Class of 2017 College Acceptances

The Class of 2017 has received acceptances at 111 different colleges and universities. (Colleges and universities where students will attend are denoted in bold.)

American University
Amherst College
Appalachian State University
Auburn University
Baylor University
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont University
Boston College
Boston University
Bucknell University
Case Western Reserve University
Christopher Newport University
Clemson University
College of Charleston
College of William and Mary
Colorado College
Colorado State University
Columbia College
Davidson College
DePaul University
Dickinson College
Duke University
East Carolina University
Elon University
Emory University
Florida Southern College
Florida State University
Fordham University
Franklin & Marshall College
Furman University
George Washington University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Gettysburg College
Goucher College
Hampden-Sydney College
High Point University
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hofstra University
Howard University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University at Bloomington
Jacksonville University
James Madison University
Liberty University
Marist College
Maryland Institute College of Art
Miami University, Oxford
New York University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina State University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Pennsylvania State University
Pepperdine University
Purdue University
Queens University of Charlotte
Rhodes College
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Saint Michael's College
Samford University
Savannah College of Art and Design
Sewanee: The University of the South
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Syracuse University
Temple University
Texas Christian University
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of Alabama
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, San Diego
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Denver
University of Georgia
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Kansas
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of Melbourne
University of Miami
University of Mississippi
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
University of Pittsburgh
University of Richmond
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California
University of St Andrews
University of Sydney
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Virginia
University of Washington
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Wake Forest University
Wells College
Western Michigan University
Wilfrid Laurier University
William Peace University
Wofford College
Xavier University
Yale University

Senior Projects 2017

Each year, Greensboro Day School seniors embark on a 4-week senior project or internship ranging from a wide variety of professions. This year, students have chosen to work with non-profits, in the medical field, small business owners, event planning, real estate, education, land development, video production, and much more.

Not only do students come away from these projects with hands-on work experience, they are using interpersonal skills, showing and learning responsibility with their assignments and working as part of a team, trying new things, and learning first-hand about problem-solving and flexibility.

Kelsey Weissburg chose to complete her senior project with the United Way of Greater Greensboro. 

In a recent blog post, she shared "One of my tasks today was to fill bags with a few books for various elementary schools in Guilford County. United Way and agencies linked with United Way have donated these books to schools who are lacking a surplus of books for their young students. I also put together bins and placed the "United Way" label on them. Some of the "Book Bags" also included educational flash cards for younger students. We are sending these bags of books to Archer, Foust, Jones, and Wiley Elementary Schools.

It feels good to know that packing books into hundreds of bags, a mindless task, is helping to educate young students in the Greensboro area. It's cool to think that thousands of words will be learned by a couple hundred students from reading these books. It shows how important books are in educating our community's youth."

John Ball's senior project is titled The Art and Mathematics Inside a Grand Piano. He is working at a piano restoration company.

Recently, he posted "My project is centered on the construction and maintenance of grand pianos. There are a myriad of intricate parts that go into a grand piano, and diagnosing, tuning and repairing a grand involves a wide array of problem solving skills.  My goal for the project is to utilize the skills I have learned in applied physics and mathematics and take them into real world practice. Additionally, I aim to develop my engineering skills as well as my woodworking abilities, which are necessities outside of the classroom. I also am very excited to learn about my own piano, so that I could potentially tune and fix it myself. I look forward to sharing my experiences in the weeks to come!"

Caroline Moore is learning the art of baking at Green Valley Grill and Print Works Bistro. 

Her post before Mothers' Day explained, "The past few days in the pastry kitchen have been hard work, but fun (and yummy) work. I have now gotten fairly used to the kitchen and it has made it easier to get around and complete my tasks quicker.

Each day is super busy, but this week especially because we were preparing for Mother's Day weekend. I come in and Erin (my supervisor) always has a list of tasks for me that day. I was able to make Pistachio Macaroons with chocolate icing in the middle, which we dipped in white chocolate so they had a little chocolate stand. A lot of what we made and prepared this week, we are sending over to Print Works Bistro for their Mother's Day Buffet.

I continue to learn new things every day and can't wait for more!"

Make plans to attend the Senior Project Showcase on Thursday, June 1 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event will begin in the Bengal Cafe.

Proud to be a Bengal

I am proud to be a Bengal.  Yes, faculty, parents, students, and staff … we are all part of this community that we call Bengal Nation and all hold a stake in making it great and singing its praises.  I don’t know that I can list all of the reasons that being a Bengal makes me ferklempt (Yiddish, for being overcome with emotion), but in the last few weeks alone, I was proud of our students and how they came together as a community to show their spirit and raise money for Bengal Games.  I watched a number of young high school students donate blood at the first opportunity their age would allow.  We had students fight hard on the field in the Face-Off Against ALS Challenge against Page, and our drama students put on yet another remarkable show.  I am sure you can add to this list of accolades and boasts.

Throughout the year I enjoy attending our sporting events because our fans display great sportsmanship and our athletes make good on their promise to be both students and athletes.  The most recent example I can share with you that brought me pride is our boys basketball team who was invited to participate in The Dick's Sporting Goods National High School Tournament.  The Dick’s tournament is comprised of eight boys teams and four girls teams that are invited to participate.  GDS was one of two 'traditional' schools invited, meaning that our team plays under a state association.  The invite to participate is very prestigious, and includes the entire cost of travel, lodging and food for the team.  Our team is the first team from North Carolina to be invited twice and the first team from North Carolina to win a game in the tournament.  Set aside the distinction of simply being invited, and there is still even more to beam about.

Since the team returned they have been humble and focused on their academics. They have not neglected the “student” in student athlete.  I have heard that there were boys who did work while they were away and that at least one chose not to go so that he could focus on his schoolwork.  I have also heard from several sources about how these boys comported themselves while in New York. A TSA agent stopped one of the coaches and told him how impressed he was with the manners of the players as they went through security at the airport.  A volunteer in the school cafeteria where they ate their meals, complimented the team on their manners while going through the food line.  A member of the tournament operations teams stated that, "GDS was the most enjoyable team to work with and be around during the tournament."  The Nike High School Basketball Rep came into the locker room after the season ending loss and told the team how proud he was of their efforts and that he enjoyed watching the Bengals more than any other team in the tournament because they played the game the right way, with hustle, unselfishness and a good attitude ... things that we believe they extend far beyond the court. 

In the New York Times, Rebecca Sabky, who worked in admissions at Dartmouth College, wrote about kindness as a trait often overlooked in the college admissions process, yet one that is “irresistible” and distinguishing among a sea of incredibly bright and talented applicants.

Our Bengals are incredibly talented, intelligent and kind and I am proud that as a school we pay attention to character and ethical development of students across divisions.  Our students abide by an honor code and older students visit younger divisions to talk about sportsmanship and leadership.  When kids make mistakes our response is not simply punitive, but restorative and helps students learn the value of forgiveness of themselves and others.  I am proud to be a Bengal because we live our mission to address the intellectual, ethical and interpersonal foundations our students will need to be constructive contributors to the world.  Whether their futures take them towards careers in politics, the arts, medicine, professional sports, business, education, or our military, I am proud to be a Bengal because I trust that our students will be the thoughtful, gracious leaders who model the generosity of spirit needed to carry our school and our world into the next generation.

Jennifer Ford

Director of Student Life and College Counseling

Crazy for You and New York City—an amazing experience for the Upper School Drama Club!

The Upper School Drama Club performed in a one night only concert production of Crazy for You at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center at 8 p.m. on Sunday, February 19.  The production was directed by Crazy for You’s original 5-time Tony winning choreographer, Susan Stroman.  The musical director was the amazing Kevin Stites (Les Miserables, Titanic, Radio City Music Hall)  This was, to the day it opened on Broadway, the 25th anniversary of the show.   Crazy for You was not really a concert—it was a re-creation of the entire show, complete with the original choreography.  

The show starred Tony Yazbeck ( star of Broadway’s On the Town, A Chorus Line) as Bobby, Laura Osnes (star of Broadway’s Cinderella, Grease, Bonnie and Clyde and the upcoming Bandstand) as Polly, Rachel Bloom (star and writer of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” on the CW) as Irene, Jerry O’Connell (starred in movies such as Stand By Me & Jerry Maguire) as Lank,  Rachel Dratch (“Saturday Night Live”) as Patricia, Jack McBrayer (star of NBC’s  “30 Rock”, Talledega Nights) as Eugene, Harry Groener (Broadway’s original “Bobby” in Crazy for You 25 years ago) as Bela Zangler, Mark Linn Baker (Broadway’s  A Year With Frog and Toad, star of TV’s “Perfect Strangers”) as Everett, and Nancy Opel (from Broadway’s Urinetown, Sunday in the Park with George and many others) as Mother.  

The concert featured the New York Philharmonic—and a 240 member chorus from across the U.S. and internationally.  We were part of the chorus—our journey began 5 years ago when GDS first auditioned for Manhattan Concert Productions (the concert’s producer) for their inaugural Broadway series concert, Ragtime.  GDS performed in Ragtime and was invited back for their production of Parade 2 years ago.  Our group has excelled at each concert—in behavior, professionalism, and preparedness.  

This year’s group was no exception.  Our group of 18 prepared for the concert during Winter Term. Thank you to all who made this wonderful trip and experience available for our students.  The students who participated were Kayla Rafkin '20, Hayley Rafkin '17, Davis Dunham '17, Gray Rucker '18, Meg Bennett '19, Katie Barton '19, Morgan Winstead '18, Penny Hazlett '18, Jake Breeden '19, Will Zhang '17, Laura Tutterow '17, Desmond McIntyre '17, Emily Brown '17, Mary Brown '19, Caroline Moore '17, Juliette Matthews '18, Kennedy Boston '19, and Avery Blue '17. 

Jonathan Emmons, who worked on a number of shows with GDS and served as the Upper School Chorus teacher for a year, was the musical director here and coached the students through learning the jazzy, syncopated Gershwin score.  Ruthie Tutterow also worked with the group on understanding the context of the show, its background, and careers of the show’s artistic staff and stars.  After a final polish rehearsal and final parent meeting on Feb. 4, the 18 students along with chaperones Ruthie Tutterow, Denise Johnson and Tammy Alt were off to New York!  

Most of our time in New York was spent in rehearsal.  Denise Johnson and Ruthie Tutterow also prepared with and sang in the chorus.  On a Broadway show, there are a lot of tweaks and changes, and actors have to be able to adapt and learn quickly.  We were given three pages of musical polishes, tweaks and cuts shortly before going to NYC that we were expected to have down the first day!   We went through the entire show at our first rehearsal, and were given “choral-ography” by Susan Stroman and her assistants.  The main cast had already been rehearsing for two weeks, and they were added in at our second rehearsal.  Most of our rehearsals (unlike past concerts) were with the main cast, culminating in a technical rehearsal at Lincoln Center the afternoon of the concert, and the concert itself on Sunday night.  

However, while we were there to work, we also packed in some sightseeing!  We were invited by GDS alumnus Kara Medoff Barnett, executive director of American Ballet Theatre, to come visit their studio, and were able to sit in on an amazing rehearsal of a new ballet.  We visited the new Freedom Tower and went to their observation deck.  We went to two Broadway shows—Dear Evan Hansen and School of Rock.  The stage managers of School of Rock (Bonnie Becker and Julie Devore) are UNCG graduates, and came to talk to us after the performance of School of Rock about working on a technically complex show with lots of kids!  

We also want to thank a GDS Board of Trustees member, Cathy Levinson, who invited us for pizza between our tech rehearsal and the concert on Sunday night.  We also spent some time shopping, dining out, and went to a cast party at Planet Hollywood after the show.  The concert itself was a jaw-dropping experience!  It was sold-out, and the love from the theatre-savvy audience, which was attended by multiple celebrities, original Crazy for You cast members, and the Broadway community, was palpable. Many of the student’s parents attended, including Will Zhang 17’s parents from China!   

There were many show-stopping moments, and a standing ovation after ACT ONE!  And of course again after Act Two!  The show concluded with a lovely speech from Susan Stroman where she dedicated the performance to her late husband, who she met doing the original production.  An impromptu final moment came when Harry Groener, who originated the lead role, hugged and congratulated Tony Yazbeck, who was truly inspiring and brilliant in the all-tapping, singing role of “Bobby.”   Some in the theatre community are calling for this cast to revive the show on Broadway—I agree!  It was two hours of total joy!  

Enjoy some highlights, pictures, and videos from the concert: 

Broadway World Highlight

Playbill

Video of Rehearsal

We had a Ball, Y'all!

With the Fall Ball taking place 2 weeks ago, many students at GDS prepared by buying dresses or suits, planning dinners, and asking people out on dates. When many think of the Fall Ball, formerly TWIRP (The Woman Is Required to Pay), they think of Sherwood where it’s commonly held, or the fun environment, but few think of everything that goes into the dance. The effort and planning that goes into the dance is, as I learned, very immense for not just the Executive Student Council, but for students as well.

Junior Clarke Phillips did not go to the dance this year but has gone in previous years. She mentioned that when she did go, she “did the whole shebang” before the dance by going to dinner with friends, getting ready together, etc. When asked if she would go next year she said “I might go but I don’t know yet.”

I also spoke with the Executive Student Council asked about the problem that occurred when Sherwood double booked the venue. “I was angry,” Executive Student Council President John Ball  '17 stated. “Planning the dance takes a lot of work. We have to pick a senior theme, book a venue, buy decorations that are within the student council budget, and the hardest part is spreading the word about the dance. We also have to get everything approved by faculty, find chaperones, and finally get a DJ.” When asked about why the dance is always held at Sherwood despite the complaints the Student Council received last year, they responded by telling me that Sherwood is the most economically viable venue and that now by knowing the issues and complaints people had last year, they can take steps to fix the issues and make the dance fun for everyone.

Levi Smith, a junior, said he was not able attend this year. He’s said he does enjoy dances but also admits that they’re not the best because the venue is very small and cramped. “When you’re a freshman there’s this wow factor, you know? The dance seems new, cool, and exciting. It’s the first time you really get to ask people out so it seems like it’s awesome, but as you move up in grades it loses that wow factor. With the name change last year, less people go so it really isn’t as fun.” Another student agreed with this. They said they had gone and that they too would improve the music. “The DJ is always someone much older than us and doesn’t play music we’d enjoy.”  However, he did admit that the dances can be fun if you’re with friends and just having a good time.

People have very different opinions about the dance but most agree that it is a fun, enjoyable event. All the planning and hard work that goes into the event from not only the student council, but the student body as well makes the dance enjoyable, and they succeeded this year as everyone had a ball and it can only get better.

Behind the Scenes of "A Chorus Line"

As you glance across the room the blinding lights create a hazy vision of the hundred or so people sitting in front of you, each pair of eyes staring and examining your every move, creating the strangling feeling in your stomach telling you, “welcome to the spotlight.” You’ve been rehearsing this very moment for months, so what could possibly go wrong? There’s no need to be nervous … but then again, there is. You could miss a step, you could sing the wrong line, you could get a little nervous tummy ache and, well, you know the rest. Either way, this is it. An audience awaits, the music is ready, and the show is about to begin. This is, A Chorus Line.

For the past two months, 24 Greensboro Day Upper school students have been rehearsing their next up-and-coming musical, A Chorus Line. For those of us uneducated on the musical itself, A Chorus Line follows 16 individual actors wishing to “make it” on Broadway. However, not as Broadway’s next top-shot star but as the individuals who have no character name and are simply used for their voice and dance moves. These 16 actors are trying to earn a spot on Broadway’s chorus line.

I attended a rehearsal of the show this past Thursday and I can truly say that this cast may be one of the most hardworking casts GDS has ever had. The work that they put into the musical is significant, and they have spent long nights perfecting the very smallest details. We get to see the final product of the show as they stand on stage, but behind the scenes, they’re also students, high school students who are balancing both their school work and their work in the show. Whether they are piled with AP U.S. History work from Mr. Piacenza, studying for an upcoming quiz in Señora Swinton’s Spanish 2, or attempting to finish a load of math homework from Mr. Ross, all of our students show an exemplary ability to figure out how to best handle it all.

Favorite scenes for the cast

Avery Blue '17 (Zach):

“My favorite scene is probably “One,” which is basically a number where everybody dances and sings and I like it because it’s where everybody comes together and it sounds fantastic and it shows all the hard work. Everybody is able to show off their practice; it’s just really cool.”

Morgan Winstead '18 (Judy Turner):

“There is a series of songs that pile into one big song called “the Montage.” There’s one part where its Judy’s turn to talk and she runs down and she starts spewing out everything that comes to the top of her head. She talks about how her little sister was a brat and so she decided to shave her sister’s hair off, she talks about how her mom embarrassed her, and that she’s seen a dead body—and that’s all she says—she only says, “that was the first time I ever saw a dead body.” It’s just stuff like that, it’s random, and that’s the best part of the show for me.

Desmond McIntyre '17 (Richie Walters):

“Personally, I love the Montage. It’s really long, but it’s so much fun and it will blow your mind! Also, the ending number, “Bow,” is jaw dropping. You will definitely be in tears, have chills, everything! I love the song and I love the dance.”

Why should people come to the show?

Avery Blue '17 (Zach):

“I guarantee you’ll be able to find somebody that you can connect with on one level or another. You can come out and enjoy the music and the dancing because it’s fantastic. Plus, it’s just a good night to have with your friends and family.”

Morgan Winstead '18 (Judy Turner):

“All of the characters are really relatable and even though not everyone is playing a character that is similar to them, it still feels really human. With shows that we’ve done in the past, it’s felt like that, but I don’t think anyone’s ever felt more connected to their character than we have in A Chorus Line which is going to make it really interesting.”

Hayley Rafkin '17 (Val Clark):

“This show is different than any show we’ve done before. It’s more of a one on one experience and more personal because we interact and make connections with the audience. These aren’t necessarily fictional characters; we’re real people that are portraying a real audience process. So this is more of a story of people rather than characters.”

Laura Tutterow '17 (Cassie Ferguson):

"People should come out because as a senior, it’s very sentimental moment for me and we’ve all been working extremely hard!"

Davis Dunham '17 (Paul San Marco):

"This is definitely the most dancing we’ve ever had to do in a show before. The opening number is completely dancing and its ten minutes long. We dance at the Ballet, then we dance in the Montage but that’s a twenty minute long song. It’s so much dancing, but we’ve all worked extremely hard and it’s going to be an amazing performance.”

Lindsey Cooke '17 (Stage Manager):

“I’m the stage manager for A Chorus Line and I have been really impressed with this rehearsal process so far. This show is a lot different than ones we’ve done before, it’s the most dance-based show that’s been done since I’ve been in high school. They’ve all worked extremely hard and I know the audience is going to be able to see it!”

A Chorus Line runs November 10-13, 2016 at Greensboro Day School's Sloan Theatre. Tickets are available at greensboroday.org/tickets.

What kind of grades did you get in school?

What kind of grades did you get in school?  Mine were decent.  Although, most of my grades I don’t remember at all.  What I do remember is the relationships I had with some of my teachers, lots of my friends, and, of course, the way I felt about my relationship with my parents.  Now that I have a career, the grades I had in middle school and high school feel so irrelevant.  But some of the relationships I had with teachers are still quite relevant and always will be.

Although I don’t know what my actual grade was in English my sophomore year, I will never forget the day my teacher pulled me aside to tell me how much she really liked a poem I had written.  I felt so incredibly capable, and so smart.  As a result, I wanted to keep writing!

I also recall a quiet conversation with my Spanish teacher about my failing grade. Somehow I walked  away feeling like I wasn’t dumb.  Nor did I feel like anyone thought I wasn’t trying hard enough. I concluded that Spanish was just hard and I was going to have to take it again to conquer it.

Then, of course, there are the friendships.  Although I have no idea what name and what particular comment belong to which memory, I sure do know how I felt about the way certain kids acted around me and made me feel.

All of these were so much more important to me than grades.  My grades were important, but I really didn’t need my parents harping on me if I made a B or an A on an assignment.  What I wanted, and needed, was for the adults in my life to recognize and value everything in my adolescent world other than just the grades.

I try to do that for my kids.  Sometimes I think they find me intrusive, but I keep trying.   I keep trying to send the message that no matter what their grades are, they need to keep their focus on being kind to others and trying their best.  I want them to try their best in relationships, as well as academics.  Character speaks volume for a person and never goes away.  I so desire for my children to develop character that speaks largely about who they are.  When they are adults, I hope they look back and remember that I nagged them about things that were important, and I hope they always find that relevant.

What are your memories of school, grades, friendships and teachers?  How can you make the most of your memories in empathizing with your child and helping them along the path to success?  

*Join the conversation.  Please come to our Coffee with the Counselor discussions in the Middle School.  Our next meeting is November 24 at 8:30 a.m. in the Middle School Conference Room.