Upper School: Grades 9–12

Each year at division commencement ceremonies, Rowland Hall proudly honors faculty who have demonstrated exceptional teaching and mentoring.

The Sumner/Larsen Excellence in Teaching Faculty Awards

Each year, the Sumner/Larsen Excellence in Teaching Faculty Awards are presented to outstanding faculty members in each division who have demonstrated a love for teaching and excellence in their fields. This award was established in 1985 by Kit Sumner and family, who have shown an unparalleled commitment to Rowland Hall for three generations. In 2022, Kurt Larsen, who shares the Sumners’ high regard for Rowland Hall’s faculty and dedication to the school, joined Kit Sumner in funding this award to increase its impact. The renamed Sumner/Larsen Excellence in Teaching Faculty Award is one of the highest recognitions of excellence in teaching at Rowland Hall.

Congratulations to the following recipients.

Beginning School: Melanie Robbins, kindergarten lead teacher

Melanie Robbins is, first and foremost, thoughtful. Her deep thinking—about teaching, young children and their families, curriculum, colleagues, and life itself—not only feeds her, but often sets her apart. Her insights into her students, which she frequently shares through humorous vignettes, are grounded in careful observation and a rich understanding of child development. If you’re lucky enough to converse with Melanie about what’s best for young children, prepare to leave feeling inspired and excited. Despite her gentle demeanor, she is a bold and unwavering advocate for allowing little children to be little—while earnestly acknowledging them as fully human people. Colleagues and school leaders alike know they can count on her for thoughtful, curious, and constructive dialogue on a wide range of topics. She’s always eager to learn something new, reminding us often that her teaching will never be “laminated”—that is, never fixed or final. Like her young students, it’s always growing. For more than a decade at Rowland Hall, she’s held space each day for children to grapple with the real stuff of life: balancing individuality with community, finding freedom and grounding in nature, the value of self-sufficiency—and, more recently, how to safely build and cook over an open fire.

Lower School: Susan Swidnicki, McCarthey Campus music teacher

Susan Swidnicki’s impact is far-reaching, consistent, and deeply felt. Every week, she engages with 442 students—more than any other Rowland Hall faculty member—and every child from 3PreK through fifth grade knows the sound of her voice and the joyful learning of her classroom. This year alone, Susan prepared for no fewer than 11 concerts and music shares, led a weekly lunchtime chorus, and guided students through the Lower School Chorus Concert and the All-School Chorus Concert. Her dedication doesn’t end when the bell rings. Susan accompanies the fifth grade to the symphony, attends after-school recitals and Puttin’ on the Arts, and never hesitates to give of her own time to support and celebrate students. Susan brings that same spirit of care to colleagues. This year, she collaborated on multiple interdisciplinary music and art integration projects. Her ability to see the connections between disciplines and to make those connections meaningful for students is a hallmark of her teaching. But what truly sets Susan apart is her heart. She is deeply curious about her students as people. She listens, adapts, and connects. She believes in the transformative power of music, and the importance of her work shines in every lesson she teaches and every child she mentors. She is a tireless, kind, and inspiring presence in our school community, and a remarkable educator in every sense of the word.

Middle School: Sam Duffy, PE teacher

Sam Duffy is a role model, leader, and community builder who’s made an extraordinary impact on our Middle School and community at large. Sam brings energy, positivity, and a deep sense of purpose to everything he does. His classes focus on inclusivity and personal growth, helping students build positive self-identity, resilience, and collaboration skills, and empowering them to develop lifelong habits that support their physical and mental well-being. Sam radiates enthusiasm and care, seeing every student as an athlete and every day as an opportunity to help them build their confidence, teamwork, and perseverance. This year, Sam launched a new eighth-grade PE elective, already a student favorite, that offers choice, personal challenge, and variety in how eighth graders engage with fitness and wellness. He also developed a strength-training program in the Upper School so popular that student-athletes are meeting before school to participate. Outside the classroom, Sam’s coached a wide range of sports in the middle and upper schools, focusing on sportsmanship, personal growth, and team dynamics.

Upper School: Jeremy Innis, music theory teacher and choir director

Jeremy Innis has demonstrated a love for teaching and excellence in several fields. Perhaps more than any other faculty member in recent years, he’s touched the lives of students through core classes and electives in multiple disciplines and several divisions, as well as through the role of interfaith chaplain, where his infinite wisdom, thoughtfulness, and community-mindedness shone through in the Chapel program, Candle and Carol, and a multitude of other events, from concerts to ceremonies to school traditions. It cannot be emphasized enough how important Jeremy’s words have been to the community, providing food for thought, inspiring reflection, bringing solace, celebrating diverse voices and traditions, and always elevating others. He always knows the right thing to say to meet the moment, whether solemn or celebratory. In the classroom, Jeremy has inspired learning through courses as diverse as World Religions, Ethics, Historical Foundations, Choir, Orchestra, and Advanced Topics Music Theory. His students describe him as kind, patient, smart, inspirational, calm, and calming. His love for the humanities and the arts shines through in his teaching and extensive contributions to the Rowland Hall community.

Cary Jones Faculty Mentor Award 2025

The Cary Jones Faculty Mentor Award is presented to Rowland Hall faculty members who demonstrate excellence in teaching, serve as mentors to others, and contribute to the Rowland Hall community. This award was established through an anonymous gift to the school in honor of Mr. Jones’ dedication to the faculty when he was the chair of the Board of Trustees.

This year’s Cary Jones Faculty Mentor Award has been awarded to Mike Shackelford, political science teacher and debate coach.

Mike Shackelford is well known on Lincoln Street Campus. Whether or not a student has had him as a teacher or coach, they’ve all experienced Mike’s purposeful walk down Upper School hallways, his relentlessly positive and supportive demeanor, or his entertaining announcements at assembly. Mike and his students win numerous awards, year in and year out, such that it is easy to take for granted just how excellent our debate program is thanks to him. What’s lesser known, though, is how Mike serves as a mentor to others and shines through his commitment to our community. Over the years, Mike and his debaters have supported efforts to build dialogue and have provided coaching on listening and working through challenging, controversial issues in a collegial and productive way, most memorably during election season. Mike also helped develop Deliberate Dialogue, a set of skills teachers use to foster critical thinking and productive, open-minded dialogue in the classroom. Mike has stepped up to be an advisor to students in the class of 2027, and serves as an ombudsperson for Lincoln Street Campus faculty and staff who would like additional support in a difficult conversation. He teaches electives in the middle and upper schools, and last year extended his Middle School Model UN and Mock Trial programs into the Upper School. His students are already garnering results; some even ventured to New York City this year to showcase their new skills. This is in addition to the very special Taiwan debate trip he planned last fall. Mike is the ultimate team player and a supportive educator who approaches everything with care, flexibility, generosity, and integrity. He knows when to push and when to pull, creating pathways to elevate everyone around him.

People

At this year’s graduation ceremonies and end-of-year events, student speakers shared reflective and inspiring stories about their experiences at Rowland Hall.

We've posted their speeches for you to enjoy.

Student Voices

Zenon Bulka, operations staff member, is embarking on a well-deserved retirement after an extraordinary 40+ years of dedicated service. Zenon's tenure has been a cornerstone of Rowland Hall history. He’s witnessed and facilitated countless transformations, most notably the monumental move of our Upper School from the Avenues Campus to the Lincoln Street Campus. Zenon's unparalleled commitment to Rowland Hall and every member of our community, from our youngest learners to our seasoned faculty, is truly exceptional. His influence has been woven into the fabric of countless events and projects, leaving an indelible mark that is impossible to fully quantify. We are eternally grateful for Zenon's unwavering dedication, deep respect for the school and its mission, and the way he made Rowland Hall his life's work. Indeed, nearly everyone cherishes their own memorable Zenon story, often involving his resourceful “Polish technology” saving the day. Read Zenon’s retirement tribute.

Molly Lewis, ceramics teacher, is retiring after 30 years at Rowland Hall. Over her years at the school, Molly taught Middle School science, led numerous electives, coached athletes, and, most recently, inspired students to express themselves through clay. Her warmth, creativity, and ability to connect with students have left a lasting mark, as have the passion, joy, and inspiration she brought to students. Colleagues describe Molly as a true friend, a steady presence, and an endless source of positivity and collegiality. Her legacy of creativity, curiosity, and care will be deeply missed, but her impact will continue to shape our community. We wish her all the best in this next chapter, including art, adventure, and well-deserved relaxation. Read Molly’s retirement tribute.

Isabelle Buhler, 4PreK lead teacher, is retiring after 26 remarkable years at Rowland Hall. Isabelle taught every grade in the Beginning School, from 2PreK to kindergarten, leaving an immeasurable impact on the division, the program, and her team. She has guided countless children and their families through various challenges with her calm, warm, wise, and straightforward approach. She has also been a steadfast mentor to many faculty members (and more than one principal) and generously contributed to all-school initiatives over the years. While we will deeply miss Isabelle's presence on our day-to-day team, we are delighted for her as she embarks on a new chapter: in April, she moved to Alaska to care for her new grandson, Luke. Read Isabelle’s retirement tribute.

Todd Brickson, Rowmark Ski Academy director, is retiring after 23 years at the school. Todd’s impact on Rowmark has been immeasurable. He’s coached and mentored innumerable athletes, including many who have gone on to ski in college and/or professionally; developed strong coaches; served on US Ski and Snowboard committees; and led Rowmark through two accreditation processes considered models for other academies. His expertise, passion, and commitment shaped countless young athletes and elevated our program to new heights.

Mark Oftedal, PE teacher and Upper School cross country and track and field coach (pictured top), is making a change after nearly 20 years at Rowland Hall. Always quick with a warm smile and a kind word, Mark’s greatest legacy is as a coach. His cross country teams have brought home loads of accolades, including two girls state championships, three boys state championships, 13 girls region championships, and nine boys region championships. Athletes have also had tremendous success competing for the track team Mark restarted in 2009, including multiple region championships. Mark also worked with the majority of ninth graders teaching First Year Experience, where he was instrumental in helping students get to know the Upper School, improve their academic skills, and learn about making healthy choices. We will miss Mark and are fortunate he will stay on to assist with cross country as we bring on a new head coach.

Mary Anne Wetzel ’01, director of financial aid, left Rowland Hall in September after 16 years at the school. Mary Anne’s list of roles and responsibilities is famously miles long. She impacted our community in numerous ways, especially through her commitment to equitable and empathetic financial aid practices—and, of course, her energy, enthusiasm, and voice.

Jeremy Innis, music theory teacher and choir director, is relocating with his family to Oregon, where his wife will be taking the next step in her career. Jeremy has shared his love for teaching in several fields while at Rowland Hall. Perhaps more than any other faculty member in recent years, he’s touched student lives through core classes and electives in multiple disciplines in both the middle and upper schools. He also served as interfaith chaplain for several years, offering infinite wisdom, thoughtfulness, food for thought, inspiring reflection, and solace to our community. Students describe Jeremy as kind, patient, smart, inspirational, calm, and calming, and he’s been a go-to collaborator for teachers in our academic and arts programs.

Jennifer Blake, associate head of school, is leaving Rowland Hall to become dean of students at the Waterford School. For 11 years, Jennifer tirelessly supported Rowland Hall students, families, and colleagues, helping to make the school a welcoming and forward-thinking place for all. Her numerous contributions include overseeing the school's COVID-19 response; working with the Board of Trustees; serving as a thought partner to principals; championing Rowmark Ski Academy, SummerWorks, Extended Day, the school nurses, and SAGE Dining Services; acting as a resource for the Home & School Association; raising awareness of the athletic program; and attending every arts event possible. She also eagerly stepped in to fill various gaps as needed. We are deeply grateful for Jennifer's leadership and dedication, and we wish her the best as she begins the next chapter of her professional career.

Jij de Jesus, director of strategic initiatives, is moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to become the head of school at Manzano Day School. Jij first arrived at Rowland Hall in 2015 as the Lower School principal, where he served on the leadership team and led initiatives to elevate academic programs, promote professional development, and enhance equity, inclusion, and belonging. In 2021, Jij joined the Advancement Department to play a lead role on the World Awaits capital campaign, helping to secure leadership gifts to fund construction of the new Richard R. Steiner Campus. For the past two years, he’s combined his work on the campaign with supporting continued implementation of Rowland Hall's strategic priorities. Or heartfelt thanks to Jij for his leadership and dedication. We wish him success in his new role.

Ingrid Gustavson, Upper School principal, is leaving Rowland Hall to become the Upper School director at the Bush School in Seattle, where her eldest son, Kai Dowdle ’23, attends the University of Washington. During her nine years at Rowland Hall, Ingrid has been an integral part of the administrative team and community, enhancing the Upper School student experience and overall academic program. She initiated an advisory program, integrated and expanded curricular opportunities, and collaborated with faculty to develop the Advanced Research program. Her thoughtful leadership has created an environment of respect and confidence in the Upper School, centering support for students, faculty, and staff with the community's best interests in mind. Colleagues and students say she is known for always listening and truly hearing them while offering empathy and constructive feedback. We are incredibly grateful for Ingrid’s dedication, vision, and countless contributions to Rowland Hall. While we will deeply miss her presence on campus, we wish her the best in her new chapter and future endeavors.

Marianne Love, fourth-grade teacher, is retiring after nine years at Rowland Hall. Marianne teaches with her heart. She is passionate, dedicated, hardworking, resilient, and fun, and she holds immense care for her students and our community. Marianne has a gift for building relationships. She knows her students and their families and helps them feel supported and loved. This is exemplified in her written communication—whether a progress report comment or a quick email to a family, Marianne’s words are always skillfully chosen and assembled. Her passion for mathematics, enthusiasm for fourth-grade field studies, and deep care for our community will be deeply missed, and we know she will continue to have a lasting mark. We wish her all the best in her next chapter.

Pam Smith, Middle School principal, is leaving at the end of the year to embark on new adventures. During her seven years at Rowland Hall, Pam worked tirelessly to show up for the Middle School community, leading with unwavering integrity, strategic vision, and an indomitable will. A passionate and fierce advocate for students, Pam has found some of her most joyful and fulfilling moments supporting and connecting with middle schoolers, whether they were emceeing an assembly, learning from setbacks, or advocating for change in our community, city, or world. Pam often shares that the faculty at Rowland Hall are among the most caring, creative, and knowledgeable educators anywhere—a sentiment that holds great weight, given her extensive experience at schools in Madrid, Beirut, Santo Domingo, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Beijing. While we’re sad to see her go, we’re all cheering her on her next journey.

Wendy Hare, Rowmark team manager, will be moving on to an exciting new job opportunity this summer. For the past six years, Wendy has not only been Rowmark team manager, but also the program’s academic coordinator and U8 coach; she’s also served as an advisor to many students and assisted with the volleyball team. Wendy has been the glue keeping Rowmark running smoothly, navigating and communicating a complex calendar and never-ending schedule changes. She’s been a major link between the ski academy, school, and parents, and a dedicated, unwavering champion of student-athletes.

Fabian Liesner, PE teacher, will be leaving at the end of the year to support his spouse, Carly, in her next professional steps, and to refocus on family. Fabi joined our team in fall 2022, bringing with him particular skill in leading our upper elementary students in engaging and active PE learning. This work, coupled with his exciting additions to recess (like Warrior Wednesdays) and steadfast support of Winter Sports skiing, allowed Fabi to make a swift and meaningful impact on the Lower School learning community. Thank you, Fabi!

Bethany Anderson, fifth-grade teacher, is moving on to Park City Day School next year to be closer to home. Bethany joined the fifth-grade team in 2023 and has made an incredible impact during her short time here. In addition to her calm demeanor with students, unflappable attitude, and unfailing positivity, she has wowed us with her baking skills and willingness to tackle the yearbook project. We will miss Bethany and wish her all the best in her next chapter.

Marc DeCoste, associate director of alumni and donor engagement, left the school in November after nearly two years on the development team, where he worked with both alumni and donors. We appreciate all he did during his time here.

Ben Throm, FIS coach, departed the Rowmark Ski Academy coaching staff in July after nearly two years at the school for a new opportunity at the Snowbird Sports Education Foundation. We thank Ben for all his excellent work with our Academy student-athletes.

Hans Poelmann, AP1 lead coach for the Rowmark Junior Program, is relocating to Washington State to join his significant other, who received a wonderful professional opportunity. While we are sorry to see Hans go, we are incredibly grateful for his exceptional contributions to our program for the past year and a half. His passion, expertise, and dedication have made a lasting impact on student-athletes, coaches, and parents. We wish him all the best and hope to welcome him back to Rowmark for the 2026–2027 season.

Max Molokov, second- and third-grade PE teacher, is stepping away from his Lower School PE teaching role to embrace a new opportunity as athletic director at his former school. Max made quick work of getting to know our middle elementary students this year, and his class quickly became a highlight of many of their days. In addition to his work in the field house, we’ll miss him greeting kids by name each and every morning at the west doors. We wish Max the best of luck in his next endeavors.

Kristin Sproul, fifth-grade teacher, will be leaving Rowland Hall for new adventures. Kristin is a thoughtful and dedicated educator who has equally challenged her fifth-grade students and supported them in rising to these challenges. Kristin models lifelong learning, consistently seeking ways to better support her students. We will miss Kristin and wish her all the best.

People

Congratulations to the 78 graduates of Rowland Hall’s class of 2025—a group of talented, hardworking young people who are making our world more beautiful, just, and welcoming.

Thanks to their focus on community and their commitment to supporting one another in ways big and small, this group has made an impact on Rowland Hall that will be felt for years to come.

Thanks to their focus on community and their commitment to supporting one another in ways big and small, this group has made an impact on Rowland Hall that will be felt for years to come. Six members of the class created the Wings of Inclusion conference for Utah high schoolers, a space for belonging and for developing community leaders. A group was behind a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, creating a new Upper School tradition: Make-A-Wish Week. Others founded the We Code Too club to break down barriers in computer science, and a chapter of Grow the Flow to help restore the Great Salt Lake. The class also includes those who advocated for more school-wide late start times to support student well-being, created a sustainability representative position on the Student Council, partnered with another independent school to build community through a new dual-school dance, and developed a program for scanning ID cards at the gym, making it easier for students to track hours toward their Wellness graduation requirement.

The class of 2025 made an impact through their studies, too, inspiring their peers and the adults around them with their perseverance, hard work, and passion—and gathering many accolades along the way. Six National Merit semifinalists, including three National Merit Scholars, are among these graduates, as are several top-tier debaters, including four state champions, two Academic All-Americans, two Tournament of Champions qualifiers, and the leaders who expanded Rowland Hall's debate profile internationally—including competing overseas in Taiwan and placing at the International Public Policy Forum.

The class includes a finalist in the 2024 Westminster University Civility Essay Contest and a two-time honoree of the National Center for Women in Technology, first as state runner-up, then state winner. Three graduates designed a sustainable airplane engine, a project that earned them multi-year invitations to the International Science & Engineering Fair, the most competitive and highly respected international high school science competition.

This graduating class’s passion and drive for learning led them to enroll in courses alongside their classroom studies in areas including anatomy, biology, coding, and social-emotional learning. Many embraced local opportunities, taking courses such as calculus, civil engineering, linear algebra, and physics at the University of Utah and the Science of Food and Drink at Westminster University. One completed requirements to become a certified nursing assistant. Others took on independent studies in areas including elementary education, machine learning, and wilderness first aid.

Learning didn’t stop in the summer. Members of this class attended the iD Tech coding camp at Rice University, the National Student Leadership Conference program in marine biology at the University of Miami, pre-college programs in fashion styling at Parsons School of Design and in architecture at Syracuse University, a medical laboratory science immersion program at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and an honors geometry course through the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.

This class explored careers and engaged in authentic learning through internships for organizations including the Aquarium of the Pacific, MasterWord, Park City Community Foundation, People’s Health Clinic, Primary Children's Hospital, ShiftAside, Utah Spine Medicine, and Zartico. Many interned at the University of Utah in fields including advanced rehabilitation technology research, biomedical polymers, brain network architecture, cardiovascular care and research, orthopedic surgery, T cell therapy, and wildlife biology.

The class of 2025 has also made the world more beautiful through art. The group includes a member of the Utah Youth Symphony, two members of the Utah Chinese Folk Orchestra, and a trumpet player who was invited to perform at the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Gifted writers, including a first-place winner of the Salt Lake City Teen Poetry Contest, are among the graduates.

Senior athletes were instrumental in capturing 20 region and 12 state titles as teams, and earned several individual region and state championships. Ten seniors were named All-State and eight were named All-Region, 14 earned Academic All-State and Academic All-Region honors, and three have committed to play at the college level. Rowmark Ski Academy's nine graduating seniors achieved career-best performances this winter, including 40 top-ten finishes and 15 podiums in Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) races in all over the US, as well as in Canada and Europe. Three will continue to race at the college level.

Whatever these graduates do next, we know they will continue to better the world, and we’re honored to call them members of our alumni community.

The class of 2025 has also impacted their communities by volunteering their time and talents to organizations and groups including BBYO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, the Cottonwood Heights Youth City Council, For the Kids, the Fuller Center for Housing, Girls on the Run, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Intermountain Hospital, Lion’s Heart, the National Ability Center, the National Charity League, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, the Sunnyvale Refugee Clinic, the Utah Food Bank, and the Utah Tibetan Association.

As this group begins a new chapter of their lives, many will be furthering their education: the graduates of the class of 2025 earned admission to 157 colleges and universities. Some will be taking gap and postgraduate years. Whatever they do next, we know they will continue to better the world, and we’re honored to call them members of our alumni community.

Congratulations, graduates!

Students