Faculty and student speakers, a State of the School address, and the 2026 Cikacz Family Philanthropy Award honoring Sally Green P ’13 P ’15 highlighted an evening of gratitude.
Derryfield families, alumni, trustees, faculty, and friends gathered in The Matarese Commons on Tuesday, October 6, for the annual Fall Philanthropy Kickoff. The evening celebrates the impact of philanthropy and service at Derryfield, and how that support shapes the daily lives of students, faculty, staff, mentors, and coaches.
After dinner and drinks, Head of School Andy Chappell welcomed guests on behalf of the Board of Trustees, including Board Chair Susan Rand King ‘81. “Tonight is simply about celebrating what makes Derryfield special,” he said.
Faculty Speaker: Chris Hettler
The program opened with reflections from Athletic Director and Head Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Coach Chris Hettler, who is marking his 25th year at Derryfield. Hettler has built the Derryfield boys’ lacrosse program into a statewide force with eight state titles. Chappell noted that when alumni talk about Hettler, they talk less about championship rings and more about the mentor who still supports them long after graduation.
“Chris has always understood that the most important measure of a coach is not the championships his teams win, but the character of the young people he helps shape.”
— Andy Chappell, Head of School
Hettler arrived in the fall of 2002, and was welcomed and shaped by the faculty and staff around him. They included science department mentors who taught students “how to think, question and love science.” He also thanked Middle School advisors he called “renaissance men,” Upper School teacher-coaches he hoped to emulate, and school leaders who gave him room to grow in admissions, marketing, and athletics.
Looking back on his teams, Hettler said the trophies aren’t what he’s proudest of. “My proudest moments are when I think back on all of those teams and how many different kids at Derryfield found homes on those teams,” he said.
He then turned to this year’s Core Values, Aim High and Balance. On the surface, he said, the two don’t seem to fit together. Achievement and growth come from being uncomfortable and pushing yourself in ways you didn’t think were possible. Balance, he has learned, comes from somewhere else.
“The balance part comes from finding your joy. If you are finding joy and happiness in what you do, I truly believe that you are balanced.”
— Chris Hettler, Athletic Director
“Derryfield has the ability to change lives,” he said. Over 25 years, it gave him colleagues, mentors, lifelong friends, he met his wife Lauren, started a family, and built a life here in NH.
Student Speaker: Charlotte Belanger ’28
Charlotte Belanger ’28, co-president of the junior class, followed with a reflection on choices. Co-president of the junior class, student, actor, ski racer, and lacrosse player, Charlotte described facing a hard decision as a freshman: taking part in the winter musical or joining the ski team.
“What made choosing one so hard was that it meant I had to leave the other one behind,” she said. “And not just the activity itself, but the people who made the activity mean so much to me.”
She, too, spoke to Balance, closing with an image from marathon running. Quoting her mom, she reminded the audience that life is a marathon, not a sprint, and that marathoners never run alone. Crowds line the course to cheer them on. “If my life is a marathon,” she said, “then I’m confident I know who those people balancing me out are.”
Charlotte then thanked the teachers and coaches who helped her keep going: Mr. Induni, who inspired her confidence in math; Ms. Egger, who encouraged her enthusiasm for learning; and coaches TJ Nong and Mr. Van Dam, who saw her as more than her race times and goals.
“How lucky I am to have the opportunities to get to make these hard choices, and how lucky I am to have the friends, teachers, coaches, and family to balance me through every single one.”
— Charlotte Belanger ’28
Heart, Aim High, and Balance
In his State of the School address, Chappell spoke about Heart and the relationships at the center of a Derryfield education. “After thirty years teaching, coaching, advising, and leading in schools, I have come to understand that the young people we are fortunate to teach may not remember every lesson or assignment we give them,” he said. “But they will remember the adults who believed in them, challenged them, listened to them, and helped them find their path.”
Chappell said Derryfield sees Aim High and Balance as complementary. When students feel grounded, known, and supported, they gain the confidence to take risks and aim higher than they imagined.
He also shared an update on the Strategic Plan, Rooted in Tradition, Reaching Toward Tomorrow, adopted in May 2025. This year’s work centers on three priorities:
- Digital Tools and AI Integration, including faculty work with Professor Rob Moeller of Middlebury College on leveraging AI to enhance learning
- Thriving Together, which supports faculty and staff growth, wellness, and professional development, including a partnership with Learning Courage
- A Financial Sustainability Roadmap focused on enrollment and marketing, finance and operations, and philanthropy and engagement
Chappell also shared stories from campus, including a clip from this year’s Junior Talent Show and an update from Jake Oliviero ’26. Now a first-year at the University of Virginia, Jake told his parents that Derryfield prepared him for both the academic workload and building community in a new place.
The Impact of Philanthropy
Chappell reminded guests that tuition alone does not cover the full cost of a Derryfield education. The gap, about $2,500 per student, is bridged by the endowment, auxiliary programs, and The Derryfield Fund. Last year, more than 770 members of the community helped the school surpass its $700,000 annual giving goal, raising more than $737,000 in a record-breaking year.
“When you give to The Derryfield Fund, you aren’t simply contributing to an operating budget. You are making the Derryfield experience possible.”
— Andy Chappell, Head of School
Honoring Sally Green
The evening closed with the presentation of the 2026 Cikacz Family Philanthropy Award. The award was created in 2017 to recognize individuals and families who embody Derryfield’s culture of philanthropy through their time, talent, and treasure. Trustee emerita Chris Cikacz P ’08 presented the award to Sally Green, mother of Mitch ’13 and Cat ’15.
Green recently completed an 11-year tenure on the Board of Trustees, where she chaired committees and served as Board Secretary. Cikacz described her as one of Derryfield’s biggest champions. She is a welcoming face at Open Houses, a connection to alumni, a host of team meals, a baker of legendary treats, and a fan on the sidelines, rain or shine. Green has made The Derryfield Fund a priority, supported the Thinking Forward and Commons campaigns, and is a member of the 1964 Legacy Society.
“She reminds us all that meaningful philanthropy isn’t just about the size of a check; it’s about deep commitment, consistency, and giving from the heart.”
— Chris Cikacz, Trustee Emerita
After a video tribute, Green took the podium. She recalled that her family took an uncommon route to Derryfield, with Mitch enrolling as a junior and Cat joining a year later as a sophomore. “When we got here, the way Derryfield made us feel and welcomed us, it felt like home,” she said. That welcome inspired her to get involved. After her children graduated, she joined the board and became part of what she called “Team Derryfield.”
She closed with an invitation to everyone in the room.
“I hope you all find your own ways to get involved, big or small, visible or behind the scenes. Derryfield has room and needs all of us.”
— Sally Green P ’13 P ’15
