News & Events
here's
always something going on at Emma Willard School. Whether it’s a sports competition, theater performance, or weekend activity, EW endeavors to keep students, parents, and alumnae connected.
Emma Now
 Congregants join in song with the Student and Alumnae Choir, led by faculty emeritus Russell Locke. |
September 30, 2007Saying GoodbyeWith song, remembrance, and some tearful goodbyes, Celebration 2007—a landmark event in Emma Willard history—came to a close on Sunday with a worship service in the Alumnae Chapel; a faculty seminar on the topic, “Mt. Ida: History in the Making,” by Associate Head of School Trudy Hanmer; and a farewell lunch. Photos by Steven Ricci |
 Eleanor Lumsden ’94 catches up with Russell Locke. |
 Trudy Hanmer leads a discussion on the history of Emma Willard School, a prelude to the book she is now writing on the subject. |
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September 29, 2007We Are EmmaAs the celebration of the Symposium and Reunion Weekend continued, a diverse group of Emma community members spoke about their memorable experiences here. Alumnae from classes as early as the '40s, the mother of an alumna, and a previous Scottish exchange student gave speeches that had a united message—“I am Emma.” That was the essence of the night that brought the whole Emma Willard community together as if they were all parts of a close, extended family. “We are Emma” was an event that knitted together all the pieces of Reunion and starred not only memories but also a promising future. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Asma '09 |
 During a break between sessions, two visiting alumnae enjoy a scenic view of the inner campus on a spectacular fall day. |
September 29, 2007We Are EmmaCelebration 2007 reached a climax on Saturday with the “Women, Power, and Responsibility” symposium, the traditional Reunion class parade, a dedication ceremony and tour of Emma Willard’s newly renovated student spaces, and the We Are Emma celebration. Photos by Steven Ricci
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 U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand ’84 (right) welcomed visitors and introduced a video greeting by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at the “Women, Power, and Responsibility” symposium. Looking on is Head of School Trudy Hall (left) and keynote speaker Katty Kay, anchor of BBC World News. |
 Following her keynote speech, Katty Kay took time to meet Emma Willard students and signed a T-shirt for Marisa ’09. |
 Symposium panelist Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, visited with invited guests, former trustee Vanessa Broussard Simmons, Aisha Simmons ’07, and Atiya Simmons ’05. |
 At the formal dedication of the new spaces, the students of Emma Willard expressed their gratitude with a signed banner for members of the administration, the board of trustees, and the many contracting teams who worked to complete the adaptive-reuse project that has been under way at Emma Willard for more than 18 months. From left: Mary, freshman class president; Erin Crotty, president of the Alumnae Association Council; Ji Ye, junior class president; Angela, senior class president; Eric Niles, assistant head of school; Jennifer, sophomore class president; Trudy Hall, head of school; and Mariana Stroock Leighton ’55, chair of the board of trustees. |
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 Edith '09 and her mother, Marcia Brooks '74, enjoy the All Emma Picnic. |
September 29, 2007Powerful Women at LunchAfter the "Women, Power, and Responsibility" symposium, the guest speakers, alumnae, faculty, and current students enjoyed a picnic lunch under a tent on the atheltic fields. The alumnae were also thrilled to see their old classmates and the dramatic change on campus. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Vivian '09 |
 The alumnae parade crosses the inner campus led by the Skip Parsons Dixieland band. |
September 29, 2007Playful ParadeSaturday's reunion festivities began early with a parade of classes from Slocum to Mott Gymnasium, and soon after, the symposium, "Women, Power, and Responsibility," started. Starting with the class of ’47, the parade made its way to the class of ’02. Each class had its own theme. Among these were festively using purple clapper hands, wearing ladylike hats, and holding playful green singing bears. It was a wonderful event to see, and the classes of 2008 through 2011 will partake in them in years to come. After the symposium, the entire community of students, alumnae, faculty, and invited guests enjoyed the All Emma picnic. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Karen '11 |
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September 28, 2007Artistic AlumnaeAs alumnae finished their desserts at dinner Friday evening, they headed on over to Dietel Art Gallery for the Alumnae Art and Achievement Exhibition reception. Works of art ranged from paintings such as “Above, Below, Before, Behind” (below), painted with acrylic paint, by Mags Caney Conant ’67, to sculptures like, “Generations’ Dance” (left), made from plaster and antlers by Andy Hill ’77, to teddy bears made from old mink coats, made by Lesley Rosecrans Smith '62. Other pieces included IPod embroidery by Alice Tavener '02 and a crib quilt by Emily Jane Allen ’62. The old friends reminisced while admiring each other’s art. There were also snacks drinks and a jazz band setting the mood. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Mary K '11
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 Marcia and Jack Easterling lead a faculty seminar on “Education at Emma Willard: The Last 50 Years,” during which they discussed the evolution of the academic curriculum. |
September 28, 2007The Celebration ContinuesHundreds of Emma Willard alumnae enjoyed a variety of events as Celebration 2007 continued on Friday. The celebrating goes on through Saturday—with the Parade of Classes; the symposium titled “Women, Power, and Responsibility,”; and the dedication of newly renovated student spaces—and Sunday, with an alumnae-student choir service, Trudy Hanmer’s “Mount Ida History” presentation, and a farewell brunch. Photos by Steven Ricci |
 Tonnie Schwartz Katz ’62 (center), former editor of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Orange County Register received the Life Achievement Award from the Alumnae Association Council for her contributions to the field of journalism. Presenting the award was Trudy Hall, head of school (left), and AAC president Erin Crotty ’84. |
 At the HerStory booth, a video technician captures the Emma Willard memories of (from left) Lisa Schlanster Kolosek ’87, Erica Chase-Salerno ’87, and Sarah Kim Lee ’87. The HerStory booth has been busily recording the memories of alumnae as they reminisce about their experiences as Emma Willard students. |
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September 27, 2007Welcome BackMembers of the Class of 1957 arrived Thursday evening to begin their 50th reunion festivities, including a tour of the campus’s newly renovated student spaces. Alumnae from generations spanning nearly seven decades will continue arriving today as Emma Willard launches Celebration 2007. In addition to Reunion activities, the weekend includes a symposium entitled “Women, Power, and Responsibility,” and dedication of the new student spaces. Photos by Steven Ricci |
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Photo left: Assistant Head of School Eric Niles (far right) describes for members of the Class of 1957 and their guests the renovations that were required to establish the new dining spaces in Kellas Hall. |
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September 25, 2007Emma On the AirOn Tuesday, five Emma Willard juniors—(from left) Jordan, Anna, Rebecca, Asia, and Amelia—participated in a town hall meeting at WMHT, the Capital District’s public television station. The show, called WMHT Remembers the War: Generations of Sacrifice, WWII and Today, included war veterans, current members of the military, community leaders, and students in an open discussion of the meaning of sacrifice during war and how that concept has changed over the years. The show will air on WMHT on Thursday, October 4. Photo by Steven Ricci |
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September 24, 2007What it Means to RememberAs Emma Willard School prepares to host Reunion this weekend, Suzanne Longley, a member of the Class of 1994 and a major gifts officer in the school’s Development Office, spoke to students Monday about how it feels for an alumna to look back on her days at Emma from a perspective that only time can provide. Click here to listen to her speech. Photo by Steven Ricci |
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September 22, 2007Color it Yourself!As part of the many weekend activities offered at EW, a group of Emma girls who are fond of doing crafts went to Color Me Mine, a paint-it-yourself ceramics studio where the girls can make holiday gifts. The girls choose a ceramic piece, design their patterns and sketch them on the pieces, chose their colors, and paint the pieces. The pieces are then sent to the kilns, where Color Me Mine staff fire them. It takes some time to fire the pieces, and the shop sends them to school a few days later. The girls are really excited to see what the results are going to be. Left, Emily T ’09 is painting her piece carefully. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Vivian ’09 |
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September 21, 2007Stop, Look, Listen, and be AmazedElizabeth ‘08 graced the Kiggins Hall stage for her senior recital on Friday evening with spectacular recorder music. She performed a variety of impressive pieces ranging from Baroque to contemporary genres. Lizzie was accompanied by guest artists for duets with another recorder and with a harpsichord. For her finale, she wowed the crowd with a brilliant double recorder act. She performed beautifully, and her classmates enjoyed the recital. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Jaylan ‘11 |
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September 21, 2007Mind Your MannersResident faculty members Kelly Boyd, Melissa Salmon, Nicole Hapeman, Sabrina Putnam, Jenn Ulicnik, and Gemma Schettino-Halfi took some time at Morning Reports Friday to provide students with a musical-comedy guide to residence and dining hall etiquette. Photo by Steven Ricci |
 Coach Liz Parry and teammates watch the game. |
September 20, 2007A Won DefeatThe EW varsity field hockey team played against the infamous Taconic Hills, a team that has had a reputation as one of the hardest to beat in the division. They challenged the Emma girls to their limits, defeating them 3-0, but the Jesters did not give up until the final whistle was blown. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Asma ‘09 |
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September 20, 1007Sharks and MinnowsToday was the first swim meet of the season, a home meet against Amsterdam, in the Cheel Aquatics Center. The meet started out, literally, with a bang with a relay race in which the Jesters placed first. In the diving competition, Ariel had a score of 7/6½/6½. One of the final races began and, with Shahd in the lead, Emma had another victory. Team members applauded and performed superbly. Like the popular children’s pool game, Emma came out fierce as sharks and won the meet, 92-85. Go, Jesters! Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Karen T ‘11 |
 Katherine B ’09 (in red) moves across an Albany Academy player to get the ball. |
September 19, 2007Good Team Work for Varsity SoccerVarsity soccer brought their game faces against rival Albany Academy for Girls. Although the Jesters fell 0-4, they put on a show of skills and teamwork. Good sportsmanship was noticeable on both sides, but aggressive natures and the desire to win caused many girls to tumble to the ground. Despite the loss, the Emma Willard positive spirit was in the air and their sad faces were erased. Their next game will be away at Doane Stuart. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Julia J ‘09 |
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September 19, 2007Focus on FilmOn Tuesday, filmmaker Micah Magee (left), daughter of Emma Willard dance instructors Kevin and Barbara Magee, screened some of her recent work for the Art Department’s Film and Video class. The work shown ranged from a documentary done in Turkey to an experimental story based on a series of Romanian folk songs. Photo by Steven Ricci |
 Coaches Margie Hatch and Doug McLaren strategize with the team before the game. |
September 19, 2007Blow Out Win!Varsity volleyball won against Hawthorne Valley, winning all three matches. The first game Emma won 25-10. By the second game, newcomers to the team were out on the court learning and fighting their way through the game. That second match was close with Hawthorne not far behind 25-19. In the end Emma came out victorious in match two. In the third match, they fought their way to victory ending the game 25-13. Read the full game summary here. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Mary K '11 |
 Aloka Kanungo demonstrates the Odissi form of classical Indian Dance. |
September 18, 2007Eastern MovementsOn Tuesday, Emma Willard dance students enjoyed a master class in Odissi, a classical Indian dance, by guest artists Aloka Kanungo and Urmi Samadar. Kanungo is a world-renowned dancer, choreographer, scholar, and teacher who has won awards and performed throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Samadar, an award-winning dancer and choreographer, specializes in the Kathak form of Indian classical dance. Photos by Steven Ricci |
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September 18, 2007Emma Scholars Named Semi-FinalistsFour Emma Willard seniors—(from left) Elizabeth, Megan, Lily, and Kyrie—were recently named as semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. The competition honors outstanding students and encourages academic pursuits through its recognition program. Of the more than 1.4 million juniors at nearly 21,000 high schools who entered the 2008 competition last fall, only 16,000 have been designated as semi-finalists. Emma Willard’s semi-finalists will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 8,200 Merit Scholarships to be awarded next spring. Photo by Steven Ricci |
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September 17, 2007The Journey to LearningAt Monday’s Morning Reports inspirational speech, Italian instructor Marilyn Hunter told the assembly about her recent sabbatical, during which she not only improved her golf game and Italian conversational skills, but also donated her time to a local home for the aged by playing piano and conducting sing-along sessions for the residents. In doing so, she said, she received much more than she gave. Click here to listen to her address. Photo by Steven Ricci |
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September 15, 2007A Trip to RememberThe freshman class took their annual weekend retreat to Camp Chingachgook on Lake George. Excited for the break from schoolwork and ready for adventure, the students were eager for the fun to begin. While enjoying high ropes courses, archery, hiking, canoeing, kickball, tetherball, and team building games, the freshmen found themselves creating friendships and seeing a new side to one another. In the high ropes course, the girls faced their biggest fears as they climbed 20 to 45 feet in the trees to reach the other side and squeak a toy hamburger or play a xylophone. To top off the activities, the girls sat around a bonfire with s’mores and sang along to their favorite songs. The trip gave the freshmen girls a unique, fun experience, which bonded them as a class. Submitted by Emma Now community service news team/Jaylan '11 and Mary '11 Photos by Jaylan '11 (top) and Sabrina Putnam (bottom) |
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September 13, 2007Hats Off!After nearly nine months beneath a protective mesh covering, the top of Sage Tower is once again visible. Last January, masonry repair crews covered the famous crenellations and gargoyles after the tower’s masonry work was found to be in need of repair. Restoration work took place throughout the summer, and this week crews unveiled the newly restored tower and began removing the scaffolding. To learn more about Emma Willard’s efforts to protect its masonry, click this link and view the story on page 10. Photo by Steven Ricci |
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September 11, 2007A Bigger, Brighter SpaceOn Tuesday morning, Hannah ’09 used some free time to catch up on homework in the spacious and newly refurbished Student Center. Formerly the Sage Hall dining room, the room is one of several new student spaces resulting from Phase I of the Campus Master Plan, which has been under way at Emma Willard for 18 months. Click here for more information on the master plan and stay tuned to Emma Now for coverage of other new spaces as they come online. Photo by Steven Ricci |
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September 10, 2007Inspiration for the JourneyEach Monday morning throughout the school year, a member of the faculty or student body delivers an inspirational address at Morning Reports. This Monday, Dean of Students Judy Bridges kicked off the tradition with a touching message about the ways in which members of the school community can inspire each other through words and actions, and how that inspiration will change us all for the better. Click here to listen to Ms. Bridges’s speech. Photo by Steven Ricci |
 Head of School Trudy Hall |
September 5, 2007The 194thThe 2007–2008 school year officially opened Wednesday morning with the Academic Convocation ceremony in the Alumnae Chapel. In addition to an address from Head of School Trudy Hall, and the welcoming of new members of the faculty and staff, the ceremony included the awarding of the Eliza Kellas Chair to science instructor Maureen Harrison and the Elsa Mott Ives Chair to dance instructor Sue Lauther. Download a pdf of Ms. Hall's speech here. Photos by Steven Ricci |
 Sue Lauther, dance instructor, was received the Elsa Mott Ives Chair. |
 Dean of Academics Chris Kimberly awards the Eliza Kellas Chair to Maureen Harrison. |
Recent News
Emma Willard to Host Classical Indian Dancer
Listen Up
As Emma Willard School prepares to host Reunion this weekend, Suzanne Longley, a member of the Class of 1994 and a major gifts officer in the school’s Development Office, spoke to students Monday about how it feels for an alumna to look back on her days at Emma from a perspective that only time can provide. Click here to listen to her speech.
At Monday’s Morning Reports inspirational speech, Italian instructor Marilyn Hunter told the assembly about her recent sabbatical, during which she not only improved her golf game and Italian conversational skills, but also donated her time to a local home for the aged by playing piano and conducting sing-along sessions for the residents. In doing so, she said, she received much more than she gave. Click here to listen to her address.
Each Monday morning throughout the school year, a member of the faculty or student body delivers an inspirational address at Morning Reports. This Monday, Dean of Students Judy Bridges kicked off the tradition with a touching message about the ways in which members of the school community can inspire each other through words and actions, and how that inspiration will change us all for the better. Click here to listen to Ms. Bridges’s speech.
