Thrive here,
then everywhere

Interim Studies at Brewster Academy is a week designed for students to dive deeper into what drives them, on campus and far beyond it. For Ava Lincender ’28, going deeper meant going all the way to Northern Europe, to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship. It's the kind of pursuit that makes Brewster one of the most distinctive boarding schools in New Hampshire: a place where education follows passion wherever it leads.

When Brewster's Interim Studies week began on March 2, most students were settling into on-campus projects and off-campus adventures. Ava Lincender was lacing up her skates in Kohtla-Järve, Estonia.

A member of Brewster's ice hockey program, Ava had been selected to represent the Bosnia and Herzegovina National Women's Ice Hockey Team at the 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship (Division III, Group B). The championship’s dates placed her squarely in the middle of Brewster's Interim Studies week. Rather than forcing a choice between two major commitments, Ava worked with the school to transform the experience into an independent study, checking in regularly throughout the week with faculty advisor Michelle Rafalowski, who served as her mentor along the way.

The arrangement gave Ava the space to pursue something far bigger than a classroom assignment. Competing against five other nations, Bosnia and Herzegovina earned a silver medal, and Ava finished as the second leading scorer among all players across the entire tournament.

"Representing Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 World Championship in Kohtla-Järve, Estonia, was more than just playing a tournament," Ava reflected. "While the name on the back of the jersey is mine, the pride on the front belongs to my country, and that comes with a great responsibility."

That sense of responsibility was on full display in the silver medal game, where Bosnia found itself down 2-0. Rather than letting the deficit define the outcome, Ava stepped into a leadership role that extended well beyond her spot on the scoresheet.

"I have learned that leadership lives in every voice that refuses to quit when you're down 2-0," she said. "In our silver medal game, the tension was high, but I stepped up and told the girls: 'To win this game, we first have to believe that we can.'"

She then backed up her words, scoring twice, including the game-winner with two minutes left, to complete the comeback.

"Getting us on the scoreboard and scoring the game-winner with two minutes left was a dream moment," Ava said, "but seeing our collective belief turn into a comeback victory was the real highlight for me."

Throughout the week, her check-ins with Mrs. Rafalowski gave the independent study added structure and meaning, helping Ava process and articulate an experience that was as much about growth as it was about competition. Her family felt grateful for that added layer of reflection, describing the whole experience as "truly meaningful" and crediting the school's support for making it possible. For Ava, the two commitments weren't separate at all; the ice and the reflection were always part of the same story.

And that story was never just about a medal or a stat line. It was about what she and her teammates are building, for the sport and for the girls who will come after them.

"We're clearing the ice for this beautiful game so the next generation of girls in Bosnia and Herzegovina knows that no dream is too big to chase," she said. "The work continues."

Putting the “Green” in Greenspace

The landscape design for the courtyard is led by Naomi Cottrell, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, principal of Boston-based Crowley Cottrell, in collaboration with studioDSK. For Cottrell, the project is about more than aesthetics.

“We believe deeply in the power of quality open space,” she said. “At a boarding school with a rigorous academic schedule, having a calm outdoor space to gather and relax provides real respite.”

The design prioritizes pedestrian movement and encourages students and visitors to experience campus at a walking pace where they can be more aware of the lake, the landscape, and the surrounding community.

All plantings are rooted in place, with New England native trees and shrubs selected to thrive in the local climate. Large canopy trees will anchor the space, providing shade and structure for decades to come, while thoughtfully placed plantings soften the edges of pathways and parking areas.

Sightlines to Lake Winnipesaukee were a key consideration. Pathways and gathering spaces are aligned to maintain visual connections to the water that is so central to Brewster’s identity.

Adding a deeply local touch, Brewster parent Len Brochu P’19, ’26, owner of Brochu Nurseries and Landscaping, will install the plantings and stonework for the courtyard. The Brochu team also completed landscaping around the renovated Rogers Building.

“It’s always special when Brewster families contribute their expertise to a project like this,” said Director of Advancement John Northrop.

Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability

Environmental responsibility has been central to planning the Reyes Family Courtyard. By replacing impervious pavement with green space, the project improves stormwater management and reduces runoff into Lake Winnipesaukee.

“With less pavement, the ground can absorb more water naturally,” Gilligan explained. “We’ve worked carefully to protect the watershed.”

The new parking lot includes a central rain garden and modern drainage infrastructure designed to filter runoff and meet best-practice environmental standards. These changes reflect Brewster’s long-term commitment to sustainable campus development.

A Positive Impact Beyond Campus

The project will also enhance the experience of those who live in and visit Wolfeboro. Consolidating driveways along South Main Street will reduce curb cuts, improving safety for pedestrians, runners, and cyclists while smoothing traffic flow along one of the town’s main corridors.

Replacing pavement with trees and professional landscaping will beautify a prominent gateway into town, benefiting neighbors and first-time visitors alike.

Looking Ahead

The Reyes Family Courtyard is designed not only for today’s students, but for future generations. The open greenspace will serve as a flexible gathering area, supporting informal recreation, outdoor studying, community events, and quiet moments of connection.

“We imagine students playing spikeball, relaxing in Adirondack chairs, gathering with friends, enjoying an outdoor class, or simply enjoying a calm space free of cars,” Kerin said. “However they make it their own, we’re confident this courtyard will beautifully enhance the center of campus.”

While the project is fully underway thanks to the generosity of the Reyes Family and other donors, there remain opportunities for community members interested in supporting this important campus improvement. Those interested may contact John Northrop at jnorthrop@brewsteracademy.org.

This year, we asked our entire community to explore what commitment really looks like in practice. As I watched that conversation unfold across classrooms, teams, dorm hallways, and advisory groups, I found myself thinking about some colleagues who have not been exploring the question so much as answering it, continuously, for decades. This spring, we will say farewell to some impactful members of our faculty and staff as they prepare to retire from Brewster.

I’d like to talk about three of our student-facing educators here, and follow up in our next Campus News to talk about three others who have made their impact behind the scenes. While there will be many more recognitions for them as their final year comes to a close, I believe it’s worth taking this opportunity now to highlight all that they’ve done.

TJ Palmer: 39 Years

TJ Palmer has spent 39 years bringing history to life in the classroom while shaping campus culture as a dorm parent, hockey coach, and the engine behind everything from the Tailgate Club to pond hockey tournaments. Experiencing TJ Palmer’s classroom starts before you even enter the space. Often, you can hear his animated excitement before you reach his classroom door. Walking into the classroom, it would be common to find his students engaged in a heated debate, with TJ at the center, orchestrating the process. His energy is unmistakable, almost electric, especially when the conversation turns to the moments and figures in U.S. history he loves most. He leans in, pushes, challenges, and invites students to do the same, not just to know the material, but to wrestle with it. There is a momentum to his classroom, a sense that something is always happening, always building, and that each student has a role to play in it.

That energy spills out of the classroom to anything he has chosen to undertake, even some of his more, shall we say, unconventional ideas (yes, TJ, I am thinking about the ice cream truck that you (sort of) refurbished and (briefly) drove around campus!) In the late 1980s, Mr. Palmer saw students’ interest in hockey. Alongside former faculty member Ron Nentwig, TJ literally threw some sticks on the ice at the Pop Whalen Ice Arena (then just a sheet of ice without a roof) and by 1990, Brewster’s varsity hockey program was born. By 2000, the team finished runner-up in the New England Championships, competing in front of a raucous crowd after TJ and his players cajoled former Head of School David Smith to purchase tickets for the entire school to attend.

For most of us, our energy would start to wane after 39 years. One of the most amazing qualities TJ has is his relentless energy and spirit. He can still be found, even in his final year, prepping the ice on his backyard Crescent Lake for 3 v 3 pond hockey tournaments, and transporting his grill on the back of his old, blue pickup truck to lead the Tailgate Squad at major home games. This year, he and the club even brought the show on the road to the NEPSAC girls’ soccer championship and to the ski and snowboard competition at Abenaki. What ties all of this together is not just energy, but joy. TJ has always understood that when learning and community feel alive and fun, students lean in. Those are the moments that students engage deeply and remember for years to come.

Laura Duffy: 31 Years

Laura Duffy has spent 31 years guiding students and families through the college process with a steadiness and expertise that generations of Brewster students have counted on. Laura’s impact is quieter, more measured and thoughtful, but nonetheless pivotal. A lover of English literature and the written word, Laura translates her love of storytelling into helping students craft their college essays. She has a way of sitting beside a student and, through a series of steady questions and careful listening, helping them find the story that is truly theirs to tell. In a process that can feel overwhelming, she brings clarity and perspective, gently guiding students as they move from a world of endless college options to choices that feel right for who they are and who they are becoming.

There is something deeply reassuring about Laura’s presence. She does not rush students toward an answer just to ease the tension of the moment. Instead, she helps them slow down, reflect, and make decisions with care. In a process that can easily become performative or anxiety-filled, Laura has always brought students back to themselves. That is part of what has made her so effective over three decades. She has helped generations of Brewster students not only find colleges, but understand themselves better in the process.

Beyond the College Office, Laura has long been one of those people this school leans on when something requires thoughtfulness, discretion, and sound judgment. As a faculty advisor to the Dean’s Council, she brought the same care and perspective to student discipline that she brings to counseling, always centering reflection, growth, and fairness. She has been a trusted sounding board for colleagues and leaders alike (including four Heads of School), someone willing to take on complicated or sensitive work with wisdom and humanity.

And true to form, Laura’s commitment continues right through her final stretch at Brewster. This week alone, Laura and her colleagues in the College Office brought 70 juniors to a large college fair, conducted ACT testing, and helped seniors finalize decisions about what comes next. On May 1, we will celebrate Beyond Brewster Day, when seniors proudly share their plans for the year ahead. We are excited for Laura and all that is ahead for her, too. But for now, it seems right that Laura’s final spring at Brewster is fully focused and committed to the work she has done so well for so long: helping students take their next steps with confidence, clarity, and perspective.

Jason Smith: 26 Years

Jason Smith has spent 26 years building Brewster basketball into one of the most respected programs in the country. Though many would describe him as a man of few words, his impact is anything but quiet. Jason has never needed a lot of words to make his point. His presence, his standards, and the consistency with which he has held young people to them have always spoken loudly. When Jason talks to players, they know it matters. He expects discipline, accountability, and teamwork, and students respond.

From the moment he arrived in 2000 (as a self-described baseball coach!), there was a clarity to what he was building. Yes, the results have been extraordinary: national championships, NEPSAC titles, and a long list of alumni who have gone on to college basketball and the NBA. But what has always set Jason apart is that the program was never only about winning. He built something with real identity, a culture that asked students to be serious about their talent, their choices, and their responsibility to one another. The banners and jerseys tell part of the story. The larger story is in the habits, discipline, and sense of purpose that his players carried with them long after they left Brewster.

While Jason is not retiring, this still feels like an important moment to pause and recognize what he has meant to Brewster. For 26 years, he has built a program of rare excellence and lasting influence. He has helped define an era of Brewster athletics and a standard that will continue to shape this school and our basketball programs well into the future.

What They Have Shown Us

This year, we’ve asked our community to think about what commitment really looks like. TJ, Laura, and Jason have shown us, day after day, year after year. They have shown up, invested, and built, and they kept getting better. Over time, that kind of continued, dedicated effort shapes a school. I’m grateful and proud that Brewster has been shaped by them and I encourage us all to continue to learn by their examples in the ways we choose to commit. Please join me in celebrating these three remarkable educators over the coming months as they close out their tenures at Brewster.

Next issue: We will feature our retiring staff members who have made a tremendous impact behind the scenes. 

On the first Morning Meeting back from spring break, Brewster welcomed home one of its own.

John McNamara '13 returned to campus on Tuesday, March 24 alongside his colleague and close friend John Toracinta for a Q&A panel discussion hosted by three student leaders from the Mental Health Matters Club. It was part homecoming, part entrepreneurship story, and entirely a conversation worth having.

The two met while working together at golf apparel company FootJoy. The friendship that followed eventually became something bigger. In 2019, Toracinta and his wife Sarah launched what began as a hat brand and has since grown into a full-scale apparel line built around a single belief: NOSOLO. Nobody Goes Solo.

The story behind the name is worth telling. On their honeymoon in Croatia, the Toracintas fell into a late-night conversation with a group of strangers. They talked about kindness, shared struggles, and how people from completely different backgrounds still find common ground. By the end of the evening, those strangers were friends. The experience crystallized something the couple had long felt: no matter what you are going through, you are not alone in it. With Sarah's background as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and John's experience in product and marketing, the brand came together naturally. NOSOLO donates 20% of all proceeds to the NOSOLO Give Back Foundation to support mental health initiatives around the world.

McNamara also brought something else to campus that morning: a genuine love for the place. He talked about the waffles in Estabrook, Lakes Region lacrosse championships, and rushing the ice after a remarkable goal against Proctor that those who were there have clearly not forgotten. Beyond any single memory, though, what he kept coming back to was the people.

"Best three years of my life," he said. His advice to current students: cherish it. It goes faster than you expect, and the friendships built here are the ones that last.

For Brewster's Mental Health Matters Club, the connection to McNamara’s experience and NOSOLO’s mission was immediate. The idea to bring the brand to campus was first raised in the fall, and the active club, which meets one to two times a week, ran with it. Members Luke Smolan '26 and Max Rusov '26 jumped on an initial Zoom call with McNamara and Toracinta to get things moving. Together, they decided a Morning Meeting Q&A was the right format. From that first conversation to the morning itself, the students drove the event from start to finish.

On the day of, Smolan, Rusov, and Gabi Reynolds ’27 took the stage in Anderson Hall to lead the panel in front of the entire school. They drew out conversation on entrepreneurship, networking, and what it looks like to build something with real purpose. Running through all of it was a more fundamental question: how do you notice when someone around you is struggling, and what do you actually do?

"Having the opportunity to lead the Q&A on stage meant so much to me," Smolan ’26 said. "I was incredibly grateful to help facilitate such an important conversation about mental health. Hearing the stories shared by our NOSOLO guests reminded me that small acts, like checking in with a friend, make a real difference."

After Morning Meeting, the conversation continued in the Grayson Student Center Flex Classroom, where McNamara and Toracinta held an optional discussion for anyone who wanted to come. More than twenty students attended.

Rusov reflected on what drives the club's work in the first place. "It is okay to not be okay. It is okay to ask for help, it is okay to feel the way you are feeling. Most of all, asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength."

For Heather Souther, the club's faculty mentor and Brewster's Counselor of Wellbeing, the morning was a proud one. "I am just so proud of how the club took this on. They did such an amazing job up there on that stage. The feedback from both students and faculty has been overwhelmingly positive."

Smolan noticed the ripple effect too. "The discussion on mental health continued to echo throughout our community following the all-school, showing how powerful our community can be when we are willing to listen and look out for one another."

The clothing is a conversation starter. What happened in Anderson Hall on March 24 was proof of that.

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To learn more about NOSOLO and their mission, visit nosolobrand.com.