The Jag - Fall 2021

JAG

THE

Fall 2021

Dear Friends, It has been a challenging time to be leading a school community, but as we are so often reminded, when we push through difficult times, the rewards are even that much more impactful and important. We speak often as a school community of the value of our agility and optimism, even in the face of daunting circumstances. We embodied these values during the public health crisis by keeping our students on campus. Having our community together, in person, facilitated faculty and students to bring new ideas, build new program elements, and elevate our “Be Ambitious” value to new heights.

renowned and interesting array of colleges across the country.

Their optimism for the future, combined with the passion, creativity, and problem solving skills they developed and refined at Wellington, will help them shape the world in thoughtful and dynamic ways.

I hope that as you read through the pages of this edition of The Jag, you will also see those characteristics come through in our alumni. The work that Sophia Mohr is doing, leading the innovation and access of the transportation systems around Columbus, captures the Wellington ethos in so many tangible ways. It has been wonderful to connect with Sophia, as she also lends her perspective and expertise to our own Program Innovation Committee.

“When

we push through difficult times, the rewards are even that much more impactful and important.”

DR. JEFF TERWIN

All Wellington students, past and present, bring hope for the future and adaptability to new challenges, no matter how formidable. Our recent graduates have embarked to a

We also continue to build on our entrepreneurial roots. I could not be more proud to highlight the next step in our school’s evolution as we formalize an entrepreneurial curriculum,

while also supporting the new Wellington Start-up, our very own business incubator for student-inspired ventures. Alex Bandar’s inspiring new energy and dynamism will help students foster the critical entrepreneurial skill of keeping an eye toward the future, among many other skills. We are excited to see how Alex, along with our teachers, develop and implement the curriculum and Wellington Start-up. We often speak of our program being authentic and relevant, and this is certainly a new step toward those goals.

Alongside all of this energy inside our classrooms, I also show up each day to campus greeted with an array of earthmovers and construction apparatus. It is so exciting to see our Believing Campaign come to life, driven by the generosity of this amazing community! There is still work to be done on that front, and I appreciate the ongoing trust and partnership from our community.

The campus will continue to grow and evolve to support our students. This work matters more than ever and this edition of The Jag highlights the impact of that work. I am so proud to be a member of this community.

Go Jags! Keep Believing!

THE JAG is published

by Wellington for all members of its community. Please send any comments to Jessica Young at communications@ wellington.org.

EDITORS:

Yvonne Johnson P ’25 ’27 Jessica Young CONTRIBUTORS:

Alex Bandar Kim Catley Yvonne Johnson P ’25 ’27 Kerrie Kirkpatrick Makiva McIntosh P ’31 Amanda Pierce Jessica Young COPY EDITORS:

Ben Anderson P ’28 Kim Catley Christine Conkle Melanie Eggleton Brenda Porter P ’12 ’17 Laurie Beth Sweeney P ’29 ’33 PHOTO CREDITS:

Ben Anderson P ’28 Jaime Bennati Benjamin Derkin Nick Fancher Andy Foster Amanda Pierce Cindy Ray P ’20 ’22 ’25 DESIGN:

Jeff Terwin Head of School

Bluewave Creative

TABLE OF CONTENTS

If you don’t use your voice, you can’t make an impact, and you can’t make change.”

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SOPHIA MOHR ’91

Moving People Closer to Their Dreams ON THE COVER: Sophia Mohr ’91

FEATURES

GRADUATION

A Side-by-Side Approach to Middle School Education 26

A CLOSER LOOK

ATHLETICS

Curiosity is a Guiding Principle for New Head of Lower School

Alumni News

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Jan Billman and James Allen Remembered

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Entrepreneurship Program Jaguars’ Joy Empowers Positive Change Believing Campaign Update 30

ALUMNI

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Middle School Softball 34

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Award Winners 35

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Memory Painting Acrylic Painting

EMERSON THOMPSON ADRIEN BASHOMBANA ’31’24

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FEATURE

Sophia Baidya Mohr: Moving People Closer to Their Dreams 4

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“The kingdom of Nepal is a landlocked country bordered by Tibet on the north and India to the east, west, and south. It is wellknown as the birthplace of Buddha and for the Himalayas. Although it is a small country, it contains the greatest variation in altitude on earth, from the lowlands of the Tarai in the south, to the world’s tallest mountain, Mt. Everest (29,028 feet).”

- JYOTI PATHAK, “TASTE OF NEPAL”

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Mobility is also crucial for the future success of the city. Columbus is the 14th largest city in the country and is projected to add 600,000 more people in the next 20 years. In response to those startling stats, Mohr often asks people to compare Columbus with cities that have gone through similar rapid growth, like Austin and Nashville, and learn from the constriction those places are now experiencing because mobility wasn’t addressed earlier.

When Dr. Maheswora Baidya and his wife Beena immigrated to the United States in the 1970s, there were so few fellow Nepali in the country, they were classified as “other Asians.” The implication was they were not a substantial enough population to track.

It’s a part of their family history that daughter Sophia Baidya Mohr ’91 shares from time to time when speaking about where she has come from, particularly in the context of where she is now. As the first chief innovation officer for the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), whose mission is to move every life forward, mobility has been a life-changing force for the Baidya family. It allowed her father to first leave Nepal to pursue an education in India, the U.K., and finally the U.S. “Immobility is limiting,” Mohr explains over lunch this summer not far from her home in Columbus. She is a great conversationalist, genuinely interested in hearing your life story before jumping into her own. What drew Mohr to her current role at COTA is the opportunity it represents for everyone in central Ohio. For many, affordable public transportation is essential to their livelihood. It provides access to better jobs, grocery stores, medical care, and education.

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According to Mohr, Columbus currently only moves 2-6% of the population by public transit and has one of the highest single-occupancy vehicle rates in the U.S. compared to cities of our size.

By comparison, Seattle moves about 35% of its population. Massive growth can be an exciting prospect for the advantages it represents for residents.

It can be equally daunting, however, for a sprawling network of suburbs and deep-rooted neighborhoods if there isn’t the infrastructure to support it. This is where innovation must step in, and Mohr is enthusiastic about COTA leading the charge. They were first in the U.S. to introduce full-time busing-on-demand in the northeast

area of Central Ohio for passengers on less frequently used routes; Mohr likens it to an Uber for buses. COTA is also using artificial intelligence to predict congestion and accidents that will redefine mobility in Columbus and has plans to open an Innovation Lab in early 2022.

Mohr’s own mobility was influenced by her parents’ emphasis on education.

For them, it was the key to success. She came to Wellington in 5th grade after having been a student at the original Fishinger Road School. Her sister and brother, Sonia Baidya ’98 and Robin Baidya ’03, later attended Wellington as well. Recalling how small the class sizes were at the time, only 14-15 children in each grade, the community felt like a second family to her. To this day, the members of the Class of 1991 remain very close, staying in touch and getting together whenever possible.

PICTURED Above left: Mohr as a child.

Below: Mohr’s 1991 yearbook feature.

“If you don’t use your voice, you can’t make an impact and you can’t make change.”

SOPHIA BAIDYA MOHR ’91

Mohr also remembers with great pride the diversity within their group, from racial and ethnic to geographic and socio-economic, at a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts were rarely galvanized or even discussed.

When the time came to look at colleges, it was a teacher at Wellington who first told Mohr she should look into engineering programs. It was a field of study completely unknown to her, but she quickly became interested in the humanity behind designing solutions

for everyday problems. Mohr went on to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial and systems engineering, with a specialization in cognitive systems engineering, from The Ohio State University. While an intern at IBM, working on the user experience of personal computers, Mohr realized she wanted to be involved in the design process at an earlier stage to have greater influence on the end product.

director of product development, tasked with identifying what customers most needed and how to provide it for them, before being named vice president of owner experience. In her role, Mohr led efforts to design and implement strategies for the aircraft experience, digital experience, data quality partnerships, and aircraft interior design.

Meeting her today, it’s hard to believe she wasn’t always masterfully adept at public speaking. As the daughter of parents who wanted her to assimilate and blend in, she was painfully shy and always reading because that’s what she was told would help her succeed

PICTURED Mohr proudly standing in front of a COTA bus.

She joined NetJets in 2004 as a senior business analyst and later became WELLINGTON • THE JAG

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in America. Early in Mohr’s career as a consultant, however, she gave a client presentation that didn’t go very well. Afterwards, her manager pulled her aside and said, “You know, people probably want to hear what you have to say.” Mohr credits that moment for helping her to realize that she needed to speak up, especially as a woman in her field. If you don’t use your voice, she said in her keynote address at the Girl Scouts’ 2020 State of the Girl, “you can’t make an impact, and you can’t make change.”

Part of discovering her voice involved taking improv classes and eventually forming the first all-female improv group in Columbus, The Shimmy Shake Project. One of the key lessons she took from that experience was the importance of vulnerability. It’s a skill that she uses today as a public speaker and a leader in the workplace.

When asked what she thinks good leadership entails, Mohr focuses not on the leader but the team. “It’s important for them to know that you’re always there for them. They should feel supported and safe to have an open and honest dialogue. And take time to celebrate the victories.”

Mohr embodies all of those qualities in a gracious forthrightness that comes through in her ability to see the challenges she has faced in life as the pathway for her accomplishments. “Our past has a purpose - it drives who you are and where you are today.”

Throughout her life, as a student and professional, she has more often than not been the only woman in a room filled with men. In her State of the Girl address, Mohr mentions looking forward to a world in which fields 8

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of study and work aren’t defined as predominantly one gender. She sees the solution as twofold.

“There are two sides to the equation: providing early exposure to girls to pique their interest in science and technology but also to have males to support them by providing more opportunities.”

As the mother of two boys, 12-year old Jackson and nine-year-old Beckett, Mohr believes in dreaming big for them while also imparting the importance of using their voices not only for themselves but for others as well.

In 2018, she traveled with her sons and husband, Ron, to Nepal. It was a deeply meaningful full-circle moment.

With family still very much at the center of her life, Mohr is committed to showing her children as much of the world as possible to give them a broader perspective of people and places. For the daughter of immigrants who crossed borders and continents in search of greater opportunity, dedicating her life’s work to helping

others move forward in pursuit of their own dreams is not unlike summiting the world’s highest peak.

PICTURED Sophia Mohr with her family.

The Alien Invasion Scream ESHA ILA ’22

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GRADUATION

PICTURED Left: Sarim Siddiqui ’21, Carolyn Bennett ’21 Right: Dr. Jeff Terwin, Zubin Reyazi ’21

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Jaguars’ Joy Empowers Positive Change Wellington’s 33rd commencement, held on Friday, June 4, was an inspiring tribute to the extraordinary resilience and determination of the Class of 2021.

During an unprecedented year of learning and living, these seniors were able to look past the limitations placed on them due to COVID-19. Instead, they saw opportunities for growth and transformation that distinguished them as leaders of positivity and perseverance at school and in the world beyond.

In spite of the challenges they faced, the class was able to create a culminating experience at Wellington that was distinctly their own. Some were award-winning artists while others were state champion and Olympic-hopeful athletes.

Many were exceptional scholars of government, neuroscience, and engineering. Their incredible hard work and focus led to acceptances and matriculations at an impressive array of colleges and universities throughout North America, from Princeton and Dartmouth to University of California, Davis and McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

“Seniors, over these last four years you were unapologetically you,” Terwin said, “while also taking care of one another along the way. You have taken our school values of Be Yourself and Be Ambitious to new heights and you truly believe that anything is possible...This group has taught us that pushing forth with reckless abandon, a spirit of adventure, and confidence that you will figure it out often

Held outdoors on Wellington’s campus, the graduation ceremony began with seniors, adorned with robes and smiles from ear-to-ear, making their way through a balloon arch walkway while “Pomp and Circumstance” played. Marionna Hannah ’21 opened the program with a stunning rendition of the national anthem before Head of School Dr. Jeff Terwin addressed the class. He provided an introspective look back at all they had accomplished, as individuals and as a group, to reshape a world that had been seemingly upended overnight.

He marveled at their growth, agility, and evolution as people.

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PICTURED Evan Henry ’21 Joshua Ghosh-Groen ’21

leads to figuring it out. Don’t bend to wind; push headlong into the gale. You’ll be stronger on the other side.”

The Class of 2021 included 10 Lifers, those students who have attended Wellington since prekindergarten, kindergarten, or 1st grade. To honor their commitment to the school, these students were given a blue honor cord at the Senior Celebration Dinner earlier in the week to wear at commencement. The upper school had also previously hosted an early ceremony for Chinese students graduating this year but returning home before June 4. It was a moving celebration in which faculty, students, and families watching via Zoom from China could all feel included in this important milestone occasion.

“I want our class to be remembered by what we brought to the community here at Wellington,” he said. “We deserve to be remembered for the sense of togetherness and joy we brought to the art room, the soccer field, the theater, the robotics team, all communities at Wellington.”

Head of Upper School Rishi Raghunathan P ’27 ’30 imparted to students a few of the pivotal life lessons he had learned through the years. From accepting that failure is not fatal to knowing you are never alone, he encouraged them to be agents of their own destiny. “Life is challenging,” Raghunathan said. “The only way out is through. Your attitude, your effort, your smile, your heart, will make the difference. When you get to college, choose to show up. Choose to be present in your journey.”

“Life is challenging. The only way out is through.

Your attitude, your effort, your smile, your heart will make the difference. When you get to college, choose to show up. Choose to be present in your journey.”

RISHI RAGHUNATHAN P ’27 ’30, HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

The outstanding talent of the class was exemplified by Music Award recipient Isaac Brown ’21, who performed “The Debutante” by Herbert L. Clarke on the trumpet, and Rory O’Sullivan ’21, elected class speaker by his peers. In his address, O’Sullivan wanted to turn the focus away from COVID and instead highlight the special moments and incredible people who made Wellington unforgettable.

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The legacy of the Wellington Class of 2021 will be not just their individual stories, powerful as they are, but also the tremendous impact they made together during a critical time in world history. “No matter where you roam,” Terwin said to Wellington’s newest alumni, “continue to believe in the power of you. You are Jaguars. Anything is possible.”

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CLASS OF 2021 COMMENCEMENT

1: Marionna Hannah ’21 2: Olivia Loudon ’21, Julius Skestos ’21, Lu Godfrey ’21

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3: Trinity Scott ’21, Tanya Scott P ’21 4: Lola Perez ’21 5: Samuel Schwartz ’21 6: Declan Unverferth ’21 7: Artie Taylor P ’23, Marcus Stewart ’21

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8: Taylor Vargo ’21, Yunruo Shen ’21, Audrey Arman ’21

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CLASS OF 2021 COMMENCEMENT

1: Vincent Giang ’21 2: Kethan Mokadam ’21

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3: Scout Zaas ’21, Sky Jackett ’21 4: Rory O’Sullivan ’21 5: Isaac Brown ’21 6: Maximilian Windl ’21 7: Zhiheng Guo ’21, Dr. Jeff Terwin, Yunxi Li ’21, Rishi Raghunathan P ’27 ’30, Yuxin Fu ’21, Zhuohao Yuan ’21

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8: Kiran Mokadam ’21 9: Justin Cockrell ’21, Avery Rennick ’21 10: Eoin Basobas O’Carroll ’21, Dr. Jeff Terwin

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11: Avery Rennick ’21

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12: Heath Thomas ’21 13: Brian Biernat P ’18 ’21, Griffin Biernat ’21, Teresa Biernat P ’18 ’21 14: Evan Manley ’21, Ted Manley P ’21 ’24 15: Jordan Livits ’21, Olivia Loudon ’21

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16: Matthew Reid ’21, Audrey Arman ’21

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CLASS OF 2021 COMMENCEMENT

1: Pranav Kora ’21 2: Sky Jackett ’21

3: Carsten Judge ’21 4: Savanna Riley ’21, Noora Rajjoub ’21, Caroline Cooke ’21, Lauren Sabol ’21, Christine Cooke ’21, Reagan Kadlic ’21 5: Hasan Abaza ’21 6: Sophia Cencer ’21, L: Anastasios Callanan ’21, R: Noora Rajjoub ’21

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7: Catherine Dison P ’21, Carina Dison ’21 8: Victor Thompson ’21, Lu Godfrey ’21 9: Owen Roth ’21, Abraham Roth P ’21, Lisa Downing P ’21, Elliot Roth ’21

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10: Angelina Grohovsky ’21 11: Sophia Dunlap ’21 12: William Miller ’21 13: Yookyoung Kang ’21

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Stained Glass Window RHEA SINGH ’22

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A CLOSER LOOK

Faculty News

John Kruzan DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

Me-Chelle Burkhalter P ’22 MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER

Burkhalter was named Middle School Teacher of the Year by Columbus Parent & ThisWeek News.

Kruzan is the 2021 Ohio State Frontier Cartridge Gunfighter Champion.

The Single Action Shooting Society challenges shooters to use guns of the old west in competitions featuring pistols, rifles, and shotguns. All cowboy action shooters have an alias styled after the characters from old western movies and TV shows, so Kruzan is known as Johnny Long Pants on the circuit.

Laurie Parsons LOWER SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER

Parsons was a recipient of the Columbus Symphony’s 2021 Elementary Music Educator Award. The awards honor individuals who make a difference in the community through a dedication to music education and promotion of a greater understanding of and appreciation for the art form.

Drew Eberly P ’35 UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER

Eberly was awarded a Greater Columbus Arts Council grant for his songwriting. The grant funds were used specifically to bring an album of songs he has been working on to a full, vinyl release. The album, digital and vinyl, was released November 12.

Eberly also performed in the Actors Theatre production of “Much Ado About Nothing” in May and June.

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Dia Mixon

Brenda Porter P ’12 ’17

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL SPANISH TEACHER

MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Mixon authored her first children’s book, “One Whole Me.” The book tells the story of a Colombian-American child embracing the two cultures that make him unique. Written in a blend of Spanish and English, the story showcases language, food, family, music, and more.

Porter was awarded the Upper Arlington Civic Association Golden Apple.

Becky Fuller Retires She derived great satisfaction watching students master new and challenging skills. Fuller was able to push students thanks to her dedicated focus on building relationships with students based on trust and mutual respect.

“Becky truly cared for her students, but also for her colleagues,” said Laurie Parsons, lower school music teacher. “She always had a kind word and smile for everyone she encountered. She was ready to lend a helping hand or listening ear whenever needed, and will continue to do so in her retirement.”

Lindsey Smith P ’26 ’33 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Smith appeared on the podcast “Conquering Columbus” in April.

After 35 years at Wellington, lower school physical education teacher Becky Fuller P ’08 ’11 ’16 retired this spring.

Fuller held many roles during her time at Wellington, at various points teaching physical education to all grades. In addition to her teaching duties, she coached tennis, field hockey, basketball, soccer, and softball.

Dr. Jeff Terwin

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Terwin was featured on NBC4 and WBNS 10TV this summer sharing his cicada expertise as a trained zoologist.

Fuller found Wellington in the yellow pages of the phone book when she was newly married and looking for a job. She sent individually typed letters to every school in central Ohio before Wellington hired her for the enormous task of creating the school’s physical education curriculum.

During her time at Wellington, Fuller witnessed a changing landscape towards health and wellness and adroitly adapted.

Fuller has incorporated new lessons, from pickleball to geocaching, to help students be their healthiest selves throughout their lives. Her creative approach to health and fitness led her to create an Iditarod on Roberts Field, complete with team sled races.

The parent of three Wellington grads, Ashley ’08, Jessie ’11, and Preston ’16, Fuller encouraged her children to take advantage of Wellington’s opportunities.

“Ashley and Preston were captains on athletic teams,” Fuller said. “Jessie was a student coordinator of the robotics team that went to worlds. They knew that they could participate in fine arts, performing arts and athletics.”

Now she looks forward to traveling, camping, kayaking, fishing, spending time with family, and volunteering. Her parting words echo her last 35 years of lessons: “Go Jags! Now, get outside, stay well, and have fun!”

PICTURED Fuller at 2021 Field Day.

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A CLOSER LOOK

Wellington Welcomes New Faculty and Staff Wellington is pleased to welcome 21 new members to our community this fall.

Alex Bandar

Shelby Castle

ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM COORDINATOR

UPPER SCHOOL FRENCH

Lehigh University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Discovered a love of motorcycle riding while joining his friend for lessons

Ben Anderson P ’28

Ivy Anderson

CREATIVE BRAND COORDINATOR

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

The Ohio State University Ohio Dominican University

Has raced or ridden bikes in the U.S., Canada, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, England, France, Belgium, Italy, and Germany Favorite bands are Queen and Genesis, both of which shaped his lifelong music tastes

Murray State University

Dream is to own acres of land and build a small family farm Favorite show is “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” because it’s hilarious and tastefully done while commenting on modern American culture

Favorite movie is “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension” because it’s a fun film that pairs a polymath physicist, neurosurgeon, test pilot, rockstar with a ragtag team of aliens to battle evil

Loves reality television shows because of the drama and interesting personalities

HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL The Ohio State University Emory University

Neelie Barthenheier P ’27 ’30 Middlebury College University of Wisconsin

Has a beloved 96-pound Mastiff–Poodle mix named Sally Favorite movie is “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” because she watched it with her kids and the humor stands the test of time THE JAG • FALL 2021

Studied abroad in southern France and traveled to six European countries

Holly Fidler P ’28

ADMISSIONS COORDINATOR

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Bowling Green State University

In 2002 taught at Ecole Kenwood, a middle school 2 miles from Wellington “​​The most exciting part of my job is watching teachers spark wonder and creativity in our littlest Jags!”

Eryn Gass

Cat Hiller

Kerrie Kirkpatrick

EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING GUIDE

EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING GUIDE

ALUMNI & DONOR EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR

Ohio University

The Ohio State University

The Ohio State University

Worked at the Columbus Zoo as a camp counselor and handled animals Favorite musical is “Bandstand” because it is rooted in history

Served in the Peace Corps in Papua New Guinea Favorite show is “Money Heist” because she and her son enjoy watching it together

Has fostered over 50 dogs since 2013 (and only kept two) “I love hearing stories of alumni and how Wellington was instrumental in their life.”

Cynthia Hahn

Lauren Karap

LOWER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

LOWER SCHOOL LEARNING GUIDE

Max McGrath

Ohio University

LOWER SCHOOL LEARNING GUIDE

University of Findlay

Worked at Cedar Point and used to give the time-on-the-hour Coast Guard and boater updates for the Cedar Point Peninsula Loves country music, especially Blake Shelton

Loves the Columbus Blue Jackets Favorite musical artist is Taylor Swift because she grew up listening to Swift’s music

Pennsylvania State University

Formerly worked at COSI as an outreach educator traveling to schools all over Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia Favorite picture book is Kobi Yamada’s “What Do You Do With An Idea?” because it shows how initially scary ideas can grow to be truly magnificent

Renée Mercurio MIDDLE SCHOOL FRENCH University of New Hampshire

Races sailboats every week “The most exciting part of my job is sharing my love and passion for the French language and culture with my students.”

Jodi ​​Porterfield LOWER SCHOOL LEAD Lesley University University of Cincinnati

Loves Kaira Rouda’s (a former Wellington parent) books “I love being with kindergartners every day. Their love for exploration, learning and growth is contagious.”

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Kelly Presson

Mike Ropke

Dianna Webster

Jessica Young

LOWER SCHOOL LEAD

UPPER SCHOOL MATH

The Ohio State University

Columbia University New York University

LOWER SCHOOL LEARNING GUIDE

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

The Ohio State University University of Kentucky

University of Kansas University of Utah The Ohio State University

Went skydiving over Australia’s Great Barrier Reef “I love seeing young learners make discoveries, develop friendships, and take risks to achieve more than what they thought was ever possible!”

Lived and taught mathematics on three continents “I love being able to interact with teachers and students who keep every day fresh.

My colleagues have content expertise and a variety of life experiences I can always learn from, and exuberant students fuel me to stay passionate about education.”

Loves being outdoors, especially running with her longtime running group, skiing with family, and playing tennis Favorite bands/ musicians include Prince and The Revolution, The Rolling Stones, Eric Church, and Chris Stapleton

Ellen Rhomberg LOWER SCHOOL LEAD

Becky Woodruff

University of Memphis

Certified yoga instructor for adults and children Loves the band Phish and has seen them live over 15 times

TEACHING LIBRARIAN

Chris Trubiani LOWER SCHOOL LEARNING GUIDE Tulane University Miami University

Has a French Bulldog, Truffles, who snorts to talk Favorite movie is “Meet Me in St. Louis” because he loves Christmas 24

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Kent State University Otterbein University

Donated one of her kidneys over the summer Favorite picture book is “Small Saul” because it’s about a pirate who isn’t good at pirating

Lifetime member of the Girl Scouts Favorite movie is Disney’s “Rocketman” because it has space and bad jokes

The Golf Match

SOLOMON GRAHAM ’27

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FEATURE

A Side-by-Side Approach to Middle School Education

By Kim Catley

Cristen Geary P ’35 & Lissa Wade, co-heads of middle school

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Lissa Wade and Cristen Geary both began their teaching careers after first realizing a deep passion for their respective subject areas.

through one-off lessons. Geary went back to school, earned a teaching license, and landed her first full-time teaching job at Wellington.

Geary studied zoology and interned as a naturalist for the Columbus Metro Parks. As she led education programs at the park and in local classrooms, she realized she wanted to connect with students in a way that wasn’t possible

Meanwhile, Wade’s introduction came at a young age through her grandparents, both French professors. Her grandfather spent a year abroad in France and became very close with one family in

particular. The family relationship has continued through four generations, including Wade’s own children, and instilled a lifelong love of language that she brought to Wellington.

Then, 10 years ago, they both arrived at Wellington: Wade as a fourth- and fifth-grade French teacher and Geary as a fifth- and sixth-grade science teacher. Together, they’ve spent the last decade collaborating to promote academic engagement and socialemotional health of children in 5th-8th grades.

Now, Wade and Geary are embarking on yet another shared experience — this time as co-heads of the middle school.

The pair has a tight-knit, collaborative friendship and sometimes finish each other’s sentences. Their office is often filled with laughter, and they look to one another as a sounding board for ideas and challenges.

some are new to teaching, and some have been teaching for 25, 30 years.

That is one of our biggest assets,” Geary says. “Trying to be out in the hallways, connecting with the teachers, writing a quick thank you note — those are all important.”

“We want to make sure that they feel seen and heard, and we communicate that we know it is really hard to be a teacher right now.”

Geary and Wade are also still teaching, which keeps them attuned to the needs of both faculty and students.

Together, they want to foster an environment that allows students to feel supported and part of a larger community. This focus on socialemotional learning promotes academic confidence and encourages middle

school students to take risks, to advocate for their needs, and to better understand who they are and who they’re becoming.

“When students stop short of fulfilling their potential, it’s often because they didn’t have an adult who was a champion for them, who was helping them overcome obstacles,” Wade says.

“Students can’t learn until they trust, until they feel safe, until they feel seen and heard, until they feel they truly belong. I am super motivated to help young people feel all of those things so that they can go out and do the great work that they are dreaming of doing.”

PICTURED Alice Clark ’28 and Ella Noritz ’28 prepare for the winter choir concert.

“It’s an excellent partnership, and we’re often in lockstep in our thinking,” Wade says. “One of us will come in and say, ‘I was thinking about this,’ and the other will hold up a Post-It note and say, ‘I already thought of that. It’s right here.’”

However, they also bring individual talents and skillsets, giving Wade room to focus on student life and advising, while Geary turns her attention to middle school faculty development, from professional development and growth to scheduling logistics.

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A CLOSER LOOK

A New Leader for Early Childhood

by Kim Catley

“We still work closely with the lower school to ensure there’s alignment in programming and our kindergarteners are more than ready to go into first grade here,” she says. “But what a three-year-old needs is very different from what a fourth-grader in lower school needs.”

Shelley Brown P ’32 ’33, head of early childhood From her office in the early childhood hallway, Shelley Brown P ’32 ’33 can sense the buzz of excitement coming from young children who love coming to school every day.

“School is such an amazing place when you’re three, four, and five years old,” Brown says. “There’s a lot of laughter and joy.”

As Wellington’s first director of early childhood education, Brown is working to distinguish the unique needs of students in prekindergarten and kindergarten, from curriculum and programs to staffing and space.

For instance, the youngest Jags have larger blocks of time for outdoor play and student choice activities, and benefit from an instructional approach that fully integrates families, students, and teachers in the process.

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Brown says they’re especially focused on social-emotional learning and helping children understand their place as members of a wider community. Lower school counselor Danielle Gibbs P ’31 ’35 can often be found in the classroom and on the playground facilitating conflict resolution and other skills in the moment. Brown also says the teachers are building a foundation of curiosity that encourages students to ask questions and guides them through the process of finding answers — all

PICTURED Raghunathan with upper school students Lindsay Harris ‘21 and Jordan Wurapa ‘21

skills that will serve them later, whether they’re in 3rd grade, 11th grade, or beyond.

Brown brings 20 years of early childhood experience to the role, including 10 years at a progressive independent school outside Chicago. She came to Wellington as a prekindergarten teacher seven years ago after moving back to central Ohio, where she grew up. She wanted to find another school where every child was known as an individual, that pushed boundaries and made education fun and exciting, and a place where she could see her own children attending.

Wellington checked all of the boxes.

She’s excited to work with her team of early childhood educators as they work toward developing well-rounded students who are ready to tackle lower school — and to shape the world around them. She sees an opportunity to inspire other teachers and model how to meet their shared goals for the classroom.

“As a classroom teacher, you have such an impact on the 14 students in your room,” she says. “To now have an impact on 116 early childhood students — the thought of doing that year after year is really energizing.”

PICTURED Vivian Gibbs ’35 and Wren Oman ’35

touch, and experiment — the classroom space serves as an added instructor, encouraging independence and creativity.

PICTURED Adam Vigneron ’33

Curiosity is a Guiding Principle for New Head of Lower School

by Kim Catley

they pointed out beetles, slugs, and centipedes. She saw them learning about the insects’ habitat and their impact on nearby plants.

“They were observing, and noticing, and then wondering,” Fidler says. “I love to see that, and I think adults have a lot to learn about that wonder and that curiosity. We need that in our world.”

Holly Fidler P ’28, head of lower school On a fall morning, Holly Moten Fidler stopped by the Wellington garden as a group of young students were learning about decomposers. She watched as

As Wellington’s new head of the lower school, Fidler wants to create space for curiosity — beginning with the school’s new wing. She says that young children think in concrete and highly visual ways. By placing learning materials on their level — where they can reach,

Fidler is also looking at the lower school curriculum and using a literacy coach to help teachers further enhance their efficacy in the classroom. Fidler brings deep experience in academic leadership to the role. She was previously the lower school principal at St. Paul Academy and Summit School in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a faculty member at the Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where she also launched the North Star Collaborative Summer Academy and School Year Programming.

She worked to develop social-emotional learning, human sexuality, and wellness curricula, and was instrumental in ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at SPA. At Wellington, Fidler hopes to build on the existing curriculum, citing Math in Focus, Fundations, and special area enrichment courses as solid building blocks. But Fidler also wants to strengthen the alignment across disciplines and specialty area courses.

“I want to see how we can work on that coherence in a way that is future-focused, to have it not so compartmentalized,” she says. “Instead, I want to do what children’s minds do, which is to understand the interdependence and the intersection of all of these things.”

Fidler sees an opportunity to help Wellington solidify its identity, but also sees herself in the school’s values.

“I want to be curious. I want to be myself.

I want to be ambitious. I want to be empathetic. I want to be responsible,” she says. “Those things are at my core.”

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FEATURE

Believing Campaign Update

by Makiva McIntosh P ’31

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PICTURED Left: Rendering of MS Commons.

Below: Construction began October 11, 2021.

Along with physical enhancements, we will continue to power the people and programs that make this place extraordinary. The campaign will provide career-defining professional development opportunities for our world-class faculty and a groundbreaking curriculum focused on driving high-impact student engagement.

As we watch the next phase of the school being built brick by brick, we can’t help but marvel at the gratitude we feel for this community as you’ve stepped forward to support the Believing Campaign. When we introduced the Believing Campaign fully to the entire Wellington community in March 2021 we were all still figuring out how to manage life during a pandemic; yet, you didn’t let that stop you. Through your belief and philanthropy, we’ve raised over $8.8 million toward our $10.3 million goal and are moving closer to having a space that will fully support our innovative approach to education by creating a campus that physically embodies the school’s bold vision for the future.

by sharing your “why” with your peers. We simply could not be the school we are today, nor the school we hope to be in the future, without you. As we push forward to reaching the $10.3 million goal that will fund the 40,500-square-foot expansion, we want to take a moment to remind the community what we stand to gain through a successful campaign:

Our work to support the mission, purpose, and vision of our school continues and will be fueled by philanthropy. To the members of our community who’ve supported this campaign to date, we say, thank you! We hope you will continue your support and share in building a culture of philanthropy at our school

• Customized special areas for lower school science, art, music, and world language

• New middle school and new early childhood center • New classroom spaces for both the middle school and early childhood program, arranged around shared Learning Commons, that will strengthen community connectedness and foster student autonomy

As you view the pictures on this page – from ground-breaking to most importantly what we envision as our future – we hope you can also envision how this next phase will have a tremendous impact on today’s students and those yet to come. We hope you will see how it will elevate the value of a Wellington education to propel us to the forefront of independent education.

Continue to show your belief in Wellington by making a gift today at wellington.org/believing.

This campaign is for all of us, the believers.

• Rooftop outdoor learning space for middle school and individualized outdoor learning spaces for each early childhood classroom

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A CLOSER LOOK

Entrepreneurship Program

by Alex Bandar

More than a decade ago I started the Idea Foundry, a makerspace in Columbus, with the mission to help anyone bring their ideas to life.

Over the years, hundreds of Idea Foundry members have brought their imagination to reality, from

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physical products to digital apps to services and more. Having observed this process many times, I’ve learned that often people feel that the hard part of starting a business is creating the prototype. However, for most businesses, making the product is the easy part. Creating a sustainable operation from fabrication to customer service is more challenging.

I am a late-in-life convert to the “skill” of entrepreneurship. I no longer think it’s something you’re born with. Rather, it is fostered by seeing the world through an entrepreneurial lens: how to perceive the world and your path PICTURED David Clarke ’27 and Benjamin Butler ’27 embodying the entrepreneurial skill of problem solving.

peanut butter sandwich, but you’re out of bread–what do you do?” Even the implication that there is an option to make a sandwich with no bread opens one’s mind up to the thought that encountering a problem doesn’t mean the end of an effort, but the beginning of a new one.

Not every Wellington student will become an entrepreneur. But the same traits that make a successful entrepreneur (e.g. resourcefulness; problem solving; creativity) can be applied to any career. We call this “entrepreneurship as an applied skill,” and students who have an early ambition for a particular career can still benefit from the Wellington entrepreneurial program. through it (it’s an off-road course, not a train track); how to consider one’s skills and talents (learning is life-long and your skills are adaptable); how to approach problems (they’re not the end, but the start of innovation); and how to uncover opportunities (to place yourself empathically in other people’s lives and ask, “Is this of value to them?”).

I’m a scientist by training and I was inspired by what Carl Sagan called the bedrock of science: a paradoxical blend of wonder and skepticism. I feel entrepreneurship is also a paradoxical mindset of being able to live life on your terms, but in a way that brings value to others. Although this can be enormously challenging, it can also be exciting, gratifying, valuable, and fun.

That’s why I’m delighted to coordinate an entrepreneurial program at Wellington with three goals: (1) to help create a comprehensive entrepreneurial curriculum from kindergarten through senior year;

(2) to create an on-campus “Startup Incubator” to help students create and manage their own businesses; and (3) to identify how Wellington can become so effective at helping students start and manage successful businesses that we become an innovative leader in the field.

We already have a great entrepreneurial curriculum which Cindy Locker P ’18 ’19 is teaching in the upper school; it will be exciting to bring the entrepreneurial mindset to younger students. It may sound odd to teach entrepreneurship to kindergartners, but when you think about it, entrepreneurship dovetails beautifully with Wellington’s mission to help each student find their purpose and realize their potential for tomorrow’s world.

What’s more empowering than to learn from the earliest age that you can chart your own course?

This doesn’t mean teaching accounting to five-year-olds. This means posing questions like, “You’d like to make a

In addition to a K-12 entrepreneurial curriculum, Wellington can bring a unique value by actually having a “Startup Incubator” on campus. This physical space on campus will serve as a headquarters, with supportive resources and staff. It can be tightly tied to the entrepreneurial curricula, but it can also be an open-ended opportunity for any student at Wellington to start a business.

Businesses seeded by the “Startup Incubator” (whether they’re products sold in The Sokol Store, or podcasts produced by students and promoted online, or any of a thousand other possibilities) can continue to operate years after those students have graduated. This will afford real-world, hands-on experience in different types of businesses and industries before students even graduate high school.

I can only imagine what they’ll do in the years beyond.

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ATHLETICS

Middle School Softball: A Year of Tenacity skills, experience, and personalities could easily lead to problems,” Olesik said. “It did not, mainly because of the leadership of the two most experienced players, Alexa Ray and McKenna Hudson. Rather than being frustrated by less experienced teammates, Alexa and McKenna encouraged their teammates, gently taught their teammates, and served as fantastic role models.”

The middle school softball team’s 2021 season was full of grit and determination. Two weeks before the first scheduled game, the roster, typically 12 players, had only seven names listed. The team scrambled to find more players. They successfully managed to draft enough players just in time.

Thanks to Coach John Olesik P ’09 and assistant coach Kate Miller ’15, all of the girls quickly learned their positions and the team settled into a routine with McKenna Hudson ’25 pitching, Alexa Ray ’25 catching, Elodie Ware ’25 or Micah Ehlers ’26 playing first base, Vivienne Bond ’25 or Sigal Judd ’25 on second base, and Betty Mae Friend ’26 playing third base. Charlie Parkes ’26 and Alexis Smith ’26 played outfield.

Olesik credits the team’s success to Ray and Hudson. “Having players with such a wide range of softball 34

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Ray is grateful to her teammates’ hard work and willingness to learn. “Almost half of our team was made up of people who had never played softball before,” she said. “But within a few weeks, we were playing and winning games.”

Hudson, who typically plays shortstop, stepped up to become pitcher. She ended up pitching nearly every inning of the team’s games. “The entire coaching staff was a huge part of helping me learn how to pitch and pitch well in such a short time frame.”

The first and last games of the season illustrated the team’s adaptability. The first game was nearly unplayable thanks to a heavy rainstorm that deposited a pond on the pitcher’s circle. After a heroic effort from Wellington staff, the pond transformed into a mud pit capable of supporting a pitching machine. The girls scored more than 30 runs and boosted their confidence in meeting any challenges, weather included.

In the final game at Worthington Christian, an outfielder injured her leg. Barely able to walk, she resolved to keep playing to prevent letting her team down. For the first time in his coaching career, Olesik uttered words he never imagined saying to a player: “If the ball is hit right to you, catch it.

Otherwise, do not run after it.” The one mobile outfielder and infielders went after any ball hit to the outfield.

Describing the final game and the season, Olesik is incredibly proud, “The Wellington team effort could not have been better.” The team showed true perseverance and sense of purpose, creating a joyful and successful season of teamwork and learning.

PICTURED Above left: McKenna Hudson ’25 Below: Alexa Ray ’25

AWARD WINNERS

1

2

SPRING AWARD WINNERS

2020-2021 AWARD WINNERS

MIDDLE SCHOOL COACHES AWARDS Girls Lacrosse Lauren Sodhi ’25 Alexis Stoner ’25 Boys Tennis Joshua Thio ’26 Jack Bond ’27 Track & Field Koen Kwak ’25 Lilly Vance ’25 (6) Baseball Noah Ehlers ’25 Eli Cellino ’27 Softball McKenna Hudson ’25 Alexa Ray ’25

Rising Star Lilliana Adkinson ’23 Eric Albers ’23

UPPER SCHOOL BASEBALL R.O.A.R. Robert Boyd ’22 Coaches Award Rory O’Sullivan ’21 Sky Jackett ’21

Athlete of the Year Griffin Biernat ’21 Christine Cooke ’21

GIRLS LACROSSE R.O.A.R. Lauren Sabol ’21 Biggest Gains Lexy Ruma ’23 Head, Heart, and Hustle Jessie Seitz ’22 SOFTBALL R.O.A.R. Alexis Burkhalter ’22 (4) Grit Award Lina Grohovsky ’21 Most Improved Player Charlotte Rost ’24 BOYS TENNIS R.O.A.R. Evan Manley ’21 MVP Griffin Biernat ’21 Newcomer of the Year Sanjan Shanker ’24 JV Jag Caleb Wooddell ’22

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5

Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Angelina Grohovsky ’21 Evan Manley ’21 Award of Excellence Caroline Cooke ’21 Marcus Stewart ’21 (2) Courageous Athlete Kiran Mokadam ’21 Game Changer Jordan Livits ’21

Coach of the Year Bill Miller P ’15 ’17 ’21 OHSAA Scholar Athlete Reagan Kadlic ’21 (3) Victor (Reece) Thompson ’21 Downey Spirit and Service Kethan Mokadam ’21

COLLEGE-BOUND ATHLETES George Callanan ’21 - diving Princeton University Taso Callanan ’21 - diving Princeton University Jordan Livits ’21 - soccer Duquesne University Marcus Stewart ’21 - basketball (2) Tiffin University Scout Zaas ’21 - baseball Washington & Jefferson College Heath Thomas ’21 - swimming (5) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

BOYS TRACK R.O.A.R. Kethan Mokadam ’21 Character Kiran Mokadam ’21 (1) Top Performer Cameron Deguchi ’23 GIRLS TRACK R.O.A.R. Reagan Kadlic ’21 (3) Coaches Award Caroline Cooke ’21

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THE CLASS OF

1993

ALUMNI

Greg Davda is currently loving life traveling through the Midwest participating in autocross and road course racing with his 2019 Corvette.

In early 2021, Greg was promoted from Director of Information Technology to Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Optimum Technology, Inc.

Alumni News

THE CLASS OF

2004

THE CLASS OF

1991

Lauren (Aland) Morr is currently living in New Albany, OH with her twin 16-year-olds, Ashlyn and Collin Morr, and works at Abercrombie & Fitch as the Group Vice President of IT Strategy, Architecture and Innovation.

1991 celebrated their 30th reunion!

Back row: Jason Adams, Justin Collamore, Nick Gallo, David Downey Front Row: Sophia (Baidya) Mohr, Anneliese (Bohm) Adkinson, Kelli (Wasserstrom) Gellis, Becca Blackwell

Duncan Forbes and his wife, Sarah, welcomed Laurel Jo Forbes, born September 16.

THE CLASS OF

2006

THE CLASS OF

Lauren Morr and Sophia (Baidya) Mohr traveled to Asheville, North Carolina.

Daniel Voss helped with rescue, recovery, and relief in Houma, Louisiana after Hurricane Ida. 36

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1992

On July 19, 2021, Clarke Wise and wife, Julia, welcomed son MacNeil Richardson Wise! He was born in Jackson, Mississippi weighing 7lbs 10oz.

MacNeil and mom are healthy and doing well.

Congratulations to Dr. Tanikka Price Ben Haim for receiving her Doctorate of Education from Northcentral University!

Clarke and Julia also celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary in July 2021.

Clarke continues to work as the Vice President of Government Relations of the Mississippi Association of REALTORS. They live in Madison, Mississippi.

THE CLASS OF

2010

Michael Walsh successfully defended his dissertation at Harvard Medical School’s Ph.D. Program in Virology. In his thesis research, “Engineering Replication-Defective Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Vectors for the Treatment of Cancer,” Michael used genetically modified herpes viruses to explore the mechanisms, mediators, and pathways of melanoma tumor suppression.

Michael is continuing his research in a postdoctoral position at Harvard, working jointly between labs at the Harvard Medical School and at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Michael and Jen Helble, Ph.D., who met at Bowdoin College as undergraduates, were married last year during the pandemic in a small, family-attended ceremony at Jen’s family home in Vermont.

Debra Wilkinson Feczko Remembered Debra Wilkinson Feczko ’90 passed away September 19, 2021. She loved playing softball and cheering for basketball while at Wellington. Debra graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in ’94 and a master’s degree in counseling from The Ohio State University in ’96.

“I grew up next door to Debbie, playing in the same neighborhood t-ball and softball leagues at Ridgeview and eventually, when I transferred to Wellington in 6th grade, playing for the Jags under Randy. I looked up to her.

On long summer days, we played kickball on Kendra Court, using the cracks in the concrete as bases (Debbie and I were always outnumbered by the boys). And I watched her pitch to her dad in preparation for each new ball season. I did the same with mine in the same courtyard. I treasured her handme-down Brownie and Junior Girl Scout uniforms and fondly remember an afternoon she spent doing crafts with me in her basement when I was a young child,” shared former classmate Sara Schwebel ’94.

Our thoughts are with the Feczko family including her husband of 22 years, Jason, and their children, Regan, Danika, and Jackson.

THE CLASS OF

2013

Former classmates welcome you to join them in donating to the Softball Team in Training Fund in memory of Debra.

Contributions can be sent to: The Wellington School c/o Development Office 3650 Reed Road Columbus, OH 43220

Elizabeth Zimmerman married Alex Lewis in a ceremony September 24 at the Strongwater venue in Columbus, Ohio.

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Acrylic Painting MORNA PIERRE ’31

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The Wellington community mourns the loss of former staff member Jan Billman, who passed away in early 2021. Billman began her career as a flight attendant before working at Wellington for 29 years.

Jan Billman Remembered

Jenn Frim P ’19, assistant director of technology, remembers Jan’s bright personality. “Jan was an anchor at Wellington for many years as her tenure spanned three heads of school and one interim head of school. She was an effective gate-keeper to the head of school’s office for most of her Wellington career and likely was the very first person a new hire would

meet. She was always welcoming and kind, efficient and hard-working, and also one of the most fun to be around. She had wonderful stories of Wellington’s early days, an infectious laugh and the best hallway dance moves! Jan did not come to work every morning just to do her job. She found joy in the people she worked with and was like family to so many who passed through Wellington’s doors.”

Billman enjoyed watching old movies, sewing cross stitch, collecting Elvis Presley memorabilia, and spending time with her family and pets.

James Allen Remembered Former faculty member, Dr. James Allen, passed away spring 2021. After retiring from teaching English at Upper Arlington High School, Allen came to work at Wellington in the fall of 2001 until his retirement in 2011.

Chris Robbins P ’17 ’22, upper school English teacher, expressed the important role Allen played in the way she teaches and thinks about education. “James was a pioneer of thought at Wellington and helped create and implement important changes in the Upper School curriculum. As a member of the English Department, he helped create the Integrated World Studies (IWS) program, in which all 9th graders experienced a

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collaboration between English 9, World History, and Writing; teachers met regularly to plan, execute, and evaluate student work and give combined assessments and feedback. He saw the future of education and how different it could be from a historically traditional model. James will be remembered for his love of learning, his passion for the Ohio State Buckeyes, his yearly lesson on the difference between ‘quote’ and ‘quotation,’ and his dedication to academic excellence.”

Former staff member Stuart Oremus P ’00 shared her fond memories of Allen and how he left an impact on student success. “I had the fun of working with ‘Dr. Allen’ to create an English course

for juniors to help with their preparation for college applications and with their continuing writing development. Initially it didn’t fit into the schedule for all of the students, and it came to be felt that it should–that all should receive the same support and advantage. The course eventually evolved from Advanced Composition to College Composition, as it stands now.”

Stoneware Glazed Vessel DREW OBER ’22

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Presorted First Class U.S. Postage

Wellington 3650 Reed Road Columbus, Ohio 43220 wellington.org

Future

MICAH EHLERS ’26

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PAID

Columbus, OH Permit #3374