Anthony Brown ’01 helping to make a positive difference in Madison schools

The Urban League of Greater Madison recently sent out a notice that Anthony Brown ’01 is the organization’s new Schools of Hope Volunteer Coordinator.

The news release said, “Anthony’s family has deep ties to the Urban League and the Greater Madison Community, making him a perfect fit to help us harness the energy of the Madison Community and fill our need for tutors and event volunteers. Anthony earned a bachelor in Theater Arts from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. While the Urban League is now his day job, Anthony spends his free time establishing himself in the local music scene, collaborating with other local artists and spreading a message of positivity.”

Said Anthony, “My best attribute is my ability to bring people together and collaborate. There is no better feeling than knowing you accomplished a goal with a team.” 

Schools of Hope is an effort to reduce the gap in academic achievement between students of color and their white peers in Dane County schools. Working closely twelve middle schools in Dane County, the Urban League recruits, trains and matches tutors with students to ensure that all students are adequately prepared to successfully complete algebra and other academic subjects when they enter high school.

Travel to River City, Iowa, for the evening and enjoy The Music Man

In Edgewood High School’s spring musical production of The Music Man, Professor Harold Hill comes to River City with his flim-flam scheme to sell the residents on buying instruments and uniforms for a youth band, but along the way, he meets librarian and piano teacher Marian Paroo and falls in love. Full of nostalgic midwestern charm, memorable music by Meredith Willson, dancing and comedy, The Music Man is a show for the whole family, featuring a cast of high school and elementary school children.

Show dates are April 8-10 and April 15-17.
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm.

Tickets: Adults $12, HS/College $7, Children to age 12/Seniors 65+ $5

Join EHS as we go Sailing into the Starlight!

Be a part of Edgewood’s Biggest Event of the Year!

Join us this year as we go

“Sailing Into the Starlight”

at our Annual Social and Fundraiser.

April 22, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.

This year's event offers a romantic and fun-filled cruise theme with lots of “shipboard” entertainment. In addition to providing a wide array of buffet tables, games to play, and great items and packages to purchase—all necessary for any cruise ship passage—the evening also features an Edgewood favorite, Piano Fondue. These stellar performers will take center stage in our "Starlight Lounge" and supply plenty of lighthearted musical entertainment.

We can use your help. 

Donate to the live and silent auctions. Gift cards to Madison area restaurants, retail stores, tickets to entertainment and sports events, and gift certificates for service providers are best-sellers. Unique experiences, travel and EHS items are also especially valued—be creative! 

Support the event financially, either with funds dedicated to purchasing auction items or with sponsorships that help offset auction expenses. Naming and sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact us directly with questions. 

Find your favorite cruise attire, then register to attend and bring a friend! Take advantage of this opportunity to spend an evening of fun with others from the Edgewood community—and contribute to an important cause: supporting a great educational experience for another generation of Crusaders! 

Lori Venturella ’98 and Katie David ’97 bring history to life for readers and students

Lori Walther Venturella ’98 has a new book, Feathers of Inheritance, that is now in publication. It is set in the years from the Civil War through the late 1800s, and tells the stories of how “... through these two generations that we learn inheritance is passed down, not only through blood, but through sacrifice and hope.” The book is available through Amazon-Kindle.

Recent reviews of the book have given it high praise:

Vividly detailed with strong characters. A lyrical feel that takes you back into the world of war and love and the hardship people endured.

I considered myself a civil war buff, but … the author’s descriptions make you feel like you are there witnessing all this pain and beauty.

The story is full of suspense and … teaches a lot about how we live with our relatives and how we treat people with special needs.

This author has a fresh new voice who takes her readers to the very soul of her characters.

Lori received her BS in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin. She has taught Orton-Gillingham since 2009. Lori currently lives in Verona, Wisconsin with her husband and two sons.


Ninth grade history teacher Katie David ’97 was featured in an article by the Portage Daily Register and the story was expanded upon in a blog by TCI, a K-12 publishing company created by teachers for teachers. TCI interviewed Katie about the implementation of the Pursuing American Ideals Program at Pardeeville High School in Wisconsin.

Katie says, “I’m a believer in projects. I like my students to demonstrate their understanding… [through] a variety of different skills–from drawing maps to writing songs–which allow me to differentiate instruction and test multiple intelligences without constantly inventing new projects. My students love the lessons that get them out of their chairs, especially the activities that have them take on a role – immigrant, muckraker, etc.”

“Like my students, I love the activities that have them moving around and looking at authentic sources. I have not utilized many of the online features yet due to my students’ irregular access to computers. As our district grows less reliant on paper-based assessments, however, I think they will be more relevant to my teaching style.”

After years in the Big Apple, Sarah Milestone ’90 now raises funds for Taliesin

Sarah Milestone ’90 moved to New York in 1995 with an art history degree from UW-Madison. She worked as a fundraiser for a number of art museums, including the Guggenheim, the Frick and the Whitney, as well as the American Ballet Theatre.

After returning to Wisconsin in 2012, she worked as director of development for the Wisconsin Historical Foundation for two years and is now the director of development and communications for Taliesin Preservation in Spring Green. She and her team are implementing ways to increase audience engagement and build awareness for our education programs and preservation projects.

Read a “Executive Q&A” interview with Sarah posted by Pat Simms of the Wisconsin State Journal.

Jo Jean Kehl Janus ’54 still light on her toes

Jo Jean Kehl Janus ’54 led a professional life as a dance performer and choreographer, and was devoted to teaching at the Kehl School of Dance, which was founded by her grandfather. Now retired, Jo Jean continues to spread the love of dance. But instead of teaching ballet to youngsters, she’s teaching hula and other lively dances to the elderly.

Jo Jean and members of the successive generations of the family who continue to operate the dance school, now expanded to multiple locations and in its fifth generation, are featured in an article by Katie Mohr in the March 2016 edition of Brava magazine (article on page 20 of pdf file).  Another story about the business appeared last April in InBusiness magazine.

For some great historical photos from the Kehl School of Dance, like this one of Jo Jean and her twin sister, Jo Ann, visit this Flickr page by the Wisconsin State Historical Society.

Frank Hearn ’16 makes final splash for family diving tradition

On February 19, senior diver Frank Hearn took his final plunge as a Crusader to capture 4th Place at the 2016 WIAA State Swim & Dive Meet. His performance was also the last by a string of siblings who were all Edgewood High School diving standouts for more than a decade.

Frank and his three older sisters each qualified for State in every year of their high school careers and here are their top finishes:

Kiley ’06 – State Champion 2004, 2005; UW-Madison Dive Team; former EHS Dive Coach

Morgan ’08 – State Champion 2007; UW-Milwaukee Dive Team; EHS Boys and Girls Dive Coach

Sheridan ’12 – 3rd Place at 2010 WIAA State

Frank ’16 – 4th Place at 2016 WIAA State

Sheridan, Frank, Kiley and Morgan Hearn

Frank has been coached by all three of his sisters, who have also coached local club dive teams.

Even after the Hearn sisters all graduated, the Crusader Girls Diving has remained strong as EHS junior Ginger Lingard, who went undefeated throughout the 2015 season, was crowned State Champ for the third straight year last fall and sophomore teammate Grace Conroy placed 8th. Their performance contributed to the Crusader Girls Swim & Dive Team taking its first WIAA State Championship!