Category Archives: Alumni

Alumni, Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight: Marcus Spallek (S’99)

Screen shot 2013-09-09 at 3.02.07 PMMarcus Spallek met Chris Maxey as a student at The Lawrenceville School when Marcus joined the wrestling team as a sophomore in 1997. Marcus was one of the 21 pioneer students in the first Island School class from the Spring of 1999. The students of that pioneer semester helped literally lay the groundwork for The Island School, building paths, and even assembling the bunk beds for their first night.

Marcus graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2004 with a BE in Biomedical Engineering and minors in Mathematics and Philosophy. Marcus returned to The Island School in the Fall 0f 2005. He helped build the infrastructure for the Cape Eleuthera Institute, worked as a dive master, helped design and build the first aquaponics system at the Island School, and generally helped out the community. This period coincided with Marcus being in between gigs piloting research submarines with Deep Ocean Expeditions.

When the global economy crashed in 2007-08 and the funding dried up for the global deep ocean submarine piloting gig, Marcus returned home to Hawaii to start his own project. The last five years, Marcus has been developing Aloha Mahi’ai, Hawaii’s soon to be premiere AgriCultural Lodge and Natural Farming Educational Center. They are 90% done with Phase 1 construction. For more information on Aloha Mahi’ai, visit their website: www.alohamahiai.com

Alumni, News

Island School’s New Eco-Friendly Uniform: A Human Ecology Project

Ryan Schendel and Jake Varsano (F'12) put the Recover Brand t-shirts to the test by wearing them during morning exercise.
Ryan Schendel and Jake Varsano (F’12) put Recover Brand t-shirts to the test by wearing them during morning exercise.

When we unveiled our updated Island School logo last fall, we also got to work on updating the Island School uniform to match. In fact, it was two Island School alumni who really got the ball rolling. During their Fall 2012 semester, Ryan Schendel and Jake Varsano decided to take on this daunting task as their Human Ecology final project. Determined to not only live, but also wear, The Island School’s mission to live well in a place, they began to contact vendors and test products. By the end of the Fall 2012 semester, they finally found their match in Recover Brands, a small eco-clothing start-up based out of Asheville, North Carolina that shares our same devotion to conserving the environment. We are excited to announce our partnership with Recover Brands, and introduce their products, made from 100% recycled apparel. We also continue to be proud of our students’ efforts to be leaders effecting change, especially once they leave The Island School.

“Jake and I saw an opportunity to apply the sustainability factor of The Island School campus to the clothing we wear – this was a chance to take responsibility of the origins of our uniforms and campus clothes and recognize the impact our clothes had on the environment. I think the project was and will continue to be successful because now Island School students can be proud of the clothes they wear every day because they know the story, know their environmental footprint, and see a continuation of the campus sustainability from the moment they put their shirt on.

As for me, I know after I got my Recover IS shirt, it reminded me of our sustainable campus. Every time I put it on at home, I remember how it’s different from my other shirts, and it reminds me of Island School’s sustainability. I think it’s important in the future for IS students to learn about Recover and their clothing, just like when we got a campus tour of our sustainable systems. This way, their IS clothing can have an impact, just like it does for me.” –Ryan Schendel F’12

“I am proud to say this new clothing brings The Island School another step closer to its mission of sustainability. I hope our project inspires future students to aim their projects towards something they feel passionate about and are confident will help improve our campus, allowing it to be the best model of sustainability possible. I would also like to note the efforts that were put in on campus by all who helped once Ryan and I went home. To quote Maxey, ‘It is not about the guy with the idea, it is about the guy who recognizes the idea and helps run with it.’ Well, something like that. It is time that we started wearing our mission!” –Jake Varsano F’12

If your wardrobe needs updating, or your old Island School t-shirt needs replacing, visit the new online store: http://www.recoverbrands.com/store/category/the-island-school.

Alumni

Lanti Von Der Schulenberg (F’12) Masters the Conch Horn!

20130813_123910

Chris and Pam are back on their sailboat, Kokomo! This time they stayed a little closer to home and sailed to Bell Island in the Exumas. There, they met up with Fall 2012 alumna Lanti Von Der Schulenberg and her family. They greeted the Maxeys with the sound of their very own conch horn. Lanti has mastered the difficult art of blowing the conch horn and has even provided Video evidence for anyone who doubts her abilities…

Alumni

IS at the Bridge of Flowers Race

This past weekend, Island School was well represented at the Bridge of Flowers Race in Shelburne, MA. IS alumna Hannah Lessels (F’13) reconnected with IS faculty member Rachel Shapiro and DCMS teacher Angela Slowinski. Way to go!

Angela Slowinksi, Rachel Shapiro, Hannah Lessels (F'13)
Angela Slowinksi, Rachel Shapiro, Hannah Lessels (F’13)
Alumni, Events

First Annual Nantucket & Cape Cod Run-Swims

nonameThis past weekend marked The Island School’s first annual summer run-swim tour. First stop: Nantucket! 22 brave run-swim participants gathered around the flag pole at the Parizeau’s home on Saturday morning to stretch and sing the Bahamian national anthem before hitting the course. Three laps around the course and almost an hour later, the run-swim was complete, with everyone placing a triumphant slap on the flagpole.

photo (76)
UMass Field Station

The Parizeau family (Kate F’03, Doug S’06, Molly S’10, Sam S’14) then hosted everyone for lunch at their home before taking a tour of the UMass Field Station just down the road. UMass’s Dr. Sarah Oktay walked us through the facility and spoke about the important work she and her colleagues are doing to preserve the health of Nantucket, its inhabitants, and its surrounding environment.

After a much-needed rest in the afternoon, Island School folks gathered together again, this time at the home of the Simmons (Reilly F’12). They hosted a delicious barbecue which afforded the opportunity for alumni, parents, and prospective families to socialize.

photo (77)
Alumni at Nantucket BBQ
800_0056
Cape Cod run-swimmers

 

 

 

 

 

 

G5595504The next morning, The Island School headed to the Taft’s home (S’09, S’13) in Pocasset on Cape Cod to tackle another run-swim. In true Island School fashion, Spring 2009 students took on the leadership role of taking the group on a course in and out of the water, complete with lots of arm workouts using rocks on the shore. Alumni and Island School families hung out through the afternoon playing lawn games and enjoying the delicious food provided by the Taft family.

Patrick DiLoreto (F'04), Lizzie Horvitz (S'04)
Patrick DiLoreto (F’04), Lizzie Horvitz (S’04)

To round out the weekend, Chris and Pam took a quick trip to Martha’s Vineyard on Monday morning and got to see a few familiar faces before heading back down the coast to their house in Lawrenceville.

We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to all of the families and alumni who opened up their homes to host these fun events and make the weekend possible: The Parizeaus (Kim, Ernie, Kate F’03, Doug S’06, Molly S’10, Sam S’14), the Simmons (Julie, Brian Reilly F’12), the Vanacores (Tricia, Mark, Caroline S’11, Cole S’13, Avery S’14, Reed) and the Tafts (Terry, Dave, Will, Krissy S’09, Sarah S’13, Haley).

A group of Fall 2012 alumni at the Simmons' home in Nantucket.
A group of Fall 2012 alumni in Nantucket.

We will be hitting the road again next summer so mark your calendars! In an effort to increase attendance and participation, we are going to consolidate the event to one location, so save the date for July 12 in Nantucket!

Alumni

IS Alumni Working at Camp Aloha & Lanakila

Alexis Sommerfield (F’09), sent The Island School this photo over the weekend. She is currently working at Camp Aloha in Fairlee, Vermont alongside a number of other Island School alumni! Alexis works with Erin Gerrity (F’09) and Zephyr Sylvester (S’08) at Aloha, while Aidan Dempsey (S’11), Tim Sommerfield (S’13) and Jimmy Gerrity (S’08) work at the boys’ camp, Lanakila.

Aidan Dempsey (S'11), Tim Sommerfield (S'13), Erin Gerrity (F'09), Alexis Sommerfield (F'09), Zephyr Sylvester (S'08), Jimmy Gerrity (S'08).
Aidan Dempsey (S’11), Tim Sommerfield (S’13), Erin Gerrity (F’09), Alexis Sommerfield (F’09), Zephyr Sylvester (S’08), Jimmy Gerrity (S’08).

If you run into any Island School alumni or have a reunion this summer, please take a photo and send it to alumni@islandschool.org!

Alumni, Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Giving Back to IS This Summer

This summer, we are excited to welcome back 5 Island School alumni who are working at either The Island School or Cape Eleuthera Institute: Liam Donovan (F’10), George Giannos (F’10), Griffin Hunt (F’11), Nick Lanza (S’10), Grace Lucas (S’08), and Whitney Powel (S’09). Read a short description of each of their roles this summer and what it’s like to be back at The Island School.

Grace Lucas (S'08), Liam Donovan (F'10), George Giannos (F'10), Griffin Hunt (F'11), Nick Lanza (S'10), Whitney Powel (S'09)
Grace Lucas (S’08), Liam Donovan (F’10), George Giannos (F’10), Griffin Hunt (F’11), Nick Lanza (S’10), Whitney Powel (S’09)

Liam Donovan is working as a resources and facilities intern. So far they have been helping out with odd jobs such as building and constructing the new animal shelter in the back of the farm. Their main focus this summer will be working on the bottle walls on the bottom level of the new resources building. He plans to use the bottles to make the recycling symbol in one wall, the CEI logo in one, and the IS logo in the other. Liam says he is “simply ecstatic to be back on the island since I left 3 years ago. As for most alumni, my semester here was such a pivotal point in my life where I was able to learn about my self while also exploring the sustainable concepts that are practiced here, in which i hope to further pursue in the future. One of the biggest reasons for coming back was just to live the island lifestyle again, it just feels great to be back on campus again.”

This summer George Giannos is working as the resource/facilities intern at the Island School. George and his classmate, Liam Donovan had always dreamed of coming back together to work at The Island School and are extremely happy that they were able to accomplish that dream. George says “I love the work that I have been doing around campus and cannot wait to see the final product of the bottle wall. It is incredible to see how the school and institute has grown in the three years that I have been gone and hopefully I can help it grow a little more through this summer internship.”

Ever since Griffin Hunt graduated from The Island School, he has been searching for ways to give back to this community, the people and place, that helped define who he is today. Now, a year and a half after leaving IS,  he has happily returned as a Communications Intern. “My job is Continue reading →

Alumni

Summer Reunions!

It’s summertime which means Island School alumni are on the move, reuniting with each other all over the country. Are you hanging out with your IS friends? Let us know and send us a pic! Check out all these alums who have already gotten together!

A bunch of Spring 2013 girls got together earlier this month.
A bunch of Spring 2013 girls got together earlier this month in Nantucket.
Some members of the Fall 2012 semester had the chance to reunite.
Some members of the Fall 2012 semester had the chance to reunite.