FALL 2004

Outdoor Education at The Athenian School

T H E A T H E N I A N S C H O O L A N N U A L M A G A Z I N E

THE ATHENIAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES

As of August 1, 2004

OUR THEME:OUTDOOR EDUCATION AT THE ATHENIAN SCHOOL

Athenian Wilderness ExperienceReflections on Death Valley ...........4

Magical Mystery Tour .....................5

Alumni Return, Reminicse..............6

Mental & Physical Challenge .........7

Outdoor Ed Throughout the SchoolPoint Reyes Orientation..................8

Eighth Grade Ropes Course............9

Hiking Class a Hit ..........................9

Athenian Athletics ..........................9

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

The Class of 2004 ........................10

Young Round Square....................11

Athenian Parent Association .........15

Honoring Sheryl Petersen.............16

Gratitude (Jodie Lane’s mother) ....18

Alumni News ...............................19

Alumni Activities..........................26

Reunion 2004 ....inside/outside back

The Development Office welcomesyour comments and thoughts. Pleasesend us your address, telephone and e-mail changes. We also encourageyou to send us photographs and birthannouncements!

The Athenian School2100 Mount Diablo Scenic Blvd.Danville, CA 94506-2002

(925) 837-5375

Barbara GoodsonDirector of Development and Alumni Relations

Kathy HodsonAssociate Director, Communications

Pat WallAssociate Director, Development Programs

Cathleen LemoineDevelopment Coordinator

J Bucciarelli CommunicationsMagazine Design

Hunza Graphics, OaklandMagazine Printing

Cover photo by Kathy Hodson.Image manipulation by Susan Liroff,Spitfire Graphics.

2

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE TRUSTEES

Outdoor Education: A Fundamental Athenian Experienceby Claire Solot, Chair, Board of Trustees

Raised in Manhattan, the prospect of embarking upona nearly month-long wilderness excursion in highschool was rather daunting. In my three years atAthenian, while celebrating the return of each patrolduring “Run In,” I secretly held onto the belief thatsomehow I would and could avoid participating. Andso, in the spring of 1984, only a few months prior tograduation, I reluctantly headed off to Death Valley.

Now 20 years later, as an attorney, mother, andChair of the Athenian Board of Trustees, I am constantly gratified by bothmy personal experience on the Athenian Wilderness Experience (AWE), as well as the fact that AWE continues to provide a vital form of life educa-tion for our students. My academic preparation at Athenian was exemplary,but what I learned about myself and dealing with others on AWE was lifechanging.

In my three years at Athenian, while celebrating thereturn of each patrol during “Run-In,” I secretly held onto the belief that somehow I would and couldavoid participating.

This issue of the Athenian Magazine highlights the Outdoor Educationpillar of Round Square. Included are several programs, in addition to AWE,that provide invaluable outdoor experiences. We hope you will learn some-thing interesting and perhaps new about this pillar.

During reunion many fellow alumni commented that Athenian hadchanged and questioned whether it is the same as when they attended. Withall the enhancements brought to Athenian’s facilities, and the new andexciting experiential learning programs introduced, Athenian has grown inmany ways. But programs such as AWE link all Athenians, both from thestudent’s and his or her family’s perspectives, and allow us to remain true toour mission.

Sinjin BainMary BiancoDavid Buchanan, ’72Eleanor Dase, HeadSteve DavenportAnn FletcherRichard Frankel

Patty FrazerLorna LeeDan LynchMichael McCoy Susan NebesarPatti PaulsonSteve Podell ’77

Steve PostAaron SassonBarbara ScanlonClaire Solot ‘84(Chair)

Fiona StewartJackie Thomas ‘82

Ted UrbanDick WarmingtonBeatrice Winslow’75

Honorary TrusteeDyke Brown

33333

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Being and Doing More by Eleanor Dase

On the morning of April 5th, 41 juniorshopped off the bus following the long ridefrom Death Valley, shed their hiking boots andembarked on the final eight-mile run back tocampus. As each one turned the corner at thecrest of the hill, friends cheered, parents criedand two freshmen carefully unfurled a roll of

toilet paper to create the official finish line. Their clothes were tatteredand bodies quite filthy, but the exhilarative embraces fully captured theessence of this important rite of passage at Athenian. In witnessing 60of these culminating events throughout my years at Athenian, I remainas inspired by the transformations in these students now as I did in thesummer of 1974.

“The best educational experiences allow you to discover that you can be more and do more than you believed.”

While AWE is the cornerstone of outdoor programs at Athenian,other experiences also use the outdoors as a catalyst for personalgrowth. Orientations plunge students into hiking, environmental stew-ardship or a ropes course. Community service presents interestingopportunities in the outdoors, and international service projects are fre-quently established in challenging but enriching environments. Some ofthe most popular Interim trips meet their goals in the wilderness. AsKurt Hahn so wisely said in his support of programs such as these, “Thebest educational experiences allow you to discover that you can be moreand do more than you believed.”

These programs continue to distinguish Athenian from otherschools; they are also broadly endorsed by families and educators fortheir inherent value in the educational and maturational process of stu-dents. Athenian is fortunate to have so many alumni return to continuetheir involvement, and seniors frequently clamor to serve as “logies”(Logistical coordinators) on AWE or counselors during orientation.

We have just completed a year of outstanding volunteerism amongparents, and the Annual Fund set new records in participation. As abonus, the senior class (2004) voted to support the Annual Fund with acontribution of $4 each this year, followed by $5, $6, $7 and $8 in theyears leading up to their fifth year reunion. The Athenian ParentAssociation contributed almost $200,000 to the School this past year,enabling programs to flourish and facilities to be enhanced. The Boardof Trustees has once again provided tremendous leadership in bothfinancial contributions and guiding vision. They have committed them-selves to increasing the School’s endowment as we approach the 40thanniversary of Athenian.

Equally important are the daily contributions that students make tothe life of the community. Whether in the arts, athletics, debate, robot-ics or the airplane project, students at Athenian find their voices anddiscover who they are. With their return from AWE, we see their blos-soming pride, and as they walk over the hill for graduation, we areheartened by the promise that they will make this world a better place.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Athenian School prepares

students for the rigorous

expectations of college and for

a life of purpose and personal

fulfillment.

We offer a challenging

academic program with a

difference: intellectual inquiry

is active, learning is interactive,

the disciplines are interrelated,

and analysis and creativity thrive

simultaneously. The acquisition

of knowledge becomes authentic

and joyous.

We cultivate the personal

qualities of each student to

become an integrated human

being with integrity, strong moral

character, aesthetic sensitivity,

and physical well being. The

Athenian community requires

students to face life directly

through open communication,

while developing their inner

strength to exceed their

perceived potential and

emerge compassionate,

responsible adults.

We instill an appreciation of the

reciprocal relationship between

the individual and cultures,

society and the natural world.

We value the power and beauty

of multiculturalism within our

diverse community. We embrace

the principles of democratic

governance, stewardship of the

environment, respect for human

dignity, and service as a way

of life.

By providing an atmosphere of

intellectual, artistic, and physical

challenge within the warmth of

a nurturing community, we

develop in our students the

confidence and skills required

to meet the complexities of

their future.

4

On a recent summer morning I found myself sittingbleary-eyed at my kitchen table. Although thedetails change from month to month, the generalschedule of a medical student rarely varies—up andout at an ungodly hour, home long after dark andasleep long after that. So finding myself with a rarefree morning, I was at a loss with what to do withmy time. Waiting for the morning’s caffeine to kickin and jump start my brain, I stared hopelessly at thepiles of board study guides that had begun to accu-mulate on my table over the past several months.Scattered between the books were scraps of

papers—reminders to start residency applications,write a personal statement, get transcripts, pay rent,etc. The piles suddenly seemed incredibly over-whelming. I wondered how on earth I could pull itall off, when on a good day I’m lucky if there’s timefor a shower and food. Breathe, I thought, just keepbreathing and you’ll figure something out.

And in the breathing, I remembered a similar timesome 12 years ago—faced again with an over-whelming task and challenging myself to getthrough. Only then the challenge was to place faithin myself and my belayer and make the leap to thenext hand grasp on a rock climb in the middle ofDeath Valley. There is rarely a day when some partof my mind doesn’t think about AWE and drawupon the core strength I developed as a result of my24 days in the desert. At the time it was impossibleto realize just what inner strength was developing. Iremember being in the midst of a particularly longday in Death Valley and convincing myself that myfriends who had gone before me on AWE had clear-ly been nuts. There was nothing great about the

experience—it was insanely hot, everything andeveryone was covered in dirt, and we were tired ofeach other. All I wanted was home and the familiar-ity of my normal routine. How was this the greatexperience everyone else came home raving about?And yet it wouldn’t be until after I had finished Run-In, indulged in my first full shower and slept in myown bed, and perhaps even months after that, that Iwould be able to share the view of those who hadgone before me—AWE was truly an amazing, life-changing experience. As the dirt and the heat andthe trepidation of rock-climbing faded into memo-

ries, my newly solidified inner strength began toemerge and I found myself looking at tasks with anew perspective. Finals were no longer a big deal;college applications seemed far less frightening. Iadopted the mantra, “If I can make it through AWE,I can definitely make it through the task at hand.”And the mantra has proven itself useful—it got methrough college, my first ventures into the workingworld, and even into medical school.

Gradually the caffeine and the noise of morningtraffic brought me back to the kitchen table. I smiledat the memory of my 17-year-old self triumphant onthe top of a rock in the middle of the desert and thepile of books and to-dos in front of me no longerseemed so daunting. The core strength that began totake root within me all those years ago in DeathValley is there waiting to be tapped. There is muchto be done to make it over the next set of hurdlesand into residency, but I know if I made it throughAWE, so too will I make it through this.

“The gift of community that AWE creates, it’s intangible but comforting, safeknowing that there is a small community of people who have also gonethrough the experience of AWE .”

Reflections on Death Valleyby Serena Brewer ’94

ALUMNI REMINISCE

5

A Living EcosystemAfter several AWE outings (logistics, assistant instructor and instructor),including his initial trip as an upcoming senior at Athenian, Rob Steller ’75told me these AWE experiences have been very significant in his life.

Upon entering Athenian, Rob felt like a nerd, he had never had a men-tor, had always been a loner and didn’t understand the value of service. AWEchanged all of that, as his course was led by Miles Becker, who he learned torespect and appreciate.

“I think AWE is just as valuable now as in my times,perhaps even more so.… It’s the people, not the stuffaround us that matters.”

Rob also began to understand the value of group endeavor and the sig-nificance of service to and with others on that initial outing. So much thatthe next year as a senior, Rob helped build ropes courses, slept in rope netsin the trees above campus, installed zip lines and practiced ice climbing onthe dead oak tree by the library bridge.

He enjoyed numerous trips rock climbing at Mt. Diablo and learned howto cross-country ski on wooden skis. “These experiences all contributed tothe sense that there was a community in which I had a place, which Ibelonged to, and contributed to,” Rob said.

Rob assisted Arlene Ustin in her first look at the Death Valley course,helping design a new and shorter route. He worked as a logistics coordinatorfor Northwest Outward Bound, instructed for Reno Taini’s Wilderness schooloutings, and designed, built and led ropes courses for several years. In 1988,after seven years of engineering in the semiconductor industry, Rob led athree-month Operation Raleigh phase on the Harding Ice Field in Alaska.

Rob said. “One of the greatest values of AWE is the realization of ones’independence from our material surroundings and the importance of com-munity. It’s the people, not the stuff around us that matters.”

“AWE is like a vital living ecosystem,” Rob said. “It has an importantplace in the lives of those individuals that are part of that organism. At dif-fering points for each of us, we evolve to the point where we move on to adifferent environment, with different challenges. AWE is still fresh andvibrant in the minds of those who have experienced it more recently; it istheir time now, I have moved on.” —Kathy Hodson

BEFORE & AFTER: Rob Stellar ’75as a student and as a logie.

The Mental and PhysicalChallengeby Marnye Langer ’81

There have been a few timesin my life when I looked intothe maw of a very dark

demon, when I stood on theprecipice between hope anddespair, and I had to dig deep with-in myself. Every time, my AthenianWilderness Experience served as abeacon to give me the courage topersevere. Many times throughoutmy life I have faced a challenge ordifficult problem, and in thosetimes I have drawn on my AWEexperiences. Sometimes when I amfacing a situation that seems over-whelming, I tell myself, “I did AWE,so I can do this.”

What is it about AWE thatsticks with you throughout yourlife? Was AWE really that difficult?I’ll answer the second questionfirst. For those of you yet to tackleAWE, it is not impossible, but it isdifficult in ways you can’t imag-ine—and mentally more than phys-ically. For the rest of us who com-pleted AWE, I am sure the majorityof us have faced much more diffi-cult challenges in our lives.However, for me, AWE gave meinvaluable tools that helped meface future challenges with a bitmore strength, a bit more knowl-edge, a bit more courage, and a bitmore confidence.

AWE is a true test of the self.Although you have to function as agroup, your role as an individual isintegral to how that group performs.In my patrol (Death Valley, 1981),we had two students from otherschools plus those of us fromAthenian. We didn’t choose tospend a month together; we were

continued on page 7…

6

A Lifetime Commitment Again and again,certain alumnireturn to theAthenian Wilder-ness Experience,either as logisti-cal coordinators(or “logies”) orto serve asinstructors inDeath Valley

and the High Sierras. Scooter Carling ’85 has been both a logie

and an instructor on the Death Valley AWEcourse. Looking back to his student days atAthenian, Scooter remembers how eager andexcited he was on his first trip as a junior andthen to return to Death Valley a second time asa senior. For the past 14 years, Scooter hasowned his own business and been a guide onthe Middle Fork of the Salmon River, workingand showing clients the wilderness of theFrank Church River Of No Return wilderness—very different from backpacking throughDeath Valley, but working in the woods all thesame. “Had it not been for AWE and Athenian,I don’t think I would have spent and enjoyedthe last 14 years doing what I did,” Scootercommented.

Like Scooter, Alex Forbes ’87 said AWE isone of the aspects of Athenian that drew him tothis school. On entering Athenian, Alex askedthe Director of Admissions if there were oppor-tunities to do it more than once. Little did heknow! Alex has returned as a logistical coordi-nator for the Death Valley AWE course seventimes since his graduation in 1987. In fact, justthis last spring, Alex coordinated the on-cam-pus and in-field elements of this course forArlene Ustin, Director of the AWE.

Both Scooter and Alex feel that AWE isstill a valuable program. “I think AWE willalways be the ultimate graduation require-ment,” Scooter said. “There’s the ability to getaway from it all with one’s peers and instruc-tors. It’s an environment where students learnnot only about themselves but also about thewilderness and their surroundings without thepressures of today’s world. It’s an amazingchange that you see in students.”

Alex added, “AWE demands students useboth their minds and their bodies in anunquestionably real environment. Our societyhas become dangerously divorced from thereality of unified physical and mental exercise,to say nothing of reality in the larger sense ofthe word.”

Alex told me the insecure student growsconfident, the cocky get taken down a notch,the shy become vocal, the loud learn to listen,the introspective are renewed and gain newmeans to present their thoughts to others,while the less thoughtful are given someglimpse of the importance of reflection.

When shown the quote from Kurt Hahnthat Eleanor Dase included in her Head’sMessage for this publication, both Scooter andAlex emphatically agreed with Hahn’s mes-sage. “Kurt Hahn’s quote couldn’t be better tai-lored to describing AWE,” Alex said. This edu-cational experience, AWE, isn’t always some-thing students want to do, but is often some-thing they so very badly need to do, Alexexplained.

Alex offered another Hahn quote: “It isthe sin of the soul to force young people intoopinions—indoctrination is of the devil—butit is culpable neglect not to impel young peo-ple into experiences.”

Scooter continues to be amazed by whathe has accomplished and feels that AWE, (thestretch, the challenge, the “I did it”) propelledhim towards living and working in the out-doors and to become the man he is today.

—Kathy Hodson

SCOOTER CARLING ’85 ON THE SALMON RIVER

“The best

educational

experiences allow

you to discover

that you can be

more and do more

than you believed.”

Kurt Hahn

ALU

MN

I REM

INIS

CE

7

August at Athenian brings hot weather, a close to sum-mer programs, and of course, The Athenian WildernessExperience (AWE). For years I’d review the administra-tor back-up list, make sure I’d be available on my days,and plan for photos to be taken at Run-In. Beyond that,and a pretty good idea of the terrain of each course, I didn’t have a clue what happened during those critical

days in the field.This spring I decid-

ed to change all that.In order to get a bet-ter idea of what stu-

dents experience on AWE, I sent cameras out with twofriends of mine: Monica Streifer ’05 and Alex Cerjan ’05.Each is a confident, talented student who was not daunt-ed by the length or breadth of the course.

The photos they brought back are stunning. Alongwith their narrative tales of days on course, Monica andAlex’s pictures gave me a much better understanding ofthe program. From boarding the bus in the wee hours ofthe morning to set out for the desert, to the opportunityfor self-reflection during the solo days, I learned the day-in and day-out operations that provide such a valuablegrowth process.

put in a patrol and basically told, “Goforth!” You may be familiar with yourother patrol members since you are inthe same school, and you may evenbe good friends with one or two, butonly when you live in the wildernesswith about a dozen other people doyou really get to know them—theirassets and their liabilities.

For a month you have to learnhow to not only get along with theothers in your patrol, but how tointermingle your personalities andskills in order to accomplish yourgoals: find the next water stop, stayon your route, make something edi-ble out of the dried staples you arelugging, be safe, and find somehuman companionship. During thatprocess I learned much about myselfand about the others with me. Therewas a particular person I didn’t carefor, but as the days went on I realizedthat this individual had the ability toget between two people who weren’tgetting along and subtly help themresolve their personal conflict, whichbenefited all of us. I grew to admireand respect that person; a lesson Ihave carried forward in my life.Respect is one of the greatest thingswe can grant one another.

I learned what it is like to be the

only person on one side of an issueand the great danger in compromis-ing an important value. We werehigh on a ridge in Death Valley; theweather had been cold and blusteryall day. On our map we had spottedwhat looked to be a little meadowand spring and made that our goalfor the night. Late in the afternoon itstarted to snow. The rest of the patrolwanted to move even faster to getdown off the ridge and into the littlemeadow for the night. “No,” I said.“Then we’ll be camping in the rain.We should find a sheltered place uphere and stay above the snow line.”They were scared about makingcamp in the snow and afraid we’d gethypothermia. I grew up in SquawValley, near Lake Tahoe, and hadbeen fortunate to participate in acomprehensive winter survival pilotprogram when I was in eighth grade.I knew hypothermia was more likelyin the rain where we’d get wet. In thesnow it might be colder, but we’d bedry. I was never one to go against thecrowd. In my family’s dynamics itwas always safer to be invisible dur-ing times of contention.

Standing on that mountain ridgewith the snow drifting down I had toface my peers and convince them

that we were much better off withmy decision than theirs. I knew I hadmore experience with snow, but Ihad to figure out how to communi-cate that. There was no compromiseavailable.

We camped above the snow linethat night. We stayed dry, warm andsafe, and the next day as we hikedpast the small meadow we saw howsoggy and damp it was from the rain.One of my fellow patrol memberswho had been most vehement aboutnot camping in the snow turned tome and said, “Thanks.” His wordsstill resonate in my head.

Over the years I have been insimilar situations, but in different set-tings where I utilized my AWE expe-riences and skills: personal friend-ships, board rooms, work relation-ships, family, and marriage.

We all faced demons out therein the mountains and plains of DeathValley, and we all looked thosedemons in the eye and conqueredthem. As a result, throughout my lifewhen one of those demons hassought me out I have looked it in theeye, dug deep within myself, andmoved past toward light andachievement.

continued on page 8…

A Magical Mystery Tourby Barbara Goodson

Maryne Langer’s Mental and Physical Challengecontinued from page 5

Marilyn Nachtman, former Head of Middle School, withstudents.

Hiking Class a HitRather than sit on campus during Physical Educationperiod gazing longingly at the flanks of Mt. Diablo, anintrepid group of students signed up for a hiking classthis year. Led by Diane Grieman, Foreign Languageteacher, students embarked on a variety of hiking expe-riences several afternoons a week. In addition to theopportunity to go outside and get some exercise, stu-dents commented they enjoyed the chance to explorethe neighborhood and learn more about the local geog-raphy, flora and fauna.

Eighth Graders Bondthrough Ropes CourseMembers of Athenian’s Eighth Grade class don’t have towait until the first few days of school to learn the namesand faces of their peers. The student who will sit on theother side of the room from you in English might wellstart out as the one who helps guide you across thehanging bridge during the orientation ropes course.

The team-building and bonding aspects of com-pleting a ropes course have been invaluable toAthenian’s Middle School. The students arrive onWednesday of orientation week, and leave after lunchto the YMCA Camp at Jones Gulch in La Honda. Theystay two nights, challenge the ropes course (throughPro-Action Associates) on Thursday, and return toDanville on Friday.

Students return to their families tired, happy, betteracquainted with their peers and teachers, and muchmore confident of their abilities. They also get a smalltaste of what’s ahead of them should they continue onto tackle the Athenian Wilderness Experience.

8

You may know that students are divided into patrols,so they encounter the course with about ten other students. This bonds them one to another, whetherthey like it or not! And each student faces a differentchallenge on course. Some need to learn trust, some tolearn humility, some to learn to exceed perceived lim-its, and some to do all of the above. Each studentyearns for or dreads different aspects of the course.

Monica told me her trepidation surrounded rockclimbing. She said through the rock climbing experi-ence, “I gained a special appreciation for each of mygroup members’ different abilities and fears. I was alsovery proud of myself for making it up the ‘long climb’at Rocks 2 after about 45 minutes of struggling.”

Alex, with vast experience in High Sierra wildernesssurvival, said he most needed to enhance his compas-sion for his patrol members, and openly join the teamin order to accomplish their goals. He met these goalswith grace and ease.

I imagined these dirty young people surviving thecourse, bonding with each other, meditating in solitudeon the meaning of their lives, learning the preciousnessof every drop of water and morsel of food, and grate-fully yet reluctantly meeting the bus for the long ridehome. But what about those wonderful kids we seerunning across the soccer field at Run-In?

Only recently did I learn the buses stop to allow thestudents to change into their running shoes, and holdeveryone until the Run-In begins all together. Then theparticipants either take off on their own, or decide tohelp each other make it to the finish line. By the timewe hug these smelly, dirty, yet happy “adults,” theyhave been through a time those of us who have notbeen on AWE can only imagine and appreciate.

AWE is no longer a complete mystery to me. Rather,I have a new and deeper appreciation for the value ofthis vital program.

Magical Mystery Tour continued from page 7

MIDDLE SCHOOL FOCUS DAY

The Sports program at Athenian has always held a spe-cial place in the curriculum in supporting the OutdoorEducation pillar. But several teams and athletes blos-somed this year and brought new attention to AthenianAthletics.

Today, over 75% of those who participate in sportswould consider themselves student-athletes.

We have students whoparticipate in multiplesports throughout theyear, as well as stu-dents who play onclub sports teams. As aresult, the competitivelevel of our teams hasincreased dramatically,

as well as school spirit.In the fall, Athenian’s Boys’

Soccer team defeated St. Helena HighSchool, the No. 6 seed, the first round of

the CIF North Coast Section Class A boys soccer playoffs5-4. A.J. Schrader’s goal from close range off a cornerkick late in the second half capped a hat trick for thesenior forward and lifted Athenian to the win in the sin-gle-elimination format. Athenian set the tone early, get-ting the first goal of the game within the first minute ona breakaway from Schrader. Scott Leister and Jesse Joberteach had goals for Athenian.

After a spirited fall season, the winter season includ-ed its own source of excitement. Our Varsity Boys’Basketball team gave the OWLS something to hoot aboutas it finished third in league play, and just missed quali-fying for the North Coast Section playoffs. The VarsityWrestling team sent one wrestler, Scott Leister, to theNorth Coast Section Tournament for the first time in sev-eral years. The Varsity Girls’ Basketball team had twogirls, Sarah Ames (1st team) and Brittney Collier (2ndteam), selected as All League Members for the secondyear in a row. The JV, Frosh/Soph Boys’ and JV Girls’Basketball teams improved from last season and enjoyedhuge wins over Head Royce, College Prep and UniversityHigh School.

The Athenian School Varsity Golf Team won the BayCounties League Championship for the second year in arow. The Owls won the league championship meet by 29strokes. Richard Highsmith and Charlie Nejedly advancedto the North Coast Section Championship Meet.

Congratulations to A.J. Schrader for being selectedto the Top 100 Athletes in Contra Costa County!

Athenian installed brand new bleachers in the gym-nasium this year. Thank you parents for funding thebleachers through the auction proceeds!

� Athena and Owl illustration by Ashley Montgomery ‘04

99

Athenian Athletics: A Vital Facet of Outdoor Education

Point Reyes Orientation: A Hint of AWE that AwaitsInformation gathered from Pat Raynolds

The ninth grade Point Reyes Orientation is a rite of pas-sage to the upper school at Athenian. This two-nightoutdoor bonding adventure is the students’ first expo-sure to Athenian classmates and faculty, and to the seriesof unique occasions to share themselves that the comingfour years will offer.

Pat Raynolds, Ninth Grade Dean, Humanitiesteacher, Round Square Coordinator, and former dormparent has been leading the Point Reyes excursion sinceits inception in 1981. She explained that orientation wasinitially a one-night experience, but there wasn’t enoughtime for both the physical and educational aspect of thetrip. “It’s an opportunity to expose students to a smallportion of the Athenian Wilderness Experience,” Pat said.

Students are divided into six patrols, ten to a unit.Patrols sleep under a tarp, cook, work and play side byside. Students share a day-long, physical service project:

the cleanup of Athenian’s adopted land, “Ocean ViewTrail.” They also hike in and out of Pt. Reyes six mileseach way, participate in games organized by senior vol-unteer leaders, and are offered ample opportunities tomeet friends and faculty on this adventure.

Students are also introduced to the idea of Athenian’sfive pillars : outdoor education, international and multi-cultural understanding, community service, educationfor democracy and environmental conservation. “Whensurveyed, the students share that this experience helpsthem see that Athenian is not just another school,” Patsaid.”It’s a school with a philosophy and a mission.”

Upon their return to school, the ninth grade classcan reflect on this orientation and the respect theygained by working and playing with their classmates andtheir teachers.

“They earn their rite of passage,” said Pat.

10

Young Round Square at Athenian

Hosting the Young Round Square Conferenceagain this year gave Athenian and the Middle

School an opportunity to celebrate this beautifulplace we call home. The theme of this year’s con-ference was “Wherever you’re going, there you

are.” Jon Kabat Zinn’s book of the same titleencourages us to live deliberately, fully presentto all that life brings us. Twenty-nine studentDelegates from all around North America and

their teachers came together to affirm the RoundSquare Pillars and to particularly emphasize

Outdoor Adventure. The week was filled with inspiration and challenge.

SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS,CLASS OF 2004Charlie Nieman and Erin Gums,Jonathan Hartshorne MemorialScholarship

Ashley Montgomery, PresidentialFreedom Scholarship

Britney Davis, Kate BrownMemorial Scholarship

Bobby Gordon, Ed Ellis andNicola Place Scholarships

Ellen McAmis, Dyke BrownScholarship

1111

Arizona State University

Berklee College of Music

Brandeis University

Bryn Mawr College

Bucknell University

Columbia University

Cornell University

Diablo Valley College

Duke University

Franklin W. Olin,

College of Engineering

Harvard University

Howard University

Iowa State University

Le Moyne College

Occidental College

Otis College of Art and Design

Pitzer College

Pomona College

Reed College

San Francisco State University

Smith College

Sweet Briar College

Syracuse University

Trinity College

Tufts University

University of California at Berkeley

University of California at Davis

University of California at Irvine

University of California at Los Angeles

University of California at San Diego

University of California at Santa

Barbara

University of California at Santa Cruz

University of Colorado at Boulder

University of Illinois at Urbana-

Champaign

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

University of Pennsylvania

University of Puget Sound

University of Redlands

University of Rochester

University of Rochester

University of Southern California

University of Washington

Utah Valley State College

Whittier College

Williams College

SalutingScholarshipStudents

THE CLASS OF 2004

Off to College at…

The Class of 2004The Class of 2004

I am writing on behalf of my daughter,Jodie Lane ’91, as she no longer has avoice. She was taken from us suddenlyand tragically this past January. I wouldlike to share a mother’s story, not from aplace of grief or despair, but rather toreflect on the incredible and compassion-ate support we have received. The out-pouring of condolences from Athenian,Sarah Lawrence, Columbia Universityand countless friends and colleagues hasbeen staggering.

Reconciling a premature, traumaticdeath is forever impossible for the surviv-ing family. But her loss has affected somany young people that my heart hopesthe meaning and significance of her shortlife will be best expressed in the radiantattributes of a remarkably intrepid, talent-ed, nurturing person who had dedicatedherself to emotionally troubled children.

I believe Jodie found her life’s purposeat Athenian. From there, she pursued herfuture goals with a tenacious passion. Theimpact of Athenian on her life speaks foritself in this excerpt from her biographi-cal statement for Columbia’s Ph.D pro-gram. “I transferred to The AthenianSchool my sophomore year. The settingwas idyllic. Teachers lived on campus andstudents played music on the grass lawns.We didn’t know it then, but we wereindeed privileged. The small, intimateclasses, and the one-on-one relationshipwith our teachers made for a welcomed,challenging exchange of ideas. The cli-max of my career at Athenian was therequired Outward Bound Program. Ispent 23 days in Death Valley, wildernesstraining, hiking and rock climbing. Ourresourcefulness as well as our characterwas tested and strengthened. I no longerfelt I had to play Lois Lane to some futuresuperman.”

The following excerpts from hermemorial service reveal how sheembraced her world. Xavier F. Amador,Ph.D., a Columbia adjunct professor whohad become a trusted companion, said“Although I am filled with a terrible sadness that I will not see Jodie again, Iam also filled with great joy for havinghad her in my life. She brought suchexhilaration to all our lives, but she alsotransformed us and we take that with usgoing forward. She helped me to be a bet-ter therapist, a better teacher and ulti-mately a better person. Thank you, Jodie,for all those times you said yes to thechallenges, and to the responsibilities youwere given.”

Her boyfriend, Alex Wilbourne, thelove of her life, shared these thoughts,“Jodie would overflow with excitementabout the sun setting behind her city. Shehad an unbridled giddiness she pouredout upon her world.”

But I think Arthur Levine, thePresident of Columbia Teacher College,offered the most discerning portrayal ofher character: “When I was leaving thebuilding today, two security officersshowed me the article of Jodie’s death.They wanted to tell me about her andwhat a terrific person she was. With 5,000students to watch over, for the securitystaff to know her and feel the loss asdeeply as they did, she must have beenvery special.”

My reasons for articulating this harshreality is a hope your new students willembrace the fragility of life. Life takesunexpected turns. “Carpe Diem” shouldalways be foremost in our thoughts andactions. I trust my daughter’s authenticity,her complete devotion to her calling, herincredible enthusiasm and total abandon-ment to simple pleasures will spur youryoung students to pursue their own indi-vidual direction as vigorously as she did.

With gratitude for all Athenian gaveJodie, and with encouragement and hopefor all your new protégés, a loving mother. —Karen Lane

With Gratitude for Athenian

18

I am writing on behalf of my daughter, Jodie Lane ‘91, as she no longer has a voice.

19

1.A man takes a walk on the beach below his house,throws a fluorescent tennis ball into the waves—

his face lighting up as he describes the intricate simplicities of Japanese building technique,

the temple at Kiyomizu, with its healing water-fall (and not a single nail)—tries to remember

the name of a book. He can picture the layoutof a page he wants to show us, the photograph

of scaffold, roof beam, and joists, but the titleis iced sake evaporated on the tip of his tongue.

Bending for the ball his dog retrieved from the wavesand dropped at his feet, careful to keep his head

above the bloodline of his heart, he looks up as ifto say “This is absurd,” straightens, shakes off

his residue of fear, tosses the ball into the breakers.Roof beam, tennis ball, book; sake, bloodline, wave.

He would like to go back to Kyoto someday, somedaygo back to Greece. But for now, each step of the steep

crooked beach stair scaling the hill back to his houseis a whitecap requiring a surfer’s obstinate strength.

In the clear sea of his sun-stricken eyes, on the swellof his unremitting gaze, an uncertain skiff.

2.Though I’d let it languish next to my chaisealmost two years, as soon as you died I took up

the Seferis you’d sent me, reading at firstonly notes inked in your hand, marked phrases;

studying ruefully the locked diary of wordswritten out in your fluent-looking Greek:

every dog-ear, the signature of unglued pages,the smudged binding, your name on the flyleaf,

even the Hellenic Bookservice label at firsttalismanic as the sea, the plane tree, the pines.

friend who left for the island of pine-treesfriend who left for the island of plane-treesfriend who left for the open sea

All week I’ve been searching for my poem,a handful of lines, how could I lose them?

Could a copy still be folded in thirdsand tucked inside the collected cummings

I snuck into an open box of your books?“Greek Dancer” I think I called it . . .

did you ever come across it? For years,when you were alive but more vanished

from my life than now, I let myself regretonly the velvet jacket I left in your pickup.

the life they gave us to live, we lived

From the house you built, and the meadowwhere a yellow dog snuffles in tall grass,

you can see your wife and twin tow-headed sonslooking out over the cliffs to the kelp beds

where your ashes were launched from your kayakand strewn like phosphorus on the pulsing skin

of the sea. When we meet now, in the uncertainpelagos of dreams, it is and is not as before,

when I could slip a poem like this into a bookand eventually, eventually, you would find it.

for Hank Palmieri ’74 (1956-1999)

By Carol Moldaw, ’74. From The Lightning Field (Oberlin College Presss, 2003)

Carol Moldaw is the author of three books of poetry: The Lightning Field (Oberlin College Press, 2003), winner of the 2002 FIELD PoetryPrize, Chalkmarks on Stone (La Alameda Press, 1998), and Taken from the River (Alef Books, 1993), as well as a chapbook Throughthe Window (La Alameda Press, 2001). A recipient of a Pushcart Prize (2002) and a National Endowment for the Arts Creative WritingFellowship (1994), Moldaw’s work has been published widely in journals, including Agni, Conjunctions, The Drunken Boat (www.thedrunkenboat.com), Field, Kenyon Review, The New Republic, The New Yorker, Paris Review, Parnassus, Partisan Review, Santa FePoetry Broadside (www.sfpoetry.org/), The Threepenny Review, and Triquarterly. She lives in Pojoaque, New Mexico.

Pelagos

20

Alumni NewsGLORIA SKURSKI—I keep

inviting Athenians to stop by

the next time they are in

Dayton, but that doesn’t

seem to happen. Ohio is

wonderful—we’ve lived here

for ten years. After living on

both coasts (mostly New

York) I think we’re here for

good. There are beautiful old

houses, enormous trees,

great schools, and I have a

ten-minute commute to my

job. We call our little 1920s

suburb “the place that time

forgot.” Over the years I

have gradually moved from

theater producing to televi-

sion broadcasting, and am

now the Director of Broad-

casting at Dayton’s PBS sta-

tion. Right now I’m working

on projects ranging from

public affairs to cooking

shows to historical documen-

taries, as well as a new

statewide digital classroom

project. My husband is Chair

of the theater department at

the university, and our

daughter is in high school.

She can’t fathom that I went

away to boarding school, but

I keep telling her that it was a

great experience. Would love

to hear from Athenians:

gloria_skurski@ wptd.pbs.org

1973DEARY DUFFIE—June 30th

is my last day at Charles

Schwab. My work here is

complete. I’ll be taking a

year off to travel (Italy,

Greece, Argentina, and Aus-

tralia), write a book about

my corporate experiences

thus far, and frankly just get

some rest. My new email is

dantepaul@mac.com.

1979KEITH VAUGHN—The

opportunity to spend time

with Ed Ellis is not to be taken

lightly. Seeing him in South-

ern California and then, later,

back at Athenian for the

alumni reunion was a wel-

come treat. He continues to

play an important role for

Athenian as well as in our

hearts and memories.

Even though only a few of the

‘74 class were in attendance

we had a great time catching

up and remembering those

who were not present. The

laughter was fun; the drink-

ing was less than before; and,

as expected, the reunion

with faculty, staff and friends

was well worth the drive to

campus. I would do it all

over again!

1982POPPY DAVIS—I started

working for the USDA in July

of 2003. So far it is my dream

job. I just returned from a

trip to the four corners

region of Arizona visiting

with members of the Hopi

and Navajo tribes about their

efforts to improve and pro-

mote their agriculture. I pre-

sented a workshop on farm

taxes at the Sheep is Life Cel-

ebration at the Dine College.

It was a wonderful experi-

ence and I am looking for-

ward to going back in

February to hold a tax “study

hall” to help the small farm-

ers file their income tax

returns.

I joined the board of The

Center for Land Based Learn-

ing, which is a statewide

organization working pri-

marily with high school stu-

dents to develop land-based

curricula partnered with

farms or watershed groups.

Last year, one group of stu-

dents worked all year on a

project that involved every

aspect of farming and result-

ed in salsa and spaghetti

sauce being sold in a local

market.

I talk to Nicole Vannoni ’82

all the time because she is

awake late at night for a cos-

mic comedy routine sprin-

kled with literary quotes and

misquotes. She is working in

bio-fuels and living in Seattle

and is as wild and beautiful

as ever.

I see Samira (Adibzadeh)

Rahm ’82 and her beautiful

daughter Setti a couple of

times a year. Last year Setti

came to summer camp at Full

Belly Farm just down the

road from where I live. Sami-

ra and Homira visited my

abode in the almond orchard

and we went for an evening

swim in Cache Creek. Setti

does not believe that we

were once young deadheads,

but Samira has the letters I

wrote in spiral-glitter-inco-

herence to prove it.

Homira (Adibzadeh) Foth ‘83

gave birth to a healthy baby

boy named Cyrus on May 2.

She is radiant with motherly

joy. Perhaps this is because

she fit into her size four jeans

on May 16.

Nehama Weininger ’82 is still

living on the island of Paros

in Greece with her daughter

Aria. Aria has the life; she

spends her summers swim-

ming in the Mediterranean

with 20 some cousins.

Nehama pretty much has the

life, too, she runs a wind-sail-

ing business and other tourist

accommodations. Athenians

(the real kind, not the ones

from the city in Greece)

should get in touch if they

come to visit.

I also talk to Andrea (Macari)

Hakala ’82 quite often. Her

husband is currently serving

with the military forces in

Iraq.

1983SALLY SWARTS—I got mar-

ried this summer to my

sweetheart from New York,

Matt Daly. We had a beauti-

ful ceremony in Danville at

Hap Magee Ranch Park

under a large oak tree. There

were several Athenians in

1969

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attendance including Sangita

Shah ’83, Sushma Shah ’89,

Raju Mann Ward ’83, Peter

Martin ’83, Nicholas Bonnell

’83, Andrew Petty ’83, Sumit

Ray ’82, Arlene Ustin, and of

course my mom, Vivian

Swarts.

To update you on the rest of

my life—Matt and I live in

San Ramon about five miles

from Athenian. I work nearby

at the Federal Correctional

Institution in Dublin. My job

entails overseeing the indus-

tries area of the prison (UNI-

COR). We provide jobs to

about 300 of the 1,300

female prisoners. Through

their employment, we teach

the women a variety of job

skills from the basics of com-

ing to work on time and get-

ting along with co-workers to

higher level skills in custom

drapery design, accounting,

and SGML/XML coding. I

have been with the Federal

Bureau of Prisons for the past

ten years. I enjoy my job

because almost every day I

can see where my work has

directly contributed to

increasing the women’s self-

worth and improving their

chances of not returning to

prison upon release.

I also lead a program at the

prison called Choices. In this

program, we give troubled

teenagers a tour of the prison

then let them listen to testi-

monials from several of the

prisoners. The teenagers have

an opportunity to ask the

women questions regarding

the choices that brought

them to prison, what life is

like inside prison, and how

they see their future. If any-

one knows of a teen group

that could benefit from

working with the Choices

Program, please contact me.

(sallmatt@yahoo.com)

NICK RHIND—I finally got

a real job, as a faculty mem-

ber at the University of Mass-

achusetts Medical School in

Worcester, just outside of

Boston. I have been here for

almost three years, and am

beginning to feel settled. I

am mostly doing research,

studying how yeast regulate

their growth in response to

DNA damage. I tell the gov-

ernment I am going to cure

cancer, but mostly I just like

playing with yeast. I have a

small lab with a few graduate

students. It is great fun work-

ing with them. I am also

doing a little teaching, most-

ly grad students, but I did

teach my first medical school

lecture last fall: Glycogen

Metabolism, for those of you

in the med biz.

I moved here after six years

as a post doc in San Diego.

San Diego was a great place

to live, and surfing an hour

or two before work was a

nice way to start the day. But

after six years, I was pretty

much ready to leave. The surf

is a bit spotty out here in

New England, but I brought

my boards and I have had a

few good days down in

Rhode Island. For a post-

industrial dump, Worcester is

a pretty nice place to live. It

is full of fabulous old brick

mills and office buildings that

are slowly being redevel-

oped; I live in a condo in a

115 year old high school

right across the street from

our surprisingly good art

museum.

I have been working on my

jet-set life style. I am just off

back-to-back weekends in

California, both of them

Athenian related. The first

was for Lorca Rossman’s

wedding. Those of you from

the class of ’84 may remem-

ber Lorca as a cute little 8th

grader our senior year. I got

to know him first through

AWE, and then climbing, hik-

ing and kayaking while we

were both living in Berkeley.

It was a beautiful wedding on

Point Reyes, and a great

party at their home in

Olema. The next weekend, of

course, was my 20th reunion.

I had a great time at reunion,

saw a lot of old friends, both

classmates and teachers, and

had the very pleasant sur-

prise of seeing Munzer. Sat-

urday morning of reunion, I

went to the Alumni Council

meeting. It looked like so

much fun that I volunteered

to be class rep for ’84. My

first mission is to try to get in

touch with as many class-

mates as possible. So if you

haven’t heard from me, or if

you know of any lost ’84s,

send me an email at

nick.rhind@umassmed.edu,

or better yet give me a call at

(508) 856-8316.

TRAVIS H. SCOTT—For the

last 11 years I’ve been work-

ing for MCI and I’ve been

blessed to have made it

though all the lay-offs that

my company has had. On

July 4th my company laid-off

7,500 people, which equates

to 15% of our total work-

force globally. I have been

very fortunate to be able to

21212121

SPOTTED AT ALUM SALLY SWARTS’ WEDDING TO MATT DALY:Back: Austin Lund (Sushma’s husband), Sushma Shah ’89,Andrew Petty ’83, Stanley Ward (Raju’s husband), Sally Swarts ’83, Matt Daly, Raju Mann Ward ’83, Vinod Shah(Daddy Shah), Sumit Ray ’82, Sudeshna Ray (Sumit’s wife),Indra Shah (Mommy Shah), Vivian Swarts

Front: Rachael Chao (Peter’s wife), Peter Martin ’83, Juliet Ward (Raju’s daughter), Sangita Shah ’83, NicholasBonnell ’83

1984

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keep my job all these years

and am grateful. I have been

working on my Masters in

Information Technology for

the past year at AIU here in

Culver City, CA, and will

graduate this year in Octo-

ber. I’m looking forward to it,

although I don’t have my

“Plan B” ready yet. I’m pret-

ty sure that I’ll land on my

feet though.

I had a surprise call from

Nick Rhind not to long ago

and it was nice to hear from

an old Alum. I know how

busy we can all get with our

day to day lives, but I wel-

come an email from anyone

who wishes to track me

down. I can be reached at

travis.scott@mci.com or by

phone at 310-836-3833. I’m

sorry I missed this year’s

reunion but hopefully I’ll be

up there soon. It’s nice to see

my classmates and friends

like Claire Solot, Nick Rhind,

Ian Bevan, Charlotte Abbott,

“Scooter” Carling, Ferdie

Thieriot, and Oren Riak still

involved with Athenian. It

truly was the “meeting

place” when I went there.

Take care and God bless.

BEN BROYLES—I’m an

archaeologist working for

Caltrans, with a house in

Jamestown, California, a

wife, Shannon McCormick

Boyles and two-month old

daughter, Fiona Rose Boyles.

Still hanging out with Ben

Grunewald ’88, who lives a

few miles from here, and

have been in touch with Lyall

Brown ’89 and Wickert

Beasley ’89.

1989PATRICIA DELK—I am liv-

ing in the Washington, D.C.

area now, Bethesda to be

exact. I have a wonderful job

heading up the marketing

and branding for an exclusive

real estate developer here in

D.C. and love every minute.

1990MARY CONSTANTINO—

Portland Athenian alumnae

and friends recently had the

wonderful opportunity to

meet with Eleanor Dase on

the NIKE campus to reunite,

share stories, and hear an

update on the exciting pro-

jects currently taking place

at Athenian. It is inspiring to

hear all of the fantastic

changes that are occurring at

our very special school under

Eleanor’s guidance. From the

permanent middle school

buildings, to the present stu-

dents’ project of building a

working airplane, to the live-

ly discussion surrounding the

demolition of the art dome,

Athenian continues to pro-

vide an enriching education-

al environment.

Past teachers Debby Schauf-

fer, Linda Silva and David

Ellenberg, (all three have not

changed a bit since 1990)

were present as well as sever-

al Northwest alumni. The

event was graciously hosted

by Jackie Thomas ’82 at NIKE

headquarters. Being sur-

rounded by fellow Athenians

reaffirmed my commitment

to Athenian and reminded

me how fortunate I am to be

a part of the Athenian family.

Thanks Eleanor and Barbara

for coming north to visit us.

1994MADHAVI COLTON—I’m

currently in a master’s pro-

gram at San Francisco State

University in Marine Biology

where I’m studying an

uncommon member of the

rockfish family. I’m trying to

determine why it’s rare (fish-

ing? climate? other?), which

involves lots of SCUBA div-

ing in the beautiful waters of

Southern California. It also

involves lots of driving,

which is the far less glam-

orous aspect of the project!

After this, I hope to continue

in a Ph.D program but per-

haps I’ll instead sail across

the Pacific and open a dive

shop in the Marquesas.

After graduating from UCSC,

I worked at Macromedia

where I started a Philan-

thropy Program, donating

software, money and

employees’ time to various

non-profits. After burning

out on the whole high tech

thing, I traveled through

Southeast Asia for a few

months, visiting Thailand,

Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia

and Vietnam. I now live in

San Francisco with my boy-

friend and trusty dog Kaya.

ADRIANA ZINGALI PANEK—I met my husband, Joseph

Michael Panek II, in the sum-

mer of 2000 while waiting

tables at the historic Sugar

Plum Coffee Shop in Con-

cord. We got married in

Reno, NV on November 28,

2002 at the Adventure Inn. I

have attended college at

numerous schools, but it

wasn’t until I realized my

passion for the culinary arts

that I truly enjoyed what I

was learning. I attended

Diablo Valley College and

studied the Culinary Arts.

Planning to raise our kids in

Montana, we did research,

visited different places and

decided on Helena, MT.

Joseph’s father is 60 miles

away in Gold Creek. Our son

was born on September 5,

2003 at 1:11 PM at 7 pounds

and 20 inches. Joseph

Michael Panek III was born 3

weeks and 2 days early, On

our one year anniversary, our

home in Montana closed and

we arrived on December 1,

2003. Joseph is roofing and I

am working one day a week

at a Country Club. We live on

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ADRIANA ZINGALI PANEK

AND FAMILY.

Alums Danielle Glosserand Sydney Rainin-Smith(both ’88) with Seth Riker,the son of Howard Rikerand Danielle.

1988

2323

10 acres, six miles outside of

town and our views are pic-

ture perfect.

After all the hard times life

dealt me, I am happier than I

knew I could be. Being this

little boy’s mother is the best

job in the world, and I was

more ready for it than even I

thought. The Athenian School

is a part of who I am and I

am grateful for every minute

I spent growing up there.

1996ANDREA ROSS (NIGG)—

When I graduated from

Athenian in 1996 I never

imagined that eight years

later my life would be as it is.

You see Siem Reap, Cambo-

dia is a long way from

Danville, and not just in

miles! I now live in one of the

world’s most beautiful, but

poorest, countries.

Located in Southeast Asia,

Cambodia neighbors with

Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

A small country with a rapid-

ly growing population and

fascinating culture, Cambo-

dia has been ravaged by the

powers of the world and is

striving to leave its painful

past behind and move into

the world economy. Making

this easier is the fact that

Cambodia is home to Angkor

Wat, one of the wonders of

the world and the largest

religious monument. This

year Cambodia forecasts

over one million visitors to

this amazing temple complex

and we’re there to greet

them.

After our first visit to Cambo-

dia my husband and I fell in

love with the landscape, the

people and the appreciation

they have for their recent

peace. We have now settled

in Siem Reap, and started

Journeys Within, a travel

company and bed and break-

fast offering tours to Thai-

land, Laos, Vietnam and

Cambodia (www.journeys-

within.com).

We love our new home and it

is an amazing feeling to be

able to arrange tours that

help guests discover the

beauty and intrigue of these

countries as well as to bene-

fit each country by bringing

in tourist dollars and leaving

the locals with a sense of

pride. Guests are often

amazed, not only by the

grandeur of the temples, but

by the friendliness and gen-

erosity of the Cambodian

people.

There is no McDonald’s, no

movie theatres and often no

English, but Cambodia has so

much more—it has a people

struggling to get by, working

every day to support them-

selves and their family and

doing it with a smile. That

smile makes all the differ-

ence and maybe it’s why, in

Cambodia, so far away from

Danville, I’m often reminded

of Athenian.

1997CLAIRE CORRERIS—Kirk

Mills and I are getting mar-

ried on Oct. 9, 2004. I can’t

believe how lucky we are to

have found each other. I just

got accepted to the UC Davis

/CSUS teaching credential

program! Hurray! I may go

on to get my Master of Arts

degree in Museum Studies

and Practices and hopefully

work in the museum educa-

tion field. I am on a path that

truly excites me! Hope every-

one is well.

JOHN OSBORNE—Cur-

rently working on pre-

production for his documen-

tary project: “Heretics: Liber-

al Politics and the Catholic

Faith.” The first part will

focus on San Francisco,

same-sex marriage, and the

response from both the

Catholic Church and their

congregations. For more

information, email him at

john.marquis.osborne@gmail

.com.

ANDREA RYAN—I’m living

in Cambridge, MA with my

fiance Seth John, who I met

at Carleton but started dating

post-college. I moved last

summer from New York to

Boston, where Seth is getting

his PhD in chemical ocean-

ography at MIT. I’m con-

vinced that it will take the

rest of his (and my) young

adult life and as far as I can

tell all he does is wash out

glass bottles between trips to

Hawaii and the Bering Sea.

Until a year ago, I lived hap-

pily in New York City, where

I was a film student at

Columbia University, getting

an MFA in screenwriting.

Somehow, I am still at

Columbia getting an MFA

though I live in Boston full-

time and haven’t set foot in a

classroom in more than a

year. I’m supposedly working

on my screenplay from here

and in correspondence with

my advisors at school, but

the functionality of that set-

up has been less than ideal.

In the meantime, I procrasti-

nate from the screenwriting

by working full time on an

American Experience for PBS

23

ANDREA NIGG ROSS, BRANDON ROSS, AND THE STAFF OF THE

ROSS’ B&B IN SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA.

CLAIRE CORERIS ’97 AND KIRK MILLS

24

ALUMNI ORGANIZATION MISSION STATEMENTThe Athenian Alumni organization connects alumni to one another and to the school, providing acohesive sense of the Athenian community — past, present and future, as well as opportunities toengage in education, communication, and service with current students, in the spirit of the school’smission and tradition.

24

about the final six months of

WWII in the Pacific, and

that has proven to be a very

effective method. I research

and collect all the historic

photographic images that

will appear in the film. I love

my job and can’t quite imag-

ine how I ended up getting

paid to hunt for war photog-

raphy and propaganda art-

work all day long.

Boston was a huge adjust-

ment from New York, but

I’m learning to appreciate

its famed “manageability,” a

notion that has never

impressed me.

Anyway, thanks for enduring

this update, which like my

life, happens to include too

many acronyms.

REBECCA GOOD—I am just

now finishing my first year

as a high school English

teacher in Miami, Florida

and I must say it has been an

adventure. I will be return-

ing this summer (2004) as

Director of the Sports Camp

and I look forward to reunit-

ing with all the wonderful

people at Athenian.

� GAVIN FARRINGTON AND

FUMIKO MIYAMOTO ’98.

New! Bay Area Athenian Alumni ClubAllison Fletcher ’96

At the last Alumni Council meeting in June, AundraUrban ’99 and I decided to spearhead a new alumni clubfor those alums specifically residing in or visiting theBay Area. We hope the Bay Area Athenian Alumni Clubwill provide local alums with a chance to meet, becomereacquainted with each other, have fun and socialize,and network. We plan to get together on a monthly orbi-monthly basis at a bar or restaurant in San Franciscoand other Bay Area locations. The kickoff event tookplace in San Francisco on August 6.

Bay Area alums—please save the next date, October 8,and be on the lookout for more information to come viaemail and/or the Athenian alumni website.

If you would like to participate in club events or haveany questions or suggestions, please contact me atASFletcher@scu.edu.

Alumni gather to help induct Class of 2004 into theAlumni Organization

SENIOR INDUCTION

Thank you to the following people who attendedthe Alumni Council Meeting on June 5, at TheAthenian School.

Ed EllisKandy Davenport Platt’74Bea Stark Winslow ’75Jonathan Winslow ’77Nick Rhind ’84Claire Solot ’84Wes Daniels ’86Jennifer Branchini ’89Angel Lewis ’92Shoshana Ziblatt ’92Serena Brewer ’94

Rupa Datta ’96Allison Fletcher ’96John Osborne ’97Jeannine Bell ’98Justin Masonek ’99Aundra Urban ’99Laura Kukulan ’01Becky Potter ’02Eleanor DasePat WallKathy Hodson

1998

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Calendar of Alumni Events 2004-05October 3, 7 pm, Alumni Regional Event, Wellesley, MAHosted by Sydney Resendez ’84, Nick Rhind ’84 and Eleanor Dase

November 4, 6 pm – Senior (Class of 2005) Alumni MixerFall Theater Production – 7:30 pm, Center for the Arts

January 6, 9:40 am – Alumni Back-to-School DaySymposium and Lunch

January 29, 9-3 pm — Bay Area Alumni and Current StudentsCommunity Service Project at St. Anthony’s Dining Room in theTenderloin District of San Francisco

February 16, 6 pm – Alumni Parent Reception, Eleanor Dase’s home,followed by Faculty Staff Talent Show, Center for the Arts

March 25, 7:30 pm – Alumni Regional Event, Tribeca, NYHosted by Michael Connolly ’71, Jamie Stern, Wes Morgan andKathy Hodson

March 26, 10:30 am – Community Service ExchangeCityKids Foundation, Hosted by Alex Atkinson ’86, Wes Morgan,Kathy Hodson

March 31 — deadline for Alumni Notes, News, Photos – Email tokathy.hodson@athenian.org for the Alumni Spring Newsletter

May 25, 11-1 pm — Senior (Class of 2005) Alumni Induction andLunch

June 4 — Alumni Council Meeting, 9:30-11 am

June 4 — All Day, Alumni ReunionClasses to celebrate:1968-69-70 1973-74-751978-79-80 1983-84-901993-94-95 1998-99-00

� Dr. DouglasPerednia ’75and EleanorDase

� Former facultyDavid Ellenbergand Deb Schauffler with MaryCostantino ’90

� David Baugh ’90, Ian Bevan ’83,Eleanor Dase, Rebecca Baugh ’90

� Larry Janss ’69, Lisa Yetter ’70, John Altintop

� Wes Morgan, John Kohler ’88,Dr. Christina Frantino

ALUMNI VISITING DAY 2004

SNAPSHOTS: Regional Alumni Gatherings

Los AngelesHosted by Larry Janss ’69

PortlandHosted by Jackie Thomas ’82

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Alumni Involvement: Keep it Goingby Kathy Hodson

It’s been an exhilarating ride this year, due in part to the amazing participa-tion of alumni who have helped or agreed to help revitalize the alumni orga-nization. Several of you hosted or attended regional events, and many oth-ers gathered here in the Bay Area for meetings and events. The many alum-ni across the world who stay in touch via email to the alumni office make ahuge difference, too!

Thanks to so many more of you who said yes, for the first time, and gave tothe alumni annual fund. The $5,000 match for new alumni giving was morethan met. Because of your donations and our other loyal long-standinggivers, alumni percentage increased from 7% to 14% this year. That’s an out-standing statement! Let’s keep the percentage on the rise for 2004-05.

Alumni contributions in the way of energy, volunteerism and the spirit ofAthenians continue to increase. Communication happens peer-to-peer, aswell as in the alumni profiles in our spring newsletter and fall magazine. TheAlumni Notes, in particular, are a great opportunity to keep everyone, includ-ing former and current faculty, aware of where alumni are living and working.

Sponge Bob did make it to the alumni reunion picnic and was a huge treatfor the children. Because of the energetic and determined alumni reunionorganizers, the turnout of alums was outstanding! Thank you to everyonewho helped lessen my load in encouraging classmates to return to Athenian.

Our alumni council meeting was also successful, with 20 alumni attendingthe informal review of 2003-04 and brainstorming for 2004-05. Keep watchfor alumni website improvements. A bulletin board and several other keyupdates will be forthcoming this fall.

Check out the Alumni Events Calendar in this publication as well as theamazing list of Class Representatives who, when asked to serve in this capac-ity, said yes. Your classmates will be looking for lost alumni, promoting com-munication within their class and encouraging alumni to reconnect withAthenian.

Jump in, keep this momentum moving! Your involvement in any capacity isalways appreciated.

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CLASSREPRESENTATIVES’69 Susan Heather Swift

’70 Jim Haber

’74 Kandy Davenport Platt

’75 Bea Winslow

’79 Colleen Logan Cassettari

’83 Ian Bevan

’84 Nick Rhind

’86 Wes Daniels

’87 Kimmerie Jones

’88 Danielle Glosser, John Kohler

’89 Jennifer Branchini

’90 Rebecca and David Baugh

’92 Shoshana Ziblatt

’94 Serena Brewer

’95 Lindsay Firth, Christina Lee

’96 Rupa Datta

’98 Jeannine Bell, AmberRichert

’99 Aundra Urban, Justin Masonek

’00 Michelle Dixon, KateBryant, Lauren Brown

’01 Laura Kukulan

’02 Becky Potter, Myung Kim

’03 Ram Rao, Mandi Norton-Westbrook

’04 Ellen McAmis, Ariel Toft

Regional Rep: Mary Costantino ’90

First and foremost, class representatives are committedto communicating with theirclassmates, helping them toconnect with one another,and with Athenian via specialalumni events and otheropportunities that furthers themission of the AlumniOrganization.

Reps needed for classes: ’68,’71, ’72, ’73, ’76, ’77, ’78,’80, ’81, ’82, ’85, ’91, ’93, ’97

PHOTOS, NEXT PAGE, CLOCKWISEFROM UPPER LEFT:

• Class of 1994

• Class of 1984: Nick Rhind, MattBroyles, Adam Schwartz, JanayRichardson, John Smiddy

• Claire Solot ‘84, Munzer Afifi, Eleanor Dase

• Jessica Millerstrom ’94, Shareef Salaam ’94, Angel Lewis ’92, JanayRichardson ’84, Jamahn Lee ’94

• Former and current faculty: WesMorgan, Kirsten Daehler, DickBradford, Munzer Afifi, Eleanor Dase, Pat Raynolds, tom Swope, Sheryl Peterson.

• Ed Ellis, Munzer Afifi, Dan Valen ’69,Susan Heather Swift ’69.

PHOTOS, BACK COVER, CLOCKWISEFROM UPPER LEFT:

• Kate Inman (daughter of JenniferBranchini ’89 and Cam Inman) enjoying Sponge Bob

• Class of 1994

• Alumni Picnic

• Wes (’86), Laura and Emily Daniels

• Chris ’75, Yoneo, Tasmin, Nikko and Tim Arai ’77

• Grant (’84), Matt and Clint Broyles

• (middle:) Stacey, Adara and Oren Riak ’84

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ATHENIAN ALUMNI WEBSITELook for great improvements this fall: a community bulletin board and new enchancements to the

database. Please contact Kathy Hodson to obtain a user ID and a password to access the pass-word-protected alumni website: kathy.hodson@athenian.or or 925.362.7212.

Reunion 2004Reunion 2004

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