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Fred Brooker memorial service on December 3 at 1 p.m.

Submitted by Karen Katz on Tue, 11/29/2011 - 3:29pm
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Retired maintenance staff member Fred Brooker died on Saturday, November 26, of complications related to cancer. He was 74. Fred's granddaughter Muranda '01 was at his side.

Fred began working at Catlin Gabel in 1971 and retired in 2006 after 35 years with the school. He was preceded in death by his wife, Harriett, who worked in the school's lunchroom.

A memorial service for Fred is scheduled for Saturday, December 3, at 1 p.m. in the Barn.

Interview with new athletic director

Submitted by Karen Katz on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 12:50pm
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Meet Sandy Luu

Athletic director Sandy Luu came to Catlin Gabel this year from Liberty High School in Hillsboro, where she was AD of their large 5A program. An Oregon native, Sandy previously served as athletic director at Morrison Academy International School in Taichung, Taiwan. Originally a 6th grade language arts and math teacher, she has also taught in Vietnam and China. We caught up with Sandy to find our how things are going for her at Catlin Gabel.

How’s Catlin Gabel treating you?

I have really enjoyed my first few months here. The people are amazing—just as advertised. The faculty and staff really care about the students, and about their colleagues. Everyone is so complimentary of each other’s strengths. They feed off each other in a very positive way. People here told me before I was hired that they love coming to work each and every day. I fully agree.

Tell us about your background and how you became an athletic director.

Sports have shaped my life. Growing up I played as much as I could, even persuading the middle school athletic director to let me participate on the 7th grade team as a 5th grader. In college I played varsity fast pitch softball, basketball, and volleyball, but I love all sports. I have coached basketball, softball, and volleyball. I studied education in college and taught for many years, but started moving toward athletic administration when I was in Taiwan. Coaching coaches and organizing sports really appeals to me. I took classes at Ohio University during summer vacations and earned a master’s in athletics administration.

What is your general philosophy about the role of athletics in schools?

I believe in character-based athletics. Catlin Gabel has a great tradition of winning the right way, and I want to continue this. The character development is paramount; the wins are icing on the cake. Sports are an extension of the classroom and teach lessons about how to be a good teammate and the value of hard work. Athletics builds confidence and self esteem. The skills you learn through sports will help you now and serve you well later in life. Employers look for people who know how to lead as well as people who can be good teammates. They want people who have handled loss and experienced success.

What advice would you offer athletes and their parents who think CG’s high school athletic program is too small for colleges to take notice of a star athlete?

College coaches are looking for one thing: talented athletes. They are not as interested in the size of the school or how well the school team did in recent seasons. They are really looking for potential. Being a talented student-athlete at Catlin Gabel can have a lot of advantages. You can assume a leadership role and have a great chance to earn a starting position. One of the greatest benefits here is personal attention from coaches and teachers.

Is it a disadvantage for outstanding athletes to compete at a small school if they hope for an athletic scholarship?

The advantage you gain at Catlin Gabel is the level of academics. The education you receive here is unmatched. The benefit you will have is in the transcript you provide, along with your athletic résumé. I don’t think people understand how few scholarships are available for Division I and II sports. A fully financed Division I soccer program can offer 9.9 full rides, but they split these up among all of their players (as many as 25 or 30), which leaves some players with very small scholarships. Often, Division III schools are the best places to receive scholarships. These schools don’t offer athletic scholarships, but they routinely give merit awards for academic and other accomplishments. The merit scholarships that private colleges award can be a significant percentage of tuition.

What are some of the differences between being AD at a large school like Liberty HS in Hillsboro and a small school like CG?

Going from nearly 1,400 students to 300 is a big transition. CG’s smaller program is one of the main reasons I applied for this job. I love to work with kids and build relationships with them. In a large school, the athletic director is mainly a scheduler, and most of my time was spent making sure everyone was where they needed to be. At Catlin Gabel, I can get to know the students and make sure all of the coaches are contributing to students’ lives in positive ways. I can have more of an impact.

What have you found most challenging in your new job?

In my past school, I only had high school sports. Here at CG, there are more sports teams at different levels, so have many more balls in the air. Everyone in the PE department and the coaches have been incredibly helpful and supportive. I couldn’t ask for a better group to work with.

How are your sons Trevor (a junior) and Max (a freshman) adjusting?

Catlin Gabel is a great fit for Trevor and Max. They love it here; it reminds them of the school they attended for seven years in Taiwan. They will probably hate me talking about them, but CG has been a huge blessing for my boys. The individualized instruction is unmatched. I just attended my first parent-teacher conferences and was blown away. After just two-and-a-half months their teachers have my boys figured out. I also attended a couple of senior athletes’ conferences, and the general theme from parents was thankfulness. They appreciate the time teachers put into the kids. They know that CG has shaped the people their children have become. I couldn’t ask for more for my own boys.

What have you liked most about Catlin Gabel so far?

The school transforms lives. I have been most impressed by how the faculty treats each student as an individual and how well they know each child’s strengths and weaknesses. Teachers and staff work hard at building relationships with their students daily. I have never seen anything like this at any of the other schools I have worked at. Teachers are interested in many aspects of their student’s lives. It’s impressive to see so many faculty and staff members out watching extracurricular activities. I have also been impressed with the students. They are refreshingly polite, friendly, and selfless. They are always ready to lend a hand and pitch in, whether for service day, or just to help put away sports gear.

» Return to December 2011 All-School News

The Restless Economist

Submitted by Nadine Fiedler on Mon, 11/21/2011 - 3:41pm
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Robert Novy-Marx '87 loves the challenge of economic research

From the Fall 2011 Caller

This spring, economist Robert Novy-Marx ’87 testified before a Congressional panel on state and municipal debt. His topic was one he has done extensive research on, and for which he is making a name for himself: the underfunding of pension plans for public employees and the burden that may impose on taxpayers. But take a look at what he’s also known for, and the picture becomes much more complex.
 
He won a prize last year for the best paper on real-estate economics, and an international prize for a paper on a study of operating leverage. Robert, an assistant professor of finance at the Simon Graduate School of Business of the University of Rochester, works on many other topics such as asset pricing and industrial organization. Here’s the thing: he loves the interesting questions, and he loves trying to figure out the answers.“I just pursue what intrigues me,” he says. “Some economists get involved only in questions that turn out to be productive. My method is not very systematic. I’m passionate, but not disciplined enough to work on stuff that doesn’t interest me. It’s a risky strategy. But good research is more art than science.”
 
It was the interesting questions that economics posed that got Robert into the field. He had loved math and science at Catlin Gabel, citing physics teacher Lowell Herr as instrumental in holding his interest. Robert graduated from Swarthmore in physics, and then put his career in academia on hold for seven years as he competed as a professional triathlete. His wife was in graduate school in economics at that time, and her studies engaged him. He decided to switch to economics, and went on to earn a PhD in the field from the University of California-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
 
Robert stayed in academia, doing research and teaching at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for seven years. He moved last year to Rochester as a member of the graduate finance faculty. He keeps abreast of developments in economics as a whole by going to talks by researchers and conferences, always keeping a fresh and engaged eye on what he hears. “If I don’t understand something I hear, I try to understand it myself by doing research,” he says.
 
Robert’s three young children are now attending a school like Catlin Gabel (the Harley School), and he’s gratified that they are getting the kind of education that has served him well as a lifer. “Catlin Gabel helped me develop my creativity and willingness to ask questions,” he says. “It’s a thing Catlin Gabel asks a lot, and it’s important in doing good research. Creativity is more important than technical skills. It’s the key.”  

 

Kit Hawkins '65: An Educator's Educator

Submitted by Nadine Fiedler on Mon, 11/21/2011 - 3:35pm
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From the Fall 2011 Caller

“I have wanted to be a teacher almost as long as I can remember,” says Kit Abel Hawkins ’65. Inspired by her Catlin-Hillside teachers, she has forged a significant career in education. The products of her vision and experience include an independent K-8 school—and an institute that trains teachers and school leaders.

 
Kit’s first classroom teaching job was in the 1st grade at Catlin Gabel, as part of an independent study as a senior at Oberlin College. She ended up teaching as a substitute for three weeks. “The hook was fully set,” she says. She pursued an MAT right after graduation, and by the next spring she was hired as Catlin Gabel’s Lower School librarian.
 
Kit spent five years in the library, forging bonds that included developing research projects with 6th grade teachers for their students. She moved on to teach 6th grade and became deeply involved in the life of the school, even after she left to be with her newborn son, Will ’97. She returned for five more years to teach in the 3rd grade. Kit first started thinking seriously about what a good education meant after she left Catlin Gabel for a public high school. She realized the value of the freedom to learn and grow she experienced at Catlin Gabel. When she returned to teach at Catlin Gabel, Lower School head Herb Morss deepened her thinking about school leadership, providing an example with what she calls his “devotion to keeping children at the forefront of institutional practice.” Pam McComas, who became the Beginning School head, “created the ground for striding out and trying what I had always wanted to try.” In 1989 Kit announced the founding of the Arbor School of Arts and Sciences, in Tualatin. By the next fall she was teaching 4th/5th grade there and serving as director, a post she still holds.
 
For its K-8 students, Arbor emphasizes the cultivation of intellect, character, and creativity. “Natural beauty and simplicity, hard work intellectually, socially, and physically, and a pioneering spirit of resourcefulness are threaded through the campus, the day, and the nine-year career of a student,” says Kit. After they graduate from 8th grade, many Arbor students come to Catlin Gabel for high school. The Arbor Center for Teaching offers an MAT program, in conjunction with Marylhurst University, that features full-time, two-year apprenticeships at Arbor. Kit also runs a school leadership program at Arbor, a series of intensive seminars to help participants identify the elements that must be considered and integrated in reinventing or creating schools of any kind.
 
“My satisfaction has always been and will remain seeing students blossom,” says Kit. “Every day spent listening to a young reader who has just cracked the code, or helping a struggling math student master division, or greeting a graduate who is about to get married, or has just received her standing as a PhD candidate, or been recognized for her contribution—all are sources of great fulfillment.”

 

Alumni News, Fall 2011

Submitted by Nadine Fiedler on Mon, 11/21/2011 - 3:31pm
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From the Fall 2011 Caller

Alumni Weekend moves to fall 2012

Two great events are coming together next year: Alumni Weekend and Homecoming! This is an exciting opportunity for our community of alumni, parents of alumni, former faculty-staff, current students, families, and faculty-staff to come together. We will honor the reunion classes ending in 2 and 7 with class parties, present the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards, and celebrate Homecoming athletic events. The specific date for Alumni Weekend will be announced in January 2012. Would you like to be part of reunion planning for your class? If so, contact the alumni office at alumni@catlin.edu.

Alumni Events

Since reunions for classes cycle every five years, we have increased our outreach to our alumni through our regional associations in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. Regional associations are composed of alumni, former faculty-staff, and other friends of Catlin Gabel in a given geographic area. These associations facilitate new and continuing connections for their members with the school and with each other through social, cultural, and educational events, community service projects, and networking opportunities. Alumni in specific areas welcome new alumni and help organize Catlin Gabel events. This fall we gathered alumni in Portland, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and have plans for more events in those areas as well as Seattle. Stay connected on alumni events in your area at www.catlin.edu/alumni. We can’t wait to see you!

Alumni Board 2011–12

Our alumni board is enthusiastic and focused on continued outreach to our alumni. Susie Greenebaum ’05, who served as secretary of the alumni board for the past year, has been elected to serve as president. A lifer, Susie attended Connecticut College, graduated from the University of Oregon, and now lives in Portland. A great big thank you to Markus Hutchins ’02, who served as president last year. Markus is based in New York City and will remain a member of the alumni board as the regional alumni association chair. Sarah Lowenstein ’11 also joined the alumni board in July. She is a freshman at Lewis & Clark College and will participate in young alumni outreach. The alumni survey launched in September, and we are poring over the results. Thank you for participating and helping us improve the ways we communicate and the services we provide our alumni. We plan to share the results of the survey in the next Caller. Hope to see you on campus or at one of our regional events soon!
Join us on campus for the class of 2016 production of St. George and the Dragon on December 9 at 2 p.m.!
Lauren Dully ’91, alumni and community relations program director, dullyl@catlin.edu
Susie Greenebaum ’05, alumni board president, alumni@catlin.edu
 
Leadership
Susie Greenebaum ’05 president
David Reich ’80 vice president
Len Carr ’75 faculty liaison
Lauren Dully ’91 alumni relations director
Katey Jessen Flack ’97 events chair
Owen Gabbert ’02 service chair
Markus Hutchins ’02 regional associations chair Debbie Ehrman Kaye ’73 school history chair
 
Members
Portland
Bill Crawford ’97
Drew Fletcher ’03
Duncan McDonnell ’99
Sarah Lowenstein ’11
 
Seattle
Jim Bilbao ’79
Alan Cantlin ’95
John Chun ’87
 
San Francisco
Sarah Arzt ’02
Peter Bromka ’00
Adam Keefer ’98
 
Los Angeles
Maril Davis ’90
Nick Toren ’91
 
New York
Alex Bellos ’02
Emily Carr Bellos ’02
 
Former teachers Dave Corkran and Don Wolf, with Pat Wolf, at Homecoming
 
 

 

Annual Alumni Awards

Submitted by Nadine Fiedler on Mon, 11/21/2011 - 10:57am
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Distinguished Alumni Awards

From the Fall 2011 Caller

Every year the alumni association recognizes former Catlin Gabel students for their life work and accomplishments. Through their unique contributions, these alumni embody the school philosophy in “qualities of character, intelligence, responsibility, and purpose.” The 2010–11 honorees were recognized during Alumni Weekend at the celebration of leadership and service event in June.

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award: David Shipley ’81

The Catlin Gabel alumni board chose David Shipley ’81 for the distinguished alumni achievement award because of his significant accomplishments as a writer and editor on a national platform. David is executive editor of Bloomberg View for Bloomberg.com and the author of SEND: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do It Better with Will Schwalbe. Previously he was op-ed editor and deputy editorial page editor of the New York Times. Before taking over the op-ed page in 2003, he held several other positions at the New York Times, including national enterprise editor and senior editor at the magazine. From 1993 to 1995, he was executive editor of the New Republic magazine in Washington, DC, and from 1995 to 1997 he served as special assistant to the president and senior presidential speechwriter in the Clinton administration.
 
David is a Catlin Gabel lifer and a graduate of Williams College. In 1985–86 he received a Watson Fellowship, which is a one-year grant for independent study for travel outside the United States awarded to graduating seniors nominated in participating institutions. David lives in Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of John and the late Joan Shipley (former trustee and development director), and brother of Ann ’83 and Tom ’87, who is married to Megan Sullivan Shipley ’87.
 

Distinguished Alumni Service Award: Roz Nelson Babener ’68

The distinguished alumni service award was presented to Rosalind “Roz” Nelson Babener ’68, founder and president of the Oregon Community Warehouse. Roz is a graduate of Occidental College. She was a teacher until 1989, after the birth of her third child. In 2001, Roz and several other volunteers opened Oregon Community Warehouse. Its mission was to address the needs of low-income people. OCW, now named Community Warehouse, is a nonprofit organization that has grown to become the “furniture bank” for the Portland metropolitan area, serving clients of more than 110 agencies, and furnishing more than 45 households per week with the basic necessities: beds, tables, and chairs. Roz’s long-term focus and unselfish dedication have created an enduring legacy to the Portland community. Roz’s husband, Jeffery, has been an active supporter of the Community Warehouse and involved in its creation. All three of their children, Rebecca ’01, Jeremy ’03, and Rachel ’07, have attended Catlin Gabel. Roz is the daughter of Madeline Brill Nelson ’42.
 

Distinguished Younger Alumni Award: Dr. Angel M. Foster ’91

The alumni board was proud to recognize Dr. Angel M. Foster ’91 for her international leadership in reproductive health. A 1996 Rhodes Scholar, she received her doctor of philosophy degree in Middle Eastern studies from Oxford University. Grounded in the fields of medical anthropology and public health, her doctoral and postdoctoral research focused on women’s comprehensive health care in Tunisia and involved more than two years of fieldwork. Angel also holds a doctor of medicine degree from Harvard Medical School and both a master’s degree in international policy studies and a bachelor’s degree in international relations and biology from Stanford University.
 
Angel joined Ibis Reproductive Health in 2002 and leads a program of work dedicated to reproductive health issues in the Middle East and North Africa. Her work at Ibis includes social science and health policy research on reproductive health, particularly emergency contraception and abortion, young women’s sexual behaviors and practices, and health professions education. She also works with the development of Arabic-language health education materials for both patients and health service providers. She divides her time between the Middle East and the United States. Her home is in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her partner, Eddy Neisten.
 
Angel wasn’t able to be at the award presentation, but she sent a video with remarks and thanks for the award. “I’ve been working with partners in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and the U.S. for over a year to organize a conference on public health and health policy in North Africa. And the conference is taking place here in Tunis this weekend,” she said. “It is thrilling to be convening this international event in post-revolution Tunisia, but I’m sorry that the timing prevented me from being able to be in Portland in person.”
 

“I feel very privileged to have grown up in environment that was at once intellectually challenging and nurturing, that set high expectations for all students and supported us to exceed them, and that valued critical thinking, exploration, and debate but demanded this take place in the context of respecting others. And I feel especially grateful to have been part of a community that placed primacy on creativity and individual expression, and supported all of us to undertake our various journeys.” —Dr. Angel M. Foster ’91, distinguished younger alumni award recipient

Joey Day Pope ’54 Volunteer Award: Brenda Miller Olson

The Joey Day Pope ’54 Volunteer Award was established in 1992 to honor its namesake, an outstanding volunteer. This award is given each year to a Catlin Gabel community member who personifies volunteerism within our community. 
 
Brenda Miller Olson stands out for her long span of service to the school’s athletic program. She has been an enthusiastic and committed three-season fan and team parent, has represented Catlin Gabel at countless school’s gyms, tracks, and fields, and has provided unparalleled support for Eagle athletes, parents, and coaches. Brenda has steadfastly given the gifts of time, talent, and food: her cookies are legendary. Her children are Eloise ’11, Isabelle ’09, Madeleine ’07, and Harry ’05. “I can’t even imagine another parent giving as much heart, mind, and effort over such a long period of time,” says John Hamilton, coach and PE teacher. “Brenda is in a class by herself.”  

 

Catlin Gabel's Class of 2011

Submitted by Nadine Fiedler on Mon, 11/21/2011 - 10:39am
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Our graduates, their college destinations, & their awards & honors

From the Fall 2011 Caller

The Catlin Gabel Class of 2011

Rohisha Adke
Stanford University
National Merit Finalist
 
Ian Agrimis
Occidental College
 
Max Baron
Whittier College
 
Chase Bennink
Portland State University
 
Mary Bishop
Washington University in St. Louis
 
Chelsea Booth
University of Oregon
 
Anders Byrnes
Colorado College
 
Anna Byrnes
Lewis & Clark College
 
Will Caplan
Washington and Lee University
Athletics Award
 
Conor Carlton
Arizona State University
 
Jahncie Cook
McDaniel College
 
Mona Corboy
University of Oregon
 
Alex Corey
Franklin College Switzerland
French Award
 
Alex Dachsel
University of Oregon
 
Anthony Eden
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Computer Science Award
 
Lily Ellenberg
Bridge year, Ecuador
 
Sarah Ellis
University of Southern California
 
Jenny Faber
University of Redlands
 
Brian Farci
Illinois Institute of Technology
 
Alex Foster
Emory University
Japanese Award
 
Eli Freedman
New York University
 
Spencer Fuller
University of Redlands
 
Mmaserame Gaefele
Williams College
 
Rebecca Garner
Grinnell College
Visual Arts Award
 
Reid Goodman
Pomona College
 
Henry Gordon
Carleton College
Awards in Technical Theater & Outdoor Leadership
 
Mannie Greenberg
Oberlin College
 
Nina Greenebaum
Occidental College
 
Nikom Hall
Occidental College
 
Alex Henry
University of Southern California
 
Morgan Henry
Washington University in St. Louis
National Merit Finalist, Chinese Award
 
Austin Hunter
Willamette University
 
Linnea Hurst
Grinnell College
 
Rohan Jhunjhunwala
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
 
Will Jolley
University of Redlands
 
Grace Kim
Emory University
 
Jesse Kimsey-Bennett
University of Southern California
Media Arts Award
 
Rebecca Kropp
Linfield College
Thespis Award, Community Service Award
 
Paul Krums
Montana State University, Bozeman
National Merit Finalist, Science Award
 
Josh Langfus
Johns Hopkins University
Pat Ehrman Award, Awards in Theater & Spanish
 
Rebecca Lazar
Smith College
 
Stephen Lezak
Oberlin College
National Merit Finalist, Thespis Award
 
Ben Lovitz
Bates College
Mathematics Award
 
Sarah Lowenstein
Lewis & Clark College
School Ring, Awards in Community Service & Science
 
Sarah Macdonald
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
 
Graham Marlitt
Washington State University
 
Kate McMurchie
Whitman College
 
Yoseph Melaku
University of Southern California
 
McKensie Mickler
Southern Oregon University
 
Eloise Miller
Grinnell College
Athletics Award
 
Tara Mills
Whitman College
 
Jackson Morawski
University of Oregon
Japanese Award
 
Joseph Oberholtzer
University of Southern California
 
Morgan Outzen
Portland State University
 
Philip Paek
Lafayette College
 
Jeremy Pashak
University of Alaska Anchorage
 
Anders Perrone
Oregon State University
 
Kate Posner
Portland State University
 
Sabin Ray
Brown University
 
Ko Ricker
University of Southern California
Creative Writing Award
 
Jenna Rolle
Whitman College
 
Sophia Roman
Carleton College
 
Ari Ronai-Durning
Whitman College
 
Julian Rosolie
Southern Oregon University
 
Max Semler
Duke University
 
Samme Sheikh
Swarthmore College
 
Vighnesh Shiv
California Institute of Technology
National Merit Finalist, Awards in Computer Science & Mathematics
 
Veronica Stanley-Katz
Portland State University
 
Lynne Stracovsky
Queen's University
 
Kashi Tamang
Portland State University
 
Leah Thompson
Amherst College
 
Karuna Tirumala
Washington University in St. Louis
Mathematics Award
 
Morgann Turkot
Northwestern University
National Merit Finalist
 
Michael Zhu
Boston University
 
Not pictured:
Olivia Derting
Bridge year
 
 

 

Our Malone Scholars Out in the World

Submitted by Nadine Fiedler on Mon, 11/21/2011 - 10:27am
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We revisit Kayce Coulterpark '07

From the Fall 2011 Caller

In 2005 Catlin Gabel received a great boost of $2 million from the Malone Family Foundation to establish the Malone Scholars program. Selection for the grant was an unexpected honor: the school was chosen by the Malone Foundation as part of its small roster of independent schools that meet its rigorous criteria. Funds from this endowment grant have supplied financial aid for 15 Middle and Upper School students so far, selected by the school for their exceptional academic motivation and capability, as well as financial need. Kayce Coulterpark ’07 was one of our first Malone Scholars, and here we find out what she’s been up to since her graduation.

 
Kayce Coulterpark ’07 was fascinated by her senior year classes at Catlin Gabel in advanced physics and chemistry. “Every day I would drive home with my sister and could not stop talking about the cool things I had learned that day, and how they explained a little more about how the world works,” she says. “Thinking about those worldly applications (or explanations, if you will) is what first drew me to science.” Kayce brought that curiosity about science to her studies at Oregon State University. During her sophomore year she worked at a lab in the Linus Pauling Institute, and at the end of that year she “settled” on a major in chemistry. But as she got involved in the student chemistry club, the field grew into a passion for her. She designed an upper-division chemistry laboratory experiment for her University Honors College thesis project, which will be included in a textbook written by the leader of her physical chemistry lab.
 
Kayce discovered another real passion at OSU: teaching. She started volunteering in a university program to teach science and math to local elementary, middle, and high school students. She loved the experience, along with her position as writing assistant in the OSU Center for Writing and Learning. The summer before her junior year Kayce spent five weeks volunteering as a teacher in a kindergarten in Peru. “The thing I love most about teaching is watching students struggle with something, sometimes for a painfully long time, but finally seeing that light bulb go off when they get it and will never forget either the concept or their struggle toward understanding,” says Kayce.
 
After completing her thesis this summer, Kayce married Richard Hawks, whom she had met at OSU, and traveled to Venezuela for their honeymoon. This fall she’s back at OSU, working in her physical chemistry lab and the Center for Writing and Learning as well as other outreach programs, designing another experiment, and co-authoring a paper on some of the lab’s work. She and her husband will move in January for five months to Missouri, where he will be commissioned in the Army and she will teach or work in research at Missouri University. They plan to return to the Pacific Northwest, where Kayce hopes to earn a master’s in education from the University of Washington and eventually teach in high schools. “That is the age at which students have matured to the point that you can really reach out to them and teach them something, especially those things they have convinced themselves they could never understand,” she says.
 
Kayce took away from Catlin Gabel an appreciation for the power of community. “The support of the teachers (my own teachers as well as others) and staff both within and outside of the school was the most memorable and helpful for my college career,” she says. “A sense of community is something that never ends, and being included in that even though I only attended Catlin Gabel for two short years was very precious.”

 

The Beauty of Not Having to Worry

Submitted by Nadine Fiedler on Fri, 11/18/2011 - 3:47pm
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By Jessica Ramirez '10

From the Fall 2011 Caller

When I think of my 12 years at Catlin Gabel, I remember mornings running around on the castle-like playground, the little house in the Fir Grove, 12-minute runs on the track on hot days, spending Middle School Breakaway in Seattle, performing HMS Pinafore with a thick layer of makeup smeared on my face, rainy days spent in the library with the beautiful tall ceiling, hopping out of the yellow school bus at the Expo Center to sort piles of pants and shirts, and many one-on-one meetings with teachers. Now I’ve been asked to talk about financial aid at this school. The truth is I never gave much thought to how much it cost to give me my seat in the classroom every day. I had no time to think about it; I had to read Sir Gawain and think of a thesis for an essay, and understand Euclid for the math quiz the next day, and then I had cross country practice after school.
 
It may seem as if I wasn’t appreciative of all the money that was donated for me. However, that is the paradoxical beauty of financial aid; I didn’t have to worry about the money. Instead, I focused on the most important part of attending school, my classes. I carried around and read through piles of books, some of which were very expensive, and I was lucky to not have to give up anything or scramble to cover the costs. Instead, I sat down and read them. Although I didn’t think about the cost often, I am most definitely thankful to the people who financed my education. It wasn’t until this last summer that I really thought about the costs of running a school like Catlin Gabel. I worked on campus in summer programs and spent the rest of summer working in facilities. Many people make a living working at Catlin Gabel through teaching, maintaining, directing, planning, and just getting done the stuff that needs to be done. And all the collective work results in a school that moves students forward.
 
I never thought of anything as unattainable because I wasn’t as wealthy as many of my peers. In fact, I never thought much about how much they had and how much this was in comparison to myself. The social differences in a single school add to the value of financial aid, and the range of family income varied so extraordinarily within the school community. I can’t speak for others, but I think that difference in social class doesn’t register as a significant part of life at Catlin Gabel. Part of that may be the academic rigor that keeps students busy with school, but it’s also the self-confidence found in all the student body, including the financial aid kids. We saw each other as peers in the classroom, and outside of it some of us became friends.
 
Now I’ve left Catlin Gabel, and I think fondly upon the beautiful campus, sweet teachers, and strong friendships. But the school gave me even more than that. It gave me the opportunity to continue on to college and the critical skills to find what I want and then work for it. Catlin Gabel gave me a jump-start to whatever comes afterward, and the people who contribute to it financially made and continue to make a difference in what I’ve had the opportunity to do in my life. Thanks.
 
Jessica Ramirez ’10 was the recipient of financial aid from the Hawley Family Endowed Scholarship Fund. She is in her second year at Macalester College  

 

There's Nothing More Important

Submitted by Nadine Fiedler on Fri, 11/18/2011 - 3:38pm
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Phil Hawley '43 is a great supporter of education & financial aid

By Nadine Fiedler

From the Fall 2011 Caller

He was called “the last of the old-time merchandisers” by Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan. From the time he left college, Phil Hawley ’43 worked tirelessly in the retail business—working up from windows and stockrooms to a position as CEO of the retail giant Carter Hawley Hale. In the midst of his successes, Phil never forgot his experiences at the Gabel Country Day School—and never lost sight of the vital importance of education.
 
The Gabel Country Day School’s most important aspect for Phil was the way teachers encouraged him and his fellow students to think beyond the confines of family and school. “The great thing I took away from Gabel was learning to think critically and analytically about issues in a larger sense. For its time, that focus was quite enlightened,” he says. That bigger picture focus stood Phil in good stead as he studied at Stanford University and Reed College before serving in the Navy.
 
After graduating from UC Berkeley in 1946, Phil opened a small shop in Portland, then worked his way up in the Lipman-Wolfe department store. The store management saw his potential as well as his love of retail, and gave him some great chances. He had found his niche.
 
Phil’s biggest career move came when he left Portland in 1958 to work in largerscale retail for The Broadway, at a time of transition from large downtown stores to branch stores. He flew up the rungs of this aggressive, fast-moving chain, starting as buyer and ending up as chairman and CEO of the corporation. He presided until his retirement in 1993, having overseen the acquisition of other large store chains such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Waldenbooks.
 
Phil loved the pace and the intellectual stimulation of the retail business. “Retailers are deeply involved in their communities, in the very ways life was developing and changing,” he says. “Retail was a broad canvas, and you could go as far as your wishes and wants.”
 
Even during these hectic times as corporate leader and father of a family of eight children, Phil prioritized his service to education. He served on the boards and was named life trustee of the California Institute of Technology, Notre Dame, and the Huntington Library. Phil was also the first lay chair of the board of Los Angeles’s Loyola High School. He never forgot his Gabel roots: he’s a member of the school’s endowment committee, and he established a scholarship for Upper School students. His life is still active as he pursues projects, oversees his family’s investments, and works in his community—and his commitment to providing educational opportunities remains unwavering.
 
“I’m a strong believer in the benefits of financial assistance,” says Phil. “With good financial aid, we can have a child’s aptitude and ability be more important than the family’s financial capacity. If we think deeply about creating the best educational experience for all concerned, we are best served by having many different cultural and economic backgrounds represented by the student body. The importance of financial aid can’t be overstressed.”
 
“I feel that educational opportunities given to any of us and to families in the community at large have the greatest influence on what kind of community and world we have,” he says. “I’m trying to help in any way possible. Supporting education is the most rewarding of any opportunity. There’s nothing more important in the scheme of things.”
 
Phil founded the Hawley Family Endowed Scholarship Fund in 2004 in honor of his siblings Adele Hawley Davie ’35, Willard Hawley ’41, Dinda Hawley Mills ’44, and Barbara Hawley Hosking ’49. It supports financial aid for Upper School students.
 
Nadine Fiedler is the editor of the Caller and Catlin Gabel’s director of publications and public relations.

 

Catlin Gabel Video Conversations #2

Submitted by Karen Katz on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 12:23pm
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Lark Palma and James Furnary '12 talk about supporting our school

Girls soccer team playing OES for state championship Saturday

Submitted by Karen Katz on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:31pm
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Congratulations Eagles!

Girls Soccer Final
Saturday, November 19
10:30 a.m.
Liberty High School

Join us for this exciting match as the varsity girls soccer team faces their friendly rivals for the state title.

Every CG voice is needed.

» Learn the school spirit song

Admission: Cash or VISA/MasterCard only | Adult $8 | Student $5

Can't attend the game? » Check out the webcast on OSAA.tv

 

Anaka Morris finalist in photo contest – vote for her photo!

Submitted by Karen Katz on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 8:00am
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Anaka's photo of Maddy Odenborg '10 was selected from among 2,000 entries in the Oregon Cultural Trust photo competition. The grand prize winner is determined by open voting.

» Vote for Anaka's photo by November 18

You must have a Facebook account to participate.

 

 

Alumnus Peter Lind ’08 named Marshall Scholar

Submitted by Karen Katz on Fri, 11/11/2011 - 6:09pm
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The Catln Gabel community congratulates Peter!

Peter Lind ’08, a senior at the Air Force Academy, has won a prestigious Marshall Scholarship. He was one of 14 candidates advanced by the academy for the Marshall process.

The British government offers Marshall Scholarships to no more than 40 U.S. citizens each year. The scholarship program is named after General George C. Marshall, who helped engineer the Marshall Plan in Europe following the World War II. Scholarship winners, selected from about 1,000 applicants, study towards a master's degree at any university in the United Kingdom.

Peter plans to pursue an MLitt in international security studies and a second MLitt in Middle Eastern and Asian security studies.

After graduating from the Air Force Academy and receiving his commission as a lieutenant this coming May, he will most likely return to the Air Force Academy for a short time to teach younger cadets about the competitive scholarship process. In the summer between his two years in the UK, he will work with the British Air Force. After finishing his degree, Peter will enter directly into pilot training, likely in Texas, to become trained as a fighter pilot for his active duty service. Later he plans to become a military attaché or foreign area officer in the Middle East or Asia.

Peter was very gracious in attributing part of his successful pursuit of the Marshall Scholarship to the preparation he received at Catlin Gabel. He told science teacher Paul Dickinson (Mr. D) he was way ahead of most other Air Force Academy students in his writing skills and work ethic.

Peter added in an email, “Mr. D wrote a letter of recommendation for this scholarship and has played an incredible role throughout my education. I would also like to note that my time in Cuba [during a Catlin Gabel global education trip] was highlighted in paperwork and during my interview at the British Consulate-General – a big thanks to [Spanish teacher] Roberto Villa.”

 

Sophomore Mckenzie Spooner invited to run at Nike competition

Submitted by Karen Katz on Fri, 11/11/2011 - 5:00pm
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Mckenzie is among the top 40 girl cross-country runners in Oregon to compete against the top 40 girls from Washington at the 13th annual Border Clash. The Nike-sponsored event is on Saturday, November 20.

Ghanaian artist in residence presents tonight - Nov 7

Submitted by Karen Katz on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 12:36pm
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Eric Adjetey Anang Slide Lecture
Monday, November 7
7:30 p.m.
Gerlinger Auditorium

Eric Adjetey Anang, a Ga fantasy coffin sculptor from Ghana, is an artist in residence at Catlin Gabel from November 7 to November 11. We have invited him here to demonstrate his amazing art of sculpting a coffin out of wood in whatever shape a family feels best represents their deceased elder. He will be sculpting a woodworker’s hand plane, approximately 7’ long, 3’ wide, and 4’ high, on the front deck of the Barn. Please come ask him questions, watch him work, and feel free to participate in the building of the hand plane.

Two years ago, Michael de Forest, the LS woodshop teacher, traveled to Ghana for a summer and studied with Eric in his carpentry shop in Teshie, near Accra. There is also a US trip planned for Ghana from July 29 to August 19, 2012, where students will be working in the Kane Kwei Carpentry Shop with Eric.

Junior Maggie Boyd's film wins NW Film Center award

Submitted by Karen Katz on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 4:47pm
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Maggie's film, Someone That the World Forgot, received the Heart Award in the NW Film Center's Young People's Film Festival. Professional filmmakers selected the winning films from 150 entries.

Maggie made the movie last year during a collaboration project with students at Maru-a-Pula, our sister school in Botswana. The film is set to a poem by Lulwama K. Mulau, a Maru-a-Pula student.

Mature content.

» Watch Maggie's 3-minute film.