For Alumnae

Reunion

Ellis Reunion Weekend: October 6 & 7, 2023

Come experience the renewed energy on our campus during this year’s Reunion Weekend events! We will be celebrating milestone years ending in 3 and 8. Join us back on campus to reconnect with old friends, relive fond memories, and commemorate your shared experiences.

ALL ALUMNAE ARE WELCOME

Reunion Class Giving Challenge

Reunion giving is an Ellis tradition. We invite you to participate in the Reunion Class Giving Challenge to support current and future Ellis students' exceptional educational and co-curricular opportunities. Your contribution will make a meaningful difference in the lives of future leaders. Any gift made in honor of your reunion is considered a "reunion gift."

The classes with the highest participation rate and largest combined gift will be announced and celebrated during the Reunion Weekend Cocktail Reception. We are excited to see which class will demonstrate the most school spirit and make the most significant impact with their donations. Will it be the class of '73, '98, or another milestone class ending in 3 or 8?

Schedule of Events

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  • October 6–7, 2023

    Date & Time | Location
    Invitees
    Event | Description
    Friday, October 6
    9:00–9:45 a.m
    GALLERY
     
    Open to all classes
    Welcome Back Coffee
    Start your morning by enjoying coffee and pastries with Head of School Macon Finley.
    Friday, October 6
    10:00–10:45 a.m.
    MEET IN GALLERY
    Open to all classes
    Tour of Campus
    Find out what has changed, has stayed the same, and may be in the works since you graduated as you walk through the halls of your alma mater. Led by a Touring Tiger (student ambassador), you’ll hear firsthand what it’s like to be an Ellis student circa 2023!
    Friday, October 6
    10:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
    AUDITORIUM
    Open to all classes
    Author Visit
    Join us for a conversation with New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict. Marie's novels focus on the untold stories of women throughout history.
    Friday, October 6
    12:00–2:00 p.m.
    ALUMNAE HALL
    Open to all classes
    $15 per person
    Reunion Luncheon
    Please join us for a sit-down luncheon in Alumnae Hall as we recognize and celebrate the Sara Frazer Ellis awardee.
    Friday, October 6
    5:30–7:30 p.m.
    CAMPUS-WIDE
    Open to all classes and their families
    Fall Festival
    Pumpkins, a bounce house, face painting, food, and fun for the entire family! The Ellis Parent Association hosts this event, and it is open to the entire community. Admission is free.
    Friday, October 6
    Evening
    All classes
    Individual Class Activity
    Contact your Class Reunion Representative for more details.
    Saturday, October 7
    11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
    ATHLETIC FIELD
    Open to all classes and their families
    Tailgate Lunch
    Ellis varsity soccer game. The 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame induction will take place at halftime.
    Saturday, October 7
    1:00–2:00 p.m.
    FINE ARTS BUILDING
    Open to all classes
    Creative Like Cassatt
    Our art rooms will be available to create and converse about art. Hosted by the Ellis Visual Arts Department. Limited space available.
    Saturday, October 7
    7:00–9:30 p.m.
    ALUMNAE HALL
    Open to all classes
    $20 per person
    Cocktail Reception
    The culminating event to celebrate all Ellisians. Heavy appetizers and drinks will be served. Alumnae are welcome to bring a guest. This is an adult-only event. 


Reunion Weekend Information

Frequently Asked Questions

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Award Recipients

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  • Sara Frazer Ellis Awardee

    Shanan GUINN '93 has traveled the world since graduating but has always stayed connected to The Ellis School. Shanan is currently working with the Office of the Chief of Protocol for Major Events on the media arrangements for the 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Meetings hosted by the U.S. It is a bit of a homecoming, as the last project Shanan worked on for the U.S. Government was the 2011 APEC Leaders’ Week in Hawaii. She has also been working with The White House leading media arrangements for the President of the United States’ trips to Cambodia (ASEAN), Poland, Northern Ireland, and Lithuania (NATO).

    Before rejoining the U.S. government, Shanan was Senior Vice President of Business Communications & Internal Campaigns at BP in London, where she was responsible for global internal communications (DE&I, HR, legal and finance) and all communications for BP’s business units (renewable energy, retail, exploration & production, and trading & shipping). She led a global team of more than 100 communications professionals during a tumultuous time—the COVID-19 pandemic and the largest full-company reorganization in BP’s 114-year history. 
     
    Her previous roles at BP included Vice President, Communications & External Affairs for BP North Africa, Chief of Staff to the Chairman & President of BP America in Houston, and Head of Strategy & Planning for U.S. Communications & External Affairs based in Washington, DC.  

    Shanan came to BP from the Department of Defense (DoD) where she worked in the Office of the Secretary establishing the first-ever Director of Travel Operations role and reorganizing the trips process for the Department. During her time at DoD, she was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.

    Prior to Shanan’s time at DoD, she had a variety of positions in and out of government working as Communications Director for the Congressional Oversight Panel on T.A.R.P, Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Nancy Boyda of Kansas, the John Kerry for President Campaign, and in account management for PR firm Jasculca/Terman and Associates. Shanan got her start working in press advance for the Clinton Administration.  

    A graduate of George Washington University with a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Shanan is a member of the bar in Kansas and Washington, D.C. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

    Shanan has served on the Board of Trustees of The Ellis School since 2017 and remains an active and proud Ellis alumna. Shanan’s unwavering commitment to the betterment of an all-girls education and her remarkable contributions to Ellis make her a truly deserving recipient of this year’s Sara Frazer Ellis Award.
  • Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

    Courtney KRESS McGrory '93, an Ellis lifer, is known for her commitment to athletics, academics, and the Ellis community. She was named the Augustus K. Oliver Cup recipient as a graduating senior for her achievements in these areas. She played field hockey and lacrosse throughout her Middle and Upper School years and was a varsity member for each sport. Unofficially, Courtney even moonlighted as a borrowed goalkeeper for the budding University of Pittsburgh women's club lacrosse team long before its NCAA Division 1 debut in 2021. Courtney still laughs that her father negotiated this arrangement and remains grateful for all the practices and games where her dad was ever present and cheering. Courtney continued with athletics in college at Harvard University as a member of the women's field hockey team and Mather House crew team.

    Since graduating, Courtney has built a career as a marketing and communications leader in New York City, holding various roles, from Speechwriter to Head of Content, in the financial services, publishing, and academic sectors. She lives in Pelham, NY, with her husband and three children and belongs to the New York Athletic Club. You can find her running, playing competitive USTA singles tennis, practicing yoga daily, or playing pickleball with her 12-year-old son.

    Courtney fondly remembers Coach Kozusko's impact on her time at Ellis; Coach K still comes up in family stories and sightings around Pittsburgh. These fond memories and her entire athletic experience rooted at The Ellis School are among the most meaningful parts of Courtney's physical, social, and emotional DNA.

    Thank you, Courtney, for your longtime commitment to the School, Ellis students, and the athletic program.

Reunion Weekend Attendees and Class Representatives

Check out who’s registered for Reunion Weekend! This page will be updated each week on Friday afternoon. If you believe you have registered but do not see your name, please contact development@theellisschool.org.

If you don’t have a Reunion Representative for your class year and would like to be one, please contact alumnae@theellisschool.org to become one!

List of 24 items.

  • Class of 1953

    Representative still needed!
  • Class of 1958

    Class Representative:
    Sally RIAL Phelps

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Susan HIGINBOTHAM Holcombe
    Sally RIAL Phelps
    Nancy MCQUILLAN Bolaris
    Ann EBBERT Sullivan
  • Class of 1959

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Pauline "Polly" FOSTER Mullins
    Ellen MCCASLIN Srodes
  • Class of 1963

    Representative still needed!

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Corinne "Rin" MARSHALL Babson
  • Class of 1968

    Representative still needed!

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Janet ANTI
    Dr. Margaret "Peggy" COHEN Voss
    Kristin ERICKSON
  • Class of 1973

    Class Representative:
    Carol OSTROW

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Margaret "Peggy" MATHIESON Conver
    Carol OSTROW
    Carol ROBINSON
    Blythe JONES Lyons
    Madeline DEBOR
    Bette BLUMBERGER Saltzman
    Sandy MARHOEFER Roberts
  • Class of 1978

    Representative still needed!

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Lisa SEPESY
    Wendy AUTENREITH West
  • Class of 1979

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Dr. Melissa MICHAELS
  • Class of 1983

    Class Representative:
    Lauren THOMPSON

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Anne ALTER
    Kim CORNELIUS Gavel
    Leslie ROSENBERG Bellas
  • Class of 1988

    Class Representative:
    Kristen SIEFERS Savely

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Dr. Morgen KELLY
    Alicia ANGEMEER
  • Class of 1993

    Class Representative:
    Heather HILLIARD

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Shanan GUINN
    Heather HILLIARD
    Catherine "Cathy" RESCHER
    Kathryn BABSON Brewer
    Courtney KRESS McGory
    Monica BROWN Gurbach
    Ilisabeth BORNSTEIN
  • Class of 1994

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Rebekah HUGHEY
  • Class of 1995

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Colleen SIMONDS
    Sarah ALTMAN McSorley
  • Class of 1998

    Class Representative:
    Kathryn POLACHEK Ciarimboli

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Brooke SANSOSTI
    Annie COLVIN Bolton
    Abby WILSON
    Sadaf TOOR
    Whitney OKONAK Sunday
    Dara HALL Mendez
    Tamar KRISHNAMURTI
    Nicole TAKAHASHI Dolan
    Lindsay PATROSS
  • Class of 2000

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Sarah HANNA White
  • Class of 2001

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Corinne MCGINLEY Smith
    Stephanie BROFF
  • Class of 2003

    Class Representative:
    Elizabeth CRYAN

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Donna MOLYLES DeMauro
  • Class of 2005

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Kristen WALTER Sobel
  • Class of 2006

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Anna SHABALOV
  • Class of 2008

    Class Representative:
    Alessandra HARTKOPF

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Courtney LESOON
  • Class of 2011

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Cheryl STEPHENS
    Julia ROBERSON
  • Class of 2013

    Class Representative:
    Eleanor THOMAS

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Hannah MELLOR
    Emily OBLAK
    Elizabeth SHACKNEY
    Ramita RAVI
  • Class of 2014

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Elizabeth KYSEL
  • Class of 2018

    Attending Reunion 2023:
    Olivia SIMON
    Laurel CONOVER
    Chloe JOHN
    Leela CANUELAS-PURI
    Kayla BRYANT
    Oliver BURNETT
    Gabriella BOYIADZIS

Connect & Communicate With Us

Update your contact information to connect and communicate with Ellis all year long. From our alumnae newsletter and private Alumnae Facebook group, to the Ellis Magazine and Ellis Alumnae Connect, we want you to stay in the know on all things Ellis. We’re also posting, tweeting, and Instagramming campus life seven days a week, so give us a follow, like, or retweet next time you’re browsing your feeds!

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