The Gunston School celebrated its 113th commencement this past Saturday, June 8, honoring the Class of 2024 with a waterfront ceremony overlooking the Corsica River, as family and friends looked on. The procession began with Bagpiper Andrew Jaecks, followed by school faculty and staff, and then graduating seniors. This year’s senior class was accepted to 153 colleges and universities, earning nearly 12 million dollars in merit scholarships.

Head of School John Lewis introduced the commencement speaker, President of Washington College Michael J. (Mike) Sosulski, Ph.D., who took office in September 2021. Dr. Sosulski has implemented several initiatives including a $20 million investment in renovations of residence halls, improved Wi-Fi quality and access, and approved the addition of golf, cross country, and track and field as new sports for men and women. Additionally, he helped steward the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the College—$50 million from the Hodson Trust dedicated to financial support for students.

“You are embarking on the next chapter of your life,” said Dr. Sosulski, “One of the most important things you can do is offer your opinions up for scrutiny. Why? For two reasons: first, it is one of the primary ways that you will learn and grow. […] It is about the pursuit of knowledge. Exposure to how others see the world will help you become the person you are meant to be. Some of those perspectives will reinforce your own, while others will flip your thinking on its head. The other reason to offer your opinions for scrutiny is simple—often … we’re just wrong. And the quicker we realize it, the better off we are.”

Mr. Lewis and Gunston’s Chair of the Board Joe Janney, P’21 then presented each graduate with their diploma, individually handcrafted by faculty member Michael Kaylor on an antique letterpress.

This year’s valedictorian honor (also called the Samuel A. Middleton Award after one of the school’s founders) was bestowed upon Zoe Buzzelli of Grasonville, Md. the day prior at the school’s Green & White Awards Ceremony.

“This year’s winner is a superior student, leader, athlete, community servant, and National Honor Society member. She finished with a mathematically perfect 4.0 GPA, having taken the most rigorous course load of her grade, including eight AP courses. Having taught her last year, she is engaged, curious and fun, and above all else, totally thorough. She’s a member of the Chesapeake Watershed Semester […] she served as sophomore, junior, and senior class president, and as an athlete, she is a multi-sport and conference champion and has been the captain of four athletic teams: cross country, volleyball, swimming, and triathlon,” said Mr. Lewis.

Zoe had this parting wisdom for classmates: “The advice I am trying to leave you with is probably some of the only advice I am qualified to give, for it is not instructions on how to change the world, although I hope you do; it is simply a reminder to make your world a better place. Find people who lift you and people who encourage you. People who aren’t afraid to challenge you to make you better. Find people who will work hard with you and strive to achieve collective goals. And most importantly find people who bring you joy. Build your foundation with these people, so that whatever life may throw at you, you are steady because of your strength and the strength of the people around you. And Class of 2024, we are lucky enough to have Gunston as part of our foundation.”

Presented by Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis, the prestigious Gunston Award, which began in 1969, is unique in that it’s chosen by the vote of the entire school community, including students, faculty, and staff, and is given to the senior who embodies Gunston’s core values daily. This award was also given to Zoe Buzzelli. “A role model of citizenship and a thoughtful leader, this student makes every person feel important and worthy. The Gunston community has benefitted from her earnest investment in all academic, social, and personal commitments,” said Mrs. Grabis.

Mr. Lewis concluded the awards ceremony with a request of the graduates, made as he held a hand-crafted six-foot wooden social distancing stick aloft. “I carried this around in the first weeks of your ninth-grade year, much of which was spent be masked under a semi-heated tent. As Mrs. Grabis said a few days ago when we were chatting about this, ‘Right, these were the tent kids.’ So when thinking about what I would like to do with this stick […] I’d like each of you to sign it with a sharpie, so I can keep it in my office forever as a symbol of the grit, resilience, and grace of the Class of 2024.”

####

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located on 75 waterfront acres in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

Benedictine has been named What’s Up? Media Best Nonprofit Eastern Shore 2024. Shown here are students attending vocational training at Benedictine’s training facility in Easton, Maryland.

Benedictine has been awarded the 2024 Best Nonprofit Organization Eastern Shore by What’s Up? Media for a second year in a row. The awards are selected by What’s Up? Media’s annual reader’s poll and Benedictine was chosen for this coveted honor amongst more than 300 nonprofits in the Eastern Shore region.

Benedictine will be recognized along with all the Best of Eastern Shore, Best of Annapolis and Best of Central Maryland winners at the annual Best Of Party held in Annapolis on June 11th. This event celebrates the best of the region’s restaurants, businesses, and professional services in a variety of categories. All the winners will be will also be featured in the June issue of What’s Up? Eastern Shore, What’s Up? Annapolis, and What’s Up? Central Maryland.

For more information on Benedictine’s programs and services and ways to support, please contact Claudia Cunningham, Chief Advancement Officer, at 410 634 2292 or [email protected]. Visit Benedictine at www.benschool.org.

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit service provider and its mission is to support children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine currently supports close to 200 children and adults.

The year-round educational program is one of only 22 nationwide to earn a four-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine also has 4 student group homes located in Caroline and Talbot Counties. 

Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers Meaningful Day and job training services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, who live in the community, and in 18 Benedictine adult group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties. 

Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it supports to enter the workforce. Benedictine also collaborates with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to provide training programs and job search services for students in area schools and adults living in the surrounding community.

Benedictine serves individuals from all over the state and Mid-Atlantic region and is one of the Eastern Shore’s largest nonprofit employers with 375 employees. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is thrilled to announce its second annual Education Professionals Gratitude Day on Friday, June 21, from 10am-2pm.

With the support of its community partners, CBMM is inviting anyone involved in education – teachers, administrators, and support staff – to join the celebration with free admission for PK-12 education professionals and their families, plus live music, free frozen treats, hands-on activities, exclusive discounts, and more.

Last year’s inaugural event brought more than 50 educators from across Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and beyond to CBMM’s waterfront campus. After such a memorable day, it was an easy choice to bring back the celebration to thank everyone working in education for their impact on children in our communities through their daily support, guidance, and leadership.

Education Professionals Gratitude Day is open to all PK-12 public, private, and charter school personnel, including teachers, paraprofessionals, school and district administrators, and support staff providing maintenance, transportation, security, clerical, food and other services within schools.

This Your Museum, Your Community recognition initiative is made possible by the generous support of Easton Velocity, Mid-Atlantic Waste Systems, and Shore United Bank.

“We are excited to reconnect with our friends in education and make new ones during this celebration,” CBMM’s Vice President of Education & Interpretation Jill Ferris said. “Throughout the year, our staff gets a chance to see the incredible work these special people are doing during field trips and classroom programming. We are glad to recognize them while celebrating the end of the school year with a day full of fun on our campus.”

The planned festivities are set to include a performance from musical duo Fresh Squeezed OJ, free shaved ice from Kona Ice, a visit from the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile, bronze casting demonstrations in the Shipyard, and a host of field trip-favorite activities with CBMM’s Education Team.

In addition, the honored guests receive a 10% discount at the Museum Store and on CBMM memberships that day.

There is no need to RSVP to join in the fun. PK-12 education professionals can simply check in at the Welcome Center and enjoy their visit. For any questions or additional information, contact Ferris at [email protected].

CBMM’s Education Professionals Gratitude Day is a natural fit with the organization’s educational mission. Last year, CBMM hosted more than 4,500 students, teachers, and chaperones for field trips from schools across the county, state, and region.

All Talbot County Public School students in third, fifth, and seventh grade learn from CBMM staff through field trips and in-classroom experiences, and CBMM’s Rising Tide after-school program provides local middle school students with the opportunity to learn new skills and work with tools while exploring the history and environment of the Chesapeake region.

For more information on CBMM’s youth education programming, including Homeschool Workshops, Lighthouse Overnight Adventures, CBMM Summer Camp, Science Saturdays, and more, visit cbmm.org/youtheducation.

Feature Photo: The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is excited to bring back Education Professionals Gratitude Day on Friday, June 21, from 10am-2pm. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)

Co-chairs Candi Chiaruttini and Paul Milne pose with a Benedictine-supported adult and his family on the dance floor at the Bourbon Street Masquerade Gala.

Funds raised to support critical services for those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism

Guests of Benedictine’s Bourbon Street Masquerade Gala arrived at the Trident Aircraft Hangar to find the evening’s festivities in full swing with the sounds of the Annapolis based Naptown Brass Band. Twelve foot lamp posts reminiscent of a New Orleans street guided guests throughout the hangar. The event was a sellout, and raised close to $200,000 in support of those living with developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism that Benedictine supports.

The event’s co-chairs were Candi Chiaruttini and Paul Milne, active members of the Easton community and founders of the famed restaurant 208 Talbot in St. Michael’s and creators of the Oaks Waterfront Inn. “We were honored to be asked to chair this wonderful event. My dear childhood friend, Greg, is supported by Benedictine and we see how his quality of life is so positively influenced by the services Benedictine provides. We want to support the work that they do for those living with intellectual and developmentally disabilities and bring a broader awareness to the community about their programs and how others can help,” commented Candi Chiaruttini.

The event included the viewing of the “Opening a World of Opportunities” video that showed how critical Benedictine’s fleet of vans are in providing transportation for the students and adults they support. The stories included a student who volunteers at a local humane society and a supported adult whose activities include an afternoon of bowling as part of his Meaningful Day program. The vehicles are used for trips to the grocery store and other important tasks, and as one student shared, “if we don’t have a van to get to school, what are we going to do!”

During the evening the Cornerstone Award, given to an individual that demonstrates steadfast commitment and remarkable generosity to Benedictine, was presented to Thad Fletcher, and his wife Donna Rochelle, who are the parents of one of Benedictine’s supported adults. Thad Fletcher is a partner at Cooke & Bieler, an investment firm, and Donna is a volunteer with the Kennedy Center. They graciously started the Woodmore Charity Golf Tournament in 2017 and each year they bring together friends and businesses for a day of comradery and philanthropy at the Country Club at Woodmore in Prince George’s County. Since its inception, the tournament has raised more than $320,000 and has introduced numerous new people to what Benedictine does. “My wife Donna and I are deeply touched to be presented with the Cornerstone Award. We know the amazing work that takes place every day at Benedictine and we are honored to support them,” commented Thad Fletcher. The award was presented to them by Charley Mills, Board of Trustees President. “It was my honor to recognize Thad Fletcher and Donna Rochelle. They truly exemplify Benedictine’s values of dignity, integrity, collaboration, and excellence.”

The event’s New Orleans-inspired fare was provided by Gourmet by the Bay. Audio and lighting were managed by Mid-South Media, and the evening concluded with guests enjoying dance tunes “spun” by Steve Moody Entertainment.

Sponsors of the event included RBC Wealth Management Easton, Preston Automotive, Momma Maria’s, Coffee Trappe, Old Trappe Tavern, Pep Up, Willow Construction, Mullins Sondberg Wimbish and Stone, Easton Utilities, BUCS Engineering, Benson & Mangold Real Estate, Acrisure, Brett and Molly Sause BMS Family Fund, Whelan Family Holdings and Clayton Farms.

Kelly Simonsen of Easton Utilities commented, “We support Benedictine because of the important work they do in our community and their mission to help those living with developmental disabilities achieve their greatest potential. The best part about attending the event was talking with family members and feeling their gratitude. We sat at a table with guests who came as far as Chicago, so you can imagine their passion for what Benedictine does.”

Auction items were generously donated by Bluepoint Hospitality, TNT Jewelers, Chester River Packet Company, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Inn at Perry Cabin, Salisbury Pewter, Wade’s Point Inn On the Bay, Annette Smith Wales, Honeybee Flower Farm, Garden Treasures, Trade Whims, Sandra Lister, Prospect Bay Country Club, Chesapeake Laser and Skin Care, Easton Hardware, The Wildset, Windswept Clothiers, Benedictine Garden Center, and Dragonfly Boutique.

For more information on Benedictine’s events, services and ways to support, please contact Claudia Cunningham at [email protected] or call 410 634 2292. Visit Benedictine at www.benschool.org.

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit service provider and its mission is to support children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine currently supports close to 200 children and adults.

The year-round educational program is one of only 22 nationwide to earn a four-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine also has 4 student group homes located in Caroline and Talbot Counties. 

Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers Meaningful Day and job training services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, who live in the community, and in 18 Benedictine adult group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties.

Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it supports to enter the workforce. Benedictine also collaborates with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to provide training programs and job search services for students in area schools and adults living in the surrounding community.

Benedictine serves individuals from all over the state and Mid-Atlantic region and is one of the Eastern Shore’s largest nonprofit employers with 375 employees. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

Poplar Island is known throughout the world as a singular and continuing ecological and economic success. Join Poplar Island outreach educator Kristina Motley and Chesapeake Forum on Wednesday, Jun 5th to learn how dredged material is being used to restore habitat on this critical Chesapeake Bay island AND keep the port of Baltimore open to shipping. 

Motley will explain the concept of “beneficial use” in Poplar Island: An International Model of Innovative Reuse with a classroom session on June 5th and a Field Trip on June 10th. Learn about Poplar Island’s unique story and continuing habitat successes. Find out how the beneficial use project, started in the 1990s, relies on dredged material collected from the approach channels to the Baltimore Harbor to restore lost remote island habitat within the Chesapeake Bay.

The project partnership between Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Port Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Maryland Environmental Service has been in place for over 20 years and has seen the restoration of almost 400 acres of wetland habitat. Upland habitat and additional wetland habitat are planned and the island is slated to be completed in the 2040’s. Over 400 different species of wildlife have been documented and over 30 different birds have been confirmed as nesting onsite.

Kristina Motley is a Senior Environmental Specialist (SES) with the Maryland Environmental Service (MES), where she has worked on the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island for four and a half years. As an SES on Poplar Island, her work is focused on outreach, including conducting in-person onsite tours, offsite lectures and events, school programming, and online content creation

Poplar Island: An International Model of Innovative Reuse is two sessions, Wednesday, June 5th from 10 – 11:30 a.m. and a FIELD TRIP on Monday, June 10th from 9 a.m. – noon. $30. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities to residents of the Eastern Shore. To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your name and contact information to [email protected].

Aidan Mora-Monge, with his father Francisco Mora-Camacho, his mother Wendy Monge-Rojas, and his sisters Natasha Mora-Monge and Lindsay Mora-Monge. Aidan is the ”22-’23 first-place winner in the 9th-grade Christianity/charity essay contest.

As devotion and fidelity to God and Country are essential attributes to one’s life, the Regina Coeli  Council of the Knights of Columbus of Easton, Maryland is proud to sponsor the following essay contest for the students of Saints Peter & Paul School. Open to students in the 9th and 10th Grades.  

1. ESSAY THEMES

9th Grade – Theological Prompt (Theology):  

• Select one of the Beatitudes, and discuss how it informs and inspires Christian beliefs and action, and what it means to you personally.  

10th Grade – Patriotic Prompt (Social Studies):  

• As we approach Memorial Day, discuss one day in American history in the first half of the  20th Century when members of our armed forces paid the ultimate sacrifice, and what it means to you. 

1. TIMELINE

Friday, April 19 – Essay Contests kick-off at school assembly 

Thursday, May 2 – Essays due to SSPP teachers (Theology and Social Studies) 

Thursday, May 9 – Teacher panel gives 14 finalist essays (seven for each grade/topic)  to judges 

Monday, May 13 – Judges provide the six winners to SSPP HS 

Friday, May 17 – Winners announced at school assembly 

Thursday, June 6 – Awards Ceremony/Reception in Marie Mitchell Parish Hall,  5:30-8 p.m.

III. ESSAY REQUIREMENTS 

• MLA Format: Follow all MLA guidelines for spacing, margins, pagination, and headers. Please  include your First Name/Last Name/Grade in the header 
• Length: Limited to 400-500 words. No more than three, double-spaced, typed pages ● Essays will be judged on: (1) Content; (2) Writing Ability; and (3) Creativity/Originality. 

1. AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIP

• Each grade level will receive the following: 

○ 1st Place — $1,500 award 

○ 2nd Place — $600 award  

○ 3rd Place — $400 award 

• In addition, the first-place winners will receive an engraved plaque, and all winners will  receive a Certificate of Achievement from the State of Maryland courtesy of State Senator  Johnny Mautz, a member of the Regina Coeli Council. 

1. PROCESS

• This is a graded assignment for members of the Freshmen and Sophomores.  ● A panel of teachers will determine the seven best essays for each class and submit them, with names redacted, to the Regina Coeli Council of the Knights of Columbus. 
• A three-judge panel from the Knights will score and rank the essays to determine the winners. ● The winners will be announced at a school assembly on May 17. 

Our congratulations again to Samuel and Aidan, our inaugural essay champions! 

Best wishes from the Knights of Columbus to all the student-contestants, and all members of the Saints Peter and Paul High School and Parish communities. 

Vivat Jesus! God continues to bless and protect America!

Benedictine celebrated all nominees of the Sister Jeannette Award at the annual Staff Appreciation Celebration.

Benedictine celebrated the winner and all the nominees of the distinguished Sister Jeannette Award during its annual Staff Appreciation Celebration. The award was established in 2012 by the Benedictine Board of Directors in honor of Sister Jeannette, who served as Benedictine’s leader for over 30 years. The annual award recognizes an employee who exemplifies Benedictine’s values of dignity, integrity, collaboration, and excellence.

This year’s Sister Jeannette Award was given to Nancy Morris, School Case Management Supervisor, who has been with Benedictine for 29 years. Nancy is known for her welcoming personality, words of encouragement, and the incredible support that she provides her team. She is instrumental in program decisions, policy development, and dealing with challenging situations all while being positive. The board, staff, and families all appreciate her dedication to Benedictine.

“The Sister Jeannette award is a highlight of our staff celebration event. We celebrate those that go above and beyond in making a difference in the lives of the students and adults living with developmental disabilities and autism. The nominees exhibit the best of Benedictine and it is an honor to be nominated by their peers for this prestigious award,” commented Scott Evans, Benedictine Executive Director.

The nominees included Katie Fitzhugh, School Teacher; Latonya White, Adult Services Day Direct Support Professional; Stephanie Franklin, Assistant Principal; Danielle Poore, School Transition Coordinator & Team Leader; Dale Murray, Education Assistant; Karen Pritchett, Adult Services House Counselor; and Nancy Morris, School Case Management Supervisor.

Part of the evening’s festivities included launching Benedictine’s updated Mission, Vision and Values. The update was a collaboration between the Board of Directors, senior leadership team and staff. Mission: Supporting children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can achieve their greatest potential. Vision: To be the premiere educator and service provider promoting growth, independence, and empowerment in children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities while fostering access to their community. Values: Dignity – Demonstrating compassion and respecting the inherent value and worth in each person. Integrity – To be honest and fair while making ethical, transparent, and well-intended decisions. Collaboration – Working toward a common goal and building relationships utilizing communication, trust, and accountability. Excellence: A commitment to offering high quality services through creativity, determination, and continuous improvement.

For more information about Benedictine, please contact Claudia Cunningham, Chief Advancement Officer at [email protected] / 410 634 2292.

###

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit service provider and its mission is to support children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine currently supports close to 200 children and adults.

The year-round educational program is one of only 22 nationwide to earn a four-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine also has 4 student group homes located in Caroline and Talbot Counties. 

Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers Meaningful Day and job training services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, who live in the community, and in 18 Benedictine adult group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties. 

Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it supports to enter the workforce. Benedictine also collaborates with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to provide training programs and job search services for students in area schools and adults living in the surrounding community.

Benedictine serves individuals from all over the state and Mid-Atlantic region and is one of the Eastern Shore’s largest nonprofit employers with 375 employees. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

Waterfowl Festival, Inc. awarded more than $28,000 in scholarships this spring to 14 of its student volunteers – affectionately known as “Ducksitters.” The 2024 William A. Perry Scholarship recipients are Bree Haufe, Billy Haufe, Cole Paradine, Jack TownsendJoshua Sherwood, Caeden Harrison, Charles Kaminskas, Robert Norbury, Ashton Milhollan, Pippa Milhollan, Brian Milhollan, Catherine Cronan.

Each student received awards this year totalling $2000 in recognition of their exceptional service to the Waterfowl Festival throughout the year. Involvement in the festival supports the children’s education in the conservation space, and it is hoped that their experiences will create future opportunities for them to step up as environmental stewards as they continue their education and lives. The Ducksitter program has been a part of the festival for decades and is a beloved tradition open to all local students.

The Perry Scholarships were established in 1997 in honor of Bill Perry, one of the Waterfowl Festival’s founders. The awards are available to students who volunteer their time to the Festival either at the event or throughout the year.

Proceeds from the Festival’s well-loved Cocktail Decoy Auction, organized each year by the Perry family, fund the scholarships. Miniature carvings are donated by artists and auctioned off during the Premier Night Party, to be held this year on Thursday, Nov. 7.

The 53rd Annual Waterfowl Festival will be held in Easton Nov. 8,9,10, 2024. Want to be a 2024 Ducksitter?  Please contact the Waterfowl Festival office at 410-822-4567 or visit our website, www.waterfowlfestival.org.

About the Waterfowl Festival: Located in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay region known for its stunning landscapes and abundant waterfowl populations, the Waterfowl Festival has grown to be a cherished tradition, attracting visitors from across the nation and around the globe. Its commitment to conservation, community, and cultural enrichment makes it a vital event for anyone interested in preserving our natural world for future generations. For more information, please visit WaterfowlFestval.org.