Rob Gorden (continued)
part of a comedy duo The Rob and Mark Show and together they host SpikeTV’s “Geek-Ray Vision.” Their show has been seen on The Oxygen Network and their performances have been a New York comedy highlight. Long before the SpikeTV and The Rob and Mark Show, however, Gorden earned a B.F.A. from Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts, and studied with Shakespeare & Company in the Berkshires. He has performed in commercials, film, and theatre, including appearances on CBS’s “The World Wild Web”, QVC, and the classic B movie “Drainiac.” Gorden’s interest in the Civil War and his role as a reenactor led to a voiceover role in the award-winning film “Gettysburg: The Boys of Blue and Gray.”

Rob and Mark are songwriters, too. Their songs have earned airtime on WFNX in Boston, WZON (owned by Stephen King), in Maine, XM Satellite Radio, and the legendary Dr. Demento show. They have written songs for the Boston Red Sox, and their video “The Subway Song” recently premiered in New York City.

So, how did Brewster help launch his comedy and songwriting career or, as Gorden put it to the All-School audience, “what does acting comedy have to do with Brewster?” First Gorden had to explain, “I was like the kid in all the smart classes who maybe shouldn’t have been there.” And one of those classes was Dick Fahy’s AP History class. Gorden respectfully, but humorously, talked about how the late Mr. Fahy was quick to remind his students that he was a Marine and when you’re a Marine, if you fall down, you get right back up. And Mr. Fahy, Gorden exclaimed, expected that same discipline of his AP History students.

“I hate writing comedy, but I have to, otherwise I won’t have a job. I hate it because I don’t think [my writing] is funny.” In these moments of writer’s doubt and angst, Gorden hears Mr. Fahy. “I was in the Marines. I was in the mud, you get up, you get writing.”

And so the need for discipline ingrained many years ago in a Brewster history class from a teacher with high expectations, has helped Rob Gorden get his work done so he can realize his dream – making people laugh – and there’s nothing funny about that.

The next panelist came to Brewster as a day student and remembered that she found the small community of Wolfeboro somewhat of a shock after having lived in London; Kobe, Japan; and Oslo, Norway.

Kit Van Wagner (continued)
During this time, Van Wagner was taking advantage of all the opportunities around her that would build her professional portfolio and complement her studies. This included obtaining her U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license and scuba instructor rating and learning to sail. With these certifications and her expertise, Van Wagner has worked for nearly a decade as an onboard naturalist on small expedition ships in the South Pacific, New Zealand, the islands of the Caribbean, Alaska, Costa Rica, and Baja, Mexico.

She spoke with regret about not having been involved with Brewster’s sailing program while she had the opportunity. The Pinckney Boathouse had just been completed and the sailing program could have given her a jump start in a direction she would soon find herself heading. She encouraged students to take advantage of all
that Brewster offers, never knowing what seed might be planted along the way. “It’s up to you to take advantage of things here.”

Van Wagner admitted that luck and timing had something to do with finding the right jobs and career path for her but the hard work and perseverance that precedes that luck or the good timing, puts a person in the position to be ready for it when it comes along.

After four years with the Newfound Harbor Marine Institute she returned to school, earning a master’s degree in science education from the Florida Institute of Technology. “I had planned to move out of Florida after graduation but the reality was the best opportunity for getting jobs was right there.” She spoke about her knowledge of the Florida ecosystems and having made professional connections in the community. So she stayed and worked for a local government land conservation program as an education specialist. In addition to creating meaningful outdoor experiences for audiences of all ages, she has enjoyed developing educational brochures, interpretive exhibits and signage, interactive touch-screen kiosks, teacher workshops, and acting as a liaison with her community.

Van Wagner now works for the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Rhode Island. She is the education coordinator and her “office” is Prudence Island in the middle of Narragansett Bay, which means she arrives for work each day by ferry, never far from the water.

Before closing, Van Wagner spoke briefly about Brewster friendships. “The friends you make here are for life,” she assured the community. Gesturing to Gorden she explained how they hadn’t seen each other since graduation day but the night before, upon running into each other at the Wolfeboro Inn, they sat down and talked like no time had passed since that day.

Chris Petronio (continued)
Then another job came along that he really wanted and for which he thought he was the best candidate. When he didn’t get the job, he called back to say that he wanted to work for the company, that he thought he was right for the company, and asked them to consider him for other openings. He e-mailed once a month to check in and see if any opportunities had come up. One day, out of the blue, something had opened up and the opportunity was his.

Along the way, between jobs, one person who hired him was a Brewster alumnus and although it wasn’t the job for Petronio, he and the alum parted amicably and Petronio urged students to remember his name because maybe some day he could help one of them. He now works for the direct marketing company, ParadyszMatera, where he is the coordinator for various accounts, including Smithsonian, Financial Times, Fidelity Investments, TV Guide, and Vonage.

As the panelists before him had imparted, Petronio encouraged students to appreciate their Brewster experience. “Do get to appreciate it here. There are so many people out there who would kill to be here."

Gregory Douglass (continued)
His accolades include being a finalist for both the 2005 International Songwriting Competition and the 2004 Independent Music Awards and winning the 2003 GrammyFest Awards in New York City. In 2003, he was the inaugural performer on the American Red Cross “Save A Life Tour.”

He has co-billed with They Might Be Giants, India Arie, Jason Mraz, and Melissa Ferrick.

How does he make it happen? “I’m pretty much a workaholic these days as I am self-managed on a full-time basis. Usually writing/creating/recording happens in waves or chunks of time where I put everything else on hold to stay in the ‘groove’ of inspiration. Otherwise, I’m booking and promoting myself until all hours of the night and performing/touring as much as possible.”

And what does Douglass do for fun? “I don’t do much else honestly but the occasional movie or concert always fuels a little inspiration and some times I can even get a new song out of it.”

Between performing songs at the All School, the 26 year-old singer-songwriter offered this advice to the current students of his alma mater: “Follow your dreams, as clichéd as that sounds, I think we need to.”

“Take a close look at what you want to do and how you can make that happen. Find out what you need to do realistically.”

Douglass performed “Sail the Sea” from his fifth record, Stark, and “Up & Away” from his sixth record, Up & Away.

In April, he embarks on his 2nd Annual National House Concert Tour, which will have him traveling around the country through August.

Despite his success, Douglass isn’t all that removed from his days at Brewster. Driving over to campus from Vermont that morning, he realized he was wearing his holiest jeans. With a wide smile he commented, “I’m so not in dress code right now and I’m really enjoying that.”

For more information on Douglass, to order cds, or to check concert schedules, please visit www.gregorydouglass.com.