Features

4th Annual Nationals Baseball Game and Tailgate Fund Raiser – Sunday, June 7th

The Annual Alumni Association Nationals Baseball Game and Tailgate Party Fund Raiser is a great way to network with your fellow alumni, make new friends, and relax on a summer day! Plus, if you are a member of 2009, it's a great way to hang with your classmates before heading off to college.

This event is open to all alumni of TJHSST, as well as faculty and staff (current and alumni). All attendees must have a prepaid ticket for both the tailgate fund raiser and the game. Alumni may bring as many guests as they wish, provided that all guests have tickets. (No walk-ups can be accepted.) This is a "family-friendly" event.

Our group will have a designated, secure party area, called the "Rooftop Party Deck". When you purchase your ticket from us, you will pick up your game tickets at WILL CALL and will be added to the guest list for the Rooftop Party Tailgate.

The deadline to purchase tickets is June 1st. We started with 500 tickets and have less than 40 remaining, so please visit our web site to reserve your spot today.

Please direct questions and volunteering requests to the event coordinator, Todd Burner '95: todd.burner@tjhsstalumni.org.

Jefferson Alumni Day and Class Reunions – Saturday, August 1st

Join your fellow alums (9,000+ of us) for a fun, family-friendly event at TJ to celebrate the school's continued ranking as the #1 public high school in the nation. This event is packed full of exciting activities including:

• Class reunions for every class from 1989 thru 2009 (20 years!)
• All-you-can-eat barbecue, beverages, cotton candy, popcorn, and more
• Keynote speech from Principal Glazer: TJ - Past, Present, and Future
• Class photos
• Class competitions
• Class and club breakout sessions (football, cheerleading, band, and more)
• Tours of TJ and the labs by current students
• Music
• Children's activities camp

We are expecting over 1000 alumni to attend this event. Purchase tickets before July 1 for a 20% discount.

We're looking for volunteers - parents, students and alumni - to help staff this event (parking, transportation, security, photography, activities, children's camp, food, setup, tear down). Please contact Dan Soschin to learn how you can obtain free tickets by staffing part of the event: president@tjhsstalumni.org.

Get Involved

All-Night Graduation Party – Saturday, June 13th

Remember your all-night graduation party? The sumo wrestling, cotton candy, 2-on-2 basketball, and all the yearbook signings? Well, each year the Alumni Association sponsors a table and a contest at this great event to support the graduating class, and we need volunteers to staff the table on June 13th. Please email president@tjhsstalumni.org if you can join in supporting the grads! This is a ton of fun!

Reunions Chair Needed

We are currently seeking members of the following classes to head or support their reunion committees for 2010 reunions: 2005 (5-year reunion), 2000 (10-year reunion), 1995 (15 year reunion), 1990 (20 year reunion). These reunion committees will be formed in August (in three months) and we will meet to set the dates and venues at that time.

We are also looking for the Reunions Chair who will oversee all class reunions. This is a great position for someone in the event planning business who wants to develop their portfolio while having fun and giving back to their school. The time commitment is not very intensive, but we could really use some additional help.

If you’d like to help us make next year's reunions the best they’ve ever been, please email reunions@tjhsstalumni.org to let us know!

New Web Site... it's almost here! Can you help?

It's about time! Thanks to the support of the TJ Partnership Fund and the Alumni Association IT Committee (Daniel Odio '94, Mark Feghali '98, Micah Boster '99, Karin Bryant-Nova '95, John Blair '95), our site is receiving a much needed makeover. The new site will include an updated skin and interface, an expanded database that's easier to search, and a host of other enhancements. While much of the work is underway, we could use a web designer to help out with the new skin. If you are interested, please contact Daniel Odio '94: daniel.odio@tjtaskforce.org.

The new site will be rolled out in several phases over the coming months, beginning with phase one in early June/July.

Alumni Association – Changes and Openings

A bunch of alums piled into a one of Reston Library's meeting rooms on a beautiful Sunday in March to conduct regular business, set the agenda for the upcoming year, and to elect new board members. The results of the elections are:

• President - Dan Soschin '95
• Past-President - Jay Briar '94
• Secretary - Nikhil Sinha '01
• At-Large - Todd Burner '95
• At-Large - Rachana Bhide '97
• At-Large / Partnership Fund Liasion - Micah Boster '99
• Communications Chair - Mindy Jones '00

The above members will serve a two-year term expiring in March of 2011. We still have a vacancies for Treasurer, Reunions Chair, and At-Large Members. If you are interested in serving in one of these roles, please email president@tjhsstalumni.org for more information.

News Briefs

2nd Annual Partnership Fund Banquet Draws Record Crowd

The Partnership Fund held its 2nd annual awards banquet and fund raiser at the Army Navy club in Washington, D.C. on May 28th. Over 165 members of the community were present, including Segway inventor Dean Kamen, former Congressman Tom Davis, former Virginia State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, and countless other executives from the public and private sectors, including ExxonMobil, ManTech, Lockheed, Northrup, SAIC, and more. Not only was this a great opportunity to celebrate TJ and present some awards to its benefactors, we raised a significant amount of money for the school to help close the $1 million annual budget shortfall. Not to mention the networking that took place! It was also great to see fellow alumni present, including Mark Feghali '98, Ben Renard '08, Brian Terrill '08, Alicia Martini '89, Dan Soschin '95, Suzanne Coyle Redmond '93 and Kathleen Coyle Tysse '98. Thanks to all for your generous and much needed donations.

Reunion Planning Updates (Classes of 1989, 1994, 1999 & 2004)

1989: 20-Year Reunion
Save the date for July 31st - August 2nd! Your reunion will include a bar night, formal night and class picnic. For more information, please visit your reunions page. Tickets are on sale now and will increase in price after June 15th.

1994: 15-Year Reunion
Save the date for July 31st - August 2nd! Your reunion will include a bar night and class picnic. For more information, please contact reunion chair, Ashley Leonard: adleonard@verizon.net. The class is looking for additional persons to assist with the planning of the events.

1999: 10-Year Reunion
Save the date for November 27th - 28th (Thanksgiving Weekend) for a bar night, formal night and class picnic. For more information, please contact reunion chair, Bryan Oh: bryan.oh@gmail.com

2004: 5-Year Reunion
Please contact reunion chair Hannah Peterson (elevators3@hotmail.com) to join the reunion committee. While no formal plans have been set, save the date for Thanksgiving weekend for your class bar night and picnic. However these dates are tentative.

Recap: 3rd Annual Spring Career Mentor Fair at TJ

Thank you to everyone who took part in this year's Career Mentor Fair. Approximately 36 alums, spanning nearly 15 years, took part in the event at TJHSST. That's the largest group we've ever had! They shared their professional and graduate-level advice, career paths, and insight with over 300+ TJ students. Rachana Bhide '97 organized this event for the 3rd year in a row and it keeps getting better!

The Career Mentor Fair provides a unique opportunity for alumni to connect with students one-on-one in a booth-style format, and to interact with students about the path alums took towards landing their current job or entering a particular industry field (e.g. major, college, daily work life, TJ background, influences, etc.)

TJ students sign-up for an 8th period block (juniors/seniors in one block, underclassmen in another) to walk around the career mentor fair, picking up information and speaking with alumni at each booth. Each year we receive very positive feedback from the school and the students and this year was no different. Thanks again to our wonderful volunteers - we could not do it without you!

Thanks to the following participants:
Jack Levenson ‘90, Matt Appler ‘91, Sarah Leary ‘92, Peter Hesse ‘93, Khai Chau ‘93, Steven Jackson ‘93, Colleen Reed ‘93, Benjamin Kim ‘93, Alex Roup ‘94, Julie Zachariadis ‘94, Ilana Greenstein ‘94, John Blair ‘95, Kevin Gormley ‘95, Karin Bryant Nova ‘95, Joanna Yun ‘95, Michelle Klevan Cohn ‘95, Lea Winerman ‘96, Chris Norman ‘97, Rachana Bhide ‘97, Brendan Murray ‘97, Andrea Borchardt-Gardner ‘97, Clarence Lee ‘97, Joseph Kang ‘98, Vincent Gaiani ‘98, Rachel Thessin ‘99, Micah Boster ‘99, Arvind Kannan ‘99, Jen Kim ‘99, Mindy Jones ‘00, Jamie Wolf ‘01, Scott Jaeschke ‘02, Sean Finegan ‘03, Kacey White ‘03, Meredith Sachs ‘05.

Check Out the tjToday Student Newspaper Online

Remember tjToday? Well, now you can stay up-to-date with all the happenings at TJ from the perspective of students by viewing the online edition of tjToday.

Connections

Alumni Spotlight: Bob Bland '01

brooklynroyalty@gmail.com
www.brooklynroyalty.com

Current job: I am currently the founder & head designer of Brooklyn Royalty, an NYC-based indie streetwear brand. I also run an event space/photo studio/showroom called The Arsenal, also based in Brooklyn, which serves as the HQ for Brooklyn Royalty. 

When you were in high school, you envisioned your 2009 job to be: A Fashion Designer

Undergraduate education: Graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2004 with a BFA in Fashion and Minor in Art History

High school hobbies/activities: Tae Kwon Do, Choir, Theatre, Shakespeare Troupe, Class Council/SGA, Russian Club, ESC, Forensics

Current hobbies/activities: Tae Kwon Do, Meditation, Teaching Business Classes for Indie Creatives {like myself}

Interesting/notable post-TJ professional experiences: Selected by SCAD President Paula Wallace for intimate lunch with designer Diane Von Furstenberg and Vogue Editor-at-Large Andre Leon Talley, Interned for Maggie Norris Couture, Designed for Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic and Rugby Ralph Lauren; Head Menswear Designer for Triple 5 Soul

Interesting/notable post-TJ personal experiences: Attained my 3rd Degree Black Belt in 2004, buying our first house in Philadelphia and I’m getting married in a week!

TJ student, teacher, staff member, or experience that had the most positive influence on you: That’s too hard to decide…the entire experience was so positive! Ms. Groves was definitely a great support to me throughout my high school years, and continues to be a dear friend who I regularly keep in touch with. 

Current short-term goals: Successfully opening my new space, The Arsenal, and planning the Spring 2010 collection for Brooklyn Royalty.

Current long-term goals: Using my resources to help other Brooklyn-based independent business people to succeed, and building a community of creative individuals that collectively support each other.

Alumni Spotlight: Sunny Reid Warren '00

sunny.warren@gmail.com

Current job: Intelligence Officer for 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA

When you were in high school, you envisioned your 2009 job to be: A medical student. I had this crazy idea I was going to be a doctor.  Didn't pan out though, as I'm not the brightest bulb in the drawer when it comes to organic chemistry.

Undergraduate education: Duke University, BS in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy '04

Graduate education: None yet. I'm headed to George Washington University Law School this fall.  Ask me again in 2012.

High school hobbies/activities: Crew team, Russian. I always wanted to try out for drama, but I was too chicken.

Current hobbies/activities: Running, writing (3 published short stories, 3 professional articles). I'm also mildly obsessed with the show "Deadliest Warrior" on Spike TV.

Interesting/notable post-TJ professional experiences: I've been deployed to Iraq twice; the first time to Baghdad, the second time to a small base about 40 miles south of Mosul.  Not the most fun I've ever had, to be honest, but definitely interesting. I've also been accepted into the Army's Funded Legal Education Program, where they are going to pay to send me to law school. Upon graduation, I'll be an Army JAG officer.

Interesting/notable post-TJ personal experiences: I had a baby, Sophia Qayyara Warren, on February 28th, 2009.  We bought a house in Virginia last month, so I guess I'm officially an adult now. It sneaks up on you.

TJ student, teacher, staff member, or experience that had the most positive influence on you: Crew, and Mrs. Sandstrom (Russian teacher -- zhdrastvuitye!)

Current short-term goals: Graduate from law school, publish the novel I've been working on, hang out with my munchkin.

Current long-term goals: Retire from the military and travel.

Should we spotlight you or someone you know? Please email mjones@tjhsstalumni.org to let us know!

Alumni Updates

Emily McConnelly '05 has been accepted to, and will be attending the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, beginning in fall 2009.

Heidi (Wetterberg) Jovanovic ’90 is a US Foreign Service Officer currently serving as the Head of the U.S. Embassy Sarajevo’s Branch office in Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina. She and her husband Andrej were married in Santorini, Greece in June 2007. Prior to this assignment, she served in Pristina, Kosovo; and in London, England.

Lynellen Perry '89 received her PhD in Computer Science in December 2008. She and her husband live in Dumfries, Virginia.

Rebecca Plummer Varga '92, her husband, Peter, their son Renton and daughter Emily Ann welcome new son/brother Micky Anderson to the family in January of 2009.

Jeff Schoenborn '93 married Dr. Nancy Li on Nov 8, 2008. Jeff is a business intelligence programmer for The Advisory Board, and Nancy is an intern at Johns Hopkins. They live in Baltimore MD.

Darnell Lynch '88exp had a baby boy, Joshua Quinton Lynch, on December 1, 2008. He was born early and only weighed 1 lb. 4.6 oz! However, he has almost tripled his weight and is continuing to progress.

Melissa Reilly '04 is getting married to Jori Byrne-Diakun on April 25th, 2009 in Woodbridge, close to both of their families. They reside in Falls Church, VA and she works with a non-profit in DC called the Character Education Partnership.

Lucas Brown '05 was named a 2009 Rhodes Scholar. He is currently enrolled at Oberlin.

Jose Peralta '02 and Leah Peralta (Skelly) '03 got married on April 11, 2009 in Chantilly, Virginia. They live in Cascades, Virginia with their two dogs.

Got yourself hitched? Now a parent? Became the CEO of your own dot-com? Finally finished that PhD? Hit a new high score on Tetris? Please email mjones@tjhsstalumni.org to tell us about it! Your classmates want to know!

"Since you are a person I trust, I wanted to invite you to join my network..."

There are hundreds of us who are milling around on LinkedIn and Facebook, not knowing that everyone else is there too! Catch up and network with old friends by joining TJHSST Alumni Groups!

The TJHSST Alumni LinkedIn Group is only open to alumni and teachers. The TJ Alumni Database will be our means of confirming your identity as a former student so please be sure to update your entry in the alumni database before you join! Thanks to Jenny Cameron '94 for managing this group!

The TJHSST Alumni Facebook Group is already 3000+ members strong! Thanks to Rachana Bhide '97 and Nikhil Sinha '01 for administering this group!

Check us out on Twitter... we are launching the TJHSST Alumni Twitter channel for breaking news about the school, current issues and event updates. Check us out at... @TJHSSTalumni