TheGAMGAM: a social meeting of whaleships…with all the

sympathies of sailors [and] all the peculiar congenialities arising from a common pursuit.

Volume XXVI, Number vi July-August 2012

In this issue: June 9 events…2 Cool Nights…4 Honors…5 SISAL…8 German theater…8 Honor Society…9 College news…11 35 years…13 Beer Tasting…14 New Students…15 Head’s List…16 Faus elected…16 International Prize…17 Alumni News…18 ff.

The art of conversation in anage of communication

Morse retires, Colt comes on board as

chair of FA trustees After nineteen years of leader-

ship and wise counsel, Susan Morse is stepping down from the chairmanship of the Falmouth Academy Board of Trustees. The trustees have elected FA parent and trustee Beth Colt as the new chair of the board.

Headmaster David Faus remarked that Mrs. Morse “has done an incred-ible job as an FA trustee for 19 years, including as chair for the last eight years. She has been an outstand-ing and inclusive board leader who understands FA and has wholeheart-edly invested herself both profession-ally and personally in the school as an institution and in the people who make up our community.” He said, “She is a wise and generous friend of the school.”

Mr. Faus and the trustees look forward to the leadership of Ms. Colt, whose son Charlie is in FA’s class of 2017. An American history graduate of Harvard, she established a talent management business in California after working on Wall Street in merg-ers and acquisitions. In California, she

[Mr. Faus spoke directly to the seniors at FA’s 34th graduation on June 9. His comments have a wider application than to those 31 new alumni and we print them below for our readers. -ed.]

Many of you have told me that Falmouth Academy has made you appreciate good conversation, not just in the classroom but also in the locker area and on the sports vans.

So I was interested in Sherry Turkle’s recent opinion piece in the New York Times, “The Flight from Conversation.” Turkle is a psychologist and professor at MIT and the author of the book Alone Together: Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other.

She writes: “We live in a tech-nological universe in which we are always communicating. And yet we have sacrificed conversation for more communication.

“In today’s workplace, young people who have grown up fear-ing conversation show up on the job wearing earphones. Walking through

(continued on page 2) (continued on page 4)

From the Headmaster

The GAMPublished six times a year for the community of Falmouth Academy

Integrating science, humanities, athletics & arts for grades 7 through 12

David C. Faus, HeadmasterMichael J. Earley, Director of Admissions

Sarah Pring, Director of DevelopmentBarbara Campbell, Alumni Director

Tucker M. Clark, Assistant to the HeadElenita Muñiz, Publications Director

In its admissions and financial aid programs, hiring process, and in all school programs,

Falmouth Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender,

national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or physical handicap.

7 Highfield Drive t Falmouth, MA 02540508.457.9696

thegam@falmouthacademy.org2

a college library or the campus of a high-tech start-up, one sees the same thing: we are together, but each of us is in our own bubble, furiously con-nected to keyboards and tiny touch screens.”

She points out that as we expect more from technology we expect less from one another, that we have ac-cepted an illusion of companionship without the demands of relationship. Always-on devices, she writes, “pro-vide … powerful fantasies: that we will always be heard; that we can put our attention wherever we want; and that we never have to be alone.”

As technology becomes even more powerful, we search for even more connections – but almost always at the expense of real conversation. Sound bites and apps begin to replace sub-stance and meaning.

Here is Turkle’s challenge: “Most of all, we need to remember–in be-tween texts and emails and Facebook posts–to listen to one another, even to the boring bits, because it is often in the unedited moments, moments in which we hesitate and stutter and go silent, that we reveal ourselves to one another.”

To the class of 2012: I encourage you to continue to stand for person-to-person conversation over sterile communication. At Falmouth Acad-emy, you have learned to be empa-thetic listeners and reasoned debaters. You have learned to appreciate nuance and to choose your words wisely. You are attentive to facial expression, body language and tone. These skills and habits already set you apart from your peers and will serve you well for the rest of your life.

Remember the powerful conver-sations you have had in our

Conversation vs. communication(continued from page 1)

classrooms and on our vans, about objects in motion, the city states of Athens and Sparta, or Hamlet’s state of mind. Remember the intensity and the joy.

Having had the good fortune to en-gage many of you this spring, I can say with confidence that you have mas-tered the art of conversation. Continue to practice it.

And I hope you will remember other lessons from Falmouth Acad-emy:

- about the joys of learning - about being imaginative thinkers - about being kind - about serving others - and about doing good.It is my hope and my expectation

that you, and the classes that follow you, will leave Falmouth Academy well prepared and willing to work to make the world a better place. Good luck and congratulations!

-David C. Faus

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As nearly always is the case, Sat-urday June 9–the date of Recognition Day and the graduation of the Class of 2012–dawned bright and blue, despite the preceding days of blustery Cape Cod spring. Parents and friends joined excited students and proud but pensive faculty in acknowledging the hard work and successes of the school year about to end.Recognition Day

Recognition Day ceremonies were uniquely FA, with the entire senior class rising at one point to deliver Hamlet’s complete “To be or not to be” speech in honor of their retiring English teacher, Mrs. Janet Kearsley. Gifts and flowers helped convey the many “Thank You!” wishes offered up. Among several emotional moments, senior Tariq Maroofi’s description of his three years as a member of the Haycock family stood out. “I will always have family in Afghanistan, Virginia, and now on Cape Cod,” he said. He shook hands with all the faculty and received a group hug from his classmates after presenting Mark and Joyce Haycock with a plant and thanking his teachers.

Mrs. Barbara Campbell, Direc-tor of Alumni and Parent Relations, presented thanks and flowers to Sarah Rogalewski and Maribeth Wadman for their leadership of the Parents As-sociation including the very successful Mariner Craft Beer Tasting which raised $35,000 for the Annual Fund.

The Senior Class announced that their gift is to revamp the Faculty Room with new paint, curtains, appli-ances and a maintenance fund to keep it in shape.

Aimee Church ‘12 presented the first copy of Mainsail ‘12 to Mr. Ben Parsons, to whom the yearbook was dedicated.

Student Council officers recapped their very successful year, includ-

Recognition Day and Graduation: an “advertisement”for what matters most to FA

ing a $4,000 gift to Children’s Cove, continued support of Oduri, Constant, and Daniel in their school in Africa, and the institution of the Golden Shovel to recognize the winners of the annual Marconi Beach sand sculpture contest. They presented thank-you gifts to Messrs. Sperduto, Rakutis, and Atthaoraek and farewell gifts to departing faculty Mr. Zuzanski, Dr. Meyer, Mme. Karolinski, Ms. Beams, Ms. Muñiz, Mrs. Twichell, and Mrs. Kearsley.

Mrs. Olivann Hobbie spoke to honor another very special retirement: Susan Morse, who has chaired the FA Board of Trustees for eight years. “Susan has led this wonderful group of volunteers who hold the school in trust, working seriously and constantly to strengthen FA and support us all,” Mrs. Hobbie said. “Today all of us say thank you to Susan, not only for your leadership but for your friendship.” She announced that a hydrangea gar-den will be planted outside the Buxton Library in Mrs. Morse’s honor.Faculty emeRiti

Mr. Faus honored the departing faculty. Three of them with exception-ally long tenure at FA have been de-clared Faculty Emeriti. For 35 years, Janet Kearsley has blessed FA with her rare combination of intelligence, compassion, and honesty, said Mr. Faus. “She is a moral compass who creates safe and comfortable spaces for her students and her colleagues to take risks and to learn.” As he named her faculty emerita, he said, “Janet will tell you that her colleagues are her role models. She would be surprised to know that she is theirs.”

Another of the Founding Faculty, Mrs. Nancy Piskor Twichell has been the soul of the science department since 1979. She has taught nearly every science course plus

(continued on page 7)

ERRATUM

At the FA Science Fair, Théo Guérin explains his research to Dr. Erik Zettler of Sea Education Association.

This caption was missing from the May-June GAM. We apologize for the omission.

4

served on the board of the Oakwood School and on the board of the I Have A Dream Foundation. She chaired the parents annual fund drive at Oakwood, an experience she quickly put to use here by chairing our 2011-12 parents’ annual fund committee.

In 2010, Ms. Colt, her husband P. K. Simonds, and children, Charlie and Sam, moved to Cape Cod to renovate and manage the Woods Hole Inn and Quicks Hole restaurant.

“Beth is smart, dynamic, and an expe-rienced independent-school board mem-ber,” said Mr. Faus. “She is a big picture thinker who understands the importance of details.”Gulmann appointed new trustee

The May meeting of the Board of Trustees also saw the addition of Henrik Gulmann as a new trustee. Mr. Gulmann is a Senior Vice President, Investments and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch in its Hyannis office and previously worked for PriceWaterhouse-Coopers in San Francisco and Boston. He was raised and attended both public and private schools in Australia, Swe-den, Denmark, South Africa, and in the Washington, DC area and earned a B.A. in economics and legal studies from the University of California, Berkeley.

Mrs. Morse will remain on the board as a trustee. “I look forward to working with Ms. Colt and Mr. Gulmann,” said Mr. Faus. “We are grateful for the atten-tion and support of all our trustees.” Ω

The FA advanced jazz students, under the direction of Mr. George Scharr, once again toured the White Mountains of New Hampshire in June. This is the ninth year the Cool Nights Jazz Band has made a musical tour.

They are based at Woodward’s Re-sort in Lincoln, NH, and play several venues during their 1-week tour. This year, a new restaurant, The Horse & Hound in Franconia, was added to the schedule, for a fundraising event in support of local growers. “The band is so professional,” said Mr. Scharr, “that our hosts look forward to our annual return as much as the students look forward to the performances.”

The jazz band does several com-munity performances during the school year that help raise funds to cover the cost of the trip for the entire band plus four chaperones.

The trip is not all work and no play, of course. Excursions to a water park, a cog railway ride up Mt. Wash-ington, and this year, a moose tour, enliven the tour.

“Cool Nights is losing ten seniors this year,”, said Mr. Scharr, “so the 2012 tour has special resonance for us all.” Ω

Ninth summer tour for Cool Nights Jazz Band

Colt to chair trustees (continued from page 1)

Members of the Cool Nights Jazz Band rehearse during their concert tour of the White Mountains in June.

Camarra ‘13 earns spot at Art All State

Isabelle Camarra was accepted to the 2012 Art All State, which takes place June 1 and 2 at the Worcester Art Museum.

A collaboration of the museum and the Massachusetts Art Education Association, Art All State brings together talented high school juniors from across Massachusetts for an intensive art experience that is intended to help them think creatively about themselves and the role that art can play in life after high school.

The students collaborate to create eight group installations inspired by the museum’s collections. Each group is led by two profes-sional artists who help facilitate the students

in the creative process. The artists, who came from a variety of different art disciplines, also act as mentors for the students.

Admission to Art All State requires a written application, submit-ting several pieces of art work and a personal interview. This year 240 high school students applied for 140 available positions. Ω

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FA student scientists earned nine awards for their independent research proj-ects at the Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair at MIT in May.•First Prize: Ryan Ackell and Emily Skehill, The Effect of Nicotine, Bryostatin, and

Vicodin on Memory in Hermissenda crassicornus. They earned the 2012 Osram Sylvania $1,000 award and the GEMS Award for Outstanding STEM Re-search.

•First Prize: Emma Rogalewski, Measuring the Oxidative Stress Response of Ze-brafish Liver Cells exposed to Oxidants and Antioxidants. Emma received a 2012 Sensata Technologies $500 award and the 2012 MIT Educational Studies Junction/Delve course.

•Second Prize: Carlo Bocconcelli and Luke Johns, Protist Abundance and Tro-phic Diversity in Areas of Varied Eutrophication. They each earned a U.S. Army Award and together received the 2012 Air and Waste Management Association $500 Award.

•Second Prize: Savannah Maher, The Effect of Caffeine on Learning and Memory Retention in Dugesia tigrina. Savannah received the 2012 General Dynamics C4 Systems $500 award and is the 2012 alternate for the Wheaton College $70,000 scholarship award.

•Honorable Mention: Ryan Davis earned a 2012 MIT Educational Studies Pro-gram Award for his research on correlations of the Arctic oscillation with Red Sea surface temperature .

•Honorable Mention: Victoria Avis received a 2012 Harvard University Press Book Award for A Soil Survey: Comparing Carbon Storage.

•Honorable Mention: Brianna Feldott earned honorable mention for The Effect of Different Nitrogen Compounds on the Growth and Physiology of the Brown Tide Alga Aureococcus anophagefferens. Ω

FA students earn awards at Mass. Science Fair

Self-Portrait by Isabelle Camarra

Recognition Day: the official list

all-School awaRDS (alphabetically)Bruce E. Buxton Award (imagination): Ayla Fudala ‘12. Patrice Buxton Award (love of reading): Tomasz Dvorak ‘17. Worthington Campbell Award for Ethical Leadership: Brittany Feldott ‘12. Thomas Kimball Clark Award (reflecting the ideals of FA): Thomas Aviles ‘12. Homer P. Clark Award (reflecting the ideals of FA): Charlotte VanVoorhis ‘16, Charles Colt-Simonds ‘16. Honor Society Scholarships (giving support and help to the community): Catherine Aviles ‘14, Leandra Sethares ‘14, Cassidy Reves-Sohn ‘14.

Lewis Award (continuous effort, growth and leadership): Justin Waller ‘12. Meltzer Awards (greatest academic growth): Natasha Garland ‘16, Madison York ‘12. Olson Awards (love of learning for its own sake): Sintra Reves-Sohn ‘16, Rachel Dragos ‘12. Parents Committee Award (great-est academic and social growth): Gwen Martin ‘12, Tariq Khan Maroofi ‘12. Renaissance Person (diverse excellence in academics, arts, athletics): Allisa Dalpe ‘12. Valedictorian (highest grade point average): Thomas Aviles ‘12. Weaner Award (outstanding contribution to the atmosphere of FA): Daniel Sakakini ‘13.DepaRtmental awaRDS

Science: Dedication: Théo Guérin ‘17, Kyle Benton ‘12; Distinction: David Pickart ‘12. Math: Dedication: Grant Doney ‘16, GianPaula Hulten ‘12; Dis-tinction: Sara Dorr ‘12. Math & Science: Dedication: Gregory Pickart ‘16.

Foreign Language: German: Outstanding Beginner: Patrick Best ‘17; Dedication: Madison York ‘12; Excellence: Lucas Johns ‘14. French: Outstand-ing Beginner: Victoria Avis ‘15; Distinction in French and Latin: Zachary Bresnick ‘16; Dedication in French: Abigail Hollander ‘12; Bavardage in French: Marius Karolinski ‘12.

History: Lower School History Enthusiast: Nathan D’Angelo ‘16; Su-san Pasley MacKenzie Award for Excellence in Ancient History: Elizabeth Drinkwater ‘15, Samuel Giancola ‘15; Dedication: Ella Martin ‘12; Distinction: Palma Walko ‘17, Thomas Aviles ‘12. English: Dedication: Pearl Vercruysse ‘17; Distinction: Hannah Beams ‘16, Margaret Rathbun ‘12, Daniel Eder ‘12.

Resonance Creative Writing Contest: Poetry: 1st: Brittany Fel-dott ‘12; 2nd: Ayla Fudala ‘12, Philippa Ryan ‘12; 3rd: Hannah Davenport ‘13. Short Story: 1st & Susan Pasley MacKenzie Creative Writing Award: Han-nah Davenport ‘13; 2nd: Philippa Ryan ‘12; 3rd: Ayla Fudala ‘12. Mariner Awards (ideals of FA athletics): Allisa Dalpe ‘12, Daniel Eder ‘12.

Drama: Distinction: Sydney Johnson ‘17, Margaret Rathbun ‘12; Stagecraft Award for Meritorious Props: Katie Armstrong ‘15; Stagecraft Award for Dedi-cation: Peter Primini ‘13. Music: Model Chorister for Distinction in Chorus: Catherine Aviles ‘14; Leadership in Chamber Orchestra: Jessica O’Malley ‘14; Distinction in Jazz: Ethan Altshuler ‘15. Music & Drama: Thomas White ‘12.

Photography: Distinction: Ethan Bailey ‘16, Rachel Dragos ‘12. Fine Arts: Studio Arts Award for Distinction: Isabel Davern ‘17; Margaret Tew Ellsworth Award for Creativity in Studio Arts: Isabelle Camarra ‘13.

Physical Education (perseverance and dedication): Molly Houghton ‘16, Ethan Mendez ‘17. Taekwando: Dedication: Thomas Arthur ‘12. 6 Ω

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Recognition Day and Graduation: an “ad” for FA

study skills, advised Student Council, the Honor Society, and the classes of ‘83 and ‘92, and headed the Science Department for many years. She chaired the “world-famous FA Science Fair” from its inception in 1989. “We have all come to depend on Nancy’s astute eye and impeccable sense for just the right detail,” Mr. Faus said. “With affectionate patience and persis-tence, she aims for excellence and inclu-sion. She always asks: ‘Could it be better? Did we leave anyone out?’ ” As he named her Faculty Emerita, he remarked, “By word and deed, Nancy has reminded her students of the importance of being kind.”

Ms. Elenita Muñiz joined FA in 1986 as the development direc-tor. Within a year, she had added admissions to her portfolio, became the yearbook advisor, and created The GAM. Mr. Faus said, “Elenita imme-diately recognized and reveled in FA’s inclusive culture, always making sure that faculty and staff worked together seamlessly. Elenita is a great reader and a citizen of the world. With cour-age and care, she models for all of us the importance of living one’s values.”

Portraits of all three women will hang outside the Faculty Room along-side past Faculty Emeriti.

In celebrating what he called “the true center of Falmouth Academy,” Mr. Faus honored all the FA faculty “for their skill and their depth, for their dynamic and careful teaching, and…for creating and maintaining the culture of Falmouth Academy which is dependent on their generosity and collegiality and which challenges us all to be our best selves.”

gRaDuation

The results of that challenge could clearly be seen in the afternoon’s graduation ceremonies. “I could easily create a sales pitch promoting the appealing qualities of this exceptional group, the Class of 2012,” proclaimed valedictorian Thomas Aviles. In-stead, however, he challenged them to

examine their years at FA and see how they had grown. “If we were to write margin notes on this last chapter of our FA lives,” Thomas said, “we would comment on the growth of these charac-ters–ourselves. Because of FA, we have learned to work together, to understand and respect each other’s differ-ences, to challenge ourselves in and out of the classroom,

to explore our identies, and to love each other.

“Take a look back at all the margin notes you have written in the text of your lives here, for they are rich indeed.”

The seniors then read excerpts from the peer references each had written for a classmate early in the fall. These comments, tender, personal, and revealing, brought to life a group of generous and active students, bound both to their school and to each other.

When retiring chair of the FA Board of Trustees Susan Morse spoke, she remarked on the closeness of the class. “More than anything, you value each other. As your peer references so aptly reveal, you appreciate each other’s uniqueness and have reveled in the close friendships that you have formed.”

Here’s to our newest alumni! Ω

Mrs. Nancy Twichell listens as Mr. Faus reads her Faculty Emerita citation.

(continued from page 3)

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The Small Independent Schools Arts League held its 20th juried show at Dedham Country Day School. SI-SAL, founded at Falmouth Academy in 1992 with five particpating schools, has grown to include over 20 schools from central to eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The judges exam-ined some 645 entries, accepting only two-thirds for the show. Prizes are awarded in 15 categories.

Thirty-two FA student pieces were accepted for the show.First place:Isabel Davern ‘17 in acrylic painting for Warm Colors; Cassie Weare ‘16 in ceramics for Tree platter; Pai-Lin Hunnibell ’15 in traditional black-and-white photography for Wicker.

Second place:Katie Armstrong ’15 in acrylic paint-ing for Still life of Candy.

Third place:David Pickart ’12 in pencil drawing for Self Portrait.Coco Raymond ’15 in black-and-white photography for Hulls.

Honorable mention:Carlo Bocconcelli ’14 in traditional black-and-white photography for Barn with Light.Tasha Garland ‘16 in digital photog-raphy for Painting, New York.

In addition, work by these stu-dents was also accepted for the show: Samantha Doyle, GianPaula Hulten, Sara Dorr, Signe Baumhofer, Ayla Fudala, Isabelle Camarra, Chloe Brake, Savannah Maher, Ryan Ack-ell, Caity Walsh, Lauren Hoyerman , Emma Rogalewski, Abagail Bumpus, Julia Guérin, Aidan Huntington, Victoria Avis, Guiliana Hulten, Sintra Reves-Sohn, Grant Doney, Charlotte Van Voorhis, Gabriella Messina, and

Ethan Bailey. Ω

German V students partici-pated in the 35th Annual “Deutsches Theaterfest”at Mount Holyoke Col-lege. In this competition, 16 groups from New England present stage pro-ductions in German on the elementary school, high school, and college level.

The entries must be 10-15 min-utes in length and must be entirely memorized. Students are judged on their language skills, as well as their acting abilities.

In honor of the Grimm broth-ers’ 100th aniversary celebration, FA’s German V students presented “Drei Männlein im Walde” (Three Little Men in the Woods), an adaptation of a fairy tale by the brothers Grimm. Though they did not win one of the prizes in their division, they made their teacher proud.

“I was happy with the result, and especially impressed by the ones who had never been on stage before. The students raved about the experience-and said that this is a great way to learn German.” Ω

SISAL juried show accepts 32 FA student pieces

Our intrepid German actors: [clockwise from left] Keegan Krick, Kyle Benton, Dan Eder, Tyler Gwynn, Maddie York, GianPaula Hulten, Marney Rathbun.

FA seniors compete in German Theaterfest

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“Perhaps the most honorable thing we do is honor each other…”If there was a common theme at

the induction of new members into the National Honor Society, it might have been “the gifts we give each other.” Of course, that is really the theme that underlies all of the work the honor society does at Falmouth Academy. So the traditional hallmarks of honor society membership: charac-ter, scholarship, service, and leadership, are seen as the means to giving of oneself to make a better community.

During the year, the honor society sponsors numerous food drives for the Falmouth Service Center, sup-ports special projects at FA and other schools, and raises funds for scholar-ships that recognize those who “give support and help to the community.” Daniel Sakakini ‘15, Julia Guérin ‘14, Angela Hodge ‘15, and Lucas Johns ‘14 spoke from their own experience about the four qualities that mark NHS members.

Retiring members of the founding FA faculty, Mrs. Nancy Twichell and Mrs. Janet Kearsley also brought facets of their own lives into their counsel for the new members. Mrs. Kearsley recalled moments of what she termed “easy listening,” when as a child she sat under the dining table listening to the warm and comforting family conver-sation above her. “We never lose our desire for the warmth of easy listening – to those reassuring sounds that say…that each moment is not dependent on unstable or unpredictable conditions, but has continuity and perhaps even permanence, a harmony, a balance, a rhythm.”

Mrs. Kearsley reminded the students that we are most honored by “creating those places for some-one else…As we sit around tables at Falmouth Academy, perhaps the most honorable thing we do is to honor each other, to enourage each other, to be patient with each other.”

Mrs. Twichell, too, spoke of gifts,

of the agreement she and her husband made at their wedding: “to receive each day of our life together as a gift.” While recognizing the gifts each day brings, she challenged the students to “be the gift for someone else” by saying a sincere hello in the halls, throwing themselves wholeheartedly into a classroom project or exercise, volunteering at the Service Center, even making their beds at home! “I believe looking for the positive and helping to create the special moments in day-to-day life fosters an apprecia-tion of our world and the human race and contributes to everyone’s ultimate happiness,” she said.

Music at the induction was provided by Brianna Feldott ‘14 and Katherine Bianchi ‘12. Congratula-tions to the new inductees and to the members of the honor society and their advisor, Mrs. Julie Swanbeck, for another thoughtful and moving celebration.Junior Honor Society Inductees

Stephanie Aviles Olya BernierPatrick BestLuisa BocconcelliSophie BroderickSamuel Bumpus Lachlan CormieIsabel DavernCollin DelSignore Tomasz DvorakElizabeth Feldmann-DeMello Hannah GaffeyNatasha GarlandSamuel Graber-HahnThéo GuérinLena HanschkaMolly HoughtonSydney JohnsonAlexander KaniaAdelaide KeeneRegina LedwellMichael MangaloAlexander Manos Sophia McCarronEthan Mendez

(continued on page 12)

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What a busy spring!

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5

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1. Carlo Bocconcelli and Lily Patterson before the

Prom. 2. Senior solos from GianPaula Hulten

and Kyle Benton. 3. Robert Eder with St. Andrews in hot pur-

suit. 4. Maddie York surprised her classmates

with their names in Chinese calligraphy.

5. Justin Waller, Ryan Ackell, and

Cassidy Reves-Sohn in Around the

World in 80 Days. 6. Seniors sign each

others’ yearbooks dur-ing the Recognition Day picnic. 7. Life painting by Isabelle

Camarra from spring art show. 8. Marney

Rathbun takes careful aim during the senior physics rockets project. 9. Soup Bowls

for Hunger made by

Mmes. Nelson and Burns.

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What a busy spring!

Tom Arthur University of Redlands

Thomas Arthur University of RedlandsThomas Aviles Yale UniversityTyler Barron University of Massachusetts Amherst – Commonwealth College (Honors)Signe Baumhofer California Polytechnic State UniversityKyle Benton Northeastern UniversityKatherine Bianchi Mt. Holyoke CollegeBrandon Bushway University of TampaAimee Church University of California Los AngelesAllisa Dalpe Connecticut CollegeSamantha Doyle Emerson CollegeSarah Dorr University of Vermont – HonorsRachel Dragos Kenyon CollegeBrittany Feldott Wellesley CollegeDan Eder University of PennsylvaniaAyla Fudala University of PennsylvaniaTyler Gwynn University of Colorado BoulderAbigail Hollander Union CollegeGianPaula Hulten University of Massachusetts Amherst – Commonwealth College (Honors)Irina Ivanova Elmira CollegeMarius Karolinski McGill UniversityKeegan Krick University of Massachusetts Amherst – Commonwealth College (Honors)Tariq Maroofi Union CollegeElla Martin St. Lawrence UniversityGwen Martin University of the SouthDavid Pickart Carleton CollegeMarney Rathbun Smith CollegePippa Ryan University of Massachusetts AmherstJames Vollkommer Colby-Sawyer CollegeJustin Waller University of Massachusetts Amherst – Commonwealth College (Honors)Tom White Elizabethtown CollegeMadison York University of Montana

Where will they be next year? College enrollments for the Class of 2012

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Celia PattersonMeghan RemillardOliver SilbersteinBrendan SmithKayla TashjianQuinn Van TolEliza Van VoorhisPearl VercruysseWilla VigneaultPalma Walko

Senior Honor Society inductees:

Ethan AltshulerKatherine Armstrong Victoria AvisCaley BennettKyle Benton

Luka CatipovicNathalie CavalloAlec Cobban

Quinn CobbanRyan DavisMatthew DelaneyRobert EderSamuel GiancolaJulia GuérinDaniel HigginsGiuliana HultenPai-Lin HunnibellAidan HuntingtonNuma KarolinskiGuy KnappPhoebe LongEste PerryAlaina PlueddemannCoco RaymondJillian Schwarz Hannah SmithElizabeth Wadman Ω

New members of National Honor Society(continued from page 9)

Earley) Greg Pickart; BJV (Coach Wells) Willy Mendelsohn; GJV (Coach Lott) Betsy Wadman; GV (Coach D. Swanbeck) Chloe Brake; BV (Coach Parsons) Jimmy Vollkom-

mer.• Basketball GMS (Coach Lott) Aibhlin Fitzpatrick;BMS (Coach D. Swanbeck) John Faus; GJV (Coach Ricci-Tiapula ‘99) Maddie York; BJV (Coach B. Nelson) Connor Dorr; GV (Coach Adams) Allisa Dalpe; BV (Coach Conzett)

Thomas Aviles. • Lacrosse GMS (Coach Jones) Charlotte Van Voorhis; BMS ( Coach Wells) Kunaal Rajagopal; GJV (Coach Neurath) Brianna Feldott; BJV (Coaches Parsons & Wells) Aidan Huntington; GV (Coach Chapde-laine) Brittany Feldott; BV (Coach Earley) Tyler Barron. Ω

FA’s annual sports banquet defies the traditional athletic awards event. It doesn’t necessarily honor those who were the most skillful athletes on a team, but rather those whom the coaches believe con-tributed the most to the team’s successes during the season. Sometimes gifted athletes are among these honorees; often, these awards go to the players with greatest heart, most generous spirit, and most inspired work ethic.

Each coach chooses his or her own criteria and honoree. Here are the 2012 awards. Middle school team awards were presented at All-School Meeting; junior varsity and varsity awards at the sports banquet.

• Soccer GMS (Coach Neurath): Sintra Reves-Sohn; BMS (Coach

Coaches honor key players

Luke Johns tackles a Wheeler player asDrew Burchill runs back-up.

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Sharing memories at the 35th anniversary celebration*

We are not too small to do these things: music, theater, science fair... -Scott Brown ‘89

Jenny Olson Putnam ‘83, Saramaria Berggren Allenby ‘83, Joan Brazier ‘85

Kristen Garcia ‘03, former faculty Sandy See, Alyssa Gantz ‘03

Headmaster Emeritus Bruce Buxton and former faculty Dawn Carney

Alumni parents Gary and Beth

Schwarzman, former trustee

Lily Cronig ‘10 and Elliot Camarra ‘10

Former faculty Bill Watson with alumni parents Carla and Mark Hutker

Trustee chair emeritus Dick Sylvia and Gayle Sylvia

The Falmouth Academy teach-er is one of the world’s last amateurs…and remember that “amateur” really means one who does what he does out of love. -Bruce Buxton

Walk into the faculty room with the smallest spark of an idea and immediately everyone will lend a breath to blow that spark into a steady flame. -Monica Hough

*Check out Because of FA, the alumni video premiered at the 35th anniversary celebration, and read the inspiring speeches:✓ http://falmouthacademy.org/index.php/news/because_of_fa/✓ http://falmouthacademy.org/index.php/news/35th_ anniversary_speeches/

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Thank you to ev-eryone who contrib-uted to the Mariner Craft Beer Tasting fundraiser. Our M.C. George Scharr [at left] added a touch of the Tyrol as he guided us through the evening.

The varied and delightful tastes of beverage and food, an intriguing silent auc-tion, and the exciting live auction all con-

tributed to the sense of camaraderie and enjoyment. The evening was great fun, all aside from also being a wonderfully suc-cessful fundraiser.

We raised over $35,000 for the Falmouth Academy Annual Fund. Part of that was in response to a “Fund-a-Need” appeal to enable the school to purchase a new minibus. The parents, faculty, friends and guests attending pledged $23,350 toward the purchase of a minibus -- just shy of the goal of $25,000.

Enter Phil and Beth Astone of Box Lunch. Phil is a familiar face on campus, dropping off Box Lunch sandwiches twice a week, and he and Beth were eager to help the FA com-

munity. They had already made one pledge to the Fund-a-Need.

“We had fun at the beer tasting and were pleased to make a gift to the Fund-A-Need, but when I heard the school was just short of the minibus goal, I thought we could help in an-other way!”

The Astones made a second gift of $825 from Box Lunch. This, in turn, was matched by $825 from the Parents Association, to bring us to the $25,000 goal. Look out for a new minibus on campus soon.

Thank you, Phil and Beth; thank you, Parents Association; and thank

you to ALL who pledged to the Fund-a-Need ap-peal and supported the event.

The school is also deeply grateful to the businesses who donated their products and servic-es, including seven beer vendors and 22 restaurants, caterers

and providers. We are honored that the wider community is so supportive and generous.

Ω

Beer Tasting an entertaining and financial success

An Apology

Some of our recent end-of-year Annual Fund appeal letters con-tained an error, and we would like to apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

The letters, announcing a chal-lenge grant to honor Janet Kearsley and Nancy Twichell who retired in June, mentioned the recipients’ last gift amount. But in some cases, the amount listed was incorrect. We greatly appreciate the support of everyone in the FA community and sincerely apologize for this mistake.

Beth Colt eagerly raises her bid card during the live auction

A special thank you to Katie Hollander, seen here with her husband Mark. Katie has been the driving force behind all of FA’s silent auctions since 2007.

15

We are pleased to welcome these new students and their families to our com-munity. I know that experienced Falmouth Academy students and parents will reach out to them and help with the transition to FA, as they always have done so generously. Below are those students who had enrolled as of June 25. We look forward to seeing them all at Orientation on Thursday, August 30. -Mike Earley, Director of Admissions• 7th gradeCooper Bennett, Edgartown Gwendolyn Borning, East Falmouth Samuel Bresnick, West TisburyMartha Clark, West Barnstable Helena Connell, East Falmouth Rebecca Cox, Falmouth Matthew Donahue, Forestdale Jane Earley, North Falmouth Allison Eldredge, Cotuit Adam Gaudet, East FalmouthKiric Hallahan, Oak Bluffs Megan Iverson, Marion Nicholas Kania, Duxbury Coralee LaRue, Vineyard Haven Sarah Lott, Mashpee Cameron Marks, East FalmouthCecelia Mastroianni, Falmouth James Melvin, Sandwich Christopher O’Brien, East Falmouth Clementine Pring, Falmouth Mark Sethares, East Falmouth Maia Shenker, Pocasset

Henry Starosta, FalmouthJoshua Watson, East Falmouth Jacob Weinstein, CentervilleSamira Wolf, Pocasset• 8th gradeSamuel Perry, West Wareham Oliver Russell, Mattapoisett Shawn Trieschmann, Vineyard Haven • 9th gradeTyler Barbosa, New Bedford Samuel Cox, Falmouth Ella Davidson, West FalmouthSarah Donahue, Forestdale Grania Gallagher, East Falmouth Andrew Pritchard, FalmouthAuxin Shen, Shanghai, ChinaLiam Waite, Oak Bluffs • 10th gradeZiheng Zhang, Guangzhou, China• 12th gradeJaroslav Hofierka, Bardejov, Slovakia Ω

New students for the 2012-13 school year

Freshmen search out classical architectureWhile studying classical art and architecture, FA’s freshman history classes

spent an afternoon in Providence, RI finding examples of classical columns, arches, domes and vaults. Led by Mr. Don Swanbeck, Mrs. Julie Swanbeck and Mr. Rob Wells, they also visited a mu-seum at Rhode Island School of Design, where they surprised RISD student Elliot Camarra FA ‘10 and viewed art from the ancient and medieval periods.

Described by Mr. Swanbeck as “a little gem,” the museum contained ancient and medieval exhibitions including an Egyp-tian mummy, a Minoan vase, floor mosaics from a Roman villa near Mt. Vesuvius, and a 12th century Romanesque French church’s portal.

The students also observed the un-usual architecture of a Byzantine-influenced octagon building that houses Brown University’s economics department. Ω

16

Mr. Faus announces final Headmaster’s List of 2011-12

FA students finished up the school year in great style, as they have always done, working hard right through finals. The third Headmaster’s List for 2011-12 honors all students who have earned three grades of A and no grade lower than a B- on their third trimester report cards.Grade 12:Thomas AvilesKyle BentonBrandon BushwayAimee ChurchAllisa DalpeSamantha DoyleRachel DragosDaniel EderAyla FudalaAbigail HollanderGianPaula HultenIrina IvanovaKeegan KrickTariq MaroofiElla MartinGwen MartinDavid PickartJustin Waller

Grade 11:Ryan AckellChloe BrakeIsabelle CamarraAlexandra FriedmanAngela HodgeLauren HoyermanJessica O’MalleyEmily SkehillSummer TompkinsCaitlin Walsh

Grade 10:Catherine AvilesCarlo BocconcelliJulia GuérinLucas JohnsHelena OldenbourgLily PattersonCassidy Reves-SohnEmma RogalewskiNicholas Russell

Grade 9:Hope AllisonEthan AltshulerKate ArmstrongVictoria AvisNathalie CavalloAlec CobbanMatthew DelaneyRobert EderMimi Feldmann-DemelloSam GiancolaGiuliana HultenPai-Lin HunnibellAidan HuntingtonNuma KarolinskiGuy KnappPhoebe LongAlaina PlueddemannJillian SchwartzHannah Smith

Grade 8:Hannah BeamsZachary BresnickCharles Colt-SimondsNathan D’AngeloGrant DoneyNatasha GarlandAlex KaniaGregory PickartNicolas PingalSintra Reves-SohnCharlotte Van Voorhis

Grade 7:Stephanie AvilesPatrick BestLuisa BocconcelliLachlan CormieIsabel DavernTomasz DvorakElizabeth Feldmann- DemelloSamuel Graber-Hahn Théo GuérinLena HanschkaSydney JohnsonAdelaide KeeneRegina LedwellMichael MangaloSophia McCarronEthan MendezCelia PattersonMeghan RemillardBrendan SmithKayla TashjianQuinn Van TolEliza Van VoorhisPearl VercruysseWilla VigneaultPalma Walko

Charles Colt-Simonds ‘16

Rachel Dragos ‘12

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Congratulations to Falmouth Academy Headmaster David Faus who was named Chairman of the Fal-mouth Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

For the past four years, Mr. Faus has served as a director, committee leader and officer of the Chamber.

He will oversee the Chamber’s 99th year. In an article in the Cham-ber’s newsletter, Mr. Faus said, “I’m honored to serve our business com-munity as chairman. I am eager to support the outstanding work of the current Chamber staff.

“I see four areas where the Cham-ber can make a difference for its membership. It can act as an advocate for business in Falmouth – working with town, regional and state officials to support best practices and economic stability and growth. It can provide networking opportunities for the membership at large and provide the membership with first rate profession-al development opportunities. And, it must encourage tourism by promoting Falmouth as ‘the’ Cape destination!”

Mr. Faus has been active in the Falmouth community since he moved here seven years ago, as a youth lacrosse coach and working with Partners in Prevention, an initiative to reduce substance abuse through education programs. His commitment to Falmouth is strong and energetic.

Congratulations, Mr. Faus! Ω

Dr. Virginia Edgcomb has been awarded the Dr. Seymour H. Hutner Prize by the International Society of Protobiologists. The prize is presented annually to “an outstanding scientist in the field of Protozoology who is recognized on an international level and is not more than 15 years from the Ph.D. or equivalent degree.”

Dr. Edgcomb teaches life science to FA seventh graders and is a Research Specialist in the Geology & Geo-physics Department at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Her re-cent work has focused on deep hyper-saline anoxic basins (DHABs), lakes of briny water lying several kilometers below the surface of the sea. [See GAM Vol. XXVI, No. iv, March-April 2012]

In addition to a monetary award, Dr. Edgcomb will address the annual meeting of the Society in Oslo in July.

Seymour Hutner was known for his efforts to engage neighborhood teens in scientific study, inviting them in to check out the wonders under his microscope. Dr. Edgcomb is similarly part of an effort to engage students in science, through the Dive and Dis-cover Program, an on-line site that allows school children to follow the daily work of various scientific expedi-tions. Upon her return from the most recent voyage, Dr. Edgcomb traveled to the greater Boston area to meet with middle school students who had followed her adventures.

“I had no idea I was in the running for this prize,” said Dr. Edgcomb, who was nominated by her colleague Dr. Joan Bernhard. “When the phone call from London came, I was amazed and shocked–and flattered, as there are many great microbiologists out there. It’s pretty exciting,” she admitted.

We couldn’t be prouder of your work, Dr. Edgcomb. Ω

Dr. Edgcomb wins international research prize

Mr. Faus chairs Chamber board

Mr. Faus leads applause for retiring faculty Janet Kearsley and Nancy Twichell while Mr. Buxton congratulates them at the 35th anniversary.

Ahoy, Future Mariners!More than 20 alumni got together with their children and spouses for FA’s

first Alumni Play Group in early May. Since the weather was so nice, the group played outside in the back patio area and the children were en-tranced by the medi-tation/water garden built by students in 1998.

The purpose of the playgroup is to bring together alumni with young families who live in the area. The kids ranged in age from newborn to six years old. The next get-together will be in September. Ω

Members of 1983 reunite to celebrate classmate

Faculty and members of the Class of 1983 met to honor one of their own, Joanne Davis, who passed away last year. Joanne’s sister Susan Syme was also able to join the group. Joanne made her career at Microsoft and as a psychotherapist, film producer,

weaver and quilter. She is missed. Ω18

FA takes on NYCWe saw lots of familiar faces

when several faculty and alumni got together in New York City.

Front row, left to right: Ben Mann ‘07, Monica Hough, Lalise Melillo, Emily Denham ‘04, Julie Taylor, Petra Scamborova ‘93, Katie (Plumb) LiVigne ‘01; back row: Michael O’Regan ‘00, Sergei Tcherepnin ‘99, Hanlon Smith-Dorsey ‘99, Evan Jones ‘88, Ruth Slocum and Greg LiVigne.

Watch your email for regional event invitations in the 2012-13 school year.

Alumni News

[front] Jenny (Olson) Putnam, Sara-maria (Berggren) Allenby, Dr. Deborah Bradley; [back] Susan Syme, Gina Peters, Fred Meltzer and Mrs. Nancy Twichell

19

Alumni Newswas nominated as one of the state’s top five volunteers of the year. A Cub Scout leader, Amanda also works with military families as a Family Readiness Group Leader and is on the board of the Wives Club.

If you know of or work with a local organization that could use FA alumni volunteer help next year, please email Barbara Campbell, alumni@fal-mouthacademy.org.

Elizabeth Cookson ‘08 graduated summa cum laude from George Washington University with a BA degree in psychology and a minor in criminal justice. She will be working as an intern in a Fal-mouth law office this summer and will return to Washington, DC in the fall.

Sabine Storch ’93 and her husband Gregors enriched their family with baby daughter Matilda, who was born 11/11/11. Sabine said Mme. Gisela and Caroline (’95) Tillier have been to visit. “Matilda is so sweet and so much fun. Germany allows moms and dads to stay at home for 12-14 months, so I am taking full advantage. Please say hello to everybody I know. I have such fond memories of FA and I am so happy I have a second fam-ily on the Cape. The six months there changed my life and I will try to send Matilda over there when she becomes a troublemaker...”

[right] Congratulations to Andrea Friedrich and Jo-nas Pizer ’96 on the birth of their daughter, Zelda Noé Pizer born in May 2012.

Anna-Liza Villard-Howe ‘97 assumed com-mand of R/V Gloria Michelle in a historic change-of-command ceremony in Woods Hole. The lieutenant takes

charge of the first all-female crew of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research ves-sel. She and her crew, Ensign Shan-non Hefferan, will conduct shrimp surveys along the Gulf of Maine and ground fish surveys for the Massachu-setts Department of Marine Fisheries, along with other assignments. Well done, Anna-Liza!

[below] Congratulations to Jane (age 6) and Theo (4) Bluhm on the May 31st ad-dition of sister Clara Mae to the fam-ily. They are the children of Micaela Schweitzer-

Bluhm ‘90 and Todd Bluhm. Mica and Todd are U.S. Foreign Service officers currently serving in the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia.

Elizabeth Schule ’00 has been ac-cepted to pursue an MFA in painting at the University of Iowa.

Congratulations to the newest Falmouth Academy alumnus to join the military, Ben Achenbach ’07, who is in the U.S. Navy. We thank Ben and all of the other FA alumni who are serving their country in this way.

Congratulations to Ella Martin ‘12 who participated in the New Bal-

ance Outdoor High School National track meet in Greensboro, NC. She set a personal best of 18:18:61, placing 13 out of 29 elite competitors and 20 out of 42 of the nation’s best female high school distance runners.

Ω

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Our first Falmouth Academy National Day of Service, sponsored by the FA Alumni Council, took place over Earth Day Weekend in six loca-tions. Many thanks to Katie (Plumb) LeVigne ‘01 and Greg LiVigne (pic-tured here), who planted trees in the Bronx; Jeremy Gantz ‘00 and his wife Caitlin Elsaesser who helped clean up Lincoln Park in Chicago; Alex

Walsh ‘88, Mareana (Ricci) Tiapula ‘99 and Sarah (Mastro-matteo) Spillane ‘91, who cleaned up areas along the Cape Cod

Canal; ‘04 classmates Laura Swan-beck and Rachel Allen, at Rob Hill in San Francisco; and Andy Kingman ‘00, who cleaned up along Boston’s Charles River.

Amanda Nolan-Early Dixon ’93 even joined the FA efforts and volun-teered in Hawaii! Amanda, by the way,

First National Alumni Day of Service:Volunteers from Cape Cod to Hawaii