PCDS The Bridge Magazine, Winter 2023

THE BRIDGE

THE BRIDGE

Phoenix Country Day School, Winter 2023

Andrew Rodin Head of School

Gay Firestone Wray Chair for Leadership

Roz Bolger Abero ’89 Assistant Head of School

Katie Charles Director of Annual Giving & Stewardship

Sam Cieplicki Director of Development

Leslie Kornreich Feldman ’99 Director of Alumni Relations

Chris Martinez Director of Communications & Marketing

Tina Pitts Advancement Coordinator

Lydia Rodin Advancement Events Coordinator and The Bridge Editor

Largo Photography, Mark Skalny Photography Feature Photography

Other photography and articles: PCDS students, faculty, and staff

The Bridge is published twice each calendar year—winter and summer. An Annual Report on Philanthropy is also sent each fall.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please email The Bridge at communications@pcds.org.

©2023 Phoenix Country Day School. All rights reserved.

This Page: Rudy Shieh ’35

Back Cover: Diya Shah ’33 and her LS classmates

Welcome to our Newest Trustees

PCDS Community,

In a world full of bright, shiny objects, it’s more difficult than ever to blaze a trail that leads you to a joyful conclusion. Especially with social media playing a front-and-center role in our lives, we’re routinely confronted with the allure of trappings that may seem like the way to go, but actually turn out to be a waste of time…or worse.

Fortunately, PCDS has built a reputation over the years of taking steps that are intentional and carefully measured. Sure, the growth may seem somewhat slow at times, but it’s the consistent forward progress that counts.

The main driver behind this steady evolution is our commitment to a series of Strategic Plans. Each covering our School’s projected needs over a five-year term, these strategic maps enable us to be laser-focused on the things that matter most. In this issue of The Bridge, you will have the opportunity to learn more about some of those key initiatives, including our dedication to building our community around our “Happy, Healthy, Hardworking” motto and to nurturing a student body that feels a deep sense of belonging at our School.

My encouragement to you beyond discovering more about these strategic positions is to join us in our effort to make that steady progress. After all, it truly takes a village to raise great kids.

Enjoy!

Jawad

“

PCDS instills in our children a set of principles and core values that help them not only navigate but thrive in this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. It’s an honor to serve on the Board of Trustees to help uphold these values and support the School in its deep commitment to a community that is happy, healthy, and hardworking.”

David Lewis President

Taylor Burke Executive Vice President and Vice PresidentTrusteeship

Charles W. Shields Vice PresidentFinance

Donna Johnson Vice PresidentAdvancement

Darryl Berger Vice PresidentStrategic Planning

Jordan Rose Vice PresidentFacilities Planning

Chris Ashby

Martin Felli

Mercedes Liljegren

Tim Louis ’81

Riad Nizam

Margaux Rosen

Julie Sabeeh

Tracy Schwimmer

Dan Silverman

Kiran Singh

Ex officio:

Andrew Rodin Head of School

Tiffany Pondelik ’00 President, Alumni Association

Gwen Gorlin President, Parents’ Association

Theresa Gregory P’22, ’25 “ PCDS has provided my children with an exceptional education and an all-around fantastic experience. It is a privilege to give back by serving on the Board of Trustees.

I’m excited to participate in the future of the School and proud to be part of this awesome community.”

Advisory Trustees:

Susan J. Bansak

Beverly Bradway

Daniel J. Donahoe III

Bennett Dorrance

Nick Firestone ’84

Susan Garrity

Samuel Garvin

Bert Getz

Donald R. Loback

Nan P. Miller

Jahm Najafi

Ellie B. Nolan

Frederick M. Pakis

Nicholas J. Sakellariadis ’69

Jonah Shacknai

Shoshana B. Tancer

Charlene Whitfill

Garth Wieger

Gay F. Wray

Dave Stearns P’28, ’30

“As a new Trustee, and more importantly as a parent of two children at PCDS, I am honored to be a part of advancing the mission of our School. I believe lifelong success begins with a solid foundation in education, and I am grateful to be a part of the success of our future generations.”

The PCDS Strategic Plan Gets a Refresh

In January of 2020, PCDS rolled out its latest Strategic Plan. While we remained focused on strategic priorities, there is no doubt that COVID required a significant redirection of energy for 2+ years. However, that interruption also presented opportunities and new context for some of our objectives. What follows is the letter sent from Andy Rodin to families, faculty, and staff in January 2023, announcing what we are calling a “Strategic Plan Refresh.”

On behalf of our Board of Trustees and its Strategic Planning Committee, I’m excited to present to you a rejuvenated version of our 2020 Strategic Plan and a modified timeline for completion, taking us out to 2027: two years beyond our original goal. While a refresh is not a standard operating procedure, the benefits for doing so through this particular cycle were compelling.

Many of you will remember that we initially released our 2020 Strategic Plan in January of 2020, just before the COVID-19 experience took over for the better part of 2.5 years. While we continued to press forward with our strategic initiatives as best we could, we had to shift our focus—especially in the earlier stages of managing the unique set of circumstances— to simply returning to campus and remaining in-person in as

safe a manner as possible. This refresh will capture some extra time to more effectively meet the markers established by the plan—in particular, those that encouraged us out into the greater Phoenix community, which was almost exclusively off-limits during the pandemic.

In addition, we’d like to follow the recommendation of our accrediting body, the Independent School Association of the Southwest (ISAS), and align our Strategic Plan timeline with our next ISAS accreditation process, which will largely take shape during the 2025-26 school year. The final report from the accrediting team, which is full of thoughtful and objective recommendations, is typically seen as a launchpad for a school’s strategic plan. So we’d like to seize that opportunity!

Finally, we’d like to bring the School’s Strategic Plan to the top of your feed. While internally we reference the plan on a daily basis, it’s been a while since we reminded our greater community of the plan and the role it plays in shaping our direction and decisions.

As you will see in the refreshed plan below, the vast majority resembles the plan we shared back in 2020: the seven primary tenets remain the same; many of the targeted action items endure; and the themes of balance, compassion, and self-awareness continue to shine through.

You will also notice a few “updates.” Through the last few years, we have learned a considerable amount—in part due to the pandemic, but also just thanks to the passage of time.

This new perspective has provided us with the impetus to make some slight adjustments, which we believe will set us on a much more meaningful course.

That said, I’d like to share a few highlights of achievements that were directed by the 2020 Strategic Plan. Since that plan was announced, we have:

• Completed an internal curriculum guide for faculty/ administration

• Refined and clarified our departmental organization and leadership

• Continued to leverage the Folio software used by all of our faculty

• Developed a diversity mission statement representing our commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Bolstered our counseling program with two additional staff

• Hired a Director of Campus Safety

• Made significant progress in sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing landfill waste generated by our campus

Thank you for your support, and Go Eagles!

Strategic Positions: Refreshed

We believe that the real magic in the internal PCDS community derives from our deep commitment to people who are happy, healthy, and hardworking. In every employee we hire, every student we accept, every student we support, and every family with whom we partner, we must value and promote these critical traits. We will continue to nurture and evolve a safe environment that brings out the very best in our students.

• Continue to treasure student-teacher relationships as a key element of student wellness

• Remain vigilant regarding campus security policies and practices

• Continue to offer an athletic program that balances inclusiveness with a competitive spirit

• Consistently explore opportunities to support programs and practices that nurture self-awareness, balance, and compassion

• Broaden commitment to more environmentally-friendly campus practices

• Prioritize parent education and communication

• Recruit and screen faculty and staff applicants with intentionality: HHH is a top priority

The strategic positions continue on page 8.

PCDS Counselors: A Powerhouse Team Dedicated to Students’ Mental Health

Our Strategic Plan highlights our commitment to a culture that’s “happy, healthy, and hardworking”, and almost no group is more integral to that goal than our counseling team. Driven by the Strategic Plan, PCDS has recently added two additional staff to constitute a team of five counselors on campus.

We asked our counselors to share a bit about what they do and what they love. Here’s what they had to say:

What does a PCDS counselor do?

Details vary across divisions, but we all provide social, emotional, and behavioral support to students individually and in small groups, as well as resources to families. We also get to know students through teaching a developmentally appropriate social-emotional learning curriculum. Helping students feel safe and supported at School is our most important role, so we work with teachers, administrators, and parents to help make sure that happens. We’re dedicated to helping students prioritize both their mental and physical well-being.

What

do you love about your role?

We love building relationships with students, helping them understand their emotions and communicate their feelings effectively. It’s so rewarding to earn a student’s trust, to facilitate their growth during a challenging situation, and to watch students demonstrate resilience and self-advocacy skills. It’s powerful collaborating with faculty and staff to implement student-centered practices, and most rewarding is knowing that we’ve made a positive difference in the lives of our students.

Anything else you’d like folks to know

about being a counselor at PCDS?

Carla Belsher: “I have worked at many schools across the country, and PCDS is truly a special place to work. The focus on social-emotional well-being, community building, and helping children excel in all parts of life is unmatched!”

Maria Roman: “I feel privileged to be a part of a community that not only understands the importance of social-emotional learning but integrates it into the curriculum.”

Katie Mitchell-Dodge: “Our community is incredible; we have supportive students, faculty, and staff, and the counseling department is a pretty amazing group of teammates. I feel so fortunate to be among them and our community.”

MEET THE COUNSELING TEAM

Carla Belsher Lower School Counselor

B.S.W., James Madison University, Family Studies

M.S.W., The Catholic University of America, Healthcare

First year at PCDS

Maria Roman Middle School Counselor (5th & 6th grade)

B.S., University of Central Florida, Health Services

M.S.E.D., St. John’s University, School Counseling

3 years at PCDS

Michele Huskey Middle School Counselor (7th & 8th grade)

B.S., Arizona State University, Psychology

M.C., Arizona State University, Counseling

16 years at PCDS

Katie Mitchell-Dodge Upper School Counselor

B.A., North Dakota State University

M.A., Educational Leadership, University of North Colorado

M.E., School Counseling, Prescott College

First year at PCDS

Molly Castro

Upper School Counselor and Director of Project Excellence

B.S.W., Concordia College, Social Work

M.S.W., Arizona State University, Social Work

15 years at PCDS

Strategic Positions: Refreshed

We believe that our ultimate responsibility is to provide for our students the most dynamic academic experience possible. What to this day separates PCDS from the crowd—and what will continue to do so into the future—is our unyielding dedication to academic excellence . This commitment is bolstered by a thoughtfully crafted, ever-evolving curriculum conveyed to students by expert teachers.

• Maintain program that balances academic fundamentals and facts with creativity, deep thinking, and relevant experiential learning

• Complete external version of curriculum guide for publication on the PCDS website

• Ensure that high academic standards across all grade levels and departments are integral to the PCDS experience

We believe that the classroom exchanges between teachers and students are the synapses of our educational nervous system. Much as our teachers ask our students to seek growth, we encourage our teachers to seek growth of their own. To support these endeavors, we offer dynamic professional development opportunities and will add to that a plan for the observation and formal evaluation of all faculty members on campus.

• Continue to leverage Folio software to deepen culture of collaboration, flexibility, innovation, and feedback among faculty and staff

• Finalize and activate a plan for review of all faculty and staff around essential professional expectations

• More deliberately share the outcomes of existing professional development opportunities and broadcast internal professional expertise

We believe that it is now time for PCDS, at over 60 years old, to serve as a thought partner to the greater Phoenix community: a knowledgeable, practiced, and steady point of association for local schools who are eager to push their own programs forward. Building on the model established over 30 years ago with Project Excellence, we will move beyond our own campus to make an impact.

• Continue offering programs that make PCDS accessible to a broad array of students, including robust financial aid and Project Excellence

• Amplify student service experiences that foster ongoing conversation and engagement both on and beyond our campus

• Elevate and professionalize relationships with local independent schools

• Strengthen bond with “feeder schools” from underrepresented Phoenix neighborhoods

• Keen receptivity to opportunities for partnerships and community outreach

We believe that the visual, digital, and performing arts should be central to the PCDS experience, as they provide meaningful and engaging connections with the world around us, while simultaneously deepening our understanding of ourselves. Having recently lent extensive attention to other facets of our co-curricular program, including athletics, it is now time to train a conscious focus on the arts.

• Continue building on established strengths in the arts, including varied course offerings across disciplines and hiring faculty who are arts professionals

• Explore opportunities to embed the arts visually across campus

• Build a first-rate performing arts center that supports music education, balancing traditional practices with modern, innovative, and diverse offerings

• Harness current arts integration practices and expand more deliberately across the curriculum

• Amplify the ways the arts nurture balance, compassion, and self-awareness

• Highlight: Launch PlayOn! Campaign focused on enhancing arts facilities and offerings

We believe that the characteristics articulated in the PCDS Portrait of a Graduate must serve as our compass through all we endeavor to accomplish. Central to these core values are deliberate, pedagogically sound, and age-appropriate discussions around diversity, inclusivity, and acceptance

• Maintain strong racial, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity among our student body and continually seek opportunities to broaden student sense of belonging

• Continue practices to ensure diverse representation on the Board of Trustees and committees

• Enhance professional development to help faculty navigate challenges around student diversity, with a special focus on differing ideological viewpoints

• Strive to recruit and retain diverse faculty, staff, and administration

• Thoughtfully introduce and integrate new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into our community

We believe that a first-rate education is a precious investment, and that we have a responsibility as a school to follow sound financial practices for both the short- and long-term. As we enter our seventh decade, we will deliberately focus on growing the PCDS endowment through philanthropy, planned giving, well-advised investment strategies, and prudent business practices to ensure that the profound impact of a PCDS education will be available for generations to come.

• Continue conservative and transparent financial policies that enable us to stay true to our core, bolstered in part by a strong annual fund and tax credit program

• Contemplate the application of endowment funds to support significant, non-donor-funded, campus improvement projects

• Utilize existing and evolving 10-year plan to establish guideposts for major financial determinations

We appreciate your partnership on this strategic journey and look forward to sharing our continued progress with you via The Bridge magazine and other PCDS communications.

Welcome Dr. Mina Bhagdev

With the retirement of Jenny Treadway as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the end of the 2021-22 school year, PCDS welcomed Dr. Mina Bhagdev as our Director of DEI in the fall of 2022. As Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dr. Bhagdev serves in an advisory capacity for the entire School community. As she becomes acquainted with PCDS faculty, staff, and students, we thought we’d turn the tables and get to know Mina a bit better.

You’ve been a high school chemistry teacher for most of your career. What has your transition been like out of the classroom and into School leadership?

I found that my love of people (young and not so young) and their stories has helped me transition into my leadership role here at PCDS. In an effort to get to the heart of our School, I have spent countless hours just talking and listening to students, faculty, and staff. I miss being in the classroom—but grading papers, not so much!

What led you to want to be a leader in DEI work?

As a teacher, I recognized that every student had their own way of learning, and more importantly, their own way of being. I started to think about what makes students successful and about the importance of feeling connected. As our world seems to grow smaller each day, we need to learn how to see the humanity of those around us, especially those with whom we disagree. Seeing the humanity of others is essential in order to connect and create spaces where everyone feels they belong.

What has surprised you most about your transition to PCDS?

I was immediately struck by the warmth of the PCDS community. There is a sense of camaraderie and support on this campus that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and carries you along in a way that makes you feel valued and welcomed. From a DEI perspective, I am so wonderfully impressed by the level of care that the adults on campus show for our students. Every faculty and staff member is dedicated to nurturing every child. And our parent community goes above and beyond to help us celebrate cultural holidays and enrich the learning experience of our students.

What does a great day look like for you?

My very best days are those when I visit the classrooms. It is a massive privilege to watch the professionals on this campus execute their craft. I learn so much on my visits; I see so many fantastic teaching strategies, so many ways of engaging students and helping them think beyond the words on the pages of textbooks, ways of challenging students to explore their own ideas and assumptions.

I loved attending a conference with students recently because it allowed me to form meaningful connections with them. It was so rewarding to hear them enthusiastically share their experiences and take-aways. Their passion, self-awareness, and dedication to the DEI space was inspiring and elevating.

Other great days involve talking to others in the DEI field. I love collaborating on projects and thinking about ways our community might benefit from updated educational psychology and DEI research. It is vital for me to stay engaged in this space as a learner, researcher, and practitioner. My days also involve a lot of impromptu conversations, and aside from being amazing opportunities to get to know my colleagues, these conversations help me see and feel the heartbeat of our School, and the way it functions. What’s not to love about my job at PCDS!

What do you like to do when not at School?

Spending time with family and friends is essential for me. Whether traveling the world, visiting heritage sites in India, hiking South Mountain, attending concerts, or playing board games, the main event for me is the people I share it all with. And that must include my cat, Xena: my warrior princess, who is more of a polite princess than a warrior.

Welcome, Mina, we’re so happy to have you! n

“

My very best days are those when I visit the classrooms.”

Dr. Mina Bhagdev

Fall 2022 Independent Studies

US students chart their own course outside the classroom

This past fall semester, thirty-three students explored topics beyond our regular curriculum through the completion of an Independent Study. Students explored academic topics in greater depth, pursued areas of particular interest, or used their creative talents to produce something unique. Several studies resulted in products that specifically enhanced our PCDS community, and a number of students also used this opportunity to study aspects of our local region, such as architecture, wildlife, and the Arizona ecosystem.

Students who are interested in designing an Independent Study course begin with a proposal that outlines the objectives of the study, the questions that will be explored, and the skills or knowledge that will be acquired. Students define a general timeline for their work, identify the resources that will be used, and determine how the attainment of their goals will be demonstrated. Once their proposals are approved by

the Dean of Academics and Head of US, students begin their study under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students have regular meetings with their study advisor and keep a work log that they share with their advisor and the Dean of Academics. At the end of the semester, students give a presentation that summarizes their study, including highlights, challenges, unexpected outcomes, and future work in the area.

Below are three examples of the types of dynamic research happening outside the regular curriculum in the US.

The Science of Culinary and Confectionery Arts

We observe the sizzling beef gradually browning on both sides, and we carefully transfer the cooked protein to a pot of steaming chicken stock with softened onions, fragrant

garlic, and colorful spices. As the individual ingredients slowly amalgamate together, we can’t help but wonder, “What exactly causes the surface of the beef to brown? How does caramelizing the onions release a new sweet flavor?” In our Independent Study, The Science of Culinary and Confectionery Arts, we sought to explore the chemical reactions that define the flavor of our favorite dishes.

Through developing experimental recipes of our own and researching experts’ recipes, we gained a new understanding of the chemical processes responsible for delicious food, such as the Maillard reaction and gelatinization. We baked coffee cake to differentiate the effects of each leavening agent and synthesized mochi to learn about the differences between molecules amylose and amylopectin. We then continued to dive deeper into the applications of each chemical process to optimize the desired flavor of our culinary creations. We treated these specific chemical reactions as tools in our toolbox of cooking strategies, which allowed us to creatively use unorthodox cooking techniques to match our ambitious culinary visions.

FALL 2022 INDEPENDENT STUDIES

Emily Armstrong ’23 with Ms. Mueller: Art within Outer Space

Patrog Azadfekr ’23 and Giancarlo Galá ’23 with Mx. Mixan: Sound Design: Advanced Mixing and Mastering Techniques

Ellie Bartolino ’23 with Mr. McVey: MEDLIFE Ambassador and PIMC Research

Julia Black ’23 with Mx. Mixan: Intersection of Digital and Physical World: NFTs, Fashion, and Business

Ella Brenes ’23 with Mr. Mensinger: Feminist Analysis of Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Max Cabianca ’23 with Ms. Anderson: Mediterranean Languages

Katie Eckerman ’23 with Dr. Vap: Arizona Through Preservation

Ryan Fuji ’23, Natalie Vu ’23, Emma Sorensen ’23 with Dr. Caplan: The Science of Culinary and Confectionery Arts

Gaby Galá ’23 with Ms. Riehle: Exploring Latin American Political Movements through Film

Misha Ghafouri ’23 with Dr. Harvey, Ms. Blakeney, Ms. Mitchell-Dodge: Building Respect for Differences in Religions and World Views

Ridge Hall ’23 with Mr. Botts: Dramatic Underscore

Caleb Humphreys ’23 with Mr. Tafur: Bioarchitecture: Implementing the Natural World into our Everyday Lives

Ellie Jaffee ’23 with Mx. Mixan: Coding and Neuroscience: Using Brainwaves to Control a Video Game

Frank Kaplan ’24 and Zac Daitch ’24 with Mr. Saunders: White Mountains Wildlife and Environmental Study

Jonah Kaplan ’23 with Mr. Rodin: Tactics, Formations, Style: The History of the Beautiful Game

Rosalyn Katz ’24 and Chase Sorosky ’25 with Mr. Lewis: Woodshop and Whittling

Owen Lambert ’23 with Mr. Tafur: An Introduction to Ichthyology: Anatomy, Identification, and Ecology

Ben Lewis with Mr. McVey: How Mental Health Treatments Work

McKinley Paltzik ’23 with Mr. Bistricky: The Collapse of the Soviet Union and Putin’s Rise to Power

Hannah Perlmutter ’23 with Mrs. Cherilla: Communication and Media Studies

Aidan Perry ’23 with Ms. Mueller ’23: 2D Digital Animation

Andrew Pham ’24 with Ms. Mueller: Manga Creation

Milan Sewell ’23 with Dr. Harvey: Native Americans and the Education System

Ava Shields ’23 with Ms. Chen: Mandarin Communication and Skills

Isabelle Tillman ’24 with Mx. Mixan: 3D Bioprinting

Aaron Wang ’23 with Mx. Mixan: Musical Composition and the Math Behind Harmony

Annabelle Winssinger ’23 with Ms. Riehle: Introduction to Korean Language and Culture (full year)

Ava Zarrillo ’24 with Mr. Lewis: Creating an Art Portfolio (full year)

Feminist Analysis of Shakespeare’s Macbeth

When I first read Shakespeare’s Macbeth in eighth grade, I did not question any of the choices behind Lady Macbeth’s character and simply perceived her as the obvious true villain of the story, as she is the persuasive force behind the majority of her husband’s murderous deeds. However, as I learned to question such literary decisions, especially with acknowledgment to expectations associated with gender, I became increasingly intrigued by Lady Macbeth. What conditions were present in the seventeenth century that made Lady Macbeth act the way she did? How did suppressive ideas of femininity affect her rash behavior? I am very interested in gender studies, storytelling, and language, and my Independent Study has enabled me to pull from a variety of disciplines to attempt to answer these questions. The goal of my Independent Study has been to retell the story of Shakespeare’s Macbeth from the perspective of Lady Macbeth (with a fictitious backstory) that emphasizes the confining expectations of women in the Jacobean era.

During the first semester, my primary objective was to analyze Lady Macbeth’s character from multiple angles. I gathered information and research on the play itself, Shakespeare’s Early Modern English , women’s gender roles, and Shakespeare’s private life at the time. First, I re-read Macbeth, paying specific attention to Lady Macbeth’s character and the dynamic

between her and her husband. I also read The Private Life of William Shakespeare, by Lena Orlin, in which I looked for details about any discontent in Shakespeare’s own romantic life that could have influenced his writing. For the linguistic component, I read Shakespeare’s English: A Practical Linguistic Guide, by Keith Johnson, to gain familiarity with Early Modern English. I deepened my understanding of Shakespeare’s writing techniques through studying derivations and functional shifts, as well as different types of verse like Shakespeare’s most commonly used meter: iambic pentameter. And lastly, to gain a greater context of the lives of women in the seventeenth century, I read a chapter of Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own titled “Shakespeare’s Sister” in which Woolf creates a fictitious sister of Shakespeare; by doing so, Woolf claims that even a woman of equivalent talent to Shakespeare never would have received the same opportunities and praise in the seventeenth century.

Having completed my research, I head into the second semester ready to start my revision. My version of Macbeth seeks to portray Lady Macbeth as a product of the male behavior around her, fighting for agency in a world dominated by men. My finished product will hopefully prompt a thought-provoking question: Can the reader really blame Lady Macbeth for not knowing how to properly rebel against a system that is already so deeply ingrained inside of her?

I am very grateful for the opportunity to ask these kinds of questions and to explore such an interdisciplinary topic through

“ I am very interested in gender studies, storytelling, and language, and my Independent Study has enabled me to pull from a variety of disciplines.”

Ella Brenes ’23

my Independent Study. Mr. Mensinger, my Independent Study faculty advisor, has been extremely helpful throughout this process; I always look forward to our insightful discussions, and I am so grateful for his guidance.

Dramatic Underscore by Ridge Hall ’23

My Independent Study consisted of composing an entire score for our fall play, Metamorphoses, which was a unique experience for me. Before this, I had composed mostly contemporary and classical based works that stood alone. In addition, I had performed in many orchestra pits for musicals and plays. But this experience of developing the musical score while playing live during the shows was an entirely different one for me, and the play’s style and story will stick in my mind forever.

What contributed to my experience with Metamorphoses being so different was the amount of labor I put into it. Because the play has such a variety of uniquely dramatic and creative aspects, such as Greek and ancient influences, it made it particularly challenging to create the score, as well as adapt the music to the play’s Greek-influenced style.

I started the process of my work in the summer of 2022, without any real idea of how the play would look or sound on stage. I only had the written play available to initiate my work (as we had not yet practiced on stage), so I began with simple ideas. I started writing on my computer and used basic harmonic scales to achieve what I wanted the unique sound to become. As the months passed, and as I officially began my Independent Study with the start of the fall semester, I then shifted all of my writing to paper. This process had been recommended to me by Mr. Botts who, in doing so, helped me greatly improve my writing and further my creative composition skills. By shifting to paper, I was able to connect Greekstyle keys into my writing and use harmony more clearly.

After writing most of the score, I then began rehearsing with Rohin (our flutist) and with the cast. Together, we went over and over the scenes and experimented with different themes that I improvised on my cello. Some of those improvisations became a staple of what would then be heard in our version of Metamorphoses because they clearly complimented certain scenes and emotions portrayed by the actors.

In the end, the final score came together beautifully. The process, although a real challenge at times, forced me to push myself. As a result, I became a better composer and performer. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of such an ambitious production and to see my Independent Study come to life through an outstanding theatrical production. n

“Because the play has such a variety of uniquely dramatic and creative aspects, such as Greek and ancient influences, it made it particularly challenging to create the score, as well as adapt the music to the play’s Greek-influenced style.

Ridge Hall ’23

Fall Play: Metamorphoses

The fall play this year was Metamorphoses, written by Mary Zimmerman, and was based on a Roman poem, by Ovid, written about 2000 years earlier. Metamorphoses is comprised of a series of vignettes, each telling the story of one of many myths depicted in Ovid’s poem.

Setting this play apart from any other PCDS production was the pool (yes, a pool—let that sink in) that our stagecraft class built on the stage. While this may have been concerning to some at first, the production went swimmingly. Watching the set of this incredibly unique play come together was fascinating and the final product mesmerizing.

While performing from the pool felt strange initially, after we had tested the waters (literally and figuratively), everything felt much more natural. This was in part due to the work that we had done with the help of our movement director, Ms. Elizabeth Broeder, to ensure that we fully brought to life the movement focused style of the play. Further setting the play apart was the audience seating, which unlike past performances was placed on the stage, giving the audience a better view of the pool and providing a much closer and more connected experience.

The atmosphere of our production would not have been complete without the incredible work done by student volunteers. We had original music composed, by Ridge Hall ’23, specifically for our rendition of Metamorphoses, and the musicians— Ridge on cello and Rohin Kumar ’24 on flute— played live for every performance. We also had outstanding costuming done by Abigail Rowley ’24 with help from Director Mr. Keith Burns, Katie Eckerman ’23 for visual aesthetics, and our costume support team.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the direction and support of our director. Mr. Burns provided key insight into nearly every aspect of the production, from costuming and directing, to teaching the stagecraft class, and more. To accurately portray a story based on Greek and Roman mythology, Ms. Robin Anderson served as our Classics Consultant and provided invaluable expertise on the unique characteristics of each mythological character (and, of course, aided us in correctly pronouncing the Greek and Roman names).

I played the role of Phaeton—a figure in Greek mythology and son of Apollo (played by Aaron Wang ’23)—who fell from the sky after borrowing the sun chariot. In Metamorphoses , this myth takes the form of a therapy session where

Phaeton explains his side of the story to his therapist (played by Abby Caplan ’23) and the audience. This twist on the telling of a classic myth is something that carries through to many of the other scenes, where the source material is twisted in ways that added a sense of modernity. For example: The famous myth of King Midas (played by Rohin Kumar ’24) turned Midas from a king into an entrepreneur.

I am thrilled to have been a part of such a unique and fantastic production, and I am excited to continue my PCDS theater career. Many thanks to all the students, faculty, and those from the PCDS community who attended one of our performances. n

STUDENT SECTION

National Merit Scholarship Competition Distinction

15 Members of the 2023 Senior Class Recognized

Back row: Giancarlo Galá ’23 (National Hispanic Recognition), Caleb Humphreys ’23 (Commended and National African American Recognition), Esben Sorensen ’23 (Semifinalist), Ben Lewis ’23 (Semifinalist), Arianne De Trenck ’23 (Semifinalist), Annabelle Winssinger ’23 (Semifinalist), Tyler Tam ’23 (Semifinalist). Middle row: Adam Burns ’23 (Commended), Ellie Jaffee ’23 (Semifinalist), Natalie Vu ’23 (Semifinalist), Abigail Caplan ’23 (Commended), Elle Rosenfeld ’23 (Commended), Seth Osorio ’23 (Commended). Front row: Ellie Bartolino ’23 (Semifinalist), Gaby Galá ’23 (National Hispanic Recognition)

The 2021-2022 Don F. Stone Overall Excellence Award

Congratulations to PCDS for Outstanding Performance in Athletics

The AIA has awarded PCDS the Don F. Stone Overall Excellence Award for our outstanding performance in athletics in the 2A Conference. This award is based on the success at high levels in region and state competitions. We attribute our success to teamwork, unmatched leadership in coaching, strong community support, participation of our student athletes, and the work ethic required to compete at the highest level possible. AIA Executive Director David Hines attended our 2022 Blue & Gold ceremony to present our School with the award.

Back-to Back Volleyball State Champions

AIA 2A State Champions

Division Recognition:

All-Conference Player of the Year: Quincy Rodin ’25

All-Conference Coach of the Year: Coach Kat Glaeseman

All-Conference Honorable Mention: Mia Warner ’25

Arizona Republic All-Arizona Girls’ Volleyball Team

Honorable Mention: Quincy Rodin ’25

All-Region Player of the Year: Quincy Rodin ’25

All-Region Coach of the Year: Coach Kat Glaeseman

All-Region First Team: Quincy Rodin ’25, Mia Warner ’25

All-Region Second Team: Ellie Bartolino ’23, Asia Harper ’26, Josie Robinson ’26

Internal School Awards:

Coaches’ Awards: Ellie Bartolino ’23, Hannah Perlmutter ’23, Quincy Rodin ’25, Mia Warner ’25

4-Year Award Winners: Ellie Bartolino ’23, Hannah Perlmutter ’23

JV Girls’ Volleyball Coaches’ Award: Darian Tedesco ’26

Girls’ Cross Country State Champions

Division IV State Champions

Division Recognition:

AIA State Meet Recognition:

Second Place: Kimi Cahoon ’24

Tenth Place: Anna Sabol ’24

Fourteenth Place: Ella Brenes ’23

Eighteenth Place: Jenna Powell ’24

Twenty Second Place: Rachel Coviello ’26

AIA Sectional Recognition:

First Place: Kimi Cahoon ’24

Seventh Place: Anna Sabol ’24

Twelfth Place: Ella Brenes ’23

Thirteenth Place: Jenna Powell ’24

Fourteenth Place: Rachel Coviello ’26

2022 USTFCCCA High School Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year for the State of Arizona: Coach Matthew Hull

Internal School Awards:

Coaches’ Awards: Ella Brenes ’23, Kimi Cahoon ’24, Rachel Coviello ’26

4-Year award Winner: Ella Brenes ’23

Boys’ and Girls’ Swim & Dive Runner Up State Champions

AIA Division III

AIA DIII Boys’ State Dive Champion: Chase Sorosky ’25

AIA DIII Boys’ State Dive Record Holder with 482 points: Chase Sorosky ’25

Boys & Girls Small Schools Champions

Arizona Republic All-State Boys’ Swimming and Diving team: Chase Sorosky ’25

Individual Girls’ State Dive Placement

2nd Place: Simone Sabeeh ’25

3rd Place: Sierra Goldstein ’24

11th Place: Audrey Weinshel ’26

13th Place: Rosalyn Katz ’24

Internal School Awards:

Coaches’ Awards: Aya El Masry ’26, Sierra Goldstein ’24, Richard Humphreys ’23, Rosalyn Katz ’24, Oliver Lehmann ’24, Julia Lotz ’25, Jack Moriarty ’26, Simone Sabeeh ’25, Chase Sorosky ’25, Lelia Symington ’25

Eagle 4-Year Awards: Tatum Horton ’23, Caleb Humphreys ’23, Richard Humphreys ’23, Ava Shields ’23

Additional Awards

Congratulations to the following teams and students for athletic honors and awards

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Division Recognition:

Boys’ Team Ninth at AIA Sectionals

Thirteenth at AIA Sectionals: Alex Geyser ’25

Internal School Awards:

Coaches’ Awards: Alex Geyser ’25, Ben Sabol ’26

MIDDLE SCHOOL

MOUNTAIN VALLEY LEAGUE

5/6 Girls’ Blue Volleyball

Semifinalists

Coaches’ Awards: Bel Hargreaves ’29, Mia Mamolen ’30

5/6 Girls’ Gold Volleyball

Quarterfinalists

Coaches’ Awards: Bella Stralman ’30, Kate Waller ’30

7/8 Girls’ Blue Volleyball

Coaches’ Awards: Alaina Kiernan ’27, Logan Sheridan ’28

7/8 Girls’ Gold Volleyball

Semifinalists

Coaches’ Awards: Ayla Conant ’28, Bea Poole ’28

5/6 Boys’ Flag Football

Semifinalists

Coaches’ Awards: Jacob Bier ’29, Jude Falcusan ’29

7/8 Boys’ Flag Football

Champions

Coaches’ Awards: Omar Ramirez ’27, Carson Rose ’27

GREAT HEARTS LEAGUE

Coed 5-8 Golf

Coaches’ Awards: Sam Meltzer ’28, Brody Stearns ’30

Speech & Debate Results

US team results for the fall of 2022

Director of US and MS Speech & Debate

COVID-19 all but destroyed the art of forensics. In an online world of competition, students were no longer speaking in front of, and amongst, their peers. Rather, they were speaking at them through liquid crystal displays that were anything but clear. Although it’s hyperbole to argue remote competition impaired compelling public speaking, it’s fact to state that the last three years have drastically impacted how we communicate and have, therefore, altered all strategies related to persuasive oratory. Thus, the approach to our hybrid season was guided by a time-proven methodical coaching philosophy: Walk before running.

That ideology proved to be more of an idiom, as PCDS Speech & Debate started sprinting within a zeptosecond of the season’s start. Senior McKinley Paltzik championed the Yale Invitational, the first tournament of the season, for the third year in a row. This head start wasn’t just enough to ensure she laps her competition—as she’s been undefeated

since—it provided enough force to push teammates to historical paces. Junior Ria Mehta is the first Congressional Debater to acquire more than two bids to the Tournament of Champions in almost three years; Sophomore Kaleb Gebresillasie and junior Tabby Cohen are only the second Public Forum Debate team in PCDS history to receive a bid to the same tournament; and new members Sid Vadnerkar and Aaryan Wadwekar are the first freshman duo to qualify for the TOC in Arizona’s modern forensics history. These results don’t even cover our local tournaments. It’s ludicrous to think we’re not even halfway through the season! While our results are impressive by all accounts, they’re not meant to be the takeaway; this is: PCDS Speech & Debaters have learned to communicate in, compete in, and champion multiple spheres. That’s virtually a win in and of itself. Stay tuned for our spring results in the summer edition of The Bridge magazine.

Brittany Stanchik, Director of US and MS Speech & Debate, is in her first year of coaching at PCDS. Ms. Stanchik has a decorated speech & debate background, including the 2022 Excellence in Coaching Award. She also led her Desert Vista High School team to three consecutive Division I State Championships.

UK National Speech and Debate Season Opener

September 10-12

Kaleb Gebresillasie ’25, Sebastian Saenz ’24

Scottsdale Prep Congress

September 24

Ria Metha ’24

Sebastian Saenz ’24

Sameer Khan ’25

Yale University Invitational

September 30-

October 1

McKinley Paltzik ’23

October 7

Ria Metha ’24

Sameer Khan ’25

Sebastian Saenz ’24

Aaryan Wadwekar ’26

Congressional Debate

October 14-15

McKinley Paltzik ’23

Extemporaneous Speaking

October 28-29

Aaryan Wadwekar ’26

Sebastian Saenz ’24

Sameer Khan ’25

Kaleb Gebresillasie ’25

Philip Kaplan ’26, Will Pryor ’26

Sid Vadnerkar ’26, Aaryan Wadwekar ’26

Congressional Debate

Public Forum Debate

Duo Interpretation

November 4-5

Tabby Cohen ’24, Kaleb Gebresillasie ’25

November 10-11

Sameer Khan ’25

Samantha Horlick ’26

Jiya Mutyala ’25

Sid Vadnerkar ’26, Aaryan Wadwekar ’26

Public Forum Debate

Congressional Debate

Prose Speaking

Informative Speaking

Duo Interpretation

November 19-20

Ria Mehta ’24

Sebastian Saenz ’24

Sid Vadnerkar ’26, Aaryan Wadwekar ’26

McKinley Paltzik ’23

Congressional Debate

Duo Interpretation Extemporaneous Speaking

December 2-3

Sid Vadnerkar ’26, Aaryan Wadwekar ’26

Samantha Horlick ’26

Aaryan Wadwekar ’26

Miranda Jarvis ’23

Aya El Masry ’26, Sanya Somani ’24

Duo Interpretation

Prose Reading

Humorous Interpretation

Program Oral Interpretation

Informative Speaking

PCDS Artful Expression

Calling all PCDS Grandparents: We want to keep you in the loop!

If you haven’t already done so, send an email to chris.hall@pcds.org and request to receive our monthly digital newsletter, PCDS Connections. Designed specifically for grandparents, it highlights excerpts from The Weekly Eagle and includes special features for our grandparents and grandfriends.

A Reunion with the Founder of Project Excellence

Established to enrich, engage, and empower first generation college-bound students

This past November, we had a special visit on campus from Mrs. Jean Pettitt and her son Scott ’93. More than 30 years ago, Mrs. Pettitt provided the funding that launched Project Excellence. She also provided the time and leadership to make it a reality (even driving around Phoenix in her van personally picking up the very first students to bring them to campus). Several of our current Project Excellence scholars had a chance to meet with her and Scott to share how the program has been a lifechanging support to them.

Project Excellence is an elite, award-winning scholarship program with a community outreach emphasis. This program was established by PCDS in 1987. The mission of the PCDS Project Excellence program is to enrich, engage and empower first generation college-bound students from local public schools and partnering organizations, their educations, and their parents by providing resources, academic enrichment, and opportunities that encourage intellectual, cultural, and personal growth.

“ I am so grateful to have spent time with Mrs. Pettitt to exchange stories, discuss her vision, and celebrate the successes our Project Excellence Scholars have experienced. She embodied the idea that hope, hard work, and a vision are all you need to affect growth and change. Our students left the meeting feeling empowered and eager to share the history of the program with others. I left our conversation with a renewed passion and focus for equity work.” —Molly Castro, Director of Project Excellence

“ I really enjoyed speaking with the founder of Project Excellence. Project Excellence is my second family. The support, wisdom, and laughter shared with me by every scholar and alum scholar that I have met is phenomenal. There are no sufficient words that can describe how meaningful it was to meet the founder, who created this space for me to thrive on campus.” —Brianna

“Pursuing More Beautiful Questions”: The PCDS Yellott Program

School year 2022-23 faculty research to optimize the PCDS experience

Innovation author Warren Berger defines a “beautiful question” as “an ambitious yet actionable question that can begin to shift the way we perceive or think about something—and that might serve as a catalyst to bring about change.” Here at PCDS, students are frequently invited to think about bigger questions that deepen their understanding—of themselves, the world, and what is possible. And PCDS supports teachers in their own pursuit of beautiful questions that have the potential to transform their classrooms and divisions.

One important way PCDS encourages ongoing faculty growth and learning is through its Yellott program. Yellott grants fund substantial self-reflective projects, from both teachers working independently and in collaborative groups, that involve time-intensive deep dives into topics related to curriculum and instruction. Unlike other school funding for professional development, these grants are not intended for teachers to

stay current with pedagogical developments in their discipline; rather, they reward levels of research, implementation planning, and data collection that go beyond the annual expectations for PCDS faculty.

Each spring, teachers submit proposals for Yellott funding by identifying the question(s) driving their project, how the goals of their project align with PCDS’s current Strategic Plan, a timeline articulating actionable steps, and a discussion of the project’s suggested impact. These applications are then evaluated by a committee comprised of the head of school, division heads, and the Yellott faculty coordinator, who look for projects that have implications not only for a teacher but for an entire department or division.

The 2022-23 Yellott Grants saw a record number of applicants and were ultimately awarded to two collaborative teams, who represent over 10 percent of the PCDS teaching faculty. Both groups are tackling large-scale, complex issues that stand to enhance our entire School.

Information about our current projects, including the faculty members working on them, can be found on the next page.

Yellott projects are supported through the Yellott Faculty Grant Program, funded by an endowment that honors the memory of John I. Yellott, PCDS Headmaster from 1966-72.

How Might PCDS Faculty Thrive under a Self-Designed Growth and Renewal System?

A cross-divisional team of Mark Bistricky (US), Keith Burns (US), Liz Olson (MS), Kelli Newsome (LS) and Nichole Dawson (LS) has been breaking ground on a system of professional growth and reflection for faculty in order to help teachers continue to hone their craft through collaboration, observation, coaching, and feedback. This project builds on the work teachers are already doing annually in identifying professional growth goals and tracking progress through the online platform Folio Collaborative.

The Yellott team has been in dialogue with School leadership to draft a system that will enjoy a test run with select teachers and receive wider faculty input before being implemented in the 2023-24 school year.

How Might a Modified School Schedule Improve Student Well-Being?

A cross-divisional team of Joanna Wisniewska (LS), Shawn Ducusin (LS), Maria Roman (MS), Rachel Scarpone (MS), Robin Anderson (US), and Colin Reynolds (US) is exploring the potential of a modified school-week schedule. In particular, they are looking at the impact of late starts and/or early releases on students and faculty across divisions, as well as families. Joanna and Shawn led a LS action group on this topic in the 2021-22 school year and analyzed research regarding shortened school days, and the pros and cons experienced by other schools that have adjusted schedules. The team is interested in exploring ways in which their research can further PCDS’s strategic plan position of supporting practices that nurture balance and a happy, healthy, hardworking community.

MS Art Teacher and best-selling author Carrie Bloomston published her second book, The Big Book of Little Sparks. The mission of this book is to “nurture your soul and ignite your creative fire with 30 creative exercises”. This book is geared toward anyone who wishes to live a more creative life.

In addition, Ms. Bloomston has been busy designing three more fabric collections: Happy, Colorwash, and Found

“As a textile designer, traditional weaving, printing, stamping, or embellishing of fabric inspires me. From the moment I design textile prints on paper in my studio, it takes about a year until the stores receive them.”

“I designed Happy during the pandemic, hoping that by the end of that, we could see the rainbow after the storm. Here we are. Some things have changed, and some things have stayed the same. We seek happiness, joy, connection, and meaning.”

Colorwash gathers several of the favorite artistic and tonal prints from Ms. Bloomston’s eight collections for Windham Fabrics over the years—with exciting new colors!

For Found , Ms. Bloomston dug into the art, history, and technique of batik production. She created a collection that uses traditional wax printing with copper stamps but also incorporates contemporary images and textures.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

In October 2022, MS English Teacher Chris Eriksen took the lead in Phoenix Theatre Company’s annual Applause Gala fundraiser show to help raise money for The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Fund and for the many others who make theater possible in Arizona. The show was based on Alan King’s Show of Shows, and Mr. Eriksen played Alan King.

After 22 years of engagement, MS Math Teacher Liz Olson and recently retired DEI Coordinator Jenny Treadway were married on July 30, 2022. The outdoor ceremony was held at Olson Cabins on Gull Lake in Nisswa, MN. Former teachers Judy Mitchell, Lance Coon, Marti deAnguera, Molly Arnason, Elaine Crabb (wife of former MS head the late John Crabb), and Michelle Gurnee were all in attendance. Guests included current MS teachers Katie McKean and Chris Eriksen, LS Teacher Andy McKean, and former students Calin Lane ’20 and Staley Lane ’15. MS and US Strings Teacher Maurine Fleming played the cello for the ceremony. PCDS Registrar Barb Bzdak designed and made Jenny’s jewelry, and MS Art Teacher Carrie Bloomston provided her own designed fabric (Tree of Life) which was used for the guestbook.

Director

Director of Employee Resources Suzanne Pressley (now Redfield) married Campus Security Assistant Harley Redfield at sunset in Paradise Valley on October 22, 2022. Director of Information Technology Joe Boehle officiated, while the cello processional was provided by MS and US Strings Teacher Maurine Fleming and Ridge Hall ’23.

Saturday, April 29, 2023, 6:30pm PCDS Middle School Courtyard

A culinary festival featuring food and beverages donated by premier restaurants and vendors, a DJ, and a boutique PCDS-esque auction.

RSVP by April 14 at pcds.org/BTG

This complimentary event is to thank our community for the many ways in which you support PCDS and our Annual Fund.

The Louis Family Society for Planned Giving recognizes members of the extended PCDS community who have included the School in their estate plans.

GIFTS FROM YOUR WILL OR TRUST

The most popular way to make a planned gift is with a simple bequest to PCDS. Through your will or other estate plans, you may name PCDS as the beneficiary of a portion of your estate or of particular assets in your estate.

GIFTS FROM A RETIREMENT PLAN

Donate assets subject to taxation and leave more to your family.

GIFTS FROM YOUR DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS

Make an outright gift from your donor-advised fund or name PCDS as the ultimate beneficiary of the remainder in the fund.

GIFTS OF LIFE INSURANCE

Make a significant gift to PCDS even without a large estate by naming PCDS as the beneficiary of your life insurance.

GIFTS OF REAL ESTATE

Donate a valuable asset in exchange for powerful tax benefits.

LIFE-INCOME GIFTS

There are a variety of tax-advantaged life-income gifts that you may wish to consider, including Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Gift Annuities.

Please consult with your tax advisor or estate attorney about tax implications and which options are best for you. For more information or to let us know you have arranged for a planned gift, contact: Sam Cieplicki, sam.cieplicki@pcds.org or Roz Abero ’89, roz.abero@pcds.org, 602.955.8200

PCDS ANNUAL FUND

Your gift support is tax-deductible and is put to immediate use for:

PARTICIPATION IS KEY — VISIT PCDS.ORG/GIVE

Each year, we ask families, grandparents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of PCDS to make a meaningful, tax-deductible, contribution to the Annual Fund.

A larger percentage of Annual Fund gifts symbolizes a healthy and robust independent school. A gift, no matter the size, makes an impact!

Deadline: June 30, 2023 for the 2022-23 school year

Look for the symbol to the left throughout this issue to identify PCDS Annual Fund dollars at work.

PCDS TAX CREDIT

Arizona offers its residents an opportunity to redirect a portion of their Arizona tax obligation in support of the financial aid program at a private school. Participants then receive a dollar-for-dollar credit against their Arizona income taxes. Be sure to mark PCDS as your preferred school.

Your Tax Credit directly supports need-based scholarships to PCDS students:

170 24% 100%

NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO PCDS STUDENTS EACH YEAR

OF PCDS STUDENTS RECEIVE A NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP

COMMITMENT BY PCDS TO SUPPORT A STRONG, DIVERSE COMMUNITY

REDIRECT YOUR 2022 TAXES TODAY THROUGH OUR FOUNDATION, AISSF.ORG Corporate Tax Credit opportunities also available.

Deadline: April 15, 2023 for the 2022 tax year

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING PCDS!

Questions about supporting PCDS? Please contact Katie Charles, Director of Annual Giving, at (602) 955-8200 x 2346 or katie.charles@pcds.org

MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Eagle Alumni,

This fall, sitting in the packed Alumni tent at the Blue & Gold carnival, I was struck by the amazing community that we have here at PCDS.

“Community” and “coming back together” are important themes in our alumni programming this year. To that end, we were so thrilled to finally be back on the road this season visiting graduates in New York City and San Francisco. Our Alumni Holiday Party was so much fun, and we are eagerly looking forward to welcoming our reunion classes back to campus in April.

Our alumni community has also been instrumental in establishing our Alumni Scholarship Fund as a source of pride for our School. We have so much gratitude for the generosity of a record number of alumni who participated last fiscal year. I encourage all alumni to join us in directly impacting the lives of our amazing, deserving students.

Also, our community has hit an exciting milestone of 500 members on our alumni networking platform! PCDS:Connect is growing, and we encourage all members to update their profiles on the platform and for all alumni to join us!

Go Eagles!

Alumni Board, front row from left: Kate Pokorski ’13, Revan McKinnon Rottach ’97, Alice Gaston Gibbons ’05, Stephanie Vithoulkas Hackett ’91. Back row: Tiffany Westlie Pondelik ’00, Colby Kant Harris ’95, Sarah Nixon Wolfswinkel ’00, Jordyn Oppenheim ’23. Not pictured: Gilbert Armenta ’00, Courtney McConnell ’06, Eric Fram ’09, Hannah Keogh Gates ’10, Sydney Portigal ’14, Kate Werth ’14, Connor Lloyds ’23

“

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS

“

Sydney Portigal ’14

I decided to join the Alumni board to reconnect with the expansive PCDS community. The older I get, the more I reflect on my time at PCDS and the more grateful I become. I’m excited to be able to give back in a meaningful way.”

Courtney McConnell ’06

“ PCDS has given me an amazing education and lifelong friendships. Joining the Alumni Board has allowed me to reconnect and is just one way to give back to a place that has done so much for me.”

Kate Werth ’14

I’m looking forward to partnering with the Alumni Board and the PCDS community to forge strong connections, contribute to the alumni experience, and expand the reach of the Alumni Scholarship Fund.”

Alumni Coming Back Together in the Fall of 2022

Blue & Gold Alumni Tent

New York City Alumni Event

We had a blast seeing so many of you at our alumni events this past fall! Our packed house at the Blue & Gold Alumni Tent finished the evening with a rousing rendition of the PCDS fight song under a shower of fireworks; we reunited with our New Yorkers after three long years; we packed hundreds of care packages for our college alumni alongside their parents; and we rang in the holidays with nearly 200 of you!

Complete photo galleries from all of our alumni events can be found at: https://www.pcds.org/alumni/engage

Care Package Breakfast Alumni Holiday Party

Legacy Eagles

This year, 44 alumni are also current PCDS parents. Here, many of them gathered to pose with their second generation Eagles.

Jennifer Abelson ’04

Roz Abero ’89

Eleanor Abraham ’06

Gilbert Armenta ’00

Arvind Bobra ’97

Alison Carter ’97

Janet Castner ’91

Reginald Cooper ’98

Brandi Cutler ’94

Mandy Daitch ’93

Reid Davis ’03

Charles de Trenck ’81

Thomas DeMark ’93

David Dobrusin ’99

Daniel Durchslag ’89

Kristen Durchslag ’95

Leslie Feldman ’99

James Gard ’94

Sasha Glassman ’99

Beri Golding ’01

Marc Grayson ’93

Stephanie Hackett ’91

Jason Hackett ’88

Colby Harris ’95

James Hornaday ’86

Gregory Lehmann ’91

Danielle Masserman ’02

Rachel McIntosh Anderson ’97

Roy Miele ’99

Doran Miller ’00

Lindsay Morris ’95

Elizabeth Oviedo ’04

Lindsay Piccinati ’93

Tiffany Pondelik ’00

Clarissa Robinson ’88

Eric Schaefer ’91

David Spetzler ’94

Jeffrey Stern ’90

Richard Symington ’98

Lou Werner ’87

Sarah Wolfswinkel ’00

Stacey Woods ’95

Joseph Yeargan ’03

Abby Zeitlin ’04

PCDS Boasts its First Three-Generation Family

Members of the Lewkowitz family share their thoughts on their growing PCDS legacy

Herman Lewkowitz ’79 and Cathy Tancer Lewkowitz ’79 began dating as US students in September 1977, and have been together ever since. Their children, Adam ’02, Jennifer ’04, and Blake ’07, were all PCDS Lifers. Now, Jennifer’s three children, Gabi ’30, Eliana ’32, and Sam ’34, are carrying on the PCDS family tradition.

HERMAN: I started my short stint at PCDS when I transferred as a junior in high school. The transfer would, obviously, alter the course of my life, as I met Cathy and the rest is history. My favorite memory of PCDS was meeting Cathy. On the first day of school, PCDS held an assembly where the new students were introduced to the returning high schoolers. While there were many new freshmen, I was the only new junior in the US. She made me feel welcome from day one. Our first date was soon after the first day of school; September 10, 1977, and we’ve been together since.

We’ve had many wonderful memories at PCDS: participating on the varsity soccer, basketball, and baseball teams; singing in the musicals performed in Burch Hall; Cathy playing clarinet in band; Herman singing in the choir; dancing together as Prom King and Queen; and graduating together in 1979. We both appreciate the education we received and the lifelong friends we made along the way.

Cathy and I have always remained involved at PCDS. We were founding members of the PCDS Alumni Association, where I served as its President for several years. She and I were honored as Alumni of the Year in 1997. For over a decade, I also served on the Advancement Committee which saw our School through a couple of capital campaigns.

Our three kids are PCDS Lifers. I attribute much of our children’s successes to the strong foundation and world class education they received from PCDS. I’m elated that the three grandchildren who recently moved to Phoenix are attending PCDS and benefiting from the same high caliber level of education our kids received. I’m hopeful our other two grandchildren who live here will be joining them soon.

My mother-in-law, Dr. Shoshana B. Tancer, was instrumental in creating the Senior Speech program and the requirement that students all the way down through the LS learn public speaking.

CATHY: I started at PCDS in third grade in 1969, and my mom, Shoshana Tancer, joined the board shortly thereafter in 1971, and is still active on it today as an Advisory Trustee. She and my dad created the Salo Baron Prize for achievement in history, which is awarded every year to an US student. While at PCDS, I played four years of varsity softball and volleyball as well as two years of basketball. As a PCDS parent, I was very involved as a room parent for all of my kids. I helped at sporting events and ran all of the PCDS swim meets for US.

It was so exciting to have our first child be a part of the first pre-k class at PCDS. I love PCDS, and it is so special that all three of our children are Lifers with wonderful PCDS memories. Having our three grandchildren at our School is the icing on the cake. I was so excited when Jen and her husband, Ben, returned to Phoenix and even happier when their kids were admitted to PCDS. I love being part of the campus and was even more pleasantly surprised at the recent LS music concert to see many other parents of alumni (that I had been friends with for 18 years) who were there to see their own grandchildren perform!

JENNIFER: As a PCDS Lifer, I have a lot of wonderful School memories! During my junior year, I adored Mr. Martin’s AP History class. He was the absolute best. I would race in after morning swim to start the practice tests, laugh at whatever witty comment he would say to me on my way in, and make my way through the test while chomping on my breakfast. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” became that class’s anthem, and it was so incredibly sneaky (and fabulous!) that he taught us history through the lyrics! I also want to give a shout out to Mr. Eriksen, who taught me 5th grade English and is now my daughter’s advisor and 5th grade English teacher! He was one of my favorite teachers back when I was a student, and I am so thrilled that my daughter now gets to learn from him!

Being a part of the first three-generation family is such an honor. I loved and appreciated my time at PCDS and was so hopeful that we would one day move back to Phoenix and give our three kids the opportunity to join such a tremendous community. n

Golden Circle 2023

The Phoenix Country Day School Classes of 1965-1972 look forward to welcoming the Class of 1973 into the Golden Circle.

In honor of your 50th high school reunion, Head of School Andrew Rodin cordially invites you to your Golden Circle Induction

Thursday, June 8, 2023

4:30 p.m. Golf Cart Campus Tour (optional)

5:00 p.m.

State of the School and Cocktail Reception with Head of School Andrew Rodin PCDS Shepard Welcome Center

7:30 p.m.

Graduation Exercises and Golden Circle Induction

PCDS Founders’ Lawn

Alumni Scholarship Fund

HONOR YOUR ALMA MATER’S FOUNDING YEAR

Support PCDS Students through the Alumni Scholarship Fund

GIVE $61 FOR OUR FOUNDING YEAR: ’61

100% of your gift supports PCDS scholarship students and makes a powerful IMPACT. Thank you!

PCDS.ORG/GIVEBACK

2023

Alumni Spring Weekend

Come home to Phoenix Country Day School to celebrate and reconnect with classmates, friends, and faculty.

Friday, April 28

5:30-7:30pm

Welcome Cocktail Reception

Old Town Tortilla Factory 6910 E. Main Street, Scottsdale

Saturday, April 29

5:00pm Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

6:00pm Alumni Campus Tours

6:30-9:00pm Reunions at the Annual Bridge-the-Gap Celebration

All Saturday events will be held on campus. Bridge-the-Gap includes: A culinary festival featuring food and beverages donated by premier restaurants and vendors, a DJ, a boutique PCDS-esque auction, Alumna of the Year recognition, reunion gifts, and more.

RSVP for all events at: pcds.org/alumniweekend2023

2013

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2023 Alumna of the Year

Major Kathleen M. Potter ’98

Judge Advocate General United States Air Force

2023 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Paul Surdakowski ’98

Cody Sonntag ’03

Here’s what some of our alumni have been up to…

1969

1998

Sarah Palestrant lives in Paradise Valley with her husband, Noam Belkind, and their three children (Isaac, age seven; Aviva, age seven; and Maya, age three). She moved back to Arizona after a long hiatus, thanks to her medical education which took her to New York, Boston, Chicago, England, Tucson, and Philadelphia. She and her husband are both radiologists, and Sarah specializes in breast imaging. She enjoys Friday night dinners with her own children at her parents’ home, which is special because her parents still live in the house where she grew up.

Trey Packard works at Harris Williams, a boutique investment bank, where he helps lead the firm’s private equity coverage efforts. An added benefit of the job is getting the chance to stay in touch with Matt Gullen ’95 and Jon Gimbel ’97 on a regular basis. Trey lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife, Caroline, and their two sons, Will, age 12; and Tilghman, age 10.

After graduating from PCDS in 1998, Britany Engelman headed to LA to attend USC, where she majored in international relations and French. Following college, Britany attended Southwestern Law School in LA and graduated in

2005. Britany has been a practicing California trial attorney for seventeen years. She primarily represents individuals in employment and personal injury litigation. In 2012, Britany founded Engelman Law, APC, a boutique law firm based in Beverly Hills, CA. In addition to being a trial attorney, she also works as a private arbitrator. In 2019 and 2021, Britany was nominated by Consumer Attorneys Association of LA as “Trial Lawyer of the Year”, which was based on remarkable results from two of her jury trials. In July 2022, Britany was part of a trial team that obtained a $25 million dollar jury verdict for a middle school teacher in a wrongful termination/retaliation case. Prior to the trial, the settlement offer was $0. Britany lives in the LA area with her husband and her eleven-year-old son. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, fine dining, and cheering on the USC football team.

These alumni are registered members of the PCDS Alumni Networking Platform. Connect with PCDS alumni around the globe at pcdsconnect.org.

We collect many Class Notes each year and cannot guarantee that all submissions will be printed. Class Notes are written in an individual’s own words.

Melissa Tominac Stewart serves on the boards of the World Monuments Fund based in NYC and the Steep Rock Arts Association based in Washington, CT. She moved to NYC to attend Columbia University and worked for a decade in the contemporary art world before attending Benjamin Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. Following two moves, one to London and then to Zürich, Melissa moved back to NY’s Upper East Side, where her seven-year-old son, William, now attends Buckley. Melissa remains in touch with many PCDS friends and, last summer alone, saw several members of the Class of ’98: Taylor Guerin Rovak, Darren Ringel, Jon Krause, Jay Kahn, Anamay Melmed Carmel, Sarah Vieh Dworkin, Emily Delgado Gray and Janelle Plaza Lika. Melissa is also in touch regularly with Jon Winer ’98, who lives in Brooklyn with his wife and children.

After graduating from USC, David Dobrusin spent an additional four years in LA working in the financial services industry. In 2008, he moved back to Arizona to start Dobrusin Financial, a tax and investment management firm serving families and businesses throughout the country. He is both a CPA and Certified Financial Planner. David is a past active member of the Phoenix 20/30 club, where he served in multiple leadership roles. He is currently a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Arizona. David and his wife, Mara, live in Paradise Valley with their three boys (Benjamin, age nine; Matthew, age seven; and Zachary, age one). Benjamin and Matthew are currently enjoying their third and first grade years at PCDS. David enjoys playing golf, watching the Phoenix Suns and USC football, coaching his sons’ sports teams, attending concerts, and traveling with his family.

manufacturing company. She also enjoys teaching for ASU’s Masters of Law degree program and sitting on the boards of a local Phoenix Montessori school and the Association of Corporate Counsel. Sasha and her husband, Rodney, are co-authors of Jeremy Jackrabbit, a literacy-promoting, charitable book series. They have two girls, Rose and Ruth, who are both doing “spectacularly” in their second year of attendance at PCDS.

2000

Micah Bloomberg lives in LA with his wife, Arianna, and daughter, Willa. He wants everyone to know that he cannot figure out how to turn on the sprinklers at his home.

2002

Heather Summe lives in NYC with her husband and their two daughters (Louisa, age five; and Willa, age two). She graduated with a major in health studies from Georgetown University and then went to medical school at UMass. She currently practices as a dermatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital. She continues to enjoy her lasting friendships with a number of her PCDS classmates.

2003

1999

Robert Felix is the pastor of Chandler Presbyterian Church and is developing a feature film which tells the true story of the struggle to keep Ben & Jerry’s homemade ice cream unique. The film is based on a book Robert discovered when its author, Brad Edmonson, spoke at a PCDS event several years ago.

After graduating from the law and business schools at The University of Arizona, Sasha Borsand Glassman went into corporate law and worked for Emerson Electric, a global tech company. She is now Assistant General Counsel and Global Director at Rogers Corporation, a high-tech materials

After graduating from PCDS, Bernard Hunt moved to NYC to attend NYU’s film school. He began his career in cinematography and launched his own production company shortly thereafter. In 2011, he married Emily Burnett ’03 Their wedding was officiated by PCDS Tennis Coach Jerry Keever. They currently live in NYC with their daughter, Ava, and dog, Ginger. Both entrepreneurs, Emily runs her own fashion brand, and Bernard founded Zombie Muay Thai, a premier martial arts academy in Greenwich Village.

We have PCDS Alumni gear for sale!

Email alumni@pcds.org to order hooded sweatshirts, tank tops, or hats!

2004

Christine Perocchi recently moved to NYC and started her own coaching business, Christine Jayne Wellness, which combines her business background, love of all things wellness, and passion for helping others. She uses tools such as human design, meditation, reiki, breathwork, nutrition counseling, and general coaching to help people create and live the life of their dreams. Christine holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from UCLA. Christine reports that she would love to connect with other PCDS alums.

Cynthia Benin Stein lives in Oakland with her husband, two small children, and labradoodle. She recently left the Oakland City Attorney’s Office, where she served for three years as a deputy city attorney defending challenges to Oakland’s laws, policies, and practices. She has since joined the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, where she serves as Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary advising the Governor, directing litigation, and overseeing the work of state agencies on issues of consumer protection and privacy. In her free time she enjoys chasing her kids around parks, discovering new beer gardens, and occasionally squeezing in a run with her dog.

2005

KC Lewis works as a civil rights lawyer in Portland, Oregon, advocating for people with disabilities. KC reports that he is engaged to his sweetheart, and they live together, with their four cats, in an old converted barn.

Brianna Eller Hughes concurrently completed a physics PhD and an MBA at Arizona State University, during which time she also contributed to two winning teams in the initial and final business plan competitions. Brianna obtained bachelor degrees in history and physics from Lake Forest College in 2009. Her previous work experience is diverse, including internships at the U.S. Navy Human Performance Center in Great Lakes, Illinois, in 2006; DFDCH, an architecture firm in Phoenix in 2007; and NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland in 2008. Her interest in outreach continued as a graduate student, where she—as a Science Foundation of Arizona fellow—orchestrated an after-school program at a local middle school and an outreach program with a local high school. In addition, she was involved in organizing the Sundial mentoring program within the physics department at ASU. She continued her research at ASU as a postdoctoral fellow, while focusing on the use of a new technique to develop optical coatings to prevent oxidation of Al mirrors for far-UV applications. She has since taken a step back from her academic pursuits to support and enjoy her family. In 2016, she married Roger Hughes, and they have three children: a sixteenyear-old and two preschool-age girls.

2006

Ellie Abraham Charles reports that she and her husband, Larry, are so excited to finally have all three of their children at PCDS! Ellie is in Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch, and Larry owns and runs a barbershop in Phoenix. Life is busy juggling between club basketball,

soccer, and volleyball, but they report they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sarah Kozinn is a Production Finance Executive at Walt Disney Television. She oversees the production and financial operations for shows that air on Hulu, Disney+, and the Freeform Network. In 2010, she graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in economics and accounting. She now lives by the beach in Santa Monica, CA. Sarah still fondly remembers all of her PCDS teachers and classmates and all the fun they had.

2007

“After an electrical fire that destroyed my substandard—yet somehow very standard—Brooklyn apartment,” Jay Lundeen reports that he is “moving with my girlfriend, Christina, and two dogs (a black lab, Bombadil and husky, Lilith) to a house we are building on 25 acres on a lake in Upstate New York. We will be prepping the house and the land to turn it into a vacation rental before returning to Brooklyn—hopefully sans future fires—some time in 2023.”

After graduating from Hamilton College, Scott Bixby moved to NYC to pursue a career in journalism. After stints at Bloomberg News, Mic, and The Guardian, he joined The Daily Beast , where he covered immigration, the Democratic presidential primaries, and the 2020 general election. He currently splits time between Washington, D.C., where he covers the White House for The Daily Beast, and NYC, where he lives with his husband, Andrew.

“Life is such a beautiful, unpredictable journey,” reports Annie Gould . “The last few years of mine have been filled with astounding adventures and monumental memories; none of which I saw coming. Within this unforeseeable timeline, I met the love of my life, got married, and we bought our first home. In addition to triumphs within my relationship, I also started my own business. My inner ideology and professional purpose has led me to help small business owners with their administrative and content needs. Currently, most of my time is spent working alongside a holistic physical therapist. When I am not acting as her admin, my passion’s purpose has led me to work adjacent to my husband at a prodigious 501(c)(3) non-profit, The Barbell Saves Project. Their mission is to support individuals in recovery from a substance abuse disorder by providing experiential therapy in the form of complimentary community fitness classes. It is truly bewildering how our lives can take such drastic turns of enhancement in such a small amount of time. Needless to say, my current life looks much different than I ever anticipated, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the unique way life tends to unfold.”

2008

Since 2012, Katelyn Pascavis has been living in LA and working as an interior designer. In 2020, she opened her own interior architecture and design firm, Two Muse Studios, which specializes in residential and retail design. She and her business partner (pictured below) have enjoyed their entrepreneurial endeavor, and their work has been met with continued success, as their projects have been featured in Domino Magazine and CA Home & Design Katelyn has stayed in close touch with Jessica Ornstein ’09 and recently enjoyed reconnecting with Alexa Cohn ’08

2009

In 2021, Mark Zhang graduated from residency and is now working full-time as an emergency medicine physician in San Diego.

Ayten Salahi, MS, RDN, completed her dietetic internship at Massachusetts General Hospital and is now the owner and lead dietitian of Aysa Nutrition, a plant-based and GI-focused medical nutrition practice for patients with gastroenterological conditions. She is also Executive Director of the Planetary Health Collective, a 501(c)(3) aimed at educating, incubating, and activating food and nutrition professionals who are passionate about creating a more equitable and sustainable food future for all. In 2022, she was elected Chair of the Hunger and Environmental Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Follow her work at aysanutrition.com or planetaryhealthcollective.org.

2009

In New York City in November 2022, PCDS Director of Alumni Relations Leslie Kornreich Feldman ’99 and Director of Development Sam Cieplicki had fun catching up over dinner with some of our college-age alumni who are now at universities in the city. Thanks to Zach Hitchcock ’09 for hosting us at his NYC restaurant, Bongos!

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Isabel Hines reports, ”I married my now-husband, Jake Schmidt, in November 2022, in Paradise Valley. It was so magical being surrounded by family and friends, including many old PCDS classmates. We are currently living in San Francisco and are both working for healthcare startups. We will be moving back to Phoenix in 2023, for Jake’s job and looking forward to it.”

2010

Zach Hitchcock reports, “I’m currently living in NYC, where I work for Macquarie Capital and co-lead their digital and IT services investment banking practice in the U.S. Despite eight years in the city, I’m told I’m still two years away from being offi cially able to call myself an actual New Yorker. I recently bought part of a restaurant , Bongos, in the Lower East Side which opened in May of 2022, and I spend most weekends hanging out with friends in lower Manhattan. Gino Picozzi ’09 and his fiancée, Becky, live up the street from me. To absolutely no surprise to any of our PCDS classmates, our winters continue to be filled with many ski trips to Vermont, the West Coast, and most recently to Banff.”

Since graduating from PCDS, Ashleigh Troutman has built a career in marketing and communications, with multiple high growth private equity and public restaurant companies. Today, she leads global internal communications and brand experience across 145 countries and territories for Yum! Brand’s KFC Division. Prior to KFC, she oversaw employer branding and communications for Wingstop Restaurants, Inc., while growing their engagement rate to the company’s highest figure in three years’ time. Before taking her career global, Ashleigh spent years at fast casual concept, Original ChopShop. The restaurant brand, created in Scottsdale, Arizona, has quintupled its unit growth in five years and now operates in multiple states. Outside of work, Ashleigh enjoys reading, writing, music, and traveling with her fiancée, Adam. She reports that she is currently planning her biggest destinations yet—her 2023 wedding in Seaside, Florida, and her honeymoon in Mauritius. Connect with Ashleigh on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/ in/datroutman.

In August 2022, at an intimate ceremony with family and friends, Max Leonesio married his wife, Jocelyn. Max and Jocelyn met while living in Manhattan in January 2020, and were quickly forced to face a global pandemic together. Last summer, they moved to Denver with their bichon-mix, Wall-E. Jocelyn works as an M&A lawyer for UnitedHealthcare, and Max is a director of eCommerce for Constellation Brands.

Never Have I Ever

Jake Villadolid reports that he is an indie writer/director based in LA. He has made numerous short films and music videos that have appeared in festivals around the world. He has also crewed shows, such as HBO’s Euphoria and Insecure, and Netflix’s

When not on set, Jake likes to spend time with his wife, Natasha, and participate in a wide array of hobbies, such as swing dancing, curling, pickleball, D&D, and mixing new cocktails.

2011

Jeremy Abdo reports, “This past year, I jumped into the food service industry and am currently running a chain of taco trucks in the Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) area. The trucks are called Salsa en la Ciudad. Our highest selling item on the menu is a dish I’ve proudly named Abdo’s Asada. If anyone from PCDS happens to be in the area, please stop by for free burritos, and we can taco ’bout it.”

After their wedding at High West Distillery in 2017, Katy Rector and her husband, Matt, had a goal to find their way to the beautiful town of Park City, UT. After a series of events during the height of the pandemic, good timing, and a healthy amount of impulse, Katy and Matt built a home just outside of Park City proper. Matt was able to continue working remotely, while Katy now works as an event coordinator planning internal promotional events for High West Distillery. Outside of work, Katy contributes her time to the Phoenix chapter of Les Dames D’Escoffier and loves helping her friends plan their weddings; the most recent being Ashley Sylvester’s intimate celebration on Martha’s Vineyard. In her downtime, Katy enjoys doing absolutely nothing and cuddling with her two cats and 95 pound pitbull.

Philip’s wife. Lately, I’ve been enjoying my free time by stressing over my fantasy football teams and watching Formula One races.”

Saira Malhotra shares, “Towards the end of last year, I started my own private therapy practice. In addition to seeing patients and running my small business, I am working on an exploratory research study regarding the decolonization approach in psychotherapy. I engage in advocacy and activism through my role as NASW (National Association of Social Workers) CO Board President, and I volunteer for Flip the Vote. Finally, I am in the process of working with a close friend on a podcast about different topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in action.”

Ashley Sylvester

Truluck married Sutton Truluck on September 10, 2022, on Martha’s Vineyard in Edgartown, Massachusetts. They now reside in McLean, Virginia.

2013

Patrick Rody reports, “I am currently working for a commercial real estate database company but will be looking to switch to a city-planning-related-job soon. Philip ’13 and I are back under the same roof, as we recently bought a house in Tempe together, along with

After graduating in 2017 from Babson College, Gian-Reto Bonadurer moved back to Switzerland to get a master’s in accounting and finance at the University of St. Gallen. In 2020, he joined Schroders Investment Management Switzerland and now works as a fund manager overseeing a convertible bond fund with a focus on sustainable investment. At the same time, he is also studying to attain the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and plans on beginning his doctorate studies within the next two years.

Cole Novatt currently resides in Seattle, Washington, and works as a sanctions compliance specialist for Amazon. He previously worked in the Washington D.C. area after graduating from a fiveyear BA/MA program in international relations at Johns Hopkins University, which included stints living in Baltimore, Nanjing, and Washington D.C. Outside of work, Cole can be found hiking PNW trails with his dog, Mira, participating in bar trivia, and donning his Phoenix Cardinals jersey every Sunday during football season.

April Curci is a commercial real estate agent with Carolina One Commercial and has recently qualified for the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation. The CCIM designation is bestowed on Commercial Realtors® who have shown success in commercial real estate as well as in financial, market, and investment analysis. The CCIM title follows the completion of a comprehensive fourcourse education component, an online ethics course, negotiation training, and elective courses from the Ward Center for Real Estate Studies. Fewer than ten percent of commercial real estate investors and advisors are qualified to claim the CCIM designation. April has lived and worked in Charleston since 2013, and she is a graduate of the College of Charleston. Licensed in both Arizona and South Carolina, April is a member of the Alpha Sigma Gamma Honorary Real Estate Society.

2015

In 2019, Julia Grehan graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in systems and information engineering. After graduation, she moved to Washington D.C., and started her career at a boutique consulting firm in the area. She now works at Capital One on their Consumer Card Spender Innovation team. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the D.C. area and traveling to visit friends around the country.

Some of the biggest brands in the industry are following our lead. With a lot of work, and a little luck, we will make the ski community a place for everyone. The mountains are for everyone.”

2016

Kevin Lynch lives in San Francisco with his girlfriend, Lindsay, and his puppy, Finn. He spends his working hours identifying and backing early-stage technology companies as an investor at MGV. This year, Kevin was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and named one of the top early-stage investors on the EVC List. Recently, he has been focused on supporting mental health startups, like Modern Health, that are normalizing the conversation around mental health and bringing important services to the mainstream.

Danny Minard shares, “These days, I am deep into pursuing my passion of filmmaking that my classmates were well aware of in high school. I am living in Fraser Valley, Colorado, and I work full-time as a professional cinematographer and photographer for Winter Park Resort and Alterra Mountain Company. I have the immense pleasure of working with an incredible team and group of athletes, who are all extremely passionate about changing the ski industry for the better. My colleagues and I are determined to make the snowsports community more inclusive and to lower barriers of entry to the sport. I have been lucky enough to work with brands like SMITH Optics, The North Face, Dakine, GoPro, and many others. Most notably, we have a partnership with Natives Outdoors to focus on getting Native Americans into snow sports. We worked with them to shape our new Venture Out campaign into one that focuses on inclusivity. Additionally, we started a scholarship program with Natives Outdoors that gives ski gear and IKON Passes to Native Americans who apply to the program.

In May 2020, Alex Botto graduated with triple majors in psychology, criminology, and Spanish from the University of Miami. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alex took a gap year and then in the fall of 2021, she began her law studies at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She is currently in her second year and has developed a passion for practicing family law which she plans to do in Miami after graduation. She has a summer 2023 position all set at a family law firm in Miami.

2017

Hannah Miller reports, “In May 2022, I graduated from Harvard, where I studied history and minored in economics. My coursework, internships, research jobs, and senior thesis research on the history of U.S. human rights-related sanctions inspired me to pursue a career in foreign policy (as well as Mr. Guthrie’s and Mr. Martin’s classes!). I live in D.C. and am a James C. Gaither Junior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP). As a Gaither Fellow, I research a wide range of U.S. foreign policy challenges. I have enjoyed meeting with NSC members, journalists, activists, and academics to discuss the U.S.’s shifting role in the world.”

Did you graduate in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1988, 1983 or 1978?

If so, we can’t wait to see you for your Reunion Weekend! Friday, April 28-Saturday, April 29, 2023 — See page 50 for details.

In 2021, Libby Williamson graduated from McGill University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a double minor in political science and behavioral science. She is in her final semester of a master’s program in Global Security at ASU. She currently works in the private aviation industry while attending school full-time. She lives in Scottsdale with her boyfriend and their two-year-old puppy and loves exploring Arizona in their free time.

Maddie West is a pediatric cardiac ICU nurse, and Spencer Thompson ’17 is a police officer. They decided to stay in Texas after graduating from TCU and were engaged in October 2022. 2018

Sophia Casten reports, “I received my bachelor’s degree in government with a certificate in reproductive health rights and justice from Smith College. During my senior year at Smith, I completed a semester program in Washington, D.C., where I worked for a housing non-profit and interned for Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Since graduating from Smith, I started my position as a paralegal specialist with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division in Washington, D.C. I plan to go to law school in the next two years.

Additionally, I run a read-aloud volunteer program at a local elementary school, where retired Smith alums read to students in grades pre-k through fifth.”

Mary Dover shares, “After graduating from PCDS, I attended UCLA. I received my bachelor’s degree in physiological sciences and spent the majority of my college career volunteering in the hospital there, while working on research and exploring Southern California. Since graduating college, I have begun applying to medical school, while working as a teaching assistant in a dissection anatomy class at UCLA and as a staff research associate in a circadian biology laboratory. My work now revolves around discovering molecular biomarkers in sleep homeostasis and circadian rhythms. In addition to my professional commitments, I have found time to pursue my passion in aviation and, as a private pilot, frequently fly all over the West Coast.”

Addison Wessel graduated with degrees in computer science and music from Dartmouth and then moved with Madison Stringer ’18 to St. Louis. He is currently working as a gameplay programmer and lead sound designer for Mob Games. In his free time, he helps coach at a local fencing club and enjoys experimenting with and making all sorts of fermented foods.

Gonzalo Alvarado graduated from ASU with a BS in finance and supply chain management. While there, he worked as a warehouse operations manager for Amazon.com, Inc. His current position is as an internal control analyst for MUFG Union Bank N.A. There, he mainly works with the supply chain finance division and the small

business administration. He is also a supply chain security consultant for mezcal and tequila distilleries in Mexico. In between, he conducts research with ASU (and related parties) concerning sociocultural and artifact anthropology. As of now, Gonzalo splits his time between the two countries.

In May 2022, Lindsay Harrison graduated from the Eccles School of Business at The University of Utah and moved to Santa Monica, CA. She is currently working for a staffing agency as a marketing and creative recruiter for Disney and Amazon. In her free time, she continues to hang out with many other PCDS alumni in the LA area.

Catie Meng graduated with a degree in business economics and a minor in Asian languages from the honors program at UCLA. She is currently living in Scottsdale and working at a private law firm in Phoenix that specializes in estate planning and corporate law while also tackling law school applications.

Sophie Ax graduated with a major in neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently working a two-year rotational program at Amgen. The first eight-month rotation is taking place in the oncology business unit, where she is an associate on the Vectibix brand team helping to market new clinical data. Sophie reports that most of her days are spent working remotely from her apartment near Santa Monica, CA, although, a couple of times a month, she tries to make her way to their headquarters in Thousand Oaks. Sophie says, “ I am forever grateful for my fourteen years at PCDS, where I not only learned invaluable skills in education but also made lifelong friends.”

Jacqueline Bertault is currently following her passion for ballet by dancing professionally with the Milwaukee Ballet while continuing her online studies in psychology at ASU. She will be performing in Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty. Since attending PCDS, she has studied ballet and other forms of dance in France, Houston, and Chicago. She has also danced professionally in Nice, France, before joining the Milwaukee Ballet Junior Company. She has attended workshops in Barcelona, Paris, Prague, New York, and Cannes which has allowed her the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and to experience an international career. She shares that she appreciates all that PCDS has taught her, including hard work, discipline, time management, perseverance, and a love of learning. She reports that she is aware that ballet careers tend to be ephemeral, so she is immersing herself while her body can still handle the athletic load. She hopes to enroll in graduate studies following her ballet career, in order to continue learning about her passion of sports psychology and mental coaching for athletes.

Julia Odden graduated magna cum laude with a BA in computer science from Northwestern University. She is back at Northwestern working on an MS in computer science with a focus on cybersecurity. Her anticipated graduation date is March 2023. After graduation, she is joining a firm as a digital forensics and incident response consultant. “When big companies get hacked, they can call us to figure out what happened and to prevent another incident. My job is half reverse-hacking and half diplomacy, and I think it’s the most exciting job in the world,” states Julia. Outside of computers, she is coaching a youth climbing team, still climbing and competing herself, and pursuing aerial arts (namely lyra and trapeze). “When I’m not parked in front of a computer, I’m often swinging around somewhere between four and eighty feet off the ground,” shares Julia.

Madison Stringer reports that after graduating from PCDS, she was a biochemistry and biophysics double major (and mathematics minor) as part of the Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Scholars Program at the University of Pennsylvania. After three years of researching xenon biosensing with the Dmochowski laboratory at Penn, she is currently in her first year in the biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology PhD program at Washington University in St. Louis. She is working on the biophysics of SARS N-protein and how it can package the viral genome. In her free time, she and Addison Wessel ’18 can be found exploring food and festivities in and around St. Louis.

Ivy Leibner graduated with a degree in music education from The Ohio State University. She is now teaching elementary strings in the Mesa Public Schools district.

In his final semester at USC, Jake Sarver reports that he joined Adam Sidi ’14 at ACORE Capital, a private debt firm that originates commercial real estate loans across the country.

DJ Hauben graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BS in sport and entertainment management.

Last summer, she interned in the legal department of Major League Soccer in NYC. This past August, she began law school at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, where she is concurrently pursuing her JD and a master’s in sports law and business.

After graduating from PCDS in 2018, Josh Sidi decided to push himself out of his comfort zone and study abroad in Israel. After an incredible year of travel and new experiences, Josh returned to Arizona to complete his undergraduate degree in business law at Barrett Honors College at ASU. He is currently living in Santa Monica, CA, and is pursuing a J.D. degree at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. Josh aspires to become a lawyer for individuals who find themselves without an advocate for their creativity and autonomy.

Kati Dean reports, “My life has certainly been busy since graduating from PCDS! After finishing my BFA in art at Chapman University in the spring of 2022, I have shifted my focus to the film industry. I decided to stay at Chapman and am now pursuing an MFA in production design for film at Dodge College. While at Chapman, I worked on several short films, where I was responsible for creating scenery, props, color palettes, graphics, and costumes. I have also worked on a variety of music videos as a costume designer, where I’ve brought pilots, deer men, and swamp creatures to life. I find I am applying my training in fine arts to designing intricate sets and conceptual art. At the end of my two year program, I will apply to the prestigious Art Directors Guild trainee program. My hope is to leave my creative mark on films in the future.”

Last spring, Sally Tepper graduated from Wesleyan University. She started working as an associate chemist in partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific and Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston, MA. Her plan is to spend a few years working before going back to school for a PhD in organic chemistry.

After 12 years at PCDS, Cameron Najafi finished his last two years of high school at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He attended The University of Chicago for two years as a political science major before taking an extended leave of absence in 2021 to focus on a variety of projects, including global catastrophic risk research and lobbying. Currently, Cameron is in the early days of founding a startup to create a more humane version of the internet.

Earlier this year, a panel of young alumni returned to campus to visit with this year’s senior class. The group answered questions posed by our students, ranging from the PCDS-to-college transition to things they wished they had done as second semester seniors at PCDS. Thank you Bennett, Daniela, Emme Kate, and Jake —it was great to have you back!

2021

Claire Linos is halfway through her sophomore year at Case Western Reserve University where she is majoring in nursing. She was also hired by the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women at CWRU as a Peer Educator, and was recently elected as the President of the Planned Parenthood Club.

2022

Daniela CastroMartinez reports, “I’m greatly enjoying meeting new people and taking interesting classes during my freshman year at Stanford University. Outside of the classroom, I’ve spent my time competing for the club tennis team and tutoring middle schoolers in East Palo Alto.”

Do you have news to share? We are always excited to hear from you. Send details about a graduation, a new job, a birth, engagement, marriage announcement, a recent trip, a new hobby, or a visit with another alumnus/a (and email accompanying photos) to alumni@pcds.org . We look forward to learning what you have been up to!