Top 10 Most Influential Ladies at DHS for 2011
NEIRAD enilno edition
Neiard Enilno starts off the New Year with a new list that celebrates DHS’s most influential girls and women. These people are making our school a great place in so many capacities. From seniors Dana Howe and Charlotte Phillips’ new group Embrace to the amazing athletic duo the Biggart twins, our list celebrates the special people that will make this campus a better place to be in 2011.
Amy and Susan Biggart: It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right
When asked what makes them unique, the Biggarts were stumped. Neirad Enilno knows it is their quality of inspiring without courting the spotlight that brings this time to acknowledge the girls’ contribution. Susan and Amy Biggart are varsity athletes on soccer, basketball, and (presumably) track in the spring. The Biggarts’ strongest sport is basketball. Amy is a point guard while Susan is a shooting guard.
“They work really hard and it’s cool to see them play together” senior and basketball captain Nicole Buch said.
The girls are the second set of twins in their family. The twin dynamic has driven them to succeed.
“There’s competitiveness between them but it’s fun and light. They work well and positively together,” Maria Casa-Huthinson said. Having two classes together this year challenges them to work harder and get better grades. Their classes consist of honors pre-calculus, AP US history, honors Spanish, and honors American Lit. Susan is in Latin and AP chemistry, while Amy is in AP environmental science and ceramics for her third year.
“I feel challenged from being a twin because Susan is good at school and I feel pressured to get better grades.” Amy said. However, their amount of advanced and AP classes don’t stop the Biggarts’ impressive GPAs and hard work.
Susan and Amy are on varsity soccer, basketball, and track. They have played soccer together since they were five and challenge each other to improve. Susan was further challenged when during her freshman season Amy got on J.V soccer, while Susan was placed on the freshman team.
Through their competitive challenges Amy and Susan still share common interests. Susan wants to become more involved with the school outside of sports. They both have joined Invisible Children, Safe Rides, Environmental Club, and Embrace. Susan says her favorite is Garden Club and Amy enjoys her environmental community efforts.
How to Distinguish the Biggart Twins:
Susan |
Amy |
-Shorter hair |
-Taller by ¼ inch |
Eco-Citizen Girls Igniting "Go Green" Movement
The “Go Green” movement has spread across the globe. Here at DHS, three seniors and science teacher Elissa Scudder lead a club that is making an environmental difference.
Catherine Becker, Rachel McGlade, and Emma Tuz started the Eco-citizens club in the fall of 2009 with the help of science teacher Elissa Scudder. Their mission is to “promote sustainability locally and globally,” Mrs. Scudder said. Together, they share ideas to inspire the eco-friendly community to make big changes to foster a more environmentally friendly campus.
“DHS wasn’t really informed about the environmental situation. When we raised awareness and gave them the opportunity to contribute to our club and “green” events, they were very willing,” Rachel said. A major personal accomplishment they have achieved is to help shift student perspective. In such a “materialistic society,” as Catherine describes it, some people can get caught up and not think towards the future of the environment. “Simple things like taking your charger out of the wall can really help.”
This year Eco-citizens is “reaching out to not only DHS, but also the outside community” Catherine said. With its 10/10/10 event at the Darien Library this year and ar partnership with the Darien Land Trust (DLT) they have expanded to make lasting connections with the outside community. Eco-citizens have been invited by DLT to adopt a piece of its land in Darien and last year monitored the Noroton River with DLT. Other campaigns include a water bottle and Capri Sun recycling drive, participating in the 350 event (350.org); and supporting Conservational International’s efforts to stop deforestation.
This year the club has grown dramatically not only in participation in the community, but the number of members doubled to around 35. As all four founders, including senior Amanda Dobler, will graduate in June the club is in good hands. They all agree that they would be involved in some environmental group or event in the future. Mrs. Scudder reminds everyone that, “There’s a lot of work to do and we welcome new members and new ideas!”
Hollis Perticone: Freshman Field Hockey Phenom
If someone were to glance at her in the hallway, they would see a typical student. Then go to a field hockey game and watch this girl stand out from the pedestrian pack. Hollis Petricone is the first freshmen to make the varsity field hockey team in four years. Hollis “wow’s at every game,” freshman Colleen Haney said. “It was easy in pre-season to see that she was one of the best in the grade,” freshman Izzy Patton also added.
“It’s fun... I love being outside and playing with my friends” Hollis said. “We are all really close” she said. Despite the fact Hollis is the only freshmen on varsity, she went on to explain how they are all “so nice” and the older girls keep her under their wing. Even the senior field hockey players have only positive things to say.
“She is such a great player and continues to grow every day. She is going to be a huge part of the team in the next three years.” Hollis shares a strong relationship with the other upperclassmen on the team as well," varsity field hockey captain, Sophie Watters said.
The team spends bonding moments in the brisk autumn air every day after school, drilling how to make perfect goal shots. Struggles come with team victories. As a result of all the hours of practice, the varsity team has remained undefeated all season. “After every game we eat Twizzlers.” The delectable food doesn’t stop there. At the pre-game pasta dinners Hollis eats baked ziti, a dinner favorite. Before and during games, she loves to eat cliff bars and drink Gatorade to keep her blood pumping hard.
There is one teammate in particular who knows her past the playing field. “My sister [sophomore, Lexie,] is on my team.” Not only do they share the same blood, but they also share the same center forward position. The family athleticism doesn’t stop there. While Hollis played on varsity, her twin sister freshmen Isabelle, was caption on freshmen field hockey. “I’m really proud of her, if any freshman could make a difference on that team it would be Hollis.”
If someone were to ask Hollis her favorite thing about playing field hockey, she says it’s “the challenge.” She went on to say, “It's rewarding. If you work hard, you get a positive outcome.” With her enthusiasm for challenges, Hollis is sure to make a statement on varsity field hockey, as well as any other sports she pursues.
Hollis Perticone in Numbers
15
10
5
25
1
Lilly Cassidy: Girl Wonder
During the fall, winter, spring and summer people can find junior and most influential girl Lilly Cassidy playing on field hockey either for DHS or Fairfield United, a Connecticut travel team. She plays left wing for the school’s varsity team. Her passion for the sport shines, but it doesn’t take away from her other extracurriculars. “It’s hard to balance sports with school,” she said.
Lilly is taking BC Calc and a number of other AP classes this year. “I don’t sleep a lot,” she said. The night before this interview Lilly didn’t get to sleep until 2:45am. It was just another busy day in the life of Lilly Cassidy. “I went to field hockey practice; then a Post meeting; then pasta dinner; then homework,” she said.
As well as sports and school, Lilly is a Post 53 officer. “I’m currently the historian, which means I take pictures at all of the events,” she said. Lilly enjoys serving the Darien community in the emergency medical service organization.
Lilly gets to catch a break during the summer when her family travels to Block Island . Her friend (and not brother) senior Kevin Cassidy says, “On Friday nights, I usually find Lilly gardening with her mother to pass the time in a constructive manner.” To that point, Lilly just laughed before shooting off to a field hockey game.
Lilly's All-Time Favorite Textbooks (as told by Kevin Cassidy)
- BC Calc
- AP US
- AP Chem
- Honors Chem
- BSCS Bio
- The Scarlet Letter (even though it’s a book, not a textbook)
- Dictionary (“She loves reading the dictionary in her free time”)
- English 11 Honors Anthology
Sophomore Kaylyn Buckley is Actress in the Making
Unless a student has been spending too much time buried in books they may have seen sophomore Kaylyn Buckley singing with Stealing Free Samples, an all sophomore rock garage band.
“I actually can't even imagine a time where singing wasn't one of the most important things in my life”, Kaylyn said.
There’s much more to Kaylyn’s voice that many may have not heard. Kaylyn takes voice lessons with Kathryn Amyotte where the focus is on classical – not rock - technique. She enjoys a classical style of singing, which is a fundamental skill to build a foundation as a singer. “Kaylyn has a very unique voice and I am impressed by her progress” Amyotte said.
Kaylyn also enjoys acting. She appeared as Mrs. Loomis in the Theatre 308 production of “Fiddler in the Roof” last spring. She loves becoming a new character and being on stage. She is adding dance to her repertoire because it is a good supplement to her performing career. Kaylyn credits her success in part to the creative talent that surrounds her. “I have so much respect and admiration for juniors Hannah Caldwell, Abby Leinroth, Emily Elliot, Mary Elliott, and Nicole Gutierrez, and of course seniors Will Doughty, Collin Shay and Marin Amyotte for all the effort they put into so many different things, in addition to being amazing performers,” Kaylyn said.
“Kaylyn carries around a very posative energy, is very energetic. I’m excited to see how things work out for her! She’s also a one to watch out for” Collin Shay said .
Kaylyn is a hard worker with all of the plays and performances. It doesn’t leave much free time. “There are literally days where I go straight from rehearsal to a voice lesson and then to a dance class, and then I get home pretty late and still have to do all my homework”. It is a commitment she makes to the artistic community that makes her influence felt in creative pursuits.
Top 5 Musicals/Plays
1) “Rent”
2) “Chicago”
3) “Phantom of the Opera”
4) “Memphis”
5) “A Chorus Line”
Profe Sets Out to Make Foreign Language Fun
In her sixth year, Spanish teacher Jennifer Degenhardt, better known to her students as “Profe”, is one of the most popular teachers around campus.
Profe is a witty and clever teacher who just wants “to bring some levity to the school,” she says. “Learning’s gotta be fun. I like to have fun.” Fun is one of the reasons students hope see Profe’s name on their schedules at the beginning of the year.
“I had heard a lot about her from upperclassmen and heard that a lot of people enjoyed her class,” junior Patrick Fitzsimmons said. “It was definitely one of the most fun classes I’ve had in my three years at DHS so far.”
Profe also isn’t the type to bite her tongue. She always speaks her mind and isn’t afraid to back down from what she believes. Her perspective on academic subjects is just one example. “Art and woodworking should be required and math and science should be electives.” It’s that boldness and audacity that makes her so influential. Not only does Profe speak her mind, but she encourages her students to speak theirs too.
It is her craving to have fun and her “never bite your tongue attitude” that makes her a teacher students can connect and relate. Profe says if she wasn’t teaching she would be a “long-haul trucker, driving cross country.” She’s a realist and knows that “not everyone’s going to go to college and someone has to do the other, less glamorous jobs.” The maverick approach to embrace nontraditional career choices and being drawn to the lure of the open road makes her the unexpected bright spot in a sea of academic conformity.
Profe has taught all around Connecticut and even up in New Hampshire, but no matter where she has gone, she has always been a hilarious and influential presence in whatever school she is teaching. Fortunately, it is now DHS where she brings that spirit.
Katie Grozier Gives Back
When a college is considering a student, one of the things they look at is his or her community service record. For many, it is a burden that they have to complete before senior year. For others, it is a privilege. Senior Katie Grozier falls in the latter category. Starting when she was at Middlesex, Katie filled her after school hours with countless community service and extracurricular activities. Her love for volunteer work started when she helped her mother in the soup kitchen at the New Convent House in Stamford. Her work launched a domino effect that has stayed with her through her high school years.
During Katie’s freshman year, she joined the buildOn, a group dedicated to helping underdeveloped countries further its education systems. This mandate includes building schools and working to gather supplies needed to provide a better education for those less fortunate. Katie is now the buildOn vice president. Faculty adviser Keith Keeler says he has enjoyed his productive years with this influential girl. ” Katie is a pleasure to work with. She’s a great leader and has been involved since she was just an underclassman. She has helped to get the club off the ground this year.”
Then Katie took her building to another level. During the last two weeks of July, Katie went on a trip to Mali in Africa to help build a school. “It’s so cliché but you really do have to give back,” Katie said, “And it’s a good reality check that life is different outside Darien.” Now that Katie is back, however, she realizes that “there is more here in our back yard than just in Africa. There is a lot that we can do just here in Fairfield County.” For example, Katie cites volunteer opportunities at the New Canaan and Stamford Nature Centers, Scofield Manor, Chester Addison, the AIDS walk, Pacific House, Darien Book Aid, and Stepping Stones, to all of which Ms. Grozier has lent her efforts. Besides just being one of the top community servicers around, Katie gives her fair share around the school. She is the print editor of Neirad; a vice president of the National Honors Society, and has been on the track team all three seasons. “It’s a lot of work, but I’m one of those people who have to stay busy.”
Katie plans to stay involved with community service projects and groups through her college career. Eventually she hopes to join Mr. Keeler’s profession to become a high school history teacher. Until then Katie aims to stay involved in both her community and the world around her.
Dillon Schoen: Fresh Face on the Field
By Nick Kunze and Isabelle Perticone
In only a few brief months at DHS, Dillon Schoen has made a momentous impact. She is a powerhouse on the soccer field. Off the field Dillon brightens all of her classes. “Dillon’s a sweetheart. She’s just so nice,” biology teacher Susan Ruegger said.
Dillon was one of few freshmen to be a starter on varsity soccer. Dillon starts at either forward or wide mid-field, and she is one of the leading goal scorers. “It’s fun because you are with a lot of older kids, and you get to meet a lot of interesting new people,” Dilllon said. “Everybody on the team is really accepting. We’re like a big family.”
The team progressed to the quarter final in States. When the soccer season ends, Dillon’s athletic contributions will not be over. She will continue with indoor track then finish with lacrosse in the spring. “I am looking forward to lacrosse, and can’t wait to see how it turns out.” Dillion said. “She’s such a great teammate. She’s really supportive on and off the field.” freshman Julia Black said. No matter what season it is, Dillon is always helping Darien succeed in gaining another title.
Dillon also makes a mark on the school with her academics. She is in all of the advanced courses offered to freshman, and is an active member in class. “I’m hard-working and I try to prioritize. I always get all of my work done, before I go on Facebook, or IM.”
Dillon’s older siblings have had lots of success. Her older brother, Johnny, went to Georgetown, and her older sister, Tara, went to Harvard. Yet, Dillon doesn’t’ feel the pressure of sibling rivalry. “I set my own goals; I don’t base my success from my siblings. I want to be accomplished for myself, not for others,” Dillon said. “She’s motivated and quite independent. She pushes the class to work,” biology teacher Sean Otterspoor said.
Dillon is a hard-working student, whether she is scoring soccer goals, or acing tests. Dillon always stays optimistic in life. “I like to laugh a lot. I try to be really positive.” Dillon Schoen wants to make the most of her high school experience, and so far she is making a mark.
Riley Sousa Spikes Sophomore Spirit
Riley Sousa has established herself as the sophomore everybody knows. One key recognition factor is her volleyball skills. “My mom suggested I try a volleyball camp and ever since I tried that it became my favorite sport by far, “Riley said.
Volleyball is the primary passion. She plays right side. Not only does she play for the Blue Wave, but also on a club called Connecticut Impact. Volleyball has taken much of her time. Most of her day, Riley is playing volleyball or consumed with schoolwork “Knowing I don’t have a lot of free time makes me efficient. I like being busy,” Riley said.
Riley is actually into many kinds of sports off the volleyball court. She used to play basketball and softball. Then there is her work with the student council. This is her first year on in student government: Riley enjoys every minute of it. She discusses upcoming events and planning issues. “My input is to represent everyone,” Riley said.
The final factor that makes her a well-known and well-respected member of the school community is her personality. “Riley Sousa is liked by everybody. She is known to be a very funny person. Riley is a very nice person. It’s fun to hang out with Riley,” sophomore Sophie Long said.
And her comedic sense is much appreciated. “Riley is the humor of our math class,” sophomore Katie Graves said.
Charlotte Phillips and Dana Howe: Giving DHS an Attitude Adjustment
“My hair looks awful. I’m fat. My skin is so gross.” We all hear this in movies about teenagers, on high school drama TV shows, in magazines with pencil-thin models, and even in our own hallways. The media culture of today greatly affects the way people talk about themselves, even the way people see themselves. Seniors Dana Howe and Charlotte Phillips plan on changing this mindset.
Charlotte knew she had to take action at Camp Wawenock in Maine this past summer where she was a counselor. Charlotte remembers making a negative comment about herself in front of a fellow counselor. “She just told me, ‘You can’t talk like that in front of these [younger] girls, you’re a role model to them.’ This has such a big effect on me.”
So she and Dana decided to start Embrace this semester, a club to help raise student’s self esteem and self image. “The goal is to get people to be able to talk about themselves in a positive way,” Dana said.
Maybe it is their own personal experiences that make them want this change. “I was the biggest offender,” Charlotte said. “That’s just our culture. There’s always a flaw that girls see in themselves.” “Everything we talk about, we’ve been guilty in the past,” Dana said.
Dana and Charlotte are hoping that those who attend their weekly meetings will help spread their positive attitudes to the rest of the school. “We want to promote being confident about yourself,” Dana said. “A lot of the stories people have are things that happen in school – things girls say in the library, the cafeteria – and it’s not even malicious the way girls talk about each other, we’re at the point where they just do it.”
After Embrace finished their first act of putting signs up in the girls’ bathrooms, Dana said that “girls have been coming up to me saying that it made their day. It’s the small things that have the biggest effects.”
Meetings are held every Monday at 7pm in the Chill Zone. If you are interested in becoming involved with Embrace, contact Dana or Charlotte.
Did one of your favorite girls not make the cut? Maybe it’s because they were named one of the 10 Most Influential Girls of 2009. Click here to read more. (and don't miss our Most Influential Guys)
