Gordon in the headlines

Yes, that was Suha Venkataraman ’25 recognized at the Rhode Island State House in May for her volunteer activities celebrating Asian American history and heritage. Those volunteer activities included visiting Lower School classrooms at Gordon every fall to talk with students about Diwali, an annual tradition that Suha mentioned in her state house remarks. photo: Suha sharing the spotlight with her sister, a Gordon Middle Schooler
 

Yes, that was How I Learned to Die by Manya Glassman ’11 shown at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Rhode Island International Film Festival this summer. Manya spoke to the Boston Globe as summer began.
 

Yes, that is Ted Widmer ’76 collaborating with Paul McCartney on an oral history of Wings, McCartney's post-Beatles band. Known to many as a presidential speechwriter and historian, Widmer has deep rock and roll roots from his time in projects like the Upper Crust.
 

Yes, that was a Camila Arias-Tejada ’25 taking first place as all-around regional champion at the National Gymnastics Association regionals in May. She went on to place eighth all around at the nationals in Virginia in the days before her Gordon graduation.
 

Yes, that was alumni parent and current Gordon aunt Angie Ankoma on the PBS Newshour in July. As part of her work for the West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation, Angie was participating in Civity, a project seeking to reduce animosity across party lines, build trust and increase support for bipartisanship.
 

Yes, that was a Gordon second grader performing alongside his father, master percussionist Sidy Maiga, on the main stage of PVDFest earlier this month. Thanks to Don Mays for the photo.
 

Yes, that is Maggie McConnell ’04 and partner Josh Finger behind Claudine, the tasting menu restaurant that opened in Providence in May. The two got an extensive profile in the Boston Globe in the weeks before Claudine opened.
 

Yes, that was a Gordon fourth grader taking the gold medal in the Okemo Mountain championship race in March.
 

 

 

 

 

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Yes, that was Violet Abedon Pollock ’23 on the World Lacrosse instagram this summer. She was featured scoring a dramatic goal on behalf of Jamaica’s national lacrosse team for women under twenty. 
 

And yes, that was Violet and Isabelle Cummings ’21, Rose Couto ’24 and Elise Kurtis ’24 honored at the Providence Journal’s Rhode Island All State Awards for 2024-2025, recognizing the top student-athletes in each sport. 
 

Yes, that was Oskar Udris ‘21, Johan Udris ‘24, and George Udris ‘21 (from left) competing at the US Rowing Youth Nationals in Sarasota, Florida this July. Johan’s boat came in ninth in the Men’s U-17 Quad Sculls, and Oskar and George’s finished twelfth in Men’s Quad Sculls.
 

Yes, that was alumni parent Sydney Monstream-Quas on the cover of the Providence Journal in June celebrating the signing of a law banning the sale of assault weapons in Rhode Island. A tireless advocate for gun control, Monstream-Quas has met with Gordon students repeatedly over the years to talk about the practical work of advocacy and activism.
 

Yes, that was a pack of Middle School students in some of the imagery that made up This Collapsed and Expanding Breath, an installation by Gordon parents Megan and Murray McMillan. The exhibition was up at the Jamestown Arts Center in April, May and June.
 

Yes, that was eighth grade parent and key Gordon communications team member Marisa Kambour performing with her band Future Stories at Myrtle in East Providence earlier this month. They have an album and an EP up on Bandcamp at futurestories.bandcamp.com
 

Yes, those were three Middle Schoolers at May’s Power of Women: Leading with Purpose luncheon, chaperoned by math teacher Afiya Samuel. Alumni parent Sylvia Mwanje was part of the team organizing the event, which brought bestselling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones to town for an inspiring presentation.
 

Yes, that was a fourth grader giving testimony at the Massachusetts State House on behalf of updating that state’s bottle bill and reducing plastic waste last spring. Since they were old enough to walk, she and her brother have teamed up with their caregiver, Mary Lou Nicholson, to advocate for clean water and beaches.
 

Yes, that was Lower School parent Brian Chippendale profiled by Rhode Island PBS earlier this month, talking about his visual art, his music, and his connection to the Providence art community. Chippendale is also part of the documentary film Secret Mall Apartment, which recently was added to a number of streaming services.
 

Yes, that was a Gordon seventh grader and his East Providence football club, Bayside FC, traveling to England last winter. Their adventures were written up in the East Providence Reporter and are online here.
 

Yes, that was 2025 Britt Nelson Visiting Artist Allison Bianco named a MacDowell Fellow for the 2025/2026 season. MacDowell is the nation’s oldest artist residency and has hosted artists, writers, composers, architects, and performers including James Baldwin, Faith Ringgold, and Georgia O’Keefe.
 

Yes, that was Collin Mburu ’23 helping propel Moses Brown boys’ basketball to the Division II championship this March. We knew he had it in him ever since this half-court shot in the Nelson Field House. 
 

Yes, that was Ben Kravitz ’24 called “a budding star” in the Projo’s coverage of high school tennis last spring. He plays for Providence Country Day, which finished undefeated in league play, and reached the second round of the individual state championships. 
 

Yes, that was Ayla Sahin ’20 named Ivy League offensive player of the week earlier in September, after scoring two game-winning goals for Brown in wins over the University of Rhode Island and UConn. 
 

Yes, that was a Gordon fourth grader delivering a heartfelt message on Instagram in support of the Creative Reuse Center of Rhode Island. Gordon has a group membership at the CRC that gets heavy use from teachers in all corners of the school.
 

Yes, that was a Gordon Middle Schooler featured on the Instagram of West End ice cream shop Big Feeling this summer. The young Gordon Gator has been growing fresh mint for use in Big Feeling’s mint chip ice cream.
 

Yes, those were two Gordon first graders and their worm composting bin in a February edition of the East Bay Newspapers. Reporter Michell Mercure was covering Gordon’s partnership with Bootstrap Composting, and Green Dean Cush Gillen explained how our campuswide composting program aligned with Gordon’s lunch program, our sustainability initiatives and the role of food in the curriculum.
 

Yes, that was Gordon parent and Brown professor Marc Dunkelman on MSNBC’s Morning Joe in February, talking about his new book, Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back. The Atlantic called it “an essential book for anyone seeking to understand how Americans have lost faith in democratic institutions that over-promise and under-deliver.”
 

Yes, that was Sarah Fraza ‘06 featured on KCLU’s coverage of an effort to make sure Ventura County families had the supplies they needed for the new school year. Sarah is Regional Manager for the non-profit School on Wheels where she spent much of last winter supporting communities impacted by the Los Angeles fires.
 

Yes, that was Calder Smith-Montross ’22 (left) and Alejandro Quintero Cashore ’22 competing in the highest division of the state Academic Decathlon championship in March. Calder was recognized with a gold medal for the top science test score in the state and was also on the Wheeler team that won overall, and Alejandro won the gold medal for the top music test score in the state and also was recognized as the highest overall scoring member of his Bishop Hendricken team. Alejandro’s younger brother was on hand to provide essential enthusiasm and moral support. 

And yes, that was Alejandro playing his cello on the Instagram of the Sphinx Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to broadening participation in classical music. A few months later, Alejandro participated in NYO2, a free orchestra program that works each summer alongside Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra.

And yes, that is Calder named as a semi-finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, an annual academic competition among high school students  that began in 1955.
 

Yes, that was alumni parent and former trustee Marianne Monte named as Construction Dive Champion for 2025 for her work at Shawmut Design and Construction. Marianne was a strong, kind leader during her time at Gordon and it’s no surprise she was honored in the category of mentor.
 

Yes, that was Lou Najjar Rulin ‘11 and Nellie Harvey ’12 with two gallery shows up in early September. Lou’s show, “At Home In Their Skin,” was at the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative and Nellie’s show was at the Wrigley Studio West Wing Gallery at Tiverton Four Corners. More on Lou’s work at www.lounajjarrulin.com and more on Nellie’s at www.nellieharvey.com.
 

Yes, that was Ryan Green ’14 behind a feature article in Oceanographic Magazine. Ryan wrote and shared a photo credit for a piece on groundbreaking coral preservation work happening in Cuba.

 

Yes, that was alumni parent Eli Nixon named Educator of the Year by the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association. Eli was among the activists, artists and scientists who led workshops at Gordon’s Beyond COP21 Symposium in 2022.

 

Yes, seven out of the seventeen players were Gators as Providence Youth Lacrosse’s 5/6 team won the Rhode Island Youth Lacrosse Division II championship in June - and the coaches were 100% Gordon parents. Bonus: a Gordon fifth grader scored the winning goal, in sudden death overtime.
 

Yes, that was a crowd of Gordon faces at alumni parent Judge Melissa DuBose’s official investiture to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. In the photo, we have US District Court Chief Judge Jack McConnell, Sarah McConnell, Amy Harrington and Judge DuBose, all alumni parents, as well as Wyatt Harrington ’18, Cameron Harrington ’15, Lara Ewens Montecalvo ’88, and Early Childhood parent Christopher Smith. Present but not pictured: alumni parent Eileen Craddock.
 

Yes, that is alumni parent Kim Anderson being honored at Sophia Academy’s Women of Wisdom celebration in November. Kim is creator and owner of Rhode Island’s Plant City whose previous honors include being named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Small Business Association.
 

Yes, that was Peter Buonanno ’19 named Ivy League Lacrosse Rookie of the Year, helping lead his team to a 13-4 record last spring and leaving dramatic clips littered across Princeton’s Instagram account.
 

Yes, that was Rachael Romain ’16 (center) honored with Clark University’s Senior Class Award after four years of extraordinary leadership in Clark’s field hockey program. This fall, Rachael is back at Gordon, helping coach field hockey alongside her former coach Afiya Samuel. 
 

Yes, that was Aiyana Green ’24, Celia Bodurtha ’23, Amaya Felder ’24, Rose Couto ’24 and Sophia Clyne '21 helping Moses Brown’s Girls Indoor Track team to their fourth consecutive Class C Championship last winter.
 

Yes, that was a Gordon seventh grader playing on Ireland’s Girls U15 Team at this year’s 2025 Heritage Cup in May. Team Éire is Ireland Lacrosse’s national development team, and they took second place overall wins over Team France, Latin America, Germany and Greece.
 

Yes, that is Gordon grandparent Garry George birdwatching with Anderson Cooper in the promotional video for 60 Minutes’ fall new season. George was senior director for climate strategy at the Audubon and is an avid naturalist.
 

Yes, that was Lana Mburu ’20 quoted repeatedly in a February piece in Boston College’s newspaper, The Heights. The story covered the Jamaica Magis, BC’s service immersion trip to Kingston, Jamaica, which had Lana and her classmates connecting with communities throughout the city.
 

Yes, that was two seventh graders crowned the new Stock Market Game middle school champions of Rhode Island in May. The Stock Market Game is a national competition that has been part of Gordon’s Middle School math curriculum for many years. Here’s a flashback to the time the Gordon winners were written up by the Huffington Post’s finance columnist.
 

Yes, that was Gordon parent Mickell Carter in Time Magazine last winter, with a Valentine’s Day piece that foregrounds the Black Panther Party’s ethic of community-wide care and love, and how that ethic drove innovative programs for young people in the public school system. Carter’s work in public history includes an oral history of Bloody Sunday; Gordon eighth graders visit the site of that 1965 march on their Civil Rights Trip each year.
 

Yes, that was Tavie Abell ’06 co-authoring a piece in Government Executive, a daily newsletter for leaders in the federal government, arguing for the importance of investing in federal employees. Abell is CEO of Govern America, which works to encourage young people to join the public sector.
 

Yes, that was Cian Wood ‘23, Daniel Martinez ‘22 and Rayden Tran ‘23 inducted to the National Honor Society chapter at St. Andrew’s last spring. Their honor reflects their embodiment of the four pillars of the National Honor Society: leadership, scholarship, character, and service. 
 

Yes, those were two eighth graders and two teammates taking first place at the BTS dance competition in Bellingham in early March. The pair dances as part of Shooting Stars in Seekonk.
 

Yes, that was a pack of seventh graders at the State House with their families in March, exercising their right to assembly. They were deep into an extended study of the first amendment and eager to put their knowledge to use.
 

Yes, that was theater teacher Don Mays directing the play Fat Ham last April at the Wilbury Theatre Group, the “home for groundbreaking artists and adventurous audiences” that has featured many Gordon faculty, staff and parents over the years. Don spoke to the Boston Spirit magazine for an extended piece on the play.

Seen a Gordon face standing out in the crowd? Reach out to Geoff Griffin at 401 480 9933 or ggriffin@gordonschool.org

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