W+H Media Mashup

As we return to school from Winter Break in the first week of January, young alumni often visit to attend events or just say hello to their former teachers. The pandemic made those little reunions a bit more difficult the past two years and our traditional events became either virtual or canceled. It was wonderful to return to the usual in-person format for the young alumni college panel discussions for parents and students and also to host the annual young alumni pizza party and basketball game and reception again after a two-year hiatus.

As I listened to the young alumni panelists talk about their W+H experiences and transition to their respective colleges and universities, I found myself reflecting on my own journey from W+H graduate to college student nearly four decades ago. It’s also interesting that I have something in common beyond just a W+H diploma with all five of this year’s young alumni panelists. 

Ariana Di Landro ’21 and Rose Kassam ’22, who attend Princeton and Boston University, respectively, both wrote and edited for the Beacon student newspaper during their Upper School years. I was a Beacon writer and later served as sports editor for two years in the early 1980s. Rose even gave me a shoutout as her Beacon advisor during the panel discussion with parents in the Oakwood Room. Izabel Korycki ’22, now a freshman at Rutgers, played varsity soccer with Ariana during their high school years. I played for longtime coach and W+H Hall of Famer Howard Freeman back in the day. Ramon Gonzalez ’22, a current freshman at Columbia, was a catcher on the baseball team last year. I once wore the tools of ignorance for the Rams in both Middle and Upper School. Calum Huang ’22, a Villanova freshman, continues to be active in video production and backstage work after honing his skills in the Berry Performing Arts Center. The equipment wasn’t nearly as impressive when I recorded events as a member of the school’s Audio Visual Club in the 1980s.

Why are these coincidental facts important or relevant? They prove once again that Wardlaw+Hartridge continues to provide countless opportunities for connection and leadership, even across the decades. I know I felt prepared for college when I headed to the University of Notre Dame in 1983, much like last week’s young alumni shared with our parents and students. Although last week’s young alumni panelists attended W+H many years later, we have similar experiences that will keep us connected. 

I

still have fond memories of attending Fall Fair and Homecoming Day as a student back in the 1970s and 1980s. Playing soccer in the morning or afternoon, running around and having fun with friends after the game, and enjoying various culinary delights and snacks made those great days to be a Ram.

Four-plus decades later, the 2022 version of the annual autumn event brought back memories of the past. While the campus has changed and the members of the community are different from my generation as a student, it felt like old home week. For starters, we welcomed the graduates from the 1972 classes at Wardlaw Country Day School and The Hartridge School for the celebration of their 50^th reunion. Meeting most of these alumni/ae for the first time was a privilege and a pleasure. Hearing the old stories and witnessing the warmth of their reconnection made me look forward to my own 40^th reunion next year.

Later in the day, we hosted our first Alumni Awards Ceremony and Reception since 2019. During my 14 years working at W+H, this has become my favorite event. I didn’t realize until Saturday how much I had missed this event during the COVID-induced hiatus. This year’s ceremony honored four old-time alumni/ae who epitomize the school’s proud heritage and tradition of excellence.

Congratulations again to Missy VanBuren-Brown ’72, who received the Distinguished Alumna Award. Missy, one of our most active and dedicated alumnae, rallied her Hartridge classmates for this special reunion weekend. It was wonderful to see her classmates and friends celebrate the award with Missy. Longtime Board of Trustees president and Emeritus Trustee Joe Bonk, parent of alumni Joseph ’94, Bryan ’98 and Chris ’02, delivered a fine introduction for Missy.

The W+H Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022 ranks as one of our finest to date. We began with the induction of Carole Horne Boyd ’69, daughter of former headmaster Prentice Horne. Carole was a three-sport standout who reflected on her years at Hartridge. I enjoyed catching up with her at the reception and shared some personal memories of Mr. Horne, who was the headmaster during most of my time at W+H. Beverly Baier Keur ’73, a W+H Hall of Famer, made a wonderful introduction on behalf of an athlete she admired in her school years and also today.

Next up was Roxane Brown-Campello ’79, arguably one of the most accomplished student athletes in school history. Roxane did it all, and her presenter, classmate Mitch Reider ’79, provided ample testimony. Roxane accumulated 15 varsity letters as a standout in field hockey, gymnastics, basketball and lacrosse. I was in eighth grade during Roxane’s senior year and still remember what an all-around star she was on this campus.

Last, but certainly not least, we inducted Matt Albano ’81 to the AHOF. Matt excelled in wrestling but was also a captain and leader on the soccer team and record-setting distance runner in track and field. Classmate Rob Berg '81 provided a respectful yet humorous introduction of his close friend and teammate. Matt graduated two years before I did so I rarely competed with him at W+H but enjoyed the chance to play intramural sports with him at the University of Notre Dame. We lived in the same residence hall, mostly because our beloved history teacher Doc Rud also lived there during his ND years, and we connected for a game-winning touchdown in a flag football playoff game back in 1984. Matt outran a defender, which is no surprise, and I fired a bullet for the decisive score on the last play of the game. The movie Rudy was not inspired by this play!

Celebrating with all of these folks, along with former teachers like Link Keur, Jim Howard and Doc, was a nostalgic experience to say the least. During my congratulatory remarks for Roxane, I mentioned that her mom, Helen Brown, was my first history teacher at W+H way back in seventh grade. Doc taught AP US History and was my last history teacher before college. Link and Jim taught math and coached me in a variety of sports. 

I’ll never make the W+H Hall of Fame, but it sure was a pleasure to walk down memory lane with some of the finest people this school has ever known.

Summers seem to fly by faster every year and June always turns to September in a flash. It’s usually quiet on campus without hundreds of students in our classrooms and athletes active on our fields.

There are varying opinions on when the summer is halfway over or in the second half. Some folks joke that summer is half over after the Fourth of July. That’s a bit extreme. Others insist that once the calendar turns to August, you might as well consider the summer over and get the backpacks ready. 

If you want an exact answer to that question as it relates to Wardlaw+Hartridge, that pivotal day is today – Monday, July 25. It has been exactly 45 days since the Class of 2022 graduated at our 139^th Commencement Ceremony and it will be another 45 days until our 140^th Convocation begins the 2022-2023 school year. Yes, we have arrived at the precise midpoint of the W+H summer of 2022.

Now that we are officially in the second half of the summer, it’s time to look ahead. Two new administrators began work in July – W+H veteran Mike Romeo is our new Director of Athletics and newcomer Alayne Birnhak has joined us as the Associate Director of College Counseling. We will also welcome new teachers in the fall and eventually appoint a new Head of School during the upcoming school year. We look forward to sharing bios of all new W+H faculty and staff later this summer.

Fall athletes will begin preseason workouts in the middle of August and our faculty and staff will be back on campus in the last week of August to prepare for our 140^th year. New students and their families will participate in orientation activities prior to our opening day on Thursday, September 8. In just over six weeks, everyone will be back on campus to begin the 2022-2023 academic year.

Here's to a safe and restful second half of the summer!