July 2020
Dr. David Hamlar Jr. '73 to Speak at Commencement 
 
In an unprecedented time, Columbus Academy is preparing for a unique Commencement to honor its Class of 2020. The outdoor ceremony is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, and will be held on Hondros Field.
 
This year's guest speaker will be Dr. David Hamlar Jr. '73, an Academy alumnus who has been a teaching physician at the University of Minnesota for the past 25 years and retired as a Major General from the Minnesota Air National Guard in 2017 following a highly decorated military service career. 

The entire ceremony will be livestreamed on Instagram.
Continuing the Quest: The Right Talent
Tuesday, July 28, at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Now more than ever, Academy alumni want to stay connected. They want to support and learn from each other; help each other find that first job or next promotion; be or get that important introduction to a valuable business connection; and mentor or serve as a resource to fellow Vikings. With this in mind, a new virtual professional development series has been created: Continuing the Quest. Continuing the Quest will exclusively provide CA alumni the opportunity to leverage the Academy network, refine their skills and sharpen their thinking as it pertains to their current or future career.

For our first program in the series join Mike Schlonsky '84, EVP of human resources at Big Lots , Alex Freytag '87, co-founder and partner at Profitworks , and Victoria Forman '07, recruiting lead at mix talent , on Tuesday, July 28, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST to learn about "The Right Talent."
 
Looking for a job is an unpredictable process. Everything depends on your professional skills, job market dynamics and... pure luck! That old adage,  it's who you know , still exists.  In "The Right Talent" program you'll hear advice on:
  • In today's dynamic career landscape, how do you assess what makes sense as your next step?
  • What's the right amount of time to stay at one job or in one career?
  • How do you build your influence in the workplace, advocate for the success of others along with your own and take risks that set you above, not apart, from the rest?
  • What questions should you ask yourself and what steps should you consider when contemplating a move in your current organization or into a new career?
  • How do you network like a pro and build more meaningful connections in the workplace that will improve results for you and for others?
So please consider spending a little extra time zooming on Tuesday, July 28, while learning how to best prepare for professional success -- whether that be in your current position or in a role you aspire to be in -- in the future. Click below to register (attendees will be emailed a Zoom link the day before the event).
Academy Alumni in the News

Michael Corey '01 (pictured), executive director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, is interviewed on Prognosis Ohio where he discusses how the coronavirus pandemic has affected Ohio's non-profit sector, how it has adapted to the needs of the public, and shares thoughts on continued recovery. Also included in this month's press clips are Caroline Anders '17, Collin Castore (attended '90-'92), Chris Jones '84, Nick Jones '01, Ali Haque '01, Stu Harris '80, George Kauffman '92, Morgan Kauffman '89, Tim Keny '73, Jim Keny '73, Doug Mackelcan '93, Jim Merkel '92, Elizabeth Mote '03, Joel Pizzuti '90, Rick Ricart '98, Matt Schmitz '17, Randy Schoedinger '86, Brain Tuckerman '86, and Ryan Williams '08 as well as an obituary for Frederick M. Luper '58.

If you have clips (either in print or on the web) to pass along for future issues, please send them to Director of Alumni Relations Melissa Clarke Beckett at beckettm@columbusacademy.org.
12th Annual Golf Outing: Monday, September 21
 
Hit the greens to support financial aid at Columbus Academy!

The Columbus Academy community is invited to participate in the 12th Annual Columbus Academy Golf Outing being held on Monday, September 21, at Columbus Country Club. Proceeds from the outing benefit financial aid in memory of George N. Corey, former President of the CA Board of Trustees and father of alumnus Michael Corey '01. 

The outing will start at 1:00 p.m., and golfers will have the option to play a casual four-person scramble or a four-person two-best ball for those who would like a little more competition.
 
Should the golf outing need to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all registration fees will be refunded. Details regarding a possible post-outing gathering will be shared closer to the event date with participants.

Click here for registration and sponsorship opportunities. We'll see you on the greens!
 
Presenting Sponsors



SEVEN12 Management
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.,
Member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC
Alumni Weekend 2020: Postponed
 
The school has made the extremely difficult, but necessary, decision to postpone Alumni Weekend, scheduled for October 9-10, to ensure the health and safety of the Academy community.

This likely isn't a surprise in light of many other cancellations and postponements of summer and fall events both locally and globally. But for our alumni celebrating milestone reunions, this is a disappointment. 

It is our intention to still celebrate virtually in October. Stay tuned for details on what this will entail. 

Additionally, all Columbus Academy alumni with class years ending in 0 and 5 who were scheduled to celebrate their Reunion this year will be invited to celebrate alongside their fellow alumni with classes ending in 1 and 6 next fall during Alumni Weekend 2021, which has been scheduled for September 24-25 so please mark your calendars!
To Our Generous Community
 
Thank you to the many alumni who joined in The Big Give last month to support our Academy Community Fund. Your generous spirit placed Columbus Academy in the top ten organizations with the most donors during the event -- 366! 
Your gifts are providing immediate tuition assistance for families experiencing hardship, and also enabling the school to implement pandemic accommodations to facilitate a safe return to school next month. This initial outpouring of support has been vital to ensure that the value of the Academy experience is not diminished by the uncertainties that lie ahead. For those who missed  The Big Give and can still help with these efforts, you may donate online or mail your gift to the school, attention Academy Community Fund. Thank you for your important support!
School News

 
To care for each other and connect our resolve against racism, members of the Columbus Academy community, both past and present, gathered in the school's stadium on June 11 to hear  speakers sharing what this moment means to them and what they hope to see happen next as we all move forward. For coverage of the event, which included alumni Morgan Harper '01 (pictured) and Dalyn DeCree '19 , please click here . We truly appreciate members of our Black community who participated in an online discussion just a few days later and then presented school leaders with ideas to foster belonging for African American students at CA.  Information on action steps taken by the school since then and our community's response will be shared in an email to all alumni in the coming days.
 
 
Three faculty members recently earned appointments by the school! Brianna Stout and Dr. Andy Bezant were both approved by the Board of Trustees as Endowed Faculty Honorary Chairs. Katie Castle, meanwhile, has accepted the position of Mathematics Department Chair. Learn more about all three of these outstanding educators by clicking here.
Sports News
 
 
Ten of our student-athletes and coaches were recently honored at the ThisWeek News Central Ohio All Star Preps Show! Earning top honors in their respective sports were players of the year Sydni Ratliff (girls tennis) and Kiersten Thomassey (field hockey), along with Anne Horton and Matt Thompson who were each named coach of the year in field hockey and girls soccer, respectively, as well as Annalise Grammel who received the Raising Cane's Community Engagement Award. Finalists in their respective sports included Matthew Cammeyer (boys golf), Regan Cornelius (field hockey), Sam Massick (boys soccer), Griffin Mitchell (boys golf) and Sarah Neltner (girls soccer). To watch the complete awards show, go to: thisweeknews.com/allstarpreps.  
 
New hires by our athletics department for the upcoming school year include four former Academy standouts! Andrea Ballinger '15 will serve as varsity girls tennis assistant coach, Aidan Macchia '19 will be JV boys soccer assistant coach, Charlotte Vaziri '14 will join Anne Horton's field hockey staff as a volunteer assistant coach, and Sarah Campbell '16 will manage our swim meets as a varsity assistant coach for the AquaVikes. Other new coaches include Shelby Reichle (strength and conditioning coach), Benjamin Au (middle school girls soccer head coach), Brian Stier (JV football head coach), Mark Stier (JV football assistant coach), Brian Ford (varsity volleyball assistant coach) and Tara Puffenberger (varsity field hockey assistant coach).
Send In Your Class Notes 
 
We love keeping in touch with our alumni, and we want to hear all of your latest news. Do you have a life event that you'd like to share with fellow alumni and the Academy community?  Fill out our class notes form at columbusacademy.org/alumniclassnotes or send via email to alumni@columbusacademy.org to be sure your message is included in an upcoming issue of Experience, the school's newly redesigned magazine!
Stay Connected!