Quaker Works
ON THE COVER
In spring 2024, the Phoenix took home three FSL Championship wins. Pictured from left are Michael McGarry '24, Kalyan Satti '26, and Maria Morsa '24.
Read more FCS Athletics news on page 18.
2024-2025 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
James C. Wright, Clerk
Tami Benton-Condiff, Vice Clerk
Seth Goldblum, Treasurer
Laura Jackson '65, Recording Clerk
LiRon Anderson-Bell
Natalie Aronson Cooper '05
Earl Ball
Quinn Bauriedel
Liza Ewen
J. Wilson Felter
David Fryman
Bill Georges '88
Jackie Guynn '89
Jon Harris
Anja Hilliard
Karen Horikawa '77
Juan Jewell '68
Charles King '80
Emma Lapsansky-Werner
Mary McCabe
Chinwe Onyekere '94
Alex Rolfe '01
Aaron Selkow '88
Tom Tritton
Roderick Wolfson
Barbara M. Cohen, Emerita
Ken Dunn, Emeritus
Ann Satterthwaite, Emerita
Joanna Haab Schoff '51, Emerita
Koji Shimada, Emeritus
Gardner Hendrie '50, Honorary Trustee
Quaker Works
The Magazine of Friends’ Central School
Head of School
Beth Davis Johnson ’77
Editor
Clare Luzuriaga
Director of Communications
Contributors
Lydia A. Martin
Assistant Head of School for Communications, Enrollment, and Strategic Initiatives
Katherine Clayton
Communications Manager
Alba Kupa
Digital Media & Marketing Coordinator
Frankie Zelnick
Institutional Data Manager & Registrar
Colette Kleitz
Chief Advancement Officer
Linda Waxman Wasserman ’75
Senior Advancement Officer
Melissa DiNofia-Bozzone
Associate Advancement Director, Engagement
Peter Boyer
Associate Advancement Director, Major Gifts
Cary Snider ’11
Donor Relations Manager
Jennifer Chu
Annual Fund Director
Matt Thorsheim
Advancement Associate
Janice Leavy
Advancement Associate
Grant Calder
History Teacher and Archivist
Photography
Michael Branscom, Polina Bulman, Jay Gorodetzer Photography, Kristi Kallam, Alba Kupa, Clare Luzuriaga, Alice McBee, Paola Nogueras, Lee Payton, Jim Roese, Mark Tassoni, Andy White '03, Frankie Zelnick
Layout
Clare Luzuriaga, Nancy Biddle
We welcome any comments, letters, photographs, and suggestions for future issues. Please send all to communications@friendscentral.org.
Friends’ Central School 1101 City Avenue
Wynnewood, PA 19096 communications@friendscentral.org
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Read past issues of Quaker Works at friendscentral.org/publications
PLEASE RECYCLE
FCS Moonshadow Team's Total Solar Eclipse Adventure
Moving Up in Fifth & Eighth Grades
Three FCS Alumnae Are 2024 College Commencement Speakers Commencement 2024
Alumni/ae Weekend 2024
Comments
Letter from the Head of School
Dear Friends,
As I write this letter, our campuses have transitioned from summer and the sounds of happy FCS Summer Programs campers to the bustle of preseason and teachers returning. Throughout the summer, administrators and staff have been here at work, keeping the cogs turning and planning ahead to ensure a smooth opening of the 2024-2025 school year.
Though we are ready to welcome students back to school, this magazine reflects some of our highlights from the 2023-2024 school – moments of celebration, excitement, and growth we enjoyed on our two campuses. We welcomed alums back to campus in May for Alumni/ae Weekend; our students reveled in the annual All-School Blue/Gray Day; we had fabulous plays and concerts, academic, artistic and athletic triumphs; and we celebrated our graduating seniors at Commencement in June.
Some of the myriad ways our students distinguished themselves include the work of the FCS Moonshadow Team, led by Upper School physics teacher and NASA ambassador Deborah Skapik; the continued successes of the robotics and debate teams; and a student excelling at an international physics competition in Budapest. This spring, the Phoenix won three FSL championships, and three FCS alums had the honor of speaking at their college graduations. No publication can contain all of the achievements, experiences, and joy of a year at Friends’ Central, but I know you will enjoy reading all that are captured within this fall 2024 issue of Quaker Works.
See page 33 onwards to read about the incredible generosity of several FCS alums and community members. We are so grateful to everyone who supports FCS through donations, engaging with the community, and just caring deeply about our beloved School.
By the time this issue hits your mailbox, the 2024-2025 school year will be fully up and running. The brand new Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 Center for Innovation and Design on our City Avenue campus – undergoing major renovation this summer – will be readying to open its doors to excited students, exploring and happily making use of its many state-ofthe-art spaces. Stay tuned for more information!
I’d like to end, as always, by saying that I look forward to seeing many of you on campus this fall. Come and admire the Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 Center for Innovation and Design in person!
Kind regards,
Beth D. Johnson ’77 Head of School
The newly graduated Class of 2024; read more about Commencement 2024 on page 22!
Campus Log
A snapshot of some of the many activities, competitions, and achievements of spring 2024 • Visit friendscentral.org for more news.
1. In April, Parents of Students of Color (PSOC) invited parents, caregivers, and students in all FCS divisions to a bowling event at Sproul Lanes in Springfield for a fun community-building afternoon.
2. In March, Megan Schumacher’s Upper School Acting I class went on a field trip to Pig Iron Theatre Company. Pictured are Megan and her students about to depart for Pig Iron.
3. Nature Nursery A and 4A students enjoyed some time outside together in April.
4. Middle Schoolers had a wide range of Mini-Course options to choose from this March, including (pictured) Mosaic Magic! Mini-Courses are three-day, interdisciplinary, cross-grade classes that involve a special field trip related to the subject.
5. Kindergarten B gave a presentation to family and friends on their rainforest research in April.
6. FCS School spirit was on full display across both campuses at Blue/Gray Day 2024 in May, with fun games and refreshments. Team Blue was the winner!
7. Felsen Common was ablaze in bright colors as Upper School students participated in a Holi Festival color throw this spring, organized by Kareena Mathur '26.
8. Eighth grade art elective students created masks from repurposed materials, drama students crafted plays, and music students composed the music for the MusiArtDrama performance in April.
9. Third grade students at work in the classroom
10. The Middle School's Earth Day of Service in April was a huge success. Following a talk about Renewable Agriculture by Dr. Ashlie Burkhart, the entire Middle School spent the rest of the day in Morris Park, cleaning up the local watershed and removing invasive species.
11. In May, sixth grade students presented their nutrition projects at the Food Fair, the culminating event of the sixth grade Nutrition & Digestion units. Working in partners, students are tasked with creating and presenting a persuasive and balanced advertising campaign for a favorite food.
12. Fourth grade students worked on electric circuits in the Ulmer Family Light Lab in May.
13. In May, the cuteness levels at the Lower School were extra high when a petting zoo came to campus!
14. The FCS fifth grade team won a blue ribbon at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Reading Olympics held at Lower Merion High School in April.
15. This spring, Sean Scott ’25 was elected FCS Student Council President for the 2024-2025 year, and Olivia Anyumba ’25, Sasha Groch ’25 and Duncan McLuckie ’25 were elected to be Student Council Vice Presidents. Congratulations to all four!
From left: Olivia Anyumba ’25, Sasha Groch ’25, Sean Scott ’25, and Duncan McLuckie ’25
FCS on the Stage
MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAYWRIGHTS IN PROGRESS
In April, Middle School actors took the stage for a fantastic production of Playwrights in Progress, the annual Middle School theatrical event featuring performances of eighth grade students' original plays. Each play was written, directed, and acted by students.
UPPER SCHOOL CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS
The accomplishments of Upper School students were celebrated this spring with an art opening followed by a Choral Concert and an Instrumental Concert the following week.
A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
The grade 9 & 10 play, A Year With Frog and Toad, performed in May and directed by Sylvia Hoffmann '24 and Hanan Muaddi '24, was a joyful, music-filled hit.
LOWER SCHOOL CELEBRATION OF ART AND MUSIC
The Lower School's Spring Celebration of Art and Music in May included self-guided tour of the fabulous student artwork lining the hallways followed by an outstanding concert in the gym by students in grades 3-5.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPRING CONCERT 2024
The Middle School Spring Concert in May featured outstanding performances by the orchestra, jazz, ensemble, and chorus.
LUKE HALPERN '25 REPRESENTS FCS AT PMEA FESTIVAL
In April, Luke Halpern '25 (contrabass) represented FCS in Erie, PA, where he performed at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) AllState Orchestra Festival.
UPPER SCHOOL AT THE CAPPIES
FCS Upper School theater students attended the Cappies Gala at Cardinal O'Hara High School in June. With 27 high schools in the Philadelphia area participating in the program, FCS students were honored to be nominated in seven categories: Orchestra, Choreography, Featured Actor in a Musical, Female Vocalist, Male Vocalist, Comic Actress in a Musical, and Supporting Actress in a Musical.
(From left) Olwyn Palumbos '26, Zoey Dunne '25, Monica Taylor '25, Hannah Seidel-Nini '26
RITA TANG '25 NAMED MAIN LINE STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Congratulations to Rita Tang '25 who was named Main Line Student of the Week for April 15-21 by Main Line Times & Suburban in recognition of her academic and extra curricular accomplishments. From Chengdu, China, Rita was one of two FCS Upper School students who qualified to take the American Invitational Math Exam (AIME) this spring based on her performance on the American Math Contest-12. She is currently working on a science project involving DNA barcoding of native bees on Friends’ Central’s City Avenue campus and wild bees from Maine, among many other activities.
MATHWORKS MATH MODELING CHALLENGE
Congratulations to Jack Barsotti '24, Aaron Staugaard '25, and Luke Halpern '25 who made it through to the next round of the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge in March. Only 128 of the 655 teams that submitted viable solution papers were selected to advance to the second round of judging.
JACK BARSOTTI '24 WINS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
This spring, Jack Barsotti '24 was named the winner a of corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship. Jack is among about 770 high school seniors to be awarded a corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship award financed by around 94 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. Jack is attending the University of Pennsylvania this fall.
ANNENBERG BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM
The FCS team receiving their award At the Annenberg Science Symposium
In April, six dedicated Upper School students – Zivi Barak '27, Erian Henighan '25, Samantha Ernst '25, Nia Brooks '24, Lawson Messe '25, and Alex Aronson '25 – participated in the 20th annual Annenberg Biomedical Science Symposium, hosted this year by Radnor High School. The students had spent the school year learning about the physiology behind migraine headaches and how Botox is being used as a novel prophylactic treatment. Their exploration included scientific journal articles and studying the detailed mechanism of action behind migraines and how botox specifically works. The symposium was an opportunity for these students to present their research in a formal setting. Their presentation was excellent, and they received the award for the Best Explanation for a Common but Complex Medical Diagnosis. The FCS faculty advisors for the team were Emma Miller and Nora Swift.
FCS Moonshadow Team's Total Solar Eclipse Adventure
For several members of the Friends’ Central community, experiencing the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse was the culmination of years of study and preparation.
Friends’ Central is fortunate to have a NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador, Upper School physics teacher Deborah Skapik, on our faculty. Deborah brings her passion for astronomy and commitment to eclipse education to the School community, inspiring many students to join her quest. Deborah is also an adjunct professor of physics at Saint Joseph’s University. Her research work with FCS students has included mentoring Team Radio Phoenix, a team of Upper School students focused on pulsar science and radio astronomy. In January 2020, Team Radio Phoenix – an all-female team of five – was selected by the Pulsar Search Collaboratory to present their work at the American Astronomical Society Meeting in Hawai’i.
In the lead-up to the 2017 solar eclipse, Deborah founded the Friends’ Central Moonshadow Team, a group of eight Upper School students who embarked on a transformative journey to study and then view that solar eclipse in South Carolina. Inspired by the experience, Deborah immediately turned her attention to the April 2024 solar eclipse.
“I’ve been preparing for this eclipse since August 22, 2017 [the day after the last North American eclipse]!” Deborah shared, “In the months and years following, I asked students if they had seen the eclipse. Many told me they were unaware of it, and teachers from other schools told me they didn’t know how to teach about eclipses.”
Feeling the need to reach and educate more people, Deborah created a guide for educators titled Look UP, Below! An Educator’s Guide to the April 8, 2024 Total Eclipse of the Sun
Training Eclipse Ambassadors
The current FCS Moonshadow Team now numbers 28 students. By January 2023, formal plans were underway for the FCS Moonshadow Team’s excursion to Vermont to see the 2024 eclipse along the path of totality. The Moonshadow Team attended Deborah’s 2023 Summer Science Academy in Observational Astronomy to prepare them to become an outreach team for two eclipses (annular October 14, 2023 and total April 8, 2024). Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, the Moonshadow Team ran workshops at local schools and libraries to teach others eclipse literacy. The team’s dedication and enthusiasm were palpable, as captured in an interview with CBS Philadelphia the week before the April eclipse, where
in love for the first time.”
Experiencing Totality
On April 4, 2024, Deborah and the Moonshadow Team packed up a bus with luggage and equipment and made the long-anticipated trek to Vermont, undeterred by the winter storm which extended their travel time to 11 hours and resulted in 18 inches of snow at their destination. Once in Vermont, they continued their educational outreach. They visited local libraries and schools, including the JFK Elementary School in Winooski, where they worked with over 500 children. They held two eclipse demos at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, and the museum was packed on both occasions. They also held demos at Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and Shelburne Sugarworks, where they partnered with both locations to learn about these two very different Vermont-based businesses.
Along with the outreach, while in Vermont the FCS team conducted a range of science experiments, including participating in NASA Soundscapes project with an audiomoth (recording sounds for several days), correlating light levels to sound frequencies with a LightSound box developed by Harvard, tracking temperature changes during the eclipse, investigating the science behind shadowbands, measuring the shape of the Sun through the SunSketcher project, using AM radios to detect changes in Earth’s ionosphere, and more.
On eclipse day, the Moonshadow telescope and photography teams were hard at work. “We had two refractors, one reflector, and a Sunspotter set up to view the Sun, plus several cameras on tripods and a drone,” said Deborah. “Our team studied very carefully to get the exposure times right for the shots and videos they wanted.”
The sky was beautifully clear, and the Moonshadow Team members gathered to watch the moment of totality together. Team member Jules Demski ’24 shared her emotions as she witnessed the eclipse. “Complete and utter awe. ... I know for me, taking off my glasses and looking at what seemed to be a massive hole in the sky, I was just thinking about how this couldn't be real.”
Reflections and Future Pursuits
Looking ahead, the team eagerly anticipates future astronomical events, already researching the next eclipse and planning for an expedition to Spain in 2026, potentially in coordination with colleagues in the FCS World Languages department. QW
Deborah likened the experience of witnessing an eclipse under the path of totality to “falling
The FCS Moonshadow Team in Vermont, with faculty members
Deborah Skapik and Thomas Soper
CONDUCTING SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS
Moonshadow Team member Henry Snedeker ’27 conducted an experiment involving sound and radio waves during the eclipse. He explained, “An AM radio works by sending radio waves through the atmosphere, where radios receive the waves and interpret them as sound. During the day, the sun ionizes the upper atmosphere, and it becomes harder for radio waves to travel through. At night, this ionization does not occur, which allows the radio waves to travel much farther than they would during the day… The thought behind the experiment is that, during totality over a radio station, the radio waves will be able to travel farther, like at night. At 2:35 pm, during the partial stage of the eclipse for us in Vermont, parts of Texas were experiencing totality. I was able to tune my radio to a station in San Antonio, Texas! Later, I was able to hear stations in St Louis, Missouri, and Cincinnati, Ohio.”
CAPTURING THE MOMENT
Amidst the excitement, Charlie Sinrod ’24 and Max Grear ’24 seized the opportunity to capture the eclipse's beauty on camera. “I saw people taking pictures of the moon and sun online, so I bought a cheap telescoping lens and a solar filter for my DSLR camera,” Charlie explained. The student’s dedication resulted in stunning photographs and a mesmerizing drone timelapse video by Charlie showcasing the eclipse's progression.
POYRAZ OZER '25 IN INTERNATIONAL YOUNG PHYSICISTS' TOURNAMENT
Congratulations to Poyraz Ozer '25 who was one of just five students from the USA selected to join the US team competing in Budapest, Hungary at the 37th annual International Young Physicists' Tournament in July. Upper School physics teacher Deborah Skapik co-led the USA team in Budapest. Deborah shared, “Poyraz led our team this past year (Finn Hanson '25, James Lovett '25, Ziqin Chen '26, and Violet Kenny '27) in the study of several open-ended physics problems such as ‘When a large, thin and flexible plate (e.g. plastic, metal or plexiglass) is bent, it may produce a loud and unusual howling sound. Explain and investigate this phenomenon.’” Coached by Deborah Skapik, Matt Schoifet, and Noah Marks, the team worked all year on solutions to three of the problems and submitted video entries evaluated by an independent team of physicists.
IMMERSIVE SUMMER FIELD ECOLOGY STUDY
Ten Upper School students spent the last days of July and first week of August in an immersive field ecology study program in the Downeast and Acadia region of coastal Maine, accompanied by Upper School science teachers John Gruber, Nora Swift, and Claire Roberts. Students had the chance to observe the significant tides in Cobscook Bay while studying marine invertebrates and spent extensive time in northern forests and boreal bogs. The group documented nearly 400 different species through an iNaturalist project, from sea stars and urchins to huckleberries, candy lichen, and waxcap mushrooms.
This is the third consecutive year of the FCS summer ecology study program in Maine.
One of the images captured by Charlie Sinrod and Max Grear
Poyraz Ozer (second from left) presenting at the tournament
Helen Potts '25 & Kiana Gardner '24, preparing for eclipse demos in Vermont
In May, third grade students built rockets which were launched on the Lower School field. Each student built an Alpha III rocket with an A8-4 solid fuel engine.
This summer, Aneesah Long ’25 was recognized for her volunteer work with Black Girls Love Math (BGLM) at the Black Girls Love Math Scholarship Benefit Garden Party.
In May, seventh grade students presented their history projects in a “gallery-walk” format to classmates and families.
In June, the third grade hosted a showcase to share their final projects from their Indigenous Peoples unit with family and friends.
In April, FCS hosted the annual Pan-Asian Conference which was well attended by students from FCS and other local schools.
Sixth graders did an extraordinary job reciting their original poems and presenting amazing artwork at the Middle School's yearly Poetry Celebration in May.
The eighth grade embarked on their annual Washington, D.C. trip in April. They spent two days and one night exploring our nation's capitol, visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Arlington National Cemetery, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, and the U.S. Capitol, among many other places. Many thanks to the eighth grade advisors for chaperoning this capstone trip!
Welcoming New Faculty & Staff
Introducing the new members of Friends' Central's faculty and staff joining us for the 2024-2025 school year
Joining the Friends’ Central Lower School are Taylor Bakeman, Building Substitute; Ezra Burstein, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher; Becka Buurma, part-time Literacy Specialist; Ryan Dunne, Physical Education teacher; Megan Fitch-Berrios, part-time Learning Specialist; Robert Goldwein, 1st Grade Assistant and N-1 Lead Science Teacher; Aaron Jackson, Assistant Teacher; Parker Lawrence, Nature Nursery Assistant Teacher; Heather McGinness, 2nd Grade Lead Teacher; Rebeccan Phelan, Nursery Assistant Teacher; Ruben Raskin, Nature Nursery Lead Teacher; Jennifer Ross, Nature Nursery Assistant Teacher; and Oscar Sosa, Technology Integration and Support Specialist.
Joining the Middle School are Gregory Dix, English teacher; Tahirah Gaillard, Interim Learning Specialist; and Basha Nachman, long-term substitute English teacher.
Joining the Upper School are Vernard Abrams, History teacher; Kevin Dlugos, history teacher; Kyra Spence, English teacher; and Anna Schall, who returns to Friends’ Central as a Quakerism teacher and counselor.
Meet the
New Members of
Our
Board of
Trustees who we are & why we serve
Quinn Bauriedel
“I'm delighted to return to the Friends’ Central Board and to help support and champion this remarkable School that achieves its promise to peacefully transform the world. FCS fosters curiosity, resilience, and compassion in its students, and it is an honor to help steward the School in the years to come. The Quaker values that underpin every decision and activity within the School have tremendous value in today’s fractured world, and I couldn’t be prouder to ensure a bright future for FCS.”
We also have three teachers joining both Middle and Upper School: Alex Nestor, Math teacher; Kate Carlyle, World Languages teacher; and Ashley Opalka Halpern, Latin teacher. We welcome back Court van Rooten, long-term substitute French teacher.
Around our campus we also have a number of new additions. John Daves is now the Director of Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusivity. Peter Boyer, Associate Director of Advancement, and Jennifer Chu, Annual Fund Director, both joined the Advancement team. Meghan Toomey joined the College Counseling team as Associate Director of College Counseling. In our Auxiliary programs, Jake Harner joined as FCA Assistant Head Coach and Katie Frazer as Summer Programs Coordinator. The Communications team welcomed Alba Kulpa as the Digital Media and Marketing Manager. We also have Charles Gregory stepping into the role of Director of City Avenue Campus Operations and two new general maintenance workers, Steve DeAngelis and Pat Kraenbring. QW
Charles King ’80
“I serve to further the Friends’ Central community of students, faculty, parents, and alumni/ae that shaped my values and imbued in me a sense of belonging and curiosity.”
David Fryman
“I'm a product of an independent school, and I have worked with several independent schools throughout my career. But it was my role as a parent (Sam '10) that created such an abiding affection for Friends’ Central. Having seen firsthand how impactful FCS can be, I'm excited to help sustain and cultivate Friends’ Central’s thriving community and incomparable mission.”
INTRODUCING
JOHN DAVES, DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, BELONGING, AND INCLUSIVITY
Friends' Central is thrilled to welcome Dr. John Daves as our new Director of Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusivity. John specializes in supporting independent school communities with identity development skills for inclusive excellence habits of mind. He enjoys helping students, faculty, staff, families, and alumni/ae to find joy within their self-discovery identity journeys while simultaneously gaining comfort and confidence in understanding who they are; students learn to see themselves from various perspectives within the school community and the larger world.
John began his career in independent schools at Friends’ Central 25 years ago as an English teacher. He has a BA in Political Science from Susquehanna University, a Masters of Arts and Teaching in English Literature from Colgate University, and a PhD in American Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. He has extensive experience in the independent school world as an English teacher, history teacher, advisor, coach, faculty peer mentor, Dean of Faculty, Upper School Principal, and as the Director of a number of DEI Departments.
John is excited to use his approach to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice expertise and experiences to support the Friends’ Central community in the ongoing work of ensuring everyone belongs at the School.
In June, FCS hosted the Institute on Consent & Healthy Relationships for Educators. The conference was facilitated by Al Vernacchio, FCS teacher, author and nationally recognized expert in human sexuality education, and Dr. Laura McGuire, internationally recognized consultant, survivor, researcher, seminarian and author (pictured). The event was open to grade 9-12 educators, staff, and administrators.
LIGHT LAB DIRECTOR BRIE DALEY IS PENN CIS SENIOR DESIGN DAY JUDGE
In April, Light Lab Director and Penn Engineering alumna Brie Daley returned to the University of Pennsylvania to serve as a judge for the Computer and Information Science department's annual CIS Senior Design Day. The impressive senior projects ranged from GPU acceleration for Deepfake detection, VR re-creation of a historical archeological site in Chile, and AI-enabled tools to aid social applications.
SARAH GOLD PRESENTED A PAPER IN GERMANY
This summer, Upper School math teacher Sarah Gold presented a paper at the Formal Power Series and Algebraic Combinatorics Conference (FPSAC) at a conference hosted by the University of Bochum in Bochum, Germany. The paper Sarah presented was titled "Crystal Chute Moves on Pipe Dreams," coauthored with Liz Milićević, a math professor at Haverford College, and Yuxuan Sun, a peer of Sarah's at Haverford College who is currently pursuing a PhD in mathematics from the University of Minnesota. The paper draws a connection between a combinatorial object called a pipe dream and an algebraic structure, giving a new way to depict the key polynomials that make up a Schubert polynomial using pipe dreams.
The work of fine artist and FCS art teacher Caroline Maw-Deis was featured in “Phantastic Phibers,” a repurposed, non-traditional textile exhibition. Caroline's pieces (pictured) were on display at the Delaware River Waterfront Pier in July. Caroline had five baskets constructed of wires, mesh, and packaging components in the show.
Brie Daley at Penn (front row in the green shirt)
Fifth Grade Meeting for Leaving & Bell-Ringing Ceremony
On Thursday, June 6, the Lower School celebrated the fifth grade, the successful conclusion of their Lower School years, and their transition to Middle School. A Meeting for Leaving was held at the Pavilion where the fifth graders and their families shared messages, and the students then participated in the traditional Bell-Ringing Ceremony at the Friendship Bell to mark the end of their time at Lower School.
Eighth Grade Culminating Events 2024
On Friday, June 7 – the last day of the 2023-2024 school year – the Middle School celebrated the eighth grade Class of 2028 at the annual Meeting for Leaving, a ceremony in which the students cross a symbolic threshold to mark the completion of their Middle School years. Another Middle School culminating event is the Grade 8 Showcase, held in early June, where the students share their individual talents and interests with each other.
Claire ’28 presents her research on math in art at the Grade 8 Showcase 2024
Lower School Principal Melody Acinapura speaking at the Bell-Ringing Ceremony
William Davis ’28 passing through the threshold at Meeting for Leaving 2024
Zhana ’31 ringing the Friendship Bell at the 2024 Bell-Ringing Ceremony
Three FCS Alumnae Are 2024 College Commencement Speakers
This May, three FCS alumnae were student speakers at the commencement ceremonies of their respective colleges. All three young women were selected in recognition of their outstanding achievements during their years at each institution.
KALILA JONES ’19, a fine artist who earned a BFA in Fiber & Materials with a concentration in K–12 Art Education from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, was Tyler’s 2024 Commencement speaker on May 9, 2024. An active and engaged member of the community, Kalila served as co-director of Temple University’s Artists of Color Collective (AoCC) for the 2022-2023 academic year.
This was not Kalila’s first graduation address. As a student at Friends’ Central, she was chosen by her classmates to speak at the Class of 2019 Commencement. Kalila’s literary and artistic skills, leadership, and commitment to community were evident throughout her time at FCS. Among other contributions, in 2018, she created an intricate and beautiful poster for Black History Month depicting Black pioneers, and that poster can still be seen around the Friends’ Central campus.
“With great curiosity and energy, Kalila takes concepts learned and evolves them into creative and intimate expressions of vibrant color, texture, and joyful exploration, bringing smiles to the viewer!” shared Kalila’s former FCS art teacher Caroline Maw-Deis. “Beginning with strands of yarn in the FCS art studio, it has been exciting to witness where Kalila’s artistic adventures have flowed, and I celebrate her many accomplishments.”
A practicing fine artist, Kalila uses the medium of crochet to
create highly original, brightly colored sculptural pieces. She was a member of the Summer 2024 Apprenticeship Training Program at Philadelphia’s Fabric Workshop and Museum. This summer, Kalila debuted an installation at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which was on view in the Art Kids Studio from July 6-August 25. She also helped develop a pop-up workshop for the Museum of Art’s July family festival. “It was a lot of fun, and I hope to do more workshops in the future!” Kalila said.
MARIELLE BUXBAUM ’20, was one of two student speakers at Brown University’s 256th Commencement on May 26, 2024. Marielle has a BA in Literary Arts and Theatre Arts and Performance Studies from Brown. Her thesis project was a satirical play, titled The Hummus Wars, which Marielle described as, “a fictional work based on the 2010 competition between chefs in Israel and Lebanon working to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the largest tub of hummus.”
“Marielle’s super powers are her curiosity and her willingness to share her enthusiasm for learning,” said former FCS drama and English teacher Terry Guerin, reflecting on Marielle’s time as a student at FCS. “She was a treasure in our drama program, acting on stage, championing Shakespeare while directing the 9th and 10th grade play, helping the cast of Les
Top: Kalila Jones '19 addresses classmates at Tyler's graduation; Below: Kalila speaking at the FCS 2019 Commencement ceremony
Miz sing in French, or simply filling the space with her joy.”
With support from a Fulbright award, Marielle is heading to Loja, Ecuador this fall to work with local theater company Teatro Quimera to design a playwriting program for social change.
“I will be drawing upon my time studying theater for social change in Ecuador during a semester abroad with the organization Pachaysana,” Marielle shared, “I look forward to combining this experience with everything I learned not only in college but, so importantly, at FCS. I am so grateful to Terry Guerin and FCS’s drama program for everything I had the opportunity to learn and for the inspiration to continue on as a theater artist.”
ROXANA “ROXY” CALDER ’20, graduated summa cum laude from Franklin & Marshall College with a major in Religious Studies and a minor in Middle Eastern Area Studies. She was awarded the 2024 Williamson Medal, the highest student award presented each year at Franklin & Marshall. It is “given to the member of the graduating class who has, during his or her senior year, reached the highest standing in character, leadership, and scholarship.” As the recipient of the Williamson Medal, Roxy was a speaker at F&M’s 237th Commencement on May 11, 2024.
While at Franklin & Marshall, Roxy was an admission tour guide
and a museum and library collections aide, working with faculty from the library and F&M’s Phillips Museum of Art to organize and catalog large collections. She also was a student teacher for the “Islam in North America” Connections course, advising and leading classroom discussions with firstyear students. (Excerpted from the article on fandm.edu.)
As a student at Friends’ Central, Roxy was a tour guide for the Admissions Department, a chorus member, and a contributor to the School’s literary magazine, among many other activities.
“A brilliant student who always put others first, Roxy was a pas-
sionate, curious, and fun leader in and out of the classroom,” shared Bill Kennedy, Roxy’s former FCS English teacher. “Her influence on the fabulous Class of 2020 was such that she encouraged her peers to keep learning, straight through senior seminars during COVID, and her classmates responded. Roxy led with intellectual courage and a rare gift for seeing the good in others.”
Through an F&M course, Roxy was a student teacher at a high school in Lancaster, PA last year. She has been selected by the Teach For America Corps program to teach English at a Philadelphia high school for the next two years.
We wish all the very best to these three remarkable young women, and we look forward to hearing more about them and their FCS classmates as they continue to make their unique mark on the world. QW
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR ALUMS ABOUT THE MANY WAYS THEY ARE MAKING AN IMPACT AS THEY PEACEFULLY TRANSFORM THE WORLD! IF YOU HAVE NEWS TO SHARE, PLEASE CONTACT ALUMNI@FRIENDSCENTRAL.ORG.
Marielle Buxbaum '20 (top, right) speaking at the Brown Commencement ceremony; Roxy Calder '20 (below) at the F&M ceremony
Visitors to Campus
FCS welcomed authors, scientists, artists, educators, and leaders who enriched our community in the spring, including the following:
DISTINGUISHED VISITING SCIENTIST DR. ANNE PRINGLE
In April, 2023-2024 Distinguished Visiting Scientist Dr. Anne Pringle came to campus to meet with students and deliver an evening lecture. A mycologist, fungal biologist, and lichenologist, Anne Pringle is the L&S Mary Herman Rubinstein and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Botany at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is Principal Investigator at the Pringle laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which studies the biology of species whose life histories and body plans seem very different from our own. Fungi encompass a hetereogeneous array of both microbes and macrobes, and the Pringle laboratory uses fungi as tools to test and elucidate general principles of ecology and evolution.
During Anne's talk at FCS – which was open to the public – she raised thought-provoking questions about humans’ relationship to the natural world. She spent the following day on the City Avenue campus visiting with sciences classes and the Science Core Team to further discuss her work on mycology and the study of mushrooms and mycelial fungi.
AUTHOR TOLÁ OKOGWU
For the Lower School's fall 2023 project, Another Time, Another Place, fifth graders embarked on a literary journey to the "Academy of the Natural Sun" alongside fierce superheroine Onyeka from the series by UKbased author Tolá Okogwu.
We were thrilled to welcome Tolá to Lower School for a virtual visit in March. She met with fifth grade students to talk about the newest book in her Onyeka series, Onyeka and the Heroes of the Dawn (Onyeka #3)
Tolá Okogwu is a British-Nigerian author, journalist, and hair care educator. Born in Lagos, Nigeria and raised in London, England, she is the author of the Onyeka fiction series, including the World Book Day novella, Onyeka and the Secret Superhero, the Daddy Do My Hair? picture book series, and the Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door young fiction series.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARY JO DALEY
Mary Jo Daley, representative for District 148 in Montgomery County paid a visit to the Middle School in April to talk about her work and about the PA House of Representatives.
ARTIST & EDUCATOR DWIGHT DUNSTON '06
In April, the Upper School hosted the annual VIBE (Voices of Inclusivity, Belonging, and Equity) conference organized by the Justice Core team and the Diversity, Equity, and Justice (DEJ) department. We were thrilled to welcome hip-hop artist, educator, and activist Dwight Dunston '06 back to campus as the conference guest speaker. Dwight talked to students about the importance of building trust through forgiveness and accountability, and he led activities to develop strategies for clear and respectful communication.
AUTHOR MELISSA TREMPE
The Lower School welcomed author Melissa Trempe for a visit in April. She met with students in Kindergarten to grade 5 to celebrate her new book Ladybug Launch – Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space
This colorful picture book is based on the real story of Chilean high school girls who convinced NASA to send ladybugs to space! The book is co-authored by Dr. Natalia Ojeda.
Photo from aorta.coop
EARTH DAY SPEAKER DR. ASHLIE BURKART
To kick off the Middle School's annual Earth Day of Service in April, Ashlie L Burkart was the guest speaker. Ashlie is Chief Scientific Officer of Germin8 Ventures and Associate in the Environment and Natural Resources Program at Harvard Kennedy School. She is also Pathology Laboratory Director & GI Pathologist in the Division of Gastroenterology at Bryn Mawr Medical Specialists Association, as well as an independent grant funded researcher. Her presentation was enlightening, informative, and engaging, as students learned about the connections between soil health and our personal health
Following the opening address by Ashlie, the entire Middle School community participated in their annual All-School Earth Day of Service by walking as a division to Morris Park where they cleaned up litter and removed invasive plants. They also took part, after lunch, in hikes in their advisory groups.
Carol Zolondek, grandmother of Celia Ginesin ’28, visited Regina Puleo’s eighth grade English class in May to share the history of both her parents who were Holocaust survivors.
Visitors to Campus
ISABELLA PETTITA
Isabella Pettita from the LópezUribe Lab at Penn Sate gave the keynote address at this year's Upper School Natural History Research Conference in May. Isabella spoke about conserving endangered native bees and butterflies. She is an NSF graduate research fellow and MS student in the Ecology Program at Penn State.
Following Isabella Pettita's talk, teams of Upper School students presented their independent research at the Natural History Research Conference.
WRITER TIM CHAWAGA '06
In May, Bill Kennedy's Upper School Catastrophes of the Near Future English seminar was delighted to welcome back to campus sci-fi writer Tim Chawaga '06. Tim visited the class to discuss his creative process and to talk about his new story, "Chug the Tea Leaves, Chuck the Ads."
Teacher Laurie Novo – Tim's mother – and her Writers' Workshop elective students joined the class for Tim's visit.
CAROL ZOLONDEK
(From left) Sean Scott '25, Noah Perot '26, Kalyan Satti '26, and Andrew Yu '25 presenting their independent research project at the Upper School 2024 Natural History Research Conference.
Photo from timchawaga.com
Athletic News
TRACK AND FIELD STAR AVERY LEWIS '24 CONCLUDES STELLAR PHOENIX CAREER
Avery Lewis '24, who graduated in June, will be greatly missed. Her exceptional track and field prowess was a continued source of pride for the Friends' Central community. Her FCS athletic journey, which began in Pre-K, was featured in the spring 2024 issue of Quaker Works
As she concluded her senior year, Avery continued to amass impressive achievements and accolades. At the Penn Relays, Avery showcased her talent by competing in the 4x400 relay and winning the long jump championship for the third consecutive year with a remarkable leap of 19 feet, 8¾ inches. Her stellar performance extended to the PA Milesplit All-State Teams, where she secured victories in six different categories. Avery was honored for the second consecutive year as the National Gatorade PA Girls Track & Field Player of the Year. Avery will continue her athletic and academic journey at the University of Southern California this fall. We look forward to following her future successes, along with those of our other college-bound student-athletes.
THE PHOENIX BRINGS HOME THREE FSL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES THIS SPRING!
This spring season, three Friends’ Central teams brought home a Friends School League title. Softball secured their second title in two years with a 6-0 win over Academy of the New Church. Boys’ baseball won 7-2 over the Shipley for their fourth consecutive title, with the senior class going 40-0 in Friends Schools League Play. Boys’ tennis beat Germantown Friends 3-2 for their first title since 2015 and their 23rd title in Friends Schools League history.
Congratulations to all of the players on this incredible accomplishment!
THE PHOENIX WINS ONE OF THE FASTEST 4X400M RELAYS IN RECENT PA HISTORY
At this year's Penn Relays, Upper School girls' achieved a state-leading time of 3:47.67, achieving one of the fastest 4x400m relays in recent Pennsylvania history and the 16th fastest time ever. The Phoenix shattered the previous PA Academic 4x400m record by nearly six seconds and set a new FCS record. Neenah Trusty ’27 anchored with a split of 53.44 seconds, Avery Lewis ’24 with a split of 56.53 seconds, Quin Stovall ’24 with 57.49 seconds, and Jade Nichols ’26 at 60.23 seconds.
(From left) Avery Lewis, Quin Stovall, Neenah Trusty, Jade Nichols
FSL ALL-LEAGUE HONORS, PASLA ALL-ACADEMIC,
ALL MAIN-LINE TEAMS, & PA MILESPLIT ALL-STATE TEAMS
Congratulations to our student-athletes who earned Friends Schools League honors, PASLA All-Academic Team, All-Main Line Team, and PA Milesplit All-State recognition during the spring 2024 season. All-league and honorable mention squads are selected in each sport at the end of each season by the coaches of that sport. In selecting players to the all-league or honorable mention squads, sportsmanship is as important as athletic prowess. PASLA recognizes students for not only their athleticism but also for their work in the classroom. To receive this award, a player must maintain a 3.5 GPA. The All-Main Line teams are selected by the coaches. The PA Milesplit All-State Team is determined by the student-athlete's body of work which includes championship finishes, all-time marks, and consistency.
FRIENDS SCHOOLS LEAGUE
ALL-LEAGUE WINNERS
Softball:
Brianna Keenan ’24, Calla McVail ’27, Maria Morsa ’24, Maia Sevin ’25
Baseball:
Brendan Aiken ’24, Caleb Bachman ’26, Matt Hamilton ’24, Michael McGarry ’24, Shane McGarry ’26, James Pendrak ’24, Donny Rieck ’26, Pablo Spielman-Rodriguez ’24
Boys’ Tennis:
Luke Cilli ’25, Ezra Raphael ’25, Kalyan Satti ’26, Wes Bozman ’24
Boys’ Track & Field:
Muhsin Muhammad ’24, Brandon Sutton ’25
Girls’ Track & Field: Avery Lewis ’24, Jade Nichols ’26, Quin Stovall ’24, Neenah Trusty ’27
FRIENDS SCHOOLS LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION
Softball:
Sofia Bagarazzi ’26
Grace Kenworthy ’26
Baseball: Michael Mamaluy ’26
Golf:
Jackson Murland ’27
Charlie Sorg ’26
Girls’ Lacrosse:
Skylar Casnoff ’24
Boys’ Tennis: Charlie Freedman ’27
ARI BARAK '27 WINS SILVER MEDAL AT USA CLIMBING YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Congratulations to Ari Barak '27, who competed in speed climbing at the USA Climbing Youth National Championship in Salt Lake City in July. He won the silver medal with a new personal record of 6.046 seconds. He made the USA Climbing Youth National Team and was selected to compete for Team USA at the International Federation of Sport Climbing Youth World Championship in Guiyang, China on August 28.
Pictured at left is Ari receiving his silver medal at the Youth National Championship (above, on the right), and (below) Ari in action.
PASLA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Nia Brooks ’24
Sienna Palermo ’25
Katherine Staton ’24
ALL-MAIN LINE TEAMS
Softball First Team: Maria Morsa ’24
Calla McVail ’27
Softball Second Team: Sofia Bagarazzi ’26
Brianna Keenan ’24
PA MILESPLIT ALL-STATE TEAMS
Avery Lewis ’24
Indoor Track & Field
Overall Athlete of the Year
Indoor Track & Field Senior of the Year
Indoor Track & Field
First Team Long Jump
Outdoor Track & Field
First Team 100m Dash
Outdoor Track & Field
Overall Athlete of the Year
Outdoor Track & Field Senior of the Year
Neenah Trusty ’27
Indoor Track & Field 400m Dash Freshmen Team
MAIN LINE BOYS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SHANE McGARRY ’27
Shane McGarry ’27 was Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week for the week of May 27. Shane is the third baseman on the FCS baseball team. He batted a team-leading .362 for the Friends’ School League baseball champions. FCS baseball Head Coach Jon Rubin said, “Shane is a gritty, hardworking player who plays the game fearlessly and with great intensity. He's the guy you want at the plate in big situations and he delivers. He plays the game at 110 percent, all the time. He's a future leader, a great teammate and has a unique ability to keep it light and keep the others laughing while bringing high focus and energy.”
Excerpted from a Mainline Media News article by Bruce Adams
Alumni/ae Athletes in the News
During Alumni/ae Weekend 2024, LATIFAH MCMULLIN ’99 was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the FCS basketball program at her jersey retirement ceremony. See page 28 for more about Alumni/ae Weekend.
Former NBA player MUSTAFA SHAKUR ’03, who previously played for the Washington Wizards and Oklahoma City Thunder, launched a sports nutrition startup called Pure Fuel. When asked what he enjoyed about being an entrepreneur in a recent interview with Forbes Magazine he shared, “You’re able to have more control over the things that you do and the things that you create.”
Following the hire of AMILE JEFFERSON ’12 by the Boston Celtics as an Assistant Coach in 2023, the team went on to win the 2024 NBA Finals. Amile won championships at the high school and collegiate level (Duke) as a player, played for the Orlando Magic, and returned to coach for several years at Duke. Amile shared, “This opportunity with the Boston Celtics was something that felt like the right next step in my journey. The Celtics are one of the most elite professional franchises in sports. I’m honored to be able to learn from everyone in this organization.”
Atlanta Hawks forward DE'ANDRE HUNTER ’16 received the Jason Collier Memorial Award for the 2023-2024 season. The annual award recognizes the Hawks player who embodies the spirit of community engagement exemplified by the late Atlanta center, Jason Collier. “I am so happy to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the great people and great city of Atlanta and am deeply committed to continuing Jason Collier’s legacy of community service,” said De'Andre.
OMAR NICHOLS ’20 was featured in a Franklin and Marshall's Senior Spotlight. He graduated this spring with a joint degree in Business, Organizations, and Society (BOS) and Public Policy. Omar said that he chose F&M because of its high academic and athletic profiles. He said, “I wanted a school where I could be pushed on and off the court.” Omar played for F&M’s NCAA Division III basketball team during his collegiate career. He has joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a management consultant associate.
In his final bout as a Princeton fencer, TRISTAN SZAPARY ’20, already a two-time All-American, delivered the NCAA épée championship, making him the ninth Princeton men's fencer to win an NCAA individual title and first since 2012. Tristan held off Notre Dame's Jonathan Hamilton-Meikle 15-14 in the final after knocking off Harvard's Henry Lawson 15-9 in the semifinal.
This summer, JUSTIN RUBIN ’21 played for Conejo Oaks, a California collegiate summer baseball team that recruits top college players from all over California. Justin, who plays for Pepperdine during the regular season, was the designated hitter for the Oaks. In his senior year at FCS, Justin led the state of Pennsylvania with 44 steals. The Oaks finished the regular season with the most wins (25) – the first time that’s happened since the team started playing in 2006.
Swimmer AMANDA SHEWARD ’21 was recently profiled by thesandpaper.net for her resilience. Amanda decided a long time ago that she wouldn’t be held back by hemiplegia, a paralysis that affects one side of
McMullin
De'Andre Hunter (Atlanta Hawks)
Szapary (goprincetontigers.com)
Justin Rubin (pepperdinewaves.com)
Julia Beyer (smithpioneers.com)
the body. Since birth, the muscles on Sheward’s left side haven’t functioned due to a stroke she had in utero. Amanda's achievements have included representing the US as swimmer at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile in 2023.
JULIA BEYER ’22 competed in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference for Smith College’s rowing team. Smith's 2V8+ was named the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Boat of the Week following a solid finish at the New York State Championship in April. Smith placed third in the morning heat with a time of 7:39.513, coming in third behind Hamilton College and Marist College. In the 2V Grand Final, Smith placed second and closed the gap against Hamilton from the morning race.
Omar Nichols (fandm.edu)
Tristan
Amanda Sheward (Instagram @njacsports)
Latifah
Mustafa Shakur
PABLO SPIELMANRODRIGUEZ ’24 PLAYS FOR SPRINGFIELD BLUE JAYS
This summer, after graduating from Friends’ Central, baseball player Pablo Spielman-Rodriguez '24 wanted to keep his game fresh. While the Delco League originally did not have a spot, he was able to connect with the Springfield Blue Jays manager Steve Trainor, who said, “I didn’t have room for him at first, but I made room quickly. He showed up and just played.” Pablo is attending Middlebury in Vermont this fall, where he will play baseball at the collegiate level. Growing up, he played for the Philly Stars and Taney Dragons before becoming an important member of the Friends’ Central baseball team.
MORSA MOTHERDAUGHTER SOFTBALL COMBO WAS A WINNING COMBINATION FOR FCS
Maria Morsa ’24, who recently concluded a stellar softball career at FCS, has had the same coach for her entire softball career, from tee ball to the travel team PA Chaos 18 in the Mid-Atlantic Tournament in Richmond, VA – her mother, Middle School math teacher and coach Sharon Morsa, who played the sport for Villanova University. Maria will be playing for Stevenson University next spring. "Having her as my coach is something I wouldn’t ever trade," said Maria. "She tells me how it is which is important when you are playing a sport like softball.”
The power duo were featured recently in a Main Line Times & Suburban article by Bruce Adams and Eddie Levin.
FCS SHINES AT THE 128TH PENN RELAYS
The Penn Relays, the nation’s oldest and largest track and field competition, celebrated its 128th year this April in Philadelphia, continuing a storied tradition that began in 1895. This year, Friends’ Central proudly had participants spanning the Middle School, Upper School (see page 18), and even alums from the Class of 1973
At this year's Penn Relays, FCS Middle School teams delivered outstanding performances, clinching victory in both 4x100m relay events. The boys’ team clocked in at 47.60 seconds, while the girls finished with a time of 52.99 seconds. The victorious girls’ squad were Londyn ’28, Payton ’30, Katelyn ’28, and Ayla ’30. The boys’ team featured Caleb ’28, TJ ’28, Jordan ’28, and Khory ’29. Congratulations to all!
A special highlight at the Penn Relays was the participation of four FCS Class of 1973 alums in the Masters Men’s 4x400m relay for competitors aged 60 and over. Marcus Guynn, Ron Harris, Ross Donolow, and Vincent Carbone – all Class of 1973 – reunited to race, sharing their excitement for the experience. “It was intense, exciting, and so satisfying I can’t begin to tell you,” said Ron Harris. The team finished ninth with a time of 5:36.03.
(From left) Londyn, Payton, Katelyn, Ayla
(From left) Caleb, TJ, Jordan, and Khory
(Above from left) Ross Donolow, Vincent Carbone, Marcus Guynn, and Ron Harris of the Class of 1973 were featured on 6 ABC Action News with FCS Athletics & Wellness Director Michelle Crowley when they represented FCS at the 2024 Penn Relays.
Graduates of the Class of 2024: Making the Journey Their Own
FRIENDS’ CENTRAL celebrated the Class of 2024 at the School’s 179th Commencement ceremony on June 8, 2024 with immense pride in the accomplishments of the students along with an awareness of what they had been through as a class.
“Beyond everything we have now come to associate with COVID-19, you experienced high school during a time in the world like no other,” said Head of School Beth D. Johnson ’77, addressing the graduates, their assembled families and friends, and their teachers on a clear, blustery June morning.
“The most difficult situation of all,” Beth continued, “in ninth grade you experienced the loss of one of your classmates, Myles [Roche]. He was your friend, your teammate, the person who made you smile … I want to tell you that on every ray of sunshine today, he is here. In every soft breeze we feel today, he is here. In the moments between the words that are spoken today, he is here. Myles is as much a part of the Friends’ Central Class of 2024 as you are.”
“We wait with excitement to hear about you in the future and the ways you will peacefully transform the world.”
HEAD OF SCHOOL BETH D. JOHNSON ’77
“Despite the trials associated with your high school years, you made the journey your own,” Beth said. “You went from performing plays in masks outside to performing plays inside, athletic competitions with few fans, and then with the stands filled, making friends and getting together online to gatherings on the fields, in Shallcross, and on Felsen Common … We are, in many ways, in awe of you and your accomplishments, and we wait with excitement to hear about you in the future and the ways you will peacefully transform the world.”
Following Beth, the two student speakers – selected by their classmates – were Nia Brooks ’24 and Savina Copas ’24.
Nia spoke about showing gratitude. “As important as it is to show appreciation to people once you have reached your goals and finished your climb,” said Nia, “I cannot stress enough how important it is to give thanks to those who surrounded you along the way.” She concluded with an astute piece of advice: “Let’s be our true, unedited, authentic, real selves as we move forwards in our lives because there will never be another one of us to live our lives and tell our stories.”
Savina spoke next, and her theme was “the climb.”
“I know you all have had your own fair share of adventures, triumphs, failures, joys and concerns, and just about everything in between as well,” she said. “What is special, though, is that each of these experiences has shaped us into the people we are now, providing us each with a unique perspective on
Clockwise from top left: Nia Brooks ’24; Pablo SpielmanRodriguez ’24, Yan Swann ’24, and Marcus DeSipio ’24; Head of School Beth D. Johnson ’77; Savina Copas ’24; Sharon Morsa
how to engage with others and reflect on the world around us. This perspective is a superpower that shapes our reality and fuels our growth.”
This year’s address was given by Sharon Morsa, FCS Middle School math teacher, softball coach, and mother of FCS graduate Maria Morsa ’24. Sharon shared two stories which she felt would resonate with the graduates. The first was a story of simple kindness by the FCS softball team in Sharon’s first year of coaching at FCS that indelibly impacted the life of a young man living somewhat on the edges of society. The man was a fan of the team, and the softball players rewarded him for his support with a team t-shirt, presented to him in a special ceremony. Sharon later discovered that he’d treasured that shirt for 20 years.
The second story Sharon shared was about Myles Roche ’24 who, as a student in seventh grade, came to her to ask for help. “Math has always been my strength. It’s not your teaching, but I am just not getting it. I really want to do better,” Myles told her. Through advocating for himself, working hard, and being “laser focused,” Myles ended up earning one of the highest grades in the class in eighth grade.
“Be determined and have no regrets,” Sharon concluded. “Whatever your goal, give it all you have, be willing to accept help and give it when you can, and – most of all, most of all – err on the side of kindness. Now, go out and make us proud, just like you know how!” QW
From top: Members of the Class of 2024 gathering for the Class photo; family and friends in the audience cheering on; the graduates in high spirits depart from the graduation terrace following the ceremony
CLASS OF 2024 COLLEGE CHOICES
American University
Bates College
Bowdoin College
Cecil College
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Clark University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
DePaul University
Dickinson College
Drexel University (2)
Elizabethtown College
Fordham University
Franklin & Marshall College (2)
George Washington University (2)
Georgetown University
Goucher College
Howard University (2)
Indiana Univesity, Bloomington (2)
Juniata College
Kenyon College (2)
Loyola University New Orleans
Marymount University
Middlebury College
Muhlenberg College
Northeastern University (3)
Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park (7)
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
Smith College
Southwest Mississippi
Community College
Stevenson University (2)
Syracuse University
Temple University (4)
Temple University - Honors Program
The New SchoolEugene Lang College
Tufts University (3)
University of California, San Diego
University of Delaware
University of Pennsylvania (4)
University of Pittsburgh (2)
University of Rochester
University of Southern California (2)
University of St Andrews
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
Ursinus College
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University (2)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Wake Forest University (2)
Washington University in St. Louis (2)
Wesleyan University
Worchester Polytechnic Institute
Members of the Class of 2024 were admitted to an incredible range of schools across the country, with 35% of the Class attending a US News and World Report top college or university.
The Class of 2024
Alumni/ae Weekend 2024
ALUMNI/AE from a wide range of class years returned to Friends’ Central to gather with friends for Alumni/ae Weekend on May 3-4, 2024. On Friday morning – the first day of the celebrations – Upper School faculty members opened their doors to alums who were invited to experience current FCS classrooms and curriculum. In the morning, former and current faculty gathered in the Main Building to reminisce about their time at FCS and talk about the School today. Over a shared lunch in Shallcross Hall, Upper School students joined alums to learn of their career paths and professional experiences, while gleaning advice from their journeys after graduation. Friday’s festivities were capstoned with the Basketball Celebration Assembly and the jersey retirement of outstanding alumna athlete Latifah McMullin ’99.
Saturday began with a historical tour of the City Avenue campus led by long-time FCS teacher and archivist Grant Calder. Alums then had the opportunity to join Meeting for Worship, a highlight for so many returning alums and their families. The annual Distinguished Alumni/ae Awards Ceremony celebrated the unique and important contributions of Judy Kirk Meyer ’74 and Lisa Kay Solomon ’89. FCS honored Judy’s many years
of service to her alma mater and her family’s inspiring commitment to Quaker education. Lisa’s professional accomplishments in the fields of design and civic leadership have helped leaders think more broadly and creatively about how to shape more positive futures for the ever-changing world.
On Saturday afternoon, FCS student-ambassadors led tours across campus and listened to the memories shared by alums. Campus was buzzing with student innovation of today, with a hard-hat tour of the Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 Center for Innovation and Design, the Moonshadow Experience Student Presentation, and the FCS Earthquakers Robotics Team Demonstration. Alumni/ae of Color gathered with Parents of Students of Color (PSOC) and enjoyed an ice cream social together. Saturday evening brought together classes from all years for individual class parties. The Class of 1974 boasted one of the highest class turnouts in recent Reunion years and ended the weekend with a jubilant gathering at the home of Judy and Bill Meyer. Young alums continued the weekend celebration at the Rex at the Royal, while the Classes of 1999, 1994, 1989, and 1984 headed to Narberth to create memories at the Great American Pub. QW
1. Alums gather to kick off the festivities on Saturday
2. The assembled audience is inspired by the remarks at the Distinguished Alumni/ae Awards Ceremony
3. Judy Kirk Meyer ’74 and Dave Branning ’59
4. Cary Snider ’11, proud alumnus and FCS staff member, poses (third from left) with alums eager to celebrate with friends
5. Head of School Beth D. Johnson ’77 (third from left) and Senior Advancement Officer Linda Wasserman ’75 (left) reconnect with classmates
6. FCS student-ambassadors introduce the latest FCS apparel
7. Faculty open their classroom doors for alums to attend Upper School classes on Friday
1 2 3 7
1. Lisa Kay Solomon ’89 was honored as a 2024 Distinguished Alumna in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments in furthering the fields of design and civic leadership.
2. On Friday of Alumni/ae Weekend, we were thrilled to celebrate outstanding alumna athlete Latifah McMullin ’99 (pictured second from right) at her FCS basketball jersey retirement ceremony.
3. Judy Kirk Meyer ’74 was recognized as a 2024 Distinguished Alumna for her many years of service to FCS and her family's commitment to Quaker education.
4. Alums explored the FCS archival photos that were on display in the Main Building's OPA Room.
5. On Friday, alums had the opportunity to attend classes taught by Upper School teachers and meet current students and former and current faculty.
6. FCS trustee Juan Jewell '68, Head of School Beth D. Johnson '77, and Aria Fiorillo '25 engaged in conversation at the Alumni/ae of Color Gathering organized by Parents of Students of Color (PSOC).
7. Members of the award-winning FCS Earthquakers Robotics team gave alums a demonstration of their robotic designs in action. There was also a presentation for alums by science teacher and NASA Eclipse Ambassador Deborah Skapik and the FCS Moonshadow Team about their yearlong efforts around the April 2024 solar eclipse (see page 8 for more about their eclipse work)
8. FCS staff member Tom Donovan provided a sneak peak of the Audrie Gardham Ulmer '37 Center for Innovation and Design, currently undergoing construction and opening in September 2024. 4 8 5 6
FCS students preparing for the 1965-1966 Carnival, an annual fundraising event whose proceeds helped cover the expenses of exchange students (from left: Blackburn Society member John Schalow '69; German exchange students Gerd Dasch and Heidi Aly; FCS trustee and 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Juan Jewell '68)
Remembering Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37
Alumna, Colleague, Mother, and Friend
In many ways, Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 defined what it means to be a Friends’ Central “lifer.” As a student in the 1930s, Audrie sang in the Glee Club, acted in theatrical productions, and was a member of the Friends’ Central News Staff and Service Club. In 1941, Audrie graduated from Guilford College, a Quaker institution, and in 1948, she returned to FCS as Alumni Secretary. Hired by Headmaster Eric Johnson, she served the School as Alumni Secretary until her retirement in 1976. During her tenure, Audrie’s children, Rich Ulmer ’60 and Carolyn Gorman ’66, also attended and graduated from FCS. Now, 87 years after Audrie’s own commencement ceremony, the Rex Gymnasium has undergone a major renovation and has been renamed in her memory by her son, Rich:
The Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 Center for Innovation and Design
This new state-of-the-art facility on the Upper Campus, adjacent to the Ulmer Family Tennis Complex, serves as a natural educational bridge from the Ulmer Family Light Lab on the Lower Campus, where students continue to discover the connections between Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. The School is deeply grateful to all who supported the transformation of the Rex Gymnasium into the Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 Center for Innovation and Design, which will benefit Friends’ Central students for generations to come.
QA &
with Rich Ulmer ’60 about his mother, Audrie
At her core, who was Audrie Gardham Ulmer?
RU: My mother was determined to make the world a better place because she was in it. She was devoted to education and learning; she was bright, detailed, and driven to succeed; and she took us to Quaker meeting every week. Above all, my mother was open to the exceptional nature of the human being that wasn’t always seen by others.
What was her relationship with Quakerism?
RU: My mother had deeply religious roots. She was raised in an orphanage in the Friends’ environment in New York City and was adopted when she was 10 years old. Growing up, every Sunday, we got dressed and went to Merion Quaker Meeting. She possessed powerful positive thinking, belief, and faith. She worked hard and enjoyed the fruits of her labor, knowing that God was making a place for her.
What do you hope (and what might your mother have hoped) this center will do for the School community?
RU: It’s where the future of education needs to be, and my mom’s story will live with it. The Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 Center for Innovation and Design matches what she wanted to happen in this world, which is for people to get educated – for students to learn and grow in the manner of Friends.
The
Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37
Center for Innovation and Design & The Percival Taylor Rex Gymnasium:
From 1925 to 2024, the Rex Gymnasium served Friends’ Central students and faculty as a venue for Meeting for Worship, assemblies, basketball, dance, school plays, musical performances, and other activities. In 1948, the gym was named in memory of Percival Taylor Rex, a history teacher and Assistant Headmaster who served FCS from 1902-1935. He was a strong supporter of sports and was president of the Interacademic Athletic Association League. As his contemporary Edward Briggs, teacher of English wrote: “To remember Percival Taylor Rex is to recall such integrity and sincerity of character as are rarely met with; a personality reflecting in every act and word the social conscience which was the man himself.”
Educating Tomorrow: Sally Craig’s Lasting Contribution
Sally Craig ’61
recently joined Friends’ Central’s Blackburn Society, bequesting her estate to create an endowed fund supporting FCS faculty. As an FCS “Lifer,” Sally appreciates the formative influence that FCS teachers had on her life and career path. She shares that faculty were caring and present for students and ultimately encouraged her to think critically about where she wanted to attend college and her career options. With the guidance of Friends’ Central, Sally attended Albright College, where she studied pre-med and majored in biochemistry. After completing her medical degree at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, she pursued a career in family medicine. Sally owned her own family medicine practice for 28 years, then worked for Hershey Medical Center, and currently practices in an urgent care clinic at Tower Health, Reading Hospital, Pennsylvania.
QA
What are some highlights of your FCS experience?
I appreciated the opportunity to explore my academic and creative sides. One of the things I enjoyed the most and had the opportunity to do was theater productions. I was never one to be in the spotlight, but I always liked doing the costuming, the makeup, and being behind the scenes. I also played field hockey, bowling, tennis, golf, basketball, softball, and archery.
How did the FCS faculty and educational experience impact your life and career?
Friends’ Central allowed students to become much more independent. Teachers encouraged us to actually sit and think about whatever we were doing, whether it be academic, religious, or interacting with other people. As a result, I developed my own voice and critical thinking skills. So I kind of just took off and said, “Okay, I’m going to do what I have to do to pursue medicine.”
What stands out when you reflect on your classes at FCS?
The relationships between teachers and students and small class sizes remain the essential parts of an FCS education. Looking back, we really did have an opportunity to learn with small classes, which gave us more directed care and teaching compared to much larger classes, as in public schools. Because of Friends’ Central, I was more confident in my ability to study and learn than many of my friends in college and med school.
What inspired you to give back to Friends’ Central?
If you don’t have good teachers, you don’t have a good education. The inspiration to dedicate my bequest to faculty came as a result of that thought. The teachers, to me, are most important. Providing funds for teacher professional development is critical because I think teachers are at their best when they’re perpetually learning and continuing their own growth as professionals.
What should others know if they are considering a planned gift to the School?
Alumni/ae, parents, businesses, and friends may not be aware that they can direct their gift to a specific area or project that they care about. It’s been beneficial to me to express specifically what I want to do with the funds. With the guidance of Friends’ Central, you can refine and be specific about where the funds should go. It’s been really easy working with the School to dedicate my gift to something I have put my heart into.
Student Wellness and Philanthropy: Jane Cubberley Luce ’68 Supports Cutting-Edge Programming in the Middle School
“How do we teach middle schoolers to handle social media?”asks Jane Luce, Class of 1968. “Adults don’t even know how to handle it. That’s where this program will help.”
This spring, Jane Cubberley Luce ’68 and Eric Luce, parents of K.C. Luce ’06, have partnered with Friends’ Central to philanthropically support the creation of an important new role, along with cutting-edge programming in the Middle School. Thanks to their generosity, the Middle School will have on staff an Early Adolescent Health and Wellness Specialist, who will start in the fall of 2025. This specialist, both a professional counselor and an educator, will help Middle School students to navigate coming of age in the challenging terrain of social media and the aftermath of a global pandemic.
“The pandemic affected everybody, but it also affected middle schoolers,” says Jane, who taught students with special needs at Bala Cynwyd Middle School for 35 years. “The pandemic was a very isolating time, and middle school can be a tough time for all kids. It’s a very difficult age. We look at them as little kids who are still happy, but there’s a lot going on under the surface. It’s important to give them tools to deal with the issues that they’re having and let them know that, beyond their wonderful teachers, there is a designated professional in our Middle School for them to talk to about how they feel and to provide guidance.”
Through counseling and curriculum such as a Digital Citizenship class, the Early Adolescent Health and Wellness Specialist will help Friends’ Central Middle School students, families, and teachers to navigate, cope, and reach healthy outcomes.
Friends’ Central is grateful for Jane and Eric’s generosity and partnership in this important work of supporting the social-emotional well-being of our Middle School students.
QA &
As a long-time middle school teacher, what do you love about early adolescents?
with Jane Luce, Class of 1968
How have Quaker values impacted your Friends’ Central experience?
JL: They have a great sense of humor; it’s something the teachers have to build on. Once I realized I could laugh at myself and laugh with them, everything was fine. They really just want to learn. They’re interested in everything and want their teachers to be proud of them. There’s still that little kid in there. If you can find it and harness it, they can really do so much. As an educator, it’s an exciting age.
JL: Quaker values are the main part of the Friends’ Central experience for me. I wanted those values for my daughter, K.C. There’s something about the values that Friends’ Central teaches you that makes you a totally different human being. The way you look at the world, the things you want to do for others – they become part of life.
Why do you give back to Friends’ Central?
JL: First, I gave back by being on the Alumni/ae Board, by making phone calls, by doing the things you should do if you are an alum. Later in life, it came to the point where our family could do more, and Friends’ Central had done so much for me and for K.C. that I felt it was time to do something. For people considering giving back, look into your heart and ask, what did Friends’ Central do for me?
Senior portrait of Jane Cubberley Luce ’68
Love and Challenge: Defining Student Engagement with the Wellington Index
In the fall of 2023, generous philanthropic support helped Friends’ Central launch the Student Engagement Initiative. The program features the Wellington Engagement Index for grades 6-12 – a tool created by the Wellington School in Ohio and used by schools across the country. The core goal of the initiative is to make a Friends’ Central education even more engaging for students and to do so by gathering information directly from them on their experience in the classroom.
Students share their sense of engagement by anonymously placing a singular dot on the quadrant. The data gathered gives teachers dot clusters –valuable feedback about the student experience and their teaching practice.
Over the course of the 2023-2024 school year, students assessed their classroom engagement on two occasions, making a dot for each of their classes on the engagement grid. The primary objective of these initial data collections was to familiarize students and teachers with the Wellington Engagement Index. This year, students will provide feedback on their courses six times.
Philanthropy in Action
The Wellington Index defines student engagement as the intersection of students feeling challenged by and loving what they are learning.
Example of dot cluster data (not representative of FCS students)
Through generous philanthropic support, Friends’ Central is expanding the scope of the Student Engagement Initiative by introducing new fulltime positions at FCS: teacher-leaders. The three Teacher-Leaders, Jim Rosengarten, Monty Ogden, and Jill MacDougall, will support teachers’ growth by helping them analyze their data, observing classroom teaching, and serving as coaches for pedagogical innovation. The Teacher-Leader role is peer-to-peer rather than evaluative and emphasizes growth and reflective practice among teachers.
“ With the Student Engagement Initiative, we are practicing what we preach: that students’ voices are essential, that we strive for deep learning and engagement in the classroom at all grade levels, and that our teachers model continuous learning and growth for our students.”
– Alexa D. Quinn ’98, Associate Head of School
Additionally, Friends’ Central teachers in the Middle and Upper School can now apply for “engagement grants” to fund innovative, creative shifts in classroom practice, including new classroom experiences, visiting experts, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
With funding from one engagement grant, Puerto Rican composer Suzzette Ortiz collaborated with two classes during the 2023-2024 school year – Upper School Music and the Latino Immigrant Experience. Suzzette worked with students in both classes separately and then together, sharing her stories and experiences. Over the course of three visits, Suzzette provided insight into her lived experience as an immigrant to the US mainland and of her family, who remain in Puerto Rico. Students in the Latino Immigrant Experience course had the opportunity to meet and speak to someone who has lived through many of the experiences they studied during the semester.
As one student reflected: “What made Suzzette’s visit unique was that we not only heard about her compelling personal history but we were also able to relate it to what we already knew about Puerto Rico. This made for a very moving experience, especially in a class focusing on the Latino immigrant experience. What I found particularly interesting was that the visit was not just educational, it was also immersive.”
Friends’ Central is grateful to its generous philanthropic partners who have supported the Student Engagement Initiative. QW
Jill MacDougall, Jim Rosengarten, and Monty Ogden
Suzzette Ortiz sharing her stories and experiences with students
Become a part of the Alumni/ae Community in 2024-2025
ALUMNI/AE
Mark your Calendar and join the FCS Community for these upcoming events
Be sure to check your email inbox and social media channels for more details as the events draw closer.
Need to update your contact information with FCS? Contact alumni@friendscentral.org or 610-645-5420.
October 18 Friday Night Lights - FCS fields Fall Varsity games, matches, and meets beginning at 4:00 pm
December 17 Alumni/ae Reception and Upper School Winter Concert Enjoy a light reception and celebrate our talented student musicians beginning at 6:00 pm in Shallcross Hall
January 24 Spirit Night - Shimada Gymnasium
Help spread school spirit and cheer on our boys’ and girls’ basketball teams to victory! JV games begin at 4:00 pm
INSPIRE FCS STUDENTS OF TODAY!
Interested in coming back to FCS and sharing your professional journey with students? Consider co-teaching a course with a FCS teacher or leading a discussion on a topic within your chosen field of study. Contact Melissa DiNofia - Bozzone at alumni@friendscentral.org or 610.645.5420 if interested.
NETWORK WITH OTHER FCS ALUMS!
Connect with other Alumni/ae using your LinkedIn profile - make sure you list Friends’ Central School under your education section. Visit the page here
WEEKEND
All alumni/ae are welcome to attend as we honor the Reunion classes ending in 0’s and 5’s. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Radnor Hotel • 591 East Lancaster Avenue • St. David’s PA 19087 • 610-341-3100 Please reference Friends’ Central Alumni/ae Weekend and make your reservation before April 2, 2025
Residence Inn Philadelphia Bala Cynwyd 615 Righters Ferry Road Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 610-747-0550
Marriott West 111 Crawford Avenue West Conshohocken, PA 19428 610-941-5600
Courtyard by Marriott 762 W. Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA 19087 610-687-6633
