If you think it’s simple saying “Visit your Audi dealer for exceptional offers” or “Panera—food as it should be” in a way that’s convincing, authentic, and relatable, Alison Freed will be happy to set you straight: “It’s not as easy as it appears.”
When Shaquor Sandiford ’12 began planning a speaker series aimed at providing expert advice to young people in his hometown of Chelsea, he knew he could put together a formidable lineup from his playing days at Rivers. On July 27, Shaquor called upon fellow Rivers alumni Taariq Allen ’11, Ben Patrick ’11, and Azar Swain ’17 to share their experiences at the Chelsea Restoration Corporation’s second “Village Talk.”
Brendan King ’12 helped make history for the Holy Cross baseball team this year as the leader of their pitching staff, lifting the Crusaders to an NCAA Tournament appearance. His next challenge, however, will be far more daunting as he takes aim at a professional baseball career.
The Rivers community welcomed Julia (Williamson) Robinson ’02 back to campus on Monday morning to honor her with the 2017 Young Alumni Achievement Award. Robinson recalled the various opportunities Rivers gave her to try new things and challenge herself, and credits those experiences for giving her the confidence she needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.
The Rivers boys’ lacrosse program has produced more than 20 Division I college lacrosse players since Justin Walker took over as head coach in 2003. One of the most decorated of this group is Mark Goodrich ’07, who is now in his first season as head coach at Milton Academy. Goodrich returned to Waterman Field with his Milton Academy team on April 8 and gave the Red Wings a great game, but Rivers emerged with a 9-6 victory.
The annual Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30 List is chock full of young professionals who have risen to the top of their profession at an early stage of their careers, proving that they are not only the future of their chosen fields, but also the present. Rachel Hunter ’08 was named to the list for the financial sector for her work with Apollo Global Management in New York City.
Madeline Bauer ’13 has been named a Schwarzman Scholar and upon completion of her undergraduate work at Yale University will pursue her graduate work at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
Marissa Birne ’15 was renowned during her time at Rivers as someone who was generous with her time and conscious of how she could help her community. This summer, Marissa was an intern with Massachusetts State Representative Mary Keefe and at the conclusion of her internship was named the winner of the inaugural Summer Intern Essay Contest.
The International Olympic Committee recently awarded Sport and Active Society Grants to four “sport-for-all” programs from around the globe that contribute to the social and athletic development of their communities. One of the recipients was Shooting Touch, Inc., a Boston-based sport for development organization run by Lindsey (Cronin) Kittredge ’95 and her husband, Justin.
On Monday, the Rivers community welcomed back alumna Cara Nicoletti ’04—butcher, baker, and cookbook maker—in order to present her with a Young Alumni Achievement Award. Cara spoke to students and faculty at the all-school assembly about her passion for literature and food, and how she has managed to combine the two into a satisfying and successful career.
Jillian Dempsey ’09 has been making hockey history—first as a forward on the Boston Pride team during the National Women's Hockey League’s inaugural season, and now, helping the team clinch the first-ever Isobel Cup.
The Rivers community welcomed alumnus Tim Geary ’02 back to campus on Monday to honor him with the 2016 Young Alumni Achievement Award. In his acceptance speech at all-school meeting, Geary credited his successful business career to lessons he learned at Rivers—knowing how to build a team, define goals, and earn trust.
It is the dream of all young athletes to one day don the red, white, and blue and pursue success for their country. For B.J. Dunne ’06, that dream has become a reality and later this month he will lead the United States of America’s men’s basketball team at the 2015 European Maccabi Games.
When James Wolf ’07 lost his close friend and bandmate to suicide in 2010, he decided to turn his feelings of sadness and helplessness into action. He and his fraternity brothers at Vanderbilt University launched A Celebration of Life: A Tribute to Kyle Craig, using their mutual love for music to organize concerts to benefit Minding Your Mind. Wolf, a senior analyst at Ernst & Young in New York, was recently awarded Minding Your Mind’s inaugural “Emerging Minds” award for successfully hosting the first annual A Celebration of Life: New York event in September.
When Miles Jacoby ’07 stepped out onto the stage on October 11, the lights that greeted him were just a tad brighter than those found in Haffenreffer’s Black Box. The Rivers alumnus instead found himself stepping onto a Broadway stage for his debut in the role of Elder Price in the critically acclaimed musical, The Book of Mormon.
While Rivers welcomed Ned Parsons as new Head of School this fall, The Peck School in Morristown, N.J. celebrated the installation of Rivers alumnus Andrew Delinsky ’93 as its new Head of School. Delinsky joins Peck after 17 years of working in independent schools, the last 11 having been at The Bullis School in Potomac, Md.
Both The Rivers School and its oldest active alumnus, F. Gorham Brigham, Jr, will celebrate their centennial birthdays in 2015. This summer history teacher Dave Burzillo and I had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Brigham, Class of 1933, on a wide range of topics, from his childhood recollections of life at Rivers through a professional life that extended into his 90s.
“I like people. I enjoy getting to meet different people, learning about them,” says Josh Kraft ’85. “When you do community work, you get to interact with a lot of people from a lot of different backgrounds. No matter what level you’re working at, it’s about the people.”
As any current or former Rivers senior knows, Senior Speeches can be exhilarating, but they can also be terrifying. Standing at the podium in front of all those people – the whole school, the whole faculty, a smattering of parents and siblings – can make anyone’s heart rate skyrocket.