Firstly, it is a great honor to report that Crown Prince Jigme K.N. Wangchuck ascended the throne as king of Bhutan in December 2006. Jigme?s father, His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, abdicated the throne to make way for Jigme?s bright future as king. Jigme is now the world?s youngest head of state. He is committed to Bhutan?s transition to parliamentary democracy after having been an absolute monarchy for 100 years. Following his tenure at Andover, Jigme attended Wheaton College then completed the foreign-service program and a master?s degree in politics at Oxford University's Magdalen College. Clearly, my head is buzzing.  Not only because of this recent news, but also because of the collective genius that is our class and my amazement and wonder at our, your, endless accomplishments.  Perhaps some more detail:  In my left hand is a copy of Angela Mi Young Hur?s first novel, The Queens of K-Town available at bookstores everywhere this August.   Angela?s first published work follows her already bright career.  She graduated with a Bachelor?s from Harvard and thereafter received her Master?s in Fine Arts from Norte Dame, where she was awarded the Sparks Fellowship and the Sparks Prize. On the right side of my desk lies a New York Times article that describes the team of journalists from the Wall Street Journal, including Charles Forelle, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.  The journalists were awarded based on their remarkable work in discovering corporate fraud in the practice of back-dating stock options.  The Pulitzer Board assessed that the articles had inspired ?widespread change in corporate America.?  In front of me, on my laptop, is a clip of Kieran Fitzgerald describing his documentary, The Ballad of Esequiel Hernandez, at the Tribeca Film Festival.  The documentary explores the shooting of 18 year old American citizen, Esequiel Hernandez, by U.S. Marines in Texas in 1997.  I didn?t get a chance to see the film, but I will say that Variety gave the documentary, and Kieran, an outstanding review.  Later in the summer Kieran plans to show the film at the Harvard Film Archive.  Another link on my computer brings me to a clip of Vincent Le Ribeuz proudly singing on the brightly lit stage of French Idol (Nouvelle Star). He is one of the top 10 contestants.  Another article on my desk is from the Boston Globe where Kyle O?Brien was mentioned as a scout for the New England Patriots during the most recent NFL draft.  Kyle is living in Atlanta and heads up scouting for the Southeast region.  I am from Boston; I wear my biases on my sleeve.  But there is no doubting New England?s scouting talent and among its team of professionals our very own.  Even the ruthless Boston sportscasters agree.  Let?s see.  Is there anything else to add with regards to the notable accomplishments of our classmates?  Of course.    There always is.

 A number of our ?future doctors? are now M.D.s, starting their residencies and able to treat us for various ailments.  This includes Fred Papali who will begin his residency in internal medicine at Georgetown, following extensive travels through India.  Returning to Boston from New York, Dave Wing will begin his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Harvard affiliated hospitals.  Coincidentally, Kanu Okike (?96) will join Dave in the same five year program.   Therefore, if I happen to injure myself in the near future and end up at Brigham & Women?s Hospital, where Dave and Kanu will begin as interns, there is a strong chance of being evaluated by a former member of the Andover Lacrosse team.  New Yorkers, take note.  Following graduation from the University of Iowa, Emily Porter will begin her residency in emergency medicine in Brooklyn, NY at the Maimonides Medical Center.   The same goes for residents of Missouri as Vikrant Rachakonda begins his residency in internal medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.  Vik graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

This year has brought other new beginnings as Dario Collado graduated, with honors, from Georgetown University?s McDonough School of Business.  Nmandi Okike attended the post-commencement celebrations, taking break from his dual degree program at Harvard Law and Harvard Business School.  Juma Waugh made a quick debut at the party before heading back to New York to throw Nick Olmo a surprise birthday party, and to attend Luis Bello?s housewarming party.  Luis married his childhood sweetheart, Alisha Yadali last summer.  Juma Waugh, Nick Olmo, Anthony Morales, and Ahmed Khan were all groomsmen.  Nina Edwards and Leonard (LJ) Hinton were also in attendance at Dario?s graduation party.  Nina is rising rapidly in the ranks at Credit Suisse and LJ works as an analyst for the World Bank in Special Operations.  Nina and LJ reconnected while LJ worked in Investment Banking for Credit Suisse.  Nina has traveled extensively with LJ and also old friends from Andover including Veronique Prado Lacoste, a budding entrepreneur.  Another old friend, Lauren Nicole (Nikki) Sickles, has joined Nina in New York, NY where she is finishing her first year at Columbia University?s Stern Business School.   As is common in New York whenever one classmate arrives another leaves.  Mithun Rathore was in for a major culture shock when he moved from Brooklyn, New York to Houston, Texas.  Mithun works for a commodities brokerage firm and manages a team focused on renewable energy strategies and West Coast emissions and carbon dioxide.  I work in finance, so this should seem easy to report on, but the only way to describe it is in Mithun?s words as ?a capitalist approach to tree hugging.?  Melissa Bramowitz recently left New York City where she worked for Elizabeth Arden in Global Marketing to begin a joint MBA/MA in International Studies at Wharton and the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Upon relocation to Washington, D.C. Allison Ferranti now works at Thurgood Marshall Academy, a public charter high school in DC as their event manager and fundraiser.  Turns out, Jennie Niles, the head of Community Service Office at Andover from 1993-1996, attended the Academy?s annual fundraising gala that Alison planned in April.  Small world!  Samar Jamali reports that she is now working the nighttime shift at CNN with Anderson Cooper 360.  Samar also mentioned that if any of our classmates have exhilarating reporting to do abroad, she is all ears.  Tamika Guishard wrote from New York where she recently caught up with Jamie Cowan and Greg Chase.  Tamika gave the boys a tour of the Kanbar Institute of Film & TV, where she has been working the past year.  Coincidentally, Lily Saunders-Karp (?99) is in the same program.  Tamika recently wrapped a film titled Chivalry based on a Korean folktale.

 Weddings.  There are so many weddings! Pete Rumbold married his college sweetheart, Melissa Stern on March 10^th in Baltimore, Maryland.  Andy Butler and Peter Shin were groomsmen, and Josh Beiler was there to celebrate as well.  Pete reports that Andy and Peter remain happy and successful in St. Louis and La Jolla respectively.  Josh will be headed to the left coast (San Diego) following his graduation from Harvard Law.  Pete and his new bride honeymooned in Costa Rica and returned to New York, where Pete works in real estate private equity.  Back in the city he caught up with Jim Mangan and Paul Okner.  Jim works in corporate law and Paul is studying for the Washington State bar exam after graduating from Boston College Law School.  Paul and his fianc? plan to move from New York to Seattle in August. 

  Eva Lane was married in September 2006 and thereafter moved to Paris to work for Google.  Caroline Pollak was married to Roger Marandino Memorial Day weekend at her parent?s house in South Carolina.  The couple met while Caroline earned her Master?s in Education from Brown University in 2004.  Roger is currently the head strength and conditioning coach at Brown.  The couple will live outside of Providence, Rhode Island where Caroline teaches first grade at a charter school and is also beginning a second Master?s degree in reading.  Caroline reported that Caitlin Murphy made an unexpected, but refreshing move from New York, NY to Australia leaving behind her work at a hedge fund and beginning a program in Nursing and Public Health.  Another swim team member has made a move.  Emma Soichet is currently press aide and assistant speech writer for Mayor Villaraigosa of Los Angeles. 

 Ali Ghaffari married Mary Quenzer on June 30^th in San Diego, California.  Ali has just returned from a mission on the USS Ronald Reagan where he conducted flight operations in the Pacific.  Mona Desai sent news of Yeechin Huang and Mike Harvey?s wedding in June (our second Andover-Andover wedding). Following their marriage, Mike and Yeechin will reside in Boston.  Attendees at the wedding included, Kelly Roberge, Vanessa Ho, and Kay Huang.  Mona reports that Vanessa Ho is a general surgery resident in New York, NY, and Kay Huang lives in China and works with adoption cases. 

  We have some new moms to add to the crew.  Amse Hammershaimb lives in Fort Point, Boston and is expecting in July.  Winnie Chan Wang and her husband are also expecting.  The new breed will be ready to make their debut at our reunion next June.  I wish all of our new parents? healthy and happy deliveries.

  In writing this column, I report on the countless occasions that we have mini-reunions with each other. Sometimes these reunions are more formal, for graduations and weddings, or more casual, as when we cross paths in our neighborhoods and jobs.  In either case, as we approach our 10^th reunion these stories give me cause to look forward to making it official and celebrating together.  I hope you plan to join me.

 April 2007

Charles Forelle, The Wall Street Journal win Pulitzer Prize for Journalism for Public Service

April 16, 2007

"The Wall Street Journal won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service today for uncovering the unethical practices of business executives who had rewarded themselves millions of dollars by backdating stock options. The articles, by Charles Forelle, James Bandler and Mark Maremont, led to the federal investigation of more than 130 companies and the firings of scores of top executives." 

As reported by The New York Times, April 16, 2007

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/business/media/16cnd-pulitzer.html?ex=1177387200&en=5b3a5f822481a7c9&ei=5070&emc=eta1

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/business/media/16pulitzers.html

To say I saw this coming is an understatement.  Congratulations Charles!  And keep 'em coming!

 Winter 2007 Class Notes

Fall 2006 Class Notes

I feel the urge to alert you:  my wedding season has officially begun.  Clearly I do not mean my own wedding, but with three engagements of friends over the past month and two weekends of nuptials already booked next summer, I am heretofore announcing that I have, in fact, joined the club. 

Andrew Butler married Anne Mobley this summer.  The couple was joined in celebration by Josh Beiler, Peter Shin, and Peter Rumbold.  Ali Ghaffari will look forward to the same following his engagement to fianc? Mary Quenzer.   Jay Tuchinda also celebrated his recent engagement.  Peter Karlen married Megan Austin, an Exeter alum, this summer in the Hamptons.  Erin Dougherty, Happy Menocal, Helen Struck, Dave Wing, Tony Dent, Beau Williams, Nmandi Okike, Jamie Cowan, and Malick Fall were there to celebrate and, clearly, host a mini-reunion.

Elisa (Trafton) Purchas represents a veteran of the club as she recently celebrated her two year anniversary with her husband.  The couple has made home in London and Elise will become a permanent resident this October.  Over the last year, Elise has been studying for her wine diploma while working in the Sotheby?s wine department.  She keeps busy with wine related travel and tastings, but promises to bring her husband to our 10^th reunion if only to prove that Andover is in fact quite different than Eaton.  I think I?ll now transition the column, because I?m not sure any of us are ready to digest the concept of our 10^th reunion.  Wow.

Here?s another funny development to ponder: I have renewed my lease for the first time since graduating college.  I may be alone in this phenomenon because as expected, many of us remain on the move.  Born and raised an East Coast girl, Helen Struck has moved to Chicago, Illinois to finish her legal education at Northwestern.  I am excited to hear about all things Midwestern! Jamie Cowan had the right idea when he moved from Baltimore to Boston to pursue a Masters in Public Health at Harvard.  Coincidentally, I didn?t have the correct email address for Jamie, but I found out this piece of news because we are now neighbors.  No, really.  We?re neighbors. 

I recently asked for a report on your summer vacations.  Perhaps I should have known better because most of us work straight through summer due to our ingrained pursuit of excellence.  Lia Welsch spent her summer in nursing school in Philadelphia working with the elderly as well as adolescent girls.  Dave Wing, a fourth year medical student at Columbia, was in Boston and New York, NY over the summer completing self-described ?scut work? while also applying to residency programs in orthopedic surgery.  Fred Papali, a fourth year medical student at McGill, spent his summer in Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, and Portland, Oregon, where he focused on urology.  Aseem Gupta is entering his third year of law school at Cornell and spent the summer working for Heller Ehrman LLP in San Francisco. 

While certainly the minority, I?m proud to say that many of us did find cause to celebrate over the summer.  Personally, I celebrated straight through Labor Day after completing Level 3 of the CFA.  I?m looking forward to spending my first winter and spring in Boston free from studying.  Ellen Yang and Grace Lee celebrated their summer birthdays with Andover friends.  Wendy Yu, Angela Hur, Soo Kwak, Dave Ha, Wonje Song all joined in the celebration.  Hannah Cole celebrated the completion of the Oxfam Trailwalker in which teams of four walk 100 kilometers in less than 48 hours.  Hannah remains in Sydney and is enjoying spring, looking forward to summer.

En route from Washington, D.C. to Boston, Kyric Avery enjoyed an extended summer vacation on the island of St. John in the British Virgin Islands, where she spent the last year.  Prior to the move Kyric had been working as a graphic designer in D.C.   After graduating from Emory Law School and completing the bar exam, Abena Sanders journeyed through the South of France.  Abena will remain in Atlanta where she will focus on commercial and intellectual property litigation.  In a similar post-graduation report, Jen Shingleton graduated from Harvard Law School and will spend the next year in a federal clerkship in Oklahoma before returning to a law firm in Boston.    Kristin Moon finished a Master?s degree from Emory Business School in May and is now working as a healthcare consultant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

There are so many paradoxical things about being a 20-something.  One of the many is that while some of you are finishing grad school, many others are beginning new programs.  Tali Avery will begin a Master?s program in Epidemiology at Boston University.  Grace Dingledine moved to New York to start a Doctoral program in Art History at NYU?s Institute of Fine Arts.  The best part of this story is that the last time I caught up with Grace she was applying to law school.  When she couldn?t write the ?why I want to go to law school? essay she changed her course. 

There are many more examples of our remarkably educated classmates.  Amanda Schnieder is beginning a Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences.  She ran into Mimi Hanoaka who has returned from the Middle East to pursue a Ph.D. in Islamic History at Columbia University.  While continuing to make art through the summer, Kathryn Maclean has started attending the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York where she will begin coursework for a Master?s degree in Forensic Psychology, with the potential to work towards a Doctorate.  Lastly, I?m thrilled to announce that Chessie Thacher has received the preeminent Henry Luce Fellowship to study natural resource management practices on the High Tibetan Plateau in China.  Chessie?s dedication to and continual amazement with our world and its cultures is inspiring.

There are many classmates that remain students and there are also plenty of teachers in the crowd.  Liza Raboin is stationed in Nairobi, Kenya teaching music at the International School.  Following a teaching fellowship back at Andover, Chrissie Cloonan is a full time faculty member at Middlesex.

As always, interesting professional developments abound! Angela Hur has completed her first novel The Queens of K-town published by MacAdam Cage.  They have not set a print date, but everything is in the works.  Congratulations, Angela!  That about wraps up the news to date.  Three years and counting, I look forward to helping to spread the good word for many more to come.  Be well.

Memorial Day

May 31, 2006

I would like to make special note of an incredible achievement. 

Sgt. Dominick Cimino was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained during his dutiful and brave service to the United States Marine Corps, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during his tour of duty in Afghanistan.  Dom's great service has reminded me that there may be many classmates that are serving in the Armed Forces of the United States or its allies, of which I am not aware.  To all of you, God speed and thank you.

Link to article: http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_148164526.html

Summer 2006 Class Notes

 It is summer at long last, and with it, I am invariably reminded that ?the only constant is change.?  It may be a clich?, but read below and you?ll see how true it is.  Diana Bergren, studio photographer, has recently moved to Chicago from San Francisco where Max Ventilla has taken up residence as he begins a career with Google.  Coincidently, Eva Lane also works for Google, though in New York, as respite from wedding planning duties for her upcoming nuptials to her college sweetheart from Yale.  Between semesters at Harvard Law, Josh Beiler moved from Boston to Chicago, and Peter Christodoulo will end his investment banking career in New York to work in private equity in Boston.  Nikki Sickles will fill the void when she moves to New York to intern for Citigroup before beginning Columbia Business School in the fall.  Kyle O?Brien, converted Patriots fan, has moved from Boston to Atlanta to serve as head scout for the Southeast.  Peter Weddle has moved from Washington, DC to Chicago, while Alison Ferranti moved from Boston to Washington, DC.

The pursuit of higher education has beckoned both Megan Burke and Chris Meserole.  Megan will move from the mountains of northern California to Philadelphia to pursue a Masters in Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, and Chris will move from, well, Rockwell Dorm to New Haven to pursue a Masters in Religious Ethics at Yale.  Chris has served the last year as a teaching fellow at Andover.  Our class remains loyal to our alma mater as Susan Friedell will join as a full faculty member in the Spanish department in the fall.

While some begin their schooling, yet again, others end with degrees in hand.  Abby Coleman graduated from NYU with a Masters in Business Administration and will work post-graduation in brand management for Kraft Foods.  She and her husband just bought a condo in Brooklyn but will be traveling through Europe, Mexico, and the U.S. before their close date.  Emily Porter is graduating with an M.D. from the University of Iowa, and is deciding between emergency medicine and psychiatry for her specialty.

The award for juiciest gossip goes to Tamika Guishard, who gave the following priceless dish.  For the last three years, Tamika has been teaching Social Studies in New York City while also completing her Masters in Education.  Nicholas Olmo, participated in ?Career Day? for Tamika?s seventh grade class.  Nick?s organization, Timeless Talent, is thriving and Nick still works closely with Juma Waugh and Anthony Morales.  Apart from teaching, Tamika has been dancing with The Forces of Nature Dance Theatre in Harlem and worked on a documentary called Hip Hop GUrlz, which showcased the impact of music videos on girls? self esteem, and from that opportunity served as a panelist for a ?Feminism and Hip Hop? Conference and as an interview subject for a Parisian documentary, Crunk Culture.    Tamika has completed her teaching fellowship, and will attend the Tisch School of Arts at NYU to further pursue her passions.  Tamika also got me gossip about Nina Edwards, who works as an analyst for Credit Suisse, and Julia Owens, who is teaching children?s drama in Boston.  And if that wasn?t enough, here is the proverbial icing on the cake:  Asia Witherspoon is a mom! Asia?s little girl, Samiya, turned one in February.  I?m already playing matchmaker since Gillian Wallace?s son Kiersian turns two this summer.

The road to success is long, but for the following two classmates, it?s been a quick trip.  Multiple friends have reported that Peter Shin owns and operates a phenomenally successful consumer retail operation out of Los Angeles.  Mike Nardy?s company, Electronic Payments, has also reaped rewards as of late. Mike was recently quoted in both American Banker Magazine and StreetSmarts?.

I bet you thought at this point in the column that no one was getting married this time around.  Au contraire.  Chris O?Donnell married Deborah Ladner, his college sweetheart from Emory on April 29^th in Princeton, New Jersey (see below for photo with Andover alumni).  Brian Heighington will marry Jaime Varca on June 17^th in Savannah, Georgia.  Matt O?Brien will marry Prema Ganesan on October 29^th.  Matt and Prema currently live in Oakland, California.  Lastly, Winnie Chan will marry this summer in Hawaii.  Congratulations to all!

When it comes to Old Blue, it appears that playing the name game works not only on land in all parts of the globe but also works roughly 35,000 feet in the air.  As an example, Ali Ghaffari is employing his training flying F/A 18 Hornets for the Navy for US operations in Iraq.  Coincedentally, Phil Risseuw, who flies KC-10s for the Air Force and is currently deployed in Iraq has ?tanked? (refueled in flight) some of Ali?s squadron-mates.  Phil says that the process of tanking a plane can be described as "a whole lot of airplane at your fingertips."  You don't say.

That's all from me, but I leave you to enjoy the summer whether by land, sea, or sky. 

  Photos

 Photo from Andrew Butler's wedding, Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 28 2006

Pictured left to right: Peter Shin, Andrew Butler, Anne Mobley Butler, Peter Rumbold, Joshua Beiler

Pictured from left to right (All Andover Grads):  Nnamdi Okike, Malick Fall, Harriet Menocal, Brother of the Groom, Peter Karlan,  Sister of the Groom, Beau Williams, Erin Dougherty, David Wing, Tony Dent, Helen Struck.  Jamie Cowan also in attendance, not pictured.

Photo from Chris O'Donnell's wedding, April 29th, 2005 Princeton, NJ.

Pictured left to right: Drew Maletz, Jocelyn Robinson, Greg Dennis, Rachel Rotner, Brian Godoy, Patrick Curtis, Jeremy Adams '99, John Cogliano.

Bride & Groom: Deborah Ladner, Chris O'Donnell

 Photo Below: Phil Risseuw's wedding to Amanda Kraines, May 27, 2005

Pictured from left: Drew Maletz, Greg Dennis, Alan Ginsberg ('00), Brian Godoy, Amanda Kraines - Bride, Philipp Risseeuw - Groom, Patrick Curtis, Pamela Risseeuw ('03), John Cogliano, Jeremy Adams ('99), Chris O'Donnell.

Photo Below: Cristina Sacco (now Cristina Richie) and husband Martin Richie, married at OranMor in the West End of Scotland in September 2005.