The Blackfriar Chronicle - April 2017

DON'T SLEEP ON THIS– Many Malvern students struggle to get a full night’s worth of sleep.

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RECOGNIZING DIFFERENCES & DIVERSITY

Not every Malvern student is the same– and for some, the experience of diversity has been challenging. Find out how our experiences vary.

A CLOSER LOOK AT AAU SPORTS

Athletic commitments stretch far beyond high school sports for many athletes. Are club teams making high school sports obsolete?

GAME-CHANGER FOR NCAA LACROSSE RECRUITING

Division I coaches can no longer contact freshman and sophomores.

Learn what this means for Friar athletes.

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April 2017

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EXPECTING BIG CHANGES NEXT YEAR?

Look elsewhere. Fr. Reilly says he plans to get to know Malvern before making changes.

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Volume 17, No. 7

Eighth Grade planning first “Summit Trips” in May

Addiction assembly focused on facts, awareness

Groups will go to Cazenovia, New York; Philly; and Nicaragua as they reach the “Summit” of their Middle School experience

Expert presentation arranged by Counseling Department aimed to educate students on dangers of teenage substance abuse.

Joe Lister ’21 MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORTER or the first time, eighth grade students will finish the school year with five-day summit trips to Nicaragua, Philadelphia, and Cazenovia, New York scheduled for May 22-26 as a capstone for their experience in the Middle School.

The goal of these trips is to give students greater knowledge of the world around them, according to history teacher and Cazenovia trip leader Mr. Jeffrey Carroll.

Eighth Grade Dean Mr. Robert Buscaglia said he hopes that the trips will be a preview for the Upper School. Buscaglia is the leader of the trip to Managua, Nicaragua where a group of thirteen students will explore Managua and the surrounding area.

For Buscaglia, the experience is very familiar.

“I was a Peace Corps volunteer, and I also ran a nonprofit that brought students from different schools to Nicaragua,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to create an experience where I brought Malvern students to Nicaragua.”

Buscaglia said that the Malvern students will spent some time in a school in Managua to greater understand their culture. “It just seemed like kind of a great way to explore another place, spend some extended time together as a class, and it’s a great way to connect with the

Alex Haylock ’19, Michael Harrington ’19, Luke McClatchy ’19

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REPORTER, FRIAR LIFE EDITOR, REPORTER

pper school and middle school students attended separate assemblies about addiction and recovery on April 20, led by licensed clinical social worker and addiction expert Mr. Michael Blanche.

Senior Kyle Hegarty started off the upper school presentation by introducing Blanche, who has worked with the treatment of drugs and alcohol mainly for the last 20 years.

Currently, Blanche works at the Therapeutic Alliance, which is just a couple minutes away from Malvern’s campus. He is also a professor at West Chester University.

He spoke with students about a variety of topics surrounding drugs, alcohol and addiction,

Mr. Michael Blanche (left) and Mr. Tim Barnes / A. HAYLOCK

emphasising that he was not a “prohibitionist’ but only wanted students to be more conscientious about substance abuse. > PAGE 18

April 2017

OPINION

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Blackfriar Chronicle

EDITORIAL

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he belief that everyone’s story is valuable is a mindset of paramount importance at Malvern.

In the middle of this epidemic, a television series by the name of “13 Reasons Why” has become It is instilled in our school community along with the ideas of brotherhood, unity, and love. very popular. The show is about a young girl who leaves cassette tapes for 13 individuals with whom But how often do we make an effort to learn more about our classmates, or take a serious she had had negative interactions before her death by suicide. interest in their lives?

According to the Washington Post, the show’s goal is to offer a well-intentioned message of It is imperative that we truly know our fellow brothers and offer them the help they may need. “being kinder to others and asking for help when you need it.” Unfortunately the series focuses In order for the close-knit community we pride ourselves on to continue to endure, we must gain more on sensationalizing the young girl’s death, and presents it as a way to force the thirteen tape a better understanding of our peers. recipients into being better people.

In order to spark some initiative, we have dedicated this issue to strengthening We don’t need a tragedy to force us to get to know each other better, to take the brotherhood. You will find nearly thirty profiles, each about a Malvern student, care of each other more, or to be more responsible for the decisions we make.

We don’t need a Sometimes life throws obstacles at us that we are incapable of handling alone. and have the opportunity to hear interesting stories you may not have normally We have to be willing to ask for help. By the same token, we have to be willing to ever had the chance to hear. tragedy to force us give that help when called upon. Or even when the individual needs help remains We are doing this in the hope that this type of engagement will breed curiosity to get to know each silent. and a desire to get to know those around you better. You will learn things about other better, to take those around you that can add to your understanding of those individuals and Teenagers can be afraid to approach adults with their struggles, and even stray better connect you with them. away from confiding in their parents. We should always be willing to put in the care of each other While it is awesome to see the interesting and fun side of our classmates, we to ensure the safety of our brothers. more, or to be more effortThis are also obligated to help our brothers when we notice they are acting differently starts with a knowledge of the people around us and a genuine interest responsible for the - something we can only assess once we show interest in and learn about them. in their lives.

Over spring break, reports about the deaths of multiple area high school stuIt may not be “cool” to intervene and get someone the help they need. You may decisions we make. dents by suicide spread both via traditional media outlets and across social media. even lose the person’s friendship for a time, but by stepping in you can ensure that Many of their peers had no idea that these students were dealing with depression, friend doesn’t get hurt, or lose their life. Sometimes we cannot offer all the help bullying, or other serious issues prior to their deaths. we need and we must get an adult involved. Again, any grief we receive for doing Studies on suicide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that at least 90% so pales in comparison to any alternative that involves more serious consequences. of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric illness. Suicide is the Depression, mental illness, and addiction are beatable opponents. The first step is an open hand third leading cause of death among those aged 15-24. 17% of high school students in the United rather than a clenched fist, a smile rather than a dismissive, judgemental glance, or an engaging States have seriously considered suicide. question rather than an internal predetermination.

17% of high school students have seriously considered suicide. By the numbers, at Malvern that If we grow closer as a community, and grow in understanding of our peers, we will have all represents nearly 110 brothers. Now think of how many more brothers are dealing with problems the tools to beat these challenges and become fully immersed in what the brotherhood was meant like depression, addiction, or bullying. to be - a band of brothers that stick together and help each other. ◊ How many of our brothers do we know well enough to lend an ear to listen, or a hand to help?

Bill O’Reilly’s firing doesn’t set a good example While 21st Century Fox did the right thing in firing O’Reilly, what came next shows there are two types of justice.

Jack McClatchy ’17 quite the golden parachute. That parachute came from the news network regularly fighting for PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR conservatism, family values, and the American way. his won’t be a column delighting in seeing the conservative pundit leave Fox News. I’ll So are family values only a platitude at Fox, or does family values means regularly demeaning leave that to the late night comedians. women and calling those of color “hot chocolate” as he did to one woman while ogling at her O’Reilly, who had the highest ratings of all primetime news shows (although I balk breasts in 2008? I don’t know which is worse, and I don’t know if I want to know the answer to that question. It’s either blatant hypocrisy, or it’s just disgusting. at calling O’Reilly news), was fired for repeatedly sexually harassing female st employees at Fox. It was also found that 21 Century Fox, the parent company And let’s not forget that O’Reilly was not fired because of any moralist streak of Fox News, paid millions of dollars to accusers to keep them quiet.

by Fox, either. It was solely because he lost over 50 advertisers after the New York According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, sexual harassTimes published their investigation about O’Reilly’s behavior. For a company ment is defined as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and so motivated by family values, it seems their family only includes Washington, other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment Jackson, and Franklin and not the women who felt awful because the only thing when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects he saw was an object and not an aspiring journalist or hard worker. an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work It’s not like this the first time Fox has been hit with sexual harassment performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment." allegations. This past summer former Fox CEO Roger Ailes was fired because of sexual harassment. His severance package was 40 million dollars, that when I’m glad to see that Bill got what was coming: sexual harassment is disgusting, and frankly pathetic for someone of his power to be doing. What I wasn’t combined with the hush money and severance package to O’Reilly adds up to glad to see was what happened in the aftermath. over 85 million dollars paid by Fox because of sexual harassment claims.

A few days after Fox announced his termination, it was found that O’Reilly’s Here at Malvern, there is an attempt to teach us how to treat others respectI’m glad to see severance package would amount to over 25 million dollars. This is the equivaably, and we learn of the very grave consequences of making anyone– male, that Bill got what lent to a year’s worth of what would have been his salary had he stayed at Fox. female, or anyone else– uncomfortable because of things we say, jokes we crack, was coming.

Not only that, he returned to the air on April 24 with a podcast on his personal or untimely and unwelcome flirtations.

What I wasn’t website.

What happened at Fox just disarmed everything we’ve been taught about glad to see was What this puts forth is an interesting premise: if you’re as successful as Bill sexual harassment. what happened O’Reilly, multiple accusations of sexual harassment will earn you 25 million What this has done has put the idea in some people’s heads that sexual in the aftermath. dollars and you still have a podcast show. For others who are actually punished, harassment may not be as big a deal as it is, because these rich successful people Image: Wikimedia Commons because so much harassment goes unsaid, it means a rightfully ruined life and made off like bandits after degrading and objectifying fully deserving women little means of gainful employment. in the workplace.

I can only hope that my Malvern brothers will be better men than these pigs.◊ Again, this is another example for the successful in society playing by a different set of rules.

Something as life-ruining as sexual harassment means only a small road bump, 25 million dollars, and a quick return to what you’re doing– albeit to perhaps a smaller, more devoted audience.

But he lost his top rated cable show, some may say. He did lose that, yes, but he also got

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Blackfriar Chronicle

is a monthly student-run publication at Malvern Preparatory School. Its online affiliate is the Friar’s Lantern (www. mpfriarslantern.com).

Mission Statement

The Blackfriar Chronicle and The Friar’s Lantern are the student-run publications of Malvern Prep. The principal goals of the publications are to provide accurate and relevant information to the Malvern community and to offer a forum for intelligent dialogue on all things Malvern.

The reporting for these student publications is conducted thoroughly and edited by student leaders to ensure this accuracy to the best of our ability. In order to fairly provide all points of view, contributions from all members of the Malvern community are welcomed and encouraged through letters of opinion, student reporting, and respectful commentary.

Editorial Policy

The unsigned editorial represents the consensus of the entire Editorial Board.

As a team, we agree and stand behind every word. The Editorial Board is a group of students composed of The Blackfriar Chronicle editors-in-chief, managing editors, chief investigative reporter, section editors, social media editor, podcast editor, a representative of the freshman class, and a representative from the Diversity Awareness Club.

The group is meant to include a group of different students so all opinions and voices can be heard.

Submissions

Letters to the editor are encouraged, and may be submitted to Tyler Pizzico (tpizzico70@malvernprep.org), Tommy Pero (tpero70@malvernprep.org) or adviser Kate Plows (kplows@malvernprep.org).

Anonymous letters will not be published.

Editors reserve the right to contact writers or edit submissions for reasons of space or clarity. Our staff also welcomes feedback in the comments section of The Friar’s Lantern online, or via our social media. Each comment is subject to review by a moderator or an Editorin-Chief of the Black Friar Chronicle/ Friar’s Lantern. Commenter’s email addresses must be verified, and comments are reviewed for defamation, profanity, obscenity, libel, and invasion of privacy. Not all comments are published.

Joining our staff

New contributors are welcome throughout the school year. The Blackfriar Chronicle staff meets twice each week at 7:45 AM in Duffy 118. Please contact any member of the staff listed below for the most up-to-date meeting schedule.

Editors in Chief Tyler Pizzico ’17 Tommy Pero ’17

Managing Editors

Print: Ethan Rowley ’18 Online: Jack Magargee ’18

Public Relations Editor Jack McClatchy ’17

Investigative Reporter Dan Malloy ’18

Art Director

Chase Bennett ’19

Section Editors

Friar Life Michael Harrington ’19 Kyle Leonard ’19 Sports Henry Malone ’17 Patrick Ferraiolo ’17 Media & Culture Daniel King ’19 Local/World News -TBAJack McClatchy ’17 Social Media Editor Eric McLaughlin ’18

EDITORIAL BOARD

All editors Member(s) of Class of ’20 Aidan White Aidan Gallary Member(s) of Diversity Club -TBA-

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April 2017

Students miss sleep due to academic, athletic commitments A combination of homework, sports, and other extracurricular activities leads Malvern students to stay up later, get fewer hours of sleep, and not perform as well.

Kellen Fitzgerald ’19 McGettigan has noticed that stuCONTRIBUTOR dents may not be getting enough ith summer approaching sleep at night. “Students come to me throughout the day, stating that they soon, many Malvern students will be heading to are tired,” she said. “They feel the lack the beach or visiting family. However, of sleep is due to their academic and another big priority will be catching activity demands.” up on missed sleep from staying up Frances E. Jensen’s book “The Teenage Brain” describes sleep as late studying and balancing other end-of-the-year commitments. one of the most important, yet least Freshman Conor understood aspects of McNally said he gets daily life. Particularly The National little sleep during the for teenagers, he notes, Sleep Foundation recommends that weeknights. many aspects of what adolescents get “I am usually going we do understand about eight to ten hours to sleep at around midsleep do not relate to of sleep each night, but with night each weeknight, the practical aspects of schoolwork, sports and waking up at about a school schedule. and extracurricular six the next morning,” “ Te e n a g e r s a r e activities, many Malvern students he sa id. “ With the forced to abide by the are unable to get time it takes to finish adult chronotype, with the recommended homework and sports early rising for school. hours of sleep. increasing, I find myself However, this early risgetting minimal sleep ing does not necessarily during the week, and result in an early bedhaving to catch up with long naps on time,” Jensen wrote. the weekend.”

Teenagers are chronically losSophomore Shane Hansoning 2.75 hours of sleep daily during Ashworth also feels sleep-deprived the school week, which is extremely from the academic schedule and an unhealthy, according to the book. increase in various activities.

“I believe lack of sleep affects a person’s ability to learn,” Learning “I wrestle five days a week, and I don’t get home until like 9:30 each Specialist and Counselor Mrs. night,” he said. “By the time that I Francine Cox said. “When a person finish my homework it is already is tired they are not functioning or performing in their best capacity 11:30 P.M.” Hanson-Ashworth also has to both intellectually and physically. wake up early to make it all the way Behavioral issues, attention and focus from Bucks County to Malvern each may become problems when a person day. is tired.” “ I rea l ly m iss hav i ng t he Most students want to be involved Reverse-C schedules each Wednesday in clubs and sports, and college prepalast year. That really helped me catch ration demands good grades and up on my sleep,” he said. extracurricular participation. So what According to the National Sleep might be a possible solution?

Foundation, many high school stuCox has an idea. “I have always dents are sleep-deprived, and any thought that school days for elemenefforts to improve sleep times are a tary school students should begin worthwhile pursuit. A recent poll earlier than school days for middle found that according to parents, 60% school and upper school students,” of children under the age of 18 com- she said. “Younger children are usuplained of being tired during the day. ally awake earlier and have fewer “The National Sleep Foundation time constraints– sports, extra-curhas long recognized that our nation’s ricular activities– within their school teenagers are sleep deprived. We are schedules,” encouraged by any measure that will Education Services Administrator improve sleep health and wellbeing,” Mrs. Diane Dougherty, parent of freshman Colin Dougherty, thinks the organization stated. “School administrators, local school boards there may be another reason for stuand parents should continue to dents missing sleep: constant access embrace these efforts and be engaged to technology. in the discussions about sleep need Dougherty believes that Colin and sleep deprivation in the adoles- does not get enough sleep for school cent population; these groups should each day. “He might go to bed at a continue to revisit the impact this certain time, but falling asleep might may have on school start times. The be something different.” positive effects of adequate sleep are “I honestly believe that the phones constantly stimulate your unyielding.”

The National Sleep Foundation brain,” she said. “They’re waiting– did recommends that adolescents get they text me back? Did I get another eight to ten hours of sleep each Snapchat? It just keeps the motor night, but with schoolwork, sports going. It’s hard for him to shut down and get some sleep.” ◊ and extracurricular activities, many Malvern students are unable to get Jack McClatchy ’17 contributed reportthe recommended hours of sleep. ing on this story.

School Nurse Mrs. Catherine

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Student Council rolls out their final plans for the 2016-2017 school year.

Kyle Leonard ’19 FRIAR LIFE EDITOR ith the year winding down, the Student Council has come up with their last few events from now until the end of the year and have also elected next year’s Student Council officer and representatives.

Before Spring Break, the Student Council worked through the election process. Because of this, March had fewer activities.

“The month of March tends to be a down time for us in regards to activities because there is a lot that goes into candidate preparation,” Student Council Moderator Dr. Joan Dlugos said.

One activity the Student Council hosted in the month of March was the Activity Schedule Soccer Tournament, which President Rich Heany thought went really well.

The details and qualifications for the election process are quite rigorous, as the Student Council focuses on making sure that all of the right candidates are chosen, according to Dlugos. The processes are different for executive officers and class representatives.

The representatives must complete a series of tasks, which involve various members of the Malvern community, as well as work the candidate must do; they also must do well in school.

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Fidget toys make their way to the upper school The toys which are intended to increase focus have gained popularity amongst older students.

Jack Magargee ’18 MANAGING EDITOR: WEB Since our March 2017 story about the arrival of fidget toys to the middle school, they have gained quite a presence all over campus. Fidget toys are becoming a staple of all classrooms at Malvern.

“It’s something to do in class,” junior and f idget-ow ner Tim McLaughlin said.

The term ‘fidgets’ is an umbrella which contains a variety of therapy toys that revolve around a repetitive motion. They come in all shapes and sizes; rings, cubes, or spinners, fidgets are meant to harness any nervous energy.

At Malvern, fidget spinners are really taking off. They exist of three shapes protruding from a center circle which spin a circular motion for extended periods of time when pushed. The spinning circle can be balanced on the fingers or a variety of surfaces. You do not have to look at it in order to use it; it is something you can do mindlessly while performing another task.

These toys are the most popular in the classroom and a lot of students are seeing benefits to their work while they are in use.

“Everyone has them, they’re appealing, I use them in class, they spin really fast, and they look cool,” freshman Phil Gatti said.

Though they’re supposed to improve attention, fidgets may actually hurt it.

“It doesn’t really help me focus, it actually does the opposite.” Gatti said.

“It’s def initely a distraction,” chemistry teacher Dr. Agnese Abate said, “But it’s a stress reliever, and that’s good.”

When someone is using a fidget in plain sight, it can catch your eye and distract you. Some students are finding them to be bothersome.

“I find it kind of distracting when other students do it,” McLaughlin said, “Kids just flick it around and you want to look at it but you know you have to try to pay attention.”

Fidgets might be starting to become an issue in classrooms, but they may have some uses for outside of class as well.

“They’re a good outside of class reliever, but not in class,” Abate said.

Regardless of their positives and negatives, their popularity is undeniable. Fidget toys may be just a fad or they may just be here to stay. ◊

April 2017

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BROTHERHOOD S T OR IES

Blackfriar Chronicle

For this issue, we compiled over 25 profiles of students we have have not previously covered in this year’s volume of The Blackfriar Chronicle. Each of our stories and experiences make us unique, and we have the responsibility, as brothers, to really get to know each other.

Colin Wolfe ’19, your main guy for a laugh anytime

Lucas Hammond ’18 knows how to beat the Fords

The younger of the two Wolfe brothers at Malvern, Colin is a humble, hard-working, and hilarious student athlete.

Junior All-Inter-Ac soccer player Lucas Hammond loves MP footy, art, and his pet duck Bubba

Kyle Leonard ’19 FRIAR LIFE EDITOR olin Wolfe is a sophomore here at Malvern Prep. He was born and raised in West Chester, PA. He attended St. Agnes School in West Chester from Pre-K through 8th grade, and came to Malvern as a freshman.

He has two siblings: his older brother, Billy, is a senior here at Malvern, and his younger sister, Kaelyn, is in sixth grade at St. Agnes.

This year at Malvern, Colin is a member of the junior varsity basketball and baseball teams.

He says he enjoys sports in general, and also likes the hard work and dedication that goes into being an athlete.

“He’s one of the “I really like practicing and preparing for [basketball and basefunniest people ball], and just trying to get better,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe’s favorite subject in school this year is American I know. He’s Literature with Mr. Sammartino. He is enjoying school this year, athletic, and he is a change from his previous years a student. a lot smarter than “I actually really like coming to school,” Wolfe said. “Before he gives himself I came to Malvern, I didn’t as much.” credit for. But he is Coming to Malvern and one funny dude." getting used to it was one of Wolfe’s biggest challenges - Billy Wolfe '17 in his memory.

“The transition to high school was really hard for me, since my middle school was so much different,” Wolfe said. “Now, everything’s going really well.”

He also explained how his family is very religious.

“My family and I are pretty devout Catholics, so we go to church a lot,” Wolfe said.

Not only is his family religious, but they are all very close and tend to do a lot of things together.

“We’ll always go see cousins and grandparents, who we are really close with too,” Wolfe said.

Colin has an extra special relationship with his brother, Billy. Billy went on to explain how close they really are.

“We hang out all the time, both forced and unforced,” he said. “We’re very close, and we hear from a lot of people that we’re very similar. He’s one of my best friends.”

Billy also admires some of Colin’s characteristics.

“He’s one of the funniest people I know. He’s athletic, and he is a lot smarter than he gives himself credit for.

But he is one funny dude,” he said.

Since Billy is a senior, he is going off to Boston College next year. Since the brothers are so close, Colin is trying to prepare for when he leaves.

“Bill and I are very close and I do a lot with him, so I will miss him,” Wolfe said. “I plan to visit him anytime I can.”

One of Colin’s best friends who went to St. Agnes with him, sophomore Kevin Meehan, holds him in high regard.

“We’re like brothers,” Meehan said. “I’ve known him since kindergarten at St. Agnes, and we’ve had some great times.”

Meehan also proceeded to describe Colin in a very unique way.

“On a bad, stormy, or cloudy day, Colin would be the rainbow that comes out after the storm is over,” Meehan said. ◊

Patrick McNally ’18 in Sculpture II and is a member of the National CONTRIBUTOR Art Honors Society. ammond is from Newtown Square and Junior Nathan Belisario has been good friends with Lucas since first grade and sees went to Sugartown Elementary and then Great Valley Middle School before Lucas’ successes as no surprise to him. attending Malvern. He wasn’t initially think“I’ve known him for a while and I can honing of coming to Malvern but his mother first estly say that he’s a good, well-rounded kid proposed the idea. who’s fun to be around,” he said.

“She always wanted me to Hammond currently has no set plans for the future get a Catholic education and “He’s a hard worker regarding college sports or Malvern seemed like the perfect option,” Hammond said. fields of study he’s interested in and comes with the pursuing.

Along with the school’s same great attitude religious values, Hammond also “I’m weighing my options each day whether and just going with the f low notes how the overall community here is different compared right now,” he said. ◊ it's just practice or to Great Valley middle school. a cup final."

“As a freshman I kept hearing about the idea of the - Philip Kramer '18 brotherhood here and never really gave it much thought,” Hammond said. “As a junior, I can say that this idea holds true and that there is a great sense of unity here.”

Outside of the classroom, you can find Lucas playing right-back for multiple soccer teams, hitting the squash courts, or caring for his pet duck, Bubba.

Hammond has been playing soccer for as long as he can remember and plays both for his club team, Liverpool SC Celtic, and for Malvern, also known as “MP Footy.” He is a returning starter at right-back and received AllInter-Ac recognition last fall. His teammates have recognized his devotion to the sport.

“He’s a hard-worker and comes with the same great attitude each day whether it's just practice or a cup final,” junior Philip Kramer said, longtime teammate of Lucas.

Speaking of important games, Lucas scored the game-winning-goal against Haverford last year in a 1-0 victory.

“It was a corner kick and I was at the top of the box it popped out and I took a touch up and hit it,” Hammond said. “I wasn't even worried about placing it as much as I was worried about just hitting frame.”

Along with playing soccer, Hammond decided to join the squash program in freshman year and has become a valuable member of the Varsity team.

“I played basketball all the way up until eighth grade and realized I didn’t really like it anymore. I wanted to pursue a different winter sport and originally was thinking of doing winter track but then I heard of this other sport called squash,” Hammond said. “I didn’t even know what it was but decided to give it a try and liked it which led me to continue to play” Another event that happened in eighth grade was that Lucas received a pet duck named Bubba for his 14th birthday.

“I’ve always liked ducks and they’ve always been my favorite animal,” said Lucas. “I have a big pond in my backyard so I thought it would be a good pet to have and my parents used to have ducks when I was younger.”

Another thing Lucas liked to partake in when he was younger was art. Lucas is currently

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Meet the scampi master: Billy Wolfe ’17

Navy hopeful Brendan Devine ’18 considers Memorable high school experiences? Brotherhood, Fiji, and shrimp life after Malvern scampi.

Tommy Pero ’17 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF eflecting back on his time at Malvern, senior Billy Wolfe notes that building the brotherhood is a process, cemented on the field, overseas, and in the classroom.

Wolfe grew up in West Chester and went to St. Agnes' grade school before coming to Malvern. He chose to come to Malvern for its small class sizes and overall sense of community.

That community became his favorite part about the school.

"That sense of brotherhood, you hear a lot about it freshman "The feeling that you year," he said. "Every year, and pretty much every day, you get a can look at every single clearer and clearer sense of exactly what that means. The feeling member of your class that you can look at every single member of your class and really and really feel like you're feel like you're close friends and that they're really your brothers close friends and that is something that I don't think you get at just any high school." they're really your brothFor Wolfe, MECO cemented the brotherhood for him, but ers is something that I what added to that even earlier was his Christian service trip in don't think you get at just the summer before his senior year. any high school."

"The Fiji trip was unbelievable," Wolfe said. "It was a great - Billy Wolfe '17 group of a couple guys I've been close friends with and then a couple guys I hadn't known as well, and I thought the 11 or 12 guys that went on the trip, we're all really good friends now just because of the experiences we shared there. That was an unbelievable bonding experience."

Outside of class, you can find Wolfe making moves in the stock market game, planning intramural sports with the intramural committee, or playing second base for the baseball team.

Wolfe helped the baseball team win a share of the Inter-Ac championship last year and he hopes the team does better this year.

"Last year, we had a good year," he said. "Hopefully this year will end a little better and not share the Inter-Ac which was not a good time."

Senior Matt Daller plays baseball and went to Fiji with Wolfe.

Daller praised Wolfe's athletic ability and character.

"Great baseball player. I love playing with him and I can always rely on him," Daller said. "I was already friends with him going into Fiji so we really just grew closer. [He is a] great kid all around and always knows how to get a smile out of someone."

Off the baseball field, Wolfe has taken Latin for the past four years, and Ms. Molly Waldron has taught Wolfe in Latin for the past two years.

"Billy is a very committed student, I can tell. He's always willing to go above and beyond in the classroom.

Does everything I ask him; he's always very eager to make sure it's correct," she said. "I can tell he takes a lot of pride in his work."

Waldron praised Wolfe's humor and leadership ability in classes.

"He shows a good combination of humor and dedication to the class," she said. "He'll make everyone laugh on the one hand, but on the other hand— as soon as we're back to work— he's a leader."

In addition to school and activities, Wolfe might just be cooking your next dinner.

"A couple summers ago, I thought I was going to be washing dishes at this restaurant," he said. "I got a job, and they told me I was the sautée cook, so I learned how to cook sautée. Now I kind of enjoy cooking and stuff and sometimes I'll cook for my family."

His go-to dish is shrimp scampi.

"It's crazy, people go down to the shore and they go to this restaurant and they pay 30 dollars, and you think some guy's cooking it up and it's just me in the back throwing shrimp in the pan," he said.

The road to becoming a sautée cook isn't always easy.

"It was definitely scary at first," he said.

"The first couple weeks there was a couple times [when diners sent his shrimp scampi back]. Too dry. Too much sauce. Burnt. All kinds of stuff.

It got sent back and I was berated a little bit. But we got through it." ◊

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Get to know the junior nicknamed “Brick.”

Eric McLaughlin ’18 SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR unior Brendan Devine has been coming to Malvern Prep’s campus and sports games for many years, but there are a number of things you might not know about the honors student, rugby player, wrestler, and MECO leader.

One thing his peers might not know about junior Brendan Devine is that he was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and lived there until he was five years old.

“Brendan contributes “Moving from Charlotte wasn’t too difficult for me since I a lot to the success of was so little at the time. I was able to make new friends pretty the wrestling team. quickly once we moved,” Devine said.

He is always working Devine attended St. Max for lower and middle school and hard and makes the excelled on the football and basketball teams when he was there. team better every “I was one of the bigger kids in middle school, so I was able single practice." to be a dominant threat on the court and the field,” he said.

- Ryan Karoly '18 Brendan is the youngest of four kids in his family. He has two older brothers, who both attended Malvern, and one older sister.

Brendan’s family has a strong connection to the Navy.

“My dad was in the Navy for a number of years, my oldest brother, Jack ’10, currently flies helicopters for the Navy and is stationed in Florida and was is in Navy ROTC at Villanova University,” Devine said.

Devine added that he is thinking about possibly doing an ROTC program in college, but he is not sure about it yet.

Brendan has loved every second of his experience at Malvern. “I decided to come here because both of my brothers came here and really enjoyed it,” Devine said. “So far, my experience has definitely lived up to their expectations.”

At Malvern, Devine is a member of a variety of clubs, activities, and sports while consistently balancing academics. He is a MECO leader, wrestler, and also plays on the rugby team.

“Brendan contributes a lot to the success of the wrestling team,” junior wrestler Ryan Karoly said. “He is always working hard and makes the team better every single practice.”

“One of my favorite parts about Malvern is being able to hang out and see my closest friends every day. One of my favorite parts about the school structure is the schedule. I really like how it gives you time to work on a project or meet with a teacher during the day, and I think that we have the perfect class lengths that prepare us well for college,” Devine said.

Devine has had a rigorous schedule full of honors and AP classes while at Malvern. Brendan said that one of his favorite classes at Malvern has been AP US History with Mr. Bob Colameco.

“The class is so interesting and we always have fun in it. Mr. Colameco does a really good job of making sure everyone in the class participates,” Devine said.

Brendan said that his favorite teacher at Malvern has been Mr. Bohannon, whom he had sophomore year.

“I always looked forward to having Mr. Bohannon’s class. He is definitely the nicest teacher at Malvern and he always tries to make each class fun. I loved when he gave us trivia questions to start each class. He always got the class involved and excited,” he said.

Bohannon also enjoyed having Devine in his class.

“Brendan was a joy to have in my class last year. He always stayed involved and was nice to everybody,” Mr. Bohannon said.

Devine only has one year left at Malvern and he hopes to make the most of it.

“Malvern has been awesome since the first day of freshman year,” Devine said. “I can’t believe that I am winding down on my junior year already and I hope to cherish the next month of school and the rest of my time on Warren Ave.”◊

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Anthony Papa ’19 drums his way through high school

Brandon Moore ’17 excited to attend dream school

From Georgia to Chester County, sophomore Anthony Papa finds his place in the Malvern Community.

Senior Brandon Moore has made the most of his Malvern experience, participating heavily on the rugby team, diversity awareness club, and guitar ensemble.

Dan King ’19 MEDIA AND CULTURE EDITOR fter living in Atlanta, Georgia for the majority of his life, Papa has integrated himself into a society much different than his familiar southern surroundings with no problem at all.

Meeting Papa for the first time, many would not know he is from Atlanta.

“I’m not your typical southerner,” Papa said. “I’ve had several people who when they heard I was from Georgia expected me to have a southern accent, but both my parents are from New Jersey and every summer and every Christmas we go up there because we have lots of family up there.”

“He instantly made New Jersey is a part of him as his parents are from there, he friends, he is very lived there from age two to age four, and is a New York Giants and Yankees fan. Since he has been living in the Philly area he personable, he talks to has grown to like the Flyers. everybody, he has just Sports have been one of his passions his whole life as he has a really outgoing and enjoyed and played baseball his entire life, something he has conunique personality. He tinued here. was just a natural fit “I came up here and I was only a catcher, but I’ve recently for Malvern.” learned that you can’t just do that so this season I’ve played catcher, third base, pitcher, I’ve played left field,” Papa said.

- Mrs. Nicole Wilkinson Playing baseball is just one of the reasons that helped him assimilate into the Malvern society. He gives most of the credit to his teammates.

“Everyone here is great really, everyone was really friendly here. You know coming here I wasn’t really sure how I’d be accepted as a kid from Georgia, but everyone was very welcoming,” Papa said.

Sophomore Joey Koch said, “Anthony Papa is a great kid, he is a real hard worker and a great person to do projects with.”

English teacher Ms. Nicole Wilkinson praised Papa’s welcoming personality.

“He instantly made friends, he is very personable, he talks to everybody, he has just a really outgoing and unique personality.

He was just a natural fit for Malvern,” Wilkinson said.

It may be Papa who welcomes others, but he still has nothing but praise for his Malvern brothers.

“All the guys here are great. It’s a very supportive community,” Papa said.

One thing that followed Papa from Atlanta is his love of country music.

“The south is almost like a different country from up here really,” he said. “Everything is so different, the one consistency is country music though. Can’t get away from that.”

In addition to listening to music, Papa also plays drums.

“I just started drumming like a year ago, but it is something I’ve grown to love more than anything else,” Papa said.

Papa likes to create drum covers.

“I’ll take any particular song, almost always one I like, and basically what you do is listen over and over again until you have the drum part down and then you play it, you know you can kind of add some of your own stuff make it your own, and then you lay it out in a video and then put the original track on top of it so then you have the whole thing,” said Papa.

Papa has found inspiration for these drum covers through his favorite drummers, Josh Dun from Twenty One Pilots, and Matt McGuire from the Chainsmokers.

“I look at what they do and I try and take what I can learn from them and I kind of apply that but I want to try and stay as my own as much as I can,” Papa said.

Papa has taken his passion and brought it into the classroom.

“He likes to bring music into everything. One time when we were talking about transcendentalism he played a Twenty One Pilots song for us and we talked about the connection between the song and what we were doing,” Wilkinson said. “That was kind of a neat thing.”

“He is an excellent student. He always goes above and beyond,” Wilkinson said. She also said he has a “natural gift” for literature and writing. ◊

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Jack McClatchy ’17 PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR enior Brandon Moore said that his older brother Austin Moore ’11 played a big role in coming to Malvern in the seventh grade.

“I went to his graduation, met Father Flynn, and I just loved the school,” he said. “It’s a beautiful place, and made a ton of beautiful connections. I saw the connections that he made with his friends when they hung out, and they always talked about Malvern.”

Austin rowed on the crew team when he was at Malvern, and attended Dartmouth College after graduating.

“I knew that if I came here, I could probably go to my dream school as well, and I did with Syracuse,” he said.

He plans to pursue communications and business at Syracuse, as he has wanted to be in broadcasting since he was a little kid.

“I always loved sports broadcasting, and just sports in general,” he said. “I knew Syracuse had one of the best broadcasting schools in the country, and a really good business school. So I wanted to go to [Syracuse’s communications school] Newhouse from a young age, and fortunately enough I’m going to be studying both next year.”

Moore said he was able to point to the exact moment he knew he would come to Malvern.

“I went to the first Morning at Malvern,” he said. “The second after I went to that, I knew I was going to be a Malvern brother.”

Moore said he tried rowing at first, but switched to playing lacrosse when he came in s e v ent h g r a de .

Things didn’t work for him, and he eventually joined the rugby team in in his junior year. “ I d i d n ’t really like lac rosse,” he said. “It wasn’t my tr ue passion. I switched to rugby, and I ended up loving it. I’ve been playing it since my junior year and will be playing it in college.”

Senior Matt Hol l i n g s h e a d has been friends with Moore since the seventh grade, and described him as a “unique personality.” “ [ H e h a s] a lot of energ y, and says some st uff that doesn’t make sense sometimes,” Hollingshead said.

“But overall he’s a positive energy at this school, makes a lot of people laugh,

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and is just a good guy.”

Hollingshead said that he and Moore are very competitive with each other.

“We like to play a bunch of different sports against each other,” he said. “Stuff like ping pong, golf, tennis, basketball, whatever we just love to play sports and play against each other.”

Senior Greyson Phelan said that he and Moore participate in other activities besides sports, such as fishing. He also said that Moore tends to get along well with parents better than most.

“My parents think he’s alright,” he said.

“They’ve had some differences, but they get along well now.”

Besides rugby and being with friends, Moore said he spent a lot of his time working with the Diversity Awareness Club, which seeks to make Malvern students aware of the different types of diversity a group of people can have.

“When I was in eighth grade, my brother came out to me as gay, and I knew I needed to set examples on campus to people who don’t really understand human sexuality,” he said.

He is also part of Malvern’s guitar ensemble, which is a class that performs twice a year at Malvern’s arts festivals.

“Through Mr. Liga’s beginner guitar class, I found a true passion for music and guitar as a whole,” he said. “Ever since I took that class I’ve played guitar and participated in the ensemble for the past two years and that’s something I’m truly passionate about and want to pursue in college.”

Moore said he was seen as having a good sense of hu mor e ver since he spelled the word kitchen as “citchen” in the M idd le Sc hool spelling bee.

“Ever yone was laughing,” he said. “I didn’t even notice because I was so nervous. I asked why everyone was laughing because I got it right, and everyone said I said ‘c’ while I was certain I said ‘k.’”

From t hat point on, Moore said he was called “ k itc hen,” a nd that he had a reputation of being a funny person. ◊

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Blackfriar Chronicle

Nostalgia already setting in for Brennen Parke ’17 Senior Brennen Parke is wrapping up his academic career at Malvern, but his widespread participation in the school’s activities has left a permanent mark on the community and his peers.

Sean Ward ’17 REPORTER ext fall, senior Brennen Parke will be heading off the James Madison University in Virginia. With only two weeks left in his high school career, he reflected on his past four years.

Parke first came to Malvern in 2013 as a freshman. He came from Pierce Middle School in West Chester, but decided to continue his education at Malvern because of the great opportunities it offered him.

During his time at Malvern he has participated in many clubs and sports such as soccer, crew, weightlifting, and track. He is currently on the weightlifting team, and weightlifting is one of his strongest passions.

In the classroom. Parke said that his favorite teacher over his time at Malvern is history teacher Mr. Tom McGuire, who he has had as a history teacher from sophomore to senior year.

“Mr. McGuire is a great guy and teacher and I fortunate enough to go on my Christian service trip to Fiji with him as a chaperone,” Parke said.

Mr. McGuire had some words of praise for Parke as well.

“Brennan’s a delightful young man. He works very, very hard. His sincerity in trying to do the best he can is really commendable.

He’s got a great sense of humor,” he said.Outside of school, Parke has many hobbies and passions that many of his classmates do not know of.

He loves to go for runs, lift at the gym, and play basketball when he has free time.

“When I get home from school and I will go for a run first, then go to the gym. Then I’ll come home, do some homework, and watch TV,” Parke said.

He recently finished the TV series “Californication”, and is currently watching “Shameless”. He also enjoys “Game of Thrones”.

On the weekends, Parke likes to hang out with friends and support his sisters at their soccer games.

Parke used to work at the bowling and entertainment center, Round One, in Exton, but recently left his job because he didn’t like it anymore.

However, he plans to get a job at West Chester Country Club this summer, possibly as a caddie.

But before the summer comes and Parke packs up for college, he reflected on some of the most memorable moments he had at Malvern.

Of the many great experiences Parke has had, he said that his Christian Service trip to Fiji definitely takes the top spot.

“When we went to the highlands in Fiji and built a greenhouse. It was awesome because the views were insane and the women from the local village made delicious food.

The entire experience was something I had never encountered before,” he said.

Parke also said MECO and his Malvern soccer career were amazing experiences he will not forget about. In fact, he met many of his best friends through freshman soccer.

Senior Jadon Diehl, one of Parke’s good friends, fits into this category.

“I first met Brennen playing soccer freshman year and we had great times freshman and sophomore year playing and being

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April 2017

apart of the team,” Diehl said.

However, high school was not always easy for Parke, and he experienced some difficulties along the way.

“For a while I really couldn't find what I was interested in doing, so I would just try a lot of different sports and clubs,” he said.

Parke said it was a struggle because it was really hard for him to find a sport or club that he was really passionate and cared about.

However, Parke has recently realized his passion for physical activity as evidenced by his affinity for running, lifting, and playing pick-up games with friends.

In his next four years at James Madison, Parke plans to do ROTC and study business, although he is going in with and undeclared major.

He is looking forward to college and his next chapter in life, but is really grateful for his opportunity to come to Malvern and be a part of the school’s caring community. ◊

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Will Reckmeyer ’19 has high aspirations His friends and family describe him as interesting, confident, and hilarious.

Ryan Maher ’19 CONTRIBUTOR eing a lifer, sophomore Will Reckmeyer reflects on how Malvern has impacted his life spiritually, socially, and academically.

Growing up in Berwyn and attending Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School, Reckmeyer was raised in a family of five, with his mother Sheila, father Mike, and two older sisters Emily and Megan.

Reckmeyer’s mother, Sheila, reflects on her son, and the value he brings to their family.

“Will is unique in our family because he is the only boy child, and also the youngest,” his mother Mrs. Shiela Reckmeyer said. She shared a memories from when he was younger.

“He's a jokester, “Will was four or five, and he badly wanted to see the Power Rangers. His sisters didn't want to come, but Will wanted to. and doesn't take We went to the Power Rangers parade and he was ecstatic,” he anything too said. “Will wanted a picture with the Shadow Ranger and he was seriously outside thrilled to get his picture ◊.” of school. But She also added that Reckmeyer provides a certain joyful energy he’s a cool guy, wherever he goes, and he has had that sort of presence since the nice person to be beginning.

“My favorite characteristic about Will is his smile,” Mrs. around.”

Reckmeyer said, “and he was always a very happy baby, and not -Evan Haines '19 that Emily and Megan weren't, he was just very happy.”

Reckmeyer’s oldest sister Emily is a senior at the University of Notre Dame, and other sister Megan is a sophomore at Northwestern University. “Emily is more shy, but smart. Megan is more outgoing and adventurous,” Reckmeyer said.

The decision to come to Malvern wasn’t exactly his.

“I came in sixth grade. I was kind of forced to come because both of my sister's went to private school as well,” Reckmeyer said.

Even though the choice wasn’t his, Reckmeyer said that Malvern has had a positive impact on his life in many ways. “[Malvern] has allowed me to deepen my spiritual relationship with God, while also expanding my horizons and meeting new people,” he said.

One of Reckmeyer’s good friends sophomore Evan Haines describes Reckmeyer as a friend.

“He's a jokester, and doesn't take anything too seriously outside of school. But he’s a cool guy, nice person to be around,” Haines said.

Along with his spiritual and social development, Reckmeyer also notes that his academics have become an important part of his life here at Malvern.

“My favorite class is math,” Reckmeyer said, “and history is cool also, but that's a hard class.

My grades have been looking good all year, and I plan on keeping them that way.”

Outside of academics, Reckmeyer plays soccer in the fall, lacrosse in the spring, and loves to play intramural sports for Malvern. He also competes outside of school on his club lacrosse team, Freedom Lacrosse.

Reckmeyer hopes that Malvern can provide him the tools to be able to become successful in the future, and give him a head start on accomplishing his goals.

“I want to go to my first choice college,” he said, “and from there go into the business world.” ◊

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Eric Yablonski ’21 excels in the arts, athletics, and academics

Athlete and scholar Connor Dillon ’18 feels the brotherhood

As eighth grade student Eric Yablonski's middle school career comes to a close, he talks about his academic experience and athletics and arts careers.

Junior Connor Dillon has lived right by Malvern Prep his whole life and now is able to participate in his two sports, soccer and baseball, while having fun with friends.

Cole Cherian ’22 MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORTER f you look around the mod space during Experiential Learning Block and Community Time, you will see most students gaming on their phones, playing with spinners, rushing to study for tests, and chatting with friends. Very rarely will you see a student like eighth grader Eric Yablonski.

Coming from a large family in Phoenixville, Yablonski is grateful of his upbringing. “[My parents] push me to do my best. I have a lot of other siblings, so attention is spread thin,” Yablonski said.

Yablonski thinks that his parents have impacted him the most by sending him to Malvern Prep. where he said he has learned a lot.

The thing Yablonski has learned most from his parents is their prudency and cautiousness, but especially their frugalness, he said.

Yablonski also realizes that the experience of having siblings has impacted him. “[My siblings] taught me to be there for each other,” said Yablonski.

In bet ween classes and after school, Yablonski is always getting work done early and preparing for the next day.

“If you walk into the mod space and he’s not in there, it’s surprising,” eighth grader Chris Krein said. “He always has his homework done, and he does it in school.”

Yablonski has learned to prioritize his homework first. “School work comes comes first, so when I get home, I do all my work.

Then I relax and I play bass guitar and the drums,” Yablonski said.

When he’s not in the mod space completing Membean homework or solving math problems, Yablonski is participating in the numerous extracurriculars Malvern offers.

“I’m in the rock band and CT band. I play water polo, rowing, and swimming,” Yablonski said.

During September, Yablonski even started a band with Krein. “We were like, ‘Oh, let’s start a band!’” Krein said. “Our friendship has evolved ever since then.”

Some of Yablonski's teachers recognized his love of learning new things.

“Eric Yablonski loves problems,” Yablonski’s math teacher Mrs. Diane Giordano said. “The harder the problem, the more he likes it. He loves to be challenged. He’s very inquisitive and curious about the world. He’s always finding new problems on his own and trying to find solutions.”

When Yablonski’s friends and teachers think of him, they think of his perseverance.

“When he starts, he doesn’t stop until he’s finished,” seventh grader and Yablonski’s bandmate Noah Buscaglia said. “He’s very tenacious.

He sets out to do his goal and he completes it.”

“He has excellent work ethics,” Giordano

Steven O’Meara ’19 REPORTER onnor attended Saints Peter and Paul until 9th grade when he chose to go to Malvern for high school. He only knew a few kids at the beginning of freshman year but that quickly changed as the year progressed.

His brother, Sean ’13, was a big influence for Connor in deciding to come to Malvern.

“I live right down the road, it was convenient, my brother went here, and it was kinda passed down. He convinced me to come,” Dillon said.

The malvern community is a brotherhood for Connor, not only in the classroom, but outside of school with friends. This bond expands even more to sports, whether he is playing soccer or baseball with his classmates.

“They are all super nice, supportive, and it is really like a “Connor is brotherhood,” Dillon said. definitely is one Junior Jake Hodlofski has known Connor since kindergarof the most polite ten and has been friends with him ever since. They both are students I have ever teammates on the varsity soccer team.

“He always has my had in class." back on and off the field,” Jake said. “In soccer I - Mr. Tom Pannula feel very safe with him in front of me protecting the net. He will never make two mistakes in a game because if he makes one he is determined to never get beat again. I’ve been very lucky to have Connor as a very good friend and teammate.”

His favorite sport is baseball. He is a part of the varsity baseball team and plays mostly middle infield and pitches; however, can also play almost every other position out on the field. He says his dad was one of the big influences for playing baseball.

“My dad was a big baseball guy when he was a kid and he always supported that the most and I liked it,” Dillon said.

So far his Malvern experience has been similar to others.

“It's been really nice. I really like it, all the teachers are super nice and really help you with schoolwork whenever you need it.

The schedule is good, I like how it is with a lot of free time to play basketball or do schoolwork or talk to a teacher,” Dillon said.

Pre-Calculus is Connor’s favorite class.

Math teacher Mr. Thomas Panulla is his teacher this year and is impressed by Connor’s demeanor in the classroom.

“Connor is definitely is one of the most polite students I have ever had in class. He does not say a ton, he is pretty quiet actually. I do not think there has been a day where he has not been prepared,” Pannulla said. ◊

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said. “He will sit and persevere until he accomplishes what he set out to accomplish.”

Buscaglia thinks Yablonski is a great example of an involved student. “Eric provides good feedback for my projects, he’s good to work with, he’s very smart, and he’s a talented drummer,” he said. “He’s well-rounded.”

Yablonski plans to have a future in engineering. “I want to be an architectural engineer,” he said.

Yablonski’s friends think that he has a bright future.

“I think that he’ll do well. I’ve heard great things about what’s in the future for him in high school already from his peers and himself.

I wish him the best of luck,” Buscaglia said. ◊

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Page 9

Flannel more than fashion for Grant Burgess ’19

Jaden Vogelman ’20 channels teasing into dedication

Sophomore Grant Burgess is a family man who sees Malvern as place of connections with his friends and family.

Freshman Jaden Vogelman is no stranger to “small” jokes. But his outgoing personality and dedication have enabled him to succeed.

Alex Haylock ’19 REPORTER hether it’s baseball or schoolwork, Grant makes sure he has fun doing everything he puts his mind to.

Referred to as “The Lumberjack” around campus, Grant Burgess is a baseball playing, flannel wearing, force of nature, who loves to live life to the fullest.

“Enjoy yourself,” Burgess said. “Whatever you do in life, make you sure have fun.”

Raised in Pottstown, Burgess learned the values of family and faith. “Rosemary and Stephen (Grant’s parents), [are] great people. Taking care of me since I was a baby, feeding me, clothing me, all the important stuff. Great role models.”

Burgess lives and breathes baseball. Playing in little leagues since the age of five, Grant even hopes to continue to play in college.

“He's always “I’ve been playing my whole life. College? Don’t know which, respectful and but I know I want to major in business, I’m a business guy,” enthusiastic. He's Burgess said.

When he’s not on the diamond, Burgess’ favorite pastime is got a good sense of hunting. He enjoys the the thrill of the hunt as well as the meal humor." you get out of it.

“You can go anyway with it,” Burgess said, “Venison, hot - Mrs. Kathryn Wolstenholme dog, you could go ground beef, you could with the back straps... any way you want.”

Some of Burgess’ other interests include classic movies like Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean. He also is a big fan of country music.

“Mowing the lawn [while] listening to some country music? Nothing better than that,” he said.

Burgess is constantly trying to be out in nature.

“I love sunsets. I live out in the woods so I get great sunsets,” Burgess said.

Grant is also a self-proclaimed country man equipped with the determination to “get the job done”.

Even his own English teacher, Mrs. Kathryn Wolstenholme said, “Grant can do anything he puts his mind to, even if that is… going off into the woods to start his own civilization with nothing but an axe and his flannel.”

When asked to describe Grant in one word, most people would say ‘flannel’. He is known around campus for famously wearing some item of flannel clothing every day of winter.

“They’re universal,” says Burgess.

“I’m a huge flannel guy. [They’re] perfect for any occasion. You could literally live off flannels.”

Burgess’ unique presence on campus has made him a good friend to many. He is friendly among his peers and continues to hang out with some of the same people since middle school.

“Grant and I are boys,” sophomore Will Pettit said. “Grant and I went to middle school together. His nickname is ‘Flannel Guy’, and I’d say he’s a pretty good kid.”

“He’s always [has] a positive attitude,” said Wolstenholme “He’s not the most outgoing kid but he’s always respectful and enthusiastic. He’s got a good sense of humor.”

Currently in his sophomore year, Burgess is looking forward to what the summer has to offer. “This year has been great, academics and all...but I’m ready to move ahead.”

If he were to get a tattoo, Burgess would get “one of those cool Samoan ones that start on your arm and wrap around your pec”.

Burgess also values family and faith and his favorite thing about Malvern is the “connections...Later in life they’ll help you.” ◊

Brian Szipszky ’20 REPORTER ith an impressive work ethic, freshman Jaden Vogelman has been able to use height stereotypes as motivation to improve. Learning how to deal with teasing has strengthened his confidence socially, academically, and athletically.

Vogelman was born in Lansing, Michigan, but moved to Chester Springs a year later. He attended Owen J. Roberts Elementary School before coming to Malvern in seventh grade.

According to Vogelman, he has dealt with teasing since he was at OJR. “Kids have been calling me small since I was in sixth grade,” Vogelman said. “They still do sometimes today, but more as a joke.”

Vogelman also admits he struggled with the teasing for a while, but has learned to handle it.

“At least for a couple of years it was pretty tough on me,” “Jaden is a very Vogelman said. “So I knew I had to find ways to deal with it. hard worker. The Over time, I think I did a pretty good job of coping with all of it.” fearlessness and One of those methods includes soccer, as he has played for travel teams since he was six years old. confidence he displays “Soccer has been one of the biggest parts of my life for years,” in soccer can also be Vogelman said. “Playing it really helped me deal with all the seen in the classroom,” jokes.”

While soccer certainly influenced his decision to attend -Mr. Jose Sanchez Malvern Prep, Vogelman said he has had a connection to Malvern since he was one year old. “[Soccer] might have weighed in on my decision, but I grew up on Malvern’s campus watching sports,” Vogelman said. “I love the atmosphere here.”

When he finally arrived at Malvern in seventh grade, he struggled a little with the workload, as well as losing some of his old friends.

“It was hard during the first two quarters because I wasn’t used to the amount of homework,” Vogelman said. “I also went into Malvern with a very close friend who recently moved to Arizona. So we both were in the same boat and helped each other through the tough times.”

Vogelman also credits freshman Christian Siaton, who has attended Malvern since sixth grade, with helping him through the transition.

“In the beginning of seventh grade, we were on the same soccer team,” Siaton said. “We kind of just started talking about sports and stuff, and then that translated into school.”

In fall 2016, both Vogelman and Siaton played on the junior varsity soccer team, along with four other freshmen. Vogelman’s fearlessness translates well onto the field, where he is a defender.

“Jaden’s best attribute is definitely his tenacity,” Siaton said.

“That allows him to be really good at chasing players down and taking the ball from them.

Overall, he just shows no fear.”

Mr. Jose Sanchez, Vogelman’s Honors Spanish II teacher and head coach of the freshmen soccer team, is also very complimentary of his soccer ability.

“While I did not coach him, I think Jaden is a tremendous player,” Sanchez said. “When I watch him play, his confidence really shows. It is really important to have that confidence at his young age, because it allows him to be in charge of his own life.”

Sanchez also commented on Vogelman’s work ethic in the classroom.

“Jaden is a very hard worker,” Sanchez said.

“The fearlessness and confidence he displays in soccer can also be seen in the classroom, and I think it will also translate into whatever he decides to do in life.” ◊

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Matt Papandon ’18 working on stepping out of brother’s shadow

Ryan Logan ’18 enjoys watching sports as much as he enjoys participating

Junior Matt Papandon is thriving in and out of the Malvern classroom surrounded by his peers.

Junior baseball player Ryan Logan enjoys wakeboarding and staying up to date on everything sports.

John McGlinn ’18 REPORTER att Papandon is sometimes just known as the brother of John Papandon ’16 to those older than him and those who do not know him well. But now in his junior year at Malvern, he is paving his own path.

Matt Papandon wakes up every morning, gets ready for school, and begins his three-minute commute to Malvern.

“This is the first year I have driven because last year John just drove almost every day,” he said.

The commute is not anything unusual to Papandon, and it helps having such a short commute to be able to get to school on time.

Papandon has a twin sister, Grace, who attends Villa Maria.

“Sometimes the driving situation gets confusing, but I usually end up being the one to drive because Malvern is so close,” he said.

Papandon attended Saint Aloysius in Bryn Mawr from Kindergarten through eighth grade.

“John came to Malvern for Middle School, but I loved St. Aloysius, so I stayed until eighth grade then made an easy decision to come to Malvern for high school,” he said.

Papandon is a huge fan of Mr. Tom McGuire’s Honors East Asian History class. “Easily my favorite class. Mr. McGuire is such an amazing teacher, and I just love history,” Papandon said.

Papandon is currently playing varsity tennis for Malvern, and serves as the varsity soccer team manager.

“We are all good friends with Matt, and are looking forwards to working with him and having him help out our team as manager next year,” junior varsity soccer player Brendan Teufel said.

Papandon played freshman soccer and has always had a love for the game. “I have always had a passion for soccer, I played all through elementary school and follow the Champions League sometimes,” he said.

Papandon also plays CYO Basketball for St. Pat’s in Malvern, where he is on the same team as several other Malvern students.

“CYO for [St.] Pat’s is so fun. We play against so many other Malvern guys on every team, too, so it is some great competition with friends,” he said.

“Matt doesn’t play a whole lot and his team is big, but when we play them it’s always great to play against your brothers,” fellow CYO player and junior Jack Leyden said. “Matt is always pretty positive and funny, and it's natural to be around him and laugh.”

And as for Papandon’s opinion on the best lunch in the Malvern cafeteria? “Everyone loves the chicken nuggets. Curly fries go great with them, too,” he said. ◊

Sean Oates ’18 CONTRIBUTOR ou may recognize him around campus as the only student brave enough to wear Dallas Cowboys apparel, but junior Ryan Logan is much more than that.

Growing up in Chester Springs, Logan lives with his mother, father, younger sister Sarah, and is the owner of two mini dachshunds. Logan was a student at Lionville Middle School until the seventh grade, when he began exploring the options for his future education.

When considering Malvern among other schools to attend, one factor in particular stood out which drew him to become a Friar.“I liked the smaller aspect and smaller classes Malvern had to offer, which other schools didn’t have,” Logan said.

Logan decided to begin his journey at Malvern in the eighth grade. Over his four years of attending the school, history teacher Mr. Andrew Burke has been his favorite teacher, and he has most enjoyed Burke’s Global Perspectives class.

One of the classes Logan takes this year is Spanish with Mr. Jose Sanchez. Sanchez describes Logan as a very capable young man. He believes utilizing time well and developing strong study techniques are very important for his students, including Logan.

“And I think that at the end of all that I think it will be very helpful and will show their academic ability,” Sanchez said.

Along with being a student at Malvern, Logan is also a member of Malvern’s baseball team. Logan is a third baseman for the nationally ranked squad.

“He’s a great team player and has a very good attitude. He is always pushing every one of us to play at our very best,” junior baseball player JR Byrne said.

Outside of the Malvern community, Logan enjoys following professional sports, playing fantasy football, and wakeboarding in the summer.

“I watch sports and keep up on sports news just about every day,” Logan said.

With the NBA and NHL playoffs underway, along with the MLB season just starting, Logan is sure to be busy staying up to date on all of the sports.

Logan is especially locked into sports during the NFL season. Although he lives in the Philadelphia area, surrounded by diehard Eagles fans, Logan is a big supporter of the Dallas Cowboys. The opposition and criticism he faces from Eagles fans at school and in the area does not stop him from supporting his team.

“It’s tough when the Cowboys and Eagles play each other, but growing up they’ve been my favorite team, so it won’t prevent me from being a fan,” Logan said.

As Logan, along with the rest of the junior class, is just a few months away from beginning his final year at Malvern, he recognizes there will be some transitioning to do.

“I feel like it’s time to start making adjustments in my lifestyle to get ready for the changes college will bring,” Logan said. ◊

M

Y

> STATE OF STUDCO, 3

“Students complete a packet of information which involves essays, recommendations from teachers, and signatures from various administrators,” Dlugos said. “On our end, we check on [the candidates’] conduct at Malvern, and also students have to have a 3.0 GPA.” For the Executive Board, the process is a little different.

“Executive officers also have to fill out a packet and get signatures, but they also go through a pretty stringent speech editing process,” Dlugos said. “They write various drafts of their speeches, and we have a teacher panel come in and give them input and feedback on their more developed drafts. We then have a couple practices in Duffy [Arts Center] before the speeches.”

Heany went on to describe some of the Studco events in the near future.

“On May 13th, we have the [2nd annual] Run for Joy, which

is a 5k. Mr. Legner is working with us on that too,” he said.

Now, the attention turns mostly to next year’s executives, who will be active in the next couple of weeks.

“The upcoming execs for next year will be sending out a student survey in the next couple days, and we will be taking a look at the information we get back,” Dlugos said. “We will look at what the different classes liked this year and what kind of changes and ideas the students have for next year.”

The last Student Council meeting will be held on May 2, mostly to honor Heany and the other seniors who haved served Malvern so well this year. All in all, Heany believes this year has been extremely successful, and he has thoroughly enjoyed serving as Student Council President.

“It was definitely a great experience working with everybody to come up with new ideas, and seeing how the school reacts

to things that we’ve never done before, like the Color Run, or Family Feud,” Heany said. “It’s cool to see how people like something that you just tried out, and it’s fun to see them enjoy it. As a whole, I thought it was a great year overall.”

Dlugos agreed with Heany and thought that this year’s student council served Malvern very well. She spoke on behalf of herself and Science Teacher and Student Council Co-Moderator Mrs. Laurie Peslak.

“It was a really brave group to try the new things they did.

Starting something big like Family Feud is a big undertaking,” Dlugos said. “The executive board was a really solid group in that they prepared things well and took things through their various steps. Ms. Peslak and I couldn’t be happier.” ◊

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Blackfriar Chronicle

April 2017

Page 11

Student athlete Tyler Frank ’20 takes fulfillment in helping others Freshman Tyler Frank is new to Malvern this year, competing in many Malvern athletics, like basketball and football.

Luke McClatchy ’19 REPORTER n athletics and the classroom, freshman Tyler Frank is finding his way through Malvern.

Frank came to Malvern because of his family and his familiarity with its campus.

“I’ve been on campus a lot I guess since I was born really, and my dad went here,” Frank said.

“So I’ve just been kind of affiliated with Malvern my whole life so it wasn’t too hard of a decision.”

Frank did not attend Malvern’s middle school, however.

“I went to Saint Aloysius for grade school, it really prepared me to come to Malvern. There is a really similar setup between the two schools, minus the free time,” Frank said. “I liked it at St. Aloysius a lot, but it was a lot more strict there than at Malvern, which I enjoy here.”

“I like playing sports Frank said there were some small differences between Aloysius here because community and Malvern, chief among them discipline. time and break give me “At St. Aloysius they were a lot more strict on dress code than time to do everything I here at Malvern, like there if you had a shirt untucked or no belt need to do for school. it was a demerit, but mostly they just busted me for not doing Also, everyone here homework,” Frank said. cares for each other and Frank is a big fan of the breaks and free time Malvern offers has your back.” in its schedule.

“My favorite things here at Malvern are the teachers and com-Tyler Frank '20 munity time, it gives me a lot of time to get all my work done,” Frank said.

After school, you can find Frank out on the turf playing football or on the courts suiting up for the Friars.

“I like playing sports here because community time and break give me time to do everything I need to do for school. Also, everyone here cares for each other and has your back,” Frank said. “One time at a football game a big fight broke out and one teammate got caught up in it, but everyone was there to back him up.”

Outside of Malvern, Frank plays AAU, or Amateur Athletic Union basketball, for the Malvern Legends.

“AAU is great, but again, it’s another big time commitment for me, so again this just makes community time a big help,” Frank said. “We travel around, our AAU team, places like New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and anywhere in Pennsylvania.”

“My favorite memory of AAU basketball is winning the championship going into eighth grade,” Frank said. “We played a team from Allentown and the game was in Virginia, it was an eight team tournament and we won it all.”

During school, Frank enjoys his time in math class the most.

“Math is my favorite subject, and I’ve always had an interest in it even outside of class, like statistics all that ties back to math,” Frank said. “My least favorite is English class by far, I don’t like to read and just don’t enjoy it.”

Frank is also a part of Malvern’s Drum Line and enjoys Sculpture.

“Sculpture is something I’ve never really done before, and Malvern has given me the opportunity to try it,” he said.

His math teacher, Ms. Florence Crews, thinks very highly of Frank.

“As a student, he is prepared, he participates in class, he seems to know what he is doing and if he doesn’t he is not afraid to come ask me or a classmate, a very good student,” Crews said.

“He is also a real nice person, and a good gentleman,” she said. “That’s the most important thing to me, being a good math student is great, but a good person is even greater.”

Crews taught Frank’s father, David Frank ’91, as well.

“You can tell he is his father’s son, there are a lot of things I saw in his father that I see in Frank,” she said.

I

Tyler’s best friend, freshman Jasir Cook, says he is a great friend.

“He is one of my closest friends, just a real nice and caring person and he’s athletic too, just a good guy,” Cook said.

They met for the first time playing football for Malvern together.

“He used to take me home from practice, like take me to the train station and stuff,” Cook said. “We have also been on the same intramural teams for the year, and most of our classes are together too.”

Cook said Tyler’s most outstanding quality is his accountability.

“He is accountable, you can count on him for anything and to be there for you,” Cook said.

“He is very involved and thankful for everything Malvern has given him, a nice person and great at heart.” ◊

April 2017

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Blackfriar Chronicle

Respecting Differences & Diversity

Four Malvern students shared stories of their experiences in an assembly sponsored by the Diversity Awareness Club on Thursday, April 6.

Even strong walls have weaknesses

Labels minimize who we are

Take a second to consider the stereotypes we attach to others.

Many stereotypes are based on bias, opinions and fear.

Nick Li '17

Jordan Wright '19

P

eople are social beings. We want to fit in, have friends, and feel as if we are a part of something. It is just a part of human nature. However, “fitting in” and creating that feeling of “being a part of something” is difficult when you are nothing like those who surround you.

So where does that put me, a non-Catholic Asian American student at a Catholic private institution whose student body is predominantly white? I won’t say my experience at Malvern has been extremely difficult, because it really hasn’t. But I also won’t say it’s been a walk in No matter what the park, because that would be a lie. answer I gave, I could Out of my soon-to-be four years at Malvern Prep, not avoid the feeling freshman year was the most challenging. It was the start of being judged and of a new chapter in my life. looked down upon.

Beginning at freshman orientation, I noticed that I Sometimes I really did was the only completely Asian student in the entire class wonder what I was of 2017. That scared me. I was already a target because doing here, if I really I looked different from the rest of the student body. belonged.

At the public school system I had been in, I was in the minority as well, but never had I been the only one.

It’s a completely different feeling because even at Great Valley, while most of my friends were white, I had a couple Asian friends that I could talk to and relate my experiences to, people who would understand.

At Malvern, that was a luxury I wouldn’t have, and I realized it then. It’s not that I wouldn’t have people there for me and people wouldn’t listen to what I had to say, it’s just that they would not be able to understand. There’s a big difference between listening and actually understanding.

Then there was the religion aspect. My family is not religious. It’s not that we are opposed to religion, we just never attended any services or went to church.

It’s how I was raised.

As an Augustinian school, spirituality is essential to what it means to be a student at Malvern Prep. This became one of my greatest worries about attending Malvern. What constantly stressed me out and frightened me was knowing that if and when I messed up, either at a chapel service, a mass, or even a prayer, the eyes of the entire building would turn and stare at me. Even to this day, I still get nervous.

I still remember multiple instances during my freshman year in which I was asked, “If you’re not Catholic, then why are you here?” For such a simple question, I can’t tell you how much that impacted me. Earlier, I touched on the idea of fitting in and feeling a part of something; what that question did was isolate me, set me apart, and make me feel as if I didn’t belong. No matter what answer I gave, I could not avoid the feeling of being judged and looked down upon. Sometimes, I really did wonder what I was doing here, if I really belonged.

A part of my identity that has driven me to become who I am are the stereotypes placed on Asians. Take a second and think about all of the stereotypes.

Every single one looks to either diminish my abilities, ridicule me, or accredit my accomplishments to my racial background. I hate that people make assumptions about who I am because of what I look like. I hate that my academic success is credited to the fact that I’m Asian, not because I care about my work and strive to do my best. Not because only through academics were my parents able to leave everything behind in China to attend school at Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania to provide a better life for their future children.

Over time, the jokes, remarks, and shots have become less hurtful, but even the strongest walls have weaknesses. The feeling of judgement

> PAGE 15

W

hen I was a freshman, I went to a church in the suburbs and I told a lady that I lived in West Philadelphia, previously attended school in North Philadelphia, enjoyed art, and was currently attending Malvern Prep.

With a surprised look on her face, she asked me if I were attending on a sports scholarship.

She also asked if it was tough to have attended a school and church in North Philadelphia.

At first, this didn't really bother me because I didn't really think about what she had asked me. I thought that she was just asking simple questions.

However, at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference When someone is only (SDLC) in Atlanta that I attended in December of last year, exposed to false stereotypes stereotypes were a major topic that caught my attention. I about a group based on learned about how people put stereotypes on others based on their race, religion, sexual many things such as one’s neighborhood, religion, sexuality, orientation, economic and race. status, neighborhood or As others talked about the stereotypes they experienced, capability, the person whether it was about the type of food they eat, clothing they begins to believe that the wear or the types of jobs they have, I learned a lot about how stereotypes are true. they felt about the labels that were put on them by society.

The students talked about how it angered them that they were labeled based on other people’s perceptions, and that it was easier to look at them as one thing because of experiences with others with whom they had met with similar traits, religion, sexual orientation, race, economic backgrounds and other things.

An Asian student said that people automatically thought she was smart because of her race. One black student said that people assumed that he was only good at sports and couldn’t do well academically.

That was when it hit me. I was reminded of my conversation with the that lady again. I realized that she had stereotyped me because I was black and educated in North Philadelphia. She assumed that I only got to go to a school like Malvern for sports and never considered my academic ability.

However, this was not the case for me, and her assessment of my ability was incorrect. Each quarter this year, I have earned distinguished honors, and I have been heavily involved in the arts. This is the first year I have participated in a sport– track.

I have learned from experiences like this one, that because I am an African American male, people will judge me incorrectly and put limitations on my abilities. I love to prove them wrong. I strive to be my best self and always do better in all areas despite what others think that I can or can’t accomplish.

At the conference in Atlanta, I was introduced to many quotes about stereotypes. One in particular from a Ted Talk caught my attention the most. A woman named Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said, “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”

This means that labeling someone as one big category minimizes who they truly are. There is so much more to a person than what a certain stereotype says.

This also means that when someone is only exposed to false stereotypes about a group based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, economic status, neighborhood or capability, the person begins to believe that the stereotypes are true, blinding them from seeing the true quality of the individual and the extent of what they truly have to offer.

SDLC taught me that stereotypes are wrong for anyone to make because they are unreasonable assumptions based on bias, opinions and fear. They are also inappropriate because everyone is different.

I believe that children of all backgrounds can achieve and do great things academically if given the opportunity and chance. Intelligence and academic achievement are not based on skin color, where you live, how much money you make

> PAGE 15

The

April 2017

Blackfriar Chronicle

Page 13

No stereotype is a good stereotype We need to work hard to make Malvern a truly inclusive community.

Zamir Shelton '18

M

y story is not an uncommon one. The many black and other minority students that have come before me and those who will come after me all share experiences akin to mine. However, while my story may be common, it is still unique, as it is my story.

My name is Zamir Shelton, I’m a junior, and I’m black. For those who don’t know me very well, I’m what many would describe as being pro-black, and I believe that a lot of my actions revolve around that fact.

I participate heavily in the Diversity Awareness Club and have been blessed enough to be able to attend events like the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) and Springside Chestnut Hill’s diversity conference, SCHout. I am also grateful for the opportunity to lead middle schoolers as a facilitator at MSDLC. The majority of you can Throughout all these wonderful events, one thing seek comfort in the fact remained the same. I was embraced and welcomed by that whenever you look people who had no idea who I was, yet they listened around, you’ll see people and accepted my ideas and beliefs as if we had been that bear resemblance friends for years. to you. This is not a These events made me feel like I was truly accepted luxury that I, nor any and a part of a community. The majority of you can other minority student seek comfort in the fact that whenever you look around, at Malvern has, as often you’ll see people that bear not only physical, but personal times we are the only resemblance to you also. By this I’m talking about things person of color, in any like location, socioeconomic status/class, religion, and given place. political affiliation. This is not a luxury that I, nor any other minority student at Malvern has, as often times we are the only person of color, in any given place.

Now, I’d like to tell you about my three years at Malvern. First, I must mention that before I went to Malvern, I attended St. Martin de Porres, which was a predominantly black middle school located in inner-city Philadelphia.

This left me with no experience with white people my age.

Fast forward to freshman year. While I was excited to start my high school career at Malvern, I was more fearful than anything. I didn’t personally know any white kids, and I had misconceptions and biases towards white people, especially suburban white people. I wrongly believed that they were rich, snobby, and racist, something of which I was immediately proven wrong. When I attended the freshman orientation in August, I was greeted by white people whom I didn’t know, and many of them came up to me and became friends with me immediately.

However, there were things that highlighted the fact that I was different from my peers that still prevent me from establishing full bonds with my classmates.

The first and foremost thing is my name. My name is Zamir, which is correctly pronounced [ZAH]-[meer], but almost 99.1% (give or take) of the entire Malvern community pronounces my name as [zuh]-[MEER].

At first, I corrected people, but after a while it just got too tedious and I stopped bothering.

Second, any mention of black people or slavery merited expecting glances and stares that anticipated my reaction to what was being said.

This is most noticeable in classes like U.S. History and my junior year Theology classes.

Third were the stereotypes of being black. They assumed I was unnaturally good at sports, and while this isn’t so negative, no stereotype is a good stereotype.

I quickly disillusioned them in freshman gym class. I was also > PAGE 15

Until we respect everyone, there is still a journey ahead As a community, we cannot continue to sit by, failing to realize that being different is okay.

Andrew Ritter '17

G

rowing up, I was raised in a Jewish household.

Being a participant in the Jewish faith was not something I was particularly interested in or enjoyed doing as a child. My father forced me to attend Sunday school, which was a class on Sundays at my temple, where I learned about Jewish history and the Torah. Later, in addition to Sunday school, I was required to attend Monday school to learn to speak Hebrew in preparation for my Bar Mitzvah.

As I matured, I didn't consider being a Jew an integral part of me and never gave it much thought. But in high school it was all I ever thought about.

The first time you Before I enrolled at Malvern, I was completely unahear it you can laugh ware that a certain characteristic about myself would it off and think of it result in being isolated and feeling insignificant. I never as nothing more than felt I had to question who I was– a self-confident kid a joke; but at some who never feared approaching someone and striking point, the jokes stop up a conversation or presenting in front of an audience. being funny and just It wasn't until high school I felt everything changed leave you hurt and for me. uncomfortable.

It became evident quickly that I was an outsider.

For starters, one of the first questions I was asked by teachers, students, or part of some icebreaker activity was, “What parish do you belong to?”

This question is harmless enough, and I knew no one had any malintent in assuming I was Catholic. However, I can remember being forced to decide if I should lie, or subject myself to the typical follow up question: “If you're Jewish, then what are you doing at a Catholic school?”

The second half of that question is one that has stuck with me for a long time and one that I frequently asked myself during my time here at Malvern. “What are you doing at a Catholic school?”

In the beginning, the embarrassment was the worst part. During the class prayer, I would stand awkwardly with my hands at my sides, lips pressed closed, and my eyes scanning the room looking for someone staring at me because I didn’t know the words or the Sign of the Cross. My first experience with a Catholic mass was part of the largest culture shock. I didn’t know when to sit, when to stand or kneel, when to offer the Sign of Peace, or whether I should stand in line and receive a blessing or sit alone in the pew as all my classmates walked past and stared.

While some aspects of my freshman year just took some time to get used to, some things I couldn’t get used to were the jokes, smartaleck remarks, anti-Semitic slurs, or an occasional swastika that has been anonymously sketched on papers and notebooks of mine.

The first time you hear it you can laugh it off and think of it as nothing more than a joke; but at some point, the jokes stop being funny and just leave you hurt and uncomfortable. What people fail to realize is you can say a joke, move on, and not think about it again.

To me, it’s all I could think about for the rest of the day, the rest of the week, or anytime I saw you.

It wasn’t until my first years of high school I felt consistently unhappy. I dreaded going to school. I couldn’t bear the feeling of standing on eggshells waiting for someone to point out to me what I already knew– what are you doing in a Catholic school.

The only way I felt I could combat the excessive criticism was if I pointed out I was different first, before someone else could. That tactic only made matters worse because I was justifying to others that it was okay. I wanted so desperately to change, to try and fit in, but the more I tried, the worse I felt about myself.

I thought to denounce Judaism, move on, and not tell people that I’m Jewish. I’d learn to go through the motions, learn the prayers, and disappear into the crowd. For a period of time, I regretted leaving my old school and considered returning to where I felt it didn't matter whether I was Jewish or not.

At this point, I want to highlight a significant oppor t unit y > PAGE 15 I received to

April 2017

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Blackfriar Chronicle

The legend of the old Jalen Wade ’17 curveball Tim Brogan ’20 aims to be model Here’s a curveball right off the bat: Jalen’s feared as an elite pitcher student athlete on the diamond, yet is one of the nicest kids you’ll ever meet.

Tyler Pizzico ’17 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ven more daunting than senior Jalen Wade’s curveball are the questions which bear his name in Mr. James Kirchner’s Spanish class.

“The [St. Louis Cardinals and former Malvern pitcher] Tim Cooney curveball is the first one I remember inventing. Any tricky, out of the ordinary question or verb form was fair game,” Kirchner said. “From there on, whichever MP varsity pitcher was in my Spanish IV class got to have tricky questions named after him.”

Unfortunately, Wade’s reign will be coming to end upon his graduation.

“Jalen Wade has had a nice two-year run since he took my class as a junior. Sean ‘Hombre de Cristo’ [also known as senior Sean Christman] immortalized Jalen with his use of it in the Christmas “I've enjoyed the talent show,” Kirchner said. “But I've already begun using a Billy past six years at Corcoran Curveball to set the stage for next year.”

Outside all the fun in class, Wade put an effort forward which Malvern making really earned the respect of Kirchner. many friends and “Jalen is one of the few guys who take me up seriously on different memories, my plea for them to initiate conversation with me in Spanish,” Kirchner said. “He always wanted to practice and improve his and I owe a lot of Spanish speaking skills, in and out of class.” that to baseball.”

Wade was largely influenced to come here by his father’s own -Jalen Wade '17 childhood and education experience.

“My dad went to a school similar to Malvern in upstate New York, and he wanted me to have a similar experience,” he said.

“Also, my dad’s college coach’s wife worked at Malvern for many years, and she told us many great things about the school and the athletics.”

Anyone who knows Wade knows his love and aptitude for baseball. Perhaps even greater than his talent is the way he carries himself on the field. The best way to think about Jalen Wade is as mint chocolate chip ice cream: cool, calm, and collected on the outside but sweet on the inside.

“He’s a great kid. He goes on the field and puts in work,” teammate and senior baseball player Matt Wray said. “He never does any trash talking; he’s all business.

People still fear him but they definitely still respect him.”

A lot of Jalen’s favorite moments have been linked with his great athletic successes with Malvern baseball. “ Winning the Independent State Championship and winning the Inter-Ac have been great moments. My least favorite was when we lost the Independent State Championship last year,” he said. “I've enjoyed the past six years at Malvern making many friends and different memories, and I owe a lot of that to baseball.”

Wade’s athletic success got him recruited to play baseball at the University of Cincinnati. His hotline blinged one day and the coach was on the other end of the call, demonstrating real interest.

For t hose who don’t k now “Hotline Bling” is a song by Drake, Wade’s favorite artist.

“I’m looking forward to begin my next step in life and play baseball at the next level. The campus is really nice and I’m excited to get on campus and get the work started,” he said. “I’m majoring in communications there. My goal is to play baseball for a long time, and to own some sort of sports related company.”

Jalen may seem like your normal Malvern kid on the surface, but he is so different. Like so different.

He’s never been to Chipotle before.

“I’m surprised I haven’t been expelled yet,” he said. “Getting a Chipotle burrito bowl seems like a graduation requirement at Malvern.” ◊

E

Red hair, quarterback, caring. These words can only mean one thing: Tim Brogan.

Teddy Hawke ’20 CONTRIBUTOR reshman Timothy Brogan of Wayne came to Malvern this year as a freshman with others from St. Katharine of Siena.

Like many student-athletes at Malvern, Timothy Brogan is a kid who has a busy schedule who is involved in many activities in and out of school.

“My main sports are lacrosse and football,” Brogan said. “I definitely plan to continue playing football throughout high school.”

Coach and social studies teacher, Mr. Jeffrey Carroll, thinks Brogan has a future in high school football.

"He’s very “Oh yeah, Tim has potential in football. He’s just gotta hit interested in the the squat rack,” Carroll said. “He’s very smart, he gets the mental side of the game.” material and also As the starting quarterback for freshman football this year, cares about and Brogan plans to continue playing and hopefully start for Varsity takes a lot of pride eventually. In the past, Brogan has been greatly involved in athletics. in his work. He’s “I played lacrosse for Conestoga township, I played flag footone of my best ball from first to fourth grade at St. Katharine’s and tackle football students.” from sixth to eighth grade,” Brogan said.

Before Malvern, Brogan attended St. Katharine of Siena from -Mr. Jeffrey Carroll Kindergarten to eighth grade, where many of his friends who also attend Malvern went.

Freshman Keenan O’Connor and Brogan have gone to school together for nine years.

“In the end we’re always friends,” O’Connor said.

Brogan is equally as focused, respectful, and proud a student as he is a football player, according to Carroll.

“I enjoy having Tim very much in class and as a member of the football team,” Carroll said.

Brogan has a younger sister who is currently attending St. Katharine’s. He hopes to be a good role model and help her in athletic career.

“She’s 12 years old. She plays lacrosse, field hockey, and basketball. I’m taking it upon myself to teach her how to play goalie,” he said.

Brogan is unsure about what he wants to do for work in life but said he tries very hard in school.

“I want to go to a great college out of high school,” he said. “I don’t know what I want to be yet but business interests me, I feel like I could be a businessman.”

This goal, and any others set by Brogan, will be achievable with the work ethic that he has, according to Carroll “I think with his work ethic, Tim will be able to pursue whatever field he chooses,” Carroll said.

For leisure, Brogan likes to watch movies, listen to music, and play video games.

“I like to spend some time on my Xbox One with my friends,” Brogan said. “I like movies, my favorite movie is ‘Top Gun’.”

He likes TV but is not currently watching a show. He enjoys listening to music.

“I like TV, every now and then you get a show that just hooks you,” Brogan said. “I like listening to music, but I’m not much of an art guy.”

As for an instrument, Brogan does not play one but wishes he learned how to play the piano, saying it is an interesting skill to have.

“I don’t play an instrument; I wish I learned to play piano, but I guess there is still time for that,” he said.

How Brogan is seen by his friends and teachers, as a good person who’s talented and proud, does not seem all too different of a message. “[Brogan is] very conscientious, he’s a very good student. He’s very interested in the material and also cares about and takes a lot of pride in his work,” Carroll said. “He’s one of my best students.”

“Tim is very caring,” O’Connor said.◊

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The

Blackfriar Chronicle

Mike Hennigan ’18 shows potential on course and in classroom His teachers and coaches rave about his work ethic and his easygoing demeanor.

Dan Malloy ’18 CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER hether he’s on the golf course or in school, junior Mike Hennigan quietly excels.

He first began playing golf when he was 8th grade. His passion for the game still exists today.

“I golf a lot. I go to Concord Country Club. For [the Malvern golf team], it's Applebrook, White Manor, and Waynesborough,” Hennigan said.

Hennigan has been playing on the Malvern golf team since his freshman year. Mr. Joseph Redican has been his coach on the JV team for the past three years.

“He is excellent,” Redican said. “Not only is he skilled at the game and shows tremendous potential, but he really helps his teammates. Golf being an individual sport, it's not always easy to do.”

Redican said that Hennigan will always help his teammates whenever they need it.

“He’s helped a couple of guys who had balls that were hit off the fairway and people were looking for them and he went right to the spot and found it. Just little things like that really make you a good teammate,” Redican said.

Hennigan was the top golfer on the JV team this season. According to Redican, Hennigan averaged 41.2 strokes per 9 holes.

“This average would have him a high rated varsity golfer with 90% of the golf teams in the Tri-County area,” Redican said.

Hennigan actually played on the varsity team for one tournament last year against LaSalle High School and performed well according to Redican.

“I really see him having the ability and the potential to be a #1 varsity golfer. It is really up to him, and he can definitely do that,” he said.

Not only does Hennigan perform on the course, but he takes his academics very seriously. He always take time to see his teachers if he needs help.

“I spend a lot of time seeing teachers in my free time, (and) in study halls,” Hennigan said. “There’s a lot of face to face interactions.

When you are struggling, there are always people to help you. All the students are willing to help along with the teachers so you can keep your grades up and do well in the classroom.”

His favorite classes include Honors Pre-Calculus and Academic Economics.

“I like economics because there is a lot of interactions within the class and discussion and gets everyone involved and gets good arguments on controversies, which helps you learn about the topic more,” Hennigan said.

Academic Economics teacher and Dean of Faculty Coaching and Development, Mrs. Beverly Gordon had only positive things to say about him.

“I’d say that Mike is a reserved kid, so a little bit quiet,” Gordon said. “However, I know he is always thinking.”

Gordon pointed to a time when students in the class were tasked to imagine that they worked for a company, and their boss told them to make two changes to a product of their choosing to increase sales.

Hennigan thought of a rather practical product.

“The product he chose to think about was a desk,” Gordon said. “I thought that was really neat. Everyone was picking high end products and he decided that he couldn’t think of anything. But he was sitting in this desk and he thought it wasn’t very comfortable.”

Hennigan is interested in pursuing business in the future. Gordon thinks that he has the capability to do it.

“He’s one of those kids who is not pushy about his ideas. He just really has good ones. I think the combination of his personality and his ability to think about things in different ways would be a great combination for business,” Gordon said.

Outside of Malvern, Hennigan is very close with his family. He has one sister who attends Babson College. His hobbies include skiing, snowboarding, and going to the beach. He also is involved in the Outdoors Club.

Hennigan has taken advantage of Malvern while he was been here. “ I ’v e re a l ly enjoy e d my t i me here ,” Hennigan said. “I’ve enjoyed my experiences with the golf team and with the people I’ve met at Malvern, and I will be sad to leave.”◊

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April 2017

Page 15 > NICK LI, 12

based on my appearance is something I just can’t shake.

That is why my whole life I have looked to disprove those stereotypes. That is why my two proudest accomplishments are having my talent and hard work recognized in getting voted a captain on our varsity baseball team, and getting recruited to play Division III Baseball at Johns Hopkins University. Not only did I want to disprove those stereotypes, I wanted to prove myself.

Something that age has taught me is that

it’s hard to be proud of something that acts as a barrier, something that sets you apart. It’s even harder when it’s things that you cannot change, things that are a part of who you are, the same things that open the door to ridicule and judgement.

My work ethic, my achievements, my character, my family, and my life have only been possible due to my diversity. For that, I am extremely proud of the man I have become, the man standing before you today.◊

> JORDAN WRIGHT, 12

or what your parents do for a living. These traits are based on being in an environment where students are given a quality education and the proper tools to succeed, work hard, and pursue the desire to do well in school, allowing them to take action to achieve that goal.◊

> ZAMIR SHELTON, 13

and fully awaken my interest in diversity and inclusion.

Events like SDLC and SCHout made me feel more like a part of a community than I had anywhere else. The simple fact of seeing black people that are my age with experiences similar to mine made me feel more at ease than I did at my own school.

However, once it ended, I was back at Malvern, and I realized that if I ever want to feel like that again, we have to make Malvern a truly inclusive community.

In response to what I experienced at those events, I changed my perspective on things. I began to wear a black power fist that has spurred many opinions and questions from my classmates, but general approval from my teachers.

Sometimes, however, I feel like the teachers just go along with what I say because it’s easier for them than if they were to confront me on it.

I consider the first to be a critical piece of my identity, and wear it with pride every day.◊

> ANDY RITTER, 13

other students in our community who also struggle to feel like they belong. The Diversity Awareness Club and the ability to manage the organization this year has been a blessing. It has presented me with an opportunity and a platform to share my voice and my perspective. My story is my own, but the feelings and hardships are ones I share with countless others around me.

Although I have changed, not everything around me has changed as well. I’m still a victim of unfair criticisms, discrimination, and symbols of hate that remain. For example, just recently The Blackfriar Chronicle featured a note and photo about a swastika carved into the pew of our chapel, and from my perspective this instance did not receive the attention it would warrant anywhere else.

As a community, we cannot continue to sit by, failing to realize that being different is okay. Until everyone in the Malvern community feels they are respected and have a voice here on campus, instances such as these will remain as reminders of how much more we still have ahead of us.

Acts as cowardly as anonymously drawing swastikas doesn't devastate me as much as they used to. Instead, I feel bad for those who remain intolerant to opening up their minds and their arms to welcome and celebrate people's differences rather than shame them.

To be a true community, we need to reach out and extend a hand to the individuals who may not feel like they belong.◊

assumed to be unintelligent and lazy. These two stereotypes are amongst the most negative stereotypes about black people.

Finally, one of the most personally hurtful is the stereotype that black people are hostile and delinquent. I can’t count how many times in my life that I’ve been characterized as a criminal or a threat because of the color of my skin. Even at Malvern, I’ve had to earn the trust of my teachers and the school’s staff.

During my sophomore year, the Class of 2019 saw a huge increase in black students.

However, I saw no significant increase in racial tolerance and acceptance. An unnamed sophomore friend has told me that one of his teachers calls him by the name of the other black students in the class. That happened this current year, but other than that, there was no other significant information.

My junior year, which I'm about to complete, has brought me plenty of new opportunities and experiences. I started participating more in the Diversity Awareness Club, which gave me the opportunity to go to several conferences

attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Atlanta in December of 2016.

There, for the first time in a long time, I felt I could be honest about who I was. I didn’t have to pretend to fit in.

The conference for me was something I didn’t know I was looking for, but something I needed. For a group of over 1,500 students to create, in four days, a community where you felt like you belonged, could share your own experiences without judgement, and could receive the unconditional support of complete strangers was unimaginable.

Students my own age or younger were readily prepared with words of encouragement, helpful suggestions, and willingness to listen while making me feel valued and appreciated.

After leaving my brief experience in Atlanta, I came to realize the people at SDLC knew more about me than friends of mine I have had for years. Because of this feeling of trust and respect each person in attendance had for one another, in a short period of time, I was more willing to open up about my life and my ideologies than ever before.

Since SDLC, I felt like I have gone backwards, back to my freshman year self. The problem with an event like SDLC is that it ends. It is a protected space that isn't representative of the real world. Things go back to normal and you fall back into the same routines.

So where am I today? I realized was tired of this feeling that I didn’t have value.

I realized there was more I could be doing.

I needed to become an advocate– an ally to

April 2017

The

Page 16

Zhengguo Hao ’19 getting used to his new home At first Zhengguo was nervous to come to Malvern, but then he realized how great of a place Malvern truly is.

Garrett Hallinan ’19 REPORTER t is never easy to travel out of the country, let alone leave one continent to live in another.

However, when Zhengguo was in seventh grade he left China to come to the United States to find the right school.

“The belief in China is that you have to go to a good high school in order to get into a good college. Likewise, you have to go to the right middle school to go to a good high school. After I graduated from grade school, I decided to go to the U.S. to try something new,” Zhengguo said.

Zhengguo has only been a student in America for the past three years, yet he has spoken English since he was three years old.

"After I graduated “In China, you have to take English because it is part of the entrance exam and a big way to get into college,” Zhengguo said. from grade “At first I learned the alphabet, and once I moved into grade school, I decided school, I began speaking English inside and outside of school. to go to the US Here in the U.S., I have to know English to do my work.”

When Hao left China, he was not leaving any siblings behind to try something since he is an only child. However, he had to leave his Mom and new.”

Dad. “About twice a month, which is not that often, I use “WeChat”, which is similar to facetime, to stay in touch with my -Zhengguo Hao '19 parents,” he said.

Even though Zhengguo is away from his parents and his home country, he still gets a sense of home with other Malvern students who are from China.

Sophomore David Niu met Zhengguo at the Hershey Chocolate Factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania in August, right before the start of the school year.

“That is where our friendship began,” Niu said.

“We spent the day watching movies and taking a tour of the factory.”

One of the toughest courses sophomore year is Mr. Andrew Burke’s US History class. To prepare and collaborate, Zhengguo and David study together.

“We are both in the same class for US History,” David said. “Our thoughts match each other, we agree on similar ideas, and we study at a similar pace.”

This year, Zhengguo’s favorite teacher is Spanish teacher Mr. Jose Sanchez.

“Senor Sanchez is a great guy,” Hao said. “He makes us laugh, and his class is fairly easy.”

Since the first day of school, Sanchez noticed Zhengguo’s unique dedication.

“I have a lot of dedicated st udents,” Sa nchez sa id.

“However since day one, Zhengguo has paid attention and written down notes on what he has to do. This has showed me that he is dedicated to the subject.”

So far, Zhengguo’s favorite memory from Malvern came from the robotics club. “ We c reated a robot that could climb a rope. It never worked during the competitions, but when we showed it to our classmates at the Honors Assembly, it worked for the first time!”◊

I

Blackfriar Chronicle

Jack Rooney ’17 finds a new home in Malvern Rooney arrived at Malvern this year and has taken the senior experience by storm.

Michael Harrington ‘19 FRIAR LIFE EDITOR rowing up in Wayne, senior Jack Rooney lived right across from St. Katharine of Siena Elementary School. He attended elementary school there until 7th grade, then he transferred to St. Aloysius Academy in Bryn Mawr.

His family moved to Villanova for two years, and then settled in Newtown Square, where they currently live.

When he left Aloysius, he applied for Malvern and could have been a Friar if he wanted to for his freshman year, but he didn’t end up attending then. “I was accepted to Malvern out of 8th grade, but I decided I wanted to go to boarding school to try something different,” Rooney said.

After spending three years at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, he decided to take a leap and finish his high school career at Malvern.

“I wouldn’t take back any of the three years that I was there,” Rooney said. “But I always wanted to graduate with the guys I grew up with.”

G

He feels very good about the decision he made, since he has had a great year so far.

“I was like, why not give Malvern a shot, have a normal high school experience in a sense for a year and I’m so happy I made the decision.

Senior year has been unbelievable,” Rooney said. “In an academic sense and a social setting, no complaints at all. I’ve probably had the best year of my high school career.”

Rooney has enjoyed Malvern’s academics, especially through his theology teacher Mr. Larry Legner and health teacher Mr. Jay Schiller.

“I knew Mr. Legner early on because I went on a service trip to the Dominican Republic.

He’s one of the first guys I met at Malvern.

Mr. Legner is my man,” he said. “I did health with Mr. Schiller as a senior, and I was the only senior with a bunch of sophomores. So that was a good time… he’s a good guy.”

One of the things that he likes to occupy himself with is the NFL. Members of Rooney’s family have owned the Pittsburgh Steelers since the team’s inception in 1933, so Jack has always been interested in professional football.

However, he is not currently planning to make the Steelers legacy his own career.

“Although my family is in the business, I have no interest in going near it, only because it’s not what I truly love,” he said. “There is a difference between liking something and loving something.”

Some of Rooney’s other interests include the beach and real estate. His family spends their summers down in Avalon, New jersey, where he will also be staying this summer with ten other Malvern seniors.

His interest in real estate is something that Rooney considers part of his future. Once he gets to college, he is thinking about minoring in the field.

“Real estate is something I have always had a deep rooted interest in… I think it is so cool how apartments, condos, and houses are where memories are made and you have a chance to be apart of making someone’s dream a reality,” Rooney said.

When he arrived at Malvern, he already knew a good amount of people, including sophomore Matt Irvine.

“I went to grade school with him.

He came when I was in 4th grade and he was in 6th, but my dad and his dad actually went to Delaware with each other,” Irvine said.

Irvine describes Rooney as a “very outgoing person” and someone who “can make friends out of nowhere.”

“Sometimes he can get under your skin, but if you are in a bad mood he can make you laugh without a doubt,” he said.

Irvine has had many good memories with Rooney, but his favorite happened at Rooney’s eighth grade graduation party.

“I remember one time, it was his 8th grade graduation party. Since my dad was the football coach and [Rooney] played football, we were invited. I was the only 6th grader there, but he played basketball with me,” Irvine said.

Senior Dan Ford got to know Jack this year through their shared Ceramics I class.

According to him, Rooney is a really great guy.

“I feel like whenever he’s in the room, he is usually the center of attention, and people naturally congregate around him just because he’s so entertaining and a fun guy to be around,” Ford said. ◊

The

April 2017

Blackfriar Chronicle

Page 17

Busy Travis Camp ’22 has high expectations

Tim Lynch ’17: open book, open to positivity

From athletics to academics, Camp does it all.

We take a deeper look at Malvern MECO Leader Timothy Lynch and his story on how Malvern became his home away from home.

Joe Lister ’21 MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORTER fter spending only two years as a Malvernian, Travis Camp has made an impact.

Camp comes to Malvern from the town of Glenmoore, and says his parents were a big part of his decision to come to Malvern.

“They taught me a lot about hard work,” Camp said. “They really inspired me to come here.”

“I think they got me started [on coming to Malvern], and straight from there that’s where I wanted to go,” Camp said.

Camp says that his decision to come to Malvern is not one that he regrets. “I feel that this school’s done so much for me,” he said. “I just feel as if I’d be not as great of a person had I not come here.”

It hasn’t been just Camp’s parents that have pushed him “I want to be a MECO though, his siblings have also helped him along the road. “My sister helps me with schoolwork,” he said. “And my two brothers leader. I just think taught me how to play sports.” it’s a good experience As for his workload, Camp said that he uses the free time to help with college, given to him. ”I find it very useful to use community time and EL block,” he said. “If I have a test the next day, I’ll study for Malvern, and to help it the day before.” others.”

Camp says this method has left him the time to participate in baseball and basketball. For both sports, he plays for a travel -Travis Camp '22 team and for Malvern. As for baseball, he has high hopes for the upcoming season.

Camp also has his hopes set high goals for the Upper School. “I want to be a MECO leader,” he said. “I just think it’s a good experience to help with college, Malvern, and to help others.”

Camp said that Malvern’s brotherhood has really helped during his time at the school.

“I think it’s been a lot easier, knowing that there’s forty guys around you who you can talk to at any time,” he said. “They make me want to strive harder in sports and school.”

Seventh grade classmate Sonny Petricca said Camp helped him coming in as a Malvern student.

“He's really pushed me,” he said. “He's really helped me.”

Camp has also helped Petricca in academics and sports. “We worked together on a lot of stuff,” Petricca said. “We've been teammates since we were eight, and we've pushed each other.”

But outside of the classroom and off the field, is where Camp shines his best trait. “He's very nice,” Petricca said.

“He cares about you.”

Camp’s teachers see something in him also. Seventh Grade Dean Mr. Leo Kindon said that he got a good impression of who Camp was when he met Camp in September of 2016. “[He was a] very nice person,” Kindon said.

Since then Camp has lived up to that first encounter. “He’s been one of the leaders in the classroom,” Kindon said. “[He’s a] good student, always prepared, does his work, [and] one of the first one’s to have his hand up.”

Camp also showed his sense of brotherhood to Kindon when he received the Saint Augustine award in the first trimester. “He’s a pretty good guy,” Kindon said.

Camp is also someone of whom Kindon has high expectations. “I see him contributing in many ways, number one as being a leader and not a follower.”

Using a few words, Kindon believes that he summed up the Travis Camp he knows, “[He is] a wonderful young Augustinian scholar,” he said.◊

A

Patrick Ferraiolo ’17 SPORTS EDITOR enior Tim Lynch is a Malvern senior from Delaware County that strives to get the most out of his Malvern experience, and tries to live in the moment.

Throughout his time here at Malvern, Lynch has been fully involved in everything that Malvern strives to offer. He has participated in the Bowling Club, Catholic Athletes for Christ, Speak Up!, MECO Program, freshman baseball, water polo, and football.

“I am also an intramural stud,” Lynch said.

Part of his personality is that he is always looking for the kids that make him feel welcomed and respected.

“What makes me happy is being around people with posi“The first word that tive energy and good vibes,” Lynch said. “Whether that’s at a party on the weekend or at the lunch table at school. All I need comes to mind when to be happy is a good contagious laugh or smile to be around.”

I think about Lynch is But what makes Lynch so interesting to be around is that spirit. He brings an he is a genuine person with a deep passion for life.

“What makes me interesting is that when you meet me, incredible spirit and that is exactly what you are getting,” he said. “I like to think depth to the team." of myself as an open book for the most part. I do have a real weird side as well as most kids know.”

Mr. Andrew DiDomenico Outside the classroom, Lynch has multiple people he can count on to have his back, and has a great group of friends, including Student Council President Richard Heany.

“We were friends freshman year, but we really became great friends when we started working out together for football our sophomore year,” Heany said. “Since then, he has been one of my best friends at Malvern. We have had so many great memories together and he is truly like a brother to me.”

Inside the classroom, theology teacher Mr. Andrew DiDomenico has seen and appreciated all that Lynch does for Malvern and the MECO program as a whole.

“The first word that comes to mind when I think about Lynch is spirit,” he said. “He brings an incredible spirit and depth to the team. Whatever he gets into, he is putting in his entire heart.”

DiDomenico also said that he loved watching Lynch grow over the course of his senior year.

“I feel as though that with every conversation that I have had with him, there has always been a sense of him just being more grounded— which I believe is important in terms of leadership,” Didomenico said.

Also, Lynch’s family plays an exceptional role in his life.

“My family is a very funny and dysfunctional one,” Lynch said. “There are five of us, and we grew up in Newtown Square.”

As the second youngest of his family, Lynch is a constant believer in receiving and giving support to his family.

“We are very close and we know we have each others’ backs,” Lynch said. “I can not remember a time where I have not had support from my family.”

A certain struggle that has lead to Lynch’s growth throughout his high school career was rather an unfortunate accident during a football practice.

“In the beginning of junior year, I tore my ACL,” Lynch said. “I was really focused on football and was looking forward to a great season, then I was out for the year. It was hard for me to cope that because all the offseason work I had put in leading up to the year.”

But, according to Lynch, this turned out to be a tremendous event.

“It turned out to be a blessing because I realized football was not my calling, and that there is more to life than football,” Lynch said.◊

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April 2017

The

Page 18 > ADDICTION, 1

Blanche also spoke about the dangers of substance abuse earlier in life, developmental stages, and drug misinformation. According to Blanche, addiction is significantly more likely when people begin using substances before age 18.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance abuse states that nine out of ten people who abuse or are addicted to nicotine, alcohol or other drugs began using these substances before they were 18. People who began using addictive substances before age 15 are nearly seven times likelier to develop a substance problem than those who delay first use until age 21 or older.

Blanche also discussed the real opioid epidemic present in our region. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services, more Pennsylvania residents died of opioid overdoses than fatal car crashes in 2015. Every day, at least ten state residents die of opioid or heroin overdoses.

Blanche brought Tim Barnes as a volunteer guest speaker. Barnes, 28, who grew up in Paoli and attended Conestoga High School, shared his life experiences regarding substance abuse.

Barnes spoke about about his struggles of wanting to be liked and to always be the best, which led to a serious substance abuse problem. He said he first tried marijuana when he was 11, and his dependency on alcohol and drugs progressed through high school. According to Barnes, everyone was drinking, which just made it easier for him to do.

At the end of his senior year, he went to a treatment center, but this did not lead to recovery for him, nor did several other attempts to get help.

Barnes’s life turned a corner in December 2009, when he drove straight into a telephone pole after getting very drunk and high at a house party. He faced traumatic injuries, including a fracture to his C5 vertebrae. He can no longer run, jump, or play basketball like he used to, but he considers this accident his wake

up call.

After his treatment at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Center, Barnes went to college and graduated from West Chester University. Now he is working on his master’s degree, which is something he never dreamed of before his recovery.

He thinks of himself now as a contributing member of society, and a better person because of his recovery program.

Counselors who organized the assembly hoped to get across a clear message to the students. “The main thing we’re looking for is just to give you the information,” School Counselor Ms. Kelley Bittner said. “To arm you with the facts.”

Bittner arranged the assembly in collaboration with Associate Director of School Counseling Mrs. Ann Wuetig-Coia. Bittner said that getting Blanche as a speaker was lucky because “he is a leading expert in his field, not just in the area but in the country.”

After Barnes’s talk, Blanche ended with a question and answer period with just the students. He asked faculty to leave the room so students could ask candid questions.

“I thought the presentation went very well,” Hegarty said. “I really liked the question and answer period we had, and I also liked how the teachers respected us enough to leave the room and let us have an open discussion.”

Blanche was also pleased with the assembly. “The upper school was amazing, they really asked some great questions at the end and were really respectful,” he said.

“I was also really happy the staff trusted us to have a dialogue with you guys at the end.”

“I was extremely happy with the questions you guys asked,” Blanche said. “I could have kept going for another f ifteen minutes just on questions, really accurate and good questions.” ◊

> SUMMIT TRIPS, 1

as they reach the “Summit” of their Middle School experience as a capstone for their experience in the Middle School“I only wanted to take ten students, and there was so many that I ended up expanding it to thirteen,” he said. “I probably collected about twenty two applications.”

Even though Buscaglia had more students than he expected, he says that they’ll do less than he originally planned.

“We had grander plans,” he said. “But looking at how much time we had, we had to shrink them down.”

Buscaglia also said that judgement of who came on the trip and who didn’t was not based on their performance in Spanish class. “I think language doesn’t have to be the most important thing here,” he said. “I never put language as a criteria.”

Eighth grader Christian Curatolo says that he’s enthusiastic for the opportunities that Nicaragua offers.

“It’s going to be awesome,” he said. “I’m looking forward to connecting with new people and expanding my vocab in Spanish.”

The Nicaragua group will take several excursions, including one to the Apoyo Lake, which was formed in a drowned volcanic crater. “That will be fun,” Curatolo said.

Connecting with foreign students will be another experience that Curatolo is looking forward to. “I’d like to see what they do for fun,” he said.

Mrs. Lori Trexler is completing her first year of teaching at Malvern, and will be leading the students who are staying local for their Summit Trip experience.

“I think that’s it’s going to be a fun opportunity,” she said. “[It’s] a good way to end the year.”

Trexler says that the students will have many experiences during their one week timeline.

“We’re going to canoe down the Brandywine river, we are going to a Blue Rocks game,” she said. “And the other three days are going to be spent here on campus.”

Those days on campus will be spent doing several activities, including making ice cream to figure out the best process, day hosting elementary school students from St. Patrick’s to teach them how to make ice cream, and on Friday the completion of a reflective art project.

Many of these activities, Trexler said, lead back to

the eighth grade’s theme of economy and consumption.

“The idea of going to see a minor league team was to look at locations of minor league teams and how minor league teams support the local economy,” she said.

Owen Vietmeier ’21 is excited about his local summit experience. “I expect it to be fun,” he said. “I’m looking forward to ending the school year.”

Vietmeier says that he thinks the Summit experience will be a positive note to end the year on, but he doesn’t care about its progression into the Upper School.

“It won’t affect [me],” he said.

Ninth grade history teacher Mr. Jeffery Carroll is not a part of the Eighth Grade Academy, but is still running the trip to Cazenovia. “I was going to be a part of the eighth grade team before some changes in the upper school had me move up,” he said.

“When we were talking the eighth grade trips, it came up that my friend runs a farm in Cazenovia, New York,” he said. “I was a natural fit to plan and help lead that trip. The farm seemed like a good fit since [the eighth grade] has a background in sustainability and technology.”

According to Carroll, students will be helping out on the farm in many ways.“We’ll be working in vegetable fields, doing some animal maintenance, [and] preparing for things to be sold to customers.” he said.

“I think the students will get a first hand experience of the things that [they’ve] seen through books and videos and discussions so far.”

Carroll said that he’s already gotten that experience.

“I lived there for a year, so I worked with my friend there, and I go back as much as I can.”

Quinn Hall ’21 is going on the Cazenovia trip, and he too is excited. “Since I’m going with my friends I think it’ll be fun. It [will] be a good time to connect with my Malvern brothers,” he said.

Carroll said that if summit trips happen next year, he hopes Cazenovia will return to the list.

“We’re going to see how this goes, get your feedback on it, and see what we need to improve,” he said. ◊

Blackfriar Chronicle

Teacher of the Issue: Mr. Andrew DiDomenico ’02 Malvern alum turned teacher shares a glimpse into his life and career.

Aidan Gallary ’20 CONTRIBUTOR fter graduating from Malvern Prep and then Villanova Universit y, Mr. Andrew “DiDom” DiDomenico, ’02 decided to become a teacher and pursue teaching theology.

Since he first stepped foot on Malvern’s campus, DiDomenico has never left the Augustinian community. After graduating from Malvern in 20 02 he went on Villanova University. The year after college, he served as an Augustinian volunteer at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago, where he taught and worked in campus ministry.

“It was there (St. R ita’s in Chicago) that I figured out that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” DiDomenico said.

It was late in college before DiDomenico gave any serious thought to becoming a teacher.

“I had never thought for a second that I would be teacher when I was at Malvern, and it wasn't until my junior or senior year in college when I started to give some thought as an occupation for me,” he said.

In addition to teaching Moral T heolog y a nd S oc ia l Just ice, DiDomenico is the co-director of MECO (Malvernians Encountering Christ in Others), the senior retreat organized three times each year.

“I love working with the eleven MECO leaders who help to run each weekend, and I love the fact that the whole program is centered around Christ,” DiDomenico said.

“It's there to help our seniors develop their friendships, faith, and their love of Jesus.”

Many students and alumni consider the MECO retreats as the highlight of their Malvern experience.

“He really makes you interested in the Catholic faith. The work he

A

MR. ANDREW DIDOMENICO / A. GALLARY

puts in to make MECO happen in arguably the best thing he does for the school, and it is definitely my favorite Malvern experience,” senior Andrew Paris said.

DiDomenico says that he really enjoys working with the students on MECO. “It really brings the class together, and I'm glad I can be a part of it,” he said.

The students enjoy working with him just as much.

“I really like him as a teacher, especially because of the fact that he was a Malvern student himself, he gets what being a Malvern student is like,” senior Kyle Hegarty said. ◊

Want to reach OUR AUdIENCE? is selling ads! contact Us at friarslantern @malvernprep.org to learn more & get rates.

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The

April 2017

Blackfriar Chronicle

Page 19

Alumnus of the Issue: EJ Caterson '92 Surgeon returned to Malvern on April 3 to speak to students about his experiences.

D

is leading a team of people,” he said.

“That team of people is looking at you from; one, a medical knowledge perspective; two, for efficiency to move a patient through a operation and through their hospital stay. You sort of wear many hats,” Caterson said. “In addition to that, there’s a whole team of people such as your anesthesia colleagues and your nursing colleagues who are working to the best of their abilities in their roles, so you need to manage all of that together.”

Caterson said that he decided that he wanted to go into medicine while in biology class at Malvern, even though science was not his favorite subject.

“I loved history. I loved Mr. McGuire’s class.I loved the period of time where we moved through World War I,” he said.

Even though Caterson took Spanish while at Malvern, he said that one of the friars on campus met with him several times a week to teach him Russian. “[Fr. Edson Wood] would stay after school and teach me Russian. I was officially in the Spanish class, but I wanted to learn Russian as well,” Caterson said. “There would be a window after the end of school and before sports started, and in that 30 minutes I would sit with him and he would teach me Russian.”

While not in class, Caterson participated in cross country, indoor track, and baseball while at Malvern. “Baseball was my love. I played shortstop here and I was lucky enough to play shortstop at Villanova. I wasn’t very good at the college level, I was alright at [baseball in] high school, but not in college.”

Caterson says that some of his experiences at Malvern mirror his experiences as a surgeon.

“I think what was exceptional was that I was lucky enough to be in a lot of the honors programs and top sections,” he said. “We referred to ourselves as the nerd herd, and in that sense I really enjoyed the camaraderie of people who were interested in academic pursuits, and interested in learning. I still exist in a field in which intellectual curiosity is valued, continued self-learning is valued, and all of those things had roots in my beginnings at Malvern.”

Caterson said that he hopes Malvern students

maximize their time at the school. “That is, to really understand that this place exists to structure you, as an individual, to become a better person, and to maximize your ability to be strong academically, to excel in college,” he said, “But moreover to excel in life, and that is to be a person of character.”

Caterson said that while at Malvern he learned an important lesson in responsibility. “I came to school and got a call from my dad that my grandmother had had a stroke. My dad came and picked me up. I left class and went to see her, and I missed a chemistry test that day,” he said.

“When I came back to class, Mr. Driscoll handed me a manila envelope with the test in it and said, ‘give yourself exactly 50 minutes, take the test, I trust you, put it back in the envelope and seal it,’” Caterson said. “That’s what I think is special about Malvern. I had a gentleman put faith in me in a difficult time, but more importantly treat me like an adult, and that is a very powerful thing. “ “It was probably the first time ever that I was treated as a responsible individual,” he said. “As a result of being given that responsibility, I was not going to look at my chemistry book, I was going to use exactly 50 minutes, and I was going to follow the instructions given to me. There’s a very powerful lesson in that.”

Caterson advised that students should follow their passion in life. “I’ve seen countless times, especially in medicine, people pursue things because they think it’s a good way to go,” he said. “It doesn’t matter, follow your passion.”

For students thinking of medicine as a career, Caterson encouraged patience.

“It’s a long road, and it’s a long term game.

Don’t be in a hurry to get there, because with every effort and every experience, you’re going to learn something about yourself,” he said.

“Medicine in particular is about connecting with somebody at a human level, and so any experience you have in your own life makes you better able to be connected to other people.” ◊

E. ROWLEY

Ethan Rowley ’17 MANAGING EDITOR, PRINT r. EJ Caterson ’92, a reconstructive plastic surgeon, has performed many operations like the facial and limb transplants he shared in his presentation. Yet those types of operations don’t comprise the majority of his work.

“A large part of my practice is cancer reconstruction for people who have sarcoma, which is when large tumors have to be taken out of the body,” he said. “I do my best to put them back together.”

Caterson is the Director of Craniofacial Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

“I’m a plastic and craniofacial surgeon. I try to bring people back to health who have devastating craniofacial injury,” Caterson said.

Caterson said that he usually has twelve hour workdays, and that the type of work he does on a given day varies.

“Usually I get up at about 5:30, get to work at 6:30, usually work until 6, [and I] get home about 6:30,” he said.

Caterson described his work as a 24/7 commitment, more than a job. “[I] usually [work] five days a week, and then you’re always around Saturday if you’re in town. Basically you’re always on call, meaning if one of your patients has a problem, you take care of it,” he said.

Caterson said that one of his favorite parts of being a surgeon is the problem solving work that it requires.

“You are constantly in a scenario where you’re trying to solve a problem. That problem may be a unique problem, you may have seen variations of it before, but maybe you’ve never actually done that operation,” he said. “Yet you have to use your knowledge base and move forward in a creative way or an innovative way sometimes, based in principle.”

Caterson said that he also takes comfort in knowing that he helps improve the lives of his patients significantly.

“I have one patient who had no nose. I did seven operations on him, and now he has a nose,” he said. “It’s the patient like that, you bring them from a devastating position (he had no nose from cancer) to where he will go by you on the street and look normal.

There’s great comfort in that, and it’s a lot of fun to be a partner for someone in that process.”

Caterson also said that being a surgeon involves more than just medical knowledge and ability. “Most people think of the work of a surgeon, which is medical. But part of being a surgeon

PERSPECTIVE

In run down headquarters, Boston Globe journalists still thriving

Over spring break, I toured the Boston Globe. What I realized when I was there was pretty eye opening.

Eric McLaughlin ’18 SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR was on the college visit trip to Boston that many Malvern juniors make every year. To get out of another info session and campus tour, my Dad scheduled for us to meet with his friend from college and Boston Globe reporter, Kevin Cullen.

Cullen has been at the Globe for over 20 years. He covered Whitey Bulger for the Globe when he was still in Boston, and wrote the book “Whitey,” which then became the movie “Black Mass” starring Johnny Depp.

Cullen also was the lead reporter on the Boston Marathon bombers in 2013 throughout their trial. He has also worked on a number of different stories while at the Globe, winning a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage on the childmolestation cover up by the Catholic Church that was the basis for the the movie “Spotlight.”

We first arrived to the only new-looking part of the building, the lobby, where we met Cullen. He mentioned that we chose the worst timing possible because it had just been announced that the Globe did not win any Pulitzer Prize awards for the first time in many years.

As soon as you walked out of the lobby,

I

everything seemed broken and run down. The escalator was broken, the floors were stained from leaks in the ceiling, and the ground squeaked with every step you took.

This is probably why the Globe is moving further into downtown Boston, but the building seemed like it had been that way for many years.

What struck me was how empty the cavernous building seemed. The classified ads room that once had 50 staff working in it now had no one.

Cullen said that the company has lost a lot of money because of how people now read the news on their phones, tablets, and computers.

They use to receive most of their profits from advertisements, and now they can not sell the same number of ads.

Cullen said, however, that newspaper readership has never been higher than now. News can be read from anywhere in the country, anytime you want– but the newspapers are not making profits from the increased readership.

Even with this decrease in funding and profits, the journalists still working at the Globe seemed perfectly happy, saying that they have never worked a day in their life.

One of the coolest things I learned from

A VISIT WITH BOSTON GLOBE REPORTER KEVIN CULLEN / E. MCLAUGHLIN

Cullen was when he explained one of the columns he just wrote about Jimmy Breslin, a columnist for the New York Daily News who recently passed away.

Cullen explained how every good reporter should look up to Breslin and should always be thinking WWJD (“what would Jimmy do”).

He explained how Breslin would often cover the story that no one else saw.

When JFK was shot and every reporter in the world was interviewing the police, secret service, and congressmen, Breslin wrote a story about the man who dug JFK’s grave for $3.01,

Clifton Pollard.

I think that this resembles what we tried to do in this month’s issue of the BFC. We decided not to do profiles on the varsity football captain, student council president, or the star lacrosse player– but instead to focus on students whose stories might otherwise not be told.

The brotherhood includes ever yone at Malvern. From the gravedigger to the President, journalism has taught me that everyone has has a story.◊

April 2017 SPORTS

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Blackfriar Chronicle

AAU is more than just an organization. To some, it is a business. very beneficial.

Patrick Ferraiolo ’17 high level programs will start seeing that and say that ‘We don’t SPORTS EDITOR want to see kids wasting their time with a high school program.

“The pros are definitely getting a lot of exposure just by going very year, Malvern Prep students and other students on to tournaments, showcases and camps,” senior baseball player We only want them to work out in our program.’ If our society the Main Line are actively involved in Amateur Athletic Matthew Daller said. does not do something about it, you are basically going to take Union (AAU) programs. But more and more, Malvern Daller is committed to play baseball next year at the away the whole part of high school athletics.”

A way to fix this problem, according to Ruch, is to have two athletes’ involvement in these programs are at the cost of Malvern University of Rhode Island. “When you are with the AAU team, athletics. you do not really need to find the showcases. The AAU program separate schedules: one for high school and one for AAU, so that According to the AAU’s mission statement, the organiza- brings it to you,” he said. coaches can still scout their players and kids can play for their Coach DeBarberie agrees that AAU has had an invisibility high school teams without any overlap. He used the hockey team tion strives “to offer amateur sports programs through a volunteer base for all people to have the physical, mental, and moral effect on high school baseball. as an example.

“In hockey, the high school season starts from November to development of amateur athletes and to “I’m not sure that it is at the cost of promote good sportsmanship and good high school,” DeBarberie said. “But what March,” Ruch said. “Throughout that whole time, you still have citizenship.” it does, from a high school perspective, is club teams going. We have instances where we can not play games MR. KURT RUCH According to its website, the AAU that we have become almost obsolete in on certain weekends, or go into a game where we have key players DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS “AAU people are in it for has had around 700,000 athletes and terms of people’s thoughts on developing missing due to their travel teams. There are times where kids do money– it is business to them.

150,000 volunteers. It has helped create players.” not go out for fall sports because they are playing fall baseball.

We are in it for an education." jobs, careers, and high quality play for However, DeBarberie believes that This can also be seen with our lacrosse team and other teams.”

DeBarberie and Ruch realize what the effect of playing the years. But there are some aspects of AAU high school coaches still play a role in the Programs which can benefit colleges at development of players that propel them same sport year round can have on a player and how it is becomto the AAU level. the expense of high school sports– including more and more common. ing Malvern.

“My position is that the AAU teams have been great for being “I would rather have kids play other sports, and I do not think “Let’s talk historically about AAU, because I think that is seen, but they do not really practice like we practice. Our high that you can concentrate 12 months a year on one sport. It is not important to the whole conversation,” Athletic Director Kurt school coaches are playing two games a week, and practicing on good for you emotionally and it is not good for you physically,” Ruch said. the off days. We are actually preparing them for their summer DeBarberie said. “We try to get as many kids as we can in our Ruch has been coaching high school sports since 1989, and AAU team,” DeBarberie said. “I firmly believe that we, as high program who are multi-sport athletes. I think in high school, back then, the AAU in all sports was not officially around. school coaches, still have an opportunity to develop players— not you need to be a multi-sport athlete, and to try everything you According to Ruch, in the past 20 years, the AAU Program has necessarily the best players. I am talking about the guys who are possibly can.” grown substantially. not at that upper echelon level.”

“When I grew up, you had kids that were three and four “In the 1990’s you started to see the change, where people One of the main effects of the AAU program is that it has sport athletes in high school– and that meant something– there started to put together AAU Basketball. This was only for the changed the whole recruiting process. were special awards for those kids,” Ruch MR. JOSEPH high level, really good players, and they started to play on these “The colleges now are having their said. “Now, you are lucky to get a kid who DEBARBERIE own events on the weekends. You pay ‘all-star teams’ and they would play year round,” Ruch said. “That plays two sports, and even that second HEAD BASEBALL COACH, started to trickle down, and baseball kids began to do this, and them to get in front of their coaching MONSIGNOR BONNOR H.S. sport, he is hit or miss playing it.” so far and so forth.” staff, and they are able to evaluate every Another aspect with AAU and club "What it does, from a high school perspective, is that we Mr. Joseph DeBarberie, head baseball coach at Monsignor single one of those kids who come to their teams Ruch cited is that the overuse of have become almost obsolete Bonner High School, has also seen an increase in AAU programs. school.” Ruch said. “And they are making kids has caused them to burn out and in terms of people’s thoughts on developing players."

“The AAU programs have grown tremendously because other money off of it.” result in getting injured. people, including parents, decided they wanted their kids to be According to Ruch, all of this boils “There are kids with more elbow surinvolved in the AAU programs because they felt that was the best down to the reality of the situation. geries, shoulder issues, more back problems because all they are doing is playing one sport year round.” Ruch said. “They are not opportunity for them to get to college and be seen,” DeBarberie “The business aspect of recruiting, colleges, and making said. money has changed the whole outlook on how everything is getting the different sports to develop their muscles and abilities In the past five to eight years, the AAU programs have gained being run,” Ruch said. and parts of their athleticism.”

Also, due to the exposure of the AAU and club teams, it is a reputation as being a popularity contest, where there is a race Being an AAU coach has also made older coaches become at the cost of the high school. to be on the better team. less popular with high school baseball teams.

“One of the main things that is changing [is that] there are “Now, it is a ‘free-agent market’, you see parents moving “More and more schools are hiring younger coaches that are their kids to other teams so that their son can get the spotlight,” club teams that limit their kids from playing high school sports,” involved in AAU programs because then their schools are going Ruch said.

Ruch said. “These kids are heavily talented at the national level, to be able to have a better chance of coming to their school,” but because they do not play in high school because it would go Some of the benefits that the AAU does provide is that it DeBarberie said. “Schools are not going to hire a 50 to 60 year against their AAU or club teams.” old coach.” allows college coaches to find players easily. Instead of following high school teams, they follow AAU teams.

This is seen in soccer teams, but not in sports such as baseball.

According to Ruch, one of the main differences between “The main recruiting time for colBut AAU still has its effects on the team. these two programs is that they do not have the same philosophy. lege coaches nowadays is during AAU “[AAU Baseball] does not really hurt One that is centered around money, and the other that is centered tournaments,” Ruch said. “They can go to our team during the year,” DeBarberie around shaping a kid in all aspects. a tournament, watch 60 different teams said. “Sometimes, what we find is that “AAU people are in it for money– it is business to them,” in a given weekend, and get information we may be teaching a certain way to Ruch said. “We are in it for an education. We want to shape a kid on 300 kids rather than going from high play the game, and sometimes we hear for all aspects, from the academics, to the athletics, to the arts, school to high school, day by day, missing pushback from the players who say ‘Well, where one of these AAU programs only care about it getting a out on kids.” this is what my AAU coach told me.’ In check, putting that kid into a college, so they could go out and This can be seen as either a positive that respect, you just have to make them recruit the next kid.” www.espn.com It is important to realize that AAU gets in the way of high or a negative, depending on perspective. aware that this is our program and this school sports, just as much as high school sports gets in the way “If I am a college coach, I am loving is how we are going to do it.”

Daller also cited that AAU and high school seasons do not the AAU because I can get more bang for my buck. I can see more of AAU. It is all in the manner of what side you are on which kids, more games, and get be able to connect with more people.” conflict with each other. determines your stance.

But, Ruch on the other hand sees this becoming a problem Ruch said. “From the high school’s standpoint, their season is “I am not going to sit here and say that all of them do not in the future. not in the spotlight anymore.” care, but it is a business. At the end of the day, they are getting For players, however, being exposed to more coaches can be “Soccer is just the first wave,” Ruch said. “Because now, other > PAGE 21

E

$20 Million+ Amount generated by AAU-Sanctioned National Tournaments Annually

Aquatics Youth Diving Swimming Water Polo Badminton Baseball

Basketball Boys' Girls' Men's Women's Baton Twirling Bowling

AAU APPROVED Sports Cheerleading Futsal Hockey Fishing Floorball Golf Chinese Martial Arts/ Football Ice Kung Fu Flag Gymnastics Inline Tackle Cricket Gymnastics Roller Seven-on-Seven Freestyle Dance Judo Football Cheer Field Hockey Jump Rope

Karate Lacrosse Soccer Softball Sport Stacking

Strength Sports Taekwondo Volleyball Powerlifting Track and Field Wrestling Weighlifting Cross Country Surfing Multi-Events Source: Track and Field Table Tennis Codebook www.aausports.org Trampoline/Tumbling Target Shooting

The

April 2017

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> AAU SPORTS, 20

a check. This is a full time job for some of these people. All they are doing is taking that check, playing that team, and going out and doing a year long program,” Ruch said. “Since I am a teacher, I am in the business of being in school, so all I care about is the academic, athletic side, so they can say the same thing about me and reverse it. Now, the guys that are coaching those AAU programs still have a care about their players’ education.”

According to DeBarberie, parents have started to play a bigger role in the baseball aspect of the AAU organization.

“Now, what has happened is the parents and the people involved with the middle level players said ‘Let’s start our own AAU team, and we will do the same thing as the other AAU teams.’” DeBarberie said. “With this, the AAU teams have started to become watered down. There are a lot of AAU teams out there that are not at the level of quality of those other programs.”

Ruch also believes that parents play a key role in AAU. “Parents think that this is a golden ticket to college,” Ruch said.

That ticket does come at a cost. For example, AAU Basketball can cost up to $4,000 per year without the cost of transportation, hotels, food, and other appliances.

But how likely are those odds for college athletics? After the 2014-15 season, the NCAA released a chart which compared the probability of playing college sports after playing sports in high school. The highest percentage was 24.1%, for women’s ice hockey players. The next two highest were 12.3% and 12.9%, for men’s and women’s lacrosse, respectively.

"The AAU costs money,” DeBarberie said. “It costs a lot of money. We try to direct our players to go to a showcase at a college where you can pay a smaller amount of money to be seen by 20 to 30 coaches at that college. That is much more cost effective than maybe spending the whole summer traveling around playing on a AAU team.”

Ruch also believes that the amount of money spent on the AAU programs is excessive.

“What should you be focusing your money on?” Ruch said. “In reality, sports are a great outlet, but let’s focus on the academics. Let’s make sure that our kid is getting a really good education– put your money into those types of program, instead of worrying about AAU year round sports. Also, the really talented kids are going to be found. LeBron James was going to be found– he did not have to play on a travel team. If parents really looked at what they were spending, it gets to be ‘What are we doing?’”

From a player’s point of view, Daller also sees that AAU can be costly if you do not know what you are doing.

“It is really expensive,” Daller said. “But as long as you are not going to worthless showcases and tournaments, it is worth it in the end because you will find the right school for you.”

Despite all of this, Ruch said there should be a way for each program to coexist without stepping on the toes of the other.

For AAU Baseball, this is not as much of a problem. AAU teams have already scheduled their seasons for after high school seasons.

“The first time Rhode Island saw me was at a Malvern game,” Daller said. “They were able to see me play in the summer for my AAU team. I do not think that if I played AAU baseball or not it would have changed anything, just because if they saw me once, they would have offered me.”

The bottom line is that Ruch believes that AAU programs are the problem of the future.

“This monster is one of our big issues in society right now, about what we are doing with youth sports, high school sports, and sports in general,” Ruch said. ◊

Division I lacrosse coaches can no longer communicate with underclassmen players, having a big impact on both committed and uncommitted players.

Henry Malone ’17 SPORTS EDITOR n April 14, the NCAA adopted a joint proposal for both men’s and women’s college lacrosse restricting Division I coaches from having any contact with prospective recruits until September 1 of their junior year.

Many Malvern lacrosse players have committed to play Division I lacrosse in college, so this proposal definitely has an impact on future college athletes. A recent trend towards early recruiting led to non-binding verbal commitments made by players before they played their first high school game, according to USLacrosse Magazine.

T he new r u le means that Division MR. JOHN MCEVOY I colleges may not Head Lacrosse Coach ma ke of f-ca mpus “My gut says it’s a good contact w ith st uthing. It’s the old way of dents before junior doing things.” year. They may not reach out through telephone calls, social media or unofficial campus visits. Club and high school coaches also may not circumvent these rules by communicating colleges’ verbal offers to students, according to a Q&A published in Long Island Newsday.

Head lacrosse coach Mr. John McEvoy believes that this rule is good news for both students and colleges. “My gut says it’s a good thing,” he said. “It’s the old way of doing things.”

Prior to this rule, some schools would pounce on underclassmen players as soon as possible to try and get them before another college felt comfortable approaching the student.

“I think the college coaches will be happy about it because now [colleges are] on an equal playing field. I think that’s what they're looking to accomplish,” McEvoy said.

However, McEvoy is still worried that this new proposal may not be as strong as it needs to be. “All that said, that’s only if these rules are solid and there’s no two ways around it and if they are enforced,” he said.

McEvoy also is concerned with how the NCAA will handle underclassmen who aren’t juniors yet who have already verbally committed.

“There’s a lot of those kids out there,” McEvoy said. “No one can talk to each other? That’s kind of strange.”

Athletic Director Kurt Ruch agrees with McEvoy’s point of view. “I think it’s a great thing for schools,” Ruch said. “I would expect that other sports will follow.”

Ruc h b el ie ve s that the new rule will eliminate one MIKE FAY '17

O

University of Notre Dame '21

Staff Recognition TOMMY PERO '17 Runner-up, National Student Journalist of the Year Journalism Education Association

Pennsylvania News Media Association Keystone Press Awards First Place / Ongoing News Coverage Head of School Transition / Staff​

Pennsylvania Press Club High School Communications Contest

EDITORIAL - 2nd Place – Staff OPINION - 1st Place – Tommy Pero NEWS STORY First Place / Sports Story Pennsylvania Student Journalist of the Year 1st Place – Brian Szipszky Pennsylvania School Press Association Committing to Crew / Eric McLaughlin ’18 3rd Place – Jack McClatchy FEATURE STORY Second Place / Feature Story 1st Place – Patrick Ferraiolo + Ben Yankelitis Class of 2020 Survey / Staff 2nd Place – Tommy Pero + Tyler Pizzico National Aspiring Young Journalist Honorable Mention – Tyler Pizzico + Tommy Pero Journalism Education Association Second Place / Personality Profile SPORTS STORY Commitment / Pat Ferraiolo ’17, Ben Yankelitis ’16 1st Place – Eric McLaughlin GRAPHICS/PHOTO ILLUSTRATION Superior Rating, Sports Writing Second Place / Columnist 3rd Place – Chase Bennett, Jake Caulfield National Scholastic Press Assocation Jack McClatchy ’17 SINGLE PAGE LAYOUT Write-Offs - Seattle, WA 1st Place – Ethan Rowley, Chase Bennett

JOE LISTER '21

ERIC MCLAUGHLIN '18

college from having “I’d give [coaches] a call an advantage over every couple of weeks another, and the stu- or so just to check in and build the relationship that dent athletes will get we started early on in my more of an opportu- high school career.” nity to grow and get acclimated to high school sports.

“It kind of balances the playing field,” Ruch said. “It gives [the players] more of an opportunity to get their feet wet and establish themselves.”

Senior lacrosse player Mike Fay committed to Notre Dame University for lacrosse before his sophomore year. He said his experience would have changed a lot had this rule been in place then.

“It would’ve been completely different,” Fay said. “I wouldn’t have been able to talk to the coaches at all.”

During his recruiting process, Fay said he was in constant communication with his coaches.

“I talked to them a lot before and during the process to get

> PAGE 22

April 2017

The

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Athlete of the Issue: Andrew Clark ’17

> NCAA LACROSSE, 21

As Clark begins to see the end of his Malvern Lacrosse days, he looks back on his history with the sport. in the season to win big games and to win a Garrett Hallinan ’19 REPORTER championship,” Clark said.

Play ing for Ma lvern A teammate and close Lacrosse is like a job,” friend to Clark, senior Alex “I think that there Senior Alex Reber said.

Reber, seems to have a grip on is something “With practices and games what this “special something” is special about this Monday through Saturday eveabout their team. team that will ryone on the team has to work “We have really good talhelp us later in the hard until the season is over.” ent and team chemistry,” Reber season to win big “It is important to practice said. “In addition to that, the games and to win a seniors have done a good job when no one else is looking. championship." in stepping into the leaderBecause of Malvern Lacrosse, I have become more dedicated ship role. It is our job to lead -Andrew Clark '17 and more motivated on and off the younger guys and get them the field,” senior Andrew Clark ready for when they are the said. leaders of the team.”

In his third season on varsity, Clark Next year, Clark will be taking was announced the starting goalie at the his gifts and talents to play lacrosse beginning of the season. at Christopher Newport University (CNU) in Virginia.

“Everything Andrew has achieved,” Head Coach Mr. John McEvoy said, “CNU’s program is on the rise,” “he has had to work really hard for. He McEvoy said. “It is a newer promade his bones the hard way, and I gram with some good coaches and am very proud of him for that.” they are willing to invest in it.”

Since Clark’s sixth grade McEvoy believes that year, he has played goalie.

Cla rk w i l l have to work hard there the However, that was not same way he has at always the case.

“At f irst I started Malvern. off playing offense, “Clark is going which was attack, but there with a lot more I was not very good at in his bag of experiit,” Clark said. “Some ences than most of nights, I would play the kids are coming hockey goalie against with,” McEvoy said. my brother down in “Andrew is a really our basement, and I good kid, and I think was pretty good with that he will do really well there.” that. I figured I should tr y playing lacrosse What stands out goalie, and it has worked the most to Reber about out well.”

Clark is his motivation to Growing up, Clark be great. pl ayed for C ovent r y “ Ev e r y d a y o n t h e L a c ro s s e i n Che s te r lacrosse field, Clark works really hard. He hates missSprings. After leaving for Malvern in eighth grade, ing practice, and he wants to Clark played for his new get better all the time which is school, Fusion Lacrosse unique,” Reber said.

C l u b , a n d Fr e e d o m Off the field, Clark represents Lacrosse.

Malvern Lacrosse to the best of Clark has not won his ability. a championship in a “It is important to be respectMalvern uniform, yet he ful and responsible towards eveis confident that this will ryone,” Clark said. “Making sure be the year.

MP Lacrosse holds a great name “I think that there and always thinking about that is something special leadership role will only bring sucabout this team that cess.” ◊ will help us later

“

to know them better, and seeing if it was the right fit for me,” he said. “From then I’d give them a call every couple of weeks or so just to check in and build the relationship that we started early on in my high school career.”

With this new rule in place, Fay believes that more of the responsibility to get recruited will now be put on the players.

“So, up until your junior year, from what it looks like, it’s basically just up to you and how you play and how you carry yourself [to get recruited].”

An important impact to consider, however, is how the new rule will affect multisport athletes. With the commitment rush expected to occur following Sept 1, several athletes may forgo playing fall and winter sports to visit colleges.

Sophomore lacrosse and basketball player Donnie Gayhardt, however, does not think this will pose a problem for him.

“For my situation I don’t think I’ll have to be put in that position,” Gayhardt said. “I

Blackfriar Chronicle

have a really good club coach who can connect me [with coaches].”

Gayhardt hopes to play lacrosse in college and hopes that McEvoy will build connections with interested coaches prior to the recruiting start date.

“Coach McEvoy will talk to the coaches for me, even though I can’t directly speak to them,” Gayhardt said. “So I think I’ll already have those connections set up.”

Gayhardt will try to visit schools during the fall, leaving himself open to play basketball as well as get recruited to play Division I lacrosse.

“We’re thrilled about the outcome and thankful for the NCAA Division I Council’s wisdom in approving such an important proposal,” US Lacrosse CEO Steve Stenersen said in a statement published in US Lacrosse magazine. “While no legislation is perfect, this decision represents a significant shift toward the best interests of young prospective student-athletes, their parents and the culture of our sport.” ◊

More features online at

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GREETINGS FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST • Eight members of The Blackfriar Chronicle staff traveled to Seattle, WA April 5-8 for the National High School Journalism Convention, for three busy days of presentations, workshops, and training.

Staff delivered a presentation titled 'From Extracurricular to Extraordinary,' describing strategies for working as a journalism staff outside of the classroom. A four-member team competed in the National Journalism Quiz Bowl all the way through the final four round, where they lost by a single point. Staff made connections with other student journalists from all over the U.S. and international guests from China. The trip closed out with a trip to the Space Needle. / T. PERO

Blackfriar Chronicle

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MC

MEDIA+CULTURE

The

April 2017

“Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” Recent Malvern substitute an interactive, memorable experience teacher showcases work at Malvern gave me the amazing chance to experience one of the highest rated shows Ceramic Innovations Exhibit currently running on Broadway.

Aidan White REPORTER his March, Malvern’s spring Broadway trip went to see “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.” All students who signed up took a bus to New York for the day, went out to lunch, and got to see the show.

“The Great Comet” is a very interesting show for many reasons, but one that stands out is the role of the audience. Unlike a typical musical, the actors did not just stay on stage but walked around the entire theater.

At first, I had concerns that because we were in the mezzanine, actors would not interact with us. To my surprise, I was very wrong.

Even though we had seats towards the back of the theater, dancers still danced around us.

Depending on where you were in the theater, different things were happening.

This makes “The Great Comet” a show you would want to see more than once. Every different experience is unique, provided you sit in a different area.

The talent in this show was phenomenal. We had the chance to see famous singer Josh Groban play the main character of the show, Pierre. You could really tell that he had a history with music. Not only he, but every actor was clearly qualified for their part.

The dancing was also very good. As I mentioned earlier, some of the dancing was actually happening around us. This was extremely cool to watch. Everybody in the theater had a good view of the dancers and for good reason.

“The Great Comet” is an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's “War and Peace.” I thought the story was interesting and

Malvern substitute art teacher Mr. Matthew Courtney joined artists from all over the world in the Ceramics Innovations Art Exhibit at The Wayne Art Center.

T

gripping. The only problem I had with the story was the pacing.

I might be alone on this, but I thought the pacing was off at some parts of the show. At some parts, especially the end, I thought the show was going too fast and at other parts I thought the show was too slow.

Otherwise, this musical was a great story.

The strongest asset of the show was its music. The music ranged from good to very good, with my personal favorite song being the opening number of the show.

In the end, I would easily recommend this show. It's fun, fast, sometimes sad, and one of the better shows I have seen.◊

John McGlinn ’18 REPORTER

Am I the only one who noticed what Disney’s been doing?

They’re trying to pull a fast one over us but I caught them.

Jack Magargee ’18 MANAGING EDITOR: WEB lice in Wonderland ” s t a r t e d it . “ Ju n g l e Book,” “Maleficent,” and “Beauty and the Beast” were part of it. You may not have realized it until seeing all their names together but these are all Disney classics that have been remade in a live-action format.

There have been tons upon tons of clickbaits and listicles that say there are 18 live action Disney remakes either out or planned. I’m sure there are a lot but I, in my faux-professional opinion think there’s something like 15.

There are some you would expect like “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” and “Aladdin” and then we have “Cruella De Vil” and “Chernaborg,” both villains who I think are unlikely to ever see an origin movie. Chernabog is big gargoyle-looking demon guy from the end of “Fantasia.” For our millenials, that is a movie from before WWII. The next movie to hit screens should be “Mulan.”

So let’s get down to business to talk about Mulan. This movie will be great for Hollywood as a whole because it may just be the movie to break the white-washing trend.

Mulan is currently in pre-production so I’d expect either a late 2018 or a 2019 release.

“Lion King” has been generation hype since a (fake) poster went viral on Twitter. At first I was scared

“A

SHIP CHAIN • Gallery guests examine Matthew Courtney's "Ship Chain" at the Wayne Art Center Ceramic Innovations show / J. MCGLINN

because how do you make a live-action movie with lions?

Well, “Jungle Book” is a piece of visual art and I’m no longer worried about how future films might look. There are also rumors that Donald Glover will be voicing Simba, Beyonce voicing Nala, and James Earl Jones will be reprising Mufasa. So many people grew up on the original cartoon so if they mess this one up, there might actually be riots.

There is little to no information on the other movies coming out but you can be sure to expect some sort of reboot for the Peter Pan property. Between Tinkerbell, Peter, and Hook, there’s too much there not to do anything about it. Pinocchio and the Little Mermaid are another property I would say is a high probability for a remake. I would not say Fantasia or Bambi fit that bill.

Keep in mind these are not shotfor-shot remakes. “Beauty and the Beast” showed us that Disney will make changes to them in regards to plot and song. You’re welcome for not spoiling that.

All in all, I love this idea of remaking the movies that tennagers and adults saw in their childhoods. It takes nostalgia to a whole new level. However, it’s a gamble because if you don’t do it right, you could lose so many fans. However, I’m a believer in the Disney magic. And by Disney magic, I mean the best CGI in modern times. ◊

I'm a big believer in the Disney Magic.

And by Disney Magic, I mean the best CGI in modern times.

D

uring the month of April, the Wayne Art Center featured two shows– Ceramic Innovations and Essential Earth– that featured a wide variety of sculptural and functional ceramic art.

The Ceramic Innovations exhibit featured work from ceramic artists all across the United States, including recent Malvern substitute teacher Mr. Matthew Courtney, and several international artists. The works portrayed many different forms of ceramic work and depicted stories and themes that the artists told through the clay.

Best in Show was awarded to Shiyuan Xu for her piece “Fission #4.” Shiyuan stated in her Artist Statement that she is “trying to reinterpret the scientific facts into art forms.” She feels that the more closely we look at the world around us, the more we can appreciate art and nature as well as the complex web of life.

Courtney won one of four Awards of Merit his work “Ship Chain.” The wall-sized piece consisted of 16 strands of handbuilt chain links, each one varying in length from one to ten feet.

In discussions with Malvern students in class, Courtney shared that his art straddles the line between work and play, adulthood and childhood. Although neither of his pieces in the exhibit displayed playfulness and liveliness like that of a child, it is clear that he experiences joy in making every chain link with serious thought and consideration.

Several students and faculty visited on opening night. “It was really awesome to see [Courtney’s] work in the show,” junior Ben Mankowski said.

Mankowski is currently in Ceramics IV and has taken Ceramics since Freshman year. “All the work is really inspiring seeing so many different forms.

It really makes me want to try different things in class and experiment with clay and glazes more,” said Mankowski.

One of the larger pieces in the show was a collection of broken cups made from porcelain. The piece, made by Samantha Diamond, was laid out on the floor and appeared to have liquid spilling across the floor since the cups were “broken.”

Diamond states in her artist’s statement that the cups can represent human life. When the vessel is broken we are missing something and there can be a void in our life. Our bodies, like the cups are not everlasting, there will always be an uncontrollable demise just as we die, and the cups break.

Senior Walter McDonald was another student who attended the exhibit.

“I loved how the artists have strong stories or themes behind every piece. It makes me really want to give feelings and passion in my work,” McDonald said.

McDonald is currently in Ceramics IV and will have his final Malvern Art show next week, Thursday, May 5.

“The Wayne show was amazing to see every artist’s take on personal innovations they have discovered in Ceramics and pottery,” he said. “Anyone who goes [to see the exhibit] will certainly feel the power of art and inspiration the the Ceramics field.”◊

Page 24

The

Blackfriar Chronicle

Fr. Reilly plans to settle in before making changes Incoming Head of School says he plans to listen to those in the community before making any alterations to campus life, establishing continuity from this year to the next.

Dan Malloy ’18 school events like Open CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER Houses or orientation ncoming Head of School Fr. Donald Reilly student-centered and O.S.A. has no laundry list of changes for make the students run the school next year. Instead, he wants to them. I think that’s also get settled into life at Malvern first. something that gives us “I have not made any plans for changes,” a taste of what leadership Reilly said. “What I would like to do is to should be,” Fisher said. arrive on campus and just participate in the Fellow St. Augustine Augustinian community life there, not only Prep senior Kyle Abo is with my brother Augustinians but with the a member of the Student whole campus community.”

Government Executive Reilly plans to take his first couple of Committee. He said months to get to know people on campus, that Reilly and the rest and for them to get to know him. of the administrators are Changes will be made, but not right away easy to connect with, as according to Reilly.

Reilly has an “open door” “They would be a result of conversations policy where students can and consultations with people,” Reilly said. “I feel free to come to his do not have a list of things that I think should office or email him when be done right away.” they have an issue with However, Reilly has already made a something. foundational change to the leadership of However, Abo thinks the school. Reilly announced in an email on t hat com mu n icat ion between students and March 21 that Head of the Middle School MEETING AND GREETING • Fr. Reilly intrduces himelf to students in the Learning Commons. / D. MALLOY Mr. Patrick Sillup and Head of the Upper administrators could be School Mr. Ron Algeo would each become better at his school. an Assistant Head of School, according to “I feel like we are doing a decent job right Prep was the best choice he has made. He cultures despite their similarities. Next year, previous reporting. now, but I feel like there could definitely be explained that Reilly’s leadership and relation- he explained that wants to get a feel for that “Given that we need to invest even more a better channel of communication between ship with the students has helped have such a new atmosphere before making any huge in the organizational structure and support for the student body and the higher-ups in the great time there. changes. this continued evolution, I felt it important to school, more free-flowing dialogue,” Abo said.

“He walks around and exudes this sort of “There is a lot of culture there that I solidify academic leadership before my arrival Abo mentioned one issue the student body wisdom,” Fisher said. “I know he’s the type of respect, want to learn, and be a part of,” Reilly in July,” Reilly wrote in a letter to the school faced this year. Last year’s seniors could wear guy that you can go to and he will know you said. “But I also want to listen to the members by name, even though you are one of around of the community to see how we can do things community. “The new organizational struc- quarter zips under their blazers during their ture supports our evolution and also unites the winter dress. This year, the school took away 800 students.” better or differently to reflect our desire for Middle and Upper School divisions.” that privilege and had them wear sweaters Reilly recognizes that Malvern Prep excellence.”◊ and St. Augustine Prep have two different Junior Phil Kramer has enjoyed his time at instead. Many students had an issue with the Malvern, but he would like to see changes to change in policy. the school with Reilly coming However, Fisher said that in. He thinks the academics Reilly took the student body’s “Students have could definitely be stronger. opinion into consideration never disappointed “Consistency of difficulty when dealing with this issue. me when they across classes needs to get “I reached out to Fr. are called to Reilly and he was all ears. better,” Kramer said. leadership and to Obviously, it did not go Kramer also wants comconsultation.

They directly to him but eventumunication bet ween stuare very frank, dents and administrators to ally it did,” Fisher said. “He very honest, and improve. was absolutely on board with they are invested “Our opinion does get us because you can really tell in the institution.” included on some decisions that he really values the stu-Fr. Don Reilly, OSA like the change to the dress dent opinion over anyone else, code last year. But I think with some regards. Obviously [Malvern] doesn’t do that as it's important in some regards much as they should,” Kramer said. and not so much others.”

Reilly explained that he will listen to stuFisher told a story about another issue that dents on how they feel about what needs to be came up this year which he felt Reilly and the changed. He is going to meet with the senior administration handled well. class at the end of the year to hear their reflec“There was an issue very recently about tions on Malvern. a student who was caught cheating and was “I’m looking forward to it because their consequently expelled for it,” Fisher said. time is finished, they’re moving on, and they “There was a huge outrage over it because have a certain objectivity about their reflec- people argued, ‘It wasn’t that bad, everyone tions. It will be very helpful to me,” Reilly cheats every once in awhile,’ stupid arguments said. like that.”

At St. Augustine Prep, where Reilly has In response, Father Reilly gathered stubeen President for five years, students are dents together and explained the school’s often called upon to be leaders on campus. decision on consequences.

“Students have never disappointed me “Once they sat down and explained it when they are called to leadership and to to us, there was no more complaining since consultation,” Reilly said. “They are very everyone fully understood and more or less frank, very honest, and they are invested in agreed with their decision,” Fisher said. the institution.”

“Father Reilly really likes to make sure that St. Augustine Prep senior Matthew Fisher everyone is on the same page. He values what is the Vice President of Student Government we had to say, and he responded to what we and runs track. He agreed with Reilly that had to say. Frankly, it was the right decision students are called to step up in leadership to remove the student even though he was one roles on campus. of my best friends.”

“They really try to make most of the Fisher said that going to St. Augustine

I