The Magazine for University Liggett School | Spring 2024
OUR VISION. OUR FUTURE. Going from Exceptional to Extraordinary
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METRY LAW
Dear University Liggett School community,
Welcome to our spring 2024 issue of Perspective . As I write this letter, a future filled with promise for University Liggett School is coming into focus. Recently, we reached an important milestone in Our Vision. Our Future. our 10-month, community-wide strategic planning process, as more than 150 community members came together on April 27 for Community Visioning Day. Thank you to all who could join us for this important day of engagement and reflection from which our vision will emerge. Our new mission, our core values, our vision, and our soon-to-be crafted strategic initiatives will provide focus and clarity of direction for the years ahead. They also create a common language and serve as a finely tuned compass, pointing us forward and enabling us to prioritize our efforts. That clarity in direction is emerging thanks to a spirit of devotion to ULS shared by all and through a sense that we are all part of something much more significant than any one individual. As we move forward, I can confidently say that each day I spend at ULS I am regularly reminded of the many strengths that make our success possible. I also know that the strongest school communities are those whose work is grounded in their mission, core values, vision, and strategic direction. So it will be for us, as we imagine all that is possible on behalf of our students.
Tom Sheppard, Head of School
1045 Cook Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 | 313.884.4444
Spring 2024
3 Around Campus 12 Strategic Planning 21 Development 26 Distinguished Alumna
28 Alumni Q&A 36 Alumni Events 45 Class Notes 52 In Memoriam
The Magazine for University Liggett School | uls.org
AROUND CAMPUS
Radium Girls kicks off state theater festival
During the two-day festival, more than 2,000 students and their directors saw multiple shows, chose from more than 200 workshops, competed in their choice of 18 different theatre-specific individual events, auditioned for scholarships from colleges and universities and mingled with industry professionals. Radium Girls marks the Players’ first production since 2019’s 12 Angry Jurors to be selected as a main stage production at the State Thespian Festival. Other ULS main stage productions include, Arsenic and Old Lace , 2015; Master Harold and the Boys , 2012; Lend Me A Tenor , 2009; Bus Stop , 2006; Company of Wayward Saints , 2003; Do Black Patent Leather Shoes , 1999 and A Beast on the Moon in 1996.
ULS’s production of Radium Girls was selected as a featured main stage production at the Michigan Educational Theater Association State Thespian Festival in December 2023. “The State Thespian Festival is an extremely exciting weekend in which students and educators from across the state can share their common love for the theater arts,” said Dr. Phill Moss, Creative and Performing Arts Department Chair at University Liggett School. “The festival also allows the students and directors the chance to network, attend workshops, and gain valuable practical information on how to improve their theater programs, and we’re thrilled to perform Radium Girls on the main stage.”
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SPORTS ROUND-UP
FOUR SENIORS TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL
Jay Ricci ‘94 was named head coach of the varsity baseball team in October 2023. Ricci steps up as the Knights’ varsity head coach after serving as the head coach for the JV baseball team. He brings several years of head coaching and baseball experience, including serving as a head coach since 2017 within the Detroit Caesars travel baseball organization and in Grosse Pointe Farms City Little League. Additionally, he held a four-year term as GPFCLL board president. Ricci played Division 1 baseball as a left-handed pitcher for the University of Dayton. “Jay is one of our own,” said Leython Williams ‘03, Assistant Head of School for Athletics and Ancillary Programs. “What excites us most about Jay is that he’s invested in the long-term health of our baseball program. This is not a temporary assignment for Jay — he is committed to the ULS community.” For Ricci, being named head coach at his alma mater, a school he attended from first through 12th grade and where his children now attend, is as special as it gets. “I’m really excited about it. I’m excited to coach at this level,” he said. Ricci said he is a firm believer in what the school stands for athletically and academically, and his coaching philosophy is to build up his players. “ULS is a special place in that it brings kids in from all areas,” he said. “I emphasize making every player feel like they are No. 1. Whether they are the first player or 14th, I want to make them feel like they are important and can contribute.” Ricci replaces longtime head coach Dan Cimini, who departed last summer after a 17-year tenure that established the ULS baseball program as a state powerhouse. Under Cimini’s leadership, the Knights won five state championships. Alumnus named as head varsity baseball coach
Congratulations to Brynn Collins ‘24 , who committed to playing lacrosse at Hope College, Zachary Hill ‘24 , who will play football at Siena Heights University, and Jordan Stefanides ‘24 , who committed to playing football at Wayne State University in the fall.
Preston Barr ‘24 will play baseball at the University of Michigan beginning in the fall.
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BOYS SOCCER The boys varsity soccer team carried a No. 1 ranking in MHSAA Division 4 for most of the season and claimed Catholic High School League and District Championships.
GIRLS HOCKEY Girls ice hockey is a flagship program of the Michigan Girls High School Hockey League as the first Michigan high school to offer a girls ice hockey program. ULS has won four state championships in the last decade, including back-to-back-to- back championships in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The team raised their championship banner in McCann Arena in November. The Knights ended the 2024 season as the runner-up in the state championship.
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CROSS COUNTRY Cross Country team members Kerith Short ‘25 and Michael Darlington ‘25 ran in the State Finals Meet at the Michigan International Speedway in November.
FIELD HOCKEY Field Hockey finished their season in the top eight in the state.
FOOTBALL Varsity football hosted their first MHSAA playoff game since 2015 where they lost in the District semifinals. They finished the regular season ranked #14 in Division 7 — their highest ranking in more than a decade.
VOLLEYBALL The girls varsity volleyball team won their second consecutive District Championship.
SWIMMING Swimmers Liliana Haladjian ‘27 , Annabel Klaasen ‘26 and Allie Roth ‘24 qualified to swim in the state meet. Haladjian swam the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle, Klaasen swam the 500-yard freestyle and Roth swam the 100-yard breaststroke.
BOYS BASKETBALL Under the guidance of new head coach, James Scott, the boys basketball team finished the season with a third place finish in the Catholic High School League.
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SPORTS ROUND-UP
BOYS HOCKEY The boys varsity hockey team defeated Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 1-0 to earn the Catholic High School League championship.
TENNIS Sebastian Courtright ‘24 won his first No. 1 Division 4 singles tennis state champion, in his fourth straight appearance in the State Championship match. The varsity tennis team ended the season as state runner-up. The team also won the Regional Championship. “It was a really good feeling to finally win it, especially after making it to the finals my sophomore and junior year, getting to win it in my senior year was really special.”
GIRLS BASKETBALL The Knights earned their third District Championship in a row with a 38-27 win over Mount Clemens High School.
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AROUND CAMPUS
STEAM Faire participants of all ages delved into a diverse array of exhibits and fun, engaging activities.
CELEBRATING STEAM 2023: A journey of exploration
In a showcase of curiosity and innovation, more than 800 people attended the 2023 Community STEAM Faire in November. Participants of all ages delved into a diverse array of exhibits and fun, engaging activities. The success of this event would not have been possible without the unwavering support of dedicated exhibitors, tireless volunteers, and generous sponsors. Their commitment to nurturing a passion for STEAM subjects within our community deserves immense appreciation and applause.
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CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: ULS students sweep essay contests
ULS students swept the high school and middle school categories in the Louisa St. Clair Daughters of the American Revolution essay contests, during the 2023-24 school year. In the middle school category, three Liggett Lifers including Sophia Carson ‘28 earned a first-place honor, Amelie Duhaime ‘28 earned a second-place honor, and Jacob Rabbani ‘28 earned a third-place honor. Carson, Duhaime and Rabbani have all been at ULS since prekindergarten. In the high school category, Madeline Unkel, Teresa Romanelli, and Lucy Wujek earned top honors, with Unkel securing first place, Romanelli earning second, and Wujek earning third place. The first-place accomplishments of Unkel and Carson have propelled them forward to the state competition. And for the second time in three years a ULS student has earned state honors in the DAR essay contest. Unkel earned first place in the state. Unkel’s essay will now move on to the national competition, where she will compete against winners from the other 49 states. Unkel is the second ULS student to win the state competition in the last three years, senior Ella Henness received first place honors in 2022. “Once you know your students as well as we do here at ULS, you can give very targeted feedback specifically tailored for each student and their style.”, Chris Hemler, Cynthia N. Ford Chair of History and the Social Studies. STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL THRIVE BECAUSE: Our curriculum: Because of the value that ULS places on building skills in our curriculum, in addition to covering content, our students understand the importance of growing and developing their mastery of skills such as communication and critical thinking. Our faculty: Our educators, especially in the humanities, focus on writing and helping the students develop as writers. Class sizes: The amount of feedback faculty members can provide is directly tied to the small class sizes. The small class sizes allow teachers more time per student which in turn enables them to understand each student as an individual. Our students are poised for success in academia, their careers, and beyond. Their dedication and hard work exemplify the excellence we foster at ULS.
Top photo, left to right: Lucy Wujek, Teresa Romanelli, Madeline Unkel. Bottom photo, left to right: Amelie Duhaime, Sophia Carson, Jacob Rabban i.
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Zhang Lao Shi explains Chinese character-writing fundamentals to a student.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CHINESE PROGRAM REDEFINES LANGUAGE LEARNING: ‘Chinese is not difficult; Chinese is just different.’
The success stories from ULS speak volumes about the program’s efficacy. Many students showcase advanced language skills, enabling them to enter junior-level college courses. Zhang proudly emphasizes that learning Chinese isn’t just advantageous in academic circles; it’s also highly beneficial in professional settings. Government roles, academic fields, and medical professions often demand proficiency in Chinese, offering abundant career opportunities for proficient speakers. THE TAKEAWAY? Our Middle School Chinese students have the building-blocks to master a valuable language, but also are poised for success in Upper School Chinese, college, career pathways, and beyond.
University Liggett School’s Middle School Chinese program is breaking stereotypes and embracing the mantra, “Chinese is not difficult; Chinese is just different.” Han Zhang, Middle School Chinese teacher, is on a mission to dispel the fear surrounding learning Chinese. “I hear parents say, ‘I want my student to take Chinese, but they’re scared because they think it’s hard,’” she said. Addressing that concern, Zhang emphasizes that Chinese grammar is refreshingly straightforward and the language itself is highly efficient. Her innovative teaching approach involves linking ancient characters with contemporary ones, using images to help students forge connections and learn characters gradually. Zhang firmly believes that learning Chinese is an investment in students’ futures. She highlights its importance as a critical language recognized by key governmental bodies like the US Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security. Remarkably, these agencies offer rewards and opportunities for students proficient in Chinese, ranging from scholarships and study abroad programs to internships and job prospects.
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AROUND CAMPUS
Strategic planning and new initiatives highlight Tom Sheppard’s first year as Head of School
Q. Looking ahead, what are your goals and priorities for the school in the upcoming academic year, and how do you plan to achieve them? With our core values established, we now launch the next phases of Our Vision. Our Future. in which we revisit our mission, establish our vision, and create the strategic plan that will guide us in the years ahead. While that effort will lead to a number of important educational initiatives, we’ve already started to push forward having recently announced to current families a number of enhancements to our current programming and the introduction of new programming such as Global Online Academy, all of which will be part of our students’ experience next year. Beyond programming, we are also beginning to imagine the future of the spaces in which learning occurs across the campus. Where that dreaming leads remains to be seen, but we draw inspiration from the Boll Center and the countless ways that space has positively impacted many aspects of life at ULS. At the end of the day, I am excited to imagine all of the ways our community may evolve in the years ahead. As we do, I know we start from a position of strength with the love and devotion that so many have given to ULS and our predecessor schools for nearly 150 years.
Q. Reflecting on your first months as head of school, what have been the most surprising or unexpected aspects of your role? The fact that there is very little I would say was surprising is a testament to the community and the entire head of school search process where I was able to learn a great deal from so many who were so forthcoming. Instead of being surprising, many experiences have reaffirmed the decision Jennifer and I made to join the ULS community when the offer was extended. Everyday I find myself amongst committed faculty, students, parents, trustees and alumni who have successfully navigated the pandemic and are eager to help ULS continue its journey. Each of those moments is a source of inspiration for me as we imagine the future of education on our campus. Q. How have you approached building relationships with faculty, staff, students, and parents, and what strategies have you used to foster a sense of community within the school? While we are all pulled in many directions, there is no substitute for spending time together to build the relationships upon which our success is built. Even today, seven months into my time at ULS, I am continuing to meet one-on-one with faculty and staff, so we can hear each other’s stories and also discover what we have in common. Faculty and staff gatherings at the Head of School House and periodic meetings with all faculty and staff have also provided important venues for honest dialogue about our strengths and opportunities for growth.
Time with students is invaluable. Just today I had lunch with the leaders of the Class of 2024 as we have done several times over the course of the year. Each month we also draw a senior’s name out of a hat with the winner getting an open invitation, from me, for them and three friends to join me for take out from a restaurant of their choice. Time spent aimlessly wandering the halls of the lower school and peeking in classrooms lets me experience the joy of learning and innocence of youth, which is on display there everyday. Selfishly, those journeys also often result in a bear hug around the knees from one of many lower school students. Those moments are when one is reminded how lucky we are to spend our days with young people. Q. Could you share an example of a particularly rewarding moment or achievement during your first few months as head of school? Launching our strategic planning process, Our Vision. Our Future ., has already provided many rewarding moments with many more certainly
on the horizon. Watching our students, faculty, staff, parent
leaders, and trustees engage with each other during Core Values Week in December showed me, with great clarity, how much many have invested in this community. That work led, thankfully, to the Board of Trustees’ approval of our core values in January. Now the real work begins as we endeavor to ensure that excellence, empathy, respect, integrity, and community become ingrained in everything we do.
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STRATEGIC PLANNING
STRATEGIC PLANNING IS UNDERWAY In November 2023, University Liggett School launched Our Vision. Our Future . a community-wide strategic planning process that will shape the future of our school. “A school community as remarkable as ours is capable of accomplishing great things,” explained Head of School Tom Sheppard. “The strategic planning process allows us to take a close look at what we believe, why we exist, where we are going, and how we will get there.” Our journey forward is grounded in a 10 month process to reflect upon and reimagine the four foundational elements of the ULS community: Our Core Values: Approved by the Board of Trustees (BOT), January 2024 Our Mission Statement: Approved by the BOT, February 2024 Our Vision: To be approved by the BOT, Spring 2024 Our Strategic Plan: Will be determined and implemented, Fall 2024
Gaining a full understanding of the ULS experience is critical for building a plan for the future. By considering all facets of our operation, we are able to determine how we can best support our students and faculty, how we can create innovative, market-leading programming, and how we might imagine the kinds of facilities that will best support our work in the future. The timing of Our Vision. Our Future . is the result of the convergence of several factors, including the recently completed Independent Schools Associate for the Central States (ISACS) accreditation, the addition of Sheppard as head of school, and the realities of a post-pandemic education “One benefit of doing this work after the pandemic is that it allows us to analyze new patterns, trends, and data to help us better understand our new reality,” said Adam Hellebuyck, Dean of Curriculum and Assessment. With the strategic planning process well underway, ULS is moving forward in a purposeful and positive direction — one that will impact Knights for years to come.
Gaining a full understanding of the ULS experience is critical for building a plan for the future.
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STRATEGIC PLANNING
WHO IS DOING THIS WORK?
Core Values Week Over the course of a week in December 2023, trustees, faculty, staff, administrators, students, and parent leaders engaged in thoughtful brainstorming exercises that considered, shared, refined, and discussed the values which could stand as the clearest expression of what we believe. After two months of careful conversation and data analysis, five core values emerged as reflecting what the community noted as most important to them. To further express the community’s intent, members of the strategic planning committee wrote core values statements to accompany each core value. Together, the core values and the statements were then forwarded to the Board of Trustees for their consideration and, ultimately, their unanimous approval. According to Juip, one of the most eye-opening moments of the process took place during Core Values Week. “Although we hosted many different workshops, a cohesive set of values emerged. Each of these groups worked independently, and yet all of them identified community, integrity, respect, excellence, and empathy as values that are core to ULS,” she said. “This unity highlights our alignment and inspires us all to commit ourselves to uphold these values.” Community Survey In addition to Core Values Week, the ULS community had an opportunity to share their perspectives and experiences through a survey which opened in November. More than 1,300 survey responses were received, providing an abundance of data that will inform the development of the strategic plan.
Three Strategic Planning Co-Chairs are leading this process, including Sheppard, Hellebuyck and parent and Board of Trustees member Maureen Juip. They are joined by a 17-member Strategic Planning Committee comprised of trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni who have answered the call to lead at an important point in the school’s history. “Right now, we’re ‘visioning the possible,’” said Hellebuyck, adding, “it’s an exciting time to be a part of the ULS community.” To partner with the Committee and help guide the process, ULS retained Christina Drouin, founder and executive director of the Center for Strategic Planning and a national leader in the field of independent school strategic planning. PHASE ONE: DISCOVERY Preparation for Our Vision. Our Future . began early in the 2023-2024 school year when the Board of Trustees consulted with ULS community leaders to identify Strategic Planning Committee members. Once goals were set and milestone dates were established, our four-phase strategic planning journey was officially launched in November 2023. The first phase of the strategic planning process was the Discovery Phase, which lasted from November of 2023 to March of 2024 and included significant work on our Core Values and Mission Statement. During this time, the Committee performed internal and external research, and began identifying strategic drivers.
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Joan Primo ‘77
Elizabeth Jamett
Michelle Cureton
Paul Rossi
Mandy Johnson
Jennifer Dickey
Tom Sheppard, Co-Chair
Maureen Juip, Co-Chair
Paul Duhaime
Tony Smith
Gretchen Knoell
Kelley Hamilton
Leython Williams ‘03
David Nicholson
Adam Hellebuyck, Co-Chair
Jennie Osman
Chris Hemler
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Trustees, faculty, staff, administrators, students, and parent leaders engaged in thoughtful brainstorming exercises, during Core Values week, that considered, shared, refined, and discussed the values which could stand as the clearest expression of what we believe.
ULS Core Values
Community We believe that a community grounded in trust, belonging, and safety unites us, secure in the shared understanding that we are stronger together. We advance community by honoring our past, embracing that which we have in common, and celebrating the unique talents we each possess. Integrity We believe that integrity is the cornerstone of our community and lives. We aspire to develop responsible citizens who are prepared to face the challenges of the future with steadfast character and a commitment to ethical decision-making. Respect We believe that respect is an essential thread of the fabric of our community, creating an indispensable bond in our relationships with each other and the school. We aspire to ground our thoughts, words, and actions in a culture of respect, strengthening our appreciation for each other, for those who have come before us, for those who will follow in our footsteps, and for the diverse array of perspectives that thrive at University Liggett School. Excellence We believe the pursuit of excellence is the foundation of our educational community. In that spirit, our academics, programs, and experiences prepare students to be lifelong learners who impact the world for the better. Empathy We believe empathy is vital for our collective commitment to humanity and our unwavering pursuit of excellence. Community members consistently embody empathy through the practices of inclusion, kindness, compassion, and equity, thereby affirming the dignity of every human being.
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STRATEGIC PLANNING
Mission Statement A third key component of the Discovery Phase was the examination of the ULS Mission Statement to assess how well it serves as an expression of why our community exists. As was the case with the core values, an extended period of reflection, conversation, and revision led to the development of our new mission statement which was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees in February.
Inspiring lives of purpose through education grounded in a spirit of discovery.
University Liggett School is a community committed to excellence in teaching and learning. We nurture curiosity, instill confidence, and foster personal and collective growth, thereby empowering young people to shape a brighter future for all.
Adopted by the University Liggett School Board of Trustees, February 2024
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STRATEGIC PLANNING
PHASE TWO: VISIONING DAY
The second phase of the Our Vision. Our Future . began with Community Visioning Day on April 27, when a wide range of ULS community members gathered to imagine what the future could look like for ULS if it were to successfully address the strategic drivers that were discussed and solidified during Visioning Day. Attendees discussed opportunities and challenges that might arise over the next five years and then brainstormed ideas, drafted vision statements, and identified goals that the Strategic Planning Committee is currently incorporating into an organized framework to present to the Board of Trustees.
PHASE THREE: WHAT COMES NEXT
The vision, goals, and strategies that emerged from Visioning Day in April are currently being finalized and will be presented to the Board of Trustees for a vote in June. If they are approved, the process will focus on building out a framework for the plan. “The vision and goals provide a direction, and the strategies give a sense of how ULS will get there,” said Drouin. Throughout the summer, the Strategic Planning Committee will operationalize the strategic plan, which will be done by plotting out a series of initiatives that will be executed by the ULS community on a phased timeline. Once all this is firmly in place, ULS will be ready to move to the Implementation Phase. PHASE FOUR: IMPLEMENTATION The transition to implementation will begin next Fall under the expert leadership and guidance of Kelley Hamilton, ULS’ current Associate Head of School and Chief Operating Officer. To lead the successful execution of the plan, Hamilton is transitioning into a new role as Associate Head of School for Strategic Initiatives. In this capacity, Hamilton will ensure that the new strategic plan is at the center of all decision making, and that all initiatives are implemented in a way that aligns with our mission, vision, and values. Execution of our strategic initiatives will primarily be the responsibility of faculty and administrators, but along the way we’ll seek out assistance from many members of the ULS community as we bring our vision and our future to life.
More than 150 members of the ULS community, including alumni, students, parents, and trustees, joined together at Community Visioning Day to imagine our shared vision for the future
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GOING FROM EXCEPTIONAL TO EXTRAORDINARY
“Our strategic plan makes ULS stronger by giving us clear benchmarks and goals that we can all work together on to help bring our vision for the future to life” shared Hellebuyck. Since beginning the strategic planning process in November, the ULS community has displayed their commitment to creating a one-of-a-kind educational experience at our school. Students, faculty and staff, parents, trustees, and alumni have freely given their time and efforts, participating in a variety of ways. Their participation demonstrates the strength of the school community and provides valuable perspective for those on the Strategic Planning Committee. Sheppard agrees and emphasizes that the school community plays a key role in bringing ULS’ future to life. “The more we engage with those who are invested in the community, the more we will undertake a shared journey, which in turn leads to shared successes.”
When the work of the strategic planning process is complete, and we’ve begun to implement the Our Vision. Our Future . plan, the impact on the ULS community will be profound. Throughout the process, we will have affirmed our most central beliefs, clarified the fundamental reasons for the school’s existence, established where our journey will lead in the years ahead, and developed a road map for the next few years. “Having the full ULS community participate in the strategic planning process is critical to its future success, and will only make us stronger as a school,” Juip shared. “By engaging with the full community, we can foster trust and transparency while we work together to develop a shared mission and vision for the school’s future. Ultimately, this full participation makes the process more effective in guiding the school forward.” These efforts and the resulting knowledge will help us broaden the educational experience we bring to our students.
“If we are to undertake a journey into the future, we need to build upon the school’s long and storied past, we need to hear the voices of the present, and we need to imagine how our work will support
future Knights.” – Tom Sheppard, Head of School
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COMMUNITY VISIONING DAY
In April, Community Visioning Day was a significant milestone, as more than 150 members of our community came together to imagine our shared vision for the future. It exemplified our community’s unity and diversity as voices and perspectives were shared. The Strategic Planning Committee will now undertake a thorough process of reviewing all of the vision statements and goals that were created. The Board of Trustees will consider a vision statement and strategies at their June meeting. Watch a video recap here.
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Looking to the Future
As the Director of Development and Alumni Relations, I am thrilled to connect with you through the pages of Perspective magazine. It’s evident, as you walk through the hallways, observe the bustling classrooms, witness captivating performances on stage, and cheer on our athletes on the field, that there’s a sense of optimism about the future at University Liggett School. Throughout our history, ULS, and our predecessor schools, have been a source of educational excellence in our region. Yet, as we stand at this juncture, it’s imperative that we ensure this tradition of excellence persists for generations to come. That’s why we’ve embarked on this exciting journey with the Our Vision. Our Future . strategic planning process. We’ve defined our Core Values, refreshed our Mission Statement, and recently experienced a thought-provoking Visioning Day. Now, we eagerly anticipate the launch of our Strategic Initiatives. Today presents a remarkable opportunity to be part of University Liggett School. Our students are thriving academically, athletically and artistically. At the heart of this success is our vibrant alumni community. You are the foundation upon which ULS stands, and your continued support, including your invaluable gifts to our school, propels us forward. Your support in every form is deeply appreciated. As always, I am eager to hear from you and am grateful for your continued support and engagement with University Liggett School.
Cressie Boggs Director of Development & Alumni Relations
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Annual Fund participation is vital to ULS community
The Annual Fund at University Liggett School provides vital resources that allow us to maintain academic excellence, enrich extracurricular opportunities, foster diversity and inclusion, maintain campus facilities, and respond to emerging needs. Donations to this critical fund help us to support faculty development, technology upgrades, financial aid, facility improvements, and more, ensuring that ULS students receive a top-tier education and have access to a well-rounded learning experience. By contributing to the Annual Fund, donors play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our school and empowering students to succeed. Your contribution matters, and we are grateful for your ongoing commitment to ULS. To make a gift to support University Liggett School’s Annual Fund, please visit, uls.org/AnnualFund. Thank you!
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DEVELOPMENT
Join us at the ULS Golf Classic We will host our third annual University Liggett School Golf Classic at Lochmoor Club on Monday, July 29, 2024. This event, which is Chaired by ULS parent Ted Metry and Co-Chaired by ULS alumni Lore Dodge ‘68 GPUS and Bill Shelden ‘68 GPUS, benefits ULS athletic teams and clubs.
SUPPORT THE ULS GOLF CLASSIC Become a sponsor: There are many sponsorship
UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL GOLF CLASSIC
Get your team together: Rally your friends for a day of golf, food, and fun! Tickets are $400 a golfer or $1,500 for a foursome and includes 18-holes of golf, lunch, beverages on the course, end of event cocktail reception and tournament prizes. Tickets are on sale now!
opportunities available for individuals or companies. Sponsorship deadline is June 30, 2024.
PRESENTED BY RAY LAETHEM MOTOR VILLAGE
UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL GOLF CLASSIC
Visit uls.org/golfclassic
PRESENTED BY RAY LAETHEM MOTOR VILLAGE
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DEVELOPMENT
This year, Liggett Knight raised nearly $450,000 to support school academic initiatives, building improvements, co-curriculars, and more! The April 19 event, held at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, included live, silent, and fishbowl auctions. Since its inception, Liggett Knight has raised more than $5.1 million for school initiatives. We are truly grateful for all of the generous bidders, donors, and sponsors, who through their generosity are now part of an incredible legacy of fundraising for ULS. LIGGETT KNIGHT 2024
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Urban farming visionary Nona Yehia ‘89 named ULS’s 2024 Distinguished Alumna for sustainable innovations and community leadership
Architect and urban farming visionary Nona Yehia ’89 has built her successful career upon the foundation of her University Liggett School education. Her impressive accomplishments and commitment to creating a more sustainable and inclusive world have made her the ULS 2024 Distinguished Alumna.
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2024 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA
“U LS is where I was taught to think, and my time there really gave me confidence. ... This award is incredibly meaningful to me, and I’m humbled to come home to honor and celebrate all that ULS has given me.”
Yehia’s education was a big motivator for her, and she was encouraged at ULS to imbue her career with her individual passions. This blend is perfectly illustrated by Vertical Harvest, the urban farming company that she co-founded in 2016 and now leads as CEO. Vertical Harvest is committed to building the country’s first network of hydroponic urban greenhouses — built tall on fractions of an acre while being capable of producing as much food as five acres of traditional farmland. After establishing greenhouses in her current hometowns of Jackson Hole, WY and Westbrook, ME, Yehia is now bringing Vertical Harvest to Detroit, with a 60,000 sq. ft. facility in the Milwaukee Junction neighborhood. Slated to open in 2025, the 74-foot-tall Detroit farm will use 95% less water than traditional farms and produce around 2.2 million pounds of fresh vegetables and greens year-round. Seventy percent of the produce grown in Detroit will stay local and be distributed within 100 miles to schools, hospitals, restaurants, and local grocery markets. As Vertical Harvest continues to expand across the country, Yehia can trace the roots of her success to her lessons and experiences at ULS. Her love of the school’s community began with her enrollment in the third grade. “I built meaningful relationships at ULS, and the friendships I made are the strongest I’ll ever have,” she said. “People have always filled my soul, and ULS really taught me how to talk to people and get to know them.” One of the relationships forged during her early years has been especially significant – she met her husband, Michael Sullivan ’89, in the sixth grade. Yehia and Sullivan live in Jackson Hole, where they’ve raised their two children. “When he was 11, Michael met me and also took a trip to Wyoming. He likes to say he fell in love with both that year.” In addition to nurturing Yehia’s love of people and community, her time at ULS encouraged her to explore new things and find her passions. “High school, in particular, allowed me to take risks,” she said, “I played one season on the women’s ice hockey team, and I think I was on the ice for about seven seconds a game. I was involved in a lot of different activities, and in doing so, discovered a great deal about myself and what I needed to succeed.” Yehia also participated in student government as class vice president and in the music department as first-chair trumpet. She credits her music teacher, James Hohmeyer, for helping her discover the discipline she needed to be great.
“ULS taught me a skill set that I could really build on,” Yehia remembered. “It was more than academic skills and social skills; I learned the value of the process, and that was really foundational for me.” One of those foundational experiences for Yehia was in art class with Edward Jacomo. “Mr. Jacomo made me think about art in a critical way,” she said. “He was such an explorer in his own right, and he really built a community in the room. He taught us the tools and skills, but also a way of thinking that we could take other places.” For Yehia, those other places included the University of Michigan for undergraduate studies and Columbia University for an MA in architecture — and eventually to Vertical Harvest and Jackson Hole. “I fell in love with the Jackson Hole area and with the people. The community really reminds me a lot of ULS.” When Yehia and co-founder Caroline Croft-Estay started Vertical Harvest, they were committed to creating an inclusive community. Yehia has a brother with different abilities, and Croft-Estay had worked as an employment facilitator. Based on their experiences, they developed a customized, inclusive employment model that provides meaningful employment for individuals with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. As part of Vertical Harvest’s Grow Well program, employees of all abilities are given the opportunity to innovate and lead. Nona’s inclusivity, environmental efforts, architectural skill, and business acumen have led her to be named a CNN Champion of Change. Vertical Harvest has also been twice named a finalist for Fast Company’s Best Places to Work for Innovators. Yehia believes lessons learned at ULS served her well on that road to innovation. “ULS gave me a great foundation and contributed a great deal to who I am today.”
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ALUMNI Q&A ULS alumni play an important role in our school community. Their personal achievements and professional accomplishments demonstrate the valuable impact of a ULS education, providing a road map for current and future Knights to follow. Just as their experiences at ULS have impacted their lives and careers, we benefit
from their perspective as we revisit our mission and establish a new strategic plan. Across industries and around the world, ULS graduates positively impact their communities by displaying our Core Values of community, excellence, respect, integrity and empathy.
After graduating from ULS in 2012, Mostafa Shuva headed to the University of Michigan where he studied electrical engineering. He received his bachelor’s in 2016 and his master’s degree in 2019, and his graduate work focused on signal and image processing and control systems. He is currently an embedded software engineer at Ford Motor Company working on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) perception. MOSTAFA SHUVA ‘12 Embedded Software Engineer, Ford Motor Company
How did ULS help prepare you for your career? ULS helped me hone in on my passion for math. I think the over all rigor helped me avoid being blindsided by the heavy workload at college. Additionally I was able to establish good study habits that allowed me to explore and identify the techniques that helped me learn the best. What is your favorite part of your work at Ford Motor Company? My favorite part of working at Ford is that I get to be in control of what I work on, and my feedback is taken into account during the decision- making process. I also love being in Dearborn. What is your day-to-day life like in your current role? One of the things I love about my current role at Ford is that my day-to-day is spontaneous and varies. I typically spend my time between writing code, establishing test cases for the code, helping some of my
and one of the more practical ones, was taking a one-off math class with David Hartigan my senior year. It was a class with only four students, and we explored more advanced topics in math. Since the class was so small, and the lessons were focused on specific topics, we would often finish early and play euchre in class. That came full circle for me in college during one of my intro programming courses when we had to program a euchre game for one of our projects. What do you think makes the ULS community unique? In my opinion, ULS is unique because of its faculty. Even if you weren’t in a class with a specific teacher or staff member, they were still involved in the lives of the students whether it was through clubs, sports, or even just in passing. I think that’s what makes ULS a special place. You didn’t have to have a class with a specific teacher to just be able to crash into their room to study or to just talk.
colleagues with their individual tasks, attending meetings to either help resolve some issue or brainstorm design ideas, or simply reading a lot of documentation. Recently, I’ve been put in charge of a small team to help optimize our software and provide backend support as we approach our software deadlines. It’s a new area for me, as all my previous roles have been as an individual contributor. Who are some of the faculty, staff and school leaders you looked up to while at ULS? David Dwaihy, David Backhurst, and everyone’s favorite, Shernaz Minwalla were the teachers I looked up to the most. I remember spending considerable time talking to Mr. Dwaihy during my tour of ULS before enrolling as a freshman. What are some of your favorite memories of your time at ULS? Two memories stick out to me: The first was making ice cream in Benjamin Lampe’s physics class with liquid nitrogen. The second memory,
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Kurt Baumgarten received a bachelor’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. While practicing law, he founded Applied Licensing in 2013 where he utilized his expertise in intellectual property laws to help entrepreneurs and founders secure the value of their ideas and products. He joined GM Ventures as a partner in 2022 and is a founding member of the Pointe Angels investment club. KURT BAUMGARTEN ‘05 Partner, GM Ventures and Founder of Pointe Angels investment club
entrepreneurs in Grosse Pointe, across the state, and from around the country with investment dollars, the experience of its members, and the networks they offer to help scale businesses and bring technologies to market. The strength of the organization is in its community focus and the active engagement of its members. The community supports innovation and commercializing technologies that positively impact people’s lives, and it gets to participate in the financial upside of these technologies in return. Q. What do you think makes the ULS community unique? What separates it from other schools? The small size encourages meaningful engagement with peers and faculty. This helps build relationships that are forged going through both fun and challenging times. It also brought me perspective and experiences that continued to enrich my life well after graduation. I carry great memories from my time at ULS, and much of who I am today was shaped during my time there.
Q. Who are some of the faculty, staff and school leaders you looked up to while at ULS? English teachers Carol Douglas and David Thompson had a significant impact on me. I learned critical thinking and communications skills in their classes, which helped me tremendously in college, law school, and during my career in venture capital. I really enjoyed Elizabeth Jamett’s classes, particularly US Management and AP Government. Her teaching style was strict but very fair, and she was always approachable. Antone Gallaher, Chris Hartley, and Shernaz Minwalla were also favorites during my time at ULS. Q. How did ULS help prepare you for your career? I developed many of the skills I use regularly in my career at ULS. ULS fostered self-confidence and supported intellectual curiosity, and we were encouraged to ask questions. I particularly liked critical thinking, debate, exchanging ideas and advocating for a position, and my classes at ULS allowed me to improve in all those areas. Q. What is your day-to-day life like in your current role? At GM Ventures I spend a lot of time meeting with entrepreneurs and founders to understand their technologies and learn how they align with GM’s internal strategic priorities. I think of ways to create mutual value through venture investment and strategic partnerships, and I also
support our portfolio companies by working closely with their executive teams to solve problems and scale their businesses. Much of what I do is built on the concept of “value-add investing” – applying yourself and your resources in creative ways to create mutual opportunity and help others be successful. Q. What prompted you to start Pointe Angels? As an independent investment club, Pointe Angels was founded to bring together early-stage investors in the Grosse Pointe community. While there were many active early-stage investors, there wasn’t really a way to share investment opportunities. Forming Pointe Angels was a joint effort with other like-minded investors. We wanted to build something durable that would attract high-quality deals and members. It’s an investment club, not a fund, so the members choose to be actively involved. Pointe Angels and its members have created an opportunity for The Pointes to support innovation and participate in the value it creates. It’s now one of the largest and most active angel groups in Michigan. Q. How is Pointe Angels helping to shape the future of VC and entrepreneurship in Michigan? People rely on their friends and family for support when starting their companies, but they soon need additional capital, expertise, and networks to continue building their
businesses. That’s where Pointe Angels can come in, supporting
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Richard Berri graduated from ULS in 1992. He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of Wayne State University Medical School. Dr. Berri did his residency at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, and completed a surgical oncology fellowship at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology. RICHARD BERRI ‘92, MD FACS Chief of Surgical Oncology, Medical Director of the Ascension Michigan Oncology service line, and Director of the Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Program
What is your day-to-day life like in your current role? As the Chief of Surgical Oncology and the Medical Director of Ascension Michigan’s cancer program which sees 7,000 patients annually, I perform surgeries for cancers of the abdominal area, including but not limited to the pancreas, liver and stomach, appendix, ovary and colon. I trained in this specialty at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and received specific training performing Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedures. These procedures involve removing the cancer with cytoreductive surgery and delivering a heated chemotherapy solution directly into the abdomen. I lead a group of physicians and administrators in this role constantly working on ways to help patients locally, regionally and nationally with a cancer diagnosis. I am also the director of the HIPEC program, which I established at the Van Elslander Cancer Center in 2011. This was the first HIPEC program in Michigan and has since grown into one of the highest volume programs in the country. What does the future of surgical oncology look like, and how are doctors playing a role in that? There have been dramatic improvements in just the last five years, and that pace of development will continue. We are in an era of precision medicine. From a cancer perspective, treatment is very personalized and based on an individual’s specific cancer.
The treatment is no longer ‘one size fits all,’ but is tailored to target the unique cancer cells of each person. The role of surgery is expanding, which results in additional treatment opportunities. We are seeing surgical procedures being done on cancers that were not considered removable in the past. Furthermore, we are now using minimally invasive or Robotic surgery to remove cancers that traditionally would have required large open incisions. What do you think makes the ULS community unique? What separates it from other schools? The level of individual attention that students receive at ULS really differentiates it from other school communities. There were so many opportunities for one-on-one attention, and that was so helpful to identify barriers and challenges to learning early on. You could address them in high school rather than discovering them in college or later in life. It is now an honor for me to have my two boys, Richard and Nicolas attend ULS and see them experiencing what I did years ago. My wife, Stephanie has been extremely involved in all aspects of the school and we have enjoyed becoming a real part of the school community. Finally, it has been an honor for me to now serve on the Board of Trustees to help to continue to lead our school toward success.
Who are some of the faculty, staff and school leaders you looked up to while at ULS? I played soccer during all seven years I attended ULS, so it’s safe to say that David Backhurst had a big impact on me as my soccer coach, mentor and teacher. I also really enjoyed my time in John Bandos’ science class and Edward Mott’s Spanish class. Coach Chuck Wright ‘66 GPUS also was a great mentor. How did ULS help prepare you for your career? ULS provided me with a foundation for learning and gave me not only knowledge, but discipline. What I learned on Cook Road was instrumental as I moved forward through both the University of Michigan and then to medical school at Wayne State University. In fact, during Upper School I was able to shadow a primary care doctor at his practice, and this was especially impactful as it made me realize that I wanted to be a doctor. Additionally, being able to participate in so many different activities at ULS taught me teamwork and leadership skills that were vital for my work in later years. For example, I currently lead a clinical and administrative multidisciplinary
team that includes physician specialists, nurses, and many
other members of the healthcare team who work together and are completely dedicated to ensuring the best possible quality of care and successful outcomes for our patients.
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