Stay Connected
Alumni, we would love to hear what you’re up to!
Reconnect with Unquowa!
Our alumni are an integral part of the Unquowa community and we are eager to stay connected. Alums are welcome back anytime – stop by for a visit or join us for lunch! We also love hearing alumni news, so send us a photo and let us know what you’re up to and we will share your updates here.
Alumni Gather to Celebrate the 100th!
Posted by Kate Haviland
They came from near and far to celebrate together!
Alumni from the 1940s up through the 2000s gathered at Unquowa the night before Founders’ Day to help us mark the school’s centennial. They poured over photos, yearbooks and other items from the school’s archives, reconnected with old friends, explored the school and entertained us with stories from their Unquowa years! Did you know that the Gator Goods closet in the gym used to be a door to a stairway?! That students sat on hard wooden benches at lunch to teach them good posture?! A few alums from the early ’50s even sang the old Unquowa fight song…
To the hills, to the slides
On jumpers and sleds and skis we glide
To the field, never yield,
We’re fighting for Unquowa’s victory!
Unquowa, Unquowa, Unquowa-wa-wa-wa-wa!
Unquowa School
Long may she rule
Over our hearts and lives
With everything that grows and thrives
Unquowa, Unquowa, Unquowa-wa-wa-wa-wa!
Our voices raise
To sing her praise
As we go marching forwards
Through all our days!
Unquowa, Unquowa, Unquowa-wa-wa-wa-wa!
Grace Haviland ’13 and Rebecca Ryan ’13
Posted by Kate Haviland
Fairfield Ludlowe High school senior Grace Haviland ’13 founded and leads a chapter of buildOn, a Stamford based non-profit, which raises funds to build schools in the developing world. In its first year the FLHS chapter exceeded their $45,000 goal and underwrote the entire cost of building a secondary school in the mountains of Nicaragua.
Fellow Unquowa alumna, Rebecca Ryan ‘13, joined Grace in these efforts and, together with other members of their FLHS buildOn team, they traveled to Nicaragua in June to help build the school’s foundation and to live in the community they are supporting. The school they funded is complete and will serve students who, until now, have not had the opportunity to go beyond 8th grade. All communities where buildOn’s program works must agree to send their daughters to school in equal number to their boys…a powerful motivator for these Unquowa alumnas and the FLHS chapter. They are now raising funds to build the another school!
Invention Campers become MacGyver
Posted by Craig Knebel
39 campers in grades 1-6 came to Unquowa during the week of July 18th to experience true learning and making by doing. Led by Samson Egilman and Alice Desgranges, the campers explored four themes during the week. Campers in the makerspace created their own eco-tourist parks and took apart electronics to see how they work, crafting tech art and model new items from old parts. Campers in the science lab explored electronics and natured inspired design with Cricobots, and also explored topics in light, chemistry and materials. Campers began their day in the dining room base camp with counselors who spent the day with either grades 1-3 or 4-6. These Ewoks and Wookies were led by Unquowa alums Claire Abate ’14; Rachel Albenze ’15; Derek Grabe ’14; and Riley Pengue ’15.
Crisara Smith ’08
Posted by Kate Haviland
Having received her BA in Psychology and Music from the University of Connecticut, Crisara Smith ’08 is currently pursuing a Masters in Music Therapy at Colorado State University.
Ryan Taylor ’06
Posted by Kate Haviland
A senior this fall at Eastern Connecticut State University, Ryan Taylor ’06 spent a day observing Unquowa’s PE classes and working closely with Coach B. Ryan is hoping to work as a PE teacher and football coach after college and enjoyed the opportunity to learn from his Unquowa mentor.
Jean Carpenter Winton ’34
Posted by Kate Haviland
It is with great sadness that we write of the passing of Jean Carpenter Winton ’34 in January. Jean was a devoted Unquowa alumna. She never missed a Founders’ Day, Commencement or Winter Festival, including this year’s performance just days before she became ill.
Jean was up for anything! She dunked Sharon Lauer with her first throw at the Founders’ Day dunk tank, explored our construction sites during recent summer renovations, ate lunch with the kids (always visiting with the chefs in the kitchen), came to our student curated exhibits at the Fairfield Museum & History Center, was a big customer at student bake sales, attended our mindfulness speaker series and more.
In 2011, the Jean Carpenter Winton Distinguished Alumni Award was established and is given each year at Commencement to a graduate who, like Jean, “…exhibits a strong sense of loyalty to the school and a personal commitment to its motto, the future is in our care. ”
After Unquowa, Jean attended Emma Willard, Vassar and served in the US Marine Corps during World War II. She worked in Bridgeport as a buyer for Howland’s Department Store until marrying her husband, Robert. They raised their two children, Lisa Callahan and David Winton ’72, in Fairfield and Jean dedicated her time to many charitable organizations including Trinity Church of Southport, the Bridgeport Ladies Charitable Society, the Junior League and Friends of Pediatrics at Bridgeport Hospital.
It will take time for our community to adjust to Jean’s absence at events. She will be deeply missed. Our condolences to her family and friends.
