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Thursday, June 04, 2009
JUNE 2009 ALUMNI & ALUMNAE E-NEWSLETTER
Reunion 2009 creates special memories!
Reunion 2009 was a great success with more than 400 graduates participating throughout the weekend!
Highlights included the 50th classes meeting their 5th grade pen pals; the presentation of the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus & Distinguished Alumna awards; the Old Guard Lunch and the Jane Lathrop Stanford Society Induction -- which recognized the AA & AAG Classes of 1959; the Reunion Rally; and the annual lunches.
Pictured (left to right) are Dr. Sarah Elmendorf '70 being recognized as the 2009 Distinguished Alumna; the AAG Class of 1974; and AAG Alumnae Council President Lynne Hutter '97 at the Jane Lathrop Stanford Induction Ceremony.
Many graduates were honored throughout the weekend, including Dr. Sarah Elmendorf '70 as the 2009 Distinguished Alumna and Richard Wallace, Esq. '59 as the Distinguished Alumnus. Rosemary Daoud Walsh '77 received the Fredericka Voorhaar Slingerland '32 Volunteer Leadership Award.
Pictured (left to right) are the AA Class of 1959; Meeshan Reid '09 taking part in the Alumni Baseball Game in honor of Coach Peter Dorwaldt '58; and Coach Dave Rider '73 (third from left) with the members of the 1983 Hockey Team at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
The 2009 Albany Academy Alumni Association Hall of Fame Class included Stephen Gunther '59, Archie Coupe '64; Dick Mertz '69; David Steck '79; and Frank O'Brien '84 (posthumously). Jim Poole '68 was inducted for his achievements as a coach and the 1983 Championship Hockey Team was honored.
Pictured (left to right) are members of the Class of 1959 greeting one another; Deborah Acton Tollefson '59 & Lucy Winters Sandler '59; and Gayatri Godithi '16, Dr. Judith Fillion '59 & Emma Hayes '16.
Many classes were recognized for their achievements in Reunion Class Giving. The AA Class of 1989 raised $8,161 with a remarkable 52% rate of participation from their class in honor of their Reunion supporting the Annual Fund and the purchase of three benches in memory of three classmates they lost: Trevor Bader '89, Michael D'Angelo '89 and James Patrick '89.
The AA Class of 1984 raised $61,550 to establish The Class of 1984 Scholarship in memory of their classmates, Frank O'Brien '84 and Todd Vanderzee '84. The AAG Class of 1959 raised $5,300 with an overwhelming 57% of participation from their class to support the Caroline B. Mason Scholarship. The AA Class of 1959 raised $123,808.32 in honor of their Reunion to support technology initiatives at the Academies.
Pictured (left to right) are JD Stark '16 & Eric Moore '59; Vincent Birch '10 meeting with Carl Touhey '35 (Vincent is the first recipient of the Touhey Scholarship); and Jake Gao '09 accepting the Alumni Scholar Award from AA Alumni Association President Mike Criscione '80.
Special recognition goes to the four Albany Academy Alumni Association Scholars: Jake Miorin '12, Alydaar Rangwala '11, Taylor Mextorf '10 and Jake Gao '09. Many thanks to Maura Crisafulli '09 for sharing a speech titled "My Years in Plaid" at the AAG Annual Meeting.
Please check our website within the next week for information about ordering photos from Reunion weekend. We will also have a detailed photo spread from Reunion weekend in the upcoming issue of A2 magazine -- due out within a few weeks.
In order to keep our programming exciting and relevant, we need to hear from you! Please complete our 2009 REUNION EVALUATION.
If you are a member of a Reunion Class, there is still time to recognize your special year! You can GIVE ONLINE; please visit our REUNION GIVING PAGE as well to see where your class falls with participation percentages!
We also created a special Reunion 2009 publication to pass out to attendees that highlighted the many accomplishments of our students in the college selection process, May Projects, athletics, the arts and community service.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PUBLICATION.
Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team captures Section II Championship!
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Congratulations go out to the Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team & Coach Greg Giombetti '89 for capturing the Section II Class C Girls Lacrosse Championship with a 12-8 victory over Glens Falls on May 27 at the University at Albany.
The team improved to 18-0 by defeating James I. O'Neill 11-10 this past Wednesday in an outstanding first round match in the New York State Class C Girls Lacrosse Tournament at Deitz Stadium in Kingston.
The team will now face Section I winner Nyack on Saturday, June 6 beginning at 4 p.m. at Lakeland High -- located at 1349 East Main Street in Shrub Oak, NY.
OTHER SPORTS NEWS
The Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team made it to the Section II Class B Semifinals before losing to Niskayuna -- the #1 ranked team in the state.
In addition, Matt Kandath '09 made it to the finals of the New York State Varsity Tennis Championship before narrowly losing. Matt was also selected as the Times Union Scholar-Athlete Award recipient out of 149 schools. |
AAG & AA Commencement Ceremonies
June 8 & 9
10 a.m.
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Albany Academy for Girls & The Albany Academy will hold their Commencement Ceremonies on Monday, June 8 & Tuesday, June 9, respectively.
The Albany Academy for Girls ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on June 8 in the Tent on the Field Hockey Field – located at 140 Academy Road in Albany. The Albany Academy ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on June 9 on the Football Field – located at 135 Academy Road in Albany. |
Dr. Claudia Lewis '74 will travel from Santa Fe, NM to address our senior girls about the challenges that lie ahead on June 8. Dr. Lewis – the aunt of Hannah Maloy '09, Peter Maloy '08, Betsy Lewis Totten '96 and Steve Lewis '94 – received her doctorate in Geology from Harvard University and has had an extensive career working in the geological and geophysical fields. She joined Los Alamos National Laboratory – the premier national security science laboratory – as a postdoctoral fellow in 1996 and has continued as a scientist there since 1999. She works primarily on earthquake hazards.
Meanwhile, E. Stewart Jones, Jr. '59 will impart wisdom and advice to our senior boys on June 9. Mr. Jones, a well-respected member of our Board of Trustees at the Academies and Head Partner at the E. Stewart Jones Law Firm, PLLC in Troy, is considered by many to be the dean of area criminal defense attorneys. Recently named Chairman of Albany Law School's Board of Trustees, he has earned a reputation as a tireless advocate for the rights of those who have been injured by others as well as those who have been accused of significant crimes. In addition, Mr. Jones has received numerous honors and awards in recognition of his community service.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
2009 Legacy of Dreams
June 20
6 p.m.
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The 2009 Legacy of Dreams will truly be an event for the ages as hundreds of alumni, alumnae, faculty and special friends of the Academies come together on Saturday, June 20 at the Fort Orange Club in Albany.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by food stations, music and a live auction at 7 p.m. |
Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards athletic programs at the Academies, benefiting students, faculty and coaches.
The major sponsors of the event are the Hilton Garden Inn and the Recovery Room.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR THE 2009 LEGACY OF DREAMS.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Last chance to contribute to the Annual Fund
The end of our fiscal year is June 30. We are now officially in the final days of the 2009 Annual Fund. This is the time, unlike any other, that we depend on the generosity of our donors to consider:
****Enriching academic life and teaching excellence for our students
****Enhancing the student-athlete experience
****Inspiring classmates to give back
****Supporting the mission of the Academies
It is not too late to make a big difference in the future of our school. Please consider making your gift today.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE.
For more information about making a gift to the Annual Fund, contact Director of Annual Giving Susan K. Tobin at (518) 429-2448 or tobins@albanyacademies.org.
Take advantage of our Summer Camp 2009 Referral Program
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With the end of the school year right around the corner, is your child or grandchild looking to take part in a variety of exciting activities this summer? We hope that you will consider signing them up for Summer Camp 2009 at the Academies.
Our LEAP Camp is offering more classes than ever before; new classes such as the Red Cross babysitting course and the SAT Prep Course are being offered this summer; and our Classic Day, Girls & Boys Basketball Camps, Junior Camp and a writing skills course are all a part of this summer's offerings. |
We are also offering a special referral program: if you enroll in our camp and pass along a referral postcard with your name on it, you'll receive $50 off your camp fee.
For more information, contact Camp Director Brian Fruscio at (518) 429-2313 or frusciob@albanyacademies.org.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SUMMER CAMP 2009 BROCHURE.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR SUMMER CAMP 2009.
Seniors conclude May Projects
Our seniors spent the month of May working at companies throughout the country in a variety of fields and disciplines as part of their May Project placements. These extraordinary young men and women learned a variety of important lessons about working in the professional world and gaining hands-on experience at various organizations.
We hope that you enjoy this look at two of our seniors as they discuss their incredible experiences during May Projects.
Drue Sokol '09 (sister of Rebekah Sokol '06 & daughter of Gail Deitcher Sokol '76)
Placement: Brighter Choice Charter School in Albany
Academies Board of Trustees member Chris Bender '78 serves as Executive Director of the Brighter Choice Foundation
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"My time at Brighter Choice Charter School was an outstanding learning experience. I had the opportunity to get to know the students very well and will miss them very much. My responsibilities ranged from being a teacher helper (photocopying papers, sharpening pencils, making posters in the shape of volcanoes) to tutoring girls one-on-one in English and Math.
The girls called me "Miss Drue" ("Miss Sokol" makes me feel old!), and we really bonded during our times together. I recently went on their 1st grade field trip to Washington Park where we played tag, blew bubbles and had a really nice time. My favorite place in the school was the Library, where I cataloged books and re-read all my old favorite stories." -- Drue Sokol '09, AAG Student Council President |
Amadou Gueye '09
Placement: Tech Valley Communications, a locally-owned, facilities-based telecommunications provider based in Albany
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Amadou Gueye '09 took part in numerous activities at Tech Valley Communications such as conducting market research for the company's free Internet access service with the City of Albany called Albany FreeNet. He was also tasked with researching companies that advertise on wireless portals and evaluating marketing proposals from various third party companies.
Tech Valley Communications CEO Kevin O'Connor P'11, '18 & Director of Wireless Services Jeff Mirel were impressed by Amadou's professionalism and self-direction.
"Amadou received an experience that he wouldn't get anywhere else," said Mr. O'Connor. "Our business model for our Albany FreeNet wireless network is unique and we were happy to provide this opportunity to such an outstanding young man."
"Everyone at Tech Valley Communications was pleased with Amadou's level of proficiency," said Mr. Mirel. "He represented The Albany Academies very well during his time here." |
2009 Day at the Races set for August 1
Join us for a Day at the Races on August 1 as we come together at Saratoga Race Track. Your ticket includes admission to the clubhouse, convenient betting stations and an elaborate buffet featuring a pasta station, carving station, a wide variety of hot entrees, assorted salads and desserts. Please note that a cash bar will be available.
The track opens at 10:30 a.m. and you may arrive at the Rail Pavilion at 11:30 a.m.; the last race will conclude around 5:30 p.m. Dress is business casual; collared shirts are required for gentlemen; jackets are optional. No shorts or jeans.
Tickets are $70 per person and we have a limited number of tickets. Please register by June 30.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR 2009 DAY AT THE RACES.
We will send your tickets to you before the event. We look forward to seeing you there!
Save the Date
As the school year comes to a close, this will be your final alumni & alumnae e-newsletter before the 2009-2010 school year. Please save the following dates and watch for more details to come.
August 1: 2009 Day at the Races, Saratoga Racetrack; must pre-register
September 25-27: Homecoming 2009
September 25: Golf & Tennis Classic, Colonie Golf & Country Club
September 25: Trustees Annual Reception
September 26: Homecoming Festivities
September 27: Third Annual Scholarship Luncheon
April 17: 2010 Spring Gathering
May 21 & 22: Reunion 2010
Join the Academies online nation...
Now is the time to register for our Online Community & Facebook! Stay connected with the community and learn about upcoming programs, events and more!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ONLINE COMMUNITY.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
If you have any questions or comments about this electronic newsletter, please contact Ann Wendth, Director of External Relations, at (518) 429-2385 or wendtha@albanyacademies.org, or Adam Doling, Communications Associate, at (518) 429-2344 or dolinga@albanyacademies.org.
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2010-2011 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
SPRING/SUMMER 2010 ISSUE OF A2 ACADEMIES MAGAZINE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Stay up to date with our Online Calendar
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