People – The Mirror

Student Names Entire School at School Meeting

October 12, 2025 by Kevin Betsch

Charles Pigeon ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

The school meeting on Tuesday, September 30, was eventful, as teachers spoke about the events of Family Weekend, teams reported results, and we learned that the soccer team is currently ranked third in the nation! However, the biggest event came at the end of the meeting when Charles Pigeon ‘26 got up and took on the annual challenge of naming everyone at the school.

To accomplish this feat, Pigeon took a great approach by trying to meet everyone face-to-face and giving them a handshake rather than just checking the Kahoot. He also decided to take on this challenge in three short days. He said, “My goal was to remember everyone’s name and face in three days,” Pigeon said. “I just woke up and decided this was my goal, and I wanted to accomplish it. So, I got to work.”

“I woke up on Tuesday and realized that it was already day three, so I studied the Kahoot quickly and then pulled Mr. Spear aside and said I am ready to do this,” Pigeon said. “I got up on Tuesday, school meeting, and took on the challenge”.

Pigeon had to learn around 80 new students’ and staff members’ names, but he already knew around 144 returning students’ and staff members’ names.

Standing before the school and attempting to name everyone was an intense experience. “When I first stood up, I was like, ‘Holy Cow, this is getting real.’ My face turned all red, and I got super nervous. Then I said the first student’s name, and I was off.”

Pigeon spoke about his strategy to learn everyone’s name. “I tried to first start with all of the new people, the people’s names I already know are the easiest part, so I tried to get to them last, but I ended up just going in order of the rows. In the end, I ended up struggling the most with my best friends and teammates because I studied all the new students’ names so hard.”

Pigeon says he was motivated by the challenge. “I just wanted to do it because no one else had done it this year, and I thought it would be a good and fun challenge. I also thought that this was just a wonderful experience, and I enjoyed it a lot.”

Some of Pigeon’s friends, however, think that the prize of a $50 Stewart’s gift card is what really motivated him.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Top Story

Problem-Solving and Confidence-Building: Math Help with Shash

October 12, 2025 by Jacob Slagel

Mr. Shashwath Sunkum ’22. Photo by Jacob Slagel.

When students at Northwood need extra math support, they can reach Mr. Shashwath “Shash” Sunkum for tutoring. Sunkum, a 2022 graduate of Northwood, describes his role as equal parts problem-solving and confidence-building. “You have to find what students already understand, then build from there,” Sunkum said. “A lot of people carry a stigma about math. If we strip that away and work in the style that fits them, they move forward.”

Sunkum’s interest in tutoring began while a student at Northwood, where he took AP Calculus with Mr. Emery and joined informal study sessions in the library. In college, he served as a teaching assistant for several math courses and later mentored an advanced class. “I have always enjoyed math, and I have always enjoyed interacting with young minds,” he said.

His approach centers on meeting students where they are. He notes that confusion is not always a matter of the content. Sometimes it is about past experiences with the subject or low confidence. Because learning styles vary, he tries to explain ideas in multiple ways and asks questions to uncover what a student already knows. “The material in high school is doable,” Sunkum said. “The goal is to help students see that they can do it.”

Access is designed to be simple. Sunkum said students can contact him on Microsoft Teams with a photo of a question to get started, and he often uses his iPad during calls to write out steps live. He also allocates time during Sunday night quiet hours for walk-in help and uses spaces like the Learning Center or math lab when appropriate. For specifics on time and location, he recommends students check Teams and his posted availability.

For those who feel intimidated by math, Sunkum advises a reset at the start of each new topic. “Discard any preconceived notions,” he said. “Come with an open mind and give your best effort in the 45 minutes you have in class.” He also cautions against letting secondhand opinions determine expectations: a course that felt hard for one student may be a good fit for another’s learning style.

Sunkum links his work to the legacy of Mr. Roger Loud, a longtime Northwood math teacher who also served as head of North Country School for decades. As a student, Sunkum frequently met Mr. Loud in the library for quick help followed by wide-ranging conversations. “I am doing this in honor of him,” Sunkum said.

Students who want help can message Mr. Sunkum on Teams to share a question or to find his next help block. His aim is straightforward: clear steps, steady practice, and a little more confidence each time.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Catching up with Gus Garvey ‘25

October 11, 2025 by Andrew Sherland

Gus Garvey ’25 at his commencement. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

For four years, Gus Garvey was a prominent and active figure in the Northwood community. After graduating last year, the school seems to be missing the “Gus factor.” You could always count on Gus if you wanted to talk about Northwood, life, or just hear him put down your favorite sports team. Regardless, this article will bring some insight into what Gus has been up to since he graduated last May.

“I am in my first year at the University of Toronto. I will not declare my major until next spring, but I plan on double-majoring in Economics and Political Science with a minor in International Relations,” Garvey said recently between Buffalo Bills and New York Yankees losses.

When asked about what he misses most about Northwood, Gus said, “I miss the community. While I am fortunate to have met many new people here in Toronto, the University is structured in a way that I only really get to see them at mealtimes and on weekends. In Toronto, the way it works is that within the University, you are affiliated with a college. There are seven on the downtown campus, and you spend all of orientation week exclusively with people from your college, so pretty much every friend group is within a college. But once that is over, your classes and clubs are with people from all over, and with how full our schedules are, I sometimes will not see people for days at a time. I miss how tight Northwood was, being able to experience everything surrounded by the same familiar faces,” Garvey explained.

Being the person that he is, Gus was always in the mix of every hangout, cracking jokes and making people laugh. You could always count on Gus to say something funny or controversial, adding to the tight-knit community aspect of Northwood.

Gus Garvey ’25 at his commencement. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

As a boarding school, Northwood offers numerous features that prepare students for life after graduation. “I think the thing that helped me the most was the experience of living in a dorm. I am seeing so many kids here going through the same learning curve that I went through four years ago. Since I have already lived in a dorm for four years, I was able to hit the ground running here and lock in right away,” Garvey said.

Lastly, I asked Gus, “What is one piece of advice I would give to the Class of 2026?” He responded with “enjoy every minute you have left at Northwood. It sounds really clichéd, but it’s easy to take for granted many of the unique things that make Northwood a special place. Make every moment going forward count. If your neighbor has an empty cup at dinner and you want to stack them, go for it, and have a laugh with your table. If you see a NOC event, sign up for it. If there is a hockey or soccer game, go to it. Take that walk into town on a Saturday afternoon. Stick around in the lounge if your friends have a game on, or better yet, put one on yourself. If you need to unwind and relax, do it in the living room, so you are surrounded by the community. You have the rest of this year to make memories that will last a lifetime, and after you ring that bell in May, you will look back at them wishing you could relive it all over again,” advised Garvey.

Gus is the epitome of what it means to take full advantage of Northwood, from organizing his own LEAP to Japan to doing play-by-play announcing for the hockey program, Gus truly lived Northwood to its full potential, and his impact was profound.

Even though Gus is no longer at Northwood, he will be remembered in the years to come as someone who made the most of his Northwood experience, always with a smile on his face.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Top Story

Get to Know Ethan Nau ‘26

October 9, 2025 by Justin MacLeod

Ethan Nau ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Ethan Nau ‘26 is a new hockey player at Northwood School. He plays on the U18 Varsity team for the 2025-26 season as their goalie, with Coach Jeff Miller as his head coach. Ethan is from Pennington, New Jersey, and while growing up, he played hockey with the Princeton Tigers, New Jersey Rockets, and later moved on to Northwood.

“I transferred to Northwood because I wanted to succeed in hockey, as well as in academics. Northwood’s hockey program is one of the best prep schools that it offers, as it helps lead me to the highest level I can play. Our Academics is one of the best academic programs as it helps me set up for my future,” Nau said.

Ethan Nau ’26. Photo by Jacob Slagel ’26.

“I am adjusting to Northwood’s lifestyle really quickly because being here, you are treated like family with the friends and teammates I made during my short time here already,” Nau added. “But Northwood can be challenging because it really puts you to work, and sometimes staying up on your work can be a battle. Overall, I have been accepted by the Northwood community with open arms, and I am happy to be here in this moment.”

“My goals for Northwood are to succeed in hockey and academics, playing hockey at the highest level I can play and staying up on my schoolwork as much as possible. A big goal is keeping a good relationship with everyone in the Northwood community, as everyone is treated like family,” he added. Overall, Ethan just started his Northwood hockey and academic career with the U18 Varsity team. He is already showing great promise as he continues to chase his goals and strive to be the best player and person he can be.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Dorm Room Tour: Rylie Griffiths ’26

September 29, 2025 by Anna Monette

This article is part of a series of dorm room tours. See more tours here.

Rylie Griffiths is a second-year postgraduate from Carlisle, Ontario. Rylie lives on Ground West—commonly known as Pit—in a single, where she also serves as an RA and is known for her spotless room whenever you open the door. Here is an inside look!

Photo by Anna Monette ’26.

Rylie’s room is very tidy, and she always has a perfectly made bed. She starts each morning by making her bed—it makes her feel accomplished and that no matter what happens next, she started her day off right. On her wall, there are two posters, both color coordinated with her bed covers. They have quotes that she can look at and be inspired by every day, reminding her of how lucky she is to be here and how fortunate she is to be doing what makes her happy: playing hockey. Under her bed there is additional storage.

Photo by Anna Monette ’26.

Next up is Rylie’s snack drawer. She is always fully stocked with healthy food and is always willing to share with anyone who asks. Her favorite pick from the drawer is her protein cereal, which she says is the perfect go-to when she needs a pre-practice boost. Whether it is before practice, during late-night study sessions, or just hanging out with teammates, her snack drawer has the perfect option.

Photo by Anna Monette ’26.

Rylie describes her closet as the favorite part of her room. Clearly, Rylie loves sweaters. She says they’re perfect for all occasions, whether it’s school or game days. She also loves the connection with her teammates, where anyone can stop in and ask her to borrow a sweater, and she can stop into her teammates’ room and do the same thing.

Photo by Anna Monette ’26.

Lastly, there is her desk, which is also always clean. She says this is the best place where she can focus and complete her homework. Then she just has her essential day-to-day things and a rack with all her jewelry. Above her desk is her Northwood pennant, which illustrates how much pride in Northwood she has.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People Tagged With: DormRoomTour

9/11 Firefighter Serra ’97 Speaks to School on Anniversary

September 25, 2025 by Colten Murphy

Rob Serra ’97 speaks to students about his experience as an FDNY firefighter on 9/11. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

On September 11, 2025, on the 24^th anniversary of 9/11 and the terrible events that happened, alumnus Rob Serra ‘97 visited campus to share his personal experiences as a NYFD firefighter on 9/11 with students. Many students who chose to attend the event were able to hear about his horrific experience through his eyes, as well as his firefighting and hockey careers.

After the event, I was lucky enough to conduct a 1-on-1 interview with Mr. Serra. When I asked about the day of 9/11 and when he was on the scene, on “Ground Zero.” I asked about his thought process and whether his actions were instinctual or if he was mentally present.

“I spent a lot of time trying to figure out exactly where I was physically in Manhattan. You know, I grew up in the city, and I couldn’t recognize anything,” Serra said. “I remember thinking how messed up it was. It was clear that it was a very serious situation. You know, at a certain point, I think I did go into shock, which is when everything kind of gets blurred for me. There was a lot of blood. It’s hard to really think, but yeah, I think anyone that has gone through something like that, creates different memories for what actually happened, but that’s just because of your body’s natural defense system.”

Serra ’97 next to his FDNY helmet. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

I asked about hockey after 9/11, and if he had any lingering effects, such as physical damage that affected him during hockey. “Yes, that is a great question. Not necessarily at first, but as I got a little bit older, like into my later 20s, I started noticing that I couldn’t recover my breath,” he said. “My face would swell up, which I know now was the sinus polyps, and I noticed I started getting numbness and cramping in my legs. I know now that it is because I have a peripheral neuropathy,” Serra added. “I started noticing it, that’s actually when I started to stop playing for the main FDNY teams because I just physically couldn’t recover anymore, I felt like my muscles weren’t getting oxygen.”

Serra’s FDNY helmet. Photo: Colten Murphy ’26.

When talking about how the passing of his mother during his time at Northwood affected his mental state while playing and if he played for her, he said, “I think initially I did. The year it happened, which was my junior year, I did, and I had a very good year hockey-wise. So yeah, that kind of motivated me, and then when I came back for my senior year, I kind of alluded to it. That time off and that time at home. By the time I came back here, it kind of had the opposite effect. Instead of it motivating me, it made me sadder that she wasn’t here once the initial shock of her passing went away,” Serra added.

The students all appreciated and thanked him for coming and sharing his personal experiences about that day, his service as a firefighter, his hockey career, and his life after.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports, Top Story

Northwood Welcomes Back Shashwath Sunkum ‘22

September 25, 2025 by Lucas Smith

Mr. Shashwath Sunkum ‘22. Photo provided.

Northwood School has welcomed a new member of the Mathematics and IEE departments: Shashwath Sunkum ‘22. Mr. Sunkum teaches Pre-Calculus and helps with the robotics team.

Mr. Sunkum was a student at Northwood during the 21-22 school year. This was one of the pandemic years, and now that he’s back, he sees that many things within the school are different from when he was here. “The living room was kind of dull compared to now, where everyone is hanging out in there,” Sunkum said.” Everyone was much more separated. Hockey players with hockey players, skiers with skier, soccer players with soccer players. The community I have now found here is unlike anything else,” he added.

In addition to teaching precalculus, Mr. Sunkum is assisting Ms. Fagan with the ski and snowboard club, which was one of his favorite activities during his student days. When asked how his colleagues look at him, their former student, he said, “They looked at me with the same amount of respect then as they do now, and they treat every student and faculty member with that respect.”

Now, being on the teacher’s side of things, he discusses the relationships he has been able to build with his students. “I almost have half of the school between all of my classes, so the number of students that I get to interact with is special. I am close with you all in age as well, so I have some of the same perspectives, but then you also bring so many new perspectives for me every day.”

Ms. Carmichael, Academic Dean and Dean of Faculty, shared her perspective on hiring Mr. Sunkum. “He was a standout student when he was here and then graduated with a double major in 3 years, so he obviously continued to be a serious student. The biggest thing, though, is his eagerness. He could have gone anywhere. He could teach back home, he could teach at Trinity, where he was as a TA, but he said, ‘I want to go back to Northwood and get my teaching experience from Northwood.’”

Ms. Carmichael considered Mr. Sunkum’s age to be his biggest challenge. “Something I challenged him the most on was his age. I was like, ‘You were just in high school a couple of years ago; can you really hold the line if some older high schooler is giving you a hard time with homework or whatever? Can you see yourself now on the other side of the coin?’” Carmichael asked.

Throughout his high school and college career, he has consistently excelled academically; now it is time for him to do the same on the other side of the classroom.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Get to Know Coach Dylan Giacin

September 24, 2025 by Andrew Sherland

Mr. Dylan Giacin. Photo: Bemidji State University athletics.

Coach Dylan Giacin is one of the newest additions to Northwood School and the hockey program. Coach Giacin works alongside Head Prep Coach Steve Mallaro as the assistant and defense coach. He is from St. Louis, Missouri, and while growing up, he played for the Chesterfield Falcons before attending Culver Academy in Indiana, one of Northwood’s rivals. Later in juniors, Coach Giacin played for the Syracuse Stars and the St. Louis Jr. Blues.

“I was looking for a job after I finished my year as a volunteer video coach at Bemidji State University in the CCHA. I knew Shawn Lynch from college when I was an undergraduate coach at Lake Forest College, and he got my information to Steve, and within a week later, they hired me at Northwood,” said Coach Giacin.

“Being on 3^rd East has been good, but a challenge as well. It is always good to have something to keep you on your toes, so I welcomed it with open arms. It has been amazing meeting new people, learning new things, and getting to know my hockey players on a different level. It has been a really good experience so far, and I am looking forward to the rest of the year!”

Two fun facts about Coach Giacin are that he is a triplet and teaches a Statistics class.

Overall, Coach Giacin has had a fun and positive impact on the Northwood community and the boys’ hockey teams, as he is a favorite of the hockey players. He is looking forward to a fun and successful year in hockey and school.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

Catching up with Alumni Gracie Hurlbut ‘25

September 24, 2025 by Anna Monette

Gracie Hurlbut ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Gracie Hurlbut is a 2025 graduate who was here for three years and had a big impact on all who knew her. She was always a person to talk to, who would help with homework, and was just a great person overall. Gracie is now at Castleton University, where she will continue her academic and hockey careers, but she still carries the lessons she learned at Northwood into everything she does.

“The transition to college has been easy for me since this will be my fourth year away from home. The only thing that was difficult was making new friends and having a different routine. The academics have also been different with more work and having to study a lot more, but overall, the transition has been good, and I am settling in and have lots of new friends now.”

Gracie said that Northwood helped her grow for college and be prepared, especially socially. Since coming to Northwood as a sophomore, she had to make hard changes and step out of her comfort zone to meet new friends. Now, as a freshman in college, she is doing the same.

Although Gracie said everyone in the Northwood community helped her become the person she is today, she made sure to highlight some people. “Getzy (Ms. Leigh Riffle) had a big impact on me, especially having her as a teacher during my senior year. She was always there for me when I needed it and always pushed me to be better every day. My friends also had a huge impact on me. I could not imagine going to school without them, the memories we made as well as being my support system the whole way will always be something I am forever grateful for and hope to find in college.”

Gracie says she often misses Northwood and how, over the past three years, it became her home. “My biggest advice for students at Northwood is to take it all in, do not be afraid to go and say ‘Hi’ to someone new, talk to as many people as possible, and make memories every day because it goes by fast. Also, get Emma’s as much as you can.”

Even though Gracie is no longer at Northwood, she will always be a part of the Northwood community, and we look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in the future!

Filed Under: People, Sports

Multicultural Club Gets a Makeover

September 17, 2025 by Sasha Luhur

With the departure of Dean of Multicultural Affairs Mr. Martinez, Northwood’s Multicultural Student Club (MSC) has recently come under the direction of Mr. Jose Coss. The club recently held its first meeting of the year, where semester and year-long goals were outlined for the 25-26 school year.

Mr. Jose Coss, faculty advisor of the Multicultural Students Club. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I think the important thing that we want people to know is that we are making important changes, structurally and on our objectives,” Mr. Coss said, inspiring many members as he laid out his vision for the club. “We want to set reachable objectives that can impact not only the Northwood community, but also the broader Lake Placid community. We’re trying to not only to promote diversity within the school, but also highlight the diversity that lives in this town—that’s our focus,” Coss added.

Tziyon Morris ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

MSC also assembled its first Board of Directors, shaking up the club’s previous government structure: Tziyon Morris ‘26, Sasha Luhur ‘27, and Dominica Sarandeva ‘26 were appointed to lead MSC on its upcoming journey. “I’m excited to have a bigger role that can actually impact Northwood,” Morris said. Among the ideas suggested in the first meeting, Tziyon says he’s “most excited for a potential St. Agnes School trip.”

Dominica Sarandeva ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

A significant aspect of the club’s goals is to integrate different cultures into Northwood life. “We’re hoping to have some events that bring awareness to some cultures that people aren’t really knowledgeable about,” Sarandeva said. “I’m Bulgarian, and not many people know anything about our culture. It would be cool to celebrate things like our food, so I’m excited for all the things we’re planning to do with the club,” she added.

Sasha Luhur ’27. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Club members are also excited about the year’s plans. “Lunar New Year is my favorite Chinese holiday, and I’ve never been able to go home and celebrate. I know there are a lot of international students who feel the same way about their holidays, so it would be great if we could do something for those holidays at school,” Jingxi Zhao ’26 said. “We could also make the foods from those celebrations, like I wish we could make dumplings for everyone to try and learn about food from different countries,” Zhao added.

MSC’s future is full of motivation and fun ideas for the year, and we hope to keep that momentum going. “I’m really glad that we’re putting renewed energy into the club this year, and I’m honored to direct it,” Luhur said. “It’s so important for MSC to have a voice because otherwise, we never really have a platform to let the rest of the school know about our backgrounds and how they shape us. Not many people at school know that I was born and raised in Indiana, but I grew up surrounded by Chinese and Indonesian culture from my parents. It’s a huge part of my identity, and I hope that everyone in the club can share their full identities too. Leading the club this year, it’s our job to facilitate events to give our members a louder voice, and I’m really excited to get started for the year,” Luhur added.