The Panel Senior Tribute Issue (Vol. 69 Issue 2)

350 Prospect Street Belmont, MA 02478

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Permit #58555 Boston, MA PAID

Volume 69, Issue 2

May 29, 2020

A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School

THANK YOU SENIORS Congratulations to the Class of 2020 on Completing Their BH Journey!

By Abe Tolkoff T ’21 P Panel Staff Congratulations Class of 2020 and thank you for all your work at Belmont Hill. This is Volume 69 Issue 2 of The Panel, and we have decided to make it a Senior Tribute edition. Instead of spending time reminiscing about events canceled, we wanted to highlight all the contributions made by individuals in the class and the group as a whole. We have included tributes to artists, athletes, and academic achievers as well as more general narratives about community service, plays, musical performances, and athletic championships.

Additionally, you will find the finalized list of prizes won by members of all forms, and a recently updated college matriculation list. We hope that this serves serv as a documentation of the accomplishm ments made by the largest graduating classs in Belmont Hill history, but are ever co ognizant of how much this group has miissed.

Our staff ff wishes you the best of luck next year wherever life may take you and d we hope to see you back on campus soon n! ☐ The Class of 2020 on campus last Fall.

Mr. Courtney Bids BH Celebrates the End d off there will a Senior

By Sreetej Digumarthi ’21 Farewell to the Hill May 29 att 4:30 pm P Panel Staff

By Charlie Donahue ’20 Former Panel P Staff At the conclusion of this school year, Belmont Hill will bid farewell to a treasured member of this community, Jared Courtney ‘97. Mr. Courtney, a Belmont Hill alumnus, has been intensely involved and committed to the entire gamut of school life over the last decade. He has worn many hats, including Head of the Advanced Science Research program, teacher in the science department, inspiring coach of Nordic Skiing and Middle School rowing, Form V Head Advisor, dorm parent, Director of Summer Camps, and friend and mentor to dozens of boys and colleagues.

When Mr. Courtney rejoined our community as a member of the faculty in 2010, he brought with him a transformational idea: the Advanced Science Research (ASR) program. Previously, he had worked as part of a similar initiative at Berkshire School, and he recognized the unique opportunities this program could bring to Belmont Hill students. Officially launched in 2011, the ASR program at Belmont Hill gives our high school students a chance to engage in Continued on Page 5

At this time last year, Belmont Hill students had just completed their final exams and were ready to gather one last time as a community on the Chapel Lawn for the school’s traditional end-of-the-year celebrations. This year, in the midst of a global pandemic, students have had their final exams canceled due to a shift to online learning and, on March 5, unbeknownst to them, gathered as a community for the final time for the Winter Sports Awards Chapel in the Fritz Gym. Although it is disappointing that we will not be able to return to campus for the school’s celebrations, it is necessary to hold these events virtually in order to combat the spread of coronavirus, with the number of cases in Massachusetts now approaching 100,000. Instead of its usual venue of the Chapel Lawn, Prize Day will now take place on a YouTube live stream in which Mr. Bradley, Mr. Schneider, and Mrs. Hamilton will announce the winners of prizes for first to fifth formers from the newly renovated but still unused Chapel. The individual form processions to the ceremony have been replaced by form-wide Zoom meetings from 9 to 10 am on the same day. For the seniors,

News, 3-5 Departing Faculty Members

News 2 Academic Achievements of the Seniors The Panell recognizes the many academic achievements of the Class of 2020 over the course of their Belmont Hill careers.

Celebration on have through May of next year. In a su urvey in a YouTube that Mr. Kaplan sent out to the seenior live streaam, and sixth form class, seventy percent preferred d the prizes will be awarded then. The first option while thirty perrcent next day, the seniors will p eferred the second. Next pr have a “Co ommencement year, the school hopees to Cruise,” in which they hold a more traditiional will drivee through the graduation ceremonyy for Belmont H Hill parkthe class and unveil their paning lot to p pick up p els on-campus. their diplo omas,, With the future of scchool awards, life uncertain, these evvents, and gifts. even if virtual, wiill be The i portant in mainim m school alsso t ining a sensse of ta has a plan n in community w while place for th he comw are isolated we pletion off senior panels. from one anOne optio on for the seo her, brringot niors is forr Mr. Kaplan ing us toand Mr. Simpson S to g therr one ge complete their panels l st time la for them. Seniors also before have the option to wee decomplete their t panels part on their o own in the f o r future by coming c into the wood shop over ssumweekends, school vamer vand any othcations, an cation. ☐ er free time me they may Illustration by Riley Shafer ’21

Look Inside The Panel Mr. Courtney and Mr. Gilmore will leave Belmont Hill next year, and Mr. Feldman, Mr. Holland, and Mr. Trautz will be on sabbatical.

the School Year Virtuallly

Sports 8-9 Senior Athletes The Panell recognizes the athletic achievements of the Class of 2020, and honors some of its athletes including Greg Derosiers, Quinn Richards, and Stephen Pellegrino.

Opinions 5 Senior Favorites

Arts 10-11 Senior Artists

The seniors express their opinions on their favorite music, movies, TV shows, and books.

The Panell honors senior artists including Elias Hyde, Jack Tahan, Charlie Stevenson, Andrew Lee, and Renny Gong.

B elmon t Hill News

Pag e 2

T h e Panel

The Legacy of Service from the Class of 2020 at BH

By Abe Tolkoff T ’21 P Panel Staff Throughout their six years at Belmont Hill, members of the Class of 2020 have contributed in a variety of ways of service related extracurricular activities. While ff have taken place both on and these efforts off ff campus by students formally recognized and not, The Panel hopes to highlight some of the efforts ff made and commend all Seniors who have helped any of their communities during their time at the school.

Specifically in Belmont Hill community service, the Class of 2020 has made significant steps in helping to continue many of the efforts ff and projects which remain central to the program. These include the Breast Cancer Cookie Fundraiser, Halloween Candy Drive, OXFAM, Turkey Drive, Movember, December Beard-Off, ff Valentines Day Flower Sales, PWAP, Meadow Green Poker, Butler School, Work Crew, Blood Drives and many more. Even those boys who contribute off ff campus in their home communities, neighborhoods, religious associations, and with their families are commended for their efforts. ff One core

Academic

component of the Community Service pro- specifically draws attention to the Family gram is the March trip, and in the past five Group, the Meditation Club, and the Quesyears, many members of the class have taken tioning Group. In Family Group, the “deep part. Mr. George and Mrs. David hoped to authentic style and commitment to the boys highlight the he strength with which the entire made d the th group extraordinarily group has made m their successful th his mark on the year,” an nd d how thanks school and important it has t o been to con ntinue projects for the futurre.

Whatt we dethe scribe as lead“t y pic a l” ership in c o m the seniior munity class, “tthe service is group w will only the bec o nt i nu ue ginning fo or to thrivve.” the Class of o M s .

2020, man ny Schmun nk boys have contribut- Graduating Senior Engaged in Community Service Riley Shafer ’21 ed to the growth of Health and Wellness programs notes the important commitment of senior as well. Ms. Schmunk says that “Health and leadership in the Meditation Club saying Wellness will miss the senior class,” and she that “the Club has led the way in helping

Achievements

By Charlie Wells W ’21 P Panel Staff The Class of 2020 was a strong one academically speaking. They have earned many awards throughout their high school career. As Mr. Schneider aptly said in the fall chapel, “I continue to be inspired by the collective effort ff and sense of rigorous intellectual work in this community. And while Belmont Hill clearly believes in the role of healthy competition for boys, I want to remind all of you that your intrinsic curiosity and motivation to achieve will be so much more important than any award we might offer ff you today.” Though only a few boys were honored, the whole grade deserves recognition for what they have accom-

of

Class

plished simply byy ggraduatingg Belmont Hill. sive performance p byy Rennyy Gong, earning That bein ng said, a few boys especially the title “National AP Scholar” for earning stood out at the fall awards Chapel. Of a score of 4+ on 8 diffe fferent exams. course, there were w 9 boys inducted In the classics d department, into the Cum L Laude Society, and a team of Jack Curttin, Jackson 9 more will be added come gradO’Donnell, Jackson Riffe, ff and uation. As welll, 12 boys earned Jack Weldon won seco ond place in National Merit,, and 3 were finalthe College of Holy Cross Manists (Chetan Shu ukla, Jack Weldon, uscript challenge. Th The four boys and Elias Hyyde). had to translate a 9th 9 century Furthermore, 27 Carolingian Manuscript into boys were recr idiomatic English, aand received ognized by the t high p praise from College Boaard the competifor their perffortion committee. mance on AdA F i n a l l y, vanced Placement Jake Pappo and tests, with one Renny Gong Kevin Jiang ’22 especially impreswere among 300

Max Peterson & Liam Kelly’s y

will go as soon as I can to whatever branch of the service will take me, and if you write to say that you think I’m being rash, I’ll say you’d better have a doctor look you over and It wasn’t until he stopped to read the see if you’ve had any red blood in your veins.” plaque under the artwork in the Byrnes Library that Max Peterson ’20 first learned about Belmont Hill’s fallen soldiers. Since that day in the Fourth Form, he has striven “to make sure that their stories were told.” As a self described history buff, ff Max remarked “If I can miss it, then the average person can miss it.” And so began the project that would turn into the Fallen Soldiers Club. Together with Liam Kelly ’20, Max searched through school archives in the Alumni House and Ancestry.com to learn about what would soon be referred to as “the thirteen.” Max says that for him it was about “bringing to life these young men The Fallen Soldiers Club in Fall 2019 who really didn’t have any recognition except for the old mural in the library.” Liam It is clear that both Max and Liam adds that “it was an opportunity to learn were invested in the project, so too were more about the history of the school and the friends and classmates they recruited to show that there are extraordinary people help. They included, Archie Perry ’20, Ryan who come from Belmont Hill.” Both Liam McLaughlin ’20, Jack McHugh ’20, Charand Max expressed personal connections to lie Donahue ’20, Preston Adams ’20, Nick the young men who made up the thirteen, Castellucci ’20, Brady Chitkara ’20, Jack as they themselves have interest in serv- Henehan ’20, James Markis ’20, and Jason ing in our nation’s military some day. Max Oliveri ’20. Max says that there are many even included photos of the thirteen on his faculty and staff ff who have helped with this yearbook page in addition to a quote writ- project including Mr. Bradley, the Alumni ten by Lt. Michael Silver ’35 to his parents House, and Mr. Mahoney and his commuon December 8th, 1941: “Today I listened nications team for highlighting their work to ‘Winnie’ [Winston Churchill] and FDR. on the school website. Also, “Ms. CushI have the pleasure of informing you that I man would bring us over [to the Alumni

By Abe Tolkoff T ’21 P Panel Staff

the

students access alternative treatments for anxiety in our culture.” Finally, in a less public group on campus, the Questioning Group, Ms. Schmunk notes that she “depends on seniors to quietly lead boys through authenticity of personality, sensitivity, and open conversation.” It is clear in all of these groups that the seniors led by example and helped strengthen and preserve each important effort ff for the future.

Another area of service to the Belmont Hill community is in Peer Tutoring.

A host of seniors have participated and helped younger students throughout their time at the school. Mrs. Richards notes that “the Class of 2020 is a wonderful group of BHS boys,” and that “over the years, so many members volunteered to peer tutor others in our community.” In particular this year, despite the constrictions of the college application schedule, many boys continued to contribute strongly to the program.

The Panel thanks every member of this Senior Class for their service both to our community and every other that they are a part of. Your presence will be missed across our campus and we are indebted to you all for ensuring the continuity of your efforts ff for the future. ☐

of

2020

students nationwide named Regeneron Scholars. The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Renny’s research poster was entitled “Differences ff in Cannabis Perception and Belief Updating Between Adults and Adolescents,” and as the title suggests, looked into the opinions of adults and adolescents on marijuana, and how readily they would change them. Jake’s poster was entitled “Molecular Beacon-based Real-time Diagnostic for Glioma.” His project was attempting to create a more efficient way to diagnose Glioma, a type of brain cancer.

The Class of 2020 provides a great example for younger students to follow in the academic arena, and we will assuredly miss their presence on campus next year! ☐

Fallen Soldiers Club

House] and she’d have everything laid out.

She did such an amazing job helping us out.”

Liam adds that “We can’t thank her enough for just finding those articles to read.”

While their website is published and

Photo By Abe Tolkoff ff ’21 full of detailed information about each of the thirteen, the work is far from over. Max says that his “involvement with it will never stop.” In fact, he mentioned recent discoveries of a new article and an ongoing video project for one of the young men. “I don’t see an end to this,” he says, and that the main goal is “just trying to keep this alive because as soon as it dies, they die with it.”

Liam hopes that now it is easier for all in the Belmont Hill community to find out more about these amazing veterans and patriots. As they graduate this spring, Liam and Max both hope that members of younger classes at Belmont Hill will take interest

in the project and continue expanding it.

Reflecting on the legacy they leave behind with this initiative, Max says that for him it was just interesting and fun to explore an untouched pocket of Belmont Hill history. He was especially struck by the sacrifice and education level of each man, many were pilots and leaders in their various service branches. “As much as you think that you’re just small little First Formers, all thirteen of these guys were once little First Formers and they grew up” he says. “For me it was a confidence booster” and made him think “I could one day try to be like some of these men and try to be that brave and take some of these chances.” Liam adds that “it just shows that these guys who can be revered as war heroes are just like anybody else, they came from the same place that all of us are going to be coming from. It can be anybody in this world who steps up and makes a difference. ff ” As Belmont Hill finishes a spring characterized by uncertainty, it remains clear that focusing on what we can control is vital to maintaining our community. Efforts ff like the Fallen Soldiers Club website should be commended for their focus on the bravest alumni of the school and their power in broadening the reach of our community. The Panel wishes Max and Liam the best and thanks them for their contribution to the continued history of Belmont Hill. We also strongly encourage all of you to spend a few moments exploring their website, the depth of content is extremely impressive and interesting. ☐

May 2 9 , 2 0 2 0

B elmon t HIll News

Pa g e 3

Looking Back at the Journey of the Class of 2020

By Sreetej Digumarthi ’21, Abe T Tolkoff ’21, and Charlie Wells W ’21 P Panel Staff Over their six years at Belmont Hill, the Class of 2020 has experienced new buildings, a new headmaster, a variety of important chapels, athletic highlights, academic achievement and extracurricular urricular excitement. In their honor, this issu ue of The Panel delves into the legacy of the class c and school history during their years on the Hill.

They stepped foot on campuss together for the first time in late August of 2014.

Their first classes were held not in tthe Melvoin Academic Center, but in a co onfiguration of temporary pods on the C Chapel lawn, dubbed the “Howe Now” in reff erence to the Melvoin Building’s p predecessor. That fall, as they settled in nto their new routines, Blake Brookees was elected Class President, an nd Emmett Greenwood Vice Presiden nt.

Then in November, the new Melvoin Building was officially dedicated, and the Class of 2020 took the brand new seats of the First Form Study Hall. One month later, the Student Senate buried a time capsule outside of the new building filled with a variety of Belmont Hiill memorabilia to be opened in May of 2065.

2 As they moved into the spring of 20015, Mr. Bradley’s class won the Greek and d Roman Field Day amidst tough competitio on. Matt Drucker was elected Class Presid dent for the following year, and Emmett Greenwood re-elected VP. The year ended ded with the graduation of the Class of 2015, and goodbyes for the summer were exchanged.

Returning in August 2015, the Class of 2020 was joined by a handful of new students; they dove into new classes and clubs.

That November, General Mark Milley ’76 gave the Veterans Day speech, and many then-Second Formers joined his Q&A sessions afterwards. Come spring, Mr. Murphy became Director of the Middle School as Mrs. Hamilton stepped away for a sabbatical, and the Class of 2020 headed to Washington, D.C. As the year wrapped up and they prepared to move into the role of leaders of the Middle School, the class elected Jeff ff Segel as President, Emmett Greenwood as VP again, and Luke Khozozian as their first senator. As they made their way off ff campus in early June, Mr. Kirby retired from his English teaching position.

Upon their return to school in

late-August of 2016, they assumed the mantle as the leaders of the Middle School. Experienced with changes to the campus from their First Form year, a new art installation, the Wind Orchid, greeted them upon their arrival. Under the leadership of President Jeff ff Segel, Vice President Emmet Greenwood, and Senator Luke Khozozian, the class quickly embraced their new role. They l listened d to a number b off impressive speeches h in the Ham a ilton Chapel during the fall, first f rom Dr. Rachel Levine ’75, a transgender woman serving as Pennsylvania’s Physician General and a professor o f medicine at Penn State University. Then, the Middle School Speaking Contest featured four of their own

Now members of the Upper School, the Class of 2020 returned to campus in August of 2017 eager to make their mark. The Fourth Formers quickly became acclimated to their new schedule and the more challenging curriculum as well as to their new pew seats on the Hamilton Chapel’s ground floor. Finally able to see and hear the speakers, it was here that they would first be introduced d d to Mr. Greg Schneider, h d newly l appointed to succeed Dr. Melvoin at the start of the following school year.

Accustomed t o change, the Class of 2020 would now

peers: Colin Trueman, Matthew Drucker, Jackson Riffe, ff and Jack Weldon. Already thriving in their leadership role, the class took the helm of Belmont Hill’s Turkey Drive, completing 480 meals, 55 above their goal.

Thatt winter Th i t and d spring i the school heard from the Equal Justice Initiative’s Anthony Ray Hinton, who served 30 years on death row though he was innocent, and whose story is told in the schoolwide read Just Mercy.

Form III students in the Facing History and Ourselves course heard from Chantal Kayitesi, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide and Jack Trompetter, a Holocaust survivor. Charlie Donahue, Harrison Hill, Elias Hyde, and Jack Weldon performed in the Poetry Fest finals, and another member of the class, Liam Kelly, spoke in the Middle School Speaking Contest. At year’s end the form elected Jack McHugh as their class president, re-elected Emmett Greenwood as VP, and Jeff ff Segel as senator. As the busy spring gave way to summer vacation, they bid beloved science teacher Doc Wachtmeister a happy retirement, and prepared for their next adventures at Belmont Hill.

weather a loosening of the school’s dress code, rendering the “Upper School hono r ” o f Daniel Xie ’24 wearing sneakers a right extended to all students. After enduring three years in dress shoes to finally earn their right to wear sneakers as members of the Upper School, some felt their feet had endured three years of suffering ff for nothing. Now prohibited from wearing hoodies to protect themselves from the cold of winter, the Class of 2020 warmed up through their many contributions to the school’s winter sports teams. In the spring, members of the class traveled all over the globe on trips to Germany, Alabama, France, and China, and three members of the form, Andrew Jonghyun Lee, Renny Gong, and Liam Peterson, competed in the Poetry Fest finals. The newly hatched Farmer’s Club brought chicks to campus, and talk of chickens offered ff a welcome distraction from academic demands. After a busy spring in which many members of the

Fourth Form contributed to varsity sports teams and took their first APs, the Class of 2020 was now ready for the next chapter of their Belmont Hill careers: Junior Year.

With Mr. Schneider at the helm for his inaugural year as headmaster and the duo of McHugh and Greenwood returning as form President and VP, the class of 2020 embarked on their Form V year. Demonstrating athletic prowess, p they helped nine of our varsity team ms win fifteen championships.

Aidan n McGaugh led the Nordic Skiing teeam to their first-ever Lakes Regio on championship and Greg Desro osiers won ISL MVP and broke th he school record for the triple ju ump at 44’ 3.5”. At year’s end, students said goodbye as Mr. Wood and Mr. Greer, retired after serving for decades in the Latin and English departments, and coaching past crew and baseball squads to victory.

Returning to campus in August, the class of 2020 was nervous about college admissions and excited to finally take their places as kings of the Hill. Having been reelected th he previous spring, President McHugh an nd VP Greenwood now led not only their fo orm, but the entire school. Following his iinaugural speech (held in the Gym duringg the Hamilton Chapel’s renovation), Jaack McHugh was the school’s first recipien nt of the Character Coin, a new award creatted by Mr. Schneider. Awards for the form m multiplied, as nine boys were welcomed in nto the Cum Laude Society and Renny Gong R G and Jake Pappo were named Regeneron Scholars for their excellent work in ASR. In the athletic department, senior captains led alpine skiing, nordic skiing, wrestling, and squash to ISL victories and more. Sasha Gannon was the ISL MVP for alpine skiing, and Harrison Shapiro won ISL MVP for wrestling and earned All-American honors at the national prep tournament. Though their senior spring was conducted remotely, the Form charted its own course of fun and leadership via the weekly Friday Forums hosted by Jack McHugh, learning to make lasagna via Zoom with Chef (Craig) Schneider, and fishing with Coach Butler. Though they missed out on spike ball on the quad, the Class of 2020 has left an indelible mark on the school as role models for excellence, resilience and working together. We will miss you all and all of us at The Panel wish you the best of luck as you cruise on to new adventures! ☐

Mr. Feldman Takes Year-Long Sabbatical Mr. Holland Heads to Grad School humor, and clear love for math, Mr. Feldman brings the subject to life, ensuring every class is interesting and fun. But even After 20 years of teaching, including better are “purple days,” when Mr. Feldman 11 years at Belmont Hill, Mr. Feldman will would switch the Promethean Board color be taking the first sabbatical of his career so to purple, and start exploring some of the he can spend more time with his family. “The intricacies of higher math, and, the best part, the students wouldn’t opportunity to spend such be responsible for knowing quality concentrated time it on the next test. Purple at home with my family is days have heightened my rare, and I look forward to interest in “post-BC Calcudoing just that. Plus, my lus” math, and also always children are ready for Linprovided a nice break in ear Algebra and I want to the middle of often hectic be the one to teach them.” days.

Finally, there are also Though he only his stories, of which he has taught me for one year, many.

Whether he’s talking Mr. Feldman has had an about skydiving, his trip impressive impact on my to Australia, or anything interest in Mathematics. else, he has many very Every day, Mr. Feldman interesting tales to tell! would come into class with Though I’m quite a big cup of coffee, ff which sad I won’t have the pleaBH Communications he would inevitably refill sure of having Mr. Feldin the middle of class, and man next year, we would like to wish start teaching. Through his sly remarks, him best of luck on his sabbatical! ☐ “I’m sure that’s just a coincidence,” witty

By Charlie Wells W ’21 P Panel Staff

Third Track and Field throughout his tenure. Furthermore, his work as an Associate Director of Admissions will surely be missed Having spent a decade of his life across campus. Mr. Carr says that “replacing working in the Belmont Hill community, Mr. Holland in the admission office will be Mr. Holland will be taking the 2020-2021 nearly impossible.” The team has hired two school year off ff on sabbatical. The Panel new associates, Mr. Rosser and Mr. Ekhator, would also like to wish Mr. Holland and his to help fill the gap. Mr. Holland has focused on incoming First Formers in family a sincere congratulations his role, and Mr. Carr says that on the birth of his new baby a “he connects so well to the infew weeks ago. During his year coming [group] and their famoff, ff Mr. Holland will attend a ilies. ” As he prepares for some graduate program at UPenn time away from the school, Mr. with a focus on educational enHolland says that he will miss trepreneurship as well as spend the “energy and the enthusitime with his family. Most of his asm of coming to campus every coursework will be completed day. ” He adds that he is “really remotely, so he will soon exgoing to miss the fall soccer perience virtual learning from season” and “the chance to be another perspective. Over his with those guys every day.” As years at Belmont Hill, Mr. Holhe will remain local throughBH Communications land has been known as an asset out most of the thirteen month in the History classroom, most program, he hopes “to catch a few games recently teaching Form I Greek and Roman from the sidelines. ” The Panel wishes Mr. History as well as the Facing History senior Holland the best of luck next year and hopes elective. On the other side of campus, he he enjoys his family and grad school! ☐ has successfully coached Varsity Soccer and

By Abe Tolkoff T ’21 P Panel Staff

B elmon t Hill News

Pag e 4

T he Panel

Seniors of the Student Senate Lead the Way for Success

By Adam Alto ’21 P Panel Staff When Jack McHugh was elected president of the school, we all quickly realized that we were in good hands.

After delivering his poignant first address to the school early in the year, McHugh immediately set about bettering the school alongside the senate.

As a senator for the juniors of Belmont Hill, I was impressed by his ability to quickly adapt to the role of School President. During the very first meeting, ideas were flying and an initial plan of action was starting to take shape under his efficient leadership. At the end of this first official senate meeting, Jack slammed down the ceremonial gavel for the first time in the new year, solidifying his role as president of the school.

McHugh has come far since then; his accomplishments were numerous even during this short school year. He forged a strong bond between the senate and Headmaster Schneider, one that had been lacking since Mr. Schneider’s arrival. He helped bring attention to the issues plaguing the Belmont Hill gear shop and took an active role in making sure the locker rooms were in good shape, to name a few accomplishments. Even now with the remote nature of our education, Jack makes sure to keep us in the loop and connected with his weekly Friday Forums. Jack

McHugh has proven to be an excellent School President and senior leader, and we will miss him in the future.

Vice President Emmett Greenwood was also a driving force in the senate and a good complement to the skills of McHugh. His foresight and organizational skills helped reign in the senate if things (or James Markis) got unruly, and he was always able to pro ovide a fresh perspective on ou ur issuess. He would offer up as mucc h ass Jack eeach meeting, and the two w erre more like co-presidents as theyy satt side b by side. Emmett was oftt en n the v oice of reason during ourr manyy debates and he wou u ld d somettimes see a key prob b le lem m with one of our collee ctive ideas and encouraa ge us to solve it in a creati tive way. He was also funny. If I thinggs became tense, as they oft ften e do du uring a discussion about senio iorr coffee, e, Emmett was always there to make a joke to lower the temperature of the room. Ultimately, Emmett was an excellent mediator and gave more depth to Jack McHugh’s already robust leadership, and the senate next year will be sure to carry on his legacy.

Jack and Emmett may have spearheaded the efforts of the senior senate this year, but no senate is complete without Senators, three of them to be exact. In his role as senator, Dan Madden was excellent at analyzing the ideas

of others. He would always wait until someone else was done presenting their idea before he provided his take on the issue, either pointing out important flaws or building on what the person did well. Madden also was always sure to include any teachers present in the discussion in order to get a sense of what the more senior members of the Belmont Hill community would think, whic wh i h was always a key part of thee puzz e. Next was Brady Chitkara. With zl h s ad hi adamant and at times stub bborn attitude at d , he excelled at drriving thee discussion. He was usualll y the one to speak firrst on an n iss sue, setting the bar hiigh in term te m s of ambitiousness and invi viting others to telll him wh h at they thought. Brady B waa s especially instru umentaa l i n creating a firm commu u ni nication channel between n the Head He admaster and senate. He was willing to ask Headmaster Schneide Schneider the questions nobody else would. Last but not least in the senator department is James Markis, who had a dual role as senator and senate scribe. His notes on each discussion helped us form a plan for the next one, as well as kept the student population informed about the happenings within the senate. As much as Markis’s notes helped to keep us on track, James himself would often throw us off track, in a good way, of course.

He was similar to Emmett in that he

excelled at providing comedic relief; sometimes the senate-train became a little too heated and needed to be thrown off track for the sake of all those within.

The final senior leader in the senate this year was Isaiah Gomes, who filled the new role of Dorm Representative. A necessary addition, Isaiah brought to the table the perspective of the borders at Belmont Hill.

He was able to identify and address grievances among the borders that had existed for far too long and reported widespread satisfaction at the end of the year in the dorms. Although he was primarily a dorm representative, Isaiah was not afraid to chime in on other matters of the senate, creating a whole other facet of the senate while supplementing the existing ones.

The senior senate this year was an exciting and efficient one; each member complemented each other well, building on the strengths of their peers while providing cover for any weaknesses. The result was a room full of energy and ideas, which motivated the members of the senate to capitalize on their ideas and make something happen. In all, President Jack McHugh, Vice President Emmett Greenwood, Dorm Representative Isaiah Gomes, and Senators Dan Madden, Brady Chitkara, and James Markis have been exemplary members of the senate this year and ideal representatives of both the senior class and Belmont Hill at large. ☐

Mr. Trautz Heads to Eleuthera for Fall Sabbatical

By David Cho ’23 P Panel Staff For the Fall semester next year, Mr. Trautz will not be teaching at Belmont Hill, but rather at The Island School in the Bahamas.

Mr. Trautz, the current Science Department Chair, started his career at Belmont as an intern in 1999. He left Belmont Hill in 2001 but came back the following year. He has coached the Varsity Cross Country and Alpine Skiing teams, leading them to multiple ISL Championships.

He has greatly impacted community service projects like starting the Turkey Drive with Mrs. David in 2010.

Mr. Trautz said that he felt that “the timing is just perfect,” to take a sabbatical. He wants his kids “to have the experience to live abroad,” to ex-

Mr.

perience different cultures, and to be outside their comfort zone. And since his son would be applying for Belmont Hill come fall, Mr. Trautz felt that “the timing worked out perfectly because it’s not like he could get into Belmont Hill and then I could just pull him out and go on a sabbatical.”

Mr. Trautz is excited about getting back to teaching in an outdoor classroom because that’s where he started his journey. Before starting to teach, he worked for the national service in Hawaii. He did turtle research during his

Gilmore

By Abe Tolkoff T ’21 P Panel Staff

Having completed his one year teaching fellowship at Belmont Hill, Mr. Gilmore departs to continue in independent school education. A recent graduate of Harvard College with a degree in Sociology and African American studies, he was a strong addition to the school’s history department and an asset on the field as an assistant varsity Football coach. Mr. Gilmore recalls an abundance of fond memories and life lessons learned at Belmont Hill, and attributes them to the mentorship he received within the school and the students with whom he interacted on a variety of fronts. He attributes his joining of the Belmont Hill community to Mr. Butler, who facilitated his transition to the school and began a list of strong mentors inside and outside the classroom. Remembering the lead up to

To

Teach

his first day of school, Mr. Gilmore says he “spent a lot of time thinking about that moment,” and he “was so happy on the first day of school… knowing that I get to do it all again tomorrow.”

During his season coaching this past fall, Mr. Gilmore brought his experience playing at Milton Academy and Harvard, as well as a drive to inspire his players. A highlight for him was the game against undefeated BBN in October. As the defensive line coach, much preparation went into the day, and he says “what was really fun for me to watch was that we were just tougher that game. It was the look in our team’s eyes that losing is not an option right now.” And his line performed extremely well, helping to secure the team’s victory on BBN’s Russell Field.

This game not only showed the character of the team, but represented a larger message about the Belmont Hill community that Mr. Gilmore observed.

As a proud graduate of Milton

first year then worked with the division of interpretation where he would guide hikes. Being outside and teaching is really exciting for him, so is The Island School’s sustainably built campus.

“They do a lot of really cool things that are environmentally based and sustainable that I really appreciate and enjoy.”

Finally, Mr. Trautz is excited to get back on the water; “I grew up in Maine, working on a lobster boat, that was my summer BH Communications job for high school and in college, so to get back onto

at

the water is pretty important to me.”

When asked about what he will miss most about Belmont Hill, Mr. Trautz said, “It’s the community. It’s missing seeing all the students every day. I love the give and take from the student, in the hallway, the high fives, the fistbumps, the cracks, and jokes.”

Mr. Trautz will miss the familiarity but above all, Mr. Trautz said that he will miss the faculty and staff; “after 20 years, while the kids cycle through, the faculty and staff pretty much remain the same and become a big family.”

During Mr. Trautz’s absence, Belmont Hill will hire Harry Goldberg, Assistant Dean of Admission at John Hopkins Medical School, as the Science Department Chair in the fall. As Mr. Trautz takes on this new challenge next fall, we will all miss him and wish him good luck! ☐

Catholic

Academy, coming to work at Belmont Hill carried many assumptions about the school. But after spending a year within the community, Mr. Gilmore attests that he is “thoroughly impressed with Belmont Hill as an institution” identifying “great teachers, great administrators, great resources, and a lot of people who care,” among pillars for its strength. He comments that he will miss the “vibe of brotherhood and camaraderie that is really remarkable.”

In addition, he will remember the students that he says make Belmont Hill so great, specifically those he advised, taught, and interacted with during his time at the school. “It’s the small moments,” he says, like “walking between classes” that really make the experience.

Looking ahead to next year, Mr. Gilmore plans to continue in education at Catholic Memorial School, teaching seventh and possibly tenth grade history, and coaching varsity Football. Belmont Hill will certainly miss

Memorial

his addition to our community this year, from the classroom to the field, and everywhere in between. The Panel wishes him the best as he continues his career. Thank you Mr. Gilmore! ☐

BH Communications

B elmon t HIll NEWS

May 2 9 , 2 0 2 0

Pa g e 5

cont. Mr. Courtney Bids Farewell to the Hill

By Charlie Donahue ’20 Former Panel P Staff Continued from Front Page. research and high level academics normally reserved for college undergraduates and graduate-level researchers. Through Mr. Courtney’s tenacious efforts ff to establish relationships with important members of the Boston medical and scientific communities, our boys have worked in labs at preeminent institutions. Today, Belmont Hill’s admissions office highlights our ASR program to prospective families, and undoubtedly it has helped to attract many of our top students and increase the rigor and competitiveness of the school. Senior Jack Weldon notes, “ASR has been one of the defining aspects of my Belmont Hill experience. From pursuing my scientific interests in a professional setting to improving my confidence as a speaker and problem-solver, the program has been invaluable to my development as a student. I have Mr. Courtney to thank for not only ASR itself but also the mentorship he has provided along the way.” Science Chair Mr. Trautz put it best when he said, “We were very fortunate to have Mr. Courtney as a member of the science department these past ten years. He has been a valuable member of the department and of the community and has always moved us forward in good and meaningful ways. His creation and administration of the Advanced Science Research (ASR) program was pivotal in the growth of the department and became a marquis program at Belmont Hill. We will all greatly miss his energy, enthusiasm, and camaraderie.”

On the proverbial “other side of campus”, Coach Courtney has been indispensable over the last decade in his contributions to our athletic program. Early in his tenure he assisted with the Middle School Cross Country team, a well-established pipeline for endurance athletes with futures in running, skiing, and rowing. In the springtime, he assisted with the third and fourth varsity 4+s and helped in sustaining the Belmont Hill crew program, always a perennial contender for a New England championship.

Some years later he took over the Middle School rowing program, where he molded future varsity rowers, instilling sound technical foundations and a love of the sport in our youngest oarsmen. Most significant however, has been his transformative stewardship of the school’s nordic ski program.

After a few seasons assisting Coaches Kirby and Zamore, he took the helm of the team in 2015. Over five years, the program underwent a dramatic shift as a result of his excellent leadership. While the team had

lage of Coach Courtney. Again the following season, the nordic ski team repeated its previously unprecedented feat and captured a second Lakes Region title. For the athletes, this one was even more special. It first

Mr. Courtney ’97 with his family on campus. been an important part of school life for many athletes since its inception in the early 1980s, it had struggled to produce many tangible successes when racing against formidable “ski-schools” in the Lakes Region (NH) League. Schools like Proctor, Dublin, and Holderness have always recruited for skiing and have access to top-notch (even Olympic-caliber, in Dublin’s case) facilities. Coach Courtney recognized the innate toughness and ability of the athletes in the Belmont Hill program, and realized that with proper coaching and training they could achieve at the same high level in skiing as many of them had in running and rowing. He attended numerous conferences on ski-coaching over the course of multiple summers, and returned with new ideas to bring our ski team into the modern day. After just four years of head coaching status, Coach Courtney led his team to the school’s first ever Lakes Region Championship, besting all the historically “unbeatable” ski schools. While many of us athletes involved in that feat would like to take credit, I do not believe we were any more special or athletic or fit than the three decades of skiers who came before us. Undoubtedly, it was due in large part to the efforts ff and tute-

Mr. Courtney

served as validation that our 2019 victory had not been a fluke, but that in fact Coach Courtney had started a dynasty that hopefully soon will equal the likes of Belmont Hill’s crew, wrestling, and squash programs.

Secondly, the team had advance knowledge of Coach Courtney’s departure from Belmont Hill, and felt that this victory was a fitting capstone to his nordic coaching career.

While winning two Lakes Region titles is a tremendous legacy by itself, Coach Courtney, a consummate school man, made sure to leave his beloved team in good-stead after he departs this spring. As one of his final acts as a member of this faculty he hired a highly qualified replacement, former Bowdoin nordic ski captain Fiona Ahearne, to coach the team in the coming seasons. Coach Ahearne will be teaming up with veteran Coaches Kirby and DeCaprio to continue to build upon the success Coach Courtney kick started.

In addition to his great work in the classroom and in athletics, Mr. Courtney leaves a void in the myriad of other areas he has been involved. During the summers, he ably led our Summer Camp program which serves hundreds of local kids and provides an important revenue stream for the school.

For five years he has been a close confidant and mentor to our boarding students.

Along with his wife, Dr. Courtney, and his sons, Fitz, Pierce, and Lloyd, Mr. Courtney has created a home away from home for this population of Belmont Hill boys.

Additionally, he has helped read applications for prospective students and lead the Fifth Form as head advisor. His diligence in these many areas exemplify his hard-working nature and dedication to the school.

Based on his exemplary decade of service to Belmont Hill, it was no surprise at all to learn that the Hill School in Pottstown, PA, wanted to hire Mr. Courtney to head their new Quadrivium Center, home to Engineering, Science, Math, and Technology.

At Hill, Mr. Courtney will spearhead the entire STEM faculty and continue his passion for coaching in their rowing program.

Additionally, the chance to work in boarding school offered ff opportunities for his entire family. His wife, Dr. Maureen Courtney, will also teach in the sciences, and their son Fitz plans to attend Hill beginning in ninth grade. Furthermore, the move to Pennsylvania will allow Dr. Courtney, a Philadelphia native, to be closer to her family in a time where our world is increasingly uncertain.

Belmont Hill Head of School, Mr. Schneider, remarked on what a great opportunity this was for all the Courtneys, writing, “It is with a great sense of mixed emotions that we have to say goodbye to Jared Courtney and his family this year. On the one hand, his new position at the Hill School represents a wonderful leadership opportunity for him that will allow him to grow in new ways. However, Belmont Hill will be losing an alumnus who has helped improve our school in so many powerful ways. Whether it has been his work in the classroom, creating and leading the ASR program, building an exceptional Nordic Ski program, or through his presence with summer programs and the dorms, Mr. Courtney’s impact has been deep and widespread. We will miss the entire Courtney family on campus but wish all of them well on their new adventures.”

Speaking personally, I will miss Coach Courtney greatly. Over the last seven years, among adults in this community, I have had no greater friend. While I have had many great mentors, I consider Mr. Courtney to be the primus inter pares, or firsts among equals. While he will be remembered here for his amazing achievements in ASR and in nordic skiing, it is his kindness, mentorship, and caring spirit we will miss. ☐

The Panel Continues Online This Issue Opinions China Doves in an Anti-China Election

Senior Favorites F Favorite Books, TV, and More!

Sammy Jomaa ’21 discusses the hypocrisy surrounding China in the 2020 US Presidential Election. Click here for the article.

Find out what are the favorite books, TV shows, and movies of the Class of 2020. Click here for the list.

Editors-In-Chief Alex Lo ’23

Sreetej Digumarthi ’21 Abe Tolkoff ’21

Online Editor

Executive Editor

Howard Huang ’22

Charlie Wells ’21

Copy Editor

Digital Media Editor Luke Hogan ’22

Arts Editor Tyler Forg ’21 Daniel Xie ’24 From the Archives: Debate of the Issue The Panell re-publishes a past Debate of the Issue written by graduating Seniors James Markis ’20 and Jake Pappo ’20. Click here to read more of their funny work.

Playlist of the Issue: Senior Favorites Using a poll of the Class of 2020, Jalen Walker ’21 and Henry Moses ’21 compiled a list of the group’s favorite songs and ones that define their time at Belmont Hill. Click here to be directed to the list online or below on the graphic below for the Spotify playlist.

Sports Editor Daniel Bittner ’22

Graphics Editor Kevin Jiang ’22

Assistant Editors Luke Wagner ’22 Lawrence Tang ’22 Daniel Xie ’24 Drew Dummer ’22 Alex Sousa ’22 RC Keomurjian ’22 Mac Bobo ’23 David Cho ’23 Cooper Nelson ’23

F Faculty Advisors David Hegarty Juliette Zener

News Editor Henry Moses ’21

Opinion Editor Sammy Jomaa ’21

Photo Editor Jalen Walker ’21

Back P Page Editors Paul Vander Vort ’21 Justin Pare ’21 Adam Alto ’21

The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill and Winsor schools. The Panel is the voice of the student body.

We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in The Panell belong solely to the authors and editors and do not necessarily represent the student body, faculty or administration of either school. Any comment about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panell encourages responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright © 2020 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.

Prize Day 2020

Pa g e 6

The Panel

Extracurriculars & Arts B Flats Music Awards

Preston Adams, Rowan Bradlee, Aidan Donnelly, Bobby Manion, James Markis, John McHugh, Archibald Perry, Joseph Romney

Choral & Vocal Prize

Matthew Travaglini

Instrumental Music Prize

Charles Stevenson

Ensemble Award

Timothy Brown, Artemy Ivanov, Rush Lincoln, Charles Stevenson, Rhocar Constant

Diversity Leadership Award

Griffin Hamilton, Ysael Porro

Woodbury Public Speaking Prize

Adam Alto (Fall), Ikenna Ugbaja (Fall), Erick Silva (Spring), Abraham Tolkoff (Spring)

Hayden Gaylord Coon Drama Prize

Daniel Rashes (Acting)

The Paul J. Zofnass ‘65 Environmental Award

John Henehan, Holden Present, Charles Stevenson

Hampers Lyceum Award

Matthew Drucker, Zephan Kraus, Jonah Wyett

Edward M. Burt Community Service Award

Myles Cutler, Daniel Drucker, John Goguen, Emmett Greenwood, Timothy McCormack, Jack Tahan, Jalen Walker

Warburg Community Service Award

Edward Madden

Global Citizenship Award

Rhocar Constant

Angelo Togneri Art Prize

Alexander Sousa

Thomas Photography Prize

Athletics

Ysael Porro

Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award

Isaiah Gomes

Red and Blue Key Society

Rowan Bradlee, Nicholas Castellucci, Douglas Conigliaro, Owen Gerah, Henry Hagedorn, Luke Hogan, Edward Madden, James Markis, John McHugh, Stephen Pellegrino, Gabriel Raffa, Justin Santana, Jeffrey Segel, Jack Shah, Bennett Teceno, Jonah Wyett

Darren D. Gallup Three Sport Athlete Award

Preston Adams, Timothy Brown, John Curtin, Gregory Derosiers, Charles Donahue, Aidan Donnelly, Alexander Gannon, Adil Kassim, Aidan McGaugh, John McHugh, Daniel Milmoe, Charles Mullaney, Ysael Porro, Charles Richards, John Weldon

Charles F. Kenney ‘06 Prize

Blake Brookes, Charles Richards

The Independent School League Award of Excellence

Classics

Maureen O’Donnell Book Prize

Jared Waterbury Scudder Latin Prize

Gregory Derosiers, Aidan McGaugh

Sreetej Digumarthi, Justin Paré

Modern Language

Sreetej Digumarthi, Justin Paré

Spanish Prize

Abraham Tolkoff

French Prize

Joshua Baldwin, Ruphael Getahun

Raymund A. Kathe Prize

Henry Moses, Riley Shafer

National Chinese Honor Society

Max Hall, Zephan Kraus, Timothy McCormack, Theodore Stoll, Matthew Travaglini, Dominic Tung, Jalen Walker

History Form IV History Prize

Thomas Madden

Downes History Prize

Jeffrey Segel, John Weldon

Prize dAY 2020

May 2 9 , 2 0 2 0

Pa g e 7

Middle School Middle School Public Speaking Prize

Michael Bobo (Fall)

Middle School Drama Award

Julian Boutin (Acting), Jeremy Eaton (Acting), Juan-Pablo Fernández-del Castillo (Acting), Adam Shaff (Technical), Daniel Xie (Technical)

Prospector Prize

Luca Mezzanotte

Bell Prize

Michael Bobo, Alexander Lo, Cooper Nelson

Newell Howes Morton Award

Michael Bobo, Turner Rayment

Middle School Award of Merit

Benjamin Adams (I), Juan-Pablo Fernández-del Castillo (I), Thomas Folan (I), Tawanda Masiiwa (I), Brady Paquette (I), Gabriel Umlas (I), Marco Beshere (II), Jacob McManus (II), Julian Rodriguez Montgomery (II), Luke Trevisan (II), Cord Vallis (II), Michael Bobo (III), Daniel Drucker (III), Jeremy Eaton (III), Merhawi Ghebrelul (III), Turner Rayment (III), Connor Smirl (III)

Gregg Citizenship Award

Evan Dresser

Helena Weister Funk Award

Leonardo Montoya

Math

Mathematical Association (AMC) of America Award

Liam Peterson (Grade 12), Howard Huang (Grade 10), Anthony Galvagna (Grade 8), Daniel Xie (Grade 8)

N.E. Mathematics League Award (NEML)

Howard Huang

Rensselaer Mathematics & Science Medal

Charles Wells

Maxwell Mathematics Prize

Aidan McGaugh, Colin Trueman

Thomas G. Walters Mathematics Achievement Prize

Renny Gong

Science Henry S. Robinson Physics Prize

Andrew Jonghyun Lee, Gabriel Raffa, John Weldon

Frederick C. Richardson Chemistry Prize

Sreetej Digumarthi, Abraham Tolkoff, Charles Wells

Clifford Goodband Biology Prize

Howard Huang, Kevin Jiang

English Willey Sextant Prize for Creative Writing

Renny Gong, Ikenna Ugbaja

Brown Book Award

Adam Alto, Justin Paré, Matthew Travaglini

Henry S. Robinson English Prize

Renny Gong, Elias Hyde

Upper School Awards General Mark A. Milley ’76 Prize

Jacob Czarnecki

Form V Book Prizes

Sreetej Digumarthi (Harvard), Abraham Tolkoff (Williams), Matthew Travaglini (Williams), Jalen Walker (Williams) Luke Curtin (Yale), Erick Silva (Yale), Ikenna Ugbaja (Yale)

Senior Awards Milton I. Dodge Prize

David Benjamin Reyes, Liam Kelly

Margaret V. Lawless Memorial Prize

Hamza Shemsu, Emmett Greenwood, John McHugh

George von L. Meyer III Memorial Prize

John Weldon

Wright Award

Class of 2020

B elmon t Hill Sp orts

Pag e 8

T h e Panel

Remembering the Championships of the Class of 2020

By Daniel Bittner ’22 P Panel Staff Throughout the last six years, Belmont Hill has witnessed an unprecedented run of outstanding athletic achievements, ranging from numerous championships to individual accomplishments and inspiring leadership.

Although many individuals from a range of Forms have helped to create these successes, the Class of 2020 had perhaps the largest contribution of all. Athletes from the Sixth Form have competed with an unparalleled sense of sportsmanship and leadership in their respective sports, serving as outstanding role models to all of the successive classes. While it would be impossible to list the entirety of their achievements, here are some of the most significant accomplishments made by members of this year’s senior class throughout the last three years.

In the fall season, Belmont Hill athletes achieved a variety of team accomplishments. The varsity soccer team placed third in the ISL and qualified for NEPSAC Class A Championship twice. The varsity football team had a successful stretch highlight-

Recruited

Ch Championships, i hi and d New N E England l d ed d b by a NEPSAC b bowl-game l victory i t in 2018. The cross country team also Championships. The squash team went had multiple accomplishments, in- undefeated in ISL competition over the cluding multiple top-10 ISL finishes. last two years, winning the ISL champiBelmont Hill’s winter teams were onship in both years. Finally, the basketball team achieved also incredibly successful a second-place finthroughout the past three years, capish in the ISL, turing many ISL, and had two players reach New England, 1000 points. and other titles.

A l The varsity hockthough this year’s ey team won the spring season was Lawrenceville Tourunfortunately cannament Championship celed, and multiple spring this year, its 18th in school teams would have been fahistory. The Alpine skiing team vored to win championships, the won three consecutive ISL Chamsenior class of spring athletes pionships, with a record of 40-3, still accomplished many feats 38-1, and 38-1 in their last three throughout the past three years. years. The Nordic skiing team won The track and field team its first-ever league chamwon two consecutive ISL pionship by winning the and New England Lakes Region chamchampionships, pionship in 2019, bewith multiple infore winning it again dividuals breaking in 2020. The wrestling Graphic by Kevin Jiang ’22 school records. The team experienced one of the best athletic runs in its history, crew team won two consecutive Duwinning three consecutive ISL dual cey and Bassett Cups, and a NEIRA timeet championships, Graves Kelsey tle. The tennis team too achieved great

Athletes

By Howard Huang ’22 P Panel Staff Once again, Belmont Hill’s senior class has seen success in athletic recruitment with 27 graduating athletes recruited to play nine college sports. Athletic recruitment has always been an important gateway into college for many students at Belmont Hill because of the strength of our student-athlete model. Many students try out new sports during their years at Belmont Hill and become proficient enough to be recruited for that sport by the time they graduate.

Over the past couple of weeks, I interviewed three members of the senior class who have been recruited.

Their responses have helped me understand how they came to be such

Succeed

successful athletes and how they feel about playing college sports.

First, Aidan McGaugh ‘20, who was recruited by Bates College to nordic ski and row, said that he is excited to compete at the collegiate level. If he had to choose someone who motivated him the most, “Mr. Richards and Mr. George taught me a lot about how to push myself physically/ mentally and train intelligently, which I am hugely grateful for and contributed a lot to my success.” Aidan’s success was facilitated by the great coaches at Belmont Hill and also an unrivaled drive to compete and improve.

Second, Tim Brown ‘20, who was recruited by Williams College to play football and wrestle, is also extremely excited to play at the collegiate level, and he also is considering playing professionally if given the op-

in

su success, making winning records and qualifying both years for the NE Tennis q Tournament. The sailing team achieved T v ictories in the Downeast Invitational Regatta and Massachusetts State ChamR pionships last spring. The baseball teeam had multiple accomplishments as well, as after placing second the prior w fo our years, they won the ISL championship outright in 2019. The golf team c aptured the school’s 9th ISL Kingman Tournament Championship last year T a nd achieved a second-place league fiinish. Lastly, the lacrosse team placed seecond in the ISL last year and was especiially poised to have a successful season th his year with a large class of seniors.

All of the athletes of the senior cllass contributed greatly to the numerous championships and achievements over the past three years. Yet their leegacy will extend far beyond these a chievements as their sportsmanship was greatly admired throughout the w scchool. In the future, Belmont Hill atthletes will seek to not only achieve th he number of impressive accomplishments achieved by this senior class m but to also attempt to follow their outstanding athletic leadership. We will miss you next year, Seniors! ☐ w

Unsure

portunity. Tim says the person who helped him succeed was, “my football kicking coach from National Kicking Service, Gene Muriaty, who helped me develop my skills as a kicker and punter the most, he’s been coaching me since first form and helped me become the player I am today.” Tim has always been a hard-working athlete, and kicking in football requires a great deal of carefully developed technique.

Third, Luca Foschi Walko ‘20, who was recruited by UPenn to row, is looking forward to rowing and sees it as a great extension to athletics at Belmont Hill. He says his mother contributed the most to his success: “driving me to practices and feeding me, getting me interested in rowing during middle school, and ultimately convincing me to come to BH.” Luca, who only entered Belmont Hill ju-

Times

nior year, has worked hard since joining and has become a crew captain and role model for younger rowers.

There are many other successful college recruits in the class of 2020 and many others who used athletics as a strong extracurricular to bolster their chances of getting into their desired college. The cancellation of spring seasons and summer tournaments and identification camps have made recruiting precarious for all students who counted on this period of time to gain the attention of college coaches.

No matter what next fall looks like, Belmont Hill is extremely proud of the strong athletes in the Class of 2020. The Panel wishes all recruited athletes the best as they continue their careers at their respective colleges and universities and looks forward to hearing about your successes next year. ☐

Quinn Richards ’20: An Athlete to Remember

By Luke Hogan ’22 P Panel Staff As the school year comes to an end, sadly, one of Belmont Hill’s top lacrosse players and skiers departs as well.

Quinn Richards ’20 has been a lacrosse player ever since joining Belmont Hill in Form II and is also one of the captains for this year’s varsity team. Also a member of Varsity Alpine Skiing, he was voted in as captain two years in a row. To review his overall athletic experience at Belmont Hill, I asked Quinn to reminisce about his experience and highlights throughout his years.

When asked about his best experience in Belmont Hill athletics, he responded that being named MVP of the lacrosse team his junior year was his highlight. He said this honor meant a lot as he was able to prove himself after backing up Danny Hincks in his sophomore year. Quinn said that his most inspirational coach throughout his Belmont Hill experience would be Coach Sullivan (Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach) who responded that Quinn, “led and backstopped a defense that allowed an ISL low 5.2 goals per game

and saved almost 70% of the shots that he faced”. When asked, Quinn said that Coach Sullivan “always saw my potential and pushed me to be the best goalie and leader I could be. I would not have my success in lacrosse without him.” Due to COVID-19, Quinn was disappointed to not be able to play this year as captain, but stated that the team was “an amazing group of guys” and that he “would have had a lot of fun leading them this year.”

On the other side of the field, Quinn has been captain of the varsity alpine skiing team for two years. Quinn has enjoyed the ski program’s rare combination of the Middle and Upper School. He says that over his five years, he has been able to build relationships across the forms and in the last two years as captain, Quinn has felt fortunate to be able to lead a wide variety of kids which he says taught him “about what it means to be a captain and a leader”.

Quinn will be attending the United States Air Force Academy (USAF) as a lacrosse recruit. He talked about his recruitment process as having ups and downs but was thrilled to receive a call from the Air Force Academy coach on July 1st, 2018. After visit-

ing the school, he knew that USAF was the place he wanted to be because the “USAF will give me the opportunity to compete for a National Championship while representing my country, and I don’t think it gets much better than that.”

“Belmont Hill has shaped me into the person I am today and for that I will always be thankful. I’m really going to miss it while I’m at the Academy next year,” Quinn responded about his overall Belmont Hill experience. To round out Quinn’s impact on the lacrosse program and Belmont Hill, Coach Sullivan stated, “Quinn has had a remarkable career at Belmont Hill in the classroom, on the slopes, and on the lacrosse field. Quinn’s junior year in net was the very best by a goalie in the almost 40-year history of the lacrosse

program. I was so looking forward to his senior year and his hard work and leadership on what was going to be an outstanding team. I look forward to following his career at the USAF.” The Panel wishes Quinn the best of luck in his future at USAF and we look forward to seeing what he accomplishes. ☐

Jalen Walker ’21

May 2 9 , 2 0 2 0

B elmon t HIll Sp orts

Pa g e 9

The Multi-Sport Achievements of Greg Desrosiers ’20

By Mac Bobo ’23 P Panel Staff It was a bright, snowy winter day, and Belmont Hill’s future star athlete, Greg Desrosiers, happened to be touring. My brother, Luke, was in the college counseling office, waiting for the new arrival. This wouldn’t be the first time Luke had met Greg. Growing up, the two had played Pop Warner football together. “All we had to do was give him the ball, and he would do the rest,” Luke recalls of their time playing together. They were inseparable until Luke had to move away. And yet, when they saw each other in the hallway, it was almost as if they had never been apart.

From the start, Greg was Belmont Hill’s most electrifying player to watch on gameday. Week after week, just when you thought he was tackled, he would somehow pick up a couple more yards. In the Fifth Form, Greg earned All-League and All-New England honors. Additionally, the team would go on to an 8-1 finish and a league title. But Greg’s greatest performance was still to come. The Suffield Academy Tigers were just coming off a momentous season, having only lost one game in the regular season. The team featured multiple Division 1 recruits, including some who would go on to play at programs such as Miami, Penn State, and Syracuse. Looking back at the game, Luke said, “This team had no business losing… period.” Apparently, Greg wasn’t intimidated by all the hype. Through a multiple touchdown performance

and an especially memorable blocked punt, Greg would lead the team to a victory. And according to Luke’s memory, Greg never came out of the game.

Then came his senior year.

Although the team’s success was not quite as memorable, Greg’s performance became even better. And in no

killing me and I felt terrible, but I was ready,” Greg recalled of the game.

Somehow unfazed by his condition, Greg delivered. Like most opponents, the Knights were not able to bring him down. On the final drive of the game, Greg carried it in for the game-winning score. That year, Greg was named

Jalen Walker ’21 game was this more evident than that against BB&N. The previous year, they had beaten Belmont Hill’s team in a close, hard-fought game. This year, however, Belmont Hill was hungry for a win against the Knights. But there was one problem. Greg was running a high fever, and would later be diagnosed with mono. “My throat was

Team MVP, as well as earning All-New England for the second year in a row.

However, Greg’s athleticism showed itself most in his ability to be the best in multiple sports. Greg was not primarily a basketball player, but his athleticism allowed him to compete with the most skilled. In every game, Greg was charged with guarding the

opponent’s best player, which included players such as Penn State commit Dallion Johnson and Indiana commit Jordan Geronimo. He was largely effective. In his senior year, Greg would earn All-League and team MVP honors. Additionally, Greg’s contributions to the Belmont Hill track team were a major part of the team’s New England title last spring. Greg currently holds the school record for the triple jump, and would undoubtedly have broken several more records if the season had been held this year. Last spring, Greg traveled down to North Carolina for the track nationals along with Isaiah Gomes ’20. Greg placed second in the decathlon, and he is currently U.S. number three in the national rankings.

Taking into consideration his considerable talents on the field, on the court, and on the track, it is safe to say that Greg Desrosiers has had one of the most memorable careers in school history.

Nevertheless, Greg is not only known around campus for his prodigious accomplishments athletically.

Whether it is clapping and dancing in chapel, actively participating in the ukulele society, or making viral TikToks in the Goodband Commons, Greg means so much more to the school than his statistics or performances. Next year, Greg will attend the University of Louisville, where he will play football and run track. I think I can speak for everyone when saying I look forward to seeing what Greg will accomplish at the next level.

We’ll miss you, Greg and good luck! ☐

Stephen Pellegrino ’20 Inspires and Uplifts in Sailing

By Alex Lo ’23 P Panel Staff The calm water lapped across Stephen Pellegrino’s boat as he struggled to find footing after falling into 120th place. The non-existent wind was a stark difference from the previous three days. As Stephen looked at the multitude of boats in front of him, his final results at Nationals looked bleak.

Though troubled by his unfavorable start, he focused on himself, believing that he could defeat insurmountable odds. He never looked back. In the ensuing hour, Stephen passed 112 boats, resulting in an 8th place finish, coming in at 13th place for the entire regatta.

From the beginning, Stephen was a prolific sailor. He began at the prestigious Wianno Yacht Club when he was six years old. Quickly, Stephen rose onto the race team and started taking the sport more seriously. At just eleven, he joined a competitive team, called FAST in Newport, paving the road to his next level sailing.

Over the next few years, Stephen traveled across the country in his sailing.

After talking with the sailing team captain, Chris Champa ‘16, Stephen was elated to join the small but lively Belmon nt Hill sailing team. From the beginniing, he established himself as a humoro ous and uplifting member of the teaam. Although the Belmont Hill sailling team did not produce significcant results through his middle school years, Stephen proved himself a valuable asset for the team as well. In the Seccond Form Stephen joined the competitive 420 sa iling team named LISOT. During the summers, he h continued to sail at Wian nno Yacht Club. In his tim me on LISOT, Stephen attained great results o n t h e n a tional level. At N a tion-

als in 2018, Stephen earned 13th place of 300 boats. He recalls the event saying, “Throughout a four-day race, people forget their fundamentals, an nd start getting tired, but I stayed fo cused.”

He came in 9th place at the Hyannis regatta out of 200 boats as a well.

Stephen’s last race as a B elmont Hill sailor was one of his best and d favorite on the team. They were racingg at the Massachusetts State Champ onship, which th e team pi had never won before.

Overcoming thee shifty w nd of the C wi Charles R ver, during th Ri he first day, the Belmo ont Hill team took th he lead i to first place. in The secon d day took a turn from t h e b e ginning with Photo from Stephen Pellegrino ’20 t h e

wind picking up, and Belmont Hill started falling from its lead. With two races left, they had slipped into third place. However, reminiscing on the regatta, Stephen says, “We kept our heads up, focusing on the small technical things, we knew we could win.” His words coming to fruition, the Belmont Hill team regained the lead, winning the state championship.

Stephen was more than a great sailor to our team, as he always found a way to gather everyone together and encourage us to perform our best. He was consistently there to teach the newer sailors on the team and led us to several successful wins. On the long rides to races, Stephen created joy throughout the bus. As I sailed with him more, Stephen’s character unfolded itself as a leader, but more importantly, a helping hand and a friend. Stephen will continue to sail around the Cape and the Country after Belmont Hill. Others may remember Stephen for helping lead the Belmont Hill Sailing team to its first Massachusetts and New Hampshire State Championship, but we will never forget his kindness and humility. ☐

Seniors Lead Crew Team Spring Meters Challenge

By Nick Hebard ’21 Contributing Writer W Despite not being able to compete in normal competition, the Belmont Hill crew team has displayed incredible perseverance throughout the past few months, competing in a new contest: the crew meters challenge. After the Florida trip in mid-spring was canceled, the senior leadership planned the meters challenge. The challenge motivates team members to stay in shape. Aff ter a bike or ergometer workout, a team-

mate submits the number mberr of o meters that they completed on a t am Google te spreadsheet.

With-o t being ou able to work out togetther, the spreadsheet unites th he group.

Throughout this t chal-lenge, the senior leeadership p has held all athletes account-aab b le le.

Aidan McGaugh has been an aerobic warrior duringg quarantine, logging over two o million n meters. As well, Aidaan hass b e e n relentless on his mountain untain n bike bike. Earlier

this spring spring, g,, he h b biked 100 miles twice in one week.

McGaugh welcomes this M m o notonous training. During n a 5 hou ur session on the bike, his power weent out. Not wanting to stop b king, Aiidan spent the next 4 hours bi without light l or music. This work ethic will clearly lead Aidan to great success on the Nordic and Rowing teams at Bates B College next year. Add tionallyy, Luca Foschi-Walko has di main- ta t ined his rigorous ergometer training p program rogr from the winter. His

efforts ff will hopefully be rewarded by setting a new school record for 2,000 meters.

Equally impressive are all of the seniors who have kept training in the spirit of togetherness. Jack Weldon and Charlie Donahue are not planning on continuing their rowing careers in college, yet have combined for an impressive 1,512,626 meters. Their persistent attitude of training is admired by all involved with the Belmont Hill crew program. Through leadership and effort ff like theirs, the crew team will be prepared and inspired to thrive next spring on the water. ☐

Belmont Hill arts

Pa g e 1 0

Jack

Tahan

’20

Dazzles

plan said: “if you’re going to be in here, you might as well know what you’re doing.” That sparked a rapid learning process, and he quickly progressed to working on the wheel.

Since he stepped foot into the ceram- Jack continued to informally work in the ics studio early in the First Form, Jack Tahan studio until the Third Form when he took ’20 has used the art form to express himself, the ceramics elective. That year, and every win awards, and contribute to our com- one since, he has entered into the Globe munity. He says that coming into Belmont Scholastic Art awards, and won a host of honorable mentions and keys along the way.

He says that his biggest artistic influence is “probably Mrs. Kaplan, she’s always beyond nice and she encourages you to do whatever you want to pursue, whatever niche of ceramics or the art world you want to go into.” Without her, he wouldn’t have started ceramics or done art at Some of Jack’s Rock Collection BH Communications Belmont Hill, he says.

Hill he had “never done ceramics before, Jack’s contributions, however, extend so this was all new to [him]” Mrs. Kaplan beyond the art department. Using his potrecalls that Jack first came into the studio tery skills, he has “donated handmade mugs for a project with his English class related to as well as other pottery work to help raise the book The House on Mango Street. After funds for PWAP,” according to Mrs. Kaplan. that project, he would spend much of his In the summer after the Fourth Form, affree time in the art building, experimenting ter being awarded the Tongeri Art Award with clay until finally in December Mrs. Ka- on Prize Day, he interned at The Potter’s

By Abe Tolkoff ’21 Panel Staff

with

The Panel

Ceramic

Shop and School in Needham, MA. There he continued to develop what he describes as his proudest set of work, a collection of rocks. He began the process at Belmont Hill, throwing large vessels on the wheel and shaping them “aggressively into these natural forms.” Afterwards, he “would mark it up with hand building techniques, and then cut open a section of it so that it was a container.”

He used a firing technique called raku at The Pottery Shop “to make these amazing natural colorations and interesting surfaces.”

Mrs. Kaplan says that he “has also Two of Jack’s Ceramic Works used clay to create unique pieces of art for other classes as well.” This fall, Jack created a project for Ms. Zener’s World Religions class which has been on display in the Byrnes Library for the school year. On Jack’s continued skill development, Mrs. Kaplan comments “his

Legacy

natural ability in conjunction with his eager curiosity… has given him the opportunity to develop his own vocabulary and voice.”

As Jack prepares to graduate Belmont Hill, he looks forward to continuing with ceramics in his free time next year in college. While he hopes to major in biology or physics, he made sure that every college

BH Communications on his list had a ceramics studio where he could work. And Jack says that one of his end goals is to “retire and have my pottery studio by the ocean.” The Panel thanks him for the contributions he has made to our Art Department and our larger school community and wishes him the best next fall. ☐

Andrew Lee ’20 Leaves a Musical Mark Seniors Continue Legacy of the B-Flats

By Charlie Wells ’21 Panel Staff Andrew Jonghyun Lee ’20 has been a fixture of the Belmont Hill music building since he arrived at the school, but he has been a musician for far longer than that. He picked up the violin as a 9-yearold and mainly played classical music. He continues to play the violin to this day, but as of late, he has started to try other instruments, and shift out of the classical genre.

For the past two years, he has been teaching himself the piano, and also picked up the guitar this year. He first learned many contemporary pieces, as well as some of the vocals to go with them, but more recently has begun writing his own music, such as “Cigarette Lady” and “Forevermore.” He mainly takes his influence from classic rock artists, such as Five for Fighting, Queen, and Chicago, as well as more modern pop-rock

Elias

Hyde

By Henry Moses ’21 Panel Staff If you have been to Central Square in Cambridge, you have likely seen the infamous Graffiti Alley. This 20-foot passage, officially named Modica Way, is no secret; it is the heart of Central Square, the location of an ever-changing public art gallery. However, what is little known to Belmont Hill students is that we have a consistent contributor within our community. The prolific artist is Elias Hyde ‘20.

Initially picking up painting the summer before entering Belmont Hill in the Third Form, he made use of the arts program at Belmont Hill to turn this side hobby into a true passion. In his first year on campus, he honed his traditional skills alongside Mr. Zamore in a drawing and painting class.

In this class, he built the base on which he could expand his unique style of portraiture In the following years, independent study classes with Mr. Kaplan continued to train him in the basic skills any painter needs.

However, it is what he experimented with outside of class that has truly helped Elias become the artist he is today. While off cam-

bands like Bastille, Lauv, and Passenger.

By Ryan Cannistraro ’21 Andrew cites performing at the Contributing Writer coffee house, especially his own original song “Cigarette Lady” as one of his favorIt seems like yesterday when I first ite moments of his Belmont Hill career. stepped into the choral room on TuesThough the music building is surely sad to day, August 28, 2018, my first day in the see him go, we wish him the best of luck Upper School.

I remember how excited I on his musical endeavors of the future. ☐ was to start learning a new skill, singing, but I was also nervous because I was the only sophomore surrounded by countless juniors and veteran seniors. However, those juniors, now seniors, would become some of the people I am closest to in my time at Belmont Hill. Throughout the past two years, the members of the B-Flats in the Class of 2020 have shown irreplaceable value to the team. The music community along with the whole school will miss their contributions. Even though we were able to do some singing in the online period, we sadly all missed out on the opportuniBH Communications ty spring, our busiest season, would have

’20

Learns

the

World

pus, Elias was able to start using spray paints, eventually becoming his tool of choice.

Eventually, Elias mustered up the courage to step foot in Modica Way, entering the street art culture that he had forever admired. At first, he felt he wasn’t very accepted into the crowd that frequented this alley. The nature of this kind of street art is such that in order to create something new, you must cover someone else’s work. If your work isn’t great, other artists are a bit hostile towards you. Nevertheless, Elias continued to produce pieces in the alley, and eventually, as his work got better, he gained the acceptance of the regular crew. Now he feels welcomed in the public heart of Central Square.

Elias has big plans lined up once he leaves Belmont Hill. He will take a gap year to work as an EMT, an especially brave decision given the current state of things.

Then, he will continue on to Yale University, likely pursuing a major in English. While his immediate future is not focused on his art, he will do everything in his power to not lose sight of his passion. Next year, he hopes to carry a sketchbook around to document his surroundings as an EMT, Elias Hyde ’20 and at Yale he will make use of the fantas-

brought. The rewarding feeling of standing up and making music for the graduating class and prize winners is like no other, and I wish we could have celebrated our peers’ hard work together in person. That being said, I know that the energy and enthusiasm over the last two years in addition to the countless memorable moments have all combined to make B Flats one of my favorite activities over the past two years.

Thanks to every one of you - Rowan, Aidan, Bobby, Archie, Joe, James, Preston, and Jack - for the great memories together. I will try to incorporate some of the lessons that you all have taught me to help the next generation of singers to enjoy the group as much as I did. ☐

of

Graffiti

tic art programs offered there. He is hesitant to pursue a Master in Fine Arts, the standard for most people looking for a career in the arts, because he is worried that, in doing so, his passion would become a chore.

The Panel would like to thank Elias for not only enriching the Belmont Hill community and our newspaper, but also the communities outside of our campus. We wish him good luck in the future, and we all look forward to seeing what you create next! ☐

Elias Hyde ’20

B elmon t HIll Arts

May 2 9 , 2 0 2 0

Pa g e 1 1

Charlie Stevenson’s Musical Legacy Renny Gong Contributes Across the Arts

By Tyler T Forg ’21 P Panel Staff Charlie Stevenson ’20 has made his mark on Belmont Hill not only through crew and community service but also through his music. At the age of eight, Charlie found his passion for music as he started playing the acoustic guitar.

At Weston Public Schools, he was introduced to the upright bass and took private lessons while performing in orchestras.

At Belmo ont Hill, Charlie continued to exploree his love of music. He performed countless times, playing the songs All Bluess, Have You Met Miss Jones, Trisste, How High The Moon, and d Easy Living with Mr. Scheid der at Coff feehouses. Thro ough his performances with groups like the Jazz Band, Chaarlie received sign nificant recognition such as winning the Instrumental Music Award at Prize Day, for the time and effort ff he put into his music.

Charlie’s performances at Belmont Hill only represent only a fraction of his commitment to the world of music.

Last year, he received a full scholarship to play at Berklee College of Music in Boston for five weeks, where he could work with other devoted musicians and take his talents to the next level. On the last day of the program, Charlie demonstrated his skills, playing with other summer Berklee musicians in front of a live audience.

Charlie plans on playing music throughout his time at Colby College and beyond. He seees music as a remedy to the stresss in his daily life and a way to exxpress himself.

His goal for next yeaar is to be accepte d into the main jazz ensem mble, as well as play in n a few combos or student baands. He hopes that he can get g the chance to get a gig and get paid for it.

Charlie had an integral role in Belmont Hiill’s performing BH Communications arts, and The Panel wishes him the best in his future performing arts career. ☐

By Abe Tolkoff T ’21 P Panel Staff Throughout his three years at Belmont Hill, Renny Gong ’20 has made a host of artistic contributions to the school both in the classroom and in extracurriculars. He joined the school’s orchestra in the Fourth Form and was elected President of the group for the following year. Through his musical talents, Renny has participated in various admissions events, one highlight being a duet with current Second Former and cellist Brian Lee ’24. The Orchestra will certainly miss his contributions to the group on the violin next year. Renny says one of his favorite musical memories at Belmont Hill “was in Mr. Leo’s classroom, actually. We were writing about music and the way specific songs make us feel, and I played Best Part

by Daniel Caesar on the guitar.” His love of music, though, extends beyond playing.

Renny has long been a fan of listening to a wide variety of songs, his favorites right now are “Ultralight Beam by Kanye West, Nights by Frank Ocean, The Last Rose of Summer by Ernst, or Chaconne from Partita No. 2 by Bach.” In fact, one might even

describe Renny as a living library of classical and popular music, a knowledge base he often champions in his Quiz Bowl Club.

In the Robsham Art Building, Renny’s love of art continues in a multitude of other forms. He attests his interest in theater to wanting to explore other personalities and characters while on stage. During his time acting at Belmont Hill, he has played Elyot in Private Lives, Don in A Chorus Line, and Bill in All in the Timing. Renny says that acting helped him reach “far out of my comfort zone” and “widened my perspectives,” especially when working with students at some of Belmont Hill’s sister schools. In his final months at Belmont Hill, Renny dove into visual art mediums in the classroom, and while at home these past weeks, this exploration has continued. Belmont Hill, and especially the Arts Department, will certainly miss Renny’s characteristic Southern California attitude, and his artistic prowess. The Panel wishes him the best next fall as he embarks on a new adventure, becoming a New Yorker while studying at Columbia University. ☐

Seniors Lead Musical Performaces in a Virtual Spring

By Cooper Nelson ’23 P Panel Staff 2019-2020 has truly been a remarkable school year for the music en nsembles at Belmont Hill. We were lucky this year to not only have Jazz Bands and an n Orchestra, but also a Jazz Combo, a grou up that is not put together every year. Thee groups, led by their departing senior musiicians, all performed multiple times througghout the year, both virtually and to a live aaudience.

The Upper School Jazz Ensemble E thrived this year, with a very large group full of avid musicians. The group p was led by seniors Charlie Stevenson, Tim m Brown, Artemy Ivanov, and Chip Lincoln.. Charlie Stevenson on bass and Chip Linccoln on piano were the backbone of the rrhythm section, and Tim Brown on Tenor Sax and Artemy Ivanov on Alto Sax provvided the melodies. The group performed aat the fall concert and the winter concert as well w as the recent virtual spring performing arts nigh gh ght. htt..

The Jazz Combo had a great yyea ear, ea r with r, many of the members who also pla plaayed in the Jazz Ensemble. Tim Brown and dC Charlie harlie Stevenson also played in the combo, with

Class

of

Rhocar Constant playing piano fo or the band. The combo is a smaller group t h a t plays more specialized jazz tunes.

This year’s orchestra did not have any seniors but has a bright future due to its promi s i n g younger musicians. The group also played in multiple concerts

Chris Brusie ’23

2020

By Daniel Rashes ’22 Staff Writer W Although the curtains of the Kraft Theater closed early this year, it would be unjust not to pay homage to the graduating seniors who have contributed so much to the Belmont Hill Theater program. Whether these students were in the booth, on the stage, or behind the curtain, their time and effort ff have made an impression on the Belmont Hill community.

Brady Chitkara, Jack Henehan, Harrison Hill, Stephen Pellegrino, Ryan Bradley, Aidan McGaugh, and Aidan Donnelly all lent their acting abilities to middle school productions. Special notice goes to Jack Henehan for his particularly poignant role as Peter Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank, as well as his hysterical work as Sir Charles Baskerville and Mr. Barrymore in Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles. One of Mr. DiResta’s favorite scenes from the latter involved both of Peter’s characters conversing, an interaction that left the audience in stitches. In mid-

throughout the year including the fall, winter, and spring concerts.

One of the highlights of the year was a solo recital that took place in January. This was a concert that included solo vocal performances from many seniors, including members of the B-Flats. It also contained solo and g oup performances gr from members of the music ensembles.

Disa p p o i n t i n g l y, the annual jazz night h a d t be canto celed due to the

Excites

dle school, Quinn Richards, Declan McDonough, Jack Olton, Charlie Mullaney, and Rowan Bradlee made significant technical contributions to the theater program.

Though their middle school days are far behind them, their effort ff is commended still.

We honor those whose theatrical careers extended into the Upper School: Tim Brown, Renny Gong, James Markis, and Holden Present in starring roles and Brian Wilkins for tech. Tim Brown has proven to be a thoughtful actor, playing dual roles as George Murchison and Bobo in A Raisin in the Sun. Mr. DiResta says of his performance, “The painful reality of George Murchison was a very difficult role, but one which Tim painstakingly developed, impressed greatly.” Tim’s efforts ff in contributing to the live theater-film hybrid The Outsiders are also recognized. Mr. Duarte applauds Tim’s work, stating, “Tim Brown was an excellent creative collaborator in the filming of The Outsiders film. He brought a great deal of passion not only to the acting in the piece but in its technical and creative creation.” Another performer of particular

in

the

COVID-119 pandemic. This event is typically a very special night as it represents the culminatiion of the jazz groups’ work over the coursse of the year. However, the music groups w were able to come together to create a virtual spring concert that included both solo and group g performances. The musicians each film med themselves playing their part, m and the pieces p were then edited together by Mr. Fiorii to create full-band performances.

Thee Jazz Ensemble performed two Th pieces. Th The first was One by One by Wayne Shorter, which w included a bass solo from Charlie Stevenson. The second was In a SSentimental Mood by Duke Ellinggton, arranged by Mr. Fiori.

The O Orchestra also came out in full swingg, playing a Mozart Overture and the them me of HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Ad dditionally, a few seniors sang solo pieces. Prreston Adams sang Brown-Eyed Girl as sung b

by Van Morrison, and Jack McHugh sang Am men as performed by Chase Rice.

The graduating Class of 2020 was Th very decorated in regards to the performing arts. They will be missed, and younger musicians have very large shoes to fill in the coming years. ☐

Kraft

note is Renny Gong, who has contributed to multiple projects, which include being my co-star in productions of Private Lives and All in the Timing, as well as representing Belmont Hill last year in Dana Hall’s production of A Chorus Line. I can say personally that Renny has been a delight to work with, and his enthusiasm will be missed. Mr. DiResta shares a similar feeling, telling me, “Renny’s work as Elyot [in Private Lives] brought wonderful humor and some of the more insuffer ff able pieces of human nature to life.” Some of the more unique contributions in the Upper School came from Elias

Theater

Hyde and Jack Tahan. Elias was responsible for designing several of the posters for our shows while Jack proved an immense help to Mrs. Kaplan in set construction. Though all of these departing seniors will be missed, their work in the theater will not be forgotten. They’re sure to break a leg in whatever the next stage of their life may bring. ☐

Graphic by Kevin Jiang ’22

Pa g e 1 2

Matricul ation List

The Panel

Senior Destinations As of May 29th Amherst College.................................1 Michigan State University.................1 Babson College...................................1 University of Michigan.....................1 Bates College.......................................1 New York University..........................1 Bentley University...............................1 Northeastern University....................4 Boston College....................................6 Northwestern University...................1 Bowdoin College.................................3 Occidental College............................1 Brigham Young University..................1 University of Pennsylvania................5 Brown University................................2 Princeton University..........................1 University of Chicago..........................2 University of San Diego....................1 Colby College......................................1 Skidmore College..............................1 Colgate University...............................2 University of Southern California.....1 Colorado College................................1 Southern Methodist University..........1 University of Colorado - Boulder........1 Syracuse University............................2 Columbia University...........................2 Tufts University..................................4 Cornell University...............................2 Trinity College...................................2 Dartmouth College.............................2 Tulane University...............................1 Dickinson College...............................1 United States Air Force Academy......1 University of Edinburgh.....................1 Utah State University.........................1 Emory University................................1 Vanderbilt University.........................1 Franklin & Marshall College...............1 Villanova University...........................1 Georgetown University.......................2 University of Virginia........................2 George Washington University...........1 Wake Forest University......................2 Hamilton College...............................1 Washington and Lee University........1 Harvard College.................................7 Washington University in St. Louis...1 Louisiana State University................1 Wesleyan University...........................1 University of Louisville.....................1 Williams College................................2 Univ. Mass Amherst...........................3 Yale University...................................1 University of Miami..........................1