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The Donald K. Walker '26 Scholarship Fund
Music in the Schools
The 1957 Yale Bowl Portal Project (Final Report)
Dwight Hall Summer Fellowships
The Donald K. Walker '26 Scholarship Fund
The Donald K. Walker '26 Scholarship Fund was created at the
Class of 1957's 25th reunion, the brain child of classmate
Bill Wrean. Don Walker was a senior member of the
undergraduate admissions office when our class applied to
Yale, and he interviewed many of us as candidates for
admission. He was also a resident fellow of Calhoun College
and through that tie stayed in touch with many of us during
our four years in New Haven.
Early gifts to the Walker Fund and principal appreciation
since then have generated enough money so that income from
the Fund currently can support full scholarships for four
Yale undergraduates. The Fund is part of Yale's permanent
endowment, and the Fund will exist in perpetuity. Gifts to
the Fund are credited to the amount the class gives to Yale
during the five years leading to each reunion.
For the last decade or so, class members have each winter
taken Walker Scholarship holders to dinner at Mory's to tell
them about Don Walker and why scholarships in his name
exist. These dinners are also wonderful opportunities for us
to meet several Yale undergraduates in a relaxed setting and
to sense how gifted today's Yale students are.
Donald K. Walter Scholarship Recipients, 1983-present
2011-2012
Alexander Saeedy '15
Kathleen Addison '14
Anya Cekauskas '13
Kristopher Harvey '13
2010-2011
Kathleen Addison '14
Anya Cekauskas '13
Kristopher Harvey '13
Chad C. Costello '11
2009-2010
Anya Cekauskas '13
Kristopher Harvey '11
Elizabeth Epstein '11
Chad C. Costello '11
2008-2009
Chad C. Costello '11
Molly J. Kim '09
Jarrett M. Drake '09
Michael B. McLeod '09
2007-2008
Chad C. Costello '11
Molly J. Kim '09
Jarrett M. Drake '09
Michael B. McLeod '09
2006-2007
Molly J. Kim '09
Jarrett M. Drake '09
Michael B. McLeod '09
Michelle Gosselin '07
2005-2006
Andrew Burke '06
Jarrett M. Drake '09
Michael B. McLeod '09
Michelle Gosselin '07
2004-2005
Andrew Burke '06
Robert D. Carr '05
Eric M. Diamond '05
Michelle Gosselin '07
2003-2004
Andrew Burke '06
Matthew Murray '07
Robert D. Carr '05
Eric M. Diamond '05
2002-2003
Matthew W. Lewis '03
Robert D. Carr '05
Eric M. Diamond '05
2001-2002
Matthew W. Lewis '03
Robert D. Carr '05
Eric M. Diamond '05
2000-2001
Matthew W. Lewis '03
Rashad Bartholomew '01
David Farrell '03
1999-2000
Matthew W. Lewis '03
Rashad Bartholomew '01
David Farrell '03
1998-1999
Kenneth Marschner '99
Scott Benton '99
1997-1998
Kenneth Marschner '99
Scott Benton '99
1996-1997
Kenneth Marschner '99
Scott Benton '99
1995-1996
Kenneth Marschner '99
Scott Benton '99
1994-1995
Raymond Rast '95
1993-1994
Raymond Rast '95
1992-1993
Raymond Rast '95
1991-1992
Raymond Rast '95
1990-1991
William McSwain '91
1989-1990
William McSwain '91
1988-1989
William McSwain '91
1987-1988
William McSwain '91
1986-1987
Steven Provenzano '90
1985-1986
Ardel McKenna '86
1984-1985
Ardel McKenna '86
1983-1984
Ardel McKenna '86
Following is a copy of the most recent report about
recent Walker Scholars from Carol S. Hobbs, Yale's recording
secretary, to Don Roberts.
November 22, 2011
Dear Mr. Roberts:
It is an honor to correspond each year with Yale's generous benefactors,
especially those who have supported our financial aid program. Today I write on
behalf of the University to thank you once again and to provide you with some
information about this year's recipients of the Donald K. Walker (B.A. 1926)
Scholarship Fund. As you know, it is only through such resources that Yale
College can preserve its mission of placing a world-class education within reach
of all admitted students, regardless of their financial situation.
For 2011-2012, Yale's financial aid budget rose to $117 million, compared to
$109 million last year. More than 55 percent of undergraduates received
assistance this year, with the average grant covering $37,700 of the total
$52,700 cost of attending Yale. With the continuing economic challenges faced by
so many families, financial aid resources like this are all the more important.
This year's returning Walker Scholars are Anya Cekauskas '13, Kristopher
Harvey '13, and Kathleen Addison' 14. They are joined in this honor by Alexander
Saeedy, a member of the Class of 2015.
Anya hails from Birmingham, Michigan, where she attended Seaholm High School.
Now in her junior year, she is a member of Branford College, and has formally
declared American studies as her major. A talented athlete, Anya competed on our
varsity volleyball team her freshman year, and is now a member of the club
lacrosse team. In addition, she is the social chair for one of our campus
sororities. Devoted to community service, this outstanding student has been
involved with numerous volunteer organizations, including Big Brothers Big
Sisters, Yale Race for the Cure, and Luther House Tutoring. Inspired by her
internship with Yale University Properties, Anya is considering a career in
marketing, sales, or advertising. She writes: "I love my current position ... It
is very interesting, and I enjoy traveling to other cities to recruit businesses
to establish a New Haven presence. While it is definitely challenging to balance
my academics simultaneously with my job, I am gaining real world experience in
sales and marketing, and find it invaluable."
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Kris attended Murrah High School prior to
matriculating at Yale. Like Anya, he is a junior this year and is majoring in
American studies. Affiliated with Calhoun College, he is also interested in
business, chemistry, literature, French, and Italian. Here on campus, Kris has
volunteered his time with Community Health Educators and has served as a tutor
for and treasurer of Urban Improvement Corps. More recently, he has been
performing with the Groove Dance Company and is the hospitality ministry chair
for the Black Church at Yale. In addition, Kris is the current president of
Runway Inc., which stages charity fashion shows, and is the fashion and style
editor for Vita Bella Magazine. He reports that he is eager to work in
merchandising or advertising before enrolling in business school to earn an MBA
degree.
From Bradenton, Florida, Kathleen prepared for Yale at Saint Stephen's
Episcopal School. Among other awards, she was a Finalist in the National Merit
Scholarship Program, a member of the Cum Laude and National Honor Societies, and
the recipient of the Harvard Book Award. A leader in and out of the classroom,
Kathleen was the vice president of the student council, a peer tutor, a member
of the Key Club, and a student ambassador. A sophomore this year, she resides in
Calhoun College and has academic interests in mathematics, psychology,
sociology, and physics. Passionate about the arts, Kathleen sings alto in the a
cappella group Something Extra and was chosen to serve as the spring tour
manager. A member of the Yale Dramatic Association, she worked as an assistant
producer for two theatrical shows last year.
Alex was born in Toledo, Ohio, and raised in Linden, Michigan. He attended
Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, where he distinguished himself
as an AP Scholar, a Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, and the
top French student of the year. To complement his studies, Alex spent the summer
after his junior year in Montbrison, France, enrolled in a language and culture
immersion program. Outside of academics, he honed his leadership skills by
serving as secretary and treasurer of the glee club, president of a political
club, and editor-in-chief of his school's nationally recognized newspaper, The
Crane-Clarion. He is also a talented actor and performed in plays such as
The Sound of Music and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Now a Yale
freshman, Alex is affiliated with Trumbull College and is continuing to study
French, journalism, and theater. In his spare time, this excellent scholar looks
forward to acting in, directing, and even producing student productions here on
campus.
A Yale education nurtures intellectual curiosity, inspires athletic and
artistic pursuits, and engenders a strong sense of leadership. The Walker
Scholarship Fund has helped open the door to these and many other opportunities
for Anya, Kris, Kathleen, and Alexander. We remain inspired by the loyal alumni
and friends like you who share in our mission to make a Yale education
accessible for such outstanding students.
With gratitude,
Carol S. Hobbs
Music in the Schools
The Music in the Schools class project has its own
website. Click here to enter it.
For a map of the location of all Music in Schools fellows for years 2007, 2009, and
2011, click here.
Project Update Fall 2011
Class of 1957 Music in Schools Committee
Committee members are: Tom Chittenden, Rod Correll, Gus Kellogg, Malcom
Mitchel, Tom Perkins, Bob Smith, Phil Richards, Morris Raker, Don Roberts, Nick
Tingley, Rob Walker, John Watling and Steve Wittenberg. Committee activities
include: (1) semiannual meetings in New Haven with Deans Blocker, Yaffe and the
program managers, (2) work on the Music in Schools portion of the class website,
(3) attendance at various Music in Schools concerts in New Haven, (4) fund
raising to increase the endowment at the 55th reunion, (5) brainstorming and
discussing future directions for the program. Clearly this continues to be a
team effort!
Important Events During 2011
(1) The class of 1957 Music in Schools program was selected by the
association of Yale Alumni to receive its annual award of excellence for "Class
Volunteer Engagement and Leadership". This award honors the many classmates who
have been involved in various ways in designing, funding and working with the
Yale School of Music to shape our 50th Reunion Endowment. Music in Schools has
become a vibrant and growing force in public school music education both in New
Haven and nationally.
(2) The Endowment provides for a biennial symposium for talented music
educators. 2011 was a Symposium year and 50 educators, chosen to receive the
Yale Distinguished Music Educators Award, came from around the nation to
participate in 2 days of stimulating workshops, demonstrations and discussions
with the hope that they would return to their communities feeling appreciated,
stimulated and anxious to lead in the area of public school music education.
The feedback has been very positive. To quote from one honoree, "The Symposium
was the best professional experience I have had to date in my career."
(3) The fall of 2011 saw the sudden and untimely death of John Miller,
Manager of Community Programs for the Yale School of Music. John was devoted to
Music in Schools and instrumental in its successful growth. He was beloved by
the New Haven students whose lives he touched, as well as by YSM students,
faculty and the members of the 1957 Music in Schools committee. The committee
suggested that he be made an honorary member of the class and he certainly will
be included in the memorial service planned for fallen classmates at the 55th
reunion. Those of us who had the privilege of working with John will never
forget him.
Activities in the New Haven Schools
Music in Schools continues to have an intensive involvement in two New Haven
middle schools, John Daniels and Lincoln Bassett. At John Daniels this is
centered around a band program and at Lincoln Bassett, a string program. At
both schools this involves private lessons, group lessons, and group rehearsals
as well as concerts. Ruben Rodriguez has taken over for John Miller at John
Daniels and Brian Lewis, our returning 1957 Visiting Professor will lead at
Lincoln Bassett. In addition 14-17 Yale School of Music Students will spend
time teaching at these schools.
In each of 8 other New Haven Schools a YSM student will serve as a "teaching
artist". Each student will spend approximately 5 hours/week in their respective
school. The students will be chosen and mentored by our visiting professor,
Brian Lewis.
Music in Schools has also been involved in the formation of an All City Band
and, together with the Yale Glee Club, an all City Chorus. These organizations
will offer additional musical opportunities to New Haven public school students.
Year end music competitions will be held for students as they have been in the
past few years.
Music in Schools involvement in the public schools has fostered creative
music and literature, music and art as well as music and film programs with a
YSM composer working with the public schools students to combine these different
arts.
We have seen a surge in public school music students competing in regional
events which were formerly dominated by students from affluent communities and
private schools. Not infrequently, one hears a public school student say
something like, 'getting involved in music saved my life'. They go on to
explain how these programs have made the entire school experience more joyful,
built self confidence and improved self discipline.
Finally Music in Schools provides one of the strongest links between the
University and the city of New Haven. At the same time The New Haven programs
serve as a laboratory for innovative projects which are then aired at the
biennial national symposium and hopefully make their way far and wide.
2011-2012 Class of 1957 Visiting Professor
We are very fortunate to have Brian Lewis, the David and Mary Winton Green
Chair in String and Pedagogy at the University of Texas, Austin return for a
second year. In addition to being a nationally recognized violinist, (Brian
actually studied with Dr Suzuki in Japan), he has extensive experience in
community involvement, having worked with literally thousands of children both
in the USA and Japan. Professor Lewis will be at the Yale School of Music three
days every other week during both fall and spring semesters. He will mentor YSM
students who are involved in the program, teach a course on community engagement
involving actual community projects, mentor ensembles that do interactive
concerts, choose and mentor the "teaching artists" at 8 schools, and shepherd
the string program at Lincoln Bassett. Professor Lewis firmly believes that art
and music can save disadvantaged children who might otherwise flounder. Several
of us who have seen him in action can attest to the fact that his enthusiasm is
truly infectious and his skills a tremendous asset to our program.
2011 National Symposium
The Symposium took place from June 8-10 2011 at the Yale School of Music.
Attendees were housed in Silliman College and had opportunities to tour the Yale
Campus. The application process this time was very rigorous, involving not only
nomination from a Yale Class of 1957 member or a school superintendent and/or a
recommendation from their music supervisor, but also an essay demonstrating
how the particular applicant would add to such a Symposium. 50 honorees were
chosen out of the 250 completed applications. They were of very high caliber
and represented 28 states. As before, New Haven public school teachers, our
partners in this venture, were also invited to attend.
The Symposium focused on the role of "teaching artists" (e.g. graduate music
students, community orchestra or ensemble members) in a collaboration with
public school music teachers. In addition, newer technologies allowing
program-to-program live communication from different locations were introduced.
This was topped off by a live demonstration combining a Rhode Island public
school ensemble with a New Haven public school ensemble via satellite. The New
Haven group was on the stage of Sprague Hall and the Rhode Island group
projected on to a large screen. The children played music for one another and
comments were exchanged all in real time. The idea was to demonstrate how
distance learning can be used to bring music education from venues with more to
venues with fewer resources or simply to collaborate across distances. All
Symposium honorees were offered the opportunity to submit possible projects,
which, if chosen, could use the Yale technology to carry out their projects.
The Symposium closed with an impressive dinner honoring each of the 50
teachers. Dean Yaffe told us something about each of the honorees. Then They
then received a certificate which read "Yale Distinguished Music Educator" and
had their pictures taken with Dean Blocker. John Merrow, Education
Correspondent of the PBS News hour gave a keynote address.
Funding
As of June 30, 2011, actual contributions to the Endowment totaled
$4,679,487.77, and the market value was $4,902,407.89. There was $390,000 in
outstanding commitments.
Fundraising for the 55th has the aim of adding 1 million dollars to the
endowment in order to allow Music in Schools to hire two music school graduates
to supervise, extend and create further innovations in the "teaching artist "
program in the New Haven public schools, as well as to fund a Class of 1957
media room which could use technology for long distance teaching both nationally
and internationally.
Summary
The Class of 1957 Music Endowment has seen steady growth both in concept and
achievement. Involvement in the New Haven public schools has strengthened the
relationship between the city and Yale as well as serving as an incubator for
pilot programs. The initiative is reaching around the country through Yale
School of Music graduates, the biennial symposium attendees and both the YSM and
Class of 1957 websites.
Jim Banner was kind enough to send me the following quotation from Robert
Blocker, Henry and Lucy Moses Dean of the Yale School of Music, " I was thrilled
to learn that the AYA will honor the Class of '57 for the Music in Schools
program support. I can say unequivocally that working with all of you has been
one of the high points of my tenure at Yale. Together we are making a
difference in the lives of children."
Respectfully Submitted
Stephen M. Wittenberg, MD
Chairman Class of '57 Music in Schools Committee
November 13, 2011
The 1957 Yale Bowl Portal Project (Final Report)
At half time of the Harvard Game, on November 17, 2007, a Portal
Plaque was unveiled at Yale Bowl honoring the extraordinary athletic
achievements of the Class of 1957 during senior year. The plaque is
the result of the generous contributions of nearly one hundred
classmates who raised in excess of $250,000, as part of our 50th
Reunion gift, to help with the much-needed renovation of Yale Bowl.
The plaque reads
Class of 1957
9 Ivy Championships, Polo National Championship
& Olympic Gold Medals in Crew (1956)
It is displayed among plaques honoring the 1934 Iron Man Team, Levi
Jackson, Carm Cozza, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the
Football Championship Teams of 1960, 1968, and 1989 among others. It
is notable company, but company in which the Class of 1957 belongs.
As an integral part of the fund-raising effort, memorial gifts were
received in honor of the following deceased classmates:
Judge Richard Sheppard Arnold Donald A.E. Beer
Pierre Bourquin Edward P. Bullard IV Albert J. Butler
Professor Michael G. Cooke Robert J. Corry, M.D. Vincent
Paul DeMeo Theodore E. Frembgen Peter Bartholomew Fritzsche
Howard Thomas Gillis John R. Golden, D.M.D. Charles
Livingston Grimes Carl F. Hoffman, Jr Michael Ward Leisure
Gordon Y. Marshall, Jr. Frank J. Mongillo Jr., Esq.
Michael Poutiatine Earl F. Riter, M.D. David Sawyer
Remie Jay Smith Walton Burr Sumner John B. Tyson
Alfred G. Ward William Bruce Williams
Memorial Gifts were also received in honor of the following
deceased friends and mentors:
Stuart J. Clancy William Edward Chilton III Harry A. Jacunski
Jordan Olivar
May they all rest in peace.
This magnificent effort would not have been possible without the
hard work and dedication of the committee made up of Don Bab, Bill
Clinton, Colin Gracey, Don Griffith, Ev Hedeen, Colin Jensen, Dick
Jones, Ted Jones, Jim King, Ed Meyer, Mike Oberlin, Jack Pendergast,
Ed Robinson, Bide Thomas, and the late Pete Fritzsche.
Dwight Hall Summer Fellowships
The Class of 1957 supports summer fellowships in Dwight
Hall in memory of Frank Mongillo and Howie Gillis.
Started in 1968, Dwight Hall Summer Fellowships give Yale
students the opportunity to spend their vacations in New
Haven working full-time on projects they have themselves
designed in response to community needs. In addition to
working with community or student groups or other
not-for-profit organizations to implement their projects,
the fellows meet for weekly dinner seminars with New Haven
community leaders to gather advice and learn more about
pertinent city issues.
During the summer of 2005, Class of 1957 summer
fellowships will support Hannah Yoon (Saybrook, '05) to head
up an initiative in conjunction with Advanced Strategies for
Healthcare Access Inc. to research and publicize eye care
resources available to the uninsured in New Haven. In
addition, Benjamin Staub (Saybrook, '06) will work directly
with those enrolled in Connecticut Voices for Children's
newly launched foster youth-transition program in helping
the young people to create self-governing Youth Leadership
Boards and raise their own voices in area and state
legislative debates on foster care issues.
Below is a letter from Tess Wheelwright, Student
Coordinator of Dwight Hall Summer Fellowships, to Steve
Hopkins, dated 16 May 2005:
Dear Mr. Hopkins,
It comes as great news that the class of 1957 intends to
sponsor two of our Dwight Hall Summer Fellows this year! A
thrilled thanks to you and your classmates for such
generosity, from all of us here in Dwight Hall.
I am Tess Wheelwright, Yale College class of 2006, and
this year's coordinator of the Dwight Hall Summer
Fellowship. During the academic year, I co-coordinate the
Dwight Hall-affiliated Urban Fellows Program, which
similarly places students as interns in city and community
agencies, and like the Summer Fellowship involves a group
component of weekly discussion meetings. I'm very much
looking forward to extending my experience in that role to
the more in-depth Dwight Hall Summer Fellowship.
Kathrine Burdick passed along to me your email address;
it is my pleasure to present to you Summer Fellows Ben
Staub, Saybrook '06, and Hannah Yoon, Saybrook '05, for
Class of 1957 sponsorship.
Hannah will be interning at Student Health OUTreach, a
recently founded (2000) New Haven nonprofit organization
that calls itself a "project of advanced strategies for
healthcare access." SHOUT works to reach out to the city's
uninsured families and enroll them in Connecticut's
Healthcare for Uninsured Kids and Youth (HUSKY) program, as
well as research and advocate on their behalf for improved
access to medical and dental resources. Hannah's interest in
health and medicine, and her year's experience already as an
organizer of outreach at SHOUT, make her a great candidate
for her summer project of coordinating a new SHOUT
initiative concerning eye care, specifically. Hannah will be
researching, compiling, and publicizing information about
existing eye care resources for families in New Haven
without insurance, while directing attention to the problem
as part of a larger SHOUT advocacy project to document
"Stories of the City's Uninsured."
Ben' focus will also be on children and will also combine
direct service with research and advocacy but will concern
itself specifically with youth in the foster care system.
His project is with Connecticut Voices for Children, a
respected organization committed to improving the lives of
youth through high-quality research and public policy
analysis, and promoting youth voice and leadership through
citizen education and organizing. CT Voices recently
received a grant to look at the issues facing youth "aging
out" of the foster care system, and it is in conjunction
with this larger project that Ben will be researching this
population in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, as well
as working with the youth directly to help them form boards
to organize discussions and events, empowering them to add
their own youth voice to the legislative debates. Besides
being a Summer Fellow, Ben is also the current
Co-Coordinator of Dwight Hall's student Executive Committee,
a Dwight Hall Early Childhood Education Fellow, and
generally an invaluable member and representative of the
Dwight Hall effort. He would be happy for the opportunity to
share more about his summer project, and welcomes contact at
benjamin.staub@yale.edu.
Thank-you again, Mr. Hopkins, for your generous support.
Only with it are we able to provide the deserving Ben and
Hannah and the equally deserving organizations they'll be
serving with such a valuable summer opportunity!
Tess Wheelwright
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Bates. This Page Last Updated: January 16, 2012.
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