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JANUARY 2010
SHARING
THE
IMPACT
OF
PHILANTHROPY
AT
MERCERSBURG
THE BEGINNING OF MPACT • MAKING A DIFFERENCE: A LITTLE MERIT GOES A LONG WAY • MERCERSBURG REGENT LEADS COMMUNITY OF CARING • SUPPORT EVERYTHING YOU LOVE ABOUT MERCERSBURG! • HOW DONORS IMPACT THE MERCERSBURG COMMUNITY • MERCERSBURG DEDICATES REGENTS’ FIELD • PIONEER COACH RETURNS TO MERCERSBURG • AN UPDATE ON STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVES • MERCERSBURG L AU N C H E S T R U E B L U E • G I V I N G T O M E R C E R S B U R G • I R V I N E V S . I R V I N G/M A R S H A L L : W H AT A M I ? • DID YOU KNOW? • ALPINE ADVENTURE: FROM MUNICH TO ZERMATT • REUNION ALUMNI: PLAN YOUR TRIP! • UPCOMING EVENTS • ALUMNI COUNCIL CORNER • THE MERCERSBURG COMMUNITY OUT & ABOUT
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the beginning of
BY MARY K. CARRASCO
IT IS NOT EVERY DAY that we make a little Mercersburg history, so I am quite excited to present this new Mercersburg publication, Mpact, to you. I know you will enjoy the stories and photos of alumni, parents, students, faculty, and friends, all of whom have been impacted through gifts to the school. I want to share with you the many and varied, incredible and personal ways that this extraordinary community is connected. When you read these stories, you will see how the timeless values that you attribute to your days at Mercersburg still thrive today—in places far from Mercersburg and right here on campus. Three times each school year Mpact will be delivered to your mailbox (and available online), and, if it accomplishes what we
Mary Carrasco with stained glass Artisan Dieter Goldkuhle and Regent Emeritus Tom Mendham P '90 '87 during a recognition reception for the chapel windows restoration project.
intend, you will keep it at hand for a few weeks, you will recognize someone’s story, you will meet new Mercersburg friends on these pages, and you will learn how generations of Mercersburg community members are living out the values they learned during their extraordinary educational experiences at Mercersburg. This new publication is NOT curtailing or replacing Mercersburg magazine. You will continue to receive the magazine as you always have, and it will continue to offer the award-winning design and articles that you have come to know and love. For this first issue of Mpact, I am really happy to introduce to you Lorraine Simonis ’10. Lorraine is the 2009 Michelet Prize recipient and an exceptional senior. Also, classmates of Paula Johnson Smith ’83 will already know about her exceptional talents. Now all of you have the opportunity to learn her story—how she has continued to share her talent in her community in Salt Lake City, Utah—and beyond—and as a member of the Mercersburg Board of Regents. Susie Lyles-Reed ’88, president of the Alumni Council, introduces a section of Mpact about the dedicated work of this 25-member alumni volunteer group for Mercersburg. I had the pleasure of meeting former faculty member, Carol Anderson (1972 to 1980) in October during Fall Alumni Weekend. Carol was on campus with several field hockey alumnae for their reunion. Many of these incredible Mercersburg alums were the first women to attend the school as boarders, and Carol was an important coach, teacher, dorm dean, and mentor to them. Carol describes those years inside. Each issue of Mpact will feature the school’s Strategic Plan Initiatives. Let me know your thoughts about these initiatives. We are also launching in this first issue a brand new concept for recognizing Annual Fund donors who are True Blue. After all, the Annual Fund supports every single thing that you love about Mercersburg. There’s a happy new face to the Fund: now when you make an ongoing, monthly commitment to contribute to the Mercersburg Annual Fund, you are making a statement that you are True Blue. Find out why Jordan Jefferson ’09 calls himself True Blue inside. Please send me your suggestions, story ideas, and photos! They will be used in future editions and through other communications from Mercersburg. If you would like to write for MPact, let me know; I hope future editions will provide opportunities for a diversity of Mercersburg writers. Email your ideas to newsletters@mercersburg.edu. 2
Thank you for the many ways you support Mercersburg. I’m looking forward to our next opportunity to visit.
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE |
How members of the community are impacting the world…
A Little Merit goes a long way BY NATASHA BROWN
T
But four years ago, Simonis had not yet
ODAY, LORRAINE SIMONIS ’10
considered a boarding education for high school.
is a four-year Mercersburg senior.
She was an 8th-grader, living with her father in
She’s navigated the social and
Philadelphia. Her mother had died a few years
academic scenes so well that her
prior, and her dad’s career required him to work
classmates elected her president of the Student
long hours. He wanted Simonis to have a quality
Council. She’s also co-editor of the Mercersburg
education. A family friend recommended
News, a Blue Key (Admission tour guide), cross
boarding school, specifically Deerfield Academy.
country runner, and most recently, the recipient
She narrowed her school options to Hill,
of the coveted Robert H. Michelet Prize, awarded
Deerfield, Westtown, The George School, and
each year to a student who, during the upper-
Mercersburg. This of course was after a process.
middler year, has most distinguished himself
Simonis searched BoardingSchools.com, each
or herself in scholarship, character, and
school’s website, and called each one to measure
school spirit.
how “nice” the person was who answered the telephone. (She had to have some way of narrowing down her options, right?) So why did she choose Mercersburg? It’s simple. “The reason why I came here is because I received the Regents Merit Scholarship,” she said. “In my opinion, the way for Mercersburg to attract the best students
Extremely poised and intelligent, Simonis
and increase its standing is to offer more merit
has excelled in all aspects of the school and will
funds. Once I am able to give back to the school,
undoubtedly represent the school as an alumna
I will most likely support financial aid so
very well.
that other students can have the experiences
“She has been a leading member of my ‘all star’ advisee group. Even in her 9th- and 10th-
that I did.”
grade years, Lorraine impressed everyone with her maturity, self discipline, study habits, goal-
Lorraine Simonis accepts the Michelet Prize from Head of School Douglas Hale during Opening Convocation.
oriented approach to everything in her life, not (continued on page 4)
Mercersburg Regent Leads Community of Caring BY NATASHA BROWN
IN THE EARLY ’80s, WHEN New York City native Paula Johnson Smith ’83 entered Mercersburg Academy, she quickly noticed that teachers were deeply involved in the lives of students. She realized how much they wanted her to succeed. Smith would later learn that many of the Mercersburg traditions—family-style interaction, community trust, and responsibility—are also the components that create school environments that help students succeed. The Mercersburg experience and her own love for education developed into a lifelong passion for Smith to create school communities that are inclusive of all children. In addition to her volunteer role on the Mercersburg Board of Regents, she fuels this passion as the executive director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Community of Caring, based at the University of Utah. “Essentially what I have been doing throughout my career is designing programs that schools can implement to help kids avoid problem behavior. One of the ways to accomplish this is to make sure kids feel socially and emotionally safe in school,” Smith said. “By changing environments so that students are socially and emotionally safe, students actually perform better and they are more likely to avoid problem behavior.” Caring, respect, responsibility, trust, and family are the five core values of Community of Caring,
Regent Paula Johnson Smith ’83
a K–12 comprehensive character-education program with a unique focus on disabilities. The organization was founded in 1982 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who also founded Special Olympics. Community of Caring has been adopted by almost 1,400 schools nationwide and in Canada. (continued on page 4)
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE |
How members of the community are impacting the world…
A LITTLE MERIT (continued from page 3)
MERCERSBURG REGENT (continued from page 3)
to mention her intelligence and outstanding oral and writing skills,” said Simonis’ advisor, Language Faculty member Peter Kempe. “Since then, she joined my German classes, did an intense summer study program to jump a level from German II into German IV, and achieved amazingly well on some of our standardized tests.” The financial aid program that ensured her attendance at Mercersburg is the Regents Merit Scholarship. Mercersburg has three merit scholarships, which include the Lenfest Legacy Scholarship (endowed by H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest ’49 for a child or grandchild of a Mercersburg alum); the Mercersburg Scholarship (awarded to a day student); and the Regents Merit Scholarship (awarded in honor of Mercersburg Regents to a boarding student).
As part of the Community of Caring program, students from Sarasota Middle School participated in a shore cleanup.
Since 2007, Smith has led the organization’s efforts to implement school programs that develop the character, social, and emotional skills students need to succeed in life. For instance,
Simonis is evidence that merit scholarships
as part of their science class, students from Sarasota Middle School in Sarasota, Florida,
and gifts for financial aid go a long way toward
participated in a shore cleanup. According to Smith, the students were shocked to see so
attracting the very best students and have
much pollution on the shore.
domino effects in the Mercersburg community and beyond. “Some of my best experiences at Mercersburg were off campus. During my 10th-grade year,
“They were able to reflect on why the shore cleanup was important and what it meant for the ecology. That kind of event not only brings in science, but it allows students to be stewards of the earth,” she said. Another school, Woodstock Elementary School, in Salt Lake City, Utah, integrated a history
we took a trip to the Middle East for a
lesson about World War II with a hands-on community service project. After the National World
symposium about peace keeping and conflict-
War II (WWII) Memorial in Washington, DC, was constructed, the school invited war veterans to
prevention, based on a book called High Noon
the campus to share their stories about how the war impacted them. As a thank-you, students
(by Jean Francois Rischard) and Challenge
made blankets for the veterans, personalized with WWII mementos.
20/20,” said Simonis. “It was nice that the school gave [students] a chance to travel.” Last year, she was one of several students on
“That’s the kind of integrated learning that not only teaches kids, but internalizes and develops their empathy and sense of community passion,” Smith said. She stressed that Community of Caring focuses on making school environments inclusive
the spring break trip to Prague, led by Fine Arts
for all children, including students with disabilities. Smith’s experiences as a student and
Faculty member Laurie Mufson. “We went to
Mercersburg Regent have enhanced her understanding of how the life-changing programs she
the opera, ballet, symphony, toured historical
creates in her professional life make a difference for students throughout their entire lives.
sites and the Terezin Concentration Camp,” Simonis said. Because of the Regents Scholarship and additional financial aid, she has experienced an
“From my Mercersburg involvement, as a student and now as a Regent, I have learned that a caring school community that includes students, alumni, parents, and friends of the school can make all the difference in the options and availability of a quality education.” To learn more about Community of Caring, visit www.communityofcaring.org.
extraordinary Mercersburg education, complete with strong friendships, opportunities to lead, competition in athletics, travel abroad, and learning from exceptional faculty. One day, she hopes to return to Mercersburg as a history teacher. Simonis doesn’t know where she’ll attend college yet, but one thing is certain. Just as she did four years ago, she is a student with plenty of options. To learn more about how you can support financial aid for Mercersburg students, contact the Alumni & Development Office.
Regent Paula Johnson Smith ’83 with her staff at Community of Caring
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How donors impact the Mercersburg community
Mercersburg dedicates The philanthropic community has made the school’s first synthetic-turf field a reality.
T
Regents’ Field
HE SCHOOL DEDICATED THIS handsome new field as Regents’ Field during an October 17 ceremony. The official name, Regents’ Field, commemorates the school’s volunteer leaders—most importantly the women and men of
the Mercersburg Board of Regents who served at the turn of the 21st century. “The name Regents’ Field will forever honor the strong leadership of the individuals who have most recently, most faithfully, and most selflessly dedicated their considerable time, expertise, and resources to make Mercersburg the extraordinary school it is today,” said Board of Regents President Denise Dupré ’76. The dedication included remarks by Head of School Douglas Hale, Director of Athletics Rick Hendrickson, and President of the Board of Regents Denise Dupré ’76. With the addition of Regents’ Field, field hockey, girls’ lacrosse, and boys’ and girls’ soccer teams now have a stateof-the-art training and competitive surface at a similar level of quality to what Mercersburg athletes will find at the next level of competition. This new field will change the way that two signature girls’ sports play the game. The benefits for field hockey and lacrosse teams are numerous, as they are able to have a consistent training turf that is both easier on their bodies and more suitable for competition than normal grass fields.
Board of Regents President Denise Dupré ’76 is presented with a field hockey stick signed by current team members during the dedication of Regents’ Field on October 17.
It also gives the athletic department enhanced practice options during inclement weather, and even the football team has used the field for a non-contact practice during their season. Be sure to stop by Regents’ Field during your next visit to Mercersburg. The field is located to the right of Sycamore Lane (main road to the school).
Pioneer Coach Returns to Mercersburg for Regents’ Field Dedication Q & A with Mercersburg’s First Field Hockey Coach, Carol Anderson BY NATASHA BROWN
especially back then when girls were just starting out at Mercersburg and
ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009, Mercersburg held a reunion dinner
in organized sports. She was a leader in a lot of different regards,” said
honoring former coaches and players of field hockey, wrestling, girls and
field hockey alumna Pilar Diaz Benassi ’78. “She should be honored and
boys soccer and lacrosse. Many former field hockey players were brought
recognized, because she started the program, so I think she deserves that
to tears as they reunited with Mercersburg’s first field hockey coach, Carol
recognition.”
R. Anderson (1972 to 1980), who was also honored at the dinner. Players were excited to see
Communications Associate Natasha Brown after the dedication of Regents’ Field during Fall Alumni Weekend. The interview took place in
Anderson, and even more
Nolde Gymnasium. Anderson’s adoration for the Mercersburg community
enthused that she was being
and her former players showed as she fought back tears with laughter
recognized for her work with the
during the interview.
field hockey program. “She was very enthusiastic about the sport and very knowledgeable about what it took Mercersburg’s first field hockey coach, Carol Anderson (left), with Athletic Trainer Marilyn Houck during the dedication of Regents’ Field.
“Coach A”, as her players call her, met with Development
psychologically to become a good player. ‘Coach A’ had to mold the
How did it feel to reunite with so many of your former players? I love those kids, and it’s been really great to see them all as adults. Chris Russell Vick ’75 even came from England to be here. It’s really special to see them all. Chris’ mother was the president of the All-England Field Hockey Association and she set up a two-week tour so 15 of the girls could play in England. Could you imagine? [She laughs.]
program, which is never easy, (continued on page 6)
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How donors impact the Mercersburg community
(continued from page 5) And Denise Dupré ’76, another one of your
came back and was hitting the ball hard and
kept hearing Patty on the phone telling me,
former players, spoke during the dedication.
doing really well. So I thought, “Oh I must be
“You’ve got to make it. You have to hurry!”
How is it to see Denise as the Board of Regents
doing a great job with her,” because she had
president?
shown a lot of improvement. Then they came
Field hockey began in ’72. What do you
I’m really proud of Denise and the work that
back and unwrapped the stick and showed me
remember about that time as the only female
she’s done on the Board. Out of all the kids that
this big hunk of lead. Those girls were
coach at the school?
I coached, Denise Dupré may have been one of
something else.
It was a pretty rough going when we started
the hardest-working kids that I’ve ever coached. I coached Denise ‘76, Laura ‘77, Jan ’80 and Heidi ‘81—all the Dupré sisters. They were some very talented athletes. One time the players took Jan’s hockey stick and filled it with lead and sealed it unbeknownst to me. She
hockey here. I went to my first coaches’ meeting You were honored last night at the dinner. Was it a surprise or did you know why your players were so eager to get you back on campus? I didn’t know I was being honored. I just kept talking to Patty Seltzer-Wagner ‘78, telling her that I was running late after my flight. I just
and was asked if I wanted to be the recording secretary. I remember it being suggested that field hockey players should play games in their gym suits. But I said, “Oh no, we won’t be doing that.” The Mercersburg Faculty Women’s Club purchased the team’s first uniforms in ’72. Although the fields were not regulation, and there were definitely some bumps along the way, the spirit and the commitment were there, and we just went with that. We had an equipment manager, Darrell Ecker, who was “everybody’s dad.” He took me under his wing and he was such a good and righteous man. He helped me grow up and took care of all the field hockey girls. How did you recruit back then? Was it tough to find players since girls were just
An Update on Strategic Plan Initiatives
entering the school? I approached anyone who had a daughter
A MERCERSBURG EDUCATION IS grounded in character development and an
entering the school and tried to convince them
extraordinary educational experience. Students today, like the generations of Mercersburg
to play field hockey.
alumni who preceded them, define themselves through the values they develop here: hard work, character, critical thinking, and community. They apply those values in their rigorous scholastic preparation to lead lives as role models and leaders. In the same regard, Mercersburg faculty, staff, and administrators continually demonstrate their commitment to developing students’ character, potential, and academic strengths. The Board of Regents has endorsed a five-year strategic plan that identifies the most critical
And now, is it almost like you’ve come full circle? You were the first coach. And here you are attending the dedication of the school’s first state-of-the-art turf field. I’m very proud of what’s happened with the
investments required to sustain and enhance the values and extraordinary experience that
program at Mercersburg. I want to see more
define a Mercersburg education.
participants. I think this new field will bring
The current Strategic Plan will take Mercersburg in an exciting and necessary direction.
more women field hockey players to
This plan focuses on our people—to admit the best students, to provide the financial aid
Mercersburg. It would be so much fun to recruit
they need, to ensure that we retain and attract the best faculty and staff, and to provide the
at the school now!
education that families expect from a world-class, college-preparatory boarding school. The current Strategic Plan calls for the following initiatives to implement these goals: • Building the endowment in support of faculty and staff compensation, financial aid for students, and programs for extraordinary educational experience, • Increasing participation in the Annual Fund to provide operating budget support for the school’s most critical priorities, and • Improving physical spaces that are in greatest need of renovation or repair.
Coach Carol Anderson lives in Hadley, Massachusetts, with her partner of 30 years, Polly Keener, and their 11-year-old son, Gunner. She is the owner of Penn Monto Field Hockey, official ball supplier of the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament and the U.S. Field Hockey Association. (www.penn-monto.com)
While Mercersburg’s focus remains on building the endowment in support of faculty,
Field hockey players established the Carol
scholarships, and programs, we are fortunate to have funds already in hand to move forward
Anderson Coaches’ Endowment Fund to support
with improvements of some of the physical spaces in greatest need of renovation or repair.
the Mercersburg field hockey program.
Thanks to a very generous bequest of $11.5 million from Dwight Goldthorpe ’37, Mercersburg will begin renovations to the center of Nolde Gymnasium during the spring of 2010. If you would like more information about these initiatives, please contact Steve Blake, senior director of major gifts and planned giving, at 711-328-6210.
6
To contribute to the fund, visit www.mercersburg.edu/giving or call 800-588-2550.
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GIVING TO MERCERSBURG
Mercersburg launches
“True Blue”
THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE school launched
True Blue gives alumni, families, and friends
True Blue to recognize donors who give monthly
of all ages an opportunity to become leaders in
consecutive gifts to the school, donors like
the giving community. Consecutive monthly gifts
Jordan Jefferson ’09.
to the school of any amount help sustain
Jordan Jefferson ’09 was a post graduate who
Mercersburg for students and faculty.
entered Mercersburg to prepare for college. But
Consider making a monthly pledge via
upon entering the school, he hardly realized how
credit card to become True Blue.
the Mercersburg experience would impact his life.
Visit www.mercersburg.edu/giving or call
“Mercersburg gave me the opportunity to be where I am now. That’s why I want to give back
800-588-2550. In December, Mercersburg released a True
to Mercersburg,” said Jefferson. “The school
Blue video of Jefferson’s path from his pre-
helped me become more of a leader because
Mercersburg years in Palo Alto, California, to
I was older than most of the students at the
Mercersburg and then Yale. Be sure to watch
school. With football, I had to immediately
Jefferson’s story online by clicking on the True
become a leader on the field and off.”
Blue button on the home page. Contact the
Last fall, Jefferson entered Yale as a freshman football player, and he was happy to become the
Alumni & Development Office if you’d like to be featured in an upcoming True Blue video.
first alumnus to help tell the True Blue story.
Jordan Jefferson ’09, a Yale football player, was featured in the first True Blue video filmed in November by Alumnus Zander Hartung ’05.
Join the Annual Fund Community in 2010 You may just be one step away from changing someone's life forever. THE MERCERSBURG COMMUNITY IS a group of alumni, family,
When you make a gift to the Annual Fund, you are making a
and friends of the school who realize that together they can make
decision to participate in one of the most important initiatives in
a tremendous impact in the lives of students and faculty. Mercersburg's
life—philanthropy. This year, please participate in the Annual
Annual Fund donors are a community of philanthropists who
Fund and support everything you love about Mercersburg.
help enhance this extraordinary educational experience.
(www.mercersburg.edu/giving or 800-588-2550)
SUPPORT
everything you love about FACULTY • FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS • IRVING-MARSHALL WEEK • ATHLETICS • CLASSROOM RESOURCES • UNIQUE EXPERIENCES • STONY BATTER PRODUCTIONS • LIBRARY • COMPUTERS • AND MORE!
Giving Societies SOCIETY NAME
DEFINITION
Torchbearers
donors who make gifts for three consecutive years or more, every year their child has been a student, or every year since their own graduation
NO. OF MEMBERS
William Mann Irvine Society donors who contribute $1,893 or more yearly**
409
Marshall & Irving Alliance
donors who include Mercersburg in their estate plans
358
True Blue
donors who make consecutive monthly gifts
27
** WILLIAM MANN IRVINE SOCIETY LEVELS Associate (based on graduation year)
$100 per year until your 5th anniversary reunion $500 per year until your 10th anniversary reunion $1,000 per year until your 20th anniversary reunion $1,893 at your 20th anniversary reunion celebration
Fund, visit www.mercersburg.edu/giving or
Member
$1,893-$2,999
call 800-588-2550 and make an
Sponsor
$3,000-$4,999
Patron
$5,000-$9,999
Benefactor
$10,000-$24,999
Head of School’s Circle
$25,000-$49,999
Regents’ Circle
$50,000-$99,999
President’s Circle
$100,000 or more
To support everything you love about Mercersburg with a gift to the Annual
unrestricted gift. You may always support your favorite part of Mercersburg by designating your gift to Athletics, the Arts, Academic, International, etc. ASK US FOR DETAILS.
1,977
7
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GIVING TO MERCERSBURG
EVENTS
Irvine vs. Irving/Marshall:
Alpine Adventure:
WHAT AM I? Mercersburg has several societies with references to Irvine, or Irving and Marshall. The most popular, of course, are the Washington Irving and John Marshall Literary Societies. Read the article below to learn more about the history behind these societies. If you have questions, email (brownn@mercersburg.edu).
WASHINGTON IRVING AND JOHN MARSHALL LITERARY SOCIETIES Most students who have ever attended
Alumni Travel Opportunity July 2–11, 2010
T
EN YEARS AGO, School Minister Larry Jones and his wife Cindy, director of the Burgin Center, saw the Passion Play in Oberammergau.
From July 2 to 11, 2010, they will lead travelers
Mercersburg can claim being a member of
from Munich to Zermatt to experience the
either Irving or Marshall (unless they opted
magnificent performance that thrills crowds
out). These two societies participate annually in
only once every 10 years. Below, Reverend and
a fun-loving but fierce midwinter competition
Mrs. Jones inform the community of what’s
connected to a long and serious tradition of
in store for Mercersburg travelers.
debating at the school. In fact, the societies are the school’s oldest organizations—older than the school itself. Precedent for societies began in 1835, when the original students of Marshall College maintained two societies, the Diagnothian and Goethean literary societies. In the late 1800s, they were renamed the Washington Irving Literary Society and the John Marshall Literary Society, named after two prominent figures of the 1800s. The first debate occurred in 1894, under Mercersburg’s founding headmaster Dr. William Mann Irvine on Washington’s Birthday. This began the tradition of midwinter weekend competitions in February.
WILLIAM MANN IRVINE SOCIETY
You and Cindy traveled to Oberammergau in 2000 to see the Passion Play; what was most memorable to you ten years ago, and what aspect of the performance are you looking forward to sharing with Mercersburg travelers? There is much that is remarkable about this
Cindy and Larry Jones
appreciate the artistry of the entire village on many levels.
play. First of all, it is performed in German,
Tell us what excites you most about being in
but everyone is handed a book when he or
Germany and Switzerland next summer?
she walks in. The book has the script in six
Munich was almost completely destroyed in
different languages. We and our two
World War II, but today it looks like an old
daughters, then 10 and 11, held the book open
medieval town. When it was rebuilt after the
in front of us as the play unfolded. None of
war, the town elders did the reconstruction
us remember the play being in German. Of
right. It is a gem, with worthwhile tourist
course, everyone knows the story, but the play
spots and small, interesting holes-in-the-
is riveting and opulently done. Second, the
wall alike.
theatre seats 7,000, but there isn’t a bad seat
Our special visits on July 4 to the
in the house. Wherever we sit, we will be
Deutsches Museum and the BMW Museum
a leadership giving society that recognizes
involved with the action. Third, the little town
promise to be especially interesting. The next
donors who contribute $1,893 or more annually
of Oberammergau knows how to cater to its
day, we will see many people pausing to take
to Mercersburg. The school founded WMIS in
guests. It does so all summer long every 10
pictures of Neuschwanstein Castle, and for
honor of the school’s first headmaster, who
years. It is a shopping experience, and what
good reason. It is the stereotype of the
served in that position for 35 years. Dr. Irvine
one shops for are carvings and wood creations
picturesque castle and is the model for the
was a visionary whose all-consuming passion
that defy the imagination. There is plenty of
Disneyland and Disney World castles. When
was to help students fulfill their greatest
time to wander the streets, shop, and
we take the “highlights tour,” we will learn
The William Mann Irvine Society (WMIS) is
potential. He believed that through philanthropy, Mercersburg’s alumni, family, and friends could define the Mercersburg experience. Membership in the WMIS distinguishes a donor’s philanthropic leadership in the ways of the school’s founder. There are several membership levels. Please review the list of “Giving Societies” for details.
did you know? There are 38 married alumni couples, including a few international alumni! > Lena Karl Kulak ’03 and Nils Kulak ’01 of Germany > Jini Eum Lee ’03 and Alex Lee ’01 of Korea
MARSHALL & IRVING ALLIANCE Formed in 1993, the Marshall and Irving Alliance honors benefactors who provide gifts to Mercersburg through their estate or a lifeincome plan. Their generous legacies touch Mercersburg’s most significant programs, making it a fitting memorial with enduring benefits.
8
MERCERSBURG LEGACIES There are 1,203 alumni whose parents attended the school 299 alumni had grandparents who attended the school 49 alumni had great-grandparents who attend the school 4 had a great-great-grandfather who attend the school 131 alumni have three-generation-deep legacies 11 alumni have four generations of family that attended Mercersburg
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from Munich to Zermatt
EVENTS
2010 Upcoming Events Jan | 21-22
Winter Board Meetings New York City
Jan | 21
Reception for leadership donors Columbia University New York City
Jan | 21
NYC Regional Event Columbia University w/Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University
Jan | 30
Winter Alumni Council Meeting On campus
Feb | 27
Bo Burbank Squash Tournament On campus
Feb | 23-24 Irving/Marshall Phonathon On campus Mar | 19-21 Asian Family Event Nanjing, China
why so many people take pictures from the
the travelers all being intellectually curious,
outside: it was built to be pretty, not to be
academically inclined, and ready to embrace
practical! The Passion Play will have you
the new, the interesting, and the quirky!
vowing to return in 2020, and the trip
Larry, with different co-leaders, led three
through Switzerland in its aftermath will
trips of Mercersburg students to this area in
ensure it! Although I was last in Zermatt 26
the early to mid-1980s, and then Larry and
years ago, the memory of the Matterhorn still
Cindy led the Oberammergau trip in 2000
lives with me, and seeing it again (weather
from their church. Certainly the unexpected
permitting!) will be the pièce de résistance
will happen, but with Mercersburg people on
of a spectacular trip!
the trip, the unexpected events will become
Our new travel program is the school’s chance to re-engage with alumni, parents, and friends who are “lifelong learners” and curious about the world. What will make this tour unique for the Mercersburg community? The important thing, I guess, is that this will not just be a haphazard collection of tourists put together by a travel agent. This will be a group of people all sharing the Mercersburg experience, either personally or through
the memories that will lift this experience out of the ordinary! Visit www.mercersburg.edu to view the complete brochure, or request a brochure from the Alumni & Development Office (800-588-2550). The tour cost is $4,695 per person. A deposit is required to reserve a place on the Alpine Adventure: From Munich to Zermatt. Dates are July 2–11, 2010.
family connections. As such, we can count on
Reunion Alumni: Plan Your Trip!
Apr | 30
Spring Alumni Council Meeting On campus
Apr | 30
Alumni Council Recognition Luncheon On campus
Apr | 30
Senior Dinner and Slide Show On campus
May | 7-8
Spring Board of Regents Meeting On campus
May | 7
Regents’ Forum On campus
May | 7
McDowell Society Recognition Dinner On campus
May | 11
Phonathon w/alumni, parent, and student callers On campus
May | 12
Phonathon w/alumni, parent, and student callers On campus
May | 19
Phonathon w/coaches On campus
Jun | 11-13
Reunion Anniversary Weekend (classes ending in 0 and 5) On campus
Jul | 2-10
Alpine Adventure: From Munich to Zermatt, featuring the Passion Play Germany & Switzerland
Oct | 1-3
Family Weekend On campus
your Mercersburg experience. Bring family or friends, stay in the dorm, and reconnect with
Oct | 22-24 Fall Alumni Weekend Celebration of Mercersburg’s Olympians and track & field, swimming & diving, cross country, and winter track alumni reunions On campus
classmates and alumni. Spend time in the classroom with current faculty, and enjoy the
Oct | 22
Fall Alumni Council Meeting On campus
Fall | 2010
Alumni trip to Israel Israel
Reunion Anniversary Weekend June 10–13, 2010 THIS REUNION WEEKEND IS for alumni in classes ending in 0 and 5 and Loyalty Club members who have celebrated their 50th reunion. This is the perfect opportunity to relive
freedom of having the campus to yourself! “Meeting other alums of different generations and hearing their stories of Mercersburg is a great experience,” said Nick Mellott ’04, who attended Reunion Anniversary Weekend last June. Contact De-Enda Rotz in the Alumni & Development Office for more details about Reunion Anniversary Weekend, rotzd@mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6178.
For information about upcoming events, contact De-Enda Rotz at rotzd@mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6178.
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AlumniCouncil Corner In this first issue of MPact, I am pleased to be able to reintroduce you to the Alumni Council (AC). We are a group of dedicated volunteers comprising 27 alumni from seven decades and diverse geographical locations and professions. Our mission is to provide resources to the Alumni & Development Program to advance the cause of the Academy and create a community of support within our alumni body throughout the world. Our vision is that the AC be a must-have resource for the Alumni & Development Office and the goto place for our fellow alums. As key ambassadors for Mercersburg (along with other volunteers), the AC leads the charge on alumni engagement, and we are proud that alumni and students know who Alumni Council President Susie Lyles-Reed ’88 (left) and Head of School Doug Hale (far right) with 2009 Alumni Council Service Award Winner Regent Deborah Simon ’74 and Alumni Council Achievement Award Winner John Treat ’64 during the Alumni Council Awards Luncheon in June.
we are and what we do. We profile alumni and their accomplishments and continue to recognize their legacy and contributions. We perpetuate a community of lifelong learners and ensure that alumni and faculty remain connected. Although we are systematic in how we work, we are flexible, with the ability to change when we need to. Every Council member is an expert on the school and its needs. Because we measure our effectiveness routinely, our members feel they have traction and can make a difference. The Council is made up of three task groups and four standing committees focused on specific programs: • Alumni Student Programs Task Group – Engages alumni and students with each other by planning, developing, and implementing programs that will teach current students the privileges and responsibilities of membership in Mercersburg’s alumni community. A chair and co-chair lead this group of six to eight members. • Alumni Leadership Development Task Group – Seeks to re-engage alumni with the school community and increase support of Mercersburg through giving and volunteerism. A chair and co-chair lead this group of six to eight members. • Communications Task Group – Works with the Alumni Council, Alumni & Development Office, and Strategic Marketing & Communications Office to create communications that engage and inform alumni about the work of the Alumni Council. A chair and co-chair lead this group of six to eight members.
Alumni Council Member Ann Quinn ’84 (left) with her Mercersburg roommate Rachel Haines Bowman ’84
• Executive Committee – Governs the entire AC and consists of the chair of each task group and standing committees, and the AC officers. This committee is chaired by the president of the AC. • Nominating Committee – Identifies and nominates candidates for membership on the AC. There are five members on this committee, all of whom are appointed by the AC president. The AC president serves as an ex-officio member. • Loyalty Club Committee – Develops a relationship between Loyalty Club members (alumni who have celebrated their 50th anniversary reunion) and the school through events, communications, and other appropriate activities. This committee consists of all Loyalty Club members serving on the AC and other members of the Loyalty Club appointed to the committee by the Loyalty Club chairperson. • Performance Measurement Committee – Is responsible for collecting data from each task group and standing committee for performance measurement purposes. This committee is chaired by the 2nd vice president of the AC and has representation from each task group and standing committee.
Alumni Council members Capt. John Linderman ’55 (honorary), Lindley Peterson Fleury ’77, and Jack Reilly ’62 during a 2009 Fall Alumni Weekend reception.
Volunteering on the Alumni Council is a challenging yet rewarding Mercersburg experience. If you are interested in supporting Mercersburg as a member of the AC, contact De-Enda Rotz in the Alumni & Development Office at rotzd@mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6178. For more information about the AC and its members, visit us on the Mercersburg website (go to www.mercersburg.edu, click on Alumni at the top and then Alumni Council in the menu bar underneath). Sincerely,
Susie Lyles-Reed ’88 Alumni Council President
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The Mercersburg Community
Out & About Email photos and captions to newsletters@mercersburg.edu.
John Marshall ’08 climbs “Satisfaction Guaranteed” climbing route in New River Gorge, West Virginia, last September.
A scene from Stony Batter’s fall production of Young and Willing. L to R – back row: Susan Durnford ’11, Tally Diaz ’10, Aaron Porter ’10, Zach Olivos ’10; front row: Aimee Chase ’10, John Henry Reilly ’10, Eliza MacDonald ’10; sitting on floor: Maggie Goff ’10. The wedding of Laurel Kalp ’02 and Stephen Sviatko III took place on August 8, 2009, in the Irvine Memorial Chapel. In attendance were (L-R) Melissa McCartney ’05 and classmates Lauren McCartney ’02 and Bryan Stiffler ’02.
Alumni and parents attended a regional event at the home of Edgar ’48 and Margery Masinter in Jackson Hole, Wyoming: John Prentiss ’65, P ’89 ’92, Margery Masinter, Doug Hale, Charlie Moore ’48, P ’67 ’74 ’77 ’94, Back Row: Peggy Hale, Carol Prentiss, Judith Moore P ’67, ’74, ’77, ’94 EdgarMasinter ’48.
Toshia Fries ’10 with her host family during School Year Abroad in Beijing. Photo credit: Toby Fries
Faculty member Jeff Shamp, Bruce McLaughlin ’09, and John-Eric Bell ’12 at Lions's Head Outcrop during the long weekend Mercersburg Outdoor Education excursion. Photo credit: Sue Malone
Loyalty Club Members during their June Reunion Anniversary Weekend: Chuck Hatch ’54, Ned Mayo ’54, John Hornbaker ’55, J. Martin Myers, Jr. ’36, Dale Williams ’54, and Faculty Emeritus Jay Quinn.
Members of the Class of 2009 enjoyed Steps Songs and School Cheers during Fall Alumni Weekend.
Contact Natasha Brown in the Alumni & Development Office at brownn@mercersburg.edu or 800-588-2550 with questions or comments. MPACT is published three times per year by the Mercersburg Academy Alumni & Development Office.
Harold Frederick Young (left), the grandson of Frederick Rupley Schaefer, Class of 1896, stopped by the Alumni & Development Office last fall to meet with Academy archivist Jay Quinn (right) and A & D staff to learn more about his grandfather’s time at Mercersburg. Mr. Schaefer was one of the first students at the school, under Dr. William Mann Irvine’s leadership.
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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID NORWICH, CT PERMIT NO. 51
For information on how you can be involved with these reunions, contact De-Enda Rotz in the Alumni & Development OfďŹ ce at rotzd@mercersburg.edu or 717-328-6178.