USM Today - Fall/Winter 2023-24 by University School of Milwaukee

TODAY

FALL/WINTER 2023–24

Lunch is Served

| a magazine for the usm community

Homecoming 2023

Lower School students proved to be passionate cheerleaders during the Homecoming pep rally dance-off—in which three teams of teachers (one for each division) performed a choreographed dance routine. Although the Upper School team ultimately won, all of the teachers deserve praise for their creativity and enthusiasm. On the Cover Mila Lasic ’34 prepares to take a bite out of her spaghetti, prepared earlier that morning by members of the HandCut Foods team.

USM TODAY STAFF

in this issue

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Tim Eilbes Director of Marketing and Communications EDITOR

Pamela Seiler Communications and Public Relations Manager ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN

Maria Harris Creative Services Director ONLINE EDITOR

Eric Schad Marketing and Digital Communications Manager PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY

Brennan Checkalski Visual Media Specialist CONTRIBUTOR

Visual Image Photography

USM Today is published by University School of Milwaukee twice per year. USM is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school for students from prekindergarten through 12th grade. Our editorial staff has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported, and we apologize for any inadvertent errors that may have occurred. To change your address, your child’s address, or to unsubscribe, please contact the USM Advancement office at 414.540.3339 or advancement@usm.org. PARENTS OF ALUMNI: If you are still receiving your child’s USM Today even though they no longer live with you, please let us know by emailing alumni@usm.org so we can send the magazine directly to them.

10 8

Feature Story: Lunch is Served Step into the kitchen of the Preschool, Lower School, and Middle School dining room at USM to learn how lunch is prepared—from scratch and by hand—every day.

USM Teachers Think Big Thanks to the generosity of the Think ig grant USM teachers are a le to explore their interests and grow their expertise—and share it with their students and colleagues.

Meet USM’s Newest Leaders The school’s newest administrators ring a wide variety of ideas experiences, and backgrounds to their roles. Get to know them and their plans for USM.

Girls' Teams Make History USM’s varsity girls’ tennis team and girls’ cross country team oth made history this past fall.

10 8 16 20

cover to cover 3 view from the tower

16 in focus

18 spotlight

20 locker room

22 beyond usm

from the head of school Over the winter break, my family and I took a road trip to Richmond, Virginia, where Stephanie’s family resides. The 15-hour adventure was spread over two days on the way to our vacation, and we decided to condense the return trip into one very long day. I have never been one for long road trips. Yet, my family loves the time in the car. We spent the time listening to an audio book (this year, we heard “One by One” by Ruth Ware), having deep discussions, and playing a fair amount of MarioKart on the Nintendo Switch. Over the years, they have helped me see that the journey is an important part of the destination. The process vs. product debate has been one that has permeated educational discussions for many decades. Add the concept of content, and we have a triangle of learning that is important for educators to understand and adjust to meet the needs of learners. This issue of USM Today highlights both the process and the product of our student’s education. Our dining program is featured beginning on page 10. Here, you will see the “process” of preparing for and serving lunch to our students. The “product” is a nutritional and tasty lunch that excites them and exposes them to new foods and flavors. The “content” is the incredible learning that happens in our dining halls. Taking on responsibility, conversing with friends and adults, trying new foods, and focusing on the Common Trust are all skills our students learn and master daily in our dining halls. As a school, this year we are working to define what it means to be a leader at USM. Our strategic plan compels us to do this work, but USM’s mission is certainly the catalyst. The journey our students take at USM, many of them for 15 years, leads to the creation of learners, leaders, and citizens. We are working to be intentional about those important aspects of our educational obligation. You can read more about this important work The Triangle of Learning on page 3. “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” is a quote famously attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American philosopher. Enjoying the journey, “the getting there,” is an important lesson for us all to remember.

Steve Hancock Head of School

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

Content—the knowledge and skills students need to master Process—the activities students use to master the content Product—the method students use to demonstrate learning

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Defining Citizenship at USM This past September, a committee of faculty and administrators completed their work to develop USM’s new “Portrait of a USM Citizen” statement. It defines, in age-appropriate ways for Preschool, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School students, what citizenship means at USM. eing a good citi en is discussed fre uently amongst students faculty and staff at USM. It’s part of our mission statement to cultivate e cellence in learning leadership and citi enship. ut what does it mean to e a good citi en e actly ow do we define a good citi en at USM ow does one enefit from eing a citi en of a particular community and what does one owe in response s part of the school’s strategic plan a group of faculty and administrators was formed to tackle these important uestions and develop a ortrait of a USM iti en statement. Unveiled this past Septem er the statement comprehensively defines what students in Preschool, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School will learn, practice, and experience in regards to citi enship. The statement along with those division specific features can e viewed online at www.usmtoday.org citi en. This is the first of three planned ortrait statements with ortrait of a USM eader and ortrait of a USM earner to follow in years two and three of our strategic plan.

USM wishes to thank the mem ers of the school’s strategic plan ortrait of a USM iti en commi ee who worked to deﬁne e pectations around citi enship during the school year Mu e Mac edon rowne prekindergarten teacher retired my and assistant head of school chair ora Sachs Middle School French teacher huck aft th grade American studies history teacher; Colleen Tiefenbrun, Upper School history teacher enry end Upper School history teacher and rita illis rd grade teacher.

“We look forward to leaning on this articulation of citi enship to help us make e plicit connections etween citi enship learning academic studies and cocurricular e periences said my and assistant head of school and the chair of the citi enship strategic plan commi ee. ur research has galvani ed us to continue uilding student programming, faculty professional development, and pedagogical practices to further support learning around citi enship. s our students grow they will learn a out their role as citi ens of many diﬀerent communities. Ultimately we want all of our students to gain the necessary skills and understandings to help all of their communities—including USM grow and ecome e er.

New Recycling Program

Fall Cum Laude Inductees

USM launched a school-wide recycling program that included new pick-up schedules, meetings with Waste Management to best understand recycling standards, and ample communication to the more than 1,300 people at school participating.

Congratulations to seniors (from left) Lyle Dominic Mondano, Francesca Drope, Krish Vasudev, Azara Mason, Nathaniel Steinbach, Aidan Wang, Charlie Bass, Anjali George, and Emily Igwike (not pictured) who were named Cum Laude Society inductees.

Visit www.usm.org/news for more news stories.

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New Middle School Schedule Yields Deeper Learning In August, Middle School teachers unveiled a new schedule after a year of research and planning. Classes are now 85 minutes long, improving both learning outcomes and student engagement. The new school year marked a monumental shift in Middle School the launch of a completely new schedule for grades through . The old schedule which consisted of minute classes was confusing for students due to an e tra rotating lock on certain days. In addition, teachers saw an opportunity to increase instructional minutes while creating a community time block dedicated to homework, extra help, and advising. commi ee of Middle School teachers from each grade spent more than a year researching options. “We knew we wanted our ﬁndings to e acked y research said ason Strains th grade math teacher and commi ee co chair. The commi ee mem ers discovered that, overwhelmingly and across subjects, grade levels, and constituencies minute classes reduced stress while improving learning outcomes.

The commi ee initially assumed that it would e too di cult for a Middle School aged student to concentrate on a single su ect for minutes. ut their research showed the opposite. It’s hard for children to e constantly switching gears ecause their e ecutive functioning is not fully developed until they are said Michael Matera th grade history teacher and commi ee mem er. The commi ee shared their findings with school administrators and recommended that the Middle School switch to minute classes which was approved last year and o cially launched in ugust . They dedicated a large portion of last year to on oarding the new schedule with teachers e plaining their findings and addressing any concerns. re y uickly every ody started to reali e the enefits of this new schedule and were willing to give it a try said Matera. lthough the new schedule re uired teachers to re work their lesson plans it’s go en a largely positive response from oth teachers and students. It’s resulted in fewer transitions in the hallways, and more experiential learning opportunities in the classrooms. Teachers now spend more time teaching and have found meaningful ways to e pand their lessons. The new schedule yields richer pro ects and e er work ecause we have more time to dive into a unit or pro ect said Matera. s a teacher I don’t feel as much pressure to rush through a lesson plan. I’m ama ed at how many times kids will look up and say lass is over already ’ It’s true that time ies when you’re really engaged in something.

REDgen Speakers

Celebrating Field Hockey

So far this school year, USM has welcomed Sheri Glucoft Wong (pictured) and Rosalind Wiseman, authors and parenting experts, in partnership with REDgen, a local organization that fosters community conversations around mental health.

The entire field hockey program at USM, from 5th to 12th grades, celebrated National Field Hockey Day on Sept. 14. It was a great day of practice, scrimmages, and fun. “We look forward to this day every year,” said head coach Andrea Burlew ’93.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

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Chess Phenoms Reach New Heights Years of training and dedication have paid off for siblings Aradh Kaur ’26 and Hersh Singh ’24, who both recently achieved incredible milestones in their chess careers. radh aur ’ had a pro lem. Three hours into the championship match of the North American Youth Chess Championships in December, she was trapped in a complicated position and running low on time to calculate her ne t move. She considered oﬀering her opponent a draw, meaning neither player would win. ut I reali ed that the worst that could happen would be for me to lose she said which isn’t that big of a deal because there would e other chances at other tournaments. So aur made her move and waited. I thought my opponent would play her move in a few minutes, but it ended up taking her may e minutes she said. aur used the time to strategi e and

Aradh Kaur ’26 is the only woman in the state of Wisconsin to hold the Women International Master title.

she developed a plan that ultimately won her the game, the tournament, and the omen International Master IM title Hersh Singh ’24 and Aradh Kaur ’26. the ﬁrst woman in the state of Wisconsin to hold the Master and randmaster. e is the ﬁrst distinction. IM is the second highest person in the state to a ain the FID title a female player can achieve, behind Master FM title since . Singh is Women Grandmaster. ranked th amongst all active chess players in the U.S., and ranked amongst aur is not the only chess prodigy in the top players worldwide. her family. er rother ersh Singh ’ took second place in the an Singh and aur who are naturally American Youth Chess Festival in uiet and reserved have e celled at the ugust and earned the title of FID game of focus and concentration since Master the third highest title a player they were young children. oth have can achieve ehind International traveled all over the world representing the United States at tournaments, and both have weekly training sessions with randmaster ranked coaches. And while they are both extremely competitive chess players they’re happy for each other’s success. I was really happy when ersh got the FM title in ugust ecause he’d een working for that for awhile said aur. ut it made me more motivated to try to get a title too. Hersh Singh ’24 is the first person in Wisconsin to attain the FIDE Master (FM) title since 2013.

Fear the Deer Peter Feigin, president of the Milwaukee Bucks, spoke to winter athletes as part of the USM Athletics Wildcats Lead program, in which students learn about different aspects of athletics. Feigin discussed his career journey and more.

Our wide range of half- and full-day academic and enrichment programs offer children age 3 (PK) through 12th grade the perfect opportunity to learn, create, explore, and play. Online registration is open with programs starting in June. Children do not need to be enrolled at USM to participate.

Visit www.usm.org/summer

Visit www.usm.org/news for more news stories.

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Holiday Shops 2023 Since USM’s oliday Shops has provided generous support for the school while serving as a one stop shop for uni ue gifts and e periences. The fact that it’s still going strong after nearly years is a testament to the women who have overseen the event’s planning and implementation even when faced with forces eyond their control. There was cto er when oliday Shops had to compete for a ention with the last two games of the orld Series featuring the Milwaukee rewers and the St. ouis ardinals. Then there was cto er also known as lack Monday when the stock market fell y points making the review arty held unfortunately on the same day a rather su dued aﬀair.

Holiday Shops 2023 raised an estimated $170,000 via vendor sales, auction items, donations, Week of Winning raffle, Wine Pull, and Faces of USM photos sales. Shoppers enjoyed 57 vendors from around the country. More than 2,000 people visited Holiday Shops over the course of three days.

ut those events didn’t curtail the arents’ ssociation’s eﬀorts to raise money for USM nor did su se uent events like the glo al ﬁnancial crisis or the glo al pandemic of . The countless volunteers who plan and implement oliday Shops demonstrate an incredi le a ility to ad ust to adapt and to innovate. It is this a ility that makes oliday Shops a eloved tradition and one of the school’s largest fundraisers year after year. e are grateful for their perseverance and support.

Holiday Shop co-coordinators Katie McGregor (left) and Heather Erlandson ’92 posed for a photo during the Preview Party.

As an annual tradition, former Parents’ Association presidents and Holiday Shops chairs gathered prior to the Preview Party to reminisce and reconnect. Standing, from left Carla Bartlett ’78, Carolyn Burton, Maryglen Kieckhefer, Susan LeFeber, Julie Sellars, Cathie Torinus, Jennifer Reese, Sara LeBrun-Blashka, Pamela Shovers, Colleen Polston, Nancy Link Roos, Ellen Venable, and Margy Stratton ’84. Seated, from left Penny Howland, Lyn Slater, Deanna Braeger, Linda Mellowes, Susie Gebhardt MUS’58, and Susie Kasten MDS’60.

Lower School teachers Patricia Ptak (left) and Erica Melick assisted guests at the wine pull station during the Preview Party.

Talking About Stress

Arshay Cooper at USM

Members of USM’s Upper School REDgen student chapter held an assembly about stress. The goal was for students to realize that stress is not necessarily bad and that they are not alone, and to learn strategies for managing stress.

Arshay Cooper, speaker, activist, and author of “A Most Beautiful Thing,” was the 2023 Cindy Zautcke Memorial Speaker. In 1997, Cooper joined the country’s first all-Black high school rowing team, and he spoke to students about how the experience changed his life.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

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Grandparents and Special Friends Day Hundreds of visitors gathered on campus for the annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day celebration, held on Nov. 22, 2023. Guests enjoyed a light breakfast and short program before interacting in classrooms with students. The event was coordinated by USM’s Parents’ Association, and Juliana Elejalde and Liza Sadoff ’99 served as co-chairs. New this year, Upper School hosted the Ultimate House Day, a morning of spirited events between Upper School houses that guests could observe or participate in.

Tatyana Monosov (left) and Mischa Gokhman ’32.

Randy Lathrop (left) and Cameron Kronz ’38.

Michele and Jerome Brown with Meloe Wilson ’36.

Bethany Martin ’26 (left) and her guest decorated cookies as part of Ultimate House Day.

Lukas Sahajpal ’35 (left) and Dr. Greg Warren.

Colleen Bach (left) and Mason Bach ’31.

Upper School students participated in a quiz show as part of Ultimate House Day.

Games for Change

Celebrating Fall

For many years, 7th grade students have developed arcade games for younger students to play for 25 cents. The money raised is then used to make a zero-interest microloan through the KIVA organization. In 2023, students surpassed $54,000 in collective loans.

Preschool teachers hosted the annual fall festival for prekindergarten and junior kindergarten students and their families in October. Children enjoyed a giant leaf pile, games, snacks, and a dedicated spot for family photos in USM’s outdoor classroom.

Visit www.usm.org/news for more news stories.

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When it Comes to Professional Development, USM Teachers Think Big Teachers at USM are constantly challenging themselves to grow and improve their teaching craft. Thanks to the Think Big Fund, established by Julia ’68 and David Uihlein, they are able to pursue a wide variety of challenging, invigorating, and transformational professional development opportunities. Learn about a handful of the Think Big grants awarded to teachers during the 2023–24 school year, all of which directly impact student learning.

What Rwanda Can Teach Us This past uly Upper School and Middle School teachers ate ay aiyun u annah eimer oseph esterﬁeld and at ilka traveled to wanda where they participated in a variety of tours and activities to gain a deeper understanding of the wandan genocide and su se uent re uilding. The goal was to sharpen their focus on glo al citi enship to further promote cultural competency and global cooperation amongst students in th through th grades. ased on their e perience the team is colla orating to enhance service partnerships and existing aspects of nglish history and geography and world language classes to uild students’ glo al awareness their knowledge of the roles of government and citi ens and their understanding of why people choose to move across orders. This cross section of age groups and disciplines enhances the possibility for authentic, relevant, developmentally appropriate program development. hat’s great a out e periences like this is that there’s always something to e learned ut you don’t know how you will e changed y the e perience said ate ay Upper School nglish teacher (pictured below). ow we’re digging into how we can bring this e perience to our students.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

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Tools to Help Emotional Regulation Lower School teachers and administrators (pictured below, from left) Mike Engroff, Kelley Sovol, Jennifer Keppler, Patricia Ptak, Gina Bongiorno, Erica Melick, Michael Tauscher, and Lisl Gapinski ’92 received a Think Big grant to attend the Elevate Conscious Discipline conference held in Orlando, Florida. There, they explored ways to integrate social-emotional learning, discipline, and self-regulation best practices into the classroom. As a result of the experience, Sovol and others have made changes in their classrooms to better serve children, including designating a space in classrooms where students can reset, and adding small tools and activities that can help children feel grounded and soothed, giving them access to the thinking parts of the brain. Sovol has also implemented a brain smart start activity in her classroom at the start of each school day, in which she dedicates three to five minutes for students to participate in a rhythmic, playful game. The games create a sense of belonging and community in the classroom, and prepare students to start the day in a positive, connected way.

New and Improved Recess hen rd grade teacher Mary i ogers noticed an opportunity to improve recess she applied for a Think ig grant to colla orate with layworks a nonprofit organi ation that uses the power of play to bring out the best in every child. Thanks to the funding ourtney onnering a regional partnership manager from Playworks, visited Lower School students and teachers for a week in September to help them reimagine recess. onnering helped teachers and students re define the ower School playground into different ones of dedicated games including tag four s uare hula hoops and basketball, among others. Students can choose whichever game they want to play, and move freely throughout as they want. They learn to se le disputes among themselves using the ocham eau method otherwise known as rock paper scissors to keep the game moving uickly and maintain a colla orative atmosphere. These social and emotional skills which are taught in classrooms, are now being intentionally practiced during recess. “With this new format, the playground is a natural e tension of our classrooms with the added enefit of play said ogers. The response from students and teachers has een overwhelmingly positive. Other professional development opportunities made possible by the Think Big grant that have occurred this school year include funding for six faculty and staff members to attend the 2023 NAIS People of Color Conference; a year-long partnership with USM’s Preschool teachers and Dr. Rick Clark, child clinical psychologist; and funding for a variety of visiting speakers, including Sheri Glucoft Wong, Jessica Minahan, and Rosalind Wiseman. 9

Lunch is Served T

he school-lunch depictions you’ve seen on television—highly-processed food, bullying, rigid lunchroom social hierarchies—don’t exist at University School of Milwaukee. For decades, USM has taken a unique and intentional approach to dining. Students are assigned to tables, where they are joined by an adult and students from other grades, and they can choose from a variety of healthy, delicious meal options. USM’s lunches are deliberately designed to support our mission of cultivating excellence in learning, leadership, and citizenship. For students from ages 3 to 18, lunch at USM is a time to broaden palates, make new friends, become part of a community with shared values, speak with adults, and self advocate. But to them, it just feels like lunch. Join us as we follow a plate of spaghetti from idea to reality—and learn how it fills more than just stomachs.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

5:55 a.m. It’s dark outside as mem ers of the and ut Foods team gather in the Preschool, Lower School, and Middle School dining room for their daily morning meeting. kay team this will e a heavy week announces scar Vega Medina (pictured above, center), executive chef, who leads the meeting. In addition to preparing lunch for today’s students the team has to prepare charcuterie

boards and desserts for an upcoming evening school function with an estimated guests. They are also scheduled to make o ed lunches consisting of sandwiches, a prepared salad, chips, and freshly baked cookies for an upcoming Middle School ﬁeld trip. If all goes to plan, the food—fresh and delicious and prepared by hand will appear as if y magic to ﬁll hungry ellies.

Building Community One Plate at a Time At USM, the dining room is a learning space in much the same way as the classroom. In the Preschool and Lower School, it starts with the students walking quietly and respectfully down the hall, and waiting patiently to be served by the HandCut Foods staff. When they’re seated, students might be assigned to a table with a teacher they’ve never had before, or peers they don’t yet know very well. “They’re making connections with others in our community, and that’s such an important part of what we do here at USM,” said Jennifer Keppler, Preschool coordinator. For Middle School and Upper School students, having a dedicated spot at lunch fosters belonging and reduces the “clique” mentality. “Lunch is the great equalizer in that sense,” said Elaine Griffin, head of Middle School. “Students aren’t being separated out by their interests, they’re all comingling together and the conversations are not necessarily set by the adult at the table. The kids set the agenda.”

Limiting Food Waste The HandCut Foods team has incorporated important changes designed to limit food waste, including using portion control tools to ensure consistent serving sizes, and encouraging students to first clear their plate before returning for seconds. They no longer pre-plate food for children but instead build a child’s plate based on what he or she requests to eat, which results in less food being thrown away. Even small changes, like composting fruit and vegetable peelings and ordering smaller apples that young children are able to finish in one sitting, make a big difference.

6:28 a.m.

The kitchen is ﬁlled with sounds the rhythmic chopping of knives against cu ing oards the clanging and cla ering of metal pots and pans, the monotonous hum of exhaust fans, and laughter peppered with cautionary shouts of ehind or hot pan. It’s also ursting with smells. s esus epeda saut s chopped carrots, onions, and celery in olive oil, the savory aroma ﬁlls the air. epeda prepares a large atch of chicken noodle soup every day due to its popularity with students, but he also makes a second pot of soup that rotates for variety. oday’s second soup is curry and lentil.

7:14 a.m.

USM Dining: Upgraded As USM embarks on the second year of its strategic plan, it’s clear that dining is integral to developing learners, leaders, and citizens. For Upper School students, dining got a major overhaul in 2018 with the addition of the Palermo Servery and the Jack Olson ’67 Commons. The existing Preschool/Lower School/Middle School dining room, however, is crowded and the kitchen staff is limited by old equipment. In advance of a new fundraising campaign, school leaders are soliciting funds to support, renovate, and expand the existing space, and to build a separate, 1,500-square-foot Preschoolkindergarten dining hall. The new space will reduce congestion in the Lower School and Middle School dining hall and allow for smaller groups of eight Preschool and kindergarten students per adult at each table. This means that students will spend more time exploring new food options, engaging in conversations with each other and the adults at their table, and growing their leadership skills by serving their peers. Renovating the existing Lower School and Middle School dining room will reduce the number of lunches from four to three, without compromising the overall length of the lunch periods. An updated kitchen will mean more efficient prep spaces and larger refrigerated storage options, giving students more expanded food offerings and a greater variety of entrees to taste and explore. Reconfigurations to the space, including the addition of two new wings, will provide more flexible seating for larger community gatherings. For more information on the new dining hall projects, please contact Patrick Tevlin, chief advancement officer, at ptevlin@usm.org or 414.540.3330.

hile his soups simmer esus epeda stirs the freshly prepared spaghe i sauce made with tomatoes salt pepper garlic and oregano. Spaghe i is a popular meal at USM ut the menu constantly evolves based on student feedback. Sometimes the feedback is verbal, either directly from the students or their parents other times it’s visual the amount of food that winds up in the trash is a good indicator of whether the students liked it. Depending on the response the and ut Foods team will tweak the recipe or scrap it altogether.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

A rendering of the new, expanded serving area in the Lower School and Middle School dining room.

8:06 a.m.

The sun is up and a cool ree e wafts in through an open window. hile parents ﬁnish the morning drop oﬀ armen amire rianna im el and armen uerrero stand on anti fatigue mats trimming chopping and slicing fruit and vegeta les for today’s salad ar. This is where they are stationed for the ma ority of their eight hour shift. Meanwhile uth usak and yrone McMurtry pictured at left prepare le uce for salads. In an average week the students and adults in this dining room will eat pounds of cucum ers cantaloupes honeydew melons pints of cherry tomatoes pineapples and watermelons—all of which are washed, trimmed, and sliced by hand.

9:02 a.m.

8:38 a.m

The spaghe i is ﬁnished and it’s time for aking. uth usack transfers large portions into deep pans and sprinkles them generously with parmesan and mo arella cheeses and oregano. efore aking she covers each pan ﬁrst with parchment paper then tin foil. The parchment paper is so that the cheese doesn’t stick to the tin foil and urn she e plains. It also ensures that the tin foil doesn’t negatively react to the tomatoes in the sauce.

Mary line is usy preparing today’s dessert doughnut holes y hand. She sets identical balls of dough on a tray using an ice cream scoop before covering them with cinnamon and sugar. Most people kind of eye all stuﬀ ut I like to e precise she says. ou have to if you’re going to e consistent. line even rings a tackle o with her to work ﬁlled with her preferred tools. er desserts are a hit with the students. I love the variety of food options said mare oward ’ . They even have desserts here. very week. I mean we got those like once a year at my old school.

9:36 a.m.

In the dining room ill amos is ﬁlling out the daily allergen checklist, a large board that lists the ingredients of each of the day’s dishes. amos is the school’s resident allergy e pert a position he takes e tremely seriously. USM is a nut free campus ut there are many children with other types of food allergies some severe and amos helps younger students select food that’s safe for them to eat. For the students with the most severe allergies, he personally prepares their meals. This involves a complicated choreography to ensure there is no cross contamination of any e uipment or ingredient he uses. “Making sure that nothing goes awry with this food is the hardest and most important part of my day he says. I would feel un elieva ly horri le if anything ad were to happen on my watch.

As the team wraps up their lunch break, stress and anticipation for the day’s lunch service egins to uild. The minutes tick down as team mem ers rush to finish filling the salad ar set up the three serving stations, load refrigerators with extras for the salad bar, get plates ready for the prekindergarten and junior kindergarten tables, and store hot food in the warming o es. amos makes final checks with the chefs on all of the day’s ingredients.

10:35 a.m. Broadening Palates “I like to say that I can sell food like nobody’s business,” said Jennifer Keppler, Preschool coordinator, who makes a concerted effort to encourage kids to try the food being served. “Seeing your peers eating the same things as you, and maybe even trying something new, is a really big part of being at school.” Those lessons apply to students of all ages. “I enjoy the wide variety of options, and how there are different entrees every single day,” said Aidan Wang ’24. At school, he is exposed to meals and ingredients he doesn’t typically eat at home, and he is encouraged to try them when he sees his friends enjoying them. “I’ve definitely tried things here that I might not have otherwise,” he said. “I never knew I was someone who liked quesadillas.” HandCut Foods staff members actively work to incorporate new flavors and make subtle tweaks, like swapping white rice for brown rice, which is more nutritious. They also work to give students more options while still retaining popular staples. Cheese pizza, for example, might come with a side of sausage, giving students an opportunity to incorporate more protein in their lunch while still satisfying those who prefer the basics. For kids who enjoy spicy food, hot sauce is available, along with other condiments like ketchup and mustard. The chefs also introduce different cooking methods, like smoking and barbecue, caramelization, pickling, and braising, to further expand options and flavors.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

Platinum Standards of Service The HandCut Foods team has adopted Platinum Service standards developed by The Ritz-Carlton, which includes elements of service and benchmarks for meeting customers’ needs. By upholding hospitality-caliber standards for customer service and food quality, team members are able to anticipate their eaters’ needs, customize dishes, provide timely service, and maintain in-depth knowledge of the menu and ingredients. New this year, each service station in the Preschool/ Lower School/Middle School dining room has three dedicated chefs, instead of the standard two from last year. The chefs are assigned to a designated menu item (protein, starch, or vegetable) and populate each plate based on each individual student’s request. In previous years, the plates would be pre-populated with the day’s menu items and kept under warming lights. Although the new method requires an increase in staff members, it results in fresher food that’s customized to each diner. It also results in less food waste, because kids aren’t getting food they know they won’t eat, and gives staff members an opportunity to answer questions and promote what’s on the day’s menu. They are intimately familiar with each meal, because they made it from scratch a few hours earlier.

10:57 a.m. The first customers of the day students in kindergarten st grade and nd grade arrive. They’re hungry and eager to e among the first in line. hile the younger students patiently wait for their food to be served, older students set tables with napkins, silverware, and cups. Soon the dining room is filled with a uiet roar and students are talking with friends at their ta le asking mem ers of the and ut Foods team for seconds or asking hef ill amos if a particular item is safe for them to eat. amos knows all of his allergy kids y name and has almost all of their uni ue allergies memori ed.

11:24 a.m. s the ﬁrst lunch period winds down students carefully scrape any uneaten food into garbage cans, place their plates, silverware, and cups in bins for dirty dishes, and wipe down their tables in preparation for the next round of students to eat. For them lunch is over. The and ut Foods team however still has more than mouths to feed plus dishes to wash and counters to wipe, before their day is done. And tomorrow they’ll do it all over again. 15

in focus

From left Brooke Tevlin, Claudia Fritz, and Weston Outlaw

MEET USM’S NEWEST LEADERS In November 2023 we sat down with the school’s newest administrators who lead in a variety of areas and roles on campus. Some of them are brand new to USM; others have long tenures here. While they come from different backgrounds with different strengths, experiences, motivations, and ideas, all share a common goal: to support the school’s mission of cultivating excellence in learning, leadership, and citizenship. What excites you the most about your new role? Brooke Tevlin, director of College Guidance, at USM since 2015 I’m e cited to reﬁne our unior and senior seminars where I envision implementing a small group learning approach. eyond academic gains this approach fosters a sense of elonging olsters self e cacy and instills personal intrinsic value in our students. Weston Outlaw, chief financial officer, started in June 2023 I’m thrilled to contri ute to USM what I love most ﬁnance while colla orating with an incredible group of people. Susan Zarwell ’87, assistant head of Upper School, at USM since 1998: For so long at USM I’ve een the pu lic face of college systems I don’t control and whose changes I don’t think are student centered. It’s nice to e the pu lic face for systems I can help in uence to remain student centered. 16

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

Claudia Fritz, director of Enrollment Management, at USM since 2008: Two things I’m e cited a out the work my team is doing to tell the USM story, and I’m e cited a out USM’s leadership team. I know I am in the right place at the right time, with the right people. Shanee McCoy, director of inclusion, started in July 2023 very day at USM is an opportunity for me to contribute to creating and deepening our sense of elonging. This is what makes my day.

in focus

SZ: ur ommon rust. I am grateful that the school is centering itself on this core philosophy. y practicing respect, trust, honesty, fairness, and kindness, we also protect these values. What is any community but a group of people who share eliefs and practices

Shanee McCoy (left) and Susan Zarwell '87

What has surprised you most about USM? WO: I’ve een delightfully surprised y how everyone is so welcoming and open. There is a genuine eagerness to connect and uild lasting relationships. SM: I was surprised y how large the campus is. etween the various uildings and the outdoor spaces for sports and outdoor education it’s a lot to take in and it’s all very beautiful. What excites you the most about USM? BT: From innovative, caring and outstanding teachers, impactful administrators, motivated students, excellent facilities, and funding for student programming and professional development it doesn’t get any e er. o top it oﬀ this is a community that cares and I see that caring in action every single day I go to work.

What is your leadership philosophy? SZ: See above! BT: I’ll never ask someone to do something I haven’t done myself. I ring a growth mindset to everything I do knowing that college guidance is both an art and a science, and what is most important is listening. WO: My philosophy is to nurture and strengthen our school y uplifting others. Through a synergy of hard work, teamwork, and strategic thinking, and thorough research, meticulous planning, decisive action, and re ective review my aim is to propel us toward our shared vision of excellence.

SM: I’m e cited a out USM’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. e want to create learners leaders and citi ens so we must e pose them to a wide range of diﬀerent e periences and perspectives to develop well rounded people who are the future of our world.

CF: I elieve in leading with openness and inclusion, valuing every team mem er’s voice. onsistent communication is the heartbeat of our collaboration, and we work together to foster an environment where ideas ow freely. My mission is to not just lead the team, but to empower each member to be their best.

What are some of the school’s biggest strengths? CF: I could speak for days a out the school’s strengths ut it’s pre y clear to me what rises to the top very child at USM is known and valued for their eﬀort and accomplishments in the classroom and community.

SM: I try to lead with curiosity compassion, character, and competence. I like to make data informed decisions based on integrity and ethical processes.

SZ: onestly it’s our mission. fter nearly years as an educator I know that the foundation of truly transformative education comes from knowing, valuing, and engaging students. My colleagues are commi ed to that mission and our school parents are, too.

17 17

spotlight

The Birds Upper School theatre students presented The irds y alter err an adaptation of a reek utopian play y ristophanes. The production included comple humor and dramatic irony. ur Upper School thespians have studied and crafted these di cult mature roles to tell a eautiful story said Mark dwards director and Upper School drama teacher.

Into the Woods In ovem er Middle School theatre students presented the musical Into the oods ased on the musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and ook y ames apine. The production intertwined the plots of several rothers rimm fairy tales including i le ed iding ood and ack and the eanstalk among others. It was directed y atie Gonring, Middle School drama teacher.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

spotlight

The Sound of Music The irginia enes oung Theatre was ﬁlled with music and packed with guests thanks to several recent concerts. Upper School band, orchestra, and choir students held a concert on ov. that featured music from throughout the centuries. Middle School and and orchestra students held a concert on Dec. featuring a special musical guest ead of School Steve ancock and Middle School choir students concluded the e travagan a with a concert on Dec. . ach event was an opportunity for guests to en oy oth the students’ talent and dedication and the work of the faculty who support and encourage them. 19 19

locker room

Girls Tennis Makes WIAA History USM’s varsity girls’ tennis team won the championship match of the State irls eam ennis ournament making them the ﬁrst Division program in the I ’s current two division format to win the team title the singles title and the dou les title in the same postseason. The two division format de uted in . In the tournament held in cto er in Madison isconsin top seeded USM recorded a win over third seeded Xavier in the title match for the second straight season to capture the crown. The ildcats won all four singles matches and two of the three dou les match ups. This is the 20

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

th state team championship in the school’s tournament appearance.

The girls’ tennis team won their second championship in a row a well deserved title said Ma Flack head coach and Upper School nglish teacher. The girls all worked so hard in the oﬀseason to hone their skills with the goal of repeating as champs this season. I’m so proud of them. They are more like a family than a team. The team mem ers competing at this year s state tournament included Mia Darr ’ aley rlich ’ indsey ardner ’ livia ourlay ’ u rey ayne ’

locker room

Bella Grenier ’25

Angela Wang ’26

Isabel Werner ’24 and Mia Darr ’25

Austin Jarmuz ’27

Girls Cross Country Makes First Appearance at State Haley Erlich ’26 and Lindsey Gardner ’26

ynter Maitland ’ lla McDonald ’ and Isa el erner ’ .

Ella McDonald ’26 and Olivia Gourlay ’27

ocelyn Stra on

ngela

ang ’

Wang, who captured the singles championship at the individual tournament held the weekend prior won her match at o. singles and ayne won at the o. slot. Maitland was the winner at o. singles. In dou les play the duo of erner and Darr who took ﬁrst place in the individual championships won their match at o. dou les. rlich and ardner topped their opponent at the o. position and McDonald and ourlay won their o. dou les match.

For the first time in school history, USM’s girls’ cross country team won as a team at sectionals and competed at the WIAA state cross country meet held in October, where the Division 2 girls finished 7th in a 16-team field. Bella Grenier ’25 earned 11th place with a time of 19:02.9, followed by Annie Norman ’25 in 30th (19:58.8), Anastasia Marich ’26 in 52nd (20:23.5), Lucy Konkol ’27 in 55th (20:30.4) and Izze Keller ’25 in 148th (25:19.4). Cate Kohli ’27 suffered an injury in the last mile and did not finish. Austin Jarmuz ’27, in his first appearance at state, finished 33rd in the 152-runner boys' field in 16:59. 21 21

beyond usm

Class Notes

50s

60s

cele rated her th irthday in Fort Worth, Texas. She was joined by family and friends, including her son, im ’ eilly ’ . lank taught in USM’s reschool from to .

wrote, produced, and directed hicken ity the first documentary film to feature every aspect of the chicken as a cultural icon. The film is ased on ercy’s ook The omplete hicken n ntertaining istory of hickens.

Betty Blank MDS’51

Dr. Roger Rosenberg MCDS’57

has been named professor emeritus after years at University of Texas Southwestern Medical enter after retiring on an. . osen erg served as a professor of neurology and is a renowned expert in l heimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Susie Gebhardt MUS’58 and Bob Wagner MUS’58,

along with other members of the Milwaukee University School lass of marked their 65th class reunion by generously contributing funds for the purchase of trees to be planted this spring. Their gift will support USM’s outdoor education program.

Rick Fried MCDS’59

wrote a new biography, “A Genius for Confusion: oseph . Mc arthy and the olitics of Deceit which shows how the Wisconsin senator’s campaign against American Communists pri ed sensation a ove truth.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

Pam Percy ’67

70s

Dean Dietrich ’70

egan his one year term as the th president of the State ar of isconsin on uly . During his year legal career Dietrich has practiced municipal, employment, and professional responsibility law. e and his wife . Ann, live in Wausau, Wisconsin and are active in the Wausau community.

Dr. Paul La Pointe ’70

su mi ed the following Dr. Margaret agin a ointe ’ and I cele rated our th anniversary y taking a trip to Stehekin, Washington, home of the most isolated U.S. post o ce in the lower . It was a wonderful time to get away from the outside world and en oy each other’s company. Margaret continues to work full time for an international prison ministry and I work part time after a year career

as a geologist and engineer. ecently I ackpacked miles across the lympic Mountains and I still play soccer. We live near the foothills of the Cascades in ashington a out miles east of Sea le.

Tim Johnston ’79

su mi ed the following “My new novel, eciprocity has een optioned by Universal Television Studios as a multi season television series, with actor/director/ producer ri a Salle tapped to direct and produce. The novel was named a ﬁnalist for the International ook ward for Fiction. Parts of the story take place in iver ills where my family lived when my father was headmaster of USM.

80s

Raj Bhala ’80

completed the London Marathon, his 115th, in pril . fterwards he was joined by his daughter, Shera and wife Dr. ara an hala for afternoon tea. is new ook rade ar Causes, Conduct, and onse uences of Sino merican onfrontation was recently published, along with the third edition of his textbook Understanding Islamic aw Shari’a with new chapters on Iran’s constitution the

ali an and merica’s longest war. The strong positive in uence of my USM teachers, including ohn .S. Stephens and Steve ruemmer continue to resonate in my professional and personal life he wrote.

Susan LaBudde ’80

won est eginner in a recent national painting competition and, as a result, her pastel painting ld Finn was featured in the cto er issue of lein ir maga ine. u udde a retired lawyer, volunteers as a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum and maintains a gallery page at www.dailypaintwork.com.

Bill Zito ’82

(pictured, right with Craig Counsell, former Milwaukee Brewers manager) threw the first pitch during a Milwaukee rewers in ugust . It was a return to his former stomping grounds—Zito once served as a at oy for the rewers. Zito completed his third season as general manager of the Florida Panthers in the same year the team made it to the Stanley up Finals. e was one of three finalists for the im Gregory General Manager of the Year award, and the Florida Panthers earned 7th spot in The thletic’s annual fan su mi ed confidence ranking of ational ockey eague front o ces.

beyond usm

Steffi (Major) Baker ’83

won gold in her division at the U.S. dult ational Figure Skating Championships held in Salt ake ity in pril . She was coached y lympic ron e medalist o ef Sa ovcik. I overcame two years of various physical ailments to get there and was thrilled to skate well enough to take ﬁrst place she said.

Molly Caan McGarry ’86

recently opened a storefront location in Cedarburg, Wisconsin for her business, Miss Molly’s atering . Miss Molly’s can prepare

delicious doughnuts or tasty dishes for catering events or meals at home.

Sam Crownover ’87

and her hus and ruce received the Wisconsin State istorical Society’s oard of urators estoration ward for the ris ane ouse. ver the course of seven months, Sam and ruce sta ili ed restored, and rejuvenated the three story home uilt in in rena isconsin. Learn more at www.brisbanehouse.net.

Adam Ciralsky’s ’89

production company Media has earned a seven

ﬁgure investment from eady ntertainment a company led by Martin uther ing r.’s daughter ernice . ing and shley ell. Media produced the et i series The ecruit which was based on iralsky’s ﬁrst o out of law school as an a orney with the I .

90s

Barbie Brennan Nelson ’91

and her husband, Chad, were named one of atalie’s veryday eroes y atalie Shepherd, reporter for

S . They were featured for their company, Fairy arden ives which produces honey and ee related products from hives and colonies all over Milwaukee County.

Doug Christiansen ’96

was named commissioner of the hockey league following an expansive national search. Christiansen is a seasoned hockey professional, serving in a range of roles over the past two decades, including player, coach, general manager, administrator, advisor, and speaker.

Paul La Pointe ’70 Dean Dietrich ’70

Betty Blank MDS’51

Susan LaBudde ’80

Steffi (Major) Baker ’83

Bill Zito ’82

SCOTT PAULUS/ MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Margaret (Kagin) La Pointe ’70

Molly Caan McGarry ’86 23 23

beyond usm

Allison Kieckhefer Hieger ’96

visited USM for a tour this past summer, along with her husband, Nathan, and daughters atelyn and rooklyn. llison is currently the curriculum consultant for the aciﬁc Symphony and an assistant teacher for Arroyo Vista lementary st in Pasadena, California. Allison also serves as the music director for the rroyo ista hildren’s Theater and continues to love choral singing, a passion of hers since high school.

Angela Pittman Taylor ’96

was named a lugold Spirit Award winner by University of isconsin au laire which is given to a university supporter who has a love for the campus, e empliﬁes e cellence and shares the U au laire story. i man aylor is a mem er of the U au Claire Foundation board, co founder and past chair of the U au laire lumni of Color network, and is the director of corporate communications at aird.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

Angela Pittman Taylor ’96

Raj Chetty ’97

was interviewed y The New York Times about a study published by pportunity Insights a group of economists based at arvard University which he directs. The group which studies ine uality found that children from families in the top 1 percent were percent more likely to e admi ed to an Ivy League school than the average applicant.

Natalie (Giugno) Maciolek ’97

Dr. Kristin Schroeder ’97

the International ancer are and esearch cellence Foundation i which she co founded. For nearly a decade, Schroeder and i have worked to deliver and improve cancer care at ugando Medical entre in Mwan a an ania. The survival rate for her patients has risen to in the eight years she has spent in an ania. She also serves as associate professor of pediatrics and global health at Duke University.

was named chief legal and government aﬀairs o cer at Molson Coors. Prior to the appointment, Maciolek served as senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary at ohler o. since and in other legal roles at the company since . She will become a member of Molson oors’ leadership team, based in Chicago, reporting to avin a ersley.

Rob Klavins ’98

Dr. Kristin Schroeder ’97

Sachin Shivaram ’99

was named a ﬁnalist for the pus ri e an annual faith ased humanitarian award. s ﬁnalist she received to support

Nadya Perez-Reyes ’02

was part of a successful legal challenge against the U.S. Forest Service that restored protections for old growth forests in the aciﬁc orthwest. lavins is an advocate for regon Wild, which was one of several plaintiﬀs in the lawsuit. The impacted area is at least 7 million acres on six national forests in eastern regon and southeast Washington state. oined the oard of Directors for the reen ay Packers. “For a kid who grew up a lifelong fan, oining the oard of

Directors of the reen ay ackers is a dream that I didn’t even know could e a dream he said. ele rating at the shareholder meeting with my family was a joy, and serving this institution that means everything to our community will be an honor eyond compare.

00s

Thekla Ross ’01

has started a new position as a strategic advisor to the ational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and lcoholism at The ational Institute on Drug use.

Nadya Perez-Reyes ’02

was named a Under y the Milwaukee usiness ournal. She is pictured above (center) with (from left) Drew Slocum ’ harlie ousiau ’ ohnny owles ’ and eny ere eyes ’ . adya currently serves in the Milwaukee o ce of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families as assistant secretary, advancing the department’s mission to support children and families.

beyond beyond usm usm

Alumni Events The USM Alumni office hosted a myriad of events, including the inaugural USM Day of Service, in which 106 volunteers gathered at Interchange Food Pantry to assemble Thanksgiving dinner baskets for 556 families. Other events included a regional visit in Chicago, the annual alumni coffee, and the annual Legacy Family Breakfast. Many thanks to all who joined, and be sure to visit www.usm.org/alumni for upcoming events!

USM DAY OF SERVICE

Charlie Dawn ’32 (left) and Colleston ’03 Morgan load a cart with food.

Emmaline D'Acquisto ’34 helped to load Thanksgiving meals.

Jack Dobre ’33 mastered service with a smile.

LEGACY FAMILY BREAKFAST

USM hosted the Legacy Family Breakfast event in November 2023. Students whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents attended the school, and their guests, were invited to enjoy a light breakfast in the Jack Olson ’67 Commons followed by a group photo.

CHICAGO REGIONAL VISIT

ALUMNI COFFEE

25 25

beyond usm

Sam Hitchcock Tilton ’03

Kemp Collings ’09

Lane Florsheim ’09

Greg Booth ’12

Charlie Uihlein ’02

posed an important uestion to USM Middle School ecological society students in mily ruwink’s ’ classroom Is healthy food a right, a privilege, or a choice Uihlein also spoke to students about Teens Grow Greens, an organi ation he founded that develops teens through transformative experiences.

Sam Hitchcock Tilton ’03

su mi ed the following I started vegetable farming after college and haven’t really stopped since. I studied mechanical weed control for a master’s degree in horticulture at Michigan State, worked in Germany for a weeding tool company, taught horticulture at Lakeshore Technical College near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and now I support Milwaukee area vegeta le 26

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

farmers for U Madison tension. My wife ulia and I are a out to move to Minneapolis for her MFA program in creative writing. I en oy planting owers all around Sheboygan in parks and elsewhere. Please look me up if you are near She oygan or Minneapolis

Michael Anderson ’04

and the Wonderist Agency, which he co founded with his wife, Laura, were honored for the fourth year in a row y Inc. onderist was named to Inc. the annual ranking of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S.

Ryan Khanna ’08

started a new position as spinal deformity fellow at Scripps ealth in San Diego.

David Bowles ’09

was named a Under y the Milwaukee usiness ournal. owles is president of M ignite marketing agency one of the state’s largest lack owned communications agencies. e was oined at the celebration event by his rother ohnny owles ’ .

Kemp Collings ’09

and his wife, Lindsey, welcomed their son eid on cto er . eid was pounds ounces.

Lane Florsheim ’09

was interviewed on “Today with oda enna for a segment about women who throw divorce parties to embrace their new futures. Florsheim is a reporter with The all Street ournal and published a story about divorce parties for the paper in uly .

10s

Greg Booth ’12

married mily Durkin of Chicago on September 9, in iverside Illinois followed by a reception in downtown hicago. mily graduated from oston ollege in and is a vice president of corporate anking at ank of America. Greg graduated from orthwestern in and ellogg School of Management in une and is an investment banker at aird in hicago. They reside in Lincoln Park.

Patrick Lubar ’12

was awarded the Next Generation Leadership award at the i imes Media’s on roﬁt cellence wards. u ar was recogni ed for his contributions as board

beyond usm

mem er for The pportunity enter as well as his work with ine adioMilwaukee the Milwaukee ewish Federation, and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee aukesha ounty.

Djdade Denson ’14

was featured by the Milwaukee ournal Sentinel for his role as director of amp hongo eace Father, Son and Friends etreat. ow in its th year, the camp provides a chance for up to men and boys to experience three days and two nights camping, hiking, and canoeing on the banks of the Mississippi iver.

Kate Nosbusch ’15

started a new position as school psychologist with ak oint and agle eights elementary schools in den Prairie, Minnesota, working with appro imately students. Nosbusch received her education specialist degree from U Madison in May .

Djdade Denson ’14

Philip Shuler ’15

played the French horn in a recital at First Congregational Church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin with the ridger rass intet.

Tyler Smith ’15

works as an engineer at I I a company that designs bionic clothing that can analy e and augment human movement. Smith was employee number six at I I and has een involved in all aspects of product development. Currently, he leads the development of I I ’s proprietary open neuromodulation platform.

Matthew Le Pine ’18

graduated with a achelor of rts Degree in usiness Administration from Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Riley Strauss ’18

is pursuing a master’s degree in mental health counseling with a child and adolescent speciali ation at Northwestern University. She is currently interning at ogers ehavioral ealth in Miami.

Philip Shuler ’15

Grace Hayden ’19

was named to the Dean’s list at Miami University for the spring semester which recogni es the academic performance of undergraduate students who are ranked in the top of their division. ayden is earning a achelor’s in interactive media studies.

Holly Hayden ’19

was named to the Miami University spring resident’s list which recogni es academic excellence and consists of students who are ranked in the top of undergraduate students within each division. ayden is earning a achelor’s in interactive media studies.

20s

Leen Mortada ’20

earned second place in Mar ue e University’s rewed Ideas hallenge a Shark ank style student pitch competition. Mortada and her partner ack illian earned to develop a portable ablution station, which will enable Muslim students to practice Wudu, an important foot cleansing ritual that precedes prayer. Mortada is a criminology and international aﬀairs ma or and president of the Muslim Student Association at Mar ue e.

Alvin Pokel ’20

was named to the USA ater Ski Show eam’s team roster. et old and her teammates will compete in the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation competition.

was named one of seven st entury Superstars y the ankamer School of usiness at aylor University. Pokel is majoring in supply chain management and management, and will graduate in May .

Leen Mortada ’20

Alvin Pokel ’20

Grace Petzold ’19

27 27

beyond usm

Lara Spanic ’20

won the 9th distinguished air ri e adge the highest government recogni ed honor for air ri e in the country at the ivilian Marksmanship Program National Championship. Spanic is a senior at University of isconsin Milwaukee ma oring in nglish with honors and exploring the option of joining the Army Marksmanship Unit after graduation.

Greta Hinke ’22

Shaan Sharma ’22

CJ Boyd ’21

is a starting defensive back on the Air Force Academy foot all team. e is a unior at the academy, majoring in management.

Lara Spanic ’20

Caroline Harkless ’21

returned to campus in une for a tour of outdoor spaces led y ip aco s ’ . They stopped to check on the status of the saplings that she helped to plant as a freshman ack in May as part of an Arbor Day project.

Lexi Lee ’22

Christina Wood ’21

is starting a new position as an incoming ﬁ ed income sales and trading intern for at ells Fargo in New York.

CJ Boyd ’21

Greta Hinke ’22

was selected to participate in the US Field ockey ational eam U selection camp in anuary . amp a endees were selected through their performances at the U unior and Senior e us hampionship. inke is a sophomore at Northwestern University, where she also plays on the ﬁeld hockey team.

Lucy Flack ’23

Caroline Harkless ’21

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

Ingrid Lofgren ’23

beyond usm Lexi Lee ’22

(pictured, left) and members of her team from the Milwaukee Turners organi ation met isconsin overnor ony vers at an event celebrating Asian merican and aciﬁc Islander eritage Month in May .

Isabella Mortara ’22

has started an internship at the U.S. Department of State.

James Reese ’22

spent the summer of in Milwaukee, where he played for the Lakeshore Chinooks wood bat summer baseball clu . eese currently a ends afaye e ollege in aston Pennsylvania, where he is majoring in economics and playing on the college’s baseball team.

Shaan Sharma ’22

was photographed visiting ee eck ealth Management in Chicago, which was founded by ruce . ee ’ . e hope that Shaan got a deeper understanding of the collaborative nature of our industry said a company representative. Sharma is currently an undergraduate at Princeton University.

Lucy Art ’23

was named the US D igh School Sports wards national courage award winner in uly. s a USM senior rt won the yard freestyle at the I Division state swimming and diving meet less than two years after sustaining in uries in a shark a ack in Florida. Art also received the Milwaukee ournal Sentinel SS courage

award in spring . She currently a ends olgate University, where she swims competitively.

Helen Bechthold ’23

received the Fred F. Loock scholarship from Milwaukee School of ngineering thanks to her demonstrated passion for S M education her volunteer work with Milwaukee Public Schools, and her high school internship with The al ec roup. The award is nearly applied towards tuition. echthold is pursuing a achelor’s degree in civil engineering, as well as playing hockey and lacrosse for MS .

Lucy Flack ’23

was invited to meet resident oe iden when he visited Milwaukee in August. Flack was the

Let’s Do Lunch Several USM alumni visited their alma mater this school year to participate in the Career Lunch and Learn series, in which Upper School students learn about the visitors’ ﬁelds of employment during their lunch period. The series is sponsored y USM’s Internship and Shadowing commi ee and arents’ ssociation. Many thanks to the following alumni who participated: Jerry King ’92, president, Precast Engineering Company Anne Dorn ’97, managing counsel, Direct Supply Inc. Andy Gordon ’98, litigation practice group member, Godfrey Kahn S.C.

founder of the Youth Action Team student group at USM, which is a youth division of Action for the Climate mergency a nonproﬁt nonpartisan organi ation that educates inspires, and supports young people to lead the ﬁght for their future.

Ingrid Lofgren ’23

was selected to compete in the an mMe ega a in uly where she won a gold medal in oth the and races. CanAmMex is an annual collaboration camp between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. that includes a week of training followed y a rega a. ofgren currently a ends the University of Alabama, where she competes on the rowing team.

Save the Date! USM Reunion Weekend

Ed Burke ’09, Catherine Burke’ 06, and Ethan Elser ’06

Ethan Elser ’06, executive vice president, PACE Equity

June 21-22, 2024 Visit www.usm.org/reunion for more details, and to see a photo gallery from Reunion Weekend 2023.

Catherine ’06 and Ed ’09 Burke of Burke Candy Andy Gordon ’98 and Anne Dorn ’97

beyond usm

In Memoriam We celebrate the lives of the following alumni and friends, whose deaths were recently shared with us. We are thankful for their friendship. 1940s Jane Zwicky Lillie MDS’40 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Elizabeth “Betty” Lawler MUS’43 Brookfield, Wisconsin Barbara Witte Kauth MDS’44 West Bend, Wisconsin Alice “Lloyd” Phillips Lewis MDS’45 Milwaukee Carl R. Triebs MUS’46 Vancouver, Washington

William H. Smythe MCDS’52 Wyckoff, New Jersey Sigrid “SiGi” Walker MUS’54 Colorado Springs, Colorado Thomas B. Hurd Jr. MCDS’55 Brookfield, Wisconsin William V. Ott MCDS’59 Boynton Beach, Florida Deanna Wollitzer MUS’59 Milwaukee 1960s

Gwenne Kathleen Heiser MDS’47 Sarasota, Florida

William “Chip” U. Burke MCDS’61 Milwaukee

Sue Graham Mingus MDS’48 New York

Barbara “Bobbin” Young ’66 Williamsburg, Massachusetts

David L. Rice MCDS’48 Parker, Colorado

1970s

Charles “Charlie” V. James MCDS’49 Fox Point, Wisconsin 1950s John Arthur Speaker MUS’50 Mequon, Wisconsin Polly Sprinkmann Rosenheimer MUS’51 West Bend, Wisconsin Susan R. Weinkauf MDS’51 Wausau, Wisconsin Jean Ann Jacks Wirth MUS’51 Milwaukee

James R. Clark ’72 Horseshoe Bay, Texas Susan S. Hoffmann ’72 Lake Forest, Illinois Elmer C. Prenzlow ’72 Thiensville, Wisconsin David Morter ’73 Steamboat Springs, Colorado Robert H. Messinger ’74 Glendale, Wisconsin Tammy Chmurski ’75 Brookfield, Wisconsin James Anthony Finlayson ’76 Milwaukee

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

1980s Carrie T. Park ’86 Medina, Ohio 2020s Cole M. Miller ’20 Glendale, Wisconsin Friends John A. Bach Milwaukee Father of Michael Bach ’89 Mark Brickman Milwaukee Grandfather of Sofia ’24 and Evi ’26 Brickman Lilly R. Crowder Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin Mother of Lola Mendeloff ’10 Constance F. Evrard Providence, Rhode Island Mother of Julie Silcock ’74 and former Upper School librarian from 1964 to 1970 Anna Ferrara Shorewood, WI Grandmother of Gaetano “Tommy” Ferrara ’16 Dolores Hayssen Mequon, Wisconsin Mother of Anne Ferrell ’67, Robert Hayssen ’68, Charles Hayssen ’69, James Hayssen ’72, and Thomas Hayssen ’75

beyond usm

Remembering Bill Cannon

David “Keith” Johnson Bellingham, Washington Father-in-law of John Rosenberg ’79, grandfather of Lauren Heaberlin ’07 and David Rosenberg ’11, and great-grandfather of Avery Heaberlin ’36 and John Heaberlin ’38 Mary Penkalski Milwaukee Mother of Paul Penkalski ’78 Alice H. Sallada Dallas, Pennsylvania Mother of James Sallada ’97 and academic support teacher from 1992 to 1997 Ruth Sommer Thiensville, Wisconsin Mother of Tracey Sommer ’81 Lynne Soto Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin Former Development office assistant from 1998 to 2005 Audrine White Milwaukee Grandmother of Meghan Wendland ’04 Mary Carol Winkleman Milwaukee Mother of the late Ryan Winkleman ’99 James E. Youker Hartland, Wisconsin Father of Britt Stearns ’92

William (Bill) Cannon died on October 7, 2023, in Mequon, Wisconsin, after a valiant battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Geralyn Cannon, daughter, Kelly Cannon ’09, son, Conor Cannon, and many friends and family. Bill belonged to one of Wisconsin’s most prominent legal families and proudly continued a 100-year family history of four generations of lawyers representing people who have been wrongly injured. He formed the Milwaukee law firm that later was established as Cannon & Dunphy S.C. on July 5, 1985. The firm has gained recognition as one of Wisconsin’s most successful personal injury law practices. When Bill’s cancer returned in early 2023, one of Bill’s surgeons at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dr. Garrett Nash, recruited Kelly to run the NYC Marathon and raise money for a promising trial he was leading for colorectal cancer. Despite little time for training as she cared for her dad, Kelly finished the marathon with a personal record and the title of the second-highest individual MSK fundraiser with an impressive $137,372 (see more here http://bit.ly/3TXdqzj). All funds went towards supporting the trial that Dr. Nash and his colleagues hope to deliver to patients by the end of 2024. “Running a marathon pales in comparison to the tenacity and perseverance required of patients who battle cancer, as my father did so valiantly. Although the trial was too late to save my dad, my goal is to eradicate this disease in my lifetime so others never have to experience the heartbreaking loss of a parent or loved one to colorectal cancer,” said Kelly. Bill and Geralyn generously supported USM in a variety of ways, including contributing to USM’s Our Next Generation campaign, the USM Fund, and the USM Endowment, among other causes, while Kelly and Conor were students. “USM always held a special place in my dad’s heart,” said Kelly. “He met many of his closest friends through the USM community and was a constant fixture on the sidelines at our athletic events. To witness the outpouring of support from so many of my former teachers and classmates who attended dad’s memorial service reinforced to me how truly special our USM community is.”

In November 2023, Kelly Cannon ’09 ran the TCS New York City marathon with Dr. Garrett Nash, Bill’s doctor. Kelly raised $137,372 to support cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital, in honor of her dad.

31 31

beyond usm

Remembering Tom Bergen

Raj Chetty ’97 remembers Tom Bergen

Tom Bergen, former Upper School math teacher, died on Oct. 20, 2023 at his home in Spring Hill, Florida. Bergen taught mathematics at USM for 41 years, having started in the fall of 1963 at Milwaukee Downer Seminary (MDS), one of USM’s predecessor schools. He was the last faculty member from MDS to teach at USM.

“I apply what I learned from Mr. Bergen every day, in my research on expanding opportunities for children using modern statistical methods founded on the core mathematical concepts he taught me and, as I myself, teach hundreds of students at Harvard. There is no overstating the impact he has had on my career and on countless other students (who in turn have influenced countless others), compounding his impact over the generations. I think few can aspire to have contributed so much to the world.”

Although he embraced the role of technology in the classroom, there was one area in which Bergen preferred to remain a Luddite: the chalkboard. “By the end of the day, his shirt and trousers would be covered with chalk dust,” said Fred Lange, Upper School math teacher. “In the winter, he would have Band-Aids on his fingertips because they were so dry and cracked from the chalk.” Many colleagues and students will remember his white hair, bushy eyebrows, and goatee. They will also remember his “Blue Mondays,” in which he would distribute blue-covered notebooks with AP-level questions that students worked on over the course of the week. Or his habit of referring to tests as “opportunities,” and of giving students Tootsie rolls to calm their nerves during said opportunities. Bergen cared deeply about his students and colleagues, but did not hesitate to share tough truths. “He was always there to praise your accomplishments and listen to your woes, but he was also there to tell you what you did not want to hear,” said Lange. “It was a sometimes painful—but honest—assessment from someone who cared.” Bergen is survived by his wife, Barbara, two sons, Mark ’78 and David ’80, four grandchildren, and many other friends and family.

USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2023–24

Raj Chetty ’97 is the William A. Ackman Professor of Economics at Harvard University, and the director of Opportunity Insights, which uses big data to study the science of economic opportunity.

What do you LOVE about USM? I like how the teachers are very open, I can always go in and talk to them. It really feels like a family, like everyone’s there for you.

The house corner in my classroom.. Celina, junior kindergarten

Christian, 10th grade

The people and the community. People here are kind, caring, and helpful.

Playing outside on the playground. Lydia, junior kindergarten

Ava, 7th grade

Deﬁnitely the people and the environment. When I came USM, everyone was very welcoming and it just felt like an open space where I could be myself.

I like that we get to learn new stuﬀ and we also get to do cool activities outside and inside.

I like the gamiﬁcation part of 6th grade. I like how the teachers make it fun and it’s not so serious.

Aubree, 3rd grade

Nolan, 6th grade

The great teachers. Joah, 1st grade

Wynter, 10th grade

USM Fund gifts support every aspect of our students’ educational experience. Help us reach our 2023–24 fundraising goal at www.usm.org/usmfund.

2100 W. Fairy Chasm Road Milwaukee, WI 53217

On Cue This past October, 50 members of the Ahrensburg Youth Symphony Orchestra, including conductor Sönke Grohmann (pictured), traveled from Germany to the United States as part of a cultural exchange. They spent three days in Milwaukee, where they participated in home stays with USM families, visited the Bradley Symphony Center, and performed a concert at USM that was free and open to the public.

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