Gala 2024 Raises $800,000 for Arts

Thank you to all who attended Gala 2024, The Art of the Imaginable, at LFA on April 27. What a fantastic celebration in support of arts education at LFA. The community raised more than $800,000 in support of the tools, teaching, and spaces that help keep our students creative. A special thank you to our emcee for the evening, alumnus Alex Goode ’05, who entertained and inspired our audience, and to Trustee Suzanne Isenberg ’83, who served as Gala Co-Chair. Bravo to the LFA community for a fantastic evening! View photos.

above: Trustee Gloria Harper P’93 with Fine & Performing Arts Department Chair Jason Koenig P’26

LFA Artist Honored

The Academy is pleased and honored to announce that LFA visual art instructor Lauren Fowler is now represented by the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, N.Y., where her work will be sold. This is an enormous honor for Lauren and the Academy and affirmation of her extraordinary talent. Lauren teaches Glass, Ceramics 1, 2D Studio, and Advanced Studio at the Academy. 

Lauren is also represented by the Toledo Museum of Art and the Sandra Ainsley Gallery in Toronto.

Math Students and the Business of Sports

On May 6, LFA math teacher Jeff Bateman P’08 accompanied a group of students in his discrete math (practical finance fundamentals) course to Wrigley Field, where the students were invited to visit the front office of the Chicago Cubs.

The group was treated to an insider look at baseball operations through conversation with Jed Hoyer, President of Baseball Operations for the Cubs, and from LFA alumnus and current parent Andrew Berlin ’78, P’24, minority owner of the Cubs. Both men offered a glimpse into the business of baseball, which dovetailed nicely with the current unit Bateman is teaching on modeling a business.

The experience ended with the group watching a game--from 8th row behind home plate. Thank you, Andrew Berlin, for this opportunity.

caption, front row, l to r: seniors Trevor Stewart, Lucas Chamberlin, Sam Goldhaber, Daniya Nussipbek, Noah Cedergren, Leo Gerstman, Charlie Griffiths, LFA Athletic Trainer Dave Atas, and math teacher Jeff Bateman P'08.

back row, l to r: seniors Gavin Berlin, Seamus Keohane, Evan Stastny, David Keene, Milo Daniel, Justin Ahern, Noah Houle, Arnas Simaitis ’25, Yaseen Primus, Zab Alvarez, Alan Murovanny, and Mark Rios

Next Generation Gathering

Thank you to alumnus John "JB" Turney ’03 and his wife, Jessica, for hosting a small group of young alumni at their home in Chicago on the evening of May 9. This was an opportunity to thank our leadership donors, in particular those who funded the Next Generation Endowed Scholarship and other initiatives at the Academy, and to share details about the future of the school and how alumni can stay engaged and supportive of its efforts. 

We hope to host regular gatherings of this nature in the city and suburbs moving forward.

Please join fellow philanthropists in making a gift to the Academy.

caption above: Hosts JB ’03 and Jessica Turney

below: kneeling, l to r: JB Turney ’03 and Phil Preiss ’06; standing, l to r: Trustee Charlie Cooper ’96, P’28, Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27, AAB member Josh Brass ’10, AAB member Peter Corsiglia ’17, Nick Ustaski ’11, AAB member Allison Stankowicz ’12, AAB member Leland Brewster ’07, Colby Friedeman ’06, AAB member Ariana Bhatia ’12, Charlie Waddell ’03, Casey Kennedy Waddell ’08, Jonathan Michalczyk ’07, Liz Razdolsky Michalczyk ’07, and Michael Simms ’08

Ferry Hall Alumnae Luncheon

On May 16, a group of nearly two dozen Ferry Hall alumnae and friends, LFA staff, and Ferry Hall Prefect Gabi Stewart ’24 gathered in the city for a lunch hosted by alumna Lyssa Mashek Piette ’68.

This was an opportunity to bring our FH alumnae together to socialize and to introduce them to Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27, who shared remarks about LFA today and honored the legacy of Ferry Hall, which merged with LFA in 1974. Archivist Rita Schulien MacAyeal ’87 presented a slideshow on Ferry Hall, noting the contributions of the girls school to LFA’s current success. The year 2024 marks 50 years of co-education at LFA. Thank you, Lyssa, for making this celebration possible!

Above: Head of School Chris Tennyson P'27 with Hostess Lyssa Mashek Piette '68 and Janet Owen

Below: seated, l to r: Laura Ekstrom P’15, ’16, AAB member Terry Hall ’67, Hostess Lyssa Mashek Piette ’68, Life Trustee and AAB member Loretta Kalnow Kaplan ’73, P’03, AAB member Cecily Barnett Meers ’69, P’97, ’09; standing, l to r: Head of School Chris Tennyson P'27, Ferry Hall Prefect Gabi Stewart '24, Lea Prober Gorman '67, P'92, Sally Boynton '67, AAB member Ann Ridge ’71, AAB member Beth Petit Shaw ’75

Pattis ’14 Delivers Service Day Keynote

Madeleine Pattis, a 2014 graduate of LFA, addressed the school community at a morning meeting on April 17 to kick off Service Day at LFA.

A graduate of Swarthmore College, Madeleine is earning master's degrees in public policy and social work from the University of Chicago. She is currently a policy intern in the Office of the Mayor, City of Chicago. She spoke about her experience with non-profits and how students can make a meaningful difference in the world. Madeleine has past work experience at such organizations as RefugeeOne, the Kovler Center, Heartland Alliance, and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Thank you, Madeleine, for your inspiring words and advice to our community! 

below: Madeleine Pattis’14 with LFA faculty members (from left) Tim Plambeck P’21, ’23, Paul Makovec, Jon Freeman P’26, and Roxanne Kruger

Alumni in the Classroom

Thank you to alumnus Andrew Silver ’08, who visited Matt Vaughn P’27’s entrepreneurship class on April 17 to talk about his journey as Founder and CEO of logistics firm MoLo Solutions, which he sold in 2021 to ArcBest. Andrew spoke about his personal and professional journey since his years at LFA and shared advice with students about succeeding as a business owner. His story of resilience, vulnerability, and perseverance resonated. Thank you, Andrew!

below: Andrew Silver ’08 (center) with LFA entrepreneurship teacher Matt Vaughn P’27 and Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27

Save the Date: Alumni & Friends Picnic at LFA

There are few places more beautiful than the Formal Gardens at LFA in the summertime! Join us for an afternoon picnic: Bring your parents, grandparents, children, etc. to LFA on Sunday, Aug. 11 (12 p.m. - 3 p.m.) for delicious picnic food, fun and games for kids in the gardens, and opportunities to reconnect with fellow alumni and Head of School Chris Tennyson and his wife, math teacher Maggie Tennyson.

If you've attended this event in the past, you know how much fun it is! We will hold the gathering rain or shine (in Reid Hall in the event of bad weather). Here are some photos from the 2022 picnic. Watch your email and mail for an invitation in the coming months!

above: Rich Gallagher ’09 and his son, Flynn, at the 2022 picnic.

Save the Date: Reunion 2024 – Oct. 18-19

Please mark your calendars for next year's Reunion. We will celebrate milestone reunions for those in classes ending in 4s and 9s -- including the 50th for the Class of 1974, 25th for the Class of 1999, and 10th for the Class of 2014 -- but all Lake Forest Academy alumni and Ferry Hall alumnae are welcome. Questions? Contact Director of Development and Stewardship Hannah Shallenberger. 

May is Teacher Appreciation

Teacher Appreciation Week was last week, May 6-10, but it isn't too late to honor your favorite LFA or Ferry Hall teacher. Celebrate the educators, coaches, and advisors who impacted your life by making a gift in their names. Your support goes toward their professional development opportunities and helps strengthen living and learning at LFA. Make your gift today!

Will You Take the Caxy Legacy Challenge?

Alumni, time is running out to take advantage of the Caxy Legacy Challenge. The CLC is an opportunity to make both an immediate and long-term impact on LFA when you inform the Academy of a new or previously undocumented deferred gift commitment. Create your legacy today!

Watch the Progress: Athletic Center

Construction on the Athletic Center Expansion (ACE) is moving along smoothly. Read updates and view video on our website. Fundraising continues on this effort, the largest capital project in LFA’s history. If you’re interested in learning more and supporting this project, please contact a member of the Advancement team.

Class and Faculty Notes, Death Notices

We publish class notes and death notices in the alumni enews as well as in the Review. Read recent submissions. Send your career/family updates and photos to classnotes@lfanet.org

Contact Info Updates

If you have recently moved, changed jobs or have a new email address or cell number, please let us know so that we can update our database. Send your data to updates@lfanet.org

Link In with Us

Alumni, stay connected with us through the LFA Alumni LinkedIn page.