In-College Alums Tell It Like It Is
Twenty in-college alums, including a couple in grad school, recently took time out of their winter break to visit eleventh and twelfth grade advisory sessions and share their perspective on what college life is really like. The program, held for the first time this year, was organized by Jen Newitt and Tammy Clark, head advisors for seniors and juniors, respectively. Students gathered in the Meetinghouse and separate classrooms for the 45-minute Q&A. The advisors plan to repeat the program next year -- with this year's seniors returning with their new-found wisdom.
ALUMS WHO PARTICIPATED: Class of 2007 - Maia Collier, Seicha Turnbull, Katie Koufakis, Will Roland, Emmy Liss, Ian Ratner, Emily Gittelman, Matt Procaccino and Sam Levine Class of 2006 - Liz Alber, Sean Byrnes, Jenna McCann, Brian Alessi and Billy McAllister Class of 2005 - Laura Goodman Class of 2004 - Angela Batista, Adam Akpinar and Kat Christie Class of 2003 - Jihan Varisco Class of 1998 - Jared Hertz
Craig White '61, Bob Albertson '45 Bring History Alive for Fifth Grade
Craig White '61 (back row, in Civil War garb) with the fifth graders and their teachers, one of whom is Kara Vassel Lewis '86 (back row, to Craig's right).
Craig White '61 and Bob Albertson '45 recently brought history alive for the fifth grade. Craig, dressed from head to toe in an authentic Union Civil War uniform, complete with sword, spent an hour with the students, explaining the details of the uniform and the demanding life of Civil War troops. His talk prompted lots of thoughtful questions, which Craig fielded with candor and humor.
Bob Albertson '45 dissusses World War II experiences with the fifth grade.
Bob discussed life as a student during wartime, and told of his experiences after he left FA in 1943 at age 17 to enlist in the Navy. His first overseas duty came just after the World War II, when he was deployed on a hospital ship in the Pacific.
Janelle Villiers McCarthy '99 Shares Insights into Genetics with Students Janelle Villiers McCarthy '99 spent a day in March teaching bio at FA, to fulfill a requirement in connection with her master's degree in Genetic Counseling from Sarah Lawrence College. Janelle spoke to all biology students, including AP, about genetic disorders typically seen, and how the genetic counselor helps individuals understand implications of the disorders. Janelle also discussed how she is preparing for her upcoming career. Science teacher Jennifer Newitt said, "Students were very interested in the presentations and had lots of questions for her. It was great timing as we were just wrapping up our units on genetics." In her free periods, Janelle caught up with many of her former teachers. She lives in the Bronx with her husband, Andre.
Kimi Puntillo, Class of '75, Guinness Book of World Records holder, Visits Campus to Share her Story with Students, Faculty and Staff Kimi Puntillo '75 visited campus on Wednesday, March 7, to share her fascinating story with students, faculty and staff. Never a runner in her high school or college days, Kimi discovered a passion for adventure and, in the 1990s, became the first woman ever to complete a marathon in all seven continents. Her combined time for women over the 183.4 miles, and the calendar time frame in which she comleted the seven courses, still stand in the Guinness World Book of Records.
Kimi's presentation included a PowerPoint show of the terrain she covered in Antarctica, the Great Wall of China, and the streets of London and New York. She spoke of finding a dream and setting goals to achieve it. She offered the following Dream Recipe: Try new things; Work hard -- prioritize; Network -- find support groups; Overcome setbacks; Nurture the relationship with your dream -- honor your commitment to it. Kimi is writing a book about her adventures, and is in contract discussions with a publisher. Stay tuned for that. Meanwhile, visit her website, www.kpcommllc.com, for more on her experiences, including published articles and lots of pictures. Kimi lives in New York, which is also her work base as a journalist and marketing consultant.
Click the "play button" below to listen to a podcast of Kimi's presentation.
Ron Mitchell, Class of '88, Addresses Winter Sports Assembly
Ron Mitchell '88 (center), with Athletic Director Al Quakenbush (left) and Boys Varsity Basketball Coach Steve Hefele, who was Ron' coach in the 1980s.
Ron Mitchell '88, perhaps FA's greatest basketball star of all time, visited campus to deliver the keynote address at the Upper School Winter Sports Assembly in February. Ron shared lessons he had gleaned from his years as a scholar-athlete at Friends and then Harvard, where he served as a two-time captain an was selected to the All-Ivy League Team. His experiences molded his dynamic leadership and gave him the foundation to build an entrepreneurial career in business. He entertained the audience with reflections on his Friends days, underscoring the dedication to perfection that he and his friends never lost sight of. A self-proclaimed avid collector of quotes, Ron shared one of his favorites to drive his message home: "Good athletes practice until they get it right. Great athletes practice until they can't get it wrong."
Ron explained how that approach opened surprising doors for him, none as meaningful as the opportunity to found Alumni Sports Enterprises, LLC, for which Ron is CEO, and the Alumni Athlete Network, a resource for current and former collegiate athletes across the nation. His passion to pave the way for others and his expertise in business career-resourcing grew from his high school and college educational experiences, including the Harvard Graduate School of Business, for which he served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. His professional career has included working with the nation’s largest minority-owned accounting and consulting firm, and a tenure as General Partner of a New York-based investment firm.
Janelle Villiers McCarthy '99 spent a day in March teaching bio at FA, to fulfill a requirement in connection with her master's degree in Genetic Counseling from Sarah Lawrence College. Janelle spoke to all biology students, including AP, about genetic disorders typically seen, and how the genetic counselor helps individuals understand implications of the disorders. Janelle also discussed how she is preparing for her upcoming career. Science teacher Jennifer Newitt said, "Students were very interested in the presentations and had lots of questions for her. It was great timing as we were just wrapping up our units on genetics." In her free periods, Janelle caught up with many of her former teachers. She lives in the Bronx with her husband, Andre.
Kimi Puntillo '75 visited campus on Wednesday, March 7, to share her fascinating story with students, faculty and staff. Never a runner in her high school or college days, Kimi discovered a passion for adventure and, in the 1990s, became the first woman ever to complete a marathon in all seven continents. Her combined time for women over the 183.4 miles, and the calendar time frame in which she comleted the seven courses, still stand in the Guinness World Book of Records.
