Engage: The Whitfield School Magazine

The Whitfield School Magazine

FALL 2024

Head of School

Don't Miss

Chris Cunningham, Ph.D.

OUR MISSION

6 Whitfield 2030 Enduring Mission, Evolving Methods, Extraordinary Experiences

A small school community committed to kindness and trust, Whitfield inspires a diverse student body to lead lives of curiosity, integrity, and purpose.

OUR VISION

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The Strategic Plan of Whitfield

Empowering young people to discover and become their best selves.

Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Walsh Design Melissa Irvin Principal Photography Geoff Story Copy Editors Cindy Burch

15 The Story of America Exhibition

30 Commencement

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 2024-2025

Laura Lotz ’95

Ron Fox '74 (Chair) Jeffrey Evitts (Vice Chair) Geneen Von Kloha (Treasurer) Andy Bryan (Secretary)

Kathleen Kelly

Brian Chao '08 Dave Cooperstein John Corn Shereen Fischer Corey Jones Derik King Lisa Long Kris Mannen '05

Paul Minorini Karen Myers Melissa O'Connor '08 Jessica Portis Asim Raza David Ressner Scott Rhodes '98

Sara Ringe Address Change Development Office The Whitfield School 175 South Mason Road St. Louis, Missouri 63141 development@whitfieldschool.org

Correspondence Communications Office

Honorary Lifetime Members Flip Cady '70 Bruno Schmitter Wayne Smith

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Ex-Officio Chris Cunningham, Ph.D. Head of School

Empowering the Next Generation

The Whitfield School 175 South Mason Road St. Louis, Missouri 63141 communications@whitfieldschool.org

Questions or comments STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

Lauren Wesley Wilson ’03

The Whitfield School is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory day school for grades 6–12. Whitfield seeks to maintain a student body diverse in geographic, economic, racial and religious backgrounds. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion or color in administering its academic policies, admissions policies, athletic policies, financial aid program or other school activities.

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Erin Walsh erin.walsh@whitfieldschool.org

Visit our website www.whitfieldschool.org

The Whitfield School Magazine Dear friends, Welcome to Engage: The Whitfield School Magazine! Engage is replacing Insights as our annual means of communicating with the broader Whitfield community, and, will do many of the same things that Insights did: it will highlight important events and happenings at Whitfield, and it will provide annual updates on alumni and the school’s philanthropic community.

But where Insights functioned as something of a yearbook, a compendium of short pieces and news items, Engage will, like Whitfield’s educational philosophy, go for depth rather than breadth.

The magazine will share exciting stories of the Whitfield experience— life-changing learning opportunities, celebrations of athletics and the arts, and alumni profiles and events. Finally, we offer Engage as an invitation to the broader Whitfield community of parents, alumni, and alumni parents to be part of the work we’re doing.

In the pages that follow, you will find important—and I hope inspiring—information about Whitfield 2030: The Strategic Plan of The Whitfield School and pieces that explore the hands-on, experiential learning experiences at the heart of a Whitfield education, from interdisciplinary projects to life-size catapults to global travel. You’ll find stories of collaboration and exploration, as well as updates on our far-flung alumni, including photos from alumni gatherings and a new feature, “Ask Our Alumni.”

of Experience................................................................................... 6-11 Enduring Mission, Evolving Methods, Extraordinary Experiences / The Whitfield School Strategic Plan 2025-2030

of Applied Rigor............................................................................12-15 Physics Class Makes a Splash / Accelerated Physics Class Trebuchet Project Rhythm of Learning / Zumba and AP Spanish Language Artful Shields: Students at Whitfield Celebrate Individuality / Middle School Art Explores Heraldic Shields

Capturing Complexity: An Insightful Look at American History/ ‘The Story of America’ Exhibition

of Active Mastery.........................................................................16-17 Warriors, Start Your Engines / Inaugural Esports Mario Kart Invitational Matecki Pins Down Fourth State Title / Four-Time State Champion Makes History

of Exploration................................................................................18-21 And you’ll see evidence of our partnership with Crane + Peters, a nationally recognized branding and marketing firm that specializes in independent schools. After months getting to know Whitfield and St. Louis, and literally hundreds of hours of conversations with faculty and parents, students and staff, alumni and members of the St. Louis community, Crane + Peters has helped us find ways to talk about and present The Whitfield School experience that we think are new and compelling—but also true to who we are as a school and our most enduring educational values.

Finally, if a picture is worth a thousand words, we’ve included a whole library in the “Year in Pictures” you’ll find at the heart of this magazine.

Mandarin Mission: From Taipei to Sun Moon Lake / Advanced Mandarin Students Travel to Taiwan

W-Days: Where Education Meets Exploration / Practicing the Habits of Mind & Heart Outside the Classroom

of Collaboration........................................................................... 22-27 A Year of Photos

of Minds..........................................................................................28-39 2024 Award Recipients

Change can be exciting, but it can also be disconcerting, especially for schools, places where there are traditions and memories and ways of being and doing worth preserving. For those who might worry that, say, a change in font might represent a change in who we are and what we do, please be reassured by the pages that follow. While there are certainly differences, I think you’ll see in Engage that the essence of Whitfield is unchanged—that we are holding on to the best of who we are and what we do—and in some ways, returning to our roots!— even as we look to the future.

Commencement Welcome Remarks / Chris Cunningham, Ph.D., head of school Commencement Senior Class Address / Zachary Philip Tessler ’24 Commencement Address / Ron Fox ’74, board chair / alum / parent / alumni parent College Choices for the Class of 2024

of Connection.............................................................................. 40-47 The Alumni Promise / Introducing Whitfield’s Alumni Advisory Board

Enjoy!

Empowering the Next Generation / Lauren Wesley Wilson's Inspiring Return to Whitfield Ask Our Alumni / What skills do you use in your career that you began forming at Whitfield?

Alumni Gatherings / Warriors Reminiscing On and Off-campus in 2023-24

Chris Cunningham, Ph.D. Head of School

of Giving.........................................................................................48-62 Philanthropy Report / 2023-2024

Taken as a whole, the strategic plan offers a bold, ambitious roadmap for Whitfield through the end of this decade. The plan includes an extension and expansion of our long commitment to experiential teaching and learning, to creating opportunities for students to learn by doing, both in the classroom and out in the world. It calls us to fulfill the promise of community by creating a school that reflects the richness of St. Louis and by ensuring that all members of our community can participate fully in The Whitfield School experience. It challenges us to articulate to the St. Louis community the unique and life-changing benefits of a Whitfield education, and to help all of our students reach their full potential. And it challenges us to create the physical and financial infrastructure, from transformative giving to transformative new learning spaces, that will guarantee Whitfield’s financial sustainability in the 21st century.

NEW MISSION & FIRST-EVER VISION

Enduring Mission, Evolving Methods, Extraordinary Experiences Whitfield 2030: The Strategic Plan of The Whitfield School

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n the winter of 2023, Head of School Chris Cunningham launched a comprehensive strategic planning process to guide his work in the years ahead. His goal was to develop a vision for Whitfield’s future that was ambitious and forward-looking—but also authentic to Whitfield and rooted in its fundamental educational values. Partnering with Ian Symmonds and Associates, a nationally-recognized research and planning firm, with more than 20 years experience working with independent schools, Dr. Cunningham formed a steering committee including trustees, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and administrative leaders.

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In tandem with strategic planning, the Whitfield community engaged in a broad, inclusive process of reflection to understand, affirm, and articulate what we do as a school and why we do it.

In surveys, workshops, small group exercises, and full school presentations, the school’s faculty, staff, and administration worked with parents, students, alumni, and trustees to craft a new vision statement and new, updated mission for The Whitfield School.

The goal of our work was to identify the best and most essential parts of our past and present, while thinking ambitiously and clearly about our future.

Over the course of the 2022-2023 school year, we surveyed the full Whitfield community, asking all constituencies to reflect on the current mission and to identify those parts of it that were the most resonant and meaningful for them. In the ensuing months, we engaged in a range of exercises with faculty, staff, administration, and trustees to understand the community’s experience of Whitfield, gathering people’s expectations and aspirations, and looking for language that would capture their passion for the school.

Drawing on these community-wide conversations, we drafted a mission and vision that would be true to who we are while describing the school we aspire to be. We then shared draft statements with the full community, gathering feedback through a broad

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This committee met throughout the winter and spring, exploring educational research, market analysis of the St. Louis region, an institutional SWOT analysis, generative exercises, and a review of trends in the independent school and education sector. This process of research and ideation culminated in the early summer of 2023, with the steering committee developing a carefully focused set of strategic priorities and initiatives. That fall, the board of trustees unanimously endorsed the committee’s work, including a new school mission statement and first-ever vision statement.

and iterative process, ultimately presenting final drafts to the Board of Trustees in the fall of 2023, which voted unanimously to adopt these guiding statements: Our Mission Statement affirms who we are and what we do: A small school community committed to kindness and trust, Whitfield inspires a diverse student body to lead lives of curiosity, integrity, and purpose.

Our Vision Statement asserts why we exist: To empower young people to discover and become their best selves.

Together, these two statements reaffirm touchstone The Whitfield School values: community and trust, kindness and integrity. These words and ideas are at the heart of what we do, and we heard consistently over the course of the year from all constituencies that they needed to be at the heart of our mission and vision. At the same time, these statements clarify our commitments to diversity and to providing a “small school” experience—to know each child and meet them where they are.

And they clarify that the Whitfield experience is about discovery and transformation—social, emotional, intellectual. As the statements affirm, the Whitfield experience is ultimately about inspiring and empowering young people to become their best selves—to lead lives of meaning and purpose.

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Clear Identity & Capacity

We will preserve and enhance Whitfield’s distinctly welcoming climate and culture. This plan empowers us to cultivate an even stronger sense of belonging, protect the health and well-being of one another, and ensure that all members of our community can participate fully in the Whitfield experience.

We will better articulate our mission, methods, and culture, in ways that will speak powerfully— both to our city and region as a whole and to mission-aligned prospective families.

Support greater socioeconomic diversity.

Build financial capacity to ensure that all admitted students, regardless of financial ability, can take full advantage of all Whitfield academic and co-curricular opportunities.

Experiential Teaching & Learning We will reimagine and refine our core academic approaches and offerings, enhancing a Whitfield education through continued curricular innovation. Now and in the years to come, Whitfield students will benefit in ever-evolving and expanded ways from active, interdisciplinary, forward-looking, and enduring experiences—preparing them for lifelong success in a changing world.

Expand experiential learning in all our classrooms. Broaden opportunities at every grade level for experiential learning, increasing the authenticity, challenge, and depth-of-learning in the curriculum.

Cultivate real-world learning beyond our campus. Develop community connections

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to facilitate off-campus experiences and engagement, applied learning, and opportunities for mentorship throughout the school’s program.

Create a robust, experiential environmental science program.

Expand our science curriculum in tandem with campus environmental sustainability initiatives, allowing students to explore practical applications of theories in environmental science, and technology.

Enrich our advisory experience.

Construct and schedule an advisory program specific to each grade level, designed to foster developmentally appropriate social and emotional learning, academic competencies, and cross-grade level partnership, leadership, and mentorship.

Build a team that reflects our community. Marshal the strategies and resources necessary to recruit, hire, and retain faculty, staff, and administration members who together reflect the vibrancy of our city and support the healthy identity development of our diverse student body.

experience

Authentic Access & Inclusion

Speak powerfully to prospective families.

Ensure that outside audiences encounter effective, updated, emotionally resonant messaging about who we are and what we offer—in terms of academic excellence, community support, and lifelong outcomes.

Articulate academic identity. Develop a community-wide sense of the “Whitfield graduate” and the “Whitfield educator” to ground our mission in a collective understanding of our aspirations, uniqueness, and fundamental identity as a school.

The Science Hoodie Project: A whimsical project that gives students an opportunity to reengage, recreate, and translate an intricate biological model—which can help cement their understanding of a foundational concept.

Create accessible spaces. Design, modify, and upgrade facilities, so they are inclusive and accessible, ensuring that all members of the community can access, use, and feel welcome in every corner of campus.

Extend equity and inclusion initiatives.

Support and expand our efforts to develop our community’s cultural competencies as described in and developed by Whitfield’s Habits of Mind & Heart.

Protect the well-being of all. Design and implement a comprehensive Health and Wellness program to support the mental and emotional well-being of our students and employees and to contribute to an environment of caring and support.

Continue our commitment to supporting a range of learners.

Design and implement an array of effective academic and support structures for many kinds of learners—neurotypical, neurodiverse, and gifted—and communicate Whitfield’s capacities clearly with current and prospective families. Continue meeting all students where they are, and more clearly communicate the advantages a diverse learning environment offers to all Whitfield students—who reap academic, social, and practical benefits that only come from learning among and from all kinds of minds.

Appeal to families from around the world.

Develop a strategy for recruiting and supporting international families, providing rich and transferable academic experiences for these international students, while offering all Whitfield students unique, authentic opportunities to build cultural competence.

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Lasting Stability & Stewardship We will advance and sustain all forms of excellence at Whitfield by building a solid, steady fiscal and physical infrastructure.

We will undertake wise initiatives in enrollment, philanthropy, programming, revenue, physical plant, and human resources today to assure our continued strength and sustainability tomorrow.

Fund transformative spaces.

Foster community and make space for extraordinary learning through the construction, expansion, or transformation of key facilities, including: an expanded and transformed STEAM wing, including a state-of-the-art makerspace and updated class and laboratory facilities; an expanded and reimagined Intellectual Commons, which will house a new Center for Academic Success, provide additional collaboration and meeting spaces, and updated facilities for the library and IT; a multipurpose athletic facility, to help students grow in physical strength, competitive spirit, and resilience; and an admittedly unglamorous but vitally important storm shelter.

Prioritize environmental sustainability.

Develop an innovative, ambitious sustainability program with the goal of carbon-neutral operations by 2030, thus protecting physical resources, making operations as efficient and economical as possible, and preparing our campus and our community for a world transformed by climate change.

Optimize income and outflow.

Create a sustainable revenue model to support financial aid, facility operations, faculty support, and other essential organizational operating costs.

Nurture a culture of giving.

Increase internal community involvement in philanthropic endeavors to improve financial support and build buy-in on major school initiatives.

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In Conclusion The way things have always been done may not prepare children for a future the likes of which have never been seen.

And one single way of teaching can’t cultivate the kind of extraordinary dexterity that develops when each young mind works with thinkers of all kinds, learns in myriad ways, and turns in many directions: Reading and listening, of course. But also doing, making, seeing, feeling, sensing.

Experiencing.

At The Whitfield School, we are planning for a future of rigor that will be anything but rigid. For fresh, relevant forms of academic excellence. For the agility, adaptability, resilience, and risk-tolerance that today’s students— and tomorrow’s challenges—will require.

We’ll always hold true to our foundational mission and continue to build on the bedrock of our unchanging, shared values.

But together, guided by this plan, we can also be sure that we’re offering the experiences that will prepare our students to meet the moment and change the world.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LEARN AT A SCHOOL OF EXPERIENCE? Wrapping your senses around new ideas. Diving into direct contact with concepts and questions. Making, doing, and experimenting your way into knowing, understanding, and mastering.

Learning at a school of experience means showing up as your whole self, bringing both your mind and heart on a journey of trying new things, taking wise risks, and supporting friends and schoolmates as they make the same courageous leaps. There are many places you can go to receive a great education, to prepare for college, and to open doors for your future. But here, you can do all of this while also seeing, hearing, touching, and feeling how the world around you works— because at Whitfield, we know it’s the experience that counts.

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Physics Class Makes a Splash Accelerated Physics Class Trebuchet Project

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nder the guidance of STEM faculty member Mr. Andrew Asikainen, the Accelerated Physics class completed a significant project this spring: constructing a functional trebuchet. This hands-on endeavor culminated in a 50-meter water balloon launch towards faculty targets, coinciding with the end of the academic year for Whitfield seniors.

Physics, defined as the study of motion and interactions of matter, forms the foundation of numerous essential technologies, including transportation, electronics, and cybernetics.

Whitfield's Accelerated Physics curriculum spans two years, covering core concepts such as fluid, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and optics. This comprehensive approach equips students with both a conceptual understanding and the mathematical proficiency necessary for higher education in the physical sciences.

The trebuchet project was a practical application of these principles. Students used a complex formula to calculate the trebuchet's range, incorporating variables like counterweight mass, arm length, release angle, projectile weight, and drag coefficient. This mathe-

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matical blueprint guided their design process, illustrating the intricate relationship between various physical phenomena.

Starting with initial sketches in the classroom, students refined their designs, focusing on stability and efficiency. They built scale models in the physics lab to test hypotheses and finetune their concepts. Guided by Mr. Asikainen, the students then transitioned to the woodshop, where they crafted the trebuchet from raw materials. This process reinforced fundamental physics principles, such as potential and kinetic energy, as well as laws of leverage and conservation.

On launch day, the fully assembled trebuchet, standing at an impressive 15 feet high, was moved to the practice field. With coordinated effort, students loaded water balloons, adjusted angles, and balanced the counterweight.

Brave faculty members, including Dr. Hayes and Mrs. Ringe, enthusiastically participated as targets for the budding senior physicists. The excitement of launching water balloons at faculty members drew a crowd, creating buzz around future physics course enrollment and fostering a joyful community experience.

Mr. Asikainen remarked, "By constructing a full-sized trebuchet, students not only apply what they have learned in physics, they are also using power tools, and they have to navigate authentic group dynamics where set-backs are common. This experience concretizes their knowledge and creates lasting memories."

The Rhythm of Learning Zumba and AP Spanish Language

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t Whitfield, a unique approach to language education is captivating students’ attention and fostering cultural immersion—all through the rhythm of dance. Led by Señor Cipriano Casado, the AP Spanish classroom transforms into a lively dance floor, pulsating with the beats of Spanish music and the enthusiastic movements of students engaged in Zumba sessions.

"I believe in making language learning an immersive experience," Señor Casado explains.

"Dance is deeply rooted in Latin American culture, and incorporating it into our lessons not only enhances language skills but also makes learning enjoyable."

I remember having so much fun ending the class with a dance. Every student seems to enjoy dancing, whether they are in the front taking it seriously or dancing shyly in the back.”

Beyond enjoyment, Señor Casado emphasizes the cognitive benefits of incorporating physical activity into language learning. "Research suggests that exercise stimulates brain funcI believe in making language tion, aiding in memory learning an immersive experience. retention and cognitive Dance is deeply rooted in Latin processing," he remarks.

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American culture, and incorporating it into our lessons not only enhances language skills but also makes learning enjoyable.”

Señor Casado’s innovative approach aligns with contemporary research, which suggests -Cipriano Casado, faculty that physical activity can enhance learning outcomes. While traditional methods may rely on cultural elements Students eagerly participate in these dance like food or films, Señor Casado’s integration sessions, finding joy and cultural enrichment of dance and Zumba offers a dynamic alternain the rhythmic movements. Whitfield student tive, promoting both linguistic proficiency and Jocelyn Kazmierski ’24 reflected on her experiphysical well-being in the classroom. ence, sharing, “When I took Sr. Casado's class,

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The Whitfield School Magazine

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applied rigor

Capturing Complexity: An Insightful Look at American History ‘The Story of America’ Exhibition

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he junior class embarked on a transformative journey through America’s rich and multifaceted history with their innovative 'Story of America' project. This ambitious endeavor, spanning the entire academic year, integrates rigorous academic study with creative expression to foster a deep understanding of America’s past, present, and future.

Artful Shields: Students at Whitfield Celebrate Individuality Middle School Art Explores Heraldic Shields

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r. Keith Borzillo and Mrs. Mary Kate File’s art classes at Whitfield embarked on a clay design project focused on heraldic shields, integrating Whitfield’s Habits of Mind & Heart character education curriculum into their designs.

This cross-grade endeavor between 7th and 8th fine arts courses aimed to foster creativity and personal expression.

Heraldic shields, traditionally symbols of family crests, served as markers of identity and rank. Instead of focusing on ancestry, students created shields that reflected their unique individuality and aspirations.

Over five weeks, students conducted research, sketched, constructed, and painted their shields. They chose words representing aspects of their personalities and used imagery from The Noun Project—a website offering a wide range of icons created by designers worldwide.

Students then crafted their designs in clay using the slab roller and scoring and slipping methods to sculpt their shields. They decorated their creations with vibrant underglaze hues, adding meaning and visual interest to their pieces.

To finish their shields, each student added a traditional name banner, personalizing their creations further. The finished shields were displayed on shelves near the cafeteria entrance, allowing the entire school community to appreciate their artistic achievements.

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The project’s inception began with students reading "The Stories We Tell" in history class, where students, inspired by historian Lindell Calder, commenced the year with a free-writing exercise hypothesizing what themes would emerge as they engaged in the study of American history–what kinds of “stories” they would find and can be told. These stories or themes include the “American Dream” and assimilation, oppression and protest, ingenuity and free speech, scientific advancement and public policy–ways of connecting different events across time. From discussing pivotal events, including the American Revolution, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and beyond, students developed increasingly detailed understandings of these broad historical themes. According to Mr. Matt Coryell, United States history teacher, "They started [the project] on day one. We ask them how newly introduced information about historical events either changes or reinforces their story."

The project is multi-faceted, challenging students to draw on a complex range of skills and historical understandings. Over the course of the project, Mr. Coryell guides students through distinct phases including: selecting a seminal event in U.S. history, conducting rigorous research using multiple credible sources, crafting a comprehensive essay, and presenting their findings using multiple mediums. Each step challenges students to delve deeply into historical contexts, analyze significance, and forecast future impacts.

By late April, students transitioned from individual research to collaborative efforts, forming thematic groups based on related emerging themes. This interdisciplinary collaboration across English, history, and fine arts departments allowed students to merge diverse perspectives and mediums, culminating in a captivating exhibition unveiled to the entire school community on May 16th.

The final exhibition involved three separate, but related projects that spanned past, present, and future. Each student did a deep dive into a single historical event, and then combined these into a timeline of American history that stretched halfway down the Humanities wing.

Students then worked in groups to create interactive exhibits that encouraged viewers to engage their common historical theme in the present. Examples included immersive exploration into the American visionaries, the impact of protests on popular culture, and how concepts of assimilation and integration have evolved over time. Finally, these same groups created videos that projected their themes into the future, trying to imagine how their story of America will continue to unfold.

The full exhibit engaged viewers in deep reflections on America's complex identity, inviting participants to explore America’s complicated past and ongoing evolution.

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Four-Time State Champion Makes History

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orter Matecki ’24 cemented his legacy in Whitfield wrestling history by winning his fourth state championship at Mizzou Arena with a decisive 5-0 on February 24, 2024. He is the fifth Whitfield wrestler to achieve this milestone and the 42nd in Missouri.

Matecki’s journey to this point was marked by both triumph and adversity. Early in the season, he fractured his elbow, causing him to sit out for six weeks. Returning in early February, Matecki balanced physical therapy with regular practices and matches. "When I fractured my elbow, I thought that dream was over," he said.

Head Coach Buddy Smith praised Matecki’s resilience, saying "He came back from a pretty bad injury and really wrestled tough."

Warriors, Start Your Engines Inaugural Esports Mario Kart Invitational

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hitfield held its inaugural allschool Mario Kart Tournament, bringing together students, faculty, and staff in the world of esports. Spanning three rounds of intense Mario Kart circuits, the tournament concluded with a thrilling live finale during assembly in Woods Hall, crowning Nathan Chien ’29 as the champion.

The tournament hosted participants spanning grades 6-12 as well as faculty and staff— even drawing in Dr. Cunningham, head of school, and Mrs. Ringe, assistant head of school. Despite suspending Whitfield’s unofficial school motto, "Be nice and do the right thing," to allow for the virtual throwing of banana peels and turtle shells, the event buzzed with lively camaraderie

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and friendly competition. Over the span of a few short weeks, the brackets were whittled down to a Final Four.

The final race on N64 Rainbow Road tested skill and nerve, heightened by live narration that captivated the entire school community.

Nathan Chien ’29 took a commanding lead and never looked back, securing victory with an astonishing 57 points. Coming in behind Chien, JD Downes ’24 clinched the second spot, Jason Chien ’26 (Nathan’s older brother) claimed third, and Asher Brown ’28 took fourth.

Looking ahead, the Whitfield community eagerly anticipates welcoming back this exciting event next year.

Matecki highlighted the team’s strength this year, praising the young Warriors who showcased their potential at the state level.

Sophomore Lucas Parietti placed fourth (157 lbs), juniors Caleb Carter (138 lbs) and Rome Tate (150 lbs) placed third, and senior Adrian Harrold (285 lbs) secured a fifth-place finish.

Their efforts contributed to Whitfield’s 96.5 team points, and third-place overall team trophy.

active mastery

Matecki Pins Down Fourth State Title

As Matecki prepares to continue his wrestling career at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, his legacy at Whitfield remains. "Now, being a four-timer, it’s just another step in the journey as I go off to college. I have a lot more goals to take on," he said.

Matecki finished his high school career with an astounding record of 151-10, having never lost a match to another Missouri wrestler.

His accomplishments join the ranks of past Whitfield wrestling legends like Rodney Hahn, Michael McAteer, Evan Binder, and AJ Rallo.

Matecki’s triumph further perpetuates the legacy of the Whitfield wrestling program.

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Now, being a four-timer, it’s just another step in the journey as I go off to college. I have a lot more goals to take on.

-Porter Mateki '24

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Follow the Warriors Keep up to date on all the Warrior news by following us on Instagram @WhitfieldWarriors and X @WhitfieldSports

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exploration

Mandarin Mission: From Taipei to Sun Moon Lake Advanced Mandarin Students Travel to Taiwan

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uring Spring Break, advanced Mandarin students embarked on a transformative journey to Taiwan. Led by Mrs. Amy Muggleton, from the World Languages department and Dr. Michał Kwiecień from the Social Studies department, students delved deep into Taiwanese culture, language, and history.

From the bustling streets of Taipei to the serene beauty of Sun Moon Lake, each day brought new discoveries and enriching experiences.

The students wasted no time immersing themselves in local culture, visiting iconic landmarks such as the Presidential Office and the historic Ximen Red House.

One of the trip's highlights was the students’ interaction with the local community, where they practiced their Mandarin skills in real-life situations. From ordering authentic Taiwanese

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cuisine to participating in cultural activities, each interaction deepened their appreciation for the language and its cultural significance.

Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the trip was the bonds forged between students and chaperones. Through meaningful discussions led by Mrs. Muggleton and Dr. Kwiecień, the students reflected on the similarities and differences between Taiwanese and American culture, fostering a greater appreciation for travel, diversity, and global perspectives.

During an all-school assembly upon their return, participating students Jason Chien ’26, Caleb Carter ’25, and Roman Angieri ’25 presented a slideshow of their trip to Taiwan, showcasing their itinerary in images and anecdotes.

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exploration

W-Days: Where Education Meets Exploration Practicing the Habits of Mind & Heart Outside of the Classroom

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hitfield offers students opportunities throughout the year to explore, discover, and grow beyond the confines of the typical course schedule.

Through purposefully scheduled disruptions in the academic calendar known as "W-Days" (short for Warrior Days), Whitfield designs immersive learning experiences that challenge students to put the Habits of Mind & Heart into action. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Whitfield organized five W-Days, each tailored to engage students in diverse and impactful experiences that enhanced their educational journey. Many of the off-campus activities were made possible by generous support from philanthropic partners, including the Boyer Family, the Strive Fund, and the Steward Family Foundation.

Middle school students delved into the Habits of Scholarship, Leadership, and Citizenship during visits to The City Museum and the Cortex Innovation Center. At The City Museum, students explored interactive exhibits and artistic installations that encouraged creativity and exploration, navigating physical challenges, problem-solving, and collaborating with peers.

At the Cortex Innovation Center, eighth graders

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visited the Microsoft Technology Center and BioSTL, engaging with professionals in STEM fields to learn about innovations in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and storage, and BioSTL's critical role in mapping the human genome.

Emphasizing Cultural Competence and Ethical Conduct, both seventh and tenth graders spent one of their W-Days at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. In the museum's Impact Lab, students interacted with various stories and learned how to identify and respond to hatred, especially and specifically anti-Semitism. Through an interactive workshop with museum staff, they gained tools to effect change in their community.

W-Days extend into the community through meaningful service projects, fostering Citizenship, Ethical Conduct, and Leadership. Ninth grade students engaged in clean-up projects at Central West End Farms and Greenwood Cemetery, contributing to sustainability efforts and local history preservation.

In preparation for the Story of America project, eleventh graders exercised Scholarship during visits to the Missouri History Museum and the St. Louis Science Center. They applied a critical

lens to museum displays to better understand how information presentation affects understanding. Using directed questions as a guide, students viewed the History Museum and the St. Louis Science Center as models for their own Story of America exhibitions they curated later in the spring.

As the final exhibition of their Whitfield experience and the ultimate demonstration of Scholarship, each W-Day for seniors was dedicated to completing their Capstone project. Seniors arranged interviews, shadowing experiences, research, site visits, and other endeavors that extended their learning beyond conventional classroom walls. These experiences culminated in an extended three-week off-campus experience in May, designed entirely by the students themselves.

W-Days exemplify a commitment to experiential education by providing students with diverse, immersive experiences that integrate academic learning with real-world applications. Through partnerships and community engagement, these experiences empower students to cultivate essential skills and perspectives.

Whitfield is currently planning for five W-Days for the next school year including a trip to Memphis, Tennessee for the junior class, who will expand their study of US History by experiencing the locations and stories they’re learning about in the classroom.

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A Year in Photos

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#1 Faculty and Staff complete Red Cross CPR training during August Days. #2 The 2023-2024 Endowed Chair recipients at the Faculty & Staff Back-to-School dinner.

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#3 - 7 Back to School Bash #8 - 11 Black Student Union (BSU) Parent Brunch #12 - 18 First Day of School #19 - 20 Student Activities Fair

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#21 - 32 Homecoming / Spirit Week #33 - 36 U S Fall Play: The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong #37 - 38 Whitfield Rocks! Music Trivia Night #39 - 40 G arden Club installs new gardening beds

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#41 - 42 G lassman Leadership Assembly #43 - 45 MS Fall Play: The Emergency Meeting of Garage 723 #46 - 47 Student One-Act Plays

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#48 - 57 G reen & White Gala #58 - 59 MS Spring Play Stories from The Bookhaven #60 - 62 Grandfriends Day #63 - 66 U S Spring Production Ranked, A Musical

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AMERICAN YOUTH FOUNDATION “I DARE YOU!” LEADERSHIP AWARDS Ana Struckhoff Moss Capellupo ST. LOUIS COUNTY OUTSTANDING YOUTH LEADER Dawn Foster MISSOURI SCHOLARS 100 HONORABLE MENTION Anna Sophia Gau NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST Nihar M. Murali PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD Mia Schlottmann UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND SUSAN B. ANTHONY AWARD Yashua Amen

AMERICAN MATHEMATICS COMPETITION 8 AWARD Nathan Chien

JOHN PHILIP SOUSA AWARD Kira Leigh Glanton

AMERICAN MATHEMATICS COMPETITION 10 AWARD Richard Heidenry

Middle School -Kendall Bilchik Upper School - Daphne Hull

VISUAL ARTS AWARDS

AMERICAN MATHEMATICS COMPETITION 12 AWARD Yashua Amen SUSAN SHEPHERD ITTNER AND CHARLES T. SHEPHERD II SOFTWARE INDUSTRY AWARD FOR ASPIRING TALENT Lee Kirkpatrick SUSAN SHEPHERD ITTNER AND CHARLES T. SHEPHERD II SOFTWARE INDUSTRY AWARD FOR TECHNICAL MERIT Oliver Paul Hornstra

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER GEORGE EASTMAN YOUNG LEADERS AWARD Grace Cooperstein

SUSAN SHEPHERD ITTNER AND CHARLES T. SHEPHERD II SOFTWARE INDUSTRY AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP MERIT Audrey Long

JANE PIPER GLEASON ’70 ST. LOUIS SCHOLAR AWARD Sophie Wilson

Middle School - Stefano Echeverria Upper School - Diana Ellie Hunigan

NANCY CLUKIES MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH AWARD Lilly Zanzie UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH AWARD Lucy Ellen Heidenry SOCIAL STUDIES AWARDS Middle School - Ella Paciorek Upper School - Isabelle Zhang SCIENCE AWARDS Middle School -Alex Zhang Upper School - Caroline

FRENCH AWARDS

MANDARIN AWARDS Middle School -Cade Prichard Upper School - Caleb Carter

UPPER SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AWARD Anna Sophia Gau

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PEGGY GUNDLACH FINE ARTS AWARD Samuel Stephanus Parsons RUTH E. GREATHOUSE ACHIEVEMENT IN THE ARTS AWARD Grace Cooperstein CLASS OF 2024 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS Lucy Ellen Heidenry Khang Lam Adrian Christian Harrold TRI-STAR ATHLETE AWARDS Roman Angieri Joey Garcia Dominguez Nicholas Connor Flood Taylor Charlette Gardner Beckett Lindsey Adam Mohmoud Ezequiel Cueto Rasetti Jordan Marie Sartain Kayla Marie Sellers Holden W. Souter

*Scholar Awardees for all 7 years CROSS COUNTRY AWARD Caden Tyler Edwards

SPANISH AWARDS Middle School - Noah J. Lett Upper School - Nihar M. Murali

JAMES T. COSTELLO SIXTH MAN AWARD Holden W. Souter

PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS Middle School - Emme Starkey Upper School - Sloane Addison Shatzer

COACHES’ AWARDS Taryn Jones Caleb Carter

AMY ANNE PIKE AWARD Spencer Todd Kaye

GINGER NEWTON JACOBI ’73 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS Mia Ryann Devrouax Porter Fitzgerald Matecki

Frederike Dahlhoff LOIS BANIS MIDDLE SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AWARD Isi Ehimare

COVER DESIGN AWARD Alexis Albovias

DIRECTOR’S AWARD FOR CHORUS Dylan Weiss NATIONAL SCHOOL CHORAL AWARD Sydnie E. Williams

CLASS OF 2024 SCHOLAR AWARDS Alexis Albovias Lorenzo Arruda Lucas Andrew Babusis Jacob Sung Bae Sophie Rose Beracha Safiya Yasmin Butler Annika Capellupo Praveen Enrique Chakinala Mia Ryann Devrouax George Preston Dorris, V Anna Sophia Gau Lorenzo Gray-Liva Lucy Ellen Heidenry* Oliver Paul Hornstra Taryn Jones Maddox R. Kao Spencer Todd Kaye Katherine Elizabeth Kuplent Khang Lam Audrey Long Maxwell David Megargel Phillip Douglas Mihalevich Nihar M. Murali Oliver Timothy Niemann Samuel Stephanus Parsons Nolan Pinkley Sydney Porter Britney Nicole Rhodes Ella Jane Rogan Perry Alisabeth Rogan Jordan Marie Sartain Sloane Addison Shatzer* Zachary Philip Tessler Lai Jeon M. Williams Sydnie E. Williams* Sarah Marcella Wooten Zoe Isabella Zotos

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2024 Award Recipients

YEARBOOK DEDICATION Rickey Goodwin JAMIE SNOW PANNEBECKER AWARD Kendall Bilchik STUDENT COUNCIL STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD Lucy Ellen Heidenry PRINCIPAL’S SERVICE AWARD Sheldon J.A. Jackson PRINCIPAL’S COMMUNITY AWARD Tessa Politte PHILIP B. CADY SCHOLAR AWARD Kayla Marie Sellers PETER MAACK ELLIS ’71 SENIOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Sarah Marcella Wooten HEAD OF SCHOOL’S LEADERSHIP AWARD Lai Jeon M. Williams JANET ESROCK SPIRIT OF WHITFIELD AWARD Andrew Asikainen LOLA B. GOODWIN BUILDING COMMUNITY AWARD Melissa Irvin GEORGE A. NEWTON OUTSTANDING TEACHER OF THE YEAR Rachel Gassner

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD Nolan Pinkley

DIRECTOR’S AWARD FOR BAND Natalia Ruowei Chen

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Welcome Remarks Chris Cunningham, Ph.D., head of school Welcome to The Whitfield School's two thousand and twenty-four Commencement.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to begin this ceremony with a reflection and indeed a special encouragement for the Whitfield class of 2024. It was in your senior year that the School adopted a new vision and new mission—both of which you helped to create. These brief statements say a lot—they describe who we are as a school and a community–and they challenge us to live up to our own lofty aspirations.

Whitfield’s vision talks about empowering young people to discover and become their best selves. You graduates on the stage tonight show us what it looks like when that vision is fulfilled. The diploma and medallion you will receive in a short time are symbols not so much of homework and tests and essays and artwork and music–although they surely are all of that– but, more importantly, these things symbolize passions you pursued, talents you discovered, skills you honed. They represent new and more sophisticated understandings of the world around you, and they represent aspects of yourself that you discovered and explored, in classes, in athletics, on the performance stage, and in the hallways you walked every day. If nothing else, we are all here to celebrate that extraordinary accomplishment: the discovery and exploration of selfhood.

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In our new mission, we talk about “lead[ing] a life of curiosity, integrity, and purpose,” and it’s that first word, curiosity, that I want to reflect on in my brief remarks this evening, offering three different ways of understanding what it means to be a curious person.

First, there is the most common sense of curiosity—that impulse or desire to know or understand more, to look under the rock, to click on the link, to go down a rabbit hole and get to the heart of a question or problem or idea. In your Capstone projects, you each had a chance to go deep into a subject. And I suspect that many of you discovered the great secret about intellectual curiosity: that is, the more you know about something, the more you realize how little you know about it. If nothing else, curiosity reveals the hidden depths of almost everything around us, from libraries and actuarial science to wrist watches and education. Indeed, the more curious we are, the more we know we don’t know, the larger and more mysterious the universe becomes. To my mind, the ultimate end of curiosity is humility and wonder and awe: that feeling we have when we confront the sheer magnitude of all that can be known and our own finite capacity to know it.

If the world outside of us is infinitely large and, I would say, infinitely interesting, so, at the same time, is the world inside each of us. Each of you sits here today with hopes and ambitions, habits of behavior and speech, beliefs and values that you have developed and internalized over your lifetime. Where did all of these things come from? How do you know what you know–

The Whitfield School Magazine

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Commencement 2024

or know what you want to be? Did you choose to create the relationships of care and underyour beliefs and values, or were they chosen standing that are the foundation of a happy life. for you by the people and culture around Indeed, in its broadest sense, curiosity about you? Similarly, what are your intellectual and others is the foundation of civil society and a emotional ruts, the ways of being and thinking healthy democracy. It seems to me that much that tend to lead you down the wrong path? By of our current political contrast, what are those division stems from a habits of heart and mind lack of curiosity, a deep that work for you, that and authentic desire to have led to your success? understand the experiLeading a life of curiosity ence and point of view also means taking the of those who see things time to notice yourself and differently than we do. your own mind. It means When we have not taken asking yourself questions, the time to talk to people thinking critically about with whom we disagree, what you do and what you it is easy to create caribelieve. I’m not suggesting catures, to dismiss them you have to change your The Louis Lazarus Award recipient as ignorant, misguided, or mind about anything, but Alicia Tessler with Chris Cunningham operating in bad faith. By I would encourage you to contrast, when we seek interrogate yourself, to to understand another test and challenge yourperson, we often discovself. Only by doing so can er points of agreement, you be sure that you are shared values, if nothing “leading” your life, that you else, our common humanare choosing it for yourself ity. Even if we walk away and not following a path from these conversations that someone else has unchanged in our opinion, mapped out for you. the easy caricature we had Finally, and at the same is often replaced with a time, I encourage you to more complicated, multibe curious about other faceted portrait. In the Chris Cunningham with The Mary Leyhe people. Every person in end, curiosity about others Burke Award recipient Dave Lauer your life, from the stranger is a civic virtue. Leading a next to you on the plane life of curiosity is an ethical to your best friend to your great uncle is an commitment to recognizing other people in all opportunity to expand your world, and asking of their human complexity. questions is the easiest way to do it: What is And so, graduates, my hope for you this it like to be a banker? a truck driver? a painter? evening—and in the years ahead—is that you a surgeon? What was it like to grow up in that will be curious people, for your own sake, and place–or in that time? What do you love about for all of our sakes. In each of your programs, your job? What’s a favorite memory from your you’ll find a small card, identifying you as a childhood? Questions like these enlarge our “Curious Person.” I have put one in my wallet, as world, offering us access to other people’s a reminder of the person I want to be—but also stories, opening up experiences, times, and as a reminder of the class of 2024 and of the places that we would otherwise never know. two years we have spent together here at WhitAt the same time, asking people deep questions, field. I offer it to you as a small token of your questions about their lives and what they care time here, the person you are, and the person about helps us to form meaningful connections. you will continue to discover and become.

Being genuinely curious about others helps

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project, it was overwhelming to see the number of students coming back to school to attend study sessions for their AP courses. The incredible list of Universities the class of 2024 was accepted to clearly demonstrates our success in the classroom, and of course, the banners surrounding us now, recognizing many of our incredible athletes demonstrate our success out of the classroom. It is truly a representation of the character of these students, dedicated to excellence.

Zachary Philip Tessler ’24 First, I would like to give my thanks to the amazing class of 2024 for bestowing this honor upon me. Second, I would like to thank Whitfield for presenting me with the skills necessary to act in this position. And lastly, I would like to apologize.

This apology is directed to my parents because I never told them I was going to deliver the speech. I never even told them I tried to run for the position.

Surprise!

For the duration of this speech, I do not wish to dwell on the negative but I believe that I am responsible to mention the hardships the class of 2024 faced. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was not easy for anyone at Whitfield, our class possibly had it the worst.

These are just a few of the reasons I can proudly say I am part of the 2024 Whitfield graduating class. yet significant effects of the pandemic was all of the traditions it ended.

This year, the class of 2024 revived old traditions and created new ones. Most notably, we had our senior sunrise, where at six in the morning, the entire senior class got together on the soccer field, ate donuts, and watched the sun rise before our first day of Senior year.

We became the “basement class”.

For many scary, disinfecting, social distancing months, the class of 2024 never left the basement of Whitfield. Our food was brought down on carts, and conference rooms were split into classrooms. The hallways had lines like roads, and the students turned into a cleaning crew every time we left a room. For the average class, this would have killed their spirit, passion, and ability to learn and connect.

The good news is that the class of 2024 is far from average.

Our presence in the school is strong, and there is no denying it. Through clubs, sports, and other school activities, this class is always sure to participate and connect with all grade levels and faculty members. One of the most quiet,

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Thanks to our amazing student council, we were able to have a second spirit week for the first time in more than 20 years.

With some persuasion, we were able to get back our senior privileges, which truly made senior year feel special.

It is through our vicious ambition that we create our own path. As part of the original sixth-grade class, I can promise you that we have been infatuated with achievement from the beginning. We truly preserved the spirit of this class in Whitfield’s history through these changes and advancements.

Our academic and athletic accolades speak for themselves, with a surplus of state titles and a bundle of merit scholars. While the month of May was reserved for our Senior Capstone

But, I think most faculty members would agree that the best classes at Whitfield are not those with the smartest students or highest achieving athletes, but those who spread positivity and kindness throughout the school. Fortunately, this class embodies it all.

We are at the front of every opportunity to give back to the community, whether it’s through food drives to help the less fortunate, or securing opportunities for volunteering like the annual blood drive. There is a common theme with this class.

We want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

And in case you still aren’t convinced of the class of 2024’s spirit and kindness— Ms. Greathouse just couldn’t stand to stay at Whitfield without us and is retiring as we leave. So that tells you something.

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Senior Class Address

I really wanted to end this speech with something that would resonate with my peers. I really couldn’t decide what route I wanted to take. A joke. A pop culture reference. A teacher quote.

In the end, I thought I would take it back to the basics. Mr. Records' junior English class.

A Ralph Waldo Emerson quote. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” I want you all to look back to this time last year when we were working on our Story of America projects. The immense stress and pressure. The failures, the struggles, all of it. Remember it all. Now look around. Look how far we have come, how much we have achieved, how much we have to look forward to. The lowest of lows only precedes the highest of highs.

The future is bright for this class, and I could not be more proud to have been a part of it for seven incredible years.

Congratulations class of 2024, from the basement to the stage, we did it!

A moment in my second to last Economics class of the year reminded me of this. We were presenting our final project in class, and the assignment was to create a business which included a ginormous paper and presentation.

While every example from the past was dedicated to making the owners the most money and scaling the business greatly… one of my classmate’s presentations was the opposite.

Instead of trying to create a hugely profitable business, the group created a not-for-profit food bank. It was surprising at first, yet a true representation of the capabilities of this class.

Although the business was not technically real, it gives me hope and makes me excited for the future of this incredible class.

It is uncommon for a group of individuals to be this ambitious and passionate, and I feel so fortunate to have been a part of it.

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Commencement Address Ron Fox ’74, board chair / alumnus / parent / alumni parent For 50 years, I have supported Whitfield because I believe in its mission. In 1952, when John Barnes and Allen Cole founded Whitfield, they created a school crest which includes the Latin phrase In Propria Persona, which literally means “In One’s Own Character.” This phrase emphasizes “the person” and individual achievement.

I have always understood this as an expression honoring individual students. Then and now, this school’s faculty focuses on each student – meeting them where they are and respecting who they are regardless of their background.

Whitfield is a place where today’s graduates and all students benefit from a gifted faculty committed to modern pedagogy. Here, academic rigor is standard, and critical thinking is fostered. Whitfield students develop self-confidence and a deep trust in who they are and what they can achieve. In class, these graduates are accustomed to speaking with their teachers, much like an athlete seeking guidance from a coach. They express their thoughts and engage respectfully with other students who have different ideas. These graduates accept that the world is filled with different people who don’t look like them and who don’t have the same ideas. These graduates understand the important truth that this diversity is not just a modern reality but, in fact, these differences are valuable and enhance a group’s collective power.

Teaching these principles is essential and profoundly valuable for the future of our society. This is especially true in today’s world of political strife - when some use differences to create distrust, hatred, and grievances. Unfortunately, it appears we live in a time when the

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sleep of reason has produced monsters. This is one of the reasons I am so devoted to Whitfield. I see Whitfield as an essential community asset. Our great country needs more Whitfield graduates like those before us today. But these principles of acceptance are also important to education in a way I did not understand until my current service on the Board of Trustees.

What I have come to understand is that Whitfield’s culture of kindness, acceptance, respect, and trust is a catalyst for learning.

This culture creates an environment in which students are free of the distractions of outdated mores. They can open themselves to learning because they trust the environment in which they learn.

The Whitfield Board of Trustees authorized a survey of the St. Louis community and Whitfield constituents. Some respondents in the larger St. Louis community repeated an old view of Whitfield as a “softer” private school when compared to other independent schools in the area. This view is rooted in outdated notions that rigor requires a mountain of homework every night and a frenetic daily schedule that includes teaching every subject every day, where students race between ringing bells with no time to absorb anything from their last class. But the responses to the survey from the professionals within Whitfield demonstrate an understanding that the science of learning reveals a better model. And the notion that Whitfield is soft is just plain wrong.

At Whitfield, the faculty knows that the future of academic rigor is not rigidity. Gone are the days when memorization equals true learning.

Real academic excellence fosters intellectual agility, adaptability, resilience, and risk tolerance that today’s students need and tomorrow’s world requires. This intellectual dexterity comes from learning with all senses and emotions, not just memory. Deep, fluent understanding of a subject comes from active learning, experience, and engagement.

Centered are the recipients of the The President's Chairman's Award, Kyle Kerner & Lauren Weissman-Kerner with Ron Fox pictured left and Chris Cunningham pictured right.

As a trial lawyer, I know that jurors may forget what I say and what I do, but they never forget how I make them feel. How jurors experience evidence is essential because it drives how they feel about the case and their verdict. It is the experience that counts. Likewise, active experiential learning leads to student engagement which leads to deep discovery of a subject.

Through the joy that comes when a student engages with a subject, learning occurs. This is what I have learned from my service on the Board. This is the Whitfield way. This is The Whitfield School.

This is why these graduates are prepared for college and for life. And the truth is, other independent schools are moving towards us.

At this moment, I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize and address the faculty of Whitfield.

As you look upon these graduates, I hope you feel a deep sense of pride for a job well done.

Because of you, these graduates are equipped with the analytical and intellectual dexterity to succeed in a world where the cutting edge is in perpetual motion, where the progression of AI will make the advent of the smartphone appear insignificant. What you do here is so very important. On behalf of the class of 2024, their parents, and the Board of Trustees, thank you for all you have done for us.

Whitfield is not resting on its achievements.

I am pleased to tell you the Board has worked closely with the administration to ensure a bright future for our school. It started with the hiring of Dr. Chris Cunningham, who is an excellent educator and inspirational servant-leader.

Through his collaborative style and tireless work, he has invigorated the faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees. Since his arrival just under two years ago, he has shepherded Whitfield towards a number of important goals.

We have a new strategic plan, a new vision statement, and a new mission statement. We are working through a market research study which will enable us to tell our story of the Whitfield way and, in turn, drive enrollment. We have embarked upon a feasibility study aimed at important and innovative capital improvements to our facilities. And, with the retirement of a number of fine faculty and administrators, he has hired and promoted many excellent replacements. To say that Chris Cunningham gets us is an understatement. In the short time he has been here, he has become us. He is a Whitfield Warrior, and we are lucky to have him.

And now, I want to recognize this wonderful class of 2024. Everyone at Whitfield agrees the Class of 2024 has been a great class in every respect. Those who were here for the Senior Retrospective saw some amazing artwork.

This year’s musical was truly awesome.

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In sports, this class achieved outstanding results including: • • • • • •

22 Individual State Champions (Wrestling, Tennis, Track) 5 Team State Championships (Wrestling, Basketball, Soccer) Five 2nd Place @ State Three 3rd Place @ State 9 District Titles 7 Final Four Appearances

For a school our size, that is incredible. And in academics, the Warriors of 2024 have been accepted to many excellent colleges. Let me name just a few: Dartmouth College, Baylor University, Belmont University, University of Southern California, Washington University in St. Louis, Spelman College, Rhodes College, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Savannah College of Art and Design.

Collectively and individually, you can be very proud of your achievements while here at Whitfield.

Finally, I have a few bits of advice for the Class of 2024. First, I know you are excited about graduating. But you are probably also concerned

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about what this coming year will bring. In many cases, you are headed to college far from home.

It is only natural that you may be anxious about all the uncertainty of leaving the comfort of family and friends. Let me assure you, every one of you is ready for college. As a parent of three Whitfield graduates who have all received college degrees, I can tell you Whitfield has made sure you are academically prepared. You have what you need to succeed, if only you allow yourself to be confident in who you are and what you can achieve.

Second, recognize that you are not perfect– you will make mistakes. The key to success is not to be mistake-free. The key is to realize that mistakes happen. You must embrace them as learning opportunities. Maturity and good judgment mean learning from mistakes and not repeating them. When understood, mistakes hone character.

Third, I’m sure each of you has been asked about your major in college and what you will do when you graduate from college. You may be troubled by your uncertainty about these questions. For me, the answer was simple. As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a lawyer. I wanted to try lawsuits and convince

Fourth, remember– once a Warrior, always a Warrior. As you graduate, you become an alum.

There are many Warriors who are very successful in many fields. They can and will help you with networking and advice about careers.

Find time to come back to Whitfield to watch sporting events, or the musical, or for reunion weekend. Laura Lotz, our director of all things alumni, will be happy to help you connect with other Warriors and stay connected to Whitfield.

Lastly, there are people in this audience today who have achieved a great goal. They pursued their dream vigorously. At times in the long course of their efforts, they have been frustrated and wondered how they would reach this day. But today they are rewarded. I’m referring to your parents. I hope each of you will remember to tell your parents you love them and thank them for their sacrifice on your behalf.

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juries. The law is my passion. Any professional success I have achieved has come from my love of practicing law and the enjoyment I get from always striving to be a better advocate. I believe that the most successful people love what they do. Their success comes from their passion for their work. So, as you look to your future, remember that it is the enjoyment from what you do that will take you where you want to be.

Find classes that stir your interest and seek a career that you truly love. If you can find a field of endeavor where you enjoy the challenge of always improving, success will follow. In the end, you may not be rich, but you will have what you need and you will be happy. If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.

In closing, as you graduate, please remember to do three things today: Live in the present– enjoy this day. Tell your parents you love them and thank your favorite people here at Whitfield for all their hard work on your behalf. Know that you will succeed if you believe in yourself, find your passion, and work hard to achieve your goals.

Congratulations, good luck, and welcome to the Whitfield Alumni community.

GO WARRIORS!!!

Honorary Diplomas

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his year at graduation, Whitfield started a new tradition, awarding honorary diplomas and class membership to departing faculty and staff who have served the school for 25 years or more. This year’s recipients were Mr. Jeff Cacciatore, 34 years; Mrs. Ruth Greathouse, 39 years; and Mr. Dave Lauer, 30 years.

With over a century of collective service and dedication to Whitfield, this extraordinary group deserves our deepest gratitude and appreciation.

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Dartmouth College

Robert Keith Hill III

St. Louis Communiity College

Oliver Paul Hornstra

University of Missouri–Columbia

Daphne Hull

chool of the Art S Institute of Chicago

Sheldon J.A. Jackson

College Choices for the Class of 2024 Alexis Marie Albovias Robby Amarnek

Lawrence University

Kaeden Nathan Anderson

Saint Louis University

Lorenzo Pais de Arruda Lucas Andrew Babusis Jacob Sung Bae

Florida International University Saint Louis University

Daniel Luis Desloge

Principia College

Karma Marie Barrett

Southern Illinois University– Edwardsville

Sophie Rose Beracha

University of Colorado–Boulder

Ethan Boyd Buettner

McPherson College

Safiya Yasmin Butler

Macalester College

Annika Capellupo

University of California–San Diego

Columbia College Chicago

Mia Ryann Devrouax

University of Missouri–Columbia

George Preston Dorris V

McPherson College

Jefferson Fredrick Downes

California Polytechnic State University

Nicholas Connor Flood

University of Missouri–Columbia

Ella Arden Fox

George Washington University

Baylor University

Dominic Edward Baiocchi

Nathan Lee Fox

Belmont University

Braydon King Sellers

Saint Louis University

Maksim Serdotetskov

Mission Valley College

Samuel K. King

Kenyon College

Katherine Elizabeth Kuplent

University of Missouri–Columbia

Khang Nhat Lam

Dartmouth College

Audrey Rose Long

Colorado School of Mines

Porter Fitzgerald Matecki

Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville

Margaret Mary McGuire

Loyola University New Orleans

Maxwell David Megargel

University of Missouri–Columbia Rhodes College

Oliver Timothy Niemann

Northeastern University

Case Western Reserve University

Cohen Nicholas Panneri

George Washington University

Samuel Stephanus Parsons

University of Southern California

issouri University of M Science & Technology

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Saint Louis University

University of Arizona

Southern Illinois University–Carbondale

Adrian Christian Harrold

University of Missouri–Columbia

Missouri State University

Jordan Marie Sartain

Jocelyn Kazmierski

ase Western Reserve C University

Wilberforce University

University of Indianapolis

McKendree University

University of Denver

Nihar M. Murali

Jada Christina Griffin

James Ragan Rhodes

Perry Alisabeth Rogan

Spencer Todd Kaye

berlin College and O Conservatory

Elon University

University of Arizona

McKendree University

Kira Leigh Glanton

Andrew Cochran

Britney Nicole Rhodes

Ella Jane Rogan

Pat L. Miley

University of Alabama

University of Missouri–Columbia

Miami University of Ohio

Rhodes College

Lorenzo Gray-Liva

Ethan James Reinhardt

Maddox R. Kao

Anna Sophia Gau

Texas Christian University

Saint Louis University

Hudson Streichert Richards

Phillip Douglas Mihalevich

David Eliot Hart Goldstein

Riyaz Syed Raza

Illinois Institute of Technology

Grand Canyon University

Natalie Kate Glidewell

Washington University in St. Louis

Taryn Jones

Taylor Charlette Gardner

Praveen Enrique Chakinala

Ezequiel Cueto Rasetti

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Savannah College of Art and Design

University of Michigan

Owen Porter

Nolan Pinkley

Maryville University

Sloane Addison Shatzer

Kansas State University

Aanya Yasmin Siddiqui

University of Missouri–Columbia

Holden W. Souter

Northwood University

Elanah Louise Sykes

Washington University in St. Louis

Zachary Philip Tessler

University of Miami

Ashton James Whitfield

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University

Lai Jeon Miguel Williams

Spelman College

Sydnie Elise Williams

Spelman College

Sarah Marcella Wooten

Spelman College

Isabelle Zhang

Boston University

Zoe Isabella Zotos

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Lucy Ellen Heidenry

Arizona State University

Truman State University

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Empowering the Next Generation

Introducing Whitfield’s Alumni Advisory Board

Lauren Wesley Wilson’s Inspiring Return to Whitfield

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his year marked the beginning of Whitfield’s Alumni Advisory Board (AAB). Its mission is the following:

L Casey Jolley ’03

Mark Baden ’96

Caroline Baer ’12

Mike Reese ’06

To foster and expand life-long pride in being a Whitfield Warrior and cultivate the enthusiastic habits of networking, engaged participation, volunteerism, and giving while supporting fellow alumni and future alumni of the school.

Over the 2023-2024 school year, four alumni and Director of Alumni Relations Laura Lotz ’95 worked together to create the Alumni Advisory Board’s bylaws and develop The Alumni Promise, what might be called the board’s strategic plan. Moving into 2024-2025, the AAB will play a crucial role in enhancing alumni engagement, supporting current students and the school, and promoting the overall mission and values of Whitfield.

The four alumni who gave their time and talents to the AAB this year are listed below, and each will continue to serve on the AAB in the coming year: • • • •

Casey Jolley ’03, Incoming President Mark Baden ’96 Caroline Baer ’12 Mike Reese ’06

In the summer of 2024, new members were added to the Alumni Advisory Board in the work to develop meaningful alumni programming and foster a stronger connection between the

Are you an alum who would like to get involved too?

There are many different ways alums can reconnect with the Whitfield community.

Please go online at www.whitfieldschool.org/ alumni/alumni-get-involved

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alumni community and Whitfield. The selection process was conducted by a committee of alumni and staff and aimed to assemble a diverse and dynamic board representing our alumni community.

The alumni community is excited about this new chapter and the potential it holds for enriching the alumni network. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Laura Lotz ’95 at (314) 415-1271 or laura.lotz@ whitfieldschool.org.

auren Wesley Wilson ’03 returned to campus to share insights from her groundbreaking book, What Do You Need?

How Women of Color Can Take Ownership of Their Careers to Accelerate Their Path to Success. Following an all-school assembly, Ms. Wilson held a question and answer session with the students in the Women's Alliance and Black Student Union affinity groups.

Ms. Wilson, founder of ColorComm Corporation, began by addressing the entire school community in Woods Hall, emphasizing the importance of empowerment through self-discovery. She encouraged students to ask themselves the pivotal question, "What do I need to succeed?" This, she explained, is the first step toward defining personal goals and identifying the resources necessary to achieve them.

During her address, she shared her own journey of creating ColorComm, which started as an informal networking luncheon series and grew into a multimillion-dollar communications company. Ms. Wilson stressed the value of mentorship programs and networking events, urging students to seek out mentors from diverse professional backgrounds. These connections, she noted, are crucial for personal and professional growth, providing guidance, support, and inspiration.

When speaking with the Women’s Alliance and Black Student Union, Ms. Wilson focused on fostering a sense of identity and pride. She spoke about the significance of cultural celebrations and history education, encouraging students to embrace their heritage. Her personal stories of overcoming adversity resonated deeply with the audience, reinforcing the

importance of having role models who share similar experiences.

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The Alumni Promise

She also discussed the challenges faced by women of color in the workplace and provided strategies for self-advocacy and career advancement. She shared insights on recognizing and addressing gender bias and discrimination, handling imposter syndrome, and the potential advantages of being a pioneer in predominantly white spaces. Her advice was practical and actionable, equipping students with the tools to navigate their future careers with confidence.

Ms. Wilson's visit to Whitfield was more than just a speaking engagement; it was a call to action to Whitfield students. As Ms. Wilson reminded them, understanding and fulfilling their own needs is the key to unlocking their full potential and achieving success.

About Ms. WIlson: Lauren Wesley Wilson is the Founder and CEO of ColorComm Inc., headquartered in New York City. With a prestigious clientele including The Coca Cola Company, Disney, Walmart, AT&T, and many others, ColorComm is renowned for its expertise in communications, marketing, and media strategy. Ms. Wilson's illustrious career spans roles in political communications, where she served as Communications Director for Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and as a Media Strategist/Media Booker for President Barack Obama. She further honed her expertise as a Communications Strategist at Qorvis/MSL, specializing in crisis communications for international governments and stakeholder engagement for consumer brands.

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What skills do you use in your career that you began forming at Whitfield?

ALI (BARASH) BERMAN ’05 earned her B.A. in English from Tufts University in 2009 with a minor in Communications and Media Studies. Ali is a Partner and the Co-Head of UTA Creators at leading global talent, entertainment and sports company United Talent Agency (UTA). She focuses on representing the Internet’s brightest stars, representing digital influencers and content creators, such as TikTok stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio and their parents Marc and Heidi D’Amelio; the Internet’s “It-Girl” Emma Chamberlain; creator economy experts Colin and Samir; the queen of TikTok Alix Earle, Airrack, Jake Shane, Hyram Yarbro, Connor Wood (a.k.a. Fibula), Joshua Weissman; Girlbosstown (a.k.a. Robyn Delmonte), and many more.

Ali Berman was featured in the 2021 “LA Women’s Impact Report” in Variety, the 2021 “Next Gen” class in The Hollywood Reporter, the 2015 class of “Hollywood’s New Leaders” in Variety and in the “18 Under 34” list in Broadcasting & Cable. Ali joined UTA in 2011 after beginning her career in the agent trainee program at International Creative Management (ICM). She lives in L.A. with her husband and daughter.

LIANNE (LOTZ) DAUES ’00 is an accomplished HR professional who has made a name for herself in the world of Talent Acquisition. After attending Miami of Ohio, where she graduated summa cum laude with a major in Public Relations and a minor in Family Studies, Lianne embarked on a career path that has seen her become a leader in her field.

Currently, Lianne leads the Talent Acquisition Delivery function at McKesson Corporation, a Fortune 9 company that is responsible for delivering a third of all pharmaceuticals used in North America.

In this role, Lianne is responsible for driving innovation within the talent landscape and helping to identify and recruit top talent for the organization.

She comes from a family of Whitfield graduates, including Laura Lotz ’95 and Ron Lotz ’98. Lianne now lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Kirk Daues ’95, and their daughter, Madelyn (6).

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Whitfield taught and valued critical thinking and problem-solving skills that deepened my ability to engage in learning in meaningful and authentic ways. We also had group projects and discussions across all classes, which helped me develop my ability to work with groups and be part of task-oriented teams. Whitfield also taught me time management - and a little procrastination! - which ultimately has helped me understand myself better as a worker and what motivates me.

A significant portion of my role at McKesson involves fostering connections and collaborating with leaders throughout the organization. Another large portion of my job revolves around building compelling business cases and delivering presentations to senior leadership. The presentation skills I honed during my time at Whitfield have provided me with a distinct advantage over my peers, and I have continued to cultivate and enhance these skills to this day.

Also, although I never loved math, I built my understanding and appreciation of data at Whitfield. Today, as part of my role, I am responsible for interpreting qualitative and quantitative data and communicating insights derived from it. This requires me to look at various data sets, including hiring trends, market insights, and business initiatives, among others. The small classroom environment at Whitfield, coupled with teachers who made math as ’real-world’ as possible, helped me develop a deep understanding of data analysis and its practical applications. These skills have been incredibly important, allowing me to effectively analyze data and tell compelling stories that help drive business outcomes.

JIMMY HOWE ’10 graduated from the University of Vermont in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science Business Administration (BSBA) and a Minor in Economics. He is currently Director, Investments with Summit Real Estate Group.

Jimmy joined Summit in 2019 and is involved in supporting all aspects of acquisition strategy including sourcing, underwriting, and due diligence. Prior to joining Summit, he held various positions within accounting and financial planning and analysis at Bunge North America.

Jimmy’s sister, Melissa Howe O’Connor, graduated from Whitfield in 2008 and is a current Board member. His mother, Mary Howe, is a former Board Chair.

MATTHEW KINCAID ’07 graduated Honos Civicus from Tufts University in 2011 with a degree in American Studies with a concentration in African American Studies. He earned the Presidential Award for Public Service and Active Citizenship and the Alumni Association Senior Award. After graduation, Matthew served as both a social studies teacher and school administrator in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Matthew is currently Founder and CEO of Overcoming Racism, LLC, an organization that seeks to develop more equitable institutions through comprehensive race and equity training. Overcoming Racism equips teams with the tools to build an actively equitable culture. Matthew has personally trained teams from a vast array of organizations from the National Basketball Association to elite universities and statewide school systems and has been leading anti-racism workshops for over 15 years. He is a published author (Freedom Teaching). His work has been featured in GOOD magazine and during the solution sessions at AFROpunk. Matthew was recognized as a top 100 visionary leader by Real Leaders magazine.

In 2019, Matthew was the recipient of Gambit’s 40 under 40 recognition. He is a former Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the state of Louisiana’s small business administration. His work has been showcased in prestigious platforms like The Washington Post, Forbes, Huffington Post, Now This, and Black Enterprise, amplifying the message of equitable education for all and societal change.

There are three key skills learned at Whitfield that I use today: 1) story-telling/writing, 2) presentation, and 3) problem-solving. I wrote a great deal in all of my Whitfield classes, which has helped me in general when communicating my ideas and specifically when preparing new business plans and crafting a compelling, strategic story. In addition, the people, presentation, and problem-solving skills I learned while collaborating on teambased projects translated well to college and the workplace.

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Ask Our Alumni

There are plenty of academic skills that I formed at Whitfield. If you work hard at Whitfield, you will be prepared academically for most environments. For me, the social and leadership skills I began honing are the most important for the work that I do now. I learned how to build relationships and coalitions with people who were different from me. One of my best friends at Whitfield was a white student whose political views were just about as opposite to mine as they could be. We learned to love the things we had in common like our faith, our love for sports, and metal gear solid videogames, and we learned to engage respectfully about the things we disagreed about. Whitfield exposed me to a diverse set of students with a diverse set of experiences. When I was faced with people who were different from me in college and my career, I already knew how to build bridges across those differences because I learned to do that at Whitfield. Our world is so polarized now that people seem to have forgotten that we need one another to build the society that those who come after us deserve.

My work is about creating a world free of racism.

To do my work well I have to be able to connect with people from all different races, political backgrounds, religions, and walks of life. I don’t have the luxury of tailoring my message to one crowd or type of people. Whitfield helped me to see the value in all people, even people with whom I disagreed. It is a vital skill that more people should invest in.

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Alumni Gatherings

Warriors Reminiscing On- and Off-Campus in 2023-24

Denver Social • Sept. 14, 2023

Snow Fun • Dec. 2, 2023

2023-24 Alumni Legacy Familes Homecoming Oct. 6, 2023

Trivia Night • Sept. 21, 2023 44

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Chicago Social • Jan. 25, 2024

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Alumni Gatherings

Warriors Reminiscing On- and Off-Campus in 2023-24

New York Social • April 18, 2024

1994 Baseball Class 1 State Championship 30th Anniversary • April 26, 2024

Girls Soccer 27th Anniversary Celebration • May 3, 2024 46

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Reunion • May 4, 2024 The Whitfield School Magazine

47

Dear Whitfield Community,

The Report on Philanthropy allows us the opportunity to acknowledge the support and generosity of our parents,

As I reflect on my first year as the director of development at The Whitfield School, I am filled with immense gratitude and pride for the incredible support and generosity shown by our community.

Your dedication to Whitfield has made my inaugural year truly remarkable.

alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff and friends. The donors listed on these pages contributed to

The spirit of philanthropy at Whitfield is truly inspiring. This year, we achieved 100% participation in the annual fund from our Board, faculty, and staff, a testament to the deep commitment each member of our community has to our school. We also saw a significant increase in participation across all constituencies, including alumni, current parents, grandparents, and friends. We even hit 100% participation from some of our grade levels as well. Your unwavering support ensures that our students continue to receive the highest quality education and experiences that Whitfield has to offer.

($50,000+)

As we look ahead, our main goal remains to diversify our fundraising efforts. It is of utmost importance that our generous supporters continue to support the school consistently each year, as we encourage our entire community to join in and consider contributing to The Whitfield Fund. We need to ensure that Whitfield students enjoy the greatest secondary school experience possible because our students are the leaders the world needs today.

The annual fund is critical in sustaining this exceptional environment.

Thank you once again for your remarkable generosity and commitment to The Whitfield School.

Together, we are shaping a brighter future for our students.

With gratitude,

Kathleen Kelly Director of Development

FOUNDERS Dr. Brown’s Lauren Weissman Kerner 1996 & Kyle Kerner 1996 Kristen Deffaa Rhodes 1999 & Scott Rhodes 1998 Thelma & David Steward

LEADERS ($20,000-$49,999)

Anonymous (1) Candy & Flip Cady 1970 Dianna & Ron Fox 1974 Nan & Steve Fox Jackie & Derik King Strive Family Fund

WARRIORS ($10,000-$19,999)

Anonymous (1) Boeing Gift Matching Program Laura Pollnow Bryan 1997 & Andy Bryan

1952 Circle: Donors who contribute $10,000 or more are part of the 1952 Circle. This circle is named to commemorate the establishment date of The Whitfield School. Members of the 1952 Circle, who contribute $10,000 or more, are recognized with a special private reception held at the Head of School's home.

Green & White Circle: Donors who contribute between $1,000 and $9,999 are part of the Green & White Circle. This circle is named to celebrate our school colors at The Whitfield School.

Founders $50,000+ Leaders $20,000 – 49,999 Warriors $10,000 – 19,999 Pacesetters $5,000 – 9,999 Scholars $3,000 – 4,999 Supporters $1,000 – 2,999 Friends $1 – 999

Pearl & Steve Nordlund

Kristin & Jesse Keller

Saadia & Asim Raza

Lisa & Matthew Long

Ashley Rufkahr & Eric Hurtte

McKay & Jason Mills

Heidi & Ian Silberman

Debra & Tim Niemann

Laurie and Ray Van De Riet

Valentina Penalba & Joaquin Schlottmann

PACESETTERS ($5,000-$9,999)

Anonymous (1) Emily Arneson

Layla & Robert Glassman 2002

Crista & Brian Beracha

Ruth & Ken Greathouse

Robin & Jim Blatt

The Mary Ranken Jordan & Ettie A. Jordan Foundation

Mark Capellupo

Elizabeth & Phil Levy

Karen Myers of Giving

GI V I N G L E V E L S

Danielle & Jeffrey Evitts

Laura Ceretti-Michelman & Jeremy Michelman

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Recognition Circles

THE GREEN & WHITE IRCLE

At Whitfield, we know it’s the experience that counts. Our unique approach allows students to not only receive a great education and prepare for college but to also engage with the world around them in meaningful ways. Here, students can see, hear, touch, and feel how the world works, creating a holistic learning environment that prepares them for their futures.

Whitfield between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.

THE 1952 CIRCLE

I would like to extend special thanks to Marci and Marty Boyer, whose generosity has created a fund allowing our 7th and 10th grade students to visit the Holocaust Museum each year, deepening their understanding of the Holocaust and antisemitism, and helping them to make our world a better place. Additionally, we are profoundly grateful to the Steward Family Foundation for their support of our DEI efforts and for making special travel experiences for the 2024-2025 school year possible, and to the Strive Family Fund for establishing a discretionary fund for our Head of School, empowering him to seize opportunities that enhance our students' experiences.

giving

Philanthropy Report • 2023-2024

Jessica & Mark Portis Lisa & Charles Shepherd The Shepherd Foundation Susan Shepherd Ittner Susanne Ittner 2011 Charles Shepherd II Susanne Shepherd

Kendra & Jim Epstein

SCHOLARS

Mitzie Fenberg

($3,000-$4,999)

Joy Gebhardt

Matthew Badler

Jane Piper Gleason 1970

Najia & Naeem Bari

Susan Ittner

Barbara & Barry Beracha

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Katie & Chris Cady 2000

Julia & Justin Honold

Susan & Matt Parker

Cassie Capps & Mark Laspe

Suzanne & Tom Hough

Maggie & Alex Pearson

Jill & James Bosanquet

Angie & Nick Casey 2002

Susan & Bill Piper

Anne & Bill Chao

Candice Champion & Jeff Parsons

Hydromat Incorporated Judy & Bruno Schmitter Vidya & Ganesh Iyer

Kristin Thompson Poelker 2007

Brian Chao 2008

Sarah Jensen & Josh Amato

Kate & Dan Pollmann

Shin Mean Chen & Sim Yuen Chong

Anjali & Sanjeev Kamat

Brooke & Zack Ray

Haley Deffaa Fuller 2003 Jennifer & Brandon Haynes

Erin & David Chien

Sarah Yoselevsky Kaye & Todd Kaye

Ginger Newton Jacobi 1973 & Jan Jacobi

Closet Factory

Orisia & Brian Kirkpatrick

Julie & John Cochran

Michael Koman 2022

Renaissance Charitable Foundation Rickie & Art Kerckhoff 1969 Stephen Kerckhoff 1999

Lisa De Las Fuentes & Murali Chakinala Helena & Chris Cunningham

Amy & Dave Kosanke Andrea Ligammari & Peter Kunz Lee Rhodes 1994 Molly Shaffer & Paul Minorini Mallory & Clinton Shocklee Jenny Syed & Syed Tariq TIFF Advisory Services II, Inc.

SUPPORTERS ($1,000-$2,999)

Denise & Rogerio Andrade

Betty & Jim Williams

Gabe Angieri

Calvin Williams

Anheuser-Busch Foundation

Connie & Ned Williams

Karen Appelbaum

Cindy & Tom Woolsey

Ana Maria Arbelaez & Carlos Bernal

FRIENDS

Peder Arneson

($1-$999)

Missy & Andrew Asikainen

Anonymous (7)

Andrea & John Atkinson

2B Organized St. Louis

Alline Babbitt

4M Building Solutions

Dolly & Jay Baker Meghan & Eliot Bamford

Rachana & Eric Creeth

Ebony & Paul Robinson, Jr.

Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff

Tamara Estrill-Lett & Jearl Lett

Amber & Dave Rogan

Lisa & Joe Litvag

Leslie & Rick Schmidt

Terrilyn Price-Aaron & Montize Aaron

Stephanie Liva & Paul Gray

Judy & Bruno Schmitter

AbbVie

Deborah Barnes & Vernell Taylor

Sheri & Paul Diemer

Laura Lotz 1995 & Harold Barker

Lisa & Tom Acker

Sandi & Robert Barrett

Wendy Dillinger & Chris Sellers

Anya Gurevich-Schwab & Matt Schwab

MAI Capital Management LLC

Amanda Adams

Jeannie & David Bassett

Laura & GP Dorris, IV

Ashly & Luke Sehy

Joan Malloy

Joseph Aghaeze

Lori & Doug Becker

Sue & George Dorris

Elizabeth & Arsham Sheybani Cory Spielberg 1994

Maria Ahern

Jeremy Bedenbaugh

Karen Albers

Hila & Eyal Ben Abraham

Martha & Christian Altvater

Elliot Benoist 1969

Samantha Alul

Elliot Benoist, Jr.

Frank Darling Bridget & Peter Desloge Maria & Tim Desloge

American Chemical Society

Edco Realty Co.

Carol Margolis

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

Shelly & Mike Edwards

Marian & Brett Markwort

Elissa Cady Arnold 1997 & Ben Arnold

Ed Epstein Judy Epsten

Christine Merryman & Michael Starkey

Elizabeth & Al Babusis

Amy & Kevin Fischer

Jane & Sam Bae

Suzanne Fischer

Sarah & Stefan Baiocchi

Jenny Chao Gansner 2006

Ron Bartels

Genovese Jewelers

Bayer AG Leverkusen

Darcy & Dan Glidewell

Jessica & Gary Bell

Lindsey Williams Graves 2001 & Justin Graves Megan & David Greathouse 2002

Marie & John Brauer

Laura Cady Guzewicz 2002 & Michael Guzewicz

Gege Brightman

Haffenreffer Family Fund

Karen & Jim Bruns 1970

Laura & Kevin Hewgley

Mary & Dick Burke

Sharon Hoffarth

of Giving

Tish & John Anderson

Nancy & Nick Kurten

Amy & Glenn Douglas

Brasserie by Niche

Nicol & Mark Anderson

Laura & John Corn

Ellen & David Amarnek

Kitty Bollinger

Susan & Chris Wilkins

Celeste Malfavon-Amos & Jovan Amos

Carolyn Brightman Kroenlein 1983

Lindsay Gilhousen Mannen 2005 & Kris Mannen 2005

Gloria Bilchik & Arthur Lieber

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Alisa & Dave Cooperstein

Angela & David Ressner

Wilhelm/Friedman Donor Advised Fund at Youthbridge Community Foundation

Helen & Mark Mihalevich Margot McMahon Monser 2000 & Ed Monser Amal & Ehab Morcos Andrea Moyer & Mike Forbes Amy Muggleton Barbie & Pat Murphy Cary & Andy Murphy Ellen Simons Nahlik 2006 & Rob Nahlik Melissa Howe O’Connor 2008 & Logan O’Connor Dan O’Grady Amber & Jeff Ott

Sara & Craig Ringe

Amy & Jeff Rush

St. Louis Cardinals Ashley Steed & Kory Lavine Alicia & Michael Tessler

giving

Elizabeth Mannen Berges & James Berges

Jillian & Raphael Thomadsen Katie & Brian Thompson Liz & Zar Toolan

2023-2024 Whitfield Fund Class Captains

Courtney Murphy Trenary 1997 & Tyler Trenary 1997

Grade

Class

Captain(s)

Grade 6

2030

Kathleen Kelly

Grade 7

2029

Jenny Syed, Sam Harris

Grade 8

2028 Scott Rhodes 1998, Dawn Gilbertson, Amy Weiss

Grade 9

2027

Jeffrey Evitts

Grade 10

2026

Jillian Thomadsen

Grade 11

2025

Melanie Marks

Grade 12

2024

Ron Fox 1974

Carol & Frank Trotter Erica Trotter 2005 Geneen & Troy Von Kloha Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign Liz Wheeler & Beau Ances Susie & Gordie Wiegand 1970 Chandra Wiewel & Greg Folkert Miriam Wilhelm

Thank you to our amazing Pledge Week volunteers!

The Whitfield School Magazine

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Cindy Burch

Chicken N Pickle

Stacey & Matt Coryell

Brooke Berry 2018

Debbie & Jeff Cacciatore

Ashley Chod 2000

Jack Courtney 2023

Ashley & Adam Eggebrecht

Abby Baden DePriest 2000 & Bryan DePriest

Alisse & Mark Ellebrecht

Marj & Roger Beuc

Lee & Zane Cagle

Kevin Bilchik

Sharon & Doug Carroll

Evonne Chou 1994 & Kent Mark

Chris Carson

Cigna

Sabrina & Rickie Carter

Erin Cizek 2013

Sharina & Edward Carter

Liz Clawson

Celina Casado

Cleaver & Cocktail

Emma Casado 2023

Tori Clodfelter 2009

Cha Boutique Town & Country

COCA

Preeti Dalawari & John Vandover Heather & Jim Daniels

Maureen & Dave Dube

Michelle & Eric Brown

Ananda & Chandramouli Chakinala

Nicole Collins & Alex Williams Carol & Dave Cooksey

Jamie & William Davidson

Liz & Matt Dulick

Kenya & Henry Buford

Charles L. Crane Agency

Krislyn & Bradley Coons

Molly & Jonathan Davis

Bill Bunton

Fran Cheng & Michael He

Marileana Garcia Corretjer & Shawn Burkard

Susan Dean

Abby Lefler Eaves 2010 & Van Eaves 2007

Danielle Boyd Miller Boyd Ilana Boyer 2023 Courtney Bradley Christi & Mike Brandenstein Danita & Hayward Brown Kelli & Jeremy Brown

Cheree Berry Paper & Design

Creve Coeur Racquet Club

Corinne Nisbett Denoon & Dave Denoon

Samantha & RJ Crotser

Kathy & Tom Dewoskin

Crumbl Chesterfield Susan Culican & John Pruett Juliana Dahlhoff 2023 Brittney & Ryan Dailey 2002

Karen & Steve DiGiulio Meghan & Matt DiGiulio Nancy & Bill Dilley Millicent & Nathaniel Dohr Jennifer & Jeff Downes

Elizabeth & Pablo Echeverria

Joyce Debenport

Debbie & Zamir Eidelman

giving

Ali Barash Berman 2005

John Emert Curtis Erlinger Luci Estep & Alex Thonen Melinda & Mike Evens Connie & Lloyd Evitts Tanya Fagaly & Matthew Hull Ginny & Chip Fendell Mary Kate File & Keith Borzillo Vicki & Jim Finn Kristy & Jack Flood Kathleen & Scott Fogarty

GALA DONATIONS 2B Organized

The Corner Pub & Grill

The Frank Family

Emily Lane Arneson

Gerard Craft

Friend of Whitfield

The Art of Entertaining

Creve Coeur Racquet Club

Nick Funke 2004

Andrew Asikainen

Crumbl Cookies Chesterfield

Joy Gebhardt

Lisa Barry Jenkins The Black Rep Keith Borzillo Jessica & Eric Brown Flip Cady 1970

Jim Daniels Frank Darling

The Only Facial

The St. Louis Cardinals

Jackie & Derik King

Amber & Jeff Ott

Sara & Craig Ringe

Cory Koenemann

Maggie & Alex Pearson

Kendra Scott

Pretty Paws

Sievers Retrievers

PRP Wine International

Heidi & Ian Silberman

Amy Kosanke

Dawn Gilbertson

Lazy River Grill/ Yellowstone Cafe

Elaine & Michael Goldman

Lisa & Joe Litvag

Lindsey Graves 2001

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

The Spotted Pig

Amy & Robert Rahm 1997

Straub’s Fine Markets

Cha Boutique

Kendra & James Epstein

Brandon Haynes

Cheree Berry Paper & Design

Danielle & Jeffrey Evitts

Iconic Male

MetroVet

Dr. Sarah Jensen

Michael Mitchell

Carrie Rahm Rhodes 1995 & James Rhodes

Chicken ’N Pickle

Mitzie Fenberg

Heaven John

Amy Muggleton

Clearly Better Scents

Ginny Fendell

Kristin & Jesse Keller

The Murphy Family

Cleaver & Cocktail

Kegan Fisher Schouwenburg 2003 & Robert Schouwenburg

Kathleen & Seamus Kelly

Niche Food Group

Keltik Driving Academy

The Novel Neighbor

Kristen Deffaa Rhodes 1999 & Scott Rhodes 1998

Amber & Jared Odom

Rachel Rhodes

COCA Laura & John Corn

of Giving

Ashley & Wayne (Chip) Smith 1997

Lisa & Matthew Long

Ruth & Ken Greathouse

Closet Factory

Jon Shine 1996

Saadia & Asim Raza

Maureen Dube

Cip Casado

Matt DiGiulio

Genovese Jewelers

Dan O’Grady

Lindsay Gilhousen Mannen 2005 & Kris Mannen 2005

Chris Carson

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Helena & Chris Cunningham

Rachel Gassner

Lauren Weissman Kerner 1996 & Kyle Kerner 1996

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Cory Spielberg 1994 Stone Turtle The St. Louis Cardinals Michelle Templeton Lisa Trout Urban Chestnut Geneen & Troy Von Kloha Waterway Car Wash

Save-the-Date March 1, 2025 Green & White Gala A special evening celebrating our school, and paying tribute to the 2024 Recipient of Whitfield’s George A. Newton Outstanding Teacher Awardee!

The Whitfield School Board of Trustees Miriam Wilhelm

Rachel Gassner World Language Faculty

Megan Wolfslau Tim Zoll

Becca & Seth Williams 2005 Thank you to these donors for supporting our Green & White Gala.

For photos from the 2024 Green & White Gala, see page 26.

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Amanda Henry & Jeff Chapman

Lauren Kisling

Karen Marschuetz

Patrick O’Connor

Paulie & Carnie Rose

Connie Kitchen

Becky Marsh

Amber & Jared Odom

David Rosenberg 1962

Jasonee Foster & Jeffery Foster II

Tom Herman

Brad Klages

Mike Roth

Lizzy & Chris Kline 1992

MasterCard Matching Gifts Program

Dave Ott 1991

Jane & Joseph Hill

Sara & Pete Paciorek

Ida Fox & Scott Aubuchon

Brooke & Scott Hochman 2003

Teddy Kouvelis 2023

Sheila McCarthy

Melika & Nick Panneri

Holly Wilson-Rothert & Mason Rothert

Laura & Don Frank

Alice & Jim Hoette

Jerre & Johan Parsons

Anthony French 2005

Emily & Ian Hornstra

Myra Link-Kovacs & Bernie Kovacs

Bobby McClendon Dyan McGuire

Lucy Gallagher 2023

Scott House

Karen & Kupp Kuppinger

Danielle & Tim McKay

Jyoti Parwatikar & John Dehart

Jackie & Andy Gambill

Rosemary Howard

Lucy & Arno Kutner

Eleanor McKown 2023

Trisha & Mike Pflantz

Tanya & Simon Rozin

Rick Gamp

Natalie Hundhausen 1996

Michal Kwiecien

Bill McLaughlin

Wendy & Kyle Pinkley

Andrea & Bill Rubin 1960

Jenna Garofolo

Carla & Michael Hunigan

Kelly Lake

Pat McLaughlin 2012

Deandria & Harold Player

Chris Rubin De La Borbolla

Rachel & Bradly Gassner

Iconic Male

Jamie Larson 2003

Denise Meckler

Mead & Jim Ploszay

Kerry Ryan & Noaman Siddiqi

Megan & Brian Gau

Melissa Irvin

Cheryl & Dave Lauer

Lisa & Ruben Mella

Anne Pokoski & Ian Cohen

Judy Sachwald & Joe Adler

Leeann & Todd Gienke

Ted Jacobi 2006

Heather Lavezzi

Nidia & Erick Messias

Katrina & Matt Politte 1998

Sage Dining

Dawn & Jason Gilbertson

Randee & Myron Jacobs

Julie & Todd Lazarus 1996

MetroVet St. Louis

Pretty Paws Grooming Salon

Josiah Santiago 2023

Sophia & Luvell Glanton

Amber James

Microsoft Corporation

Diana & Wayne Prichard

Stephanie & Rich Sargent

Elizabeth & Douglas Goldenberg

Lisa Barry Jenkins & Andy Jenkins

Lazy River Grill/ Yellowstone Cafe

Shanea Miles

PRP Wine International

Mary Schnitzler

Elaine & Mark Leach

Tiffany Pruiett

Elaine & Michael Goldman

Heaven John

Ernestine Ledbetter

Jamie Sokolik Miller 2004 & Nik Miller

Meredith Bush Schuh 2004 & Kevin Schuh

Krista & Silas Goldman

Ashley Johnson

Lamar Ledbetter

Janey Miller

Meera Rabbani

Goldman, Sachs & Co. Matching Gift Program

Casey Jolley 2003

Shalon & Tyrone Ledbetter

Evan Milnor 2006

Rose Jonas & Ed Finkelstein

Mark Leslie

Becky & Chris Mollett

Gigi Esser Rager 2009 & Peter Rager

Annie & Rickey Goodwin

Regina & Marcus Jones

Liz & Glen Mollett

Amy & Rob Rahm 1997

Traci & Chris Shatzer

Mary & Jerry Grace

Alena & Gennadi Kaganov

Olga Rozin-Levin & Demitriy Levin

Moneta Group

Linda & Lee Rascovar

Sharmin Sheikh & Ehsan Haider

Cara Foster

Elana & Tim Grayem

Sari Rotskoff 2000 & Stephen Snipes Juhi Roy 2025

Jonathan Schultz 2005 Meghan Schuster 2007 Anna & Jeff Seim

Kathy Mora & Steve Kazmierski

David Records

Danielle & Scott Green

Sara Wax Kalish 1999 & Josh Kalish

Kara Lewandowski Betsy Lewis 1998

Beverly Moreland

Angelica & Billy Gutierrez

Cassie & Rob Kampen

Vicki & Joseph Morris

Zayda & Erik Gutierrez

Erinn & Tim Kao

Julie Schwarze Linihan 1996 & Jeff Linihan

Allison Chao Reichart 2004 & Brock Reichart

Agha Haider 2021

Sammie Keller Katzman 2008

Joy Liu & Allan Zhang

Jenny Morrison & Sean Maiscott

Jenna & Ryan Reinhardt

Pam Hall

Spencer Kaye 2024

Karen Mueller

Christine & Jeffrey Remming

Bridgett & Bill Hanks

Marcia Kazmierski

Andrea Loiselle & Anthony Valentin

Abby Ressner 2023

Regan & Richard Harkins

Kathleen & Seamus Kelly

Carrie Throop Londe 1994 & Ken Londe

Pratima & Chinya Murali

Isey Harris

Keltik Driving Academy

Heidi & Shae Long

Nikki Lilly-Murphy & Hank Murphy

Carrie Rahm Rhodes 1995 & James Rhodes

Lashonda & Sam Harris

Kendra Scott

Max Nehrig 2002

Kelly & Phil Rhodes

Janis & Mike Siegel

Kristel & Derek Mabie

Alix Grant Hawes 2008

Selam Newete & Hailu Fentaw

Rachel Rhodes

Sievers Retrievers

Elizabeth & Mike Macheca

Larry Hays

Rebeccah Bennett-Kenyatta & Salim Kenyatta

Rachel Martin Simon 2003 & Adam Simon

Hearst

Carla Nieman & Yosef Rubanovich

Arlington Rhone 2023

Tory Key 2004

Amber Macon 2009

Lynn & Don Heidenreich

Liangel Keys

Barbi & Bill Macon

Emily Nishi & Jay Winig

Cindy & Matt Heidenry

Mehreen Khann & Adnan Siddiqui

Mallinckrodt Inc.

Amber & Matt Richards

Monique Norfolk

Zack Markow 2009

Pamela & Bob Ronkoski

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Melanie & Jonathan Marks

Noa Rose 2016

Novel Neighbor

Tiara Hendricks

54

Riley Querimit 2023

Christine King

of Giving

Carrie & Scott Reiter

Christine & Michael Riat

giving

Cindy Follman & Jay Baum

Yuriko Shinagawa & Andrew Edwardson Jon Shine 1996 Bev & Bob Shpall Dawn & Kent Shuler Elana Mogil Shulkin 2005 Kaitlin Sides Lemya Sidki & Raul Uribe

Ebony & Ishmael Sistrunk Sallie Primm Skinner 1970 Ashley & Chip Smith 1997 Lisa Smith

The Whitfield School Magazine

55

Class of 1969

Class of 1997

Cami Watkins & Siroth Charnond

Elliot Benoist

Elissa Cady Arnold

Art Kerckhoff, III

Laura Pollnow Bryan

Lynn Delean-Weber & Martin Weber

Class of 1970

Joshua Weinstein

Jim Bruns

Amy & Evan Weiss

Flip Cady

Phyllis & Terry Weiss

Jane Piper Gleason

Ursula Wesley

Sallie Primm Skinner

Class of 1998

Anne & Rolla Wetzel

Gordie Wiegand

Anonymous

Matt Whiat Deatra & James Whitfield

Courtney Murphy Trenary & Tyler Trenary

Betsy Lewis Matt Politte

Sharon & George Wilder

Class of 1974

Class of 1999

Amanda & Mike Wilhelm

Ron Fox

Sara Wax Kalish

Class of 1983

Stephen Kerckhoff

Carolyn Brightman Kroenlein

Kristen Deffaa Rhodes

Amanda & Chris Wilson

Class of 1991

Class of 2000

Joli & Bob Wilson

Dave Ott

Chris Cady

Jayden Williams 2023 Shelly Williams & Mike Turner

56

Chip Smith

Scott Rhodes

Becca & Seth Williams 2005

Lisa Anderson-Smith & Buddy Smith

Elijah Sykes 2020

Stacey Tobin & Jared Heintz

Yvette & Ed Sykes

Robyn & Mark Tonopolsky

Osnat & Eli Snir

Alejandro Tagle

Susan Snyders

Damion Talcott

Whitney Key Towey 2002 & Ted Towey

Carol & Jeff Solomon

Dana Taylor

Kristin Trenary

Megan & Erik Wolfslau

Brenda & Christain Souter

Jess Taylor

Alan Trost

Susie Staggs

Lisa Trout

Charlie Staley-Brain 2023

Taylor & Peter Tchoukaleff 2007

Gina & Josh Stevenson

Michelle & Spencer Templeton

Danielle & Geoffrey Uy

Erica & Blake Stewart

The Art of Entertaining

Jessica & Benjamin Varner

Carrie & Jeremy Stith

The Black Rep

Kathryn & Mark Stoddard

The Corner Pub and Grill

Sanaa Waheed & Razi Muzaffar

Brandon Stoker

The Only Facial

Sarah & Josh Stolker

Urban Chestnut

Rob Rahm

Ginger Newton Jacobi

Marla & Jim Wild

The student philanthropy board Springing It Forward in preparation for 2024 GIVE STL Day.

Class of 1973

William Wilson 2005 Carol & Rick Wise

Class of 1992

Ashley Chod Abby Baden DePriest

Chris Kline

Margot McMahon Monser

Jordan Woodard 2010

Class of 1994

Sari Rotskoff

Me’Sha Woodard & James Jones

Evonne Chou

Class of 2001

Carrie Throop Londe

Mindy Woolf

Lindsey Williams Graves

Lee Rhodes

Richard Woolf

Cory Spielberg

Crystal & Rick Worsena

Class of 2002 Nick Casey

Jaclyn Yetter & Bret French

Class of 1995

Jess Smasal Wain 2010

Sally & Bob Yoselevsky

Laura Lotz

Robert Glassman

Jody & Mickey Waldman

Neal Zoellick

David Greathouse

Stone Turtle

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Carrie Rahm Rhodes

Tess Delean Waldron 2007

Monica Zotos

Geoff Story

The Spotted Pig

Kimberly & Delvin Walls

Class of 1996

Max Nehrig

Straub’s Fine Markets

Robyn Thomas & Rob Butler

Veronica Walls

Whitney Key Towey

Joy & Thomas Struckhoff

Margaret & Seth Thompson

Sarah & Craig Walseth

Alumni by Class

Natalie Hundhausen

Erin Walsh

Lauren Weissman Kerner & Kyle Kerner

Class of 2003

Jasmine & Neil Suthar

Aly Thomure Tiller 2004

Class of 1960

Bryson Sutton 2023

Tarshish & James Tillman

Kate Walter

Bill Rubin

Todd Lazarus

Ellie Svenson

Carl Tisone

Anna Warbelow

Jamie & Dan Sweeney

Emily & Kyle Tisone 2005

Renee & Rob Wasserman

of Giving

Class of 1962 David Rosenberg

giving

Spring It Forward Day of Giving

Waterway

Ryan Dailey

Laura Cady Guzewicz

Julie Schwarze Linihan Jon Shine

Haley Deffaa Fuller Scott Hochman Casey Jolley Jamie Larson

The Whitfield School Magazine

57

Tory Key

Class of 2010

In Honor of

Jamie Sokolik Miller

Abby Lefler Eaves

Robby Amarnek 2024

Allison Chao Reichart

Jess Smasal Wain

Sheila McCarthy

Meredith Bush Schuh

Jordan Woodard

Dominic Baiocchi 2024

Class of 2012

Karen Appelbaum

Pat McLaughlin

Connie Kitchen

Class of 2004

Aly Thomure Tiller

Class of 2005 Ali Barash Berman Anthony French Lindsay Gilhousen Mannen & Kris Mannen Jonathan Schultz Elana Mogil Shulkin

Class of 2013 Erin Cizek

Class of 2016 Noa Rose

Kyle Tisone

Class of 2018

Erica Trotter

Brooke Berry

Seth Williams

Class of 2020

William Wilson

Elijah Sykes

Class of 2006

Class of 2021

Jenny Chao Gansner

Agha Haider

Ted Jacobi

Class of 2022

Evan Milnor Ellen Simons Nahlik

Michael Koman

Class of 2007

Class of 2023

Van Eaves

Ilana Boyer

Kristin Thompson Poelker

Emma Casado

Meghan Schuster

Jack Courtney

Peter Tchoukaleff

Juliana Dahlhoff

Tess Delean Waldron

Lucy Gallagher Teddy Kouvelis

Class of 2008

58

Zack Markow

Eleanor McKown

Brian Chao

Riley Querimit

Alix Grant Hawes

Abby Ressner

Sammie Keller Katzman

Arlington Rhone

Melissa Howe O’Connor

Josiah Santiago

Class of 2009

Charlie Staley-Brain

Tori Clodfelter

Bryson Sutton

Amber Macon

Jayden Williams

of Giving

Vincent Baiocchi 2028 Connie Kitchen Miller Boyd Monique Norfolk Safiya Butler 2024 Sheila McCarthy Jeff Cacciatore Candy & Flip Cady 1970 Sheila McCarthy Flip Cady 1970 Barbi & Bill Macon Caleb Carter 2025 Bobby McClendon Praveen Chakinala 2024 Ananda & Chandramouli Chakinala

Natalie Glidewell 2024 Sheila McCarthy Rickey Goodwin

Spencer Kaye 2024 Sarah Yoselevsky Kaye & Todd Kaye Sheila McCarthy

Ellie Svenson

Sally & Bob Yoselevsky

Ruth Greathouse Mary & Dick Burke Ginny & Chip Fendell Cindy Follman & Jay Baum Nan & Steve Fox Cindy & Matt Heidenry

Jocelyn Kazmierski 2024 Marcia Kazmierski Sam King 2024 Sheila McCarthy Dave Lauer

Nihar Murali 2024 Sheila McCarthy Oliver Niemann 2024 Sheila McCarthy Jerre Parsons Mary & Jerry Grace Amy Muggleton & the Mandarin Program Sarah & Josh Stolker J.R. Rhodes 2024

Sheila McCarthy

Sheila McCarthy

Melika & Nick Panneri

Logan Ledbetter 2028

Hudson Richards 2024

Paulie & Carnie Rose

Ernestine Ledbetter

Sheila McCarthy

Crystal & Rick Worsena Chandler Grimm 2025 Rose Jonas & Ed Finkelstein Rylan Harden 2029 Ashley Johnson Larry Hays Nan & Steve Fox Lucy Heidenry 2024 Sheila McCarthy Kamiyah Jones 2027 Me’Sha Woodard & James Jones

Sheila McCarthy Ellie Svenson Joli & Bob Wilson Kayli McGee-Williams 2026 Nicole Collins & Alex Williams Maggie McGuire 2024 Sheila McCarthy Shanea Miles Lori & Doug Becker Graham Mills 2021 McKay & Jason Mills

giving

Gigi Esser Rager

Tribute & Memorial Gifts

Rachel Martin Simon

Sheila McCarthy Sara Ringe Nan & Steve Fox Ella Rogan 2024 Sheila McCarthy Perry Rogan 2024 Sheila McCarthy Susan Rogers Carol & Rick Wise Holden Souter 2024 Sheila McCarthy Student Philanthropy Board Geneen & Troy Von Kloha

Class of 2024 Sara & Craig Ringe Chris Cunningham Candy & Flip Cady 1970

2023-2024 Endowed Chairs

Helena Cunningham Candy & Flip Cady 1970 Daniel Desloge 2024

William W. Daues Athletic Chair Shanea Miles

Sheila McCarthy Curtis Erlinger

Whitfield School Mathematics Chair Susan Dean

Celina Casado Anna Gau 2024 Sheila McCarthy Kira Glanton 2024 Sheila McCarthy

Richard B. Kobusch Humanities Chair Sari Rotskoff

Larry Hays, Ron Fox, Susan Dean, Sari Rotskoff, and Chris Cunningham

The John Delautre Chair in Ethical Studies Larry Hays

The Whitfield School Magazine

59

Sheila McCarthy

Isey Harris

Ryan Thomadsen 2026

Rosie Hartman

Judy Sachwald & Joe Adler Halle Wasserman 2022 Bev & Bob Shpall Jenna Wasserman 2026 Bev & Bob Shpall Amy Weiss Phyllis & Terry Weiss Dylan Weiss 2028 Kathy & Tom Dewoskin Evan Weiss Phyllis & Terry Weiss Lai Jeon Williams Sheila McCarthy Sophie Wilson 2025

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2024!

Sharon Hoffarth Barbara Wise Carol & Rick Wise Isabelle Zhang 2024

Class of 2024 Senior Tributes

Ellen & David Amarnek

Tanya & Matthew Hull

Amber & Matt Richards

Elizabeth & Al Babusis

Sheila & Corey Jones

Amber & David Rogan

Crista & Brian Beracha

Jackie & Derik King

Kelly & Phil Rhodes

Julie & John Cochran

Lisa & Matthew Long

Brenda & Christain Souter

Lisa De Las Fuentes & Murali Chakinala

Laura & Matt Megargel

Deatra & James Whitfield

Helen & Mark Mihalevich

The Zhang Family

Kathy Mora & Steve Kazmierski

Monica Zotos

Nan & Steve Fox Dianna & Ron Fox 1974

Jerre & Johan Parsons

Megan & Brian Gau

Jenna & Ryan Reinhardt

Darcy & Dan Glidewell

Kristen Deffaa Rhodes 1999 & Scott Rhodes 1998

Cindy & Matt Heidenry

60

of Giving

Mary & Jerry Grace Mary Jane Kieffer Crystal & Rick Worsena Bonnie Laiderman Danielle & Scott Green Louie Lazarus Julie & Todd Lazarus Zach Miller 1998 Janey Miller Esther Reinhardt Jenna & Ryan Reinhardt Ashland Tate Melanie & Jonathan Marks Margaret Willenbrock Jenna & Ryan Reinhardt Latrice Williams Calvin Williams Lajuan & Simeon Williams

Sheila McCarthy

Each year, many families of our graduating seniors choose to donate the deposit they made when their child originally enrolled at Whitfield to the school’s Annual Fund.

This is a tradition that has continued for the last 21 years and we are grateful for their generosity. The following is a listing of the families in the Class of 2024 who donated their deposit to Whitfield’s 2023-24 Annual Fund.

Laura & GP Dorris, IV

Sean Harris

Planned Giving

giving

Zack Tessler 2024

We are glad to invite all individuals and families who make provisions for Whitfield in their estate plans into our Barnes & Cole Society. This philanthropic group is named after Whitfield’s founders, John Barnes and Allen Cole. For more than 20 years, Mr. Barnes and Mr. Cole worked to create an atmosphere in which learning was both challenging and fun, and students had every opportunity to succeed. That atmosphere still exists today. We celebrate their spirit by recognizing those who invest in our school’s future.

In Memory of Joan Bebee Martha & Christian Altvater Maria & Tim Desloge Jim Costello Beverly Moreland Rodman Durfee Elaine & Mark Leach Janet Esrock Melissa Howe O’Connor 2008 & Logan O’Connor

Want to support Whitfield students and ensure you are on this list next year?

The 2024-2025 annual fund drive for The Whitfield Fund has already begun. Supporting Whitfield is easy. Use the QR code to make a gift online or mail your support to: The Whitfield School AT TN: Development Office 175 S. Mason Rd. • STL, MO 63141

Every attempt was taken to ensure accuracy in this report. However, it is possible for unintentional errors and omissions to occur. Please report any errors to the Development Office at development@whitfieldschool.org.

The Whitfield School Magazine

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"10 Life Tips for All of Us"

W

WHY YOUR GIFT MATTERS

1 410students 4 average class size

Whitfield classrooms are dynamic, engaging spaces. Our faculty learn the strengths, motivators, and interests of each student.

At the same time, they rely on research and professional development to adapt their teaching styles and curriculum to the needs of students.

26

acres

49

teachers

The Whitfield fund supports our curriculum and extracurricular activities, attracts and competitively compensates the very best teachers, ensures low student-teacher ratio, and maintains our beautiful 26-acre campus.

Your gift positively impacts the Whitfield experience for every student.

9:1

Be part of it.

Make your annual fund gift today. https://www.whitfieldschool.org/give/whitfieldfund

student to teacher ratio

Mail support to: Whitfield Attn: Development Office 175 South Mason Road Saint Louis, Missouri 63141

hen his niece Katie graduated high school, Head of School Chris Cunningham wrote her a letter of congratulations that included some “advice for a graduate.” He adapted this advice for an end-of-year address at Lawrenceville in 2022 and then for his commencement address at Whitfield in 2023. Late this spring, these tips reached a broader audience when New York Times bestselling author Kelly Corrigan featured them on her podcast, "Kelly Corrigan Wonders." On Fridays, Corrigan shares meaningful phrases, short stories, or poems that she has come across. This spring, after a former student from Lawrenceville gave her a copy of Dr. Cunningham’s speech, she felt compelled to share it as “10 Life Tips for All of Us” on her podcast. To listen to the episode, scan the QR code at the bottom.

Make beautiful things; make things beautiful.

Entropy means that there is less beauty every day—less order and structure and harmony, less balance and symmetry, fewer colors and sounds that are pure and unsullied. So use some of the time and energy and life you have to create more of these things. The beauty you create will also one day pass away, but even if it’s a losing battle, it’s one worth fighting, and even momentary flashes of loveliness—of stillness and clarity—can redeem.

1

2

Pay attention, look closely: The world will sustain and reward your scrutiny.

Do what you love. There will always be times when you have to do things you don’t necessarily enjoy, but if you know why you’re doing them—if they have intrinsic value and meaning to you—you won’t resent those moments of struggle or tedium. As Nietzsche wrote, “If we possess a why of life, we can put up with almost any how.”

3

Look for the best in people, and be generous in giving them the benefit of the doubt. People are complicated, and are, on the average, no better or worse than you, so they will sometimes disappoint you or betray your trust. But you will be a much happier person if you walk through your life believing in other people’s good intentions, good will, and good faith.

4

Stay in touch with people from different parts of your life. One of the ways we know ourselves is by being with others, and people from your past knew you when you were someone else, so keeping track of them and talking with them will help you remember who you have been. The sound of their voice and the stories you will tell each other will help you stitch together all the scraps of yourself that emerge over time.

5

6

Be curious, ask difficult questions: Education is the life-long process of complicating apparently simple truths.

7

Beware sameness; do different things. You will in the next five to ten years come to the end of a long period of dramatic first and second order

change. You will never again change more—and more dramatically—and at such a rate—as you have done in the past 18 years. Your memories of this period will be some of the most enduring and emotionally resonant of your life. To be sure, you will continue to have powerful and important experiences throughout your life, but you will likely notice that time seems to speed up after around the age of 25. One of the reasons this happens is that, with routine, with the increasing sameness of one day to the next, as we get jobs and have families, the delta of experience from one day to the next tends towards zero.

As Beckett says, “Habit is a great deadener.” And so, as we do more and more the same things from day to day, the faster our lives seem to pass, bounding from one decade to the next. To slow down your life—to live a longer life— to experience a longer life—do different things: Disrupt routines, unsettle yourself, wake yourself up from habits of doing and thinking and being.

8

Be enthusiastic and genuine. Cynicism is just lazy skepticism.

Make time for friendship. Research suggests that there are very few things that make us happier.

Love, children, jobs, money, nice things: While the absence of these things can make us unhappy, none of them seems to have a long term effect on our happiness.

What does seem to make us happier—i.e., moves the happiness graph in a statistically meaningful way long term—is being part of a community of people you care about and who care about you. (The other thing that seems to make people happy is singing in groups.)

9

Make time for yourself and your own thoughts. It is tempting to fill in the cracks and margins of our days, those idle moments when we’re alone with ourselves–standing in line at the grocery store, driving down the highway, walking across campus. But your mind’s most precious coin may be your attention, so be miserly in how you spend those moments of solitude.

One of the ways we know ourselves is through listening to—conversing with—the voices in our head, and we lose important parts of ourselves if we don’t cultivate the capacity for reflection and memory and daydream.

10

175 South Mason Road St. Louis, Missouri 63141

Please Note: In an effort to be environmentally conscious, one copy per household has been mailed. Additional copies may be acquired by contacting the Whitfield Development Office at (314) 434-5141.

What does it mean to learn at a school of experience?

Wrapping your senses around new ideas.

Diving into direct contact with concepts and questions.

Making, doing, and experimenting your way into learning, understanding, and knowing.

Experiential education for grades 6-12 175 S. Mason Rd. • St. Louis, MO 63141 • 314.434.5141 • www.whitfieldschool.org