Fall 2016 Greetings - Wayland Academy

FALL 2 016

I Remember: The Beginning

Orientation Photo Essay

Greetings

Wayland Academy

Greetings Wayland Academy Greetings, November 2016 The Oldest Alumni Publication in America wayland.org Greetings is published for the alumni, parents, students, friends, and staff of Wayland Academy. We welcome letters concerning the content of this magazine and/or issues relating to the Academy. Letters must be signed and we ask that you include your address and daytime number for verification purposes. The editorial staff retains the right to edit at their discretion.

In This Issue

PAGE 10

I Remember: The Beginning

Send correspondence to: Greetings Editor, Wayland Academy 101 North University Avenue Beaver Dam, WI 53916 Or email the Editor at: amcdonnell@wayland.org

PAGE 14

Orientation Photo Essay

Joseph A. Lennertz H`86 Head of School jlennertz@wayland.org

co n t r i b u to rs

Andrew McDonnell Editor Director of Communications amcdonnell@wayland.org Linda Fischer H`92 Copy Editor Faculty Emerita Kelly A. Neuert Director of Donor Relations kneuert@wayland.org

Kendall A. Vingua `02 News & Notes & In Memoriam Editor Director of Alumni Relations kvingua@wayland.org Judy L. Hill H`08 Director of Advancement jhill@wayland.org

PAGE 22

Alumni Reunion Weekend

Stephanie Levey Advancement Associate slevey@wayland.org

Tyler Ratajczak Leadership Gift Officer tratajczak@wayland.org

PAGE 28 d e s i g n & i l l u s t r at i o n s

Ariel Esser — arielesser.com

News & Notes

cov e r p h oto

Morgan Mertig `17 traverses a rope on front campus during the fall orientation exercises.

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wayland.org

A GREETINGS GREETING

St a r t ing of f at Way l a nd s hould be muc h more di f f ic ul t than it is. yo u ’ r e s u d d e n ly i m m e r s e d

in a new culture with its

mathematics teacher Jonathon Shoop who still uses

own rules, its own slang, and around two hundred

many of the same exercises and activities that were

people whom you’ve probably never met. If you’re a day

planned by a group of four Wayland seniors and Mr.

student, you’re spending most of your time away from

Kasper in the late 1970s.

hometown friends. If you’re a boarding student, you’re uprooted from family and home and friends.

A crucial part of the Wayland experience is welcoming new members of the community during those first

the fidget ladder, the trust fall, a n d , o f c o u r s e , t h e wa l l , a r e a pa rt o f t h e way l a n d s t o ry f o r thousands of alumni and students.

few days on campus, to allow them to be themselves and to make new friends in swift and lasting fashion.

Dave Kasper H`81, faculty emeritus, was integral

We tip our cap to all those who worked so hard over

to introducing students to life on campus through

the years (especially Mr. Kasper, Ms. Alpaugh, Mr.

Wayland’s orientation program for decades, and even

Shoop, and Ms. Boucher) to make the first days at

in retirement his work continues. The orientation

Wayland less terrifying, more disarming, and always a

program today is under the guidance of current

welcoming experience.

Greetings Fall 2016

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CAMPUS NEWS

Learning Beyond Classrooms

put a lid on it

g r o w t h i n s e rv i c e

In addition to the Capstone projects that

The focus on service learning at Wayland

Wayland students complete each year,

is particularly prominent this year, both in

as featured in the Spring 2016 issue of

and out of the classroom. The annual Day

the Greetings, Wayland is now among

of Caring was held on September 28 and

the first schools in the country to offer

allowed Wayland students and teachers

the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone

out of class for the day to pursue service

modern movements and figures, students

program.

projects throughout the community and in

will be expected to actively create change in

areas of need around campus. Students lent

their own community.

AP Capstone is a new program created by the College Board (the not-for-profit organization that oversees the SAT and AP programs) to help students develop independent research skills and analytical and argumentative writing. To complete

a hand with everything from construction work on a Habitat for Humanity home in Juneau, Wisconsin, to assisting with elementary school classrooms in four different schools.

Finally, this year’s Honors Colloquium is focused on service. Faculty and visiting lecturers are giving extra-curricular talks to students on a variety of service-related subjects throughout the year. Support

the AP Capstone Diploma, students

In the classroom, history teacher Anna

provided for service at Wayland is derived

must complete two year-long courses

Stern will again teach “Change in the World”

from the newly established Smith Service

consecutively, AP Seminar and AP Research,

during the spring semester. It is a three-

Fund.

and earn a score of 3 or higher on those

part course that explores how individuals

exams, plus four additional AP exams over

and movements can impact society for the

the course of their time in high school.

better. In addition to exploring historical and

Dr. Keely Lake H`12 is Wayland’s pioneering AP Capstone instructor. She traveled

Students collecting seeds at Horicon Marsh during the Day of Caring

to Long Beach, California, for training in the new program over the summer. AP Capstone began in earnest this semester with a class of nine students enrolled in Wayland’s inaugural AP Seminar course.

Dr. Lake with students on a Spring Break trip to Italy this March Photo Credit: Paul Derr `16

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wayland.org

CAMPUS NEWS

Arts at Wayland choir and band hit t h e h i g h n ot e s

p l ay e r s s ta g e t h e p h i l a d e l p h i a s t o ry

The Wayland concert band and concert choir received gold medals and the highest scores

For their spring play, the Wayland Academy

possible at the Wisconsin School Music Association’s Large Group Festival, held in April at

Players presented a stage production of

Central Wisconsin Christian School in Waupun.

The Philadelphia Story, by Philip Barry. Best

Similar to the Solo & Ensemble Festival, the Large Group Festival is an adjudication festival where each ensemble is graded on their performance quality. Three judges listen to and evaluate each group on tone, intonation, blend, balance, interpretation, technique, and presentation. Wayland’s ensembles received the high score of “1” from each of their three judges. The concert band is led by Mrs. Amy Throndsen H`14, and the concert choir is directed by the chair of Wayland’s fine arts department, Mr. Christopher Ballar-Mientus. They were ably assisted by talented accompanist Mrs. Mary Irwin H`14.

Students in both ensembles celebrated with a particularly melodious ringing of the victory bell on campus.

Greetings Fall 2016

known for its 1940 film adaptation starring Katharine Hepburn, the Wayland production featured Madison Jewell `16 in the lead role of Tracy Lord, a wealthy Philadelphia socialite whose wedding weekend becomes exceptionally complicated, even by wedding standards. The play was directed by English teacher Martha Kesler H`08, and it featured a cast of 15 students and a behind-thescenes crew of nearly 30 students and faculty who helped with set building, costumes, make-up, props, and all the hard work that goes into a successful production.

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CAMPUS NEWS

Faculty & Staff News teachers as lifelong learners

Director of College Counseling Liberty

have already carried their new knowledge

Bell H`14 attended a workshop in London

into the classroom in a new integrated

on the UCAS system – the application

humanities class and through a new online

for universities in the United Kingdom.

course management system ObaWorld.

She also attended a weeklong AP Summer Institute on US Government and Politics in preparation for teaching the class this fall. In addition, she currently serves on the Ripon College Counselor Advisory Board.

Nobody’s Hero: The Story of a Marine Scout Showcase in West Bend in September with

Colorado, Boulder focusing on educational

30 other Wisconsin authors.

activities.

Beth Ratajczak `96, Chair of the Science Department, took an intensive 200-hour yoga certification course for educators through the Breathe For Change program.

Mrs. Ratajczak has already led on-campus early morning yoga sessions for faculty,

Physics teacher Tyler Hill `09 attended a Physics Modeling conference in June at Wheaton Warrenville South High School in Wheaton, Illinois.

In July, math teacher Jane Goski `10 and art teacher Justin Behm traveled to Boston for a workshop for new boarding school teachers presented by The Association of Boarding Schools.

staff, and students, plus a session for alumni

Dr. Keely Lake H`12 presented two

during Alumni Reunion Weekend.

papers at the 2016 Institute of the American

Phil Tallman, Director of Athletics and

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Oshkosh about her 2016 nonfiction book, Sniper. Jensen also appeared at the Author

telecollaboration and other innovative

attended the National TPR Storytelling

at the Military Veteran’s Museum in

a graduate program at the University of

her classroom connect globally through

and Spanish teacher Mike Schneider H`86

Outreach Karla Jensen recently spoke

Spanish teacher Amanda Damon started

technology. The program is already helping

Chair of Modern and Classical Languages

Director of Auxiliary Programs and

Student Activities, was elected to the post of Vice-President and Secretary of the Trailways Athletic Conference.

Classical League in Austin, Texas: “Refugees in Classical Texts and the Modern World” and “The Romanitas and Humanitas of Dr. Who’s ‘The Fires of Pompeii.’ ” She will also be presenting later this month at the Annual

Conference in Reno, Nevada. The conference

English teacher Elise Krause `04 and

Convention of the American Council on the

featured workshops that covered everything

history teacher Anna Stern, will graduate

Teaching of Foreign Languages in Boston. In

from “Feeling Like a Citizen: Engaging

in May from a Master of Science for

addition, she led a workshop, “Supporting

Students and Building Community in the

Professional Educators degree program

and Mentoring New Teachers: A Tirones

Classroom” to “Laying a Foundation for the

through the University of Wisconsin–

Project,” at the Meeting of the Classical

AP Exam – Using Higher Order Discussion

Madison’s Department of Educational

Association of the Middle, West, and South

Techniques.”

Psychology. Ms. Krause and Ms. Stern

in Williamsburg,Virginia. wayland.org

CAMPUS NEWS

New Hires Last spring, the departures from Wayland included two longtime members of the school community.

Art teacher Kristene Boucher `97 and Assistant Head of School/Dean of Enrollment and Financial Aid Paul Keller H`15 left for opportunities on the East Coast. While they will be greatly missed, we are pleased to introduce you to five new members of the Wayland community.

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a b b e g r e b e l , a d m i n i s t r at i v e a s s i s ta n t to t h e h e a d o f s c h o o l

& dean of students

j u s t i n b e h m , v i s u a l a rt s

A gifted sculptor, Mr. Behm teaches a variety of visual arts and the yearbook class and advises the art club. In addition, he serves as an assistant coach with the cross country and track teams

kristie lee e s t e rv i g , m u s i c

and is a dorm supervisor in Wayland Hall.

Mr. Behm received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 3D art from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.You can view work from his portfolio online at justinbehm.com.

Ms. Goski returns to her alma mater as an educator and has begun her first semester at Wayland teaching prej a n e g o s k i `10 , m at h e m at i c s

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calculus and advanced algebra. She also serves as head resident of Warren Cottage, lends a hand with student activities, and will be an assistant girls soccer coach in the spring.

Ms. Goski received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Greetings Fall 2016

Ms. Estervig is a talented pianist who owns and runs the Arboretum Music School in Madison. She joins the Wayland faculty as a piano teacher and provides individual lessons to prepare students at all levels of playing experience.

Ms. Estervig completed her Bachelor of Science degree in piano performance and pedagogy at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and holds Master of Music degrees in both piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

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Mrs. Grebel joins Wayland in a multi-faceted role, working with the Dean of Students in the morning and assisting the Head of School in the afternoon. She lives with her husband and two children in Beaver Dam. She was previously the registrar at Beaver Dam High School.

Mrs. Grebel holds an Associate Degree from Waukesha County Technical College.

b r a d l e y l a rg e , d e a n o f e n ro l l m e n t

& financial aid Mr. Large arrives from Augusta Preparatory Day School where he was Director of Admission & Financial Aid. A graduate of Darlington School, he has worked in residential life and admissions since 2009. He served as Assistant Director of Admission at Brown Mackie College, Resident Manager at Oak Hill Academy, Domestic Admissions Officer at Squaw Valley Academy, and Assistant Director of Admission at Darlington School.

Mr. Large received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from Kennesaw State University and a Master of Education in higher education administration from Georgia Southern University.

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CAMPUS NEWS

Glen Dye residence hall received a new roof as well, and the windows of Roundy Hall were replaced to aid in the reduction of drafts in a building that just turned 115 years old. In

Campus Upgrades

addition, funds provided by the Spring Gala and Auction allowed for a new stage lighting system to be installed in Lindsay Auditorium over the summer.

On top of that, generous donors to the school provided a new outdoor basketball court, which is already seeing steady and grateful use.

During their August meeting, Wayland’s

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WATC H WAYL AN D ’S B AS KETB AL L S EAS ON O NLINE!

During the summer, the school’s optimal time

Board of Trustees toured the campus

for construction and campus improvements,

(above right) to see first-hand some

a number of Wayland buildings received

of the improvements around campus

watch every home girls and boys basketball game

upgrades to keep them safer, more energy

and review areas in need of support. If

in Wayland’s Field House online from anywhere

efficient, and a little drier on rainy days. The

you’re interested in supporting facilities

in the world through an Eye in the Sky Sports

largest of those endeavors was a project to

projects on campus, please contact Judy

subscription. Learn more at wayland.org/athletics.

re-seal the enormous dome of Wayland’s

Hill H`08, Director of Advancement, at

Field House to prevent leaks.

jhill@wayland.org or 920.356.2120 x. 222.

Wayland is launching a new service this season that will allow family, friends, and fans a chance to

wayland.org

CAMPUS NEWS

softball quenches a drought After multiple years without a win, the Wayland softball team snagged two wins in April, snapping a losing streak that began in the spring of 2013.

The first win of the season occurred on Wayland’s home field, a 10-8 barn burner against Princeton/Green Lake that concluded with screams of joy as Wayland softball players careened from one hug to the next. For seniors who had stuck with the sport through multiple seasons without

Big Red Spring Feats

a win, the victory was memorably sweet, and for the remaining teammates who had played their entire Wayland career on the wrong side of the scoreboard, it marked a new beginning. The girls followed the win with a second victory three days later.

i d o n i j e `16 c a p t u r e s two gold medals

b a s e b a l l p l ay e r s r e c e i v e conference kudos

As if capturing a second consecutive state championship in the triple jump was insufficient,

Two Wayland baseball players received

Alex Idonije `16 also captured the long jump title at the Wisconsin State Track and Field

Trailways South Conference honors

Championships on June 5, 2016.

at the conclusion of the spring season.

Idonije triple jumped a distance of 45 feet,10.5 inches and captured the long jump title with a leap that covered 21 feet, 10.75 inches. (For perspective, the collegiate basketball three-point line is 20 feet, 9 inches from the hoop.) Both feats served as a personal record for Idonije who is continuing his studies and his leaps on an athletic scholarship at Davidson College in North Carolina.

Greetings Fall 2016

Micah Ganske `16 was named to the All-Conference Second Team and Danier Wuxihong `16 was voted to the AllConference First Team as a catcher.

Wuxihong hit for a .529 average without a single strikeout in conference play.

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I Remember...

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wayland.org

Beaver Dam and went to school at Wayland. Because we commuted, we were housed in a room that Wayland provided in a small building that I do not remember the name of. But it was down the steps and small. We all had extra black ties and white shirts just in case. townies lived in

A special shout out to the other townies of `62: Dave Willihnganz, Jim Baily, Ralph Goetting, Les Labuy, Louis Ostrom, Patsy Orton, Alan Temkin, Lee McConaghy and a special hello to Kathy Burns.

Roger Bender `62

the beginning back in the fall of 1949. I had friends attending Wayland, and they convinced me to pick Wayland over Lake Forest Academy, best decision. Mom and Dad dropped me off at Wayland Hall, and I was ushered to the third floor All boys who escor ted and met my roommate the ladies in an evening Don Harder. It turned out we had quite a group on weekend function had three that floor: Don “Bebop” Walther, Bud Harris, Pete minutes to escor t them to Hurtchen, Dave Spengler, Ron Hoglund, Jack Warren Hall and be back Harridge, plus others. i do remember

at the ring of the bell.

One of the first meetings was an introduction to J. Hobart Tucker, Dean of Boys. He was pretty stern and laid out the rules and explained the three-minute program. All boys who escorted the ladies in an evening weekend function had three minutes to escort them to Warren Hall and be back at the ring of the bell. Harris and Hurtchen

Greetings Fall 2016

were roommates and older than me, but they sat behind Mr. Tucker and would mimic him, funny, but I thought, oh crap, what if he turns around.

The worst was the tables assigned for the meals. My first memory was the greeting of Weimer Hicks, Headmaster, and then watching an upper classman try to carve a six-inch roast and distribute it to eight hungry teenagers. The rumor was they spiked the milk with saltpeter. Then there was the old staple, cheese soufflé. Needless to say, the first few days I thought, why didn’t I stay home and go to a normal high school? It all turned out for the best and I had a four-year experience that was exceptional. What fun we had and such grand memories. The people I met were the lifeblood of Wayland as they came from all walks of life. Remember this was only four years after World War II. George Pratt `53

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overcoat danced off of his legs as he did a long-strided walk toward me on my first day of class, leaning forward, bouncing off the balls of his feet a little. One hand was buried in a pocket, the other held some books close to his side where he could press his fingers against the fabric for warmth. Black curls of freshly washed hair dampened his collared shirt when they shouldn’t even have been touching it. His tie was neatly knotted but not tightened up enough to disguise that his top button was undone.

his long wool

No one ever really noticed when he broke the rules , and if they occasionally did notice, they didn’t seem to realize that they had noticed.

He sometimes cut class. He always skipped the running that the other hockey players did when the team jogged down from campus to the local high school’s ice rink for practice. He’d thumb a ride and wait by the back door smoking a Camel until the guys came into view and then he’d duck around the corner and do a few jumping jacks to get a little flushed and breathy before merging with the others as they streamed into the arena. No one ever really noticed when he broke the rules, and if they occasionally did notice, they didn’t seem to realize that they had noticed.

You’re Art’s cousin, he told me enthusiastically. He was Cam, he told me earnestly.

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I blinked.

Cameron, he said, with a laugh.

I shivered on the January side-walk with an armload of books that I hugged like a shield and I stared up at the tall boy, squinting as I tried to recognize the Cameron I knew in warm-cookie memories of stained jerseys and Keds or Converse tennis shoes and playing street hockey on visits to my cousin’s house on Glendale Drive. He confessed he didn’t really recognize me either but had been on the look-out, he said. He’d made sure to find me because Art had told him to.

Art had told him to look out for his little cousin.

I tried a smile and a nod with passable success, but a swell of fresh fear rose over the other anxious waves that had kept my heart bobbing in my chest for the past 24 hours since I arrived.

Art’s cousin? Where had Arthur gone, except off to college last fall? And where had Cameron gone, except here to boarding school like me?

We were going to be late for class and Cam started to skate backward on the ice of the sidewalk, suggesting I could maybe find him at lunch or dinner sometime if I didn’t have anyone else to sit with. I made my body start to walk in the opposite direction and gave a better smile. I lifted my chin to pull up with it some bravado and discovered that my heart stopped bumping against my throat.

Thanks, I said and pried one hand free from my books to release him with a wave.

Later, he said, like he always did, and turned to lean and bounce into the day.

I walked on, with a little bit of courage. Thanks, Cam. Thanks, Art. Hello, Wayland....

IN HONOR OF MY FINE COUSIN, ARTHUR MICHAEL WIRTZ III, `86 AND IN FOND MEMORY OF THE MUCH-LOVED CAMERON ZAHED, `87.

Kelsey Wollin Dunn `88

wayland.org

I Remember...

Weird Wayland Connections For such a small school, Wayland connections are everywhere you look, sometimes in places where you least expect to encounter them. For the spring issue of the Greetings, we hope you will write us and share your favorite unexpected Wayland connection. It can be a sentence, a paragraph, or a page (though we may have to abridge the printed version), but we look forward to hearing your stories. You can mail them to the editor, Andrew McDonnell, at amcdonnell@wayland.org or: Greetings c/o Wayland Academy 101 N. University Ave. Beaver Dam, WI 53916

Join the Heritage Society at Wayland Academy and leave your legacy.

By stating your intentions in your will, living trust, or as a designation on a beneficiary form, you can:

* Support the future of Wayland Academy * Create a gift without affecting your current income * Make a difference in the lives of future students

Greetings Fall 2016

For more information contact: Tyler J. Ratajczak Leadership Gift Officer 920.356.2120 ext. 282 tratajczak@wayland.org OR

Learn more at wayland.org/plannedgift

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FOUR DECADES of GETTING STARTED

O

rientation exercises at Wayland as we know them today began on campus 41 years ago. Each new student has to face challenges of the mind, body, and heart, and they have to work together to accomplish

a wide range of tasks across campus. Thousands of Wayland students have clambered over a wall and traversed a series of trials composed of wires, ropes, and logs as an introduction to each other and to Wayland.

It is remarkable how unchanged those exercises have remained over the past four decades, but equally remarkable is that these exercises were originally created by a group of five Wayland seniors in the spring of 1975 as their Senior Project. With the guidance of math teacher Dave Kasper H`81, those five students, Lea Busse Malak `75, George Socha `75, Sarah Verstegen `75, John Singleton `75, and Glenn Wiedenhoeft `75, constructed a course that is central to the early days of the Wayland experience.

We have assembled a few pictures to mark the fourth decade of this living student project in this issue of the Greetings, but thanks to the hard work of Mr. Kasper, we’ve also constructed an online photo repository of thousands of photos from orientation throughout the years.

Yo u can v iew th em a t: wayl a nd.or g /or i enta ti on 14

wayland.org

Excerpt from a June 11, 2016,

D AV E : No no no. The telephone poles I

conversation between Dave Kasper H`81

got, because I had some connections with

and Glenn Wiedenhoeft `75

the telephone company, and we got Pete Roedl to put the telephone poles in for us…

G L E N N : I had Dave for geometry. I remember enjoying geometry.

G L E N N : I remember being afraid of this wall because it’s such rough timber, and

D AV E : I remember the geometry kids from

we got a great price on it. It’s three inches

your class were sharp kids.

thick so it’s super rugged, and we just

G L E N N : I think… maybe I was at the bottom of the sharpness scale.

about broke the van hauling this lumber.

Other walls that I’ve seen since then on other challenge courses are pretty

D AV E : No way.

smooth.

G L E N N : ‘Cause sometimes, Dave

D AV E : These are too, now. They rebuilt

exaggerates. He’s given to hyperbole.

this. On the back of the wall, there was

D AV E : I’m not exaggerating about this.

When you think about five kids putting together something that’s lasted this long, to me, it’s amazing. I was just the liaison.

We were going to have all these trees all around this thing, like a little forest.

just a little platform back there. And we had one kid almost fall off that thing. So then we built a little cage here so they couldn’t fall off the darn thing. Every year we did this, I’d be continuously amazed, because here we are, we’re 40 years out, and you guys never got the recognition

G L E N N : We wanted a high ropes course.

you deserved for this thing.

D AV E : ( l a u g h i n g ) Yeah, ultimately. Some

G L E N N : My recollection is that our

of the pine trees did grow, some of the

going to Outward Bound was necessarily

trees still standing on south campus were

connected to doing the senior project.

planted then. Originally, the entire course on that part of campus was supposed to

D AV E : It definitely was. Outward Bound

be encircled by trees.

was the key to the whole thing because

G L E N N : I don’t remember designing these things, but I do remember building

that gave us all the information we needed for all the ropes course.

the wall. I remember driving with a

G L E N N : And not just the information,

very under-capacity van to pick up all

but the intensity of experience that was

that wood. Who knows? Maybe we put

internalized. Singleton went to Texas,

telephone poles in that thing.

and the rest of us, including John Clay,

WATCHING SOMEONE OVERCOME A LITERAL AND PERSONAL OBSTACLE. OVERCOMING FEAR AND SELF-IMPOSED LIMITS.

Greetings Fall 2016

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went to Morgantown, North Carolina.

Here’s something we made up, I don’t know if it made any of the published stuff, George, Glenn, Sarah, Lee, John ( w r i t i n g ) GEGLSALEJO, pronounced, JEEgle-SahLay-Jo – I hope I’m not the only one who remembers that. That was part of our camaraderie, that we had an acronym.

D AV E : I went to Colorado.

G L E N N : Outward Bound changed me in some big ways… It gave me an appreciation for nature, teamwork, and physical exertion. And food. Being able to navigate… It gave me a level of confidence that just supported me in other areas of life, so it doesn’t have to be applicable, yes, to life at Wayland. And as a townie, I don’t need map and compass skills, or to know that I can run up a hill without having a heart attack. It doesn’t apply. And yet, confidence in irrelevant skills somehow bridged into a level of confidence that is not so tangible in other areas. Maybe I was a little more socially competent.

D AV E : On Outward Bound, we had a 14foot wall, not a 12-foot wall. Think about that. And you still had to get everyone over that thing… There’s a difference, you put that thing up two more feet, and it’s a whole different experience. We couldn’t go that big here because no one would make it. You know we’re dealing with freshmen and everything else. You had to have something they were going to be successful at, because you wanted them to be talking about it. ‘We did this, we did this, did you do this?’ When they came back into the dorm, the dorm was abuzz.

It was just to get the kids in here and let them forget that they left home.

G L E N N : I’ve raised my family now, and I’m back into rock climbing, but with a new focus. I see what you talked about time 16

wayland.org

WHEN THEY CAME BACK INTO THE DORM, THE DORM WAS ABUZZ. IT WAS JUST TO GET THE KIDS IN HERE AND LET THEM FORGET THAT THEY LEFT HOME. and time again: personal victory. Watching someone overcome a literal and personal obstacle. Overcoming fear and selfimposed limits. The orientation thing has a similar feel to it. Here’s an obstacle, do

S e e m o r e p h o t o s a t : way l a n d .o r g / o r i e n t a t i o n

it, get over it yourself. More importantly, overcome it together.

D AV E : You still have to plan. The group has to plan. The last guy going over the wall, you can’t help them get up there. You usually save a tall, athletic person towards the end who can jump. I remember Mitch Disch H`93 was strong as an ox, and he would hang by his legs and lower his arms down, and he would just grab them. Oh man, that was an experience… The thing started out with me and the five of you,

Celebrate Waylandtines!

and then Diane Alpaugh H`83 joined me

F E B RUA RY 1 1 -1 4 , 2 0 1 7

because I needed help getting this thing going. Diane was just instrumental. When I think of this thing here, of the things that you designed, almost 100% of what you did is still what we use. It’s just amazing.

G L E N N : We are more awesome than I thought.

Celebrate all things Wayland and accept the class challenge.

Save the date, spread the word, and keep an eye on wayland.org and Wayland social media to learn more!

wa y l a n d a c a d e m y 1 8 5 5

wa y l a n d 1 8 5 5

D AV E : You are. Think about it. How many things last 40 years?

Greetings Fall 2016

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MIKE SCHNEIDER

and the

TPR STORYTELLING CLASSROOM

atching Mike Schneider H`86 teach

language through extensive (new parents might

Spanish is a little like watching an actor

argue exhaustive) repetition, through questions

take ownership of a stage. His movements

and answers, and by building stories about the

are rapid fire. His blocking is intentional. With

world around them. TPRS applies that concept as

his class of students seated in chairs (no desks)

a means to teach language in the active manner

in a crescent around him, Mr. Schneider strides

one finds in Mr. Schneider’s classroom every day.

through the classroom, he contorts his face, he mimes when he sees opportunities, and his voice is

Students new to his classroom aren’t handed

animated, expressive. He hops, he waves, he flaps

a large book of Spanish grammar. The lessons

his arms; he is everywhere. Most Pilates classes

of sentence construction, verb tense, verb/noun

are less strenuous than his teaching style.

agreement, and all the wonders of grammar are

What is also apparent, watching Mr. Schneider, is that he loves it. Part of why he loves teaching Spanish is the method he adopted in 1999 after

18

insinuated into lessons and conversations as students work with Mr. Schneider to build a story.

Just as you wouldn’t hassle an infant over the

attending a workshop about Teaching Proficiency

distinction between the pluperfect and present

through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS). The

perfect tenses, Mr. Schneider guides his students

guiding principle behind TPRS is that students

to correct syntax and grammar through friendly,

best learn languages the same way that they

frequent corrections, until the correct form sounds

obtain language as a child. Children construct

like the correct form and becomes second nature. wayland.org

But what does it mean to build a story? In this case,

build in response to his questions, and which they

Mr. Schneider truly is working with his students

can comprehend and speak about in a fluid, correct

to construct a narrative. “We target structures,” he

manner.

said. “Storytelling is something of a misnomer. It’s

The premise for the stories is almost always

more like story-asking. Students contribute detail

absurd. This is a means of helping students stay

to the stories because we’re asking. When I ask

engaged through the full class period, and the story

students questions, I’m targeting structures.” At

almost always has a student-fueled digression that

the start of a week, he has a scripted story in hand,

frequently results in hilarity. The most common

a story that he wants his students to gradually

phrase heard in first-year Spanish is “¡Qué ridículo!”

Greetings Fall 2016

19

or example, in a recent class, students began to build a

Interspersed throughout the class, Mr. Schneider interjected

story about a derelict monkey named Jorge. One student

questions about the date and days of the week. He claimed to live in

was chosen to serve as the principle “actor” in the

a mansion. He inquired whether students lived in mansions. It was

middle of the classroom. In this case, the student actor portrayed

revealed that all the mansions in Minnesota had gone to Maxisota.

the monkey, and Mr. Schneider served as the monkey’s primary

All the beds in China had flown to other countries. At one point, Mr.

interlocutor. The monkey was asked a series of questions in

Schneider explained that his bed had asked him if it might go to

Spanish and responded in complete phrases and sentences in the

Madagascar for a bed party. Jorge had recently eaten 8.2 bananas

present tense, also in Spanish. Then Mr. Schneider would ask the

and lived on the improbably named 24.4th Street.

class as a whole, or individual students, similar questions, except in the third person and past tense. In this way, students heard the out of context, these

questions and answers constructed in the first, second, and third persons and in present and past tenses.

sound like absurd touches,

Throughout the questions and answers and story-building, as a new

but in the context of the

vocabulary word entered the arena, Mr. Schneider would pause the

classroom these asides draw

conversation and write it on the board along with its translation.

All new words on the board became part of the class lexicon and

students in and introduce

would have to be used 100 times over the next week and then be

them to new vocabulary and

featured on a vocabulary quiz. If students needed clarification or

constructs in a genuinely

had questions, they could ask them in English, and Mr. Schneider

engaging manner.

would reply in English, but beyond that, most of the class is spent speaking Spanish.

“The details from one class to another might change, but it will take a couple of days to ask a story,” said Mr. Schneider. “After we ask the story aloud, we’ll read a story with the same structures, and that affords us the opportunity for more repetitions and the opportunity to compare stories. At times we might ask students to write their own story using the same structures.”

As students advance through Wayland’s Spanish curriculum, they add grammatical detail and complexities, build a comprehensive vocabulary, and grow ever more comfortable understanding, speaking, and reading in Spanish. Mr. Schneider teaches Spanish I and III, and Ms. Amanda Damon picks up the mantle for Spanish II and IV/V. For advanced students, Head of School Joe Lennertz H`86 often teaches a section of AP Spanish. Mr. Schneider said, “Ideally, languages are supposed to be easy, fun, and the hard part is most

20

If the student actor playing Jorge slipped up in their answer, Mr.

language learning is subconscious. You don’t know it’s happening.

Schneider would correct them, and the student would repeat the

Student proficiency in speaking and writing is markedly better with

answer the correct way. Over the course of a 40-minute session the

this method over my previous teaching methods and approaches.”

actors playing Jorge faced the same questions phrased 15 different

“Everything we do is storytelling,” he said. “Everything. When

ways, and by the end of the class the conversation became more and

you get home, your wife says ‘How was your day?’ You tell her a

more fluid and required less and less word-hunting by students.

story. Everything is storytelling. Why shouldn’t language class be

The answers and the structure gradually became second nature.

storytelling?”

wayland.org

41st Annual Spring Gala & Auction Sponsorship YO U R G O L D E N (O R B R O N Z E , S I LV E R , O R P L AT I N U M ) O P P O R T U N I T Y TO G R OW YO U R B U S I N E S S BY G I V I N G B AC K .

ON S ATU R D A Y , A P RI L 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 , Wayland Academy will host its biggest social event of the year, but the Gala isn’t just an important fundraiser and evening of fun – it’s an exciting opportunity to reach new clients and customers throughout our global community.

THE GAL A OFFERS FOUR SPONSORSHIP LEVELS:

PLATINUM — $ 5000

GO LD — $ 2 5 0 0

Extended reach through exclusive print and

Silver benefits plus a named event table, four

digital prominence, a permanent thank you on

tickets, and your logo featured on scoreboards

campus, and eight tickets to enjoy the event.

throughout the Gala.

S ILVER — $ 1000

BRO NZ E — $ 5 0 0

Additional visibility with live links from our

Digital and print recognition of your name or

website to yours and two event tickets.

logo, including on mobile bidding devices.

Depending on your choice of sponsorship, your name or business logo can reach thousands of Wayland supporters in a variety of ways. We look forward to working with you to find the right level of involvement in the Gala to get the most from this exclusive partnership. Please visit wayland.org/gala or call 920.356.2120 and speak with Kelly Neuert (ext. 244) or Kendall Vingua `02 (ext. 224) for more information.

Greetings Fall 2016

21

C l a s s Of

19 5 6 Cla

ss O f

19 5 6 W

’S OUR

5 0t R

22

and

h !

IT

ayl

EUNION

wayland.org

Return of the Big Red ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND 2016

b y k e n d a l l v i n g u a ` 02

Boasting record numbers of alumni, their friends and families, and many more whose connection to the Academy drew them back, Alumni Reunion Weekend 2016 brought the wider Wayland community together on campus from October 14 -16, 2016. The weekend events built on successful past programs and introduced exciting new opportunities for alumni to remember their school days and share where their lives have led them.

The classes celebrating Milestone reunions were especially excited to join their classmates at Wayland.

Members of the 60 th, 50 th, 40 th, 30 th, 25 th, 20 th, and 10 th reunion classes attended in force, sharing deep camaraderie that the intervening decades couldn’t diminish. Their enthusiasm for Wayland and each other was infectious and set the tone for fantastic events like the All-Alumni Reception at Patterson House and the lively After Hours Gathering off campus Friday night.

Greetings Fall 2016

23

the state of the academy

Head of School Joe Lennertz H`86 imparted knowledge of a different sort at Saturday morning’s All-Alumni Meeting & Brunch where he discussed the State of the Academy with the alumni in attendance. Speaking to campus improvement, innovations in the curriculum, and the strength of the student body, Mr. Lennertz answered questions that bridged the gap between the Wayland that alumni remember and the Academy of today.

Following the annual alumni photograph, which was taken in Lindsay Gym due to a light drizzle that morning, alumni gathered in Roundy Hall

alumni speaker panel

to dedicate the most recent improvement to our historic campus: McKinstry Conference Room. Originally created as the James Johnston

Before attending the social events on Friday, students and alumni alike were

Memorial Chapel, the room has served for

treated to an informative Alumni Speaker Panel focused on unique careers in

decades as a meeting room and testing facility.

the arts. Four alumni graciously shared their experiences and fielded questions

This second-floor space with beautiful stained

from students: Barbara Chandler Allen `66, founder of Fresh Artists, a non-

glass windows has been transformed into a

profit organization that supports visual arts in public schools; Betsy Wallman

versatile and comfortable room for classes,

`71, business manager for the Trueblood Theater on Washington Island,

administrators, and the Board of Trustees to

Wisconsin; Felicia Linsky `79, a top makeup artist for film and television who

gather. The renovations were generously provided

joined remotely via FaceTime; and Jake Disch `04, a screenwriter and story

by Trustee John B. McKinstry H`10, whose

editor at a boutique literary management company in Beverly Hills, California.

dedication to Wayland was warmly recognized in

They offered insights into different ways to build a rewarding career while

a short ceremony presided over by Mr. Lennertz.

following one’s passions.

Some alumni chose to spend their Saturday afternoon touring campus or visiting together over old photographs and yearbooks in Swan Library; others joined Wayland’s new visual arts teacher Justin Behm at the Painting Masterclass in the Art Studio.

Working from a picture of the Victory Bell, each participant created their own masterpiece with the encouragement and technical knowledge shared by Mr. Behm. This new program attracted 30 alumni and was

s e e m o r e p h o t o s at way l a n d . o r g / r e u n i o n

24

enjoyed by novice artists and seasoned Picassos alike.

wayland.org

An Evening to Celebrate The zenith of Alumni Reunion Weekend occurred Saturday night at Old Hickory Country Club, where more than 170 people gathered for the Alumni Dinner & Program. Following a delicious meal, Mr. Lennertz inaugurated a short program where the Distinguished Service Award and Alumni Awards were conferred on four exemplary alumni.

a l u m n i v o l u n t e e r awa r d

j a n e t s h a r p t u r n e r `56

Established by Wayland’s Alumni Association in 2002, the Alumni Volunteer Award is presented to an alumna or alumnus whose loyal and steadfast volunteer efforts on behalf of Wayland enhance the mission of the Academy and the Alumni Association.

It is an extraordinary feat to maintain a friendship for six decades, but it is truly d i s t i n g u i s h e d s e rv i c e c i tat i o n

m i t c h d i s c h h `9 3

an achievement to keep a graduating class worth of them. Beginning in 1998, this year’s recipient of the Alumni Volunteer

The Distinguished Service Citation is the highest honor that Wayland Academy can bestow upon an individual. Established in 1961, the award recognizes outstanding service to Wayland. Many Wayland students first met Mitch Disch H`93 under semi-dangerous circumstances: perhaps he was lying on a bed of nails, walking on broken glass, or giving the opening lesson for AP Physics. Since 1982, Mr. Disch has had an indelible impact on the Academy and its students as a creative and challenging teacher and as a caring coach and mentor. As Dye Chair of Science, he deftly steered many students towards scientific careers and his insatiable love of learning has influenced countless others, even those who wind up in the humanities, including his children Hillary `01 and Jake `04, both of whom addressed the Saturday evening audience. Mr. Disch and his wife Dee have been stalwart supporters of the school for over three decades. Even in retirement, he has returned to campus to assist the STEAM program, tutor students in physics, open the weight room at 6 a.m. some mornings, and organize the Wayland Archives. He is a truly deserving recipient of this honor.

Award has done just that. Janet Sharp Turner `56 volunteered as a Class Correspondent to support and grow the connections between her classmates from 1956 by sharing photos and news well before Facebook made such tasks everyday habits. Since then, she has spearheaded annual class get-togethers, where nearly two dozen Wayland alumni travel to a different city and renew their friendships and their connection to the school. It is Janet and her classmates’ continuous work of building and renewing relationships that has made the class of `56 the class to beat in any Wayland alumni challenge and one that serves as an example of the truly lifelong connections the Academy fosters.

Greetings Fall 2016

25

a l u m n i a c h i e v e m e n t awa r d

j o h n m c c o n n e l l `8 2

Wayland’s Alumni Achievement Award honors alumni who are deemed to be worthy of special recognition by the Wayland community for outstanding achievement in their field or endeavor and for representing the true ideals of the Academy. Though there are many measures for success, John McConnell `82, this year’s recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award, fits the bill by any criteria. He is a graduate of Carleton College and Yale Law School and has reached the upper echelons of his career as a political speechwriter. For eight years, he worked in the White House, crafting remarks for Vice President Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush, including as part of the team that authored his post-9/11 address to Congress. yo u n g a l u m n i awa r d

Since leaving the White House, he has

m e g a n p e t e r s e n `1 1

established himself as a top-tier independent speechwriter, writing for presidential candidates,

The Young Alumni Award acknowledges those who have made an outstanding impact within ten years of their Wayland graduation. This year’s recipient, Megan Petersen `11, was a

governors, and the Speaker of the House, while also sharing

leader and a scholar during her time at Wayland – as a prefect,

his expertise as

member of the Cum Laude society, and winner of the Laura

a guest lecturer

McDonald Award – and has chosen to use those talents in

and speaker at

service to others in her collegiate and professional endeavors.

universities such

She pursued a Bachelors in Legal Studies at Scripps College, where she worked up through the staff of The Scripps Voice newspaper to become Co-Editor-in-Chief and interned with U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp. While working in the Senator’s office, she devoted herself to serving the people of North

as Dartmouth, Purdue, George Washington University, and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Most

Dakota by advocating for them with a variety of government

notably, throughout his career in politics he

agencies. Her keen intelligence and desire to help has continued

has maintained a clear sense of purpose and

past graduation and into her current position with the

kindness, known for his sense of humor and

Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, where she is the Citizen

humility despite his many achievements.

Correspondence Specialist, providing outreach to people in need

In fact, a Forbes magazine article recently

of assistance with government and legal issues. We applaud her

referred to him as “brilliant, warm, funny

for dedicating herself to one of Wayland’s Four Pillars – Service

and loyal” and someone who “commands the

– and know we’ll see great things from her in the future.

respect of everyone who knows him.” He truly represents Wayland’s highest ideals.

26

wayland.org

sunday farewell On Sunday, the somber separations of friends old and new began

company of future alumni, and the last opportunity to visit and joke

in earnest as alumni departed for homes around the world. But for

with their classmates this Alumni Reunion Weekend. As the dining

the early risers, they had one more opportunity to commune with

hall slowly emptied, the final table was full of alumni celebrating

Wayland and each other through an All-Levels Yoga Session led

their Milestone 5th Reunion, laughing with teachers who had them

by Science Department Chair and Yogi Beth Ratajczak `96 in the

in class not so long ago. Despite having been away from Wayland

Dance Studio of Lindsay Complex.

the shortest time, they embodied the feeling that so many alumni

Whether they had worked up an appetite beforehand or not, a record number of alumni attended the joint Alumni/Student

have: that Wayland is an extraordinary place to come home to, and nearly impossible to leave.

Brunch, where they relished made-to-order omelets, the vibrant

Alumni Reunion Weekend 2017 OC TO BE R 1 3 - 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 M a rk Yo u r C a len d a r s!

It’s officially no longer too early to start planning for Alumni Reunion Weekend 2017! Join your friends on campus for this All-Alumni event, especially if your class year ends in “2” or “7”, and especially if you’re in the Class of 1967 (50th reunion), the Class of 1992 (25th reunion), and the Class of 2007 (10th reunion).

Save the date. Call your friends. Start your travel plans.

We hope to see you back at Wayland. If you’d like to help rally your classmates, contact Kendall Vingua `02, Director of Alumni Relations at alumni@wayland.org.

Greetings Fall 2016

27

NE WS & N OT ES

l a d i e s o f 19 6 6

Meg Bentley Starr, Ellen Burns Skatrud, and Nadine Hess Britton (left to right) in February in Florida

Jean Browne Turner `42 writes: “Our

After living in Washington, D.C. and later Los

Lee Ann Seaholm `77 is starting a new

biggest change was the death of my brother

Angeles, Martha Karlen `65 came back

position with Tacoma General Hospital in IT

David Browne `39… Until a year ago, he

to Phoenix and was first involved in retail

Info Tech.

was playing in a jazz band he started in the

management. She has now been in real estate

`60s and enjoying the game he loved – tennis

investments for many years.

Stafford Reginald Smith `81 celebrated his 25th Anniversary with his wife Lori on a

– at 93 years old.”

cruise through the Panama Canal, which Lee R. Atterbury `66 is back in the saddle

he said, “reminds me of sailing across Lake

Marjorie

after a recent illness. He is still a full-time trial

Michigan back in my Wayland days.” Their

Stephenson Uphoff `51 write: “We are

lawyer and horse farmer. His fourth novel,

son, Drew, will be graduating soon from

well! Married life agrees with us.” They spend

Big Fracking Mess, is out now, and he’s already

Grace Bible College in Grand Rapids, MI and

their summers in Wisconsin Dells and winter

working on the next one.

daughter, Jessica, is a “new kid 16” with the

John

Uphoff

`50

and

in Fort Lauderdale.

Young Americans Performing Arts College in Corona, CA. She loves to sing and perform Janet Stoffel Ward `71 had a great time

on stage which also reminds him of so many

Nada Proctor Graves `51 says: “Don

at her 45th Wayland Reunion and is already

friends back at Wayland. Reg is sorry they

and I still enjoy our Colorado mountains.

thinking about her 50 th in 2021. “I think

could not make the 35th reunion, but adds “My

Had a lovely day skiing with our daughter and

everyone should attempt to reconnect and

Wayland friends are always welcome at our

granddaughter in March!”

make a trip to Wayland, especially in October.

hotel in Petoskey, MI. ‘Greetings’ to all!”

Sharing many memories... touring the campus, seeing what’s new, and being with old friends Christopher C. Leslie `58 is “Always pushing the positive button on life!”

was a worthwhile trip for me.”

Lane Seaholm `82 is a retired US Air Force Colonel, flies for Alaska Airlines, and has four children with his wife, Emily – Elena (15), Olivia (13), Landon (9) and Liam (2).

28

wayland.org

Marian Davis, daughter of Ashley `01 and Eric Davis `01

Anne Hunter Williams `88 (left) and Leslie Snell Franken `88 (right)

Hunter

rentals about five years ago; they now provide

purchase, renovation, and sale of distressed

Snell

coach services for six area funeral homes and

homes in the greater Knoxville area. He also

Franken `88 (see photo) had an awesome

over 200 funerals a year. He says, “I enjoy

owns and operates Infinity Landscape Design

time reconnecting face to face for the first

assisting in all aspects of funerals and helping

Group, which has served customers all over

time since graduation at the Sonoma Grille

the families, it’s been a great addition to the

the Tennessee Valley for the past eight years.

in Pittsburgh. “It felt like no time had passed

business! Also, I have an 8-year-old son, Jack,

The family spends time outdoors enjoying

at all!”

who is obsessed with football and basketball

the beautiful seasons and scenery of East

and is the joy of my life!”

Tennessee, and is thankful to call Knoxville

Wayland Williams

roommates `88

and

Anne Leslie

home.

Kristi Alcala `96 has lived in Arizona since moving there for college 20 years ago

Sarah Bryant `96 is a current resident

and still loves it. “When I’m not inspiring

of East Lansing, MI, and a wife and mother

Nikki Brown-Huss `96 and Andrew

the bright young minds of 7th graders, I am

of three: Maya, Elijah, and Joshua. Sarah

Huss `96 work and live in Madison with their

spending time with my caring husband, Tony,

is

and

two children. Andy works in pharmaceuticals

and our creative daughter, Quinn.” California,

empowering underserved populations. She

and Nikki works for the State of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin, and Canada are on their regular

began her career as a Registered Nurse

She just completed her first Ironman, and

travel itinerary; she adds, “If we’re not in

and now serves as the Division Manager for

both are looking forward to Wayland’s Spring

any of those places, we are swimming in our

Health Promotion and Prevention Programs

Gala.

pool to try to escape the sweltering AZ heat.

at the Ingham County Health Department.

passionate

about

public

health

Come visit us!”

Kimberly Porubcan Kaneakua `96 David Faber `96 writes that he and his

moved to Minneapolis in 1999 to attend the

Tate Patrick Baumer `96 lives in

wife, Lorien, live in Knoxville, TN, with their

U of M and never left! She’s worked in special

Weston, WI, and has run Baumer Limousine

two children, Maya (10) and Cole (6), and

education in a middle school for the last 13

for the last 15 years. The company has a fleet

two dogs. Along with Lorien as his Realtor

years. She and her husband Chris have two

of about 12 limos, and added funeral car

and business partner, David invests in the

children: Caleb (15) and Avery (9).

Greetings Fall 2016

29

`96

and Delaney (5) is “a constant lightning rod

Natalia Rocha Fonseca `03 is the founder

writes “It was so wonderful to see all the

that gets everyone going” and truly shines in

of ZDPrint, a design studio focused on creating

pictures from Alumni Weekend. I hope to

karate. He works at an alternative school for

meaningful 3D objects, in Bogota, Colombia.

make it back for our 25 !” She is currently

students who have been labeled as at risk/

Recently, she has been active in the movement

living in Northern Virginia and in her 10th

high risk students, where “we have had four

supporting the peace agreement between the

year teaching history at Flint Hill School;

straight years of 100% graduation for our

Colombian government and FARC, and urges

she and her husband Phillip have two boys:

seniors,” runs several youth sports teams, and

others to educate themselves and support the

Christopher (3) and Patrick (10 months).

volunteers with Cub Scouts and his church.

agreement. “We want Colombians to know

Catherine

Humleker

Knicely

th

that this is the right path – a path of forgiveness and positive actions.”

Dong Jun Lee `96, known as D.J. to his

Penelope Hommel Strack `96 and her

classmates, writes “Class of 1996, I just

family moved back to Northern Virginia in the

opened a Korean pork BBQ restaurant in

summer of 2015 for their final duty station:

Maja Stevanovich `03 is a Senior Vice

Seoul on October, 6th of this year. Still I came

her husband Brian is working at the Pentagon

President of Mungo Creative Group and lives in

7,000 miles for our 20 th reunion in Wayland. I

while dreaming of retiring as a Lieutenant

Whitefish Bay, WI, with her labradoodle, Babson.

always get credit for coming from the farthest.

Colonel after 20 years of service. She writes,

In 5 years for our 25th reunion, no one gets any

“It is hard to believe that I have been a Marine

excuses for not coming if D.J.’s there… I just

Corps wife for 15 years. We plan on moving

Brendan Lyon `07 and his wife Caitlin

would love to see as many as our classmates

back to the midwest, specifically Kansas City,

had their first child, Eleanor A. Lyon, this

there for our strong Reunion Weekend.”

in the summer of 2018. For family fun, we

September.

play team trivia at a local restaurant and on

Captain in the Marines in November, 2015,

Brendan

was

promoted

to

a few weekends go blow our hair back racing

and currently serves as Assistant Aircraft

Patricia Duez Martin `96 lives in

at Auto Cross.” Penelope works from home

Maintenance Officer and Substance Abuse

St. Louis, where she practices labor and

pursuing her business massage license and also

Control Officer in Marine Unmanned Aerial

employment law, representing management in

volunteers at daughter Vivian’s school.

Vehicle Squadron 1.

cases alleging violations of wage and hour laws, discrimination, and harassment nationwide.

She is married to Jason, and they have two

Jill Neitzel `08 and Quintin Radford `05

kids, John (11) and Patti (8), both of whom keep

were married on August 6, 2016, at the Radford

her on her toes. “I am passionate about the

Farm in Larsen, WI. The two were joined by a

sport of triathlon and Wayland. I’ve been on

number of Wayland alumni including those in

Wayland’s Board of Trustees for the last three

the photo opposite.

years and I love the opportunity to give back.

It was wonderful seeing so many classmates at our 20th reunion, and I hope we can have even

Nic Schaalma `08 was married to Jadee

more for our 25 — but in the off years, I’m

Rooney on October 21, 2016. He is a Financial

always on campus for Alumni Weekend and

Advisor for Edward Jones in Appleton, WI.

th

would love to see more of your smiling faces in person, rather than just on Facebook.”

President of the Alumni Board Jordan

Bethany M. Guse `12 is currently teaching

Esten `02 and his wife Kelly had their first

English in Austria and wants to encourage

Stephen “Andy” Nason `96 had a

child, Robert (Bobby) MacLennan Esten,

Wayland students learning German – “They

great time on campus for Alumni Reunion

(see photo) on July 26, 2016, at Brigham and

can do cool stuff with languages!”

Weekend and says it was “great catching up

Women’s Hospital in Boston.

with my amazing classmates.” Andy earned Vivian

his Ed.S. from UW–Milwaukee in the spring

30

Washington

`13,

currently

of 2015 and his “amazing wife” finished her

Jeffrey F. Boness `03 and his wife

studying at Edgewood College, will appear in

Doctorate in the spring of 2016. They have

Stephanie

child,

the 2016 edition of Who’s Who Among Students

three wonderful and talented children that

Alexander, on October 20, 2015, and, while

in American Universities and Colleges. She

Andy says he has a hard time saying “no” to:

visiting family members in the midwest, were

recently studied abroad in London.

Caitlin (10) is an awesome dancer; Declan (8)

excited to show him Wayland’s campus for

is involved in football, baseball and wrestling;

the first time this Alumni Reunion Weekend.

welcomed

their

first

wayland.org

r a dford

– neitzel

w eddi ng

(left to right) Jayme Neitzel `12, Jill Neitzel `08, Quintin Radford `05, Nikki Hodgdon `08, John Burgman `05, Anna January `08, Terry Bomier `73, Lindsay Cieslik `09, Alex Hodgdon `05, Darren Cole `04, Weston Radford `03, Curt Radford `73, Peter Radford `67, Carla Radford Fair `00, India Radford Clarke `77, Scott Radford `68, David Nyman `06, Samuel Radford `06

Theo Murphy, son of Chase `03 and Liesl Murphy

CORRECTIONS & C L A R I F I C AT I O N S

In the spring 2016 issue of the Greetings we neglected to mention that the late Ralph Wiedenhoeft served as Wayland Academy’s Chaplain and Dye Chair of Religion from 19711975. We regret this omission.

Have a note, letter, update, correction, or comment for the Greetings? Please email the editor at amcdonnell@wayland.org or write to: Greetings Wayland Academy 101 N. University Ave. Beaver Dam, WI 53916

Brendan Lyon `07 with wife, Caitlin, and daughter, Eleanor

Greetings Fall 2016

31

In Memoriam David H. Soldwedel `55, of Oregon, WI, passed away on August 10, 2016. He was born February 8, 1937, in Pekin, IL, the eldest child of Henry and Laura Klepfer Soldwedel. After an early start in his family’s farm and dairy business, Soldwedel Dairy, Dave graduated from Wayland, joined the U.S. Navy, attended William and Mary College, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin. Throughout his life, he was an excellent tennis player, skier, and golfer, and he played on the Wayland Academy football team. Following his service and education,

1930s

Dave farmed extensively in southern Wisconsin and raised Hampshire, Holstein, and national championship Angus cattle, in addition to other

David M. Browne `39 passed away peacefully on February 26,

prize-winning livestock, and served as President of Stoughton Farms.

2016. Dave was a proud World War II Army veteran who graduated

He is survived by his children, Reed Soldwedel `80 (Liz), Chad

from Denison University with a math major, which lead to a career

Soldwedel, Courtney (Jeff) Manger and grandson, Vance Manger; sister,

in the computer industry. He was a talented musician playing brass

Sue Soldwedel Wollin; and his cat, Simon. He leaves nephews, Arthur

instruments in several bands, including 55 years with the LGVSDNM

Wirtz III `86 (Jennifer Downey Wirtz `86), and James

Band (“Sewer Band”) in Marin County, CA, and the Tuesday Knights. He

Wirtz `91; nieces, Laurie Wirtz (Steve) Jenkins, Lynsey Wollin (Shawn)

also founded Saints and Sinners, a jazz band. He is survived by his wife of

Casey, and Kelsey Wollin Dunn `88 (Todd); and cousins, including

nearly 70 years, Carol, four children, and numerous grandchildren and

Larry Klepfer of Ecuador. He was preceded in death by his parents and

great-grandchildren, as well as his sister, Jean Browne Turner `42.

sister, Sunny Soldwedel Wirtz `57.

His brother, Philip L. Browne `35, preceded him in death.

Robert Louis Smith `57, of Baraboo, WI, passed away on March

1940s Richard Merrill `41 died on December 2, 2015, in Poynette, WI, at his home of 63 years with his daughter by his side. A member of

10, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on May 21, 1939, to Marvin and Susan (Meyer) Smith in Beaver Dam and was married to Catherine A. Schlough on October 12, 1974.

the Greatest Generation, Richard served in the 485th Bomb Group as a tail gunner in World War II. He is survived by his three daughters, Gretchen Merrill `68, Katherine Merrill `69, and Kristine Merrill `70, as well as numerous other relatives. His high school sweetheart and wife of 57 years, Manetta Focke Merrill `42, preceded him in death in 2004.

Karen Schmidt Meyer `59, of Monroe, NC, passed away on March 15, 2016. After graduating from Wayland, Karen attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. She was a 50-year member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. After her marriage to Frank Meyer in 1962, she began her career as a corporate travel agent, coordinating travel for several large companies in the Carolinas. Karen and Frank were known for their

William F. Herrick `47 passed away in March, 2016. He was a well-known poet, writer, sculptor and artist and is survived by his wife, Phyllis, and three children.

love of golden retrievers and worked with the Golden Retriever Rescue Club; together they loved and nurtured 14 retrievers through their 50 years of marriage. Karen is survived by her children, Bill, John (Donna), and Laura (Terry) Davidson, and numerous grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Susan Schmidt Hick `60 and Elizabeth

1950s

Schmidt `64, and two nephews.

John P. Healy `52, of Beaver Dam, died on December 27, 2015,

32

at UW Hospital in Madison. John managed Hotel Rogers for 25 years

Geraldine Mueller `59 passed away on January 8, 2016. Geraldine

starting in 1976. He is survived by his sister, Catherine Healy

was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL, and was

Koob `41, and many relatives and friends.

a retired secretary. Her husband, Edwin, preceded her in death in 2000. wayland.org

Employees & Friends of Wayland

She is survived by her stepson, Gilbert Mueller, her children Michael

Jenifer Scherer passed away on Friday, May 27, 2016, in Minneapolis

Mueller and Kimberly (William) Alderson, and three grandchildren.

due to complications from Multiple Sclerosis. Jenifer is survived by her parents David Scherer (former faculty, 1980-1990) and Carol,

1960s Peter E. Kaiser `61 died on December 4, 2015, at his home on Big Fork Lake in Three Lakes, WI, surrounded by his children and loving caregivers. After graduating from Wayland, he attended college in McPherson, KS, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1967, served in the US Air Force, and later received two Master’s degrees in History and Business Management. He founded Kaiser Group, Inc. in 1979, focused on consulting, workforce development, and organizational improvement. Peter was preceded in death by his wife, Patty, and is survived by sons Jacob and Joseph (Trenton), daughters Emily (Steve)

siblings, and numerous other relatives.

Gerald Alan Dye, of Wayzata, MN, passed away on November 8, 2015.

Jerry is survived by his older brother Glen Dye and significant other, Kathy “Sunky” Conner and was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Gertrude Dye. He is the grandson of the late Glen Dye (Class of 1907) and Ella Merriam Dye (Class of 1907). He was an accomplished musician and all those who knew him were continually impressed by his graciousness, his mild personality, and his passion for music.

and Kimberly (Troy), grandchildren Elise (Lincoln) and Charlie, and numerous other relatives and friends.

Leon Achterberg of Portage, WI, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2016. Leon is survived by his wife, two children, and numerous other

Janet Bowman Sparks `62 passed away peacefully on January 29, 2016. Jan attended Wayland, where she became one of the “Wayland

relatives including his grandchildren Austin Lardy `10 and Kirstin Lardy `12.

Girls” who gather from time-to-time in random locations for girls’ weekends. Following graduation, Jan attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, where she was a proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, James; her three beloved children, James Sparks, Sarah Suppe, and Nancy Sparks; and many relatives and friends.

Robert Hodgdon passed away on September 14, 2016. A resident of Saint Louis Park, MN, he was a US Navy Air Corps veteran and a talented musician. Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and his survivors include his loving partner of 28 years, Yvonne, children Gregg and Roberta, and grandchildren Nicole Hodgdon `08 and Alexander Hodgdon `05.

Lisbeth Page `65, of Lewistown, MT, passed away on July 18, 2015, following an ATV accident on her ranch. Lisbeth is survived by her husband, Stephen Page; her daughter Laurie (Mark) Gaugler; sons Jim and Bill; and many friends and relatives.

Timothy Connor `69 passed away on January 20, 2016. Tim was the beloved son of the late Jack and Winifred, loving brother of Anne Connor Foley (Richard), John (Linda) and Clare Connor Ranalli (Nick), dear uncle of Liam, Sean, and Aidan, and is survived by other loving

Robert Johnson, father of John Paul Johnson `16, passed away on October 8, 2016.

Veda (Pat) Frinak, passed on December 10, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie A. Frinak, Sr. and is survived by her children Susan (Mark) Wilterding, Leslie (Vicki) Frinak Jr., and Patricia Frinak `73 (Gordon Kohl), and numerous other relatives.

relatives and friends.

Eugenia “Bunny” Dillon passed away September 29, 2015, after battling Parkinson’s Disease. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, John P. Dillon `54. She is also survived by daughter Patricia Dillon `83 and son George Dillon.

Greetings Fall 2016

33

J OHN PATTERSON H` 72

One of Wayland’s most beloved faculty emeriti, John P. Patterson H`72, passed away on July 2, 2016. He was an extraordinary teacher, caring mentor, and deeply kind person. His positive impact on those who knew him is evidenced by all the fond memories and sincere condolences his students and friends have shared with the school and on Wayland’s Alumni Facebook Group.

Mr. Patterson was born October 24, 1937, in Monticello, Wisconsin,

d e a r way l a n d g r e e t i n g s :

I’d like to attest to the profound impact that Mr. Patterson had on this particular student, and to the corresponding

to Parker Page and Mildred (Holdrich) Patterson. After the family

sadness I felt upon learning of his death.

moved to the family farm near Brooklyn, WI, John attended Doyle

Others will have their own, more personal reminiscences,

School, graduating from Brooklyn High School in 1955, earning a

but I can vouch that his readings from Macbeth, his

scholarship to attend the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. He

puckish telling of Chaucer, and his subtle questionings

received a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from UW – Whitewater in 1959, earning highest honors. He began

while teaching Wordsworth, Tennyson, Charlotte Bronte, and Dickens (to name a few) were well worth the price of admission to Wayland, at least for me. The sensibilities

his teaching career at Brodhead High School and after a year decided

he helped to cultivate, and the literary passion he ignited,

to attend graduate school. John earned his Master of Fine Arts

found further expression in the classes of Mr. Baxter and

from the University of Wyoming where he was a Woodrow Wilson

Mr. Schantz, two other teachers I was fortunate to have.

Scholarship recipient and wrote his master’s thesis on Shakespeare’s

Just one anecdote will suffice to show Mr. Patterson’s

King Lear.

painstaking care of his charges. One semester, partway

Moving back to Wisconsin, John went on to teach at Madison West

to impose two weeks of solid grammar: a refresher, I think

High School, Wauwatosa West High School, Carthage College,

he called it. Diagramming sentences, that sort of thing. (We

and finally, Wayland. He taught at Wayland for 32 years until his retirement. While at Wayland he served as the English Department Chair and held the endowed Proctor Chair in English. John enjoyed reading, movies, The American Players Theater of Spring Green,

through the curriculum, he interrupted the literature syllabus

were his junior “Honors” class.) It seems he had read some papers of ours and concluded that we fell short of the mark, and that if he didn’t intervene, we’d be lost for life.

I’m forever glad he took the extra effort. A few years later I was an English major in college, then reporter

singing in his church choir, Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre,

and managing editor for a series of biotech news

and taught a writers group at the Beaver Dam Senior Center. John

publications before winding up as research director for

was proud of his English and Swiss background and took many trips to trace his genealogy.

John is survived by his nieces, Cindy Baumgartner, Laurie Pinnow, and Lisa Schlesner; sister-in-law, Jean Patterson; great-nieces, greatnephews, and cousins.

Our thoughts are with his family and all whose lives he touched. We are truly grateful for all that he gave our students and our community.

the National Endowment for the Arts, where I currently work. Throughout it all, I’ve read and written poetry and occasional essays and reviews, and even now I catch myself wondering: which had the larger influence on me – Mr. Patterson’s introductions to great works of literature or his grammatical exercises?

Yours sincerely, s u n i l i y e n g a r `90 c h e v y c h a s e , m a ry l a n d

He is greatly missed.

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wayland.org

DEP

AR

T

RV

NT OF A R

AT I O N

ME

From the Wayland Archives

CH

IVE PRES

E

the bird’s-eye view

q u i e t ly t u c k e d away

in a large

envelope labeled “1920s” we found this view of campus looking south towards what was then the Dodge County Fairgrounds. The shiny new photo beneath it was made possible by the generous gift of a small drone that the school received from Mr. Mohe Zhu and Ms. Can Tang, parents of Jimmy Zhu `17. You can see the fairgrounds now serve as Wayland’s south campus, home to playing fields, a track, and the Field House.

Photo Credit: Justin Behm and Craig Hill H`06

Greetings Fall 2016

35

Wayland Academy

Greetings

I Remember... Weird Wayland Connections For such a small school, Wayland connections are everywhere you look, sometimes in places where you least expect to encounter them. For the spring issue of the Greetings, we hope you will write us and share your favorite unexpected Wayland connection.

It can be a sentence, a paragraph, or a page (though we may have to abridge the printed version), but we look forward to hearing your stories.

You can mail them to the editor, Andrew McDonnell, at amcdonnell@wayland.org or: Greetings c/o Wayland Academy 101 N. University Ave. Beaver Dam, WI 53916

101 North University Avenue Beaver Dam, WI 53916 36

Toll free: 800.860.7725 Phone: 920.356.2120 wayland.org

wayland.org