Issuu

THE ROEPER SCHOOL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Keeping In Touch

SENIOR EDITION VOLUME 12: 4 SUMMER 2019

KIT

TABLE OF CONTENTS David Feldman Head of School david.feldman@roeper.org Denita Banks-Sims Director of Development denita.banks-sims@roeper.org Keeping in Touch Editorial Committee Katie Buchmann Editor Bonnie Schemm Art Director

Contributors Denita Banks-Sims Katie Buchmann Myles Carr ’19 David Feldman Griffin Glick ’19 Karen Johnson Sophia Karmanos ’19 Juliette Olejnik Tom Roeper ’61* Marcia Ruff

FEATURES OPENING REMARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 David Feldman, Head of School FOUNDERS’ FAMILY MESSAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Tom Roeper ’61* SENIOR CLASS FAREWELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Sophia Karmanos & Griffin Glick, Co-Presidents – Class of 2019 INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST ALUMNI . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE GRADUATES & THEIR PRESENTERS . . . . . . . . . . . .

SENIOR PROFILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katie Buchmann, Editor, and Myles Carr ’19

CLOSING REMARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Karen Johnson, Upper School Director SENIOR PROJECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AWARDS & HONORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 PASSIONS AND PURSUITS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

THE ROEPER SCHOOL 41190 Woodward Avenue Bloomfield Hills Michigan 48304 248/203.7300 www.roeper.org

A WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST ALUMNI . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Juliette Olejnik, Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund PARTING THOUGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Denita Banks-Sims, Director of Development

The Roeper School is an independent coeducational day school for gifted and talented students preschool through grade 12 and an equal-opportunity institution

EDUCATING AND INSPIRING GIFTED STUDENTS TO THINK AS INDIVIDUALS AND TO ENGAGE AS A COMMUNITY WITH COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER AND THIS WORLD

COVER ART Cameron Huneke, Class of 2019

PHOTOGRAPHS Commencement photos by Mark Adrian Wright

KIT

David Feldman Head of School

ROEPER COMMENCEMENT 2019 When I meet with prospective Roeper families for the very first time, I share with them that we will be visiting classrooms during their tour. I share that nothing they see in their tour has been staged, and I ask them to pay particular attention to the relationships that exist between teachers and students and between students with each other. That is what I ask of you today. It is the power of these relationships that will become clear to you as you witness today’s unique graduation ceremony. The connection is not a simple friendship in the common understanding of the term relationship — it is deeper; it is professional; it is profound; it is one of a mentor, a guide, an advocate, an advisor, and a sage. The connection is one of mutual respect, understanding for the complexities of human development, and frequently extends well beyond today’s celebration into academic, professional, and the later stages of life’s journey. Originally, our Co-Founder George Roeper would stand here and tell a story about each graduate. Fifty years later, that practice has evolved into one where graduates select an adult in our community to speak on their behalf — testament to the deep and powerful bond that we form over a student’s journey through our school. It is this total investment in the academic, social, emotional, and ethical development of our students that makes us so successful and so connected to celebrations like today. Whether you have been at Roeper for two years or you are a “lifer,” you know that our faculty provides the inspiring energy and deep dedication that makes for meaningful personal development and an incredibly rich academic program. As George Roeper told us, in this school “students find teachers who respect them as individuals, where they are able to make mistakes and learn from them, and where they search for the unknown and the unseen.” To my colleagues — thank you for your deep dedication, and your love of teaching and learning. Family members, you are your child’s first teachers. You were there for their first steps, their first words, and their first day of school. A milestone like today is only possible because of the care and nurture you provide. Today, as we celebrate their graduation I want to say thank you to you for giving us the

opportunity to be a part of your family’s life, and your child’s journey. Class of 2019, today, as the American educator and philosopher John Dewey wrote, you find yourself arriving at the completion of one goal, only to realize that you are at the starting point of the next. Such is the cycle of learning, and why it was so critical for Annemarie Roeper to describe our School’s philosophy as one not of school but rather of life. In the coming days you will begin the task of readying yourself for your next starting point. You will be packing your boxes and bags as you prepare for the life of postsecondary education. As you pack your suitcase I want to make sure that you include your Roeper Utility Kit to ensure that you have the tools necessary for your unknown future: [Opens suitcase and begins to systematically place items one at a time into case] Herbal Tea — We talk in our philosophy about how we help students to find their voices; to help you learn to be an advocate for yourself; to demonstrate agency as you make choices. The herbal tea is a balm to sooth your active voice, a reminder not to strain or misuse this critical tool. Your voice is growing in strength and power; it should be used with thoughtfulness, care, and intentionality. Q-tips: With a powerful voice and a knowledge base that provides you with a great deal to say, we can often forget about the power of listening. Some of our strongest debate skills, our ability to persuade, and our propensity for problem-solving come from quiet observation and active listening. Our ears must be clear and open to different perspectives and points of view if we are to understand one another. A Mirror — I’d recommend placement by a window. Who are you? What is your identity? How do you see the world? We travel through life trying to understand the identity markers that define who we think we

Our faculty provides the inspiring energy and deep dedication that makes for meaningful personal development and an incredibly rich academic program.

are, and at the same time we seek to understand how the world sees us and how we see each other. Your work in diversity, inclusion, equity, and cultural competencies does not end with a Roeper diploma. We live in a multicultural world that requires us to keep looking in the mirror seeking to understand our identity, and to keep looking outside our window at the broader world.

Change is a constant in our lives, and we should embrace it joyfully as part of the human condition.

A Change of Clothes — Annemarie reminded us that change is a constant in our lives, and we should embrace it joyfully as part of the human condition. She said, Our school tries to develop a person who will be able to cope with the modern world, enjoy as many facets of it as possible and contribute to it actively, constructively and creatively. This requires a person who is emotionally secure, aware of his own abilities and his place in a large, complicated and ever-changing world, a person who reacts in a flexible, broadminded and intelligent manner to the whole complexity of modern life, and who is able to communicate his thoughts and feelings.” The Amazing Spiderman — George would have said to include a book by Voltaire, but I think you will hold onto the message if you equate the meaning with the use of your Roeper Spidey Senses. George wrote, There is another value which we cherish. It is the freedom of choice and decision-making in a democratic community like our school. Many people who come to our school like and even admire the freedom at our school, the lack of regimentation, the minimum of stiff formality. This kind of freedom makes much greater demands on discipline. Freedom requires responsibility for decision-making. Where there is freedom, there is responsibility. To act with responsibility in a free environment is much more challenging and demanding than in an environment where the thinking is done for you and where the responsibility for action does not rest with you. And so remember — “With great power comes great responsibility.”

A Collection of Writings on Moral Philosophy and Justice — including Rawls, Aristotle, and Kant. Justice is a complex concept, and as some of you discussed with me in our political philosophy class, understanding what the right thing to do can be nuanced depending on whether you see justice as a focus on the general welfare, centered on freedom and liberty, or embedded in ideas of religion and morality. It is my hope, as you would expect, that when you find yourself in a moral dilemma that you hold on to Kant’s notion of justice — that you act without motive or pretext, and that you will, as Kant wrote, “Do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do.” Laundry Detergent and Ramen Noodles — Because you can’t keep sending your dirty clothes home for your parents to do for you, and there is only so much pizza you can eat on a student’s budget. Karen Roeper’s Bell — A tool to remind you of the power of mindfulness, a tool to clear your head of the day’s stress, to meditate, breathe, and reward yourself with calm after good day’s work. A Clock — Yes, to wake you up in time for class, but also to remind you that giftedness takes no break — it is 24/7. You were gifted when you arrived at Roeper, you have been gifted all your days at Roeper, and you will be gifted as an alum and as an adult. You have a complex way of approaching the world; you do so with intensity, and there is a precocity in your advanced level of thinking. Annemarie reminded us that, Giftedness is a blessing a child is born with and is not the product of any effort the child could be credited with. If a child is blessed with giftedness, it is also bound to an obligation to make use of it to nurture and develop it for the benefit of himself and of society. A Compass to Provide Direction — Because a self-actualized person enjoys the journey, not just the destination. As Annemarie wrote,

You are living in an interdependent world; therefore, you could and should be using your gift for others. But that is up to you. The more self-actualized you are, the more you can cope with the world because you don’t necessarily accept its judgment. You may have difficulties, or find yourself in opposition to others, but that doesn’t define you or destroy you. A Remote with a Pause Button — No, not for a difficult roommate, but rather to provide you with the time to stop, think, and wonder. George wrote: Humanism is a philosophy which believes in Man’s capacity to improve human relations; to have life regulated by justice instead of power. It is human to ponder, to question everything as to its truth and validity and to judge matters with honesty and an open mind. It is the beauty of democracy which makes use of that which is human: to raise issues, to discuss, to argue, to debate. I hope you leave this school with a mission. Beware of the enemies of humanism. Try to defend this school and its philosophy as a fortress of humanism. Do not only defend it, but fight for it.

A Roeper Yearbook — To remind you that you are, and always will be, a part of a community that loves you. That, as Mariann Hoag reminded us, I want you to take care of yourself, take care of each other, and to take care of this place for the next generation of Roeperians. There — [closes and locks suitcase] — finally your bag is packed. Remember to eat your vegetables, do your laundry, make time to sleep, call your parents, and please stay in touch with me, with each other, and the School. I am so proud of each of you. I want to hear about all of your adventures and new journeys. Congratulations, Class of 2019! F

Take care of yourself; take care of each other; and take care of this place for the next generation of Roeperians.

KIT

Tom Roeper ’61* Founders’ Eldest

FOUNDERS’ FAMILY MESSAGE

Our usual language is to speak of qualities and quirks and talents, but really, there is a very particular unique person who, if brought into focus, already has a style, insights, and is moving toward implicit goals — expressing the DNA of who they will be.

It is wonderful to be back in the Roeper community. To see the bright eyes of each graduate, ready to envision your own lives. My father loved to gaze at each child and let their spirit mingle with his. His appreciative glance seemed to say, “What can we do together, and what must we do together? Let’s talk.” Emily Jones, head of the Putney School, which had its roots in part in the friendship between Carmalita Hinton and my grandmother Gertrud Bondy, said recently, “A teacher must have a different lens for every student” before they come into focus. Our usual language is to speak of qualities and quirks and talents, but really, there is a very particular unique person who, if brought into focus, already has a style, insights, and is moving toward implicit goals — expressing the DNA of who they will be. An art history teacher once told me that every painting, like a still snapshot, is moving: look at it until you can see where it is going. This is a glorious day for each of you — a time to savor your accomplishments as individuals, but also as members of a special community with a philosophy you will carry with you and continue to reinterpret — as I do. I have said often that I believe that a profoundly important vision of human nature underlies the Roeper Philosophy — and it has been a major goal of my life to grasp, within the field of cognitive science, what the implicit concept of human nature within the Roeper Philosophy actually is. It should be seen as the foundation of cognitive science, but that is not yet the case.

A fundamental goal of mine — perhaps ours — is to bring the values and morality of the Humanities to the Sciences. First we must acknowledge that the Sciences, which cannot respect the reality of the mind, are very shallow. Virtually all of the offerings in both the hard sciences and the social sciences are founded on reductionism. The claim is that we can reduce the mind to the body. They seek to explain you to yourself by claiming that genetics or neurology will explain everything. An extension is the sociological claim that background, or immediate environment, or culture, explain who you are and what you will do. They all deny the central ingredient in human nature, the foundation of our integrity, what brings each person into focus: the reality of Free Will. You exercise it in milliseconds — as each of you unconsciously, right now, chooses 17 focal spots every second in a pattern unique to you and your personality. This perspective leads a different vision of biology: it is the mind that will explain the body. Neurology will remain over-simplified until we see that its purpose is to carry out Free Will. One key is to model creativity, as we do in my field of linguistics, but it must also be done for every mental domain. In fact, at MIT, two neurologists have stated that they can explain every neurological element of how you move a finger except one: the voluntary aspect — what enables you to decide to do it, your Free Will. It is real but not part of any science — and is often denied in the Humanities as well. Be wary of any academic discipline that reduces human beings to less than what they are.

But I’d like to ask a different question today: how should you bring the Roeper Philosophy to the academic world so that it can be more responsible to a future challenged by authoritarianism and climate change?

brushed the FBI off. The school protected many gay teachers and students, though public discussion could have hurt the school badly.

How does the Roeper Philosophy meet this challenge? It is a question I only have half answers for. But I firmly believe that the vision of individuality within community at the heart of The Roeper School ultimately carries the answer. You all, or rather we, need to craft answers.

The Bloomfield police called my father in the ’60s about a science teacher and asked him, “If the teacher was teaching political science,” which he was not. He had belonged to a Socialist club 20 years before at Yale, but not since. My father just said “no,” but perhaps he should have done more — asked why they felt they had a right to ask. What part of the government encouraged local police to harass citizens about “socialism”?

My parents were never frontline activists. They always supported every progressive cause, but never favored loud demonstrations and lists of demands. Their community-oriented and personal vision of democracy was very successful at the slow conversion of people to humane ideas. Max Bondy and Gertrud Bondy believed that it was rooted in relationships — it is not primarily by voting but by expressing our feelings that democracy in schools emerges.

My great uncle Curt Bondy was one of the Jewish professors fired in 1933 from Göttingen University (with six others). The academic world did nothing to help him or the 20% of faculty in German universities fired by fiat. He had resisted the Nazis and spoke for rehabilitation of prisioners instead of retribution. Brown-shirt Nazis in the back of the room could have beat him up. I think he was brave because he was popular and he knew other students in the room would not let it happen.

Let me tell you a few stories from our family of humanity and courage — and how it can become political. In many ways our current society under Trump resembles Germany in 1933. At the Schule Marienau, the Bondys had difficult children of several high-ranking Nazis. My grandmother was the only one who could handle them. Nothing Hitler said could make their parents withdraw their children. Her responses to the children were varied. One shy 14-year-old boy whose father, a Nazi and a bully, insisted he join the Hitler Youth. The boy did not want to. My grandmother said, “I think you have to join, but remember that what the Nazis are saying about Jews and gypsies is a lie.” She had the wisdom to know it was too much to ask him to overcome his father.

Later he founded a school for Jewish kids and was then taken to Buchenwald. The U.S. State Department, not academic colleges, negotiated with the Nazis, and he was released. And he also ran a prison for young offenders in the late 1920s. I remember he said that he told every new young adult when they first came in not only that they had a serious problem, but that, “I could have done what you did.” He asserted their fundamental equality.

To be harsh, academics, my colleagues, are almost always unable to discern the difference between wisdom and cowardice. If one can point to the downside of any proposal for action, the result is no action — but no action, which may seem wise, is really a form of cowardice in times of challenge.

In the ’50s my mother was called by an FBI agent who inquired about a Middle School math teacher. She knew just what he was after when he asked about the teacher’s “relationships” — the teacher was gay and lived with her girlfriend. My mother

He visited the school here several times. My uncle, Heinz Bondy, in 1956 when the Hungarian rebellion started, took 10 Hungarian refugees into Windsor Mountain School, which was a boarding school. They just made it work — found 10 more beds. My father ran a newsletter for progressive schools in Germany between 1933-1939, which was seen by the Nazis as an anti-Nazi organ, and he was put on the list to be shot on sight, which a friend

How should you bring the Roeper Philosophy to the academic world so that it can be more responsible to a future challenged by authoritarianism and climate change?

This school has, over and over, brought people together of vastly different views, and their allegiance to the school and my parents in particular, created the atmosphere and culture that moved people.

in the Nazi SS told him. He did not go to his own thesis defense and fled the country. His tiny effort at organization among institutions was perceived as threatening.

militia allies — just like white supremacists trying to repress people in this country with implicit support from Donald Trump. This is how the repression starts — with aggressive phone calls.

The situation is instructive: institutional response built upon networks of human relationships are intimidating to authoritarian power. Can we stretch the Roeper Philosophy to create a community of institutions?

Miguel Oliviera courageously introduced a special session on linguistics and resistance at ABRALIN — and the crowd broke into cheers of “Lula Livre,” asking for the former president, currently in jail, to be released. Some objected to politics intruding on linguistics. I think he is right, and he has asked me to teach a course on linguistics and politics with reference to the UNESCO year of Indigenous languages — highlighting the plight of 150 Amazonian languages.

Another example comes from Germany. While academics did nothing, the parents of disabled children that the Nazis wanted to kill, had demonstrations in the late 1930s. Ordinary people, with less clout than academics, protested, and the Nazis retreated. In the 1950s my father spoke to the Independent School Association of Michigan, making a strong statement encouraging the other schools to take Black children. My mother actually felt it was too strong and persuaded him to return to the stage and say something more inclusive and collective, which he did. But his goal was critical: to create a community of institutions to fight racism. This school has, over and over, brought people together of vastly different views, and their allegiance to the school and my parents in particular, created the atmosphere and culture that moved people. We will need that spirit to address climate change. I believe that it is the Roeper Philosophy embodied in this school which holds the answer to building opposition to climate change denial.

Right now academics are threatened. On Friday I met a young professor from Mt. Holyoke College who studies the Tea Party. She is afraid to publish her ideas because other academics have been threatened, such as Jill Lepore who writes for the New Yorker, and a Brazilian woman who fled Brazil because of threats from organized right-wing groups. We need to be ready to resist. In the 1930s my grandfather had his skull measured — racist efforts to identify characteristics of Jews. I think the physicists, biologists, and chemists all knew it was preposterous science — but they lacked the courage to use their relevant knowledge to dispute it. In the colleges and universities you will go to — the institutions themselves, not just individual faculty, need to assert themselves each from their own point of view. The Statistical Society needs to

A few weeks ago, the Museum of Natural History in New York rescinded its rental of space to the Brazilian-American Chamber of Congress for an event to honor President Bolsonaro of Brazil, a right-wing fascist who has a gun as his signature symbol. Then city councilmembers refused to meet him, and so did Mayor Bill deBlasio, now a presidential candidate. A very small institution made a move that caught fire. A couple of weeks ago in early May, I was an invited speaker at the Brazilian linguistic society ABRALIN’s 50th anniversary. Two thousand people were present. The society’s president, Miguel Oliviera, received threatening calls calling him a communist and leftist. His term is ending — and not so surprisingly, no one wants to take over. Everyone was afraid of Juan Bolsonaro’s

affirm the complex statistics behind climate change opposition. The American Physical Society and others need to speak out. I hope the Roeper students will have the grace and courage to ask, quietly, how each of their professors sees their role in facing climate change and other challenges. Find a way — every person has humanity and decency to build upon — like Curt Bondy did when he said to the delinquent boys, “I could have done what you did”. Courage takes practice. Every time my parents were courageous, they always seemed very calm. My mother commented in the time of the war in Vietnam, that the parents who were afraid of the war and shielded their children from discussion made the children afraid. The parents who were involved with others with a vision of peace enabled their children to feel that way. Every voice is important. Kindness, calm, persuasion and determination are the critical characteristics at the personal level. We will need your leadership — like young high school students in Scandinavia now – to cope with climate change. I think the Roeper Philosophy leads naturally to building a community of institutions, bringing together groups that do not at first see shared interests. Like my father’s efforts to build a constituency among progressive schools in Germany — it is important. It is confident links between people who know each other which are the origin of change.

When the school had buses, my mother remarked in how it fostered many friendships between high school and nursery school children. Everyone has an opinion — even a small child — and the Roeper Philosophy tells us to find it, draw it out in humane terms. Years ago my mother asked a four-year-old what his biggest worry was and he said, “air pollution.” I think we are all eager to see what your imaginations produce. Students here could band together with other private schools, then public schools, to make joint school projects to limit carbon emissions. This semester I had a graduate student from Brazil Skype into my class. It worked fine. You could do it at the high school level, right here. I am glad to help. We might get an indigenous Indian student still in the Amazon to take a Roeper class. When Bolsonaro takes away the troops who protect the Amazon and the Indians in it as he is doing now, you would have an inside reporter. Once again, I am delighted to advance my ongoing conversation with the Roeper community. I have laid out some of my views pretty forcefully. Now I am eager to hear yours. Thank you! F

It is confident links between people who know each other which are the origin of change.

KIT

Sophia Karmanos & Griffin Glick Co-Presidents, Class of 2019

SENIOR CLASS FAREWELL Hello, my name is Sophia Karmanos, one of the Senior Class Presidents this year. I’d like to begin by personally thanking everyone for coming today, and I know I speak for the rest of my class as well when I say that we are honored that all of you came to celebrate our graduation. I’d like to take some time to reflect on this amazing group of people that I’ll be graduating alongside today. Some of us have only been members of this community for just a handful of years, and some of us have spent our entire education at Roeper. But no matter how long it has been, I know we all have countless wonderful memories that wouldn’t be possible without each and every one of us. But of course, our high school careers are ending, and we’re heading in so many different directions so soon that it’s easy to only want to focus on what lies ahead. With that being said, it’s beneficial to think back on all of the memories like on the senior trip, when a bunch of us crowded onto the couches each night to watch a different horror movie, or when we crammed into Emma Sznewajs’s living room on a Tuesday night to practice our karaoke for spirit week — only to have half of our microphones not work for the actual performance. But then our karaoke freshman year when Griffin Siegel and Nathan Moskowitz blew everyone away with their performance of the song Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe. We’ve come a long way since our 9th grade trip to D.C., and we wouldn’t have gotten where we are today without the endless support of the amazing teachers we have here, and of course, I don’t know what we would’ve done without our families and parents that have always been here for us. Thanks to all of you, we made it, and with that I’d like to conclude with one last thank you for the incredible opportunity to be a part of a community like Roeper.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Seeing as I recently contracted a mild sore throat during Ohiopyle, I’m going to keep this short for your sake, my sake, and our graduates’ sake. Today, we graduate from high school. This is a momentous occasion, not just because it means no more collisions with middle schoolers going around a hallway at school, but also because it closes one of the most interesting chapters in a young adult’s life. As Sophia said, “We’ve come a long way.” In any case, I digress. Seeing as this is one of the last times we’re all gathered together (and willing to listen), I’d like to ask all of us to take a moment and reflect on how Roeper’s going to impact us moving forward. Certainly, there will be different kinds of emails and letters during fundraising drives. And certainly, we’ll be high school graduates. But I’d like us to think about our character, and the impact of the school on our character. Moving forward, are we going to be leaders? Are we going to be doers? Are we going to start planning ahead? Are we going to educate people? Are we going to help people? Are we going to make the world a better place? I can’t tell you the answer to those questions. What I do know is that we can do all of these things. We possess the tools to make the world a better place. I’ve always taken a simple read of the Roeper philosophy’s purpose as being to educate gifted people, so as to send them out into the world to make a difference. As we move forward, as we graduate, let’s fulfill that. As we move forward, let us speak truth to power, make our stand against injustice, and make the world a better place. F

KIT

INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST ALUMNI THE ROEPER SCHOOL

Class of 2019

13 6

9 7

29 30

10 11

2 5

1. Jonathan Gardner 2. Leah Trunsky 3. Madison Gladney 4. Sophia Karmanos 5. Ashley Jones 6. Austin DeGuia 7. Hannah Wedepohl 8. Will Toland 9. Tim Schaal 10. Rohan Shah 11. Ryan Blankenburg 12. Amanda Margolis 13. Josh Hurwitz 14. Eli Shaya 15. Emma Girolami 16. Tai Daniels 17. Emma Sznewajs 18. Myles Carr 19. Griffin Siegel 20. Sean McFall 21. Cameron Huneke 22. Arjun Kumar 23. Nicholas Mojares 24. Evan Heasley 25. David Lee 26. Josh Osgood 27. Austin Gray 28. Griffin Glick 29. Shel Krause 30. Nathan Moskowitz

KIT

THE GRADUATES & THEIR PRESENTERS Relationships are important at Roeper. Each senior chooses an adult member of the Roeper community to present him or her at commencement. Speeches are factual, humorous and poignant, with words drawn from student records, friends, family and staff members. Historically, George Roeper spoke a few minutes about each graduate, and upon his retirement, the Upper School Director assumed that commitment. As the classes grew larger, it became a daunting task for one person to undertake, so in the mid-’80s a group of five or six teachers was designated by each graduating class from which the seniors could choose. In the early ’90s the choice was widened to include any current or former staff member. It is considered an honor to be invited to present. Graduation order is determined by the student’s length of time at The Roeper School. The newest student to Roeper graduates first; and the student who has attended the longest is presented last.

THE CLASS OF 2019 IN GRADUATION ORDER graduate*

presenter

JOSHUA GABRIEL HURWITZ (13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dan jacobs ARJUN JAY KUMAR (22) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . linda vernon TAI TOYALE DANIELS (16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . susannah nichols GRIFFIN DAVID GLICK (28) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . michal mcconville AUSTIN JAMES GRAY (27) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . matt vallus ASHLEY CAPRI JONES (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . susannah nichols SOPHIA ROSE KARMANOS (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jamie benigna AMANDA BELLE MARGOLIS (12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jamie benigna SEAN PHILLIP McFALL (20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . karen johnson JOSHUA PETER OSGOOD (26) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dan jacobs TIM MANU SCHAAL (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lily zhu ROHAN SANJIV SHAH (10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . michal mcconville GRIFFIN FORD SIEGEL (19) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kelly mcdowell DAVID ELIJAH LEE (25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . laddie andahazy EMMA GALE GIROLAMI (15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lily zhu EMMA ELIZABETH SZNEWAJS (17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dan thibodeau LEAH ELIANA TRUNSKY (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . gail gorske HANNAH ROSE WEDEPOHL (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . susannah nichols MYLES RASHAD CARR (18) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hale williams SHELDON JACOB KRAUSE (29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . linda vernon JONATHAN OWEN GARDNER (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . laddie andahazy RYAN MACKENZIE BLANKENBURG (11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . michal mcconville EVAN JAMES HEASLEY (24) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dan jacobs AUSTIN JEFFERSON DEGUIA (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . michael mcconville MADISON RENÉE GLADNEY (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . aaron robinson NICHOLAS ANDREW ACIERNO MOJARES (23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . david feldman CAMERON CORDT HUNEKE (21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . eric ambrose NATHAN LEE MOSKOWITZ (30) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . andrew brock ELI EDWARD SHAYA (14) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kelly piontek WILLIAM WALLACE ROBERT TOLAND (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hale williams * the numbers in parentheses correspond to the numbers in the class photo on the adjacent page

KIT

Katie Buchmann

KIT Editor

Myles Carr ’19

Copy Editor

SENIOR PROFILES JOSHUA GABRIEL HURWITZ,

son of Patricia Rehfus and Keith Hurwitz of Bloomfield Hills attended Roeper for two years. Dan Jacobs illustrates, “It’s tough telling the difference between Josh Hurwitz and Captain America. Everyone talks about Josh’s integrity, compassion, and sense of justice,” which holds up inside and outside the classroom. Josh made the most of his two years at Roeper by devoting himself to Forensics; Fun, Fun, Fun; Portuguese Club; along with Basketball and Baseball. Josh is one of those people who embodies the Roeper philosophy with his genuine care for others. Joshua Vens explains, “Hurwitz is honest, and he’s genuine and caring to the point where he’ll go out of his way to check in on others and comfort them when he can. He’s just the guy that brings out the absolute good in people. You want to be good when he’s around.” With qualities like these, Dan Jacobs insists that Josh Hurwitz is on the shortlist of people under consideration to receive the shield and suit of Captain America. Josh is attending Albion College where he plans to explore creative writing.

Saying goodbye to Roeper is going to be very difficult. These two years have been spent with the most inclusive people I have ever met. ARJUN JAY KUMAR, son of Monica and Manoj

Kumar of Bloomfield Hills and brother of Nathan Kumar, also attended Roeper for two years. Linda Vernon asked two rhetorical questions when speaking about Arjun: “Has anyone ever seen Arjun Kumar in a bad mood? Has anyone met somebody who is more consistently upbeat than Arjun?” The answer obviously is no. “If optimism were a serious, communicable disease, then Arjun would be quarantined for life,” Regis Carozza

says. Arjun came to Roeper as a Stage IV student but unfortunately had to leave Roeper when his family moved to California. Luckily, Arjun and his family were able to move back to Michigan for his last year of high school so that he and his family could enjoy more time together before he went off to college. Arjun spread his positivity throughout the Roeper community in many different aspects, whether it was committing to Model UN and Tuna Talk, spending hours talking to College Counselor Patti Bostwick, or simply enjoying time with his friends. Arjun will be attending New York University in the fall.

The Roeper community has been so welcoming and positive. I am happy that I had the opportunity to spend my senior year here.

JOSH: Engaged, honest, caring, respectful

ARJUN: Sets high standards for himself and works very hard to meet them

TAI TOYALE DANIELS,

daughter of Shalece Daniels of Harper Woods, attended Roeper for 3 years. Tai has truly chosen a path that reflects what she values and where she can flourish. Susannah Nichols remarks, “Her fearless authenticity in our most challenging conversations brought about the same in her peers.” Veronica Lyon explains, “One of Tai’s greatest strengths is her leadership in tough or exciting situations. She has always been a rock for everyone around her.” Tai has always followed a path of guiding and helping those around her, along with showing her commitment to causes. Even when faced with the brute force of life, illness, and injuries, Tai showed that the rigors of life are not always debilitating, but can be emboldening. Before Tai starts at Kalamazoo College, she will take a gap year to enlist in City Year Los Angeles. As a part of this Americorps program, her work will involve community engagement, child advocacy, and social entrepreneurship.

TAI: Authentic, compassionate, committed to justice, contributor

GRIFFIN DAVID GLICK,

GRIFFIN: Purposeful, committed, driven, responsible

AUSTIN: Vigilant, intelligent, eloquent, kind

ASHLEY: compassionate selflessness, indomitable work ethic, commitment to equity

son of David Glick of Royal Oak, attended Roeper for four years. Many who know Griffin can agree that he is a natural-born leader and role model. From his roles of being a Captain and three-season athlete in Soccer, Basketball, and Track, along with being Co-President of his class and Head of Fun, Fun, Fun, it’s evident that he thrives in setting an example for his classmates. Linda Vernon said, “He always stands up for what is right. He has faced some real challenges in his life with grace and determination.” David Lee added that “it always seems as though he cares more about you than even about himself.” Griffin is the best kind of leader, due to his commitment, impeccable character, desire to actively be engaged in his surroundings, and his lighthearted spirit. Michal McConville expressed that Griffin “has the power to experience life, reflect on your experience, and have nostalgia for the experience all at the same time.” Griffin will be attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this fall.

Thank you for a community that’s allowed me to experiment and grow in all ways! AUSTIN JAMES GRAY, son

SOPHIA: Artistic, intellectual, playful, serious

of Michelle and Michael Gray of Southfield, attended Roeper for four years. Throughout Austin’s years at Roeper, he developed his skills in writing and justice through The Muse, Tuna Talk, and Young Outsiders — a club that he started so that anyone who wanted to could speak and acknowledge different perspectives, all while doing so in a safe space. Matt Vallus describes Austin as “the truest form of the Roeper philosophy, especially when it comes to the school’s commitment to diversity and justice.” One of Austin’s main goals in his work was to make sure those who were disregarded in conversation, had the chance to be heard. Michelle Stamler adds, “Austin is one that is so true to himself, and yet still open-minded, listening to people with differing views.” This fall, Austin will be attending the University of Michigan Dearborn.

Valete et bonam fortunam.

ASHLEY CAPRI JONES, daughter of

Jeanetta and Abraham Arhin of Detroit, attended Roeper for four years. Susannah Nichols explains, “Like a real-life Olivia Pope, Ashley has moved through Roeper with grit, grace, and glamour.” Over the four years, Ashley has committed her extra time to Black Student Union, Student Diversity Advisory Committee, Fashion Club, and Girl’s Mentoring. When Ashley sees a problem, she works hard to fix it. From creating the Roeper Fashion Club to leading workshops for peers as a girls’ mentoring program initiative, Ashley strives to be her best self. Laura Panek applauds her ability to relentlessly stick with tough concepts until she has conquered them. Ashley has impressed teachers with her self-drive and personal resolve. Ashley will attend Xavier University in Louisiana this fall to study biology on a pre-med track.

The Roeper community allowed me to find myself and develop amazing relationships with my teachers and friends. Roeper will forever be remembered for its strong tradition in the fight for human rights and injustice. SOPHIA ROSE KARMANOS, daughter

of Laura Pierce-Karmanos and Peter Karmanos III of Birmingham, and sister of Roeper alum Peter Karmanos IV ‘17, attended Roeper for four years. Sophia was involved with Cross Country — where she was captain of the team — Soccer, Sierra Club, and Student Diversity Advisory Committee. Jamie Benigna chose the word “courage” to illustrate Sophia. Her brother Peter explained that her strength is “her persistence and ambition. She has always been clear in direction, and when she sets her sights on

something, she will do her best to acquire it.” She will stand up against failure and embarrassment to achieve her goals. Jamie adds that Sophia has “the courage to step up when challenge is encountered and effort is needed, but when it’s not needed, the courage to relax and enjoy life as it is happening.” Although Sophia is unsure if she wants to pursue her field of study in sociology or criminal justice, she has selected to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison this fall because they have the highest number of graduates entering the Peace Corps.

Thank you very much for the chance to be a part of this community!

AMANDA BELLE MARGOLIS, daughter of

Jennifer and Jeffrey Margolis of West Bloomfield, attended Roeper for four years. When friends and teachers of Amanda were asked which Hogwarts house she would be sorted into, they were unanimous in stating “Ravenclaw!” Ravenclaws are known for their intelligence and logical thinking, so there is no wonder why Amanda self-identifies as Ravenclaw. Amanda shows her passion for intellect by always volunteering to answer questions, provide information, or simply express her way of thinking. Homeroom advisors Michal and Michelle stated that in homeroom, Amanda “is the voice of reason … she makes everyone feel heard and validated while also pointing out reasonable parts of the opposing viewpoints for consideration.” Jamie explains that Amanda thrives due to her love of challenge and joy in solving problems, which go hand-in-hand with her frequent late-night sessions working on and troubleshooting robots for the Robotics team. Amanda will continue her studies

in science at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this fall, potentially in computer science or astrophysics.

Farewell friends and foes!

AMANDA: Wise, patient, noble, reliable

SEAN PHILLIP McFALL, son of John and Kim

McFall of Ortonville, attended Roeper for four years. When Sean first entered Roeper and joined Karen Johnson’s homeroom, she wondered how Sean would fit into the community. After a couple of weeks had passed, her homeroom unanimously decided to disband and reconvene together as a “gnomeroom” instead. Sean soon came into her room and put a picture of a gnome with a stern gaze in a place only he could reach. This would end Karen’s worries. Karen describes Sean as “spontaneous, fun, and hectic,” which aligns with how he would describe himself. Sean is very musically talented and has been passionate about it over the years as he has picked up 11 instruments. Sean also enjoys working complex things and thinks very analytically which will help him in his goals to one day, “design stuff.” Sean is headed up north to Michigan Tech in the fall where he will pursue engineering.

I would like to thank the entire community for a wonderful four years! Goodbye, but don’t worry — I’ll be back! JOSHUA PETER OSGOOD, son of Gretchen

Osgood and Peter Karl Henninger-Osgood of Troy, attended Roeper for four years. Over those four years, Josh committed himself to the Roeper Theater Company and Model UN. In his senior year, Josh played the lucky stiff in the play Lucky Stiff, where Josh was on stage 100% of the time and played dead for 99% of it. Josh is heading to Cornell College in Iowa this fall to study bio and molecular chemistry, with the ultimate goal of becoming an

SEAN: Fun, Roeperian, unpredictable, lovable

JOSH: Happy, compassionate, devoted, entertaining

TIM: Motivated, thinker, curious, diverse

ROHAN: Brave, humorous, bold and outstanding

GRIFFIN: Musically talented, focused, devoted

emergency medical physician. He says he was inspired at a young age by his grandfather, who is a retired pediatrician. Dan Jacobs wrote to Josh saying, “Your intense sense of compassion is much needed in the world today. I know that if you choose this path, you will be all in and give as much as yourself as you can.” Dan also told Josh that he should remember his favorite sci-fi character, Patrick Bear, a patchwork teddy bear that miraculously heals people by taking from itself and weaving new parts for an injured person and replenishes itself with any fabric on hand, by remembering to take time to patch himself back up with the fabrics of his family and friends that are close by.

When compared to other schools, especially public ones, the fact that we have a community that spans not only classes, but between grades is beyond extraordinary. Please, for the lonely little 9th grader who didn’t think he could make friends that I was when I first came here, nurture and protect it. TIM MANU SCHAAL, son of

Bongsu and Andreas of Birmingham and Tübingen, attended Roeper for four years. Tim was a participant in Soccer; Roeper Tabletop; Model UN; Fun, Fun, Fun; and Forensics during his high school experience. Lily Zhu describes Tim as a “polyglot” due to his ability to not only speak English, Korean, and German, but also Chinese, French, and Spanish. When asked what drives him to study so many languages at once, he simply responded: “Because I’m bored.” Teachers can easily agree that Tim is a deep thinker and isn’t afraid to share it in class. Kelly Piontek wrote that Tim is a “prominent voice in discussion and inclass activities.” Matt Vallus add, “I can always count on you to offer your opinion on matters that related to history and always question the past and ask ‘what if’.” This fall, Tim plans to attend the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in Germany.

Thanks for four great years.

ROHAN SANJIV SHAH, son of

Sanjiv and Cindy Shah of Commerce Township, attended Roeper for four years. When considering how he would describe Rohan, David Lee notices that “he is always there to hype you up and make you laugh.” Griffin Glick agrees, stating that he “has the ability to lift anyone’s mood.” Rohan had the chance to really grow into himself as a student at Roeper. He was able to establish himself as a funny, smart, and hard-working guy. Anyone that knows Rohan knows that you will never see him in a bad mood. Rohan’s life mantra is, “There’s no time to be negative,” and it shows that he is a firm believer of it. Michal McConville expresses, “Although he may be super low-key, Rohan’s quiet confidence and insistence that life is good can’t help but inspire those around him to be happier and more present.” Myles Carr says, “His presence is a gift to those around him and is appreciated more than he realizes.” Rohan will be attending Michigan State University to study business or economics.

Thank you to all my teachers and friends through my four years. I’m gonna miss y’all. GRIFFIN FORD SIEGEL, son of Brian

Siegel and Jennifer Siegel of West Bloomfield, brother of Roeper alumna Natalie Siegel ’16, attended Roeper for four years. In his four years, Griffin partook in the Roeper Theater Company, Baseball, Basketball, and Jewish Student Union. It’s hard to think about Griffin and not also think about music. Kelly McDowell asked, “What does it take to be an artist? Talent? Focus? A different way of seeing the world? Is one born an artist, or is it something that one becomes? These questions are relevant when we consider an artist like Griffin

Siegel.” Jennifer Siegel recounts that, “even before you could speak, you would make up songs with rhyming gibberish and drum out melodies on toys or whatever was around him.” Griffin is also talented in other ways. Nathan Moskowitz says that when Griffin creates something, he pours a huge amount of passion and focus in it. Sheldon Krause agrees, adding that it’s what makes him such a good friend. This fall, Griffin will continue to pursue his passion of music at Elon University.

Bye! DAVID ELIJAH LEE, son

of Arthur and Phyllis Lee of Detroit and brother of Roeper alum Nathaniel Lee ’17, attended Roeper for five years. Throughout high school, David committed himself to Basketball; Fun, Fun, Fun; and Spirit Squad. David is one who speaks a few words, but when he does contribute, you can tell that his opinions, views, and jokes were well thought out. Basketball Coach Laddie Andahazy ’01 says, “David’s concern for everyone around him is both admirable and heartwarming,” which corresponds with the traits of someone who watches and plans before taking action. In the fall, David will be attending Eastern Michigan University to major in Business Management and Marketing. Laddie adds, “Business is a career that as David evolves, I believe he will thrive by using his ability to see and understand what is going on around him to deliver people the products and services that they never knew they could have.”

Thank you, Roeper community for giving me an amazing five years. EMMA GALE GIROLAMI, daughter of Lisa and Mike Girolami of Farmington Hills, attended Roeper for six years. During

Emma’s time at Roeper, she was always very busy with not only her academic schedule, but also her involvement in school sports, Roeper Forensics, Model UN, and the Roeper Theater Company. Lily Zhu states, “You are a student who sets no limit to yourself, and takes advantage of all that life has to offer to you and always looks for opportunities to enrich your experience.” Emma is also someone who can always surprise you, even when you think you already know her very well. As an example of her unpredictability, she started taking Intro French and Arabic her senior year. Alex Calderwood commented, “She is better at perseverance than most people I know.” Lily Zhu adds that “she always seeks improvement in herself”, whether it be in conquering daily AP Chinese quizzes or continuously re-working a scene in a forensics piece to perfection. In the fall, Emma will attend Miami University in Ohio.

It was wonderful being a part of the community! EMMA ELIZABETH SZNEWAJS, daughter of

Marcy and John Sznewajs of Bloomfield Hills and sister of Roeper alum Lukas Sznewajs ’18 and junior Peter Sznewajs, attended Roeper for six years. Emma is a natural leader, whether it be as captain of Volleyball and Soccer or choosing where she and her friends go to eat lunch. Dan Thibodeau says, “The contagious joy that Emma brings to groups allows others to become comfortable with her presence and look to her for advice. She has the best in mind for not only herself, but everyone she encounters.” Emma excels in making those around her feel heard and has been identified as the “glue” that holds together the various groups she associates herself with. Dan continues to explain that “she is an outrageously talented learner who challenges herself and does not back down.” In and out of school, Emma strives to make deep and meaningful connections. A perfect example would be her senior project, where she handmade five dresses after speaking with those people until she knew how to make them feel heard, comfortable, and beautiful. This fall, Emma will be attending DePaul University.

It has been nice to see how far this school has come.

DAVID: Mindful, thinker, familyoriented, disciplined

EMMA G: A persistent student who strives to achieve her goals

EMMA S: Caring, natural leader, creative, fun

LEAH ELIANA TRUNSKY,

LEAH: Brilliant, free-spirited, clever, wowing

HANNAH: Compassionate, authentic, dedicated, role model

MYLES: Stylish, confident, expressive, comfortable

daughter of Barbara and Roger Trunsky of Birmingham, attended Roeper for nine years. During high school, Leah consistently spent her time in Foresnsics, Gay/Straight Alliance, Gender Blender, The Muse, and the Roeper Theatre Company. Each year, her presence in each activity grew and grew. Gail Gorske, who has known Leah since sixth grade says, “Leah seems to shine even brighter when the odds are stacked against her … Even when senioritis hit and she repeatedly said she was done, she just grumbled a little louder and put on a more riveting show.” Leah is someone who commits herself to causes and will see things through, even selling the premise that she’s not interested during the process. Leah will be attending Muhlenburg College in the fall, majoring in theatre, which she will most certainly continue to use as a platform for social justice.

Roeper helped shape me into not only the performer, but the person I am today, and I will always be grateful. HANNAH ROSE WEDEPOHL,

daughter of Andrew Wedepohl and Sarah Baltman Wedepohl ’88 of Huntington Woods, sister of sophomore Ben Wedepohl, attended Roeper for nine years. During her time at Roeper, she established herself as a devoted and aware student, friend, and person overall. Hannah balanced 4:30am rowing practices, being on the Board of Trustees, Soccer, Student Government, Yearbook, Student Diversity Advisory Committee, school, friendships, and family over the course of high school. Alison Albrecht says, “I know it wasn’t easy, but she poured her heart into doing it all. She

is a dedicated and determined girl.” Anyone who knows Hannah can attest to this. Ryan Blankenburg concurs: “Hannah will go above and beyond for you … Hannah is always there for you and ready to help.” Those around Hannah always speak about how she genuinely cares for others and what they have to say, even if it goes against what she believes and her values. This fall, Hannah will be attending Denison University.

I am so grateful to have grown up in this community. Thank you Roeper! MYLES RASHAD CARR, son of Lori and

Rodney Carr of Southfield, attended Roeper for 10 years. During his time at Roeper, he immersed himself in Soccer, Track, Basketball, Spirit Squad, and Student Diversity Advisory Committee. Hale Williams acknowledges, “He’s one of the hardest workers I know. Myles knows how to work hard, focus, and pay attention to details to make any goal a reality.” Not only did Myles pay attention to the things he did, but also made time to do so in fashion. His creative process took things that could have come off as weird and elevated them to a form of pure artistic expression. Hale concluded by saying, “You’ve made it through easy times and some rough times. But the difficult circumstances in life are the ones you learn from the most. Where you could have figured out how to survive, you always found a way to thrive.” In the spring, Myles will be studying Business Administration at the University of Southern California. I appreciate all the support and advice given to

me over the past few years.

SHELDON JACOB KRAUSE, son of Eric

Krause and Shawn Krause of West Bloomfield, attended Roeper for 10 years. Sheldon was a part of Jewish Student Union, Yearbook, and Roeper Golf, serving as Co-Captain and even helped lead his team to a League Championship — the first ever in the history of The Roeper School. Linda

Vernon explains, “Sheldon developed his passion and talent for taking photos with film cameras” while taking some behind-the-scenes photos of Griffin Siegel during a music video recording. Jamie Benigna adds that “Shel interacts well with his peers, and his sense of humor is a great aid for collaboration with others.” Sheldon is just one of those people who shows great admiration and respect for his friends and teachers, and pushes them to do their very best. Sheldon will attend Michigan State University’s James Madison College this fall, where he will major in Social Relations and Policy.

Thanks for the last 10 years. This school is truly like no other, and I’m happy to have attended for so long. JONATHAN OWEN GARDNER,

son of Bonita and Harold Gardner of Bloomfield Hills, and brother of Roeper alum David Gardner ’16, attended Roeper for 12 years. Jon participated in Fun, Fun, Fun; Basketball, Soccer, Debate, and Sierra Club during high school. Basketball Coach Laddie Andahazy ’01 acknowledged, “When things were hardest, Jon was always the first person to step up and move forward without hesitation.” This applies to more than just the basketball court, as Jonathan’s teachers at Roeper have recognized him as diligent, kind, and persevering. Laddie added, “Your team and your coaches thank you for showing us how much can be gained by continuing onward instead of just holding your position or giving up.” Those around him always notice his outgoing personality

and sincerity in any setting. Jon will be attending DePaul University in the fall to study Film and Television, with the goal of becoming a film director.

I would like to thank the Roeper community for what it has taught me in and out of the classroom.

SHEL: Reliable, consistent, artistic photographer

RYAN MacKENZIE BLANKENBURG,

daughter of Dee and Bob Blankenburg of Rochester and sister of Cooper ’20 and Roeper alumna Alex Blankenburg ’13, attended Roeper for 13 years. Ryan is the type of person who will put in lots of work and preparation behind the scenes to make the things that she does look easy. One thing that is well known about Ryan that Michal McConville highlighted is, she’s “been passionate about understanding and amplifying minority voices in her undying commitment to social justice.” This lines up with her involvement in Student Diversity Advisory Committee, Sierra Club, Student Government, and Community Service Club. Michal also added that “Ryan maintains a humble composure and pushes herself to achieve new heights.” Her senior project further emphasizes her commitment as she focused on LGBT history, reintegrating stories that had been excluded from history’s timeline. Ryan will be attending Rice University in the fall.

Thank you, Roeper, for giving me friends and connections that I will keep for the rest of my life. EVAN JAMES HEASLEY,

son of Jim and Karen Heasley of Bloomfield Hills, attended Roeper for 13 years. When you ask the Roeper community about Evan Heasley, “quiet” is an adjective that is mentioned uncontestedly.

JONATHAN: Exemplar of the Roeper philosophy, remarkable, talented

RYAN: Intellectual, elegant, admirable, humble

EVAN: Creative, kind nature, peaceful, cognizant

AUSTIN: Perseverant, understanding, attentive, methodical

MADISON: Committed to justice, legendary, genial, considerate

NICK: Musician, gifted, cognizant, ponderer

But Dan Jacobs disagrees, stating “... people sometimes confuse quiet with gentle. Evan’s style of interaction is gentle, giving others the space they need to be themselves.” Even if people consider Evan as quiet, it doesn’t bother him. Evan prefers to express himself artistically since a picture can be worth a thousand words. From 7th grade until graduation, Evan has created a plethora of 3D images depicting fantasy worlds. Dan expressed that this same “quiet” guy helped him present at a national conference to help inform other teachers about ways to use fantasy-based images and stories to get younger kids more interested in reading and writing. This fall, Evan will be attending Oakland University.

It was nice meeting everyone, I wish you all the best for the future. AUSTIN JEFFERSON DeGUIA , son

of Amapuri and Christine DeGuia of Rochester and brother of sophomore Audrey DeGuia, attended Roeper for 14 years. Austin was a part of Student Government, Student Diversity Advisory Committee, Golf, Model UN, and several other extracurriculars. Michal McConville explains, “Austin took the time to reflect and represent his state of mind with a work of art. Austin has always expressed himself visually.” Whether the medium be photography, modifying his SAAB or Ford, or making each golf swing as perfect as possible, Austin has always focused on the details. Alexa Miller adds that “He puts 110% into his many passions. He expects so much of himself which often pushes him to do amazing things.” Austin’s drive is like no other, and those who’ve been there for the ride can agree. Austin will be attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this fall to study neuroscience and psychology.

I appreciate everyone who has contributed to my positive experience at Roeper over the years. Thank you.

MADISON RENÉE GLADNEY,

daughter of Shari BanksGladney and Tim Gladney of Lathrup Village and sister of senior Jacob Gladney, attended Roeper 14 years. Madison committed her time to Black Student Union, Tuna Talk, Student Diversity Advisory Committee, Girls Mentoring, and other extracurriculars that focused on social justice work along with her other interests. Aaron Robinson expressed, “Madison embodies, as the strong, proud, woke, spirited, funny, hard-working black woman that she is every day, all the tenets of the Roeper philosophy. This is the Madison I saw when (she) walked into my civil rights class.” This fall, Madison will be attending the James Madison College at Michigan State University.

Thank you to the Roeper Community for providing me with not only quality education, but instilling in me a passion for social justice and equity. NICHOLAS ANDREW ACIERNO MOJARES, son

of Jon and Lori Mojares of Troy, and brother of juniors Andrew and Christopher, and 6th grader Rebecca Mojares, attended Roeper for 14 years. Whether you’ve had the chance to witness Nicholas perform a Rachmaninoff piece on piano, see his attentiveness in the classroom, or his thought processes during a game of chess, those who know Nicholas know that he approaches everything with precision and honesty. David Feldman points out,

“I know he knows that we do what is right, not because of some external motive, not because of some outside pressure, or an intervening divine force. I know that Nicholas Mojares does the right thing, because as Kant said, “It’s the right thing to do.’” In the case of the missing apple sauce, Nicholas knew that he had to do the right thing, and therefore he did it. Nicholas has received a full four-year academic scholarship to Oakland University’s Honors College and will be attending there this fall.

Thank you for fourteen years of genuine relationships, engaged learning, and selfdiscovery. CAMERON CORDT HUNEKE, son of Tom

Huneke of Beverly Hills and Tricia Ruby of Bloomfield Township and brother of Griffin ’21 and freshman Adam Huneke, attended Roeper for 15 years. Eric Ambrose describes Cameron as a “thinker, a planner and a doer,” all of which coincide with his participation in Golf and Robotics. Cameron expressed how committed he is by not dropping out of band because he wasn’t playing songs he enjoyed and by writing out the music he wanted to play for the spring concert as his Senior Project. If there is something that Cameron wants to do, he will put his mind and effort into it until it is done, whether it’s writing music for band, or creating ways to defy Dungeons & Dragons with an afterschool group. Cameron will be attending Worcester Polytechnic in the fall, with the plan of studying Computer Science.

Thanks to everything the robotics team experience has done for me. I wouldn’t be the same person without it. NATHAN LEE MOSKOWITZ, son of Michael and Leslie Moskowitz of Bloomfield Hills and brother of Roeper alum Ellie Moskowitz ’17 and former student Asher ’19*, attended Roeper for 15 years. Nathan put his time and effort into

Roeper Forensics, Jewish Student Union, Roeper Theatre Company, Spirit Week Committee, and other extracurriculars. Those who know Nathan can agree that he is dedicated to the things he does, as his undying love for cooking since middle school has shown us. Andrew Brock states, “This man does not deal in half measures. If he’s in, he’s all in —100%.” That’s what makes Nathan so unique — his attention to detail and his obligation to greatness. Andrew continues to say, “It is his complete commitment of genuine authenticity down to every detail” that makes things like his meals and his performances so enjoyable and satisfying for those around him. This fall, Nathan will be attending Elon University.

Thank you Roeper for having me introduced to Andrew Brock. He is the greatest mentor I could have asked for. ELI EDWARD SHAYA , son

of Robert Shaya and Ashley Lowe of Bloomfield Hills and brother of sophomore Scarlett, attended Roeper for 15 years. Kelly Piontek says, “Eli makes the choices that work for him, regardless of what others are doing, regardless of what is typical or popular.” Eli is someone who will voice his opinion and gladly express how he views things and sees the world. Kelly also describes Eli as an “optimizer, who holds himself to high standards.” This holds true for in and outside of the classroom. He pays attention to things such as rules to games so that he can bend them to his advantage and explore various possible loopholes. With traits like these and a love for expressing himself, Eli has set himself up to be successful in creating and telling his own unique stories. Eli’s

CAMERON: Creative, brilliant, dependable, devoted

NATHAN: Engaged, thoughtful, gleeful, active

ELI: Unique, passionate, rule-bender, clever

love for gaming helped him discover his passion for game design, a passion he has pursued with intent and a field of study that will take Eli to UC Santa Cruz this fall.

I greatly enjoyed my time at Roeper and will miss it heavily. Bye!

WILL: Energetic, eager, cheerful, happy

WILLIAM WALLACE ROBERT TOLAND,

son of Amber Toland of Rochester Hills, and brother of alumni Messina ’07 and Joey ’06 Toland, attended Roeper for 16 years. Will loves movies, and in contrast to his positive and bright personality, he specifically loves horror movies. Hale Williams took Will’s love for horror movies and used it as an example to break down who he really is. He explains, “Will possesses the most important skill of a good protagonist, the power to make connections.” Will’s friendships that have lasted the majority of his lifetime serve as testament. Hale continues with, “Will takes his time, establishes a pattern, and then breaks it to give us a shock.” Like any good horror movie, you don’t want to be able to predict what’s next, which is why Will loves to give erratic responses to those around him. Lastly, like any great story — it cannot be concluded in one chapter. So this fall, Will is going to attend Oakland University to study Software Development and Japanese to continue until the next chapter is finished.

I really enjoyed my time with the community, and I hope the community can stay the way it is, allowing for such special moments. F

KIT

Karen Johnson

Upper School Director

CLOSING REMARKS

Over the past month, a number of recent alumni have stopped by Roeper to visit. Knowing that I was to give the closing speech at graduation, I asked each one of them what advice should I share — what’s the last word, as it were — that our soon-to-be graduates need to know. The answers varied, but trying new things and meeting new people were popular responses. However, when I asked one particular alum my question, they shared a longer version of their first couple years at college. It involved taking time off, changing one’s course of study, and mapping out future possibilities. At the end of all that, they said to me: “I guess what I’m trying to say is that sometimes you have to lose yourself to find yourself.” That stuck with me, and one evening at dinner, I asked my father what in his own life came to mind when he heard the phrase “you have to lose yourself to find yourself.” He thought for a while and said that it reminded him of when he took a year off after his freshman year in college. Now, this is a family yarn that I’ve heard many, many times before. Dad was Navy ROTC at Duke University, and after his freshman year, he took a leave of absence. He took a job as a coal passer on a Great Lakes freighter and sailed the Lakes for a year, effectively working 12 hours on/12 hours off, since coal passer was not a popular gig and there was a high turnover in staff. At the end of that year, he had made $7,000 dollars, which was not an insignificant sum of money in 1964. He returned to school, graduated top of his Navy class, took his commission as a Navy officer, and soon thereafter was on his way to the Vietnam War in a minesweeper. I had never really pressed my dad on the details … it’s always a story he has told when I’m in need of encouragement or a reminder that grit and resilience is best obtained through really hard work. Parents do this: they often recall moments from their own lives in an attempt to comfort or inspire their children in moments of doubt and difficulty. This time when I heard the story though, I found myself asking lots of questions: why take a leave of absence, when by all other accounts, he was enjoying a great deal of success at Duke? What was appealing about taking a job in hard labor? Why — in retrospect — did he feel lost?

Throughout the conversation, I came to learn many more details about that period in my father’s life — the story began to take shape, and the truth is, I probably learned a few things I was unprepared to hear. I found myself connected to my dad in ways that I have never been before, and I came to appreciate in radically new ways why he has told me this story at key points in my own life. At 45 years old and in many respects, I felt as if I had just met my dad for the first time. There are two reasons that I share this anecdote with you today. The first is that, yes, there are going to be times in the future when you will lose yourself on purpose or find yourself lost unintentionally. These are not usually brief periods of time — a year or so seems to be the baseline. In fact, I suspect that for many of you when you look back at your first 18 or so years, you could already name a period when you felt unmoored. Whatever the circumstances, it is important to remember that you do have a core being — a part of yourself that has at least in some small way been shaped by the care and love of this community. If it helps, stop by Roeper and catch up with the teachers and staff, who — as is clearly demonstrated through today’s speeches — believe in you unfailingly. The second reason I share this anecdote is to ask you to listen to the stories from your parents or grandparents or anyone in your family who comes from an older generation. Try to listen to those stories with different ears — not just in terms of their being your parents, but in terms of their being human beings, too, who are sharing with you a bit of their own truth. There is a reason why the family stories keep popping up, and it is because they are formative experiences that carry meaning and relevance not just for what you may go through in your own lives, but also for what your family has endured in their lives. And so, to the Class of 2019 — may you lose yourself and find yourself in this life, and when you do, remember you have family that includes the Roeper family to share in that experience. F

It is important to remember that you do have a core being — a part of yourself that has at least in some small way been shaped by the care and love of this community.

KIT

SENIOR PROJECTS 2019 The George A. Roeper Senior Projects are designed to allow students to follow their personal passions and extend their learning beyond the classroom. These projects represent skill sets that students have developed over time. The students have managed at least one semester of independent, self-directed learning. They have been supported by mentors within our walls as well as professionals in their respective areas of interest outside the Roeper Community.

It would be easy to focus solely on the results these students have produced; however, the process they employed and relationships they developed are likely what will impact them most in the years to come. Listed here are the Class of 2019 participants and the titles of their projects. RYAN BLANKENBURG . . . . . . . . . . Topics in LGBTQ+ History: A Complete Course Curriculum for High School JONATHAN GARDNER . . . . . . . . . . Brilliant Detroit Show/Film EMMA GIROLAMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydroponic Gardening MADISON GLADNEY . . . . . . . Teaching Identity through Literature CAMERON HUNEKE . . . . . . . .

Transcribing Two Steps from Hell

SHELDON KRAUSE & AUSTIN DeGUIA . . . Explorations in Photography ARJUN KUMAR . . . . . . . . . . . .

How Indian-Americans Vote

SEAN McFALL . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Making of a Video Game

EMMA SZNEWAJS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dressing Body Image LEAH TRUNSKY . . . . .

Questions: A Cabaret with Minimal Answers

HANNAH WEDEPOHL . . . . . . . . A Reflection: My Life at Roeper F

KIT

AWARDS & HONORS The Order of

The Roeperian Empire

The Fighting Tuna

In 1975, David Jaffe ’74 proposed the creation of a new award to recognize exceptional Upper School students. George accepted the proposal, and each year since, the school has awarded individuals who, by virtue of their extraordinary sharing of time, effort and self, made outstanding contributions to the Upper School community. Remarkable achievements alone do not qualify a student for the award. Contributing to the community is most important. Richard B. Morris ’72 coined the term “Order of the Roeperian Empire” for the award, and designed the official crest.

The Order of

Each year the reigning Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of the Fighting Tuna appoints a successor from the Junior Class. The Order of the Fighting Tuna was established in 1985 to “protect the honor of the members of the community of the Roeper City and Country School.” Each year, the new member of the Order is knighted during a ceremony befitting the mock-seriousness of the occasion.

The Order of The Roeperian Empire 2019 Recipients ASHLEY JONES NICHOLAS MOJARES HANNAH WEDEPOHL

The 2019/20 Fighting Tuna 26th Knight of the Order Rohan Shah appointed

ALEX CALDERWOOD

27 th Knight of the Order

ED SACK

MICHELLE STAMLER

2019 Roeper Athletic Awards

George A. Roeper Sportsmanship Award

MYLES CARR AUSTIN DEGUIA EMMA GIROLAMI MADISON GLADNEY EMMA SZNEWAJS

Scholar-Athlete Award

Athletes of the Year Award

Super Booster of the Year

JADA COBURN GRIFFIN GLICK

GOMER SMITH

KIT

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES Of the 30 members of the Class of 2019, 29 will go on to college immediately, and one student will participate in a gap year. Two students were Commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Other graduates were awarded prestigious and valuable scholarships from their chosen schools — the Shepherd Music Society Scholarship from Rice University, the Platinum Presidential Scholarship from Oakland University, the Leading Presidential Platinum Scholarship from Michigan Tech, the Lux Esto Scholarship from Kalamazoo College, Trustee and Leadership and Engagement Scholarship Awards from Cornell College and Elon University, Presidential Scholarships from Muhlenberg College and WPI; Regents’ Awards from the University of Michigan, Dean’s Scholarship from UC Santa Cruz and Merit Scholarships from DePaul University. Class members were admitted to the listed institutions and enrolled at colleges and universities in BOLD CAPS.

Albion College Allegheny College Bard College Beloit College Boston University Bowie State University Bradley University Bryn Mawr College Butler University Carnegie Mellon University

Morgan State University Mount Holyoke College MUHLENBERG COLLEGE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Northwestern University OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Oakwood University Occidental College Ohio Wesleyan University Pitzer College

Central State University College Of Wooster CORNELL COLLEGE Delaware State University DENISON UNIVERSITY DEPAUL UNIVERSITY Dillard University Drexel University Earlham College EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY ELON UNIVERSITY Florida A&M University Emerson University Fordham University Furman University Goucher College Harris-Stowe State University Howard University Ithaca College Juniata College KALAMAZOO COLLEGE Kettering University Knox College Lehigh University Loyola University (Chicago) McDaniel College MIAMI UNIVERSITY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Purdue University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute RICE UNIVERSITY Rochester Institute Of Technology Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College Of Art And Design Skidmore College Spelman College Syracuse University Talladega College Temple University The New School EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITY OF TÜBINGEN (GERMANY) University Of California San Diego University Of California Santa Barbara UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ University Of Dayton UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DEARBORN University Of Rochester UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN Vanderbilt University Wayne State University WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE XAVIER UNIVERSITY (LOUISIANA) Xavier University (Ohio) Yale University Singapore

KIT

PASSIONS & PURSUITS Roeper students are not simply products of the curriculum; they are an integral part of the learning process and are encouraged to be fully engaged community participants by uncovering their passions in a myriad of venues. This important dimension allows students to experience the special rewards and self-awareness that come from exploration and mastering. Here is a snapshot of the Class of 2019 journey:

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Nicholas Mojares

BLACK STUDENT UNION Myles Carr Tai Daniels Jonathan Gardner Madison Gladney Ashley Jones David Lee

BOOK CLUB

Hannah Wedepohl Joshua Osgood Ashley Jones

BUSINESS CLUB Myles Carr Austin DeGuia Sheldon Krause Rohan Shah

COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB

Ryan Blankenburg Madison Gladney Amanda Margolis Nicholas Mojares

DEBATE

Jonathan Gardner Eli Shaya

FASHION CLUB Myles Carr Tai Daniel Ashley Jones

FILM FESTIVAL

Emma Girolami

FORENSICS

Emma Girolami Joshua Hurwitz Nathan Moskowitz Tim Schaal Emma Sznewajs William Toland Leah Trunsky

FUN, FUN, FUN

Myles Carr Austin DeGuia Jonathan Gardner Madison Gladney Griffin Glick Joshua Hurwitz Sheldon Krause David Lee Nathan Moskowitz Tim Schaal Rohan Shah Griffin Siegel Hannah Wedepohl

GAY/STRAIGHT ALLIANCE Leah Trunsky

GIRLâ€™S MENTORING

Tai Daniels Madison Gladney Ashley Jones Hannah Wedepohl

JEWISH STUDENT UNION Sheldon Krause Nathan Moskowitz Griffin Siegel

LINGUISTICS CLUB Austin Gray Sean McFall

MODEL UN

Ryan Blankenburg Austin DeGuia Emma Girolami Griffin Glick Arjun Kumar Amanda Margolis Joshua Osgood Tim Schaal Rohan Shah

THE MUSE

Emma Girolami Austin Gray Leah Trunsky

MUSIC CLUB

Sheldon Krause

GENDER BLENDER Leah Trunksy

MUSIC INSTRUMENTAL Tai Daniels Madison Gladney Sophia Karmanos Sean McFall Nicholas Mojares

VOCAL

Emma Girolami Madison Gladney Evan Heasley William Toland

PORTUGUESE CLUB

Myles Carr Tai Daniels Austin DeGuia Emma Girolami Joshua Hurwitz

QUIZ BOWL

Nicholas Mojares

ROBOTICS

Cameron Huneke Amanda Margolis Sean McFall

ROEPER DANCE ENSEMBLE Ashley Jones

ROEPER TABLETOP Tim Schaal William Toland

ROEPER THEATRE COMPANY

Ryan Blankenburg Tai Daniels Emma Girolami Nathan Moskowitz Joshua Osgood Griffin Siegel Leah Trunsky Hannah Wedepohl

SIERRA CLUB

Ryan Blankenburg Jonathan Gardner Emma Girolami Sophia Karmanos Amanda Margolis Nathan Moskowitz Emma Sznewajs

SPIRIT SQUAD

Myles Carr Griffin Glick David Lee Nathan Moskowitz Hannah Wedepohl

SPIRIT WEEK COMMITTEE

Ashley Jones Nathan Moskowitz Emma Sznewajs

SPORTS BASEBALL

Joshua Hurwitz Griffin Siegel

BASKETBALL

Myles Carr Tai Daniels Jonathan Gardner Griffin Glick Joshua Hurwitz Ashley Jones Sheldon Krause David Lee Griffin Siegel

CROSS COUNTRY

Sophia Karmanos Amanda Margolis Hannah Wedepohl

GOLF

Austin DeGuia Cameron Huneke Sheldon Krause Rohan Shan

SOCCER

Myles Carr Tai Daniels Austin DeGuia Jonathan Gardner Emma Girolami Madison Gladney Griffin Glick Ashley Jones Sophia Karmanos Amanda Margolis Nathan Moskowitz Tim Schaal Emma Sznewajs Hannah Wedepohl

TUNA TALK

Madison Gladney Austin Gray Joshua Hurwitz Arjun Kumar

STUDENT DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Ryan Blankenburg Myles Carr Tai Daniels Austin DeGuia Madison Gladney Griffin Glick Ashley Jones Sophia Karmanos Amanda Margolis Nathan Moskowitz Hannah Wedepohl

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UMOJA

Austin Gray

YEARBOOK

Austin DeGuia Madison Gladney Ashley Jones Sheldon Krause David Lee Nathan Moskowitz Emma Sznewajs

YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS

Emma Girolami Griffin Glick Emma Sznewajs

YOUNG OUTSIDERS Austin Gray

Ryan Blankenburg Austin DeGuia Griffin Glick Sheldon Krause Sean McFall Nicholas Mojares Hannah Wedepohl

TRACK & FIELD Myles Carr Griffin Glick Ashley Jones

VOLLEYBALL

Emma Girolami Madison Gladney Ashley Jones Emma Sznewajs

KIT

Juliette Olejnik

Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund

A WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST ALUMNI Delivered at the annual Junior/Senior Dinner: As the Alumni Director, I would like to be the first to officially welcome you into the Roeper alumni community — Welcome class of 2019! As you make this transition from Roeper students to alumni, you are joining more than 2,000 alums who have come before you and have thrived in their lives after Roeper. Annemarie once said, “People don’t stop being gifted when they graduate, when they fall in love, when they pick a job, when they have children, or when they are confronted with the problems of the world. They bring to this all of the qualities that identified them as being gifted, and all the qualities that identified them as human beings.” Our hope is that this school has prepared you for your journey not only as college students and future employees, but also as human beings in every aspect of your lives. Here at Roeper, you have been encouraged to voice your opinions, to help shape decisions that impact the school, as well as to treat each other with dignity and respect, and to lead your lives with purpose. I hope that your experience at Roeper has provided you with the skills and confidence to help you fulfill your own personal destiny, whatever that may be. Even though it is now time for you to move on, please know that all of us want to keep in touch with you. We invite you to come back and visit during school events like plays and sporting games, and participate in reunions and alumni events. We want to keep in touch with you and celebrate your milestones because you are, and always will be, a part of the Roeper family. Parents, that includes you too. You are all a part of this family, and I promise to do my best to serve as a bridge that keeps you connected to the school. The completion of your Roeper journey is a big accomplishment, but it is just the beginning. I know thinking about your next step is exciting and maybe also a bit scary, but I’m here to tell you you’re not alone. You will always have an entire community here at Roeper behind you, as well as an entire community of Roeper alums who have come before you. Roeper people can be found all over the world, so you can be sure that wherever you are headed, there will be a Roeperian nearby who is eager to connect, to answer questions, and to serve as a resource for you. And don’t ever forget, you also have each other and the lifelong friendships you’ve made here. As is tradition, the alumni office has included a couple of gifts in the bags you are receiving tonight. One is a mug listing all of your classmates to cherish as a keepsake, and the other is a Roeper branded laundry bag to remind you of us… and to remind you to do your laundry. Once again, congratulations Class of 2019, and welcome to the Roeper alumni community!

Roeper people can be found all over the world, so you can be sure that wherever you are headed, there will be a Roeperian nearby who is eager to connect, to answer questions, and to serve as a resource for you.

KIT

Denita Banks-Sims

Director of Development and Publications

PARTING THOUGHTS Nearly 25 years ago, Bill McNees — a revered past Maintenance Director at the Roeper School and mentor to Ray Boyl, the current and amazing Maintenance Director — designed and built a lovely schoolhouse bookshelf for my children. Moreover, as many Roeperians know, both Roeper campuses were favored recipients of his craftsmanship. (Once Bill built something, it was built for endurance and durability.) We now host some of our favorite children’s books on these shelves and as my own children are “alumni lifers,” our collection includes the recommendations of their extraordinary teachers, and volumes endorsed by former Roeper Librarians Lee Evelev, Sandy Short and Carole Gibson.

“Remember the Ol’ Negro Spiritual in times of strife: ‘Lord, I don’t want you to move no Mountain; Just give me the strength to climb.’”

Among the collection on this special book shelf, is an 11” x 14” x 4” Funk and Wagnall’s Webster Dictionary — tattered and worn on the binding — that my father gave me upon my high school graduation in 1976. A precursor to Google and at the time, a convenient and nimble academic resource! It has been decades since I opened the binding, but something drew me to it a few weeks ago in imagining the future of the incredible students I have come to know and admire from the Class of 2019, his inscription to me still resonates …

“Remember the Ol’ Negro Spiritual in times of strife: ‘Lord, I don’t want you to move no Mountain; Just give me the strength to climb.’”

This sage advice, now resting on the sturdy shelves that were built to last, is now my message to the exceptional members of the Class of 2019. We are better because of you. Keep climbing! Yours,

THE ROEPER SCHOOL

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 16 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304

41190 WOODWARD AVENUE BLOOMFIELD HILLS • MI 48304-5020

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Class of 2019 Parents, Families & Friends ~ Commencement photos & video are available! TO PURCHASE PHOTOS, PLEASE VISIT … markadrianphotography.com > Clients > Roeper > Class of 2019 TO PURCHASE A VIDEO ($10 EACH), PLEASE CONTACT … development@roeper.org