Hello there, fellow classmates! As you move out of the winter doldrums with the first suggestions that sun and spring are imminent, please consider setting some time aside on April 4 to reconnect with Dartmouth and your favorite classmates. April 4 is the 94th day of the year and an opportune time to pause and reflect on Dartmouth and the people who have made its memory so special. And, in that vein, I invite you to consider joining our 25th reunion planning committee. It’s hard to believe that our reunion is coming up in just over a year. From personal experience, I can assure you that being part of the committee requires a modest time commitment, literally five to 10 hours during the course of the year. Here’s another baiting point: You can plan one aspect of the reunion—such as a dinner or afternoon family activity—with a fellow ’94 classmate, dividing the time commitment and using the planning as an excuse to connect with a good friend. For one of previous reunions, Kelly Bell Lytle and I planned an EBAs dinner and late-night snack. I spent more time talking with Kelly than actually required to make the arrangements with EBAs. Please consider this opportunity as a chance to reconnect and give back. If you are interested, reach out to me or Deme Navab Taleghani, our class president.

I heard from Johnny Jones, who writes, “I just want to say hello and wish everyone well! I am working in Maryland at a regional tutoring company, PrepMatters, as director of quality assurance. In 2015 I married Rachel MacKnight, BU ’99. Later that year she gave birth to our son, Zachary. Rachel is also a tutor and has contributed to the production of many of our organization’s materials.” Thank you for checking in, Johnny!

Adam Lipsius released a film in 2017 called Amy & Sophia, which was met with rave reviews at the Denver Film Festival this past year. This coming-of-age, fantasy drama tells the story of scarred teens, Amy and Sophia, who meet seemingly as opposites but help each other come to terms with their own abuse and loss. The film implements a new technique using watercolor animation, and this innovation creates a “visually stunning magical break-through” in Adam’s creation. For those of you who know Adam, it’s not surprising that he is pushing the envelope with his wit, heart and vision.

As you start making plans for this upcoming summer and possibly the holiday season, why not consider a trip back to New England to stay at the Von Trapp Family Lodge? CNN recently featured classmate Sam Von Trapp and his family’s Stowe, Vermont, resort. The resort just celebrated its 50th year of operation in January, and Sam has been instrumental in the resort’s modernization. If you visit the Von Trapp Family Lodge, you’ll not only be treated to the expected picturesque snow and skiing in winter, but also the unexpected summer mountain biking trails, glorious morning fog (that Maria herself enjoyed when she lived here) and the outstanding culinary options with a bierhall and farm-to-table, refined dining. 

Please send updates and news about yourself (or your friends) to be featured in the next issue.

—Laura Hardegree Davis, 1664 Cambridge Court, Bethlehem, PA, 18015; lauradavis723@mac.com