Alumni Welcome

List of 3 news stories.

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  Henry Whiting '73 delivers Sirchio Lecture

  Click here to view the full recording of the Sirchio Lecture given by Henry Whiting '73 on April 24, 2024.
  
  Cranbrook Schools alumnus Henry Whiting II ‘73, restorer and resident of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Teater Studio, spoke on campus as part of Cranbrook Schools' Sirchio Distinguished Speaker Series. Whiting shared his journey restoring his Frank Lloyd Wright home, Teater's Knoll in Bliss, Idaho. Whiting told the story of how his interest in architecture that was nurtured by his uncle Alden Dow grew inter a greater passion during  his time at Cranbrook. At University of Wisconsin his ambition to become a golf course architect was derailed by an architecture course that featured the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. This led Whiting to research and purchase the Archie Teater Studio in Bliss, Idaho. Built in 1952 for a well-known painter, "Teeter's Knoll" was the only artist studio ever constructed to a Wright design. Whiting has restored the building over the years and opens it regularly to students and fans of Frank Lloyd Wright.
  
  Whiting shared photos of architecture that ignited his passion for Wright's work, along with other projects he has been involved in over the years. His talk demonstrated how an appreciation for the beauty around us can become a lifelong calling. Whiting exemplified how one can become a true steward of the resources they come to cherish. In many ways, his talk provided a wonderful  highlighted the ambition of George and Ellen Booth's educational philosophy: to surround young people with both natural and man-made beauty in the hope that they would develop a deep appreciation for it. 
  
  Prior to the lecture Whiting shared his understanding of Frank Lloyd Wright's design principles with Cranbrook Kingswood students from the History of Modern Architecture class. He toured the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Smith House with the class and shared his stories of earlier visits there with homeowners Sara and Melvyn Smith, as they swapped tales of life in a Frank Lloyd Wright gem.
  
  View more photos from Henry Whiting's lecture and visit here: https://bit.ly/ckalumgallery
  
  

  Inaugurated in 1993 by alumnus Kris Sirchio `83, the Sirchio Distinguished Speaker Series brings amazing alumni back to inspire students to follow their passion, aim high and believe anything is possible.

  Past speakers have included Michael Barone ‘62, Daniel Ellsberg ‘48, Sven Birkerts ‘69, Ward Just ‘53, Natalie Zemon Davis '45, Michael Hodges ’73, Tod Williams ‘61 and Billie Tsien, Rob Edwards ‘81, planetary scientist Cathy Sybert Olkin '84, and author Edmund White ’58.
  
  If you know of an alum who would be a good candidate to deliver a Sirchio Lecture, please email your suggestion to alumni@cranbrook.edu.
  
  Return to the Alumni Welcome Page
• 

  Laurel Wamsley '02 speaks to the Class of 2024 at Baccalaureate

  On May 19th, alumna Laurel Wamsley ’02 returned to Cranbrook to speak at Baccalaureate, the farewell to the senior class.
  
  

  During her time at Cranbrook, Wamsley was known as a leader. Whether in the Kingswood dorms, ceramics studio, Crane Clarion basement, or on the track, she ensured she was involved with the Cranbrook community. Currently, she is a correspondent at the National Public Radio (NPR).
  
  

  Wamsley experienced excitement and nervousness about her return to Cranbrook, a place that holds many memories for her and helped shape her into who she is today.
  
  

  “It was a real honor to be asked to return and give a speech,” Wamsley said. “But it turns out now I had to write a whole speech. Life was so busy I worried the speech wouldn’t be good.”
  
  

  Wamsley previously gave the commencement speech for her graduating class. She claims that being offered the Baccalaureate speech brought back memories of that day..
  
  

  Wamsley offered three ideas to the class of 2024 based on her experiences: it’s okay to be practical, think about the big problem that interests you most, and live in a city at some point in your young adulthood, even for a little while.
  
  

  Wamsley leaves a final message for the seniors and the Cranbrook community.

  “I urge you to savor it all,” Wamsley stated in her speech. “Each of you has been a valuable, irreplaceable part of this community--citizens who made this little city of Cranbrook so vibrant.”

  
   -Senior May Project Intern Abeer Sheikh '24
  
  View more photos from the event here: https://ckaaphotogallery.smugmug.com/
  View the event recording at https://bit.ly/ckBacca24
  
  Click HERE to visit the reunion page
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  Stephanie Grove '15 and Ben Iorio '17 speak to CK Economics Club

  Stephanie Grove '15 and Ben Iorio '17 shared their personal and professional journeys from CK graduation and undergraduate degrees in economics and mathematics, to working at the Federal Reserve System. They spoke about their passion for economics and desire to make an impact with their work, which led them to pursue doctoral degrees in economics at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business, respectively. Stephanie and Ben inspired the students in CK's burgeoning economics program, which recently earned a State Championship distinction in a National Economics Challenge (NEC) event. Thank you to Stephanie and Ben for joining the students, and congratulations to the club students and club advisor and faculty club advisor Christopher Schotten for their recent success!