Mr. Mitch White Lake Ridge Academy’S 8Th Head of School SUMMER/FALL 2018 WELCOME MR
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TheByLine SUMMER/FALL 2018 Welcome Mr. Mitch White Lake Ridge Academy’s 8th Head of School SUMMER/FALL 2018 WELCOME MR. MITCH WHITE Academics Community Opportunity Mission Our mission is to send into a changing world confident young people of integrity who think critically and creatively while embracing the joy of lifelong learning. 2018-2019 Board A group of Upper School students traveled to Nicaragua over spring break as part of the Global Members Voyages: Service and Culture trip. The group dug foundations for a new school in Los Campos, and experienced the culture and sights of the country. Thomas J. Dresing, MD ’83, Chair Benjamin P. Norton, Vice-Chair Andrea Manning, Secretary Laurie Gatten, CPA, Treasurer Table of Contents Welcome New Board Member 3 Raymond Bobgan Winter/Spring Highlights 4 Albert V. Chan, MD, FACC Don R. Esch Congratulations Class of 2018 6 Amelia Farago Branding Refresh 7 Cole Fauver ’79 Athletics 8 Vicenta C. Gaspar-Yoo, MD, MBA Get to Know Mr. Mitch White 10 Patrick Harrington Yumi Ijiri, PhD Centers of Excellence 13 Paula Janmey Impact of the 50th Anniversary Campaign 16 Rebecca Ruppert McMahon Honor Roll 21 Joesph F. Miclat ’90 Alumni News 30 Clare Navratil Joyesh Raj, MD, FACS ’89 Michael J. Sherwin Brian Shimko ’04 Integrity, Respect, Scholarship and Personal Best Editor: Susan Haas, Director of Marketing and Communications On Cover: Welcome Mr. Mitch White 2 Lake Ridge Academy’s 8th Head of School A LETTER FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR Thomas Dresing, MD ’83 Welcome New Dear Lake Ridge Academy Friends: Board Member As we kick-off the 2018-2019 academic year, there are more new things YUMI IJIRI, PHD happening on our campus than the usual experiences of new teachers, books, Yumi Ijiri (mother of and school supplies. This year, we welcome our eighth Head of School, Mr. Mia ’24 and Kira Mitch White. In addition, I am assuming the role of Board Chair, taking the reins ’20) is a physics from Becky Ruppert McMahon who diligently served our community for the last professor at Oberlin three years. College. Yumi is a member of Lake Transitions of leadership offer exciting opportunities to bring new ideas and Rosen-Jones Tanya Phooto by Ridge Academy’s fresh energy. Equally important is assuring that the hallmarks of a Lake Ridge marketing and Academy education that have been built over the last 55 years remain true. As enrollment committee and volunteers as an alumnus, parent, and board member for the last 11 years (including serving secretary/treasurer of the American as Vice-Chair), I bring a unique depth of experience gained from my 30+ year Physical Society Topic Group on association with our school. I look forward to collaborating with Mr. White in Magnetism. She earned her bachelor’s our new positions and sharing our enthusiasm for Lake Ridge Academy as we degree from Princeton University and her identify ways that the Board of Directors can help to continue its growth. graduate degrees from Cornell University. Sincerely, Thomas Dresing ’83 Farewell Celebrations for President Carol Klimas Several on and off-campus events in May celebrated president Carol Klimas’ retirement after 11 years of service. The festivities began with a surprise all school assembly where Mrs. Klimas received many gifts including an outdoor wooden bench decorated with the fingerprints of all students, faculty, and staff members. Soon after, an ice cream social was held in Rob Hall for all students, faculty, staff and community members. Tom and Janna Dresing hosted parents and alumni for a more formal gathering and toasted her many noteworthy accomplishments that have well-positioned the school for a promising future. Finally, handwritten notes from near and far showered Mrs. Klimas’ office offering messages of thanks, admiration and best wishes. She was deeply touched by her send-off festivities and looks forward to remaining a part of our wonderful community as a proud parent of Kaili ’21. 3 Highlights Winter & Spring MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR FOUR SENIORS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS, TWO AWARDED In January, the annual Middle School science fair program showcased seventh and eighth grade students presenting their independent research SCHOLARSHIPS projects to judges and other members of our community. Of the 32 students Four Lake Ridge Academy seniors were named who earned superior ratings, ten advanced to regional competitions. 2018 National Merit Finalists, which represents For the ten advancing students, the first competition was the Northeast Ohio 8% of our graduating class! Elizabeth Coble, Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF) held at Cleveland State University. Ben Gwinnell, Noah Kawaguchi and Anjali For the first time in our school’s history, all ten of our students earned Prabhakaran joined a pool of 15,000 finalists superior or excellent ratings. Six middle school students moved on to nationwide who were considered to receive one compete at the Mohican District Science Day held at Ashland University, of the 7,500 Merit Scholarships awarded and five achieved a superior rating and qualified for the State Science Day. annually. In addition, Lake Ridge Academy was named the School with the Most Two of our finalists earned National Merit Superior Awards and the School with the Highest Percentage of Superior Scholarships. Elizabeth Coble will be attending The Projects (83%). University of Chicago and Noah Kawaguchi will be Following district competitions, four middle school students attended the attending Oberlin College. Less than one percent State Science Day held at The Ohio State University. Each student either of the nation’s top high school students earn the received a good, excellent, or superior rating on their projects. Our students prestigious title of National Merit Scholar. also earned numerous individual awards and cash prizes. Seniors Ben, Anjali, Elizabeth and Noah were recognized as Andrew ’23, Gavin ’23, Ren ’22, Middle School Science Teacher Mr. Rob Robertson and National Merit Finalists. Tyler ’22 attend the State Science Day. CULTURE FEST The 17th annual Culture Fest, hosted by the Upper School Humanitarian Aid Society, was an incredible success. Attendees enjoyed food and performances from various cultures. Over $3,000 was raised for Global Giving, which is an organization that helps families recovering from the hurricanes last fall. 4 JAZZ FEST PLEASE JOIN US FOR ONE The annual Jazz Fest took place OF THESE on Friday, April 27. The night featured School of Fine Arts UPCOMING sophomore reviews, jazz EVENTS performances from the Middle and Upper School Jazz Bands, AUGUST 22, 2018 and a K-12 art show. The Opening Day campus was swinging with SEPTEMBER 23, 2018 excitement! Pre-Auction Event OCTOBER 19-20, 2018 MOCK TRIAL Upper School Fall Play Rumors This year, we sent four Mock Trial teams to the Lorain County district competition. Two teams NOVEMBER 9, 2018 advanced to the regional competition. At School of Fine Arts districts, six students received the prestigious Student Showcases Best Attorney award, and four students received the Best Witness award. The Blue NOVEMBER 15, 2018 team advanced from regionals to the state Middle School competition held in Columbus on March 8. Winter Concert This was a repeat visit to state competition for this team. Congratulations for all your NOVEMBER 17. 2018 successes in the courtroom! Auction Gala, Reunion Gathering & Hall of Fame Celebration NOVEMBER 23, 2018 HAPPY RETIREMENTS Thanksgiving Game & Alumni Gathering In addition to President Carol Klimas, three of our longstanding and esteemed faculty and staff members retired at the end of the 2017-2018 school year. We wish them the DECEMBER 6, 2018 best in their future endeavors! Upper School Winter Concert Ann Bort, a cherished faculty member of 27 positive influence on all of years, taught art and drama to every grade her students, and the math during her time at Lake Ridge Academy. Ms. department will continue to Bort brought incredibly creative elements to thrive because of her her classroom while always encouraging an extraordinary leadership. interdisciplinary approach to curriculum development. Her visionary ideas gave us the Paul Swasey was a beloved member of our Colonial Reenactment, the Lower School community as a parent, but it is his expertise in musicals, and the School of Fine Arts which began under her managing facilities and assuring the safety of leadership as department chair. Ms. Bort touched the lives of all our campus that was crucial to the success of students whom she taught, and her extraordinary passion will the school. Paul, a retired police officer and be missed! former construction industry expert, became Director of Facilities and Security in 2005, a Fran Hamper made an incredibly positive position that eventually grew to a full-time job. impact in the math department during her 22 His accomplishments over the years include establishing a flood year tenure. Fran was the department chair control program, working with Homeland Security and local police for many years, turning the math department to continuously review campus safety protocols, managing the into one of the strongest on campus. She construction of Kemper Science and Engineering, and installing a brought innovative advancements such as new technology program to efficiently manage campus work College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM), and orders and event set-up requests. Paul’s commitment and also found ways to inspire students who were leadership will be missed. struggling in math by creating new courses to give them the