Artificial Intelligence
in the Classroom
Today, students can generate essays with the push of a button. Brittany Collins ’14 is exploring what this means for teaching students to write and think.
Working for Whales
Longtime lobsterman Marc Palombo ’74 now promotes technology that could help his former industry safeguard New England’s threatened right whales
The Voice
In a quest to become an actress, Emma Sherr-Ziarko ’07 finds success behind the microphone
The Spark of Joy
For Sparky (Corkin) Kennedy ’75 and her family, a desire to share the holiday spirit with others has brought comfort and joy to thousands of Boston-area families experiencing homelessness and poverty
Charting New Waters
To make passage safe for ships, Christina Belton ’85 sails the ocean wide, mapping the sea floor
The Abundance of Life
After a pivotal moment at Williston, Richard “Cy” Allen ’65 vowed to help others—and he continues to serve six decades later
Back on the Map
As he restarts and builds the lacrosse program at Whittier College, Todd Francis ’83 draws upon the influential lessons of his dad
Scholars @ 15
Since 2010, the Williston Scholars program has been inspiring students to pursue their passions while learning college-level research, writing, and presentation skills. In celebration, we surveyed the more than 600 alums who have completed a Scholars project, and on the following pages present some of their thoughts on the lasting impact of this engaging program.
The Sweet Spot
A new venture by Alex Teece ’04 is widening smiles in the Bay Area
Intense Beauty
Climber and photographer Bissell Hazen ’87 finds inspiration where grit meets grace
Paula Monopoli ’76
Advancing equality through law and legacy
The WilliList
A by-the-numbers look at recent alumni highlights
The “Ford Hall Syfur” Turns 10
The video, which received more than 10,000 views, is a time capsule of the culture and style of mid-2010s Williston
Around the Quad
Musicality and Muscle
Reflections on the creative process of award-winning poet and English teacher Sarah Levine
A Mother to Many
For hundreds of Williston Academy alumni, Sarah Wallis Stevens was a warm and compassionate presence in an era of strict boarding school rules.
Williston is…
In his Commencement speech, student speaker Jake Smith ’25 riffed on his class’s experience—those moments that are somehow utterly unique, and which transcend time.
Top Dogs
Meet Henry and Scout: The Newest (and Fuzziest) Members of Health & Wellness
Class Is In Session
A typical class at Williston is anything but typical. With 155 courses offered each year, students are exposed to a wide array of subjects, teaching methods, academic levels, and technological integration. This fall, we spent a day peeking into different classes, and noticed one thing that unites the academic experience here: a passion by our faculty to engage students’ intellectual curiosity.
This fall, the English department made a novel technological choice: paper and pen. While students can use computers for homework assignments, during class the focus has been on books to help students more deeply focus on words and meaning.
Here, Department Chair Matt Liebowitz leads a discussion about Hamlet; and in Sarah Sawyer’s class, below, students take notes in erasable marker right on the desktop. “Paper and pen have been a game changer,” Liebowitz said. “Students are engaging with the material and each other in exciting ways.”
AP World History students in Justin Brooks’ class can be seen learning about the Mongol Empire, a nomadic civilization that challenges the traditional assumption that major world empires developed by adopting agriculture.
Students highlighted the important role that the Mongols played in spreading ideas to new parts of the world, connecting this topic to their study of Afro-Eurasian exchange networks.
In Stefania Nugteren’s photography class, students take pinhole cameras outside, then come back into the darkroom to develop their images and learn about how light exposure impacts the final prints.
Memorizing formulas and scientific principles is one thing, but actually testing them out in a lab or group discussion is where the “aha!” moments happen. In John Doll’s AP Biology class, above, students learn to prepare solutions for a lab that looks at the properties of biological buffers.
Students in Jane Lee’s Honors Chemistry class talk over the best way to calculate the average mass of elements through complex equations.
The Big Question
Which classes do you love (or have you unexpectedly learned to love!)?
5 Things We’re Talking About!
The latest and greatest from campus this fall
Reunion & Events
It was the biggest, rainiest,
happiest, most pizza-filled,
BFF-reuniting, NSFG-celebrating,
best reunion, ever!
With 600+ people back on campus, this year’s
Reunion was officially the largest in
Williston Northampton School history.
Click through for some of our favorite moments.
Zoë’s Pizza Stole the Show
We are still dreaming about the incredible slices cooked up by celebrity chef and cookbook author Zoë François ’85. Baked in a portable wood-fired oven on the Quad, the pizzas were devoured by alumni from all classes, but especially by Zoë’s class of 1985, which turned up in droves (39 strong) for their 40th.
We Celebrated Ed Hing ’77
A huge crowd gathered to honor the retirement of longtime art faculty member Ed Hing ’77, P’10 with a Grubbs Gallery show of his remarkable body of photography. Just outside the gallery, a second exhibit, curated by Hing, showcased student work from the past two decades. Altogether, it was a wonderful send-off for a teacher who has influenced so many during his 28 years at Williston.
Couchie Played
Shutterbug
At his Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, longtime coach and photography teacher Bob Couch ’50 made his remarks memorable by saying, “I want to capture this moment and remember it forever,” and then pulled out his camera and took a shot of the audience from the stage.
Confetti Cannons
Were Popping!
On Saturday night under the big tent, we loved hearing the sound of confetti cannons going off, followed by shrieks of laughter, as friends gathered to pose for the camera. Even better were the resulting photos with big smiles all around. See more shots from Reunion on Williston’s Flickr site at flickr.com/willistonnorthampton.
The Caterwaulers Burst
Into Song
At the class of 1975 celebration, a cohort of Caterwaulers gathered around the piano and belted out “Sammy” and other classics from the Caterwauler songbook (see it online at williston.com/1975sammy). Like old friendships, harmonies only get better with age.
White Blazers Were In Style
Two dozen White Blazer recipients —ranging from the class of 1958 to the class of 2023—were honored at the Elm Tree Society lunch. A highlight of the gathering was when Head of School Bob Hill surprised Dylan Fulcher-Melendy ’20 with her White Blazer, which she was unable to receive in 2020 due to a senior spring cut short by COVID.
The Little Moments
Were Sweet
Sometimes it’s the unexpected surprises that mean the most—like when James Dixon ’05 (left) wowed friends by recalling his exact mailbox combination in Reed. Or when Anna Sawyer ’24 (right) introduced her former babysitter, Kristina Conroy ’10, at the Athletic Hall of Fame induction.
Alumni Had Game
Alumni donned the green and blue once more to play basketball, hockey, and ultimate during Reunion. “The alumni game was such a special experience for me,” said Maura Holden ’19, pictured at right with Teaghan Hall ’22 and Maeve Reynolds ’22. “I hadn’t seen some of those teammates in years, and being in the rink with everyone was a blast. I take every opportunity I can to be back on campus. It feels like home.”
2020 Was Back, Baby!
The class of 2020 showed up in force, with 40+ classmates making it back for their 5th Reunion. There’s something extra-special about seeing this class back on campus together, since their senior spring was abruptly cut short by COVID. So glad to have you here, 2020!
Stories Came to Life
It was a meta moment—when we asked alumni at Reunion to pose with Bulletin stories about themselves from recent issues. Some of the stories date back a few years—like the 2015 one (above) about Brad Hall’s Commencement song advising graduates “Don’t Be An A**hole.” (Watch it at www.williston.com/bradhall). Happily, that advice never goes out of date!
We Celebrated Alumni Achievements
Two ceremonies at Reunion—the Alumni Awards and the Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony—fête Wildcats who have achieved remarkable things. This year, four distinguished individuals and one hardworking committee received Alumni Awards for their accomplishments. We also inducted two memorable teams, seven stellar athletes, and one longtime coach into the Athletic Hall of Fame. You can see videos and read more about Alumni Award winners here, and do the same with Athletic Hall of Fame Winners here.
We Got the Photos (and the Stories Behind the Photos)
The alumni photo booth was the place to be during Reunion, and we loved hearing the stories that emerged as friends or families posed together. Here are four favorites.
100 Year Anniversary
Northampton School for Girls
In June, the Northampton School for Girls marked its 100th anniversary with a joyful gathering of 86 alumnae who came together for two unforgettable days of connection and celebration. Highlights included a keynote address by Trustee Paula Monopoli ’76, a visit to the NSFG campus, dinners and discussion panels, ringing the Angelus bell, and plenty of that NSFG classic: Mississippi Mud Pie. The weekend was also a chance to celebrate the hardworking NSFG 100th Anniversary Planning Committee and the NSFG Instructorship, which has now surpassed $1 million in support for faculty. It was a milestone worthy of the school’s remarkable legacy, and a reminder that the spirit of NSFG continues to thrive in the lives, friendships, and impact of its alumnae.
Songs & Traditions
A lovely part of the NSFG Reunion was hearing alumnae periodically burst into old school songs. On the final night, alumnae gathered around the NSFG Angelus, sounding the bell in honor of friends and departed classmates, then joining their voices to sing “...and we’ll always sing thy praises, Alma Mater, School, and Friend.”
A Return to Campus
Alumnae visited the original NSFG campus for a special lunch at the Glass House, where Debby (Black) Davis ’58 (pictured, far right) spoke to attendees. Reflecting on the weekend, she said, “There has been such a community of spirit among us alumae and the staff and all those who were a part of the 100th celebration. The fascinating and positive experiences we shared has revealed an amazing group of intelligent and vibrant women.”
Books & Bites
At Glendale Ridge Vineyard, alumnae enjoyed cocktails, appetizers, and a signing by Eleanor “Ele” (Young) Gamarsh ’52 of her first book, My Heartfelt Journey: A Life of Reflections in Stories, Poems, and Recipes. In her remarks to the crowd, Gamarsh reflected on how NSFG shaped her voice and talked about her evolution as a writer. She noted that the Reunion weekend “was a growing experience for the young girl still in my mind and heart.” She is now at work on her second book.
From the Archives
A trip down memory lane wouldn’t be complete without a few artifacts. Old issues of The Pegasus and L’Ormeau, archival photos and playbills, and NSFG blazers and rompers sparked memories and conversations about life at ’Hamp.
A Pioneering Legacy
In her keynote speech, Trustee Paula Monopoli ’76 (at left) spoke about NSFG’s legacy within the context of the women’s rights movement. “Understanding our place in history gave new meaning to the experience,” said Linda (Russack) Tobin ’59. “We were really given a gift of becoming more independent women in ways that I hadn’t understood until I heard her speak.”
White Blazers Were In Style
Two dozen White Blazer recipients —ranging from the class of 1958 to the class of 2023—were honored at the Elm Tree Society lunch. A highlight of the gathering was when Head of School Bob Hill surprised Dylan Fulcher-Melendy ’20 with her White Blazer, which she was unable to receive in 2020 due to a senior spring cut short by COVID.
Moments to Remember
As was said of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the NSFG 100th may have been small, but it was truly mighty! Click through three favorite moments and stories.
The Women of Williston Northampton panel brought together alumnae, current faculty, and students for an engaging conversation celebrating the school’s legacy of women’s leadership and empowerment. Panelists reflected on their experiences, shared stories of growth and resilience, and discussed the ways Williston Northampton School continues to shape confident, capable women today.
The Miller sisters showed up in force—including, from left, Kate (Miller) Carl ’64, Liz (Miller) Grasty ’66, Louisa (Miller) Hoar ’68, and Judith (Miller) Conlin ’72. Judith noted, “We thoroughly enjoyed Reunion, especially the singing! We had plenty of practice, as 14 family members over four generations have attended the two schools.” Among the other graduates: Bruce Miller ’75, also on campus for his 50th, and their mom, Jean (Douglas) Miller ’36, on the left in the archery photo above.
Like many alumnae, Linda (Russack) Tobin ’59 brought along a few carefully saved artifacts, including her NSFG blazer. “I’ve stored this in a wardrobe for 68 years,” she said. “This is the blazer that we all wore—not all the time, but for special occasions and concerts and things.” Below, a detail of the blazer, which shows the “chevrons” students received for sports and activities. Hear more memories from Tobin and others in our NSFG Oral History Project. at williston.com/nsfg.
Check Out Past Editions
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Stay Connected
There’s a network for every Wildcat, no matter where you are in the world! Check out our LinkedIn page and our LinkedIn alumni group to start building up your network.
Like to meet face-to-face? Williston is hosting networking events, and recently dozens of Wildcats in an array of professional fields gathered in New York City. Learn more about this event here.
