Alumni

Jemicy Alumni Association

MISSION STATEMENT

The purpose of the Jemicy School Alumni Association is to promote the interests and goals of Jemicy School by providing leadership, support, and resources for the benefit of the School community including alumni, students, parents, faculty, administration and staff.

In order to achieve this, the Association will facilitate a meaningful dialogue between the alumni and School administration, sponsor and promote events, programs and other activities designed to encourage alumni participation. These programs are intended to cultivate a heightened affinity and loyalty for the School and to provide opportunities for the professional, social and intellectual growth of the Alumni Association’s members and students.

Alumni Association
BOARD

Alumni Executive Board

List of 6 items.

President - Hunter Duke '08

Hunter Duke '08 LMS started at Jemicy School in J1 (first grade) and has always felt a deep connection to the school that laid his educational foundation. Hunter credits his academic journey at Jemicy for much of his success, stating, "Without Jemicy, I would not be where I am today. I feel immense gratitude for Jemicy School, and I want to help make it the best it can be for all students, so they may have the same opportunities as me." Motivated by this profound appreciation, Hunter joined the Alumni Board to give back to the place that continues to play such a pivotal role in his life.

Jemicy showed unwavering support for Hunter and his family during his early years. Diagnosed with a rare and debilitating hip disease in second grade, Hunter was wheelchair-bound on and off for two years. Without hesitation, Jemicy accommodated his physical needs, constructing ramps and relocating classes to ensure accessibility. Hunter cherishes to this day the memory of his classmates pulling up in a Jemicy school bus to visit him, as he recovered from hip surgery. That level of thoughtfulness is a prime example of Jemicy's clear dedication to excellence that goes beyond academics. Developing well-rounded students also extended to sports, where Hunter, despite not being the fastest on the court/field, participated eagerly in all three sports seasons each year in middle school, fueled by the support of his teachers and peers.

The skills, confidence, and resilience Hunter developed at Jemicy empowered him to pursue his dreams. Hunter graduated law school and passed the bar exam on his first attempt. He is now a practicing attorney and the Operations Manager at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers in Baltimore City. Hunter has been recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” and made the list for National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. His goal as an Alumni Board member is to ensure that every Jemicy student has the resources and opportunities to build the same firm foundation that allowed him to thrive, both personally and professionally.
Vice President - Jessica Van Dyke ‘07 LMS

Jessica Van Dyke ’07 LMS is the quintessential LMS grad, making her ideal for the role of LMS rep on the Alumni Association Executive Board. An entrepreneur at heart from the very beginning, she shares that Jemicy instilled in her the confidence and self-esteem to never give up on her dreams. One of her dreams recently came true when she launched a brand of modern, membership-based veterinary practices called PawsUp Vets!

Highlights of her time at Jemicy include her participation in athletics. She spent four years playing Division 1 soccer and had a brief career in semiprofessional soccer. She’s especially proud that her #6 jersey was retired at her middle school commencement ceremony. She also participated in theater and student government. “At Jemicy, you could confidently be whoever you wanted to be!”

During her time here, she discovered that having dyslexia does not have to be a burden and that many brilliant people learn differently. We couldn’t agree more, Jessica!
Treasurer - Bud Schuster ‘05 LMS

Bud, treasurer of the Alumni Board, works as a product and technology manager at Pearson Education. He credits Jemicy for encouraging him to speak up and allow his thoughts to be heard. “They helped to build my confidence and taught me the importance of being a leader.”

Bud still maintains life-long friendships with his former classmates. He shares “I loved being part of a community of individuals who all learned differently. It truly helped me understand that I could learn and even enjoy the learning process. Before my time at Jemicy, I struggled with learning. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to pick up new knowledge from all my incredible teachers. They spoke directly to me and never made me feel that something was wrong with me.”

Bud enjoys staying involved with the school that gave him “ a wonderful education, lifelong friends, and a great career where I can give back to learners in my own way. Jemicy set me on the path to success and was the source of wonderful memories that I will always have.” Thanks, Bud, for helping us create more special memories together.
LMS Rep - Dylan Miller '06

Dylan Miller attended Jemicy School from first through eighth grade, graduating from middle school in 2006. His connection to Jemicy runs deep—his father was among the school’s very first graduates. Dylan credits Jemicy with shaping the way he learns and approaches challenges, fostering creativity and helping him discover unique ways to think and problem-solve. Today, Dylan lives in Pikesville with his wife, their two daughters, and the family dog, Pickles. He works as a realtor, specializing in properties throughout the Baltimore area.
US Rep - Phil Hoesch ‘06 US

Not only is Phil Hoesch ‘06 the Alumni Board Upper School rep, but he has also made his career at his alma mater as the director of technology. His first-hand knowledge and passion for Jemicy’s unique brand of education make him the perfect person to keep our technology running smoothly.

Phil takes immense pride in his upper school Kinetic Sculpture Race experience and is still involved with this popular Jemicy program. “This unique and exhilarating event not only showcased my creativity but also challenged me to think outside the box. KSR provided me with a platform to blend artistic expression with engineering ingenuity. Collaborating with fellow students on the design, construction, and execution of our kinetic sculpture was not just a project but a hands-on learning adventure. The race itself became a testament to teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance.” Phil also enjoyed his role in school plays via providing tech support, another role he still is involved with today.

Looking back, Phil realizes that the “strict” teachers whom he came across at Jemicy actually had a genuine desire to help him succeed. While their high expectations and firm demeanor might have seemed intimidating, they helped him grow both academically and personally.
US Rep & Alumni Engagement - Harry Heaps ‘18

Harry Heaps ’18 is a frequent visitor to the Jemicy campus! In addition to his roles as Upper School rep and alumni engagement, he has presented at Career Day and speaks at admission events. He currently works at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey as the assistant director of development following several years at Johns Hopkins University in development and alumni relations. He credits Jemicy for starting him on the track of his career through the photography and multimedia projects that he took during high school.

During his time as a student, Harry received the "Dr. Susan R. Grant Community Service Award" and the "Viking Award" for Men's Varsity Lacrosse. Harry believes that being the varsity lacrosse captain defined his career at Jemicy. “My teammates were some of my closest friends in high school, and the team aspect gave birth to my competitive lifestyle.”

Harry shares, “Jemicy prepared me for my life outside of its walls. I did not know at the time how great life would be outside of Jemicy until I graduated. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self that Jemicy is giving you every skill you need to leave it one day. Do not be worried about that graduation date and the change that will come with it. It will all be worth it!

Alumni Board Member

List of 8 items.

Mackenzie Tietjen '10

Mackenzie Tietjen is a proud 2010 graduate of Jemicy School. Her journey at Jemicy began in 2003 when she entered seventh grade, and from the very start, she was passionate about everything the school had to offer. Throughout her years at Jemicy, she actively participated in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, as well as hosting the Evening of the Arts—an event that allowed her to share the unique community at Jemicy. Not only is Jemicy the place where she found her very best friend, but it is also where she learned the tools and gained the confidence to succeed well beyond her time there.
After graduating from Jemicy, Mackenzie went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English at Washington College. In November 2024, she was fortunate to return to Jemicy School as a resource teacher, as well as take on the role of assistant coach for the middle school track and field team. In addition, she was happy to join her fellow alumni on the Jemicy Alumni Board. Go Moose!
Zara Applestein '11
Sam Gensler '14

Mr. Gensler, a Jemicy alumnus who graduated in 2014, began working at the Upper School as a skills teacher in 2021. He has since transitioned into specializing in the senior written expression class where he has created a curriculum informed by his recent experiences in college which helps prepare Jemicy students for whatever post-graduation path they may take. In addition, he is an experienced assistant coach, working with Men's Varsity Soccer and Men’s Varsity Baseball teams for the past three years.

Sam graduated with honors from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon where he majored in theatre with a focus in performance. He took a year off during college to travel the world with Up with People, an international nonprofit organization that provides community service, outreach programs, and community performances, as the technical director’s intern. He also taught leadership and cultural awareness classes in the local schools he visited. By utilizing his diverse experiences and theatrical background, Sam strives to make lessons more engaging and approachable just as his Jemicy teachers did for him.
Sarah Mills Barker '14
Liza King '14
Peter Woods '15

Peter Woods credits Jemicy for playing a key role in his life by teaching him to never to give up. He shares that it took eight years to graduate from Curry College in Milton, MA., but he earned his degree! For Peter, reading and math were always a struggle, but Jemicy provided the tools he needed to be successful. He lists self-advocacy as one of the most important skills he learned--using it throughout college, meeting with professors during office hours, and building lasting relationships with them. Now, because of Jemicy, he’s proud to say he is a college graduate and has a successful career working in sales at Gramophone where he uses the skills that Jemicy and Curry College taught him every day.
Jake Quartner '16

Jake Quartner '16 started his Jemicy career in 8th grade in the Upper School Prep Program. Throughout his time at Jemicy, he learned different tasks and life skills that allowed him to excel in his college years at the College of Charleston, as well as in his professional life running the family business, Sudsville Laundry and Carwash. At Jemicy, Jake found an environment that celebrated different ways of thinking and learning. These skills, from problem solving in the classroom to constructing vehicles for Kinetic Sculpture Race, prepared him to run a business and deal with daily challenges, practice time management, and strengthen his resilience.

Jake left his mark on Jemicy when he founded the Upper School’s golf team, which has gone on to be the most successful sports teams at Jemicy School.

Jemicy School gave Jake the tools not just to learn, but to thrive in all aspects of life. Not only did Jake carry an incredible education from Jemicy, but he also carried a deep appreciation for a place that truly saw him for who he was, and helped him evolve into the person he is today. Being a part of the alumni board will give Jake the chance to help shape the future of the school and celebrate the unique successes of future Jemicy graduates.
Braeden Boyle '16

Alumni
NEWS

List of 3 news stories.

"Cheers with Bierer" Does It Again
12/9/2025
What a huge success! Thanks to the 70+ attendees who came out for the “Cheers with Bierer” event on Tuesday. It was, as always, wonderful to see alumni connect with each other and with their former teachers. A highlight was when Head of School Ben Shifrin was bestowed an honorary diploma from the Alumni Association Board—he is now officially a Jemicy graduate! A great night all around!
"Fashion with a Purpose" Documentary Honored in NYC
10/19/2025
Congrats to these rising stars! This past weekend, a group of alumni joined faculty in New York City to celebrate the viewing of a documentary they created from 2022-2024, while they were students at the Upper School. “Fashion with a Purpose,” the brainchild of the videography students and teacher, Leslie Furlong, was chosen to be premiered this year at the prestigious All-American High School Film Festival in Times Square!
Flag Day 2025
5/20/2025

The great tradition of Alumni Flag Day continued this past spring when we welcomed recent graduates (Class of 2021-2024) back to the Upper School Campus to reconnect with friends and faculty and to share their post-Jemicy experiences in college and career with the junior class.

View All News

Alumni Journal
YEAR IN REVIEW

Year in Review 2024-2025

Alumni News 2023-2024

Interesting
TO KNOW

Research shows that dyslexia is genetically based and passed from parents to children. Between twenty-three and sixty-five percent of children with dyslexia have a parent who is dyslexic. It is not uncommon for dyslexia to affect several people in the same family, and most dyslexics will generally have someone else in their extended family who also struggles with dyslexia. The familial nature of dyslexia has been recognized since the beginning of the last century.

Signs of dyslexia at different ages

Get In Touch
CONTACT

Jared Bierer

Director of Alumni Relations

Email: jbierer@jemicyschool.org

Phone: 410-753-8072

FORMS AND INFORMATION

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Let us know where your educational and/or career journey has taken you since you left Jemicy! Use this form to update your contact information, submit personal and professional news, and share milestones and life events.

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REQUEST A TRANSCRIPT

The “Request a Transcript” form below is used to request a Jemicy Upper School transcript. Please complete all fields of the form, below. By completing and submitting this form, you are agreeing to have Jemicy’s registrar send you the requested transcript.