Engage Magazine Fall 2025

The Whitfield School Magazine

Three Landmark Projects.

One Bold Future.

The Rhodes Center • Piper Courtyard • New Athletic Facility

FALL 2025

Head of School Chris Cunningham, Ph.D.

Don't Miss OUR MISSION

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

Grounded in Growth: Delivering on the Promise of Whitfield 2030

OUR VISION

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Empowering young people to discover and become their best selves.

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Erin Walsh Design Melissa Irvin Principal Photography Geoff Story Contributors Larry Hays, Ed.D.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 2025-2026

Capstone

Jeffrey Evitts P ’27 ’29 (Chair) Geneen Von Kloha P ’25 (Vice Chair) Jessica Portis P ’26 (Treasurer) Corey Jones P ’24 ’27 (Secretary)

24 Legacy of the Mat

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Director of Marketing & Communications

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Commencement

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Andy Bryan P ’25 ’28 Brian Chao '08 Dave Cooperstein P ’25 Shereen Fischer P ’28 Ron Fox '74 P ’01 ’03 ’07 ’24 Austin Hasek P ’30 Kristin Keller P ’29 Derik King P ’24

Lisa Long P ’24 ’27 Paul Minorini P ’12 ’15 ’16 Kris Mannen '05 Karen Myers P ’13 ’16 ’16 Steve Nordlund P ’21 ’23 Melissa Howe O'Connor '08 Asim Raza P ’24 Scott Rhodes '98 P ’24 ’26 ’26

Honorary Lifetime Members Flip Cady '70 P ’97 ’00 ’02 Bruno Schmitter P ’99 ’02 ’06 Wayne Smith P ’97 ’00 ’08

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

Amanda Hazelwood P ’31 Kathleen Kelly P ’29 ’32 Laura Lotz ’95 P ’21 ’31 Sara Ringe Address Change Development Office The Whitfield School 175 South Mason Road St. Louis, Missouri 63141 development@whitfieldschool.org

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

Questions or comments STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION 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

Welcome from Chris

Dear Friends,

Table of Contents

In these pages, you’ll encounter stories of bold ideas, meaningful moments, and the momentum shaping the future of The Whitfield School. You’ll read about faculty who lead with purpose, students who learn by doing, alumni who carry Whitfield’s mission into the world, and families whose generosity fuels our growth.

Delivering on the Promise of Whitfield 2030.................................................................................................................... 6-9

You’ll also see that we are not standing still.

From the transformation of our campus to the evolution of our curriculum, Whitfield is moving forward. We are growing our faculty’s expertise in experiential learning.

We are expanding our outreach to Whitfield alumni. We are creating new, transformational experiences for our students: a reimagined Capstone course, immersive off-campus learning, a student exchange program with a school in Japan, and expanded elective offerings, including advanced courses in science and engineering.

Capstone: Evolving the Senior Experience at Whitfield................................................................................10-11 Where Learning Comes to Life..................................................................................................................................................12-15 College Knowledge: Confidence in the Process.....................................................................................16-17 From Whitfield to Wherever: Alumni Helping Alumni...................................................................... 18-19 Stewards of the Mission: Inside Whitfield’s Board of Trustees................................................. 20-23 Learning Leaders: Investing in Our Educators......................................................................................24-25 Legacy on the Mat: Three Decades of Whitfield Wrestling......................................................... 26-27

And we are building the Whitfield of the future. We will break ground this coming year on three new spaces at the heart of the campus: a reimagined and fully enclosed Piper Courtyard, a new multipurpose athletic facility, and a completely transformed Intellectual Commons.

Building a Basketball Powerhouse.............................................................................................................. 28-29

This is the promise of Whitfield 2030, our strategic plan. But more importantly, it is the result of a community that reimagines what is possible when we work together—students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, and friends.

A Year in Photos........................................................................................................................................................ 32-37

Thank you for being part of that community. I hope the stories in this year’s Engage inspire you as much as they inspire me.

With gratitude,

Honoring a Legacy of Excellence: The 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction.................. 30-31

Celebrating Excellence: Whitfield's 2025 Awards Day.................................................................... 38-39 Commencement 2025: Wisdom for the Road Ahead................................................................... 40-46 Ask Our Alumni..................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Alumni Gatherings............................................................................................................................................... 48-49 Honoring Commitment. Investing in the Future.................................................................................50-51

Chris Cunningham, Ph.D. Head of School

Philanthropy Report............................................................................................................................................. 52-69 The Last Word........................................................................................................................................................................70

The Rhodes Center for Academic Success: A Legacy of Learning At the core of this initiative is the creation of The Rhodes Center for Academic Success, made possible by a $5 million gift from the Rhodes family—the largest in the school’s history.

For Scott ’98 and Kristen ’99 Rhodes, this moment represents both legacy and leadership.

Their children—J.R. ’24, Tate ’26, and Hale ’28— are proud Whitfield students. Scott’s sister, Dorothy ’92, is also a current parent to David ’26 and Topher ’28, while his brother, Lee ’94, is the father of Fritz ’26. For the Rhodes family, Whitfield is more than a school—it’s a shared investment in generational excellence.

Delivering on the Promise of Whitfield 2030 Powered by vision. Sustained by generosity.

Advancing excellence across campus.

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he Whitfield School has long held that education is not merely preparation for life—it is life itself. Through intellectually rigorous coursework, collaborative learning, and real-world experiences, students sharpen their skills, clarify their values, and prepare to lead with integrity. The Whitfield experience equips students to thrive in a complex, rapidly changing world.

Thanks to the bold vision of the school’s strategic plan, Whitfield 2030, and the extraordinary generosity of the alumni community, that foundation is being built upon in transformational ways.

Vision in Action: A Campus Transformed Beginning in January 2026, construction will commence on a series of major capital projects that will enhance nearly every aspect of campus life. A groundbreaking ceremony is anticipated for mid-March 2026.

Reflecting on their own experience, Scott and Kristen describe a school where faculty challenged students to reach their full potential through individualized attention and high expectations. “That’s what we experienced, and that’s what we hoped for our kids,” they shared. “And it’s exactly what they’ve received.”

As Whitfield embarks on the most ambitious strategic plan in its history, the Rhodes family felt moved to match that momentum. “We believe in this vision, and we believe in this school,” they said. “We hope our fellow alumni will recognize the strategic momentum underway—and lend their leadership to shaping Whitfield’s next chapter.”

The Rhodes family also owns Dr. Brown’s, a nationally recognized baby products company headquartered in St. Louis. Their commitment to functionality, care, and long-term well-being mirrors the impact they hope to make at Whitfield through this investment.

The Rhodes Center will serve as an academic hub at the center of campus. Plans include: • A reimagined library and research center • Quiet study zones and collaborative learning spaces • Enhanced offices for the College Counseling team • A new home for IT services and the school librarian • Dedicated office and meeting spaces for our academic support team Our academic support program is designed to challenge and support high-ability learners.

Its presence in the Rhodes Center reflects a commitment to academic excellence for all students, as faculty hone new instructional strategies and raise expectations across the board.

“The Rhodes Center isn’t just about modern space,” said Head of School Chris Cunningham.

“It’s about ensuring every student has access to the resources, support, and challenge they need to thrive. The Rhodes family is setting the standard for philanthropic leadership at Whitfield.”

These projects will deliver modernized facilities for Whitfield’s college counseling and learning programs, IT and library services, and athletics—including a new home for the school’s celebrated wrestling program. At the heart of campus, reimagined spaces will foster academic engagement, community connection, and institutional excellence.

Thanks to two historic leadership gifts from The Rhodes Family and Jane Piper Gleason ’70, these projects will expand the school’s capacity to serve students at the highest level.

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Tower Grove Park, where Jane later served as Emeritus Commissioner and helped lead its historic restoration. This project continues a powerful family legacy of civic leadership and architectural preservation in St. Louis.

A native St. Louisan and one of the region’s most dedicated civic leaders, Jane Piper Gleason has spent more than 50 years at the center of historic preservation. She served with the St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission, including as Chair, and played a leading role in the preservation and restoration of key sites across the region.

Piper Courtyard: A Lasting Gift from a St. Louis Icon Thanks to an extraordinary $2 million gift from Jane Piper Gleason ’70, Piper Courtyard will soon be transformed from an exterior courtyard into a year-round, enclosed atrium—a signature gathering space at the center of campus life.

Jane’s name already graces this beloved space, which she originally helped design to give students a place to relax, reflect, and—her word—“flop.” The redesigned Piper Courtyard will preserve that spirit of comfort while embracing modern design and materials that bring the outdoors in. In addition to being a quiet space for students, the new Piper Courtyard will provide a much-needed large meeting space—and function as a beautiful event venue. Natural light, flexible seating, and garden-inspired features will invite community and collaboration—while honoring the woman whose vision made the space possible.

Importantly, this project is also dedicated to Jane’s mother, Marion K. Piper, who served on the Board of Trustees at The Whitfield School.

Marion and her husband, Vernon, are builders and namesakes of the Piper Palm House in

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She has also served on the boards of the St. Louis Mercantile Library, the Campbell House Museum (where she began as a docent at age 20), and the Field House Museum, and volunteers at the Richardson Library in the St. Louis Art Museum. Her family’s 1867 country home, Greystone, sits on the bluffs of the Mississippi in Pevely, Missouri, and has been in the family since 1965. In 2000, Jane and her family received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award and in 2001, the Rozier Award for contributions to historic preservation in Missouri.

Jane credits The Whitfield School with providing a strong academic foundation, and she has demonstrated her gratitude through decades of sustained involvement in the life of the school.

Multipurpose Athletic Facility: Building Strength, Ensuring Safety The Whitfield School’s commitment to whole-student growth includes a new Multipurpose Athletic Facility, designed to meet the evolving needs of student-athletes and promote campus-wide wellness.

In the winter, the facility will serve as the new home for Whitfield’s wrestling program, which has built a tradition of excellence over more than 30 years. With 11 state championships, 18 Final Four appearances, 61 individual state champions, and multiple collegiate and national competitors, the program exemplifies Whitfield’s athletic strength and competitive discipline.

In addition to wrestling, the facility will house a wide range of athletic activities, including volleyball, indoor fitness, and rock climbing— a competitive club that trains off-campus and has earned impressive results in regional bouldering and climbing competitions. This new space will give students access to on-campus climbing opportunities for the first time.

Importantly, the facility will include a fully equipped storm shelter, reinforcing the school’s long-term commitment to safety, stewardship, and preparedness.

“Whitfield athletics develops character as much as skill,” said Athletic Director Mike Roth. “This facility will enhance every dimension of our program—from physical preparation to safety, from team camaraderie to individual growth.”

A Vision Realized, A Future Secured These projects are the result of strategic collaboration among the Board of Trustees, Buildings & Grounds Committee, faculty, staff, and school leadership. Construction will begin in March 2026, with new spaces opening in phases.

While these buildings will reshape the physical campus, their deeper purpose remains constant: to deliver an exceptional education for students of curiosity, integrity, and purpose, fully preparing them for the challenges of the future.

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The Whitfield School is building more than buildings. We’re building the next generation of leaders— one student at a time.

—Dr. Chris Cunningham

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“Whitfield has always been a place where you belong—where teachers know you, and where friendships last a lifetime,” she said.

“This project honors that spirit while preparing Whitfield for generations to come.”

Her contributions to the preservation and cultural heritage of St. Louis are both distinguished and enduring—and now, she is extending that impact to Whitfield, ensuring students have a space of focus, collaboration, and connection for decades to come.

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Capstone: Evolving the Senior Experience at Whitfield

formal education and their off-campus Quest experiences. Inspired by this work and by my students, I myself returned to school in 2010 complete a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership with a focus on college readiness.

The research I did during this time enhanced my thinking about schools–and informed much of what I’ve done at Whitfield since.

By Larry Hays, Ed.D.

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hen I was hired in the spring of 1992, Whitfield had what were called May Projects. These projects offered students a short opportunity at the end of their senior spring to perform community service, do an internship, or pursue a personal project. While students enjoyed the projects, the time was limited–as was the scope of what could be accomplished. With the transition to our first rotating block schedule, a big innovation at that time, we were able to expand senior advisory time to make these projects year-long explorations, with a culminating off-campus experience.

My memory isn’t what it once was, but it seems to me that it was at Chaney's Barbecue one evening in the summer of 1992 that a few of us started brainstorming ways to combine senior advisory and the May Projects into a more meaningful, learner-centered opportunity for the seniors. Inspired by American educational thinkers and visionaries like John Dewey, Ted Sizer, Grant Wiggins, and Deborah Meier, we wanted to capitalize on the students’ own curiosity and guide them in an independent learning process. We called it the Quest Program, and over the course of the year, seniors pursued their own projects, or quests, learning about glassblowing, veterinary medicine, law, and all kinds of other topics, which they presented to peers in Senior Seminar, a course born from the expansion of advisory. Over time, we added a final exhibition asking students to share in a public forum what they had learned.

In the late 90’s the Senior Seminar course developed a robust college readiness curriculum after several exploratory trips by the senior team to meet with instructors at colleges in Chicago, Boston, and Washington, D.C. We visited professors and department chairs at Loyola, Northwestern, Tufts, Harvard, Boston

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Where Passions Take Flight: Capstone in Action Engineering a Better Swing: Jack Courtney ’23 merged golf and mechanical engineering to design an improved driver and putting aid.

From Intern to Attorney: Samantha Jones ’11 interned at Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal—and later joined the firm as a lawyer.

Publishing with Purpose: Joel Grebler ’19 wrote multiple articles during his internship at The Jewish Light.

Into the Lab: Lizzie Fagin ’19 gained hands-on experience in metallurgical analysis at Husky Corporation.

Answering the Call of the Wild: Lindsey Grigg ’18’s work at the Endangered Wolf Center sparked a career in wildlife care.

On Air, On Track: David Solomon ’02 turned his Capstone radio internship into a successful career in sports broadcasting.

University, Lake Forest, George Washington, and others. We used what was learned to redesign Senior Seminar to focus on college readiness, and we revised the exhibition, asking Seniors to provide proof of their college and lifelong learning readiness as a product of both their

For many years, lessons in Senior Seminar included visits from professors, residential advisors, and recent graduates, as well as exercises in academic integrity, mock registration, campus mapping, personal finance, and other collegiate topics. Increasing collaboration with the office of college counseling, the wholeschool advisory curriculum, and other agenda items began to squeeze the time and resources available to support meaningful individual student scholarship toward seniors’ Quest Exhibition at the end of the year. Something had to give.

COVID-19 disrupted our ability to continue the Quest program as it was originally designed, but we seized on this disruption as an opportunity to update and improve the senior experience, creating the Senior Capstone Project. In this new iteration, we were able to revive off-campus experiences and individual exploration and provide students more time, resources, and support than in the past.

The school's current effort to lean into our experiential roots and expand our focus on authentic learning have led to the creation of a new, year-long Capstone course meant to maximize the potential of our seniors as independent scholars.

The culmination of decades of work and thinking, this next stage will be the most exciting yet, as we develop ways to build bridges between the student and the workplace, lab, field, studio, and community. As a full-credit course for all seniors, the Senior Capstone Project will place each student’s intellectual curiosity at the top of the agenda, with a guided path meant to enable them to test the limits of their skills, knowledge, and grit. The Senior Capstone Project will provide students with the skills they need to pursue their own investigations, includ-

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For the things we have to learn before we do them, we learn by doing them.

—Aristotle

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ing media literacy, innovation models, research methods, interview techniques, professional communication and presentation skills, questioning strategies, and more.

The Capstone Project, as it has for many years now, will continue to expand relationships between current students and alums, as well as both new and long-standing connections in the St. Louis community. Long term goals include development of more off-campus opportunities throughout the school year, the securing of more formal and permanent relationships with businesses and organizations, development of mentorship opportunities, and leadership among high schools that offer capstone-style programs.

Meanwhile, senior advisory time will be dedicated to college readiness and the Habits of Mind and Heart as they apply to life in and beyond Whitfield. College counseling will, as it should, have its own dedicated time in the curriculum, no longer competing with the senior advisory curriculum in a single, multi-purpose course.

As Aristotle said, “For the things we have to learn before we do them, we learn by doing them.” In other words, to learn to swim you have to get wet, and to learn to drive you have to get behind the wheel. To be an educated, productive citizen of character in a representative republic, a student must get out of their seat, off campus, and out of their comfort zone. This year’s Senior Capstone Project found Whitfield seniors starting businesses, training for a marathon, painting and sculpting, conducting research, and writing code. Next year, with a full-credit course devoted to Capstone work, the sky is the limit.

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Where Learning Comes to Life How experiential learning is transforming education at The Whitfield School.

Learning Without Limits From local fieldwork to global exploration, experiential learning at Whitfield extends far beyond the classroom—and deep into the heart of student development.

Defining a Core Philosophy Over the past year, Whitfield has taken steps to further define this core value. A faculty working group convened to explore not only what experiential learning means at Whitfield, but how to deliver it with consistency and purpose across disciplines and grade levels.

Their shared definition is both rigorous and inspiring:

At The Whitfield School, learning doesn’t begin and end at the classroom door. Whether students are developing sustainable solutions in their science labs, stepping into history along the streets of Memphis, or collaborating across cultures in the Honduran highlands, they are engaging in a kind of education that demands more than memorization. It demands participation.

At The Whitfield School, student curiosity is ignited as they engage in authentic inquiry, take ownership of their educational journey, and tackle real-world challenges in and out of the classroom. Through their unique voices, students explore, discuss, collaborate, apply, and exhibit their knowledge to authentic audiences, creating enduring learning experiences.

“Experiential education is at the heart of what we do,” says Sara Ringe, assistant head of school. “It’s how we ignite student curiosity and empower them to tackle real-world challenges—in and out of the classroom.”

Experiential learning has always been a part of the school’s DNA. It is not a new direction, but a return to what Whitfield has always done best: learning by doing. The school’s emphasis on teacher-as-coach and student agency has long distinguished it from peer institutions. Now, with renewed clarity, Whitfield is leaning into this foundation to elevate its mission and sharpen its future.

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Experiential education is at the heart of what we do. It’s how we ignite student curiosity and empower them to tackle real-world challenges— in and out of the classroom.

—Sara Ringe

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As Ringe notes, this approach puts students at the center of the Whitfield experience: “Students should be the drivers of their education. The adults in the room—teachers, parents, administrators—are the driving instructors. We provide guidance and encouragement, but ultimately, it’s their road trip.”

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international and domestic trips: Honduras, Poland, Memphis, and Camp Wyman

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Professional Practice: Designing for Discovery That philosophy is matched by Whitfield’s approach to faculty growth. “Experiential education is about constant reflection,” says Zach Schwarz, upper school director. “Our teachers are always reevaluating whether classroom activities are serving students well.

That kind of responsiveness models what it means to be a lifelong learner.”

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W-Days

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Trevon Jones, Ph.D., middle school director, echoes that sentiment: “Collaboration has been key. We have so many phenomenal educators in the building who regularly create student-centered, authentic experiences. This year’s professional development has included opportunities to showcase these practitioners and the work they facilitate for kids.”

For Ringe, that spirit of shared learning is essential. “Faculty modeling great ideas, giving each other feedback, encouraging each other to get their hands dirty—that’s the best model of experiential learning for adults,” she says.

“And it’s how the most meaningful professional development happens.”

formalized international exchange with Hakuba High School, Japan

of students participated in off-campus learning experiences

Experiential Learning by the Numbers (2024-2025 school year)

On Campus: The Power of W-Days One of the most visible expressions of experiential education at Whitfield is the W-Day. Instituted several years ago as a scheduling innovation, W-Days are full-school breaks from the standard cycle rotation. “It was born out of necessity,” says Ringe. “Students were leaving campus for grade-level field experiences on different days, which made it difficult to keep momentum in mixed-grade classrooms.

W-Days level the playing field: everyone is off schedule, everyone is learning differently.”

These days make space in the calendar for everything from on-campus service projects to rehearsals, field trips, and interdisciplinary excursions. W-Days occur throughout the year and serve different purposes—some are designed to welcome and orient students at the start of the year, while others immerse students in thematic grade-level experiences off campus.

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What Happens on a W-Day? Recent examples of W-Day programming across divisions: • 6th Grade: Visited the Endangered Wolf Center to learn about wildlife conservation; participated in team-building and ropes course challenges at Ryze Adventure Park.

• 7th Grade: Took part in a Global Citizenship Exhibit Workshop on campus, exploring issues like healthcare, education, and clean water; climbed at Ryze Adventure Park in the afternoon.

• 8th Grade: Competed in the Middle School Olympics and Chariot Race Launch; engaged in STEM activities with robotics challenges led by The Magic House and engineering/design tasks.

• 9th Grade: Volunteered at Central West End Farm and Greenwood Cemetery, focusing on urban agriculture and historical preservation; returned to campus to reflect on their service experiences.

• 10th Grade: Volunteered at the Jewish Community Center in the morning; toured the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum in the afternoon, learning from exhibits and survivor testimony.

• 11th Grade: Traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, for a two-day civil rights immersion trip that included Fort Pillow, the National Civil Rights Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and Withers Collection Museum & Gallery.

• 12th Grade: Spent the day off-campus independently working on Senior Capstone Projects in preparation for final presentations and exhibitions in May.

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In October, middle schoolers explored their grade-level themes in and around St. Louis: 7th graders visited the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum; 8th graders explored innovation and leadership at the Cortex Innovation Community; and 9th graders explored Cahokia Mounds and the St. Louis Art Museum as part of their "introductions" theme. In April, the final W-Day of the year featured a broad range of programs, including service, outdoor education, global citizenship, and senior capstone work.

Interdisciplinary Projects: Global Thinking Starts Early Experiential learning thrives not only on new places—but also on new ways of thinking. In the 7th grade, that meant bringing together English and social studies in an interdisciplinary Global Issues Exhibition. “This started as a collaborative unit between Emily Treadwell and Megan Wolfslau,” says Jones.

“They created an exhibition in which 7th graders could share their research with the larger community.” The result was a dynamic showcase of student work—combining writing, presentation, and social analysis to bring current events to life through middle school voices.

Experiences That Cross Borders For some students, the most transformative experiences happen even farther from campus. Whitfield’s service-learning and internation-

al travel programs offer a powerful reminder that education—and empathy—grow through immersion.

This year, thanks to a grant from the Steward Family Foundation, the entire junior class traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, to engage with the history and legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. For Schwarz, one of the most poignant moments came during a stop at the Withers Collection Museum, home to a vast archive of civil rights photography. “There was one image that showed the precursor to students integrating Little Rock Central High School in 1957,” he recalls. “The image was shot from across the street and depicted some of the students getting out of the car and seeing an angry mob lining the steps leading up to the school. It brilliantly captured the moment before the moment—and the courage that was required.”

At the National Civil Rights Museum—housed in the former Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated—students moved through exhibits that traced the arc of protest, policy, and justice in America. Getting students out of the classroom and giving them the chance to walk the streets where history happened ignites their imaginations and deepens their understanding. Moments like these aren’t add-ons to an experience-based curriculum—they’re at its heart.

Other global programs brought Whitfield students to Honduras, where they partnered with local organizations on service-learning initiatives, and to Poland, where faculty historians guided students through a sobering study of Holocaust sites and Jewish heritage.

Looking ahead, the school will launch its first student exchange with Hakuba International School, near Nagano, Japan.

Over the course of the year, Whitfield and Hakuba will each send four students for one-semester exchanges, offering these students life-changing and world-expanding learning experiences–and adding to the cultural richness of our school community.

A Future-Focused Education At Whitfield, experiential learning is not a supplement to a traditional education— it is the education.

Ringe agrees. “Life is experiential,” she says.

“Adults don’t live life listening to lectures or taking notes. We experience it. If we want to raise not just great kids but great adults, we need to give students the chance to navigate experiences for themselves—using critical thinking, collaboration, curiosity, and character.”

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College Knowledge: Confidence in the Process Whitfield’s distinctive, required course prepares students for college—and for life.

Not Just Prepared—Transformed At Whitfield, college counseling is not a service added in the final year. It is a scholarly, multiyear progression rooted in strong relationships, strategic thinking, and institutional care.

Beginning informally in sixth grade and gaining structure through ninth and tenth, the experience culminates in a credit-bearing course for juniors and seniors: College Knowledge.

An Academic Approach to College Planning Unlike many independent schools where college preparation occurs outside the academic day, Whitfield embeds this work into the curriculum. Juniors and seniors meet weekly for College Knowledge, guided by Amanda Henry, director of college counseling, and Ebony Sistrunk, associate director. Their combined experience, nuanced understanding of the admissions landscape, and deep investment in each student elevate Whitfield’s program to regional distinction.

The curriculum is tailored to developmental needs. In junior year, students begin a process of self-discovery and active exploration.

Through guided exercises in interest mapping, resume building, essay development, alumni conversations, and university field trips, they learn how to assess college options with clarity and confidence. A robust speaker series introduces topics including athletics, international applications, financial aid, standardized testing trends, and portfolio-based admissions.

This course reflects Whitfield’s belief that the college process is not a distraction from academics—it’s an opportunity for students to apply hard-won research and writing skills to a challenge that couldn’t be more personal or more “real world.” Students learn to ask big questions: Who am I? Where am I going? What do I value? And in seeking those answers, they develop the critical habits and intellectual maturity that will serve them for life.

As seniors enter the application stage, the course becomes highly individualized.

Students engage in application workshops, review essays line by line, analyze the subtleties of selective admissions, and receive targeted support on letters of recommendation, scholarship strategy, and financial aid navigation. Mindfulness and stress management tools help students maintain perspective and balance.

COLLEGE COUNSELING TIMELINE

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Grades 6–8

Grades 9–10

Grades 11–12

Informal exploration

Strategy building

One-on-one partnership + College Knowledge

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In the spring, College Knowledge concludes with transition-focused sessions on topics such as college academics, independent living, and personal wellness—equipping students not only for admission, but for life on campus.

A Curriculum That Mirrors the Mission Whitfield’s college counseling program is a learning opportunity in itself. It employs a spiraling curriculum that builds on the intellectual and planning skills that students develop over the course of their Whitfield career. With one-on-one coaching and support from Whitfield’s college counselors, students use these skills to make a life-changing evaluations and decisions: • Research skills help students understand their college options more deeply, moving beyond glossy advertisements and webpages

The Results—Distinctive, Diverse, and Personal The Class of 2025 submitted 702 applications and received 445 acceptances, with 100% of the class admitted to four-year schools.

The outcomes reflect both excellence and individuality: • 69 students in the class of 2025 will attend 53 different schools • 35% STEM majors • 30% business majors • 15% humanities majors • 32 students since 2023 have committed to collegiate athletics

• Critical self-reflection not only helps students think about their academic and professional aspirations–but what kind of community they want to join, and the kinds of social and cultural values they have • Strategic planning and prioritization • Analytical comparison and discernment • Organizational systems and communication tools The process is deeply personal—but also academic in the truest sense. Students are asked to evaluate institutions, synthesize data, articulate their story, and advocate for their futures. The goal of Whitfield’s best-in-class program is not just college admission—it’s college readiness.

This partnership allows parents to step back as counselors step in—offering students the room to make meaningful choices, build agency, and approach the process with independence and self-assurance.

The Whitfield Difference A Program Built on Trust and Expertise Amanda Henry and Ebony Sistrunk lead with intellect and empathy. Their role extends beyond technical guidance; they offer thoughtful mentorship and foster a culture of trust. Families know their children are being guided not only by experts, but by educators who see the whole student.

In a region filled with strong schools, Whitfield’s college counseling program distinguishes itself through structure, intentionality, and outcome. It is embedded within the academic experience. It is led by seasoned professionals.

And it reflects Whitfield’s mission: to cultivate lives of curiosity, integrity, and purpose.

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From Whitfield to Wherever: Alumni Helping Alumni Introducing the Whitfield Wayfinder Program

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ne of the lasting benefits of a Whitfield education is the community it cultivates—not just in the classroom, but across time and distance. With graduates living, learning, and working in cities around the globe, Whitfield’s alumni network is a powerful resource. This fall, that network takes on a new form with the launch of the Whitfield Wayfinder Program—an initiative designed to help students and alumni support one another at pivotal moments in their journeys.

Developed in collaboration with the recently established Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) and led by Director of Alumni Relations Laura Lotz ’95 P’21 ’31, the Wayfinder Program begins with a clear goal: connect current juniors and seniors with Whitfield alumni currently enrolled in college. These near-peer conversations offer students more than surface-level insight—they create an opportunity to talk candidly with someone who understands both the Whitfield experience and the transition to college life.

The idea grew out of early conversations within the AAB, which formed in 2023–2024 to strengthen alumni engagement and shape long-term strategy. In its first year, the Board partnered with Lotz to establish bylaws and articulate The Alumni Promise, a strategic framework for alumni connection and contribution. From that work emerged a shared priority: mentorship.

“Our initial discussions centered around ways to create alumni chapters or city-based gatherings,” said Lotz. “But the more we talked,

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the clearer it became that we could start by mobilizing college-age alumni. They’re in a unique position to support current students—and they can benefit from mentorship themselves as they prepare for life beyond college.”

The Wayfinder Program will roll out in phases. The first phase focuses on connecting current students with Whitfield alumni attending colleges and universities they are actively considering. The conversations may be informal—a call, an email exchange, or even a campus tour—but the intent is meaningful: give students direct access to alumni perspectives that go beyond brochures and rankings. In future phases, the program will expand to support alumni-to-alumni connections based on shared geography and interests.

This initial matching process will be supported by the school’s new college counseling database, which allows for more efficient access to alumni matriculation data. While still in development, the database will help the Alumni Office identify recent graduates by institution, making it easier to facilitate introductions aligned with student interests and questions.

The long-term vision for Wayfinder is expansive: Year One (2025–2026) Current students connect with alumni in college.

Year Two College-age alumni are matched with older alumni living in the same cities.

Year Three and beyond Alumni-to-alumni mentorship and grassroots regional gatherings begin to take shape.

Promotional efforts will launch in collaboration with the College Counseling Office this fall, with a particular focus on engaging students and young alumni from the Classes of 2022–2025.

The goal is to keep the process relational, low-pressure, and personally meaningful— echoing the tone of the conversations the program is designed to foster.

At its core, the Wayfinder Program reflects the best of what a Whitfield education offers: connection, mentorship, and purpose. It reminds students that their relationship with Whitfield doesn’t end at graduation— and invites alumni to stay engaged, not just as graduates, but as guides.

Upcoming Alumni Events Mark Your Calendar THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025

Boston Alumni Social / Granary Tavern THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025

Alumni Book Club (Book #1) / Barnes & Cole Alumni House TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

Alumni Book Club (Book #1) / Virtual WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025

Meet the Alumni Advisory Board Formed in 2023–2024, the Alumni Advisory Board supports alumni engagement, promotes school values, and serves as a strategic partner in building a connected alumni community.

Casey Jolley ’03 President (St. Louis – second year) Mark Baden ’96 (St. Louis – second year) Mike Reese ’06 (Denver – second year) Adam Rosen ’06 (Denver) Abby (Lefler) Eaves ’10 (St. Louis) Caroline Baer ’12 (Austin – second year) Shawn Williamson ’13 (Dallas) Grace Farr ’20 (New York City) Michael Koman ’22 Collegiate Member (Raleigh) Juliana Dahlhoff ’23 Collegiate Member (Houston)

Pickleball Social / Chicken N Pickle - St. Charles FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2025

Homecoming: Lip Sync & Bonfire / The Whitfield School SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025

Snow Fun / The Whitfield School MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2026

Seattle Alumni Social / Location TBD SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2026

Green & White Gala / The Whitfield School THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026

San Francisco Alumni Social / Location TBD SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2026

Alumni Reunion / St. Louis, MO For additional even information and to register for these events, visit the alumni events page using the QR code.

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the Head of School—the only employee directly accountable to the board. Everyone else answers to the head.”

Board governance is not management. While trustees do not set curriculum or student policy, they shape the conditions that allow the school to thrive.

Committees and Capacity Whitfield’s Board includes several standing committees that support its mission: Finance & Investment Advancement, which supports the work of Development, Communications, and Alumni Relations; Buildings & Grounds; and Trustees. Each is co-chaired by trustees and reports to the Executive Committee, which then presents recommendations to the full Board.

Stewards of the Mission: Inside Whitfield’s Board of Trustees Understanding the governance structure guiding the school forward.

What a Board Does — and What It Doesn’t

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At the bottom of each Whitfield diploma, all graduates find two signatures, that of the head of school–and that of the chair of the board of trustees. While most people understand who the head is and what he does, not everyone may have a similar understanding about the board chair–or for that matter, the board of trustees.

school’s endowment, are being properly stewarded. And each member of the board–each trustee–is guided by a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests of the school. Thus, while the head is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of Whitfield, the board is more focused on long-term planning and institutional health, partnering with the head to develop strategy plans and priorities and to support the realization of those priorities.

Like most independent schools, Whitfield is a non-profit institution, which means that, by law, it must have a board. The board’s charge, on the highest level, is to ensure that the school is fulfilling its mission, that it is headed in the right direction strategically, and that the school’s resources, including and especially the

Understanding this governance structure can help correct occasional misunderstanding.

“Sometimes, people think the board is responsible for running the school,” says outgoing board chair Ron Fox ’74 P ’01 ’03 ’07 ’24. “This is not true. Our work is about long-term goals and fiduciary responsibility. We hire and support

Experience

The trustees bring a wide range of professional expertise—doctors, lawyers, bankers, accountants, educators, architects, and entrepreneurs—serving as strategic partners to the head of school and the administrative leadership in matters spanning campus development, financial decisions, and organizational strategy. “The board is an incredible resource for me and for Whitfield as a whole. On the strategic level, they were crucial thought partners in developing the vision of Whitfield 2030 and the ambitious future it maps out for Whitfield. At the same time, we have trustees with deep backgrounds

“

The strength of our Board comes from its shared commitment to mission. All trustees love Whitfield and believe in what it does for students. They raise funds, support enrollment, support the accreditation process, and plan for facilities—all to create an environment where students thrive.”

-Ron Fox ’74 P’01 ’03 ’07 ’24

”

in areas like finance and construction, offering invaluable, expert advice and counsel on everything from managing the endowment to major capital initiatives like the transformative IC/Piper/Athletics project.”

From Governance to Impact Under Fox’s leadership, the Board has aligned its governance structure with the Whitfield 2030 strategic plan. Major achievements include launching the Building & Grounds Committee, developing a board self-assessment process,

About Outgoing Board Chair Ron Fox ’74 P ’01 ’03 ’07 ’24 Ron Fox ’74 graduated magna cum laude from Washington University with a B.S. in Psychology and earned his J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law in 1981. He began his legal career clerking for Missouri Supreme Court Judge A.J. Higgins, then built a distinguished career as a trial lawyer. Specializing in maritime defense law for over 30 years, Ron is a Proctor in the Maritime Law Association and was recently recognized as an ICON of the Missouri legal community. He leads his own firm of 15 attorneys and has spoken nationally on trial and maritime law.

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hiring a new investment advisor, redesigning meeting formats to encourage generative discussion, and advancing a comprehensive campus capital plan.

“We’ve built a board that is not just engaged, but effective,” Fox notes. “It’s one of the great honors of my life to serve with these people.”

How to Get Involved Trustees and committee members welcome community participation. Board service is not the only way to lead—many parents and alumni contribute meaningfully through committees and advisory roles. Prospective trustees or those interested in governance are invited to contact Board Chair Jeffrey Evitts P ’27 ’29 or the Committee on Trustees.

Mission-Driven Leadership “The strength of our Board comes from its shared commitment to mission,” Fox observes.

“All trustees love Whitfield and believe in what it does for students. They raise funds, support enrollment, support the accreditation process, and plan for facilities—all to create an environment where students thrive.”

This commitment is evident: during Fox’s tenure, the Board supported the hiring of a dedicated alumni director, partnered on the Whitfield 2030 plan, and collaborated closely with Head of School Dr. Chris Cunningham.

Final Look Institutional excellence does not happen by accident—it is planned, financed, governed.

Whitfield’s Board of Trustees exemplifies that structure in action, marrying vision and oversight to uphold a mission rooted in curiosity, integrity, and purpose. Their stewardship ensures Whitfield’s promise endures—for today’s learners and tomorrow’s leaders.

About Incoming Board Chair Jeffrey Evitts P ’27 ’29 A native of St. Louis, Jeffrey Evitts studied Business Operations at Indiana University and has worked at the H-J Family of Companies—a privately held manufacturing firm—since 2007, serving in a variety of leadership roles. Deeply engaged in his children’s education, Jeffrey has served as a coach, Scout leader, Parents Council member, and trustee at Rohan Woods School, Community School, and The Whitfield School. He is also an active member of the Saint Catherine Laboure parish and the Vianney High School community. In addition to traveling and golfing, Jeffrey is a licensed private pilot.

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Experience

2025–2026 Board of Trustees

Executive Committee

Trustees

Jeffrey Evitts P ’27 ’29 / Chair / H‑J Enterprises

Andy Bryan P ’25 ’28 / Advancement Co-Chair

Geneen Von Kloha P ’25 / Vice Chair / Finance & Investment Co-Chair / Moneta Group

Brian Chao '08 / Starkloff Disability Institute

Jessica Portis P ’26 / Treasurer / Finance & Investment Co-Chair / TIFF Investment Management Corey Jones P ’24 ’27 / Secretary / Advancement Co-Chair / NUSO Ron Fox ’74 P ’01 ’03 ’07 ’24 / Ad Hoc Exec Committee member / Fox Smith, LLC

“

The Whitfield School has been an amazing place for my family, and I am thrilled to be able to serve in a leadership role to give back to the school. There are many wonderful things in store for Whitfield, and I am excited to be a part of it all.

-Jeffrey Evitts

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Paul Minorini P ’12 ’15 ’16 / Ad Hoc Exec Committee member / Boys Hope Girls Hope Scott Rhodes ’98 P ’24 ’26 ’28 / Ad Hoc Exec Committee member / Capital Campaign Liaison / Dr. Brown’s

Shereen Fischer P ’28 Austin Hasek P ’30 / Centene Kristin Keller, Ph.D. P ’29 / Saint Louis University Derik King P ’24 / Building & Grounds Chair / Self-employed Steve Nordlund P ’21 ’23 / Oshkosh Corporation Melissa Howe O'Connor ’08 / St. Louis Zoo Asim Raza P ’24 / Arcadian Infracom, Inc.

Honorary Lifetime Trustees Committee Chairs Dave Cooperstein P ’25 / Building & Grounds Co-Chair / PGAV Destinations Lisa Long P ’24 ’27 / Advancement Co-Chair / Home Sweet Home

Philip B. Cady Jr. ’70 P ’97 ’00 ’02 / Ford Steel (retired) Bruno B. Schmitter P ’99 ’02 ’06 / Hydromat, Inc. Wayne L. Smith II P ’97 ’00 ’08 / Eagle Private Capital, LLC

Kris Mannen ’05 / Building & Grounds Co-Chair / McCarthy Building Company Karen Myers P ’13 ’16 ’16 / Secretary / Committee on Trustees Chair / US Bank (retired)

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the implications of psychological research and neuroscience on how students learn. Faculty exchanged strategies for better scaffolding long-term projects and for promoting student independence in developing personalized study tools.

Learning Leaders: Investing in Our Educators How Professional Growth Fuels Innovation at Whitfield

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Head of School Chris Cunningham, Ph.D., t Whitfield, excellence in teaching agrees, arguing that faculty learning is at the is not a static achievement—it is a heart of Whitfield’s excellence: “Great schools continuous process of growth. Each foster a faculty culture of critical reflection year, the school deepens its commitment to and ongoing professional growth. When we faculty development, recognizing that the invest in the continued growth of our faculty, most dynamic classrooms are led by educators staff, and administrators, we reinforce the who are themselves active learners. During the foundation of our 2024–2025 school school—ensuring that year, Whitfield faculevery student benefits ty explored some of from current research, the most exciting and best practices, and When we invest in the continued challenging research an engaged, reflective growth of our faculty, staff, and adult community.” and thinking in educaadministrators, we reinforce tion—from the neurothe foundation of our school.

Ploszay and her science of learning to committee created —Chris Cunningham, Ph.D. experiential education four faculty discussion to the ways that AI and action groups, is changing how and each focused on what we teach. an important issue in contemporary Guided by the Committee on Professional education and grounded in a shared summer Growth, chaired by Mead Ploszay, this work reading. The learning groups emphasized draws on the same learning models we use for research-driven approaches to teaching and our students: present faculty with interesting assessment and challenged faculty to apply questions and important problems, give them decades of educational research—on the brain, the time to think and work with others, and on learning, and on student achievement. Their the learning and growth will follow. “The goal work culminated in end-of-year presentations was to offer relevant resources and create where faculty exchanged practical strategies space for discussion and collaboration,” said and shared best practices across departments.

Ploszay. “When educators are trusted to lead, they bring forward ideas that stick.”

The group that read UVA professor Daniel Willingham’s Outsmart Your Brain explored

“ ”

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Experience

Faculty who read Joe Feldman’s Grading for Equity critically examined outdated assessment practices and reconsidered how effort-based grades, extra credit, and grade calculations impact equity. Their proposals included rethinking participation, handling late work, and implementing grading strategies that better center student learning.

The cohort reading Brave New Words by Sal Khan explored the transformative implications of artificial intelligence in education.

As part of Whitfield’s ongoing engagement with AI, this group developed classroom rubrics to guide responsible and transparent use, helping ensure shared understanding among teachers and students around when and how AI tools should be used.

A fourth group engaged with a curated collection of research and articles on experiential education, launching a year-long conversation to deepen their understanding and implementation of this core practice at Whitfield. As part of their work, they crafted and presented a shared definition of “experiential learning,” creating common language to support and continually refine what Whitfield teachers are already uniquely well equipped to do.

In every case, faculty explored timely and sometimes provocative ideas—and worked to translate those insights into concrete strategies to enhance student learning. “These titles addressed current issues in teaching and pedagogy,” said Ploszay. “Faculty chose the topic most relevant to their practice and used what they learned to influence classroom strategies and school policies.”

This spirit of inquiry and reflection was also reflected in a spring workshop led by Dr. Tim Bono, a lecturer in Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

His keynote, Emotional Intelligence, Resilience,

Self-Directed Growth Asynchronous Professional Learning at Whitfield In addition to structured PD, faculty had access to a new asynchronous platform—allowing them to explore content aligned with their professional goals.

Popular modules included: • Canva for creating classroom visuals • Excel for data and grade analysis • Cybersecurity for safe digital learning • Canvas onboarding in preparation for this fall’s system launch This flexible model supported continued growth and skill-building, with a focus on relevance, autonomy, and future-readiness.

and Trust Building, resonated with faculty and staff by reinforcing the social-emotional foundations of effective teaching. While just one day in a yearlong cycle of professional development, it offered a compelling affirmation of Whitfield’s investment in the whole educator—intellectually, professionally, and personally.

Looking ahead, the Committee on Professional Growth is preparing for the next phase: supporting the rollout of Canvas, Whitfield’s new learning management system. As with this year’s efforts, the goal is not just technical adoption—but thoughtful integration into an environment where transparency, experiential learning, and student reflection are core values.

“There is great value in teacher-led initiatives,” said Ploszay. “They lead to real change— because the people doing the learning are the ones doing the leading.”

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Legacy on the Mat: Three Decades of Whitfield Wrestling

wrestling team. It’s a program that teaches young men how to be young men. Dedication, time management, and grit—those are the real takeaways.”

Under their leadership, the program continues to flourish in Class 3 competition, without losing the mindset that made it great. “Whether we’re in Class 1 or Class 4,” Politte says, “we prepare to beat anyone. That’s who we are.”

How grit, mentorship, and consistency built a dynasty.

A Legacy Forged in Sweat In March 2025, the Whitfield Warriors wrestling team once again affirmed its place among Missouri’s elite, earning a third-place finish in the MSHSAA Class 3 State Championships. It marked the program’s 15th consecutive top-three finish and its 18th team trophy since 2007. Yet the true legacy of Whitfield wrestling is not measured in medals alone—it is built on decades of discipline, strong leadership, and a belief in the power of sport to shape character.

For more than 30 years, Whitfield wrestling has served as a model of sustained excellence.

The program has produced 61 individual state champions, more than 250 state qualifiers, 20 college athletes, and one U.S. National Team member. This kind of success isn’t born overnight.

It is forged over time, by coaches who believe in daily discipline, athletes who embrace the grind, and a school community that values effort over ego.

From Foundation to Future When Charlie Sherertz P ’12 ’13 ’15 ’17 arrived at Whitfield in 1996, the wrestling program had potential but lacked identity. A biology teacher and former coach in the public school system, Sherertz took over a modest squad and

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Experience

Coach Buddy Smith, former coach Charlie Sherertz, and Coach Matt Politte

began building from the ground up. It took nearly a decade to win the program's first team trophy—but in that journey, he laid the foundation for a new kind of culture.

Program Milestones 30+ years of program history 11 state championships 18 Final Four appearances 61 individual state champions 250+ state qualifiers 20 college wrestlers 1 U.S. National Team member

“We had to out-train the competition and convince families to stick with us,” Sherertz recalls. By 2007, the first team trophy arrived. Soon after, the titles followed: 11 state championships, 18 Final Four appearances.

Lessons Beyond the Mat More than wins or medals, the measure of Whitfield wrestling lies in the lives shaped along the way. Graduates have gone on to attend Duke, Princeton, Stanford, and all five U.S. service academies. Some return as coaches, others as mentors. All carry with them a mindset forged in Whitfield’s wrestling room.

Politte puts it simply: “Success isn’t just medals.

It’s distance traveled.”

For Smith, the call remains clear: “We need wrestlers. But more than that, we need young people who are willing to work, to show up, and to believe in what’s possible.”

Hall of Fame 2025 Spotlight Celebrating two generations of Whitfield greatness

CHARLIE SHERERTZ P ’12 ’13 ’15 ’17 27-year head coach / 11 state titles / 60 individual champions Known for transforming Whitfield wrestling into a disciplined dynasty that elevated the entire school.

RYAN MANGO ’09

Carrying the Torch In 2023, Sherertz passed the torch to longtime assistants Buddy Smith P ’29 and Matt Politte ’98 P’ 27, now co-head coaches of the varsity program.

Smith and Sherertz first crossed paths as teammates at the University of Missouri; Politte, a Whitfield alum, joined the team as a student-athlete in 1994 and never left.

“Charlie built more than a program—he built a culture,” Politte says. “Our job now is to carry it forward with the same discipline and class.”

Smith agrees: “This isn’t just a

Wrestling and the Whitfield Way Integrity.

Resilience.

Discipline.

Two-time state champion.

NCAA All-American at Stanford.

Member of the U.S. National Wrestling Team. A legacy of talent and determination built at Whitfield.

The Whitfield wrestling program remains a living expression of the school’s core values—a place where effort is honored, growth is measured in grit, and every practice builds a stronger future.

Ryan Mango and Coach Buddy Smith

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Building a Basketball Powerhouse

Today, Barnes is not just rebuilding a team— he’s reimagining a culture. With support from Athletic Director Mike Roth and a growing coaching staff—including Coach DeMarkus Madyun, Coach Karen Albers, and Coach Shanea Miles—the program is gaining momentum. If a junior varsity squad forms this year, Coach Vinnié Winters will join as well. These coaches are more than trainers—they’re mentors and role models who share Barnes’s vision.

Coach Santana Barnes is transforming girls basketball at Whitfield—with heart, vision, and purpose.

A Coach, a Calling, a Culture

“We’re in the dawn of a new day,” Barnes says.

“The energy around Whitfield girls basketball is growing daily.”

Before he ever wore the green and white, Santana Barnes was building something bigger than basketball. A gifted athlete, musician, and educator, Barnes was shaped by three enduring forces: sports, scholastics, and service. “My mother was an educator,” he explains. “Teaching and caring for youth has always been a constant in my life.”

After college, Barnes returned to Riverview Gardens, his alma mater, to teach and coach.

He didn’t expect that a handful of girls in an open gym—athletes who could outplay the boys—would change the course of his career.

“I was so intrigued by how much the girls game had evolved,” he says. “That was the start of my forever life in coaching girls basketball.”

That moment led to an invitation to join the MO Phenom STL program, a high-performance girls basketball organization focused on developing student-athletes on and off the court. Today, as head coach of Whitfield’s girls

Coaching Cornerstones Meet players where they are— and guide them forward Coaching should stretch players without breaking them Embrace struggle as a key to personal growth Have fun and build strong memories as a team

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Experience

Spotlight on Addison Odom ’29 • Began playing in 2nd grade • Joined Phenom in 5th grade under Coach Barnes • Aspires to play college basketball and join the WNBA • Known for her versatility, leadership, and strong coach-player chemistry

Powered by Love, Built on Growth

“

We’re in the dawn of a new day.

The energy around Whitfield girls basketball is growing daily.

—Coach Santana Barnes

”

varsity team and a cornerstone of the Phenom community, Barnes brings his full coaching philosophy to life: “We can’t teach them until we reach them.”

A Program Reborn Barnes didn’t arrive at Whitfield with a whistle in hand—he came first as a mentor. In 2023, facing the possibility of a canceled season, he met with a group of discouraged players alongside then Coach Chris Ellis. “They were ready to give up,” he recalls. But four girls decided to stay—and convinced a fifth to join.

Barnes is direct about his values. “No teammate is above the other. Sisterhood is the commitment,” he says. At the heart of the program is a single word: LOVE. “We’re not just building basketball players—we’re building whole people,” he continues. “Growth is uncomfortable. But we’ll coach hard, bend without breaking, and have fun along the way.”

Clocked In, Ready to Work There’s buzz in the St. Louis basketball community—and growing pressure to deliver.

“The world says we’re on the clock to hang a banner,” Barnes says. “Well then... #ChallengeAccepted.”

Still, success isn’t measured in wins alone.

“If we teach them how to win in life,” Barnes says, “then they’ll understand that winning the game has nothing to do with the scoreboard.”

But trophies are not the goal. For Barnes, the goal is to make the most of the time he has with his student-athletes. “We build bonds,” he says. “We help these girls become the best versions of themselves. They’ll remember this forever—and we intend to make it special.”

A Rising Generation

In other words: It’s bigger than basketball.

It’s about establishing peer mentorships and fostering a culture of commitment.

The excitement is already visible on the court.

Fallon Jones ’27 is approaching 1,000 career points. “She’s been the heartbeat of this team,” Barnes says. “She gave everything last year— energy, effort, voice. This year, help is on the way.”

As Coach Barnes puts it: #ClockInWarriors. Let’s work.

That help includes incoming freshman Addison Odom ’29, a longtime Phenom player and one of the region’s most promising young athletes.

“She’s capable of doing just about anything,” Barnes says. “Our coach-player chemistry is rare—and having her on my team is a blessing.”

“The Warrior seed had officially been sown in me,” Barnes says. “Whitfield won the district championship with just five players.”

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2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

David Greathouse ’02 A versatile tri-sport athlete and state champion hurdler who returned to coach and mentor future generations of Warriors.

Lauren MacInnis ’17 A field hockey star and professional ice hockey player whose discipline propelled her to NCAA Division I and beyond.

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t Whitfield, athletics is more than competition—it is a formative part of the student experience. On the field, on the court, and in the gym, student-athletes learn to lead, persevere, and collaborate.

Athletics challenges them to pursue excellence, strengthens character, and prepares them for success beyond the scoreboard.

That spirit was on full display this spring as the school celebrated the induction of the 2025 class of The Whitfield School Athletic Hall of Fame. Held on Friday, May 2, in Cady Gymnasium, the ceremony honored six alumni and one legendary coach whose accomplishments continue to inspire the next generation of Warriors.

The Whitfield School’s Athletic Hall of Fame (AHOF) was established in 2016 to recognize and honor those individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions to

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Experience

Whitfield’s athletic program. The 2025 class is among the most decorated in school history.

Each of the six student-athlete inductees was honored during their time at Whitfield with the Ginger Newton Jacobi Athlete of the Year Award—the school’s highest recognition for athletic achievement.

Since the last induction in 2020, Whitfield athletes have continued to build on this tradition of excellence—adding six team state championships and 24 individual state titles in wrestling, tennis, track and field, golf, and cross country. To honor these accomplishments, the school also launched the Whitfield Wall of Fame, both physical and digital, which now showcases Hall of Fame members, state and district champions, and collegiate athletes Together, these recognitions tell a powerful story—one of perseverance, teamwork, and a legacy of athletic excellence.

—Mitch Rutledge ’12

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ALL O CH F I T

ME FA

Honoring a Legacy of Excellence: The 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

Ryan Mango ’09 A three-time state wrestling champion, two-time NCAA Division I All-American, U.S. National Team member, and Olympic alternate.

“

At Whitfield, it wasn’t hard to find a mentor.

Coaches noticed your effort and took you under their wing. That kind of support made me a better athlete—and a better person.

ATHL E

Stephanie Anderson ’13 A standout in basketball and volleyball who went on to become a scholar-athlete at the University of Chicago.

Mitch Rutledge ’12 A four-time, all-state golfer who earned two state titles and competed at the highest levels at Michigan State University.

Charlie Sherertz P ’12 ’13 ’15 ’17 A legendary wrestling coach and 12-time Missouri Coach of the Year, whose teams won 11 state championships and shaped hundreds of student-athletes

Watch the Induction Ceremony Scan the QR code to watch the full 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Torrence Watson ’18 A record-breaking basketball scorer and Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year whose career spans Mizzou to international professional play.

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A Year in Photos

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Experience

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A Year in Photos

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Experience

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A Year in Photos

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Experience

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Celebrating Excellence: Whitfield's 2025 Awards Day

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ach spring, the Whitfield community gathers in Woods Hall for one of the school’s most meaningful annual traditions—Awards Day. In a ceremony that celebrates both achievement and character, students, faculty, and staff were recognized for their academic accomplishments, leadership, service, and contributions to school life. This year's event reflected the heart of Whitfield's mission: to cultivate confident, capable young adults who lead lives of purpose and integrity.

2025 Student Award Recipients

Scan QR Code to watch the Ceremony

Three adults received Whitfield's most prestigious community awards, honoring their remarkable dedication and impact: The Janet Esrock Spirit of Whitfield Award Since joining Whitfield in 2022, Library Media Specialist Heaven John has transformed the Intellectual Commons into a dynamic hub of curiosity and belonging. She has expanded the book collection, championed reading initiatives, and empowered students through the student-led Library Council and a widely followed IC Instagram account. Known for her warmth and generosity, Heaven ensures that every student who enters the library feels seen, supported, and inspired to learn.

Girl Scout Gold Award

Director’s Award for Chorus

Tamir Tillman

Aurora Burkard

American Youth Foundation “I Dare You!” Leadership Awards

National School Choral Award

Finley Wilkins Michael Fentaw St. Louis County Outstanding Youth Leadership Program Award

Winnie Murphy University of Rochester Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award

Whether teaching Algebra II or AP Statistics, math teacher Lauren Kisling creates an environment where students thrive through challenge and connection. She is recognized for her high standards, calm presence, and signature sense of fun—including the beloved tradition of quadratic caroling during the holidays. Beyond the classroom, Lauren contributes meaningfully as an advisor, and a sponsor for the GSA and Garden clubs, helping students grow into their best selves.

The Lola B. Goodwin Building Community Award A member of Whitfield's maintenance team for nearly 40 years, Rickey Goodwin is a living link to the school’s founding. As the son of award namesake Lola B. Goodwin, Rickey embodies the values of kindness, service, and community. His daily interactions—from preparing spaces for events to greeting students with a smile—exemplify how one person can shape the culture of a place. As caretaker to Whitfield’s beloved school dogs, he reminds us of the simple power of love and consistency.

“

Whitfield is not defined by buildings or programs, but by people— people who lead with heart, humility, and dedication. The 2025 Awards Day affirmed that truth, celebrating not only what students and faculty achieve, but how they care for each other and the community they help create.

—Chris Cunningham, Ph.D.

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Experience

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Director’s Award for Band

Nathan Paul Teh-Gao Chien John Philip Sousa Award

Diana E. Hunigan Visual Arts Awards

Jaden Jones

Middle School - Lee Kirkpatrick Upper School - Dawn Lorraine Foster

University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award

Tanner J Gilbertson

Tate Kao

The Cover Award

Peggy Gundlach Fine Arts Award

Nancy Clukies Middle School English Award

Isabel M Aymerich

Faye Rebecca Davidson

Ruth E. Greathouse Achievement in the Arts Award

Upper School English Award

Dylan Weiss

Sophie Wilson Social Studies Awards

The George A. Newton Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award

Derrick Christopher Palmer

Middle School - Ted Keller Upper School - Yashua Sa-Ra Amen Science Awards

Jane Piper Gleason ’70 St. Louis Scholar Award

Ella Leah Wertman Class of 2025 Community Service Awards

Luke Corbin Thompson

Caleb Nelson Carter Tanner J. Gilbertson Diana E. Hunigan Joseph Kline Mason Gabriel Marks Gylian Isabelle Von Kloha

Upper School Mathematics Award

Tri-Star Athlete Awards

Middle School - Willow Kenyatta Upper School - Tate Kao Lois Banis Middle School Mathematics Award

Clare Ellen Carroll Upper School Shepherd Foundation Computer Science Award

Leander Ances French Awards

Roman Gabriele Angieri Caroline Frederike Dahlhoff Joseph Garcia-Dominguez Beckett Lindsey Lilia Long Kayla Marie Sellers

Middle School - Samuel Hoette Upper School - Gabriela Gutierrez

Cross Country Award

Mandarin Awards

James T. Costello Sixth-Man Award

Middle School - Harper Davies Upper School - Rosie Davidson Spanish Awards Middle School - Sydney Lavine Upper School - Katherine Marie Rose Middle School Performing Arts Award

Brody Frank Amy Anne Pike Theatre Arts Award

Grace Mia Cooperstein

Eli Charmley Zachary Varner Coaches’ Awards

Caroline Frederike Dahlhoff Joseph Garcia-Dominguez Ginger Newton Jacobi ’73 Athlete of the Year Awards

Clare Ellen Carroll Rome Ashland Tate

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete Award

Yashua Sa-Ra Amen Class of 2025 Scholar Awards

John Welsh Arneson Bartley Alexander Bouchein Clare Ellen Carroll Caleb Nelson Carter Eli Charmley Grace Mia Cooperstein Spencer Lewis Corn Caroline Frederike Dahlhoff Gwendolyn R. Denoon Joseph Garcia-Dominguez Noah Addison Epstein* Leah Ann Fischer* Dawn Lorraine Foster* Noah Green Paige Hoy* Mason Gabriel Marks* Nicole Morcos Drake Michael Noonan Mia Schlottman Penalba Annabel Rose Rackers* Jack Reiter Kate Marie Rose* Juhi Roy Cole Patrick Sargent* Ashley Theresa Stoddard Ana Claresita Struckhoff Ella Leah Wertman Sophie Wilson* Kali A Whitfield * Scholar Awardees for all 7 years Yearbook Dedication

Sari Rotskoff Jamie Snow Pannebecker Award

Ted Keller Student Council Student of the Year Award

Caleb Nelson Carter The Whitfield School Service Award

Kali A Whitfield The Whitfield School Community Award

Hana Inazu Philip B. Cady Scholar Award

Erin Messias Peter Maack Ellis ’71 Senior of the Year Award

Mia Schlottmann Penalba Head of School’s Leadership Award

Caleb Nelson Carter

The Whitfield School Magazine

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Before introducing our featured speakers, Head of School Chris Cunningham, Ph.D., opened the ceremony with reflections on Whitfield’s mission—and, in particular, on what it means to “lead a life of integrity.” In remarks that were both thought-provoking and deeply personal, he explored the visible and invisible forms of integrity, the daily acts of kindness and fairness that shape community life, and the courage required to act with principle when the right path isn’t clear.

Dr. Chris Cunningham’s Commencement Address

Commencement 2025: Wisdom for the Road Ahead

O The Louis Lazarus Award recipient Shelly Edwards with Chris Cunningham

n Tuesday, May 27, The Whitfield School community gathered in Cady Gym for its 72nd Commencement ceremony. It was a beautiful May evening filled with pride and joy as Whitfield celebrated the Class of 2025. In addition to the conferring of diplomas, the evening featured two powerful addresses—Senior Class Speaker Noah Epstein ’25 and Commencement Speaker Dana Borchert ’01— and recognized two extraordinary community members for their service and dedication: Shelly Edwards P ’21 ’25 received The Lou Lazarus Award, given to a senior parent who has made a significant impact on Whitfield students with their energy and dedication.

The Mary Leyhe Burke Award recipient Ron Fox ’74 with Chris Cunningham

40

Experience

Ron Fox ’74 P ’01 ’03 ’04 ’24 received the Mary Leyhe Burke Award, honoring an individual whose commitment to Whitfield has been passionate, whose values concerning education reflect those of the school, and whose expertise has led to significant institutional advancement.

In The Whitfield School mission, we set ourselves the task of inspiring students to “lead lives of curiosity, integrity, and purpose.”

At last year’s graduation ceremony, I offered a reflection on what it actually means to lead a life of curiosity, suggesting that it is more than just a quality of our intellectual character.

Much more than that, I proposed that curiosity about other people, their unique experiences and perspectives is essential for strong personal relationships and ultimately a civic virtue. A genuine desire to understand the point of view of those with whom we differ can help us discover areas of agreement, shared values–if nothing else, our common humanity. Curiosity is thus the foundation for a healthy and functional democracy. Leading a life of curiosity is an ethical commitment to recognizing other people in all of their human complexity.

This year I would like to think more deeply with you about what it means to lead a life of integrity (Juniors, I’ll give you one guess about the topic of next year’s commencement remarks!)

The word integrity comes to us from Latin by way of French, a linguistic sibling to the words integer, integrate, integral, and so on.

Originally, integrity meant the physical fact of wholeness or completeness, signifying that a thing was unbroken, pure–rather than being a fragmentary or jumbled mixture of things. The implication was that such integrity, such purity

and wholeness was a good thing, a source of strength.

Integers in Math are whole and complete, without fractional or decimal parts. When a wall or building fractures or fragments into pieces so that it is no longer one thing, it loses its structural integrity, becomes weak and ultimately collapses. Over time, this meaning of wholeness and completeness and strength became a metaphorical way of talking about a person’s character.

Of course, being a person with strong character is something you know a lot about.

Whether it’s exploring ethical conduct in the Habits of Mind and Heart, studying Aristotle with Dr. Hays, or talking about being an upstander in Foundations, being a good person and doing the right thing are things we talk a lot about here at Whitfield. And I have no doubt that these are lessons you learned throughout your schooling, and from your parents, guardians, and family growing up. From a young age, of course we are all encouraged to tell the truth, not to harm others, not to take what isn’t ours, to keep our word, and so on.

Assuming this foundation, I would like to explore in more detail three aspects of leading a life of integrity–a life of ethical wholeness and strength.

The first point I want to highlight is that to lead a life of integrity means doing the right thing even when it’s the hard thing–maybe especially when it’s the hard thing. We don’t applaud a winning sports team when they beat a weak opponent–that’s not asking much. By the same token, doing the right thing when it’s easy or safe or involves no effort– that’s nice but not necessarily worthy of our admiration. It doesn’t prove a lot. On the other hand, doing the right thing when it might be in our own self-interest to do the wrong thing–or to do nothing at all–that’s the proof of our integrity.

From this point of view, there’s something selfless, self-sacrificing, even courageous about being a person of integrity. We admire– as we should–figures in history who stood up The Whitfield School Magazine

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for what they believed to be right, in the face of hardship, suffering, even physical violence. On a smaller scale, being a person of integrity can be as simple as defending someone from bullying or verbal abuse, risking friendships or our social standing for what we believe is right. So there’s something heroic about integrity, whether we’re talking about a world historical figure or courageous citizen or brave middle schooler.

If what we might call heroic integrity is, by definition, visible for all to see–indeed, this kind of integrity often involves helping others see and recognize injustice or suffering that they couldn’t see or chose not to see–there is a second kind of integrity that is often invisible.

Because leading a life of integrity means doing the right thing all the time–even when no one is watching. In fact, for most of us most of the time, integrity is a matter of consistency, the slow accretion of small decisions and actions that no one will ever know about. Paying our taxes, obeying the speed limit, stopping at stop signs, holding the door open for someone at the post office, turning in your own work for a homework assignment, saying good morning to a stranger. These small, countless acts of doing good and doing right are the threads from which a life of integrity is woven. In and of themselves, individually, they may not seem very important.

But taken together, day after day, year after year, they reveal us for the people we are.

At the same time, when we add them all up– these thousands upon thousands of small decisions we make each day–our actions and our words create the community of which we are a part. We can say that Whitfield is a community committed to kindness and trust, but it’s only by respecting the backpacks lying in our halls and not taking what isn’t ours, that we make it true. The green dollar bill in my pocket is worthless in and of itself–it’s just a piece of paper–but it becomes valuable because we all act as if it is. In a similar way, each of us creates and affirms our common values when we commit these daily, ordinary acts of integrity.

The everyday heroism of doing right, doing good, and being kind is the foundation for a healthy and vital community, whether it’s Whitfield or St. Louis or our United States.

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Experience

So, yes, be brave, stand up against injustice, protect the weak, care for those who are suffering, speak the truth when it would be easier to lie or to be silent. Yes, of course, yes, commit heroic acts of integrity. Our world needs them. But also, and just as importantly, lead a life of integrity: Create the community you want, and affirm its values by playing by the rules, and by observing basic norms of decency and civility. Throughout your day, every day, wherever you go, leave a trail of ordinary kindness and rightness, and truth and trust in your wake.

But there’s a tension or paradox here: On the one hand, I highlighted what I called heroic integrity, and we sometimes celebrate those who are brave enough to stand up for what they believe is right–even and especially when they are standing up to convention or tradition or the law itself. That is what civil disobedience is. On the other hand, I’ve suggested that conforming to traditional norms of civility and affirming shared community values are equally important and praiseworthy.

Because not everyone who rejects traditional and conventional values is worthy of our admiration–sometimes they’re wrong. And not all of the socially dominant ways of being and doing, including laws, should be preserved– sometimes they need to be challenged. So how does a person of integrity know what to do?

The bad news is that there’s no easy answer, and part of being an adult is realizing that there is no rule of thumb to know when you should question or reject what you’ve been taught to be true–and when you should affirm it, and defend your basic values and beliefs.

And so my third and final observation is that leading a life of integrity can be an uncomfortable, confusing one, without easy answers. But it is in those very moments when you are genuinely torn between competing visions of what is right, those moments when you actively grapple with opposing points of view, when you are willing to admit the strength of the arguments against your own perspective, when you are willing to accept evidence that undermines your own beliefs. It is in moments such as these–these moments

of moral and ethical uncertainty–that you are also leading a life of integrity. Because integrity is not just doing what’s right–it’s also admitting when you’re wrong–or just not sure. Absolute certainty is only a virtue for those who never make mistakes.

The good news is that your time at Whitfield has prepared you for this life-long wrestling with ambiguity. Indeed, the only recourse I know in such moments of uncertainty is– once again–to be curious. To do the things we have taught you to do: Ask difficult questions.

Engage others in discussion and inquiry. Read, widely and deeply. Expose yourself to the full range of facts and opinions, including and especially those that make you uncomfortable.

I hope you have learned in your time at Whitfield that most problems are more complicated than they appear, that the simple answers to hard questions are probably simplistic and certainly incomplete. And then, once you’ve done your best to educate yourself, to explore all sides of a question, go ahead and do the right thing, as far as you can determine what that may be. And this may be the hardest part of acting with integrity–doing the right thing when it’s not clear what that is.

And so my final encouragement to you, as you graduate, is to embrace the challenge of Whitfield’s mission and lead a life of integrity: Stand up for what you believe is right. Live your values in your everyday doing and being. Have the humility to admit when you are wrong–and the courage to act in the face of uncertainty and ambiguity.

Knowing you as I do, I am full of hope and optimism for you and the people you will become, and the world you will help to create for all of us in the years ahead.

Dana Borchert’s ’01 Commencement Address Good evening, graduates, faculty, family, and friends.

I graduated from Whitfield in 2001—yep, back when phones flipped, and Y2K was a real fear— and I still remember what it felt like to sit where you are now. Hopeful. Excited. And let’s be honest... a little bit terrified.

I’m honored to be here speaking with you all as an alumna. But on a much more personal note, I am incredibly honored to be speaking as an aunt. My nephew Tanner is graduating today. And my niece Brielle is closing out her freshman year.

Whitfield has a way of sticking with you.

It’s more than just a school—it’s where I got curious about people. And thanks to Mr. Gienke’s biology class and a bunch of very unlucky fruit flies, it’s where I first fell in love with science. That spark eventually turned into a Ph.D., a career helping people and organizations thrive, and a lifelong obsession with how and why humans do what we do.

I believe that when people thrive, so do businesses, relationships, and communities.

I see your generation, Gen Z, thriving. You— Class of 2025—are wise, passionate, and creative. You’ve grown up in a world where technology is second nature, where you process more information in a week than I did my entire freshman year. You value diversity, fight for what matters, and you don’t just wait for change—you make it. You are the generation The Whitfield School Magazine

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Meet the Speaker

DANA BORCHERT ’01

Dana Borchert is a practicing Industrial/ Organizational Psychologist and Senior Vice President at CMA Global Inc., where she also serves as Colorado Market Leader. In her role, she partners with leaders and organizations to improve team effectiveness and workplace engagement—driven by her belief that we spend too much time working not to enjoy what we do.

Dana holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Saint Louis University and a B.A. in Psychology with a neuroscience emphasis from the University of Iowa.

Her academic background gives her a unique understanding of the brain’s psychological and physiological dimensions.

Throughout her career, she has co-authored publications, presented at professional conferences, and mentored fellow psychologists. Dana is also active in community service, having chaired the Young Friends Board of St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the United Way of Greater St. Louis Young Leaders Society. Today, she volunteers with the Aspen Education Fund and Aspen Valley Ski Club.

Dana’s niece Brielle ’28 and nephew Tanner ’25 currently attend Whitfield.

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Experience

that turned SnapChat into a thing and decided that lowercase texting is somehow cooler than punctuation.

Invite growth, not just compliments. But avoid the YouTube comment section—that’s not feedback, that’s a hobby for trolls.

But you’ve also shown leadership, depth, and resilience. Whether you’re building businesses before breakfast, organizing community movements, or simply helping a friend through a tough week—you’re not just preparing for the future; you’re shaping it.

Beware of:

As someone who has spent over 20 years studying human behavior and success, I want to share what research—and real life—have taught me about what it actually takes to thrive in the world beyond Whitfield. And the best part?

Many of you are already doing these things.

I saw it in your senior survey answers. You’re living this. So, here’s what the science has to say:

1. Be flexible: Be ready to pivot like Beyoncé Life rarely goes according to plan. The key is adaptability. Zendaya went from Disney Channel star to Emmy-winning actress and fashion icon by staying open to change. Ben Francis, founder of Gymshark, started sewing gym clothes in his parents’ garage. Now it’s a billion-dollar brand.

Your version might look different—changing majors, moving cities, or realizing the major you picked actually sounds awful. Be open. Growth often comes wrapped in surprise.

You already know this. You told me in your senior surveys: • “Try new things.”

• “ Stop being so cringe and just go for it.”

• “Be OK if you have to try again.”

• “Keep an open mind.”

Honestly? Solid life advice—and tattoo material.

2. S eek feedback: Find your loving critics Even the most talented people need feedback.

Giannis Antetokounmpo went from selling trinkets to NBA MVP not because he was always the best—but because he learned.

• Loving Liars (kind but not honest) • Unloving Critics (truthful but hurtful) • Unloving Liars (the worst combo) Look for loving critics—mentors, teachers, and friends who are brave enough to tell you what you need to hear, lovingly.

of your relationships.

So don’t just network—nurture. Don’t just follow—really connect.

You already do this. When I asked about your most meaningful high school moments, you said: • “Watching how we grew together.”

• “ Spirit Week and the unity it created.”

• “Teachers like Dr. K and Señor Casado.”

• “ Spending time and laughing with my friends.”

3. Lead with empathy

That’s the real Whitfield story. That’s what lasts.

In a world of tech and AI, your edge is empathy.

The ability to listen, to understand, to care— that’s rare.

Final thoughts

The most effective leaders I coach aren’t always the loudest or smartest—they’re the ones who make others feel seen.

Post-pandemic, empathy became productivity’s superpower. Leaders who care get teams that are more engaged and innovative.

When I asked what inspires you, you said: “My mom.” “My teachers.” “The people who are kind and hardworking.”

When I asked what your high school movie would be called, you said: "Character Development," "The 400 Mile Dash," and "Living the Dream"—10/10, would binge.

So, ask questions. Be kind. Make people feel like they matter—because they do.

And your soundtrack? Party Rock Anthem, "Hey Look Ma, I Made It," and "Count on Me"

by Bruno Mars.

4. Stretch into growth

So here’s my final message:

Growth doesn’t happen in comfort. Billie Eilish keeps evolving while staying true to herself.

My kids, ages 9 and 6, are downhill mountain bikers and freestyle skiers. I tell them: if you’re not falling, scraping your knees, or getting uncomfortable, you’re not learning.

When life gets tough, remember—you don’t need to have it all figured out. Just get up, reflect, and keep going.

5. Above all—stay connected Relationships shape your life more than your résumé. The 85-year Harvard Study on Adult Development found the biggest predictor of long-term happiness and health is the quality

• Be flexible.

• Seek feedback.

• Lead with empathy.

• Stretch into growth.

• And above all—stay connected.

You’re stepping into a world that needs your ideas, your drive, and your heart. I can’t predict what’s next—but I know it will be worth watching.

Congratulations, Class of 2025. And thank you for letting me be part of your journey.

Scan QR code to view graduation ceremony

The Whitfield School Magazine

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College Choices for the Class of 2025 Yashua Sa-Ra Amen

Maryville University

Mason Gabriel Marks

Leander McGehee Ances Stevens Institute of Technology

Nora Joanne McPherson

Roman Gabriele Angieri University of Missouri– Kansas City John Welsh Arneson

Bucknell University

Isabel M Aymerich

Northeastern University

William Henry Blatt

University of Denver

Bartley Alexander Bouchein Pepperdine University Michael Stephen Bourke University of Missouri– Columbia Haley Aleezah Broussard Louisiana State University Whitney Verdin Bryan

Texas Christian University

Adam Moss Capellupo

Miami University–Ohio

Clare Ellen Carroll

Clemson University

Caleb Nelson Carter Maryville University Elijah Charmley

Walsh University

Grace Mia Cooperstein Pennsylvania State University Spencer Lewis Corn

Drake University

Caroline Frederike Dahlhoff University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign Gwendolyn Rose Denoon

Gabrielle Moody

Saint Louis University

Nicole Morcos

Santa Clara University

Drake Michael Noonan

University of Oregon

Cade Atkinson Ott

Emerson College

Derrick Christopher Palmer

Skidmore College

William Richard Parker

Truman State University

Annabel Rose Rackers

University of Tennessee

Jack Reiter Missouri University of Science and Technology Jack McClain Remming University of Colorado Boulder Eldridge Cayman Rhone

Howard University

Katherine Marie Rose

Brown University

Juhi Roy Case Western Reserve University Cole Patrick Sargent Missouri University of Science and Technology Mia Schlottmann Penalba

New York University

Ashley Theresa Stoddard

Furman University

Texas Christian University

Ana Claresita Struckhoff

Ohio State University

Leah Ann Fischer

University of Kansas

Elisah ReAnn Lee Sykes

DePaul University

Dawn Lorraine Foster

Belmont University

Emill Myers Tate

Temple University

Joseph Antonio Garcia-Dominguez

Villanova University

Rome Ashland Tate

DePaul University

Tanner J Gilbertson

University of Iowa

Noah Green Chandler Hayden Grimm

Kristopher Joseph Hankins

Ohio State University

Raul Esteban Uribe-Sidki

Saint Louis University

Gylian Isabelle Von Kloha

Truman State University

Westminster College

Hayden James Behan Hewgley Butler University Paige Hoy

Florida Southern College

Diana E. Hunigan

Purdue University

Brian Mark Kaganov

DePaul University

Joseph Kline Indiana University– Bloomington Simon Rae Lemkemeier

University of Denver

Francesca Lorraine Levy

Flagler College

Jordan Litvag

Yusuf Thiel Indiana University– Bloomington

University of St. Andrews

Alyssa Nicolette Gutierrez California Polytechnic State University

University of Oklahoma

Experience

Parker Thomas Walseth University of Missouri– Columbia Kayla Emily Ward Prairie View A&M University Ella Leah Wertman

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

Lake Forest College

Adam Jama Mohmoud University of Missouri– Columbia

Cornell College

Noah Addison Epstein

Ask Our Alumni

Colorado State University

American University

Caden Tyler Edwards

46

Zoe Christine Mella

Elon University

Binghamton University

Kali Akilah Whitfield University of Southern California Sophia Christine Wilson University of Missouri– Columbia Avraham D. Y. Wise

American University

Yuqi Wu

Ohio State University

KIMBERLY STEWART '99

DAVID LEIDY '10

FILM PRODUCER, K PERIOD MEDIA

SCREEN WRITER & FILM PRODUCER

At Whitfield, I learned the foundations of producing by adopting a creative lens rooted in hard work. I trusted my instincts about people and believed in myself, skills that I carry with me in my career today.

Whitfield gave me the writing, communication, and critical reasoning skills necessary to not only excel in university but also in my career. Whitfield provided me with the skills to internalize and analyze art and literature in a way where I was able to clearly communicate my views on the page and with a group of people, to discern what was working or wasn’t in a piece and to succinctly map out why. These are essential skills for being a writer and filmmaker.

CASEY JOLLY '03 DIRECTOR OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NMBL STRATEGIES

I developed many skills at Whitfield, but feeling confident in asking questions and engaging in conversation was one of the most important.

We had so many small group conversations about whatever the topic at hand was and were empowered to come up with our own opinions and back them up with credible sources.

I also learned how to listen. I cannot tell you how much I have learned by having the ability to listen to others. I have worked in multiple museums, and I was able to quickly learn and internalize the tours that the wonderful volunteers and education staff would give to visitors and be able to share that relevant information with others. I currently work on strategic plans, and part of that is interviewing stakeholders where I ask some questions but ultimately get to listen and record their experiences and perceptions of the organization.

I graduated with a strong understanding of how to be self-reliant. I knew I could ask my teachers for help, but I can still hear my art teacher Ms. Kram’s voice in my head, asking, “How would you solve the problem?” before she would give her advice.

Public speaking, time management, and adaptability are also key skills I learned at Whitfield.

LINDSAY GRAVES '01

P ’29 ’32 ’32

CEO & PRESIDENT, SUNSET TRANSPORTATION

I use my strong communication skills every day, and Whitfield was instrumental in helping prepare me for the workforce. From drafting emails to public speaking, I knew what to do, how to draft my words, and how to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

MIKE REESE '06 MOBILE STRATEGY & PRODUCT MARKETING LEADER, THE NORTH FACE

Whitfield provided a strong foundation for college preparedness in the sense that I had the confidence and skills needed to do high-quality research and understand the writing process well before entering a classroom, which gave me an advantage in having those fundamentals that provided success in writing at the college level. It was nice being able to share that knowledge with friends as we were assigned research papers in English, Philosophy and Theology courses freshman year. I was able to leverage research tools to find good support for the points I was trying to get across and understood how to cite and weave them into my assignments properly.

The Whitfield School Magazine

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Alumni Gatherings Warriors Reminiscing On- and Off-Campus in 2024-25

Improv Class from Gala July 29, 2024

Thanksgiving Social • Nov. 29, 2024

Washington, D.C. Social • Jan. 27, 2025 2024-25 Alumni Legacy Familes

Dallas Social • April 10, 2025

Los Angeles Social • Sept. 11, 2024

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Experience

Reunion Celebration • May 3, 2025

Snow Fun Family Dec. 7, 2024

The Whitfield School Magazine

49

Recognizing Visionary Support Through Our Giving Societies.

By Amanda Hazelwood P '31, associate director of development

A

t The Whitfield School, we celebrate the visionaries who ensure our school’s continued excellence through two distinct giving societies: the Barnes & Cole Society and the Goodwin Gold Society. These groups honor forward-thinking individuals whose generosity, whether through planned gifts or consistent annual support, sustains our mission and shapes our future.

TThhee

Honoring Commitment. Investing in the Future.

ood G Good

iinn ww

The Barnes & Cole Society

The Goodwin Gold Society

The Goodwin Gold

Whitfield’s Alumni Giving Society Society honors alumni who have demonstrated exceptional loyalty by giving for five or more consecutive years. Named for beloved staff members Rickey and Lola Goodwin, this society recognizes the consistent generosity that fuels Whitfield’s future.

Lola Goodwin, one of Whitfield’s earliest and longest-serving employees, played a pivotal role in shaping the culture of care and inclusion that defines our school. Her son Rickey continues her legacy, welcoming generations of students with his heartfelt greeting: “Welcome to the family.”

The Barnes & Cole Society Whitfield’s Planned Giving Society

WAYS TO JOIN THE GOODWIN GOLD SOCIETY

Planned gifts are acts of foresight—investments in students you may never meet but whose lives you will change. The Barnes & Cole Society, named after Whitfield’s founders John Barnes and Allen Cole, honors those who have included the school in their estate plans. These visionary gifts strengthen Whitfield’s endowment, support strategic initiatives, and provide a foundation of financial stability for future generations.

Your planned gift may:

Ways to Join the Barnes & Cole Society:

• Expand scholarships and financial aid

• Include Whitfield in your will or trust

• Endow teaching positions • Fund new academic and extracurricular programs • Advance capital priorities • Allow Whitfield to respond swiftly to emerging needs

• Establish a gift to support a specific area of school life, such as financial aid or faculty development Barnes & Cole Society members are invited to exclusive stewardship events and recognized in our publications in gratitude for their lasting impact.

Whether through a planned gift or ongoing annual support, membership in Whitfield’s giving societies represents a powerful commitment to our school’s future. These gifts ensure that the spirit of Whitfield—its passionate educators, its values-driven curriculum, and its transformative community—continues to thrive for generations to come.

If you are interested in joining the Goodwin Gold Society or the Barnes & Cole Society, or would like to learn more about how your giving can make a lasting impact, please contact Amanda Hazelwood P '31, associate director of development, at amanda.hazelwood @whitfieldschool.org. We would be honored to welcome you into our community of visionary supporters.

Experience

• Commit to giving annually for the next five years • Begin your giving journey with the Leave Your Mark campaign as a graduating senior No matter the size of the gift, members of the Goodwin Gold Society embody the spirit of alumni pride and the power of consistency.

• Name Whitfield as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or life insurance

Your Legacy Starts Today

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• Make a gift to Whitfield for five or more consecutive years

“

I chose to donate because Whitfield has given me so much and helped me become the amazing scholar I am today. I would be happy to know that my donation supports students in the future with their learning experience.

— Ana Struckhoff ’25, Goodwin Gold Society Founding Member

”

Goodwin Gold Society Members Jim Bruns ’70

Matt Politte ’98 P ’27

Caroline Dahlhoff ’25

Flip Cady ’70 P ’97 ’00 ’02

Scott Rhodes ’98 P ’24 ’26 ’28

Caden Edwards '25

Sallie Skinner ’70

Kristen Rhodes ’99 P ’24 ’26 ’28

Leah Fischer ’25

Jane Piper Gleason ’70

Sari Rotskoff ’00 P ’30

Kris Hankins ’25

Ron Fox ’74 P ’01 ’03 ’07 ’24

Whitney Key Towey ’02

Eldridge Rhone ’25

Carolyn Kroenlein ’83

David Solomon ’02

Katherine Rose ’25

David Ott ’91 P ’22 ’21

Kris Mannen ’05

Cole Sargent ’25

Dorothy Rhodes ’92 P ’26 ’28

Lindsay Mannen ’05

Ana Struckhoff ’25

Cory Spielberg ’94

Melissa O’Connor ’08

Gylian Von Kloha ’25

Lee Rhodes ’94 P ’26

Brian Chao ’08

Ella Wertman ’25

Laura Lotz ’95 P ’21 ’31

Ian Shepherd ’22

Lauren Weissman Kerner ’96

J.R. Rhodes ’24

Kyle Kerner ’96

Moss Capellupo ’25

Laura Bryan ’97 P ’25 ’28

Spencer Corn ’25

The Whitfield School Magazine

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With Gratitude

Dear Whitfield Community, As I reflect on this past year at The Whitfield School, I am struck by the remarkable generosity and deep commitment of our community. This was a record-breaking year for philanthropy at Whitfield—one that reflects the passion our families, alumni, and friends share for the school’s mission and future.

From the outset, I set a goal to diversify our donor base and broaden our philanthropic support. I’m proud to report that we have made meaningful strides. Alumni participation has increased by more than 30%. Even more remarkable, we received the two largest gifts in Whitfield’s history, both from alumni families who believe deeply in the power of a Whitfield education.

We are profoundly grateful to the Rhodes family, who gave a transformational $5 million gift.

The Rhodes represent a long-standing legacy at Whitfield, with three children—Scott ’98, Lee ’94, and Dorothy ’92—who each graduated from the school and have now chosen to send their own children to Whitfield as well. Scott, married to alumna Kristen ’99, serves on Whitfield’s Board of Trustees and continues to play an active leadership role in shaping the school’s future. Their gift reflects a deep and enduring belief in the power of a Whitfield education. The Rhodes grandchildren—J.R. ’24, Fritz ’26, David ’26, Tate ’26, Hale ’28, and Topher ’28—are now continuing that legacy.

This bold act of support is a powerful vote of confidence in the direction of the school and the leadership of our Head of School, Dr. Chris Cunningham.

Equally transformative is the $2 million gift from Jane Gleason ’70, a proud alumna whose unwavering belief in Whitfield’s future is matched by her lifelong dedication to the school. The daughter of longtime trustees and donors, Jane previously funded the construction of the original Piper Courtyard in honor of her mother — a testament to her deep and enduring connection to Whitfield. Both Jane and the Rhodes Family were inspired by Dr. Chris Cunningham’s bold vision and steady leadership through Whitfield 2030 — a strategic plan that not only honors the core values that define Whitfield, but also positions our students to thrive in, and lead, a rapidly changing world.

This spirit of giving extended throughout our community. We achieved 100% participation in the annual fund from our Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff. We also saw a significant increase in participation among current parents—reaching 78% of families supporting the annual fund! And we added a remarkable 254 donors to the Annual Fund this year!

We continue to be inspired by the impact of our major donors. Marci and Marty Boyer once again demonstrated their incredible commitment to combating antisemitism by supporting annual visits to the Holocaust Museum for our 7th and 10th grade students. The Steward Family Foundation

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Experience

enabled a transformative trip to Memphis for our junior class to deepen their understanding of civil rights and social change. The Strive Family Fund made memorable W Day experiences possible and helped send our 8th graders to Camp Wyman—enriching the learning and leadership development that happens beyond the classroom.

At Whitfield, we believe it’s the experience that counts. Students here don’t just absorb knowledge— they engage deeply with the world around them.

They learn by doing, by asking questions, and by caring.

Our mission is to prepare students not only for college, but for life, and your support is what makes that mission possible.

As we look to the year ahead, I invite you to be inspired by the stories and individuals highlighted in this letter. In the coming months, we will share more about Whitfield 2030, our strategic plan, and ask you to boldly affirm your support for the direction of our school. Your first gift says a lot—it’s a powerful statement of belief in Whitfield’s mission, our students, and our future. Your continued generosity sustains the programs, people, and possibilities that define a Whitfield education. Together, we are ensuring that Whitfield students benefit from an exceptional college-preparatory education—one that challenges them intellectually, supports their growth, and prepares them to succeed in college and beyond.

Join us in experiencing the momentum—together.

With heartfelt thanks,

Kathleen Kelly P ’29 ’32 Director of Development

Giving QR Code

Recognition Societies & Giving Levels 1952 Society Founders $50,000+ Leaders $20,000 – 49,999 Warriors $10,000 – 19,999 Donors who contribute $10,000 or more are part of the 1952 Society. This society is named to commemorate the establishment date of The Whitfield School. Members of the 1952 Society, who contribute $10,000 or more, are recognized with a special private reception held at the home of the Head of School.

Green & White Society Pacesetters $5,000 – 9,999 Scholars $3,000 – 4,999 Supporters $1,000 – 2,999 Donors who contribute between $1,000 and $9,999 are part of the Green & White Society. This group is named to celebrate our school colors at The Whitfield School.

Friends $1 – 999

The Whitfield School Magazine

53

Philanthropy Report • 2024-2025 The Report on Philanthropy allows us the opportunity to acknowledge the support and generosity of our parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff and friends. The donors listed on these pages contributed to Whitfield between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

Judy Epsten

Dan O’Grady

Bayer

Ginny & Chip Fendell

Dave Ott ’91

Irina & Dan Becker

Amy & Kevin Fischer

Otto Orthodontics

Jessica & Gary Bell

Suzanne Fischer

Susan Parker

Hila & Eyal Ben Abraham

April Gao & Mitchell Wang

Mano & Dheeraj Patri

Elliot Benoist

Anya Gurevich-Schwab & Matt Schwab

Maggie & Alex Pearson

FOUNDERS

Danielle & Jeffrey Evitts

TIFF Advisory Services II, Inc.

($50,000+)

Linda & Elliot Benoist ’69

Gayle & Ted Garrett

World Wide Technology

Crista & Brian Beracha

Jane Piper Gleason ’70

Layla & Robert Glassman ’02

Lauren Weissman Kerner ’96 & Kyle Kerner ’96

Kristin & Jesse Keller

David Payne

Jessica & Mark Portis

Dorothy Rhodes ’92 Kristen Deffaa Rhodes ’99 & Scott Rhodes ’98 Lee Rhodes ’96 Kim Steward ’99 Thelma & David Steward The Steward Family Foundation Laurie & Ray Van De Riet

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

Association of the Open Mind & Spirit, Inc. Elizabeth Mannen Berges & James Berges

Karen Myers Saadia & Asim Raza Rebecca Schwarzlose & Sabin Dang Chrissy Taylor & Lee Broughton

SCHOLARS

Kitty Bollinger

($3,000-$4,999)

Nikki & Bart Bouchein

Mary & Matt Badler

Mariel Brechner & Kooresh Shoghi

Bobbi Orlando Baker ’01 Najia & Naeem Bari Boeing Gift Matching Program Alissa C. Camazine & Mark G. Ellebrecht

Gege Brightman Mary & Dick Burke Katie & Chris Cady ’00 Lee & Zane Cagle

Alice & Jim Hoette Suzanne & Tom Hough Hydromat Incorporated Judy & Bruno Schmitter Vidya & Ganesh Iyer Jennifer Jacobs ’91 & Jeff Stettner

Chris & Gussie Fava

Mark Capellupo

Albarre’ Jewelry

Mary & Joe Freund

Stephanie Capellupo

Mindy & Raj Bhuyan ’86

Lindsey Williams Graves ’01 & Justin Graves

Shane Carr ’11

Julia & Justin Honold

Carrollton Bank

Ginger Newton Jacobi ’73 & Jan Jacobi

Angie & Nick Casey ’02

Carolyn Brightman Kroenlein ’83

Anne & Bill Chao

Laura & Joel Lander

Brian Chao ’08

Cassie & Mark Laspe

Charles L. Crane Agency

Laurie Solet

Katie & Brian Thompson

Shin Mean Chen & Sim Yuen Chong

Margaret & Raymond Lehner

University of Rochester

Erin & David Chien

Robin & Jim Blatt Jill & James Bosanquet Bill Cady ’73 Camp Waziyatah Laura & John Corn

Jackie & Derik King

Roy Curtiss

Lisa & Matt Long

Mitzie Fenberg

Christine Moody & Stephen Tillery

Joy Gebhardt Elizabeth & Phil Levy LOCATION. Commercial Real Estate Diane & Scott McCuaig

Amy & Dave Kosanke Janey Miller Jenny Syed & Syed Tariq

Sharon & Doug Carroll

John Key Pat & Pat Knipper

David Lemkemeier

Liz Fox Philbrick ’03 & Ryan Philbrick Kate & Dan Pollmann Positive Black Men Inc. Brooke & Zack Ray Christine & Jeffrey Remming Renaissance Charitable Foundation Rickie & Art Kerckhoff ’69 Jen & Stephen Kerckhoff ’99 Sara & Craig Ringe Amber & Dave Rogan Ashley Rufkahr & Eric Hurtte Amy & Jeff Rush Sansara 24/7 Restoration & Remodeling Molly Shaffer & Paul Minorini Ashly & Luke Sehy Elizabeth & Arsham Sheybani Nermina & Irfan Sinanovic St. Louis Cardinals

Class of 2024

Lindsay Gilhousen Mannen ’05 & Kris Mannen ’05

Ashley Steed & Kory Lavine

Class of 2025

Carol Margolis

Closet Factory

Marian & Brett Markwort

The Mary Ranken Jordan & Ettie A. Jordan Foundation

Julie & John Cochran

MasterCard Matching Gifts Program

Cigna

Geneen & Troy Von Kloha Erin and Zach Walsh

SUPPORTERS

Alisa & Dave Cooperstein

The Shepherd Foundation

($1,000-$2,999)

Amie & Robert Corley

Bodine Family Foundation, Inc.

Susan Shepherd Ittner

Emily Arneson

Susan Culican & John Pruett

Laura Pollnow Bryan ’97 & Andy Bryan

Susanne Ittner Petti ’11

Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff

Charles Shepherd II

Elissa Cady Arnold ’97 & Ben Arnold

Candy & Flip Cady ’70

Ian Shepherd ’22

Backyard Hibachi

Sheri & Paul Diemer

Laura Ceretti-Michelman & Jeremy Michelman

Susanne Shepherd

Sarah & Stefan Baiocchi

Cassie & Rob Kampen

Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program

Kendra & Steve Smoot

Yutiancheng Yang ’20

Kimberly & Patrick Bader

Sarah Jensen & Josh Amato

Valentina Penalba & Joaquin Schlottmann

Stephanie Liva & Paul Gray

Michal Kwiecien

McKay & Jason Mills

Experience

Laura & Kevin Hewgley

($5,000-$9,999)

Helena & Chris Cunningham

($10,000-$19,999)

Hearth & Soul

Cagle Law Firm

Dianna & Ron Fox ’74

WARRIORS

Haffenreffer Family Fund

Laura & GP Dorris, IV

Samantha & RJ Crotser

Strive Family Fund

Elizabeth & Jeff Block

Laura Cady Guzewicz ’02 & Michael Guzewicz

PACESETTERS

Nan & Steve Fox

Heidi & Ian Silberman

54

Ron Bartels

Maria & Tim Desloge Shelly & Mike Edwards Ashley & Adam Eggebrecht

Helen & Mark Mihalevich Amal & Ehab Morcos Kyrstin Munson ’01 Cary & Andy Murphy Barbie & Pat Murphy Ellen Simons Nahlik ’06 & Rob Nahlik Melissa Howe O’Connor ’08

Three Rivers Concierge Medicine Liz & Zar Toolan Carol & Frank Trotter Erica Trotter ’05 Jennifer & Ben Volk Phyllis & Terry Weiss Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign Liz Wheeler & Beau Ances

The Whitfield School Magazine

55

Connie & Ned Williams

AbbVie

AR Workshop Olivette

Bayer AG Leverkusen

Danita & Hayward Brown

Sabrina & Rickie Carter

Joli & Bob Wilson

Lisa & Tom Acker

Thelma Arnold

Lori & Doug Becker

Michelle & Eric Brown

Sharina & Edward Carter

Rick Worsena

Joseph Aghaeze

Missy & Andrew Asikainen

Maria Ahern

Romila & Naeem Aslam

Heather Brown-Hudson & Lacie Jett

Celina Casado

Crystal Worsena

Rebeccah Bennett-Kenyatta & Salim Kenyatta

Jaclyn Yetter & Bret French

AIAA Foundation

B & B Theaters Creve Coeur

Brooke Berry ’18

Cynde Brunner

Karen Albers

Elizabeth & Al Babusis

Karen & Jim Bruns ’70

Emma Casado ’23

Ferhana Zaman & Steven Thiel

Big River Running

Caroline Baer ’12

Gina Buffa

FRIENDS

Albuquerque Community Foundation, Sean Hopkins Fund

Jenny Blackmon Blue Ocean Fitness

Kenya & Henry Buford

Mary Kate File & Keith Borzillo

Cindy Burch

Alex Friedman Box ’12

Cafe Manhattan

Miller Boyd

Moss Capellupo ’25

Barre3

Ilana Boyer ’23

Laura & Chris Capio

Lisa Barry Jenkins & Andy Jenkins

Christi & Mike Brandenstein

Jerri & Rodney Carrier

Breakout Games

Chris Carson

Jeannie & David Bassett

Michael Brischetto ’94

Jack Carswell ’18

($1-$999)

Nawar Alhariri & Ahmad Rez

Anonymous (7)

Amp Up Action Park

21c Museum Hotel St. Louis

Angie Anderson

2B Organized St. Louis

Denise & Rogerio Andrade

4M Building Solutions

Angelina Anisimova & Alexander Kourbatov

A Time for Dinner

Dolly & Jay Baker Meghan & Eliot Bamford Barbi Macon Photography Olivia Barnes ’20

Apex Wealth Advisors

Cip Casado Chase Park Plaza Cinemas Chicken N Pickle Christina White Salon Circus Flora Sandra Citchen Kory Clawson ’10 Tori Clodfelter ’09 COCA Katie & Russell Cohoon Coinstar

GALA DONATIONS 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis 2B Organized St. Louis A Time for Dinner Albarre’ Jewelry Amp Up Action Park AR Workshop Olivette B & B Theaters Creve Coeur Backyard Hibachi

Go Play STL

MarElyse MediSpa

Chicken N Pickle

Gus’ Pretzel Shop

Christina White Salon

Hearth and Soul

Circus Flora Closet Factory COCA Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants Dewey’s PizzaUniversity City

Barbi Macon Photography

Drury Hotels

Barre3

Escape From St. Louis

Lisa Barry Jenkins Big River Running Blue Ocean Fitness Keith Borzillo Breakout Games Flip Cady ’70 Cafe Manhattan Camp Waziyatah Cip Casado Chase Park

56

Plaza Cinemas

Experience

Maureen Dube Danielle & Jeffrey Evitts

Save-the-Date

The Art of Entertaining

Megan Temple Design

POOP 911West St. Louis Pretzel Boy’s

The Bar Method

March 7, 2026

Milk and Honey

Green & White Gala

Namaste Yoga Studio

PRP Wine International

The Black Rep

Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark

Racquel Aesthetics

Sarah Jensen, MD Regional Dermatology

Nayak Plastic Surgery NewSpace Home Organization

Asim Raza

Nothing Bundt CakesBrentwood

Saint Louis Dance Theatre

Amber & Jared Odom

Saint Louis Zoo

Olympia Gymnastics

Shine Sunless Tanning Spa

Heaven John Kristin & Jesse Keller Kathleen & Seamus Kelly Kendra Scott Lauren Weissman Kerner ’96 & Kyle Kerner ’96

Four Pretty Paws Mobile Pet Spa

Kreis’ Steakhouse & Bar

Friend of Whitfield

Kris Mannen ’05

Nick Funke ’04

Laurie Solet

Rachel Gassner

Lisa & Matt Long

Gateway Arch Riverboat Cruises

Dan O’Grady and One

by One Guitars

Gateway Field Hockey

Maggie Pearson

Open Arms Wellness LLC Orangetheory FitnessDes Peres

RYZE Adventure Park

Heidi & Ian Silberman Six Flags St. Louis

The Cakery The Coder School The Face and Body Spa The H-J Family of Companies The Novel Neighbor The Only Facial The Panthers Sports Camp The Pilates Lab

Sol Sunless Tan

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Cory Spielberg ’94

The Shoghi Family

Orangetheory FitnessRock Hill

St. Louis Ambush

The Whitfield School Board of Trustees

Dr. Genevieve Otto

St. Louis Cardinals

Otto Orthodontics

STLWAGS

Party Hop

Stone Turtle

Three Rivers Concierge Medicine

PLNK T&C

Straub’s Fine Markets

Total Wine & More

Orangetheory FitnessLadue

St. Louis Battlehawks

Three Kings Public House

A special evening celebrating our school, and paying tribute to the 2025 recipient of Whitfield’s George A. Newton Outstanding Teacher Award!

TruFusion Urban Air Adventure Park-Sunset Hills

Lauren Kisling Math Faculty

WaterwayChesterfield Megan Wolfslau

Geneen & Troy Von Kloha

World Wide Technology

Erin & Zach Walsh

YogaSix

Thank you to these donors for supporting our Green & White Gala.

For photos from the 2025 Green & White Gala, see page 37.

The Whitfield School Magazine

57

Leading with Purpose

Student Grants in Action

Students Take the Lead in Giving Back

This year, the Student Philanthropy Board proudly approved grants to support a range of student-led initiatives that enrich campus life and foster community. Grant recipients included:

By Kathleen Kelly P '29 '32, director of development

A

t The Whitfield School, we aim to nurture not only academic excellence but also character, leadership, and compassion. One of the most inspiring examples of this mission in action is the Student Philanthropy Board—a student-led initiative that empowers our young people to give back through service, creativity, and generosity.

Each spring, the Student Philanthropy Board organizes and leads the Spring It Forward Campaign, a weeklong celebration of kindness, generosity, and connection. Through daily initiatives and acts of service, students inspire the entire Whitfield community to participate in giving back—reminding us that small actions can lead to big change.

FRIENDS list cont.

• Gardening Club – For tools, soil, and supplies to revitalize the campus garden • Model United Nations – For conference attendance • Dungeons & Dragons Club – For materials to expand gameplay • Asian Student Union – For cultural celebration events and outreach Each grant reflects the creativity, passion, and purpose of Whitfield students—and the leadership of their peers on the Student Philanthropy Board.

Chloe Colbert ’09 Elaine & Brandon Coleman Lorrie & Matt Collier Maura & Ed Comesana Lucie & Mike Convy Carol & Dave Cooksey Krislyn & Bradley Coons Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants Tamara Cooperwood Spencer Corn ’25 Stacey & Matt Coryell Jack Courtney ’23 Rachana & Eric Creeth JoAnne & Doyle Cronan Molly & Amos Curlee ’90 Caroline Dahlhoff ’25 Juliana Dahlhoff ’23 Preeti Dalawari & John Vandover

Launched with the leadership and vision of senior Gylian Von Kloha, the Student Philanthropy Board was born out of a desire to give students a platform to lead with purpose.

Gylian’s early dedication helped shape the foundation of a program that now stands as a model for student-driven impact at Whitfield.

The Board teaches students essential skills— budgeting, leadership, strategic planning, and grant-making—through real, hands-on experience. It’s more than a club; it’s a training ground for thoughtful, community-minded leaders.

58

Experience

In addition to the campaign, the Board manages a grant program for student clubs, allocating funds to support projects that enhance school life and promote community. Every club receives a baseline $50, but students can apply for additional funding of up to $250 for special initiatives. Board members evaluate proposals, consider impact, and distribute funds—practicing the very real responsibility of stewarding resources for the greater good.

The program is powered in part by funds raised

on Give STL Day, a regional day of giving. Every gift made on that day helps fuel the Student Philanthropy Board's efforts—from campaign materials to student grants—and ensures that Whitfield students continue learning the value of generosity and the joy of giving.

Heather & Jim Daniels

This project is a personal passion of mine—not because it raises money, but because it raises leaders. Watching students like Gylian and her peers step up to make meaningful change, support their classmates, and lead with heart is an incredible reminder of what’s possible when young people are trusted to lead.

Joyce Debenport

The Student Philanthropy Board is not about creating future donors. It’s about creating a culture of empathy, initiative, and responsibility that students will carry with them long after graduation.

Kathy & Tom Dewoskin

We are proud of what this group has already accomplished—and even more excited for what’s ahead.

Jamie & William Davidson Maria & Christopher Davies Molly & Jonathan Davis Susan Dean Torie & Jake DeBeir The Deckert Family Lynn Delean-Weber & Martin Weber Jeanine Meier Devine ’82 & John Devine Dewey’s Pizza Rachel Schwarz Doiron ’05 Amy & Glenn Douglas Drury Hotels Maureen & Dave Dube

SAVE THE DATE

Give STL Day May 7, 2026

Liz & Matt Dulick Abby Lefler Eaves ’10 & Van Eaves ’07 Elizabeth & Pablo Echeverria Edward Jones The Whitfield School Magazine

59

Caden Edwards ’25

Gateway Field Hockey

Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark

Lucy & Arno Kutner

Mallinckrodt Inc.

Milk & Honey

Alisse & Mark Ellebrecht

Leeann & Todd Gienke

Paul Hopkins

Heather Lavezzi

MarElyse MediSpa

Lauren & Curtis Erlinger

Dawn & Jason Gilbertson

Rosemary Howard

Lamar Ledbetter

Laura & David Margolis

Jamie Sokolik Miller ’04 & Nik Miller

Escape From St. Louis

Go Play STL

Lauren Huffman

Shalon & Tyrone Ledbetter

Zack Markow ’09

Elizabeth & Andy Esser ’99

Liz & Doug Goldenberg

Natalie Hundhausen ’96

Legacy Performance Academy

Melanie & Jonathan Marks

Luci Estep & Alex Thonen

Krista & Silas Goldman

Carla & Michael Hunigan

Mark Leslie

Meg & Drew Martin

Melinda & Mike Evens

Goldman, Sachs & Co. Matching Gift Program

Caroline & John Inazu

Sara & Stas Levchinsky Betsy Lewis ’98

Lovely Lady Lourdes & Mark Matteson

Tanya Fagaly Hull & Matthew Hull

Annie & Rickey Goodwin

Intercon Chemical Company Melissa Irvin

Andrea Ligammari & Peter Kunz

Walter Maupay Hannah & Nick Mayer

Shannon & Michael Farmakis

Sarah & Fitz Gordon ’76

Grace Farr ’20

Mollie Gray

Tanya Schmitter Mayer ’99 & Jr Mayer

Sue & Chris Felling

Danielle & Scott Green

Heather Midgley Jandourek ’90 & Chuck Jandourek

Nikki Lilly-Murphy & Hank Murphy

Kara & Matt Mayes

Torre Finley ’00

Debbie & John Greenberg

Teresa & Corey Jefferson White

Julie Schwarze Linihan ’96 & Jeff Linihan

Leah Fischer ’25

Sarah & Adam Grissom

Takisha & Dennis Jethroe

Chia-Hui Liu & Fred McEntee

Jane Beth & Matt McCarty

Lelia Flagg & Stephen Bourke

Abby Kelly Gualdoni ’13

Ashley Johnson

Tilly Flaggs

Gus’ Pretzel Shop

Nikki Johnson ’09

Jane Childress Fody ’60

Angelica & Billy Gutierrez

Beth & Gary Jokerst

Kathleen & Scott Fogarty

Zayda & Erik Gutierrez

Casey Jolley ’03

Andrew Foglia ’05

Pam Hall

Regina & Marcus Jones

Cindy Follman & Jay Baum

Kate Atwood Hammer ’98

Sammie Hellauer Jones ’11

Fortitude RE

Kris Hankins ’25

Cara & Trevon Jones

Cara Foster

Bridgett & Bill Hanks

Alena & Gennadi Kaganov

Jasonee Foster & Jeffery Foster II

Julie & Scott Hardeman

Vitina Kaiser & Garth Curtiss ’00

Four Pretty Paws Mobile Pet Spa

Regan & Richard Harkins

Erinn & Tim Kao

Ella Fox ’24

Isey Harris & David Muhammad

Spencer Kaye ’24

Laura & Don Frank

Anna Hartog & Daniel Roberts

Anthony French ’05

Erin & Austin Hasek

Kendra Scott

Sara Freund ’08 & Alex Cano ’08

Alix Grant Hawes ’08

Whitney Key Towey ’02 & Ted Towey

Haley Deffaa Fuller ’03

HawkPartners LLC

LiAngel Keys

Jennifer & Brandon Haynes

Mehreen Khann & Adnan Siddiqui

Connie & Lloyd Evitts

Nick Funke ’04 Lucy Gallagher ’23 Jackie & Andy Gambill Rick Gamp Jenny Chao Gansner ’06 Marileana Garcia Corretjer & Shawn Burkard Elizabeth & Juan Garcia-Dominguez Rachel & Brad Gassner Tom Gassner Gateway Arch Riverboat Cruises

60

Experience

Google, Inc.

Larry Hays Amanda Hazelwood Hearst Cindy & Matt Heidenry Amber Henderson

Peter Jacobi ’10 Randee & Myron Jacobs

Kathleen & Seamus Kelly

Andrea Loiselle & Anthony Valentin

Bill McLaughlin Megan Temple Design

Monica Louise

Marta Melendez

Olga Lubman

Lisa & Ruben Mella

Kristel & Derek Mabie

Christine Merryman & Michael Starkey

Celeste Malfavon-Amos & Jovan Amos

Moneta Group David Moore Beverly Moreland Brittney Morgan Vicki & Joseph Morris

Eleanor McKown ’23

Laura Lotz ’95 & Harold Barker

MAI Capital Management LLC.

Nikki Smith Mollica ’90 & Phil Mollica

Debbie Moore

Sheila McCarthy

Bridget & Greg McPherson

Barbi & Bill Macon

Britney Howard Moehlenkamp ’10 Liz & Glen Mollett

Audrey Long ’24

Elizabeth & Mike Macheca

Mitchell International

Becky & Chris Mollett

Danielle & Tim McKay

Carrie Throop Londe ’94 & Ken Londe

Graham Mills ’21

Jenny Morrison & Sean Maiscott Janet Ledford Moyle ’02 Karen Mueller Amy Muggleton Nicole & Andy Murphy Namaste Yoga Studio Nayak Plastic Surgery

Nidia & Erick Messias

Max Nehrig ’02

Alicia Meyerhoff ’01 Annie Knapp Migdal ’11 Shanea Miles

Jacki Juenger Nekus ’02 & Michael Nekus Netflix

2024-2025 Endowed Chairs

Bettie & Bennie King Christine King Orisia & Brian Kirkpatrick Lauren Kisling

Tiara Hendricks

Brad Klages

Amanda Henry & Jeff Chapman

Lizzy & Chris Kline ’92 Kopytek

Tom Herman

Teddy Kouvelis ’23

Helen & Terry Heugel

Rachel Kraby

Jane & Joseph Hill

Kreis’ Steakhouse & Bar

Nancy & Lockwood Hill ’70

Karen & Kupp Kuppinger

The Kent Family Language Chair

Amy Allen Cano Performing Arts Chair

Catherine Marie Connors ’89 Science Chair

Amy Muggleton

Anna Seim

Chris Sellers

P ’23

P ’24 ’27

Arthur & Helen Baer Foundation Visual Arts Chair

William W. Daues Athletics Chair

Jim Daniels

P ’29

P ’31

Buddy Smith

Richard B. Kobush Humanities Chair

Megan Wolfslau P ’28

The Whitfield School Magazine

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Rachelle Raber-Kashpur & Yevgeniy Kashpur

Felicia Sayles

Brandon Stoker

Racquel Aesthetics

Brad Schmidt ’06

Stone Turtle

Leslie & Rick Schmidt

Geoff Story

Mary Schnitzler

Darond Stovall

Jonathan Schultz ’05

Straub’s Fine Markets

Leslie Gemarino & Zach Schwarz

Ana Struckhoff ’25

Maddie Scott ’13

Kate Sutherell & Justin Lieser

Gigi Esser Rager ’09 & Peter Rager Tony Ralphs Lindsay Rutledge Randazzo ’06 & Joe Randazzo Asma & Hashim Raza Lisa & Chris Reatini

Class of 2025 Senior Tributes 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 22 years, and we are grateful for their generosity. The following is a list of the families in the Class of 2025 who donated their deposit to Whitfield's 2024-25 Annual Fund.

David Records Mike Reese ’06 Allison Chao Reichart ’04 & Brock Reichart Bunny & Karl Reif Reinsurance Group of America

Anna & Jeff Seim Wendy Dillinger & Chris Sellers Dena Shaw & David Kovalic Sharmin Sheikh & Ehsan Haider Shine Sunless Tanning Spa Elana Mogil Shulkin ’05

Robin & Jim Blatt

Amal & Ehab Morcos

Laura Pollnow Bryan ’97 & Andy Bryan

Amber & Jeff Ott

Stephanie Capellupo

Susan Parker

Sharon & Douglas Carroll

Carrie & Scott Reiter

Sabrina & Rickie Carter

Christine & Jeffrey Remming

Rachel Rhodes & Cory Koenemann

Alisa & Dave Cooperstein

Julia Roberts

Arlington Rhone ’23

Stacy & Keith Slusser

Laura & John Corn

Rachel & Scott Rose

Eldridge Rhone ’25

Nikol & Brandon Smart ’03

Shelly & Michael Edwards

Brenda Tate

Christine & Michael Riat

Debbie & Tom Smith

Zayda & Erik Gutierrez

Ferhana Zaman & Steven Thiel

Amber & Matt Richards

Carla & Michael Hunigan

Sarah & Craig Walseth

Jen Rieger

Lisa Anderson-Smith & Buddy Smith

Christine Moody & Stephen Tillery

Batya & Steve Wertman

Kate Rose ’25

Carrie & Scott Reiter Abby Ressner ’23 David Ressner

Orlando’s

DeAndria & Harold Player

Emily Nishi & Jay Winig

Amber & Jeff Ott

PLNK T&C

Damon Norfolk

Nicole Owens

Mead & Jim Ploszay

Nothing Bundt CakesBrentwood

Davide Pace ’20

Katrina & Matt Politte ’98

Patrick O’Connor

Sara & Pete Paciorek

Charles Polk ’12

Mike Palumbo ’02

POOP 911-West St. Louis

Melika & Nick Panneri

Jenna & Ed Poppe

Jenny Parry & Ryan Mongey

Krystal & Amond Prater

Party Hop

Pretzel Boy’s

Jyoti Parwatikar & John Dehart

Terrilyn Price-Aaron & Montize Aaron

Amber & Jared Odom Catina & Matt O’Leary Olympia Gymnastics Mary Ann & Jack Oneill Open Arms Wellness LLC Orangetheory FitnessDes Peres Orangetheory Fitness-Ladue Orangetheory FitnessRock Hill Experience

Theresa & Mark Pawlicki Haley Pepper Juanita & Jerome Pettiford Trisha & Mike Pflantz Wendy & Kyle Pinkley

Diana & Wayne Prichard PRP Wine International Patricia Pruett Tiffany Pruiett

Ebony & Ishmael Sistrunk Six Flags St. Louis Sallie Primm Skinner ’70

Kristen & Michael Swearngin Jamie & Dan Sweeney Barbara & Stephen Sweeny Damion Talcott Brenda Tate Latrice Tate Dana Taylor Jess Taylor Timothy Taylor III ’23 Taylor & Peter Tchoukaleff ’07 Michelle & Spencer Templeton The Art of Entertaining The Bar Method The Black Rep The Cakery The Coder School

Kelly & Evan Snyder ’96

The Face & Body Spa

Susan Snyders

The Only Facial-Des Peres

Shuree Sockel & Wayne Haar

The Panthers Sports Camp

Sol Sunless Tan

The Pilates Lab

Carol & Jeff Solomon

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

David Solomon ’02

Jillian & Raphael Thomadsen

Cory Spielberg ’94

Robyn Thomas & Rob Butler

Rachel Sprock

Margaret & Seth Thompson

Tanya & Simon Rozin

St. Louis Ambush

Kristin Thompson Poelker ’07

Andrea & Bill Rubin ’60

St. Louis Battlehawks

Three Kings Public House

Kerry Ryan & Noaman Siddiqi

Charlie Staley-Brain ’23

Tarshish & James Tillman

Ryze Adventure Park

Gina & Josh Stevenson

Carl Tisone

Sage Dining

Erica & Blake Stewart

Emily & Kyle Tisone ’05

Saint Louis Dance Theatre

Shere Stewart

Stacey Tobin & Jared Heintz

Saint Louis Zoo

Carrie & Jeremy Stith

Sarah Tolch

Josiah Santiago ’23

STLWAGS

Robyn & Mark Tonopolsky

Cole Sargent ’25

Kathryn & Mark Stoddard

Total Wine & More

Adam Rosen ’09 NewSpace Home Organization

Kaitlin Sides

Bryson Sutton ’23

Osnat & Eli Snir

Rachel & Scott Rose

62

Nicole & Monzell Scott

Joy & Thomas Struckhoff

David Rosenberg ’62 Avigail & Steven Rosenzweig Mike Roth Dora & Sherman Rotskoff Sari Rotskoff ’00 & Stephen Snipes

Emily & Michael Treadwell The Whitfield School Magazine

63

Jamie & Zac Tredway

Richard Woolf

Class of 1983

Kristin Trenary

Nicole & Shannon Yates

Carolyn Brightman Kroenlein

Lisa Trout

YogaSix

TruFusion

Sarah Yoselevsky Kaye & Todd Kaye

Truist Bank

Class of 1986 Raj Bhuyan

30%

Class of 1999

Class of 2005

Roxanna & Kenneth Uhlig

Carswell Charitable Fund at Youthbridge Community Foundation

Class of 1990

Andy Esser

Rachel Schwarz Doiron

Urban Air Adventure Park

Stephen Kerckhoff

Andrew Foglia

Neal Zoellick

Amos Curlee

Danielle & Geoffrey Uy

Tanya Schmitter Mayer

Anthony French

Monica Zotos

Heather Midgley Jandourek Nikki Smith Mollica

Kristen Deffaa Rhodes

David von Allmen

Kim Steward

Lindsay Gilhousen Mannen & Kris Mannen

Holly Tucker

Eric Van De Riet ’12 Jessica & Benjamin Varner

Jonathan Schultz

David von Allmen ’90

Alumni by Class

Class of 1991

Class of 2000

Elana Mogil Shulkin

Gylian Von Kloha ’25

Class of 1960

Jennifer Jacobs

Chris Cady

Kyle Tisone

Sanaa Waheed & Razi Muzaffar

Jane Childress Fody

Dave Ott

Garth Curtiss

Erica Trotter

Jess Smasal Wain ’10

Bill Rubin

Rachel & Dan Walker

Class of 1992

Veronica Walls

Class of 1962

Chris Kline

Sarah & Craig Walseth

David Rosenberg

Dorothy Rhodes

Kate Walter

Class of 1964

Anna Warbelow

Nina Ware

Nina Ware ’64 Waterway-Chesterfield Cami Watkins & Siroth Charnond Joshua Weinstein Amy & Evan Weiss

Class of 1969 Elliot Benoist

Class of 1969 Art Kerckhoff

Class of 1994 Michael Brischetto Cory Spielberg

Class of 1995 Laura Lotz

Class of 1996

Batya & Steve Wertman

Class of 1970

Natalie Hundhausen

Ella Wertman ’25

Jim Bruns

Matt Whiat

Flip Cady

Lauren Weissman Kerner & Kyle Kerner

Kamau Whitfield

Jane Piper Gleason

Chandra Wiewel & Greg Folkert

Lockwood Hill

Susan & Chris Wilkins

Sallie Primm Skinner

Shelly Williams & Mike Turner Temiko & Harold Williams

Class of 1973

Carmela Williams Watson

Bill Cady

Shawn Williamson ’13

Ginger Newton Jacobi

Amanda & Chris Wilson Holly Wilson-Rothert & Mason Rothert Adia & John Wingfield Megan & Erik Wolfslau Me’Sha Woodard & James Jones Mindy Woolf

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In one year, Alumni Support is

UP MORE THAN

Class of 1974 Ron Fox

Torre Finley Sari Rotskoff

Class of 2006

Class of 2001

Ellen Simons Nahlik

Bobbi Orlando Baker

Lindsay Rutledge Randazzo

Lindsey Williams Graves

Mike Reese

Alicia Meyerhoff

Brad Schmidt

Kyrstin Munson

Jenny Chao Gansner

Class of 2007

Class of 2002

Van Eaves

Nick Casey

Kristin Thompson Poelker

Robert Glassman

Peter Tchoukaleff

Laura Cady Guzewicz Janet Ledford Moyle Max Nehrig

Class of 2008 Brian Chao Sara Freund & Alex Cano

Julie Schwarze Linihan

Jacki Juenger Nekus

Lee Rhodes

Mike Palumbo

Evan Snyder

David Solomon

Melissa Howe O'Connor

Whitney Key Towey

Class of 2009

Elissa Cady Arnold

Class of 2003

Tori Clodfelter

Laura Pollnow Bryan

Haley Deffaa Fuller

Class of 1997

Class of 1998 Anonymous (1) Kate Atwood Hammer

Casey Jolley Liz Fox Philbrick

Alix Grant Hawes

Chloe Colbert Nikki Johnson Zack Markow

Brandon Smart

Gigi Esser Rager Adam Rosen

Class of 1976

Betsy Lewis

Class of 2004

Class of 2010

Fitz Gordon

Matt Politte

Nick Funke

Kory Clawson

Scott Rhodes

Jamie Sokolik Miller

Abby Lefler Eaves

Allison Chao Reichart

Peter Jacobi

Class of 1982

Britney Howard Moehlenkamp Jess Smasal Wain

Class of 2011 Shane Carr Sammie Hellauer Jones Annie Knapp Migdal Susanne Ittner Petti

Class of 2012 Caroline Baer Alex Friedman Box Charles Polk Eric Van De Riet Class of 2013 Abby Kelly Gualdoni Maddie Scott Shawn Williamson

Class of 2018 Brooke Berry Jack Carswell Class of 2020 Olivia Barnes Grace Farr Davide Pace Yutiancheng Yang

Class of 2021 Graham Mills

Class of 2022 Ian Shepherd

Class of 2023 Ilana Boyer Emma Casado Jack Courtney Juliana Dahlhoff Lucy Gallagher Teddy Kouvelis Eleanor McKown Abby Ressner Arlington Rhone

Jeanine Meier Devine Experience

The Whitfield School Magazine

65

Josiah Santiago Charlie Staley-Brain Bryson Sutton Timothy Taylor III

Class of 2024 Ella Fox Spencer Kaye

Luke Cano Mary & Joe Freund

Sheila McCarthy Debbie & John Greenberg

Harper Charnond ’29 Cami Watkins & Siroth Charnond

Currin McCarty '08 Jane Beth & Matt McCarty

Class of 2002 Carol & Jeff Solomon Class of 2025 Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff

Audrey Long J.R. Rhodes Class of 2025 Moss Capellupo Spencer Corn Caroline Dahlhoff Caden Edwards Leah Fischer Kris Hankins Eldridge Rhone Kate Rose Cole Sargent Ana Struckhoff Gylian Von Kloha Ella Wertman

Tribute & Memorial Gifts

Curtis Erlinger Celina Casado Grace Farmakis ’30 Margaret & Raymond Lehner Chip Fischer ’28 Suzanne Fischer

Jeff Cacciatore Sheila McCarthy Flip Cady ’70 Bill Cady, II ’73 Barbi & Bill Macon, Jr. Amy Allen Cano Mary & Joe Freund

Hadley J. Key Naughton ’09 John Key Ella Paciorek ’28 Susan Snyders

John Berger Kathleen & Scott Fogarty Kris Hankins Ann Brumm ’92 Sheila McCarthy McKay & Jason Mills

Mead Ploszay Sarah Yoselevsky Kaye & Todd Kaye

Philip Cady, Sr. Nancy & Lockwood Hill ’70

Saadia & Asim Raza

Rickey Goodwin Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff

Student Philanthropy Board Kathleen & Seamus Kelly

Agha Haider ’21 Sharmin Sheikh & Ehsan Haider

Mary Thomas Benjamin King

Spencer Kaye ’24 Sarah Yoselevsky Kaye & Todd Kaye

Sheila McCarthy

Barbara Cady Nancy & Lockwood Hill ’70

The Politte Family Bunny & Karl Reif

Jewish Student Union at The Whitfield School Carol & Jeff Solomon

Joan Bebee John Key

Sophie Paciorek ’30 Susan Snyders

Rachel Gassner Ginny & Chip Fendell

Khalia Jones ’30 Tamara Cooperwood

In Honor of

Graham Mills ’21 McKay & Jason Mills

In Memory of

Whitney T. Key Towey ’02 John Key Evan Weiss Phyllis & Terry Weiss The Whitfield School Faculty & Staff Class of 2024 Nan & Steve Fox

Tory W. Key ’04 John Key

Sophie Wilson ’25 Amanda & Chris Wilson

Meg Maupay ’86 Mary & Walter Maupay

Jaclyn Yetter Gylian Von Kloha ’25

Gloria & Joseph Cole Danita & Hayward Brown Jim Costello Beverly Moreland Janet Esrock Melissa Howe O’Connor ’08 Lola Goodwin Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff Larry Hays Sally Key ’73 John Key Asra Hussain Raza Dianna & Ron Fox ’74 Jackie & Derik King Jason Sargent Cole Sargent ’25 David Sayag Hila & Eyal Ben Abraham Ashland Tate Melanie & Jonathan Marks Minerva Williams Shelly Williams & Mike Turner

A Legacy of Leadership, Sportsmanship, and Heart In Memory of Dave Lauer P'20

T

he Whitfield School community mourns the loss of Dave Lauer P'20, who devoted 30 years to Whitfield as a leader, mentor, coach, and friend.

Joining the school in 1994, Dave served more than two decades as director of business & facilities, guiding Whitfield through times of great growth and challenge, always with steady resolve and deep care for people.

Beyond his administrative leadership, Dave coached basketball and baseball, modeling patience, humility, and sportsmanship for generations of student-athletes. In 2024, he was honored with the Mary Leyhe Burke Award and named an honorary member of the Class of 2024.

In December 2023, Dave was diagnosed with glioblastoma.

He met this challenge with remarkable courage, sharing his perspective in his first published book, "Glad To Be Here!"— a reflection on living fully in the face of terminal illness.

To honor his legacy, the Lauer family has established the Dave Lauer Endowment for The Whitfield School Hall of Fame, ensuring that the Hall of Fame wall will continue to celebrate student-athletes and community members for years to come.

Please scan the Giving QR code to make a gift to this endowment and carry forward Dave’s legacy of sportsmanship, leadership, and heart. Please scan the memorial QR code to visit Dave’s memorial website, where you can share memories, stories, photos, and videos.

Dave’s wisdom, humility, and quiet strength will forever inspire the Whitfield community. We are better for having known him.

"I won’t let it defeat me."

— Dave Lauer Memorial QR Code

Giving QR Code

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.

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Experience

The Whitfield School Magazine

67

GIVING BY THE NUMBERS

$858,790

Unrestricted Funds

Average Gift

$37,269

749

Matching Gifts

254

Our Impact In Action The Whitfield Fund | 2024-2025 School Year

$634

Total Donors

Grandparents

Friends/Other

Alumni Former Board

495

New Donors

Retained Donors

49

154

Leadership Donors

GIVING BY CONSTITUENCY

Faculty & Staff Board

Alumni Donors Current Parents

CAMPUS AND CLASSROOM HIGHLIGHTS: FUNDED BY YOU!

GREEN & WHITE GALA SPOTLIGHT March 1, 2025 / Total Raised: $322,950 By the Numbers REIMAGINING THE ARTS

EMPOWERING EDUCATORS

LEARNING IN MOTION

ELEVATING CAMPUS LIFE

Field Trips Returned: Visits to the Contemporary Art Museum & Pulitzer Arts Foundation

Faculty & Staff Professional Development:

Interactive Labs: Biomolecule detection and plant growth experiments

Athletics: New helmets and weighted bats for baseball

Equipment Upgrade: Precision balances and new lab glassware for Chemistry & AP Chemistry

Spirit & Pride: Return of Upper School Cheerleading and the debut of our new Warrior mascot

STEM in Motion: Laser holograms, flight simulator, and trebuchet project

Team Gear: New track suits for student-athletes

Jaclyn Yetter AP Chemistry Conference

Digital Arts Upgrade: Two full classroom sets of iPads equipped with Procreate Expanded Studio Resources: New ceramics wheels and highquality cameras Performance Achievement: Student musicians competed at the Six Flags Music Festival

Tom Herman Presenter at AMLE Conference Rachel Gassner FLAM Conference in Kansas City Michelle Brown Future of Educational Technology Conference Lauren Kisling Klingenstein Institute Jim Daniels P’31 Ceramics training at Kansas City Art Institute

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Experience

Tech Access: New laptops for all 9th and 11th graders Smarter Classrooms: Interactive projectors and TVs campus-wide

• 235 guests came together in support of Whitfield • 117 auction packages sparked friendly bidding and generosity

• 15 generous sponsors and underwriters made the night possible

SAVE THE DATE Green & White Gala | March 7, 2026 Join us for an unforgettable evening of community, celebration, and lasting impact.

MAKE YOUR IMPACT TODAY!

• $900,000 in unrestricted support • 100% parent participation in giving • 25% increase in monthly donors • 250 new donors across all constituencies • 20 new leadership donors (gifts of $3,000 or more) • 100 new alumni donors reconnecting with Whitfield

Esports Expansion: Upgraded equipment for competitive gaming Celebrating Seniors: Personalized posters for graduating athletes across all teams

2025-2026 WHITFIELD FUND GOALS

Scan the QR code or complete and return the enclosed envelope to support The Whitfield Fund, fueling another year of innovation, excellence, and community.

WE NEED YOU! These goals reflect the strength of our community, but we can’t reach them without your support.

Every gift counts. Every donor matters. Join us today.

The Last Word ham hool Dr. Chris Cunning ach spring, Head of Sc lec t duating seniors to ref invites Whitfield’s gra and experiences that on the people, classes, record the class responded—a s ranged is year, more than half Th y. school. Their memorie rne a n jou ir tha re the mo ed d iel shap itf Wh s ke ma the quiet gestures id portrait of what ernational travel—to int s, me number—offering a viv ga hip ns pio well: the work we —Spirit Week, cham eak to a truth we know sp y from the big moments the r, the ge To rk. t lef t a lasting ma of encouragement tha th seen and unseen. do matters, in ways bo

E

“

The teachers truly make Whitfield, Whitfield. I wouldn’t have grown into the person I am today without them.

” “

“

Senior year classes were life-changing, but it was my teachers' nurturing and humor that made the biggest impact.

They built my confidence with so many meaningful and supportive comments.

”

me that y and passion in it os ri cu d ce ti no k up, My teacher shed me to spea pu d an f— el ys That I didn’t see in m y voice mattered. m ve lie be d an , contribute on I am today. shaped the pers t en em ag ur co en

“

”

ol e outside of scho Talking about lif It l. felt meaningfu with my teacher l ip, and I think al built a relationsh l. el tfield do this w teachers at Whi

”

“

e of my best Playing a spor t was on . I gained a caring, decisions at Whitfield ity, and learned encouraging commun limits and how to go beyond my . be confident in myself

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”

Experience

“

My teachers' attitudes towards life and learn ing have made me want to do great things.

“

”

Spirit Week is always amazing to see the community come together and celebrate one another for an entire week.

”

“

My teachers have alw ays held me to a high standard, and that 's something I appreciate. I'm alway s trying to meet those standards. I thin k this has made me a more confident person and a better student, and I appreciate it!

”

The Whitfield School Magazine

71

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.

Ground Breaking News!

The next chapter in Whitfield's transformation begins January 2026, as preparations get underway for a series of bold campus enhancements. Mark your calendar— groundbreaking is anticipated for mid-March 2026.