USM Today Winter 2016

WINTER 2016

ATHLETICS FLOURISH IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS HIGHLIGHT CREATIVITY, SKILL

DEVELOPING STUDENT LEADERSHIP

INTRODUCING THE INAUGURAL USM ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS

After an eight-year hiatus, the Phoenix Magazine, an online USM literary arts publication, has

risen from the ashes.

Production of the magazine was spearheaded by Upper School English Teacher and faculty advisor Rebecca Schwartz and a dedicated staff of Upper School students, led by co-editors Nikita Mullick ’17 and Jordan Mutschler ’17. The students were inspired to revive the magazine in order to “share the amazing talent that USM classmates and teachers have to offer, and to bring our School community together.”

Originally created by and for USM’s Upper School, the magazine now features art and literature produced by Middle School students, Upper School students, and USM faculty and staff members.

The editors of the Phoenix Magazine intend to produce a new edition every semester, which will be available online. To check out the latest issue, please visit www.usmk12.org/phoenix.

in this issue 04 The Arts Shine at USM 02 Head of School Message

14 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

03 New Community Room Coming Soon 12 Grandparents and Special Friends Day 16 Academic Achievement 18 Alumni Association Board 19 Leave a Legacy with USM

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20 Giving USM Style

Introducing the Inaugural USM Athletic Hall of Fame Class

21 Dick Kramlich MCDS’53

Blazes Trail as

Venture Capitalist 22 Alumni Events

32 Developing Student Leadership

36 Athletics Flourish in Middle School

28 Legacy Students 34 Inside the Scholastic Art Awards 40 A Look Back—25 Years of Summer I.D.E.A.S. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

25 Class Notes 27 In Memoriam 38 Holiday Shops 2015

“Jellyfish,” by Emme Wiederhold ‘16.

USM TODAY USM Today is published by University School of Milwaukee three times per year. USM is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school for students from prekindergarten through grade 12. 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.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Tim Eilbes Director of Marketing and Communications MANAGING EDITOR

2015–2016 LEADERSHIP HEAD OF SCHOOL

Laura J. Fuller ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL

Gregg Bach HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

Stuart Cushman HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Pamela Nosbusch

Ryan Cardarella Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN

PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

McDill Design

Richard J. Seesel

PHOTOGRAPHY

PRESIDENT, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD

James Schnepf

James G. O’Reilly ’78

Rick Ebbers

PRESIDENT, PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Visual Image Photography Corrections: In the Fall 2015 issue of USM Today, Michelle Hevey was erroneously identified as a member of the class of 2007.

We apologize for the error.

In the Annual Advancement Report, the 2014-2015 USM Boosters Board was incorrectly identified, as the 2015-2016 Board was listed in its place. To view the correct 2014-2015 Board, please visit www.usmk12.org/1415boosters.

Michael Tauscher

Molly Kubly Fritz ’80

Cover: Hope Riesterer ’17 and Tejay Echols ’16 perform during the Upper School Players’ presentation of “Once Upon a Mattress.”

To change your address or unsubscribe from the USM Today mailing list, please contact the USM Advancement Department at 414.540.3339 or usmadvancement@usmk12.org.

HEAD OF SCHOOL LAURA FULLER As we leave winter behind and move into spring, I find myself thinking about the theme of renewal. As the grass begins to green, buds begin to appear on trees, birds begin to return home, and flowers begin to emerge from the ground, I think about renewal not only as we see it in nature at this time of year, but also as it relates to our mission as a School. We are so fortunate to benefit from the generosity and good will of so many who have come before us, and are privileged to be able to think about the generations ahead of us for whom we can pay it forward as well.

While looking online one day, I found this definition of renewal: “the state of being made new, fresh, or strong again.” In many ways, that definition fits perfectly with my thinking at this time about our great School. From a physical plant perspective, work has already begun in earnest to beautify our grounds ahead of our spring activities on campus, including Commencement.

From an educational perspective, work continues on the implementation of our Strategic Plan initiatives, which will provide for even more and greater learning opportunities for our students.

But I also find myself thinking about renewal from a mission perspective. No different from the nearly 165 years that came before us, there have been many changes at USM in the last several years, some of which, like the tightening of our security measures to keep our students, faculty, and staff safe, were necessitated by the world in which we now live. I have heard from countless teachers, parents, alumni, and even students who all understood the need for the changes we made, but felt like they caused a bit of the community feel of

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the School—something that has always been critically important to USM—to be lost.

With that in mind, I am excited to announce that the new Bruce ’81 and Jennifer Lee Community Room is scheduled to open at the start of this next school year. You can read about this new space, and about their motivations, on the following page. Based on the impact of his senior year at USM, Bruce and his family recognized the significance of his USM experience and made a commitment to the School, and to our community. I am confident that this space, which will be used by parents, faculty, and alumni alike, will become a central hub of activity throughout the day, and will quickly become a valued gathering space for our School community. I hope that you are as excited by this new space, and what it will mean for USM, as I am.

The members of our Board of Trustees have made many thoughtful decisions about the current needs of our School over the last several months, and have followed that work with their own generous financial support of a number of new initiatives to benefit our community. The Lee Community Room is the first of several new and “renewed” additions planned over the next several years that will enhance Our Common Bond as members of the USM community. I am excited for all of us to join together in these efforts as we seek to continue to improve the educational experiences and opportunities for our students.

New Community Room Coming Soon Introducing the Bruce ’81 and Jennifer Lee Community Room Great things happen when great minds come together. This is evident every day within our School community, as members dedicate themselves in so many ways to supporting the educational development of our students while contributing to the vitality of University School of Milwaukee.

The new Bruce ’81 and Jennifer Lee Community Room will be an asset for all at USM—a place where parents and other community members mingle, connect with teachers, exchange ideas, and share more than a passing hello at drop-off and pick-up. This important space, located adjacent to the School’s main entrance, will celebrate the USM community when it opens at the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

The room will feature collaborative work spaces, coffee-andconversation areas, and flexible seating for larger gatherings,

Head of School Laura Fuller and School parent Cathie Torinus in front of what will be the new Bruce ’81 and Jennifer Lee Community Room.

including admissions events and faculty and Parents’ Association meetings.

Crediting his senior year experience at USM as a “pivotal year” in his educational journey, Lee believes that it is the intimate parent-teacher-student interaction that sets the School apart.

“When all three work together as a team, the outcome is a better education,” Lee said. The new space, made possible due to his family’s support, will help to foster the strength of the School’s community.

Lee currently serves as a member of USM’s Alumni Association Board, along with other community organizations in Chicago, and works as the Managing Director, Private Banking and Investment Group at Merrill Lynch. USM is grateful to the Lee family for their generous contribution as we strengthen our commitment to building connections and camaraderie among all members of the USM community.

Rendering of Community Room.

University School of Milwaukee is grateful for this generous commitment from the Lee family, and for their desire to be a part of our Community Room major gift effort. For more information about ways you can contribute to "Our Common Bond," please contact Patrick Tevlin, Chief Advancement Officer, at 414.540.3330 or ptevlin@usmk12.org.

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“Students who study the arts seriously are taught to see better, to envision, to persist, to be playful and learn from mistakes, to make critical judgments, and justify such judgments.”

AN EXCERPT FROM “STUDIO THINKING: THE REAL BENEFITS OF VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION.”

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University School of Milwaukee believes that every child has abilities in creative expression, and that all students should be offered the opportunity to refine their artistic skills and showcase those abilities.

With that belief in mind, USM provides students with a rich, vibrant, and comprehensive arts experience beginning in prekindergarten, establishing a foundation of creativity, exploration, and vision that benefits them for a lifetime. Recognizing the importance of the arts to the intellectual and emotional growth of young people, students develop their expressive capacity and strengthen their inner resources and self-confidence through participation in the arts.

USM’s robust arts curriculum—which includes programs in the visual and performing arts—promotes appreciation and respect for the diversity of cultural and historical experiences, as well as the self-discipline, collaboration, problem-solving, and perseverance that lead to success in many areas of life.

The arts enrich the lives of students in all grades at USM and inspire them to explore their interests, discover new ways to express themselves, and pursue their passions.

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Lower School Forms the Foundation Particularly at a time in which many school districts are struggling to support their arts programming, USM has continually renewed its commitment to the arts across all grade and age levels, beginning in the Preprimary Program. Formal music instruction with a music teacher begins in prekindergarten, as children begin to experience the School’s curriculum through movement, singing, and hands-on activity.

In addition to teaching 8th-grade choir and several subject areas in Upper School, Music Teacher and Middle School Music Department Co-Chair Ellen Shuler also works with the School’s youngest students, introducing them to music.

MARK RYLANCE ’78 From stage to screen, there may not be a more talented and accomplished actor in the world today than Mark Rylance ’78. The three-time Tony Award winning thespian earned the 2016 Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in the Steven Spielberg-directed Cold War thriller “Bridge of Spies,” as he continues to bolster his resume as one of the very best character actors. Rylance will also star as the lead in Disney’s “The BFG,” another Spielberg film, in July while continuing to shine as a stage actor.

Rylance played Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet,” and worked on adaptations of Homer’s Odyssey and Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Idiot,” during his time at USM before matriculating to London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. During a previous assembly with USM Upper School students, Rylance described himself as “one of those odd people who had a clear direction at an early age for what he wanted to do with his life.” While attending USM, he made the stage his home, admitting to students that on more than one occasion, he hid in the ventilation ducts overnight on the weekends in order to work on stage sets.

“I met Shakespeare at this School,” Rylance said.

“Students at that age learn best through movement,” Shuler said. “We move non-stop as they learn tempo, beat, and rhythm.”

These quick-hitting lessons promote basic skill development and prepare students for more comprehensive music instruction, beginning in 1st grade with Lower School Music Teacher Tracy Huffman.

“Students arrive in my class already knowing how to read rhythm patterns, and we work on expanding their knowledge base to ensure that they leave Lower School loving music,” Huffman said.

In Lower School, the arts are integrated into classroom lessons and studied in relation to history and cultures. Another primary goal of the curriculum is to ensure that students understand how to read music and think critically about what they perform, so that they are able to hit the ground running as they progress in band, orchestra, or choir as they enter Middle School.

“The biggest change that I see in Lower School students is in their emerging independence,” Huffman said. “They grow from being consumers of information to developing their critical thinking skills.”

She also attributes that development to an institutional commitment to provide the best opportunities possible for students and arts faculty members.

“At a time in which many institutions feature arts teachers who are spread across multiple schools or have other resources that are stretched thin, USM offers students a comprehensive, well-rounded, and well-connected education,” Huffman said.

In addition to their music instruction, students in grades 1-4 take dance and engage in formal art instruction. The dance curriculum guides students in the creative use of movement, engaging them in body awareness and movement exploration, which promotes a recognition of self and others.

Lower School Dance Teacher Cynthia Collins sees a great deal of growth at this level as students become more comfortable expressing themselves creatively.

“I’ve found that the key to success is earning their trust. Once you earn that trust, anything can be accomplished,” Collins said. “To be able to do what I love each day and watch students blossom into well-rounded, creative, artistic, intelligent people is really incredible.”

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That trust is also evident during several live performances during the school year as students showcase what they have learned, and how far they have come from an artistic perspective.

In art, students participate in an array of daily classroom activities that hone their fine motor skills, creative thinking abilities, and expressive potential.

As a staple of the Lower School arts program, students also have the opportunity to become docents for a day. Beginning in 1st grade, students make several visits to the Milwaukee Art Museum and other local museums and galleries each year to learn about art history and build their knowledge base. In 1st grade, the emphasis is on line, color, and shape; 2nd-graders learn about value, shading, texture, and space; 3rd-grade students are exposed to the critique process; and in 4th grade, students research and present on a selected piece of art or architecture.

Once the students make their Docent Night choices and see their pieces in person, they begin to sketch drawings or build sculptures to accurately depict and recreate their selections.

“When students see their specific pieces in person, the textures, they always notice something new that they missed previously,” said Lower School Art Teacher Bob Geniusz. “It gives them ownership of the pieces and makes them theirs.”

The maturity and independence of their culminating 4th-grade docent projects and development in other arts areas—on both emotional and functional levels—prepares USM Lower School students well as they advance to Middle School.

“At a which mantime in feature ar tsy schools who are sp teachers multiple sc read across other reso hools or have stretched urces that are students a thin, USM offers com well -round prehensive, well - conneed, and c education.”ted

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BENNETT WILLIAMSON ’11

Students Develop Self-Confidence, Independence in Middle School

Currently working toward his college degree, Bennett Williamson ’11 has wasted little time making his mark on the design industry. In addition to his courseload, Williamson works as an assistant designer for Naeem Khan in New York City and also owns his own company, Evelyn Brawner, a custom designer of eveningwear.

Students are afforded a number of elective choices as they enter Middle School, which offers a greater breadth and scope of curriculum and allows them to explore and pursue their artistic interests. A full year of drama and visual arts courses are required in 5th and 6th grade, and students have the opportunity to select the performing art of their choice between band, orchestra, and choir. Electives continue to expand through Middle School, as 8th-graders can choose from a full menu of arts options, including world drumming, guitar, debate, music technology, and more.

Williamson took every arts class that he could at USM, and credits the depth of his portfolio as key to getting into a high-quality arts program. “Mr. Geniusz was absolutely amazing,” Williamson said. “I was interested in fashion from the time I was five, and every project that I did was influenced by that. He saw that, and pushed me.” He also credits Sarah Markwald with helping him develop a discerning eye, and the entirety of USM’s Upper School arts programming to help him refine and sharpen his skills and taste.

Williamson is on track to graduate from Parsons College in New York City this May with a degree in luxury and fashion management, and hopes to one day own and operate his own bridal boutique.

In addition to providing choices for Middle School students, arts faculty members have also forged important partnerships with core academic teachers and professional artists in the greater Milwaukee community to help integrate the curriculum and bring it to life.

Teaching artists frequently visit USM to share their expertise with students and arts faculty members, giving Middle School artists valuable opportunities to learn from experts in their respective fields.

“It’s tremendously important to bring in teaching artists who can bring their expertise to our students,” said Miriam Altman, Middle School arts teacher and Fine Arts Department co-chair. “These professionals come in and play and improvise, and suddenly the art form jumps another level to become a true representation of the culture. You see students become more engaged.”

Artistic connections are woven throughout the Middle School curriculum, with the arts intersecting and integrating with subject matter from history, world cultural geography, science, math, and other core areas, which highlight just how functional and essential the arts are in all academic areas.

“The arts allow students to think about their relationships with the world, their personal understanding, their community, and with others in a really unique way,” Altman said. “The students experience how things are interconnected in ways they hadn’t previously considered.”

Moreover, those experiences provide additional exposure and context to the study of different cultures and subject areas, and inspire creativity in new ways for students.

“It’s important for students to understand that the arts are integrated into all of their other curricular areas,” said Middle School Art Teacher Sarah Markwald. “The design elements and craftsmanship learned in the arts can be taken and applied to many other projects and subject areas.”

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Students also continue to develop confidence and critical thinking ability through the arts as they often tackle new challenges, such as playing an instrument or addressing a more complex artistic concept for the first time.

“I have a saying on my wall that reads, ‘Permission to fail leads to success.’ In music, students learn to break each part or component of a piece down, figure out what they don’t do particularly well, and work to improve that component,” said Steve Johnson, Middle School orchestra teacher. “It’s a step-by-step process that is applicable to problem-solving in any area.”

Learning to fail, regroup, and overcome the problems they face at this age provides tremendous development opportunities for students in the arts, and it also establishes perseverance that carries over into the classroom.

The confidence earned by performing in front of a large crowd also prepares students well for other endeavors.

“Students start to make their own decisions about artistic expression and musical interpretation in Middle School. The light bulb comes on at different times for different students, but you can see the confidence build once they learn how to play a few notes. That is one of the really rewarding parts about my profession,” said Dain Shuler, USM band director. “If you can get up in front of an audience and perform a challenging piece of music, you can deliver a book report in class, and you can raise your hand with confidence during discussion.”

The perseverance developed through the Middle School arts curriculum is essential for students as they prepare to enter Upper School.

“I’ve found that the key to success is earning their trust. Once you earn that trust, anything can be accomplished.”

EMILY COOLEY ’08 Emily Cooley ’08 was recently awarded the Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, an honor reserved for exemplary young composers. Cooley is currently serving under the Milton L. Rock Composition Fellowship at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and frequently travels the country to work with orchestras and ensembles.

Cooley played in Upper School concert and jazz band and cites Dain and Ellen Shuler as impactful influences on her career. “My fondest memories are of playing in the orchestra pit for the Upper School Musicals,” Cooley said. “The Shulers put on those productions and their love for music was contagious.”

“The arts can bring students together in a combined creative effort that can be emotionally meaningful. Even disregarding music, I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t taken drama courses and been in plays at USM. Students need variety in what they learn and how they learn it.”

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Choice, Creative Freedom Highlight Upper School Experience Options in Upper School arts are dynamic and numerous, as electives in theatre, music, and the visual arts provide experiences that lead to the refinement of skills and expression. Students begin their Upper School arts experience by choosing from one of five initial courses: Foundations of Art, Theatre, Choir, Band, or Orchestra.

From there, students can later choose more specialized courses that align with their particular interests, such as photography, sculpture, metalsmithing, music theory, stagecraft, art portfolio, music technology, acting, digital art, and more.

Each program expands in scope during Upper School, providing students with more options and paths within their chosen specialty. Upper School theatre courses become more hands-on and multi-faceted, as students play a role in scene creation, stagecraft, and technology behind the scenes.

“It’s important to see students learn to make mistakes and not be intimidated or discouraged. Sometimes that is the only way to learn,” said Jeremy Woods, USM theatre director. “For them to be able to draw a picture of what we need to build, put in several weeks of hard work, and then have it turn out as a beautiful set is really rewarding. The students know what they did and can point to their accomplishments.”

Student work also rises to a higher creative level as USM thespians try to find elements of themselves within the characters they portray.

“Instead of just reading the words on the page, students learn how to find their character,” said Ann Johnson, Upper School theatre teacher. “What part of you is in that character? How do you relate to the rationale of your character? Those questions add a great deal of perspective for students.”

Juniors and seniors are provided even more choices, not only in the courses they select, but in the projects they execute within those courses. Students are pushed to pursue their passions and make their work personal based on their individual interests.

“The curriculum is very individualized, student-based, and choice-driven,” said Jessica Michels, Upper School art teacher. “The gold standard for me is when you can get students to risk opening up about their own lives, their struggles, and their own perspectives and visions. There’s no pretense, and that can be really scary for students, but that is an amazing moment to witness and promote.”

Risk is critical to success in the arts, as students are often experimenting with new materials and methods. Additionally, unlike other core subject areas, there is often no correct answer or solution to an artistic endeavor, only the desire to work to the best of one’s capabilities.

“The arts teach students to constantly reassess their work, because it is never truly complete,” said Priscilla Woods, Upper School art teacher. “You are always trying to think critically to help make things better.”

That approach has served Upper School students well in the visual arts, as USM has consistently excelled in the Scholastic Art Awards (see page 34 for more), with artists earning an impressive number of Silver Keys and Gold Keys on the state level in recent years.

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The Arts Provide Marketable Skills A common misconception regarding the arts is that the skills are not transferrable to the job market. However, creative and cognitive skills honed through participation in the arts are emerging in increasingly marketable ways, as more and more careers require an understanding of design.

Technology goliaths such as Apple and Samsung are paying more attention to—and devoting more resources toward—making their products more visually appealing, and many companies are hiring employees with a keen eye for design and photography.

“Even surgeons are beginning to take art classes, because those courses train you to have a much more discerning eye,” said Priscilla Woods. “You learn to identify relationships between colors, textures, and spatial relationships. Those skills translate to the job market.”

Superior craftsmanship and the ability to translate artistic vision into practical applications were also mentioned as vital skills developed through work in the arts.

“I hear from so many of my former students in college how they value their ability to use the Adobe Creative Suite,” added Jessica Michels. “Understanding the power of those programs and of graphic design in general is extremely useful in school, as well as the marketplace.”

Ultimately, the breadth and scope of USM’s arts offerings—along with the ongoing investment in programming and facilities—provide students with a necessary creative outlet to find and pursue their artistic interests and a diverse skill set that serves them well in all future endeavors—whether they pursue a future in the arts or not.

“I believe that we have changed the lives of many of our students through the classes that we offer,” Ellen Shuler said. “Everyone has their own unique talents, and it’s important to let students choose their own paths and follow their passions.”

MAXINE HUPY ’07 A passion for dance has guided Maxine Hupy ’07 from USM to Northwestern University and, ultimately, to Hollywood, where she currently plies her craft as a professional dancer and choreographer. Hupy, who has worked with artists including Iggy Azalea and Cee-Lo Green, among others, is still inspired by a passion for dance that began during her years at USM. “I still remember the encouragement that I received from USM faculty members and my classmates,” Hupy said. “That was impactful in my development as a dancer, and for my confidence in general.”

Hupy credits dance with providing the self-confidence to perform in front of thousands of people, and for her ability to express herself on stage, in a board room, and as a networker.

Through that self-confidence, Hupy has found success on the highest levels in her field doing what she loves.

“Even su are beginninrgeons art classes, g to take those cours because e to have a mus train you ch more discerning e y e .

Y ou learn to identify relati o n s h ip s between colors, textu re s , a n d spatial relationships . Those skills translate to th job market.” e

“People driven by passion will build an empire that not only consumes them, but excites them every day.”

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GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY Sponsored by the Parents’ Association, University School of Milwaukee was delighted to host Grandparents and Special Friends Day on November 25, 2015. USM students were joined by their grandparents and other family members in the Marion and Verne Read Lower School Gymnasium for a short program before spending the rest of the morning interacting in classrooms.

A Maryeve Mesenbourg and Dylan Mesenbourg ’29.

B Karen Maclay, Kristen Maclay ’99, (front) Penelope Bonnell ’28, Geoff Maclay Sr., and Geoff Maclay Jr. ’65.

From left Grandparents and Special Friends Day C Co-Chairs Rosalie Schaefer, Melissa Sheppard, and Shelly Farrow.

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From left Tommy Inda ’16, Terry and Gail Inda, and Claire Inda ’13.

E Back from left Kristen Shalda, Morgan Geronime ’08, and Diane and Ken Shalda. Front Anna Geronime ’25.

F Joe Zimmerman ’22 with Lynde Uihlein MUS’63.

G Top from left Christian Blomquist ’19, David Blomquist, and Rose Mary Blomquist. Bottom from left Judy and Don Van Buskirk.

H S arah Mackey ’25 with Patrick Mackey.

I Fina Dermond ’21, 7th-Grade Science Teacher Kip Jacobs ’74, and Sandra Dermond.

J From left Lin Ellis, Cliff Radtke ’28, Jim and Karen Radtke.

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B C

A

E

D

F

H

I

J 13

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY OF SERVICE University School of Milwaukee students, faculty and staff members, and parents teamed up to engage in a series of service projects throughout the greater Milwaukee area in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 18.

Turning a “day off” into a “day on,” members of the USM community volunteered at several area events, working in support of nonprofit organizations such as City Year, the Urban Ecology Center, Easter Seals of Southeast Wisconsin, the Guest House, the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Kathy’s House, and more.

USM volunteers helped box food, provide and serve brunch, lead games and activities, clean, paint, and beautify work and community spaces, assist classroom teachers on school projects, and much more as part of their service opportunities.

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academic achievement

CUM LAUDE SOCIETY

Fall 2015 Cum Laude Society Front from left Jacob Coran, Alanna McCauley, Noah Schatz, Riya Sood, and Marshall Lerner. Back from left David D’Ambrisi, Joshua Holmes, Max Levatich, Sam Wells, Jay Truel, and Ethan Shuler.

Each fall and winter, University School of Milwaukee welcomes the top 10 percent of the senior class into the Cum Laude Society, an organization that honors superior scholastic achievement in secondary schools. All inductees delivered a short speech about an important and meaningful academic experience at assembly.

Congratulations to the following 2015-2016 senior inductees: Fall 2015

Jacob Coran, David D’Ambrisi, Joshua Holmes, Marshall Lerner, Max Levatich, Alanna McCauley, Noah Schatz, Ethan Shuler, Riya Sood, Jay Truel, and Sam Wells.

Winter 2015

Jacob Bern, Jack Collison, Nate Engel, Minhal Gardezi, Ashutosh Goyal, Lea Kemper, Ibrahim Khan, Michael Marcus, Michael Schmidt, and Michael Smith.

The Cum Laude Society was founded in 1906.

Approximately two dozen of the 382 chapters are located in public schools, with the majority in independent schools. Membership is predominantly in the United States, but chapters are located across the globe.

Winter 2016 Cum Laude Society Front from left Ibrahim Khan, Michael Smith, Michael Marcus, Jacob Bern, and Jack Collison.

Back from left Minhal Gardezi, Lea Kemper, Michael Schmidt, Nate Engel, and Ashutosh Goyal.

NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation honors academic excellence by awarding scholarships to the nation’s top students each year. USM is pleased to announce that the following nine senior students have been named as 2016 National Merit Finalists: Jack Collison, Jacob Coran, Minhal Gardezi, Ibrahim Khan, Max Levatich, Michael Schmidt, Michael Smith, Riya Sood, and Shireen Zaineb.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation honors academic excellence by awarding scholarships to the nation’s top students each year. Finalists will have the opportunity to compete for some 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $35 million. Winners are chosen based on academic records, SAT scores, extracurricular and leadership experiences, and essays.

National Merit Finalists From left Jacob Coran, Jack Collison, Michael Schmidt, Ibrahim Khan, Max Levatich, Minhal Gardezi, and Shireen Zaineb. Not pictured Michael Smith and Riya Sood.

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ELEVEN USM STUDENTS GARNER STATE RECOGNITION AWARDS FROM SCHOLASTIC ART COMPETITION

A University School of Milwaukee record-tying 11 students won a total of 17 state recognition awards, including three Gold Keys and seven Silver Keys, from the Scholastic Art competition. The Gold Key recipients advance to the national competition in New York City this May. All 11 students were honored at a special closed ceremony at the Milwaukee Art Museum on Saturday, February 6, and their work was displayed at the Museum from January 30 through March 13.

Congratulations to the following USM students: Rebecca Banghart ’16 – Honorable Mention in photography for “Julia” Jacob Bern ’16 – Honorable Mentions in drawing for “Bless You,” and digital art for “Blessings;” Silver Key in digital art for “Noelle” Xinyu Cai ’17 – Honorable Mention in photography for “Oil and Water;” Silver Keys in photography for “Oil and Water” and “Scarf Girl” Toriano Echols ’16 – Honorable Mention in photography for “Colorpencil Closeup” Hailey Farrington-Bentil ’18 – Silver Key in photography for “Lack of Energy” Hannah Hakami ’18 – Honorable Mention in photography for “Wentworth;” Silver Key in photography for “Observatory Pt. 2” Joshua Holmes ’16 – Gold Key in photography for “Beachscape;” Silver Key in photography for “Pasture Sunset” Mia Jaeger ’18 – Gold Key in mixed media for “Hira” Jude Outwater ’16 – Honorable Mention in jewelry for “Anatomical Broken Heart” Emme Wiederhold ’16 – Silver Key in photography for “Shark” Shireen Zaineb ’16 – Gold Key in drawing for “Self Portrait”

Top: “Observatory Pt. 2,” by Hannah Hakami ’18 Middle: “Pasture Sunset,” by Joshua Holmes ’16 Bottom: “Oil and Water,” by Xinyu Cai ’17

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2015-2016 Alumni Association Board Front from left Jessica Roulette ’88, Natasha R. Misra ’04, Angela Topetzes ’78, Alumni Association Board President James G. O’Reilly ’78, Daphne Seaman Lerner ’88, Sumeeta Krishnaney ’92, Cassandra Morello ’07, and Lindsey Canonie Grady ’91. Back from left Student Representative Jacob Bern ’16, Avery L. Goodrich Jr. ’76, Charles A. Gordon ’98, F.R. Dengel III ’83, Haskell “Hack” Noyes ’66, John O. Graham Jr. ’02, and Burt Bartlett ’74.

Not pictured Bruce Lee ’81.

A LETTER FROM JIM O’REILLY ’78 Alumni Association Board President On behalf of the University School of Milwaukee

community and we need your help to make it even stronger by

Alumni Association Board, I’d first like to thank you for your

sharing opportunities with the Alumni Office. We are also happy to

continued support of USM. Your outpouring of time, talent, and

announce the formation of the USM Athletic Hall of Fame (see page

treasure is truly remarkable, and demonstrates the special people

30), which will hold its inaugural induction dinner over Homecoming

who make up our School community.

weekend on October 1. Stay tuned for more information and please plan to attend!

Our Board continues to work toward a primary mission: to connect alumni to the School and to former classmates and teachers.

Finally, we are implementing a new strategy designed to

We have social media pages and an updated alumni web page for

provide alumni with resources, opportunities to connect, and

those who enjoy staying connected through computers and mobile

encouragement as we all progress from decade to decade. At the

devices. We have scheduled events both locally and around the

end of the day, our goal as an association is to add value to our

country that encourage gatherings of old (and new) friends, and

members’ lives in any way possible.

updated the format for this year’s USM Summer Soirée (formerly the Reunion Cocktail Party), to encourage all alumni and parents

I invite you to share in the exciting activities and opportunities this

of alumni to attend this social event.

organization has to offer. Wherever you are, at whatever stage of life you are in, there’s something here for you. We are excited

We have also kicked off a career networking initiative in which

about the future of the USM Alumni Association and look forward

we match our younger alumni to potential job opportunities and

to sharing information with you throughout the year. Contact us at

internships offered through older alumni connections. This is

alumni@usmk12.org.

an exciting program for both our alumni and the greater USM

18

USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

University School of Milwaukee, Legacies, and You Today’s University School of Milwaukee is the legacy of three excellent predecessor schools— Milwaukee Country Day School, Milwaukee Downer Seminary, and Milwaukee University School.

USM carries forward its tradition of excellence because its students and faculty and staff are the descendants (some literally) of previous students and faculty and staff.

As you consider leaving an enduring mark on your community, have you thought about including USM in the charitable portion of your legacy? There are many different ways for you to do just that.

These types of charitable legacy gifts are known collectively as planned giving.

USM now offers a new, comprehensive resource for exploring planned giving options.

Planned gifts fall into three broad categories:

Gifts That Anyone Can Make

Gifts That Pay You Income for Life

Gifts That Protect Your Assets

Please visit the new USM planned giving pages at www.usmk12.org/plannedgiving. There you will read how each type of gift can match up with your family and charitable goals. There is also a gift calculator, enabling you to “try out” various planned gifts according to your specific situation.

Thank you for considering a planned gift to leave a legacy of support for future generations of USM students. For more information or assistance, please contact Steve Farwig ’75, director of major and planned gifts, at 414.540.3333 or sfarwig@usmk12.org.

19

Giving USM Style At University School of Milwaukee, we believe in creating experiences that inspire our students to make a difference. Whether in the Preprimary Program, Upper School, or any level in between, our students have opportunities to connect with the greater community—and world—while fostering personal growth and leadership. Below are just a few of the many examples of how our students donate their time and energy to causes they are passionate about in the greater Milwaukee area.

OUR NEXT GENERATION

Every Wednesday, Milwaukee-area students spend time after school with USM Upper School students as part of the School’s partnership with Our Next Generation, a nonprofit, communitybased organization that provides academic support and enrichment programs for area students.

Upper Schoolers work with the same students each week on homework, play games, and engage in other enrichment activities, giving younger students the opportunity to improve their grades and develop self-esteem, and for both groups of students to enjoy forming a special bond with each other. USM has partnered with Our Next Generation for 10 years!

SECOND SATURDAY

Each February, Lower School students team up to participate in a service project that assists single mothers and their children through Second Saturday, a nonprofit organization whose primary emphasis is “to challenge poverty, one child at a time.” Each grade level collects or creates items as part of “goodie bags” that are prepared for program participants. The contents are then organized and sent off to the organization for distribution to in-need mothers and their children each March.

KIVA

In 7th-grade economics, students develop small businesses to raise funds for Kiva, an organization whose mission is to eradicate poverty by allowing people to lend money via the Internet to low-income, underserved entrepreneurs. In addition to this year’s fundraising project— creating arcade games entirely out of cardboard—students explored the issues of poverty and fair access to banks and loans. Over the years, the USM community has provided more than $25,000 in funding to people around the world.

RIVERWEST FOOD PANTRY

In November, 3rd-graders ran a food drive for the Riverwest Food Pantry. They first learned about the concept of food prices and worked on money skills. Then, using money they earned at home, they bought food items to donate. The classes delivered the items to the pantry and weighed, sorted, and recorded them while learning about the path their donations take before landing in the hands of community members.

You can help support opportunities for students to look beyond themselves and discover the greatness of giving by donating to the USM Fund today at www.usmk12.org/usmfund.

20

USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

Kramlich Blazes Trail as Top Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist Dick Kramlich MCDS’53 Recognized as “one of the top boys in his class” from his days at Milwaukee Country Day School, to his time as a technology pioneer in Silicon Valley, Dick Kramlich MCDS’53 has made an indelible impact throughout his academic and entrepreneurial career.

A visionary venture capitalist who has been involved with 10 companies that have grown from the start-up or near start-up stage to accrue market value in excess of $1 billion, Kramlich was recently inducted into the inaugural class of the Global Silicon Valley Hall of Fame in 2015.

“I consider myself an entrepreneur, not a financier,” Kramlich said. “I always approach new opportunities with a ‘we’ mindset rather than a ‘they’ mindset.”

Described as a “venture capitalist trailblazer,” Kramlich’s induction took place during the Pioneer Summit, an annual gathering of the world’s foremost technology leaders, investors, and rising stars who are working together to build a stronger society.

A steward of countless highly profitable organizations, Kramlich has been involved with Juniper Networks, Ascend Communications, ImmuneX, Macromedia, Financial Engines, and Xoom, among many others. He was also a seed capital investor in Apple in 1977.

Kramlich currently serves as co-founder of New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA), a leading venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, and is chairman of the NEA Management Company. He began his venture career in 1969 as a general partner with Arthur Rock and Co. following nine years in general and investment management.

Dick MCDS’53 and Pamela Kramlich

“I don’t accept failure. If something doesn’t go your way, you need to put it in a different category, perhaps you were aiming at the wrong target,” Kramlich said.

“Perseverance is one of the keys to success and the ability to address and overcome obstacles is critical.”

Following his family’s move to Milwaukee from Appleton to expand Krambo, the family-owned grocery store chain, Kramlich entered Milwaukee Country Day School as a freshman in 1949 and excelled both inside and outside of the classroom. He was a member of the student council and served as class president for his sophomore, junior, and senior years, and also lettered as an athlete in football, basketball, and tennis.

He reflected most fondly on his time playing for legendary MCDS and USM football coach Ken Laird, who implored a young Kramlich to add weight. Working as a “pea pusher” at a factory in Waukesha over the summer, Kramlich took Laird’s advice, developed as a student and an athlete, and was subsequently named Most Improved Player and second team all-conference during his senior year.

Following his distinguished career at MCDS, Kramlich earned a BS in History at Northwestern University and obtained his MBA from the Harvard Business School. He currently resides in San Francisco with his wife Pamela, and enjoys collecting art, hiking, traveling, swimming, playing tennis, and spending time with his four children and six grandchildren.

USM looks forward to welcoming Kramlich to Milwaukee in May to deliver the 2016 Commencement speech to current USM seniors and their families.

21

Alumni Hockey Scrimmage 26•DEC • 2015

USM hockey alumni took to the ice at the Polly and Henry Uihlein Ice Arena for their annual scrimmage on December 26.

Nearly 30 current and former USM hockey players returned to campus on December 26 for the annual alumni hockey scrimmage.

29 • DEC • 2015 From left Sam Bernstein ’14, Zach Gilbert ’15, Michael Tucker ’15, Phoenix Ventress ’14, Austin Matthews ’14, Ve’Jhon Johnson ’15, Peyton Stanford ’10, Lane Stanford ’12, Adam Salaymeh ’12, Chris Roth ’08, Djdade Denson ’14, Josh Baker ’12, and Chris Cooper ’14.

Alumni Basketball Scrimmage USM basketball alumni showcased their skills during a winter break scrimmage on December 29.

USM Visits New York USM hosted a community gathering for New York City alumni at The Winslow on January 29. Alumni enjoyed cocktails and appetizers as they reconnected with familiar faces during this social event.

22

USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

29• JAN • 2016

25 • NOV•2015

coffee with college kids Recent USM graduates returned to campus in November to reconnect with faculty members and visit with their former classmates over coffee in Mellowes Hall.

From left Laura Van Why, Emma Van Why ’17, Head of School Laura Fuller, Linnea Fischer ’15, Ellie Van Why ’15, and Roofia Beg ’15.

From left Henry Weiss ’15, Upper School History Teacher Rishi Raghunathan, and Haley Flagstad ’14.

From left Jack Hiller ’14, Brent Mackman ’14, Austin Matthews ’14, Upper School Math Teacher Fred Lange, Nico Dermond ’14, Andy Stewart ’11, and Will Gibb ’11.

SARASOTA

USM Visits Florida Head of School Laura Fuller joined USM community members for two alumni events in Naples and Sarasota, Fla. in February. For more photos and captions from Florida events, please visit www.usmk12.org/usmvisitsflorida.

NAPLES

Back from left Andy VandenBerg ’10, Jack Ulricson ’08, Melissa Mayfield ’08, Julie Chase ’09, and Will VandenBerg ’06.

Front from left Alexa Dumit-Sjoberg ’09 and Betsy Lucas ’08.

23

Upcomin g The University School of Milwaukee Alumni Association has several exciting events planned for spring 2016. We look forward to reconnecting with you! For the latest alumni event information, visit www.usmk12.org/alumni.

Reunion Weekend Returns to the Summer this June 24 and 25!

University School of Milwaukee invites all alumni and parents of alumni to Reunion Weekend on June 24 and 25, 2016. New this year, all reunion celebrations will be moving back to the summer.

The festivities will start Friday, June 24 with the USM Summer Soirée at Milwaukee Country Club. This annual social is open to all alumni and parents of alumni—not just those celebrating a milestone reunion year.

The celebration will continue on Saturday, June 25 with campus tours in the morning, followed by the Blue & Gold BBQ. Classes celebrating a milestone reunion will also hold their class parties on Saturday, June 25.

USM visits…

USM is reconnecting with alumni in Chicago this spring:

CHICAGO THURSDAY, APRIL 21 If you have a suggestion or would like to learn more about hosting an alumni event in your area, please contact vnerbun@usmk12.org.

Want to get involved in planning for Reunion Weekend?

Contact Vanessa Nerbun, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, at vnerbun@usmk12.org or 414.540.3337.

For updates and additional information, visit www.usmk12.org/reunionweekend.

Joe Lubar Alumni Baseball Event The USM community will celebrate the life of Joe Lubar ’08 at the Joe Lubar Alumni Baseball Event on Saturday, June 4 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Alfred James Field. Community members are invited to reminisce with old friends, enjoy a cookout, and share Joe’s love of baseball at the event, which will be highlighted by an alumni exhibition game.

24

USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

class notes THE FOLLOWING PAGE INCLUDES NEWS AND NOTES SUBMITTED PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 15, 2016 To submit a class note: Email your news to alumni@usmk12.org

50s

TED OVIATT

If any of her classmates ever come to New Orleans and would like to see her, that would be great!

MCDS’51

reported that “after 13 years in the same house across the street from my most recent school, Brent International School Subic in the Philippines, my wife of 13 years, daughter who is graduating, and I will be heading north to the province of Aurora, where all the big typhoons strike first. Tired of sitting up on our safe hill, seeing strong winds but never a superabundance of water!

I taught at the school there for eight years and was allowed to stay in school housing until Angel’s graduation. Total change of lifestyle—more later!”

DICK KRAMLICH

MCDS’53

caught up with old friend James Wigdale MCDS’55 and many other USM/MCDS community members during a visit back to campus in November. Kramlich was also recently inducted into the inaugural Global Silicon Valley Hall of Fame in October, and will be back on campus in May to serve as USM’s 2016 Commencement Speaker. For more on Kramlich, please see his profile on page 21.

60s

CECILLE MENKUS FRIEDLER

MDS’60

This is Jerry Friedler, husband of Cecille.

Cecille fell in 2011 and suffered a brain injury, and can no longer attend events like the Reunion—though I know she’d love to see her old classmates! She is living in a nursing facility and her memory going back to 1960, I’m sure, is fine. I’m going to show her a list of classmates and see whom she remembers.

70s

JONATHAN WATERS

’79

STEVE STEVENS

MCDS’61

and wife Sally are enjoying their time in Naples, Fla., and their Brooks Stevens Excalibur!

is the wine director at Chez Panisse of Berkeley, Calif., which is consistently ranked as one of the finest restaurants in the world. Waters has worked at Chez Panisse since 1984, and was recently profiled on tablehopper.com for his work.

80s

RAJ BHALA

’80

BETTY HALMBACHER ADELMAN

MUS’64

was honored by the American Horticultural Society, one of the oldest national gardening organizations in the U.S., for “making a difference.” The August 2015 issue of the American Horticultural Society’s journal, “The American Gardener,” featured Adelman for finding, researching, saving, and growing heirloom flowers at her nursery, “Heritage Flower Farm,” in Mukwonago, Wis.

CHRIS UIHLEIN

’65

stopped by the Polly and Henry Uihlein Ice Arena over winter break during a trip home to visit family. He caught up with Clyde Morter ’68 and other hockey alumni.

is Associate Dean for International and Comparative Law, and the Rice Distinguished Professor, at the University of Kansas School of Law (KU).

The fourth edition of his textbook, “International Trade Law: An Interdisciplinary, Non-Western Textbook,” was just published.

It has been used by roughly 100 law schools around the world. The second edition of his other textbook, “Understanding Islamic Law (Shari’a),” will be published in 2016, along with a new book on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The inspiration for these works comes in part from his mentor and friend, former USM teacher Steve Bruemmer, whose 19761977 Non-Western World History class was transformative. Raj’s wife, Dr. Kara Tan Bhala, just returned from a fact finding trip to Cuba with the former Missouri Governor. They are blessed with their daughter, Shera, who is flourishing at The Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Mo.

90s

NAT WHITE

’95

completed his MS in Mathematics at UWM in December. He teaches math and serves as co-head of the math department at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., where he also coaches soccer and helps supervise a dorm.

25

KIM STORER KRYDER

LINDSAY STARCK

LISA MARKING

’98

’04

’14

and her husband Gus, welcomed their third child August James on November 28, 2015.

August joins big sisters Quinn, 6, and Nora, 3.

launched the release of her first novel, “Noah’s Wife” at a special event at Milwaukee’s Central Public Library in January.

was named to the dean’s list at John Carroll University.

00s

SIERRA REECE SULLIVAN

’00

and Matt Sullivan ’00 are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Lillian.

Born September 24, Lilly joins big brother Michael, and big sister, Delilah. The family lives in Mequon and are all doing well!

ALICE GEILFUSS HAVENS ’04 AND LUCAS HAVENS

’04

welcomed Frederick Hamilton Havens to the world on January 5, 2016. He is the best, and his family is thrilled by his arrival!

HANORA LUCEY

10s

EMILY BURTON

WILLIAM GORDON

has been appointed Associate Creative Director at the Washington, D.C., Office of Edelman.

HOLLY PALIN

’02

married Mike Cornille during a ceremony on January 2 in Chicago.

’15

was awarded a Dean’s Leadership Scholarship at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University.

’13

’01

ANGELA MARY ARENSMEIER

joined Will Piper’s 5th-grade World Cultural Geography class in December to share her experiences studying abroad in Spain during her fall semester at Dickinson College. Burton also maintained a blog that chronicled her time in Malaga, Spain, and writes music reviews.

’15

was awarded a first year merit scholarship at Denison University. She received the Denison Founders Scholarship, which is based on academic achievement, leadership, and personal merit.

ROSE REVOLINSKI

’15

earned an all-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Honorable Mention as a freshman midfielder, and was a key contributor for Depauw University field hockey team as they won their conference tournament and advanced to the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

JAKE HILLER ’14 AND DEREK ROTT

’14

were on campus in January, assisting Dr. Henry Wend with the implementation of the Global Scholars’ Crisis Simulation.

PHILIP SHULER

’15

is performing in the Montana State University marching band, and was featured in the official MSU marching band photo.

Photo from left Drew Palin ’01, Beau Palin ’09, Holly Palin ’02, Tyler Palin ’06, and Ian Palin ’11.

26

USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

In Memoriam University School of Milwaukee wishes to acknowledge and celebrate the lives of our dearly departed alumni and friends. We thank them for enriching our lives throughout their friendship.

Philip L. Stone MCDS’45 passed away on September 24, 2015 at the age of 87. After graduating from Milwaukee Country Day School, Stone enlisted in the U.S. Army before continuing his formal education at Yale University, where he graduated in 1950. Stone later attended the Stanford Business School and earned his MBA in 1952 before moving to New York City as a Wall Street financial advisor and stock broker.

Philip married Andrea Giard Stone MDS’43 in 1956, and the family moved to suburban Chicago in 1958, where Stone worked as a financial advisor for many years. Avid champions of scholastic opportunity, Philip and his wife later established the Philip and Andrea Giard Stone Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides support to deserving current or new USM Middle School students.

Stone is survived by his wife, Andrea; step-sister Deirdre Donnelly Kieckhefer MDS’43; daughters Alison Stone McNeil, Pamela Stone Becker, and Jennifer Stone Grimes; and grandchildren Aurora Christine Marie Siguenza Stone, Xavier Birkett Becker, Joss Russell Becker, Zebediah Stone Becker, Soleil Miel Jchangdara Becker, Peter Philip Grimes ’20 and Petra Joy Grimes ’25.

1930s

1960s

Mowry Smith Jr.

Patrick Slugg

MCDS’37 August 14, 2013 Neenah, Wis.

MUS’61 January 4, 2016 Mequon, Wis.

Mary Conroy Connell

Michael Knoeller

MUS’39 November 23, 2014 Glendale, Ariz.

MCDS’62 November 13, 2015 Milwaukee

Elisabeth Pfau Wright MDS’39 January 6, 2016 Milwaukee

1940s

1990s Augustita Garay Lynn ’93 January 20, 2016 Port Washington, Wis.

Naomi Staple Hult MDS’40 October 10, 2015 Gladstone, Mich.

Dorothy Scheffer Hyde MDS’40 December 9, 2015 Long Beach, Calif.

2000s Bradley Neumann ’05 December 6, 2015 Trenton, Ill.

Marilyn Meyer Ford Wendy W. Jaeger ’70 passed away on October 31, 2015 at the age of 63. After graduating from USM, Jaeger attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she earned a degree in education. She later returned to UWM to earn a second degree in nursing.

Jaeger was known as a big-hearted person, generous, caring, witty, great with kids, and “a force to be reckoned with.” She lived in Portland, Ore., and Jerome, Ariz. for a time before returning to Milwaukee, where she worked as a Registered Nurse at Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital for many years.

Wendy was the daughter of Margaret and Walter Jaeger, and the family recently established the Walter Jaeger Memorial Scholarship in memory of her late father. She made many lifelong friends at USM and greatly cherished the relationships she made as a “dormer.” Jaeger is survived by her brother Dennis, sister-in-law and Upper School Administrative Assistant Nancy, niece Mia ’18, and a host of people who loved her.

MUS’44 January 7, 2015 Columbus, Ohio

Carla Tiernan McMahon MDS’47 November 17, 2015 Mequon, Wis.

1950s Richard P. Grossman MCDS’52 May 25, 2015 Mequon, Wis.

Thomas C. Kurth MCDS’52 December 7, 2014 Hakalau, Hawaii

Jonathan Hering Sr. MCDS’55 October 21, 2015 Mequon, Wis.

Updated as of February 15, 2016.

27

A LASTING LEGACY This school year, 170 current University School of Milwaukee students have a family legacy of attending USM, with one or both of their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents attending the School or one of its predecessor schools. The following is a list of those students, with many of them pictured above. We thank these families for their ongoing loyalty and support in helping to enhance the community aspect of the School with their multi-generational commitments to USM. For a complete listing of our legacy families, please visit www.usmk12.org/legacy.

28

Savvy Adelman ’28

Matthew Bach ’16

Jake Brennan ’16

Tali Ciralsky ’23

Zakary Adelman ’18

Elaina Bakke ’28

Elizabeth Burlew ’28

Mia Cudahy ’18

Zofia Adelman ’27

Becca Banghart ’16

William Burlew ’28

Holland Culver ’18

Zion Aiken ’23

Kate Bonnell ’25

Emily Chou ’17

Benjamin Dahlman ’30

Karlie Allen ’16

Lilly Bonnell ’25

Kristen Chou ’19

Jeffrey Dahlman ’30

Gordon Allen ’19

Penelope Bonnell ’28

Chad Christiansen ’16

Lucy Daniels ’22

William Allen ’19

Camryn Brennan ’18

Gabey Ciralsky ’25

Martha Daniels ’18

USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

Addie Darrow ’26

Danny Gridley ’19

Madeline Mellowes ’27

Jack Roulette ’22

Charlie Darrow ’24

Gracie Gridley ’20

Murphy Mellowes ’20

Nate Sampson ’17

Joey Darrow ’24

Petra Grimes ’25

Scanlon Mellowes ’22

Jimmy Schmidt ’23

Aurella Dawson ’26

Bastian Guten-Gale ’23

Sullivan Mellowes ’25

Kat Schmidt ’16

Conner Dawson ’24

Matthew Hammerlund ’26

Henry Miller ’16

Jack Schroeder ’21

Abigail Dengel ’27

Quinn Hammerlund ’23

Billy Miller ’16

Kelly Anne Schroeder ’19

F.R. Dengel ’28

Katherine Heiny ’30

Aksel Moe ’22

Charlotte Siegel ’17

Francesca Drope ’24

P.J. Heiny ’28

Max Moe ’23

Ada Slaughter ’26

Mandela Drope ’27

Emma Holbrook ’29

Oskar Moe ’24

Brandon Staudt ’18

Carolyn Ells ’18

Liam Isaacson ’25

Brandon Montijo ’19

Christian Staudt ’21

Peter Ells ’21

Mia Johnson ’20

Miranda Montijo ’21

Regan Staudt ’23

Kristian Epperson ’24

Robin Johnson ’16

Lars Nelson ’30

Meg Stewart ’19

Natalie Epperson ’22

Ella Joseph ’30

Kasey Nimtz ’25

Anna Straszewski ’19

Nick Epperson ’17

Jake Joseph ’29

Lucy Nimtz ’27

Tyler Straszewski ’22

Lexie Epperson ’19

Viraj Kamath ’29

Molly Nimtz ’23

Beckett Stratton ’25

George Erlandson ’21

Justice Kelly ’16

Annie Norman ’25

Cammie Stratton ’30

Grace Erlandson ’23

Kaitlyn Kennedy ’17

Ellie Norman ’19

Jocie Stratton ’27

Audrey Ferrer ’21

Ryan Kennedy ’19

Mimi Norman ’21

Justin Strauss ’17

Margot Ferrer ’23

Will Kennedy ’18

Aston Omer ’27

Riley Strauss ’18

Brynn Fitzsimmons ’24

Sophie Kobylinski ’18

Amelia Otjen ’25

Logan Thickens ’27

Reiley Fitzsimmons ’26

William Koch ’17

Thea Otjen ’27

Sawyer Thickens ’27

Sam Florsheim ’16

Cameron Krishnaney ’24

Daryl Perry ’16

Lizzy Thurow ’25

Jack Foley ’30

Alusha Leibsohn ’26

Grace Piper ’26

Brook Uihlein ’18

Michaela Fritz ’19

Sydney Leibsohn ’24

Hope Piper ’26

Ashley Vogel ’19

Shelby Fritz ’22

Louise Lerner ’21

Sam Plummer ’19

Michael Vogel ’21

Sydney Fritz ’17

Marshall Lerner ’16

Ainsley Polston ’28

Candace Walther ’17

Alice Gardner ’26

Stewart Lerner ’18

Edie Polston ’25

Hudson Wells ’29

Charley Gardner ’28

Charlie Mahoney ’17

Michael Polston ’23

Grace White ’28

Lindsey Gardner ’26

Tommy Mahoney ’17

Keise Prewitt ’20

Katherine White ’30

Molly Gardner ’30

Nick Mayerson ’18

Cliff Radtke ’28

Marina Wigdale ’25

Owen Gardner ’22

Chloe McCabe ’21

Annie Read ’26

Megan Winters ’19

Mercy Godfrey ’20

Ella McCabe ’22

Mimi Read ’28

Augie Wolf ’23

Lucy Grady ’26

Grady Melick ’28

Reagan Read ’23

Joe Zimmerman ’22

Liam Grady ’21

Coughlin Mellowes ’29

Sander Read ’21

Nate Zimmerman ’25

Griffin Grebe ’24

Jackie Mellowes ’30

Shelley Read ’17

Tripp Grebe ’19

Jo Mellowes ’28

Alana Rostad ’17

29

Introducing the University School of Milwaukee Athletic Hall of Fame University School of Milwaukee is pleased to recognize decades of outstanding athletic tradition through the establishment of the USM Athletic Hall of Fame. USM will host its inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame Class at a special Homecoming weekend induction ceremony at the Wisconsin Club North (6200 W. Good Hope Rd., in Milwaukee) on Saturday, October 1, 2016.

Established to commemorate a legacy of exceptional athletic performance and accomplishments by former USM and predecessor school student-athletes, coaches, teams, and distinguished contributors, the USM Athletic Hall of Fame will recognize and honor the vital role of athletics within the culture of the School. The Hall of Fame will also serve to connect and unite generations of School athletes, add historical significance to participation in USM athletics, and inspire current and future athletes by honoring the School’s rich athletic tradition.

KEN LAIRD

From 1938-1970, Laird compiled an overall record of 189-42-13 as head football coach at Milwaukee Country Day School and USM, including 12 undefeated seasons, 11 Midwest Prep Conference Championships, and five Wisconsin Prep Conference titles. Laird is a member of the Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame, and USM’s football field was subsequently named in his honor in 1992.

JIM LAING

The inaugural class was selected by an esteemed Hall of Fame committee consisting of former USM and predecessor school athletes, coaches, and administrators, with primary consideration given to athletic accomplishments and overall performance during each honorees’ tenure at USM or a predecessor school. The selection committee is extremely proud of the Hall of Fame’s first class and their significant contributions to the School’s outstanding tradition of athletic excellence.

Beginning in 1964, Laing coached the boys’ tennis team to 36 Midwest Classic conference titles, 10 Wisconsin Independent School Athletic Association (WISAA) team titles and 24 WISAA state individual titles. As girls’ coach beginning in 1971, he led USM to 41 WISAA state individual titles and 12 WISAA state team titles, an all-time record, before retiring in 2000.

“The committee decided unanimously to induct this first class of candidates,” said Steve Bruemmer, USM Hall of Fame committee member. “It’s really a thrill to see some of my former athletes, students, and colleagues be inducted into this first Hall of Fame class. Each of the honorees is extremely worthy.”

Congratulations to the following members of the inaugural USM Athletic Hall of Fame Class:

30

USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

HOWARD BOESE

Boese coached basketball, baseball, football, and served as athletic director for Milwaukee University School beginning in 1949. His teams were renowned for “doing it the right way” and playing with respect for the game, the rules, and their opponents. In 1964 as part of the merger, Boese was named USM’s first athletic director, and coached baseball for the School through 1980.

FREDERICK C. MILLER MCDS’25

Miller excelled in football at Milwaukee Country Day School before attending the University of Notre Dame, where he was an All-American tackle in 1927 and 1928 under legendary coach Knute Rockne. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

MUS BOYS BASKETBALL 1958-1961

The varsity boys’ 58-game winning streak, one of the longest in state history, was snapped by Wayland Academy in 1961.

VON MANSFIELD ’78

Mansfield served as co-captain of the USM basketball and track and field teams, and was an all-conference defensive back in football. He later starred for the University of Wisconsin, and was drafted to the NFL in 1982, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers.

LANE MACDONALD ’84

MacDonald was the captain of USM’s football, hockey, and baseball teams, and won the Henry H. Uihlein Sportsmanship Trophy in 1984. At Harvard University, he was twice named a firstteam All-American, won the Hobey Baker Award, and led the Crimson to their first NCAA title as captain in 1989.

HOLLY PALIN ’02

Palin served as captain of the USM field hockey, basketball, and soccer teams.

She then competed in field hockey and basketball at Northwestern University, and currently serves as Head Varsity Field Hockey Coach at the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago.

POLLY MDS’38 AND HENRY UIHLEIN MCDS’39

Lifelong supporters of athletics, Polly and Henry Uihlein were dedicated to youth hockey in Milwaukee, and were among the original supporters of the Milwaukee Winter Club, which has been instrumental in the promotion of the sport in the area. The Uihleins also made a significant contribution to renovate the ice rink at USM, which now bears their names. Additionally, each year the Henry H. Uihlein Sportsmanship Trophy is awarded to a senior male athlete for his ability, attitude, conduct, and leadership.

MARION MDS’37 AND VERNE READ

True fans and boosters of USM athletics, Marion and Verne Read attended countless USM athletic events as parents, grandparents, and supporters of the School. Their ongoing friendship and generosity helped make fundraising programs in support of hockey, tennis, greater compensation for coaches, and USM’s outdoor athletic complex a reality.

Nominations are collected on a rolling basis, and will be accepted through December 1 prior to each induction year. Hall of Fame classes will be inducted every two years. For more information on each inductee, a complete listing of the Hall of Fame selection committee, and to buy your ticket to the induction ceremony on October 1, please visit www.usmathletics.org/halloffame.

31

I

n June of 2015, I had the opportunity to attend the Gardner

Carney Leadership Institute (gcLi) in Fountain Valley, Colo. with my colleagues Jane Keily, Brad Dunning, and Emily Ihrke. This was a weeklong intensive course on leadership development

developing student leadership

BY RISHI RAGHUNATHAN

in independent schools. We were the fortunate recipients of a Think Big grant from USM that presented us with this unique opportunity, and the week I spent at gcLi had a profound impact on my life.

Our days at Fountain Valley were spent learning, reflecting, and collaborating with our cohort group and other educators on the material we learned. On one of the nights we took a labyrinth walk, and after a full day of learning, I was ready for some reflection.

We were instructed to walk in total silence, but given the option of walking with our eyes closed or open. I chose to walk the path with my eyes closed. Every step had to be intentional.

I had to find the right pace that would help me navigate without falling or walking right off the path. There were many distractions along the way, and I could hear the steps of other participants as they passed me. However, each step built up my confidence.

I learned to trust my judgment and to do what was right for me. It did not matter when I got to the center, but how I got there. The journey is far more valuable than the destination.

My night walking the labyrinth was a metaphor of my experience bringing leadership development back to USM. Here are the key takeaways that I want to share with our community.

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USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

Raghunathan facing during a Leadership Institute team-building activity.

USM students and faculty members have engaged in a series of leadership forums throughout the school year.

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER

STUDENTS ARE WORKS IN PROGRESS

The value we add to this world comes from how we nurture and sustain relationships. When I am no longer in this world, I hope that I am remembered as a husband, a father, a son, a teacher, a friend, and an all-around good guy who put more good than bad into this world. The people in my life and the quality of my relationships with them determine my worth.

We need to be more compassionate toward our students. Each child is a work in progress, and as adults, we need to help each of them with their decision-making. I asked one parent if he worried about the choices his teenage daughter would make in high school. He said, “I can’t always be there to protect her, but I feel confident that I have given her all of the tools to make the best decisions. If she messes up, I will still be there to help her learn and get through it.”

FOCUS ON STRENGTHS

Without confidence, our students cannot work towards competence. We all know that we learn the most when stretched outside of our comfort zone. If the stretch is too much, we will shut down and learning does not occur. If we want students to feel comfortable stretching, we have to start with strengths. As a teacher, I need to know what my students are good at and use that as a very solid foundation. When my students build confidence, I can push them to take risks and to address weaknesses.

FAILURE IS NOT A DIRTY WORD

Failure is a word that is far scarier than it should be. It conjures up fear, and parents and kids think of doomed futures. I prefer the term “taking responsibility.” Students make hundreds of decisions a day. When they make a mistake, we need them to own up to it and learn from the mistake. As John Dewey said, “no one learns from experience, they learn from reflecting on experience.” Our responsibility as adults is to help students reflect and learn from both good and bad experiences.

EVERYONE CAN BE A LEADER

We do a disservice to our students when we exclusively focus on the “great” leaders as examples. Mohandas K. Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, and Susan B. Anthony are excellent, but ultimately not realistic, role models for our students. We have built up leadership to be something so big that our students think that it is unattainable. In addition, we have given the impression that only extroverts with loud voices and bold actions can be leaders. As adults, we need to showcase students demonstrating small and large acts of leadership.

USM’s path to leadership development is unique to our School and culture. We have to find our own path, learn from our mistakes, and make adjustments. Ultimately we will get where we are going but, more importantly, we will learn as much as we can along the way.

Rishi Raghunathan is an Upper School History Teacher and served as the Upper School Dean of Students through June 2015.

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Scholastic Art Awards Highlight Creativity, Skill of Upper School Art Students Success in the arts at the high school level can be a difficult metric to quantify, but if University School of Milwaukee’s recent success in the Wisconsin Scholastic Art Awards are any indication, it’s clear that USM students are thriving.

competition has increased, USM has seen record numbers of submissions selected for recognition in recent years, due in large part to the creativity fostered by the Upper School art department and the student-centered focus of the work.

A School-record tying 11 USM students won 17 state recognition awards from the 2016 Scholastic Art Awards including three Gold Keys and seven Silver Keys for projects that will be part of a special exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

“Our strength within the entire USM art department is that our art projects are very student-centered, so our work is so diverse,” said Priscilla Woods, Upper School art teacher. “We try to determine the strengths of our students artistically and then feed those strengths.”

Those numbers keep pace with any high school in the state—even though many larger schools submit hundreds of projects for evaluation. Submissions for the Scholastic Art Awards used to be capped at 12 pieces per school, but that restriction was recently lifted, allowing art departments to submit as many pieces as they choose. However, even as the

USM students move beyond foundational work in advanced art classes and focus on their own self-directed areas of interest, with faculty members on hand to guide their ideas, provide valuable insight, and gather necessary resources.

Faculty members work closely with students to select pieces they both feel strongly about for the competition.

From left “Beachscape,” by Joshua Holmes ’16 and “Scarf Girl,” by Xinyu Cai ’17.

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USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

Since 2012: USM students have earned

81

From left “Self Portrait,” by Shireen Zaineb ’16 and “Anatomical Broken Heart,” by Jude Outwater ’16.

Students are free to submit work for evaluation in a number of competition categories— including architecture, ceramics & glass, comic art, design, digital art, drawing, fashion, film & animation, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, video games, and senior portfolios. Projects are evaluated by region and analyzed by a rotating panel of community artists and teachers from around the area.

Most submissions are produced by junior and senior students that have had more time to mature artistically, but several recent winners have come from talented underclassmen as well.

Mia Jaeger ’18 was one of those underclassmen, earning a Gold Key for her mixed media submission, “Hira.” Inspired by nostalgic movie posters, Jaeger photographed a classmate and restyled the shot to mimic the look and feel of old cinema. She reprinted the photo in black and white and then painted around the photo to bring it to life.

Joshua Holmes ’16 was recognized for the second consecutive year for his photography, earning a Gold Key for “Beachscape,” and a Silver Key for “Pasture Sunset.” While Holmes acknowledged that he aims to find contentment with his own work, he admitted that it feels good to be recognized for his efforts, and to ultimately inspire emotion in others through his work.

recognition awards

These include

24 21

Gold Keys, and

Silver Keys

54

individual students have been recognized

“If I’m happy with my work, that is good enough for me as an artist. But when something in my vision is able to inspire or evoke emotion in someone else, that is what truly drives me. That is really special,” Holmes said.

Shireen Zaineb ’16 also garnered a Gold Key for her drawing, “Self-Portrait.”

The Wisconsin Exhibition of Scholastic Art Awards work has been hosted by the Milwaukee Art Museum since 1976. All students who earned 2016 awards were honored at a closed ceremony at the Museum on February 6, and their winning work was displayed from January 30 through March 13. Gold Key-winning work advances to the National Scholastic Art Awards competition, which will be held in June at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

For a complete listing of 2016 Scholastic Art Award winners, please see page 17. For more information on the Scholastic Art Awards, please visit www.artandwriting.org.

“Hira,” by Mia Jaeger ’18.

35

Athletics Flourish in Middle School

As the University School of Milwaukee mantra of building programs as opposed to chasing wins has been rewarded in the form of 19 state championships over the past five years, in addition to several program awards and honors, it is important to also recognize the tremendous foundation of success that has been built at the Middle School level.

Emulating the positive, educational-based athletics model that has thrived in Upper School, the Middle School athletic program offers 12 interscholastic sports to boys and girls in grades 5-8, in addition to a variety of intramural options. These programs, several of which are taught by former varsity-level coaches, introduce Middle School studentathletes to interscholastic athletics while helping to develop a sense of team play, good sportsmanship, self-discipline, and the ability to handle competitive situations.

ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS TO UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS One of the many benefits of USM being a united, K-12 institution is that it gives students from different grade levels the ability to model or showcase what comes next for younger students on academic, social, and athletic levels.

Within athletics, Upper School and Middle School programs coordinate collaborative activities that bring student-athletes together.

Varsity football coach Brian Sommers and his players invite Middle School football participants to join them in spirited games of the popular “Madden” video game football series over lunch, and several USM boys’ and girls’ varsity sports honor players during special recognition nights, where the honorees watch their older counterparts play alongside the home bench before being recognized as a team during halftime.

These connections are powerful, not only for the Middle School athletes, but also their new Upper School friends. Upper School Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer Coach Jock Mutschler noted that he has been working with his captains on mentorship opportunities for both teams, and his players “light up” whenever they can mentor younger players. “They light up because my players have been in their shoes before, and understand how impactful those relationships can be,” Mutschler said.

The partnership has developed significant leadership qualities in his players as they mentor younger USM athletes. These interactions build cohesion and unity within the program, and inspire Middle School players as they progress in their athletic careers.

Mutschler has also helped organize a special “soccer buddies” program that pairs varsity players with Lower School athletes, further extending critical relationships as the School continues to grow a comprehensive athletic program.

“It’s important to give players something to motivate them beyond their own individual interests, and to do that, you need to build a sense of community,” Mutschler said. “We want to plant that seed in those younger players, and help them to realize that they can create something special if they come together as a group.”

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USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

BUILDING SPIRIT, COMMUNITY THROUGH

MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS Athletics also play an integral role in boosting school morale and inspiring excitement in the student body, and several Middle School initiatives have rallied a great deal of enthusiasm. USM community members celebrate the kick-off of Homecoming week at the Junior Wildcat Jamboree each fall, as all fall Junior ‘Cats athletic teams compete during a full morning of festivities in front of a large, spirited crowd.

A similar showcase event takes place each February, as students, faculty and staff, and other USM community members join together in support of athletics during Middle School Fill-the-Stands Night.

In addition to cheering on Junior ‘Cats athletic teams, students enjoyed free lemonade, popcorn, and pizza slices, courtesy of the USM Boosters, and visited a special “swag station” where several fun giveaway items were distributed courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks.

These events mirror spirit events in the Upper School, and allow for Middle School athletes, along with the collective student body, to celebrate their school spirit in a fun, festive environment.

Moving forward, the USM Athletic Department continues to look for ways to strengthen connections between all three divisions of student-athletes and host events that highlight and promote unity within the USM community. These initiatives are poised to keep the foundation of USM Athletics strong and continue a tradition of success— from Lower School through the varsity level—for years to come.

“Our intention as an athletic program is to create exciting opportunities for all USM athletes, so that they feel part of something bigger than themselves and experience that sense of School pride,” said Middle School Director of Athletics Kate Taylor ’02. “Athletics are a great way for people in the USM community to connect with the School, and even return to campus as alumni.”

37

From left Nanette Gardetto, Richard Slater, Greg Norman, and Margy Stratton Norman ’84.

Niven Kingwill left and Parents’ Association President Molly Kubly Fritz ’80.

2015 A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed their valuable time, talents, energy, and patronage to Holiday Shops 2015, which kicked off with a spectacular Preview Party on Wednesday, October 28.

2015 Holiday Shops Committee Leaders

Lori Bechthold Nancy Bolton Susan Brennan Shaw Bridges Patti Brose Marina Carlson Colleen Cowen Kristi Dahlman Amy Diamond Georgia Dimitropoulos Susan Ells Brooke Fetherston Molly Kubly Fritz ’80 Natalia Goris Jennifer Hadcock Sara Hermanoff Lorre Inda Colleen Jacobus Patricia Kauffman Jennifer Keough Niven Kingwill

Lori Klos Dierdre Laterman Heidi Marcelle Ivana Marich Susanna Mortara Don Neihardt Stephanie Petersen Wendy Petzold Stacey Radke Jennifer Reese Rénee Rooney Jami Ross Jen Schoon Kristin Sheehan Melissa Sheppard Gigi Mestier Short ’79 Julie Whitney Pat Wood Lisa Wright Barb Zabors

Save the Dates for 2016!

Be sure to join us for the 2016 Preview Party on Wednesday, October 26 and shop with us from Thursday, October 27 to Saturday, October 29.

Visit www.usmk12.org/holidayshops for updates and additional information throughout the year.

Pamela Shovers left and Kristin Sheehan.

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USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

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Holiday Shops Past Chairs and Parents’ Association Presidents Reception.

From left Rénee Rooney, Jennifer Keough, Nancy Bolton, and Parents’ Association Presidentelect Susan Brennan.

Susan Ells left and Colleen Jacobus.

From left Aboud Affi, Camellia Eshoa, Tim Strauss, and Danielle Wagner Strauss ’94.

39

a look back 25 YEARS OF SUMMER I.D.E.A.S.

by Judy Bloch

University School of Milwaukee’s Summer I.D.E.A.S. program celebrates 25 years of providing outstanding summer programs to the greater Milwaukee community during the summer of 2016. For 25 years, Summer I.D.E.A.S. (Investigate, Discover, Explore, Academics, Arts, Sports) has provided a wide range of opportunities and adventures for students age three through grade 12, enriching the lives of nearly 11,000 students and their families.

Over the years I have seen many changes, although our basic premise has stayed the same. Children enjoy doing what comes naturally—learning by doing, playing, exploring new ideas, enjoying their friends, and connecting with teachers. Summer I.D.E.A.S. has always been about experiential, hands-on learning, long before the importance of that has become an emphasis in today’s approach to education.

In 1992, I never imagined that 25 years later we would have touched the lives of so many children, parents, teachers, and high school and college assistants. I had no idea where technology would go. Our original data management involved making entries in Microsoft Works.

Now we have a robust system that meets the complex needs of managing over 1,100 students and 125 teachers and assistants each year. In the beginning, we put together our class cards by cutting and pasting

40

USM TODAY | WINTER 2016

information onto index cards! Our program booklet was in black and white, and pictures were physically cut from photos rather than digitally manipulated.

Our programming evolved over the years, keeping the basics like study skills, math, and creative writing; old favorites like Tournament Kickball, Basketball, Experiments Galore, and Cookies and Cake Decorating; and adding topics that reflect today’s interests such as Minecraft, Maker Space, iMovies, coding, robotics, and Musicalsin-Two-Weeks! We have switched from Star Wars connected programming, to Harry Potter themes, and now back to Star Wars!

We continue to offer something for everyone.

I am so proud and deeply satisfied to have watched Summer I.D.E.A.S. grow and expand to meet the needs and interests of our students over these years. We now have children of previous campers joining our program, as well as I.D.E.A.S. alumni who are employed with us over the summer. I would like to recognize three USM current or former teachers who have worked in the program all 25 years—Bob Geniusz, Margaret Lang, and Fred Silver. Their commitment, creativity, and quality teaching represent what makes this program successful.

Our entire team of educators can’t wait to celebrate this tradition of excellence this summer!

Judy Bloch has served as USM’s Director of Summer Programs since 1992.

a look ahead UPCOMING USM EVENTS THROUGH JULY 01, 2016

apr

16 Upper School Prom

21 USM Visits Chicago

1

7

Middle School Band and Grades 5-6 Chorus Concert

SK-Grade 4 Picnic and Field Day

2 Lower School Dance Concert

26

USM Retirement Reception

Upper School Band, Orchestra, and Choir Concert

3 Lower School Orchestra Recital

6-7

may

june

4 Joe Lubar Memorial Alumni Baseball Event

8 Last Day of School

13-14 USM Summer Spark Symposium

20 Summer I.D.E.A.S. Main Program Begins

24-25 Reunion Weekend 2016

Middle School Musical

12 Upper School Honors Assembly

13 Senior Send-Off, Senior Lunch, Senior Dinner

15 Upper School Commencement

19 Grades 7-8 Chorus Concert

26 Middle School Orchestra Concert Half-day & Full-day Camps Academic & Enrichment Programs Age 3–Grade 12 | June–August

www.usmk12.org/summer

2100 West Fairy Chasm Road Milwaukee, WI 53217 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Lower School Art Teacher Bob Geniusz takes one of his classes outside during the early 1990s.

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