USM Today Fall 2015

EXPLORING
USM’s Internship and
Shadowing Program
HOMECOMING
2015
ENGAGEMENT
IS KEY IN MIDDLE
SCHOOL DRAMA
FACULTY
MEMBERS
THINK BIG
STUDENTS PARTNER
WITH MILWAUKEE’S
AMANI NEIGHBORHOOD
FALL 2015

34
Students Partner
with Milwaukee’s
Amani Neighborhood
38
Inside the Tessa
Nowakowski ’10
Memorial Field
Hockey Game
14
Engagement Is Key
in Middle School Drama
08
Exploring the Internship
and Shadowing Program
06
Homecoming 2015
02 Head of School Message
04 Events Around Campus
16 USM Faculty Members
Think Big
19 A Greater USM
22 Alumni Profiles
28 In Memoriam
29 Class Notes
32 New Campus Hive Allows
Students to “Bee Educated”
36 Filmmaking Talents Thrive
in Upper School
40 A Look Back
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Introducing the 2015-2016
Board of Trustees
24 Reunion Weekend 2015
31 Parents’ Association
in this issue
USM TODAY
USM Today is published by University School of Milwaukee
three times per year. USM is an independent, coeducational,
college preparatory day school for students from prekindergarten
through grade 12. Our editorial staff has made every attempt to
ensure the accuracy of information reported and we apologize
for any inadvertent errors that may have occurred.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Tim Eilbes
Director of Marketing and Communications
MANAGING EDITOR
Ryan Cardarella
Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN
McDill Design
PHOTOGRAPHY
James Schnepf
Visual Image Photography
Correction:
In the Spring 2015 issue of USM Today, Jordan Puetz ’20
was incorrectly omitted from the list of qualifiers for the
State Solo Ensemble Festival, which took place on
April 25. We apologize for the error.
2015-2016 LEADERSHIP
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Laura J. Fuller
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL
Gregg Bach
HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
Stuart Cushman
HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
Pamela Nosbusch
HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL
Michael Tauscher
PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Richard J. Seesel
PRESIDENT, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD
James G. O’Reilly ’78
PRESIDENT, PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Molly Kubly Fritz ’80
To change your address or unsubscribe from the USM Today
mailing list, please contact the USM Advancement Department
at 414.540.3339 or usmadvancement@usmk12.org.
It was a whirlwind two days of innovative learning,
sharing, and networking at
Summer
Spark 2015.University School of Milwaukee extends a huge thank-you to the more than 200 participants
from more than 80 schools across the country (and a few from other countries!) who
joined us for this inaugural two-day innovation symposium.
Save the Dates for 2016! June 13 and 14
Join us for Summer Spark 2016, featuring keynote speaker George Couros, the Division
Principal for Parkland School Division and an innovative teaching, learning, and leadership
consultant. You won’t want to miss it! Visit www.usmk12.org/summerspark for additional
updates and information.
Cover: Left Arvind Goday ’16 and Lexie Van Den
Heuvel ’16 examine Internship and Shadowing
Program offerings in Mellowes Hall.

2015-2016 Board of Trustees
USM Welcomes New Trustees
Melanie
Booth
OCCUPATION
Former Regional Director
of Public Relations for Hyatt
Hotels and Director of Public
Relations for the Four Seasons
Hotel Chicago
BOARD COMMITTEES
Athletics; Facilities;
Auxiliary Revenue
Michael C.
Williams
’70
OCCUPATION
Chief Deputy, United States
District Court—Eastern District
of Wisconsin
BOARD COMMITTEES
Athletics; Facilities;
Auxiliary Revenue
Catherine
Robinson
OCCUPATION
Retired attorney, member
of the Milwaukee Repertory
Theater’s Executive Committee
BOARD COMMITTEES
Advancement and Community
Relations; Finance
Board of Trustees
Front from left Sangeeta Khanna,
Karen Huffman, Sarah Zimmerman ’92,
Stephen F. Geimer ’78, Board of
Trustees President Richard J. Seesel,
Head of School Laura J. Fuller,
Andrew A. Petzold, Catherine
Robinson, Melanie Booth, and Karin
Werner. Back from left Michael C.
Williams ’70, Stephen Guy, Erskine
Tucker Jr. ’79, Edie Turnbull, Parents’
Association President Molly Fritz ’80,
Gregory Smith, Michael Grebe ’85,
Jon Hopkins, and Frederick P.
Stratton III ’92. Not pictured Deanna
Doerr, R. David Fritz ’81, Dr. Patricia
Hoben, Tamora Martin, Charles
Mellowes ’87, Linda Mutschler,
and Marina Rosenberg.
USM TODAY | FALL 20152 3
HEAD OF SCHOOL LAURA FULLER
One of the truly great things about my role is that I get
to have and be part of so many conversations with both
current parents and parents of our alumni about just how
impactful a USM education has been for their children.
There is nothing more rewarding than hearing about the
many successes of our students and graduates. It is also
gratifying that so many of these success stories involve
students whose families made the decision to enroll their
children here as early as 1st grade or even our Preprimary
Program grades. These “lifers” carry with them the full
experience of their USM education in everything they
do in life.
While we know the value and importance of adding
outstanding, well-rounded students in each division
every year, I believe there is definitely an advantage to
“getting in on the ground floor” and experiencing our full
curriculum as it builds upon itself, grade after grade, year
after year. The students whom we add to each class
every year have more than earned their place at USM,
and they bring their own unique backgrounds, learning,
and experiences with them and add greatly to our
community. They are also quickly welcomed to the
School community, forming new friendships in the
classrooms, on the playing fields, and outside of school.
However, there is something very special about the overall
experience had by a student who has spent 12-15 years
on this campus, in our classrooms, and with our faculty.
One of the things we have been talking about in recent
months is how to also educate the greater Milwaukee
community about our entire continuum of education, and
the value of starting a USM education as early as possible.
Especially as the waiting lists for our Upper School
grades–and now, even our Middle School grades–
continue to grow, it is even more imperative that we share
all of the exciting and transformative opportunities that
our youngest students experience with the wider
community. As we enter the third year of our Strategic
Plan, even more of our lofty plans are becoming real in all
three of our divisions. These developments continue to
add value to the full USM educational experience, and
I invite you to read about our continued progress in the
Strategic Plan update document included with this issue.
Finally, I am excited to be able to recognize and thank
those who have supported the School financially this
past school year in our 2014-2015 Annual Advancement
Report insert included in this issue. We are a fortunate
community indeed to have the support required to
continually invest in our students and their futures. As we
have continued moving our Strategic Plan and other
educational priorities forward, we have also been
discussing the funding needs for implementation and
sustainability. You will be hearing more about our plans in
the months and years ahead as we look to enhance critical
areas of School life and continue to “think big” across our
curriculum, and in the greater Milwaukee community and
beyond. This work will yield significant academic returns
and long-lasting value to the School and our students,
while extending the spirit of community that is our
common bond and is so central to our mission. I am
excited to begin sharing more about those plans as we
continue to move them forward.

4 USM TODAY | FALL 20154 5
events around
campus
OPENING DAY 2015
In August, the School joined together outside in the main
circle to formally commence the 2015-2016 school year.
Seniors entered the circle hand-in-hand with their senior
kindergarten friends; class prefects delivered speeches
on the meaning of this year’s Common Trust tenet of
trust; and Head of Middle School Pamela Nosbusch
rang the ceremonial first bell of the year. Moments later,
a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the foot of the
8th-grade stairs to indicate the start of their school year.
HOMECOMING MILK AND
COOKIES BREAK
Preprimary program students enjoyed a brief milk
and cookies break with their Upper School friends on
“Pajama Day” during Homecoming Week in September.
On this special all-School dress day, Upper School
students visited Preprimary classrooms with milk and
cookies while the younger students picked out a book for
their older counterparts to read during the morning gathering.
JUNIOR WILDCAT JAMBOREE
USM community members joined together in September
for the third annual Junior Wildcat Jamboree, a spirited
morning of athletics and family fun for Middle School
students and families. All fall Junior ’Cats athletic teams
(with the exception of 5th-grade football) were in action
around campus, while attendees enjoyed a variety
of Willie’s Corner concession items and a dunk tank
featuring several brave USM faculty members.
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
BACK-TO-SCHOOL COFFEE
Following the Opening Day Ceremony, the USM Parents’
Association welcomed families to campus with their annual
Back-to-School Coffee. The coffee provides parents the
opportunity to connect with one another and learn more
about volunteer opportunities with the School.

Lower School students showcase
their excitement at the Homecoming
All-School Pep Rally.
USM TODAY | FALL 20156 USM TODAY | FALL 20156 7
USM administrators faced off in
a spirited tricycle race during the
Homecoming All-School Pep Rally.
Some younger Wildcats enjoyed
an inflatable slide at Willie’s Fall
Fun Fest.
The event featured Homecoming cheers from each class,
a terrific performance by the Upper School Pep Band,
a tricycle race featuring several USM administrators, a
traditional Hawaiian dance performance by Brook Uihlein ’18,
and a return appearance by FOX6 sports director Tom
Pipines. The rally was capped off by a dance competition
that pitted USM’s Willie the Wildcat against his mascot
friends Bernie Brewer, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Barrel Man,
Roscoe from the Milwaukee Admirals, and Gill from the
Lakeshore Chinooks. Powered by a supportive “home”
crowd, Willie was able to out-“Nae Nae” his competition
and was named Homecoming mascot dance champion
for the second consecutive year!
Evening events included a Homecoming BBQ, held outside
behind the Don Forti Stadium bleachers, where several
hundred Wildcat fans gathered for food and fun prior to
the Homecoming football game. The Wildcats rewarded the
raucous home crowd, defeating Kenosha Christian Life 16-6.
The festivities continued on Saturday morning with the
Blue and Gold 3K Fun Run/Walk. Entrants of all ages took
part in the run through USM’s scenic cross country trail,
while other participants opted for the walk around the
Tom “Butch” Richardson Track. Meanwhile, younger Wildcats
enjoyed a series of carnival games, including several bounce
houses, outside near the Upper School athletic fields at
Willie’s Fall Fun Fest.
Wildcat varsity athletes helped send Homecoming fans
home happy on Saturday morning, as field hockey routed
Living Word Lutheran 8-0 in the Tessa Nowakowski ’10
Memorial Field Hockey Game (see page 38 for additional
coverage), and boys’ soccer defeated St. Anthony 4-1.
Festivities concluded later that evening with the Upper
School Homecoming Dance.
homecoming
2015SEPTEMBER
25-26
Members of the University
School of Milwaukee
community visited campus
for a series of festive events
in celebration of Homecoming
2015 on Friday, September 25
and Saturday, September 26.
The week leading up to Homecoming weekend included
the traditional senior pep rally on September 18, an all-School
outdoor picnic lunch on Monday; a milk and cookies break
for Upper School and Preprimary students on Tuesday; and
Homecoming spirit dress days on each day leading up to the
weekend. The Homecoming All-School Pep Rally on Friday
kicked off the weekend festivities.

In an increasingly competitive college admissions application pro-
cess and job market, internship experience is a key differentiator.
While most students focus their career pursuits and apply for internships
during college, University School of Milwaukee Upper School students
are getting a valuable head start on their careers through the op-
portunities provided by USM’s Internship and Shadowing Program.
Since its inception in 2009, USM’s Internship and Shadowing Program has
provided summer opportunities for current juniors and seniors, connecting
students with seasoned professionals and providing them with hands-on
opportunities to gain valuable insights and explore possible career interests.
The program is currently one of the only in the country that offers such
opportunities to high school-aged students.
“After USM parent Bill Ardern created the program,
he asked me to join him and help grow and improve
it. We then took a close look at the few existing programs
in the U.S. and tried to extract the best aspects of those
programs,” said Julie Buchanan, USM parent, former
chair of the Internship and Shadowing Program
Committee, and current Committee member. “From
the start, we wanted the program to provide real-world
experience for students. The other big component of
this involved assembling a group of really talented and
dedicated parent volunteers. Without them, the program
never would have progressed the way that it has.”
Powered by a Committee that includes parents from
all three divisions and current and retired USM faculty
members with a broad range of previous experience,
the Program offers experiential learning opportunities
for nearly every interest.
Internship experiences range from two to 12 weeks
and cover a variety of areas including human resources,
finance, business, accounting, engineering, marketing,
corporate and criminal law, information technology,
and many more. Opportunities are posted in the Upper
School and on myUSM in mid-February and applications
are submitted throughout the spring.
In 2015, the Program placed USM students in a total
of 88 (up from 65 in 2014) internship or job-shadowing
experiences—including several opportunities at Fortune
500 organizations—that provide Upper School students
with a unique opportunity to bolster their résumés before
attending college.
The Program has also been valuable for students
as they prepare to apply for colleges and universities
and settle on a major. “Participation in the Program
has allowed students to approach the college selection
process and potential choice of major with much greater
clarity and confidence,” said Susan Bell Zarwell ’87,
USM’s director of college guidance. “Their applications’
supplementary essays and activity sections are richer
and more informative to admissions officers as a result.”
Following each internship experience, students and
participating organizations complete surveys that help
the Committee make decisions that will enhance the
Program. The Committee attributes the growth within
the Program to this formalized feedback process that
ensures continual improvement and informs the
direction of the Program.
“The feedback we receive has been really pivotal with
both employers and students in terms of how we shape
what we are doing and where we see gaps that can be
filled,” said Mimi Singer, USM parent and chair of the
Internship and Shadowing Program Committee.
8 USM TODAY | FALL 20158 9

Shadowing Opportunities
Help Shed Light
on Career Paths
While most shadowing experiences
last only a day, their impact can be
career-altering. Medicalandnon-medical
job shadowing experiences give students
theopportunitytospendadayobserving
practitioners in clinical or research
environments in their areas of interest.
In 2015, 22 students participated in
medical shadowing opportunities with
20 different specialties. These opportuni-
ties provide students with a first-hand
view of a specific career field and a forum
to ask questions of skilled workplace
professionals while still in Upper School.
“Students want to know about the
day-to-dayofaparticularcareer,andalso
what my decision-making process is,”
said Dr. Greg Watchmaker, an orthopedic
surgeon at the Milwaukee Hand Center
in Mequon, Wis. who had two USM
students shadow in 2015. “Students that
shadow get a more in-depth look into my
practice than almost anyone else.”
Other students engaged in non-medical
shadows and gained valuable
experience. Lexie Van Den Heuvel ’16
shadowed with Rachel Kruse, founder
and CEO of Organicville, a producer of
organic foods, beverages, and condiments.
During her shadow, Van Den Heuvel,
who operates her own non-profit,
learned a great deal about how to build
and grow a brand.
“She owns a growing business and I’m
trying to grow mine, so it was really great
tobeabletoexchangeideasandhaveher
as a contact.” Van Den Heuvel said.
“The session helped me with assessing interviewers
and the types of questions that they would be asking
me, and helped me write my résumé in a way that wasn’t
boring, too lengthy, or with facts that were not necessary,”
Ayren McGahee ’16 said. “It also helped me become
more professional and confident. I realized that a lot of
the things I’ve done in school are important for a résumé
and for what future employers will think of me.”
Students Gain Valuable
Real-World Work Experience
Jacob Van Den Heuvel ’15 and Arvind Goday ’16 were
drawn to the intimacy of an internship opportunity with
Airsan, a worldwide supplier of air filters in Milwaukee.
The students’ collective charge was to prepare a value
proposition for Airsan and present about what makes
the company special, and how the company could
differentiate itself from its competitors to key
stakeholders within the organization. Their research
project involved becoming immersed in each level of
the company, from initial customer service through
delivery of the product. At the end of the internship
experience, Van Den Heuvel even had the opportunity
to work alongside engineers in the shop, putting the
air filters together during a hands-on session.
“It was important for us that we were able to do
something of value for the company,” Goday said.
“Because Airsan is a smaller business, I was able
to do more and gain experience in every aspect of
the business.”
In addition to his internship with Airsan, Van Den Heuvel
also had the opportunity to pursue an internship in
finance with Balyasny Asset Management (BAM), an
investment firm in Chicago. While Van Den Heuvel
relished the opportunity to learn valuable skills in his
role with BAM, he found the connections forged
through the internship to be of most value.
“What you do at the internship certainly matters, but
get your work done, do it correctly, and then use the
rest of your time to talk to the people in the company,”
Van Den Heuvel said. “You have to put yourself out
there. Learning the skills is important, but building
relationships with people is the most important thing
you can do with your time at an internship.”
Van Den Heuvel established several contacts during
his time at BAM, and received several leads on future
internship opportunities for next summer through his
experience with the investment firm. He is currently
attending Babson College in Babson Park, Mass., and
plans to explore additional opportunities in the financial
sector following his freshman year.
Hayden Heun ’15 and Ayren McGahee ’16 pursued
internship opportunities with Harley-Davidson Motor
Company and were intrigued by the chance to work for
the iconic Milwaukee organization.
“I wanted to see how a big company functioned and
also get a taste for business,” Heun said.
Heun’s primary responsibilities included running human
resources reports and working on a large project that
aimed to increase the
efficiency of those reports.
While Heun still has interest
in a variety of areas including
physics and business, he
believes that the skills he
developed during his
internship experience will
serve him well in future
endeavors.
In recent years, internship and shadowing opportunities have become more
student-centric, as relationships grow between the School and participating
organizations. Singer noted that companies want students who are interested
in them, and many have tailored their internship experiences to allow students
to explore multiple areas of interest.
Developing Necessary Workforce Skills
Before students choose to apply for their selected internship or shadowing
opportunity, participation in a workforce training program is mandatory. During this
session, students build their résumés, learn how to answer typical interview questions,
and better understand how to talk about themselves in a professional environment.
These important skills challenge students to dig deep into their academic and
extracurricular experiences, particularly during the interview session, during which
a series of open-ended questions that mimic a traditional job interview are asked.
For most students, this training session represents their first exposure to many
job-related processes and provides invaluable teachable moments that prepare them
not only for their pending internship experiences, but also future job opportunities and
the college application process. Students are also asked to think of themselves as a
brand that future employers will continually evaluate.
“We talk about the fact that everything that is out there on the Internet, on social media,
is a reflection of who you are to a potential employer,” said Julie Gilpin, a USM parent,
Internship and Shadowing Program Committee member, and human resources
professional with more than 20 years of experience in the industry.
“The training gives students exposure to a workplace environment, and gives them a
frame of reference for the interview process. I think that a big advantage for them is
the comfort level they gain having gone through this process, often ahead of their
college interviews.”
In addition to leaving the training session with a professional résumé in hand, students
learn about a wide range of topics including proper social media conduct, acceptable
business attire, and tips for how to settle into their work environments. Other training
objectives include the creation of résumés and cover letters that highlight students’
accomplishments, establishing positive interviewing behaviors and effective ways for
students to differentiate themselves, and proper office etiquette. With some tweaks
throughout the years, the training has proved to be an effective way to help students
acclimate to their internship experiences. Hayden Heun ’15 conducts
some market research during
his Harley-Davidson internship.

“Getting to work for such a great organization, I was
able to make connections and also learn very valuable
skills that I can take with me to college and to future
jobs,” Heun said.
McGahee was attracted to her role by the organization’s
commitment to diversity and inclusion. In addition to
completing human resources tasks, McGahee also
wrote and edited web pages, helped organize several
events, and felt her confidence grow throughout her
experience as she contributed more to group
discussions and meetings.
“I’m a fairly introverted person, and this experience
helped me become more extroverted in terms of
sharing my ideas and demonstrating value to my boss,”
McGahee said. “Being in a professional environment
and becoming comfortable with sharing my ideas was
very important to me.”
McGahee also credited her academic experience at USM
for providing some of the foundational skills that helped
prepare her for her internship with Harley-Davidson.
Program Also Fruitful for
Participating Employers
While the Internship and Shadowing Program has been
immensely rewarding for students, the organizational
partnerships have been fruitful for employers as well.
As previously mentioned, Harley-Davidson Motor
Company has offered several internship opportunities
to USM students in recent years, often bringing interns
back for subsequent opportunities. Harley has also
adjusted its internship experiences to better cater to
student interests, while still finding value in the work
performed for their organization.
“The mix we are striving for gives students enough of
a focus in a single area so that they can recognize the
impact they have on a specific department, but still
ensures that we are connecting them with other areas
of interest for that exposure within our organization,”
said Shanna Beanan, IGNITE program manager at
Harley-Davidson. Harley-Davidson’s IGNITE Program
develops talent through internships, co-ops, and
full-time rotational development programs.
Another meaningful, long-term relationship was
established with ManpowerGroup in 2012, and the
organization currently offers three internship
opportunities—in the areas of human resources, global
marketing, and global communications—to USM
students through the Program. Citing a vested interest
in identifying, recruiting, and retaining top talent in the
area, the partnership with USM has been a success for
the organization, as well as for the students that intern
for ManpowerGroup.
The identified goals for ManpowerGroup interns
include fostering personal development, helping them
to bolster their employability and prepare them for the
steps ahead in their respective careers, the obvious
desire to get work done, and the potential of grooming
interns for possible employment by the organization.
“We are a people-focused organization. Because of
the nature of our business, which is ultimately about
connecting people with honorable work, we feel very
passionate about youth employment issues and
connecting people with the skills they need in the
workforce,” said Mark Jelfs, former senior global
strategic communications professional with
ManpowerGroup. “But we also know that getting
that initial foot in the door can be difficult.”
Once USM students have been able to get that foot in
the door, Jelfs and his colleagues have been impressed
with their work. Charlie Burton ’15, Zoe Costomiris ’15,
and Elana Fishbaine ’15 excelled in the areas of global
marketing, global communications, and human
resources for ManpowerGroup
this past summer.
“The relationship has evolved
really well, and has been more
successful than I had imagined,”
Jelfs said. “We feel that these
students will be three steps
ahead in their next role.”
How to Get Involved
The success and growth of the
Internship and Shadowing Program
relies on the involvement of talented
and dedicated members of the USM
community. If you are interested in
sponsoring an internship or shadow-
ing opportunity or learning more
about the program, please contact
a member of the Internship and
Shadowing Program Committee.
NON-MEDICAL:
Bill Ardern
bardern@wi.rr.com
Randy Perry
rperry@ccreekpartners.com
Deb Pokel
debpokel@gmail.com
MEDICAL:
Christina Plzak
cplzak@gmail.com
From left, Zoe Costomiris ’15, USM parent
and ManpowerGroup Chief Executive
Officer Jonas Prising, Elana Fishbaine ’15
and Charlie Burton ’15.
Upper School students conduct interviews during an Internship and
Shadowing Program training session.
In addition to gaining valuable skills and experience in a professional environment,
internships also help students make key career decisions and help them determine
what their next roles should—or should not—be.
“My advice would be to apply for internships in multiple fields. The skills you learn will be
valuable, even if they aren’t for the field you end up studying in,” Heun said. “You may also
find you like something that you may never have considered as a career path before.”
Building Momentum for the Future
As the program continues to grow and incorporate additional organizations in more
varied fields, Singer can feel the momentum growing.
“The program is building energy across all divisions. I think that even parents of our
Preprimary students recognize the benefits of this, because they know that some day
their kids will be in Upper School and be able to take advantage of the breadth of
experience and opportunities that the employers provide,” Singer said. “People want
to be a part of an effort that makes a difference and invest in it. It’s been a rewarding
Program to be involved with.”
Singer also remarked that the Program will continue to use student feedback to inform
the kinds of opportunities they offer, and the Committee will use that data to find
additional organizations that are willing to tailor opportunities to students.
“It was definitely a worthwhile experience for me,” Goday said. “The ability to work
and conduct research on our own was really valuable, and my internship gave me
the opportunity to see how one facet of business really works.”

14 15USM TODAY | FALL 2015
In addition to helping students find their voices and develop
confidence in their abilities, Edwards hopes to accentuate
the many positives he sees as he “inherits a really strong
program.” He plans to have his students write, produce, and
direct a show on their own by the end of the school year, and
will also encourage students to get involved in the aspects
of design, lighting and staging, and marketing shows.
Edwards also wrote the curriculum for a new Middle School
debate elective over the summer that he is teaching this year.
The course emphasizes the art of argument and rhetoric,
and covers a number of social justice topics that coincide
with curriculum in other Middle School classes.
Debate competitions are planned for participating 7th-
and 8th-grade students for later in the school year, and
Edwards hopes that the program becomes a positive
segue for a debate program at USM.
“I’m excited about it. I love the idea of it and the class is going
really well so far,” Edwards said.
AccordingtoMarkEdwards,UniversitySchoolofMilwaukee’s
new Middle School Drama Teacher, just about everything
has an element of drama to it. “Lessons have always turned
into something theatrical for me, because it’s sort of a natural
extension of who I am,” Edwards said.
For Edwards, his experience in theatre began in college at
theUniversityofWisconsin-Madison,wherehestartedwriting
varieties and performed at several local community spaces.
“I always wanted to try it out and just fell in love with it,”
Edwards said. “I learned a great deal from my instructors
and people from local theatre spaces.”
Aftercompletinghisbachelor’sdegreeatWisconsin,Edwards
moved to San Francisco, where he started his own theatre
company,putonshows,andpromotedartistsandlivemusic.
“I was able to use that experience as a vehicle to write a lot
of original stuff,” said Edwards, who has written more than
30 original plays and musicals over the past 17 years.
Edwards transitioned to his role in education following a stint
with the Peace Corps in Suriname during which he taught
middle school-aged students and put on several plays in
their native language. Upon his return to the U.S. eight years
ago, he embarked on an educational career by starting and
runningthetheatreprogramintheSt.FrancisSchoolDistrict,
before making the move to University School of Milwaukee.
Much of Edwards’ work at the beginning of the school year
is to help students step out of their shells and to learn more
about themselves. The theme of the school year in Edwards’
classes is for students to take risks and for each student to
embrace his or her individuality, with the understanding that
every voice is going to be different and unique.
“A lot of theatre is about finding your voice and letting that
out,” Edwards said. “One of the things I try to impart on my
students is to let their personalities out and help them find
their confidence in whatever they may be doing, whether it
bepublicspeaking,collaborating,orworkinginsmallgroups.
Theatre fits into each of those realms.”
Engagement is key
for Middle School
Drama Teacher
Mark Edwards,
and nothing has
ever been quite as
engaging for the
educator than
the theatre.
“One of the things I try to impart
on my students is to let their
personalities out and help them
find their confidence in whatever
they may be doing, whether it be
public speaking, collaborating,
or working in small groups.”

Upper School History Teacher
Rishi Raghunathan works with
colleagues at the Leadership Lab
at Fountain Valley School.
Leadership Lab at
Fountain Valley School
This week-long Leadership Lab in Colorado Springs, Colo.
was presented by the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute,
an organization dedicated to researching, developing, and
disseminating a pedagogy of leadership drawn from research
based methods, brain science, psychology, teaching,
and learning.
The lab was attended by Upper School History Teacher
Rishi Raghunathan, Upper School English Teacher Emily
Ihrke, Middle School English Teacher Brad Dunning, and
Lower School Physical Education Teacher Jane Keily, who
joined 55 other educators from independent schools from
across the country.
Each day featured intensive study of the topic of teaching
leadership, as attendees heard from leaders in the field and
practiced their new skills in lab groups. Continuing their lab
work at USM, the group has committed to promoting a culture
of leadership at the school through a series of Leadership
Forums, where attendees share their major takeaways from
the Leadership Lab and lead discussions on how to embed
a culture of leadership at USM among students, faculty, and
staff. The Lab also helped reinforce USM’s definition of
leadership and affirmed the School’s direction in fostering
and developing leadership across all divisions.
“The Institute really validated our definition of leadership—
being student-first, allowing students to take risks and
learn from them, giving them multiple opportunities to fail
and develop—and backed it up with scientific research,”
Raghunathan said. “We feel very lucky to be where we are
in terms of leadership development and to have the support
of the School through the Think Big grant. The Lab gave us
the confidence to push forward, and really empowered us.”
The group is also excited to welcome several colleagues
from the Leadership Lab to campus during the upcoming
school year as relationships with other independent schools
continue to grow.
Greg Duncan Visits USM
USM welcomed world-renowned world languages expert
Greg Duncan to campus in May 2015 to review the results
of STAMP, an external oral proficiency test administered
to students in grades 7-12 in April, and to offer a two-day
workshop on proficiency-based assessments, one of the
School’s 2015 C.A.R.P. goals.
USM’s World Languages Department has identified training
and developing all department members in proficiency-
based teaching and assessment as important next steps in
establishing the School as a place where every student is
provided with the opportunity to achieve an advanced level
of skill in a second language.
“One important takeaway from our work with Greg Duncan
was that plotting out a K-12 curriculum, though not an easy
task, is worth the effort,” said Upper School Spanish Teacher
Jean Plum. “Colleagues learn a lot about each other and
about the essential nature of their craft. It may take time to
complete the work begun during our workshop with Greg,
but there is no greater reward than having a cohesive and
intentional curriculum that will help develop students who
are proficient in the target language.”
Duncan is the founder and president of InterPrep, a
company that provides assistance to schools and other
educational entities in matters related to foreign languages
and international education. He was also a longtime high
school Spanish teacher, and served as the department head
of the largest public school foreign language program in the
state of Georgia.
Students in Upper School Spanish Teacher Holly Morse’s class
deliver a presentation with new World Languages Department
proficiency levels in the background.
Constructing Modern
Knowledge Conference
USM faculty members from each division attended the
Constructing Modern Knowledge Conference in Manchester,
N.H. in July. The conference was described as “a minds-on
institute for educators committed to creativity, collaboration,
and computing,” and was hosted by Gary Stager, Ph.D., the
author of “Invent to Learn,” one of USM’s summer development
reading options. Participants engaged with peers, guest
speakers, and a world-class faculty on computer-rich project
development that focused on hands-on learning.
Each day’s program consists of a discussion of powerful
ideas, on-demand mini tutorials, immersive learning
adventures designed to challenge one’s thinking,
substantial time for project work, and a reflection period.
“The conference experience, no matter what project a
group tackled, fostered the core skills anyone needs to
develop a successful project,” said Elaine Griffin, assistant
head of Upper School. “We collaborated on our project
idea and design; communicated through the obstacles we
encountered to collectively trouble shoot problems; and
used critical thinking throughout the process to learn how
to integrate technology that was new to us.”
The conference was attended by Gina Bongiorno, Patti Ptak,
Bonnie Seidel, and JoAnne Williamson in the Lower School;
Nicola De Torre, Brad Dunning, and Tom Mussoline of the
Middle School; and Penny Greene, Elaine Griffin, Drew Mullen,
and Nikki Lucyk of the Upper School.
Faculty Members “Think Big” in Pursuit
of Professional Development
Middle School Science Teacher Nicola De Torre and Middle School Technology
Coordinator Tom Mussoline are hard at work at the Constructing Modern
Knowledge Conference.
University School of Milwaukee takes pride in its long-standing academic reputation and the rigorous
curriculum that it offers students.
Thanks to the generosity of a USM family during the Next Generation Campaign, the Think Big Fund was
established as a named fund in USM’s Endowment as a way to provide substantial professional development
opportunities for faculty members on an annual basis, distinguishing the School from its peers.
This past summer, the Think Big Fund supported an assortment of opportunities, including the following
experiences that have allowed participating faculty members to bring valuable ideas, skills, and perspectives
back to the students in their classrooms.

Another enduring tradition of excellence at USM is charitable support. Many types
of gifts will benefit USM students for generations to come. Consider exploring:
A gift that costs you nothing now.
Name USM as a beneficiary in
your will, or as the beneficiary
of a life insurance policy or
a retirement account.
A gift that provides income to you
or other family members and
benefits USM later.
Establish a charitable gift annuity or
set up a charitable remainder trust.
A gift that protects assets
by providing support for USM
now, then directs those assets
to family members later.
Set up a charitable lead trust.
Do your charitable goals include supporting
the future of University School of Milwaukee?
USM provides an exceptional education. Graduates are well-prepared to be leaders at top colleges
anduniversities,intheirchosenprofessionalfields,andintheircommunities.Eachstudentaddsto
a tradition of excellence—begun at Milwaukee Country Day School, Milwaukee Downer Seminary,
and Milwaukee University School—and enduring now for more than 50 years at USM.
To learn more about these and other charitable planned giving opportunities, please contact
Steve Farwig ’75, director of major and planned gifts, at 414.540.3333 or sfarwig@usmk12.org.
A Greater USM
This year, USM’s annual giving program has a new name—the USM Fund. The
USM Fund is one of our School’s most important fundraising vehicles, providing
approximately five percent of USM’s annual operating budget. The funds received
enhance nearly every area of the School, including students, faculty and staff,
program support, facilities and maintenance, and financial aid.
The USM Fund allows us to go the extra mile by supporting initiatives like leadership
development, experiential learning, the latest and best in faculty development, and
Strategic Plan initiatives.
2015-2016
USM Fund Cabinet
Members of the USM Fund
Cabinet are ambassadors
of the annual giving effort.
These volunteer leaders work
together to solicit support
for the School from parents,
grandparents, faculty and staff,
alumni, parents of alumni, and
friends. Together, they help
us create a greater USM!
Co-Chairs
Tami Martin
Margy Stratton Norman ’84
Grandparent Division Co-Chairs
Carol and Bob Puetz
Alumni Division Chair
Burt Bartlett ’74
Parent of Alumni Co-Chairs
Pamela Shovers
Michael C. Williams ’70
Faculty and Staff Division
Lower School
Patti Ptak
Middle School
Mike Schwieters
Upper School
Rebecca Schwartz
Administrative Staff
Julie Piwowarczyk
Tami Martin
“Dollars raised through the USM Fund
are a critical part of the USM budget.
Every area of our School would receive
less funding if the USM Fund didn’t exist,
including our students, our classrooms,
our teachers, our athletic programs…the
list goes on. And if we didn’t have the
USM Fund, tuition rates would have to be
higher to cover these expenses. No gift
to the USM Fund is too small, and what’s
important is that our community comes
together to support our School. The
community, with the involvement of the
parents, and the outstanding opportunities
are what makes this place great. That’s
what makes a greater USM.”
Tami and her husband Bruce are the parents
of Bethany ’26 and Blakely ’20. She has also
been a member of the USM Board of Trustees
for two years.
Margy Stratton Norman ’84
“The many fond memories I have of my
years at USM are why my husband Greg
and I send our children to USM. I cannot
imagine them learning anywhere else
at this wonderful time in their lives! The
USM Fund supports the very types of
experiences that inspired me and that
foster lifelong intellectual curiosity. By
serving in this role, I hope to help ensure
that the students at USM come away
from this great place with a deep love
of learning and fond memories of
their own.”
Margy and her husband Greg Norman are the
parents of Ellie ’19, Mimi ’21, and Annie ’25.
USM Fund Co-Chairs

2120 USM TODAY | FALL 2015
The USM Fund—
it’s really quite
simple. USM’s annual giving program is now
called the USM Fund. What is the USM
Fund? We asked one of the most curious
minds on our campus to help us figure it
out. Quite simply, it’s a fund consisting of
annual gifts from parents, grandparents,
alumni, faculty, staff, and other friends
of the School that support every area
of USM life. Field trips, theater, sports,
facilities, custodial, School nurses, music,
art, teachers, science, technology, and so
much more are enhanced annually by
your gifts. It may have a new name this
year, but the USM Fund still supports
all the things we love about our School.
It’s not complicated. Your gift, simply
put, equals a greater USM.
Make your gift today!
www.usmk12.org/usmfund
Artwork by
Bob Geniusz,
Lower School
art teacher
Quinn
Hammerlund
’23

Allison Stephens ’81
Family Legacy of
Teaching Continuesfor Allison Stephens ’81
It wasn’t always so clear to Allison Stephens ’81 that she
would one day follow in the teaching footsteps of her family,
but after brief dalliances in retail management and development,
she found the same calling that her mother, father, and two of
her siblings had—as educators.
Stephens, the eldest of four siblings, joined the teaching
ranks along with brother John ’83, who currently serves as
the Head of Middle School at Fort Worth (Texas) Country
Day School; and Stephanie Stephens Sutton ’87, who teaches
in the History Department at Latin School of Chicago. She
warmly attributes her interests to her parents, and points to
the strong academic focus of her childhood at USM as
paramount to her career.
“It all comes together through my dad,” Stephens said
of her father, longtime University School of Milwaukee and
Milwaukee Country Day School faculty member John “J.S.”
Stephens. “But both of my parents were very influential in my
academic orientation and development. Reflecting on it as an
adult, I realize now how much of an academic focus we had
as a family, and how important it was to be smart.”
Now in her 27th year of teaching history and English
at Mercersburg Academy (Penn.), Stephens’ academic
focus began to shift in 2004, when she spent the school
year teaching English literature in Rennes, France as part
of School Year Abroad, a program that has hosted several
USM students. In 2007, she traveled to Oman and Israel with a
group of Mercersburg students. That experience compelled
Stephens to develop a Middle Eastern history course that
helps provide Mercersburg students with the background and
foundation necessary to understand the issues of the region.
It also paved the way for Stephens’ most comprehensive
teaching abroad experience in 2014, when she traveled to
Afghanistan to help with the establishment of the School
of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), an all-girls boarding
school in Kabul.
Inspired by SOLA’s academic mission “to help Afghan
women that demonstrate exceptional intellectual and
leadership qualities gain access to education at the most
competitive schools available to any woman, anywhere,”
as well as by a lecture by the school’s founder which
she attended, Stephens was immediately compelled
to get involved.
“I was ready to undertake something that was challenging
and pushed me out of my comfort zone, and the experience
allowed me to bring something meaningful back to my
students at Mercersburg,” Stephens said.
Teaching at the Afghan school presented a unique
challenge for Stephens and her team, as they were charged
with developing a collaborative program of teacher training
that focused on student-centered education—a philosophy
that differed greatly from traditional Afghan academic pedagogy.
“The experience was amazing, and terrifying,” Stephens said.
“We had to make it work across the culture and across language
barriers. Communication was hard, but also incredibly
rewarding when we felt we were accomplishing things.”
Due to security concerns, SOLA was forced to temporarily
close last year, but current plans are for the school to reopen
in the near future. Stephens is still in contact with educators
and administrators from SOLA, and she hopes to eventually
return to the school after it reopens.
As Stephens continues to grow and evolve as an educator,
she still reflects fondly on her USM experiences as part of
what brought her back to the classroom.
“The faculty at USM were my family and my community,”
Stephens said. “Because of the influence and the care of
the people I grew up with, their commitment to their work,
and the enthusiasm they brought to their classrooms;
I think that is what helped me decide to return to a
school community.”
American playwright Tennessee Williams. The film is told
through the eyes of Williams’ brother Dakin, who still
suspects foul play in Tennessee’s death in 1983.
“Out of anything in my career that I’ve written, this
screenplay is what I’m most proud of,” Chapman said
of his script for Tenn.
Looking back on his career, Chapman is thankful for
the many mentors he had as a young writer at Paramount
and Universal Studios, where he learned the ropes as he
contributed to several television shows. He also reflected
fondly on many Milwaukee Country Day School (MCD)
and University School of Milwaukee faculty members
that he credits for much of his creative development
and the ability to execute his ideas.
Chapman acknowledged former English Teacher Peter
Straub MCD’61 for opening him up to creative writing and
appreciating the written word, former History Teacher John
“J.S.” Stephens for his interest in history and critical thinking
ability, and former Latin Teacher Elizabeth Brozovich for helping
him learn the language that is the basis of all wordplay.
“We received a college education from top-flight
university-level educators before we went to college,”
Chapman said. “Those were charmed years, and I’m able to
call back on that as a reservoir for characters and stories.”
As a veteran screenwriter and producer with credits
that include “My Fellow Americans,” “Live From Baghdad,”
and “Thank You For Smoking,” and screenplays written
for Hollywood luminaries such as Mel Gibson and Sandra
Bullock, Richard Chapman ’68 now finds pleasure working
with a different group of people—his students.
In the midst of a career that has seen Chapman write,
create, and produce more than two hundred hours of
network series, more that 20 motion picture screenplays,
and a full-length documentary, Chapman has shifted his
focus to teaching. He briefly taught a screenwriting course
at Northwestern University before accepting a teaching role
at Washington University in St. Louis, where he has taught
screenwriting and advanced screenwriting for the past 15
years. He also occasionally teaches a course in episodic
television writing at the college.
“The rewarding part for me is that I’m able to pass on some
of my wisdom to the next generation of creative people coming
up—all of my experiences creatively as well as professionally,”
Chapman said. “I have a lot of fun doing this.”
Part of the fun for Chapman is keeping up with his
students, something that helps keep his writing sharp.
“I think that I get as much out of working with my students
as I give,” Chapman said. “It keeps me current, because if
you are out of touch with the different generations, especially
as a writer, you are not going to have authentic dialogue.”
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Chapman
continues to work on two upcoming projects, including a
Broadway adaptation of the popular 1960s television show
“Green Acres,” and “Tenn,” a film on the life and death of
Richard Chapman ’68 (middle) with Fred Astaire (right)
on the set of “The Amazing Dobermans” in 1976.
Career Comes
Full Circlefor Screenwriting Veteran Richard Chapman ’68
Chief Advancement Officer Patrick Tevlin
with Chapman.

Stephanie Ghoston ’05 finds her name among
other lifers on the USM Tower wall.
Thursday and Friday
Events
Alumni were welcomed back to campus on
Friday, September 25 to experience a day in
the life of a current student. Campus tours were
led by students and current faculty and staff
members, and included a trip to the top of the
School’s iconic tower, where alumni enjoyed a
beautiful view of campus. Following the tours,
alumni enjoyed an engaging political cartoon
presentation by former faculty member Steve
Bruemmer during lunch before heading out
to Ken Laird Field for the afternoon All-School
Homecoming Pep Rally.
During the evening, reunion classes joined
current USM families for food, fun, and fellowship
during an all-School BBQ in a special alumni tent
prior to the Homecoming football game.
From left Bob Ruesch, former USM boys’ varsity basketball coach, Curt Wuesthoff ’75, Ed Richardson ’75,
Carolyn Weigell Maples ’75, Kevin Delimat ’75, and Steve Farwig ’75, USM’s director of major and planned gifts.
Alumni explore the halls during a tour of campus on Friday.
Reunion Weekend
September 25-26, 2015
University School of Milwaukee alumni
returned to campus for Reunion Weekend
in September—reconnecting and reminiscing
with old friends and joining together with
members of the USM community in
celebration of Homecoming.
Melissa Lamote and Andy Gordon ’98 examine the3D printer in Upper School’s House of Technology.
Alumni and staff catch up in the halls with
Assistant Head of School Gregg Bach.
Kip Jacobs ’74 led a group of alumni into Karen’s Garden, where they interacted
with Preprimary students who were exploring this fall’s crop.
Former faculty member Steve Bruemmer treated alumni to one
of his famous political cartoon presentations during lunch on Friday.

From left Terry Anderson, Heidi Inbusch ’70,
Heidi Huebsch Anderson ’70, Susan Boynton
’70 and Andrea Topetzes Mann ’72.
From left Matthew Reuter, Kathryn Sarnoski-Reuter ’05,
Michelle Hevey ’07, and Matt Hevey ’05.
Back from left Augie Wilhelms ’10, Cassie Bence ’12,
Bridget Cashman ’10, and Lauren Schroeder ’10.
Front from left Carol Walker ’11 and Emily Schuett ’10.
Members of USM’s 1975 Division 2 WISAA State Champion boys’ soccer team,
joined by former head coach Tony Fritz, were recognized on Saturday morning.
From left Bridget Madigan ’95, Tyrone Crosby, Meshe Meminger
Crosby ’95, Cornelius Adetiba ’95, and Gina Adetiba.
Saturday Events
Continuing the festivities on Saturday morning, alumni joined the USM
community in the Blue and Gold 3K Fun Run/Walk through the cross
country trail while younger Wildcats enjoyed a series of fun outdoor
games and activities during Willie’s Fall Fun Fest.
Morning events also included the fifth-annual Tessa Nowakowski ’10
Memorial Varsity Field Hockey game, and a varsity boys’ soccer contest.
Several of Nowakowski’s teammates were on hand for the field hockey
game, which saw the Wildcats prevail 8-0 over Living Word Lutheran.
USM’s 1975 Division 2 WISAA State Champion boys’ soccer team was
also honored at halftime of the boys’ soccer game, as several members
of that title-winning group were recognized by the crowd. The morning
concluded with a picnic lunch, featuring food from Willie’s Corner,
behind Don Forti Stadium.
Reunion Weekend concluded with the annual Open House Cocktail
Reception held at the Milwaukee Country Club on Saturday evening
where alumni enjoyed a night of reconnecting with fellow classmates
and faculty members. Several milestone reunion classes also held
their class parties after the reception.
USM wishes to thank all alumni who participated in Reunion Weekend
2015. Be sure to save the date as Reunion Weekend 2016 moves back
to the summer, on June 24 and 25.
From left Lee Rochwerger ’65
and Mark Olson ’65.
Members of the Class of 2000 gather during Homecoming weekend.
From left Jean Schmidt Lindemann MDS’41, Dottie Dickens Mestier MDS’41,
Fengchi Chen, Nancy Norris, and Claire Phillips Greene MDS’41.

class notes
THE FOLLOWING PAGES INCLUDE NEWS AND NOTES SUBMITTED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 15, 2015.
40s
ALEXANDER L.
PATERNOTTE
MCD’40
“Here’s to fellow 75th-ers!”
JOHN S. RAMAKER
MCD’46
visited with Jake Hedding MCD’46 and
Joanie Waterman MDS’46 in April 2015
while in Arizona. He hopes to arrange
a 70th reunion in 2016.
50s
BARBARA TAYLOR
BLOMQUIST
MDS’50
Her latest book is “Embracing the
Adoption Effect”, published by Tate
Publishers in 2015. Its subtitle, “29 Stories
of Families Touched by Adoption,” alludes
to the result of deep, intense interviews
with adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive
parents who revealed secrets, frustrations,
and amazing love that is innate within the
adoption world. All revealed how adoption
positively and negatively affected their
lives. Their brutal honesty provided insight
into the strength, compassion, and coping
skills of these remarkable people.
Class of 1956
The following members of the Milwaukee
Downer Seminary Class of 1956 gathered
at the home of Patty Van Dyke Gardner
’56 for their 59th reunion: Mimi Lang
Mead, Patty Van Dyke Gardner, Shelley
Ott Kotovic, Pat Seyfert Geiger, Alicia
Auchter Mullins, Susan Momsen Sokol,
Shelia Hannan Kirscher, Valerie Brumder,
and Louise Trostel Hoffman. The group
looks forward to reconnecting for their
60th reunion in June.
60sClass of 1965
USM’s inaugural graduating Class
of 1965 gathered to celebrate its
50th Reunion over the summer
during events on June 26 and 27.
70s
CIA CHESTER MCKOY
’72
released her book “Poking Chocolates
Other Rude Habits” in January 2015.
The book is described as “tracking
the author as she bumps into the rich,
odd, and famous in search of the
sweet life.” More background is
available at pokingchocolates.com.
STEPHEN FARWIG
’75
was hired by University School of
Milwaukee as director of major and
planned gifts in September. Farwig
previously served as the director of
planned giving at Carroll University, and
also has prior advancement experience
at the Aurora Health Care Foundation,
Valparaiso University, Lutheran Social
Services, and Carthage College.
90s
WILL DARLING
’92
was featured in an August Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel profile that detailed
how he has utilized painting as a creative
outlet to help overcome difficulties with
substance abuse issues. He was the
featured artist at Rock the Arts, a benefit
for the Milwaukee advocacy organization
Vital Voices for Mental Health held at
Shank Hall.
L. KIERAN KIECKHEFER
’98
is a partner in the law firm of McDermott
Will Emery LLP based in the firm’s
Silicon Valley office. Her practice focuses
on patent, copyright, and trade secrets
law. Kieckhefer previously worked at
another top AmLaw 100 firm in Silicon
Valley. During that time, she participated
in nine trials involving patent, antitrust,
copyright, trade secrets, breach of
employment contracts, criminal, and
family law subject areas. She first-chaired
six of those nine trials and developed
substantial experience examining and
cross-examining a variety of expert and
fact witnesses. Kieckhefer has litigated
patent, copyright, and trade secret cases
in federal courts across the country, and
has a breadth of appellate experience
before the Ninth Circuit, the Federal
Circuit, and the United States Supreme
Court. Throughout her legal career, she
has been dedicated to the retention and
promotion of women in the intellectual
property field. Kieckhefer co-founded the
Retention of Women in Intellectual
Property taskforce and was actively
involved in the Successful Women in
Intellectual Property Forums. Kieran
received her J.D. from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. She
earned her B.S. in Mathematics from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
and is admitted to practice in California
and Wisconsin.
In Memoriam
University School of Milwaukee wishes to acknowledge and celebrate
the lives of our dearly departed alumni and friends. We thank them
for enriching our lives throughout their friendship.
1950s
Bettelou Backus Conte
MDS’50
August 22, 2015
Sarasota, Fla.
Barbara Polacheck
Blutstein
MUS’56
September 28, 2015
Milwaukee
1960s
Linda J. Secord
’65
June 28, 2015
San Marcos, Calif.
1970s
Robert C. Davis
’71
June 23, 2015
Brown Deer, Wis.
Arthur D. Elkon
’75
August 17, 2015
Shorewood, Wis.
FRIENDS
Phyllis J. Huffman
Grandmother of Bennett ’18
and Eleanor ’18; mother-in-law
of Board of Trustees member
Karen Huffman
October 2, 2015
Milwaukee
1930s
Nancy Conger Sukes
MUS’32
July 27, 2015
Milwaukee
Richard P. Matthews
MCD’38
February 1, 2015
West Trenton, N.J.
1940s
Gordon W. Butke
MUS’40
September 20, 2015
Wyoming, Ill.
Richard D. Cudahy
MCD’43
September 22, 2015
Winnetka, Ill.
Barbara Puls Medlock
MDS’43
February 19, 2015
Miramar Beach, Fla.
William D. Browne
MUS’44
October 5, 2015
Bayside, Wis.
Robert L. Deckert
MCD’44
August 16, 2015
Marco Island, Fla.
Richard Miller
MCD’45
October 4, 2015
Hudson, Wis.
Ralph H. Bluhm
MUS’47
August 7, 2015
Mequon, Wis.
Ruth Detienne Schinner
MUS’47
September 6, 2015
Sun Lake, Ariz.
Ellen Shaw Tufts
MDS’48
May 31, 2015
San Diego, Calif.
Merrill E. Taft
MCD’49
March 4, 2015
Oro Valley, Ariz.
Updated as of October 15, 2015.
Philip L. Stone MCD’45 passed away on September 24, 2015
at the age of 87. Additional coverage of his life and contributions
to University School of Milwaukee will appear in the Winter 2016
issue of USM Today.

My family’s association with University
School of Milwaukee goes back decades.
I graduated in 1980 and my husband,
David, graduated in 1981. (Yes, we are
high school sweethearts!) Each of my six
siblings attended or graduated from USM,
three of our children have graduated, and
we also have a junior, a freshman, and a
6th-grader currently at USM.
I am so proud to be serving as this year’s
Parents’ Association (PA) President. I
have been an active volunteer at USM,
but I had never held a position within
the PA until last year, and boy did I learn
a lot! I had no idea that our parents
volunteered more than 18,000 hours
of their collective time annually for the
School, and that two-thirds of those
hours go directly to support teachers,
administrators, students, and fellow
parents. The remaining third of our
volunteer hours go toward fundraising,
which is in turn reinvested in the School
to the tune of approximately $230,000
for capital improvements, events like
Grandparents and Special Friends
Day, and an activity or event for every
single grade from PK-12! I have also
learned of the collaboration, care,
and thoughtfulness that go into every
decision, change, activity, or event.
As a direct result of a survey the PA
sent out last November, I am excited
to introduce two new volunteer
opportunities, Power Hour and the PA
Guild, which were designed to involve
parents who don’t have a great deal of
spare time but still want to participate
either during or after school hours.
Another initiative is the creation of a
Community Coordinator position to help
parents build community at the School,
both among each other and with the
faculty, staff, and administrators. It is my
hope that these initiatives provide parents
with more opportunities to connect with
one another while also helping to foster
USM’s commitment to community. I have
met some of my closest friends working
side-by-side volunteering for USM and I
continue to meet new friends each year!
I look forward to continuing the school
year with such a dedicated and passionate
group of individuals. I encourage you to
get involved as I truly believe it is one of
the many opportunities that makes USM
so special!
Parents’ Association
Board 2015-2016
President
President-Elect
Susan Brennan
Treasurer
Yulia Jigalina
Secretary
Shelly Likosar
Preprimary Coordinator
Julie Sellars
Lower School Coordinator
Christine Kinyon
Middle School Coordinator
Stephanie Petersen
Upper School Coordinator
Lisa Gibb
Communications Coordinator
Cathie Torinus
Community Coordinator
Melissa Sheppard
Nominations Coordinator
Jen Darrow
Special Events Coordinator
Jane Lacy
Volunteer Coordinator
Jen Schoon
Parents’
Association
Committed to making
USM a special place
Parents’ Association President
Parents’ Association Board
Front from left Christine Kinyon, Jen Darrow, Cathie Torinus, Parents’ Association President Molly Kubly
Fritz ’80, Jen Schoon, Lisa Gibb, and Shelly Likosar. Back from left Patricia Kauffman, Julie Sellars,
Melissa Sheppard, Stephanie Petersen, Susan Brennan, Yulia Jigalina, and Jane Lacy.
00s
ERIC TAYLOR
’02
married Becca Schumann on July 18,
2015 in Racine, Wis. Taylor is a Milwaukee
firefighter/EMT and Becca is a hair stylist
at Moda Salon in Milwaukee’s Historic
Third Ward. They now reside in
Cedarburg, Wis.
CLAIRE DERMOND
CROFT
’03
and husband Tucker recently had a baby,
Eloise Thea Croft. She was born on May
29, 2015. Her aunt Christina Dermond ’06
couldn’t be more excited about having
a little niece. Eloise enjoyed spending
the month of August in Milwaukee, and
meeting her cousins Nico Dermond ’14,
Sophie Dermond ’15, Matias Dermond ’19,
and Fina Dermond ’21.
10s
KABIR S. GUPTA
’11
Kabir was on the Dean’s List of
USC in 2014 and is working at
Amazon as a software developer.
SHELBY M.
SINCLAIR
’11
was selected as a Baccalaureate
Student Speaker by Stanford
University’s Office for Religious
Life. Since 2005, a graduating senior
offers reflections into his or her own
spiritual journey while at Stanford,
including hopes and dreams for the
future for the entire class. Finalists
are chosen from the pool of
submissions and auditions are held
before a winner is selected. Sinclair,
who will be earning a Bachelor of
Arts in Comparative Studies in Race
and Ethnicity with Honors, with a
minor in history, is a Mellon Mays
Undergraduate Fellow, President of
the Stanford Black Student Union,
a member of the Stanford Public
Service Honors Society and a
recipient of the Dean’s Award for
Academic Excellence. She has
also been distinguished as a
recipient of the Coley, Black,
Crossfield Award for Exceptional
Academic Achievement, The Alumni
Association Award of Excellence,
and the prestigious Director’s Award.
On campus, Sinclair advocates for
education access by mentoring high
schoolers and serves as a diversity
outreach associate in the Office of
Undergraduate Admission.
EVENTS
ALUMN I
To submit a class note:
Email your news to alumni@usmk12.org
USM visits…
FLORIDA
Save the date for upcoming USM events in Naples,
Fla. at the residence of Michael and Billie Kubly on
February 9, and in Sarasota, Fla. at the residence
of Chris ’65 and Storm Elser on February 10.
SAN FRANCISCO CHICAGO
Be sure to check www.usmk12.org/alumni often
for event information and updates on USM visits
to San Francisco and Chicago this spring!
Varsity Club
Athletic Hall
of Fame
Save the date for the inaugural Varsity Club Athletic
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday,
October 1, 2016 during Homecoming weekend.
Look for additional details on the way in the
coming months!
Reunion
Weekend
Moves to
Summer 2016
Mark your calendars, as Reunion Weekend
is moving back to the summer. Plan to reconnect
and reminisce with us on June 24 and 25, and
watch for additional information coming soon!

new campus hive allows
students to “bee educated”
BY KIP JACOBS ’74
32 33USM TODAY | FALL 2015
it to “bee” a great idea, while others were not so thrilled. I knew that this
was going to be an excellent experiential educational project–people just
needed to “bee educated.”
The beekeeping staff arrived with a small hive of bees in a “harvest
box,” which resembles a larger BeePod. It was sealed and transported
to the campus site. We had set up our large BeePod, leveled it, and
then the fun began. Bradley talked to us about raising bees and why it
is important for us to understand them. He shared that the number of
hives across the nation are declining, and we need to keep bees and the
queen alive from one year to the next. The BeePod hive is very different
in design, scale, and concept than a traditional hive. He then opened
the harvest box and the bees started exiting the hive and flew in circles
above our heads. These flyers were checking to see where their hive
was in relation to the sun, and off they flew. Then we transferred the
comb bars to our BeePod and moved the harvest box close to the
USM’s BeePod so that the flyers would return to the hive with nectar
and honey. With that, USM had its first honey bee hive.
In the ensuing days, I was fortunate to take a nine-hour class on
beekeeping the BeePod way, and learned hundreds of new facts that I
never knew previously. I had to start thinking like a bee and become a
“pattern recognitionist,” and understand life from their point of view. For
the last three months, Judy and I have been monitoring the hive, doing
bimonthly inspections, and recording the progress of the hive. The hive
has doubled in size, and the bees are starting to make the honey that
they will need to make it through the cold Wisconsin winter. They are
busy. This has also given us the opportunity to show students the hive
and to begin to add this information as a part of the curriculum in both
the Lower School and the Middle School.
Kip Jacobs ’74 is a 7th-grade science teacher at University
School of Milwaukee.
I first thought about putting a beehive on campus while at
a STEM conference at the Italian Community Center. During
a break, I bumped into Noel Lukic-Kegel ’00, who told me
about a top bar beehive “pod” system that was really new
and different. Noel was working on an organic farm and said
the bees were calmer and easier to work with around the
hive. It fascinated me that you could be this close to bees.
In April of 2015, I received an email from a School parent
about BeePods, a start-up company. She had met with
Bradley James, one of the developers of the business, so
I emailed him and he agreed to come to campus to look
for a possible BeePod hive site.
Going in, I knew much about the organism; its anatomy
and physiology, lifecycle, and its remarkable social society.
Bees are the premier pollinators and are responsible for
many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat. Having them
around is so important to us on a very basic level. Many
people fear bees because of the potential to sting you,
this is where bees have gotten a bad wrap. While a wasp
or hornet can deliver a powerful sting, and are attracted
to sugar in the fall months as they search for sweet things
on which to feed, bees are off looking for flowers, which
contain the nectar and pollen necessary to keep their
hives going.
Lower School Librarian Judy Clegg is a beekeeper, so
I decided to talk to her. She was thrilled with the idea, but
we thought that hives were not permitted on campus. After
checking in with the School Nurse, I received approval for
the hive and purchased the BeePod, which was installed
in June.
On that day, I jumped around like a little kid, but the
installation was met with mixed reactions. Some thought
On that day, I jumped
around like a little kid,
but the installation
was met with mixed
reactions. Some
thought it to “bee”
a great idea, while
others were not so
thrilled. I knew that this
was going to be an
excellent experiential
educational project–
people just needed
to “bee educated.”

Compass 9 Project Demonstrates Partnership
Between USM and Milwaukee’s Amani Neighborhood
Each week during the late summer and early fall, a
representative from Amani’s Hephatha Lutheran Church
visited USM to pick up a harvest of vegetables. The project
culminated in October when the group traveled to the
church to deliver the harvest in person, allowing the
Compass 9 group to experience first-hand the impact
of their efforts.
“I’ve found that it takes a lot of consistency throughout
the spring and summer to get to the reward in the fall,”
Mahoney said. “It felt really good to get to the final
product after all of our efforts.”
Members of the group will continue with the program through
graduation, and Mahoney is hopeful that a new generation
of USM students will be able to pick up where his group
leaves off and make the initiative their own. Mahoney
encouraged freshmen considering their Compass 9
projects to explore their interests and make the projects
meaningful to them, adding that they are welcome to help
with the Amani Garden project if they so choose, and
continue their efforts into the future.
“If they are interested in gardening, they can help us,
add something to the project, and really make it their
own when we graduate,” Mahoney said.
Front from left Marcus, a volunteer with Hephatha Lutheran Church,
MacCanon Brown, founder of the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary,
Inc., and Upper School Spanish Teacher and Compass 9 advisor Holly
Morse. Back from left Sophie Kies ’17, Nick Epperson ’17, Matthew Simonsen,
Justin Strauss ’17, Brandon McGill ’17, Charlie Mahoney ’17, Bobby Crowley,
and Tommy Mahoney ’17.
As a group of University School of Milwaukee students arrived in
Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood in October to drop off one of the
final produce harvests of the season, a sense of accomplishment
stemming from years of hard work washed over each of them.
“It’s fun to see how something we were interested in several years
ago developed into this,” said Charlie Mahoney ’17.
What began as a plan to make and distribute peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches for the homeless evolved into the repurposing of Karen’s
Garden on the School’s northeast side of campus, with its produce to
be distributed to one of the nation’s poorest communities.
The Amani Garden Initiative was conceived as a Compass 9 project
by a group of USM students who wanted to serve Milwaukee’s
underprivileged. The group includes Mahoney and classmates Nick
Epperson ’17, Austin Halbrooks ’17, Josh Holmes ’16, Sophie Kies ’17,
Tommy Mahoney ’17, Brandon McGill ’17, and Justin Strauss ’17, many
of whom had worked in Karen’s Garden under the supervision of
Middle School Science Teacher Kip Jacobs ’74 as 7th-graders.
Upper School Spanish Teacher and Compass 9 advisor
Holly Morse was able to connect the group with MacCanon
Brown, founder of the MacCanon Brown Homeless
Sanctuary, Inc. and a leading force against homelessness
in Milwaukee, forming the key partnership that would link
the produce to those in need. Brown and Amani community
members met with the group on a few occasions throughout
the project, sharing what kinds of food are needed in the
neighborhood while forming a relationship with the students.
With their charge clear, the group got to work under the
guidance of Morse and Jacobs, and learned how to tend
the garden through the spring and summer months,
beginning in 2014. In May 2014, Karen’s Garden was moved
to a new location just outside of the Lower School/Middle
School Dining Room, and the old garden was renamed in
honor of its new purpose during a short ceremony that
included District 7 Alderman Willie C. Wade and District 7
Council Member Sydnei Parker ’15.
Over the following year, the students began to take a more
active role in the garden as they became more comfortable
with the process. Most impressive was the tenacity of the
Amani Garden group as they began to seize control of
the project.
“The beautiful part of this project is how the students really
took it over,” Morse said. “The burden of responsibility
shifted to the students, and they took on the planting,
weeding, watering, and harvesting.”
Front from left Nick Epperson ’17, Matthew Simonsen,
Bobby Crowley, and Sophie Kies ’17 deliver boxes to
Hephatha Lutheran Church in Milwaukee.
The beautiful part of this project is how the students really took it over.
The burden of responsibility shifted to the students, and they took on
the planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting.
— Holly Morse
Upper School Spanish Teacher and Compass 9 advisor

“I’m able to assess not only students’ oral language skills,
but also their written and translation skills, through one
project,” Lipshutz said. “The lesson is more engaging,
requires more understanding of the material, and shows
their grasp of the content.”
In addition to coursework, students have an additional outlet
to express their visual creativity through the USM Film Club.
The Club meets regularly, and students have access to
computers in the Upper School Library, equipped with editing
programs such as Final Cut Pro, to craft and hone their films.
Club President Tejay Echols ’16 is excited for what the
Club has planned for the school year, including their
intention to plan, capture, and edit a full-length film.
“We plan to start this project from scratch, and have Club
members cover each different element of film production,”
Echols said.
The quality of student work led to the inaugural USM Student
Film Festival last April where students, working under the
guidance of Klein and other Upper School faculty members,
filmed, edited, and produced their works.
The films were judged by a professional panel that included
Carl Bogner, a Milwaukee Film Festival organizer and senior
lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Peck
School of the Arts, and Carolina Pfister, an independent
filmmaker from Sao Paolo, Brazil. Winners were awarded
in eight categories during a special School assembly.
“The kids step up their game a bit when they know that, not
only will all of their classmates see their work, but it will be
entered into the film fest,” Klein said. “It raises the bar.”
Several USM students have found success beyond campus
walls, with several films earning their way into the Milwaukee
Film Festival’s “Milwaukee Youth Show.” Megan Dogra ’17
has had three films shown at the Milwaukee Film Festival,
including her 2014 entry “Assist Bhopal,” which has also been
selected for showings at the All American Film Festival in New
York City and the International Student Film Festival in North
Hollywood, Calif. The film has also been a catalyst for action,
as Dogra has put on an annual fundraising dinner in support
of the victims of the Bhopal gas leak disaster each December.
“As I got into film in 8th grade, through my long-term project
for National History Day, I found it to be a very unique way
to present information that really captivates audiences and
stays with them for a long time,” Dogra said. “My main goal for
submitting the film has been to raise awareness outside of the
Milwaukee area and to really take this cause to another level
on a greater scale.
The second-annual USM Student Film Festival is scheduled
for spring 2016.
Students sit in on a USM Film Club meeting.
Megan Dogra ’17 has had three films shown at the Milwaukee Film Festival,
including “Assist Bhopal” in 2014.
Filmmaking Talents Thrive
in Upper School
As technology continues to evolve and the media of visual
storytelling continues to emerge, University School of Milwaukee
Upper School students are thriving as amateur filmmakers.
“I think there’s been a shift from just listening to lectures and
taking tests to allowing students to really explore their critical
thinking skills, their creativity, and connect what they have
learned in their classes and output that through the use of
technology,” Upper School Librarian and USM Film Club Head
Laura Klein said. “Students are inundated with technology,
and they have so many tools that they can use to create their
own media. To empower them to use those tools will really
help them moving forward.”
Klein works with Upper School faculty members throughout
the school year to learn what media projects students will be
assigned, and serves as a resource as students put
their ideas together.
With smartphone applications making filming and editing
more accessible than ever before, many faculty members,
particularly in the world language programs, are using video
assignments as a way for students to demonstrate subject
knowledge and mastery in a more engaging way. Senior
English students also complete a visual project during their
study of “Hamlet,” but more and more USM faculty members
are using video as a way for students to demonstrate what
they’ve learned on a day-to-day basis.
Upper School French Teacher Brett Lipshutz often asks his
students to take their phones and film a short video in class
to capture their interpretations of what they just read in class.
A scene from USM Film Festival entry “The Killing of the King,” by Nicky Hicks ’15.

Wildcat
Tennis Duo Wins
WIAA Division 2 State
Doubles Championship
Congratulations to the doubles
team of Caroline Taylor ’16 and
Riley Strauss ’18, who won the
2015 WIAA Division 2 Girls
Individual Tennis Tournament
in October at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
Taylor and Strauss defeated
Grace Gould and Emily Mettraux
of The Prairie School 6-2, 6-4 in
the semifinals before prevailing
over the top-seeded team of
Abby Fox and Maddie Molitor
of Madison Edgewood 6-1, 7-5
in the final to earn their title.
USM sent five players to state
to compete in the individual
state tournament. Veda Sane
’19 represented the Wildcats as
a singles competitor, while the
teams of Taylor and Strauss,
and Leah Schneck ’18 and
Olivia Jonas ’17, competed in
the doubles competition.
Sane fell to eventual state singles
champion Claire Czerwonka
of Kenosha St. Joseph’s in the
semifinals, while Schneck and
Jonas were knocked out in the
opening round of the doubles
tournament.
3938 USM TODAY | FALL 2015
in Honor of Former
Teammate,Friend
That spirit and passion is remembered
fondly by former USM Varsity Field Hockey
Coach Morgan Oldenburg ’02, who recalls
Nowakowski as a consummate teammate that
led by example in the face of great adversity.
“Thank you, Tessa, for gracing us with your
versatility and tenacity on the field, and your
optimism, strength, and dedication in all that
you achieved. I hope all athletes can learn
from the wonderful example that you have set,”
Oldenburg said.
In addition to remembering Nowakowski,
game attendees also did their part to “stick it
to cancer” for Tessa, raising money for cancer
research at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
Halftime festivities included the opportunity
to take shots on celebrity USM goaltenders,
which helped to raise approximately $1,600
for Children’s Hospital.
“For those of you who never met Tessa, just
know that you are commemorating a girl
who was a star athlete, a beloved teammate,
and a true competitor,” Bridget Cashman
’10 said in a statement read before the
game. “Every day, I try to live by those key
traits because understanding teamwork,
overcoming adversity, and giving your all are
lessons that transcend the athletic field and
will help you achieve success and happiness
in all of your future endeavors.”
The Wildcats punctuated another successful
field hockey season with a run to the state
championship game, where they fell 2-0
to Arrowhead at Wauwatosa’s Hart Park.
Homecoming athletic contests are
important to each fall team, but for
the University School of Milwaukee
field hockey team, their Homecoming
game carries a special significance.
The Wildcats competed with heavy hearts during the
fifth-annual Tessa Nowakowski ’10 Memorial Field
Hockey game on September 26, defeating Living Word
Lutheran 8-0 at Liz Krieg Field. The game was played
in honor of the former USM student and field hockey
standout, who passed away from colon cancer in
the fall of 2009 during her senior year.
sticks it to cancerUSM Field
Hockey
Since 2010, the USM field hockey community
has organized and dedicated a game in
Nowakowski’s honor, bringing current
and past players and their families together
each year to celebrate her life, and to raise
awareness for colon cancer. The game
has been scheduled during Homecoming
weekend each of the past three years.
“Each year, our student athletes know who
they are playing this game for, and why they
are playing,” said USM Varsity Field Hockey
Coach Andrea Stoeckl Burlew ’93. “It is
exhilarating to know that her memory lives
on within our field hockey program through
this event, and through our sportsmanship
award, which is awarded each year to the
student-athlete who best exemplifies Tessa’s
spirit and passion.”

dec
All-School Holiday Concert
9
Middle School Parent Coffee
11
Middle School Band and
Orchestra Concert
15
Preprimary Holiday Sing
17
jan
Parents’ Association
Open Door Update
13
Grades 5-6 Chorus Concert
20
SMART Choice Event,
Lubar Scholarship Reception
23
Lower School Book Fair
26-29
feb
8th-Grade Science and
History Exposition
2
Middle School and Upper School
Parent Coffee
19
Upper School Musical
25-27
a look ahead
UPCOMING EVENTS THROUGH MARCH 1, 2016
save the date!
Homecoming 2016
September 30–October 1
Former Upper School English Teacher Peetie Basson
a look back
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
The old South Campus had quirky charm for both students
and teachers–birds nested and chirped in the classroom
fireplaces; there were fall-migrating monarch butterflies to
walk among between the north and south buildings; the
“Little Theater” was cramped but atmospheric. Initially,
I was sorry to move north. But what the South Campus
lacked was a good gathering spot for the whole Upper
School. So for me, one of the attractive parts of the new
building on Fairy Chasm Road was the Virginia Henes
Young Theatre. True, I liked the performances we all
saw (and participated in), but best of all were the
assemblies–the thrice-weekly, sometimes ordinary,
sometimes disappointing, sometimes inspiring,
always valuable assemblies.
What was special was the mere fact of the whole Upper
School gathering together. I could snag a student I needed
to talk to or a teacher I’d missed seeing at lunch. And there
was comfort in predictability. I welcomed knowing where
my regular seat was and who my seatmates were. But
there was also power in the gathering, the sense that in
that common space there was common purpose, common
experience, common learning, and a feeling of community.
If there was a speaker, that was good. If there was a student
presentation, that was also good. If there was a talk by a
faculty member or administrator or dean, that was good,
too. It was all good.
And sometimes it was spectacular. The 90’s were a golden age for
book lovers. Publishers had money to send authors into the hinterlands
to sell their books, and we in the Upper School had a wonderful
relationship with what was then the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops.
When special writers came to speak at the bookstore, we were
sometimes able to entice them to drive uptown to give an assembly
talk. What luck we had! Just for starters: Leif Enger, Sherman Alexie,
Chaim Potok, Jonathan Safron Foer, Sheri Holman, Susan Vreeland,
and Yann Martel, of “The Life of Pi.” Martel not only spoke at assembly
but afterwards came into my classroom and actually drew Pi’s raft
on my chalkboard. I wouldn’t erase it for days.
Besides authors, we heard from community leaders, poets-in-residence,
politicians, scientists, economists, artists, athletes, dancers, TV
personalities, sociologists, missionaries, world travelers, and Buddhist
monks. We heard Barbara Brown Lee MDS’58 and Laurie Winters from
the Milwaukee Art Museum, and we listened to music from members
of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
Learning comes in many forms, not only in the classroom and not
only when you’re directly accountable for it. Experiencing the scope
of the world and its ideas, whether you like them or not, can’t help but
bring a listener into some kind of assessment of her own participation
in what the world has to offer. I took direct inspiration from some of
these assembly talks, leading to my post-retirement relationship with
the Milwaukee Art Museum. Sitting in Assembly staged me for growth
beyond my own education and training, beyond my work in the English
classroom, and beyond my own personal life. I’m grateful to have had
the chance to be in that assembly seat day after day, week after week,
year after year.
Peetie Basson taught Upper School English at University School of
Milwaukee and served the School in a variety of other administrative
roles from 1969 to 2008.

2100 West Fairy Chasm Road
Milwaukee, WI 53217
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Former USM Upper School English Teacher Peetie Basson
rings the ceremonial first bell on Opening Day 2005.

USM Today Fall 2015

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