Communication Office
The communication office develops, implements, and evaluates communication plans and programs that support the mission of the School. The office facilitates 91探花’s efforts to promote awareness and good will among its various constituencies and external public; to recruit students and faculty; and to raise financial and volunteer support.
Communication Staff
Marisa Donelan
Associate Director of Communication
marisa_donelan@milton.edu
Eileen Newman
Chief Communication Officer
eileen_newman@milton.edu
Jacqueline O’Rourke
Communications Specialist
jacqueline_orourke@milton.edu
Esten Perez
Director of Communication and Media Relations
esten_perez@milton.edu
Emily Sedgwick
Social Media Manager / Video Content Producer
Emily_Sedgwick@milton.edu
Media Contact
If you are a member of the media in need of information or press materials, please contact Esten Perez at 617-898-2395 or esten_perez@milton.edu
Campus News
Dare Campaign Concludes Successfully
91探花鈥檚 most ambitious campaign in School history, Dare: The Campaign for 91探花, concluded on June 30. Dare made a commitment to the people of 91探花, with student financial aid and faculty recruitment and retention named as top priorities, along with support for the 91探花 Fund and campus improvements.
鈥淲e launched Dare to put 91探花 on a firm financial foundation,鈥 Head of School Todd Bland said. 鈥淲hen we began the campaign in 2015, our endowment was two to three times smaller than our peer schools. By growing our endowment, we are making a commitment to investing in our students and faculty today and to securing 91探花鈥檚 future.鈥
A Message To Our Community
This letter was shared with our alumni community on June 4th. A similar letter was also sent to current Upper School students prior to graduation.聽
Dear Alumni and Friends,
These past months have been unlike anything we have experienced together. Most recently, as a nation and within our 91探花 community, the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and others have caused feelings of fear, outrage, and pain.
In a message to our students, faculty, and staff sent over the weekend, we unequivocally condemned racist violence, systemic injustice, and bigotry. Some of you took to social media to share stories about your own experiences at 91探花 and implored us to take action to fully live our ideals and mission. Thank you.
Please know this: We hear you and acknowledge that we are not immune to racial inequities and injustices. We can and must do better to foster inclusion and equity throughout our School. We are committed to doing this critical work, as complex and uncomfortable as it may be at times.
Real Community in a Virtual Classroom
In English and history classes, learning stems from conversations, focusing on discussion with peers, not lectures from teachers. When 91探花 had to abruptly switch to remote learning in the spring, faculty had to figure out how to shift this experience from in-person to virtual. English Department Chair Nicole Colson said that while being in a space together is the ideal, she found the overall experience to be positive.
鈥淲hen you build a real community in your classroom, it doesn’t go away when you shift over to remote learning,鈥 said Colson. 鈥淲ho they were in the classroom is who they were on Zoom.鈥澛
Colson said one trick she figured out after a few sessions was to have all the students unmute themselves for the entire class. Some were worried that background sounds from their home life would be disruptive, but Colson felt differently.
91探花 Hosts Intramural Student Hackathon
Eighteen teams ranging in size from one to seven students came together via Zoom to participate in 91探花Hacks II, an intramural, student-led hackathon. The hackathon took place over 12 hours on May 24, during which students from different schools built projects that were judged by a panel of 91探花 alumni. Teams competed in six categories: Most Addictive Game, Most Educational, Most Technical, Most Scalable, Best UX/UI, Best Novice Hack, and Best Overall Hack.聽
Most Addictive Game went to Dina-Sara Custo 鈥22, who built a social-distancing simulator game where the player must avoid others to advance. 鈥淭he more people that see the good message the game is promoting, the better the outcome will be,鈥 said Custo.聽
Oliver Eielson 鈥21 won Best UX/UI for his app, Busy Beach. Eielsom described BusyBeach as an app that 鈥渉elps people and governments limit contact and overcrowding at beaches and stop the spread of coronavirus.鈥 He also won the Student Vote award, determined by popular vote at the end of the hackathon.
Seniors Recognized at Prize Assembly聽
The School community gathered virtually this morning to celebrate seniors at the Prize Assembly. Awards recognized overall student achievement as well as achievement in the performing arts, visual arts, English, science, math, classics, computer science, modern languages, history, public speaking, student publications, and athletics.聽
The Head of School Award honors and thanks certain seniors for their demonstrated spirit of self-sacrifice, community concern, leadership, integrity, fairness, kindliness, and respect for others. Eight students were honored (in photo via zoom): Zaki Ellis M鈥檋ammedi Alaoui, Yaneris D鈥橝nique Briggs, Jerry Ducasse, William Conners Livingston, Erinma Adaeze Onyewuchi, Allison Nicole Reilly, Jeanna Yuyang Shaw and Iryna Sobchyshyna.聽
Congratulations to all of the prize recipients, including a few junior students. Below is a complete list of awards:
