-Door’s oldest

what students are learning in

school traditions, was held on March

Congratulations to all of our students

their classrooms.

29, 2018 and began with our annual

for competing with integrity. A special

service project collecting peanut butter

thank you to our parent volunteers,

This year’s Sustainability Superheroes

and jelly to benefit All Faiths Food

Michele Abrams and Ellie Falck, for

theme was woven throughout the event.

Bank’s Campaign Against Summer

helping count the peanut butter and

Students sang songs about the earth

Hunger. The White Team donated 417

jelly donations and to all parents and

in the Kozel Family Amphitheater,

jars of peanut butter and the Blue Team

grandparents who were on campus to

filling the campus with their joyful

donated 520 jars of jelly, totaling 937

lend a hand!

voices. After the concert, there were

jars collected.

98 The Banyan | Traditions

THE ODA

ANNUAL FUND SUPPORTS

collegiate success

Support of the Annual Fund provides students access to innovative curriculum that prepares them for success in college and in life. For more information on all that is made possible by your support of the Annual Fund, visit

oda.edu/AnnualFund

Campus Visitors

Guest Speakers Share Life Experiences On any given day throughout the

Chef Jet Tila Entertains and Informs

Chef Tila’s enthusiasm for his work

school year, you may walk onto the

with Culinary Finesse

was infectious and Upper and Middle

Historic Siesta Key Campus or Uihlein

For the past three years, Chef Jet Tila

School students enjoyed asking

Campus and find a visitor engaged

has partnered with FLIK Independent

questions about food preparation,

with students, discussing a variety

School Dining, visiting schools to

Asian culture, and his experience in TV

of topics. Visitors come from a wide

educate students about the science

production. “You have to understand

range of backgrounds; many are local

behind food, and to teach Asian cuisine,

how food works,” Tila said. “When

or national artists, speakers, authors,

cooking techniques, and culture. The

kids start actually diving into the

entrepreneurs, or ODA alumni. This

acclaimed chef and star of several Food

ingredients and understanding where

year, visitors included an Olympic

Network shows including “Iron Chef,”

their veggies come from—the farming,

coach, professional musicians, a

“Cutthroat Kitchen,” and “Chopped,” as the agriculture—they start to appreciate

professor of Islamic Studies, and a

well as the U.S. Culinary Ambassador

Major League Baseball Umpire. ODA’s

to Thailand, visited the Uihlein Campus

campus visitors help expose students

at Lakewood Ranch to give several live

Senior Michael Gosnell took an interest

to new professions and ideas, and are

demonstrations and speak to science

in cooking this summer after reading

chosen with ODA’s curriculum and

and audio visual classes. Chef Tila is a

“Salt Fat Acid Heat” by Samin Nostrat,

Core Values in mind.

gifted storyteller, which ODA students

a book that explained the science

learned firsthand as he spoke about how

behind it. He has been cooking twice

he connects cooking with people and

a week at home. “He showed us some

their cultures

simple techniques, which showed

100 The Banyan | Campus Visitors

food more that way.”

people that cooking is not a crazy, difficult thing to do,” Gosnell said.

Author Donalyn Miller Works with Teachers to Encourage a Love of Reading for Students Ms. Donalyn Miller, author of “The Book Whisperer,” visited the Lower School to meet with teachers in October. During the presentation, she discussed building reading communities in Out-of-Door’s classrooms, fostering student book choice with book selections, and conferencing with students about their reading. While her book is geared toward elementary school-aged children, her message can be applied to all grade levels.

Ms. Miller’s book was one of the summer reading offerings for faculty, and those who read it enjoyed the posting or sharing, believing they

to make tending to goats more lucrative

were acting anonymously or using

by finding a way to pay goat herders

Online Expert Richard Fuerry Talks

encryption software and the devastating

more, and in doing so, help to preserve

about Responsible Online and

consequences that can result from

their traditional lifestyles. At ODA, he

Digital Communication

‘weaponizing’ technology. “Using

spoke with students about his journey

Mr. Richard Fuerry, Executive Director

electronic devices should empower

from Wall Street to the fashion industry.

of the Institute for Responsible Online

you [students],” he said. “It is our

Mr. Scanlan was glad to share the story

and Cellphone Communication,

job as adults to instill a mindset of

of his experience and encouraged the

presented to Out-of-Door students and

responsibility and to help you not be a

audience to follow their

parents. The discussion was focused on

‘victim’ to the downside to tech.”

own convictions.

generation. Mr. Fuerry opened with

Entrepreneur Matt Scanlan Shares How

Major League Baseball Umpire

a simple statement: digital activity is

His Profitable Business Helps Others

Chad Fairchild Discusses

both public and permanent. He focused

As co-founder and CEO of fashion

Sportsmanship and Integrity

on topics related to building a digital

company Naadam Cashmere,

Major League Baseball Umpire Chad

consciousness, providing a change in

Mr. Matt Scanlan has been working to

Fairchild met with ODA’s Upper School

our culture and society, and thinking

transform the cashmere supply chain

to share what it’s like to officiate in this

insightful messages conveyed.

how to cope with being the first digital

empathetically before sharing or posting by purchasing directly from Mongolian

high-stakes professional environment.

content publicly. He also provided real-

herders, rather than through middlemen

Mr. Fairchild shared what it entails to

world examples of people accidentally

who inflate prices. Mr. Scanlan set out

become an umpire and looked back The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

101

on the 13-year journey of hard work,

While the topic is a heavy one, it’s

variety of music and answered the many

dedication, and patience it took to get

also extremely relevant. ODA prides

questions students had about the life of

where he is today. As he spoke, themes

itself on providing students with the

a professional musician.

synonymous with our core values

appropriate tools to analyze and

were evident: respect, integrity, and

discuss challenging topics as they

Author Mary Uihlein Shares Books and

excellence were all part of his journey

become well-rounded, global citizens.

Lessons with Young Students

and the job he does. Throughout

Dr. Pieri’s work consulting on

Author and illustrator Mary Uihlein

Mr. Fairchild’s discussion, he

international projects investigating

visited young writers on the Siesta

continually reiterated the level of

counter-radical discourses amongst

Key campus to talk about how she

respect and professionalism that exists

Muslim communities in Western

first became an author. Mrs. Uihlein,

between players and officials and

Europe, West Africa, and Southeast

grandmother of Emma Uihlein ‘30,

reinforced the importance of mutual

Asia makes him a learned authority

read two books from her “Little Owl”

respect in all levels of all sports.

on the subject. Dr. Pieri took these

series to the students, and spoke about

complex ideologies and presented

her experience writing the books which

Islamic Studies Specialist Dr. Zacharias

hem in a way that was

are based on Emma and her younger

Pieri Teaches Students about Religion

digestible–and enjoyable–to

brother.

and Stereotypes

high school students.

Honors International Studies students

Dr. Sonya Dyhrman and Research Team

took part in fascinating conversations

Members of Perlman Music Quartet

Visit ODA to Develop STEM Curriculum

this year with acclaimed International

Share Experiences as Professional

Model

Studies guest lecturer Dr. Zacharias

Musicians

Dr. Sonya Dyhrman and a team of

Pieri during several visits to the school.

Upper and Middle School students

researchers from Columbia University

Dr. Pieri visited classes to talk about

enjoyed a performance by a talented

visited both ODA campuses this

Islam and the often-made correlation

string quartet at the Uihlein Campus in

year. Out-of-Door is partnering

with terrorism. Dr. Pieri is a lecturer and Lakewood Ranch. The group of young

with Columbia University and Mote

researcher at the University of South

concert artists from the Perlman Music

Marine to develop a model STEM

Florida Sarasota-Manatee who holds

Program travels the country presenting

curriculum focused on marine science,

a PhD in Ethno-Politics. His research

interactive performances with the

oceanography, and sustainability.

focuses on the relationships between

intent to engage students through their

Dr. Dyhrman took Upper School

religion, politics and violence.

music. The four young women played a

students on a deep dive into the world

102 The Banyan | Campus Visitors

of microbial oceanographic research and its importance—explaining that each day 50% of the world’s oxygen supply is produced by these microorganisms. The research team visited classes to see how ODA students have used STEM to tackle environmental issues.

Professional Violinist William Patterson Holds Classes with Student Musicians Professional violinist and educator Mr. William Patterson provided musical experience to ODA students, working with classes on both campuses throughout the year. From second grade string students preparing for Arts Day, to master classes at the Upper School, Mr. Patterson worked with students of all ages and abilities, offering feedback, encouragement, and support.

Olympic Coach Brett Strot Talks about What it Takes to Earn Gold Coach Brett Strot spoke during assembly about what it took for the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team to win gold at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang after losing to Canada in overtime in

your character by taking on more

Florida’s role in resettlement.

2014. As the Associate Head Coach of

responsibility. Develop your mind to be

Dr. McBrien is a professor at University

Team USA, Coach Strot used his years

your greatest asset,” he encouraged.

of South Florida whose service and research focuses on children affected by

of experience as a coach and former player to help his athletes find the right

Dr. Jody McBrien Offers Students Insight

war, whether they are resettled refugee

mindset to succeed in reaching their

about Refugees Experiences

students and their families, or children

goal. He believes that having the right

Upper School students learned about

and families who have returned to their

approach leads to success in all avenues

refugee families from guest speaker

home communities following war. She

of life, not only in sports. “Teachers,

Dr. Jody McBrien. Dr. McBrien spoke

visited several classes to offer insight on

parents, and coaches can give you

with the students in assembly about

what it’s like to be displaced from your

the tools, but it is up to you to make

overcoming stereotypes of refugee

home as a refugee and how stereotypes

things happen. Gain trust by having

children. She gave statistics on the

further complicate the situation.

a strong, positive character. Elevate

global refugee crisis and discussed The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

103

Service Learning

Giving Back to the Community Students in Pre-K through 12th grade

ODA Community Comes Together During

Mahler said. “We have tried to keep a

continue to make a difference in the

Hurricane Irma

sense of normalcy on the campus. Late

community through a wide variety of

On the Friday before Hurricane Irma

last night we did a lot of heavy lifting

community service projects. Out-of-

was expected to impact the area, about a and tucked a lot of things away.”

Door students enjoy service because

dozen Upper School students helped fill

it strengthens our local community.

300 sandbags to fortify the doors and

The impending storm caused the

Whether it is an individual student, a

entrances of the Siesta Key Campus.

biggest concern for the structures on the

group of students, or the entire school,

“These students are here voluntarily,”

Siesta Key campus. “We have historic

fundraising for a charitable cause, feeding

Head of School David Mahler said.

buildings that go back to the 1920s

the hungry, or volunteering at a local

“One of our seniors put out a Google

and 1930s,” he explained. “Although

non profit, our core value of service

invitation. A bunch of kids who care

the storm seasons over the last several

encourages our students to look beyond

about the school and had time this

years in the Gulf have been very kind

themselves and understand the leadership

morning showed up.”

to Sarasota, ODA has developed and refined protocols so that when we get to

role they play in helping people who are in need. Providing service learning

Mr. Mahler felt it was important to hold

a situation like this we make sure to get

opportunities for our students encourages

off on preparations until after school

the equipment and resources to protect

them to give back and to make a positive

closed, especially on the Siesta Key

the campuses.”

difference in the lives of others.

campus, to avoid any panic. “We have

104 The Banyan | Service Learning

hurricane protocol for both campuses

Following the storm, Mr. Mahler and

so we activated that earlier this week,”

the Facilities personnel inspected both

campuses and were relieved to find that there was no major structural damage at either campus. Both campuses had significant amounts of debris from downed branches, and students and their families were quick to arrive to help clean up. Classes at ODA resumed less than one week after the storm. Mr. Mahler and the Leadership team credit the amazing volunteers who assisted with the campus cleanup in helping get the campuses open so quickly.

Student Initiative Offers Comfort and Kindness to Cancer Patients - Margaret Buck ‘21 and Abigail Eakle ‘20 Margaret Buck ‘21 started knitting in 5th grade and Abigail Eakle ‘20 took up knitting this year. The pair teamed up to turn their hobby into something meaningful. Margaret and Abigail are daughters of oncologists who work at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) in Lakewood Ranch, and have grown up hearing how

they decided to expand their program

themed arcade during this year’s

difficult it is for people going through

and get others involved. Margaret and

Global Cardboard Challenge. The

cancer treatment.

Abigail now have several teachers and

Global Cardboard Challenge affords

classmates making hats with them, so

students the opportunity to let their

At the beginning of the school year,

they can continue to make donations to

imaginations run wild while using the

Margaret and Abigail put a plan

FCS in the future. We are so proud to

four Cs: critical thinking, collaboration,

together—they decided to knit hats to

see these students living the core values

communication, and creativity.

give to chemotherapy patients at FCS,

of service and excellence in such a

and they named their endeavor, Happy

philanthropic endeavor.

After spending several hours building their cardboard arcade games, students

Hats. The girls thought that sharing a hand-made gift would show the patients

Siesta Key Transformed into an

gathered by the Catherine Gavin

that someone was thinking of them

Intergalactic Arcade for the 2017 Global

Memorial Library for a group photo,

during their treatments, which can be an

Cardboard Challenge

then spent the next hour playing one

isolating and scary time.

Pre-K students and parents worked

another’s arcade games using their Fun

together using creative engineering

Passes. Proceeds from the sale of the

Their first donation to the patients at

to turn Out-of-Door’s historic Siesta

Fun Passes were donated in support of

FCS made such a strong impact that

Key Campus into an outer space

hurricane relief efforts.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

105

Students were able to create their

nationwide who have cardiac

Barkin Beanies - Mira Khazanchi ‘20

inventive cardboard arcade games

health issues.

Mira Khazanchi ‘20 has many skills,

thanks to the generous donations

and she is putting them all to use in her

from Mattress Firm. The use of these

Siesta Key students practiced their

nonprofit business, Barkin Beanies.

recyclable materials aligned with our

routines for more than three weeks

She crafts and sells crocheted beanie

sustainability initiatives and highlighted

to prepare for this fun event. Each

hats for dogs through her Etsy store—

our core value of service to our

grade took center stage and jumped

one has even traveled with it’s canine

community. In addition to supplying the

to an array of upbeat songs for their

owner to the recent Olympics in South

materials, Mattress Firm brought over

choreographed routines. After the

Korea. Mira can crochet about two hats

a dozen volunteers to assist students

students finished showcasing their

in an hour, but with her busy schedule

in cutting cardboard, setting up and

skills, faculty, staff, and parents joined

which includes varsity basketball, and

cleaning up, and running the arcade.

in the fun and jumped to the music.

extracurricular activities in addition to a full course load, she has to work hard to

Siesta Key Students Jump

To encourage participation, when

for Heart Health

the $18,000 goal was met, Head of

In February, students, faculty, staff, and

Lower School Mrs. Tanna Horner and

In addition to crocheting, Mira uses

families assembled on the basketball

Assistant Head of School Mrs. Jessica

her skills in graphic design and

court for the Jump Rope for Heart

Banks agreed to eat a chocolate-covered photography to maintain and promote

fundraiser on the Siesta Key Campus.

cricket. When music ended and jumping her store. She uses money she earns

The annual ODA event is held in

stopped, Head of School Mr. David

from babysitting to purchase her

conjunction with February’s National

Mahler announced that he had a very

supplies, and donates 100% of the

Heart Health Month. The national

special surprise in store—since the

income she makes from selling the hats.

fundraiser, geared toward elementary

students had exceeded their original

In March, she made her first donation

and middle schoolers, teaches children

goal and met the incredible benchmark

of $1,000 to the Humane Society

the value of community service and

of $25,000, their reward was to watch

of Lakewood Ranch. The shelter’s

how to develop heart-healthy habits

Coach Mike Young and Coach Jeff Horr manager says they will put the donation

by being physically active. This

join Mrs. Horner and Mrs. Banks in

toward the permanent building they will

year ODA’s students surpassed their

their culinary adventure. Students and

be constructing in the area.

original goal of $18,000 and raised an

parents alike joined in the cheering as

impressive $25,000! The funds students

the four brave ODA epicureans downed

raised will be used to help children

the chocolate-coated insects!

106 The Banyan | Service Learning

keep up with orders.

ODA Community Exemplifies

Campus to connect the dots between

of donated hair for CWHL. Faculty,

Spirit of Giving with Annual

the blue tubs our school community

alumni, parents, and students have

Thanksgiving Partnership

fills with food and the Thanksgiving

participated in each of the hair donation

The Out-of-Door Academy and Gocio

dinner table on which their contents

events at ODA since their inception.

Elementary School have enjoyed a

will be served. She shared the impact

At the April event this year, twelve

strong partnership for over 10 years,

that the advisory and classroom baskets

students and four teachers donated 144

participating in regular service projects

have on the Gocio families who

inches of hair. All of the hair donated

together. Delivering Thanksgiving

receive them. Lower School students

will be used to make wigs and hair

meals to families in need at Gocio has

at Siesta Key learned how much these

pieces that will be provided to children

become an important tradition for every

contributions mean to the families from

at no cost to their families. Special

Out-of-Door student.

Ms. Tracey Bailey, Gocio’s guidance

thanks to Fresh Salon stylists who have

counselor. Fifth grade students then

cut hair free of charge for the cause.

This year, through donations made

delivered the meals and took a tour of

by ODA students, faculty and staff on

the school. Service to Gocio and other

The Giving Closet Shares Clothing with

both campuses, ODA donated complete

organizations remind ODA students

Students in Need - Sydney Sforzo ‘20

Thanksgiving meals to 72 Gocio

about their role in the world and the

and Chelsea Lea ‘20

families. Each basket contained all the

value of helping others.

Students at The Out-of-Door Academy are encouraged to give back to their

makings of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey, pumpkin

Fourth Annual Hair Donation

local community. Sydney Sforzo ‘20

pie, and various sides. Through this

Helps Children

and Chelsea Lea ‘20, have established

endeavor, students have the opportunity

Ashley DeBartolo ‘18 and her sister

their own endeavor, The Giving Closet,

to demonstrate one of our core values

Alexa DeBartolo ‘17 organized the

as a way to get involved and help

by offering service to others.

first hair donation event at ODA for

others. The girls collect previously

Children With Hair Loss (CWHL)

owned, name brand clothes, shoes,

Ms. Amy Baldwin, staff member at

four years ago. Since then, their efforts

dresses, and athletic wear in excellent

Gocio, spoke to students on the Uihlein

have yielded more than 650 inches

condition to sell at deeply discounted The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

107

two years. She has traveled to Haiti with Haitian Partners to see how the organization is working to improve the educational system and presented her recommendations about improving the system at the AP Language and Composition Symposium in May. ODA’s Caring Kids Community Helps Out at All Faiths Food Bank Throughout the year, ODA students, parents, and faculty members have volunteered their time at All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota with The Caring Kids group. Participants have sorted and packed donated food items, lending a helping hand wherever they are needed. In March, ODA volunteers pre-sorted over 3,000 lbs. of donated food, enough to feed three people for an entire year. We are proud of the continued commitment ODA students and their families, as well as our faculty and staff, have to making a difference in prices. All of the money raised from

to raise money to help Haitian children

The Giving Closet sales benefits the

attend school. More than 60 people

Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund.

attended the luncheon which raised

our local community.

ODA Students Raise Impressive Total for

$13,500, more than 30% higher than the Relay for Life In addition, the group visits local

original goal. The funds Chloe raised

Four ambitious upperclassmen planned

organizations such as Gocio

will help to send 28 children to school

the 2018 Upper School Relay for Life

Elementary, Tuttle Elementary and

at Haiti Partners Children’s Academy.

at the Uihlein Campus on in April and raised an impressive amount of money

The Boys and Girls Club to share donated clothing. These young ladies

Chloe has become very involved with

for the American Cancer Society. Mutaz

are embracing the ODA core value

Haiti Partners over the last two years,

Faqqouseh ‘19, John Floersheimer ‘19,

of service as they give back to their

donating profits from her nonprofit

Kat Gaukhman ‘19, and Andrea Schiro

community in various ways.

jewelry business and helping to raise

‘19 planned the entire fundraising

awareness about the educational

event, including games, a food truck,

Haiti Partners - Chloe Spingler ‘19

needs of Haitian children. She and

live music, and more. Director of

This spring, Chloe Spingler ‘19,

classmate Madisyn Opstal ‘19 have

Facilities Mr. Dan Dennehy was

hosted a fundraising luncheon for Haiti

collected soccer equipment for Haitian

instrumental in the event’s success,

Partners, a local nonprofit organization,

children through GOALS Haiti for

assisting with logistics and setup.

108 The Banyan | Service Learning

While the relay was underway,

the disease. Other themed laps included

Six hours later, the ten student teams

activities like limbo, musical chairs,

a dancing lap, leapfrog lap, and conga

had raised $12,000, earning ODA

and carnival-style games created by

line lap. As the evening progressed,

the top company spot in Manatee

each team provided entertainment for

glowing luminaria bags purchased to

County’s Relay for Life event for the

attendees. ODA Upper School teacher

honor those who have lost their battle

year, yielding 15% of the county’s

and survivor Mrs. Shelley Stone spoke

with cancer lined the track. Ashley

total raised to date. The four student

about her battle with cancer and shared

DeBartolo ‘18 shared comments about

organizers are thankful for passionate

the impact that research funded by

her connection to cancer before the

teams who went above and beyond with

events like Relay for Life has had on

group took a somber memorial

their fundraising and for the belief and

her life. Everyone in attendance joined

lap together.

support they received from the school’s

her for an inspiring survivor lap to

administration which enabled them to

honor all those who continue to fight

put this successful event together.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

109

A Message from the Chief Advancement Officer Dear Friends, We have had a great year! Thanks to your amazing philanthropic support, our students are experiencing world-class learning opportunities in our state-of-the-art facilities.

Annual Giving, which encompasses funds raised from the Annual Fund and the Banyan Ball, supports the day-to-day operations of the school and includes gifts from parents, grandparents, alumni, friends, and community partners who have made philanthropic support of our great school a priority in their giving. This support includes funding for field trips, academic competitions, health and wellness initiatives, technology upgrades, curriculum and supplies, support of the arts and athletics, financial aid for students, and makes possible the student-experiences that elevate Out-of-Door above peer institutions. By providing a wellrounded experience, we are preparing our students for life beyond the classroom.

This year we also saw a significant increase in giving to Capital projects. Capital giving provides funding to build and enhance our campus facilities. On the Siesta Key Campus, we began the school year with a dual ribbon cutting of the expanded Marine Science Center and celebrated the installation of solar panels thanks to a generous lead gift and supporting gifts from anonymous donors. The Marine Science Center more than doubled in space and features, three touch tanks that mimic environments found in Florida: the coral reef, grass flats, and mangroves. The renovations included significant technology upgrades which have opened up a world of exploration for our youngest learners.

As part of our sustainability initiative, the addition of more than 600 solar panels has provided students opportunities to learn about the productivity and efficiency of harvesting power from the sun and affords students the opportunity to monitor production from specific panels and buildings on campus. In February, we also cut the ribbon on the new Dart STEM Lab for grades 3 - 5 thanks to the generosity of the The Dart Family and The Dart Foundation. This new space has transformed STEM learning opportunities, invigorated collaboration, and bolstered the excitement of both students and faculty.

On the Uihlein Campus, the new athletic fields were unveiled and put to immediate use. This project was made possible by approximately 20 ODA families who made a financial commitment in the best interest of student-athletes. These new fields allow additional space for teams to practice, allowing student-athletes to get home earlier to study, eat, and get proper sleep to prepare them for success in the classroom.

These significant investments have transformed the student-experience and wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of those who made giving to The Out-of-Door Academy a philanthropic priority. On behalf of all those who have benefitted from your gifts to our amazing school, thank you!

Gratefully,

Amy Towery, CFRE Chief Advancement Officer Atowery@oda.edu 110 The Banyan | Philanthropic Support

Philanthropic Support ANNUAL FUND LEADERSHIP SOCIETY Founder’s Circle ($25,000+)

Alan Jay Automotive Management The Brunckhorst Family Mr. & Mrs. Larry Fox John & Teena Humphrey Ms. Ashley D. Kozel Tom & Alison Murphy

Chairman’s Club ($20,000-$24,999) Brent Hamill

ODA Benefactors ($10,000-$14,999) Anonymous (1) Mr. Douglas Bradbury First Watch Restaurants, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. James Goff The Patterson Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Pendery Mr. & Mrs. Jon Soderberg Mr. & Mrs. John P. Studdiford

Headmaster’s Council ($5,000-$9,999) Anonymous (1) Arthur S. Karp Family Foundation Mr. Pablo Baffico & Mrs. Geraldine Balharry Bill & Mary Ann Becker Beneficial Communities Courtney & Tony Bonacuse Cool Today The Cowles Charitable Trust Rob & Jacqueline Crisci Ariane & Bob Dart Rod & Kerri Dowdell Jennifer & Christopher Feeney Gelbman Family Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Ales Graf Bill & Christine Isaac The Kints Family Donna & David Koffman Mary Jo & Bob Naylor Cyndi & Don Paxton The Savidge Family Savidge Family Foundation Sforzo Dillingham Stewart Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Drs. Peer & Maureen Soderberg Sun Garden Café & The Munroe Family Stephen & Susan Wahl Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.

ODA Leaders ($2,500 to $4,999) The Abrams Family Anonymous (1) Fran & Jamie Becker Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Benjamin The Bizick Family Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Carlton The Cochran Family The Colditz Family Janice & Jim Eakle Chris & Tally Harris Kenneth D. Henson M.D. & Mitzie P. Henson Hirtle Callaghan & Co. Christopher & Kassandra Hugill Mr. Tarun Jaiswal Mr. & Mrs. John Kittle Dr. & Mrs. William Lahners Mr. & Mrs. David V. Mahler Mr. Jeffrey Nuckols & Mrs. Lisa Barnaby-Nuckols Don & Cyndi Paxton Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Rayman Fred & Sonia Romano Dr. Christopher Sforzo & Ms. Terri Vitale Ann Marie Davis & J.B. Shaw III Scott & Julie Smith Chris & Martina Timol

Robert A. Uihlein Foundation & James Uihlein Family Ms. Karen V. Vale Mr. & Mrs. James K. Vickery, Jr. Stephen & Liz Watson David & Stacy White White Family Foundation Fund Mr. Zhongyang Zhang & Mrs. Judy Cui

PATRON SOCIETY 1924 Club ($1,924 - $2,499)

Mr. & Mrs. Russell Allen Anonymous (1) Mr. & Mrs. Barry Berkowitz Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Dennehy Mr. Kevin M. Gallagher Maria & Allen Heise Rabbi & Mrs. Geoffrey M. Huntting Mr. & Mrs. Trudo Letschert II James P. & Mary S. McArdle Charitable Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation Tracee Murphy & Lattner Family Foundation, Inc. Dr. & Mrs. Rohit Pankhaniya Mr. Curt Ramage The Rittenhouse Family The Shuel Family Jeffrey & Utahna Smith Elsa & Peter Soderberg

Circle of Patrons ($1,000 to $1,923) Mr. Dennis Jones & Mrs. Alvarado-Jones Animal Health Center Anonymous (6) Baker Orthodontics Mr. & Mrs. Mike Beasley Beneva Flowers and Plantscapes Jeff Bomberger Buffalo Wild Wings Dr. George & Nancy Castro

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Chepak Joseph & Sandy Clarke Mr. & Mrs. Seth Claude Denise & Louis Colosimo Greenhouse Fabrics Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Crean Mr. & Mrs. Mark Crews Toni & Jeff Cusumano Dr. Silas E. McAninch, DDS Mr. & Mrs. Brian Ellerson Forest Lakes Animal Clinic Freeman Orthodontics Dr. Federico Frias & Ms. Claudia Imbert Stan & Halie Fulton Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Giacinti Dr. Kenneth Giraldo & Dr. Cynthia Collawn Elizabeth & Joseph Giuliani Mr. & Mrs. Bijan Gorji Katie & Peter Hayes Mr. & Mrs. John Hermansen The Khazanchi Family Mr. Thomas Klett & Ms. Dawn Werle Lissa Murphy & Jim LaClair Mr. & Mrs. Scott Leisher The Loretan Family Ms. Julie S. Luhrsen Mr. & Mrs. John Maben Mr. Joseph Marinucci & Ms. Eleni Larcombe-Marinucci Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Meyers Matt & Tina Miller Dr. & Mrs. Joshua Newman Robert & Patricia Parker Mr. & Mrs. Leigh J. Pope Premier Sotheby’s International Realty / Jenn Flanders Publix Super Markets Charities Fabian & Katiuska Ramos Mr. & Mrs. James R. Riley Mr. & Mrs. Dana R. Robes Dee & Chuck Romito Schindel Orthodontics Ken & Marina Sommers The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

111

Mr. & Mrs. Blase Sparma Mrs. & Mr. Hillary Steele Ms. Lisa Steele ‘63 Steinwachs Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Sussman Dr. & Mrs. Larry R. Thompson Mr. Qinsong Kong & Mrs. Junyan Wang Mr. Hao Wang & Mrs. Hua Xia Mr. & Mrs. James Whatmore Dr. Frederick Yturralde & Dr. Jennifer Goodman

Blue & White Associates ($500 to $999) Katherine Abernathy The Amdur Family Anonymous (6) Drs. Michael & Emily Arsenault Mr. & Mrs. Morgan R. Bentley Mr. & Mrs. Chris Bernsen Mr. & Mrs. Philip Biegelsen Mr. & Ms. Roger Bright Mr. Darryl Calkins Mr. & Mrs. Andy Cappar Philip Carey & Jamie Day-Carey Taber & Celeste Chadwick Mr. Christopher Chesley & Ms. Kierstin Newcombe Drs. Louis & Rebecca Cohen Ms. Kippie Crouch Mr. & Ms. Thomas A. Dozier Ms. L’Tanya Evans Lesley & Michael France Ms. Sheryl Gofman Mr. & Mrs. Craig Goldstein Gertrude M. Hajduk Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hall Dr. & Mrs. Douglas Hansen Drs. Amir & Mietra Harandi Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Harding Hayes Family Foundation Ms. Joyce D. Heneman Schnobrich Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Hill Mr. and Mrs. Brock Horner Knox Family Foundation & Karen & Cass Anderson Dr. & Mrs. Eric Larson Mr. Andrew Lemieux Liz & Sam Logan Lee Epting & Ciro Marfella 112 The Banyan | Philanthropic Support

Mr. & Mrs. Sean McAloon Mark & Susan McCann Mr. & Mrs. Kevin McElyea Terri Medina Mr. & Mrs. David E. Meyer Melissa & Hakim Morsli Mr. & Mrs. Robert Naylor, III Peter & Melanie Nelson Dr. & Mrs. Morgan O’Donoghue Anna & Gregory Pacitti Ms. Nicole Penland Mr. & Mrs. Robert Riedy Mr. Michael Salmon Mr. James M. Schaeffer The Sciame Family Dr. & Mrs. Adam Seldis Ms. Rosemary Shofe Scott & Ronni Silverman Mr. & Mrs. Gerard K. Stone Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Van Hoesen Cary Veith & Brooke Diesel-Veith Mike & Cindy vonWaldner Dr. Scott Wenk & Mrs. Hope McCampbell-Wenk Tracy & Robert Wyatt Mr. Scott Young & Mrs. Cindy Bruce Young

Out-of-Door Supporters ($250 to $499) Mr. Craig Aberle Sam & Eiman Altajar Anonymous (5) Stephanie & Michael Appleby Ms. Monica Baldwin Mr. & Mrs. Ken Banks Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Banks The Barnette Family Mr. & Mrs. Miguel Angel Barrales Mr. John Barrett & Dr. Joanne Barrett The Beck Family Mr. & Mrs. Kirt Betz David & Cathryn Black Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Bogumil Mr. & Mrs. Peter M. Borden Mr. & Mrs. Tim Brewer Mr. & Mrs. Jaime Carrión Mr. & Mrs. Mark Chait Dr. Jane Clayton

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Cobert Ms. Lee-Ann Corry Mr. William Crump & Ms. Elizabeth Gringeri Mr. & Mrs. Paul Csogi Mr. & Mrs. James Currier Mr. & Mrs. Patrick DiPinto Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Dooley Mr. & Ms. Stephen Duffy Mr. Joe Fioriglio & Ms. Rosie Walker Mr. & Mrs. Christian M. Fischer Ms. Deborah Frye Mr. & Mrs. Bill Gale Mr. & Mrs. Michael Garasic Camela & Robert Giraud Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Golart Dr. & Mrs. Gregory Hanes Mr. & Mrs. W. Gibson Harris II Mrs. Kathie Hayes Mr. & Mrs. L. Michael Hersom Mr. Charles Hornback & Dr. Cynthia Hornback Ms. Jill Jaiswal Ms. Yadira Kirschner Drs. Daniel & Jamie Kirschner Mr. Robert Lifsey & Ms. Hai Xia Guo Ms. Melinda Lloyd Ms. Jill Lonstein-Meistrich Martin & Shelli Maag David & Susan Macrae Dr. Farhan Majeed & Mrs. Umbreen Khalidi-Majeed Mr. & Mrs. Richard Munroe Mr. & Mrs. Sean Murphy Drs. Mario Oliva & Amie Austin-Oliva Mr. & Mrs. James P. Olson Ms. Sharon F. Petrik ‘00 Doug & Shari Phillips Mr. & Mrs. Michael Prete Mr. & Mrs. Danny Robbins Mr. Marc Roberts Mr. & Mrs. Eric Robinson Beth & Bob Rulof Kimberly & Jeffrey Saltz Dr. & Mrs. Robert Sambursky Mr. & Mrs. Barron Schimberg Macrae Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Michael Shaklik Ms. Svetlana Shulman

Mr. & Mrs. Lane Smith Mrs. Michelle Snell B.J. Steinback Mr. & Mrs. Max Strang Mr. & Mrs. Dave Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Earle Timothy Richard & Lisa Trueblood Ms. Kimberly Walsh Ms. Melissa Wandall Michael & Tiffany Yates Drs. Richard & Phyllis Yonker

Friends of Out-of-Door (up to $249) Ms. Denise Aberle Ms. Stephanie Abrams Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Angelastro Ms. Marya A. Annicelli Anonymous (19) Ms. Jennifer Arsenault Mr. & Mrs. Greg Auen Sandy & Steve Ayers ‘60 Mr. & Mrs. Micheal Babich Ms. Nigora Baeva Sean Ball Greg Band Mr. & Mrs. Sekou C. Bangoura Mrs. Amy Barker Tyler Barlow ‘18 Mr. & Mrs. Steven Barron Ms. Theresa Beeman Mr. & Mrs. Gene Benson Blair & Michael Berrigan Mr. & Mrs. James Bertrand Jason & Katherine Bitsoff Mr. Robert G. Black Dr. & Mrs. Glen Bleau Mr. Steven Brelsford Timothy K. Brock Mr. & Mrs. Harold Brown Mr. & Mrs. Kevin R. Bruning Mr. & Mrs. Mickey Bryan Ms. Gabriella Bucci Mrs. Shelley Burke & Mr. Al Nemoff Jenna Carver PA Wendy & Larry Chamberlin Mr. & Mrs. Randal S. Cheney Mr. & Mrs. David Chessler Mr. Nick Choueiri & Mrs. Samira Fayad-Choueiri Tony & Katherine Clements

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Cogan Ms. Amalia D. Colosimo David & Molly Conger Dr. Douglas & Mrs. Karen Constant Mr. & Dr. Steve Conviser Ms. Michele Corley Mrs. Sydney Buffum Crampton ‘69 Ms. Carol Crossman Ms. Daniele Daddario Clay & Leigh Dalton ‘99 Mr. & Mrs. James Davenport Ms. Victoria Davis Mr. & Mrs. Jim Delgado Mr. Matthew DePalma Ms. Karen Dickerson Yom & Dornelas Dinh Mrs. Callie Donnelly The Douglas Family Mr. & Mrs. Thomas L. Dowdy Charles & Elizabeth Doyle Judy & Ron Dunn Mrs. Tammy Ekes Mr. Stephen Ekes Ms. Melissa Wendel & Mr. Robert Eschenfelder Ms. Nicole Fafalios Ms. Carol K. Falck Mr. & Mrs. Rashid Faqqouseh Mr. & Mrs. Steven Fenker Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence J. Fineberg Mr. Chester Flake Mr. Tristan Flis Mr. & Mrs. Curt Fougere Mr. Lee Foullon & Ms. Zaneta McGaha Samantha Fox ‘26 Zachary Fox ‘23 Ms. Amanda Gabrici Mr. and Mrs. Jaime Garcia Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Garrett Mr. & Mrs. Dane Gass Mr. Julio Mejicanos & Mrs. Angela Giorgianni-Mejicanos Susan & Robert Goldstein Mr. & Mrs. James Gosnell David & Fern Grace Ms. Anya Grady Mr. & Mrs. Edward Graves Glenn and Deborah Greenwood

Mr. & Mrs. Adam Gulacsy Melanie Haddock Susan Hanes Ms. Lois Harrison John Hartnett Mr. & Mrs. David Hawkes Anne G. Head Mr. & Mrs. Steve Hemphill Mrs. Sarah Higham Christopher Hill Ms. Brittany Hiller Ms. Denise Hoff Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Horr Ms. Joanna Johnson Dominic & Elizabeth Jones Mr. & Mrs. John Kane-Hartnett Sarah Karp ‘15 Taylor Karp ‘14 Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kelly Mr. & Mrs. Gicorey Keys Mr. Thomas Krug & Ms. Sherri Vitale Glenn & Carole Kuklewski Dr. David Millie & Dr. Laura Kunberger Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Kunberger Dawn & Oliver Kyte Mr. & Mrs. Frank LaCivita Shelley & Charles Lafoe Mr. Paul LeBras Mr. & Mrs. George Leicht Ms. Virgene Linse Miss Alexandra Lonsdale Ms. Lori Loughridge Mr. & Mrs. Roberto Lozano Mr. & Mrs. David Lozier Mr. Brian Gomien & Ms. Alyssa Mandel Mr. & Mrs. Keith Mann Ms. Kathleen Marques Ms. Renee Martone-Cecil Mr. Daniel Mason Mr. & Mrs. David V. Mason ‘59 Mr. & Mrs. Marc Mayoral Mr. James McCreary & Dr. Lucinda Fingado Mr. & Mrs. David McDonald Ms. Kim Metrokotsas Mr. & Mrs. Philip Meyer Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Miller Ms. Alex Miller Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Miller

Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Mullen Mr. Jose Munoz Dr. & Mrs. Swaroop Muppavarapu Mr. & Mrs. Greg Murphy Mr. Nicholas L. Murphy ‘17 Ms. Beth Myers Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Neumann Mr. Michael Newhams P.M. Nicholson Mr. Tim Orlosky Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Palmeri Ms. Kathryn Pankow Ms. Lisa Peirce Kimberly Pernia Mr. & Mrs. Merrill L. Peterson Shannon Rohrer-Phillips & Neil Phillips Mr. & Mrs. William J. Pitts Deborah Poff Chris Poole ‘16 Zach Poole ‘17 Mrs. Kimberly G. Poslock ‘08 Ms. Amanda Racioppi Marko Radisic Mr. & Mrs. George W. Rauch IV Audrey B. Robbins Fund Mr. & Mrs. Julien Robins Avis & Ronald Romm Mr. Eric Rose & Dr. Kelly Rose Alexis & Bruce Rosenberg Daniela Rozanes & Pablo Fernandez Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Runge Mr. & Mrs. Aaron D. Rutsky Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Santella Ms. Stephanie Sassetti George & Carolyn Schlotthauer Maria Shaw ‘23 Mr. Jake Siciliano ‘11 Norman and Phyllis Siskel Ms. Beth Smithey Mr. & Mrs. Marc J. Soss Ms. Eshy Souder Mr. & Mrs. William D. Speaker Mr. George Spector & Dr. Naushin Spector Judi & Patrick Steele Mr. & Mrs. Edward Stiles Ms. Theresa Stivali Jim & Javonna Strafuss Tammy Strot

Mr. & Mrs. John Stump Ms. Sandra Sutter Jackie Svilokos Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Swain Mr. Mark Szalbirak Ms. Kathina Tayag Mr. Matthew Testa & Mrs. Isabelle Pinard Don & Barbara Thomas Russell & Amy Towery Sandra & Robert True Mr. & Mrs. David Tyson Mr. & Mrs. Dylan Ulrich Ms. Jessica Urbans Mr. David Valdini Vicki Vale Dr. Linda Vasilaki & Mr. Yuri Vasilaki Mr. Connor Ventling Mr. Paul von Saman Mr. & Mrs. Jack Walsh Mrs. Katie Walters Miss Madisyn Wandall ‘22 Ms. Lisa Waters Mr. William T. Watrous Scott & Maureen Watson Mr. & Mrs. Ethan Weiss Mrs. & Mr. Caylyn Wells Mr. & Mrs. Jon Whittemore Allison & Tom Whitten Mr. & Mrs. James Wilcox Mr. & Mrs. Roger Williams Thomas & Dorothy Williams Ms. Caroline C. Williams Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Wilson Mr. Nick Wozniak Dr. Marc Young & Mrs. Kiyomi Contee-Young Mr. & Mrs. Scott M. Young Mr. & Mrs. Michael Young Ms. Shumin Yu Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Yull Ms. Cheryl Zaccone Ms. Laura Zink Dr. Ellen Zitani

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

113

TRUE BLUE SOCIETY

10+ Consecutive Years of Giving to the Annual Fund Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Pendery (28) Mr. & Mrs. C. R. Savidge (28) Mr. & Mrs. Gerard K. Stone (27) Mr. & Mrs. Michael Young (27) Mr. & Mrs. Sean Murphy (26) Mr. & Mrs. William J. Pitts (24) Dr. Linda Vasilaki & Mr. Yuri Vasilaki (23) Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Logan (22) Mike & Cindy vonWaldner (21) Mr. Sean Ball (19) Mr. & Mrs. Tim Brewer (19) Mr. & Mrs. Randal S. Cheney (19) Mr. & Ms. Thomas A. Dozier (19) Mr. & Mrs. Adam Gulacsy (19) Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Horr (19) Ms. Joanna Johnson (19) Mr. & Mrs. John Kittle (19) Mr. Paul LeBras (19) Ms. Virgene Linse (19)

114 The Banyan | Philanthropic Support

Mr. Michael Newhams (19) Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth D. Henson (18) Ms. Deborah Frye (17) Mr. & Mrs. Roger Williams (17) Ms. L’Tanya Evans (16) Chris & Tally Harris (16) Mr. & Mrs. William D. Speaker (16) Mr. & Mrs. Thomas L. Dowdy (15) Gelbman Family Foundation (15) Mrs. Angela Giorgianni-Mejicanos & Mr. Julio Mejicanos (15) Mr. & Mrs. David V. Mahler (15) Mr. & Mrs. Patrick C. Steele (15) James P. and Mary S. McArdle Charitable Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation (15) Mr. & Mrs. Andy Cappar (14) Ms. Nicole Fafalios (14) Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence J. Fineberg (14) Mr. Andrew Lemieux (14) Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Miller (14)

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Runge (14) Ms. Rosemary Shofe (14) The Bizick Family (13) Mr. & Mrs. Mark Chait (13) Ms. Yadira Kirschner (13) Julie Luhrsen (13) Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Mullen (13) Mr. & Mrs. James K. Vickery, Jr. (13) Mr. Craig Aberle (12) Ms. Denise Aberle (12) Mrs. Celeste Dockery-Chadwick & Mr. Taber Chadwick (12) Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Dooley (12) Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Giacinti (12) Mr. & Mrs. Robert Goldstein (12) Mr. & Mrs. David Hawkes (12) Don & Cyndi Paxton (12) Ms. Lisa Peirce (12) Dr. Christopher Sforzo & Ms. Terri Vitale (12) Mr. & Mrs. Stephen V. Ayers (11) Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Barnette (11) Mr. John Barrett & Dr. Joanne Barrett (11) Mr. Douglas Bradbury (11)

Mr. & Mrs. Larry L. Chamberlin (11) John & Teena Humphrey (11) Mr. & Mrs. Charles Lafoe (11) Mr. Eric Massey & Mrs. Sarah Lancaster Massey (11) Ms. Tracee Murphy & the Lattner Family Foundation (11) Ms. Lisa Steele ‘63 (11) Mr. & Mrs. Michael Beasley (10) Camela & Robert Giraud (10) Ms. Brittany Hiller (10) Mr. Brian Gomien & Ms. Alyssa Mandel (10) Trish Nicholson (10) Mr. & Mrs. Barron Schimberg (10) Ken & Marina Sommers (10) David & Stacey White (10) Drs. Richard & Phyllis Yonker (10)

BANYAN BALL

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Abernathy The Abrams Family Mr. & Mrs. Russell Allen Mr. & Mrs. Adam M. Amdur Mr. & Mrs. Paul Archacki Arthur S. Karp Family Foundation, Inc. ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design Dr. Matthew & Mrs. Brooke Baker Mr. Charlie Balliette ‘00 Mr. & Mrs. Ken Banks Mr. & Mrs. Fran Becker The Benevity Community Impact Fund Mr. & Mrs. Gene Benson Mr. & Mrs. Morgan R. Bentley Berkadia Commercial Marketing Mr. & Mrs. Don Bichard Ms. Eris L. Blaser Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Bliss BMO Harris Bank Mr. & Mrs. Tony Bonacuse Mr. & Mrs. Shaun Boros Mr. & Ms. Roger Bright The Brunckhorst Family Mr. Stephen Buckley & Ms. Maria Beck CAN Community Health Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Carlton Dr. & Mrs. George Castro Ms. Christina Chartrand City Wide Maintenance of Tampa Bay Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Cochran Mr. & Mrs. James Cornetet Mr. & Mrs. Robert Crisci Ms. Kippie Crouch CS&L CPAs Mr. & Mrs. Paul Csogi Ariane & Bob Dart Mr. & Mrs. Patrick DiPinto Rod & Kerri Dowdell Mr. Charles Doyle & Ms. Julie Mulhatten Ms. Melissa Wendel & Mr. Robert Eschenfelder Mr. & Mrs. Victor A. Falck Mr. & Mrs. Steven Fenker First Watch Restaurants, Inc.

FleischmanGarcia Architecture Planning - Interior Design The Flury Williams Group-Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Mr. Michael J. Furen Dr. Kenneth Giraldo & Dr. Cynthia Collawn Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Gould Mr. & Mrs. Ales Graf Gulf Coast Institute of Rejuvenation Gulf Gate Apartments, LLC Drs. Amir & Mietra Harandi Mr. & Mrs. Christopher H. Harris Ms. Lois Harrison Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth D. Henson Mr. & Mrs. Brock Horner Mr. Brian Hudson & Mrs. Tatiana Palnitska Hudson Insula Companies Intertape Polymer Group Bill & Christine Isaac Mr. & Mrs. Jeffery Kints Mr. & Mrs. John Kittle Donna & David Koffman Mr. & Mrs. Frank LaCivita LaFlore Probiotic Skincare Dr. & Mrs. William Lahners Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Lea Ms. Valerie Leatherwood Lee Wetherington Homes, LLC Little Town Smiles, PLLC Pediatric Dentistry Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Lynn Mr. & Mrs. John Maben Mr. & Mrs. David V. Mahler Mr. Joseph Marinucci & Ms. Eleni Larcombe-Marinucci Chris & Todd Martin Mr. & Mrs. Sean McAloon Mr. & Mrs. Kevin McElyea Mr. & Mrs. Dennis McGillicuddy Ms. Terri Medina Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Meyers Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Miller Dr. David Millie & Dr. Laura Kunberger Mr. & Mrs. Zack Moxcey Mr. & Mrs. Sean Murphy Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Murphy

Tom & Alison Murphy Mr. Charles Murray Mr. & Mrs. Brian P. Naese Mr. Jeffrey Nuckols & Mrs. Lisa Barnaby-Nuckols Mr. & Mrs. Shannon O’Callaghan Drs. Mario Oliva & Amie Austin-Oliva Drs. Sean & Andrea Paul Cyndi & Don Paxton Mary & Dave Peirce Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Pendery Mr. & Mrs. Doug Phillips Mr. Christopher Pinckney & Ms. Johanna Gustafsson Dr. & Mrs. Fabian A. Ramos Mr. & Mrs. George W. Rauch, IV Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Rayman Region Solar The Rittenhouse Family Mr. & Mrs. Joe Romano Mr. & Mrs. C. R. Savidge Mr. & Mrs. Joe Schanz Kat & Florian Schuetz Sforzo Dillingham Stewart Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Sherlock Title, LLC Mr. & Mrs. Scott D. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Steve Snyder Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth T. Sommers Mr. Richard Spilka & Mrs. Veronika Spilkova Mr. & Mrs. John P. Studdiford Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Sussman Mr. & Mrs. David G. Szabo Mr. Andrew Tanner Three Suns Ranch Mr. & Mrs. Roger Tichenor Mr. and Mrs. Rick Toenjes Russell & Amy Towery Mr. & Mrs. Jamie Uihlein Varone Orthodontics Dr. & Mrs. Cary A. Veith Mr. & Mrs. Mark Wheeler Mr. & Mrs. Elton White Ms. April White David & Stacy White Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. Dr. Frederick Yturralde & Dr. Jennifer Goodman

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PROJECTS

Arthur S. Karp Family Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Mike Beasley Fran & Jamie Becker Anonymous (3) The Cochran Family The Colditz Family Robert C. Dart Foundation & Ariane & Bob Dart Claire & Michael Dixon Jennifer & Christopher Feeney Mr. & Mrs. Larry Fox Mr. Kevin M. Gallagher Gelbman Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Giacinti Global Financial Private Capital, LLC Brent Hamill Bill & Christine Isaac The Kints Family Shelley & Charles Lafoe Beth & Dax LaGasse Mr. & Mrs. David V. Mahler Chris & Todd Martin Brian & Laurie Naese Mary Jo & Bob Naylor Cyndi & Don Paxton Mary & Dave Peirce Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Pendery Scott & Julie Smith Mr. & Mrs. John P. Studdiford Thunder Athletic Club (TAC) Dick & Lorraine Vitale Mike & Cindy vonWaldner Mr. & Mrs. Mark Wheeler David & Stacy White White Family Foundation

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

115

RESTRICTED GIVING ATHLETICS Ehrhart Family Foundation Beth & Dax LaGasse Park Dental Associates, LLC Sforzo Dillingham Stewart Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Jon & Elizabeth Soderberg

BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB The Abrams Family Mr. & Mrs. Russell Allen Mr. & Mrs. Adam M. Amdur Mr. & Mrs. Ken Banks Fran & Jamie Becker Jason & Katherine Bitsoff Mr. & Mrs. Peter M. Borden Mr. & Mrs. Shaun Boros Mr. & Mrs. Kevin R. Bruning Mr. & Mrs. Russell Chesley Elizabeth & Paul Chren Ms. Jennifer Ciesar David & Molly Conger Toni & Jeff Cusumano Clay & Leigh Dalton Mr. & Mrs. Daren Davenport Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Davis Mr. & Mrs. Patrick DiPinto Mr. & Mrs. Brian Ellerson Sonia & Alfonso Espinel Ellie & Victor Falck Jennifer & Christopher Feeney Mr. & Mrs. Craig Goldstein Drs. Amir & Mietra Harandi Mr. & Mrs. L. Michael Hersom Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Hill Drs. Kirk & Belinda Jobe Dominic & Elizabeth Jones Mr. & Mrs. James Kendry David Kohlman Mr. & Mrs. Adrianus Kruf Shelley & Charles Lafoe Mr. & Mrs. Trudo Letschert II Mr. Joseph Marinucci & Ms. Eleni Larcombe-Marinucci

116 The Banyan | Philanthropic Support

Drs. Nicholas Monsul & Eva Berkes Mr. Mark Montagna & Ms. Amy Dear Melissa & Hakim Morsli Tom & Alison Murphy Mr. & Mrs. Shannon O’Callaghan Drs. Mario Oliva & Amie Austin-Oliva Drs. Sean & Andrea Paul Dr. & Mrs. Jesus B. Perez MD Michael & Sara Prete Mr. & Mrs. George W. Rauch, IV Mr. & Mrs. James R. Riley Dee & Chuck Romito Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Rosenberg Mr. & Mrs. Daryl Schaal Macrae Family Foundation Mr. Richard Spilka & Mrs. Veronika Spilkova Mr. & Mrs. Roger Tichenor James & Christie Uihlein Ms. Karen V. Vale Mr. Alan Wildstein & Ms. Ashley Pearce Mr. James Woodman & Ms. Courtney McCollum Michael & Tiffany Yates Mr. Scott Young & Mrs. Cindy Bruce Young

MUSIC DONATIONS

CASSIS MEMORIAL FUND

Arts Alliance Christopher & Kassandra Hugill Parent Association Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch Thunder Athletic Club

Mr. & Mrs. Greg Cassis

LOWER SCHOOL DONATIONS Arts Alliance The Brunckhorst Family Hugh & Eliza Culverhouse Ariane & Bob Dart Robert C. Dart Foundation Kona Ice Sarasota Parent Association

MIDDLE SCHOOL DONATIONS Arts Alliance Parent Association Thunder Athletic Club

Joannie & Jeffrey Bloch The Oaks Club Presbyterian Women of Siesta Key Chapel

THUNDER FUN DAY Anonymous (4) Fran & Jamie Becker The Brunckhorst Family Breakthrough Results, LLC Carat’s Fine Jewelry & Watches Dr. Doug & Mrs. Karen Constant / Coastal Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Gulf Gate Apartments, LLC The Karp Family Foundation Ms. Ashley D. Kozel Mr. Joseph Marinucci & Ms. Eleni Larcombe-Marinucci Matt & Tina Miller Sarah Patterson Rosedale Realty, Inc. Schindel Orthodontics

UPPER SCHOOL DONATIONS

IN-KIND GIVING

A Lash Above The Abrams Family Altru Images Photography Animal Health Center Anna Maria Oyster Bar Arsenault Dermatology ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design Arts Alliance Baltimore Orioles Mr. & Mrs. Steven Barron Be Fit SRQ Beneva Flowers and Plantscapes Mr. & Mrs. Barry Berkowitz

Betsy Wild, We Craft Box Blonde Cow Photography Blu Interiors/Blue Homes Blue Rooster Bookstore 1 Sarasota Mr. & Mrs. Peter M. Borden Brio Tuscan Grille BSN Sports Drs. Amy & Richard Buck Buffalo Wild Wings C2 Bijoux California Surf and Skate Shop Calusa Brewing Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Carlton Cha Cha Coconuts Chinquapin, LLC Ms. Jennifer Ciesar Circus Arts Conservatory Columbia Restaurant Costco Wholesale-Sarasota Mall Warehouse CycleBar Sarasota UTC Dave & Buster’s Derek the Salon Dick’s Sporting Goods/ Golf Galaxy Rod & Kerri Dowdell Drunken Poet Cafe Mike & Kathy Dyer Earth Fare Eddie Ward’s Limousine Service El Toro Bravo element Elements Massage Studios Ellie & Victor Falck Feld Entertainment First Watch Restaurants, Inc. FLIK Florida Studio Theatre Four Pillars: Mind, Body, Spirit and Social Connections Mr. & Mrs. Larry Fox Fox Creek Pet Ranch Fresh Glam Lash Extensions & Academy Gold Coast Eagle Distributing Golf-Tec Gulf Coast Institute of Rejuvenation Gulf Gate Apartments, LLC Hello Little Owl, LLC

Hyatt Residence Club INTERSPORT James Griffith Salon Jenny Waring Photography Jim LaClair’s Dog-Friendly Dog Training Kennedy Space Center The Khazanchi Family Mr. & Mrs. John Kittle Ms. Ashley D. Kozel LaFlore Probiotic Skincare Shelley & Charles Lafoe Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club Lands’ End Larson Natural Health Center Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Latta Laurel Oak Country Club Lobster Pot Restaurant Ms. Melinda Loefgren Lotus Boutique Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Lynn MacAllisters Grill & Tavern Jennifer Macleod Macy’s Madelaine Gray Fine Art Photography Madfish Grill Mail-it Manatee Performing Arts Center

Marcia Carlson Pack and Wild Eye Florida Mr. Joseph Marinucci & Ms. Eleni Larcombe-Marinucci Massage Envy Miami Marlins Dr. David Millie & Dr. Laura Kunberger Morton’s Gourmet Market Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Mountain Creek Resort Nations Photo Lab Newk’s Eatery Newlins Mainely Gourmet Nothing Bundt Cakes O’ Donoghue Dermatology Pacific Rim Painting with a Twist PB n’T (Pizza, Burgers n’ Tacos) Pinchers/Phelan Family Brands Point Lumineux Positive Solutions For Success PRP Wine International Quality Tree Service Rodizio Grill, The Brazilian Steakhouse Roohi Photography Saks Fifth Avenue

Sarasota Bay Explorers Sarasota Film Society Sarasota Opera House Sarasota Orchestra Sarasota Youth Sailing Schindel Orthodontics Scout & Molly’s Boutique Seasons 52 Fresh Grill SeaWorld Orlando Serbin Print Marketing & Publishing Ann Marie Davis & J.B. Shaw III The Shuel Family Sir Speedy Printing Sophie’s at Saks Fifth Avenue South Florida Museum Spa Next Door St. Elmo’s Steakhouse Station 400 Stealth Mobile Laser Tag Sun Garden Café Suncoast Defensive Driving School Tampa Bay Lightning Taryn Laughlin Coaching, LLC Terrier Volleyball Camp at Wofford College TES and Associates (Tailored Event Services) TESLA

The Capital Grille The Concession The Cottage The Galleon Resort and Marina The Hub Baja Grill The Modern Girl Party & Co. The Out-of-Door Academy The Ringling The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota The Sarasota Ballet The Sarasota Polo Club Thunder Athletic Club (TAC) Chris & Martina Timol Tito’s Vodka Russell & Amy Towery TPC Prestancia TreeUmph! Adventure Course Tropical Beach Resorts Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Vertical Ventures Walt Disney World Mr. & Mrs. Kevin T. Wells Mr. & Mrs. Jon Whittemore Woof Gang Bakery Xplor, Inc. *as of 06/30/18

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

117

New Thunder Athletic Complex Supports Growing Athletic Program The new Thunder Athletic Complex

athletic program. Every enhancement

Soccer, lacrosse and football will all

was unveiled in November 2017 with

we make at Out-of-Door is approached

use the fields during their respective

a ceremonial ribbon cutting and first

with students’ best interest in mind,”

seasons, leaving baseball with a field

goal before boys and girls soccer teams

Mr. Mahler explained. “Time is our

all their own. The new facility is a great

descended onto the fields for their

most valuable commodity. Eliminating

new feature of the Uihlein Campus.

inaugural practice on the new facility.

off-site rentals and bus travel will

“The opening of the new Thunder

By adding this practice space, each

enable us to complete practices in the

Athletic Fields is exciting for all of our

team now has a dedicated area. This

security of our campus in the afternoon.

student-athletes and our interscholastic

strategic enhancement allows students

Making sure that our student-athletes

athletics programming,” said ODA

to practice at an earlier time slot,

arrive home at a decent hour so they

Athletic Director Kippie Crouch. Thank

rather than staggering practices that

can enjoy dinner with their family and

you to all the donors who made this

sometimes ran late into the evening.

complete their academic work at a

wonderful addition possible.

“This new athletic complex is a great

reasonable hour was a huge priority for

and necessary addition for our growing

us.”

118 The Banyan | Philanthropic Support

Construction Begins on The Fox Field House This summer, the School broke ground

for the football, cheerleading, soccer,

so that our student-athletes can return

for the Fox Field House, located

and lacrosse teams during inclement

home for dinner with their families

adjacent to the Tennis Center and Taylor weather conditions. The building will

and complete their school work at

Emmons Memorial Field. This new

also provide the option for indoor tennis a reasonable hour. Along with our

athletics building is being built with the

practice during days of extreme heat,

premier competition venues, Thunder

size and needs of the growing student

making it the only indoor tennis facility

Athletics will now have the best

body in mind, and has been designed

in our area.

practice facilities in the region.”

practice facilities for multiple sports.

“The Fox Field House will be an

The field house will seat 200 spectators

The Fox Field House will provide the

amazing addition to the Uihlein

on pull-out bleachers similar to the

space needed for more indoor practices

Campus,” said Head of School David

seating in the Petrik Thunderdome.

to run simultaneously so that our

Mahler. “It will dramatically improve

In addition to the practice space, a

student-athletes can return home earlier

our practice facilities for all of our

reception area will accommodate

in the evening.

indoor sports and its multi-purpose

special events. Additional phases of

design will also provide indoor options

development may include team rooms

The 12,300 square foot building will

for practice for our field sports during

with lockers and benches, a trainer’s

be home to ODA’s volleyball and

inclement weather. It will support our

room, and a fitness center.

basketball teams. It will have multi-

entire athletic program and enable us

purpose flooring, making it useful

to run practice schedules much earlier

to take pressure off of ODA’s existing

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

119

Out-of-Door Parent Association The Out-of-Door Academy’s Parent Association’s mission is to “Support, Promote, and Strengthen our school community.” Our Board of 11 members works tirelessly to achieve our mission and I like to think we have a lot of fun along the way!

Last year, we had tremendous support and success with our Fall Signature Event, Thunder Fun Day. This school-wide event encourages families and the community alike to enjoy quality time together while raising important funds for our school. We also hosted both a Holiday and Spring Parent Association Luncheon. Both events were well attended and we appreciate the continued support from our parents in achieving our goals.

As the results of our efforts, I am incredibly proud to announce we raised more than $35,000 and all of the money goes back to directly benefit our school community. Some of the projects include playground enhancements, Virtual Reality headsets, 3-D printers, Heart Rate Monitors for Physical Education, funding for an Upper School Oyster Reef Project, and a significant contribution to enhance the ODA Core Value Curriculum.

It goes without saying that we couldn’t do it without the support of the parents within our school family. We appreciate your efforts and participation, and look forward to achieving continued success.

Sincerely, Jamie Becker Parent Association, President

120 The Banyan | Philanthropic Support

2018-2019 Board Members President Jamie Becker Treasurer Debra Beck Secretary Tina Miller Lower School Vice Presidents Amie Austin-Oliva Katie Rauch Lucretia Tuffile Middle School Vice Presidents Julie Crews Kim Lugannani Courtney Van Hoesen Upper School Vice Presidents Laura Naese Lalita Samuel

The Arts Alliance The Arts Alliance exists to advocate for the Arts on the Siesta Key and Uihlein Campuses. Special thanks to the members who made support of our student-artists a priority during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Become an Arts Alliance member today at www.oda.edu/artsalliance

2017-2018 Members Masterpiece Members: The Cowles Charitable Trust The Lozier Family The Paxton Family The Shaw Family The Stephen Watson Family

OUT-OF-DOOR ART S

ALLIA NC E

Bravo Members: The Dowdell Family The Pankhaniya Family

Ovation Members: The Castro Family The Colditz Family The Christina Hansen Family The Mahler Family The Ramos Family The Wahl Family The Wandall Family Applause Members: The Constant Family The Towery Family The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

121

Thunder Athletic Club Thank you for your generous support of the Thunder Athletic Club (TAC) this past school year. The Thunder Athletic Club was established to encourage athletic excellence, promote awareness of our athletic programs, build community, and provide funding that will enhance the athletic experience at The Out-of-Door Academy. All of this is made possible by the many generous supporters who purchased a TAC Annual Membership, sponsored and/or played in the Thunder Golf Tournament in October of last year, and those who purchased items from the Thor Store and our concessions stands.

Thank you to those of you who showed your support of our student-athletes in various ways during the 2017-2018 school year. We are grateful for: • The 118 families who purchased TAC memberships, garnering them free entrance to athletic sporting events and great ODA swag to show their team spirit • The record number of golfers who played in the Thunder Golf Tournament • Our Thunder Fans who made our online fan gear store one of the top selling online stores for fan merchandise in the country With your support of these initiatives, we were able to provide the Athletic Department with over $40,000 in gifts that will enhance the athletic experience of our student-athletes! Thank you for making that possible!

Please join the Thunder Athletic Club in 2018-2019 and help make our ODA athletic programs second to none. On behalf of the TAC and all our student-athletes, thank you for your support.

Sincerely, Nancy Castro President, Thunder Athletic Club Learn how to become involved with TAC, visit oda.edu/tac or contact Nancy Castro at gncastro@me.com or 941-704-0156.

122 The Banyan | Philanthropic Support

2017 Golf Tournament Sponsors 4Imprint Fran & Jamie Becker Beneva Place BSN Sports The Crisci Family Curt Ramage Family & The Southern Region Cary Veith & Brooke Diesel-Veith Esplanade Golf and Country Club The Fenker Family First Watch FLIK Gettel Automotive Golf Galaxy Homes by Towne John & Teena Humphrey Leisher Family Manatee Oral and Facial Surgery Center Marygrove Roll Screens The Melting Pot of Sarasota ODA Football Paradise Dental Rodizio Grill The Brazilian Steakhouse Rod Miller and The Academy for Maximum Performance Training Sun Protection of Florida

2017-2018 Thunder Athletic Club Members Platinum The Carlton Family The Cochran Family The Dowdell Family The Feeney Family The Fox Family The Brent Hamill Family The Kristan Hamill Family The Humphrey Family The Lahners Family The Munroe Family The Ramage Family Stephen & Elizabeth Watson Silver The Becker Family The Berkowitz Family The Bizick Family The Bogumil Family The Carrion Family The Castro Family The Crean Family The Crews Family Ryan & Amy Crosby James & Christine Davenport The Dyer Family The Fenker Family The Flanders Family The Fulton Family The Harris Family The Ives Family

The Kolbe Family Dax & Beth LaGasse The Lutton Family The Mahler Family The McCann Family The Meyers Family The Ramos Family The Robbins Family The Robinson Family The Shaw Family The Wahl Family David & Stacey White Blue Marya Annicelli The Banks Family The Barron Family The Beasley Family Jeffrey Berndt The Bertrand Family The Bonacuse Family Harold & Julie Brown The Burwood Family The Choueiri Family The Colditz Family Debbie Condrack The Cone Family The Crisci Family Kippie Crouch The Csogi Family The DePalma Family

Karen Dickerson The Dinh Family The Douglas Family The Dove Family The Dowdy Family The Fedder Family The Fincher Family Joseph Fioriglio The Frias-Imbert Family The Garrett Family The Giacinti Family The Gosnell Family The Graves Family Charles & Shannon Greenblott The Hansen Family The Hemphill Family Chris Hill The Kapreilian Family The Karp Family The Khazanchi Family The Koffman Family The Lafoe Family Don & Diane LaGasse The Lamb Family The Leisher Family The Lewellen Family The Lozano Family The Maasdorp Family The Macleod Family The Macniven Family The Marfello/Epting Family

The Marino Family Renee Martone The McElyea Family Alex Miller The Mille Family The Morsli Family The Munroe Family The Naese Family The Newman Family The O’Donoghue Family The Opstal Family The Paxton Family The Perry Family Doug & Shari Phillips The Polivchak Family The Romagnola Family The Romano Family Josh & Katie Rosen The Rutsky Family Robert & Laura Sambursky The Scanlan Family The Schanz Family The Schimberg Family The Shaklik Family Daria Spina The Strafuss Family The Tobin Family The Towery Family The Wilander Family The Wilmoth/Brown Family

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

123

Banyan Ball: A Glamorous Evening in Vintage Vegas Glitz and glamour filled The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, as more than 300 attendees enjoyed a night in Vintage Vegas at The Out-ofDoor Academy’s annual Banyan Ball. Guests were greeted by showgirls, Banyan Ball Chairs, and an elegant champagne tower while enjoying the vocal stylings of Vegas favorites Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Sinatra. During the VIP reception, guests socialized and enjoyed games of chance before entering the ballroom for a decadent dinner service. Several items were auctioned off and a paddle raise demonstrated our community’s commitment to the students and programs that make ODA an exceptional institution for students in grades Pre-K - 12.

ODA extends a special thank you to Banyan Ball Chairs Courtney and Tony Bonacuse & Stacy and David White for their vision and bringing this fun and festive theme to life. We thank the Brunckhorst and Dart families for their generous sponsorship of this event.

BANYAN BALL 2019 SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 9

124 The Banyan | Philanthropic Support

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

125

Alumni Laura Murphy Embraces New Alumni Relations Role Mrs. Laura Murphy has played a fundamental role at The Out-of-Door Academy for 29 years. She is a fixture on the Siesta Key campus, introducing all new families to our OUTstanding educational model in their early years. While her work as Director of Admissions has primarily involved the younger students, an additional role will now allow her to connect with our alumni base as she adds Director of Alumni Relations to her title. who even worked at Summer Camp

12. “I am forever grateful that I was

As part of a small group of faculty

driving busloads of campers to

able to give 14 years of Out-of-Door to

members who have attended every

activities. Mrs. Murphy has been

my son,” she reflects. “Of course he was

Upper School Commencement since

a part of the fabric of the Thunder

prepared academically, that is almost a

1999, Mrs. Murphy has met every

community since before our Upper

given. It is the intangibles that Out-of-

graduate who came through ODA’s

School existed. She became Head of

Door gave him that are hard to measure.

Lower School. This makes her a

Lower School in 1997 and transitioned

They have helped him to become a

perfect fit to celebrate their successes

to Admissions work eight years later.

creative, articulate self-advocate, fully

and keep in touch with alumni as they

“While I have done a lot of jobs during

equipped to create his own path.”

head to college and beyond. “I am so

my tenure at Out-of-Door, they all

excited to have the chance to reignite

involve connecting with the people in

As a member of the ODA leadership

old relationships, and reinvigorate this

the community, and that is truly what I

team and a parent of an alumnus, Mrs.

important Out-of-Door constituent,” she enjoy,” Mrs. Murphy said.

Murphy’s roots at ODA run deep.

shared. Her work will include working

While her work with Admissions will

with alumni on how they can continue

One of her greatest joys was seeing her

continue, she is excited to hear from all

their connection with Out-of-Door in

son Nicholas thrive at Out-of-Door as a

alumni from both campuses. Connect

various ways, such as mentoring current lifer who attended from Pre-K to grade

with her at lmurphy@oda.edu.

students, reconnecting with other alumni at reunions, and attending ODA events throughout the year.

Beginning as a Lower School teacher

126 The Banyan | Alumni

“One of my greatest pleasures is keeping up with all of the young people I have known throughout my twenty-nine years at Out-of-Door.”

Mrs. Laura Murphy

Alumni Reconnect with Out-of-Door Alumni Share Insight With Senior Class

Thank you to the following alumni

premier of her short film, “Susanne and

A panel of twelve alumni visited

who came back to speak to our senior

the Man,” in the 2018 Sarasota Film

campus in January to share insights

class: M’Balia Bangoura ‘16, Amber

Festival. Ms. Gonzalez has appeared

about their college experience with the

Bond ‘17, Duncan Cappar ‘17, Lexi

in “Castle,” “Criminal Minds,”

Class of 2018. Seniors asked questions

DeBartolo ‘17, Clarence Dodge ‘17,

“The Mindy Project,” and several

about adjusting socially at a larger

Aidan Dowdy ‘16, Todd Humphrey ‘16, other shows.

school, how difficult the coursework

Garrett Luhman ‘17, Evan Murphy ‘16,

is, and the ins and outs of dorm life.

Nick Murphy ‘17, and Kiarra

Jessica Bloch ‘11 Performs for Her

The panelists shared stories about

Womack ‘17.

Alma Mater Alumna Jessica Bloch ‘11 visited The

roommates, classes, and balancing social life with school work, but they

Chelsea Gonzalez ‘07 Discusses

Out-of-Door Academy to perform

spent most of their time offering advice.

her Journey to Becoming an Actor

at both the Siesta Key and Uihlein

and Screenwriter

Campuses. Trained in classical opera

When discussing the challenges of

Alumna Chelsea Gonzalez ‘07 visited

and accompanied on piano by Mrs.

living with strangers, alumni advised

ODA’s Uihlein Campus to talk to

Avis Romm, Ms. Bloch gave moving

our seniors to “be open, be clean,

students about her experiences in New

performances that inspired the students,

and don’t avoid conflict.” They gave

York and Los Angeles as an actor,

faculty and parents in attendance. “I

pointers on how to start things off right

writer, and producer. After graduating

remember working with Miss Jessica

by being a good roommate.

from Syracuse University and living

when she was preparing for Arts’ Day

in New York City for three years,

and Graduation in 2011,” said Dr. Linda

In terms of academics, they suggested

she headed west to Los Angeles. Ms.

Vasilaki, Lower School music teacher.

setting realistic goals and monitoring

Gonzalez spoke candidly about the

“She was a strong singer then, and now,

grades. “Talk to your professors,” they

challenges she encountered as she

six years later she has developed an

encouraged, “they will help you.”

began her acting career, and how she

even richer, clearer operatic voice.”

The alumni panel eased the minds of

persevered when she didn’t initially

cautious members of the Class of 2018,

succeed. After speaking at Ovation,

Ms. Bloch is an established vocalist

providing useful tips and resources that

she visited several classes to talk with

who has sang for the Montifeltro

will set them up for success navigating

students and answer their questions. Her Festival in Italy and played major roles

college life.

story is one of determination leading to

including Zerlina with the Vienna

great success as she was in town for the

Music festival in Austria.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

127

Leigh Dalton ‘99 Reflects on being the first “Lifer” to Graduate from Out-of-Door

By Leigh Dalton I entered Pre-Kindergarten at ODA

well. We took class trips together every

When it comes to educating my

in 1985 and graduated with the first

year including white water rafting and

children, ODA is the only option for our

graduating Upper School class in 1999.

camping, and an Outward Bound trip

children. I know that the educational

Through the Lower and Middle School

through the Everglades. The trips were

experience our boys will have at

grades, I had many amazing teachers

fun, hard work, stretched our comfort

ODA is incomparable to anything else

including Carol Carney, Mike Young,

zones, and taught us what it really

in the area. Having been a student

Kathy Dozier, and Pam Davis. During

meant to work cooperatively.

there myself, and having worked as a substitute teacher at ODA, I know most

8th grade, word began to circulate that the school was considering adding a

In May of 1999, ODA graduated its

of the teachers well. I trust them, and I

high school for grades 9-12.

first class of 12 seniors. I was the first

know that they are not only exceptional

student at ODA who had attended

educators, but also caring and warm

We had a small class enrolled in 9th

ODA from Pre-K through high school

individuals. To have my boys taught by

grade. Our class would be the first for

graduation—the first ODA “Lifer.”

some of the teachers who taught me is

each grade level, and each enrolling

ODA alumni tend to spread far and

a meaningful experience that can only

class after us would help to grow the

wide, but thanks to social media, I can

happen at ODA.

program. We broke ground at the

stay in contact with many of my former

Lakewood Ranch campus in 1995

classmates. I love seeing what everyone

during my freshman year, but attended

has achieved, the places they travel and

classes in the Presbyterian church on

their beautiful families.

Siesta Key until the middle of 10th grade while construction was taking place. The school leaders looked to our class for input—we were asked about the school mascot, colors, dress code, and more. Allowing us to have a say in the development of the school gave us a sense of ownership throughout the process. We moved into the Lakewood Ranch campus in the spring of 1996, and although the gym floor wasn’t quite finished, we were excited to be in our new high school.

Many of the students in our class came up through the Lower and Middle School together, so we knew each other 128 The Banyan | Alumni

A Message from Lee “Dede” Corbino Attended Out-of-Door School 1958-60 than first grade with only three girls in the class, I, with Kittie Paul and Hera Konstantinou. The class schedule was the same as first grade and I continued riding with Mr. Packard as my father was adamant that all women should ride. I had began lessons at five in Rockport, the fee paid for by a horse head sign that my father painted in exchange for the lessons that hung at the entrance of the stable until it closed in the 1990s. My father was My family wintered in Sarasota from

siren that was the signal to get under

internationally known for his horses and

Rockport, MA in 1956 because my

your desk to protect yourself from a

circus paintings.

youngest brother Michael was going

Russian nuclear attack and later filing

to be born and my mother Marcia

into the auditorium for a head count.

After my education at Out-of-Door, I attended public schools in Sarasota,

(1927-2015) was afraid she wouldn’t make it to the Gloucester, MA hospital

In contrast, Out-of-Door School was a

graduated from Graham-Eckes Schools

in a January snow storm to give birth.

paradise in an unspoilt, tropical Eden.

in Palm Beach and received my BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY in

My father, artist Jon Corbino, N.A. (1905-64) agreed as his Greenwich

The school rooms were 1930s beach

1974. From 1976-1981, I lived in Valle

Village, NYC, artist friends Jerry and

cottages located a few yards from the

de Angeles, Honduras designing and

Helen Farnsworth and Hilton Leech

Gulf of Mexico. Mrs. Stromberg was

teaching at CAAVA; the national arts

had winter art schools in Sarasota. My

my teacher and the class consisted of

and crafts school with the US Peace

father had such a good time enjoying

nine students. Our school days included

Corps and another two years designing,

his passions; the beach, the circus,

(besides school work) a morning swim,

manufacturing, and exporting arts and

fishing, sailing, and socializing with his

a 10 am fresh orange juice break, lunch,

crafts under my EXDIDEA label. Later,

new friends MacKinlay Kantor, Ben

and a nap while Mrs. Strongberg read

I was in mortgage banking in Boston

Stahl, John MacDonald, Joseph Hayes

us stories followed by another swim.

and Sarasota.

and others that we returned to Sarasota

Also, I rode the horses three times a

every winter.

week with Mr. Packard. Every day,

Presently, I sell fine art online and am

my father would be waiting for me at

preparing the Jon Corbino, N.A.

I first attended Out-of-Door School in

the see-saws with my younger brother

(1905-1964) archives and catalogue

the winter of 1958 when I was six. First

Chris (1956-2016) to pick me up when

raisonne for the Archives of American

grade in Rockport, MA during the Cold

the school day was over.

Art at the Smithsonian.

War had been a terrifying experience— the only memory of that school I have

Mrs. Louise Millard was my second

was the daily screaming of the Air Raid

grade teacher. This class was smaller The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

129

Alumni Class Notes SIESTA KEY ALUMNI

Jeanie Steele Stevenson (1952-1961) and her husband Bayne have been married for fifty-three years and currently live

Robert G. Black (1939-41) was

in Boca Grande. Bayne also attended ODS with his three

recently the inaugural inductee

brothers, Lee, David and Johnnie. Jeanie and Bayne have

into the Florida Southern College’s

three children and six grandchildren. They enjoy visiting

Department of Communications

Sarasota often and would love to reconnect with other

Hall of Fame. Bob (FSC ’51) served

ODS students.

in the army during the Korean War, eventually writing for the Stars and Stripes newspaper.

Sydney “Buffy” Crampton (1965-1969) lives on Manasota

After his service, he continued to work for respected news

Key in Englewood, FL, running the family year-round

organizations, such as The New York Herald Tribune, the

resort, emphasizing nature, conservation, beach, education,

Associated Press, and Popular Science. Moving into public

and family-fun vacations on the old-fashioned American

relations, Bob founded his own company, Bob Black &

Plan. Sydney also enjoys visiting her daughter Elizabeth

Company, Inc. almost 50 years ago, with clients such as

Crampton Jenkins ’05, son-in-law Sam Jenkins, and

Trans World Airlines (TWA), Tag-Hauser, and New York

grandson Tommy in Swarthmore, PA.

Life. His passion, though, lies with boating. Over the years he has been a contributing writer and editor for many

Jessika (Stein) Arman (1970-1980)

publications, such as Sailing News, Power & Motor Yacht

grew up on Siesta Key in the 1970s

and Motorboats Monthly. Bob also had his own nationally

and 80s and attended ODS. She has

syndicated column, “Boating with Bob Black,” and had

been a licensed Florida real estate

the privilege of being a news correspondent covering the

broker since 1998 in the Sarasota

America’s Cup race. Now, back in Florida, Bob works

market. She was recently recognized

closely with Florida Southern College, teaching classes, and

by the Institute for Luxury Home Markets as a Million

serving as an advisor to the student newspaper.

Dollar Guild Member, a designation reserved for those displaying expertise in working in the million plus luxury

David Tyson (1939-1946) and his wife Henrietta moved from

market. She has been married to Alfredo Valdivia for 15

Mercersburg, PA, to nearby Chambersburg last summer.

years and the couple has one 11-year-old son who attended

David taught at Mercersburg Academy from 1958 to 1998.

summer camp this summer at ODA’s Siesta Key campus.

David is sad to report that they lost their son in a plane

In her free time she enjoys boating, and reading about the

crash a couple of years ago, but they are happy to have their

area’s pirating and Calusa Indian heritage.

daughter and her husband nearby. David says that although it was a long time ago, he still has fond memories of ODS and the sparsely populated Siesta Key. Joanne (Davis) Mason (1940s) ran the Patient-Employee Library at Sarasota Memorial Hospital for 12 years. Joanne recently began a new position in the Book Store at the Gulf Gate Library.

130 The Banyan | Alumni

Rob Coltman (1980-84) graduated from Riverview High

Devin Williams (1990-97) lives in Nashville, TN, where

School in 1989 and the University of Florida in 1994. He,

he hangs out of helicopters and rides speed boats, usually

his wife and two kids live in Jacksonville where he owns a

with a camera in his hands. He has been a professional

private Physical Therapy practice. He also participates in

photographer for more than a decade, after graduating from

Ironman triathlons (13 so far) and other endurance events

Cumberland College, where he played baseball and earned a

and is currently preparing for the Swim Around Key West,

business degree.

a 12.5 mile swim. He stays in touch with ODA friends Bill Hoefer, Jack Rich and Will Winkler. He is so grateful to

Fredrik Sandstrom (1992-1995) and

Coach Young and all of the teachers at ODA who impacted

Anneliese Kaplinski (1994-1997)

his life!

were happily married at the Field Club in Sarasota, on February 17,

Meg (Huene) Abbott (1984-1994) is

2018. The couple met at a 4th of July

a Middle School math and science

party in Sarasota. The newlyweds

teacher. Meg is staying at home to

honeymooned on a cruise by the coastline of Italy.

raise her two boys, Brennan (10) and Connor (6), with her husband, Eric.

Dr. Morgan Watkins Tiefenthal (1992-2002) became a partner at the Animal Health Center this year. The Animal Health

Brittany Gonzalez (1990-2000) lived

Center was started 27 years ago by her father and she

overseas for several years working in

continues the family tradition of providing quality care for

refugee protection and resettlement

Sarasota’s pets. Morgan also celebrated her first wedding

throughout Africa and the Middle

anniversary with her husband Chris.

East after graduation from Southern Methodist University. She moved

Jon Baker-McBridge (1993-99) and his wife, Dominique, live

back to Sarasota five years ago and has a daughter who

in Orlando, where they are raising their son (3) and daughter

will be attending ODA as a kindergartner this fall. She is

(1). He works as a Telehealth Manager at Orlando Health.

currently working on both fiction and nonfiction novels

Jon attended ODA from 4th to 10th grade.

about the Holocaust, genocide, and refugees, and is looking forward to having time to focus on those projects when her

Danielle Pitts (1994-1998) is in her 11th year working for the

daughter starts school full time.

Sarasota County School Board. She was a special education teacher for the first five years and has been a special

Jay Haren (1990-1993) is an entrepreneur whose company,

education liaison for the last six years. Danielle is currently

AdWave, helps companies with their online advertising and

working at Phillippi Shores Elementary in Sarasota. She has

marketing needs. He also recently acquired Suncoast Flag

a son named Colt who will be one this June. He was born

Football, a youth flag football league. Jay will be running in

with a neurological disorder but is the happiest baby ever!

the Super Hero 5K in November, a race benefiting veterans,

He loves everyone he meets, and he enjoys swimming and

and runs Sarasota Nerf Games, a free monthly event for kids.

riding horses with Mom.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

131

Ashley Atkins (1995-2000) started her event planning company Superior Concierge Services in August 2017. She moved from Miami to Tampa to be closer to her family and she purchased her first home.

Lauren McComb Chamberlain (1995-1998) opened the first Pure Barre Studios in the Tampa Bay Area in 2012. Currently she co-owns Pure Barre Tampa and Pure Barre St. Pete with her business partner, Elle McComb. She recently became an independent Promoter with Pruvit and is a Rank 7 Pro Champ. Lauren is a mom of two and loves her family!

Kevin Lavelle (1996-2000) Almost six years ago Kevin founded Mizzen+Main. Since that time, the company has grown to employ almost 60 people, and is sold online and in over 550 stores across the country. Kevin recently won the coveted EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award and was introduced as part of the Young Presidents Organization based on his work in starting Mizzen+Main. Kevin currently resides in Dallas, TX, with his wife, Jen, son, Jack (18 months), and dogs, Beau and Murph. Kevin and his family are anxiously awaiting baby number two due in December.

Molly (Klauber) Biter (2006-2009) recently relocated to Atlanta, GA with her twin 15 month old girls and her husband of four years. She stays at home with the girls while her husband Ethan flys for Delta. She also focuses on her consulting firm, Go To Girl, which she started in Sarasota back in 2010.

UIHLEIN CAMPUS ALUMNI Carrie (Collins) Smith ‘99 had her first child, Kieran Collins, on June 15th. The Collins family are all doing well!

Kaye Warr ‘99 lives in Los Angeles and loves working in the entertainment industry in TV Production. Because she works as a freelancer, she is able to travel to Sarasota often to visit her family, which will be especially useful in the fall when her first nephew will be born.

Jordan Letschert ‘00 became the youngest member to be appointed to the Florida Democratic Party Board in April 2018, after passing on a run for State Senate. He and his husband Robby have a two-year-old son Kellan, and recently built their new home. Jordan is a partner in Crunch Fitness with 16 locations open in Florida and Georgia. Jordan was also listed as a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in both Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Jenny Lytle ‘00 is a resident of Sarasota and is active in several networking groups including the Building Industry Alliance and Professional Women in Building. She has been working for Taylor Morrison, a national homebuilder for nearly 10 years beginning in Marketing, then moving to Sales and eventually becoming the Area Sales Manager. Jenny purchased her first home a couple years ago and shares it with her puppy, Gracie, a 6 month old goldendoodle. She continues to keep in touch with several ODA friends and enjoys running into teachers and parents of students in the community.

132 The Banyan | Alumni

Ashley Palmer ‘00 earned her PhD

Gianni Valenti ‘01 ventured out of the

in molecular nutrition from Cornell

family business and is now a financial

University in December 2016. She

advisor with Edward Jones. He joined

lives in Copenhagen, Denmark, with

the firm with the vision of helping

her husband Marcos. Ashley works

young professionals, retirees, and

as a medical writer for biotech and

business owners alike to reach their

pharmaceutical companies in the Nordics. In her spare time,

long-term financial goals. Gianni and his eight-year-old son

she enjoys running, speaking Portuguese, traveling, and

Rocco spend much time enjoying the outdoors and having

eating Danish pastries.

fun with family and friends.

Travis Garner ‘01 currently runs the

Betsy (Bowers) Wild ‘01 lives in Sarasota with her husband

sales department at Dealers United

and their two sons. She is the founder and head of We Craft

located in downtown Sarasota. Travis

Box, a monthly craft subscription box for kids ages 2-6.

helps franchise automotive dealers across the US, Canada, and UK cut

Randall Morris ‘02 led the design

costs, save time and sell more units

efforts across all Sports and Fantasy

with proprietary advancements in digital marketing. His

Sports properties at CBS Sports.

motivation spurs from his fetching wife Amy, five-year-old

Recently he joined The BHW

daughter Selkie, and four-year-old son Uhtred.

Group, a custom web and mobile app development company based in

Cristin (Lavelle) Goerke ‘01 lives in New York City with her

Austin, TX as Design Director and Partner.

husband and their three children. They welcomed a daughter this spring.

Steph Fuhr ‘03 currently works at the University of South Florida

Ricky Perrone ‘01 and his wife Blair

St. Petersburg as an Instructional

welcomed their daughter Anacapri

Designer and lives in beautiful

Skylar Perrone into the world on

downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

March 30, 2017. Ricky works in

She is also pursuing a second

the family business building luxury

Master’s Degree in Florida Studies at USFSP for fun. In her

custom waterfront homes in Sarasota.

spare time she and her fiancé Justin James are puppy raisers

Ricky’s work helped the company win two SRQ Home of

for Southeastern Guide Dogs, where Steph also volunteers

the Year Awards this year for projects they built on Lido Key

as an Area Coordinator. Their first puppy Conway recently

and Siesta Key.

went back into training where he will learn to be a Guide Dog for the visually impaired or a service dog for a veteran

Blair (Sprout) Rodriguez ‘01 has lived in the San Francisco

with PTSD.

Bay Area for three years. She is a Strategic Relationship Director with KForce recruiting and was recognized last year as the newest employee with the greatest new revenue.

She and her husband are expecting their first child in the fall of this year.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

133

Peter Dobosz ‘04 joined Pirate’s

Cortney (Keller) Bishop ‘05 joined

Dinner Adventure in Orlando, FL,

the Office of General Counsel at

as Technical Operations Manager

Moffitt Cancer Center in 2016, and

in April 2018. Peter oversees and

was recently promoted to Paralegal

manages all audio, lighting, rigging,

II. Prior to joining Moffitt, Cortney

and pyrotechnics for two venues in

worked for their outside general

the International Drive area of Orlando. He continues to

counsel, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP in Tampa, FL.

serve as a substitute organist for the Diocese of Orlando and

In addition to a promotion this year, Cortney married her

spends his free time with family and friends.

college sweetheart, Kevin Bishop, Esq., in a New Year’s Eve ceremony at Zota Beach Resort on Longboat Key with

Sam Rega ‘04 married Megan

fellow classmate and ODA alum, Erica Morse ‘05, by her

Cornell (1994-1999) on May 26,

side as a bridesmaid.

2018 in Port Jervis, New York. It was an amazing wedding with friends and

Paul Terminello ‘05 was recently promoted to Senior

family, but it would not have been

Manager of US IT at PwC in Tampa, Florida. He has

possible if they both hadn’t met in

been with the firm since 2014, and is responsible for the

1998 in 6th grade at ODA on the Siesta Key campus. They

implementation of various systems and projects.

kept in touch over the years, but they finally got the timing right when they lived in New York City. Their first dance

Katie Dobosz Kenney ‘06 works for

was K-Ci & JoJo’s “All My Life,” a tribute to the ODA

the Center for Global Affairs at

dances in Middle School where they definitely slow danced

NYU and holds a Master of Science

together. Megan is a chef and splits her time as a recipe

in Global Affairs from the same

developer for Food Network and Buzzfeed. Sam recently

program. She is an academic advisor

finished directing his third documentary, “Breaking the

and co-leads global programs, most

Bee,” which explores the trend of Indian-Americans winning

recently to South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Katie

the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

and her husband Tanner live in NYC. They met in graduate school and were married on August 26, 2017 in New

Kevin Sullivan ‘04 and his wife, Frannie, live in Austin, TX.

Canaan, CT; the ceremony was officiated by

Their daughter, Jane, was born in March. When not with his

Ms. L’Tanya Evans.

family, Kevin works as a landscape architectural designer with Studio DWG, specializing in three dimensional spatial

Hannah Bowers Parker ‘06 relocated

modeling. He earned his Masters in Landscape Architecture

back to the Sarasota area with her

from the University of Texas at Austin.

husband, Ryan. Hannah works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counselor Education at Florida Atlantic University. Hannah and Ryan welcomed their first son, Jackson Lee Parker, in April 2018.

134 The Banyan | Alumni

Chelsea Gonzalez ‘07 lives in Los

Stephen Berg ‘10 married Ashley

Angeles and works as an actor,

Taiz of Sarasota in April of 2018 at

writer, and producer. Her short film,

the Powell Crosley Estate. Stephen

“Susanne and the Man,” recently

is a Vice President and Regional

premiered at the 2018 Sarasota Film

Manager for LA Fitness, and Ashley

Festival, and she is currently working

is a Project Coordinator and Finance

on a feature length presentation. Chelsea has appeared in

Analyst for Crown Castle. The couple lives in Lakewood

“Castle,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Mindy Project,” and

Ranch.

many other shows.

Jessica Bloch ‘11 has trained in Lauren Ettinger ‘08 kicked off the

classical opera and is working

year by running a seminar in Addis

towards her Master of Music in Voice

Ababa, Ethiopia, sponsored by

Performance at UCONN. Jessica sang

the U.S. Department of State, for

for the Montifeltro Festival in Italy

alumni working on public health

and played major roles including

and communications on the African

Zerlina with the Vienna Music festival in Austria.

continent. This was a one-off seminar and she was requested specifically by the funder to organize and manage the event.

Amanda Arbeit ‘12 graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s

Since then, Lauren has transitioned to managing the Women

Degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from Tulane

in Science (WiSci) Girls Science, Technology, Engineering,

University in May 2016. In September 2016 she moved

Arts and Design, and Mathematics (STEAM) Camp. The

to Philadelphia to begin an 11 month accelerated nursing

camp brings 100 girls from Africa and the United States to

program at Drexel University. She graduated from Drexel

Namibia for a two-week intensive camp tackling women’s

in September 2017, passed her nursing boards in October

issues and focusing on the STEAM fields. Lauren works on

2017, and began working as an RN on a Thoracic Surgical

the camp in partnership with the U.S. Department of State,

Unit at Temple University Hospital in North Philadelphia

the United Nation Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign, Intel,

in December 2017. This upcoming fall she will return to

Google, and NASA.

school part time at Temple University to get her Doctorate of Nursing in Family Practice with hopes of one day opening

Kim (Goldberg) Poslock ‘08 lives in

up her own private practice.

Sarasota. She recently had a baby boy - Reid Francis Poslock, on

Brian Ragone ‘12 moved to Austin,

May 18, 2018.

TX, in April 2018, to continue evolving his reach within the tech

Alex Aberle ‘10 and Violette Levy ‘10

startup world. He aims to work with

recently purchased the historic Upsala Mansion in Mount

emerging tech companies involved in

Airy, Philadelphia, PA. The mansion is located on the site of

augmented reality, virtual reality, and

the Battle of Germantown, and served as the staging ground

big-data analytics.

for the Continental Army. Alex and Violette have agreed to preserve the mansion and open it up once a year for a

Ally Gentle ‘13 moved to Louisville, KY after graduating

Revolutionary War Reenactment.

from Auburn University. Ally now works for Amazon.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

135

Amelia Summersbee ‘13 graduated from Florida Southern

David Whelan ‘14 graduated from

College in December 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in

Rollins College with a Bachelors in

Elementary Education. She is now working towards her

International Business and a minor

Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at the University

in German. He now works as an

of Florida and will start her first teaching job in Manatee

Account Executive for Pockitapp and

County in August 2018.

is doing brand lifestyle consulting for US Trust.

Marcus Buffett ‘14 moved to Santa Monica after working at Apple as the

Jimmy Kuebler ‘15 is transitioning

lead developer for App Analytics. He

to his senior year at Florida State

joined an early stage startup as their

University’s Dedman School

fourth employee, where he will be

of Hospitality, as a Hospitality

working primarily on their iOS app.

Management Major, with a General Business Minor. Jimmy accepted

Zoe Genkin ‘14 recently completed

a part time internship job at the Hilton DoubleTree in

an internship at PACE Center for

Downtown Tallahassee.

Girls: Leon, an alternative school for at-risk middle and high school

Margaret McGaharan ‘15 is

girls. Following her internship,

attending Flagler College in Saint

Zoe graduated from Florida State

Augustine, FL and is a double

University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. In

major in economics and political

the fall of 2018, Zoe will return to Florida State in a one-

science. She has been re-elected

year advanced standing social work program to receive her

president of Flagler College’s pre-

Masters in Social Work.

law chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, International; an acclaimed international law fraternity which boasts members such as

Emma Holland ‘14 recently graduated

Bill Clinton. Margaret also has been hired on by The FCPA

with a BFA from Texas Christian

(Foreign Corruption Practice Act) Blog to write unbiased

University. The BFA program at TCU

articles highlighting how corruption happens, its impact on

is a highly competitive graphic design

people and institutions, and how anti-corruption laws and

program. Emma graduated with

compliance programs work. She will be graduating from

many awards and honors, including

Flagler College in spring 2019 and will be attending law

national and international awards such as the Gold Award

school immediately after.

in the Graphis New Talent Annual 2018 and a Silver ADDY Award. She was also the Boller Award winner at TCU that

Jordan Towsley ‘15 is entering her senior year at

recognizes the best senior honors project. Emma is looking

Smith College where she is majoring in Education and

forward to working at as an art director at The Richards

International Relations. She plans to stay at Smith after

Group, the largest independently owned advertising agency

graduation to pursue an advanced degree.

in the United States. While interning with The Richards Group, Emma worked on campaigns for Abercrombie and Fitch, Keybank, and Wolf Appliances, as well as on the Super Bowl commercials for Jeep and Ram Trucks.

136 The Banyan | Alumni

Madeline Naylor ‘16 has kept very busy since the end of her

Emily Dixon ‘17 attended Stetson

freshman year studying French and Russian at Sewanee:

University in 2017, and will be

The University of the South. Last summer (2017), she spent

transferring to The University of

six weeks studying abroad in St. Petersburg and Moscow to

South Florida in Tampa to study

intensively study and improve her Russian language skills,

elementary education in the fall of

and had a blast. Madeline hopes to return to Russia next

2018. Emily is looking forward to

summer (2019), but in the meantime, is preparing for her

attending USF and hopes that one day she will be back at the

upcoming fall semester of junior year, which will be spent

Siesta Key campus as a teacher.

studying French in Paris.

Carling Landeche ‘17 has started her Parke Phillips ‘16, a sophomore at Brown University, has

college career at Hobart and William

been named Second Team All-Ivy, in a vote by the league’s

Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY, this

eight head coaches. The catcher led the Bears with a .329

past fall. Since starting her first year,

batting average, including a .375 clip in Ivy League play.

she has become involved in not

Phillips put together an 18-game reached base streak during

only the college campus but in the

the season and posted a .482 slugging percentage in

surrounding community and has declared an International

league contests.

Relations major. Carling has become a student worker tour guide for the Office of Admissions, the student coordinator for a civic service youth group run by the City of Geneva, and a tutor at a local elementary school. In the fall, Carling plans to study abroad in Mendoza, Argentina, where she will take courses in politics, history, culture, and Spanish.

In Memory of Michael Colin Doyle (Class of 2001): Those of us who had the opportunity to grow up with Mike and attend ODA together all have fond and vivid memories of Mike Doyle. I am willing to bet that everyone, anywhere, who spent significant time around Mike at any point in their lives has at least one clear memory of him that is easily recalled on a moment’s notice in their mind’s eye. The ability of those who knew Mike to readily evoke an eventful memory of him, even after many years, is quite remarkable and admirable. Admittedly, Mike loved a good prank, and was a bit of a catalyst; his idiosyncratic behavior could occasionally make one’s brow furrow and head shake in confusion...if not disbelief. However, Mike was brilliant, endearingly unique, and honest. He saw the world in complex, yet poignant analogies. He truly possessed a surreal practicality and often provided unbelievably sage advice. He also displayed selfless acts of service and compassion never claimed. Some of these unbelievable sacrifices and contributions his family and closest friends are just learning about now! He benefited greatly from the world-class education he received at ODA, from the amazing faculty and staff, and as some of those faculty members know already, Mike loved a good debate, and was very good at debating! I can hear him now telling me to spin a famous story, make this eulogy funnier, or wrap it up. “Just cause we’re bereaved doesn’t make us saps!” Michael Colin Doyle...you are an original, one-of-a-kind, and you are VIVIDLY remembered!

The Out-of-Door Academy |

oda.edu

137

In 1924, The Out-of-Door Academy’s founders, Fanneal Harrison and Catherine Gavin, sought to establish a uniquely progressive school committed to high academic standards and nourishing the minds, bodies and spirits of children. More than 90 years later, Out-of-Door remains inspired by their vision.

By joining the Gavin & Harrison Legacy Society, you are honoring our school’s founders and helping sustain their vision for The Out-of-Door Academy today and in the future. The society is composed of donors who include The Out-of-Door Academy in their wills or other estate plans. Their gifts provide essential financial support for all aspects of the academy.

Common types of gifts that qualify for membership include: • Bequests • Charitable Gift Annuities • Gifts of retirement plan assets after your lifetime • Charitable Remainder Trusts

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY For more information, contact: Amy Towery, CFRE (941) 554-3405 | atowery@oda.edu

2018-2019 SCHOOL CALENDAR OF OPENINGS & CLOSINGS Wednesday, August 1

Varsity Athletics Begin

Friday, August 17

Conference Day, Grades PreK-5 New Student Orientation, Grades 6-12

Monday, August 20

Open House, Grades PreK-5 Conference Day, Grades 6-12

Tuesday, August 21

First Day of Classes, Grades PreK-12

Monday, September 3

Labor Day; No School

Monday, October 8

Columbus Day; No School

Thursday, October 25

Parent Conferences; No School

Monday, November 19

Thanksgiving Break Begins

Monday, November 26

Classes Resume

Monday, December 24

Holiday Break Begins

Monday, January 7

Faculty Professional Day; No School

Tuesday, January 8

Classes Resume

Monday, January 21

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; No School

Monday, February 11

Mid-Winter Break Begins

Monday, February 18

Classes Resume

Thursday, March 21

Parent Conferences; No School

Monday, April 15

Spring Break Begins

Monday, April 22

Classes Resume

Monday, May 27

Memorial Day; No School

Thursday, May 30

Last Day of Classes, Grades PreK-12

Friday, May 31

Lower School Graduation Middle School Graduation

Saturday, June 1

Commencement

444 Reid Street | Sarasota, FL 34242