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Riparian New Opportunities Rivers’ Center for Science and Visual Arts
WHAT WILL THEIR RIVERS STORIES BE? THE RIVERS FUND • 2017–2018 Your gift to The Rivers Fund will support Rivers students as they create their own stories. Vol. XXXiii
Number 1
Editor
Christine Martin
Director of Communications and Stewardship Photography
Jimmy Kelley, Chad Crogan, Chip Riegel, Janet Ciummei/NortheastProPhoto, Samantha Yanofsky/Sly Photography Designer
David Gerratt
NonprofitDesign.com Pr i n t e r
Signature Printing & Consulting Brian Maranian ’96
Head of School
Edward V. Parsons D i r e c t o r o f Ad v a n c e m e n t
Krissie Kelleher S e n i o r a s s o c i at e d i r e c t o r s of advancement
Jan Hicinbothem, Mike Ebner a s s o c i at e d i r e c t o r s o f Ad v a n c e m e n t
Heather Jack, Kim Fox D i r e c t o r o f P a r e n t Pr o g r a m s and Special Events
Amy Dunne Director of Alumni Engagement
Marc Stroum ’98
Choose an area you would like to support—or make an unrestricted gift to fund Rivers’ highest priorities.
To make a gift to The Rivers Fund, go online at www.rivers.org/giveonline or mail your check or credit card information to: Advancement Office, The Rivers School, 333 Winter Street, Weston, MA 02493
The Rivers School 333 Winter Street Weston, MA 02493-1040 781-235-9300 www.rivers.org
Riparian: “One that lives or has property on the bank of a river or lake.” The Riparian is published twice a year for The Rivers School alumni, parents, students, faculty, and friends. To conserve resources, Rivers has consolidated multiple mailings addressed to the same household so that your home will receive only one copy. If you have reason to receive additional copies at your address, please call Chris Martin at 781-235-9300, ext. 230
Photo: “Glimpses” by Caroline Butter ’22
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From the Head of School
New Initiatives Fulfill Our Mission
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alumni Events
Boston Business Breakfast; Thanksgiving Social; Gatherings Coast to Coast; Alumni Winter Games
Features 3
Center for Science and Visual Arts Unveiled
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Campus News
Student News; Scholastic Art & Writing Awards; Mock Trials Show Justice at Work; Alumni Share Career Insights; New Trustees Welcomed; In Memoriam: G. Arnold Haynes
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alumni profiles
Christopher B. Ehrlich ’88; Rachel C. Hunter ’08; Peter Karofsky ’58; Alumni Find Success in Hollywood; Will Lawton ’06; Eliza Butler ’10 & Carlie Tarbell ’11; Wiley Holton ’15
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Putting Resources to Work In the Classroom
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Bringing History Alive
Parent News
With Gift of Photographs
Senior Parents Celebrate
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Alumni news
Class Notes; Board of Trustees
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Reconnect with Rivers
ON the COVER
New Building Rendering
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Message from the Head of School
New Initiatives Fulfill our Mission By Edward V. Parsons
I am thrilled to be able to share with you two initiatives that will bring us closer to fulfilling our mission “to prepare our students for leadership in a world that needs their talents, imagination, intellect, and compassion.” The Center for Science and Visual Arts and the Center for Community and Civic Engagement will be transformative in their effects on our community, each one helping to empower our students to go out into the world and change it for the better. The Center for Science and Visual Arts has been evolving since a new campus master plan was proposed following the adoption of the 2015 Strategic Plan. This Center—outlined on the following pages—will serve three of our major academic departments and become a campus hub for creative and innovative approaches to thinking and problem-solving. The Center will include state-of-theart laboratories, studios, and classrooms for our curriculum; and it will offer our students the opportunity to work independently. In their present locations, neither the art nor science department can offer students areas to pursue independent studies—no lab space for student-driven research, no studio space for a large scale painting, no dedicated maker space. These hands-on projects inspire not only the students involved in them, but other students who can see the fruits of their peers’ creative thinking and hard work. 2
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I am equally excited about the newly-formed Center for Community and Civic Engagement. This initiative has been percolating in my mind for several years, but the work we have been doing at Rivers for the past year to address the divisiveness in contemporary culture and to enhance our students’ abilities to engage the world’s challenging topics as we strive to connect across our differences made me realize that we needed to formalize our efforts, and in doing so, strengthen our commitment to our responsibility as productive citizens. The Center for Community and Civic Engagement will help foster civic capacity in our community and empower our students to be productive citizens. Through an integration of academics, research, and direct community involvement, the Center will engage the Rivers community in work that promotes active social responsibility. The programs the Center offers will foster a culture of engagement marked by non-partisan critical inquiry, by productive deliberative dialogue, and by collaborative, hands-on problem solving. It is our good fortune that Dr. Amy Enright, currently chair of Rivers’ History Department, has agreed to become the Center’s director. Amy joined Rivers in 2004, with a PhD from Emory University, and has taught AP Modern European History, Perspectives in World History, and globally-focused electives she
designed in subjects like Modern India, Modern Islam, and Modern Vietnam. With her academic focus on the complexities of global issues and politics, and her work with students as faculty advisor for Model UN and chaperone for trips abroad, Amy already has many ideas about how to provide curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for our students to engage in meaningful ways with the challenges of the contemporary world. With Amy’s guidance, we hope to offer on-going, community-wide speaker series, seminars, workshops, and forums on pressing community and global issues as they emerge. We plan to develop partnerships with outside resources in the realms of politics, community-based services, social entrepreneurship, higher education, and social policy to expose our students to the variety of ways they can impact the world around them. The programming possibili- ties are limitless, and the benefits of these initiatives to our students and our community are immeasurable. As I look forward to these exciting changes, I cannot begin to express my thanks to each member of our community for your unwavering enthusiasm, support, and dedication to our mission. Our ambitious plans for these two new Centers will transform the Rivers experience for today’s students and for future generations of students, as we strive to preserve and enhance Excellence with Humanity.
a nnouncing t h e
Center for Science and Visual Arts “The Center for Science and Visual Arts will solidify Rivers’ commitment to providing our students with innovative and experiential learning opportunities on a daily basis, advancing our teachers’ development of engaging coursework across multiple disciplines. Both the building and its cutting-edge equipment and functionality will be a major step in keeping Rivers firmly positioned at the forefront of 21st century learning.” — Ned Parsons, Head of School
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he Center for Science and Visual Arts is the most ambitious capital project in Rivers’ history and will enhance already outstanding programs in science, visual arts, and humanities by providing the best possible facility for teaching and learning while promoting strong interdisciplinary connections. The addition of the Center affirms Rivers’ long history of inspiring creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and a passion for life-long learning and exploration. “The Board and the Advancement Committee have been working diligently and quietly to secure philanthropic funding for this project,” announced Ned Parsons and Board President Bob Davis. “With the full backing of the administration and faculty, 100 percent of our trustees and a small group of donors have committed nearly 80 percent of the total costs for this project. We are working tirelessly to secure the remaining funding so that we might break ground on the Center for Science and Visual Arts in the late summer or early fall.”
With its inviting exterior, large and functional main commons, visible research lab, art and science galleries, and surrounding green spaces, the Center will draw together art, science, and the larger community. Teaching, research, and art spaces are designed to facilitate the interdisciplinary partnerships that are increasingly shaping discoveries in science, art, and innovation. These spaces will allow our superior faculty to grow the curriculum in new and exciting ways with classrooms, laboratories, studios, and meeting spaces that will adapt with evolving pedagogies. The Center has numerous “break-out” and community gathering spaces that can be used by students and faculty from all over campus and will provide spaces for students involved in different projects to engage with and learn from one another.
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The Center for Science and Visual Arts
will be located on the northeast side of Waterman Field next to the Haffenreffer Building. The two-story, 34,000 sq. ft. building and surroundings will include: Science Center • Physics and Biochemistry Classrooms/Laboratories • Student Independent Research Lab • Large Science Prep Rooms Innovation & Interdisciplinary Spaces • Digital Fabrication Studio • Six flexible, state-ofthe-art classrooms • Robotics Workshop • Engineering Classroom • Faculty Offices, Collaboration, and Break Out Spaces Visual Arts Center • Photography Lab & Classroom • Ceramics Studios • Sculpture and Plaster Workshop • Drawing, Painting & Printmaking Studios • Gallery Space Student Gathering Spaces New Academic Quad • Outdoor student gathering spaces, including artificial turf, natural grass and patio seating areas • Outdoor classrooms 43-space covered parking area on ground level of building
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Energizing students and faculty alike to follow their passions, the Center will inspire them to turn their ideas into outcomes while providing the highest end spaces, equipment, and material to support project-based learning across disciplines in both divisions. Engineering, robotics, and a maker space will ensure that innovation remains a valued and highly visible component of the Rivers experience. This building project will in turn open the campus and allow the future reconfiguring of classrooms and gathering spaces for other Upper School departments and for the Middle School. Contingent on permitting, continued fundraising success, and adhering to the schedule, the Center could be ready as early as January 1, 2020. Note: If you would like more information about the Center for Science and Visual Arts, please contact Director of Advancement Krissie Kelleher, at 339-686-2236 or k.kelleher@rivers.org.
Left: Location of the Center (in red). Below: Renderings of first and second floor commons.
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Campus News
“Forum”
Renovated Fitness Center Reopens Students, faculty, and staff have been enjoying the renovation of the Benson Fitness Center in the MacDowell Athletic Center and the dramatic impact it has had on their workout routines. Funded by a generous outpouring of support during the Fund-a-Need appeal at last spring’s Parents’ League auction—during which $162,050 was raised—the initial phase of the renovation was completed in the fall, and the center was filled to capacity throughout the winter season.
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” The Nonesuch Players presented an evening of slapstick comedy, doubletakes, and double entendres with their production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” at Regis College Performing Arts Center in February.
Boys’ Cross Country Wins Championship The boys’ varsity cross country team claimed the program’s first-ever New England Preparatory School Track Association Division III Championship in November. The girls’ varsity cross country team’s third place finish at
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the ISL Championships was the program’s highest-ever finish. The Red Wings also finished third at the NEPSTA Division III meet, making 2017 the first year that both the boys’ and girls’ teams earned team awards in the same season.
Debate Team Busy On and Off the Floor Rivers’ Debate Team has been hard at work throughout the year, with members competing in regional and national meets, while Emily Shen ’18, Olivia Xu ’20, and Yasmin Myers ’20 have held leadership roles as organizing members of JSA, the Junior State of America. Harrison Pearlson ’18, co-president of Rivers Debate Club, and teammates Elliot Do ’21 and Daniel Weitz ’20 joined them at the recent Winter Congress conference in Washington, D.C. At the fall conference at Harvard University, Harrison was recognized with a Best Speaker Award.
Freight Farm Yields Greens and More Tori Wilbur’s 6th grade math class incorporated their harvest of Freight Farm greens as part of the menu they planned, shopped for, cooked and eventually served at a Natick senior center in February. It was a great way to combine math (multiplying recipes, calculating prices) with service learning, and just one of many ways the Freight Farm is impacting their curriculum this year.
Freight Farm
Debate Team
Jordan Hall
Jordan Hall Hosts Arts Night
“(All) Art is Political (!?!),” held at Lesley University in December. The exhibit, featuring student work from 17 independent schools, included work by Lauren Barich ’20, Maddie Cornetta ’19, Matt Cronin ’19, Abby Deneen ’19, Caleb Leeming ’19, Colette Meier ’19, Joelle Mentis ’18, Maggie Monaghan ’19, and Ryan Rahbany ’20.
The Upper School Arts Night was held this year at Jordan Hall, and for the first time the jazz ensembles joined their classical and choral counterparts in the world-renowned New England Conservatory concert hall. The Big Band, Honors Big Band, Select I Combo, Upper School Orchestra, and Men’s and Women’s Choruses all performed during the concert.
Model UN Competes
Nyle Fort Speaks at MLK Jr. Assembly Noted civil rights activist and religion scholar Nyle Fort delivered a passionate, thought-provoking talk at the annual MLK Jr. assembly in January. He shared his thoughts on Dr. King’s legacy, and how the impact of Dr. King’s goals and actions have gone far beyond the “I have a dream” speech that he is most remembered by. He reminded students that Dr. King continued to fight against injustices not only toward black people but toward all people, quoting “No one is free until everyone is free.”
All State Festival Players Five students participated in the annual Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s All-State Festival at
“Identity Prism” by Matt Cronin ’19 Symphony Hall in Boston in March: Michael Manasseh ’19, drums and Joe Nedder ’18, trombone in the jazz band; Lindy Billhardt ’19, string bass in the orchestra; Alex Clay ’18, clarinet in the band; and Simonida Spasojevic ’19, flute in the orchestra. Joshua Rocha ’21 performed with the chorus at the Junior Eastern District Festival.
At the Columbia conference in January, Model UN members Theo Haviland ’19 and Leighton Young ’19 won Honorable Mention (bronze medal) in their committees and Thando Khumalo ’19 won her second award of the year with a Verbal Commendation (4th place). At the fall conference, Alex Klein ’18 and Maddie Cornetta ’19 each won a Best Delegate award while Thando received a Most Improved Delegate award.
Rivers Artists Get Political for Lesley Exhibit Nine Rivers artists were showcased at the invitational exhibition entitled
Model UN
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Campus News
Tess Sussman
Aidan Porter
Eberhardt Champions
Boys’ Hockey Earns ISL Eberhardt Titles
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The boys’ varsity hockey team claimed the ISL Eberhardt Division title for the fourth time in five years, and also received the coveted Eberhardt League Team Sportsmanship Award. They made it to the semifinals in NEPSAC Tournament, joined by the girls’ hockey, boys’ basketball, and girls’ basketball teams. Rivers’ girls’ varsity ski team clinched the #2 spot in the NEPSAC Championships, thanks in part to outstanding races by Georgia Freeland ’18 who came in third in the grand slalom and fifth in the slalom. Aidan Porter ’18 (hockey) and Tess Sussmann ’18 (basketball) were both named Boston Globe All-Scholastics.
BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He is fourth all-time leader in the CFL in receptions, fourth in career receiving yardage, and held the BC Lions’ record for receiving yardage in a season from 1994 to 2004 with 1731 yards.
Darren Flutie Joins Rivers’ Football Program
Students and Faculty Attend Conferences
Rivers’ Athletics Department is pleased to welcome Darren Flutie as the offensive coach for the Red Wings football team, beginning in the fall of 2018. Flutie was a Canadian Football League wide receiver, playing for the
Members of Rivers Givers attended the Northeast Youth Philanthropy Summit at Tufts University in October, including workshops on topics such as racial justice in philanthropy, developing a leadership style, utilizing
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Student Diversity Leadership Conference
systems thinking in solving problems, and understanding nonprofits for better impact. In December, six Rivers students and 12 faculty members attended the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference and People of Color Conference in Anaheim, CA. The following week, four students spent the day at the Massachusetts Conference for Women in Boston. These conferences allow students to share their personal experiences with others and bring important lessons back to our own community, where promoting diversity, inclusivity, and philanthropy is an important and ongoing focus.
Jazz Ensembles, Players Win Honors Rivers’ Honors Big Band received a Gold Medal at the MAJE Senior District Competition in February, while the Big Band—competing for the first time—won a Bronze Medal. In addition, Joe Nedder ’18, trombone; Michael Manasseh ’19, drums; Henry Lewis ’20, piano; Michael Idzal ’21, piano; Cole Sussman ’20, bass; and Aidan Keusch ’21, trumpet received outstanding musicianship awards. Joe Nedder was named the festival MVP. Earlier in the month, the Honors Big Band won First Place—a first for
Rivers—and the Select 1 Combo won Fourth Place at the 2018 Berklee High School Competition. In addition, Michael Manasseh was named a 2018 National YoungArts Foundation Honorable Mention winner in Jazz Percussion.
DECA Team Competes at States Rivers’ 9-man DECA team had a great showing at the state competition in March. Earlier in the year, new members Joey Kraft ’21 and Aidan Keusch ’21 qualified for states at the district level competition.
Mandarin Students Make Intergenerational Connection Students in the Mandarin III and IV classes taught by Chloe Yang have been testing their language skills during field trips to the Veronica B. Smith Senior Center in Brighton. The students pair off with Chinese American seniors at the center and spend time getting acquainted through a variety of activities, including mah jong, tai chi, and dumpling making. They also return the hospitality by hosting the Chinese elders at Rivers twice a year.
Michael Manasseh DECA Team
Big Band
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Campus News
Red Wings Sign National Letters of Intent This year four seniors signed letters of intent for Division I athletic programs: Courtney Day ’18, Colgate, lacrosse; Shannon Daley ’18, Northwestern, field hockey; Lexi Lehan ’18, Fairfield, soccer; and Caroline Phelps ’18, Villanova, lacrosse.
Nonesuch Players Tackle Monsters The Nonesuch Players stage an actionpacked version of Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters in November in the Black Box Theater in Haffenreffer.
Filled with courageous heroes and monstrous villains who clash repeatedly in sword-wielding combat, the story is actually one of acceptance and inclusion, perfectly attuned to the issues that today’s society continues to struggle with.
break with two more titles: boys’ hockey won the Belmont Hill/Nichols Tournament and girls’ basketball won the Shooting Touch Classic.
Red Wings 5 for 5 in Holiday Tournaments
Director of Athletics and Head Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach Bob Pipe earned his 300th career win at Rivers in January in a 51-42 game against Loomis Chaffee. This was the second milestone for Coach Pipe this academic year: he had his 200th career win as Head Boys’ Varsity Soccer Coach with a 1-0 victory over St. George’s in November.
Rivers’ athletes won five titles in five tournaments over winter break. Boys’ hockey won their first-ever championship in the St. Sebastian’s Tournament, and both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams won the Rivers Holiday Tournament. The Red Wings finished off the
Coach Bob Pipe Logs 300 Wins
“She Kills Monters”
Holiday Champs, Girls (above) and Boys (below) teams
Coach Pipe
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In Memoriam: G. Arnold Haynes Life Trustee and long-time Rivers champion G. Arnold Haynes passed away on October 15, 2017 after a brief illness. Mr. Haynes, a student himself at Rivers in the early ’40s, was the father of Jonathan Haynes ’75. His grandchildren Whitney, Melissa, and Meredith attended Rivers, and Whit graduated in 2005. Over the years, Mr. Haynes gave very generously of his time, talent, and treasure to The Rivers School. He served on Rivers’ Board of Trustees from Fall 1971 through Spring 1982, before being elected a Life Trustee. With extensive experience in real estate and property development, he oversaw several building projects on the Weston campus including the construction of the Fourth Building and the Berwind Building. At the opening of the Fourth Building in 1973, Board President Ted Perry recognized Mr. Haynes for his perseverance in seeing the building to completion, “literally creating the building by a blend of sheer will-power and elbow grease!” In recognition of his tireless contributions to the school, the Fourth Building was renamed Haynes Hall in 2003, when the following citation was presented to Mr. Haynes: Arnold, your devotion to the school goes back more than five decades as a student, parent, and guiding trustee. You continued to watch over the well-being of Rivers long after your formal involvement ended. Whenever the school has needed support, you have responded selflessly. Your family’s leadership and devotion is clearly unquestioned. We are proud to name Haynes Hall in honor of your family.
new trustees Janet Correia P’16,’19,’22 Janet spent twenty-two years at Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company, where she helped clients with technology implementations, business process improvement, and organizational change. She earned a BS in operations research and industrial engineering at Cornell University. Janet is an active volunteer at her children’s schools and member of their parents’ leagues. Among her volunteer positions, Janet chaired Rivers’ 2016 and 2017 Parents’ League Auctions. Janet and Steve Correia’s son Scott graduated in 2016 and is now at Lehigh University. Their son James is in the class of 2019 at Rivers, and their daughter Adrienne, currently at Nashoba Brooks School, will be freshman next year. Tim Mann P’20 Tim Mann is an independent consultant providing research, guidance and support for educational companies and higher education institutions. Previous professional roles include Director and Senior Analyst for Eduventures, a research and consulting firm for higher education institutions, and Dean of Student Affairs at Babson College. Tim served on the Board of Trustees at Dedham Country Day School, including a term as Board President. He holds a PhD in law, policy and society and a MS in college student personnel from Northeastern University. Tim also holds a BA in public administration from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada. Tim and his wife, Elaine, have three children: Rachel, a sophomore at Rivers; Colin, a senior at Dexter Southfield; and Bryan, a seventh grader at Dedham Country Day School. Heidi Pearlson P’18,’21 Heidi is a founder and managing partner of Adamas Partners, LLC which runs two hedge fund fund-offunds products. Prior to Adamas, she worked at Cambridge Associates as an investment consultant with not-for-profit colleges, universities, foundations, endowed institutions, and family groups on all asset classes and investment related issues, specializing in marketable alternative assets including hedge funds, risk arbitrage, and distressed securities. Heidi graduated from Brown University with a BA in law and public policy and from Yale’s School of Management in 1996. She chairs or is a member of the investment committees for the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, American Council of Learned Societies, and Care Group Board of Managers. She serves on the boards of the Rashi School, Facing History and Ourselves, and Children’s Hospital’s Board of Overseers. Heidi and Lewis Pearlson have two sons, Harrison ’18 and Joshua ’21.
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Campus News
Artists and Writers Win Big The results are in for this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and there’s lots of good news to share. Ashley Burgarella ’18 won a National Gold Medal for her short story entitled “Biography of Rosemary,” Gianny Cepeda ’18 won a National Silver Medal for her photograph “Youthful Determination,” and Grant Regan- Loomis ’22 won a National Silver Medal for his photograph “Cobweb.” All three pieces received Gold Keys in the Boston Globe Scholastic com- petition in January. Overall Rivers students won 37 state awards, including 6 Gold Keys, 13 Silver Keys, and 18 Honorable Mentions, with 32 awards in art and 5 for writing. Five students received multiple awards, with Isabel Hardy ’18 receiving Silver Keys in both categories, and Joelle Mentis ’18 receiving an Honorable Mention for her entire art portfolio. “The fact that both Middle and Upper School artists were acknowledged shows the depth and breadth of our program,” noted Visual Arts Department Chair David Saul. “We believe that all students can cultivate and articulate a creative vision in the supportive environment of our art studios.” “Like many of their peers, these writers work extremely hard at the craft of writing, both in the context of their English classes and outside of class on their own time,” said Mac Caplan, English Department Chair. “It’s wonderful to have their writing recognized beyond our campus.”
Matt Cronin ’19, printmaking, “Grand Teton”
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Gianny Cepeda ’18, photography, “Youthful Determination”
Anna Monaghan ’22, photography, “Shifts and Swirls” Madelyn Cornetta ’19, ceramics, “Waves”
N a ti o n a l Med a l W i nner s
Ashley Burgarella ’18, Gold, short story Gianny Cepeda ’18, Silver, photography Grant Regan-Loomis ’22, Silver, photography Bo s to n G l o b e G o l d K ey W i nne rs
Grant Regan-Loomis ’22, photography, “Cobweb”
Ashley Burgarella ’18, short story Lisa Byrne ’19, printmaking Gianny Cepeda ’18, photography Matt Cronin ’19, printmaking Meghan Kerfoot ’22, photography Grant Regan-Loomis ’22, photography Boston Globe Silver Key Winners
Caroline Butler ’22, 2 Keys for photography Jordyn Connors ’19, photography Madelyn Cornetta ’19, ceramics and glass Matt Cronin ’19, printmaking Isabel Hardy ’18, photography Isabel Hardy ’18, poetry Colette Meier ’19, printmaking Joelle Mentis ’18, painting Anna Monaghan ’22, photography George Reinhardt ’20, photography Hunter Taylor-Black ’19, photography Vanessa Xue ’23, drawing and illustration Bo s to n G l o b e H o n o r a b l e Men tio n W i nner s
Lisa Byrne ’19, printmaking, “Window to the Soul”
Lindsay Bogar ’18, photography Apsara Balamurugan ’20, short story Oliver Carswell ’22, photography Eliza Churchill ’22, photography Georgia Freeland ’18, photography Caroline Grady ’19, sculpture Charlotte Greer ’22, photography Haley Hatten ’22, photography Griffin Jones ’22, photography Pat Lawn ’20, ceramics and glass Hannah Long ’21, drawing and illustration Thomas McShane ’22, photography Joelle Mentis’18, art portfolio Bethany Pasko ’19, poetry Grant Regan-Loomis ’22, photography Zachary Sarrett ’19, photography Sara Stephenson ’18, poetry Philip Tresca ’20, sculpture
Meghan Kerfoot ’22, photography, “Reflections”
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Campus News
Mock Trials Show Justice at Work Rivers students had a unique opportunity to participate as mock jurors during a training session organized by Dan Rabinovitz ’82 for the Boston Trial Program for the National Institute of Advocacy (“NITA”). Although it was the first day of winter break, 30 students jumped at the chance to head to the Moakley Courthouse in Boston to experience firsthand what is one of the cornerstones of American democracy, the right to a trial by a jury of one’s peers. We spoke with Rabinovitz about this program as well as his career in law. Q: Why did you reach out to Rivers students to participate in the program? A. I think it’s important for young people to see and participate in the trial process for two reasons. First and foremost, the American system of justice, which for most legal disputes guarantees citizens the right to have their case decided by a group of other members of the community, is absolutely the best system of justice in the world. It may not be a perfect system, but it is the best one. And everyone should know that from a young age, because it’s something to be proud of—that we live in a society that allows for that. Secondly, many people are reluctant to sit on real juries. It’s time
6th Grade Community Service
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consuming. Perhaps the subject matter is not interesting to them, or in some cases people simply don’t recognize the importance of it. My hope is that providing a forum for young people to enter one of the most beautiful courthouses in the country, to be sworn in, to hear evidence and argument, and then deliberate and render a verdict, makes it more likely that when they are summoned for real jury duty, they will be excited and not reluctant. I was floored that so many Rivers students showed interest! Q. Why do you spend your time training trial lawyers in the practice of their “craft?” A. When I was a young prosecutor with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Illinois, I enrolled in NITA’s two-week “boot camp” program, where I was introduced to an unbelievable fraternity/sorority of trial lawyers—people who just love being in a courtroom and trying a case to a judge or a jury. From day one, I was hooked. Literally, for generations NITA has fostered a huge pool of talented trial lawyers who volunteer their time to help young lawyers improve their skills in the courtroom and in the deposition room. As a young lawyer, I benefited greatly from those mentors and it
made me want to give back by doing the same thing. It’s incredibly gratifying. Q. You have experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. Tell us about your recent opportunity at Murphy & King to shape a new area of practice for the firm? A. Having the chance to start my career as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney, in Chicago, was an opportunity of a lifetime. The investigatory and trial skills I learned there were invaluable. However, I left that prosecutor role for private practice nearly 20 years ago. Murphy & King is a highly regarded firm, with a long track record of helping clients with litigation needs, insolvency issues, corporate work and complex real estate transactions. But in my mind, one of the things they are best known for is their ability to take cases to trial and win. For a number of years they have been exploring the possibility of expanding into the area of White Collar Defense and Internal Investigations. The opportunity to be the person who spearheaded that practice for such an outstanding firm was downright exhilarating. Opportunities like that do not come along often, and when they do, you must seize them.
Alumni Share Career Insights More than a dozen Rivers alumni took time out from their busy lives to share their personal and professional stories with the Class of 2018 at the annual career fair hosted by the Alumni Career Development Committee. The evening kicked off with a panel discussion in Kraft Dining Hall— moderated by CDC chair Greg Stoller ’87, P’19,’21—that featured Brad Karelitz ’04, Alex Krotinger ’04, and Derek Kelliher ’08 discussing their career paths after Rivers. After the panel discussion, students headed off to their choice of two breakout sessions for practical advice on networking and resume-building as well as an informal look at the challenges, successes, and failures inherent in various professions. Alumni participants included: Lenny Bautista ’09 and Brad Belin ’03 discussing education; Adam Berezin ’98 and Matt Tobin ’90 on business and entrepreneurship; Kaleigh Hunt ’09 on healthcare; Jack Birger ’08 on resume building; Nicky Constant ’99 offering pointers on social media and personal branding; Bryan Ginsberg ’09 on networking; Brad Karelitz ’04 and Chris Whittier ’07 discussing finance; Derek Kelliher ’08 on technology; Alex Krotinger ’04 and Anna Littman-Quinn ’08 on internships; and Greg Stoller, ’87 who focused on media. “The Career Fair gives seniors a sense for what kinds of career opportunities are out there for them, and what they can do while in college to get ready for a career down the road,” said Marc Stroum ’98, Director of Alumni Engagement and event organizer.
Alumni Presenters
Panelists Alex Krotinger ’04, Brad Karelitz ’04, Derek Kelliher ’08
Lenny Bautista ’09 and Bred Belin ’03
Greg Stoller ’87
Nicky Constant ’99
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Chris Dalton’s students mapping trees
Putting Resources to Work in the classroom Resourceful: Definition
Mapping the Woodlands
Able to meet situations; capable of devising ways and means. [www.merriam-webster.com] Synonyms: ingenious, enterprising, inventive, creative; [www.dictionary.com] Example: Rivers’ faculty integrate a wide range of resources—both intellectual and material— into their curriculum each year to optimize their students’ learning experiences. [www.rivers.com]
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Upper School science teacher Chris Dalton knows field work. With a bachelor’s from Yale and doctorate from Cornell in ecology and evolutionary biology, Dalton jumped at the chance to get his hands dirty—or rather wet—as a member of a research team from Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center last summer. He spent a week in Nantucket Harbor, supporting a crew of divers who were studying the disruptive effect of algae on the health of scallop beds. Researchers suspect that a recently arrived, invasive algae in the harbor might be creating an anoxic environment that is smothering the scallops. The divers divided up the beds on the harbor floor to create an algae-free section and are returning periodically to monitor the health of the scallops. Eager to pass on the excitement of field work to his AP Environmental Science class, Dalton is having his students use samples of this same algae to study its daily rhythm of oxygen consumption and production in the laboratory. But lab work is never quite the same as getting out in nature, so this fall Dalton’s students started their own long-term study of the effects of development on an eco- system. Over the course of several trips to Rivers’ new Nonesuch Field on the edge of campus, students created two transects of land adjacent to the field—one in a dry, sunny location and the other in a wet, shady portion of the woodland. They used satellite photos of the land before the field’s construction to create a baseline, and mapped the location of any trees and significant understory growth surrounding the transects after construction. They also used post-construction aerial views to verify significant landmarks on their graphs. They will monitor growth seasonally for the remainder of this school year; students in subsequent classes will continue to monitor the woodland’s transition from a “disturbed” community to a “climax” community over the course of several years.
“The students are really excited about being part of a longterm project like this,” commented Dalton. “It gives them a very real sense of the long-range effects of both natural and man-made ‘disturbances’ on the environment. They’re already talking about visiting their ‘plots’ during their next Rivers reunion to see how they’ve changed.”
Tending the Farm Students in Josh Shaller’s sixth grade science class are getting their own hands wet but in a very different environment. This year, Shaller and colleague Emily Poland have been working with his students to grow a variety of lettuces and other greens in Rivers’ Freight Farm, a self-contained, hydroponic farming operation in a retrofitted shipping container that was donated to the school last year by former trustee Todd Dagres. The sixth grade curriculum has traditionally focused on water and made ample use of the school’s proximity to Nonesuch Pond and its adjacent wetlands. In fact, two years ago Shaller’s class partnered with a Wellesley College scientist on a long-term project to measure the salinity of the pond’s outflow as a function of precipitation and run-off from nearby road salt reserves. This year, the Freight Farm has provided students with a firsthand look at this unique solution to addressing issues of food scarcity in inhospitable locations, such as an urban area or an arid desert. Under Poland’s guidance as Freight Farm Coordinator, the students first learned the principles of the closed system of farming, and planted a variety of greens in the Farm’s towers. Every week they start a new crop, while measuring the growth rate as set amounts of nutrients, water, and light bathe the plants. They even may try to grow greens that would have been consumed in Roman times to share with students in the eighth grade Latin class. As a counterpoint to their farming, the students devised their own water delivery system in the lab to mimic (or improve upon!) the Farm’s design. As the year progresses,
Emily Poland and students checking crops
they have incorporated their Farm experience into math class, studying the economics of setting up an actual or theoretical CSA and determining the pricing needed to recoup the costs of their operation. One ambitious student has begun a statistics project using the Farm for her seventh grade math class. After their first harvest, students invited the community to a tasting and recipe-sharing reception one afternoon. A selection of greens is routinely offered in the dining hall for lunch and the students have taken baskets of green with them when they prepare dinner for seniors at a local food pantry— a great lesson in home-grown philanthropy.
Examining the Past History teacher Carol Davidson made use of another recent donation to the school in her 11th and 12th grade trimester elective on the Holocaust. Rivers alumnus Howard G. Davis ’70 donated a collection of iconic black and white photographs that chronicle the post-World War II voyage of Jewish refugees from a British detainee camp on Cyprus to the port of Haifa. Taken by freelance photographer Paula Horn Kotis in 1948, the photographs gave students an up-close glimpse into the lives of these Holocaust survivors as they faced yet another hurdle on the road to resettlement in the new state of Israel. Davidson and Visual Arts Department Chair David Saul selected 6 of the 32 photographs in the collection to show the progression from life in the camp, to embarkation on the overcrowded, rusting cargo ship, to mundane views of ship-board life, and the final hope-filled arrival of the immigrants in their new land. Saul gave a brief overview of the history of photography and showed them the types of cameras and film used in those days. He discussed the difference between the clandestine photographs taken in the Lodz ghetto by Jewish photographer Henryk Ross, who often hid his camera under his coat in order to capture the real life of the ghetto, and the more staged—yet still raw—photos by Kotis.
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David Saul sharing photographs
Melissa Dolan’s students tracing Native American land dispossession
Prior to the class, the students had visited the International Museum of World War II in Natick, a hidden gem that houses a comprehensive collection of original objects and documents, including a small but meaningful collection of Holocaust artifacts. Students were able to see prison and military uniforms, signs and posters regulating Jewish activities, identity cards, and a first edition of The Diary of Anne Frank. Davidson also made the impact of the Holocaust more vivid for her students by arranging for them to speak, via FaceTime, with her father who is a Holocaust survivor. “It’s critically important today to remind our students of the inhumanity that society is capable of,” said Davidson. “The more immediate we can make the experience for them, the more they will incorporate a respect for others into their own lives.”
Righting Injustices For many years, the eighth grade Humanities class has focused on human rights and global issues, including the Holocaust, but this summer Director of Middle School Curriculum and Humanities teacher Melissa Dolan felt it was time to reexamine the course to sharpen both its pedagogical approach and its thematic impact. Her approach was two-pronged. She began by incorporating what she had learned in a systems-thinking course at Harvard last summer, not to change what was taught, but how it was presented. “The Constitution used to be the foundation of the course,” explained Dolan. “We’d start out by discussing the document, the interrelationships of the three branches of government, and the colonial era influences that shaped it. Then we’d move on to topics like Native American history and culture, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Holocaust. Now I am using the Constitution more as a framework for the course, and having the students look at similar content, but with a different focus—with a section of the Constitution always serving as a point of reference at the start of each unit. I want them to feel it is a living document.” Helping to shape that focus was Dolan’s partnership this summer with a curriculum consultant who works closely with
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Teaching Tolerance, an organization dedicated to “educating for a diverse democracy.” “The material we cover has been rearranged into units based on specific Constitutional themes instead of historical time periods or general topics,” said Dolan. “Our study of the Constitutional compromises that shaped the United States’ voting systems now anchors a unit on Voting and Representation, which examines the events and influences that expanded the right to vote over the course of American history. To Kill a Mockingbird is read within a unit examining the right to a fair trial. Essential questions inspired by the Teaching Tolerance framework—such as ‘how has the Constitution affected my life and others,’ ‘what rights and responsibilities do I have as a citizen in my society’ or ‘how do voting rights affect me and how have they changed over time’—help students to think first about their own identity, then how their identity relates to others, to examine inequities in the system, and finally to think about how they can change that. It brings history down to a very personal level for them.” The culminating project centers on identifying a human rights issue that is particularly meaningful for each student, researching it extensively, understanding the systems con- nected to the issue, and preparing a plan of action that could effect positive change.
Creating an Identity Identity was central to another Middle School course this fall. Language teacher Rachel Costello developed an interdisciplinary unit based on an in-depth study of the Mexican celebration of Día de Muertos [Day of the Dead]. Working with fellow Spanish teacher Nikki Bartlett, they enlisted visual arts teacher Chris Love to help students design masks that reflected their own personal identity, and had them present their finished products to their classmates and guests. In the art studio, students first took close up photos of each other’s faces on their iPads, and traced skull-like outlines of their own faces on translucent paper as the basis of their masks. They decorated the masks with multi-colored markers, combining both traditional and personal elements into the design.
Chris Love with students making masks In addition to the mask project, Upper School history teacher Ben Leeming visited the students to share the Aztec origins of the tradition and give them a basic lesson in the Aztec language Nahuatl, which he taught himself to read and speak in the course of earning a doctorate in anthropology, with a focus on Mesoamerican history. Nahuatl, which is still spoken by approximately 1.5 million people in central Mexico, began with pictographic symbols—which the students likened to hieroglyphics—and evolved into a literary language after the arrival of the Spanish. Explaining that the language is polysynthetic—words are composed of many “morphemes”—Leeming had students identify the roots, suffixes, and prefixes of words, and practice assembling them into other words. One student made the astute observation that “you can create a whole sentence with one word.” Indeed Leeming showed them one of the longest words he’s seen in Nahuatl, consisting of 64 letters, and explained that a number of Spanish, and now English, words have their origins in the Nahuatl language, like avocado, chili, and chocolate. At the conclusion of the unit, the students talked, in Spanish, about how their masks were a reflection of their own identity, followed by a description of the artistic choices they had made in designing their masks. Their classmates gave feedback about what they had learned about their peers’ identities and what they liked about the artistic elements of each mask.
Writing the Code To many, the thought of tackling coding would be as daunting as mastering the Nahuatl language, but there are students who recognize coding as a valued “language” of a 21st century education and are eager to master that skill with a hands-on approach. Last year, the Upper School Girls Who Code club drew a large following, and students flocked to sessions that featured speakers from local tech institutions. Recognizing the burgeoning interest, faculty member Theresa Riedl took Harvard’s CS50 Educators Workshop this summer, designed to provide resources and best practices to high school teachers. “CS50 has been a catalyst in changing how coding is taught, so it is more approachable and interesting,”
Theresa Riedl reviewing a coding project said Riedl. “Our 11th and 12th grade coding electives are intended to build students’ confidence in tackling new ways of thinking, as well as taking additional programming electives and our Honors Computer Science. The students enjoyed sitting in on a recent CS50 lecture at Harvard, and my Harvard mentor visited the class this fall to offer advice on various aspects of the curriculum.” Riedl’s Foundations course focuses on developing an understanding of the global impact of technology and the core topics at the center of programming, like abstraction, algorithms, and cybersecurity. The students work in teams to tackle problemsolving challenges in languages including Scratch, C, and Python. As a final project for the class, students choose a new topic within coding that they would like to learn more about. This year, students chose to design 3D computer games and iOS apps. Rounding out the year of electives is a winter term focused on app development and a spring term spent developing games. Developing Apps introduces students to the coding skills necessary for building iPhone apps through Apple’s programming language, Swift, allowing students to dive into the fundamentals of programming for software development. During each class period, students either write code from scratch or build upon a code framework to employ new concepts and strategies. Game Design is actually an Interdisciplinary Studies course, introducing students first to computer programming and digital art design through the use of Greenfoot, an interactive Java development environment, and Procreate, an iPad illustration app. Students learn coding by designing particular aspects of computer games and employing digital art techniques to create the characters and backgrounds for their games. The Visual Arts Department faculty help students learn digital art techniques, culminating in the students designing their own games. Rivers’ faculty members certainly don’t believe in the concept of “limited resources.” They are always on the lookout for an innovative way to view the world around them, and bring that vision to life for their students. sprin g 2018
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Bringing History Alive w i t h g i f t o f p h oto g r a p h s
Howard Davis ’70
Howard Davis and David Saul with students
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ivers’ Bell Gallery hosted an exhibition this winter of iconic black and white photographs by photo- journalist Paula Horn Kotis, chronicling the 1948 journey of Jewish Holocaust survivors from a British displaced persons camp on Cyprus to Haifa in the new state of Israel. The collection was donated to the school by Rivers alumnus and former trustee Howard G. Davis III, Class of 1970. “My goal in donating the collection to Rivers was to provide the school with what I see as an invaluable teaching tool,” said Mr. Davis on a recent visit to the gallery. [Already history teacher Carol Davidson used several of the photographs during her Holocaust elective this fall. See details on page 17.] A first-generation American who graduated from Hunter College in 1943 and trained alongside her Russian-born father in his Upper East Side studio, Ms. Kotis spent the post-war years travelling throughout Europe and Israel documenting the difficult transition to peacetime. The 32 silver-gelatin prints in the collection may represent a small slice of history—in the larger context of World War II and its aftermath—but they vividly capture both the suffering the Jewish people endured as well as their indomitable sense of hope.
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This is not the first time Mr. Davis’ interest in iconic photography has intersected with Rivers’ history curriculum. In 2012, the Worcester Art Museum mounted an exhibition entitled “From Kennedy to Kent State, Images of a Generation,” featuring a collection of photographs that Mr. Davis donated to the museum. Rivers history students visited the exhibit to see photographs ranging from the early Beatles to Robert Kennedy’s assassination that Davis spent more than a decade collecting— prominent images dating from the late 1950s to the early 1970s that captured the essence of a bygone era. Mr. Davis has had a life-long interest in photography. When he was a student at Rivers, there were virtually no art classes offered—“I did an independent study in photography my junior or senior year, but it was the exception at that time.” He has since been a staunch supporter of the arts at Rivers, including the Conservatory Program, financial aid, and diversity and inclusivity. Future plans for the Kotis photographs include incorporating them into the Upper School elective on the History of the IsraeliPalestinian Conflict and the Grade 8 Humanities course on Systems of Social Justice and Injustice.
Family Waiting, Camp in Cyprus
Family en Route, Camp in Cyprus
Inside, Camp in Cyprus
In the Bunks, Boat to Haifa
Boarding the Boat to Haifa
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Pa r e n t s ’ L e a g u e n e w s
Senior Parents Celebrate
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arents of the Class of 2018 gathered in the fall at the Head’s House to kick off their children’s final year at Rivers. After a warm welcome from Ned Parsons, several parents stepped forward to share personal anecdotes about Rivers teachers, coaches, and advisors who have changed the course of their children’s lives. While each story was unique to that family, a common theme of deep and genuine relationships between students and the adults on campus emerged from their remarks.
Hongmai Li, Xiru Zhang, and Jim Long
Eileen and John Sivolella with Ned Parsons
Joe Bradley, Wendy Magnan, Julie Bradley, Grant and Beth Freeland
Whitney and Bill Leslie, Allison and Charlie Abrams
Leah Wasserman, Sylva Yeghiayan, Elizabeth Homa
Lin and Min Ahn, Heidi and Jon DuBois
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alumni events
CDC Explores Media Landscape
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ivers’ Career Development Committee hosted a networking breakfast in Boston this fall that brought Homecoming Fans together Rivers alumni and parents for an interactive panel discussion focused on today’s constantly shifting media landscape. Moderated by Larry Glazer ’86, the panel featured current parents Rochelle Sharpe P’21 and Tony Massarotti P’24, both of whom have decades of experience in print journalism, alongside Adam Greene ’02, whose company Green Lens Media creates video content for businesses and nonprofit organizations with environmentally focused missions. All three offered their insights on both the present state of content and media and how things have changed since their careers started. Ms. Sharpe, a Pulitzer Prize winning print journalist for The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and USA TODAY with a focus on health, labor, and various social issues, now works independently as a journalism professor, editor, and writing coach. She recently helped develop an investigative reporting workshop for high school students with Boston University. “Investigative reporting is actually coming back right now and while I agree that most newspapers have fallen on hard times, a few of the big ones have seen circulation spike in the last year or so,” Ms. Sharpe said. “Newspapers are now hiring more reporters and there are now more than 100 non-profit investigative reporting groups around the country, so we are in something of a heyday for investigative reporting.” “Radio provides a unique opportunity because we are the only source of information for people in their cars,” added Mr. Massarotti, a former writer at the Boston Herald and Boston Globe, who is a co-host of Felger & Mazz on 98.5 The Sports Hub, one of Boston’s highest-rated radio sports talk shows. Larry Glazer ’86 “Talk radio has become a larger source for information because of apps like Spotify and Pandora, so people are listening to the radio less for music and more for information.” “Anybody can shoot a video today with the new technology, but you need to be creative, produce a lot of content, maintain a personal connection to the audience, and have that ‘x factor’ to separate you from someone with their iPhone,” commented Greene, who attended Bard College and the New York Film Academy before launching his company. “For example, we produced a movie trailer in the style of Ocean’s 11 for a real estate company, which they can share with their users and communicate their business in a way that’s pretty entertaining.” The Career Development Committee coordinates events throughout the academic year in Boston, New York, California, Adam Greene ’02 and DC. If you have questions or speaker ideas, please contact Director of Alumni Engagement Marc Stroum ’98 at m.stroum@rivers.org.
Rochelle Sharpe P’21
Tony Massarotti P’24
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alumni events
Thanksgiving What would Thanksgiving be without a kickoff celebration in the company of Rivers classmates and friends?
Michaela Thomsen ’13, Coach Bob Pipe, Emilie Daley ’13
Lindsey Ades ’14, Brendan Gates ‘14, Zach Bunick ‘14, Olivia Antonelli ‘14, Jordan Cross ‘15
Marissa DelFavero ’11, Jonathan Garcia ’11, Abby Gilmartin ’11, Brendan McNeill ’11, Vanny Knisley ’15
Anthony Burzillo ’11, Suzanne Burzillo ’13
Will Carlin, Ali Kraft, Jordan Cross, Trevor Davock, all Class of 2015
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Alumni Gatherings Coast to Coast Head of School Ned Parsons and members of Rivers’ Advancement Office have been travelling around the country meeting with alumni to share the latest news from Rivers. LA: Meredith Littas ’06, Alison Freed ’04, TJ Hill ’93, Sharon Steiglitz ’92
LA: A great turnout in Los Angeles
LA: Tim Ward ’03, Jack Maloney ’04, Peter Litvack ’08
NYC: Pierre Bouvard ’79, Christopher Whittier ’07, Ned Parsons, Nicole Hunter ’05, William Duplisea ’07, Jeremy Moskowitz ’08
SF: Dylan Lockman ’07, Alexa Kopelman ’09, Ali Grabler Stein ’01, Molly Troy ’08, Sadie Robertson ’07
SF: Ned Parsons and SF host Chris Ehrlich ’88 sprin g 2018
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alumni events
Alumni Athletes Return to MacDowell
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ormer athletes returned to MacDowell this winter to work out with the hockey and basketball teams and attend the traditional Alumni Hockey Game at the end of the season. During winter break both men and women skaters took to the ice, and several men joined Coach Zalaski’s team for a real workout in Benson. Then a couple of dozen players donned red or white jerseys for 80 minutes of non-stop play in late February— even years vs. odd—before lunch in Hutton Commons and a relaxing free skate with friends and family.
Winter Break Practice
Annual Alumni Hockey Game
Steve Valair ’02, Melissa and Andrew Reid ’00 and kids, Chris Valair ’00
Jordan Cross ’15, Abby Burke ’13, Taylor Cross ’12, Ellie Branka ’15, Missy Segall ’17
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Jacob Werrick ’16, Edgar Miranda ’16, Zack Lisman ’17, Azar Swain ’17, Derek Lamparelli ’17, Peter Zecca ’17
Sam Stuart ’98, Geof Downs ’00, Chris Valair ’00, Andrew Reid ’02, Steve Valair ’02
alumni profile
C hri st o p h er B . Ehrlich ’ 8 8
2018 Alumni Excellence Award
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hris Ehrlich’s success as Managing Director and Global Head of Locust Walk’s Biopharmaceutical Practice is no surprise when you consider the wealth of expertise he brings to the job. With significant experience both developing and investing in emerging biopharmaceutical companies, Ehrlich’s entrepreneurial spirit, transactional approach, and humanitarian nature have proven to be a winning combination. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1992 with a degree in government, Ehrlich became one of the first employees at L.E.K. Consulting, a company that has since become one of the largest biotech consulting practices in the world. He spent the next two years developing strategic and marketing plans for early stage biotechnology, medical device, and health care service companies. “It turns out that biotechs need strategic help as much as other businesses. They just didn’t know at that time where to look for it,” said Ehrlich. “My dad was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and I was able to speak to his colleagues about their impressions of new biotech programs for free. Having grown up around these folks, I found the experience very familiar.” After working at L.E.K. for a time, the company’s founder told Ehrlich that he didn’t view him as a pure consultant, but rather as someone who could be more transaction-oriented. “So he plucked me out of L.E.K., which he had left to become CFO of Northwest Airlines, and introduced me to Austin Beutner, another Dartmouth grad, who had been given $440 million of U.S. government money to invest in post-communist
Russia. I did a little life science investing, but really learned the deal side of the business.” Ehrlich worked for two years as director of marketing for the U.S. Russia Investment Fund, using the funds earmarked by the U.S. Agency for International Development to promote economic development in Russia. At that point, Ehrlich decided to return to school to earn an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, where he majored in health care and finance. “Although it sounds cliché, I really did want to do well by doing good, so I focused on health care,” said Ehrlich. “I realized that there was very little— in fact, almost no—formal business work captured on how to build successful biotech businesses. Fortunately, at Kellogg students get to have a real voice, so I built a program to study life science business issues which eventually became a full-time major. I still serve on the advisory board of the InVo program at Northwestern which is focused on advancing promising technologies into new businesses.” While at Kellogg, Ehrlich also founded and co-chaired the “Business
of Health Care” conference which continues to meet each year. He was a finalist for a Kauffman Venture Capital Fellowship and was awarded a Service MASTER Health Care Scholaship. During the summer of 1997, he was a business and corporate development analyst at Genentech in San Francisco, where he helped identify and geneate product and technology acquisition, licensing, and partnering opportunities. After completing his MBA in 1998, Ehrlich was hired as director of licensing and business development at Purdue Pharma, a private pharmaceutical firm in Stamford, CT where he successfully built a new biologic oncology therapeutics business and led in-licensing deals and equity investments in start-up vaccine and gene therapy companies. Ehrlich then moved to the other side of the start-up equation, as a general partner at InterWest Partners, a venture capital firm with a focus on healthcare and information technology. Over the next twelve years, he led investments in excess of $100 million, leading to five successful IPOs and three acquisitions of healthcare companies. As a managing director, he founded two companies,
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alumni profile
Nominate an Alumnus or Alumna for Alumni Excellence Award Established in 2001, The Rivers School Alumni Excellence Award is presented annually by the Alumni Association to a member of the Rivers community who displays extraordinary achievement within their established career field or through an outstanding commitment to social, political, or other volunteer causes. The purpose of the Award is to highlight the professional and volunteer achievements of alumni and in so doing inspire Rivers students to pursue their passions. When nominating a Rivers graduate, please include the following information: their name and class year; address, phone number, and email address; title, company, or industry; list of professional achievements and professional and civic commitments; and any other informa-tion relevant to the candidate’s professional contributions. Nominations may be sent to Director of Alumni Engagement Marc Stroum ’98 at 339-686-2234 or m.stroum@rivers.org.
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chaired multiple transaction committees leading to successful licenses and mergers, and served on the boards of directors of nearly a dozen private and public companies. “InterWest asked me to move to San Francisco and I have never looked back, although I’m still a New Englander at heart.” When Ehrlich joined Locust Walk in 2013, the company was very much in the early stages of corporate evolution, and undoubtedly benefited from his past experience with Purdue Pharma and InterWest. Ehrlich also tapped into his experience with the Young President’s Organization to help guide him and his business partner through the many challenges of growing a professional services firm. “One of the interesting things about Locust is that, while we are advising our clients on how to build their businesses, we are, simultaneously, building our own,” he observed. “Since I’ve been both on the buy (venture capital and pharma) and sell (biotech and vc portfolio company) sides of the business, I believe I have a unique perspective of what it takes to be successful at both. If not successful, then at least with a good understanding of the internal politics regarding what it takes to get deals done.” Ehrlich admits to enjoying the process of helping biopharmaceutical companies raise private and public financings and complete business development transactions. “One of the pros to my current position at Locust Walk is the almost instantaneous gratification I get for helping many companies at once. On the venture side, you often have to wait 5, 10, or even 15 years to get an exit.” And there are plenty of those deals either completed or in the works. Since 2015, Locust Walk has closed 23 transactions across various therapeutic areas, with more in development. “My six years at Rivers really served as the foundation for helping me achieve my goals,” Ehrlich commented. “The influence of such incredible mentors, such as Jack Jarzavek, Headmaster Richard Bradley, and John Heavey, was invaluable as I learned to solve problems and hone my skills. Furthermore, the amazing teachers at the Rivers Music School, like Sarah Tenney, provided structure and guidance outside of academics. I couldn’t have done anything without them.” Ehrlich’s commitments extend well beyond Locust Walk. His expertise is such that he has served as an expert witness in several recent biotechnology cases, and is a biotechnology policy advisor to Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is the networking chair for the NorCal Chapter of the YPO, serves on the Board of Directors of Prostate Management Diagnostics, Inc., and is a senior advisor on the Advisory Board of the Peter Michael Foundation. “Through my involvement with the Peter Michael Foundation, we are pioneering a new way to advance medical technologies to treat prostate cancer via a non-profit mechanism,” he noted. “Our charitable organization raises money through donations from investors as well as pure financial investors to advance diagnostic and therapeutic programs for prostate cancer from top academic organizations. To date, we have funded research at Washington University at St. Louis to identify serum markers to help distinguish between aggressive and indolent disease. We hope someday it will be available as a blood test to monitor disease progression for prostate cancer patients. We have also funded work at UCSF to advance promising new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for prostate cancer.” What does the future hold for the biopharmaceutical industry? “The U.S., in general, and biotech companies, in particular, are truly the greatest engines of innovation. Furthermore, what really makes us special is that there are so many experienced entrepreneurs here who are able to assist with advancing these technologies. Thanks to U.S. biotech companies, patients who have diseases like hepatitis or cancer, once considered a death sentence, often die with the disease rather than from it. I am very optimistic about the future of life sciences.”
alumni profile
R a c h el C. H u n te r ’ 0 8
2018 Young Alumni Achievement Award
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uring her time at Rivers, Rachel Hunter ’08 set the bar high, and since then she has never shied away from pushing herself professionally and personally to achieve her goals. Within weeks of turning 27, Hunter was rewarded for her drive when she was named to the 2017 Forbes 30-Under-30 Finance list after being nominated by her employer, Apollo Global Management. “My initial reaction to the news was a combination of excitement and shock, but once the surprise factor wore off, I mostly felt a tremendous amount of gratitude,” Hunter recalled. “Gratitude for my colleagues, teachers, family, and friends who provided me the opportunities, support, and knowledge to even be considered for this honor. I hope to continue to grow, learn, and be challenged in my career. Luckily finance, and specifically real estate, is always changing and evolving so I don’t think that will be much of a problem!” Hunter has always looked for ways to learn and be challenged. She had wide-ranging interests and responsibilities at Rivers that included being school president, sports editor for the Edge, and captain of the varsity lacrosse team. She excelled across the board academically, and received the Faculty Prize, Harvard Club Prize, Rensselaer Medal for Math and Science, Mathematics Prize, 3-D Arts Prize, and Mabardy Prize for Student Council Leadership, as well as Cum Laude Society honors. After graduating from Rivers, Hunter continued to pursue her many passions at Brown University, volunteering, participating in student government, teaching Zumba classes, and playing club lacrosse, all while double majoring
in economics and public policy. She was appointed to Brown’s Energy and Environmental Advisory Committee to review strategies to reduce Brown’s energy costs and carbon footprint, and was elected Ivy Council Policy Chair to represent Brown in policy discussions with other Ivy League schools. She was also involved in the Generation Citizen Project, a nonprofit organization promoting civic engagement among high school students through a hands-on approach to education, and taught civics in a Providence high school. Hunter also gained experience in nonprofits, the public sector, and the private sector through her summer internships. She was an analyst at Morgan Stanley in sales and trading fixed income, and worked with the general counsel in the U.S. Department of Energy on rule-makings and enforcement investigation cases. She also travelled to Vietnam where she worked with a small town bordering the Xuan Thuy National Park on economic development and ecotourism. While there she developed marketing and promotional materials, led intercultural training sessions for local residents, taught English, and helped build a library. After graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Brown,
Hunter moved to New York City to pursue a career in finance, starting out at Morgan Stanley where she was an analyst on the Commercial Real Estate Lending team from 2012 to 2014. Since 2014, she has worked at Apollo on the Commercial Real Estate Credit team, where she drives analytical and project support for a variety of investment activities, investing up and down the capital structure, originating and purchas- ing mortgage, mezzanine and whole loans, preferred equity positions, and real estate-related securities. Carrying on her tradition of giving back, Hunter helped found the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council’s Young Professionals Steering Committee, and more recently helped form WRE (Women in Real Estate) whose vision is to bring together female real estate professionals to foster relationships, share professional advice, and provide networking opportunities. Outside of the office, Hunter continues to be passionate about environmental conservation and protection—a passion that began at Rivers. She sits on the leadership council for the Central Park Conservancy’s network of young professionals—The Greensward Circle. Hunter also actively raises money and participates in events benefiting the Wildlife Conservation Society. Created in 2014, the Young Alumni Achievement Award is given annually to a recent graduate who models the spirit and values of The Rivers School as set forth in our mission statement. Through professional, academic, and/or volunteer roles, the recipient has demonstrated leadership, excellence in his/her chosen career, and an interest in and commitment to serving others.
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alumni profile
P e t er K ar o f sk y ’ 5 8
Turning Fact into Fiction
Peter and Kathy Karofsky
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fter a long and distinguished career in general pediatrics, Peter Karofsky ’58 recently published a novel, And the Oaks Heard Them All, as a way to reach a broader audience with his thoughts about the teenage years and their impact on families. “As an author, you write what you know best,” he said. “In my case, it is children, families, and medicine. I practiced and taught pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health for well over forty years. I sub-specialized in adolescent medicine and published several articles in professional journals on the pediatrician’s role as family therapist. Many anecdotes in the novel come from my practice and many characters are conglomerates of people I know.” And the Oaks Heard Them All is about Brenda Nelson as a 12-year- old and Brenda Nelson Bjorkman as a forty-three-year-old, according to the synopsis. Fatherless, living with a somewhat distant mother, Brenda craves attention and affection. Yet as an adult, her compassion for her cognitively disabled daughter is exemplary. The story is about bullying,
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anorexia, friendships, competition, and first love in adolescence, and about mentoring, obesity, forgiving, and parenting in adulthood. With tennis as a metaphor for life, the novel volleys between the summers of 1975 and 2006, documenting the transition from adolescence to adulthood and the effect children have on adults and adults have on children. “I spent years thinking about stories I wanted to tell,” Karofsky commented. “My English teacher at Rivers, William Gallagher, first kindled my desire to be creative. He had a profound influence on me. He taught me how to read and interpret what I read, and he taught me how to write. Courses in English and creative writing at Bowdoin fanned the flames. “Once I began actually writing the book, it took a little over a year to complete. Some days, I was not productive; on others, I hid in my study for six to eight hours, consumed by the task. As a physician, I diagnose and treat patients on a regular basis. Each situation is fraught with unpre-
dictable results. Being able to create not only the circumstances but the outcomes of situations in the book was unique and extremely enjoyable. There were times I awoke at night and wasn’t sure I was living my life or living inside the story I was creating.” “I have seen and continue to see many former patients, now adults, some with children of their own. Most have changed from their adolescent years, when they were narcissistic and struggling with peer pressure, bullying, self-loathing, and members of their family, but some continue to grapple with their lives. Others, who floated through the teenage years more easily, continue to manifest the positive qualities I observed at an earlier age. But not all. Like Brenda, the main character in my book, most patients have grown up to have meaningful relationships and to be productive in society. But the scars and badges of adolescence—while hidden—remain. “Today’s media— Facebook, YouTube, and other social links to the internet—have provided all of us with another way to connect with people. Unfortunately, they have also created a new medium for bullying, and a unique vehicle that allows for longer-lasting effects. “While I wrote And the Oaks Heard Them All for my grandchildren, the reception I have received at libraries, writer’s clubs, and book clubs made me realize the novel can be read not only by children in middle school and high school, but by their parents and grandparents as well.”
alumni profile
c a l i f o r n i a d r e a min’
Alumni Find Success in Hollywood The number of Rivers alumni working in Los Angeles in the entertainment industry has been steadily growing, and their areas of expertise are as varied as the career paths that brought them there. From producing animated films to providing voiceovers, their success is not surprising, given the talents and drive they bring to their jobs. Here are some of their backstories.
Paul Croce ’97 It all starts with the pitch, and Paul Croce ’97 has successfully navigated those waters, from launching pilots and series for VH1 and TLC to producing shows like Bravo’s Then and Now with Andy Cohen and Sundance’s Now the Discussion. Q. It sounds like you’ve worked in a variety of capacities in the industry. A. In terms of production jobs, I’ve gone from seller to buyer and back, primarily in docu/reality television. I started at Mark Burnett Productions during The Apprentice heyday—gulp— and then shifted over to network roles. Since then, I’ve been the VP of development for two production companies and for the past two years I have been freelance producing and show-running.
can mean anything from “here’s the show, start to finish” to “here’s a seed, what would you do with it”? On my own time, I work on scripted and unscripted ideas of my own to develop with some of those same companies. What’s been nice about working with so many companies is identifying ideal collaborators—people who share my sensibilities and work ethic.
Q. What’s the greatest challenge in getting a pilot produced? A. The biggest hurdle is convincing a buyer that taking a creative risk is not a deterrent. The biggest hits are often projects that are outliers, yet the process often hits a wall when buyers tend to poke holes and overthink the idea at its core. The good news is that television has changed
Paul Croce ’97 with Alex Stephens ’83
Q. Have the projects you’ve pitched been your original ideas, collaborative projects, or pilots others have written—or all three? A. Most certainly all three, and it’s always a juggling act. Companies hire me to put their ideas to paper. That
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so much in the past few years that branding for an audience is nearly impossible. Netflix has the strongest brands in the marketplace specifically because they don’t market or program to any one demographic. Q. As a producer, how involved are you in the day-to-day details of shooting and editing? A. It varies. On most of my development work, my job ends as soon as the treatment is delivered to the company. They take it, pitch it and if all goes well, produce it. But as the executive producer for Now the Discussion, I write every episode, direct on set, and oversee the post process. It’s another great aspect of freelance work—the ability to choose what shows I truly want to work on. Q. How did you end up in LA? A. Alex Stephens and Meghan ReganLoomis helped me pursue my love of film, TV, and writing above and beyond the requirements of typical faculty expectations. From editing my movie reviews to challenging me to rewrite the ending of Casablanca in an independent film study, Alex fostered my love for entertainment and guided me to a place where I could realistically see a career in this field. Meghan inspired a true love for reading, and guided my passion to write efficiently and trust that inner voice. I’m grateful every day that I met them and never take their guidance for granted. After Rivers, I ventured on to BU’s School of Communication, where I got to play in the worlds of advertising, radio, and more. And from there, I landed in Los Angeles and got my first job as a production assistant on a sitcom. I moved here to pursue writing scripted television and ironically found that just as much writing is needed in the world of reality. With that in mind, I just finished a comedy centered in
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the world of reality TV. As they say, “write what you know . . . and what almost gave you an ulcer.”
Peter Litvack ’08 Peter Litvack ’08 has also been in production, but in an entirely different genre, working at DreamWorks Animation for the past five and a half years. Q. Did it take you long to land your first job at DreamWorks? A. I started at DreamWorks Animation as a six-week temp hire, just two weeks after graduating from George Washington University. After my six weeks, they took me on as a full-time production assistant on the movie Turbo. I was promoted to production coordinator on the movie HOME and gained an additional credit on Kung Fu Panda 3 along the way. Now I’m production supervisor, with credits on Trolls and How To Train Your Dragon 3. Q. Was there anything in your background that prepared you for the job? A. I’ve always been a TV and film buff. Throughout high school and college I tried to see everything that came out in theaters. In college, I took a few film studies classes but they were always too historically focused. My junior and senior year of college I had an internship at the CBS Sports affiliate in Washington, DC in the sports news department. I gained experience using some of the technology and techniques I use at DreamWorks, and got my first taste of “managing talent,” but ultimately decided news was not the best fit for me. Q. Do you create visual effects yourself, or do you oversee a team of effects designers? A. I don’t have an artistic bone in my body. My job is to manage a team of
Peter Litvack ’08
“I don’t have an artistic bone in my body. My job is to manage a team of artists.” artists. They’re paid to paint, storyboard, model, rig, animate, light— whatever it is they do. They’re not paid to manage budgets, schedules, deadlines and interdepartmental issues and complexities—that’s what we do. For my department, the saying goes: “If it moves, and it is not a character, it is the job of the Effects Department.” We do water, wind, fire, explosions, clouds, destruction, dust and debris, weather, etc. Q. Has animation/special effects changed in your time at DreamWorks. A. Yes, the industry has evolved quite a bit. One of our challenges is figuring out how to adapt to the never-ending evolution of 3D stereoscopic movies. Every shot we produce needs to be
checked in 3D stereo, and we have to conform to the latest 3D technology in movie theaters. DreamWorks is also making major investments in both AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality). We are also a few years away from our first hybrid CG/ Live-Action movie—similar to Disney’s The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, and Mulan. Q. Do you have an interest in working on action films or TV series that utilize special effects? A. I love animation, and the working style of the industry fits my strengths much better than live action. Nevertheless, my experience at DreamWorks has opened up a wide variety of possible “visual effects” career paths. Two areas where I would love to get my feet wet would be motion capture—Planet of the Apes, King Kong, Lord of the Rings—as well as video games. Q. Any words of wisdom to a Rivers student interested in your area of expertise? A. Work hard at Rivers and don’t take it for granted. I would say that 90% of the skills I need for my job, I learned, and mastered, at Rivers, not college— time management being the #1 skill. Writing, interpersonal communication, and public speaking are all necessary tools of the trade. And don’t let yourself predetermine what your career will be. Pick something you love to learn about and it will lead to success. Don’t give up on your passion just because it might not be safe or you might not make the big bucks right out of college.
Alison Freed ’04
Alison Freed ’04, who started out in marketing in San Diego and then moved to Los Angeles for her band and music career, has added successful voiceover artist and songwriter to her resume in recent years.
Q. What was the big break for your band? A. I founded My Elysian with my girlfriend in 2007, and our first album was nominated for Best Hard Rock Album of the Year at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards. We moved to LA and played everywhere—The House of Blues, The Roxy, The Whisky, The Viper Room. We had label showcases and had the best time playing all over LA to crowds of more than 500 people. The bass player of Evanescence plays bass in our song “Home.” After taking a break in 2013 to focus on my voiceover career, I’m getting back into songwriting and performing again. Q. Were you involved in music at Rivers? In college?
A. I was in the select choir with David Tierney at Rivers. We went to Italy and sang in churches my freshman year. It was incredible. In college I founded the band and began songwriting. I always wanted to be a singer/songwriter, but I only moved to LA in 2011 after my grandmother passed away from cancer. I realized just how short life is and that I absolutely had to chase my dreams fully. Q. How did you break in to doing voiceovers? A. I started by training with teachers and doing workshops, then setting up a studio in my closet at home and sending out auditions from there. Now I do a lot of big VO work for companies like Disney, Netflix, Uber, Dunkin Donuts, and Ben Bridge, to name just a few. I still work from a closet-turned-studio for most auditions and even some of my recording sessions are done from home. For really big sessions, I go to studios, which I absolutely love—I actually just got home from a session for Disney! Q. What other kinds of VO projects are you involved in? A. I’ve done dubbing for a main character in the Spanish Netflix show, Ingobernable. I’ve done some singing VO, some French VO, some narration, but still mostly do commercials. I haven’t done any animated features yet, but that is a goal I have. I also do on camera work/acting.
Alison Freed ’04
“I would love to be a songwriter for major artists, but also perform and create my own music.”
Q. What are your plans for songwriting and performing? A. I would love to be a songwriter for major artists, but also perform and create my own music. Q. Advice for young singers/ musicians? A. Keep creating! Do it for the love of it. Work with people that you enjoy working and writing with, and push yourself. Perform, take lessons,
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perfect your craft. Get better, dream big, and never give up. Oh, and network! Learn from people that are already doing it and ask for advice. I love what I do and feel so incredibly grateful that I make a great living doing it.
Tavis Doucette ’06 Of course, where would the industry be without the actors? Tavis Doucette, a musician and thespian at Rivers, is carving out a place both in the movies and on stage in Los Angeles. Q. Did you do much acting at Rivers? A. I was into a variety of the arts at Rivers. I was not a great student, and sports (though I enjoyed them) were not my forte. So I involved myself in music, theater, art, and writing. I would audition for both plays, I played jazz trombone for the jazz ensemble and the jazz orchestra, and I organized and performed in the coffee houses. And to be honest, I think this is what got me through Rivers. Thankfully, the teachers and administration believed in me. They saw that I was active and excited about the arts, and they didn’t give up on me. Rivers gave me the chance to explore who I was and what I loved. And despite my academic performance, Rivers taught me how to do work and grind. Q. Did you major in the arts in college? A. I went to Wagner College and studied theatre performance and speech. Academically, it was a breeze. I didn’t realize how well Rivers had prepared us for the time management of college. Artistically, it was great. I was in plays, backstage, performance classes, dance classes. It was a thrill. Q. What took you to LA? A. After college I went on tour with a new Gershwin musical, I did some regional theater in Florida, and moved
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back to NYC, performing in small theater productions. After a few years, my wife and I decided to move to LA. It’s tough to do the East-to-West coast, but we have really settled in. The people are different, that is for sure. But I am able to support my art in LA. Surprisingly, I’ve had a lot of great theater opportunities out here. I have had a lot of commercial opportunity, with a few successes. I’m writing, taking classes, and staying active. My wife is getting her masters in social work. We have a dog and a small house in North Hollywood. We have been able to build a really great life in LA. Q. Words of advice for actors at Rivers? A. Get training. Work your craft. Rivers teaches you to be a hard worker. They give you the tools to be thorough and explore. Use those tools in your art. This industry is really hard, and I have not had the success that I would want. But I am diligent and I love what I do. What you pursue should be something you do without an assignment or deadline. It should be something with which you choose to fill your time. I played jazz trombone for 13 years. I loved it, but I hated practicing. I only wanted to pick up my trombone in class or on stage—not at home in my free time. However, I would read a play or learn a monologue for fun. That’s how I knew acting is something I wanted. •••••••••• These are just a handful of the Rivers alums who are “in the business.” Bob Huberman ’67 found his niche in Hollywood as an assistant director and producer, with hits like Waterworld, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Way Back on his filmography. His route to success may have been more circuitous than most—he served in Vietnam, earned a BS and MBA from George Washington University, and
Tavis Doucette ’06
“The people are different, that is for sure. But I am able to support my art in LA.” was a commercial diver and subsea construction manager before getting his AD license in 1988—but he has worked in some capacity on more than three dozen movies since then. Meredith Littas ’06 is transitioning from the development side of the business, having worked at DAS Films for the past few years as development executive, then director of development. She is currently putting the final details on the production of a film she wrote and will direct in Georgia, and has major talent interested in a series she’s written. And Jack Maloney ’04 has been an assistant at Iron Horse Productions, working with Channing Tatum on a number of projects. Who knows who else from the Rivers ranks will be joining them in the near future?
alumni profile
W i l l L aw t o n ’06
Operating at the Top
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ill Lawton ’06 was a three season athlete at Rivers, winning the Senior Award for Exceptional Dedication to Athletics, as well as the school’s Navoni Athletic Prize given to the top male athlete. Even while he pulled in honors in football and basketball, baseball was his clear favorite. So how does it feel, at the age of 29, to be Director of Baseball Operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates? We caught up with Will just as spring training was getting off the ground.
Will Lawton
Q. After Rivers, you played baseball for four years at Amherst College, then went to work as an operations intern right after graduation. How did you land that first job in the pros? A. I was fortunate to go to a school that had a history of former baseball players who have gone on to work in baseball operations with MLB teams—from Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington, who gave me my first opportunity in baseball, to others like Ben Cherington, Dan Duquette, Dave Jauss, Jared Banner, and many
more. The common thread is having played for legendary Coach Bill Thurston whose teachings have shaped the baseball minds of many, including myself. In addition to that, I tried to grow my experiences outside of school as much as possible, which included working for a sports agency my junior year, and I basically tailored my academic interests in psychology and math toward baseball wherever possible. It doesn’t hurt to have a little bit of luck on your side too. Q. What kind of background do you need to be successful in this job— intuition, an analytical approach to the scouting stats, or a mix of both? A. I think it’s important to have a growth mindset in any field you choose to pursue, and baseball is no exception. We encourage those with different skills and backgrounds to apply for positions, which we believe can add unique perspectives to our process. For me personally, an analytical approach has helped me to learn and challenge the status quo in some different ways, but it’s also important to not lose sight of the human element that is inherent in our game and vital for decision making. Q. Do you spend a lot of time on the road scouting? Is that something you like to do personally or do you delegate it to others? A. I do enjoy the scouting aspect of the game. After all, the reason most of us are here is that we love watching the game. I think scouting is an essential tool for player projection— there is so much that the numbers can’t gauge or can only tell part of the story, especially the lower down the spectrum you go. I have the utmost
respect for those who do it full time and leave their families for weeks on end throughout the season. I can’t put myself in that category but I do enjoy seeing our affiliates whenever possible and have helped when asked. Q. You paid your dues, moving up the ladder at pretty steady intervals—intern, assistant, assistant director, and now director of baseball operations for a major league team. Did you ever dream this is where you’d be? A. I did have dreams of working in a major league front office and still do have more. I feel like I’ve learned so much from being a part of this organi- zation and have had amazing mentors along the way, but we have only scratched the surface of what we
Will Lawton as baseball player
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set out to accomplish. It’s definitely easy to get caught up in the grind of this job, but I could probably take a step back more often to think about how lucky I am to be doing this for a living. Q. What has been the favorite moment in your career so far? A. Favorite moment so far was probably the 2013 Wild Card Playoff game in Pittsburgh against the Reds. It was the organization’s first playoff game in over 20 years and the city was hungry—fans were wearing all black and fired up beyond belief. I’ve never seen an atmosphere like that before, and there is no doubt in my mind it helped us win the game. To be part of building something like that was pretty special.
Rivers Bond Leads to New Adventures Eliza Butler ’10 and Carlie Tarbell ’11 were typical of many Rivers students—thrown together on the ice hockey team and carpooling for a stretch, they became good friends. But they went their separate ways at Middlebury and University of New Hampshire, occasionally seeing each other at alumni gatherings and the alumni hockey practice. Last year they reconnected and spontaneously decided to book the trip to Thailand because, “well, the flights were ridiculously cheap.” “Carlie and I traveled all throughout the Chiang Mai/Rai region of Thailand,” said Eliza. “We went on a three-day adventure through the rice paddies, stayed overnight with a hillside tribe, and did lots of activities such as zip lining and walking/playing with elephants. We then flew down to Bangkok where we spent just shy of 24 hours exploring the backpacking culture and amazing street food. From there we flew to Koh Samui and island hopped to Koh Tao (my personal favorite) and enjoyed relaxing days, incredible snorkeling, and yoga. “It’s been amazing reconnecting with an old high school friend and
Q. How did Rivers prepare you for this career track and the position you are in today? A. I’m glad I have the chance to speak about Rivers to say how much it has impacted me over the years. Looking back, I couldn’t have been in a better environment, one that challenged me from an academic and athletic standpoint and prepared me for the next steps as well as it did. The lessons and values I learned during my time there have shaped me into the person I am today. I know I would not be where I am were it not for the teachers and coaches I was fortunate enough to be around. Q. What’s next? A. Get back to the playoffs! Wish it was that easy, but the truth is you continue to look for small avenues to improve every day and to grow in different ways and hopefully things take care of themselves!
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I think truly speaks volumes to the types of relationships and bonds that come out of Rivers.”
alumni profile
W i l ey H o lt o n ’1 5
Taking A Fluid Approach
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here aren’t many college students who can lay claim to having a solo art exhibit by junior year, but Wiley Holton ’15 found herself welcoming a steady stream of family, friends, and former Rivers faculty to a jam-packed opening reception in January at the Nest in Dedham. Filling the walls was a selection of dynamic paintings in a unique style she developed and perfected herself. “I saw a photo of a fluid painting on Instagram last spring and was so intrigued by how it looked and by the bright colors in that particular painting that I decided I needed to figure out how to do it myself,” Holton recalled. “So I did some research into what materials were used— acrylic paint, glue, water, and silicon—then spent the summer figuring out the limits of the mixed medium.” In her artist’s statement for the exhibit, she wrote: My fluid paintings are an exploration of both color and media. I wanted to challenge my understanding of color schemes, while also understanding the limitations of predictability. Each painting evolved with its own spirit and energy. Some even feel as though they exploded into being. The way in which paint, water, glue, and silicone intermixed and flowed across the canvas was completely unpredictable and endlessly fascinating—and never replicable. Holton is a studio art major at Colby College where she is concentrating in painting but has also studied in graphite and charcoal. Colby also has a Pottery Club so she spends a lot of her free time in the studio working on various projects. “To be perfectly honest, most of the self-portraits and geometric abstracts in oils were assigned, but since I’ve been able to dive into my own independent work, I have decided to continue painting geometric abstracts, or more precisely, triangles inside of pentagons,” she remarked.
At the Nest gallery
“My goal is to sell my own handmade art—paintings, drawings, pottery, jewelry—for a living.” In addition to her studio art major, Holton is minoring in math and possibly classics, filling her schedule with art history and poetry classes, too. A standout softball player at Rivers, she is now a pitcher on the softball team at Colby. She credits Rivers teachers Lisa Townley, Tim Clark, Jeremy Harrison, and Rindy Garner with instilling a love of craftsmanship, detail, and creative expression in her. Her work can be seen online at www.instagram. com/artbywiley.
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alumni news
C lass New s Pierre Morenon ’65 recently published a book entitled Discovering Lost Innocence: Archeaology at the State Home and School. He is a professor of anthropology at Rhode Island College, former director of the public archaeology program, and serves on the state’s Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission. The book is avaiable online. George Sutcliffe ’70 writes, “Still enjoying life and work on Squam Lake and Camp Deerwood in New Hamshire. I’m now Executive Director of the Deerwood Foundation, retired from boarding school faculty, and working full time for Camp Deerwood. With six grandchildren, life is good.”
David Berwind and faculty members
Tony Phillips ’89 received his Masters of Divinity from Emory’s Candler School of Theology in May 2017. Pastor Tony is now on the staff of the McEachern United Methodist Church, Powder Springs, GA. Chloe Michelle Zai Dean Bragonier ’91 and his wife Sally Taylor shared their stories about growing up with dyslexia in a profile printed in the Boston Globe on October 21. Three years ago the couple founded NoticeAbility, a nonprofit aimed at helping dyslexic children overcome the stigma of being considered “slow.” They have now teamed up with educators from Harvard Business School, Harvard School of Education, and MIT to create “a curriculum that will help dyslexic children learn in different ways and change the conversation around dyslexia.” For more information, go to www.noticeability.org. Chris Willis ’93 continues to receive rave notices for the restaurant Pammy’s
which he and his wife opened in Cambridge last year—it was named Restaurant of the Year in December by the Boston Globe. With Chris in the kitchen and Pammy in the front of the house, Pammy’s “specializes in everyday dishes made better.” For more information, go to www.pammyscambridge. com. Lindsey Zai ’01 wrote, “Meet Chloe Michelle Zai born January 16 at 11:52 a.m. weighing 8lbs, 1 oz and 20 inches long. She joins her brother Austin who is 18 months! Everyone is doing great!” Carl Narcisse ’02 stopped by the Rivers campus just before Thanksgiving with
Carl Narcisse with his son and sister, Karin Senior
his young son in tow to visit his sister Karin and have lunch with Ned Parsons and others. Carl is a senior technical recruiter for Slack, a San Franciscobased software company whose mission is to “make work simpler, more pleasant, and more productive.” Their products are aimed at connecting teams of workers with apps, services, and resources in order to get work done. Launched in 2014, Slack is the fastest growing business application in history, and has opened offices in
Disclaimer: Rivers welcomes Class Notes from alumni about their jobs, travels, weddings, and births, but does not print information about engagements and pregnancies. Rivers assumes submissions come from the alumni claiming responsibility for them and that they accurately communicate personal news. 38
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(.556). She is on pace for career highs in all three categories. Berkowitz, a pre-med history of science, medicine and public health major, was named Ivy League Co-Player of the Week, earned honorable mention All-Ivy League recognition last season, and is the first Yale player to earn first team All-Ivy honors since in 2014.
Marissa Goldstein’s twins Melanie Platten’s daughter Charlotte San Francisco, New York City, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Melbourne. One of Slack’s most compelling characteristics is its commitment to its employees’ well-being, with a focus on creating a diverse, welcoming, and open-minded community. Dave Olverson ’02 and his wife Dana moved down to the Dirty South— Durham, NC. “We bought a house that needs way more work than we anticipated (no wonder it was a such good deal). Currently, we are hoarding diapers from our local Buy Buy Baby’s goingout-of-business sale in anticipation of populating the nursery soon with a little Olverson.” Melanie Platten ’02 sent a photo of their baby Charlotte (Charlie) Grey. “We are way obsessed with her! She was born December 13, and has changed our lives in the best possible way. We are loving watching her grow, she is the funniest little lady. We live in New York City, but I will be bringing her by the Rivers campus when we are home to visit. She is a true Rivers Red Wing she just doesn’t know it.” Marissa Goldstein ’03 emailed, “We are excited to announce the birth of our
Ari Kotsados
SECOND set of twins, Efi & Raya, born on February 14th and February 15th. Their older identical twin sisters, Noa & Eyva, are enjoying their younger brother and sister. We recently moved back to Needham after living in Vietnam for two years, where my husband and I run our own business, Timroon, a manufacturing firm that helps US companies make high end bags and accessories.” Xander Kotsatos ’05 and his wife Anna welcomed son Ari in August.
Congratulations to Liz Webber ’16 and Aspen Pierson ’17, members of Williams College’s NCAA Division III Soccer Champs. The Ephs beat the University of Chicago 1-0 for the title.
In Memoriam Thomas S. Cuddy ’44, Dec. 24, 2017 Charles F. Eades ’52, Oct. 1, 2017 G. Arnold Haynes, Life Trustee, Oct. 15, 2017 Samantha A. Lozier ’95, Jan. 21, 2018 Julie A. Meshel ’01, Dec. 14, 2017 Alan D. Nexon ’77, June 1, 2017 David M. Seamans ’44, Feb. 5, 2018 Gary Haven Smith ’68, Sep. 28, 2017
Jillian Dempsey ’09 and Boston Pride teammate and Rivers head varsity coach Dana Trivigno represented the National Women’s Hockey League in exhibition games against the U.S. Olympic Team this winter. They traveled to Wesley Chapel, Florida to play for Team NWHL as forwards against Team USA. Jen Berkowitz ’14 was named first team All-Ivy League for her role in leading Yale’s women’s basketball team to its first Ivy League Tournament appearance. Berkowitz, who recently racked up 1,000 points for her college career, is second on the team in scoring (14.4 points per game, sixth in the Ivy League) and leads the team in rebounding (7.3 rebounds per game, eighth in the Ivy League). She also has the league’s best field goal percentage
Jillian Dempsey
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2017–18 Board of Trustees President: Robert J. Davis
Term Trustees
Registration Open for Summer Programs It’s never too early to plan for summer, and Rivers has a variety of programs to keep students engaged and challenged throughout those lazy days. Registration is now open for Rivers’ 2018 Academic Programs, Music at Rivers, and Camp Nonesuch on the program website at www.summeratrivers.org. This year, Rivers is offering more options in its exciting Academic Programs, with the addition of a summer “mini-term”—a selection of seven half-day programs during the last two weeks of June. Students can spend the morning creating video games with code and the afternoon in the ceramics studio exploring alternative techniques. Other mini-courses include Art Through Technology; Data Analytics; Field Methods in Environmental Science; Mindfulness, Literature, and Yoga; and Woodworking.
Check out www.rivers.org/page/summer-programs for full details.
Jon M. Baker, Jr. ’85 Dennis M. Baldwin Wayne M. Bloom Benjamin R. Bloomstone Julie M. Bradley James F. Carlin ’81 Janet A. Correia Bala Cumaresan Louise Cummings ’98 Ben D. Fischman Jay M. Grossman Scott F. Hilinski Helen L. Howard Stephen M. Jennings Daniel A. Kraft Harley J. Lank Hongmei Li Timothy D. Mann Alison S. Monaghan Jonathan H. Paul Heidi C. Pearlson Daniel R. Revers Alan D. Rose, Jr. ’87 Peter Saperstone Eileen H. Sivolella Andrew P. Slifka Laurie Q. Slifka Richard L. Smith Steven J. Snider Matthew Vettel Eric M. Wolf
Life Trustees David M. Berwind Charles C. Carswell Stephen R. Delinsky Peter A. Gaines Clinton P. Harris Harriet R. Lewis Thomas L. Lyons Roy S. MacDowell, Jr. Joel B. Sherman Frances B. Shifman William B. Tyler ’43 Joan A. Vaccarino Cai von Rumohr Joan C. Walter Dudley H. Willis
Honorary Trustees of the Corporation Joan T. Allison Marie Fitzpatrick Louis J. Grossman ’67 Joshua M. Kraft ’85 Warren M. Little ’51 Virginia S. MacDowell Frederick G. Pfannenstiehl ’59 A. Tozzer Spalding ’62
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Reconnect with Rivers Rivers Reunion 2018 Join us on Saturday, May 19. Classes ending in 3 and 8: It’s your year! Online registration is now open at www.rivers.org/Alumni-Day H i g h l i g hts :
• Head’s Welcome Lunch for all classes • NEW: Coffee and Conversation: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion • Softball, Baseball, and Lacrosse Games • Music Performance • Awards Presentation and Champagne Reception • Cocktail Reception and Dinner
Attend an Event near you! • Summer Social in Boston • Boston Business Breakfasts • Regional Receptions Check www.rivers.org/alumni for upcoming events in your area. We’ve been to NYC, DC, LA, SF, and Florida. Come to a breakfast or reception and reconnect with local alums.
Rivers’ 18th Annual Golf Tournament May 7, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. Charter Oak Country Club • Enjoy a quick brunch, golf hosted by the Daley family, and end the day with drinks and dinner. • Register your group now at www.rivers.org/Golf-Tournament. • Proceeds benefit Financial Aid.
Stay in touch! Join The Rivers School page on LinkedIn Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
Submit a class note! Send us an update about your life! Did you just get promoted or move? Did you travel somewhere awesome? Did you get married or have a baby? Email m.stroum@rivers.org
The Rivers School
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Boston MA Permit No 10
333 Winter Street Weston, MA 02493-1040
Address Service Requested Rivers admits academically qualified students of any race, religion, sex, disability, or national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally available to its students. Rivers does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
disability, color, ethnic, or national origin in our admissions policies, educational policies, financial aid and loan pro-
grams, and athletic or other school-administered programs.
Please notify us if your phone number, mailing address, or email address changes so that Rivers can stay in touch with you and your family. Contact Cheryl Malcolm at 339-686-2239 or c.malcolm@rivers.org.
Rivers’ Center for Science and Visual Arts
The Center for Science and Visual Arts is the most ambitious capital project in Rivers’ history.