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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.

 

Latest News

Friends School News


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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Friends School of Baltimore

From the Office of Alumni Relations & Engagement

Alumni News: April 2023

Hello fellow alumni,

Spring has come to Baltimore! Ice cream stands are beginning to open, cherry blossoms have bloomed and cheers from our baseball field greet us in the afternoon. With this warm weather comes final preparations for Alumni Weekend, held this year from May 4 through 7. We are thrilled to be welcoming the 3 and 8 Reunion Year classes back to campus, including our Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and Alumni Awardees, who will be recognized together on Friday night. The 34th Annual "Mr. Nick" Nicolls Lunch promises to be a hit, with our Upper School student jazz band bringing the soul to the party. Our Reunion Reception & Class Photos and our Class Reunion Parties close out Saturday evening. Can’t wait to finish reading this email to register? Sign up now!

In this month's issue, we pay tribute to movie, TV and video game star, Lance Reddick '80. We prepare to see Air, produced by Jason Berman '02, at an alumni-owned theater here in Baltimore. We also congratulate Buck Mann Jr. '68, who was recently recognized for his thousands of community service hours. There is much to talk about, so let's get started.

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


Alumni Weekend is Around the Corner

Alumni Weekend  May 4-6, 2023

Athletic Hall of Fame & Alumni Award Ceremony & Reception
Our community is made great by each member's Light shining brightly. When we have a member of that community elevate themselves and those around them to a legendary and distinctive level, we recognize them through our Athletic Hall of Fame and our Alumni Awards. This year, we will be unifying these two ceremonies into one wonderful event. Join us as we welcome the 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and recognize the 2023 Alumni Award recipients on Friday, May 5 at 6pm in the Forbush building. Register today!


Sign up for the Mr. Nick Lunch, Featuring the Upper School Student Jazz Band!
On Saturday, May 6 at noon, come join us at the Zamoiski Alumni Center for lunch and celebrate the life of beloved teacher, coach and mentor, Robert A. "Mr. Nick" Nicolls H'87, who taught history and coached at Friends from 1938 until his retirement in 1970. His memory lives on in the hearts of the hundreds of alumni who have taken his teachings and used them to make a difference in the world. Enjoy Piadina Romagnola, Tomato Caprese, Prosciutto & Brie and more while getting chills hearing the jazz band sing hits like "I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown. All proceeds from this event go to the Mr. Nick Scholarship Fund. To get your spot, make sure to include the "34th Annual 'Mr. Nick' Nicolls Lunch" in your Alumni Weekend registration. We'll see you there!


Reunion Reception & Class Photos

Join your fellow 3 and 8 reunion year alumni for heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine in the Old Gym. Don't miss your reunion class photo! Register today. The ticket price of $20 ($10 for the Class of 2018) allows us to direct the School's funds to the immediate needs of our students.




News

Lance Reddick

A Powerful Voice Echoes

On March 17, 2023, Lance Reddick '80 passed away of natural causes at age 60. Lance was a prominent actor known for the strength he brought to the variety of roles he played. His career took off after being cast as Lt. Cedric Daniels in the groundbreaking series The Wire, where he appeared in 58 out of 60 episodes. He then joined Fringe as Special Agent-in-Charge Phillip Broyles, and, more recently, he brought Charon to life in the "John Wick" series, appearing beside acting greats Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry and Laurence Fishburne.

He was also known for his work in animated media, such as the video games Quantum Break, Horizon Zero Dawn, and the Destiny series. His loss hit the Destiny community particularly hard, with players around the world paying tribute to the character he voices, Commander Zavala. Over 50 million players have been guided by this beloved leader, being emboldened by hard-driven lines such as, "What we have built is only the beginning, a symbol of what we can achieve," and, "If we do not meet again, know how proud I am of what you have done."

While his work has impacted millions, all of us at Friends—his former teachers, his classmates, and even current students—feel this loss deeply. He came back home for reunions, graduations and many student and alumni events, speaking with passion regarding his life, his career and what Friends meant to him. We are grateful for what Lance shared with us in his art and what he continually brought back to Friends. As we acknowledge and process this great loss, we ask that you join us in holding Lance's family in the Light.

You can view The Baltimore Sun's tribute to Lance here.

 

Air Movie Poster

Critically Accalimed Air, Produced by Jason Berman ’02, Coming to the Alumni-Owned Charles Theater

Attention Baltimore! Join your fellow alumni for a viewing of Jason Berman '02's new critically-acclaimed movie, Air, at the Charles Theater, owned and operated by a Friends School family. Arrive early for a pre-show reception. Look for a special email in your inbox with the date and time details. Jason, we are looking forward to seeing your movie soon.

Air tells the story of a shoe salesman who revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture by putting all of his chips on a player who had never even set foot on a professional basketball court: Michael Jordan. The movie is rated R for language. You can watch the trailer here.

 

W. Berkeley Mann Jr.

W. Berkeley "Buck" Mann Jr. 68 Recognized for Giving Justice to Those in Need

After being a federal prosecutor, attorney and trial attorney over a 40+ year career, Buck Mann Jr. '68 retired in 2015. Retirement for many means slow days, beaches and golf. This wasn't in the cards for Buck, who quickly joined Colorado Legal Services (CLS), a non-profit agency that provides free, high quality civil legal services to eligible low-income Coloradans and seniors. Since joining, he has spent thousands of hours delivering positive results for his pro bono clients. This dedication to delivering justice for those in need earned him the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award, which honors Denver residents who make unique contributions to their communities. The award comes with a $2,000 prize, which Buck donated to CLS. You can read the Denver Post article dedicated to Buck here. Thank you, Buck, for your dedication to your community and for being an incredible example of a Friends School alum.

 

Friends School News


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 - Two Months to Go!
Each year, FSB counts on the generosity of our alumni community to help support today’s students and faculty. Last year, alumni of Friends provided over 1/3 of the philanthropic gifts to the school (approx. $1.3M)! Help us carry forward a legacy of giving at Friends.

The Alumni Giving Challenge is back! Friends is looking for 225 NEW alumni donors. If you haven't made your gift to The Fund for Friends, please click here to help us reach this goal.

 

Friends School of Baltimore

From the Office of Alumni Relations & Engagement

Alumni News: March 2023

Hello fellow alumni,

I'm starting my third month at my alma mater and continue to be amazed by the academic programming Friends offers. I've also appreciated the warm welcome from the teachers and staff I've gotten to meet and those that I knew ten years ago. Ms. Countess even let me borrow her centurion helmet and her Medusa statue.

We have quite the collection of alumni stories this month, which I have been excited to share with you all. We also are excited to announce that registration for Alumni Weekend is now open. I hope you all enjoy this month's Alumni News.

Safe travels to those of you who are enjoying spring break!

Best regards,

Matthew Potter '13


On Campus

Alumni Weekend  May 4-6, 2023

Are you ready for Alumni Weekend?
We are excited to welcome the classes ending in 3 and 8 back to campus to celebrate their reunions. Click here to see the full Alumni Weekend Schedule, class reunion information, hotel room blocks, and to register (NOW OPEN).

Senior Work Projects
Do you want to mentor a student in what you do for the month of May? Are you near Baltimore? We are looking for volunteers to host senior students for four weeks at their place of work. Mentors have a major impact on the students they host, giving them a first look at the working world. Are you interested? Email alumni@friendsbalt.org.


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 your child 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! Find out more and register online on our website. We encourage you to register your children early as spaces are filling quickly.
  
Looking for a Summer Job?
Come back to campus! Summer at Friends is hiring seasonal staff for Summer 2023. 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 at friendsbalt.org.


News

Jason Berman '02

Jason Berman ’02 is Producing for the Stars

Mandalay Pictures President Jason Berman ’02 is known for producing feature films that have debuted at premiere film festivals around the globe, including the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, SXSW, Tribeca, Berlinale, and Edinburgh. Berman produced Edson Oda's Nine Days starring Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Bill Skarsgård, and Benedict Wong, Olivier Megaton's The Last Days of American Crime starring Edgar Ramírez, Prentice Penny's Uncorked, Cindy Chupack's Otherhood, Clark Johnson's Juanita, Jonathan Helpert's IO, Gerard McMurray's Burning Sands, Ryan Koo's Amateur, Eli Craig's Little Evil, and Nate Parker's The Birth of a Nation. Most recently, he has produced Air, the story of a shoe salesman who revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture by putting all of his chips on a player who had never even set foot on a professional basketball court: Michael Jordan. The movie, which stars Matt Damon, Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck, premiers April 5, 2023. You can watch the trailer here.

Berman's past producing credits include Approaching the Unknown, Mediterranea, The Benefactor, Little Accidents, The Dry Land, Jess + Moss, Seven Days in Utopia, Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best, LUV, and Struck By Lightning. Prior to producing, Berman worked at the William Morris Agency, MGM Studios, and for writer/director Gary Ross. Berman is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and the Producers Guild of America. He is a 2006 graduate of the University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts, where he is now an adjunct professor. Berman helped to develop and start the Catalyst program at the Sundance Institute.


Lisa Corrine Davis '76

Lisa Corinne Davis '76 Awarded Prestigious Fellowship

Lisa Corinne Davis ’76 h
as been being awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship! This honor had nearly 2,500 applicants, with the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees recognizing only 180 people. The fellowship provides awardees time they would not normally have to dedicate to their work.

Lisa is no stranger to recognition. Her works of abstract art are included in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art, the J. Paul Getty Museum, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. She has received accolades including The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant, a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, a National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship and three Artist Fellowships from The New York Foundation for the Arts. In 2017, she was inducted into the National Academy Museum & School as a National Academician. Previously a Yale University painting professor, Lisa is currently a Professor of Art and Co-Director of the MFA program at Hunter College in New York.


Sander Schloff '20

Sander Schulhoff '20 Aims to Educate on Artificial Intelligence

The world of artificial intelligence (AI) is an intimidating one to enter. We’ve all seen the movies and read the books, but where does AI fit into our lives outside of science fiction? If you want to learn more about it, where do you start? Sander Schulhoff ’20 saw that people who may not have a great technological understanding were looking for answers. This gave him the idea to write a course for a University of Maryland English class on the subject of AI, which he then published online as Learn Prompting. The guide is text based and split into sections by complexity. It is also free to access, which over 200,000 people have appreciated since the site launched. His digital community on Discord, a VoIP and instant messaging social platform, has grown to nearly 15,000 users. Sander’s work was recently spotlighted by The Diamondback, UMD’s independent student newspaper. Congratulations, Sander! We look forward to seeing what else you accomplish.


Christian Muirhead '97

Endeavor Promotes Christian Muirhead '97 to Co-Chairman

Christian Muirhead ’97 has been promoted to Co-Chairman of Endeavor. Formally known as William Morris Endeavor, the company represents artists and companies in music, television, movies, and publishing, such as the National Football League and the National Hockey League.

Christian, who graduated from Friends in 1997, graduated from Boston University with a degree in International Relations. After beginning his career at Warner Brothers, he joined William Morris in 2004 and was named Chief Communications Officer of Endeavor in 2014. Endeavor and William Morris merged in 2009.

“Having started my journey at WME, I’ve had a front row seat to the evolution of the entertainment business and the growing influence of talent in shaping it,” Muirhead said. “I look forward to leveraging the full scale and depth of Endeavor’s network on our clients’ behalf, forging connections and creating opportunities to help them build industry-leading brands and businesses.”


Friends School News


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

Pepe’s Palooza is March 29th – Support the Class of 2023 and their Senior Family Gift!

On Wednesday, March 29th, consider ordering lunch or dinner from Pepe’s on Falls Road because 20% of all Friends School orders will be directed to the Class of 2023 Senior Family Gift. All you have to do is mention “Friends School” when you order over the phone or put “Friends School” in the comments when ordering online. Check out Pepe’s menu here. Thank you in advance for supporting the Class of 2023 and their fundraising. 

Pepe's Palooza

If you would like to help with the school’s fundraising efforts, please email Rachel DeWeese, Assistant Annual Fund Director at rdeweese@friendsbalt.org or Caroline Rayburn P’23, Director of Annual Giving at crayburn@friendsbalt.org.

 

 

 

Friends School of Baltimore

From the Office of Alumni Relations & Engagement

Alumni News: February 2023

Hello!

My name is Matt and I am the new Director of Alumni Relations and Engagement at Friends. Returning to campus has been such an incredible experience. Friends continues to give their students what they need to excel today and in the future while retaining the values that have guided this school since 1784. I have been impressed by the wide range of opportunities that students have to get involved in important functions of the school, such as running tech for a show, broadcasting sports events, influencing policy through entities such as the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) office and even representing their classmates to the Board of Trustees. The enhancements made around campus have provided modern learning experiences, such as the renovated auditorium, new 3D printers and an on-campus baseball field. Our new Head of School, Christian Donovan, continues to impress me with his thoughtful and open leadership. I have observed a unique ability in him to be able to connect with a stranger as if he has known them for years. The school is just how I remember it, yet is marvelously enriched. It's good to be home. I look forward to connecting with you here, at regional and virtual events, and at Alumni Weekend.

-Matthew Potter '13


Events

Virtual Wine Tasting, Real Taste
Bring your wine and cheese to our virtual wine tasting hosted by our Alumni Association Board on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m., led again by the fabulous Lucien Walsh ’88, Regional Fine Wine Sales Director of KYSELA PERE ET FILS. Learn about and discuss the history of each wine, the intention of its make up, and what other foods will pair well with our selections. Make sure to purchase the following wine and cheese combos:
1.    Lambrusco amabile — sharp cheddar
2.    Riesling — blue cheese
3.    Pinot Noir — Gruyère

A Zoom link will be sent to all attendees upon registration. This event is strictly for those 21 years old and over.

So sip back, relax, and join us for a wine-derful night. Can we count you in?


Register Here



A Day On, Not a Day Off
On Monday, January 16, 2023, over 400 of Friends School of Baltimore students, faculty, and alumni gathered in support of our 19th annual MLK, Jr. Day of Service. The day began with a keynote address from J.C. Faulk, diversity consultant and founder of Circles of Voices-An End to Ignorance. Next, participants dispersed to a variety of activities on campus and around Baltimore in support of more than ten non-profit organizations. Thank you to the Friends School Parents Association (FSPA) for making all of this possible.

Child reading to patronGroup volunteeringMother and son with patronStudent makes birthday card


All of the Lights
A bright tradition has started at Friends. Using their phone flashlights, attendees of the Friday Night games give a spotlight to players as they are introduced onto the court or field. “It’s an example of something small we as a community can do that has a big impact on our players,” said Jonah Z. '23, FSAA Committee member and Alumni Association Board student representative. Every season, each sport gets a Friday Night highlight. The next Friday home game is February 17 in the Old Gym. The Varsity Basketball Boys play Curley at 5:30pm. We hope to see you there.

Lights in old gym

Senior Work Projects
Do you want to mentor a student in what you do? Are you near Baltimore? We are looking for volunteers to host senior students for four weeks at their place of work. Mentors have a major impact on the students they host, giving them a first look at the working world. Are you interested? Email alumni@friendsbalt.org.

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!  Find out more and register online on our website. 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 2023. 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 at friendsbalt.org.


News

David Blumberg
   Alumni Highlight: Maya Kumta Gilbert '01, Director, Global Markets COO, Bank of America
Alumni Highlight: Justin Sussman '99, Partner, Portfolio Manager, and Chief Operating Officer, Proficio Capital Partners, LLC
   Alumni Highlight: Maya Kumta Gilbert '01, Director, Global Markets COO, Bank of America


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

Fundraising News

#GivingTuesday Challenge Results Are In!

The results of Friend School’s $50,000 Giving Challenge are in and quite impressive. The School launched this effort on #GivingTuesday to support academic success for our students. Over 300 donors contributed $192,380 – more than triple the goal.

We aren’t finished yet! If you haven’t had a chance to support The Fund for Friends this school year, please consider making your gift today. We still have another $270,000 to go to reach our goal. Giving is easy… you can scan the School’s QR code found below or click here to make your gift.

If you would like to help with the school’s fundraising efforts, please email Rachel DeWeese, Assistant Annual Fund Director at rdeweese@friendsbalt.org or Caroline Rayburn P’23, Director of Annual Giving at crayburn@friendsbalt.org.


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

Privacy Policy  |  Email Preferences

 

Friends School of Baltimore

From the Office of Alumni Relations & Engagement

Alumni News: March 2023

Hello fellow alumni,

I'm starting my third month at my alma mater and continue to be amazed by the academic programming Friends offers. I've also appreciated the warm welcome from the teachers and staff I've gotten to meet and those that I knew ten years ago. Ms. Countess even let me borrow her centurion helmet and her Medusa statue.

We have quite the collection of alumni stories this month, which I have been excited to share with you all. We also are excited to announce that registration for Alumni Weekend is now open. I hope you all enjoy this month's Alumni News.

Safe travels to those of you who are enjoying spring break!

Best regards,

Matthew Potter '13


On Campus

Alumni Weekend  May 4-6, 2023

Are you ready for Alumni Weekend?
We are excited to welcome the classes ending in 3 and 8 back to campus to celebrate their reunions. Click here to see the full Alumni Weekend Schedule, class reunion information, hotel room blocks, and to register (NOW OPEN).

Senior Work Projects
Do you want to mentor a student in what you do for the month of May? Are you near Baltimore? We are looking for volunteers to host senior students for four weeks at their place of work. Mentors have a major impact on the students they host, giving them a first look at the working world. Are you interested? Email alumni@friendsbalt.org.


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 your child 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! Find out more and register online on our website. We encourage you to register your children early as spaces are filling quickly.
  
Looking for a Summer Job?
Come back to campus! Summer at Friends is hiring seasonal staff for Summer 2023. 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 at friendsbalt.org.


News

Jason Berman '02

Jason Berman ’02 is Producing for the Stars

Mandalay Pictures President Jason Berman ’02 is known for producing feature films that have debuted at premiere film festivals around the globe, including the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, SXSW, Tribeca, Berlinale, and Edinburgh. Berman produced Edson Oda's Nine Days starring Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Bill Skarsgård, and Benedict Wong, Olivier Megaton's The Last Days of American Crime starring Edgar Ramírez, Prentice Penny's Uncorked, Cindy Chupack's Otherhood, Clark Johnson's Juanita, Jonathan Helpert's IO, Gerard McMurray's Burning Sands, Ryan Koo's Amateur, Eli Craig's Little Evil, and Nate Parker's The Birth of a Nation. Most recently, he has produced Air, the story of a shoe salesman who revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture by putting all of his chips on a player who had never even set foot on a professional basketball court: Michael Jordan. The movie, which stars Matt Damon, Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck, premiers April 5, 2023. You can watch the trailer here.

Berman's past producing credits include Approaching the Unknown, Mediterranea, The Benefactor, Little Accidents, The Dry Land, Jess + Moss, Seven Days in Utopia, Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best, LUV, and Struck By Lightning. Prior to producing, Berman worked at the William Morris Agency, MGM Studios, and for writer/director Gary Ross. Berman is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and the Producers Guild of America. He is a 2006 graduate of the University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts, where he is now an adjunct professor. Berman helped to develop and start the Catalyst program at the Sundance Institute.


Lisa Corrine Davis '76

Lisa Corinne Davis '76 Awarded Prestigious Fellowship

Lisa Corinne Davis ’76 h
as been being awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship! This honor had nearly 2,500 applicants, with the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees recognizing only 180 people. The fellowship provides awardees time they would not normally have to dedicate to their work.

Lisa is no stranger to recognition. Her works of abstract art are included in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art, the J. Paul Getty Museum, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. She has received accolades including The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant, a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, a National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship and three Artist Fellowships from The New York Foundation for the Arts. In 2017, she was inducted into the National Academy Museum & School as a National Academician. Previously a Yale University painting professor, Lisa is currently a Professor of Art and Co-Director of the MFA program at Hunter College in New York.


Sander Schloff '20

Sander Schulhoff '20 Aims to Educate on Artificial Intelligence

The world of artificial intelligence (AI) is an intimidating one to enter. We’ve all seen the movies and read the books, but where does AI fit into our lives outside of science fiction? If you want to learn more about it, where do you start? Sander Schulhoff ’20 saw that people who may not have a great technological understanding were looking for answers. This gave him the idea to write a course for a University of Maryland English class on the subject of AI, which he then published online as Learn Prompting. The guide is text based and split into sections by complexity. It is also free to access, which over 200,000 people have appreciated since the site launched. His digital community on Discord, a VoIP and instant messaging social platform, has grown to nearly 15,000 users. Sander’s work was recently spotlighted by The Diamondback, UMD’s independent student newspaper. Congratulations, Sander! We look forward to seeing what else you accomplish.


Christian Muirhead '97

Endeavor Promotes Christian Muirhead '97 to Co-Chairman

Christian Muirhead ’97 has been promoted to Co-Chairman of Endeavor. Formally known as William Morris Endeavor, the company represents artists and companies in music, television, movies, and publishing, such as the National Football League and the National Hockey League.

Christian, who graduated from Friends in 1997, graduated from Boston University with a degree in International Relations. After beginning his career at Warner Brothers, he joined William Morris in 2004 and was named Chief Communications Officer of Endeavor in 2014. Endeavor and William Morris merged in 2009.

“Having started my journey at WME, I’ve had a front row seat to the evolution of the entertainment business and the growing influence of talent in shaping it,” Muirhead said. “I look forward to leveraging the full scale and depth of Endeavor’s network on our clients’ behalf, forging connections and creating opportunities to help them build industry-leading brands and businesses.”


Friends School News


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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at Friends

Monthly Update from the DEI Office

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



Development News

Pepe’s Palooza is March 29th – Support the Class of 2023 and their Senior Family Gift!

On Wednesday, March 29th, consider ordering lunch or dinner from Pepe’s on Falls Road because 20% of all Friends School orders will be directed to the Class of 2023 Senior Family Gift. All you have to do is mention “Friends School” when you order over the phone or put “Friends School” in the comments when ordering online. Check out Pepe’s menu here. Thank you in advance for supporting the Class of 2023 and their fundraising. 

Pepe's Palooza

If you would like to help with the school’s fundraising efforts, please email Rachel DeWeese, Assistant Annual Fund Director at rdeweese@friendsbalt.org or Caroline Rayburn P’23, Director of Annual Giving at crayburn@friendsbalt.org.