Alumni
Tim Paydos’s interest in using the latest technology to solve problems can be traced back to the early 1980’s, when the first computer arrived at Renbrook. He remembers sharing the excitement as Marg Ayres, Head of the Math Department, set up the big, clunky Apple computer in the library and called it “the Computer Lab.” Hooked, Tim continued to explore the possibilities of the new technologies as they evolved through his time at St. Paul’s and then at Harvard, where he majored in Foreign Relations with a specialty in Nuclear Wargaming. Tim’s studies included government and history, sociology and psychology, and statistics and probability. How would he use his varied interests and aptitudes? Would he follow many of his talented peers into investment banking? No, Tim was excited to deliver value to society through innovative, geeky technology.
Read More ...
“Like many who pursue a career in healthcare, it was my personal experiences as a patient that led me to seek a meaningful way to contribute to the practice of medicine,” explains Emma Kagel ’97. Forging her path in the rapidly evolving field of bioethics, she has drawn on her struggles and triumphs as a profoundly deaf child and an early adopter of cutting-edge medical technology. Now she is making a difference at Beth Israel Lahey Health as a compliance officer, addressing ethical issues in medical research. She is also the founder of Bioethics Alliance, whose goal is “to foster evidence-based insights and best practices to advance bioethical dialogue, therapeutic partnerships, and ethical action for a just society.”
Read More ...
ALUMS IN ACTION: Morgan Caswell ’06, Manager of Air Quality Practices for the Port of Long Beach, CA
Renbrook alum, Morgan Caswell, Zoomed in to give seventh and eighth graders a window into how science and technology are at work to solve a complex environmental problem in Southern California. The students were riveted by her clear explanation of how she is coordinating the efforts of industry, government, science, and citizens to clean up some of the dirtiest air in the country. What was Morgan’s path to this critical job?
Read More ...
Last month, Shelley Grant ’21, a Renbrook alumna and current student at Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts, delivered a chapel talk.
A chapel talk is a brief speech written by a student and delivered to their fellow students and faculty. Chapel talks focus on themes that are personally meaningful to the speaker; they are reflective and range from the moving to humorous to motivational.
In her moving chapel talk, Shelley tells her story as a Ghanaian American. She shares her love for poetry as both a bridge and an outlet and recites three of her original poems. You can watch Shelley’s talk here.
Read More ...Our eighth-grade students enjoyed a visit with two Renbrook Alumni recently to talk about careers. There was no shortage of questions from our inquisitive students as they explored career options and choices in the area of arts and entertainment and government. We are grateful to Barrie Kreinik “00, an actor, singer, writer, and audiobook narrator based in New York City, and Vasishth Srivastava ’06 who serves as Chief of Staff for Hartford Mayor Luke A. Bronin.
Read More ...This year’s care packages include
a card from the Alumni Office, microwave popcorn, dark chocolate covered blueberries, Chips Ahoy/Oreos, an immunity drink packet, and either a Renbrook reusable straw for our college-age alums or Renbrook Post-its for our high school-age alums. Some care packages even contained a personal note, handwritten by an alum’s former teacher!On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, Renbrook School, along with alumni Pleasance Lowengard Silicki ’93 and Matthew Sahlin ’00, hosted a dinner party at Farmers & Distillers restaurant in Washington, DC. Ten alumni and spouses made new friends and reconnected with old over a four-course meal in the perfectly appointed General’s Parlor. Beloved faculty member and Director of Secondary School Placement Beverly Fitzsousa, Director of Alumni & Development James Ebert, and Director of Annual Giving Allison Young shared news from the Mountain and heard updates from our amazing alums!
Read More ...Renbrook School in West Hartford held its 3rd Annual Career Day with Renbrook alums talking about their various career this past Friday, November 2.
This program is for 7th- and 8th-grade students and is designed to give them an opportunity to learn about some potential careers/career fields from former Renbrook students who now work in those fields, to show them the often curvy road through life to a career/careers, and to instill a sense of being part of a community much bigger than their classmates and teachers.
This year four alumni were excited to return to Renbrook and to speak with students about their Renbrook memories, their career paths, and their successes and failures. Alumni guest speakers were Sophie Cottrell ’82 – SVP of Communications at Hatchette Book Group,
Max Sinsteden ’02 – Cofounder and Director at Olasky & Sinsteden, Ali Lazowksi ’06 – Founder and CEO of Bare Life and recent 40 over 30 award winner, and Friya Bankwalla ’08 – Digital Publicity Assistant at Penguin Young Readers.
Renbrook alumna Angelica Calabrese ’07 spoke to ninth-graders in Mrs. Nickeo’s class this morning about her experiences with Where There Be Dragons, an organization doing international experiential educational programming in over 30 countries. Angelica talked to students about the value of intercultural communication and relationship-building and said her sense of risk-taking, her willingness to make mistakes in search of personal growth, and her foundation in foreign language were fostered here at Renbrook School.
Read More ...More than 60 alumni returned to Renbrook the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, November 22, 2017, for the annual Young Alumni Pancake Breakfast. A Renbrook tradition, the Pancake Breakfast is hosted by the 9th-grade class and is a fun and festive opportunity for high school-age alumni and Renbrook 9th graders to catch up with one another, chat with teachers, and participate in another Renbrook tradition, the Thanksgiving Assembly! Thanks to all who joined us for food, fun, and most importantly friendship! Check out more pics at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmbLUxEG.
Read More ...Renbrook School held its Annual Alumni Weekend on October 27 and 28, 2017. The weekend started with a reunion reception for alumni classes ending in 2’s and 7’s beginning with the class of 2007. All were invited to cheer on Renbrook athletes for the Fall Sports Day which also fell on that Saturday. Alumni and their friends and families spruced up the campus through the Alumni Give Back project and participated in a yoga class and a drum circle. During the afternoon luncheon, the Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to the Honorary Eunice Strong Groark ’50, who served as Connecticut’s First Female Lieutenant Governor.
Read More ...