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Alumni News & Publications

If you have Horace Mann School alumni news that you'd like to share, please send an email to websitenews@horacemann.org. We will review all submissions and some will be featured on our website. (We regret that we cannot showcase all news items provided.)

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli '87 Receives 2023 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Achievement

The 2023 Horace Mann School Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Achievement was presented to Chef Alex Guarnaschelli '87 at a celebration at Tavern on the Green on Monday, May 8th. 

The Alumni Association's Award for Distinguished Achievement is chosen each year by the Alumni Council, on behalf of the Alumni Association, in order to honor a graduate who exemplifies distinguished achievement in his or her chosen profession or accomplishments. The first award was bestowed to a graduate of Horace Mann in 1939 and it has since become a well-recognized and anticipated event and honor every year.

There are few American chefs, much less female chefs, who can boast staying power in Michelin-starred restaurants. Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli can boast indeed - she embarked on a culinary journey in France and ended up working in some of the country's top restaurants including esteemed chef Guy Savoy's eponymous three-star kitchen. Not surprising for the daughter of esteemed cookbook editor Maria Guarnaschelli, who spent her childhood surrounded by food.

To read a full bio, and see a list of past Award recipients, visit our website here.

 


Malhaar Agrawal '19 Receives Honor:

MIT student Malhaar Agrawal named 2023 Truman Scholar

HM Alums Build Growing Fleet of “Cobots”

Advances in technology and artificial intelligence are making robot automation more affordable in manufacturing. Recognizing this trend, Tutor Intelligence, founded by Josh Gruenstein '17 with an MIT classmate in February of 2021, is producing AI machines in the form of “cobots” -- collaborative robots – that deliver seamless automation to small and medium-sized manufacturers.

The company develops AI software and then leases complete cobot systems, running its software, to manufacturing and packaging facilities for $12 per hour. Tutor Intelligence allows customers to pay for cobots by the hour with no commitment and offers the flexibility to scale up or down as needed. The company’s cobots can be delivered to customers in a matter of days and are ready to work straight out of the box alongside humans.

Several other members of the Class of 2017 are nurturing Tutor Intelligence’s success. Emily Spector '17 joined the company part-time in January 2022 and became the full-time head of business operations in June 2022. Over the summer of 2022, Benjamin Ades '17 was hired to produce a series of videos for Tutor’s website. In addition, Tutor Intelligence has taken investment from Junyoung Choi '17, with the support of two additional members of the Class of 2017.

The company’s website explains the automation challenges that small- and medium-sized manufacturers face:  “Most manufacturing does not happen at the scale of the largest brands:  99.3% of manufacturers in the US have under 500 employees. 75% have a headcount under 20. The majority of manufacturers that form the lifeblood of the physical economy are run by individuals and families, businesses that have endured and prevailed through major challenges. They comprise more the 99% of manufacturers in the United States, and yet they are regularly overlooked by the public media, and their needs go unmet by the people supposedly designing the future of automation.”

Tutor Intelligence started in the MassRobotics co-working space in the Boston Seaport, but soon moved to its own office in Boston's Financial District. They now operate on three floors:  one for office space, one for lab space, and one for manufacturing.

Click here to meet the cobots that get to work right out of the box:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_9EM4mW_Uc&authuser=0


 

Two HM Alumnae Named to Forbes 30 Under 30

 Two up-and-coming young professionals who call Horace Mann School alma mater were recently named to Forbes Magazine’s 30 For 30 North America 2023.

Jessica Chi      Source: LinkedIn

 Jessica Chi ’11 is the global marketing director of Rihanna’s Fenty Skin at LVMH/Kendo Brands. She was  responsible for the launch of Fenty Eau de Parfum, which sold out within hours of its August 2021 release. Prior to her current position, she held various marketing positions at LVMH and L’Oreal. After graduating from Horace Mann, where her activities included theater and dance, Jessica attended Columbia University and studied sociology and English. Several years later, she returned to Columbia to earn her MBA in marketing and management. 

 

Flo Ngala                 Credit: Barry Mason

Flo Ngala ’13 is a professional photographer and photojournalist who was the first Black woman hired by Vogue to photograph the Met Gala. Among many other projects, she received great acclaim for her 2019 New York Times cover story about figure skating in Harlem, as well as her photography of entertainment icons Cardi B and Gucci Mane. As a student at Horace Mann, Flo was voted “most artsy.” It was at HM that she first learned how to use a camera. She has returned to campus many times to speak with students about her experiences at Horace Mann and in her professional life.

 


 

Alumni Veterans Share Reflections at School Assembly

Several HM alumni – some on active duty service and some military veterans – shared their insights about their experiences during an Upper Division assembly on November 8, 2022.

The idea for a promoting a deeper appreciation of military veterans within the Horace Mann community originated in a 2019 project conceived by Eddie Jin ‘20, Daniel Lee ‘20, and Hyunseo Yang ’20. Their proposal – which aimed at promoting “recognition and appreciation of military veterans within the walls of Horace Mann… and encouraging HM students to be more engaged with a section of the community facing considerable challenges – won a grant from the Alexander Capelluto Award in 2019. Panelists at the assembly included:

·      Eric Derecktor ’12, who served as a nuclear submarine officer in the U.S. Navy from 2016 to 2021.

·      Ben Jacobson ’09, who was a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2013 to 2018.

·      Victor Ladd ’11, who serves in the U.S. Navy.

·      Matthew Meltzer ‘13, who was a navigator, main propulsion officer, electronic warfare officer, and legal officer for the U.S. Navy.

·      Elizabeth Vierya ’04, who was a judge advocate for the United States Army from 2013 to 2018.

Guiding the discussion was John McNally, Middle Division dean and history teacher, who spent eight years as a U.S. Army officer and aviator.


 

Robert Caro ’53 Honored With Bodley Medal

On October 26th at Carnegie Hall, the Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford held the first North American edition of its annual lecture. At that lecture, HM alumnus Robert Caro '53 was honored with the Libraries' prestigious Bodley Medal. According to the Bodleian Library press release, the ceremony featured a conversation between Richard Ovenden, Bodley's Librarian, and Mr. Caro. As Ovenden shared, "Robert Caro is simply one of the greatest American historians. He has used libraries and archives extensively to paint the most vividly illuminating portrait of American politics and society in the 20th century through his biographies on Robert Moses and Lyndon B Johnson. Caro's work demonstrates a rigorous respect for facts and the persistent determination of a researcher. There could be no better person to inaugurate the Bodley Lecture in North America and to receive the Bodley Medal."

Mr. Caro, Pulitzer Prize winner and acclaimed author-historian, visits HM annually to present the Robert Caro '53 Prize for Literary Excellence in the Writing of History. Last June, Caro presented the 2022 award to Liliana Greyf '22 for her work "AIDS Does Not Discriminate, But Memory Does:  How History Unified and Whitewashed the AIDS Epidemics of New York City.” Caro's work is also the focus of a current exhibition at the New York Historical Society entitled, Turn Every Page:  Inside the Robert A. Caro Archive.

The Bodley Medal is "the highest award bestowed by the Bodleian Libraries, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the worlds of books and literature, libraries, media and communications, science and philanthropy." To read more about the Bodley Medal, visit the Bodleian Libraries website here.


 

Homecoming and Reunions 2022 –

A Roaring Success!

Under sunny skies on October 8th, the HM Lions took to the fields, courts, running paths, and waters to defend their school’s Homecoming pride. Thousands of alumni, students, parents and guardians, faculty and staff, and neighbors came to campus to support the fall athletes, enjoy a complimentary BBQ lunch, snag some awesome HM swag, and participate in a range of family-friendly games and activities.

The festivities began on Friday afternoon with a dramatic Upper Division pep rally that saw the fall athletic teams bursting through photographic break-away banners on Alumni Field. The HM Spirit Squad helped to whoop the crowd into a frenzy, as students proudly donned their "Mann Kind" T-shirts in honor of this year's Homecoming theme, “We are Mann Kind!”

In the athletic contests against arch rival Riverdale, HM girls’ tennis, water polo, and girls’ soccer were winners, while girls’ volleyball and field hockey came up short. The boys’ soccer game ended in a 2-2 tie, the football team fell to Montclair-Kimberly Academy 13-21, and boys’ and girls’ cross country ran with pride in the Manhattan College Invitational in Van Cortlandt Park.

Homecoming is first and foremost an alumni celebration, and one of the alumni classes that was best represented this year was the newly inducted Class of 2022. Dozens of 2022 alumni traveled home from college to HM to cheer on their friends and former teammates.

As Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly reflected, “It appears we had a record turnout at this year’s Homecoming. There was ‘lots to celebrate and even more to be proud of on and off the athletic fields, pool and courts. From our student athletes, to our N-12 student body, to our parents and alumni, to our faculty and staff, to our PA volunteers, to the food and contests, to the fun under the tents, Saturday was a remarkable showing for the Lions of HM!”

Later that evening, a terrific time was had by all at the five-year milestone reunions celebration at the Harmonie Club in Midtown Manhattan. Hundreds of alumni representing the Classes of 1957, 1972, 1977, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017 enjoyed reminiscing, networking and making new friends, and reconnecting with the school and the people who shaped their lives. Also on hand to say, “Hello!” were HM administrators and faculty Tom Kelly, Jessica Levenstein, Lisa Moreira, Stephanie Feigin, Michael Dalo, and Andrew Fippinger.  (Note:  The Classes of 1952 and 1962 celebrated at separate gatherings earlier in the week.)

The ebullience and sense of gratitude for the chance to gather was palpable. As we learned from the pandemic, there is no substitute for being together, hugging old friends, and seeing each other’s smiles. HM extends its deep appreciation to everyone who made the effort to be a part of such a special evening!

Please enjoy viewing photo highlights from the many activities and events of our 2022 Homecoming and Reunions Celebration!

Links to the photos from Homecoming:

https://tinyurl.com/HMHomecoming1

https://tinyurl.com/HMHomecoming2

HM Reunions 2022

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141038450@N03/albums/72177720303423541

Maroon and White Alumni Families Brunch:

https://tinyurl.com/MaroonandWhite

Alumni Soccer Game:

https://tinyurl.com/HMAlumniSoccer


 

Ella Feiner '18 to Compete on Jeopardy!

 Ella Feiner '18, a senior at Princeton University majoring in chemical and biomedical enginrering, will be a contestant on a special, Primetime "National College Championship" edition of Jeopardy!  The show airs Tuesday, February 8th at 8:00 pm on ABC. Feiner is competing in the first of 12 quarterfinal games against contestants from different colleges. If she wins on Tuesday, she will advance to the semifinal matches which will begin Thursday, Feb. 17. 

According to a February 6, 2022 article in The Daily Princetonian, Feiner's love for trivia, and Jeopardy! in particular, blossomed during her freshman year of college when a group of friends competed nightly while watching the show.  The passionate trivia buffs went on to form an official campus club, the Princeton Jeopardy! Circuit.  Feiner is the second member of the Circuit to compete on the show.

 

Community Mourns the Loss of Beloved Admissions Director and Coach Gary Miller '56

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Gary D. Miller '56,    beloved classmate, administrator, advisor, coach and friend to generations of members of the HM community.  Below is a copy of his obituary which includes details of the memorial service on June 5th and how to honor Gary by making a donation to Camp Merriwood's Campership Fund. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and classmates during this sad time.

 

The following obituary was published in the Greenwich Time on May 8, 2021.

 Gary Dayton Miller, 82, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, April 30th. Born in Mount Vernon, NY on September 29th, 1938, he was the beloved son of the late Gordon and Janet Miller. Gary graduated from the Horace Mann School in 1956 where he was the quarterback on the football team and point guard on the basketball team. He graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1960 with a degree in education and continued there to earn a master's degree in education. After raising their family in Greenwich, CT, he and his wife, Judy, recently located to Hanover, NH, where Judy will continue to reside.

Gary dedicated his life to fostering an environment for thousands of young people to grow and thrive, often playing the role of surrogate father and grandfather. His career began as a teacher and head basketball coach at Wilton (CT) High School where his team reached the state championship game in the 1967-68 season. In 1968, he returned to his alma mater to join the faculty at the Horace Mann School where he was a teacher, the Admissions Director, member of the Guidance Department, and coach of football, golf, and girls’ basketball before retiring in 1997. While at Horace Mann, he was also a co-founder of Summer on the Hill, an academic enrichment program for local public school students, where he served as chairman of the board.

 His true joy was time at Camp Merriwood for girls in Orford, NH, which grew from his mother's vision in 1949. It was there in 1957 that Gary met the love of his life, Judy, when she caught his eye after picking her up at the train station her first summer as a counselor. She continued to capture his heart for almost 61 years of marriage. Gary filled many roles at Merriwood over the years: director, mower of soccer fields, bike riding instructor, gardener with his junior campers, and Santa - donning a red suit and white beard in the middle of the summer heat. Invariably, Gary would be working on some project around camp, but never intently enough that he wouldn't stop and chat with whomever came by. When not puttering around camp, Gary loved to hit the links with Judy, travel to Park City to ski, or cruise around the lake as the sun set, laughing and telling stories with his family.

Gary loved his family immensely, but his grandchildren were the apple of his eye. There was no bigger fan on the sidelines than Grandpa. He sported the appropriate team colors, wore the team swag like all the other fans, and in his eyes his grandchildren were always the best players out there. In addition to his beloved wife, Gary is survived by his daughter Susan (David) Hild, and sons Greg (Judy) and Mark (Renai) Miller, adored grandchildren, David (Ali) and Steven Hild and, Claire and Kevin Miller, and great-grandson, Archer Hild. He is also survived by his brother, Gordon Porter Miller and his immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the "Moose and Janet Miller Campership Fund," named for his parents and created so girls who may not have been able to attend camp for financial reasons would have the opportunity to experience Merriwood. Checks should be sent to 37 Long View Road, West Hartford, CT 06107.