January-March 2014

Volume XIII

1.1.14: 2014 Most Interesting People: Felice Muller
Cleveland Magazine
Felice Mueller '08 

"Olympic hopeful" isn't a phrase tied to many Cleveland athletes, but for Mueller there's no better description. The Shaker Heights native has enjoyed success with USRowing, most recently by winning gold in the 2013 World Rowing Championships in South Korea. Her goal is to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

1.10.14: 2014 Tri-C High School Rock Off chooses its first three finalists: Backstage Politics, High Acres and Toxic Lemons  
cleveland.com
Tessa Murthy '15 (Backstage Politics)

The opening night of the Tri-C High School Rock Off featured 11 bands vying for a spots in the "Final Exam" to be held Feb. 1. In the end, three acts were chosen to move on.

1.13.14: Dave and Gunnar interview Lauren Egts: Raspberry Pi, Scratch, and more
OpenSource.com
Lauren Egts '17 

In this interview with Lauren on The Dave and Gunnar Show, it comes as no suprise that Dave is thrilled that his daughter is interested in computer science and open hardware. You'll hear how proud Gunnar is too as he leads the interview, asking them both what kinds of things she's working on now (like her school's all-girl robotics team, The Fighting Unicorns!) and about her presentations on Gluster and on Scratch for Raspberry Pi at the Akron Linux Users Group. Lauren also recently won the the National Center for Women & Information Technology Aspirations in Computing 2014 Ohio Affiliate Award.

1.15.14: Halle Bauer: Instilling Shaker Pride
Shaker Life
Aspire Dean of Students Halle Bauer

But perhaps the biggest influence on Bauer came from The Aspire Program at Hathaway Brown School. The summer program pairs girls from low-income homes with high school and college peers for academic and social support. "I felt the potential to help students and I loved it. I would wake up excited to go to work every day," she says.

1.15.14: New Member Spotlight
The Press Club of Cleveland Byliner
Gina Gayle '84 

Q. Best and/or most challenging part of your job? A. I just relocated back to Cleveland so I am building a new business model while I learn a “new” city.

1.16.14: How computer science teachers can better reach their students
OpenSource.com
Director of the Center for Technology & Invention James Allen, Lauren Egts '17 (author)

He's telling kids to get to work! And, his teaching motto is that the best way to learn computer science is to do stuff with it. He encourages educators to give kids creative projects to pique their interest in computer science by using open source programming languages like Scratch. He says giving kids the tools they need to make things is the best way to teach computer science, especially to girls.

1.17.14: Backstage Politics takes to the studio  
The Plain Dealer
Tessa Murthy '15

The kids from Backstage Politics are old hands at this recording business, as all of them are involved in the School of Rock. So while some of us might have marveled at the soundboard and its Avogadro’s Number of knobs, buttons and lights, they spent time laughing, joking and texting on their cell phones.

1.24.14: Exelis, Korn Ferry and Points of Light Train Veterans to Apply Military Experience to Leadership in Civilian Careers
The Wall Street Journal
Erica Jeffries '94

An important aspect of the Leveraging Military Leadership Program is the force behind its creation. The program concept was initiated during an Exelis leadership development program, designed and led by Korn Ferry. While participating in the program, Exelis Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer Erica Jeffries, was planning a project to set veterans up for success as they depart military service, and Korn Ferry was eager to extend its reach to serve veterans and their families.

1.28.14: Mentor skaters qualify for U.S. synchronized championships
The News-Herald
Madeline Shade '16

The Mentor Figure Skating Club’s Ice Diamonds’ recent showing has earned the squad a spot at a national tournament. With a third-place finish last Saturday at the Midwestern and Pacific Coast Synchronized Sectional Championships, the Ice Diamonds will compete in the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships Feb. 24 to March 1 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

2.1.14: Backstage Politics takes first-place honors at High School Rock Off
cleveland.com
Tessa Murthy '15

The night concluded with Backstage Politics being named the winner of the 2014 Tri-C High School Rock Off. The band impressed the judges with precise musicianship, a solid stage show and a large following. As the winner, the members of Backstage Politics will split $1,000 in cash. The band members' high school music program will also get $250.

2.3.14: Bright Future
NAIS Inspiration Lab
Torrey McMillan '90, Hathaway Brown Center for Sustainability

At the start of the school year, representatives of Dominion Resources presented students in Hathaway Brown’s Campus and Community Sustainability class with a check for $3,800 to support the design and construction of a solar-powered charging station for laptops and cellphones.

2.6.14: See the Possible
WKYC-TV3
Upper School Photography Teacher Kim Ponsky '98 (photographer)

This new See the Possible promo featuring Michael Stanley's "My Town" will play throughout the Olympic games on Channel 3.

2.7.14: Goalie, photographer, scientist
MITNews
Kate Koch '10

Whether she’s blocking shots on the ice or studying cancer cells in the lab, MIT senior Kate Koch tackles challenges head-on.

2.8.14: Tennis champion Mary Joe Fernandez to speak at Hathaway Brown
cleveland.com
Learning for Life Speakers' Series, HB Parent Association

A former professional tennis player, Mary Joe Fernandez serves as an analyst on tennis events for ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Miami, she enjoyed a successful career on the WTA Tour, with seven career singles titles, 17 in doubles, and being ranked as high as #4 in the world.

2.14.14: Hathaway Brown swimming wins district championship, upsets Hawken
The Plain Dealer
Varsity Swim Coach Lindsay Ahrens, Varsity Swimming

The win gives the school its first district title in program history and is the first time since Division II was created for swimming in 2000 Hawken didn't come away with the title. In fact, before that the Hawks hadn't lost a district meet team title since 1995 and before that they won every district title since 1980.

2.15.14: Hathaway Brown & KEY: Partners in Learning
Key Executive Women's Network
Michele Zhou '14, HB Center for Business & Finance 

KEWN officially kicked off its Business & Finance Learning Partnership program with Cleveland's Hathaway Brown (HB), an all-girl high school, on February 13. The program is the outcome of Michele Zhou's learning internship at Key last summer under the sponsorship of Amy Brady, Chief Information Officer. Michele developed the concept which has been rolled out to HB juniors and seniors. Approximately 30 students are participating in the program.

2.16.14: Hathaway Brown girls basketball sets notable state record
cleveland.com
Varsity Basketball Coach Paul Barlow, Varsity Basketball, Alexis Dobbs '10 

On Saturday the Blazers were back in a familiar place: winning in the playoffs. With its 77-28 sectional semifinal victory over Martin Luther King Jr., Hathaway Brown set an Ohio High School Athletic Association record for boys and girls teams with its 37th consecutive playoff victory. The record was held by Regina.

2.27.14: Olympic medalist Mary Joe Fernandez speaks at Hathaway Brown 
Sun Press
Learning for Life Speakers' Series; Hathaway Brown Parent Association

Resiliency. Respect. Responsibility. Also known as the 3 Rs, such values are gained through active involvement in sports and competition. In fact, the 3 Rs are likely to produce individuals who are ready to persevere despite challenges thrown at them. It's an applicable truth, even when life's pressures are hurled at a person in the form of tennis balls, for example – just as they have been for Mary Joe Fernandez, a two-time Olympic tennis gold medalist.

2.27.14: District swim meet results
Chagrin Valley Times
Varsity Swimming; Mary Motch '16

The Blazers' leading scorer was sophomore Mary Motch, a Chagrin Falls resident, who finished as runner-up in  her individual events and participated on second- and third-place relays. "Oh it was amazing. Words can't describe how happy I was. Everyone on my whole team was ecstatic after the meet," Motch said. 

2.28.14: How camp makes lifelong mark 
Cleveland Jewish News
Director of Broad Horizons & Vacation Camp Siva Grossman

“We have such a broad base of campers, it gives children the opportunity to make friends with kids that they would not have had the opportunity to meet otherwise,” Grossman said. “A perfect example is there’s a young lady who lives in Highland Heights and she met this young lady who lives in Solon at HB when they were kindergartners at Broad Horizons and they’re both graduating this year form their separate schools and they’re best friends and they’re going to college together. The same college. They would have never met if they hadn’t gone to HB. That’s one of many stories that are like that.”

3.1.14: Social Status 
Cleveland Magazine
Center for Leadership & Well-Being Director Koyen Parikh Shah

By its very nature, social media can be a powerful tool for educators to help encourage community and dialogue. At Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, for instances, an Instagram project united the entire school, from kindergarten through high school seniors, in a way that had not happened before. 

3.1.14: School Choice 
Cleveland Magazine
Assistant Head of School and Director of College Counseling Terry McCue

Let go of the notion that there's a perfect school for you. "There are so many ways to be happy in college."

3.1.14: Ask the Experts
Cleveland Magazine
Director of Early Childhood Jane Brown

What has emerged as most effective is a play-based approach that also incorporates clear benchmarks for learning aligned to research standards.

3.1.14: 2014 Movers & Shakers: Ashley Mackel, Worldwide Marketing Manager, Ogilvy & Mather
NV magazine
Ashley Mackel '04

"As an ever-evolving person, it's important that each part of who I am is striving to succeed. Ultimately, for me, success is about seeking spiritual, professional, personal, mental, and physical balance and fulfillment."

3.1.14: What's in your bag, Kaitlin Windle?
Aspen Sojourner
Kaitlin Windle '02

When pitching the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet to potential donors, development director Kaitlin Windle knows of what she speaks. She started dancing at age 3 and left home to do so professionally with the Pennsylvania Ballet by age 16. Windle grasps the money side of the operation, too, having already spent five years in the 100-hour-week world of New York finance by the ripe old age of 28.

3.5.14: Dobbs Earns Third Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honor
American University Athletics
Alexis Dobbs '10

“This is an unbelievable accomplishment for Alexis and to three-peat as Scholar-Athlete of the Year is incredible to me,” said Head Coach Megan Gebbia. “It just goes to show you that she is the total person, she’s an outstanding student and an outstanding basketball player. She takes both sides seriously and also dedicates a lot of her time to community service. She’s just one of those infectious people that you want to be around and get to know and I couldn’t be more proud and happy for her accomplishments and I look forward to seeing her accomplishments in the future.”

3.5.14: HB a seven-time NEO Success Award winner
Inside Business
Hathaway Brown School

The 81 winners of this year's NEO Success Awards have shown what it means to be successful - growing revenue, adding employees and making a profit - throughout the last three years. They are examples of what keeps Northeast Ohio moving. 

3.7.14: Shaker teen embraces No Kid Hungry initiative
Sun Press
Chloe Biskind '15

Shaker Heights teen Chloe Biskind is working to help stamp out childhood hunger across America. Biskind is a junior at Hathaway Brown School, where she is captain of the No Kid Hungry initiative. The 16-year-old has organized two gourmet treat sales at the school, raising more than $1,400 for the national No Kid Hungry-Share Our Strength campaign.

3.10.14: A state tournament without Hathaway Brown: What the four Division II girls basketball Final Four coaches had to say 
The Plain Dealer
Varsity Basketball; Vanessa Smith '13

The last time Hathaway Brown wasn't raising a state trophy was when the current seniors were in sixth grade.

3.12.14: Hathaway Brown girls' basketball coach Paul Barlow Q&A 
cleveland.com
Varsity Basketball Coach Paul Barlow

During Hathaway Brown's stretch of seven years, they lost the state title game the first two years and came back to win the next five straight. You could call it a modern day high school basketball dynasty.