Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School Blog: Take Charge

On the heels of his win for a regional Heartland Emmy® Award in the category of Best Documentary, Topical, the Alumni Office had the chance to catch up with Ryan Gates ‘98, President & CEO at PANO Marketing. Ryan gave us the backstory to his award-winning film and all that brought him to this moment, a story that extends all the way back to CH-CH.

As Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall kicks-off the 2025-2026 school year, we are excited to welcome new members to our community. The new members of the faculty and staff have spent the beginning of the year in CH-CH's pre-sessions, meeting members of the community, and learning all about CH-CH's approach in and out of the classroom. We're excited to introduce you to CH-CH's newest faculty and staff:

At Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall (CH-CH), the intimate learning environment allows students to build meaningful relationships, take safe risks, and go on to college with confidence in who they are and what they want to accomplish. Last year, over 20 students in a senior class of 52 were engaged in curricular opportunities beyond the standard program, including independent studies, teaching assistantships, and college courses. The emphasis on personalized education resulted in remarkable outcomes: 52 students sent 404 applications to 201 colleges and universities, with impressive acceptance rates that speak to how well-prepared CH-CH students are for higher education.

Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School celebrated the opening of The Landry Center on Saturday, May 31st, marking the completion of the largest capital campaign in the independent school's 197-year history.

The ribbon-cutting followed the Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2025, and drew alumni, parents, trustees, and community members to witness the unveiling of the School's newest academic building.

After a rainy morning, the clouds cleared, and the sun began to shine just as the Wilkins Hall bell began its 52 rings. The bell signals the 52 graduates of the Class of 2025 to begin their traditional walk over the hill to Morgan Lawn for the start of the School’s 197th Commencement ceremony. 

On the day of the Faculty-Student Ultimate Frisbee game, Luke DiOrio ‘10 stormed the field with seven friends. It was Luke’s birthday, and he was not only the avid organizer of this event but also the Ultimate Frisbee coach on campus, so his enthusiasm was understandable. “I worried no one would show up!” he confesses, but that worry quickly faded as faculty and fellow alumni arrived in droves to take on the students in friendly but fierce competition.

The Alumni Office recently got wind of an exciting project brewing not in a galaxy far far away, but just down the road at Olin College, where alumnus Aaron Codrington '21 was hard at work on a real retractable lightsaber. We caught up with Aaron, and learned he's up to a lot more than that, too!

Pictured from left to right: Aaron Codrington '21, Madie Tong and Jacob Uy

 Luke DiOrio '10 is not only a Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School alumnus, but he's also a faculty member in our Visual and Performing Arts department. Recently, Luke took advantage of Spring Break to attend a photography conference in Northern Ireland, but we (CH-CH) were able to steal a few moments of his time for some questions (and obligatory Ireland pics!)

“When I think back to the merger and my experience at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall, I marvel at how international the community was, including myself, a daughter of a Liberian diplomat in England. As the President of our Senior Class, I was proud of how our 1972 class joined together with a feeling that the big tent included everyone and that your aspirations and desire to achieve were encouraged and undergirded. For today's students, continue the tradition of being a welcoming and affirming community. Thank you to my former faculty: Sharon Quarles, Louise Schulze, Beatrice Smith, Paul Economides, Lee Colby Wilson, Margaret Fitzgerald, and Roy Hatt (Head of School)."

When it comes to Homecoming, you probably think of being back on campus, meeting students and faculty, and seeing your former school in-person. This year, CH-CH's Alumni Homecoming had to be adjusted slightly due to COVID. We felt it was more important than ever to bring alumni together, attend classes, and see their former stomping grounds. After a few brainstorming sessions, we decided to host a virtual homecoming week through Zoom to accommodate as many different schedules and timezones as possible!