Alumni

Class of 2018

“It was incredible to think that I was likely the first person to hold those documents in decades.” —Matthew Longfellow

Class of 2018 Marburn graduate, Matthew Longfellow, now a Sophomore at Capital University is studying History with minors in Film and Media Production and Youth Ministry. He’s also a part of a team who produced the documentary, “Dear Miss Conrad, Capital University in WWII”, a student-led production compiled from historic university archival materials, letters to and from Capital’s faculty, soldiers, and students, and personal interviews conducted and analyzed by Capital University students.

The documentary tells the story of Capital University, a school with German-Lutheran roots, during World War II and shows how the university struggled to distinguish its identity from the Holocaust during that time.

The second in a series of historical documentaries Matthew has worked on at Capital University, “Dear Miss Conrad” was created around a series of letters from the 1940’s that Capital students found in the university’s archives stored in the basement of Capital’s library. Miss Conrad was a librarian at the university during World War II and built relationships with students there. “She was a presence in the students’ lives during that time, so when students were drafted in the military, they sent letters to her,” said Matthew. “As I was scanning letters and newspapers to digitize them for the documentary, it was incredible to think that I was likely the first person to hold those documents in decades.”

As a History major at Capital University, Matthew enrolled in the film course with a little apprehension his freshman year. “FMP-494 is a capstone class for film students,” said Matthew. “I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting myself into, but the class is designed for both History majors and Film majors.” In the class as a freshman, Matthew’s main role was digitizing old university newspapers, and he also created a short animated sequence for the documentary. His sophomore year, Matthew enrolled in the class again and took on more of a leadership role as Lead Animator where he worked on more complicated computer animation sequences and assisted with research.

But leadership hasn’t always come easy for Matthew. Mid-way through his eighth-grade year, Matthew enrolled at Marburn Academy. Before Marburn, he had challenges with maintaining focus and was falling behind. During his time at Marburn, technology courses gave Matthew the confidence to try some computer animation in his free time. He also served as one of Marburn’s Student Ambassadors during High School, helping Marburn’s faculty and staff with events and tours. That work paid off with the opportunity to hone his computer animation skills at Capital, and currently working with Capital’s Admission office to help give tours of the campus.

Matthew is thrilled with his experience at Capital and attributes much of his success to the foundations he learned at Marburn. “Starting college at Capital, I really hit the ground running,” Matthew stated. “The time management and organization skills I learned at Marburn prepared me as much, if not more so, than my peers. I’ve done really well here, and I’m proud to have made the President’s List every semester so far.”

With plans to graduate from Capital in 2022, Matthew is just beginning to think about what his future holds while he pursues his passions in college. We’re so proud of Matthew and his commitment to leadership and learning as he continues his journey of success in school and life.

“Dear Miss Conrad” premiered on January 20th of this year. If you’d like to see the documentary, its next showing will be on March 9, 2020, in conjunction with Capital’s International Women’s Day of Action. DVDs will be on sale soon. Learn more about the film here: https://dearmissconrad.com

Current Students

MEET TOMMY.

Tommy entered Marburn Academy in the 2nd grade below a 1st-grade reading level. Recently identified with dyslexia and ADHD, Tommy’s parents knew they needed a school that specialized in teaching their son. In the early years of education when school is typically exciting for children, Tommy felt anxious and discouraged.

While living in San Francisco, Tommy’s parents began looking for schools in their area and expanded their search across the U.S. Ultimately, they picked up and moved their entire family to their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, for Marburn.

AND BECAUSE TOMMY MET MARBURN, he is now reading at grade-level, he can’t wait to get to school each day, and in his words, he “can breathe here.”

Alumni

Class of 2019

MEET ELLIOT.

Elliot entered Marburn Academy in 2015. Due to his dyslexia and ADHD he was often behind his peers. With significant reading delays, a lack of tools, and a bleak future, Elliot began asking his parents about dropping out of school. His parents knew they needed to act quickly, and though it meant a three hour round trip to and from their home in Yellow Springs each day, they enrolled Elliot at Marburn.

AND BECAUSE ELLIOT MET MARBURN, he has made academic progress and, more importantly, has gained strategies to be successful, the freedom to discover his abilities, and a hunger to apply to college engineering programs during his senior year.

Alumni

Class of 2021

MEET ELIJAH.

Elijah is currently a 9th grader at Marburn Academy. Due to his dyslexia, Elijah is an “out-of-the-box” learner and has a different learning style than is typically provided at a traditional school. When Elijah first shadowed at Marburn and was asked why he wanted to attend, he said, “it’s because of the way they teach, you aren’t just sitting being lectured to, you are up and moving, and that’s how I learn best.”

Elijah’s parents say that it wasn’t until Elijah started at Marburn, that the focus of his learning was on his strengths and not just about how his learning was different. They shared, “Marburn not only teaches academics but they teach students the tools they need to be successful in order to allow their strengths to shine through.”

AND BECAUSE ELIJAH MET MARBURN, his strengths shine brightly in his academics, as an integral member of the Robotics Team, and on stage in every Marburn musical.

Alumni

Class of 2020

MEET ALEXANDRA.

Alexandra Kasson is a member of the Class of 2020. Alexandra has ADHD, and she enrolled at Marburn Academy in 7th grade after struggling significantly with math and reading comprehension, writing, vocabulary, memorization, and self-esteem. During her time at Marburn, Alexandra learned to advocate for herself, honed her annotation skills, and significantly built her self-confidence.

Alexandra’s mother, Monica, explained, “Since she started at Marburn, not only have we noticed a huge difference in confidence levels, but other people in her life have as well – neighbors, aunts, uncles, and friends have all commented on the difference.”

Homework, specifically, was previously a constant challenge for Alexandra.

Her father, Kevin, shared, “She would complain that I didn’t do it like she was taught in school. We spent hours on it, and after she went to bed, I wanted to sit down and cry. She didn’t get it, and, as a parent, I didn’t know how to ‘fix it.’ Every night, Alexandra went to bed mad at me and frustrated with life. Long-term, the signs did not point to success.”

After visiting Marburn, Alexandra’s parents finally felt they’d found the answers they needed to address her challenges, and overnight their perspective of their daughter’s future changed.

AND BECAUSE ALEXANDRA MET MARBURN, she arrives home each day and immediately begins doing homework without having to be asked. She is diligent, doesn’t want to be disturbed, and looks for opportunities to work ahead.

“No longer the homework enforcer, I could finally be a father,” said Kevin.

Alexandra, who once viewed school purely as a social opportunity, now loves it for the sake of learning.

With an eye to the future, Alexandra has discovered a true affinity for art and all things design – interior, architecture, and industrial. She already knows that she wants to attend The University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning and hopes to someday work for Disney addressing their interior design needs.

Until then, Alexandra will implement what she has learned so far: “to always be diligent, do extra credit, turn homework in on time, stay on top of everything and, mostly, don’t be afraid to speak up if I need help.”

Alumni

MEET JOE.

Joe transitioned out of Marburn Academy in 1993. After graduating high school, Joe moved to California to attend the University of the Pacific in Stockton, majoring in Communications and Broadcasting. Upon graduation, Joe’s career quickly progressed. E! Entertainment Television, MTV, TLC, NBC Universal, The Disney Network, The History Channel, and National Geographic are just a few of the many networks for which Joe has worked.

AND BECAUSE JOE MET MARBURN, he developed the skills he needed to pursue his dreams. Joe remarked, “I will always be grateful for my Marburn education and I am thrilled that my niece and nephew had the opportunity for the same experience during Marburn’s Summer School.”

Alumni

Dear Marburn Friend,

My name is Brian Carey. I am a Major in the United States Marine Corps (with six deployments, including three combat tours), a Cobra helicopter instructor pilot, and a former Marburn Academy student. I’ve never been given special consideration for being “learning disabled”- a label I hate. In fact, no one in the Marine Corps, except the few I have shared this story with, knows or would even care that I learn differently than they do. I compete every day against other Marines for career advancement, rank, and advanced flight qualifications. I’m able to do this because of the tools that Marburn Academy gave me in just a year and a half.

Never give up, never quit. I had been kicked out of both the public and Catholic school systems by the time I was in the eighth grade. I left both of those programs feeling defeated and let down. I had a dream of what I wanted to do, but neither school system had been able to give me the education and support I needed to achieve those dreams. Marburn Academy gave me the skills I needed to transform my dreams into reality.

If not me, then who? Despite my many challenges, Marburn gave me a place where I could fit in and excel. Marburn staff understood my behavioral and educational struggles, and they had the skill to teach the way I learned best. At Marburn, I felt accepted and successful—feelings that I had never felt before, in school nor anywhere else. If it had not been for Marburn and their dedicated staff, I don’t know where I would have ended up. Marburn ensured that not only did I do well there, but that I would also be able to compete on a level playing field back in the school system from which I had come and throughout my life. In a short period of time, Marburn’s teachers gave me the tools I needed to succeed on my own.

Marburn Academy did so much more than just fix my academic issues. They gave me the confidence I needed to accomplish my goals; and in conjunction with my parents, imparted to me principles that I live by to this day. I look at every challenge that is placed before me and know that if I don’t do it, then maybe no one else will. I know that as long as I never quit or give up, there is almost nothing I cannot do. I pass on these lessons to my fellow Marines as well. Similarly, I am confident that Marburn Academy’s outstanding teachers will continue empowering students, in much the same way they did me, for years to come.

Semper Fidelis,

Maj. Brian “Monk”Carey
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303

Alumni

Class of 2017

MEET HANNAH.

Hannah Hess graduated from Marburn Academy in 2017. Hannah has dyslexia and a processing delay and entered Marburn Academy in the 6th grade with significant academic delays and low self-confidence. During her time at Marburn, Hannah flourished. She fully embraced the Marburn culture and commonly refered to our community as her “Marburn family.” Very involved at Marburn, she was a member of the Cross Country team, a coach for Girls on the Run, and was inducted into National Honors Society, among other things.

AND BECAUSE HANNAH MET MARBURN, Marburn taught her many important skills that she not only uses in college but will also use for the rest of her life. She shared, “I have learned how to advocate for myself when I have questions or am confused, and how to be an independent learner, and also have a better understanding of what I need to be successful. However, the biggest lesson I have learned is not to be embarrassed by the fact that I have a learning disability or look at it as a weakness, but to be proud of it because, frankly, I think it’s something that has made me a stronger person.”

Hannah is currently attending Hope College and pursuing a career in education.

Alumni

Co-Owner, Leo Alfred Jewelers

MEET JASON.

Jason Laudick attended Marburn Academy from 1989 to 1991. While a student at Marburn, Jason invested in and engaged in learning. He is a wonderful example of a young man that did not allow his learning differences to define who he is; rather, his challenges made him stronger and more determined.

AND BECAUSE JASON MET MARBURN…

As the Co-owner of Leo Alfred Jewelers in Dublin, Ohio, he credits a great deal of his success to Marburn, saying, “The skills I acquired at Marburn Academy remain with me today and have been crucial to both my personal and professional success. Marburn was an important part of my education, and it certainly changed my life for the better. I’m not sure where I’d be today had I not attended Marburn Academy.”

Alumni

Owner, Kate Morrison Photography

MEET KATE.

Kate Morrison is a recent graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. The owner of Kate Morrison Photography, she has been published in numerous local and national publications. She is also an accomplished equestrian, having won the bronze medal in the North American Young Rider Championships, and has competed at the New Albany Classic Grand Prix. An Alumni of Marburn Academy, she attended the school from grades 5 through 8.

Kate is the daughter of Marburn Academy’s Former Board Chairman, Craig Morrison, and his wife Betsy. She was featured as the Alumni Speaker at the 34th Annual Gala.

AND BECAUSE KATE MET MARBURN…

In her speech, Kate said, “What Marburn took the time to discover, was a girl full of life and who thrived in ways that might not show on an SAT or ACT score. Over the course of four years, I learned many lessons that would stay with me long after I left. Marburn taught me how to stand up for myself and ask for help when I needed it. They taught me that it’s okay to have different areas of strengths and weaknesses and we all don’t have to be the same. They taught me how to learn in ways that traditional schools didn’t know how to teach. But most importantly they taught me that it’s okay for me to be myself.”

Alumni

Mechanical Engineer

MEET SEAN.

By the age of 11, Sean Riedl had managed to go through five years of school without knowing how to read. He excelled in mathematics and science but struggled severely with reading. Immediately after enrolling at Marburn, he was amazed at how invested his teachers were in his education and how much they cared about him as an individual.

AND BECAUSE SEAN MET MARBURN…

After spending five years at Marburn, his reading deficit had been remediated and he transitioned to St. Charles Preparatory School, where he later graduated. He graduated from the University of Miami, majoring in Mechanical Engineering, and later received his master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He now helps to maintain the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines in between their deployments.

Sean says, “I am so thankful for my Marburn education. My hard work today, combined with the skill of my Marburn teachers, helped prepare me for life and my career.”