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GREENS FARMS ACADEMY MAGAZINE | summer 2026

GREENS FARMS ACADEMY MAGAZINE summer 2026

Editors

Contributors

Linsey Alvarez Meghan Chew

Linsey Alvarez Yoon S. Byun Samantha Casamento Jennifer Harris Ana Holwell John Nash Lindsay Russo

Design

Lindsay Russo

Greens Farms Academy does not discriminate against any person in admission, financial aid, program involvement, employment, or otherwise because of sexual orientation, race, religion, age, gender, national origin, or disability.

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A Message from the Head of School, bob whelan At several moments during commencement this spring, a soon-to-be graduate stood squarely in my line of sight. Just out of focus over their shoulders, I could see the faces of proud siblings, parents, and grandparents, and a little farther back, faculty and staff looking on with pride of their own. Many of those students were in fifth grade when I arrived at GFA. Watching that kind of growth unfold, one class at a time, is one of the quiet privileges of school life. Schools may measure time in years, but we truly live it in moments like these. The slower rhythm of summer offers a chance to step back from the pace of daily life and take in the larger story of the year. Individual moments capture our attention. But over time, it is the accumulation of those moments, relationships formed, challenges embraced, and discoveries made that define the GFA community. As I write, we’re putting the finishing touches on the Athletics & Wellness Center, a milestone that reflects our belief that education extends well beyond the classroom. You’ll read about faculty members who are refining their practice, students exploring new ideas through inquiry and emerging technologies, artists pushing the boundaries of their creativity, and athletes whose achievements were defined as much by resilience, teamwork, and character as by wins and championships. Across every division, you’ll encounter stories of curiosity, compassion, perseverance, and joy.

At GFA, meaningful learning grows through relationships: between students and teachers, classmates and teammates, mentors and alumni, and families and the school.

What connects these stories is not simply what was accomplished but how it was accomplished. At GFA, meaningful learning grows through relationships: between students and teachers, classmates and teammates, mentors and alumni, and families and the school. Those relationships have shaped this community for more than a century, and they remain the foundation upon which our future will be built. Thank you for being part of that story. Whether you are a current family member, alum, parent, grandparent, faculty or staff member, trustee, or friend of the school, your support strengthens our community and enriches the experience of every student who walks our campus. I hope you enjoy reflecting on this remarkable year. Even more, I hope these pages leave you inspired by the promise of GFA’s second century and the extraordinary young people who will shape it. Warmly,

Bob Whelan Head of School

Honoring

Outstanding Service In June, we bid farewell to this dedicated trustee, whose commitment to GFA has shaped and stewarded our school.

Board of Trustees EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Ward Horton P ’24, ’28, Chair Meade Fogel P ’27, ’28, ’28, Co-Vice Chair Don San Jose P ’22, ’25, Co-Vice Chair Michael Blitzer P ’24, ’27, Treasurer Melanie Smith P ’22, ’24, ’29, Secretary David Durkin P ’18, ’22, ’23 Roger Ferris P ’18, ’18, ’20, ’28

Gil Aikins P ’33 Jessica Bailey P ’27, ’29, ’32 Renee Bea P ’30 Howard Blaustein P ’31, ’35 Bill Bucknall GP ’24, ’26 Catherine Foster Ellison ’00 P ’35, ’37, ’39 Sandy Ewing P ’20, ’23, ’26 Roopali Hall P ’31, ’33 Chris Milligan P ’36, ’37 Sean Obi ’13 Andy Papadakos P ’26, ’30, ’37 Amber Paquette P ’28, ’28, ’33 Dmitri Ponomarev P ’30, ’31 Page Tremaine ’93 P ’23, ’26 Megan Tuvlin P ’28 Sara Wiener P ’31, ’36 Caroline Williams P ’27, ’29 Bob Whelan P ’24, Ex-officio

Sean Obi ’13

A proud GFA alum, Sean Obi ’13 returned to his alma mater as a Trustee in 2020, bringing a deep commitment to the school and its community. He remained closely connected to campus life, volunteering with the boys basketball program and supporting alumni engagement efforts, including the NYC Alumni Social and Networking event. Sean has been a thoughtful and engaged presence on the Board and a meaningful role model for students. We are grateful for his service and wish him continued success.

Welcoming New Leadership

Ward Horton, chair of the GFA Board of Trustees, announced that one new member joined the board on July 1. She was elected to serve an initial three-year term. Abigail (Abby) Hausberg P ’34, ’36, ’39

Abigail Hausberg is a dedicated naturalist, birder, and an active supporter of multiple environmental organizations across Fairfield County and Nantucket. She is focused on shorebird and marine habitat restoration, and serves on the Advisory Committee for Sustainability for the Town of Darien. Abby is a licensed attorney and certified mediator and served as a Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, representing the U.S. Trustee. Prior to her work at the Department of Justice, she clerked for two federal judges in Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, and worked as an attorney with Legal Aid Chicago. Abby is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Roger Williams School of Law. Abby has been an involved member of the GFA community since 2020, serving as Co-President of the Lower School Parents’ Association and as a Class Parent. She lives in Darien with her husband, their three children, and an assortment of pets. Summer 2026 | 3

What’s happening on campus

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Speakers & Special Guests The Student Taskforce for AI Research (STAIR) met with Mary Madden—Senior Researcher, Strategy Consultant, and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University—who introduced students to the fundamentals of qualitative research methods, emphasizing both effective interviewing and self-reflexivity. 1

2 Middle School students stepped into the

world of mystery writing with Visiting Author Tessa Wegert. A former journalist and author of the “Shana Merchant” and “North Country” series, Wegert offered a glimpse at what it takes to build a life around writing and storytelling.

3 From the streets of Sarajevo to a global stage with U2, writer, documentary filmmaker, and professor Bill Carter has spent his career telling stories that demand attention. During his visit, he shared those experiences—and the lessons behind them—with students.

4 The Upper School welcomed novelist

Weike Wang to campus for two days of discussion centered on the craft of writing. Over the course of her visit, she shared insights into her creative process and the experiences that have shaped her work. 5 Dr. Eric Potterat, author of “Learned Excel-

lence” and a clinical and performance psychologist specializing in the science and practice of excellence, spoke to the GFA community about the mindset, habits, and daily practices that help individuals cultivate excellence over time.

6 Visiting Scholars Kevin Guthrie, Founding

President of ITHAKA and JSTOR, and Michael Vath, ITHAKA’s Senior Vice President of Product, spoke with students and faculty about the questions many schools are grappling with as AI becomes part of the research process.

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earth day

symposium

yearbook dedication

may term

peace games

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Prek Market Day

ms science expo

ls steam night

penumbra dedication

pack the house

grandparents & special friends day

kindergarten spring festival

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ed denes classic

model seder

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Celebrating Growth:

The Middle School Culminating Experience “Curiosity doesn’t end with a unit or a final exam. Our hope is that by revisiting topics from the year, students continue to ask questions and explore connections that deepen their understanding over time.” Drew Meyer, head of middle School

Each spring, the Middle School concludes the year with Culminating Experience Week. Designed by faculty across grades and disciplines, the week asks students to step away from their usual schedules and reflect on their year. The experiences are tailored to the unique character of each grade level. Students may participate in immersive workshops and field trips, mentor younger students, or present capstone work. They are encouraged to take their time, be curious, and reflect on their growth as learners and community members. In doing so, they develop skills and habits that are often difficult to measure in a traditional classroom setting—from leadership and confidence to perspective and a deeper sense of belonging. Culminating Experience Week offers a glimpse into learning at GFA at its best. By creating space for reflection, exploration, and connection, students can see how much they have learned, how much they have grown, and how those two things are often inseparable. “This I Believe” is based on a 1950s radio program hosted by journalist Edward R. Murrow that engages youth and adults from all walks of life in writing, sharing, and discussing brief essays about the core values that guide their daily lives.

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connection

e x p l o r at i o n

reflection

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upper schooL

For many students, writing assignments begin with a prompt and end with a grade. At GFA, we believe writing should do more. This year, ninth-grade English students became reporters, storytellers, and observers of the GFA community. Inspired by The New Yorker’s “Talk of the Town” feature (also started in 1925!), students studied professional models and then learned to pitch story ideas, conduct interviews, and gather observations and details that would bring their subjects to life. Through the process, students listened closely, asked thoughtful questions, identified meaningful patterns, and developed a clear angle. Through rounds of drafting and revision, they worked to capture the distinctive voice and style of the genre. With no extra credit attached, nine students even volunteered to continue revising their work during lunch and May Term. The project reinforced the idea that writing is fundamentally a way to connect: with oneself, one’s readers, and one’s subject matter. By looking closely at the people and stories around them, students discovered that great writing begins with genuine curiosity and attention.

Writing is fundamentally a way to connect: with oneself, one’s readers, and one’s subject matter.

LOWER SCHOOL

“The Lower School will always be my nature preserve, and I will always remember to treat others the way you want to be treated.” Ernie Hausberg ’34

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“Eighth grade didn’t just teach us how to survive; it built us for whatever comes next.” Drew McInerney ’30

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C O M M E N CE M E NT MAY 29, 2026

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n Friday, May 29, the GFA community gathered on the Front Lawn to celebrate the 98 seniors in the Class of 2026. After opening remarks from Head of School Bob Whelan, Salutatorian Evie Herman ’26 posed one final question to her classmates: how do we say goodbye? Her remarks explored the bittersweet nature of farewell, tracing the people and places that shaped the Class of 2026. Her twin sister, Valedictorian Danya Herman ’26, offered a final tour of GFA, noting the ways campus became a home for both intellectual and personal growth. She encouraged graduates to seek out new spaces of belonging and curiosity and to become the people who open doors for others.

This year’s Commencement speaker was Jensen Ackles, producer, director, and actor best known for his roles in Supernatural and The Boys. Looking back across three decades in entertainment, Ackles encouraged graduates to remain open to uncertainty and embrace the process of becoming. As a high school senior, Ackles had a plan: study sports medicine, become an athletic trainer for professional athletes, and travel the world. Acting was hardly part of the equation, but halfway through his senior year, his drama teacher encouraged him to audition for West Side Story. To Ackles’s surprise, even his baseball coach was on board, reminding him that he only had one chance to experience high school. This “yes” set an entirely different future in motion. After a chance encounter with a talent scout, Ackles found himself leaving Texas for Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time. Ackles spoke candidly about the years that followed—the roles he didn’t get, the projects that never materialized, and the moments when self-doubt felt overwhelming. He spoke about leaving a stable role on Days of Our Lives, learning to direct after years in front of the camera, and pursuing new opportunities after fifteen seasons of Supernatural. Through these experiences, he learned to push past his self-doubt and embrace “the edge of competence”—the uncomfortable space where growth occurs. At the same time, Ackles emphasized that no meaningful life is built alone. Reflecting on his longtime partnership with Supernatural co-star Jared Padalecki, as well as the colleagues, friends, and family members who supported his career, he spoke to the importance of showing up for others, and allowing others to do the same for you. The relationships we cultivate, he suggested, often become the foundation that carries us through life’s most challenging and transformative moments. Returning to GFA’s mission of preparing students for lives of purpose, Ackles challenged graduates to take risks and resist the temptation to live a small life. Looking back on the opportunities that shaped his own path, he encouraged the Class of 2026 to approach what comes next with curiosity, humility, and the confidence to begin again.

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“It’s our turn to be those people who open doors.” Danya Herman ’26

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“What I hope you’ll allow yourselves to have is a life where the work matters to you, where the people around you are real, and where you’re still curious and humble enough to find those partnerships along the way.” Jensen Ackles

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AWA RD RECIP IENTS CLASS ATHLETIC PRIZE Grade 9: Henry Ellis ’29, Hayley Fallquist ’29 Grade 10: Jaxsen Bailey ’28, Campbell Yates ’28 Grade 11: Zachary Fallquist ’27, Kayla Batres ’27 CLASS PRIZE Grade 9: Rajul Agarwal ’29 Grade 10: Silvana Hernandez ’28, Allegra Paquette ’28 Grade 11: Fiona Ellis ’27 MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS The Margaret Beach Howlett Award: Ellie Charette ’30, Audrey Cook ’30 The Marion Taft Taylor Middle School Motto Award: Charlie Atkinson ’30, Lulu Meisel ’30, Henry Motley ’30 UNDERCLASSMEN AWARDS The Jane Kentnor Dean ’52 Alumni Award: Lilah Romeo ’27 The Lynne A. Laukhuf Citizenship Prize: Henry Ellis ’29, Nathan Berhe ’28, Attalia Hayes ’28, Jose Tamayo ’27 The Wagner Award: En Qiao ’27 SENIOR AWARDS The Francis Burr Hardon Award: Jean-Gabriel Messier Delaval ’26 The David K. King Scholarship Award: Alexis Campbell ’26 The Angela Van Acker Award: Sydney LaForce ’26, Sadie Luth ’26, Capone Andrade ’26 The Lucie B. Warren Award: Tanvi Rajangam ’26 DEPARTMENT AWARDS The Computer Science, Engineering, and Design Award: Grace Owen ’26 The Barbara Conlan Award: Evie Herman ’26 The Susan Conlan Award: Evie Herman ’26, Danya Herman ’26 The Creative Writing Award: Briana Gomez ’26 The Amy Schwartz and OJ Burns English Award: Evie Herman ’26, Alexis Campbell ’26 The GLaD Prize: Peter Garrett ’26, Jean-Gabriel Messier Delaval ’26, Tony Tian ’26 The Martha Laffaye Award: Danya Herman ’26, Griffin Blanco ’26 The Joan Loomis Award: Alexis Campbell ’26 The Mandarin Award: Sean Kilcullen ’26 The Music Award: Alexis Campbell ’26 The Edward J. Denes Outstanding Athlete Award: Alex Barbagallo ’26 The Barbara Hellwig Rose Outstanding Athlete Award: Cate LaFreniere ’26 The Marijane Beltz Sportsmanship Award: Delilah Johnson ’26 The David M. Perry Sportsmanship Award: Oliver Rohrbasser ’26 The Sustainability Award: Delilah Johnson ’26 The Theater Award: Briana Gomez ’26 The Roger B. True Science Award: Tanvi Rajangam ’26 The Roger B. True Research Award: Anika Vaidheeswaran ’27 The Upton Award: Danya Herman ’26 The Visual Arts Award: Bella Fiordalis ’26 The Visual Arts Purchase Award: Lucy Logan ’26 The Whittle Award: Sean Kilcullen ’26, Claire Woodbury ’26 World Perspectives Award: Hadley Rosow ’26, Sydney LaForce ’26 22 | www.gfacademy.org

SOAR ON DRAGONS!

Amherst College (2) Bates College (3) Boston College (5) Boston University Bowdoin College Brown University (3) Bucknell University University of California - Berkeley University of Chicago Colby College Colgate University University of Colorado - Boulder (2) Columbia University (2) University of Connecticut Connecticut College Denison University University of Denver Duke University Elgin College Elon University Emory University

Fairfield University (2) Fordham University Georgia Institute of Technology Hamilton College Hampton University Harvard University (3) Iona University Lafayette College Lehigh University Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Miami University of Michigan (7) Muhlenberg College University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (2) Northeastern University (2) University of Notre Dame (2) Oberlin College University of Pennsylvania Providence College University of Rhode Island

Rice University University of Richmond (2) Santa Clara University University of Southern California Texas Christian University (2) Trinity College Tufts University (4) Tulane University (3) University of Utah Villanova University University of Virginia (3) Virginia Tech Wake Forest University Washington & Lee University Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Wesleyan University (3) University of Wisconsin (3) Yale University (2)

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middle school THEATER

presents

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Upper school THEATER PERFORMING ARTS

presents

Macbeth

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spring Concerts

Performing ARTS PERFORMING arts

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Summer 2026 | 27

i b a W sabi

the art of

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Each spring, Upper School students step beyond the traditional schedule for May Term, a week of immersive, interdisciplinary learning. This year, students selected from 20 seven-day courses designed to enrich the GFA experience beyond the core curriculum. Whether exploring the arts, sciences, culture, leadership, or the outdoors, May Term invites students to pursue new interests, engage deeply with a single topic, and build meaningful connections with classmates and faculty in ways that are impossible during the regular school year. One of this year’s May Term offerings invited students to explore the intersection of art, literature, and cultural traditions through the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi—finding beauty in imperfection, simplicity, and change. Taught by Michele Sommer and Gail Greiner, the course combined hands-on artistic practice with literary reflection. Students learned sashiko stitching, experimented with natural dyes, created ceramic vessels, and studied and composed haibun poetry. A special highlight was working with ceramic artist Vicente Garcia of Studio Garcia, whose guidance helped students connect the course’s artistic and philosophical themes. Students also participated in a raku firing, a centuries-old Japanese ceramic process that embraces unpredictability and transformation. Through fire, smoke, and chance, they experienced firsthand the Wabi Sabi values of imperfection, spontaneity, and acceptance. By weaving together visual art, literature, history, and cultural traditions, the course offered a powerful example of interdisciplinary learning and encouraged students to find beauty in the handmade, the imperfect, and the everyday. Summer 2026 | 29

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athletics

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS It was another historic, banner-raising school year for GFA athletics, highlighted by seven more championships won over the 2025-26 school year. The winning tradition echoed across campus as three powerhouse programs dominated postseason play. Girls varsity soccer secured an unforgettable double, capturing both the FAA League title and the New England (NEPSAC) crown. On the courts, boys varsity squash reached the pinnacle of the sport, bringing home both New England and National Championships. Meanwhile, wrestling continued its absolute reign of dominance, sweeping the FAA League, Western New England, and New England titles for an incredible third consecutive year. The Dragons also placed fifth at Prep Nationals for the fourth straight year. Beyond the championship teams, GFA’s athletic program provided meaningful opportunities for athletes at every level, with more than 130 junior varsity contests held throughout the year, fostering skill development, competition, and a lifelong love of sport. Add in more than 20 student-athletes heading to college to play and countless All-League and AllNew England performers and you can see why our Dragons are so successful in their respective athletic arenas.

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athletics

WRESTLING

Wrestling continued its recent success, sweeping the FAA, Western New England, and New England championships before placing fifth in the country at Prep Nationals for the fourth straight season. It was GFA’s fifth straight FAA title, sixth straight Western New England ground, and fourth straight New England overall title. Seven different Dragons won New England championships in their respective weight classes, and Jack Conroy ’06 was named National Prep Coach of the Year. Two Dragons won national championships, with Maximus Konopka ’27 taking top honors at 215 pounds and Kayla Batres ’27, the country’s number one ranked wrestler in her weight class, taking the crown at 114 pounds.

BASEBALL

Head coach Paul Fabbri called this one of his most rewarding seasons, praising a team that never stopped competing or supporting one another through every challenge. While the results did not always reflect the effort, the Dragons continued to grow together throughout the spring, demonstrating resilience, commitment, and a genuine belief in one another from the first game to the last. The Dragons said goodbye to three seniors at the conclusion of the season, while junior Charlie Rosen ’27 earned All-FAA honorable mention honors in recognition of his strong play.

GOLF

Forced to move from their usual home at the Birchwood Country Club due to renovations, the Dragons called Country Club of Fairfield home this spring and played some of their best golf in years. With Leo Lane ’28 often playing out of the top spot, the Dragons posted a 7-6 regular season record before finishing fourth at the FAA championships, where the team’s improvement and depth was on full display. Each Dragon golfer shot under 90 at the the first time that has happened in program 32 championship, | www.gfacademy.org history.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Dragons put together another strong season, finishing 15-7 in the regular season and advancing to the FAA semifinals. The season was especially memorable for London Powell ’27 and Sarah von Dohlen ’26, who each eclipsed 1,000-career points. Von Dohlen also broke the school record for most three-pointers in a game, sinking 11 in a 76-30 win over Cheshire Academy. BOYS BASKETBALL

The Girls JV Basketball went undefeated, won the FAA JV tournament championship, and extended their winning streak to 20 games (dating back to last season).

With a single senior on the roster, the Dragons grew considerably over the course of the regular season, finishing 10-12. Five of the team’s losses came by single digits. The Dragons gained valuable postseason experience in both the FAA and New England tournaments, experience that will serve the team’s young roster well next season. One highlight was a 42-point win over Harvey School, which had knocked GFA out of the New England tournament in each of the previous two seasons. The Boys JV Basketball team finished 4-9, while the JV2 squad went 2-12. BOYS SQUASH

GIRLS SQUASH

Led by a veteran group of five seniors, the boys squash team peaked at the right time of the season. After posting a 13-4 regular season and making it to the FAA semifinals, the Dragons added two big championship runs to cap their banner season.

One year after winning their second New England championship, the girls squash team remained competitive, finishing the regular season with a 10-11 record. The Dragons carried a two-match winning streak into U.S. Squash’s High School Nationals, where they continued to show their competitiveness against strong opposition.

At U.S. Squash’s High School Nationals, GFA won the Division II championship by beating Loomis-Chaffee (52), Gilman School (6-1) and league rival Hopkins (4-1) in the title match. One week later, the Dragons took part in the New England championship tournament and again won out to claim that title.

In the first two rounds, the Dragons lost a pair of 4-3 matches, but they rallied back, ending the tournament with a 4-3 win. The team only loses two seniors, making for a bright future.

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BOYS LACROSSE

The Dragons posted a 7-5 campaign this year, capping their regular season with three straight wins to clinch another FAA playoff spot. GFA only lost two league games, establishing them once again as one of the FAA’s most competitive programs. The strong finish reflected the team’s growth over the course of the season and carried momentum into the postseason. Although the Dragons said goodbye to a large senior class, the program returns plenty of depth and experience to build on this year’s success.

GIRLS LACROSSE

It was another solid season for the girls lacrosse team, which posted a 9-4 regular season mark. In the FAA semifinals, the Dragons fell by a 6-4 loss to Greenwich Academy, which often skips the league playoffs but took part this spring season. The Dragons had taken a four-game winning streak into the postseason, showing the team was playing well at the right time of the season. There was a lot of young talent out on the field for the Dragons, which bodes well for coming seasons on the lacrosse field. SAILING

The GFA Sailing Team enjoyed another outstanding season, highlighted by a third-place finish at the Connecticut State Championship and qualifications for the Atlantic Coast Championship, the New England Team Race Championship (Terk), the New England Fleet Race Championship (O’Day), and the National Fleet Race Invitational (Phebe King). Six sailors earned All-FCSL honors, with Caroline Collins also named FCSL Open Crew of the Year and an Academic AllAmerican, and Stokes Carrigan was named Coach of the Year. Congratulations to our graduating seniors and to next year’s captains, Avery Beck and Colin Verrengia, as the program continues its tradition of excellence.

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SOFTBALL

Coming off their annual spring training trip to Florida, the Dragons were a competitive squad this season. They just missed out on an FAA playoff spot, finishing one win shy of qualifying. The squad capped the regular season with a convincing 16-0 win over Hamden Hall, sending the young team into the offseason with some momentum. Delilah Johnson ’26, Devin Lee ’27, and Natalie Blazovic ’26 earned AllFAA honors while Lee earned an All-New England nod in addition to her league honor.

athletics

BOYS TENNIS

A new-look Dragons squad embraced the challenge of the spring season, continuing to develop while competing in a strong FAA field. GFA finished the regular season with a 5-6 record before closing on a three-match winning streak, a reflection of the team’s steady progress throughout the year. Noah Richer ’28 emerged as one of the league’s top players, advancing to the FAA Singles Championship despite playing through a wrist injury. His runner-up finish highlighted a promising season for a team with plenty to build on next spring.

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

Powered by an experienced roster that featured 13 seniors among its 18 players, the Ultimate Frisbee team once again enjoyed an outstanding season. The Dragons went undefeated during the regular season, continuing the program’s tradition of excellence and earning another appearance in the state tournament. Their postseason run ended against the eventual state champion, but the senior class leaves behind a legacy of consistent success and leadership that has helped establish Ultimate Frisbee as one of GFA’s most successful programs.

GIRLS TENNIS

A young GFA tennis team put together an impressive spring, using an early four-match winning streak to finish with a 7-5 record. The season reflected the group’s continued development and competitive spirit as players gained valuable experience throughout the year. The doubles team of Piper Rothman ’26 and Lacey Angerthal ’26, the team’s only seniors, capped the season with a standout performance at the FAA Doubles Championship, defeating a higher-seeded team and providing one of the spring’s highlights.

TRACK AND FIELD

The track and field team enjoyed a record-setting spring, and more than 20 athletes on the girls team in particular gave the Dragons the depth to compete across multiple events. The squad was bolstered by the addition of the field hockey standout Cam Blessey ’27, who showed herself to be a topnotch distance runner for the Dragons this season. With Cate LaFreniere ’26 in the sprints and Lolade Oshin ’26 in sprints and jumps, the addition of Blessey alongside Hadley Rosow ’26 gave GFA a lot of front-line FAA runners.

POST- SEASON HONORS WINTER

SPRING SPORTS

BOYS VARSITY TENNIS

EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS

Cate LaFreniere, Piper Rothman

Sydney LaForce, Ben Lublinsky

Most Valuable Player: Ben Lublinsky, Noah Richer Most Improved Player: Sean Kilcullen

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL

BASEBALL

Coaches Award: Jack Nally Most Improved Player: Nasir Dunlap Most Valuable Player: Zach Fallquist

Coaches Award: Henry Ellis Heart of the Dragon: Will Blitzer Most Valuable Player: Charlie Rosen

BOYS JV TENNIS

Coaches Award: Baylor Rothman GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS

JV BOYS BASKETBALL

GOLF

Coaches Award: Max MacDonald

Coaches Award: Graham Ackerman, Nate Thumser Most Improved Player: Topher Porter Most Valuable Player: Leo Lane

JV2 BOYS BASKETBALL

Coaches Award: Brandon Katsuyama

Heart of the Dragon: Lacey Angerthal, Piper Rothman Most Valuable Player: Lohanna Costa GIRLS JV TENNIS

Coaches Award: Lulu Sparkman VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL

VARSITY BOYS LACROSSE

Coaches Award: Adrianna Hardison Coaches Award: Sarah von Dohlen Heart of the Dragon: Stella Paquette Most Improved Player: Allegra Paquette Most Valuable Player: London Powell

Most Improved Player: Ryan Savicki Most Valuable Player: Brady Jordan Offensive Player of the Year: Will Horton Defensive Player of the Year: Peter Garrett

JV GIRLS BASKETBALL

Coaches Award: Valentina Cano

GIRLS VARSITY LACROSSE

VARSITY BOYS SQUASH

Coaches Award: Sadie Luth Most Improved Player: Stella Paquette Most Valuable Player: Sydney LaForce

Coaches Award: Tony Tian Most Improved Player: Anthony Low Most Valuable Player: Owen Hecker

GIRLS JV LACROSSE

Coaches Award: Ella Olson, Gracie Sage JV BOYS SQUASH

Coaches Award: Oliver Williams

SAILING

Coaches Award: Alexis Campbell Most Improved Player: Amelia Bargas, Lanie Campisi Most Valuable Player: Claire Woodbury

Coaches Award: Caroline Collins, Alex Weiner “Locked In” Most Valuable Player: Avery Beck Corinthian Spirit Seamanship Award: Glen Foster

WRESTLING

SOFTBALL

Heart Of The Dragon: Blake Jacobson Jeff Morrison Coaches Award: Jeremy McGrath Most Outstanding Wrestler: Kayla Batres, Max Konopka Pat Lennon Most Improved Wrestler: Jackson Heslin 36 | www.gfacademy.org Rookie Of The Year: Jaxon Sgrulletta

Coaches Award: Maddison Adams-Stevens Most Valuable Player: Delilah Johnson Offensive Player of the Year: Devin Lee Defensive Player of the Year: Natalie Blazovic

VARSITY GIRLS SQUASH

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

Coaches Award: Tyler Neiva Most Improved Player: Griffin Blanco Most Valuable Player: Max MacDonald TRACK AND FIELD

Coaches Award: Hudson Graybill, Luke Rassias, Lachlan Schneider Most Valuable Player: Bryce Acheychek, Cam Blessey, Cate LaFreniere Most Improved Player: Briggs Davidson, Hadley Rosow

athletics

COLLEGE COMMITMENTS At the Spring College Commitment Ceremony, Head of School Bob Whelan and Director of Athletics & Physical Education Eric Lee shared the 16 athletes from the Class of 2026 who will be playing at the college level. They join seven athletes who were previously honored this fall. The athletes who were honored included: Henry Basham (Rowing, Bates College), Caroline Collins (Sailing, Tufts University), Lauren DeLaurentiis (Women’s Soccer, Iona College), Glen Foster (Sailing, Boston College), Jack Francis (Wrestling, Trinity College), Kimoni Giles (Wrestling, Muhlenberg College), Adrianna Hardison (Women’s Basketball, Elgin College), Lukas Kazemekaitis (Men’s Squash, Wesleyan University), Clementine Kirt (Rowing, Harvard University), Catherine LaFreniere (Field Hockey, Amherst College), Eliza Legnani (Women’s Volleyball, Bowdoin College), Joseph Mahoney (Wrestling, Wesleyan University), Piper Rothman (Women’s Soccer, Connecticut College), Eli Rubinchik (Men’s Squash, Colby College), Stewart Upson (Men’s Squash, Denison University) and Caeleb Wilderman (Wrestling, Washington & Lee University).

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The Centennial Fund for Faculty Excellence: Advancing Teaching and Learning at GFA

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At GFA, faculty members inspire students not only through their expertise and scholarship but through their dedication to continuous growth. Their commitment to learning models the very curiosity, resilience, and intellectual engagement we seek to cultivate in our students. Recognizing that exceptional teaching requires ongoing investment, GFA established the Centennial Fund for Faculty Excellence as a key component of the school’s comprehensive campaign, Lives of Purpose: The Centennial Campaign for GFA. The annual income from this permanent endowment fund provides resources for advanced study, professional development, conference participation, and collaborative learning opportunities that strengthen teaching and enrich the student experience. This year, the fund is already making an impact through GFA’s ongoing partnership with educator and author Doug Lemov and the Teach Like a Champion team. In June, members of the Math and Science Departments gathered for an intensive summer retreat focused on instructional practices that support student learning. Led by Erica Woolway of Teach Like a Champion, faculty explored lesson design, checking for understanding, cognitive science, and strategies for building student fluency and problem-solving skills. The retreat is part of a broader effort to strengthen instructional coherence across departments and ensure that students experience clear, rigorous, and engaging learning opportunities throughout their academic journey. The partnership will continue throughout the coming year. On June 18, Doug Lemov returned to campus to lead a full-day retreat for GFA’s Faculty Inquiry Group leaders, helping faculty develop inquiry cycles focused on concrete classroom practices that improve student outcomes and deepen learning. These opportunities reflect the vision behind the Centennial Fund for Faculty Excellence: creating a culture where educators continue to learn, collaborate, and refine their craft. When faculty members grow professionally, students benefit directly through stronger instruction, richer classroom experiences, and deeper engagement in learning. Everything we enjoy at GFA today exists because previous generations invested in the future of the school. As GFA begins its second century, the Centennial Fund for Faculty Excellence ensures that commitment continues—supporting the educators who shape the lives of students every day and preserving the tradition of excellence that defines a GFA education. Summer 2026 | 39

From Classroom to

Cosmos

On a rainy April afternoon, a group of GFA students launched a payload towards space. Packed inside a small styrofoam box were cameras, sensors, microcontrollers, scientific experiments, and even messages from eighth grade students traveling alongside a Lego passenger. Lifted by a high-altitude weather balloon near the Catskills, the payload climbed to more than 90,000 feet before descending back to Earth hours later in northeastern Connecticut. For the students behind the project, the launch was the culmination of months spent designing, building, programming, testing, troubleshooting, and revising—work that mirrors the realities of aerospace engineering.

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Tracking the journey: After launching near the Catskill Mountains, GFA’s high-altitude balloon climbed more than 90,000 feet before descending in northeastern Connecticut, carrying student-designed experiments through the edge of Earth’s atmosphere.

This year, GFA students pursued two major aerospace initiatives. In Advanced Engineering, upper schoolers developed and launched a near-space payload equipped to collect atmospheric data on temperature, pressure, and humidity. Another student team earned national recognition through NASA’s TechRise Student Challenge, becoming one of just 60 teams across the country selected to develop an experiment for suborbital spaceflight. Their project, “Electromagnetic 3D Printing in Space for Solving Critical Issues,” investigates how electromagnetic forces could support 3D printing in microgravity environments—research connected to the future of long-duration space travel. Throughout the year, the team worked directly with NASA mentors and aerospace professionals as they refined the experiment ahead of a scheduled summer launch aboard a Virgin Galactic spacecraft. The work itself has been equal parts ambitious and unpredictable. Cameras detached during a rough landing. Weather delayed launches. Equipment shifted on impact. Students recovered damaged payloads, analyzed incomplete data, rebuilt components, and prepared for the next flight. That process became part of the learning.

Rather than encountering engineering as a fixed set of instructions, students experienced it as an evolving cycle of experimentation, adaptation, and problem-solving. They learned to code sensors, track flight paths, analyze atmospheric data, and design systems capable of surviving nearspace conditions. Just as importantly, they learned how scientific work continues through setbacks, revisions, and uncertainty. The projects reflect the kind of learning GFA continues to prioritize as part of our strategic direction, Lives of Purpose: work that evolves alongside the world students are preparing to enter. In aerospace engineering, that has meant moving beyond simulations and into authentic experimentation—where launches are delayed by weather, landings do not always go as planned, and every flight produces new questions to solve. Later this summer, a group of GFA students will watch as a payload they designed is carried aboard a suborbital spacecraft. Months earlier, the same project existed only as sketches, conversations, and ambitious ideas shared around a table. Now, it is headed for space.

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A New Home for Athletics and Wellness For the past three years, the Athletics & Wellness Center (AWC) has gradually become part of the visual landscape at GFA. This summer, its doors officially opened, marking the completion of a project first introduced to the community in 2023 as part of Lives of Purpose: The Centennial Campaign for GFA.

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The 30,000-square-foot facility reflects GFA’s longstanding belief that athletics and wellness are essential parts of a student’s education and growth. At its center is a flexible field house that provides additional court space for middle school and junior varsity volleyball and basketball teams, easing scheduling constraints that previously pushed some Upper School practices and games in particular later into the evening. In addition, the space adds two new squash courts with viewing galleries, a dedicated wrestling room, a high-performance training area, a fitness center, and a sports medicine suite equipped for injury prevention and rehabilitation. In bringing these resources together under one roof, the AWC makes wellness a more visible part of daily campus life, and gives students new opportunities to challenge themselves, build resilience, strengthen relationships, and pursue excellence.

athletics administration and coaching, makes her uniquely prepared to lead this next phase of growth.

The opening of the facility also coincides with a new chapter in GFA athletics leadership. On July 1, Jen Harris became Director of Athletics after nearly two decades of service to the school as a teacher, coach, Assistant Director of Athletics, and, most recently, Associate Director of Athletics. Her deep understanding of GFA, combined with her experience in

Mrs. Bolton once noted, “It is on the playing fields more than anywhere else that character is built.” The Athletics & Wellness Center carries that conviction forward, creating spaces where students can care for their well-being, challenge themselves, and develop the confidence and character that have long been hallmarks of a GFA education.

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For Harris, the AWC reflects a broader vision for student development: “It will be a cornerstone of our community,” she said, “a place where teams build unity, students forge lifelong connections with peers and mentors, and individuals discover what it means to feel healthy and confident in their own skin.” That vision extends well beyond competitive athletics. While student-athletes will benefit from new spaces to train and compete, the building was thoughtfully designed to support every student’s well-being and sense of belonging. “At GFA, we meet students exactly where they are,” Harris said. “The AWC will provide countless opportunities to ensure every student is seen, known, and supported for who they are today and who they strive to be tomorrow.”

“It is on the playing fields more than anywhere else that character is built.” Mary Bolton First Head of School

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“It’s an incredibly exciting time for GFA Athletics. The opening of our new Athletics & Wellness Center (AWC) represents far more than just a state-of-theart competition and training facility. It will be a cornerstone of our community—a place where Upper and Middle School teams build unity, students across all divisions forge lifelong connections with peers and mentors, and individuals discover what it means to feel healthy and confident in their own skin.” Jennifer Harris Director of Athletics

As construction of the Athletics & Wellness Center neared completion, members of the Class of 2026 signed the building’s beams, leaving a mark on a space that will support generations of GFA students.

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Kylie Bell

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alumni For Kylie Bell ’09, creativity has always been part of her story. From singing in the Harbor Blues to working in the fashion world, she has long been drawn to art, design, and vintage treasures. Today, that creative instinct has taken a new form, with the launch of The ACK Sack, a distinctive line of bags inspired by Nantucket lightship baskets. Kylie’s path to entrepreneurship has been anything but predictable. After growing up in Southport and attending college at Tulane in New Orleans, she moved to New York City upon graduating in 2013. After a plethora of odd jobs and internships, she found herself as a celebrity stylist assistant, responsible for pulling accessories for red carpet events. She later became a manager at The RealReal, an online marketplace for resale luxury goods, where she traveled all five boroughs, digging through some of the most fabulous closets throughout the city. These experiences sharpened her eye for design and style, and made her realize she wanted to start a creative venture of her own. In 2019, she unexpectedly found herself moving to Las Vegas. “I came out for a girls’ weekend and ended up meeting my husband,” Kylie recalls, laughing. “Now I’m living here with a beautiful view of Red Rock Canyon.” While Las Vegas offered a dramatic change of scenery, it initially lacked the creative outlets she had grown accustomed to. Looking for a creative project of her own, Kylie stumbled upon the idea that would eventually become The ACK Sack. “I had a grocery bag printed with an Hermès Birkin on it and thought it was such a clever idea,” she explains. That moment sparked the idea of a printed tote bag featuring the classic Nantucket basket design, especially after a kismet discovery in a Vegas thrift store, where she found a Nantucket basket she would then use for her initial design. Turning the idea into reality required persistence. Kylie had the vintage basket photographed, worked with a factory to develop the product, and began reaching out to retailers

on Nantucket to see if anyone would carry it. The response exceeded her expectations. “The first store ordered a small amount and quickly put in another order of 500,” she says. Since then, the business has continued to grow. Kylie partnered with the Nantucket Historical Association on a special edition bag, featuring a basket made by one of the island’s most prolific weavers, José Formoso Reyes. A portion of the proceeds support the organization’s work preserving the island’s history. Her design is also patent pending, an exciting milestone as she continues to expand the brand. Today, the ACK Sack can be found in select stores on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, as well as in New Canaan and Boston. Kylie has launched a new website (https://www.theacksack.com) while exploring pop-up events, including one at the Greenwich Polo Club this past spring. Part of the appeal, she explains, is that the bags offer a playful and accessible way to celebrate the tradition of Nantucket baskets, which are often expensive and collectible. “There’s a renewed appreciation for heritage brands and classic style,” Kylie says. “People are gravitating toward timeless pieces again.” Kylie credits much of her aesthetic sensibility to her mother, Susan, who introduced her to antiquing and thrifting from a young age. “We used to go to vintage stores together all the time,” she says. “That really shaped my love of unique and well-made things.” Her time at GFA also played an important role in shaping her confidence and creative interests. The school was a constant presence in the Bell family’s life—her siblings Curren ’07 and Ian ’15 are also alumni. During her time on campus, Kylie was part of the Harbor Blues and vividly remembers the first time she had to sing alone in front of the entire school. “It was terrifying,” she says. “But once I did it, I felt this huge sense of accomplishment.”

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Moments like that helped build confidence and resilience, qualities that have served her well as an entrepreneur. She also credits GFA with instilling the importance of hard work and perseverance. “GFA really taught me the value of putting in the work and pushing yourself,” she says. Kylie also remembers the encouragement she received from faculty members like Ed Denes and OJ Burns, who supported her individuality and helped create an environment where students felt comfortable exploring their interests. Like many business owners, Kylie has learned along the way, from navigating production logistics to managing customer expectations. “Starting a business is definitely a learning curve,” she says. “You have to be willing to adapt and figure things out as you go.” Looking ahead, Kylie is excited about the future of The ACK Sack. She currently has a collaboration with the brand Hill House, which features photos of Nantucket baskets paired with Hill House’s classic prints and will hopefully expand the brand’s reach even further. As The ACK Sack continues to grow, Kylie approaches her work with the same confidence and creativity she first began developing on Beachside Avenue. What started as a spark of inspiration has grown into something larger: a chance to turn her eye for design and love of vintage style into a brand that reflects both tradition and imagination.

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’86

Donna (More) Volpitta

Long before she was developing frameworks or teaching others about the brain, Donna Volpitta, Ed.D., was interested in a fundamental question: how do people learn to think, make decisions, and respond to challenges? This interest in how people think grew from her own experience as a student. Growing up with two working parents, Donna developed a strong sense of self-reliance from a young age, and she quickly learned to navigate challenges and think for herself. At GFA, she found a close-knit community and formed friendships that lasted well beyond graduation. She also developed meaningful relationships with teachers like Angela Van Acker and Headmaster Jim Coyle, who encouraged students to think for themselves and engage with the world around them.

That foundation—learning how to think, not just what to think—remained with her. Years later, in her own classroom, Donna began to notice a shift: year by year, students seemed less equipped to manage setbacks. This raised deeper questions about how children develop resilience in everyday life. As a mother of four, she was seeing those same challenges play out at home. “I became really interested in resilience as a parent,” she says. “Not just how we respond when things go wrong, but how we help prepare kids to handle challenges in the first place.”

“Challenge is good. Face it early and often.”

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alumni

“Kids need to struggle to build confidence. When we remove every obstacle, we take away their opportunity to learn how to handle challenges and develop that confidence.” Looking for answers, she turned to psychology and neuroscience, drawing on her studies at Middlebury, Boston University, and Columbia University’s Teachers College to better understand what was happening and how to address it. In 2014, she published The Resilience Formula: A Guide to Proactive Not Reactive Parenting, offering practical advice for parents to help foster resilience in their children through intentional daily experiences. At the center of Donna’s work is a belief that understanding how the brain works should be part of everyone’s education. “People aren’t taught how their brains work, but it’s one of the most important things we can understand,” she says. From this idea, she developed the Resilient Mindset Model, a proactive framework to help students, educators, and families better understand how their thinking shapes behavior, making brain science practical and usable in everyday life. In 2019, Donna met her business partner, Jason Schofield, which she identifies as a game-changing moment. Together, they launched Pathways to Empower, an organization dedicated to translating brain science into practical tools. In 2020, they created their first course, an online college course, which was offered for extra credit in a class at SUNY Oswego. The course saw a 98% completion rate and a 98% student approval rating, with students consistently asking the same question, “Why didn’t anyone teach us this before?” What began as a small effort quickly expanded

into a broader body of work, courses, workshops, and resources designed to help educators and families apply these ideas in real-world settings. In partnership with the publisher Kendall Hunt, Donna and Jason developed educational content that teaches applied neuroscience and the foundations of mental health literacy, spanning kindergarten through college. The content includes teacher training, video-based lessons, and age-appropriate materials designed to make neuroscience both accessible and actionable. Additionally, in 2023, they partnered with Annie Slease to launch The Mental Health Literacy Collaborative, which helps educators understand how to meet the growing mandates to teach mental health education. Their one-hour Mental Health Literacy Aware program increases teacher confidence about teaching mental health literacy from 49% to 98%. More recently, Donna and Jason have turned their attention to younger audiences. In the fall of 2025, they launched Danni Dragonfly, a YouTube channel focused on teaching preschool children, educators, and caregivers about brain health and resilience through songs, animated videos, and puppets. Across all of Donna’s work, certain core ideas remain consistent. One is that resilience cannot be taught with-

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out challenge. “Kids need to struggle to build confidence,” she says. “When we remove every obstacle, we take away their opportunity to learn how to handle challenges and develop that confidence.” She also feels strongly about the effects of over-monitoring, arguing that tools like location tracking can unintentionally send the message that the world is unsafe and that children are not capable of navigating it on their own. “The adolescent brain is wired for making mistakes and becoming independent,” she says. “If we take that away, we deprive them of the chance to grow.” As social media, marketing, and artificial intelligence continue to shape daily life, Donna believes human, not technical, skills will matter most in the years ahead. She also emphasizes the importance of understanding how these systems interact with the brain, often pointing to her favorite quote from Edward O. Wilson: “The real problem of humanity is the following: We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technology. And it is terrifically dangerous, and it is now approaching a point of crisis overall.” Check out

If Donna could offer one takeaway for today’s students, it would be not to avoid challenges. “Challenge is good,” she says. “Face it early and often.” It’s a mindset that has shaped her own path as much as her work—one that sees challenge not as something to avoid, but as an essential part of building a life of purpose.

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The Danni Dragonfly YouTube Channel

Class Notes

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1969

1982

Caro Dellenbaugh

Classmates Melissa Spohn-Wenman, Denyce Kehoe, Susan Pratt, and Katherine (Snead) Ranallo celebrated Katherine’s 61st birthday in Vermont.

I love being an assistant teacher in Parent Child Programs at Green Meadow Waldorf School. I am an avid hiker and gardener, too.

1983 1976

Othar Hansson

Peter Estelle

I have moved into executive coaching as a retirement gig, after retiring from Google in October 2025. In my last few years there, I coached hundreds of employees and ran a leadership development program. In that work, I reflected a lot on the great teachers who coached, encouraged, and inspired us at GFA. They saw whatever person I was trying to become, probably before I did, and helped me get there. Ellen and I are in Sunnyvale, CA. We have gotten into ping pong (why was this not a gym option at GFA?), and we also ski, bike, play board games, and cook. I’d love to reconnect with GFA folks anytime.

50-year reunion. Time Flies. WOW. I’m glad some of our classmates attended; unfortunately, the timing and distance didn’t work for me. Michele Orris Modugno, I appreciate your notes as always. Classmates, here is a quick recap since our graduation day: I enjoyed four years at UNC-Chapel Hill, moved to Chevy Chase, MD, married Leslie in 1982, and worked for 42 years in global commercial insurance/risk finance and risk management, which often entailed international travel. I’ve lived in Seattle, WA; Richmond, VA; Potomac, MD; and Charlotte, NC, and now live in the Phoenix area. I retired on Groundhog Day in 2023. I’ve been playing tennis, squash, pickleball, and golf since my college days, and mainly tennis, golf, and pickleball now. Leslie and I enjoy traveling the globe and the USA. My GFA years are good memories thanks to all of you, from the December day I showed up during our junior year. I hope your years have been filled with family, friends, adventures, and good health. 1981 Sarah Balsley

I founded an organization called The Flower Project. We grow local, chemical-free dahlias and tulips, which we sell and also give away to seniors and other members of the community who are in need of beauty, thanks, or welcome. We are lucky to grow at Millstone Farm, with space generously gifted by another GFA Rowayton family, the Van Reesemas. Grant Milner Lisa and I bid farewell to Illinois in 2019 after 22 years, trading the Midwest for the beauty and sunshine of Boulder, CO. Lisa is staying busy in the fitness industry as a Pilates instructor and private trainer. After retiring from corporate life last fall, I’ve finally traded Zoom calls for saw blades. I’m following a long-held passion for fine wood crafting, working part-time at a custom carpentry shop. Our sons, Alex (31) and Matthew (28), are both Purdue grads; Alex is living in Oregon, while Matthew is nearby here in Colorado.

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1986 Martin Bjorklund Greetings from a beautifully snowy Helsinki! To the Class of ’86—and to those from the Class of ’87 who endured my opinionated presence in U.S. history class and various athletic pursuits—I hope you all had a wonderful Reunion. Much as I would have loved to be there in person, I’ll be cheering you on from afar this year and hope to reconnect with as many of you as possible virtually. A special thanks to Donna (More) Volpitta for offering to help keep us all connected. Catherine Milton

I live in Branford, CT, with my husband, Bob, and have been a professor in the English department at Norwalk Community College for so long that when I started, there was no such thing as college email. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to cross paths with GFA friends Liz (Martin) Hering in St. Croix, where I shamelessly couch surf often, Kristen Donoghue and Jessica Rose in Washington, D.C., and Marianne Hoffman wherever a good lunch is served. Terrance Swords

I live in New York City and work with jukeboxes. Carleigh Welsh

I am the Vice President and Executive Producer at the Levitt Pavilion for Performing Arts. On the horizon we will present Charlie Hall ’92 and his longstanding

acclaimed project Get Up With It for a Miles Davis Centennial Concert Celebration on Monday, August 24. It is an honor to have Charlie light up our stage for what will be a season highlight and a hallmark of our America250 jazz programming. Fun fact/ centennial synchronicity: The event inception was at the GFA Centennial in 2025! 1992 Young-Tae Cha I’m writing from the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, my Olympic Marketing assignment at Samsung Electronics continues as I have been assigned to lead our LA28 Olympic Office from Los Angeles, CA. Some of you know that I moved to L.A in the summer of 2025. Hopefully, I will have a better chance to attend future GFA gatherings!

1997 Max Rosenberg It is turning out to be a wonderful year for the Rosenbergs. I received both the Democratic and Republican Party endorsements for Judge of Probate for Stratford, CT. Both my sons have earned their Eagle Scout with Troop 72. Zohar is a Junior at UCONN Storrs. Asher just graduated from St. Joe’s and is going to Rutgers Honors College in New Brunswick in the fall. My wife, Osi, is teaching the real estate agents certification class. I’m planning to have dinner with Nikhil Ramchandani ’95 and Cathy (Bajda) Ferguson ’95 this summer. Come visit us in Lordship, Stratford this summer.

2001 Amanda Glendinning

Amanda recently completed her 32nd halfmarathon in New York City. She was joined in the race by Erin Pulice. Together, they’ve run several half-marathons and one full marathon. Amanda has also completed 13 full marathons, and Erin is currently training for the London Marathon. Amanda recently moved to Washington, D.C., where she is leading Inspir Embassy Row, a senior living community with Maplewood, based in Westport.

1982 classmates Melissa Spohn-Wenman, Denyce Kehoe, Susan Pratt, and Katherine (Snead) Ranallo celebrating Katherine’s birthday

Visit Carleigh Welsh ’86 at the Levitt Pavilion in Westport for Charlie Hall’s ’92 “Get Up With It - A Miles Davis Centennial Celebration”

Young-Tae Cha ’92 at the Winter Olympics in Milan

Amanda Glendinning ’01 post half-marathon

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Samantha Wu I’ve been living in Weston, CT for the past 14 years with my husband and two crazy boys. I just recently retired as a Neonatal ICU nurse after 18 years and now work per diem as an Allergy and Immunology nurse in Norwalk. We’re living the dream, navigating raising little men, juggling 15 sports, working, traveling, and adulting. My 11-year-old plays on his elite soccer team at GFA and now makes fun of the fact that his mom went to a school where they have their own apple orchard. He’s just jealous. Life is good!

IG Schottlaender

IG and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their second child, Wells McFerran Schottlaender, in May. Hadley (Siegel) Springer

Hadley welcomed identical twin girls, Reese and Emmeline (Emme), on February 19. Their older daughter Harlow is thriving as a big sister! 2011 Margaret Harwood

2002

Maggie married Michael Wood on June 13 in Westport, MA.

Ben and Jon Matte caught up in New York City in June.

2012

Ben Paul

Kiera Wood

2005

Bridget and her husband, Jake, welcomed their fourth child, a daughter, Caroline, on April 15. She joins her three older brothers, Jack, Collin, and Keegan.

Bridget (La Croix) Lecky

2006

Lacey Berrien and JD O’Toole welcomed daughter Eloise McNamee O’Toole on April 23, 2026. Eloise joins big brother Bear (22 months).

Lacey Berrien

Kiera and her husband, Patcik O’Sullivan, welcomed their first daughter, Maeve Frances O’Sullivan, on April 3. 2014

Georgie married Taylor Hawfield in Mexico surrounded by family, including older brother Clay Garner ’13, parents Shelly (Stiegler) Garner ’83 and Jerrett Garner, and younger brother Griffin Garner ’15.

Georgie Garner Hawfield

Priya Gupta Priya married Jack Magrath in New Hampshire last summer.

After getting his MBA from Duke University, Jeff was inspired to pursue entrepreneurship through acquisition and has since purchased Charter Elevator, a Carolinasbased elevator service company. Jeff lives in Charlotte, NC, with his partner Hilary, and great dane, Thunder, and they are expecting their first child this summer.

Ivy Wappler Ivy just completed her master’s at the University of Hawaii. She has been living in Hawaii for five years, working and studying in the regenerative agriculture sector.

2008

2023

I am still living in Brooklyn Heights, leading Product at a healthcare tech startup in the city. No major life events to report on (partner, kids, etc), but I live right around the corner from Jenny Galvin ’08, Paige Auerbach ’08, and Jack Miner ’07, whom I run into regularly in the neighborhood.

Lane celebrated Wesleyan University’s NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis National Championship victory this spring.

Jeffrey Thompson

William McCalpin

2010 Francesca (Murray) Gerhardt

Francesca and her husband, Taylor Gerhardt, welcomed their second child, a baby boy, Wright Bedford Gerhardt, in September. 58 | www.gfacademy.org

Lane Durkin

2024

Francesca ran into former GFA Lower School Teaching Assistant Jessica Scioli at a Union College field hockey game at MIT. Jessica was Francesca’s third-grade teaching assistant in Christina Maloney’s classroom!

Francesca Sullivan

Ben Paul ’02 and Jon Matte in New York City

Maggie Harwood’s ’11 June wedding

Caroline Lecky, daughter of Bridget (LaCroix) Lecky ’05 with brothers, Jack, Collin, and Keegan

Kiera Wood’s ’12 daughter, Maeve O’Sullivan

Lacey Berrien ’06 with daughter Eloise and Libby Lindsey ’06 at Reunion in June

The wedding of Georgie Garner ’14 and Taylor Hawfield

Jeff Thompson ’06 and his wife, Hilary

Priya Gupta ’14 and her husband, Jack McGrath

Francesca (Murray) Gerhardt’s ’10 children, India and Wright

Lane Durkin ’23 and the Wesleyan Women’s Tennis National Championship team.

Hadley (Siegel) Springer ’10 with her husband Henry and their identical twin girls

Francesca Sullivan ’24 and her former GFA thirdgrade teaching assistant Jessica Scioli Summer 2026 | 59

JAMES CALLAHAN ’77

R E V. J A N E E N G L E B Y S I G L O H F O R M E R FAC U LTY The Rev. Jane Engleby Sigloh passed away in peace on February 20, surrounded by her family. Jane was educated in California, graduated from Sweet Briar College with a B.A. in English, and then earned a M.A. in English from Hollins University, and a M.A. in Theology from Yale Divinity School, becoming an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. Jane loved teaching at GFA. She loved her students and the literature they studied together. Her mantra was “ask questions that you do not know the answer to,” prompting a deeper curiosity and appreciation for the subject matter.

NONNYE WHEELER P ’ 8 2 , ’ 8 4, G P ’ 1 3, ’ 1 5, ’ 2 1 FORMER TRUSTEE Nonnye Louise Landers Wheeler, 89, passed away peacefully on May 4, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Clifton Springs, New York and graduated from Skidmore College. She was a trailblazer for women in the business world working for the Rockefeller Foundation, and later in the Business and Development office at SUNY Binghamton in the early 1970s. Nonnye was a GFA trustee from 1981 to 1985. Later, she managed the Wilmot Wheeler Foundation and various family enterprises, only starting to say she was going to retire a month before her passing. In 1974, Nonnye married Wilmot F. Wheeler, Jr. Their life in Southport was filled with wonderful friends, family, and a love and commitment to their community.

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James “Jim” Callahan passed away on January 1. Jim attended Ohio Wesleyan University and received an MBA from NYU before becoming a senior trader and banker on Wall Street. He later founded PentAlpha Global Advisors. Beyond his career, Jim found joy in pursuits that reflected his intellect and sense of adventure. He was a true Renaissance man whose intellectual curiosity, generosity of spirit, and passion for life inspired all who knew him.

J E N N I F E R WA Y N E L A R S O N ’ 8 0 Jennifer Wayne Larson, 63, passed away peacefully on March 11, after a courageous battle with multiple sclerosis. Jennifer was a graduate of Greens Farms Academy and the University of Vermont. After school, she primarily worked as a graphic designer for Conair, where she then met her husband Eric. With the arrival of her son Sean, she dedicated her life to being a supportive, fun, and loving mother. Over anything, her greatest joy was being around her family and friends.

CHRIS ELGEE ’93 Christopher “Chris” Michael Elgee, 51, passed away peacefully on April 10, due to complications from cancer. After graduating from GFA, he attended Fairfield University, and then received a M.A. from Albertus Magnus. Chris was an active participant in his community, especially the nonprofit Donate Life, who recognized Chris as their outstanding volunteer of the year in 2018. Chris navigated life with kindness, generosity, grace and humor, and will be missed dearly by those who knew him.

JANE KENTNOR DEAN ’52

A life of Connection Few alumni leave an imprint on a school across as many decades— or in as many different ways—as Jane Kentnor Dean ’52. From her years as a student at The Bolton School to her service as a Trustee, parent, volunteer, consultant, and GFA’s first Director of Development, Jane devoted much of her life to the community that first inspired her. Her connection to the school also became a family legacy when her daughter, Susan Pratt ’82, attended GFA. Jane served multiple terms on the Board of Trustees, was a member of the Alumni Council, and generously shared her time, wisdom, and enthusiasm with the school for decades. She passed away on May 31, 2026, at the age of 91. Jane arrived at Bolton as a fourth grader and often credited Mrs. Bolton and Ms. Laycock with shaping her experience as a student. Their belief in their students left a lasting impression, as did the close-knit community they created. As one of only eight graduates in the Class of 1952, Jane shaped that community in return, joining her classmates in designing the school shield and choosing the motto Quisque Pro Omnibus— “Each for All.” After earning her degree from Wellesley College, Jane devoted her career to nonprofit leadership, where GFA remained a constant in her life. She first returned to the school as a Trustee, then, in the 1970s, as the school’s first Director of Development, helping to establish an advancement program that strengthened the school’s connection with generations of alumni and families. When Head of School Janet Hartwell later invited her back as a development consultant, Jane was delighted to return. She reflected that, despite the school’s growth, “it’s everything we remember, but better.” In recognition of her extraordinary service to GFA, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award, and today the Jane Kentnor Dean ’52 Alumni Award is presented annually to a student whose service to the school reflects her own. Jane was fondly known as “the mayor” of Southport, where she spent the better part of 89 years. She was a lifelong learner and an avid reader who lived by her personal motto, “Connect. Connect. Connect.” She rarely missed an opportunity to recommend a favorite book, introduce two people who should know one another, or champion a worthwhile project. Even after more than 70 years, GFA remained one of her favorite things to share. Summer 2026 | 61

Reunion 6.6.26 GFA welcomed alumni to campus this June for Reunion, bringing together graduates from across the decades. The day began with a gathering of former faculty and staff, before alumni arrived on campus for tours and the chance to reconnect with one another. Later in the evening, GFA recognized Alex Perry ’06 with the Distinguished Alumni Award. As General Manager of Patagonia for Latin America, Perry leads the company’s business and environmental mission across the region. He credited the teachers, coaches, and community who first challenged him to think boldly, and reminded alumni that meaningful change begins when people come together around a shared purpose.

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save the date fall events

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Homecoming at GFA Families Welcome October 3, 2026 New York City Alumni Social & Networking Event October 7, 2026 Alumni Thanksgiving Event November 25, 2026 Young Alumni Open House December 17, 2026

Last October, we publicly launched Lives of Purpose: The Centennial Campaign for GFA. Historic in its scope and ambitious in its goals, the campaign will shape the future of our school. Your gift to the GFA Fund is a gift to the campaign—allowing you to be part of a huge collective impact and make an important statement about the value of a GFA education.

To give online, please visit www.gfacademy.org/give or scan the QR code. thank you for your support!

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GFA engages students as partners in an innovative, inclusive, and globally minded community to prepare them for lives of purpose.