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Thursday, April 08, 2010
APRIL ALUMNI & ALUMNAE E-NEWSLETTER
Alumni/ae Speaker Series -- this Friday, April 9
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We hope that you will join us for the final installment of the 2009-2010 Alumni/ae Speaker Series featuring Heath Twichell '52 (pictured at left) this Friday, April 9 from 2:55-3:30 p.m. in Caird Chapel on the AA campus.
Mr. Twichell entered The Albany Academy in 1948 when his army officer father returned from post World War II Germany to head the ROTC program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Graduating in 1952, Mr. Twichell went on to West Point -- graduating in the top 5% of his class, beginning a distinguished 24-year career as an Infantry officer and retiring as a full colonel. His duties included various staff and command assignments in the United States, Germany and Vietnam, where he spent two years in combat. |
His second career began at Salve Regina University where he became the founding Director of both the University's International Relations and Distance Learning programs. In 1987, he left Salve to become an independent scholar. Since then, he has published his second book (based on his dad's letters home during World War II), continued to teach part time, consulted at the Navy's War Gaming Center, served as a Literacy Volunteer, and periodically guided narrated tours of World War II battlefields.
All alumni/ae are invited to attend this event, and those individuals who knew Mr. Twichell are encouraged to return to our school.
Class of '57 Lecture Series -- April 16
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All alumni/ae are invited to return to campus for the Class of '57 Lecture Series on Friday, April 16 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Caird Chapel on the AA campus as Dr. James L. Fitzgerald '57 (pictured at left) addresses our school community about one of our own, Jane Lathrop Stanford (Albany Female Academy, class year 1841).
Dr. Fitzgerald has done extensive research in the U.S. and Italy about the life of Jane Lathrop Stanford -- co-founder of Stanford University -- and has authored an article about her that will appear in the Summer 2010 issue of our A2 magazine. |
He is retired from a surgical ophthalmology practice in Troy, NY and teaches surgical residents at the University of Arizona. At Southern Vermont College, he set up the Annual Invitational Health Science Lecture Series. He has also participated in missionary eye care work in underdeveloped countries.
He is one of the founders of the Class of '57 Lecture Series at the Academies.
A gathering in our nation's capital!
Pictured (left to right) at the Washington, D.C. Regional Gathering are John Childers '59, Dr. Douglas North '58, Josie Pashler Briggs '62 & John Rich '61; Ellen Roznowski Taylor '71, Alexandra Stitt Gisiger '55 & Elena Plank '03; and Steve Sumberg '63, David Morey '82 & Jerry Eckert '63.
The cherry blossoms were just about in bloom when nearly 30 alumni/ae gathered at the home of Steven Sumberg '63 for the Washington, D.C. Regional Gathering on March 25. Those in attendance included graduates from 1955 to 2003.
Many thanks to Mr. Sumberg and Steve Ranney '63 for hosting the event.
Annual Fund continues its climb towards $1 million goal!
Celebrating the arts!
Pictured (left to right) are Genesis Dance Company Artistic Director Karen Lynell Arceneaux working with members of Dance Workshop in the AAG Auditorium; Ms. Arceneaux (center) with two of her dancers performing at an all school assembly in the AA Gym; and one of the Genesis Dance Company dancers working with Upper School students in the AA Gym.
Genesis Dance Company Artistic Director Karen Lynell Arceneaux and her dancers visited the Academies on Tuesday to work with students as part of the annual Kermani Arts Celebration at the school.
The Kermani family established the Kermani Fund for the Arts in 1984 to create an annual program for all students at Albany Academy for Girls & The Albany Academy so they could experience the arts through enhanced programming and visiting artists.
Ms. Arceneaux and her team led six workshops throughout the day in a variety of dance and jazz disciplines as well as an all school performance that gave our girls and boys the opportunity to work with a world famous choreographer.
Ms. Arceneaux has choreographed for The Ailey School's Student Performance Group, Student Showcase Group, The Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Program in Dance, Ailey's Professional Performing Arts School program and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
Cooking lessons from a top chef!
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Gail D. Sokol '76 is an award-winning chef, author and instructor of baking at Schenectady County Community College well-known in the region for her culinary expertise.
Chef Sokol visited the Academies on March 23 to work with a small number of Middle School students in The Buttery on the AA campus for promotional purposes of her television show called "Stir It Up."
The students -- Sohil Patel (Form II), Lex Pryor (Form I), Samantha MacAffer '17, Sydney Buran '16 & Katie Pausley '16 -- had a great time learning about the science of baking from such a well-respected culinary professional. |
AAG tradition continues on...
Pictured (left to right) are Leandra Carter '10 with her Ring Dare "sister," Jolisa Smith '12; Lily Glucksman '12 posing with her "mentor," AAG Associate Head of School Wendy Muhlfelder '67; and Hannah Miller '12 & Frances Yanover '12.
An AAG tradition took place on April 1 as the annual Ring Dares were held to commemorate the sophomore girls receiving their AAG school rings from their senior "Big Sisters."
The senior girls require that their "Little Sisters" perform various dares to earn their rings. All sophomore and senior girls take part in the dare activities.
The day concluded with a special dinner at the home of Gabby Russum '10 where the sophomore girls received their class rings.
Academy families treated to 'memorable' production!
Pictured (left to right) at the Upper School production of "Memorable" are David Buran (Form VI) portraying Peter Kermani '58; Victoria Waldron '11 portraying Joyce Berman Brooks '60; and Caleb Cushing (Form IV) portraying H. Kenneth Kudon '60.
Many of our alumni and alumnae returned to the Academies on February 26 & 27 to enjoy the captivating Upper School production "Memorable" on the AAG campus. This special musical honored reunion classes of Albany Academy for Girls & The Albany Academy.
AA & AAG alumni/ae from the Classes of 1956-60 provided memories of their favorite Broadway shows to Arts Chair Greg Cummings, who researched the shows as well as pop tunes and dances from 1956-60. Students acted scenes based on archival research and the written memories of alumni/ae, and other students sang songs from Broadway shows that the alumni/ae remembered.
Following the first act, student musicians then presented a big band approach to some of the pop hits of that time period, and other students and faculty (along with the audience!) danced in the AAG Lower School Gym to the tunes!
Many thanks to Mr. Cummings and faculty members Matt Streifert, Joe Jacobs & Cathy Teitelbaum '65 as well as our devoted alumni/ae. It was great to see so many local alumni/ae join us for this unique and special tribute.
Academy coach inducted into NYS Hall of Fame
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Congratulations go out to longtime Academy coach Dave Rider '73 (pictured at left) for being inducted into the New York State High School Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame on March 13 in Utica, NY.
Coach Rider has been a member of the athletic department at The Albany Academy for more than 32 years, and began coaching in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association in 1979.
During the next 18 years, his teams went 335-113-14 -- including eight league championships and eight Section II championships.
He stepped down from his coaching position in 2009 having coached in more than 700 games for the Cadets and guiding them to 427 victories. A permanent plaque will be placed in his honor in the Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, NY. |
Academy alum returns home
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Mike Borisenok '06 (pictured at left), a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire, returned home in late March to compete in the NCAA Hockey East Regionals at the Times Union Center in Albany.
He has been an important member of the Hockey East regular-season champions at UNH, who competed in the NCAAs for the ninth straight season.
Mike was recruited by UNH, Union College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and several other ECAC Hockey and Hockey East schools but said that he visited UNH early in the recruiting process and immediately fell in love with the school. |
International Festival celebrates diversity!
The Silipigno Athletic Facility on the AAG campus was hopping on March 27 as more than 500 families from throughout the Capital Region came together for the Second Annual International Taste of the World Festival. Even some of our alumni/ae from the area joined us for what was a very special event.
Thirty families representing more than 20 countries and cultures proudly volunteered to take part in the festival, which featured cuisine, dance demonstrations and cultural displays.
Special thanks to World Languages Department Chair Donna Keegan and our many parent, faculty & student volunteers for planning and organizing the event. Plans are already underway for next year's event so mark your calendars for March 2011!
Academy delegation heads to China!
Head of School Dr. Douglas North '58, Director of Admissions Bramble Buran and a large contingent of Academy students, parents and faculty members spent their Spring Break on a 10-day cultural excursion to China.
The goal of the trip was to further open doors between Academy students and their Chinese peers as well as foster new partnerships for international students at our school. Dr. North and Ms. Buran met with several schools, families and students to introduce them to The Albany Academies and our International Program.
World Languages Department Chair Donna Keegan kept an ongoing blog during the trip featuring photos, stories and much more.
READ THE CHINA TRIP BLOG.
4th grade girls celebrate tradition
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Our 4th grade girls took part in a longstanding AAG tradition as they presented their annual play to Lower School students and families on March 3 in the AAG Auditorium.
This year's play was set up as a mock talk show featuring classic fairy tale characters such as Cinderella, Jiminy Cricket and Snow White.
The girls developed their own characters, memorized their lines, created the set and scenery and put together the costumes, props and program.
The girls spent weeks working with faculty members Sandra Miorin & Ann Morris to present the unique production. |
IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS
Boston Regional Gathering -- April 21
All alumnae and alumni in the Boston, MA area are invited to our Regional Gathering to welcome Head of School Dr. Douglas North '58 on Wednesday, April 21 from 6-8 p.m.
The event will be graciously hosted by Susan Pioli '70. This will be a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and find out what is going on at the Academies!
Please RSVP by Friday, April 16 to the Office of Alumni/ae Relations at (518) 429-2432 or collins-schroedera@albanyacademies.org.
Register now for Spring Gathering 2010!
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Our Office of Institutional Advancement recently sent our a number of e-blasts regarding Spring Gathering 2010 set for Saturday, April 17 at The Franklin Plaza in downtown Troy.
The event will feature an exciting variety of silent & live auctions featuring items such as a shopping spree at Stuyvesant Plaza, a golf outing for four at the breathtaking Mohawk Golf Club, a one of a kind birthday party for a young girl and a Vermont Garden Cart full of unique gardening items. We hope that can you join us! |
Please RSVP for Spring Gathering 2010 by this Friday, April 9.
REGISTER ONLINE FOR SPRING GATHERING 2010.
For more information, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (518) 429-2432 or
collins-schroedera@albanyacademies.org.
Evening of the Arts -- April 28 & 30
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We encourage all of our alumni/ae to return to the Academies for our AA & AAG "Evening of the Arts" events set for Wednesday, April 28 and Friday, April 30, respectively.
Both events will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature individual and group performances. Following the AA Art Show will be an Upper School Band & Chorus performance; following the AAG Art Show will be a Middle & Upper School Dance performance. |
We also encourage all alumni/ae to attend the Lower School Art Show & Concert on Friday, May 7 beginning at 1 p.m. on both the AAG & AA campuses. In addition, we will be holding a Middle School Band, Strings & Choral Performance on Wednesday, May 12 at 2 p.m. for Grades 5 & 6 on the AA campus and at 6:30 p.m. for Grades 7 & 8 on the AA campus. Hope to see you there!
Albany Children's Book Festival -- May 15
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Please join us at the upcoming Albany Children's Book Festival set for Saturday, May 15 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the AAG campus.
This fantastic community event will feature nearly 40 children's and young adult authors and illustrators to participate in the festival, along with book sales and signings, workshops and activities for children, and more.
The event is free and open to the public. Bring your grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews and other family members for what is sure to be a fantastic community event. |
A special website for the book festival has been created at www.albanychildrensbookfestival.com.
In addition, for those who live in the Capital Region, watch for our billboards going up next week to promote the event!
Many thanks to our sponsors of the Book Festival, including Austin & Co., Aviemore, CDPHP, The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, Drs. Decker, Sbuttoni, Boghosian, DiCerbo & Lawless, M & T Bank, AAPA, The Book House, MM Hayes, SEFCU, Shalimar Restaurant and the Spotlight Newspapers.
PICTURE BOOK WRITING CONTEST GUIDELINES
BECOME A FACEBOOK FAN OF THE FESTIVAL!
Reunion 2010 -- May 21 & 22
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You should have recently received your printed Reunion 2010 invitation in the mail detailing many of the featured events, including a Cocktail Party in The Buttery on Friday night for the entire AAG & AA community, Reunion Rally, alumni/ae lunches on Saturday and class specific events on Saturday afternoon and evening.
We continue to add class activities to the schedule so make sure to check out the link below for detailed information about your Reunion class! |
REGISTER ONLINE FOR REUNION 2010.
CLASS SCHEDULE & HOTEL INFORMATION
Gear up for Summer Camp 2010!
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Do you have a child, grandchild, niece or nephew looking to gain driving experience from a well-respected staff of instructors? If so, you will want to sign them up for our Drivers Education Course as part of Summer Camp 2010 at the Academies!
If you or someone you know would like a printed brochure, please contact Director of External Affairs Ann Wendth at (518) 429-2385 or wendtha@albanyacademies.org. |
SUMMER CAMP 2010 BROCHURE
SUMMER CAMP 2010 REGISTRATION FORM
REGISTER ONLINE FOR SUMMER CAMP 2010.
Legacy of Dreams -- June 19
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All alumni/ae are encouraged to save the date for the 2010 Legacy of Dreams set for Saturday, June 19 at the Fort Orange Club.
All proceeds from this event benefit the athletic programs at Albany Academy for Girls & The Albany Academy, allowing our students to have an outstanding educational experience. |
Stay tuned for more information in the May alumni/ae electronic newsletter!
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
AAG Athletic Hall of Fame
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There is still time remaining to nominate a worthy athlete, team or coach for the inaugural class of the Albany Academy for Girls Alumnae Association Athletic Hall of Fame. These deserving individuals will be inducted during Homecoming 2010. If you know of an AAG athlete who should be recognized for her outstanding athletic accomplishments, please take the time to nominate her!
AAG ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM |
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Alumni/ae Relations at (518) 429-2432 or
collins-schroedera@albanyacademies.org.
Join the social networking age!
Are you a member of our Online Community & Facebook? If not, now is the time to join! Stay connected with the community and learn about upcoming programs, events and more!
REGISTER FOR THE ONLINE COMMUNITY.
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
If you have any questions or comments about this electronic newsletter, please contact Ann Wendth, Director of External Relations, at (518) 429-2385 or wendtha@albanyacademies.org, or Adam Doling, Communications Associate, at (518) 429-2344 or dolinga@albanyacademies.org.
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2010-2011 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
SPRING/SUMMER 2010 ISSUE OF A2 ACADEMIES MAGAZINE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Stay up to date with our Online Calendar
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