Engage Magazine_Fall 2026

The Whitfield School Magazine

Meet Me at The Huddle FALL 2026

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.

Meet Me at The Huddle

Director of Marketing & Communications Erin Walsh P ’33 Design Melissa Irvin Principal Photography

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OUR VISION

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Empowering young people to discover and become their best selves.

What Athletics Makes Possible

Josh Sarris ’17 Contributors Abby Kelly Gualdoni ’13

BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 2026-2027

20 Built for the Middle Years

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Geoff Story

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Commencement

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Jeffrey Evitts P ’27, ’29 (Chair) Geneen Von Kloha P ’25 (Vice Chair) Jessica Portis P ’26 (Treasurer) Austin Hasek P ’30 (Secretary) Brian Chao '08 Kris Mannen '05 Dave Cooperstein P ’25 Sean McCarthy P ’31 Ron Fox '74 Steve Nordlund P ’21, ’23 P ’01, ’03, ’07, ’24 Melissa Howe O'Connor '08 Liz Goldenberg P ’29 Asim Raza P ’24 Kristin Keller P ’29 Scott Rhodes '98 Derik King P ’24 P ’24, ’26, ’28

Honorary Lifetime Members Flip Cady '70 P ’97, ’00, ’02 Karen Myers P ’13, ’16, ’16 Bruno Schmitter P ’99, ’02, ’06 Wayne Smith P ’97, ’00, ’08

Amanda Hazelwood P ’31 Kathleen Kelly P ’29, ’32 Laura Lotz ’95 P ’21, ’31, ’33 Sara Ringe Address Change Development Office The Whitfield School 175 South Mason Road St. Louis, Missouri 63141 development@whitfieldschool.org

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

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 P ’33 erin.walsh@whitfieldschool.org

Visit our website www.whitfieldschool.org

Welcome from Chris

Dear Friends, One of the quiet pleasures of my job is visiting classes—stopping in to see what's happening. I never leave disappointed. What I find, again and again, are students in the middle of the messy, unglamorous, genuinely exciting work of learning: wrestling with a problem, defending a position, discovering something they didn't know they could do. I saw that same quality of thinking on full display this spring at our Senior Capstone presentations, where our seniors stood up and shared a year's worth of research and reflection on something they genuinely cared about. In moments such as these, whether it’s a random Tuesday in February or a culminating presentation in May, our mission stops being a statement on a page and becomes something you can see.

That is what this issue of Engage is about.

In the pages that follow, you will find stories of this same kind of transformation—not the dramatic, headline-ready kind, but the kind that happens in rehearsal rooms and on playing fields, in advisory conversations and on international trips, in the moments that students themselves often don't recognize as significant until much later—sometimes years later. You will meet students navigating the particular intensity of middle school, young people developing their voices on the stage, and student-athletes excelling at the highest levels of competition—and you’ll meet Dusty, our newest community member, who has reminded us all that belonging can be built in surprisingly simple ways.

What ties these stories together is something I hear from our graduating seniors every spring, when I ask them to reflect on their time here. They rarely talk about grades or test scores. They talk about the teacher who believed in them, the class that changed how they see the world, the experience that showed them what they were capable of. One of them, reflecting on a single course this year, put it simply: "This class strengthened my perception of what it means to be human, and what right living is."

I hope you enjoy this issue..

Table of Contents Meet Me at The Huddle........................................................................................................................................................................... 6-7 Meet Dusty, Whitfield's New Dog........................................................................................................................................... 8-10 A Legacy of Leadership: Karen Myers....................................................................................................................... 11 Raising the Curtain: Building a Theater Program with Purpose............................................................12-15 What Athletics Makes Possible....................................................................................................................... 16-19 Built for the Middle Years.................................................................................................................................. 20-23 From Question to Contribution How Capstone Became a Defining Part of Senior Year at Whitfield..................................... 24-27 Beyond Graduation............................................................................................................................................... 28-29 A Year in Photos...................................................................................................................................................... 30-37 Whitfield’s 2026 Awards Day......................................................................................................................... 38-39 Commencement 2026: Growth Unseen................................................................................................ 40-46 Ask Our Alumni..................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Alumni Gatherings............................................................................................................................................... 48-49

Warmly,

Alumni Giving Reaches New Heights Record Growth Reflects the Strength of the Whitfield Alumni Community.................... 50-51 Chris Cunningham, Ph.D. Head of School

Philanthropy Report............................................................................................................................................. 52-69 The Whitfield Fund — Impact Report ONE Community. Endless Possibilities...................................................................................................... 70-71

They happen in hallways, around shared tables, and in the informal conversations that take place before class, after practice, and between commitments.

Current parent and interior designer Amie Corley P ’26 helped shape the finishing touches that give The Huddle its distinctive character.

Joining the project after construction was already underway, she focused on design elements that would create a strong sense of identity while remaining practical to execute.

"Sara [Ringe, assistant head of school] and Kathleen [Kelly, director of development] brought me into the project late in the game as they felt like the space really deserved more personality than the contractors were showing," she said.

Meet Me at The Huddle

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n most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, a small group of students gathers outside The Huddle before the doors open.

Five to ten students wait for the parent volunteers who run the space to arrive. When the doors open, they head straight for the line, eager for donuts, hot chocolate, and a few extra minutes with friends before the school day begins.

For Mitzie Fenberg P '26, one of the parent volunteers who helps operate The Huddle, the shift has been striking.

"Most middle and high school students aren't known for wanting to get to school early," she said. "Now we're arriving to find students already waiting for us to open."

Located at the entrance to the dining room, The Huddle combines the former Conant Café and school store into a single gathering space for students, faculty, staff, and families. Since opening following a ribbon-cutting ceremony in April 2026, it has quickly become one of the

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most frequently used spaces on campus.

For students, the difference has been immediate.

"Before, I was probably going twice a semester," said James Kelly '29. "Now I'm going twice a week."

That change reflects one of the most significant shifts brought by the new space. What was once a separate destination tucked away in the House has become part of students' daily routines.

"Now I can hit The Huddle on my way to practice for a snack and a drink," said Sam Hoette '29. "Before, it was hard to make it on time because the store was attached to the House."

For Kate Kelly '32, the appeal is even simpler.

"I love The Huddle because we can gather together and have snacks."

At Whitfield, those moments matter because some of the most meaningful parts of school life are not scheduled into the academic day.

Green-striped wallpaper serves as a nod to Whitfield's colors while creating what Corley describes as a classic, sporty, scholastic feel. Handcrafted greenand-white zellige tile adds texture and visual interest while subtly celebrating Whitfield's artistic tradition.

Inside, there is also a permanent installation that recognizes the families whose generosity made the project possible, including leadership support from Lindsey Graves '01 P '24, '26, '28 and Justin Graves P ’24, '26, '28, along with Betty and Jim Williams P ’01, and contributions from a wide network of Whitfield families.

"We loved the idea of helping support a place for building community and culture," said Graves. "Whitfield has always been a school that cares for both, and this space was just another example of how to build on that strong foundation."

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We loved the idea of helping support a place for building community and culture. Whitfield has always been a school that cares for both, and this space was just another example of how to build on that strong foundation.

—Lindsey Graves ’01 P ’24, ’26, ’28

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Keeping in line with building community, parent volunteers continue to play an important role in the life of the space, helping sustain the daily operations that keep it active and welcoming.

"Parent volunteering sends a powerful message to students that their environment matters and that there's a whole community invested in their experience," Fenberg said. "When students see parents showing up, contributing, and working together, it reinforces a sense of support and connection beyond the classroom."

What began as the renovation of a café and school store has become a place students actively choose to be, providing convenience, comfort, and a central gathering place for students and family.

Its deeper value, however, can be seen in the small moments that unfold there each week: students arriving early, conversations extending a little longer, and friendships finding another place to grow.

And, in a school that values relationships, that may be the clearest measure of success.

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Meet Dusty, Whitfield’s New School Dog

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Whitfield Dogs

y mid-morning, Dusty has already made his rounds.

The one-year-old golden retriever, who celebrated his first birthday this June, greets nearly everyone the same way: with a wide, openmouthed grin and a tail that wags so enthusiastically it shakes his entire body. Kind, curious, and more than a little goofy, he moves easily through the flow of the school day, making friends wherever he goes.

Murphy

Dusty seems happiest wherever people are gathered. He attends all-school assemblies, cheers on the Warriors at athletic events, and welcomes visitors as they arrive on campus.

His face appears on canvas tote bags sold in The Huddle, and Dusty stickers have quickly become favorites among current and prospective students alike.

The student-led Dusty Committee is already finding creative ways to involve him in campus life. During one afternoon dismissal, members helped him hand out Pup Cups to fellow fourlegged passengers in the carpool line, an idea the group hopes to repeat.

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Rascal

Sunshine

beloved cook. He officially joined the staff in 1985 and has spent more than four decades caring for the campus and the people who learn and work there. Students know him.

Faculty rely on him. Alumni return looking for him. Murphy did, too.

Some mornings, you’ll find him accompanying members of the maintenance team, Brandon Stoker or Rickey Goodwin, as they make their way across campus. Other times, he’s happily walking alongside Head of Security Don "DJ" Jacquin or stretched out just outside Assistant Head of School Sara Ringe’s office, waiting patiently for the next student to stop by for a belly rub.

Students pause between classes to say hello.

Faculty stop to scratch behind his ears before heading to class or a meeting. A student who needs a quiet moment sits beside him before moving on with the day. None of these interactions are planned, and none of them last very long. Yet together they have become part of Whitfield’s daily rhythm.

Mischief

In less than a year, Dusty has become such a familiar presence on campus that it's hard to imagine Whitfield without him. But his place in the community began with a much bigger question: who would follow in Sunshine's paw prints?

How It Began Dusty may be the newest member of the Whitfield community, but he is part of a story that stretches back more than four decades.

That story began with Murphy, a chocolate lab who belonged to a neighboring family but wandered onto campus often enough that he eventually stayed. What kept him there wasn’t convenience. It was the friendship he formed with Maintenance Associate Rickey Goodwin.

Each day, Murphy found his way to Rickey, riding across campus with him, waiting in the maintenance shop, or simply sitting nearby while work was done. Their friendship became so strong that when Murphy’s family prepared to move, they asked whether Whitfield would keep him. The school did, and Murphy became Whitfield’s first school dog.

During her 39 years at Whitfield, first as a mathematics teacher and later as principal, Ruth Greathouse H’ 24, P ’02, ’05 recognized that Murphy had become part of the Whitfield experience. When Murphy was gone, it was decided that another dog would follow.

Murphy was followed by Mischief, Rascal, and Sunshine, each becoming a familiar presence for a new generation of Whitfield students before Dusty continued the tradition.

“I just gave the dog love.”

Rickey first came to Whitfield as a boy, following his mother, Lola B. Goodwin, into the kitchen, where she served as the school’s

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Whitfield has always valued relationships and belonging, and having a school dog feels like a natural extension of that culture.

Dusty contributes to the warmth and family-feeling of our school environment.

—Sara Ringe Rickey Goodwin with Rascal

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A Legacy of Leadership: Karen Myers

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his spring, the Board of Trustees of The Whitfield School unanimously elected Karen Myers P '13, '16, '16 as an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Board of Trustees, making her the first woman in school history to receive the distinction.

The recognition places Myers among a select group of individuals whose service has had a lasting impact on Whitfield, including Philip B. Cady Jr. '70 P '97, '00, '02, Bruno Schmitter P '99, '02, '06, and Wayne L. Smith II P '97, '00, '08.

Today Dusty arrived in 2024 as a gift from Flip Cady ’70 and Candy Cady P ’97, ’00, ’02.

He is trained by Jack Amato ’15 and cared for by veterinarian Dr. Seth Williams ’05. Even before he stepped onto campus, he was already connected to generations of Whitfield alumni and families.

By now, students know exactly where to find him. If he isn’t making the rounds with Brandon, DJ, or a student looking for a quick walk, chances are he’s stretched out just outside Mrs. Ringe’s office, watching people come and go.

Ringe, who has been part of the Whitfield community for more than two decades, now serves as Dusty’s primary caretaker.

“Whitfield has always valued relationships and belonging, and having a school dog feels like a natural extension of that culture,” Ringe said.

“Dusty contributes to the warmth and family feeling of our school environment.”

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She has watched students arrive carrying stress or frustration only to leave smiling after spending a few quiet moments beside him.

“It’s impossible for students not to smile when they see him,” she said.

Like the dogs before him, Dusty belongs to everyone at Whitfield.

her financial expertise and executive leadership experience to Whitfield. During her board service, she served as Board Chair from 2015 to 2018, chaired the Committee on Trustees, served on the Finance and Asset Oversight Committee, and led one of the most consequential initiatives in Whitfield’s recent history: the national search that brought Chris Cunningham, Ph.D., to Whitfield as head of school.

Myers' stewardship also extended beyond governance. She helped guide the renovation of the head of school’s residence, For 15 years, Myers helped strengthened the board’s shape the leadership and leadership pipeline, and governance of Whitfield. continues to support Outgoing Board Chair Karen Through thoughtful Myers received the Mary Leyhe governance best practices trustee recruitment, board Burke Award from then Head of that oversees how Whitfield development, financial School John Delautre during the recruits, develops, and retains stewardship, and long-range 2018 Commencement. trustees. Beyond Whitfield, planning, she strengthened she also serves on the the foundation that continues Foundation Board of St. Louis Children’s to guide the school today. Her leadership Hospital, reflecting her long-standing is evident in Whitfield 2030, the school’s commitment to nonprofit service. strategic roadmap that reaffirmed Whitfield’s

Even his name reflects that connection.

Chosen through an all-school naming process and announced by Whitfield’s student media interns, “Dusty” honors the late Dave “Dusty” Lauer H ’24, P ’20, Whitfield’s longtime director of finance and operations and beloved baseball coach. Known simply as “Dusty” to his baseball teammates, he devoted more than three decades to caring for the school and the people who called it home.

commitment to experiential learning and academic rigor, identified ambitious campus improvements, and established a framework for long-term fiscal sustainability.

Tomorrow morning, Dusty will make his rounds again. He’ll walk campus with one of his beloved humans, settle outside Sara’s office, greet students with the same unmistakable grin and wildly wagging tail, and enthusiastically welcome another day at Whitfield.

"Everyone sitting around this table today was selected during Karen's tenure," Fox observed.

Speaking at the board's spring meeting, former Board Chair Ron Fox '74 P '01, '03, '07, '24 reflected on Myers' extraordinary contributions to Whitfield and the influence she has had on the institution's direction.

A graduate of the University of MissouriColumbia and Washington University in St. Louis, Myers spent two decades as Senior Vice President at U.S. Bank before bringing

As the parent of Katherine '13, Sarah '16, and Julia '16, Myers first experienced Whitfield through the eyes of her daughters. Her service to the school extended far beyond their years as students, reflecting a belief in the transformative power of a Whitfield education and a desire to ensure future generations would have access to the same opportunities.

The Board's unanimous decision to elect Myers as an Honorary Lifetime Member recognizes not only the years she devoted to Whitfield but also the enduring impact of her leadership.

Her influence can be seen in the trustees she recruited and mentored, the leadership she helped identify, and the strategic foundation she helped strengthen for Whitfield’s future.

The Whitfield School Magazine

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Raising the Curtain: Building a Theater Program with Purpose

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hen the curtain rose on Mean Girls: The Musical in Woods Hall this spring, the moment carried a significance beyond opening night. The production featured the largest cast Whitfield had seen in recent memory and reflected a theater program growing with intention.

At the center of that growth is director and Upper School theater teacher Mary Schnitzler, whose work over the past several seasons has focused on expanding participation and strengthening the program’s foundation. Her approach has been steady and deliberate, centered on cultivating student interest and creating a culture where students feel both supported and challenged.

Upper School's Mean Girls Production

Upper School's Little Women Production

As Cady Heron, the musical’s lead role, Winnie Murphy ’26 experienced firsthand what made the production special.

directed One-Acts, and a spring musical.

Each season offers a different entry point for students as performers, writers, designers, or technicians.

That intentionality begins with production selection.

“Every year, we look at what would be the right choice for our school at the time,” Schnitzler said. “Mean Girls is incredibly popular, and we knew interest and excitement would be high, both for auditions and for performances.”

“It’s really rewarding to work with other high schoolers to create art like this,” she said.

That decision proved catalytic. The production drew interest from a wide range of students, from first-time performers to returning actors stepping into leadership roles.

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For Erin Messias ’27, the production’s stage manager, the scale of the show created opportunities as well as challenges.

For many students, the scale of the production shaped the experience.

“More people are able to connect with this musical,” she said. “There are so many working parts that create new challenges for us, in a good way.”

“It’s really beautiful to see all the pieces come together,” said Gabi Gutierrez ’27, an ensemble member.

The program’s growth is also evident in the rhythm of the year: a fall play, a winter cycle of student-written and

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Upper School's Mean Girls Production

Recent productions, including Little Women, Ranked, Once Upon a Mattress, and The Play That Goes Wrong, have required a range of skills, from vocal performance to physical comedy, which continues to signal for the program to increase its ambitious scope.

That sense of stretch guided this year’s work.

“Our main goals were to stretch our theater department a bit in order to gain more interest in our program,” Schnitzler said. “We also knew we had quite a bit of student talent that we wanted to showcase and celebrate.”

The production of Mean Girls delivered that talent. The production was laugh-out-loud funny, supported by strong performances and talented vocalists, while also creating space for students to take risks and refine their craft.

Middle School's The Hummingbird Wars Production

The Whitfield School Magazine

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Woods Hall serves multiple purposes throughout the year, from assemblies to winter athletics, meaning that each production begins with a blank slate. Sets are designed and built from the ground up, then removed once the final curtain falls. Along the way, students learn far more than acting, singing, or stagecraft. They learn how to collaborate, solve problems, and transform an everyday space into something entirely new.

For Schnitzler, the goal remains the same regardless of the show, the cast, or the venue.

“Each production presents its own unique challenges and strengths,” Schnitzler said.

“We always strive for excellence.”

Designing the Details How students are shaping Whitfield productions through costume design, construction, and backstage leadership.

Adjacent to Woods Hall, the back stage spaces evolved into an active creative workspace where students contribute to productions in ways audiences rarely see.

Middle School's I Hate My Dog Production

Yet the growth visible on the Woods Hall stage begins long before students audition for an Upper School musical.

A Foundation for the Spotlight In the Middle School, Keith Borzillo leads a theater program centered on creativity, collaboration, and original student work.

Rather than beginning with a finished script, many productions begin with student ideas.

Working alongside Borzillo, students develop characters, shape plots, solve creative challenges, and write the original play that they eventually perform. Productions such as I Hate My Dog, The Hummingbird Wars, The Audition, Stories from the Bookhaven, and The Emergency Meeting of Garage 723 emerge through that collaborative process, giving students firsthand experience in writing, directing, staging, and performance.

“When students help write the original plays, they own the material much faster,” Borzillo said. “They have to deal with uncertainty as they get their hands dirty and start solving problems. Problems of plot, subplots, themes, and character development.”

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By inviting students into the creative process from the beginning, the program teaches them that theater is as much about collaboration and problem-solving as it is about performance. They learn to contribute ideas, support one another, and take creative risks in an environment designed for exploration.

“Because they ’own’ a character they helped write, students learn to carry over that kind of embodiment to other characters that are handed to them,” Borzillo said.

As students move into the Upper School, they bring with them an understanding of theater's collaborative nature and a willingness to take on increasingly ambitious productions.

“Like so much of what we do at Whitfield, it’s about the confidence students gain after a successful performance,” Borzillo said. “They carry themselves differently, and their peers see them differently. That newfound success and confidence shapes them going forward.”

If the program’s growth is visible in its people, it is equally evident in the adaptability that theater demands.

Under the guidance of Helena Cunningham, Whitfield students participate in nearly every aspect of costume design and production, gaining hands-on experience while helping bring each show to life.

“When Chris and I first joined the Whitfield community, student involvement in costumes was largely limited to helping manage costumes during the run of a show,” Cunningham said.

“Today, students are involved from the very beginning of the production process.”

Students attend initial cast meetings to assist with fittings, help organize dressing rooms, design and create some of the costumes, support hair and makeup, and manage quick changes during performances.

The opportunities have expanded beyond the production season. Growing student interest led Cunningham to launch a Community Time club where students learn sewing techniques and explore the fundamentals of costume design.

For Cunningham, the work extends well beyond theater itself.

“I see the work they are doing as a meaningful blend of creativity, design thinking, and hands-on technical skill development,” she said. “Those are skills that translate into many different fields and disciplines.”

The experience also provides another avenue for students to contribute meaningfully to a production, even if they never step onto the stage. “Students are now truly at the center of the costume program and play an essential role in every production we create,” Cunningham said.

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What Athletics Makes Possible Competitive excellence has long been part of the Whitfield story

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hitfield has the best of both worlds,” says champion wrestler, Jackson Bassett ’26.

“Wrestling and academics.”

At Whitfield, students have the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways much earlier. They are not waiting three years to find a role on a team. They are learning how to lead, compete, and support one another as part of a smaller community where every athlete matters.

A three-time Class 3 state runner-up, threetime district champion, and member of the exclusive 100-win club, Bassett compiled a remarkable 124-29 career record against some of the toughest competition in the country.

This spring, he was named the 2026 Ginger Newton Jacobi Male Athlete of the Year.

—Mike Roth

Yet when Basset reflects on his time at Whitfield, he talks less about his victories and more about his growth. “I came to Whitfield for the wrestling program,” he says. “It made me a better wrester–and a better man.”

learning how to lead, compete, and support one another as part of a smaller community where every athlete matters.”

As Bassett notes, what makes athletics so powerful and important is that it provides studentathletes the opportunity to pursue excellence, challenge themselves physically and mentally, and contribute to something larger than themselves.

Indeed, according to Director of Athletics Mike Roth, one of the unique features of Whitfield athletics is that “At Whitfield, students have the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways much earlier. They are not waiting three years to find a role on a team. They are

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I came to Whitfield for the wrestling program. It made me a better wrestler and a better man.

—Jackson Bassett ’26

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Inevitably, every student-athlete’s journey looks different. For some student-athletes, the opportunity to compete at the state level marks the culmination of their high school athletics experience. Some continue competing in college. For everyone, however, their participation in athletics will be a source of pride, personal growth, and life-long friendships.

Together, the five students in this feature story reflect the many ways athletics can help shape the Whitfield experience.

BY THE NUMBERS

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• 18+ sports offered

• 206 individual state medalists

• 36 state championships

• 4 collegiate signees in the Class of 2026

• 89 district titles

ELLEN HUNIGAN ’26 Over Memorial Day weekend, Hunigan concluded her Whitfield athletic career by winning the Class 2 state championship in the 400-meter dash with a school-record time of 55.81. She also helped the girls' 4x200 relay team finish second in the state while setting another school record alongside Savannah Rainey ’28, Brae Jackson ’28, and Gabby Williams ’26. By the end of her career, she had earned multiple state medals and established herself as one of the most accomplished athletes in program history.

Her achievements extended well beyond the track.

Hunigan earned the 2026 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete Award, the Upper School Shepherd Foundation Computer Science Award, and the honor of delivering the student address at Whitfield's 73rd Commencement.

A gifted computer scientist and aspiring engineer, Hunigan completed every computer science course offered at Whitfield while pursuing independent projects beyond the

The Whitfield School Magazine

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ADDISON ODOM ’29 classroom. For her Capstone project, she developed OnDeck.cc, an AI-powered platform connecting students with educational and enrichment opportunities throughout the St. Louis region.

Earlier this year, she also helped lead her team to the finals of the World Wide Technology Student STEM Forum by developing a web-based inventory management application for small businesses.

As a freshman, Addison Odom immediately stepped into a leading role for the Warriors, finishing the season as the team's leader in scoring, assists, and steals while averaging 14.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 4.9 steals per game. Her performance earned First Team Metro League honors, Class 5 All-District recognition, and a No. 2 statewide ranking from Prep Girls Hoops.

This fall, Hunigan will continue her academic journey at Purdue University, demonstrating that athletic excellence and intellectual curiosity can thrive side by side.

Those accomplishments are rooted in far more than natural ability. Odom spends countless hours refining her game, whether competing year-round with Phenom Basketball or putting in extra work in the gym. Just as importantly, teammates and coaches recognize her as a natural leader and loyal friend whose influence extends well beyond the scoreboard.

KAYLA SELLERS ’27 A Glassman Scholar and a recipient of both the Tri-Star Athletic Award and the Ginger Newton Jacobi Female Athlete of the Year Award. Sellers competes in golf, basketball, and track and field, earning a varsity letter in all three seasons.

She qualified for the MSHSAA State Golf Championship, contributes to the girls' basketball program, and plays an important role on one of Whitfield's strongest track and field teams in recent memory. Coaches describe her as the type of athlete whose impact often extends beyond the box score, whether defending an opponent's top scorer or running a critical relay leg when her team needs it most.

Her leadership extends beyond competition. This year, Sellers organized a Passback collection drive in partnership with Missouri Rush Soccer Club and Whitfield, collecting more than two SUV-loads of athletic equipment for redistribution to young athletes who might otherwise lack access to the gear needed to participate in sports. Planned and managed entirely by Sellers, the initiative reflects the same commitment to teamwork, leadership, and service that defines her athletic career.

Now a sophomore, Odom represents both the present and the future of Whitfield basketball, demonstrating what is possible when talent is matched by relentless preparation, leadership, and a commitment to continuous growth.

MJ PORTIS ’26 When MJ Portis arrived at Whitfield as an eighth grader, he found a community that encouraged him to pursue every opportunity available.

Over the next five years, Portis became a standout infielder for the Warriors, known for his speed on the basepaths and ability to get on base, while also distinguishing himself in mathematics, visual arts, and student publications. His Whitfield experience reflects the belief that student-athletes are never defined by a single interest.

A talented artist and graphic designer, Portis dedicated four years to Whitfield's visual arts program, earning selection to the Senior Art Retrospective, an exhibition celebrating students who committed themselves to artistic study throughout high school. As a photographer and designer for the yearbook, he also helped capture and preserve the stories of the Whitfield community.

This fall, Portis will continue both his academic and athletic career at Benedictine College, where he plans to study business and real estate while competing for the Ravens baseball program.

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From its earliest years, Whitfield defined its purpose not simply as academic achievement, but as teaching students "the methods of independent work, in other words, how to think." Today, that mission begins earlier and unfolds with greater intentionality than ever before.

Learning to Take Ownership Spend a day in Whitfield's Middle School, and it quickly becomes clear that students are learning life skills just as much as they are learning academic content.

You might see a sixth grader updating a planner before heading to science class, a seventh grader preparing for an English seminar discussion, or an eighth grader balancing athletics, community commitments, and long-term projects while preparing for the transition to Upper School.

Built for the Middle Years

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few days before Whitfield's annual Middle School Dance, Middle School Director Trevon Jones, Ph.D., sent a message to parents. He wasn't writing about drop-off times, dress code expectations, or logistics. Instead, he reflected on something many adults have likely forgotten: for a Middle School student, a school dance can feel enormous.

There are outfits to choose, friends to coordinate with, and countless questions about who is going and when to arrive. Beneath the excitement sits something deeper. During the middle school years, friendships take on new significance, and students become increasingly aware of where they fit within a community.

"For many students," Jones wrote, "it's their first taste of a social milestone that feels 'big,' and a few nerves often come along for the ride."

Moments like these help explain why Whitfield's Middle School looks the way it does.

Middle school is often described as a bridge between childhood and high school, but that definition feels incomplete. These years are not

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simply preparation for what comes next.

They are a period of extraordinary growth, when students are learning how to manage increasing responsibilities, navigate more complex relationships, and develop a stronger sense of who they are.

For Jones, supporting students through that process is among the most important work a school can do.

"It is one of the most explosive times of development, second only to the first four years of life," he said.

That understanding shapes everything from the structure of the academic program to advisory, grade-level travel, Community Time, and the traditions that bring students together throughout the year.

The Middle School itself is a relatively recent addition to Whitfield's history. In 1998, the school welcomed its first class of sixth-grade students, creating an earlier entry point into the school's educational philosophy already centered on curiosity, independence, and experiential learning.

One of the newest editions to Whitfield’s Middle School curriculum, Middle School 101 introduces students to the habits and systems that support effective learning, from managing assignments and organizing materials to advocating for help when needed. Advisory provides opportunities for reflection and goal-setting, while classroom teachers reinforce those habits throughout the day.

Building on those foundations, students learn to distinguish between what is urgent and what is important. They track assignments, reflect on goals, and develop organizational systems that work for them. Across the curriculum, teachers help students build the executive functioning skills that allow learning to happen.

The goal is not simply academic success that appears on a report card, but helping students become increasingly independent learners who understand how to manage their responsibilities, advocate for themselves, and take ownership of their growth.

Learning to Belong For all the attention given to academics, some of the most important learning in Middle School happens between classes, around lunch tables, during Community Time, and in conversations with friends.

These are the years when friendships deepen, social dynamics become more complex, and questions of belonging become more immediate.

At Whitfield, those experiences are viewed as an essential part of adolescence rather than a distraction from it.

Students regularly practice collaboration, communication, empathy, and leadership, whether through advisory groups guided

by Whitfield's Habits of Mind and Heart or Community Time activities ranging from the Student Advisory Board to clubs built around shared interests.

Last fall, Jones watched students perform during Homecoming Lip Sync and Bonfire.

Standing before hundreds of classmates, parents, faculty, and alumni, Middle School

The impact is often felt in small but meaningful ways. For Kenzie Hazelwood '31, Middle School has helped her navigate a new academic environment.

"Middle School is helping me understand how letter grades work because we didn't use letter grades at my previous school," Hazelwood said.

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Understanding the Middle Years Every other week, Middle School Director Trevon Jones, Ph.D., shares reflections with families through his Middle School Musings newsletter.

Drawing on educational research, personal experience, and the everyday moments that define adolescence, the newsletter explores topics ranging from friendship and social conflict to resilience, technology, belonging, and independence.

Jones joined Whitfield in 2024 after serving in teaching and leadership roles in both public and independent schools. He believes the middle school years are among the most significant periods in a young person's development.

His philosophy is rooted in a simple idea: students grow best when they are known, challenged, and supported.

Whether writing about social media, a school dance, a rainy forecast in Chicago, or the value of a tech-free experience at Trout Lodge, Jones consistently returns to the same message. Middle School is not simply preparation for high school.

It is a formative stage of life worthy of thoughtful attention and intentional design.

"When educators rally behind a mission like Whitfield's," he said, "they create learning spaces where growth can happen, even when it is hard."

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students danced, sang, and cheered with a level of confidence that often surprises adults.

Reflecting on the evening, Jones admitted he was not sure he would have had the courage to do the same at their age. What stood out to him, however, was not just the students' willingness to take a risk, but the community surrounding them. He saw classmates, families, and faculty encouraging students to step forward, try something new, and support one another in the process.

Those relationships are often strengthened during shared experiences outside the classroom.

When students feel connected and free to be themselves, they develop the confidence to participate more fully in every aspect of school life. The result is not only stronger relationships but deeper engagement in learning.

Several times each year, W-Days provide opportunities for students to engage with the world in ways that connect directly to their studies. This year, sixth graders explored themes from My Side of the Mountain through hands-on outdoor experiences, seventh graders visited the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, and eighth graders participated in leadership and team-building experiences that challenged them to work together in unfamiliar settings.

"We started having finals in seventh grade to simulate what High School finals would be like," Fischer said. "We worked on creative writing and building our independence. This prepared me very well for the independence that was to come in my We started having finals in following years. Every year, you come out with the skills seventh grade to simulate you need for the next." what High School finals

"Trout Lodge helped me work collaboratively with my classmates by giving me the opportunity to make new friends and get to know different people's personalities," Nelson said.

For eighth graders, this year's trip to Chicago marked another step toward independence. Students explored a major city together, kept track of time, managed spending money, made decisions with their peers, and applied the confidence they had been developing throughout their Middle School years.

Learning Through Experience Whitfield's commitment to experiential learning is perhaps most visible when students leave the classroom altogether.

Looking back on his Middle School experience, Landon Fischer '28 sees those steps clearly.

Sophia Nelson '31 credits Trout Lodge with helping her connect with classmates she might not otherwise have known.

Growing with Purpose

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would be like. We worked on creative writing and building our independence.

This prepared me very well for the independence that was to come in my following years. Every year, you come out with the skills you need for the next.

—Landon Fischer ’28

The Middle School experience unfolds intentionally.

Sixth grade emphasizes structure and support as students adjust to new expectations and begin developing the habits that will serve them throughout their academic careers.

Seventh grade introduces greater responsibility and increasing independence. By eighth grade, students are taking ownership of more complex work, exercising greater agency, and preparing for the opportunities and expectations of Upper School.

”

Nearly three decades after welcoming its first sixthgrade class, Whitfield's Middle School continues to evolve to meet students' needs today. Programs have expanded, opportunities have grown, and new structures have been put in place to support student success.

What remains unchanged is the belief that these years matter.

Long before students enter Upper School, they are already learning how to manage responsibilities, navigate relationships, overcome setbacks, advocate for themselves, and contribute to a community. They are discovering who they are and who they hope to become.

It is work that is challenging, rewarding, occasionally messy, and deeply important. Exactly what the middle years are for.

The progression continues through other grade-level travel experiences.

Sixth and seventh graders travel to Trout Lodge, an outdoor education camp, for three days of outdoor adventure, community-building, and independence. Students spend their time hiking, competing in team challenges, cooking over campfires, building dams in Cold Springs Creek, and cheering one another on from the Alpine Swing.

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From Question to Contribution How Capstone Became a Defining Part of Senior Year at Whitfield

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n the evening of May 20, visitors moved from classroom to classroom across The Whitfield School's campus, stopping to discuss immigration detention policies, test a prototype language-learning app, examine construction management practices, and explore the decision-making process behind flight training.

The projects differed dramatically in subject matter, but they shared a common origin. Each began with a question that a student found compelling enough to spend an entire year pursuing through research, interviews, fieldwork, experimentation, and reflection. Together, they offered a glimpse into how Capstone has become one of the defining experiences of senior year at Whitfield.

The course has evolved considerably over the past three decades. What began as May Projects eventually became Quest, a year-long opportunity for students to pursue independent interests and present their learnings to peers and faculty. Today's Capstone course builds on that foundation while expanding the time, structure, and support available to students.

"We wanted to capitalize on the students' own curiosity and guide them in an independent learning process," said Senior Capstone Coordinator Larry Hays, Ph.D., who helped launch

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the original Quest program in the early 1990s.

That belief continues to shape the course today. Students begin by exploring their interests before narrowing them into fields of study and eventually refining them into research questions worth pursuing.

"We started by exploring our interests, then narrowed them into fields of study before selecting the question that sparked the most curiosity," Hays explained. "Students then studied what makes a viable research question and drafted their first versions."

While the subjects differed, the challenge was the same: moving beyond curiosity and into meaningful engagement with the world.

The following are just a small sample of the complex questions our seniors explored this year.

Engineering Up Close While shadowing a geotechnical engineer, Zach Varner '26 listened as a field technician described a problem with soil conditions on an active construction site. Without seeing the site himself, the engineer quickly identified the issue as fat clay and immediately began outlining possible solutions.

For Varner, it was a moment that revealed how much expertise is built through experience.

and entry-level jobs is what really sets you up for the future."

"The people who really stand out are the ones who have done the dirty work first," he said.

Next fall, Varner will attend Kansas State University to study civil engineering.

An honor roll student, varsity boys basketball captain, and baseball player, Varner spent much of his senior year exploring the relationship between civil engineers, project managers, and the teams responsible for bringing largescale projects to life.

"To understand engineering, you need to see it up close," he says.

Through conversations and job-shadowing experiences, Varner discovered that engineering looks very different depending on the role.

Some professionals spend much of their time behind a desk, while others move constantly between planning meetings and active job sites. What surprised him most was not the technical complexity of the work, but the level of collaboration required.

"I think the most surprising thing to me is how many people it takes to make one project happen," he said. "Engineers, safety teams, construction managers, project managers.

Everybody is constantly bouncing ideas off each other."

The experience reinforced something he hopes to carry into college and beyond.

"Schooling is important," he said, "but the experience you get from internships, co-ops,

Learning to Make Decisions When It Matters For Ben McLaughlin '26, Capstone took him into the cockpit.

McLaughlin has spent the year exploring how pilots make decisions under pressure and what happens when circumstances change unexpectedly. While his project began with aviation, it quickly evolved into a broader examination of leadership, preparation, and judgment.

"Through flight training, I've learned that decision-making under pressure is less about reacting emotionally and more about staying calm, processing information quickly, and trusting your preparation," he said.

During one practice flight, wind conditions became stronger and more unpredictable than anticipated, making it difficult to maintain alignment. Rather than forcing a response, McLaughlin focused on staying composed, communicating clearly with his instructor, and making steady corrections as conditions changed.

"That experience reinforced the idea that good decision-making often means recognizing

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when to adjust your plan rather than trying to force the original one to work," he said.

In aviation, small decisions can have major consequences, a lesson McLaughlin believes extends far beyond flying.

"I've learned the importance of thinking ahead, prioritizing safety, and adapting when conditions change unexpectedly," he said. "Flight training has taught me accountability, adaptability, and how to trust both preparation and teamwork when facing challenges."

Next fall, McLaughlin will attend the University of Iowa where he will pursue Aerospace studies.

Research With Real-World Stakes Harper Maiscott '26 began her Capstone project researching private prisons in the United States. Along the way, she encountered reports detailing how detained immigrants are often held in privately operated facilities, a discovery that reshaped the direction of her work.

"This immediately interested me because much of my previous research focused on the inhumane conditions and practices associated with private prisons," she said.

As her investigation deepened, Maiscott became increasingly focused on the systems and incentives surrounding immigration detention. What she found most striking was

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the financial structure behind many detention facilities and the ways prolonged detention can generate profit.

"The most eye-opening aspect of my research has been discovering how much profit private facilities make by holding more immigrants for longer periods of time," she said. "To me, this system feels both backwards and unethical."

Rather than stopping at research alone, Maiscott sought a practical way to contribute to the conversation. As part of her project, she is developing a Know Your Rights guide designed to help immigrants better understand and navigate encounters shaped by federal immigration policy.

"I hope my Know Your Rights guide will help inspire meaningful change in the St. Louis area while also informing and protecting immigrants who are being affected," she said.

Next fall, Maiscott will attend the University of Missouri to study biological sciences.

Building Something New "Language is inherently human," said Charlie Swearngin ’26.

It is this belief of his that became the foundation of Linguana, an immersion-based language acquisition app developed alongside classmates Henry Corley '26, Ellen Hunigan ’26, and Jaden Jones '26.

The project emerged from a shared frustration.

All three students wanted to learn another language but found existing language-learning platforms lacking the immersion and authentic interaction they believed were necessary for meaningful learning.

Their answer was not to reject technology, but to use it in the service of human connection.

After consulting language education professionals, the group concluded that successful language acquisition requires more than vocabulary drills and streak counters.

It requires a connection.

Next fall, Swearngin will attend Clemson University to study finance. Corley will attend George Washington University to study philosophy, Jones will attend KU Leuven in Belgium to study philosophy, and Hunigan will attend Purdue University to study artificial intelligence.

Their solution was to create a platform that begins with foundational instruction before transitioning users into a social environment where they can communicate with others in their target language through conversations, games, and collaborative activities.

Working together, the team developed a functioning prototype while navigating the realities of software development, branding, user experience, and product design.

"The most challenging part is just the sheer amount of effort it takes to construct something this detailed," Swearngin said.

Throughout the process, the students found themselves wrestling with a larger question: How can technology support learning without replacing the human interactions that make learning meaningful?

"When you bring too much technology into [learning languages], conversations become stale and algorithmic,” Swearngin explained.

"Our hope is to use technology as a method to deliver the product rather than being the product itself," Swearngin said.

Following the Question Capstone projects rarely unfold exactly as students expect. Research uncovers new questions, interviews challenge assumptions, and experiments fail. Plans change. However, the purpose is for students to learn to revise, adapt, and continue moving forward even when there is no obvious answer waiting at the end.

"One of the most rewarding parts of Capstone is watching students realize they are capable of more than they initially thought," Hays said.

"They begin the year with an interest or an idea. By the end, they've learned how to ask better questions, navigate uncertainty, and persist through challenges that don't have clear answers. Those are skills they'll carry with them long after graduation."

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Beyond Graduation

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efore they become Whitfield alumni, seniors gather for one final tradition.

At Alumni Induction, members of the graduating class sign the Class Book housed in Barnes & Cole Alumni House. Their names join those of generations of Whitfield graduates who came before them, creating a living record of the community and its history. As alumni return to campus throughout their lives, they are invited to sign the book again, adding new chapters to a story that continues long after graduation.

Each graduate also receives an alumni pin, a small symbol of a much larger reality: they are now part of a community that extends far beyond their years as students.

A few days later, the class sits for its formal portrait. Once completed, the photograph will take its place in the hallway leading to Schmitter Gallery, joining the portraits of previous graduating classes that line the walls. Future students will walk past it on their way to class, performances, exhibitions, and community gatherings, just as this year's seniors passed the classes that came before them.

Together, the traditions serve as a reminder that commencement is not simply an ending.

It is an entry point into a lifelong community.

“

More than 30 years after graduating from Whitfield, I still see the impact this community has on people's lives. The friendships, mentorships, and connections formed here don't end at commencement. Wayfinder and Wavelength are helping us strengthen those relationships and create new opportunities for alumni to support one another across generations.

—Laura Lotz ’95 P ’21, '31, '33

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Experience

Introducing Wayfinder & Wavelength Few people have experienced Whitfield from as many perspectives as Laura Lotz ’95 P ’21, '31, '33. An alumna, parent, and member of the Whitfield staff, she has spent more than three decades as part of the school community.

"More than 30 years after graduating from Whitfield, I still see the impact this community has on people's lives," Lotz said. "The friendships, mentorships, and connections formed here don't end at commencement.

Wayfinder and Wavelength are helping us strengthen those relationships and create new opportunities for alumni to support one another across generations."

Launched in 2025 by Whitfield's Alumni Advisory Board, Wayfinder was created to connect alumni across generations, professions, and geographic regions. The initiative helps graduates build relationships with fellow alumni while also creating opportunities to support current students.

One of Wayfinder's earliest applications has been through Whitfield's Capstone program.

As seniors pursue yearlong projects exploring potential fields of study and careers, the program helps connect them with alumni

whose professional experiences align with their interests. Those conversations provide valuable insight while introducing students to the broader alumni network they will soon join.

This fall, those efforts will expand through the launch of Wavelength, a new online platform designed specifically for Whitfield alumni.

Wavelength will provide a dedicated space for graduates to connect with classmates and fellow alumni, explore professional opportunities, mentor younger alumni, and strengthen relationships across generations of the Whitfield community.

The Wayfinder Program will also soft launch its City Captains initiative, beginning with Denver. City Captains will give local alumni a way to connect informally and socially — whether that's catching a Cardinals game at a neighborhood bar or grabbing coffee at a new cafe with fellow grads. After gathering feedback from this initial rollout, we plan to expand the program to other major cities where our alumni community is thriving. It's a simple idea with real potential: turning shared geography into genuine friendship.

Together, Wayfinder and Wavelength represent a modern expression of a longstanding Whitfield tradition: graduates supporting one another long after they leave campus.

Whether returning to sign the Class Book, attending an alumni gathering, mentoring a student, or connecting through Wavelength, alumni remain an important part of the Whitfield story.

Graduation may mark the end of a student's time on campus, but it is also the beginning of a lifelong connection to the community that helped shape them.

Wayfder The Wayfinder Program aims to connect alumni with one another.

WAVELENGTH

Wayfder The Wavelength Platform, coming fall 2026, is the primary tool through which alumni will network and support fellow alumni.

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A Year in Photos

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A Year in Photos

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A Year in Photos

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A Year in Photos

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Whitfield’s 2026 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, staff, and community members are recognized for their accomplishments, leadership, service, and contributions to school life. Three adults received Whitfield's highest community honors, recognized for the lasting impact they have made on students, colleagues, and the broader school community.

“

Schools are ultimately defined by the people who invest in them. This year's honorees remind us that community is built through relationships, care, and a commitment to helping others thrive.

Their contributions have strengthened Whitfield in lasting and meaningful ways.

—Chris Cunningham, Ph.D.

The George A. Newton Outstanding Teacher Award

”

Since arriving at Whitfield in 2022, Megan Wolfslau has distinguished herself as an educator who challenges students to think deeply and engage fully in their learning. As a middle school social studies teacher and grade-level coordinator, she creates classroom experiences that ask students not simply to absorb information but to analyze, question, debate, and construct understanding for themselves. From sixth graders exploring the interconnected causes of the Civil War to seventh graders presenting original research during the Global Citizenship Exhibition, her students consistently rise to meet high expectations. Colleagues value her sound judgment and steady leadership, while students know her as a teacher who sees them, challenges them, and believes in their potential.

The Lola B. Goodwin Building Community Award Since joining Whitfield in 2018, Dr. Anna Warbelow has helped strengthen the fabric of the school community through her thoughtful leadership and commitment to belonging. Through her work in the ninth-grade Foundations course, she creates opportunities for students to explore identity, community, and personal growth. Beyond the classroom, she facilitates leadership development experiences, guides conversations that foster empathy and understanding, and helps students navigate conflict with an emphasis on restoring relationships and trust. She also played a key role in shaping Whitfield's daily schedule, creating dedicated opportunities for connection and engagement throughout the school day.

Through her consistent belief that strong communities are built intentionally, Dr. Warbelow has helped ensure that every member of Whitfield feels seen, valued, and welcome.

The Janet Esrock Spirit of Whitfield Award Since joining Whitfield in 2023, Joyce Debenport has transformed the front office into more than a place people pass through. For students, faculty, staff, and visitors, it has become a place of welcome, care, and connection. Whether helping a student through a difficult moment, supporting a colleague, or simply offering a warm greeting, Debenport approaches every interaction with patience and generosity. Her influence extends beyond the front desk.

She created The Nook, a gathering space for faculty, and her weekly Nook News emails have become a small but meaningful part of campus life. Through countless acts of kindness, both visible and unseen, she embodies the spirit, enthusiasm, and dedication that defined Janet Esrock's legacy.

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2026 Student Award Recipients American Youth Foundation “I Dare You!” Leadership Awards

Tomás Casado Evi Elizabeth Brandenstein Missouri Scholars 100 Honorable Mention

Winifred Gray Murphy

National School Choral Award

Kennedy Evan-Nicole Ituen

Director’s Award for Band

Grant Bosanquet

John Philip Sousa Award

Joshua Harris

National Merit Finalist

Winifred Gray Murphy

Middle School Visual Arts Award Middle School - Mitchell Lieser

Univ. of Rochester Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award

Upper School Visual Arts Award

Univ. of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award

Finley Lila Wilkins

Haydan Brown

Abigail Brown

Nancy Clukies Middle School English Award

Summer Khan

Upper School English Award

John Elliott Uy

Social Studies Awards Middle School - Will Amato Upper School - Kaitlin J. Cochran Science Awards Middle School - Lizzy Forbes Upper School - Evi Elizabeth Brandenstein Lois Banis Middle School Mathematics Award

Elliott Mihalevich

Upper School Mathematics Award Upper School - Mackenna Eileen Reiter Shepherd Foundation Computer Science Awards Middle School - Aadam Thiel Upper School - Ellen Alexandria Hunigan French Awards Middle School - Sophie Lesser Upper School - Maisy Pflantz Mandarin Awards Middle School - Meena Dang Upper School - Jason Patrick Teh-Wei Chien Spanish Awards Middle School - Owen Slusser Upper School - Elizabeth Pruett Middle School Performing Arts Award

Han Hasek

Amy Anne Pike Theatre Arts Award

Alyssa Tamir Tillman

Director’s Award for Chorus

Amelia Tolch

Aiko L. Cagle

Purchase Award

The Cover Award

R.L. Davidson

Peggy Gundlach Fine Arts Award

Maeve Virginia Toolan

Ruth E. Greathouse Achievement in the Arts Award

Trenton McClain

Jane Piper Gleason ’70 St. Louis Scholar Award

Kaitlin J. Cochran

Class of 2026 Community Service Awards

Ezra M. Silverman John Elliott Uy Anastasia M. White Logan Elisa Whitley

Tri-Star Athlete Awards

Alex French Kayla Marie Sellers Natalie Schmidt EliAna Marie Long

Cross Country Award

Finley Lila Wilkins

James T. Costello Sixth-Man Award

De’Andre M.P. Stewart Coaches’ Award

Nina Hill

Coaches’ Award

Cooper Ray Pinkley Ginger Newton Jacobi ’73 Athlete of the Year Awards

Kayla Marie Sellers Jackson Bassett

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete Award

Ellen Alexandria Hunigan Outstanding Int’l Student Award

Hwiso Park

Class of 2026 Scholar Awards

Owen Thomas Bamford Sophia Dickerman Beuc Aiko L. Cagle Jason Patrick Teh-Wei Chien Kaitlin J. Cochran* R. L. Davidson Layla D. Gammage Magdalene A. Harkins Ellen Alexandria Hunigan Ayesha Sanjeev Kamat Tate Winter Kao Michael Levin Yuwei Lin EliAna Marie Long Jack Stephan Lynch Harper Maiscott Winifred Gray Murphy Sachin V. Patri Cooper Ray Pinkley* Elizabeth Pruett Mackenna Eileen Reiter Frederick Eastman Rhodes Bryce Schultz Laith R. Siddiqi Ezra M. Silverman Jonah Stolker* Oliver Storey Ryan Thomadsen Alyssa Tamir Tillman John Elliott Uy Finley Lila Wilkins* Gabrielle Katie Christina Williams Kiran D. Wolfgram *Scholar Awardees for all 7 years Jamie Snow Pannebecker Award

Grant Bosanquet

Student Council Student of the Year Award

Lila Bell

The Whitfield School Service Award

Mackenna Eileen Reiter

The Whitfield School Community Award

Quinn Caldonia Barker

Philip B. Cady Scholar Award

Mason Odom

Peter Maack Ellis ’71 Senior of the Year Award

Sachin V. Patri

Head of School’s Leadership Award

Winifred Gray Murphy

Janet Esrock Spirit of Whitfield Award

Joyce Debenport

Lola B. Goodwin Building Community Award

Anna Warbelow

George A. Newton Outstanding Teacher Award

Megan Wolfslau

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Board Chair Jeffrey Evitts P ’27, ’29 with The Chairman's Award recipient Jane Piper Gleason ’70

Pictured on either end, honorary members of the Class of 2026 Pam Hall and Todd Gienke with Chris Cunningham and Jeffrey Evitts

her work helping create welcoming gathering spaces such as the café, campus store, and The Huddle, Fenberg has strengthened the sense of connection and belonging that defines the Whitfield experience.

Commencement 2026: Growth Unseen

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n Tuesday, May 26, The Whitfield School community gathered in Cady Gym for its 73rd Commencement ceremony. It was a joyful evening and a fitting celebration of the Class of 2026.

Through remarks from Senior Class Speaker Ellen Hunigan ’26, Head of School Chris Cunningham, Ph.D., and Commencement Speaker Ryan Mango ’09, graduates were encouraged to reflect on growth, purpose, and the many experiences that shape a life.

In his Commencement Address, Cunningham concluded a three-year reflection on Whitfield's mission, challenging graduates to consider what it means to lead a life of purpose. Mango, a Whitfield alumnus, Army veteran, former world-class wrestler, and business leader, reflected on the winding path that carried him from Whitfield to Stanford, international competition, military service, and corporate leadership. Together, their messages reminded graduates that meaningful lives are built not only through achievement, but through the choices, values, and relationships that shape who we become.

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The evening also recognized several individuals whose contributions have strengthened the Whitfield community. Mitzie Fenberg P ’26 received the Louis Lazarus Award, honoring a senior parent Ellen Hunigan ’26 whose energy, dedication, and commitment have made a significant impact on Whitfield students. Through years of volunteer leadership, service to Parents Council, support of admissions efforts, and

Jane Piper Gleason ’70 received the Chairman's Award, recognizing extraordinary philanthropy, leadership, and dedication to the school's future. A lifelong advocate for historic preservation, civic engagement, and education, Gleason's generosity and vision have helped strengthen Whitfield for generations of students. Her leadership in reimagining Piper Courtyard reflects her enduring belief that

Whitfield also continued a tradition established in 2024 by awarding honorary diplomas and class membership to departing faculty and staff members who have served the school for twenty-five years or more.

This year, Todd Gienke H ’26, P ’11, ’12, ’17 and Pam Hall H ’26 were welcomed as honorary members of the Class of 2026 in recognition of their decades of service and lasting impact on generations of Whitfield students.

Dr. Chris Cunningham’s Commencement Address “Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour. …

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

–Henry David Thoreau, “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For,” Walden

Mitzie Fenberg P ’26, recipient of the Louis Lazarus Award with Chris Cunningham

meaningful spaces help foster meaningful community.

In The Whitfield School mission—the mission that you yourselves helped to create when you

were freshmen—we set ourselves the task of inspiring students to “lead lives of curiosity, integrity, and purpose.” The past two years at Commencement, I offered reflections on this mission, speaking two years ago on what it means to lead a life of curiosity and then last year on what it means to lead a life of integrity.

This evening I want to conclude this series of talks by thinking with you about what it means to lead a life of purpose.

On the face of it, this seems pretty straightforward. At the very least, when we say a life of purpose, we clearly mean a life

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of meaning and value, a life of “high purpose,” a life that serves a higher good, a life led in the service of goals beyond one’s own narrow selfinterest. A good job, material possessions, the ability to satisfy our desire for happiness and pleasure and enjoyment. These are perfectly good, reasonable things—I want them as much as anyone else. But all religions and virtually every culture and ethical system of which we are aware in human history suggest that they are not enough, that we are at our best, as human beings, when we set our sights higher and broader, serving the needs of others and taking aim at goals that transcend our finite, individual lives. You don’t need to win the Nobel Peace Prize or make a life-saving medical discovery, but my hope for you is that who you are, that person of integrity and curiosity—and what you do, in your job, in your community, as a citizen, adds to the long human story of those capital letter virtues and ideals— Kindness, Justice, Equality, Truth, Beauty, Human Dignity and the Common Good. All of us have to reckon with and answer in our own way, the question: Why do I exist? What is my purpose? The way you live your life, every day, year after year, is your answer to this question.

Make that answer count.

Serving a higher purpose should be its own reward—by definition. But for those skeptics in the audience, who might find this a bit old-fashioned or naively optimistic, there are, ironically, a host of practical, self-serving reasons for having a sense of purpose. There is a robust literature in psychology, medicine, and educational research that having a sense of purpose has profound, long-lasting benefits.

In study after study, people with purpose tend to have more robust social networks and more meaningful, rewarding relationships.

They experience better mental and emotional health, and better medical outcomes. Older people with a sense of purpose experience less cognitive decline, and young people with a strong sense of purpose do better in school.

Indeed, while one might think that focusing on

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there all along. This can be as simple as staying at a friend’s house when you’re young and discovering that not all families are the same or as profound as visiting another country and realizing that entire civilizations understand the world differently than you.

yourself is the best path to happiness, people whose sense of purpose transcends their own individual wants and needs experience greater feelings of fulfillment and well-being.

The key psychological insight seems to be that when we focus on values, on what matters to us, on big picture meaning and purpose, we are better equipped to persist in the face of hardship.

No one has made this case more powerfully than Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning.

In this provocative and moving book, Frankl, an Austrian psychologist and Holocaust survivor, reflects on his experience in the Nazi Death Camps. In the face of almost unimaginable torment, Frankl tries to understand how some prisoners were able to maintain their sense of possibility and hope. In Frankl’s telling, tending to others, showing generosity and care, holding on to a sense of meaning in the face of suffering were essential to their psychological survival.

Frankl writes, “any man can, even under such circumstances, decide what shall become of him–mentally and spiritually.” In Frankl’s account, a prisoner looking for “inner strength in the camp had first to succeed in [finding] some future goal.”

Finally, quoting the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, Frankl concludes, “If we possess our why of life, we can put up with almost any how.” Let me be clear: I hope that no one in this room will ever have to experience the kind of suffering that Frankl describes, and I don’t want to suggest any kind of facile equivalence between his experience and our ordinary human hardships. But all of us experience pain, disappointment, setbacks, and failures, moments of challenge and struggle, of tedium and self-doubt. In the years ahead, you will have moments of extraordinary achievement, of growth and success and fulfillment. But there will also be moments of difficulty, when that success and achievement will seem out of reach. Possessing your why of life—knowing the purpose towards which you

are striving—will help provide the resilience and the courage and strength you need to persist.

Finally, I want to suggest that leading a life of purpose means leading a life that is not only inspired by a higher good but also one that is purposeful, intentional. At this point, you know well that there is no shortage of people and institutions and social and cultural forces that want to tell you what to do, what to think, what to believe. Your parents and family, your teachers (including me today, right now).

Religious, political, and other public figures— actors and actresses, musicians, artists, sports figures, writers, and influencers of all flavors.

Corporations and all the various media. All of them offering, explicitly or implicitly, a vision of the world that they want you to adopt and share. Things they want you to do or desire or believe or fear or love.

In a now-famous Commencement Address, the late writer David Foster Wallace began with a simple parable: “There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says 'Morning, boys.

How’s the water?' And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes 'What the hell is water?'"

By now in your life, I’m sure you’ve had numerous experiences when you realized you were swimming in water, when you became aware of a previously, apparently invisible reality that you now suddenly couldn't not see and realized to your great astonishment was

So there are two things to say: first, those voices that you’ve grown up with are part of that water. Second, listening to all of these voices, uncritically, reflexively, swimming through your life without recognizing the water is like sleeping through your life, drifting along in the current immersed in a compelling dream. I’m not suggesting that you reject everything you’ve been taught or that there aren’t wise and good people in the world and in your life who are worthy of your respect and attention. There are. But I am encouraging you, at the very least, to challenge yourself, to engage yourself in a lifelong, inner dialog.

To look critically at your fundamental values, the things you hold to be true and good and right and beautiful, and consider whether you embrace them because they are part of the water, or whether you have chosen them for yourself. Because if you’re not choosing them, that means someone else or something else is choosing them for you. If you’re not choosing your own life, choosing the person you are and aspire to be, that best version of yourself— if you’re not choosing that, then someone or something is choosing it for you. And even if they are choosing with the best of intentions, the life they choose for you may not be the one that’s best for you, and it won’t be your own.

And so, on the one hand, our Mission enjoins us to lead a life of high purpose, of service to others and the common good. A life that, ironically, paradoxically, leads to greater individual and personal fulfillment, health, and satisfaction than a life motivated by purely selfish goals and gain. It turns out that the most purposeful life is also the most fulfilling.

At the same time, the Mission challenges us to reject the easy, mindless answers our culture offers us—the water in which we swim but that we don’t see. And, instead encourages us to lead a purposeful life, an intentional life, a life of reflection that we choose for ourselves.

The Whitfield School Magazine

43

But standing there at the end of that journey, I realized something important. For the first time in my career, I was completely satisfied with my effort. I had given everything I had.

Mr. Ryan Mango’s ’09 Commencement Address

The tears I shed that evening were not simply disappointment. They were relief.

Gratitude. Resolution.

To the graduating Class of 2026: congratulations. To your parents, families, teachers, and friends: congratulations to you as well. Tonight marks the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and support, and I am honored to celebrate with you.

For those who don't know me, I am a proud member of Whitfield's Class of 2009. Since leaving these halls, I have had the opportunity to compete as a collegiate and international wrestler, serve in the U.S. Army, earn an MBA, and build a career in business. Looking back, I have learned many lessons along the way, but this evening I want to share two truths about progress.

The first is this: progress is not linear.

When I graduated from Stanford, the expected path seemed clear. Many of my friends were headed to graduate school, consulting firms, and technology startups. I was interested in those opportunities too, but I knew my wrestling career was unfinished.

After a great deal of reflection, I chose a different path. Instead of pursuing the opportunities immediately in front of me, I joined the U.S. Army. It was not the choice many people expected. Some questioned it.

Others thought I was moving backward after earning a Stanford degree.

Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

The Army gave me the opportunity to pursue my Olympic wrestling dreams while surrounding me with people whose experiences, sacrifices, and perspectives challenged me to grow. It provided an environment uniquely suited to the goals I hoped to achieve.

That experience taught me an important lesson: the right next step is not always

44

Experience

In that moment, I understood that what mattered most was not what I had accomplished, but how I had pursued it.

The discipline. The resilience. The relationships.

The character.

Those things endure long after medals, rankings, and scoreboards disappear. the obvious one. Sometimes the best opportunities are found on less-traveled paths. Sometimes growth requires us to move in a direction others do not understand.

Committing fully to something you love is a rare and precious thing. Protect it. Trust your instincts. Trust your values. And do not allow fear of criticism to make your decisions for you.

The second truth I want to share is this: progress has very little to do with achieving your goals.

Progress is about the human being you become in pursuit of those goals.

I learned this lesson at the end of my wrestling career.

In 2021, I competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials while recovering from a severe ankle injury.

Torn ligaments, fractures, and months of uncertainty forced me to rethink everything I knew about competition. I relied not only on physical preparation but on creativity, adaptability, and lessons accumulated over two decades of wrestling.

Against the odds, I advanced to the finals.

Ultimately, I fell short of my lifelong goal of making the Olympic team.

At first glance, that sounds like failure.

You will experience setbacks. You will fall short of goals. You will face moments when the outcome you wanted remains just out of reach.

When those moments arrive, I encourage you to ask a different question. Instead of asking whether you failed, ask whether you grew.

More often than you think, the answer will be yes.

The qualities that helped me become a better wrestler are the same qualities that help me today as a leader, colleague, husband, and teammate. Growth rarely happens all at once. It happens gradually through challenge, persistence, self-awareness, and empathy.

As you leave Whitfield and begin your next chapter, remember that progress is a deeply human journey. It is rarely straightforward.

It includes victories and setbacks, confidence and uncertainty, beginnings and endings.

Own your progress.

Allow it to evolve.

Allow it to become something greater than the destination you originally imagined.

And most importantly, enjoy the journey.

Congratulations, Class of 2026.

Meet the Speaker RYAN MANGO ’09

After graduating from Whitfield, Mango earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology from Stanford University, where he established himself as one of the nation's top collegiate wrestlers, earning recognition as a two-time NCAA Division I All-American, two-time Pac-12 Champion, and four-time NCAA Division I qualifier.

Following college, he joined the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, where he continued to pursue excellence both professionally and athletically. His accomplishments include representing the United States at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships, earning distinction as a five-time National Team member, Military World silver medalist, two-time U.S. Open National Champion, and Pan American Games champion.

In 2024, Mango earned his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He currently serves as a Senior Brand Manager for Old Spice at Procter & Gamble, where he leads brand strategy for one of the company's most recognizable global brands.

The Whitfield School Magazine

45

College Choices for the Class of 2026 \

Luiza Andrade University of Missouri– Columbia Owen Bamford Kalamazoo College Jackson Bassett Missouri Baptist University Maya Becker University of Iowa Sophia Beuc Elon University Hayden Blix University of Louisville Aiko Cagle University of Southern California

Sachin Patri Loyola University Chicago David Payne Lynn University

MJ Portis Benedictine College Lizzie Pruett Washington University in St. Louis Vincent Rajathurai St. Olaf College

EJ Carter Maryville University

A.J. Reatini Butler University Mackenna Reiter Truman State University

Kaitlin Cochran San Diego State University

Fritz Rhodes Tulane University

Henry Corley George Washington University Alex Dowers Saint Louis University

Tate Rhodes University of Denver Zander Riat Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Kayla Scales Baylor University

Garon Fenberg The University of Mississippi

Drew Schmitz College of Charleston

Michael Fentaw Emory University

Bryce Schultz University of Tampa

Ryan Fiske Carthage College

Spencer Si Saint Louis University

Layla Gammage Louisiana State University

Laith Siddiqi The Ohio State University

Lucien Gray-Liva The University of Alabama

Adam Siffer Truman State University

Jaxon Grayem University of South Florida Maggie Harkins Purdue University Ellen Hunigan Purdue University Kennedy Ituen Elon University Jaden Jones KU Leuven Ayesha Kamat Saint Louis University Tate Kao Purdue University Chase Knibb Florida Atlantic University Dani Kovalic Arizona State University Morgan Lee University of Missouri– Columbia Michael Levin University of Tampa Kelly Lin Wageningen University Beckett Lindsey American University EliAna Long Louisiana State University Jack Lynch Ringling College of Art and Design Harper Maiscott University of Missouri– Columbia Trenton McClain Butler University Kayli McGee-Williams Lake Land College Ben McLaughlin University of Iowa Winnie Murphy Northwestern University

Ezra Silverman The Ohio State University Izze Singh University of Missouri– Kansas City Jamison Sprunt Truman State University Jonah Stolker Tulane University Oliver Storey Lewis and Clark College Charlie Swearngin Clemson University Ryan Thomadsen Boston University Sasha Thompson St. Louis Community College Tamir Tillman Washington University in St. Louis Maeve Toolan Washington University in St. Louis

Experience

DANIELLE ARGYROS LEFEVER ’06 AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR, ACTOR, AND CREATIVE PRODUCER

Danielle directs commercial, television, and narrative projects for brands including ESPN, DoorDash, and Dr Pepper, while also maintaining an active acting career.

"Having real funding for theater productions was something I never took for granted. We worked with professional-level lighting, costumes, sets, and teachers who could truly train us as young actors.

Those resources didn't just make the productions better; they showed us what it felt like to be taken seriously as artists. That experience shaped the creative career I have today."

NICOLE CAREY ’13 PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER, ONE TABLE STL

Nicole is a chef, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader whose organization empowers adults with special needs through cooking, nutrition education, and community engagement.

"The teachers at Whitfield didn't just teach me; they invested in me. Surrounded by classmates pursuing more traditional paths, I wanted to attend culinary school. I received nothing but encouragement. Feeling seen, supported, and challenged gave me the confidence to use my voice, advocate for others, and imagine a future where I could build something meaningful."

ANDREW BASS ’04

RACHEL GOLDMAN ’09

PROGRAM DIRECTOR, PINNACLE GROUP

CASTING DIRECTOR, FILM & TELEVISION

Andrew leads IT workforce consulting programs for Fortune 500 companies with more than $100 million in annual client spend.

Rachel runs her own casting company in New York City and has worked on projects including Goosebumps for Disney+.

"A huge growth experience for me was May Quest [now Capstone], when I interned with the Town & Country Police Department and completed ridealongs with officers. It was an opportunity to step outside the classroom, experience a professional environment firsthand, and develop confidence in navigating the real world."

James Trenary Indiana University-Bloomington

"Whitfield gave me the chance to explore a wide range of extracurriculars, which ultimately helped me discover my passion. I left basketball to join play rehearsals and quickly realized how much I loved theatre. That decision changed everything. I majored in theatre, built a career in entertainment, and still draw on those experiences every day."

John Uy University of Vermont Zach Varner Kansas State University Kylin Walls Miami University–Oxford Anastasia White Emory University Logan Whitley Xavier University of Louisiana Finley Wilkins University of Vermont Gabrielle Williams University of Kansas Kiran Wolfgram University of Michigan Riley Zotos Arizona State University

46

What opportunities did Whitfield provide you that you might not have had elsewhere?

Jack Pearson Emerson College Cooper Pinkley Missouri University of Science and Technology

Jason Chien Loyola University Chicago

Rosie Davidson Kansas City Art Institute

Ask Our Alumni

WHITNEY KEY TOWEY ’02 DIRECTOR OF DATA AND RESEARCH, COOK COUNTY JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL

Whitney holds degrees in biology, history, public health, social work, and a Ph.D. in Social Work. She leads public safety research and community violence intervention initiatives in Chicago.

"Whitfield offered a diverse academic experience that shaped how I approached my entire educational journey. I was able to double major in biology and history because I had already been exposed to such a wide range of disciplines. The school fostered curiosity and taught me to connect ideas across fields, a skill that remains central to my work today."

The Whitfield School Magazine

47

Alumni Gatherings Warriors Reminiscing On- and Off-Campus in 2025-26

Snow Fun Family • Dec. 6, 2025

Green & White Gala March 7, 2026

2025-26 Alumni Legacy Familes

Boston Social • Sept. 8, 2025

Thanksgiving Social • Nov. 28, 2025

48

Experience

San Francisco Social • April 8, 2026

PickleBall Social • Oct. 8, 2025

Seattle Social Jan. 26, 2026

Reunion Celebration • May 2, 2026 The Whitfield School Magazine

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Alumni Giving Reaches New Heights Record Growth Reflects the Strength of the Whitfield Alumni Community

By Amanda Hazelwood P ’31, associate director of development

W

hitfield alumni are proving that the Whitfield experience doesn't end at graduation; it grows stronger with every generation.

This year, 228 alumni donors made a gift to Whitfield, increasing alumni participation to 11.12%, the highest rate in the past five years and a significant jump from 7.63% just one year ago.

More importantly, Whitfield's alumni participation far exceeded the 2025–26 NAIS national median of 7.1%, demonstrating the remarkable commitment of our alumni community to investing in the next generation of Warriors.

One of this year's priorities was to inspire more alumni to make their first gift back to Whitfield. Together, our community surpassed that goal, welcoming 119 new alumni donors, well beyond the original goal of 100. This incredible growth was fueled by more personal outreach from our Development and Alumni Relations teams, meaningful conversations about the impact of philanthropy, and a continued commitment to strengthening lifelong relationships with our graduates.

That spirit of giving begins before students even leave campus. Through the Leave Your Mark senior giving campaign, 12 members of the Class of 2026 made their first gift as alumni, taking the first step in a lifelong tradition of supporting the Whitfield community. Their generosity demonstrates that philanthropy is not measured by the size of a gift, but by a shared belief in giving future students the same opportunities they enjoyed.

This year also marked continued growth for the Goodwin Gold Society, Whitfield's alumni recognition society honoring graduates who have made gifts for five or more consecutive years. Named in honor of longtime Whitfield employee Lola Goodwin and her son, Rickey Goodwin, the society celebrates the loyalty, generosity, and enduring connection that define the Whitfield community. Today, 64 alumni are proud members of the Goodwin Gold Society, providing the consistent support that allows Whitfield to invest confidently in students, faculty, and innovative educational opportunities year after year.

The impact of alumni giving can be seen throughout campus. Annual support helps provide faculty with meaningful professional development opportunities, including attendance at the ISTE Conference for Educational Technology, the Learning & the Brain Conference focused on executive functioning, the Broadway Teachers Workshop, and the Foreign Language Association of

Missouri (FLAM) Conference. Alumni gifts also support curriculum development, leadership training for faculty, and innovative classroom experiences that directly benefit Whitfield students every day.

The momentum of alumni giving is evident over the past five years: FISCAL YEAR

ALUMNI PARTICIPATION

FY22

3.63%

FY23

8.74%

FY24

5.88%

FY25

7.63%

FY26

11.12%

Every gift, whether it is a first gift, an annual gift, or years of consecutive support, strengthens The Whitfield School and helps ensure that today's students have access to the same transformative experiences that have inspired generations of alumni.

To every alumnus who gave this year: thank you. Your generosity, loyalty, and belief in Whitfield are helping create endless possibilities for today's students and for those who will follow.

Goodwin Gold Society Members, 2025-2026 Art Kerckhoff ’69

Heather Midgley Jandourek ’90

Laura Pollnow Bryan ’97

Dave Ott ’91

Chris Mill ’98

Jane Piper Gleason ’70

Dorothy Rhodes ’92

Matt Politte ’98

Sallie Primm Skinner ’70

Lee Rhodes ’94

Scott Rhodes ’98

Cory Spielberg ’94

Ginger Newton Jacobi ’73

Laura Lotz ’95

Kristen Deffaa Rhodes ’99

Ron Fox ’74

Lauren Weissman Kerner ’96

Jim Bruns ’70 Flip Cady ’70

Carolyn Brightman Kroenlein ’83

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Experience

Kyle Kerner ’96

Kim Steward ’99 Sari Rotskoff ’00 Robert Glassman ’02

Whitney Key Towey ’02

Brian Chao ‘08

J.R. Rhodes ’24

Ana Struckhoff ’25

Izze Singh ’26

David Solomon ’02

Alix Grant Hawes ’08

Braydon Sellers ’24

Gylian Von Kloha ’25

Sasha Thompson ’26

Casey Jolley ’03

Melissa Howe O'Connor ’08

Moss Capellupo ’25

Ella Wertman ’25

James Trenary ’26

Tyler Ituen ’10

Spencer Corn ’25

Art Davidson ’26

Logan Whitley ’26

Caroline Dahlhoff ’25

Garon Fenberg ’26

Caden Edwards ’25

Trenton McClain ’26

Alyssa Gutierrez ’25

David Payne ’26

Kris Hankins ’25

Jack Pearson ’26

Eldridge Rhone ’25

Fritz Rhodes ’26

Cole Sargent ’25

Tate Rhodes ’26

Anthony French ’05 Lindsay Gilhousen Mannen ’05

Abby Lefler Eaves ’10

Kris Mannen ’05

Annie Knapp Migdal ’11

Van Eaves ’07

Alayah Lipnick ’20

Kristin Thompson Poelker ’07

Davide Pace ’20 Charlie Staley-Brain ’23

The Whitfield School Magazine

51

With Gratitude Philanthropy Report • 2025-2026

Dear Whitfield Community, Every gift has a story.

Some honor a teacher who changed a life. Others celebrate a child who found confidence, discovered a passion, or felt they truly belonged. Some come from alumni who want today's students to experience the same opportunities that shaped them years ago. And others are given quietly, simply because someone believes in Whitfield and wants to make a difference.

FOUNDERS

Thelma & David Steward

($50,000+)

Chrissy Taylor & Lee Broughton

Founders $50,000+

Anonymous (1)

Whitney Key Towey ’02 & Ted Towey

Leaders $20,000 – 49,999

While every story is unique, each gift reflects a shared belief in our students and their future.

One of the greatest joys of my work is seeing those stories come to life. I hear from alumni who still remember the teacher who inspired them and families who want future generations to experience the same sense of belonging they found here. And I see what that generosity makes possible as students gain confidence, teachers inspire curiosity, and young people discover new talents and possibilities.

Dr. Brown's Lauren Weissman Kerner '96 & Kyle Kerner '96 John Key Tory Key ’04

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

Anonymous (1)

This year, our community helped achieve the largest Annual Fund in Whitfield's history.

We welcomed more alumni donors than ever before, increased parent participation, and celebrated 100% participation from our Board of Trustees, and faculty and staff. These milestones reflect a community that believes deeply in Whitfield and in one another.

Elizabeth Mannen Berges & James Berges

Cheryl Lauer

Candy & Flip Cady ’70

Location. commercial real estate

Amie & Robert Corley

As you turn the pages of this issue of Engage, you'll see that generosity at work. Whether you made your first gift, have supported Whitfield for years, volunteered your time, or shared your passion for our school, you are part of this story.

Hadley Key Naughton ’09 & Dan Naughton

With heartfelt gratitude,

Kathleen Kelly P ’29, ’32 Director of Development

Giving QR Code

Janey Miller

David Payne David Payne ’26 Jane Piper Gleason ’70 Dorothy Rhodes ’92

Danielle & Jeffrey Evitts Dianna & Ron Fox ’74 Lindsey Williams Graves ’01 & Justin Graves

Warriors $10,000 – 19,999

Green & White Society

Gerald & Adele Kraft Charitable Foundation Trust

Pacesetters $5,000 – 9,999

Fritz Rhodes ’26 J.R. Rhodes ’24

McKay & Jason Mills

Kristen Deffaa Rhodes ’99 & Scott Rhodes ’98

Cary & Andy Murphy

Lee Rhodes ’94

The Shepherd Foundation Susan Shepherd Ittner Susanne Ittner Peretti ’11 Charles Shepherd II Ian Shepherd ’22 Susanne Shepherd

Tate Rhodes ’26 Kim Steward ’99 The Steward Family Foundation

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.

Kristin & Jesse Keller

Laura Ceretti-Michelman & Jeremy Michelman

Heidi & Ian Silberman

Experience

1952 Society

Nan & Steve Fox

Adam Lauer ’20

Thank you for believing in Whitfield and our students. Your generosity opens doors, creates opportunities, and helps shape a bright future for our school.

52

Recognition Societies & Giving Levels

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, 2025 and June 30, 2026.

Sage Dining

The Strive Fund

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

Betty & Jim Williams

Kerrin & David Kowach

Denise & Rogerio Andrade

Mary & Joe Freund

The Julie Yoffie Fund Karen Yoffie

Angie & Mike Lesser

Sarah & Stefan Baiocchi

April Gao & Mitchell Wang

Carolyn & Sean McCarthy

Bayer

Genovese Jewelers

Helen & Mark Mihalevich

Libby & Charley Beck

Liz & Doug Goldenberg

WARRIORS

Laura & Ben Oberkfell

Irina & Dan Becker

Elana & Tim Grayem

($10,000-$19,999)

Melika & Nick Panneri

Elliot Benoist

Katie & John Greffet

Anonymous (1)

Saadia & Asim Raza

Linda & Elliot Benoist ’69

Mindy & Raj Bhuyan ’86

Sara & Craig Ringe

Boeing Gift Matching Program

Mallory & Clinton Shocklee

Jennifer Berends & Rich Gilbert

Anya Gurevich-Schwab & Matt Schwab

Marie & John Brauer ’57 Laura Pollnow Bryan ’97 & Andy Bryan

Katie & Brian Thompson TIFF Advisory Services II, Inc. Erin & Zach Walsh

Camp Waziyatah Connie & Lloyd Evitts

SCHOLARS

Layla & Robert Glassman '02

($3,000-$4,999)

Elizabeth & Phil Levy

Jill & James Bosanquet

Karen Myers

Alisa & Dave Cooperstein

Pearl & Steve Nordlund

Samantha & RJ Crotser

Jessica & Mark Portis

Cynthia Crum

Rebecca Schwarzlose & Sabin Dang

Mitzie Fenberg

Laurie & Ray Van De Riet

Donielle & Demetrius Grooms

Kitty Bollinger Bond Architects Gege Brightman Karen & Jim Bruns ’70 Mary & Dick Burke Bill Cady ’73 Jerri & Rodney Carrier Brian Chao ’08 Erin & David Chien Tamara Cooperwood Charles L. Crane Agency Closet Factory

Sharon Hoffarth

CML Consulting, LLC

Ginger Newton Jacobi ’73 & Jan Jacobi

Julie & John Cochran

Laura & Joel Lander

Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff

Butler Family Foundation

Lindsay Gilhousen Mannen ’05 & Kris Mannen ’05

Dan Davis & James Weske

Mary & Matt Badler

Kathi & Justin Olson

Lisa De Las Fuentes & Murali Chakinala

Gabby Butler ’29

Jenny Syed & Syed Tariq

Maria & Tim Desloge

Michael Butler

Susie & Gordie Wiegand ’70

Sheri & Paul Diemer

Lee & Zane Cagle

Cindy & Tom Woolsey

Kelly Diller

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

Albarré Jewelry

Cagle Law Firm Helena & Chris Cunningham Roy Curtiss

54

Elizabeth & Jeff Block

Susan Culican & John Pruett

Laura & Gp Dorris, IV

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

Abby Lefler Eaves ’10 & Van Eaves ’07 Zach Ellis ’12

Joy Gebhardt

Anonymous (3)

Sarah Jensen & Josh Amato

Elina & Amer Abouwardah

Jackie & Derik King

Alterations LLC

Amy & Dave Kosanke

Shannon & Michael Farmakis

Jack Amato ’15

Ginny & Chip Fendell

Experience

Lauren & Curtis Erlinger

Dana Hall & Clifford Robinson Erin & Austin Hasek Julie & Rick Heitmann

Ellen Simons Nahlik ’06 & Rob Nahlik Alison & Jason Nelson Melissa Howe O'Connor ’08 Dan O'Grady Angela & Dale Oberkfell Oceano Bistro

Carol & Frank Trotter Erica Trotter ’05 Danielle & Geoffrey Uy Leslie & Andy Vitt Geneen & Troy Von Kloha Amy & Evan Weiss

Dave Ott ’91

Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign

Otto Orthodontics

Western Golf Association

Mano & Dheeraj Patri

Connie & Ned Williams

Susan & Bill Piper

World Wide Technology Foundation

Julia & Justin Honold

Claudia Forman Pleasants ’66 & Bill Pleasants

Alisha & Jason Huls

Kate & Dan Pollmann

Hydromat Incorporated

Brooke & Zack Ray

Vidya & Ganesh Iyer

Ashley Rufkahr & Eric Hurtte

DJ Jacquin

Amy & Jeff Rush

Anonymous (35)

Anjali & Sanjeev Kamat

Judy & Bruno Schmitter

2B Organized St. Louis

Cassie & Rob Kampen

Connie Schnuck

A Time for Dinner

Alan Kaplan

Ashly & Luke Sehy

AbbVie

Kathleen & Seamus Kelly

Judy & Tim Sehy

Activate Games

Orisia & Brian Kirkpatrick

Molly Shaffer & Paul Minorini

Nawar Alhariri & Ahmad Rez

Carolyn Brightman Kroenlein ’83

Elizabeth & Arsham Sheybani

Emily Luderer Ambrose ’02

Lucy & Arno Kutner

Janis & Mike Siegel

Cassie & Mark Laspe

Meliha & Nick Sinanovic

Margaret & Raymond Lehner

Sallie Primm Skinner ’70 & Stanley Skinner

Judy Epsten Lemkemeier & David Lemkemeier

Crystal Worsena

FRIENDS ($1-$999)

Ameren Preston Amos ’97 Amp Up Action Park Nicol & Mark Anderson

Shuree Sockel & Wayne Haar

Andy's Frozen Custard

Stephanie Liva & Paul Gray

Ashley Steed & Kory Lavine

Barbi & Bill Macon

Carrie & Jeremy Stith

Angie Lesser Career Consulting, LLC

Carol Margolis

Lily Streett ’90

Marian & Brett Markwort

Kristen & Michael Swearngin

MasterCard Matching Gifts Program

The Mary Ranken Jordan & Ettie A. Jordan Foundation

Matthew May

Three Rivers Concierge Medicine

Missy & Andrew Asikainen

Robyn & Mark Tonopolsky

B & B Theaters Creve Coeur

Katie & Dan Miller ’12

Liz & Zar Toolan

Alline Babbitt

Barbie & Pat Murphy

Traffic Law Center

Kimberly & Patrick Bader

Margaretta Mendenhall & Scott Levine

Laurie Antonetti Apple, Inc AR Workshop Olivette Ericka Artz ’91 Ann Aurbach ’99

Adrienne & Paul Tripi The Whitfield School Magazine

55

Bahama Buck's

Hila & Eyal Ben Abraham

Michael Brischetto ’94

Alexandria & Norma Jean Baker

Rebeccah Bennett-Kenyatta & Salim Kenyatta

Lauren Davis Brody ’98 & Bryan Brody

William Baker

Cal Bidner ’18

Nancy & Steven Brody

CAKEWISH

Meghan & Eliot Bamford

Eric Bieri ’00

BRONCA

Barrel House

Big River Running

Andrew Brown ’07

Kelli Lasky Caldwell ’03 & Nick Caldwell

Lisa Barry Jenkins & Andy Jenkins

Randy Birkenmeier ’05

Danita & Hayward Brown

Tracy & Kevin Blix

Kelli & Jeremy Brown

Mame & Art Blumeyer ’90

Michelle & Eric Brown

Alex Friedman Box ’12

Pauletta & Darius Brown

Miller Boyd

John Brunjes ’91

Lori & Doug Becker

Heather Korman Brackett ’06 & David Brackett

Sheila & Richard Buckles

Jessica & Gary Bell

Breakout Games

Jeannie & David Bassett Barbi Macon Photography Barron Swim School Jake Becker ’12

Bill Bunton Cindy Burch

Jessica Neal Burrill ’04 & Dave Pfister Michelle Busch

Camp Homework Mark Capellupo Moss Capellupo ’25 Laura & Chris Capio Shane Carr ’11 Heather Carreiro Jerri & Rodney Carrier Barbara & Matt Carswell

Erica Carswell

Code Ninjas

Jack Carswell ’18

Andrew Cohen ’07

Sharina & Edward Carter

Lauren & Todd Cohen

Cip Casado

Katie & Russell Cohoon

Angie & Nick Casey ’02

Chloe Colbert ’09

Anne & Bill Chao

Elaine & Brandon Coleman

Amanda & Jeff Chapman

Jada & DeRochelle Coleman

Charity On Top

Lorrie & Matt Collier

Shin Mean Chen & Sim Yuen Chong

Contemporary Museum of Art

Chicken N Pickle

Lucie & Mike Convy

Circadia

Renee Cool

Adam Claypool

Krislyn & Bradley Coons

Victoria Clodfelter ’09

Ritu Singh Cooper ’96

GALA DONATIONS 2B Organized St. Louis A Time for Dinner Elina & Amer Abouwardah P ’31 Activate Games Albarré Jewelry Amp Up Action Park Andy's Frozen Custard AR Workshop Olivette B&B Theaters Creve Coeur Bahama Buck's Barbi Macon Photography Barrel House Barron Swim School Big River Running Board of Trustees Keith Borzillo Breakout Games BRONCA Flip Cady ’70, P ’97, ’00, ’02

56

Experience

CAKEWISH Camp Homework Camp Waziyatah Chicken N Pickle Closet Factory Code Ninjas Contemporary Museum of Art Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants Craft Alliance Crescendo Culinary Crumbl Cookies Helena & Chris Cunningham Jim Daniels P ’31 Dewey's Pizza Dr. Brown's Drury Hotels Dry Bar Lauren & Curtis Erlinger P ’31 Escape From St. Louis

Danielle & Jeffrey Evitts P ’27, ’29 FACE FOUNDRIÉ Farmers Insurance Aaron Foshee Faster Fitness Fitness Cove Foss Swim School Friend of Whitfield Nick Funke ’04 Gateway Arch Park Foundation Genovese Jewelers Goldfish Swim School Gus' Pretzel Shop Holiday World & Splashin' Safari jBloom Sarah Jensen P ’30, MD Regional Dermatology JETSET Pilates Creve Coeur Trevon Jones

Kristin & Jesse Keller P ’29 Kathleen & Seamus Kelly P ’29, ’32 Ken Miesner's Flower Shoppe Kendra Scott Laser Lounge STL Lava Island Legacy Performance Academy Barbi Macon P ’10, ’16 Made Strong Sports Camp Main Event Kris Mannen ’05 MarElyse MediSpa Carolyn & Sean McCarthy P ’31 Milk and Honey Alison & Jason Nelson P ’31 NewSpace Home Organization

Nothing Bundt CakesBrentwood Dan O'Grady and One

by One Guitars Laura & Ben Oberkfell P ’30 Oceano Bistro Olympia Gymnastics Orangetheory FitnessDes Peres Otto Orthodontics Dr. Gena Otto Pasta House Company Petropolis PLNK T&C Pretzel Boy's PRP Wine International Pups Mobile Spa Raging Rivers Waterpark Brooke Ray P ’28 Saadia & Asim Raza P ’24 Sara Ringe

Rolling Ridge Nursery Row House Sunset Hills Saint Louis Dance Theatre Saint Louis Zoo Salt + Smoke Slick City St. Louis West Cory Spielberg ’94 St. Louis Ambush STL Virtual Reality Stone Turtle Straub's Fine Markets Sugarcoat Home Sup The Art of Entertaining The Bar Method The Face and Body Spa The Magic House The Novel Neighbor Three Kings Public House

Save-the-Date February 6, 2027 Green & White Gala at The Reverie A special evening celebrating our school, and paying tribute to the 2026 recipient of Whitfield’s George A. Newton Outstanding Teacher Award!

Three Rivers Concierge Medicine Total Wine & More Tradd Street Boutique Urban Air Adventure Park - Sunset Hills

Megan Wolfslau Social Studies Faculty

Tonya Wade Erin & Zach Walsh P ’33 Western Golf Association WonderWorks Crystal Worsena P ’29

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

For photos from the 2026 Green & White Gala, see page 35.

The Whitfield School Magazine

57

The Barnes & Cole Society Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants Grace Cooperstein ’25

A Legacy That Lasts

Laura & John Corn

THE BARNES & COLE SOCIETY

Spencer Corn ’25

Whitfield's Planned Giving Society

Marileana Garcia Corretjer & Shawn Burkard

S

Stacey & Matt Coryell Alexis Cossé & Erik Karanik Rachana & Eric Creeth Craft Alliance Crescendo Culinary JoAnne & Kyle Cronan Jordan Crouch ’17 Crumbl Cookies Alex Curtin ’16 Caroline Dahlhoff ’25 Preeti Dalawari & John Vandover Doug Dalton ’06 Heather & Jim Daniels Lianne Lotz Daues ’00 Art Davidson ’26 Jamie & William Davidson Maralin & Warren Davis Molly & Jonathan Davis Susan Dean Torie & Jake DeBeir Angie & Ryun Deckert

Nick Funke ’04

Amanda Hazelwood

Shelly & Mike Edwards

Alex Furla ’76

Hearst

Ashley & Adam Eggebrecht

Rick Gamp

Cindy & Matt Heidenry

Alisse & Mark Ellebrecht

Jenny Chao Gansner ’06

Cheryl & John Heppermann

Barbie & Jay Engler ’73

Rachel & Bradly Gassner

Tom Herman

Escape From St. Louis

Gateway Arch Park Foundation

Cynthia Herrick & Brendan Lucey

Leslie Gemarino & Zach Schwarz

Helene Herwitz

Elizabeth & Andy Esser ’99 Luci Estep & Alex Thonen

The Barnes & Cole Society honors alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends who have chosen to include The Whitfield School in their estate plans. Named for Whitfield's founders, John Barnes and Allen Cole, the society recognizes those whose generosity helps ensure the school's long-term strength and sustainability.

Most planned gifts become part of Whitfield's endowment, creating a permanent source of support for the school's future. Donors may also choose to designate their gift to support a specific area that reflects their passions and values.

Melinda & Mike Evens FACE FOUNDRIÉ Farmers Insurance Aaron Foshee Grace Farr ’20 Faster Fitness Chris & Gussie Fava Teresa Feathers & Paul Salomon Meredith Ellis Fenley ’05

Goldfish Swim School Goldman, Sachs & Co. Matching Gift Program Andrés González Annie & Rickey Goodwin Sarah & Fitz Gordon ’76 Graybar Foundation

Ann Hill Nancy & Lockwood Hill ’70 Aldi & Amir Hodzic Alice & Jim Hoette Holiday World & Splashin' Safari Rosemary Howard Lauren Huffman

Kathy & Skip Huls

Kristina Fillback

Gus' Pretzel Shop

Elvria & Wendel Hunigan

Vicki Finn

Alyssa Gutierrez ’25

Caroline & John Inazu

• Create a lasting legacy in support of Whitfield's mission

Jill & Tom First

Angelica & Billy Gutierrez

Melissa Irvin

Louise First

Pam Hall H’26

Tyler Ituen ’10

If you have already included Whitfield in your estate plans, we hope you'll let us know so we can recognize your generosity through membership in the Barnes & Cole Society. If you'd like to learn more about planned giving, we'd be honored to start a conversation.

Fitness Cove

Melissa & Leon Hamilton

Peter Jacobi ’10

Kathy & Drew Fitzgerald

Kris Hankins ’25

Randee & Myron Jacobs

Tilly Flaggs

Bridgett & Bill Hanks

Kathleen & Scott Fogarty

Ali Hoeman Hardee ’10 & Andrew Hardee

Heather Midgley Jandourek ’90 & Chuck Jandourek

• Grow Whitfield's endowment for future generations • Establish endowed scholarships or faculty support • Advance strategic priorities and campus initiatives

Mary Kate File & Keith Borzillo

Fortitude RE

Lynn Delean-Weber & Martin Weber

Foss Swim School Carrie McCuaig Dingman ’04 & Jason Dingman Jackie Nelson Donovan ’10 & Kevin Donovan

Julie & Jeffrey Drobish

Cara Foster

Drury Hotels

Jasonee & Jeffery Foster II

Dry Bar

Laura & Don Frank

Maureen & Dave Dube

Kiara & Ricky Franklin

Liz & Matt Dulick

Madi Franz ’11

Nancy & D.J. Diemer

Liz Myrick Donovan ’01 & Ryan Donovan

Dorothy Dillinger

Cindy & Randy Doughty

Mike Durbin ’01

Anthony French ’05

Wendy Dillinger & Chris Sellers

Kelsie & Tyler Doughty

Elizabeth & Pablo Echeverria

Amy & Glenn Douglas

Edward Jones

Sara Freund ’08 & Alex Cano ’08

Experience

Dawn & Jason Gilbertson

George Hibbard ’70

Sarah & Adam Grissom

Your legacy can:

Robin & Nathan Dees

Kathy & Tom Dewoskin

Leeann & Todd Gienke H’26

Hayden Hewgley ’25

Tanya Fagaly Hull & Matthew Hull

Cindy Follman & Jay Baum

Dewey's Pizza

Glennora & Jim Genail

Brett Green

Garon Fenberg ’26

Mary & Ken Dees

Jeanine Meier Devine ’82 & John Devine

58

ome gifts change today's students.

Others shape generations to come.

Caden Edwards ’25

Mallory Karigan Harrell ’06 & Daniel Harrell

jBloom Judy Jensen

Isey Harris

JETSET Pilates Creve Coeur

Quiana & Al Harrold

Heaven John

Brenda & William Harvey

Ashley Johnson

Alix Grant Hawes ’08

Chantee Johnson

Larry Hays

Lesli Arnold Johnston ’91 & Clay Johnston

Samantha & Anthony Hayes Jennifer & Brandon Haynes Jon Hazan ’02

Casey Jolley 2003 Cara & Trevon Jones Lynn Jones The Whitfield School Magazine

59

Sammie Hellauer Jones ’11

Betsy Lewis ’98

Marta Melendez

Didi & Tim Noelker

Virginia Price-Booker

Anat Reschke & Brad Fink

Heather & Ryan Joyce

Nikki Lilly-Murphy & Hank Murphy

Ivan Messias

Nothing Bundt CakesBrentwood

Erica & Bryan Priest

Rory Reynolds

PRP Wine International

Rachel Rhodes & Cory Koenemann

Megan Kaley ’01 Erinn & Tim Kao Sammie Keller Katzman ’08 Sarah Yoselevsky Kaye & Todd Kaye Spencer Kaye ’24 Keenova Therapeutics Susan Kelly ’81 Ken Miesner's Flower Shoppe Kendra Scott Jen & Stephen Kerckhoff ’99 Rickie & Art Kerckhoff ’69 Whitney Key Towey ’02 & Ted Towey Mehreen Khann & Adnan Siddiqui

Julie Schwarze Linihan ’96 & Jeff Linihan Alayah Lipnick ’20 Chia-Hui Liu & Fred McEntee Carrie Throop Londe ’94 & Ken Londe Lisa & Matt Long Charlene & Reinhard Lotz Laura Lotz ’95 & Harold Barker Ron Lotz ’98 Monica Louise Charles Lowenhaupt Kara & Jake Luna Saaba & Thilo Lutzeler

Lauren Kisling

Kristel & Derek Mabie

Brad Klages

Elizabeth & Mike Macheca

Lizzy & Chris Kline ’92

Barbi & Bill Macon

Marty Knight ’82

Made Strong Sports Camp

Michael Koman ’22

Main Event

Rachel Kraby

Celeste Malfavon-Amos & Jovan Amos

Gilmore Krener, Jr. Christina Kwasegroch Michal Kwiecien Dyneva & John Lacy Ian Laffey ’18 Kelly Lake Sara Lamphier Laser Lounge STL Lava Island Heather Lavezzi Elaine & Mark Leach Lefty's Bagels Legacy Performance Academy Stephanie & Jonathan Levy

60

Melissa Lindsey

Experience

MetroVet St. Louis Annie Knapp Migdal ’11 Shanea Miles Milk and Honey Chris Mill ’98 Jamie Sokolik Miller ’04 & Nik Miller Robyn & Thomas Milos Kate Minorini ’16 Sally & Tony Minorini Elaine Missler Britney Howard Moehlenkamp ’10 Nikki Smith Mollica ’90 & Phil Mollica Brittney & Matt Mollman ’06 Moneta Group Margot McMahon Monser ’00 & Ed Monser Jenny Morrison & Sean Maiscott Vicki & Joseph Morris Karen Mueller Amy Muggleton

Katie & Pete Nowikow Marian NuNn Patrick O'Connor Amber & Jared Odom Olympia Gymnastics Orangetheory FitnessDes Peres Orlando's

Caitlin Toedebusch Palmer ’06

Jen & Joe Randoll

Sarah & Mike Palumbo ’02

Brooke & Zack Ray

Jenny Parry & Ryan Mongey

Asma & Hashim Raza

Jyoti Parwatikar & John Dehart

Lisa & Chris Reatini

Avigail & Steven Rosenzweig Melissa Sherrod Rossi ’10 Mike Roth Jonathan Rothman ’10 Sari Rotskoff ’00

David Records

Tanya & Simon Rozin

Mike Reese ’06

Row House Sunset Hills

Katrina & Chris Peoples

Allison Chao Reichart ’04 & Brock Reichart

Andrea & Bill Rubin ’60

Juanita & Jerome Pettiford

Bunny & Karl Reif

Petropolis

Reinsurance Group of America

Pasta House Company Theresa & Mark Pawlicki Jack Pearson ’26

Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program Lindsay & Anthony Pietroburgo ’06

Morgana Phlaum Mauney ’06 & Andrew Mauney

Jasmine & Thomas Nellums

Tsion Pichon ’01

Netflix

Wendy & Kyle Pinkley

Hannah & Nick Mayer

NewSpace Home Organization

Deandria & Harold Player

Kara & Matt Mayes

Monica & Charles Nicastro

Karen & Howard Mayes

Carla Nieman & Yosef Rubanovich

Pam McReynolds

Adam Rosen ’09

Olga Rozin-Levin & Demitriy Levin

Julia Myers ’16

Northwestern Mutual Foundation

Amber & Dave Rogan

Susan & Joe Rechter

Meg & Drew Martin

Pat McLaughlin ’12

Emily Webb Rodgers ’07 Rolling Ridge Nursery

Sydne Stacker Raiyn ’09

Nicole & Andy Murphy

Emily Nishi & Jay Winig

Rachelle Raber-Kashpur & Yevgeniy Kashpur

Sara & Pete Paciorek

Becky Marsh & Lisa Nesler

Bill McLaughlin

Nikki & Jeff Roderfeld

Meera Rabbani

Raging Rivers Waterpark

Libby & Steve Mura ’91

NISA Investment Advisors, LLC

Jen Rieger

Pups Mobile Spa

Davide Pace ’20

Laura & David Margolis

Trenton McClain ’26

Amber & Matt Richards

Grace Pryor '07

Gigi Esser Rager ’09 & Peter Rager

Kyrstin Munson ’01

Sheila McCarthy

Eldridge Rhone ’25

Tiffany Pruiett

Michele Owens

MarElyse MediSpa

Walter Maupay

Patricia Pruett

Carrie & Scott Reiter

Trisha & Mike Pflantz

Rod Rudolph ’76 Marla & Tim Ruff Meghan & Mitch Rutledge ’12 Kerry Ryan & Noaman Siddiqi

2025-2026 Endowed Chairs

PLNK T&C Katrina & Matt Politte ’98 Jaclyn & David Pollnow ’96 Krystal & Amond Prater Reid Pratt Pretzel Boy's Terrilyn Price-Aaron & Montize Aaron

William W. Daues Athletics Chair

The Whitfield School Mathematics Chair

Richard B. Kobusch Humanities Chair

Bill Bunton

Maria Ahern

Michał Kwiecień

The Whitfield School Magazine

61

Saint Louis Dance Theatre

Fred Sims ’76

Jess Taylor

Saint Louis Zoo

Shana & Gary Singer

Timothy Taylor III ’23

Salt + Smoke

Izze Singh ’26

Taylor & Peter Tchoukaleff ’07

Cole Sargent ’25

Katie Sinn

Lynda & LaMarko Scales

Ebony & Ishmael Sistrunk

Michelle & Spencer Templeton

Brad Schmidt ’06

Slick City St. Louis West

Dylan Schmitter ’06

Stacy & Keith Slusser

Tanya Schmitter Mayer ’99 & JR Mayer

Kathleen & Kyle Smith

Eloise Schmitz Mary Schnitzler Carolyn Rucker Schuerman ’91 & Mark Schuerman Meredith Bush Schuh ’04 & Kevin Schuh

Julie & Steven Sokolik Nancy & Bruce Sokolik Carol & Jeff Solomon David Solomon ’02 Desiree & Dwan Speed

Aychel & David Schultz ’07

Sharon Spence

Nancy & Paul Schuster

Cory Spielberg ’94

Karla Scott & Wil Browning

Lauren & Tony Spielberg ’90

Liza Scott ’10

Rachel Sprock

Maddie Scott ’13

St. Louis Ambush

Nikki & Monzell Scott

Charlie Staley-Brain ’23

Vera Scott

STL Virtual Reality

Colin Seebeck

Byron Stevens

Julie Candau Seiffert ’13

Gina & Josh Stevenson

Anna & Jeff Seim

Laura & Luke Stobie

Braydon Sellers ’24

Brandon Stoker

Dena Shaw & David Kovalic

Sarah & Josh Stolker

Mike Shearburn ’14

Stone Turtle

Sharmin Sheikh & Ehsan Haider

Meg Bradbury Stowe ’92 & Jeremy Stowe

Colleen Sheley & Scott Adderton ’91

Straub's Fine Markets

Julian Shniter ’18

Sugarcoat Home

Erin & Jon Shulan Wright Sibbald ’10 Kaitlin Sides Sharon & Denny Sienaski Renee & Mark Siffer Jennie & Todd Silverman Rachel Martin Simon ’03 & Adam Simon

62

Susan Snyders

Experience

Cara & Eric Tesdall The Art of Entertaining The Bar Method The Face & Body Spa The Magic House Jillian & Raphael Thomadsen Margaret & Seth Thompson Sasha Thompson ’26 Kristin Thompson Poelker ’07

Katie Palumbo Vogler ’04 & Danny Vogler ’04 David von Allmen ’90 Gylian Von Kloha ’25 Katie Mannen Wackerman ’05 Tonya Wade Jess Smasal Wain ’10 & Bryan Wain Tess Delean Waldron ’07 Rachel & Dan Walker Amanda Rast Wallace ’06 Kimberly & Delvin Walls Veronica Walls

Vicki & Roger White Deatra & James Whitfield

Carmela Williams Watson

Kesha Whitley

Kim & Dan Weas

Logan Whitley ’26

Joshua Weinstein

Chandra Wiewel & Greg Folkert

Ella Wertman ’25 Ursula Wesley Christine & John Westerman ’00

Sharon & George Wilder Susan & Chris Wilkins Becca & Seth Williams ’05

Matt Whiat

Michael Williams ’08

Billy Thomas White ’05

Amanda & Chris Wilson

Justina & Adam Timm

Class of 2026 Senior Tributes

Emily & Kyle Tisone ’05

E

Emily & Michael Treadwell Jamie & Zac Tredway Tradd Street Boutique Courtney Murphy Trenary ’97 & Tyler Trenary ’97 James Trenary ’26 Kristin Trenary Stacey Tobin & Jared Heintz Sarah Tolch Bethany Pruitt Tolliver ’96 Elsa Goding Toomey ’06 & Terrance Toomey

ach year, many families of graduating seniors choose to make a final gift to Whitfield by donating their original enrollment deposit to the Annual Fund.

This meaningful tradition has continued for the past 23 years, and we are deeply grateful for their generosity and support.

We are pleased to recognize the following Class of 2026 families for contributing their enrollment deposit to Whitfield’s 2025–26 Annual Fund.

Denise & Rogerio Andrade

Stephanie Liva & Paul Gray

Margaret & Seth Thompson

Jeannie & David Bassett

Jenny Morrison & Sean Maiscott

Liz & Zar Toolan

Lee & Zane Cagle

Urban Air Adventure Park

Erin & David Chien

Susan Valentine

Julie & John Cochran

Eric Van De Riet ’12

Susan Culican & John Pruett Joy Gebhardt

Ellie Svenson

Karthika Vandavasi & Balaje Thumati

Jamie & Dan Sweeney

Jessica & Benjamin Varner

Anjali & Sanjeev Kamat

Damion Talcott

Chris & Mark Varvares

Erinn & Tim Kao

Lauren Talley ’01 & David Finklang

Jan & Greg Vitt

Olga Rozin-Levin & Demitriy Levi

Kate Sutherell & Justin Lieser

Cami Watkins & Siroth Charnond

Emily & Curtis Tiefenbrunn

Sharina & Edward Carter

Sup

Anna Warbelow

Teresa Jefferson White & Corey White

Three Kings Public House

Total Wine & More

Ana Struckhoff ’25

Sarah & Craig Walseth

Elana & Tim Grayem

Mano & Dheeraj Patri

Courtney Murphy Trenary ’97 & Tyler Trenary ’97

Tiffany Pruiett

Kristin Trenary

Lisa & Chris Reatini

Danielle & Geoffrey Uy

Carrie & Scott Reiter

Jessica & Benjamin Varner

Dorothy Rhodes ’92

Teresa Jefferson White & Corey White

Caitlin & Lee Rhodes ’94 Kristen Deffaa Rhodes ’99 & Scott Rhodes ’98 Lynda & LaMarko Scales

Kesha Whitley Monica Zotos Nick Zotos

Kristen & Michael Swearngin

The Whitfield School Magazine

63

Holly Wilson-Rothert & Mason Rothert Joli & Bob Wilson William Wilson ’05 Hiwot Woldgeorgis & Yohanis Menje Megan & Erik Wolfslau WonderWorks Me'Sha Woodard & James Jones Jonathan Wotka ’99 Yutiancheng Yang ’20 Jaclyn Yetter & Bret French Youthbridge Community Foundation

Lockwood Hill

Class of 1991

Class of 1998

Jon Hazan

Matt Mollman

Jane Piper Gleason

Scott Adderton

Lauren Davis Brody

Whitney Key Towey

Morgana Phlaum Mauney

Sallie Primm Skinner

Ericka Artz

Betsy Lewis

Mike Palumbo

Ellen Simons Nahlik

Gordie Wiegand

John Brunjes

Ron Lotz

David Solomon

Caitlin Toedebusch Palmer

Lesli Arnold Johnston

Chris Mill

Class of 1973 Bill Cady Jay Engler

Dave Ott

Matt Politte

Mike Reese

Scott Rhodes

Kelli Lasky Caldwell

Brad Schmidt

Casey Jolley

Dylan Schmitter

Rachel Martin Simon

Elsa Goding Toomey

Carolyn Rucker Schuerman

Class of 1999

Ginger Newton Jacobi

Class of 1992

Ann Aurbach

Class of 1974

Chris Kline

Andy Esser

Class of 2004

Ron Fox

Dorothy Rhodes

Stephen Kerckhoff

Jessica Neal Burrill

Class of 2007

Meg Bradbury Stowe

Tanya Schmitter Mayer

Carrie McCuaig Dingman

Andrew Brown

Kristen Deffaa Rhodes

Nick Funke

Andrew Cohen

Kim Steward

Tory Key

Van Eaves

Jonathan Wotka

Jamie Sokolik Miller

Grace Pryor

Allison Chao Reichart

Emily Webb Rodgers

Class of 1976

Amanda Rast Wallace

Ferhana Zaman & Steven Thiel

Alex Furla

Class of 1994

Fitz Gordon

Monica Zotos

Michael Brischetto

Rod Rudolph

Neal Zoellick

Carrie Throop Londe

Fred Sims

Lee Rhodes

Class of 2000

Meredith Bush Schuh

David Schultz

Cory Spielberg

Eric Bieri

Katie Palumbo Vogler

Peter Tchoukaleff

Lianne Lotz Daues

Danny Vogler

Kristin Thompson Poelker

Class of 1981

Alumni by Class

Susan Kelly

Class of 1995

Alayah Lipnick

Laura Lotz

Margot McMahon Monser

Class of 2005

Sari Rotskoff

Randy Birkenmeier

Class of 2008

John Westerman

Meredith Ellis Fenley

Anonymous (1)

Anthony French

Brian Chao

Class of 2001

Kris Mannen

Sara Freund & Alex Cano

Anonymous (1)

Lindsay Gilhousen Mannen

Alix Grant Hawes

Liz Myrick Donovan

Kyle Tisone

Sammie Keller Katzman

Mike Durbin

Erica Trotter

Melissa Howe O'Connor

Lindsey Williams Graves

Katie Mannen Wackerman

Michael Williams

Megan Kaley

Billy Thomas White

Kyrstin Munson

Seth Williams

Class of 2009

Tsion Pichon

William Wilson

Victoria Clodfelter

Class of 1957

Class of 1982

John Brauer

Jeanine Meier Devine

Class of 1996

Marty Knight

Ritu Singh Cooper

Class of 1983

Lauren Weissman Kerner & Kyle Kerner

Carolyn Brightman Kroenlein

Julie Schwarze Linihan

Class of 1960 Bill Rubin

Class of 1966

David Pollnow

Anonymous (1)

Class of 1986

Claudia Forman Pleasants

Bethany Pruitt Tolliver

Raj Bhuyan

Class of 1997

Class of 1969

Class of 1990

Elliot Benoist

Preston Amos

Art Blumeyer

Art Kerckhoff

Laura Pollnow Bryan

Heather Midgley Jandourek

Courtney Murphy Trenary

Nikki Smith Mollica

Tyler Trenary

Class of 1970

Tony Spielberg

Jim Bruns

Lily Streett

Flip Cady George Hibbard

64

Steve Mura

Anthony Pietroburgo

Class of 2003

Experience

David von Allmen

Tess Delean Waldron

Chloe Colbert

Lauren Talley

Class of 2006

Hadley Key Naughton

Class of 2002

Heather Korman Brackett

Gigi Esser Rager

Emily Luderer Ambrose

Doug Dalton

Sydne Stacker Raiyn

Nick Casey

Jenny Chao Gansner

Adam Rosen

Robert Glassman

Mallory Karigan Harrell

The Whitfield School Magazine

65

Class of 2010

Class of 2016

Class of 2025

Jackie Nelson Donovan

Anonymous (1)

Moss Capellupo

Abby Lefler Eaves

Alex Curtin

Grace Cooperstein

Ali Hoeman Hardee

Kate Minorini

Spencer Corn

Tyler Ituen

Julia Myers

Caroline Dahlhoff

Peter Jacobi

Caden Edwards

Britney Howard Moehlenkamp

Class of 2017 Jordan Crouch

Melissa Sherrod Rossi Jonathan Rothman

Class of 2018

Liza Scott

Cal Bidner

Wright Sibbald

Jack Carswell

Jess Smasal Wain

Ian Laffey Julian Shniter

Class of 2011 Shane Carr

Class of 2020

Madi Franz

Grace Farr

Sammie Hellauer Jones

Adam Lauer

Annie Knapp Migdal

Alayah Lipnick

Susanne Ittner Peretti

Davide Pace Yutiancheng Yang

Class of 2012 Jake Becker

Class of 2021

Alex Friedman Box

Anonymous (1)

Zach Ellis Pat McLaughlin

Class of 2022

Dan Miller

Michael Koman

Mitch Rutledge

Ian Shepherd

Eric Van De Riet

Class of 2023

Class of 2013

Charlie Staley-Brain

Anonymous (1)

Timothy Taylor III

Maddie Scott Julie Candau Seiffert

Class of 2024 Anonymous (1)

Class of 2014

Spencer Kaye

Mike Shearburn

J.R. Rhodes Braydon Sellers

Class of 2015

Kris Hankins Hayden Hewgley Eldridge Rhone Cole Sargent Ana Struckhoff Gylian Von Kloha Ella Wertman

Class of 2026 Art Davidson Garon Fenberg

Garon Fenberg ’26

Rob Kampen P ’18, ’23

Sheila McCarthy

Moneta Group

In Honor of

Michael Fentaw ’26

Spencer Kaye ’24

Sheila McCarthy

Sarah Yoselevsky Kaye & Todd Kaye P ’24

Will Amato ’30 Judy Jensen GP ’30 Quinn Barker ’31

Experience

Sheila McCarthy Dawn Foster ’25

Flip Cady ’70, P ’97, ’00, ’02

Todd Gienke H ’26, P ’11, ’12, ’17

Barbi & Bill Macon, Jr. P ’10, ’16

Jonathan Wotka ’99

Cip Casado P ’23, ’27

Jacob Goldenberg ’29

Anonymous

Alan Kaplan

Class of 1966

Rickey Goodwin

Claudia Forman Pleasants ’66 & Bill Pleasants

Ellie Svenson P ’98, GP ’20

Class of 2006 Nicol & Mark Anderson

Trenton McClain

Class of 2025

David Payne

Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff P ’23, ’25

Jack Pearson

Ryan Fiske ’26

Charlene & Reinhard Lotz P ’95, ’98, ’00, GP ’21, ’31, ’33

Liam Collier ’28

Sheila McCarthy

Ry Harden ’29 Ashley Johnson P ’29 Larry Hays Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff P ’23, ’25 Tom Herman

Renee Cool GP ’28

Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff P ’23, ’25

Izze Singh

Matt Coryell

Diana Hunigan ’25

Sasha Thompson

Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff P ’23, ’25

Carla & Michael Hunigan P ’25, ’26

The Whitfield School Faculty

Ellen Hunigan ’26

Karen Myers P ’13, ’16, ’16

Carla & Michael Hunigan P ’25, ’26

Fritz Rhodes Tate Rhodes

James Trenary Logan Whitley

George Farmakis ’28 Shannon & Michael Farmakis P ’28, ’30

Kennedy Ituen ’26

Margaret & Raymond Lehner GP ’28, ’30

Harlem Jethroe ’28

Grace Farmakis ’30 Shannon & Michael Farmakis P ’28, ’30

Sheila McCarthy Anonymous Jewish Student Union at The Whitfield School Carol & Jeff Solomon P ’02

Margaret & Raymond Lehner GP ’28, ’30

Kamiyah Jones ’27

Nora Feathers ’31

Me’Sha Woodard & James Jones P ’27

Sharon Spence GP ’31

Jack Amato

66

Alyssa Gutierrez

Tribute & Memorial Gifts

Jocelyn Kazmierski ’24 Anonymous Lucas Kazmierski ’21 Anonymous Hadley Key Naughton ’09 John Key P ’02, ’04, ’09 Tory Key ’04 John Key P ’02, ’04, ’09 Whitney Key Towey ’02 John Key P ’02, ’04, ’09 Lauren Kisling Ginny & Chip Fendell Bobby Kline ’28 Lucy & Arno Kutner GP ’21, ’23, ’25, ’28 Joe Kline ’25 Lucy & Arno Kutner GP ’21, ’23, ’25, ’28 Layla Kline ’23 Lucy & Arno Kutner GP ’21, ’23, ’25, ’28 Sarah Kline ’21 Lucy & Arno Kutner GP ’21, ’23, ’25, ’28 Michał Kwiecień Andrea & Gerd Dahlhoff P ’23, ’25 Laura Sienaski Lancia ’02 Sharon & Denny Sienaski P ’02 Laura Lotz ’95, P ’21, ’31, ’33 Anonymous Charlene & Reinhard Lotz P ’95, ’98, ’00, GP ’21, ’31, ’33

The Whitfield School Magazine

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Dave Lauer Endowment for The Whitfield School Athletic Hall of Fame

T

he following individuals & families have made gifts to the Dave Lauer Endowment for the Whitfield School Hall of Fame, honoring Dave’s extraordinary legacy of leadership, mentorship, sportsmanship, & heart. Their generosity ensures that Dave’s impact will continue to inspire future generations of Whitfield students & student-athletes. If you would like to make a gift in Dave’s memory, contributions to the endowment are always welcome.

In Memory of Dave Lauer H ’24, P ’20 Anonymous (1) Jake Becker ’12 Elizabeth Mannen Berges & James Berges P ’05, ’05

Bill Cady ’73 Candy & Flip Cady ’70, P ’97, ’00, ’02 Laura & John Corn P ’25

Sheri & Paul Diemer P ’10, ’12

Laura & Don Frank P ’29

Molly & Jonathan Davis

Mary & Joe Freund P ’08, GP ’18

Danielle & Jeffrey Evitts P ’27, ’29

Pam Hall H ’26 Kathleen & Seamus Kelly P ’29, ’32

Adam Lauer ’20 Cheryl Lauer P ’20 Elizabeth & Phil Levy P ’15, ’17 Charlene & Reinhard Lotz P ’95, ’98, ’00, GP ’21, ’31, ’33 Becky Marsh & Lisa Nesler

Margot McMahon Monser ’00 & Ed Monser P ’08, ’10 Dave Ott ’91, P ’21, ’22 Melika & Nick Panneri P ’24, ’28 Anat Reschke & Brad Fink P ’20, ’23 Ellen & Rory Reynolds Kristen Deffaa Rhodes ’99 & Scott Rhodes ’98, P ’24, ’26, ’28

Bill Bunton

Lisa De Las Fuentes & Murali Chakinala P ’20, ’24

Landen Mabie ’27

Tessa Politte ’27

Izze Singh ’26

Melinda & Mike Evens GP ’27

Bunny & Karl Reif GP ’27, ’30

Sheila McCarthy

Lailah Price ’32

Jonah Stolker ’26

Virginia Price-Booker GP ’32

Sheila McCarthy

Kinley Priest ’31

The Goodwin Gold Society

Carol & Jeff Solomon P ’02

Lynn Jones GP ’31

Heather Midgley Jandourek ’90 & Chuck Jandourek

Sheila McCarthy

Sam Tonopolsky ’29

Rosalyn & Charles Lowenhaupt

Meg Maupay ’86 Mary & Walter Maupay Sheila McCarthy Ellie Svenson P ’98, GP ’20 Caleb Nowikow ’32 Sara Lamphier James Oberkfell ’30 Angela & Dale Oberkfell GP ’30 Ella Paciorek ’28 Susan Snyders GP ’28, ’30 Sophie Paciorek ’30 Susan Snyders GP ’28, ’30 David Payne ’26 Sheila McCarthy Tyrese Peoples ’18 Katrina & Chris Peoples P ’18 Matt Politte ’98, P ’27, ’30 Bunny & Karl Reif GP ’27, ’30

68

Cindy Burch

Kelly Lake

Experience

Ginny & Chip Fendell

A.J. Reatini ’26 Sheila McCarthy Fritz Rhodes ’26

Gilmore Kerner, Jr.

Sheila McCarthy Pam McReynolds

In Memory of Laura Baer P ’12, ’15, ’19 Sheila McCarthy Annie Fox Bardon ’07

Candy & Flip Cady ’70, P ’97, ’00, ’02

Marla & Tim Ruff P ’20, ’22 Sage Dining Nancy & Bruce Sokolik P ’04, ’05 Carol & Jeff Solomon P ’02 Byron Stevens Kim & Dan Weas P ’20

Betty Larramendy Casado GP ’23, ’27

Nick Kurten P ’88, GP ’10, ’14, ’17, ’19

Carol & Jeff Solomon P ’02

Candy & Flip Cady ’70, P ’97, ’00, ’02

Roberto Casado GP ’23, ’27 Carol & Jeff Solomon P ’02 Dawn Daugherty P ’27 Jen Rieger Ed Epstein GP ’25 Julie & Steven Sokolik P ’23

Sheila McCarthy

Laura & David Margolis GP ’29

Tate Rhodes ’26

Maeve Toolan ’26

Sheila McCarthy

Brett Green

Sally Bebee Key ’73 P ’02, ’04, ’09

Sara Ringe

James Trenary ’26

John Key P ’02, ’04, ’09

Cyndy Crum P ’11, ’14

Sheila McCarthy

Bryce Schultz ’26

Ben Weas ’20

Elaine Missler GP ’26

Ellie Svenson P ’98, GP ’20

Kayla Sellers ’27

John Wilson ’32

Dorothy Dillinger GP ’24, ’27

Sharon Hoffarth GP ’25, ’32

Heidi Silberman P ’29

Sophie Wilson ’25

Marian NuNn

Sharon Hoffarth GP ’25, ’32

Barbie & Jay Engler ’73

Giving QR Code

Sean Harris P ’18, ’22 Isey Harris P ’18, ’22, ’27

Sheila McCarthy Zach Miller ’98, P ’27 Janey Miller P ’27 Linda Rechter ’70 Susan & Joe Rechter Terry Redeker ’92 Sheila McCarthy Jerry Yoffie GP ’06, ’09 Helene Herwitz

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

The Whitfield School Magazine

69

2025-2026 IMPACT REPORT

The Whitfield Fund

YOUR GENEROSITY IN ACTION

ONE Community.

Endless Possibilities.

Every day at Whitfield, students discover who they are, what they care about, and how they want to make a difference.

Goal

$903,211

Annual Fund Raised

866

Donors

70

Experience

1,638

Gifts Received

$551

Average Gift

61

Goodwin Gold Members

Your support provided classroom resources and hands-on learning experiences that challenged students to think critically, collaborate, and engage deeply with new ideas.

Students experienced language and culture in meaningful ways through classroom celebrations, Global Citizenship projects, Story of America interdisciplinary experiences, and Chinese New Year programming that brought learning to life.

The Whitfield Fund helped make authentic, project-based learning possible through resources for the annual STEM Expo and classroom innovation.

Thank you for investing in opportunities that inspire curiosity, creativity, leadership, and lifelong learning.

$900,000

GLOBAL LEARNING

STEM & EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Because of the generosity of our community, The Whitfield Fund exceeded its goal this year, providing flexible, unrestricted support that empowers our students, strengthens our faculty, and enhances the Whitfield experience every day.

BY THE NUMBERS

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

PARTICIPATION MATTERS 83%

Current Parent Participation

48%

100%

Board Participation

Great schools are built by great teachers.

The Whitfield Fund invested in professional growth by supporting conferences, workshops, leadership development, curriculum writing, and collaborative learning opportunities that strengthen classroom instruction for every student.

Faculty participated in learning opportunities including:

ARTS & CREATIVITY

• ISTE Conference

Students explored their creativity through expanded opportunities in photography, music, and performing arts.

• NSTA National Conference

This year, the photography program purchased its first mirrorless camera, giving students access to professionallevel equipment while expanding creative possibilities. School-owned percussion instruments and low brass instruments continued to support outstanding performances and music education.

• Broadway Teachers Workshop • Orton-Gillingham Training • Leadership & Executive Function Development • Summer Curriculum Writing

228

Alumni Donor Growth

Alumni Donors

100%

119

Employee Participation

Students researched, designed, built, tested, and confidently presented original projects that demonstrated creativity, engineering, communication, and real-world problem-solving.

FACULTY EXCELLENCE

New Alumni Donors

THANK YOU Your generosity allows Whitfield to respond to immediate needs while investing in the experiences that make our school extraordinary.

Every gift, regardless of size, helps provide exceptional teaching, innovative programs, meaningful student experiences, and opportunities that prepare students to thrive in college and beyond.

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.