Around MSD - Maryland School for the Deaf

The Maryland Bulletin 

Maryland School for the Deaf—www.msd.edu 

The Maryland Bulletin 

Volume CXXXI, No. 1 

Fall 2010 

Editor 

James E. Tucker 

james.tucker@msd.edu 

Associate Editor 

Stanley C. Baker 

chad.baker@msd.edu 

Managing Editor & 

Graphic Designer 

Larry Newman 

larry.newman@msd.edu 

Copy Editor 

Nan Cronk-Walker 

nan.cronk-walker@msd.edu 

The Maryland 

Bulletin (USPS 331-660) 

is published three times a year. 

Subscription price is $10.00 

per year by Maryland School 

for the Deaf, 101 Clarke Place, 

Frederick, MD 21705-0250. 

Periodicals postage paid at 

Frederick, MD Postmaster: 

Send address changes to The 

Maryland Bulletin, 101 

Clarke Place, Frederick, MD 

21705-0250. 

Contents 

Table of 

1 White House Visit 

2 MSD Hosts the 22nd Biennial ASDC Conference in June 2011 

3 MSA and CEASD Re-Accreditation Self-Study Year Continues 

4 Quest and Columbia Campus Awarded Grant 

5 The Special Education Citizen’s Advisory Committee 

6 Work-to-Learn: A Transition Vision 

8 MSD and State of Maryland Service Awards 

9 MSD Board of Trustees 2010-2011 

10 Bilingualism and Monolingualism 

12 Around MSD 

22 Junior Bulletin 

24 Sportscope 

37 Community News 

38 Alumni News 

39 MSD Alumni Profile: Marissa Diane Clopper, ‘01 

ON THE COVER 

Srivanth Pothineni, a first grader, made a quick stop to show off his pumpkin before rushing 

off to the bus. 

FREDERICK CAMPUS (MSD-FC) 

101 Clarke Place, P.O. Box 250 

Frederick, Maryland 21705-0250 

301.360.2000 (Voice) • 301.360.2001 (TTY) 

240.575.2966 (Videophone) • 12.54.87.255 (IP) 

301.360.1400 (Fax) 

frederick@msd.edu 

COLUMBIA CAMPUS (MSD-CC) 

Route 108 & Old Montgomery Rd., P.O. Box 894 

Columbia, Maryland 21044-0894 

410.480.4500 (Voice) • 410.480.4501 (TTY) 

240.575.2966 (Videophone) • 12.54.87.255 (IP) 

410.480.4506 (Fax) 

columbia@msd.edu 

THE MARYLAND SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, mental or physical 

disability, national origin, political affiliation, belief or opinion, race, religious affiliation, sex, or sexual orientation in matters affecting program, activities, or 

employment practices. Questions regarding this policy in terms of employment may be directed to Anny Currin, Director of Personnel (301) 360-2029 or anny. 

currin@msd.edu. Questions regarding the school program may be directed to Susanna Oliver, Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator (301) 360-2025 

or susanna.oliver@msd.edu. Both may be reached at the Maryland School for the Deaf, 101 Clarke Place, P.O. Box 250, Frederick, Maryland 21705-0250.

Our White House Visit 

This is the story of the best honor I have ever received: I 

was invited to the White House! The remarkable experience 

of going to the White House was awesome. 

One Monday as I sat with Lisa Houck, the then campus 

principal, in her office, she broke the shocking news that 

Tessa Lewis, Kaliah Doe, and I were invited to the White 

House. There was supposed to have been an important 

man from the White House, Kareem Dale, coming to the 

Frederick campus of the Maryland School for the Deaf 

that Friday, but the same day he was supposed to visit, 

President Obama had a signing event for the 21 st Century 

Communication and Video Accessibility Act, a law that 

will make technology more accessible for people who are 

deaf, blind, or both. Mr. Dale had to be there and regretted 

missing the MSD visit, so he invited three members of the 

Student Body Government team to go to the White House. 

After a long week of waiting, the time finally came. 

Mr. Tucker, Ms. Houck, Kaliah, Tessa, and I met on 

Superintendent James E. Tucker, Kaliah Doe, Tessa Lewis, and 

Asher Kirschbaum pose in front of the portrait of President John 

F. Kennedy at the East Wing of the White House moments before 

President Barack Obama’s signing of the Twenty-First Century 

Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010. 

campus and, after a long drive to 

Washington D.C., met the rest of 

the people who were invited. When 

it was time, we began making our 

way through the checkpoints. There 

were three different checkpoints. I was 

asked for my identity card each time. When I got through 

the third checkpoint, the guard, after checking the list to 

see if I was invited, nodded and signaled to let me pass. I 

excitedly walked through a gate and finally stepped onto 

the property of the White House. I glanced over to see if 

my companions were as excited as I was. Their bright faces 

told me the answer. 

We entered the White House; it was just like entering 

the king’s palace. Everything was decorated, beautiful, 

and memorable. We spent some time to looking around 

the various halls and rooms of the White House. Then we 

went to the beautiful East Room and waited for President 

Obama. Before he arrived, various important people were 

introduced to be part of the signing. The famous musician, 

Stevie Wonder, who is blind, was one of them. President 

Obama entered, gave a five-minute speech, and signed 

the bill. After signing the bill, he rose and said, “So, let’s 

party!” People cheered and applauded. Just before President 

Obama left the room, Lisa Houck caught his attention and 

urged Kaliah to give him a gift from the Maryland School 

for the Deaf. It was a notepad with the MSD cupola on it. 

President Obama thanked us, shook hands with Kaliah, 

and departed from the room. 

It was all over so quickly. We rode back to school, 

arriving just in time for me to prepare for the football 

game that night. MB 

—SBG President Asher Kirschbaum, Junior 

President Obama explains how the Twenty-First Century 

Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 will help 

millions of disabled Americans. 

WWW.MSD.EDU 

1

Take advantage of the unique opportunity to have a 

fun-filled educational vacation with your WHOLE 

family at the 22 nd Biennial American Society for 

Deaf Children (ASDC) conference from June 22- 26, 2011, 

in Frederick, Maryland! 

As the proud host of the 22 nd Biennial American Society 

for Deaf Children (ASDC) Conference, Maryland School for 

the Deaf (MSD) would like to provide a detailed explanation 

of ASDC and the 2011 Conference at the Frederick Campus. 

What is American Society for Deaf Children? 

American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is a 

national, independent, non-profit organization that 

has been providing 

resources to families 

with deaf and hard of 

hearing children since 

1967. What started as a 

parent-helping-parent 

network has grown 

to become the number 

one organization 

shown on Google when searching “deaf children.” 

ASDC’s mission is to support and educate families of 

deaf and hard-of-hearing children and to advocate for high 

quality programs and services. 

More information about ASDC and a list of their core values 

can be found on the ASDC website at www.deafchildren.org. 

What is the theme of the 22 nd Biennial Conference 

at MSD? 

Through the conference theme, “Parent Choices: Keys 

to Your Child’s Future,” workshops will be provided with 

a focus on exploring opportunities and building a strong 

foundation in five key areas: 

Family 

Communication 

Education 

Extracurricular Opportunities 

Community 

MSD truly believes that the choices parents make are 

the keys to future success in every aspect of their child’s 

life. Making well-informed decisions in each of these life 

2 THE MARYLAND BULLETIN FALL 2010 

MSD Hosts the 22 nd Biennial 

ASDC Conference in June 2011 

Erin Buck and Lori Bonheyo, ASDC 2011 Conference Co-Chairs, 

erin.buck@msd.edu, lori.bonheyo@msd.edu 

milestones will allow deaf and hard-of-hearing children to 

learn and thrive in a fully accessible environment. 

What are the benefits for families attending this 

conference? 

MSD’s 2011 conference will provide parents with 

access to information and resources that promote the 

health and optimal development of their deaf and hardof-hearing 

children through three full days of informative 

programming with concurrent program options 

throughout the day. 

Parents can attend workshops guilt-free knowing their 

children are taken care of in the children’s program. While 

parents are busy gathering 

information, children 

will be developing peer 

connections, taking art 

classes, honing drama 

skills, learning about 

horses and other animals, 

engaging in team building 

activities, developing 

agility with athletics, and having an all-out good time! 

During evening hours, parents and children will come 

together for exciting family oriented activities. Opening 

family fun night will provide an opportunity to socialize 

while snacking on flavorful fare presented by local food 

vendors. Throughout the evenings, historic downtown ghost 

tours will highlight local haunts, and Deaf entertainers will 

provide dazzling performances. 

Where can more information about the conference 

be located? 

Registration and Exhibit forms can be found online at 

www.msd.edu by clicking on the ASDC tab on the bottom 

left of the page and at www.deafchildren.org by clicking on 

“Conference” on the home page. Information on how to 

become a sponsor is available upon request. 

Conference Co-Chairs Erin Buck and Lori Bonheyo 

are available to answer any questions about the upcoming 

conference. Please contact Erin via email at erin.buck@ 

msd.edu or by phone at (301) 360-2054 (Voice) or Lori via 

email at lori.bonheyo@msd.edu or by phone at (866) 729- 

7602 (VP/Voice). MB

MSA and CEASD Re-Accreditation 

Self-Study Year Continues 

Marcia Virts, Teacher Specialist/Lead Internal Coordinator, MSA/CEASD Accreditation, marcia.virts@msd.edu 

MSD’s self-study year for reaccreditation 

is in full swing 

on both the Columbia and 

Frederick campuses. In November 

2011, a Validation Team representing 

the Middle States Commissions 

on Elementary and Secondary 

Schools (MSA) and 

the Conference 

of Educational 

Administrators of 

Schools and Programs 

for the Deaf (CEASD) 

will come to MSD’s 

campuses for three 

and one-half days. To 

prepare for their visit 

during this self-study 

year, many teams are 

hard at work. 

The Internal 

Coordinators Team 

(Rick Ballard, Lisa 

Brinks, Tara Holloway, 

Elizabeth Reed, and 

Marcia Virts) are charged with the 

important task of coordinating MSD’s 

planning process and the development 

of a plan for growth in student 

performance over the next seven years 

when re-accreditation will occur again. 

They also oversee the planning and 

preparation for the Validation Team visit. 

Additionally and equally important, the 

Internal Coordinators provide the energy, 

enthusiasm, and expertise to move the 

re-accreditation process forward. Each 

member of the MSD Community is a 

valued contributor to this process. 

Representing a broad spectrum 

of the school’s stakeholders, the 

Accreditation Planning Team (APT) 

meets monthly and considers a great 

deal of input from the MSD community 

including internal surveys and staff 

work groups. The APT is charged with 

developing the vision of MSD by revisiting 

and then creating or reaffirming 

MSD’s mission statement. The APT 

also revisits the statements of belief 

established during the previous Middle 

States accreditation in 2004 and reaf- 

firms and/or creates belief statements. 

APT members communicate with the 

stakeholders they represent and guide 

the accreditation process during our 

self-study year. In addition, a new part 

of the re-accreditation process is writing 

the Profile of Graduates for MSD. 

This is a statement that describes the 

knowledge, skills, and attitudes MSD 

students have when they graduate from 

MSD. All of these parts—mission, beliefs, 

profile of graduates, and student 

performance objectives—are developed 

with input from all stakeholders. 

The APT members (and whom 

they represent) are Marcia Virts, Lisa 

Brinks, and Elizabeth Reed (Internal 

Coordinators), Rick Ballard (Internal 

Coordinator and Administrators- 

Columbia), Tara Holloway (Internal 

Coordinator and Teachers-Frederick), 

Shannon Ambush (Teachers- 

Columbia), Jenny Perry (Curriculum 

and Instruction-Columbia), Chris 

Kaftan (Curriculum and Instruction- 

Frederick), Steven Covington (Student 

Life-Columbia), Keri Mays (Student 

Tara Holloway, one of MSD’s Internal Coordinators, leads members of the Accreditation 

Planning Team in an activity to revisit MSD’s Mission. 

Life-Frederick), Sarah Fairbanks 

(FEECD-Columbia), Jolene Luttrell 

(FEECD-Frederick), Dolores Abbott- 

Dixon (Teacher Aides- Columbia), 

Kelly Sicard (Teacher Aides-Frederick), 

Gussie Belisario (Support Staff direct 

service to students-Frederick), Larry 

Cohen (Support Staff direct service to 

students- Columbia), Kali Doubledee 

(Student Representative), David Martin 

(Alumni and Board of Trustees), Robin 

Kittleman (Board of Trustees), Russell 

Kestenbaum (Central Office/Business), 

Lisa Herberger (Parent-Frederick), 

and Kevin Strachan (Administrators- 

Frederick). In addition, several member 

vacancies are being filled at this time. 

Watch for more updates on this 

exciting process in the next issue of 

The Maryland Bulletin! MB 


3

Quest and Columbia Campus Awarded Grant 

Nancy R. Downey, Assistant Principal, Columbia Campus, nancy.downey@msd.edu 

Last September, Tim McCarty, 

Quest: Arts for Everyone 

founder, and Nancy Downey, 

Assistant Principal of Elementary 

Department at the Columbia Campus, 

were notified that their grant request 

for funds to enhance literacy through 

drama was approved. The grant, 

totaling one million dollars over 

the next four years, was awarded 

through the Office of Innovation 

and Improvement within the United 

States Department of 

Education and will 

be administratively 

managed by Quest. 

The grant will be 

used to fund a project 

called TheatreBridge focusing 

on the use of visual 

theater to enhance 

literacy and theater 

skills of deaf and hard of 

hearing elementary and 

middle school students 

attending the Columbia 

Campus. Quest’s visual 

theater approach to learning reflects 

how deaf and hard of hearing students 

benefit from becoming actively and 

kinesthetically involved in learning. 

Visual arts support the use of communication 

skills, abstract concepts, 

and higher level thinking skills for 

students which are reflected in the 

state and national literacy standards. 

Students experiencing learning disabilities 

or behavioral and emotional 

issues benefit from Quest’s approach 

using active learning experiences. 

Following a comprehensive planning 

process that will include determining 

research methodology, the 

project will run summer institutes 

for teachers to explore and discuss 


how to best integrate theater skills 

and activities into their lesson plans. 

Stipends will be provided to teachers 

to record these lesson plans and post 

them to the Quest website as an aid 

to fellow educators, artists, or parents 

interested in utilizing these techniques. 

Starting in the fall of 2010, 

Quest staff will begin working 

with Columbia Campus parents 

receiving services through the 

Family Education/Early Childhood 

Department to enhance communication 

with their children through 

use of visual theater activities. Quest 

will also hold community outreach 

activities in various regions around 

Maryland to provide deaf and hard 

of hearing students and their families 

access to visual theater resources close 

to their homes. 

During the summer of 2011, 

current Columbia Campus 

elementary age students will be 

able to attend a one week workshop 

on the Columbia Campus. Gallaudet 

University’s College of Professional 

Services and Outreach (CPSO) will 

coordinate a two week residential 

camp on Gallaudet’s campus (fully 

funded by grant money) for middle 

school age students. Both of these 

student activities will be held each 

summer through 2013. Additionally, 

Quest and Columbia staff will provide 

three days of program sessions for 

adults during the 2010 American 

Society for Deaf Children (ASCD) 

conference in addition to familyoriented 

evening programming and 

will lead a half-day forum on theater 

and literacy for deaf and hard of 

hearing children. 

Erica Siegel, 

Education/Outreach 

Coordinator for 

Quest, will work with 

Ms. Downey in the 

Elementary Department, 

Sue Maginnis in the 

Middle School, and 

Stella Antonio-Conley 

to implement the project 

campus-wide and 

will frequently be on 

the Columbia Campus. 

In addition, Ms. Siegel 

and Ms. Antonio- Conley will collaborate 

to compile an encyclopedia 

of theater games. To determine the 

overall effectiveness of the program, 

Linda Delk of Gallaudet University 

will lead the research component to 

gather information on changes in 

student literacy. 

This exciting opportunity is a 

perfect follow up to the success experienced 

by Columbia’s Middle School 

students in winning Baltimore’s Center 

Stage sponsored Young Playwright’s 

Festival in 2009 and 2010. Everyone 

involved with the project is eagerly 

looking forward to providing a unique 

and innovative way to improve student 

literacy. MB

The Special Education Citizen’s Advisory Committee 

Susanna Oliver, Compliance Officer and SECAC Chairperson, susanna.oliver@msd.edu 

The Maryland School for the Deaf 

started off the 2010-2011 school 

year with a new look to the old 

Quality Assurance and Monitoring 

committee. There are always changes 

in membership, but this year brings a 

change in the title as well. QAM is now 

the Special Education Citizens Advisory 

Committee (SECAC). 

The committee comprises community 

partners, MSD administrators, a parent 

representative, service providers, and 

a representative from the MSD Family 

Education/Early Childhood Department. 

SECAC provides feedback and input 

to the MSD instructional program 

regarding the needs of deaf and hard 

of hearing students and families in the 

Frederick and Columbia Campus com- 

munities. The committee assists in the 

identification of educational priorities 

and goals that are designed to improve 

student achievement and outcomes. It 

functions in an advisory capacity by 

providing MSD with insight into any 

community concerns that are related 

to the formulation or development of 

plans to improve educational services 

to students here at MSD. Meetings are 

held seven times per year at alternating 

campuses and are chaired by the MSD 

Compliance Officer. 

The new title, SECAC, opens a positive, 

additional possibility for funding. 

The Maryland State Department of 

Education allocates $2,500.00 of IDEA, 

Part B, state discretionary funds per year 

to support these local committees for 

educationally related expenses needed 

to support their local school. This year, 

MSD’s SECAC will be looking into accessing 

these funds. 

Because the committee has a new 

title with some new emphasis, a few 

changes will be made this year: SECAC 

will develop policies and procedures 

as part of the state requirement to become 

eligible for IDEA funds and will 

contribute suggestions and feedback as 

MSD moves through the renewal of its 

school accreditation. 

The continuous improvement of 

student performance is a top priority 

at MSD. SECAC is a proud part of the 

support system that helps assure that 

there are quality educational services 

offered at MSD. MB 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS—TOP Mary Dudderar, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Regional Director; 

Christopher Kaftan, Director of Curriculum & Instruction; Nan Cronk-Walker, Director of IEP Support and Development 

BOTTOM Susanna Oliver, Compliance Officer and SECAC Chairperson; Erin Buck, Outreach Coordinator; Cheri 

Dowling, Partners for Success Parent Coordinator; Maryann Swann, Director of Family Education and Early Childhood 

Department; John Snavlin, Assistant Superintendent/Principal of the Columbia Campus 


5

Work-to-Learn: A Transition Vision 

Celinda Rother, Agency Grant Writer, celinda.rother@msd.edu 

“One of my goals as a teacher is to see students become productive citizens. 

When students are supported in their first community-based jobs, they develop 

just the right skills to become productive citizens outside of the classroom.” 

Dina Raevsky, High School Science Teacher 

MSD’s Work-to-Learn 

Transition and Work 

Preparation Program embodies 

Dina’s classroom goals and 

MSD’s mission to “…prepare all 

students to be contributing citizens.” 

Work-to-Learn is funded by a twoyear 

grant from the Maryland State 

Department of Education’s Division 

of Rehabilitation Services (DORS). 

MSD and DORS are partnering to 

fulfill their shared vision 

of providing targeted MSD 

High School students with 

supported employment in 

community-based settings 

to prepare them for life after 

graduation. Program success 

hinges on partnerships 

involving MSD, communitybased 

businesses, and state 

and local service agencies. 

Work-to-Learn serves 

the school’s high school stu- 

dents—those who may not 

be headed toward college or 

toward sheltered workshops/ 

supported employment. 

Nancy Verdier, one of two 

MSD high school transition coordinators, 

explains that “Success in MSD’s 

Essential Curriculum presupposes 

a certain level of independence and 

skill that is just emerging for these 

students. Many have the potential to 

succeed in the work place and even 

to pass the High School Assessments 

[HSAs] required to earn a Maryland 

State Diploma. But they need help.” 

Now in its second year, Work- 

To-Learn is showing us that real life 


experience with some on-the-job 

support is the missing link that helps 

many students connect to the High 

School curriculum and grasp concepts 

needed for success at school and work. 

KC Russell-Christy, also a High School 

transition coordinator, has seen students 

make the connection between 

school and success on the job. “Once 

they discover how much they are learning 

at work, they realize they can also 

Auder Morales on-the-job at Frederick Memorial 

Hospital. Auder successfully learned needed job skills. His 

newfound sense of responsibility is evident to teachers 

and a model for other students in the classroom. 

learn in the classroom. They begin 

to recognize the importance of their 

Individualized Education Program 

(IEP).” Work-to-Learn students, observes 

High School English teacher 

Angie Geffen, “become more active 

with academic learning because they 

realize they have the ability to excel in 

whatever they put their minds to. They 

become more aware of who they are 

and what they stand for. When they 

have that, they are able to apply it to 

their classes, relationships with parents, 

family, and friends, and life in general.” 

Three program staff members work 

with contagious energy and enthusiasm. 

Jennifer Weeks, coordinator, and 

two employment specialists, Jenica 

Winnings and Bruce Persons, interview 

dozens of students to clarify their 

interests, abilities, and program eligibility. 

They identify business partners 

and develop agreements. They coach 

students on how to prepare and behave, 

teach workshops on communication 

and work place issues, provide transportation 

for interviews and work shifts, 

assist students on the job for as long as 

needed, and much more. The 

excellent rapport between 

the high school students 

and program staff promotes 

students’ success at their 

first jobs as they learn basic 

skills, develop confidence, 

and become comfortable 

communicating with hearing 

people in the workplace. 

Work-to-Learn has 

significantly exceeded its 

stated 2010 goal of plac- 

ing 15 students during the 

spring, summer and fall. 

MSD has already placed 26 

students; partnered with 16 

employers outside of MSD, 

and developed relationships with 

agencies in three counties. During 

the spring and fall semesters, students 

worked 2 ½- to 5-hour shifts two to 

five days each week. Over the summer, 

10 students worked near their 

homes in Frederick, Montgomery, and 

Washington Counties. 

Finding employers willing to take 

on the responsibility of hiring MSD 

students is a challenge. When employers 

know that MSD will support the

process, they are more willing to accept a student as an 

intern or employee. The vision of the employer as a business 

partner is working, as most employers are remaining 

with the program. 

DORS provides 

critical support 

by partnering 

with State and 

local employment 

agencies to provide 

salaries to 

student workers. 

The employers 

of two Work-to- 

Learn students 

have offered them 

permanent jobs. 

The students plan 

to accept! 

Work-to- 

Learn benefits 

extend beyond 

the workplace to 

student personal 

growth and academic 

achievement. “My daughter is becoming more 

responsible and serious about her life,” commented one 

parent. “I witnessed students who were shy, unsure, and 

with low self-esteem evolve into confident and enthusiastic 

teenagers,” notes Geffen. “They came to realize that their 

future was bright.” Raevsky applauds the program because 

“students gain skills, not only work-related but also communication 

and writing skills, interpersonal skills, coping skills, 

budget skills, and more.” The HSA scores of students with 

work placements in summer 2009 increased by over 100 

Buckingham’s Choice Retirement 

Community (Adamstown) 

C. Burr Artz Library 

Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) 

Food Lion (Hagerstown) 

Frederick Memorial Hospital (Kitchen, mailroom, 

clerical, patient care) 

Giant Foods (Baltimore) 

Giant Foods 

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital 

Business Partners 

(Frederick unless otherwise noted) 

points each. Program staff and teachers consider students’ 

work experience a contributing factor to this achievement 

and anticipate similar results for current Work-to-Learn 

students. The program 

supports 

positive relationships 

between diverse 

students and 

has even opened 

doors in the community 

for more 

internship opportunities 

for those 

who are collegebound. 

The Work-to- 

Learn vision is 

based on proven 

best practice and 

experience in 

helping students 

actualize the comprehensiveeducation 

and transition 

plans made during 

their high school years. As part of the overall high school 

program, Work-to-Learn greatly improves the likelihood 

that more MSD students will leave high school with a 

diploma and/or the opportunity to succeed in the world 

of work. The goal to help students by providing supported 

employment is not new to MSD. What is new is the possibility 

of extending the profound benefits of working to 

learn to the many eligible MSD students, not just a few. 

MSD is grateful for the support and partnerships that are 

making this possible. MB 

Bruce Persons, employment specialist; Nan Cronk-Walker, director of IEP 

support and development and Work-to-Learn project manager ; Michael 

Knight, student; Jennifer Weeks, Work-to-Learn coordinator; and Jenica 

Winnings, employment specialist. Michael Knight is an outstanding worker 

and recipient of the first Work-to-Learn Employee of the Month Award. 

Marshall’s Inc. (Gaithersburg) 

McDonald’s Restaurant (Emmitsburg) 

The Organized Bride 

Maryland School for the Deaf, 

Housekeeping Department 

Petersen’s Carpet and Flooring 

Renaissance Salon and Spa 

Shannon’s Tea House and Art Gallery Café 

Smoothie King 

United States Department of Agriculture 


7

MSD and State of Maryland 

Service Awards 

35-YEAR RECOGNITION 

Chad Baker 


Kathleen Waddell, Joanne Geppert 

NOT PICTURED Elizabeth Rewolinski 


BACK Eric Mansfield, Scott Morrison, Paul Roult, Clarence Taylor III 

FRONT Helen McClarin, Deeadra Morrison, Kevin Sanderlin, Teresa Scotton 



Alvin Amberg, Joyce Cohen-Scher, Susan Maginnis, 

Nancy Downey, Barbara Herschman 


Nancy Verdier, G. Kevin Strachan, Sheryl Berrigan, Debra Brinker, 

Kathleen Setzer NOT PICTURED Jenny Perry 


BACK Robin Burrhus, Francis Cooney, Della Hager, Gay Fout 

FRONT Lynn Ballard-Weiner, Yolanda Colston, 

Karen Golshiri, Carol Baker, Shelby Leilich


BACK Edna Johnston, Wendall Pratt, John Jones, Toye Stokes 

FRONT Mary Ann Kinsella-Meier, Bobbie McLaughlin, Julie Ross, 

Maria Ruiz NOT PICTURED David Main, Yvonne Lease, Vincent Velotta 


BACK Frank Allnutt, Mark DeSantis, John Gibson, Dan Hicks 

FRONT Lawrence Cohen, Janell Bunn-Verdin, Cassandra Harris, 

Beverly Sue Hill NOT PICTURED Claudine Wanzer-Fehr, 

Yolanda Wilson, Gale Woodyard 

MSD Board of Trustees 2010-2011 

TOP (L-R) Charles Poyer, Jr.; John Ertel, Ph.D.; Benjamin Bahan, Ph.D. MIDDLE David Martin; Heather Zeolla FRONT Sheryl Cooper, 

Ph.D.; Cynthia Neese-Bailes, Ph.D.; Laurie Corcoran; Ricardo Hernandez, Ph.D. NOT PICTURED Connie Briscoe-Woodruff; Ernest 

Hairston, Ph.D.; Roslyn Hannibal-Booker; Sandra Harriman; Robin Kittleman; Angela McCaskill, Ph.D.; Khadijat Rashid, Ph.D. 


9

James E. Tucker, Superintendent, james.tucker@msd.edu 

Bilingualism and Monolingualism 

Hearing parents 

of newly born 

deaf or hard of 

hearing infants are often overwhelmed 

with information relating to deafness 

and deaf education as well as dealing 

with the initial shock and grieving that 

their child has a hearing loss. Frequently 

their deaf child is the first deaf person 

they have met in their lives so they 

need to quickly master a steep learning 

curve when they read and digest 

information on how deaf and hard of 

hearing children grow and learn. 

Sometimes parents meet professionals 

such as audiologists or speech 

and language pathologists and receive 

information that does not address language 

acquisition and development in 

both American Sign Language (ASL) 

and English. Too often, parents are given 

a list of “communication options” such 

as Cued Speech, Signed English, Pure 

Oral Method, Total Communication 

and the like. Regularly this list does not 

include the acquisition of ASL. If the list 

includes ASL it often lacks information 

that English is taught along with ASL. 

Such a list promotes the “monolingual 

education approach”. That is, the acquisition 

and development in only one 

language is encouraged. 

Many schools and programs including 

the Maryland School for the 

Deaf promote the bilingual education 

approach. The acquisition and development 

of both American Sign Language 

and English is emphasized inside and 

outside of classrooms. American Sign 

Language is used every day by over 

500,000 deaf and hard of hearing 

Americans and is among the most frequently 

used languages in this country. 

Psycholinguists and neurolinguists 

have in the past 50 years documented 

American Sign Language as a bona fide 

language possessing all the requisite 


linguistic properties as well as the natural 

language of the Deaf community. In 

short, deaf people use ASL because they 

are primarily “seeing” people and ASL is 

a language of the hands, face, and body. 

Parents are often confused or led 

astray when they are presented a list of 

“communication options”. A better way 

to frame this would be to explain the 

monolingual and the bilingual education 

approaches along with the different 

communication systems available. Too 

often parents are forced to choose one 

language over another when in fact they 

can choose a combination of languages. 

For example, parents can choose the 

development of both ASL and English. 

Since English may be achieved through 

any of these communication options, 

professionals need to start emphasizing 

“and” rather than “or”. 

Parents also need to eventually 

determine educational placement for their 

child. Too often language development is 

not the driving force behind placement 

decisions. Many times a cochlear implant 

or a hearing aid drives placement. Other 

times the misapplication of the “least 

restrictive environment” provision in the 

Individuals with Disabilities Education 

Act (IDEA) drives placements in the 

local neighborhood schools. When this 

happens educational interpreters are then 

utilized and this sometimes compromises 

natural language development. 

At the Maryland School for the 

Deaf, parents are encouraged to seek 

educational placements that emphasize 

language acquisition in both ASL and 

English. Each child has a right to learn 

the language of the country, English; 

and to learn the natural language of 

American Deaf and Hard of Hearing 

people, American Sign Language. 

Today thousands of hearing babies 

are encouraged to sign. The media everywhere 

extol the benefits of learning 

ASL for hearing babies. They are able 

to express themselves in sign language 

a few months before they are able to 

speak, giving them a jump start on 

language and communication development. 

While the Deaf community is 

thrilled and sometimes giddy that their 

language is being taught everywhere, 

they also grieve that many deaf babies 

are still forbidden to sign… 

Perhaps it is time to reframe the 

bilingual vs. monolingual education 

approach debate. There is no research 

evidence that bilingual education 

inhibits English language acquisition 

or the development of speech. Many 

professionals, especially audiologists 

and speech pathologists, are still ignorant 

about ASL and its biological roots 

in deaf people. Bilingualism needs to 

be seen as an “addition”, and not as a 

“subtraction” to the overall learning 

experience for a deaf child. 

It is time to rewrite the brochures 

that are given to parents of newly identified 

deaf and hard of hearing children. 

Brochures should first detail the “bilingual 

(ASL and English) approach” 

and the “monolingual (English only) 

approach” and then move on to “communication 

options”. Parents should 

always be encouraged to thoroughly 

explore all options since every child 

should be given the opportunity to 

explore, grow, learn, and most of all 

thrive in different environments. 

Buddha once said, “There are only 

two mistakes one can make along the 

road to truth; not going all the way, 

and not starting.” It is MSD’s sincere 

hope that professionals who advocate 

only the “monolingual (English only) 

approach” will consider going to the 

next level in their profession learning 

the linguistics of American Sign 

Language and the enormous benefits 

the “bilingual (ASL and English) 

approach” has for deaf and hard of 

hearing children everywhere. MB

WWW.MSD.EDU11

Around MSD 

Denton Building Dedication 

David M. Denton became the eighth superintendent 

of the Maryland School for the Deaf in 1967. At that 

time there was a single campus located in Frederick. That 

changed quickly as, just a few years after becoming superintendent, 

Dr. Denton presented a bill to the General 

Assembly of Maryland proposing the creation of a branch 

campus in Columbia. With his leadership and the support 

of many others, this bill was passed. Before long, ground 

was broken and the construction of the new campus 

began. In 1973, the Columbia Campus, consisting of just 

two buildings, was opened—one designated for typical 

elementary-aged deaf and hard of hearing students and 

Former Maryland School for the Deaf Superintendent Dr. 

David M. Denton and current Maryland School for the Deaf 

Superintendent, James E. Tucker. 

Dr. David M. Denton (second right) and his wife Peggy, along 

with their children, David M. Denton, Jr, and Mary Flood, listen 

at the dedication ceremony. 


the other serving 

students having 

additional disabilities. 

This 

initiative, a full 

program dedicated 

to deaf students 

with disabilities, 

was also 

Dr. Denton’s dream. At 

the time, Columbia 

was a state-of-the-art 

facility for disabled 

and non-disabled deaf 

students. Thirty-five 

years later, there is no 

physical separation of 

programs at the school 

as all buildings are used 

for all of the students, 

and MSD-CC remains 

one of the nation’s 

leaders in the area of 

programming for deaf 

and hard of hearing 

students with special 

needs. 

Dr. David M. Denton in a portrait 

painted by Louis X. Frisino, 1953 

MSD alumnus. 

In 1982, another one of Dr. Denton’s dreams was realized 

when MSD-CC opened Phase II—a third building 

known simply as the “Main” building because so many 

of the offices needed to run the facility and programs 

at the school were, and still are, located there. Besides 

Dr. David M. Denton shares some stories with the audience 

about his time at MSD.

central administrative offices, this 

building houses a 350+ seat auditorium, 

an Olympic-size swimming 

pool, a library/media center, two 

gymnasiums, classrooms, and dormitory 

rooms. 

Over twenty-five years later, it 

is still an outstanding building with 

only one significant change—it finally 

has an official name: the David M. 

Denton Building. 

November 17 th was an amazing 

day not only for Dr. Denton 

personally but for all of MSD and 

especially the Columbia Campus. 

Family, friends, alumni, dignitaries, 

faculty, and students all attended the 

dedication ceremony of the David 

M. Denton Building. Ms. Edna 

Johnson, a former Columbia student 

and currently a teacher at the 

Frederick Campus, was the mistress 

of ceremonies of the event. Speakers 

included James E. Tucker, current 

Superintendent; Mr. Ron N. Young, 

State Senator and former Mayor of 

Frederick, and a longtime friend 

of Dr. Denton; Ms. Deborah Doe, 

former student of both campuses 

who participated in the 1982 opening 

ceremony of the Main building 

along with then Governor Harry R. 

Hughes and Dr. Denton; William J. 

Bowman, an MSD alumni and former 

Board of Trustees member; former 

Governor Harry R. Hughes, and of 

course Dr. David M. Denton. 

Several dignitaries and special 

guests were also present that day: Peggy 

Denton and several family members, 

State Delegate Steven DeBoy, State 

Delegate Guy Guzzone, former Board 

presidents Daniel W. Moylan, Richard 

Mullinix and Roland Steiner, current 

Board members Sandra Harriman and 

Laurie Corcoran, Mr. Louis Frisino, the 

artist who painted the portrait of Dr. 

Denton that now hangs in the foyer 

of his building, and Ms. Sharon West 

Continued on page 31 


A Visit to MSD by 

Government Officials 

On October 15, 2010, Kareem Dale, Associate Director, White House Office of Public 

Engagement & Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, visits the 

Frederick Campus. Senior Christy Hediger (far left) explains educational programs at 

the Maryland School for the Deaf while junior Asher Kirschbaum and Sharon West, 

Chief of Student Achievement and Professional Development Branch at the Maryland 

State Department of Education, look on. Bobbi Quinn is the interpreter. 

On October 21, 2010, Dr. Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special Education 

and Rehabilitative Services at the United States Department of Education (USDOE), 

visited Family Education and K-12 classrooms at the Frederick Campus. Senior 

Christy Hediger explains the drama curriculum in Rita Corey’s classroom to Dr. 

Posny, while Myra Foley interprets. 



Kent-McCanner Building Dedication 

The new elementary school building is now officially 

the Kent-McCanner Building. The dedication of this 

building took place on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 with 

Mrs. Kathleen Marrone and Mrs. Betty (Ackers) Michael 

as the honored guests along with Brady Perry, 5th Grader, 

as the Master of Ceremonies. Mrs. Marrone is a cousin of 

Miss Kent and a niece of Miss McCanner. 

Miss Margaret Kent worked at MSD in different positions 

for 65 years...starting off as a student teacher, as a 

teacher for 20 years, as the Principal for 27 years and then 

as a Board member for 16 years! Miss Hazel McCanner, 

Miss Kent’s aunt, also worked at MSD in various roles, 

as secretary and later Administrative Assistant to the 

Superintendent, ultimately retiring from MSD as the 7th 

Superintendent, in 1967. She continued to work until 1968 

thereby serving the school for more than 47 years. 

Thanks to Miss Kent’s vision, she developed a plan 

for the State of Maryland to purchase a ten acre section of 

the Loats Farm for the expansion of the Vocational and 

Physical Education facilities. A later acquired parcel of 

the Farm now houses the new Kent-McCanner Building. 

Mr. James E. Tucker, Ms. Mary Lynn Lally and Mr. Chad 

Baker gave short talks about the building, Miss Kent, and 

Miss McCanner. Mrs. Marrone gave a short impromptu 

speech by saying that she knows that Margaret Kent and 

Hazel McCanner are both looking at MSD with pride due 

to its many wonderful accomplishments over the years. 

The audience was surprised with a visitor, Mr. Edward 

Johnson, class of 1951, who gave personal stories about the 

wonderful things that both Miss Kent and Miss McCanner 

did for the students, back in the 1940s. The legacy of Miss 

Kent and Miss McCanner will continue to be honored and 

remembered by this new Kent-McCanner Building which 

houses the Family Education Program, the Elementary 

School, the Support Services (Health Center, Counseling 

Center and the Audiology Center) as well as a full-sized 

gymnasium and cafetorium. 

—Mary Lynn Lally, Assistant Principal, 

Elementary School, FC, marylynn.lally@msd.edu 

Mrs. Kathleen Marrone and Mrs. Betty (Akers) Michael have 

their picture taken with the portraits of Miss Hazel McCanner 

and Miss Margaret Kent. 


A new plaque for Kent-McCanner Building 

Miss Margaret Kent Miss Hazel McCanner 

MSD elementary students and staff learn about the women 

for whom the building has been named at the Kent-McCanner 

Building dedication ceremony.

NANCY L. BENTON 

Track Dedication 

Homecoming, October 16, 2010, was a special day 

as MSD honored its longtime, revered track coach 

and physical education teacher, Nancy Benton. Nancy 

passed away in 2003 but her spirit and legacy live on at 

the school. 

Over twenty members of Nancy’s family—along with 

the Homecoming crowd—came to the dedication ceremony 

of the Nancy L. Benton Track to hear and see expressions 

of love and memories from her family and friends. 

Nephew Mark Benton spoke of her love of life and her 

dedication to sports and shared how much of a wonderful 

athlete she was in her playing days. Nancy won many awards 

as a student at the Georgia School for the Deaf and then 

at Gallaudet College (now University) where she played 

basketball, volleyball, and softball. But her legacy began 

at the Maryland School for the Deaf where she coached 

Track and Field and won fourteen ESDAA (Eastern Schools 

for the Deaf Athletic Association) championships as well 

as three National Championships. Appropriately, she 

was named Deaf Prep Track and Field Coach of the Year 

in 1992. Nancy coached in the Deaflympics four times: 

in 1989, 1993, 1997, and 2001! Mark closed his speech by 

saying: “Our family has been touched by the kindness of 

the staff and students here at MSD. Your hospitality is 

greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for bestowing 

this wonderful honor on Nancy.” 

Tiffany Granfors was a member of the track team 

under Nancy’s tutelage and remembered her as a very 

special person and a great friend to many girls, including 

herself. “Nancy was always the first person on the track, 

getting it prepared for her team. She was always available 

to talk to anyone who needed to talk or be comforted. 

Nancy was clearly a teacher at heart and always made sure 

every track member received attention regardless if she 

was an elite athlete or a beginner.” Tiffany also disclosed 

that many of Nancy’s athletes who graduated from MSD 

have since become accomplished athletes and leaders, 

thanks to Nancy. 

MSD’s track will be known from this day forward as 

the Nancy L. Benton Track. When passing by the Behrens 

building, please look at the beautiful Nancy L. Benton 

plaque mounted on the side of the building. 

—Scott Morrison, Director of Physical 

Education, Summer Camps, 

Facilities and Fields, FC, scott.morrison@msd.edu 


Dedication of Nancy L. Benton Track 

Nancy’s nephew, Mark Benton (above left), addresses members 

of Nancy Benton’s family as well as the Homecoming crowd 

who gathered for the Dedication Ceremony. 

Lamar Benton (Nancy L. Benton’s brother) and his wife 

Elizabeth pose for a picture beside the Nancy L. Benton Track 

plaque which is mounted on the Behrens Building on the 

Frederick Campus. 




The Color Guard from 

Ft. Detrick in Frederick, 

MD took to the field 

before the start of the 

Homecoming game on 

October 16 th in honor of 

SFC Lance H. Vogeler 

(left), late son of Tim 

and Donna Vogeler, 

MSD employees. 

Hot Air Balloon 

We second graders happened to see a hot air balloon 

land near our school on September 24th . The men 

and women were finished riding in the hot air balloon. 

The hot air balloon had many different colors. It was 

blue, yellow, and red. The hot air balloon was big. The 

people needed to let the air out of the hot air balloon 

because they were in training. The hot air balloon pilot 

was in training to land and go up. The woman has to 

practice to fly by herself more than 100 times. Then 

she will be certified to fly alone. They cleaned out the 

air from inside the hot air balloon. The people worked 

hard to deflate the hot air balloon. Then they cleaned 

inside the basket. The men folded the hot air balloon 

and put it into the truck and they left. It was so cool to 

see how it was done. It was so cool that we stood close 

to the hot air balloon. We said, “Wow!” 

—Austin Baker, Jalina Dietz, Erica Smith, Megan 

Montoya, Crystal Salit, Thalia Guettler, 

Hanna Johnston-Shaw, Taria Pellicer, 2nd graders, FC 

Kindergarten class students and teachers are surprised 

to see the hot air balloon having landed behind the Kent- 

McCanner building (L-R) Zachary Needs, Ethan Miller, Alex 

Antal, Melanie Carter, Elizabeth Joes Fox, Teacher Aide 

Debbie Cumberland, Elijah Lassen, Arabella Bielucke, Sean 

Adamson, Ethan Guettler

Daughters of the American 

Revolution Founders’ Day 

Annually in October, the Daughters 

of the American Revolution gather 

together on Founders’ Day to recognize 

the establishment of their organization 

on October 11, 1890. The DAR State 

Regent (President) honored the Hessian 

Barracks by selecting it as the site for 

this year’s conference. Approximately 

two hundred members of the DAR and 

invited guests were in attendance on a 

rather chilly but clear day. Ceremonies 

included a Revolutionary War era color 

Although the day was rather chilly, nearly 200 people participated 

in the outdoor Founders’ Day Ceremony. 

A Visit to Bjorlee Museum 

Bjorlee Museum is an extraordinary building, not so much 

the building itself as the treasure it houses. There the 

critical artifacts which the history of deafness, deaf education, 

and deaf culture are preserved and displayed. After a 

rich discussion in Ms. Kimberly Rogers’ eighth grade class 

regarding deaf history, Ms. Rogers realized that the students 

needed to see authentic artifacts in order to be more deeply 

impacted by their place as a deaf person in today’s world. 

Mr. Larry Newman was a knowledgeable tour guide who 

introduced the students to many important historical facts 

about the Maryland School for the Deaf. They were really 

proud to be Mr. Newman’s first visitors. Ms. Rogers’ class left 

the building feeling honored to be on such historical ground 

that has been a haven for many deaf people in the past. 

—Kimberly L. Rogers, English Teacher, 

FC, kimberly.rogers@msd.edu 

guard from the Sons of the American 

Revolution whose State President was 

also in attendance. 

In addition to the DAR State Regent, 

speakers included the Maryland 

Secretary of the Department of Veterans 

Affairs, Edward Chow, who presented 

a proclamation from the Governor; 

Alderman Michael O’Conner who 

presented a proclamation on behalf of 

the City of Frederick; and Carl Robin, 

Curator of the Hessian Barracks. 


The occasion also was used to mark the 

fundraising campaign kick-off sponsored 

jointly by the Maryland School for the 

Deaf Foundation and the Friends of the 

Hessian Barracks. This initiated a severalyear 

campaign to raise money sufficient to 

develop the interior interpretative areas of 

the Barracks once the exterior renovation 

has been completed. Nearly $1,000.00 was 

raised from the single event. 

The morning’s ceremonies 

concluded with tours of the barracks 

after which all members enjoyed 

luncheon at a local restaurant. 

—Stanley C. Baker, Deputy 

Superintendent, chad.baker@msd.edu 

Color Guard, provided by the Sons of the American Revolution, 

form in front of the Frederick-Town Barracks. 

(L-R) Carey Ballard, Brett Sonnenstrahl, Mr. Larry Newman, Emily 

DeSimone, Marika Lewis, Jaqueline Boese, Lyric Eakins 



On October 26, 2010, two studentathletes 

from the University of 

Maryland women’s basketball team 

visited MSD Columbia Campus. 

Junior Yemi Oyefuwa (6’6’’) and 

Sophomore Essence Townsend (6’7’’) 

are both centers for the Terps. They 

are learning ASL at the University of 

Maryland. 

Yemi and Essence were invited to 

share their experiences playing on a 

Division I basketball team. They visited 

a few classes and then headed to the 

gymnasium for some fun basketball 

drills and a question-and-answer 

session. With a captive audience, the 

Terp duo encouraged elementary and 

middle school students to work hard 

in school, be team players, and have 

positive attitudes on and off the court. 

On November 2, 2010, several 

middle school students took a field 

trip to the Comcast Center in College 

Park, Maryland, to witness Yemi and 

Essence in action. The University of 

A Visit from the Terps 

Maryland faced Gallaudet University 

in a season opening scrimmage. 

—Shannon Ambush, 

1 st Grade Teacher, CC, 

shannon.ambush@msd.edu 

New Cafeteria in Progress 

TOWERING TERPS 

WITH THE LITTLE GIANTS 

BACK (L TO R) Yemi Oyefuma and Essence 

Townsend FRONT Jendayi Anomachi, 

Lillian Reinhardt, Maurice Taylor, Matthew 

Brillant, Leslie Munoz 

Construction is underway for the new Frederick Campus Cafeteria. The cafeteria is expected to open in the spring of 2011. 

18 THE MARYLAND BULLETIN FALL 2010

Hip Hop Celebrity 

Rocks MSD! 

MSD at Frederick Campus had no idea how much hidden 

hip hop talent roamed the halls until a special 

presentation was held on October 11th . It all began in 

a high school speech class where students discussed the correlation 

between music and dance. Because of the students’ 

interest in hip hop, contacts with dance professionals began. 

Pursuing several leads, a dance group, Danz-N-Motion 

from Germantown, Maryland, was contacted. Lauren 

Katsikopoulos, the studio owner, was intrigued that a deaf 

school was interested in the connection between hip hop and 

music. Soon a plan to motivate students and expose them to 

music and dance simultaneously expanded into a school-wide 

assembly involving third through twelfth graders. 

The assembly featured choreographer and dancer Brian 

“Bizzy” Linder who appeared in the movie Stomp the Yard 2: 

The Homecoming. Bizzy agreed to come to MSD at no charge, 

demonstrating his dancing and sharing several stories of 

his life with students. Loving dance from an early age but 

unable to afford dance lessons, Bizzy learned many of his 

initial moves as he watched dancers on TV and in movies. 

In addition, Lauren brought one of her own hip hop dance 

teachers, as well as two of her advanced students to help with 

the show. They began the show by showcasing their teacher, 

Amanda, and two advanced students, Rina and Kelsey. Next 

Bizzy enthralled the students with a very energetic dance 

that left him sweating and panting. The students showed no 

mercy and asked him to show them some more moves. At the 

Donte Thomas, Vincent Kong, Brian “Bizzy” 

Linder, Mike Haywood, Sagar Patel 


request of one student, he easily slid across the floor demonstrating 

Michael Jackson’s “Moon Walk.” The applause from 

the students for Bizzy was tremendous. After the routines, the 

students had many insightful questions for Bizzy. His most 

important message was to “never give up on your dream.” 

The final part of the assembly was an opportunity for 

students and staff to volunteer to perform their own special 

dance moves on stage. To the delight of all, students and 

staff demonstrated many unique styles. Lauren and Bizzy 

were extremely impressed by the dance talent and physical 

prowess that they witnessed. Hip hop talent roams the 

halls at MSD! 

—Lisa Gastelle, Communication 

Specialist, FC, lisa.gastelle@msd.edu 

Nadasha Harvey wows the crowd with her intricate moves. 

BACK Donte Thomas, Amanda (Danz-n-Motion teacher), 

Mike Haywood, Kelsey and Rina (Danz-N-Motion advanced 

students), Sagar Patel FRONT Vincent Kong 



Bringing Summer Camps 

into Students’ Lives 

Over the past several years, the Maryland School for the 

Deaf, Columbia Campus, has helped several students 

attend weeklong summer camps. This is a very important 

week for these students as it is often the only week during 

the summer when they get to see school friends. It is also 

a week in which they reconnect with the Deaf community. 

But perhaps most importantly, it is a fun-filled week where 

the students get to enjoy activities that many look forward 

to the entire year. 

Like all summer camps, there are fees and expenses 

that must be paid in order to attend. Many camps offer 

various types of scholarships and discounted fees but, even 

with this help, the bottom line is sometimes out of reach 

for some families. In past years, the school’s PTCA and the 

Maureen Brothers’ Trust Fund have been able to help by 

subsidizing several students’ camp costs. To contribute to 

these two sources, the school has fund raisers, but more 

is always needed. 

Thankfully, the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent 

has stepped up to meet this need. 

This organization provides 

several community agencies 

with additional 

funds to help support 

their efforts. They 

hold special fund 

raisers throughout 

the year and then, in 

the spring, select over 

twenty community 

programs for a special 

financial award. With the 

support and nomination from 

Sandra Harriman, a member of 

our school’s Board of Trustees, the school has received 

several thousand dollars over the past years from the 

Rotary Club, which has gone a long way toward sending 

many of our students to summer camps. They are 

truly an excellent organization that clearly cares about 

the community and does something every year to make 

it a better place. 

MSD-Columbia has been truly fortunate to have been 

selected by the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent for such 

recognition. 

—John Snavlin, Principal of Columbia 

Campus, john.snavlin@msd.edu 


Another Successful 

Halloween Event 

SPOOKY BUT BOOTIFUL GIRLS 

(L to R) Haley Rhyanes, Ashley Thompson, 

Simone Proby, Deidra Davis 

Where were you on Thursday, October 28, 2010? If 

you were out for a scary good time, you were likely 

at the Maryland School for the Deaf–Columbia Campus’s 

annual Halloween event. This year’s theme was “The 

Haunted House” patterned on the movie Psycho. There 

were many different rooms to scream or run your way 

through as well as an outdoor component complete with 

a very gross outhouse and a pet cemetery where the trees 

came to life. Of course, there was no shortage on body 

parts—some are even edible! 

Last year the school set a record for the number of 

Haunted House visitors. This year’s event produced another 

record: 525 tickets were sold as well as several free trips through 

the Haunted House for staff and others who volunteered 

their time that night. Altogether, more than 600 ghosts, 

monsters, princesses, and a few humans spent at least part 

of their evening at MSD-CC. In addition to the Haunted 

House, activities like bingo, crafts, games, food, vendors, 

and even Clifford the Big Red Dog rounded out the evening. 

Even at the modest, family-friendly fee that was 

charged, the event managed to raise a good amount of 

money for the PTCA and the Maureen Brothers’ Trust 

Fund which eventually cycles back to MSD children and 

families to help offset the cost of summer camps, to buy 

Thanksgiving turkeys for families, or to provide special 

resources for needy children. 

The staff members have already begun thinking of a 

new theme for the coming year. Although next fall may 

seem a long way off, the MSD-CC community is looking 

forward to another Halloween extravaganza! MB 

—John Snavlin, Principal, CC, john.snavlin@msd.edu

The Junior Bulletin Contributed by MSD Students 

A Community Service Trip to Senegal, Africa 

In July, 2010, seven MSD high school students, along with 

teachers Mr. Martin O’Brien, Ms. Stacey Farone, and 

Ms. Mary Eidukevicius, traveled to Senegal, Africa, for 

two weeks on a community service venture. The trip was 

organized through Senecorps, a volunteer group founded 

to help improve the lives of the people of Senegal. 

While in Senegal, we accomplished many amazing 

things. We taught deaf children and young deaf adults ASL 

at the newly built People’s Center, a center that educates the 

deaf and other local community members. While teaching 

there, we met many deaf people. Since there was no 

air conditioning inside the building, it was scorching hot 

teaching ASL lessons, but the deaf children were so excited 

to have us there working with them that we were able to 

tolerate the heat. 

During the prior school year we had had a variety of 

fund-raising events. We raised a total of $4000 which was 

donated to the students and teachers at the Senegal School 

for the Deaf. We also traveled to a very small village in 

rural Senegal to paint the walls of a clinic. We worked on 

this project for two days and were proud to see it finished. 

We also learned about the culture of Senegal. We participated 

in a lot of hands-on experiences with African 

art. We learned the skill of batiking, using wax to create 

designs on different things and then adding color dye to 

make purses, shirts, and large sheets. For participating in 

the program, we each received a beautifully carved African 

drum. We learned to play drums, and we also leaned some 

African dance. The food in Senegal was different. Meals 

were served on a large tray which usually had rice along 

with chicken, beef, fish, and special sauces. In Senegal we 

also had the opportunity to visit a Turtle Park. We visited 

a museum about the history of Senegal, rode horses along 

the beach, toured Goree Island (a former slave island), went 

swimming, and went to Pink Lake to dig for salt under the 

water. We also took classes in Senegalese culture at a local 

university. The boys even rode dune buggies. 

The trip taught me a lot about the people and culture 

of Senegal. I enjoyed learning about their way of life, food, 

clothing, and art. What amazed me was how happy the people 

of Senegal seemed. They did not have many things, yet they 

smiled all the time and were always very helpful. While in 

Senegal I felt I had the chance to help others less fortunate and 

to learn more about another culture. The two week trip was a 

great experience for me to see what life is like in an underdeveloped 

country. Most importantly, we had the opportunity 

to make an educational, cultural, and social connection with 

deaf people in Senegal. Senecorps did a wonderful job making 

our trip a most memorable experience. 

—Liv Polzin, Junior 

MSD Senegal Connection students completed a two-day project painting and renovating a health clinic in a rural village in 

Senegal. MSD participants pictured are (L-R) Martin O’Brien (co-founder of the Senegal Connection Project), Dalton Kramer, Kyle 

Blakley, Liv Polzin, Heather Mansfield-Hom, Eric Setzer, Shelby Thurmond, Grant Whitaker, Mary Eidukevicius KNEELING Stacey 

Farone (co-founder of the Senegal Connection Project) 



StudentBodyGovernment 

Middle School 

BACK (L-R) Advisor Terri M. Dietz, Secretary Jacqueline (Jaqqie) Boese, President Tessa Lewis, Vice-President Emily DeSimone, 

Treasurer Bailey Moers, Advisor Kimberly Rogers MIDDLE 6 th grade class representative Karita Lewis, Sergeants-at-arm Billy 

Millios, Kratt Brown FRONT 7 th grade class representative Blake Brewer, Sergeants-at-arm Davy Bahan, Anna Wood-Jacobowitz, 

Tayla Newman, and 8 th grade class representative Alexa Paulay-Simmons 

High School 

BACK (L-R) James Steingieser, 

Treasurer; Asher Kirschbaum, 

President; Shawn 

Harrington, Vice-President; 

Bethany Weiner, Secretary 

of Academic Affairs and 

Student Welfare FRONT 

Kaliah Doe, Secretary of 

Extra-Curricular Activities; 

Christy Hediger, Secretary 


Health and Safety Camp 

On October 27th, the fourth and fifth grade classes 

from the Columbia Campus went to Health and Safety 

Camp. The camp was held at the Kendall Demonstration 

Elementary School located on the campus of Gallaudet 

University. We want to share what we learned that day. 

We learned about bacteria. 

It is our enemy. We can’t 

see bacteria because they’re 

invisible to us. There are 

four ways we can defend 

our food from bacteria. The 

four important rules are 

clean, separate, cook, and 

chill. These four rules help 

us remember how to keep 

our food safe. 

The first rule is to be 

clean. We did a fun experiment 

where the instructor 

put a special powder on our 

hands and made us show 

them under blue light. We 

were able to see that our hands were not clean at all. 

They were covered in germs! Then we washed our hands 

and tried it again and all the germs were gone. That’s 

why it’s very important to be clean before and after you 

touch food. 

When we use food, we must keep the meats, vegetables, 

and fruits separated. The meats have juices that may contain 

bacteria. So if you’re cutting meat on a cutting board, you 

do not want to cut vegetables on the same board. This will 

prevent the spread of bacteria. 

The third rule is to cook. The best way to know if your 

food is done is to use a food thermometer. This way we know 


FUTURE HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTORS 

Christopher Bell, Sarah Bell, and Sara Young 

if our food is finished cooking. If our food isn’t completely 

cooked, bacteria can get into the food and make us sick. 

Over 160° is the temperature that tells us that our food may 

be ready. However, different types of food have different 

temperatures to let us know if they’re ready. 

The last rule is chill. Your refrigerator must be set 

at 40° or below in order to keep it safe from bacteria. If 

the temperature is over 40°, 

you’re in the danger zone! 

If your food is left out and 

not put into the refrigerator 

for over two hours, bacteria 

is already working to 

make you sick. Do not eat 

food that has been left out 

for long periods of time. 

Bacteria can come in many 

different shapes and sizes. 

There are many different 

kinds. Bacteria grow fast. 

After two hours, it’ll double 

its amount and spread. If 

you were to eat something 

with large amounts of bacteria, 

you are guaranteed to 

get sick. Bacteria are everywhere. You must be careful 

with food and keeping your hands clean. Bacteria are 

not only in food but in our bodies. When we sneeze or 

cough, we release germs or bacteria. 

We really had a great time at the Health and Safety Camp. 

We learned a lot, as you can see. So please, follow the four 

rules and defeat bacteria. If you want to learn more about 

health and safety or have a question, visit “Ask Karen” at 

www.AskKaren.gov. MB 

—Christopher Bell, Sarah Bell, Sara Jane Young 

(Ms. Jackie Guers’ writing class, CC) 

The Class of 1985’s 

25 th Anniversary 

TOP (L to R) Charles Curry, 

Sean Markel, Norman Bauman, 

Debbie (Anderson) Myers, 

Sean Kerins, Roger Kraft, Joey 

Baer, Steve Blumstein, Martin 

Caha, Allen Soe, David Martin, 

Kevin Folk and Tyrell Edwards 

MIDDLE Tad Robinson, Tiffany 

Williams, Bridgetta (Bourne) 

Firl, Nancy Lynn Ward, Sandy 

(Blazejak) vonGarrel, Karen 

Grays, Danielle Case FRONT 

Antines Davis, Ed Kowalski, 

Sonia Smith 


Sportscope For complete win/loss records, go to www.msd.edu 

U21 World Deaf Basketball 

Championships in Lublin, Poland 

During the summer, when most 

MSD students are taking it easy, 

working summer jobs, or reading 

their favorite authors, two of MSD’s 

most athletic student-athletes were 

participating in an elite tournament in 

Lublin, Poland. The U-21 World Deaf 

Championship teams consisted mostly 

of college-age athletes, but Claire 

Tucker and Todd Bonheyo represented 

the United States and contributed to 

their teams’ success in bringing home 

gold medals. 

The competing teams from around 

the world in order of the final rankings 

were: 

Men Women 

Gold -US Gold - US 

Silver -Lithuania Silver - Lithuania 

Bronze -Venezuela Bronze - Russia 

4 - Israel 4- Sweden 

5 - Ukraine 5- Belarus 

6 - Poland 6- Poland 

7 - Turkey 7- Ukraine 

8 - Russia 8- Ireland 

9 - Canada 

10 - Great Britain 

11 - Estonia 

12 - Sweden 

In a recent interview, Todd and 

Claire elaborated on their experiences: 

Q: Please describe the selection process 

and how you were chosen for this honor. 

TODD: I was approached by Team 

Director Mr. David Hamilton at the 

Hoy Tournament and offered a spot on 

the team after someone had backed out, 

and I grabbed the opportunity. 

CLAIRE: I was one of the twelve chosen 

players after the tryouts were completed. 


Q: Were you the only current high 

school player on the team? 

TODD: No, Raymond Nelson from 

California School for the Deaf in 

Riverside was also chosen. 

CLAIRE: There was one other high 

school player on the team, Alexandria 

Brinkley from the California School for 

the Deaf in Fremont. 

Q: Were there any other former MSD 

players on the team with you? 

TODD: Yes, Kevin Berrigan (’08), Brandon 

McMillian (’08), and Daniel Fava (’07). 

CLAIRE: Yes, Tandy Lewis (’10) and 

Andrea Amati (’08). 

Q: Explain the highlight of your experience 

as a member of the US Team. 

TODD: Winning the Gold Medal and 

exploring the city of Lublin. 

CLAIRE: Meeting people from all over 

the world! And the exciting adventures I 

experienced in the lovely city of Lublin. 

From eating, to enjoying shopping for 

inexpensive stuff, to roaming around, 

to learning about their culture and 

history. It was all a blast! 

Q: What were your statistics for your 

best game in the competition and who 

was the opponent? 

TODD: In the quarterfinals against 

Russia (which we won 128-42), I had 12 

points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. 

CLAIRE: I scored 19 points in the 

quarterfinals against Ireland whom 

we defeated 96 to 7. 

Q: Describe your overall experiences 

as a member of the team. 

Todd: The experience of being part of 

the team and the bond we formed with 

each other is something I will cherish 

for the rest of my life. 

CLAIRE: Overall the experience was 

awesome and a big confidence booster. 

There was plenty of heart, talent, and 

chemistry on the team. We were strong 

in the paint, had speed in transition, 

our shooting was solid, and there were 

few flaws in our game. The experience 

was more interesting because I played 

with girls on the U.S. team who had 

formerly been opponents from other 

high school teams (Zamica Gage from 

MSSD, Shaquana McDonough from 

The Learning Center, Ann Whited 

from Indiana, and Alexandria Brinkley 

from Fremont.) And I will reunite with 

some of these same teammates when I 

attend Gallaudet where more exciting 

experiences await. 

Q: Which was the most challenging 

opponent you faced and what was the 

outcome of this game? 

TODD: Lithuania in the championship 

game as they had some players that 

had played in the 2009 Deaflympics 

in Taipei. We defeated them 78 to 73 

for the Gold Medal. 

CLAIRE: Lithuania in the championship 

game whom we defeated 67 to 44 

for the Gold Medal. 

Q: What challenges did you face being 

one of the younger players on the 

team? Were you mentally and physically 

prepared for these challenges? 

TODD: I was overwhelmed with the 

talent we had on the team. The toughest 

part was being the point guard and 

managing the floor as the leader while 

being one of the youngest players. 

CLAIRE: I would say I was physically 

and mentally prepared as I knew a lot 

of the girls on the team; I didn’t think 

about being one of the youngest players. 

Things like that don’t really matter

when you’re on the court as all I do is 

play my game and give it my best. 

Q: What was it like facing deaf peers 

from other countries? Was there a 

communication gap? 

TODD: The teams from other countries 

were all awesome. We never had any 

problems communicating as we all 

had fun using gestures and figuring 

out what each of us was saying. 

CLAIRE: I enjoyed meeting people 

from different countries; even if 

we came from different places and 

signed in different languages, there 

was a strong bond because we were 

all deaf. 

Sportscope 

Q: Is there anything you would like 

to share with everyone related to your 

experience as a member of the U 21 

USA Deaf team? 

TODD & CLAIRE: Check out www.u21. 

deafbasketball2010.pl ! 

—Scott Morrison, FC, 

scott.morrison@msd.edu 

BACK (L-R) Britny Latham, Kiley Peterson, Andrea Amati, Alexandria Brinkley, Easter Faafiti, Ann Whited, Tandy Lewis, Shaquana 

McDonough FRONT Claire Tucker, Zamica Gage, Assistant Coach Jessica Smith, Head Coach Deborah Ayres, Trainer Ayako Yoshida, 

Leslye Kang, Jasmine Smith 

BACK (L-R) Assistant Coach Oskar Schugg, Richard Harrigan, Tyler Crace , Curtis Grice, Jr, Head Coach Keith Westhoelter, Dan 

Fava, Joe Sisco, Assistant Coach Rick Ward, Colin Whited, USADB International Writer FRONT Todd Bonheyo, Brandon McMillan, 

Kevin Berrigan, Gabriel Paulone, Alfred Wilgey, Greg White, Raymond Nelson 



This year was another milestone 

volleyball season as the Maryland 

School for the Deaf won championships 

at the Spike Out XII Tournament, 

Oriole Classic, Independent-Parochial 

Schools League (IPSL) Tournament, and 

Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic 

Association (ESDAA) Tournament. 

First, MSD sealed another Spike 

Out championship at California 

School for the Deaf, Riverside, on 

the weekend of October 2, 2010. In 

the pool play, Maryland steamrolled 

over the Arizona State School for the 

Deaf and Blind, California School 

for the Deaf at Fremont, Minnesota 

State Academy for the Deaf, and 

Ohio School for the Deaf. In the 

quarterfinals Maryland met Arizona 

again and won. In the semifinals 

High School Girls Volleyball 

Maryland beat the Texas School 

for the Deaf, 25-11, 21-25, and 15-2. 

Maryland advanced to the finals 

and played the Indiana School for 

the Deaf. In the first set Maryland 

lost, 25-17, but they fought back 

and won the second set, 25-21. The 

third set was back and forth all the 

way until Maryland finally took 

control, topped ISD, and captured 

the championship. The final score 

was 18-16, and it was Maryland’s 

fifth championship in a row. Tarja 

Lewis, Augusta Seremeth, and 

Claire Tucker were selected for the 

all-tournament team. 

At the Oriole Classic, five varsity 

and three junior varsity teams 

participated in two separate divisions. 

Both varsity and junior var- 

sity Maryland teams captured their 

respective championships. Maryland 

conquered Pallotti High School in 

the semifinals. Then, in a thrilling 

match that had the gym rocking 

and rolling, Maryland defeated New 

Life Christian School in the finals, 

25-12, 16-25, and 17-15. Tarja Lewis 

was named to the all-tournament 

team while Claire Tucker was chosen 

as the Most Valuable Player of the 

tournament. For the junior varsity, 

Maryland beat St. John’s Catholic 

Prep in the semifinals. In the finals 

they beat Model Secondary School 

for the Deaf, 25-23 and 25-9. Lauren 

Goldberg was voted Most Valuable 

Player while Ivana Genievsky and 

Corbin Register were selected for the 

all-tournament team. 

VARSITY—TOP (L-R) Head Coach Vicki Kitsembel, Liv Polzin, CJ Hirsch, Augusta Seremeth, Janna Oshman, Assistant Coach 

Patrick Rosenburg MIDDLE Sierra McConville, Tarja Lewis, Rebecca Washington, Mia Goldberg FRONT Racquel Roult, Claire 

Tucker, Chelsea Morris 


The Lady Orioles 

defended the ESDAA 

championship for the 

twelfth consecutive year. 

Maryland overpowered 

every opponent in the 

pool play and bracket 

competition. In the semifinals, 

Maryland outplayed 

the Pennsylvania 

School for the Deaf, 25-5 

and 25-4. In the finals 

Maryland knocked out 

the Western Pennsylvania 

School for the Deaf in 

straight sets, 25-18 and 

25-10. Tarja Lewis, Janna 

Oshman, Liv Polzin, and 

Claire Tucker were chosen 

for the all-tournament 

team. 

In the MD/DC 

Private School Tournament, Maryland 

was invited to participate in the eightteam 

competition. Sixth seed Maryland 

travelled to face the third seed team, 

Academy of the Holy Cross. After the 

first loss, Maryland was able to pull 

out a win in the second game but lost 

in the next two sets. 

The Orioles’ season ended with 

36 wins and 10 losses and earned 

the National Team of the Year by 

DeafDigest.com. 

On the varsity team were seniors 

Chelsea Morris, Racquel Roult, and 

Claire Tucker; juniors CJ Hirsch, 

Janna Oshman, Liv Polzin, and 

Augusta Seremeth; sophomores 

Tarja Lewis and Mia Goldberg; and 

freshman Sierra McConville. Morris, 

Roult, and Tucker will be very much 

missed for their devotion, desire, 

motivation, and loyalty. 

Under Head Coach Laura 

Lohmeyer’s direction, the junior 

varsity girls completed their season 

with an impressive record of 14-9- 

1. However, they did not make the 

bracket playoffs at Thomas Johnson’s 

Junior Varsity Tournament. The team 

consisted of juniors Kaliah Doe, Ivana 

Genievsky, Raquel Grindstaff, and 

Heather Mansfield-Hom; sophomores 

Lauren Goldberg, Corbin Register, 

and Kristin Williams; and freshmen 

Allyson Bortoletto and Christy 

Zendarski. 

The coaches were exceedingly 

proud of the volleyball program’s 

accomplishment of another great 

season. The coaches also would 

like to express a special thank you 

to the teams’ managers, Jehanne 

McCullough and Katie Zendarski. 

They would like to extend a heartfelt 

thanks to everyone for their 

help, support, and encouragement 

throughout the season, especially 

the parents. Without them, the team 

would not have garnered such success. 

Another great year in 2010/2011 

looks promising, so come on and 

cheer them next year! 

—Vicki Kitsembel, Head Coach, 

FC, vicki.kitsembel@msd.edu 

Sportscope 

TOP (L-R) Manager Katie Zendarski, Coach Laura Lohmeyer, Manager Jehanne McCullough MIDDLE 

Heather Mansfield-Hom, Allyson Bortoletto, Lauren Goldberg, Christy Zendarski, Kristen Williams, 

Corbin Register, Ivana Genivesky FRONT Raquel Grindstaff and Kaliah Doe 

Deafdigest.com 

Team of the Year 

Maryland 

First Team 

Tarja Lewis 

Claire Tucker 

National Deaf Interscholastic 

Athletics Association 

Player of the Year 

Claire Tucker 

First Team 

Tarja Lewis 

Liv Polzin 

Second Team 

Rebecca Washington 

Frederick News-Post All Area 

First Team 

Claire Tucker 

Second Team 

Tarja Lewis 

Honorable Mention 

Janna Oshman 

Liv Polzin 

Rebecca Washington 

Frederick Gazette All Area 

First Team 

Claire Tucker 


Tarja Lewis 

Washington Post 

All-Met Volleyball Team 


Claire Tucker 



High School Football 

The Maryland School for the Deaf 

football team finished its 2010 

football season with a perfect record, 

12-0. It is first time in history of deaf 

high school football that a team won 

12 games in a season. The Orioles set 

a school record for most shutouts in 

a singles season (nine) and fewest 

points allowed (41). Offensively, the 

team scored a total of 544 points and 

won 11 out of 12 games by at least 24 

points. MSD has been named the 

2010 deaf school football National 

Champions by both National Deaf 

Interscholastic Athletic Association 

(NDIAA) and Deafdigest.com. It is 

MSD‘s eighth consecutive national 

championship and the Orioles have 

gone 84-3 since 2003, which includes 

five undefeated seasons. 

The MSD football team defeated 5 

teams with .500 or better records. The 

Orioles relied heavily on special teams 

to defeat tough opponents. Against a 

strong Pallotti team with an enrollment 

of 500 students, Ethan Kramer had 87 

yard kickoff return for a score. James 

Steingieser returned a blocked field 

goal attempt for 75 yards and a score. 

In the game against St. Andrew’s of 

Wilmington, Delaware, Jesse Steingieser 

blocked a punt and MSD scored immediately 

afterwards to grab a 14-0 lead. 

MSD eventually won the game, 42-0 

and this was a huge win considering 

that St. Andrew’s finished their season 

with 6-3 record. In the “game of the 

year” against St. James, Todd Rewolinski 

blocked a punt and it helped us grab 

12-7 lead at intermission. After falling 

behind 14-12, Todd Rewolinski had 

a kickoff return for 83 yards, putting 

MSD into an excellent scoring position 

at seven yard line. The Orioles scored 

immediately to put the game away. St. 

James finished their season with 6-3 

record. Another highlight was getting 

200th win in football history over 

Baltimore Freedom Academy in the 

homecoming game. 

MSD used a combination of 

rushing and passing to throttle its 

opponents. Senior Todd Rewolinski 

missed first three games due to a knee 

injury and he still managed to run for 

over 1,000 yards. Todd had a huge 

game against St. James, running for 

202 yards on 31 carries. His 31 carries 

in that game set a new school record 

for most carries in a game. He finished 

the season with 1,013 yards and 

13 touchdowns. Senior running back 

Ethan Kramer had an outstanding 

season running for 811 yards on only 

77 carries, averaging 10.5 per carry. He 

also was the second leading scorer on 

the team with 92 points. Junior Derek 

Frank ran for 574 yards and averaged 

9.6 yards per rush. He also was the 

team leading scorer with 94 points. 

Senior quarterback Todd Bonheyo 

threw for 1,063 yards and 22 touchdown 

passes. Todd became the first 

quarterback in school history to pass 

VARSITY—BACK (L-R) Ronnie Taylor (Assistant Coach), Mike Kent (Assistant Coach), Wendell Pratt (Video Technician), Asher 

Kirschbaum, Kyle Tharpe, James Steingieser, Zachary Israel, Tyler Lewis, Derek Landis, Nick McClain, Mathis Hediger (Assistant 

Coach), Tim Taylor (Assistant Coach), Sarah Treese (Athletic Trainer) MIDDLE Jeff White (Defensive Coordinator), Darrius Doe, 

Derek Cerasoli, Nerville Nde, Cody Simmons, Zack Barron, Jesse Steingieser, Derek Frank, Brady Bartell, AJ Moody, Malik Morris, 

Andy Bonheyo (Head Coach) FRONT DeAndre Gaskins, Myles Goldberg, Todd Rewolinski, Gregg McConville, Jr., Todd Bonheyo, 

Shawn Harrington, Justin Wiener, Patrick Carson, Ethan Kramer, Eric Setzer, Brandon Williams 


for over 1,000 in consecutive seasons. 

He holds seven school records and 

they are as follows: 

• Most TD passes in season (22) 

• Most TD passes in career (41) 

• Most Completions in game (14) 

• Most Completions in season (98) 

• Most Completions in career (165) 

• Most Passing Yards in season (1,679) 

• Most Passing Yards in career (2,765) 

Senior receiver Shawn Harrington 

is definitely one of the best receivers in 

school history! His size (6’6”/205lbs) 

and his sure hands make him an outstanding 

receiver. Shawn had 28 receptions 

for 503 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Shawn holds six school records and 

they are as follows: 

• Most Receiving yards in season (835) 

• Most Receiving yards in career (1,644) 

• Most Touchdown catches in season (12) 

• Most Touchdown catches in career (27) 

• Most Receptions in season (35) 

• Most Receptions in career (85) 

For Shawn’s outstanding accomplishments, 

he received some special 

Continued to next page 

Deafdigest.com 



First Team 

Todd Bonheyo 

Shawn Harrington 

Todd Rewolinski 

Eric Setzer 

Gregg McConville, Jr. 

Brandon Williams 

Justin Wiener 

National Deaf Interscholastic 

Athletics Association (NDIAA) 



First Team 

TE/OLB – Shawn Harrington 

QB/FS – Todd Bonheyo 

RB – Ethan Kramer 

RB/LB – Todd Rewolinski 

LB/OG – Gregg McConville, Jr. 

P/K – Eric Setzer 

Second Team 

OL/DL – Justin Wiener 

DL – Brandon Williams 

OLB/WR – James Steingieser 

RB/DB – Derek Frank 


DL – Zachary Israel 

MdHigh.com 

Small Schools All-State 

Second Team 

WR – Shawn Harrington 

Sportscope 


DB – Todd Bonheyo 

RB – Todd Rewolinski 

K – Eric Setzer 

Frederick News Post 

First Team 

WR – Shawn Harrington 

Second Team 

QB – Todd Bonheyo 

RB – Todd Rewolinski 


RB – Ethan Kramer 

LB/OG – Gregg McConville, Jr. 

OG – Justin Wiener 

OLB/WR - James Steingieser 

P/K - Eric Setzer 

DL – Brandon Williams 

RB/DB – Derek Frank 

Frederick Gazette 

First Team 

TE - Shawn Harrington 

Second Team 

DB - Todd Bonheyo 

P - Eric Setzer 

LB - Todd Rewolinski 


LB - Gregg McConville, Jr. 

LB - James Steingieser 

RB - Ethan Kramer 

DB - Derek Frank 

JUNIOR VARSITY—BACK (L-R) Sarah Treese (Athletic Trainer), Cody Moers, DanJohn Kerchner, Tim Taylor (Assistant Coach), 

Mike Kent (Defensive Coordinator), Mathis Hediger (Head Coach), Jad Gore, Derek Landis, Zack Barron, Wendell Pratt (Video 

Technician) MIDDLE Jerrod Grill, Brandon Garrett, Darrius Doe, Cody Simmons, Taran Taylor, Ryan Carr, Nick McClain, Sagar 

Patel, Brady Bartell FRONT Jake Bonheyo, James Brooks, Austin Cerasoli, Nicholas Hernandez (Manager), Jake Grindstaff, 

Daphne Jones, Esteban Castro 



Varsity Football 

Continued from previous page 

honors. He was picked to play in the 

annual Baltimore Touchdown Club 

Senior all-star game. He played on 

the Metro team and his team defeated 

Baltimore team in overtime. Shawn 

was also picked on MDHigh.com 

Small Schools All-State Second Team 

and on Frederick News Post All-Area 

and Frederick Gazette first team. 

Senior linebacker Gregg 

McConville, Jr. was the team leading 

tackler with 113.5 tackles. He finished 

his career with a total of 253.5 tackles. 

Junior linebacker James Steingieser 

was the team second leading tackler 

with 73 tackles. Junior Malik Morris 

was the third leading tackler with 64 

tackles. Todd Bonheyo led the team 

with 6 interceptions and Derek Frank 

was second with 4. 

Punter and kicker Eric Setzer had 

an outstanding season, making 48 

PATs and 4 field goals (both are school 

records). His outstanding kicking 

helped put MSD in excellent field position 

for most of the time throughout 

the season. Eric owns nearly all school 

kicking records and he is considered 

as the best punter & kicker in school 

history. He also averaged 38.1 yards as 

a punter and his longest one was for 

53 yards. Eric holds 8 school records 

and they are as follows: 

• Most PATS in a game (10) 

• Most PATS in season (48) 

• Most PATS in career (86) 

• Most FGs in season (4) 

• Most FGs in career (7) 

• Longest FG (42 yards) 

• Most Points by a kicker (season) 60 

• Most Points by a kicker (career) 104 

MSD had several outstanding 

offensive and defensive linemen 

who played a huge role in our 


championship season and they are as 

follows: James Steingieser, Tyler Lewis, 

Justin Wiener, Myles Goldberg, Gregg 

McConville, Jr, Nerville Nde, Kyle 

Tharpe, Brandon Williams, Zachary 

Israel and Asher Kirschbaum. The 

offensive line was the key to MSD’s 

average of 286 rushing yards per game 

and 8.0 yards per rush. 

Senior Myles Goldberg was a 

surprise player this year. He was the 

starting center and cornerback on 

defense. Despite his light weight, he 

was able to be one of the key players 

on the team. Senior Justin Wiener was 

an outstanding pulling offensive lineman. 

He was able to pass protection 

block and take out defenders on the 

running plays. Junior receiver/strong 

safety Jesse Steingieser had a promising 

season until he went down with a 

broken fibula during 7th game. He was 

one of key players until he got injured. 

MSD will bid farewell to 14 seniors 

this season. Most of them have played 

together for a long time. They played 

together in eighth grade, and finished 

12-0 to win the Frederick Youth 

Football League championship. This 

year, they did it again. They are as follows: 

Todd Bonheyo, Patrick Carson, 

Derek Cerasoli, DeAndre Gaskins, 

Myles Goldberg, Shawn Harrington, 

Ethan Kramer, Derek Landis, Nick 

McClain, Gregg McConville Jr., Todd 

Rewolinski, Eric Setzer, Justin Wiener, 

and Brandon Williams. 

MSD’s championship season was 

made possible with outstanding teaching 

from our coaching staff, Jeff White 

(defensive coordinator), Ronnie Taylor 

(assistant head coach), Mathis Hediger 

(JV head coach), Mike Kent (JV defensive 

coordinator) and Timothy Taylor. 

—Andy Bonheyo, Head Coach, 

andrew.bonheyo@msd.edu 

Flag Football 

BACK (L-R) Assistant Coach Rick Baker, Head Coach Tony Ortiz, Assistant Coach 

Tammy Pellicer MIDDLE Andre Pellicer, Skyler Renfrew, AJ Baker, Kieran Adamson, 

Zion Ortiz BOTTOM Sean Adamson, Seth Issac, Dre Burke, Alex Antal

Fall Cheerleaders 

TOP Brittney Little MIDDLE Coach Janice Z. Randall, Rachael 

Richart, Kali Doubledee, Assistant Coach Cheri Winnings 

BOTTOM Noelle Robinson, Skye Dreumont, Cahlah Chapman 

David M. Denton 

Continued on page 13 

from the Maryland State Department 

of Education were just some of the 

special guests who attended. 

Each speaker added a little to 

the legacy of Dr. Denton, who spoke 

so fondly of all of his time and involvement 

at MSD—how he secured 

the land for the campus and how 

he worked with various legislators 

and Governor Harry R. Hughes to 

make this dream happen. Much of 

his speech, though, focused on his 

relationship with all of the children 

that he had the pleasure to know. It 

was those memories that seemed 

strongest as he recalled several interactions 

with students—simple on 

the surface, yet so dear to his heart 

as it represented the connection he 

so often made with the students. At 

the end of the ceremony, several 

Columbia students were thrilled to 

meet him. They talked later about 

how they had the opportunity to interact 

with the man whose name and 

portrait are now part of Columbia’s 

visible history. 

Clearly, many deserving things 

were said about Dr. Denton during 

the ceremony, but perhaps it was the 

time before and after the ceremony 

Sportscope 

Senior Skye Dreumont, junior Rachael Richart, 

sophomores Cahlah Chapman, Kali Doubledee, and 

Noelle Robinson, and freshman Brittany Little constituted 

the fall 2010 varsity cheerleading squad. Coach Janice 

Randall and her assistant Cheri Winnings were energized to 

see the dedicated and hardworking cheerleaders practicing 

their cheers, chants, and dance moves daily. Their sideline 

moves thrilled many a crowd with students often joining 

in from the stands. 

During MSD’s Homecoming celebration, Kali and Skye 

did a fantastic rendition of the Orioles song at the Friday 

Night Pep Rally in Benson Gym as well as at halftime of the 

football game on Saturday. Brittany served as the drummer 

and pounded out the beat as the girls signed the song to 

the crowd. Fans burst out in cheers and waves each time 

the song was performed. 

On spooky October 30, the varsity cheerleading squad 

traveled to the Model Secondary School for the Deaf to 

fire up fans as MSD football players battled and defeated 

the Model Eagles. The MSD crowd, there in full force, was 

treated to the cheerleaders’ amazing show. 

Senior night was held November 12 where our lone 

senior, Skye Dreumont, was honored for her commitment 

to the Orioles squad. Kali gave a short speech on Skye’s 

contributions over the course of her cheerleading days. 

She will be missed by her coaches and fellow cheerleaders. 

Coach Randall would like to thank Cheri Winnings 

for an outstanding job as her assistant and for devoting 

her time and energy to making the cheerleaders amazing! 

—Coach Janice Randall, FC, janice.randall@msd.edu 

that is the true testimony to who 

Dr. Denton is. Person after person 

wanted time with him or a picture 

with him and he with them. As always, 

he made one feel like he was the 

fortunate one to be in your company 

and not the other way around. Dr. 

Denton will always be remembered 

for the things that he accomplished, 

but perhaps more importantly, he 

will also be remembered for who he 

was and is as a man—one who truly 

cared and always tried to make a 

difference. 

—John Snavlin, Assistant 

Superintendent/Principal, CC, 

john.snavlin@msd.edu 



Middle School Football 

TOP (L-R) Zeke Martinez, Bailey Moers, Billy Millios, Davy Bahan, Austin Latin MIDDLE Head Coach Jerry Mabashov, Jason 

Dunham, Jiang McConville, Kratt Brown, Carey Ballard, Jake Bortoletto, Egan Seremeth, Assistant Coach Rex Moers BOTTOM 

Blake Brewer, Daren Tharpe, Tristan Hower, Maverick Obermiller, Brett Sonnenstrahl 

Youth Football 

TOP (L-R) Head Coach Robert Lewis, Assistant Coach Andrew Pellicer, Quincy Johnson, Jazob Monroe-Caldwell, Cassidy Perry, 

Dayton Newman, Maguire Hause, Rory Dietz, Assistant Coach Jason Dietz BOTTOM Cole Moran, Taria Pellicer, Johnny Werner, 

Rory Lewis, Brady Perry, Jason Werner, Celso Martinez, Austin Adamson 


Middle School Varsity Volleyball 

Sportscope 

BACK (L-R) Assistant Coach, Ursa Rewolinski, Tayla Newman, Alexa Paulay-Simmons, Monique Johnson, Marika Lewis, Carolyn 

Wiley, Jacqueline (Jaqqie) Boese, Head Coach Nancy Lewis BOTTOM Brooke Bonheyo, Emily DeSimone, Tessa Lewis, Eve 

Wood-Jacobowitz 

Middle School Junior Varsity Volleyball 

BACK (L-R) Head Coach Tamara Majocha, Isabella Walker, Madison Givens, Malika Canada, Tamia Harris, Karita Lewis, Gillian 

Lawrence, Lyric Eakins, Assistant Coach Terri Monroe Dietz BOTTOM Liora Selzer, Anna Wood-Jacobowitz, Seanna Guettler, 

Kaitlyn Weeks, Juliana Bahan, Alina Kenina, Kaela Luttrell 



2010 Summer Camps at MSD 

Much appreciation from the 2010 Summer Camp 

Director Scott Morrison goes to everyone who helped 

make the camp a success. Mark Denton and Kim Rogers 

conducted daily fun learning activities during morning elementary 

reading and math classes attended by nine students: 

Kieran Adamson, Buzzy Fortney, Crystal Hirsch, Crystal 

Salit, Sascha Tansky, Marisa Montoya, Megan Montoya, 

Leah Kaftan, and Amo Harmon-Konkel. 

Tom Korn, Cheri Winnings, and Kelly Green supervised 

the afternoon camp activities as well as the second week of 

Adventure Camp. Amy Mowl, Colleen Caverly, and Shayna 

Rose Unger ran the girls’ triple threat basketball camp. 

Student assistants were Tarja Lewis, and Mia Goldberg. Jim 

DeStefano and Peter Badavas coordinated the boys’ triple 

threat basketball camp. Student assistants were James and 

Jesse Steingieser and Cody Simmons. Campers are identified 

in each camp picture. 

Tim Vogeler supervised the campers that used the MSD 

swimming pool, and Laura Lohmeyer helped to plan the 

one-week adventure camp daily activities which involved five 

campers. And last but not least, Lisa Houck supported the effort 

with her feedback and advice in planning which camps to offer. 

—Scott Morrison, Director of Summer 

Camps, FC, scott.morrison@msd.edu 

TOP (L-R) Head Coach James DeStefano, Student Assistant James Steingieser, Jake Grindstaff, Davy Bahan, Baily Moers, Cody 

Moers, Jade Gore, Jake Bonheyo, Corey Ballard, Student Assistants Jesse Steingieser and Cody Pauley-Simmons, Assistant Coach 

Peter Badavas BOTTOM Eric Starks, Brady Perry, Jake Bortoletto, Hakeem Schiller, Jiang McConville, Jaboz Monroe-Caldwell, 

Brett Sonnenstrahl, Kieran Adamson 

TOP (L-R) Head Coach Amy Mowl, Student Assistant Tarija Lewis, Student Assistant Mia Goldberg, Gemma Mochi, Tessa Lewis, 

Monique Johnson, Lauren Goldberg, Bridget Berrigan, Assistant Coach Shayna Rose Unger, Assistant Coach Colleen Caverly. 

BOTTOM Katelyn Weeks, Anna Rose Wood- Jacobowitz, Talia Newman, Eve Wood- Jacobowitz, Emily DeSimone, Brooke Bonheyo, 

Rachel Soudaroff 


QUARTERBACK CHALLENGE 

MSD quarterback Todd Bonheyo 

was recognized as one of the 

outstanding high school quarterbacks 

by the Maryland Football Coaches 

Association. During each Baltimore 

Ravens’ home game this season, the 

Quarterback Challenge showcased 

two different top quarterbacks from 

different high schools in Maryland. On 

December 5 th , quarterbacks from MSD 

and Forest Park high school competed 

against each other during halftime of 

the Sunday Night NFL game between 

the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh 

Steelers. The object of the competition 

was to complete the longest pass. Derek 

Frank and Shawn Harrington were 

Todd’s receivers at the competition 

Elementary Academic/Fun camp 

(L-R) Leah Kaftan, Crystal Salit, Buzzy Fortney, Sasha Tansky, Amo Harmon- Konkel, 

Kieran Adamson (KODA), Crystal Hirsch, Staffers Mark Denton and Kim Rogers NOT 

PICTURED Marisa and Megan Montoya 

Sportscope 

which was won by Forest Park high 

school by five yards. Moments after the 

competition, a picture was taken to commemorate 

the event: Baltimore Ravens 

cheerleaders, student-athletes and head 

coach from Forest Park high school and 

MSD participants, Todd Bonheyo (#7), 

Derek Frank (#9), Shawn Harrington 

(#81) and head coach Andy Bonheyo. 

MSD quarterback Todd Bonheyo 

throws deep down the field in one of 

his attempts. 

Photos Courtesy Baltimore Ravens 



Andy Bonheyo’s 

25 Years of Coaching 

MSD head coach Andy Bonheyo is delighted to see many of his 

current and former football players moments after his arrival 

at the Benson Gym. 

On Saturday, November 13, a 

twenty-five-year anniversary 

ceremony honoring Andy Bonheyo 

for a stellar coaching career took place. 

Family members, coaching staff, players, 

and friends converged at the Benson 

Gym to pay tribute to MSD football 

coach Andy Bonheyo. 

Andy ’s family members flew 

in from Alabama, California, and 

Minnesota to participate in the celebration. 

Past and present football players 

and friends also attended the event, 

recognizing Coach Bonheyo’s incredible 

twenty-five years of coaching with 

a standing ovation. The crowd reaction 

was unforgettably electric, sending 

goose bumps throughout the room. 

It was an overwhelming but touching 

moment for Coach Bonheyo. 

Master of Ceremonies Dr. Jeff 

Lewis gave opening remarks and then 

introduced a long list of speakers. 

The Bonheyo family members spoke 

proudly of how Andy became involved 

in football, his playing history, his ambition, 

and his perspective on life. A video 


of Mel Vigesaa, 

Coach Bonheyo’s 

flag football coach, 

was shown. Then 

Walter Ripley, 

Andy’s brotherin-law 

, told the 

spectators a few 

stories of Andy 

as a member of 

the Minnesota 

State Academy 

for the Deaf football 

and basketball 

teams and 

Gallaudet football 

team. Andy’s 

coaching history 

began twenty-five 

years ago when Dr. 

Frank Turk, then 

Model Secondary 

School for the 

Deaf ’s (MSSD) Dean of Students, 

hired a young and inexperienced 

Coach Bonheyo as head coach. Dr. 

Turk gave an impressive speech about 

how Coach Bonheyo was transformed 

from a novice into the fine coach he 

is today. He also told Coach Bonheyo, 

“You are the greatest coach in the history 

of Deaf America!” A short letter 

from Bob Westermann was displayed. 

Rocco DeVito and Richard Pelletier 

described Coach Bonheyo’s MSSD era. 

Renny Harvard and Mathis Hediger 

spoke about Coach Bonheyo’s coaching 

era at Texas School for the Deaf. 

Dr. Lewis and Superintendent James 

E. Tucker shared the MSD era with 

the spectators. MSD’s current football 

team captains, Todd Bonheyo, Shawn 

Harrington, Gregg McConville, Jr., 

and Justin Wiener, along with all past 

and present football players, presented 

Coach Bonheyo with a football they had 

all signed. The ceremony ended with 

a reception of refreshments, posted 

articles, and a video. 

Coach Bonheyo is the embodiment 

of what a football program 

should be. For the past twenty-five 

years his blood and sweat have literally 

graced the football field as he 

has made an impact on many young 

players’ lives. He has provided them 

with life-changing opportunities in 

sports, in school, and in life. 

Twenty-five years of memories of Coach 

Bonheyo will be treasured by generations of 

student-athletes and friends. MB 

—Vicki Kitsembel, Physical 

Education Teacher, FC, 

vicki.kitsembel@msd.edu 

Andy Bonheyo shares his thoughts on his 25 years of coaching and words of 

appreciation to his family, football players, and friends.

MSD Foundation Earns Over $29,000 

from 7th Annual Golf Tournament 

Community News 

The Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation hosted 

its 7th Annual Golf Tournament on September 24, 2010, 

Drive, Closest to the Pin, Beat the Pro, Basketball, and 

Hole-in-One contests. 

at the Hollow Creek Golf Club in Middletown, Maryland. Two lucky students from MSD, Jonathan Clapp and Chad 

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, golfers, and volun- Unger, volunteered to assist at the tournament and were kept 

teers, the Foundation earned a net profit of over $29,000. busy collecting money and monitoring the various contests. 

All proceeds were added to 

The MSD Foundation extends 

the MSD Foundation’s fund 

a big thank you to these two 

to benefit the students of 

students for their outstanding 

the Maryland School for the 

support! 

Deaf. The money will help 

At the end of the eighteen 

provide scholarships, awards, 

holes, golfers retreated to the 

computer technology, learn- 

clubhouse to enjoy some baring 

enhancements, and other 

bequed chicken and pork with 

worthy projects in support of 

all the “fixins.” Awards were 

MSD students and staff. 

presented to the top three 

Shockley Honda was the 

teams. A raffle, door prizes, 

Presenting Sponsor for the 

and auctions kept the crowd 

tournament and signed up 

excited throughout the event. 

three teams to compete. They provided the golfers’ goodie Plans are already in the works for next year’s tourna- 

bags, bottled water, and insulated lunch bags, and also ment, which will be held at the Hollow Creek Golf Club in 

sponsored the Hole-in-One contest, offering a brand new Middletown on Friday, September 16 

Honda CR-Z. The Shockley family has been a long-time 

supporter of the Maryland School for the Deaf, and Shockley 

Honda has been a sponsor of this golf tournament every year. 

The Z, a.k.a. ZVRS, was a Gold Sponsor for the tournament. 

As a new sponsor this year, they were a welcome 

addition to this fun and exciting 

event. Silver Sponsors included Purple 

Communications, First United Bank & 

Trust, Sorenson Video Relay Service, 

Default Resource, and The Lisa Higgins 

Hussman Foundation. These sponsors 

all entered teams in the tournament, 

and many enthusiastic golfers enjoyed 

the day. 

The golfers enjoyed a hot breakfast 

in the clubhouse before heading outside 

for a little practice before the 10 

a.m. shotgun start. Flamers Charbroil 

of Hagerstown provided delicious hot 

dogs and hamburgers, while members 

of the Air Force Medical Logistics 

Office from Fort Detrick grilled and 

served them. Throughout the day, the 

golfers participated in contests along 

the course, including Putting, Longest 

th , 2011. Please contact 

Gwena West, the MSD Foundation’s Program Coordinator, 

at Gwena.MSDF@comcast.net or (cell) 240-394-0330 for 

further information. MB 

—Gwena West, MSD Foundation’s Program 

Coordinator, gwena.msdf@comcast.net 

Blaine Smith (left), who played on one of the Shockley Honda teams, is congratulated by MSD 

Foundation board member Fred Weiner. Blaine was awarded a trophy for “Longest Drive.” 


Alumni News By Terri M. Dietz, ‘99, Editor, terri.dietz@msd.edu 


1961—Barbara J. (Minnigh) Fair, 67, of Cumberland, Maryland, died on Sunday, July 25, 2010, 

at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center. Barbara was born on October 1, 1942, in 

Cumberland. The daughter of Eugene and Esther (Smith) Minnigh, Mrs. Fair especially enjoyed 

being a homemaker and a seamstress working from home, cheering on the Orioles baseball 

team, and spending time with her loved ones. She was also a member of the Goodfellowship 

Club Ladies Auxiliary. Surviving her are her husband of 43 years, Thomas Alvin Fair, Sr. (who 

also graduated from MSD in 1961); son, Thomas Alvin Fair, Jr., and his wife Tara; sister, Cathy 

Meekins (MSD class of ‘81) and her husband Donald (class of ‘79); brother, Richard Minnigh, 

and his wife Crystal; beloved grandchildren, Gage Fair, Kaylee Belle Fair; and many nieces and 

nephews. The funeral took place at the Scarpelli Funeral Home in Cumberland, and interment 

was at St. Mary Cemetery. 

1971—Randi Smiley-Kreiner, 57, died on August 6, 2010, at Treasure Coast Hospice in Fort 

Pierce, Florida from myelofibrosis, a rare form of leukemia. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, she 

called Port St. Lucie, Florida home for 12 years before her death. Surviving Randi is her husband 

of seven years, Frank Kreiner of Delray Beach; mother, Patricia Basore of Greenville, N.C.; 

daughters, Angela Mills of Reno, Nevada, and Carlene Slusher from Chester, California; sons 

Steven Mills of Port St. Lucie and Chester Keller of Colorado Springs, Colorado; stepdaughter, 

Krystal Sigueroa of Clearwater, Florida; sisters, Toni Pals, Debbie Buaghan, and Joni DeAngelis 

from Greenville; and eight grandchildren. Randi was preceded in death by her son, Daniel Mills. 

The memorial service took place on August 8, 2010, at Treasure Coast Deaf Church in Port St. 

Lucie. Memorial contributions may be made to the following address: Treasure Coast Hospice, 

1201 S.E. Indian St., Stuart, Florida, 34997 or sent to Randi’s family at The Basore Family, 1931 

Tara Court #103, Greenville, NC, 27858 to be donated to the local animal shelter because of 

Randi’s great love for animals. 

2006—Andre Emmanuel Watley, 23, died on September 16, 2010, in Washington D.C. from 

injuries received in a car accident. Andre was born and raised in the Washington D.C. area, 

attended the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, and then went to the Maryland 

School for the Deaf, Columbia, during his middle school years; he later transferred to the 

Frederick Campus. He was a well-known basketball player during his time at MSD. Andre 

also worked at Shoppers Food Warehouse. He remained at MSD until his senior year when 

he transferred to Friendly High School. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Content 

and Dean Douglas; grandparents Joyce and Robert Love El; uncle Lamont Hubbard; aunts 

Barbara Jones and Patricia Bush; father Andre Watley; sisters Myluv Hubbard, Shaniqua Evans, 

Andrea Martin, Tynecia Toopet, Ramona Misir, and Elizabeth Deamaqu; brothers Helbert 

Morrison and James Stowe. The memorial service took place at Johnson Memorial Baptist 

Church in Washington D.C., and the burial was at Washington National Cemetery. 

2004—Christopher Corrigan, starred 

in The Black Sand, a movie directed and 

produced by Mark Wood. The movie was 

shown at the Maryland School for the 

Deaf on September 11 th . It attracted a full 

house of moviegoers out of curiosity and 

support for one of MSD’s own employees, 

Joette Paulone (right), who also acted in 

the film. Some of the proceeds went to the 

8 th grade class’s fundraising efforts to go to 

New York City this upcoming spring. Way 

to go, Christopher and Joette! MB

By Frank By By Christy Albert Schwartz, Lee Hediger, Tharpe his son Senior III, Senior 

Van Marissa Alden Brewer, Diane Clopper, ‘71 ‘01 

Marissa Clopper, an esteemed 

MSD alumna, graduated in 

2001 and is now a licensed 

Physician Assistant. She became deaf 

when she was just a few weeks old 

because of the antibiotics given to her 

due to her premature birth, and she 

enrolled in MSD’s pre-kindergarten 

program in 1987. 

One of Marissa’s fondest memories 

of MSD was the time when she met 

prominent members of the science 

community at a space exploration 

conference at American University. 

She met Bill Nye the Science Guy and 

Buzz Aldrin, the second man to set 

foot on the moon. Marissa also recalls 

going to New York City for a weekend 

with Ms. Lorraine Stoltz’s art history 

class to explore the art museums. 

When she was in high school, she 

took Advanced Placement English 

under our now-principal, Kevin 

Strachan, and remembers attending 

several Shakespeare performances. “A 

Midsummer Night’s Dream” was one 

of her favorites. 

Marissa’s role models include 

both of her parents and her mater- 

nal grandfather. Her parents are 

her main source of encouragement, 

always telling her to do her best, to 

keep trying, and never to give up. 

Marissa’s grandfather suffered from 

heart problems and would always 

tell her about them. He was also the 

one who gave her books 

about the human body. 

Her personal experiences 

also piqued her 

interest in the field of 

medicine as she had 

a twin brother who 

passed away due to 

underdeveloped lungs 

when they were just 

seven months old. 

After graduating 

from MSD, Marissa 

went on to the Rochester 

Institute of Technology 

(RIT) for four years 

where she graduated in 2005. During 

her years at RIT and after graduating, 

Marissa took several classes 

at Frederick Community College 

and Hood College in Frederick, 

Maryland. In 2008, Marissa went to 

Marissa Clopper in 2010 

Marissa D. Clopper 

as senior in 2001 

MSD Alumni Profile 

Philadelphia University where she 

would be a student for two years. As 

an undergraduate student, Marissa 

majored in Biotechnology earning 

a Bachelor of Science degree, and 

as a graduate student, she majored 

in Physician Assistant Studies and 

earned a Master of 

Science degree. 

Though she was 

raised by hearing parents, 

the major barrier 

Marissa faced in college 

and still faces in her life 

today is communication 

with hearing individuals. 

Sometimes she 

finds herself frustrated 

when she is not able to 

understand others or 

when she is not able to 

make herself understood 

to them. Marissa uses 

interpreters, especially in group settings. 

Because of her deafness, some 

people in her field doubt Marissa’s 

ability to perform her job. But to this 

day, Marissa continues to prove those 

people wrong. 

To all students at MSD, Marissa 

says, “Go for your dreams and never 

let anything hold you back. Do the 

best you can and enjoy what you 

do.” And for the students who are 

interested in the field of medicine, 

she recommends, “Explore the various 

professions in health care such 

as audiology, physical therapy, and 

nursing. Ask medical professionals 

and students, especially those who are 

deaf or hard-of-hearing, about their 

experiences and how they achieved 

their dreams. Check out the Association 

of Medical Professionals with Hearing 

Loss at www.amphl.org. It is full of 

information for those who are interested 

in working in one of the health 

professions and also a wonderful tool 

for networking and advocacy.” MB 


BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

Benjamin Bahan, Ph.D. 

President 

Cynthia Neese-Bailes, Ph.D. 

Vice-President 

Charles E. Poyer Jr. 

Secretary 

William J. Bowman 

Treasurer 

Connie Briscoe-Woodruff 

Sheryl B. Cooper, Ph.D. 

Laurie Corcoran 

John Ertel, Ph.D. 

Ernest Hairston, Ph.D. 

Roslyn Hannibal-Booker 

Sandra N. Harriman 

Ricardo A. Hernandez, Ph.D. 

Robin Kittleman 

David Martin 

Angela McCaskill, Ph.D. 

Edgar B. Palmer 

Barbara Raimondo, Esquire 

Khadijat Rashid, Ph.D. 

Heather Zeolla 

Executive Committee 

Benjamin Bahan, Ph.D., Chair 

Cynthia Neese-Bailes, Ph.D. 

Charles Poyer, Jr. 

William J. Bowman 

John Ertel, Ph.D. 

Roslyn Hannibal-Booker 

Barbara Raimondo, Esquire 

ADMINISTRATION 

James E. Tucker 

Superintendent 

Jennifer Lake 

Executive Associate 

Gay Fout 

Secretary 

Stanley C. Baker 

Deputy Superintendent 

Linda Stull 

Assistant Curator 

Susanna Oliver, DD 

Compliance Officer 

Nancy Cronk-Walker 

Individual Education Program 

Coordinator 

Larry Newman 

Publications Specialist 

Celinda Rother 

Agency Grant Writer 

Erin Buck 

Outreach Coordinator 

Carl A. Robin 

Curator, Hessian Barracks 

Anny Currin 

Director of Personnel Services 

Cyndi Fries 

Assistant Personnel Director 

Daniel Hicks, Kay Spriggs, 

Toye Stokes 

Personnel Associates 

Dianne Ward 

Office Clerk 

Suzanne Schwertman 

Chief Operating Officer 

David Gardner 

Fiscal Officer 

Kerrie Koopman 

Procurement Officer 

Kathleen Charles 

Agency Buyer 

Debra A. Brinker 

Business Services Manager 

Terry Spesick 

Supply Officer 

Trudy King 

Fiscal Accounts Clerk Supervisor 

Russell Kestenbaum 

Accounts Payable Clerk 

Joseph Anthony 

Deputy Chief Operating Officer 

H. Scott Hughes, Sedrick Dwyer, 

David G. Inouye, Alex Simmons 

Computer Network Specialists 

Paul Ritenour, Sr. 

Data Processing Analyst 

FAMILY EDUCATION/ 

EARLY CHILDHOOD 

DEPARTMENT 

Maryann Swann 

Director 

Lori Moers 

Deborah Marquez 

Supervising Teachers 

Cheri Dowling 

Partners for Success Coordinator 

FACULTY 

Janell Bunn-Verdin 

Nancy Barish 

Katherine Duck 

Sarah Fairbanks 

Adrienne King 

Robyn Lafferty 

Amy Lindley 

Jolene Whaley Luttrell 

Patricia Muldowney 

Jeannine Ranniger 

Mary Ann Richmond 

Louise Rollins 

Patricia Timm 

Diane Vari-Alquist 

Regina Wade 

Jennifer Willis 

TEACHER AIDES 

Sheryl Berrigan 

Yolette Cohen 

Natalie Grindstaff 

Dianne Kirby 

Carolyn Markel 

Carrie Shortt 

Tammy Smith 

COLUMBIA CAMPUS 

John K. Snavlin 

Assistant Superintendent/ 

Principal 

Nancy Downey 

Assistant Principal 

Richard Ballard 

Assistant Principal of Middle 

School/Enhanced Services 

/Dean of Students 

Iantha Dean 

Director of Transportation 

Jennifer Mertes 

Director of Communication Services 

Jenny Perry 

Curriculum Coordinator 

Jenny Limoges 

IEP Coordinator/Librarian 

Dane Colbert 

Enhanced Program Coordinator 

Mary Ann Kinsella-Meier 

AuD, CCC-A 

FEECD Audiologist 

Andrew Francis, Kevin Sanderlin 

Student Life Supervisors 

Verna Kramer 

Administrative Assistant 

JoAnn Kaulfuss, Micia White 

Secretaries 

Francis Lanasa 

Receptionist 

FACULTY 

Michelle Ailstock 

Shannon Ambush 

Stella Antonio-Conley 

Suzanne Behun 

Lori Britt 

Dean Buck 

Joyce Cohen-Scher 

Jody College 

Megan Conaghan 

Pierre Dazé 

Anne Drechsler 

Joanne Geppert 

John Gibson 

Jackie Guers 

Sabrina Harberts 

Joanne Hardesty 

Barbara Herschman 

Elizabeth Hill 

David Hirsch 

Holly Hoglund 

Janelle Johnson 

Timothy Karman 

Russell Koenig 

Shelby Leilich 

Ashley Levy 

Susan Maginnis 

Shelly McCully 

William Pond 

Elizabeth Reed 

Brandi Seaman 

Lisa Skaggs 

Jennifer Verner 

TEACHER AIDES 

Dolores Abbott-Dixon 

Carol Baker 

Pamela Campbell 

Karen M. Coale 

Esther Crowder 

Peggy Dell 

Donna Derkowski 

Deborah Doe 

Michael Dunham 

Lashonda Gibson 

Karen Golshiri 

Niki Jones 

Kevin Hall 

Christine Lawn 

Stephen Maloney 

Mary Jo Palmisano 

Rosa Portillo 

Cheryl Rasel 

Alma Rivera 

Leslie Schilling 

Teresa Scotton 

Mary Skinner 

Damon Sparrow 

Karen Steele 

Jenica vonGarrel 

Karen Whittaker 

Justin Zeno 

Jeanine Zwick 

STUDENT LIFE COUNSELORS 

Jeff Blanco 

Karen Carragher 

Stephen Covington 

Eric Dearborn 

Mark DeSantis 

Lisa Drakes 

Noa Dvir 

Heijin Eyer 

Sentera Frazier 

Debra Goldberg 

Jason Johnson 

Shannon Smith 

Clarence Taylor III 

Rachel Volmar 

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES 

Peggy Bruce 

Rudolph E. Gawlik 

Catherine Rader 

Family Services Specialists 

Caitlin Blake 

Lawrence Cohen 

Christopher Duck 

Behavior Specialists 

Karin Polzin 

Team Coordinator 

MEDICAL 

Edward Cahill, M.D. 

Patricia Citro, R.N. 

Supervisor 

Constance Berlin, M.T. 

Stephanie Leake, R.N. 

Ruth Nelson, O.T.R. 

Elaine Persons, R.P.T. 

Kathleen Waddell, R.N. 

Pauline Yeargain, R.N. 

MENTAL HEALTH 

CONSULTANTS 

Peter Coleman, M.D. 

Stephen Colyer, Ph.D. 

Joseph Poirier, Ph.D. 

PLANT OPERATIONS 

AND MAINTENANCE 

Thomas LeQuire 

Maintenance Supervisor 

John Cash, Sr, 

Supervisor 

Connie Pierro, 

Housekeeping Supervisor 

Catherine Baptiste 

Lewis Barnhart 

Adolfo Ceballos 

James Ellis 

Brenda Gill 

Donald Girodo 

Luis Pages 

George Ruhl 

Bonita Thompson 

Vincent Velotta 

NUTRITIONAL SERVICES 

Latrina Wallace, Manager 

Angela Ali-Taha 

Ronald Gibson 

Sabrina Gladden 

Dawn Goetz 

Edith Herrera 

Pamela Presley 

Steve Ray

FREDERICK CAMPUS 

Lisa Houck 

Assistant Superintendent/ 

Principal 

Lori Bonheyo 

Special Assistant to Principal 

Christopher Kaftan 

Director of 

Curriculum & Instruction 

Marjorie Sonnenstrahl 

Student Support Services 

Theresa Napoli 

Admission and 

Psychoeducational Testing 

Lisa Brinks 

Assistant Principal, Career and 

Technology Education; 

Director, Deaf Students with 

Emotional Disturbance 

Ann Hirsch, 

Mary Lynn Lally, 

G. Kevin Strachan 

Assistant Principals 

Doris Millios 

Supervising Teacher, 

Middle School 

Sara D. Ryan, AuD, CCC-A 

Director of 

Communications 

Gussie Belisario, Elizabeth Demazo, 

Paige Gardner, Lisa Gastelle, 

Stacie Warner 

Speech Language Pathologists 

Scott Morrison 

Director of Physical Education, 

Summer Camps, 

Facilities and Fields 

Andrew Bonheyo 

Athletic Director 

Marsha Flowers 

Elementary Librarian/ 

Special Projects Coordinator 

Rex Moers 

Dean of Students 

Francis Cooney, 

Susan Luttrell-Jordan, 

Keri Mays, Linda Stoltz 

William P. Thompson, Jr. 

Student Life Counselor 

Supervisors 

Winifred Pryor 

Student Life Counselor 

Secretary 

Donna Vogeler 

Student Database Manager 

Kathleen Baker, 

Carolyn Hediger, Yvonne Lease, 

Wanda Naylor, Amelia Pro 

Secretaries 

FACULTY 

Frank Allnutt 

Bonnie Arnold 

Lynn Ballard-Weiner 

Sheri Bergman 

Randee Bickford 

Sherry Bradley-Koo 

Van Brewer 

SisaKoth Chhun 

Leigh Clapp 

Rita Corey 

Mark Denton 

Stacey Farone 

Andrea Feldman 

Peter Feldman 

Angie Geffen 

Deanna Gibson 

Nicole Goldberg 

Cassandra Harris 

Mathis Hediger, II 

B. Sue Hill 

Tara Holloway 

Kamilla Jakubowyc 

Edna F. Johnston 

Joseph Jordan, Jr. 

Cathleen Kettler 

Cara Keith 

Vicki Kitsembel 

Bonnie Kramer 

Kerri Lawler-Davis 

Robert Lewis 

Laura Lohmeyer 

Jerry Mabashov 

Eric Mansfield 

Janet Mertz-Witczak 

Connie Nagy 

Martin O’Brien 

Cameron Overs 

Michelle Palmer-Morales 

Amy Mowl 

Judy Pfau 

Dina Raevsky 

Janice Randall 

Jane Redding 

Christopher Reineck 

Sheri Richmond 

Kimberly Rogers 

Abbey Roin-Thigpen 

Patrick Rosenburg 

Paul Roult 

Adrienne Rubenstein 

Maria Ruiz 

Dorothy Rust 

Laura Salak 

A. Tim Scanlon 

Kathleen Setzer 

Jason Stewart 

Cynthia Stieffenhofer 

Lorraine Stoltz 

Julie Tibbitt 

Jennifer Thomas 

Sarah Treese 

Bonnie VanBuskirk 

Marcia Virts 

Jennifer Weeks 

Jeffrey White 

TEACHER AIDES 

Barbara Ballard 

Trude Buck 

Jimmy Butler 

Trudy Jo Carson 

Colleen Caverly 

Nancy Crawford 

Deborah Cumberland 

Tamara J. Ellis 

Denise Gambill 

Kelly Green 

John Jones 

Thomas Korn 

Renee Krotche 

Diane Kubey-Dunn 

Tom Luttrell 

Leah Louallen-Taylor 

Bobbie McLaughlin 

Penelope Miller 

Roberta Monroe 

Gertrude Morita 

Todd Newman 

Jane Nowalski 

Maribel Ortiz 

Jo’Ette Paulone 

Elizabeth Rewolinski 

Ronnie Robinson 

Sallie Romano 

Julie Ross 

Kelly Sicard 

Nicole Sizemore-Smith 

Barbara Smith 

Tammy Smith 

Ronnie Taylor 

Eric Woods 

Cheri Winnings 

STUDENT LIFE COUNSELORS 

Anna Amati 

Alvin Amberg 

Thea Amendola 

Susan Angell 

Anthony Balogh 

Peter Badavas 

Ann Bartholomew 

Eren Boden 

Aaron Bowman 

Donna Brandt-Chappelle 

Diane Brewer 

Susan Brooks 

Robin Burrhus 

Michael Chappelle, Sr. 

Donald E. Clupper 

Yolanda Colston 

Christopher Davis 

Michael Dunn 

Maria Gardner 

Michael Gardner 

Brett Grayson 

Gaye Heisey 

Susan Hosman 

Susan Kaplan 

Michael Kent 

Russell Koenig 

Ewa Kowalewska 

Patricia Kowalski 

Helen McClarin 

Jennifer Miller-Barron 

Thomas Noh 

George Papazis 

Giovanni Pelini 

Scott Perkins 

Gary Phillips 

Wendell Pratt 

Erin Quigley 

Larry Reedy 

Judd Rexroth 

Timothy Schwartzenberger 

Rachel Speranza 

Patrick Squire 

Timothy Vogeler 

Christopher G. vonGarrel 

Claudine Wanzer-Fehr 

Gayle Woodyard 

ADJUSTMENT TEACHERS 

Terri Dietz 

Deeadra Morrison 

TRANSITION 

COORDINATORS 

KC Russell Christy, Nancy Verdier 

BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS 

Neshy Bravin 

Julie Hemstreet 

Nancy Lewis, Ph.D. 

Vance Rewolinski 

EMPLOYMENT SPECIALISTS 

Bruce Persons 

Jenica Winnings 

STUDENT SUPPORT 

SERVICES 

Della B. Hager 

Guidance Counselor 

Tamara Majocha 

School Counselor 

Adora Lehmann 

Mental Health Counselor 

Lisa Smith 

Social Worker 

Richard Sarles, M.D. 

Mental Health Consultant 

MEDICAL 

Timothy Golson, R.N. 

Director of Nursing 

Sajjad Aziz, M.D. 

Leesa King, R.N. 

Donna Porter, R.N. 

Joyce Rose, R.N. 

Jacqueline Tota, R.N. 

Karen Tushek, O.T.R. 

Robin Weinrich, R.N. 

PLANT OPERATIONS 

AND MAINTENANCE 

Thomas LeQuire 

Maintenance Supervisor 

Stephen Allison 

Maintenance Chief 

Wayne Smith 

Housekeeping Supervisor 

Debbie Rice 

Secretary 

Alton Ambush 

Brian Brown 

Teresa Brown 

Linda Green 

Robert Green 

James McKenen 

Maria Meraz 

Gary Milburn 

John Murphy 

Nathaniel Rollins 

Richard Rosensteel 

Richard Smith 

Agnes Strakonsky 

Gary Strakonsky 

Timothy Unglebower 

Robert Vaughn 

NUTRITIONAL SERVICES 

Robin Ariosa 

Administrator 

David Main 

Supervisor 

Renee Noel 

Food Service Supervisor 

Barbara Adcock 

David Broggin, Jr. 

Terry Burnstad 

Cathy Capino 

Jane Chisholm 

Bonita Goodwin 

Susan Morgan 

David Olson 

Nicole Plaza 

Saundra Prestigiacomo 

Steve Thomas 

Y. Sharon Wilson

THE MARYLAND BULLETIN 

Maryland School for the Deaf 

101 Clarke Place, P.O. Box 250 

Frederick, Maryland 21705-0250 

Address Service Requested 

Periodicals Postage Paid 

at Frederick, Maryland 

2010 Homecoming Royalty 

The 2010 Homecoming King Gregg McConville Jr (fifth from left) and Queen Claire Tucker are flanked by the 

members of the Homecoming Royalty. (L-R) Kyle Tharpe, Ivana Genievsky (Juniors); Dan Mabashov, Racquel 

Roult (Seniors); Dalton Kramer, Lauren Goldberg (Sophomores); Cody Moers, Sierra McConville (Freshmen) 

LEFT Pre-Kindergarteners Mia Montoya and Ian Guettler (crown bearers)

Around MSD - Maryland School for the Deaf

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