Latest Alumni News

Friends School of Baltimore

From the Office of Alumni Relations & Engagement

Alumni News: March 2024

Hello friends –

How is it March already?! In typical Baltimore fashion, we’ve seen a glimpse of warm days followed by some bitter cold. I even saw snowflakes on Sunday evening! Most of the Friends community is off for Spring Break. As I write this, many of our students are abroad – engaged in language immersion programs in France, Switzerland, and for a second year in a row, Kyrgyzstan. Many of you may recall this Friends tradition and I am sure have fond memories of it.

For those of us still on campus, we are delighted to see that the Whiting-Turner team has started working on the Lower School renovation. This is part of a larger project to renew both East and West buildings, as well as the playground which runs along Charles Street. Once the projects are complete, students and teachers will benefit from spaces – indoor and out – that promote curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and reflection, and inspire joy in learning. The East Building is in fact the second oldest building on campus, and many of you will be happy to hear we will be preserving its historic character and beauty while providing necessary upgrades in line with sustainability, accessibility, and our commitment to excellence in academics. We’re excited to see it come to life over the summer!

Spring always brings a buzz to the Friends campus after the winter months. Lower School students shed their coats at recess, Middle School and Upper School spring athletics have begun, rehearsal for the Spring Musical is underway and more. Additionally, we have several alumni focused happenings coming up which I invite you to partake in. You’ll find more information below in in the Alumni Happenings and News section, along with several alumni spotlights.

If you have any questions, would like to learn more about on campus activities, or are interested in volunteering in the Friends community, send me a note. I look forward to connecting with the Alumni community further and hope to see you on campus sometime soon!

Sophia Signature

Sophia Springer '13
Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement

Alumni Weekend | May 2–5, 2024

Registration for Alumni Weekend is now open! Call your friends from Friends and enjoy Alumni Weekend festivities together. While the weekend is focused on Reunion Classes ending in 4 and 9, we welcome all Friends alumni and families to come celebrate with us. Don't wait to sign up for activities. Be sure to register by Friday, April 26!

Information about Class Parties and activities can be found on the Alumni Weekend webpage.

  • Register and view the Alumni Weekend schedule here.
  • Update your information with the Alumni Office here.

Alumni-Weekend-Welcome-Sign

Alumni Happenings and News

Alumni Association Board Celebrated 100 Nights Dinner with the Class of 2024

Each year, the Alumni Association Board host a celebratory dinner for the Senior class. This year we welcomed the Class of 2024, with members of the Board providing a glimpse into life after Friends. The evening consisted of dinner, trivia, and of course some alumni swag giveaways. Hilary Baldwin Ruley ’95, Ali Pappas ’07, and one of the Board’s newest members, Holden Marshall ’15 shared fond memories of their time at Friends and ways to stay connected after graduating. The Class of 2024 graduates on Sunday, June 3.

100-Nights-2024

Friends Hosts Reception with Visiting Artist Dean Mitchell on March 20

We invite you to join us at a reception for artist Dean Mitchell on March 20. The event will be held in the Katz Gallery, located in the lower level of the Forbush Building, from 3:45–5:30pm. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to rsvp@friendsbalt.org.

Mitchell is known for his figurative, landscape, and still life work. In addition to his watercolors, he is accomplished in other mediums including egg temperas, oils, and pastels. Mitchell has been featured in numerous publications including the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, American Artist, Artist Magazine, Fine Art International, and Art News.

Mitchell’s work, Power and Light, is on display in the Katz Gallery until April 12. Gallery visits outside of the reception time are by appointment only. To make an appointment, contact faculty member and alum Erin Hall ’98 (ehall@friendsbalt.org).

This visit and exhibit was made possible by The Class of 1989 Visiting Scholars Program and the Fay Karfgin ’59 Annual Art Lecture fund.

Dean-Mitchell

Alum Emilia Halvorsen Saporiti ’15 and No-No Boy Visit Friends & NYC

Emilia Halvorsen Saporiti ’15 is a current law student at Lewis & Clark Law School. However, outside of school, she is a musician with No-No Boy as a harmony singer, keys player, and music video director, and is co-producer of their most recent album Empire Electric, released last September by the Smithsonian Folkways label.

No-No Boy is an immersive concert experience that illuminates hidden Asian American histories through folk songs, sound pieces, live projections, and storytelling. NPR Music has hailed it as “one of the most insurgent pieces of music you’ll ever hear which re-examines Americana with devastating effect… An act of revisionist subversion.” Nashville-born songwriter and scholar, and Emilia’s spouse, Julian Saporiti, takes inspiration from his own family’s history living through the Vietnam War as well as many other stories of Asian American experiences. He has transformed his years of doctoral study into an innovative project that bridges a divide between art and scholarship.

No-No Boy will perform for students during an Upper School Collection in March. If you’re interested in seeing Emilia and Julian, they will be playing at Joe’s Pub in New York City on March 29. More information can be found here.

Halvorsen-No-No-Boy

Alum and 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, Philip J. Merrill ’81, Presents "Baltimore and the Civil Rights Movement" in Conversation with Dana P. Moore on April 3

Philip J. Merrill ’81 is the CEO & Founder of Nanny Jack & Company LLC, an African American heritage consulting business. He served eight seasons as a Chesapeake Collectibles appraiser on PBS Maryland Public Television (MPT) and six seasons as a PBS Antiques Roadshow appraiser of Black Americana. In 2013, his oral history was archived in the Library of Congress and in 2021, he received the Baltimore City Historical Society’s History Honors Award. Philip is a historian and author, as well as the owner of an extensive collection of rare African American material culture which he exhibits widely and uses to lecture extensively to emphasize the historic accomplishments and contributions of African Americans. In 2022, he co-hosted an Upper School course, Artifactual History, with Upper School History teacher and fellow alum, Molly Smith ’82.

Philip will be speaking at Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse (3128 Greenmount Ave, Baltimore, MD 21218) on Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00pm. All are welcome to attend, click here for more information and to RSVP.

Philip-Merrill

The Friends School Parents Association Invites you to Night Out With Friends: Celebrate Baltimore! on April 13

The FSPA invites you to their signature springtime fundraiser event, Night Out with Friends. This year’s theme is “Celebrate Baltimore!” The evening will include a silent and live auction featuring items from around Baltimore, Friends students’ original artwork, a host of trips, and unique experiences. Join them in the Penguin Room at Whitehall Mill in Hampden; tickets and more information may be found here.

If you are interested in Sponsorship opportunities, please click here for additional information.

All money raised goes to the Friends School Wish List.

Are you doing something exciting or interesting? Let us know so we can feature you in the newsletter! - alumni@friendsbalt.org

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Engage with Friends

Support Friends School with a Gift to The Fund for Friends

For nearly 300 years, Friends School has been providing a vigorous Quaker education that is built on a framework of academic excellence. When students graduate from Friends they have a foundation of learning that prepares them to lead meaningful and productive lives.

This exceptional student experience is made possible, in part, by the generosity of alumni, parents, parents of graduates, grandparents and friends. Simply put, the journey of each of our students is enhanced by your gift.

Click here to learn about ways you can support Friends through giving.

Connect with Us On Social Media

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For additional information, ongoing volunteer opportunities or to get involved, please contact the Alumni Office: alumni@friendsbalt.org or 410-649-3205.

Friends School of Baltimore

From the Office of Alumni Relations & Engagement

Alumni News: January 2024

College Alumni Panel

Hello! For those of you who I do not know, my name is Sophia Springer (that's me in the Friends sweatshirt) and I am the new Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement at Friends.

Before I jump into my story, I want to ask you a question:
What does it mean to you to be a Friends School Alum?

While I don’t need an answer, I’d love to hear from those who would like to share.

Okay, on to me now… I am a Friends School alum myself, Class of 2013. I came to Friends my freshman year of high school. Like many students, I was involved in quite a bit: I played soccer, softball, and eventually basketball. I became an Art Major student for 11th and 12th grade. I was a peer educator, participated in several clubs, was selected as a FSAA Senior representative, and more. All on top of the rigorous academics that Friends provides.

After Friends, I spent four years abroad at Franklin University Switzerland studying International Management. I then went on to work in the wine industry managing marketing for a global auction house based in Chicago. Most recently, I was working in New York City as an assistant wine buyer. I decided I wanted a change, so here I am back at Friends!

Being in my role at Friends means I have the opportunity to learn about you, fellow alumni. I also have the fortune of helping bring the Friends community, current and past, together. This means I have to understand what it means to you to be a Friends School alum (remember that question I posed…).

I hope in the next couple of months to engage with various alumni groups and start to hear your perspective on being an alum. Whether it’s hosting alumni on campus for an activity or organizing a social in your city, I hope to learn more about the larger alumni network we have.

I invite you to help me with that effort as well! If you are on campus, drop by the Development Office and say hello. If you have been looking for a way to be more involved with the Friends community, join the Alumni Association Board. If you are looking for a connection in a certain area but do not know where to start, let’s chat and see how the Friends network can assist. Share your business updates and connect with me on LinkedIn (I'm looking for alumni to spotlight in upcoming newsletters)!

Send me an email, give me a ring, come visit. I would love the opportunity to meet you and learn what it means to you to be a Friends School alum.

Sophia Signature

Sophia Springer '13
Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement

(PS I promise future newsletters won’t be as lengthy!)

Alumni Weekend | May 2–5, 2024

We are excited to welcome the classes ending in 4 and 9 back to campus to celebrate their reunions! Make sure to:

Volunteer for your Reunion Committee! As we inch closer to Alumni Weekend we are looking for volunteers to join the Reunion Committee. The committee members support engagement, outreach, event planning and/or fundraising efforts. If you are interested in participating or have questions about the committee, please email alumni@friendsbalt.org.

Alumni Weekend 4s and 9s

Alumni Happenings and News

First Year College Alumni Speak with Class of 2025

On January 5, the Alumni and College Counselling Offices welcomed five young alumni from the Class of 2023 on campus to speak with current 11th graders about their college search process and to provide a glimpse into their first semester college experience. The Juniors were attentive and engaged, asking questions about the essay process, financial aid, campus life, and of course not skipping a beat to find out about the college dining scene!

Thank you to Oluchi (Brown University), Joey (Amherst College), Ben (The College of Wooster), Lex (Stanford University), and Divine (UCLA) for taking the time out of their winter breaks to share their experience with the Class of 2025!

College Alumni Panel

Russian 5 Class Hosted 5th Annual Russian Style Old New Year’s Party

On January 6, the Russian 5 class and Lee Roby hosted an Old New Year’s Party for alumni of the Russian program. The students made traditional dishes and greeted alumni with holiday cheer.

This year, the group honored Zita Dabars, beloved Upper School Russian teacher from 1975-1997, who passed away in November 2021. Zita began the Old New Year’s party tradition for friends of the Russian program many years ago and the Russian program alumni continue it today!

Russian 5 Class Alumni New Years Eve

20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

On a snowy January 15th, the Friends community came together to host its 20th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Volunteers participated in 16 different activities organized by the Friends School Parents Association. Several members of the Alumni Association Board participated in the Baltimore Hunger Project activity, creating 100 snack packs for students in the community experiencing food insecurity.

Award to be Presented at Saturn Awards Ceremony in Honor of the Late Lance Reddick ’80

Lance Reddick ’80 rose to international acclaim as Lieutenant Cedric Daniels in The Wire, Police Chief Irvin Irving in Bosch, General Caulfield in White House Down, Matthew Abaddon in Lost, and most recently as Charon in the John Wick movie franchise. In his honor, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films has announced the inaugural Lance Reddick Legacy Award. It will be awarded “to those with talent, good character, and who serve as a ‘true goodwill ambassador’.” This year’s award will be received by co-star Keanu Reeves, a tribute to the resounding legacy Reddick left in Hollywood. Read Deadline's full article here.

Lance Reddick '80

Northwestern University Honoring the Late Lurell Stanley Davis ’70 With Musical Tribute

After Friends, L. Stanley Davis ’70 went on to attend Northwestern University and become one of the co-founders of the Northwestern Community Ensemble (NCE), their premiere and only Gospel choir on campus. In honor of Stanley's contributions to NCE, Northwestern, and the national Gospel music indusry, the University will host a musical experience "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing: A Musical Tribute to L. Stanley Davis," on Sunday, February 18, 2024 in Chicago that will honor the Black Gospel music tradition. Friends School alumni are invited to attend, please contact the Alumni Office for additional information.

Are you doing something exciting or interesting? Let us know so we can feature you in the newsletter! - alumni@friendsbalt.org

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Engage with Friends

Join the FSB Alumni Association Board

Serve as a member of the Board and represent the greater Friends School alumni population. Email alumni@friendsbalt.org if you are interested in learning more.

Become Class Secretary

We are currently looking for secretaries for the following classes: 1979, 1994, 2009, 2019. See the full list of Class Secretaries and openings here.

Spend the Summer at Friends

Registration is now open for our popular day camp, Summer at Friends. Camps are available for ages 4 to 13. Imagine spending summer days enjoying Sports Camp on Deering Field or on stage in the Forbush Auditorium. With more than a dozen camps to choose from, there’s bound to be a whole lot of summer fun! We encourage you to register early as spaces are filling quickly.

Looking for a summer job? Come back to campus! Summer at Friends is hiring seasonal staff for Summer 2024. Available positions include special area teachers (art, science, music), coaches, swim staff (lifeguards, water safety instructors, pool ops), nurses, and group staff (head and assistant counselors).

Find out more on our website.

Athletic Coaches Needed

We are hiring coaches for Spring and Fall Athletics. To learn more and apply, email athletics@friendsbalt.org

Help us reach our $2M goal! Give to The Fund for Friends

Philanthropy is the key to a robust and resilient community. Your gift to The Fund for Friends is an immediate way to support important initiatives for students and faculty this year. Friends relies on gifts from alumni, like us, to ensure it has the resources to provide the most impactful programs for our students.

Fund for Friends Jan 2024

Connect with Us On Social Media

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For additional information, ongoing volunteer opportunities or to get involved, please contact the Alumni Office: alumni@friendsbalt.org or 410-649-3205.

 

Friends School of Baltimore

From the Office of Alumni Relations & Engagement

Alumni News: May 2023

Hello fellow alumni,

What a month it's been already. First, we had College Signing Day through our Athletic Department, celebrating the achievements of our collegiate athletes. Next, as our school year comes to an end, we say hello to summer and goodbye (for now) to the Class of 2023, who have embarked on their senior work projects. To wrap it up, we had an amazing time with over 300 alums who returned home for Alumni Weekend. You can expect a recap of all of those festivities soon.

While we have been busy with what the end of our school year brings, we still have some wonderful news to share! In this month's issue, we celebrate the life of John G. Griffith, M.D. '81, with Johns Hopkins University creating a scholarship in his memory. We recognize the contributions of Sara Buechner '76 to Friends through a recent and spectacular visit. Artist Sam Robinson, father of Lehn Robinson '04 and Sallie Robinson '09, shares a collection of paintings based on Friends students from '05 to '08. Tucker Glotzbach '13 shares his latest professional update. Let's get started.

-Matthew Potter '13, Director of Alumni Relations and Engagement

 


News
Dedication of Scholarship in Memory of John G. Griffith, M.D. '81
John G. Griffith

On Thursday, May 25, the John G. Griffith, M.D. Associate Professorship in Gynecology will recognize its inaugural recipient, Jenell Coleman, M.D., M.P.H. Jenell is an Associate Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics and the Division of Gynecology Specialties Director at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

John was a beloved and respected member of the Johns Hopkins community. In 2005, he was named the director of the Johns Hopkins Fibroid Center, a brand-new entity at the time that housed 50 employees. John was dedicated to his research because of the clinical applications. In the words of then director of gynecology and obstetrics at Johns Hopkins, Harold Fox, M.D., "(John) developed not only the Fibroid Center but also a superb endoscopic surgery training program for obstetrical and gynecologic surgeons. John improved the lives of countless women."

John passed away in 2007. We hold John's family in the Light as they celebrate his life and immortalize his professional impact later this month.

John played Varsity Soccer, was involved in the Senate, Outing Club, and Chorus, and was a fan of the Commodores and the Eagles. Following in his father's footsteps, son Henry Griffith graduated from Friends in 2020.

 

Musical Excellence Graces our Stage
Sara Buechner '76

On Friday, March 31, Friends School had the honor of welcoming world-renowned concert pianist, Sara Buechner ’76. Throughout the day, students, faculty, and staff in our Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools were invited to attend inspiring performances in the Forbush Auditorium. Ms. Buechner visited music classrooms and had lunch with Head of School Christian Donovan and faculty.

In addition to her musical talents, Ms. Buechner is a proud transgender woman who appears as a speaker and performer at LGBTQ+ events. She writes and speaks often about her personal experiences as a trans woman. Part of her day was set aside for a Middle and Upper School Trans Affinity Space - an opportunity for listening and sharing with students. It was quite special to have her on Transgender Visibility Day. Thank you, Sara!

 

Father of '04 and '09 Alum Shares "Longtime Friends" Collection

Lehn Robinson '04 has been doing digital asset management for his father, Sam Robinson, which includes inventorying, archiving, and promoting Sam's catalogue of original paintings. Sam predominantly paints equestrian subjects and scenes, but a recent show served as a retrospective of his portraiture and figure work, which featured a number of works painted from photos Sam took at his daughter's (Sallie Robinson '09) various musicals, stage plays and concert performances. After the show came down, Lehn thought it was a pity to just put everything back in the racks and got in touch with Friends to see if the original subjects could be contacted. Our excitement about the idea spurred Lehn to gather all of Sam's extant works from that period at Friends, along with any digital copies of works no longer in their possession. The result is viewable at www.samrobinsonfineart.com in a show called Longtime Friends. Enjoy!

 

2013 Alum Credits Business to FSB College Counseling Department
Tucker-Glotzbach'13

Finding the right school can be an arduous task for college applicants and their families. While the questions of classes and majors can be answered by a brochure, deeper inquiries of community and fit are difficult to answer before a student has already made their commitment. This need led Tucker Glotzbach '13 to create Induck College Impressions, a business-to-business service for private college guidance consultants to best serve their student clientele. Tucker and his business partner recently sold Induck to a previous client, who they believe will be able to do a lot of good with their product. Tucker gives credit to the College Guidance Office of Friends for helping him get started. "I owe a lot of thanks to Darryl Tiggle and Jessica Monterastelli for helping identify the customer pain point and prototype solutions early on, as well as connecting me to colleagues at other independent schools," said Tucker. We congratulate him for his success, as well as his recent graduation from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University with an MBA in Technology Strategy & Product Management.

At Friends, Tucker played Varsity Lacrosse and Football and helped run the Growing Pains club.

 

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Are you doing something exciting or interesting? Let us know so we can feature you in the news! - alumni@friendsbalt.org

 

 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at Friends

Monthly Update from the DEI Office

For the latest update from the DEI Office, click here.


Development News
The Fund for Friends Alumni Giving Challenge Update!


Friends is looking for 128 NEW alumni donors to increase participation in giving. Any alum who makes a new gift of $25 or more between now and June 30th will receive a Friends photo magnet (see above). Please click here to help us reach this goal or scan the QR code below to make your gift via Venmo. *Please Note: For federal income tax purposes, the deductible portion of your contribution is limited to the excess of your contribution over the value of goods provided to you. The $1 value of your magnet must be subtracted from your total contribution.


Save the date! Alumni Weekend 2024: May 2–⁠5
With another reunion in the books, we look forward to our next one. Those whose graduation years end in 4 and 9 are welcome back to campus on May 2–5 for Alumni Weekend in 2024. We hope to see you there!

Friends School of Baltimore Since 1784  |  5114 North Charles Street  |  Baltimore, MD 21210  |  410-649-3205

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