On June 2, the school held a reunion for graduates from the Classes of 2001 through 2006 at the Southport Brewing Company.

A small and loyal group gathered to look at old yearbooks, visit with a few of their former teachers and enjoy an evening of reconnecting with old friends. They had fun pouring over old yearbooks, letting the pictures spark memories and the telling of some great stories from their years at Unquowa.

Their ability to recall details of classes, friends, projects and traditions like Winter Festival, May Day and field day made it clear that Unquowa had a profound impact on their early years.

Continue to check the website for information about other reunions and opportunities to reconnect with the school.

Josh Knopf, ‘09, a sophomore at Hopkins School, has been selected to participate in the Under Armour All-American Baseball Program run by the Baseball Factory, based in Maryland. The program provides training, evaluation and college recruiting guidance for high school players. Notable Baseball Factory alumni include CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, David Wright, Roy Halladay and hundreds of other collegiate and professional players. This summer, Josh will be playing in national tournaments in Omaha, Nebraska during the College World Series, in Cape Cod with Cape League teams and in Florida. Congratulations Josh!

Ellen Read Leeds Sturges, ‘53, died on February 8, 2011. Ellen was a life-long resident of Southport, CT. She was an accomplished interior decorator, horticulturist, antique enthusiast and lover of the outdoors. She sang with a few area singing groups and performed with them for local charities as well as twice at The White House.

Our condolences go out to Ellen’s friends and family.

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Betty Shaw, ‘30, on February 22, 2011 at the age of 95.

After graduating from Unquowa, Betty attended The Emma Willard School and Vassar College. Betty then returned to the Fairfield area where she married, raised her family and lived until her death. Betty was an active supporter, volunteer and trustee for many local non-profit organizations throughout her life. Her leadership was so strong that, at some of those organizations, she became the first female trustee or Board Chairman.

Betty’s children also attended Unquowa , Ann, ‘52, Cuyler, ‘54 and Sargent, ‘55, and she was a devoted alumna. She visited the school often to attend Founders’ Day and Commencement celebrations and to catch up with Head of School, Sharon Lauer. Betty was always eager to hear about school activities and felt strongly that Unquowa still felt like “the school she remembered”. In fact, Betty and fellow Unquowa alumna and friend Jean Winton, ‘34, recently volunteered to begin reaching out to other early alumni to spread the excitement they felt about the school today on behalf of The Campaign for Unquowa.

Betty’s vibrant personality and zest for life belied her 95 years, making it impossible for family and friends to imagine that she is truly gone.

Our condolences go out to her family and friends. Betty will always be remembered and missed at Unquowa.

Nat Proctor, ‘02, is a senior at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where he is studying history and art history. Over the past year or so, he has been part of a group of university students who raised money for a charity called Childreach, which supports schools and medical clinics for children in Nepal and Africa. Childreach also sponsors trips for the university students who participate in the fundraising.

Nat and a group of fellow university students visited Nepal and one of the Childreach projects there - a school for mentally disabled children. His group also hiked the Annapurna Base Camp trek, which the Lonely Planet guide calls the best and most beautiful trek in Nepal. Nat noted that “the hiking was challenging and fun, the trails were brilliant and not too crowded and the views were incredible. All in all, it was one of the best hikes I have ever done or probably will ever do in my life. The trip was amazing and life-changing.”

Laurent Firlotte, ‘07, (pictured here holding the ball with his coach) plays basketball at Hopkins School where he is being recognized for surpassing the 1,000 point plateau in his high school  basketball career — an awesome achievement! Congratulations, Laurent; keep up the sharp shooting.

We are so grateful to Unquowa alumnae Betty Eaton Shaw ‘30, and Jean Carpenter Winton ‘34, for showing their support of The Campaign for Unquowa by personally reaching out to their former classmates from the twenties and thirties.

Betty and Jean have both stayed in close contact with Unquowa and, in recent years, with Sharon Lauer. They have joined us for many Founders’ Day and Commencement celebrations and their steady loyalty to the school is extraordinary. Therefore, it is no surprise that they are eager to help the school by spreading their excitement about The Campaign for Unquowa among their former classmates!

Betty and Jean are true stewards of The Unquowa School motto Cura Futuri Nobis - The Future Is In Our Care. We are so grateful for their help as we work together to strengthen the school for generations to come through The Campaign for Unquowa. Taken on a visit to the school this week, this photo shows Jean on the left and Betty on the right with Campaign Chair, Joan Panagos and Head of School, Sharon Lauer.

Matthew Watson, ‘10 stopped by to say ‘hello’ to his former teachers. Here he is with Al Boccamazzo, Unquowa Athletic Director. Matthew is on the football team at Fairfield Warde High School.

Greg Weiner, ‘10 came to the Fall FUNraiser where he caught up with Technology Director Lloyd Mitchell. Greg is a freshman at Staples High School in Westport.

Paul Gibian, President of Unquowa’s Board 1970-78, passed away in September 2010 in Gwynedd, PA. Mr. Gibian was a dedicated member of the Unquowa community and two of his sons graduated from Unquowa - Andrew, ‘74 and Kevin, ‘76. Mr. Gibian moved to the United States from Prague during World War II. He kept residences in Southport and Nantucket for many years, even after moving back to Prague to work during the 1990s. Our condolences to his family and friends.