Gordon in the headlines

Yes, that was a sixth grader (above) and her father Michael Isenberg speaking at the Massachusetts State House in May, talking about the Project Green Schools Outdoor Classroom Challenge and Gordon’s garden and outdoor classroom project. It was part of the Innovating the Future competition led by Project Green Schools.
 

Yes, that was David Giardino ’17 (far left) at the Big10 Women’s basketball tournament, serving as one of the head student managers for Wisconsin women’s basketball. In this interview, he speaks about the joy of being on a team and supporting from behind the scenes to shine spotlight on others. 
 

Yes, that was Kailas Kahler ’16 named to the 2024 Academic All-American tennis team from NCAA Division III. Kahler was New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Player of the Year and ranked fourteenth in the ITA Division III singles rankings this year, while maintaining a 4.00 GPA as an electrical engineering and computer science major at MIT.
 

Yes, that is Georgia A. Hunter Farinholt ’92 behind We Were the Lucky Ones, the hit Hulu series that premiered this spring. Her novel, based on her family’s experience during the Holocaust, was the basis for the show, which she co-produced. photo: Georgia speaking to Gordon’s eighth grade in 2017
 

And yes, that was Georgia Hunter (far right) with Susanna Fogel ’94 (far left) on a recent panel at the Paley Center for Media discussing the role of the media in preserving stories of the Holocaust. Fogel is a writer and director whose work includes several episodes of the National Geographic miniseries A Small Light.

 

Yes, those are three Gordon parents behind the immersive installation now on view at the Newport Artist Collective. Eamon Brown, Judd Schiffman and Athena Witscher have created Same Rain, Same Stars, which combines wall paintings, ceramic sculptures, and vessels in a playful collaboration. 
 

Yes, those were a pair of Gordon brothers alongside their cousins, uncles, aunts and extended family at recent celebrations of their grandfather and great-uncles, the Tavares brothers. The Tavares brothers grew up in New Bedford and Fox Point, and have gained international fame with songs like Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel and More Than A Woman.

 

Yes, that was two eighth graders winning the doubles tennis tournament this spring in a competition that drew sixteen teams from six schools: Moses Brown, Wheeler, Lincoln School, East Greenwich, Warwick and Gordon.
 

Yes, that was Trevor Rose ’20 honored with Moses Brown’s Hobie Baker Award this winter. The award goes annually to the ice hockey player who best exemplifies the late Hobie Baker’s values on and off the ice.

 

Yes, that was Gordon parent and trustee Sarah Verardo in the February show at the Portland Art Gallery in Portland, Maine. The gallery’s website includes a half hour interview with Sarah on Radio Maine.

 

Yes, that was alumni parent Deborah Forman ’83 featured in GoLocalProv’s In the Studio last week. Forman is a thriving visual artist who teaches at RISD and has created two instructional books, Paint Lab and Color Lab.
 

Yes, that was Angela Tucker Alston (far right), President of the Rhode Island Coalition of Black Women, with two Gordon Middle Schoolers (fourth from left and third from right) at the RICBW Moot Court Experience at Roger Williams School of Law this spring. RICBW partnered with Roger Williams Law School to provide young girls of color an immersive experience to develop valuable skills in critical thinking, debating, public speaking, research, and persuasion.
 

Yes, that was Reyan Datta ’21 (top, second from left) and Fin Glatt ’23 (bottom, third from left) competing for Moses Brown in this winter’s Southern New England VEX Robotics Championships. Reyan’s team was in the top third of the one hundred teams at the event, and Fin’s team shows tremendous promise after making the the regionals in their first year.
 

Yes, that was a Gordon Middle Schooler getting up to speak at the Providence vigil for Nex Benedict in late February, expressing their appreciation for the adults in their life who love them just the way they are.
 

Yes, that was Coby Unger ’05 (center) of MIT’s Hobby Shop highlighted by the Technology Consultancy Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. MIT had sent him to Ghana to help train young engineers on the use of smart manufacturing technologies.
 

Yes, that was Gordon parent and third grade teacher Mateal Lovaas Ishihara on the national committee for the 36th Lambda Literary Awards, which were presented on June 11th. Mateal served as a judge in the category of LGBTQ+ Children’s Books, which was won by The Apartment House on Poppy Hill by Nina La Cour.
 

Yes, those were two sixth grade student-athletes meeting Izzy Scane at a late winter match up between #1 Boston College and defending national champions Northwestern University. Scane is on the US National team, was named 2023 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship MVP, and was an ESPY award finalist for Best College Athlete in Women’s Sport category. 
 

Yes, that was activist and longtime friend of Gordon JoAnne Bland honored by the City Council of Selma, Alabama, on February 13th. This year’s eighth grade met with her in Selma while on the twenty-third Civil Rights Trip to Georgia and Alabama in mid-April.
 

And yes, that was Mrs. Bland and another friend of Gordon, Sheyann Webb-Christburg (right) at this year’s State of the Union. The two veterans of the 1965 voting rights march were guests of Selma’s House Representative. The Class of 2016 with Ms. Webb-Christburg

 

Yes, that was Manya Glassman ’11 featured in the Rhode Island Foundation’s fall report and in Providence College’s alumni magazine this spring. In both pieces, Manya talked about her film career, her work with Spike Lee, and the connections she maintains with the Rhode Island community.
 

Yes, that was Maude Smith-Montross ’20 finishing fifth in the finals of 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships in early June. Earlier in 2024, she’d helped lead Barrington’s swim team to their fourth state championship in four years.
 

Yes, that was Hannah Dayian ’20, Maude Smith-Montross’s teammate on Narragansett Boat Club youth team,  signing her NCAA Letter of Commitment to compete in Division 1 Rowing at Northeastern University next year.
 

Yes, that was a Gordon second grader in the Wilbury Theatre Group’s recent production of Once. The cast also included Claudia Traub, who earned her masters degree in teaching through Gordon’s Teacher Residency Program in 2014.
 

Yes, that was Sebastian Connolly ’20 and Riley Hewitt '20 honored as Classical High School’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian this spring. Sebastian is going on to study neuroscience at Harvard and Riley will study economics at Vanderbilt.
 

Yes, that was alumni parent Ted Widmer ’76 providing historical context in the Apple TV+ series Lincoln's Dilemma. Widmer is a historian and journalist who also had one two pieces in the Boston Globe’s Ideas section this spring.
 

Yes, that was rising second, third, and seventh grade Gordon students (above), as well as Josie Harrington ’21 and Amelia Belay ’23, performing in Bayside School of Dance end of year recital in June. 

Yes, that was former Gordon coach Dale Fraza ’05 testifying before the Providence School Board in February. Fraza was weighing in on the decision to merge 360 High School, where he has taught since 2016, with Juanita Sanchez High School. photo: Fraza coaching on Engle Field in 2016
 

Yes, that was Collin Mburu ’23 among Moses Brown’s All-League, All-Division selections for boys varsity basketball this spring. Worth noting that Collin took these honors as a first-year student.

 

Yes, that was Tavie Abell ’06 quoted in NationSwell’s Looking Ahead:2024 report. Tavie is co-founder and CEO of Govern For America, a nonprofit that is bridging the gap between governments and emerging leaders to build a pipeline of diverse and dynamic public sector talent.
 

Yes, that is Lower School parent Jungil Hong having a solo show at Odd Kin Gallery on Valley Street in East Providence. The show spans over twenty years of her work, and runs through July 21st.
 

Yes, that was a Gordon fourth grader named top Petite Headliner at the Headliners Dance competition in March. The soon-to-be-fifth grader was representing Johnston’s High Steppin' Dance Academy.
 

Yes, that was Kari Buonanno ’15 back in Providence in April leading her #17 nationally ranked Princeton lacrosse team in a commanding win over #25 Brown University. Kari netted two goals and two assists in front of a crowd that included dozens of Gordon students, alums, and alumni parents.
 

Yes, that was Andrew Song ’20 and his mother, Jiyeon Kim (second and third from left), helping lead Wheeler’s Upper School Math Team to win the Rhode Island Math League championship this spring.
 

Yes, those were a seventh grader and an eighth grader celebrating with their teammates on the East Providence Tidal Wave swim team as they claimed the RIMA championship in early March at UMass Dartmouth. RIMA is the league of youth swimming teams from Boys and Girls Clubs throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
 

Yes, that was (left to right) Max Frank ’21, Meme Belay ’23, Pepper Travers ’20, Onyx Highsmith ’23 and Izzy Ragona ’21 in Wheeler’s winter production of Sweeney Todd. Behind the scenes, Will Salter ’21 was assistant stage manager, and alumni parent Cynthia Ragona provided these photos.
 

Yes, that was Lower School parent Keith Andrade (standing, third from right) playing goalie in Moses Brown’s alumni lacrosse game this spring. Keith’s first-ever lacrosse game was played on Gordon’s Engle Field.
 

Yes, that was Phoebe Porder ’20, Zahra Townsend ’23 and Onyx Highsmith ’23 (third, eighth and tenth from left) celebrating Wheeler’s win in the state championship Mock Trial competition this spring. They beat the Prout School in a dramatic final at Rhode Island Superior Court.
 

Yes, that was Megan Donahue ’16 winning Ithaca College’s 2024 Mary Hayes North Competition for Senior Piano Majors. The competition has all of Ithaca’s piano majors play a half hour of music from memory in a marathon recital.
 

Yes, that was friend of Gordon Jordyn Zimmerman featured on the CBS Morning News in May. A nonspeaking autistic woman, Jordyn has met with Gordon’s fifth grade over the past few years to talk about her work in disability advocacy.
 

Yes, that was Middle School and alumni parent Jonathan Glatt profiled by The Public’s Radio in April. The NPR station’s Artscape feature covered the work of Jonathan’s fine furniture workshop, O&G Studio.
 

Yes, that was Peyton Riegel ’23 on the team as Moses Brown’s girls ice hockey team won the state championship in March. They beat LaSalle in a dramatic 3-2 overtime win.
 

Yes, that was a group of four Middle School students taking third place in this year’s MindBlast XR Hackathon held by Winners Circle XR Academy. The hackathon combines the concept of ethical hacking with themes of social justice such as racism, discrimination and poverty.
 

Yes, that was Lower School and Middle School parent Sydney Skybetter profiled in the Boston Globe this April. An associate professor of theater arts and performance studies at Brown, Sydney brings engineering and robotics into his work in choreography and dance.
 

Yes, that was Daniel Martinez ’22 (second from left) and Cal Monte-Carcieri ’21 (far right) on St. Andrews’s e-sports team this spring. This was the team’s debut year, and they took the championship in the Rising Champions League.
 

Yes, that was Middle School parent and US Attorney Zachary Cunha making headlines in May for his work defending the civil rights of Rhode Island children. He gave an extensive interview to The Public’s Radio that aired May 31st.
 

Yes, that is dance instructor and friend of Gordon Rodney Eric López reflecting on a trip to Georgia and Alabama on the The Wisdom Daily blog in June. López was part of Gordon’s 2021 Civil Rights Trip, and returned this spring as part of his participation in the Glean Network.
 

And yes, that was Rodney with Gordon parent Damian Ewens ’90 leading the Dance by the Sea on June 20th. The celebration marked the solstice with movement and mindfulness by the ocean.
 

Yes, that is friend of Gordon Marcus Grant performing with the Sunday Jazz quartet on the Sunday of this year’s Newport Jazz Festival. Marcus is a musician and educator who has been doing guest lessons at Gordon for several years now.
 

Yes, that is alumni parent Sarah Ganz Blythe recently named the Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director of the Harvard Art Museums. While serving as the RISD Museum’s deputy director for exhibitions, education, and programs, Sarah has been a valuable partner to Gordon faculty, speaking with classes, arranging artist visits, and even helping send sixth grader’s artwork to represent the state of Rhode Island at an exhibit in Washington, DC.

 

Yes, that was Rachael Romain ’16 on the Instagram of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association the in late February. One of the captains of Clark University’s field hockey team, Romain was recently invited to participate in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association’s Multiracial Leadership Academy.
 

Yes, that was alumni parent Lisa Raiola named USA TODAY’s Rhode Island Woman of the Year this winter. Lisa was honored for the impact she has had on small businesses of Rhode Island as the founder and president of Hope & Main in Warren.
 

Yes, that was Middle School parent Sara Flanders, alumni parent Sayles Livingston and Lower School Director (and Middle School and alumni parent) Minna Ham in Providence Monthly’s annual Leading Ladies feature earlier this year.
 

Yes, that was cookbook author Joan Nathan ’57 opening her latest book with a quote from a report card she recieved at Gordon in the 1940s. Nathan’s My Life in Recipes: Food, Family and Memories includes her Gordon teacher testifying to Nathan’s love of cooking for her friends, a theme that has run through her life and career.
 

 

Yes, that was Nate Kelton ’17 inducted into the Holy Cross Chapter, Kappa Omega, of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society in history this winter. He’s in his junior year at Holy Cross and is enjoying his time in Worcester.
 

Yes, that is 2022 Britt Nelson Visiting Artist Jazzmen Lee-Johnson illustrating Ibram Kendi’s new adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s Barracoon. And yes, 2024 Britt Nelson Visiting Artist Kah Yangni also illustrated a recent Kendi-Hurston adaptation, The Making of Butterflies.
 

Yes, that was Lana Mburu ’20, President of St. Andrew’s National Honor Society, welcoming twenty-nine new inductees to the society. The video is on St. Andrew’s instagram.
 

Yes, those were two Gordon sisters in The Week Junior in May, sharing their enthusiasm for the magazine and their visit to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
 

Yes, that was Amelie Johnson ’22 and David Battle-Cardemil ’22 (third and fourth from left) on the winning team at the Rhode Island Envirothon competition. This summer, they will compete at the North American round of this global  environmental and natural resource problem-solving competition.
 

Yes, that was Gordon parent Christine Chitnis authoring CNN’s profile of Providence as the news network put Rhode Island’s capital second on their list of the best cities to visit in 2024. The article includes many Gordon connections, from the mention of the Lippitt House Museum (Fred and Mary Ann Lippitt attended Gordon in the 1920s) to the quote from Early Childhood and Lower School parent Kat Cummings. Chitnis also authored a more in-depth guide to Providence for Vogue.
 

Yes, that was Assana Bowen-Woods ’20 winning Lincoln School’s highest athletic honor, the Alexis Allen Boss ‘89 Athletic Award, this spring. The award goes to the scholar athlete who best exemplifies the commitment, superior leadership skills, humor, and high level of sportsmanship that Allie Boss showed while at Lincoln.
 

Yes, that was an Early Childhood parent, the Hon. Christopher K. Smith, celebrated as a Champion for Justice by Roger Williams University School of Law this spring. Smith is an Associate Justice on the Rhode Island Superior Court, and was honored for his work both as a jurist and as a community volunteer.
 

Yes, that was sculpture by Lou Najjar Rulin ‘11 (right, with Gordon classmate Hannah Rossheim ’11) taking first prize out of over two hundred and fifty entries in a juried show at Pawtucket Arts Collaborative in March. 
 

Yes, that was science teacher and Green Dean Cush Gillen featured in the spring issue of Independent School magazine, published by the National Association of Independent Schools. The magazine wanted to learn more about the role he plays leading sustainability-based curriculum development and campus practices at Gordon.


Yes, that was the biggest edition of Gordon in the Headlines we've ever run. Thanks to everyone who submitted news.

Seen a Gordon person being amazing? Report them immediately to Geoff Griffin at ggriffin@gordonschool.org or 401 480 9933.

Look back at more Gordon names in the headlines - links lead back as far as 2019!