SUMMER 2022
Deep learning at Tilton School is so much more than giving in to ephemeral distractions. It is work, and everyone who reads this piece knows that building strong, healthy relationships is essential to this work.
I try to model for them how to listen carefully to the characters they meet, to wonder “why” these folks act and speak as they do, and ultimately to question, “Whose story is being told, and for what purpose?”
It is no waterslide into the metaverse or thumb-scroll through the meme-overses of TikTok and SnapChat. Why would my students want to build a relationship with the campus “old guy” whose social media accounts are limited to Twitter and LinkedIn?
I invite my students to reflect deeply on these stories to make sense of the world they inhabit. And I cajole them to find their own voice as they share what they discover to be true.
—Michael Landroche P’02
By: Michael Landroche P’02
A LETTER FROM LANDY
And through all of this, I encourage them to have fun.
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“I invite my students to reflect deeply on these stories to make sense of the world they inhabit.”
It’s my students, this generation of teenagers who step into a world so different from the one I inhabit. I fear they will dismiss me as irrelevant, but hope they will not. I mean, it’s understandable. How do they connect with a dinosaur? The work we do together on this hill is no leisurely stroll through Jurassic Park.
This work, such fun for me, has kept my mind alert to the ways I might do it better, especially in August in the runup to doing it all over again, and doing it better.
Love-Trust-Growth
I love my work with students. And yet, each summer, as July moves into August, I wonder if I can keep doing it. Nope, the word I’m going for is closer to “fear” than to “wonder.”
As an English teacher, I invite young minds and hearts into the imaginary worlds of writers through the ages, from Aeschylus to Zora Neale Hurston.
Earth, undecaying, unwearied, he wears away with his toil, Forward and back with his plowshare, year after year, he plods, With his horses turning the soil.
view of what we do together is nearly impossible to bring into focus. Instead, we just do the work together, and in the process, something like love, or perhaps love itself, emerges, not necessarily the love of literature, but the love of working together. Love, I’ve learned, builds trust. And trust creates space for growth.
Thank you to all who have written notes of appreciation. Your trust and love conjure within me the confidence to keep turning the soil in this unwearied bit of Earth we know as Tilton School.
student writes, “In every scenario, what I remember most is Mr. Landroche’s sense of humor and care for each one of us. He always set high expectations, yet his approach was balanced with fun.”
Anotherneeded.”
One student writes, “I can look back on so many of my teachers and friends at Tilton and realize how special they were, but there was never any question with Mr. Landroche — I knew while I was there. He had a way of turning any experience into a life lesson, and providing encouragement or tough love, depending on what I
–Michael Landroche P’02
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My students have helped me grow. They have taught me to be better in all facets of my life — as a teacher, coach, father, spouse, and citizen. I should be thanking my students. In fact, I do thank them each time I step into a classroom or onto the gym floor and softball field, and as I stroll through campus on evening duty. In these moments, my fear of irrelevancy fades. And in its place, excitement builds as my new students and I prepare to begin again.
Two months ago, during an Alumni Weekend event, our Head of School Kate Saunders presented me with a hand-crafted wooden box. Inside the box were notes from students and parents with whom I have worked over the past 40 years. These notes remind me how much I love this work, and how vital it is to love the people who work with me.
Jack, Class of ’83, was a student in my very first-ever Tilton School class in October of 1982. His note ends with a poem “In Medias Res” composed of lines from the various pieces of literature we read together 40 years ago. Among them was a passage from Sophocles’ Antigone:
—Michael Landroche P’02
“My students have helped me grow. They have taught me to be better in all facets of my life.”
I trust that these former students have voiced their truths, but in the midst of this busy life on campus from September to May, this long
“We just do the work together, and in the process, something like love, or perhaps love itself, emerges, not necessarily the love of literature, but the love of working together. Love, I’ve learned, builds trust. And trust creates space for growth.”
CLASS OF 2022
Scan to view the full galleryphoto —Scott Ruggles P ’18, ’20, ’22, ’24, ’26 6 | The Compass: Summer 2022 The Compass: Summer 2022 | 7
Excited.”
2022.
Congratulations
the full speech
“This is it, Class of Though you are leaving the Hill, you must understand that the Hill will never leave you. Just like a five year old running to their loving families and friends, we will always be here with open arms to welcome you back, hug you, and help you be and
View ceremonyandhere
Fearless, Inquisitive, Valiant,
Alumni Weekend
More than 200 alumni and their families gathered together on the Hill to celebrate this year’s annual Alumni Weekend — the first in-person event of its kind since 2019. Rams old and new had the opportunity to revisit campus, compete in the first annual golf tournament, and tour local breweries. In true Tilton fashion, the weekend was made complete with an impromptu karaoke night in the newly completed Alumni Amphitheatre.
AWARD WINNERS Signe Kurian ’87 The Alumni of the Year Award Matt Masiello ’90 The Alumni of the Year Award J. Terrill Judd ’70 The George L. Plimpton Award Larry Bartell ’76 John Charles Daly Award *Posthumously The Compass: Summer 2022 | 98 | The Compass: Summer 2022
BREAKING THE Invisible Ceiling
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As her journey continues, Dorr says her time on the Hill still occupies a special place in her memories. “The experience helped to rechart my course,” she shares. “Tilton had my back — how the school believed in me has stayed with me all these years.”
tiny little world, I felt I carried the burden of trying to hear,” says Dorr. “Academically, I felt inept because sometimes I could hear my teachers, and then on other occasions I had teachers I couldn’t hear at all.”
her focus has shifted to advocacy, something she wouldn’t have predicted growing up. “I had spent most of my life in denial about my hearing deficit because I didn’t want to be different from my hearing peers,” she recalls. “I did not want any affiliation with the hard of hearing (HoH) or deaf community. I’ve learned it was time to accept me for who I am — to advocate for the hearing loss community and to be more forthcoming about my deafness and educate the public.”
Her advocacy has taken many shapes, including hosting job search workshops, public speaking, giving guest lectures at universities, and involvement with the University of California, Irvine Center for Hearing Research. Recently, her article highlighting “the benefits of cochlear implants in children during their school years” was published in The Hearing Journal.
In recent years, her work and
Finding that sense of belonging had a huge impact on her education. Dorr was born with significant hearing loss and contended with the associated challenges throughout her childhood. “As a child in my
Tracey Dorr ’80 had a feeling about Tilton from the moment her mother parked the car on School Street. “I told my mom, ‘I am going to school here,’” she recalls. “My mom, being practical, said, ‘you don’t know that.’ But I knew. I knew Tilton was the place for me.”
Dorr found herself burned out at the end of the day from working so hard to adapt to her surroundings. “I knew I was behind my peers, and I didn’t know how to change that,” she remembers. After her sophomore year, her mom asked if she was open to the idea of private school. While
she wasn’t sure at first, she knew she wasn’t getting everything she needed from her local high school. “Teachers didn’t know what to think or expect from me as a deaf student,” she says. “I felt a constant presence of an invisible ceiling.”
In transitioning to a private school, Dorr prioritized a sense of belonging and a chance to set higher expectations for herself. “Tilton gave me all of that and more,” says Dorr. “I was intellectually challenged, I experienced character development by participating in different activities, and I improved my social skills.” She fondly remembers the support she received from Mr. Sutcliffe, her Chemistry teacher and senior year advisor (and someone she’s still in touch with to this day), learning something new in Art History class, and diving head first into her time on the soccer field. “It was the only time I felt free from the constraints of my deafness,” she says. “I played my heart out and did my best to support my teammates.”
By: Bryan Geary
“As a child in my tiny little world, I felt I carried the burden of trying to hear.”
—Tracey Dorr ’80
Dorr took all of this experience with her to college and, eventually, to a job in global supply management in the semiconductors industry for Silicon Systems, TDK Semiconductors Corp. and QLogic Corporation. She has negotiated multi-million-dollar contracts and worked with key suppliers from around the world. “All of my experiences provided me with the fortitude of inner strength and resilience to work in corporate America,” says Dorr, who has retired early.
toRenovationKnowlesHallin100years Our First... IN 2021-22 CELEBRATEDWE Year to use the Back 40 in a new way Female Head of School School meeting at the MasielloYearAmphitheatreAlumniinthenewDiningCommons Year to launch the Young LeadershipWomen’s+Program Year with a new brand identity MILLION!$15 Year to break the school’s all timerecordgiving 12 | The Compass: Summer 2022 The Compass: Summer 2022 | 13
To those who were lucky enough to catch one of the three productions of Little Shop of Horrors, one would hardly believe that the cast was made up of numerous newcomers to the art. In a hilarious and choreography-heavy “Mushnik and Son”, Lamoureaux and Grzeskowiak had audience members on their feet before the song even concluded, laughing the whole way through.
As we close the curtains on Little Shop of Horrors, one must pause to recognize the courage it takes to step into something uncharted. Needless to say, when Tilton students take the leap, they soar; and in this instance, directly towards “Somewhere That’s Green.”
In reflecting on his own experience taking on the male lead , Grzeskowiak mentioned how instrumental the experienced cast members were in his
process of becoming Seymour. Those who came with theater experience helped to teach him blocking (the process of positioning characters in a scene), how to project his voice, and even coached him through basic choreography moves.
Of the cast members who have had more experience on the stage, many commented on the supportive and welcoming atmosphere the team had created together. “Theater feels more fun when it feels like you’re part of a family,” adds India Caldwell ’24, a Doo-Wop Ensemble Member. Marissa Dolpies ’23, who played Audrey, expanded: “I made some great friends; I don’t know that I would have had the chance to get to know these people if it wasn’t for the show.”
According to Donahue, it takes a certain type of student to step onto the stage with no prior experience. “It’s scary,” Donahue says, laughing. “It takes a lot of courage for anyone to stand in front of an audience, but when you add in the fact that many of them are new to theater productions…it’s really impressive what they’ve done.”
TACKLING
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By: Meg Smith
definitely a new experience, and I’m glad I had this cast to help me through it.” Lamoureaux explains.
Center Stage
Ahead of their final show, Lamoureux sits center stage inside the Hamilton Theater, seemingly dwarfed by the formidable backdrop of Skid Row behind him. Around him, a myriad of cast members reflect on the past two months of work as they prepare to take the stage one final time. Together, firsttimers sit alongside lifelong thespians, contemplating the many ways their unlikely cast gave new meaning to the acclaimed musical.
for Seymour,” Donahue explains. “He will often jokingly ask how he went from painting our plant to being the lead.”
Last fall, Jarrett Lamoureux ’22 stood as the starting center of Tilton’s football team. Months later, he took the stage as Little Shop of Horrors’ very own Mr. Mushnik in Tilton’s spring musical.
“Coming in here and being with this group of people…I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them. It was
So how do some of the most celebrated Tilton athletes find their way to becoming the leads in the spring musical? When asked how she assembled the team, all varying in theater experience, Musical Director Julie Donahue simply responded, “persistence.” After persuading her son and three-season athlete Marshall Donahue ’22, the theatrical team quickly adopted fellow athletes like Jake Grzeskowiak ’24, each one citing Donahue as their motivation to step out of their comfort zone and onto the “Jakestage.wasoriginally helping out in building our set when I recruited him
Programmatically, updates will include a history and social sciences classroom on the first floor, a state-ofthe-art digital arts classroom on the second floor, and a new art gallery that will open doors for supporting and collaborating with the art community, both on campus and around the state.
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From a facilities standpoint, the main house will undergo restoration with updated furnishings and finishes to make the space warm and welcoming, while honoring its unique and historic design. There will also be upgrades that enhance the accessibility and versatility of the space, including a catering kitchen for community events.
Keeping our history in mind, we’ve also engaged in a strategic partnership with the Tilton Historical Society to organize and digitize the entirety of the school’s archives. This is a key component that will allow us to honor and engage with our past in a way that enhances the experience of Tilton students today.
We’re excited to share more with you in future issues and on social media. Stay tuned!
USING THE PAST TO Shape the Future
By: Bryan Geary
As the transformation of our campus continues to set the stage for the next generation, new and exciting work is taking shape in the Charles E. Tilton Mansion. Following the renovation of the historic building’s exterior during the summer of 2021, the focus now shifts to the interior, where the project encompasses a celebration of the past and plans for the future of learning on the Hill.
Miss Popularity Most Likely to Escape Alcatraz Most Likely to Wina Nobel Prize DOG DAYS OTIS ISLA Biggest Flirt BAILEY SCOOTER Most Likely to Become a Model LOLA Class Clown Most Athletic FERN Most Likely to Run for President TEDDY Most Likely to Win The Voice COMET CELIA Most Wise Beyond Their Years HURLEY Faculty and Staff SuPAWlatives.class RALPHIE 18 | The Compass: Summer 2022 The Compass: Summer 2022 | 19
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“You don’t want to be me. You want to be better.”
By: Meg Smith
laughs. “We fight like siblings, we joke like siblings…There’s a lot of trust in basketball; you need to trust each and every person out there in order for you all to succeed.”
However,mindfulness.Adams reminds us that no matter how hard an individual trains, the dynamic of a team is what takes each game to the next level. At Tilton, the girls basketball team is easily identifiable, on and off the court. “We act like siblings,” Adams
Beyond the growing list of prospective colleges, Adams has been ranked as an ESPN Top 50
As Adams discusses her goals for the upcoming season, it grows clear how strong the bond is between the team. “My dream is to win the NEPSAC Championship,” she says. “To get there with my team, that would mean the world.” For her, the familial bond she has with the team is what she falls back on in times of struggle, citing that after particularly rough games, it’s her teammates and coach who support her no matter what. On and off the court it grows evident that Adams is seen as a leader amongst her team, encouraging others to improve and succeed. As Brisson explains, “Yes, Ahnay wants to be great, but she also wants that greatness for those around her too.”
Ahnay Adams ’24 is the latest New Hampshire prep basketball player to get attention from top Division I college programs. In speaking with her about the exciting offers coming her way, Adams is focusing on keeping her momentum going through her junior year.
recruit for women’s basketball in her class. “It is very rare for players from New England to be ranked in the ESPN Top 100, let alone Top 50,” says Brisson. “Ahnay is currently the only player from New England in the rankings.” Adams has climbed the ranks of recruits, establishing herself as a top competitor before the outset of her junior year. As Brisson points out, “having coached Ahnay for the last two years, I won’t be surprised when she cracks that Top 20 – her desire to be great has propelled her to become an elite player.”
Recruitment ROAD TO
As she prepares for the season, and the exciting road of college recruiting, it’s easy for incoming basketball players to look up to her successes, or even aspire to follow in Adams’ footsteps. To this, Adams responds, “You don’t want to be me. You want to be better.”
Having played the game since she was eight years old, she has longwanted to reach the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). “I have a dream of going pro, so every day I train and I practice and I act like I’m a pro already,” Adams explained. “I learned a lot of that from Coach Brisson — how to be disciplined, remain humble, but mostly to be patient.” Adams talked through her daily schedule, which includes waking up before 6:00 a.m. to workout, train, or practice
Adams says that, “basketball has always been my way to get away from everything. It’s taught me how to let myself fail, and to remember there is a purpose to why I’m doing this.”
—Ahnay Adams ’24
At the close of her sophomore season, Adams had no offers on the table. When asked how she responded to this, Adams simply said, “In April I decided to run with what Coach Tara Brisson and I had talked about, and just prove everyone wrong.” Turns out, Brisson’s advice worked out, and now Adams has a staggering fourteen Division I offers. Among the list is the University of Miami, Florida State University, Providence College, UMass Amherst, and the University of Central Florida – all with competitive women’s basketball programs.
Scan to view Donor Roll
“Yes, Ahnay wants to be great, but she also wants that greatness for those around her too.”
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Athletic
DONOR ROLL
Thank
As we enter into another exciting academic year, and celebrate the inspiring progress we have made across campus projects, there is no more perfect time to express our deep gratitude to the many alumni, parents, and friends of Tilton who have made an impact over the past year. So many members of our community stepped forward to share in the love of our students and faculty, and worked to ensure a bright future for many Rams to come. In doing so, they helped to make this a truly extraordinary and successful year. As we prepare to welcome the class of 2026, we are humbled by the generosity and support from our donors, and extend our most sincere thanks for their contributions.
To view the fiscal year 2022 Donor Roll, Please visit tiltonschool.org/donorroll or scan the QR code.
—Tara Brisson Director and Girls Varsity Basketb all Head Coach You!
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