RE Log - Spring 2024

10 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2024 to know the students, let the students know they are not alone.” Several graduating seniors attended the Black Alumni Reunion last April that drew 53 guests – a record number of Black alumni. Everglades women REconnect Morgenstern has taken a circuitous route back to Ransom Everglades, and she is determined to bring fellow Everglades alumnae with her. She greatly appreciated her time at the Everglades School for Girls – “it was totally life-changing,” she recalled. “I knew that it was a spectacular place and very special.” But, she acknowledged, when she left – she now lives in New York City – she “moved on with life.” When invited by a former RE faculty member to meet with his students during a class trip in New York City in 2019, she found herself connecting with one particular RE student. She stayed in touch with that student, who then contacted her for advice in the summer of 2020. Morgenstern enjoyed and was honored by the interaction at such a critical time. Soon after, Morgenstern agreed to serve on RE’s alumni board and now works closely with Pearson, the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations. “As I started going to meetings,” Morgenstern said, “I realized we had lost connection to a lot of the Everglades women.” She wanted to win them back. She was confident that the women, the school and current students could all benefit from a REconnection. She helped form the brand-new Everglades Steering Committee, which includes 16 women from the Classes of ’62 through 1976. That group has met with Head of School Rachel Rodriguez and partnered with a student-run club, Women Empowerment, to explore Everglades history and traditions and create meaningful collaborations and mentorships for girls at RE. It was important to Morgenstern, and other founding members, that the committee be sustainable – that its work continue beyond the lifespans of its Everglades founders. The newly formed connection between the steering committee and the club led to two upper school assemblies celebrating the history of the Everglades School for Girls. It also provided a vehicle for – what else? – a job opportunity. After a conference call between members of Women Empowerment and the Everglades Steering Committee, steering committee member Laurinda Spear ’68 , the founder of the international architecture firm Arquitectonica, hired club president Maggie Seabrook ’24 as a landscape architect summer intern, and she also separately took on Mia Williamson ’20 , Willamson’s daughter. “We should have a connection to the women on campus,” Spear said. “That’s our mission, I would say.” Said Seabrook, who graduates this spring: “It’s a great system and a great opportunity that RE provides. It’s rare for most high schools to give their students and alumni these chances, and everyone should take advantage of this amazing network of people.” REconnect “REconnecting is about staying connected to your fellow RE alumni. That means renewing friendships and leveraging the RE community for professional and personal opportunities.” – Liz Fitzpatrick P’20 ’23, REconnect Task Force Roxi Vadia Morgenstern ’75 REconnect Task Force L-R: Marjorie Gouraige, Patty Rothstein, Susan Woolsey, Liz Fitzpatrick, Melissa Buckner and Bonnie Seipp. Not pictured: Marisa Stamler Canida ’06 . To submit a job or internship for REconnect, please visit this form: bit.ly/REconnect-jobs